Mamata arrives 30 minutes late for Cyclone Yaas review meet with PM Modi, leaves after handing over documents

Police arrest three BJP workers for raising 'goli maro' slogan in West Bengal

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Kolkata, Jan 21: As many as three BJP activists, including its Hooghly district youth wing chief Suresh Sahu, have been arrested for allegedly raising "goli maro" (shoot the traitors) slogan at a roadshow of party leader Suvendu Adhikari, police said on Thursday.

Speaking to media, an officer said, "Some BJP activists had allegedly raised the slogan at a party programme in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Wednesday, following which district police registered a suo motu case and arrested them late at night."

Explained: How US President Joe Biden's era impact India?

"The three arrested persons will be produced at a court during the day," he said.

The activists, who were trailing the truck carrying Adhikari along with Hooghly MP Locket Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta, had allegedly raised the slogan holding BJP flags and the Tricolour in Rathtala area.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

However, BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said that the party does not endorse the slogan raised by the participants holding the BJP flag.
He could have faced five years in jail. But a former South Jersey elected official got two years of probation and ban on public employment.

Still, Paul Dougherty thought he got a raw deal and sued the state because he was not admitted to a pretrial intervention program that would have mitigated his punishment.

A state appellate court panel has ruled Dougherty was rightly denied entry into the pretrial program in a decision last week.

When Mr. Dougherty pleaded guilty, he accepted the terms of a plea agreement that called for a sentence of probation and his forfeiture of office, according to Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the Attorney General. Although he knew that pre-trial intervention was not an option, he later tried to circumvent the terms of his negotiated agreement and evade the consequences of his guilty plea. We are pleased that the court recognized that Mr. Dougherty was not permitted to do so.

A response to Doughertys law office Tuesday was not immediately returned.

Dougherty, 50, a former commissioner in Haddon Township, Camden County, pleaded guilty in 2018 for accepting a $7,000 referral fee from a law firm after steering a disgruntled employee to a lawyer who successfully sued his own municipal government. In exchange for his guilty plea and resignation from his elected position, the state attorney general agreed to recommend probation instead of jail time.

Dougherty also lost his job as municipal prosecutor in Cherry Hill, Clementon, Gloucester City and Medford.

He served as a Haddon Township commissioner from 2013 to August 2018.

In addition to the guilty plea for official misconduct charge, Dougherty also pleaded guilty in September 2018 for leaving the scene of an accident in which he rear-ended a car. The accident occurred in Haddon Township. Dougherty initially told police his wife was driving the car.

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Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com.
SCRANTON  Angel Romeu will spend more than a decade behind prison bars after a federal judge sentenced him Friday for participating in a scheme to distribute methamphetamine.

Romeu, 37, of Saint Clair, will spend 127 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani ruled.

Romeu earlier pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce D. Brandler said Wednesday that between Oct. 1, 2015, and April 9, 2016, Romeu conspired to distribute between 1.5 and 5 kilograms  approximately 3 and 12.5 pounds  of meth in Schuylkill County.

Homeland Security Investigations-Philadelphia Division, Pennsylvania State Police and the Schuylkill County District Attorneys Office investigated the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts.

Federal authorities prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone.
Who the presidents called first Joe Biden (Jan 22, 2021): Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Donald Trump (Jan 21, 2017): Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto Barack Obama (Jan 23, 2009): Canadian PM Stephen Harper, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, British PM Gordon Brown George W. Bush (Jan 23, 2001): Mexican president Vicente Fox, British PM Tony Blair Bill Clinton (Jan 23, 1993): Russian president Boris Yeltsin, Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin Advertisement

President Biden's first call to a foreign leader will be to Canada's Justin Trudeau, the White House announced last night, meaning Britain's Boris Johnson misses out on a sought-after symbol of the 'special relationship'.

New White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would speak to Trudeau on Friday and likely discuss the Keystone XL pipeline which the new US president has already moved to scrap.

Psaki said Biden's other early calls would likely be with 'partners and allies' as he seeks to 'rebuild those relationships' after four abrasive years under Donald Trump.

But there was no word on how soon he would call the UK, where any signs of presidential favouritism are closely watched and where Johnson has made a point of welcoming Biden into office.

Long seen as a more natural ally of Trump, Johnson was quick to congratulate Biden after his election victory last November and was believed to be the first European leader to speak to the president-elect in the following days.

Trump received then-PM Theresa May as his first official visitor after taking office in 2017, but his first known telephone contacts were with Trudeau and then-Mexican leader Enrique Pena Nieto.

The previous two presidents, Barack Obama and George W. Bush, spoke to British PMs Gordon Brown and Tony Blair in their first batches of foreign calls.

Joe Biden will speak to Justin Trudeau in his first call to a foreign leader as US president, having met him before when he was Barack Obama's vice president (seen here in 2016)

The opening call to Trudeau means that Britain's PM Boris Johnson (pictured) misses out on a sought-after symbol of the 'special relationship'

Jen Psaki, the new White House press secretary, said Biden's early calls would be to allies and partners as the new president tries to repair the damage done by Trump

May's January 2017 visit to Washington became infamous for the bizarre pictures of the PM and president holding hands, but the invitation delighted May who hailed it as an 'indication of the strength and importance of the special relationship'.

Their relations soon became strained, however, with May berating Trump for retweeting the far-right group Britain First while the president poured scorn on the PM's handling of Brexit.

Johnson, who became PM in July 2019 and is often compared to Trump, had his first call with the US president two days after taking office.

The pair agreed that 'Brexit offers an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen the economic partnership between the UK and US', Downing Street said at the time.

Trump was seen by some as a more natural ally than Biden, who had once described the Conservative leader as a 'physical and emotional clone' of Trump.

But after Trump lost the election last November, Johnson was among the majority of world leaders who immediately congratulated Biden without waiting for the outcome of Trump's doomed efforts to overturn the election.

While Trudeau was the first to speak to Biden, Johnson was the first in Europe to call the president-elect in what was described in some quarters as a 'major diplomatic coup'.

2017: Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit the Trump White House, a trip which is best remembered for the pair's awkward hand-holding

2019: Boris Johnson and Donald Trump at a G7 summit in Biarritz. Long seen as a natural ally of Trump, Johnson has made a point of welcoming Biden into office

Downing Street said Johnson and Biden were 'looking forward to working closely together on their shared priorities' including climate change and the pandemic.

Johnson also condemned the violence that Trump incited at the Capitol on January 6, saying it was 'completely wrong' for Trump to have disputed the election results.

But it is Trudeau who will get the symbolic first call from Biden this week, having dealt with him before when he was vice president to Barack Obama.

There is no official word yet on when or where Biden will make his first overseas trip, with diplomatic summits heavily constrained in the last year by the virus pandemic.

But the Daily Telegraph reported this week that Biden's first trip outside North America could be a visit to Britain for a G7 summit in June.

Four years ago, Trump's first foreign trip was a glitzy visit to Saudi Arabia, followed by meetings in Israel and Palestine.

After his inauguration in 2017, his first recorded calls were with the leaders of Canada and Mexico the following day, followed by a conversation with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

May's visit to Washington came only a few days after Trump was sworn in, after the two had spoken on the phone while Trump was president-elect.

2009: Barack Obama speaks to Gordon Brown at the United Nations amid allegations of 'snubs' from Washington towards the UK

2002: Seen here at Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Tony Blair and George W. Bush had a notoriously close relationship

However, after he won the election in November 2016, Trump's first call with a European leader was thought to be with Enda Kenny, the then-premier of Ireland.

Before that, Barack Obama's first known calls after taking office in 2009 were a trio of conversations with Canada's Stephen Harper, the UK's Gordon Brown and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

The Obama White House used the term 'special relationship' in its account of the call with Brown, but there were later rumours of 'snubs' sparking panic in Britain.

Later in 2009 the two leaders were said to have held a meeting in the kitchens of a UN building after Obama's team allegedly spurned requests for a proper summit.

When Obama left office in 2017, his final call was with Germany's Angela Merkel in what the White House hailed as a a 'fitting' sign-off to his foreign diplomacy.

Earlier still, the first listed calls made by George W. Bush in 2001 were with Mexico's Vicente Fox and the UK's Tony Blair.

Blair was the first European leader to visit Bush after he took office, visiting Washington for a bilateral summit in February that year.

The relationship that would come to be defined by the Iraq War started with the so-called 'Colgate summit' where Bush, asked what the pair had in common, revealed that they used the same toothpaste.

And in 1993, the newly-inaugurated Bill Clinton made his first known calls to Russian leader Boris Yeltsin and Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  It is Solicitor General Jose Calida who should conduct a careful self-examination, the Supreme Court said, borrowing the government top lawyers words when he sought the inhibition of a magistrate in the electoral protest filed by losing vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr.

On November 9, 2020, Marcos and Calida separately moved for the inhibition of Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, noting that ever since he became member-in-charge in October 2019, there was hardly any movement in the case, and that his previous pronouncements and decisions showed his bias and partiality against the Marcoses. Calida said judges accused of prejudice should examine themselves and inhibit, something Leonen did not do.

In a November 17 decision made public on Thursday, the high court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, junked Marcos' motion and refused to act on Calida's motion, saying it found no ground for inhibition.

READ: No undue delay in Marcos poll protest  SC

The tribunal also reminded Calida that the default client of the Office of the Solicitor General is the Republic of the Philippines, but ultimately, the distinguished client is the people themselves.

Its status as Peoples Tribune is properly invoked only if the Republic of the Philippines is party litigant to the case, the tribunal said. This is not the case with the 2016 poll protest filed by Marcos, a private individual contesting the victory of Vice President Leni Robredo, the tribunal added.

It explained that if Calida was genuinely concerned about the supposed delay in the resolution of the case and its impact on the public, he should have confined his arguments on these instead of assailing Leonen's partiality and competence.

In trying to prove Leonens deeply-rooted, personal hatred of the whole Marcos family, Calida and Marcos mainly quoted from the justice's dissenting opinion on the burial of the protestants father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

But the tribunal noted that it was not the late President who filed the poll protest. It also saw nothing wrong with Leonen's words, saying even the Supreme Court has described the Marcos regime as "authoritarian," acknowledged the ill-gotten wealth that the government has been trying to recover, and recognized the suffering wrought on the Filipino people.

The tribunal revealed it was Leonen who appealed for the withdrawal of the show cause order on Calida and Manila Times reporter Jomar Canlas. This was in connection with an article written by Canlas, stating that Leonen sent fellow justices a 25-page opinion recommending the dismissal of the poll protest in 2017, when he was not yet member-in-charge.

The unauthorized disclosure, sharing, publication, and use of confidential documents constitute a serious offense, the tribunal said, while belying the article. The fact that Leonen did not vote for the outright dismissal of the case after the recount shows he is not the partial and vengeful magistrate described by Marcos and Calida.

Still, it agreed to take back the show cause order so it can focus on the resolution of the electoral protest, saying other issues can be dealt with later.

The tribunal reiterated that while it is within the litigants' right to seek a justice's inhibition, there should be tangible evidence showing how a single member "was able to maneuver the will of 14 other members into blindly following him."

"Lawyers for litigants at the highest level of our judicial system are expected to have better knowledge of our workings. They do a disservice to their clients when they mislead them and the public that the Supreme Court is no less than a collegial body," the tribunal said.

"That the protestant's mistaken view of this court is joined by no less than the Solicitor General is deeply disturbing," it added.
Photo: Contributed

As the B.C. provincial government finalizes its plans for mass COVID-19 vaccinations, a new Insights West poll indicates British Columbians aren't satisfied.



Thursdays regularly scheduled COVID-19 update has now been rescheduled for Friday. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix will now be joined by Premier John Horgan and Dr. Penny Ballem, the person heading up B.C.s vaccine rollout efforts.



As we close in on a year of living with COVID-19, a recent survey of B.C. residents indicates many arent entirely supportive of the current vaccine distribution plans and hold differing opinions about the prioritization of the list of initial recipients.



In fact, one component of the plan is meeting with significant opposition.



Of those polled, 80 per cent indicate they will get the vaccine as soon as its available; 69 per cent believe those with pre-existing conditions should be on the list of those with higher priority for the vaccine, and about half feel RCMP, firefighters, teachers, other healthcare workers and essential service workers should be prioritized before others currently on the list.



The majority of residents do not give the overall vaccination rollout plans a positive review, 51 per cent overall rate the rollout plan as fair, 31 per cent say it's 'poor', 14 per cent say it's 'very poor'.



Despite concerns about the vaccine rollout plans and the order of recipients, the vast majority have pushed those concerns aside and are ready to roll up their sleeves to be vaccinated when their time comes. Most, 80 per cent will definitely get the vaccine when it's available to them, 58 per cent say they will probably get the vaccine while only 7 percent say they definitely will not.

Older residents, 55 years or older are more likely to definitely get vaccinated while 67 per cent of those in younger age groups, 52 per cent, 18-34 and 53 per cent, 35-54 years of age.



The survey also found controversy regarding who will receive the first vaccines, as there is strong support for placing a number of groups on the priority list ahead of some already there.

The first and highest miss on the list is those with underlying medical conditions that put them at greater risk of severe illness from COVID-19; 69 per cent of residents believe that they should have been placed on the initial distribution list for the vaccine. In addition, about half think police/RCMP, 51 per cent, teachers, 50 per cent, firefighters, 47per cent, other healthcare providers who are not on the original list, 46 per cent, and essential service workers, 45 per cent should have been placed on the priority list ahead of at least some of the 11 that are currently included.



The other controversial piece of the vaccination plan is the rank order of the list. Many British Columbia residents disagree with that rank-ordering, feeling some groups should be moved up or down from the original list. There is a strong preference for moving essential health-care workers dealing with COVID-19 patients (currently #3 of the 11 listed) higher on the list, 65 per cent think they should be higher, and a similar number, 61 per cent believe hospital staff and community GP's, currently #10, should also be higher on the priority list.



On the flip side 30 per cent of British Columbians feel that staff and inmates at correctional facilities, currently #7, should be placed lower on the list, as should remote and isolated First Nations communities, currently #4, 27 per cent and those experiencing homelessness, #6, 23 per cent.
Romania is above the European average in terms of performance of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, ahead of countries with better health systems, senior official with the Ministry of Health Andrei Baciu told AGERPRES on Thursday.

"While at the beginning of the week there were reports that Romania is on the 18th place globally in terms of the number of vaccine doses administered and on the sixth place in Europe and today we keep in advanced positions, above the European average, as a performance of the vaccination campaign. (...) We can say that we have surpassed even countries that have much better health systems, health systems with a much more efficient infrastructure, such as France and Belgium. From our data for January 19, I believe Romania is right ahead of Germany in terms of the number of doses administered as a percentage of the population," Baciu said.

He added that such running is the result of sustained efforts made by all those involved in the vaccination campaign, primarily by the health professionals.

"Contrary to the preliminaries that define the health system in Romania, which is not necessarily the best at European level - on the contrary, reports from the European Commission at the end of the year depicts Romania as bringing up the rear in various rankings that look at the performance of the health system - but in this respect, (...) thanks to the sustained efforts made by those involved in conducting the vaccination campaign and, first of all, the health professionals actively involved in the vaccination process Romania ranks above the European average and that is a gratifying signal," said Baciu.

According to him, Romania has made great efforts to roll out and implement "as efficiently as possible" the COVID-19 immunisation campaign when it comes to the number of vaccine doses arriving in the country, according to the distribution made by European Commission.

As of Tuesday, Baciu said, 75 percent of the healthcare workers in the first stage of vaccination were already immunised. He noted that the proportion is expected to increase to over 85% by the end of January.

"We hope to be able to achieve this goal, which Prime Minister Florin Citu has also expressed, so that we can vaccinate 10.4 million people in September," Baciu said.

He added that forecasts show that by the end of March, Romania will receive a total of 2.5 million doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and 400,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

"For starters, there are limited doses, but the number of doses will increase from one week to another. (...) We are waiting for news about the other types of vaccines and, as they receive authorisation, their number will increase," said the senior state healthcare official.
Betsi Grabe, Media School professor and co-leader of OSoMe. Credit: The Media School

Joseph R. Biden has been sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, but a series of Indiana University surveys found that a significant number of Americans believe false narratives about the validity of the election that he won.

Six surveys conducted by members of IU's Observatory on Social Media, known as OSoMe, point to the influence of false information posted on social media in the weeks leading up to and immediately after the 2020 presidential election. The results confirm deep political divisions among the population, with social media posts from politicians contributing to the spread of misinformation.

The survey serieswhich included more than 4,000 respondents of voting age from late August to late Novembertested verifiably false statements posted on social media related to the 2020 presidential election. The statements included:

"Joe Biden is not mentally fit to be president."

"Mail-in ballots cause election fraud."

"The Centers for Disease Control manipulated the death toll of COVID-19 to exaggerate its impact on Americans."

"President Trump faked COVID-19 to win support before the election."

"If re-elected, Trump plans to terminate Social Security and Medicare."

"Vote-counting machines overcounted the Biden votes."

"The number of people who voted is higher than the number of eligible voters."

Results show about 44 percent of participants were aware of unsupported narratives from both sides of the political spectrum, and about 41 percent believed such stories were true. More than 43 percent of respondents believed that vote-counting machines overcounted the Biden votes, and about 49 percent believe mail-in ballots caused voter fraud. The most believed narrative, at 54.9 percent, was that the FBI "spied" on Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. The least believed narrative, which about 22 percent of respondents deemed true, was that face masks increase the risk of contracting COVID-19.

"The current state of hardship in our country produces favorable conditions for an infodemic," said Media School professor Betsi Grabe, a co-author of the study and co-leader of OSoMe. "Uncertainty, anxiety, social isolation, economic hardship and spare time create near-perfect circumstances for unsupported narratives to sweep through social media, stifling access to reliable information, deepening doubt about the trustworthiness of mainstream journalism and fueling political polarization."

In the most recent survey, researchers found that the unsupported narratives were believed more frequently by supporters of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence than by supporters of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. That same survey asked participants to respond to the statement, "Democracy is preferable to any other kind of government." Those with a greater trust in democracy were much less likely to believe untrue narratives than those who said they saw less value in democracy.

Grabe said the implications of the research were dire for the democratic process.

"Democracy hinges on well-informed citizens to select a president," she said. "And in a post-election era, disinformation narratives, like the ones we are tracking, have the potential to undermine the collective resilience of our nation to rebound on medical, economic and political levels."

Previous research has determined that unsupported narratives appear to originate more often from the right of the political spectrum than the left, but the study suggest that untrue stories can have an impact on both sides. Grabe said the findings offer evidence of acute political polarization among Americans at an especially challenging time, with the two most polarizing narratives focusing on Biden's fitness for office and his alleged ties to China.

The fourth survey showed that those who follow politicians on social media were more likely, by up to 26 percentage points, to be aware of false stories, and more likely by as much as 16 percentage points to believe those stories.

"We are justified in pointing fingers to conspiracy theorists, bots and troll factory managers for polluting the social web with disinformation," Grabe said. "And it is unsettling to add to that list some of the people we elect to represent us. This finding from our study makes me join the growing choir of calls for media literacy efforts to help citizens recognize disinformation. It also adds weight to the urgency for debate on how to regulate disinformation."

In other results, the researchers found that respondents age 18 to 43 were more aware of and more likely to believe fake narratives than respondents age 43 to 85, as detailed in the fifth survey. Younger participants of all political leanings showed more vulnerability to false information.

Explore further Many Americans believe false election narratives, survey shows
The family of a man shot dead by police after authorities say he held two women hostage, beat them and tried to shoot one as she ran away has filed a lawsuit alleging excessive force by officers.

William J. Owens, 39, took the women hostage at a UPS warehouse in Logan Township on Jan. 14, 2019.

His family claims in the suit that he was trying to surrender to police when he was killed.

Owens, who previously worked at the site, confronted a woman with whom he had a prior relationship, followed her inside the building, grabbed her and fired a handgun into the air. He announced that he was taking the woman hostage, said he was going to kill her and pistol-whipped a security guard, according to the state Attorney Generals office, which reviewed the circumstances surrounding the shooting and cleared the officers of any wrongdoing last September.

After Owens took the first hostage, he fired more shots, took the second woman hostage and declared he would kill everybody there and didnt care, according to details released by the state.

As police negotiated with Owens by phone during the three-hour standoff, he kicked and pistol-whipped the first woman, struck the second and pointed his gun at both, creating continuous abuse and torment for his victims, authorities said.

When the hostages tried to escape, the first woman, who was bleeding from the savage beatings she endured, ran through an employee entrance into the parking lot. Owens followed and fired on the woman.

He had his gun extended when seven Gloucester County SWAT officers opened fire and killed him, the investigation determined. Owens autopsy revealed 29 wounds.

Investigators from the Attorney Generals Office of Public Integrity and Accountability interviewed multiple witnesses and reviewed surveillance video before reaching a conclusion that officers were justified in using deadly force. Video did not show the shooting itself.

The officers felt their actions were immediately necessary to protect the hostage and others from death or serious bodily harm, the attorney generals office stated in its announcement.

Owens family described a different series of events as the standoff came to a violent end.

At some point during this encounter, the decedent William Owens willingly released the hostages unharmed and surrendered himself, the suit states. While William Owens was surrendering himself, the Defendants acted with brutal excessive use of force by shooting at William Owens. ... the Defendants showed excessive use of force by shooting multiple times at William Owens, causing his death.

The case was not reviewed by a grand jury because the undisputed facts indicate the use of force was justified, officials said at the time.

The Superior Court lawsuit, which was filed last week by the Owens estate through representative Tanisha Smith, accuses police of violating his civil rights under the New Jersey Civil Rights Act by using excessive force, failing to intervene to stop this violation and failing to properly train and supervise officers. Other counts in the suit allege negligence, assault and battery and civil conspiracy.

Defendants named include Gloucester County, the county SWAT team and New Jersey State Police.

A spokesman for the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office, which oversees the SWAT team, declined to comment on the matter, since it involves pending litigation.

Gloucester County Prosecutor Charles Fiore gives an update on the police standoff at the UPS facility in Logan Township, Gloucester County, Monday, Dec. 14, 2019. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
Police Chief Scott Kelley is welcomed during the Selectmen's Zoom meeting on Wednesday.

Police Chief Kelley Welcomed at Adams Selectmen's Meeting



Officer Travis Cunningham is congratulated by the board for his promotion to detective. ADAMS, Mass.  The Selectmen officially introduced new Police Chief Scott Kelley to the community on Wednesday night.

"The day has finally arrived and it seems as though we have been waiting for you forever, Scott," Town Administrator Jay Green said at Wednesday's Selectmen's meeting. "We wanted to take a moment on camera in public to welcome you."

Kelley was just sworn in Tuesday morning in front of Town Hall. The former chief of police of the Spartanburg Community College campus in South Carolina replaced interim Chief Troy Bacon.

"Thank you so much for the welcome my family and I have gotten. It just really solidifies my decision to come here," Kelley said. "It has just been wonderful. The transition has been great ... we are going to do great things for this community."

Kelley was appointed to the Safety Committee and the Traffic Commission.

Officer Travis Cunningham, who was promoted to detective, was also on the Zoom call and was congratulated by the board.

"We have him on the force, he is available to you as a resource," Green said. "He is very diligent, he is very detailed originated, and in my experience as a prosecutor the better the case that comes in the higher likelihood of getting through any procedural motions ... and making a good case."

Green said the force has one detective position that was recently vacated by Officer Michael Wandrei. He said Cunningham accepted the position in early January.

"Thank you for the opportunity. I am very happy and privileged to be part of this," Cunningham said. "It is a team effort, and I like knowing that I have a lot of people that support me all around."

Kelley said he has held investigative roles in the past and looked forward to working with Cunningham.

"He has the drive to be a great investigator," Kelley said. "I like to keep things close that I used to do so I told him I will stop by the office and see what he's working on because I always enjoyed that."

Selectman Joseph Nowak thanked and congratulated both officers.

"I hope that both of you and the rest of the officers continue to make Adams a place where people are willing to come to and even lay down stakes here," Nowak said. "So best of luck to you and godspeed."

The Selectmen voted to approve the disposition of 20 East St. and the town will release another request for proposals to try to offload the property.

"We are at the point  where we would like to move ahead," Green said. "We have some good solid inquiries."

The building at 20 East has sat vacant since 2019 when the Youth Center moved out of the deteriorating Community Center.

The town has tried to move the property in the past through the RFP process to no avail.

Donna Cesan, who's been aiding the Community Development Department until she can be replaced, said the town should be ready to release the RFP in a week or two.

Nowak felt the building was too far gone and the town should perhaps focus on demolition and the reuse of the land.

"I just don't see the building as being valuable to a developer. It is falling apart," Nowak said. "I don't think it is something someone would want to dive into."

Nowak thought it would be a good plot for Habitat for Humanity.

Cesan agreed that the building probably has a negative value and that the five acres of land was probably the only asset. She said the town still has to go through the RFP process and that the 40R zoning overlay has made the property more enticing to developers. She said the plot is secluded yet within walking distance to downtown.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 21, 2021 - 18:11 | All, Japan

A Japanese court on Thursday rejected a lawsuit challenging the country's ban on its citizens from holding foreign nationality, in what is believed to be the first judicial decision on the matter.

In a lawsuit filed with the Tokyo District Court in 2018, eight men and women in their 30s to 80s who were born in Japan but now live in Europe claimed a legal requirement that Japanese who gain foreign nationality must give up their citizenship violates the Constitution.

The government, however, argued the plaintiffs' claim takes no note of national interests, as permitting dual citizenship would enable people to have voting rights or diplomatic protection in other countries.

Dual citizenship "could cause conflict in the rights and obligations between countries, as well as between the individual and the state," said Presiding Judge Hideaki Mori.

According to the suit, the eight plaintiffs -- six who have acquired Swiss or Liechtenstein nationality and two others who plan to obtain Swiss or French nationality to facilitate their work and lives -- hope to maintain their Japanese citizenship.

Article 11 of the nationality law states that Japanese citizens who acquire non-Japanese nationality on their own instigation automatically lose their Japanese nationality, effectively banning dual citizenship.

The plaintiffs claimed that the law was originally designed for purposes such as avoiding overlapping military service obligations imposed by multiple nations.

"The court did not seriously consider the feelings of Japanese living abroad," Swiss resident Hitoshi Nogawa, 77, who led the plaintiffs, said following the ruling.

As many countries in the world, including the United States, now allow dual citizenship, the clause stripping people of Japanese nationality violates the Constitution, which guarantees the right to pursue happiness and the equality under the law, the plaintiffs said.

The issue of dual nationality in Japan drew global attention when tennis superstar Naomi Osaka, who had both Japanese and U.S. citizenship, selected Japanese nationality just before turning 22 in 2019. She was born to a Japanese mother and Haitian father.

The law requires those who acquired dual nationalities under 20 years old to choose one by age 22, and those who obtained them at age 20 or older to select one within two years.

The nationality law also requires Japanese citizens who obtain foreign citizenship to notify the government of their abandonment of Japanese nationality. But as it includes no penalties, many Japanese are believed to have maintained multiple passports after obtaining non-Japanese citizenship.

About 518,000 Japanese are estimated to have permanent residency status in other countries as of October 2019, but the government has been unable to confirm how many of them hold multiple citizenship.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Facebooks Oversight Board will decide whether to make former President Donald Trumps ban permanent, the company said Thursday, in an unprecedented move that will take decision-making power away from CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other top executives.

Trump was indefinitely suspended on Facebook and Instagram, which the social network operator also owns, a day after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot that left five dead and led to his second impeachment. Initially suspended through Wednesdays inauguration, he will now remain locked out until the board reaches a decision, according to Facebook.

The decisions of the board, which Facebook characterizes as independent from the company, are binding and cant be overruled by Zuckerberg or any other Facebook staff, an unusual practice in the tech industry, where chief executives and founders often have absolute control over their creations. Zuckerbergs supervoting shares give him power over Facebooks corporate board.

Twitter banned Trump permanently two days after the riot in a decision by company executives, amid an outcry from employees calling for the ban. Because of differences in how the companies handle suspensions, Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts remain publicly visible, while Twitter has removed his tens of thousands of tweets from view.

Facebooks initial ban was necessary and right, but a permanent decision should be made outside the company, Nick Clegg, Facebook vice president of global affairs and communications, wrote in a blog post discussing the referral to the Oversight Board.

Whether you believe the decision was justified or not, many people are understandably uncomfortable with the idea that tech companies have the power to ban elected leaders. Many argue private companies like Facebook shouldnt be making these big decisions on their own. We agree, Clegg wrote.

The Oversight Board began work in October. It includes professors, advocacy group members and journalists. Members include Stanford Law professors Pamela Karland and Michael McConnell, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, and former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

The board said it would start accepting public comment on the ban next week. It has up to 90 days to make a decision  a longer time frame than companies typically take on moderation decisions they make in-house. An independent trust funds the board, and Facebook gave $130 million to establish it.

A five-member panel of board members will make an initial ruling, which must be approved by the majority of the 20-member board. Trump and his representatives can submit a statement. Facebook will have a week to implement the decision and respond to any policy recommendations within a month.

The boards other cases include controversial subjects regarding religious freedom, genocide, nudity and coronavirus misinformation.

Sarah Roberts, a professor and co-director of the UCLA Center for Critical Internet Inquiry, said the merits and effectiveness of the board wont be clear until it makes rulings. She said it would have shown more gravitas and courage of conviction if Facebook executives had made the Trump ban decision without deferring to an outside entity.

Facebook is really set up as its own nation-state, with its own executives with Zuckerberg and now its own judiciary, she said. But like the U.S. Supreme Court, the Oversight Board will hear only a tiny number of cases for a privileged few, she said.

Clegg wrote on Thursday that the company makes decisions around restricting content based on its own rules, but it would be better if those standards were created by lawmakers.

Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available.

Zuckerberg has previously called for more regulation over tech as critics blamed the company for allowing the spread of lies and conspiracy theories, including Trumps false claims of election fraud.

Roberts of UCLA agreed that more action by Congress to regulate tech is necessary, but said specific policy goals will be complicated by warring political factions.

Though best known for his Twitter account, Trump relied extensively on Facebook to boost his political fortunes, especially during the 2016 campaign. Former campaign manager Brad Parscale told Wired in 2016 that Facebook generated the bulk of the $250 million Trump raised online from donors.

Facebook and Twitter were the reason we won this thing, he says. Twitter for Mr. Trump. And Facebook for fundraising.

Supporters of the bans say they were long overdue, pointing to Trumps previous incitements of violence. Critics, particularly conservatives, have called the bans an abuse of power and censorship by the tech industry.

The reaction to our decision shows the delicate balance private companies are being asked to strike, Clegg wrote. We have taken the view that in open democracies people have a right to hear what their politicians are saying  the good, the bad and the ugly  so that they can be held to account. But it has never meant that politicians can say whatever they like..

Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 19:59:09|Editor: huaxia

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Staff sort goods in Daxing District of Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 20, 2021. Beijing's Daxing District issued a notification Wednesday banning all people in the district from leaving the capital in the wake of new COVID-19 cases. The district will enforce stringent lockdown management in five residential compounds in the Tiangongyuan subdistrict where the new cases were detected. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang)

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Beijing's Daxing District issued a notification Wednesday banning all people in the district from leaving the capital in the wake of new COVID-19 cases.

Those who need to travel outside the city should obtain approval from local authorities and have a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result taken within three days, according to the leading group on epidemic prevention and control work in Daxing.

The district will enforce stringent lockdown management in five residential compounds in the Tiangongyuan subdistrict where the new cases were detected.

Over 24,000 residents of the compounds are now required to self-quarantine in their homes.

All public places in the subdistrict are required to suspend operation. Visitor flows in public places outside the subdistrict, including stores, commercial buildings, hotels, cinemas, and gyms should be limited to 50 percent of their maximum capacity.

Training institutes in the district have also been asked to close, while special institutions, such as nursing homes and welfare homes, shall be managed with closed-off measures to contain the COVID-19 resurgence.

A total of 17 observation centers in Daxing are being used to facilitate centralized isolation for students and teachers from schools that have reported confirmed cases.

Additionally, public transportation in the district is required to cap passenger flows at 75 percent of full capacity.

Beijing reported seven new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, of which six were reported in the Ronghui residential compound in Daxing's Tiangongyuan subdistrict.

According to a municipal press conference, the compound's COVID-19 risk classification was upgraded to high-risk on Wednesday. The city has three medium-risk areas for COVID-19 so far, all in Shunyi District. Enditem
(Alliance News) - The first few days of a series of planned strikes by British Airways cargo workers have been called off after a breakthrough in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Members of the Unite union based at Heathrow were due to walk out on Friday and again for several days in the coming weeks.

Unite Assistant General Secretary Howard Beckett said on Thursday: "As a result of significant progress at talks held today between BA's senior management and Unite, the first three days of the nine days of BA Cargo strikes due to begin tomorrow have been called off.

"Unite believes this act of good faith will help ensure that a final resolution agreeable to all parties can be reached in the coming days."

British Airways is a subsidiary of International Consolidated Airlines Group SA. The stock closed 3.0% lower in London on Thursday at 156.95 pence a share.

By Alan Jones

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:51:02|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The fight against COVID-19 pandemic in Africa could suffer setbacks amid inadequate access to vaccines occasioned by hoarding by rich nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional director for Africa said that COVID-19 vaccines' buying frenzy by rich economies might limit access in the continent and undermine efforts to contain the pandemic.

"We first, not me first is the only way to end the pandemic. Vaccine hoarding will only prolong the ordeal and delay Africa's recovery," Moeti said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Statistics from WHO indicate that 40 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have so far been administered in 50 mostly high-income countries while in Africa, Guinea is the only country that has inoculated 25 people against the virus.

At the same time, the Indian Ocean island of Seychelles that is considered a high-income country is the only one in Africa that has started a national vaccination campaign.

Moeti said that Africa is yet to buffer itself fully from the risk of COVID-19 hence the need for the international community and pharmaceutical giants to address imbalances in vaccine access.

"Health workers and vulnerable people in Africa need urgent access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines," said Moeti.

She said that WHO vaccine introduction readiness assessment tool indicates that African countries are on average 42 percent ready to conduct mass inoculation and required massive investments to attain the 80 percent threshold.

"We have partnered with African countries to develop vaccine delivery plans and address vaccine hesitancy," said Moeti, adding that the continent must sustain containment measures like testing, contact tracing and isolation that will complement inoculations in the quest to defeat the pandemic.

Plans are in the pipeline to vaccinate at least 20 percent of African population by the end of 2021 through COVAX facility which is funded by WHO and partners.

Thabani Maphosa, managing director, Country Programs at the Vaccine Alliance GAVI said the initial batch of 30 million doses is expected to arrive in the continent by March to help inoculate 3 percent of the population while priority will be given to healthcare workers, the elderly and terminally ill.

"There is a sense of urgency to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Africa that meet key parameters like safety and efficacy," said Maphosa.

"Countries should leverage on existing infrastructure and experience with immunization to expedite the process of vaccinating the population against the pandemic," he added. Enditem
Catch more vibrant programmes at Public arts festival: ARTWALK Little India 2021

Popular public arts festival ARTWALK Little India (ARTWALK) returns to celebrate the rich heritage of this Singapore precinct with performances and experiences from 22 January to 6 February 2021.

In its tenth edition in 2021, the nine-day celebration of the visual arts demonstrates how art continues to fuel and inspire even in challenging times Inspite Of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Music Performance] AWLI Jams by Building Fire. Photo Courtesy ARTWALK

Ms Serene Tan, Director, Arts & Cultural Precincts, Singapore Tourism Board said: We are pleased to welcome ARTWALK Little India for the seventh year running, this time with a new hybrid format. Aptly themed In Spite Of, this years festival will continue to enliven Little India through rich storytelling and vibrant artwork, and allow locals to rediscover Little India. There is something for everyone, and we encourage visitors to explore the festivals diverse offerings.

Held in conjunction with Singapore Art Week, this years festival will be presented in a hybrid format for the first time, featuring both digital and on-site programmes in venues across Singapore, from galleries and museums to virtual platforms.

[Experiences] Tour by Monster Day Tours. Photo Courtesy ARTWALK

As our country moves into a gradual reopening, the vibrant stories, sights and sounds of the festival will be uplifting for many after close to a year of isolation, said Milenko Prvacki, Senior Fellow, LASALLE College of the Arts.

LASALLE College of the Arts is Asias leading tertiary institution in contemporary arts and design education and practice and offers 30 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

[Percussion Performance] Meet the Beats by SIFAS. Photo Courtesy ARTWALK

We hope that through this shared experience of ARTWALK, people can find comfort, understanding and remain connected to one another as a community, added Prvack who was the impetus for the festivals inaugural showing in 2015 and has seen the festival through many editions.

Together with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), with the support of Little India Shopkeepers and Heritage Association, they guide a group of 12 BA(Hons) Arts Management students in organising the festival.

[Dance Performance] Nruthya mein Ekta (Unity in Dance) by LASALLE Diploma in Dance students. Photo Courtesy ARTWALK

This year also sees ARTWALKs first international collaboration between Indian artist Bhajju Shyam, a recipient of the Padma Shri (one of Indias highest civilian awards), and Singaporean urban artist Sam Lo.

Brought together by the St+art India Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in India that works on public art projects, this fusion of traditional Indian art form Gond with contemporary lines stands boldly at seven storeys tall on the facade of Broadway Hotel (195 Serangoon Road).

Kicking things off for ARTWALK 2021 is pioneering Bhangra company Jigri Yaar Bhangra, which commemorates its 35th year in the industry with a special performance. Filmed around iconic spots in Little India, viewers will witness the powerful energy of this dance reverberating through their screens when they tune in via Facebook.

[Dance Performance] Bhangra by Jigri Yaar Bhangra. Photo Courtesy ARTWALK

Carrying this same vitality is Bollywood Zumba with Theeya, a live Zoom class that promises an intense workout to popular Bollywood tunes. For child-friendly fun, a workshop not to be missed is Spiced Up Motifs. Through an activity kit that includes stencils and cooking spices, families will create motifs used in Indian textiles in this sensory play.

Other online offerings include festival favourites such as master storyteller Kamini Ramachandran who will recount tales tied to the old cattle industry at Serangoon Road and the Thaipusam procession of Little India, and Monster Day Tours who will take audiences on a virtual walk to discover the many murals and places of interest in the precinct.

[Experiences] Test your Tastebuds by three generations. Photo Courtesy ARTWALK

For those who prefer to stretch their legs, visitors can take a walk to view six new artworks in the heritage precinct, including a community wall along Upper Dickson Road.

Artist Khairulddin Wahab weaves reflections submitted by residents and migrant workers who frequent the area into a large-scale mural.

Also on display along Clive Street are several life-sized frames in the shape of human figures. This fixed installation by Milenko Prvacki invites visitors to take photos while engaging with the socially distanced frames.

Full details of programmes and on-site artworks can be found at Art Walk Little Indias website, which also includes a retrospective showcase of all past festivals.
TN elections 2021: Congress bats for Congress-DMK-Kamal alliance

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Chennai, Jan 21: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will hit the campaign trail on Saturday in Tamil Nadu where assembly elections are likely to be held in April-May, party state unit chief K S Azhagiri said on Wednesday.

He also asserted the present Congress-DMK alliance would continue for the elections and said it would be a welcome development if actor-politician Kamal Haasan joined the combine.

Haasan, who last week completed his first round of campaign, has ruled out joining hands with ruling AIADMK or the DMK, which is going all out to come back to power in the state after being in opposition for ten years. "Rahul Gandhi will attend election meetings in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts on January 23.

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021: How to check name in voter list and download voter slip

He has also agreed to visit Erode for a Congress public meeting," the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President told reporters here. This will be the second visit of the former Congress president to the state this month. Earlier, on January 14, he had witnessed a ''jallikattu'', bull taming sport, event in Madurai in southern Tamil Nadu.

Interestingly, Gandhi would launch the campaign from western Tamil Nadu, the home region of Chief Minister K Palaniswami, who hails from neighbouring Salem district. Palaniswami, declared as the chief ministerial candidate by the AIADMK, has already launched his campaign. Arch-rival DMK chief M K Stalin has been addressing a series of "people''s grama sabha" meetings across the state in the run-up to the elections. Gandhi''s detailed tour programme would be announced on Thursday, Azhagiri said during the interaction at the District Congress Committee office here. He said the existing alliance between Congress and DMK would continue.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

Though there may be differences in some policies of the alliance parties, everyone was committed to secularism, the TNCC chief added. Replying to a question on Hassan, he said "everyone will be happy if he is willing to join the DMK-Congress alliance as he (the Makkal Needhi Maiam founder leader) has a secular outlook and is keen on opposing corruption". Azhagiri denied that the National Entrance-cum- Eligibility Test (NEET) for medical courses was conceived during the Congress-led UPA regime. He claimed if the DMK-led alliance won the assembly polls, they would abolish NEET and also waive all crop and educational loans.

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Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 9:07 [IST]

Facebook plans to go all-out to allay fears over its intended privacy policy changes, for which it will take up ad campaigns and interactions with users and government stakeholders over the next few months.

Sources told the Business Standard the campaign would clarify that the updated policy would be applicable to interactions with 19 million business account users of WhatsApp and that these messages can be leveraged for business purposes such as running ads.

An example they gave was of users approaching a business for catalog details of saris, information of such interest can be used by the business to send ads on WhatsApp and Instagram.

The company added that conversations cannot be shared because chats are encrypted.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

Further, sources said the company also plans to reach out to government officials to assure that Facebooks updated terms of service are in consonance with laws.

This comes after the government on January 19 asked the company to explain its double standards on privacy policy such as differences in stringency between Europe and India.

Notably, India's own Privacy Bill - which plans to incorporate some of Europes more stringent rules - is still in discussion.

As per the sources, WhatsApp India's privacy policies are aligned with its US ones and there is no significant dent in its user base of 400 million despite the controversy. They, however, acknowledged an increased trend of downloading competitor apps such as Telegram and Signal.
Bengaluru, Jan 21 : At least four allegedly disgruntled ministers -- K. Sudhakar, J.C. Madhuswamy, K. Gopalaiah and M.T.B. Nagaraj -- reportedly skipped the first cabinet meeting convened by Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Thursday after effecting minor cabinet reshuffle and allocating portfolios to seven newly inducted legislators into his team.

It came as a surprise to many when Yediyuappa divested the Medical Education portfolio from Health Minister K. Sudhakar, who was elevated as the health minister with the Medical Education portfolio just three months ago on October 12. The decision to divest the Food and Civil Supplies portfolio from K. Gopalaiah, who is considered to have done a fairly decent job as minister, also surprised many.

Apart from this, rumours were doing the rounds about Madhuswamy being dropped from a crucial portfolio over his alleged 'stubborn' approach on certain issues.

A senior party leader told IANS that the Law Ministry is one of the crucial ministries after the finance portfolio, as every department's proposals must get clearance from it.

"Generally, the CM choses his 'yes man' for this portfolio. Due to his temperamental issues, Madhuswamy might have attracted the ire of Yediyurappa or his close coterie. Therefore, it appears that he has been divested from this important portfolio," a source said.

The source further added that cutting two high-profile ministers to size by changing their portfolios also sent a message to his rivals in the party, that te CM enjoys the full confidence of the party's top brass.

Among the newly inducted seven ministers, at least five are indirectly expressing their dissatisfaction over the portfolios allocated to them.

Nagaraj, who has been given the plum portfolio of excise, is unhappy and has openly said that he never wanted to be the Excise Minister. Since he wants to serve the poor, he wanted a portfolio that is directly linked to them, such as housing.

"I was a Housing Minister when I resigned and joined the BJP. Now I need a similar portfolio through which I can be constantly in touch with the poor in the state," Nagaraj said.

BJP leaders like sugar baron R. Murugesh Nirani and senior MLA from Bengaluru, Aravind Limbavali, who have been allocated portfolios like mining and forest, respectively, are also reportedly 'unhappy' but they have not expressed it openly.

Limbavali had been eyeing the powerful Bengaluru Development Authority or at least the urban development portfolio, while Nirani had set his eyes on the energy department. But none of these portfolios were allocated to them as the CM kept them with himself along with other important portfolios like finance, personnel department, energy and intelligence.

Yediyurappa has told the media that he will not succumb to any pressure this time as he has allocated the portfolios after giving them a careful thought.

"The ministers whom you (media) are highlighting as 'rebelled against me' are having discussions with me in a most cordial manner. All ministers, including Madhuswamy, will respect my decision. I am not saying there are no differences among us, but it has not reached a point where a minister or a leader can rebel against me," the CM said in response to a question prior to attending the cabinet meeting on Thursday evening.

At present, there are 33 ministers in the cabinet, whose total strength is 34, including the Chief Minister.
2 1 of 2 Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Tom Reel /San Antonio Express-News Show More Show Less



The University of Texas at San Antonio was chosen as just one of 16 universities in the country, and the only in Texas, to receive a $5 million, 3-year grant from the Mellon Foundation's Just Futures Initiative.

The funds will be used by the university to kick-start their racial justice project, "Democratizing Racial Justice," that was chosen along with 15 other projects from a total of 165 grant applications.
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User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale

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Larnaca (7.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : I was sitting indoors when it felt, and looked like the house and the ground outside was moving back and forth. It was also very noisy, with a deep rumbling sound. I could hear a few household objects fall down. All my 6 animals ran for cover. | 7 users found this interesting.

Famagusta, Eastern Mediterranean University (68.3 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 10-15 s : I was on my bed and felt the spring underneath it shaking. I was confused and it felt as though there was someone under the bed or pushing the bed. It was less than 20 seconds, but at the same time, scary. | 4 users found this interesting.

Oroklini Village, Larnaca, Cyprus (9.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating : The office chair I was sitting on was shaking that I felt dizzy and I saw my 2 monitors were making a "cheers". The small stuff on the desk were not shaking. First I thought maybe a heavy track was passing outside, but it was not and I realized it's an earthquake, strong one. aprox 30sec later when I stopped feeling it I saw that my drying rack is still shaking for another more than 30sec. | 4 users found this interesting.

SAINT LAZARUS STREET, LARNACA,CYPRUS. / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 2-5 s : I WAS IN A SHOP AND I WAS TALKING BY TELEPHONE AND SUDDENLY I FEEL THE SHAKE AND I SEE ALL THE SHELVES & AND GOODS ARE SHAKING, SPECIALLY THE GLASS BOTTLES ARE MAKING SOUND WHEN MOVING,IT WAS NOT VERY STRONG BUT DANGEROUSLY SHAKING. | 4 users found this interesting.

N (43.7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Felt small shaking and movement on bed and heard things rattling a bit | 5 users found this interesting.

Nicosia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : I was sleeping that time, my bed was moving and also the door wich was close it was like a sound of moving. Strange feeling. Hope thats it and we will not feel this very soon. | 3 users found this interesting.

Anagyia, nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Both my daughter & I were a little alarmed & shaken. We both felt & heard the earthquake. Her bed & whole room was shaking. I could hear the walls of our home crackling the floor tremble & the table plants as well. Thankfully though it didnt seem to last too long. | 3 users found this interesting.

SIA, 2574 Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s : first couple of seconds felt in in my body as something shaky - then computer screen and table lamp started shaking for about - I would say 10-15 seconds, then went normal | 3 users found this interesting.

Limassol / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Sitting on sifo. Felt lateral movement. Could see the movement on the surface of a glass of water in front of me. | 3 users found this interesting.

39.9 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Felt it inside....a free standing pic frame fell down...noise of vibration was clearly audible in the room | 2 users found this interesting.

Platy - Aglandjia (38.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : Sitting on chair in office at first floor. Felt the shaking and felt somewhat dizzy. Cats alarmed and distressed. | 2 users found this interesting.

Larnaca (11.5 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : The chair I was sitting on was moving and my computer screen was shaking. My girlfriend felt the bed shaking a lot and thought I am pulling a prank on her. | 2 users found this interesting.

12 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : heard a decent amount of noise, pc monitor moved swung back and forth, most intense part of the shaking only lasted ~3-5 sec | 2 users found this interesting.

192.9 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : 6th floor, sitting on a chair on the dinning table, felt consecutive slight bumps. Confirmed it was an earthquake by the chandeliers moving. | 2 users found this interesting.

Famagusta, north Cyprus / Strong shaking (MMI VI) : My bed and my building shook , people screaming and shouting looking for shelter | 4 users found this interesting.

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Rumbling sound slowly grew in intensity and then apartment block seemed to sway from side to side. I stood up but could not walk. Rumbling stopped. Elderly neighbours ran into street below frightened. | 3 users found this interesting.

Larnaca (113.1 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Scary , very scary feeling | 3 users found this interesting.

12.7 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) Short but strong shaking. Lampshades where moving and one painting fell off the wall.. | 3 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Strong shaking (MMI VI)

Larnaca, Cyprus. / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling : Whole house was shaking and moving, it felt like being on a boat, I had to grab something to stop falling. Large 72" TV banging on bracket on wall, Water in swimming pool moving like there was a wave machine, it took 15-20mins to become calm again. Large palm tree outside swaying. dangerously. | 2 users found this interesting.

Dhekelia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Caused television to move - felt by all indoors and all of my neighbours - children alarmed - caused some seasick like symptoms afterwards | 2 users found this interesting.

paralimni / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Half asleep on the sofa. Felt like four or five shakes - like being on the sofa with a dog scratching its ear (make sense?) Light fittings did not sway. | 2 users found this interesting.

Famagusta / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : I am in quarantine in a hotel room and the bed started shaking and lamps and the floor, i was extremely scared and the hotel gave no instructions on what to do very irresponsible action , as if an earthquake is a normal thing. | 2 users found this interesting.

Famagusta / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : I was lying on the couch then all of a sudden everywhere was shaking. The whole building for about 3 minutes | 2 users found this interesting.

Limassol / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : An open door started lightly shaking while the ground vibrated a bit for a gew seconds before re-satbilizing. It was a bit surprising but not alarming. | 2 users found this interesting.

Ayia Thekla, Sotira / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Sat on the sofa and felt it swaying from side to side. It took me almost a minute to think of my phone to film the pool where the water was still swaying. Tried to upload the film, but it will have pictures only | 2 users found this interesting. Esto es muy interesante y veo dos posibilidades primero que haya visto mal el espacio correspondiente a video (distorsion optica) o que se le haya desplazado el dedo (como a mi en uno de los comentarios) o que haya fallado el celular y haya fotografiado en lugar de tomar el video, en cualquier caso un fenomeno destacable por el tipo de ondas que se produjeron. / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Latsia / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : I was sitting outside on the bench when I felt the ground shaking and windows were shaking. I heard a deep grounding noise | 2 users found this interesting.

Ayios Andreas Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : Felt the floor shaking under my feet. At the time of the earthquake I was seated at my desk working in Ayios Andreas Nicosia area | 2 users found this interesting.

PYLA / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s : I felt a light rumbling which at first I thought was some heavy trucks passing by then it intensified and I realised it was an earthquake | 2 users found this interesting.

Strovolos, Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I felt the chair and the ground underneath shake, loose furniture in the room was swinging sideways. First earthquake i experienced! | 2 users found this interesting.

Larnaca, 6027 / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Dining table and other furniture started moving, ceiling lamps were swinging. Did not last very long, but enough to cause some alarm within you. | 2 users found this interesting.

Nicosia Cyprus / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : Seemed to go on for about 15 seconds. Definitely enough time to realise what was happening and it was still going on. Subtle shaking of whole house, but nothing displaced. | 2 users found this interesting.

Kestel, turkey (229.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s : 2times with 3sec interval. Light shaking on the 6th floor. Also felt on the 1st floor, but not on the ground | One user found this interesting.

Thermia, Kyrenia (56 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 15-20 s : Sitting on the sofa I felt and saw my legs jumping up and down and then they paused and then the sofa lifted slightly and fell I jumped up feeling confused sat down and the vibrations of going up and down were continuing. Felt nauseous and very lightheaded a few minutes later | One user found this interesting.

Paralimni (24.4 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s : First heard the sound like army explosions exercises afar. Then heard the roof cracking like there was somebody walking on it. For a second thought it was a cat as they do climb our roof but then realised the sound was like it was something heavier than an animal and then saw the glass in the cabinet reflecting the lamp. It was either the glass cabinet shaking or most likely the lamp swaying. Lasted a few seconds. | One user found this interesting. Gracias es una informacion muy relevante / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

Frenaros (18.1 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I was seated at my laptop on a small table which started to shake. I could see the pool about 4m away with ripples across the total surface. I felt it in my body thinking my heart was missing lots of beats/beating irregularly. | One user found this interesting.

14 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s : We were sitting on a sofa watching TV and started wobbling. We didn't go outside as by the time we recognised what was happening it had stopped. | One user found this interesting.

Nicosia, Strovolos (40.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : I was sitting in my chair and though someone was shaking it, saw water in my bottle moving considerably. | One user found this interesting.

Dikmen, N. Cyprus (41.1 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s : felt a short sharp drop while sitting in a chair on the ground floor. Partner on upper floor felt bed swaying for a few seconds. | One user found this interesting.

lebanon / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Felt it from Lebanon in the Jounieh Area. Close to the sea. | 3 users found this interesting.

Pervolia, Larnaka (21.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 20-30 s : Vibrations felt. Vertigo felt. Doors and windows rattling. Glassware rattling. Lamps swaying. | 2 users found this interesting.

Nicosia (41.1 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s : It shook a lot and it lasted for quite a long time. Very scary. It made me dizzy and lightheaded. | 2 users found this interesting.

Nicosia (40.7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s : Some ornaments fell down. Im on the 3rd floor. Noise is scary. | 2 users found this interesting.

Paralimni (25.7 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : Accompanied by rumbling noise. Floor and settee shook, felt sideways. | 2 users found this interesting.

41.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : I was at home and the chair started swinging | 2 users found this interesting.

55.9 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vibration and rolling / 1-2 s : heard slight rumble like distant thunder, saw windows flexing. | 2 users found this interesting.

40.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Strong Shaking for 20 seconds. | 2 users found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Iskenderun (280.8 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : I feel it in iskenderun City in Hatay Provence Turkey | 2 users found this interesting.

Pyla / Strong shaking (MMI VI) : Very strong shaking! Difficulty standing without holding onto something causes dizziness. Furniture moving windows rattling | One user found this interesting.

Nicosia, Cyprus / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : As I live on the 4th floor of a building I usually feel almost every earthquake. This one was by far the most Powerful I have ever witnessed. The entire building was shaking and I immediately run downstairs where i saw other people gathered. | One user found this interesting.

Latakia (north countryside), Syria / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : I was walking in the living room, when i noticed the wall mirror shaking , i looked around, and the library was shaking too, so i stopped to feel if there is really an earthquake, I felt nothing, I really thought I am hallucinating | One user found this interesting.

Akaki nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : Was sitting in my chair and it started shaking then stopped for around 20 seconds and shook again and noticed the door was moving as well for a few seconds | One user found this interesting.

Nicosia / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s : I was sitting on a high chair and felt myself moving but I wasnt sure if I got dizzy or there was an earthquake . | One user found this interesting.

israel / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s : I have noticed my pc monitors shaking from side to side, and then I started feeling it just a bit on my chair, but it was mostly only visible. | One user found this interesting.

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : I live leivadia Agiou Savva St My home just swayed like looking at a crazy mirror. I though a car had drove into our home. | One user found this interesting.

Dhekelia base area / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : Less than a minute of small vibrations, I was in touch with some other friends who lived in the same area and they felt it aswell. | One user found this interesting.

40.9 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Coming from South Africa there are no earthquakes, it was frightening at first. The apartment building was swaying which was scary.

Famagusta, EMU (25.1 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 15-20 s : My sister and I were lying on the bed, well she was sleeping and I was watching a vlog on youtube, when suddenly I felt the bed shaking. I paused what I was watching as I thought that maybe I was imagining things, then when I looked over my laptop and saw my sister shaking and quickly waking up from her sleep, I told her to quickly get her shoes and phone, then we ran 5 floors down "to safety" (outside), whereby we found others and also joined by others who were in the building.

Frenaros (16.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : The whole house shook and our chairs in which we were sitting rocked. The key in the front door swung as did the curtains

Larnaca, Phaneromeni area (12.4 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I was in the kitchen and was jolted forward, at first I thought I had fainted, put my hands out to stop me falling and upon looking around I saw my light fixtures swinging. Pet dogs distressed, started barking.

Amioun Lebanon (203.2 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s : Was indoors on sofa. Felt like several hump bumps from sofa. No rattling. 2 to 3 seconds. Everybody at home felt it.

AYIOS ATHANASIOS (68.9 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : There was a strong initial instant shock with the lateral shaking commencing probably 10 seconds after. Shaking lasted around 10 seconds

Limassol (72.6 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : On the 2nd floor of an office and the room seemed to shake. Could feel it in my chair and saw my computer monitors shake.

Oroklini, Larnaca, Cyprus / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : Felt desk shaking, felt stronger as it went on. Definite understanding it was an earthquake. | 2 users found this interesting.

Lefke / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 5-10 s : Third quake this year. The last one was stronger and longer. Lefke, Cyprus. | 2 users found this interesting.

Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s : i was in the roof of my house and felt the earthquake. nearby me, nothing is damaged. | 2 users found this interesting.

Vrysoulles / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Couch moved whilst l was laying in it couldn't hear any noise | 2 users found this interesting.

Famagusta / Weak shaking (MMI III) : I was playing on my pc and suddenly my screen and bottle of water started shaking | 2 users found this interesting.

Oroklini Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : Strongest earthquake I have ever felt in my lifetime. The shaking when on for at least 8-10 seconds. | 2 users found this interesting.

larnaca / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single lateral shake : it was like someone kicked the building i am in | 2 users found this interesting.

Pyla / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Felt the shake while indoors and while outdoors the pool was wavy | 2 users found this interesting.

Latakia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : Just felt panic and run to hold my two childreen | 2 users found this interesting.

North lebanon / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s : Chandelier swings , felt some dizzy , ground shaking and some stuff Make some noise | 2 users found this interesting.

Nicosia / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short : My cupboard doors moved open and closed quickly and very mild shaking | 2 users found this interesting.

Strovolos, Nicosia, Cyprus / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s : Horizontal shake. A couple of seconds only. | 2 users found this interesting.

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Building swaying for about 10 seconds | 2 users found this interesting.

Limassol / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : 2 phase, 1st smaller 1-2 seconds, 1 min after 2-3 seconds stronger | 2 users found this interesting.

Limassol / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single vertical bump : Scary noise | 2 users found this interesting.

Vrysoullus (19.2 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s : Loud rumble, desks and building creaking and shaking. | One user found this interesting.

26.3 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / very short : They were 2 shockwaves | One user found this interesting.

Frenaros (18.2 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : Small objects shaking, big furniture rattling . Indoors in the ground floor of a house in frenaros | One user found this interesting.

11.1 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / single vertical bump / 10-15 s : Some damage at home with things falling from shelves and walls. Could not standup to walk. | One user found this interesting.

Nicosia (43.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s Gentle sway but very noticeable | One user found this interesting. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s

Kiti (21.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : I was taking a nap and was woken up by the bed shaking and what felt like the ground moving | One user found this interesting.

Famagusta / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : It was scary because I have never experienced anything like this before. It has sent my body into alert mood | One user found this interesting.

Nicosia (43.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : I thought the cat was knocking on the door/ a bit dizziness. | One user found this interesting.

Nicosia (41.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : building was swaying slightly, twice | One user found this interesting.

NICOSIA (36.2 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : We were at work and we all went outside. | One user found this interesting.

Bogaz / not felt : Heard sound like iron railings rattling, but felt nothing. Took no notice, but a friend in Turkey phoned a few minutes later to check if we were alright.

Larnaca, Cyprus / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Watching TV laid on a bed in hotel room. The bed started shaking quite strongly and utensils & a coffee pot fell from the shelves.

Famagusta / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : I am in quarantine in a hotel room and the bed started shaking and lamps and the floor, i was extremely scared and the hotel gave no instructions on what to do very irresponsible action , as if an earthquake is a normal thing.

Pyla close to Larnaca / not felt : I was walking in the garden and never felt a thing. My wife, sitting indoors, felt a lot of shaking and local friends said the ornaments fell over

magusa, north cyprus / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : was in betting house when it happens, and we all felt it. we ran out for safety.. and saw people runing out of there house as well. after some mins we all went in back

Livadia, Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : My bed moved and I felt extremely phobiatic state specifically because I am epileptic. Also it shook my room. Sorrowfully Rafael

Oroklini / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single lateral shake : Slight shaking for about a minute getting stronger, strong shake for about 40 seconds before subsiding.

Oneiron, Oroklini / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s : Spotted birds all flying past window, few seconds later my desk started moving gradually and chair rocking, then became more violent. Picked up son, had difficulty walking down stairs. Slight plaster damage / cracks on supporting beam above the stairs. about a min from very start, but only 10-15 seconds of violent movement. All neighbours were in the street with us.

Protaras / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s : First we heard a faint grumbling noise, as if a heavy earth mover passed down the road, and immediately afterwards, we felt a swaying shake. It ladted just about 15 to 20 seconds

Nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : I was in the office building, 1st floor, felt moderate continuous shaking, tables, shelves, computers were in light trembling. I left the office as well as many other people in the building.

Famagusta / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : I was lying on the couch then all of a sudden everywhere was shaking. The whole building for about 3 minutes

Larnaca / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) : J'etais dans ma chambre, au premiere niveaux. Et j'ai ressenti le lit bouger,le murs vibre et la porte secoue comme par une dizaine des gens. J'ai eux tres peur comme ce ma premiere fois et suis descendue de l'humeuble pour me sauve

Hamitkoy / not felt : I just came back from school and I heard people talking about earthquake in there cities, and I was like waaaaaaaahhh

Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s : I LIVE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, I WAS SITTING ON THE CHAIR AND WHEN THE EARTHQUAKE BEGUN, THE CHAIR MOVED WITH ME SLOWLY, THEN I SAW THE WINDOWS MOVING AND ALL THE WALLS OF THE HOUSE, AND THE DOOR MOVED FOR A FEW SECONDS.

Oroklini Cyprus / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : I was sitting on a chair and it shook.a few things hanging shook. I'm still shaken from the experience

Jounieh, Lebanon / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short : Hello, I was lying in my bed when it suddenly started shaking. It was extremely short, 1 to 2 seconds and weak, but it was definitely felt here (in Zouk Mosbeh to be specific).

Ayios Andreas Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s : Felt the floor shaking under my feet. At the time of the earthquake I was seated at my desk working in Ayios Andreas Nicosia area

Avgorou / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single vertical bump / very short : First an up down sort of bump. then a few seconds later shaking | 2 users found this interesting.

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Scary but didn't last too long. Furniture shook and tv nearly fell. Very unexpected | One user found this interesting.

3362.1 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Sound of banging from upstairs | One user found this interesting.

Vrysoulles, Famagusta / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Settee shaking, felt like somebody trying to move it whilst sat on it. Vrysoulles village, Famagusta | One user found this interesting.

Paralimni / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s : I was sitting on my sofa and it moved from side to side. | One user found this interesting.

Larnaca Aradippou / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating : I was sitting in my recliner chair and the whole chair moved with me in it (and Im heavy) !!! | One user found this interesting.

Xylotymbou / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s : Shaking at the beginning and then swaying from side to side, very alarming | One user found this interesting.

Larnaca / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Floor and TV shaking | One user found this interesting.

Mazotos. The couch I w as sitting on shook for ab / Weak shaking (MMI III) / complex motion difficult to describe : I sat on the couch and it started shaking for about one minute at precisely 4.27 p.m today | One user found this interesting.

Famagusta, North Cyprus. / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Table was vibrating plus a little panic as a few people felt it. | One user found this interesting.

Caesar Resort, Long Beach, Iskele / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Felt heart pumpings and dizziness before it started | One user found this interesting.

Larnaca Cyprus / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : Shopping in Larnaca. Display cabinets shaking. Bottles broken. | One user found this interesting.

Limassol / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : Chair,desk,blinds shaking left right,very light. | One user found this interesting.

Aradippiu, Larnaca / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : I felt a vibration and rushed outside. | One user found this interesting.

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s : Bad experiance | One user found this interesting.

Nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 15-20 s : Woke me up from my afternoon nap | One user found this interesting.

Alsancak / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : Sat in chair and experience very weak motion of chair side to side. Lasted for approx 20-30 seconds | One user found this interesting.

Limassol / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Was very strong ,the objects were shaking in home | One user found this interesting.

Oroklini / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s : Scary | One user found this interesting.

Aradippou Larnaca / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Wardrobe doors were banging and my desk was shaking | One user found this interesting.

Famagusta / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating : It was like a strong vibration. It didnt last very long like about 90 seconds. It was a shock. | One user found this interesting.

oroklini cyprus / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s : glasses and table were shaking, pictures have moved, dog was barking | One user found this interesting.

Nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Strong and deep shakes, mini shakes afterward! | One user found this interesting.

Esentepe North Cyprus / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s : Shaking of sofa,like someone was shaking it | One user found this interesting.

Limassol / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Mostly heard rather than felt, a rumbling like underground trains. Slight shaking of pictures | One user found this interesting.

Famagusta / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s : I thought it was a car but yeah no broken anything. | One user found this interesting.

protaras / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : Sofa and car shaking | One user found this interesting.

Verhina Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : House shook quite vigorously | One user found this interesting.

Haifa Israel / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short : Slight swinging from side to side, less than a second, clearly an earthquake | One user found this interesting.

Esentepe Girne North Cyprus / not felt / single vertical bump / very short : Very scary was in the house didn't know what to excpect next | One user found this interesting.

Limassol, Cyprus / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s : The furniture at home was shaking.It was apr 30 seconds | One user found this interesting.

Egkomi / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : .... | One user found this interesting.

Limassol (79.6 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

44.2 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 15-20 s

39.6 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s

strovolos (39.7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt

Tseri (40.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

45.2 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

42.6 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s

paralimni (20.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s

lefke , north cyprus (79.6 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

frenaros (17.1 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 20-30 s

Nicosia, Cyprus (43.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Nikosia (41.3 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt : We were outside and got informed by friends later....

433.2 km SSE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Pasiais, Livasia (10.4 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Nicosia (41.7 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s (reported through our app / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Oroklini (9.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

25.2 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

218.1 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt

Nicosia Strovolos (40.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s : First duration felt for 2 seconds then immediately continued increasing for 5-6 seconds

11.5 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Tseri (40.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

Dherynia (0.2 km S of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

42.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

28.2 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

338.6 km SSE of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Oroklini, Larnaca (9 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / complex motion difficult to describe / 15-20 s

25.8 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Ayia nikolaos (18.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 10-15 s

Dali, Nicosia district (30.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

37.6 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Larnaca (11.7 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s

45.6 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Oroklini, Color Cyprus Apartments, first floor (Br (7.6 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

43.1 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

12 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s

54.9 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Sin El Fil - Lebanon (105.4 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / very short

Banias syria (202.7 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s

Lemesos (71.3 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

40.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Larnaka (12.6 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

25.1 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

121.6 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

37.2 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Larnaka (12.6 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Larnaka (11.6 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s

199.7 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Larnaca (13.4 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s : Quite a sharp jolt, unmistakably an earthquake. Building wobbled a bit.

48.5 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Meneou, Larnaca (18.1 km SW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s : TV and hanging items were moving in the appartment, ground was shaking

23.4 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s In Paralimni, on the second floor, he felt strong. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Frenaros (15 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : My husband thought my computer chair had bumped into his. I saw the patio windows shake.

Vrysoules (18.9 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

Xy (5.7 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Larnaca (12.9 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / very short

Nicosia (38.9 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 20-30 s

23.4 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV)

43.9 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

6.8 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

78.2 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt

40.3 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

11.6 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s

Prataras (27.7 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

48.1 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

limassol germasogia (67.3 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

45.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s

Lefkosa (43.1 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Nicosia (42 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

8.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s

65.8 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

36.8 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Paralimni, Cyprus (1063.3 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 15-20 s : Armchair shaking.

14.6 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

220 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

238.2 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 1-2 s

Byblos, Lebanon (199.7 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

pissouri (99.5 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt

28 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

22.7 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) Not so strong (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV)

21.5 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Scary but it was for short time

13.8 km SSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

62.9 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) LIGHT SHAKING (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Limassol (71.7 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 10-15 s

39.3 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Tartus (195.5 km E of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

42.9 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

Nicosia (40.5 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s

236.8 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Nicosia (40.5 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 10-15 s

14.8 km SSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s

Pyla (7.2 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI)

45.8 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Larnaca (15.3 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

22.7 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Geri (28.6 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating

Nicosia (42 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

25.4 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Violent shaking (MMI IX)

Trachoni, Limassol (79.6 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

45 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

221.3 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

197.6 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Gonyeli (50.1 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

Zgharta, North-Lebanon, Lebanon (205 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

45.1 km NNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Nicosia (41.7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Frenaros cyprus (14.6 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Kapparis (25.3 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

NICOSIA (39.5 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Kapparis (23.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

10.8 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Finikoudes, Larnaca (8.1 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s

58.2 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

254.9 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Lapta (68.7 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt

Larnaca (12.6 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex motion difficult to describe / 5-10 s

Famagusta (25.8 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating

lebanon Kesrouane (206.1 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : doors clapping slightly and slight furniture movement

13.9 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s : No damages reported.

Limassol (69.8 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Aradippou larnaca (16.2 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

48.1 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s

69.4 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / very short

12.6 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s

11.7 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / complex motion difficult to describe / 2-5 s

Nicosia (49.4 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Liopetri (13.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s

202.7 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

66.8 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) -   (reported through (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III)

44.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

24.8 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

40.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Tripoli Lebanon (199.4 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s

7.6 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

41 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s

Paralimni (24.9 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Nicosia (44.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating

Limassol (74.1 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / not felt

Limassol (74.7 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s

41.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 2-5 s

63.5 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / 5-10 s

41.1 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

40.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) Felt it in 1st floor building. Duration 20sec. (reported through (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Kioneli (48.7 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : 1 minute trebmling

14.6 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

201.1 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Dali, Nicosia (30.3 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

17.2 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s

37.8 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

jdeideh (204.3 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

43.3 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Limassol (71.8 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI)

Oroklini (9.6 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

13.5 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

39.3 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Larnaca (12.8 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

23.2 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Gazimagusa (24.8 km NE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s

40.7 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

39.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Limassol, Cyprus (69.3 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII)

41.7 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s

Nicosia (41 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

235.9 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

21.6 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 10-15 s

Latsia (41 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

251.5 km SSE of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

73 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

lefke (85.8 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Larnaca (13.9 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 2-5 s

738.3 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Larnaka (12.2 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Beirut (200.8 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

Paralimni (24.5 km ENE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Byblos (197.9 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s

nico (39.7 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

40.6 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s

Nicosia (42.1 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

42 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

43.1 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI)

Beirut (204.1 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

201.8 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

606.5 km SSW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt

46.2 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Tripoli (198.9 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s

14.5 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

279.4 km SSE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Beirut (203.7 km SE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / very short

Limmasol (71.9 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s

40.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

204.3 km SE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s

45.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Jbeil (200.2 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

45.6 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 5-10 s

37.2 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

45 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

149.1 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 5-10 s

8.8 km NNE of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

201.2 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s

Nicosia Cyprus (41.2 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Limassol (70.4 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s

14.6 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s

13.9 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

71.5 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 10-15 s

Limassol (70.1 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

195.3 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

49.5 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 1-2 s

Nicosia (41.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Nicosia (43.1 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

237.7 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Kyrenia (47 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / both vertical and horizontal swinging

23.1 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 5-10 s

Nicosia (40.2 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s

Larnaca vergina (15.1 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 5-10 s

41.4 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 5-10 s

37.6 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

39 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

270.9 km E of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

45.1 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

58.2 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / simple rolling (tilting sideways along one direction) / 1-2 s

Limassol (79.6 km WSW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 2-5 s

Nicosia (24.3 km W of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

41.2 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 10-15 s

Mount lebanon (213.1 km ESE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Iskele (35.6 km NNE of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

133.1 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) Moderately shaked (reported through (reported through our app / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Oroklini (7 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

40.2 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

35.8 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Esentepe (43.4 km N of epicenter) [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s

37.6 km WNW of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 15-20 s

152.3 km N of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

11.5 km NE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / vibration and rolling

198.9 km ESE of epicenter [ Map ] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s (reported through our app / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 1-2 s

12.4 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

292.6 km ENE of epicenter [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) (reported through our app / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

14.9 km W of epicenter [ Map ] / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Nicosia (41.8 km NW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 10-15 s

379.5 km SSE of epicenter [ Map ] / not felt (reported through our app / not felt

Lakatamia (41.9 km WNW of epicenter) [ Map ] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

57.5 km NW of epicenter [ Map ] / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 15-20 s

11.9 km WSW of epicenter [ Map ] / Light shaking (MMI IV) (reported through our app / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Nicosia / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) : Is the first time i felt something like that in Cyprus | 2 users found this interesting.

Deftera / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

DROmoloxia. Large house moved felt 2 shocks / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Ayia Napa / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Lapta / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s

beirut / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Oroklini / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 20-30 s

Lympia / Strong shaking (MMI VI)

Salamis bay / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Lefkosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging

Lefkosa / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Limassol / Light shaking (MMI IV) : what I felt was exactly described above

Ormidiea / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Kyrenia / Light shaking (MMI IV) : Very scary

Dhekelia parked by the beach / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Paralimni / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / very short

Lefkosa / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Engomi / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / horizontal (sideways) swinging : Crack appeared in living room wall

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / very short

Veroklini / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

Paralimni / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Salamis bay / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Famagusta / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Famagusta / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Lebanon, keserwan, zouk mikael / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single lateral shake / 5-10 s

Famagusta / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Balalan Karpov / not felt

Oroklini / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Pyla at home near junction 59 of motorway / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Kucuk Erenkoy near Tatlisu North Cyprus / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Pyla / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Larnaca / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 2-5 s

Kalavasos / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : The house made a slight jump and rattled for 2 seconds

Nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

beirut / not felt

Larnaca / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

Nicosia / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / 5-10 s

Iskele / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Limassol / not felt

Kapparis / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / vibration and rolling / 2-5 s : Felt vibration through floor on 2nd floor apartment

Famagusta / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Haifa / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single vertical bump / very short

Haifa / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Wa8 6es / Weak shaking (MMI III) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s : Scary

Larnaca / Very strong shaking (MMI VII) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / very short

Engomi Nicosia / Strong shaking (MMI VI)

beirut / not felt

Ormidia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / complex motion difficult to describe / 15-20 s

Larnaca / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Girne American university / Very weak shaking (MMI II)

Limassol / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 2-5 s

Paralimni / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s

Kozankoy village North Cyprus / Weak shaking (MMI III) : Unpleasant feeling in my body. Noise feeling trough body. Like light vehicle moving.

Nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Larnaca / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 10-15 s

Agia Barbara Nicosia cyprus / not felt

Dhekelia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 10-15 s

Paphos / not felt

Aradippou / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 20-30 s

Pyla, Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 15-20 s : Quite scary. I held onto table whilst everything was shaking. Frames fell off the wall/unit.

Limassol / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s : I felt the weak shake while sitting on my couch in the living room for 5 seconds

Softades, / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Sat on the sofa and a feeling of the sofa moving side to side.

limassol / not felt

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s

oroklini / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Paralimni / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Scala, Larnaca / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 20-30 s

Larnaca / not felt

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s : Building swaying for about 10 seconds

Pyla, Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Larnaca / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Lefke / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Lefkosa, not far from the bus terminal / Weak shaking (MMI III) / 20-30 s

Manavgat Antalya / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 1-2 s

famagusta / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 s

Famagusta / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Zygi / Light shaking (MMI IV) / vertical swinging (up and down) / 2-5 s : I sat on the table and felt that shaking.

Larnaka / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Oroklini / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Lefkosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Oroklin i / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 20-30 s

Paralimni / Light shaking (MMI IV)

Larnaca / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / vibration and rolling

Farmagusta / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 2-5 s

PERVOLIA, Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / vibration and rolling / 5-10 s : Sitting on settee in PERVOLIA. Settee rocked back and forth.

Alethriko / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Oroklini / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s

Lapta / Light shaking (MMI IV) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s

Larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 10-15 s

Famagusta / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / 5-10 s

Larnaca / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single lateral shake / 15-20 s

Lebanon metn / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating

Larnaka, Makenzy / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Girne / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 10-15 s : Very weak shaking felt on the ground floor.

Oroklini / Moderate shaking (MMI V) : Was strongly shakedown while standing

Esentepe, North Cyprus / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / single vertical bump / very short

Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s

Dhekelia cyprus / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging

Nicosia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

Larnaca / Strong shaking (MMI VI)

Cyprus, Paralimni / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 5-10 s

London / not felt : Did this earthquake prompt any animal behaviour change

Livadia / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Larnaka / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / complex motion difficult to describe / 20-30 s

Orokilni larnaca / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

Deryneia / Strong shaking (MMI VI) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 15-20 s

North Cyprus, Kyrenia / Light shaking (MMI IV) / single vertical bump / 2-5 s

Beirut / Weak shaking (MMI III)

Nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 2-5 s

Nicosia / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / 15-20 s

Caesar Resort, Iskele / Moderate shaking (MMI V) / rattling, vibrating

Platt Aglantzia / Moderate shaking (MMI V)

Psimolofou / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 2-5 s

Oroklini / Light shaking (MMI IV) / rattling, vibrating / 5-10 s

Haifa, Israel / Light shaking (MMI IV) / 1-2 s : The chair that I was on starting shaking.

Minarelikoy / Weak shaking (MMI III) / single lateral shake / 15-20 s : Easy vibration

Tsada Paphos / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / 2-5 s
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cursive is Cool contest will be held as usual this year after encouragement from teachers, parents and students, announced the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation today, despite some schools in the USA and Canada operating remotely, or using a hybrid model with in-person learning.

Modifications this year allow more students to participate who might not have teacher support as in the past.

Students are encouraged to enter early. Random drawings of entries received throughout the contest will be eligible for prizes. Winners of random drawings are eligible for the Grand Prize. Those winners' handwriting will be reviewed for legibility and neatness. One Grand Prize per grade 1 through 6 will be awarded.

"Every year our judges look forward to reading entries because kids' points of view are not only entertaining but also often enlightening," remarked Lauren Mooney Bear, Campaign for Cursive Chair.

The annual cursive contest has many supporters. In Canada they include Laywine's and Zebra Pen (Canada). A new supporter this year is Blind Pig Press. For the USA contest, supporters continue to grow, with Amsterdam Printing, Cursive Logic, Dixon Ticonderoga, Fahrney's Pens, Itoya, Louise Borden Author, Monkey Magnets, New American Cursive, PEN World, Sakura and Writing Academy. New this year are Caran D'ache and Colombia City Ninja School.

According to Sheila Lowe, President of the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation, "The good news from an informal survey indicates that more than half the states require at least some cursive writing training in public schools. Legislation is spending in six more. Only ten states have zero requirement to teach their students to write."

USA and French Canadian contest dates are January 23 through April 30, 2021.



English Canadian contest runs from January 23 through March 12, 2021.

For more information, contact Lauren Mooney Bear: [email protected].

Learn more: http://www.cursiveiscool.com/

"You don't have to be the best writer this year

To win a prize that will bring you cheer.

Entering is the main thing to do

To win a prize to be sent to you!"

About the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation:

The Foundation is a 501-(c)6 non-profit organization, chartered and incorporated in California, and are the sponsors of Campaign for Cursive. Visit http://www.ahafhandwriting.org/.

*IMAGE: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0121s2p-campaign-cursive-300dpi.jpg

This release was issued through Send2Press, a unit of Neotrope. For more information, visit Send2Press Newswire at https://www.Send2Press.com

SOURCE American Handwriting Analysis Foundation
A five-year-old ran down a remote country road to save his family who were trapped in an upside down car only being held up by tree branches.

George Atley saved his mother Tamara Atley and sister Emelia, three, after a car crash in Curio Bay on the south island of New Zealand last Saturday.

The brave child climbed out of a crack in the back window and pulled out his sister before running to get help for his mum.

5-year-old George Atley (pictured) ran down a remote country road to save his trapped mother who was trapped in an upside down car being held by tree branches

George Atley saved his mother Tamara Atley and sister Emelia, 3, after their car (pictured) crashed in Curio Bay on the south island of New Zealand last Saturday

The family were heading to a beach in Curio Beach when Ms Atley decided to visit the Petrified Forest in Curio Bay.

Ms Atley said she was doing a three-point turn when the car drove forward into a bank, then turned and flipped into the tree canopy.

The car was suddenly upside down and the only thing keeping it from falling into the gorge were some tree limbs.

There was a crack in the back window, and young George 'got out of his car seat and calmly climbed out'.

three-year-old Emelia was hanging upside down in her car seat so Ms Atley desperately tried to unlatch her, petrified the car would drop into the gorge below.

First-grader George (pictured left) climbed out of a crack in the back window and pulled out his sister Emelia,3, (pictured right) before running to get help for his mum

Finally, the mother managed to unbelt her daughter who then climbed out of the back window and onto the road with George.

'I heard him telling her how to climb up, holding onto the grass and [reaching] his hand,' Ms Atley said.

After George helped his sister escape, he started running down a gravel road for help.

'George never cried. He was extremely calm. He said "I'm going to get help mum,"' Ms Atley said.

While mum Tamara Atley knew her son George was focused and had a good sense of direction, she was terrified for her toddler Emelia (pictured) who had also ran off

Ms Atley said George had 'an amazing sense of direction' and was 'focused', so she was more concerned about her toddler who had also run off.

'For an hour I had no idea where she was or what had happened to her and she is only 3 walking down a gravel road with a steep drop on one side,' Ms Atley said.

Meanwhile, Ms Atley couldn't connect with emergency services on her phone, a petrol smell was getting stronger and she the car was only held secure by foliage.

'I could only think of the children and if they were OK,' Ms Atley recounted.

'Who would look after them if I died?'

George ran from the car accident to a visitor centre carpark, where he alerted someone. He said he watched 'survival videos' on YouTube, so knew what to do. Emelia wandered off and was found at a nearby church, safe and sound

George, who said he learned from a YouTube 'survival' video to run to one place, sought aid from a woman at the Tsum Toka Curioscape Visitor Centre.

Meanwhile, three-year-old Emelia wandered to the Christian Community Centre down the road.

While a petrified Ms Atley crouched inside her precariously balanced car, she didn't know any of this.

Finally, after a tortuous hour of not knowing what had happened to her children, she heard the voices of volunteers.

They pulled her out from the back of the car and told her the young children were safe.

No one was injured 'by some miracle', but courageous George 'panicked all the way home in the ambulance', terrified of the drop next to the road.
Local residents told journalists that even precipitation in January had not raised the water level in the river.

The Suuk-Su River, which is considered the longest one in southern Crimea, has dried up.

The river has become so shallow that it has already ceased to flow into the sea, as it was before, RFE/RL's Krym.Realii media project reported.

Read alsoReservoir supplying water to Simferopol in occupied Crimea dried up (Video)Local residents told journalists that even precipitation in January had not raised the water level in the river.

"Earlier, the river sometimes became shallow in a dry summer, but I don't remember that it looked so deplorable in winter. Moreover, there was quite significant precipitation in the city of Sudak in January," a local historian told journalists.

The length of the Suuk-Su River is 22 km, and many streams flow into it. The mouth of the river is located at the foot of Cape Alchak in Sudak.

Fresh water shortage in Crimea: Background

In summer 2020, restrictions on water supplies were imposed in the city of Simferopol and 39 other settlements due to drought and shallowing of reservoirs.

On September 23, 2020, restrictive measures for the water supply were introduced in the towns of Alushta, Partenit, and Maly Mayak.

The occupying authorities in Crimea announced they were preparing for a "worst-case scenario" with the water supply to the peninsula.

Prior to the occupation of Crimea by Russia, Ukraine used to cover up to 85% of the peninsula's demand for freshwater through the North Crimean Canal.

After the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, Ukraine severed water supplies to the occupied peninsula.

The Ukrainian authorities claim the resumption of water supplies to Crimea would be possible only if Russia ceases its occupation of the peninsula.

Reporting by UNIAN
[January 21, 2021] Cybersecurity Pioneer Cyemptive Technologies to Host Webinar on the SolarWinds Cyber Incident: What Really Happened and What Companies Can Do to Protect Themselves Against Similar Hacks

Cyemptive Technologies, Inc., a provider of preemptive cybersecurity products and technology and winner of the Department of Homeland Security's national competition for most innovative border security-related solution in the market, will host a webinar on the SolarWinds (News - Alert) Cyber Incident: What Really Happened and What Companies can Do to Protect Themselves Against Similar Hacks on Tuesday, January 26, from 10 to 11 am Pacific Standard Time. This online event will be moderated by author, speaker and ethical hacker Brian Seeley. It will include an interview and discussion with Cyemptive founder and CEO Rob Pike, followed by an interactive Q&A open to all attendees. In the webinar, Seely and Pike will cover: What actually occurred during the recently discovered SolarWinds hacking event

How you and your organization are impacted if you were using SolarWinds' assessment and protection tools

What you need to do immediately and in the longer term to ensure you are protecting your organization

Why the SolarWinds cyber incident isn't yet over SolarWinds is an IT management software company based in Austin, Texas, which sells Orion software that provides monitoring and management of an organization's computer networks. In the recent attacks, hackers inserted malicious code into Orion software and around 18,000 SolaWinds customers, including government and corporate entities, installed the tainted update onto their systems. The compromised update has had a sweeping impact, the scale of which keeps growing as new information emerges, the company said.



Registration for the event is free of charge. For more information, including how to register, please click here. Unlike many other cybersecurity companies, neither Cyemptive nor its clients were compromised by the SolarWinds cyber incident. Cyemptive takes a completely different approach to cybersecurity, by taking a preemptive approach that identifies and eliminates attacks before they ever enter a system and thus preventing compromises.

About Cyemptive Technologies Founded in 2014, Cyemptive is a provider of preemptive cybersecurity products and technology. Cyemptive's award-winning technology combines to preempt threats before they can jeopardize the system. Cyemptive's flagship CyberSlice is "human-less" technology rapidly and effortlessly removing known and unknown threats in seconds without the need for "big data" AI analysis on terabytes of log files. With a leadership team comprised of executives from several of the world's most powerful technology and security organizations, including the former CIO of Microsoft (News - Alert) and the former Chief Computer Architect for the National Security Agency, the company's focus is on delivering an alternative approach to security. It is the winner of the Department of Homeland Security's Border Security Technology Consortium (BSTC) competition for most innovative border security-related solution in the market. More information about Cyemptive Technologies is available at www.cyemptive.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005185/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  The Philippines' arbitral victory in the West Philippine Sea dispute will continue to be recognized by the Biden administration in line with the strengthened ties between the two states, the country's envoy maintained.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez expressed confidence on Thursday that relations between Manila and Washington will still run smoothly after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.

READ: Biden arrives at the White House and begins dismantling Trump's legacy

"We're confident that this relationship is going to continue and we've had a good start," Romualdez told CNN Philippines' New Day.

"First and foremost is the policy on the West Philippine Sea for instance. The policy shifted during the time of President Trump, they recognized our arbitral award will be continued by the Biden administration," he added.

In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague invalidated Beijings sweeping territorial stakes in the South China Sea and recognized Manilas sovereign rights in areas within its exclusive economic zone which China claims.

Former US President Donald Trump had taken a sledgehammer approach to China. He aggressively sanctioned China as well as companies from the mainland for incursions in the South China Sea, where Beijing has constructed and fortified artificial islands.

For Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia, Biden's bipartisan support for countries involved in the maritime dispute will benefit all parties this time.

"I think President Biden will have bipartisan support in terms of ensuring that not just China but other countries would respect the international law, particularly UNCLOS, which covers both South China Sea and the East China Sea," he told CNN Philippines' The Final Word.

The UNCLOS is an international treaty established to define coastal and maritime boundaries and regulate seabed exploration outside territorial claims. The arbitral tribunal that ruled on the Philippines' case against China was created under a provision of UNCLOS, with the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague serving as registry.

Duterte 'looking forward' to working with Biden

Meanwhile, Romualdez bared that Duterte had sent a congratulatory letter to Biden about a week prior to his inauguration, indicating that he was "looking forward" to forging good relations with the latter.

"Actually, about a week or less than a week after President Biden was elected, President Duterte has already sent a congratulatory letter in which he says he's looking forward to continuing the relationship between the Philippines and the United States," he said.

Malacanang earlier said it is not expecting major changes in its bilateral relations with the US even under Biden's leadership, and likewise promised to "work closely" with the new US President.

READ: PH looks forward to 'close and friendly' ties with Biden administration

"We have 4.5 million Filipino-Americans and a lot of students and workers who are also here in the United States, we have visitors back and forth. We have over 300,000 Americans living in the Philippines," Romualdez noted. "So, you know, those strong ties is something that you can't, the old saying, you can't buy that anywhere. It's there, it's very strong."


LONDON  Britains Glastonbury festival, one of the worlds most prominent pop music events, was canceled on Thursday for a second year in a row because of the coronavirus  sparking fear that large music festivals in Europe will not go ahead this summer.

In spite of our efforts to move heaven and earth, it has become clear that we simply will not be able to make the festival happen, Michael and Emily Eavis, the festivals organizers, said in a joint statement on Thursday. We are so sorry to let you all down.

Glastonbury is Britains largest pop event, held each June at the Eaviss farm in Pilton, southwest England. About 210,000 people would have attended this year, camping at the site for several days. (The farms cows are moved off site for the festival.)

The announcement came as coronavirus deaths are soaring in England, which is in its third national lockdown. Some 1,820 daily deaths were announced on Wednesday. On Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters it was too early to say when lockdown restrictions would be eased.
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But one coat in particular caught attention: the Gossip Girl-esque get-up worn by Harris step-daughter, Ella Emhoff.

Twenty-two year-old Emhoff, who is in her final year at Parsons School of Design in New York, sported the shoulder-padded, crystal-embellished tweed jacket from Miu Mius autumn/winter 2020 collection to the swearing in. Many have interpreted the exaggerated collar as a nod to the late Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

To tie the look together, the knitwear designer, who was styled by celebrity stylist duo Jill Lincoln and Jordan Johnson, swept her curly hair from her face with a Loeffler Randall Bobbie Headband.

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Underneath her statement-making jacket, Emhoff wore a custom burgundy moire Batsheva dress, which the brands founder Batsheva Hay conceived especially for her, but was heavily inspired by one which the student had found on Matches Fashion.

Speaking to Vogue, where she confirmed a knitwear collaboration between her and Batsheva is on the horizon, Emhoff said: My mood board was very little girl, in a sense, a lot of scalloped collars and big silhouette shoulders and small buttons. I was going for something girlier, to embrace my feminine sideespecially after that suit that I felt so great inbecause, like, how many times do you prepare yourself to attend an inauguration? This momentous of an event deserves a momentous outfit.

The inauguration wasnt the first time Emhoff, who is Harris husband Dougs child with ex-wife Kerstin Emhoff, made a fashion splash. Back in Wilmington, Delaware in November, she wore a pinstriped The Frankie Shop suit for an event that quickly went viral on TikTok. The crochet lover later told Garage magazine: I think the suit at the speech went really well and I think I might have to do another one, maybe a knit one.

Emhoff paired the eighties-inspired suit with a pair of en vogue chunky black loafers, certifying her cool-girl Brooklynite energy. The brand, which sets out to create unfussy, minimal, wallet-conscious styles," has become a fashion-set favourite since its inception in 2014; with its muscle tees and tonal two-pieces firm favourites among influencers.

The textiles student was also pictured in front of the Washington Monument in the run-up to the Inauguration, for which she wore an autumn/winter ensemble courtesy of New York-based brand Thom Browne. The look comprised a patriotically-hued shirt, a striped tie, and an oversized navy coat.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
By Lee Hyo-jin



Debby Basu, 27, is a teacher at Kumchon Elementary School in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Born to an Indian father and Korean mother, she was raised with a bilingual talent and openness to other cultures.



Basu decided to become a teacher when she was in elementary school, wanting to have a positive influence on others. And now she is achieving that goal, sharing her experiences and answering students' questions to broaden their perspectives on cultural diversity.





Debby Basu / Courtesy of Debby Basu

Winnipeggers will not get to vote on whether they support lowering the default 50 km/h speed limit on residential streets.

Winnipeggers will not get to vote on whether they support lowering the default 50 km/h speed limit on residential streets.

Coun. Shawn Nasons call for the city to hold a plebiscite during the 2022 municipal election, or a mayoral byelection, was rejected by the executive policy committee Wednesday.

Councils most powerful committee decided to receive the idea as information, which means no action will be taken on it, a decision only Coun. Jeff Browaty opposed.

Mayor Brian Bowman, along with councillors Matt Allard, Scott Gillingham, Cindy Gilroy, Brian Mayes and Sherri Rollins voted not to pursue the change.

Nason argued a plebiscite would be a fair way to seek feedback from all residents before deciding if a major change should take place.

"My (request) is to engage our community on a question that touches, I believe, every member of this city," Nason told EPC members.

Several Winnipeggers spoke out against a plebiscite at the committee hearing, arguing that lower speed limits would reduce the risk of a serious or fatal injury in a crash, making the matter a safety issue that should be guided by research.

"The issue of safety should not be up for debate... these things should not be in the realm of, nor be swayed by, the public opinion of the day. Instead, decisions on such issues must remain firmly in the hands of those with the knowledge and expertise to make those decisions," said Kira Coulter, who spoke on behalf of the advocacy group Safe Speeds Winnipeg.

Prior to the decision, Rollins argued that letting Winnipeggers vote on the topic would amount to shifting responsibility for what should be a policy decision made by elected officials.

The mayor said he rejected the motion because it would tie city councils hands and prevent it from taking any action on the file.

"I think city hall needs to be open to the topic of lowering speed limits. Were doing some policy work right now and Im looking forward to reviewing that work Im trying to be guided by the input of road safety engineers and Im trying to look at it through that lens," said Bowman.

The mayor noted the city has not decided whether to lower the default speed limit.

In July, council approved a pilot project to test a 30 km/h speed limit on five residential streets in a one-year period. Its not clear when that will begin.

For many months, advocates have repeatedly lobbied the city to reduce the default residential speed limit to 30 km/h.

However, an online petition against that proposal has gathered almost 9,000 signatures.

Winnipegger Ray Hignell said hes among those who dont think a reduced speed limit is justified. He said hes disappointed the plebiscite wont occur.

Hignell said he believes crashes that kill pedestrians tend to occur on busier streets, not residential ones, so hes not convinced a speed limit reduction is warranted.

"This city seems determined to slow down traffic, impede peoples progress and theres no facts that I have seen... that suggest there really is a problem," he said.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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.

Calling the (behavioural) shots over vaccines

It will take 67% of the population to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity; here is how those still reluctant can be persuaded to join in.

And so it will soon begin: mass vaccination. Let us fast-forward a few months and assume tens of millions of Covid-19 vaccines have arrived in SA. By this stage, too, weve all been allocated our rollout phase based on age, occupation and health status.

The big tasks of adequate supply, appropriate storage and streamlined distribution aside, there is still one piece of the vaccination puzzle that needs to be solved  and quickly. We need to convince the majority of the SA population, about 40-million people, to get it.

Medical experts agree that when about 67% of our population have been vaccinated (most likely through the double-dose option), we will reach herd or population immunity and the virus will be brought under control. While many of us are ready to line up for our shot of freedom, others will take a little more convincing before they roll up their sleeves.

The art of persuasion is something behavioural scientists are very familiar with. A central tenet to behavioural theory is libertarian paternalism; that it is both possible and ethical to guide someones behaviour while still respecting their freedom of choice. This is a critical component to our national vaccination rollout strategy. Health minister Zweli Mkhize has stated publicly that no-one will be forced by the government to get the vaccine.

Moving away from mandatory and giving people the freedom to choose is necessary for constitutional rights, but if too many South Africans choose not to have the vaccine, it could end up crippling us.

While figures vary, roughly 40% of South Africans are either undecided or against Covid-19 vaccination. Some have been misled by 5G conspiracy theories and cultural taboos, while others are nervous about the vaccines safety due to its record-breaking timeline. While its rapid development was certainly an accomplishment to be celebrated, fake news about vaccines not having gone through the proper testing process has led to widespread concern  not least helped by the semantic choice of the US vaccine development programme, Operation Warp Speed.

Having studied past vaccination efforts (smallpox, polio, influenza, HPV), behavioural experts offer proven insights to nudge people towards more positive vaccine mindsets.

Their first tip? Forget the extreme anti-vaxxers: theyre too far gone to convince otherwise.

Luckily for us, this group makes up a very small population, both in SA and around the world, so their non-compliance, while not ideal, is a negligible factor. Instead, we need to focus our attention on the movable middle, the unsure folks split between science and scepticism.

Here are some suggestions to help with this:

Forget just facts, tell stories. Message framing is one of the most important considerations to nudge vaccine adoption, as through storytelling we make experiences more personal and relatable. We now have a unique opportunity to merge that year-old lives vs livelihoods debate with the solution to saving both. We must reframe vaccinations as the powerful tool to help us achieve this: an indispensable tool to protect our health at the same time as support the recovery of our economy. Here, the golden thread of community, ubuntu, solidarity and patriotism must be highlighted with tangible reference to peoples lived experiences rather than data-heavy pharmaceutical facts. Let me tell you why I am getting vaccinated is a powerful statement to drive uptake.





Message framing is one of the most important considerations to nudge vaccine adoption, as through storytelling we make experiences more personal and relatable. We now have a unique opportunity to merge that year-old lives vs livelihoods debate with the solution to saving both. We must reframe vaccinations as the powerful tool to help us achieve this: an indispensable tool to protect our health at the same time as support the recovery of our economy. Here, the golden thread of community, ubuntu, solidarity and patriotism must be highlighted with tangible reference to peoples lived experiences rather than data-heavy pharmaceutical facts. Let me tell you why I am getting vaccinated is a powerful statement to drive uptake. The Elvis effect. An effective behavioural change campaign relies on three factors: social influence, social norms and vivid examples. As far back as 1956 the world was facing the threat of polio and had the similar challenge we have now of vaccine hesitancy. It was thanks to social-proofing that vaccination uptake increased, with celebrities such as Elvis Presley having his vaccine live on TV. This inspired reluctant American teens to get inoculated, which resulted in the upward trend of vaccination numbers.

Influential endorsements of the Covid-19 vaccine have already begun, with key public figures in the UK and US showing their support. Once rollout begins, social media posts from our front-line health-care workers getting vaccinated will help increase buy-in and build public confidence. This messenger effect is a core component to encouraging vaccine adoption. We are heavily influenced by who communicates to us, so a range of messengers  doctors, government officials, family, friends, influencers, business leaders  across a range of communication channels is important.

The limited edition of health-care. Without question we want enough vaccines, and we want them as soon as possible. But we can use the interim shortage to our behavioural benefit. People place more value on whats in demand and there is huge power in scarcity. Positioning the vaccine as a scarce resource is one way to motivate people to get vaccinated. Once we know more about the rollout plans we can create some sort of waiting list. This becomes a way to get people invested in getting vaccinated and serves as a pre-commitment mechanism whereby people wont want to lose their place in line  driving more urgency.





Without question we want enough vaccines, and we want them as soon as possible. But we can use the interim shortage to our behavioural benefit. People place more value on whats in demand and there is huge power in scarcity. Positioning the vaccine as a scarce resource is one way to motivate people to get vaccinated. Once we know more about the rollout plans we can create some sort of waiting list. This becomes a way to get people invested in getting vaccinated and serves as a pre-commitment mechanism whereby people wont want to lose their place in line  driving more urgency. Always add fun. Gamification helps make tasks more fun, which drives uptake. Game-based features through digital apps, WhatsApp channels or USSD platforms can serve as both a source of awareness to educate, as well as encourage engagement through built-in quizzes or media. We should develop dynamic, digital vaccine counters that can be displayed across TV, websites and digital billboards. The effect of a count up to reach a target  or even a count down showing how many people are still needed to reach the 40-million mark  will help encourage people to participate. Inter-provincial challenges or company competitions with leader boards are other interactive approaches to both normalise and promote mass vaccination.





Gamification helps make tasks more fun, which drives uptake. Game-based features through digital apps, WhatsApp channels or USSD platforms can serve as both a source of awareness to educate, as well as encourage engagement through built-in quizzes or media. We should develop dynamic, digital vaccine counters that can be displayed across TV, websites and digital billboards. The effect of a count up to reach a target  or even a count down showing how many people are still needed to reach the 40-million mark  will help encourage people to participate. Inter-provincial challenges or company competitions with leader boards are other interactive approaches to both normalise and promote mass vaccination. Everyone loves an incentive. Linked to the previous point on fun, incentives and memorabilia have their own part to play in vaccine persuasion  but adding incentives needs to be done cautiously. Research has shown that offering financial rewards to vaccine fence-sitters can have an adverse effect: people trust them less. Incentives can be intrinsic (making it easy for people to share online that they got the vaccine for social kudos); or extrinsic (such as automatic Discovery Vitality points for getting the vaccine).

Another idea gaining traction internationally is to gift those who get the vaccine with a branded memento as a piece of Covid-19 history. As an example, a UK-based brewery called BrewDog is offering a special commemorative beer with quirky labels to make them a desired collectable.

Getting the vaccine to SA is just half the battle  we now have to gently push people to take it. In addition to actively fighting vaccine myths, fake news and misinformation, its time to work towards changing our national vaccine narrative to encourage mass uptake. Using insights and nudges from the behavioural science toolkit is an effective way to achieve this.

Leigh Crymble is a doctoral student at the University of Witwatersrand specialising in behavioural linguistics. This article was first published in Business Day.
The biggest U.S. oil producers operating on federal land have years' worth of drilling permits and don't expect much to change in the short to medium term if President Joe Biden moves to ban new oil and gas leasing on federal land and waters.

The small independent shale drillers, however, especially those that have a large part of their operations coming from federal lands, are concerned, and some think that the U.S. Administration banning new federal lease sales could pose an "existential threat" to their companies, shale executives told Reuters in interviews.

ExxonMobil, EOG Resources, Devon Energy, Occidental Petroleum, ConocoPhillips, and Mewbourne Oil Company, who, combined pump nearly half the oil from U.S. federal lands, have years of stockpiles of permits to drill on federal acreage. Moreover, most of those companies are confident that they could move to state or private lands when they exhaust their federal drilling permits, in some cases in around four years' time, executives told Reuters.

In addition, at the end of last year, many firms with the financial means to do so rushed to secure drilling permits.

In the run-up to the presidential election last year, many shale producers fast-tracked permitting processes on federal acreage in the Delaware-New Mexico and DJ basins, Rystad Energy said in November.



Related: Big Oil Is Buying Into The Solar Boom

While the big U.S. shale drillers don't appear concerned about a potential lack of new federal acreage, the small independents see President Biden's pledge to discontinue new permits on federal lands as an "existential threat."

"The impact on the independent oilman is a heck of a lot greater than it is on Big Oil," Don Law, owner of Denver-based Prima Exploration, which pumps half of its oil from federal land in New Mexico, Wyoming, and North Dakota, told Reuters.

Oil workers in New Mexico, who haven't yet lost their jobs, fear they will lose those jobs, as most of New Mexico's oil and gas production takes place on federal land, unlike in Texas. Fracking on federal land is just 10 percent of the total U.S. fracking industry, but for New Mexico, it's much more65 percent of the state's oil and gas production takes place on federal land.

It's not clear yet when, and if, President Biden will move to ban new drilling on federal land. In November, the American Petroleum Institute said it would use "every tool at its disposal" to fight a potential ban.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
GrayQuest has collaborated with SBM Bank India, to facilitate access of affordable funds for its clients.

Established in 2017, GrayQuest is working towards increasing convenience of educational fee payments in the country. Towards this, the Company has partnered with more than 2000 leading schools, colleges and universities across the country and allows parents to pay their childrens education fees in easy monthly payments. Parents can sign up for the monthly payment option within five minutes on the GrayQuest platform through a secured, convenient and paperless process, converting their annual or bulk semester school / college fees into affordable monthly payments at no extra cost. GrayQuest parents also receive benefits such as complimentary insurance cover and access to 50+ exclusive rewards for their children.

Commenting on the partnership, Rishab Mehta, Founder and CEO, GrayQuest, said, According to our data, the average Indian household spends 13% of their annual income on the education fees per child. With rising fees and the growing aspirations of parents in their choice of education for their children, paying education fees is now a significant expenditure for most households. Covid-19 has further increased the financial burden on parents. We, at GrayQuest, feel that the current structure of bulk education fee payments can be made significantly more convenient and affordable for parents. Our partnership with SBM Bank is a major step in that regard which will significantly lower the cost and boost our ability to facilitate such financing for the end consumer.

SBM Bank India will not only facilitate access to affordable funds to GrayQuests clients, but also will empower them to address their holistic banking requirements.

Speaking on the partnership and Banks foray into education lending space, Neeraj Sinha, Head -Retail and Consumer Banking, SBM Bank India Limited, said, Education, the world over has been considered to be the passport to a better life. In a country, where the core belief stems from Padhoge Likhoge Banoge Nawaab, education is the most important investment and not mere expense for each and every parent. We, at SBM Bank India, therefore are excited to partner GrayQuest to invest into this segment.
A MAN who sustained life-threatening injuries when he was repeatedly stabbed by his flatmate has described how he is worried about his future.

The now 33-year-old made his comments in a victim impact statement which was read during the sentencing hearing of the culprit.

Jean Louis Fancony, 37, of no fixed abode was convicted by a jury last November of intentionally causing serious harm to his then flatmate on July 22, 2019.

Detective Garda Colum OShea told Limerick Circuit Court the incident happened at an apartment the pair shared at Riverpoint in the city centre at around 3.30pm.

He said there was a disagreement between the men about money and that Mr Fancony, who had lost his job a number of months earlier, stabbed the victim several times with a large knife.

The victim managed to escape from the apartment but was followed as he made his way along a corridor and down to the foyer of the apartment complex.

Detective Garda OShea said the alarm was raised by a passer-bye who described how the victim had his intestines in his hand as he emerged from Riverpoint. Members of Limerick Fire and Rescue who were on a training exercise nearby were alerted and provided assistance pending the arrival of paramedics.

The detective told John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, that Mr Fancony then returned to the apartment before leaving via a fire escape and walking along the Dock Road.

A knife was recovered when he was located near the Irish Cement Roundabout later in the day. He was bloodied when arrested, said Mr OSullivan.

Mr Fancony was taken to Unit 5B at University Hospital Limerick for assessment a number of hours after his arrest but was discharged the following day.

During interview he told gardai he had stabbed his flatmate in self defence after he went to grab the knife which, he claimed, was on the kitchen counter.

However, addressing the court Mr OSullivan submitted that provocation was not a feature of the case and that the jury had rejected Mr Fanconys version of events.

Reading a letter from his client, Andrew Sexton SC said Mr Fancony wished to apologise but maintains he did not mean to harm the injured party.

The victim, who was underwent life-saving surgery following the attack, described how he still finds it hard to comprehend what happened and how it is heartbreaking not being able to do a lot of things he used to do before the was stabbed.

It is a life sentence for me he said adding: I am now fearful and worried of what the future holds.

Judge ODonnell will finalise the matter after hearing further submissions from Mr Sexton later this week.
An Instagram model dubbed 'the Brooke Shields of Kuwait' is due to stand trial in May for allegedly stalking and beating up her ex-husband.

Rawan Bin Hussain, 24, is accused of assaulting Mohammed Youssef Migariaf at Hyde Park Gate, central London, on June 24 last year.

The former Cosmopolitan Middle East star is also said to have damaged a 200 shirt belonging to the Libyan businessman.

Rawan Bin Hussain (pictured), 24, is accused of assaulting Mohammed Youssef Migariaf at Hyde Park Gate, central London, on June 24 last year

Mother-of-one Bin Hussain, who has a law degree from King's College, has denied assault by beating, stalking and criminal damage, through her legal team.

She was unable to travel to the UK from Dubai to attend her plea hearing last month after she tested positive for Covid-19.

Bin Hussain, who has been privately funding her defence, was excused from attending her latest case management hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court today.

Defending Bin Hussain - referred to in court as Ms Abdullah - defence lawyer Katie Mustard said: 'She lives in Dubai, she is currently in Dubai with her young child.

The former Cosmopolitan Middle East star is also said to have damaged a 200 shirt belonging to the Libyan businessman

'With the current situation and all travel corridors being closed, there could be difficulty getting her into the country for trial.'

Ms Mustard said the Kuwaiti model felt 'anxious' about coming to court and opposed an application for her ex-husband to give evidence from behind a screen.

Simon Maughan, prosecuting, said: 'There is nothing stopping the defendant coming from Dubai except that she must self isolate for ten days, but I'm not aware of any particular restrictions on flying from London to Dubai.

'The victim states he's in fear of the defendant. There is a long and standing history of threats and harassment and I make an application for screens..'

The bench granted the application and ordered Bin Hussain to abide by her bail conditions and not contact Mr Migariaf directly or indirectly, or attend his home address.

Mother-of-one Bin Hussain, who has a law degree from King's College, has denied assault by beating, stalking and criminal damage, through her legal team

Bin Hussain, from Dubai, denies stalking, criminal damage to property, and assault by beating.

Her trial is fixed for May 25 at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

While studying law, Bin Hussain, of Fitzrovia, central London, was also working towards gaining her private pilot's licence from the Oxford Aviation Academy.

In an interview in 2018, Bin Hussain said she was dubbed the 'Brooke Shields of Kuwait' by a magazine while living in Los Angeles.

She said of her popularity on Instagram: 'I've got so many followers because I have an interesting lifestyle. I do full-time law school and part-time aviation.

'To me, education comes first. Whether you have lots of money or not, you're nothing without education My whole life, I've worked so much to get good grades in high school to come to London and study.'

She added: 'I got bullied so much in school for being overweight, but I put all my effort and all my energy into graduating as a top student and on working on myself  and look where I am today.'
Aurania Resources (CVE: ARU- OTCQB: AUIAF) President Richard Spencer joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news about 3 drill result assays they released from the Lost Cities Project in Ecuador.

Spencer talks about the numbers but he also shared what to expect as they prepare to make some significant news with the Mobile MT geophysical survey work they have been undergoing.
Kochi:

Kerala police chief T P Senkumar indicated on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi faced a terror threat during his recent visit to Kochi for inauguration of the Kochi Metro Rail project. There was a big threat perception here on the day of the prime ministers visit (on Saturday). There was a terror module here during his visit. We cannot disclose much of its details, Senkumar told reporters at Kochi.

Asked about the terror threat, Senkumar said he could not elaborate further. The Kerala director general of police said this while justifying police action on Friday near the Kerala High Court against people who were protesting against an LPG terminal coming up at Puthuvype. He defended Kochis City Deputy Commissioner of Police Yatish Chandra who reportedly used force to remove protesters in the high court area on that day.

They (the protesters), all of a sudden, tried to create trouble on the route the prime ministers motorcade was to take (on June 17), the DGP said, adding it happened when the Special Protection Group (SPG) and other security agencies were conducting a trial run through the route.

ALSO READ: Grateful to everyone for consensus on GST: PM Modi

Modi had visited Kochi amid tight security on Saturday to dedicate the first phase of the Kochi Metro to the nation and also had taken a brief ride on the metro train along with dignitaries including Governor P Sathasivam, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The police chief said the protest was staged without prior notice and justified the police action. Senkumar dismissed the allegations against?Yatish Chandra that he had ordered lathicharge against the protesters at Puthuvype on Sunday.

Can you show me the visuals of his action, he asked reporters. He reiterated the police charge that extremist forces were behind the anti-LNG terminal protest. Yes, extremist forces are behind the protest, he said justifying the lathicharge.

READ: H1B visa one of the issues on table ahead of PM Modi's US visit

His statement comes amid demand from the opposition parties and protesters for stringent action against the police for the lathicharge.At least 20 people were injured in the lathicharge.

Meanwhile, the LPG Terminal Virudha Janakeeya SamaraSamiti, said on Tuesday they would attend a meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tomorrow to discuss the issue. Earlier, they had said they would not attend the meetings scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The Biden administration plans to hold early conversations with foreign leaders ahead of any effort to reenter the Iran nuclear deal, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday.

If Iran returns to strict compliance under the nuclear pact, President Joe Biden has said he will reenter the multilateral pact as a starting point for follow-on negotiations to tighten and lengthen Irans nuclear constraints and address Iran's missile program.

The 2015 agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, provided Iran with sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activity. Since the Donald Trump administration abandoned the deal in 2018 and reimposed crippling economic sanctions, Iran has gradually violated the terms of the agreement to ramp up nuclear enrichment levels and its stockpile of uranium.

The president has made clear that he believes that through follow-on diplomacy, the United States seeks to lengthen and strengthen nuclear constraints on Iran and address other issues of concern. Iran must resume compliance with significant nuclear constraints under the deal in order for that to proceed, Psaki said during her first White House briefing on Wednesday.

We would expect that some of his earlier conversations with foreign counterparts and foreign leaders will be with partners and allies and you would certainly anticipate that this would be part of the discussions, said Psaki.

During his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Bidens secretary of state nominee, Antony Blinken, made similar commitments. The future top US diplomat said the administration would engage on the takeoff, not just the landing with allies and partners, including Israel and the Gulf, before taking steps to rejoin the landmark nuclear agreement.

Both Blinken and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines indicated during their Senate hearings that a return to the deal was not imminent, with Haines saying "we are a long ways" from Iran meeting its commitments. In a major breach of the deal announced last week, Iran said it would resume production of uranium metal, a fuel used in nuclear reactors.

Irans leaders, who insist their nuclear program is used only for peaceful purposes, have indicated they are ready to return to compliance  if Washington first lifts Trump-era sanctions.

Today, we are ready, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said this week. If the other side acts honestly and returns to the law and obligations, the problems will be solved very quickly and there would be no legal complexities.
Seoul, Jan 21 : Lee Jae-yong, the de facto head of Samsung Group, has vowed his continuous support for the group's compliance committee in his first message in prison, as he seeks to keep up his pledge of improving law-abiding culture at South Korea's top conglomerate.

Lee was sentenced to two and a half year in prison by the Seoul High Court on Monday in a retrial of a bribery case involving former President Park Geun-hye.

The vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. was put behind bars again less than three years after he was allowed to walk free.

Samsung launched an independent compliance committee in February 2020 to monitor the group's compliance with laws and ethics, after the Seoul High Court ordered Lee in October 2019 to devise measures for preventing ethical lapses at the conglomerate.

"Lee said that he will continue supporting the compliance committee's activities and also asked the committee members to keep up their jobs," Samsung said on Thursday.

While expecting the committee to enhance its compliance culture, Samsung had pinned high hopes on its launch helping Lee get a suspended sentence in the bribery case, reports Yonhap news agency.

However, the appeals court said that Samsung's compliance committee is not seen as effective enough to be considered one of the sentencing factors favourable to Lee and sent the heir back to jail.

With its leader imprisoned, there was speculation that Samsung might have little reason to boost its support for the committee, but industry insiders said Lee's latest message reaffirms his commitment to push for a "New Samsung" even though he is not a free man.

In a rare press conference last year, Lee emphasised that compliance with the law is a value that cannot be compromised and that the committee will work independently without interruption even after his legal battle ends.

Meanwhile, Samsung's compliance committee was scheduled to hold its first meeting of the year and discuss compliance measures presented by seven Samsung Group affiliates.

When university campuses sent students, staff and faculty members home in March, Padmini Rangamani, a professor at the University of California San Diego, suddenly found herself running her research lab remotely, teaching her classes online, and supervising her two children, ages 10 and 13, who are also learning online.

To deal with the stress the situation created, Rangamani turned to a support network of fellow female faculty members around the United States. They chatted and texted and eventually decided to write a scholarly article with recommendations for all other female principal investigators in academia.

The article, "Ten simple rules for women principal investigators during a pandemic," was published October 2020 in PLOS Computational Biology. It's perhaps important to note that despite its title, the article is careful to say that the cardinal rule is that there are no rules. So all 10 points outlined are in fact suggestions. Also despite its title, Rangamani says most of the 10 points outlined in the publication can apply to all caregivers juggling work and caregiving during the pandemic.

"Without in-person school or daycare, and without after-school programs, there is really no way for caregivers to function at full capacity at work," Rangamani said.

In addition, such concerns have not been discussed openly in the workplace, the authors felt. Their real fear is then that talent nurtured through the years will be lost in one fell swoop--and their main goal is to try and change this. Rangamani and fellow co-authors want to normalize conversations about juggling work and family obligations. "If you want to say 'I can't meet at this time, because I need to be on a Zoom with my kids, that doesn't mean you're not serious about your job or not doing your job well," she said. "We want to reduce this perception bias."

This is particularly important to maintain equity and diversity within an organization, Rangamani added. "We need to be extremely vigilant to ensure that those who are particularly vulnerable do not exit the system," she said. Single parents, those who are taking care of elderly parents and relatives, and parents whose children have special services are especially at risk, she added. "The intense pressure of being 'on' all the time is simply not realizable right now."

While the paper outlines some changes that can be made at a campus-wide or even university system level, Rangamani is focused on a smaller scale: an office or a department for example. It is much easier to get these smaller groups together and have genuine conversations about what the individual needs are and what can be done to get our colleagues through this intensely difficult period without sacrificing quality or fairness.. "There are measures you can take at the grassroots level," she said.

In order to normalize these conversations about work-life balance Rangamani hopes that leadership will empower those who hesitate to ask for help to do so. Here are the 10 suggestions that the paper outlines to cope during the pandemic:

Find a peer group of women to provide professional support.

"The authors are all members of an online group for women PIs in biomedical engineering, which has historically served as a sounding board for professional concerns. We have found that maintaining these connections has been essential over the course of our careers and are even more important during this quarantine period."

"The authors are all members of an online group for women PIs in biomedical engineering, which has historically served as a sounding board for professional concerns. We have found that maintaining these connections has been essential over the course of our careers and are even more important during this quarantine period." Say no to requests to do anything outside of your main responsibilities

"If you can't do them now, you can offer a time when you might be able to do them; the requesting party will need to recognize that your future schedule could go through upheaval as surges of the disease hit different areas and restrictions change. "

"If you can't do them now, you can offer a time when you might be able to do them; the requesting party will need to recognize that your future schedule could go through upheaval as surges of the disease hit different areas and restrictions change. " Drop something

"True, your house might not be as clean as you would like, and you may be eating more frozen pizza than you normally would tolerate. Remember that you are not the only person accepting this as your "new normal." We can't forget that the goal during a pandemic is survival--if you are keeping yourself physically and mentally healthy, you are more than succeeding."

"True, your house might not be as clean as you would like, and you may be eating more frozen pizza than you normally would tolerate. Remember that you are not the only person accepting this as your "new normal." We can't forget that the goal during a pandemic is survival--if you are keeping yourself physically and mentally healthy, you are more than succeeding." When you have energy to do more than the minimum, use it to support women and underrepresented groups

"We recognize that advocacy of this nature is a privilege, and not everyone is able to do so safely. If you are in the position to support women and underrepresented groups and have the energy, pick a cause and lean into it. Also, recognize that this action can take many forms, some of which may be a better fit for your individual situation."

"We recognize that advocacy of this nature is a privilege, and not everyone is able to do so safely. If you are in the position to support women and underrepresented groups and have the energy, pick a cause and lean into it. Also, recognize that this action can take many forms, some of which may be a better fit for your individual situation." Remember, you know yourself best

"You know the things that have historically helped you relieve stress. Make a list of 10 of them. Some of them may not be an option during quarantine (oh, how some of us miss writing in coffee shops). But for those that are an option, try to do 1 of them every now and then."

"You know the things that have historically helped you relieve stress. Make a list of 10 of them. Some of them may not be an option during quarantine (oh, how some of us miss writing in coffee shops). But for those that are an option, try to do 1 of them every now and then." It's OK to push back

"Perpetuating the myth that we can all work to the same degree (or better!) than we did a few months ago is very damaging to many women PIs. When you hear statements such as "everyone is writing more grants now" and "since we have more time, let's have a virtual conference about this topic," it's more than OK to push back that this is not your reality, regardless of the reason."

"Perpetuating the myth that we can all work to the same degree (or better!) than we did a few months ago is very damaging to many women PIs. When you hear statements such as "everyone is writing more grants now" and "since we have more time, let's have a virtual conference about this topic," it's more than OK to push back that this is not your reality, regardless of the reason." Remember, you have some flexibility to make your own schedule

"If there are pockets of time where you find yourself able to focus better than others, do your best to protect them. Block these times on your calendar--both in the near future and in the upcoming months by declining invitations for extraneous responsibilities."

"If there are pockets of time where you find yourself able to focus better than others, do your best to protect them. Block these times on your calendar--both in the near future and in the upcoming months by declining invitations for extraneous responsibilities." Whatever help you can get, take it

"Perhaps your kids are old enough that they can even help with some of your work--1 of the authors tried (unsuccessfully) to engage her son in doing analysis on ImageJ (NIH, Bethesda, Maryland). Another purchased a 3D printer and recruited her daughter to help print parts for an OpenSPIM setup."

"Perhaps your kids are old enough that they can even help with some of your work--1 of the authors tried (unsuccessfully) to engage her son in doing analysis on ImageJ (NIH, Bethesda, Maryland). Another purchased a 3D printer and recruited her daughter to help print parts for an OpenSPIM setup." Do your best to remember that others are struggling too--be empathetic and work to build a community

"We suggest that each situation is approached with empathy, while maintaining your standards and accountability. For example, empathy may mean that when you assign a task to a group member or staff, you ask them whether the timeline is feasible. If it's not, that may be a sign that in the future you should aim to give them more advance notice. If a pattern of not completing work continues, it is then time to ask for an explanation. Recognize that just as no one is fully aware of your situation, you are not completely aware of your colleague's situation."

"We suggest that each situation is approached with empathy, while maintaining your standards and accountability. For example, empathy may mean that when you assign a task to a group member or staff, you ask them whether the timeline is feasible. If it's not, that may be a sign that in the future you should aim to give them more advance notice. If a pattern of not completing work continues, it is then time to ask for an explanation. Recognize that just as no one is fully aware of your situation, you are not completely aware of your colleague's situation." Don't lose your sense of humor

"We know, there is nothing funny about this situation. Many of us have needed or will need space to grieve deeply. However, our experience is that where you can share a laugh, you should."

Rangamani herself does her best to implement some of these suggestions. She prioritizes the well-being of her own research group over other zoom meetings; protects her research time; and does not schedule meetings at lunch time, if she can help it.

"While there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of vaccines," Rangamani also notes, "this global health crisis may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the academy to take a close look at how we can empower our vulnerable colleagues and make policy changes to change our culture for the better."

The authors put rule, or rather suggestion, 10 in practice, by including a list of humorous rules and tips in a supplemental file.

"Service expectations are now completely fulfilled by raising scientifically literate humans of our own and science communication by way of family conversations, Facebook and Twitter debates," they write.

###
According to Le Point, restaurants in France will remain closed until Easter. Bars and cafes may not open until June.

According to the magazine Le Point, which is basing its report on sources within the Elysee, the Prime Ministers office and the ministry of finance, restaurants, brasseries and bistros will not be able to reopen until Easter  6 April. Bars and cafes may not reopen until the start of June.

These dates are yet to be confirmed by the authorities.

Restaurants will need to rely on take-aways for the time being. The entire industry has been under immense strain for nearly one year.

The government will continue to support such businesses financially. In December an aid package was approved that reimburses businesses for 20% of lost revenue up to 200,000, if they have lost at least 70% of their revenue. Companies that turn over more than 1 million per month will have their operating costs reimbursed by the state and will not have to pay social security charges.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on defense and security affairs Andranik Kocharyan received US Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy and her delegation.

During the meeting the return of the Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan was discussed among other issues.

Touching upon the post-war problems, Mr. Kocharyan stressed the need for investing all possible efforts to conduct the exchange of POWs.

The issue of POWs is a vital humanitarian matter which should be solved through all possible channels, he said.

The meeting participants also talked about the engagement of terrorists and mercenaries from the Middle East by Azerbaijan in the recent war.

The participation of mercenaries from Syria and other countries of the Middle East is undeniable, and this fact has been confirmed by the special services of France, Russia, etc. In fact, during the recent war the Defense Army [of Artsakh] has fought against Azerbaijan, Turkey, terrorists and the latest Israeli ammunition, Andranik Kocharyan said.

In her turn the Ambassador stated that the United States as an OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair will work on fining a lasting political solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The meeting sides also discussed ensuring the security of economic relations, the legislative initiatives aimed at the reforms of the Armenian Armed Forces, etc.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

KYODO NEWS - Jan 21, 2021 - 14:17 | World, All

The family of imprisoned Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong have fled the Chinese territory and moved to Australia, local media reported Thursday.

The Australian newspaper reported the prominent activist's family has relocated from Hong Kong, but that the government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison was "tight-lipped" about it.

The newspaper cited a Hong Kong media report that the incarcerated 24-year-old's parents and younger brother sold their apartment below market price at the end of last year.

Following Beijing's imposition of a controversial national security law on Hong Kong in June, Canberra changed visa rules to allow certain Hong Kong residents to stay in Australia longer.

It is not clear what visas Wong's family used to enter Australia. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Home Affairs did not comment on the case.

Wong is currently serving a 13-and-a-half-month sentence for inciting and organizing an unauthorized assembly in 2019. He was separately arrested earlier this month for alleged subversion under the national security law, according to Hong Kong media.

Related coverage:

53 pro-democracy activists nabbed in Hong Kong under security law

Hong Kong court jails media mogul Jimmy Lai pending appeal

Wong, other H.K. activists in custody after conviction over protest
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The coronavirus crisis has hampered international travel for the past 10 months and countries all over the world are feeling the effects. Using data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and The World Bank, visa waiver processing firm Official ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) recently revealed the countries with the biggest tourism revenue loss due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"The past year has been extremely difficult for the travel and tourism industry, with the unpredictable circumstances resulting in countries being forced to close their borders to tourists, often with little notice. As a result, the pandemic has had a huge financial impact on tourism globally, affecting all countries around the world, as well as airlines, travel operators and other hospitality providers in the sector," Jayne Forrester, Director of International Development at Official ESTA, said in a statement.

The US has been hit hard by the loss of tourism dollars among countries around the world. Credit:iStockphoto

"As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, with vaccine rollouts now getting underway around the world, we can only hope that we can regain some control over the pandemic and ensure that it is safe enough for us to travel once more in order to prevent further losses to one of the largest industries in the world."

Here's a look at how the top 10 countries rank in terms of the total number of tourism dollars lost over the first 10 months of 2020.

State public health officials have no idea how many Oregonians have been screened for the more contagious strain of the coronavirus first identified locally last week.

A University of Portland employee is the only known Oregonian with the strain, and all 12 of that persons close contacts have now tested negative for the virus, a university spokesman said Thursday.

But that doesnt mean other people arent infected with it. In fact, state health officials assume the variant is present in Oregon, although theres no evidence its widespread.

Understanding the scale is difficult, however, because state officials cannot even say how many Oregonians have been screened for the variant.

State health officials said theyve submitted only 45 randomly selected positive test samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention since November for analysis. Thats because the federal surveillance effort is limited to 750 samples nationwide per week, and Oregon gets only a tiny slice of that capacity.

Three academic labs in Oregon also are performing the genomic sequencing necessary to determine the strain of the coronavirus: Oregon Health & Science University, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University.

Their results? We are currently reaching out to each partner to detail their current volume of sequencing, Jonathan Modie, a spokesman for the Oregon Health Authority, said in an emailed response to written questions.

The more transmissible B.1.1.7 variant was first identified last fall in the United Kingdom, where it spread like wildfire. As of Wednesday, the CDC reported 144 cases across America, and federal officials have said the variant could become predominant by March.

The strain is not thought to be more deadly or produce more severe symptoms. But its potential to pass more easily could lead to more cases and, ultimately, more deaths.

A virus mutates over time, and those mutations can only be detected through genomic sequencing. The scientific analysis helps track not only how the virus is evolving but also how and where it spreads.

Oregon learned about its first case of the more transmissible strain after a series of screenings tied to the University of Portland employee. The employees initial coronavirus positive test was analyzed Jan. 12 by a national laboratory, which found a characteristic of the variant known as an S gene dropout.

The lab sent the sample to the University of Washingtons virology department for further analysis and confirmation. Oregon and Multnomah county officials learned B.1.1.7 was here Jan. 15.

Modie said sequencing is currently only done as part of random surveillance efforts, such as the results submitted to the CDC, or if the S gene dropout proxy is identified. Modie said the state is encouraging labs with special Thermo Fisher testing capacity to look for that proxy and notify the Oregon State Public Health Laboratory so officials there can coordinate a full analysis.

For now, such samples would be routed to one of the states three academic institutions with genomic capabilities, although Modie said officials will use federal money to build sequencing capacity at the state public health lab.

Additional sequencing will occur as the state builds capacity, he said in an email. The monitoring of COVID-19 variants over time is important and will help monitor for strains with increased transmissibility, increased severity, the ability to evade testing, treatment resistance and the ability to evade vaccines.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt
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[January 21, 2021] United States Attorney Matthew Schneider to Join Honigman as Partner and Co-Leader of White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice

Matthew Schneider, who since January 2018 has served as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan overseeing numerous high-profile cases, will join Honigman in February as a partner and co-leader of Honigman's White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice as well as a member of the Government Relations and Regulatory Practice. The announcement comes on the heels of the opening of Honigman's Washington D.C. office, as the firm looks to expand its nationally ranked complex-litigation practice. As the chief federal law enforcement officer for 34 counties, Schneider supervised and directed all federal litigation within the Eastern District. During his tenure, he oversaw significant prosecutions involving international terrorism, violent crime, public corruption, environmental crime, financial fraud, drug trafficking, civil rights and numerous other criminal and civil matters, including cases related to the United Autoworkers Union, major healthcare systems, and state contractors. "Matthew has served the U.S. Attorney's office with integrity, distinction and an unwavering commitment to justice, having led a range of significant prosecutions to protect the interests of our country and the State of Michigan," said Honigman Chairman and CEO David Foltyn. "Matthew will be an exceptional advisor to clients who want to mitigate risk, understand the direction regulators are taking, or strategically plan to address a range of issues before they become problems or harm their own individual or company's reputation."



"Matthew's solid judgment, breadth of experience, and nuanced and pragmatic approach to the law will be a tremendous asset to clients, and an invaluable addition as we continue to strengthen our litigation practice," added Michael Huget, partner and chair of Honigman's Litigation Department. "He is a deeply experienced trial lawyer with a substantial track record of courtroom victories and positive outcomes in complex, hard-fought cases." Prior to being appointed as United States Attorney, Schneider served as Michigan's Chief Deputy Attorney General, overseeing the office's 40,000 ongoing criminal and civil cases. Additionally, he was the Chief Legal Counsel for the Michigan Office of Attorney General, where he was the lead counsel representing the Governor and the State of Michigan in the City of Detroit's federal bankruptcy case.

Earlier in his career he served as the Michigan Supreme Court's Chief of Staff and General Counsel, providing overall direction for the administration of Michigan's Judicial Branch of government and served as chief legal counsel to the Chief Justice and the Justices. Previously, he was a federal prosecutor with the United States Department of Justice in Detroit where he held the U.S. Government's highest security clearance and received numerous awards from federal law enforcement agencies including the FBI, the DEA and the ATF. Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Schneider served on the legal staff of President George W. Bush as Senior Advisor and Assistant General Counsel in the White House Budget Office, where he helped to develop the President's major policy, budget and legal initiatives. Schneider holds a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Michigan State University's James Madison College and studied International Affairs at Cambridge University. He received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. Honigman enters 2021 with considerable momentum, following a year in which the firm achieved significant growth across all practice areas, opened a new Washington, D.C. office led by intellectual property lawyer Harold Fox, recruited multiple new lateral partners, welcomed the largest partner class in the firm's history, and marked the fifth anniversary of its Chicago office. About Honigman: Honigman LLP is a business law firm with more than 60 practice areas. Headquartered in Detroit, the firm has offices in Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Chicago, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Washington D.C. Honigman's Litigation practice group has a rich history of developing leading trial attorneys with sophisticated judgment and pragmatic, proactive approaches to achieving client objectives in civil, commercial and select criminal disputes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005642/en/

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Tough border testing for New Zealand honey imports to Japan is re-igniting the conversation about the use of the weed killer glypohsate in New Zealand.

MPI is now requiring all honey exports to Japan to undergo glyphosate testing, after Japanese officials warned they would stop importing honey if they continue to find glyphosate that exceeds their acceptable limit.

MPI food risk assessment manager at New Zealand Food Safety, Andrew Pearson, said there were no food safety concerns.

"A five-year-old child who was consuming honey with the default maximum residue level in New Zealand would need to eat roughly 230kg of honey every day for the rest of their life to reach the World Health Organisation acceptable daily intake for glyphosate," he said.

Apiculture New Zealand said most honey producers were already testing for glyphosate in their products.

Apiflora owner Steve Weenink who has been a beekeeper for 50 years, said the tough part is not the testing, but keeping bees away from glyphosate in the first place.

"The issue with glyphosate is it's a type of salt and the bees will work it even when it's not on a flower. I had a case where the guys sprayed on a farm last year and he got a little bit of manuka, and it wasn't much, but the glyphosate levels were very high," he said.

Another beekeeper and owner of Dansar Bees, Daniel Martin said he and other honey producers worked hard not to use chemicals near their hives, but contamination continued to be a problem.

"Honey bees forage over an area of at least 3km from the hive, so the area that they forage in we don't have any control over land users in the area," he said.

Weenink said farmers benefited from the bees, but it was beekeepers who bore the financial burden of glyphosate use.

He wanted better guidelines and regulations about its use, especially as the industry is already doing it tough from a downturn in the clover honey market.

"It's a difficult playing field out there and we don't want to lose the manuka. If we lost China and Japan, and it tends to snowball a bit, once one country finds out about residue limits someone else hops on the bandwagon. So, it could quite easily be a global thing very soon," he said.
National Green Tribunal (NGT)

A real estate firm building a housing complex adjacent to the Delhi University campus has told the National Green Tribunal that it will apply to the Environment Ministry for fresh environmental clearance for the project.

The university has challenged the grant of environmental clearance, citing that the project was violative of the Master Plan of Delhi-2021 and was against larger public interests.

The builder, Young Builders (P) Ltd, informed a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice A K Goel that the environmental clearance (EC), which was obtained earlier and challenged, will not be acted upon. "Counsel for the project proponent made a statement that as per his instructions, the project proponent has to apply for fresh EC to the MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forests) and the impugned EC will not be acted upon.

"Counsel for the appellant states that if the impugned EC is not to be acted upon and the matter is to be considered afresh by the MoEF on merits the appeal may be disposed of as infructuous, without prejudice to the rights to challenge the fresh EC which may be granted, the tribunal noted. The green panel said that in view of the submissions it is no longer necessary for it to go into the merits and express any final view about viability of the project or otherwise.

Accordingly, the appeal is disposed of as infructuous, without prejudice to the rights and remedies of the parties in accordance with law, the bench said. Applying the "precautionary principle" of environmental law, the NGT on January 8, 2020 had directed Young Builders (P) Ltd in north Delhi that no construction activity should be carried out.

It had also formed a joint committee comprising representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests and IIT Delhi to evaluate the project. The builder then challenged the order in the apex court, which set aside the order. Later, the green panel once again restrained the real estate developer from any activity.

The tribunal had passed the order on a plea by Delhi University challenging the environmental clearance granted to a housing project by Young Builders (P) Ltd in north Delhi. The plea challenged the order of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority granting Environmental Clearance (EC) for the housing complex located at 1 and 3, Cavalry Lane and 4, Chhatra Marg at Civil Lines here.

It said EC could be granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests and not by SEIAA as the project is within 10 km from Critically Polluted Area, notified by CPCB. The university said the permission sought by Young Builders Private Limited for construction of a group housing society in the university enclave was violative of the Master Plan of Delhi-2021 and was against the larger public interest, "given the fact that the project site in question and its vicinity are within the North Campus of the University and that it contains various historical and archaeological buildings".
We know the school day will look different and everyone is returning in a very different place than when they left. We also know that COVID-19 has had an undeniable and disproportionate impact on people of color, Horton wrote. As we approach our return, we must remain conscious of the emotions that will be felt by students, staff, and families alike. These will range from anxiety and fear to excitement and relief. We will actively work to build community, prioritize mental health and well-being, and give space so that we can collectively and individually navigate this huge change in our lives.
OWOSSO, MI -- Safety tips are being offered by Owosso police after two of three vehicles stolen in a 24-hour time period involved residents warming up their vehicles while not present.

The information was provided in a Wednesday, Jan 20, city of Owosso social media post.

In light of the recent thefts, Owosso police are reminding drivers not to leave their car running unattended with keys in the ignition.

Stay with the car, the post reads. Its better to be cold for a few minutes in your car while it warms up than to be left in the cold when a thief drives it away.

With the cold weather settling in, the Owosso Police Department would like to remind drivers to NOT leave their car... Posted by City of Owosso Government on Wednesday, January 20, 2021

If someone must leave their car running unattended, the post says they can use a second key to lock the car after starting it or get a remote starter.

Michigan residents are legally able to warm up their unattended cars in their driveways because of a 2017 change in state law.

Under the former law, motorists could be cited for leaving an unattended car idling in a driveway unless that vehicle was locked and equipped with a remote starting mechanism.

The rule specified that a person who has control or charge of a motor vehicle shall not allow the vehicle to stand unattended on any street or any other place without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, and removing and taking possession of the key, based on information from the House and Senate fiscal agencies.

Read more on MLive:

Flints deputy police chief to retire at end of month

Michigan warm up your car in your driveway bill signed into law

McLaren agrees to pay record $7.75M settlement over drug diversion allegations
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Thursday refused to stay release of film The White Tiger tonight on OTT platform Netflix on a plea by Hollywood producer John Hart Jr alleging copyright violation. In an urgent hearing conducted late evening, Justice C Hari Shankar dismissed the stay application by the producer saying not a single reason was shown to approach the court less than 24 hours before release of the film.

The court, which heard the matter for over two hours, issued summons to the producer of the film Mukul Deora and Netflix where it will be released tonight. The film features Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Rajkummar Rao among others.

The film The White Tiger is based on the book The White Tiger, authored by Aravinda Adiga, which was released in March 2008.


GRAYLING, MI - Wayne Koppa moved to Northern Michigan in 1989 to work at Camp Grayling.

He never left.

The retired commander, now 69, loves calling Grayling his home.

Its just a can-do community, he said in a recent interview with MLive. Its a great small town. They really have an appreciation for what a community can do when it comes together.

Nothing could be truer than dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to two shutdowns of indoor dining at restaurants. Those guidelines have had a crippling effect on the restaurant and bar industry across the state. According to the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, more than 2,000 restaurants have closed since March.

It meant major changes in Grayling.

With a population of about 13,000 residents in Crawford County, known for its four seasons, an annual paddle canoe race that attracts teams from all over the world and its bustling downtown with 30-plus business, Grayling wanted to remain open.

You can find three breweries, two popular barbecue joints, an awesome fish fry, a 1950s era diner and soda fountain, one of the states best burgers and more.

After the second shutdown on Nov. 18, reps from downtown businesses asked leaders at Grayling Main Street, which promotes local shopping, to extend the outdoor dining ordinance. It was supposed to discontinue in late fall.

They came to us, said Rae Gosling, director of Grayling Main Street. It was an easy yes!

They immediately jumped into action.

All purchased more heaters and gathered more wood for bonfire pits.

But thats not all:

One built an ice rink so customers could Skate while you wait for take out.

Another restaurant owner knocked down a wall to comply with health guidelines.

Igloos and shanties? Sure, they have them. But thats so 2020, one brewery owner said. They erected several greenhouses.

One kept its popular karaoke night alive in a heated tent.

Not one downtown business or restaurant has closed, Gosling said.

Were just awesome, she said with pride.

The good news for locals, as well as snowmobilers and winter outdoor enthusiasts visiting Grayling, is that they will have a lot of dining options, said Josie Swander of Paddle Hard Brewery.

Its been kind of crazy keeping up with adjustments and trying to get everything done that needs to be done, she added. I think everybody is really being pushed to that creative limit, and people are showing up. Its been nice to see.

Its also been fun.

I think we have a nice little friendly competition amongst each other, said Katie Tinker of Tinkers Junction, who built an ice rink in their former volleyball court.

Were the type of community that bands together. This is what we want to do. We want to hang out and spend time together. This is how we do it.

To celebrate the villages resilience, Grayling Main Street is having a Customer Appreciation weekend from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 6, offering specials and giving away 40 gift baskets, socially distanced, of course.

Learn more about the giveaways, dining options, as well as trails and where to stay overnight at downtowngrayling.com.

Here are more details about what some of the local restaurants are offering:

Outdoor Dining in Grayling

They want 3 open walls for outdoor dine-in? We'll give them 3 open walls! JOIN US STARTING TOMORROW FOR HEATED OUTDOOR... Posted by Dead Bear Brewing Co on Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Dead Bear Brewing Co.

2552 South, I-75BL, Grayling, MI 49738

989-745-6289

Hours: Noon-8 p.m. Sunday, noon-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Mondays

More info: deadbearbrewing.net or on Facebook at facebook.com/DeadBearBrewingCo

***NEW BEER ALERT*** Hibernation Stout is now on tap!  Posted by Dead Bear Brewing Co on Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Dead Bear Brewing Co.

Challenged to come up with a space that would meet health department guidelines, Dead Bear owners did something extreme. We blew a hole in the third wall (of our patio) in the beginning of December so that we could use that room, said general manager and part owner Jean Krebs. Reps at the health department told him they needed to have three walls open in order to be considered outdoor dining. Problem resolved. Its been a big hit. Customers are showing up. We are first come, first serve and simply start a wait list and have customers wait, while socially distancing with masks on while they wait, Krebs said. Their patio has seven garage doors that are all open with a built-in overhead heater around the perimeter and four stand-up heaters. Tables are 6 feet apart. Youll find an arcade at Dead Bear. Customers can use the arcade while waiting for outdoor dining. As for beer, the best sellers are the Escanaba River Amber Ale and the Maple Bacon Porter, Krebs said. And on the food side, the Reuben Egg Rolls and their house-made Pigtails Mac n Cheese are popular. See full the menu online at deadbearbrewing.net.

Paddle Hard Brewing Company in Grayling, Michigan.Courtesy of Paddle Hard Brewing Co.

Paddle Hard Brewing

227 Michigan Ave., Grayling, MI 49738

989-745-6388

Hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. -9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. -7 p.m. Sunday for carry out or shanty dining by reservation. Reservations at 989-370-6258.

More info: paddlehardbrewing.com/ or on Facebook at facebook.com/paddlehardbrewing

Paddle Hard Brewing Company has several heated igloos on its patio in Grayling, Michigan.Courtesy of Paddle Hard Brewing Co.

Paddle Hard Brewing

Under new ownership in the last year, Paddle Hard has added some menu items, such as a killer buffalo mac and cheese, according to Rae Gosling from Grayling Main Street. What does outdoor dining look like? The have patio space for four Eskimo ice shanty tents that fit up to six people for full service dining with wait staff. Each tent is heated with a tabletop fire place heater, adjustable windows for airflow, individual hand sanitizers, single-use wrapped straws and silverware, alcohol wipes, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors, said manager Josie Swander, who is also one of the new owners. Our lack of real estate definitely limits the quantity of tables we can accommodate, she said.

Reservations are accepted on a separate phone line because they sell out well in advance. They block off 1 hour and 20 minute time slots and take 10 minutes between parties to sanitize inside each shanty to keep dining safe. There is no deposit required or minimum spend. We want guests to be able to come and safely dine with us, enjoy a drink and a meal and good company, even if it is an outside alternative, Swander said.

They are offering a full food menu for carry out or dine-out. They are also canning beer and serving growlers to go with lots of pricing specials throughout the shutdown, as well as wine and liquor, Swander said.

Ownership transition was a long process, Swander said. They fully took permanent hold of the brewpub in early 2020 and have started brewing Paddle Hard beers again, as well as serving other popular brands. We hope to expand our portfolio even more in 2021, she added.

Greenhouses at Rolling Oak Brewing Co. in Grayling, Michigan.Courtesy of Radel Rosin

Rolling Oak Brewing Co.

509 Norway St., Grayling, MI 49738

989-745-6280

Hours: 3-7 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday

More info: rollingoakbrewing.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/rollingoakbrewing

Rolling Oak Brewing Company in Grayling, Michigan, features beer, cider, seltzer and wine on 16 taps.Courtesy of Radel Rosin

Rolling Oak Brewing Co.

Yes, Grayling has three breweries! And theyre each contributing to the outdoor dining scene. Created by homebrewer and beer enthusiast Jason Malone, Rolling Oak offers a first come, first serve area located on its patio, which is covered and heated. They also have bonfire pits. But, according to brewmaster/manager Radel Rosin, theyre doing something unique. Igloos and shanties are so last year, he posted on Facebook.

We just added two heated greenhouses that you can call and setup a reservation, he said. These have been a huge hit with a warm comfortable atmosphere where you can enjoy lunch or dinner and beers with friends or family. They also have a delicious food truck this winter, Rosin said.

They are making beer, cider, seltzer and wine with 16 taps. Everything is brewed in house with a wide range of beer - IPAs, lagers, stouts, browns, fruit ales, specialty beers, even a well-known Donut Cream ale brewed with our neighbor bakerys fresh donuts, he said. They also have non-alcoholic Rolling Oak Cream Soda and Root Beer.

Brisket at Dirty D BBQ in Grayling, Michigan.Courtesy of Dirty D BBQ

Dirty D BBQ Food Truck

509 Norway St., Grayling, MI 49738

989-889-2438

More info: On Facebook at facebook.com/DirtyDBBQ/

Dirty D BBQ Food Truck

Radel Rosin of Rolling Oak said owner Dirty D owner/pitmaster Doug Burnett offers wood fired slow smoked BBQ deliciousness. He has a rotating menu, specializing in pulled pork, brisket, Taco Tuesdays, specialty sandwiches. We even did a New Years Eve surf & turf dinner with wine and beer pairing, he added.

Rays Barbecue, Brews & Blues

204 Ingham St., Grayling, MI 49738

989-348-1515

Hours: 12-8 p.m. daily; closed Mondays and Tuesdays

More info: raysgrayling.com/ or on Facebook at .facebook.com/raysgrayling

Rays Barbecue, Brews & Blues

Located on the Au Sable River, this popular hand-crafted BBQ joint is known for having 30 craft beers on tap and, when there is not a pandemic, great blues music. Theyre keeping this winter season going with heaters on the deck, a few picnic tables, and a bonfire pit. Capacity is about 12. No reservations. First come, first served. But you better bundle up. Pretend like youre going ice fishing, said employee Erica Harris. They have an extensive BBQ menu, which you can find on their Facebook page. Everyone loves the ribs, Harris said. Everything is smoked.

Spike's Keg O Nails has very limited outdoor dining in two tents. Reservations required.John Gonzalez

Spikes Keg O Nails

301 Cedar St, Grayling, MI 49738

989-348-7113

More info: spikeskegonails.com/ or on Facebook at facebook.com/spikeskegonails/

The Spikeburger at Spike's Keg O Nails in Grayling, Michigan.John Gonzalez

Spikes Keg O Nails

Its everyones favorite burger! The Spikes Burger is a must for anyone traveling north on I-75, whether Grayling is your destination, or if youre headed to Gaylord, Mackinac Island or the Upper Peninsula. Its a classic, juicy American burger that was on our search for Michigans Best Burger in 2013 and nominated in 2020. With the pandemic and no indoor dining, Spikes has only two tents open to the public. Reservations are required.

RELATED: 10 great burgers to enjoy while enduring the coronavirus outbreak in Michigans Northern Lower Peninsula

There is a heated military tent for Karaoke on Friday nights at Gray Rock Pub & Grub in Grayling, Michigan.Courtesy of Gray Rock Pub & Grub

Gray Rock Pub & Grub

2123 Industrial St., Grayling, MI 49738

989-348-5181

Hours: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday; 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

More info: grayrockpubandgrub.ordereze.net or on Facebook at facebook.com/grayrockpubandgrub/?ref=page_internal

Fish fry at Gray Rock Pub & Grub in Grayling, Michigan.Courtesy of Gray Rock Pub & Grub

Gray Rock Pub & Grub

Grayling natives Kyle and Michelle Bond cant wait for full dine-in service to resume. Thats because theyre celebrating their 6th anniversary on Jan. 29. And they want to host a big old party. We sure are appreciating our community supporting us in these difficult times, Michelle said. Located in an industrial area near I-75 and M-72, Gray Rock is a full service bar and restaurant, as well as catering service. We take pride in our food, and usually change our menu bi-annually to offer different seasonal options, she said. But theyre probably best known for Karaoke on Friday nights. It had been so popular that before the Covid-19 pandemic they teamed with a local taxi service to provide rides to and from Gray Rock within a 7-mile radius. For FREE! We wanted to make sure our customers could enjoy cocktails and food and make it home safely, Michelle said. We plan to restart this service once Covid allows us to. Karaoke was always a fun busy event. The locals missed it so much the Bonds heated an old military tent (capacity of 24) for outdoor dining, as well as Karaoke. Now they have it outdoors on Friday nights as the weather allows us to with social distancing and extra sanitation procedures, Michelle said.

In addition to outdoor dining, Gray Rock has adapted to online ordering, like most local restaurants. Its full menu is available online now. They have Bloody Marys, Mimosas and breakfast on Sunday mornings for dine in or carry out. Most people opt for take out on Sunday mornings, but the tent is always warm, so if you want to have breakfast here in the morning with us, thats fine, too, said Kyle Bond. Reservations are encouraged on the weekend, when its the busiest, he said. French dip, specialty burgers, fish and wet burritos are the top sellers. They have a full menu, even though they had to reduce the steak options because of high beef prices, Kyle Bond said. They also do cocktails to go in a cool Mason jar with a lid and a handle, he added.

Tinkers Junction

6811 W M-72 Hwy, Grayling, MI 49738

989-344-1760

Hours: 3-8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon-8 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays.

More info: tinkersjunction.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/Tinksjunction/

https://online.skytab.com/069802d489a7b73dd31fd13b0f2cd690 We're ONLINE FOR ORDERING! Please let us know if you experience any issues. DELIVERY COMING SOON! Posted by Tinker's Junction on Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Tinkers Junction

Now, heres some creativity! You can ice skate and wait for your take out at the same time at Tinkers Junction, one of our top picks for Best Fish Fry in Northern Michigan in 2019. They call it Skate While You Wait. We just wanted to have a little fun. Its something weve always wanted to do, said owner Katie Tinker. They took a volleyball court and flooded it with water to create the 20-foot by 40-foot backyard rink. They have about 15 pair of skates of various sizes or you can bring your own. All free of charge.

We had one family come specifically to ice skate, and get a pizza, Tinker said. They also have a 20-foot by 30-foot heated tent with six picnic tables, which has a capacity of 28 to follow health guidelines, and two bonfire pits. Its been busy. Popular on the menu? Of course the Friday Fish Fry! Last Friday they posted on Facebook that their nearly world famous fish fry would feature 2 or 3-piece cod, Blacked Salmon or Walleye, all with potato and slaw or salad. Also, their wings are considered some of the best in the area. And their pizza is selling extremely well. They will be closed on Jan. 24 for a local radio station event, which is recording some local music acts.

RELATED: 3 places in the Northern Lower Peninsula for fantastic fish fry

It's a warm and welcoming atmosphere outside at The Sovengard on the west side of Grand Rapids.

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Amy Sherman of MLive takes a photo of the crew at North Branch Bakery in North Branch, Michigan.John Gonzalez

We love hearing about your favorite places for food, drink and outdoor fun in Michigan. You can email us your story ideas:

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Leaders from the Portland areas four largest hospital systems celebrated the opening Wednesday of the Portland areas first mass COVID-19 vaccination site at the Oregon Convention Center in Northeast Portland.

The site held a soft open Wednesday for about 1,500 healthcare workers and others in Phase 1a of the vaccine rollout who are eligible to be immunized against COVID-19. The site plans to start vaccinating about 2,000 childcare, preschool and K-12 workers per day.

The site is expected to be open seven days a week by appointment only. Organizers say educators will be contacted by their employers with instructions on how to book appointments.

Officials plan to offer an online or phone booking system by the time the vaccines are eventually made available to segments of the general population not linked to particular employers -- such as the planned rollout to Oregonians ages 80 and older starting Feb. 8.

The site could ramp up to 7,500 vaccinations per a day or more -- if Oregons vaccine allotments from the federal government allow.

This isnt a short-term event, we will have it open for months, said Wendy Watson, chief operating officer of Kaiser Permanente Northwest, during a Wednesday news conference with the four hospital systems that will be running the site.

Joining Kaiser are Legacy Health, Providence Health & Services and Oregon Health & Science University.

Organizers expect it to be the major vaccination center for the Portland area, although OHSU is planning a smaller drive-through vaccination site at one of Portland International Airports parking lots. The state also plans to rely on some mobile vaccinations sites to supply vaccination access to hard-to-reach communities.

When asked by a reporter why the Oregon Convention Center site was vaccinating people indoors, where the coronavirus and especially its more contagious U.K. variant can spread more easily, organizers said people will be spaced out at least 6 feet apart and organizers believe the site will be safe. Watson said bad weather was one reason for not holding vaccinations outdoors. Another was a drive-through site cant vaccinate as many people each day as the indoor site.

In and out, its pretty quick, Watson said.

The Oregon Convention Center is home to the Portland area's first mass COVID-19 vaccination site. (Courtesy of Kaiser Permanente)

Portlands new site is one of a few such mass vaccination sites in Oregon. That includes one at the Polk County Fairgrounds and another at the state fairgrounds in Salem. This week, educators started receiving vaccinations in Marion County -- days earlier than the states official immunizations start date for daycare, preschool and K-12 employees Jan. 25, according to KATU.

Oregon as of Wednesday has administered about 225,000 doses, with the pace of inoculations picking up since a slow rollout. In fact, Patrick Allen, director of the Oregon Health Authority, said the big problem Oregon is bumping into now is getting enough vaccines to vaccination sites.

Every single vaccinator that we had contact with last week, while we were doing 15,000 (vaccinations) a day, begged for more vaccine that just wasnt available to allocate to them, Allen said.

Allen said although the federal government is providing the vaccines at no direct cost to vaccine recipients, the health systems will be reimbursed for their operational costs running the Portland vaccination site. Allen said the Oregon Health Plan, Medicare, private insurance or a special fund for people without insurance will pay the health systems a set amount for each vaccination. But because that wont likely cover their expenses, the state is looking into dipping into federal money recently passed by Congress for coronavirus-related costs.

Oregon on Dec. 16 began vaccinating health care workers, residents in long-term care and other medical professionals. Gov. Kate Brown is prioritizing teachers next, followed by Oregonians 80 and older, with an equity committee set to chime in with its recommendations before the governor sets the order after that.

Trent Green, chief operating officer of Legacy Health, asked for the publics patience as the site ramps up.

I know people are anxious, Green said. After months of this pandemic, its really hard to wait. I can tell you that our phones are ringing off the hook with people wanting to know when and where they can be vaccinated.

Green continued: Calling your doctors office or calling the hospital cannot speed up the process. Nor can calling your doctors office or the hospital change what phase youre in.

Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter

-- Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com
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Hyderabad, Jan 21 : Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu has shared his fitness mantra, where he urges fans and followers to accept no limits in their regime.

In an Instagram video that he shared, Mahesh is seen doing boxed jump squats.

"Raise your game! Accept no limits. Be unstoppable! #BoxJumps #FitnessGoals @minash.gabriel," the actor wrote as the caption.

Talking about his upcoming work, Mahesh's next production venture is "Major", based on the life of 2008 Mumbai attacks martyr Sandeep Unnikrishnan. Adivi Sesh portrays Unnikrishnan.

The film also stars Sobhita Dhulipala.
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Close Circuit Television (CCTV) footage has led to the arrest of a woman who allegedly set a shop (boutique) ablaze at Accra New town near Timber market on Sunday.



Ramatu Sard who is in the custody of the police assisting in investigations was reportedly captured on CCTV as the culprit in the crime.



She was said to have set items in the shop, such as, clothing, footware, bags, and jewelries running into thousands of Ghana cedis.



The Public Relations Officer (PRO)of the Accra Regional Police Command,Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP) Effia Tenge disclosed these to the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday.



She said on January 17, 2021 at about 8:10am complainant and others arrested the suspect and brought her to the police station with a report that the suspect around 3:00am on same date set his boutique at Accra New town ablaze.



DSP Tenge said police proceeded to the scene of crime at Accra New town near the timber market where a shop on a one-storey building was pointed out to police as the crime scene.



She said an inspection at the scene revealed that inner part of the boutique was set ablaze and clothing, footwear, bags and jewelries, among others burnt.



DSP Tenge said a CCTV footage captured Ramatu as the suspect and she was arrested.



In another development, the police are investigating the death of a 27-year-old man, who got drowned in a swimming pool at a hotel Pillar 2, near Achimota, in Accra.



The body of Chika Ogwo has been retrieved and conveyed to the Police Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy,DSP Tenge told the Ghanaian Times yesterday



She said on January 17, 2021 a friend of the deceased, Joel Amobi, reported to the police that a friend got drown while swimming in a swimming pool at a hotel.



DSP Tenge said Amobi informed police that Ogwo was rushed to a Government Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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

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Two doctors and a midwife who put a live baby boy into a hospital freezer and left him to die to cover up the fact that he was wrongly diagnosed as stillborn have been jailed by a court in Kazakhstan.

The boy, who was born premature on September 29, 2019 at the Atyrau Perinatal Centre, showed multiple signs of life, including moving his leg, that were ignored by the medics who also discussed drowning the infant before placing him into the freezer.

Anti-corruption police chief Shyngys Kabdula said the doctors had 'decided to act according to paperwork already issued saying the child was stillborn,' despite noticing the child was alive.

The trio were found guilty on Monday of deliberately killing the baby to hide their negligence, state investigator Askarbek Ermukashev said, according to The Mirror.

Head physician Kuanysh Nysabaev - who reportedly ordered the child put in the morgue's cold storage, despite knowing its leg had moved - was jailed for 18 years for 'medical infanticide'.

His accomplices - obstetrician-gynaecologist Askar Kairzhan and midwife Jamilya Kulbatyrova - were sentenced to 16 and 15 years respectively.

Nysanbaev is separately accused of using bribing officials to cover up medical mistakes and obtain lavish foreign holidays.

Two doctors and a midwife have been jailed for putting a newborn baby in a morgue freezer to cover up their negligence in wrongly declaring it stillborn, a court in Kazakhstan has heard. Pictured: The defendants in court

Head physician Kuanysh Nysabaev (pictured) was reportedly the one who ordered the child put in the morgue's cold storage, despite knowing its leg had moved. He was jailed for 18 years [File photo]

The three medics deliberately killed the boy to cover up their negligence and had discussed drowning the infant in water before opting to place it in the morgue freezer instead, evidence laid out at the trial showed.'

The court heard a secretly-recorded phone call in which one of the doctors asked God for forgiveness as the medics discussed the case.

This amounted to proof of premeditation, prosecutors argued, saying the trio 'knew what was at stake'.

The infant boy reportedly showed signs of life despite having been registered as stillborn and experts said he could have lived had it received proper medical care.

The maternity ward at Atyrau regional perinatal centre, where the child was born and wrongly declared stillborn [File photo]

The court heard that midwife Kulbatyrova had put the boy into the freezer on the orders of the two senior doctors.

Two others, neonatologists Ruslan Nurmakhanbetov and Dariga Dzhumabayeva were also sentenced over failure to report a crime.

They were handed three and a half years of 'non-custodial freedom restriction', The Mirror reported.

The horrific crime reportedly only came to light after detectives bugged head physician Nysabaev's phone over a separate bribery investigation.

'After birth, the baby was negligently registered as stillborn, while in fact he was still alive,' police chief Kabdula said, speaking after the crime was first uncovered in 2019.

'After the child gave signs of life, the doctors, instead of taking urgent measures, decided to act according to paperwork already issued saying the child was stillborn.

Kabdula said that by placing the child in the freezer, the medics had 'left the newborn to die'.

Regional health chief Manshuk Aimurzieva resigned following the baby's death in 2019. Speaking at the time she said she could not comment on the crime, then still under investigation, but added that: 'Such a charge against doctors terrifies me.'

Aimurzieva was fined 8,750 for negligence in relation to a separate incident.

Kazakhstan's deputy health minister apologised to the family of the child following his death.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday there was far more common ground with Washington now that Joe Biden has replaced Donald Trump in the White House but acknowledged nagging points of friction.

Merkel said Germany and Europe were ready to do their part to address a range of issues in the transatlantic in-tray including the coronavirus pandemic, the climate crisis and security threats with the new administration.

"There is a much broader scope of political accord with President Biden," Merkel told reporters, citing his return to the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization and his openness to migration as examples.

However she noted that observers expecting them to see eye-to-eye on all issues of transatlantic importance would be disappointed, saying there would be "debates about how we can do things well for both countries".

"Biden represents the interests of the US, I represent those of the Federal Republic of Germany," she said.

'Stepping up'

Asked about US opposition to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project to bring Russian gas to Germany, Merkel said there was a need for broad talks with the Biden administration about what types of energy cooperation with Russia were "acceptable".

But she criticised "extraterritorial sanctions" from the US against the project as "out of order".

"My view on Nord Stream 2 has not changed," she said, despite growing tensions with Russia, most recently over the arrest of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Nord Stream 2 is set to double Russian natural-gas shipments to Germany, Europe's largest economy.

It has long been in the crosshairs of the United States, with Trump in particular openly criticising European countries for their reliance on energy from Russia.

Work resumed on the nearly completed pipeline in December after an almost year-long suspension caused by US threats of asset freezes and visa restrictions for companies involved.

On global security issues, Merkel took a more conciliatory tone, pledging to heed the calls for Germany and Europe to do more to step up cooperation.

"You hear everywhere people rightly saying that Europe will have to take on more responsibility, that means not only militarily but also in the diplomatic arena and many other areas," she said.

"But the good news is that we in Germany are ready to do that, the EU is also ready to," she said.

Merkel said such debates would now take place on a "broader foundation of shared convictions".

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New Delhi, Jan 21 : With Assembly elections in West Bengal around the corner, the Congress too has now jumped into the political fray after BJP and TMC to claim Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's legacy, by promising to build his "tallest statue" in the eastern state.

Congress West Bengal affairs incharge Jitin Prasada said: "The BJP is now thinking of Netaji when the Assembly elections are nearing. Why did it not build his statue in the last six years, like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's statue in Gujarat? The Congress will build the tallest statue of Netaji if voted to power in the state." The Congress move on the renowned freedom fighter comes after the tug of war between ruling Trinamool and the opposition BJP in Bengal to "own" Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj founder Netaji, who was in the Congress before he formed the INA to fight the British.

Earlier, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced that Netaji's birth anniversary on January 23 will be celebrated as 'Desh Nayak Diwas', hours after the Centre declared that the day will be observed as 'Prakram Diwas'.

The Chief Minister had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demand that a national holiday be declared on January 23 to honour Netaji. Elections to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are slated to be held in April-May 2021.

Bose was elected the Congress President in 1938, but soon after his re-election in 1939, he was ousted from the leadership positions following alleged differences with other Congress leaders.

After his exit from the Congress, he went to Germany in November 1941 and set up a 'Free India Centre' in Berlin, and soon after a 'Free India Radio' for daily broadcasts.

The Indian National Congress in pre-independent India was the main instrument of Indian nationalism and praised Bose's patriotism but distanced itself from his tactics.

But now, the Congress seems wary of the BJP overdrive on Netaji, forcing it to lay claim to his legacy and relate it to the Bengali pride.

The Congress leader claimed that the BJP was trying to appropriate Netaji's legacy for "political gains" though it did not follow his policies. "The Azad Hind Fauj comprised people from different Indian communities and he treated them as equal. On the other hand, the BJP plays divisive politics," he remarked.

It is pertinent to remember that the Congress had launched its protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act on the birth anniversary of Netaji last year.

The Trinamool Congress and the All India Forward Bloc, which Netaji founded, had earlier demanded that the day be observed as 'Deshprem Diwas'. The Forward Bloc had said in a statement: "The BJP leadership still does not realise the contribution of Netaji. That is why they cannot understand the difference between 'Prakram Diwas' and 'Deshprem Diwas'."
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I agree its not without benefit to Amazon's bottom line. But I do think its a good idea. If we are entrusting big pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens to handle the future bulk job of administering vaccinations, why not employ more private sector for distribution.
COLLEGE PARK, Md., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The next stage in the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has workforce implications that may seem surprising. Rather than fostering tech-savvy, AI is making emotional intelligence and empathy increasingly important, and analytical ability less important, write Roland Rust of University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business and co-author Ming-Hui Huang in their book "The Feeling Economy: How Artificial Intelligence Is Creating the Era of Empathy," released today by Springer International Publishing.

"Ironically, as AI is becoming more able to think, human intelligence is deemphasizing thinking in favor of feeling and interpersonal relationships," says Rust, Distinguished University Professor, David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing and founder and Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Service at Maryland Smith.

The book sheds light on the stages of AI's ongoing development and shares strategies to help business leaders, educators and today's workers prepare for careers, organizations, and a world in which AI and human intelligence collaborate closely, says Huang, Distinguished Professor in College of Management at National Taiwan University. "This involves AI doing more of the 'brain' work and humans handling the 'heart' work, including social interaction, emotion recognition, nuanced communication and genuine care for customers."

The Feeling Economy further means:

Women are poised to become more important in business and society than ever before.

Feeling Intelligence will be dominant in the economy  a shift already well underway.

A much greater emphasis on empathy, and less emphasis on rational thinking in politics  a shift also underway and being amplified.

STEM education may have already passed its peak and is likely to be much less important in the future.

The book draws from the authors' research published recently in California Management Review. They sifted through U.S. Department of Labor data on work tasks associated with jobs and the people who perform those jobs, covering millions of workers throughout the U.S. economy. They coded the things people report doing in their day-to-day jobs as physical tasks, thinking tasks or feeling tasks and compared the breakdown for each job in 2006 and 2016. The results revealed "a profound shift across the board toward feeling tasks, a big indication that the move to a Feeling Economy is already under way," says Rust.

That evidence confirms "That knowledge workers should prepare now for the coming reality: As AI evolves to handle much of the thinking required in fields from manufacturing to retail to healthcare, humans will need to recalibrate and capitalize on strengths beyond pure intelligencelike intuition, empathy, creativity, emotion and people skills," Rust adds.

The book adds real-world examples to the research to illustrate and guide readers on the emerging future of "feeling jobs" and "relationalization" (personalization plus relationship), Huang says and elaborates:

"Collaborating with thinking AI inevitably changes the nature of human jobs and what business leaders can do to keep pace. This starts with upgrading existing jobsincluding financial analyst, immigration officer, bank teller, and physicianto emphasize people skills.

"With women inherently advantaged in the Feeling Economy, we give strategies to support women's rise to the top and encourage every woman to leverage "soft" skills and people-oriented strengths without reinforcing gender stereotypes or discrimination.

"The advance of thinking AI is changing consumers  from their product expectations to their everyday life  we explain how to tailor sales, marketing, and service to meet the needs of emotionally-driven buyers."

Rust is an award-winning scholar who has edited several major journals and consulted with American Airlines, AT&T, Dupont, Eli Lilly, FedEx, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, NASA, and Sony, among many companies worldwide. Huang is a Fellow of European Marketing Academy, International Research Fellow of the Centre for Corporate Reputation, University of Oxford, UK, and Distinguished Research Fellow of the Center for Excellence in Service at Maryland Smith. She is also the incoming Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Service Research (JSR).

About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business

The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, specialty master's, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia.

For more information: "The Feeling Economy: How Artificial Intelligence Is Creating the Era of Empathy."

Contact: Greg Muraski at [email protected].

SOURCE University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business
The TRS will disappear in the coming days and if Rama Rao becomes the Chief Minister, he will not last for more than one year.

HYDERABAD: BJP state vice-president N.V.S.S. Prabhakar accused IT minister K.T. Rama Rao and bureaucrat Jayesh Ranjan of trying to grab industrial lands. The former legislator demanded that the Governor sack Rama Rao from the state cabinet.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Prabhakar alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrashehar Rao was giving subsidies to units and factories where his kin had stakes. He alleged that Ashok Leyland, Hyderabad Distillery and Modern Bakery were bought by Rama Rao's friends.

He stated that the TRS will disappear in the coming days and if Rama Rao becomes the Chief Minister, he will not last for more than one year.

Prabhakar demanded that the government take action against corporator Vijayalaksmi, daughter of TRS secretary-general K. Keshava Rao for attacking the Shaikpet mandal revenue officer.

He accused Keshava Rao of involvement in the Miyapur land scam and demanded a probe against the MP and his daughter.
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Among the films to watch in 2021 is Kaagaz, a biographical drama directed by Satish Kaushik that documents the tribulations of a man called Lal Bihari. This gentleman was declared dead in 1975, struggled to prove that he was alive (though deceased in the records) and was finally declared alive in 1994.

Umakant Sharma warrants a film too. This postman was suspended in 1984 (because of a discrepancy of 57.60 in the records he submitted) and was declared innocent in 2013. Then, in Doshipura (Varanasi) a dispute between Shia and Sunni Muslims over two acres of land has been going on since 1878.

There are criminal cases pending for more than three decades. As a back-of-the-envelope number, including all forums, the backlog is 35 million cases. Lets say there are at least two parties to a dispute (this is obvious for civil cases, though not necessarily true of criminal cases). However, since a civil case will often have more than two parties, one can safely say at least 70 million individuals are litigating today. With 250 million households, in 28% of Indias households, an individual spends time in court.

The strange thing is that you can think of the movie Damini which was made famous by Sunny Deols tarikh pe tarikh (date after legal date) dialogue. But there is also the judges remark in Jolly LLB-2 that citizens still approach courts in hope of justice. Law has that Janus-like attribute.

In ancient Indian texts, the primary responsibility of kings was defence of the realm, protection of the virtuous, punishment of the wicked and a speedy system for dispensing justice. Plato, or more contemporary social contract theory, endorses this. If three organs of state (legislature, executive, judiciary) cannot ensure rule of law, the state has abdicated its responsibility.

One doesnt need the World Banks governance indicators or doing business indicators to underline India doesnt do that well. In 1993, using cross-country evidence, an academic paper argued reform of Indias legal system would lead to incremental GDP growth of 1.5%. Obtaining such a precise number is dubious.

But the fact is the unsatisfactory legal system should have been revamped even if 1991 economic reforms hadnt occurred. The reforms provided an additional trigger. Whatever be the definition of reforms", they involve reliance on markets, as opposed to state control. Markets are conceptual constructs used by economists. They arent APMC mandis where buyers and sellers physically congregate to transact. Every market functions in an institutional context and an important ingredient in that institutional context is the legal system.

Yet, probably because reform policies and debates are largely shaped by economists who do not possess institutional appreciation, legal reform rarely features in any discussion. Hence, post-1991, laws primarily changed because of World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations (such as intellectual property) or because competition was introduced (infrastructure, financial sector), not necessarily because it was explicitly on the agenda.

THE ROUTE MAP

There are slices in law and legal reform. First, laws are often statutes. Under the Constitution, both Union and state governments can legislate. As a citizen, duty-bound to obey the law, and ignorance of the law is no excuse. Surely it should be ones right to know what existing statutes are.

For the Union government, courtesy India Code, thats available. For almost all state governments, that information isnt available. Major statutes are available, certainly in printed form. But I meant all statutes, not only major ones. (I chaired a two-member task force that examined Rajasthans laws, set up by the then chief minister. For some statutes, we discovered the government or assembly didnt possess the texts. We had to get copies from the government printing press.)

Second, laws are often not statutes, but subordinate legislation in the form of rules, regulations, notifications, orders, circulars. If statutes arent available, it follows that subordinate legislation isnt available either, except for India Code. In the case of states, except those that are part of the department for promotion of industry and internal trades (DIPPs) ease of doing business exercise. Therefore, law" is what a government official proclaims it to be. Since reforms are about transparency and reduction in discretion, this is undesirable. To impart some optimism, an exercise to incorporate state laws into Indian Code has started, but its early days.

Third, old laws become dysfunctional. India doesnt have a system of desuetude. In plain language, they arent closed-ended, with natural death after a prescribed time period. They are open-ended and have to be specifically identified for repeal. Through successive Acts, the Union government has repealed around 1,600 old statutes.

Arent old statutes harmless? Not really, they can be used for harassment. For example, Sarais Act of 1867/1887 (now repealed) could be used to harass hotels. However, after the Constitution was enacted in 1950, old statutes on state subjects have to be repealed by states. So, if we wonder why the oldest extant statute, Bengal Districts Act of 1836, still exists, thats because repeal has to be done by West Bengal.

Fourth, outright repeal is easy. More commonly, an entire statute cannot be repealed, but a section has become dysfunctional. That may be Section 377 of Indian Penal Code, Section 69 of Transfer of Property Act, or the relevant section of East Punjab Agricultural Pests, Diseases and Noxious Weeds Act (1949), applicable to Delhi, which requires locust invasions to be announced through beating of drums and musters of able-bodied male citizens to fight them.

This requires systemic scrutiny of statutes. Ideally, that should be done by the Law Commission, but recent reports of the Law Commission have been infrequent and ad hoc, not systematic. Kerala and Rajasthan are the only states I can think of that have done such systematic exercises.

Fifth, while identifying old and dysfunctional sections, one can rationalize and harmonize. Statutes, in the same area, have been enacted at different points in time, with varying definitions. This leads to alternative judicial interpretations, causing further confusion in case law.

Factor markets are a prime example of this. For instance, at the Union government level, there were roughly 54 statutes, directly or indirectly dealing with labour. Those under administrative control of the labour ministry have now been unified into four codes. When statutes are unified, subordinate legislation will automatically be unified. When one reads a TeamLease report on the large number of regulatory clearances required at Union or state government level, one should realize bulk of these concern labour.

For Rajasthan, after harmonization (and some repeal), we were able to reduce the number of statutes from 900 to 250 (that figure of 900 gives us a rough idea of how many statutes there might be at the state level). Most of those 900 statutes were on land ownership, tenancy and land revenue. Across states, the next frontier for a rationalization exercise remains that.

Sixth, to state the obvious, enacted statutes often reflect a mindset of state control. Therefore, a proper revamp of legislation requires us to take a position on what the government should do and should not do. To continue with the Rajasthan example, should the government control boating, as it does through Regulation of Boating Act (1956)? Or, to mention more topical legislation, the Essential Commodities Act of 1955. What is the difference between control and regulation? Often a statute is in the name of regulation, but actually amounts to control.

Therefore, seventh, introduce regulatory legislation where none exists. And eighth, an important point often ignored, ensure that there is unambiguity in drafting, so that litigation is avoided. In passing, the plain English movement has left both law and judgements untouched.

Finally, to return to the examples I mentioned initially, a legal system is only as good as its enforcement, that is, speed of dispute resolution. If it takes decades, the system isnt credible, to punish the wicked or protect the virtuous.

The number of cases pending for more than 10 years is 1,200 for the Supreme Court, around 780,000 for high courts and just over 2 million for lower courts.

Several committees have told us what to do. The earliest government committee to examine the problem of pendency and arrears was the Rankin Committee (1924). The most recent was the Malimath Committee (2000). Now it is time to reform.

THE REFORM

One can detect at least four strands in proposed reforms. First, there is the question of judicial strength, though the number and skill sets of non-judicial staff are equally important. This is a supply-side solution that is the most commonly cited reason for court congestion and delays. However, this is also linked to vacancies and the judicial appointment and promotion process, as is judicial workforce planning.

Second, there is a set of reforms linked to improving judicial efficiency and court productivity, through education/training, better court administration in non-judicial functions and improved case and case-flow management, facilitated by infrastructure improvements. This too is a supply-side solution. Third, as a sub-strand to number two, information and communication technology can be used to enhance productivity. Fourth, demand for adjudication can be reduced through alternative channels of dispute resolution (mediation, conciliation, arbitration) and reducing the governments contribution in civil litigation.

Supply, demand and productivitythese are the bare facts when you come down to brass tacks. All too often, when one talks to judges or reads committee reports authored by judges, the emphasis is only on the first and the others are rarely mentioned. In other words, more courts, more judges, more court staff, better infrastructure, better housing, better cars, more money, financial autonomy for the judiciary.

Without evidence that the judiciary is seeking to reduce pendency, these arguments wont have many takers outside the judiciary. Many procedural improvements can easily be done. Productivity enhancement is about handling cases more efficiently, that is, case-flow management. When the Code of Civil Procedure was amended in 2001 and 2002, we were told that, henceforth, the average civil case would be concluded within two years.

If nothing of the sort has happened, thats because of the Supreme Court (2005) in the Salem Advocates Bar Association versus Union of India case. But this judgement also led to the eventual drafting of model case-flow management rules. Though these were draft rules and adoption decision was left to high courts, this is an eminently sensible idea.

Evidently, not all high courts thought so. A collation by Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy shows that. This is an example of that reluctance to enhance productivity, not to speak of larger issues like curbing appeals. Experiments like lok adalats, fast-track courts, family courts, mobile courts, gram nyayalayas, peoples courts and womens courts have also had sporadic success because of that reluctance.

Finally, one cannot forget police reform, critically linked to reform of the criminal justice system.

Bibek Debroy is chairman, Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister

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FORT COLLINS, Colo., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the United States made history welcoming Vice President Kamala Harris, Culturs  the global multicultural magazine, focused on how Harris represents an increasing wave of politicians displaying hidden diversity.

Vice President Kamala Harris Original Art Culturs Magazine Illustration Ojibwe Jingle Dress Dance Culturs Magazine Cover

Along with Barack Obama and John McCain, the issue's cover story highlights how Third Culture Kids (TCKs) like these three examples are changing the face of U.S. politics. Third Culture Kids are those who grow up with geographic and cultural mobility during their formative years when identity is formed. In 1984, Sociologist Ted Ward called TCKs "The prototype citizens of the future."

"The classic profile of a TCK is someone with a global perspective who is socially adaptable and intellectually flexible," says Ruth Van Reken, co-author of a celebrated book on Third Culture Kids. In the article, she shares that "The U.S. 'melting pot' indeed has birthed notable TCKs in its political ranks." The issue boasts an original art illustration of Harris amongst Lotus flowers, which is one translation for her name's meaning.

"We've had a lot of celebratory comments about this cover, and gratitude from people sharing that it is a proper observance for such a monumental occasion," Doni Aldine, Culturs Editor-in-Chief, shares.

The issue covers a number of cross-cultural political up-and-comers, along with articles on digital democracy in online algorithms, views on immigration and cross-cultural lifestyle content like the Ojibwe Native American Jingle Dress dance, a review of the book "Caste," and more.

This historic Colorado-based print publication celebrates cross-cultural identity and amplifies voices of hidden diversity for TCKs, immigrants, refugees, multiracial and multiethnic people. On sale for $9.99 starting Feb. 1 at Army and Air Force Exchange Service Stores (AFFES), select Kroger grocery stores, Books-a-Million and independent bookstores. Locate a store near you at Cultursmag.com or purchase copies today at Cultursmag.com/subscribe

ABOUT: Culturs is a global multicultural philanthropic brand that brings lifestyle content to culturally fluid populations whose lives are punctuated by "straddling" different cultures during their formative years. The missing "e" in CULTURS represents the population's hidden diversity. Proceeds support cross-cultural education around the globe. For more information, visit www.Cultursmag.com

Contact: Malina Padgett  [email protected]

303.905.9903

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Eminent cardiologist and Karnataka COVID-19 Task Force Committee member Dr C N Manjunath on Thursday took the coronavirus vaccine and said he was fine. He advised healthcare workers to volunteer for vaccination without fear and apprehension "since it is safe and no major adverse events." "Taking vaccine is the only way we can end this pandemic.I took it today and I am fine," said Dr Manjunath, who is director of the Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in a statement.

He said mild fever, injection site pain and bodyache are not side effects but only effects of the vaccine. "With more people taking, some more will take, which boosts public confidence so that we can achieve herd immunity on expected lines," the cardiologist said, adding that taking vaccine is civic responsibility.

Since the launch of the vaccination drive, 1,17,407 frontline workers have been given the vaccine in the state till Wednesday, the health department said.
Here is how world leaders are reacting to US President Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday, replacing Donald Trump.

SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT MOON JAE-IN, ON TWITTER:

"@JoeBiden, congratulations on your inauguration. America is back. America's new beginning will make democracy even greater. Together with the Korean people, I stand by your journey toward 'America United'."

TAIWAN PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN, IN A STATEMENT FROM HER OFFICE:

"President Tsai wishes the new Biden administration smooth policy implementation, and looks forward to building on the strong foundation of the Taiwan-US partnership to further our bilateral collaboration, as well as the prosperity of, and friendship between, the people of both countries."

SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTR LEE HSIEN LOONG, IN A LETTER TO BIDEN:

"Strong American leadership will make a decisive difference to our collective recovery and the shape of the post-COVID-19 world."

"There is a deep reservoir of goodwill for the US in our region, because of the vital role the United States has played anchoring regional stability and economic prosperity for over half a century."

JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIDE SUGA, IN A TWEET:

"Congratulations to President @JoeBiden and Vice President @KamalaHarris on your inauguration. Japan and the United States are allies tied firmly by bonds and shared universal values.

"I look forward to working with you and your team to reinforce our alliance and to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN, IN A TWEET:

"The United States is back. And Europe stands ready. To reconnect with an old and trusted partner, to breathe new life into our cherished alliance. I look forward to working together with @JoeBiden."

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON, SPEAKING IN PARLIAMENT:

"I look forward to working with him (Biden), and with his new administration, strengthening the partnership between our countries and working on our shared priorities: from tackling climate change, building back better from the pandemic and strengthening our transatlantic security."

GERMAN PRESIDENT FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, IN A VIDEO STATEMENT:

"Today is a good day for democracy. In the United States of America, it has faced tremendous challenges - and endured. Despite the attempts to tear at America's institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress, have proven strong. I am greatly relieved that, today, Joe Biden is being sworn in as president and will be moving into the White House. I know many people in Germany share this feeling."

POPE FRANCIS, IN A MESSAGE TO BIDEN:

"Under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding."

"I likewise ask God, the source of all wisdom and truth, to guide your efforts to foster understanding, reconciliation and peace within the United States and among the nations of the world in order to advance the universal common good."

IRISH PRIME MINISTER MICHEAL MARTIN, IN A STATEMENT:

"As he takes the oath-of-office, I know that President Biden will feel the weight of history - the presence of his Irish ancestors who left Mayo and Louth in famine times in search of life and hope."

"I hope he will also be conscious of the great pride we in Ireland take in his immense achievement. He is one of us, part of our global family."

SPANISH PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ, SPEAKING AT A PUBLIC EVENT:

"The (election) victory of Biden represents the victory of democracy over the ultra-right and its three methods, the massive deception, the national division and the abuse, even violent, of democratic institutions... Five years ago, we thought Trump was a bad joke, but five years later we realized he jeopardized nothing less than the world's most powerful democracy."

ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIUSEPPE CONTE, SPEAKING IN PARLIAMENT ON TUESDAY:

"We are looking forward to the Biden presidency, with which we will start working immediately in view of our presidency of the G20. We have a strong common agenda, ranging from the effective multilateralism that we both want to see, to climate change, green and digital transition and social inclusion."

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, IN A TWEET:

"Best wishes on this most significant day for the American people! We are together. We will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!"

KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV, ON EXTENDING THE NEW START ARMS CONTROL TREATY, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS:

"Russia and its president are in favour of preserving this agreement... If our American colleagues will in fact demonstrate a political will to preserve this pact by extending it, this can only be welcomed."

CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU, IN A STATEMENT:

Canada and the United States "will continue this partnership as we fight the global COVID-19 pandemic and support a sustainable economic recovery that will build back better for everyone."

"We will also work together to advance climate action and clean economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and create good middle class jobs and opportunities for our people while contributing to democracy, peace, and security at home and around the world."

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, IN A STATEMENT:

"Congratulations President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on your historic inauguration. President Biden, you and I have had a warm personal friendship going back many decades. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world, and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran."

Netanyahu's office released a separate statement on Trump:

"President Trump, thank you for all the great things you have done for Israel, especially your historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and bringing four peace agreements between Israel and the Arab world."

PALESTINIAN ISLAMIST GROUP HAMAS SPOKESMAN FAWZI BARHOUM:

"There are no regrets at the departure of Trump, as he has been the biggest source and sponsor of injustice, violence and extremism in the world and the direct partner of the Israeli occupation in the aggression against our people."

"U.S. President Joe Biden must reverse the course of misguided and unjust policies against our people and lay the foundations for security and stability in the region."

BELARUS OPPOSITION LEADER SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA (EXILED IN LITHUANIA) ON TWITTER:

"Congratulations Joe Biden & Kamala Harris! Best wishes in your work on behalf of all United States people. Looking forward to working with you on developing relations between Belarus and US!"

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAEED KHATIBZADEH, IN A TWEET:

"The DIPLOMATIC VANDALISM of Trump, Pompeo & co stemmed partly from a broken institutional process. But that same process-when 'functional'-produced disasters like wars in Iraq, Afghanistan & Vietnam. The world knows that only the US can fix itself - in practice; not just words."

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION SECRETARY GENERAL JENS STOLTENBERG, IN A STATEMENT:

"I look forward to working closely with President Biden and welcoming him to the NATO Summit in Brussels later this year. Our focus will be NATO2030, the initiative to make our strong Alliance even stronger and fit for the future."

TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, IN A TWEET:

"Congratulations President @JoeBiden and Vice-President @KamalaHarris on your #Inauguration today. Here's to a healthier, fairer, safer, more sustainable world!"

Also read: Donald Trump leaves White House for last time, wishes good luck to new administration

Also read: Joe Biden's Day-1 agenda: To reverse Trump's policies, restore US to WHO, Paris Agreement
Rescuers work at the scene of the accident following a fire in nursing home in Kharkiv, Ukraine January 21, 2021. State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS

At Least 15 Killed, 11 Injured in Nursing Home Fire in Ukraine

KYIVAt least 15 people were killed and 11 injured in a fire in a nursing home in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian state emergency service said on Thursday.

The fire broke out in the afternoon on the second floor of the two-storey building. There were 33 people inside, the service said.

The service published a photo of the building with bars on the windows of the first floor. Smoke could be seen billowing out of broken windows of the second floor.

A rescuer works at the scene of the accident following a fire in nursing home in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 21, 2021. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters)

Medics work at the scene of the accident following a fire in nursing home in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Jan. 21, 2021. (State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters)

Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the interior minister to open and take charge of an inquiry into the incident.

The Ukrainian prosecutor general said authorities had launched a criminal investigation and the preliminary cause of the tragedy was the careless handling of electric heating devices.

By Natalia Zinets

A postage stamp issue called "The Passions of the Kings of Romania (I)" that explores the particular interests of the Romanian monarchs beyond their official duties will become available on Friday at the Romfilatelia stores in Bucharest, Bacau, Brasov, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Timisoara, as well as online, according to AGERPRES.

According to a press statement from Romfilatelia released on Thursday, the issue consists of four postage stamps and two first-day covers.

The postage stamps illustrate well-known passions of the kings of Romania starting with horseback riding on a stamp of a face value of 1.40 lei with the visible image of Carol I, and botany, for which Ferdinand I became internationally famous, on a stamp of a face value of 1.70 lei. In the case of the other two monarchs - Carol II and Mihai - the stamps show the passion for philately of the former on a stamp of a face value of 10.50 lei, and the passion for aviation of the latter, on a stamp of a face value of 19 lei.

The stamp issue is rounded up by two first-day covers, a 20-stamp sheet, a five-stamp miniature sheet plus one label and a special block of four perforated stamps plus four labels.

Each of the two first-day covers brings together in a graphic composition stamps representing the four monarchs of Romania, issued during their reigns: between 1920 and 1944 (first cover) and between 1909 and 1945 (second cover).

The stamp album is made in a limited run of 251 pieces and it comes out with a special block of four perforated stamps and four labels as well as the set of two first-day covers with the postmark clearly applied in gold foil. Both products are numbered 001 to 251.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said the number of out-of-school children has reduced from 10.1million in 2019 to 6.95 million in 2020.

Mr Adamu, who spoke at the 2020 Annual Ministerial briefing in Abuja on Thursday, said the reduction was through the Federal Governments Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA) initiative.

The minister said BESDA initiative in 17 states had been responsible for an additional enrolment of 1,053,422 children

He said the ministry was working closely with the National Association of Proprietors and School Owners of Nigeria to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

He said the association had taken over one million out-of-school children off the street, with each private school sponsoring five pupils.

Under the initiative of BESDA, the federal government secured a World Bank credit facility of 611million dollars to support 17 states in strengthening Universal Basic Education.

The facility will also address the first pillar of the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) on out-of-school children.

So far, we have launched BESDA in 10 states namely: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Ebonyi, Kano, Oyo, Yobe, Niger and Zamfara States.

As of today, we have recorded impressive school enrolment figures in 17 states of the federation where BESDA is being implemented.

I can, however, tell you that through the BESDA initiative, we have reduced the figure of out-of-school children from 10.1 million since May 2020 to 6,946,328 million, he said.

Mr Adamu added that the adolescent girl initiative for learning and empowerment was also supported by the World Bank to deal with the challenges posed by adolescent girls who were out-of-school or had never been in school.

He said that a World Bank facility of 500 million dollars had been secured to ensure that these girls were taken off the street, trained and financially empowered to enable them live normal and quality lives.

On adult illiteracy, the minister noted that attention was given to the mass literacy sub-sector in the last one year.

In 2019, we were able to lift one million Nigerians off shelve of adult illiterates and 900,000 have been taken off that bracket in 2020.

In the last two years, 1,900,000 illiterates have been able to read and write in English or the three Nigerians languages through this effort. Our target of one million cannot be reached due to COVID-19.

We are working on an instrument that will also make it an offence for any adult illiterate not to undertake any form of learning. Todays illiterates will breed tomorrows out-of-school children, he said.

Speaking, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, said President Muhammadu Buhari had challenged the ministers and top government officials not to relent in making Nigerians know what they do.

Mr Mohammed said in view of this, the ministers were working hard in building, enlarging agricultural outputs for food security and export.

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In our stride to attain food sufficiency, power and transport and other infrastructural development, we are also working on expanding access to quality education, affordable healthcare, improve governance and security for all, he added.

(NAN)
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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") reminds investors of the upcoming March 5, 2021 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired SolarWinds Corporation ("SolarWinds" or the "Company") (NYSE: SWI) securities between February 24, 2020 and December 15, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period").

If you suffered a loss on your SolarWinds investments or would like to inquire about potentially pursuing claims to recover your loss under the federal securities laws, you can submit your contact information at https://www.glancylaw.com/cases/solarwinds-corporation/. You can also contact Charles H. Linehan, of GPM at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, or via email at [email protected] to learn more about your rights.

On December 13, 2020, Reuters reported hackers have been monitoring email traffic at the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments. The hackers are believed to have breached the emails by deceptively interfering with updates released by SolarWinds, which services various government vendors in the executive branch, the military, and the intelligence services.

On December 14, 2020, the Company disclosed that "a vulnerability [was inserted] within its Orion monitoring products which, if present and activated, could potentially allow an attacker to compromise the server on which the Orion products run." The vulnerability was inserted in Orion products downloaded, as well as updates released, between March and June 2020.

On this news, the Company's stock price fell $3.93, or 17%, to close at $19.62 per share on December 14, 2020, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on December 15, 2020, Reuters reported that Vinoth Kumar, a security researcher, alerted the Company last year that anyone could access SolarWinds' update server by using the password "solarwinds123." The article also reported that co-founder of cybersecurity company Huntress, Kyle Hanslovan, noticed the malicious updates were still available for download even days after SolarWinds was aware their software was compromised.

On this news, the Company's stock price fell $1.56, or 8%, to close at $18.06 per share on December 15, 2020, thereby injuring investors further.

The complaint filed alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) since mid-2020, SolarWinds Orion monitoring products had a vulnerability that allowed hackers to compromise the server upon which the products ran; (2) SolarWinds' update server had an easily accessible password of 'solarwinds123'; (3) consequently, SolarWinds' customers, including, among others, the Federal Government, Microsoft, Cisco, and Nvidia, would be vulnerable to hacks; (4) as a result, the Company would suffer significant reputational harm; and (5) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired SolarWinds securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than March 5, 2021 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Charles Linehan, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

SOURCE Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP

Related Links

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Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are still high. The numbers of hospitalized Covid patients and deaths in the Monroe County area have also remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Monroe County is relatively low, suggesting that testing capacity is adequate for evaluating Covid-19 spread in the area.

It can be more difficult to determine Covid-19 risk in counties with low populations because less data is available. Consider looking at the risk in neighboring counties to better understand the risk in Monroe County.

Avoid crowds , and limit the number of people you meet and the amount of time you spend with them. Avoid indoor spaces with poor airflow. Wash your hands often, especially after visiting a public place or blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

If you feel sick or have been exposed to someone with Covid, you should stay home and get tested . If someone in your household feels sick or has been diagnosed with Covid-19, everyone should wear a mask, wash their hands often and stay at least six feet apart from one another, even inside your home.

You should stay at least six feet away from people who live in other households. Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are outside your home and whenever you are around people who do not live with you, including any visitors to your home.

Do not skip or delay medical care , including mental health care . Talk to your doctors about postponing any nonessential appointments. If you have an appointment, call before your visit to find out if you need to take special precautions, and ask if telehealth is a good option for you.

Learning environments where students stay in small groups during meals and recess make it safer for younger students to go to school . Older students should consider online or hybrid instruction if possible. Avoid play dates and extracurricular activities that involve physical contact or more than a handful of students.

Children tend to have less-severe symptoms but can still spread the coronavirus, so consider the health risks of everyone in your household when making decisions about your childs activities.

Work remotely when possible and avoid in-person meetings . In the workplace, less crowded hours are the safest to be on the job.

Religious services are safest when conducted outside. If you attend an indoor service, choose one without singing and where everyone wears a mask and stays at least six feet apart.

Weddings , funerals , concerts , sporting events and other gatherings that bring multiple households together are places where Covid can spread easily. Consider postponing or keeping events small.

Avoid all nonessential travel . If you must take a taxi , open the windows and sit far away from others in the vehicle. If you need to take public transit , try to avoid rush hours and crowds so you can keep your distance from others. If you fly, choose less crowded flights or airlines that keep middle seats empty.

You can lower your risk during grocery shopping and other indoor activities by keeping your visits as short and infrequent as possible. If you visit an indoor area, choose places where its easy to stay apart from others, and avoid places where people do not wear masks. If you meet friends indoors, including inside your home, limit your group to a handful of people , keep your distance and wear a mask.

Avoid crowded indoor places like gyms and movie theaters ; nonessential shopping ; and indoor personal care services like haircuts and manicures . Given the severity of the outbreak in Monroe County, spending time inside with people from other households puts you at risk for getting the coronavirus or spreading it to others.

Heres how you can reduce the risk of getting Covid-19 if you havent yet completed your vaccination series.

The C.D.C. still recommends wearing a mask in settings where Covid-19 may spread more easily, including healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, transportation hubs and on all forms of public transportation. This helps protect people who may be particularly vulnerable to the virus and also to prevent spread.

Keep in mind that receiving medical care, even for unrelated conditions, may become difficult if hospitals at your travel destination are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.

Its low-risk to have indoor visits, such as inviting another household over for dinner without masks and without social distancing, as long as the size of these gatherings is limited to a few households.

Individuals are fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their final vaccine dose. If you are fully vaccinated, you may choose to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations for fully vaccinated people since your risk of getting sick is much lower.

We developed this advice with experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives , an initiative of Vital Strategies. If you or someone in your household is older or has other risk factors for severe Covid-19, you may need to take extra precautions .

Based on the high Covid-19 transmission in Monroe County right now, heres how to lower your personal risk of getting Covid-19 and protect your community, according to public health experts.

An average of less than one case per day was reported in Monroe County in the last week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 8 residents have been infected, a total of 872 reported cases .

About the data

In data for Arkansas, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. Arkansas typically releases new data each day. Weekend counts may be lower because fewer sources report to the state. The state reports cases and deaths based on a persons permanent or usual residence.

The Times has identified the following reporting anomalies or methodology changes in the data:

Feb. 28, 2021: Arkansas updated its counts after verifying records, resulting in an increase in cases and a small decrease in deaths.

Arkansas updated its counts after verifying records, resulting in an increase in cases and a small decrease in deaths. Sept. 15, 2020: Arkansas added 139 probable deaths from unspecified days.

Arkansas added 139 probable deaths from unspecified days. Sept. 3, 2020: Missouri began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing, resulting in a one-day addition of about 50,000 cases.

Missouri began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing, resulting in a one-day addition of about 50,000 cases. Aug. 15, 2020: Arkansas removed about 400 previously reported cases after removing duplicate and out-of-state cases.

The tallies on this page include probable and confirmed cases and deaths.

Confirmed cases and deaths, which are widely considered to be an undercount of the true toll, are counts of individuals whose coronavirus infections were confirmed by a molecular laboratory test. Probable cases and deaths count individuals who meet criteria for other types of testing, symptoms and exposure, as developed by national and local governments.

Governments often revise data or report a single-day large increase in cases or deaths from unspecified days without historical revisions, which can cause an irregular pattern in the daily reported figures. The Times is excluding these anomalies from seven-day averages when possible.

About the Covid-19 risk levels

Monroe County is at a high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 4 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks. The risk in Monroe County will decrease to moderate risk if the daily case rate drops to less than about 2.8 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks and the test positivity in the state stays low. The case charts on this page show 7-day averages, while risk levels are assessed based on 14-day case averages, which may be different.

The New York Times worked with public health experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, to develop guidance on how individuals may reduce their risk of exposure to Covid. There is specific guidance for each risk level.

A countys Covid-19 risk is determined based on the number of reported cases and testing data. Although county risk levels are assigned based on expert guidance and careful analysis, it is possible that the risk level in a specific county may be over or underestimated because of a lack of reliable data.

A county is at an extremely high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of more than 45 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 32 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a very high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of more than 11 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 8 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of about 3 or more cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 2 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a moderate risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of about 1 case per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported 1 or more cases over the past two weeks.

A county is at a low risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of less than 1 case per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported no cases over the past two weeks.

In some cases, a county might not have a risk level if not enough recent data was available, or if inconsistencies were found in the data. If a countys recent testing data was not available, the rate of positive tests in the state was used, along with recent cases, to calculate the risk level.

Since the risk levels were first published in January 2021, The Times has made the following methodology changes:
Press Release

January 21, 2021 GORDON'S BILL THAT SEEKS TO DE-CLOG DOCKETS IN REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS DISCUSSED IN SENATE Senator Richard J. Gordon, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, stressed at the Plenary on Wednesday that Senate Bill No. 1886, which he sponsored, targets to help de-clog the dockets of the second level courts or the Regional Trial Courts and to speed up the disposition of cases. During the interpellation for SBN 1886, Gordon said that this objective can be attained by expanding the jurisdictional threshold of the first level courts or the Municipal Trial Courts as there are a higher number of pending cases at the second level courts. "The congestion of our courts' dockets deprives the courts of time. Judges need time to study, analyze and research to come up with good, reasonable decisions. The quality of justice is therefore adversely affected by the congestion of our courts' dockets. There are not enough courts or judges to meet the demands of our countrymen," he said. According to the Office of the Court Administrator of the Supreme Court, there are 21,269 pending civil cases at the first level courts, while there are 108,484 pending civil cases at the second level courts as of December 2018. "The data shows that our first level courts have a lower number of pending cases at the end of the year compared to that of our second level courts. To help de-clog the dockets of our second level courts and to equalize the burden between the first level courts and the second level courts, we are proposing to raise the jurisdictional threshold of our second level and first level courts," Gordon explained. SBN 1886 will also address the delay in the disposition cases due to overloading of cases assigned per judge. As Gordon pointed out, there are so many cases to be heard but very few judges are deciding on the cases. To help advance the country's justice system, Gordon previously passed the Judges-at-Large Act of 2018 or R.A. 11459 that would address the increasing number of pending trials in courts and to solve the congestion of court dockets through the creation of 100 regional trial court judges-at-large positions and 50 municipal trial court positions. These Judges-at-Large shall have no permanent salas and may be assigned by the Supreme Court (SC) as acting or assisting judges to any Regional Trial Court or First Level Court in the Philippines as public interest may require. The Community Service Act or R.A. 11362 that will allow the courts to impose community service in lieu of imprisonment for minor offenses, which will promote restorative justice and jail decongestion, was likewise passed in 2019. "Justice delayed is justice denied. Article 3 of Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution provides that all persons shall have the right to a speedy disposition of their cases," said Gordon. SBN 1886 is a consolidated measure of SBN 1359 filed by Gordon on February 18, 2020 and SBN 1353 filed by Senator Manuel M. Lapid on February 17, 2020.
European property developers are working with the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the residential property sector.

Representatives of the German Development Co-operation-GIZ Vietnam and the Ministry of Constructions Housing and Real Estate Market Management Bureau (HREM) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).  Photo courtesy GIZ-Vietnam

The German Development Cooperation-GIZ Vietnam and the Ministry of Constructions Housing and Real Estate Market Management Bureau (HREM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on the joint development of the Vietnam Green Housing Programme (VGHP) under the implementation of the Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) in Vietnam.

The MoU focuses on enabling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation.

GIZ said the VGHP, which is supported through the GIZ Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) in Vietnam, aims to benefit the mid-income housing market by targeting the low-cost commercial housing segment.

Under the partnership, GIZ and HREM will develop and implement the Vietnam Green Housing Programme. A particular focus of the programme is improving energy efficiency and reducing GHG emissions in the affordable housing market as per Vietnams commitment in its Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Through the Vietnam Green Housing Programme, the partnership aims to motivate private housing developers to move into the market for energy-efficient and green buildings, and stimulate local commercial banks to develop green financing products for both housing developers and homebuyers, as well as green equipment and material suppliers in the low-cost commercial housing segment.

In Vietnam, the total production value of the construction sector reached 358.6 trillion VND (15.6 billion USD), contributing 5.94 percent of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019.

As an emerging economy, Vietnam is expected to see a dramatic increase in demand for spacious and comfortable residential property due to the rapid growth of the middle class with approximately 50 million square meters of housing added in 2019.

As the potential for GHG emissions reduction through energy efficiency in the construction sector is enormous, this cooperative endeavour will contribute to Vietnams aim of reducing GHG emissions, said Kia Fariborz, Chief Technical Advisor of the Support Programme for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (SIPA).

Deputy Director General of HREM Ha Quang Hung highly appreciated the initiative for integrating PEEBs goal of energy efficiency and low emissions with the Governments goal of low-cost commercial housing development.

According to calculations, within 10 years after reaching the target, apartment buildings will save about 6.3 billion kWh (kilowatts per hour) of electricity, equivalent to 15.8 trillion VND (687 million USD). This is a significant cost saving that will benefit the homebuyers if they use energy efficiently in the apartment. In addition, in the short term, the programme will create a plentiful supply of low-cost commercial housing, thereby facilitating the peoples access to affordable housing.

The PEEB is a joint initiative between Germany and France that combines consulting, financial resources, and technical expertise from GIZ, French Development Agency (AFD), and Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME) to help partner countries increase energy efficiency in buildings. The PEEB aims to minimise energy demand in buildings at reasonable incremental costs, promote green investment in energy efficient buildings, and facilitate access to green financing from international and local financial institutions.

In Vietnam, the PEEB focuses on green housing programs and large-scale commercial buildings./.VNA

Greenhouse gas emissions to be cut by nine percent Vietnam has completed an updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with plans to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions 9 percent by 2030 in an attempt to respond to climate change.
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EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021

Economic Development Is the Name for Unity

Jan. 20 , 2021 (EIRNS)The U.S. Presidency passed over today from the Trump Administration to the Biden Administration, amidst extreme physical constraints from the COVID-19 pandemic. But every bit as significant and dramatic as the virus, are the subversion operations associated with the dirty, Anglo-American intelligence assaults to get Trump out of office in the U.S., which go back to 2016 and before. The goals and perpetrators of the illegalities involved are a threat to the whole world, and they cannot be allowed to prevail.

President Bidens theme in his inaugural speech was unity ... unity for a divided nation. In fact, tensions over social divisions in the U.S. are being deliberately inflamed by the controllers of his candidacy, who, at the same time, absolutely oppose the economic and related measures for physical development, which are the only basis for true unity, both at home and worldwide. Hypocrisy is too mild a word. The financial/political networks behind Biden are moving internationally for a final green finance economic dictatorship. They are supercharged, because their existing monetarist system is crumbling. Trump opposes green economics. One of his first acts as President, was to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord.

From that standpoint, look at the sequence of coup operations thrown at the U.S. Presidency over the past five years, up to and including todays systemic whiteness vs. black America charges: Russiagate, the Mueller report, impeachment I, racism, and now impeachment II, which is still underway.

Look at a few aspects of todays situation. It is blatant that a proper examination of irregularities in the Nov. 3 elections process has been squashed so far. There were waves of private, big money poured into pre-elections logistics, irregular conduct of the vote, outright and suspected fraud, and so on. Discussion of this is taboo, on penalty of loss of social media, jobs, political position, family safety. This creates a social division in the nation of over 70 million people!

The Jan. 6 mob assault on the U.S. Capitol was an orchestrated incident, before the Presidents address. Then it was used in a narrative to assert that Trump supporters are prone to violence, and police-state measures are now in order. Some 25,000 National Guardsmen were deployed today around Washington, D.C., and dozens of thousands may continue there. Another 6,000 Guardsmen are in state capitals and other selected sites. Cult de-programmers are now featured media guests, with CNN this week featuring the author of a book, The Cult of Trump. Steve Hassan spoke of methods to end their disassociated disorder. He said, The bottom line is all of America needs deprogramming because weve all been negatively influenced by Donald Trump.

Behind these kinds of attacks on the nation in the name of unity, comes the drive for green fascism. Besides unity, Biden made a point today, of going green. He said in his speech that he hears the planet crying out for help. He apparently doesnt hear tens of millions of starving people crying out, perhaps theyre too weak. In Bidens first Presidential actsigning 17 executive orders today, his priority was to put the U.S. back into the Paris Climate Accord, which is to take effect in 30 days. A week from today, John Kerry, Bidens special envoy for climate change on the U.S. National Security Council, will participate in a mid-week session of the World Economic Forums Davos Agenda conference, on greening business activity to save the planet by enforcing a zero carbon emissions regime.

Thus, from hour-one, day-one the Biden Administration is in lockstep with the City of London/Wall Street drive to impose financial dictatorship on nations, in the name of saving the environment. A preview of next weeks Jan. 25-29 Davos Agenda conference was given Jan. 18, by World Economic Forum co-founder Klaus Schwab, who boasted, along with his staff, of the heads of state and world leaders who will be on hand, and how the U.S. is now coming into line. He spoke of the old paradigm of industry, agriculture and business, which were concerned with goodsand livelihoods. But now, a new stakeholder capitalism is to rule in the rebuilding and resetting of the world economy, in which the planet comes firstand people last. They will launch a Great Reset initiative.

Back to reality. Wherever the precursors to the Great Reset are already in effect or on the agenda, its a raving disaster. On Jan. 8, all of Europe was right on the edge of an electricity blackout, only narrowly averted through selected load shedding and outages. This is the direct result of going for the reset of downgrading electric generation from high-technology nuclear and coal, down to wind and solar. The proposed Green Deal for restricting farming inputs in Europe will result in 22 million Europeans lacking food in 10 years, on top of those already hungry. Worldwide, these Green farm dictates would cut food output over 10% by 2030, and make 185 million starve, on top of those already going hungry.

There are examples of revolt on every continent. In India today, the Modi government offered to suspend for 18 months three new agriculture laws which hundreds of thousands of farmers have been striking against for two months. This is no solution, but it shows the fight underway. The laws, which jeopardize farmers and the food supply, were forced into being last fall to serve the globalist financial/commodity cartel interests, the same Green, Great Reset crowd that is menacing the whole world. Now the government has been forced toward responsible sovereignty.

Economic development is the name for unity, domestically in the U.S., and globally.
A UTM study shows that, early in the pandemic, the lockdown had an equalizing effect on domestic labour. Credit: Amina Filkins/Pexels

COVID-19 continues to fundamentally disrupt our way of life, and many observers are concerned about its current and long-term impacts on gender equality.

In media reports, research papers and public opinion surveys, we hear warnings from economists, government ministers and humanitarian leaders about the pandemic's regressive effects on women's independence, freedom from violence, and workforce participation. By exacerbating long-standing inequalities, the pandemic could, as the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General has cautioned, set women's rights back by decades.

And yet, new research by University of Toronto Mississauga sociology professor Melissa Milkie offers a glimmer of hope in one key area: how women and men split up labor at home. Milkie is co-author of the study published in November 2020. Conducted with UTM sociology postdoctoral fellow Casey Scheibling and McMaster University social sciences professor Kevin Shafer, the paper reveals that during lockdown in the first wave, men shared more equally in housework and childcare tasks than they did prior to the pandemic.

"The pandemic is showing potential to be an equalizer," says Milkie, whose research focuses on structural and cultural changes in gender, work and family life over recent decades. "Our findings based on data from very early in the pandemic show that if fathers are in the home more and work allows them to be flexible, they are more likely to be able to step up to the kinds of demands that families have."

The study is based on the results of a survey conducted last May featuring the responses of 1,234 male-female couples across Canada (except for Nunavut) with at least one child. The participants were asked about their perceptions of the sharing of household chores and childrearing both before and after the pandemic. The researchers took into account mitigating factors such as the parents' work arrangements and household income.

First, the percentage of respondents indicating that the fathers did at least half of the housework and childcare increased after the pandemic hit. When it came to household tasks specifically, an increase occurred in meal preparation: pre-pandemic, 46 percent said this work was shared 50-50 or that fathers did more than mothers, but after the outbreak, that number rose to 50 percent. There were similarly small shifts towards equal performance of meal clean-up and housecleaning, and larger shifts for shopping.

Changes to handling childcare responsibilities also revealed a shift towards equal task sharing. The biggest gain emerged in the area of organizing and planning children's activities46 percent of respondents indicated this was an equally shared task or that fathers did more than mothers before COVID-19, while 57 percent said this was the case during the pandemic. Smaller increases occurred for reading, monitoring, talking/listening and the physical care of young children.

To contextualize these shifts in fathers' contributions to the domestic division of labor, the researchers took into consideration the needs exposure hypothesis. It posits that with more fathers spending more time at home during the pandemic due to remote work, reduced work, unemployment, and less commuting and leisure time, they become more attuned to the needs of their families.

"Fathers may be doing more proportionally than the past because they are seeing their family more, and so feel compelled to contribute," says Milkie, noting that this hypothesis is borne out by research into the effects of paternal leave and flexible work policies.

Milkie's research results mirror similar studies conducted early in the pandemic in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. But her optimism is tempered by recent trends showing declines in women's workforce participation as they decrease their hours or quit their jobs to care for their children learning at home.

"A lot would have to change in the way we organize work, school and child care to make true progress on gender equality in the home," Milkie says. "We need to address the structural inequalities that relegate more women than men to low-status, low-paying jobs. We also need policies that allow fathers to be more active participants in their families."

Explore further Five things we learned about Dutch parents during the pandemic

More information: Kevin Shafer et al. The Division of Domestic Labor before and during the COVID19 Pandemic in Canada: Stagnation versus Shifts in Fathers' Contributions, Canadian Review of Sociology/Revue canadienne de sociologie (2020). Kevin Shafer et al. The Division of Domestic Labor before and during the COVID19 Pandemic in Canada: Stagnation versus Shifts in Fathers' Contributions,(2020). DOI: 10.1111/cars.12315
Tucker Carlson on Wednesday asked 'what exactly is a white supremacist' after Joe Biden's promise to stamp out political extremism.

The Fox host said in his opening monologue: 'Now that we're waging war on white supremacists, can somebody tell us in very clear language what a white supremacist is?

'We should know specifically and precisely who exactly he has declared war on. We have a right to know that.

'Innocent people could be hurt in this war. They usually are. There could be collateral damage in this war. And the casualties will be Americans. So again, what is a white supremacist? You might be surprised to learn just how broad the definition for that has become.'

Carlson's comments came on the day Democrat Biden was officially sworn into office, denouncing 'political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat'.

But Carlson said the media is 'withholding information the president is not well', adding: 'You knew for certain Joe Biden isn't well. Everyone in Washington knows that.

He wasn't the only Fox host to take a stab at Biden. Sean Hannity called President Biden's address to the nation 'forgettable' and 'full of cliches.'

Tucker Carlson on Wednesday asked 'what exactly is a white supremacist' after Joe Biden's promise to stamp out political extremism. The Fox host said: 'Now that we're waging war on white supremacists, can somebody tell us in very clear language what a white supremacist is?'

In his speech Wednesday, Biden denounced the 'racism, nativism, fear, demonization,' that propelled the assault on Capitol Hill by an overwhelmingly white mob of Trump supporters who carried symbols of hate, including the Confederate battle flag.

'A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us,' Biden said in the nearly 23-minute-long speech promising to heal a divided nation.

'A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear. And now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.'

Compared to his immediate predecessors, three of whom attended Wednesday's inauguration, Biden is the first president to directly address the ills of white supremacy in an inaugural speech.

Arguing that 'not many Americans' support white supremacy, Carlson on his show then reeled off a list he claimed had been labeled as white supremacy by some, including the Fourth of July, celebrating Columbus day and voting for Donald Trump.

Joe predictably meandered his way through a truly unremarkable, totally forgettable, prerehearsed set of remarks Sean Hannity

He added: 'Here's the problem. Let's say you don't buy those definitions. Let's say you're for example white but poor, and you have trouble accepting the idea that you are benefiting from some kind of structural advantage.

'You better shut up about it if you know what's good for you because according to the United States Army, the 'denial of white privilege' is a classic sign of, yes, white supremacy.'

He also insisted that the media had been withholding information about Biden's ailing health, saying: 'No one said it out loud, not a worry. They withheld that news from you as they have for months. So much for speaking truth to power.'

Later in the show Carlson touched on Trump's Twitter ban, arguing that if Biden really wanted unity he should call on 'on his allies and the monopolies in Silicon Valley to stop censoring people, Americans'.

If Biden did that, Carlon said he 'would unequivocally praise him', adding: 'I think all people of principle would do that.'

Hannity said on his show: 'Joe predictably meandered his way through a truly unremarkable, totally forgettable, pre-rehearsed set of remarks.

Sean Hannity called Biden's speech 'forgettable' and 'full of cliches'. He also claimed the media would now give up on asking tough questions and instead give him a pas, saying many journalists had started a 'long vacation' already

'The rest of the media mob were flat out lying to the American people, as usual. This was not in any way, shape, or form a memorable speech.'

He said it was 'laughable' that Biden had picked unity for the theme of the address, saying: 'After four years of outright lying, conspiracy theories, witch hunts, one hoax after the other, vitriol, nonstop hysteria, two impeachments, including one that is still unconstitutionally ongoing, Biden's hollow calls for unity ... [are] total and complete B.S.'

Hannity argued that if Biden truly wanted to unify the country, he would tell Democrats to stop demonizing Republicans.

'For example, he could've stopped comparing Republicans to Nazis, like he did a week ago. He could ask his colleagues to stop referring to 75 million peace-loving Trump supporters as domestic terrorists that support insurrection when they absolutely do not. He could call for an end to the unconstitutional post-presidential impeachment charade. He could also apologize for the Russia hoax and all those lies and the Ukrainian impeachment.

'Mark my words, this will never happen. Biden and his radicals in power and his party, they don't give a rip about unity.

'Slogans, bumper stickers, flat-out lies, and smears continue.'

He also accused the media of fawning over him and said that many would now give up on asking tough questions.

'The hard-hitting questions will be gone. The combative press conferences over. That will be a thing of the past,' he said, adding that the vast majority of journalists in the US were 'have officially started what will be pretty much a four-year-long vacation.'

In his speech Wednesday, Biden denounced the 'racism, nativism, fear, demonization,' that propelled the assault on Capitol Hill by an overwhelmingly white mob of Trump supporters who carried symbols of hate, including the Confederate battle flag

Compared to his immediate predecessors, three of whom attended Wednesday's inauguration, Biden is the first president to directly address the ills of white supremacy in an inaugural speech

Biden delivered his inaugural address on the very platform that the insurrectionist mob scaled two weeks ago to breach the Capitol building, vandalizing federal property and taking selfies on the Senate floor

Biden delivered his inaugural address on the very platform that the insurrectionist mob scaled two weeks ago to breach the Capitol building, vandalizing federal property and taking selfies on the Senate floor.

The riot left at least five people dead, including a Capitol police officer.

The rioters, some espousing racist and anti-Semitic views and conspiracy theories, were incited by baseless claims of widespread voter fraud in the November presidential election.

Some attempted to stop Congress from certifying the Electoral College results, in which Black and Latino voters played a significant role in handing victory to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

'To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words,' Biden said in his speech. 'It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy. Unity.'
Katie brings valuable knowledge around the recruiting space and is dedicated to finding the best consultants to join our fast-growing team."  Taylor Hadley, VP of National Recruiting, AIM

AIM Consulting, a technology consulting firm and Addison Group company, is continuing to grow its presence across all markets with the addition of Katie Merkle as manager of talent strategy and recruiting dedicated to the company's National Consulting Organization. Merkles addition to the talent acquisition team reflects its continued strategic growth plan across markets.

Were pleased to announce Katie will lead recruiting and headcount growth across all locations, said Taylor Hadley, vice president of national recruiting at AIM. Katie brings valuable knowledge around the recruiting space and is dedicated to finding the best consultants to join our fast-growing team. We pride ourselves on having an innovative team of experienced consultants to help develop solutions in partnership with our customers, and were confident that Katies thoughtful approach to consultant recruiting aligns with the level of expertise thats expected of us while creating the best candidate experience possible.

Merkle brings more than six years of recruiting experience, specifically in finding exceptional candidates in the technical sectors of data and analytics, cloud and operations, application development, quality assurance, business intelligence, and DevSecOps. She was recently the senior business development partner for Prodigy Resources, a nationally recognized technology recruiting firm in the Denver area. Her background spans working with consultants and clients at all levels across various industries, including financial services, retail, energy, food and beverage, healthcare and medical manufacturing, and technology and manufacturing industries. As a result, Merkle excels at finding technical talent from varying backgrounds.

Im delighted to join AIM and look forward to expanding our consulting teams on a national scale, said Merkle. AIM has recognized several opportunities for growth within all markets, and I am thrilled with the role in finding the right individuals to build upon the already high standards for AIM.

Founded in 2006, AIM Consulting provides industry-leading technology solutions to a diverse portfolio of clients across the United States, ranging from startups to the Fortune 500. AIM Consulting specializes in Enterprise Application Development, Data and Analytics, Cloud and Operations, Delivery Leadership, and Digital Experience and Mobile.

AIM Consulting is hiring across the nation (offices located in Denver, Chicago, Houston, Minneapolis, and Seattle). Experienced technology consultants interested in career opportunities can visit https://aimconsulting.com/join-our-team/.

About AIM Consulting

AIM Consulting, an Addison Group company, is an award-winning industry leader in technology consulting and solutions delivery. AIMs differentiation is our collaborative engagement model that provides cross-functional results. We work with clients, shoulder to shoulder, for one goal  their success. Founded in 2006, with offices in Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Houston, and Chicago, we are ranked among the fastest-growing private companies and best companies to work for due to a long track record of success with our partners and consultants. Our long-term relationships with the best technology consulting talent allow us to deliver on expectations, execute on roadmaps and drive modern technology initiatives.

About Addison Group

A recognized leader in professional services focused on specialized staffing, executive search and consulting, Addison Group delivers the talent and capabilities organizations need to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage and business growth. The company offers a full suite of recruiting and consulting services across multiple functions and industry sectors, including information technology, finance and accounting, healthcare, human resources, administrative, engineering and digital marketing. Known for its people-first culture, Addison Group combines deep expertise, client and candidate relationships, and a growing network of offices across the U.S. to provide national reach with a localized touch.

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Search on the internet for marijuana seed banks, and you will surely find more than ten companies. However, finding the best ones is not so simple. In this article, we examine online seed banks and list the 10 seed banks that ship to the USA.

Top 10 Seed Bank That Ship to the USA

1. I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM)  Editors Choice

2. Crop King Seeds

3. MSNL Seedbank

4. Seedsman

5. Quebec Cannabis Seeds

6. Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds (AMS)

7. Gorilla Seed Bank

8. Seed City

9. Growers Choice Seeds

10. Tiger-One Distribution

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1. I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM)

Pros

 Great germination guarantee

 Hundreds of articles and detailed marijuana grow guides

 ILGM forum

 Free stealth shipping

Cons

 Limited product selection

Click here to buy this product

I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM) was founded by Robert Bergman. ILGM started selling cannabis seeds in 2012 and maintains an impressive reputation. It is also one of the best cannabis seed banks that ship to the USA by Observer.com

In fact, if you are looking for high-quality marijuana seeds, we would recommend ILGM as your first port of call. Their germination guarantee means that if your seeds never sprout or germinate, they will send another set of seeds at no additional cost. Moreover, they offer stealth shipping for no additional payment.

I Love Growing Marijuana (ILGM) has posted over 700 articles and detailed marijuana grow guides on their website, which will inform you about your seeds growing process. You can also join the ILGM forum, where you can ask questions, read additional information from professional growers, and answer others questions as well.

A small downside is that they have only 100 marijuana strains available. Nevertheless, these products are high quality, so you will not have to look further. Also, ILGM cannot be reached through phone calls or live chat. Instead, you reach them through their contact form on their website. Alternatively, you can contact them via email.

2. Crop King Seeds

Pros

 Top Seed Bank In Canada award

 Multiple contacts

Cons

 No free shipping

Click here to buy this product

Crop King Seeds is a Canada-based seed bank that started operating in 2005. In 2018, the company was recognized as the top seed bank in Canada that ships to the United States as well.

Although they offer a choice of only 31 cannabis strains, Crop King Seeds guarantees that they are all high-quality seeds. They also offer discreet packaging and an 80% germination guarantee. In case of failed germination, they will send another seed at no additional cost.

Crop King Seeds downside is that they do not offer any free shipping aside from what has been included in their germination guarantee. Shipping costs a minimum of $10. Nevertheless, their customer service is great and they have multiple payment methods. To purchase online from Crop King, you can pay via debit card, credit card, or bitcoin. They may be contacted via email, live chat, a physical mailing address, and a toll-free phone number.

3. MSNL Seedbank

Pros

 Rewards program available

 Discreet guaranteed shipping

 Started in 1999

Cons

 Only one contact method

Click here to buy this product

Based in the Netherlands, MSNL Seedbank opened its business in 1999. With over two decades of experience, they boast the most extensive catalog in the cannabis industry. On their comprehensive website, you can browse the large inventory with ease, sorting products by category, cannabis strains, and more.

As well as a useful Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, customers can seek extra information via MSNLs contact form.

Through their discreet shipping service, American purchases generally arrive within 620 days. Also, with any order over $70, MSNL will gift you free seeds.

However, the thing we love about MSNL is a germination guarantee (9% or more) and their free stealth shipping service.

Moreover, the company offers a rewards program where points never expire, so you can collect them and use them for your later purchases.

4. Seedsman

Pros

 Wide product selection

 Loyalty program

 Good web interface

Cons

 Average customer service rating

Click here to buy this product

Seedsman began business in 2003. The company is based in the UK, but because of their high-quality seeds, many customers include them as one of the best American seed banks.

Seedsman offers over 3000 different types of cannabis, and they have their own cannabis brand.

Another great thing is their loyalty program, where you can earn points for making certain transactions including subscribing to their newsletter and writing reviews.

They also have an attractive web interface, which supports European languages including German, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Seedsman accepts debit cards, credit cards, bitcoin, and pot money. If you have any inquiries, you can contact them through their email or telephone number. However, users have rated their customer support service as only average.

5. Quebec Cannabis Seeds

Pros

 Worldwide shipping

 Team of expert cannabis geneticists

Cons

 Shipping is not free

 Inconsistent customer feedback

Click here to buy this product

When Quebec Cannabis Seeds started selling online in 2012, the company had already been operating for around 15 years. They are located in Canada but ship items worldwide.

Quebec Cannabis Seeds have the top 50 marijuana strains in the world including Quebec Gold 2.0, Jack Herer, QC Black Gold, and AK 47. Thanks to their team of expert cannabis geneticists, the quality of their marijuana seeds is top-notch. In any case, with their germination guarantee, if more than 20% of your weed seeds do not germinate, Quebec Cannabis Seeds will either send a new set of seeds or return your money. This makes them popular, with some customers believing they are the best Canadian seed bank and one of the best seed banks in the world.

A small downside of Quebec Cannabis Seeds is they do not offer free shipping and a minimum purchase of $10 is required.

Feedback on their customer service is variable. Some find the service unsatisfying, while some are grateful as they receive a professional response. However, you can send them an email or make a call if you have concerns.

6. Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds (AMS)

Pros

 Many bank partnerships

 24/7 customer support

Cons

 Few contact methods

Click here to buy this product

This Dutch-based company started selling marijuana seeds in 2011, but have 30 years of experience in the industry and partnerships with 26 different seed banks. Thus, they are regarded as one of the more reputable seed banks online and have sold over a hundred thousand weed seeds.

Amsterdam Marijuana Seeds accepts credit cards, prepaid Visa and Mastercard, bank transfers, and bitcoin. Customers are generally satisfied with the AMS customer service. You can contact them via email or phone call. They are open 24/7, which differentiates them from the others in our list.

7. Gorilla Seed Bank

Pros

 Free seeds and promos

 Friendly web interface

Cons

 Shorter time in business

Click here to buy this product

Gorilla Seed Bank takes its name from Gorilla Glue, a famous marijuana seed product. Gorilla Seed Bank started just a few years ago, but it does not mean they do not have high-quality seeds to sell. Many online reviews already reveal a high level of customer satisfaction.

Rather than offer a huge catalog of cannabis seeds, Gorilla Seed Bank limits their offerings to ensure that they only sell seeds from excellent breeders.

Aside from their high-quality products, they also offer free seeds, discounts, occasional promotions, and free worldwide shipping (although there is a charge for their stealth shipping service).

However, many customers were satisfied with their customer service. Thanks to a user-friendly web interface, you can sort items by height, flowering time, price, rating, and other categories. Furthermore, Gorilla Seed Bank accepts a variety of payment methods including credit card, debit card, cash, bank transfer, and bitcoin. If you have questions or concerns, you can send an email, call, or submit an online ticket.

8. Seed City

Pros

 5,000 available products

 Close to perfect rating

Cons

 Only new and rare products are available

Click here to buy this product

Seed City is known for their hard-to-find products, as they sell only new and rare cannabis seeds from over 200 partners.

What differentiates Seed City is their larger inventory of singles cannabis seeds. Specifically, they have 5,000 available product selections.

As for customer ratings on Trustpilot, Seed City earned 4.8 out of 5 stars. The company also gained lots of positive feedback on www.SeedFinder.eu

Seed City accepts credit and debit cards, bank transfers, and bitcoin. You can find their contact details on their website in case you have questions.

9. Growers Choice Seeds

Pros

 Located in California

 Managed by horticulture and medicine experts

Cons

 Limited germination guarantee offer

Click here to buy this product

Growers Choice Seed is another seed bank that ships to the US. The company has existed for almost 20 years and is probably the most reputable seed bank.

The company is situated in California. Because of its near location, Growers Choice becomes one of the best seed banks in the US.

Growers Choice Seed Bank was founded and managed by horticultural and medical experts, which supports their offering of high-quality seeds that earn a great deal of enthusiastic customer feedback. They also have a variety of different marijuana seeds including Og Kush.

The company guarantees a 90% germination rate of their cannabis seeds. If your seeds do not growand as long as you have followed the instructions found in the germination guide they provideGrowers Choice Seed Bank will send a replacement set of seeds.

Growers Choice Seeds can be reached via their contact form, email, telephone number, and through various social media.

10. Tiger-One Distribution

Pros

 A Number of seed banks connection

Cons

 Caters for bulk orders only

Click here to buy this product

Located in the EU, Tiger-One Distribution is considered one of the best marijuana seed banks for customers wishing to place bulk orders. They started operating in 2003, and are still included in the top 10 seed banks of the world for their reliability and service.

Note that Tiger-One Distribution supplies bulk orders only.

In terms of product quality, they are connected with around 90% of seed banks all over the world. Such partnerships enable them to sell only high-quality cannabis seeds. As for customer service, you can contact them through their website and email.

Best Cannabis Seeds Banks to Buy Online: What Should You Look For?

Cannabis Seeds by Gender

Like humans, animals, and other plants, cannabis seeds come in male and female varieties. Males are the ones to produce more seeds, while the males are the ones to fertilize their female counterparts.

Marijuana seeds sold online may be regular seeds or feminized seeds.

Regular seeds contain both males and females. This is the best choice for people who enjoy the hobby of breeding. This is also a great option if you want more reproduction of cannabis seeds.

Regular seeds might not be your best option if you just want your seeds to grow and bloom. However, you can still buy such a seed type if you want to be an expert grower, preserving the seeds natural evolution.

Feminized seeds are supposed to contain only female cannabis seeds. However, this is not always the casea few male seeds might remain in the mix. The vigilant grower will remove the male cannabis seeds from their counterparts. Nevertheless, this is the best option if you just want your seeds to grow and do not like seed reproduction.

These types of seeds are also easier to germinate, as the majority of the seeds are females. Thus, they will be able to give you beautiful buds.

Cannabis Seeds by Genetics

You might also consider seeds genetics when choosing what to buy. There are four categories: Sativa seeds, Indica seeds, hybrid seeds, and auto-flowering seeds.

Sativa seeds originated from places with a subtropical or tropical climate. They are expected to grow big and high. A sativa plant will also contain high THC and THCV, a great stimulant for people wanting to boost their energy.

Indica seeds live well in temperate zones and are expected to have fat leaves, thick stems, and shorter height. They contain high THC and CBD levels, and are great for people wanting to feel more relaxed.

Auto-flowering seeds are non-photoperiod plants. They were made with Ruderalis genetics, which resulted in seeds that flower regardless of the amount of light they receive.

Hybrid seeds are a blend of Indica and Sativa genetics. They produce different cannabis strains with different effects.

Seed Bank Payment Options

The most popular payment option for buying cannabis seeds is cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Other cryptocurrencies used include Litecoin, Ethereum, and XMR, but bitcoin is the most popular. Some seed banks even offer a discount if you pay in bitcoin.

Other payment options are also widely used. These include cash, but we do not recommend this if you do not want to be traced by legal authorities. Credit cards and different types of debit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are also payment options.

Can You Legally Ship Cannabis Seeds to the United States?

You can legally buy and ship cannabis seeds to the United States. However, you must be aware of the law in your state, as regulations vary.

In some US states, you can purchase cannabis for medical purposes only. Other states may allow you to grow cannabis seeds for recreational purposes, but with some limitations. Check what restrictions apply in your state. Many people also consider buying cannabis seeds online if their states will not allow them to purchase in person, but you have to make sure that your chosen seed bank offers stealth shipping.

Moreover, if you have bought cannabis seeds online, do not be afraid that someone will knock at your door. That will not happen. If the Customs Department sees your ordered cannabis seeds, they will just throw them away and will not deliver them to you. This is why stealth shipping is important. If your order is not delivered successfully, the seed bank will send a replacement set of seeds.

Conclusion

There are hundreds of cannabis seed banks online, yet not all of them give their best for their customers. In this review, we outlined the ten best marijuana seed banks online. However, experiences can vary, depending on your awareness of the growing process and what kind of cannabis seeds best meet your needs.

There are different strains, genetics, and gender to consider, as well as effects. Do you want a combination of male and female seeds? Do you want to have a plant containing high CBD? After answering these questions, you are unlikely to have any difficulty in growing or germinating your cannabis.

The best way to secure your money is to choose an online seed bank offering a germination guarantee and stealth shipping. You might also like to purchase from a company that offers free seeds and other discount promos. You can also look back in this article, and find the marijuana seed bank that best fits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What seed bank has the best genetics?

A: There is no definitive answer to this question since seed banks offer cannabis with different genetics. However, understand what your goal is before purchasing in order to select the best marijuana seed for you.

Q: Are seed banks legit?

A: Seed banks are legit. However, you still have to be aware of scams. Nevertheless, rest assured that online seed banks listed in this article are legit, especially our most recommended seed bank, ILGM (I Love Growing Marijuana).

Q: Are there any seed banks in the United States?

A: Yes. Growers Choice Seed Bank is one of them. There are other seed banks not located in the USA but that still ship to the country.

Q: Is it legal to buy cannabis seeds?

A: It depends where you live. Before placing an order online, check what your state's law allows.

Last year, the music industry witnessed a refreshing change with what could best be described as the Kumerican invasion.



What started out as some young guys faking an American accent and trying to imitate an American lifestyle on social media soon grew into a movement with young rappers showing off their talent and winning hearts along the way.



And while they are being hailed for the imprint they are leaving on the industry, there are some who believe this Kumerican trend will soon die out but rappers who hail from the Ashanti Region or practice their craft from Kumasi dont think so.



Hiplife Grandpapa Reggie Rockstone told Graphic Showbiz recently that the Kumerican lifestyle had been popular among the youth of Kumasi for years but Ghanaians were now hearing of it.



It took just a few people to make this lifestyle popular but this Kumerican thing has been with us and I believe it is going to last forever.



But whether it is going to last or not depends on us. When I started Hiplife, many said this genre would not be accepted but today it has become more popular. If the people of Kumasi are able to continue what they are doing and push it further, Ghanaians and the world at large will accept it.



Now the lifestyle which was started by just a few people has produced so many beautiful talents such as Kofi Jamar, Phrimpong, Yaw Tog among others and I am so proud of them. We should support these young guys and together help them build their dream, he said.



Rap Dacta Okyeame Kwame, who has already started working with some of the Kumerican acts said anyone who doubted the sustainability of the Kumerican dream was probably against the progress of the young guys.



This Kumerican thing is one of the best things that has happened to rappers in Kumasi. I personally love all the young rappers who have emerged from this Kumerican thing.



What most Ghanaians fail to understand is that this lifestyle has been with us for a long time. It just took a few people to make it popular. Ghanaians wanted this kind of lifestyle from my Kumasi people and now they are living it. We just have to be consistent with what we are doing and we will just be fine.



As for this Kumerican dream lasting for long, we all have to support it to make it stand. Its close to a year since it started and we are growing. With consistency we will get there, he said.



Rapper Phrimpong, who emerged from the Kumerican lifestyle, said Kumerica has come to stay and its about time Ghanaians accepted it and gave it the maximum support it needed.



We should not watch for this to die. If an international musician such as Stormzy is able to fly to Ghana to do collaborations with the Kumerican rappers, then it should tell anyone how international this thing has gone. We are not sleeping on this but rather giving it the highest push to get to its fullest height.



Just take a look at the talented artistes who just came out from the Kumerican project. We have been accepted and it is not dying soon. Kumasi is the thing now and I want everyone to support it, he added.



To Amerado, another proud Kumerican rapper, what Ghanaians are forgetting is the fact that that lifestyle has been accepted from day one.



Now every radio station and pubs do not forget to play songs from the Kumerican guys. Kweku Flicks Money, Kofi Jamars Ekorso and Yaw Togs Sore are the biggest songs we have in Ghana at the moment.



This should tell you we are not here to play. Yes, it started as just playing but now it has got the attention of everyone. I want to big up all the rappers making Kumasi proud with their incredible rap, he said.



According to Yaw Tog, who is flying high in Kumasi with his Sore song, he is proud to be a product of Kumerica. I recently featured international musician Stormzy on the remix of my song Sore and that is the biggest deal for me.



It is not easy to get someone like that fly all the way down from the UK to do a remix with me. Kumerica is the new thing now and everyone should take advantage of it.



It used to be just rappers from Accra but now the focus is on us. Kumasi has so many beautiful talents and it takes us to make that dream come true.



We are not making this dream die but continue believing in what we started and make it more popular than it is now, he said.

Source: Graphic Showbiz









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When federal agents found two kids who had been kidnapped in Rochester, N.Y., on Monday, they were being hidden on the floorboards of a rental car underneath blankets in Montgomery, Alabama.

It was the rental car and forensic work done on phones that had tipped off federal officials.

The car had been rented in the Rochester area and driven to Alabama, according to Greece (New York) Police Chief Andrew Forsythe.

Within 40 minutes of finding the address in Alabama, a surveillance detail was set up on a house. A woman drove from the house in the rental car just before 5:50 p.m. Wednesday and was pulled over, Forsythe said.

While the stop led federal officials to Shekeria Cash, 3, and Dimitri Cash Jr., 5, law enforcement officials are still trying to wrangle the group of people involved in the kids kidnapping.

Theres interviews going on as we speak, Forsythe said at a Wednesday night press conference live-streamed by 13 WHAM ABC.

The woman has not yet been charged and Forsythe said the two people who kidnapped the kids have not yet been arrested. He declined to identify the woman or anyone else they suspect was involved in the kidnapping.

Forsythe also said that while police have spoken to Dimitri Cash Sr., the father of the two kids, theyre still unsure where he is. The police chief stopped short of calling Cash a suspect but said theyd like to talk to him. Cash had previously been arrested for forcibly taking Dimitri Jr. from his elementary school last January, according to the Democrat & Chronicle.

Ultimately, police arent sure yet whether those arrested will face state or federal charges, Forsythe said. Police are currently consulting with Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley and the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York.

The bottomline: These kids are safe, said Charles Salina, the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of New York.

The Cash kids were abducted Monday from their foster parents on English Road in Greece, near Rochester.

A woman who lived at the home walked to the front of her Greece residence after hearing a loud crash on the first floor, police said. She was investigating the sound when she saw two ski-mask-wearing men smash a window and break into her home, police said.

The womans seven foster children  all under the age of 11  were upstairs. The suspects kidnapped the Cash kids. The children were considered to be in imminent danger of serious harm or death.

READ MORE: Amber Alert issued for boy, girl kidnapped from Rochester area by men wearing ski masks

Forsythe gave the following account of what happened after the two suspects entered the home:

When she saw the two masked men the foster mother screamed. Two of her foster children, startled by her screams, came downstairs to see if she was OK.

The woman pulled the two kids close and wrapped her arms around them. The suspects bound the three together with duct tape  placing tape over the womans mouth to muffle her screams.

One of the children, a boy, suffered a cut lip.

The men then went upstairs and found the Cash siblings. After forcibly taking Shekeria and Dimitri from the home, the suspects stole the foster mothers van and drove away with the kidnapped children.

Using GPS, police later tracked the stolen van to White Hall Drive. The van was empty and abandoned.

This wasnt a spur of the moment type of event, Forsythe said Wednesday.

Less than 48 hours later, the car, forensics done on phones and GPS tracking led law enforcement to the address in Alabama, more than 1,000 miles from where the kids originally went missing.

At the time of the press conference, Forsythe said the kids were eating chicken nuggets and watching Tom & Jerry cartoons in Alabama. Theyll be taken back to their foster parents when they return to Rochester, he said.
What Biden and Democratic Senate can do on climate in their first 100 days

Posted on 21 January 2021 by dana1981

This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections

Democrats now control the White House, Senate, and House of Representatives for the first time in a decade, albeit with razor thin Congressional majorities. The last time, in the 111th Congress (2009-2011), House Democrats passed a carbon cap and trade bill, but it died a quiet death in the Senate after failing to muster the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster threat.

Since then, neither the Senate nor the House has come close to passing a major climate bill despite strong majority support among Americans for climate action. Which is not to say that theres real potential for legislative action on a complete original Green New Deal.

Still, things are likely to change with the newly seated Democratic majorities. They will likely still have to contend with the same filibuster threat that felled their climate bill in 2009. President Biden has proposed an ambitious climate plan, but his administrations progress on legislation will be encumbered from the start by the need to undo the Trump administration environmental regulatory rollbacks.

Its a long-held Washington tradition to consider a first-100-days-in-office marker, something of a throwback to gentler times when newly seated presidents were awarded a honeymoon period. No telling what lies ahead given the current political mayhem and the context of a global pandemic, an impeachment trial, social inequity unrest, slowing economic indicators, and the aftermath of the January 6 insurrection and breach of the U.S. Capitol.

That said, an outlook for the Democratically controlled White House and Congress on climate change in Bidens first 100 days:

Damage Control

With its day-one start to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, the incoming administration will also need to undo scores of Trump environmental regulatory rule-makings and rollbacks. Some of those steps could involve painstaking years-long processes of developing and proposing new rules and then submitting them for public comment prior to adopting final rules. Court challenges also would likely delay those actions in a number of cases.

But a major workaround involves the Congressional Review Act (CRA), reviewed in depth in this recent Yale Climate Connections post by Jan Ellen Spiegel.

One key CRA target for incoming Democrats will be the so-called transparency rule  AKA secret science rule  finalized January 5, 15 days before the Biden/Harris inauguration. The concept, first proposed by the tobacco industry in the 1990s, requires that EPA give more weight to studies for which data are fully public than to those including confidential data. Many key studies underpinning some of the most important clean air and water regulations have relied on individual subjects confidential medical data not disclosed in the rulemaking. Critics fear the rule as adopted under the Trump EPA would weaken EPAs ability to create new protections from harmful air pollutants.

Another potential CRA target is a new rule requiring that EPA cost-benefit analyses exclude what are called the co-benefits of incidentally reducing other pollutants. For example, an EPA regulation designed to curb mercury emissions would accelerate the phase-out of coal power plants, which in turn would reduce the emissions of many other harmful pollutants released by burning coal. The new rule, finalized in December 2020, would not allow EPA to include the potentially considerable health and economic co-benefits resulting from the reduction of other pollutants in a cost-benefit analysis of a proposed regulation; that restriction would make it much more difficult for the EPA to justify new pollutant regulations despite their potential net benefits to public health and the economy.

What can Congress do on climate change?

With the Executive branch having to undo or revise Trump administration rules, Congress will face a full and tight schedule for legislating on major climate change matters. Assuming the filibuster remains intact, significant legislation generally will require 60 votes (including at least 10 Republicans) to pass the evenly split Senate.

But there lies an important exception  budget reconciliation.

The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 established the budget reconciliation process, allowing for expedited consideration of certain tax and spending legislation without an option for a Senate filibuster. In 2017, congressional Republicans used the reconciliation process to pass a large tax cut bill, and Democrats used it in 2010 to pass the Affordable Care Act. Theres one catch: Congress can use the reconciliation process for only one spending and/or revenue bill per year, with a target date of April 15th to have the reconciliation bill ready for Senate floor consideration.

To qualify for inclusion in the budget reconciliation process, a bill must meet two main criteria. First, it must have 51 Senate votes (potentially including Vice President Kamala Harris as a tiebreaker) and a simple majority in the House, where Democrats hold a razor-thin majority. Second, under whats known as the Byrd Rule, the Senate Parliamentarian must conclude that the bill primarily involves budget issues. Lacking that affirmative conclusion, the Congressional majority must vote to overrule the judgment in order to include it.

When it comes to climate change, a carbon tax or fee is the broadest policy that likely would fit the reconciliation rules. Rhode Island Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse  a strong climate advocate who sits on both the Senate Finance and Budget Committees, both key to reconciliation and taxation bills  recently argued that carbon pricing would be an ideal candidate for the budget reconciliation process. But nothing is certain, given concerns that West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, generally seen as the most conservative Senate Democrat, brought a halt to Senate action on the carbon cap and trade bill in a 2010 campaign ad.

So strong party-line votes are always a possibility on major climate change bills. But theyre not necessarily a given: Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, and Susan Collins of Maine each are considered potentially open to legislation on a carbon price.

About a dozen carbon tax bills were introduced in the last session of Congress. The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, supported by the non-profit Citizens Climate Lobby, garnered by far the most support, with 86 cosponsors in the House, all but Democrats. In the Senate, that same bill was co-sponsored by Arizona Republican Jeff Flake just before he retired in 2018.

Many climate advocates on and off Capitol Hill  including some in positions of influence in the Biden administration giving mixed messages  have written-off prospects for carbon pricing soon becoming law. But it could yet emerge as an option for inclusion in budget reconciliation if its judged to meet the Byrd Rule: Carbon pricing continues to have the support of most Democrats and some Republicans.

Other climate advocates, however, have shifted their focus away from carbon pricing toward a combination of standards, investment, and environmental justice. Investments in clean technologies, infrastructure, and research will likely be a major component of a reconciliation bill; Those would be consistent with the Byrd Rule and could garner substantial support. A reconciliation bill could also create a federal green bank to invest in clean energy infrastructure. On the environmental justice side, President Biden has pledged that nearly half of clean energy investments will be directed toward poor and minority communities that have borne the brunt of fossil fuel pollution.

A national clean energy standard (President Biden has proposed aiming for 100% clean electricity by 2035) would be more challenging to fit into reconciliation. Some experts, like Environmental Defense Fund economist Nathaniel Keohane, are skeptical that standards could meet the Byrd Rule given that they are generally more regulatory than budgetary in nature. However, a group of policy experts has proposed five ways in which a national clean energy standard could be given a significant budgetary component: for example, by creating a federal program to sell clean energy credits to electric utilities, along the lines of some approaches in previous measures included in past reconciliation packages.

Its by no means a slam dunk, or as all-encompassing as a carbon price that could be applied to every sector of the economy. But its plausible that a majority in the Senate could support a national clean energy standard and that, if designed carefully to fit a proverbial square peg into a round hole, the Senate Parliamentarian could conclude that it satisfies the Byrd Rule.

As with carbon pricing, Manchin has voiced concerns about an ambitious clean energy standard, and he will be closely watched in the split Senate. In the end, regardless of what Manchin does, its conceivable that Republicans like Collins, Murkowski and Romney could instead provide deciding votes that determine which key climate bills are included in a budget reconciliation package in or even after Bidens first 100 days.
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Many Manitobans with children in nursery school could soon be paying more than double the current daily fees, under a new funding arrangement implemented by the provincial government.

Many Manitobans with children in nursery school could soon be paying more than double the current daily fees, under a new funding arrangement implemented by the provincial government.

The province is scrapping the enhanced operating grant program, under which guardians pay $5 a day per child at 66 nursery schools in Manitoba.

It is putting in its place a single funding model for all 162 nursery schools, which will result in daily fees rising to a maximum of $10.40, starting July 1.

While nursery schools which have been under the enhanced operating grant program are criticizing the move, others who have not are celebrating.

Lori Carpenter, director of Portage Ukrainian Nursery School in Portage la Prairie, said, for about a dozen years, parents of children in her program have been paying $5 per session. The price will soon be going up.

"We faced the poverty of the regular nursery school grant for years and then enhancement came," Carpenter said Wednesday.

"Five dollars makes it very accessible for families... It would make me sad if people cant come here because they cant afford it."

Meanwhile, at a facility that was never part of the enhanced grant program, Karlin Mann, of Oak Street Nursery School in Winnipeg, said: "Its great news.

"We have been straightjacketed for funding," she said. "Everything we do was based on pennies and weve had to make it work... Weve been close to closing for years, and now it will help us stay open and offer opportunities to update our facility and our equipment."

Mann said the change means Oak Street will be getting a provincial grant of about $1,500 per child, versus $528 under the old program. Oak Street participants have always had to pay $10.40 per session per child, she said.

Families Minister Rochelle Squires said the government is making the change because, "Despite being labelled as a program for low-income families, there was no income-testing to ensure that these 66 enhanced grant recipients were providing service to low-income families."

"We are increasing the grant for all nursery school programs in the regular stream and creating equity in the system," she said.

"Low-income families can continue to access nursery school services through the child-care subsidy program," Squires said. "Eligibility is based on income only, and families can receive a subsidy for attendance of up to five nursery school sessions per week."

However, MLA Malaya Marcelino, the NDPs status of women critic, said few families actually qualify for the full subsidy. "Im just very concerned about affordability," Marcelino said. "You have to be the poorest of the poor or a single parent with multiple kids to get it all. Almost all two (-parent) families, no matter what their income is, will not qualify for it. We have to do better."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

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BAGHDAD  Twin suicide bombings ripped through a busy market in the Iraqi capital on Thursday, killing at least 32 people and wounding dozens, officials said in what was the first massive bombing in years, harkening back to darker days of rampant militant attacks.

The rare suicide bombing hit the Bab al-Sharqi commercial area in central Baghdad amid heightened political tensions over planned early elections and a severe economic crisis. Blood was splattered on the pavement of the busy market amid piles of clothes and shoes as survivors took stock of the disarray in the aftermath.

By sundown, crowds reappeared at the site of the deadly attack, carrying the coffins of the deceased in a show of defiance. Many questioned the timing of the attack, which occurred a day after President Joe Biden was sworn into office. The U.S.-led coalition recently ceased combat activities and is gradually drawing down its troop presence in Iraq, sparking fears of an IS resurgence.

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No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but Iraqi military officials said it was the work of the Islamic State group.

Iraqs health minister Hassan Mohammed al-Tamimi said at least 32 people were killed and 110 were wounded in the attack. He said some of the wounded were in serious condition. Iraqs military previously put the number of dead at 28. The Health Ministry announced that all of its hospitals in the capital were mobilized to treat the wounded.

Maj. Gen. Tahsin al-Khafaji, spokesman for the Joint Operations Command, which includes an array of Iraqi forces, said the first suicide bomber cried out loudly that he was ill in the middle of the bustling market, prompting a crowd to gather around him  and thats when he detonated his explosive belt.

The second detonated his belt shortly after, he said.

This is a terrorist act perpetrated by a sleeper cell of the Islamic State, al-Khafaji said. He said IS wanted to prove its existence after suffering many blows in military operations to root out the militants.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis denounced the attack in Baghdad as a senseless act of brutality and urged Iraqis to keep working to replace violence with fraternity and peace. The telegram of condolences sent to the Iraqi president was particularly heartfelt, given Francis is due to visit Iraq in early March to try to encourage the countrys Christian communities that have been devastated by IS persecution.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the Baghdad attack and appealed to the Iraqi people to reject any attempts to spread fear and violence aimed at undermining peace, stability and unity, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

The U.N. chief called on the government to ensure that those behind these horrific crimes are swiftly identified and brought to justice, Dujarric said.

Thursdays twin suicide bombings marked the first in three years to target Baghdads bustling commercial district. A suicide bomb attack took place in the same area in 2018 shortly after then-Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared victory over the Islamic State, a Sunni militant group.

Iraq has seen assaults perpetrated by both the Islamic State group and mostly Shiite militia groups in recent months. Militias have routinely targeted the American presence in Iraq with rocket and mortar attacks, especially the U.S. Embassy in Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone. The pace of those attacks, however, has decreased since an informal truce was declared by Iran-backed armed groups in October.

The style of Thursdays assault was similar to those IS has conducted in the past. But the group has rarely been able to penetrate the capital since being dislodged by Iraqi forces and the U.S.-led coalition in 2017. For some it brought back painful memories from the height of Iraqs sectarian street wars, when suicide bombings were a near-daily occurrence.

IS has shown an ability to stage increasingly sophisticated attacks across northern Iraq, where it still maintains a presence, three years after Iraq declared victory over the group.

Iraqi security forces are frequently ambushed and targeted with IEDs in rural areas of Kirkuk and Diyala. An increase in attacks was seen last summer as militants took advantage of the governments focus on tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

The twin bombings Thursday came days after Iraqs government unanimously agreed to hold early elections in October. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had announced in July that early polls would be held to meet the demands of anti-government protesters.

Demonstrators took to the streets in the tens of thousands last year to demand political change, and an end to rampant corruption and poor services. More than 500 people were killed in mass demonstrations as security forces used live rounds and tear gas to disperse crowds.

Iraq is also grappling with a severe economic crisis brought on by low oil prices that has led the government to borrow internally and risk depleting its foreign currency reserves. The Central Bank of Iraq devalued Iraqs dinar by nearly 20% last year to meet spending obligations.

___

Associated Press writers Murtada Faraj in Baghdad, Nicole Winfield in Rome and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
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Alabama Reps. Barry Moore and Jerry Carl said they want to work with the new Biden administration on issues ranging from coronavirus relief to restoring the economy, a pledge they made with other freshman lawmakers.

Moore and Carl joined 16 other freshman lawmakers in a letter to Biden. In the letter, the Republican lawmakers congratulated Biden and said they hoped to work with the new administration on extended targeted, meaningful coronavirus relief for families and businesses as well as on efforts to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions and to strengthen and modernize our infrastructure, enforce our antitrust laws against emboldened technology monopolies and restore our economy struggling in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

I've joined my GOP colleagues in reaching out to President-elect @JoeBiden & offered my sincere wiliness to work together on:

 COVID relief

 protecting pre-existing conditions

 enhancing our infrastructure

 rebuilding our economy



I look forward to the work ahead. #ia02 pic.twitter.com/C8hNYe9DxZ  Mariannette Miller-Meeks (@RepMMM) January 20, 2021

In a statement to AL.com, Moore said the letter was part of an effort to help unite the country.

For our deeply divided country to heal, we must make an effort to work with President Biden on issues we agree, such as continuing President Trumps groundbreaking efforts to deliver a COVID-19 vaccine to every American, Moore said. We must also hold Bidens administration accountable on issues such as protecting the unborn, stopping illegal immigration, strengthening our military, and ensuring election integrity. Regardless of who is president, I remain dedicated to serving the people of Alabamas 2nd Congressional District and representing their values in Congress.

Moore and Carl were among several Republican lawmakers who challenged the vote giving Biden a win over fellow Republican Donald Trump. Moore said the challenge was meant to ensure the election was fair and free. Carl said he, too, had legitimate concerns about the fairness of the elections.

Updated Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. to reflect Alabama Rep. Jerry Carl also signed the letter.
PFAS investigation in Pellston completes second round of samples

Officials discovered polyfluoroalkyls in Pellston residential water sources in late 2019. The airport is believed to be the source of the substances.
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI : Dr Prathap C. Reddy, 88, returned to India from the US in the 1970s and realized that specialized healthcare was out of reach for the average Indian. In 1983, he founded Indias first corporate hospital, Apollo Hospitals, in Chennai and expanded across the country. Reddy and his daughter and vice-chairperson Preetha Reddy tell Mint how healthcare in India has changed over 30 years.

What are the ways in which you found doing business in India different in the pre- and the post-liberalization era?

Prathap Reddy: When I came back to India, automation essential for cardiology was deficient. Often, I had to send patients abroad, and not everyone could afford this. I thought to myself: How many are going to die because they cant raise money? I decided to set up a hospital here. I made quite a few trips to Delhi. The major change came in 1985. The government said hospitals could be funded like industry. Customs duty for medical equipment, which was over 300% as a luxury item, was brought down. The first medical equipment I imported was a CT scan machine. Today, we have thousands of them. All this happened because of the reforms that started then. Today, Indias healthcare is equivalent to the worlds best.

Would you say this was a direct consequence of the reforms started in 1991?

Theres no doubt. All this is because of the 85 reformsthat hospitals should be funded like trade or industry, that health insurance would get a tax deduction, and the rationalization of customs duty. These three, for us, were the biggest thing. Then because of the 1991 transformation, people started looking for better things, and better health was also necessary.

What are the urgent pending reforms in your sector?

Preetha Reddy: What will happen in 2030 is what we have to think about. Weve got great enablers. Weve said we will make Bharat atmanirbhar, weve got Ayushman Bharat. We need to be cognizant about building infrastructure because we dont have adequate infrastructure to treat everyone. We need to find innovative means to build that infrastructure quickly. We need to look at innovative financing, innovative modelling. Second, we have to be realistic about how healthcare is delivered. The point of care is shifting from brick-and-mortar systems to smartphones. 5G is coming, so the regulations around digital have to be faster and forward-thinking. Skilling is another important aspect. We need more doctors, nurses, healthcare personnel. We have the youngest workforce globally, the largest English-speaking workforcehow can we harness this? Again, when were talking about making in India, we can do more medical devices. Right now, were importing 75%. In short, we need to scale up infrastructure, manpower and manufacturing. Economics and health are directly proportional. Unless we are able to take care of the health of the nation, we will have a larger economic crisis.

India has never had public healthcare. What happens to the bottom of the pyramid?

Prathap Reddy: How do we treat this large number of people? Insurance is one way. Telemedicine is another. It is low-cost but gets the best health advice to all. It is necessary the government meets the cost of hospitals so they can use technology.That will bring down the cost.

Preetha Reddy: We need to pick best practices from a neighbour, like Singapore. The model should be such that those who cannot afford to pay will still be taken care of. If you look at data, when we started 80% of our revenue was people paying cash upfront; 20% was third-party payment. The equation has flipped because insurance models have become better. There will be a time in the next three years when everybody will have some kind of insurance. People will have access. But what we are not looking at is how are we going to build the infrastructure when people have access. To me, that is where the focus has to be. Policymakers have to look 5-10 years ahead.

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A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is shown at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Jan. 7, 2021. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

BC Warns of Fake COVID-19 Vaccines Sold Online

A British Columbia health agency is urging the public not to buy COVID-19 vaccines that are advertised or sold online from unauthorised sources as they are counterfeit, may pose risks to health, and are ineffective at protecting you from the COVID-19 virus.

ImmunizeBC, funded by the BC Ministry of Health to provide immunization information and tools for BC residents, posted the scam warning on social media Tuesday, saying they have heard about emails and websites selling the supposed vaccines.

These scams take advantage of genuine fears and worries, targeting those who are most vulnerable in our communities, ImmunizeBC wrote on Twitter. The only way to access safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines is through clinics organized or endorsed by your local public health authority.

The agency also urges anyone who has knowledge of unauthorised sources selling the vaccines to report them to Health Canada.

Don't buy COVID-19 vaccines that are advertised or sold online! Weve heard about emails and websites offering to sell vaccines, and they are a scam. These scams take advantage of genuine fears and worries, targeting those who are most vulnerable in our communities. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/Vf4Ex5iN3U  ImmunizeBC (@ImmunizeBC) January 19, 2021

Just last month, Health Canada issued a similar notice, warning Canadians about the purported COVID-19 vaccines sold online.

Health Canada evaluates the safety, efficacy and quality of any drug or vaccine before it can be legally sold in Canada and all vaccines require specific storage conditions in order to maintain their quality, the health agency said in the notice. COVID-19 vaccines have a tightly-controlled supply chain, and will only be provided through clinics organized or endorsed by your local public health authority.

In addition, Health Canada said it is working with Canada Border Services Agency, other government departments and agencies, including international partners, to protect Canadians from the counterfeit vaccines. Any incident of the suspected illegal activities will be reported to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

On the same note, the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) issued a global alert last year to law enforcement across its 194 member countries warning them of this issue.

As governments are preparing to roll out vaccines, criminal organizations are planning to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains, INTERPOL Secretary General Jurgen Stock said in the alert. Criminal networks will also be targeting unsuspecting members of the public via fake websites and false cures, which could pose a significant risk to their health, even their lives.

Meanwhile, Ottawa announced on Jan. 15 that the shipment of Pfizer-BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine would be delayed as the company needs to upgrade its European manufacturing facility in order to keep up with the production of the vaccines, which will affect the supply to Canada for the next several weeks.

Canada was scheduled to get more than 417,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine this week and next, but will now receive just 171,093 doses this week and nothing the next week.
A Bergen County man affiliated with the Hells Angels motorcycle club is facing weapons and gambling charges after a traffic stop in Bayonne Wednesday night, authorities said.

Bernard W. Krynicki III, 31, of North Arlington was arrested at 10:15 p.m. Wednesday in the area of 18th Street and Broadway. A passenger in the backseat, Krynicki appeared to be a attempting to conceal items in his pants pocket, Bayonne Capt. Eric Amato said.

When officer saw a knife protruding from Krynickis pocket, he was taken out of the vehicle and searched. Police additionally found a 9mm handgun, gambling records and $7,000 in what police believe to be gambling proceeds, Amato said.

During the course of the arrest police confirmed that Krynicki is a member of the Newark chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club after seeing that he was wearing clothing associated with the club.

Krynicki was charged with possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a firearm, certain persons not to possess a weapon, gang criminality, possession of gambling records and promoting gambling, Amato said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:58:05|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to work with Laos to further intensify high-level contact, cement strategic communication and deepen experience exchanges on party and state governance.

Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee.

On behalf of the CPC as well as the Chinese government and people, Xi congratulated Thongloun on election as general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee.

The successful convention of the 11th LPRP Congress, which put forward a series of new approaches to and new measures on party and state governance, is of great significance to continuously pushing forward the development of Laos' socialist cause, Xi said.

He said he is confident that under the leadership of the new LPRP Central Committee headed by Thongloun, all LPRP members and all Lao people will unite as one and strive to realize the goals set at the 11th congress.

China and Laos are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, Xi said, adding that upholding the leadership of the Communist party and adhering to the socialist orientation are the essential features of bilateral relations.

Noting that the China-Laos relationship is now at its historical best, Xi also pointed to the combined impact of profound changes unseen in a century in the world and the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The two sides, he suggested, should steadily advance the construction of such large projects as the China-Laos Economic Corridor and the China-Laos Railway, and push for more achievements in bilateral Belt and Road cooperation.

Xi also called for concerted efforts to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as culture, youth and tourism, and continuously enrich the cultural content of the China-Laos community with a shared future.

China, he said, will continue to support Laos' efforts to fight the pandemic, and stands ready to actively consider aiding Laos with a batch of COVID-19 vaccines.

China is willing to work with Laos to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote common development and prosperity, added the Chinese leader.

Xi also wished Thongloun new greater achievements in the new important post. Enditem
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Brazil has yet again been hard-hit by the new coronavirus strain. With oxygen tanks emptying in minutes and soaring COVID-19 cases, things have gotten all the more complicated.

AFP

According to reports, people have been flocking to local distributors for refilling their oxygen tanks. Pictures show family members queued up outside the Carboxi oxygen plant during torrential downpours and sweltering humidity on Tuesday.

According to a CNN report, the Brazilian government has come under sharp criticism over its handling of the crisis.

Last week, Supreme Court judge Ricardo Lewandowski ordered the government to present a response plan to solve the oxygen shortage, citing the Jair Bolsonaro administration's "omissive behavior" in addressing the emergency.

Also Read: Brazil Sends Flights To India For 2 Mn Doses Of Covishield Even As Indians Wait For Rollout

'If you want to offer us oxygen, we will receive it without a problem,' Bolsonaro said Monday. 'But he could give emergency aid to his people too, right? The minimum wage there doesn't buy half a kilo of rice.'

Twitter

Brazilian Vice-President Hamilton Mourao said on Twitter that the countrys air force had taken more than eight tons of hospital items including oxygen cylinders, beds and tents to Manaus.

Nossos militares da @fab_oficial transportaram mais de 8 toneladas de material hospitalar, camas, cilindros de oxigenio, macas e barracas para Manaus. https://t.co/B5e1TjtSDA  General Hamilton Mourao (@GeneralMourao) January 14, 2021

Federal prosecutors in the city, however, asked a local judge to put pressure on President Jair Bolsonaros administration to step up its support. The prosecutors said later in the day that the main air force plane in the region for oxygen supply transportation needs repair, which brought a halt to the emergency influx. Neither air force nor the federal health ministry answered a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Also Read: COVID-19 Vaccine Can Turn People Into 'Crocodiles', Claims Brazilian President

Amazonas' state government spokesperson told CNN they would provide "clarifications" to the Prosecutor General's office, and added that the state continues to work to mitigate the crisis, including, "the transport of oxygen from other states to Manaus, the installation of mini oxygen in hospitals, the transfer of patients for assistance in other states and the requisition of all production from local oxygen suppliers."



Desperate residents of Manaus, the capital of Brazils Amazonas state, lined up for a refill of their oxygen cylinders as the hospitals in the city ran out of oxygen tanks. pic.twitter.com/06QpNpATps  SCMP News (@SCMPNews) January 18, 2021

Brazil has recorded 210,000 deaths from coronavirus, the second-highest toll after the United States.

The city is receiving an average of four Brazilian air force flights per day to bolster oxygen stocks, along with one shipment per day from the city of Belem near the mouth of the Amazon river, Mail Online reports.

AFP

Amazonas Governor Wilson Lima led a ceremony that kicked off the vaccination campaign on Monday night.

According to an AP report, a research paper indicated that the new strain of the coronavirus had been circulating in Manaus as of mid-December.

Also Read: 12-Hour Catch Up: UK Travel Ban Amid New Brazil Variant Of COVID, India Starts Vaccine Roll Out

The paper said that raised concerns about greater transmissibility or potential for reinfection, although such possibilities remain unproven.

Covid: Brazil approves and rolls out AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines https://t.co/V0v6RDU7Ai  BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 18, 2021

A positive COVID-19 test doesnt reveal which variant of the virus the patient has, but it is likely that the new strain has been partially responsible for driving Manaus second wave, according to Pedro Hallal, an epidemiologist.





But despite the oxygen shortage, the first doses of the covid vaccine have started to be administered in the state which is home to many of the country's indigenous people.



All Inputs AP
Mary-Pat Hector, a popular female Civil Rights Activist in the United States (US), has lauded President Akufo-Addo for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.



According to her, she has been in the country for some days and she is highly impressed about the positive measures being put in place by the government to help stop Covid-19 and save human lives.



Mary-Pat Hector, who was one of the youngest community leaders to advise ex-US President, Barack Obama, on Criminal Justice Reform, said Ghana was the trailblazer in the Covid-19 fight.



I have personally experienced a lot of the safety protocols the government has been putting into action and I believe that what is happening here should be a blueprint for many countries across the world, she told the media in Kumasi yesterday, adding that I can truly say since being here that the President has taken the needed measures to ensure that Ghanaians can live and thrive during this trying times across the world.



Ms. Hector, at the tender age of 19, made history when she became the youngest woman and person of colour to run for public office in the State of Georgia. She also serves as the State Coordinator of BYV and Rise.



PPE Distribution



The Civil Rights Activist collaborated with Shout Africa Foundation, an NGO, and Adonko Group of Companies to distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to traders in Kumasi on Wednesday.



Ms. Hector, assisted by Edmund Kyei and Bernard Annan of Shout Africa Foundation, distributed Adonko branded hand sanitizers and boxes of face masks to hundreds of traders at Atonsu Market in Kumasi.



She said Covid-19 was real and claiming human lives across the globe, and therefore admonished Ghanaians to strictly adhere to health protocols in order to remain safe.



I will tell you in almost a year, Covid-19 has caused us such turmoil, with more than 400,000 American lives lost to Covid-19, I havent felt safe until I got to Ghana, she said; adding that Ghanaians were doing great work to defeat the virus.



Akufo-Addo Factor



Ms. Hector observed that President Akufo-Addo indeed meant his famous statement, We know how to bring the economy back to life, but what we dont know is how to bring people back to life.



She said right from her arrival at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, she realized that the government and people of Ghana were determined to stop Covid-19 from spreading further.



Meanwhile, Ms. Hector, Mr. Kyei and Mr. Annan of Shout Africa Foundation have presented a magazine dubbed Ghana Public Health Matters to the CEO of Adonko Group of Companies, Dr. Kwaku Oteng.



The magazine mainly highlighted the governments numerous interventions and efforts to help defeat the Covid-19 in the country. It also teaches about what one must do to stay away from the virus.



Ms. Hector promised to return to Ghana in future and contribute to the development of the country and congratulated US President-elect, Joe Biden and his Vice, Kamala Harris, and wished them success in political office.

Source: I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr









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

Featured Video
A puppy that was abandoned in the snow has found a cosy home in China.

The stray was adopted by a group of soldiers who spotted the little pup shivering in the cold while patrolling on the Chinese border.

It came after the officers discovered a pack of puppies deserted in the wild. Most of them had frozen to death with only one still alive.

The surviving pooch was named 'Eighteen' after the date it was rescued, January 18.

The stray was adopted by a group of soldiers who spotted the little pup shivering in the cold while patrolling on the Chinese border. It is now living at a military base in China

The heart-warming story was revealed in a video featured on the Chinese Military Net on Wednesday.

According to the footage documenting Eighteen's rescue journey, the little brown pooch was discovered by a group of Chinese soldiers who were patrolling the border on Monday.

The officers found Eighteen abandoned in the snow with its siblings which had already died from the cold.

They decided to adopt the puppy as the soldiers put it inside a plastic bag and carried it back to the barracks.

According to the footage documenting Eighteen's rescue journey, the little brown pooch was discovered by a group of Chinese soldiers who were patrolling the border on Monday

After returning to the military base, Eighteen was given attentive care as it enjoyed a warm bath and even a gentle blow-dry afterwards.

The troopers also made clothes for the pup and built a doghouse with blankets inside to keep the little guy cosy.

Eighteen's story of finding its new home melted the hearts of millions after the footage was shared on China's Twitter-like Weibo.

One commenter gasped: 'It's so adorable! From now on, it will be a little soldier and protect our country.'

After returning to the military base, Eighteen was given attentive care as it enjoyed a warm bath and even a gentle blow-dry afterwards. The pup was found abandoned in the snow

Another user said: 'You've now officially joined the army, little Eighteen!'

It seems like Eighteen is not the only furry officer in China.

In November, a heart-melting video became viral in China after a naughty puppy surprised its firefighter friend who is working out during a training session.

The adorable video, filmed in the Chinese city of Chengdu, shows the young dog running around the uniform officer before 'attacking' him with a kiss while the man is crawling on the ground on all fours.
PLC's ( ) Director Craig Moulton catches up with Proactive to discuss the latest high-grade gold results from drilling at the Wudinna project in South Australia.

Moulton talks through the significance of the numbers and what they mean for Cobra moving forwards.

Highlight assay results from the Barns and White Tank deposits included 3.25 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 13 metres, within which was 1 metre at up to 33.6 g/t along with 7.25 g/t silver and 1.71% copper.
Majors are eying Suriname as the next big oil player. With recent success in neighbouring Guyana, Suriname offers hope for low-cost oil exploration and production going into 2021. Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Apache are all showing interest in the South American state, hoping Suriname will provide oil for as little as $30 to $40 a barrel thanks to lower production costs. This is well below the average US production cost of almost $50 per barrel.

After years of political unrest, Suriname is eager to make a name for itself in the oil world and encourage economic stability and growth. The hard-hit economy has been further hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the new government looking at the countrys oil potential to drag them out of economic disaster.

Attracting oil investment from foreign companies only became possible after the successful discovery of oil in deep wells in 2015, following around 60 years of failure in shallow waters. At present, state-owned Surinames national oil company Staatsolie controls most of the industry.

To encourage investment, Suriname is offering companies 30-year production-sharing agreements, around 10 years longer than those of Latin Americas other oil-rich countries. Following a difficult 2020, emerging oil states such as Suriname and Guyana are expected to dominate licensing rounds this year with such attractive terms.

Oil experts believe there to be at least three to four billion barrels of reserves in Surinames waters, providing foreign companies with a bet worth taking for the future of the regions oil.

Related: Canada Is Cleaning Up Its Oil Sands



Earlier this month, Total and Apache Corporation made an important oil and gas discovery off the coast of Suriname at the Keskesi East-1 well, in Block 58. This brings the total number of oil discoveries in the country to four in 2020, or 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Totals Senior Vice President Exploration Kevin McLachlan stated We are excited, as new operator of the block, to start the appraisal operations designed to characterize the 2020 discoveries, while in parallel start a second exploration campaign on this prolific block in 2021..

In addition, ExxonMobil announced oil and gas finds in Suriname in December. Mike Cousins, Exxons Senior Vice President of exploration and new ventures, explained Our first discovery in Suriname extends ExxonMobils leading position in South America, building on our successful investments in Guyana. We will continue to leverage our deepwater expertise and advanced technology to explore frontier environments with the highest value resource potential.

One recent partnership thats caught attention in the region is the contract between Maersk Drilling and Total E&P, valued at $100 million. The partnerships deepwater oil rigs Maersk Valiant and Maersk Develop in Block 58 are expected to start operations this month.

Suriname hopes to follow in the footsteps of neighbouring Guyana, which has attracted significant foreign investment in its oil industry in recent years. Exxon in particular has been investing heavily in the region, commencing production in Guyanas Liza oilfield in 2019; an area capable of pumping 120,000 bpd. Exxon is now looking to develop the Stabroek Block, having signed a sharing agreement with the government, expected to produce 750,000 bpd by 2026.

Oil production in Guyana could extend beyond the next 30 years, presenting an attractive opportunity for longer-term exploration and low-cost production. In 2020, Guyana had an anticipated economic growth of around 50 percent, mainly owing to its burgeoning oil industry. According to the IMF, the country can expect an average annual real GDP growth of around 13 percent over the next four years.

As companies are less willing to become entangled with neighbouring Venezuela, due to its complex political situation and current US sanctions, with the countrys oil exports falling to its lowest levels in 77 years in 2020, Guyana and Suriname offer a bright alternative.

While it is early days for drilling in Suriname, success in Guyana and a clear interest from international oil majors could put the small South American state on the map.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The Embassy of Belgium, the Embassy of Germany, and the Goethe-Institut Hanoi will co-organize the exhibition Eroica 2020 by artist Nguyen Le Hoang Viet next week to commemorate Beethovens 250th birthday.

The exhibition will open daily from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm between January 26 and February 4 in the exhibition hall of the Goethe-Institut, the organizers said in a press release on Thursday.

An opening event will take place at 6:00 pm on January 25.

Eroica 2020 is a contribution from Vietnam to the international exhibition Hotel Beethoven, which has been organized by BOZAR, which is the Center for Fine Arts in Brussels, in collaboration with the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn, with funds coming from by the German Minister of State for Culture and the Media in the framework of the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The exhibition is to commemorate Beethovens 250th birthday, falling on December 17, 2020.

Hotel Beethoven is an exhibition about Beethoven, his music, his ideas, and his relevance for the world heritage of music today.

As an exceptional innovator, Beethoven is considered a perennial starting point and source of inspiration for questions and ideas about the power of sound.

From popular culture to conceptual art, spanning a time frame from 1770 to 2020, Hotel Beethoven is a time-traveling musical mix of different eras and points of view that features manuscripts and instruments alongside works from such artists as Antoine Bourdelle, Raoul Hausmann, Andy Warhol, Katie Paterson, Christan Marclay, Christine Sun Kim, and John Baldessari.

The exhibition in Brussels can be visited until February 14.

BOZAR invited six visual artists from Albania, Austria, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Russia, and Vietnam to be accommodated in the Hotel Beethoven.

The Vietnamese contribution to this international celebration is an 11-minute film directed by Nguyen Le Hoang Viet.

2020 is marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and many forms of social distancing and quarantine measures.

Humans had to stay inside rooms and the distance between people in public is specifically defined.

Viet turns to Beethovens music and wonders if it can provide people with a window to escape the four walls surrounding them.

Blending a time-stretched version of Symphony No. 3 Eroica  the monumental masterpiece of Beethoven  with zoom-ins, zoom-outs, and shots of Hanoians daily life activities, this video installation invites audiences on a visual journey of human survival in this strange time.

Viet gained international recognition as a filmmaker in the following festivals: Short Shorts, BFI Flare London, and Festival of 3 Continents.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Alibaba-backed community group buying platform gets fined for uncompetitive practices; U.S. and China trade officials hold their first phone call under the Biden presidency; and the yuan surges to a three-year high against the dollar

May 28, 2021 05:54 PM
[January 21, 2021] Cyberinc Lends Insights into the Top Trends in Cybersecurity in 2021

Cyberinc, a pioneer in isolation-based cybersecurity solutions, today shared its insights into the key trends that will shape the cybersecurity industry in the coming year. With evolving tactics that increase the risk and impact of ransomware and phishing, combined with the new normal of remote workforces, Cyberinc CEO Samir Shah believes that remote browser isolation (RBI) will prove its value as a critical must-have enterprise technology in 2021. "As mass-scale ransomware and other malware attacks continue to make headlines, companies and IT leaders are concerned about being the next victim," said Shah. "Security teams continue to face the hard truth that no matter how much training or what protective measures are in place, a percentage of employees will always inadvertently click on harmful links. This reality creates significant challenges for companies in knowing how best to protect employees, devices, and corporate assets. "Isolation-based security technologies are gaining prominence as more companies realize the value they deliver in bolstering cyber defenses with minimal investment," he continued. "Additionally, with industry analysts increasingly recommending remote browser isolation as part of any corporate cybersecurity program, we expect to see more widespread adoption of these solutions in the coming months and beyond." The cybersecurity trends that Cyberinc believes will gain prominence in 2021 are outlined below. 1. Attackers will double down on double extortion "Hack-and-leak" ransomware attacks, also referred to as double extortion attacks, will become the go-to method of ransomware in 2021. Double extortion refers to attackers now having two aims: stealing a company's data and locking organizations out of their own systems or network. While ransomware protection guidelines include data backups and a well thought out recovery process, that approach is no longer enough when data can fall into the hands of malicious actors. In the coming year, Cyberinc expects to see ompanies focusing on use of technologies for ransomware prevention in 2021. Organizations will exit the ransomware arms race by preventing the initial stages of ransomware attacks (e.g., web and email phishing) using emerging technologies like remote browser isolation, which can stop a ransomware attack before it causes damage.



2. Companies will focus on securing the browser as a critical endpoint Patching and updating software to reduce the attack surface will take precedence over connecting remote workers in 2021. While 2020 was about enabling and securing remote workers, in 2021 the focus will be on keeping employees and organizations safe in the work-anywhere environment. As attackers continue to take advantage of new vulnerabilities and opportunities for social engineering, routine tasks such as remediation, patching, and incident response will continue to be more challenging for security teams. Additionally, with a greater reliance on cloud applications as employees work from any location, the browser will become a more critical endpoint through which ransomware and other malware attacks are carried out. This means that security teams will need to make securing the browser a top priority in the coming year.

This also presents a new set of challenges. For example, companies may standardize all corporate devices on a particular browser for supported cloud apps, yet security teams find themselves needing to support additional browsers for compatibility with legacy apps and websites outside of their control. Additionally, end users often install and use multiple browsers on their managed and unmanaged devices (referred to as "shadow IT"), presenting additional complexity and a wider attack surface. Innovative organizations will move from trying to keep every browser on every device updated and secure to a single remote browser, which will isolate online activities to block or prevent attacks and transform all internet content into harmless visual streams delivered to the endpoint. This process also means that routine maintenance and emergency patching are provided by the remote browser isolation vendor in the process. 3. End users will continue to be the weakest link Striking the right balance between security and usability is tricky. Users must click on links to do their work yet clicking on links puts organizations at risk. Even after one year of security awareness training, 3-5% of users will still inadvertently click on a phishing link, according to the KnowBe4 Phishing by Industry 2020 benchmark report1. The rise of technologies like RBI in 2021 will enable organizations to prevent bad things from happening when users click on dangerous links, without compromising user productivity for security. The increasing cost of mitigating ransomware and phishing attacks will sharpen the focus on isolation-based technologies to protect the weakest link, because prevention beats remediation every time. About Cyberinc Cyberinc is a leader and pioneer in isolation-based security. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Cyberinc helps companies experience a safer internet by proactively stopping web, email, and document-based threats which account for roughly 90% of external information security attacks targeted at end users on the internet. The company's flagship Isla platform uses cutting-edge isolation technology to neutralize threats and prevent them before they have a chance to act, simplifying organizations' security strategy and delivering immediate protection. Cyberinc is trusted by businesses of all sizes and governments around the world. More information can be found at cyberinc.com. A product demo can be scheduled here. Find Cyberinc on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. 1 https://www.knowbe4.com/hubfs/2020PhishingByIndustryBenchmarkingReport.pdf View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005218/en/

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Most of the other big U.S. coal plants still operating are at least 40 years old. They are either past or close to the end of their expected life spans. But Prairie State could keep churning out climate-changing pollution for another half-century  decades past Bidens 2035 deadline to purge fossil fuels from the power sector, according to a new analysis published in the journal Science.
Kylie Jenner's BFF Anastasia Karanikolaou knows that having friends in high places comes with some big perks.

The 22-year-old Instagram model has been whisked away with Kylie, Kendall and a handful of pals on a lavish Mexican vacation where they soaked up the sun at a luxury villa.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday to give glimpses into her dreamy getaway, Stassie posed up a storm in a black Fashion Nova bikini as she suggestively told her followers, 'enjoy the view.'

Not a bad view: Kylie Jenner's BFF Anastasia Karanikolaou, 22, bares her curves in a black bikini on a lavish Mexican vacation as she teases, 'enjoy the view'

Leaning into island life, she stripped down to a black high rise bikini with an underwire top as she showed off her trim waist and accentuated backside.

She kept her brown locks down and sported a light face of makeup as she showed off her sun kissed skin while posing on a cobblestone path with tropical views.

The post acquired a slew of comments from the KarJenner clan as Kylie wrote, 'i will thank u,' and Khloe posted, 'Ummmm Does someone want to explain to me what is going on? The sexiness is at an all-time high.'

Though it seemed only a short-lived trip for Kendall and Kylie, Stassie and her pals continued to live it up in paradise as they were seen spending the day by the pool and enjoying the sunset in Jalisco.

Tropical tease: The Fashion Nova influencer worked her angles as she showed off her high rise two piece and exaggerated curves in paradise

Their accommodation of choice - Ocean Castle Sol De Oriente - costs a whopping $7K a night and boasts 12 rooms and unobstructed ocean views.

The fancy friends were seen drinking tequila til their heart's' content and naturally posting loads of Instagram content.

Nothing new for the reality television family, they have been seen globetrotting throughout the entire pandemic, making no effort to taper back their showy wealth and vacation outfits.

Becoming an influencer in her own right on account of her cozy relationship with the Kardashians and her exaggerated curves, Stassie has garnered quite the following on social media.

Travel bug: The makeup mogul has traveled all over the world during the pandemic, continuing to flaunt her impossible privilege

Relaxation: An oiled up Kendall flashed her model figure while indulging in a poolside margarita

Luxury digs: The friends splashed out on a multi-night stay at the Ocean Castle Sol De Oriente in Jalisco

Photo op: The friends had no qualms about posting from paradise amid the pandemic as they have done an extensive amount of traveling during the pandemic

Mamacita: Vacation outfits to boot, Jenner paid no mind to splashing out money for a couple days away

Though Stassie and Kylie spent New Year's Eve apart with the makeup mogul in Aspen and Karanikolaou in the Bahamas, the longtime friends reunited for a girls' weekend where they goofed around.

Micheladas on the menu and lots of chips and guacamole, they put on a silly display on TikTok with Carter Gregory, the Villarroel sisters and Sydney Carlson.

Not present for the exclusive retreat was Stassie's purported beau Noah Centineo.

The pair were first linked back in the fall and were seen packing on the PDA at a Halloween party shortly thereafter.

If MIkayel Minasyans statements are true, a criminal case needs to be launched against Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan. This is what former head of the General Department of Control at the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Justice Major General Tatul Petrosyan told reporters today.

According to him, the Prosecutor Generals Office had to launch a criminal case under state treason at once.

Petrosyan said he was surprised that the National Security Service had refuted the information, declaring that Mirzoyan isnt an agent.

With this logic, inquiries can be forwarded in regard to anyone, and the National Security Service needs to state whether the particular person is an agent or not. As far as the parliamentary speaker is concerned, if he isnt an agent, whats the point of conducting an official inspection? If Minasyan is right, in Mirzoyans case, this concerns a freelance agent who receives money for every piece of information that he transmits. A freelance agent can also be an official, Petrosyan added and noted that what surprises him is the fact that Mirzoyan has dealt with issues related to the Armenian Genocide and is allegedly an agent and that the public is indifferent towards this.

Former Ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican Mikayel Minasyan has declared that Speaker of the National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan is an agent for the special services of Turkey and Armenia.
The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, believes the majority of the English public will not care if Northern Ireland leaves the UK for a united Ireland.

Mr Osborne - a former Conservative MP - said that by unleashing English nationalism, Brexit has made the future of the UK the central political issue of the coming decade.

He also lambasted Northern Irelands unionists for scuppering Theresa Mays Brexit deal which would have avoided introducing separate trading arrangements for the country.

Read More

Writing in the London Evening Standard, where he is now editor-in-chief, Mr Osborne said that Northern Ireland is heading for the exit door from the UK.

Some supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland were depleted this month as suppliers grappled with new rules surrounding sending goods from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Protocol means Northern Ireland follows the EUs rules on matters like animal product standards.

By remaining in the EU single market, it is for all economic intents and purposes now slowly becoming part of a united Ireland, wrote Mr Osborne.

Its prosperity now depends on its relationship with Dublin (and Brussels), not London. The politics will follow.

Northern Irish unionists always feared the mainland was not sufficiently committed to their cause.

Now their short-sighted support for Brexit (and unbelievably stupid decision to torpedo Theresa Mays deal that avoided separate Irish arrangements) has made those fears a reality.

It pains me to report that most here and abroad will not care.

Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has previously said there is no Irish Sea border and important preparations had been made for the end of the Brexit transition period, while the DUP has strongly criticised the new arrangements.

Processed goods like jelly or gravy could be unavailable in Northern Ireland at the end of the protocol grace period, the partys Agriculture Minister said.

Edwin Poots acknowledged the country had plenty of homegrown beef and potatoes but warned Northern Ireland Assembly members trimmings like Bisto or trifle could be missing from traditional Sunday dinners.

Read More




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News Around the Republic of Mexico



Mexico Archaeologists Reveal Tale of Cannibalism



The skeletons of sacrificed Spaniards are displayed inside a glass case at the museum of the Zultepec-Tecoaque archeological site in Tlaxcala state, Mexico. Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/AP



The National Institute of Anthropology and History



Residents of Tecoaque, also known as Zultepec, captured a convoy of about 15 male Spaniards, 50 women and 10 children, 45 foot soldiers who included Cubans of African and Indigenous descent, and about 350 allies from Indigenous groups in 1520. All were apparently sacrificed over the space of months.



When he heard about it, the conquistador HernAn CortAs ordered Gonzalo de Sandoval to destroy the town in revenge in early 1521.



Archaeologist Enrique MartAnez Vargas said excavations suggest the inhabitants of Tecoaque knew a reprisal attack was coming and tossed the bones of the Spaniards - some of which had been carved into trophies - and other evidence into shallow wells.



The townspeople also tried to erect some primitive defensive works along the main thoroughfare of the town, none of which worked when De Sandoval and his punitive expedition rode in.



"Some of the warriors who had stayed in the town managed to flee, but women and children remained, and they were the main victims," the institute said in a statement. "This we have been able to demonstrate over a 120-meter stretch of the main thoroughfare, where the skeletons of a dozen women were found who appeared to be 'protecting' the bones of 10 children between the ages of five and six."



Photos of the excavations show children's bones beside those of the adult females, with some of the women's skulls or arm bones turned toward the youngsters.



"The placement of the burials suggest these people were fleeing, were massacred and buried hurriedly," the institute said. "Women and children who were sheltering inside rooms were mutilated, as evidenced by the discovery of hacked bones on the floors. The temples were burned and the statues were decapitated."



Cruelty was on display on both sides in Tecoaque, the site of one of the worst defeats in the Spanish conquest of 1519-21.



The heads of the captive Spanish women were strung up on skull racks alongside those of men. An analysis of the bones revealed the women were pregnant, and in pre-Hispanic practice that may have qualified them as "warriors". Another sacrificial offering included one woman's body that was cut in half near the remains of a dismembered child aged 3 or 4.



One Spanish male was dismembered and burned to replicate the mythical fates of Aztec-era gods, according to one myth known as "El Quinto Sol," or the Fifth Sun.



The convoy comprised people sent from Cuba in a second expedition a year after CortAs's initial landing in 1519 and they were heading to the Aztec capital with supplies and the conquerors' possessions. CortAs had been forced to leave the convoy on its own while trying to rescue his troops from an uprising in what is now Mexico City.



Members of the captured convoy were held prisoner in door-less cells, where they were fed over six months, the experts said. Little by little, the town sacrificed and apparently ate the horses, men and women. But pigs brought by the Spaniards for food were apparently viewed with such suspicion that they were killed whole and left uneaten.



In contrast, the skeletons of the captured Europeans were torn apart and bore cut marks indicating the meat was removed from the bones.



CortAs went on to conquer the Aztec capital later in 1521.



Mexico is marking the 500th anniversary of the conquest this year with a special round of research and scholarly conferences.



Original article New research suggests Spanish conquistadors butchered at least a dozen women and their children in an Aztec-allied town where the inhabitants sacrificed and ate a detachment of Spaniards they had captured months earlier.The National Institute of Anthropology and History published findings on Monday from years of excavation work at the town of Tecoaque, which means "the place where they ate them" in the Nahuatl language of the Aztecs.Residents of Tecoaque, also known as Zultepec, captured a convoy of about 15 male Spaniards, 50 women and 10 children, 45 foot soldiers who included Cubans of African and Indigenous descent, and about 350 allies from Indigenous groups in 1520. All were apparently sacrificed over the space of months.When he heard about it, the conquistador HernAn CortAs ordered Gonzalo de Sandoval to destroy the town in revenge in early 1521.Archaeologist Enrique MartAnez Vargas said excavations suggest the inhabitants of Tecoaque knew a reprisal attack was coming and tossed the bones of the Spaniards - some of which had been carved into trophies - and other evidence into shallow wells.The townspeople also tried to erect some primitive defensive works along the main thoroughfare of the town, none of which worked when De Sandoval and his punitive expedition rode in."Some of the warriors who had stayed in the town managed to flee, but women and children remained, and they were the main victims," the institute said in a statement. "This we have been able to demonstrate over a 120-meter stretch of the main thoroughfare, where the skeletons of a dozen women were found who appeared to be 'protecting' the bones of 10 children between the ages of five and six."Photos of the excavations show children's bones beside those of the adult females, with some of the women's skulls or arm bones turned toward the youngsters."The placement of the burials suggest these people were fleeing, were massacred and buried hurriedly," the institute said. "Women and children who were sheltering inside rooms were mutilated, as evidenced by the discovery of hacked bones on the floors. The temples were burned and the statues were decapitated."Cruelty was on display on both sides in Tecoaque, the site of one of the worst defeats in the Spanish conquest of 1519-21.The heads of the captive Spanish women were strung up on skull racks alongside those of men. An analysis of the bones revealed the women were pregnant, and in pre-Hispanic practice that may have qualified them as "warriors". Another sacrificial offering included one woman's body that was cut in half near the remains of a dismembered child aged 3 or 4.One Spanish male was dismembered and burned to replicate the mythical fates of Aztec-era gods, according to one myth known as "El Quinto Sol," or the Fifth Sun.The convoy comprised people sent from Cuba in a second expedition a year after CortAs's initial landing in 1519 and they were heading to the Aztec capital with supplies and the conquerors' possessions. CortAs had been forced to leave the convoy on its own while trying to rescue his troops from an uprising in what is now Mexico City.Members of the captured convoy were held prisoner in door-less cells, where they were fed over six months, the experts said. Little by little, the town sacrificed and apparently ate the horses, men and women. But pigs brought by the Spaniards for food were apparently viewed with such suspicion that they were killed whole and left uneaten.In contrast, the skeletons of the captured Europeans were torn apart and bore cut marks indicating the meat was removed from the bones.CortAs went on to conquer the Aztec capital later in 1521.Mexico is marking the 500th anniversary of the conquest this year with a special round of research and scholarly conferences.



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The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has concluded that Ukrainian authorities committed a series of human rights violations during the pro-European Maidan protests in late 2013 and early 2014 that ousted Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych.

In a ruling on January 21 on five lawsuits filed by 33 Ukrainian nationals, the ECHR said that during the protests, there were multiple violations of the articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. The violations deal with the prohibition of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment, the right to liberty and security, freedom of assembly and association, the right to life, and the right to respect private and family life.

"The Court observed that it had found multiple violations of several Articles as a result of how the authorities had conducted themselves during the Maidan protests and the absence to date of an independent and effective mechanism within Ukraine for the investigation of crimes committed by law-enforcement officers and non-State agents," the court said in its ruling, adding that "Ukraine was to pay some of the applicants the awards in respect of pecuniary and nonpecuniary damage and costs and expenses set out in the relevant judgments."

The Maidan protests, known as the Euromaidan movement, began in November 2013 when protesters gathered on the Maidan, the central square in the capital, Kyiv, after Yanukovych announced he was postponing plans to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union and would seek closer economic ties with Russia.

Security forces opened fire at unarmed protesters. Ukrainian prosecutors say 104 people were killed and 2,500 injured in the protests.

Shunning a deal backed by the West and Russia to end the standoff, Yanukovych abandoned power and fled Kyiv on February 21, 2014. The former president, who was flown to Russia in secret and remains there, denies ordering police to use their weapons on protesters and claims the violence was a planned operation to overthrow his government.

Moscow responded to his downfall by seizing control of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and fomenting separatism in Ukraine -- one of the causes of a war that has killed more than 13,200 people in eastern Ukraine since April 2014.
JUNEAU, Alaska, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third year in a row, Gov. Mike Dunleavy has officially recognized the last week of January as Alaska School Choice Week. Gov. Dunleavy's proclamation recognizes that all Alaska families deserve access to the highest-quality education, and that educational variety enhances the vibrancy of Alaska communities.

Around the nation this year, more than 20 other governors have proclaimed School Choice Week in their states so far, and hundreds of city, county, and town leaders have proclaimed the Week in their jurisdictions.

Parents, schools, and other organizers have planned 66 virtual or socially-distanced activities across Alaska, ranging from virtual open houses to at-home family activities. All of the Week's activities aim to celebrate schools and educators who make a positive difference, and spark conversations about increasing learning opportunities for all children.

More than 33,000 safe celebrations have been independently planned for the Week nationwide. Schools of all types  traditional public schools, public magnet schools, public charter schools, private schools, online schools, and homeschools  are participating.

"This week is a time to be grateful for the parents, educators, and community leaders that inspire kids to happiness and dare them to be great," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We wish Alaskans the best in their National School Choice Week celebrations."

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation.

For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/alaska .

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com


STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City transit workers can now run on Dunkin at a discounted price.

For a limited time, local transit workers  considered essential during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic  are eligible for a discount on Dunkins new Extra Charged Coffee.

Dunkin is offering guests with proper ID a medium hot or iced Extra Charged Coffee for $2 through Tuesday at participating Dunkin locations. The Extra Charged Coffee, according to Dunkin, features green coffee extract that gives coffee drinkers an extra boost with 20% more caffeine.

Last year, the chain gave free coffee to those working on the frontlines of the pandemic at participating locations.

For more information on where you can grab an Extra Charged Coffee, visit dunkindonuts.com/.

Heads up: There is a new Dunkin location at 770 Castleton Ave., in a storefront that formerly housed Neighborhood Housing Services. Amenities at the new West Brighton Dunkin include an innovative tap system serving eight cold beverages, such as Cold Brew coffee and Nitro Cold Brew coffee, according to the company. The new location will join 36 other Dunkin spots  including those in supermarkets and gas stations  on Staten Island.
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Britain's Home Secretary Priti Patel speaks during a virtual press conference on the COVID-19 pandemic, at 10 Downing Street in central London, on Jan. 21, 2021. (Matt Dunham /Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Partygoers in England to Face 800 Fines for CCP Virus Breach

The UK government has announced a new 800 ($1,096) fine for people who attend house parties in breach of CCP virus restrictions.

The fine, which will be introduced next week, will apply to those who attend illegal gatherings of more than 15 people in homes, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced on Thursday at a press conference held in Downing Street.

Just announced: Were introducing a new 800 fine for those attending  . This will double for each repeat offence up to a maximum of 6,400. At this crucial time, please stay home.

Protect the NHS. Save lives. pic.twitter.com/Y4zNBhmZAz  Priti Patel (@pritipatel) January 21, 2021

The penalty will double for each repeat offence to a maximum level of 6,400 ($8,772), she said.

On Jan. 6, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the whole of England under the third national lockdown since the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic began last spring. The purpose of the latest lockdown is to stem the spread of the new variant, which he said has a faster rate of transmission than the old variant.

Under the new restrictions, people may only leave home for limited reasons, such as to shop for essentials, to work if they cant work from home, to exercise, to seek medical assistance, or to escape domestic abuse.

Johnson said earlier on Thursday that it is still too early to say when the lockdown measures will be eased.

By staying at home, you are helping to keep those you care about safe, and contributing to this national effort, Patel told reporters.

But there is still a small minority who refuse to do the right thing. To them, my message is clear: if you do not follow these rules, then the police will enforce them.

Police officers are now moving more quickly to handing out fines when they encounter breaches, and they have my absolute backing in doing so, she warned.

According to Public Health England, 37,892 new cases and 1,290 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported across the UK on Thursday.

The #COVID19 Dashboard has now been updated: https://t.co/XhspoyTG79 On Thursday 21 January 2021, 37,892 new cases and 1,290 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were reported across the UK. A total of 4,973,248 people have now received the first dose of a #vaccine. pic.twitter.com/pAjcNuBP2B  Public Health England (@PHE_uk) January 21, 2021

That brought the total UK death toll from the CCP virus to 94,580, Patel said.

But she said the fantastic vaccine roll-out was making good progress, with 200 jabs being delivered per minute.

As of Thursday, a total of 4,973,248 people across the UK have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, she said.

Simon Veazey and Reuters contributed to this report.
SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- South Korea's leading molecular diagnostics firm Seegene Inc. (KQ096530) said Wednesday that it is expanding its business in Latin America in the new year with a strong focus on its multiplex assay product.

Seegene said it received an approval from Brazil's ANVISA, the National Health Surveillance Agency, in January for the use of its Allplex SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB/RSV Assay, a syndromic test that can detect multiple target genes including COVID-19, influenza and common cold.

Allplex SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB/RSV Assay is a real-time RT PCR assay that can simultaneously screen and differentiate 8 targets, including Flu A, Flu B, RSV A/B and three target genes of COVID-19 (S gene, RdRP gene and N gene) along with two internal control targets in a single tube of reagent.

The assay is known to accurately detect COVID-19 viruses, even with mutated strains, as it targets multiple coronavirus genes.

Accurately distinguishing COVID-19 patients from those with seasonal flu virus has become extremely important, especially at a time when the coronavirus gained extra strength, coupled with a more contagious mutant COVID-19 strain.

An official from Seegene said the multiplex assay will help the Southern Cone better prepare for the influenza season, which in Latin America usually begins in the second quarter.

Seegene believes the official introduction of the COVID-19, influenza, common cold combo assay product in Latin America will definitely help drive up the sales revenue in that region.

The Korean firm saw its sales revenue in the region pop up by more than 40-fold in just a year from KRW 4 billion in 2019 to KRW 161 billion in 2020, largely attributed by the growth in demand of its COVID-19 diagnostic tests.

Also Seegene's Allplex SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB/RSV Assay won the fiercely competitive bidding process in Peru this year, enabling some 24 regions to proceed with the coronavirus / flu coinfection research project.

Making inroads into the country, Seegene's multiplex assay will be used for epidemiological investigation in the first quarter this year.

An official from Seegene said the COVID-19 pandemic has laid the groundworks for molecular diagnostic testing in the region and that the company will continue to work with countries in Latin America to curb the spread of coronavirus.

SOURCE Seegene Inc.
The explorer advanced farm-out activities, planning for future programmes and expanded its footprint in the North Slope region of Alaska

88 Energy Plc ( ) has released a quarterly activities update, for the three months ended December 31, 2020, highlighting its progress at Project Icewine and Project Peregrine.

The Alaska-focused explorer noted the updated evaluation of Project Icewine, integrating the full findings of the Charlie-1 well, along with the start of a new farm-out process aimed at securing an exploration drilling campaign for 2022. An in-house study was meanwhile launched to consider gas monetisation options.

The company also absorbed back interests in the Area A portion of Icewine, to again retain 100% of the asset.

READ: 88 Energy acquires Umiat oil field

At Peregrine, the company struck a farm-out deal in early December. It is a tie-up with a special purpose vehicle, called Alaska Peregrine Development Company (APDC), which will earn 50% of the asset by contributing US$11.5mln to the cost of drilling of the Merlin-1 well.

Permitting and planning is advancing, aiming for a start to a two-well programme as soon as February.

In recent weeks, in the current quarter, the company has expanded its footprint in the nearby area having agreed to acquire the Umiat Oil Field and separately was notified that it will be awarded acreage in an area referred to as Tract 29.
RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Three creative K-12 students across North Carolina will be showered with special prizes and social media attention during National School Choice Week 2021.

The student winners of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina's virtual art contest will be spotlighted on social media during School Choice Week, which takes place Jan. 24-30.

Students from all types of schools in North Carolina were encouraged to participate and create original art on the theme, "Kids Can Change the World." The virtual art contest ran from November 13 through December 9, 2020 and garnered 178 of submissions.

The virtual art contest submissions were judged by DJ Svoboda, a North Carolina based artist who created The Imagifriends of Imagiville based on his experience as a child with autism.

Besides special spotlights on social media, the student winners will each receive $100 and an artist's swag bag.

The virtual art contest is planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2021, which will feature more than 33,000 celebrations across all 50 states.

"The past year has forced us all to become creative  not just in how we hosted an art contest  but in providing health care, conducting commerce, and delivering education. Parents have been expected to take on more of a leadership role in their child's education. This generation of parents is incredibly engaged and empowered to challenge the status quo. They have become more aware of their educational options and are exercising school choice in ways we've never seen before. With more parents embracing school choice, I'm confident North Carolina's leaders will continue to be creative in expanding educational opportunity through school choice," said Allison Guenther, Director of External Affairs at Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina

Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina is a non-profit organization that advocates for quality educational options through parental school choice.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com


The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Sunday, Jan. 17

10:42 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Midland Township location in reference to a 31-year-old woman who took about 30 pills of Tramadol. The woman was transported to the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland by EMS.

1:22 p.m.  Deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash in Greendale Township.

11:20 a.m.  Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Lee Township.

4:57 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Warren Township residence in reference to a verbal argument. Prior to their arrival, the complaint said the suspect, a 32-year-old Midland woman, left the residence and was under the influence of alcohol. The woman was stopped by deputies and arrested for operating while intoxicated.

1:41 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence in reference to a domestic assault between a 31-year-old woman and her 54-year-old mother. The parties were separated, and a report is being sent to the courts.

Saturday, Jan. 16

9:09 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Mills Township residence in reference to a possible threats complaint. Deputies spoke with the complainant, a 20-year-old Mills Township man, who said he received a text message from an unknown number stating he better "watch out." The man said the unknown individual also accused him of cheating on his girlfriend. The man asked to have this incident documented just in case something were to ever happen. Deputies encouraged the man to block the phone number and to call 9-1-1 if the text messages continues.

8:52 p.m.  A 38-year-old Edenville Township man reported an unknown person had struck his $20 mailbox and left the area. The deputy checked the area and did not locate any suspects.

1:23 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Jasper Township residence for a 53-year-old woman reporting a 63-year-old Belding man pointed a rifle at her. The man admitted he had possession of the rifle, but said he did not point it at the woman. The female did not wish to pursue charges. The deputy seized the rifle for evidence and forwarded a report to the Midland County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

12:20 p.m.  A 57-year-old man reported he was being harassed by a 53-year-old man. The 57-year-old was attempting to assess a property in Mills Township when the 53-year-old confronted him and interfered with his duties. The 53-year-old later left without incident. Deputies contacted the 53-year-old and told him not to have contact with the complainant.

11:55 a.m.  A deputy initiated a traffic stop on a 26-year-old Flint man for a speeding violation in Lee Township. The deputy discovered the man had a suspended Michigan driver's license, and he was cited for driving while license suspended and a speeding violation.

7:51 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the area of eastbound U.S.-10 near North Jefferson Road for the report of a two-vehicle traffic crash.

1:06 a.m.  Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Greendale Township.
Update: Starting Monday, the 9:30 p.m. curfew for table service at Massachusetts restaurants and other businesses will be lifted, the Baker administration announced Thursday citing a slight drop in the states COVID-19 positivity rate. The stay at home advisory will lift as well. Read more here.

Gov. Charlie Baker plans to announce Thursday that the curfew for table service at Massachusetts restaurants and liquor sales will be lifted, MassLive has learned.

His office announced two scheduled events for Thursday, a visit to the Gillette Stadium Mass Vaccination Site at noon and a press conference from the State House at 2 p.m. where he will discuss efforts to help small businesses.

Baker introduced the curfew in early November as Massachusetts saw a second surge of COVID-19 cases take shape. Restaurants have been expected to stop offering table service by 9:30 p.m. so they could get customers out by 10 p.m., leaving them open only for takeout and delivery late at night.

The curfew also applies to liquor stores, recreational marijuana sales, gyms, casinos and other businesses.

In December, Baker announced a statewide rollback to Phase 3, Step 1, which forced gyms, museums, casinos and other businesses to operate at 25% capacity. The announcement also closed roller skating rinks, trampoline parks, obstacle courses, laser tag and escape rooms.

Massachusetts health officials continued to see COVID-19 cases rise through Thanksgiving and during the holiday season. While the number of new cases and hospitalizations has decreased slightly, it remains far higher than in August when the case rate dropped.

On Wednesday, the state Department of Public Health reported 3,987 new cases and 78 deaths. The state now has 90,154 active cases.

Related content:


A weather pattern change threatens to dump more than a half foot of snow across the Midwest, lash drought-stricken California with two-year's worth of rain in one day and cause severe thunderstorms in the South.

Beginning on Friday, the first low-pressure system is expected to bring snow from California's Sierra Nevada into parts of the Great Basin and Rockies, according to The Weather Channel.

Into the weekend, the storm could bring more than half a foot of snow from the Rockies into the Midwest.

Meanwhile, the storm system is supposed to bring rain to California where strong winds earlier this week fanned brush fires, toppled trees and left thousands without power.

A weather pattern change (depicted) threatens to dump more than half a foot of snow across the Midwest, lash California with much-needed rain and cause severe thunderstorms in the South

Beginning on Friday, the first low-pressure system is expected to bring snow from California's Sierra Nevada into parts of the Great Basin and Rockies

Into the weekend, the storm could bring more than half a foot of snow from the Rockies into the Midwest

The storm system could be the beginning of several weeks of wet weather for the region, with long-range models suggesting two to three storms marching inland from the Pacific over the next two weeks

Winds that hit the state Tuesday night reached 50mph in many areas. Hurricane-force gusts of around 85mph hit a mountain area in San Diego County and came with about a half-inch of rain in some locations.

Two incoming low-pressure systems are expected to bring even cooler temperatures beginning Thursday night through Saturday and again early next week.

Areas of Southern California could see highs 20 to 40 degrees below last week's highs along with chances of rain ranging from a quarter-inch heading into the weekend to a half-inch by Monday and even an inch in some mountains, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

It could be the beginning of several weeks of wet weather for the region, with long-range models suggesting two to three storms marching inland from the Pacific over the next two weeks.

The area has suffered under a lengthy drought, with 70 per cent of the Southwest characterized as in 'extreme drought'.

Downtown Los Angeles has had only 1.95 inches of rain since the October 1 start of the 'water year,' nearly four inches below normal. Imperial, California averages less than 2.5 inches of rainfall per year, but forecasters are predicting two to three inches of rainfall across that region over the next few days.

The area has suffered under a lengthy drought, with 70 per cent of the Southwest characterized as in 'extreme drought'. Downtown Los Angeles has had only 1.95 inches of rain since the October 1 start of the 'water year,' nearly four inches below normal

The storm system is supposed to bring rain to drought-stricken California where strong winds earlier this week fanned brush fires (pictured in Carlsbad), toppled trees and left thousands without power

Wildfires (one pictured in Sylmar) occurred statewide, including two from gusts fanning long-smoldering embers from one of last summer's massive wildfires in counties south of the San Francisco Bay region

And in Las Vegas, rain has only fallen twice over the past 273 days.

Utilities in California have been dealing with power outages resulting from a combination of wind damage and public safety power shutoffs intended to prevent sparks from downed or damaged equipment from starting fires.

As of Thursday morning, more than 41,000 people are still without power in California.

Pacific Gas & Electric intentionally shut power to around 5,000 customers in the northern and central areas of the state before winds there eased Tuesday.

Power lines must be inspected for signs of damage and repaired before they can be reenergized. PG&E said preliminary reports showed 125 power poles and 125 transformers had been damaged.

The powerful winds howled into Northern California late Monday and moved southward Tuesday under the influence of low-pressure systems.

Wildfires occurred statewide, including two from gusts fanning long-smoldering embers from one of last summer's massive wildfires in counties south of the San Francisco Bay region.

Firefighters on alert due to the predicted conditions kept the fires small.

The weather has been cooling since last week, when some areas had unseasonable highs in the 90s.

In Arizona, NWS forecasters in Flagstaff said Wednesday that a series of stronger and colder storms will produce 'widespread rain and snow' this weekend and early next week.

'Expect some slippery roadways especially as the rain starts given the length of time we've had without rain,' said NWS forecasters in Tucson.

The cold front may also cause severe thunderstorms from Texas to Oklahoma by Sunday.

Forecasters said there's also a chance of snow in the mountains outside Los Angeles and San Diego.

Heavy snow is predicted from the Plains into the Great Lakes, according to ABC News.

The heaviest snow will fall in Des Moines, Twin Cities, Green Bay and west of Chicago.

The cold blast will also cause temperatures to dip below zero in parts of New York and up to New England.
Tamil Nadu: Livelihood of fisherman, biodiversity at risk, yet Adani Port proposal makes it to public hearing stage

January 21,2021 | Source: The Local Indian

Amid resistance from environmental activists, opposition parties and citizens, Thiruvallur district administration has postponed a public hearing on the expansion project by Adani Ports at Kattupalli Port near Chennai. A few days ago, villagers had demanded to change the venue or cancellation of the public hearing. The public hearing for the 'Proposed Revised Master Plan Development of Kattupalli Port' by Adani Ports and SEZ's subsidiary Marine Infrastructure Development Private Ltd (MIDPL) is scheduled Bhagavaan Mahaveer Auditorium in Shree Chandraprabhu Jain College in Minjur of Tiruvallur district.



The auditorium is nearly 20 km away from the village. Several locals, who may be affected by the project, have alleged that keeping the venue far away is a deliberate attempt to discourage people from voicing their opposition. Adani has sought environmental clearance current application for the ?4,000 crore port and harbour project, a part of the ?53,400 crore masterplan. As per Appendix 1V, Clause 7 (III) of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, the public hearing should be held at the site, or in its proximity. The Kattupalli port commenced operations in 2012 and was initially owned by L&T (Larsen and Toubro). Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) acquired it in 2018 with a plan to add 40 million metric ton of new capacity in the next three years. Environmental activists allege that the proposed master plan includes involves the conversion of wetlands into an industrial area. This they say, will have a drastic impact on food security and drinking water security of Chennai. Advertisement This project is set to come up in Kattupalli, Kalanji and Karungali villages, which are a part of a high eroded coastal stretch.



Environmental activist G Sundarrajan told The Logical Indian that the project will impact the environment as it will come upon wetlands and ecologically fragile sand dunes on the Kayyupalli Barrier island near the Pulicat Wildlife Sanctuary.



Ecology Affected



The proposed expansion plan demands the conversion of 2807 acres (1135.95 ha) of wetlands into an industrial area, which also covers the salt pans, mangroves and coastal stretch areas. "The revised master plan will require the reclamation of the sea of up to 796.15 ha. The total area needed for the revised master plan is about 2,472.85 hectares (ha). This includes the existing area of 133.50 ha and additional government land of 761.8 ha, private land to the tune of 781.4 ha," Sundarrajan said adding that acquiring such lands affects the ecology in turn affecting the lives of people.



Livelihood Of Fishermen At Risk



He also said that the proposed plan will affect the lives of fishers living around the Pulicat lake as this project leads to the destruction of ecology that sustains their livelihood. "The people who would lose their livelihood include marginal farmers, inland fish workers, agricultural labourers and cattle-rearers living by the port." The fishermen have submitted a memorandum to the Environment Assessment Committee (EAC) visiting the site, conveying their opposition to the project.



Pollution Problems



He said that heavy vehicles' movement along with diversion of wetlands for industrial purposes like this and degradation of wetlands due to coal and fly ash deposition have added to the reduction of the air quality.
FLINT, MI - A federal court judge has granted preliminary approval of a $641 million settlement of some lawsuits filed by Flint residents against the state of Michigan, city of Flint and others over the citys water crisis.

In a decision issued Thursday, Jan. 21, Judge Judith E. Levy found the settlement thats proposed to be shared by individuals harmed by Flint water and their attorneys meets the minimum requirements of being fair, adequate and reasonable. Her ruling sets in motion a 60-day registration window for those willing to drop their legal claims against four entities - the state, the city, McLaren Regional Medical Center and Rowe Professional Services.

Following the registration period, if the deal is given final court approvals, residents would have an additional 120 days to file the documents necessary to support their claims with the process managed by a court-appointed claims administrator.

Preliminary approval ... is the first step in the multi-stage settlement process, Levy wrote in her opinion and order. Before final approval can be granted, claimants will have an opportunity to evaluate whether it is in their best interests to join the settlement. They will also have an opportunity to object to the settlement and to opt out of the settlement (or, if they are not a class member, to simply reject the settlement) and proceed to litigate their claims individually.

Although some residents, including former Mayor Karen Weaver, have spoken out against the settlement and its terms, saying it provides too little compensation and not enough to adult water crisis victims, the judges decision also starts a process that allows those objections to the deal to be considered by the court and triggers a public hearing to take in comments from those who oppose it.

Those who claim they were harmed by city water can opt out of the settlement and continue with lawsuits in state and federal courts. They can also continue to pursue claims against others who have refused to join the settlement, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and consultants, including Veolia North America, that advised Flint officials during the water crisis.

The Court has heard from some Flint residents who have expressed frustration with aspects of this settlement, Levys opinion and order says. Though the Courts role in responding to these concerns is limited, these impacted individuals may join the settlement and still continue in the political process to seek the justice they have told the Court this settlement does not provide. Those affected will have to decide whether the risks of litigation - and there are many - outweigh the benefit of a certain resolution with the Settling Defendants.

The Court is sympathetic to the complexity of these decisions. Indeed, there may be no amount of money that would fully recognize the harm the residents of Flint have experienced, including their anxiety, fear, distrust, and anger over the events of last seven years. Litigation has its benefits, but also its limitations, and the preliminary approval of this settlement does not affect or preclude other avenues of redress. This litigationhowever it concludesneed not be the final chapter of this remarkable story.

Corey Stern, a New York-based attorney who represents more than 2,600 children and 1,400 adults who have filed water crisis lawsuits in federal court, called the preliminary approval a day of reckoning.

This settlement promises to deliver restitution for the families, and children most especially, whose lives were senselessly and permanently damaged because they were denied their basic right to safe, clean drinking water, Stern said Thursday. If we want to ensure that what happened in Flint never happens again, then the fight cannot end after this settlement. There are still individuals and companies who have faced no consequences for their involvement in creating and perpetuating the water crisis.

Every responsible party needs to be held to account. So while the Courts preliminary approval of the settlement marks a significant step forward, its not enough. There must and will be more justice to come.

Final approval of the settlement is still required by Levy and two state court judges who are presiding over more than 100 cases filed on behalf of thousands of Flint residents.

Levy has said she will take as long as necessary to hear any comments from residents before giving final approval to the deal - even if their testimony takes several days to complete.

The amount of money to be paid to individuals making claims wont be determined until the claims process moves forward and will depend on the number of eligible claims submitted, the category of claims and the evidence of harm tied to each claim.

Attorney fees will be determined by the court at a later date, but prior to the settlement receiving final approval, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has said.

Additional details surrounding the settlement, including compensation categories, eligibility criteria, the claims process and more is available online.

The proposed deal would dismiss the state, city, Rowe and McLaren as well as their employees from pending lawsuits if residents agree to it.

The settlement, which state officials have said is likely the largest in Michigan history, calls for nearly 80 percent of the available funds to be paid to children who were younger than 18 when they were first exposed to Flint River water, which contained elevated levels of lead, bacteria and chlorination byproducts in 2014 and 2015, through the citys municipal water system.

Read more on MLive:

Judge plans to rule on Flint water crisis settlement in next 8 days

Attorney for 4,000 residents tells city of Flint: Turn down water crisis settlement and well demand $500M

Federal judge says she will meet for days if necessary to hear from residents about Flint water settlement
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talonvest Capital, Inc., a boutique self storage and commercial real estate advisor, orchestrated the $29,090,000 refinance of Madison Capital Groups four property portfolio located in Arden, Asheville, Charlotte and Wilmington, North Carolina.



Madison Capital Group engaged Talonvest to secure bridge financing for four recently built, Class A, state-of-the-art, self storage properties. The portfolio includes a mix of 2,355 climate controlled and non-climate-controlled units and totals 255,064 square feet. All four properties benefit from their respective proximity to nearby single-family/multi-family residential housing and retail centers.

Talonvest negotiated the loan with a life insurance company lender and delivered non-recourse, 5-year fixed rate financing with no lease up covenants. Ryan Hanks, CEO of Madison Capital Group, commented We have hired Talonvest over and over because of their proven expertise in structuring debt. They continually deliver results that exceed our expectations.

The Talonvest team members responsible for this assignment included Kim Bishop, Eric Snyder, Mason Brusseau, Tom Sherlock, and Lauren Maehler.

About Talonvest Capital, Inc.

Talonvest Capital is a boutique real estate firm providing advisory services to self storage and commercial real estate investors, owners and developers nationally. The firm utilizes a unique, collaborative team approach, emphasizing the institutional knowledge and expertise gained over the past four decades by its team members, to deliver better capital solutions for its clients.

About Go Store It

Go Store It, the Self-Storage arm of Madison Capital Group, currently owns and manages 1.7 million square feet of storage space in over 15,000 storage units across 32 properties in seven states. An experienced self-storage operator, Go Store It maximizes cash flow and overall value of their investments through aggressive marketing, increasing revenue and managing operating costs. Go Store Its operation team is based in Charleston.

Contact:

Amanda Waite

Talonvest Capital, Inc.

949.648.0337

awaite@talonvest.com
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As Centre is making several announcements on Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) class 10, 12 boards exams 2021, a few fake claims on the board exams are being circulated online. In the latest such fake news, a claim has gone viral on the passing marks of students appearing for the board exams.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) fact-checker has recently dismissed such a claim. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, on January 19 and 15, PIB Fact Check, in a post issued a clarification.

As per the claim on January 19, the PIB said, "In a post on social media, it is being claimed that 2021 of 10th and 12th have been reduced to 23 per cent for passing the board examination now by 33 per cent." PIB Fact Check: This claim is fake. Education Ministry has not made any such announcement. It added that the Ministry has not made any changes to the passing marks for the exams.

On January 15, another PIB post read, "In a news, it is being claimed that only the students who pass the pre-board examinations will be given the admit card for the board examination." PIB clarified, "This claim is fake. CBSE has not made any such announcement." It also added the claim "failing in pre-boards will lead to not issuing of admit cards", is fake.

:-             10  12  2021,         33     23     #PIBFactCheck:-     @EduMinOfIndia        pic.twitter.com/Tp5bnqTBdi  PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) January 19, 2021

As concerns of students and teachers over CBSE Class 10, 12 Board exams 2021 rises, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank this week made several major announcements. Addressing a webinar with students and faculty of the Kendriya Vidyalaya across the country, the Education Minister addressed the queries of the students.

Pokhriyal asserted that the questions of the exams will be based on the reduced syllabus as per the 2020 curriculum that was announced keeping in mind the coronavirus outbreak. The students will only have to study the revised syllabus for their CBSE board exams. The questions will only be asked from that portion, he said.

Speaking on physical classes and reopening of schools, he said that that online classes will remain an option for students who are not able to physically join the school. He stated that physical classes will resume and there will be a 50-50 per cent balance between online classes and attending classes physically. He added that once it is confirmed that it is safe to ask students to attend schools physically only then a decision will be taken to continue online classes.

Some of the issues raised by students with Pokhriyal:

1. Conduct Class 9th and 11th exams online: The Education Minister decided not to respond directly but said that the CBSE and other boards are aware of the hardships faced by the students this academic session due to COVID-19 and this is the reason why exams are based on the reduced syllabus.

2. Online school instead of offline classes: Pokhriyal said that online classes will remain an option for students who are not able to physically join the school.

The Union Education Ministry has already announced that board exams for Classes 10 and 12 will be conducted from May 4 to June 10, even though the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is yet to release an examination date-sheet.

Over 3 lakh students have registered from the Delhi region for the Class 10 CBSE board exam, while over 2.5 lakh candidates have registered for the Class 12 exam. The Delhi government has suggested that schools conduct pre-board exams for Class 12 from March 20 to April 15 and Class 10 pre-board exams from April 1 to April 15.

Pokhriyal interacted with the students of Kendriya Vidyalaya to motivate and encourage them to focus on their academics despite the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the school education. Earlier on various occasions, Union Education Minister interacted with students, teachers, professors, and parents, taking their opinions about how the education sector can go forward with minimum impact on students, post COVID-19 pandemic.

As confusion over the syllabus of JEE Main and NEET continues, the Ministry of Education also clarified on the matter. It stated that the syllabus of JEE Main and NEET will remain unchanged for 2021 and continue as that of the previous year. However, unlike previous years, this year the candidates will have options to answer the questions in JEE and NEET examinations.

Students will be given choice to answer 75 questions (25 questions each in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics) out of 90 questions (30 questions each in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics). In JEE (Main) 2020, there were 75 questions all of which had to be answered by the candidates (25 questions each in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics).

As per an official release, the exact pattern for NEET (UG) 2021 is yet to be announced. However, in view of reduction of the syllabus by some boards across the country, the NEET (UG) 2021 question paper will also have options on the lines of JEE (Main).

The Ministry of Education on Tuesday announced relaxation in admission criteria for NITs and centrally funded technical institutions by waiving off the requirement of 75 per cent marks in class 12. The release stated, "Considering the decision taken for IIT JEE (Advanced) and in line with the decision taken for the last academic year, the Ministry of Education has also decided to waive off the 75 per cent marks (in class 12 exam) eligibility criteria under Joint Entrance Examination (Main) for the next academic year 2021-2022 in respect of NITs, IIITs, SPAs and other CFTIs, whose admissions are based on JEE (Main).

In the wake of COVID-19 outbreak, the Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB) had last year relaxed norms for admissions into National Institute of Technology (NITs) and Centrally Funded Technical Institutions (CFTIs). As per the relaxation, NITs will admit undergraduate students based on their performance in Joint Entrance Exam-Mains (JEE-Mains) and will discount the class 12 board examination marks in the selection process.

Earlier, along with the performance in JEE-Mains, NITs used to demand either 75 per cent mark in the board examinations or a place in the top 20 percentile of their respective boards.
A former chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Attahiru Jega, described as unrealistic and a pipe dream the clamour to return Nigeria to the pre-civil war regional government.

His argument was, however, countered by a former information minister, John Nwodo, with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan also offering a different view on the topic.

Mr Jega, a professor of political science, said Nigeria stands to lose more if the existing 36 states structure are to be dismantled in acquiescence to the longstanding call for restructuring the country.

Mr Jega spoke at the 18th Daily Trust Dialogue held on Thursday in Abuja and themed Restructuring: Why? How?

His argument

Upon independence in 1960, Nigeria ran a regional government with three regions, each headed by a premier  in the western, eastern and northern regions.

The midwest region was later carved out of the western region, largely in a bid to stave off ethnic crisis.

Brewing secessionist agitations made the then federal military government of Yakubu Gowon to divide the four regions into 12 states in 1967, a move made to break the power of the regions.

Subsequent military regimes, punctuated by a devastating civil war and series of coups and counter-coups, increased the number of states till the numbers reached the current 36 in 1996.

However, some Nigerians, especially sociocultural groups, have advocated for a return to the regional model.

Mr Jega said the clamour was ill-informed as existing states would nearly never give up their autonomy, and it might plunge the country into another bout of ethnographic tensions.

In many fundamental respects, creation of states has gone a long way to mitigate real and perceived marginalization of minorities, Mr Jega argued.

Although given Nigerias complex diversity, the more states created, the more their economic viability is threatened; and the more new majorities and minorities emerged, with fresh demands by the new minorities for their own states.

The challenges and tensions that would unfold in any attempt to regroup states into regions or into mega 12 states, given that their people have tasted relative autonomy, could only best be imagined. Relative autonomy once gained, is difficult if not near impossible to voluntarily surrender.

If the major argument against the current 36 state structure is that many seem economically unviable, there are other better ways to address that and make them more viable.

Improved, (or good democratic) governance, with efficient allocation and utilization of resources, with curtailed corruption, and with greater effort at internal revenue generation, would make virtually all the seemingly unviable states, viable and sustainable.

Counter opinion

The immediate past president-general of sociocultural group Ohanaeze NdIgbo, John Nwodo, who was one of the panellists at the event, would have none of this.

He said the 1999 constitution needs to be overhauled because it was drafted by 47 persons appointed by the then head of state (Abdulsalami Abubakar), 40 of whom were military officers.

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Mr Nwodo, who was Mr Abubakars minister of information, said he never saw a copy (of the constitution) and never knew who was printing it, even though his job was to distribute the document to the country.

We should restructure because the constitutional history of Nigeria shows that the only constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria made by all the ethnic groups in Nigeria, were the 1960 and 1963 Constitutions.

The 1999 Constitution overthrew the sovereignty of the regions over their national resources and domestic security unleashing in the process an unprecedented fall of education standards, domestic security, and economic well being.

Mind restructuring is the way to go  Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who chaired the event, also said restructuring the country alone would not help solve its numerous challenges, rather mind restructuring was the way to go.

He noted that Nigerians need to shun mutual suspicion towards one another as some of the challenges faced at the national level are still there at the state and local government levels.

We cannot restructure without solving issues that polarize us: nepotism, ethnic and religious differences and lack of patriotism, he said.

Discussion on restructuring will not help except we restructure our minds. Some of the challenges faced at the national level are still there at the state and local government levels, he added.

Take a look at how local government elections are conducted at the state level. Why is it very difficult for an opposition party to win a chairmanship or councillorship seat in a state, despite the fact that the same party probably secured seats in the State Assembly and National Assembly elections, organised by a federal election management body?

Like every other nation, Nigeria is a project in progress and should confidently discuss her experiences and fashion out solutions to improve on her performance and the well being of all citizens. We should all do our little best in our little corners to overcome the challenges we face, and work hard to reposition our country for a greater and more prosperous tomorrow for our children.
A handmade wicker basket has become the best-selling picnic basket in the world, and it has been bought more than 3,000 times since it launched in 2019.

The $199 Picnic Basket by the Australian brand The Beach People is flying off the shelves globally, thanks to its stylish design and impressive features.

The picnic basket includes a wooden food grade removable lid that doubles as a cheeseboard, an insulated interior to keep your food and drink cool, and a stylish wooden handle so you can carry it to all your summer lunches and beach parties.

A handmade wicker basket has become the best-selling picnic basket (pictured) in the world, and it has been bought more than 3,000 times since it launched in 2019

The $199 Picnic Basket by the Australian brand The Beach People has become the most popular basket (pictured) in the world, thanks to its stylish design and impressive features

It is big enough to fit a bottle of Champagne or wine inside, and weighs close to two kilograms.

The co-founder of The Beach People Victoria Beattie said the company is 'absolutely blown away' by the response to the $199 basket.

'Each time we have the basket available for pre-order, we sell out within 24 hours,' she told FEMAIL.

'We currently have over 3,000 people on the waitlist for the next delivery.'

The picnic basket includes a wooden food grade removable lid that doubles as a cheeseboard and an insulated interior to keep your food and drink cool (pictured in action)

The picnic basket has been lovingly designed in the brand's Australian studio:

'We spent over two years perfecting the design because we knew we wanted the basket to be unlike anything on the market,' Victoria said.

'I think it's so popular because not only does it look beautiful with its unique round shape and engraved lid, but it's so functional too. I take mine everywhere!'

While the picnic basket is currently sold out online, it will be available on the website from Friday 22 January at 10am.

'We spent over two years perfecting the design because we knew we wanted the basket to be unlike anything on the market,' co-founder of The Beach People Victoria said (basket pictured)

More than 100 people who have bought the basket have left glowing five-star reviews, where many have said they love using it as a table and others have said it always gets them compliments.

'Great quality and the cutest picnic basket I could find!' one woman posted.

'I waited a long time to get my hands on that beautiful picnic basket and it didn't disappoint. High quality materials, beautifully designed and it's light in weight!' another added.

Others drew attention to the fact that the basket is as perfect for beach days as it is park picnics.

New South Wales sisters Emma Henderson 35, and Victoria Beattie, 33, from The Beach People, turned the company into a multi-million-dollar business (pictured)

New South Wales sisters Emma Henderson 35, and Victoria Beattie, 33, from The Beach People, turned the company into a multi-million-dollar business after they came up with the idea for a round beach towel several years ago.

'We were sitting on the beach one day when I turned to Victoria and said: "I like the idea of a round beach towel, would you like to do that with me? No one else is doing them",' Emma told Daily Mail Australia.

'I said yes. We decided to call our business The Beach People and never looked back,' Victoria added.

The went at the business plan full throttle - and threw everything into the success of the round towels concept.

'Our husbands' wages, house deposits, we went all in,' Emma said.

'We're so thankful for our incredibly supportive husbands - the experience has been a wild one for sure.'

After designing several of the towels in 2013 and launching The Beach People website, it wasn't long before the idea gained traction.

Within weeks, the girls from iconic bohemian clothing company, Spell, posted a picture of the towel to their 900,000 Instagram followers and wrote: 'This is what I want for Christmas'.

After designing several of the towels in 2013 and launching The Beach People website, it wasn't long before the idea gained traction (their products pictured)

The Beach People's designs were soon swamped with requests, and the sisters expanded into other areas, including bedding, bathroom and accessories.

'At the beginning it was wild,' Emma recalled. 'We sold out of our entire store in the first few weeks and had a six-week waiting list for stock. It took us a few years to catch up on!'

'I still remember when the first person started following us on Instagram that wasn't someone we knew. It was so exciting,' Victoria added.

The Beach People now has fans around the world, the sisters have a multi-million-dollar turnover and they were one of the only Australian brands to have collaborated with Net-a-Porter.

The Beach People was also one of the first Aussie brands to be stocked in Bergdorf Goodman and Selfridges within their first year of trading.

'Being in business is like a never-ending bootcamp that stretches you beyond what you think you can handle and you grow in strength every week of existence,' Victoria explained.

'What used to keep me awake at night now floats by without a concern.'

To find out more about The Beach People, please visit the website here. The new stock of the picnic basket will drop on Friday 22 January at 10am.

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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
In a series of tweets, Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, called ill-considered the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops statement that newly inaugurated President Joseph Biden is committed to certain policies that would advance moral evils a reference to his support for womens reproductive rights.

Today the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued an ill-considered statement on the day of President Bidens inauguration, Cupich tweeted. Aside from the fact that there is seemingly no precedent for doing so, the statement, critical of President Biden, came as a surprise to many bishops, who received it just hours before it was released.

The statement was crafted without the involvement of the Administrative Committee, a collegial consultation that is a normal course for statements that represent and enjoy the considered endorsement of the American bishops, said Cupich, adding that internal institutional failures involved must be addressed.

The statement from the bishops, which contrasted with a blessing from Pope Francis praying for unity, refers to them as not partisan players in our nations politics, but as pastors responsible for the souls of millions of Americans and calls the continued injustice of abortion their preeminent priority.

It notes what it calls Bidens piety and personal story as the first president in 60 years to profess the Catholic faith, but says the new President has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender.

It adds, Of deep concern is the liberty of the Church and the freedom of believers to live according to their consciences.

For the nations bishops, the continued injustice of abortion remains the preeminent priority. reads the statement signed by Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, USCCB president.

Preeminent does not mean only. We have deep concerns about many threats to human life and dignity in our society. But as Pope Francis teaches, we cannot stay silent when nearly a million unborn lives are being cast aside in our country year after year through abortion.

The statement contrasted sharply with one Gomez, who issued a brief one condemning the Jan. 6 attack on the nations Capitol, made to Biden on his election as president that said the American people have spoken in this election and that now is the time for our leaders to come together in a spirit of national unity and to commit themselves to dialogue and compromise for the common good.

During his 2015 visit to Washington, D.C., Francis warned U.S. bishops, whose dioceses and ministries received millions of dollars in stimulus funds from the Trump administration, against a divisive approach on social issues.

Francis has spoken many times against abortion but his own writings highlight many issues, from the need to address climate change to its displacement of millions around the world.

In his blessing issued to Biden on his inauguration day, Francis said in part, At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for farsighted and united responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom, together with unfailing respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those who have no voice.

I likewise ask God, the source of all wisdom and truth, to guide your efforts to foster understanding, reconciliation and peace within the United States and among the nations of the world in order to advance the universal common good, the pope said.

With these sentiments, I willingly invoke upon you and your family and the beloved American people an abundance of blessings.

Related content:

Springfield bishop calls Capitol siege a great tragedy to see

Massachusetts Catholic bishops urge defeat of expanded abortion access legislation

Massachusetts lawmakers expand abortion access, overriding governors veto
GLENN COUNTY, Calif. - Glenn County Public Health recently received 100 doses of a certain batch of the Moderna vaccine.

Half of those have been administered.

The problem?

It might be linked to a higher rate of allergic reactions.

The state has since recommended that all providers should stop giving out this lot to the community until officials know if it is linked to these reactions.

I spoke with Laura Medina of Glenn County Public Health and she reassured me that all is okay for those who received those vaccines.

She said, We know that nobody that received that lot number suffered from a severe allergic reaction within the 15 minutes which was the problem that was identified for that lot.

But are people in the community worried?

Donald Wessels says otherwise.

He commented, You know, each day after vaccination, including my second vaccination, my risk is lower, and my health is improved. So, its been an incredible benefit to all of us and we appreciate that.

Donald works for the Willows Care Center, a place full of vulnerable residents.

But hes confident in this distribution.

We monitor both our staff and we monitor the residents twice a shift, 24-hours a day, Donald said. Weve had no side effects other than a couple of employees that we anticipated with underlying conditions.

The rest of the 50 doses will be on hold until State and Federal officials approve it.

Click here to learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine in your area.
The Ecole de technologie superieure (ETS) is among the first Canadian universities to sign the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which promotes parameters other than the journal impact factor to assess the results of scholarly research. As such, pre-publication versions of articles, data sets, software, protocols, training of researchers, social impacts and policy changes that result from research will now be considered in evaluating the research results of ETS researchers.

"This represents an enormous change in research culture around the world and we are proud to be embracing these principles. We have begun to put in place concrete measures to meet our commitment," said Ghyslain Gagnon, dean of research at the ETS.

The ETS joins 19,013 organizations and individuals from 144 countries, including the Fonds de recherche du Quebec (FRQ) and the three major Canadian granting agencies, who have adopted the DORA as a measure for assessing research.

It should be noted that the use of impact factors has been questioned for several years by many data science experts. Among the criticism is the fact that the impact factor varies greatly from one field to another, that there is some confusion about what can be considered a citation, and that it can be inflated by citations from editorials, letters, or media that are not recognized for the purpose of calculating the impact factor. In addition, prestigious journals with a high impact factor are charging authors increasingly more, which hinders the transmission of knowledge and creates inequities between wealthy and less wealthy researchers.

###

About DORA

The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) recognizes the need to improve how outputs of scholarly research are evaluated in order to go beyond the journal impact factor, which is widely used in academia. The declaration is comprised of a set of recommendations developed by a group of journal editors and publishers at the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology held in San Francisco in 2012. For more information: https:/ / sfdora. org/

About ETS

Ecole de technologie superieure is one of ten constituents of the Universite du Quebec network. It trains engineers and researchers who are recognized for their practical and innovative approach, the development of new technologies and their skill at transferring their knowledge to companies. Almost one-quarter of all engineers in Quebec graduated from ETS, which boasts 11,000 students, including 2,650 at the graduate and post-graduate level. ETS specializes in applied training and research in engineering, and maintains a unique partnership with the business sector and with industry. For more information, please visit etsmtl.ca.
Assay results for 6 core holes reported (12 pending) - best intervals:

Martina: 33.5m at 198.51 g/t Ag, including 17.7m at 316 g/t Ag Ely Central: 9.25m at 233.54 g/t Ag, including 4.5m at 441.71 g/t Ag

Crews mobilizing for Phase II drill program with start up planned in late January

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Silver Sands Resources Corp. (CSE: SAND) (OTCQB: SSRSF) (the "Company" or "Silver Sands") and Mirasol Resources Ltd. (TSXV: MRZ) (OTC Pink: MRZLF) ("Mirasol") are pleased to report results from the initial six diamond drill holes ("DDH"), representing 903 m (32%) of the 2,831 m Phase I exploration program completed in Q4 2020 at the Virginia Silver project ("Virginia"), located in Santa Cruz province, Argentina. The DDH completed at Martina and Ely Central clearly show the potential for significant new mineralization outside the current resource area. An additional twelve DDH for 1,928m have assay results pending and will be reported as results are received.

"We are extremely pleased with the initial 2020 drill results from Virginia," Silver Sands' CEO, Keith Anderson, commented. "These results confirm our strong faith in the project, showing both strike potential for additional silver mineralization in known veins and indications of new mineralization in minimally to untested peripheral veins. We are excited to get the next phase of the fully funded 2021 exploration program underway to further expand the known mineralization and locate new mineralization," he concluded.

Mirasol's Chair and Interim CEO, Patrick Evans, commented, "Virginia is one of Mirasol's flagship projects currently under partnership and located in a prolific silver mining district. The latest drill results confirm the strong potential to build on Virginia's current resource base within the 74,000 ha mining concession, which remains unexplored. With Silver Sands, we intend to methodically explore the entire project to grow its scale."

Summary

Phase I drilling completed at Virginia in late 2020 tested the potential for new high-grade silver zones to expand on the existing NI 43-101 resource1. All the drilling, except for the holes at the Magi target, focused on potential strike extensions along the known trends that host the current resource and also previously untested, but proximal and related, vein structures. Initial results confirm the potential to identify new well-mineralized structures that do not outcrop on surface. Planning for the Phase II program is progressing well and Mirasol's exploration crew is mobilizing to recommence drilling later this month.

_____________________

1 Refer to Amended NI 43-101 technical report filed February 29, 2016: "Amended Technical Report, Virginia Project, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina - Initial Silver Mineral Resource Estimate" prepared by D. Earnest and M. Lechner.

Figure 1: Plan map with the Phase I drill hole locations and conceptual pit shells related to the current resource https://www.silversandscorp.com/images/news/SAND_20200121-fig1.jpeg

Drill Results

Martina Target: MSE-DDH-001

The Martina hole MSE-DDH-001 collared 70m to the southeast of the current conceptual pit outline was located to test a significant structural "jog" in the mineralized Martina structure. The drill hole encountered significant Ag mineralization at a depth of 79.5m downhole returning a wide intersection of 33.5m grading at 198 g/t Ag, with a higher-grade section of 17.7m grading 313 g/t Ag. Additional anomalous Ag intersections were also encountered in this hole and are reported in Table 1.

Figure 2: Cross Section looking North on IP chargeability PDP geophysics. https://www.silversandscorp.com/images/news/SAND_20200121-fig2.jpeg

Ely Central Target: EC-DDH-001

This first hole at Ely Central was collared along the structure within an 850m gap between the Ely South and Ely North conceptual pit shells, some 470m south of the Ely North resource. The hole returned a 12m intercept of 184 g/t Ag, which includes a higher-grade intersection of 4.5m at 442 g/t Ag. This intersection is significant and confirms the potential to grow the current resource base along the Ely structural trend.

Figure 3: Cross Section looking North on IP chargeability PDP geophysics.

https://www.silversandscorp.com/images/news/SAND_20200121-fig3.jpeg

Naty Extension Target: NE-DDH-001

Drill hole NE-DDH-001 at the Naty Extension target intersected a near surface, wide zone of mineralization from top of the hole at 14m down to 42.75m with an overall intercept of 28.75m grading 55 g/t Ag. The highest-grade intersection in this section returned 2.43m grading 143 g/t Ag, with a peak sample of 244 g/t Ag over 0.7m. This result potentially extends the higher-grade Ag mineralization footprint associated with the Naty conceptual pit 250m to the north.

Figure 4: Cross Section looking North on IP chargeability PDP geophysics.

https://www.silversandscorp.com/images/news/SAND_20200121-fig4.jpeg

Magi Target: MG-DDH-001

The two previous drill holes at Magi from Mirasol's 2012 drilling intersected interesting low temperature epithermal veining with anomalous Ag values. For example, hole VG-91, the deepest of the previously drilled holes in this target area, returned 8m of 52 g/t Ag. This drilling suggested that Magi may represent a higher elevation in both the Virginia volcanic stratigraphy and the mineralized epithermal column on the eastern most side of the Virginia vein field. Due to the high and cooler epithermal environment, it is to be expected that higher grade silver values should exist at a greater depth. If mineralized shoots do exist at Magi, they will be 100% preserved and not affected by erosion as were the outcropping ore shoots at Julia, on the western side of the vein field.

The recently completed drill hole at Magi, MG-DDH-001, was located to test for higher grade Ag grades at moderate depths below the historical drilling. This hole successfully intersected veining at approximately 20m below the vertical extent of the historical drill holes returning 6m of 54 g/t Ag, including 1m at 70 g/t Ag, thus supporting the concept that Ag values are increasing at depth. However, it is not yet clear that the actual vein structure intersected in Magi hole MG-DDH-001 is the down dip extension of the historical intersections or a parallel blind structure located further to the west. A scissor hole, drilled from the east side of the exposed structure, is planned for the Phase II program to verify the geology. Further drilling at Magi is warranted based on the results of this Phase I drilling.

Figure 5: Cross Section looking North on IP resistivity PDP geophysics

https://www.silversandscorp.com/images/news/SAND_20200121-fig5.jpeg

Margarita Target: MR-DDH-001

A similar situation may potentially exist at the Margarita prospect where it is uncertain if the structure intersected in drill hole MR-DDH-001 is a parallel blind structure located further to the west of the targeted outcropping structure exposed on surface. The intersected vein returned anomalous Ag in the range of 10 - 32 g/t Ag over a width of 3.5m, but these grades are not reflective of the strong Ag values returned from outcrop channel samples of this vein, including peak values of 1,705, 2,020 and 3,170 g/t Ag (see Mirasol's February 16, 2010 News Release). This suggests that the Margarita structure target dips to the east-northeast and would not have been intersected in the current Margarita hole MR-DDH-001. A scissor hole is also planned in the Phase II drill program to test this concept.

Roxanne Target: RO-DDH-001

Finally, a single initial drill hole on the Roxane vein, a possible splay off the main Ely trend, intersects the target structure and with a "cloud" of anomalous Ag returning 17m of 12 g/t with a peak result of 27 g/t Ag associated with strongly silicified phreatic and crackle breccias. This cloud of Ag could potentially be sourced from an anomalous halo related to a proximal undiscovered mineralized structure. Further drilling is planned to prospect for the source to multiple high grade surface values of over 2,000 g/t Ag hosted in large, locally derived and well aligned float boulders (see Mirasol's September 15, 2010 News Release).

Table 1: Virginia Initial Phase I Assay Table

Hole ID From To Interval (m)1 Ag g/t2 Ag x Interval3 Cut-off4 MSE-DDH-001 36.00 37.00 1.00 30.23 30 30 g/t

68.00 71.00 3.00 36.09 108 30 g/t

72.60 73.00 0.40 35.93 14 30 g/t

74.60 75.60 1.00 37.70 38 30 g/t

79.50 113.00 33.50 198.51 6,650 30 g/t Including 83.30 83.80 0.50 92.79 46 63 g/t and 85.80 103.50 17.70 316.86 5,608 63 g/t and 105.00 109.00 4.00 82.37 329 63 g/t and 111.00 113.00 2.00 65.34 131 63 g/t

115.00 130.00 15.00 40.91 614 30 g/t

133.00 134.00 1.00 30.94 31 30 g/t EC-DDH-001 21.20 21.70 0.50 35.61 18 30 g/t

92.75 102.00 9.25 233.54 2,160 30 g/t Including 94.55 99.05 4.50 441.71 1,988 63 g/t

103.00 105.00 2.00 32.77 66 30 g/t NE-DDH-001 14.00 42.75 28.75 51.45 1,479 30 g/t Including 15.00 15.50 0.50 70.20 35 63 g/t and 17.70 18.70 1.00 64.28 64 63 g/t and 27.00 28.00 1.00 63.95 64 63 g/t and 40.00 41.10 1.10 250.06 275 63 g/t and 41.90 42.45 0.55 65.47 36 63 g/t MG-DDH-001 152.00 158.00 6.00 53.51 321 30 g/t Including 156.00 157.00 1.00 70.08 70 63 g/t MR-DDH-001 43.70 44.00 0.30 32.52 10 30 g/t RO-DDH-001 no interval above cut off

30 g/t

Notes:

1 Reported interval length are down hole widths and not true widths.

2 Reported intervals are stated at a cut-off grade of 30 g/t and 63 g/t Ag, but may include up to a maximum of 1m individual section below cut-off grade.

3 Ag Gram Meter interval is calculated using: Ag (g/t) x down hole intersection length (m).

4 The higher-grade intervals were selected using the 63 g/t cut-off grade used in the NI 43-101 resource estimate.

About Silver Sands Resources Corp.

Silver Sands is a well-financed, Canada-based company engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in mining-friendly jurisdictions. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit. Its key asset is the Virginia silver project, located in the mining-friendly Santa Cruz state of Argentina.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Silver Sands Resources Corp.

Keith Anderson

Chief Executive Officer, Director

For further information, please contact:

Keith Anderson

Chief Executive Officer, Director (604) 786-7774

About Mirasol Resources Ltd

Mirasol is a well-funded exploration company focused in Chile and Argentina. Mirasol has six partner-funded projects, two with Newcrest Mining Ltd (Chile), and one each with First Quantum Minerals (Chile), Mine Discovery Fund (Chile), Mineria Activa (Chile) and Silver Sands Resources (Argentina). Mirasol is currently self-funding exploration at two projects, Inca Gold (Chile) and Sacha Marcelina (Argentina).

For further information, contact:

Patrick Evans, Chair and Interim CEO

or

Jonathan Rosset, VP Corporate Development

Tel: +1 (604) 602-9989

Email: contact@mirasolresources.com

Website: www.mirasolresources.com

Qualified Person Statement: Silver Sand's disclosure of technical and scientific information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P.Geo.(BC)., a director of the Company, who serves as a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

QAQC: Silver Sands applies industry standard exploration sampling methodologies and techniques. All geochemical rock and drill samples are collected under the supervision of the company's geologists in accordance with industry practice. Geochemical assays are obtained and reported under a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program. Samples are dispatched to an ISO 9001:2008 accredited laboratory in Argentina for analysis. Assay results from channel, trench, and drill core samples may be higher, lower or similar to results obtained from surface samples due to surficial oxidation and enrichment processes or due to natural geological grade variations in the primary mineralization.

Forward Looking Statements: The information in this news release contains forward looking statements that are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such differences include: changes in world commodity markets, equity markets, costs and supply of materials relevant to the mining industry, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the mining industry and to policies linked to pandemics, social and environmental related matters. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding future exploration programs, operation plans, geological interpretations, mineral tenure issues and mineral recovery processes. Although we believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Silver Sands disclaims any obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72468
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Partly cloudy early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain this afternoon. High 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low 42F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Kamala Harris made history after being sworn-in as the vice president of the United States on January 20. She is not only the first woman to hold the position, but also the first of Indian-American and African-American descent to hold the post.

Harriss climb to one of the most powerful political positions in the world has given women and girls across the world hope of breaking the glass ceiling in their own right.

However, over many decades in the modern world, women have led countries including in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Germany and other countries. At the same time, there have been several countries like China, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Russia and Italy that have never had a woman head of state. The United States too has never seen a woman president. While Democrats were hopeful of changing that in 2016 with Hillary Clinton, Trump came to power.

Also read: Kamala Harris And Her Family: Get To Know The Second Family Of The US

In light of Harris becoming the first woman vice-president of the US, heres a look at eight prominent women heads of state:

Jacinda Ardern

The 40th prime minister of New Zealand, Ardern has been in the news for all good reasons during the months of the Covid-19 pandemic. She received praises from all quarters for her leadership during the pandemic, managing to keep the number of infections in her country in check and declaring the country Covid free as even the most powerful countries in the world were trying to come to terms with the virus. It must be noted that the country has had many female prime ministers with Dame Jennifer Mary Shipley being the first.

Jacinda Ardern in a file photo.

Tsai Ing-wen

Tsai Ing-wen made history in 2016 when she was elected Taiwans first female president. She is currently serving office and is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party. She made it to the Forbes list of the worlds most powerful women and was also praised for her strategy to fight Covid-19.

Angela Merkel

Merkel has been the Chancellor of Germany since 2005 and was the first woman to hold the post. Merkel has also served as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) from 2000 to 2018. Merkel has been topping the Forbes list of the world's most powerful women since 2006, and was on top even in 2020.

Sheikh Hasina

Angela Merkel in a file photo.

Sheikh Hasina is the incumbent prime minister of Bangladesh and has held the post since 2009, and has served in the post multiple times. Her first stint as prime minister was 1996 to 2001. She came to power for the second time in 2009 and has been in power since, making her the longest serving prime minister of the country.

Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi was the first and only female prime minister of India. Knowns as the Iron Lady of India, Gandhi served as prime minister from January 1966 to March 1977 and again from January 1980 to 1984, when she was assassinated. She wasnt always looked at as a powerful leader  with socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia calling her a goongi goodiya (dumb doll) during the first year of her tenure. However, things changed during her political career and she was often criticised for her harsh decisions. It was during her tenure that she proclaimed The Emergency during 1975 to 1977, which is looked at as few of the darkest days of Indian Democracy.

Benazir Bhutto

File photo of Indira Gandhi.

Benazir Bhutto served as Pakistans prime minister from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996. She was the first woman leader to become head of state in a Muslim majority nation. A member of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Bhutto was assassinated in December 2007. Bhutto was in many ways connected to India, being a friend of the Nehru-Gandhis.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Suu Kyi is the first and incumbent state counsellor of Myanmar and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. While she played a pivotal role in bringing partial democracy to her country from a military junta, her handling of the Rohingya crisis has been her fall from grace. She has been criticised internationally for not standing up to the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in the country. She has an old India connection as she studied in New Delhis Jesus and Mary College and Lady Shri Ram College and was also the Burmese Ambassador to India in 1960.

Margaret Thatcher

Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Recently brought back to public memory with her portrayal in Netflix TV series The Crown, Margaret Thatcher was the first woman to hold the office of prime minister in Britain. She served as prime minister 1979 to 1990. Her domestic and foreign policies during her time at Downing Street were harshly criticised. She faced push back from the members of her own party and was forced to resign in 1990.
Pleas in Supreme Court seek Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to kin of those who died of COVID-19

Apprehension of death due to COVID-19 not a ground for anticipatory bail: Supreme Court

SC notice to makers of web series Mirzapur

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: The Supreme Court has issued notices to the makers of web series Mirzapur and Amazon Prime Video.

A plea has been filed stating that the serial portrays Mirzapur in very poor light. The court issued notices and sought a response from the respondents.

An FIR also had been lodged against Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akthar and Bhaumik Gondaliya at theKotwali police station of Mirzapur.

Tandav controversy: Centre seeks explanation from Amazon Prime Video

The complainant Arvind Chaturvedi alleged that the web series has shown abusive content and illicit relations.

Meanwhile, an FIR was lodged in Lucknow against the makers of web series ''Tandav'' and Amazon''s India head of original content for allegedly depicting Hindu gods in a manner hurtful to religious sentiments of the people.

The FIR against Aparna Purohit, the head of Amazon''s India head of original content, director of the series Ali Abbas, producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki, and an unknown person was lodged late on Sunday night by senior Sub Inspector Amar Nath Yadav at the Hazratganj Kotwali police station here.

The film starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Gauhar Khan and Kritika Kamra, premiered on the streaming platform on Friday.

According to the FIR, following public outrage expressed on social media platforms, the web series was viewed and it was found in the 17th minute of the first episode of the series that Hindu gods and goddesses have been presented in an "undignified manner'' and shown using language which is hurtful to religious sentiments.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

Dialogues in the web series can incite caste anger, the FIR alleged.

It also alleged that the person occupying the high post of Prime Minister of India has been portrayed in a very belittling manner besides there are scenes in which castes have been presented as low and high and women in an insulting manner.
Wintermute, an algorithmic liquidity provider for digital assets, today announced the close of a $20M Series B round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners (Lightspeed) with participation from Pantera Capital. Jeremy Liew, Partner at Lightspeed, will join Wintermutes Board of Directors.

Other investors joining the round include Sino Global Capital, Kenetic Capital, Rockaway Blockchain Fund, Hack VC, DeFi Alliance, and Avon Ventures, a venture capital fund affiliated with FMR LLC, the parent company of Fidelity Investments. All existing investors, including Blockchain.com Ventures, also participated.

Wintermute has grown almost 25x since Lightspeed led the companys Series A round just six months ago. That rarely happens! We are excited to continue supporting Wintermute and their ambitious expansion plans going forward, says Jeremy Liew, Partner at Lightspeed.

As crypto markets grow in size and complexity, and as decentralized exchanges begin to more directly connect market makers and users, the space will require liquidity providers that can evolve in tandem and keep markets efficient, says Joey Krug, Co-CIO of Pantera Capital. We believe that Wintermutes agile and sophisticated approach to market making will be key to unlocking liquid and efficient markets for this growing financial system.

Wintermute is a crypto-native market maker, focused on building a decentralized financial system by creating efficient, liquid markets with transparent prices. Since the companys launch in 2017, the team has become one of the largest liquidity providers in crypto markets, covering thousands of pairs across almost 50 crypto exchanges and trading platforms on CeFi, DeFi and OTC.

The company has seen tremendous growth in 2020 growing at a 60% monthly rate and reaching $30B monthly trading volume by December. Wintermute also provided liquidity for some of the most prominent projects in 2020 and is planning to support many more in 2021.

The team has big growth plans for 2021. Wintermute is currently piloting its own RFQ platform with beta counterparties and is planning to launch it for institutional players within the first quarter. Since we have some of the most competitive pricing in the market, we were literally pulled into this business by our counterparties and partners that we work with. The algorithms we use for OTC are the same we use for our proprietary trading, so we have an advantage when it comes to pricing, says Evgeny Gaevoy, CEO of Wintermute. We take no fees on our OTC activities so counterparties can eliminate intermediaries and cut fees by trading with us directly. With the launch of RFQ well be able to offer OTC trades at a greater scale.

Wintermute is also looking to scale the derivatives business. We have historically focused on spot, but coming from traditional HFTs like Optiver, we have all the expertise in house to provide liquidity in derivatives markets across perpetuals, futures and options, says Gaevoy.

While most of the team is based in London, Wintermute has always operated globally across venues in Asia, US and Europe. The firm believes that with the launch of its RFQ and derivatives businesses, it will also expand its physical presence into Asia. Wintermute plans to open its first international office in Singapore in the first quarter of 2021.

This latest round of funding comes on the heels of the Series A round the company closed in June 2020, led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and the institutional seed funding round led by Blockchain.com Ventures in January 2020. For more information on Wintermute, visit: www.wintermute.com.

About Wintermute

Wintermute is a global algorithmic liquidity provider for digital assets. Wintermutes mission is to create liquid, efficient and transparent markets for institutional and retail investors across all vetted trading platforms and its own RFQ platform. Founded and managed by experienced traders and engineers from traditional financial markets, Wintermute brings the best practices of algorithmic and high-frequency trading into digital asset markets. www.wintermute.com

About Lightspeed Venture Partners

Lightspeed Venture Partners is a multi-stage venture capital firm focused on accelerating disruptive innovations and trends in the Enterprise, Consumer, and Health sectors. Over the past two decades, the Lightspeed team has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 400 companies globally, including Snap, Affirm, Nutanix, AppDynamics, MuleSoft, OYO, Guardant, StitchFix, and GrubHub. Lightspeed and its affiliates currently manage $10.5B across the global Lightspeed platform, with investment professionals and advisors in Silicon Valley, Israel, India, China, Southeast Asia and Europe. www.lsvp.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005071/en/

A folk tale turns existential in You Will Die at Twenty, the rapturous debut feature by the Sudanese filmmaker Amjad Abu Alala. In a sun-dappled village by the Nile, a holy sheikh tells Sakina (Islam Mubarak) that her newborn son, Muzamil, will live only two decades.

The prophecy becomes too heavy a cross for their family to bear: Muzamils father soon abandons them, admitting softly to Sakina that he isnt as strong as her. Shes left to raise their son alone, condemned to misery by her unshakable belief. Dressed in all black even while Muzamil is alive, she counts down his days on the walls of their hut. Has sadness become a habit? a fellow villager asks her.
Danny Zaragoza / Laredo Morning Times

A suspected child molester wanted in North Carolina was arrested at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The case unfolded on Sunday, when CBP officers processing a bus referred a passenger, Michael James Denny, to secondary inspection.
The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has drummed support for herders in Oyo State, noting that they have the constitutional right to live in any part of the country.

Mr Makinde, speaking during a live broadcast on Wednesday, said the real enemies of the state are bandits and kidnappers. He said the herders are only seeking pasture for their flock.

The governor further said that issuance of ultimatum on herders to vacate any place is an assault on them and against the constitutional right that guarantees freedom of movement.

We cannot overlook the fact that there have indeed been instances that cause concern. The fragile peace between the herdsmen and farmers in Oke-Ogun is being threatened, he said.

Individuals who are not authorised are going around chasing people from their homes and causing mayhem. This assault on residents of Oyo state is not the way to further the Yoruba cause.

Let me state that we shall not sit back and watch anyone make any law-abiding resident of Oyo State feel unsafe in their homes, farms, or business places. We are aware of some people circulating flyers and giving people ultimatums to leave their land. This is totally unacceptable and will not be condoned.

The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), which I swore to defend and protect, guarantees freedom of movement in Section 41(1), such that citizens are free to reside in any part of the country without fear. We are determined to preserve that right in Oyo state.

Ondos ultimatum

Mr Makindes warning against issuing an ultimatum to herders in Oyo is coming days after the Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, asked herders to vacate all forests in the state.

For Mr Akeredolu, the decision was right in order to tackle security challenges that have been rocking the state for years.

Despite criticism from the presidency, Mr Akeredolu insisted that the ultimatum stands.

Meanwhile, the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, said Mr Akeredolu has the rights under the Nigerian constitution to oust illegal residents in the states forests.

He said it is the duty of the governor as the chief security officer of the state to protect the lives and property of residents in the state.

Expectedly, the Ondo government has maintained that no amount of threats can stop the state government from getting rid of bad elements.

Impending clash

Meanwhile, some youth led by Sunday Igboho, a Yoruba nation agitator in Oyo State, have given an ultimatum to herders in the Ibarapa axis of the state to leave.

Mr Igboho issued a seven-day quit notice to members of the Fulani community called Igangan in the state.

He claimed that the herders in the town were responsible for the recent rise in cases of insecurity in the state.

I cannot continue to fold my arms for herders killing my people. We hereby gave them seven days to leave this place, he said in a widely circulated video.

Mr Igbohos ultimatum to the herders would lapse on Friday.

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But Saliu Abdulkadir, the Sarkin Fulani in the state, told PREMIUM TIMES his people are not responsible for killings and kidnappings as they are also sometimes victims.
Filming is due to begin in spring on the second season of the hit Netflix show Bridgerton.

Set in London in the 1800's, it proved a major ratings hit when it was released over Christmas.

The series action was told through the eyes of a mysterious character called Lady Whistledown, who was voiced by iconic actor Julie Andrews. Her newsletter was read by all the characters in the Regency-era drama to see what was happening in high society.

Fittingly, Netflix announced the second series as though it was coming from Lady Whistledown herself.

Read More

I do hope you have stored a bottle of ratafia for this most delightful occasion, she said.

The incomparable cast of Bridgerton will return to production in the Spring of 2021.

This author has been reliably informed that Lord Anthony Bridgerton intends to dominate the social season. I will have my pen ready to report on any and all of his romantic activities.

Of course she also had advice for eager viewers excited to know more dirty details about the second season.

Gentle reader, before you set the comments section alight with requests for more sordid details, know that I am disinclined to report on the particulars at this time, she said.

Patience, after all, is a virtue.

Bridgerton debuted on Netflix on Christmas day to much public success, with the streaming company projecting the shows viewing figures to have hit 63m households within just 28 days.

Irish actress Nicola Coughlan portrays Penelope Featherington on the show, and has already excitedly shared the news on Twitter.

I may have already been in costume fittings for season two and can guarantee you are absolutely not ready, she said.

The Galway actress was first cast for the role back in 2019, only a year after her breakthrough in the hit Channel 4 show, Derry Girls.

Bridgerton is based on a series of best selling novels from author Julie Pottinger - who uses the pseudonym Julia Quinn.

Its speculated that the second season will focus on the character Kate Sheffield from the novels, who has yet to make an appearance on the show.

When asked on Twitter whos set to portray Kate next season, Coughlan responded: I dont know yet! But Im so excited to meet her!!
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BOZEMAN, Montana (January 19, 2021) - A four-year study recently published in Ecology and Evolution concludes that the fungal disease, white-nose syndrome, poses a severe threat to many western North American bats.

Since it was first detected in 2006, white-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in eastern and central North America. The spread of the fungal pathogen that causes white-nose syndrome in hibernating bats has reached several western U.S. states, mostly likely through bat-to-bat spread, and is presently threatening western species.

Bats with white-nose syndrome have fungus growing on their nose and wings, as the name implies, but the fungal infection also triggers a higher frequency of arousals from hibernation. Each arousal involves an increase in body temperature from as low as near freezing (when bats use torpor) to an active mammalian body temperature (~98?F or 38?C), which uses a significant amount of energy. Bats have limited fat stored for the winter, and if this is used up before the end of winter, death by starvation occurs.

The researchers' aim was to provide managers with information on which western bat species may suffer high mortality and extinction risk if infected with the disease. To do so they combined an unprecedented field data collection effort with a mechanistic model that explains how energy is consumed during hibernation and how the causal fungus impacts this energy consumption. By comparing their new knowledge of how long bats infected with white-nose syndrome could hibernate against the duration of winter that they would need to hibernate with the disease, the authors predicted survival outcomes for each species. If a bat did not have sufficient energy to live beyond the duration of winter the simulation recorded a mortality.

Three years of intensive fieldwork resulted in 946 bat captures (all released after measuring). Bat energetic measurements paired with hibernaculum environmental data were gathered for nine species that were sampled at eight sites scattered throughout the West (see Figure A). The researchers then assessed how the arrival of white-nose syndrome might affect hibernation energy use, and subsequently each species' ability to survive hibernation with the disease. Combining data on the host, the environment they select for hibernation, and how the pathogen grows at different temperature and humidity conditions the authors simulated how many days infected populations could hibernate under field conditions.

The study revealed there are white-nose syndrome threats to all the small Myotis species examined, including M. ciliolabrum (western small-footed bat), M. evotis (long-eared bat), M. lucifugus (little brown bat), M. thysanodes (fringed myotis), and M. volans (long-legged bat), as well as Perimyotis subflavus (tricolored bat). In comparison, larger species like M. velifer (cave bat), Corynorhinus townsendii (Townsend's big-eared bat) and Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat) are predicted to be less impacted. Further analysis showed body mass (and relatedly body-fat as these attributes are correlated) as well as hibernaculum water vapor deficit (i.e. relative humidity) explained over half the variation observed in bat survival.

Dr. Catherine Haase, now Assistant Professor of Biology at Austin Peay State University and the study's lead author said: "Our results indicate the need to take a holistic view on conservation, as it is not just one thing that determines survival from white-nose syndrome, but rather the combination of bat, environment, and disease variables."

All of the western bat species studied were insectivores, meaning they prey on insects, including those that are pests to agricultural crops. In addition to providing valuable ecosystem services, they are incredibly fascinating species, from their ability to echolocate to their unique immune system.

Dr. Sarah Olson, Wildlife Conservation Society Health Program co-author and project Principle Investigator said: "This study demonstrates the value of collecting baseline data to pre-emptively understand a threat posed by a wildlife disease, like white-nose syndrome, to western bats, so that more proactive conservation measures can be taken to protect these species. Here, an all hands on deck approach is needed. Western states can take steps now to put protections in place before anticipated severe declines are observed, like reducing habitat loss and restricting access to hibernacula, as well as investing in research and surveillance."

###

The study was funded by an award from the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program(SERDP;) - the Department of Defense's environmental science and technology program that is executed in partnership with the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. The research involved a consortium of partners including Texas Tech University, Montana State University, Massey University in New Zealand, Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Conservation Science Partners and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

About the WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources. WCS was the first conservation organization with a dedicated team of wildlife veterinarians and other health professionals deployed around the world. The WCS Health Program is central to delivering on our mission to save wildlife and wild places around the globe. Wildlife, livestock, and human diseases will likely have a significant impact on the future development of sustainable land uses, protected areas, transboundary natural resource management, other biodiversity conservation approaches, and livelihood opportunities in many of the landscapes and seascapes where we work. Our work at the interface of wildlife, domestic animal, and human health has demonstrated that a One Health approach can build new constituencies for conservation and strengthen existing ones, while mitigating a key threat to conservation. Today, WCS Health Programs are globally recognized for excellence in zoological and wildlife medicine, pathology, and global health conservation initiatives. Visit: newsroom.wcs.org Follow: @WCSNewsroom. For more information: 347-840-1242.

About Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University (APSU; apsu.edu) is a moderately-sized state university located in middle Tennessee. APSU serves a large population of diverse students with several degree options at the associates, bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. Many of these degrees can be pursued on campus and online. APSU is home to the state's only Center of Excellence for Field Biology, which enables students to work with professional field biologists in the study of mammals, insects, fish, plants and more.

About WCS Canada Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Canada was incorporated as a conservation organization in Canada in 2004. The mission of WCS Canada is to conserve wildlife and wild places by understanding the issues, developing science-based solutions, and working with others to carry out conservation actions across Canada. WCS Canada is distinguished from other environmental organizations through their role in generating science through field and applied research, and by using results to encourage collaboration among scientific communities, organizations and policy makers to achieve conservation results.

About TTU

A new era of excellence is dawning at Texas Tech University as it stands on the cusp of being one of the nation's premier research institutions. Research and enrollment numbers are at record levels, which cement Texas Tech's commitment to attracting and retaining quality students. In fall 2020, the university achieved a goal more than a decade in the making, reaching a total student population of more than 40,000. In 2018, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education again placed Texas Tech among its top doctoral universities in the nation in the "Very High Research Activity" category. Texas Tech is one of 94 public institutions nationally and 131 overall to achieve this prestigious recognition. Quality students need top-notch faculty. Texas Tech is home to a diverse, highly revered pool of educators who excel in teaching, research and service. The university strives to foster an environment that celebrates student accomplishment above all else. Texas Tech is large enough to provide the best in facilities and academics but prides itself on being able to focus on each student individually.

The momentum for excellence at Texas Tech has never been greater.

About MSU

Montana State University is a public university located in Bozeman, Montana. It was founded in 1893 as the state's land-grant institution and prides itself on its tripartite mission of excellence in teaching and learning, research and creative projects and outreach and service. With an enrollment of more than 15,600 students, MSU is the largest university in the state. It is also the largest research university in Montana and the largest research and development entity of any kind in Montana, with annual research expenditures typically exceeding $100 million annually. Through its colleges, MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in more than 50 fields, master's degrees in more than 40 fields, and doctoral degrees in approximately 20 fields. To learn more, visit http://www. montana. edu/ .

About Massey U

Massey University is New Zealand's largest and most influential educational institution with around 32,500 students. It calls itself New Zealand's defining university because its areas of specialized teaching and world-class research reflect what New Zealand and New Zealanders are best known for - agrifood innovation and the associated disciplines such as public health, animal welfare, farming and food technology, design, creative arts, social sciences, and business. It has five colleges (faculties), around 3000 full-time equivalent staff and the nation's largest university-based distance education program, allowing students to study from anywhere in the world.

About CSP

Conservation Science Partners (CSP; csp-inc.org) is a nonprofit scientific collective established to meet the analytical and research needs of diverse stakeholders in conservation outcomes on public and private lands. The mission of CSP is to apply human ingenuity to the preservation of species, populations, and ecosystems using scientific principles, innovative approaches, and lasting partnerships with conservation practitioners. CSP connects the best minds in conservation science to solve environmental problems in a comprehensive, flexible, and service-oriented manner. The core capabilities of CSP span a wide spectrum of geospatial and statistical techniques, from custom ecological and environmental data development (GIS and remote sensing based) to advanced analyses of landscape patterns and changes at multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Aragon Research releases its 2021 Globe for Digital Transaction Management. The organizations that have deployed DTM continue to outperform their competitors.

Aragon Research identifies 21 major providers in its Globe for Digital Transaction Management (DTM), 2021, published today.

COVID-19 produced significant pressure on enterprises to accelerate their digital transformation plans, as paper can no longer be relied upon as a safe medium for transactions. On top of this, the shift towards a fully digital enterprise is underway, and has accelerated during the widespread move to remote work. Together, these factors have made digital transaction management a must-have for enterprises.

DTM was picking up before the pandemic, but now, the sense of urgency to migrate away from paper is even more evident. Enterprises that have eliminated paper have seen surges in productivity and revenue. Still, as we enter 2021, Aragon estimates that less than 45% of all document processes are fully digital.

The organizations that have deployed DTM continue to outperform their competitors, says Aragon CEO Jim Lundy. Offering a simplified customer journey and employee transactions is a must, and DTM contributes to that goal.

Digital transaction management platform offerings range from basic to advanced DTM. The key things to look for in each include:

Basic DTM offering:



Core eSignature capabilities

Ability to assemble a document or a series of documents for signature

Document routing and workflow automation

Basic and advanced analytics based on organizational level

Integration with leading content management and other line of business (LOB) platforms

and systems



Mobile apps (remote, in-person and offline signing, managing)

Advanced DTM offering:

Asset management, including transaction management, and trust services

Workflow and content automation (WCA)

Clickwrapthis is an emerging subset of DTM, and Aragon expects it to grow significantly

over the next five years.

The providers evaluated in this Globe report include: Adobe, airSlate, AssureSign, Citrix, Conga, DocuSign, eOriginal, HelloSign, InfoCert, Mitratech, Namirial, Nintex, OneSpan, PactSafe, PandaDoc, Sertifi, SignEasy, Smart Communications, Topaz, Wacom, and ZorroSign.

Enterprises should use this report to evaluate DTM providers. Aragon clients can access the Aragon Research Globe for Digital Transaction Management, 2021, in the AIN client community or on aragonresearch.com.

About Aragon Research

Aragon Research delivers high-impact visual research, consulting, and advisory services to provide enterprises the insight they need to make better technology and strategy decisions. Aragon Research serves business and IT leaders and has a proven team of veteran analysts. For more information, visit https://www.aragonresearch.com/.


A second migrant caravan is poised to depart Honduras on Monday just days after security forces in Guatemala stopped the first caravan of 2021 during a series of violent clashes in which asylum seekers were met with tear gas and batons.

Guatemalan television network Televisiete reports that at least 3,000 migrants will plan to meet in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula a part of an attempt to cross into Guatemala and enter Mexico before proceeding to the southern United States border despite calls from the Biden administration asking them to reconsider.

Honduran Facebook users urged countrymen looking to cash in on the American Dream to meet Sunday at the San Pedro Sula terminal, where many other caravans departed from in the past, set march Monday before sunrise.

SEE VIDEO BELOW

Thousands of Hondurans who formed the first migrant caravan of 2021 block a road in Vado Hondo, Guatemala, on Monday. By Tuesday most of the 8,000 migrants has returned to Honduras. But a second caravan is scheduled to depart the Central American nation next Monday

Bryan, a Honduran who last week joined a caravan of 8,000 migrants that crossed into Guatemala in hopes of entering Mexico and continuing the journey to the southern United States border, was returned to his home in the Honduran city of Copan on Wednesday. Guatemalan television network Televisiete reported that at least 3,500 Hondurans are expected to form the second caravan of 2021 next Monday

Honduran migrants react after Guatemalan security forces cleared a road where they have been camping after authorities halted their trek to the United States. A second caravan of Hondurans is set to depart next Monday before dawn in another attempt to reach the U.S. and seek asylum from President Joe Biden's administration

Guatemalan immigration authorities told Televisiete that as many as 5,300 migrants had gone back to Honduras after they were bused to the El Florido border crossing Tuesday following days of confrontations after some of the 8,000 Hondurans migrants broke past a human barricade formed by Guatemalan soldiers and police officers on a highway before their trek to the Mexican border was denied.

Guatemalan immigration officials have said that the rest of the migrants who did not return to Honduras have spread out across the country.

At least 21 Hondurans tested positive for COVID-19 and were placed under quarantine, according to Guatemala health officials. Only when they test negative for the virus will be deported to Honduras.

A reporter from Televisiete noted that some Guatemalan residents opened their homes to Honduran migrants and allowed them to camp out in their terraces as they continued to weigh their options.

A Facebook post by a user in Honduras announced the departure of a second migrant caravan which has been confirmed by Guatemalan television network Televisiete

A member of the Guatemalan army gives a face mask to a Honduran migrant who had been detained at a police checkpoint before being sent by bus to the El Florido border crossing between Guatemala and Honduras on Wednesday. A second migrant caravan reportedly will depart from Honduras on Monday

Detained Honduran migrants wait at a police checkpoint to be returned by bus to El Florido, one of the border points between Guatemala and Honduras, near Zacapa, Guatemala, on Wednesday

A Guatemalan worker legally ferries customers back and forth across the Suchiate River, between Guatemala (right) and Mexico. Central American migrants looking to receive asylum from the United States have in the past crossed the river to make it into Mexico before continuing their journey north

A Honduran migrant girl waits inside a bus at a police checkpoint before she and her mother were returned to the El Florido border crossing between Guatemala and Honduras on Wednesday. Facebook users in Honduras have said they will be gathering next Monday to form the second migrant caravan of 2021

A third migrant caravan, the network also has learned, will reportedly take off from El Salvador on February 14.

Last week's caravan was the first since October 2020 when at least 3,000 migrants from Honduras made their way into Guatemala before they were forced to go back. Guatemalan immigration officials reported a Honduran man died after he fell off a trailer.

Honduran caravan members - and others in the region - are fleeing violence and an economy battered by two Category 4 hurricanes in November and lockdowns imposed to control the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

At the urging of former President Donald Trump, security coordinated by Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico, along with coronavirus travel restrictions, have become a roadblock for groups trying to reach Mexico to continue their journey north to the United States.

The uncertainty hovering over Central American asylum seekers received some much needed respite when the Biden's Homeland Security Secretary nominee, Alejandro Mayorkas, told a Senate committee that the U.S. will reopen the asylum process.

'There is a commitment to follow our asylum laws, to enforce our asylum laws,' Mayorkas said. 'That means to provide humanitarian relief for those individuals who qualify for it. When people present themselves at our border we apply the laws of our nation to determine whether they qualify for relief under our humanitarian laws, or whether they don't. If they do not qualify to remain in the United States, then they won't.'

However, the administration has not committed to a date.

Among Biden's plan to undo the stringent immigration policies set in place by Trump it to provide an eight-year path to U.S. citizenship to at least 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States since January 1, 2021.



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ELK RAPIDS, MI  Shorts Brewing Company is rolling out additional beers crafted by the shuttered Arcadia Brewing Company.

The Northern Michigan company announced plans to bring back Arcadia Brewing Company products through its alterative beverage brand, Superfluid Supply Co. in June of 2020 by releasing its iconic Whitsun Wheat Ale.

The re-launch was a success, leading Shorts to announce a 2021 lineup of heavy hitters for 2021 including two rotating products, a bi-annual offering and quarterly seasonal beers.

Arcadia has a pretty large portfolio of products that range across many styles, it was really tough to narrow down our 2021 line up. Stated Pauline Preuter-Knighton, the Sales Director for Superfluid. We chose these specific products based on gaps in the market, how they would complement our Shorts brand offerings, and admittedly, we picked some of our favorites, too.

Whitsun, the brands flagship Wheat Ale brewed with coriander, orange peel, and honey, will be available thru summer 2021 and will be replaced by Sippelicious Wheat Ale in September.

As for the quarterly offerings, 2021 will begin with a fresh batch of Porter Rico, a coconut Porter, followed by Loch Down Scotch Ale in April. Hopmouth, a double IPA that was a fan favorite, will be released in summer 2021 and Jaw-Jacker, a pumpkin-spiced latte of fall beers, will be available in Mid-September and available through October.

RELATED: Shorts Brewing to revive Arcadia Brewing beers, starting with Whitsun Ale

Whitsun, Sippelicious Wheat Ale, Porter Rico, Loch Down Scotch, Hopmouth and Jaw-Jacker are among the Arcadia beers that will be released in 2021.Short's Brewing Company

Youre living under a rock if youve not heard of the aluminum can shortage, were preserving our can allotment for our larger volume products and hope to satisfy the OG craft drinkers by returning to glass bottles. Scott Newman-Bale, the CEO of Superfluid Supply Co. said.

Whitsun and Porter Rico will be available in six-pack cans until further notice, and future releases will likely be packaged in six-packs of 12 oz. bottles, along with kegs throughout Michigan, according to the brewery.

Arcadia Brewing was founded in Battle Creek in 1996, and later expanded with a multi-million-dollar production brewery and taproom in Kalamazoo in April 2014.

The brewery was taken over by the First National Bank of Michigan in April 2019 after it suffered financial problems, including late mortgage payments and back taxes.

A second location of downtown Grand Rapids The Grand Woods Lounge will be opening its doors in Kalamazoo at the site of the former brewery at 701 E. Michigan Avenue.

READ MORE:

Detroit distillery bringing back popular paczki-infused craft vodka

New Hollands first releases of 2021 include Peanut Butter Poet made with Reeses

Busch again offering Michiganders $1 off beer for every inch of snow that falls in Grand Rapids

Rio de Janeiro: Zelia de Carvalho Morley rolled up a sleeve and looked stoically to the side as a nurse slid in a COVID-19 shot. She was one of thousands in Brazil to be vaccinated on Thursday AEDT, but one of very few old enough to recall an earlier viral pandemic that swept her nation and the world a century ago.

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1914, Morley was a girl when the so-called Spanish flu killed millions around the world in 1918-1920, when no vaccines were available.

Zelia de Carvalho Morley, 106, gestures before receiving a shot of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine at the retirement home where she lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit:AP

The whole of Brazil caught it. Too many people died, she said, wearing a pink daisy chain on her head. I dont forget anything!

I think this vaccine is going to be very good, Morley said, displaying a generous smile before placing her light blue mask back on her face. Its in the hands of God."

People flying into San Francisco International Airport and other U.S. airports from abroad will have to test negative for the coronavirus within three days of departure, under an aggressive plan President Biden announced on Thursday as part of a national strategy to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The order will take effect Tuesday and replace an order that required testing only for flights from the United Kingdom, where a highly contagious variant of the coronavirus has been circulating.

Arriving international travelers will also have to quarantine  something California already requires. (Read more about flying during the pandemic: Is it safe to fly? With SFO and Bay Area airports getting busier, heres how to mitigate risk.)

Visitors to Yosemite National Park will be required to wear masks and stay 6 feet from others, after an executive order signed by Biden requiring masks be worn on federal property. Previously, mask-wearing had only been encouraged in Yosemite.

At a press briefing Thursday, Biden reiterated his intent to scale up the availability of vaccines and supplies by using wartime production models; provide schools with clear guidance and resources for reopening; and provide clear communication on the state of the pandemic.

Let me be clear. We didnt get into this mess overnight, and its going to take months for us to turn things around, Biden said. But let me be equally clear. We will get through this. We will defeat this pandemic.

Fauci liberated

An energized Dr. Anthony Fauci, in his first White House briefing as President Bidens medical adviser, said Thursday that the nation is still in a difficult situation with coronavirus deaths, hospitalizations and infections but seven-day averages are improving.

However, the administration expects the cumulative death toll from the pandemic to reach 500,000 by next month.

Fauci told reporters Thursday that the Biden administration is stressing that its coronavirus policy must be completely open, transparent and honest, including admitting mistakes and having everything based on science and evidence.

He said President Biden himself had underscored that in a meeting with Fauci just 15 minutes earlier.

It is a somewhat liberating feeling, he laughed when asked about the difference from the Trump administration, where he said some statements were not based on scientific fact. Former President Donald Trump effectively sidelined Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert.

Virus variants

Fauci said Thursday that a South African mutation of the virus, which has caused concern as to whether it might partly evade a vaccine, has not yet appeared to his knowledge in the United States.

A different, highly contagious strain from Great Britain has been found in the U.S.

You are going to get more cases. You are going to get more deaths, he said.

With the South African and another variant from Brazil, he said, What we likely will be seeing is a diminution in what would be the efficacy of the vaccine-induced antibody.

Fauci said that does not mean vaccines will not be effective, because even though its diminished somewhat, its still effective.

Variants underscore the need to vaccinate as many people as possible, he concluded. (Read more about variants: Bay Area has its own scary new virus variant: Why experts are so concerned.)

Fauci said he is concerned about getting the people who have vaccine hesitancy vaccinated. We need to do good outreach on that.

He aims to get 85% of the population vaccinated by the summer.

The looming question is whether the Biden administration can change the course of the rocky vaccine rollout. The administration plans to deliver 100 million vaccine shots in Bidens first 100 days in office, and Biden exuded confidence.

This will be one of the greatest operational challenges our nation has ever faced, he said at the Thursday briefing. We will get it done.

Vaccine supply

In California, a bit of good news came late Wednesday when the state announced that a batch of 330,000 Moderna vaccines that had already been distributed are safe to use.

The vaccines were linked to a cluster of allergic reactions in San Diego; a summary of the findings of a safety review group showed that at least one of the people who had allergic reactions developed angioedema, or swelling, that was not life-threatening.

But the safety group did not reach any conclusions about why this reaction occurred in vaccine recipients at this one site and not others.

Anaphylaxis was not confirmed in any of them and none experienced a life-threatening adverse event following administration of the vaccine, according to the summary. No reason was identified as to why these adverse events occurred at that vaccine administration site on those dates.

Counties and providers rushed to use the batch of Moderna vaccines, whose use had been paused on Sunday. Santa Clara County said the states announcement freed up about 22,000 doses. San Francisco also could proceed with the use of 8,000 Moderna vaccines.

But the supply crunch remains acute. In San Francisco, city officials plan to open a vaccination site at City College on Friday. But in a message posted to Twitter, the citys department of emergency management urged people without appointments to stay away due to lack of vaccine supply.

Sonoma County has vaccinated 23,787 people, nearly 6% of adults, Supervisor Lynda Hopkins said Thursday. The county has 102,000 people older than 65 and is ramping up vaccination sites.

However, We dont have anywhere close to what we need to vaccinate residents at the speed we want to, Hopkins said.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Catherine Ho, Nanette Asimov and Vanessa Arredondo, as well as Chronicle news services, contributed to this report.

Aidin Vaziri is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avaziri@sfchronicle.com

Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed US Nuclear Corp. (OTCQB: UCLE) ("the Company"), a radiation and chemical detection holding company specializing in the development and manufacturing and sales of radiation and chemical detection instrumentation. CEO of the Company, Bob Goldstein, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Jolly began the interview by commenting on the Company's 2020 Year-End Shareholder Letter, which was released on January 19th. "We haven't done very many shareholder letters in the past, but 2020 was such a disruptive and unfortunate year, so we felt we had to make a personal connection with our investors," shared Goldstein before elaborating on the challenges addressed in the letter, which include supply chain disruptions and downward pressure from a convertible debenture.

"We used that money to buy 40% of Grapheton, a super neuromedical startup in San Diego," said Goldstein regarding the debenture. "Finally, on December 30th or 31st, the debenture holder was completely sold out of our stock and the downward pressure quit," he continued. "We're starting to climb back up to where we deserve to be in my opinion."

"Is it safe to say that you currently have no more toxic notes?" asked Jolly. "Absolutely, none. No more outside debt at all," said Goldstein.

Jolly then asked about recent Grapheton updates. "Grapheton is teaming with a company that works directly for the US Airforce, as well as the Army, to make wearable sensors," shared Goldstein, adding that the sensors will measure cortisol levels, which indicate stress. "It's very important to know what the stress levels are for the soldiers," he added. Goldstein also shared that the products developed by Grapheton may have additional applications for soldiers, including spinal cord injury repair, enhanced exoskeleton devices, advanced prosthetics, and post-service care.

The conversation then turned to the difference between Elon Musk's Neuralink technology and Grapheton's neuro-science applications. "Grapheton is working on repairing injuries, treating medical conditions, and developing a neuro-muscular interface," explained Goldstein, adding that Neuralink is primarily focused on developing a brain to computer interface.

"Episodic conditions like depression, suicidal thoughts, and impending heart attacks, are all things that can be monitored if you look at the hormones or chemicals in a person's sweat or saliva," shared Goldstein, noting that this is an area where Grapheton excels.

"Do you believe Grapheton will be one of your fastest growing revenue companies in the next two to three quarters?" asked Jolly. "Absolutely," said Goldstein. "They are producing product and actual income," he explained, noting that Grapheton's patents, inventions, and products are components that are necessary in a number of futuristic health improvements. "They're going to be making money in the very near future."

"What is the best strategy for sending out refueling stations in space?" asked Jolly. Goldstein shared that fusion offers 10 million times more energy than current chemical fuels and can be generated by water, while fission is less effective and requires uranium.

To close the interview, Goldstein elaborated on the potential of the Company's numerous projects as they continue to advance and move forward throughout 2021.

To hear Bob Goldstein's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7778303-us-nuclear-corp-discusses-potential-of-2021-projects-with-the-stock-day-podcast

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/

About US Nuclear Corp.

US Nuclear Corp is a radiation and chemical detection holding company specializing in the development and manufacturing and sales of radiation and chemical detection instrumentation. Through three operating divisions (Technical Associates (TA), Overhoff Technology (OTC), and Electronic Control Concepts (ECC), US Nuclear Corp. harbors more than 100 years of combined experience in supplying top of the line instrumentation to any industry utilizing radionuclides. This includes nuclear power plants, national laboratories, government agencies, homeland security, military, universities and schools, research companies, hospitals, medical and dental centers, energy companies, weapons facilities, first responders, local governments, and manufacturing plants.

Safe Harbor Act

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations, estimates and projections and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "expect," "estimate," "project," "budget," "forecast," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "should," "believes," "predicts," "potential," "continue," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Investors may find additional information regarding US Nuclear Corp. at the SEC website at http://www.sec.gov, or the company's website at www.usnuclearcorp.com

CONTACT:

US Nuclear Corp. (OTCQB: UCLE)

Robert I. Goldstein, President, CEO, and Chairman

Rachel Boulds, Chief Financial Officer

(818) 883 7043

Email: info@usnuclearcorp.com

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

SOURCE:

Stock Day Media

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72513
By Sanjeev Miglani and Gopal Sharma NEW DELHI/KATHMANDU (Reuters) - India will give millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine to South Asian countries in the next few weeks, government sources said on Thursday, drawing praise from its neighbours and pushing back against China's dominating presence in the region. Free shipments of AstraZeneca's vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the world's biggest producer of vaccines, have begun arriving in the Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Myanmar and the Seychelles are next in line to get free ...
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The government vaccination program may not be sufficient to achieve herd immunityeven if everyone in the UK is vaccinatedaccording to new research from the University of East Anglia.

Researchers modeled the effectiveness of UK-wide immunization programs using the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines, taking into account the highly transmissible new COVID-19 variant.

They found that the only way to reach herd immunity for the UK would be to vaccinate almost everyoneincluding childrenwith the more effective Pfizer vaccine.

They say data for the recently licensed Moderna vaccine would be similar to the Pfizer results.

And the study recommends that all health and social care professionals should receive the 95 percent effective Pfizer/Moderna vaccines to prevent asymptomatic spread to patients and vulnerable people.

Due to the rapid-response nature of this research it has not yet been peer reviewed.

COVID-19 expert Prof Paul Hunter, from UEA's Norwich Medical School, said: "Getting vaccinated has a huge benefit to you personally. It greatly reduces the risk of serious illness and reduces your risk of symptomatic disease by an estimated 70 percent for the Oxford vaccine, or 95 percent for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

"But we wanted to find out whether 'herd immunity' is a realistic outcome of any immunization program with the main vaccines licensed in the UK given that immunization, even though it can reduce illness, may not prevent all infections.

"And importantly, can these vaccines achieve a sufficient level of population immunity to reduce the reproductive R number to below one in the absence of any non-pharmaceutical interventions?"

The research team used mathematical models of COVID-19 transmission and vaccine efficacy to predict how well the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines will work to bring the R number down and achieve herd immunity.

They initially found that 69 percent of the population would need to be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, or 93 percent of the population with the Oxford vaccine, to bring the R number below one.

However, when they took into account the new more transmissible COVID-19 variant, they found that vaccinating the entire population with the Oxford vaccine would only reduce the R value to 1.325. Meanwhile the Pfizer vaccine would require 82 percent of the population to be vaccinated to control the spread of the new variant.

Modeller Prof Alastair Grant, form UEA's School of Environmental Sciences, said: "The Oxford vaccine reduces the incidence of serious illness to a greater extent than it reduces symptomatic illness, which is still common in those who have had this vaccine.

"Its efficacy against the incidence of asymptomatic infections is lower, reducing its efficacy against all infection from 70.4 percent to 52.5 percent for the pooled data.

This means that its overall protection against infection is only partialaround 50 percent.

"Although asymptomatic cases are less infectious, including this in our calculations still raises R values by 20 percent or more, from 1.33 to 1.6 for the new variant with a 100 percent vaccination.

"This combination of relatively low headline efficacy and limited effect on asymptomatic infections means that the Oxford vaccine can't take us to herd immunity, even if the whole population is immunized.

"Vaccinating 82 percent of the population with the Pfizer vaccine would control the spread of the virusbut it isn't licensed for use on under 16s, who make up 19 percent of the population.

"Also, some people will refuse the vaccine, so achieving an 82 percent vaccination rate will likely be impossible. In the absence of vaccination, 'herd immunity' would only occur when 89 percent of the population has had the virus."

Prof Grant added: "We know that a substantial fraction of those who have been vaccinated or have had a natural infection can still become infected and pass the virus on others.

"It is very worrying that vaccinated but asymptomatically infected people could still pass COVID-19 on to those who have not been vaccinated, and particularly those who may be immunocompromised.

"For this reason, we recommend that health and social care workers, and others who have lots of contacts with those vulnerable to infection, should receive one of the mRNA vaccines in preference.

"The Oxford vaccine will no doubt be an important control intervention, but unless changes to the dose regime can increase its efficacy, it is unlikely to fully control the virus or take the UK population to herd immunity."

Prof Hunter added: "If we cannot achieve herd immunity, vulnerable unvaccinated individuals will remain at risk. We do need to consider how best to protect these individuals when social restrictions are eventually relaxed as the result of a successful vaccine roll out program."

More information: Alastair Grant et al. Immunisation, asymptomatic infection, herd immunity and the new variants of COVID-19, Nature (2021). Alastair Grant et al. Immunisation, asymptomatic infection, herd immunity and the new variants of COVID-19,(2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.16.21249946 Alastair Grant et al. Immunisation, asymptomatic infection, herd immunity and the new variants of COVID-19, medRxiv (2021). DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.16.21249946 Journal information: Nature
Nigeria on Wednesday recorded 1,386 new cases of COVID-19 and 14 deaths from the virus.

The 14 deaths recorded on Wednesday means Nigeria has now recorded 58 deaths from the virus in four days.

On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 15, 14 and 15 daily deaths were recorded respectively.

With 14 fatalities on Wednesday, the total deaths from the disease across the country increased to 1,478 as many states around the country struggle with mounting infections and hospitalisations.

A total of 114, 691 infections have now been reported across the nation with the 1,386 new cases found in 22 states, according to the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

As Nigeria continues to record more coronavirus infections, the fatalities have also increased.

Last Friday, Nigeria announced its deadliest day of the pandemic with 23 lives lost under 24 hours.

Last week, which is the third week of the new year, the country recorded 70 deaths, the weekly highest in the new year. The country also recorded 50 and 48 deaths in the first and second week of 2021 respectively.

In the past four weeks, there have been over 200 fatalities as a result of COVID-19 complications in Nigeria.

The rise in mortality shows that the second wave of the pandemic is deadlier than the first as more patients are symptomatic and require breathing support.

Some relatives of patients who died from COVID-19 have shared harrowing experiences of how their loved ones died gasping for air due to shortage of oxygen supply in some of the isolation centres in the country.

A delay in deliveries meant many patients were left for hours on reduced oxygen, a situation believed to have contributed to the recent spike in coronavirus deaths.

But the NCDC director, Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the increase in deaths is as a result of the rise in hospitalization.

Active cases in Nigeria rose sharply from about 3,000 about two months ago to over 20, 000 due to a rise in new infections.

Of the over 114, 000 cases so far, 92,336 patients have been discharged from hospitals after treatment.

Specifics

The 1,386 new cases were reported from 22 states  Lagos (476), Rivers (163), FCT (116), Kaduna (114), Oyo (68), Plateau (62), Ogun (56), Imo (55), Osun (55), Edo (51), Anambra (50), Kwara (44), Kano (17), Ebonyi (14), Cross River (10), Delta (10), Jigawa (8), Bayelsa (6), Ekiti (6), Borno (2), Taraba (2), and Zamfara (1).

Lagos, again led with 476 new cases on Wednesday.

The commercial city is Nigerias coronavirus epicentre with a total of over 40,000 confirmed cases and over 270 deaths.

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The Minister of State for Health, Mr Mamora, warned Nigerians against complacency in containing the COVID-19 pandemic as the much-awaited vaccines may not arrive the country as soon as expected.

So far, Nigeria has conducted nearly 1.2 million COVID-19 tests.

Amidst the continuous surge in the number of coronavirus cases in Nigeria, a survey has found that nearly a fifth of Nigerians still do not believe the disease is real.

The study by the research firm, SBM Intel, in all 36 states and the FCT, found that only 68.8 per cent of Nigerians believe that the virus is real.

The report said 14.4 per cent of Nigerians were not sure that COVID-19 is real, while 16.7 per cent did not believe it is real.

It said less than 50 per cent of respondents in Ekiti, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa and Sokoto States thought the virus was real.

There has been a drastic drop in safety levels and enforcement of protocols across the country, a situation also blamed for the recent surge in infections.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bermuda has sufficient testing capacity to meet the Centres for Disease Control & Protection's new COVID-19 testing requirements for visitors leaving the country to go to the United States. The island's Ministry of Health confirmed today its testing system provides easy access to PCR COVID-19 tests, including results within the 72-hour turnaround time American officials require as of January 26, 2021.

Since July of last year when Bermuda reopened its tourism industry, the island's public health system has managed one of the most rigorous pandemic-era testing regimes in the world. All incoming travellers are tested when they arrive by air or sea, and automatically booked to be tested again on day 4, 8 and 14. Results are typically returned within 24 hours. Bermuda is in the top 10 globally for testing per capita.

Most Bermuda visitors returning to the United States, United Kingdom or Canada will have their outbound testing requirements met within the existing testing regime, which provides automated appointments for travellers and results via email.

As of today, any visitor in need of an outbound test not covered by the existing testing programme, is automatically booked for a return home test. Bermuda pivoted its existing automated system to consider the traveller's departure date supplied on the way in, matched with the 72-hour requirement for test results on the way out.

Outbound test results will contain the following information: name, birth date, gender, date of test, type of test and test credentials, lab name and address. This will satisfy the entry requirements in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada  the three countries for which Bermuda has direct air service.

"The world's public health measures at the border have changed constantly during the coronavirus pandemic, but Bermuda's gold standard testing system has remained consistent because it works," said Bermuda's Minister of Health, the Hon. Kim Wilson. "Prudent scientific analysis and rigorous testing have allowed a gradual recovery to our tourism industry, while keeping our country one of the safest places to shelter during this health crisis."

Meantime, at the Bermuda Government Molecular Diagnostic Lab (MDL), where test samples are processed, officials expect an increase in volume between 20 and 25 percent as a result of the new protocols affecting outbound travellers. MDL technicians say they can handle the additional demand within the required 72-hour turnaround time because their current performance standard is results in less than 24 hours. The lab operates seven days a week, which covers all traveller contingencies, including weekends and public holidays.

"This is excellent news for Bermuda tourism, especially for American travellers looking to escape to someplace close and return home safely," said Glenn Jones, Interim CEO at the Bermuda Tourism Authority. "The Government of Bermuda's stellar pandemic management and rapid response to a constantly shifting landscape are putting Bermuda at the top of travellers' consideration lists. And post-travel to Bermuda, visitors tell us they felt safe from the pandemic while here."

An overwhelming 98 percent felt either "safe" or "very safe" in terms of COVID-19 during their visit to Bermuda, according to visitor exit surveys since July 2020. Similarly, 95 percent of exit-survey respondents felt the island's protocols, including pre-travel, airport, and follow-up coronavirus tests, were "reasonable".

Bermuda is recognised as one of the most successful countries globally in managing the pandemic, via effective per-capita testing, diligent contact tracing, and immigration and community health protocols. The island also earned the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) "Safe Travels" stamp for its achievement of top global health standards.

Contact: Tiffani Cailor Torrence

Dir. of Public Relations & Content Development

[email protected]

212.916.3139

Visit Our Online Newsroom

SOURCE Bermuda Tourism Authority
On behalf of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies globally, all of Sygnature Discovery's Computer-Aided Drug Design team will benefit from the Orion platform's large-scale capabilities: virtual high-throughput screening of billions of molecules, molecular dynamics simulations including binding free energy calculations, and quantum mechanics calculations.

In using Orion, scientists at Sygnature now can easily leverage the power of hundreds of thousands of CPUs at Amazon Web Services, which will have a dramatic impact on both the quality and diversity of the hits generated for their customers' projects, while accelerating those projects' timelines and reducing project costs.

"Our mission at Sygnature is quite simple: to enable success for our customers through world class science, and to help bring life-changing therapeutics through the challenging drug discovery process in order to help patients get the best medicines possible," said Dr. Simon Hirst, CEO and Founder of Sygnature Discovery. "That means employing the best technologies available to support our scientists in that quest, and we are very excited to see how the Orion platform will power more efficiency and new breakthroughs in our projects."

Sygnature's use of the Orion platform provides cloud-based molecular and data visualization and analytics as well as facile access to the latest scientific methods, making it possible for Sygnature to unify and operate modeling tasks for the first time without leaving the cloud.

"Sygnature Discovery is using Orion exactly as we conceived: as a molecular design ecosystem of data visualization, communication and workflow tools in a robust, scalable cloud environment," said Dr. Anthony Nicholls, CEO of OpenEye Scientific. "It is really gratifying to see Sygnature helping its clients identify more hits and optimize more leads using Orion's industry-leading technology infrastructure and scientific methods."



About Sygnature Discovery

Sygnature Discovery is a leading independent integrated drug discovery and pre-clinical services company. Private equity-backed since 2017, the company operates fully enabled research facilities in Nottingham and Alderley Park, UK, housing more than 375 research scientists (over 80% of whom hold a PhD) and has an office presence in Cambridge, Mass., USA. Their experienced drug-hunters possess all the professional skills and know-how required to undertake the most demanding of research programmes, and drive them from target validation through hit identification, hit-to-lead and lead optimisation to pre-clinical development candidate. Sygnature's pharmacology arm was formed by the incorporation of RenaSci, acquired in 2018, into Sygnature's fully-integrated drug discovery platform. Since 2011, 34 compounds discovered by Sygnature for clients have entered pre-clinical development and, so far, 17 of these have progressed to clinical trials (Phases I, II and III). In 2017, Sygnature Discovery received the prestigious Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade. For further information, visit www.sygnaturediscovery.com

About OpenEye Scientific

OpenEye Scientific is an industry leader in computational molecular design based on decades of delivering rapid, robust, and scalable software, toolkits, and technology and design services. Our scientific, physics-based approach to molecular design historically focused on molecular shape and electrostatic potential to inform and guide molecular discovery and optimization. OpenEye now has integrated its applications and toolkits into Orion, the only cloud-native, fully integrated molecular design platform. Combining unlimited computation and storage with powerful tools for data sharing, visualization and analysis in an open development platform, Orion offers unprecedented capabilities for the advancement of pharmaceuticals, biologics, agrochemicals, and flavors and fragrances. Founded in 1997, OpenEye is a privately held company headquartered in Santa Fe, N.M., with offices in Boston, Mass.; Cologne, Germany; and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, go to www.openeye.inc.

Contacts:

Marshall Poindexter

OpenEye Scientific

+1.617.849.8670

[email protected]

Andy Lindstrom

Sygnature Discovery

+44.115.941.5401

[email protected]

SOURCE OpenEye Scientific

Related Links

www.eyesopen.com


After rioters flooded the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, there was an immediate call for those who overran officers on the scene and swarmed the House and Senate floors, as well as congressional members personal offices, to be identified, arrested and prosecuted. The coordinated law enforcement response to this incident is massive.

As researchers who study criminal justice, we see that law enforcement agencies are accessing large amounts of information via technological sources to investigate the attack on the U.S. Capitol building. High-definition security cameras, facial recognition technology, location services acquired from cellphones and third-party apps, and accessing archival evidence on social media are all used to identify perpetrators of crimes and tie them to specific places and times.

While watchdog groups have raised legitimate concerns about the use of government and private-sector surveillance technology to identify people who might commit violent acts at some future point, there is much less concern raised about the use of technology to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals once these crimes have occurred.

Facial recognition technology

In the days since the breaching of the Capitol, information has flowed continuously to law enforcement with names and/or images of suspected participants in the unrest. Facial recognition technology can be used to compare images obtained by law enforcement  particularly those images taken from the network of security cameras within and outside the Capitol complex  to positively identify persons of interest.

Facial recognition systems work by matching a face in a video or photo with a face in a database that is associated with a persons name and other identifying information. Beyond using public records, law enforcement agencies have been turning to private companies to access large databases of identified faces. A growing body of evidence shows the large amount of data some companies have been collecting from social media and other publicly available sources, as well as from CCTV systems in public spaces around the globe. Law enforcement agencies can simply purchase the services of these companies.

The technology exists to identify individuals participating in violent encounters in public spaces in real time using the soon-to-be-completed national ID database. This could result in some extremist groups going off the grid to avoid identification.

Sourcing information from social media

Investigators are being aided by many of the participants in the events of Jan. 6 themselves who posted accounts of their activities on social networks. In addition to the participants who breached the barricades of the Capitol, many bystanders documented the happenings. Social media companies are assisting law enforcement in accessing content that may be useful to locate and prosecute specific individuals.

Some of the earliest subjects who were arrested after the events of Jan. 6 were previously known to law enforcement agencies around the nation, their involvement confirmed by social media postings. Reports have emerged that individuals and groups already under surveillance by law enforcement agencies nationwide via their activity on social media, including suspected white supremacists on the FBIs terrorist watchlist, were contacted by officers before the individuals traveled to Washington to attend the Stop the Steal rally.

Information from social media is also assisting authorities in determining the extent of planning among individuals and groups that were involved.

There is some disagreement within the law enforcement community about the pros and cons of restricting the ability of extremists to communicate on platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Parler. The benefit of restricting extremists access is hindering communication in the hopes of preventing similar attacks. There is emerging evidence that extremist groups are moving their social media conversations to password-protected sites and to the darknet, where an individuals anonymity is protected. This migration might hinder extremist groups in recruiting and propaganda efforts, but its not clear if it has an effect on the groups organizing.

The downside of driving extremists to less-visible online platforms is that it makes it difficult for law enforcement to gather information needed to bring cases against those who participate in criminal incidents. Their virtual footprints become harder to follow.

Location tracking

Identifying a person  particularly someone not previously known to law enforcement  is just one piece of evidence needed to issue an arrest warrant. Empirical information that puts the suspect at the location of a crime when that crime occurred often provides the corroboration courts need to issue a warrant.

The vast majority of participants in the Capitol unrest carried mobile devices with them and had them powered on, which makes it possible for law enforcement agencies to determine the movements of the cellphones owner. Even if users have location services, cellular data and Wi-Fi disabled, law enforcement has access to technology that can determine the location of a device at a specified time.

But location data is useful only when coupled with other evidence of a subjects involvement in a criminal incident, such as photos and video. For instance, it is doubtful whether simply being in the vicinity of the Capitol during the unrest is sufficient. Location data may not be precise enough to discern whether a device was on someones person behind previously established barricades outside the Capitol building or if that device was inside House Speaker Nancy Pelosis private office, particularly with thousands of mobile devices clustered in one small geographic space inside structures that can obscure signals.

Tips from the public

One aspect of criminal investigations that has not changed with the rise of technological surveillance is the value of information provided by eyewitnesses and associates of individuals suspected of perpetrating crimes. In the days since the storming of the Capitol, many tips have come into law enforcement from friends, relatives, ex-spouses, neighbors, co-workers and others who indicated they either saw images of someone they knew participating in the unrest on television or on social media, heard them boast of their exploits or heard from a third-party that they had participated.

[Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter.]

The FBI, especially, took advantage of the constant media attention on the unrest at the Capitol to ask the public for tips and information, and had established a hotline to gather this information within hours of the incident. It certainly helps criminal investigations when perpetrators are willing to be recorded and photographed, and when they provide their names, ages and hometowns to reporters.

Technology expands the reach of law enforcement investigations, and, combined with tips from the public, makes it more difficult for participants in mob actions to become lost in the crowd. However, these technologies raise the question of whether they can and should be used in the future to prevent these types of large-scale violent incidents from occurring in the first place.

Don Hummer, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Penn State and James Byrne, Professor of Criminology and Justice Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Bus routes will be opened to the cities and districts of Azerbaijan liberated from occupation, head of the Public Relations Department of the State Road Transport Service under Azerbaijan's Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Nurida Allahyarova said.

According to Allahyarova, a draft order has already been prepared on the start of a tender to determine the transportation companies.

Firstly, routes will be opened to Horadiz, Sugovushan, Talyshkand, Jabrayil and Zangilan districts, she said.

"The opening of flights to the city of Shusha was planned at the second stage. However, given the large number of people wishing to visit the pearl of Karabakh, Shusha, is also included in the list of priority routes," Trend cited her as saying.

It is planned that bus routes to Shusha will be opened from Ganja, Beylagan and Yevlakh cities.

In the grip of a pandemic that has disrupted the lives of numerous families, public and Catholic school enrollment has dropped across the New Orleans metro area this school year.

And that decline is part of a statewide trend.

Four of the areas seven public school districts  Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany and St. John the Baptist  saw drops exceeding the state's average decline of 2.3%, and all seven parishes saw at least some enrollment decline this year, according to Oct. 1 counts released by the Louisiana Department of Education this week.

The downtick marked the biggest drop in at least three years, an analysis of the data shows, and in several cases it bucked longer-term trends that show steady increases over a several-year period.

Enrollment is an important factor in how Louisiana funds its public schools. The state sends school districts funding based on the number of pupils, and sharp declines can threaten schools budgets. This count was also important because it provided the state a crucial look at how districts are faring after the pandemic shuttered classrooms for the first time last March.

Archdiocese of New Orleans officials also reported a larger than normal decrease in enrollment from last year to this year, archdiocese spokesperson Sarah McDonald said. Smaller enrollments for Catholic schools can result in budgetary strains because fewer students means reduced revenue from tuition.

Some local officials said they are still studying the numbers and trends, but all who responded to requests for comment said the unrelenting spread of COVID-19 had made it more difficult for children to access school, either in-person or online.

"The reason for the decrease in enrollment in 2020 is unclear," said Vicki Bristol, the spokesperson for Jefferson Parish Public Schools. "However, we know the pandemic has upended the lives of many of our families throughout the district, and we suspect the economic downturn has contributed to lower enrollment."

Of the area school districts, St. John the Baptist Parish reported the largest percentage decline, with its October count of 5,675 students marking a 5.6% drop from the previous February.

With 37,214 students reported in October, St. Tammany saw a 3.8% drop from February, data showed, while Orleans Parish saw a 3.3% drop to 45,037 students. Jefferson Parish, the states largest school district, fell by 2.5%, to 48,974 students in October. School districts in St. Bernard, St. Charles and Plaquemines parishes saw nominal decreases of about 1% or less.

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Data also show that the states nonpublic schools saw about 5,830 fewer students enrolled for the current school year, according to numbers provided by Ted Beasely, a state Education Department spokesperson. That marks a 5.3% decrease from the 110,742 students in attendance at Catholic and other private schools last year.

Statewide, enrollment in public schools fell by about 17,000 students. State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley noted that the trends fall in line with those posted by schools across the U.S., pointing to a survey done by The Associated Press and Chalkbeat showing public school enrollment is down about 2% among 33 states that responded.

Brumley had said Tuesday that nearly half of the states decrease came in prekindergarten and kindergarten classes, and officials with NOLA Public Schools and the Archdiocese of New Orleans said their numbers mirrored those trends.

"A significant decrease has been in our nursery through PreK programs, which we attribute to parents who are now home keeping young children home or having young children stay home with family members who are not working out of health and safety concerns," McDonald, the archdiocese spokesperson, said in a statement. "In K-12th grades, we attribute the enrollment decrease to health and safety concerns among families who have adopted homeschooling or other virtual options in light of the pandemic."

Taslin Alfonzo, the spokesperson for NOLA Public Schools, noted that changes happen every year as different-sized kindergarten classes enroll. Most students who exited the system indicated they were transferring to another school, she said, including some who left the state.

The October and February snapshots are used to determine the states Minimum Foundation Program, which is a large part of how schools get funding every year. Dollars also come from local sales and property taxes in individual districts.

The two large New Orleans-area suburban school districts  Jefferson and St. Tammany, with nearly 90,000 students between them  said they expected enrollment numbers to rise throughout the year. In Jefferson, Bristol said the declines came in grades PreK-7, while the higher grades actually saw increases.

In St. Tammany, officials believe that a late start to in-person school impacted the count that came just two weeks later. Enrollment has risen since October, spokesperson Meredith Mendez said. Classes, either online or in-person, didn't begin until Sept. 8 in St. Tammany.

"We continue to see students come back to the district," she said. "I think as parents get more and more comfortable with the mitigation measures we have taken, they are re-enrolling their students."

"We are confident our numbers will get back to where we were," she said.

New Orleans public schools were already bracing for a funding hit. Last week, officials said they were considering layoffs and scaled-back programming because plummeting sales tax revenue in Orleans Parish was expected to gut school funding by as much as $34.9 million next year.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
A team from the United States is carrying out an experiment on ID06-HXM virtually, where they study magnesium alloys, used in the automobile industry, during heat treatment.

It is early in the morning. Ashley Bucsek, Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, in the US, is only just waking up but opens her laptop straight away from her bed: her experiment on magnesium alloys is in full swing at beamline ID06-HXM at the ESRF. Zoom has proven to be an exceptionally useful tool for the population in general, but for researchers doing an experiment, it is a must. On ID06-HXM they have a constant Zoom meeting running since the beginning of the experiment. We can comment on how the experiment is developing live and all of us can see the screen of the control computer as the action takes place, says Bucsek. It also helps the fact that I was a visiting scientist a couple of years ago so I know all the team on the beamline  it makes communication very easy.

This time, Bucsek and her team are studying high-strength, lightweight magnesium alloys, which have substantial potential for reducing the weight of automobiles and other transportation systems, and, as a consequence, improve fuel economy and reduce emissions.

However, compared to other structural metals, the development of commercial magnesium alloys and the understanding of these alloys physical metallurgy are less mature. If we want to enable the widespread use of these alloys in industry, we need to improve their strength, fatigue resistance and formability, explains Bucsek.

The crystallographic texture of magnesium alloys is very strong, with all the atomic arrangements pointing in a similar direction. This makes them strong in one direction but brittle in other directions. Heat treatments are used to make this texture less strong, which in turn makes the material properties the same in all directions and more machinable in general. This occurs due to a recrystallization process, where new crystals grow and the old crystals disappear.

A screenshot of the Zoom session among the team while the experiment was taking place. Credits: A. Bucsek

Bucsek has gone (virtually) to ID06-HXM to apply heat treatments to some samples to discover what processes take place at the crystal level and what promotes changes in the structure. With the ID06-HXM team, they have used the technique of dark field X-ray microscopy, where they can see what is happening inside the material in situ, with a spatial resolution of 100 nanometres or better.

The new EBS has made the experiment much smoother: Changes were immediately apparent: the brilliance is so strong that we dont need to worry about the size of our sample, nor the time for collection, or the dynamic range of the detector, because we have more photons. This has been obvious from the very first image that we have seen, says Bucsek.

Despite the peculiar circumstances, Bucsek asserts that the experiment has followed a classic pattern: I dont think this experiment in particular would be different if we were there. It is a classic story arc of things are going well, things are going better, then things are starting to go bad, then worse, and then you are in a hole and you cant dig yourself out of it. When everything seems lost, you have a last-minute success. Heartbreak and triumph: same feelings, even remotely, concludes Bucsek.

Bucsek with the ID06 team during her stay at the ESRF in 2018.

Text and video by Montserrat Capellas Espuny
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A coroner is set to examine the manner of driving and actions of a police officer in the minutes before he collided with a vehicle during a Mornington Peninsula pursuit, injuring an elderly man who later died.

Senior Sergeant Stephen Burt from Frankston police station was driving one of two police cars involved in the pursuit of a silver Holden Commodore, which was alleged to have been connected to serious offences on April 14, 2018.

John Wilfred Warner, 79, and his wife Carole were driving with two relatives through the intersection of Old Mornington Road and the Nepean Highway in Mount Eliza when their vehicle collided with the police car being driven by Senior Sergeant Burt.

Counsel assisting the coroner Lindsay Spence said a number of factual disputes were likely to arise during the inquest, including whether Senior Sergeant Burt had his siren on at the time of the pursuit and the manner of his driving immediately prior to the collision.

Mr Warner, who was in the passenger seat, was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but died a month later from his injuries.

As Kamala Harris scripted history on Wednesday by becoming the first women Vice President of the United States, her ancestral village in Tamil Nadu celebrated the momentous occasion with fervour. People in Thulsendrapuram village, the native village of Harris' mother, were seen applauding and hooting while Harris was taking oath. The locals of the village also held her posters and burned firecrackers.

Kamala Harris' ancestral village celebrates

One of the locals of the village said, "I am very proud and excited because our Kamala Harris is becoming the first Vice-President of US. We are together watching her swearing-in ceremony. Right from the morning people were performing puja in temples."

READ | Biden Inauguration LIVE Updates: POTUS Says 'time To Move Forward', Leaders Congratulate

US Vice President Harris was born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother on October 20 in 1964, at Oakland in California. Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was born in Chennai before she moved to the US for further studies. Shyamala became a leading cancer researcher and activist. She was also the daughter of PV Gopalan, a high-ranking civil servant. Harris' father, Donald J Harris on the other hand is an economist who moved to the US from Jamaica. Harris is married to attorney Douglas Emhoff and has two children.

READ | Joe Biden Takes Oath As US President, Kamala Harris Sworn In As First Woman Vice President

Joe Biden & Kamala Harris takes oath

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn-in on the steps of the Capitol as President and Vice President of the United States. Harris was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Biden by Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.

READ | 'No Time To Waste': Joe Biden Sends First Tweet As US President, Promises 'bold Actions'

While Biden will be revamping Americas stance on a range of issues including climate policies, immigration laws and even suspension of US-Mexico border wall construction, Biden has called it a new day for America. Even though the event was scaled down amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the 59th inaugural ceremony took place with officials wearing masks.

A new chapter begins today. Tune in now for #Inauguration2021 as @JoeBiden and I are sworn in to office and set our nation on a new path forward. https://t.co/U1RQ98R6Ka  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 20, 2021

READ | UK PM Congratulates Joe Biden And Kamala Harris, Says 'I Look Forward To Working With You'

A landlord who joked his shakedown of a tenant over unpaid rent was a Quentin Tarantino moment worthy of nostalgic retelling in later years has pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation.

Mario Venneri, 57, placed a chained bike lock on the table and made a fake phone call to a 'worse' guy called Johnny during the heated, half-hour meeting in his Surry Hills home in June 2020.

'You have two ways to go, the good way and the wrong way,' he warned tenant Brice Gouillou, then 24, on the afternoon of June 17.

Landlord, Mario Venneri (pictured centre) has pleaded guilty to assault and intimidation over a dispute with the tennant, Brice Gouillou

'Give me your phone, you are going to be in trouble if you don't pay me.'

Documents tendered in Venneri's court case state he'd uncovered days earlier Mr Gouillou's secret subletting of the two-bedroom terrace home for $700 a week.

That flew in the face of the young Frenchman negotiating his rent well below that amount the previous month due to supposed financial constraints induced by the COVID-19 pandemic

After evicting the sub-letter and changed the locks, Venneri waited inside the unit for Mr Gouillou, who arrived with a friend, aged 23.

He texted 'come now mate' to Anthony 'Tony' Joseph Mowad, 57, and ordered the younger men place their hands on the table.

Explaining he knew of the secret sub-letter and the rent she'd paid, Venneri demanded $6650 rent owed to him - moving zip ties and a bike lock he'd placed on the table.

When little changed, Mowad asked Venneri to 'get your other friend to come here', prompting Venneri to threaten 'if you think I am bad, he is worse'.

'Johnny, it's your time now,' he spoke into his phone before making aggressive demands for the unpaid rent.

The tenant was secretly subletting of the two-bedroom terrace home for $700 a week. Pictured: CCTV footage

Mowad said: 'You French guys ... want to come here and rip people off during COVID and think you are going to get away with it. You are f***ing stupid'.

Venneri then said: 'We will solve this problem'.

The fearful Mr Gouillou soon after transferred Venneri the full amount before all left the home.

'This has been a Quinton (sic) Tarantino moment for us to talk about in our later years,' Venneri texted his mate, in celebration that evening.

'I'm happy you tough with them straight away. It put them in a spin and flooded them with fear,' Mowad replied.

Arrested the next day, Venneri had made full admissions to police.

The pair on Thursday pleaded guilty through their lawyers to intimidation charges, with Venneri also admitting to assaulting each man.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of detaining a person for advantage.

Each is expected to be sentenced in the Downing Centre Local Court on March 5.
BANGALORE, India, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The IoT in Manufacturing Market is Segmented by Type (Network Management, Data Management, Device Management, Application Management), Application (Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Electronic Products, Communications Equipment Manufacturing, Chemical, Material Equipment Manufacturing, Food, Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing, Other): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2026. This report is published on Valuates Reports in the Software & Services Category.

The global IoT in Manufacturing market size is projected to reach USD 1038.8 Million by 2026, from USD 567.2 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 10.6% during the forecast period 2021-2026.

Major factors driving the growth of IoT in Manufacturing Market size are the growing need for centralized monitoring and predictive maintenance of manufacturing infrastructure, agile production, operational efficiency, and increasing adoption of the cloud.

The study provides an in-depth global IoT in Manufacturing market size analysis along with current trends and future estimations to elucidate the imminent investment pockets. The report also provides information on key drivers, restraints, and opportunities, along with their impact analysis.

Request a Sample Copy of the Report For COVID-19 Impact Analysis on IoT in Manufacturing Market: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-26S2171/Global_IoT_in_Manufacturing_Market

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE IOT IN MANUFACTURING MARKET SIZE

Due to growing competition and demand from end-users, manufacturers are more concerned about manufacturing high volume and high-quality goods. This, in turn, led them to concentrate on key areas, such as the manufacturing process, asset monitoring, and the repair and support of equipment in the factory. Automation will allow manufacturers to increase productivity, enhance consistency of processes or products, and improve quality by eliminating errors and reducing variability. These advantages by IoT are expected to drive the growth of IoT in Manufacturing.

The rise in demand for real-time asset monitoring is expected to increase the growth of IoT in manufacturing market size. Real-time asset tracking makes it easier for businesses to track changes in workshops in real-time, thereby minimizing manufacturing defects and increasing operational performance.

IoT maintains low operation costs in manufacturing by using predictive maintenance principles, increasing worker safety during training and repairs, and identifying and resolving bottlenecks. This, in turn, is expected to boost the growth of IoT in manufacturing market size.

Furthermore, advancements in technologies such as smart sensors, virtual & augmented reality are expected to fuel IoT in Manufacturing market size. The introduction of smart sensors into industrial machinery has allowed manufacturers to reduce operating costs by 50% and is expected to decrease further during the forecast period.

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IoT in MANUFACTURING MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

North America is expected to hold the largest IoT in manufacturing market share during the forecast period. North America's dominance is attributed to the early adoption of trending technologies, such as IoT, big data, edge computing, and mobility by manufacturers in this region. The rising adoption of smart, safe, and connected technologies for asset-centric applications is expected to increase IoT in this region's Manufacturing market size. Furthermore, the emergence of small and medium-sized companies and the implementation of digitization in manufacturing are expected to drive business growth in North America.

Asia Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth rate during the forecast period. This is due to the rise in ICT(Information and Communication Technology) expenditure in South Korea, Australia, Japan, and Singapore.

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IOT IN MANUFACTURING MARKET SEGMENTATION

IoT in Manufacturing Market segment by Type, the product can be split into

Network Management

Data Management

Device Management

Application Management

IoT in Manufacturing Market segment by Application, split into

Industrial Equipment Manufacturing

Electronic Products, Communications Equipment Manufacturing

Chemical, Material Equipment Manufacturing

Food, Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing

Other

The key players covered in this study

Ptc Incorporation

Cisco Systems

General Electric

Ibm

Sap Se

Zebra Technologies

Rockwell Automation

Siemens

Huawei

Microsoft

Bosch Software Innovations

Others

"We can also add the other companies as you want"

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SIMILAR REPORTS :

-IoT Device Management Market

The global IoT Device Management market size is projected to reach USD 6254.6 Million by 2026, from USD 1838.3 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 22.6% during 2021-2026.

Major factors driving the growth of IoT device management market size are growing demand for IoT services needs for digitalization, increasing investments in R&D activities for the development of technologically advanced IoT systems.

-Industrial IoT (IIoT) Market

The Global Industrial IoT Market Size to grow from USD 65,452.15 Million in 2018 to USD 118,413.63 Million by 2025, at a CAGR of 8.83% During the Forecast Period.

Major factors driving the growth of Industrial IoT (IIoT) Market size are increasing demand for machine-to-machine systems, the need to contextualize the Process Technology (OT) data, and the preference for predictive maintenance.

-Predictive Maintenance for Manufacturing Market

The global Predictive Maintenance for Manufacturing market size is projected to reach USD 2456.8 Million by 2026, from USD 2097.2 Million in 2020.

-Internet of Things Devices Market

The global IoT Devices Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( Sensor, RFID, Industrial Robotics, Distributed Control System, Condition Monitoring, Smart Meter, Smart Beacon, Yield Monitoring, Electronic Shelf Label, Camera), By Application (Manufacturing, Energy, Oil & Gas, Metals and Mining, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation, Agriculture) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

-IoT Market

In 2018, the Global IoT market size was USD 164 Billion and it is expected to grow with a CAGR of 38.62% between 2018 and 2025.

-IoT Node and Gateway Market

The global IoT Node and Gateway market size is projected to reach US$ 35280 million by 2026, from US$ 10010 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 23.4% during 2021-2026.

Major factors driving the growth of IoT Node and Gateway Market size are improved internet connectivity, growth in the use of wireless sensors and their networks, and growth in application-specific microcontroller units (MCUs).

-Digital Twins in IoT Market

The global Digital Twins in IoT Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth, Industry Analysis, Forecast 2020 to 2026. The Report contains segmentation by Type ( Digital Twin of the Product, Digital Twin of Production, Digital Twin of Performance, Other), By Application (Manufacturing, Healthcare, Transport, Information and Communication, Energy & Utilities, Other) and Regional Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast.

-Intelligent Pump Market

The global Intelligent Pump market size is projected to reach USD 545.1 Million by 2026, from USD 440.2 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 3.6% during 2021-2026.

-Connected Logistics Market

The global Connected Logistics market size is projected to reach USD 17740 Million by 2026, from USD 14850 Million in 2020

-Digital Logistics Market

The global Digital Logistics market size is projected to reach USD 11530 Million by 2026, from USD 10230 Million in 2020

-Bring Your Own Device Market

The Global Bring Your Own Device Market size is expected to grow from USD 43,468.97 Million in 2019 to USD 99,000.11 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 14.70%.

-Smart Manufacturing Market

The Global Smart Manufacturing Market is expected to grow from USD 157,289.47 Million in 2019 to USD 314,839.98 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.26%.

To see the full list of related reports on the Transportation & Logistics

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The inner terrestrial protoplanets accrete early, inherit a substantial amount of radioactive 26Al, and hence melt, form iron cores, and degas their primordial volatile abundances rapidly. The outer Solar System planets start to accrete later and further out with less radiogenic heating, and hence retain the majority of their initially accreted volatiles. Credit: Mark A Garlick/markgarlick.com

An international team of researchers from the University of Oxford, LMU Munich, ETH Zurich, BGI Bayreuth, and the University of Zurich discovered that a two-step formation process of the early Solar System can explain the chronology and split in volatile and isotope content of the inner and outer Solar System.

Their findings will be published in Science.

The paper presents a new theoretical framework for the formation and structure of the Solar System that can explain several key features of the terrestrial planets (like Earth, Venus, and Mars), outer Solar System (like Jupiter), and composition of asteroids and meteorite families. The team's work draws on and connects recent advances in astronomy (namely observations of other solar systems during their formation) and meteoriticslaboratory experiments and analyses on the isotope, iron, and water content in meteorites.

The suggested combination of astrophysical and geophysical phenomena during the earliest formation phase of the Sun and the Solar System itself can explain why the inner Solar System planets are small and dry with little water by mass, while the outer Solar System planets are larger and wet with lots of water. It explains the meteorite record by forming planets in two distinct steps. The inner terrestrial protoplanets accreted early and were internally heated by strong radioactive decay; this dried them out and split the inner, dry from the outer, wet planetary population. This has several implications for the distribution and necessary formation conditions of planets like Earth in extrasolar planetary systems.

Video introduction of main concepts of the research. Credit: Tim Lichtenberg

The numerical experiments performed by the interdisciplinary team showed that the relative chronologies of early onset and protracted finish of accretion in the inner Solar System, and a later onset and more rapid accretion of the outer Solar System planets can be explained by two distinct formation epochs of planetesimals, the building blocks of the planets. Recent observations of planet-forming disks showed that disk midplanes, where planets form, may have relatively low levels of turbulence. Under such conditions the interactions between the dust grains embedded in the disk gas and water around the orbital location where it transitions from gas to ice phase (the snow line) can trigger an early formation burst of planetesimals in the inner Solar System and another one later and further out.

The two distinct formation episodes of the planetesimal populations, which further accrete material from the surrounding disk and via mutual collisions, result in different geophysical modes of internal evolution for the forming protoplanets. Dr. Tim Lichtenberg from the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics at the University of Oxford and lead-author of the study notes: "The different formation time intervals of these planetesimal populations mean that their internal heat engine from radioactive decay differed substantially. Inner Solar System planetesimals became very hot, developed internal magma oceans, quickly formed iron cores, and degassed their initial volatile content, which eventually resulted in dry planet compositions. In comparison, outer Solar System planetesimals formed later and therefore experienced substantially less internal heating and therefore limited iron core formation, and volatile release.

"The early-formed and dry inner Solar System and the later-formed and wet outer Solar System were therefore set on two different evolutionary paths very early on in their history. This opens new avenues to understand the origins of the earliest atmospheres of Earth-like planets and the place of the Solar System within the context of the exoplanetary census across the galaxy."

This research was supported by funding from the Simons Collaboration on the Origins of Life, the Swiss National Science Foundation, and the European Research Council.

The full study, "Bifurcation of planetary building blocks during Solar System formation," will be published on 22 January 2021 in Science, 371, 6527.

Explore further Reconstructing the solar system's original architecture

More information: "Bifurcation of planetary building blocks during Solar System formation" Science (2021). Journal information: Science "Bifurcation of planetary building blocks during Solar System formation"(2021). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.abb3091
The European Commission has fined Valve and several video game publishers with a presence on its Steam store for geo-blocking titles on the continent, according to a report from Engadget.

The punishment comes two years after charges were filed against Valve, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, KochMedia, and ZeniMax for breaching the EUs competition laws blocking companies from restricting cross-border sales.

According to the EU, there were various bilateral agreements and concerted practices between Valve and each of the publishers which resulted in the geo-blocking of Steam game activation keys between September 2010 and October 2015.

Four of the five publishers had also participated in geo-blocking practices in the form of licensing and distribution agreements with their other distributors.

These agreements  which were in place during various periods between March 2007 and November 2018  contained clauses that restricted cross-border sales, the Commission stated.

Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager said that these practices deprived European consumers of the benefits of the EU Digital Single Market and of the opportunity to shop around for the most suitable offer in the Union.

In total, the companies will have to dish out 7.8 million (R140.8 million) in penalties.

The five publishers saw their fines reduced by between 10-15% for cooperating with the Commissions investigation.

Valve, however, chose not to cooperate and was thus charged with a fine of over 1.6 million (R28.89 million) under the ordinary antitrust procedure.

Why geo-blocking was used

The implicated companies had restricted keys for use in certain regions in order to avoid Steam players in one country purchasing cheaper third-party game keys from other territories.

The company stated that the restrictions only applied to a small number of titles  approximately 3% of its library at the time.

Despite not agreeing with the Commission regarding its liability as a platform provider, the company turned off regions locks in Europe starting in 2015.

Valve disagreed with the findings of the Commission, and the fine levied against it.

It further argued that the elimination of region locks may also cause publishers to raise prices in less affluent regions to avoid price arbitrage.

Now read: The price of being a gamer in South Africa
A shortage of stroke rehabilitation facilities nationwide is affecting recovery for many patients, doctors have said.

Dr. Nguyen Ba Thang, head of the stroke unit at the University Medical Center in HCM City, examines a stroke patient. Photo sggp.org.vn

In Vietnam, around 200,000 patients suffer a stroke each year, with 70 per cent of stroke patients requiring rehabilitation, according to Dr. Nguyen Huy Thang, head of the Peoples 115 Hospitals Cerebrovascular Disease Department.

The Peoples 115 Hospital offers treatment for nearly 20,000 stroke patients a year and is constantly overloaded with stroke patients.

A rehabilitation worker has to provide stroke rehabilitation to more than 10 patients a day, with priority given to severe cases.

Patients with mild post-stroke impairment are transferred to provincial-level hospitals for rehabilitation.

Dr. Nguyen Ba Thang, head of the stroke unit at the University Medical Center in HCM City, said common stroke complications include paralysis, walking difficulties, depression, memory problems, and speech problems.

Rehabilitation is an important part of recovery after stroke. The goals are to regain lost abilities and skills and to achieve the best possible quality of life.

In Vietnam, there is a shortage of stroke rehabilitation facilities, with some provinces facing an absence of stroke rehabilitation facilities, according to Dr. Nguyen Ba Thang.

Due to stroke patient overload, hospitals often allow patients to be discharged from the hospital after the acute phase of treatment.

Many surviving stroke patients cannot access stroke rehabilitation after returning home, resulting in poor recovery and affecting their quality of life.

According to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, head of the Peoples 115 Hospitals traditional medicine department, said stroke rehabilitation programmes are compulsory therapy for all patients after a stroke.

The sooner patients begin stroke rehabilitation 24 hours after a stroke, the more likely they are to relearn lost abilities.

Deaths from stroke have shown a steady decline from 2013 until now, falling 17 per cent during the period compared to the years before 2013, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health.

However, 90 per cent of patients experienced disability after a stroke, placing a burden on family and carers.

Nearly one-fourth of stroke patients experienced problems walking and needed support for daily activities, while 15-25 per cent of stroke patients totally depended on their carers. VNS

Younger Vietnamese are increasingly suffering from strokes Experts have expressed concern as younger Vietnamese are increasingly suffering from strokes.

A total of 282 people, have been arrested by the Police, in two days for not wearing nose masks towards containing the spread of COVID-19.



The Accra Regional Police Command recorded 97, followed by Ministries, 66, Baatsona, 50, Teshie, 30, Madina, 23 and Tesano, 16.



Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Accra Regional Police Command, told the Ghana News Agency.



She explained that the exercise was in line with the implementation of the Executive Instrument passed by the President to ensure members of the public were protected from contracting COVID-19.



Apart from the arrest, she said, there were also sensitisation and general education of motor riders, drivers as well as their mates at various lorry stations.



DSP Tenge said drivers were to make sure passengers had their masks on before they were allowed to board their vehicles.



Travelers, who were already on board vehicles but had no masks, were advised to get one before being allowed to continue their journey, she added.



DSP Tenge said all the 97 arrested on Monday had been cautioned and discharged.

She said police personnel in enforcing the law had it tough ensuring social distancing among those arrested persons.



DSP Tenge said those arrested complained of discomfort in wearing the nose masks, with others citing health concerns.



Ghana News Agency observed improvement in people wearing nose masks in the streets, especially, where policemen were positioned, though some had them under the chin.

Source: GNA









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

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In Sydney, Australia, Lucy Sunman crawled out of bed at 3 a.m. so she could watch the inauguration of President Joe Biden live.

The chilling effect of the Trump presidency has impacted us around the world, said Sunman, a 36-year-old lawyer. I cannot wait for some stability to be restored.

In Seoul, 70-year-old Park Sang-ki sat in his cramped printing shop across the street from the U.S. Embassy reading online news reports about Donald Trumps departure from the White House.

America was supposed to be an advanced nation, gentlemanlike, said Park. Trump, he was like a gang boss.

As Biden took office Wednesday, vowing to unify a nation riven by caustic political divisions and a deadly pandemic, the rest of the world watched closely, too. Many were happy to bid farewell to Trump, a larger-than-life character who relished disrupting the status quo at home and abroad and who will be remembered as one of the most controversial presidents not only in American history but globally.

Good riddance, said Nydia Ngiow, the former trade negotiator for the Singaporean government who spent several years working in Washington in her governments embassy.

Images of Trump supporters attacking the U.S. Capitol this month had shown the world just how damaging his presidency had been, she said.

Its almost as if we witnessed the downfall of America, a country so often viewed from World War II onward as the leader of the free world, she said. Theres no credibility to it anymore, no more accountability, and it will definitely be an uphill battle for Biden to repair the damage Trump has done.

A Pew Research Center survey of people in 32 countries last year before the election found that 64% of respondents did not have confidence in Trump to do the right thing in world affairs.

A proud nationalist who frequently spoke of putting America first, he pulled out of global agreements, limited legal immigration and sparked a trade war with China.

Biden, a longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and vice president under President Obama, is widely viewed as a known quantity and is expected to be more predictable than his predecessor on foreign policy.

He has vowed to be more engaged with the world, promising to rejoin the Paris climate accord and reverse Trumps withdraw from the World Health Organization. Biden has said he will convene a global summit of democracies to counter a rise of authoritarian leaders around the world.

There is a need for a re-engaged United States, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week, adding that a Biden administration would be a change from the slightly more unpredictable and sometimes challenging one that proceeded it.

Others cheered the entrance to the White House of Vice President Kamala Harris. No woman has risen higher in American politics.

Harris, who is Black and Indian American, has become a symbol of hope in India, where some of her family members live.

I cannot help but feel proud, said Watsal Yadav, a 23-year-old who sells tomatoes, eggplant and fragrant bunches of cilantro on a busy street in Mumbai.

America is a powerful country in the world, and now one of us is leading it.

Ireland, too, expressed its joy at seeing Biden, a proud Irish American, take office. Ireland takes great pride in inauguration of Joe Biden, tweeted the nations Minister of Foreign Affairs. We hope to welcome him to his ancestral home early in his Presidency.

Not everyone was happy to see Trump go.

We had a good relationship, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters Wednesday morning. He thanked Trump for respecting Mexicos sovereignty.

It was an unlikely about-face for Lopez Obrador, a nationalist who as a candidate for president criticized Trump for his derisive comments about Mexican immigrants in the U.S. and who wrote a book demanding respect for Mexico called Listen, Trump.

But the world leaders became close allies. Lopez Obrador took six weeks to congratulate Biden on his victory and defended Trump when he was booted from Twitter following the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Many analysts see conflict ahead for the U.S. and Mexico, in part because Lopez Obrador and Biden have have very different opinions on climate change, renewable energy and security cooperation.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a right wing nationalist who modeled himself closely after Trump, is also mourning his loss. But analysts say the rise of leaders such as Bolsonaro means Trumps legacy isnt going anywhere.

Trumps gone, but the [populist] wave isnt, tweeted Brian Winter, vice president for policy at the Council of the Americas think tank.

Some people watched Bidens inauguration with skepticism, unsure whether the change in the White House would translate to a shift in policy.

In China, Talia Ya, a 21-year-old college student, said professors had explained that it didnt matter whether Biden or Trump was president.

Honestly, none of them will be especially supportive of China, one professor said.

No matter what, they are going to try to push China down, said Ya, snacking on steamed buns at Yaoji Fried Liver, an old Beijing breakfast shop that Biden visited in 2011 as vice president. We need to keep our defenses, not drop them just because Biden is here.

--

Kate Linthicum, Victoria Kim and David Pierson of the Los Angeles Times wrote this story.

(Linthicum reported from Mexico City, Kim reported from Seoul and Pierson reported from Singapore. Times staff writers Shashank Bengali in Singapore and Alice Su in Beijing and special correspondent Tish Sanghera in Mumbai, India, also contributed to this report.)

___

2021 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
A company renting Georgian mansions in affluent Dublin areas has been ordered to pay tenants more than 20,000 after failing to return their deposits.

The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) has found in favour of 13 tenants who took separate cases against landlord Period Door Properties Limited after they had to vacate their homes during the pandemic.

Tenants renting a house on the prestigious Ailesbury Road in Dublin 4 told how the landlord would not return their deposits due to outstanding electricity and gas bills of more than 7,000.

However, the RTB found this was the accumulation of underestimated meter readings going back years and related to a period predating their tenancy.

The tenants were served with notices of termination at the start of 2020 to vacate the house within 120 days. Some have been waiting since last March to get their deposits back.

Michael ORiordan, who works in banking and is originally from Co Cork, paid 1,250 to rent a room and was told this included bills of 150 each month.

He moved out of the property at the start of the pandemic and lodged a case with the RTB after the company failed to return his deposit of 1,800.

The RTB found in his favour. However, Period Door Properties appealed the decision and a tribunal is due to take place on February 5. He described his experience as incredibly frustrating and stressful.

In another case, Period Door Properties Limited was ordered to pay a tenant 2,781 by December 23. This included the security deposit of 1,650, overpaid rent of 831 and damages of 300 for unlawful retention.

Some of the tenants reported maintenance issues such as being left with no hot water for long periods. The RTB did not make any determination against Period Door Properties regarding living conditions.

There are currently more than 30 properties advertised for rent by Period Door Properties on website Daft.ie.

Tenants living in houses in Ballsbridge, Donnybrook, Rathgar, Ringsend and Rathmines all took cases at the end of last year. Period Door Properties must pay tenants just over 23,000. Some of the tenants received part of their deposits back but took cases over the outstanding amounts.

A spokesperson for the company did not respond to queries sent by the Irish Independent this week. However, in an email sent to tenants yesterday, the company blamed the Covid-19 pandemic.

The email said there had been a mass exodus of tenants after multinational companies asked them to work from home, with over 50pc of our tenants breaking their lease agreements and leaving overnight.

The Government moratorium on evictions which we support has compounded these arrears. In spite of all this, we want to assure you that we will continue to assess and return all and any deposits that are rightfully due and remain outstanding. We are aware of the multiple cases with the RTB and we have been unable to represent ourselves due to our shortage in personnel.

The company said it strongly disagreed with some of the orders made by the RTB.

Period Door Properties was involved in more than a dozen other disputes over deposit retentions between 2017 and early 2020. A small number of these were not upheld.
Posted Thursday, January 21, 2021 3:08 am

After last weeks attack on the U.S. Capital, which some say was incited by President Donald Trump, Southwest Washington Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler joined the majority in voting yes in the second impeachment of the sitting president, articles of which charge Trump with incitement of insurrection.

Its a decision likely to spark pushback in the county, where about 65 percent of voters cast their ballot for Trump in 2020, and where the Lewis County Republicans offered a significantly less-firm stance on the pro-Trump mobs attempt to overturn the election.

On the House floor, Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, told members that she rises to stand against our enemy, which she characterized as fear.

Im afraid of what people will say or think. Im afraid of being devalued. Im not afraid of losing my job, but I am afraid that my country will fail. Im afraid patriots of this country have died in vain. Im afraid my children wont grow up in a free country. Im afraid injustice will prevail. But truth  truth sets us free from fear, she said. My vote to impeach our sitting president is not a fear-based decision. I am not choosing a side. Im choosing truth. Its the only way to defeat fear.

The Lewis County Republicans released a statement on Facebook two days after the attack, condemning the violence but falling short of connecting Trump to the incident, instead suggesting that the governments failure to bring closure on baseless election fraud allegations were to blame. The post compares the insurgence  aimed at overturning election results certified in all 50 states  to protests for racial justice this summer, and says out of the group of pro-Trump supporters, all but a few hundred conducted themselves in an orderly and legal manner.

...a few hundred of them converged on the capitol and, caught up in mob mentality, breached the capitol illegally and violently causing both destruction of property and physical conflict between demonstrators and capital security. These actions exceeded the bounds of peaceful protest and deserve the same condemnation given the illegal actions of liberal protestors.

The violent attack on the Capitol came after weeks of planning by far-right and extremist organizers on social media platforms, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other intelligence agencies.

By contrast, in her statement Tuesday night, sixth-term Rep. Herrera Beutler released a statement calling the attack  which led to five deaths  an assault on American democracy incited by Trump.

The terrorists roamed the Capitol, hunting the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. Hours went by before the President did anything meaningful to stop the attack, she wrote. Finally, the President released a pathetic denouncement of the violence that also served as a wink and a nod to those who perpetrated it.

The Presidents offenses, in my reading of the Constitution, were impeachable based on the indisputable evidence we already have.

Its a shift for the Republican, who clings onto the last House Republican seat touching the Pacific. In Congress first attempt at impeachment, she voted against both articles, which alleged that Trump obstructed Congress and abused his power, saying the articles lacked credibility.

In 2016, she refused to vote for Trump after an infamous 2005 clip made its rounds featuring Trump bragging about groping women.

Herrera Beutler instead wrote in House Speaker Paul Ryan. But in 2020, the congresswoman had a change of heart and threw her support behind the incumbent.

Although Herrera Beutler represents a purple district, Lewis County voted for her solidly in 2020, awarding her a landslide win over her democratic challenger Carolyn Long.

Lewis County Republicans had not released a statement on the second impeachment attempt as of press time, and chairman Brandon Svenson  also the mayor of Winlock  could not be reached before time of print.

Svenson has MCd at recent protests organized by Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson, a figure who helped lead the storming of the Oregon Capitol last month  a violent altercation that led to four arrests  as well as the storming of Gov. Jay Inslees mansion gates last week, which led to some being charged with criminal trespass.

The House will now decide if and when to send the articles to the Senate for a trial. If convicted by two-thirds of the Senate, he could then be barred from federal office.

A Tweet by Sen. Ted Cruz using Pittsburgh to blast President Joe Bidens immediate executive order for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord has some Steel City residents steaming.

The main message from these climate-change-minded Pittsburghers to the conservative Cruz of Texas: Keep our city out of your mouth, Senator.

READ MORE: Im not a white supremacist; you can quote me: Pa judge pictured with husband dressed as QAnon Shaman at Biden party

Here is a Pittsburgh political backlash in a series of tart tweets:

First, the Cruz tweet that tied the global Paris accord to Biden favoring Parisians over Pittsburghers:

By rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, President Biden indicates hes more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh. This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans.  Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) January 20, 2021

That ignited the backlash from Pittsburgh, with blowback hotter than a blast furnace:

Keep my hometown's name out of your mouth. It just goes to show how little Ted Cruz actually knows of Pittsburgh if he thinks it's still a gray, smog-filled city toiling away under steel mills and refineries instead of a green city revitalized around medicine, academia & tech. https://t.co/L0dGwnS5Op  Alisha Grauso (@AlishaGrauso) January 21, 2021

Ditto:

KEEP PITTSBURGHS NAME OUT OF YOUR SEDITIOUS MOUTH https://t.co/vje8w1u7qh  Virginia Montanez (@JanePitt) January 21, 2021

Blunt, too, befitting the citys blue-collar roots:

Speaking as a citizen of Pittsburgh, Ted Cruz can get bent.  Ally is cold (@allymckill) January 21, 2021

And tough. Always tough:

I'm from Pittsburgh & a friend summed it up when she twted @tedcruz that "The City of Pittsburgh will beat your ass". Anyone who thinks Pittsburgh still survives only by smelting steel doesn't live in this decade. It's healthcare & education. And all union supporters vote blue.  Marla (@marla_banana) January 21, 2021

Others blasted the Republican Cruz seizing upon an outdated image of tech-and-medical-savvy Pittsburgh, which hasnt been bellowing smoke from steel mills in decades:

Ted Cruz: Pittsburgh is smoky and full of downtrodden laborers with coal-smeared faces, black lungs, and a ceiling of smoke you cant see through on a sunny day and they want more earth-ruining, lung-scalding jobs!



Pittsburgh: pic.twitter.com/ZSy82HxL4w  Virginia Montanez (@JanePitt) January 21, 2021

Or this:

I couldn't care less what party someone's from if they lie about my city. No place on the planet has made a more dramatic transformation toward cleaning itself up than Pittsburgh. As a lifer, I'm *damned* proud of that.



And I'm proud of our connection to Paris in this regard. pic.twitter.com/Ekr0EamXfc  Dejan Kovacevic (@Dejan_Kovacevic) January 21, 2021

And this:

Ted Cruz apparently hasn't been to Pittsburgh, which now has an economy focused on health care and technology, in several decades.



He also tried to throw out all their votes based on groundless claims of voter fraud. https://t.co/8LWqnBzEdf  Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) January 21, 2021

Of course, the mayors of both Pittsburgh and Paris werent missing this political opportunity:

But political reaction reached far beyond Pittsburgh. Heres young climate change battler Greta Thunberg absolutely burning Cruz:

So happy that USA has finally rejoined the Pittsburgh Agreement. Welcome back!  Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 21, 2021

Others simply lectured the senator that the Paris accord doesnt just cover the French capital:

Senator @tedcruz is so stupid he thinks the Paris Climate Agreement is about Paris and that Pittsburgh is still the Pittsburgh of the 1940s that belches smoke from its now-gone steel mills.



It's scary that people this stupid are allowed to incite violence against our Capitol. https://t.co/ENrySgWxar  Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) January 21, 2021

But in all fairness to Cruz, he wasnt the first to hold up Pittsburgh as reason for the U.S. to flout the Paris Accord. If you think you heard that one before, you did:

So, I don't know if Ted Cruz is trying to be verbally environmentally conscious but it's actually a recycled line from President Trump from 2017. " I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris" https://t.co/IoGFU9HBa3 https://t.co/r3u13lTUwV  Jackie Kucinich (@JFKucinich) January 21, 2021

Now, thats a lot of Pittsburgh-fueled political smoke over climate change. And its just Day One of the Biden presidency. Good thing this dust-up only warmed the political rhetoric, not the globe.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The flu and the coronavirus (COVID-19) are two entirely different viruses, but doctors continue to stress several critical reasons to get vaccinated against the flu during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

For one thing, those who catch the flu and COVID-19 at the same time risk very serious respiratory complications, including pneumonia, requiring extended care, even intensive care hospitalization.

And, while the flu vaccine cant prevent you from catching COVID-19, some preliminary studies are finding that the flu shot can reduce a COVID-19 patients chances of experiencing severe complications and winding up in the intensive care unit (ICU).

COVID patients who had not received a flu vaccine within the last year had 2.4 times greater odds of being hospitalized and 3.3 times greater chance of being transferred to the ICU, Dr. Ming-Jim Yang, the author of a recent study on the subject, told WebMD.

Of course, the most obvious reason to get the flu vaccine is that it will most likely prevent you from getting the flu, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), killed between 24,000 and 62,000 Americans during the 2019-2020 flu season.

Between 410,000 and 740,000 people in the United States were hospitalized with the flu during the same time period, the CDC said, while flu vaccines prevented an estimated 7.52 million illnesses and 6,300 deaths in America that same season.

Reducing your chances of getting the flu also greatly reduces your chances of needing medical attention during the current pandemic  keeping you away from your busy doctors office. It will also keep you away from hospital emergency rooms at a time when many are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

In fact, the flu vaccine prevents tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year, according to the CDC. For example, during the 2019-2020 flu season, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 105,000 flu-related hospitalizations, the federal agency reported.

That not only helps you, by keeping you out of the hospital, it also will reduce the burden on the health-care system and spare much-needed medical resources for the care of people with COVID-19.

Another reason to get the flu shot, doctors say, is to protect your family and friends  especially those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, senior citizens, and people with certain chronic health conditions, the CDC said.

The flu vaccine also protects women during and after pregnancy and protects the baby for several months after birth, when he or she isnt yet old enough to receive the vaccine.

It also reduces hospitalizations among those with chronic medical conditions, like lung disease and diabetes. These people are known to be at a higher risk of complications from the flu and also COVID-19.

The flu vaccine is readily available in New York City. The CDC says that between 194 and 198 million doses of flu vaccine have been prepared for the 2020-2021 flu season in America.

The following people are considered to be at increased risk of complications if they get the flu, and are therefore urged to get vaccinated:
COLUMBUS, Ind. (AP)  Former Vice President Mike Pence has returned to his Indiana hometown, where he told a small crowd that serving in the White House was the greatest honor of his life.

Pence flew on a government plane Wednesday afternoon into the Columbus Municipal Airport with his wife, Karen, after attending President Joe Biden's inauguration.

The former Indiana governor appeared to choke up briefly as he thanked those who welcomed him, and he offered congratulations to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Pence hasn't revealed his plans after leaving office but told the crowd that he and his wife would be moving back to Indiana this summer.
EACH AND EVERY DAY, my colleagues and I hear about how New Hampshires high property taxes are an unsustainable burden on hardworking Granite Staters. According to a recent report from US News and WalletHub, New Hampshire has the third-highest property tax rates in the country. For young wor
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) The local group Persisterhood, reveled in Wednesdays historic inauguration,

"We are really excited!" Jane Frick, Persisterhood of St. Joseph said. "if you take a look at those executive orders and the change that is coming for our country, we need it right now."

It wasnt all smiles for the group, as the final section of their virtual meeting aimed to address and defeat what they call "Trumpism."

As the nation is still reeling from an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building two weeks ago, Frick said the group wants to send a clear message that everyone involved should have to face consequences, she detailed the group's plans to support former president Donald Trump's second impeachment.

"Were going to urge folks to call senators to get them to vote for that conviction." Frick said. "We can not say that it is okay for someone who loses an election to mount a campaign to overtake it so that he can stay in power."

The group is also calling out local representatives whove made moves they feel support division.

Representative Sam Graves of Missouris 6th district and state Senator Josh Hawley, both objected to the results of last Novembers election and to impeaching the former president for a second time.

Graves shared why he felt a second impeachment wasnt the right call in a recent interview.

His actions objecting the results of the election in the wake of the insurrection were the basis for the group to censure the representative.

"We need to call our leaders into accountability when they spread these lies," Frick said.

Persisterhood is also calling for the resignation of Sen. Hawley.
Sbe, a leading lifestyle hospitality company, in collaboration with World of Wonders Real Estate Development, has announced SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences is set to welcome guests in the second quarter of 2021.

The highly anticipated project soars 75 floors to the sky and is located in Downtown Dubais Burj Khalifa District. Split between 254 uniquely designed hotel rooms, 321 hotel apartments and 371 branded residences, the luxurious new hotel property is one of the tallest in the city.

SLS Dubai features sbes signature culinary concepts Filia, authentic Italian restaurant, and Carna by Dario Cecchini, a contemporary steakhouse from the legendary butcher from Tuscany, Italy. S Bar, sbe's mixology lounge is located in the lobby, as well as signature rooftop nightlife venue, Privilege. EllaMia is a sophisticated cafe that brings its dedicated Los Angeles-based coffee culture to Dubai and at 12 Chairs Caviar Bar, caviar takes centre stage, reserved for only 12 guests, to experience and indulge. A state-of-the-art Fitness Center, salon and the exclusive Ciel Spa will cater to guests' beauty, wellness and fitness needs.

Chadi Farhat, Chief Operating Officer, sbe said: We are excited to open our first SLS hotel in the Middle East in collaboration with Mehmet Nazif Gunal, Founder and Chairman of World of Wonders Real Estate Development, and his incredible team. We are excited to open our doors to Dubais diverse travellers and residents, welcoming them with the signature SLS style of luxury, hospitality and comfort. Naturally as a major destination for global travellers, Dubai was the ideal location for our next SLS hotel. Home to over six of sbes signature culinary and nightlife experiences, SLS Dubai will be the ultimate lifestyle destination in Dubai.

Designed by acclaimed Dubai-based designer Paul Bishop, the interiors are sleek yet contemporary with unique artwork, accents and aesthetics that are at the very essence of the SLS brand. sbe subsidiary Dakota Development, led by President Joe Faust, provided original concept development and design management services for the luxury project.

The most jaw-dropping feature is located on the hotels rooftop, where two infinity pools (also being the highest in the world!) serve incomparable views of Dubais bright skyline.

SLS Dubais rooftop also features a day lounge, pool deck and nightlife venue, Privilege. Most notably, a premium steakhouse concept helmed by award-winning legendary butcher Dario Cecchini, Carna, occupies the 74th floor.

Guests will be greeted at the Sky Lobby on the 71st floor, complete with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows and natural lighting. For those looking for Italian fare and flavours, head to Filia on the 70th floor.

For relaxation, Ciel Spa, located on the 69th floor will feature seven treatment rooms, steam rooms, experience showers, plunge pools, a salon and gym.

With a convenient location, great amenities and serious sense of luxury, SLS Dubai and its rooftop offering a 360-view of the citys twinkling lights, is unparalleled. As soon as you step into its doors, youll have the constant feeling that something glamourous is about to happen.

SLS Dubai will mark the opening of the seventh SLS hotel, with 17 additional trendsetting destinations across North America, South America, and Asia within the next five years, including SLS Cancun and SLS Puerto Madero in 2021.

SLS has delivered an imaginative lifestyle hospitality experience with unmatched glamour, play, and leisure since 2008. SLS Dubai is a fundamental property within sbes portfolio which aims to grow 50 hotels nationally and internationally by the year 2021. - TradeArabia News Service
On Christmas Eve, just as Mexico became the first country in Latin America to roll out a COVID-19 vaccine, Jorge Angel Lopez, a 29-year-old medical intern in Mexico State, was fighting for his life. Lopez had contracted COVID-19 at work, just a few weeks before the first vaccine shot given to a nurse. He was rotating through the emergency room as part of his training, even though the hospital was not supposed to assign interns to high-risk areas like the ER and intensive care units due to COVID-19. Even worse, the hospital was deploying Lopez and other health workers into these areas with nothing more than a face mask.

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Almost a year into the pandemic that has cost more than 140,000 lives in Mexico (the fourth-highest COVID-19 death toll in the world), health care workers still lack personal protective equipment to respond to the crisis. Health workers represent 1 in every 7 positive cases (the same ratio as in the U.S., according to the Pan American Health Organizations numbers from September) and account for 2,580 COVID-19 deaths as of Jan. 11. And with COVID-19 infections on the rise in Mexico, health care workers are demanding not only a fair chance to get the shot that could save their lives, but something far more basic: protection.

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Mexico has no monopoly on concerns surrounding inadequate protection for exposed health care workers during this pandemic. But the situation in Mexico is exacerbated by having a highly segmented and resource-starved public health system. Worse, the country promises free access to medical care for all but often cant provide it for those working within the health system.

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Medical interns dont get to choose where to do their internship, and Jorge Angel Lopez was assigned to the Hospital General de Ecatepec in July. The Valley of Mexico, where Ecatepec sits, is home to more than 21 million people and simply not enough hospitals. Ecatepec alone has a population of more than 2.5 million people. On Dec. 12, Lopez informed his supervisors that he was presenting possible COVID-19 symptoms but was told to keep working. When days passed and Lopez got progressively worse, the hospital tested him for COVID-19 and X-rayed his lungs. Again, his supervisors told him to continue his shift since he didnt look ill. The hospital never granted Lopez an excused leave; he wouldnt even receive the results of a test he took on Dec. 15 until weeks later. So, Lopez kept showing up to work until Dec. 18. Finally, after long weeks of fretting about possibly losing his unpaid internship or, worse, his life, Lopez, who was no longer able to breathe, was taken to the hospital on Jan. 4. His colleagues scrambled to find gloves before they could attempt to resuscitate him. Later, they would write they lacked alcohol, needles, and protective equipment to treat Lopez, who died 40 minutes after arriving at the hospital where he once saved lives. (In response to Lopezs case, which was widely covered by Mexican media, Mexicos Health Ministry called out hospital administrators for neglecting COVID-19 health protocols for medical interns.)

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The deplorable state of Mexicos public health care system precedes COVID-19, but the pandemic has heightened the effects of entrenched corruption and little government funding. Mexico has 1.4 hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants, a rate far below the 4.7 bed average among nations belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. According to its own Health Ministry, Mexico also has a deficit of about 500,000 doctors and nurses, on top of low wages that drive many health care workers in the public sector to juggle between two, and sometimes three, jobs. At least 87,000 health workers have temporary contracts that strip them from social security and benefits like health insurance, a pension, and severance pay, to name a few. And for Mexicans seeking care, an ailing public health sector means subpar treatment. Parents of children with cancer, for example, have been waging a high-profile campaign to secure treatment for their little ones for months.

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Mexicans have watched with horror as public hospitals become ground zero of COVID-19 outbreaks. In recent months, hospitals in Mexico City and its surrounding area have edged dangerously close to reaching full capacity, prompting medical professionals to beg people to stay at home. The federal government has taken some steps to alleviate the overburdened health system by hiring thousands of new doctors and nurses, converting old hospitals and spaces to increase bed capacity, and offering stipends for those working in COVID-19 areas. But precarious working conditions remain.

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Mexicos national vaccination plan began in cities where hospitals edged closed to saturation, with priority given to medical staff and workers in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Once the entire workforce is covered, the rest of the population will follow by age groups, from oldest to youngest. The goal is to vaccinate 750,000 health care workers by the end of January so the campaign can move on to the elderly population.

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Soon after the first vaccination was televised on Christmas Eve, things started going awry. A hospital director in the state of Mexico allegedly ignored instructions to vaccinate front-line workers first by getting his shot before them and signing up his family members. Then came the photo of a muscular ophthalmologist getting the shot that went viral. Social media was quick to call out that he is not a front-line worker. And on Dec. 31, a pediatrician made her resignation public on social media, having witnessed hospital administrators skip the line. Just a few days into the rollout, health workers were staging protests.

COVID-19 vaccines are not the top priority for one of Lopezs colleagues, a medical intern at the Hospital General de Ecatepec who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals. Personal protective equipment is still essential. Otherwise medical personal will keep dying, she said over the phone. The 23-year-old has had to bring her own surgical gowns, masks, needles, gloves, and sanitizer to every shift for nearly the six months of her unpaid internship. After watching her close friend die, she is no longer sure she wants to continue her medical studies in Mexico.

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Its painful to see the hospital deny its own staff the care and services they desperately need, she said, referring to Lopez. It hurts to see they dont care about you and that you are just a number. After Lopezs death garnered media attention, his medical school pulled its interns out of the Hospital General de Ecatepec until it could guarantee safe working conditions and ordered evaluations of other medical facilities.

Health care workers are often kept silent by fear of retaliation and threats from administrators; very few speak out and hold protests. Francisco Julian Martinez, 46, a nurse in Mexico City, belongs to the Union Nacional de Trabajadores por la Salud de Mexico, a group of health care workers decrying foul play in the nations public health care system. Martinez has been a nurse for 24 years, and while he has already received the vaccine, he didnt hesitate to join protesters on Jan. 2 who came out to demand fair access to the shot. Hospitals are our second home, we are a family, he said in between shifts, and when no one has our backs, we have to take care of each other.

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The group has staged various protests this last year and is keeping a close eye on the vaccine rollout. Carolina Morales, 36, a hospital administrator at the Hospital La Raza in Mexico City and a member of the group, says they are only asking for more supervision and transparency from the government. Morales has witnessed the rollout inside her hospital firsthand and says the strategy as it stands today is subject to nepotism. I dont understand why the lists have to be a state secret, she said of how vaccines are assigned to workers.

Sharon Lopez, Jorges sister, doesnt believe her brother would have ever gotten the vaccine on time, but it doesnt matter anymore. Her family hasnt had much time to process Jorges death, because her father was hospitalized after developing a serious case of pneumonia caused by COVID-19. Jorge was a hero with a white coat, she said. We only want justice for him and a better treatment for all medical interns.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 02:00:23|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Jan. 22, 2020 shows an exterior view of the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Liu Qu)

"WHO is a family of nations. And we are all glad that the United States is staying in the family," said the WHO chief.

"We must work together as one family to ensure all countries can start vaccinating health workers and other high-risk groups in the first 100 days of 2021. With your commitment, we are one step closer," he said.

GENEVA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Thursday that the organization welcomed the pledge that the United States will remain a member of the WHO.

"WHO is a family of nations. And we are all glad that the United States is staying in the family," the WHO chief said at the on-going meeting of the 148th session of the WHO Executive Board, following an announcement by Anthony Fauci, new representative of the United States, at the meeting.

Tedros added that the WHO looked forward to continuing the partnership with the United States as all member states do.

"We must work together as one family to ensure all countries can start vaccinating health workers and other high-risk groups in the first 100 days of 2021. With your commitment, we are one step closer," he said.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks at the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, May 18, 2020. (WHO/Handout via Xinhua)

The European Union on Thursday also welcomed the announcement made by the United States of their support to WHO.

"We welcome the new Administration's commitment to multilateral diplomacy and international alliances. The European Union looks forward to working closely with the United States to strengthen the United Nations' ability to address global challenges," the EU said in a statement announced at Thursday's WHO Executive Board meeting.

Earlier on Thursday, Fauci told the WHO Executive Board meeting that on Jan. 20, U.S. President Joe Biden signed letters retracting the previous administration's announcement to withdraw from the WHO, and those letters have been transmitted to the UN.



"I am honored to announce that the United States will remain a member of the World Health Organization," said Fauci.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on May 29, 2020 that the United States would withdraw from the WHO.

Biden's decision comes at a time when the number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the United States has surpassed the grim milestone of 400,000 and the global number of people infected by the virus has reached 90 million.

At Thursday's meeting, Fauci also told the WHO that the new U.S. administration will issue a directive later in the day, which will include the intent of the United States to join COVAX, a WHO-led initiative aimed at ensuring equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines.



Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2020 shows the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. (Xinhua/Chen Junxia)
Lee Jae-yong, the de facto head of Samsung Group, has vowed his continuous support for the group's compliance committee in his first message in prison as he seeks to keep up his pledge of improving law-abiding culture at South Korea's top conglomerate. Yonhap



Lee Jae-yong, the de facto head of Samsung Group, has vowed his continuous support for the group's compliance committee in his first message in prison as he seeks to keep up his pledge of improving law-abiding culture at South Korea's top conglomerate.



Lee was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison by the Seoul High Court on Monday in a retrial of a bribery case involving former President Park Geun-hye. The vice chairman of Samsung Electronics Co. was put behind bars again less than three years after he was allowed to walk free.



Samsung launched an independent compliance committee in February 2020 to monitor the group's compliance with laws and ethics, after the Seoul High Court ordered Lee in October 2019 to devise measures for preventing ethical lapses at the conglomerate.



"Lee said that he will continue supporting the compliance committee's activities and also asked the committee members to keep up their jobs," Samsung said Thursday in a press release.



While expecting the committee to enhance its compliance culture, Samsung had pinned high hopes on its launch helping Lee get a suspended sentence in the bribery case.



However, the appeals court said that Samsung's compliance committee is not seen as effective enough to be considered one of the sentencing factors favorable to Lee and sent the heir back to jail.



With its leader imprisoned, there was speculation that Samsung might have little reason to boost its support for the committee, but industry insiders said Lee's latest message reaffirms his commitment to push for a "New Samsung" even though he is not a free man.



In a rare press conference last year, Lee emphasized that compliance with the law is a value that cannot be compromised and that the committee will work independently without interruption even after his legal battle ends.



Meanwhile, Samsung's compliance committee was scheduled to hold its first meeting of the year and discuss compliance measures presented by seven Samsung Group affiliates. (Yonhap)


Hours before Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, the 45th president plans to leave Washington, foregoing the traditional appearance at his successors swearing-in.

The inauguration alone wont mark a full return to normalcy for our nation after four years of Donald Trump. The country is still reeling from years of civic strife as well as the coronavirus pandemic. Nor will Wednesdays event guarantee peace in the seat of our government, which remains on high alert following the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol that Trump helped set in motion.

Still, there are signs that nature is healing, as the meme goes. Since Biden became the president-elect, a number of congressional Republicans have suddenly rediscovered their concerns about the national debt, which surged dramatically on Trumps watch.

And Gov. Greg Abbott, also a Republican, has emerged from a bout of hibernation and is once again taking an interest in fighting with the federal government, as he so often did when Democrat Barack Obama was president.

Abbott vowed Saturday that the state will take action whenever the federal government encroaches on states rights, meaning that more Texas-led lawsuits are on the way. And on Monday the governor took issue with a Washington Post report that 21,000 National Guard troops assigned to the nations capitol this week were being screened for possible links to violent or extremist groups.

Authorities described the precaution as a sadly necessary move because a number of those who assaulted the Capitol on Jan. 6  a riot that left a Capitol Police officer and four others dead  had ties to the military or law enforcement agencies.

While we have no intelligence indicating an insider threat, we are leaving no stone unturned in securing the capital, said Trumps acting defense secretary, Christopher C. Miller, in a statement.

Abbott professed outrage.

This is the most offensive thing I've ever heard, he harrumphed on Twitter on Monday, relaying a link to the report in question.

No one should ever question the loyalty or professionalism of the Texas National Guard, he asserted.

I authorized more than 1,000 to go to DC, the governor added. I'll never do it again if they are disrespected like this.

The tweet aged like milk. By Tuesday, a dozen National Guard members had been relieved from duty as a result of vetting.

But Abbotts outrage was questionable on its face. For one thing, if this is the most offensive thing Abbott has ever heard, hes lived an incredibly sheltered existence.

In recent years, weve heard the outgoing president argue that a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Va., included some very fine people; that four women of color in Congress should go back to their home countries even though three were born in the U.S. and all four are citizens; that the 2020 presidential election that Biden handily won was stolen; that  well, you remember.

Perhaps Abbott, who endorsed Trump after he secured the GOP nomination in 2016 and supported his bid for re-election last year, does not remember. Certainly he isnt the only GOP leader suffering from selective amnesia at the moment.

Setting that aside, we now know that several of the Texans who have been identified by authorities as participants in the insurrection had ties to the military or law enforcement. Larry Brock of Grapevine, who was photographed on the U.S. Senate floor wearing a green helmet and white flex cuffs, is an Air Force veteran. Tam Pham, an 18-year veteran of the Houston Police Department, resigned last week after social media posts placed him with the mob at the scene of the riot. Both face federal charges.

To note such facts is not to vilify the military or law enforcement in general. And lets keep in mind that the men and women who serve our nation in uniform do so in part to protect the very First Amendment rights that allow us to ask questions of them, or anybody else, even if Abbott considers such questions inappropriate.

Bidens words and actions during the transition are cause for hope. He is generally gracious in his manner, tempered by the profound grief hes endured during the course of his long life, explicitly committed even now to the bipartisanship he often practiced during his nearly four decades in the U.S. Senate. Hes also candid about the scope of the challenges facing the nation as he begins his term as president.

To heal, we must remember. Its hard. But thats how we heal. It is important we do that as a nation, Biden said Monday evening at an event at the Lincoln Memorial memorializing the more than 400,000 people who have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the United States. It was a death toll that Trump preferred not to talk about.

Abbott and his fellow Republicans could perhaps hit the pause button on dubious grievances and partisan grandstanding while the new administration finds its footing and tries to carry out a monumental rollout of COVID-19 vaccines while keeping the economy from going off the rails. It shouldnt always be about scoring political points and winning the days battle on social media. President George H.W. Bush once called for a kinder, gentler nation. Is that too much to ask?

erica.grieder@chron.com
President Joe Biden's administration announced plans Wednesday for a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge after the Trump administration issued leases in a part of the refuge considered sacred by the Indigenous Gwich'in.

The plans, along with other executive actions, were announced by press secretary Jen Psaki.

Issuing leases had been a priority of the Trump administration following a 2017 law calling for lease sales, said Lesli Ellis-Wouters, a spokesperson for the US Bureau of Land Management in Alaska.

The agency held the first lease sale for the refuge's coastal plain on January 6. Eight days later, Ellis-Wouters said, it signed leases for nine tracts totalling nearly 685 square miles (1,770 square kilometers).

The issuance of leases was not announced publicly until Tuesday, President Donald Trump's last full day in office.

Ellis-Wouters said by email Wednesday that she has not received anything on executive orders that pertain to the ANWR lease sales.

E Colleen Bryan, a spokesperson for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, said the state corporation, which was issued seven leases and was the main bidder in the lease sale, can't speculate what may happen with the new administration.

Biden has opposed drilling in the region, and drilling opponents hope the executive action is a step toward providing permanent protections, which Biden called for during the presidential campaign. Details of his plans weren't immediately available, though Psaki told reporters in Washington that leases would be reviewed.

The fight to open the coastal plain to drilling goes back decades, with the state's Republican congressional delegation hailing the issuance of leases as significant and meaningful for Alaska's future. They criticized on Wednesday the planned moratorium.

US Senator Dan Sullivan said in a statement that Americans did not give Biden a mandate to kill good-paying jobs and curry favor with coastal elites.

US Senator Lisa Murkowski said significant progress has been made in the past month, with the lease sale and issuance of leases.

The Biden administration must faithfully implement the law and allow for that good progress to continue, she said in a statement.

Governor Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, said the state does responsible oil and gas development in the Arctic better than anyone, and yet our economic future is at risk should this line of attack on our sovereignty and well-being continue.

Oil has long been the economic lifeblood of Alaska, and drilling supporters have viewed development as a way to boost oil production that is a fraction of what it was in the late 1980s, and to generate revenue and create or sustain jobs.

Drilling critics have said the area off the Beaufort Sea provides habitat for wildlife including caribou, polar bears, wolves and birds and should be off limits to drilling.

The Gwich'in have raised concerns about impacts on a caribou herd on which they have relied for subsistence.

"It is so important that our young people see that we are heard, and that the president acknowledges our voices, our human rights and our identity," Bernadette Demientieff, executive director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee, said in a statement.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two Fieldwood Energy LLC oil workers face federal criminal charges for allegedly separately allowing crude oil spills from offshore U.S. Gulf of Mexico platforms to avoid required shut downs.

The two were indicted Tuesday for spills in 2015 and 2018, according to complaints by the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Workers in one platform joked that their motto was safe and sound until productions down, the indictment said.

Fieldwoods top priority is to operate our facilities in a safe manner that protects workers and the environment, the Houston-based company said in a statement. Fieldwood was not identified by name in the indictments or charged. It referred questions to attorneys for the two men.

Fieldwood area foreman Brandon Wall, 42, of Louisiana, was charged with negligent discharge and bypassing monitoring and safety systems to keep oil flowing at one of the companys most prosperous platforms, according to the indictment.

Shutting-in the platform for repairs or maintenance would have resulted in Company A making substantially less money, the indictment said.

The actions released a harmful quantity of oil and other hazardous substances. Wall alerted regulators a month after an oil sheen was first sighted off the Grand Isle 43AA platform, the indictment said.

Wall did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Patrick Huse, 40, of Mississippi, a person-in-charge of other Fieldwood platforms, faces eight charges including knowingly releasing oil, misrepresenting to regulators and making false entries to inspection logs.

The companys Main Pass 310A platform operated for four days in mid-2015 after operators first noticed the spill and alerted Huse, the indictment said. A harmful quantity of oil was released.

Huse did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Both men face jail time and fines if convicted.

(Reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Leslie Adler)

Topics USA Abuse Molestation Energy Oil Gas Mexico
There is no doubt that it is an extraordinary achievement to have vaccinated so many people in such a short time.

Almost five million have now had injections, and vaccines are certainly the way out of the pandemic crisis.

But I firmly believe that they should be used as they were intended to be. And that by delaying the second dose we could be making a terrible mistake.

All the data shows that the Covid-19 mRNA Pfizer vaccine requires two jabs, three weeks apart  but the Government has abandoned that simple, proven schedule.

Data shows the Covid-19 mRNA Pfizer vaccine requires two jabs, three weeks apart  but the Government has abandoned that simple schedule

It now seems clear that the current strategy, to give the second dose of the vaccine after a delay of 12 weeks, has been shown by data from Israel to be much less effective than the UK Government suggested.

Worse, I think it carries significant dangers, because a weak immune response  as reported in patients after only one dose of mRNA vaccine  could encourage new, vaccine-resistant strains to evolve.

This would be more likely to happen in older people because the immune system changes as we age. It is concerning that this is exactly the group for whom the second dose is being delayed.

Most international medical bodies  the World Health Organisation, the Centre for Disease Control, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration  are saying the same thing: we must stick to the schedule defined by the manufacturers of the vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna.

Matt Hancock and the Department of Health are gambling in the hope that it will save more lives

Instead, Matt Hancock and the Department of Health  in the hope that it will save more lives  are pushing ahead with what many scientists and clinicians now regard as a gamble. Within six weeks of the first frontline medical staff getting a single jab, we are hearing of cases of Covid infection. Whatever immunity was provided by the vaccine has, it seems, already worn off or been ineffective in these cases.

I am convinced this is because the medicine was specifically designed to be administered in two stages at specific times. The first dose is a primer, stimulating so-called memory cells.

The second injection stimulates those cells and triggers a more lasting immune response. I am deeply concerned by data now emerging from Israel, following up 200,000 cases of people who were given a first jab of the Pfizer vaccine. After 14 days, their neutralising antibody levels waned very quickly, leaving two-thirds of them vulnerable to infection.

The manufacturer conducted gold-standard trials before the vaccine was approved, and concluded that a single jab would confer slightly better than 50 per cent immunity.

But those trials were done with people of all ages, and we know that it is the over 70s who are most at risk. The Israeli data is based on a sample of people aged 60 and over.

It is clear that in this real-world situation, 33 per cent immunity was the best achievable from a single jab. This surely poses the question of how the Government got it so wrong? Their claim that one jab was protective in 89 per cent of cases was hung on an assumption  based on past experience with vaccines  rather than data, which may be wishful thinking but not good science.

Crucially, the makers never claimed a single jab would be enough. That decision has been made by politicians, who saw that the vaccine would be in short supply to begin with, and decided to spread it thinly.

They thought that, by postponing the second doses, they could double the reach of the vaccinations, justifying this by public health considerations in a spiralling pandemic.

The makers never said a single jab would be enough- that decision made by politicians, who saw that the vaccine would be in short supply to begin with, and decided to spread it thin

This notion was heavily promoted by Tony Blair, the former prime minister who has been a major influence on Government policy during the pandemic. Scientists from his Tony Blair Institute advised Whitehalls officers, quite erroneously, that a single dose would be efficacious. Unless they can produce scientific data to back up their claims, their advice in my view should be rejected.

Matt Hancock appeared to mislead Parliament yesterday when he claimed that the Israeli data was broadly supportive of his Governments policy. To his credit, the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, does seem to recognise there is a problem.

He has said, We need to look at this very carefully  we just need to keep measuring and understanding it.

But this is no time for prevarication. It is imperative that we take the data from Israel very seriously and act on it now. In my view we have to give two jabs, as scheduled in the large clinical trials that tested the vaccines  just as the drug companies have always told us.

Herb Sewell is emeritus professor of immunology at Nottingham University.
LONDON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RateGain Technologies, the leading SaaS Company for travel and hospitality, today announced a global strategic partnership with First Hotels, a leading hotel chain in Scandinavia, for providing AI-driven competitive pricing insights and helping maintain price parity across various OTAs and third-party booking platforms.

First Hotels required a comprehensive solution that makes it easy for its revenue management team to not only make daily pricing decisions but also monitor the market effectively. RateGain's rate intelligence suite powered by Parity+ and OPTIMA will allow First Hotels to configure smart rate shopping leveraging an AI-powered data platform while tracking real-time parity with features such as advanced KPI dashboards coupled with automated alerts that help in closing the loops with violators, checking revenue leakage, saving time and driving costs down.

Together with MarketDRONE that leverages AI to track intra-day rate changes as well as the AI-driven dataSURE, First Hotels would get >99% data sufficiency and accuracy to adjust prices in real-time based on competitive insights than can be refreshed in less than 60 seconds.

All this served through an easy to use interface, the revenue team at First Hotels would be able to get a consolidated view of properties to track the market positioning of the subscriber easily as well as see what their customers are viewing irrespective of the geography from which the OTA or Meta is accessed.

"We have been searching for a partner that can make it easier for our managers and central resources to formulate the pricing strategy. RateGain's Optima and Parity+ offers a fantastic AI-empowered dynamic setup. It will enable First Hotels to acclimatize to any competitive ecosystem and make good pricing and rate distribution decisions. As such, after evaluating multiple service providers, we were confident that RateGain understands our needs and would be the best partner for us," said Pontus Mark, Director of Revenue Management, First Hotels.

Commenting on the partnership,Mark Haywood, SVP & Head of Europe, RateGain Technologies, said, "At RateGain,our goal is to unlock new revenue using AI-led products which enable our partners to take better control of their pricing strategy. Optima's easy to use UI and the ability to deliver real-time actionable insights would help First Hotels with day-to-day pricing decisions.In addition,Parity will be accretive as it identifies channels or properties facing maximum revenue loss due to parity issues. Together, Optima and Parity+ will help First Hotels maximize their revenue."

About RateGain

RateGain is a leading provider of SaaS products, which help travel and hospitality companies with cognitive revenue management, smart e-distribution, and brand engagement to make more revenue every day. For more information,visit https://rategain.com

About First Hotels

First Hotels is a leading collection of hotels with 33 unique hotels centrally located in Sweden, Norway, Denmark. First Hotels is proud to offer unique, personal service and modern comfort. First Hotels was established in 1993 and initially comprised six hotels located in Sweden.To know more visit https://www.firsthotels.com/

Media Contact:

Ankit Chaturvedi

AVP-Marketing

ankit.chaturvedi@rategain.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/923440/RateGain_Logo.jpg

Countries in South Asia need to collaborate regionally and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has set a "brilliant example" by providing vaccines to India's neighbours, a Bangladeshi minister said on Thursday.

Speaking at a webinar, Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammad Shahriar Alam said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was "failing to live up to the expectations" and expressed optimism over the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) initiative.

The minister asserted that Bangladesh and India are witnessing the "golden chapter" of their bilateral ties. "We must work together to resolve pending issues, including sharing of the waters of common rivers, resolution of sharing of the continental shelf issue in the Bay of Bengal and bringing border incidents to zero," Alam said via video conference from Bangladesh.

"COVID-19 has not only demonstrated our linkages and interdependence, but also our fragility. Unity and solidarity must be our living principles in these challenging times. It demands decisive, concerted and innovative actions by all," he said while speaking at the webinar organised by the Vivekananda's International Foundation.

"This is how we in Bangladesh feel that the countries in South Asia need to collaborate regionally and this is a brilliant example that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is not only providing vaccines to Bangladesh, but to all South Asian neighbours eventually," Alam said.

Bangladesh appreciates the cooperation extended by the government of India for providing vaccines, medicines and protective equipment to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

Alam said Bangladesh is grateful to Prime Minister Modi's government for the assistance during the pandemic and noted that earlier on Thursday, he along with Bangladeshi the foreign and health ministers, formally received vaccines provided by India under grant assistance.

India has handed over 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh under grant assistance. Alam noted that Bangladeshi firms have also signed agreements with the Serum Institute of India for vaccines.

"On our part, we facilitated the urgent evacuation of Indian nationals working and studying in Bangladesh back to India during COVID. We received similar cooperation from India where Bangladeshis were stuck in different locations in those difficult weeks of April and May last year," he said.

Bangladesh and Nepal on Thursday received COVID-19 vaccines from India under grant assistance. On Wednesday, India sent 1,50,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 1,00,000 doses to the Maldives.

India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

While Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

Asked about regional cooperation in forums such as SAARC and BIMSTEC, Alam noted the physical effort made by Prime Minister Modi in the past to give some impetus to SAARC to operate.

"But unfortunately SAARC is failing to live up to the expectations. Even during the last summit in Nepal when the leaders, whatever achievements they made after rigorous negotiations, when it came to signing a key instrument, SAARC failed to deliver," he said.

Alam said BIMSTEC connects the region with ASEAN countries and "we are heavily banking on it". He said that more could be done under SAARC especially how the regional trade blocs were emerging in other parts of the world.

"We initiated the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) three decades ago but we never delivered," he said. Under the BIMSTEC platform, the FTA was proposed and some countries are yet to come up with tariff policies, Alam said. He said even if the BIMSTEC FTA may not be possible immediately, there should be easing of trade between regional countries.

The minister also said that Bangladesh is looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Modi to Dhaka in March this year to "grace the programme marking the birth centenary of our father of the nation (Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman) and the commencement of the golden jubilee celebrations of Bangladesh's independence and establishment of our diplomatic relations with India". He said a number of programmes were being planned to mark these important occasions.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caring Brands International ("CBI"), a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners ("LLCP"), announced today that it has completed the acquisition of its Interim HealthCare home health and hospice franchises in San Diego (the "San Diego Franchise"). The addition of the San Diego Franchise expands CBI's branch footprint and marks the first acquisition within the Interim HealthCare network domestically.

The acquisition of the San Diego Franchise is the third completed by CBI in the last six months, continuing the Company's strong momentum:

- In June 2020, CBI acquired its Bluebird Care Master Franchise in the Republic of Ireland, adding direct franchising rights in the Republic of Ireland and 26 franchise locations operating under CBI's UK brand, Bluebird Care.

- In November 2020, CBI acquired the Northern Suburbs of Sydney franchise operation of Just Better Care, CBI's Australian brand.

Founded in 1966, CBI is the largest franchisor of home healthcare services globally and produces approximately $1.1 billion of annual systemwide sales across over 550 global locations. CBI offers franchises under three brands: Interim HealthCare (United States), Bluebird Care (United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland) and Just Better Care (Australia). CBI's branches and franchisees offer individuals a full continuum of care at home including skilled nursing, assistance with daily living activities and end-of-life hospice care.

Jennifer Sheets, CEO and President of CBI, commented on the most recent acquisition, "We are delighted to add the exceptional operations of the San Diego Franchises to our branch portfolio and look forward to driving the highest level of quality and satisfaction for our patients."

Matthew Frankel, Managing Partner of LLCP, stated, "The three recent acquisitions demonstrate our continued support of the CBI investment and reflects the Company's significant growth potential. We remain focused on building value for the benefit of CBI's franchise owners, patients, employees and investors."

CBI is a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners Fund V, L.P.

About Levine Leichtman Capital Partners

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, LLC is a middle-market private equity firm with a 37-year track record of investing across various targeted sectors, including franchising, professional services, education and engineered products. LLCP utilizes a differentiated Structured Private Equity investment strategy, combining debt and equity capital investments in portfolio companies. This unique structure provides a less dilutive solution for management teams and entrepreneurs, while delivering growth and income with a significantly lower risk profile.

LLCP's global team of dedicated investment professionals is led by seven partners who have worked at LLCP for an average of 21 years. Since inception, LLCP has managed approximately $11.2 billion of institutional capital across 14 investment funds and has invested in over 90 portfolio companies. LLCP currently manages approximately $7.3 billion of assets  including its most recent flagship fund, Levine Leichtman Capital Partners VI, L.P., which closed in 2018 with $2.5 billion of committed capital  and has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Charlotte, Miami, London, Stockholm and The Hague.

Contact:

Mark Semer or Ross Lovern

Kekst CNC

(917) 439-3507 or (917) 842-7205

SOURCE Levine Leichtman Capital Partners
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By Jaclyn Diaz | NPR

The newly inaugurated Biden administration wasted no time in taking two major steps to dismantle much-criticized Trump-era immigration policies in its first day in office.

The Department of Homeland Security announced that starting Thursday, it would pause deportations for certain noncitizens in the United States for 100 days and would stop new enrollments in the Migrant Protection Protocols policy, also known as the "remain in Mexico" program.

Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske said the U.S. "faces significant operational challenges at the southwest border as it is confronting the most serious global public health crisis in a century."

Pausing some enforcement measures gives the agency breathing room as the DHS plans to fully review current programs and U.S. immigration policies, Pekoske said in a memo issued late Wednesday.

Pekoske's memo directed DHS sub-agencies Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services "to review and reset enforcement policies and set interim policies for civil enforcement while the Department develops its final priorities."

The department aims to focus its resources "where they are most needed," Pekoske said. In light of the serious challenges at the southern border, DHS must "surge resources" to the area to ensure "safe, legal and orderly" immigrant processing.

"REMAIN IN MEXICO" ENDS

The Trump administration's controversial "remain in Mexico" policy requiring asylum-seekers trying to enter the U.S. from the southern border to wait in Mexico for American court hearings will be suspended.

The program has led to roughly 60,000 migrants getting sent back across the border since MPP was first implemented in January 2019. Tens of thousands of people are still stuck in Mexico, awaiting their court hearings, and living in unsanitary and potentially dangerous situations. The policy has placed enormous strain on Mexico, even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands more migrants from Latin America have pushed their way toward Mexico in recent days. Some have told journalists that they are making their way north because they expect it to be easier to enter the U.S. under the Biden administration. Others say the economic situation and violence in Honduras has made remaining there untenable. The increase in migrants, however, promises even more stress on Mexico and the U.S. immigration system.

On Sunday, Guatemalan security forces confronted a caravan of migrants from Honduras. Guatemalan security forces in the country's southwest attempted to block thousands of Honduran migrants from heading north toward Mexico and the U.S. border. Some migrants have been able to skirt security forces by moving off the main roads, according to officials in Guatemala. Mexico, however, has implemented its own strict border security forces, making crossing into the country difficult for many travelers.

Guillermo Diaz, Guatemala's top immigration official, said at least 7,000 to 8,000 Hondurans had crossed into Guatemala in an "irregular" manner.

LEGALIZATION PATH LIMITED

Karen Tumlin, founder of the Justice Action Center, an organization providing legal aid to immigrants, called the step to end MPP "huge."

Tumlin wrote on Twitter, "It confirms the Biden-Harris commitment to restoring dignity to our asylum system. Here's to the next, critical steps to remedy the inhumane impacts of this shameful program."

However, immigration hard-liners such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform are already set to oppose the Biden administration's immigration plan.

"We hope fervently that when it comes to dealing with immigration, the new administration will seek to find common sense policies that not only serve to enhance the economic recovery from COVID, but provide lasting security and prosperity for the country," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR, a day before Biden's inauguration. "President Biden must protect American jobs and not capitulate to special interests pushing radical policies that put Americans last,"

During the moratorium on MPP, current COVID-19 nonessential travel restrictions -- both at the border and in the region -- remain in place. But it is unclear what will happen to migrants already enrolled in MPP.

The DHS said, "All current MPP participants should remain where they are, pending further official information from U.S. government officials."

Biden's administration is also moving forward on large scale changes to U.S. immigration policy. He sent a new immigration bill to Congress on Wednesday.

However, under the proposed changes, immigrants currently outside the U.S. -- likely those still awaiting their court hearings in Mexico and the migrants on their way from Honduras and Guatemala -- will not be eligible for legal status.

This story was originally published at NPR.org.
New Delhi: The Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday issued a clarification that no vial of COVID-19 vaccine is wasted in case of absenteeism and that the doses are allotted to another beneficiary.

Taking to Twitter, Vardhan dispelled misconceptions and misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccination drive.

In response to Congress leader P Chidambaram's tweet, showing concern asking about the wastage of opened vials with unused doses, Vardhan said no vial of COVID-19 vaccine or session is wasted.

"Appreciate your concern P Chidambaram-ji. MoHFW has already taken steps to address the issue. We are ensuring that no vial or session is wasted and in case of absenteeism, vaccines are being allotted to another beneficiary," the Union health minister wrote in a tweet.

Appreciate your concern Sh @PChidambaram_IN ji@MoHFW_INDIA has already taken steps to address the issue.

We are ensuring that no vial or session is wasted & in case of absenteeism,vaccines are being allotted to another beneficiary Kindly refer to the letter attached@PMOIndia https://t.co/gyzFuYLC0E pic.twitter.com/8UZtkXMqED  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) January 20, 2021

On Saturday, India had undertaken the biggest, nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive was carried out during 3,352 sessions by 16,755 specially trained personnel. As many as 1,91,181 healthcare and frontline workers received the first dose, an additional 3,429 people from defence institutions of the Indian Army and the Indian Navy, too were innoculated.

When someone questioned the safety of Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, Harsh Vardhan repsonded, "Clearly as naive and presumptuous as boorish! It's obvious, government advisory shared on social media is made available at ground level first. It is evident your propensity for unfruitful discourse has no bounds, no point in expecting you to focus your energy on anything constructive."

Earlier this month, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had 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 vaccination drive.
Gordon Ramsay has poked fun at TikTok star The Vegan Teacher by filming himself munching a beefburger to one of her songs admonishing his meat-eating ways.

The British chef responded to the social media sensation, who is known for her strict vegan lifestyle, by also calling her a 'doughnut' after she wrote a song about him.

Hell's Kitchen star Gordon, 54, responded to the song on Wednesday after The Vegan Teacher, real name Kadie Diekmeyer, posted her song online.

Munch: Gordon Ramsay has poked fun at TikTok star The Vegan Teacher by filming himself munching a beefburger to one of her songs admonishing his meat-eating ways

Accompanied by a ukulele, she sings: 'Eating animals is wrong Gordon Ramsay / Hurting animals is wrong, Gordon Ramsay.'

As she sings, Gordon shared footage of himself reacting in lacklustre fashion as he chewed a piece of lettuce.

Sharing her views in song, The Vegan Teacher continues: 'Share this song and if you call me a doughnut, thats fine / As long as youre vegan from now on.'

Gordon then spits out the lettuce leaf and calls her a 'vegan doughnut' before picking up a beefburger and enthusiastically biting into it.

Doughnut: The British chef responded to the social media sensation, who is known for her strict vegan lifestyle, by also calling her a 'doughnut' after she wrote a song about him

Response: Hell's Kitchen star Gordon, 54, responded to the song on Wednesday after The Vegan Teacher, real name Kadie Diekmeyer, posted her song online

Since sharing the video on Wednesday, Gordon's video has been viewed over 40 million times and has been backed by TikTok users.

TikTik user @nick.digiovanni said: 'Thank you for addressing this, chef. She can be a real pain, while @cdantuma14 commented: 'Respect for Gordon Ramsay.'

Meanwhile, @scottywartooth posted: 'Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear aprons.'

Kadie Karen Diekmeyer, also known as Miss Kadie and That Vegan Teacher, is a TikTok sensation who has attracted a lot of publicity in recent months.

She is a primary school teacher turned self-proclaimed animal rights activist and currently has 1.6million TikTok followers.

Not impressed: In the video, Gordon spits out a lettuce leaf and calls her a 'vegan doughnut'

Meaty burger: After ridding himself of the lettuce, he picks up a meaty burger and bites into it

Gordon's post came days after he slammed Gino D'Acampo and branded him a 'donut' after the chef shared his burger recipe to TikTok.

Gordon 'duetted' with his 44-year-old Road Trip co-host after he took to the video sharing app to post his burger night recipe, which involved a half pork, half beef patty on a toasted bun with caramelised onions, English mustard and red lettuce.

In his original video, which has racked up almost 2 million views, Gino builds the burger from his home in Sardinia, Italy, to serve to his family for 'burger night'.

But he was quickly shot down by Gordon, who playfully told his friend to 'leave the cooking to me', in a second video which has 1.6 million hits and was filmed from his home in Cornwall.

'Alright guys, tonight is burger night,' Gino says as he makes the fast food treat.

Playful: Gordon recently playfully slammed Gino D'Acampo and branded him a 'doughnut' after the chef shared his burger recipe to TikTok

'Let me show you, very simple, toasted bun, you have to do it, a little bit of English mustard, a bit of mayonnaise, red lettuce and crispy lettuce on top, that's it,' he explains, putting the burger together.

Picking up the fried patties from the pan, Gino then adds: 'Then the burger, I make them with half beef and half pork. So you've got the moisture of the pork and the taste of the beef.'

'Then panchetta, smokey, crispy, panchetta, then at the end caramelised onions. Ciao'.

While dozens praised the 'delicious' and 'indulgent' looking burgers, Gordon wasn't impressed.

'Seriously, Gino D'Acampo making burgers,' he sighs in the reaction video.

Recipe: The celebrity chef 'duetted' with his Road Trip co-host after he took to the video sharing app to post his burger night recipe, which involved a half pork, half beef patty

'Always toast the bun,' he begins. 'English mustard? What about Chipotle mayonnaise? What about lettuce? You don't put red lettuce on a burger kid, how many times have I told you?'

After Gino picks up the burgers from the pan, Gordon jokes: 'Are you not going to cook the burger?'

On the revelation the patties are made from two meats, Gordon adds: 'Hold on a minute, it's called a beef burger for a reason, not a pork burger,'

'Gino, how many times have I told you, leave the cooking to me,' the chef berates.

'Panchetta, it's called bacon you donut,' Gordon adds when the chef describes his burger topping.

Video: In his original video, which has racked up more than 1.4 million views, Gino builds the burger from his home in Sardinia, Italy to serve to his family for 'burger night'

'Come on man, how many times have I told you to make the burger what are you doing to me?'

As Gino begins to add more toppings, Gordon gets more and more frustrated.

'Caramelised onions, balsamic vinegar, come on, they've got better burgers in Iceland, aisle four! What are you doing, seriously??

Appearing to take it in good spirits, Gino commented on the video writing: 'I can't wait to see a video of you cooking Italian food and then I will take my revenge. Miss you chef'.

Known for his harsh criticism, Gordon has hit out as dozens of wannabe chefs in his #RamsayReacts series on TikTok.

The celebrity chef, who is currently staying in the Cornwall home he shares with wife Tana, 45, and his five children aged between one and 22, has been posting reaction videos to the video-sharing app to offer some very tough advise to home cooks.

In one, he reacts to one clip calling a healthy food blogger 'an idiot sandwich' while he also berates one user for making a beef Wellington with a sausage.

In another clip, Gordon reacts to a video of US-based account Mythical Kitchen, who are making a 'ramen grilled cheese sandwich', which he says he'd like to 'ram this in the trash'.

Conflicting views: While dozens praised the 'delicious' and 'indulgent' looking burgers, Gordon wasn't impressed
LA PALMA, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LOTTE Chemical announces the addition of a third engineered-stone production line at its Belenco plant in Turkey. The expanded production volume of the Turkey plant supplements LOTTE's Yeosu plant in South Korea. The combined capacity of the two facilities is 22 million square feet per annum. LOTTE is establishing itself as one of the top quartz-surface manufacturers in the world, serving a rapidly growing global customer base.

LOTTE's $30M investment in the new Turkey production line will ensure a stable and secure global supply chain for its engineered-stone products. LOTTE's Turkey facility's proven manufacturing capabilities are complemented by distribution efficiencies through the port of Izmir and access to ample raw materials from a nearby stone mine.

Acquired by LOTTE in March 2019, Belenco is the largest manufacturer of engineered stone in Turkey. The plant is located in Turkey's Manisa OIZ industrial complex, on the outskirts of the city of Izmir. Belenco utilizes state-of-the-art, Breton manufacturing technology  a process that produces high-quality, technologically advanced engineered-stone material for the building industry. LOTTE has been a licensee of Breton technology since 2018, utilizing the process in the development of its popular Cirrus Collection of quartz surfaces.

"Our strategy is to increase our production capacity, while simultaneously investing in advanced manufacturing technologies allowing us to deliver premium quartz surfaces to a global customer base," stated Youngjun Lee, president of LOTTE Chemical Advanced Materials. "The new third line in our Belenco plant in Turkey is a major step to becoming the world's leader in the manufacture of engineered stone over the next four years."

Comprised of 93% high-density quartz, LOTTE's Radianz surfaces resemble high-quality natural stone, with the benefit of resisting scratches, growth of bacteria, and color deflection. As a premium engineered surface, Radianz quartz is durable, hygienic, and available in a wide assortment of superior colors and patterns, suitable for commercial and residential applications.

About LOTTE Chemical California, Inc.

LOTTE manufactures and markets high-performance decorative surfacing materials for residential and commercial applications around the globe. Originally part of the Samsung family of companies, LOTTE Chemical California, Inc. is rapidly expanding its North American presence through the company's solid-surface brand, Staron, a seamless and thermo-formable, acrylic product suitable for a wide range of commercial applications. The quartz surface brand, Radianz, is a premium engineered surface designed to be ultra-durable. The Locelain sintered-stone collection features a high-quality natural stone look and superb durability. Through cutting-edge technology and insights into worldwide market trends, LOTTE continues to excel in today's surface industry.

Contact:

Ray Vincenzo

(206) 290-4431

[email protected]

SOURCE LOTTE Chemical California, Inc.

New Delhi, Jan 21 : Farmer leaders on Thursday rejected the government's offer to suspend the three farm laws for 12 to 16 months. At a full general body meeting of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, a complete repeal of three central farm laws and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for every farmer were again reiterated as the outstanding demands of the farmers movement.

"The Morcha pays homage to more than 140 farmers who have lost their lives in the agitation. These companions are separated from us while fighting this mass movement. Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repeal of these farm laws," said a statement released by the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha.

In the meeting held with police officials, the police requested the farmers not to take out the tractor parade in Delhi, while the farmers repeated their plan to do that on the Outer Ring Road of the Capital.

"This peaceful movement is becoming a nationwide people's movement. Farmers are uniting for Republic Day through vehicle rallies in many places in Karnataka. Tractor marches are taking place in many places in Kerala as well. Farmers of Bilaspur and Rampur in Uttarakhand are preparing for the farmers' parade in Delhi by organising tractor marches. Farmers in Chhattisgarh will march towards the Raj Bhavan on January 23 and a group of farmers will also leave for Delhi," Dr. Darshan Pal of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha told IANS.

"The Kisan Delhi Chalo Yatra of Navnirman Kisan Sangathan, which was started from Odisha, is being disturbed repeatedly by the Uttar Pradesh police. Police officials are disturbing public meetings also. We oppose this behaviour of the administration," the statement further said. "A big three-day protest will take place in Kolkata from January 20 to January 22. Thousands of people are likely to participate in this. The protest is expected to intensify in the coming days," added the statement.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
President Joe Biden spoke for just over 20 minutes after his swearing in. Here are some excerpts from his inaugural address.

President Joe Biden spoke for just over 20 minutes after his swearing in. Here are some excerpts from his inaugural address.

The election, and democracy

This is America's day. This is democracy's day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve through a crucible for the ages. America has been tested anew, and America has risen to the challenge.

Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded.

We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

The Congress attack

Here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

Covid and 'this dark winter'

Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found the time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. (A) once in a century virus that silently stalks the country. It's taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost, hundreds of thousands of businesses closed.

In the work ahead of us, we're going to need each other. We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter.

We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.

Racial justice

A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

We can deliver racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.

I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart.

A president for all America

Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path.

Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war.

To all those who did not support us, let me say this: Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart. If you still disagree, so be it. That's democracy. That's America.

The right to dissent peaceably within the guardrails of our republic is perhaps our nation's greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion.

And I pledge this to you, I will be a president for all Americans. All Americans.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue. Rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance and humility... because here's this thing about life: There's no accounting for what fate will deal you.

Truth and lies

We must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit.

And each of us has a duty and a responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.
World leaders said they were looking forward to working with Joe Biden, as they welcomed the 46th President of the United States with praise and took parting shots at his predecessor

Biden on Wednesday vowed to repair America's alliances and engage with the world once again.

In his inaugural speech after being sworn in as the President in a historic but scaled down ceremony, the 78-year-old veteran Democratic leader said: We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security.

"America has been tested and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again, not to meet yesterday's challenges but today's and tomorrow's challenges. We will lead not merely by the example of our power, by the power of our example. We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security," Biden said.

Here is how the world leaders reacted to the inauguration of Biden and Kamala Harris as the Vice President:



"Once again, after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, tweeted congratulations to Biden and Harris, adding: "It's time to bring back conviction & common sense and rejuvenate our EU-US relationship."



NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Biden's inauguration "the start of a new chapter for the transatlantic Alliance.""NATO Allies need to stand together to address the security consequences of the rise of China, the threat of terrorism, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a more assertive Russia," he said.

"At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for far-sighted and united responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom," Pope Francis said.

Prime Narendra Modi tweeted: "My warmest congratulations to on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership."



German Chancellor Angela Merkel also offered her "warmest congratulations," adding that she looks forward to a "new chapter" in Germany's relationship with the US, according to a tweet from her spokesman Steffen Seibert.

French President Emmanuel Macron marked the day with a tweet welcoming the US back into the Paris climate agreement. "We are together. We will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement," Macron said.

"In our fight against Covid and across climate change, defence, security and in promoting and defending democracy, our goals are the same and our nations will work hand in hand to achieve them," UK PM Boris Johnson said in a statement.

Russia said it hoped for a "more constructive" relationship between the US and Moscow as Biden took office.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it wanted to extend the landmark Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with the United States for a maximum stipulated five-year period, CNN reported.

Hours before the inauguration, Beijing expressed hope that Biden would "look at China rationally and objectively" to repair "serious damage" in bilateral ties caused by the Trump presidency.

"In the past four years, the US administration has made fundamental mistakes in its strategic perception of China ... interfering in China's internal affairs, suppressing and smearing China, and causing serious damage to China-US relations," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

"President Biden, you and I have had a warm personal friendship going back many decades. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran," Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Iran's President, Hassan Rouhani, called on Biden to return to the 2015 nuclear deal and lift US sanctions on Iran. "The ball is in the US' court now. If Washington returns to Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, we will also fully respect our commitments under the pact," Rouhani said in a televised Cabinet meeting.

He also launched a scathing attack on Trump, saying a "tyrant's era came to an end.

"Someone for whom all of his four years bore no fruit other than injustice and corruption and causing problems for his own people and the world," he said.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said he was "impatient" to work together with Biden "for peace and stability in the region and in the world".

Canadian leader Justin Trudeau said he would work with the new "to make our countries safer, more prosperous, and more resilient."



Our two countries are more than neighbours -- we are close friends, partners, and allies, CNN quoted him as saying.

Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga tweeted his congratulations, adding "I look forward to working with you and your team to reinforce our alliance and to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific."



The leaders of Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all sent messages of congratulations.

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, known as a Trump ally, took to Twitter to congratulate Biden.

"I salute as the 46th President of the USA," Bolsonaro wrote.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: On the issue of the tractor march on Republic Day, January 26, the meeting between farmer union leaders and Delhi Police officials on Thursday (January 21) remained inconclusive. The police has termed the outer ring road as "very sensitive" but the farmers are determined to hold their rally at the proposed site only.

According to reports, another meeting is expected to be held on Friday to find a way. The meeting was held at the Singhu border to discuss the route and arrangements for the tractor rally.

In the meeting, the Delhi Police suggested that the farmers take out tractor parades on the KMP (Kundli-Manesar-Palwal) and KGP (Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal) highway outside Delhi. However, the farmers rejected this proposal.

Earlier, the Supreme Court declined to entertain the Centre`s plea against the proposed tractor rally by farmers on Republic Day. The top court said it is the matter for the police to decide. The top court bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI), SA Bobde, had said the police have the authority to deal with the issues pertaining to the proposed tractor rally.

Live TV

"To ensure the smooth conduction of the Republic Day parade is the job of the Delhi Police and we are committed to its consummation. We can`t talk of any specific measures still," Manish Agrawal, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police (Traffic) told ANI.

Darshan Pal, Krantikari Kisan Union told ANI that the Centre has said that the proposed tractor rally on Republic Day can not be conducted on Delhi`s outer ring road due to security reasons. His remarks came after attending a meeting between farmers and Delhi Police over the tractor rally against the three agriculture laws.

"The Central government has said that tractor parade on Republic Day can not be conducted on Delhi`s outer ring road, due to security reasons. We are clear that we will conduct a tractor parade there only. After tomorrow`s meeting with Centre, we will hold another meeting with police" Darshan Pal added.

On Wednesday, farmer leaders discussed the route and arrangements at a meeting with top police brass at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi for their rally against the agriculture laws.

Notably, farmers have been protesting on the different borders of the national capital since November 26, 2020, 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.
A new DigiTimes report claims that Apple could launch its AR glasses by 2022. The report states that Taiwan-based optical component suppliers are already working on developing Apples smart glasses.

At this point, it is clear that Apple is indeed working on a pair of smart glasses. Plenty of references to the headset have been found in iOS 13 and other reputable sources have also confirmed the same. What is unclear is when Apple plans on launching this AR headset and what all features it will offer.

Taiwan-based optical component suppliers are engaged in the development of Apples augmented reality smart glasses, which may be commercialized by 2022, according to industry sources.

The last rumor surrounding the AR headset pointed to Apple partnering with Valve for it. Reputed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had claimed that Apple could launch its AR headset in 2020, though the chances of that happening are admittedly looking quite slim. A report from The Information last year had claimed that Apple executives discussed the launch time frame of the AR headset and glasses, with a potential 2022 launch on the cards. This would then be followed by the release of a sleeker AR glasses in 2023. As for the headset, it would look similar to the Oculus Quest.

It is unclear how Apples first AR headset will look like and what all features it will pack. Apple could possibly try and include a LiDAR scanner  first seen on the 2020 iPad Pro  on its AR headset as it would allow for a rich and unique AR experience. The first iteration of the glasses are rumored to rely on the iPhone for all the processing work which makes sense given the power and battery life limitations that such a device poses. The company is working on a new AR app and new AR experiences for iOS 14. The company is very bullish on AR and it is clear that it is only a matter of time before it brings its first AR headset to the market.

[Via DigiTimes


A South Jacksonville village president candidate has been removed from the ballot over an objection to his petition.

Tyson Mankers name will be removed from the April ballot. A three-member board comprised of village President Harry Jennings, trustee Paula Stewart and Clerk Megan Moore voted unanimously to uphold a portion of an objection filed by candidate Richard Dick Samples.

The three, which make up the villages Electoral Board, agreed Manker failed to include a receipt from the Morgan County clerks office for a statement of economic interest. The statement, which candidates are legally required to file with the county, was instead filed with the village.

Manker said he was told by County Clerk Jill Waggener to file everything with the village. There was no mention that the statement had to be filed with the county, he said.

This board shouldnt punish me for what a county official instructed me to do, Manker said.

While the form was included, the receipt from the county was not, Stewart said.

I see the stamp from the village, Stewart said. I dont see the receipt that it was filed with the county clerk.

Though the board ultimately accepted Samples objection, two of its points were removed. Samples also argued that a page in Mankers petition did not contain a necessary signature and that the forms were not stapled or fastened properly.

The objection to the missing signature was removed. It was recognized that Manker received enough signatures on the remaining pages for his nomination to remain valid.

The argument to deny Mankers candidacy because of an incorrect staple was denied.

Prior to hearing Samples objection to Mankers candidacy petition, the board voted to deny two matters raised by Manker.

The first sought to remove Jennings from the Electoral Board on the basis of bias. Stewart and Moore disagreed that an email sent by Jennings to Manker about a Facebook post showed a bias against Manker.

Manker maintained that an email from Jennings was trying to intimidate (Manker) into removing a post from (his) personal Facebook page promoting candidacy for village president.

A request to reject Samples objection to Mankers candidacy petition also was denied.

Manker argued that Samples failed in his objection to strictly comply with state election laws because he didnt give a form of relief to be taken by the board.

The board will draft a written statement about its decision, which was expected to be signed during a meeting at 4:15 p.m. Monday in Village Hall. After that, Manker will have up to five days to appeal the decision to the Morgan County election board.

Manker hinted several times during the meeting that he would appeal, but was unavailable for comment Thursday.
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico is recording some of its highest daily death tolls since the coronavirus pandemic began, with 1,539 deaths reported Wednesday and 1,584 the previous day.

There was also a near-record one-day rise in new virus cases of 20,548 Wednesday.

Mexico has seen almost 1.69 million confirmed coronavirus infections and over 144,000 test-confirmed deaths related to COVID-19. The countrys testing rate is extremely low, however, and official estimates suggest the real death toll is closer to 195,000.

Hospitals in Mexico City, the current center of the pandemic in Mexico, were at 89% capacity Wednesday, while 61% of hospital beds nationwide were filled.

The difficulty in finding open hospital beds has led many families to try to treat their relatives at home, which has created spot shortages of oxygen and tanks, and sparked an uptick in thefts targeting oxygen tanks.

An armed thief stole oxygen tanks from a hospital in northern Mexico on Tuesday, and other thieves stole a truck carrying oxygen tanks near Mexico City.

A person loads into the back seat of a car a tank filled with oxygen for a family member sick with COVID-19, in the Iztapalapa borough of Mexico City, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. The city offers free oxygen refills for COVID-19 patients. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

On Wednesday, federal police said armed thieves kidnapped a man in Ecatepec, north of Mexico City, to hijack the truck in which he was carrying 44 oxygen tanks to distribute to COVID-19 patients. Police chased the truck, rescued the driver and arrested the two suspects.

Mexico has received only about 750,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, with about 500,000 administered so far. The country has 750,000 front-line medical personnel, all of whom will need two doses.

City worker Alexis Hernandez rides in the back of a cargo truck transporting tanks of oxygen for COVID-19 patients, in the Iztapalapa borough of Mexico City, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021. The city offers free oxygen refills for COVID-19 patients. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
KINGSTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / Delta Resources Limited ("Delta" or "the Company") (TSXV:DLTA) (OTC PINK:DTARF) (FSE:6G01) is pleased to release its drilling strategy for the Winter 2021 drill campaign at its Delta-2 property southeast of Chibougamau, Quebec.

As previously announced on January 11, 2021, Delta has now resumed its drilling program at Delta-2. The objective of the drilling program is to test a minimum of 18 targets deemed to have excellent potential for volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralization similar to the Lemoine past producer which is located 1.5 kilometre north of the property boundary. The Lemoine mine is an isolated VMS deposit that produced 757,585 tonnes @ 9.52% Zn, 4.18% Cu, 4.56 g/t Au and 82.26 g/t Ag between 1975 and 1983 and remains Canada's second highest grade mine (Source: www.sigeom.mines.gouv.qc.ca).

Delta is planning approximately 3,000 metres of drilling in this second phase of drilling, testing up to 18 isolated VTEM conductors that have never been drill tested. For logistics purposes, the targets that will be tested during this phase of drilling are all located in the SE portion of the property (see attached map).

The targets included in this first phase of VMS drilling were selected based on the following criteria:

Conductors are short, isolated and conformable to reflect the typical strike length of VMS deposits.

Conductors are located near or immediately onto what is interpreted as the stratigraphic horizon that hosts the Lemoine Mine.

Conductors are located in areas of structural complexity known to host massive sulphide deposits.

Chert, iron formations and felsic volcaniclastic rocks were observed in the field near the conductors, indicating a hiatus in the volcanic sequence; the site where VMS deposits are typically deposited.

Geological observations in the field, near the conductors have shown favourable indicators for VMS mineralization including: the presence of sulphide mineralization and garnet-sillimanite-andalusite-sericite-amphibole alteration typically associated with VMS deposits in high-grade metamorphic terranes.

The combination of these criteria suggests an excellent potential for VMS mineralization and each target shown on the attached map is deemed very high priority for drill testing.

The Delta-2 property covers over 177 square kilometres, located 35 kilometres southeast of the town of Chibougamau, Quebec. Delta is exploring for two distinct types of targets at the property: hydrothermal gold targets and gold-rich polymetallic VMS targets.

Qualified Person

Michel Chapdelaine, P.Geo. and Vice-President of Exploration of Delta Resources Limited is a Qualified Persons as defined by NI-43-101 and is responsible for the technical information presented in this press release. Mr. Chapdelaine has reviewed the drill core described herein.

Map of drill targets for Winter-21 drilling program at the Delta-2 property, Chibougamau Quebec. The map shows VTEM electromagnetic conductors over a total magnetic map. Map also shows Delta's interpreted hiatus in the volcanic sequence and the targets that are proposed for drilling during the winter of 2021.

About Delta Resources Limited

Delta Resources Limited is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on growing shareholder value through the exploration of two very high-potential gold and base-metal projects in Canada.

DELTA-1, 45 km 2 located 50km west of Thunder Bay, Ontario where an extremely high gold-in-till anomaly and kilometre-scale gold-bearing alteration halo point to a never-tested regional structure.

located 50km west of Thunder Bay, Ontario where an extremely high gold-in-till anomaly and kilometre-scale gold-bearing alteration halo point to a never-tested regional structure. DELTA-2, 170 km2 in the "red-hot" Chibougamau District of Quebec, with a potential for hydrothermal-gold and gold-rich VMS deposits.

Delta has 35M shares outstanding has a fully funded exploration for 2021 and in addition, is set to receive $1.3M in scaled payments, before September 2021, through the sale of its Bellechasse-Timmins gold project in SE Quebec.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DELTA RESOURCES LIMITED.

Andre C. Tessier

President, CEO and Director

www.deltaresources.ca

We seek safe harbor. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.

For Further Information:

Delta Resources Limited

Frank Candido, Chairman, VP Corporate Communications

Tel: 514-969-5530

fcandido@deltaresources.ca

or

Andre Tessier, CEO and President

Tel: 613-328-1581

atessier@deltaresources.ca

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Some statements contained in this news release are "forward looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding: the samples may be proximal to a rich bedrock source for the gold; the possibility of the same source for gold mineralization; and the initiation of a property-scale till survey in September. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any particular event.

SOURCE: Delta Resources Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625172/Delta-Releases-Drilling-Plan-To-Test-Its-VMS-Targets-in-Chibougamau-Quebec
WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris broke the barrier that has kept men at the top ranks of American power for more than two centuries when she took the oath Wednesday to hold the nations second-highest office.

Hours after she was sworn in as the first female U.S. vice president  and the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent in the role  she cast the moment as one that embodied American aspiration.

Even in dark times we not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be, she said in brief remarks outside the Lincoln Memorial. We are bold, fearless and ambitious. We are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up.

For Harris, the day was steeped in history and significance in more ways than one. She was escorted to the podium by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, the officer who single-handedly took on a mob of Trump supporters as they tried to breach the Senate floor during the Capitol insurrection, and she was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first woman of color on the court, on a Bible that once belonged to former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. She wore a deep purple dress and coat created by two emerging Black designers.

Her rise is historic in any context, another moment when a stubborn boundary falls away, expanding the idea of whats possible in American politics. But its particularly meaningful because Harris takes office at a moment when Americans are grappling over institutional racism and confronting a pandemic that has disproportionately devastated Black and brown communities.

Those close to Harris say shell bring an important  and often missing  perspective to the debates on how to overcome the many hurdles facing the new administration.

In many folks lifetimes, we experienced a segregated United States, said Lateefah Simon, a civil rights advocate and longtime Harris friend and mentee. You will now have a Black woman who will walk into the White House not as a guest but as a second in command of the free world.

Harris  the child of immigrants, a stepmother of two and the wife of a Jewish man  carries an intersectional story of so many Americans who are never seen and heard.

Later during the procession to the vice-presidential office building, she was led by her alma mater Howard Universitys marching band and walked while holding the hand of her grandniece and alongside her husband, stepchildren, sister, brother-in-law and nieces.

She then quickly got to work, presiding as Senate president for the first time to swear in three new Democratic senators: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Alex Padilla of California, Harris replacement.

Harris, 56, moves into the vice presidency just four years after she first came to Washington as a senator from California, where shed served as attorney general and as San Franciscos district attorney. She had expected to work with a White House run by Hillary Clinton, but President Donald Trumps victory quickly scrambled the nations capital and set the stage for the rise of a new class of Democratic stars. Her own presidential bid fizzled, but her rise continued when President Joe Biden chose her as his running mate.

Wednesday evening, she urged Americans to join Bidens call for the courage to see beyond crisis, to do what is hard, to do what is good.

With Trump absent from the inauguration, Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, took on the symbolic duty of escorting former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, out of the Capitol. Its a gesture that would normally be performed by incoming and outgoing presidents.

To celebrate the historic day, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the nations oldest sorority for Black women, which Harris joined at Howard University, declared Wednesday as Soror Kamala D. Harris Day. Members of the sorority watching the celebrations across the country were clad in pearls, as was Harris, and the sororitys pink and green colors.

There is a pride I cant put into words, said Elizabeth Shelby, a member of the sororitys Alpha Psi chapter, who watched from her home in Nashville, Tennessee. It is such a joy to see her rise to this place in our country. It is such a joy to know that she is one of us, that she represents us.

Biden, in his inaugural address, reflected on the 1913 march for womens suffrage the day before President Woodrow Wilsons inauguration, during which some marchers were heckled and attacked.

Today, we mark the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris. Dont tell me things cant change, Biden said.

As vice president, Harris will expand the definition of who gets to hold power in American politics, said Martha S. Jones, a professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and the author of Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All.

People who want to understand Harris and connect with her will have to learn what it means to graduate from a historically Black college and university rather than an Ivy League school. They will have to understand Harris traditions, like the Hindu celebration of Diwali, Jones said.

Folks are going to have to adapt to her rather than her adapting to them, Jones said.

Her election to the vice presidency should be just the beginning of putting Black women in leadership positions, Jones said, particularly after the role Black women played in organizing and turning out voters in the November election.

We will all learn what happens to the kind of capacities and insights of Black women in politics when those capacities and insights are permitted to lead, Jones said.

__

Kathleen Ronayne and Alexandra Jaffe of The Associated Press wrote this story. Ronayne reported from Sacramento, California. Associated Press journalist Christine Fernando in Chicago contributed.
insights from industry Dr. Irma Borcsok and Dorte Keimer CEO and Head of Quality Assurance PromoCell

In this interview, News-Medical talks to Dr. Irma Borcsok (CEO of PromoCell) and Dorte Keimer (Head of Quality Assurance) about PromoCell, the work they do, and the latest GMP certification the company has achieved - EXCiPACT.

Could you provide a brief overview of PromoCell and the work you do?

PromoCell has supported scientists worldwide in the field of biomedical research and industry research applications for over 30 years.

Today, PromoCell is widely regarded for its high level of competence, as well as its work with a wide range of primary human cells, stem cells, blood cells, and technically advanced cell culture media. Our certified cell culture media and reagents are available to our customers as pharmaceutical excipients on request.

What exactly is the EXCiPACT GMP certification and how is it complementary with the ISO 9001:2015?

Pharmaceutical excipient production should be carried out in accordance with the principles defined in the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). With that in mind, a group of industry experts including EFCG, IPEC and PQG worked together to develop the EXCiPACT certification scheme for pharmaceutical excipient suppliers.

ISO 9001 forms the basis for the EXCiPACT GMP standard, which is an annex to ISO 9001:2015. The US National Standard Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Pharmaceutical Excipients NSF/IPEC/ANSI 363-2016 also provides guidance and additional requirements,

PromoCell is certified to meet all of these requirements.

Following on from the previous question, could you please explain the importance of this certification to PromoCell?

Regulatory authorities require that pharmaceutical companies suppliers are qualified using standard GMP audits. This audit can be completed in-house, or by a third party such as an independent certification body.

EXCiPACT is a non-profit organization that oversees and operates one such independent, high-quality third-party certification system. This certification system is available to pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors around the world.

PromoCell can share both the certificate and the audit report with customers, providing them with documentation that both the customer and their local authority can use to risk assess our products. This reduces the burden of audits on both sides.

What did PromoCell need to demonstrate in order to be approved for the EXCiPACT GMP certification?

To achieve EXCiPACT GMP certification, PromoCell was required to demonstrate that its pharmaceutical excipients are manufactured according to the GMP guidelines, as well as ensuring compliance in our raw material supply chain, production environment, production processes and storage conditions.

The company had to provide a range of documents, including batch records and corresponding certificates confirming identity and traceability.

How will the certification affect how PromoCell operates?

PromoCell had already implemented the ISO 9001 quality management system in 2012, holding an ISO 9001:2015 certification, maintaining high quality standards and centralizing continuous improvement in our work.

As part of our work to achieve EXCiPACT GMP certification, we have introduced a new customer requirement document process (CRD). Customers working in regulated environments can use the CRD to identify, determine and communicate their regulatory requirements to us. This process is highly beneficial for our customers, because it allows us to customize products and documentation according to their needs.

Are there any products in particular that the EXCIPACT GMP certification will be important for?

EXCiPACT GMP certification covers the production of our entire cell culture media and reagents portfolio, meaning that all of these products can be implemented as part of our CRD process.

We are experiencing a growing demand for products designed for stem cell and cancer cell research applications; so in recent years PromoCell has developed a range of advanced cell culture media that can be provided as either xeno-free or chemically defined.

What does the future hold for PromoCell?

EXCiPACT GMP certification allows us to better accommodate the growing demand for products suitable for use in a regulated environment. Thanks to this certification, PromoCell will make important contributions in the transition from research to application.

About the interviewees

Dr. Irma Borcsok received her PhD degree in Biology from the University of Heidelberg (Germany), focusing on studying osteonecrotic bone metabolism in a primary human cell culture model. Irma was initially Production Director at PromoCell before shifting into the position of COO where she was responsible for the production of PromoCells cell culture and media portfolio as well leading R&D with her strong scientific background. Now she brings her 20 years experience into the CEO role.

Dorte Keimer has a strong background in GMP cell culture. She received her Master degree at the University of Krems (Austria) in Clinical Research and worked for eleven years in a variety of levels - but last as Head of Production according to EU GMP Guidelines manufacturing Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs). Dorte joined PromoCell in 2013 initially as Head of Quality Control. As Head of Quality Assurance she now leads also the Regulatory Affairs unit focusing on the customized documentation for PromoCells cell culture media and reagents used as pharmaceutical excipients.

About PromoCell

Advances in science and medicine are powered by human endeavor. PromoCell empowers your biomedical research. We are your partners for primary cells and cell culture media, as well as for cell biology research. Our portfolio comprises more than 7,000 products that follow the strictest ethical and quality standards.

With more than 30 years of experience in human primary cell culture, we deliver research tools for scientists worldwide. Because sharing knowledge is key to scientific discovery, we also offer professional training at our PromoCell Academy. Our team of experts is by your side in your quest for new therapies.
For the second time, a 37-year-old woman from Colorado, Letecia Leann Stauch, stepmother, has been found competent to stand trial for allegedly murdering her 11-year-old stepson, Gannon Stauch.

This was the second competency examination of Stauch. The first one was conducted by a hospital, which also has determined that she was competent to stand trial.

Despite the result, her defense demanded another evaluation. The prosecution conceded and it turns out that the prosecution got its way at the end of it all.

As things stand, based on a report, Staunch will most likely face a jury for allegedly murdering her 11-year-old stepson, Gannon Stauch at their home on January 27, 2020, while the rest of the family was out during the time.

Also of note at the hearing on Tuesday was that there is a request for additional security after the second mental evaluation.

Michael Allen, The El Paso County District Attorney kept the reasoning behind this vague. The El Paso District Attorney shared that was just a concern that came up in the second competency evaluation, and then he is going to leave it at that.

He also mentioned that he does not want to share the said details as of the moment but it would potentially secrete a number of issues in the court, Law and Crime reported.

The alleged behavior of the 37-year-old woman from Colorado while being in custody, has been a recurring issue since her arrest last March.

Stauch allegedly slipped out her handcuffs and attacked a deputy, and plotted an escape from jail, and claimed to have received threats in her peanut butter.

In a jailhouse interview, she suggested that she might have post-traumatic stress disorder. Moreover, cops did not think that the defendant is a reliable narrator of what happened to her stepson.

Based on the arrest affidavit, Stauch reported that her 11-year-old stepson went missing to the authorities, and claimed that Gannon had disappeared after going to the house of his friend.

But according to the cops, despite the effort of Stauch of reporting her missing stepson, she did not actually go to any neighboring homes in order to look for Gannon, and that she neither recalled the names of the friends he was meant to be playing with nor the names of the parents of his friends, WMBF News reported.

The authorities also added suspicious behavior which includes lying repeatedly, falsely reporting a rape, and disconnecting her cell phone for an extended period of time.

According to KKTV 11 News, the police shared, Stauch, murdered her stepson in his bedroom as investigators cited evidence that blood was spattered on the walls, the stained mattress of the child, stained the concrete under his bed, and soaked his carpet.

After the investigation, Gannon was found dead in Florida as investigators reported that the victim has been shot, stabbed, and stuffed in a suitcase by her stepmother. After the second evaluation, the case will be back on track.

Related Article: Thai Woman Faces 43 Years Jailtime for Insulting King, Charged with Defamation of Monarchy

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As a scholar of Latin American politics at the University of Sydney, I have sometimes struggled to explain to my Australian students the phenomenon of populism.

How do you get intelligent young people, who have grown up in a country where politics is basically reasonable, to understand the appeal of a leader who claimed that Martian civilisation was destroyed by capitalism (Hugo Chavez, former president of Venezuela), who recorded a campaign jingle about himself called The Chinese Man who Dances (Alberto Fujimori, former president of Peru), or who first rose to fame for his participation in a military dictatorship and called his philosophy "Justice-ism" (Juan Peron, former president of Argentina)?

Juan Peron, former president of Argentina, and his wife Evita, in 1950. Credit:AP

It is no longer difficult. Thanks to Donald Trump, populism has ceased to be a mysterious phenomenon confined to less familiar parts of the world. For the past four years, it has been embodied by the man who, as the 45th president of the United States, had the proverbial nuclear codes at his fingertips.

Like all populists, Trump's rise was rooted in a rhetorical division of the world into the people versus the elites. Presenting himself as the champion of the former, he promised to use any means necessary to take on the "traitors" and "enemies of the people".

Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild wont ever forget the first three Wednesdays of 2021.

First came the insurrection at the Capitol as she sat in the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives chambers. The following Wednesday she voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump for a second time.

This Wednesday, she watched President Joseph R. Biden Jr. sworn in as the 46th president on the steps of the Capitol, on a stage that pro-Trump rioters swarmed two weeks ago.

Sitting on the windswept Capitol lawn in clusters of socially-distanced chairs, Wild and her son, Clay, had a front row seat to history as California Sen. Kamala Harris become the nations first female, first Black and first Asian American vice president in one fell swoop.

It was a momentous experience, Wild said.

Mother and son donned Good Trouble facemasks in honor of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a Black civil rights icon who represented Georgia for 33 years. Lewis often referenced the idea of getting into good trouble over the course of his life, saying in March 2020 on the Selma bridge, Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.

A living piece of history pic.twitter.com/gJvK33nWPU  Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) January 20, 2021

Lewis, a major Biden supporter, would have loved Wednesdays reaffirmation of the American democratic process on the hallowed grounds of the Capitol, which insurrectionists attacked two short weeks ago, Wild said.

She felt Biden struck exactly the right notes in his speech, urging the divided nation to come together, while showing Americans how it could be done.

I came away feeling really good and positive and optimistic about how things will shape up, Wild, a Democrat just elected to her second term representing the 7th Congressional District, said.

Biden built a reputation for working across the aisle with his Republican colleagues over more than 30 years in the Senate and as vice president. Wild tries to model a similar approach so it was refreshing to see an American president preaching unity, rather than the division so often heard over the last four years, she said.

I was very happy to see a number of my Republican colleagues in the audience to share in welcoming a new administration, Wild said, noting this is an essential hallmark of the peaceful transfer of power.

Wild did not attend Trumps inaugural four years ago, where he spoke of American carnage and decisiveness, yet on Wednesday she said, You couldnt help be struck by the difference between the two speeches.

The Lehigh Valley lawmaker felt nervous about attending the inauguration in the days leading up to it, but security briefings and her own conversations with National Guardsmen, F.B.I. and Secret Service agents did assuage her concerns.

The irony did strike me that most of those that were in attendance had voted not to certify the election, yet they showed up for the inauguration, she said. You can look at that in two ways: them being hypocritical or looking at that as them being ready to lay down their arms and move forward. I am going to believe the latter.

Congress and the Biden administration face a daunting to-do list in 2021 as the coronavirus pandemic rages on bringing widespread economic fallout, illness and more than 400,000 Americans dead. The U.S. faces a sluggish vaccine rollout as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predict a March surge of a new coronavirus variant.

To tackle all of these issues, Wild strongly believes cooperation is required. Democrats hold a narrow majority in the House and a 50-50 split in the U.S. Senate, where Harris will serve as tiebreaker.

Wild takes a pragmatic approach to working with her 147 Republican colleagues who voted against certifying Bidens presidential win. If she refused to collaborate with all of them, it would leave her few Republicans to work with, she said. But she will not tolerate colleagues voicing conspiracy theories or threatening the safety of other members.

I have concerns about people who espouse QAnon theories, Wild said. I have problems with people who refuse to go through metal detectors after an insurrection at the Capitol. I am not going to go so far that I am not willing to vote with people who did not vote to certify the election.

She doubts she can find any common ground with QAnon conspiracy theory supporters and definitely not anyone who supported the Capitol rioters. But she noted it is still not clear who all might have supported or aided in the insurrection.

Congress will have its own investigation, she said. We need to know if anyone on the inside, the Capitol Police or otherwise aided and abetted.

New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherril has said she witnessed members of Congress lead reconnaissance tours the day before the deadly attack Jan. 6.

Wild sat in the gallery watching House proceedings as rioters stormed the Capitol building, trapping her with fellow lawmakers and reporters in the balcony. Photos went viral of her calling her adult children and holding hands with a colleague as she crouched on the floor beneath folding seats as glass shattered, gunshots rang out and screams reverberated in the Capitol halls. Her son sent her the photo before she could spot it online unexpectedly.

It was very upsetting. It brought back exactly how I felt in that moment, very panicky. I had just got off the phone with my kids, Wild said. ... I didnt ever expect a photo of me to go viral, but I think it was really important for people to understand how horrible that was.

Wild is pleased with the F.B.I.s swift investigation of the Capitol attack and the resulting arrests. Constituents have offered her several tips she has passed on to law enforcement. She cautioned the investigation wont wrap up in a week, but shes confident justice will be served.

Wild returned to the House floor the night of Jan. 6 to certify Bidens win and the following week the House voted to impeach Trump for a second time for inciting the insurrection.

It was not a tough choice to vote to impeach Trump again, but Wild was struck that this time she received much more bipartisan support. There have been few angry phone calls and many positive ones, she said.

I always vote my conscience and, especially on matters like that, I dont take the temperature before I vote, Wild said. But it was good to hear people understood why this impeachment vote was so important and necessary.

Im committed to working to unite our nation with President Biden and Vice President Harris.



This isnt just my country and its not just your country - its our country. pic.twitter.com/5IxCniEPba  Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) January 20, 2021

In his inaugural speech, Biden called on Americans to set aside their deep divisions. While he never identified his predecessor by name, he spent a long time talking about the importance of truth and the consequences of lies after a presidency where Trump made countless false or misleading statements over his four years in office.

The daughter of a journalist, Wild felt this focus on truth and facts was refreshing.

One of the things I am most relieved about is that we will have a president who will not be constantly bashing the press and talking about fake news and is actually respectful of the role journalists play in a free society, upholding our democracy, Wild said.

She hopes other elected officials start leading by example and start encouraging people to not follow fake news outlets.

The real challenge now is going to be to get the American people on board, Wild said. There are an awful lot of people who believe what they hear on false news sites.

Wild is hopeful Congress and the country can move past the drama, so she can get down to business on the kitchen-table issues that keep her constituents up at night.

And shes hoping next Wednesdays a little more innocuous.

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

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.
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Considering the immense long-term impact of the decision not to locate the headquarters for U.S. Space Command in Albuquerque, it is time not for sour grapes but for a hard second look and introspection by local, state and federal officials.

Less than a week after military officials toured Kirtland Air Force Base on Jan. 7, the Air Force announced Jan. 13 that Huntsville, Alabama, had been chosen over Albuquerque and four other finalist cities. The Air Force said Huntsville compared more favorably against the other finalist cities in Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, Florida and New Mexico in providing a large qualified workforce, superior infrastructure capacity, low initial recurring costs and high-quality schools.

The possibility of locating Space Command here offered real hope for the future of Albuquerque. Beyond the 1,000 civilian and 1,400 military jobs, potential billions of dollars of economic activity for the region and untold private-sector contracts, the command offered an opportunity to tie together many of New Mexicos unique technological assets. We have a history and synergy of military bases, national labs, research universities, private aerospace enterprises and a one-of-a-kind spaceport.

But while we unquestionably have a lot in the positives column, recurring issues including crime, a struggling Downtown and the routine ranking of New Mexicos schools at the bottom of state lists was no doubt a deterrent to lift-off. All were criteria in the Space Command selection, and on all those, Albuquerque has weaknesses that must be addressed.

Consider that Huntsville City Schools, where many parents connected to Space Command would send their children, has a graduation rate of 88%, according to the school districts website. The graduation rate at Albuquerque Public Schools, including charter schools, was 70.1% for the class of 2019. Huntsville High School, with a 35% minority enrollment, has a graduation rate of 90%, with 69% of students participating in Advanced Placement coursework and exams. Thats pretty impressive.

Yet several lawmakers say the Air Force appeared to be playing politics when it chose Redstone Arsenal. I dont think it was a logical place to choose for the Space Command, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich told the Journal. Heinrich, other members of the states congressional delegation, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Mayor Tim Keller say they plan to ask the Biden administration to reevaluate the decision. Elected leaders in other states that lost out are also calling for a review.

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Giving the decision another look seems reasonable considering the long-term impact of locating the unified combatant command that will oversee military space operations for decades to come. And it can and should be done without impugning the Air Force.

Albuquerque can take pride the Duke City was one of six finalists among the 50 locations in 26 states that submitted bids, but our loss should have our officials looking at us as others see us, not as we wish to be seen, and to stop making excuses for why nobody appreciates our unique culture.

The decision to go with Huntsville was a disappointment, but we must learn from it. Space Command wont be the last project for which the Duke City submits a bid. A full and detailed accounting of how the Air Force reached its decision, as requested by Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, should help. Its important to learn where we had shortcomings, and to make real, tangible improvements rather than excuses. And those improvements need to include improving K-12 student outcomes, lowering crime and resuscitating Downtown.

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.
Deadline: Recruitment firm Indeed told staff they had be back working in Ireland by January 1. Photo: Google StreetView

Staff at some of the countrys biggest technology employers have been ordered back to Ireland and told working from home must be within the country.

Some staff say its left them under pressure to travel and find accommodation during one of the worst periods of the pandemic and even fearing for their jobs.

One big Dublin employer, global jobs platform Indeed, confirmed it told Irish based employees they needed to return here by January 1, but said it will be flexible where a return is delayed as a result of the pandemic or health concerns.

The dramatic increase in jobs that can be done remotely since the start of the pandemic has kicked off a surge in so-called digital nomads  tech workers relocating from expensive cities like Dublin, London or San Francisco to cheaper places often with lifestyle benefits.

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Traditionally peripheral countries like Greece and Barbados have even offered incentives in an effort to boost their tax bases by bringing in high-paid workers. In many cases, overseas workers returned to their home country for some or all of the duration of the crisis.

However, while self-employed or contract workers can work from anywhere, global tax planning means that is not the reality for many employees.

If a company was to have staff permanently based in different countries that could trigger it being found to have a taxable presence in each.

Economist Seamus Coffey of UCC says corporate tax rules mean multinationals have little choice but to keep employees within the jurisdiction where the profits from their work is taxed.

There is no doubt tax is a significant factor. Companies pay tax on the basis of where they have operations. If a company was to have staff permanently based in different countries that could trigger it being found to have a taxable presence in each, he said.

That is especially true if it involved staff who close big deals or create valuable intellectual property. In theory, firms could be forced to make tax returns in any place employees were working, including calculating the relevant profits to assign each worker.

In February last year, Indeeds Dublin offices with more than 1,000 staff became the first big employer here to tell all of its staff to work from home to prevent a possible Covid-19 outbreak, setting a template that was followed within weeks by millions of workers.

Its Irish-based employees come from dozens of countries and some had returned home or gone elsewhere for some of the last 11 months.

The company confirmed to the Irish Independent that all staff continue to work remotely, but should be doing so within Ireland unless explicitly cleared to move abroad.

Employees are able to live anywhere within their country of hire. Employees who wish to move to another country will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In relation to employees who returned to their home country during the Covid crisis, they were asked to return to their country of hire by January 1, the company said.

Where that hasn't been possible due to the public health situation, we are working with those employees on a case-by-case basis.

Google, another technology giant and a near neighbour of Indeed in Dublins usually buzzing Grand Canal Docks area, has told employees that they can continue to work from home until September 2021, but that should be within Ireland for employees of its Irish arm.

Google is understood to see some scope for flexibility in light of the exceptional nature of the current crisis and the need of some Google staff to get back to their home country to be with partners, family or for other practical reasons.
Varun Dhawan To Leave For Arunachal And Shoot Bhediya Right After His Wedding With Natasha Dalal?

The only thing Varun Dhawan is looking forward to right now is his wedding to long time girlfriend Natasha Dalal. The duo is all set to tie the knot on 24th January in Alibaug and the wedding festivities would begin in two days. But, it's not all festive for Varun since the actor has a number of project lined up. In fact, he might leave to shoot for his upcoming film right after the wedding!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn)

If a report in Pinkvilla is to believed, then the actor will leave for Arunachal Pradesh right after his wedding, and no, it's not for his honeymoon. The actor will leave to shoot for the upcoming Amar Kaushik film. A source said, In February, Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon will take off to Arunachal Pradesh to begin their work on Bhediya. Its going to be a two-month schedule at real locations of the state, before calling it a wrap. The script demanded a certain kind of topography, and Arunachal Pradesh will lend the necessary support to the narrative of the film.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn)

He also added that it would be like a monster comedy rather than a quintessential horror comedy. Later, there would be a crossover between this, Stree and yet-to-be-released Roohi Afza. Varun would also begin shoot for Sriram Raghavan's Ekkis by September this year.
[January 21, 2021]

HexaGroup Named Largest Houston Web Developer

HOUSTON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HexaGroup has tied for the top ranking on the Houston Business Journal's 2020 Largest Houston-Area Website Developer List.

While HexaGroup has become the go-to agency for outsourced marketing and increased revenue in the energy, manufacturing and industrial spaces, it has kept its web development edge. The agency designs and builds responsive websites that are easy to navigate and quick to engage  and convert  leads.

With 25 years of building websites for brand awareness, lead generation or ecommerce, HexaGroup has mastered many platforms and won numerous awards for its websites and apps, including from the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts and American Marketing Association.

From content to design to implementation, it customizes websites for every type of business from startups to global corporations. Whether a restructure, relaunch or brand-new site, the team listens, researche, plans and delivers powerful websites. As a Google expert, it also optimizes visibility on search engines.







That's not all HexaGroup does  the team also uses those websites to launch full digital marketing campaigns, spike social media engagement and promote brands across platforms.

"2020 has been a year of firsts for our team  from reaching HubSpot Platinum status to opening a new marketing office based in Brooklyn, New York. We're thrilled to close it and begin the new year with a recognition of our team's hard work and our clients' approval," said Arnaud Dasprez, president and CEO of HexaGroup.

About HexaGroup

HexaGroup is an award-winning digital marketing agency that blends marketing strategy and implementation, advertising, content creation, and interactive and website development. Based in Houston, Texas, we are experts in B2B and offer incomparable industrial and energy knowledge.

Contact:

Arnaud Dasprez

adasprez@hexagroup.com

713-528-2134 x700

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hexagroup-named-largest-houston-web-developer-301212723.html

SOURCE HexaGroup
Shekeb has plan for Emily to win Laila over by turning up at her birthday party

A furious mother refuses to eat the birthday cake bought by her son's girlfriend during a tense showdown on I Love A Mama's Boy!

Tonight's episode of the Discovery+ show focuses on Shekeb, his partner Emily, 24, and his mother Laila's dislike of her - primarily due to the difference in culture.

Originally from Afghanistan, Laila wants her son to marry a Muslim woman, and Korean-born Emily doesn't fit that vision. But Shekeb has a plan for Emily to win Laila over: turning up at her birthday party and surprising her - only, it doesn't go to plan.

When Shekeb reveals Emily helped him pick the cake, Laila declares: 'I don't need this cake anymore. I will not touch it, oh my gosh.

'I'm not going to eat anything, you're going to poison me!' she continues, pointing at a slack-jawed Emily. 'Take your gift any leave! You're just an annoying person!'

Laila, who lives in the US, refuses to eat the birthday cake bought by her son's girlfriend Emily, 24, during a tense showdown on tonight's episode of I Love A Mama's Boy!

Laila's (pictured) dislike of Emily stems primarily from the difference in culture - as she always wanted her son Shekeb to marry a Muslim woman

After being ditched by her boyfriend Shekeb on Valentine's Day, Emily confides in her own mother who tells her to dump him.

'Shekeb just left me at dinner on Valentine's Day because his mother was in pain,' she vexes. 'When it comes to our relationship, his mother kind of gets in the way of everything.'

Frustrated, Emily admits that she has grown tired of trying to win Laila's approval, and that her constant manipulation of her son is starting to drive a wedge between them.

'But honestly, I already know that Laila is okay, because I mean let's be real, last time on my birthday his mum called and she just really wanted Shekeb to leave dinner and he did. She ended up being fine.'

As Shekeb himself admits, he has a lot of work to do to make things right with Emily.

'I'm taking Emily shopping because our Valentine's Day dinner was a disaster,' he says. 'My mother kept on calling me, I thought she hurt herself; I literally left her that night. So today is pretty much my day to make it up to her.'

Shekeb left his partner Emily at dinner on Valentine's Day because his mother was in pain. Pictured, Shekeb and Laila

Shekeb takes Emily shopping because their Valentine's Day dinner was a disaster. Pictured, together

As she rifles through clothes, Emily tells Shekeb exactly how she feels.

'She's been sabotaging the relationship,' she says sternly. 'See that's the thing, I know this,' Shekeb admits. 'But my mother has this thing on me. I feel guilty whenever she is sad or alone by herself, and I'm over here.'

However, Shekeb conjures up a plan for Emily to win Laila over.

'I'm pretty confident that on her birthday tonight, all you got to do is find the perfect gift for her,' he says. 'That's all we got to do.'

Despite reluctantly agreeing to give Shekeb's plan a go, Emily isn't sure her impromptu appearance will change anything.

'Laila's never been nice to me, she's never accepted me, she's always comparing me to other women,' she explains. 'So, I definitely don't feel confident going to Laila's birthday party.'

Adding to her palpable sense of frustration, Emily bemoans how Laila has once again become the focal point of one of their dates.

'I wanted Shekeb to take me shopping and spend time with me and tell me that he's sorry, but once again Laila becomes the centre of attention,' she says.

After settling on a pair of earrings, Emily mentally prepares herself for the evening ahead.

Emily bemoans how Laila has once again become the focal point of one of their dates. Pictured, with Shekeb

Emily (pictured) admits that she has grown tired of trying to win Laila's approval, and that her constant manipulation of her son is starting to drive a wedge between them

Despite being the mastermind behind the plan to surprise Laila, Shekeb admits that he's not sure how his mother will react to Emily turning up unannounced.

'I didn't tell my mother a thing,' he says. 'I'm pretty nervous about it, I'm scared of her reaction.'

Later than evening, Laila and her family and friends gather to celebrate her birthday.

'It's my mother's birthday and it's pretty much the greatest day of the year,' Shekeb says. 'I'm celebrating the woman I love so much, another year and another milestone.'

Urging his mother on to make a wish as she blows out the candles on her birthday cake, Shekeb is suddenly stopped in his tracks.

'You know what my wish is, but I'm not going to tell you,' she says bluntly.

'I know for a fact my mother is talking about Emily. But the only way that she will only see who Emily really is at heart is the fact that they need to spend time together,' Shekeb reflects.

Before the smoke from the candles has clear, the doorbell rings. Right on time, Emily has arrived, gift in hand, to wish Laila a happy birthday.

'Walking into Laila's birthday party, I am so nervous and scared because Laila has no idea I'm coming,' she admits.

Walking into the living room, Shekeb and Emily announce themselves to Laila, who is far from pleased.

Shekeb himself admits he has a lot of work to do to make things right with Emily. Pictured, with his mother Laila

Laila (pictured) looks towards the floor and grudgingly thanks Emily as she gives her a birthday present

'I didn't expect her,' she mutters to her husband.

After a short, awkward silence, Emily wishes Laila a happy birthday and hands her over the present. With a face like thunder, Laila looks towards the floor and grudgingly thanks Emily.

'Ma, what are you doing?' Shekeb asks, shocked by Laila's rudeness, as she refuses to open the gift.

'I don't need a gift, I don't expect anything from her,' Laila says. 'You shouldn't be here anyway, it's my birthday.'

Visibly upset, Laila puts her head in hands as Emily takes a seat.

'When I'm talking to Laila I feel like I'm talking to my worst enemy,' Emily says, exacerbated.

As he tries to endear Emily to Laila, Shekeb manages to make matters even worse.

'As a matter of fact, she's even the one who helped me pick out the cake,' he says, to which Laila then pushes the cake to one side.

With tensions at an all-time high, Emily tries to reason with Laila: 'I'm annoying because I'm a good girlfriend?'

Laila, having none of it, tells Emily exactly what she doesn't want to hear.

'No you're not, and you never will be.'
Ready to work with new US administration says Pak foreign minister

On Indias permanent council seat, here is what Bidens US pick said

US elections 2021: Russia meddled, Iran did too, China sat it out

Explained: How US President Joe Biden's era impact India?

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 21: Joe Biden is being sworn in as the 46th US President. The theme is now centred around "America United". Being the largest economy, the American policy playbook under a new president matters to all countries. Let's take a look at how this would affect Indian economy.

Joe Biden takes charge as US President, signs a blizzard of executive orders| Oneindia News

What are the global expectations?

It can be seen that people were waiting for the president to unfold the broad contours of the US policy on globalization and international relations, especially with China, emerging economies, besides defence spending and economic stimulus in the wake of the novel coronavirus. Most expect a return to the pre-Trump era with the US playing a more active role in world dynamics.

Now, with Biden declaring "America is back", the message is of bold investment to boost the US economy ($1 trillion to be offered as direct relief to households and $440 billion earmarked for small businesses).

'No time to waste': Joe Biden posts first tweet as US President

What changes in policy should India expect?

It can be seen that the US and India see each others as key strategic partners and analysts expect Indo-US relations to be less strained. The coalition against China is likely to persist and ties with India and other Pacific nations, including Japan and Australia, may be further boosted.

As Biden sworn-in as the US President, the major change India hopes for is in terms of-software exports, H1 visa policy, minimum compensation for engineers via which Trump tried discouraging hiring Indian IT professionals.

The US was seen putting pressure on India over its agri subsidy policy, for which, there may not be a major shift, but it might be easier to deal with the new regime.

Will there be impact on Indo-US bilateral relations?

In 2019-20, the bilateral trade between the two countries was at $88.75 billion. In 2019, the US was the largest goods export market (17 per cent share) for India and, in terms of goods import supplier, it was the third largest.

In April-September 2020, US was the second biggest FDI source for India. It's likely that higher portfolio investments influenced by federal rates will flow into India.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 11:35 [IST]
(Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers on AIM on Thursday.







AIM WINNERS







Quadrise Fuels International, up 38% at 2.94 pence, 12-month range 1.06-4.24p. The fuel conversion technology firm said it has signed a joint development agreement with MSC Shipmanagement of Cyprus - a subsidiary of subsidiary of Geneva-headquartered MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co - to carry out an MSAR Operational Trial on commercial container vessels in the MSC global fleet commencing in 2021 with, subject to further agreement, subsequent commercial rollout upon success. The MSC group is one of the world's largest cargo shipping and cruise line companies, Quadrise noted.







ECSC Group, up 21% at 84.45p, 12-month range 51.25p-140.25p. The cyber security services provider said 2020 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation was in excess of GBP400,000, versus a breakeven position in 2019. Revenue edged down to GBP5.7 million from GBP5.9 million. "Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group made solid progress during the 2020 financial year, and we are particularly pleased to report growing adjusted EBITDA profitability and cash generation," said Chief Executive Ian Mann.







Image Scan Holdings, up 19% at 3.04p, 12-month range 1.0p-3.5p. The X-ray imaging systems provider said it has been awarded a contract to supply three portable X-ray scanning systems to the Royal Air Force. The award is the company's first contract with the RAF.







Panoply Holdings, up 19% at 189.60p, 12-month range 40.2p-214p. The IT service management company said it expects to "significant exceed" its expectations for the financial year ending in March. After a "successful" third quarter, Panoply said it expects full-year revenue in excess of GBP47.5 million and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation in excess of GBP6.3 million.







AIM LOSERS







Eve Sleep, down 15% at 4.90p, 12-month range 0.65p-7.0p. The online mattress business reported an increase in revenue and earnings for 2020, though noted that the availability of raw materials and component supply remains an industry issue and a "potential limiting factor on near term growth". In 2020, revenue increased 6% to GBP25.2 million, driven by 18% growth in the second half, and Ebitda loss GBP2.0 million versus loss of GBP10.7 million in 2019. "At this time the company has not experienced any material cost/duty increases as a direct result of Brexit, though there has been some slowing of the pace of deliveries to Ireland and Northern Ireland resulting from courier related issues. eve will continue to closely monitor the situation but does not expect any material full year impact at this time," said Eve.







Versarien, down 7.6% at 59.90p, 12-month range 21.2p-84.0p. The advanced engineering materials firm reported interim revenue of GBP3.1 million, down from GBP4.4 million a year ago, and a pretax loss of GBP4.3 million for the six months to September 31 versus a loss of GBP2.1 million a year prior. "The effects of the pandemic impacted our customer base in the mature businesses in both business segments. However, sales of graphene enhanced masks added an additional GBP0.33 million of revenues in H1 2020," said Versarien.







By Lucy Heming;A lucyheming@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Since 1989, West Midland Family Center has facilitated the Dow College Opportunity Program (COP) to assist high-aptitude, first-generation, students enroll and succeed in college.

COP is a competitive program which provides students a foundation for a promising future. Students in the COP mentorship program are referred by middle school counselors from participating rural schools. They must maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA, and be financially eligible for Pell Grant funding. Beginning in ninth grade, continuing over four years, students engage in activities designed to prepare them for future success. Students volunteer hundreds of hoursbenefiting society and helping them connect to community. They are exposed to diverse cultural experiences, which broaden their view of the world and their place in it.

Upon high school graduation, students have the option to participate in the college support component of the program. As students acclimate to campus life, then throughout college, many turn to the COP Program Director for assistance with assignments, with scholarship or financial aid applications, or simply for an encouraging word or an opportunity to talk. Eighty-three percent of COP students go on to graduate college with an associate, bachelor or masters degree. Over the years, COP graduates have pursued varied career paths including: medicine, nursing, engineering, psychology and education. Several graduates have attained Ph.D.s. Clearly, the 83% college graduation rate among WMFCs COP students is extraordinary and life-altering. It is even more impressive when compared to Midlands county-wide 44% college graduation rate. This positive outcome assures that students who succeed through the College Opportunity Program at WMFC ultimately become contributing members of society.

Living proof: Jeff Cooper was accepted as a member of the WMFC COP in 2006. He graduated from Meridian High School in 2010, then attended Delta College, where he graduated in 2012 with an associates of science degree. Cooper transferred to CMU, where he graduated with a bachelors of science with a major in biomedical science and technology in 2015. While accepted to the MSU and CMU colleges of medicine, Cooper opted for CMU and graduated in 2019. He is now in his second year of residency (out of six) at Eastern Carolina University/Vidant Medical Center. Cooper graciously gives credit for his success in-part to the COP.

COP provided me with opportunities that were endless, they thrust me into leadership roles and caused me to develop courage and confidence within myself," said Dr. Cooper, who is an emergency medicine-internal medicine/critical care medicine resident.

Case in point: Meghan. Meghan graduated with honors from high school in 2019. During high school, Meghan was dual enrolled at a local college, while working to help with family bills and paying for school. A social work internship was required during her college dual enrollment so she arranged to volunteer in the WMFC Family Services program. She helped facilitate a personal empowerment class for young moms and learned how WMFC family services are provided. Meghan is now attending CMU, pursuing her degree in social work, with a goal to help youth who need support. Juggling work and class is a struggle, but doubly so for first-generation college students! Knowing the struggles of low-income families makes Meghan ideally qualified to help the young people she has a passion to serve.

Clearly, COP is changing the lives of students. Providing support, opportunities, and enrichment for participants allows them to improve their chances at attaining a college education, therefore, preparing them for success in all areas of their lives.

Susan Love is the New Initiatives Director at West Midland Family Center. She penned this piece as part of the Midland Daily News' Community Connections initiative.
Who doesnt love Tom Hanks?

From Forrest Gump to Mr. Rogers, the Concord native has played plenty of huge parts over his career, but at this point, there may be no more fitting role than to host President Joe Bidens inauguration night festivities.

Hes the timeless Hollywood hero, and although he has played a couple characters throughout his career who could be considered not-so-heroic (Road to Perdition, Cloud Atlas), theres just something about him that exudes comfort. In a 2020 interview with the New York Times, he explained his philosophy on gravitating toward these types of roles.

I recognized in myself a long time ago that I dont instill fear in anybody, Hanks said. Now, thats different than being nice, you know? I think I have a cache of mystery. But its not one of malevolence.

Handout/Biden Inaugural Committee via Ge

Throughout the past year, hes been an outspoken advocate for national unity, perseverance and sacrifice in the face of the coronavirus pandemic (he even dared to host "Saturday Night Live' from home). As one of the first celebrities to reveal that he contracted COVID-19, he essentially led a one-man PR campaign for masks aimed at the Greatest Generation and TikTok users alike. Lending his voice to the inauguration ceremony was yet another act of unity, delivered with the non-partisan perspective hes known for.

And for all the gushing that you could do about the guy (Hanks 2024?), the thing that made him such a perfect host is just how much he just stayed in the background. His most extensive comments were to open the show in which he celebrated the tradition of the peaceful transition of power.

Inauguration Day is about much more than the swearing in of our next national leaders. This day is about witnessing the permanence of our American ideal, he said, introducing several readings from iconic inauguration addresses from years past.

Handout/Biden Inaugural Committee via Ge

From there, he offered short transitions between segments that showcased frontline workers, plus musical performances from A-list talent ranging from Bruce Springsteen to Luis Fonsi. There was also a short and somewhat cringy conversation between former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama (with the 45th president noticeably absent).

Admittedly, its easy to write off the inauguration broadcast as a cheesy celebrity spectacle (Bon Jovi playing a Beatles cover on a Miami pier, were looking at you). But this presidential transition has a unique weight to it, and for many, a dark cloud of illegitimacy and feelings of malevolence. And theres no more fitting narrator to dispel that rancor, at least for 90 minutes, than the guy who doesnt instill fear in anyone.
TDs teared up in the Dail as they gave statements over the Mother and Baby Homes report, which was branded a colossal disappointment and disrespectful in the extreme.

There was cross party agreement that the report which found that over 9,000 children died in the homes gave a glimpse of full horror into what truly went on in the homes.

While discussing harrowing details of the experiences of survivors of mother and baby homes, many TDs held back tears.

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Labour TD Sean Sherlock spoke about, Dr James Deeny Chief Medical Adviser of the Republic of Ireland, who worked in the Bessborough mother and baby home.

He got choked up as he spoke about a report where the children were described as miserable scraps of humanity, wisened and emancipated and almost all had rashes and sores all over their bodies, hands and heads.

Forgive me for getting upset, Leas Ceann Comhairle, that has to be dealt with, we have to deal with it face on, he told the Dail.

Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carrol MacNeill also had to hold back tears as she spoke about the animalistic scream that came from a mother who had found out that her baby had been taken away from the home for adoption without notice or consent.

There are women today among us who know that scream also for different reasons, for the loss of a child, the guttural animalistic scream that comes from the loss of a child, she said.

Fianna Fail TDs Mary Butler and Anne Rabbitte got emotional when discussing some dark parts of the report.

Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion called the report one of greatest miscarriages of truth ever produced and a disgrace.

She said that a survivor who came forward with her story for the report did not have one word of her story used.

Not only is it a colossal disappointment for survivors, its disrespectful in the extreme as it attempts to contradict their accounts.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said that this report played down significantly the evidence and the reality of these experiences.

She said that the 9,000 babies who died in the homes give a glimpse of full horror of what happened in the homes.

Referring to his own experience of being born in a mother and baby home, Solidarity People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said he has mixed feelings about the report and the discussion surrounding it.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday she will consult with fellow Democrats in coming days about the Senate's readiness to begin an impeachment trial on former President Donald Trump's alleged role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

"I'll be talking with the managers as to when the Senate will be ready for the trial of the then-president of the United States for his role in instigating an insurrection on the Capitol of the United States," Pelosi told reporters.
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - Mississippis public schools will not be assigned new A-F letter grades for their performances during the 2020-21 school year.

The Mississippi State Board of Education (MDE) voted Thursday to suspend three statewide policies in order to help manage the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the current school year.

Each school year, the MDE assesses schools and later assigns letter grades to reflect the performances of those schools.

Thursday's suspension means all required state and federal assessments will still be administered this school year as usual, but the MDE will not hand out new letter grades.

Due to the virus impact on the current school year, the MDE will not have enough data to calculate grades based on state and federal requirements.

Schools will keep their most recent letter grades earned in the 2018-19 school year.

Thursdays vote also affects 3rd-grade students and high school students in Mississippi.

Each year 3rd-grade students take the 3rd Grade Reading/Language Arts assessment test.

This year, however, students will not be required to meet a passing score on the test to be promoted to 4th grade for the 2021-22 school year. Students must still meet all other district requirements for promotion.

Similarly, high school students take assessment tests in Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History classes.

2020-21 high school students will not be required to meet a passing score to meet high school graduation requirements. They must meet all other state and district requirements to graduate, though.

The MDE will calculate and report the results from all statewide assessments from the 2020-21 school year and will submit information and a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education to meet federal requirements for assessment and accountability.

This years statewide assessments will provide valuable information about the impact of COVID-19 on learning and will help identify where accelerated learning opportunities for students are most needed, Dr. Carey Wright, the state's superintendent of education said. The policy suspensions are intended to support schools through this intensely challenging year for educators and students.
India's Bharat Biotech has applied to conduct trials in Bangladesh for its coronavirus vaccine recently approved for emergency use at home, a senior official at Bangladesh's main medical research body told Reuters.

If allowed to go ahead, this would be the first trial of any coronavirus vaccine in Bangladesh and could give the densely-populated country of more than 160 million faster access to the shot for mass use.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

The vaccine, developed with the Indian Council of Medical Research, was given the green light for restricted use in India this month without any efficacy data.

"We have received their proposal. The committee will review it," Mahmood-uz-Jahan, a director at the state-run Bangladesh Medical Research Council, told Reuters, declining to give details.

The Dhaka-based International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), has applied to run the trial on behalf of Bharat Biotech, said a source with direct knowledge of the matter who declined to be named citing internal rules.

ICDDR,B declined to comment. Spokespeople for Bharat Biotech had no immediate comment.

Sinovac Biotech's late-stage trial of a potential vaccine in Bangladesh has become uncertain after Dhaka refused to meet the Chinese companys demand for co-funding.

Bharat Biotech started a late-stage trial for COVAXIN at home in November and a top Indian government vaccine official, Vinod Kumar Paul, has told Reuters that a smaller study involving 1,000-2,000 people could also be done in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh will from Thursday start receiving millions of India-made doses of another vaccine licensed from Oxford University and AstraZeneca. It is being mass produced by the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker.

Bangladesh, however, has no immediate plans to buy COVAXIN whose efficacy data from the late India trial are expected by March.

"Our vaccine procurement is in good shape. We are going to start the vaccination in the first week of February," Bangladesh Health Secretary Abdul Mannan told Reuters.

"No plan to buy from Bharat Biotech at present."

Brazil is the only country that has publicly announced plans to buy COVAXIN doses from India.

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President Joe Biden's decision to replace a portrait of President Andrew Jackson with a Benjamin Franklin painting shows his attempt to "restore reason and decorum" to the White House, an academic has said.

President Jackson, who served two terms as the seventh commander-in-chief between 1829 and 1837, has strong links to Northern Ireland.

His father, also named Andrew, and his mother Elizabeth hailed from Carrickfergus and emigrated to America two years before their son was born in 1767.

An Ulster-Scots thatched farmhouse, which was home to his parents, is now a tourist attraction, known as the Andrew Jackson Cottage, Co Antrim.

Last June a bronze statute of Jackson - who was one of a number of US presidents who owned slaves - was attacked by protesters in Washington, DC in the wake of the George Floyd protests.

Another controversial figure within American history, former President Donald Trump, is reported to be a huge admirer of President Jackson and specifically requested a portrait of the figure in the Oval Office.

On his own first official day in the Oval Office, President Biden removed any signs of his predecessor, including Jackson's portrait. In its place hangs a painting of Benjamin Franklin, one of the United State's revered founding fathers who was also a scientist, writer and philosopher.

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He also removed a bust of Sir Winston Churchill which prompted Downing Street yesterday to insist that it was "up to the President" what goes on display in his office after Boris Johnson criticised Barack Obama for doing the same thing in 2016.

At the time the Prime Minister attracted criticism for saying Mr Obama removing the sculpture "was a symbol of the part-Kenyan president's ancestral dislike of the British Empire".

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Professor Philip McGowan, an expert in American studies who teaches at Queen's University, said Mr Biden's change in Oval decor shows that he is attempting to end the populism which defined Trump's era.

"Biden's decision to replace the portrait of President Jackson with Franklin's may have raised the odd eyebrow or two, but not as many as were raised when his predecessor had chosen to display Jackson's portrait in the first place," he said. "Whatever about Jackson's connections to Northern Ireland, Jackson remains a controversial figure within US Presidential history and within American culture more broadly.

"His name is synonymous with the 'Trail of Tears,' the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from its own lands east of the Mississippi River under the terms of the Indian Removal Act signed by Jackson in 1830. By 1839, 4,000 Cherokee had died on their journey west to Oklahoma."

Prof McGowan said the Franklin's "commitment to the truths offered by science and philosophy" will reflect Biden's own approach of tackling Covid and "reinstituting a culture of decorum and reason to the White House and to American political discourse".

"In Jackson, Trump identified the populism with which he himself sought to govern over the last four years. Now both have been removed from the Oval Office by a new administration keen to heal the nation with scientific fact and demonstrable truths."
Michel Barnier has issued a warning to the UK to be very careful after the government became embroiled in a petty row over the refusal to grant full diplomatic status to the EUs officials and ambassador in London.

Joao Vale de Almeida took up his post as the first EU representative to the UK when Britain formally severed its membership in of the bloc a year ago, but has not been given the same status as other ambassadors.

According to the BBC, the Foreign Office intends to treat EU officials as representatives of an international organisation on the basis that it is not a nation state and is insisting staff should not be afforded diplomatic privileges.

But speaking at an event hosted by the European Movement Ireland, Mr Barnier, who was the blocs chief Brexit negotiator, said that while relations will not be business as usual, he insisted the EU cannot be treated solely as an international organisation.

I hope we will be able together to find a clever and objective solution to the status of the EU in London, he added. I think it would be wise in my view for the UK to find a clever solution.

We will see what will be the final decision of the UK on this point, but they have to be very careful.

Earlier, Brussels said Britain was well aware the EUs 143 delegations and staff in other parts of the world had been accorded a status equivalent to countries embassies under the Vienna Convention, which governs the rules of international diplomacy.

Without the full protection of the convention, diplomats do not benefit from immunity from detention, criminal jurisdiction and taxation.

The BBC added the EUs high representative for foreign affairs Josep Borrell wrote to Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, in November expressing his serious concerns over the decision.

Your service has sent us a draft proposal for an establishment agreement about which we have serious concerns, he said.

The arrangements offered do not reflect the specific character of the EU, nor do they respond to the future relationship between the EU and the UK as an important third country.

It would not grant the customary privileges and immunities for the delegation and its staff. The proposals do not constitute a reasonable basis for reaching an agreement.

Tobias Ellwood, the Conservative chair of the Commons Defence Committee, described the decision as petty, adding: [Joe] Biden commits to strengthening alliances and we engage in silly spats which will not help strengthen security and trade cooperation. We are better than this.

Recommended Liz Truss admits Brexit contributed to food shortages

Peter Ricketts, a former national security adviser and head of the diplomatic service, added: I came to the same conclusion.

This is a wholly unnecessary move which seems part of systematic effort to signal that the UK is shunning the EU and all its works. Not in British interests.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano added that the UK, which, as a member of the EU, was a signature to the Lisbon Treaty which established the European External Action Service diplomatic network, was well aware of the EUs status in external relations.

Nothing has changed since the UKs exit from the European Union to justify any change in stance on the UKs part, he said.

The EUs status in external relations and its subsequent diplomatic status is amply recognised by countries and international organisations around the world, and we expect the United Kingdom to treat the EU delegation accordingly and without delay.

The prime ministers official spokesman said: The FCDO continues to engage with the EU on the long-term arrangements for the EU delegation in the UK. I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of those negotiations.

We will ensure the EU delegation receives the privileges and immunities necessary to allow them to carry out their work.

The Independent has also contacted the Foreign Office for comment.
In the 1990s, four species of goliaths emerged in India. One was global: transnationals who collect companies across the world, including in India. The other three are wholly Indian in parentage, surfacing from big business family groups, fresh talent and the government. Almost every major sector has its own sub-set of two or three goliaths, drawn from any of the four parentages.

The last three decades, from 1990 to 2020, saw India face major challenges beyond unstable governments and coalition politics. A debilitating foreign exchange crisis and falling rupee led to an ignominious IMF (International Monetary Fund) bailout in 1991.

Increasing border tensions with its neighbours led to a war with Pakistan (Kargil 1999), an attack on Parliament in 2001, the Mumbai bomb blasts of 2003, 2006 and 2008, and several border disputes with China. Religious tensions (Ayodhya, Gujarat 2002) shook the country as did a string of natural disasters (Latur earthquake 1993, Odisha super cyclone 1999, Gujarat earthquake 2001, Indian Ocean tsunami 2004, Uttarakhand floods 2013, droughts in several states). And of course, demonetization in 2016.

On the positive side was a rapprochement between India and the US. The Manmohan Singh administration launched the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in 2005, an attempt to guarantee the right to work. Narendra Modi in 2014 added the Jan Dhan Yojana scheme to expand and make affordable access to financial services such as bank accounts, remittances, credit, insurance and pensions.

Transformations in banking and telecommunications helped by the growth of the internet, and the New Economic Policy, with its concomitant impacts on Indias economic, financial, commercial and corporate structures.

It was against this backdrop that Indias goliaths gained size and power. Four factors drove business consolidation: the desire to expand the customer base, acquire the latest technologies, constrain competition, and offload debt and distressed assets.

In this eras first year, the P.V. Narasimha Rao administration (1991-1996) used a severe balance-of-payments crisis to introduce major structural reforms to liberalize" the economy. In a country where business, economics, politics and the state barely mesh, spaces are limited where players share a common ultimate goal despite differences about how to get there.

Yet, over the next three decades, different relationships developed between the state and business, relationships less antagonistic than the previous four and a half decades. India could no longer refrain from participating in the global economy. Indian entrepreneurs curious to explore the worlds markets and technologies were encouraged rather than discouraged by the state. Transnational corporations began to trickle into India. In this melee, a shakeout in business family groups, the traditional bedrock of entrepreneurship, was inevitable.

THE TELEPHONES CONNECT

India used to have a robust black market for telephone lines. In March 2000, the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration set a goal: every normal middle-class family should be able to afford a cell phone. By December 2002, the mobile subscriber base stood at 10.5 million. Fourteen years later, by December 2016, total tele-density across the entire chain of fixed lines, mobile telephony, international long distance and internet was a remarkable 1,151.78 million in a population of 1,324.17 million (older than seven years old).

By 2020, India was on its way to becoming a challenger to the worlds biggest telecom networks. Consumers appreciated benefits from the entry of private players to some extent, but a true pricing revolution was noticeable only after the introduction of new technologies.

Rural communities were perhaps bigger beneficiaries than townsfolk, as the farming community now had access to price discovery for their products.

As smaller and weaker players eased out, even the Tata group, one of the bigger goliaths in India, beat a retreat after mounting losses.

Consolidation left three goliaths still standing: Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, founded by second-generation billionaire Mukesh Ambani; Bharti Airtel Ltd, set up by first-generation entrepreneur Sunil Mittal; and Vodafone Idea Ltd, a joint venture between a British transnational and Kumar Mangalam Birla, head of the Aditya Birla Group, one of Indias oldest business dynasties. In 2018, together they accounted for more than 90% of revenue and 80% of spectrum holding. As on 31 October 2020, Indias telecommunication network was the second largest in the world by number of telephone users (both fixed and mobile phone) with 1,171.80 million subscribers .

Lack of jobs rarely dethrone governments in India. In a country where business, economics, politics and the state barely mesh, spaces are limited where players share a common ultimate goal despite differences about how to get there.

IN THE TRENCHES

Liberalization challenged traditional beliefs about caste, communities and business family groups. A slow fade materialized, giving rise way to the idea of the business class. First-generation entrepreneurs pushed forward, unsettling the traditional pecking order. Several prominent business family groups collapsed entirely, others simply slide down.

The 72% of the business family groups that dominated the pre-liberalization period dropped out of the league tables. Another set of 70% entered (family splits account for the small difference between exits and entrants) and took their place.

The purge was severe but it would be facile to jump to the conclusion that business families fell of the cliff and disappeared. Some companies morphed under old managements. Mergers and acquisitions thrived in this atmosphere, creating new goliaths. Resilient re-energized business families thrust themselves forward, aggressively growing existing businesses or entering new domains.

Mumbais old textiles mills are an example where the owners used real estate to diversify into new businesses. Most companies survived, often because they were acquired by fresh blood. A few continue to linger in painits not easy to close down a company in India. Examples of companies actually imploding are few.

Most business groups underwent family separations, some more often than others, yet continue to contribute a family member to the list. For example, the Burmans developed a formal succession planning process. Loose-tight structures knit the Godrejs and the TVS group. Tight through the joint selection of the group chairman (usually the eldest family member), and keeping each other informed of important decisions through cross-directorships of boards. Loose as business operations are independent of each other.

The focus of first- and second-generation business family groups on knowledge-based businesses and consumer-facing companies enabled them to seize the lead from traditional agriculture-based industries such as cotton textile mills, sugar refineries and tea plantations.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, we saw the emergence of first-generation businesses while the second generation expanded existing businesses.

The third, and perhaps the most important difference between the two generations, is while many in the second-generation group continued older manufacturing traditions, the first-generation group mainly launched consumer-facing businesses .

New, homely, entrant offerings such as glue, batteries, healing balm, television programmes, text messages and toothpaste tubes translated into billion- dollar companies and pan-India brands with pan-India availability.

Rapidity, scale and success is as extraordinary as was the journey of the Lever Brothers in the colonial era.

These once-small businesses benefitted from key external factors. GDP growth combined with good monsoons enabled higher per capita income, which in turn sparked consumer spending.

Banking, telecommunications networks and the internet provided critical backbones for business growth. Equally important was the logistics revolution as inter-state borders became easier to navigate. Early entrants such as Hyderabad-headquartered Gati, set up in 1989, and older firms like Patel Roadways expanded road and air transport and invested in warehousing and IT solutions. It became far easier to build distribution networks.

THE FUTURE OF COMMUNITY, CLASS

Being part of a business family group or business community remains a key competitive advantage. Even entrepreneurs such as Nandan Nilekani, part of the founding team of Infosys, agrees. Trusted family members are a source of management talent as well as of market and technical knowledge within an industry or trade. In addition, if buyers and sellers are from the same community, it creates an environment of trust which lowers transaction costs and time.

People talk about business communities. I talk about business class," countered the late historian Dwijendra Tripathi.

When you come from a particular community, and you are involved in business, willy-nilly you get concerned with business strategies which have nothing to do with community but which have something to do with the kind of business environment that prevails," Tripathi said. People talk about the Parsi business community, Marwari business community so on and so forth. Today, the complexities are such that no community can finance an enterprise. The result is that business strategy completely cuts across the community barriers. We are so preoccupied with certain folklores about Indian business that we cant get away from it."

Gita Piramal is a writer, business historian and senior fellow at Somerville College, University of Oxford

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Tandav, a drama series set against the backdrop of politics, was recently slammed by several people who claimed that it provokes communal disharmony and hurts sentiments of the Hindus.

Another wrote: "IB ministry should stop broadcast first n ask them to get censor certificate. Infact IB should constitute a separate board for censorship for all the OTT content."

Another netizen simply said: "CENSOR OTT PLATFORMS!! #Tandav."

One went on to suggest: "There should be a censor board for OTT, Tandav has crossed all the limits.. Agenda driven show by director and producers of the show."

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, who has created thematically provocative web series such as Maaya and Twisted, is against the idea.

"I oppose censorship of any kind. We are a free and democratic country. Constitution of India gives us the right to freedom of opinion and speech. If there is something, then you are free to go to the court. The law will tell you whether the piece of content is objectionable or not. I don't think there should be any kind of censorship," Bhatt told IANS.

Uttaran actress Tina Datta made her digital debut with the web series, Naxalbari. She feels people live in a day and age with access to internet and that "there is no way of truly censoring content".

"Kids have access to everything, and so it is a challenging decision and one that needs to be thought out," Tina said.

Young actor Nikhil Bhambri, who has featured in web series "Black Widows", "Who's Your Daddy" and "Puncch Beat", finds OTT censorship "unnecessary as the freedom of content gets compromised". He added: "Let's not limit OTT platforms".

Whether a government body is required to look into the content of digital platforms or not, is yet to be decided. Meanwhile, let us take a look at Hindi web projects that have run into trouble in the last few months.



TANDAV

Many have issues with the newly-launched series, especially a scene that features actor Mohd. Zeeshan Ayyub performing a college play. Protestors feel the sequence insults the Hindu deity Shiv. Condemning the depiction of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses in the Saif Ali Khan-starrer, BJP's Rajasthan unit chief Satish Poonia said that India's democracy gives freedom of expression, but in the name of liberty many films insult Hindu deities, which is highly objectionable.

On January 18, series creator Ali Abbas Zafar apologised on behalf of the entire cast and crew, saying they did not intend to offend anyone or insult any religion and political party. In a new statement shared on Twitter a day later on Tuesday, Ali wrote: "We have utmost respect for the sentiments of the people of our country. We did not intend to hurt or offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. The cast & crew of Tandav have made the decision to implement changes to the web series to address the concerns raised towards the same. We thank the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the guidance & support in the matter. We once again apologise if the series has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments."

However, Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad said that there was no question of pardoning the makers of the web series unless all Muslim actors and directors submit affidavits that they will not insult and ridicule Hindu Gods and goddesses.

MIRZAPUR 2

Although the crime show released in October last year, it is still facing legal trouble. A case was filed against the producer of the web series and streaming platform Amazon Prime in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur district on Monday. According to the police reports, a case had been lodged by one Arvind Chaturvedi at the Kotwali police station. He has alleged that the web series hurts religious, social and regional sentiments and damages social harmony. It is alleged that religious feelings and beliefs have been greatly hurt by this series that focuses on abusive and illicit relationships.

Last year, Mirzapur MP and Apna Dal national president, Anupriya Patel, had also demanded an inquiry against the show. She had said that the web series, starring actors like Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal, portrayed the district in a poor light and promoted caste violence.

AK Vs AK

The Indian Air Force was not too happy about Anil Kapoor wearing a wrong uniform and using abusive language in the film, which dropped digitally in December. The Air Force urged the streaming platform Netflix to remove the scenes with the discrepancies. Anil later apologised for unintentionally hurting sentiments of the Indian Air Force.

A SUITABLE BOY

In November, an FIR was registered in Madhya Pradesh against two Netflix officials for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through the web series A Suitable Boy. "On the basis of a complaint filed by Gaurav Tiwari, an FIR is being registered under section 295 (A) (malicious acts to outrage and insulting the religious feelings and beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in Rewa against Netflix officials -- Monika Shergill and Ambika Khurana," Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra had said in a video. Prior to that, Mishra had hinted at possible legal action against the makers of the web series. He had said the state police have been asked to probe the web series by Mira Nair to check if kissing scenes in the show had been shot in a temple or not.

AASHRAM

The series has revived actor Bobby Deol's career, but in November director Prakash Jha was served legal notice for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments. The legal notice was sent to the OTT platform MX Player, which streams the show, as well as Jha, on the ground that is was "directly targeting the ancient tradition, custom, culture of Hindu, Ashramas Dharma". The notice was sent by Surjeet Singh, Pradesh Sangathan Mahamantri of Karni Sena.

Then, in December a court in Jodhpur issued notice to Jha and Deol in a case filed against the web series. Advocate Khush Khandelwal had said he had moved the court against Jha's web series in which Deol plays a fraud godman, and Hindu gurus have been shown as rapists and drug traffickers.

PAATAL LOK

Released in May last year, it was produced by Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Manjinder Singh Sirsa had shared his concern about the depiction of Sikh characters in the series, which starred Jaideep Ahlawat, Neeraj Kabi, Ishwak Singh and Abhishek Bannerjee. He had especially objected to a scene where a Sikh man was shown to be raping a woman while another Sikh man watched.

Indra Hang Subba, MP from Sikkim, had written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar over the sexist slur used by one of the characters on the show. His complaint said that more than 10.5 million people in India speak Nepali and they were deeply affected by the incident. The Bharatiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangh, the youth wing of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, had also objected to the slur.

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Damascus, Jan 21 : The Syrian government has demanded the "immediate and unconditional withdrawal" of US forces from the war-torn country due to their "hostile practices".

In a statement issued on Wednesday the Foreign Ministry condemned what it called the "hostile practices" of the US forces in northeastern Syria, reports Xinhua news agency.

It accused the US forces of "systematic theft" of oil and agriculture resources in northern Syrian in addition to bringing in military reinforcement to that part of the country.

The former administration of President Donald Trump has destabilised the region and supported separatist movements in a bid to divide Syria and prevent reaching a political solution through supporting the "terrorist groups", the Ministry claimed.

The Ministry, meanwhile, called on the international community to condemn the US moves and occupation of Syrian territories and denounce the "coercive and unilateral" sanctions imposed on Syria.

The US forces have several positions in areas controlled by the Kurdish militias in northeastern Syria.

The Syrian government has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of the US forces, slamming American claims that its troops are present in Syria to fight terrorist groups.

Since late last year, the US has ramped up its military presence in Syria after a number of skirmishes with Russian forces.

In August 2020, seven American soldiers were injured in a collision with a Russian vehicle, the BBC reported.

The Russian and US governments blamed each other for the collision, which was filmed and posted to Twitter.

In October 2019, Trump had decided to withdraw 1,000 US troops that were operating in support of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance.

But few months later, the former President said he had decided to keep a few hundred troops in the country to protect oil wells.
Dozens of customers have fallen victim to an elaborate scam in which fraudsters are selling fake Zimmermann products for hundreds or thousands of dollars.

The clothing items are so accurate that there is almost no way to tell the difference between a real and a fake, duping customers who have been shopping with the brand for more than 10 years.

Several customers claim they've been sold fakes at reputable retailers which are known wholesalers of the luxury Australian brand.

They say shopkeepers are likely selling genuine items to fraudsters, who then return a fake with the receipt.

Dozens of customers have fallen victim to an elaborate scam in which fraudsters are selling fake Zimmermann products for hundreds or thousands of dollars. Pictured: Margot Robbie wearing Zimmermann

These two care tags were taken on two garments which are supposed to be the same. The left is real, includes a button and is without spelling errors, meanwhile the right does not include a button and the 'Zimmermann' label at the top is more spaced out than on the left

They say employees are accepting the items and placing them back on shelves, making other customers vulnerable to unwittingly purchasing something that is not of the same high quality.

Others have purchased pieces from sellers with great ratings on Ebay or Facebook Marketplace.

'It's sad because other customers clearly aren't realising they're buying fakes when they write the reviews,' one Zimmermann fan told Daily Mail Australia.

'The replicas are getting better and better and all of us need to be mindful when buying from someone else and not in store.'

The brand is concerned about counterfeit products being sold and advertised as the real thing.

A spokeswoman for the company told Daily Mail Australia there is an 'ongoing issue of counterfeits within the luxury fashion industry'.

Zimmermann has an entire team dedicated to protecting the brand, pursuing and taking action against anybody selling replica garments.

Care labels stitched into the lining of the garment are usually the 'best give away' to judge a products authenticity.

While some care labels have obvious spelling errors, others are so accurate that the stitching and a small triangle at the bottom of the tag are the only ways to spot a fake. The tag on the right is real, and is stitched on top of the seam rather than underneath it as is on the left

This care tag on a Zimmermann dupe had the spelling of 'inside' wrong and the letters in 'Zimmermann' are more spaced out than usual

With replicas, the stitching of the tag and its placement is usually slightly off, and the letters and font are rarely the same.

There have been several examples in recent weeks of customers realising they've purchased a fake once they receive the item and look closer at the tags.

Some women were forced to learn the hard way after telltale signs of a fake were posted online.

'The ink isn't as black and the print is faint. The actual material of the care label is also different,' one Zimmermann aficionado explained.

In response, dozens of women shared pictures of care labels on their own products, with many coming to realise they'd been sold dupes.

One customer explained she was too scared to buy from anywhere other than Zimmermann stores anymore because even after 10 years of buying their clothes, she can no longer tell the difference between a real and fake.

One devastated customer purchased this dress from a reputable Zimmermann re-seller only to learn online that it was a replica

Other tags are simply nothing like the originals, and are considered less sophisticated dupes (right)

Pictured: The real Zimmerman Brightside Embroidered dress which is advertised online

While some care labels have obvious spelling errors, others are so accurate that the stitching and a small triangle at the bottom of the tag are the only ways to spot a fake.

'The triangle on a genuine Zimmermann is always isosceles,' one customer with a keen eye for detail noted. 'These fakes don't have that.'

Other tags are simply nothing like the originals, and are considered less sophisticated dupes.

Customers have been urged to shop in store if possible to ensure they can examine any garments and care labels before purchasing.

If they do choose to shop online or from re-sellers, they are urged to ask for photos of both sides of the care label, and a proof of purchase.

Zimmermann is a well known Australian luxury brand

The beloved Australian brand was founded in 1991 by sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann.

Nicky first started designing dresses and would sell them at Paddington markets before landing a two page editorial in Australian Vogue.

'That was a significant moment because I suddenly started to receive orders from boutiques around Australia and I could feel some real momentum,' Nicky previously explained.

In December 2020, it was revealed that the duo had sold an undisclosed stake of the business to Italian private equity fund Style Capital.

Globally, the brand already has 40 stores across Australia and the United States and Europe.
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A six-foot prehistoric worm with powerful jaws that leapt out of tunnels on the seabed and snapped fish in half 20 million years ago has been unearthed in Taiwan.

Researchers found the worm's large, L-shaped burrows in layers of seafloor dating back to the Miocene period (23 million to 5.3 million years ago).

These burrows are trace fossils  geological records of biological activity  of the ancient species of giant marine worm.

The species, which reached six and a half feet long (two metres)  the same as a very tall human  would have 'waited in ambush' in these burrows before attacking 'a passing meal'.

The specimen is a possible ancestor of the modern-day bobbit worm  an ambush predator that also buries its long body in the sea bed before snatching prey and pulling it under the sand.

Bobbit worms made a memorable appearance on Sir David Attenborough's 2017 documentary Blue Planet II.

Image shows traces of the giant marine worm species. Te funnel top (yellow line), disturbed zone (dashed red lines) and feather-like collapse structures (dashed white lines) are visible

The vicious-looking creature, found in the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific, is said to be named after Lorena Bobbitt, a US woman who cut off her husband's manhood in 1993.

That's because it uses its scissor-like mandibles to snap its prey in half.

The ancient ancestors of today's bobbit worms would have colonised the seafloor of the Eurasian continent around 20 million years ago, according to researchers.

'The worm lived in a shallow marine environment off the eastern coast of the Asian continent long before Taiwan had even formed,' said study author Professor Ludvig Lowemark at the National Taiwan University.

'Other animals inhabiting this environment include oysters, crustaceans, sea urchins and large stingrays.

A modern-day bobbit worm as it tries to capture a fish. The ambush predator buries its long body in the sea bed before snatching prey and pulling it under the sand

Schematic of the feeding behaviour of today's bobbit worms. (a) Bobbit worm sits inside the L-shaped burrow waiting for prey and (b) uses its strong jaws to catch the prey (e.g., fish) passing by the burrow opening. (c) As the struggling prey is pulled into the burrow, the sediment collapses around the aperture to form feather-like collapse structures surrounding the upper burrow

The trace fossil, christened Pennichnus formosae, is thought to be the first produced by an underground ambush predator.

'It provides a rare glimpse into these creatures' behaviour beneath the seafloor,' said Professor Lowemark.

The team reconstructed the new trace fossil using 319 specimens preserved within layers of seafloor formed during the Miocene era across northeast Taiwan.

Trace fossils are geological features such as burrows, track marks and plant root cavities preserved in rocks, which allow for conclusions to be drawn about the behaviour of ancient organisms.

(d) Photo of Eunice aphroditois burrow entrance. (e) Plan view of the upper part of Pennichnus formosae. In both (d) and (e), the shaft of the burrow (white arrow) and surrounding concentric layers (dashed white lines) are visible. Scale bar = 1 cm

This trace fossil  the L-shaped burrow  is roughly 6.5 feet (2 metres) in length and 2 to 3 centimetres in diameter. Its length reveals the size of its inhabitant.

Like today's bobbit worms, it would have hid in its long, narrow burrow within the seafloor and propel upwards to grab prey.

'The feeding behaviour of the giant ambush-predator bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois) is spectacular,' say Professor Lowemark and his team in their research paper.

'They hide in their burrows until they explode upwards grabbing unsuspecting prey with a snap of their powerful jaws.

'The still living prey are then pulled into the sediment for consumption.'

The retreat of the ancient worm and its prey into the sediment caused distinct feather-like collapse structures preserved in Pennichnus formosae, which are indicative of disturbance of the sediment surrounding the burrow.

Dr. Masakazu Nara (Kochi University, Japan) and Ms. Sassa Tzu-Tung Chen (Gothenburg University, Sweden) at Badouzi, NE Coast, Taiwan, sampling the new trace fossil using a rock cutter

Further analysis revealed a high concentration of iron towards the top section of the burrow, which may indicate that the worm re-built its burrow by secreting mucus to strengthen the burrow wall.

Bacteria that feed on mucus produced by marine invertebrates are known to create iron-rich environments.

Although predatory worms like the bobbit worm have existed since the early Paleozoic era (from 541 million to 252 million years ago), their bodies comprise mainly soft tissue.

This has resulted in a very incomplete fossil record and virtually nothing has been known about their burrows and behaviour beneath the seafloor.

The trace fossil presented in the study is thought to be the first known fossil of this type produced by a sub-surface ambush predator.

It provides a rare glimpse into these creatures behaviour beneath the seafloor.

The study has been published in Scientific Reports.

BELGRADE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) The Russian Embassy in Albania considers accusations against Russian diplomat, who was declared persona non grata by Tirana, unfounded, the diplomatic mission told Sputnik.

Earlier in the day, Albania declared the Russian diplomat persona non grata over alleged violation of anti-coronavirus measures, he must leave the country within 72 hours.

"The Russian Embassy confirms that it has received a note verbale from the Albanian side. We have also familiarized ourselves with the press release on this issue published by the Albanian Foreign Ministry. We consider all the accusations against the Russian diplomat in these documents to be unfounded. We also note that disclosure of the name of our employee grossly contradicts the established international diplomatic practice. The Russian Foreign Ministry has been informed," the embassy said.
Sushant Singh Rajput's unfortunate demise on June 14, 2020, had left all his family members, friends and fans devastated. On his 35th birth anniversary, fans have been pouring in tribute for the late actor and have been celebrating the day as 'Sushant Day'. It is not a hidden fact that the actor was an impeccable dancer and had also participated on the dance reality show, Jhalak Dikhlaja. One of his performances wherein the Chhichhore actor had paid tribute to his late mother had also gone viral after his demise last year.

Sushant Singh Rajput's Sister Shweta Announces ,000 Scholarship On Actor's Birthday Anniversary

Sushant who was extremely close to his mother and had also shared his last Instagram post remembering his mother, performed on the track, Luka Chupi from the film, Rang De Basanti. The actor along with his choreographer Shampa had left all the judges especially Madhuri Dixit teary-eyed during the performance. Before the act, Sushant Singh Rajput could be seen telling how he always wanted to do a tribute act for his mother whom he had lost in the year 1992. The Kedarnath actor further stated how his smallest achievements made his mother happy. The actor also added how his mother would have been proud of him if she would have been alive today. Take a look at the emotional performance by the late actor.

Sushant's then girlfriend, Ankita Lokhande who was also his co-contestant went on to give the actor a warm hug after his performance. Sushant Singh Rajput was last seen enticing his fans in the film Dil Bechara. The movie was helmed by Mukesh Chhabra.

Sushant Singh Rajput's Birth Anniversary: Kangana Ranaut Says 'I Regret Not Being There For You
There have been 532 Covid-19 related deaths so far in January with NPHET warning that 'we are at a precarious time'.

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said, "There have been 532 deaths so far in January and we can unfortunately expect this trend to continue over the coming days. Limiting contacts, keeping physical distance from others, hand hygiene, appropriate use of face coverings and general awareness about how your interactions could potentially spread infection will ultimately prevent further morbidity. Following public health advice will directly save lives.

Covid-19 Latest: 14 new cases in Longford but incidence rate is dropping

Karina Butler, Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, said; Vaccine arrival has been a real morale booster in hospitals and nursing homes. As we are able to roll it out to the wider community it will undoubtedly lift spirits. But please remember we are at a precarious time and if we drop our guard we could undermine our efforts to combat COVID-19. For now, we must stay the course, keep contacts to a minimum, stay home and follow public health advice.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said, While we are making clear progress in reducing incidence we can see we still have a very large burden of infection  to illustrate this on Dec 1st, when we last eased restrictions, our 5 day moving average was 261 cases per day, today it is almost ten times that number at 2,430 cases per day.

It is evident that the population is working as one to reduce contacts and interrupt further transmission of the disease. However, we are witnessing the effects of high levels of community transmission through our hospital and ICU admissions and reported deaths. We need to continue to work together to drive this infection down and bring the disease back under control.

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; Incidence is gradually falling but remains very high across all age groups but particularly in those aged 85 and older. A considerable effort by all of us to cut down on contacts has resulted in the R number reducing to 0.5 - 0.8. We have to keep it below 1.0 if we are to successfully emerge out of this current wave.

The HSE has today (Thursday, 21 January, 2021) published the results of the PRECISE study, which looked at antibodies to COVID-19 in healthcare workers in two Irish hospitals.

In St Jamess Hospital, 15% of staff had antibodies for COVID-19 while 4.1% of staff in University Hospital Galway had antibodies.

Dr Lorraine Doherty, National Clinical Director for Health Protection HSE, Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), said; The results of the study will help the health service in its response to COVID-19. It is also important to note that antibody positivity cannot be taken to mean a person is immune, and all Infection Prevention and Control measures still need to be followed.

The study will be repeated in the springtime to see how seroprevalence changes with successive waves of the pandemic, and how antibody status changes in the individuals who participate both times. The second round of testing will also look at vaccine response versus natural infection, given recent commencement of the national vaccination programme.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) congratulates Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States of America, the ANCA noted in a press release, which continues as follows:

We join with our community, coalition partners, and Congressional allies in encouraging the Administration to engage constructively and cooperatively on U.S. policy priorities impacting Armenia, Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), Eurasia, Eastern Mediterranean, and the Greater Middle East.

In light of the past Administrations passivity and the aggressive intervention of hostile regional powers, the United States must now pivot toward a pro-active approach that protects and promotes the Artsakh Republics security; holds Baku and Ankara responsible for their war crimes and ongoing hostility; strengthens the U.S.-Armenia Strategic Partnership, and; locks-in permanent U.S. Executive Branch remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.

Urgent Biden Administration attention  in its first days in office  is required to restore stability, promote peace, and check Aliyev and Erdogans genocidal pan-Turkish plans:

 ASSISTANCE FOR ARTSAKH/ARMENIA: An emergency $250 million humanitarian assistance package to meet humanitarian needs and safely and sustainably return Armenian refugees to their homes in Artsakh, and a new Millennium Challenge compact to support high-tech education in Armenia.

 MILITARY AID/SALES TO AZERBAIJAN/TURKEY: Full enforcement of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act; suspension of all U.S. military and security assistance to Azerbaijan and Turkey, and; the denial of all new arms-export licenses to both Azerbaijan and Turkey.

 SANCTIONS: Global Magnitsky and other statutory sanctions against the Aliyev and Erdogan regimes for the serious human rights abuses they committed during Azerbaijans aggression against Artsakh, including the use of Foreign Terrorist Fighters recruited by Turkey.

 INVESTIGATION INTO U.S. PARTS IN AZERBAIJANI DRONES: A joint State Department, Pentagon, and Department of Justice investigation into U.S. parts discovered in Turkish drones used by Azerbaijan to attack Artsakh.

 RELEASE OF PRISONERS: U.S. leadership in securing Azerbaijans release of Armenian civilians and soldiers, many of whom have been tortured, mutilated, and murdered on social media.

 PROTECTION OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES: A high-profile U.S. role in documenting, monitoring, protecting, and preserving Armenian churches and other holy and cultural sites in areas currently under Azerbaijani military control.

 RECOGNITION OF ARTSAKH: U.S. recognition of the Artsakh Republics independence as an urgent remedial action required for the very survival of the Christian Armenian population of this ancient Armenian land.

 RESET OF U.S.-ARMENIA RELATIONS: An upgraded strategic partnership focused on concrete economic and military cooperation that supports and sustains the security of both Armenia and Artsakh.

Angola, IN (46703)

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Cloudy. Periods of rain this morning. High near 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Higher wind gusts possible..

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New Delhi:

The government has allowed banks and post offices to deposit junked Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes with the Reserve Bank of India by July 20.

This is the second opportunity the government has provided to banks, post offices and cooperative banks for depositing the junked notes with RBI. The earlier window was open till December 31, a day after the 50-day period of demonetisation of high value currency.

"Such specified bank notes may be deposited by such bank, post office or district central cooperative bank, as the case may be, in any office of the Reserve Bank, within a period of 30 days from the commencement of these rules," said a government notification.

It further said that they should get the exchange value by credit to the account of such subject to the satisfaction of the RBI of the conditions specified.

RBI will accept deposits collected by any bank or post office by December 30, 2016 or by any District Central Cooperative Bank from November 10-14, 2016 should be deposited within 30 days, the notification said.

They should also cite valid reasons for non-deposit of the specified bank notes within the period, it said.

Old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were junked from November 8, 2016 to eliminate black money and curb infusion and circulation of fake Indian currency notes (FICNs).

India is the second-largest producer and consumer of currency notes. Circulation of banknotes has increased to 90.27 billion pieces from 64.58 billion over the last five years.

As on November 8, 2016, the total amount of currency in circulation was Rs 17.7 lakh crore, which included specified bank notes (SBNs) of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000.

As per the last official count released by RBI on December 13, banks had garnered Rs 12.44 lakh crore in banned notes till December 10.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Up to 1,000 people may die of Covid-19 this month alone, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned.

Dr Holohan outlined the sad toll in a letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on January 14, where he also highlighted the levels of infection among staff involved in home care as well as the need to strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of more infectious forms of coronavirus through incoming traveller from abroad.

The death toll up to yesterday for January reached 485.

Dr Holohan said models suggest that deaths in the community -not including deaths linked to outbreaks in nursing homes and hospitals- will reach a peak of at least 25-30 deaths per day this month.

He said that these levels will persist at least for the rest of January.

Read More

"Given the large number of recently notified outbreaks in long term residential care facilities and hospitals, we can, unfortunately, expect to see, in addition, a large scale of mortality in these settings. It is therefore anticipated that a total of at least 500-1,000 deaths may occur in the month of January," he said

He told the minister a concerning new trend being observed is an increase in Covid-19 outbreaks in homecare services reflecting the level of ongoing disease in the community.

These outbreaks not only impact on the ability to ensure service continuity to support people to continue to live in their own homes but also directly increases pressure across all health services including hospital admissions and discharges, and delivery of GP and public health nursing services

"The HSE noted that currently there are approximately 500 homecare workers on COVID-19 related leave."

He said that the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) considered the issue of international travel, having regard to the epidemiological situation in Ireland, the emergence in recent week of variants of concern originating in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, and the measures by the Irish Government and by other states in recent weeks to mitigate the risk of importation of these or other variants which may emerge

Data on traveller numbers indicates that between 1 December 2020 and 11 January 2021 over 190,000 people arrived into Ireland by air, with 37,000 of these coming from the UK and almost 70pc of the latter number flying from airports in south-east England.

Some 12,000 people travelled from the USA and data from the Passenger Locator Form system shows that in the last four to five weeks some 1,400 people came from South Africa and over 1,600 from Brazil to Ireland in this context, the NPHET expressed its continuing concern about the risks associated with international travel, whether by Irish residents or by travellers from other countries to Ireland.

"It continues to advise against all non-essential international travel.

While noting and welcoming the requirement now being provided for in law whereby arriving passengers from all countries will be required to present evidence of a negative/not-detected RT-PCR test result, taken 72 hours prior to arrival to Ireland, the NPHET considered that further measures should be adopted.

"A pre-travel test alone is not a sufficiently robust system for the prevention of disease importation and modelling shows that even the best-performing tests will miss up to 40pc of cases.

"The NPHET noted that in response to the emergence of variant strains, many EU countries have adopted more stringent travel policies to meet these new risks. These include combinations of pre-departure testing, quarantine requirements on arrival and post-arrival testing rules.

Read More

"Given the changing epidemiology of the disease and the emergence of new variants internationally, the NPHET reiterated its ongoing concern and prior recommendations with regard to overseas travel.

"It continues to advise against all non-essential travel and recommends that every effort be made to ensure that discretion as it currently applies to the need for resensure that discretion as it currently applies to the need for restriction of movements and PCR-testing post-arrival in Ireland is removed.

"Having regard to the variants of concern originating from the UK and South Africa, travellers from these countries should continue to complete a full 14 days self-isolation in conjunction with a Day 5 test which is available from the HSE.

"The NPHET, of course, remains available to provide any further advice and recommendations that may be of assistance to you and Government in relation to ongoing decision-making processes in respect of the COVID-19 pandemic."

Referring to vaccine roll out he said NPHET underscored the importance of adhering to the vaccine allocation strategy and vaccinating groups in order of priority, targeting those at greatest risk of severe illness and death in the first instance.

The NPHET considered that equity is a critical consideration in the context of the distribution and administration of the vaccine.

"Vaccinating groups in order of priority will strengthen the legitimacy of, and public trust in, the vaccination rollout. Vaccinating groups out of sequence could have the unfortunate consequence of undermining trust in the fairness of the process.

"There was a recognition that the framework needs to be adaptable to the particular set of circumstances that pertain at the time of vaccine distribution and that there should be ongoing assessment of allocation priorities as new data becomes available."




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A Webster Republican is again proposing a process that would allow Massachusetts residents to apply for firearms licenses during the COVID-19 pandemic without first getting fingerprinted, refiling legislation that did not gain traction at the tail end of last session.

Rep. Joe McKennas bill would allow local police chiefs or the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to temporarily waive the requirement that applicants for firearms identification cards and licenses to carry a firearm have their fingerprints taken for a background check, if they determine its unsafe or unreasonable to collect prints.

The new bill (HD 69) is identical to one McKenna filed on Nov. 19, which died when the session ended on Jan. 5, without ever being referred to a committee for a hearing. McKenna had said the idea certainly garnered some interest and some discussion among his colleagues.

He told the News Service last month that while many communities are working with gun-license applicants to limit in-person contact and find safe ways to proceed, the bill is meant to prevent cities and towns from using the pandemic as an excuse to deny someone their constitutional rights to obtain a license to carry.

The Gun Owners Action League, which in October filed a federal lawsuit against police officials in Weymouth, Cambridge and Stoughton on behalf of license applicants, has advised people facing barriers to gun-licensing to send their local authorities a copy of December guidance from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services and the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.

Among other measures, the guidance suggests different fingerprinting options agencies might consider, including completing the process in garages or carports, directing applicants to fingerprint themselves, and making arrangements with surrounding agencies that have more personnel or resources.
FLINT, MI -- Families in Flint Community Schools will have the option to return students to in-person classes starting Feb. 22.

Superintendent Anita Steward outlined the plan for the return at the Wednesday, Jan 20 Flint Community Schools Board of Education meeting.

The plan passed by a 5-1 vote with Vice President Vera Perry, Secretary Danielle Green, Trustee Joyce Ellis-McNeal, President Carol McIntosh and Trustee Adrian Walker voting yes to the return to school plan.

Treasurer Laura Gillespie MacIntyre cast the lone no vote. Trustee Diana Wright was absent from the meeting.

The plan is to slowly transition students back to in-person, starting with a hybrid model where students return to the classroom two days a week on a staggered schedule and continue to work online the remaining three days, Steward said.

The district will consider offering five-day in-person instruction after assessing how the hybrid model goes.

A district-wide survey found that only 41.1% of parents would send their children back to the classroom. The remaining 58.9% of parents will be able to keep their students online, Steward said.

Fewer families wanting to return their students to in-person class will make it easier to social distance and sanitize, Steward said.

Students at Flint schools have not been back in the classroom since March when the state issued a shutdown on all in-person classes.

On Jan. 8, however, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer strongly encouraged schools to offer an option for in-person instruction no later than March 1.

We wanted to start off with two (days in person), just to kind of see how it goes, test the waters, get the kids back used to coming back to school, being able to navigate the buildings with all of the PPE in place, assess it. If everythings going great, we can add more days, Steward said. We didnt want to start with five days on the front, just go slow.

Related: Michigan governor calls for in-person learning to resume by March 1

Steward said district staff gave mixed reviews about the plan to return to in-person learning.

Some staff, they know that our students need to be back in school because face-to-face instruction is the best form of instruction, she said. Some staff, theyre a little apprehensive about coming back to the building.

Cassandra Washington, executive director of human resources, has been working with the districts three unions for input in regard to the plan, Steward said.

Karen Christian, president of the United Teachers of Flint Union, participated in public comment after the board voted to return students to the classroom.

While options for in-person return had been communicated to her, the union president noted Wednesdays meeting was the first time she was able to hear details about the plan to send students back to hybrid, in-person learning.

Having it explained tonight for the first time is a little upsetting, she said.

Teachers are also returning to the classroom this week, starting Tuesday, Jan 19.

Christian said some teachers have had to clean their own classrooms.

My question is, if were going back to a hybrid system, how can we guarantee that after weve been back for several months with classrooms not cleaned the proper way, Christian said. How can we ensure these classrooms can be cleaned for when we have a hybrid system?

Read more:

Flint school board elects president and officers in contested vote, new board members sworn in

Flint school board fills vacancy through appointment at special board meeting

Flint-area administrators reflect on school year amid coronavirus pandemic

Some Genesee County schools welcomed all students back to the classroom this week

Retiring Grand Blanc superintendent, successor reflect on future of countys largest school district

New inmate education program hopes to end generational incarceration
Donald J. Trump departed the White House on Wednesday and left a Republican Party turned upside down.

Many Republicans tried not to let Mr. Trump change things, vowing never to vote for him or work in his administration  and to publicly shame those who did. Others bit their tongues and looked past his erratic behavior and racial grievances, justifying their indifference by pointing to the conservative policies he championed.

And there were others  comprising the most vocal segment of elected Republicans and a considerable portion of the voters who helped Mr. Trump win 10 million more votes than he did in 2016  who are still with him, defying every last-straw prediction about the end of the iron grip Trump has on the G.O.P.

Here is a taxonomy of the types of Republicans Mr. Trump leaves in his wake.

Never Trumpers

They wrote open letters, boycotted the Republican National Convention twice, started podcasts and websites and raised millions of dollars for their efforts to defeat him.
Paris, TX (75460)

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Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

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Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Eric Lis factory making glass lampshades for companies including Home Depot Inc. is being stretched to its limits with sales doubling their pre-pandemic level.But like many Chinese manufacturers, he doesnt plan to expand operations -- a reticence that could slow the pace of Chinas economic growth this year and prolong a shortage of goods being felt around the world as demand picks up.Surging prices of raw materials means margins are compressed, explains Li, owner of Huizhou Baizhan Glass Co. Ltd., in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, which makes about $30 million in annual revenue. With the global economic recovery still uneven, the future is very unclear, so there is not much push to expand capacity, he adds.The combination of higher input prices, uncertainty about export prospects and a weak recovery in domestic consumer demand meant Chinese manufacturing investment from January to April was 0.4% below the same period in 2019, according to official statistics (comparing to 2019 strips out the distortion of last years pandemic data).Due to the vast size of Chinas manufacturing sector, that poses a risk both to the nations growth -- which is currently predicted to reach 8.5% in 2021, according to a Bloomberg tally of economists estimates -- and to a global economy thats grappling with supply shortages and rising prices.Falling ProfitsWeaker-than-expected investment could have a sizable impact on GDP growth this year, said Citigroup Inc.s China economist, Li-gang Liu. Lower investment may dent imports of capital goods and equipment from developed economies like Japan and Germany, which in turn could drag their economic recovery and rebound as well, he added.AnHui HERO Electronic Sci & Tec Co. Ltd. is one of those companies feeling the squeeze. Based in the eastern province of Anhui, the company manufactures capacitors used to make electronic circuits, with sales mainly in the domestic market. Jing Yuan, the founder, says orders are up as much as 30% year-on-year, but profits are down 50% due to increasing materials costs that are not easily passed onto clients.The company is under huge cash pressure as it needs to pay half a month in advance of delivery in order to secure copper and other metals, which they previously paid for months after receiving, he said. The commodity issue has to be addressed by the government, he added.What Bloomberg Economics Says...Chinese industry is absorbing significant cost pressures from rising commodity prices -- damping the inflationary impact for the rest of the world. Will it last? Our analysis of gross margins suggests it could for a while longer: downstream industries -- where the cost crunch is most severe -- still have a small cushion.David Qu, China economistFor the full report, click here.Input shortages mean some manufacturers arent able to make use of their existing facilities, so expansion would be of little use. Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. suspended production at one of its factories last month, due to a shortage of microchips.Modern Casting Ltd., which makes iron and steel products in Guangdong, issued a note to clients this month saying it would not be able to meet its current orders due to high raw material costs. A member of staff who answered the phone at the companys office confirmed the note, but declined to give further details.Growth TransitionOn top of the higher input costs, Chinese companies face a bumpy transition toward domestic consumer spending to sustain its post-pandemic recovery.Exports, Chinas strong-suit last year, may begin to slow as vaccine roll-outs cause consumers in wealthy countries to shift spending back to services. Meanwhile, the growth rate of Chinese consumer spending has yet to fully recover.Investment sentiment among Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises is below levels seen even in 2018-9 when uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war were a brake on expansion plans, according to a regular survey of more than 500 Chinese companies by Standard Chartered Plc.Demand is still mainly underpinned by exports, so domestic companies are aware that this is not sustainable, said Standard Chartereds China economist, Lan Shen.While some export-oriented sectors have been pushed to their limits, large amounts of slack remain for manufacturers targeting Chinese consumers due to subdued domestic demand.Retail sales growth was 4.3% in April on a two-year average basis, which strips out base effects from the pandemic, less than half pre-pandemic growth rates. Overall capacity use at Chinas manufacturers fell to 77.6% in the first quarter from 78.4% in the previous three months, with the automotive sector hit hardest by overcapacity following three years of declining sales volumes.Even for electric vehicles whose sales are surging, most companies have already built their capacity and will now focus on incremental upgrades. The majority of the investment has been done, said Jochen Siebert of JSC Automotive Consulting.China ordered state-owned companies to expand last year, with their investment growth of 5.3% in 2020 from the prior year easily outstripping the 1% increase in private investment. But for a sustainable pick-up in investment, the market, not the state, needs to feel confident.Carsten Holz, an expert on Chinese investment statistics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, estimates that privately-owned companies have accounted for 87% of manufacturing investment in 2015, the most recent year of available data. They are more sensitive to input costs.There is a pandemic plus insecurity about future trade given a new U.S. administration, neither of which is conducive to investment that relies on long-term growth prospects, Holz said.Mixed PoliciesTransport bottlenecks are also a challenge for export-oriented manufacturers. Gordon Gao, who exports gardening products from China, said that he has had to reject 80% of orders this year due to port delays. In one case, an order placed before mid-February could only be shipped three months later when a client finally secured a container.Beijing has tried to improve conditions for private companies by ordering a crackdown on speculation to curb commodity prices and easing access to bank loans.Yet the government continues to gradually withdraw fiscal and monetary stimulus measures introduced amid the pandemic last year. It set a relatively unambitious target of above 6% growth for this year, and the Communist Partys Politburo signaled last month it would prioritize reforms to control house prices and debt growth.The policy stance has definitely shifted away from supporting growth and back toward de-risking the financial sector, said Adam Wolfe, an economist at London-based Absolute Strategy Research. The risks for economic growth seem tilted to the downside, especially for capital-intensive, construction-linked sectors.For manufacturers such as Li, a longer period of domestic growth and control over input prices will be needed before capacity expansion is on the cards. While his company of 200 workers took on new permanent staff before the pandemic, for now hed rather pass the risks of investment on to others.I wouldnt do that now, I would rather hire some temporary workers and outsource the rest, he said.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
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Former first lady Michelle Obama has warmly greeted members of Joe Bidens family  hugging his grandchildren as she stepped onto the inaugural platform.

Ms Obama was accompanied by her husband, former president Barack Obama, and donned a bipartisan-coloured purple outfit, also one of the colours of choice for the Suffragettes. She appeared delighted to be reunited with old friends, greeting several other attendees with warm smiles.

As he prepares to take the oath of office, Joe Biden was also celebrated by the former president and first lady with whom he served as vice president.

Mr Obama  who attended the inauguration alongside all former presidents except for Donald Trump  shared a picture of him and his former deputy walking arm-in-arm out of the Oval office, captioning it Congratulations to my friend, President @JoeBiden! This is your time.

Meanwhile, Ms Obama also shared a picture on Instagram from her husbands own swearing-in in 2008, and accompanied it with a thoughtful post about the challenge facing the Biden administration.

Today is the day, she wrote. After a disturbing era of chaos and division, we are entering the next chapter of American leadership with the inauguration of @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris. Right now, Im feeling more than just relief at putting the past four years behind us. Im feeling genuinely hopeful for whats to come.

Both Obamas are known to have a good relationship with the president-elect and his wife Jill. While Mr Obama has been credited with talking Mr Biden out of running against Hillary Clinton in the 2015-16 Democratic primary, he has also spoken warmly about his former running mate many times, and even gave a eulogy at the funeral of Mr Bidens son Beau, who died suddenly in 2015.

Follow live: Inauguration Day 2021 latest updates

Ms Obama, meanwhile, has previously described Dr Biden as her partner-in-crime during their White House years. In a 2016 interview, they described the instant bond they felt when they and their husbands first appeared on the campaign trail as a foursome.

We just knew we would be friends, Dr Biden said.

The Obamas have also previously expressed their admiration and warmth for vice president-elect Kamala Harris. In September, Mr Obama recorded a video conversation with Ms Harris in which he gave her advice on what to expect from serving with Mr Biden.

Ice cream is big, the president said. Pasta with red sauce, he can really go deep on that. He really does like those aviator glasses, he knows he looks good in em.

But look, the main thing to know about Joe is that Joe has never lost his sense of why we do this. And we do it because of, for him, memories of his family back in Scranton and the people of Delaware he represents, the folks on the Amtrak train he met each and every day.

Hes constantly aware that that is why we do this, and that everything that comes up, his focus is gonna be how that helps those people who sent him there.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

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Washington: US President Joe Biden has claimed that his predecessor Donald Trump has left him a "very generous" letter in the Oval Office before departing the White House. It is customary for outgoing Presidents to write their successors a letter and leave it for them on the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.

However, given that the former president broke several of the past traditions, including by opting to skip Biden's inauguration ceremony and never formally congratulated him on his election win, it was unclear until Wednesday whether Trump would maintain the tradition of outgoing presidents leaving notes for their successors.

"The President wrote a very generous letter. Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday.

The President said that he plans to talk to Trump. In her maiden news briefing on Wednesday night, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that she was with Biden when he was reading the letter in the Oval Office right before he signed the executive actions.

However, she declined to offer more details on the letter, saying, it "was private, as he (Biden) said to you all". "It was both generous and gracious, and it was just a reflection of him not planning to release the letter unilaterally, but I wouldn't take it as an indication of a pending call with the former president," Psaki said.

However, another letter, believed to be written by Trump to Biden, is circulating on the social media platform, which has evoked sharp reactions from the netizens. The letter dated January 20, 2021, which bears the signature of the outgoing US president reads Joe, you know I won.

The authenticity of the letter believed to be written by Donal Trump cant be confirmed. Meanwhile, a blogpost has claimed that this letter was actually written by Donald Trump, who left it for Joe Biden.

However, many fact-checking sites say that the viral letter is fake. The claim that the seal and the signature on the letter do not match the official seal used by President Trump.

Biden took the presidential oath on Wednesday, administered by US Chief Justice John Roberts, with his left hand resting atop a 5-inch heirloom Bible that has been in his family for a century. Later in the day, Biden attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, accompanied by Obama, Bush and Clinton.

Afterwards, his motorcade joined an abbreviated parade on his way to the White House. Biden and his family left their limousines on Pennsylvania Avenue to walk the final few hundred yards to their new home. "It feels like I`m going home," Biden said when asked about returning to the White House.

In her first briefing for reporters, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Biden`s first telephone conversation with a foreign leader would be with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. They will discuss Biden`s decision to revoke the permit needed to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline and other bilateral issues, she said.

Biden`s inauguration as the 46th president was the zenith of a five-decade career in public service that included more than three decades in the US Senate and two terms as vice president under Obama. At 78, he is the oldest US president in history.

He faces calamities that would challenge even the most experienced politician. The pandemic reached a pair of grim milestones on Trump`s final full day in office on Tuesday, reaching 400,000 U.S. deaths and 24 million infections - the highest of any country. Millions of Americans are out of work because of pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions.

Biden`s top priority is a USD 1.9 trillion plan that would enhance jobless benefits and provide direct cash payments to households to alleviate the financial pain from coronavirus.

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An officer manager who lied that she'd just had a baby to avoid prison after stealing 7,700 from work to fund her cocaine habit has been jailed for eight months.

Heather McCarthy, 33, used the fictitious birth to make a tearful plea for mercy last November, claiming she hadn't told anyone about her child because of 'post natal depression.'

As a result she was handed a suspended sentence as the judge was reluctant to separate the mother from her child.

McCarthy, who'd burned the cash on drink and drugs, sobbed in the dock and repeated 'thank you so much,' as the judge ordered for her to be freed.

But following publication of her court appearance, suspicions were raised as to the existence of her baby and she was quizzed at her home in Liverpool and ordered back to court.

Heather McCarthy, 33, (left and outside court, right) used the fictitious birth to make a tearful plea for mercy last November, claiming she hadn't told anyone about her child because of 'post natal depression'

After initially prevaricating and promising to produce a birth certificate, McCarthy eventually broke down and admitted there was no baby, claiming she came up with the story in a fit of 'panic' as her current partner has children.

On Thursday at Manchester Crown Court, Judge Paul Lawton activated McCarthy's eight month suspended prison sentence after she admitted contempt of court and condemned her 'brazen and outrageous' lies.

McCarthy wept again as the judge told her: 'Before I sentenced you in November I was told you were a single mother, and you said you had not disclosed this to anyone because you had been suffering from post-natal depression.

'I told you I would take you at your word as I could not imagine anyone in your position could be quite so brazenly dishonest.

'You knew any judge dealing with a single mother would only separate mother and child as a last resort. I made it clear that that information persuaded me to pass a suspended sentence.

'This was a brazenly dishonest, calculated ploy to persuade me to suspend your sentence. It was an outrageous untruth, which suggests you lie whatever the circumstances or consequences. As recently as last week you said you were trying to retrieve the child's birth certificate from storage. How you thought you would not be found out is beyond me.'

The thefts occurred between June 2018 and June last year after McCarthy began working at Bury-based Paragon Meed as a recruitment consultant.

Craig MacGregor prosecuting said: 'She helped recruit staff for large companies to work in their warehouses. She would interview potential staff, make sure their paperwork was up to date and in order and ensure their timesheets were correctly inputted.

The judge told her the lies about the child were 'a brazenly dishonest, calculated ploy to persuade me to suspend your sentence'

McCarthy (pictured) admitted fraud by abuse of position but was given eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years - she has now been jailed after it was discovered she lied to the judge

'But In July 2019 Miss McCarthy was called before her bosses to explain why her work standards had dropped off. She never went to the meeting instead resigning from the company citing problems with drugs and with debt.

During inquiries into the thefts, it was revealed that McCarthy (pictured outside court) had previously been caught stealing money from two former employers and had served a prison stretch

'An audit was then carried out after she left and it was found that two former employees were having timesheets submitted and monies were being paid into Miss McCarthy's accounts.

The court heard 20 fraudulent transactions were carried out netting McCarthy 7,710.29 via the falsified time sheet method. She was interviewed by police in February this year and and confessed: 'it was me'.

Mr MacGregor added: 'She said it was a former partner who pushed her into doing this. There was a threat that if she did not do it he would tell her employees about her past. She said she gave some of the money to her now ex-partner spending the rest on drugs and drink.

'She said she resigned as she wanted to keep her unblemished CV and, at the time of interview, was working again in a recruitment consultancy.

'In fact, it appears she never told the company about her previous conviction and has told her new employers about her convictions either. She is a persistent fraudster.'

McCarthy had been previously been convicted of stealing from an employer in Wellingborough, Northants in 2011 for which she was given a suspended sentence.

She jailed for 12 weeks in 2017 after stealing 4,800 from Belvior Sales and Lettings agency in West Derby where she was working as an estate agent.

The former office manager missed numerous court hearings citing 'anxiety' and COVID-19 and only revealed the 'existence' of the child last November to her lawyers on the day of her sentencing.

McCarthy (pictured) had missed numerous court hearings citing 'anxiety' and Covid-19

McCarthy wept again as the judge told her: 'Before I sentenced you in November I was told you were a single mother, and you said you had not disclosed this to anyone because you had been suffering from post-natal depression. I told you I would take you at your word as I could not imagine anyone in your position could be quite so brazenly dishonest.'

In mitigation her lawyer Thomas McKail said: 'She is in a new relationship with her current partner who is a business owner who himself has a young family.

'She tells me rather emotionally today that, having found herself in a family unit, she panicked and advanced information that was not true. She apologises to the you for that. She is genuinely remorseful and feels genuine regret.

'She is completely ashamed and has had to tell her partner about the case. She has learnt her lesson and tells me this will never happen again.

'She has a history of drug misuse which stems from an previous abusive relationship. She has combatted those demons in her life and tried to move forward. She is worried that during her time in custody she will lose all of that, but recognises she has only herself to blame and that the court will be unable to consider a suspended sentence.'
Under the new rules, the number of guests that people can entertain at home will be reduced to one and travelers to the Netherlands via plane and boat will have to take a rapid coronavirus test in the hours before they board, as well as show a negative result from a PCR test taken within the past 72 hours. These new measures come despite the fact that cases have been slowly declining.

The country will also delay second doses of the Pfizer vaccinations to six weeks from three, after a decision to lower the number kept in stock, Mr. de Jonge announced. This way we can protect more people sooner, this is also important because of the spread of the British mutation, he said.

Health experts in the Netherlands say they fear that without these new measures the more transmissible variant will be dominant in the country by March.

The Dutch Outbreak Management Team, the expert group advising the government on its policies to prevent the spread of the virus, warned on Wednesday that a third wave of the virus was inevitable because of the spread of mutations.

Since March, the Netherlands has struggled repeatedly in its efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, laying bare what many say are systemic problems in how the country is governed.
This years general election ballot presents the voter with a dilemma. We have wrestled with this years choices, as we imagine many voters have. Up and down the ticket we are faced with choices in political ideologies, personalities, backgrounds and governing styles.
MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AIP Publishing announced today that Penelope Lewis, PhD., will join the organization as its Chief Publishing Officer. Lewis will take on responsibility for AIP Publishing's diverse portfolio of highly respected journals, books, and other products aimed at advancing the work of the global physical science community.

"We look forward to having a leader with Penelope's range join our dynamic team," said Alix Vance, CEO. "She has diverse strengths -- in partnerships, product development, market-facing strategy and services, and editorial portfolio development -- as well as a superb scientific background."

Lewis joins AIP Publishing from the American Chemical Society (ACS) where she is Chief Scientist, Strategic Planning and Analysis in the ACS Publications Division. Lewis joined ACS in 2007 to become Managing Editor of ACS Nano and Nano Letters after completing postdoctoral research at Columbia University's Department of Chemistry and Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center. Lewis subsequently led ACS Publications' Editorial and New Product Development team, where she successfully developed and expanded the portfolio of ACS journals and books into new areas. In 2017, she took on her current role to lead diversification of ACS Publications products and services beyond the core portfolio.

"I am thrilled to be joining AIP Publishing, which has a long tradition of accelerating research in physics and physical sciences through its publishing services and partnerships," said Lewis. "I look forward to supporting researchers in these areas by innovating and expanding AIP Publishing's portfolio."

Lewis will join AIP Publishing in February 2021 and will report to Dean Sanderson, Chief Strategy Officer.

ABOUT AIP PUBLISHING

AIP Publishing is a wholly owned not-for-profit subsidiary of the American Institute of Physics (AIP). AIP Publishing's mission is to support the charitable, scientific and educational purposes of AIP through scholarly publishing activities in the fields of the physical and related sciences on its own behalf and on behalf of our publishing partners to help them proactively advance their missions.

SOURCE AIP Publishing

Related Links

http://publishing.aip.org


"Many people may not realize that in a normal year, if you waited until the weather gets warmer to start thinking about buying a boat, it's already too late," says Linda Waddell, Director of the Toronto Boat Show. "We continue to see from the number of comments and high engagement at the virtual show, that there's a heightened sense of urgency - driven by the pandemic - to get an earlier start on planning for the boating season."

It's not just customers who are rushing to get their hands on new boats; boat dealers are too. Manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain challenges have slowed inventory, making it difficult to keep up with demand.

In a survey by the Toronto Boat Show, 80% of participating boat dealers/exhibitors indicated they anticipate current inventory to be in low supply, if not sold-out, within the next few months (by May 2021).

As well, comparing last year to 2019:

80% of exhibitors experienced a significant increase in enquiries/sales from new boaters and first-time buyers

50% of exhibitors noted an increase in enquiries/sales from customers under the age of 40

40% of exhibitors estimated that overall sales increased by 15% - 25%

Pontoons, bowriders, and the personal watercraft such as Sea-Doos and WaveRunners were some of the top-selling categories in 2020 among boat show exhibitors

Click here to view full survey release.

"Although boat sales were strong in 2020, lack of inventory is stumping prospective revenues for Canadian boat dealers  with an estimated 95% who rely on manufacturing and parts from the US and abroad," said Rick Layzell, CEO of the Boating Ontario Association, that represents 500+ members of the recreational boating industry in Ontario including marinas and dealers. "Boat dealers continue to face many of the same challenges as other sectors in terms of supply chain disruptions due to the pandemic, and there's very little they can do about it."

Transport Canada issued a record number of Pleasure Craft Operator Cards (PCOC) in 2020, an increase of approximately 75% compared to 2019. This marks the highest number of new boater licences in Canada over the past six years. The influx of new boaters and new boat purchasers has not only impacted boat sales, but has also had a positive ripple effect across many facets of the boating sector including marinas, insurance and financing brokers, boating certifications and education.

The Virtual Toronto Boat Show runs until January 24, 2021 at TorontoBoatShow.com. Registration is FREE.

The annual event is Canada's largest boat show and the first consumer event of the year for Canadian boat dealers, manufacturers, marinas, services, and accessories related to the boating lifestyle. More boats are purchased at the Toronto International Boat Show than at any other place or event in Canada. Direct revenues across Canada's core recreational boating industry total nearly $5 billion per year, and directly employ approximately 45,000 Canadians. (NMMA Canada  The Economic Impact of Recreational Boating in Canada, 2016).

SOURCE Toronto International Boat Show

For further information: Media Contact: Tran Nguyen, [email protected]
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A shocking study that suggested England's third lockdown isn't working does not prove that infections are rising because it missed out a drop from the second wave's likely peak in December, scientists say.

Imperial College London's REACT-1 mass-testing study, which estimated 1.58 per cent of England's population had coronavirus in the first 10 days of lockdown, triggered fears that the current restrictions aren't tough enough.

But the team didn't test anyone between December 3 and January 6, leaving a month-long gap in their picture of how the epidemic changed during what is widely considered the worst period since March 2020, perhaps ever.

During that time a new fast-spreading variant took hold in the south, Tier 4 was introduced for millions of people, household mixing was allowed for the first time in months for millions of others on Christmas Day, hospital patient numbers surged to record high levels, and the third lockdown was triggered.

The REACT study then re-emerged on January 6, finding that the proportion of people infected with the virus had doubled since it last checked at the start of December, and wasn't showing sure signs of decline.

The researchers behind it admit they missed the peak and so did not record a downturn in the infection rate, and say they hoped further testing in January would show infection numbers come down as the effects of lockdown properly set in. Experts have suggested the third lockdown may be slower to act because the virus has become able to spread faster and people are becoming weary of rules and not following them as strictly.

Other scientists say the study doesn't have enough data to draw firm conclusions about whether lockdown was working in the first 10 days, and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today said other statistics given to the Government show lockdown 'has been having an impact in terms of relieving some of that pressure on the NHS'.

Professor Tim Spector, a King's College London epidemiologist who is running his own Covid Symptom Study using constantly updating data from a mobile app, told MailOnline the Imperial researchers 'can't really judge the effects of lockdown with their survey'.

Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University, added that there is 'certainly quite a strong possibility that the REACT-1 estimates are not very accurate'.

Other studies looking at the effects of Covid-19 across the country which suggest more optimistic trends  NHS Test and Trace numbers show the number of people testing positive fell by 15 per cent in the week to January 13, to 330,871 in seven days from 389,191 a week earlier; and Cambridge University estimates show that the R rate of the virus is likely below one.



The Imperial College London study missed out a long period of testing during December. By the start of the lockdown in January it found that 1.58 per cent of people in England were infected with coronavirus  the equivalent of almost 900,000 people. The graph shows the general trend across each time period the study has been carried out for, with the red line pointing upwards in the most recent week. The large area of red shading around the line, which peaks on both sides, shows that scientists are very uncertain about what the data means and it could actually be going down, flat, or going up

Public Health England data shows that the numbers of people getting positive coronavirus test results through the official swab-testing scheme has clearly been coming down since the start of January

NHS Test & Trace figures published today showed that the number of people testing positive for coronavirus in England fell for the first time since November in the week ending January 13, from 389,191 to 330,871

Mr Williamson, who has come under fire over flip-flopping Government policies on school openings and safety, insisted primary and secondary schools are still 'a safe environment

It found that mobility data suggested people were moving around more since the start of January, meaning even tougher restrictions may be necessary

BUILDERS SAY PRECAUTIONS NOT GOOD ENOUGH AFTER SITE OUTBREAK A building site has been hit by an outbreak of coronavirus as construction workers claim the government is 'waiting for them to die'. Several people at the India Buildings development in Liverpool, which 550 builders are currently refurbishing as a government tax headquarters, have been struck down with the virus. This comes as labourers have slammed ministers for failing to close non-essential sites during the lockdown, despite the mounting death toll. Many have warned that Covid is 'running rampant', with little protection for staff and have questioned why sites are considered essential places of work. One London council has now launched a testing programme for construction workers in a bid to limit the spread of coronavirus. Unite national officer for construction Jerry Swain told MailOnline that companies had a duty of care, and must 'accept their responsibilities to the workers on their sites during this time.' Several positive coronavirus cases were confirmed at Liverpool's India Buildings, according to the Liverpool Echo yesterday. Overbury, the firm refurbishing the offices, has confirmed eight positive coronavirus cases on the site. Some employees told the Echo that Covid safety measures were not rigorous enough and not being followed by managers. They claim workers are failing to get tested weekly and say conditions in the toilets were 'appalling'. The whistleblower also claimed that up to 40 workers were forced to eat together in the canteen. A spokesman for the firm told MailOnline that employee safety was a 'key priority'. The spokesman added: 'We have implemented strict Covid-secure practices in line with Government guidelines across our sites since March 2020. 'As an additional proactive approach, we encourage everyone on site at the India Buildings project in Liverpool to have weekly lateral flow tests. 'Eight colleagues have tested positive for Covid-19. In line with government guidelines and company policy, these individuals are currently self-isolating and we wish them a speedy recovery. 'The site has a very large canteen used for breakfast and lunch, with ample space for 2 metre social distancing. Workers are given a specific area and time-slot for meals and the areas are cleaned after each sitting.' Advertisement

The Imperial study, which is commissioned by the Government, suggested the epidemic is not slowing down as hoped and that hospital admissions will keep increasing for several weeks.

The study found that 1.58 per cent of people - around one in 65 - were infected with the virus. This has surged since the start of December but is slightly down from an estimated peak of one in 50 just after Christmas.

Those who carried out the study said it suggests lockdown rules aren't working as well, potentially because people aren't following them as strictly.

Looking at mobility data which shows how much people are travelling around, Professor Riley said: 'During the end of the Christmas period there was a substantial drop in activity and then, at the beginning of the working year, there was an increase.

'The current lockdown is intermediate between the levels that were achieved in lockdown one and the levels that were achieved in lockdown two.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock seized on the findings to hammer home the lockdown message and said they show 'why we must not let down our guard over the weeks to come'. He added: 'Infections across England are at very high levels and this will keep having a knock-on effect on the already significant pressures faced by our NHS and hospitals.

'It is absolutely paramount that everyone plays their part to bring down infections.'

But experts aren't sure that the data is comprehensive enough to give any accurate idea of trends in how the virus is spreading.

Professor Tim Spector, who has been monitoring the coronavirus outbreak since the pandemic began, said there were 'problems' with REACT's figures because it 'did not collect any data for a month from December 5 to January 6'.

'So, it's very hard for them to tell what the trends are,' Professor Spector told MailOnline.

'I think they missed the peak of infections, because they weren't collecting any data [over the Christmas period].

'Our data is very clear  we were the only survey that kept going all through the holidays  we saw a clear peak on January 1 and it's been falling steadily from there to half the rate, where it is now.'

He added: 'I just think the fact they didn't have any data before lockdown means they can't really judge the effects of lockdown with their survey.'

He said data from the ZOE symptom study app his own study uses, which asks users to log symptoms when they feel unwell to track the outbreak, suggested the national shutdown had driven down transmission.

'From our data, rates were already falling before the official lockdown,' he said.

'So lockdown is clearly related to mobility data and that has shown a drop and generally that correlates to the number of new cases.'

But he added this lockdown had not been as effective as the first in March because more people are moving around and there are new more transmissable variants.

'The longer lockdowns go on the lower the compliance,' he warned.

'We are dealing with different strains as well than in March  we're the only ones who had data in March and April but we used slightly different methods.'

Professor Kevin McConway, an Open University statistician, said the REACT-1 data was 'striking' but that he would want to compare it with other figures, such as NHS Test & Trace numbers and a similar survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics, which is expected tomorrow for the first time since December.

He added: 'On these trends, theres certainly quite a strong possibility that the REACT-1 estimates are not very accurate.

'Ive previously expressed some concern about how accurate some of these short-term REACT-1 estimates of trend can be, when they are based on changes in the number of positive tests over a short period of time, and when they compare successive days on which the number of tests taken is not large and may not be very representative of the pattern across the country.

'They are pretty sure to be less reliable than the estimated from the whole of a round (or even half a round like 8a) on overall infection rates, and infection rates in most subgroups.

'This time, the REACT-1 researchers do draw attention to these caveats about their short-term trend estimates, and (rightly) urge caution in their interpretation.'

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today echoed a caveat given by the Imperial researchers and other scientists, that this is just one of many streams of data that the Government takes into account, so doesn't give a perfect picture.

He said on Sky News: 'The Government always looks very closely at all the evidence and all the advice that comes forward; thats the right approach to be taking. Thats why we had SAGE to look at a whole set of different research, different advice.

'I think everyone right across the country, not just in Government, wants to see Britain exiting from lockdown at the earliest possible stage, but weve had to take these measures in order to alleviate pressure on the NHS.

'The evidence that weve been seeing is that actually it has been having an impact in terms of relieving some of that pressure on the NHS so the NHS is able to cope but, of course, the Government always looks at all the evidence thats available.'

Asked whether schools were safe to remain open  most are still bringing in some children for in-person teaching  the Education Secretary said: 'Schools are a safe environment to be in'.

The REACT-1 study sparked confusion because an array of other data and scientific estimates showed exactly the opposite.

Cambridge University researchers had estimated that the R rate - the the average number of people each infected person passes the disease onto - may have dipped to 0.6 in London and the South East.

Public Health England had also revealed that weekly Covid cases had fallen in every age group except the over-80s, despite the spread of the highly infectious variant first spotted in Kent which officials feared couldn't be contained. And Department of Health figures had showed that dozens of boroughs had experienced a drop in infection rates.

It comes after Britain recorded its deadliest day of the Covid pandemic for second day in a row with 1,820 more fatalities, taking the overall number of victims one step closer to the grim 100,000 milestone.

When broken down by date of death, data shows 1,110 people succumbed to the virus on January 12, the highest number of fatalities to occur on a single day since the start of the pandemic. The daily toll is the number of deaths registered in the last 24 hours, which includes deaths over the past few days.

Despite the country's ever-growing death toll, Department of Health statistics also showed the UK's second wave is continuing to fade away as a result of the lockdown. Officials recorded another 38,905 coronavirus cases, down 18 per cent on last Wednesday's figure of 47,525.

Deaths lag behind infections by several weeks because of how long it takes between catching and falling seriously ill with Covid, so the effects of the January 5 lockdown may not be felt in the death figures until next week. Experts say Britain will suffer more record-breaking days in terms of deaths before they eventually fall.

Random swabbing of 142,000 people between January 6 to 15 found 'no evidence' of a decline in infection levels  despite an array of promising data showing exactly the opposite. The graph shows the test positivity rate for every day of the study

The Imperial College London team also revealed how test positivity rates varied across each region of England over the study period, with rates falling in the East and South West and plateauing in London

The Imperial College London experts showed that cases were still highest in London between January 5 and 15, followed by the West Midlands, South East and East of England

The researchers also offered a breakdown of how test positivity rates varied by age group, showing infections were highest among 18-24 year olds

Experts behind the REACT-1 study also revealed how test positivity rates varied between age groups for each region, over the last three rounds of testing

And the team also offered a heat map showing where outbreaks have grown or shrunk between the last two recent rounds of testing

Boris warns 'there will be more' Covid deaths after UK records daily high of 1,820 victims Boris Johnson warned 'there will be more' Covid deaths to come after Britain recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic for second day in a row with 1,820 more victims. With the UK's overall death toll creeping ever closer to the grim 100,000 milestone, the Prime Minister called the daily figure 'appalling'. Department of Health data shows nearly 20,000 fatalities have been recorded in 2021 already, with yesterday's figure being a 16 per cent rise on the 1,243 recorded last week. Health bosses declared 1,610 deaths yesterday. Despite the country's ever-growing death toll, statistics also showed the UK's second wave is continuing to fade away as a result of lockdown. Officials recorded another 38,905 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, down 18 per cent on last Wednesday's figure of 47,525. Fatalities lag by a few weeks behind infections due to the time it takes between catching and falling seriously ill with Covid, which means the effects of the January 4 shutdown might not be felt in the death figures until next week. Experts say Britain will suffer more 'record-breaking' days in terms of deaths before they eventually fall. When the death figures are broken down by date, it reveals 1,110 people succumbed to the virus on January 12, the highest number of fatalities to occur on a single day since the start of the pandemic. Advertisement

Other studies tracking the size of the outbreak - including the King's College London symptom-tracker - claim cases fell almost immediately because of lockdown. And even Department of Health data suggests that cases were falling in London and other areas plunged into Tier 4 before Christmas.

However, the study by Imperial College London said there is 'no evidence' that cases had fallen since a national lockdown was imposed on January 6.

It found that mobility data suggested people were moving around more since the start of January, meaning even tougher restrictions may be necessary.

However, Professor Riley said that the surveillance testing programme was 'ahead' of daily testing data, which suggests the epidemic is shrinking.

He added that it will take 'a number of weeks or possibly months' before vaccinations lead to a fall in infections.

Co-author Professor Paul Elliot said: 'We are seeing the R rate is pretty flat at a time of high prevalence. We would be hoping for a downturn during the lockdown, we definitely saw that in lockdown one [in March] but we are not seeing that in lockdown three.'

The study authors said the new, highly infectious variant means that the new lockdown does not appear to be as effective as the first one.

Asked if he expects there to be more patients in hospital in two weeks time, Professor Elliot said: 'At the current prevalence rates, unless they come down, I think the answer has to be yes.' There is a lag of two to three weeks between new infections, hospital admissions and deaths.

It came as Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific advisor, compared the current situation in hospitals to a 'war zone'.

He said: 'This [situation in the NHS] is very, very bad at the moment, with enormous pressure, and in some cases it looks like a war zone in terms of the things that people are having to deal with.'

Sir Patrick added: 'The numbers are nowhere near where they need to be at the moment, they need to come down quite a lot further - we need to make sure we stick with it.

'You go for a walk in the park or something, life looks normal; you go for a walk in a hospital, if you work in a hospital, you will see life not looking normal at all. This is a really difficult, dangerous situation we're in, and we need to get the numbers down.'

Last week's PHE surveillance update had showed an improvement in the outbreak in the week up to January 10

Above is the case rates by age groups in the UK. The highest levels are in the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups, data from the ZOE Covid-19 study shows

Public Health England had also revealed that weekly Covid cases had fallen in every age group except the over-80s, despite the spread of the highly infectious variant first spotted in Kent which officials feared couldn't be contained
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The Cabinet dismissed Tigran Petrosyan from the position of Governor of Shirak, 5 days after he tendered his resignation.

He served as Governor of Shirak since February 2019.

Petrosyan did not elaborate on the reasons behind his resignation but said he would do so after being officially relieved from office.

The Cabinet is also expected to appoint a new governor for the province during today's session.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
And thus, the joke is on us!

Every four years the policies of the USA can change at a new administration of the USA. Many changes could be called good and I will say they are good

Biden just changed or reactivated:

Rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO) is a big example of how off base (brain farted) Trump was over Covid-19

Extending eviction and foreclosure moratoriums for Americans. Is more than a big issue (& brownie points available all around) and should have been done already twenty times over

Continuing the pause on student loan payments until September 30. Terrible program and has impoverished too many Americans.Enough said

Rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement. Another Trump brain fart moment

End Keystone XL pipeline and revoke oil and gas development at national wildlife monuments. Just dont destroy our land. We spout we are oil independent! Right? Enough said

Halted construction of the border wall by terminating the national emergency declaration used to fund it. Another brain fart moment of Trumps and besides I though Mexico was paying for the wall?

And a very big one and the one I watch closely; Freezing last-minute Trump administration regulatory actions. Actions made based on hate, revenge and spite

Some moves made that I will consider not so good in its substance as pertaining to future issues:

Rescinds the Trump administrations 1776 Commission, directs agencies to review their actions to ensure racial equity.enforcement, reinforcement and de-enforcement of racial stuff with me, in my eyes, is a bad sign of issues coming

I call this a Biden brain fart.Requires non-citizens to be included in the Census and apportionment of congressional representatives. Why? Count them but never include them with the actual citizens. We need to know who is in our country, yet that does not give them rights as a citizen. Does it? (As an American living in Russia, I know about this stuff!)

Reverses the Trump administrations restrictions on US entry for passport holders from seven Muslim-majority countries. I guess we will see

Another brain fart by Biden? Undoes Trumps expansion of immigration enforcement within the United States. About the only thing Trump acted upon correctly. There should be strict laws of crossing the border and the ones who illegally cross should be in trouble. Yet, the ones who want to cross should be treated fairly

And thus, the joke is on us!

It just shows me the instability of the USA system of Gov. A very unstable system of Government. Toss a good dose of psychotic behavior and you get Helter Skelter

Oh my, that video brought back memories!

Right now all the little Hitlers and Napoleons are running around like chickens with their heads cut off and begging for scraps with the new administration

This is going to be interesting as the days go by. We are going to see some good things happen, yet mixed with in those good things are going to be some doozies of a bad issue developing

Myself, all I desire to see is for the USA to lay off terrorizing other countries. For it is a wonderful world for the most part and if America will just get her house in order and stop the terror. The world will breath a sigh of relief

When the trade war on China stops and the constant sanctions against Russia stop? Then we might be seeing some real progress?

My prediction:

And thus, the joke is on us!

WtR

Boris Johnsons Government has become embroiled in a diplomatic spat with the European Union over the status of the blocs ambassador.

Joao Vale de Almeida has not been given the same status as ambassadors sent by national governments.

Senior Tories questioned the British governments approach, with one ex-minister warning it could set a bad precedent that nations with poor human rights records might follow in an attempt to silence EU diplomats.

Mr de Almeida is the EUs first ambassador in London after Brexit meant the UKs departure from the bloc.

Michel Barnier, who led the EUs negotiating team during Brexit talks, said the UK should be very careful about its approach.

I know the spin of the UK authorities, speaking about the EU like international organisations, but we are not an international organisation, said Mr Barnier, who is now an adviser to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

I hope that we will be able to find a clever and objective solution to the status of the EU in London.

It would be wise in my view to for the UK to find a clever solution.

Senior Tory Tobias Ellwood described the row as a silly spat and insisted the UK should be better than this.

Mr Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said: This is simply petty.

(Joe) Biden commits to strengthening alliances and we engage in silly spats which will not help strengthen security and trade cooperation.

We are better than this.

Former Europe minister David Lidington said he hoped the Foreign Office doesnt pick a fight on this, warning that non-recognition could set a bad precedent for regimes that hate EU ambassadors speaking up in support of human rights.

Tory peer Lord Barwell, who was Mrs Mays chief of staff, said the move was difficult to understand and the UK treating EU diplomats differently than every other independent sovereign state does suggests there is something different about our relationship with the EU.

Strange position for Brexiteers to take, he added.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: The EU, its Delegation and staff will receive the privileges and immunities necessary to enable them to carry out their work in the UK effectively.

But Brussels said the EUs 143 delegations and staff in other parts of the world had been accorded a status equivalent to countries embassies under the Vienna Convention, which governs the rules of international diplomacy.

The Vienna Convention grants diplomats immunity from detention, criminal jurisdiction and taxation.

But Whitehall sources insisted that international organisations were offered very similar privileges and immunities to diplomatic missions sent by foreign governments.

The UK is continuing to negotiate with the EU over the long-term arrangements for the delegation.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said the UK, which, as a member of the EU, was a signature to the Lisbon Treaty which established the European External Action Service diplomatic network, was well aware of the EUs status in external relations.

Nothing has changed since the UKs exit from the European Union to justify any change in stance on the UKs part, he said.

The EUs status in external relations and its subsequent diplomatic status is amply recognised by countries and international organisations around the world, and we expect the United Kingdom to treat the EU Delegation accordingly and without delay.

He said granting reciprocal treatment based on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is standard practice between equal partners and we are confident that we can clear this issue with our friends in London in a satisfactory manner.

Mr Stano added: The European Union has 143 Delegations, equivalent to diplomatic missions, around the world.

Without exception, all host states have accepted to grant these delegations and their staff a status equivalent to that of diplomatic missions of states under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, and the UK is well aware of this fact.

The BBC reported that the EUs foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has written to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab directly to raise his concerns about the situation.

The dispute with Brussels came as the Foreign Office announced Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby would be the new head of the UKs mission to the EU, replacing Sir Tim Barrow as ambassador.
Joe Biden pleaded for national unity in his inaugural address Wednesday after he was sworn in as the 46th president. Below is a full transcrip
In one of his first official acts, President Joe Biden was yesterday returning the US to the worldwide fight to slow global warming and launched a series of climate-friendly efforts.

"A cry for survival comes from the planet itself," Mr Biden said in his inaugural address.

"A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now."

Mr Biden was signing an executive order rejoining the Paris climate accord within hours of taking the oath of office, fulfilling a campaign pledge.

The move undoes the US withdrawal ordered by predecessor Donald Trump, who belittled the science behind climate efforts, loosened regulations on heat-trapping oil, gas and coal emissions, and spurred oil and gas leasing in the pristine Arctic tundra and other wilderness.

The Paris accord commits 195 countries and other signatories to come up with a goal to reduce carbon pollution and monitor and report their fossil fuel emissions.

The US is the world's second biggest carbon emitter after China.

Mr Biden will also use executive orders to start undoing other climate roll-backs.

He will order a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in what had been virgin Arctic wilderness, direct federal agencies to start looking at tougher mileage standards and other emission limits again, and revoke Mr Trump's approval for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.

After Mr Biden notifies the UN by letter of his intention to rejoin the Paris accord, it would become effective in 30 days, UN spokesman Alex Saier said.

Rejoining the Paris accord could put the US on track to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 40pc to 50pc by 2030, experts said.

Also within hours of being sworn in, Mr Biden sent an immigration bill to lawmakers that would open a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the US unlawfully, a sharp contrast to the policies of Mr Trump.

Mr Biden was signing 15 executive actions last night, at least six of those dealing with immigration, making the issue a major focus of the Democratic president's first day in office.

The actions included immediately lifting a travel ban on more than a dozen Muslim-majority and African countries, halting construction of the US-Mexico border wall and reversing an order preventing migrants who are in the US illegally from being counted when US congressional voting districts are next redrawn.

Mr Biden will also sign a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security and the US attorney general to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, which protects migrants who entered the country as children from deportation, and reverse Mr Trump's executive order calling for stricter interior immigration enforcement.

The new president is also expected to end a Trump programme called the Migrant Protection Protocols.

The programme has left tens of thousands of asylum seekers waiting in Mexico for US court hearings, with many stuck for months in tent camps near the US border.

Taken together, the actions show Mr Biden is beginning his presidency with a sharp focus on immigration, just as Mr Trump kept the issue at the centre of his policy agenda until the last days of his administration.
(Newser)  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is in no hurry for the Senate impeachment trial of former President Trump to begin. He's told Democrats he wants the trial to begin sometime in February, which would allow both sides at least a week to prepare for the proceeding, CBS reports. That's not what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is thinking. "It will be soon, I dont think it will be long, but we must do it," she said Thursday. The trial could follow almost immediately if Pelosi sends the article of impeachmentwhich charges Trump with "incitement of insurrection"to the Senate on Friday, per the AP. Trump wouldn't have the help of the White House counsel's office, as he did in his first impeachment trial, so he's been looking for lawyers to defend him in the Senate. But Trump doesn't deserve a "get out of jail card" just because he's out of office this time, Pelosi said.

story continues below

The nine House impeachment managers are already working on their case. Republicans are pitching a February start to Democrats as a way to get some of President Biden's nominees confirmed quickly, per NBC. They also say it could help COVID-19 relief legislation to get through Congress quickly. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that he and McConnell are negotiating the terms of the trial. Those decisions are no longer up to McConnell, who is now the Senate's minority leader, and Schumer hasn't given him an answer on the start date yet. The White House repeated that President Biden will leave those matters up to Senate Democrats. Whenever it starts, Democrats said, there will be a trial. It would be "harmful to unity," Pelosi said, to forget that "people died here on Jan. 6th, the attempt to undermine our election, to undermine our democracy, to dishonor our Constitution." (Read more Trump impeachment stories.)
Parler, the social network popular with Trump supporters, is trickling back to life.

The social network went offline last week after Amazon booted it from its computer servers for not consistently removing violent posts, an accusation that Parler denied. But after a week in which Parler executives sued Amazon and predicted that their site might never return, they are forecasting it will be back up and running by the months end.

That turnabout is thanks, in part, to a Russian company.

Parler has entered into business with DDoS-Guard, a Russian firm that routes internet traffic and protects websites from cyberattacks. With its help, visitors to Parler.com now find a basic webpage with a promise from Parlers chief executive, John Matze, that our return is inevitable.

But the use of a Russian company is worrying some researchers who study the internet and Russia. If Parler routes its web traffic through DDoS-Guard when its full website returns, the experts said, Russian law could enable the Russian government to surveil Parlers users.

Alina Polyakova, head of the Center for European Policy Analysis, a foreign policy think tank in Washington, said Russia required many internet companies in the country to install technology that feeds the government a copy of much of the data that passes through their computer servers.

The surveillance system, known as the System for Operative Investigative Activities, basically allows the Russian government to intercept any data on Russian territory and provide that data to the FSB, Russias domestic intelligence agency, said Polyakova, who has studied Russias control over the internet. She added that it was unclear if DDoS-Guard would be subject to such surveillance.

The Russian Embassy in Washington and DDoS-Guard did not respond to requests for comment. In an email to CNN, DDoS-Guard said it does not provide any customer information or any other data to the government authorities, excluding cases explicitly stated in the law.

Jeffrey Wernick, Parlers chief operating officer, said in an interview that the concerns were overblown because DDoS-Guard supported only a temporary webpage for Parler. He said Parler would try to find other companies to operate its full social network.

Our preference is to have an American firm, he said. People should not make conclusions that itll be this company. People extrapolate too much and with limited information. They conclude what they want to conclude. I call that spreading misinformation.

But finding willing partners has been a challenge for Parler since the Capitol riot on Jan. 6.

After supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, Twitter and Facebook barred Trump from their services. That sent a flood of new people to Parler, pushing it past 15 million users. Then Apple and Google removed Parlers app from their app stores and Amazon stopped hosting Parlers website on its servers because, they said, Parler was not consistently removing violent posts. In addition to denying those claims, Parler accused the companies of collusion.

Since then, other companies have rebuffed Parler. Matze said in a court filing on Monday that at least six extremely large potential providers refused to take Parlers business because they feared cyberattacks or believed Parler hosted incitements to violence.

Parler is an internet company that cannot get on the internet, Parlers lawyer, David Groesbeck, said in a separate filing Monday. And the longer Parler lies dead, the harder it will be to resuscitate.

Yet in statements to the press, Parler executives are predicting a full return by the end of January. Wernick declined to say how Parler would do that, but he attributed the confidence to a herculean effort by his team.

Were not sleeping, he said. Were working day and night, and every day. There is no weekend for us.

For Parler, the ideal solution would be returning to Amazons servers. The network has accused Amazon of violating antitrust law and asked a federal judge to force it to host Parler. After a hearing last week, the companies are now awaiting a ruling.

Many online observers and journalists have speculated that Parler will eventually be hosted by Epik, a company that has supported other websites that tech companies have rejected, including Gab, another social network popular in right-wing circles.

But Robert Davis, Epiks senior vice president, said in an interview that Epik had only helped register Parlers domain name, a basic function of the internet. While Epik would like to help, he said, Parlers needs are too large.

I would expect Parler to be an amazing force for good in the future, he said. I could see them easily hitting 100 million members or more in 2021 alone.

Davis said he believed that Parler was trying to build its own infrastructure. On Monday, Matze appeared to support that notion in an interview on Fox News, saying, We really need to build our own infrastructure and our own technology.

In a legal filing on the same day, Matze said Parler did not have the technical and security expertise to host the Parler environment on its own, adding, Nor is it feasible for Parler to do so.

He said the computers and other equipment needed to host Parlers site would cost more than $6 million and take weeks to arrive. Simply put, it would not be possible for Parler itself to acquire the necessary servers and related security infrastructure in a commercially reasonable time frame, he said.

Dave Temkin, an engineer who helped lead Netflixs internet-infrastructure team until last week, said he was skeptical that Parler would return soon, given the difficulty of creating its own infrastructure and the reluctance of other companies to help.

He said that even if Parler built its own data center in the United States, it would need to persuade an internet provider like Verizon or AT&T to lay the fiber-optic cables to connect it to the wider internet.

Its like if you have a car with no roads, he said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette delivers the throne speech in the Senate chamber in Ottawa on Sept. 23, 2020. Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Canada deserves stability: Julie Payette Resigns as Governor General, Apologizes

OTTAWAJulie Payette resigned Thursday as Canadas governor general, saying that to protect the integrity of her office and for the good of the country it was time for her to go.

Payette joins a very short list of governors general who have left the post early and is the first to do so mired in controversy. Her decision to leave will have both political and practical consequences for the minority Liberal government.

Payette, 57, handed in her resignation ahead of the imminent release of results of an independent investigation into allegations of a toxic workplace at Rideau Hall, over which she has presided since being appointed in 2017.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc presides over the Privy Council Office, which requested the investigation. He said the government received the report late last week.

The conclusions were compelling and they were stark, LeBlanc said in an interview.

It was obviously an unacceptable workplace. Public servants who work for the government of Canada have the right to a secure, safe and healthy workplace and we are adamant  that that standard be upheld at every institution of the government of Canada.

He said the report painted a picture that was not consistent with that standard.

LeBlanc said he talked to Payette about the report on Tuesday and she then talked to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday evening, at which time she indicated that it was her intention to offer her resignation, which was received Thursday afternoon.

While he wasnt part of Trudeaus conversation with Payette, LeBlanc said he didnt think the prime minister asked for her resignation or threatened to fire her if she didnt resign voluntarily.

I think she had arrived at the conclusion that it would be best for the institution and the country that she terminate her mandate.

The secretary to the governor general, Assunta Di Lorenzo, also resigned Thursday from her senior post.

In her statement, Payette apologized for tensions at Rideau Hall and, while she welcomed the investigation, she also suggested she disagreed with the characterizations of her leadership.

We all experience things differently, but we should always strive to do better, and be attentive to one anothers perceptions, she said, noting that there were no formal complaints or grievances filed by employees during her tenure.

I am a strong believer in the principles of natural justice, due process and the rule of law, and that these principles apply to all equally. Notwithstanding, in respect for the integrity of my viceregal office and for the good of our country and of our democratic institutions, I have come to the conclusion that a new governor general should be appointed, she continued.

Canadians deserve stability in these uncertain times.

She also suggested personal reasons were part of her decision, citing her fathers declining health.

So it is with sureness and humility, but also with pride over what was accomplished during my tenure as Governor General and in my service to the country for the past 28 years, that I have submitted my resignation, she wrote.

Trudeau acknowledged in a terse statement hed received her resignation.

Every employee in the government of Canada has the right to work in a safe and healthy environment, and we will always take this very seriously, he said.

Todays announcement provides an opportunity for new leadership at Rideau Hall to address the workplace concerns raised by employees during the review.

Payette, a former astronaut, was appointed Canadas 29th governor general in 2017.

Her appointment followed the nearly sevenyear term of noted academic David Johnston.

While she wasnt the first female governor general, Trudeaus decision to install a woman with a long history in the sciences was seen as a reflection of the Liberals commitment to encourage more women to be active in those areas.

But Trudeaus decision was questioned nearly from the start, and again on Thursday.

To select Payette, Trudeau abandoned a formal panel set up by the previous Conservative government to make viceregal appointments, and instead moved the decision into his office.

Shortly after she took the job, it emerged that Payette had been charged with seconddegree assault while living in Maryland in 2011.

She called the charge unfounded and it has since been expunged.

But as details of that emerged, so did revelations that she was involved in a fatal hitandrun accident that same year. The case was closed without charges after a police investigation.

Both incidents raised immediate questions about how thoroughly she had been vetted for the job and accusations she wasnt the right fit for it have dogged her ever since.

She did not move into the official residence of Rideau Hall, citing privacy concerns linked to renovations, some of which she had requested herself and whose price tag would eventually become a political problem for the Liberals.

Instead, Payette based herself in her home province of Quebec, where she has spent a great deal of time during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last summer, the CBC reported, citing anonymous sources, that Payette had yelled at, belittled and publicly humiliated employees, reducing some to tears or prompting them to quit.

In turn, the Privy Council Officethe civil servants who support Trudeaus workhired Ottawa-based Quintet Consulting Corp. to investigate.

At the time, Trudeau expressed his confidence in Payettes abilities, dismissing the idea of replacing her.

During a radio interview in September he said she was excellent.

I think on top of the COVID crisis, nobodys looking at any constitutional crises, he said.

In the event a governor general cant carry out the job, is removed, or dies, the chief justice of the Supreme Court assumes the offices powers as long as necessary.

For now, that means Chief Justice Richard Wagner will grant royal assent to bills and handle other administrative matters.

A recommendation on a replacement will be provided to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and announced in due course,  Trudeau said.

Conservative Leader Erin OToole said that replacement ought to be considered carefully.

Considering the problems with his last appointment and the minority Parliament, the prime minister should consult opposition parties and re-establish the viceregal appointments committee, he said in a statement.

While the Governor General is a largely symbolic position, it does have some constitutional importance, particularly during a minority government such as the one Canada has now.

In 2008, then prime minister Stephen Harper asked governor general Michaelle Jean to prorogue Parliament to avoid a non-confidence vote he was expected to losea decision that was controversial at the time but in keeping with constitutional tradition.
Megan Thee Stallion is setting the record straight, calling rumors the criminal charges against Tory Lanez have been dropped 'fake news.'

The WAP songstress, 25, addressed the unfounded gossip on Twitter Thursday, telling readers she is sick of 'seeing people LIE and turn [her] trauma into a joke' while also dubbing Lanez an 'abuser.'

Megan has accused Tory, 28, of shooting her in both feet after an argument following a party last October.

He was subsequently arrested and later charged with two felony gun offenses by Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, but pleaded not guilty during a November court date.

Call out: Megan Thee Stallion called Tory Lanez an 'abuser' as she corrected false claims the Canadian rapper's gun charges have been dropped. Megan has accused Tory of shooting her in October

No truth: The WAP songstress, 25, addressed the unfounded gossip on Twitter Thursday, telling readers she is sick of 'seeing people LIE and turn [her] trauma into a joke'

At the time law enforcement also confirmed he was facing 'a gun allegation and that he personally inflicted great bodily injury' on 'a female friend in the Hollywood Hills.'

This week's tweets claiming Lanez - real name Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterso - was off the hook cited screenshots of a Los Angeles County-area court website which showed no scheduled court date for the case pending as proof.

But Megan - full name Megan Jovon Ruth Pete - said that the case is still very much underway as she shared her frustration in a series of tweets.

'AT THIS POINT IM GETTING ANNOYED !' she wrote. 'STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE MF INTERNET.

'Imagine how I feel waking every day seeing people LIE and turn my trauma into a joke ?'

The Texas native then accused Lanez and his team of fabricating stories, writing: 'That whole team figures out ways to create doubt with my story every week and the media eats it up.'

Headed to trial: Lanez pleaded not guilty to two gun charges related to his alleged dispute with Megan in November. He's seen in 2019 above

This week's tweets claiming Lanez - real name Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterso - was off the hook cited screenshots of a Los Angeles County-area court website which showed no scheduled court date for the case pending as proof

Rescheduled: Miss Megan Pete explained that the date was rescheduled because of the presidential inauguration. Her claim was asserted by a rep from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office

'Y'all can't tell when s**t fake news?' the Don't Stop rapper went on. 'Y'all still don't see an ABUSER picking with me ?'

She explained: 'The first court date got pushed back bc of the inauguration but I can't wait until the MF FACTS come out ! B**** you shot me AND MY STORY NOT CHANGING AND B**** YOU GOING TO JAIL'

Backing up Miss Pete's claims, a rep from the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office told Complex the next court date for the case is now set for February 25, following the originally reported hearing date of Jan. 20.

Megan's tweet's then turned the topic to the public, wondering why she was getting villainized even though she was the alleged victim.

Trauma: The WAP rapper admitted she was still dealing with lots of trauma from the incident, as well as the personal loss of her mom, dad and grandmother

'How tf I get shot now I'm the worlds biggest mf villain !? All y'all p***y a** n****s and pick me a** h**s GONE EAT YO MF WORDS.'

She called out the hypocrisy of some, writing: 'Y'all so believe black women and protect black women online BUT WHEN I LITERALLY SAY I GOT SHOT ITS CONFUSING.'

'Trauma is real,' the Savage rapper continued.

'I'm still traumatized from loosing my mom dad and one of my grandmothers and on top of that being shot. I'm not open abt anything on the internet usually bc I like to keep my emotions private but I'm reaching my limit, Im going to keep staying positive.'

Lanez' team affirmed Pete's claims on Thursday via a statement made to New York Times music reporter Joe Coscarelli.

Denied: Lanez' team affirmed Pete's claims on Thursday via a statement made to New York Times music reporter Joe Coscarelli

He tweeted: 'A rep for Tory Lanez says it is NOT TRUE that charges against him in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting were dropped: 'The blog that posted this info is wrong. I assume the docket hasn't been updated ... The next hearing date is in mid-February.''

Lanez' reps were more sharp in a statement to Page Six, saying: 'The false report came from a d-list blogger (I can't even find their contact) that doesn't know how to read a court docket.'

Another source also clarified that Megan has nothing to do with if the case is dropped.

'The LA County District Attorney's office filed the charges against him, not Megan, so only they could drop the charges,' the insider said. 'But the reality is he will have to deal with the consequences of his actions.'

If convicted, Lanez could face up to 22 years and eight months in state prison.

But he struck an optimistic tone on his own Twitter Thursday, posting: 'I will continue my 2021 unproblematically.. just wanna make great content for my fans.'
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Chandigarh: The Punjab school education department has re-issued instructions to make the schools and educational institutions completely tobacco free.

According to a spokesperson of the school education department, on the basis of the guidelines received from the government of India to make schools and educational institutions tobacco free, the director general of the school education department issued a letter in this regard to all the district education officers and school heads.

Punjab School Education Board

The Punjab school education department has already taken strict steps to make schools and surroundings tobacco free. The Punjab government has already banned the tobacco products like gutkha and pan masala. Based on the new guidelines of the Government of India, the department of school education has again issued instructions to make schools completely tobacco free.

According to the spokesperson, the latest guidelines issued by the Government of India state that tobacco-related deaths are on the rise worldwide and these deaths can be avoided. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2009) has reported that 14.6 per cent of students between the ages of 13 and 15 in India use tobacco in one form or another. After this the Global Audit Tobacco Survey 2016-17 found that 28.6 per cent of people aged 15 years and above in India use tobacco which is having a detrimental effect on public health.

Punjab governmentDue to the ill effects of tobacco, the government launched the National Tobacco Control Program in 2007-08 with an emphasis on educating school children. The Punjab school education department already has been educating the students about the ill effect of tobacco.
In a major development, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the Tamil Nadu Governor will decide, in three-four days, on the state government's recommendation to release A.G. Perarivalan, one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The development is significant as the state is going to polls in this year.

Mehta, representing the Governor, submitted before a bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao that a decision will be taken as per the Constitution, on the remission of the sentence by exercising discretionary power under Article 161 within the next 3-4 days.

The top court had earlier expressed unhappiness that the recommendation made by the state government for remission of sentence of convicts has been pending before the Governor for over two years. The top court in 2014 had commuted Perarivalan's sentence to life imprisonment citing long pendency of his mercy petition.

Following Mehta's submission, the top court scheduled the petition filed by Perarivalan for consideration after four weeks. He had moved the top court seeking release from prison based on the recommendation made by the state government in 2018.

The top court told Mehta: "So we will not be needed to decide this plea? It is good that the Governor is deciding..."

Mehta replied yes, the court will not be required to decide the matter.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioner, said if the authority is deciding it, then it is all right.

"After 30 long years, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. We are hopeful that now the Governor has intervened in the Supreme Court proceedings to assure that he will decide in 3-4 days, there will be good news. The Cabinet had given its recommendation in 2018 and he is bound by it," Sankaranarayanan told IANS.

The state government's recommendation to the Governor for pardon to all the convicts has been pending for over two years. Convicts V. Sriharan alias Murugan, T. Suthendraraja alias Santham, Perarivalan alias Arivu, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, P. Ravichandaran and Nalini have been in jail for over 25 years.
The current Minister of Justice has inherited a legal system that appears to have been in a state of slumber for decades. Ad hoc measures probably have been the norm rather than the exception.

by Raj Gonsalkorale

Chameleons are lizards that are part of the scientific family called Chamaeleonidae. In addition to the ability to change colour, chameleons have many other characteristics that make them special, including parrot -like feet, eyes that can look in two different directions at once and long tongues and tails

In a startling expose published in the Lanka Web, Shenali Waduge has detailed an account of what appears at first hand to be akin to the Chameleon behaviour of the Attorney Generals department in regard to the MCC Compact and the Program Implementation Agreement & Articles of Association of MCA (The Attorney Generals Department owes an explanation to the GoSL  the Public & the US Government).

Ms Waduge presents the following in her article

One cannot but help thinking that advice provided on some politically sensitive matters could be political colour oriented. This is not an accusation nor a definitive statement but purely an observation based entirely on what has been presented in the article referred to above.

It is incumbent on the AGs department now to clarify the conflicting opinions presented by them about the same matter at two different times. Firstly, when the Yahapalanya government was in power and riding full steam to have the MCC agreement concluded, and now, when the government currently in power has expressed before the election and after it, that they were opposed to it and will not enter into an agreement.

All readers will naturally hope that there is a good explanation to the conflicting legal and constitutional opinion expressed by the government entity solely responsible for providing such advice to the government.

Such a clarification is essential as one cannot continue to be perplexed with what has been presented. If a reasonable and satisfactory clarification is not presented, it will erode the confidence that the public has and should have about the ability of the AGs department to provide unbiased advice to a government in power irrespective of their colour shades and political agendas.

Besides this, as rightly pointed out, the message this type of conflicting opinions send to the international community is damaging from an international relations perspective and importantly, from the perspective of attracting badly needed foreign investments to the country.

Looking at the numerous committees appointed (as mentioned in Ms Waduges article) to address loop holes and shortcomings in different areas of the law, it does give the impression that some laws had not been looked at and revised where necessary. One is reminded on the phrase the law is an ass. The Cambridge dictionary explains the phrase as follows the legal system or a particular law is wrong or not good enough, and should be changed: If that is against the law, then the law is an ass.

This phrase has also been attributed to an influential English judge Lord Denning.

In Charles Dickenss Oliver Twist, in chapter 37, Mr. Bumble had been told that the law assumes that a wife follows the authority of the husband and he had responded with If the law supposes that, the law is an assan idiot.

So, the need to change or revise laws which are rigid and out of date is not in question, and in fact it is imperative to do that. But, if for some reason they are not changed because of an existing law that says or implies that such rigidity cannot be changed, then the phrase law is an ass would apply.

What is in question is the different standards that have been applied when changing some laws and not others. Ms Waduges article amplifies on this, and implies that some laws have been changed virtually overnight at the behest of donors.

One cannot but wonder with concern why such a seeming dichotomy exists as regards the process to change/revise some laws, while there appears to be a pretence that no such dichotomy exists.

The current Minister of Justice has inherited a legal system that appears to have been in a state of slumber for decades. Ad hoc measures probably have been the norm rather than the exception. It is the law of the land that protects and defends its citizens and it is the duty of the State to ensure all citizens have this protection irrespective of who they are, and their station in life. If the law is inadequate to protect citizens, it is a reflection on the inadequacy of the legal fraternity and the law makers which are the Parliamentarians.

It does give the impression that the legal fraternity itself has not taken any initiatives to address short comings in the countrys laws and some may have even thrived in the inconsistencies and short comings in various laws. If alleged wrong doers escape from their crimes because of such loop holes and shortcomings in law, and if the legal fraternity has not taken steps to address such shortcomings, they too are indirectly complicit in the crimes committed.

The revelations in Ms Waduges article casts a dark shadow over the legal entity that is bound by the Constitution to provide advice to the government of the day. The Role of the Attorney Generals Department has been stated as follows

 To provide instructions to the Government and Governmental Institutions on Civil, Criminal, Constitutional and Commercial matters, International legal activities and the matters of the United Nations, Human Rights Commission.

 To represent the Government and Governmental Institutions for the cases, instituted in the Supreme Court, Other Court & Labour Tribunals.

 To provide necessary legal advice with regard to enactment of new laws and amendments to the existing laws.

The conflicting advice reportedly provided to the government of the day in 2018 and in 2021 on the same matter, which is on the legal and constitutional position vis a vis the MCC Compact and the Program Implementation Agreement & Articles of Association of MCA, does not generate confidence in the minds of the public that the AGs office has acted in the best interests of the Sri Lankan State.

One hopes that an urgent clarification is provided in order to restore confidence in the ability of the Attorney Generals department to live up to the role it has been assigned in the constitution of the country.
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Amazon has extended its vast logistical resources to help President Joe Biden in speeding up the country's COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Given that it is one of the country's largest businesses, Amazon does well in logistics and distribution efforts despite its flaws, noted Ars Technica.

If Amazon would help in the national distribution of vaccines, the move may help expedite the federal effort to combat the pandemic.

Part of President Biden's plans is to ramp up coronavirus response and implement a vaccination distribution program. He said he'll invoke the Defense Production Act to increase vaccine supply and will use the National Guard and Federal Emergency Management Agency to distribute.

In a letter obtained by NBC News, Dave Clark, Amazon's head of consumer business, said: "Amazon stands ready to assist you in reaching your goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of your administration."

Presently, vaccination rollout had been left to states, and this setup led to numerous problems.

Amazon Touts Logistical Scale in Providing Meaningful Impact Against COVID-19

In the letter sent to the president shortly after the inauguration Wednesday, Clark said Amazon is prepared to leverage its operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to help the Biden administration improve the vaccination efforts.

He added that they had agreements with third-party healthcare providers to help in administering vaccines on-site at Amazon-owned facilities.

Read also: Netflix Grows To More Than 200 Million Subscribers

"We are prepared to move quickly once vaccines are available," Clark assured. Getting involved in the effort is critical for Amazon as most of their employees are classified as essential workers.

Clark said the company's 800,000 essential workers who can't do their work from home would be in the vaccination queue as soon as possible. Amazon has employees in Amazon warehouses, Amazon Web Services data centers, and Whole Foods stores.

Amazon representative Jodi Seth said they were "in touch" with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Trump administration's Department of Health and Human Services last month.

However, it remains unclear if Amazon made a similar offer directly to former President Donald Trump, noted Market Watch. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post, reportedly had a years-long feud with Trump.

Some Question Amazon's Late Offer to Assist in Vaccine Distribution

An Amazon spokesperson did not explain why there wasn't a similar offer to the Trump administration and why it chose to extend help now. But the company told Fox News that it kept contact with U.S. government officials over the last nine months about the COVID-19 response.

Related story: Starbucks To Assist in Washington's COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

They also pointed to a request for the CDC to prioritize their essential workers, even though it made no mention of assistance in distributing vaccines.

The Food and Drug Administration first issued emergency use authorization for Pfizer/BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine on December 11, 2020. It was then followed with Moderna's approval a week later.

So far, more than 16 million people in America have been vaccinated, and around 35 million shots were distributed.
Azerbaijan has become Turkey's second-largest arms export market. Sales volumes in 2020 reached $ 260.8 million, up 194 percent from a year earlier, Defense News reported.

Turkey's defense and aerospace exports totaled $ 2.3 billion in 2020, down 14.8 percent from 2019, according to official figures.

In 2020, the defense and aerospace industries accounted for 1.3 percent of Turkey's total exports. According to TIM, the leading market for Turkish manufacturers in 2020 was the US with $ 784.2 million in sales, down 4 percent from 2019.

Turkey's loyal political ally in the Caucasus, Azerbaijan, became the second-largest export market, with sales reaching $ 260.8 million, up 194 percent from 2019.

Another major market was the United Arab Emirates, Turkey's foreign policy rival in the Persian Gulf. Turkish exports to the UAE totaled $ 200.2 million, 51 percent more than in 2019.

Over the same period, the number of defense procurement programs increased from 66 to over 700, or from $ 5.5 billion to $ 70 billion in contract value. Similarly, defense and aerospace turnover rose from less than $ 1 billion to over $ 9 billion, and exports from $ 248 million to $ 2.7 billion.

In 2020, seven Turkish companies were included in the Defense News list of the 100 largest defense companies in the world. The government said that exports of the defense and aerospace industries would be $ 10.2 billion by 2023.
On this day in 1972, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Region (Reorganisation) Act, 1971

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the people of Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya on their statehood days and offered his best wishes to them.

On this day in 1972, Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Region (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.

"Statehood day greetings to the people of Manipur, India is proud of its contribution to national development," he tweeted, adding that the state is a powerhouse of innovation and sporting talent.

Statehood Day greetings to the people of Manipur. India is proud of Manipurs contribution to national development. Manipur is a powerhouse of innovation and sporting talent. I wish the state the very best in its journey towards progress.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021

The prime minister wished the state the very best in its journey towards progress.

"Best wishes to the people of Tripura on the special occasion of their Statehood Day. The culture and warm-hearted nature of the people of Tripura is admired across India. The state has achieved outstanding progress in various fields. May the same spirit continue," he said in another tweet.

Best wishes to the people of Tripura on the special occasion of their Statehood Day. The culture and warm-hearted nature of the people of Tripura is admired across India. The state has achieved outstanding progress in various fields. May the same spirit continue.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021

Extending his greetings to people of Meghalaya, the prime minister said the state is known for its remarkable kindness and spirit of brotherhood.

"Youngsters from Meghalaya are creative and enterprising. May the state keep scaling new heights of progress in the times to come," he added.

On their Statehood Day, greetings to my sisters and brothers of Meghalaya. This state is known for its remarkable kindness and spirit of brotherhood. Youngsters from Meghalaya are creative and enterprising. May the state keep scaling new heights of progress in the times to come.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021

Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura statehood day: History of formation

As part of the North Eastern Region (Re-organisation) Act, 1971, Tripura, Manipur, and Meghalaya had become full states on 21 January, 1972.

The Princely states of Manipur and Tripura were merged with India in October, 1949. These were then granted the status of Union Territories after India gained independence.

On the other hand, Meghalaya was part of Assam but was made an autonomous state through the Assam Reorganisation (Meghalaya) Act of 1969.

Of the Northeastern states, apart from Assam, Nagaland granted statehood on 1 December, 1963. Following the statehood of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura in 1972, Mizoram was formed as a full-fledged state of India in 1987. Also, the North Easter Frontier Tracts (NEFT) of the North-Eastern borderland became Arunachal Pradesh and a state in the same year.

Seven Sisters of the Northeast India

Now the 'seven sisters' of Northeast India comprise Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. Sikkim is also a part of the Northeast but is not included in the Seven Sisters. This is because while the other seven states are contiguous, Sikkim is sort of a neighbour, divided by the Siliguri Corridor.

Sikkim is also referred to as the 'Brother' of the Seven Sisters.
CHARLESTON, W.Va., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An annual celebration of West Virginia students, teachers, and educational freedom, attended by nearly 700 community members last year, will transform into a statewide virtual event this year. The West Virginia School Choice Spirit Awards Ceremony will take place live over YouTube on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

The virtual awards ceremony will feature school choice TikTok videos and reveal winners in the following categories: "2021 Educator of the Year," "2021 Student Voice for Choice," "2021 School Choice Advocate of the Year," and "Most Innovative Response to COVID." Nominations from around the state were accepted during the six weeks leading up to the ceremony.

The free virtual event will take place at 10:30 a.m. Families can register and learn more at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/west-virginia-school-choice-week-awards-ceremony-tickets-134070571689 .

West Virginia Voices for Education Choices will also host a Netflix Party screening of an inspiring education story, "Miss Virginia," during School Choice Week. The family-friendly film tells the true story of a single mom who helped enact D.C.'s Opportunity Scholarship program for low-income children.

The virtual movie night will take place at 6:30 p.m.on Saturday, Jan. 30 and families can register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/miss-virginia-movie-watch-party-tickets-134073691019 .

Both the virtual awards and virtual movie night are planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2021, which will feature more than 33,000 virtual celebrations across all 50 states.

"2020 was a harsh year for everyone," said Amanda Kieffer, communications director at the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy. "School Choice Week is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of West Virginia's resilient students, parents, and educators and to share with others the beauty of school choice and education freedom!"

Both activities are being organized by the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy, a nonprofit dedicated to researching, developing, and communicating effective public policies for West Virginia in partnership with West Virginia Voices for Education Choices, a coalition of parents, students, and community leaders in support of education choice.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com




The Globe and Mail, Canadas newspaper of record, last month published a scurrilous, politically motivated smear against Marxism. Authored by Konrad Yakabuski, one of its leading columnists, and titled, The new Marxists rewriting US history, the Globe op-ed claims that the New York Times  1619 Projecta right-wing racialist reinterpretation of American historywas inspired and authored by Marxists.

This is absurd and manifestly so. The New York Times is the daily most identified with the Democratic Party, one of the two parties of Wall Street and US imperialism, and as such an irreconcilable opponent of Marxism and socialism.

Moreover, anyone with a passing acquaintance with the major intellectual and historiographic controversy that has surrounded the Times 1619 Project knows full well that the opposition to it has been led by the Marxists of the World Socialist Web Site.

But Yakabuski, a Thatcher enthusiast whose brother is a cabinet minister in Ontarios hard-right Conservative government, is not going to let facts get in the way of his McCarthyite smear. He attributes the Times 1619 Project to self-anointed arbiters of history advancing a Marxist interpretation of US history. Underscoring his political motivations, he concludes his tirade with a Canadian nationalist-infused denunciation of revolution.

David North, the chairman of the WSWS International Editorial Board and the author of many of the WSWS articles that have exposed the omissions, distortions, and outright falsifications in the 1619 Projects rewriting of American history, sent a letter to the Globe protesting Yakabuskis column on Dec. 21. It read:

Re: The new Marxists rewriting U.S. history (Dec. 19):

Contrary to Mr. Yakabuski, the New York Times falsification of American history has nothing to do with socialism. The 1619 Project promotes a racial variant of identity politics. It is rooted in critical race theory, which explicitly rejects the class struggle which Marxists prioritize as the driving force of history.

Mr. Yakabuski fails to reference the factacknowledged by Establishment publications like the American Historical Review and Wall Street Journalthat the Trotskyist World Socialist Web Site (wsws.org) has played the leading role in opposing the 1619 Project. The United States foremost historians, including Gordon Wood and James McPherson, critiqued the 1619 Project in interviews conducted by the WSWS.

Socialists defend the heritage of the United States democratic revolutions. That is why the WSWS has opposed the New York Times racialized version of history.

David North

Detroit

WSWS Chairperson

The Globe has refused to publish Norths letter, although it scrupulously conformed to the guidelines for its Letters to the Editor section, including a word-limit of 150 words.

This act of political censorship provides further proof, were any needed, that Yakabuskis column was not a product of mere ignorance or journalistic incompetence. Rather, it was a politically motivated attempt to discredit Marxism and the socialist movement, by identifying it with racialist politics.

Readers of Yakabuskis column learn nothing of the debate over the 1619 Projecta debate, it need be emphasized, that is not only extensively documented, but is undoubtedly the most politically significant and widely commented on controversy over American history and historiography in years.

The exposure and rebuttal of the 1619 Projects racialist narrative was initiated by the World Socialist Web Site, beginning with an essay published on Sept. 6, 2019, less than three weeks after the Projects publication by the New York Times. This critique was developed in further WSWS essays and lectures over the next four months, and through the publication on the WSWS in November-December 2019 of interviews with leading historians of the American Revolution and Civil War, including Gordon Wood, James McPherson, James Oakes and Victoria Bynum. These historians, together with their colleague Sean Wilentz, then addressed a letter to the Times protesting a number of gratuitous errors in the 1619 Project.

Yakabuski would have his readers believe that the 1619 Projects historical falsifications and distortions were nearly unanimously savaged by professional historians, but just the opposite is the case.

The majority of historians either remained silent or sided with the 1619 Project. An editorial in the Feb. 2020 issue of the American Historical Review (AHR), the countrys foremost academic history journal, came out in defence of the 1619 Project. It claimed the New York Times-sponsored racialist narrative represented a positive contribution to American historiography and portrayed its grossest historical revisions and falsifications as legitimate differences of interpretation. In their reply, David North and the historian Tom Mackaman noted that the AHRs defence of the 1619 Project reveals the extent to which racialist mythology, which has provided the theoretical foundation of middle-class identity politics, has been accepted, and even embraced, by a substantial section of the academic community as a legitimate basis for the teaching of American history.

Whilst he deplores that countless Americans have bought into this Marxist interpretation of history, Yakabuski conveniently skirts over the 1619 Project in two brief paragraphs.

Instead, he makes the centre of his claim that Marxists are rewriting American history the San Francisco District School Boards decision to rename high schools named after Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson and other leaders of the American Revolution and Civil War. This reactionary move, as the WSWS has explained elsewhere, is motivated by the same right-wing racialist politics that guided the writing of the 1619 Project.

Just as when he libels Marxists as being responsible for the 1619 Project, Yakabuski fails to identify a single Marxist associated with the San Francisco school boards attempt to purge its schools of the names of leaders of Americas two democratic revolutions. The only person he mentions is Jeremiah Jeffries, a black nationalist member of the school boards renaming committee, who has endorsed San Francisco Mayor London Breed for reelection. Breed is a right-wing Democrat who backed the short-lived presidential campaign of billionaire investor and businessman Michael Bloomberg.

The Globes denunciation of the 1619 Project as the work of Marxists and socialists is in fact cribbed from none other than Donald Trump. The billionaire US president and would-be dictator has sought to rally ruling class support for his anti-democratic conspiracies with repeated warnings that Marxists and socialists pose an existential threat to American capitalism. As an example of this threat, Trump disingenuously pointed to the Marxist 1619 Project.

Yakabuski concludes his diatribe with a snide attack on revolution and the fight for equality that draws on key tropes of Canadian nationalism, the principal ideological weapon of the Canadian bourgeoisie. He likens the 1619 Projects authors and the members of San Franciscos school renaming committee to those who formed the Committee of Public Safety that sent anyone suspected of disloyalty to the guillotine during the French Revolution. In their zeal to purge the infidels, he continues, the revolutionaries always end up eating their own. Their claims to be fighting for equality quickly become exposed as a thirst for retribution.

Here is not the place to examine the role that the two American bourgeois-democratic revolutions played in the ultimate emergence, under the aegis of the British Empire, of a rival capitalist state in the northern tier of North AmericaCanada. But it should be noted that the Canadian bourgeoisies origins lie in the United Empire Loyalists, the pro-British opponents of the American Revolution, and the remnants of the ruling elite of Ancien Regime New France.

Confederation, the unification of the colonies of British North America in 1867, was not a popular movement animated by democratic principles, but a business deal put together by colonial politicians, railway promoters, bankers and the British government. A key object was the annexation of what is today Western Canada, the dispossession of the native peoples, and the destruction of their communal property relations. Like the leaders of the British Empire in London who plotted to extend diplomatic recognition to the insurrectionist Confederate States of America, Canadas Fathers of Confederation had hoped that the slaveocracy would prevail in the American Civil War.

Confederation was based on an explicit repudiation of the revolutionary democratic principles that had animated the American Revolution, and that constituted the ideological-political foundation for what Lincoln described as a new birth for freedomthe abolition of slavery and the granting of full citizenship rights to the African-American population. Whilst Americas Declaration of Independence, inspired by the Enlightenments ideological assault on absolute monarchy, religious obscurantism and inequality, proclaimed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness to be inalienable rights and asserted the right of the people to alter or to abolish a government that violates these rights, the Fathers of Confederation celebrated peace, order and good government and proclaimed their loyalty to the British Crown and Empire.

Till the 1960s, the dominant current of both English and French-Canadian/Quebecois nationalism derided the United States as too democratic, and too egalitarian. Subsequently, and very much as part of their efforts to control an increasingly rebellious working class, the ideologists of the ruling class gave Canadian and Quebecois nationalism a liberal-left gloss. Canada was now promoted as a kinder, gentler society to the rapacious dollar republic to the south.

But whatever changes may be made to the Canadian nationalist narrative, the animus to revolution remains. It is bleached into the very bones of the Canadian ruling class.

Yakabuskis attack on revolution echoes a 2018 Globe editorial, Why 1867 was better than 1776, published on the occasion of Canada Day. It lauded Canadas purported origins in incremental change and improvement brought about by negotiation and compromise over the American and French Revolutions, abrupt, radical and bloodyextremely bloodyrejections of the past. Making clear that Canadas newspaper of record abjures revolutionary violence, but not the states suppression of opposition from below or aggression in pursuit of the Canadian bourgeoisies predatory interests on the world stage, the Globe editorial went on to celebrate Canadas participation in the two imperialist world wars of the last century.

The real concern of Yakabuski, the Globe editors and their employers, Canadas richest family of billionaires, the Thomsons, is not history. What motivates their lurid denunciations of revolution, embittered attacks on the fight for equality and attempts to smear Marxism and identify it with right-wing racialist politics, is fear of mounting working-class opposition in Canada, as around the world, and the growing support for socialism.
She reportedly has a net worth of $36million, after her skincare company's sales went through the roof during the coronavirus pandemic.

And Zoe Foster Blake was dripping with elegance on Tuesday as she went shopping in Sydney's Double Bay - just a stone's throw away from her new $9million mansion in Vaucluse.

Zoe, who is the wife of comedian Hamish Blake, looked effortlessly chic in a vertically striped shirt dress, which was cinched at the waist with a matching belt.

Style icon: Zoe Foster Blake was dripping with elegance as she went shopping on Tuesday in Sydney's Double Bay - just a stone's throw away from her new $9million mansion in Vaucluse

The 40-year-old beauty mogul accessorised with her favourite red Goyard handbag, which costs more than $1,500.

The best-selling author, who was holding a bag from bookshop Oscar & Friends, wore a pair of flat sandals and concealed her gaze behind oversized sunglasses.

She completed her look by sweeping her long brunette hair into a tight bun, and opted for minimal makeup for the occasion.

Lavish: The 40-year-old beauty mogul accessorised with her favourite red Goyard handbag, which costs more than $1,500

The Blakes, who previously lived in Melbourne, spent $8.925million on a property in the upmarket suburb of Vaucluse just before Christmas.

They have since moved in with their children, son Sonny, six, and daughter Rudy, three.

The five-bedroom, six-bathroom estate sits on 885 square metres and features two sets of garages.

Splashing out: Zoe and her husband, Lego Masters host Hamish Blake (left), spent $8.925million on a property in the upmarket suburb of Vaucluse just before Christmas

While the four-level home does not have ocean views, it is considered architecturally noteworthy and was featured on Grand Designs Australia in 2013.

The family's interstate move comes after Zoe made her debut on Australia's 2020 Young Rich List.

Her estimated net worth soared to $36million after her skincare company, Go-To, enjoyed a boom in sales during the pandemic.

Interstate move: The Blakes, who share two children, son Sonny, six, and daughter Rudy, three, previously lived in Melbourne before moving to Sydney. Pictured: their Vaucluse home

Fancy: While the four-level property does not have ocean views, it is considered architecturally noteworthy and was featured on Grand Designs Australia in 2013

In August, Go-To's peach-packaged facial oil named Face Hero was crowned the number one skincare product in Australia.

Zoe founded Go-To six years ago, and the brand launched in the U.S. in 2018.

Before starting her own business, she was an author, blogger and beauty editor.
Police have defended the actions of four officers involved in the fatal shooting of a man after a "terrifying" carjacking and pursuit in Victoria's east.

The 31-year-old man, who was from the Morwell area, threatened the male driver of a silver Audi with a knife at a car park near Baromi Park in Mirboo North, 155 kilometres east of Melbourne, about 7.40am on Thursday.

He then stole the station wagon and drove it through the Morwell, Traralgon and Churchill areas before he was spotted driving erratically in Drouin, in West Gippsland, just before 9am.

Police pursued the man and attempted to stop the vehicle before it crashed into a guard rail on the Princes Freeway.
POTENZA - The show "Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize: The Way Through Lucania" will debut January 24 and run through March 7 at the Casa di Giotto museum in Vicchio, in the province of Florence.



It will showcase works by winning artists from the first edition of the international contemporary art biennial created by the Porta Coeli Foundation in Avigliano in the province of Potenza at Lagopesole Castle in 2019, as well as an anthology of the Basilicata artist Antonio Masini, who died on December 21, 2018.



The show was presented during a press conference attended by Basilicata Governor Vito Bardi, Basilicata Regional Council President Carmine Cicala, Basilicata Culture Councillor Dina Sileo, and Basilicata Tourism Board (APT) Director General Antonio Nicoletti.



Representatives from local and regional institutions in Tuscany also attended via video conference.



The show was prepared in partnership with the Basilicata APT and the support of the Region of Basilicata, the Region of Tuscany, the National Union of Local Tourism Boards (UNPLI) and the City of Vicchio.



The exhibition includes the works of 10 national and international artists who won first or second prize in the categories of sculpture and installation, photography, painting, digital art, and design and graphic art.



The show ends with a section dedicated to the art of Masini, a post-WWII Basilicata artist.



Basilicata governor Bardi said the show has "great cultural and artistic value".



"We must encourage an interest in culture, and this initiative is the first phase of a partnership between Basilicata and Tuscany, with the artistic osmosis of the two regions and a selection of artists forming the basis for future shows to promote the regions' heritage," Bardi said.
The Covid-19 situation in Irish hospitals is at the highest level of concern since the pandemic began, the HSE chief has said.

Paul Reid said the healthcare system remained on extremely high alert with the number of people in hospital with the virus up 10% in a seven-day period.

His comments come as a record 214 people with Covid-19 were being treated in intensive care units.

In total, there were a total of 1,949 people in hospital with the virus on Thursday morning.

The situation overall in the hospitals is at the highest level of concern that weve ever had, he said.

All of our hospitals and healthcare systems still remain on extremely high alert.

The number currently in hospitals is up 10% in one week. Despite a very small reduction in the last couple of days, the total number of Covid patients is now at 1,949 and this is having impact all across our health system.

He added between the January 6 and 19, 2,685 people had been hospitalised due to the virus with 163 admitted to ICU.

Of those cases, 68 were aged between 0 and 18 years of age with two admissions to ICU; 251 were in the 19-34 years age category with six admitted to ICU, 831 people (31%) were aged between 35 and 64 years with 85 ICU admissions; and 1,535 (57%) were aged 65 plus with over 70 admissions.

He stressed that the illness effects all age groups.

But Mr Reid told the HSE weekly briefing that the vaccination programme provided a roadmap for getting out of the pandemic.

As we are in the midst of the worst impacts of the virus it can be so hard for any of us to see a way out of this. It may seem were stuck in a dead end in terms of the impact it is causing, the HSE chief executive said.

I just want to say we arent and there will be a way forward. The vaccination programme provides the roadmap for us to get out of this awful phase were in and the public to get back to some element of our lives that weve used to.

He added: It may take that bit longer than we would all wish and hope. That is purely based on supply. But I assure everybody, we will be operating at pace.

Mr Reid also said that by the end of February, all frontline healthcare workers will have received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. He added that many healthcare workers will have also received their second dose of the vaccine by then also.

The HSEs chief operations officer Anne OConnor told the briefing there are 480 open outbreaks across hospitals and long-term residential care.

Ms OConnor said of those outbreaks 166 were in nursing homes, which represented almost a third of all the total nursing homes in the country.

She added that the greatest challenge for the HSE was staffing, with over 1,800 staff currently on leave for Covid-19 reasons.
Kolkata, Jan 21 : As the nation gets ready to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding the renaming of Kolkata's iconic Victoria Memorial as 'Swantantrata Senani Smarak' in honour of all freedom fighters who died fighting for India's independence.

"Victoria Memorial should be declared as 'Swantantrata Senani Smarak' in honour of all freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the country. We must delete this icon of slavery from the visible history," Bose's great grand niece and ABHM national president Rajyashree Chaudhuri told IANS.

She said the letter was sent to the Prime Minister's Office on January 10.

She said the grand marble structure in Kolkata should be dedicated in memory of all martyrs from the Bengal province - i.e., undivided Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and northeast - who had sacrificed their lives and brought freedom for the nation against British imperialism.

"Besides this, we have also demanded renaming of Kolkata's Fort William, which is now the Eastern Command's headquarters, as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Fort after the first military head and Supreme Commander of free India Government," Chaudhari said, adding that this is the time when the Indian Army should also be renamed as the Indian National Army.

The Eastern Command, an operational command of the Indian Army, is headquartered in Fort William in the city of Kolkata. The command's area of responsibility extends from Bengal to Sikkim and across the entire northeast.

"Only formation of committees on Netaji or garlanding his statues will not help. If we really want to honour our freedom fighters we must go for a complete deletion of slavery from the history of our country," said Bose's kin.

Bose had a strong association with Fort William as part of the 89 Bengal Regiment when he was a third-year student of philosophy in the Scottish Church College under Calcutta University. He was a trainee member of the university cadet corps at the time.

Bose had raised the Indian National Army (INA) on October 21, 1943. The INA, under his leadership, had captured a large part of Indian territory and entered almost 1,500 miles inside the Indian mainland. Even Japan had also handed over Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Bose which he had named as Swaraj and Shahid islands on December 30, 1943.

"I hope that the honourable Prime Minister or the concerned person takes cognisance of the appeal which I was compelled to write after receiving grievances from various sources from West Bengal and other parts of the world. This would actually be a genuine gesture to honour India's greatest freedom icon Netaji in the truest manner," Chaudhuri pointed out.
Chrissy Teigen shared her delight at Joe Bidens presidential Twitter account following her, after years of being blocked by Donald Trump.

The TV presenter and cook book author repeatedly clashed with the former occupant of the White House, who once called her filthy mouthed.

He blocked her in 2017.

But Teigen celebrated after the @POTUS Twitter account included her in the first handful of accounts it followed.

OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!!, Teigen said. My heart, oh my God lmao, I can finally see the presidents tweets and they probably wont be unhinged.

OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/BmBfkPZgEj  chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 21, 2021

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Teigen, 35, spent inauguration day in Washington DC with husband John Legend and their children Luna, four, and two-year-old son Miles.

Legend performed during the Celebrating America primetime TV special.

Teigen documented the familys stay in the US capital on social media, telling fans she was glad she experienced it sober having given up alcohol before Christmas.

ran our asses up the stairs for this shot. just incredible to be here. sober. I know thatas weird but itas like...a different world for me. everything is new and better. very happy. the most happy bigly happy pic.twitter.com/kdbp9A8ocE  chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 20, 2021

Alongside a picture at the Lincoln Memorial, Teigen said: Ran our asses up the stairs for this shot. Just incredible to be here. Sober. I know thats weird but its likea different world for me. Everything is new and better. very happy.

In a nod to Mr Trumps colourful way of speaking, Teigen added: The most happy bigly happy.

Teigen revealed she had gone sober last month and said she no longer wants to be embarrassed by what she does while under the influence.
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden signed a blizzard of executive orders Wednesday on the coronavirus, immigration and climate change - launching a 10-day cascade of directives reversing the policies of his GOP predecessor as Democrats pushed for even more sweeping and prompt legislative action.

The most pressing of his priorities are measures to combat the ongoing deadly coronavirus pandemic. Biden signed executive actions to require masks on all federal grounds and asked agencies to extend moratoriums on evictions and on federal student loan payments.

He urged Americans to don face coverings for 100 days while reviving a global health unit in the National Security Council - allowed to go dormant during the Trump administration - to oversee pandemic preparedness and response. Biden also began to reverse several steps taken by former president Donald Trump by embracing the World Health Organization,revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and rejoining the Paris climate agreement.

Biden, who enters the White House during a time of historic crisis, said Wednesday he wants to move quickly to address the country's big, urgent problems with a spirit of unity and national purpose. The pandemic has killed 400,000 Americans, the economy has shed millions of jobs and just two weeks ago, thousands of rioters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to overturn the results of the Nov. 3 election, which Biden won by 7 million votes.

In his first appearance from the Oval Office, Biden said his administrative actions were "all starting points" as he signed a sampling of the executive orders.

"I think some of the things we're going to be doing are going to be bold and vital," he said in brief remarks. "And there's no time to start like today."

The freshly-inaugurated president's rush to roll back some of Trump's most controversial policies reflected the years of pent-up frustration among Democrats that they had been largely powerless to stop an administration that espoused policies they vehemently opposed.

Acting expeditiously, Democrats said, was particularly vital as the nation continues to battle a once-in-a-century pandemic that continues to kill thousands of Americans a day and batters the fragile economy.

"We'll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility," Biden said in his inaugural address. "Few periods in our nation's history have been more challenging or difficult than the one we're in now."

But the new White House, as well as its Democratic allies on Capitol Hill, are keenly aware that expansive policy changes they want to implement in the first months of Biden's presidency will also require the assent of Congress, and almost certainly the support of some Republicans, particularly in the Senate.

Some of his actions drew swift criticism from GOP lawmakers who had largely endorsed the policies of Trump, if not the former president's rhetoric and style.

"President Trump created the best economy in the world by limiting bureaucratic regulations and President Biden should seek to build on this success instead of diminishing it," said Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., the ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. "Government does not know best, the American people do."

Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, the No. 3 Senate Republican, stressed that Biden's inaugural address was one of "unity and it's important to govern that way as well."

Most of the 17 directives that Biden signed Wednesday had been signaled previously by Biden or staff members. Taken together with the two legislative plans he has sent to Congress - coronavirus relief and an immigration overhaul - the orders highlight Biden's immediate priorities, while sending a message that his administration plans to reengage on the global stage.

Jen Psaki, the new White House press secretary, noted that the 15 executive actions and two additional agency directives were far more than the two orders Trump signed on his first day four years ago.

GOP lawmakers were particularly critical of the Biden administration's decision to roll back key energy and climate regulations of his predecessor, arguing that doing so would ultimately cost jobs.

Biden's "policies from Day One hurt American workers and our economy," said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. Pointing to the Biden administration's climate actions, she continued: "This virtue signaling comes at the expense of low-income and rural families that rely upon industries opposed by liberal environmental groups."

Biden's coronavirus legislation is already facing stiff challenges in Congress, as Democrats hold only narrow majorities in both chambers and Republican support is still needed to pass most bills in the Senate. The White House nonetheless hopes to court a smaller circle of influential GOP lawmakers, particularly senators, and had reached out to key Republicans such as Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska to get their input on their virus aid plan.

"It's going to require, I think, a fair amount of debate and consideration," Murkowski said Wednesday. "But he's made it clear that this is his initial priority. I don't disagree with that."

Biden White House officials have emphasized the need for Congress to approve his larger relief package, which would extend unemployment benefits; dole out an additional $1,400 in stimulus payments for millions of Americans; and devote tens of billions of dollars to economic needs such as rental, housing and food assistance, among other measures.

But acting Wednesday on his own, Biden asked the Education Department to consider extending a freeze on both interest and principal payments for federal student loans until Sept. 30, while requesting that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extend a moratorium on evictions that expires after this month to at least through March.

He also asked three key agencies - the Department of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development - to extend foreclosure moratoriums for federally backed mortgages under their purview through at least the end of March.

"These are emergency measures that will help to make sure that no American is put in the place of having to make the decision to pay their student loan payment or put food on the table in the short term and will help to provide some near-term relief," said Brian Deese, the new director of the White House National Economic Council.

On immigration, Biden signed an order repealing the ban on travel from several majority-Muslim nations, while nullifying the Trump administration's directive that attempted to exclude the counting of noncitizens from the U.S. census.

Another action called on the Department of Homeland Security to continue an Obama-era initiative protecting "dreamers" from deportation and issuing them work permits as long as they qualified under the requirements laid out when the program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, began in 2012. Biden also will end the national emergency over the border that Trump declared as a way to circumvent Congress when lawmakers would not grant him funding for his wall.

On climate change, Biden signed an order revoking the permit, issued by the Trump administration, that allowed for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and to rejoin the Paris climate accord. The United States will officially be part of the 189-country climate agreement in 30 days.

On racial equity issues, Biden rescinded the "1776 Commission" established by the Trump administration, which the outgoing president framed last year as a "pro-American curriculum that celebrates the truth" about U.S. history but that the incoming administration says tries to erase the racial scars of America's past.

Biden plans to continue rolling out executive orders in coming days. According to guidance shared with Capitol Hill, he plans to issue administrative actions relating to the coronavirus on Thursday and economic relief on Friday. A "Buy American" action will come Monday, and an order addressing racial equity issues will follow Tuesday.

He will announce actions on climate change on Jan. 27, health care on Jan. 28, immigration on Jan. 29, and international affairs and national security on Feb. 1.

Upcoming executive actions will revoke the ban on transgender people from serving in the military, as well as reversing the so-called global gag rule that blocks U.S. aid to organizations abroad that perform abortions or offer counseling on the procedure, Psaki said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Jeff Stein contributed to this report.


It was a moment of political convulsion and public disquiet; a moment of dire pandemic and demagogic politicians; and a moment to grieve for the dead and galvanize the living. It was a speech given by a figure long familiar with governing a nation, just as he was long familiar and respected by those he governed. Yet, it was a moment that took place not just Wednesday in the worlds greatest democracy, but also 2,500 years ago in what was then the worlds greatest democracy.

At first glance, it seems a stretch to compare President Joe Bidens inaugural speech to his fellow Americans to the famous funeral oration given by Pericles to his fellow Athenians. At second glance, though, we can see how the context of both eras, content of both addresses and character of both speakers bridge the many centuries that divide them.

When Pericles gave his oration in 431 BCE, a long smoldering civil war in the Mediterranean had only just burst into flames. It was not, admittedly, a war that pitted Athenian against Athenian, but it was one, importantly, that set Athens against Sparta. Though very different city-states, their peoples were both fully and equally Greek who, just a few decades earlier, united in the defense of Greece against the invading Persians. It was the fratricidal nature to this war, so unlike the wars against the Persians, that led the historian Thucydides to declare it the greatest of all wars.

The occasion for the speech was to mourn the citizen-soldiers of Athens killed in the first year of the war. But it was more than a moment to consecrate the ground on which they had fallen. It was also the moment to celebrate the city and values for which these men had given their lives. For this reason, Pericles does not speak in the first-person singular, but instead in the first-person plural. The constitution of Athens, he declares, makes all of us equal before the law. It guarantees a democracy where power is in the hands of everyone and not a few which assures that one advances not by membership to a particular class, but by ones actual ability. Even more simply, it is a democracy because while Athenians are free and tolerant in our private lives, in public affairs we keep to the law. This is because it commands our deep respect.

Gazing at the men and women gathered for this solemn moment, Pericles reminds them of the difficult times they face. The crisis had only just begun. But alone of the states we know, he also reminds his audience, Athens comes to her testing time in a greatness that surpasses what was imagined of her. If the Athenians continue to love the law and listen to reason, they will prevail. Taking everything together then, he announces, our city is an education to all of Greece.

Almost 2,500 years later, we heard the powerful echo of Pericles words in those of Biden. At the very outset, like Pericles, he proclaimed his triumph was not about him, but about the cause of democracy. He pronounced that we had been tested as a nation by our own civil war, and that the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us but on all of us. He reminded us of our uniquely American way  restless, bold, optimistic  a description that matches the uniquely Athenian qualities praised by Pericles. And, for the first time since the pandemics start, he requested a moment of silence to mourn for all of those we had lost.

There are, of course crucial differences. When Pericles spoke, his fellow citizens included neither women nor enslaved people. While women were not considered equal, enslaved people  who built the enduring monuments of Athens  were not considered fully human. When Biden spoke, he did so not just with the first woman and Black vice president behind him, but also a Capitol built by enslaved people and now defended by their freed descendants.

Yet another difference is that pandemic settled on our country a year ago, turning our hospitals into hecatombs. But when Pericles spoke, the plague had not yet exploded over Athens. In the way Thucydides arranges his account, the plague  which was probably typhus  follows hard on the heels of Pericles speech. Not only does it end his life, but as historians now believe, the plague also ended the age of Athenian greatness. No less than the arrows shot at them by fellow Greeks, the arrows shot at them by Apollo  the mythical explanation of plague  brought the worlds first experiment in democracy to an end.

This has not yet happened to our democracy, inspired in so many ways by the education provided by Athens. But while we gather to make good on Bidens vow to make America the leading force for good in the world, we must also recall his warning that democracy is a fragile thing.

Zaretsky teaches at the University of Houston and is the author of The Subversive Simone Weil: A Life in Five Ideas.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan visited an Armenian Armed Forces Special Operations Forces military base on January 20 and toured the military facility where he was briefed by the command on the service and upcoming supplementations.

The ministry of defense did not disclose which base Harutyunyan visited.

He highlighted daily training and strengthening of combat readiness of the troops, namely the special forces.

The Minister of Defense drew special attention to the higher education factor in training of commanders, prioritizing education in the best military academies.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

E-commerce major Amazon on January 21 said that there was a common director in Frontizo and Amazon Retail India, albeit adding that Amazon Retail India wasn't the marketplace in question during a hearing in the Karnataka High Court, CNBC-TV 18 reported.

The entity which is the subject matter of investigation over violation of India's Competition Act is Amazon Seller Services India.

Frontizo is a holding company of Appario Retail while Amazon Retail India sells retail foodstuffs made in India.

Competition Commission of India (CCI) last year filed a plea for vacating the stay on an investigation into the two e-commerce firms Amazon and Flipkart for anti-competitive practices.

Earlier, the two companies had approached the Karnataka High Court against the CCI's order for investigating them based on information filed by trader group Delhi Vyapar Mahasangh and the Confederation of All India Traders.

To this, the High Court has ordered an interim stay on the proposed investigation of the CCI.

Meanwhile, on January 21, the Karnataka High Court also asked if the Government of India should be made a party to this case. The matter will be next heard on January 22.

E-tailers in India have often been accused of circumventing the Indian laws which bar foreign direct investment (FDI) in e-commerce companies selling their own products. India only allows marketplace models to attract foreign direct investment.
The official said that representatives of Russia-occupied Donbas act as TCG participants, although they are just invitees.

Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Donbas Leonid Kravchuk says the Russian side in the TCG is deliberately trying to block the negotiation process on Donbas.

"They are doing everything to block the process," he told the RBC Ukraine news agency.

Read alsoUkraine not ready to liberate occupied Donbas by military means  KravchukAccording to Kravchuk, the Russian side intentionally bulk political agreements up with many processes that are not directly related to humanitarian issues, entry and exit checkpoints, prisoner swap.

The official said that representatives of occupied Donbas act at the talks as TCG participants, although they are just invitees: "Thus, through the back door, as [Soviet actor Arkady] Mr. Raikin said, they did everything to make our Trilateral Contact Group a pentalateral one."

The Ukrainian delegate forecasts Russia intends to keep the situation as it is.

"I have no reason to hope for any great breakthroughs in the near future," Kravchuk added.

More news reports

Reporting by UNIAN
Inside the Son Doong (Source: Oxalis Adventures)

Hanoi  France's news agency AFP on January 20 published an article on how tourism has been developed in and benefited local community around Vietnams Son Doong, which has been dubbed the worlds largest cave.

According to the article, located in the central province of Quang Binhs Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park  the World Heritage site, Son Doong was first discovered by local forager Ho Khanh in 1991, when he stumbled upon an opening in a limestone cliff and heard the sounds of a river deep inside. But after returning home through the thick surrounding jungle, Khanh forgot where the hidden entrance lay, and it stayed lost for another two decades. When he eventually led a team of British experts back there in 2009, the team found it had the largest cross-section of any cave anywhere on the planet.

It is large enough to house the 40-floor skyscrapers of an entire New York City block, according to adventure tour company Oxalis, which guides visitors into the caves.

When Son Doong was opened to tourists four years later, the lives of hundreds of locals changed forever, it said, adding that they soon became porters and guides and opened their homes to guests wanting a bed for the night.

With only one company given permission to operate in each of the key caves, there is an incentive to protect them, with numbers of visitors limited and prices kept high.

The article said as the COVID-19 swept the globe, locals catering to international travellers have struggled. But Son Doong has weathered the crisis fairly well overall, thanks to a boost in visitors among Vietnam's fast-growing middle class.

The high-end tourism model of the caves  which provides around 500 jobs for the local community  has begun to attract interest in other areas, it quoted Oxalis as saying.

As President Joe Biden was addressing the nation Wednesday after swearing in as the 46th U.S. president, a quiet moment was captured 110 miles away from the nation's capital.

A journalist with The News Journal in Delaware saw a lone person in a blue uniform kneeling over the grave of the president's late son, Beau Biden, who died in 2015 at the age of 46.

Poignant moment: While Joe Biden gave his inauguration speech, a lone man in a uniform knelt at the Delaware grave of his son Beau. pic.twitter.com/QkCuJRHzTz  Patricia Talorico (@PattyTalorico) January 20, 2021

"No one else was around on this cold, windy afternoon except for a few people doing outside work at the cemetery," Patricia Talorico, the News Journal reporter, wrote about the moment. "... The person in the uniform bowed their head and clasped their hands. The image brought tears to my eyes."

Read Next: Biden Says US Will Repair Its Alliances, Calls for Americans to Unite

The person captured in Talorico's viral photo, which was shared by tens of thousands on social media, has not been identified. Talorico said that while the journalist in her wanted to ask the person's identity and see why they were there, she "knew it was a time to be respectful."

"I drove away," she said, adding, "Some things in life you just let be."

Beau Biden, a lawyer who served in the Delaware National Guard, is buried at St. Joseph on the Brandywine Church cemetery in Greenville, Delaware. In 2008, he deployed as a major to Iraq, where he served on the staff of Biden's defense secretary nominee, retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin.

Before Biden left Delaware this week ahead of his inauguration, he spoke at the Major Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III National Guard/Reserve Center, which is named for his son.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I only have one regret: He's not here," Biden said of his son, fighting back tears. "Because we should be introducing him as president."

The person at Beau Biden's grave kept their head bowed before and after Biden's roughly 20-minute inauguration address, clasping their hands, Talorico wrote.

Biden, who said in a 2019 speech that he suspects his son's cancer was caused by exposure to burn pits in Iraq, is expected to expand medical benefits for veterans who became sick after being exposed to environmental toxins.

"President-elect Joe Biden has made clear that our nation's most sacred obligation is to take care of the members of our military and their families, when they're deployed and when they return home," Leo Cruz, Biden's military and veterans issues campaign director, told McClatchy after the November election.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Biden Suspects Toxic Exposure in Iraq Killed His Son. He Has a Plan for Ill Veterans

In an effort to revive Egypts tourism business, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, in collaboration with the Egyptian Hotels Association, have launched Enjoy Winter in Egypt, an initiative which combines flight and resort price reductions in touristic cities.

From 15 January to 28 February, according to the plan, the cost of domestic flights will be cut almost in half in touristic cities in Egypt by organising trips from Cairo to Luxor, Aswan, Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, and from Alexandria to Luxor and Aswan.

Airline tickets, including taxes, from Cairo and Alexandria will be available to Luxor at a flat rate of LE1,500, to Aswan, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh and Taba for LE1,800 and to Marsa Alam for LE2,000. The flights are run by the flagship airline EgyptAir and Air Cairo.

A total of 114 hotels, three, four and five stars, in the six cities will provide special accommodations ranging from between LE300 to LE750 per person in a double room including meals, taxes and services. The names of the hotels are published on the website of the Egyptian Hotels Association.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities is providing a 50 per cent discount on tickets for Egyptians in museums and archaeological sites in Qena, Luxor and Aswan.

All Covid-19 precautionary measures and hygiene safety guidelines in airports, museums and archaeological sites and hotels, cafeterias and tourist buses will be implemented.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two men died after crashing into a semi stopped on the side of Interstate 71, police say.

Officials have not yet publicly identified the 46-year-old man and 34-year-old man who died in the crash that happened just after midnight Thursday on Interstate 71 southbound near the Interstate 480 interchange, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said.

The semi hauling a trailer got a flat tire, and the 67-year-old driver pulled off on the left side of the road.

Police put three orange triangle warning cards behind the trailer and semi. The driver also activated his hazard lights as a warning to other drivers, Ciaccia said.

The 46-year-old man, who was driving a VW Jetta with the 34-year-old passenger, struck the corner of the trailer. The impact threw the 34-year-old from the car and onto the highway, Ciaccia said.

Both of the men died at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Read more stories on cleveland.com:

Cleveland cop fired for using crack cocaine, failing to report fellow officer who stepped on mans neck during arrest

$3 million donation aimed for WRHS library, public spaces, offices

Ohios COVID-19 nursing home deaths rise at slower rate in last week, but now total 5,448

Helicopter crash in New York kills 3 National Guard members

With Trump gone, GOP must decide how to move forward
Seeking to unify the global response to the coronavirus, President Biden on his first day in office retracted a decision by the Trump administration to withdraw from the World Health Organization.

The Biden administration announced that Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, would be the head of the U.S. delegation to the agencys executive board. Dr. Fauci will begin that role with a meeting this week.

In May, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would leave the organization, which is part of the United Nations. He had spent weeks accusing it of helping the Chinese government cover up the extent of the coronavirus in China.

The decision by a president who had already put the world on notice that he did not feel bound by longstanding U.S. commitments alarmed public health experts. And on Wednesday, his successor made clear that he views the organization as an ally  not an adversary.


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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.
A market in Baghdad became a horror scene this morning when a twin suicide bombing killed at least 28 and wounded more than 73.

The suicide bombing attack, the first in three years to target the Tayaran Square market in the Bab al-Sharqi commercial area, comes amid heightened political tensions over planned early elections and a severe economic crisis.

According to reports from the scene, one of the attackers faked illness before detonating his vest as people came to his aid. The second man set off his bomb as people carried victims of the first blast.

Iraq's military said at least 28 people were killed and 73 wounded in the attack and said some of the injured were in serious condition.

Footage taken at the scene of the blast in Tayaran Square in Baghdad shows the bodies of shoppers lying strewn on the floor, after two suicide attackers blew themselves up this morning

An image shows the site of a suicide attack in Baghdad, Iraq this morning. Suicide attacks have been rare in the Iraqi capital since the defeat of ISIS in 2017

A wounded man is assisted by a medical crew at the site of a suicide attack in Baghdad, Iraq this morning

The country's Health Ministry announced all of its hospitals in the capital were mobilised to treat the wounded.

The attack occurred as security forces pursued two suicide bombers who detonated their explosives in the market near Tayaran Square, according to military spokesman Yahya Rasool.

Blood smeared the floors of the busy market amid piles of clothes and shoes as survivors took stock of the disarray in the aftermath.

The suicide bombings marked the first in three years to target Baghdad's bustling commercial area.

A suicide bomb attack took place in the same area in 2018 shortly after then-prime minister Haidar al-Abadi declared victory over so-called Islamic State (IS).

A picture shows the scene of a twin suicide bombing on a bustling commercial street in the heart of Baghdad this morning

A red crescent ambulance attends the scene of a horrific suicide bomb blast in the Iraqi capital this morning

No-one immediately took responsibility for Thursday's attack, but Iraq has seen assaults perpetrated by both IS and militia groups in recent months.

Militias have routinely targeted the American presence in Iraq with rocket and mortar attacks, especially the US embassy in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.

The pace of those attacks, however, has decreased since an informal truce was declared by Iran-backed armed groups in October.

The style of Thursday's assault was similar to those IS has conducted in the past.

But the group has rarely been able to penetrate the capital since being dislodged by Iraqi forces and the US-led coalition in 2017.

Officials inspect the explosion site after a suicide bombing attack at al-Tayaran Square in Baghdad, Iraq today

Officials inspect the explosion site after a suicide bombing attack at al-Tayaran Square in Baghdad, Iraq today

The twin bombings came days after Iraq's government unanimously agreed to hold early elections in October.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had announced in July that early polls would be held to meet the demands of anti-government protesters.

Demonstrators took to the streets in the tens of thousands last year to demand political change, and an end to rampant corruption and poor services.

More than 500 people were killed in mass demonstrations as security forces used live rounds and tear gas to disperse crowds.

Iraq is also grappling with a severe economic crisis brought on by low oil prices that has led the government to borrow internally and risk depleting its foreign currency reserves.

The Central Bank of Iraq devalued Iraq's dinar by nearly 20% last year to meet spending obligations.
(Image: Reuters)

Gold continued to gain but any support for non-dollar safe havens has been weakened by the announcement of a $1.9-trillion COVID-19 relief package that the Biden administration plans to bring. Volatility in equities and US yields kept the market participants on the edge. Several updates on the coronavirus and its vaccine is increasing distress in the market. As with increasing COVID affected number, distribution issues and complaints of side effects of the vaccine are worrying the market.

This week is important as the market has witnessed a change in leadership in the US, with so many events and uncertainties already going in the market.

Joe Biden has made it clear that he has severalif not multiplestimulus plans in mind, suggesting the deficit could be in double-digits before his term is through. While one stimulus plan is being negotiated, the newly elected president proposed another package of around $2 trillion, though it did not get much support from the Senate but any positive development could support metal prices.

Vaccination updates have been keeping pressure on the safe-haven asset, though amid many events hovering around, market participants are staying cautious.

Notwithstanding its rebound in the third quarter, the US economy remains in a dire state with COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths hitting new highs in recent weeks. The United States is the worst-hit country, with more than 23 million cases since January 2020 and over 3,85,000 deaths.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio says his city will run out of doses by next week, while Florida's Tallahassee is pacing out its shots on Governor Ron de Santis order. The new UK variant of the virus, B117, which is more infectious, could be dominant by March, says the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The weak trend in the labour market carried into 2021, with 9,65,000 Americans filing for jobless benefits in the week to January 9, up 23 percent from the previous week and the highest in nearly five months.

Investment in gold decreased for the week ended January 17, 2021 and holdings stand at around 1,161 tonnes compared to around 1,182 tonnes in the previous week. Holding in ishares ETF decreased by 276 tonnes and stand at around 17,219 tonnes.

Outlook

With a four-day trading week in the US, which started on January 19, the economic calendar has few important data points like the preliminary manufacturing and service PMI number expected from major economies. Market participants will focus on Biden's narrative. Keeping all the variables in mind, it is advised to maintain a cautious approach and gold is expected to trade sideways with a lower bias.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Joe Biden

Indias energy ties with the United States have increased multifold in recent years, with imports of crude oil and natural gas gathering momentum under former US President Donald Trump.

Indias Hydrocarbon trade with the US has increased from negligible in 2016 to $9.2 billion in 2020, increasing the share of energy in overall bilateral trade from less than 1-10 percent in recent years. However, with the Joe Biden administration taking charge, the energy association between the two countries is going to take a fresh turn moving more in favour of renewable energy.

Strengthened clean energy relationship between the two countries would help India in meeting the target of achieving 175 gigawatt (GW) of renewable energy by 2022. This includes 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind too. The Biden administration has already made it clear that the US will rejoin the Paris agreement on climate change. He is also set to overturn Trump's weakening of rules affecting oil, gas and coal.

The Narendra Modi government is expected to push the US to back the India-led International Solar Alliance. The change of guard will also be positive to the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE) between the two countries, which is working to accelerate inclusive, low carbon growth by supporting research and deployment of clean energy technologies.

Energy co-operation in the clean energy sector is definitely going to ramp up, with the US joining back in the Paris Agreement. I believe oil and gas involvement is more strategic in nature and will continue. Overall we expect the energy sector cooperation will deepen, said Debasish Mishra, partner at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

India also believes that it will be hard for the Biden administration to ignore the strategic relevance of energy exports. Petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan has already expressed hope that the energy relationship between both the countries will continue. Moreover, the possible removal of Iran sanctions would widen Indias crude oil basket giving a wider choice at a reasonable price.

The new regime is unlikely to cut the crude imports too, as India is now the third-largest destination of US crude oil (after Canada and South Korea) having a share of 9 per cent. On the other hand, in 2020, the US was the sixth-largest crude oil supplier to India.
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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
According to an official, Mumbai Police have summoned actress Kangana Ranaut in a defamation case filed by veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar.

The Bollywood actress has been asked to appear before the Juhu police in Mumbai on Friday, January 22.

In November 2020, Akhtar filed a criminal complaint against Kangana before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate for allegedly making baseless and defamatory comments against him in interviews.
The Trump administration 'muzzled' US scientists when they were needed most as the COVID-19 pandemic, claims Dr Rochelle Walensky, President Biden's pick to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr Walensky said that it is her responsibility to 'fix that,' she told JAMA editor Dr Howard Bauchner in a Tuesday interview for the journal's podcast.

The HIV researcher, with no 'on the ground' experience running a public health agency, is inheriting an unprecedented pandemic that has killed 400,000 Americans in less than a year, a CDC that has fumbled at nearly every turn of its response and a disastrous vaccine rollout.

Chief among the CDC's problems were communication gaffs that left it at odds with the White House or retracting previous advice and replacing it with Trump administration-approved guidance.

Officials who tried to warn Americans of how dire the pandemic could get, like the CDC's Dr Nancy Messonnier, simply disappeared after angering the Trump administration.

Communication will be a top priority for Dr Walensky. Ironically, she plans to take a page from former President Trump's book and streamline CDC's public messaging through Twitter and other social media platforms.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 file photo, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, speaks during an event in Wilmington, Del., to announce President-elect Joe Biden's health care team. Walensky, 51, an infectious-diseases specialist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, is expected to become CDC director after Biden is inaugurated. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

'Science is now conveyed through Twitter,' Dr Walensky said during the JAMA podcast interview.

'Science is conveyed on social media, on podcasts and in many different ways, and I think thats critical.

'We have to have a social media plan for the agency.'

Until now, CDC's communiques have mostly come in dense reports. In the first month after COVID-19 arrived in the US, the agency held press briefings, but these direct communications between scientists and the public were soon bagged.

Dr Walensky has been a vocal critic of the US pandemic response response and, especially of the White House's flirtation with 'herd immunity' strategies that suggested having much of the population return to fairly normal life while shielding the rest.

She has pointed to this as an example of science and scientists being overrun by politics during the Trump administration.

'They have been diminished. I think they've been muzzled. That science hasn't been heard,' she told Dr Bauchner.

'This top-tier agency, world renowned, hasn't really been appreciated over the last four years and really markedly over the last year, so I have to fix that.'

CDC has long been considered a global leader in public health, but its performance during the pandemic has tarnished that reputation.

It started off as Americans would expect: regular, reasonable, but up-front warning about what might be around the bend.

In February, Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, warned Americans to brace for the worst - including staying home and shuttering businesses - as COVID-19 began to take hold in the US.

Dr Walensky says she plans to improve transparency and communication between CDC scientists and the public by leveraging social media

Outgoing CDC director Dr Robert Redfield has both been muzzled himself, when the White House prevented him from testifying before Congress, and has been blamed for failing to stand up to the Trump administration on behalf of scientists (file)

'We are asking the American public to work with us to prepare for the expectation that this could be bad,' she said on a press briefing call.

She warned, for the first time, that the disruption to Americans' lives

Markets tumbled, and former president Trump was reportedly frustrated that the call had scared people.

Counter to Dr Messonnier warnings, he told the American public that everything was gong to be okay.

Everything was not okay. New York City became the COVID-19 pandemic's global epicenter in a matter of weeks.

But the CDC went silent, for months. Its regular press calls to update the public on the COVID-19 situation were replaced by Trump or Vice President Mike Pence-led coronavirus task force briefings that sometimes contained little information beyond assurances.

The CDC had to retract guidance on whether children should be in school, how long coronavirus was infectious and, worst of all, it had to recall its own COVID-19 test, the first developed in the US.

Its previous director, Dr Robert Redfield had to step out and step up after a relatively quiet tenure, but was reportedly blocked from testifying before Congress by the Trump administration.

Dr Walensky, a 51-year-old infectious disease specialist at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, hopes to end the push and pull of political versus public health communications, and modernize the CDC's information systems, which have struggled to keep up with the rapid evolution of the pandemic.

It's a tall order.

'I don't know if the CDC is broken or just temporarily injured,' but something must be done to bring it back to health, said Timothy Westmoreland, a Georgetown University law professor focused on public health.

The agency has retained some of its top scientific talent, public health experts say, but it it has a long list of needs.

Those include new protection from political influence, a comprehensive review of its missteps during the pandemic and more money to beef up basic functions like disease tracking and genetic analysis.

Dr Walensky has not worked at the CDC or at a state or local health department, but has become a respected observer and critic of the response.

Her targets have included the uneven transmission-prevention measures that were in place last summer and a prominent Trump adviser's endorsement of a 'herd immunity' approach that would let the virus run free.

She acknowledged the weaknesses in her resume during her JAMA interview.

Among President Biden's goals, to which CDC director Dr Walensky will be key, is to update the CDC's efforts to do genomic sequencing and find new variants of coronavirus

'When people write about me as the selection for this position, they will say, "But she has no on-the-ground public health experience,''' Dr Walenksy said.

The podcast's host, Dr Bauchner, praised her and claimed she was qualified because of her ability to 'communicate, which is such an important task for the head of the CDC,' he said.

She will succeed Dr Robert Redfield, 69, who came to the CDC with a similar resume as an outsider from academia.

Redfield kept a low profile during his first two years in office after being appointed by the Trump administration in 2018.

During his tenure, veteran CDC scientists handled crises such as a deadly national surge in hepatitis A cases among homeless people and illicit drug users in California, and a mysterious spike in severe illnesses in people who vaped electronic cigarettes.

But they paled in comparison to the scale of the pandemic.

Within weeks of its February stumbles over testing and Dr Messionnier's quickly muted warning, the agency was pushed off stage.

The CDC 'has been sidelined, has been maligned, has been a punching bag for many politicians in the outgoing administration,' Dr Richard Besser, a former CDC director who now heads the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

'And that has had a detrimental effect on the agency's ability to fulfill its mission.'

White House officials also took steps to try to control the CDC's scientific reports and the guidance on its website.

For instance, the agency removed guidance that advised limiting church choir activities even though studies had demonstrated the danger of transmission of extended singing indoors.

The agency also dropped guidance advising that anyone who came into close contact with an infected person should get tested - then re-adopted it after criticism from health experts.

While public health veterans say they do not know everything that happened behind the scenes, they claim that Dr Redfield apparently failed to stand up for agency scientists, declined to contradict Trump and those around him and passively allowed the Trump administration to post its messaging on CDC websites.

'He wasn't willing to resign when it was necessary or to be fired for standing up for principle,' said David Holtgrave, a former CDC staffer who is now dean of the public health school at the State University of New York at Albany.

CDC has more than moral and communication quandaries to address, however. The agency has been short-staffed and ill-equipped for the scale of COVID-19 in the US since the pandemic began.

Last week, President Biden said he would ask for $160 billion for vaccinations and other public health programs, including an effort to expand the public health workforce by 100,000 jobs.

Some experts suggest that an administration that values science and increases funding could restore the CDC to preeminence. Biden has pledged to put scientists out front on COVID-19 matters, Dr Besser noted.

'That's something I think will be fixed on Day One,' he said.

'One of the things that gives me hope is I did not see a large exodus from CDC during this past year. I saw professionals doing their jobs. I saw the mental toll they were taking, but I did not see them giving up.'
Some 3,500 relatives of those killed during the Northern Ireland conflict have urged the British and Irish Governments to fully investigate the decades of violence (Niall Carson/PA)

Some 3,500 relatives of people killed during the Northern Ireland conflict have urged the British and Irish governments to fully investigate the decades of violence.

They are seeking the long-delayed establishment of an independent team of detectives to pursue fresh prosecutions and other measures to recover information about what happened.

The families have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Irish premier Micheal Martin calling for action awaited since a major political agreement in 2014.

They said: We are writing to you as relatives bereaved during the conflict to seek your assurances that our human rights as victims will no longer be disregarded or denied.

The peace process has repeatedly failed to deliver on our rights to truth, justice and accountability.

On Dec 14th SOS Brandon Lewis said he wants to extend a version of this to Ireland https://t.co/CeCu2hsTHw  Relatives 4 Justice (@RelsForJustice) January 19, 2021

They said it was the largest initiative of its kind involving only those directly bereaved, families affected by all involved in the conflict and from across the community.

The letter will appear in newspapers in Belfast and the US.

More than 3,600 people were killed and thousands injured during republican and loyalist violence and in some cases through the actions of the police and British Army.

The Government has pledged to intensify engagement with victims groups in addressing the legacy of the past.

The system for releasing Troubles-related information is not working and the divisive cycle of reinvestigations and civil action is failing to obtain answers for most families, ministers said.

They want a renewed focus on information recovery as the prospect of securing convictions dwindles.

Arrangements were agreed by the UK and Irish governments and a majority of Stormonts main parties in 2014.

The Stormont House proposals included a new independent investigation unit to re-examine all unsolved killings and a separate truth recovery mechanism to enable families to gain answers in cases where prosecutions are unlikely.

NEW: aNorthern Ireland is often overlooked as atoo complexa, its history atoo problematica, and its politics atoo divisivea. There is a tendency to shy away from meaningful discussion...for fear of putting a foot wrong.a



 My piece today for @ConHome: https://t.co/2yxStzG8mr  Brandon Lewis (@BrandonLewis) January 18, 2021

In March, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis announced that the Government intended to move away from the Stormont House model.

He proposed that after a paper review exercise, most unsolved cases would be closed and a new law would be enacted to prevent the investigations from being reopened.

Mark Thompson, chief executive of Belfast-based lobby group Relatives for Justice, said about half of those who signed the open letter are 35 years and under.

This represents the current and future generations and underlines the ongoing trauma and intergenerational impact that the killing of a relative has also had on surviving families.

In many instances this younger generation are the very people who are raising these unsolved killings and engaged in legal processes on behalf of those who died without ever seeing truth or justice.

Its also a clear indication that the past is ever-present and speaks to a determination, now more than at other time, that following human rights violations the human rights of victims must frame how we address the past.

Expand Close Baroness Nuala OLoan (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Baroness Nuala OLoan, the former police ombudsman who investigated complaints against police in Northern Ireland, said the British Government should fund a victims payment scheme for the most severely injured.

It is due to be launched in March but Stormont ministers are seeking more financial commitment from their UK counterparts.

Baroness OLoan said: The position remains at stalemate. This is deeply unfair to the surviving victims of the Troubles for whom a pension has been legislated but not delivered.

It is ludicrous and deeply immoral to think of placing the resource burden of legacy solutions on a small devolved region.

A UK Government spokesperson said: The UK Government remains committed to finding a way forward on legacy issues, which have remained unresolved for far too long.

The Government recognises that there are many different views on how best to move forward, which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will continue to engage with all communities across Northern Ireland and beyond to find a way forward that puts information recovery and reconciliation at its heart.

We welcome the contribution of the relatives of Troubles victims to this process.
Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence attended Joe Bidens inauguration after skipping Donald Trumps sendoff at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

As President Trump left the White House for the last time his vice president did not meet with him, according to reports.

Mr Pence posted a farewell message on Twitter with a number of pictures none of which included the president.

Mr Pence attended the inauguration of Joe Biden on Wednesday by which time Mr Trump had touched down in Florida.

Republican leaders were invited to Mr Trumps farewell event at Joint Base Andrews before he flew to Florida, his last flight on Air Force One.

But none of the major players chose to attend. Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell said the mob that attacked the Capitol were fed lies and that they were provoked by the president and other powerful people".

Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said: The president bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters.

Mr Pence has taken on a more senior role as Mr Trump has stepped back from official duties of his office since his election loss in November.

After a long post-election fight with Mr Trump baselessly claiming that the election was fraudulent, Mr Pence took on the role of carrying out the transfer of power.

He called to congratulate his successor Kamala Harris and agreed to attend Mr Bidens inauguration after Mr Trump became the first president in 152 years to not attend the inauguration of his successor, according to The New York Times.

This comes after multiple claims that the two men fell out after the riot at the Capitol. Rioters came within a minute of seeing the vice president rushing through a corridor with his Secret Service detail.

Mr Trump was said to be furious with Mr Pence for refusing to help him overturn his election loss to Joe Biden, something which the vice president didnt have the constitutional ability to do.

Fueled by the presidents frustration, his supporters stormed the US Capitol, forcing Mr Pence and other lawmakers to seek shelter. The president reportedly didnt call to check in on Mr Pence during the riot, even as rioters made it clear that they were looking for Mr Pence, possibly to cause him serious harm.

The day before the end of his term, Mr Pence tweeted: Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Vice President these past four years, it has been the greatest honor of my life. On behalf of our Wonderful Second Lady, Karen Pence, and our entire Family, Thank You and God Bless America.

In the weeks and months after the election, Mr Trump has faded from the job of being president as Mr Pence has stepped into that role, performing many of the tasks usually reserved for the president.

On Thursday last week, Mr Pence visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be briefed on the security surrounding the inauguration of Joe Biden. On Sunday, he flew to New York to spend some time with troops and express his gratitude. He made a stop at the Capitol to thank the National Guard troops protecting the inauguration proceedings. On the day before the inauguration, Mr Pence chaired his final meeting of the White House Coronavirus taskforce.

Presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky told The Washington Post that The fact that were seeing this, and its because Trump has no interest in participating in the traditional activities of the presidency, is just another way in which Trump is showing his utter dereliction of duty".

According to The Washington Post, despite the reported acrimony between the two men, Mr Pence and Mr Trump met in person on Thursday and spoke on the phone on Friday.

Mr Pence is often mentioned among the numerous candidates who are thought to want to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Republican pollster Frank Luntz found that while most Republicans still prefer Mr Trump, if he is not an option, most prefer Mr Pence.

In a poll of 800 Trump voters days after the attack on the Capitol, 34 per cent said they preferred the Vice President. 14 per cent said they liked Texas Senator Ted Cruz best, The Washington Post reported.

Donald Trump Jr and former UN ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley both got 7 per cent in the poll.
AstraZeneca vaccine approved, 50,000 doses due in February

BANGKOK: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the emergency use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and 50,000 doses of it will arrive in Thailand in February.

COVID-19Coronavirushealth

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 21 January 2021, 10:53PM

The FDA has approved the registration of the COVID-19 vaccine produced in Italy by AstraZeneca Co. Photo: AFP

FDA secretary-general Paisarn Dunkum said on Thursday (Jan 21) that the FDA approved the registration of the vaccine, produced in Italy by AstraZeneca Co, on Wednesday after the firm had submitted nearly 10,000 pages of its documents for vaccine registration for emergency use on Dec 22 last year, reports the Bangkok Post.

The FDA had examined the documents by taking into consideration the efficacy and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, said Dr Paisarn.

A total of 50,000 doses of the vaccine will arrive in Thailand in February. The import licence and vaccine registration will be valid for one year. A Reuters source said the approval applied only to doses manufactured overseas.

Mr Paisarn added the Department of Medical Sciences will randomly examine the vaccine for its efficacy and safety before it can be used on people.

AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company, will gradually deliver the remaining 150,000 doses of the vaccine to Thailand in March and April, said the FDA secretary-general.

As for the production of the AstraZeneca vaccine by Siam Bioscience, the vaccine produced by the local firm could be available for use in May, he said.

The announcement by the FDA of the availability of 200,000 doses of the vaccine came as a surprise since it was not on the procurement plan unveiled by the government earlier.

Under that plan, the first type of vaccine Thais will use is Sinovac from China-based Sinovac Biotech, which will ship 2 million doses from February to April. Another 26mn doses of AstraZeneca vaccine made locally by Siam Bioscience Co Ltd will be available in the second half.

Up until now, there was no mention of the imported 200,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine in briefings by authorities.
The harness racing industry of Ohio, like many other states, has borne the brunt of a world trifled by a pandemic over nearly the last year. But with time, racing returned to the state with accommodations to help keep business running.

For those that are involved in our industry, they are enthralled with it, its their livelihood, said Steve Bateson, President of the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association (OHHA), to the Ohio Country Journal. So when we were shut down, all of these farms that are in training continued to train and feed their horses and employ their people and they had no place to race. For our industry it was pretty nerve racking because, not to say we operate on the edge, but most of our industry doesnt have the ability to just sit idle for months and months, and be able to pay bills without any money coming in.

Racing came to a halt in Ohio for two months, with occasional but short shutdowns through the 2020 season forced as precautions when track people had contracted COVID-19. With many racetracks not allowing for people to attend the races, the OHHA took extra steps to bring racing from Ohio to anyone with an Internet connection.

We had a crew, and we ramped it up and we virtually hit every county fair in the state, Bateson said. We may not have been able to hit both days, but in most cases we were able to at least be there one day and show those races live. And we got better as the year went on. We had some events in which we had nearly 1,000 people watching live, and within a week of the event, it wasnt uncommon to have 4,000 to 5,000 views on those fairs.

With racing booming over recent years thanks to increasing purses in the state along with its sires stakes programOhios breeding industry hit a crossroad with its annual yearling sale, having to find a means to conduct the auction along with efficiently distributing information on all the yearlings coming through the ring.

We put in some protocols to keep us and our employees healthynot allowing a lot of folks on the farm, said Randy Haines, co-owner of Cool Winds Farms. If youre dropping off a mare, we are limiting access to one truck driver or one groom. We ship a lot of seamen. We would sit it outside the door, trying really do what the governor asked and wear a mask to practice social distance.

The biggest change is we video tape every single horse and this year because of the pandemic, and we also had online bidding, we extended that out and a lot of the sales we also did confirmation shots. Which is, we stand them up, get a side view, front and back, and get a headshot. So we spent quite a bit of time, especially with Ohio Selective yearlings, with confirmation shots, to add them to a video. And of course the folks that come to the sale want to inspect the yearlings personally.

Our sales were up 20% in Ohio this fall, Randy also said. Which is the only state in the country where the yearling sales were up significantly.

Co-owner Kim Haines said that the pandemic potentially boosted the 2020 sales in Ohio, with many cooped inside having the ability to watch racing over the Internet.

We got a whole bunch of groups of people buying horses, Kim Haines said. Its not just one individual now, its maybe five to 10 guys getting together and saying Yeah lets buy a horse.
A freshly killed 250 kg tiger was found after police raided a house in the central province of Ha Tinh.

The provincial environmental police department said Wednesday they had cooperated with police of Huong Son District to raid a house belonging to 49-year-old Dinh Nhat Nghe on Tuesday night.

They found a large tiger, weighing over 250 kg, lying on the floor. Its hind legs were bound with chains and blood was oozing from its mouth. The police suspect that a large boiler nearby was being used to cook animal bones.

Nghe and his wife, Nguyen Thi Yen, were not present in the house during the raid. Three other people, including 16-year-old Dinh Nho Quyen, Nghes son, said they had nothing to do with the dead tiger.

On Wednesday morning, Nghe and Yen turned themselves in, saying they owned the tiger. They are being investigated for illegally storing and butchering wild animals. Authorities allege that the pair cooked animal bones and sold them.

The tigers body would either be handed over to science institutions for research purposes or be disposed of, the Ha Tinh forest ranger department said.

Tigers are critically endangered in Vietnam, with only five thought to be left in the wild in 2016, down from 30 in 2011, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Animal bones of certain species, including tigers and langurs, are thought by some in Vietnam to have medicinal properties.

It is illegal to hunt, kill, possess, capture, transport, or trade protected animals in the country, with violations carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison and fines up to VND15 billion ($645,000).
PROTESTING Debenhams workers were horrified to discover a homeless man sleeping in a large commercial rubbish bin in an Irish city centre.

The man, who normally sleeps in a tent pitched in the doorway of the former Cork store, had gone into the green plastic bin in a desperate bid to find shelter from the driving sleet and rain on Tuesday night.

Claire O'Leary of Watergrasshill in Co Cork was on a socially-distanced picket outside the St Patrick Street store with a colleague when they made the shocking discovery as they disposed of two coffee cups.

"My colleague lifted the lid on the bin and she said: 'There is someone in there... there is someone in there. She put the lid down again. She got such a fright."

"There was a workman passing by. She said it to him and he went down and had a look and the man was just asleep. The main worry was that the bin men would come and empty the bins. We have seen it in Dublin where a bin was emptied and a person was killed."

"I would be saying to shop owners and companies to be vigilant. Keep an eye on them. They are only trying to stay in from the elements."

Elaine Kelleher, who is also on Debenhams picket duty on St Patrick's Street, said that what they have seen on the streets outside the store over the last 285 days feels like "another world" from when they were employed in the historic high street store.

Ms Kelleher said they were particularly moved by the poignant image of a man who has started sleeping at the entrance under a picket sign they erected which warned: "The Taoiseach has let us down badly."

"When we were working in the store we saw people begging for money on the street but in the last nine months we have really seen and spoken to homeless people. We have fed them, we have chatted to people and are on a first name basis with some people. They have given us their life stories."

"One poor guy said to me that he was going to die on the streets. That was Christmas week. He said he was going to die of cold. He already has a weak chest."

Cork Penny Dinners manager, Caitriona Twomey, said it was tragic to see the lengths homeless people have to resort to just to stay warm and dry.

A field less than 1km from Cork city centre was dubbed 'Tent City' because of the number of homeless people living under canvas.

Protests by Debenhams workers have continued after the terms of a settlement package were rejected.

Mandate, which represents 1,000 former Debenhams workers, urged Taoiseach Micheal

Martin to make 3m involved available to the workers in cash payments rather than upskilling supports.

Claire O'Leary had her first day back on the picket earlier this week after giving birth to daughter Grace ten weeks ago.

Over 1,000 workers lost their jobs last Easter when the UK retail giant decided to axe their entire Irish operation in a vain bid to save their UK stores.
The New York State Capitol saw a very quiet objection to President Joe Bidens inauguration on Wednesday.

Just one supporter of former President Donald Trump showed up to the Capitol in Albany, which was well-fortified in anticipation of potential massive protests. After a deadly Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the FBI warned of the possibility for armed demonstrations in all 50 state capitals leading up to Bidens inauguration after Trump repeatedly and falsely claimed the election was stolen from him.

But photos from The Associated Press show Mark Leggiero, from the Montgomery County town of Florida, N.Y., was the only one who came out to object to the presidential transition on Wednesday.

I was coming out to hopefully join a bunch of peaceful protesters in supporting the cause, that is almost a lost cause now, unfortunately, Im sad to say, Leggiero told The Daily Gazette.

Leggiero, wearing a Make America Great Again shirt and waving a pro-Trump flag, said Trump will always be his president: He gave me spirit he gave me pride, he wanted me to live free.

Lone Trump supporter Mark Leggiero, of Florida, N.Y., stands outside the New York state Capitol objecting to the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Albany, N.Y. Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)AP

WNYT reports law enforcement officials prepared for a much larger crowd in Albany, such as putting up barricades around the steps to the State Capitol and blocking off vehicle traffic around the area. Security was also tightened in and around the building and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan closed City Hall as a precautionary measure.

Albany Police, New York State Police, the National Guard, and the FBI issued a stern warning last week after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, leading to five deaths and more than 50 police officers injured. More than 145 people have since been arrested, including at least a dozen in New York state.

Make no mistake about it, if you break the law, you will be met with the full force of all of our agencies. We remain dedicated to protecting your first amendment right, but we will not stand for breaking the law, said Thomas Relford of the FBI Albany Office.

Still, Leggiero told Newsday he was looking for more patriots to join him.

Larger demonstrations occurred in other cities, including Denver, Seattle, Sacramento, and Portland. Some burned American flags outside the Colorado Capitol, while protesters in Oregons capital clashed with police as they pushed for more rapid policy changes than what Biden has promised. Few arrests were reported.
An American who always wished to be tall finally got his dream come true after undergoing complex cosmetic surgery. Alfonso Flores, a resident of Texas, desired to be more than 6 feet tall but could not grow beyond 5 feet 9 inches. However, undeterred by the biological fact, the 28-year-old pre-med student opted to undergo a limb-lengthening surgery to achieve his dream.

Read: Man Undergoes 5-hour Surgery At Delhi Hospital For Gunshot Injury In Head

Although his family and friends warned against the unnecessary treatment, Flores decided to go under the knife, the surgery which cost him $770 (nearly 55 lakhs) was performed by Harvard-trained orthopaedic surgeon Dr Kevin Debiparshad of The LimbplastX Institute. Flores, a pre-med student and freelance writer, speaking to Daily Mail, expressed his joy and zeal stating that he was thankful that he could finally achieve his dream. Before and after photos from August, when the surgery was performed was shared by the LimbplastX Institute and show the evident height difference.

Read: Man Undergoes Lung Transplant In Delhi; first Such Surgery On Post-COVID Patient In North India

"This has been something that I have wanted for a long time and it feels great to say that I have finally achieved it," a quote by Flores on Facebook read.

What is a Limb lengthening?

Limb lengthening is a procedure to lengthen the bones in the arms or legs. The process initially requires the surgeon to cut the bone into two halves and separate it apart. Rooting on the bodys capacity to heal and grow, the surgeon waits until a new bone is formed between the two bones, increasing the overall height. However, surgery does not come cheap. According to Dr Debiparshad's website, the femur-lengthening procedure that Mr Flores opted for begin at $75,000 (that's nearly  55 lakh) and can go up to $84,000.

Read: Nepal And China To Reveal New Height Of Mount Everest After COVID Pandemic Delay

Read: World's Tallest Peak Gets Taller As Nepal & China Announce New Height Of Mount Everest
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
[January 20, 2021] New logo design release of world's leading optoelectronic exhibition

SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CIOE (China International Optoelectronic Exposition), the world's influential exhibition in optoelectronic industry, officially announces the new logo to present the new chapter of the event in the optoelectronic industry. The idea of the design is based on the light beams in the optoelectronic technology to comprise the initial letter "C" of CIOE. The color of the new logo is the gradient from red to purple. Red is the inheritance of the original brand color standing for China and passion while the purple indicates the subtle and fast development oftechnologies and innovations. The design of the logo aims to combine the brand and optoelectronic technology, as well as to remind industry peers to value the link between the event and the industry.



The upgrade of the logo of CIOE was inspired by the vigorous energy of the optoelectronic industry during the pandemic, as well as by the continuous effort from China's industry players shown when facing the harsh challenges. CIOE 2021, the 23rd edition, will be held in Shenzhen and remain its physical way, continue to provide industry professionals a platform to communicate face to face and prosper the development of the industry, under the brand new image with hope. The new logo will immediately go into effect on all CIOE channels including CIOE's social media, printed magazine, and promotional channels, etc. Meanwhile, an entire design upgraded has been launched on CIOE's official website for a nicer and friendly interaction. Please visit at CIOE's official website www.cioe.cn/en to have a totally different sourcing experience.

About CIOE CIOE (China International Optoelectronic Exposition) is the world's largest and leading optoelectronic exhibition in China, integrating information and communication, laser, infrared, optics, sensing and innovative photonics technologies. It has developed the full range of the entire industry and attracted professionals from application fields such as ICT, consumer electronics, advanced manufacturing, semiconductor, defense and security, medical, sensing and test measurement, energy, light and display. SOURCE CIOE

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A lot of time has passed since Sergei Kolesnikov last saw Vladimir Putin face to face -- six years, to be exact. But even then, he says, Russia's most powerful man was showing signs of fatigue.

"Both then -- and now, as I understand it -- everyone was trying to shift all responsibility for making decisions onto him," says Kolesnikov, a biophysicist-turned-businessman who profited as a Putin crony in 1990s St. Petersburg. "A single person simply can't make an enormous number of decisions during a set period of time."

If Putin's power vertical is a company, he suggests, it's starting to suffer from a case of bad management. "There are people at lower levels who should be taking responsibility for things but aren't," Kolesnikov says. "It's a consequence of the system they created."

Kolesnikov, 66, knows all about the system -- and its consequences. He fled Russia in 2010 after publishing an open letter to then-President Dmitry Medvedev revealing the construction of a lavish Black Sea palace commissioned by Putin and funded with a billion dollars in illegally diverted funds.

Kolesnikov, who granted RFE/RL a face-to-face interview in an undisclosed location, now keeps his whereabouts private. But he continues to track the machinations of Putin's inner circle, a corrupt club that has enriched its leader to the point, he says, where "money doesn't have any meaning anymore."

'Mikhail Ivanovich's' Money

Among his points of interest is Bank Rossia, which the U.S. Treasury has called the "personal bank of senior officials of the Russian Federation." Both the bank and a number of its shareholders have come under U.S. and EU sanctions imposed to punish Moscow's actions in Ukraine.

Kolesnikov himself held accounts in Bank Rossia as a co-owner of Petromed, a medical-procurement company that won numerous government contracts during the years that Putin served as St. Petersburg's external relations chief under then-Mayor Anatoly Sobchak.

Petromed performed legitimate functions -- manufacturing much-needed medical equipment and refurbishing operating rooms in a number of regional hospitals.

But Kolesnikov and his partner, Nikolai Shamalov -- now Bank Rossia's second-largest shareholder and on the sanctions blacklist -- were increasingly called on to help divert funds through a complicated network of friendly companies and offshore accounts on behalf of "Mikhail Ivanovich," as Putin was known among his business partners.

Some of that money went toward buying Shamalov's shares in Bank Rossia. And hundreds of millions went toward the construction of the so-called "Putin Palace," a spacious mansion on the Black Sea's exclusive Gelendzhik Bay.

Putin has always denied any connection to the Gelendzhik palace, which was later reportedly purchased by businessman Aleksandr Ponomarenko. Kolesnikov says the property is owned by a Cyprus-based company that in turn is owned by a firm registered in the British Virgin Islands. "No one really knows who the ultimate beneficiary of that palace is," he says.

Survival Strategy

So will Putin ever enjoy a Black Sea retirement palace or other fruits of his alleged corruption? Kolesnikov says that question is of paramount concern to the Kremlin inner circle, who have effectively painted themselves into a corner -- albeit a very wealthy, powerful one -- with no easy way out.

Kolesnikov, who published a 2012 article in "Vedomosti" titled "Putin Forever," says the Russian leader's controversial third-term reelection convinced him that after years of criminal self-enrichment, the only way to stave off prosecution was to remain in power.

"Putin's entire chain of command is built on a foundation of corruption," Kolesnikov says. "To see power go to another party or other people would be to put themselves under enormous threat of criminal investigation and inevitable punishment."

So while Putin recently dismissed the possibility of seeking president-for-life status, Kolesnikov says he and his allies are definitely looking for an exit. They're no longer focused on money or property. "What they're thinking about now is their lives."

Kolesnikov goes so far as to suggest that Russia's campaign in Ukraine may be motivated not by imperialist nostalgia but by Putin's desperation to keep critics distracted from his massive corruption.

If the Russian leader feels truly threatened, he adds, he may even resort to playing the nuclear card. "Two years ago, any suggestion that war would break out in the center of Europe and thousands of people would die seemed like absolute nonsense," Kolesnikov says. "Today it's an objective reality. And we can say the same thing about the possibility of using nuclear weapons. Maybe it's unlikely, but it's no longer nonsense."

Reported by Anastasia Kirilenko; written by Daisy Sindelar
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The Archbishop of Canterbury has criticised Canada for massively over-ordering supplies of coronavirus vaccine, hindering the rollout of jabs to the world's poorest nations.

The Most Rev Justin Welby told Parliament the North American country had in the pipeline more than five times what it needed for its 38million citizens.

The government of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly secured 76million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and up to 56million of the recently-approved jab developed by US firm Moderna.

Overall, the country is said to have signed deals worth up to $1billion for access to up to 414million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from seven different manufacturers, according to Canadian news outlet Global News.

All of the vaccines which have so far been produced need two doses to provide the highest level of protection, meaning Canada needs around 76million jabs to provide for all its citizens.

Mr Welby, who received a coronavirus vaccine earlier this week, highlighted surplus stocks as one of the main obstacles to a global vaccination campaign, along with misinformation and logistical challenges.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has criticised Canada for massively over-ordering supplies of coronavirus vaccine, hindering the rollout of jabs to the world's poorest nations. Pictured: Mr Welby received a coronavirus vaccine earlier this week

His comments came after the head of the United Nations urged the world act with far greater solidarity to ensure vaccines are available and affordable in all countries.

Speaking recently, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said governments had a responsibility to protect their people, 'but 'vaccinationalism' is self-defeating and will delay a global recovery'.

Meanwhile, the House of Lords heard the UK had committed 548million to the World Health Organisation's Covax programme to support access to Covid-19 vaccines for up to 92 developing countries.

Responding, Mr Welby said: 'We must welcome very warmly this exceptionally moral leadership in this remarkable donation to the Covax programme which I think is the largest of any country.'

The government of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau has reportedly secured 76million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and up to 56million of the recently-approved jab developed by US firm Moderna

He added: 'However, in order to make the money work... we need a global vaccination campaign if we are to overcome this global pandemic.

'There are three obstructions in particular to overcome.

'One is the use of surplus supplies of vaccine.

'Canada for example has ordered more than five times what it needs for the population.

'Secondly, to overcome misinformation which is being deliberately spread about the vaccines and mythical dangers or false stories about it.

'And thirdly, in many parts of the countries that will need it the immense logistic difficulties of distributing it.

Overall, the country is said to have signed deals worth up to $1billion for access to up to 414million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from seven different manufacturers, according to Canadian news outlet Global News

'In order to make the most of the leadership we have set financially and given our expertise and experience and success in the rollout in this country, what will the Government be doing to validate that gift by overcoming these three challenges?'

Foreign minister Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon said: 'On the issue of countries who have oversubscribed, some countries have already announced plans for that, we are not in that position but others have, about how they will look at distribution.

'We would implore upon them that the most equitable way is through supporting that distribution through the Covax facility... for the very reason that they have the most effective infrastructure and network to allow for the equitable and fast-paced distribution of the vaccine as it is rolled out.'

He added: 'At a time when people are concerned, at a time when people are worried it is actually deeply concerning and highly regrettable that there are some in the world who are putting out misinformation on vaccines which have already been tested and approved... and we must come together to tackle that and provide proper information.'

Lord Ahmad also said UK would be working through its international networks to assist the deployment of vaccines.

So far, Canada has vaccinated just over 682,000 of its citizens, which is around 1.7 per cent of the population.
At the Heckscher, Gaylors teeming, gregarious portrayals of life in and around the Penguin capture 11 of the artists sketching close by a wood-burning stove (in a lively little 1917 gouache), elaborate panoramas of costume balls and auctions in oil on canvas. We glimpse one ambitious event in Arts Ball 1918 for which the Penguin members donned hobby horses designed by Kuhn or dressed up as Pierrot. In the excellent 1920 Posters, he captured members of the group collaborating on a series of enormous painted posters for a Red Cross bond drive in 1918. The scene is a colorful jumble: the big images of heads dwarf the artists.

In between, a banner of a real penguin hangs over the fireplace. Kuhn, wearing a hat, seems very much in charge. Gaylor and two other men lift one of the posters. Kuhn also keeps his hat on in Dancing Lesson With Walt Kuhn (around 1919) while overseeing the footwork of a line of scantily clad women. He appears to be teaching them an insouciant move that Twyla Tharp might envy.
Editors note: Michael T. Tiu, Jr. teaches Constitutional Law at the UP College of Law. As a lawyer at the Institute of Human Rights, University of the Philippines Law Center, he works on the intersection of issues and vulnerabilities brought about by climate change, business activities, and social change. The opinions expressed in this article are the authors.

Manila (CNN Philippines Life, January 21)  February 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of what we now remember as the Diliman Commune  a period spanning the first nine days of February 1971 when students of the University of the Philippines took control of UP Diliman by barricading its entry points and fighting off attempts by the military and police officers to gain access to the campus. It happened during a period of unrest, particularly among the students, academics, and unions of jeepney drivers propelled by the explosion of protests in the 1970s First Quarter Storm. The Diliman Commune was a picture of resistance with its series of standoffs between students and law enforcement officers who forcibly broke up human barricades. It was an event that displayed a commitment to the sanctity of the national university as a place of refuge for those who are part of that learning community and their hard-fought freedoms.

Five decades after, a new standoff is brewing. In a letter dated January 15, 2021, the Department of National Defense, through Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, notified UP President Danilo Concepcion that it was unilaterally terminating the 1989 UP-DND Accord  the agreement that prohibits the military and law enforcement officers from entering UP campuses without justification and prior notification. The mass resistance of the UP community  its officials, faculty, students, and staff  is reminiscent of the Diliman Commune and is in keeping with the character of the community. The calls to reverse the unilateral abrogation were firm and swift, the resistance unequivocal.

READ: Despite abrogation of UP-DND pact, this 1981 agreement still bars police and military from campuses, former student leaders say

The 1989 UP-DND Accord is not the first record of an agreement between the countrys defense department and UP students to keep law enforcement officers out of UP Campuses. The earlier Soto-Enrile Agreement set out, in writing, the commitment of then Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile to pull out police detachments inside campuses and to allow entry only when (a) requested by university officials or, (b) when a crime is taking place inside the campus. Enrile laid out these commitments in an October 1981 letter to Sonia Soto, among other student leaders, who was then the Chairperson of the League of Filipino Students. Eight years later, these same commitments were set out with clarity and specificity in the 1989 UP-DND Accord signed by then DND Secretary Fidel V. Ramos and UP President Jose Abueva. Abueva describes the accord as a reflection of the deep understanding between [him and Ramos] about the inalienable rights to freedom, democracy, justice and peace and was concluded for the good of UP and the rights of the members of the community. It is clear, even from the preamble of the accord that the primary concern was the protection of academic freedom and institutional autonomy of UP.

Steeped in the tradition of democratic discourse and protest, the UP community is suspicious of and opposed to any form of militarization or presence of law enforcement in its campuses, considering a history of targeting students and academics for their political beliefs, which swelled during the years of the dictatorship. The military, on the other hand, is constantly preoccupied by what it considers sources of threats to national security. This ever present tension between these two institutions and the attempts to manage these tensions led to the signing of the accord on June 30, 1989. The conclusion of the accord was hastened by the events in the latter half of June 1989 when Donato Continente  a messenger of the UP Collegian  was abducted inside the UP Diliman campus by men from the Criminal Investigation Service of the police for Continentes alleged involvement in the killing of US Army Officer Col. James Rowe.

The Diliman Commune was an event that displayed a commitment to the sanctity of the national university as a place of refuge for those who are part of that learning community and their hard-fought freedoms.

The 1989 UP-DND Accord sets out, as its core element, the prohibition of any member of the AFP, the then-Police Constabulary  Integrated National Police (now the PNP), and the CAFGU (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit, also a unit of the AFP) from entering any UP campus for reasons outside of the exceptional circumstances enumerated in the accord: in cases of hot pursuit (a rule that allows an officer to make a warrantless arrest if he has probable cause based on personal knowledge that the person to be arrested has just committed a crime), similar occasions of emergency, and ordinary transit (like passing through a part of a UP campus without carrying out law enforcement duties). Should the military or law enforcement officers intend to conduct any military or police operations in any of the UP Campuses, they must transmit prior notification to the UP President, or the Chancellor of the constituent university, or the Dean of the regional unit concerned.

Mutual respect and cooperation were the guiding principles in Abuevas signing of the 1989 accord. Provisions direct UP officials to extend the necessary assistance to law enforcers in order to enforce the law within UP premises, and vice versa. The military or police can provide assistance whenever UP officials, in order to maintain security, peace and order within UP premises, inform them in writing of the necessity for such assistance.

In his letter, Sec. Lorenzana cited the recruitment of UP students to the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing: the National Peoples Army as a reason for termination. He explained that the accord is being used to shield the CPP/NPA and to bar the military from conducting operations against them. However, there is no insurmountable impediment to the investigation of threats to national security under the framework of the accord. Assuming that its operations are directed against illegal activities, the accord itself says that the military can notify and cooperate with UP officials should they wish to enter any UP campus.

The worry that the unilateral abrogation would imperil academic freedom and constitutional rights is not unfounded. With its termination comes the shunning of the commitment in the accord that law enforcers shall not interfere with peaceful protest actions by UP constituents within UP premises. Protest in UP is a way of life, and with the mounting and sustained resistance against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 (a law that law enforcers have asked for), there is a real threat of branding dissent as subversion.

More alarmingly, the abrogation also means the removal of mechanisms like speedy and prior notice to UP officials and the immediate assistance of counsel in cases of arrests or detention of any member of the UP community  mechanisms that provide additional protection to the constitutional rights of UPs students, officials, faculty, and staff. This unilateral termination signifies an intention to enter the space to do exactly what the accord should have protected community members against.

With questions raised on the intention, necessity, and legal possibility of the unilateral abrogation, it is to be expected that the spirit of the Diliman Commune has been rekindled. It is not in UPs character to stand down. Will the military yield?
The Hammond Police Department is proud to have assisted in removing a murder and rape suspect from the streets, Kellogg said. We work well with all local, state, and federal agencies seeking assistance. If criminals think they are safe in our city, they are not. The police department will work diligently to get them in custody to keep our city safe.
More hype for stalled plague cure that has been "coming soon" since around election time.

Here's just a bit more promo and location scouting . . . Check-it:
By Rick Karlin | Times Union, Albany

Albany, N.Y.  New Yorks rollout of its plastic bag ban last year was so muddled and confusing that a judge awarded court fees to the plaintiffs who had sued over the prohibition.

Acting state Supreme Court Justice Gerard Connolly ordered the state to pay despite ruling the ban was legal.

Saying that the Department of Environmental Conservations early directions on the ban were incorrect and frivolous, Connolly ordered the agency to pay part of the legal fees and court costs in a suit brought by a bagmaker PolyPak Industries as well as a consortium of corner shops, small business owners and a grocery store that opposed the ban.

The lawsuit filed last year Albany County asked to overturn the ban, which, court papers in the case showed, sowed confusion over which types of reusable plastic bags were barred.

Initially, the ban regulations developed by DEC lawyers included exemptions for heavier plastic bags or bags that could be used 125 times. DEC at first also said that heavier bags of polystyrene or polypropylene were going to be exempt, but not the more common thin film plastic bags that PolyPak made and most grocery stores used.

But as the legal challenge worked its way through the court, environmentalists in October complained DEC listed the supposed exemptions on its website. After the complaints, the listing was removed.

Connolly in his decision earlier this month made it clear that the ban pertained to all plastic non-cloth bags.

Reusable bags may not be distributed if they contain plastic of any kind, barring some further action by the Legislature, Connolly wrote in his decision.

The DECs confusion and about-face were so egregious the agency should pay the court costs, the judge ruled.

It wasnt immediately clear how much it will cost. The plaintiffs have a month to tabulate court costs and document the expenses.

But the fact that the plaintiffs were awarded court costs, in a losing case, demonstrates what bag-ban supporters said early on: DEC caused confusion by including and then removing exemptions.

This is quite significant that the judge is requiring DEC to pay attorneys fees, said Judith Enck, a former regional EPA administrator and founder of Beyond Plastics, which aims to remove plastics from the waste stream.

It is because DEC did not put out accurate information, she said. The law bans plastic bags. Full stop.

Changes to the bag ban remains an open issues. Gov. Andrew Cuomos 2022 budget proposal released on Tuesday calls for legislation that would exempt from the ban some of the same types of bags that were at issue in the lawsuit.

Exemptions would classify as reusable bags made of materials like polypropylene or polystyrene and which could be used at least 125 times and carry 22 pounds for 175 feet.

In a prepared statement, DEC said the proposal was put in the budget plan to try and clear the confusion. In response to the Courts decisions, the budget proposal serves to clarify certain exempt bags and what constitutes a reusable bag, including examples of the types of fabric in reusable bags and examples of commonly used reusable bags that contain some plastic content, including polyester, woven polypropylene, and nylon bags, among other examples, they said.

The development received just a half-hearted welcome from an industry spokesman who still believes the entire ban was ill-conceived.

Proposing changes to the ban underscores what we have long said: Its current form is broken and unworkable. Unfortunately, the changes dont make the law more workable, said Zachary Taylor, director of the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance.

He believes the Legislature should reconsider the ban.

Enck disagrees, saying the recent court decision affirms the existing ban. She said she hoped lawmakers turn down the exemption request as the budget is finalized later this year.

They are going to try to get legislative permission to do what they tried to do last time, said Enck.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : India has always been a key market for Maldives. Since the reopening of the borders, the arrival statistics has shown gradual and constant growth. As per the statistics of Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Maldives, by the end of 2020 India became the number one source market with 62,905 Indian tourists holidaying in the island country, thus accounting for 11.3 per cent of the total market share.

In 2019, India was at second place, following China. This growth accelerated due to various travel restrictions amid COVID-19 and air travel bubble that was initiated between India and Maldives. This created a positive pathway for additional flights from India giving much required opportunities for travellers to visit Maldives.

After India, Russia secured the second place with 61,388 tourists, followed by the UK with 52,716 tourists accounting 11.1 per cent and 9.5 per cent of the total market share respectively.

Maldives opened its borders on July 15, 2020 with strict safety measures for the travellers. Resorts, liveaboards and guesthouses have opened their doors for tourists in line with HPA guidelines.

Maldives has become an ideal location for travelling, as it is geographically blessed by its isolated nature, making it one of the safest destinations to travel to right now. Incoming travellers from India to the Maldives were largely influenced by Bollywood celebrities opting for stays at high-end resorts and organically promoting the destination.

According to Thoyyib Mohamed, MD, MMPRC, "Despite the pandemic, Maldives tourism has done well. We expected a good last quarter for tourism, but the results were beyond expectations in December. India has always been our focus market. Over the last few years, Maldives has very rapidly ascended the list of the most preferred holiday destination for Indians. Duringthis unprecedented time, we had to re-strategize our marketing activities in order to accommodate the current trends and in order to gain the maximum out of our market efforts. We have constantly attempted to study the consumers' behaviour accordingly and plan for our efforts for 2021." Maldives recorded 555,399 arrivals in 2020 and achieved their target of 500,000 arrivals for the year. For 2021, the authorities are targeting 1.5 million arrivals.

(Siddhi Jain can be contacted at siddhi.j@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Despite not having a new vehicle produced in over 40 years, DeLorean is still around and, according to the latest company blog , still one of the most iconic , instantly recognizable names in the automotive industry. Mind you, its not the same DeLorean company that started out in Northern Ireland, but its the next best thing , if you will.In 1995, Liverpool car mechanic Stephen Wynne set up the DeLorean Motor Company, or the New DeLorean, in Humble, Texas, after buying the DeLorean trademarks and remaining inventory. Since then, Wynne has been trying to bring back the iconic DMC-12 , a staple of the 80s that, back then, stood out for a striking design , incredibly high ambitions, and a myriad of performance and quality issues.The Low Volume Vehicle Manufacturing rule allowed Wynne to take the DMC-12 into low volume production, with original plans including the old 130 hp, 2.85-liter V6 under the hood. In 2015, the company announced the engine had to be replaced with one that had a life-cycle of emissions compliance through 2022, reads the latest blog post. We had hoped to get into production by 2017 and get 3-4 years out of it before having to take on the engineering for a new powertrain.This didnt go as planned, and the start of low volume production was delayed. Then, 2020 happened, rounding up the number of partners to go out of business or be assimilated by larger companies not interested in bringing back a classic with such low production numbers. Moreover, DeLorean is thinking the future of(internal combustion engine) cars is not exactly bright, considering most manufacturers and regulators are pushing for more sustainable, cleaner transportation.So how about an all-electric DMC-12?With EVs becoming more mainstream, weve been considering switching to an all-electric as the future, DeLorean says. It certainly makes for an easier path through emissions maze which still looms large over any internal combustion engine. While an electric Cobra or Morgan may be a little extreme for their potential market, weve already seen that anDeLorean  as we displayed at the 2012 New York International Auto Show  is not such an out there idea.The post also notes that support continues to be greatly appreciated and ends with an optimistic-sounding Stay tuned.
People who are not yet eligible for the coronavirus vaccine have been able to skip the queue and arrange appointments ahead of those on the priority list using an IT loophole in the online system.

Website links intended to allow over-70s and health workers book their jabs have been shared on social media  and people using them have made appointments without being asked for proof of eligibility.

There have been reports of some people not on the current priority list managing to get the Covid-19 vaccine fraudulently using the Swiftqueue system links. One Labour MP said he knew of someone in their mid-50s, not yet eligible for the jab, getting their first dose after booking an appointment online.

On Thursday morning The Independent was able to use one of the Swiftqueue links to book an appointment for the first dose for 3pm on Monday at a clinic in Nottinghamshire, with the follow-up jab scheduled for 13 April.

The appointments were quickly cancelled so that no was deprived of a jab, and the times then became available again.

Recommended Covid infection levels may have risen at start of UK lockdown

Toby Perkins, Labour MP for Chesterfield, said he first heard of ineligible people in his constituency using a Swiftqueue link to get the jab on Monday evening, when he received a text with the URL for local clinics.

So I went onto this link and booked on myself and it gave me an appointment as a 50-year-old  it didnt ask me if I was a key worker, he told the Evening Standard.

It allowed me to book on without my NHS number and it just gave me an appointment go down tomorrow at 10.10am. Obviously having done that I cancelled it  I wouldnt actually want to take someones appointment.

He added: I went down and spoke to the primary care network yesterday and they are very conscious of it and they told me that dont worry we challenge anyone who comes here and anyone who turns up who cant verify they are a key worker will be turned away.

Mr Perkins said he knew of someone in their mid-50s, not on any priority list, who had been given the vaccine after securing an appointment using Swiftqueue.

The Evening Standard claimed to have seen evidence showing ineligible people have managed to secure Covid jabs using the Swiftqueue portal in east London. A link meant for staff at the East London NHS Foundation Trust is thought to have been shared with others who do not work there.

A spokesman for the East London NHS Foundation Trust said: People attending appointments  will be asked for proof that they have personally been invited for a vaccination and belong to one of these priority cohorts, to ensure that no one who is currently ineligible for the vaccine receives it as a result of making a false online declaration.

NHS nurse receives vaccine in Blackburn (Reuters)

Swiftqueue has insisted that anyone booking vaccine appointments who are not eligible would be asked for ID in person at their local clinic and turned away.

However, The Independent understands Swiftqueue has no plans to change its online booking system.

In a statement, the companys chief executive Brendan Casey said that anyone who books to get the vaccine fraudulently will be turned away  full stop.

He added: Some people have used links shared with them to try and falsely get the Covid vaccine. If they book and attend the clinic to try and jump the queue and they do not have proof of eligibility and they will be turned away.

If you do get an invitation by a shared link dishonestly to make an appointment, I am asking that you dont  as you will be wasting healthcare workers valuable time and you wont be vaccinated. You must be eligible to be vaccinated to receive the vaccine.

Stella Creasy, Labour MP for Walthamstow, said it was extremely worrying that some people in east London had reportedly got the jab ahead of schedule.

I urge people not to follow suit and use these links or try to blag their way into vaccine centres or try to find loopholes and so undermine the hard work being done by so many to get the vaccine out to those who are most at risk at harm.

Mr Perkins said it was very disturbing the system appeared so open to abuse. If anyone with the URL is able to book on, you need some way of stopping those who are not entitled, he added. It would be far better to prevent them booking in the first place.

The Independent has contacted NHS England for comment.
One of the President's children, Eric Trump, said the 'Best is yet to come' in a message before the new administration. He gave these final words to all those who supported his father's presidency the past four years.

Present during the last sendoff of President Donald Trump was his children Eric, Ivanka, and Donald Jr., who shared messages to those who were part of the Presidential journey.

For many, it was a culmination of four years that many Americans call the best presidency. According to Eric Trump, he made a statement to the press loyal to the Trump administration, right before the official turning over government on Wednesday.

He told Trump supporters," Without a doubt, the best is yet to come." Even if not in the office, his father will be there for the American people.

In his message, he said that Americans would never allow the old norms that came before his father's term. Consider what the last four years have given, fight for the freedoms and pride that is the hallmark of the red, white, and blue.

For the last four years, Americans have come first, and the Trump administration returned patriot pride to America.

The younger Trump added that his family was subjected to constant media campaigns against his father's administration. Saying all of them were subjected to unprecedented resistance and persecution. He called it the tremendous weight they felt the past four years but still worked for success despite persecution.

Eric Trump is lauding the sacrifice of his father more than any president in office. Donald Trump pushed back knowing he was elected for the job and had to bear a nation's weight on his shoulders.

Also read: Trump Signs Memo to Delay Immediate Deportation of Venezuelans in the US

Ivanka Trump, who advised her father, posted a tweet on Instagram, saying four years of her dad's presidency has been an incredible journey.

In her message, she thanked everyone who gave love and support provided. As she leaves DC, expressing the awe, compassion, and grit found in America on her social media account. She added hope and belief that America moves forward positively, accepting differences and looking for common ground to be the greatest nation.

Donald Trump Jr. posted a message; he said, "Thanks, dad!" Saying, "America is indebted to you!" Included in the message is a picture of President Trump clutching an American flag, which is a popular meme on the internet.

Tiffany Trump, whose mother is Marla Maples, has avoided publicity. She wrote on Twitter how celebrating many relevant events have transpired in the White House. All the memories there are important to her, including her upcoming engagement to MichaelZBoulos. She is looking forward to what comes next.

Last Wednesday, President Trump reminded everyone of what his administration has achieved-citing the creation of more jobs, stopping the Chinese from their activities that undermine, a better stock market, and lots more.

After leaving the White House lawn that sank countless Americans' feelings, Trump said he wouldn't be going anywhere-leaving for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Rumors are rife that the Trumps will start a media or another political party with MAGA as its base.

Eric Trump said many Americans support his father, and Donald Trump will be remembered. He added this is not the end, a future in real estate and more awaits.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (January 20, 2021) - More than 5.7 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease and that number is projected to triple by 2050. Despite the growing number there is not a cure. Florin Despa a professor with the University of Kentucky's department of pharmacology and nutritional sciences says, "The mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases are largely unknown and effective therapies are lacking." That is why numerous studies and trials are ongoing around the world including at the University of Kentucky. One of those studies by University of Kentucky researchers was recently published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. It is the first publication from the Research Center for Healthy Metabolism.

Despa says that a major scientific goal is to understand whether the same factors that are involved in age-related metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes may also play a role in the development and progression of cognitive decline and dementia. He says that is a goal because those factors can be used as therapeutic targets to improve or possibly reverse processes underlying cognitive impairment. Researchers believe their newly published study found a potential alternative approach to reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by brain accumulation of sticky proteins called -amyloid that can be related to a genetic predisposition (familial AD) or occur sporadically (sporadic AD). Dr. Greg Jicha is one of several researchers from UK's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging who helped with the study, "The amylin is found both within amyloid plaques and in blood vessels. Amylin helps form plaques in the brains of some AD patients, worsening the disease. In blood vessels, it causes impairment in oxygen and nutrients reaching the brain leading to small vessel ischemic disease, more commonly known as 'hardening of the arteries'. Both these processes contribute to brain dysfunction and worsen cognitive and memory decline."

The team's work shows that early pathological processes in the brains of individuals who are genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer's disease are modulated by a pancreatic hormone called amylin. This study is the first to show that the brains of patients with familial AD accumulate amyloid-forming amylin secreted by the pancreas. "Our study suggests an alternative approach to reduce the progression of Alzheimer's disease through the modulation of blood levels of amylin. In addition, the results of this study can point to the pancreatic hormone amylin as a potential missing molecular link between metabolic disorders and increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. Specifically, amylin dysregulation contributes to both type-2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease."

The study is also the first to show mechanistically that low blood amylin protects against Alzheimer's disease. Their results suggest that the development of anti-amylin therapies may improve the lives of familial Alzheimer's disease mutation carriers and slow the progression of sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Jicha says, "There are available medications that can be readily repurposed and approved to block these processes, keeping the brain healthy for a much longer period of time. This work is designed to help move such agents into the pipeline as we search for new ways to combat Alzheimer's disease."

Despa says it is important to note that while increased blood amylin cannot diagnose Alzheimer's disease, testing its presence in the blood could help physicians in the evaluation process of high-risk cerebrovascular disease and the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

###

The study involved the efforts of researchers from three Alzheimer's Disease Centers in the United States, including UK's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging. Additionally, three international Alzheimer's Disease Centers participated.

Along with the Sanders-Brown Center on Aging several other departments within the University of Kentucky are represented in this work with numerous faculty members playing large roles in the study; Florin Despa, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and nutritional sciences, Dr. Larry Goldstein, professor and chairman of neurology, Dr. Greg Jicha, professor of neurology, Dr. Pete Nelson, professor of neuropathology, Donna Wilcock, Ph.D., professor of physiology, Erin Abner, Ph.D., associate professor of epidemiology, Sandra Despa, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology and nutritional sciences, Nirmal Verma, Ph.D., assistant professor of pharmacology and nurtritional sciences. Their work was funded through numerous grants and the University of Kentucky Research Alliance (ADAM).

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers AG057290, AG053999, AG028383, and NS116058. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

The University of Kentucky initiated its aging program in 1963. With a grant from the Eleanor and John Y. Brown Jr. Foundation in 1972, the construction of the current Sanders-Brown Research Building was begun and, with additional funding from the state, a program in biomedical research was implemented. In 1979, under the direction of the late Dr. William Markesbery, Sanders-Brown emerged as a national leader in efforts to improve the quality of life for the elderly through research and education. SBCoA's major areas of focus are normal brain aging, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

In 1985, the University of Kentucky Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Alzheimer's Disease Center was funded as one of the first 10 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers funded by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, grant number P30AG028383. Currently, only 31 designated Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers exist in the U.S. and only nine -- including Sanders-Brown -- have been continuously funded since the designation was launched.
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Teenagers don't understand several important basics of civic life according to new test results - and they are getting worse.

Results from the most recent National Assessment Program  Civics and Citizenship , revealed most Year 10 boys and girls couldn't understand numerous basic parts of how the nation works.

This includes the importance of Anzac Day, what the Prime Minister does, refugee issues, human rights, the value of other cultures and a lot of what happens on election day.

The test, which happens every three years, showed a poor 38 per cent of year 10 students reached a 'proficient' level, equivalent to a pass, in 2019.

Anzac Day celebrations (pictured) are well-attended, but the results of a national student test show many don't understand the importance of the day for national pride and identity

Many students do not understand the role of the Prime Minister, whether it's Scott Morrison (pictured) in the hot seat or someone else

Year 10 students had to answer 42 questions over 75 minutes and Year 6 students got one hour for 39 questions.

On average, neither Year 10 boys or girls reached 'proficiency', and each had gone backwards since 2004.

MANY TEENS DON'T UNDERSTAND: The role of the Prime Minister

The significance of Anzac Day

Australian identity and national pride

Refugee issues

The histories of immigration and Indigenous issues

How Governments are formed

Election Day processes

Different forms of protest

Human rights

The benefits of learning about other cultures

Why 'free speech' is not unlimited

Principles behind democracy

Why members of parliament must register their financial interests

Wartime propaganda Source: National Assessment Program  Civics and Citizenship (NAPCC) report. Advertisement

Many students could not even explain what the Prime Minister does.

'It is disappointing that the results suggest our next generation isn't demonstrating a sufficient level of understanding of the significance and history of our democracy and shared values,' said David de Carvalho, CEO of the Australian Curriculum Assessment Authority.

Their average scores also meant many would struggle in basic areas of life in a community.

This could include 'recognising why a fair society needs to be based on rules and laws' and 'the value of education to society'.

The basics that many Year 10 students would fail also included what underpins democracy, knowing that rights and responsibilities 'are collective as well as individual', and being able to decide what kinds of community participation are best for a situation.

The results of 11 and 12 years olds, Year 6, were better, with 53 per cent achieving 'proficiency'.

The numbers of 'proficient' Year 6 students has also increased since 2004.

Girls especially had obviously improved.

Overall, children who spoke a language other than English at home performed just as well as those who spoke only English.

The report also found that student achievement increased where their parents were employed and had higher levels of education.

'The school system has an important role to play in educating students, not only the rules and laws, but also in the appropriate attitudes and dispositions that underpin a democracy,' de Carvalho told Daily Mail Australia.

A major disappointment was that there was no reduction in the gap between achievement levels of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in recent years.

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS Name two democratic principles that exist in Australia today Who is responsible for creating laws that apply across Australia? Why is Reverend John Flynn on the $20 bank note? List two benefits of volunteering if you are unemployed What is one positive contribution that immigrants have made to Australia? Why was the Aboriginal Tent Embassy set up outside Parliament House? Why is it important that people are not made 'stateless'? Who decides the result of a referendum? Why would be pressing the button on your remote to decide a winner be undemocratic? What are the main differences between Indigenous and European laws? Advertisement

While the test scores were not great news, the student survey published with the Civics and Citizenship report was more positive.

'High numbers of Year 10 students believe that immigrants should be encouraged to keep their cultural beliefs, practices and languages, and think that Australia benefits from having people from many cultures and backgrounds,' de Carvalho said.

It said many students are aware of and concerned about national issues such as pollution, climate change and water shortages.

Pollution was seen as the main issue facing Australia, ahead of climate change and water shortages. It also showed fewer students are concerned about terrorism.

The majority of Year 6 and Year 10 students believed participating in peaceful protests was important.

'Nearly two-thirds of Year 10 students surveyed have collected money for a charity or social cause, and there was an increase in the proportion of students at both year levels who believed participating in peaceful protests about important issues was an important attribute of good citizenship,' de Carvalho said.

About out of 10 Year 6 and Year 10 students expressed positive attitudes towards Australian Indigenous cultures.

A majority of year 10 students also expressed positive attitudes about diversity.

Test results show many students don't understand 'the historical exclusion of Indigenous Australians' (pictured) and also don't understand 'the effectiveness of certain protest strategies'

Students said in a survey released at the same time as the Civics and Citizenship assessment results that they believed peaceful protest (pictured) was important

Unsurprisingly, interested in traditional media was in decline.

86 per cent of Year 6 students and 80 per cent of Year 10 students believed that learning about Australia's history was an important attribute of a good citizen.
WASHINGTON  Vice President Kamala Harris broke the barrier that has kept men at the top ranks of American power for more than two centuries when she took the oath Wednesday to hold the nations second-highest office.

Harris was sworn in as the first female U.S. vice president  and the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the position  in front of the U.S. Capitol by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Later, she presided as Senate president for the first time to swear in three new Democratic senators, including her replacement.

The moment was steeped in history and significance in more ways than one. She was escorted to the podium by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, the officer who single-handedly took on a mob as they tried to breach the Senate floor during the Capitol insurrection. Harris was wearing clothes from two young, emerging Black designers  a deep purple dress and coat.

After taking the oath of office, a beaming Harris hugged her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and gave President Joe Biden a first bump.

Her rise is historic in any context, another moment when a stubborn boundary falls away, expanding the idea of whats possible in American politics. But its particularly meaningful because Harris is taking office at a moment when Americans are grappling over institutional racism and confronting a pandemic that has disproportionately devastated Black and brown communities.

Those close to Harris say shell bring an important  and often missing  perspective to the debates on how to overcome the many hurdles facing the new administration.

In many folks lifetimes, we experienced a segregated United States, said Lateefah Simon, a civil rights advocate and longtime Harris friend and mentee. You will now have a Black woman who will walk into the White House not as a guest but as a second in command of the free world.

Harris  the child of immigrants, a stepmother of two and the wife of a Jewish man  carries an intersectional story of so many Americans who are never seen and heard.

Her family joined her on stage as she took the oath and later during her procession to her new office building near the White House. She was led by her alma mater Howard Universitys marching band and walked while holding the hand of her grandniece and alongside her husband, stepchildren, sister, brother-in-law and nieces.

Harris, 56, moves into the vice presidency just four years after she first came to Washington as a senator from California, where shed served as attorney general and as San Franciscos district attorney. She had expected to work with a White House run by Hillary Clinton, but President Donald Trumps victory quickly scrambled the nations capital and set the stage for the rise of a new class of Democratic stars.

After Harris own presidential bid fizzled, her rise continued when Biden chose her as his running mate last August. Harris had been a close friend of Beau Biden, his elder son and a former Delaware attorney general who died in 2015 of cancer.

The inauguration activities included nods to her history-making rise and her personal story.

Harris used two Bibles to take the oath, one that belonged to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the late civil rights icon whom Harris often cites as inspiration, and Regina Shelton, who helped raise Harris during her childhood in the San Francisco Bay Area.

After the ceremony, she and Emhoff escorted former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, out of the Capitol, a gesture that would normally be performed by the incoming and outgoing presidents, but Trump did not attended the inauguration. Harris, Pence and their spouses spoke for several minutes before the Pences departed.

To celebrate the occasion, the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the nations oldest sorority for Black women, which Harris joined at Howard University, declared Wednesday as Soror Kamala D. Harris Day. Members of the sorority watching the celebrations across the country were clad in pearls, as was Harris, and the sororitys pink and green colors.

There is a pride I cant put into words, said Elizabeth Shelby, a member of the sororitys Alpha Psi chapter, who watched from her home in Nashville, Tennessee. It is such a joy to see her rise to this place in our country. It is such a joy to know that she is one of us, that she represents us.

Biden, in his inaugural address, reflected on the 1913 march for womens suffrage the day before President Woodrow Wilsons inauguration, during which some marchers were heckled and attacked.

Today, we mark the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris. Dont tell me things cant change, Biden said.

As vice president, Harris will expand the definition of who gets to hold power in American politics, said Martha S. Jones, a professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and the author of Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All.

People who want to understand Harris and connect with her will have to learn what it means to graduate from a historically Black college and university rather than an Ivy League school. They will have to understand Harris traditions, like the Hindu celebration of Diwali, Jones said.

Folks are going to have to adapt to her rather than her adapting to them, Jones said.

Her election to the vice presidency should be just the beginning of putting Black women in leadership positions, Jones said, particularly after the role Black women played in organizing and turning out voters in the November election.

We will all learn what happens to the kind of capacities and insights of Black women in politics when those capacities and insights are permitted to lead, Jones said.
Avril Haines was the deputy director of the CIA during the Obama administration. Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Senate confirmed Biden's nominee for director of national intelligence, Avril Haines.

Haines was the deputy CIA director and deputy national security advisor in the Obama administration.

She pledged during a confirmation hearing that she would keep politics out of intelligence.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Joe Biden's pick for US spy chief, Avril Haines, by a vote of 84 to 10.

Biden nominated Haines to serve as the director of national intelligence, a vast role overseeing 18 intelligence agencies that experienced an extraordinary level of politicization during the Trump era. She previously served as the deputy CIA director and deputy national security advisor under President Barack Obama.

Haines is the first woman to helm the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and she was the first Biden Cabinet pick to be confirmed. The development came just hours after Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the US.

At a confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, Haines pledged to keep politics out of intelligence.

"To be effective, the DNI must never shy away from speaking truth to power, especially when doing so may be inconvenient or difficult," she said in her opening statement.

She said that as DNI, she would prioritize crafting the US's response to China's aggression and preparing for the next pandemic.

"We should provide the necessary intelligence to support long-term bipartisan efforts to outcompete China - gaining and sharing insight into China's intentions and capabilities, while also supporting more immediate efforts to counter Beijing's unfair, illegal, aggressive, and coercive actions, as well as its human-rights violations, whenever we can," she said in her prepared remarks.

"At the same time, the DNI should see to it that the Intelligence Community's unique capabilities are brought to bear on the global COVID-19 crisis around the world, while also addressing the long-term challenge of future biological crises - enabling US global health leadership and positioning us to detect future outbreaks before they become pandemics," she added.

Story continues

Haines also committed to assisting with putting out a public assessment of the domestic threat that the far-right QAnon conspiracy theory poses. She added that she would release an unclassified public report about the killing of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Haines went on to outline three "institutional" priorities, according to CBS News: rebuilding trust in the US intelligence apparatus' rank and file, using the intelligence community's resources to fight both traditional and nontraditional threats, and strengthening partnerships in the private and public sectors.

Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton initially said he would hold up Haines' confirmation until he got a written answer from her regarding a question at the confirmation hearing about the CIA's "enhanced-interrogation" program that was carried out under the Bush administration.

On Wednesday evening, Cotton lifted the hold and cleared the way for her confirmation after receiving a response.

Haines will take the reins of the US intelligence apparatus as it recovers from a period of unprecedented politicization under former President Donald Trump. He installed a longtime loyalist, former Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe, as the director of national intelligence in the final year of his presidency.

Former President Donald Trump. Erin Schaff - Pool/Getty Images

While serving in that role, Ratcliffe made a number of controversial decisions regarding the declassification of sensitive intelligence related to Russia's interference in the 2016 US election and the FBI's investigation into the matter. Ratcliffe was widely criticized as weaponizing and selectively releasing intelligence to bolster Trump's false narrative that the Russia investigation was a "hoax" launched to undermine his presidency.

Ratcliffe also significantly curtailed his office's cooperation with Congress and stonewalled lawmakers on election-security briefings. Trump ousted Ratcliffe's predecessor, acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire, after Maguire authorized an aide to alert Congress about Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2020 election in Trump's favor.

Maguire also ignited the former president's fury when he testified to Congress about a whistleblower complaint revealing the details of a July 25, 2019, phone call in which Trump tried to convince Ukraine's president to launch bogus political investigations targeting Biden ahead of the November election.

That phone call and the events surrounding it later became the basis of Trump's first impeachment on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The former president also forced out his first director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, following a period of fraught tension because Coats publicly contradicted Trump's conspiracy theories about Russia and his views on North Korea and Iran.

Coats praised Haines at her confirmation hearing this week, telling lawmakers, "After several conversations with Avril, there is no doubt in my mind that President-elect Biden has chosen someone who has all the capabilities and qualities, experience, and leadership to be the next director of national intelligence."

But Haines has had some controversies of her own, chief among them being the role she played in overseeing the Obama administration's drone program that resulted in hundreds of civilian deaths.

As Insider's John Haltiwanger reported, Haines also drew criticism for her role in the CIA's use of torture; for redacting the Senate Intelligence Committee's bombshell report on the use of torture; and for green-lighting a panel that decided not to punish CIA employees who were accused of spying on the committee's investigators.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The inauguration of President Joe Biden marked the traditional transfer of power that has taken place every four years through two centuries of the nation's history. This year the day was far more than that, a moment both somber and hopeful in a country reeling from a pandemic and economic distress in a capital city locked down by threats of violence from far-right extremists.

For Biden, Wednesday's ceremonies represented the fulfillment of decades of personal ambition to serve as president. But if it was a day for him to celebrate that achievement, it was also a day to reckon with what the four years of Donald Trump's presidency have done to the country and the monumental task of repair and restoration that is now the new president's responsibility.

Biden ran for president with a pledge to rebuild a sense of normalcy after the chaos and divisiveness of the Trump presidency. But the shocking attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 underscored that a return to normalcy will require presidential resolve in the face of white supremacist threats to democracy as much as or more than customary calls for unity and bipartisan cooperation that long have been central to Biden's makeup.

The 46th president did not shrink from the duality of what he called this moment of "crisis and challenge," the urgency of confronting immediate problems that threaten people's health and welfare as well as the deeper, embedded problems of racial injustice and domestic terrorism by those who fear a changing America.

One measure of how much the attacks of two weeks ago could affect Biden's presidency was the degree to which he confronted those threats directly and repeatedly. "Here we stand," Biden said, "just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever."

Rarely has a nation needed the renewal that is promised with every inauguration. The absence of the president, who became the first in more than a century not to attend his successor's swearing-in, along with the tableau and pageantry on a socially distanced West Front of the Capitol, signaled an eagerness on the part of many, though not all, to move past the Trump years.

As expected, unity was Biden's principal theme. But there was nothing soft-edged about the meaning of his words. Instead the appeals for America to come together came with a rhetorical determination to confront the existential threats that rose up under Trump. Kate Masur, a historian and professor at Northwestern University, emailed during the speech that she was hearing echoes of Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address in 1861, a time when seven states already had seceded from the union and the nation was heading toward bloody war.

That Lincoln speech is often remembered for his appeals for unity, for his summoning up of America's "better angels," his invocation of the "mystic chords of memory" and his plea that the passions of the day not "break our bonds of affection." Much of the speech, however, was a condemnation of the secessionist movement and a steely promise to defend the Constitution and preserve the union.

"In some ways the combined force of right-wing authoritarian and white supremacist tendencies in the United States, plus the media climate and disinformation and people's suffering and resentments, combine to form a more existential threat than we've seen in a very long time," Masur said.

America is not at a point today that it was when Lincoln spoke weeks before the Civil War began, but the "uncivil war" that Biden described is a reminder that what exists today goes beyond familiar talk of political polarization or legislative gridlock to what could be the biggest long-term challenge of Biden's presidency - a country in which a minority of the people reject many truths, hold to Trump's words and, in the extreme, are prepared to fight.

No president in modern times, perhaps ever, has inherited the collective set of problems that greeted Biden as he took the oath of office on a clear and cold day, and in a few words he captured all that afflicts the country: "anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness."

In his inaugural address, Biden sought to follow the example of Franklin D. Roosevelt, who in 1933 during the depths of the Great Depression, said, "This nation asks for action, and action now." Biden said, "We will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair. Much to restore. Much to heal. Much to build. And much to gain. Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now."

Emblematic of that promise to move swiftly were the 17 executive orders awaiting Biden's signature after his swearing-in, with more to come in days ahead. More difficult than signing those orders will be showing that he has a strategy to slow the spread of the coronavirus and to produce and deliver vaccinations to enough people quickly enough to return the country to something resembling life before the virus arrived a year ago. How effective the American people judge that response to be will go far in coloring broader perceptions of Biden's leadership.

The new president also has outlined the $1.9 trillion package to deal with the coronavirus and provide economic assistance to struggling Americans, businesses and state and local governments, to be followed next month by a sizable economic recovery package. On these legislative priorities, he faces a stern test: Can he persuade Republicans to support the package - and how much is he prepared to compromise to win that support - or will he decide to stand his ground and turn to the budgetary process known as reconciliation to push it through with a simple majority vote of his own party?

In addition, there are his commitments to an ambitious strategy to combat climate change and the promise to redraw the nation's immigration system, including a path to citizenship for those here without documentation. And mindful of who helped to make him president, and the swearing-in of Kamala Harris as the first female, Black and South Asian vice president, he also noted that cries of racial justice "400 years in the making . . . will be deferred no more."

As he noted Wednesday, almost any of these individual challenges would consume a new administration. He does not have the luxury of ignoring any of them.

The desire for national renewal and rejuvenation also comes with demands for accountability - for those rioters who stormed the Capitol and for a president who, as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said, provoked the mob by feeding it lies. Trump's impeachment trial will hover over the early days of Biden's presidency, and while he will not be an active participant, it too will color attitudes of Americans about the state of the nation.

On the day the Capitol was overrun, Biden said the attack and the efforts to undermine the results of the election meant that work of the coming four years must be the restoration of democracy. Presidential historian Robert Dallek, noting the significance of the moment Biden assumed the presidency, said, "What helps him a lot is the villainy of Donald Trump and that Trump has fallen into a ditch. There is nothing like having a failed predecessor to give you a running start."

Timothy Snyder, a historian and Yale University professor, said that until the country is freed from the fear of mob rule in all its forms, whether from violence or intimidation or threats of either, the freedoms that all Americans take as part of the country's basic values will not exist.

Snyder called this a moment of possible restructuring over which Biden will preside.

"That's the only upside of Trump being president and a failed coup," he said. "It opens a window to do things that are more far-reaching. That window's going to be open, it's going to be open for a little while."

Biden said Wednesday's ceremonies symbolized not the triumph of a candidate but of the cause of democracy. But if democracy met the stress test between November and Inauguration Day, the system remains under duress. Biden's task, and that of the nation he seeks to unify, is to assure that the forces that threatened democracy are confronted and defeated.
Dr. Sohal, co-chair of the SWOG Cancer Research Network pancreatic cancer clinical trial. Credit: University of Cincinnati

A first-of-its-kind randomized clinical trial found that patients with pancreatic cancer didn't live any longer than expected after receiving pre-operative chemotherapy from either of the two standard regimens, according to trial results published in JAMA Oncology.

While the trial findings did not show a direct patient benefit, they do show that it's possible to safely administer chemotherapy prior to pancreatic cancer surgery. They also pave the way for better treatment testing for this notorious killer. With no symptoms in the early stages, and few effective therapies, pancreatic cancer is the fourth-most deadly cancer type in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, only 20 percent of pancreatic cancer patients are alive one year after diagnosis. After five years, only about 7 percent are alive.

Can these survival rates improve? Is one answer to give chemotherapy drugs to patients before their surgery? SWOG Cancer Research Network member Davendra Sohal, MD, MPH, and SWOG Surgery Committee Chair Syed Ahmad, MD, launched the trial, known as S1505, to find out. S1505 is the first trial to compare two common chemotherapy regimens for pancreatic cancer, and the first in the National Cancer Institute's National Clinical Trials Network to test chemotherapy prior to pancreatic cancer surgery.

When diagnosed, roughly 20 percent of pancreatic cancers are stage I or II, meaning they haven't spread to other parts of a patient's body and can be surgically removed. For patients with these early stage cancers, Dr. Sohal, an associate professor at the University of Cincinnati and a medical oncologist with UC Health, and Dr. Ahmad, co-director of the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, a professor and director of the Division of Surgical Oncology, and a UC Health surgeon, wanted to put to the test two chemotherapy regimens to see if one or both of the drug combinations would help patients live longer.

One regimen they tested is modified FOLFIRINOX, or mFOLFIRINOX, a combination of three chemotherapy drugsfluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin. The other regimen is a combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. Results of a practice-changing international trial, PRODIGE-24, were published in December 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine showing that pancreatic cancer patients saw a substantial benefit from six months of FOLFIRINOX treatment post-surgery, compared with post-surgery patients treated for six months with gemcitabine. An editorial written about the results, titled "A Glimmer of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer" asked: "Is surgery followed by six months of adjuvant chemotherapy the appropriate sequence in patients with a disease that may be systemic at diagnosis? Can we further improve outcomes by delivering modified FOLFIRINOX before surgery?" This is the question the investigators wanted to answer.

In S1505, they enrolled 102 eligible early stage pancreatic cancer patients. Each was randomly assigned to receive either the mFOLFIRINOX or the gemcitabine combination, both before and after surgery. Because some patients were too sick from pre-surgical chemotherapy or for other reasons, only 73 of the 102 eligible patients underwent surgery. Of those, 61 started and 48 completed chemotherapy.

The key findings:

Giving patients chemotherapy before surgery did not result in better survival rates, when compared with data from other pancreatic cancer trials testing upfront surgery

Both drug combinations performed about the same. Two-year overall survival for patients on the mFOLFIRINOX combination was 47 percent, while two-year overall survival for patients on the gemcitabine combination was 48 percent.

Pancreatic cancer patients can undergo chemotherapy and go on to have a successful surgery without significant post-operative complications. Surgical outcomes of S1505 were detailed in July 2020 in Annals of Surgery.

It is possible to conduct trials that can safely compare chemotherapy treatments given prior to pancreatic cancer surgery.

"This is the first time the two frontline chemotherapy regimens for pancreatic cancer have beentested in one study," Sohal said. "And while we didn't find a patient benefit from giving either of them prior to surgery, we did show that such a comparison can be done safely. Most of the patients who got the chemotherapy could go on to successfully have their surgery. So, in the end, we've created a clinical trial platform that can be used to test other pre-surgical chemotherapy treatments for pancreatic cancer."

In addition, by pre-treating a tumor prior to surgery, the S1505 team opened the door for pre- and post-surgical comparisons of tumor tissue in pancreatic cancer. Molecular testing of tumor tissue could reveal genetic and other cellular changes that might shed important light on the effects of chemotherapy drugs on early stage pancreatic cancer.

Explore further Chemotherapy prior to surgery may help outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer

Provided by SWOG
PHOENIX, Ore.  The herculean task of cleaning up debris left behind by the devastating Almeda and South Obenchain fires is now underway, more than four months after the early September fires leveled hundreds of homes and businesses.

Debris clean-up marks "step two" of the effort, which began with removal of hazardous waste in October. The first step meant removal of chemicals and other hazards. Though limited compared to the larger task of debris removal, crews still removed roughly 300,000 pounds of waste from damaged and destroyed properties.

Step two will result in a more noticeable change to the devastated areas left behind by the September fires. Crews will be hauling out heaps of ash and the twisted remains of structures, digging out concrete foundations, and cutting down trees left charred and dead.

Once this stage is done, property owners will be given a letter from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, clearing them to rebuild.

The clean-up operation begins at the ruins of several mobile home parks, like Bear Lake Estates in Phoenix, before moving on to burned neighborhoods.

While local estimates have not been forthcoming, Oregon officials say that this phase of clean-up will take between 6 and 18 months to complete for the entire state.

If you are a property owner with questions about the process, check out the Oregon website here for more information and important paperwork.
The United States (US) is in socio-economic and political turmoil again. The storming of Capitol Hill last week essentially corroborates it. It is crucial to examine what took the country to such a situation, shaming it in the global community.

Globalisation and economic uncertainty

A systemic analysis of these developments has to look into what has been going on in the US since 2000 which coincides with the entry of China into WTO and the unprecedented rise of China as a manufacturing hub as well as an economic superpower. Thus, markets across the globe, especially that of the US were flooded with cheap Chinese products and resultant damages to the domestic economies in the form of closure of domestic industries and job losses.

People, especially the white working class, were highly disillusioned and angry. Meanwhile, the US was hit with financial crises created by elites on Wall Street and the administration and these elites were rewarded in the form of bail-out packages at the cost of ordinary taxpayers.

Also Read: 'Why Indian flag?': Tricolour seen during US Capitol clashes, angers Indians

Naturally, people were angry with the economic and political elites due to such policy initiatives. The fierce attack on globalisation by Donald Trump on the one hand, and the embrace, as well as glorification of globalisation by Xi Jinping on various international platforms, echoes the sentiments in their respective domestic economies.

The Emergence of Donald Trump

The best time for a demagogue to hit the political landscape is when people are frustrated with the status quo and are looking for someone who promises to change it (or "drain the swamp" in Washington, according to Trump). The rise of conservative movements such as the Tea Party in 2009 is a good case in point that illustrates the flux in American society after the financial crisis and subsequent economic insecurity.

For instance, while describing itself, the Tea Party on its official website says: "As citizens became increasingly frustrated by "politics as usual," patriots across America began seeking a new voice, one echoing from the pages of history".

Also Read: US Capitol violence: Complaint filed in Delhi against Vincent Xavier who waved Indian flag

This is exactly what Donald Trump did and he plunged into this chaotic situation to tap the resentments of the people for his political power.

The polarisation of people along the lines of colour and creed has been used by Donald Trump as a political weapon. Thus, with Trump's four years in the White House, American society has allegedly undergone tremendous transformation in the worst possible direction.

Distrust among white and non-white communities and economic chaos, especially after COVID-19 has made matters much worse. In addition to all these strategies, the worst thing that Trump did to the US was undermining its democratic institutions, norms, and traditions. As mentioned above, to appease his vote bank, he has thrown several sacred norms and traditions to the wind.

The appointment of Amy Coney Barrett as a Supreme Court judge just before the election and pardoning of his friends and associates, such as Michael Flynn, prosecuted by federal agencies are some examples.

Thus, the US has been in socio-economic and political churning since 2000. All this can be traced back to the economic globalisation and emergence of an alternative superpower, China, to the US and the resultant economic mess in the latter and consequent social and political ramifications.

Also Read: 'Distressed' to see rioting in US Capitol, says PM Modi

Donald Trump has messed up the situation further through polarisation of people and undermining of norms, traditions, and institutions. This has created a social genie in the US and what we saw on Capitol Hill last week appears to be just the beginning as top intelligence agencies have already warned of a planned violent revolt across the country in the coming days.

Lesson for India

In the backdrop of farmers' protest, countries like India have a huge lesson to learn from the US. Socio-economic vulnerabilities of the people should be addressed expeditiously without leaving a chance for trouble makers to tap such uncertainties for their personal benefits. Legislations should not be carried out in haste, even in the name of reforms, without taking relevant stakeholders into confidence.

(Dr. Anvar Sadat is Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Central University of Kerala.)

(The views expressed are personal.)
Ben Affleck is tending to a broken heart after splitting with girlfriend of nearly one-year Ana de Armas earlier this month.

So the Berkeley-born actor, 48, comforted himself with some of his favorite food and drink on Thursday.

Opting for the convenience of delivery, Ben poked his head outside of his Brentwood home to grab his order of Dunkin' Donuts.

Treat yourself: Ben Affleck comforted himself with some Dunkin' Donuts on Thursday, looking a bit sad as he continued to cope with his breakup from Ana de Armas

The actor looked like he'd endured a few long nights, showing off a salt-and-pepper beard as he snagged his stuff.

He tossed on a comfortable and stylish look of grey denim and a smart-looking navy blue sweater.

Ben wore a serious look on his face, perhaps reminiscing about his romantic coffee strolls with his ex love Ana.

And just as quickly as he appeared, the star vanished behind his home's heavy door.

Grabbing the goods: The actor looked like he'd endured a few long nights, showing off a salt-and-pepper beard as he snagged his stuff

Memories: Ben wore a serious look on his face, perhaps reminiscing about his romantic coffee strolls with his ex love Ana

News that the couple split was reported Monday, with Affleck all but confirming the reports by throwing away de Arma's life-sized cardboard cut-out of her hours later.

But despite their romantic relationship ending - with the actress being the person calling it quits - the former flames 'still talk regularly,' People's source reported.

'Ben and Ana's friendship has not ended,' the insider revealed.

Since their split, the father of three has been spending time with his children 'a lot' and 'continues to work on himself,' the source said.

Friends: Despite their romantic relationship ending - with the actress being the person calling it quits - the former flames 'still talk regularly,' People 's source reported

Affleck has also been happy to have friends like Matt Damon supporting him amid these rough times.

The pair have been friends since childhood and rose to stardom together after both writing and starring in the Academy Award-winning movie Good Will Hunting.

And Ben recently opened up about working with his pal on Sir Ridley Scott's new historical drama The Last Duel.

He told his friend it was 'enriching' to work together while chatting during a joint Q&A for Affleck's movie The Way Back.

Longtime friends: Affleck has also been happy to have friends like Matt Damon supporting him amid these rough times. They're seen in during game five of the 2018 World Series above

The Boston-bred actor told Matt: 'Finishing up this movie for you, it's so much more enriching to be working together, to be working with someone I know and love, and the fact I want to see and spend time with and hang out with [you.]

'Realizing that time goes by and how you spend your day defines what your life is going to be, and the quality of that time, is really important. And it contributes, I think, to the quality of your work.'

Damon has been a rock for Affleck as he deals with his breakup.

He's been seen visiting Affleck at his home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles several times in past weeks.
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DUBLIN, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Rubber Gloves Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Material (Latex, Nitrile, Neoprene), by Type, by Product, by Distribution Channel, by End Use, by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2020-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global rubber gloves market size is expected to reach USD 22.1 billion by 2027. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 14.7% from 2020 to 2027.

Rising government expenditures towards the healthcare industry across countries including Germany, Italy, India, Australia, and the U.K., is expected to drive the market over the forecasted period.



The market is driven by rising adoption in industries such as automotive, oil and gas, construction, cleanroom, metal and machinery, and chemicals to prevent injuries at workplaces. This can be attributed to the presence of stringent regulations in various countries towards workers safety, such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and high costs associated with workplace hazards.



The demand for rubber gloves is expected to rise, with growing concentration of industry players associated with the food and beverages industry, such as bakeries, packaged foods, and restaurants, towards making their products free from direct touch. This can be attributed to growing consumers awareness towards hygiene level of foods, and prevent infections caused due to spoilage, and mishandling of foods.



The global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has resulted in increase in the demand for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as gloves, masks, face shields, and gowns. Governments across various countries across the world are collaborating with rubber gloves manufacturers, to maintain proper supply in the market, and prevent further transmission of the virus.



Rubber Gloves Market Report Highlights

Natural rubber accounted for 41.2% of the global revenue share in 2019, on account of wide usage in medical and food and beverage industries, and useful properties including high elasticity and chemical resistance.

The disposable product segment is estimated to witness a CAGR of 15.1% from 2020 to 2027, owing to its less cost and single use property that prevents transmission of pathogens from one patient to another during testing operations.

The powder-free type segment is estimated to witness a CAGR of 15.8% from 2020 to 2027, as they are ideal to be used in wet conditions and due to presence of strict mandates towards usage of powdered gloves, as they can cause skin allergies.

Europe accounted for revenue share of 34.8% in 2019, owing to high adoption rate in heavy duty industries, to prevent hand injuries and infection, and high demand in countries such as Italy , Ukraine , France , and Croatia , due to COVID-19 outbreak.

accounted for revenue share of 34.8% in 2019, owing to high adoption rate in heavy duty industries, to prevent hand injuries and infection, and high demand in countries such as , , , and , due to COVID-19 outbreak. Strategies adopted by market participants include supply chain development, collaborations, value chain integration, and distribution network expansion to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1. Methodology and Scope

1.1. Research Methodology

1.2. Research Scope and Assumptions

1.3. Information Procurement

1.4. Information Analysis

1.5. Market Formulation & Data Visualization

1.6. Data Validation & Publishing



Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Market Outlook

2.2. Segmental Outlook

2.3. Competitive Insights



Chapter 3. Market Variables, Trends, and Scope

3.1. Market Segmentation & Scope

3.2. Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping

3.3. Industry Value Chain Analysis

3.4. Regulatory Framework

3.5. Technology Framework

3.6. Rubber Gloves Market-Market Dynamics

3.6.1. Market Driver Analysis

3.6.2. Market Restraint Analysis

3.6.3. Industry Challenges

3.7. Business Environmental Tools Analysis: Rubber Gloves Market

3.7.1. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.7.2. PESTLE Analysis

3.7.3. Major Strategic Alliances

3.7.3.1. Mergers & Acquisitions

3.7.3.2. Joint Ventures



Chapter 4. COVID-19 Impact Analysis



Chapter 5. Rubber Gloves Market: Material Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1. Rubber Gloves Market: Material Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027

5.2. Natural Gloves/Latex

5.3. Nitrile

5.4. Neoprene



Chapter 6. Rubber Gloves Market: Distribution Channel Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1. Rubber Gloves Market: Distribution Channel Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027

6.2. Physical

6.3. Online



Chapter 7. Rubber Gloves Market: Type Estimates & Trend Analysis

7.1. Rubber Gloves Market: Type Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027

7.2. Powdered

7.3. Powder-Free



Chapter 8. Rubber Gloves Market: Product Estimates & Trend Analysis

8.1. Rubber Gloves Market: Product Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027

8.2. Disposable

8.3. Durable



Chapter 9. Rubber Gloves Market: End-use Estimates & Trend Analysis

9.1. Rubber Gloves Market: End-use Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027

9.2. Medical & Healthcare

9.3. Automotive

9.4. Oil & Gas

9.5. Food & Beverage

9.6. Metal & Machinery

9.7. Chemical & Petrochemical

9.8. Pharmaceutical

9.9. Cleanroom

9.10. Others



Chapter 10. Rubber Gloves Market: Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis

10.1. Regional Movement Analysis & Market Share, 2019 & 2027

10.2. Rubber Gloves Market: Regional Movement Analysis, 2019 & 2027



Chapter 11. Competitive Landscape

11.1. Key Global Players, Their Initiatives, & Its Impact on the Market

11.2. Key Company/Competition Categorization

11.3. Strategic Framework

11.4. Public Companies

11.5. Private Companies



Chapter 12. Company Profiles

Ansell Ltd.

Top Glove Corporation Bhd

Hartalega Holdings Berhad

Unigloves (UK) Limited

The Glove Company

MAPA Professional

Adenna LLC

MCR Safety

Atlantic Safety Products, Inc.

Globus (Shetland) Ltd

Supermax Corporation Berhad

Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd

Ammex Corporation

Kimberly-Clark Corporation

Sempermed USA , Inc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/i90w5f

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Opponents included District 17 Board Member Michael Danforth, whose area includes Island Lake, the Barrington area and Fox River Grove. He cited data that relates to those driving while intoxicated, particularly in Colorado, and emphasized that the federal government has not legalized marijuana sales. He also said he thought there is a distinct difference between marijuana and alcohol in terms of how its consumed.
Washington: In his first tweet after taking an oath of the office to become the nation's 46th commander in chief, US President Joe Biden said that there is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises America is facing.

"There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face. That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families," Biden tweeted from the @POTUS account.

There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face. That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.  President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2021

The account's bio reads: "46th President of the United States, husband to @FLOTUS, proud dad and pop".

The time to move forward is now. pic.twitter.com/IrUUu0bxGO  President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2021

"Now the real work begins, folks. Follow along at@POTUS as we build back better," Biden tweeted from his personal account after the inauguration.

Now the real work begins, folks. Follow along at @POTUS as we build back better. pic.twitter.com/fHViqSqwp2  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 20, 2021

Earlier today, Twitter officially turned over the institutional White House accounts to the Biden administration.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

President Biden will now have access to the @POTUS account and Vice President Harris will have @VP.

Biden took the oath of office on Wednesday. He was sworn in by Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts.

President Biden offered a forewarning during his inaugural address. He also talked about the importance of unifying the country, saying "my whole soul is in this."

"Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation," he said.

Kamala Harris made history as she was sworn in as the first woman, first Black and first Asian American Vice President of the United States. "Ready to serve," Kamala Harris said soon after she was sworn-in as Americas first woman Vice President.

"Ready to serve," she tweeted from her official Twitter account soon after the inauguration.

Ready to serve.  Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) January 20, 2021

"For the peoplealways," Harris tweeted from her personal account before the inauguration.

"Im here today because of the women who came before me," she said in another tweet along with a video which featured a number of Black women, including her Tamil mother.

Harris took over the office of the US Vice President from 61-year-old Mike Pence. Biden succeeded Donald Trump, 74.

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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
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Rohingya Muslims wait to cross the border to Bangladesh from a temporary camp outside Maungdaw, in Myanmars Rakhine state, Nov. 12, 2017.

Indonesia on Thursday emphasized the need for Myanmar to create safe conditions in Rakhine state for the return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, as Southeast Asian foreign ministers met and expressed support for the repatriation plan.

Meanwhile a regional parliamentarians group roundly criticized the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for pushing the return of the Rohingya refugees to a place that is completely unsafe.

Earlier this week, Bangladesh, too, urged Myanmar to improve the situation in northern Rakhine for the repatriation of the stateless Rohingya Muslim refugees, as the two nations discussed a tentative return starting in the second quarter of this year, during a meeting brokered by China.

Indonesia earnestly hopes that the Myanmar government can immediately create favorable conditions in Rakhine State so that repatriation can be done voluntarily, safely and in a dignified manner as soon as possible, Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi told a news conference on Thursday, after an online meeting of foreign ministers from the 10-member ASEAN bloc.

Most of the 1 million Rohingya who fled Myanmar live in 34 refugee camps in and around Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, including more than 740,000 who escaped a brutal crackdown in nearby Rakhine state in 2017.

Two earlier attempts to begin repatriation to Myanmar  in November 2018 and August 2019  failed, with Rohingya leaders saying at the time that refugees would not return until their safety, security and rights were guaranteed in that country.

In 2019, ASEAN drafted a preliminary needs assessment for repatriating the Rohingya refugees to Myanmar.

Indonesia emphasizes the importance of working harder so that the implementation of [a preliminary needs assessment] can be more intensified, Retno said.

During their virtual meeting hosted by Brunei on Thursday, ASEAN foreign ministers expressed support for the repatriation.

We welcomed the Government of Myanmars continued efforts in addressing the situation in the Rakhine State, including commencing the repatriation process in accordance with its bilateral agreements with Bangladesh, the ministers said in a joint statement.

Immediately after Thursdays meeting, there was no unilateral statement issued by the Myanmar government.

ASEANs same rhetoric and approach

Ahead of Thursdays meeting, the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) urged the regional bloc to take a tougher collective stance against Myanmar on the Rohingya issue.

Despite the deterioration of the situation in Rakhine over the past few years, ASEAN keeps responding time and again with the same rhetoric and approach, APHR chairman Charles Santiago said in a statement.

Now it is pushing the return of the Rohingya refugees to a place that is completely unsafe. Its time to take stock of what little progress ASEAN has achieved so far in resolving this crisis, and of Myanmars clear disregard for its calls.

APHR said intense fighting between Myanmars military and Arakan Army insurgents in Rakhine had resulted in a growing number of deaths and injuries over the past year, although a ceasefire has held since November.

Nearly four years since the Myanmar military committed atrocities in Rakhine State, the 600,000 Rohingya living there are still denied citizenship rights, freedom of movement, and basic rights, Santiago said.

Meanwhile, ASEAN continues to support discussions and initiatives on the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to Myanmar without consideration for their safety or addressing the severe restrictions they face in Rakhine.  If ASEAN does not start addressing the serious human rights concerns in Rakhine, its interventions will do more harm than good, Santiago added.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh and Myanmar resumed Beijing-brokered talks on Rohingya repatriation for the first time in a year.

Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters after the 90-minute virtual meeting that he urged the neighboring country to create conditions in which refugees would agree to return.

Today we again heavily emphasized on creating a conducive environment for Rohingya repatriation  The conducive environment is inextricably linked with voluntary repatriation, the Bangladeshi foreign secretary told reporters after the 90-minute virtual meeting.

A statement about the meeting issued by Naypyidaw claimed that Myanmar has made all necessary arrangements for the repatriation and reaffirmed Myanmars readiness to receive the verified displaced persons in line with the bilateral agreements.

Rohingya in Indonesia

In Indonesia, more than 11,000 Rohingya refugees have been sheltering in the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation since 2015, according to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry. Of them, nearly 400 Rohingya refugees landed in Indonesias Aceh province last June and September.

A researcher for Amnesty International in Indonesia, Ari Pramuditya, urged the Indonesian government not to rush into repatriating the Rohingya who were currently sheltering in Aceh province.

Repatriation must be carried out voluntarily. It cannot be done by force, Ari told BenarNews.

He warned that Indonesia would violate the international law principle of non-refoulement, which forbids a country from sending asylum seekers to a place where their lives could be in danger of persecution.

These things should be considered before the Indonesian government decides to repatriate refugees currently in Aceh, Ari said.

In September, at least three of 300 Rohingya migrants who landed in Aceh died after spending months at sea while on their way to Malaysia.

After Acehnese fishermen rescued them, some of the Rohingya told U.N. officials that they had agreed to pay thousands of dollars to smugglers to reach Malaysia, but wound up spending more than half a year at sea. At least 30 people died during the journey, the refugees said.

This month, authorities in Malaysia detained more than 30 Rohingya who entered the country illegally by boat from North Sumatra in Indonesia.

Many of the nearly 400 Rohingya refugees who landed in Indonesias Aceh province last June and September have family members in neighboring Malaysia, said Rima Shah Putra, of humanitarian group Geutanyoe Foundation.


Eleven international students have taken legal action against companies and a small community college in the central United States. A lawsuit by the students accuses the companies and college of human trafficking and involuntary servitude.

Nine students from Brazil and two from Chile filed the lawsuit earlier this week.

It claims that Western Iowa Tech Community College and J&L Staffing -- both in Sioux City, Iowa -- urged the students to come to the U.S. under a work- and study-based visa exchange program. The students, it says, were then forced into factory jobs that had no educational value and were unrelated to their fields of study.

The lawsuit states that the students were paid much less than American employees. And it says money was taken out of the students earnings to pay the college and the staffing company.

Civil rights lawyer Roxanne Conlin represents the students. She says the lawsuit seeks to demand that the college provide the students with an education, as promised.

The students were told they would be offered work experience in fields such as culinary arts and robotics, Conlin said. But they instead received jobs at two nearby factories: Royal Canin pet food plant and Tur-Pak foods, which puts together food products.

Royal Canin said in an email that it knew about the lawsuit but does not comment on active legal cases. J&L Staffing and Tur-Pak Foods did not answer messages seeking comment.

Conlin filed the lawsuit under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act; the Fair Labor Standards Act; and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. She also claims violations of the Iowa Wage Payment Collections Act.

Conlin is asking the court to stop the college and companies from taking part in the work-and-study J-1 visa program. She is also asking the court to provide the students with an education and pay them money for past and future mental and emotional harm.

The students were signed up for classes at the community college. But they were kept away from the general student population, the lawsuit says. They only took classes with other Brazilians and Chileans in the J-1 visa program. The lawsuit also says college officials controlled when and where the students could work and under what conditions.

A spokeswoman for the community college denied the claims. These accusations are completely untrue...and offensive. We look forward to defending the college and its employees in district court, said Andrea Rohlena, the college's director of marketing.

It is the second lawsuit against the community college and the companies. The first was filed in November and involved eight students from Chile.

The community college began its J-1 program in early 2019. By November of that year, the school was under investigation after an anonymous report was filed.

In January 2020, the college released a statement saying it had learned students in the program were unhappy. The school blamed a failure to clarify expectations and a breakdown in communication for some of the problems.

The community college ended the program in March 2020. It said it did so because of the coronavirus pandemic. The college said it bought airplane tickets for the students to return home. But many have chosen to stay in the United States, including the students Conlin represents.

Im Jonathan Evans.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

servitude  n. the condition of being a slave or of having to obey another person

staffing  n. a group of people who work for an organization or business

culinary  adj. used in or relating to cooking

pet  n. a tame animal kept as a companion rather than for work

anonymous  adj. not named or identified

clarify  v. to make (something) easier to understand

GREENVILLE, N.C., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyster Company announces a new lift truck designed to answer the call for high-density, high-throughput warehouse environments. Available in 3,000- to 4,500-pound load capacities and single or double reach capabilities, the Hyster N30-45ZR/ZDR narrow aisle reach truck delivers reduced energy consumption and faster cycle times to help warehouses move large inventories efficiently.

"Warehouse operations are constantly pushed to do more than they thought humanly possible," says Jennifer Meyers, Brand Manager, Hyster Company. "The new Hyster reach truck is the solution they need to keep up with growing order volumes while protecting profits."

Faster cycle times  Industry leading lift and lower speeds enable the Hyster reach truck to move an extra pallet per hour compared to leading competitors according to a field study  increasing productivity by as much as 7% per truck, per shift.



 Industry leading lift and lower speeds enable the Hyster reach truck to move an extra pallet per hour compared to leading competitors according to a field study  increasing productivity by as much as 7% per truck, per shift. Greater energy efficiency  The same study revealed the Hyster reach truck uses up to 20% less energy over the same duty cycle compared to competitive offerings, reducing energy costs and charging frequency for more time moving product and less time idle at the charging station.



 The same study revealed the Hyster reach truck uses up to 20% less energy over the same duty cycle compared to competitive offerings, reducing energy costs and charging frequency for more time moving product and less time idle at the charging station. Simple, cost-effective service  Reduced scheduled maintenance compared to leading competitors can save up to $2,500 per truck per year, based on expected technician labor rates. No tools are required to access traction and hydraulic motors, and mast wear plugs enable adjustment without shims, gauges or disassembly, for faster maintenance and adjustment when service is necessary.

A deep lineup of industry exclusive features helps operators fight fatigue and work efficiently all shift long. Hyster Intelligent Ride is a suspended floor system that reduces up to 60% of shocks and vibrations transmitted to the operator, compared to a conventional mat. The exclusive operator sensing system incorporates a pedal-free design for maximum freedom to adjust stance for lasting comfort. Fore and aft stance with automotive steering in both directions offers natural steering familiarity that can help train new operators faster and improve performance. A wide mast opening, lowered reach mechanism, lowered front frame profile and notched load backrest all add up to 33% greater visibility through the mast compared to leading competitors.

To access images, click here.

About Hyster Company

Hyster Company is a leading world-wide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 lift truck models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with one of the widest capacity ranges in the industry  from 2,000 to 105,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry's largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features, accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support.

Hyster Company is a division of Hyster-Yale Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE: HY). Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employ more than 7,600 people world-wide.

# # #

Company Contact:

Jeremy Cayton

Hyster Company

252-329-7553

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Dan Gauss

Koroberi

336-409-5391

[email protected]

SOURCE Hyster Company

Related Links

http://www.hyster.com/


Cheshire, School Officials Squabble Over School Building Lease

CHESHIRE, Mass.  The town will update its lease agreement with the Hoosac Valley Regional School District for the use of Cheshire School.

The town and school district agreed to collaborate on updating the lease agreement Tuesday and after an, at times, contentious discussion the Board of Selectmen agreed to allow the district to continue using the library space in the interim while the inconsistent lease is sorted out.

"I think if we just add and subtract some things," Selectman Mark Biagini said. "I think we just have to clean it up, and I don't think we have to draw up a whole new contract."

The issue came up late in 2020 when Selectman Robert Ciskowski shared his concern over a trash roll-off outside of the library. He thought the district was tossing out town-owned property and overstepping the footprint of the lease.

Superintendent Aaron Dean, who attended the meeting remotely, clarified that the space is temporary for teachers who need a better internet connection during remote learning. He said if it is an issue to use this space, the district will simply find another area in their footprint.

As for the materials, anything of value was dispersed to Adams and Cheshire libraries, and anything left was broken or of little value, he said. Dean said the district was throwing out outdated books, old rugs, and broken furniture.

The library was not part of the lease agreement for the district's central office functions, but Dean said he was given the go-ahead by the former town administrator, Edmund St. John IV, to use the space.

Knowing this, the town proposed increasing the rent by 25 percent, proportionally to the added space. This was a preliminary discussion between interim Town Administrator Mark Webber, Chairwoman Michelle Francesconi, and district officials.

The lease currently is $10,000.

The school district's Business Manager Erika Snyder was also on the call and questioned an increase when resources have been taken away from the district since the Youth Center had moved into the former school. She said the district had access to five bathrooms and now only has one that is in questionable condition.

She added that there have been heating issues, and the district went an entire winter without heat or hot water.

"I think we have endured a lot without asking for much in return," she said. "We have been trying to be good tenants ... so it is a surprise when we have gotten less and we somehow have to pay more, especially when it is a shared space."

Dean said the district has tried to be a good neighbor and knew the district wanted to move it offices into the former school to provide Cheshire with some revenue to offset the fixed costs of maintaining the building. He said the Central Office's use of the building also bettered the town's insurance situation.

He added that it also provides the very internet being used during the remote meeting and have made infrastructure improvements. The Selectmen have been holding meetings in the same room as the School Committee.

"We are trying to be good partners and do things in kind in the spaces that we share," he said.

Snyder said any increase in rent would ultimately just take away from the education side of the budget.

"This was a reasonable number at the time. It is what the district could afford," she said. "Every cent we put into a noneducation expense is something that takes away from an educational expense."

The discussion was then opened up to the selectmen and Ciskowski bluntly told the district to get out if they didn't like the building.

"If the conditions are that bad at the discounted rate per square foot that you are paying I would recommend that maybe the district office might want to exercise its option to give us a 60 days written notice and find better quarters," he said.

Chairwoman Michelle Francesconi said this was not the opinion of the select board and did not think it was proper for Ciskowski to essentially tell the district to vacate the building.

Ciskowski alleged that Francesconi was overstepping her role as chair and was taken aback after hearing she had preliminary discussions with the school district about a rent increase.

"You like to be a jury, judge, and executioner around everything. Why don't you let the board be involved in some things?" he asked. "I think we are falling into that trap that we had with the previous town administrator."

Francesconi said many of the town duties had fallen on her during the period when there was no town administrator. She said she would not apologize for stepping up in a time of need.

"There were definitely conversations that had to be had outside of the board that I had and it is what it is," she said. "There was a heck of a lot of work that had to happen behind the scenes, and I will stand by that every step of the way ... I won't back down standing up for myself because that work had to be done and somebody had to do it."

The conversation then moved to St. John IV, who resigned last month, and Ciskowski said he thought St. John overstepped his authority by giving Dean the go-ahead. He told Dean that Cheshire was not like Adams and the town administrator had much less power in Cheshire.

Dean said St. John had been the in-between for the School Committee and the select board, and he told Ciskowski if had so many questions he should have reached out instead of airing grievances during a public meeting.

"There are many times you have walked by on your way to a meeting. You haven't picked up your phone to have a conversation with me," Dean said. "You haven't asked a question. You are throwing stones from over there, but I am right here in Cheshire."

Snyder said the lease agreement in general was inconsistent. She specifically cited contradictions in regard to utilities and custodial services. She said she has made attempts in the past to sort out the agreement with the former town administrator.

There were questions on whether or not the School Committee even signed a more recent agreement. There was an email chain with the former town administrator, but Snyder could not call up a signed document.

Both the Selectmen and the district officials questioned the legitimacy of the lease and all parties agreed it was a good idea to sort it out.

"I don't know where we stand," Ciskowski said. " It was sloppy on both sides."

Francesconi felt that a wide-open discussion, such as the one they were having, was not productive, and it would be better for the district and interim Town Administrator Mark Webber to draft an updated agreement for the board and School Committee review.

Dean said he would have the district counsel update the lease and submit it to the town in two weeks.

The board members agreed to let the district continue to use the space. They also agreed to allow it to continue to clean the former library. Questionable materials would be put aside instead of being thrown out. Francesconi said the space is scheduled for a deep clean so there was no reason to halt the cleanup.
The adherence to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) safety protocol was a challenge at some basic schools when pupils resumed studies on Monday.



Some pupils were not in nose masks and some schools could not ensure social distancing in their classrooms due to limited space and furniture.



There were complaints of delays in the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), although these schools had been fumigated.



The re-opening of schools after about 10 months of closure as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus followed a directive by the government last week.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who gave the green light tasked all school authorities to enforce the necessary safety protocols.



JEMIMA ESINAM KUATSINU reports that to decongest pupils and teachers in Tesano, Apenkwa and Fadama cluster of schools in the Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly, more than 2,000 pupils were relocated to each of the Millennium school buildings on their respective compounds.



Although the buildings were yet to have some secondary features fixed, the relocation was a relief for the pupils and teachers who had endured overcrowding among other inconveniences since 2017, due to delays in the official handing over of the facilities.



When the Ghanaian Timesvisited the Millennium School at the Tesano Cluster of schools, it observed that there wereno blackboards fittedin some of the classrooms andsome doors were now being fixed.



Also, rails meant to prevent the pupils from falling from the two-storey building were yet to be fixed thereby exposing themto danger.



Veronica buckets were positioned at the entrance of the schools for hand washing, but not all pupils were spotted in nose masks while social distancing was not being adhered to in some of the classrooms.



The Director of Education at the Municipal Education Directorate, Mrs Cynthia Aboni said the schools were ready for academic work despite the challenges encountered in some of the schools in the municipality.



On the danger at the Tesano Cluster of schools, she advised the school authorities to use only the ground floor as workers race to complete work on two upper floors.



Philomina Oppong and Ophelia Twum report from the Christ the King International School that the authorities had mounted five Veronica buckets at the entrance of the school for the washing of hands, and placed sanitisers at vantage points.



The Headmistress, Mrs Veronica Laryea, told the reporters that arrangements were being made to provide each class with a thermometer to help check the temperature of every student each morning.



At the moment, we have limited thermometers that are being used in checking the temperature of the students and this is a challenge because there are long queues at the entrance, she stated.



Mrs Laryea said the school was running a one-week-in, one-week-out shift system for primary pupils and full semester for Junior High School (JHS) since the school had enough space to accommodate the JHS pupils.



The school has decided to have a four-hour class for kindergarten and the students from Primary One through to JHS Three will close at two oclock in the afternoon. This will enable us catch up with lessons from the previous terms, she pointed out.



Mrs Laryea said there has been a provision of an isolation centre for students whose temperature was abnormal and also provide first aid to students in case of any emergency.



Geoffrey Buta reports that many pupils in Jeninso, Mpatua, Teterem, Menyia and Ahrewera in Amansie West District in the Ashanti Region did not adhere to the COVID-19 safety measures.



Some parents who spoke to the Ghanaian Times, said they did not have enough money to buy face mask for their children while others were of the view that the virus was non-existent in the community hence no cause for alarm.



Mrs Ama Konadu, a parent, said despite the fact that they were afraid of the virus, the children also needed to get back to school to study.



Because the children have stayed home for long, they are gradually losing interest in education, which was likely to affect them in the future, she added.



Mr Kwame Frimpong, executive member of the Parent Teacher Association of Jeninso Akataniase Roman Catholic Primary and Junior High school said, the school would adhere to all precautionary measures in order for the children to stay safe whilst learning.



He also urged parents to provide reusable face masks for their children and urged the government to provide sanitisers and hand washing basins for the children to wash their hands regularly.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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
NAPLES - Youth unemployment in Gaza, at 61%, stands at an alarming rate in an area that also has the lowest female employment in the entire area of North Africa and the Middle East.



The World Bank started from this figure to tell the story of Bassma Ali, who, with her business partner Rasha Abu Safieh, founded the first female-headed technology firm in Gaza, called G-Gateway, specialised in supporting women who are looking for jobs and to support their families.



Since the start of the pandemic, Ali's firm has worked towards providing flexible jobs for women and creating digital training opportunities.



This double-pronged approach has enabled around 262 unemployed women to work or finish training in a sector to be ready for the work world.



Remote working has also helped close the digital gap for many women in Gaza.



As of now, G-Gateway has trained over 1,000 graduates in digital technologies, creating 150 jobs through its information and communications technology (ICT) outsourcing business services, as well as enabled more than 1,000 short-term employment opportunities through remote working.



The majority of these workers are women, who are using these opportunities to sustain their income, according to Ali.



The Palestinian company is one of seven winners from among 2,400 applicants to the World Bank Group's annual SDGs&Her competition between companies that supports women entrepreneurs around the world, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Wharton School Zicklin Center in Pennsylvania.



The support is part of a substantial $160 billion financing package the World Bank deployed to support businesses as well as the health and social crisis due to the pandemic.



The Gaza firm is important, as Ali realized the male-dominated workplace there made it difficult for women in IT to get a job.



"The unemployment problem was chronic," said Ali.



"I spotted an opportunity, by tapping digital work in the freelancing and outsourcing industries. The ICT sector is less vulnerable during crises because it is always in demand and can work across borders," she said. She explained how gender differences weigh heavily in Gaza.



"The cost of electricity is higher during the day, and so many small businesses that can't afford to run generators ask employees to work during the night. But women are not allowed to stay away from home at night, so they have a competitive gap with men," she said.



The increase in remote working, however, has allowed women to organize from home, which is why G-Gateway provides women with computers and also pays for electricity if needed for working.



"Working from home has made women more visible in the workforce and this pushes us in our goal, to put young people in control of their destiny, empowered to change the world for the better," Ali said.



"The digital space is now the best place to create change beyond all the impossibility that we face in Gaza every day with the pandemic beyond the usual difficulties," she said.
The fully launched MAH and priority review pathways from the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) is stimulating new demand in China for 2021.

SHANGHAI, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The recently hosted CPhI & P-MEC China 2020 -- organized by Informa Markets and CCCMHPIE and co-organized by Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd. -- attracted a remarkable 46,157 visits of professional pharma visitors, including 5,105 international attendees taking part online.

The hybrid event has helped stimulate renewed growth and partnerships across the pharma supply chain, with the pharma industry looking well positioned for 2021. It also provided a welcome glimpse of how returning international pharma events will encourage a boom for the global industry in 2021.

With 2020 seeing the majority of global pharma events postponed, there was a huge interest in exhibiting, learning and connecting at large scale event providing covid-secure standards. The ingredients, machinery and manufacturing sectors reported particularly robust attendance - with full implementation of the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) system, coupled with priority review pathways from the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) driving much new demand.

In fact, 2,958 companies from the pharma supply chain attended - including Pfizer, Sanofi, Capsugel, DuPont, Merck, BASF, Fosun Pharma, Hengrui Medicine, Yangtze River Pharmaceutical and Fette - as well as more than 90 providers of medical supplies for pandemic prevention at the newly launched MSE (Medical Supplies Expo) China.

Another key goal of the event was to enhance industry learning, and CPhI & P-MEC China hosted more than 80 professional conferences, Innovation Galleries and Tours, and even factory visits. Empowering new partnering, the 10th Buyers Sourcing Event attracted more than 100 buyers, delivering hundreds of meetings.

Finally, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of CPhI China, the organizing committee awarded a "CPhI China 20th Anniversary Founding Exhibitor Award" and "P-MEC China 15th Anniversary Founding Exhibitor Award" on the opening day at the CPhI China 20th anniversary reception.

For international online attendees, the event teamed up with PharmaSources.com to launch the Virtual Expo Connect (VEC), which ran for a full month in December and connected pharma in China with overseas customers.

The VEC provided access to eight features including the Digital Showroom, Online Matchmaking, Hosted Buyer Video Meeting, Exhibitors' Talk, Conference Webcasts, Guided Tours, VR Show, and Onsite Digital Center. Emphasising the global interest in China, especially in a period of restricted international travel, 5,105 registered users took part. These included 529 buyers from Europe, America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, who attended a total of 575 trade meetings online.

"It was a tremendously successful event for pharma and an encouraging piece of news to start the year with, providing a window into what the post-pandemic exhibition environment can return to. 2021 promises to be a celebration of the pharma industry with vaccine distribution now underway and we look forward to helping the industry meet both online and in person so it can continue its work in discovering and delivering vital therapies to patients," commented Laura Murina, Brand Manager, Informa.

CPhI & P-MEC China 2021 will return to SNIEC (from Dec. 16 to 18, 2021) with a comprehensive online and offline offering -- providing access to vital connections in person and through enhanced digital pharma platforms.

Media contact:

Ms. Yingqi Shi

T: +86 21 33392421

E: Yingqi.Shi@imsinoexpo.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423512/WYF06113.jpg

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The head of an Emirati investment group negotiating with neobank Xinja has cast doubt over a $433 million lifeline payment publicised by the fallen fintech, claiming it never agreed to inject that amount of money into the startup.

Xinja announced in March last year it had secured $433 million  "the largest single investment in an Australian neobank or start-up" from Dubai-based World Investments that would be transferred in instalments over a two-year period.

Xinja used colourful logos and informal language to appeal to millennials. Credit:

However, the money never materialised and last month Xinja abruptly announced it would cease to offer banking services and hand back customer deposits after a lack of capital meant it could no longer operate legally.

In a series of phone calls with The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, World Investments chief executive Zayed Bin Aweidha said no deal for the figures reported by Xinja had been signed.
Herreid Legion to remember 400 Campbell County area veterans Monday

The Herreid American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion work together to recognize veterans on Memorial Day.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Legal Aid Society on Thursday denounced the Staten Island district attorneys use of a controversial facial-recognition program, contending it infringes on civil liberties, particularly in communities of color, as well as on activists.

The facial-recognition technology developed by Clearview AI allows users to upload a photo of an unidentified person and search for potential matches from its massive database.

The database consists of over three billion images culled from YouTube, Facebook, Venmo and millions of other web sites, as opposed to photos scoured merely from traditional governmental sources such as drivers licenses and mug shots.

Critics contend Clearview AI treads on basic privacy and civil rights by collecting and storing data on individuals without their knowledge or consent.

The relationship between the Staten Island D.A.s office and Clearview, a for-profit company whose softwares bias and unreliability has been the subject of criticism, is deeply troubling, said Diane Akerman, staff attorney with Legal Aids Digital Forensics Unit, in a statement.

Use of the technology threatens to increase surveillance of historically over-policed communities  communities of color, Black and brown communities, and activists  who have long disproportionately shouldered the harmful effects of surveillance by law enforcement, Akerman said.

Critics warn the technology can potentially result in prosecution based on misidentification.

Legal Aid, she said, is calling on District Attorney Michael E. McMahon to disclose how his office has used Clearview AI on unsuspecting Staten Islanders and to cease any current use of facial-surveillance technology.

Legal Aid is a public defenders organization.

FOIL DOCUMENTS

According to documents obtained by Legal Aid through the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), the D.A.s office signed a one-year contract with Clearview AI in May 2019 to use the facial-recognition technology. The cost was $10,000.

The software is an investigative tool that uses image-search technology across publicly displayed social media platforms to assist law enforcement in identifying or locating perpetrators and victims of crime, the D.A.s office stated in a usage-guidance document obtained through the FOIL request.

The technology may also be used to exonerate the innocent or develop leads in cold-case matters, said the D.A.s guidelines.

At the time, 11 individuals in the office  detective investigators, criminal analysts and computer programmers  were listed as users of the software.

In a statement, McMahon said his investigators use the best technology safely and responsibly to aid crime victims and help solve crimes.

As such, we take our obligation to protect the public very seriously, and strict protocols are followed by my office to ensure privacy and civil rights are not violated when using new investigative methods and technology, said McMahon.

While facial-recognition software is a useful tool still used at times by my office, it is certainly not the only resource we depend on to investigate and prosecute crime, said McMahon. Further, any suggestion that cases are prosecuted based only on the use of this software and without any other evidence is an entirely wrong and misleading statement.

In light of the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. two weeks ago, and the widespread arrests that quickly followed, McMahon said he believes every American can see how such technology can be an effective tool for law enforcement when used properly and safely.

Legal Aid contends the D.A.s internal protocols didnt limit Clearviews use to specific cases. That means the software could have been used on the most minor of charges, Legal Aid maintains.

McMahon is the only prosecutor in the city known to have contracted with Clearview AI, according to Legal Aid.

HOW IT WORKS

On its Web site, Clearview AI says the companys technology is not a surveillance system and only searches the open Web. It does not and cannot search any private or protected information, including private social media accounts, the web site said.

Critics, however, worry about a lack of scrutiny and oversight in the use of facial-recognition technology.

Last May, BuzzFeed News reported that Clearview AI was terminating its accounts for clients not associated with law enforcement or government departments and agencies.

Numerous private companies such as Bank of America, Macys, Walmart and Target had used Clearviews service, the report said.

Many jurisdictions remain wary of the technology and the potential for misidentification.

Boston, Portland and San Francisco are among those who have banned law enforcements use of facial-recognition technology, the Gothamist reported.

New Jerseys attorney general has ordered all police departments in the state to stop using Clearview AIs program, the report said.

Legal Aid believes the Staten Island D.A.s offices use of the technology has generated materials subject to pretrial discovery. Such information, however, has not been turned over to the defense, Legal Aid said.

In response to a FOIL request, Legal Aid said the D.A.s office refused to provide copies of facial recognition searches run through the Clearview AI program.

To disclose such records would constitute an unreasonable invasion of personal privacy, the D.A. replied, according to a Legal Aid spokesman.

In addition, the D.A.s office said it could not locate any Clearview contract documents after May 2019, the spokesman said.

Akerman urged lawmakers to pass pending legislation prohibiting the use of facial recognition and other biometric surveillance technology.

Mark J. Fonte, a St. George-based criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor, said the use of facial-recognition technology sits on a slippery slope.

As a society we are experiencing the steady erosion of our right to privacy, said Fonte. There must be a distinction between voluntarily giving the government your likeness as opposed to unknowingly having your likeness captured through technology. There is a difference between posing for a drivers license photo as opposed to posting a picture on social media from the privacy of your home.

He added: Although our current district attorney is professional and will undoubtedly wield this technology responsibly, he will not be in office forever. This technology in the hands of an overzealous prosecutor is terrifying. Limits and controls must be in place as guardrails to prevent its abuse and limit the intrusion into citizens privacy rights.
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Groundhog Day tradition continues at the Staten Island Zoo despite the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Zoo announced Thursday that its annual Groundhog Day festivities will be streamed virtually this year. Unlike years past, visitors will not be allowed to attend the event due to the pandemic.

We are sure that Chucks legion of fans will understand this is the right thing to do, Ken Mitchell, executive director of the Staten Island Zoo, said in a release. We want people to watch Chuck from the safety of their homes and offices. Lets all hope Chuck predicts an early Spring  we sure can use it!

The Zoo, located at 614 Broadway in West Brighton, will stream its Groundhog Day event on Facebook Live beginning at 7:45 a.m. Feb. 2. Chuck will officially emerge from his burrow at 8 a.m.

The prediction will be announced by a representative of Investors Bank, which is the events annual sponsor. To watch the live event, visit the Staten Island Zoos Facebook page.

HOW IT BEGAN

The Groundhog Day tradition can be traced to Candlemas, an early Christian holiday where candles were blessed and distributed. Those who celebrated Candlemas decided that clear skies on the holiday meant a longer winter.

The Germans eventually began to believe that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, a hedgehog would cast a shadow  predicting six more weeks of harsh winter weather. And it was the Germans who brought this belief to the United States.

When German immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania, they found a large number of groundhogs. And they tasked the groundhog, which resembles the European hedgehog, with the job of predicting the weather.

The holiday started with the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, founded in Punxsutawney, Pa., in 1887. The editor of the Punxsutawney newspaper was a member of the club, and he claimed that Punxsutawney Phil was the only true weather-predicting groundhog.

Today, tens of thousands travel to Gobblers Knob annually for Phils prediction. A smaller  but still passionate  crowd typically attends Staten Island Chucks event at the Staten Island Zoo.

Chuck has been making his prediction since 1981  and some years have been more eventful than others. In 2009, Chuck bit then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg. And, in 2014, Chuck was dropped by Mayor Bill de Blasio. That groundhog, which was actually a female stand-in named Charlotte, died several days later.

Chuck has proved a particularly prolific prognosticator in recent years, having made an incorrect prediction only once since 2010.
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 "Neither Justice Nor Treatment: Drug Courts in the United States" | Main | Alabama carries out second execution in as many weeks using midazolam as first lethal injection drug 

June 8, 2017

Noticing that the Trump DOJ budget predicts a 2% growth in the federal prison population in fiscal year 2018

The Wall Street Journal has this new article noting that the Trump Administration is already making plans for an increased federal prison population. The article is headlined "Federal Prison Population Expected to Grow Under Trump: Increase is anticipated in prosecutions of illegal immigrants, drug offenders." Here is how it gets started:

The federal prison population is expected to grow next year by 4,171 to a total of 191,493 as the Trump administration steps up prosecutions of illegal immigrants and drug offenders, reversing the trend toward a smaller prison population under former President Barack Obama. That estimate of 2% growth in fiscal 2018 was tucked into in a Justice Department budget proposal posted online after the Trump administration's broader spending plan was released two weeks ago. The proposed budget also calls for 300 new federal prosecutors and 75 new immigration judges.

June 8, 2017 at 10:45 PM | Permalink

Comments

But Trump hasnt replaced the multitude that hes fired, so for now this is more hot air.

Posted by: MidWestGuy | Jun 8, 2017 11:54:22 PM

This states that it is just the Dept of Justice. There will be additional growth of incarceration within Homeland Security as ICE also detains more immigrants.

While the rhetoric has been about focusing on violent criminal immigrants, the US recently deported someone whose crime was a DUI 14 years ago. He's a business owner, lets the USDA do some experiments om his land and is supporting his three kids. He has paperwork in to get legal status, but ICE is deporting him - and under the rules he cannot reenter the country for 10 years.

A Judge who agreed the court did not have the power to spot the deportation nevertheless wrote to explain the injustice of the situation

https://takecareblog.com/blog/a-deportation-that-diminishes-not-only-our-country-but-our-courts

"We are unable to prevent Magana Ortizs removal, yet it is contrary to the values of this nation and its legal system. Indeed, the governments decision to remove Magana Ortiz diminishes not only our country but our courts, which are supposedly dedicated to the pursuit of justice. Magana Ortiz and his family are in truth not the only victims. Among the others are judges who, forced to participate in such inhumane acts, suffer a loss of dignity and humanity as well. I concur as a judge, but as a citizen I do not."

Posted by: Paul | Jun 9, 2017 10:12:35 AM

The obvious assumption is this is about drugs, but it would be interesting if DOJ started seeking longer sentences for illegal reentry offenders. I doubt judges would go along for the most part, but it seems like the administration should at least discontinue fast track if it wants to put its money where its mouth is.

Posted by: Jay | Jun 9, 2017 1:58:44 PM

Post a comment
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 00:45:39|Editor: huaxia

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JINAN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Rescuers said Wednesday that the previously comatose miner no longer showed any vital signs, as the rescue mission continued for the 21 other workers trapped in a gold mine in east China.

Twenty-two miners have been trapped about 600 meters underground following a mine blast on Jan. 10 in Qixia under the city of Yantai, Shandong Province. Twelve of them were found alive on Sunday through a drilled channel, though one later lost contact, and rescuers are still working to save them.

The rescue headquarters at the site said the dead miner suffered severe head injuries during the explosion and later fell into a coma. Medical personnel managed to deliver medicines to other miners and instructed them to offer treatment, but his condition did not improve.

Among the other ten workers in contact with rescuers, eight were reportedly in good condition, and two were slightly indisposed.

Rescuers have used a narrow channel for food and medicine deliveries to the miners, and a wired telephone was also installed underground through the channel. As Wednesday marked the Laba Festival, considered a prelude to the Chinese Lunar New Year, rescuers delivered specially made congee, representing the Laba Congee, to the miners.

They had also been lowering life detectors and nutrient solutions to other sections to locate the other missing miners but continued to receive no life signs. Enditem
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress party is preparing to distribute nearly 10 lakh calendars of party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra across each and every village and city of the BJP-ruled state.

According to the party sources, the calendars being published by the party encapsulates Priyanka Gandhis journey since she has plunged into active politics. The 12-page tabletop calendar, which will carry a photograph of Priyanka on every page, will also reflect the compassionate side of the Congress politician, who is the daughter of interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and sister of party MP Rahul Gandhi.

The party has instructed its state-level leaders, office-bearers and workers at the grassroot level to distribute these calendars on Priyanka to each and every village and ward of the cities. These calendars will be given to each district and city committee for distribution.

In those photographs, Priyanka can be seen interacting with tribal women in Sonbhadra, meeting women in Amethi, praying at the famous Mahakaal temple in Ujjain, participating in the Gandhi Jayanti function in Lucknow, attending the Ravidas Jayanti in Varanasi, meeting the family of the Hathras gang-rape victim, addressing an election rally, meeting children in Azamgarh and participating in a roadshow in Haryana.

In some other photographs, Priyanka can be seen trying to save party workers from police lathi-charge while going to Hathras to meet the gang-rape victim.

The calendar will also depict Priyanka Gandhis notable works in Amethi, Rae Bareli, Haryana, Jharkhand etc. In some photos, Priyanka's struggle against the Narendra Modi regime during the anti-CAA protests in Azamgarh and other districts of the state will also be depicted.

Sources further claimed that the party is carrying out the exercise to promote the party under the leadership of Priyanka and project her as the main face of the party before the next Assembly elections in UP in 2022.

The calendar, according to sources, will seek to project Priyanka as the party's Chief Ministerial candidate in order to propel Congress into the political centre stage in UP.

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The government is intending to override a well-established norm that laws for minority communities must be enacted after holding discussions with community leaders/representatives, legal experts, and other stakeholders, and after striving to reach a consensus, by tabling the bill to criminalise triple talaq. Behind this hasty move is the formulation that the Muslim woman must invariably be projected as devoid of rights and lacking agency, and the Muslim male as premodern, lustful, polygamous, and barbaric.

The bill to criminalise triple talaq was tabled in Parliament on 28 Decemeber 2017 and it was clear that the government had moved in great haste to formulate it. While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants the bill to be passed in the Rajya Sabha so as to claim the credit for ensuring Muslim women their rights, the opposition parties have protested the penal provision in it, arguing that triple talaq is a civil matter and should not be turned into a criminal offence.

There is no doubt that Parliament has the legislative competency to enact a law regulating marriages and divorces of minority communities. The Narendra Modi government, which has an overwhelming majority in the Lok Sabha, also has the required numbers to pass the legislation. However, the ethical issue involved here is whether this Parliamentwhich has the least representation of Muslimshas the moral authority to enact a law without a public debate and without arriving at a consensus from the representatives of the community. The government is intending to override a well-established norm that laws for minority communities must be enacted after holding discussions with community leaders/representatives, legal experts, and other stakeholders, and after striving to reach a consensus.
State health officials confirmed another 4,821 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the number of active cases statewide to 88,929. Thursdays case load is based on 111,726 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health.

Health officials also announced another 75 COVID-related fatalities, for a total now of 13,622 Massachusetts deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The seven-day average of positive tests is currently 5.57%.

The number of new COVID cases dropped last week by 27% compared to the prior week beginning Jan. 3, but remains about 40% higher than weekly cases were prior to Thanksgiving. At the same time, health officials warn of a new more contagious strain of the virus that has now been identified in Massachusetts. The new strain has not shown to make people sicker or increase hospitalizations but has shown to be more easily transmitted.

The number of new COVID deaths also dropped slightly last week and hospitalizations have remained stable after three months of rising.

There are now 2,152 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 430 people in intensive care, 287 of whom are intubated.

The latest numbers come as Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the state will be lifting the curfew on restaurants and other businesses amid a slight decline in COVID activity.

Starting Monday, the 9:30 p.m. curfew for table service in restaurants and other businesses will be lifted, Baker said on Thursday. Under the restrictions, which Baker announced in November, dining establishments could stay open for takeout and delivery past the curfew, but could not serve patrons inside.

Vaccines are reaching residents, positive case rates have stabilized, Baker said during a press conference Thursday. Those trends are moving in the right direction. As a result, we believe its ok and its time to start gradually easing on the restrictions we put in place.

Massachusetts officials are also lifting the stay-at-home advisory, which instructed all residents to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., but keeping the 25% capacity limit on businesses until at least Feb. 8.

Health officials confirmed a second case of the highly infectious strain of COVID-19 this week, with the first announced on Sunday. The first case of B.1.1.7 was confirmed in a Boston woman in her 20s. Officials did not elaborate on the second case.

On Tuesday, Baker announced the state will be expanding its COVID vaccine rollout to CVS Health and Walgreens pharmacies across the state. As part of that expansion, Baker also confirmed that Fenway Park will become the states second mass vaccination site, after announcing Gillette Stadium as the first last week.

Total COVID cases by county:

Barnstable County: 7,783

Berkshire County: 4,161

Bristol County: 46,345

Dukes County: 706

Essex County: 73,092

Franklin County: 1,651

Hampden County: 34,256

Hampshire County: 5,175

Middlesex County: 95,512

Nantucket County: 1,013

Norfolk County: 36,599

Plymouth County: 32,974

Suffolk County: 67,004

Worcester County: 55,257

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Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon has joined forces with former Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie for the terrifying audio series Sour Hall.

The pair play a same-sex couple starting their new life together on a farm in the six-part Audible series, but things take a scary turn as it appears their new home has a supernatural presence.

The role is Lucy's first to be released since she quit Coronation Street last year after five years playing teen Bethany Platt, while Pearl last starred on Who as Bill Potts in 2017.

Spooky: Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon has joined forces with former Doctor Who star Pearl Mackie for the terrifying audio series Sour Hall

The audio series is an adaptation of Naomi Booth's short story Sour Hall, which was originally created for Audble's 2019 project Hag.

A trailer shows the pair moving into their new home at a remote farm, after Lucy's character George inherits the land from her ancestor's and hopes to start a new life there with her partner Ash (played by Pearl).

The series was recorded using a groundbreaking 360-degree sound technique on location in Yorkshire.

Dramatic: The pair play a same-sex couple in the six-part Audible series, who battle a sinister threat after starting a new life on a farm together

Far from happy: A trailer shows Lucy's character George and Pearl's Ash facing the spooky threat after moving to the farm together

George and Ash move to the farm in a desperate attempt to escape a difficult past, but soon find things aren't much better in their new home.

Ash becomes increasingly isolated and alone and notes a hostile reaction to the locals to having an LGBTQ+ interracial couple in their village.

She becomes even more unnerved but a mysterious clanging in the milk shed, especially as George goes to desperate measures to keep her girlfriend away.

Petrified: Ash becomes increasingly isolated and alone and notes a hostile reaction to the locals to having an LGBTQ+ interracial couple in their village

Eye-catching: The series was recorded using a groundbreaking 360-degree sound technique on location in Yorkshire

Speaking about the role, Pearl told Digital Spy: 'When things scare me they tend to really stay with me and I think this story and the way that the narrative builds will certainly stay with the audience.'

Lucy added: 'It was so beneficial to record on site and in 360 degree sound. It's going to feel very intense and I think really immerse the listener, as they will not only be listening to the drama but they will be able to feel it as it takes place around them. It makes the content quite terrifying.'

Lucy left Corrie last year after half a decade playing the fiesty Bethany Platt, and has since filmed a role in the BBC series The Syndicate, which is yet to air.

Meanwhile Pearl rose to fame as Bill in Who opposite Peter Capaldi's Doctor in 2017, and after appearing throughout series 10 reprised her role later that year for the Christmas Special.

Sour Hall will be released on Audible UK on 25th January.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
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Longford/Westmeath TD Joe Flaherty has called on Minister for Education Norma Foley and the Irish government to give Leaving Cert students the option of predictive grades as they face into a difficult few months ahead of their state exams.

Last year, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of Junior Cert exams and the option of predictive grades for Leaving Cert students. Those who were unhappy with their grades were given the option to sit exams in the autumn.

But the second half of last year proved a challenge for students sitting the exams this year, as they faced the closures of schools at what was a vital time for them as they prepared to enter their final year of school.

Deputy Flaherty explained that he has been contacted by a large number of students and parents in recent weeks who are concerned, anxious and angry at the governments fixed determination to hold the Leaving Cert exams as normal in June.

Justifiably students and parents are upset and angry at the decision for this being based off prevailing public health restrictions and does not appear to take into account the incomparable disadvantages the 2021 Leaving Cert class has been the victim of having missed two and a half months of in-person class time in their fifth year and the current hiatus from in-school learning they are currently facing, he said.

It is without question that the Leaving Cert class of 2020 were presented with an utterly unparalleled challenge that was/is Covid-19, but fortunately with support from family, friends, teachers and the Government, many students were able to overcome this and progress with their lives., he continued.

A significant point that facilitated this progression for the 2020 class, was that they were given the opportunity to choose between the traditional exams, which were held in November or predictive grades.

With the rate of infection now at an all time high ten months on from this, hospitalisations at an increasing peak and the reintroduction of Level 5 lockdown and all students currently facing online learning, I believe they deserve equal opportunity like their predecessors in 2020.

These students are not only facing the ordinary mounting pressure that occurs in the build up to the Leaving cert but lost class time in their critical senior cycle, mounting anxiety from being 10 months into a pandemic, fatigue, increased family poverty and reduced family income, infection, isolation, grief from loss of friends and family to Covid-19, and are once again back facing remote learning with no definite guarantee if or when they will be back sitting in front of their teachers in the classroom.

An increasing number of students are living at home with people who have contracted Covid, without adequate broadband, without dedicated quiet places of study, are without teachers who at this time are also struggling with the effects of the virus, without studio space, kitchens, labs and other practical learning spaces that are essential to certain subjects being taught.

This is consequently causing immense anxiety, depression, stress and fatigue of the ongoing virus with many feeling their sense of security weakened, Deputy Flaherty added.

Many have had to deal with vast changes in their domestic setting. Many will have had to support their parents and grandparents with the impact of Covid-19 and in some cases have had to undertake child minding roles with parents working full time and schools and creches closed at times. It is certain the class of 2021 are both deserving and in need of a break.

To that end, Deputy Flaherty has asked the Minister for Education to make an announcement as soon as possible to commit to the Leaving Cert class of 2021 and to giving the m the option of predictive grading.

I am of the opinion that this would be the most rational choice for all. It will guarantee each student and teacher goes forward for the rest of this school year with certainty, and surely boost greater participation in remote learning, he said.

It will also show students, teachers and parents that the Government is sensitive to their current situation and that you have their best interest at heart.
Canberra:

Australia's defence chief on Wednesday said that Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets will soon resume airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria after operations were suspended as precaution because a US fighter jet shot down a Syrian warplane earlier this week.



Australian Defense Force Chief Mark Binskin says the six Australian warplanes suspended operations in Syria while the Australians examined what was happening in what he had described as a "complex piece of airspace" over Syria.



He told reporters in the Australian capital Canberra: "It won't be long before you start to see the operations again." Binskin says the warplanes had been occupied recently supporting Iraqi security forces in retaking the city of Mosul.

ALSO READ: Australias military temporarily halts air missions over Syria after shooting down of jet by US

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MBABANE  Emaswati are divided on whether government should prioritise saving lives or the economy.

There are mixed feelings on whether or not the country should implement a full lockdown to save lives in the midst of the raging COVID-19 second wave or prioritise the ailing economy.

The debate is centred on saving lives and giving the overstretched health system a breather or prioritising economic activity with the hopes of retaining jobs. Eswatini has been ranked top in Africa and 14th in the world on COVID-19 deaths while nurses projected 3 700 COVID-19 deaths by December 2021. As of Wednesday, there were 13 443 confirmed cases and 403 related deaths.

Anticipated

On top of that, it is still not known when the country will receive the much-anticipated COVID-19 vaccine while other countries like South Africa have started receiving same. Nodding to the idea of implementing a full lockdown for at least two to three weeks was the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA) through its Secretary General, Mduduzi Gina. He said the country was in a catch 22 situation and a full-scale lockdown would be an appropriate move under the circumstances. He said the movements that were witnessed in public places like bus terminals were a serious cause for concern. He also submitted that government had to negotiate some tax relief for employers in exchange for them paying the workers during the lockdown.

The Eswatini Revenue Authority (SRA) may have to stop collecting Pay As You Earn (PAYE) on the salaries of workers as a government contribution. We are in a dire situation, we need decisive leadership. This is the time that the government should be seen protecting the nation from extinction, he said. Also supporting the idea of a full lockdown was Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC) Hhohho Chairperson Johannes Manikela, who stated that for businesses, the already implemented regulations were placing them on lockdown.

Manikela said the full lockdown should not be designed to frustrate the economic activity because the country and its citizens still needed to generate income or revenue.




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After confusion was blamed for some Connecticut teachers receiving the COVID-19 vaccine too soon, Gov. Ned Lamont brought some clarity to the process on Tuesday.

The governors office has released a new, tiered approach to divide the Phase 1B vaccination group, which includes 1.4 million Connecticut residents.

Phase 1B officially began Monday with the vaccinations of residents 75 and older who are not living in nursing homes.

Connecticut residents between the ages of 65 and 74 will be the next group to be vaccinated, which will likely begin in early February, according to a loose timeline shared by the governors office.

That group will be followed by front-line essential workers and individuals with underlying medical conditions who have an increased risk for severe illness, Lamonts office said.

Lamont said those residents will probably begin receiving the vaccine by around March 1. He said that timeline could change if the state receives more doses of the vaccine, including if one developed by Johnson & Johnson is approved.

Folks 65 and above are 18 percent of the population, but still 88 percent of the fatalities, Lamont said Tuesday during his afternoon media briefing. So I think you can understand why this is going to be a really important priority for us.

The vaccine should become available to the remaining essential workers, known as Phase 1C, sometime in May. The vaccine could be available to the general population sometime in June, according to the governors timeline.

Rolling out the vaccine to a slightly younger segment of the population next is also meant to address how the virus has hit communities of color disproportionately hard.

African Americans are much more likely to suffer fatality in the 70- to 79-year-old group than, say, a non-Hispanic white, Lamont said. And Hispanics are even more likely to suffer fatality in that younger age group, so thats another reason why we focus on 65 and above.

Deidre Gifford, the acting commissioner of the Department of Public Health, said the state will also use data tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine where to place vaccination clinics to ensure the shots reach vulnerable communities.

The governor continued to urge patience and said he believes the incoming Biden administration will put the foot on the accelerator to ramp up vaccination efforts on the federal level, including the use of the Defense Production Act.

On Tuesday, Connecticut reported 2,094 new COVID-19 cases out of 37,033 tests for a daily positivity rate of 5.65 percent. The state reported 27 people have been hospitalized since Monday, increasing the statewide total to 1,141. A dozen more deaths brought the statewide death toll to 6,682.

As of Tuesday, 220,820 vaccine doses had been administered in Connecticut, including 24,067 people who have received their second and final dose, according to the governors office.

Lamonts vaccine timeline announcement came as the president of the Connecticut Education Association says confusion about where teachers are prioritized during the process led to a number of educators getting their shots too soon.

In a joint memo sent Sunday, the state Department of Public Health and Department of Education said some school districts prematurely registered their entire roster of employees in the federal Vaccine Administration Management System.

Once users are uploaded to the web portal, they receive a message from the CDC allowing them to use VAMS to find and schedule a vaccine appointment.

Josh Geballe, the states chief operating officer, said only about a dozen school districts misunderstood the directions. He pointed out there are more than 200 school districts in the state and more than 300 private schools.

The governors office said school staff who made appointments after Thursday had been instructed to cancel them.

School districts are also being told not to upload more rosters of employees into VAMS until notified, according to the Sunday memo.

Gifford indicated teachers have followed their directives. When teachers understand whats being asked, they will cancel their appointment and wait their turn, she said.

East Windsor resident Jessica Wolf, a music teacher in the Somers school district, is among the educators who have already received their first dose of the vaccine. Wolf said she registered through VAMS and received the vaccine Saturday at Rentschler Field.

Yesterday was my birthday, Wolf said. What a present!

Jeff Leake, president of the Connecticut Education Association, said his group has consistently advocated that teachers be a top priority in Phase 1B.

We know that some school districts, either accidentally or purposefully, put educators in the queue, Leake said. We also know that some of you had appointments scheduled, only to have those appointments canceled when the state learned the group was not in the 75-and-older category. We have also been told that there will be glitches and some inconsistencies in any massive public health undertaking of this sort  some folks not in the 75-and-older category have been invited to receive or have received a vaccine even though this is not the stated protocol.

Some teachers in New London were vaccinated when they werent yet eligible because of what officials said was likely a VAMS error.

The states vaccination efforts come as college students have begun returning for the spring semester.

Students returning to the University of Connecticuts Storrs and Stamford residence halls were required to test at home and then again over the weekend when they returned to campus.

The school found 76 COVID-19 cases in re-entry testing, according to UConn spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz. Of those, 56 cases were caught at home, and another 20 students developed the virus between the home test and returning to campus, Reitz said.
Mumbai: India has developed two corona vaccines and has already started the vaccination drive in the nation. The nation is now helping other countries by providing them vaccine. The Serum Institute of India's consignment of corona vaccines, containing 10 lakh dosages to be dispatched to Kathmandu and 20 lakh dosages to Dhaka, arrived at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in the wee hours of Thursday.

The Government of Nepal plans to inoculate 72 per cent of its citizens. Nepal has completed all the preparation for vaccination and everything is on set with vaccination drive soon to start in the country. Besides the vaccine, India earlier had provided Nepal with medical equipment, medicines and other logistical support to fight the pandemic.

On January 8, Bangladesh had approved the procurement of 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' from India. India's Ministry of External Affairs had announced a vaccine rollout for Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday which comes in line with its Neighbourhood First Policy.

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The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

January 20, 2021

This Article Was Received Prior To The Inauguration

The Bidens and the Harrises

The storming of the Capitol building by an unruly mob was, generally, an unprecedented moment in this nations history. Speaking after the calamity, President Joseph Biden stated, the scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are. What were seeing is a small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness . In some respects, the then President-elect is correct, but in more ways, than he is comfortable coming to terms with, he is unfortunately not.

I sympathize with the Herculean task ahead of the newly inaugurated President and understand and respect his approach to condemning mob violence in the name of inclusion and unity. However, his remarks, while profound, are short-sighted and prosaic. They do nothing to seriously address the deep, entrenched social, economic, and political cleavages that everyone in the political class knows to be true but simply chooses to ignore.

Whether we like it or not, the mobs are Americaor at least represent a subset of a larger body of Americathe tensions are America: the underlying animus and prejudice and frustration in America. I dont wish this was our America. But to deny the very obvious in the name of maintaining some optic of long-standing stability is like looking in the mirror and pretending you are someone youre not.

What is a true America, as President Biden asks? Is it an America that deeply swallows the founding mythologies of the Founding Fathers and their virtues while ignoring the institution and vestiges of slavery? Is the true America one that ignores Native American removal, the implementation and legacy of Jim Crow, wage slavery, Japanese internment, Chinese exclusion, white poverty, religious prejudice, xenophobia, mass deportation and child separation, Islamophobia, neoliberalism, and the like? Is the true America an outgrowth ofsome 1950s Leave it to Beaver re-run that we try to desperately to cling onto, or are those simply illusions and bedtime stories we repeatedly read to one another to maintain some concept of manufactured reality?

The unruly mob that stormed the Capitol may not be the true America that we wish to exist, but who can say that it is not America? Who can say that this kind of activity does not represent a form, an undercurrent of America looming in our deep conscience? Whether people choose to believe it or not, half the country voted for President Trump, even knowing his unruly antics and prejudicial mentality. Half the country voted for the now President Biden, and yet it is the archaic Democratic Party that has advanced the privatization of prisons, the slide of education into test-based forms rather than critical thinking methods, and enacted trade deals that flagrantly ignored the implications on rural and industrial America. Both parties are captured by big business, and, while the Constitution protects ones ability to support a candidate or elected official monetarily, the crystallization of our two-party system has excluded the diversity of political thought and narrowed the level of debate to effective two-halves-of-the-same-corporate-whole thinking.

The irresponsible inaction and incitement of violence by President Trump must surely be condemned by anyone with a good conscience who is committed to preserving the long-running political institutions of this Republic. However, to assert that his removal from office will somehow solve all of the underlying problems, that his impeachment is somehow a panacea, is not only disingenuous but uncritical in the highest degree. Because after the smoke clears and President Biden delivers his inauguration speech, we are still confronted with a long list of issues platitudinous rhetoric will not solve. Depression exists in broad strokes, drug and alcohol use imperils communities across the country, suicide ruptures family and social bonds for those impacted by its tinge, domestic violence disrupts families of all persuasions, and the innumerable psychological issues of pain, anger, fear, and insecurity run rampant across this nation. Lastly, the all-important but often dismissed question, for its seemingly un-academic nature, bubbles to the surface: Are people even happy with their lives? There are some questions that law and policy cannot solve, but herein lies the challenge: how to we reform structural dynamics that have enshrined institutional racism, economic immobility, social tensions, and power politics driven by the powerful?

We pretend that returning things to business as usual will be the answer. This is not to say that President Trump was not an aberration to our wholesome sensibilities and inclination to do good and be just, but it is too simple and naively (or willingly) uncritical to claim that what we had before was somehow ideal. That was a time when we invaded countries on false evidence, moved jobs overseas at the local populations sole burden, pillaged communities with racial animus and over-policing, drone-striked countries at our geopolitical convenience, and failed to prioritize the very critical mental health issues and political depolarization necessary to a healthy, functioning society.

So, when the dust settles from the calamity of post-election Trumpism, and business-as-usual returns to Washington, we simply cannot operate as though things are better, solely because it serves the interests of the economically and politically privileged at the expense of everyone else. Tens of millions of Americans continue to live under the poverty line, communities across the nation are stripped of necessary educational and social resources needed to catalyze mobility, and cultural greed and smoke-and-mirrors lifestyle projections do nothing other than exacerbate personal insecurity, depression, and vice.

Only when we stop pretending that the mob is not American and come to grips with the reality that, not only is this absolutely American, but more American than we are willing to acknowledge, will we be able to turn the page in this countrys uncomfortable history. Were either a country or were not a country. We either accept and confront uncomfortable truths or we continue to decay and erode with cognitive dissonance. We either embrace diversity in all of its forms or we relegate ourselves to impish fools, willing to make the exact same mistakes of yester-years policy and judgment that have brought us to this critical juncture.

The choice is ours, and we simply must do better. What else do we have?




On a crisp afternoon in November, Teresa Bautista ventured into Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, on the lookout for feces. It didnt take long for Ms. Bautista, 17  and, to her chagrin, her white Puma shoes  to hit some serious pay dirt.

Speckled all across the parks grass was the greenish glint of goose droppings, which Ms. Bautista eagerly swabbed and swirled into a tubeful of chemicals. This was my first time digging into poop, she said. It was really fun.

Ms. Bautista was after more than just bird excrement. Teeming within it, she hoped, were swarms of infectious viruses ready to spill their genetic secrets and, perhaps, help young scientists like her stop future pandemics.

Over the next few months, Ms. Bautista and four other New York area high school students will continue to gather samples from the citys birds as a part of the Virus Hunters program, hosted by the nonprofit science outreach organization BioBus. Their goal is to catalog the flu viruses that often lurk in urban fowl, some of which might have the potential to someday hop into humans.
Schools in Northern Ireland are facing a week of uncertainty as they wait to see if they will be allowed to reopen as planned after the February half-term break.

But it's looking increasingly likely that education will fall into line with the rest of lockdown, and remain closed until March 5 at the earliest.

As the First and deputy First Ministers announced a four-week extension to the current restrictions on Thursday, they said the issue over continued school closures will be dealt with by the Executive next week.

Education Minister Peter Weir will meet with Health Minister Robin Swann over the next two days to discuss whether schools should reopen as planned.

The minister said that while he wants to keep the extent to which children are out of school to a minimum, there are other factors to consider.

"Decisions must be weighed up against the wider public health advice," he said.

"It's right and proper that we take a little time and not make any quick decisions."

He said that education has operated on a slightly different timetable to other sectors.

"Next week's discussions will consider keeping schools closed until March 5, in line with decisions taken by ministers today," he confirmed.

"We saw the surge which took place particularly around the Christmas period," the minister said. "I don't think that was particularly linked in with schools.

"What happens directly within schools has a limited amount of impact on the virus but what it does have is an element of behavioural aspects, particularly around freeing up adults to be in other places. I think we do need to weigh up all the factors. The overriding aim should ultimately be to have children directly in schools getting that face to face learning."

First Minister Arlene Foster said there was "plenty of time" to provide clarity for schools and parents, while Michelle O'Neill added that the Executive is aware that parents and teachers need that clarity and they hope provide it early next week.

Meanwhile, with eight times as many pupils in school during this lockdown, the Department of Education says there is no cause for concern regarding numbers in schools during the current lockdown.

Head teachers, though, are concerned at the difficulties now being faced at managing greater numbers in the classroom and dealing with the challenges of online learning.

"Across the system, according to Department, the numbers in schools do not seem to be problematic," said NAHT President Graham Gault.

"However, at local school level, there are some difficulties caused by the larger numbers of key worker children availing of supervised learning, as opposed to the previous period of lockdown.

"What is of particular difficulty is managing both remote learning activities for children at home, whilst also providing on-site supervision for many children. Our schools continue, however, to do an amazing job in very challenging circumstances and we, at NAHT, commend all frontline education staff for their strong and galvanised approach to this significant and critical period of the pandemic response."

Part of the increase is due to special schools remaining open, unlike from March to June last year.

However, Department of Education statistics suggest many more children of key workers and vulnerable children are now attending school.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 01:54:05|Editor: huaxia

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RIGA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A district court in the northern Latvian town of Limbazi on Thursday acquitted Ugis Magonis, former chief executive officer (CEO) of Latvijas Dzelzcels (Latvian Railway), of bribery charges, local media reported.

Estonian businessman Oleg Ossinovski, who was tried alongside Magonis, was also acquitted by the first-instance court.

Latvia's anti-corruption authorities detained Magonis, who was then CEO of the rail company, in August 2015 for allegedly accepting a bribe of 500,000 euros (607,000 U.S. dollars). According to media reports, Ossinovski gave the bribe so that his company Skinest could sell four old diesel locomotives to Latvijas Dzelzcels subsidiary LDz Ritosa Sastava Serviss for several million euros.

Ossinovski, who was an official suspect in the Latvian Corruption Prevention Bureau's probe, claimed to local media that the diesel locomotive tender was held in accordance with the rules and that he had never made any illegal payments to anyone in relation with the tender.

Ossinovski explained that he gave the money to Magonis for personally lobbying executives of Russian Railways to renew a lucrative contract.

The case was taken to court in 2017, and Magonis and Ossinovski were tried as defendants in a corruption case. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution had sought jail sentences of four years both for Magonis and Ossinovski.

Neither Magonis nor the judge gave any comments after Thursday's court hearing, but Ossinovski's defense lawyer, Jelena Kvjatkovska, pointed to the "poor quality of the indictment and a complete lack of any evidence" against the defendants. Enditem
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden began revoking Donald Trumps approval for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline as one of his first official acts Wednesday.

In total, Biden issued 15 executive actions and two directives in his first day of office.
GENEVA  The United States will resume funding for the World Health Organization and join its consortium aimed at sharing coronavirus vaccines fairly around the globe, President Joe Bidens top adviser on the pandemic said Thursday, renewing support for an agency that the Trump administration had pulled back from.

Dr. Anthony Faucis quick commitment to the WHO  whose response to the pandemic has been criticized by many, but perhaps most vociferously by the Trump administration  marks a dramatic and vocal shift toward a more cooperative approach to fighting the pandemic.

I am honored to announce that the United States will remain a member of the World Health Organization, Fauci told a virtual meeting of the WHO from the United States, where it was 4:10 a.m. in Washington. It was the first public statement by a member of Bidens administration to an international audience  and a sign of the priority that the new president has made of fighting COVID-19 both at home and with world partners.

Just hours after Bidens inauguration Wednesday, he wrote a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres saying the U.S. had reversed the planned pullout from the WHO that was expected to take effect in July.

The withdrawal from the WHO was rich with symbolism  another instance of Americas go-it-alone strategy under Trump. But it also had practical ramifications: The U.S. halted funding for the U.N. health agency  stripping it of cash from the country that has long been its biggest donor just as the agency was battling the health crisis that has killed more than 2 million people worldwide. The U.S. had also pulled back staff from the organization.

Fauci said the Biden administration will resume regular engagement with WHO and will fulfill its financial obligations to the organization.

The WHO chief and others jumped in to welcome the U.S. announcements.

This is a good day for WHO and a good day for global health, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The role of the United States, its role, global role is very, very crucial.

The two men hinted at a warm relationship between them, with Fauci calling Tedros his dear friend and Tedros referring to Fauci as my brother Tony.

John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called it great news in an email. The world has always been a better place when the U.S. plays a leadership role in solving global health problems including the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, polio and other diseases, he said.

Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke wrote on Facebook: This is going to have a huge impact on the worlds ability to fight the pandemic. It is decisive that the United States is involved as a driving force and not a country that is looking for the exit when a global catastrophe rages.

Fauci also said Biden will issue a directive Thursday that shows the United States intent to join the COVAX Facility, a project to deploy COVID-19 vaccines to people in need around the world  whether in rich or poor countries.

Under Trump, the U.S. had been the highest-profile  and most deep-pocketed  holdout from the COVAX Facility, which has struggled to meet its goals of distributing millions of vaccines both because of financial and logistic difficulties.

WHO and leaders in many developing countries have repeatedly expressed concerns that poorer places could be the last to get COVID-19 vaccines, while noting that leaving vast swaths of the global population unvaccinated puts everyone at risk.

While vowing U.S. support, Fauci also pointed to some key challenges facing WHO. He said the U.S. was committed to transparency, including those events surrounding the early days of the pandemic.

One of the Trump administrations biggest criticisms was that the WHO reacted too slowly to the outbreak in Wuhan, China, and was too accepting of and too effusive about the Chinese governments response to it. Others have also shared those criticisms  but public health experts and many countries have argued that, while the organization needs reform, it remains vital.

Referring to a WHO-led probe looking for the origins of the coronavirus by a team that is currently in China, Fauci said: The international investigation should be robust and clear, and we look forward to evaluating it.

He said the U.S. would work with WHO and partner countries to strengthen and reform the agency, without providing specifics.

Associated Press writers Cara Anna in Nairobi, Kenya, and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, contributed to this report.
A young Blount County man has been sentenced in the 2017 killing of his parents.

A judge on Wednesday sentenced Leo Santiago Chavez, 20, to two consecutive life sentences plus 10 years for the murders of his mother, Adalberta Chavez Ruiz, and his father, Ricardo Santiago Gonzales, at their home on Covered Bridge Road. The couple was shot, wrapped in garbage bags and then dumped in a shallow grave in Oneonta.

Chavez was convicted in March of three counts of capital murder after a seven-day trial and just two hours and 45 minutes of jury deliberation. Jose Gamaliel Villanueva, 20, and Jose Guevara-Valadez, 23, as well as a juvenile are also charged in connection with the case.

Gonzalez and Adalberta Chavez were discovered missing on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017 by family members who were concerned about their welfare. They went to the couples home in Cleveland and found blood inside the trailer, authorities. Thats when lawmen were notified, and the family began a search of their own that has spanned weeks and countless hours.

The investigation led them to the slain couples son, who was 17 at the time. He was charged three days later, even before the bodies of his parents were found. Two of the charges are for the deaths of his parents during a robbery and the third capital charges is for the murder of two or more people at one time.

Chavez was also convicted of theft of property and two counts of abuse of a corpse.

During the sentencing hearing, which was held in late summer, District Attorney Pamela L. Casey asked the court to sentence Leo Santiago Chavez to the most severe punishment possible- life without the possibility of parole due to the nature and circumstances of the offense and the defendants role in planning and orchestrating the murder of his parents and hiding their bodies in a wooded area.

Chavez was not eligible to receive the death penalty because of his age at the time of the offense. In Alabama, juveniles who commit capital murder may be sentenced to life with possibility of parole or life without the possibility of parole. A life sentence with possibility of parole requires at least 30 years in prison prior to parole consideration. Chavez would be required to serve 60 years before parole consideration.

Sentencing had been delayed due to COVID-19. On Wednesday, just before the sentence was pronounced, Assistant District Attorney Scott Gilliland indicated that Chavez apologized to family members who were present in the courtroom and asked for their forgiveness. He then advised the court that he took his case to trial because the offers he received from the state were too much.

Several members of the family of Adalberta Chavez Ruis and Ricardo Santiago Gonzalez were present in the courtroom when the sentence was imposed.

This family has been through a lot,' Casey said. They spent weeks walking through the woods and along roadways trying to locate their loved ones. They assisted with the investigation of this case and have been present for every hearing, including a week-long trial, to show their love and support for the memory of Adalberta and Ricardo. It is very rewarding to work with such families to obtain justice for their lost loved ones.

Casey, who is currently on maternity leave, said she was advised that some of the family members expressed disappointment that Chavez may get a chance to walk out of prison one day because he will be eligible for parole in the future. But, she said, they have continuously expressed their gratitude for the work of my office. I only wish they had the peace of mind to know he would never have the chance to leave prison.
Solidarity TD Mick Barry said this morning that there is massive opposition among the country's 61,000 Leaving Cert students both to the Government's plans for a "traditional Leaving Cert" and to the target of reopening schools for 6th years on Feb 1.



Deputy Barry said that yesterday's Irish Second Level Students Union (ISSU) survey represents a "damning criticism" of Government education policy with just 4% of more than 20,000 respondents supporting the Government's plans to hold a "traditional Leaving Cert".



The survey also showed 73% of respondents expressing the view that schools are either "very unsafe" or "unsafe" - leaving Education Minister Norma Foley with a mountain to climb if she is to convince students that schools will be safe places by the Feb 1 target deadline she has set for a return to class for Leaving Cert students.



Deputy Barry said this morning: "Education in 21st century Ireland can only truly work with the consent of the students. If Minister Foley tries to force people back to school against their will when they are not convinced that it is safe yet she will meet a tidal wave of student opposition. Similarly, she will make an error of major proportions if she tries to force 61,000 students to sit a "traditional Leaving Cert" against their will. The Minister has some important decisions to make on these issues now over the weekend."



The Cork North Central deputy drew attention to the paragraph in the ISSU survey which reads: "Motivation amongst Leaving Cert students is extremely low and their mental health is in a very poor place."



He said that he believes that these comments are broadly accurate and a matter of great concern.

He concluded by saying that the mental health situation after a year of the virus snd two lengthy school lockdowns is a powerful argument for taking a cautious approach to reopening of schools and for abandoning plans to force students to sit the 2021 Leaving Cert.



Deputy Barry will question Education Minister Norma Foley in the Dail today on these issues at 5.25pm.

An excavator hauls the whale carcass to shore to be buried beneath the beach in Bali

The rotting carcass of a nearly 14-metre (46-foot) whale washed up Thursday on Bali beach popular with tourists.

The conservation agency said it was investigating the death of the giant creature, which was first spotted in shallow waters near Batu Belig beach, north of Seminyak.

Curious onlookers gathered around the carcass but the strong smell of decay put many off, said one local.

Bali conservation official Prawono Meruanto said the creature could be a Bryde's whale, and that its carcass was later buried at the beach using an excavator.

In July, ten smaller whales were found dead on a beach in Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province. Locals managed to get one surviving member of the pod back into the water alive.

Cross-currents off beaches pose a danger to whales as they can get caught between reefs close to shore.

Explore further Giant whale washes up on Indonesian beach

 2021 AFP
Government scientists mounted a furious attack on critics of lateral flow tests today, accusing them of being 'prejudiced' and insisting the 15-checks were reliable.

Dr Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser for NHS Test and Trace, and Sage's Professor Calum Semple were among 14 senior figures who lashed out at academics who have cast doubt on the quick-turnaround tests.

In a December article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) critics including Professor Jon Deeks, of the University of Birmingham, said that they tests were not sensitive enough and were not good at detecting the virus in people without symptoms.

They warned that a mass rollout of lateral flow tests in care homes, schools, communities and by 'untrained people at home' could cause 'serious harm'.

He accused the Government of making lateral flow tests seem 'better than they are' in a bid to justify the 100billion Operation Moonshot scheme designed to help ease the lockdown.

But in a scathing attack today, Dr Hopkins and others said the authors of the article, have 'prejudged' lateral flow tests, adding: 'They appear to have made up their minds that LFDs (lateral flow device) are dangerous and of no value and therefore should never be used.'

They claimed the article contained 'factual errors and makes several unsubstantiated allegations and assertions'.

Dr Susan Hopkins, the chief medical adviser for NHS Test and Trace, and Sage's Professor Calum Semple were among 14 senior figures who lashed out at academics who have cast doubt on the quick-turnaround tests.

In a December article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) critics including Professor Jon Deeks, of the University of Birmingham, said that they tests were not sensitive enough and were not good at detecting the virus in people without symptoms.

Lateral flow tests are regularly used by NHS staff and plans were put in place for mass testing in schools before they were forced to shut to most pupils in the latest national lockdown.

WHICH LATERAL FLOW TESTS DOES THE UK GOVERNMENT USE? There are currently four lateral flow test devices on the Government's approved list. They are: SD Biosensor Standard Q Antigen Test Manufacturer: SD Biosensor When tested: August Claimed accuracy: 95.5% Real-world accuracy: Thought to be around 70% - source Price: Unknown SD Biosensor's rapid coronavirus test Innova Antigen Test Manufacturer: Innova Medical When tested: August Claimed accuracy: 99% Real-world accuracy: 'At least 50 per cent', according to Dept Health Price: 8.69 per test (bulk order) Innova's rapid coronavirus test Healgen Rapid Covid-19 Antigen Test Manufacturer: Healgen When tested: September Claimed accuracy: 97.3% Real-world accuracy: Unknown Price: Unknown Healgen's rapid coronavirus test SureScreen COVID-19 Coronavirus Rapid Antigen Test Cassette Manufacturer: Surescreen When tested: December Claimed accuracy: 98% Real-world accuracy: Unknown Price: Unknown Surescreen's Coronavirus Rapid Antibody Test Cassette Advertisement

Lateral flow tests are regularly used by NHS staff and plans were put in place for mass testing in schools before they were forced to shut to most pupils in the latest national lockdown.

Prof Deeks, a vocal critic of lateral flow tests, called on the Government to halt the rollout of rapid testing and argued that people should not be told that these tests are 'better than they are'.

While they acknowledged Prof Deeks role as lead researcher of the Cochrane Review of Covid-19 diagnostic tests, the Government scientists said they were 'surprised' that he considered himself 'an expert in Covid-19 or public health activity'.

They added: 'The authors are not actively involved in the breadth and depth of activities needed to evaluate LFD uses properly.'

They asserted that there was 'persistent and continuing confusion' between lateral flow tests, which can give results in less than 30 minutes, and PCR tests which are assessed in a lab setting and can have a slow turnaround time.

They said: 'The authors treat PCR mathematically as a perfect gold standard of infectiousness when there is now substantial evidence that it is not.'

Prof Deeks had previously said that lateral flow tests in a mass pilot scheme in Liverpool 'missed 60 per cent of the cases which would have been picked up by PCR'.

But Professor Louise Kenny at the University of Liverpool said this claim was 'factually incorrect' and that the findings from the pilot scheme were misinterpreted.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she said: 'Much of the confusion in the debate around the accuracy of lateral flow has arisen because their performances are being directly compared with PCR.

'But critically, PCR tests also detect people with really low viral loads who are unlikely to be infectious, so that comparison is really unhelpful and underestimates the effectiveness of lateral flow.'

She said interim analysis of the Liverpool scheme was 'very cautious' and that lateral flow tests detect at least two thirds of people most likely to be infectious.

She pointed to a recent study by Oxford University in which researchers said rapid tests could be effective in quickly detecting the most infectious cases in a relatively cheap way.

In a lateral flow test, a swab of the nose or throat is taken and then mixed with fluid that is applied to a piece of absorbent paper that will change colour to indicate whether or not the virus is present, taking just 15 to 30 minutes to produce a result.

Ministers have suggested the tests were a way to help regions come out of tougher lockdowns, enable relatives to visit care home residents and let schools open on time in January.

But there is fierce debate about whether they are effective enough to allow people to make decisions about their behaviour and movements.

University of Oxford researchers initially found the tests picked up 77 per cent of cases, rising to over 90 per cent of the most infectious.

However, accuracy fell from 79 per cent when used by experts to 58 per cent when carried out by ordinary people without any training.

Writing in the BMJ the critical scientists called for the Government to rethink the rollout of the tests.

'We call on the Government urgently to change course,' the authors write.

They add: 'Low test accuracy would be less dangerous if people being tested and the public at large received accurate information about the risks and implications of a false negative result. Instead they are being misled.'

They conclude: 'We call on the Government to at least to pause the rollout of rapid asymptomatic testing using the Innova test, including its use in care homes, schools, communities and self-testing by untrained people at home, until clearer messaging on the risks of negative results can be developed.'

The BMJ editorial came on the back of Professor Deeks' own study into the reliability of lateral flow tests on students at the University of Birmingham.

His trial found that the test picked up on only two positive results out of 7,189 people.
BarcelonaThe twentieth amendment to the United States Constitution also affects the First Lady: at 12 noon on 20 January she ceases to be a First Lady and returns, like Cinderella, to being a citizen. Each First Lady has chosen how she will serve in the White House. To be invisible, or visible. Active, or inactive. To be in the media, or not.
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It was observed that Moylan was the driver with three other adults in the car as well as three children

A Belfast woman who drove an overloaded car of children with a cocktail of drugs enough to kill a horse has been disqualified from driving at Newry magistrates court.

Ashleigh Moylan (30) of Westrock Mews pleaded guilty to driving while unfit and carrying a number of children without seatbelts on July 3, 2019.

A charge of dangerous driving was withdrawn.

The court heard that a PSNI patrol travelling on the A1 dual carriageway from Newry to Banbridge, were overtaken by the accused in a silver Seat Leon vehicle.

The car then appeared to swerve over the central divide.

Officers pursued the vehicle and signalled for it to pull over.

It was observed that Moylan was the driver with three other adults in the car as well as five children.

Two of the children were in the passenger footwell with another sitting on the central divide.

The court heard that the defendant appeared to be in a confused state.

A roadside breath test was carried out which the accused passed.

A blood test was later carried out with evidence of cocaine, diazepam and sleeping tablets were in her system.

Defence said his client had previously been in a car accident the was not her fault, but which led her to be on medication.

She had been in a difficult relationship which she is now separated from and has relocated, said defence.

She has been abstinent from alcohol since the offence.

The situation arose when she had taken medication the night before and not realised that she was not capable of driving.

The cocaine may have been in her system for some time previously.

Other adults in the car had not thought of whether she was fit to drive, added the barrister.

District Judge Eamonn King expressed his shock at the details of the motoring offence.

This was a driver who had a cocktail of drugs that would have killed a horse, said Mr King.

She overtook a police car on the motorway with three adults and five children in the car, I can understand where the charge of dangerous driving came from, said Mr King.

Moylan was fined 515 and disqualified from driving for 15 months.
The Met Office has issued a yellow alert for ice.

Forecasters are predicting difficult travel conditions, warning of icy surfaces particularly on untreated roads and the potential for injury.

The weather warning is in place for all of Northern Ireland from 4pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday.

The Met Office said further showers on Thursday night will leave surfaces wet.

"As ground temperatures fall below freezing, ice is likely to form in places. Some of the showers will be wintry, especially on high ground, with 1-2 cm snow possible above 200 metres."

For the rest of Thursday, there will be frequent showers, occasionally wintry, through the day but these will become increasingly confined to the north into the afternoon, with prolonged sunny spells elsewhere.

Strong northwesterly winds around the coast. Maximum temperature is expected to be around 5 C.

Overnight it will be largely dry and clear but still the chance of a few wintry showers in the north. Winds easing overnight. Minimum temperature of -2 C.

For Friday there will be a mix of sunny spells and wintry showers throughout the day. Best chance of drier conditions in the southeast and a maximum temperature 2 C.

For the weekend there will be a good deal of dry and sunny weather over the coming days but with the chance of a few wintry showers at times in the north.

The weather alert comes as the Storm Christoph hits the UK.

Thousands of properties are at risk of flooding as the storm brings significant rainfall across large swathes of the UK. Northern Ireland, however, has escaped the worst, although has seen persistent rain fall.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will chair a Cobra crisis meeting on Thursday after major incidents were declared in Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and Cheshire.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 54F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 41F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
MIAMI, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cinq, the North American brand of Dextra, a nearshore agile custom software development company in Brazil, is expanding its activities in North America to help companies accelerate digital business growth. From banking and retail to logistics and healthcare  and everything in between, Cinq helps clients drive digital transformation strategies and find new revenue streams.

The company is investing heavily to expand its footprint in North America, and recently announced the appointment of Juan Hoyos as chief commercial officer to lead a team exclusively dedicated to the region.

Hoyos is a senior technology executive with extensive experience helping top American corporations accelerate market expansion, revenue growth, and digital transformation in the US, Europe, and Latin America. Based in the US for more than 10 years, Hoyos was a Sales Vice President at IBM Watson Health and General Manager and Product development leader at GE and Philips prior to joining Cinq.

"We have been helping clients create digital products faster and with excellence for almost 30 years," said Eduardo Coppo - CEO, Cinq. "Expanding our team and bringing in an accomplished executive such as Juan enables us to serve North American clients even better with a closer market presence and in real time collaboration with our experienced software development team."

Delivering digital products faster

Cinq's agile software experience and nearshore convenience enables North American companies to deliver quality digital solutions faster. The company offers solutions at every stage of the digital journey, including:

Design: Applying creative methods and digital strategies to design solutions that meet end-user needs and expectations.

Agile development: Delivering innovative custom software, including mobile, web, front-end and back-end.

Data Agility: Evaluating and analyzing existing data to identify business opportunities.

Digital Growth: Growing the business with advanced analytics strategies to increase the number of active customers.

Software testing: Using the latest tools and technologies to ensure the highest quality.

"Cinq is a trusted partner who is committed to our success. They helped develop our digital solution for performance monitoring, enabling us to lower costs and optimize processes," said Ed Trevis, CEO, Corvalent Corporation. "Cinq is communicative and responsive, establishes a seamless workflow, and has a passionate, hard-working team."

With real-time, top-talent collaboration, Cinq is a trusted partner who works closely with clients to develop strategies that help increase end-user activation, engagement, and retention.

"The onset of COVID-19 jumpstarted the need to accelerate digital initiatives and has shown more than ever the value of having a nearshore partner with a global scale to limit disruptions that can impact time and budget," said Juan Hoyos, chief commercial officer, Cinq North America. "Additionally, our agile teams stay on top of the latest technologies, so we can help clients with the latest technologies and trends to build amazing digital solutions  across all major industries."

About Cinq

Cinq, the North American brand of Dextra, helps companies accelerate digital business growth with nearshore agile custom software development. Cinq has almost two decades of experience working with North American companies to deliver better digital solutions and fulfill the tech talent shortage. Dextra, a South American company, has five delivery centers and more than a decade of experience applying agile methods.

Visit www.cinqtechnologies.com to learn more.

Media Contacts:

Ariana Nikitas, Crystal Clear Communications

773.490.5657

[email protected]

Joe LoBello, LoBello Communications

516.902.2694

[email protected]

SOURCE Cinq Technologies

Related Links

http://www.cinqtechnologies.com


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Opinion Article

21 January 2021

While it is definitely too late to discuss marketing opportunities for the holiday season of 2020, what's critical is that hoteliers find ways to bolster revenues for the first quarter of 2021 - a period that, statistically speaking, may end up going down as one of the worst in the modern history of hospitality. One method to mitigate this dire possibility is to think in terms of extending the holiday cheer into the new year.

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One shift in traveler behavior stemming from COVID-19 that's essential to grasp has been the shortened look-to-book ratio for most leisure guests. Instead of reserving a room months ahead of time, many are taking a 'wait and see' approach; they're researching destinations and hotels but aren't confirming their credit card details until within seven days out from the intended arrival date.

Besides making this a nightmare to manage from a staffing perspective, it also means that hotel marketers must remain on standby then react almost instantly to changing market conditions. For this present holiday season, undoubtedly innumerous consumers want to travel for a quick getaway or find a hotel to host their extended families that's equidistant from all invited relatives. But with rolling lockdowns and a general malaise over the fear of enabling a super-spreader event, many of those who intend to travel are watching and waiting for an all clear to be given by regional authorities.

While the two of us can only prognosticate as well as any other hotelier, for most of us here in the Northern Hemisphere, where new active cases of Covid remain in unhealthily high numbers, it's looking as though some form of stay-at-home orders will persist in most localities through some part of the holiday season. Most governments recognize that if they open up their cities too early, this will only lead to many more indoor winter gatherings and in turn, cause further Covid spikes.

Hence, most travelers won't be effectively 'empowered' to start traveling and meeting up in small groups again until sometime in Q1 2021. And, while the vaccine news is reassuring to all of us in the hotel business, we all know that the task of distributing and inoculating hundreds of millions of travelers is not going to take place overnight. Knowing this, it's your job as a senior manager to develop a strategic plan for this eventuality.

How will you extend the holiday spirit into January, February and March to help drum up leisure sales during this dearth-of-occupancy period (at least outside of the sunbelt)? How would you go about discerning what rates and packages would be most enticing to guests who are chomping at the bit for a weekend sojourn after delaying their trip which was previously scheduled for the late autumn or holiday season in 2020? What channels would be best for promoting your availability during the winter and early spring?

There are many ideas and programs to consider for priming your hotel for success in this regard, and all must be discussed on a per-property basis, as no two will be quite the same. We can give one such example as inspiration to help your team prepare a viable offering for transient guests.

One program from our playbook that we've helped deploy at a resort location here in Canada was a touchless in-room dining experience for small groups. In its broad form and without mentioning all the bells and whistles, this package contained a two night's stay for two rooms (at double occupancy) that would be assigned as close to each other as possible within the PMS. One (or both) of these rooms would be a suite product which would then be set up with a prix fixe dinner for one of the nights, with all courses and beverage accompaniments delivered on a cart for the four guests to then bring into the suite and serve themselves.

This self-serve aspect allowed the multicourse plated dinner to be delivered in a safe and contactless manner while still delivering a bespoke dining experience. Overall, the project wasn't all that hard to get rolling operationally, while promoting it to drive-to markets required a nimbler hand. For your own hotel or small group of properties, something straightforward like this shouldn't be an insurmountable hurdle to deploy for the first half of 2021. At this stage, it's all about quick wins and setting yourself up for accepting any form of revenue, so consider all options for the New Year.

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Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
JERSEY CITY, N.J., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- To increase eligibility awareness of one of the most overlooked tax credits, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Jackson Hewitt Tax Service is participating in this year's EITC Awareness Day, on January 29, 2021.

The EITC is one of the largest tax credits, valued at up to $6,660 for qualifying taxpayers with three or more children. Jackson Hewitt wants taxpayers to know that their EITC eligibility could be affected if they were unemployed or had significant employment changes during 2020.

The credit is based on earned income, and unemployment benefits are not considered earned income, therefore taxpayers who received unemployment benefits in 2020 could have their eligibility for the EITC impacted. Some taxpayers may not have earned enough income to qualify for much credit, while others may have had a drop in earned income that allows them to now qualify.

"According to a recent Jackson Hewitt survey, 36 percent of taxpayers reported that they earned less income in 2020, which could impact eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit," said Mark Steber, Chief Tax Information Officer at Jackson Hewitt. "Due to high unemployment rates in 2020, we expect to see a shift in those who qualify for the credit and want to make sure people are very aware of their potential eligibility on EITC Awareness Day."

According to the IRS, about 20 percent of taxpayers eligible for the EITC do not claim it each year. This year, a new group of eligible recipients may not be aware that they are eligible for the credit if they earned less than the maximum requirement in 2020. On the other hand, there may be a group of previous recipients who may no longer qualify because they earned more than required amounts.

Tax Year 2020 EITC Income Amounts

Children or Relatives Claimed Maximum AGI (filing as Single, Head of Household or Widowed Maximum AGI (filing as Married Filing Jointly) Zero $15,820 $21,710 One $41,756 $47,646 Two $47,440 $53,330 Three $50,594 $56,844

Investment income limit: $3,650 or less

Maximum Credit Amounts

The maximum amount of credit taxpayers can claim:

- No qualifying children: $538

- One qualifying child: $3,584

- Two qualifying children: $5,920

- Three or more qualifying children: $6,660

Jackson Hewitt encourages taxpayers to pay attention to tax law changes and benefits on an ongoing basis. For example, recent tax legislation just passed in late December, which included stimulus payments for select taxpayers and some safe harbor provisions for EITC taxpayers providing both options and help. The special "lookback" for the EITC and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) allows taxpayers to use their 2019 earned income amount to determine eligibility for the 2020 EITC and CTC. Taxpayers can choose the more tax beneficial income year and use that to compute their 2020 EITC and CTC.

Taxpayers planning to claim the EITC should make sure to file early to confirm whether they are eligible for the tax credit. This year, because the IRS is not accepting and processing 2020 tax year returns until February 12, the Agency anticipates a first week of March refund for many EITC taxpayers.

During the 2020-2021 tax season, Jackson Hewitt's offices are committed to keeping their clients, staff, and communities safe with safety protocols designed to meet local, state, and federal guidelines. Jackson Hewitt offers many ways to file. Choose to make an appointment at your nearest location to file in an office or drop off your documents, or file from the comfort of your home with Jackson Hewitt Online or Tax Pro from Home. Visit jacksonhewitt.com to learn more about how to file with Jackson Hewitt.

About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. is an innovator in the tax industry, with a mission to provide its hard-working clients access to simple, low-cost solutions to manage their taxes and tax refunds. Jackson Hewitt is devoted to helping clients get ahead and stands behind its work with its Maximum Refund Guarantee and Lifetime Accuracy Guarantee (restrictions apply, see Jackson Hewitt's website for more details). Clients can choose to file at one of Jackson Hewitt's nearly 6,000 franchised and company-owned locations, including 3,000 in Walmart stores and online, making it easy and convenient for clients to file their taxes. For more information about products, services, and offers, or to locate a Jackson Hewitt office, visit www.jacksonhewitt.com or call 1 (800) 234-1040.

Methodology

The Jackson Hewitt survey was conducted online by Dynata on November 30, 2020, among 1,000 American adults aged 18 and older. Respondents to the survey were selected from those who volunteered to participate in online surveys. One thousand complete surveys were collected using the sample framework based on U.S. Census data for age, ethnicity, gender, region, and income.

SOURCE Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

Related Links

http://www.jacksonhewitt.com



The battle for the White House is over, and millions of Americans are hoping the era of Americas uncivil war has come to an end, as well.

Thats the term President Joe Biden used in his inaugural address to refer to the bitter divisions of politics and race that marked the presidential elections and the past four years under President Donald Trump. These divisions culminated with violence at the Capitol two weeks ago, with five people being killed and Trumps second impeachment.

Live On PennLive with Joyce Davis The battle for the White House is over. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were inaugurated today in what many are heralding as a triumph for democracy. Bring your respectful questions and comments for the last Battleground PA discussion on today's Facebook Live. Posted by PennLive.com on Wednesday, January 20, 2021

PennLives Battleground PA podcast has spent the past year exploring the reasons for the alarming animosity between Republicans and Democrats, with Jeffrey Lord, a Trump loyalist, and Rogette Harris, a rising star in the Democratic party, paired off each week. And PennLive readers have weighed in, making their opinions known on everything from whether refugees should be stopped at the southern border to whether Donald Trump should wear a mask.

The Battleground PA podcast aired for a final time on Wednesday, with the pundits and readers addressing one of the most important issues facing our nation: have Americans had enough?

Have Americans learned any lessons from the meanness and the name-calling that now characterizes public discourse? Have we learned anything about the danger of stirring up racial divisions and pitting one group against each other? Have we learned anything about what it takes to keep a republic and to safeguard a democracy?

Jacob Chansley (in horns) and other protesters interact with Capitol Police inside the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee/Getty Images/TNS) TNS

Lord, a staunch Trump supporter, doesnt blame the former president for inciting violence, as so many people do. And hes not convinced President Biden is really sincere in seeking to work with those who didnt vote for him.

Lord believes social media is responsible for spreading the meanness in American society and for encouraging Americans to turn against each other. And while she doesnt let Trump off the hook, Harris agrees 100 percent.

And so do many of our readers:

Social media will be the death of our country, Colleen Stough Markel wrote in the final Facebook Live taping of PennLives Battleground PA podcast only hours after Biden and Harris were inaugurated.

Social media gives those an audience that might not otherwise have one, Linda Whipple Crum added.

But Linda Segarra believes theres another problem: The NEWS people twist stuff.

The website of the social media platform Parler is displayed in Berlin, Jan. 10, 2021. The platform's logo is on a screen in the background.Christophe Gateau/dpa via AP

The truth is, social media is not the villain. It is but a medium, albeit a powerful one, which too many people use as a weapon to spread half-truths, outright lies and even to incite violence in our communities.

The problem is how the medium is used, and who uses it. If social media were used to spread the message of uniting Americans, as Biden tried to do in his inaugural address, it would not be a weapon that further divides good people.

If social media were used to promote the highest ideals of patriotism, honor and mutual respect, it would not be a problem.

And if social media were used spread truth instead of to misinform, mislead and slander, it would not be held in such disdain by so many Americans.

All in face masks, President Joe Biden, right, with first lady Jill Biden, second from right, Vice President Kamala Harris, second from left, and her husband Douglas Emhoff, at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 20. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS)

On a day when much of the nation was celebrating with rightful pride the beautiful ceremonies of American democracy, some continued to use social media to divide and to repeat lies. You can find them in the Facebook chat box on the Battleground PA video, if you want a reminder of what Americans need to stop if our nation is to prosper.

But social media, including the Battleground PA podcasts and our Facebook Lives, also have provided a platform for messages that unite and lift us up as one people and as one nation.

Congratulations to our new leaders! Mertie Arnold wrote.

President Joe Biden signs three documents including an inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations in the President's Room at the US Capitol after the inauguration ceremony, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris watches at right. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Photo via AP)AP

Unity vs division, Laine Snow wrote. I choose unity.

Allison Deas summed it up best: I think we, as Americans, need to stop the vile mudslinging from both sides and stop using a keyboard as our courage to be nasty. Until that can happen, we cannot mend the divide.

Thats about right, Allison. Until we can discuss and debate issues with civility and respect, the divisions will remain. And the democracy we so cherish will continue to be threatened, not from without, but from within.

Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Kenya's health ministry says two men have tested positive for a coronavirus strain first detected in South Africa, the first such cases detected in the East African country.

Both cases, which were asymptomatic, were detected in Kenya's coastal county of Kilifi, and involved foreigners who had since returned home, the ministry's director-general said Wednesday.

"We all know that this variant is 50 percent more transmissible, therefore posing a significant risk, in that more people will be infected and therefore could be able to stretch the healthcare system more," said Dr. Patrick Amoth.

No information was provided about the nationalities of the men who tested positive for the variant.

According to official figures released Thursday, Kenya has recorded 99,630 cases of coronavirus, of which 1,739 have been fatal, since the outset of the pandemic.

The outbreak surged in October, with the average percentage of positive cases returned in a week soaring to above 16 percent of all tests. That number dropped below three percent last week.

Kenya took quick measures to contain the virus when it was first detected in March, imposing a strict curfew, closing bars and restaurants and shutting schools.

The country has been under some form of nighttime curfew ever since, but other measures have eased somewhat and schools reopened to all students this month after some classes partially resumed in October.

In a briefing paper released Thursday, the Kenya Medical Research Institute forecast that COVID-19 cases and deaths would steadily rise until a peak in mid-March as a likely result of reopening schools.

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

 2021 AFP



A Florida man who went by the nickname the Monkey Whisperer has been charged in federal court with illegally transporting and selling primates, including a species considered endangered, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.

Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 57, of Parrish, was charged with conspiracy, trafficking and submitting a false record in violation of the Lacey Act, a federal law involving the illegal trade in wildlife, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Prosecutors said Hammonds owned and operated a wildlife breeding and sales business called The Monkey Whisperer, LLC, through which he tried to sell a capuchin monkey to a buyer in California, even though the buyer could not legally own the animal.

Hammonds was accused of organizing the illegal transport of the monkey across the country, where authorities seized the animal from the buyers California home, according to the Justice Department.

The indictment alleged he also sold endangered cotton-top tamarins to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin, then concealed the animal trafficking by submitting false records to authorities and attempting to persuade a witness to lie to law enforcement.

He also was charged with violations of the Endangered Species Act and witness tampering. If convicted, he could face more than 30 years in prison total on all of the counts.

It was not immediately clear whether Hammonds had an attorney who could comment for him.
TPV Technology, a global manufacturer of computer monitors, has announced Asbis ME, one of the leading IT distributors in the Middle East, as the distributor for Philips gaming monitors in the UAE.



The partnership will see both companies extend their business relations that originally started with TPV Technologys launch of AOC monitors in the region.



As one of their long-time distributors in the North Africa region that includes Algeria and Tunisia, Asbis ME has had experience in dealing with IT hardware in the UAE. This, along with its sound and robust infrastructure and existing trust between the two teams easily makes it the best choice as distributor for TPV Technology.



With this new partnership, TPV Technology aims to develop its channel, retail, and online business in the UAE, further creating a stronger path for both parties in the region.



TPV Technology and Asbis ME has been partners in the region for a long time and extending our reach to the UAE is the best step to ensure were getting best business with the launch of the new gaming monitors from Philips, said Carol Anne Dias, Sales Director Middle East & Africa at TPV Technology.



Were excited to extend our partnership with TPV Technology to bring these Philips monitors to the UAE. As TPV Technology is already our partner in other markets, we have a long-standing support and confidence that we can bring the same level of success for them, said Ahmad Naiem, Sales Director, Asbis ME.



Philips new gaming monitors feature 4K HDR support and up to dual QHD resolution. These displays also feature Ambiglow lighting that bring a whole new level of immersion.  TradeArabia News Service
Peters staff will stop working overtime from Friday in a bid to pressure the maker of Drumstick, Maxibon and Connoisseur ice creams to abandon a planned cut to casuals' wages and agree to a bigger pay rise for other workers.

The company, owned by European ice cream giant Froneri, has been bargaining with about 200 workers in the East Melbourne suburb of Mulgrave since March, when it proposed reducing casuals' base rate by about $9 an hour, from $31.70 to $22.50.

The United Workers Union, which represents Peters workers, claims the company is attacking casual staff. Credit:Joe Armao

The union says the plan is an attack on workers who helped the company keep manufacturing through the coronavirus pandemic.

Peters declined to comment but has since reduced the size of the proposed cut. A source close to the company said it paid better than many competitors and believed many of its workers supported the current offer.

This undated photo shows the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. President Trump is rushing to auction drilling rights in the Refuge before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated. (US Fish and Wildlife Service/Getty Images/TNS)

(Alliance News) - More people will lose their lives in the coronavirus outbreak, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned, after the UK saw its deadliest day in the pandemic.

Official figures showed that January 12 saw the highest number of deaths take place on a single day a with 1,110 Covid-19 fatalities, surpassing the previous peak of 1,073 on April 8, 2020.

The prime minister described the figures as "appalling" and warned "there will be more to come", saying we are seeing the result of the new variant that spread rapidly just before Christmas.

A record 1,820 further deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 were reported as of Wednesday, although there is a time lag between a patient dying and appearing in the government's official statistics.

Drawing attention to the strain hospitals are under, Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance said there is "enormous pressure, and in some cases it looks like a war zone in terms of the things that people are having to deal with".

The Royal College of Physicians has said it is "extremely concerned" about the mental health of frontline doctors, after a poll found more than one in four medics have sought mental health support during the pandemic.

More than half of college members who took part in the survey said they were very concerned about the impact of rising Covid-19 admissions on their organisation's capacity to deliver safe and effective care.

Echoing Johnson's words, Paul Elliott, director of the React study at Imperial College London, warned if prevalence of the virus remains high "more and more lives will be lost".

The latest research showed prevalence across England increased by 50% between early December and the second week of January, with one in 63 people infected up to January 15.

Elliott said the data was showing "worrying suggestions of a recent uptick in infections", and added "if prevalence continues at the high rate we are seeing then hospitals will continue to be put under immense pressure, and more and more lives will be lost".

The PM said there are "tough weeks to come" as the vaccine rollout continues, adding that "the light will only really begin to dawn as we get those vaccinations out".

Former prime minister Tony Blair has called for the current vaccination rate to be doubled to allow a speedier route out of lockdown.

New modelling from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) has suggested that a quicker rollout, delivering up to 600,000 jabs per day, would mean almost all Covid-19 restrictions could be lifted as early as mid-May.

Blair said the ability to use test and trace had "collapsed" due to the new more transmissible variant, sending "cases rocketing again".

He said: "So now the choice is: mass lockdown or mass vaccination."

Across the UK, 4,609,740 people have so far received a first jab.

Based on the latest figures, an average of 399,625 first doses of vaccine would be needed each day in order to meet the government's target of 15 million of the highest priority patients receiving a jab by February 15 a on Tuesday the total was 343,163.

NHS England said a mosque in Birmingham and Odeon cinema in Aylesbury are among the latest sites to become vaccination centres as the rollout continues.

Nadim Zahawi, the minister in charge vaccine deployment, said: "Each week the NHS is making it easier for people to get a jab closer to home, in places at the heart of their community from the local pharmacy to the local mosque."

In Northern Ireland, more than 100 medically trained technicians are set to be brought in to support health staff, as Health Minister Robin Swann warned the number of patients needing critical care is likely to increase further.

People in Wales have been told they should not expect a "significant easing" of coronavirus rules despite rates of the virus falling across the country.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said while the drop is "good news", coming out of lockdown restrictions "too soon, too fast" could result in a rebound in cases.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said while case numbers appear to have stabilised and may be declining there, they "remain too high" and the NHS is under pressure that is "almost certain to increase".

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Photo:  Twitter (Main Image)Republic TV founder, Arnab Goswami, manages to be part of some or the other controversy all the time. Now, his WhatsApp chats have been leaked where he purportedly suggests that he already knew about Indias plans to conduct airstrikes against Pakistan- in retaliation to the February 2019 Pulwama attack, days before the attack took place.



 Twitter Times Now

His Whatsapp chats are with former Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) chief executive Partho Dasgupta. The chats created havoc when they went viral on social media.



Among many other things, the chats also suggest that Goswami had prior knowledge of major government decisions including the Balakot airstrikes and the scrapping of Article 370.

Now, social media is flooded with comments suggesting that he should be arrested for treason and #ArrestArnabTraitor is trending on Twitter.

A Twitter user wrote, The issue is very serious that a Journalist made a discussion on national security where he knows all the matters in prior, how this could have happened in a democratic country? I would surprise about how he acknowledged this information by. Arrest such people.

The issue is very serious that a Journalist made a discussion on national security where he knows all the matters in prior, how this could be happened in democratic country? I would surprise about how he acknowledged this information by. Arrest such people.



#ArrestTraitorArnab pic.twitter.com/0FtMcqv1Vc    Dr. Prashant Rathor  (@DrRathor13579) January 21, 2021

Heres what people have to say about it-

Arnab Goswami is a stigma to journalism and to our nation. His sentence "We won like crazy" on 40 Soldiers in pulwama attack and knowing beforehand of Balakot Strike news is 100% sign of Anti-National activities.#ArrestTraitorArnab pic.twitter.com/d6wLtC2Q3Z  Sandip Gopani  (@sandipGopani_) January 21, 2021

The silence of govt speak thousands words of their involvement in Pulwama attack & leaking military information which could have compromised the security of more soldiers deployed in Jammu & Kashmir. For NIA, this is not security threat. #ArrestTraitorArnab pic.twitter.com/iHalztE118  PUNJABI REVIEW (@punjabireview_) January 21, 2021

#ArrestTraitorArnab but also initiate a proper investigation in order to find out and fix all those who acted as traitors against the national security in the recently exposed #ArnabGate episode. #ArrestTraitorArnab pic.twitter.com/jeanBitmX9  surbhi mouryOBC (@surbhimoury) January 21, 2021

Arnab

He calls himself

Patriot!!!!!



Where is the Equality and Justice#ArrestTraitorArnab #ArnabGaddarHai pic.twitter.com/vpjVtpGNlX  Holagunda PFi (@HolagundaP) January 21, 2021

Yes the bigger concern is who gave the information to him. Arnab is just the puppet of whom, all know.For what the republic tv is we all know.  Ankit Jain (@AnkitJa81653061) January 21, 2021

Seriously bro are you serious

It was obvious that something big was going to happen and because these was a large troop movement to the Kashmir and other states people who follow this already knew that something big is on the way.

Facts man don't be like congress andbhakt.  Abhishek Verma (@Abhishe99799039) January 21, 2021

Gaddar Arnab, How dare you rejoiced martyrdom of our 40 CRPF boys ? You are more brutal and anti Indian than those terrorists.#ArrestTraitorArnab pic.twitter.com/aurNHsrcoz  Naveen Shahi (@Naveen_Kr_Shahi) January 21, 2021

Earlier, he managed to get into a controversy with comedian Kunal Kamra. Kunal Kamra is also known to have quite 'heavy feelings' for Mr Goswami (as we all know), and his sentiments for Arnab Goswami never changed. Kunal made sure that he never failed to express his views about Arnab publically and came up with innovative ideas to insult him and entertain the audience.

Kunal and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap in Spetember 2020 went to Republic TVs office to give Arnab Goswami the 'excellence in journalism award'. Both of them went to the studio premises with actual slippers framed and were denied entry inside Republic TV premises.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below!
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Award winning market research company Fact.MR's recent report on the home diagnostics market projects a substantial annual increase, reaching an impressive valuation in 2021 over 2020. With an increasing proportion of patients opting for homecare, the market's outlook is anticipated to remain strong over the next 10 years, with a projected CAGR of approximately 5% through 2030.

In recent years, the market has experienced a slew of investments by numerous start-up companies and organizations seeking to introduce novel technological advancements, prompting extensive research and development initiatives. For instance, Belgian start-up Indigo Diabetes has raised  38 million capital for developing its Multi-Biomarker Sensor for diabetic patients in July 2020. Likewise, London-based Thriva secured a  4 million extension to its Series-A blood-testing funding round which is expected to widen its presence in the global market.

Furthermore, the market received credible impetus from the COVID-19 pandemic, as a paradigm shift towards preventive healthcare was witnessed. Declining footfalls across hospitals amidst fear of possible infection has compelled patients with chronic ailments to seek home-based treatment alternatives. In addition, global healthcare expenditure has risen significant in the last two decades, reaching over US$ 8 trillion by 2018, according to a report published by the World Health Organization. Owing to these trends, growth prospects for home diagnostics are expected to reach an all-time high.

"Manufacturers are effectively leveraging technological advancements by incorporating smart solutions, including big data analytics, artificial intelligence and cloud computing with respect to data assimilation and disbursement of treatment, leading to significant disruptions in the landscape," remarks a Fact.MR analyst.

Key Takeaways from the Home Diagnostics Market Study

By test type, glucose monitoring devices are likely to retain lucrativeness, attributed to surging diabetes cases

Diagnostic cassettes to experience substantial growth, expected to account for around three out of ten sales

By sample type, urine collection is expected to yield over 2/5 th revenue share throughout the forecast period

revenue share throughout the forecast period Wide berth expected for pregnancy testing kits in the future, followed by infection testing

Request a report sample to gain comprehensive insights at

https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1892

Penetration Likely to Deepen Across Emerging Economies

Presently, the developed world is witnessed enhanced home diagnostics adoption, with the United States contributing approximately two out of five sales of essential kits and equipment, propelled by increased prevalence of obesity, diabetes and cancers. A similar trend has been observed across the U.K, which predicts that the geriatric population is slated to surpass 8 million over the next 50 years.

However, manufacturers are discovering lucrative expansion potential across emerging markets, particularly in Asia. India is expected to yield immense expansion opportunities, given the exponential population growth experienced in the past few years. Initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) have helped disburse more than US$ 7 billion in health insurance to over 100 million families annually since 2018. This is likely to encourage families to opt for home diagnostics in the future.

Opportunities are also bright across China, Japan and South Korea, with specific breakthroughs achieved in automated home diagnostics systems. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, for instance, has compiled guidelines to ensure delivery of accurate diagnostic results while using automated solutions. LPixel is a pioneering technology in this regard, which aids in detecting neurological anomalies.

Competitive Landscape

Prominent players profiled by Fact.MR include Abbott Laboratories, BTNX Inc., ARKRAY Inc., ACON Laboratories Ltd., Becton Dickinson & Company, Bionimine Corporation, Zoetis Inc., Roche Holdings AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and Siemens Healthineers among others.

In December 2020, Roche Holdings unveiled its PIKC3A Mutation Test for patients suffering from metastatic breast cancer, a PCR-based test administered in vitro to detect possible malignancies of the PIKC3A gene which is responsible for nearly 40% of the patients suffering from the disease.

Likewise, ACON Laboratories Inc., received FDA approval for its Distinct Early Detection Pregnancy Test Kits for over-the-counter exchange across the U.S market. The test performs qualitative detection of human chorionic gondatropin (hCG) in urine and determine pregnancy as early as within 6 days.

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More Valuable Insights into the Report

Fact.MR provides a detailed overview of the home diagnostics market, concerning the pivotal drivers impacting the revenue graph of this business. Current trends are based on regional landscape, demand, and growth graph. Based on region, the market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, China, and the Middle East and Africa. These markets are divided into four categories, based on test type (glucose monitoring devices, pregnancy tests, HIV test kits, ovulation predictor test kits, cholesterol detection test kits, drug of abuse test kits, and others), form (cassettes, strips, midstream, digital monitoring instruments, test panels, cups, and dip card), distribution channel (retail pharmacies, drug stores, supermarkets, and online pharmacies), and sample type (blood, saliva, and urine).

Explore Extensive Coverage on Fact.MR's Healthcare Landscape

Cables and Leads for Medical Equipment Market: A study by Fact.MR on the cables and leads for medical equipment market offers a 10-year forecast for 2020 to 2030. The study analyzes crucial trends that are currently determining the growth of the cables and leads for medical equipment market. This report explicates on vital dynamics, such as the drivers, restraints, and opportunities for key market players along with key stakeholders.

Prepackaged Medical Kits and Trays Market: A detailed assessment of the prepackaged medical kits and trays value chain analysis, business execution, and supply chain analysis across regional markets has been covered in Fact.MR's extensive coverage within its report. The study provides an in-depth analysis of the key market drivers and trends for the upcoming forecast period.

Medical Equipment Maintenance Market: Explore Fact.MR's extensive coverage on the medical equipment maintenance market, offering a detailed 10-year forecast for the upcoming decade. The report incorporates key findings across prominent segments and regions, taking into account the possible expansion opportunities in store for forthcoming years.

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Market research and consulting agency with a difference! That's why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range  from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. We are headquartered in Dubai, and operate from our sales office in Dublin, Ireland. Reach out to us with your goals, and we'll be an able research partner.

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SOURCE Fact.MR
By Kang Seung-woo



President Moon Jae-in's pick for new foreign minister is raising questions over whether the nominee is the perfect fit for the position against the backdrop of the leadership change in the United States.





Foreign minister nominee Chung Eui-yong speaks to reporters as he arrives at a temporary office in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap
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The anti-Jewish pogrom of January 1941 represented a form of the vile and murderous anti-Semitism, which eventually lead to the end of innocent lives, and future generations should not forget these tragic events, declared on Thursday, Dr. Aurel Vainer, the honorary chairman of the Federation of Romanian Jewish Communities (FCER).

"The blind, legionary terrorist forces, anti-Semitic to the core, have done vile acts of vandalism and many cases led to the end of human lives. From official statistics, during the Bucharest Pogrom, of January 1941, 120-140 Jewish people were killed. The number is during a certain interval and it seems that it is even bigger, if we take into account the fact that Jewish people who converted to Christianity before and were killed were not counted. Anyway, this number (...) shows that there were many ugly things going on, there were forms of vile anti-Semitism, of a murderous anti-Semitism," declared Dr. Aurel Vainer, on the commemoration of 80 years since the anti-Jewish Pogrom of Bucharest of January 1941, an event which was held online by the FCER.

According to Vainer, there were "horror days" which should remain in the memory of future generations.

"We have the duty to always remind ourselves of the events of Bucharest, 1941 and to keep in our memory what happened then. Let us express our intense regret for the loss of innocent human lives, sentenced to death just because they were Jewish, with very different occupations - workers, craftsmen, businessmen, shopkeepers. It is a shameful page for the history of the Romanian people, known thusly through accepting the report of the Holocaust Research Committee, the Wiesel Committee. The Bucharest Pogrom was one of the major events, with a huge percussion, so to speak, and with a high level of cruelty towards the Jewish population," Vainer said.
The General Mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, declared on Thursday that an eventual ease of restrictions will be analysed within the Emergency Situations Committee of Bucharest Municipality, but it will have to wait a few more days, in order to see how the situation will settle, according to AGERPRES.

"Firstly, we need to salute this drop, these are some numbers which I look over each morning, we are under 3 (cases per 1,000 inhabitants, ed. n.), and we were at 7 a month and a half ago. I can honestly say that at the beginning of my term I was very, very worried. When I took over this term at the end of October, we were on an upward slope and I was afraid of where we might end up. Mask-wearing and the attitude of Bucharest citizens helped us reach this point. There will be a discussion within the municipal committee on this topic and you will see the decision we will make. Let us wait a few more days, see that this situation will settle. So far, regarding numbers, we were at 1,000 per day, we were at 2,000 per day and now it seems that we are somewhere around 200-300-400 per day", he specified, for RFI.

Nicusor Dan mentioned that he will vaccinate, once it will be his turn to do so.

The Bucharest prefect, Traian Berbeceanu declared on Wednesday evening, in a phone call for private television broadcaster Digi 24, that at the end of this week the Bucharest Municipality Emergency Situation Committee could be summoned, to discuss the adoption of a decision through which sanitary measures can be eased in the Capital City.

According to the prefect, this is about allowing institutions / show areas, theaters and cinemas to function at a maximum 30% capacity, reopening "inside" activities, such as restaurants, bars, coffee shops, etc, in the limit of 30% capacity, as well as allowing public activities, to the limit of 30% of the designated space, of licensed gambling operators.
If the wildfires of 2020 hadnt already served as a wake-up call for Californias wine industry, just wait until it sees the bill.

The damage to the states wine companies by last years fires, according to one industry analyst, may amount to as much as $3.7 billion. Thats taking into account the losses of property, wine inventory, grapes and future sales of the wine that those grapes would have made.

Its just an estimate, emphasized the analyst, Jon Moramarco of the firm BW166 and author of the Gomberg Fredrikson Report, a widely cited and reputable annual resource. He partnered with the California Wine Institute to undertake the study that resulted in that $3.7 billion figure. Its the first such estimate of the economic toll that the 2020 fires took on the wine industry; other sources will likely come out with their own estimates at later dates.

The reason they sought to quantify the damage, Moramarco said, wasnt just for shock value. Rather, it was to make the point that the stakes for the industry are high  and will continue to mount if it doesnt invest in more research about how to mitigate the effects of wildfire and smoke on wines in the future.

UC Davis probably needs $10 million over five years, Moramarco said, referring to the countrys preeminent academic institution for wine science. Thats a lot of money, but its a small amount of money relative to the risks that we face.

Moramarco shared his findings during a webinar on Tuesday about the state of the wine market, hosted by North Bay Business Journal and open to the public. He stressed the idea that the industry needs to fund this research itself, he said. Whether we like it or not, tax dollars are not going to pay for it. He landed on the $10 million figure based on conversations with UC Davis scientists, he said, though the research would not need to be confined to that university, and Moramarco himself does not have a specific research proposal.

California has never seen anything quite like the wildfires of 2020, and they affected wine businesses in particularly painful ways. A series of lightning sieges in August caused fires to break out across the state, all at once, right as the wine harvest was beginning  thus imperiling the viability of an unprecedented volume of California wine grapes. Then, in late September, a blaze known as the Glass Fire surged through Napa and Sonoma counties. It ultimately destroyed more than 1,200 buildings, including about 30 winery or vineyard properties.

At a time of year when vintners would typically be throwing harvest parties and stomping grapes, they were instead faced with mounting uncertainty about the viability of their crop. Many of them decided not to make some or all of the wine that theyd planned to bottle because of the smoke damage. Months later, wineries are still deliberating over those decisions.

Some of them can collect insurance or stomach the losses of one years production. But what will those wineries do when they find themselves faced with another smoke-tainted crop a few years from now, Moramarco asked? Its unsustainable to say were not going to make any wine every time this happens, he said.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made these considerations all the more urgent. The closures or restrictions of two of the main sales channels for California wines  tasting rooms and restaurants  have already led to difficulties for many businesses, especially small wineries, and Moramarco said its unrealistic to expect that things will return to normal anytime soon.

He ventured a rough estimate that the number of restaurants selling wine may decline by 25% in the medium-term. And in the restaurants that can get back to business, youre going to see their menu items reduced, their wine lists shorter, Moramarco said. Theyre going to be much more cautious about how theyre spending. Fifty-page lists full of prestige Napa Cabernet may become rare.

This roughly $10 million worth of scientific research that Moramarco is suggesting would mainly address how wineries can mitigate the effects of wildfires and smoke  essentially, how to live with this new reality. Techniques that wineries can use to lessen the taste and smell of smoke in the wines. Better, more efficient methods to test for the smoke compounds that lodge themselves inside the grapes. A database of baseline chemistry levels for various types of wines, so that wineries can understand how worried they should be when they learn that their grapes have a certain level of a compound that could manifest as smokiness.

Were just trying to put things into perspective, Moramarco said. Spending $10 million to save what could potentially be a $3.7 billion annual bill  well, suddenly that doesnt sound like such a bad bargain.

Wine of the Week

This week, our featured wine is an affordable example of one of my favorite white grape varieties, Chenin Blanc. The Field Recordings Central Coast Chenin Blanc 2018, whose fruit comes from a number of old-vine plantings, is a remarkable value at $20, and the sort of wine that I believe will appeal to a diverse range of palates. Heres my review.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

...and mocktails!

Esther Mobley / The Chronicle

In a departure from my typically alcohol-fueled reporting, I spent some time with nonalcoholic drinks in honor of all my readers observing dry January. Although my philosophy for booze-free drinking has always been to just drink something thats not trying to taste like booze, this time I actually found some pleasant mocktail ingredients. You can find my mocktailing tips and top five nonalcoholic drink recipes here.

What Im reading

 The always entertaining Randall Grahm has written a characteristically dense-but-fascinating blog post about how California should define its own wine identity. Rather than compare California Pinot Noir to Burgundy or our Syrah to Cote-Rotie, Grahm writes, maybe the paradigm should shift toward asking how these grape varieties can best reveal California terroir. The grape varieties are simply the means to the end, no longer the end in themselves. Its an interesting argument (and one that, it should be noted, serves Grahms own interests at his Popelouchum project, which Ive written about before).

 More than 50 restaurants, wineries and other businesses in Wine Country have sued Gov. Gavin Newsom, claiming they should be allowed to reopen for outdoor dining, reports The Chronicles Janelle Bitker. Its the latest suit to be filed against the governor over his pandemic reopening policies, after complaints filed by the owner of Napas Caymus Vineyards and a group of craft breweries.

 The United States has a new president as of yesterday morning, and one thing the countrys wine industry will be watching for is whether he will reverse any of the tariffs on European wines, especially the new fee that took effect last week. In SevenFifty Daily, sommelier Christy Frank considers the likelihood of President Joe Biden acting quickly on the matter.

Drinking with Esther is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles wine critic. Follow along on Twitter: @Esther_Mobley and Instagram: @esthermob
The Illinois House, led by a new House speaker, will provide oversight of Gov. J.B. Pritzkers handling of the states COVID-19 response.

The news was welcomed by members of both parties, which havent seen much of that over the past year.

State Rep. Fred Crespo, D-Hoffman Estates, said he and others have been frustrated for months by the lack of cooperation with the Pritzker administration on things like the unemployment backlog and fraud.

But I think if you speak to either our Republican colleagues or our Democratic colleagues, were asking for the same thing and were not getting that information, Crespo said.

State Rep. Mike Marron, R-Fithian, said the Legislature has failed to hold the Pritzker administration accountable on not just problems with unemployment, but also with the backlog in Firearm Owner Identification Card applications.

I think youre seeing a disturbing pattern here with a lot of the administration, where the FOID card is just another example of where the governor has failed, Marron said.

One avenue Crespo suggested to get information from the Pritzker administration was withholding money from agencies until they get answers.

Crespo reportedly was helpful in generating support among Democrats for new House Speaker Chris Welch, D-Hillside, who last week took over for state Rep. Michael Madigan, D-Chicago. Madigan had served as House speaker for all but two years since 1983.

State Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, has decried the governors unilateral authority and said Democrats failed to speak up under Madigan.

I think that Speaker Welch has said specifically that its his intention for the legislature to be a check on the Executive Branch and I welcome that with open arms, Wilhour said.

Welch last week indicated he plans to provide a check on the Pritzker administration.

The Legislature is going to be a check on the Executive Branch, Welch told political blogger Rich Miller.

State Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Hillside, said hell seek more leeway from Welch for legislative committees.

Maybe we give committee chairs a little more ability to control silos of policy and I think hell be receptive to that, Zalewski said.

Under Madigan most of last year, House committees didnt provide oversight on the Pritzker administrations handling of COVID-19 with the exception of hearings about an outbreak at a home for veterans.

The House returns on Feb. 2.

.

Total cases in west-central Illinois counties as of Wednesday, according to individual county health departments, were:

Brown County

610 total, 519 recovered, seven deaths

Cass County

1,779 total, 1,695 recovered, 30 deaths

Three new cases.

Greene County

1,229 total, 1,168 recovered, 41 deaths

Two new cases.

Jersey County

2,242 total, 2,100 recovered, 42 deaths

36 new cases and two additional deaths.

Macoupin County

4,041 total, 2,727 recovered, 96 deaths

39 new cases.

Morgan County

3,353 total, 3,147 released from restrictions, 91 deaths

Six new cases and one additional death, that of a woman in her 50s.

Pike County

1,558 total, 1,472 recovered, 40 deaths

14 new cases.

Sangamon County

14,605 total, 198 deaths

57 new cases.

Schuyler County

615 total, 568 recovered, 15 deaths

Two new cases.

Scott County

386 total, 354 recovered, one death

Statewide, 4,822 new cases of coronavirus disease and 107 deaths were reported Wednesday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

There have been 1,081,354 cases and 18,398 deaths in Illinois.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 00:56:52|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa on Wednesday stressed the critical role that women in the country should play in helping to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said women have a role to play at the household level in ensuring that families adhere to COVID-19 safety and preventative measures.

"As mothers, let us enforce compliance at the family level with measures that reduce the spread of COVID-19 amongst us. We need a plan at the household level for regularly using any means at our disposal to clean and sanitize our homes, to ensure that everyone in the home knows the importance of having a mask and masking up properly, more importantly to organize sharp safe errands for our requirements to get going whilst enforcing the family to stay at home," she said in a statement.

She also called on women in the country to join her in three days of fasting and prayer from Jan. 21 to pray for the nation as the deadly virus wreaks havoc in the country.

"I thus humbly appeal to all women to commit to a three-day period from tomorrow in which we fast and pray calling for divine intervention to save the nation and our people," she said Wednesday.

Zimbabwe is currently under a new 30-day nationwide lockdown imposed on Jan. 5 to curb rising cases of the pandemic.

As of Tuesday, the country had recorded 28,675 COVID-19 cases, 18,110 recoveries and 825 deaths. Enditem
Thirty-five people have died in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since April 2018, with a seven-fold increase in deaths even as the average daily population decreased by nearly a third between 2019 and 2020, a new USC study shows.

"Potentially preventable causes of death -- including COVID-19 infection, influenza and suicide -- are responsible for at least half of recent deaths," said researcher Sophie Terp, an assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and a clinical scholar at the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics.

For the study, the USC researchers examined three years of congressionally mandated reports on deaths in ICE custody. Their findings appear in the journal AIMS Public Health.

The death rate -- 10.833 per 100,000 detainees -- is the highest since ICE implemented their Performance-Based National Detention Standards in 2008, researchers said. The findings lend support to civil liberties organizations' longstanding concerns that substandard medical care in ICE facilities has contributed to preventable deaths.

Overall, nine people died by suicide and 26 people died from medical causes. Eight of the medical deaths were attributed to COVID-19, which represents 72.7% of 11 deaths occurring since April 2020.

The paper also includes two case studies describing circumstances surrounding recent deaths in ICE custody.

In one case, a 54-year-old citizen of Mexico fell ill one month after being taken into custody two decades after first entering the United States. A nurse noted that the patient appeared normal "except a heart rate of 103 and pulse oximetry reading of 83%." A normal blood oxygen level is typically between 95 and 100%. Interventions such as supplementary oxygen or hospitalization were not recorded. The man died the following day.

In another case, a 55-year-old Russian citizen detained after nearly 20 years in the United States was put on suicide watch after he said: "If I can't go home, then I just want to kill myself." Over the next year, the man was diagnosed with acute stress disorder, anxiety, insomnia and hallucinations. The report indicates that although the man had low blood pressure, care providers continued to prescribe him a medication that controls high blood pressure until they ended the treatment. He was eventually hospitalized for small bowel obstruction and anemia and placed on suicide watch. He left the hospital against medical advice and died the following day.

"Refusing to cooperate with care for a diagnosed bowel obstruction while on suicide watch [raises] questions about the detained individual's capacity to refuse care for a potentially life-threatening condition and whether mental health issues may have been contributory to this death," the researchers wrote.

The researchers noted that most of the COVID-19-related deaths occurred among detained individuals whose age or medical conditions -- including diabetes, chronic kidney disease or lymphoma -- put them at high risk for severe illness and for death from COVID-19.

"Safety measures such as masks, hand hygiene and social distancing can be difficult to implement in often-crowded detention environments," Terp said. "Although the COVID vaccine was not yet available during the study period, immunization should be prioritized for incarcerated populations."

The fact that most of the people who died were detained for more than a month before they died suggests conditions in detention, rather than events prior to detention, contributed to premature death, the researchers said. In addition, the average age at death -- 47.3 years -- is markedly lower than the reported life expectancy for foreign-born individuals in the United States.

"This is concerning, particularly considering that foreign-born individuals in the United States have a 2.4-year advantage in life-expectancy relative to United States-born population," Terp and her colleagues wrote. "There is considerable room for the improvement of infection control measures, as well as access to and quality of psychiatric care and suicide prevention efforts for individuals in ICE detention."

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In addition to Terp, other authors of the study include Sameer Ahmed, Briah Fischer, Madeline Ross, Molly Grassini, Elizabeth Burner and Parveen Parmary, all of the Keck School of Medicine.
Phuket van driver pleas for police action over attempted murder

PHUKET: A Phuket van driver is calling for police to make some progress in catching the two men who opened fire on him and two friends last year, with one of the bullets scraping his scalp, after the two suspects have been seen walking around in public.

violencecrimetourismtransportSafetypolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 21 January 2021, 04:22PM

One of the case documents presented to the press yesterday (Jan 20). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

One of the case documents presented to the press yesterday (Jan 20). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

One of the case documents presented to the press yesterday (Jan 20). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

One of the bullets fired at Mr Itsada scraped his scalp. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Mr Itsada holds up photos of Mr Wiroj and the two men wanted for attempted murder. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Mr Itsada points to where he was shot at in the attack last year. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Cherng Talay resident Itsada Itsarawat, 40, called reporters to hear his plea for justice yesterday (Jan 20), and presented case documents and photos of the two men now wanted on an arrest warrant for attempted murder and the competing van driver who allegedly hired them.

The attempt on his life followed an incident on Mar 16 last year when his boss ordered Mr Itsada to transfer a group of customers to a place, but he could not make it, so his boss punished him by not giving him any customers for five days, Mr Itsada explained.

The next day, Mar 17, another van driver, Wiroj Thonglor, posted comments about the punishment on the company Line chat group, making Mr Itsada feel embarrassed, he said.

A day after that, Mar 18, Mr Wiroj was unable to deliver customers to their destination, but he was not punished, so Mr Itsada posted his own comments on the same company chat group, he explained.

Angry, Mr Wiroj called Mr Itsada to meet beside the road through a rubber plantation so they could resolve their differences, Mr Itsada said.

On Mar 19, Mr Itsara arrived at the rendezvous, but brought his brother and his brothers friend, he said.

However, Mr Wiroj did not show. Instead, two men arrived on a motorbike.

The men called Mr Wiroj and told him that Mr Itsada was not alone, Mr Itsada said.

Mr Wiroj then called Mr Itsada to tell him to have his two fellows leave so they could talk alone, he continued.

At 6:20pm, the same two men returned on their motorbike and one of them started shooting at Mr Itsada and his companions while they were standing by the side of the road.

The trio scrambled for cover, hiding behind rubber trees, he said.

The assailants shot five times, with what was later confirmed to be a .38-calibre firearm, before riding off, Mr Itsada said.

One of the bullets scraped the top of Mr Itsadas head, he added.

Mr Itsada was taken by his brother from the scene of the shooting to Cherng Talay Police Station, where he reported the incident to Capt Yannaphat Malai while still bleeding from the head wound.

Police called an ambulance to take him to Thalang Hospital, where the wound was closed with five stitches, Mr Itsada said.

I keep asking Cherng Talay Police for updates of my case, but they keep telling me that they are still searching for evidence and still looking for Wiroj and the two men, Mr Itsada told reporters.

The latest update was on June 12, when I was informed that the court had already issued arrest warrants for the two men, named as Charif Soison and Nanthaphat Manaboot, for committing attempted murder together, Mr Itsada explained, while presenting to reporters the official report from Cherng Talay Police confirming the update.

However, police have not confirmed any action against Mr Wiroj for allegedly ordering the hit.

I wonder why Cherng Talay Police have not found the men while some local people have confirmed they see them every now and then. Local residents have seen one of them still walking around in the area, so why cant police see them? Mr Itsada asked.

My family and I do not feel safe. We are worried the men will come back and finish the job, he said.

I want reporters to check with Cherng Talay Police their progress in the case and ask Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Pornsak Nuannu to investigate his own subordinates, Mr Itsada said.

Lt Col Rassada Klungwong of the Cherng Talay Police briefly explained to The Phuket News today (Jan 21), Mr Wiroj has already presented himself to police for questioning. He had evidence to confirm where he was and who he was with at that time [of the shooting].

We do not have any evidence to prove he was the mastermind [sic, of the crime], Lt Col Rassada said.

As for the two men, we are still searching for them. We believe that they have already fled the island, he said.
January 21 : Web series are increasingly getting entangled in legal troubles and are being targeted for "violating laws". A section of the society object to web series being not censored, which help them to project anything and everything in bad light. While the web series Tandav is being targeted, today, the makers of the web series Mirzapur 2 and Amazon Prime Video have been served with the Supreme Court notice based on a plea filed over the portrayal of Mirzapur, a district in Uttar Pradesh, in bad light.

Mirzapur 2

Amazon Prime Video's web series Mirzapur 2 is the latest to get into legal trouble as the makers have received a legal notice and have been asked to respond to the plea filed against them for showing Mirzapur district in bad light. The Supreme Court notice came two days after an FIR was registered by a resident of the district against the producers of Mirzapur for hurting religious sentiments and damaging the image of Mirzapur. The complaint also pointed out that the web series has shown abusive content and illicit relationships.

Image Source: IANS News

Tandav

The controversy around Amazon Prime Video's web series Tandav has already created a stir across the nation. The web series starring Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and others has been in the news ever since its release on January 15, 2021. Many politicians and leaders are demanding a ban on the series as they alleged that the web series hurt the religious and political sentiments of people in India. While the BJP has sought action against the makers of the series, Maharashtra government has said that it will take action as per the law.

Aashram

Image Source: youtu.be/sr-TLzvHc_k Image Source: youtu.be/sr-TLzvHc_k Aashram trailer- Bobby Deol

MX Player's web series Aashram starring Bobby Deol in the lead character was also in legal trouble last year. A number of FIRs were filed against Prakash Jha, the maker of the web series, for allegedly hurting the sentiments of religious gurus by portraying them in a bad light. FIRs also alleged that the web series has hurt the sentiments of the SC & ST community, and also promoted discrimination and untouchability.

A Suitable Boy

Image Source: Instagram/ishaankhatter Image Source: Instagram/ishaankhatter A Suitable Boy poster

Netflix original's web series A Suitable Boy, directed by Mira Nair and starring Ishaan Khatta, Tabu and others, also landed in legal trouble for showing the lead characters kissing in a temple. An FIR was filed against the makers of the series in Riva, Madhya Pradesh last year, which asked them to cut out the scene. Madhya Pradesh.

Home Minister Narottam Mishra has also said that A Suitable Boy depicts "extremely objectionable content" hurting religious sentiments. He has also directed the police officials to consider taking legal action against the producer and the director of the OTT series. Netizens also trended #BoycottNetflix on social media platforms.

Image Source: IANS News

Paatal Lok

Pataal Lok, Anushka Sharma's first digital venture as a producer, was also in legal trouble. A legal notice was served to Anushka for hurting the sentiments of the Gorkha community in a particular scene. A member of the Lawyers Guild, Viren Sri Gurung, sent Anushka a legal notice asking her to respond to his plea. The plea pointed out that a dialogue in the web series is objectionable and especially problematic at a time when the Gorkha community faced racism issues during the coronavirus pandemic.
Samajwadi Party president has questioned the 'intentions' of the Modi government to defer farm laws by one and a half year.

"The BJP government has extended a proposal to defer the implementation of the farm laws for the next one and a half year. The move is illogical and without any rationale. Deferring implementation of the law will not change the consequences that will follow once the law is introduced," he said.

Akhilesh further said, "By deferring implementation of the law, the BJP government is trying to counter popular public sentiment which is growing in favour of the agitating farmers and against the law makers. The government will eventually implement the laws before the elections in 2024 to benefit the capitalists."

The SP president has directed the party leaders and workers to dedicate their Republic Day celebrations to farmers who are protesting against the new farm laws. He asked party men to reach the venues where Indian flag will be unfurled at the tehsil level on tractors carrying the Tricolour.

He said that by taking out tractor rallies, the SP workers and leaders will only reassert their support to the agitating farmers.

Akhilesh also attacked the ruling BJP for the delay in clearing cane dues of farmers, increase in power tariff and raids by power department officials on farmers for recovery of power dues.

--IANS

amita/dpb

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hours into Joe Bidens presidency, four dozen activists crowded around the bandstand in the Boston Common, cautioning against complacency now that the Trump administration is over.

People have got to really recognize they tried to have a coup and just werent successful, said Scott Gilbert, spokesperson for Refuse Fascism New England, referencing the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. People have to take that very, very seriously that this fascist movement is not going away. Its been led by [Donald] Trump and other fascist organizations, the executive branch.

Activists cheered as speakers criticized the former Republican president and the new Democratic president alike, noting over and over again that Biden was considered a more moderate version among candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential election. They called for protests to put pressure on the incoming president to take steps against police brutality, immigration enforcement and far-right extremism.

The Jan. 6 insurrection, which led to five deaths and disrupted the certification of electoral votes in Congress, put authorities on high alert leading up to Inauguration Day. States across the country bolstered security around state capitols after an FBI bulletin warned of armed protests planned the week of the inauguration.

But Massachusetts officials said there was no credible threat this week.

Police officers patrolled the exterior of the Massachusetts State House grounds on Wednesday. Barriers were erected in front of the Massachusetts State House, particularly in an area where demonstrators typically stage rallies and protests.

But no rallies or protests led by Trump supporters occurred the day of Bidens inauguration. The only demonstration was the No Honeymoon for Biden protest that started at 4 p.m. on the common. There were officers standing guard throughout the common as the demonstration began.

Yes, we recognize and understand we have a new presidential administration. However the work is not done, said Rev. Vernon Walker, program manager at Communities Responding to Extreme Weather. Yes, we voted out a fascist from office and Trump, but theres still racial injustice in our world today.

Willow Reader, an organizer with the Socialist Alternative, said the far right isnt going away just because Trump left office. While Democrats control Congress and the presidency, she added, they dont seem to have the appetite to push for progressive policies such as universal health care or defunding the police.

It is ridiculous that during a global pandemic, which has already killed over 400,000 Americans, Medicare For All isnt even on the table, Reader said.

Reader added: But the biggest concessions that we won historically, like Social Security and the New Deal, werent handed to us. They were the results of mass movements.

Gary Dantzler, executive director of Black Lives Matter RI, said he drove up to Boston to speak about love, even in the face of racism that spans the nations history.

We dont talk about love because weve seen what the world did to us for 400 years, said Dantzler, also known as Brother Gary among activists. We need your help to fix this [expletive] country. Weve got to fix it, and thats education. Weve got to stay positive, no matter what.

Walker, who is also public policy director for Young Democrats for Massachusetts, said Greater Boston residents have an opportunity to make changes that would move the city forward as soon as 2021. For him, that means pushing for the passage of a climate justice bill, which was recently refiled by lawmakers after Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed the proposal, and electing a progressive mayor.

Boston has unfinished business, Walker said. Several homes and businesses could end up underwater in a matter of decades if climate change goes unchallenged. Racial tensions came to a head after George Floyds killing at the hands of police in Minneapolis, when Boston police clashed with protesters, including some who struggled to get out of the city after peaceful demonstrations. The city is also in the thick of a housing crisis.

Whoever succeeds Marty Walsh, who was appointed to Bidens cabinet, must understand the threat climate change poses to homes along the Massachusetts coast, as well as gentrification, racial and indigenous justice issues, Walker said.

Electing a progressive mayor isnt the only solution, he added, but one that can help shift the citys focus on addressing a series of issues.

The type of mayor that the city of Boston needs is a progressive mayor, a mayor that understands the concerns of communities of color and also a mayor who understands intersectionality is important and who is committed to addressing these pressing issues that we find, he said, and also a mayor who understands intersectionality is important and who is committed to addressing these pressing issues that we find.

Related content:
New Delhi, Jan 21 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested a terrorist belonging to jihadi gang named 'Shahadat is our Goal' in connection with the alleged 'Tamil Nadu jihad' case.

An NIA official here said that the agency arrested Mohammed Rashid, a resident of Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu.

The NIA case is based on the FIR registered by Tamil Nadu Police in April 2018 in Ramnathapuram district of the state after the arrest of accused Mohamed Rifas, Muparish Ahmed and Abupakkar Sithik.

The state police had recovered lethal weapons including swords along with pamphlets pertaining to the terrorist gang 'Shahadat is our Goal' from their possession.

Sheik Dawood aka Seik Thavuthu, Ahamed Imithyash, Hameed Asfar, Liyakath Ali , Sajith Ahamed and Rizwan Mohammad were also arrested during the ensuing investigation.

The NIA had taken over the probe in January 2019.

The NIA official said that searches were conducted by NIA at the premises of the accused persons in May 2019 and Rashid was identified as an active member of the terrorist gang.

"Scrutiny of forensically retrieved data from the seized digital devices and their e-mail and social media accounts, has revealed that the accused including Rashid had conducted multiple conspiracy meetings under the leadership of Sheik Dawood aka Seik Thavuthu and Mohamed Rifas aka Mohamed Rigbass with the intention of allegedly waging violent jihad in Tamil Nadu, as part of their efforts to establish Islamic rule (Shariah)," the official said.

The official said that the accused, in pursuance of the conspiracy, had also attempted to procure illegal fire arms.

Rashid was produced before the Special NIA Court in Chennai and was sent to judicial custody.
On Jan. 18, 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech entitled Work Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind at the United Nations (UN) Office at Geneva.

Customs officers in Heihe, northeast China's Heilongjiang province, clear a batch of anti-epidemic supplies to be donated to Russia, April 2, 2020. (People's Daily Online/Qiu Qilong)

The speech came at a time when a new year had just begun and everything had taken a new look. It was also a time when the world was full of uncertainties and people longed for a bright future but were bewildered about what would come.

Xi's speech won high praise from the international community, with many believing that the Chinese leader portrayed a bright prospect of a community with a shared future for mankind and lit the way forward for human beings with insightful observations.

Four years on, Xi's idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind is particularly inspiring when the world is plagued by the raging COVID-19.

The world today is experiencing unprecedented changes, which have been worsened by the once-in-a-century pandemic.

The global economy has been put into deep recession, the world is entering a period of turbulence and transformation, and human society is faced with numerous challenges.

People from all countries have become more aware that they must advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind as everyone is living in an interconnected global village and shares weal and woe with each other.

At such a moment, by reviewing Xi's speech made four years ago, looking back at the history in the past century and more, and thinking about the questions of "what is going on with the world and "what shall we do about it," people around the world will better understand the common aspiration held dear by mankind.

"Pass on the torch of peace from generation to generation, sustain development and make civilization flourish: this is what people of all countries long for; it is also the responsibility statesmen of our generation ought to shoulder. And China's proposition is: build a community of shared future for mankind and achieve shared and win-win development, " Xi said in the important speech he delivered four years ago.

He put forward specific proposals from such aspects as partnership, security, growth, inter-civilization exchanges and the building of a sound ecosystem.

Xi called for staying committed to building a world of lasting peace through dialogue and consultation, building a world of common security for all through joint efforts, building a world of common prosperity through win-win cooperation, building an open and inclusive world through exchanges and mutual learning, and making the world clean and beautiful by pursuing green and low-carbon development.

He has formulated a blueprint for human society, and charted the way forward for progress and development.

As an ancient Chinese adage goes, "the greatest ideal is to create a world truly shared by all."

Photo taken on April 14, 2020, shows a China-Europe freight train loaded with 260,000 pieces of medical supplies departing from a China-Kazakhstan logistics cooperation base in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu province, for Central Asian countries. (People's Daily Online/Wang Jianmin)

Building a community with a shared future for mankind represents the greatest common divisor of all peoples' aspirations for peace, development and prosperity.

It is generally acknowledged by the international community that by advocating and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, China has demonstrated its active efforts to advance with the times.

In February 2017, the concept of "building a community with a shared future for mankind" was written into a UN resolution for the first time. Later, it was also adopted by the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council.

At present, China is forging bilateral community with a shared future with more and more partners. The country has reached agreement with relevant parties on building a community with a shared future with its neighbors, a community with a shared future in the Asia-Pacific, a China-ASEAN community with a shared future, a China-Africa community with a shared future, a China-Arab community with a shared future, and a community with a shared future with Latin American and Caribbean countries.

In addition, China's proposals for building a community with a shared future in cyberspace, a community of shared future for global nuclear safety, a maritime community with a shared future and a global community of health for all have been actively echoed around the world.

Great visions can be realized only through actions. China has firmly adhered to the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and practiced the vision with actions.

From unswervingly upholding multilateralism to tackling climate change together with other countries, from promoting joint efforts for high-quality construction of the Belt and Road to leading international cooperation in poverty reduction, China has taken concrete actions to promote the implementation and realization of the idea of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China will hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit, follow the independent foreign policy of peace, boost foreign exchanges at all levels in various fields, and promote the building of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for humanity, according to the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's proposals for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035.

China will continue to uphold the vision of a global community of shared future, and follow the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests; it will do everything within its means to promote cooperation and inject Chinese strength into global development, said a white paper on China's international development cooperation in the new era recently released by the State Council Information Office of China.

In global response to the epidemic, China stands for the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, taking it as its responsibility to ensure not just the life and health of its own citizens, but also global public health.

Chinese President has conducted in-depth exchanges and communication with leaders from other countries, proposed and actively promoted the construction of a community of common health for mankind, and called for mutual assistance and unity to fight the epidemic.

The international community generally believes that Chinese ideas and actions have become an important force in pushing the world out of the darkest moments in such a special period, and that building a community with a shared future for mankind is the right way to deal with the common challenges of humanity and establish a more prosperous and better world.

"We are not alone on the Great Way and the whole world is one family," Xi once said.

Building a community of shared future is an exciting goal, and it requires efforts from generation after generation, he pointed out.

Countries need to respond to people's call, follow the trend of the times toward peace, development and win-win cooperation and jointly make unremitting efforts to advance the great cause of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
BWS Announces First Grade Teacher and Virtual Events

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass.  The Board of Trustees and Council of Teachers at Berkshire Waldorf School (formerly Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School) announced the appointment of Gary Osborne as first grade teacher for the 2021-22 school year.

Families whose children will be six by Sep. 1, 2021 and interested community members are invited to meet Mr. Osborne and BWS subject teachers at the school's Meet the First Grade Teachers event Saturday, Jan. 23 at 10:30am. Parents and caregivers can register for this live, virtual event at www.berkshirewaldorfschool.org/admissions/virtualvisits

Mr. Osborne grew up outside Dallas, Texas, where he developed a love for the performing arts. Throughout college in Santa Fe, N.M. and his graduate studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, Mr. Osborne trained in costume design for opera and theatre. Working as a designer regionally and in New York City led Mr. Osborne to a decade-long fashion design career in both New York and China.

Participating in Waldorf parent-child groups with his own young children inspired Mr. Osborne to complete his Waldorf teacher training at Sunbridge Institute in Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. He also earned a second master's degree in Art Education at The School of Visual Arts, New York. Most recently, Mr. Osborne has taught at the High School of Art and Design in New York City and Sag Harbor Elementary School.

At Berkshire Waldorf School, as in most Waldorf schools worldwide, grade school class teachers practice "looping," starting in first grade and moving through the grade school curriculum with their class, to build strong, long-term relationships, for up to eight years. Berkshire Waldorf School is currently accepting applications for students eighteen months through eighth grade for the 2020-21 school year. The application deadline is Feb 1.
National Film Development Corporation Limited (NFDC) has commenced shooting for the Telugu feature film Korangi Nunchi (Who Will Marry Thomas?) from January 20, 2021, abiding by all the health guidelines amidst COVID-19 pandemic. The film will be shot in a start-to-finish schedule.

Actor Vikranth expresses, "It's been hard times for our industry in last one year, getting back to shooting is so pleasing. I am so grateful to be part of NFDC's feature film, always inspired by watching its classics and now working under its production with talented director K Jayadev, veteran actor Archana & the team will be fun. Hope to do the best."

Senior actor K Archana shared her thoughts, "Always inspiring to work with newcomers, their way of storytelling is different. Working with NFDC is always a pleasure, have acted as a leading lady in one of the NFDC film Sammohanam during the 1990s, shooting under their banner brings back pleasant memories."

Also Read : NFDC Film Bazaar Online 2020 Postponed To January 16 To 21, 2021, Alongside The 51st IFFI

Vikranth (Thomas) will be in a titular role in the upcoming film, which is being helmed by debutant director K Jayadev, son of the National award-winning director late Shri KNT Shastry.

Also Read : NFDC Cinemas Of India To Stream Short Films From Carrot Films' Lockdown Film Festival
The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority announced this month new partnerships to offer free passes to essential workers and others in need of transportation in Western Massachusetts.

The Valley Pass program offers a minimum of 3 months of free passes for residents in the Pioneer Valley - with an extension to 6 months possible as needed.

Springfield City Councilor Tracye Whitfield posted an announcement by the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority on her Facebook page earlier this month.

PVTA was awarded a Massachusetts Department of Transport discretionary grant in 2020 for the Valley Pass program. PVTA will be partnering with businesses, employment centers and human service agencies in our service area, a spokesperson for the PVTA told MassLive.

PVTAs goal for the Valley Pass program is to encourage riders to choose public transportation instead of driving their own vehicles to work to help reduce overall vehicle emissions and to provide transportation support to essential workers and job seekers in difficult times.

This program is designed to offer transportation solutions for employers, employees, and job-seekers in the area. It may be of particular interest to essential workers and others seeking transportation options, the post reads.

The announcement mirrors the free service provided with funding from the CARES act at the beginning of the pandemic. Funding will now be reliant on businesses and human services agencies to fund the initiative for participants.

The BusPlus Mobile Fare Payment app will be used for the program as part of the Valley Pass program. The rider will scan their phone when boarding the bus using the contactless service.

Currently, the PVTA in Springfield is operating at 55% of its pre-Covid ridership. Current average ridership has decreased to 259,845 per month from 499,210. The PVTA see the decrease in ridership mostly due to educational institutes being closed as a result of the pandemic.

ATTENTION: PVTA is partnering with businesses, employment centers, and human service agencies in our service area... Posted by Tracye Whitfield on Tuesday, January 12, 2021

In May, it was announced that $36.6 million was to be given to PVTA as part of a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act package by the Federal Transit Administration. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said the money was to help provide transit service during the COVID-19 crisis while also allowing it to respond to new needs when the pandemic is over.

News about the PVTA funding followed a previous announcement by Neals office that the Federal Transit Authority had awarded Massachusetts state and regional transit authorities $863.5 million in federal grants under the first CARES Act.

The passengers employer or human services agencies would need to provide the email addresses of participants. Once they are registered, the individual will have access to the free bus pass in their apps account. Limited paper tickets can be made available for participants who dont have access to a smartphone.

The deadline to apply is Jan. 27. PVTA anticipates implementing this program on Feb. 1 and once the PVTA knows how many Valley Pass applications there are, it will reach out to selected participants on how they can access their Valley Pass. Due to already high number of interest in the project, the PVTA spokesperson said, a questionnaire has been put together to assess the needs and effectively select participants.

The Valley Pass program is an opportunity for your business or organization to offset the cost of commuting for your valuable workforce, the Facebook post states. Please consider participating by contacting Tolu Oke at tboke@pvta.com to sign up today.

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The Impossible Row

When to watch: Now, on the Discovery website or YouTube.

If you love the motorcycle-trip trilogy Long Way Down, Long Way Round and Long Way Up, try this documentary series about a group of people who decide to row from Chile to Antarctica. How do you prepare for such a voyage? Oh, by getting a rowing machine and having a pal throw ice water at you while you practice perseverance. The 10 short episodes are full of earnest determination and an imperviousness to discomfort, which feel like good qualities to embrace here in Late Quar.
Damascus, Jan 21 : UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock has voiced concern over the continuing economic crisis in Syria.

Syrians are starting 2021 with a currency whose value has drastically declined and food prices at historically high levels, partly because subsidies for key commodities like bread have been cut, Xinhua news agency quoted Lowcock as saying to the Security Council in a virtual briefing on Wednesday.

In December 2020, the World Food Programme revealed that food prices increasing again, by 13 per cent compared with November 2020, and by 236 per cent compared with December 2019, he said.

Nearly one in five households reported poor food consumption in December 2020. That was double the level recorded in December 2019.

Bread shortages continue in many areas. Domestic wheat production cannot meet demand, and most of what is produced is grown in areas outside government control.

In government areas, production fell significantly last year, said Lowcock.

As a result of decreased purchasing power, over 80 percent of households report relying on negative coping mechanisms to afford food. The most worrying is a growing reliance on child labour. One family in 10 say they have to rely on their children to contribute to the family income, he said.

Fuel shortages and power cuts in the middle of winter are another manifestation of the deep economic crisis. Black market prices for heating fuel are up to 10 times the subsidised rate.

There are shortages of fuel for transportation, and long queues at fuel stations, he said.

The UN's concerns that many vulnerable families would not be sufficiently prepared for winter this year are proving justified, said Lowcock.

As a result of heavy rainfall affecting thousands of people in the northwest this week, people are spending whole nights standing upright in their tents because they are inundated with so much water.

There are similar problems in other parts of the country, he added.
MPs should meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raise the issues of incorporating into the state areas in where Marathi-speaking people are in majority and also the Maratha quota, Chief Minister said on Thursday.

Thackeray made the suggestions to all-party MPs during a meeting he held here ahead of Parliaments budget session which begins on January 29.

Addressing reporters after the meeting, the chief minister said he urged the Parliamentarians to raise the issues concerning the state before the Centre keeping aside political differences.

The meeting held at the Sahyadri Guest House here was also attended by Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale, ministers Eknath Shinde, Ashok Chavan, Jayant Patil, Subhash Desai and others.

I told them (MPs) what are the states expectations from them and issues they should raise in Delhi. Like the one of Maratha quota.

"All the MPs should come together and meet the prime minister on the issue, Thackeray told reporters after the meeting.

The MPs should meet the prime minister also on the issue of Karnataka-occupied areas and the long-standing demand of the people there to be incorporated in Maharashtra, Thackeray said.

claims certain areas, including Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani which are part of Karnataka, contending the majority of population there is Marathi-speaking.

Thackeray said he asked the MPs to follow up with the Centre on the issue of sharing Maharashtras pending GST share dues as well.

The Chief Minister said division and subject-wise committees of MPs will be formed to follow up with the issues they raise with the state government.

The Maratha quota issue is pending in the Supreme Court where constitutional validity of the 2018 reservation law has been challenged.
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Government sets up legal cannabis business registration guide

THAILAND: Parties interested in producing, selling or owning cannabis and hemp will be able to register to do so from Jan 29 when certain parts of the plant are due to be removed from the Type 5 narcotics list.

natural-resources

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 21 January 2021, 07:07AM

A variety of savoury dishes, including pizza, kaprao and khao yum and drinks, which were made using cannabis as an ingredient are shown here. The dishes were displayed at an event to develop cannabis-mixed recipes. Only parts of the plants grown for medical research in legally permissible locations are used. Photo: Pornprom Satrabhaya.

Leaves, stalks, stems and roots of the plants will be expunged from the list, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) secretary-general Paisarn Dunkum said yesterday (Jan 20). This would not include seeds, including flowers, which have high drug content. And individuals are still not allowed to grow both cannabis and hemp. Mr Paisarn was speaking at a training session organised for state officials who will handle the registration. From Jan 29, individuals, legal entities, government offices, community enterprises and companies will be able to register to use the legal parts of cannabis and hemp for medical purposes and in textile, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, he said. This is a part of the governments policy to promote hemp and cannabis as a new cash crop, he added. In Bangkok, registration applications will be received at the office of the FDA while in other provinces, each application will be received and processed by provincial public health offices, he said. However, applications for the import and export of hemp will have to be submitted to the FDA office, he said. The Education Ministry and Public Health Ministry yesterday signed an agreement to develop a training system for parties to start a business using parts of hemp. The ministries have launched a course on how to use legal parts of the plant in the food, health, spa and tourism industries. Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he had stressed the need to develop more courses that will serve the market. Phakakrong Khwankhao, a traditional medicine expert with Chaopraya Abhaiphubejhr Hospital, warned that six groups of people should avoid consuming food or drinks with marijuana. They are people with liver or kidney problems, heart disease patients, people aged below 25, pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, and people taking medicines that have stimulant effects.
An office manager has won an 11,000 payout after her 'petulant' building firm boss waited until she gave birth and then sacked her.

'Diligent and hard-working' Izabela Szachta repeatedly checked in to see how work was going while on maternity leave, only to discover her job was at risk while she was heavily pregnant.

Her boss Ben MacMillan, who outsourced her work, later told her: 'What would you do? Tell a pregnant woman she is losing her job or tell a woman on maternity leave?'

Mr MacMillan, 44, who runs West End building firm Argyll London, had not told Ms Szachta about his plans to use the outsourcing company permanently before she went on leave.

A tribunal judge criticised Mr MacMillan - who offered Ms Szachta a measly 12-hour part-time contract after she gave birth - for making the 'stereotypical assumption' that she would not want to return to full-time work.

A judge at the East London Tribunal Hearing Centre, pictured, criticised Ben MacMillan - who offered Izabela Szachta a measly 12-hour part-time contract after she gave birth - for making the 'stereotypical assumption' that she would not want to return to full-time work

Mr MacMillan, whose company builds homes and workspaces, assumed she'd be 'grateful' for the offer and 'petulantly' started blaming her for work issues when she refused to accept it.

Ms Szachta was sacked and following the ordeal, she suffered anxiety and was diagnosed with post-natal depression, resulting in her becoming 'withdrawn' from her family.

Now Ms Szachta has won 11,000 after suing Argyll London for pregnancy and sex discrimination.

The employment tribunal in East London, heard that Mr MacMillan found outsourcing firm Insight's offer 'highly persuasive' and was in talks with them in November 2018, three months before Ms Szachta went on maternity leave.

However, it heard Mr MacMillan 'did not discuss' the outsourcing company's permanent role with Ms Szachta before she went on maternity leave, which left her in the dark about her future redundancy.

Ms Szachta - who 'had a strong work ethic' - checked in while she was off to see how the business was going but Mr MacMillan, who by this point decided she was redundant, ignored her message.

Employment Judge Tim Russell said criticised Mr MacMillan for failing to Ms Szachta her job was at risk sooner.

Judge Russell also criticised his 'inappropriate' comments. The judge said: '[There was an] assumption that Ms Szachta would accept the part-time job offered because she had just had a baby.

'In other words, that she would not want to return to work full-time due to her childcare commitments and status as a mother.

'[The comment] was an inappropriate stereotypical assumption based upon sex, namely that a woman with a baby would want to work part-time.'

Judge Russell added: 'As we have found, Mr MacMillan began criticising Ms Szachta's performance only after she objected to the offer of a part-time job and challenged the decision to make her redundant.

'Diligent and hard-working' Izabela Szachta repeatedly checked in to see how work was going while on maternity leave, only to discover her job was at risk while she was heavily pregnant

'The fact that at this hearing Mr MacMillan again accepted that the problems with the bookkeeping function were not the fault of Ms Szachta, so much as the systemic flaws, leads the tribunal to conclude that the criticism of her performance was unreasonable.

'[The criticism] was resorted to as a means to justify the decision to move to [outsource firm] Insight.

'This, we consider, was borne of a degree of irritation and even petulance on the part of Mr MacMillan when Ms Szachta simply did not accept the offer which he thought she would be grateful for as she had a new child.'

It was heard Ms Szachta was not sufficiently financially qualified to handle bookkeeping but that this was a flaw in Mr MacMillan's business model.

During the handover period to the outsourcing firm, Ms Szachta accepted finding 83,000 in missing invoices, which Mr MacMillan later criticised her for.
Rogers does not belong to any organizations promoting or advocating violence, Raphael wrote earlier in a Tuesday email to the Napa Valley Register, saying that his client has been a gun collector for two decades.

The investigation is continuing and involves both state and federal officials, according to the Sheriffs office.

Social media postings under Rogers name that remained online as of Tuesday night include praise for Trump going back to his 2016 election campaign, as well as various photos of guns and swords.

Other postings and text messages seen by investigators, however, painted a darker picture, McLeod argued, referring to a post saying that a response to Bidens ascension to the White House will involve breaking laws to save the republic and texts such as I want to blow up a Democrat building bad and I hope 45 goes to war. If he doesnt, I will. Another text referred to blowing up the offices of Twitter and Facebook, the social media giants that banned Trump from their platforms after his remarks before the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by rioters seeking to stop the counting of Electoral College votes confirming Bidens victory.


Infection control nurse Colin Clarke looks out from a Covid-19 recovery ward at Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

Another 51 coronavirus-related deaths and 2,608 more cases have been confirmed by the Department of Health this evening.

Of the 51 new deaths, 49 of them occurred in January, with the median age of those who died being 80 years old. The age range meanwhile was 58-103 years.

Of the latest cases, 1,019 are in Dublin, 204 in Cork, 135 in Donegal, 132 in Galway, 131 in Kildare, and the remaining 987 cases were spread across other counties.

Of the new cases today, 1,230 are men and 1,346 are women. Additionally, 55pc are from people under 45 years of age, with the median age being 42.

Read More

The reproduction rate has fallen considerably to 0.5 to 0.8.

Chair of NPHET professor Philip Nolan said that: We have to keep it below 0.1 if we are to successfully emerge out of the current wave.

Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan commented on todays figures, saying that: while we are making clear progress in reducing incidence we can see we still have a very large burden of infection.

To illustrate this on December 1, when we last eased restrictions, our five day moving average was 261 cases per day, today it is almost ten times that number 2,430 cases per day.

It is evident that the population is working as one to reduce contacts and interrupt further transmission of the disease. However, we are watching the effects of high levels of community transmission through our hospital and ICU admissions and reported deaths.

We need to continue to work together to drive this infection down and bring the disease back under control.

Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee Karina Butler said that while rolling out the coronavirus vaccine provides hope, we must continue to adhere to public health guidelines.

She said: Vaccine arrival has been a real morale booster in hospitals and nursing homes.

As we are able to roll it out to the wider community it will undoubtedly lift spirits. But please remember we are at a precarious time and if we drop our guard we could undermine our efforts to combat COVID-19. For now, we must stay the course, keep contacts to a minimum, stay home and follow public health advice.

The HSE also published the results of the PRECISE study today, which looked at antibodies to Covid-19 in healthcare workers in two Irish hospitals. In St Jamess Hospital, 15pc of staff had antibodies for Covid-19 while 4.1pc of staff in University Hospital Galway had antibodies.

National Clinical Director for Health Protection HSE Dr Lorraine Doherty said: The results of the study will help the health service in its response to COVID-19. It is also important to note that antibody positivity cannot be taken to mean a person is immune, and all Infection Prevention and Control measures still need to be followed.

The study will be repeated in the springtime to see how seroprevalence changes with successive waves of the pandemic, and how antibody status changes in the individuals who participate both times.

The second round of testing will also look at vaccine response versus natural infection, given recent commencement of the national vaccination programme.

This comes just hours after Health Minister Stephen Donnelly told the Dail that every person in the country will have received a Covid-19 vaccination by September.

Minister Donnelly said Ireland would receive 3.3 million doses of the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine when approval for use is given by the European Medicines Agency, as expected on January 26.

He said Ireland was trying to get advance supplies of the vaccine before formal authorisation of use, as otherwise it would be mid-February .

But every citizen would then be able to receive the vaccine by September because the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine is a game-changer, he said.

It is more easily storable and usable, and was produced on a not for profit basis. This country will receive 200,000 doses a month.

You dont have to be a citizen, its for anybody whos here, Mr Donnelly told TDs.

We are on target (for vaccines). By Sunday we will have hit nearly half  70,000  of 150,000 frontline healthcare workers.

From Sunday, notwithstanding the outliers, the nursing homes will have been done, he said.
The BLACKPINK member revealed the superpower she wants to possess, and her answer was very Jisoo-like!

On Jan. 21, Thursday, the Korean magazine W Korea, shared their full interview with BLACKPINK's Jisoo, who is set to grace her visuals on the cover of W Korea's February issue.

In particular, it was earlier announced that Jisoo participated in a photoshoot with the beauty magazine in collaboration with the luxury house, Dior, the brand which hailed her as their ambassador in Korea.

Along with the news, previews of the female idol's pictorial photos were also shared, impressing K-pop enthusiasts with her elegant beauty, complemented by her perm.

Meanwhile, during the photoshoot, the idol who is currently taking her path as an actress sat down for an interview, sharing stories about her career, life, and happiness.

Jisoo Talks About Her Career, Schedules, Happiness, and Superpower

In the interview, Jisoo discloses her sincere and sensible thoughts as well as feelings-- about her current status in her career and life.

First, Jisoo shared that though their full-length album promotion and activities came to a wrap, she's quite busy preparing for the upcoming on-tact concert, "THE SHOW" with her members, and busy preparing for her main lead debut drama, "Snowdrop" which is set to kick off this 2021.

Nevertheless, the release of "THE ALBUM" will always be memorable for her, expressing that though they were very delighted by it, they regret that they couldn't meet BLINKs (BLACKPINK fandom) in person, due to the coronavirus.

Read More: BLACKPINK Jisoo Selected as the Female Idol People Want to See Have a Comeback in 2021

Meanwhile, when asked about the superpower she wants to have from the sky, Jisoo answered a funny yet very relatable supernatural ability!

She replied, "I don't want something extreme or any huge superpower that can change my life. Maybe the ability to change and prepare for bed after working hard like today?"

Surely, who wouldn't want to jump or lie to their bed immediately after a tiring day?

On the other hand, Jisoo was up for a deeper discussion when she was about her strength and definition of happiness.

For her strength, the idol learned that her biggest strength is not dwelling on the past. This is in connection with the favorite phrase she likes the most, which came from her father.

Jisoo narrated that during her childhood, she came across a random quote her father wrote that says, "As if it's your last" and means living life as if living your last day. Coincidentally, BLACKPINK released a song with the same title!

Lastly, regarding her definition of happiness that is close to perfection.

Jisoo conveyed that, " When I was young, I thought that it's best for me to be happy, but these days, the happiness of people around me is my happiness, and if I and everyone around me will always be happy, then that's a near-perfection happiness for me."

Click Here for more Full W Korea article.

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson
The Marshall County Health Department is teaming up with the Marshall County Tech School to help give out coronavirus vaccinations to seniors.

Students with the public safety program at the tech school helped direct traffic at the Marshall County Health Department during their vaccine clinic Thursday.

"It's a good way to get out and serve the community," explained tech school student, Ranger Sergeant First Class Crista Braswell, also known as "SWAT" to her classmates.

She helped run the show Thursday at the health department.

"It's very good, steady flow of traffic, nothing too big," said Braswell.

The hands-on experience is thanks to the public safety program at the Marshall County Tech School. It's for students, like Braswell, who dream of being a first responder someday. Their teacher, Martin Killion, told me that the students are dedicated to helping their community.

"They're working this on days when they're not in school, so it's rare that you would have that many high school students volunteer to come up and do something like this when they could be doing anything else," said Killion.

The students were in charge of some paperwork and coordinating traffic flow.

"They've done very well. I'm proud of each and every one of them," said Killion.

At last check, the Marshall County Health Department said they've given out about 1,000 vaccines this week. The tech school students plan to be there Friday to help again.
She recently jetted to the Maldives for 'work purposes' with her friend Joanna Chimonides.

And Georgia Steel looked incredible as she posed for a stunning topless snap while soaking up the sun on the beach on Thursday.

The former Love Island star, 22, displayed her jaw-dropping curves while wearing a blue patterned bikini bottom.

Beauty: Georgia Steel looked incredible as she posed for a stunning topless snap while soaking up the sun on the beach on Thursday

Georgia styled her brunette locks into plaits as she posed next to a tree while fixing the camera with a sultry stare.

Showcasing her sun-kissed hue, Georgia completed her look with a beige hat as she made the most of her trip abroad.

In another snap, the reality star looked away from the camera as she fixed her hair.

Georgia, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, has been documenting her sun-soaked Maldives getaway in detail for her 1.6million Instagram followers, which she has said is for 'work purposes'.

Looking good: The former Love Island star, 22, displayed her jaw-dropping curves while wearing a blue patterned bikini bottom

Despite the UK being in national lockdown, Georgia and her friend Joanna Chimonides flew from Dubai to the Maldives.

Georgia previously told her Instagram followers the 'work' trip had been planned for a long time and she was thankful it could go ahead despite the pandemic.

She captioned one snap: 'I feel so lucky to be able to travel with my job at the moment.

'I'm so grateful that I've been given the opportunity to work with @velassarumaldives for the next week and make memories that are going to last me a lifetime. I thank the universe every day.'

Fun in the sun: Georgia recently jetted to the Maldives for 'work purposes' with her friend Joanna Chimonides

However, their fun-filled getaway might be overshadowed on their return as travellers returning to the UK need to present proof of a negative Covid test result.

New arrivals who flout the rules will face a minimum 500 fine, while the operator who transported them will also be fined.

Passengers will still have to quarantine for 10 days regardless of their test results, transport minister Robert Courts said in a statement.
Minutes after Joe Biden was sworn in as the new President of the United States, imposed sanctions against former US Secretary of State and 27 others associated with the previous Trump administration for promoting and executing "crazy moves", which "gravely" undermined its interests.

The sanctions were announced late Wednesday night by the foreign ministry.

Besides Pompeo, the list included Trump's economic advisor Peter K Navarro, national security advisor Robert C O'Brien, former White House chief strategist Stephen K Bannon, human services secretary Alex M Azar and UN ambassador Kelly D K Craft.

The list also included David R Stilwell, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; former Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger; Keith J Krach, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment; and former national security advisor John Bolton.

"These individuals and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China," foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press release.

The sanctions were announced immediately after Biden was sworn in as president, ending Trump's regime during which China-US ties touched a new low over various issues, including trade, human rights, the origins of the novel coronavirus pandemic and the communist giant's aggressive military moves in the disputed South Sea.

The Trump administration had also announced sanctions against a host of Chinese officials responsible for the crackdown in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang.

"Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the US, out of their selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people, have planned, promoted and executed the crazy moves which have gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests, offended the China," Hua told a media briefing here on Wednesday, announcing the sanctions.

"The Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend China's national sovereignty, security and development interests," she said.

China particularly targeted Pompeo, a bitter critic of Beijing and the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). Pompeo's last act was to hit China with new sanctions by declaring that Beijing's policies on Muslims and ethnic minorities in western Xinjiang Province constitute a "genocide".

Reacting to the genocide charge, Hua said, "Pompeo's venomous lies in the past several years are too numerous to be counted, and the matter you mentioned is only one of those ludicrous fabrications. To us, Pompeo's so-called determination is nothing more than a piece of waste paper."



"This notorious liar and cheater is making himself a doomed clown and a joke of the century with his show of lies and madness just before the curtain falls," she said.

Underlining that crimes against humanity and genocide are "clearly-defined in law", Hua said, "China committing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang" is a completely false allegation and a malicious farce fabricated and hyped up by certain anti-China, anti-communist forces, with Pompeo being a "fanatical pioneer".
- Twenty-five companies and seventeen associations from across Europe agree to take specific steps to make data centres climate neutral by 2030.

BRUSSELS, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One year after the adoption of the European Green Deal, leading cloud infrastructure providers and data centre operators have created the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact. Twenty-five companies and 17 associations have agreed to a Self Regulatory Initiative to make data centres in Europe climate neutral by 2030. Companies joining the Pact represent the most significant industry players in cloud infrastructure and data centres in Europe. This is an historic and unprecedented commitment by an industry to proactively lead the transition to a climate neutral economy.

Frans Timmermans, European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal : "Citizens across Europe use ever more technology to go about their daily lives and want this technology, also to help secure a sustainable future for people and planet. Today's pledge from important parts of the data industry constitutes a promise to society and offers a welcome first step towards achieving our common ambitions for a smart and sustainable future."

Alban Schmutz, Chairman of CISPE (Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe) : "With cloud infrastructure the backbone of the European Union's digital economy, our industry is committed to the idea that we must all play a central role in addressing climate change. This commitment underpins a roadmap for Europe's cloud infrastructure industry to offer climate neutral services to customers by 2030."

Apostolos Kakkos, Chairman of EUDCA (European Data Centre Association) : "Data centres are the supporting pillars of the fourth industrial revolution and, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, are essential infrastructure of not only the digital economy but of the entire global economy. It is our duty to commit to a self-regulatory initiative that will help to ensure the operational availability, sustainability and the future of our industry."

The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact establishes a Self Regulatory Initiative which has been developed in co-operation with the European Commission. It supports both the European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the world's first climate neutral continent by 2050, and the European Data Strategy by making EU data centres climate neutral by 2030. The Self Regulatory Initiative sets ambitious goals that will facilitate Europe's essential transition to a greener economy. It commits signatories to ensuring their data centres are climate neutral by setting ambitious measurable targets for 2025 and 2030 in the following areas:

Prove energy efficiency with measurable targets

Purchase 100% carbon-free energy

Prioritise water conservation

Reuse and repair servers

Look for ways to recycle heat

Progress towards achieving climate neutral data centres will be monitored by the European Commission twice a year.

For more details on the new Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, please visit ClimateNeutralDataCentre.net

Signatories:

Cloud providers and operators of data centres

3DS Outscale (Dassault Systemes)

Altuhost

Aruba

Atos

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

CyrusOne

Data4

DigiPlex

Digital Realty/Interxion

Equinix

FlameNetworks

Gigas

Google

Ikoula

Ilger

Infloclip

Irideos

ITnet

LCL

Leaseweb

NTT

OVHcloud

Register

Scaleway

Seeweb

Trade associations

CISPE, the association of Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers Europe

EUDCA, the European Data Centre Association

Cloud28+

Cloud Community Poland

Danish Cloud Community

Datacenter Industrien

Data Centre Alliance

Dutch Data Center Association

Dutch Hosting Providers Association

Eco - Alliance for strengthening digital infrastructures in Germany

EuroCloud Croatia

EuroCloud France

France Datacenter

Host in Scotland

IKT-Norge

ISPConnect

TechUK

Press contact

Simona Romeo

Senior Communication Officer, CISPE

+32 492 24 98 68

sr@europa-insights.com

CONTACT:

Elisabeth Lennhede

Head of Communications

+46703322705

elisabeth.lennhede@digiplex.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/digiplex/r/climate-neutral-data-centre-pact-commits-european-cloud-and-data-centre-industry-to-ambitious-sustai,c3271434

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The services of The UWI Seismic Research Centre team and their colleagues from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory, pictured with the pilot and other assistants, do not come free.

There is the need for St Vincent and the Grenadines to build its own capacity in terms of being able to deal with studying and monitoring La Soufriere volcano.





According to Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister, while speaking on radio on January 17, there were a number of agencies that provided services to SVG, some of which the public were not aware.





Those among the list include the Caribbean Meteorology and Hydrology Institute and The UWI Seismic Research Centre (SRC) which is currently in country providing vital services.





It is expected of each government receiving services, for example from the SRC,that they pay for these services.

Dr. Gonsalves explained that the SRC is funded through the Vice Chancellors office within the University of the West Indies, and direct contributions from the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. In the case of the latter source, the contribution has decreased from TT$5 million to a current TT$2 million.





Notwithstanding the challenges thrown up by the decreased contribution, the SRC, through grants, have supplied volcano monitoring equipment for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and are currently providing expert on-the-ground services in terms of surveillance of the volcano.





As it stands therefore, this country would be expected to contribute additional moneys to the SRC.





This is in addition to standing the operational cost for the team that is currently here  a three-man team from the SRC and a two-man team from the Observatory in Montserrat.





"We have to build our own capacity, Prime Minister Gonsalves stressed.





Government, he added, needed to refashion its allocation in the budget for a geologist, for a geophysicist or geo-scientist and a dedicated engineer to deal with the equipment that they had received.
As part of an annual vetting and review process targeting journalists in state-owned and approved media organizations, Chinese journalists will have their social media posts included in their press card renewal process.



"In order to thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinpings important thoughts on propaganda and ideological work, and build a team of journalists who are politically strong, capable, realistic, and innovative, and capable of winning battles ... annual press card renewals are now under way," the General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) said in a statement on its website on Jan. 19.



Provincial GAPP branches are now required to review a new-generation press card issued to officially approved journalists working in print, online news, TV, radio, film studios, and financial information centers since December 2019, the directive said.



News organizations that hire unlicensed journalists are subject to penalties, and are also required to consider their employees' use of social media.



They must consider "issues relating to the use of Weibo, WeChat, and other media and publishing without authorization in their capacity as a reporter," the directive said.



Review processes must also examine corruption in the industry, including blackmail and paid-for content.



Beijing-based journalist Wang Liang said the move appears to target the practice of posting news that didn't make it past the censors to personal social media accounts, giving the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) even greater control over the information that reaches the general public.



"Many reporters can't write what they want in the mainstream media, so they post it to Weibo and WeChat instead," Wang said. "This is about the [government's] need to control public speech."



"Journalists belong to a profession that has a little more of a voice than ordinary people do in China, so they are placing tight controls not just on journalists' work, but on their private speech as well," he said.



Wang said the directive merely codifies a practice that has already been under way for some time.



"There have already been some journalists whose social media posts and private speech have been taken into account in their assessments, so they are basically making it a formal procedure," he said.

Even more control



Guangzhou-based rights activist Wang Aizhong said the move will give the CCP even more control over information that reaches the general public.



"This is obviously an extension of existing media controls," Wang said. "They didn't try to control social media posts by reporters before this, so reporters were able to publish some content."



"Now, the controls extend into the private social media activity of journalists, which I fear will make total their control over the flow of information," she said.



Earlier this month, authorities in China's Guizhou and Jiangsu provinces jailed two journalists and one family member after they were critical of the CCP.



On Jan. 8, the Nanming District People's Court in Guizhou's provincial capital, Guiyang, jailed former journalist Zhang Jialong for 18 months after finding him guilty of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble."



The case against him was built on allegations that he had retweeted or liked tweets critical of the government on Twitter, including tweets about the Hong Kong protest movement.



And on Jan. 7, the Pizhou Municipal People's Court in the eastern province of Jiangsu jailed journalist Li Xinde for five years after finding him guilty of "illegal business activity." Lis son Li Chao was handed a one-year jail term at the same time.



Li was first detained by police in October 2019 and placed in "residential surveillance at a designated location (RSDL)," not long after he published a claim that a court in Tianjin had wrongfully convicted a businessman.



China was among the world's biggest jailers of journalists in 2020, continuing a pattern of total state control over the media begun under Xi, with more than 100 journalists and bloggers currently behind bars, according to the Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF).



Reported by Qiao Long and Gigi Lee for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Tommy Bowe has revealed that the Covid crisis has meant his wife's parents have not yet been able to meet their ten-month-old grandson.

The former Ireland rugby international is married to former Miss Wales Lucy Whitehouse and the couple live in Belfast with their two young children, Emma, who is nearly four, and baby Jamie.

Tommy and Lucy relocated to Belfast as that's where the Monaghan man has been primarily based since he first moved there in 2002, initially for college and later to play for Ulster.

"We have kind of set up home here, we are very happy here," he confirms. "Lucy is a nurse, she is obviously on maternity leave at the minute, but she is happy with her job and Emma has started pre-school."

The 36-year-old now spends most of his time traveling south for work, be it co-hosting Ireland AM in Dublin for Virgin Media, presenting Eir Sport matches in the capital, Limerick and Cork, or going back to Monaghan to look after his clothing and shoe company interests there.

"Lucy's family are from Wales and because we haven't been able to fly and they haven't been able to fly here they've yet to meet him," he reveals.

"My parents of course are in Monaghan and we maybe got down a couple of times and are taking as many precautions as we can to try and keep our own family safe, but also people working alongside safe, and limit our contacts as much as possible."

Like all parents with young children during the pandemic it's can be difficult raising them.

"Emma is nearly four and had been going to kindergarten, which unfortunately has now stopped," he says.

"At the minute she is learning to count and she she's learning to read stories and expand her imagination. It sounds really fun stuff, but at the same time I'm sure its really crucial stuff and if they don't learn that at that young age, you're always playing catch-up. So anybody with parents at the minute will have that worry where their kids will be after this. "

While Jamie is learning to crawl, Emma is obsessed with Disney Princesses and Peppa Pig. Sport is something Tommy would be keen for them to try at some point.

"I would like either of them to take up rugby, I would have no qualms at all. ...I'm a huge believer in team sport and it could be any sport in general, but in particular team sports, the camaraderie, and the values you get from playing team sport. Learning to deal with failure, learning to lose. Learning to win, win graciously. I think they're huge things. It's not about sport, its about life."

Tommy used to say with his brother in Dublin when presenting Ireland AM but because of lockdown moves between Dublin and Belfast, where he gets to carry out much of his day-to-day business on the phone in the car.

He laughs when asked about himself and co-host Alan Hughes sometimes having on-air arguments.

"That's a daily thing," he chuckles. "I think what's important and I have to remember this, three presenters sitting on the sofa all agreeing to the same thing is boring television. There are definitely going to be times that myself and Alan butt heads or myself and Karen (Koster) butt heads, but I think that makes good television."
PHILIPSBURG:--- Independent Member of Parliament Christopher Emmanuel is of the opinion that government owes the people a better explanation about why it green-lighted Carnival 2021. The MP said he is aware of the clause that the event could be called off if the situation warrants it, but to just announce such a large event in a pandemic without proper explanation is unacceptable, he said.

The MP made sure to point out that he does not hold the decision against the SCDF. The SCDF, he said, is mandated with one task; to organize Carnival for the country. They were also placed in a bad position last year when Carnival was canceled and the Regatta was allowed to continue. So its not them. The issue is government, he said.

He continued: If the decision was mine, considering the circumstances, I would not have organized it. I think that is the first reaction from everyone. The government must have had its reasons for doing so. The burden falls on them now. What are the plans? What are the contingency plans? The Regatta is before Carnival, is that event being held? If yes, is it under the same scrutiny of Carnival? What is the scrutiny? As usual with this government the public knows nothing, and has received no information, the MP said.

MP Emmanuel said even a Minister publicly admitted that COM could have perhaps done a better job at informing the public. They realize this after the fact. In this situation, a government has the responsibility to safeguard its people and if they decide to go against that responsibility then at least, at the very least, tell us why, how, when, what, who, and where, the MP concluded.

The MP also made similar comments on Tuesday evening on SOS Radio when he re-iterated that the situation and Carnival do not go hand-in-hand.
By Gerri Hinkel, Director of Solutions and Vertical Marketing at Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company

Competitive pressures for retailers to gain and retain shoppers are at an all-time high due to an uncertain economy, demanding customers, and the explosive growth of e-commerce due to the global pandemic. These challenges are a constant and a forcing factor for stores that must innovate even amidst uncertainty.

In this environment, savvy retailers like Tractor Supply Company and H-E-B are creating hyper-aware stores  leveraging each respective network to do more than connect devices and secure payment data. Edge IoT devices such as sensors, cameras, and voice communicators, combined with contextual details such as location and identity, can provide real-time insights to understand space utilization, improve customer experiences, and drive better store operations.

As part of the 2021 National Retailer Federation (NRF) event held virtually, Glenn Allison, VP of Technology and Innovation for Tractor Supply, and Derek Walsh, VP of IT Operations for H-E-B, joined Aruba for an online panel on January 19 to discuss how to create a hyper-aware store environment that can improve operations and create exceptional shopping experiences.

During the session, Tractor Supply and H-E-B shared how they were able to:

Improve customer experiences and expand curb-side pickup

Quickly deploy new devices for associate voice communication and grocery pick-up

Improve process around pre, during, and post pickup

Add outdoor Wi-Fi for community and student access

Scale and adopt new technologies quickly across hundreds of stores in all geographic footprints

Improve space utilization and cleaning processes

Improve food safety programs with IoT-enabled temperature monitoring

Looking ahead, Tractor Supply and H-E-B are also exploring future innovations through a variety of pilot programs, including:

Experimenting with cameras located near big-ticket items with the ability to signal an associate to help.

Identifying other new security camera use cases including improving security controls and shrinkage.

Shelf-stock monitoring and geofencing capabilities.

Adopting frictionless shopping principles with scan-and-go customer purchasing.

From these conversations and others with key retail partners, Aruba has identified a handful of steps retailers can take to improve customer satisfaction and business operations.

Five Key Steps for Creating Hyper-Aware Stores

Start with great Wi-Fi. Retailers simply cant afford to have poor network performance. Customers and associates alike need their respective devices and applications to work and work well. Customers must not only be able to seamlessly connect to the store network, but associates must also be able to use their devices to find the appropriate goods and services to assist customers swiftly. This includes ensuring IoT-enabled store solutions like check-out point-of-sale (POS) devices, product scanners, scan-and-go apps, and digital signage have reliable connectivity.

Extend indoor services outside. Quality network performance must also extend beyond the store footprint. With the popularity of curbside pickup and the need to provide touch-free experiences, or for restaurants, year-round outdoor dining, many retailers need to extend Wi-Fi outdoors through outdoor-specific access points without compromising connectivity to applications and devices that associates need and customers demand. For instance, associates need mobile POS systems and inventory scanning devices to assist customers indoors or out, while maintaining secure connectivity to payment transactions.

Dont guess on application performance. Effective connectivity and mobility are now considered table stakes, but the applications that customers, associates, and warehouse staff use must also perform flawlessly. IT needs a real-time view of the end-user experience, whether thats customers, associates, or other mission-critical staff, with clear action steps to resolve any issues before a service ticket is opened.

Gain a competitive edge with IoT. Mobile readers, sensors, smart shelves, and other IoT devices can empower retailers to maintain accurate inventory in real time. Footfall sensors and location beacons provide real-time analytics for contextual and personalized offers while supporting a safe shopping experience. IoT can even play a role in predictive machine maintenance to get ahead of potential issues and deal with them during the appropriate times.

Spend your time on innovation, not on network management. It is rare for every store to have an IT staff member, but every store at some point will get bogged down in network management, rather than innovating with new digital use cases. A cloud-native, single-pane-of-glass network management solution can enable IT staff to work remotely while maintaining visibility and control over all vital network services. This may include the need for retailers to scale back the network when the need for temporary drive-through or pop-up services pass  or scale up quickly as needed. Whether the site is a store, warehouse, or corporate headquarters, IT must ensure a secure, high-performance network across all locations, including remote worker home offices.

At the end of the day, one of the key roles IT can play is being an integral part of the business outcome discussions  and developing a network that supports new use cases for driving better experiences and efficiencies. Through an effective networking paradigm, retailers such as Tractor Supply and H-E-B are continually adapting to offering services and goods to customers that balances the need to abide by current health and safety protocols while ensuring a quality customer and associate experience, including curbside pickup, same-day delivery services, upgraded company-wide associate voice communications, or even a new customer mobile app.

To learn more about Arubas networking solutions for retail, please visit our site.
Relentless Church files motion against Redemption Church in ongoing real estate dispute

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An ongoing dispute between the Ron Carpenter-led Redemption Church and John Grays Relentless Church in South Carolina over real estate has escalated after Relentless Church filed a motion in court last week seeking to enforce a settlement reached with Redemption Church last October.

"Last year, Relentless Church and Redemption Church met in good faith and both parties were able to reach an amicable agreement that allowed both churches to focus on their true mission  to serve the spiritual livelihoods of the Greenville community, Relentless spokesperson Anne Torres said in a statement on the dispute to WYFF4.

Gray's attorney, Devon Puriefoy, told Greenville News that "the terms of the mediation are confidential," and he is urging Redemption to comply with those terms so the case can "get through the finish line."

According to Torres, Redemption Church leaders haven't been acting in good faith.

Relentless has made every effort to be a partner in faith to Redemption but unfortunately, this has become a distraction to the work the church has done in the Greenville community and beyond. Simply put, our community and congregations deserve better. It is our hope that Redemption leadership accepts and abides by the terms of our original agreement so that we can all move forward, she said in an emailed statement to Greenville News on Tuesday.

The dispute began shortly after Carpenter and his wife, Hope, moved to San Jose, California, in 2018 and were officially installed as the new pastors of the 14,000-member Jubilee Christian Center, now rebranded as Redemption.

The Carpenters founded Redemption Church in South Carolina in 1991 and led it for 27 years before passing the reins of their Greenville Church to Gray and his wife, Aventer, who rebranded the congregation Relentless Church.

After a slew of controversies concerning allegations of marital infidelity and Relentless Church's purchase of a $1.8 million home for the Grays, the Carpenters issued an eviction notice to Relentless Church from their Greenville facility.

Grays lawyers argued in early 2020 that the dispute is really a fight over church members.

In essence, this is not a dispute as much about leases and occupancy of church buildings, as much as it is a fight over church members. Pastor Gray has come into Greenville at the urging of Ron Carpenter, even moving to be here before school was out for the summer for his children, because Carpenter said he had to leave immediately for California, lawyers for Gray argued in 2020.

In October, Carpenter announced plans to return to Greenville with a new campus in 2021 to provide a spiritual home for former congregants who have been left spiritually homeless by the botched handover of his longtime church to Gray.

Responding to the motion filed by Relentless Church, Redemption Church told WYFF4 in a statement that they are committed to finalizing the settlement reached with Grays operation.

Redemption is fully committed to finalizing the settlement reached at mediation with Relentless and has been working since October to make that happen. Though we cannot discuss specific terms of the confidential agreement, there are necessary actions to finalize the agreement that involve obligations to third parties that have taken more time than any of the parties may have liked, Redemption said. We are very close to finalizing the settlement and are uncertain why Relentless has felt the need to involve the court and the media in something the parties are capable of resolving amongst themselves. Redemption looks forward to doing just that and to being a blessing to the Greenville community long into the future.
Sharjah Islamic Bank has reported an increase in its operating profits before provisions by 8.7%, amounting to AED697.7 million, compared to AED642.1 million for the same period last year.

Considering the exceptional circumstances that the world is going through, the Bank has been prudent to hedge the potential risks owing to these difficult economic conditions and has made a provision on its financial assets amounting to AED255.8 million, compared to AED96.8 million from the last year. As a result, the net profits of the Bank decreased to AED405.8 million ($110.48 million) compared to AED545.5 million for the year 2019, a decline of 25.6%, a WAM report said.

Meanwhile, the banks Board of Directors proposes to pay out 8% cash dividend of the paid-up capital.

The balance sheet reflects the Banks total assets of AED53.6 billion at the end of December 2020, growing by 15.5% compared to AED46.4 billion at the end of 2019.

The bank continued to diversify its financing facilities portfolio in different economic sectors in accordance with its prudent credit policy that takes into consideration the effects of the prevailing market volatility and instability in global and regional capital market on banking operations.

Financing facilities reached AED29.3 billion, an increase of AED4.1 billion or 16.4% compared to AED25.1 billion last year.

SIB successfully attracted more deposits during the period as customer deposits increased by 23% to reach AED33.6 billion compared to AED27.3 billion at the yearend December 31, 2019.

Liquid assets stayed strong at AED11.2 billion or 20.9% of total assets at the end of December 2020.

On the expenses side, general and administration expenses declined to AED561.5 million at the end of 2020 compared to AED585.4 million for the same period 2019, a decrease of AED16.2 million or 2.8%, due to operational efficiencies achieved by the Bank.

Sharjah Islamic Bank has a strong capital base. Total shareholders' equity at the end of December 2020 reached AED7.6 billion, representing 14.3% of the Bank's total assets with a strong capital adequacy ratio of 21.5% according to Basel III requirements.

As for the financial results, Mohamed Abdalla, CEO of Sharjah Islamic Bank, praised the positive results achieved by the bank during the past year in light of the unprecedented economic conditions that affected and is affecting the world, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He pointed out that the financial performance indicators showed the efficiency and flexibility of the organisational units across all sectors in the bank, as well as the high level of dedication and hard work.

The very teams, that continued to provide their services to the banks clients, from institutions to individuals to small and medium scale companies without interruption, during this difficult period.

It is notable to state that they succeeded in taking the necessary steps to manage risks in light of the challenging operating environment. Simultaneously, the bank took the initiative in developing its services and expanding its digital and technological services, with the aim of improving customer service and laying the foundations for the growth of the bank's business over the coming years.

Additionally, he explained: "Sharjah Islamic Bank is an integral part of the national economy of the UAE. Therefore, we are keen to achieve our vision and aspirations by building a competitive knowledge economy based on innovation, while paving the way together towards recovery and continuing to contribute to establishing a strong digital economy. We hope to do so in a manner that meets the needs and aspirations of society, according to the highest standards, for the sake of the prosperity and the success of the national economy as a whole."-- Tradearabia News Service
There you have it, the moment many of us have waited for.

The moment we needed, and the one we were almost too afraid to hope for because hoping for anything but survival these last four years seemed too ambitious.

But then, like a miracle, the man who brought democracy to its brink was gone, and a new day dawned.

If that sounds dramatic, or naive, humor me. Let me have this little bit of joy. Let us all who have endured, who are still enduring a pandemic, an economic crisis, hate  so much hate  breathe a much-deserved-if-fleeting sigh of relief.

I promise you it is possible to see how imperfect this moment and these people are, and still feel relief as we commit, or recommit, to the fight. And oh, what a fight we have ahead.

But first, lets bask a little longer in some of the monumental glory of the day:

A president capable of saying the right words in the right order.

The first Boricua Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, administering the oath of office to Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black, South Asian woman to hold the office.

The nations first second gentleman, and first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president.

Eugene Goodman, the Capitol Police officer who led rioters away from the Senate, escorting Harris.

The fierce Black former first lady Michelle Obama, whose picture-perfect appearance reminded us once again that we never deserved her. (And yeah, Jennifer Lopez, whom people may love to hate, but who remains the first celebrity I noticed in my life beyond my neighborhood who looked like me.)

That matters.

Which is why its significant that a Black female fire captain, Andrea Hall, both recited the Pledge of Allegiance and signed it in American Sign Language.

And that a Black 22-year-old, Amanda Gorman, was the youngest poet to perform at a presidential inauguration.

Standing up on that podium, reciting the words from her work titled The Hill We Climb, Gorman stole the show and stirred spirits that since 2016 felt as if they might break.

Somehow weve weathered and witnessed a nation that isnt broken, but simply unfinished, Gorman preached. We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one.

Amen!

Of course, even all of those glorious moments dont fix anything  not yet. More than 400,000 Americans are gone. More are dying from coronavirus every day, killed under a corrupt president and an administration fueled by malignant lies.

The damage is deep, and despite the calls for unity, so is the rot  which is why we would do well on this dawn of a new day to chase the ghouls of the old ones back into the shadows any time they try to rebrand or rehabilitate themselves.

We can start with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a top Trump ally ABC has folded into its ranks of talking bobbleheads as if he had no part in the carnage.

And former Vice President Mike Pence, who was applauded for attending the inauguration but from where I sat was simply returning to the scene of a crime that he enabled by supporting a president who incited a domestic terrorist attack there just two weeks ago.

And so, so, so many others in and out of Congress who are betting on our short memories and Americans addiction to normalcy.

If you remember just one part of President Bidens speech, let it be this:

There is truth and there are lies. ... Each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders  leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation  to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.

That includes keeping the Biden administration honest. But thats a column for another day.

Here we are, miraculously, blessedly on the other side. But we must not forget. We cannot afford to forget.

Better than Trump is good, but its not good enough. If we dont hold the enablers and coddlers and straight-up criminals of the last four years accountable, we might not be as lucky next time.

We can start by heeding the words and warnings of those whose voices and stories we failed to listen to last time around. Those whose wisdom we allowed ourselves to be distracted from as we struggled to put out the fires from the carnage we barely escaped. Some did not escape.

Lets start by paying attention to Gorman, the poet.

The new dawn blooms as we free it. For there is always light. If only were brave enough to see it. If only were brave enough to be it.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Last summer, gay and transgender Americans across the nation celebrated when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it illegal to discriminate against someone in the workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

As titanic as that ruling was, it didnt go far enough. Which is why the Human Rights Campaign and other groups are pushing for passage of the Equality Act, a federal bill that would update the 1964 Civil Rights Act and other laws to explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Supreme Court ruling only decided on employment law, said Angela Hale, a spokeswoman for Equality Texas, which has joined the national effort to pass the bill. The Equality Act is much broader and goes across the rest of American society  housing, finance, education, public accommodations such as retail and other areas of law that have not been litigated. It will ensure that every person in America will be treated equally under the law, including LGBT people.

As sure as heat in a Texas summer, those opposed to expanding protections for gay and trans folks have ginned-up their scare-tactics machine, spewing forth specious arguments about how such rights would destroy life as we know it.

Exhibit A: The Heritage Foundation, which claims the Equality Act would, among other canards, push women out of sports, force doctors to treat patients against their will and trigger a wave of assaults on children in public restrooms.

Such allegations are based on misinformation and false understandings about LGBT folks, especially transgender people and transgender children, Hale said.

Indeed, back in 2017, when Texas became a national laughingstock over its transgender bathroom-bill  which, mercifully, died  police chiefs from all major cities said the specter of women and children being attacked in bathrooms by men masquerading as women is a lie. It just doesnt happen.

In fact, Hale said, transgender people are the ones at risk in bathrooms, not the other way around.

The Equality Act already has passed the House with bipartisan support. Next it goes to the Senate, now in the control of Democrats. Hale said chances are good it will pass there and President Joe Biden will sign it.

Nonetheless, her group is also supporting a bill to be filed during the 2021 legislative session by Texas Democratic lawmakers that would extend legal protections to LGBTQ residents. Texas is among 22 states that lack such a state law.

We believe having both state and federal law is the best way to ensure all Texans are treated fairly, Hale said. The law is needed even for cities like San Antonio, with its own nondiscrimination ordinance, because countless people who live outside the citys boundaries are left out.

As far as LGBTQ rights infringing on religious liberty, heres a useful thought experiment: Replace LGBTQ clients with African American clients.

After all, it was religion, specifically the Bible, that was used to rationalize racial discrimination, indeed the very edifice of slavery, in our countrys darkest history. Sexual orientation and gender identity are every bit as embodied in a persons soul and psyche as their race.

As the late civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis stated, those who use religion to deprive LGBTQ of their rights indulge the same impulse that hurt Black Americans for centuries.

Cut through the distractions, and they stink of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance I have known in racism and in bigotry, he wrote.

Congress must pass the Equality Act to drive a legal stake through intolerance and further bend the moral arc of justice.

I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366.

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The report " Starter Culture Market by Microorganism (Bacteria, Yeasts, Molds), Application (Dairy & Dairy-based Products, Meat & Seafood), Composition (Multi-strain Mix, Single Strain, Multi-strain), Form, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 " , The global starter culture market size is estimated to be at USD 964 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 1,314 million by 2025, at a CAGR of 5.3%. Increasing awareness among manufacturers regarding the benefits of starter culture, growing application in cheese & other dairy products, and rising demand for fermented meat & dairy products are some of the main drivers for the growth of the starter culture industry.

Download PDF Brochure:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=213083494

Consumer awareness regarding the benefits of starter culture drives the market for dairy & dairy products

The starter culture market is segmented on application into dairy & dairy products, meat & poultry products, seafood, and others. The dairy & dairy products segment is dominant in the application segment due to the growth of starter cultures in the cheese industry. The demand for dairy and dairy-based products is projected to record the highest CAGR between 2019 and 2025 with the growing demand for dairy-based products across the world.

High demand from end-user industries for bacteria-based starter culture

The starter culture market is segmented based on target microorganisms into yeasts, molds, and bacteria. The market for starter culture in the dairy industry is significant and is used primarily in cheese manufacturing. The use of starter culture has helped in the fermentation process and also helps in retaining the aroma and flavor of different products.

Speak to Analyst:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=213083494

Europe is projected to account for the largest starter culture market share by 2025.

Europe is projected to account for the largest market share by 2025. The region has some of the leading manufacturers of starter cultures in this world. The combined output of the EU-28 countries in the global dairy industry contributes 44% to global dairy production. Also, the overall starter culture market in Europe is driven by the growing demand for fermented dairy-based products.

The report includes a study of the marketing and development strategies, along with the product portfolios, of the leading companies. It includes profiles of leading companies such as CHR Hansen (Denmark), DowDuPont (US), Sacco SRL (Italy), CSK Food Enrichment BV (Netherlands), THT SA (Belgium), Dalton Biotechnologies (Italy), Biochem SRL (Italy) , Mediterranea Biotechnologie SRL (Italy), Royal DSM NV (Netherlands), and LB Bulgaricum (Bulgaria).
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global integrated workplace management system market size is expected to reach USD 7.85 billion by 2027, according to a new study by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to register a CAGR of 12.8% from 2021 to 2027, Growing demand for solutions that help improve business performance, reduce working capital, reinforce company growth, improve customer service, and simplify workload is expected to drive the market. Additionally, enterprises across the globe are focusing on reducing operational costs and increasing the effectiveness of their decision-making processes which is anticipated to drive the demand for integrated workplace management systems (IWMSs) over the forecast period.

Key suggestions from the report:

In terms of solution, the real estate and lease management segment is anticipated to register significant growth over the forecast period owing to the growing need for upgrades and maintenance of existing solutions for better decision-making

In terms of service, the managed services segment is expected to register significant growth from 2021 to 2027. This can be attributed to the growing dependence of enterprises on IT assets to improve their productivity

In terms of deployment, the cloud segment is expected to register significant growth over the forecast period, thanks to the fact that cloud deployment enables users to access data from any location in a hassle-free way, eliminating the need to regularly and manually upgrade the solutions

In terms of enterprise size, the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment is expected to register significant growth from 2021 to 2027. Owing to advancements in SaaS tools, SMEs can use affordable software solutions and compete with larger companies with equal efficiencies. This is expected to drive the demand for IWMS in SMEs

In terms of end use, the IT and telecom segment is expected to register considerable growth over the forecast period. This can be attributed to the growing demand from IT and telecom companies for reevaluating operational strategies and applying advanced technologies across business processes to hold a competitive position

Asia Pacific regional market is anticipated to register a significant growth rate from 2021 to 2027. This can be credited to the rising adoption of various workplace management applications on the cloud in the region, including floorspace management, project management, asset management, and employee management for better decision-making

Read 120 page research report with ToC on "Integrated Workplace Management System Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Solution, By Service, By Deployment, By Enterprise Size, By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2027" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/integrated-workplace-management-system-market

Organizations across the globe are also investing in big data analytics to obtain valuable business insights for decision-making purposes. Big data analytics can help in data integration, data segmentation, and business intelligence. The growing adoption of cloud computing and big data analytics is opening numerous growth opportunities for vendors in the IWMS market.

Emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) are likely to provide significant growth opportunities to the market. The adoption of IoT can significantly simplify business operations, as data can be automatically collected and can later be analyzed for maintenance purposes. The adoption of IoT within enterprises can also significantly minimize the pressure on workplace management tools and help organizations make better decisions. IWMS software is also used for tracking utility usage and expenditures as part of efforts to lower operating costs. Additionally, the improved flexibility of several IWMS solutions and their capability to adapt to the changing and growing needs of businesses are anticipated to drive market growth over the forecast period.

Increasing market competition is encouraging established vendors to focus on partnerships and collaborations with start-ups, system integrators, and resellers to maintain a competitive market position for their products and brands. For instance, In April 2020, Accruent partnered with Mitie Group plc., a provider of facilities management and professional services in the U.K., to provide remote asset monitoring for Mitie Group plc's clients. Through the partnership, Mitie Group plc. will deploy Accruent's vx Observe IoT remote monitoring platform to control and monitor assets encompassing multiple manufacturers.

Grand View Research has segmented the global integrated workplace management system market on the basis of solution, service, deployment, enterprise size, end-use, and region:

Integrated Workplace Management System Solution Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Real Estate & Lease Management



Facilities & Space Management



Asset & Maintenance Management



Project Management



Environment Management

Integrated Workplace Management System Service Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Professional Services



Managed Services

Integrated Workplace Management System Deployment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

On-premise



Cloud

Integrated Workplace Management System Enterprise Size Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Large Enterprises



Small & Medium Enterprises

Integrated Workplace Management System End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

Public Sector



IT & Telecom



Manufacturing



BFSI



Real Estate & Construction



Retail



Healthcare



Others

Integrated Workplace Management System Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



U.K.





Germany



Asia Pacific



India





Japan





China



Latin America



Brazil





Middle East & Africa

List of Key Players of Integrated Workplace Management System Market

Align technology

Dentsply Sirona

Patterson Companies Inc

Institute Straumann

Danaher Corporation

3M EPSE

EPSE Argen Corporation

Henry Schein Inc.

TP Orthodontics Inc.

Find more research reports on Next Generation Technologies Industry, by Grand View Research:

Managed Services Market  The global managed services market size was valued at USD 174.98 billion in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of 11.7% from 2019 to 2025.

in 2018 and is expected to register a CAGR of 11.7% from 2019 to 2025. Advanced Analytics Market  The global advanced analytics market size was valued at USD 9.8 billion in 2019 and is excepted to register a CAGR of 25.3% from 2020 to 2027.

in 2019 and is excepted to register a CAGR of 25.3% from 2020 to 2027. Workplace Transformation Market  The global workplace transformation market size was valued at USD 11.9 billion in 2019 and is expected to gain traction over the forecast period.

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About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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A massive fire broke out at Terminal 1 gate of Serum Institute of India in Pune on Thursday afternoon.

The blaze was reported at an under-construction building in the Manjri area of the city. The SII plant is spread over 100 acres in Pune.

Visuals showed large plumes of smoke billowing out of the buildings. As per initial reports, eight fire tenders were rushed to the fire spot.

Also Read: Serum Institute releases advisory on COVID-19 vaccine; things to know before taking Covishield

Meanwhile, the cause of fire is not yet known but is being linked to the massive construction work taking place at the site. Oxford-AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine 'Covishield' is being manufactured at the Serum Institute's Pune plant.

However, vaccine production was not being carried out at the SII's under-construction building where the fire broke out, sources told India Today. It adjoins the plant where Covishield is being manufactured.

The Serum Institute has entered into a collaboration with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca to manufacture Covishield.

Also Read: COVID-19 vaccine: India may get most of Serum Institute's initial Covishield stockpile

In November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the pharma major's plant to assess the development of the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of its rollout.

The world's largest coronavirus vaccine rollout was launched last week following the approval of two vaccines - Covishield and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin - by the drug controller DCGI. Three crore healthcare and frontline workers are expected to be vaccinated in the first phase.
Result of hard work that BJP is main opposition in Bengal: Nadda

Nadda vows to 'save' people of Bengal from chain of political violence

BJP chief JP Nadda on two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh from today

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 21: BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda will reach Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, on a two-day visit. According to the party's media in-charge Manish Dixit, during the visit Nadda will hold various meetings and attend other programmes.

On Thursday, the BJP chief will hold meetings with BJP office bearers and later in the day meet Uttar Pradesh ministers at the BJP office here.

China's attempt to set up dam on Brahmaputra will be encroachment on rights of India: Govt

On Friday, the BJP national president will address a conference of social media volunteers and intellectuals and also attend a meeting of Chinhat rural area and booth and district presidents, Dixit said.

According to reports, Nadda will also hold crucial meeting with party workers in the wake of next year's Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021: How to check name in voter list and download voter slip

The visit also comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trusted bureaucrat Arvind Sharma joined the BJP and got nominated to the upper house of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Sharma's nomination to the legislative council had led to speculation about his possible induction in the state government.

Nadda completed the first year as BJP president on Wednesday. On the occasion, he wrote an open letter to BJP workers lauding the party's recent victory in a number of state and local body polls and setting the target of "historic" wins in the next round of assembly elections.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

Nadda, who had taken over from Union home minister Amit Shah on January 20 last year, also praised the party's welfare work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 8:55 [IST]
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

American and Vietnamese personnel have removed dioxin from an area of 5,300 square meters at Bien Hoa airport, the most contaminated spot in Vietnam.

The remediation work which began in December 2019 removed 1,134 cubic meters of dioxin-contaminated sediments from Gate 2 Lake within the airport in Dong Nai Province, an hours drive from HCMC.

Bien Hoa airport was the largest U.S. military base in Vietnam during the war and is now used for military training.

The remediated area will be handed over to local authorities in the next few days.

Part of the Gate 2 Lake at Bien Hoa Airport, Dong Nai Province, that has been cleaned from dioxin, January 20, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Nga.

At an event held at the airport on Wednesday to announce the results of one year of work, the Air Defense Air Force Command signed an agreement with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to hand over an area of 7.2 hectares at the airbase for the latter to decontaminate over the next two years.

The two nations' governments have agreed that some 515,000 cubic meters of soil on 52.24 hectares at the airport is contaminated with dioxin, a deadly chemical used in the defoliant Agent Orange by the U.S.

Cleaning it up is expected to take at least 10 years and cost the two countries $300 million each.

"While the scale of this initial success may seem small compared to the overall remediation challenge ahead, this achievement is notable," the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, Daniel J. Kritenbrink, said at the Wednesday event.

"The success of any long-term effort, like the 10-year project ahead of us, requires sustained commitment."

He confirmed on behalf of his government that the cleanup of the airport would be complete as pledged.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh said: "On the map, the Gate 2 Lake is just a small spot in the airport, but it is possible for us to now say that a dead piece of land has been transformed into golden land for Dong Nai."

This event is evidence that the governments of both Vietnam and the U.S. have kept their promise to the people and to each other, he said.

"I suggested to authorities in Bien Hoa Town and Dong Nai Province that they should put up a sign at the Gate 2 Lake to say this is the first land plot in the biggest project in the world to overcome the consequences of war."

A team collects soil samples to test for dioxin at Bien Hoa Airport, Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam, in 2020. Photo by USAID.

The event also saw the U.S. Mission to Vietnam and the National Action Center for Chemical and Environmental Treatment introduce a new joint project to support people with disabilities in eight provinces that were severely affected by Agent Orange: Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh in the south, Kon Tum in the Central Highlands and Binh Dinh, Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue, and Quang Tri in the central region.

USAID has committed $65 million for it over the next five years to give people with disabilities the opportunity to fully participate in society while improving their overall quality of life.

"The pledge shows the U.S. has taken responsibility for victims of the Vietnam War, and this should be considered yet another sign of the peaceful and cooperative relationship between the two nations," Vinh said.

Between 1961 and 1971, the U.S. army sprayed some 80 million liters of Agent Orange, a compound of dioxins and dioxin-like mixtures, over 78,000 square kilometers (30,000 square miles) in southern Vietnam.

Dioxin stays in the soil and at the bottom of water bodies for generations, entering the food chain through meat, fish and other animals, and has been found at alarmingly high levels in human breast milk.

Between 2.1 to 4.8 million Vietnamese were directly exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals before the war ended in April 1975. These chemicals have been linked to cancers, birth defects and many chronic diseases.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. A stable operational situation with no incidents has been maintained along the Armenian-Azerbaijani line of contact of the Armenian state border overnight January 20-21, the Defense Ministry of Armenia told Armenpress.

According to the information provided by the Armenian National Security Service, no border incidents were registered in Vorotan-Davit Bek section of the Goris-Kapan inter-state road which is under the responsibility of the NSS border troops.

The Armed Forces of Armenia and the NSS border troops confidently control the border situation along the entire length of the border zone and fulfill their tasks.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Scott Morrison has come under fire for saying January 26 was a tough day for convicts on the First Fleet.

Aboriginal rights activists argue the nation should not celebrate Australia Day because it marks the start of colonisation and the oppression of Indigenous Australians.

But the prime minister said the convicts who arrived from Britain and raised the Union Jack in 1788 also had a difficult time.

The prime minister said Australia Day was an important date to reflect on how far the country had come

'On Australia Day, it's all about acknowledging how far we've come,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Queensland on Thursday.

'You know, when those 12 ships turned up in Sydney, it wasn't a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either.'

Convicts shipped to Australia from Ireland and the UK were often treated as slave labor and were subject to 'assigned service' where they were leased out to rich landowners to use as a cheap workforce.

But critics have accused Mr Morrison of drawing a false equivalence between those aboard the First Fleet and the experience of Australia's Indigenous people who endured forced labor, massacres, oppression and dispossession.

Labor's Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Linda Burney said: 'Suffering is not a competition. What the Prime Minister has said makes no sense.

'As the leader of the country, he has an example to set for the rest of the nation and he should know better.

'How can we expect to see real progress on issues such as Reconciliation and Closing the Gap when he makes such ignorant and unhelpful comments like this?'

Aboriginal prisoners outside Roebourne Gaol in Western Australia, circa 1896

Aboriginal prisoners in chains, posed with a policeman and Aboriginal trackers, circa 1890

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said: 'Seriously Prime Minister, who the heck is advising you? Or do you come up with this rubbish on your own?? Read. The. Room'.

Her colleague Lidia Thorpe added: 'Maybe the colonising First Fleet did feel sick on the boat over here. First Nations people feel sick to think that 26 January is a day that the leaders of this country should choose as the national day of celebration. Its like dancing on the graves of our ancestors.'

One of Mr Morrison's critics - Labor MP Graham Perrett - also pointed out there were actually only 11 ships in the First Fleet.

'Luckily our prime minister doesn't have an electorate connected with this event,' Mr Perrett said sarcastically.

The prime minister represents the seat of Cook, named in honour of Captain James Cook, a navigator in the Royal Navy who is credited as the first European to discover the east coast of Australia in 1770.

The prime minister is a descendant of William Roberts, who came to Australia as a convict aboard the Scarborough in the First Fleet.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas looks so secure with her identity that she exudes confidence and poise, whenever and wherever. To think she was bullied by racist classmates.

In her candid new memoir, Unfinished, which will be released on Feb. 9, Priyanka Chopra Jonas details the racist bullying she experienced being a regular student at a American high school.

The bullying was so bad that it even forced Jonas out of the counry. Instead, she had to go bbacn to India to study. Brownie, go back to your country!" and "Go back on the elephant you came on" were just the few insult thrown at her. Usually, she was just walking down the hello. as she walked down the hall.

She shared that even though she rtried not to, the comments easily affected her. "Deep inside, it starts gnawing at you," says the Citadel star, 38 to People magazine.

"I went into a shell. I was like, 'Don't look at me. I just want to be invisible,'" added Chopra Jonas, "My confidence was stripped. I've always considered myself a confident person, but I was very unsure of where I stood, of who I was' she shared.

Even though she had to leave the US because of the bullying, leaving proved to be the right move as it brought her healing.

"I was so blessed that when I went back to India, I was surrounded by so much love and admiration for who I was," she revelaled. "Going back to India healed me after that experience in high school."

Now that the bullying has stopped, she finds herself wanting more people to learn about India and other South Asian cultures.

Priyanka is currently stuck in London due to the coronavirus lockdown. She was there to shoot for her film "Text For You: and is now trapped.

While the shoot wrapped up earlier this month, she and her husband Nick Jonas were not allowed to go home in the US and have been working from London itself.

Both Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas have extended their support to the fight against racism. Specifically, Nick penned a powerful message in a support to the movement in the US against racism after the demise of George Floyd due to police brutality.

READ MORE: Armie Hammer's Ex Wife Elizabeth Chambers No Longer Recognizes Him

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
There have been no tweets from the embassys account since January 8 (Andy Wong/AP)

Twitter has locked the account belonging to Chinas embassy in the US after a tweet stated that Uighur women in Xinjiang have been emancipated and are no longer baby making machines.

One of the final acts of the Trump administration this week was declaring that Chinas policies and actions in regard to Muslims and ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang region constitute crimes against humanity and genocide.

A main reason for the declaration is widespread forced birth control among the Uighurs, which the Associated Press documented last year.

Another reason cited, Uighur forced labour, has also been linked by AP reporting to various products imported to the US, including clothing and electronic goods such as cameras and computer monitors.

Expand Close In order to unlock the account, the embassy will have to delete the tweet (Andrew Matthews/PA) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp In order to unlock the account, the embassy will have to delete the tweet (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Twitter said the January 7 tweet from the embassy in Washington violated its policy on dehumanisation.

According to that policy, the dehumanisation of a group of people based on their religion, caste, age, disability, serious disease, national origin, race, or ethnicity, is prohibited.

There have been no tweets from the embassys account since January 8.

In order to unlock the account, the embassy will have to delete the tweet.

The Chinese embassy in the US did not respond to a request for comment.

But on Wednesday, a day after outgoing US secretary of state Mike Pompeo classified Chinas actions as genocide, Chinas Foreign Ministry described Mr Pompeo as a doomsday clown and said the designation was merely a piece of wastepaper.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : According to a survey conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), about 20 per cent respondents are certain about not taking the Covid-19 vaccine.

The NCAER released the results of Round 4 of its Delhi-NCR Coronavirus Telephone Survey (DCVTS-4) on Thursday.

A significant rural (22.4%) and urban (17.5%) differences were observed. An additional 4% of respondents mentioned that they will not take it as they are already infected.

Another 15% are unsure about taking the vaccine. Combining all these three categories, one can argue that at this point vaccine hesitancy is quite high (39%) in Delhi-NCR.

No significant association was observed between age, gender of respondent and vaccine hesitancy. Less educated (0-4 years of complete education) respondents are more hesitant to take vaccines (52%). Improved trust in vaccine development and approval process as well as overall trust in the government health systems may play an important role in reducing vaccine hesitancy.

In the context of the debate whether vaccine is a public or private good, DCVTS-4 asked about people's willingness to pay for two doses of coronavirus vaccine to those who are willing to take vaccine or unsure about it.

About 41% respondents think that the vaccine should be provided free either by the government or their employer. An additional 14% said they will not pay more than Rs 500. The proportion of respondents expecting free vaccine is significantly higher among respondents from poor economic status (48%) and casual wage workers (51%). Interestingly, about a similar proportion of people (40%) are willing to pay as much as required for two doses of the vaccine. Understandably, this proportion is higher (45%) among respondents from rich households.

Because of COVID-related pressure on the health system, the disruption of routine health services emerged as a major area of concern.

To understand the current situation of healthcare access, DCVTS-4 asked about the experience of household members in availing medical services in the last 3 months (October-December) for a varied range of health needs.

The findings suggest that the prevalence of disruption of medical services is dependent upon the type of services. Services that are commonly used and are generally available close to home, e.g.,access to medication, treatment of minor illnesses like fever, cough and cold, diarrhea, pregnancy and delivery related services, childhood immunization, the level of disruption is low.

However, specialized services that often require travelling outside the village or the local neighbourhood, e.g. care for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory illness, and kidney disease were more difficult to avail.

However, due to their rarity this affected a smaller proportion of households. For example, 23% of 175 households experiencing chronic respiratory illness or kidney disease faced difficulty (either did not receive the service or received with difficulty) in availing medical care.

The proportion of disruption is 28% for cardiovascular disease or cancer care among 125 households who needed care. In comparison, 7.5% had trouble obtaining treatment for minor illnesses. This may reflect both demand and supply constraints. DCVTS-4 data suggest that that 37% households believe that the healthcare service capacity is below the normal level. At the same time, about 22% respondents reported that they would either avoid visiting medical facilities even now or visit only if there is an emergency.

While employment recovery is well under way as judged by many sources, the lingering impact of lockdown should not be underestimated. During the pandemic period (April-Dec), about 80% of the households suffered some sort of economic hardship such as decrease in salary or daily wages (36%), someone in the household lost job (31%), difficulty in finding work (31%), business closed or business income declined (23%). Long term economic impacts are most apparent for small business owners and salaried workers.

About 12% of households whose primary source of income was business before the pandemic changed their occupation either shifted to small jobs or undertook casual wage work or currently do not have any source of income. Households whose main source of income was salaried work before the pandemic, about 14% of them have shifted their occupation to something else.

This occupational shift seems to have a negative impact on the household. Households that lost jobs or had to close their businesses tried to find alternative work, mostly work that was less remunerative than the work they lost.

Looking at the living conditions of households that changed the primary source of income suggests greater hunger and debt in current conditions.

About 44% of the households whose primary source of income did not change during the pandemic had to resort to borrowing in the last 30 days prior to the survey to meet their day-to-day consumption needs and 12%of such households faced occasional situations of not having enough food due to financial constraints.

The proportion of households facing such financial hardship are much higher among the households whose primary source of income has changed during the pandemic. 64% of such households borrowed and 29% suffered from occasional unavailability of food in 30 days prior to the survey.

About 2.2% of the households reported that they do not have a source of income now, possibly subsisting on borrowing or selling assets.
With President Joe Biden's inauguration complete, thousands of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., will soon start heading home -- some as early as this weekend.

Arrangements are being made for 15,000 of the 25,600 Guard soldiers and airmen in D.C. to return home over the next 10 days, officials said.

"Some might not be needed tomorrow, and they might get approved to start that process in the next few days," Air Force Maj. Gen. Steven Nordhaus, director of Domestic Operations and Force Development for the National Guard Bureau, told Military.com on Thursday. "Some could start going home, I would say, as early as Friday or Saturday."

Read Next: Uniformed Man Seen Kneeling at Iraq Vet Beau Biden's Grave During Inauguration

Wednesday's inauguration ceremony concluded without Guard members having to face a single security threat, a stark contrast from two weeks ago when a violent mob protesting the Nov. 3 election results breached the U.S. Capitol.

Guard leaders are still in meetings with the U.S. Secret Service and federal law enforcement agencies to ensure their support needs are met, Nordhaus said.

"As those mission sets complete, we are focused on a very professional, very controlled, very deliberate focus to get those service members ... back to their states, so they can get back to their civilian lives and back to their families," he said.

Approximately 7,000 Guard troops are expected to remain in D.C. through the end of January, according to a National Guard Bureau news release.

Demobilization can be complex and include equipment turn-in, travel arrangements and COVID-19 screening.

"Maybe they come off mission today, tomorrow or the next day and begin to then turn in their equipment," Nordhaus said.

Guard members said they were prepared for just about anything going into the Inauguration but were pleasantly surprised that it turned into a peaceful day.

"Yesterday went exactly as I think all of us hoped it would," Staff Sgt. Dave Williamson, a platoon sergeant in the Maryland National Guard's 231st Chemical Company, told Military.com. "It was uneventful ... other than the new president being inaugurated. As far as unrest or protests or anything like that, there really wasn't a whole lot going on."

Williamson said there were a few protesters "who had some choice words, but outside of that, that was probably the biggest thing that we saw."

Despite the peaceful setting, the inauguration support mission proved stressful at times behind the scenes, said Nordhaus, who has served in the Guard for 22 years. Before that, he flew F-16 Fighting Falcons for a decade.

"My concern was always just making sure that we didn't miss anything; we thought through each and every one of the tens of thousands of obstacles to make sure that all of our Guardsmen were taken care of, they were fed, they were at the right location, they had hotels, they had equipment and they knew where they were supposed to be," Nordhaus said.

"I just couldn't be more proud of how the D.C. National Guard really brought together and worked with the 50 states and three territories ... and interagency partners to make sure that we really pulled off an amazing feat ... yesterday by having the right people in the right location and able to protect what was a great, peaceful transfer of power."

Spc. Maxwell Leon-Guerrero was excited to be part of the 59th inauguration, but knew that there was uncertainty about what his unit would face Wednesday.

"We don't get complacent," the 28-year-old combat engineer from the Maryland Guard's 253rd Engineer Company (Sapper), told Military.com. "There is always a possibility that something can come up, and we are always ready."

Like Leon-Guerrero, Spc. Mitchell Harris was in D.C. in June to support law enforcement as demonstrators protested the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died while in the custody of the Minneapolis police.

"Each one of us [was] ready for the worst, but we are happy that the best happened," said Harris, 21, who is also with the 253rd.

Williamson said his biggest challenge as a leader was watching out for some of his less experienced soldiers.

"We have had a lot of new soldiers who were fresh out of training and haven't had a lot of operational experience," the 37-year-old said.

Maryland is one of a handful of states that sent Guard troops to D.C. less than 24 hours after the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol, which left five people dead.

"I would say that every one of my guys was not only ready but willing and wanted to come down and support this mission because they knew how historic and what this meant, not only for the country now ... but being a part of the process moving forward and getting back to a unified country," Williamson said. "A lot of things happen in your career, but how many people can say they were there in 2021 and helped keep the peace and get the country moving forward again?"

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: The 26K Guard Troops in DC Did Not Face a Single Inauguration Security Threat: Top General
It was late in the evening and I was sitting and watching the 1977 Hindi film Gharonda (meaning small house"), a timeless saga about the trouble with aspiring to own a home in one of the most crowded cities on earthMumbai.

The song Ek akela is shehar main (single and alone in the city) from the movie was playing on the screen. Some 2 minutes and 50 seconds into the song, there is a shot of Mumbais famous Marine Drive full of Premier Padmini and Ambassador cars.

Before any nostalgia could set in, my 17-year-old niece, who had been busy Snapchatting on her phone, was looking at the TV screen all excited. Oh, all those cars are so similar to that old car in the garage."

She was referring to the parrot green Ambassador car which my father for emotional and nostalgic reasons had never been able to sell.

Yes, its called the Ambassador," I said.

What a silly name for a car," she retorted.

Back then, one had a choice of just two cars," I said, pausing the song.

Just two cars?"

Yes. You could buy the Ambassador or the Premier Padmini, until Maruti Suzuki came along in the mid-1980s."

In a way, it was good na? Remember, last time Ma wanted to buy a car, she had this huge FOMO and dragged us along to check out every possible model," she said. But tell me something, why were there only two car models available?"

Because of the licence raj."

Licence raj? That sounds like the name of an old Mithun Chakraborty movie," she replied, having recently discovered the cult of the Disco Dancer.

The term refers to the control that the government had over businesses in India. Government bureaucrats decided what businesses could produce and how much they could produce. So, two companies had the licence to manufacture cars."

Oh."

And because there was a quota on the number of units that could be manufactured in a given year, there was a perpetual shortage. Hence, second-hand cars and two-wheelers were more expensive than newer ones because there was no waiting period."

Thats crazy."

In fact, the government itself manufactured a lot of products."

Really?"

I looked around the room for an apt example. Lets start with the TV."

TV?" she asked.

There were TVs with brand names like Uptron, Keltron and Beltron, manufactured by companies owned by the state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Bihar."

Really? And?"

The government sold Modern bread and Double 7 colas. It also sold Allwyn refrigerators and HMT watches."

But what changed all this?" she asked.

Thirty years ago, the summer of 1991 happened," I replied. P.V. Narasimha Rao and his cabinet were sworn in to govern the country on 21 June. He soon realized that India was bankrupt. In fact, earlier that year, we had taken a $2.2 billion emergency loan from the IMF. This loan was made against a part of our gold reserves which had to been flown to London. Also, foreign exchange reserves were down to just two weeks of imports."

Oh, we pawned our gold? Really desperate," she said.

Indeed. The only way to get out of this was to get rid of the licence raj and bring in economic reforms. This is what happened when the then finance minister, Manmohan Singh, presented the annual budget on 24 July 1991. He ended his speech by saying, No power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come."

And has he been proven right?" she asked.

Yes. It became easier to do business in India. Foreign companies were allowed into different sectors. Private Indian companies also flourished. In the 1990s, new banking licences were given to the private sector after many years. All this helped to create jobs and economic growth. The average rate of growth between 1951-52 and 1990-91 had stood at 4.2% per year. Since then, growth has averaged a significantly higher 6.3% per year."

So things have improved," she said.

Let me give you an example. In 1980, India had around 2.5 million landline phones, all concentrated in cities. By October 2020, mobile phone connections had touched 1.15 billion. Access to the internet is available at rock-bottom rates. This is purely an achievement of Indias private sector."

Almost everyone has a mobile phone now," she said.

Did you know that when mobile phones were first launched in the mid-90s, even an incoming call used to cost 16 per minute?"

And now, they are practically free!" she exclaimed.

They are. The number of passenger cars sold in 1991-92 was around 150,000 units. In FY2020, 1.7 million units were sold. Thats a 10-fold expansion. That many more Indians can afford a car each year these days."

What about two-wheelers?" she asked.

In FY2000, 3.7 million two-wheelers were sold. In FY2020, the number stood at 17.4 million. Further, most Indians in 1991 had access to only one TV channel, the government-owned Doordarshan. People in the bigger cities could also see DD Metro."

Now, we have 257 channels, OTT streaming platforms and the internet, and nothing interesting is on," she said sarcastically.

All of this reflects better purchasing power as incomes have gone up. For the well-to-do section, the fact that income tax rates came down from 50% in the 1990s to around 30% now has helped. The per capita annual income was 29,686 in 1991. This has since improved to around 1.09 lakh in 2019-20."

What you are saying is the average income of an Indian has gone up. But does that mean that the income of an average Indian has also gone up at the same pace?" she asked.

Good point. If Mr Ambani were to walk into this room right now, the average income of the room would go up without your income or my income changing. Thats the trouble with averages," I explained.

What do you mean?"

In 1991, 62.6% of Indias workers were in agriculture and farm output formed 31.3% of the overall economy. Now, around 41.5% of the total employment is in agriculture and it forms around 15% of the overall economy."

So?"

There are more people still dependent on agriculture than what is economically feasible. So the benefits of reforms havent reached a large section. The average Indian is better off but hasnt benefited as much as a few have. And some benefited tremendously."

Clearly, there is a problem."

Also, what hasnt helped is the fact that India hasnt improved enough on many social indicators. Even a country like Bangladesh has done better than India on some counts."

So tell me, where do we go from here?" she asked.

For more jobs and economic growth, India needs another burst of economic reformslike what we saw in July 1991. Also, we need to make sure that our real estate and construction sectors operate well, because it can create lots of low- and semi-skilled jobs."

By the time I finished answering the question, she was ready to leave.

Okay, gotta bounce," she said. My new Zoom buddy is calling."

Oh. Is he the one who was trying to slide into your Twitter DMs last week?" I asked.

Okay, Boomer!" she said and walked away.

Vivek Kaul is the author of Bad Money.





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Temperatures set to drop as Met Office issue weather warning for icy conditions

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 21st, 2021

Further bad weather conditions are on the way for Wrexham with a yellow weather warning in place for ice.

In the last 24 hours the county has been hit by heavy rainfall and flooding, which caused some residents in the Bangor-on-Dee and New Broughton areas to be evacuated from their homes overnight.

However the Met Office say that there is colder weather in store for many as Storm Christoph pulls away from the UK and rainfall starts to ease.

The yellow warning for ice in place from this afternoon until 10am on Thursday morning.





Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, said: Colder air is now established across the UK as Storm Christoph moves away into the North Sea, and gale force winds will impact the northeast of the country.

There are three National Severe weather warnings in place, two in north and east Scotland, one for rain and one for snow valid until noon on Friday, and an ice warning cover western Scotland, north west England, Northern Ireland and much of Wales, valid until 10 am Friday.
India attracted private equity (PE) investments to the tune of $38,149 million in the calendar year 2020 of which 11 percent share was claimed by the real estate sector at $4,068 million with 21 deals getting concluded during the year, a report by Knight Frank India, a leading property consultancy, has said.

The office sector received the maximum share of PE investments at $2,509 million and saw seven deals getting closed; the warehousing sector received an investment of $971 million and saw five deals in 2020; the residential sector received $368 million and witnessed seven deals, the report said.

Around 21.8 mn sq ft of the office assets were transacted in 2020. The PE investments through the equity route in this space were down 19 percent YoY in 2020 compared to $3,096 million during the same period last year, the report said.

In 2020, the residential sector witnessed seven deals worth $368 million, which were down 49 percent YoY compared to $717 million in 2019. For several years residential prices have been stagnant and have even corrected at specific locations. Though overall PE investment (debt and equity) in residential has come down in the past four years, investors' risk appetite in residential has gone up as the share of equity investments has grown from 35 percent in 2019 to 52 percent in 2020.

In 2020, the warehousing sector attracted PE investments through equity route worth $971 million which were 49 percent YoY lower than $1,895 million during the same period last year. This drop can largely be attributed to a significant percentage of capital committed to the warehousing sector in India over the past three years awaiting deployment. Since 20112020, Singapore has the largest share of investment of $2,524 million in the warehousing sector, followed by the UAE with $1,600 million and Germany with $1,000 million.

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

Since 2011, the retail space has attracted $2,792 million equity investments, claiming a total of 25 deals as of 2020. There were only two deals transacted for $220 million in retail space in 2020 which is a drop of 76 percent YoY compared to $922 million in 2019. The pandemic-induced lockdown had forced all malls to halt their operations and has adversely affected their businesses.

Malls have been amongst the last to open during the unlocking phases and the fear of virus has kept the consumer footfalls low. Such high levels of uncertainty have kept investors away from retail assets. Around 2.7 million sq ft of the retail space was transacted in 2020.

Despite a slowdown in overall PE investment, we continue to witness a strong investor appetite for rent yielding office assets. Knight Frank believes that with more clarity on the pandemic resolution and sense on structural changes, the deal activity is expected to pick up further in 2021, said Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India.

After a temporary lull due to the global lockdowns in early 2020, India witnessed a sharp resurgence in investor sentiments towards the end of the year. The real estate sector in India witnessed private equity investments to the tune of $4.1 billion in 2020 of which $2.64 billion (64 percent of annual investments) came in the last quarter of 2020. Since 2011, on average investors invested through both debt and equity structures; however, there is a shift in investors risk appetite as 96 percent of total PE investment was through the equity route in 2020. We believe the trend will continue in the near future, said Rajani Sinha, chief economist and national director  Research, Knight Frank India.
UPPER BERN TWP., Pa. - For the third time in recent years, fire has ravaged a farm in Berks County, this time consuming approximately 67,000 chickens and two large buildings, according to fire investigators.

The latest fire erupted around 2:15 a.m. Thursday at A&L Farms in the 3300 block of Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township, west of Hamburg, sending flames and smoke high into the frigid air.

The first firefighters arrived on the scene to find one chicken house, measuring several hundred feet in length, engulfed in flames, with the fire extending through the roof and spreading to a nearly identical building situated only several feet away.

"The first house was fully involved," said First Asst. Chief Steven Kauffman, Shartlesville Community Fire Company.

The crews worked about two hours to extinguish much of the fire, but they were met with some challenges along the way.

"The pond we use was filled with sludge," Kauffman said. "We couldn't get water out of the ponds, so we had to go to a secondary pond. That was full with sludge and halfway emptied, so we had a struggle getting water to the scene."

The two chicken houses eventually collapsed, with all of the lost chickens having been inside one of them, officials said.

The firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to surrounding buildings, including an egg house that was partially damaged by the flames and smoke.

+17 PHOTOS: Chicken house fire in Upper Bern Flames tore through chicken houses at a farm in Upper Bern Township, Berks County early Thursday morning, killing nearly 70,000 chickens.

A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal said the scene is currently too unsafe to conduct a through examination of site, so he expects the investigation to take several days. In the meantime, he is estimating the amount of damage to be about $2 million.

Unfortunately, the farm is no stranger to fires, as this is the third fire in the last several years.

Flames tore through chicken houses there in 2019, and the owners lost more than 37,000 chickens. In 2015, a fire destroyed an empty barn that was going to be used to house chickens.

OUT NOW! 2ND edition of Billions at play outlining the road to recovery for the African Oil and Gas Sector, post Covid-19

tvN has finally released the first teaser for the series "Vincenzo" giving the viewers some glimpse of the much-awaited drama comeback of actor Song Joong Ki!

New drama "Vincenzo" starring actor Song Joong Ki will finally be meeting the fans in just a few days left. For now, the first video teaser has been uploaded through tvN's official YouTube channel.

The 35-year-old actor will be playing the character of Vincenzo Cassano, who is an Italian lawyer and mafia advisor who is originally from Korea; he was adopted by an Italian family during his childhood years. Due to an unexpected problem in his workplace, Vincenzo immediately flew back to Korea.

Upon arriving in his hometown, he will encounter lawyer Hong Cha Young who will be played by Jeon Yeo Bin, she is a fearless and quick-witted woman who happen to have an intern by her side named Jang Joon Woon, who will be portrayed by idol and actor Taecyeon.

These three will be working together in order to attain their goals. They will use evil methods to take down villains who cannot be punished by the court of law.

It was a short yet intense video teaser showing the sophisticated and intriguing character of Song Joong Ki as Vincenzo Cassano. Through the short clip, he said the lines, "I am not here to negotiate, but to give you warning."

Song Joong Ki will be showing again another side of his amazing skills through this drama. From being a captain soldier in the hit Korean series "Descendants of the Sun", he will be transforming into a fearless lawyer who is ready to do everything he could, in serving justice to those who are in need, and to punish the evils from their wrongdoings.

He can also be seen holding a gun and scales in both of his hands, showing that he is up for justice and equality. After the first drama teaser has been released, it already gained a buzz, especially to Song Joong Ki's fans. This will be his first drama comeback after his 2019 drama "Arthdal Chronicles."

Meanwhile, Song Joong Ki has been starting the year with new projects to look forward to. Aside from his upcoming drama "Vincenzo" he is also set to conquer Netflix with his forthcoming sci-fi movie "Space Sweepers", which is expected to be a blockbuster film.

After being on hiatus, Song Joong Ki never fails to make his fans happy by working hard to produce high quality projects, it may be in drama or movie. His skills in acting always leave a good impression on the global audience.

Playing different roles made him become the prominent actor that he is today. With his back to back schedules, his international fans are always there to support him in every step of his journey.

You can watch the newly released drama teaser of Song Joong Ki below!

What can you say about Song Joong Ki's upcoming drama "Vincenzo"? Share your comments with us!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article





Written by Shai Collins.
HEFEI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- In a country with time-honored tea culture, Su Yang (pseudonym), on the contrary, has developed a habit of drinking coffee largely due to the influence of Starbucks. "It's difficult to start a day without a cup of coffee," said Su, a 29-year-old white-collar worker in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, where the first Starbucks coffeehouse opened in 2011. In 1999, the first Starbucks outlet on the Chinese mainland opened in Beijing, a pioneering move to nurture a taste of coffee in a tea-drinking culture. However, purchasing a cup of cappuccino worth 19 yuan (about 2.3 U.S. dollars back then) was way too rare, when the same amount could bring back 10 kg of rice. The company's initial attempt in the Chinese market failed to generate a profit in the first nine years. "We were not successful in the early years," acknowledged Howard Schultz, Starbucks Corporation's chairman emeritus. "It took us several years to get traction and gain success and loyalty," he said in an interview with China Global Television Network. With the rapid economic development and expanding middle-class population in China, Starbucks coffeehouses have sprung up all across the country over the past two decades, making China the largest overseas market for Starbucks. Su's passion for coffee grew as more Starbucks outlets opened in her city. It took the brand only a few years to evolve from a refreshing drink at work to a part of life. "You can spot a Starbucks outlet in almost every shopping mall. I also order Starbucks online when at home," Su said. Currently, Starbucks has more than 4,800 brick-and-mortar outlets in about 200 Chinese cities, employing nearly 60,000 staff, according to a recent report by the company. In the fourth fiscal season of 2020, a record 259 new outlets opened on the Chinese mainland. Being a big Starbucks fan, Su enjoys spending time at the U.S. coffee chain, which she calls a "third place" between home and work. The practice is quite opposite to the takeaway custom seen in Starbucks outlets in the United States. "I usually order a latte and chat with my friends or do my homework here," said Chen Xun (pseudonym), a freshman from Anhui University. During the winter holiday, the 19-year-old became a part-time barista at a nearby Starbucks coffeehouse, a career he has always wanted to pick up. "I love working in Starbucks, where music and the drifting coffee aroma permeate the aura," Chen said. "I believe Starbucks will become increasingly popular in China just like KFC. It will be accepted by different age groups," said Su, who is also into collecting Starbucks peripheral products such as coffee beans, mugs and stir sticks. As of the end of the last fiscal year, Starbucks had over 13.5 million active members in China, the company said, adding that it aims to expand the number of coffeehouses to 6,000 in 230 Chinese cities by the end of the 2022 fiscal year. "We have always been confident about the vitality and resilience of the Chinese market. We are embracing the opportunity with further investment and innovation, hoping to contribute more to promote the development of the industry of specialty coffee in China," said Belinda Wong, Starbucks China chairman and CEO. Enditem




By James Pearson

HANOI (Reuters) - In Vietnam, one of the last five remaining Communist-ruled countries in the world, Monday brings the launch of a key Party meeting that will anoint the country's next leadership quartet and set policy direction for the next five years.

The 13th National Congress in Hanoi will last until Feb. 2, with nearly 1,600 Party delegates from across Vietnam descending on the capital for the gathering and votes to seal the new leadership's elevation.

Stringent measures to keep the coronavirus pandemic at bay will be in place. But thanks to the imposition of strict quarantines and targeted testing and tracing, Vietnam has recorded just 35 deaths from COVID-19 - putting its economy on track to recover faster than most.

The country's incoming leadership team will be looking to leverage that economic advantage, as well as deal with challenges from the United States and China, Vietnam's two largest trading partners, and increasing international attention to human rights concerns.

WHAT WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE CONGRESS?

Besides policy, by far the most important item on the Party's agenda is "personnel issues" - a euphemism for electing a new Central Committee and Politburo.

The congress delegates will first elect a 200-strong Central Committee. The latter will then vote in 14-19 Politburo members, who will in turn nominate Vietnam's official four 'pillars' of leadership: the Party chief, the state president, the prime minister, and the National Assembly chair. The Central Committee then votes to approve the leadership quartet.

The new Politburo will go on to nominate a new cabinet, which Vietnam's National Assembly will approve in the following months.

The voting process is secretive and opaque. Surprises can happen - during the last congress, then-prime minister Nguyen Tan Dung was ousted from the leadership group altogether.

WHO'S IN THE RUNNING?

The main candidates are widely known in Hanoi's political circles, but were officially declared top secret in December to discourage potentially critical debate.

Story continues

Incumbent 76-year-old Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong has become one of the most powerful men in Vietnam for decades after he emerged on top at the 2016 congress during a power struggle between ideologues like himself and a bloc of business-friendly cadres, led by former PM Dung.

While events at the last congress and a subsequent crackdown on corruption have deepened factional fault lines across Party ranks, anything but continuity in Vietnam's economic and political policy-making after the congress would surprise country watchers.

In the months running up to the meeting there has been intense competition for a limited number of top posts. Trong, General Secretary of the Party since 2011, also holds the title of state president, a role to which he was appointed after the incumbent died in 2018.

His "blazing furnace" crackdown on corruption, as it has been officially dubbed, has seen dozens of high-ranking officials, including one Politburo member, sentenced to lengthy jail terms. Many of those targeted by the crackdown were allies of ex-PM Dung, prompting critics to dismiss the crackdown as politically motivated.

If - as observers expect - Trong continues as Party chief, he will become the longest-serving General Secretary since Le Duan, the leader who took control and ruled with an iron fist after the death of Vietnam's founding revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh.

WHAT ABOUT OTHERS?

Current Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who successfully steered Vietnam through the pandemic, a U.S.-China trade war and towards a handful of key trade deals, will be looking to retain his position or rise up Party ranks, analysts and sources say.

If the positions of Party chief and president - currently both held by Trong - are decoupled, Phuc is viewed by some to be in the running for the presidential position and to be an eventual candidate to become the Party's General Secretary.

Phuc's ascent would leave the economically focused Prime Minister role open. Pham Minh Chinh, an apparatchik who heads the Party's organisation committee, has emerged as one candidate to replace him, although Chinh does not appear to have such broad economic experience as those who have previously held the role.

Another candidate with broader economic qualifications who could also be in the running to become Prime Minister would be Vuong Dinh Hue, a former deputy prime minister who is currently Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.

Still, observers believe him to be more likely to take the least important of the four top jobs - the National Assembly chair - although that position has in the past been used as a springboard to the General Secretary role. Trong himself held the position before becoming Party chief.

HOW DO PEOPLE QUALIFY FOR EACH ROLE?

In theory, ascent to the highest levels of Vietnamese politics is governed by rules and limits on age and geographical origin. There has never been a general secretary who was not from the northern half of Vietnam, for example, and Politburo members over the age of 65 should retire, according to Party regulations.

In reality, the highly secretive process revolves around building a consensus and vying for control of the party's powerful, decision-making Politburo. That means exceptions to rules are often granted - especially if a consensus on the top candidates cannot be reached.

As it stands, the current list of top candidates does not contain anyone from the southern half of Vietnam, an issue which could foster tensions within the Party and prompt calls from the southern bloc for more top-level representation.

WHAT ABOUT POLICY ISSUES?

This Congress will include an assessment of Vietnam's achievements 35 years after the introduction of 'Doi Moi', the government-led 1986 movement which brought much-needed economic and political reforms and laid the groundwork for the country's rapid development.

It will also conduct a review of how well the outgoing leadership team performed, and set new domestic and international policies and guidelines for the next five to ten years.

Also on the agenda: long-term plans to achieve Vietnam's stated ambition to become a high-income country by 2045.

(Reporting by James Pearson; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
PFAS investigation in Pellston completes second round of samples

Officials discovered polyfluoroalkyls in Pellston residential water sources in late 2019. The airport is believed to be the source of the substances.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 01:35:45|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen on Wednesday regretted a lack of progress in the political process in the war-torn country.

"The political process is not as yet delivering real changes in Syrians' lives nor a real vision for the future," he told the Security Council.

Steps that could build confidence are not really being taken: full and unhindered humanitarian access; progress on detainees, abductees and the missing; a nationwide cease-fire; a cooperative and effective approach to countering UN-listed terrorist groups; steps to create a safe, calm, neutral environment; external and internal steps to address the socio-economic crisis, said Pedersen.

Moreover, there are no political talks among the Syrians other than on a constitutional track. And free and fair elections to be held pursuant to a new constitution under UN supervision, as envisaged in Security Council Resolution 2254, seem far into the future, he said.

The fifth session of the Small Body of the Syrian Constitutional Committee will convene in Geneva next week, COVID-19 conditions permitting. It will discuss the basic principles of the constitution, he said.

"I do see this coming session of the Constitutional Committee as very important. For more than a year, many subjects have been discussed. I believe the time has come for the co-chairs to establish effective and operational working methods, so that the meetings are better organized and more focused. I believe that we need to ensure that the committee begins to move from 'preparing' a constitutional reform to 'drafting' one (constitution), as it is mandated to do."

The Constitutional Committee can do this by beginning to consider specific constitutional issues and draft provisions. The co-chairs of the committee can and should reach agreement on a work plan for future meetings with clear agendas and topics, and there needs to be more urgency in the process, said Pedersen.

"I believe that these are reasonable goals. But I cannot assure the (Security) Council that they will be met this time ... I strongly appeal to the co-chairs and to all members of the committee to be ready to move to a new phase of work in this next session."

It is clear that no one actor or group of actors can impose their will on Syria or settle the conflict. They must work together. The process must be Syrian-owned and Syrian-led, he said. "But the conflict is highly internationalized, with five foreign armies active in Syria. We cannot pretend that the solutions are only in the hands of the Syrians, or that the UN can do it alone. That is why we need a more serious and cooperative international diplomacy."

This really should be possible. After all, despite their differences, key states are committed to Resolution 2254 and have common interests -- including on issues such as stability, containing terrorism, the safe, dignified and voluntary return of refugees, and preventing further conflict.

"I am more convinced than ever that we need a comprehensive approach -- inclusive of all issues, and all actors, moving in mutual and reciprocal steps on all the issues outlined in Resolution 2254. This could unlock genuine progress, and could chart a safe and secure path out of this crisis for all Syrians, men and women."

As the Syrian people face the year 2021, a decade of conflict has seen them experience death, injury, displacement, destruction, detention, torture, terror, violations, indignities, instability, intervention, occupation, division, de-development and destitution on a massive scale, he said.

A perfect storm of factors -- the impact of a decade of conflict, the global economic conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spillover from the Lebanese crisis, internal factors such as war economies, corruption, mismanagement, and external factors and measures -- is producing a slow tsunami that is crashing across Syria, he warned.

"This is no doubt a time of huge global and regional challenges. We must ensure that addressing the conflict in Syria is high among our shared priorities ... We need to begin to unlock progress, step by step, in a reciprocal and mutually reinforcing manner, along the path of Resolution 2254," he said. "If we do not, the dangers to Syria's civilians, to Syria as a state, to its society, and to the region, will only grow. This cannot be acceptable to Syrians or to any of us."

He asked for the support of the Security Council and all key actors for maintaining calm nationwide, supporting confidence-building, and moving the political process forward. Enditem
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A chopping tool from late Acheulian Revadim. Credit: Prof. Ran Barkai.

Researchers from the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University unraveled the function of flint tools known as "chopping tools," found at the prehistoric site of Revadim, east of Ashdod. Applying advanced research methods, they examined use-wear traces on 53 chopping tools, as well as organic residues found on some of the tools. They also made and used replicas of the tools, with methods of experimental archaeology. The researchers concluded that tools of this type, found at numerous sites in Africa, Europe and Asia, were used by prehistoric humans at Revadim to neatly break open bones of medium-size animals such as fallow deer, gazelles and possibly also cattle, in order to extract the nutritious high-calory bone marrow.

The study was conducted by Dr. Flavia Venditti of the University of Tubingen and Prof. Ran Barkai and Dr. Aviad Agam of the Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University, in collaboration with the Laboratory of Technological and Functional Analyses of Prehistoric Artefacts (Sapienza, University of Rome) and researchers from Sapienza, University of Rome. The paper was published in January 2021 in the PLOS One Journal.

Prof. Ran Barkai says, "For years we have been studying stone tools from prehistoric sites in Israel, in order to understand their functions. One important source of tools is Revadim, an open-air site (as opposed to a cave) dating back to 500,000-300,000 years before our time, and rich with remarkably well-preserved findings. Over the years we have discovered that Revadim was a highly favored site, reinhabited over and over again by humans, most probably of the late Homo Erectus species. Bones of many types of game, including elephants, cattle, deer, gazelles and others, were found at the site."

Prof. Ran Barkai producing a replica of a chopping tool in order to be used in experimental marrow extraction. Credit: Prof. Ran Barkai

The researchers add that the prehistoric inhabitants of Revadim developed an effective multipurpose toolkitnot unlike the toolkits of today's tradesmen. After discovering the functions of some stone tools found at the site, the researchers now focused on chopping toolsflint pebbles with one flaked, sharp and massive edge. Prof. Barkai says, "The chopping tool was invented in Africa about 2.6 million years ago, and then migrated with humans wherever they went over the next two million years. Large quantities of these tools have been found at almost every prehistoric site throughout the Old Worldin Africa, Europe, the Middle East and even Chinaevidence for their great importance. However, until now, they had never been subjected to methodical lab testing to find out what they were actually used for."

The researchers analyzed a sample of 53 chopping tools from Revadim, looking for use-wear traces and organic residues. Many specimens were found to exhibit substantial edge damage as a result of chopping hard materials, and some also showed residues of animal bones, preserved for almost half a million years! Following these findings, experimental archaeology was also applied: The researchers collected flint pebbles from the vicinity of Revadim, manufactured replicas of prehistoric chopping tools and used them to break open bones of dead medium-size animals. Comparisons between the use-wear traces and organic residues on the replicated tools and those on the prehistoric originals significantly substantiated the study's conclusions.

Prof. Barkai added, "Early humans broke animal bones in two to extract bone marrow. This requires great skill and precision, because shattering the bone would damage the bone marrow. The chopping tool, which we examined in this study, was evidently outstandingly popular, because it was easy to make, and highly effective for this purpose. This is apparently the reason for its enormous distribution over such a long period of time. The present study has expanded our knowledge of the toolkit of early humansone more step toward understanding their way of life, tracking their migrations, and unraveling the secrets of human evolution."

Explore further Prehistoric stone tools bear 500,000-year-old animal residue

More information: Flavia Venditti et al, An integrated study discloses chopping tools use from Late Acheulean Revadim (Israel), PLOS ONE (2021). Journal information: PLoS ONE Flavia Venditti et al, An integrated study discloses chopping tools use from Late Acheulean Revadim (Israel),(2021). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245595

Provided by Tel-Aviv University
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Artist's illustration of Coregonus kiyi. Credit: Joseph R. Tomelleri

In the dark waters of Lake Superior, a fish species adapted to regain a genetic trait that may have helped its ancient ancestors see in the ocean, a study finds.

The research focuses on kiyis, which inhabit Lake Superior at depths of about 80 to over 200 meters deep. These fish, known to scientists as Coregonus kiyi, belong to a group of closely related salmonids known as ciscoes.

In contrast to three other Lake Superior ciscoes that dwell and feed in shallower regions of water, the kiyis are far more likely to carry a version of the rhodopsin gene that probably improves vision in dim "blue-shifted" waters, the study concludes. Every one of 21 kiyis the team examined from this deep-water population carried only this variant of the gene.

The adaptation appears to mark a return to an ancient state: Some 175 million years ago, the kiyis' ocean-dwelling forebears likely harbored the same genetic variant, according to a reconstruction of the species' evolutionary history.

Then, as ancestral fish populations moved from blue-shifted marine waters into shallower, "red-shifted" streams and lakes, a form of rhodopsin that's beneficial in those habitats became more common, scientists say. Finally, the kiyis, reaching the deep waters of Lake Superior, adapted again to the "blue-shifted" color of the waters they now inhabit.

The study was published online in the journal Genome Biology and Evolution. The project, funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, was a collaboration among researchers at the University at Buffalo and the U.S. Geological Survey's Great Lakes Science Center.

"Evolution is often thought of as a one-way process, at least over deep time, but in this example, over 175 million years, we have this reversal back to a much earlier ancestral state," says Trevor Krabbenhoft, Ph.D., assistant professor of biological sciences in the UB College of Arts and Sciences and a faculty member in the UB RENEW Institute. Krabbenhoft led the research with first author Katherine Eaton.

"Fishery biologists are trying to restore native fish populations in the Great Lakes, so it's important to understand the adaptations that species have," says Eaton, a Ph.D. student at Auburn University who completed the study at UB as an undergraduate in biological sciences. "Knowledge of a species' adaptations can help us restore them in environments that are better suited to their biology."

Restoring fish in the Great Lakes

It's unclear whether the kiyis' ancestors completely lost the blue-shifted gene variant before re-evolving it, or if the variant simply became less frequent in this fish lineage before re-emerging to become more prolific again.

Either way, today, "There is a really clear distinction between the deep-water and shallow-water species," Eaton says.

Whereas all of the kiyis studied had the blue-shifted form of rhodopsin, the shallower water ciscoes sampledCoregonus artedi, Coregonus hoyi and Coregonus zenithicusprimarily had the version of the gene that may be helpful in red-shifted waters.

Eaton notes that the same blue-shifted variant of rhodopsin is present in a number of other fish that live in the sea or deep lake water. This repeated "parallel" evolution can indicate that an adaptation has an important function: in this case, probably helping fish see in different environments, she says.

These insights are important because light in the Great Lakes is changing, Krabbenhoft says. For example, invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which filter organic matter from lakes, are increasing the clarity of the water in places.

The knowledge is also valuable as scientists look to restore native fish populations. In addition to the rhodopsin research, Krabbenhoft is a co-author of a study examining the genetics, morphology and ecology of ciscoes more broadly. That work, also funded by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, was led by Moises Bernal, Ph.D., now an assistant professor of biological sciences at Auburn University. The study results were posted on Dec. 16 to the preprint server bioRxiv, and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"Collectively, these projects have implications for restoring the native biodiversity in the Great Lakes toward a healthy ecosystem," Krabbenhoft says. "Ciscoes were once much more abundant and diverse across the five Great Lakes, but some species went extinct due to overfishing, sea lamprey invasion and pollution. Our data are informing restoration strategies as these fish are being re-established in places where they were lost or highly reduced in number, such as in Lake Ontario."

"Ciscoes were once the dominant native prey species in the Great Lakes, supporting top predators such as lake trout and walleye. They remain an important component of the tribal, commercial and recreational fisheries, which are valued at more than $7 billion annually," says Bill Taylor, Ph.D., Commissioner for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and a University Distinguished Professor in Global Fisheries Systems at Michigan State University. "Research to better understand their biology and morphology is critical to designing successful restoration efforts in the future."

More information: Katherine M Eaton et al. Nanopore amplicon sequencing reveals molecular convergence and local adaptation of rhodopsin in Great Lakes salmonids, Genome Biology and Evolution (2020). Katherine M Eaton et al. Nanopore amplicon sequencing reveals molecular convergence and local adaptation of rhodopsin in Great Lakes salmonids,(2020). DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa237
Small-Business Owner: Fallout by Next Year Will Be Shocking

MINNEAPOLISThe ramifications of the forced shutdowns on thousands of small businesses in Minnesota is going to be huge, says Julie Schroeder, who owns two craft stores in the Minneapolis metro area.

The fallout by this time next year will be shocking, she told The Epoch Times on Dec. 30, 2020.

Schroeder owns two Color Me Mine franchisessmall craft shops where customers come in, select a piece of pottery, and paint it in the store. The store then fires it for them. The main money-maker for Schroeder is from groups of people coming in and painting together as a social activity.

But the constant closures imposed by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, has left her financially stripped and caused the demise of one of her businesses and the loss of eight employees.

On June 2 last year, Schroeder had to permanently close her store in Rochester, Minnesota, after being unable to sustain the losses.

I was bleeding money, she said. What people dont realize is that you dont close it and cut all your losses.

Schroeder had a lease through 2024, which was for $250,000. She had to negotiate a buyout, which cost her entire retirement fund of $50,000.

The woman who owns the building lost big, too, she said.

The rent at her two remaining locations, in Eagan and Woodbury, totals $10,500 per month.

I cant make a $10,500 rent payment every month from my husbands incomeits not even possiblemuch less pay all my staff, and order stuff, and pay for the utilities and all of that. Its just impossible. And I think people are shocked when they find out my rentthey think Im paying $500, they really do.

Schroeder had just completed her profit-and-loss summary on QuickBooks and revealed that she was $200,000 down.

Im 57, so for me to make that up at a pottery store  and thats in nine months, she said, for me to make that up over the years is, I dont know how thatll work. Ill make it up when I sell the stores, I suppose, because theyll have a value.

Thats assuming she can continue to weather the capricious lockdowns and rebuild her stores.

Clay Clark, investor and author of Fear UnmaskedDiscover the Truth about the Coronavirus Shutdown, said the shutdowns have resulted in countless urban areas now looking like dystopian movie scenes.

Small-business owners have put their entire life-savings and have invested years of their lives into starting and building a business that these heartless and tyrannical governors and mayors are destroying with their unconstitutional mandates, Clark told The Epoch Times via email.

Chinas leadership should be proud. Many communist-controlled governors and mayors have done their part to execute the Great Reset flawlessly.

The Great Reset refers to a World Economic Forum idea that the pandemic can be used to reshape global relations and economies.

Extraordinary Expense

Schroeders tumultuous year began in March when Walz launched the first round of lockdowns, which was initially for two weeks to flatten the curve but ended up lasting six weeks.

Thats my second busiest time of the year because its spring break, Schroeder said. We could do curbside drop-off and pickup, but we couldnt open the door, and I had nothing online at that point to shop from.

During the ensuing days, Schroeder and her staff frantically put all the items onto Shopify so people could order online and pick it up. While it did bring in some business, it was an added expense to set up and operate.

She received some federal Paycheck Protection Program money, but all of it was used for staff payroll at her three stores. At the end of the first six-week complete shutdown, there was no money left and barely any customers were out and about.

In July, people were finally able to come into the store to purchase items.

So you could come in and shop your pieces and take them home to paint, which did help a bit because its easier to buy in the store than it is online, Schroeder said.

My customers are so supportive, but they cant keep me going.  They just cant keep me going on just grabbing some to-go stuff.

The people she leases the current two stores from are doing what they can, but they have bills to pay, too.

And its not their fault that we closed, eithertheyd have me open. Its the governments fault, she said.

If youre going to say, You have to be closed, then look at each month last year and give me a check for every month. That would be fair. But for some reason, these other big companies, they can just move right along.

In December, right before Christmas, Schroeder was ordered to completely shut down again. And despite many supporters who backed her reopening, the detractors stand out.

Among other hate messages, she received a Christmas card with the note, You greedy [expletive], your love of the almighty dollar is NOT more important than a persons life! I hope that you burn in hell for all eternity.

In a Facebook post, Schroeder explained that she was too afraid to report the card to law enforcement in case they cited her for opening her business.

First of all, I havent taken a paycheck in over a year, and I spent all my [retirement]. So how thats greedy and selfish, I dont know, she said. Do they want to pay my staff? Because I have three staff, [and] this is their full-time job. And everything I make first goes to wages. So I dont know how thats greedy and selfish.

During the same timeframe over the Christmas holiday, the Build-a-Bear store in the Mall of America was open, which Schroeder says doesnt make sense.

And theres kids all over in there, building bears. Its the same thing, she said.

During springtime, Schroeder contacted every principal and superintendent of every school in the district to ask if their e-newsletters to parents can mention that her Paint and Learn educational activity packs for children are available.

I got zero responses, she said. I, over 11 years, have been at every carnival, have given every donation that they asked for. I work a lot with the schools.

For now, Schroeder and her husband are reassessing the risk each month. Shes determined to hold onto her business, but shes tired of not being able to plan and of being called nonessential for months on end.

The mental health part for me has become a real issue. When youre told youre nonessential for 10 months, you really start to think that you just dont matter, she said.

And you look at the science  the graphs are identical in every state. The virus is going to do what its going to do, and its sad. But the states that have stayed open, the graph is exactly the same. So unfortunately, the stupid virus is just going to do what its going to do. We cant stop it.

She said she feels like moving away from Minnesota due to government overreach in its response to the pandemic.

I cant tell you how disappointed I am in my state, she said.

People dont realize the extraordinary expense of running a small business, even a pottery studio. Thats really what I want people to understand. Its not just a little hobby. I have full-time people.
BART Theatre to Perform Frankenstein Radio Play

ADAMS, Mass.  Berkshire Arts & Technology (BART) Charter Public School's Theatre program will host "Frankenstein," The Radio Play, by Philip Grecian at 7:30p.m. on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021.

Information to register can be found on the @BART.Charter.Public.School Facebook page.

Based on Mary Shelley's novel, "Frankenstein," the BART Theatre department created this piece over Zoom, in the style of a radio play, as a part of remote learning. This play is free of charge. Please note that there are some disturbing moments; viewer discretion is advised
BRIDGEPORT  A local man was being held on suicide watch Wednesday after police said he stabbed his brother to death in front of his three young children.

Julian Daivon Valle, 25, of Pennsylvania Avenue, was charged with murder, risk of injury to children and disorderly conduct.

During his arraignment Wednesday afternoon, Valle stared at the floor of the courthouse lockup area as Senior Assistant States Attorney Pamela Esposito urged Superior Court Judge Kevin Doyle to set a high bond.

So far, the investigation leaves the state with questions on how this all happened, Esposito told the judge.

Valles lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Caroline Gallucci, asked the judge for leniency on behalf of her client, pointing out that he has no prior criminal record.

Doyle ordered Valle held in lieu of $750,000 bond and continued the case to Feb. 9. The judge also issued Valle three protective orders barring him from contacting his three minor children,

At the request of Gallucci, he then ordered Valle placed on suicide watch in the corrections center.

Valle is accused of fatally stabbing his 36-year-old brother, Angel Valle, with a kitchen knife in the apartment they all shared.

It was Bridgeports first homicide of the year.

According to the report of Officer David Bahr, shortly before 2 a.m., police received a call of a stabbing in an apartment on Pennsylvania Avenue.

When officers arrived at the apartment, they were greeted at the front door by Valle who was covered in blood, the report states.

The report continues that officers asked Valle where his brother was and he replied, upstairs.

He came in my room trying to fight me, I had my children in there, Valle told officers, according to the report.

The report states that officers went to the second floor where they found a blood trail leading to a bedroom. Angel Valle was found lying on the bedroom floor in a pool of blood.

Julian Valles girlfriend told officers the defendant and his brother had gotten into a dispute, possibly over drug use, and the verbal abuse led to a fight, the report states.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Jorge Cintron at 203-581-5227 or the tips line at 203-576-TIPS.
Microsoft is poised to release several substantial security updates to version 88 of its Edge browser, including a long-awaited password generator and monitor.

Edge 88 is rolling out now, according to Microsoft, though the new Password Monitor feature may take a couple of weeks to demonstrate any real results, the company said in a blog post on Thursday morning.

From a users perspective, Microsofts automated complex password generator is one of the biggest competive weaknesses the browser faced. Googles Chrome has offered this feature for over a year. When you're using Chrome and you sign up for a new web service and enter a user name, the browser offers to generate a new, complex password and store it for future use. Now Edge does the same, generating the password according to the sites rules, storing it and syncing it across your browsers. (According to Kyle Pflug, an Edge program manager, the password generator works only on the desktop version of Edge.)

Microsoft Sign up for a new Web site, and Edge will do the heavy lifting of thinking up a password.

Microsoft has also added a Password Monitor service, which acts as the name suggests: Quietly, in the background, Microsofts security team keeps an eye on password breaches and other leaks, and will warn you if your password leaks. Ideally, of course, the password generators creation of a unique, complex password means that any leak will simply affect that one site. Youll start seeing results in a couple of weeks, Microsoft said.

Microsoft Heres a popup youll see if Edge detects that one of your passwords has leaked.

Edge 88 also contains a few more granular security enhancements. While you can already manage your device permissions via the Settings menusuch as turning your mic off, for exampleEdge now allows you to perform the same adjustments via the Edge settings, on a site-by-site basis. Cookie management has been fine-tuned to allow you to store cookies placed by the site itself, but not a third-party ad tracker. Microsoft has also taken the Strict ad-blocking setting it uses in Edge and applied it to the InPrivate mode.

Finally, Microsoft has added support for SecureDNS, which uses a secured channel to communicate with the site itself. Secure DNS performs this lookup using a service over a HTTPS connection to the DNS service provider, which protects the lookups from modification or eavesdropping by attackers on the network, Microsoft said. By default, Microsoft Edge will automatically upgrade you to DNS-over-HTTPS if your current service provider supports it.

Theres one small catch, of course: Youll need a Microsoft account to make this all work. Windows 7, 8, or 10 is also required, or MacOS. (Password Monitor isnt supported on Macs yet, unfortunately.) Still, being signed into a Microsoft account isnt much different than signing into a Google account to take advantage of its password features.

Updated at 1:18 PM with additional detail.
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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, US, Jan 12, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]

In the last minutes before the handover of power at the White House, there is one person who is still running against time to stir up conflicts and confrontation in a show of his "last-day madness". It is Pompeo, the outgoing US Secretary of State who prides himself on "lying, cheating, and stealing".

In the past ten days and more, Pompeo took an intense series of outrageous moves, from lifting the restrictions on US official engagement with Taiwan to re-designating Cuba as a "state sponsor to terrorism" and to ramping up the already harsh sanctions on Iran.

Moreover, he took social media as the stage of his farewell show by tweeting more than 60 posts in three days, bragging about what he had "accomplished" on his so-called China issue in the past few years, and maliciously attacking the Communist Party of China and Chinas policies, displaying unimaginable hysteria.

It's not hard to see for whom Mr. Pompeo was putting up the show. As many American media analyzed, he was trying to put shackles on the incoming Biden administration through the "diplomatic blitzkrieg". The New York Times described the Secretary of State as "leaving no bridges unburned on the way out the door," and Foreign Policy cited American officials privately calling what he did the "fire sale diplomacy".

Pompeos hysteria is a reflection of his desperation. The recent storming of the Capitol Hill lent a lethal blow to the political life of the outgoing American leader. Pompeo, as his right-hand man, made a last-minute attempt at political speculation afterward and tried to draw a line between the leaving leader and him, but it was too late. The last-day madness, including boasting his so-called achievements and stirring up confrontation, was nothing more than what he deemed as the last straw for self-salvage.

All his crazy moves were aimed at one ultimate goal. While laying obstacles for the incoming administration, Pompeo was also stocking up political legacy for his own presidential election in 2024, said Washington Post, which continued to cite an American official it interviewed as saying bluntly that Pompeo was saying that he would uphold as his election program in 2024.

As a matter of fact, Pompeos ambitions to climb to the pinnacle of power has never been a secret in the US. In the past three years or so, he kept instigating confrontation and division to pander to the right-wing forces; he unprecedentedly attended the Family Leadership Summit in Iowa in the capacity of Secretary of State in an embarrassing eagerness to please the evangelical Christians; he hosted Madison Dinners with taxpayer dollars to ingratiate himself with financial groups and the media; and he, violating the State Departments tradition of neutrality, joined the Republican assembly from Israel by delivering a speech on video, trying hard to brown-nose his Republican boss.

When the top diplomat of the worlds only superpower puts his personal political ambitions over national interests, his diplomatic policy is doubtlessly enormous damage to the whole world. During his nearly 3-year term, Pompeo flamed up hatred and division everywhere and staged one political farce after another in the international community in collusion with other political arsonists at Washington, making his country a global laughing stock.

The world sees clearly that the American diplomacy under Pompeos lead has pushed unilateralism to the extreme and made a habit of quitting international organizations and treaties, causing rare damages to the international order. He has stoked the new Cold War and suppressed and besieged China every chance he could in a futile attempt to curb Chinas development. He has torn apart the Iran nuclear deal and is considered the black hand behind the assassination of the senior Iranian commander. He has also continuously intimidated and suppressed European countries and driven them farther away from the US.

With his diplomacy approach riddled with intimidation, lies and sanctions, Pompeo has shown the world Washingtons true color of arrogance, hypocrisy and imperiousness from under the veil of democracy, liberty and human rights that it has been preaching.

No wonder the New York Times commented that Pompeo had damaged the reputation the US State Department has established through centuries of services and sacrifices, and The Atlantic Monthly deplored bluntly, we are living in a failed state. Even media in Kansas, the hometown of Pompeo, commented on his tenure as the country is viewed with a mixture of sorrow, anger and pity.

But the bell has tolled. No matter how crazy Pompeo acts now, its just a last-gasp struggle. He bragged about how well history would remember what he had accomplished, but actually what history will remember is exactly how he had harmed the whole worlds interests in service of his personal selfish agenda.

Good-bye and good riddance to Mike Pompeo, the worst Secretary of State in US history!

(This article is originally published on news.cctv.com and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.)
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Artyom BHPian



Join Date: May 2020 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 298 Thanked: 528 Times

My 1st Cross Country Trip | Bangalore to Punjab | Creta 1.6P | 7200 km

That was a godsend email as I have always dreamt of working WFH for long.

As months passed I had settled into that mode and was liking it.

The caveat being stepping outside was a big No unless absolutely necessary.

Netflix and other OTT platforms were helpful in killing time initially but then that faded away sooner than expected.

I had graduated to a Masterchef and Mastercleaner and what not in no time. In fact "I want to be healthy" bug forced me to buy a bicycle to kill time and fat both.

To vent out occasionally we used to go on a drive with a flask full of coffee towards Hosur road to experience the world outside.

Routine activities such as getting up on time, having a bath, food etc. had gone for a toss and that was getting on my nerves day by day.

What seemed to be a dream come true was gradually growing into a nightmare.

In September during one of the calls with my parents, they expressed how it has been long since we visited them.

Being the only son I was compelled to think about that conversation despite the Covid outbreak.

After discussing with my better half we concluded travelling by air/train was a risky option.

The only option was travelling by road which was a challenge as I had never travelled such long distances in the past.

After a thorough discussion, we finalized the road trip.

We made this decision based upon the following factors:-



1.All the factors are in our control w.r.t safety and hygiene when travelling by road.

2.We both could drive so travelling long distances was not an issue.

3.If we could pack enough food and water with us we could completely avoid eating outside.

4.A major deciding factor was that my in-laws are in Bhopal which coincidently was halfway through the trip and meant we could section out our travel routine.

5.Travelling by road meant we are free to decide the arrival and departure throughout the trip

6.Although secondary but wanted to test how capable the vehicle is in terms of travelling long distances.I agree this was not the best time to test that but then I am sure if it would have been a regular affair I would have never thought about travelling by road. Desperate times require desperate measures.



Risks Considered

*****************

1.I was not sure about travelling such distance was safe or not especially during Covid Times. I did an extensive search on Tbhp about

various routes, road conditions, Halts to minimize any contact or any risk. Majority of the reviews suggested NH44 was the safest option to ply.

2.Being first time I was travelling such long distance I had to make sure that we take proper rest in between.Travelling 1300 Km in 1 stretch

was not a good idea especially for a first-timer.

3.Vehicle breakdown during covid times could mean getting stranded with just a hope that RSA will respond and assist us in a timely manner.

We left it to our luck as there was nothing much we could do about it.



Preprations

***********************************



Purchases(Courtesy Amazon)

---------------------------



1.Iftex Clean System G to keep the injectors clean(Recommended by Anurag)

2.AmazonBasics Jumper Cable

3.Windek Digital Tyre Inflator

4.amiciAuto Tubeless Tyre Puncture Repair Kit

5.Spartan T-12 T-Type Handle Socket Wrench Deep Reach Nut Driver

6.PROKLEAR Wash Additive Concentrate

7.Sensairy TPMS(Internal)

8.Healthgenie Pepper Spray

9.Inalsa Electric Kettle

10.2 x Cororid Hand based Sanitizer

11.2 x BodyGuard Multipurpose Alcohol Based Disinfectant Sanitizer Spray

12.PEESAFE Toilet Seat Sanitizer Spray

13.Pain killers and generic medicines.



Getting "Artyom" ready for the Trip

------------------------------------------------



1.The vehicle had gone through the 2nd service in July,20 with an odometer reading of 3838Km so nothing major was pending as such

2.Sensairy TPMS installation revealed a Tyre Bulge on the front left tyre just 2 days before from the travel and came as a shock as the vehicle had just run 4500 km. My friend had registered the Goodyears as a retail purchase which saved me from a major expenditure. I had to get the tyre replaced under warranty.

3.A visit to Hyundai ASS for a general checkup before leaving Bangalore & Bhopal was done just to ensure there are no surprises on the way.



Niggles/Issues During Trip

*******************

1.While returning from Jalandhar to Agra in the first hour of the trip encountered a Tyre Puncture and to my shock, the cut was just on the edge along the sidewall which to me looked non-repairable. Installed the spare tyre and immediately sent a picture to my friend who had got the tyres registered(Yes the same guy in the 1st fiasco)

He told me the tyre is gone and has to be replaced. Since his showroom was on the way to Agra he asked me to come there and he will get the tyre replaced.

I reached his centre and a brand new Tyre was waiting for me as a replacement under warranty. Got the tyre replaced and continued my journey. So by now, I had 2 Tyres gone kaput within a span of 3 months.

God forbid if they would not have been in warranty I had to shell roughly 12k for these tyres. Friends coming to rescue Eh.Twice.

2.One Puncture on the new tyre which I had got installed in Agra was repaired.

3.There was minor damage to the underbody cover during the trip.





Time & ODO reading

*******************

Reading when we started-4634

Reading at end of Trip-11838

Total Km Travelled->7204



-------Arrival-----------

1.Bangalore to Hyderabad(Sep27)-(6:11 am-1:46 Pm) /572 Km

2.Hyderabad to Bhopal(Sep 28)-(4:15 am-10:05 Pm)/842 Km We stayed there for a couple of days to avoid taking unnecessary leaves and left the following weekoff.-16 Hours/

3.Bhopal to Jalandhar(5th Oct)-(4:46 Am-11:55 Pm)1162 Km

------Departure-----------

1.Jalandhar to Agra(Dec 2)-(6:02 Am-5:31 Pm)/636 Km

2.Agra to Bhopal(Dec 3)-(8:52 Am-6:08 Pm)/571 Km

3.Bhopal to Hyderabad(Jan 17)-(7:09 Am-8:08 Pm)/839 Km

4.Hyderabad to Bangalore(Jan 18)-(8:40 Am-5 Pm)/575 Km



Routes Followed

**************

We stayed on NH44 through and through and blindly followed Google Maps.

Before every trip, I used to verify the route and any blockades.

Being the first time I didn't want to try anything adventurous at all.



Hotel Stays

***********

Hyderabad->Le Meridian

Agra->TajView

Hyderabad->Marriot





Fuel Consumption

*****************

1.Being a Petrol 1.6NA I was mentally prepared to see some huge bills.

2.For most of the journey/stay, I managed to refuel at Essar Fuel pumps and occasionally on Reliance, Indian Oil.

3.Every alternate top-up was accompanied by a dose of Iftek G.

4.Fuelio app was used to keep a track of the expenses and below are the numbers



Refills->14

Total fuel->524.11 Litres

Total Cost->45763.91 INR



Fast-Tag Expense

**************

Approximately 5900 INR for the Whole Trip(Please note that a lot of tolls in Punjab were vacated as a result of the farmers protest so those were not charged)

Roughly 1-1.5 Inr/Km is what you pay during these trips based on my calculation.



How did the Vehicle perform

***************************

1.Ever, since I bought the vehicle in 2019 the only trip I made was to Pondy and rest, was driven within Bangalore.

2.This trip was an opportunity to test vehicle performance w.r.t load capacity, throttle response, suspension behaviour, GC, stability at triple-digit speeds etc.

3.Being a sedate driver and especially coming from an Alto 800 being my previous vehicle I was pretty satisfied. The thing which blew me away was after travelling 16 hours Non-stop(Literally) we didn't feel any fatigue at all.No kidding.

4.Power-wise I never felt the vehicle underpowered during any overtaking manoeuvres.

5.Cruise control worked effortlessly and so did the AC.

6.Travelling from Bhopal to Punjab I had hit numerous potholes at high speeds and suspension & tyres absorbed it well.

7.On numerous occasions, I had to brake hard and the brakes did their job to my satisfaction which includes braking on gravel surface as well. On 3 Occasions I found that the brake pedal partially jammed up in the sense while pressing the pedal it was not going down smooth but with some resistance. It was scary for sure as this is the first time I faced this problem.

8.On uneven surfaces, while braking I could hear every spring clinking and doing its job. The vehicle slowed down enough for me to not panic.

9.Once you park the vehicle in open and every day you see bird poop all around the vehicle you realise the value of covered parking in true sense.

10.We visited one of my friend's farmhouse which was located on the outskirts and the path from the highway till the farmhouse was a rollercoaster ride with non-existent roads and throughout that interval

with full occupancy, the vehicle just scrapped once on a stone which to me was acceptable. Upon closer inspection, we found that the plastic undercover had a puncture however there was no damage to the engine.

Overall a "Paise Wasool" vehicle for me.





General Observations

******************************

1.Traffic sense is the worst I have seen, enough to make your blood boil.MP, UP in particular topped that list (No Offence to anyone).

One particular incident is this gentleman decided to park the vehicle in the middle of the lane opposite to a famous Sweet shop and wait. I had to honk but that didn't make any difference.

After 2-3 minutes, someone from the shop came in and delivered his order in the car and this guy took another minute to pay him. For that time span of 3-4 minutes, everyone in that lane honked at him but to no avail.

2.Cattle menace is a huge problem especially in MP which poses a grave risk to vehicles. This also leads to an underbelly fully covered in cow dung which is tough to remove.

3.Highways in the south are way better than the ones in North w.r.t maintenance.

4.Scenic beauty throughout the whole trip made me wonder why do we always crave for destination overseas when our own country is blessed with such flora and fauna.

5.I really missed the Dhaba experience throughout the trip.

6.Scratches cannot be avoided irrespective of how carefully you drive. That goes especially for people who are used to pampering their vehicle.

7.Fuel Prices in MP are even higher than in Bangalore which came as a surprise.

8.Car detailing services are way cheaper in the north than in Bangalore. For reference, I got the following services for INR 600(Foam Wash, Engine degreasing, cleaning, Alloy cleaning, Vaccum, Interior cleaning, Underbody wash) that to from Carzspa. The same would cost over 1k easily in Bangalore from a reputed brand.

9.Food for one is priced reasonably than Bangalore even when compared to Fine Dining. That could be because of Bhopal, Jalandhar being Tier 2 cities and Bangalore being a Metro.

10.Throughout the trip, Social distancing and wearing mask were not at all observed by the masses. Looks like corona is over.

11.Starting the trip early (4-4:30 am) made a day-night difference thereby minimizing the travel during the night.

12.FastTag adoption by masses is still a distant dream with an almost equal number of vehicles in the cash-only lane. On the contrary, Fastag was operational on all of the tolls throughout the trip.

13.Driving at high beam within the city seems to be a norm especially in Bhopal which came as a surprise.

14.Driving on the opposite side on NH44 was the biggest shock of all and surprisingly it included 2 and 4 wheelers.



Other Placed Visited during the Trip

************************************

Kasauli

Chandigarh

Amritsar

Ludhiana



Was the Trip Worth it

*********************

1.Absolutely Yes because it was my first time travelling a long distance and secondly we completed it safe and sound.

2.Travelling with your own offers you freedom which is unparallel to anything else.

3.You learn a lot of things which broadens your horizon and presents you with a different side of life. I mean it's difficult to explain the feeling in words and I suggest everyone do it once in their lifetime.

4.I am now eager for the next trip which hopefully we will plan soon.



How Much Moolah I end up spending

****************************

I don't want to spoil the vibe of this post by indulging into the monetary part but would be more than happy to respond to any personal messages regarding the same.



Route Followed-Bangalore-Bhopal-Jalandhar



Before Leaving Bangalore



Customary Click



1st Pic of the Trip



@Le Meridian-Hyderabad



Hot Coffee while leaving from Bhopal to Jalandhar



Kasauli Market















Golden Temple-Amritsar



Tyre Puncture while returning from Jalandhar to Agra



Luggage stuffed to the Brim







Tekri Point Bhopal



Cliff near my Friends Farmhouse



Lion King was shot here.











@Marriot-Hyderabad



Lovely Highways











Driving through the Mist



Cattle Menace on the Highway



Puncture in the Underbody

March 22nd is when I vividly remember we got an email that the SEZ will be closing down temporarily due to Covid-19 & until further notice all employees will be WFH.That was a godsend email as I have always dreamt of working WFH for long.As months passed I had settled into that mode and was liking it.The caveat being stepping outside was a big No unless absolutely necessary.Netflix and other OTT platforms were helpful in killing time initially but then that faded away sooner than expected.I had graduated to a Masterchef and Mastercleaner and what not in no time. In fact "I want to be healthy" bug forced me to buy a bicycle to kill time and fat both.To vent out occasionally we used to go on a drive with a flask full of coffee towards Hosur road to experience the world outside.Routine activities such as getting up on time, having a bath, food etc. had gone for a toss and that was getting on my nerves day by day.What seemed to be a dream come true was gradually growing into a nightmare.In September during one of the calls with my parents, they expressed how it has been long since we visited them.Being the only son I was compelled to think about that conversation despite the Covid outbreak.After discussing with my better half we concluded travelling by air/train was a risky option.The only option was travelling by road which was a challenge as I had never travelled such long distances in the past.After a thorough discussion, we finalized the road trip.We made this decision based upon the following factors:-1.All the factors are in our control w.r.t safety and hygiene when travelling by road.2.We both could drive so travelling long distances was not an issue.3.If we could pack enough food and water with us we could completely avoid eating outside.4.A major deciding factor was that my in-laws are in Bhopal which coincidently was halfway through the trip and meant we could section out our travel routine.5.Travelling by road meant we are free to decide the arrival and departure throughout the trip6.Although secondary but wanted to test how capable the vehicle is in terms of travelling long distances.I agree this was not the best time to test that but then I am sure if it would have been a regular affair I would have never thought about travelling by road. Desperate times require desperate measures.1.I was not sure about travelling such distance was safe or not especially during Covid Times. I did an extensive search on Tbhp aboutvarious routes, road conditions, Halts to minimize any contact or any risk. Majority of the reviews suggested NH44 was the safest option to ply.2.Being first time I was travelling such long distance I had to make sure that we take proper rest in between.Travelling 1300 Km in 1 stretchwas not a good idea especially for a first-timer.3.Vehicle breakdown during covid times could mean getting stranded with just a hope that RSA will respond and assist us in a timely manner.We left it to our luck as there was nothing much we could do about it.---------------------------1.Iftex Clean System G to keep the injectors clean(Recommended by Anurag)2.AmazonBasics Jumper Cable3.Windek Digital Tyre Inflator4.amiciAuto Tubeless Tyre Puncture Repair Kit5.Spartan T-12 T-Type Handle Socket Wrench Deep Reach Nut Driver6.PROKLEAR Wash Additive Concentrate7.Sensairy TPMS(Internal)8.Healthgenie Pepper Spray9.Inalsa Electric Kettle10.2 x Cororid Hand based Sanitizer11.2 x BodyGuard Multipurpose Alcohol Based Disinfectant Sanitizer Spray12.PEESAFE Toilet Seat Sanitizer Spray13.Pain killers and generic medicines.------------------------------------------------1.The vehicle had gone through the 2nd service in July,20 with an odometer reading of 3838Km so nothing major was pending as such2.Sensairy TPMS installation revealed a Tyre Bulge on the front left tyre just 2 days before from the travel and came as a shock as the vehicle had just run 4500 km. My friend had registered the Goodyears as a retail purchase which saved me from a major expenditure. I had to get the tyre replaced under warranty.3.A visit to Hyundai ASS for a general checkup before leaving Bangalore & Bhopal was done just to ensure there are no surprises on the way.*******************1.While returning from Jalandhar to Agra in the first hour of the trip encountered a Tyre Puncture and to my shock, the cut was just on the edge along the sidewall which to me looked non-repairable. Installed the spare tyre and immediately sent a picture to my friend who had got the tyres registered(Yes the same guy in the 1st fiasco)He told me the tyre is gone and has to be replaced. Since his showroom was on the way to Agra he asked me to come there and he will get the tyre replaced.I reached his centre and a brand new Tyre was waiting for me as a replacement under warranty. Got the tyre replaced and continued my journey. So by now, I had 2 Tyres gone kaput within a span of 3 months.God forbid if they would not have been in warranty I had to shell roughly 12k for these tyres. Friends coming to rescue Eh.Twice.2.One Puncture on the new tyre which I had got installed in Agra was repaired.3.There was minor damage to the underbody cover during the trip.*******************Reading when we started-4634Reading at end of Trip-11838Total Km Travelled->7204------------------1.Bangalore to Hyderabad(Sep27)-(6:11 am-1:46 Pm) /572 Km2.Hyderabad to Bhopal(Sep 28)-(4:15 am-10:05 Pm)/842 Km We stayed there for a couple of days to avoid taking unnecessary leaves and left the following weekoff.-16 Hours/3.Bhopal to Jalandhar(5th Oct)-(4:46 Am-11:55 Pm)1162 Km-----------------1.Jalandhar to Agra(Dec 2)-(6:02 Am-5:31 Pm)/636 Km2.Agra to Bhopal(Dec 3)-(8:52 Am-6:08 Pm)/571 Km3.Bhopal to Hyderabad(Jan 17)-(7:09 Am-8:08 Pm)/839 Km4.Hyderabad to Bangalore(Jan 18)-(8:40 Am-5 Pm)/575 Km**************We stayed on NH44 through and through and blindly followed Google Maps.Before every trip, I used to verify the route and any blockades.Being the first time I didn't want to try anything adventurous at all.***********Hyderabad->Le MeridianAgra->TajViewHyderabad->Marriot*****************1.Being a Petrol 1.6NA I was mentally prepared to see some huge bills.2.For most of the journey/stay, I managed to refuel at Essar Fuel pumps and occasionally on Reliance, Indian Oil.3.Every alternate top-up was accompanied by a dose of Iftek G.4.Fuelio app was used to keep a track of the expenses and below are the numbersRefills->14Total fuel->524.11 LitresTotal Cost->45763.91 INR**************Approximately 5900 INR for the Whole Trip(Roughly 1-1.5 Inr/Km is what you pay during these trips based on my calculation.***************************1.Ever, since I bought the vehicle in 2019 the only trip I made was to Pondy and rest, was driven within Bangalore.2.This trip was an opportunity to test vehicle performance w.r.t load capacity, throttle response, suspension behaviour, GC, stability at triple-digit speeds etc.3.Being a sedate driver and especially coming from an Alto 800 being my previous vehicle I was pretty satisfied. The thing which blew me away was after travelling 16 hours Non-stop(Literally) we didn't feel any fatigue at all.No kidding.4.Power-wise I never felt the vehicle underpowered during any overtaking manoeuvres.5.Cruise control worked effortlessly and so did the AC.6.Travelling from Bhopal to Punjab I had hit numerous potholes at high speeds and suspension & tyres absorbed it well.7.On numerous occasions, I had to brake hard and the brakes did their job to my satisfaction which includes braking on gravel surface as well. On 3 Occasions I found that the brake pedal partially jammed up in the sense while pressing the pedal it was not going down smooth but with some resistance. It was scary for sure as this is the first time I faced this problem.8.On uneven surfaces, while braking I could hear every spring clinking and doing its job. The vehicle slowed down enough for me to not panic.9.Once you park the vehicle in open and every day you see bird poop all around the vehicle you realise the value of covered parking in true sense.10.We visited one of my friend's farmhouse which was located on the outskirts and the path from the highway till the farmhouse was a rollercoaster ride with non-existent roads and throughout that intervalwith full occupancy, the vehicle just scrapped once on a stone which to me was acceptable. Upon closer inspection, we found that the plastic undercover had a puncture however there was no damage to the engine.Overall a "Paise Wasool" vehicle for me.******************************1.Traffic sense is the worst I have seen, enough to make your blood boil.MP, UP in particular topped that list (No Offence to anyone).One particular incident is this gentleman decided to park the vehicle in the middle of the lane opposite to a famous Sweet shop and wait. I had to honk but that didn't make any difference.After 2-3 minutes, someone from the shop came in and delivered his order in the car and this guy took another minute to pay him. For that time span of 3-4 minutes, everyone in that lane honked at him but to no avail.2.Cattle menace is a huge problem especially in MP which poses a grave risk to vehicles. This also leads to an underbelly fully covered in cow dung which is tough to remove.3.Highways in the south are way better than the ones in North w.r.t maintenance.4.Scenic beauty throughout the whole trip made me wonder why do we always crave for destination overseas when our own country is blessed with such flora and fauna.5.I really missed the Dhaba experience throughout the trip.6.Scratches cannot be avoided irrespective of how carefully you drive. That goes especially for people who are used to pampering their vehicle.7.Fuel Prices in MP are even higher than in Bangalore which came as a surprise.8.Car detailing services are way cheaper in the north than in Bangalore. For reference, I got the following services for INR 600(Foam Wash, Engine degreasing, cleaning, Alloy cleaning, Vaccum, Interior cleaning, Underbody wash) that to from Carzspa. The same would cost over 1k easily in Bangalore from a reputed brand.9.Food for one is priced reasonably than Bangalore even when compared to Fine Dining. That could be because of Bhopal, Jalandhar being Tier 2 cities and Bangalore being a Metro.10.Throughout the trip, Social distancing and wearing mask were not at all observed by the masses. Looks like corona is over.11.Starting the trip early (4-4:30 am) made a day-night difference thereby minimizing the travel during the night.12.FastTag adoption by masses is still a distant dream with an almost equal number of vehicles in the cash-only lane. On the contrary, Fastag was operational on all of the tolls throughout the trip.13.Driving at high beam within the city seems to be a norm especially in Bhopal which came as a surprise.14.Driving on the opposite side on NH44 was the biggest shock of all and surprisingly it included 2 and 4 wheelers.************************************KasauliChandigarhAmritsarLudhiana*********************1.Absolutely Yes because it was my first time travelling a long distance and secondly we completed it safe and sound.2.Travelling with your own offers you freedom which is unparallel to anything else.3.You learn a lot of things which broadens your horizon and presents you with a different side of life. I mean it's difficult to explain the feeling in words and I suggest everyone do it once in their lifetime.4.I am now eager for the next trip which hopefully we will plan soon.****************************I don't want to spoil the vibe of this post by indulging into the monetary part but would be more than happy to respond to any personal messages regarding the same. Last edited by Artyom : 21st January 2021 at 02:55 .
President Donald J. Trump left office Wednesday after a flurry of actions that showed the hollowness of the principles he espouses, his appreciation for grift and graft and his fundamental disregard for the hard-working Americans who believed in him.

None of those actions was more despicable or instructive than his pardon of former White House strategist Steve Bannon, who had been indicted and arrested in August on federal charges related to scamming donors to a We Build the Wall campaign that had raised more than $25 million. Bannon siphoned off $1 million for personal expenses to sustain his high life, according to the indictment.

So much for Trumps claim to care about the people who chant we love you at his rallies.

At about 1 a.m. Wednesday, Trump rescinded his much-ballyhooed 2017 executive order that prohibited former White House employees from lobbying the government or working for foreign nations for five years after they leave their jobs.

So much for Trumps vow to drain the swamp. He made sure to reopen the spigot for his team to dive right in.

Bannons pardon was one of 143 clemency grants announced by the 45th president on his final night in office. He largely ignored the Justice Department process that evaluates applications  14,000 are pending  for those who are deemed worthy because of a verifiable injustice or demonstration of remorse and rehabilitation.

Instead, the Trump grants of mercy were heavily weighted with corrupt politicians, well-connected celebrities and sleazy business executives.

Among the examples was Dr. Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor convicted of billing the federal government $75 million after performing unnecessary tests and procedures on Medicare patients who had been falsely told they had eye diseases. Convicted in 2018, his 17-year prison sentence was commuted by Trump.

So much for Trumps professed concerns about waste, fraud and abuse.

Trumps final wave of pardons and commutations generally followed his pattern of using his extraordinary clemency powers to reward allies no matter how irredeemable the cause. Previous pardons include campaign figures convicted in the Russia probe: Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn.

Perhaps the only surprise was that Trump didnt pardon himself, his family or his lawyer Rudy Giuliani. A sweeping presidential self-pardon would have been legally dubious  its never been attempted  and politically precarious with the U.S. Senate about to serve as jury in his second impeachment trial for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

He may soon learn whether the rule of law he disdains will apply to him as a former American president.

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.
CHICO, CALIF. - A Community COVID-19 Clinic is Coming to Chico starting Friday.

Enloe Medical Center is administering vaccines for free to eligible Butte County residents, starting with those 75 and older.

To be contacted on how to receive your first vaccine, fill out the Butte County Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Request Form. http://www.buttecounty.net/ph/COVID19/vaccine

Officials are hoping to immunize 400 people Friday and 800 people each day at future clinics. Enloe's Director of the Emergency department, Prompt Care, and Trauma Services, Judy Cline, said the vaccines are provided by Butte County Public Health.

Later, they will become available to younger populations in accordance with California's vaccination phases and tiers guidelines.

Cline said, "Once officials confirm someone's eligibility and slots become available, community members will get an email notification. She said, "This approach will help us vaccinate the most vulnerable populations first."

When it comes time to receive your vaccine you're asked to arrive no more than 5 minutes early for your appointment, wear a mask, bring a valid photo ID and the required paperwork, and wear clothing that allows immunization to the upper arm. To learn more about Enloe's upcoming Community COVID-19 vaccination clinics, visit www.enloe.org/covid-vaccine.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 18:12:27|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- David Aturinda, a level three secondary school student in western Uganda's Ntare School, is one of the many young people in the East African country learning Chinese culture through a series of summer camps.

Aturinda told Xinhua in a recent interview that this month he concluded a 14-day virtual summer camp which enabled him to make Chinese friends.

Unlike previous camps, Aturinda, just like many other Ugandan students were not able to travel to China because of the COVID-19 restrictions.

However, the pandemic could not stop them from learning more about China. Virtual attendance was the option.

Aturinda was among the 40 students from different parts of Uganda who attended the camp that started on Jan. 4.

Ronnet Ainembabazi, a teacher at Ntare School, said the virtual camp has helped students to concentrate on learning the language and increased the number of students' interactions.

During the camp, students had morning classes and in the afternoon, they held discussions, according to Ainembabazi.

Hilda Ayebare, a teacher at Ndejje Secondary School in central Uganda told Xinhua that the students learnt the Chinese language and culture as they interacted with their online friends. The students also got a chance to have an online audience with their Chinese teachers based in China.

Many Ugandan students are willing to attend the camp but are limited by the number of sponsored slots.

Xia Zhuoqiong, Chinese director of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University, said the virtual summer camp had five students selected from eight schools.

Each year, for the last three years, the Confucius Institute has been sponsoring five students from different schools to attend the Chinese summer camp held in Xiangtan, China. The institute partnered with Xiangtan University to run the 14-day program.

Xia said students participate in activities like traveling, fanfare days, sports, learning the Chinese language and culture.

Aturinda said in one of the physical camps he attended, he was able to learn many things like preparing Chinese cuisines, attended cultural festivals, and enjoyed Chinese movies. Enditem
The rates of suicide attempts and suicide are increased among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published online Jan. 12 in JAMA Network Open.

Kairi Kolves, Ph.D., from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, and colleagues conducted a cohort study using nationwide register data from Jan. 1, 1995, to Dec. 31, 2016, for 6,559,266 individuals in Denmark aged 10 years or older.

The researchers found that 35,020 individuals received a diagnosis of ASD. Overall, there were 64,109 incidents of suicide attempts (0.9 percent among individuals with ASD) and 14,197 suicides (0.4 percent among individuals with ASD). The rates of suicide attempt and suicide were more than threefold higher for persons with ASD compared with those without ASD (adjusted incidence rate ratios [aIRRs], 3.19 and 3.75, respectively). Those with ASD had higher rates of suicide attempts across all age groups. Compared with those without any psychiatric disorder, individuals with a diagnosis of ASD with other comorbid disorders had an aIRR of 9.27 for suicide attempts. Overall, 92.3 and 90.6 percent of the individuals with ASD who attempted suicide and who died by suicide, respectively, had at least one other comorbid condition.

"Psychiatric comorbidity was found to be a major risk factor, with more than 90 percent of those with ASD who attempted or died by suicide having another comorbid condition," the authors write.

Explore further Suicide risk higher among patients with Parkinson disease

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[January 21, 2021] EfficientIP Continues to Flourish, Growing By 69% Worldwide in 2020 and 73% in North America

Proving the value of IT infrastructure operational efficiency, agility and resilience in helping businesses cope with the ongoing pandemic, leading provider EfficientIP posted 2020 as one of its most successful years on record. EfficientIP, which specializes in network automation and security solutions that utilize DDI (DNS-DHCP-IPAM), saw 69% overall global growth for the year and fully doubled its 2020 Q4 numbers from 2019 Q4. This momentum was especially notable in North America, where EfficientIP saw a 73% increase in sales year-on-year. The company has attracted more personnel to support this trajectory, with a 64% increase in North American staff from January to December 2020; these new employees are largely focused on sales, pre-sales, support, and training. Contributing to the positive trend, the EfficientIP North American Channel program has continued to expand. Business conducted through channel partners increased more than 300% in 2020, with North American partnerships such as Intelligent Visibility, Konsultek, Gibraltar Solutions, and LiquidPC. Globally, EfficientIP strengthened partnerships with NTT (News - Alert) , a Japanese telecom company, and SHI International Corp, a technology products company. Clients such as Pfizer and Netflix, who have become household names in fighting and enduring the COVID-19 pandemic, use EfficientIPs DDI offerings. Select new customer wins include companies such as Epic Games, Carefirst, Johns Hopkins University, and Silicon Valley Bank. They join a roster of other such clients as McGill University and General Motors (News - Alert) . DDI has become a key driver for companies like these to enable strategic IT initiatives like cloud transformation and hyperautomation.



"We're incredibly proud to be working with companies of this scale and importance," said Ronan David, VP of Strategy at EfficientIP. "Given the way the global pandemic has changed the nature of work and leisure, network management has become more critical than ever-we're glad to see these companies recognizing the importance of DDI for helping deliver smart automation and zero-trust security." EfficientIP's success in North America and worldwide has prompted the company to expand its footprint into additional regions. The Middle East saw a 155% growth year-on-year, leading to the creation of a new team for the region. EfficientIP recently created the new role of VP of Sales for the Middle East, a position that current employee Jerome Duffour will fill. Duffour was previously the Global Director of Systems Engineering Teams. As part of Duffour's team, EfficientIP has also hired Elie Moubareck as Regional Sales Director, based in Dubai.

EfficientIP is a network automation and security company, specializing in DNS-DHCP-IPAM solutions (DDI), with the goal of helping organizations worldwide drive business efficiency through agile, secure and reliable infrastructure foundations. Integrated solutions enable IP communication and simplify network management with end-to-end visibility and smart automation, while patented technology secures DNS services to safeguard data and ensure application access. Companies in all sectors rely on EfficientIP offerings to face the challenges of key IT initiatives such as cloud applications and mobility. For further information, please visit: www.efficientip.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005110/en/

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The government has initiated discussions with airlines to allow them to operate in full capacity, people aware of the development said. However, without a clarity on return of traffic, airlines are asking the government to delay such a move, implying that they will not be able to profitably deploy any more capacity.

Currently, airlines are allowed to deploy 80 per cent of their pre-Covid capacity. But except market leader IndiGo, no other airline has been able to reach even 70 per cent of the capacity of what they operated during the previous winter before Covid ...
LG, one of the longest players in recent years of the smartphone business, will reportedly be exiting the business after years of losses. The company is looking to into the possible measures such as selling, withdrawing or downsizing the smartphone business.

LG has been struggling for many years in the smartphone business. Once considered to be in the top three smartphone manufacturer in the USA, the company has consistently been reporting losses in the last 5 years, amounting to nearly 5 trillion won (Approx. $4.5 billion).

The companys CEO Kwon Bong-seok, who came into office in 2020, said that he will try to revive LGs smartphone business. In an attempt to make up for these losses, LG tried to reorganize and move a lot of their smartphone business to ODM (original design manufactures), specifically for the lower to mid-range smartphones. They would continue to keep development for the high-end smartphones, however, it looks like that will not be the case for long.

The decision to sell their smartphone business is a little puzzling, considering that LG recently revealed a rollable smartphone at CES 2021, suggesting that the smartphone division is still developing new products. The company also ditched their G series of devices last year, and started a new series, namely the LG Velvet and LG Wing. However, it did not succeed in the market as they hoped for.

According to the report an LG official said:

Since the competition in the global market for mobile devices is getting fiercer, it is about time for LG to make a cold judgment and the best choice. The company is considering all possible measures, including sale, withdrawal and downsizing of the smartphone business.

Source
We couldnt be more excited to kick off 2021 with our very first Michigans Best search and we need your help and expertise. Nominations are now open for Michigans Best Outdoor Dining, and we are looking to you to uncover the coolest outdoor dining setups across the state.

Michigan restaurants have gotten more and more creative this year, building all sorts of structures, erecting tents, and adding igloos and shanties to their patios, all in the hope of not just generating some much-needed business during the current pandemic shutdown, but also to fashion some pretty cool dining and drinking experiences for us all to enjoy.

We are interested in the most interesting outdoor dining spaces that you have found, anywhere and everywhere in Michigan. While an igloo or two is great, which restaurants have gone above and beyond? Maybe its a wind block built of wine barrels, or a specially-constructed tent that has been made to feel like you are out in the woods. Perhaps its igloos that have been made extra cozy with twinkly lights and blankets, or maybe an entire downtown has been transformed into a winter dining wonderland. Wed love to hear about them all, and are currently seeking your nominations for Michigans Best.

To send us your nominations, please email the Michigans Best team of John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman directly. Let us know the name of the restaurant or bar, what city its located in, and what makes their outdoor dining set up fantastic. Wed also love to hear about your favorite things to eat and drink al fresco at your favorite spot. Please put Michigans Best Outdoor Dining is at... in the subject line of your email. You can find us at:

gonzo@mlive.com

or

asherma2@mlive.com

Well be accepting nominations until Sunday Jan. 24 at midnight. Our voting polls, which will be arranged by region, will go up on Tuesday January 26. Youll then be able to vote until 3pm on Friday January 29. You can vote in multiple regional polls. In fact, if you wish, you can vote in all of them.

After the polls close, well be sharing all of the poll winners with you from across the state. Well also be heading out separately to visit a few of the nominees first-hand, in a safe and socially-distanced manner, and will be reporting back on all that we find. We cant wait to see the innovative and interesting outdoor set-ups around Michigan.

We cant do Michigans Best without your expertise. Help us find the best outdoor dining in Michigan by nominating your favorites now. Remember, you must email us your nominations this time.

The search for Michigans Best Outdoor Dining is sponsored in part by Warm Fitness.

Hop Lot Brewing Company has been a pioneer in the outdoor dining scene for years now. They have a verifiable village of igloos to enjoy.Courtesy Photo, used with permission.

Follow our new Michigans Best search on social media:

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Also, be sure to follow our MI Best Facebook Page, which you can check out here.

Join in by using the hashtags #mibest and #ItriedMiBest

In addition:

Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.

John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.
A Dominion mansion with views of the San Antonio skyline and Hill Country hit the market Saturday.

On New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July, one can watch from the home's balcony as fireworks explode above the city, Fiesta Texas and beyond, according to the listing agent, Natalie Villagomez of Home Team of America.

Villagomez should know. Her parents, Kenny and Hilda Garcia, built the place in 1998.

READ ALSO: San Antonio professor explains why Joe Biden can't bring Peloton to White House

Villagomez, the oldest of five siblings, was in high school when the family moved into 28 Arnold Palmer. The home hosted plenty of gatherings over the years, including lots of Bible studies and two of her sisters' weddings.

"It's been a fun house for a lot of people to enjoy," said Villagomez.

Now, the Garcias  former owners of San Antonio food company Papa Grande Gourmet Foods  are looking to sell the 8,000 square-foot mansion for $1,872,000.

The property has seven bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and one half bathroom spread out over three levels. The master bedroom and kitchen are on the main floor, with the other bedrooms below.

The second-level balcony, a recent addition, offers over 2,000 square feet of space to take in the panoramic views. Out back, a covered patio leads to a freshwater pool. A palm tree rises out of an island in the middle of the water.

The pool was built around the tree, a family landmark uprooted from from Hilda's grandmother's house before it was sold.

Check out the mansion at 28 Arnold Palmer below.

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors

San Antonio Board of Realtors


(Newser)  There's no sign that Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn shares the extreme views of his brother, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, but the military still denied for days that he was in the room for a Jan. 6 call in which the Capitol Police pleaded with reluctant officials for help, reports the Washington Post. Charles Flynn is the Army's deputy chief of staff. In the weeks before the Capitol riot, his older brother spouted QAnon conspiracy theories and urged Trump to declare martial law to "re-do" the election he lost. At a rally the day before the riot, he urged Trump supporters to dispute the election result. In a statement to CNN, Charles Flynn said he entered the room after the call began and left early because he believed a decision on activating the National Guard was imminent and he needed to be in his office to assist.

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Insiders tell the Post that during the callwhich happened after rioters had breached the CapitolCapitol and DC police officials were stunned when Lt. Gen. Walter E. Piatt said he didn't like the "visual" of deploying troops to the Capitol. But there is no sign that Flynn carried out his duties "in any manner that was influenced by his brother," the Post notes. Former Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, who stepped down with the change in administration, says he is "an officer of an incredibly high integrity." "This guy has given a lot to this country," McCarthy says. "It is incredibly awkward for this officer every day for what is going on with him and his brother, but he puts his head down in, and he is locked in to serve the Constitution." Army officials declined to comment on whether Flynn spoke during the call, or on why they initially denied his involvement. (Read more Capitol attack stories.)
(Newser)  A popular meme invokes the idea of training Amazon delivery drivers to administer the COVID-19 vaccine in order to roll it out as quickly as possibleand that may turn out to be not far from the truth, as Amazon sent President Biden a letter on Inauguration Day offering to leverage its "operations, information technology, and communications capabilities" to help with his goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of his administration. Fox News notes that the company did not respond to a request for comment on why such help was not offered to the Trump administration.

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But that wasn't the sole focus of the letter, CNN reports: Amazon also asked Biden to prioritize its more than 800,000 US-based workers when it comes to receiving the vaccine. Most of those employees work in essential roles at Amazon fulfillment centers, Amazon Web Services data centers, or Whole Foods stores. Amazon had previously made a similar request of the CDC; it has a plan in place for vaccines to be administered to workers at its facilities via a licensed third-party occupational health care provider. CNBC has a full copy of the letter to Biden. (Washington state is getting vaccine help from Starbucks and Microsoft.)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 19:08:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- China has urged Sweden to immediately correct its wrong practice of excluding Chinese firms from the construction of 5G network in the European country.

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority has finished its 5G spectrum auction with additional terms, which require telecom operators not to use equipment made by Chinese enterprises such as Huawei and ZTE in 5G network construction.

"Without any evidence, Sweden has excluded Chinese enterprises from its 5G network construction on so-called national security grounds," the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesman Gao Feng told a virtual news conference Thursday.

"The move has violated the basic principles of the World Trade Organization and international rules, and damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," Gao said. "China is firmly opposed to this."

China urges the Swedish side to immediately correct its wrong practice, meet China halfway and jointly find a solution to safeguard China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation, Gao said.

"China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," he added. Enditem
A farmer shot dead in cold blood by the Army during the Northern Ireland conflict has been exonerated, his family said.

Paddy McElhone, 24, died instantly near his home in Pomeroy, Co Tyrone, in 1974 after he was fired on by a soldier from the First Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Wales.

A judge ruled the discharge of a single shot from behind through the heart was unjustified and against the militarys rule book on engagements.

She said he was innocent and was not on any list associating him with the IRA.

Mr McElhones family said their parents had gone to their graves brokenhearted and without an explanation or apology.

They added: As a family we feel that today Judge Keegan at this inquest has at long last exonerated Paddy in full.

The truth of Paddys killing by a British soldier has been heard.

He was shot from behind through the heart.

The inquest was the first in a series of coroners probes into deaths associated with Northern Irelands 30-year conflict.

It was held in Omagh courthouse in Co Tyrone.

Presiding coroner Judge Siobhan Keegan said: On any version of events the shooting was unjustified.

She added: Paddy McElhone was an innocent man shot in cold blood without warning when he was no threat to anyone.

He was not on any list as associated with the IRA and was an innocent man from a humble background, evidence before the inquest showed.

There is no dispute that he was shot by a soldier and that the person who shot him was Lance Corporal Roy Alun Jones, the coroner said.

The victim had been working in the fields and had just returned home for his dinner when he was asked to go outside with members of an Army patrol.

He was taken to a meadow and shot once, penetrating his chest and killing him instantly.

L/Cpl Jones was charged with murder on August 9 1974 and acquitted of that charge the following year by a judge who sat without a jury.

Ms Keegan said the soldier had intended to shoot the victim and that there was no evidence he was running away.

She added he was not acting in a threatening fashion or in any way that justified shooting him.

Patrick McElhone was a son and brother who tragically lost his life for no valid reason Coroner Siobhan Keegan

She praised members of the victims family for their dignity.

Patrick McElhone was a son and brother who tragically lost his life for no valid reason.

This inquest, the second into Mr McElhones death, was directed by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland in December 2018 as a result of an application to him by Mr McElhones family.

The coroner said he lived at home with his parents and was a quiet young man with a social life.

She said the regiment was in the area to look for anything or anyone suspicious as part of general operations.

Military witnesses evidence suggested a soldier wanted to question him and a cement lorry driver, who had just pulled up, together so sent his more junior colleague to get Mr McElhone back when the shooting happened.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
The student daughter of a senior police chief has been caught on video at an illegal party brazenly flouting lockdown restrictions.

Second-year undergraduate Amy Slattery, 19, is seen dancing along to 'Murder on the Dancefloor' with other students at Leeds Beckett University in the clip from a boozy Saturday night party where no masks or social distancing were evident.

Her father, Cumbria Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Slattery, has been at the forefront of the fight to control the pandemic and is chair of the county's multi-agency Covid-19 Strategic Coordination Group.

The damning video footage of Amy and her mates in Leeds was posted to Snapchat by a fellow reveller from the event at 3am on Sunday. It is believed to have been held in one of the university's halls of residence.

The day after the party, the university tweeted on its official account: 'Unfortunately a small number of students have breached the regulations by organising or attending parties/gatherings in halls, putting the safety and welfare of other residents and staff at risk.'

The young people in the video were clearly making no attempt to take precautions against Covid-19 as the music boomed out, despite the fact that Leeds has been hard-hit by the virus.

A source told MailOnline they had been 'utterly disgusted' to witness the footage from the party.

'Of course, it's not just Amy who was behaving irresponsibly, but given who her father is, it's outrageous that she has ignored all the rules in this way.

'Her dad is never off the local TV and radio, rightly ramming home the message that we must all adhere to the laws on wearing facemasks and maintaining a safe distance if we're to stay safe from this disease.

'Andy takes all this very seriously. This won't go down well at all.'

More than 1,000 people in the city have died since the start of the pandemic, and many areas of the city are still seeing above average infection rates.

ACC Slattery appears frequently on local media giving advice to the public on anti-Covid laws, and recently featured nationally when he pleaded with day-trippers to avoid driving to the Lake District to reduce infection.

In an interview with BBC Cumbria, earlier this month, he explained there had been 559 breaches in the county, resulting in 68 people being issued with a fixed penalty notice.

He said: 'The virus doesn't spread itself, the virus came here from the South East very quickly because it travels with people moving around the country and the government scientists are very clear that we've got to reduce the number of people travelling around the country and that's why this stay local message is very important.'

On January 10, a week before the party, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was one of five major trusts in England which ran out of adult critical care beds.

Universities have been regarded as a key driver in spreading the virus not only within cities, but also across the country as students travel to and from home.

Statisticians have found that infection rates often rise more rapidly in areas with a high density of students in major university cities such as Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield.

Mr Slattery, 53, joined the force in 1991, after graduating with a BA (hons) in Sociology from Lancaster University and was promoted to ACC in April 2019.

Having been a detective in every rank of the force he has previously held posts as Head of Serious and Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism, Public Protection and Intelligence, taking on the role of Detective Chief Superintendent, Head of Crime in October 2016.

In his role as chair of Cumbria's multi-agency Covid-19 Strategic Coordination Group, Mr Slattery has often tweeted telling people to stay home and only go out when necessary

Mr Slattery (pictured), 53, joined the force in 1991, after graduating with a BA (hons) in Sociology from Lancaster University and was promoted to ACC in April 2019

The Cumbrian-born officer lives with his family in the county, and is a competitive fell-runner, ultra distance runner and a member of the Bob Graham Club, whose members run up and down as many Lake District hills in 24 hours as possible.

Amy, who is a keen runner herself, attended the exclusive 25,500-a-year mixed independent Sedbergh School in Cumbria.

When MailOnline called at Mr Slattery's home, his wife Rachel, 52, replied: 'It's nothing to do with me, sorry' and closed the door.

Cumbria Deputy Chief Constable Mark Webster said in a statement: 'We have been made aware of a video which appears to show a number of individuals at a party in another police force area. Any investigation into that is a matter for the local force concerned.

'However, we are at a critical stage in the pandemic and the rules and guidance are clear. It is incumbent on everyone to comply, to ensure that we reduce the spread of infection.

'In line with our policy throughout the pandemic we do not identify or single out individuals that have breached, or are alleged to have breached, restrictions  and this instance is no different.

'Cumbria Constabulary continues to encourage everyone to follow the restrictions, which are in place to stop the spread of the virus, protect the NHS and save lives.'

Leeds Beckett University tweeted its disappointment (above) that students who attended parties, putting the safety and welfare of other students and staff at risk faced a 500 fine

A Leeds Beckett University spokesperson said: 'The majority of students act responsibly and all Leeds Beckett students have been made aware of their personal and collective obligations when it comes to safety, social distancing and government guidelines on Covid-19.

'Where students are found to have breached the regulations by organising or attending parties in halls we act swiftly to investigate and take action as necessary.

'Students who break the law by organising or attending parties in halls will face disciplinary action which could lead to a fine of up to 500 under the Student Code of Conduct.'

MailOnline has approached West Yorkshire Police.
Part of a Trump-era immigration rule tightening which job types qualify for high-skill H-1B visas will not take effect after officials did not publish it in the Federal Register before the inauguration of President Biden.

Companies seeking to bring skilled workers, often in tech professions, to the U.S. on an H-1B visa have to establish the person will work in a specialty occupation, which includes certain education requirements.

A rule proposed in October sought to narrow the definition of those kinds of jobs but has been tied up in federal court and never took effect.

The Trump administration instead moved forward with another part of the rule that scrutinizes foreign workers on H-1Bs who are contracted out to third-party worksites and put limitations on companies and workers when that happens.

What they announced on Friday is they arent proceeding with a piece of the rule as published, said Chad Blocker, an immigration attorney at the Fragomen law firm in Los Angeles.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees H-1B visas, issued an advance copy of the revised rule on Friday.

Some immigration lawyers chalked it up to incompetence on the part of the outgoing administration.

Critics of the H-1B visa program have noted how technology consulting companies have scooped up a large share of the limited pool of visas  only 85,000 new visas are granted to for-profit employers a year  and contracted those workers out to clients, a practice the Trump administration vocally opposed.

The Trump administration had long sought what it characterized as reforms to the H-1B visa program, though some opponents characterized its actions as throwing obstacles in the way of prospective workers and their employers. The former administration claimed the program unfairly undercut American workers and their wages.

President Biden has said the program is a boon to the U.S. economy, and immigration advocates have lobbied him since the election to increase the number of visas available each year.

The incoming Biden administration previously said it would freeze Trump administration rules issued since the election that havent taken effect, making it unlikely the specialty occupation part of the H-1B rule will go forward.

Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available.

The revised rule would normally take effect in July but the 60-day pause by the administration could delay that.

The third party section of the rule likely also will be met with resistance in the courts, said Kirsten Schlenger, an immigration attorney at Weaver Schlenger in San Francisco.

Litigation will probably nip this, she said, noting the Biden administration may leave the rule to the courts to potentially strike down.

A more direct intervention could tie the hands of the new administration when it comes to future rule-making on the issue.

Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ChaseDiFelice


Amit Sadh Recalls His First Meeting With Sushant Singh Rajput

The Breathe actor told Quint that he first met late Sushant Singh Rajput at casting director Mukesh Chhabra's office for the auditions of Kai Po Che!.

Amit was quoted as saying, "I think Mukesh Chhabra's old studio in Aaram Nagar. We all three auditioned together for Kai Po Che!. So first time we had our scenes and we were reading for each other. Raj, me and Sushant. And then we kept meeting everyday. We did a couple of auditions back to back. And then in a couple of weeks we were told that we are doing the film and that's how our bond...all of us, we just kind of really got into each other."

Amit Sadh On Sushant Singh Rajput As A Co-Star

Speaking about Sushant as a co-actor, Amit told the portal, "Kai Po Che! was a very special film. It was very special for him. It is sad that whenever we talk about Kai Po Che! it won't be... There will always be one... I don't know. I used to be very excited about Kai Po Che!. It became such a big part of us, Raj, me I am sure Sushant's as well. I think for me now, whenever anyone talks about Kai Po Che!, I am not that excited."

Amit Sadh Says He Has Many Memories Of Shooting 'Manjha' Song With Sushant

"In fact even when the songs play, especially Manjha' ... You know I have so much memories of Manjha' with him because we were like... especially Meethi Boliyaan' and all. We were having so much fun when we were shooting that song. It was our first song together. All of us. It's our first song, you know how it gets, like a lot of mad fun. For me, Kai Pe Che! is over. But those are my thoughts and it was just fun knowing him. He was just full of life and ideas. He was a very good co-actor. I think me, Raj and Sushant - we were at our purest as human beings, as artistes at that time. We had a great bond and of course we all kind of ventured into the real world. We were protected till we were in Kai Po Che! because Gattu (Abhishek Kapoor) really protected us. He was a great director".

Amit Sadh Remembers Sushant As A Hardworking Actor

Further, talking about what made Sushant made out from the rest, Amit told Quint, "He was very clear with what he wanted. He was very clear with his hunger. I think that is what was amazing about him. He was very unapologetic about his hunger of life, his quest for life, his acting. He was a very very hard working actor. And he showed it in such a small span of time. He showed his talent with his filmography. If you see the kind of movies he has done and the range he had. Ya, so for me he will always stay alive with the work that he did".
Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon University researchers have begun daily nationwide surveys to determine U.S. acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and pinpoint those states and localities where people are most skeptical of the shots.

The CMU surveys, which Facebook distributes daily to a portion of its users, thus far have shown that the greatest resistance to the vaccine is in the Deep South, while people in the Northeast and West Coast are the most inclined to receive the vaccine, if it were available to them.

Among over one million respondents who have taken the survey nationally since late December, 71% indicate that they would definitely or probably receive the vaccine if it were offered to them. The rate exceeds 80% in states such as Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington, and is more than 88% in the District of Columbia. Some states, including Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, have rates under 65%, suggesting much lower acceptance of the vaccine in their populations.

The deep disparities in the findings are consistent with previous public surveys, said Alex Reinhart, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Statistics and Data Science and a member of the Delphi Research Group that conducts the surveys. The power of the CMU surveys, he added, is that they are distributed to a wide swath of Facebook users each day, enabling researchers to track changes in attitudes in real-time as the pandemic progresses and vaccine distribution continues.

"County, state and federal public health officials can use this information to better guide their public relations and vaccine distribution efforts," Reinhart explained. The aggregated results of this and other COVID-19 survey questions are publicly available on CMU's COVIDcast website.

CMU began the daily surveys last April, asking people if they had COVID-19 symptoms, and more than 15 million people have answered the surveys since then. The results provide county-level information about the coronavirus pandemic that is updated continuously and available from no other source. Delphi researchers use that information to forecast changes in COVID-19 activity across the country, helping to guide responses by health care providers.

The survey was expanded Dec. 19 to include a question on whether the respondent would get a COVID-19 shot if it was available; a second question asking whether they had received a shot was added Jan. 6. In collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the researchers plan to soon ask respondents who don't want the vaccine to say why not.

Facebook distributes the surveys as part of its Data for Good program and this data is made available to support public health responses to the pandemic. Facebook does not receive any individual survey information from usersCMU conducts the surveys off Facebook and manages all the findings. The University of Maryland likewise works with Facebook to gather international data on the pandemic.

In its COVID-19 data-gathering and forecasting efforts, the Delphi group leverages years of expertise as the preeminent academic center for forecasting influenza activity nationwide. The CDC has designated Delphi as one of two National Centers of Excellence for Influenza Forecasting. At the CDC's request this past spring, the group extended and adapted its flu forecasting efforts to encompass COVID-19.

Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
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Good Morning Britain hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid urged an exhausted news correspondent to get some sleep on Thursday after he lost his train of thought while covering new US President Joe Bidens inauguration.

Journalist Richard Gaisford had been working through the night from Washington DC as Biden was sworn in during a ceremony overshadowed by the ongoing coronavirus health crisis.

But he was left befuddled while discussing Biden's decision to overturn many of former President Donald Trump's controversial policies, including a move to rejoin the Paris climate accord.

Funny: GMB hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid urged a news correspondent to get some sleep on Thursday after he lost his train of thought while covering Joe Bidens inauguration

Addressing his uncharacteristic stumble, the usually composed Gaisford told viewers: 'I apologise. I've completely lost my thread.'

The awkward moment, captured live while he reported back to ITV Studios, resulted in an amused Piers and Susanna advising their colleague to get some much needed sleep.

'It's three in the morning, you've had about an hour's sleep. I'm surprised you can even speak!' Piers told him, before joking that the 'sheer relief' of seeing Trump's presidency come to an end had finished him off.

He added: 'You know what mate? Go back to bed and get a well earned rest. You've had an amazing run.'

Awkward: Richard Gaisford was left befuddled while discussing Biden's decision to overturn many of former President Donald Trump's controversial policies

Advice: The moment, captured live while Gaisford reported back to ITV Studios, resulted in an amused Piers and Susanna advising their colleague to get some much needed sleep

The gaffe prompted an overwhelming wave of supporting messages for Gaisford, and he was quick to acknowledge them in a Twitter post later that morning.

He wrote: 'Thanks for all the kind messages - its not until you screw up you realise how kind people can be. Total brain freeze @GMB. Will thaw it out by tomorrow. Promise. X

Responding to the post, one fan tweeted: 'It was real & reflected how we're all feeling at the moment, bit frazzled..glad you're human! Susanna covered for you, Piers took the #### so all was well!'

Reaching out: The gaffe prompted an overwhelming wave of supporting messages for Gaisford, and he was quick to acknowledge them in a Twitter post later that morning

While a second commented: 'You just reflected how all our brains feel post 2020. Poignantly summarising the sentiment in one very human moment. Now sleep.'

A third added: 'Brought a smile to my face in these tough times! You are so obviously sleep deprived! Great reporting from the US.'

Another added: 'You're human. You are also a brilliant journalist and have had a crazy couple of week. Get some rest and looking forward to seeing you back home.'
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Psyched Wellness Ltd. (CSE: PSYC) (OTCQB: PSYCF) (FSE: 5U9) (the "Company" or "Psyched") a life sciences company focused on the production and distribution of artisanal functional and psychedelic mushrooms, is pleased to announce that it has submitted an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to register the trademark "AME-1" in connection with the Company's unique extraction.

AME-1, which stands for Amanita Muscaria Extract-1, was developed after a long scientific process of trial and error to create the ideal extract for the Company's future products. After developing a custom high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical method for Amanita Muscaria's unique compounds and raw material, the Company finalized its extraction process and was able to write the AME-1 specifications. The Company, and its respected advisory board, believes that the AME-1 will be the base for the Company's future Amanita Muscaria product lines in both the health and wellness and the pharma side. As part of its ongoing research and development, the Company will continue to identify novel uses for AME-1 and will look to build a patent portfolio around AME-1 for new pharmacologically optimized psychedelic medicines.

Jeffery Stevens, CEO of the company says: "This represents a major milestone for PSYC. The team has done a great job developing this unique process, and now that it has been perfected, we are in a position to apply for a trademark. This represents the first step in our process of protecting the IP we are creating. As we progress with our studies, we will look to file provisional patents around the processes and protocols we develop."

For further information, please contact:

Jeffrey Stevens

Chief Executive Officer

Psyched Wellness Ltd.

Tel: 647-400-8494

Email: jstevens@psyched-wellness.com

Website: http://www.psyched-wellness.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Psyched Wellness Ltd.:

Psyched Wellness Ltd. is a Canadian-based health supplements company dedicated to the distribution of mushroom-derived products and associated consumer packaged goods. The Company's objective is to create premium mushroom-derived products that have the potential to become a leading North American brand in the emerging functional food category. The Company is in the process of developing a line of Amanita muscaria-derived water-based extracts, teas and capsules designed to help with three health objectives: promote stress relief, relaxation and assist with restful sleeping.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Psyched Wellness Ltd. current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by Psyched at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information, including, without limitation, (i) the accuracy of the Toxicology Assessment, (ii) the safety of Amanita Muscaria consumption and the safety and purity of any extracts thereof, and (iii) the uses and potential benefits of Amanita Muscaria. Given these risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and Psyched is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Psyched Wellness Ltd. management's discussion and analysis for the six months ended May 31, 2020 and covering the subsequent period up to July 27, 2020 ("MD&A"), dated July 27, 2020, which is available on Psyched Wellness Ltd. profile at www.sedar.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction.

This news release includes data that has been obtained from third party sources, including the findings from the Toxicology Assessment. The Company believes that the data is accurate and that its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of this data. Third party sources generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there is no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of included information. Although the data is believed to be reliable, the Company has not independently verified any of the data from third party sources referred to in this news release or ascertained the underlying assumptions relied upon by such sources.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72476
An Emirates Airline flight from Dubai lands becoming the first commercial Airbus A380 jet to land in the United States at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Aug. 1, 2008. (Stan Honda/AFP via Getty Images)

Emirates to Resume Flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane Next Week

One week after it indefinitely suspended international flights to Australias east coast Emirates announced it will resume passenger flights from next week.

Flights from Dubai to Sydney will resume on Monday, to Melbourne on Tuesday, and to Brisbane on Thursday.

Passenger flights between Dubai and Perth, as well as cargo operations to all ports, continue as scheduled.

The announcement comes a week after Emirates suspended all Australian east coast flights citing operational reasons, leaving some Australians stranded overseas.

We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers in the period where we had to temporarily suspend our services, the airline said in a statement.

Emirates said in a statement that it was keen to serve the many Australians waiting to get home and hopes that commercial and operational conditions allow it to do so.

The airline said the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus (novel coronavirus) pandemic, along with restrictions and requirements imposed by the different state authorities in Australia, had added to the complexity and burden to its operations.

This led us to temporarily suspend passenger services while we engaged with various stakeholders regarding crew protocols and other operational details, Emirates said.

In a statement, Emirates confirmed that all crew were required to take a PCR test 48 hours prior to departing Dubai on a scheduled flight.

With the latest adjustments, these tests will be administered in their homes, and our crew will also observe self-quarantine in their homes from the moment of testing until their flight.

Combined with the hotel quarantine and tests on arrival in Australia, this effectively means that our crew are in a bubble from 48 hours before their flight, until they return to Dubai.

This is an added burden for our crew as individuals, for our rostering, and operating costs, and therefore this decision was made after careful review and consideration, the airline said.

At least three Emirates aircrew have tested positive while in hotel quarantine in January, the Queensland government reported.

An Emirates spokesperson told The Epoch Times on Friday: The health and safety of our crew, customers and communities remains our top priority, and we continue to work closely with all relevant authorities to implement the latest health and safety protocols.

Emirates has put in place a comprehensive set of measures at every step of the customer journey on the ground and in the air, to minimise the risk of infection spread.
Kathmandu, January 21

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 268,646 as of Thursday afternoon.

The ministry says 336 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours.

In this period, 5,030 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million 31,756 and people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 3,799 cases are active.

Nepals recovery rate has reached 97.9 per cent so far as 262,868 people have achieved recovery so far. Likewise, 1,979 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 226 people have been discharged whereas four deaths have been reported.

Over 150 people are quarantined across the country.
Growing up in Moscow, Sergei Lebedev honed his English, reluctantly at first and then greedily, by reading his way through his familys library of detective fiction.

His parents, geologists who often used English in their work, particularly encouraged him to read the work of the spy novelist John le Carre. Lebedev grew to appreciate le Carre, the author of such books as Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and The Russia House, for, he said, defining what the Cold War looked like for ordinary readers.

Lebedev, now 39, decided to send le Carre a copy of his latest novel, Untraceable, after it was translated into English. But according to Lebedev, the writer died before he had a chance to read it.

I think he would have liked it, Lebedev said during a video interview from his home in Berlin earlier this month. Untraceable, his first spy thriller after four novels that were more autobiographical in nature, shares some of le Carres fascination with secret worlds and the nature of evil.
[January 21, 2021] Stearns Lending Selects CoreLogic to Accelerate Borrower Income Calculation and Analysis

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today announced that Stearns Lending, LLC, a leading independent mortgage bank, has successfully integrated CoreLogic's income calculation and analysis solution. Stearns adopted the innovative solution to specifically help their teams of underwriters and loan officers automate, streamline and standardize existing mortgage origination workflows at scale -- ultimately accelerating their processes, improving the customer experience and reducing their cost per loan. "The direct integration of CoreLogic's digital mortgage solution into our LOS will create efficiencies for our underwriters and will support a consistent calculation of more complex incomes that will lower our overall risk with investors," said Allyson Knudsen, Chief Risk Officer, Stearns. "At Stearns, our mission is to help our loan officers, underwriters and borrowers be successful. Our focus on improving the income calculation and analysis workflow had that objective in mind. We are happy to be working closely with CoreLogic to make this an integral part of our loan origination process, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring their success, as we incorporate the most innovative tools at our disposal." CoreLogic's income calculation and analysis solution features two customized view settings-one for loan officers and another for underwriters-providing different levels of detail to make it easier to guide the borrower through the process of qualifying income and perfecting documents. Loan officers are able to access reliable income calculations sooner in the process, reducing costly applicant fallout at later stages. As for underwriters, it automates and standardizes the income analysis process, delivering faster and more consistent income calculations across underwriting teams. In addition, it automatically tracks al income exceptions and comments with its comprehensive audit trail, producing an investor-ready summary document that details all borrower income sources, calculations and underwriter rationales for each loan file.



"CoreLogic is grateful to work with forward-thinking companies like Stearns," said Jay Kingsley, executive for Credit Solutions at CoreLogic. "We believe that the automation, digitization and GSE acceptance of our digital mortgage solutions is critical to helping our clients reduce their origination time, touch and costs-while delivering the peace of mind that comes with rep and warrant relief." About CoreLogic

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), the leading provider of property insights and solutions, promotes a healthy housing market and thriving communities. Through its enhanced property data solutions, services and technologies, CoreLogic enables real estate professionals, financial institutions, insurance carriers, government agencies and other housing market participants to help millions of people find, buy and protect their homes. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com. CORELOGIC, and the CoreLogic logo are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. About Stearns Lending, LLC Stearns Lending is the preeminent independent mortgage company with a unique strategy of investing in, building, and supporting great mortgage businesses. For 30 years, the Stearns platform has provided services in Wholesale, Retail, Joint Venture, and Private Label sectors throughout the United States, where licenses are held. In January 2021, Stearns Holdings, LLC announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Guaranteed Rate, one of America's largest retail mortgage lenders. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021. Stearns Lending is an equal housing lender and is licensed to conduct business in 49 states and the District of Columbia. Additionally, Stearns Lending is an approved HUD (United States Department of Housing and Urban Development) lender; a Single-Family Issuer for Ginnie Mae (Government National Mortgage Association); an approved Seller/Servicer for Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association); and an approved Seller/Servicer for Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation). Stearns Lending is also approved as a VA (United States Department of Veterans Affairs) lender, a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) lender and is an approved lending institution with FHA (Federal Housing Administration). Stearns Lending, LLC, is located at 401 E. Corporate Drive, Suite 150, Lewisville, TX 75057. Company NMLS# 1854. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005190/en/

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Joe Biden has already given the Oval Office a makeover, and some of the changes are already proving controversial.

The president revealed his new decor Wednesday as he invited reporters to watch him sign a series of executive orders hours after his inauguration.

A bust of Cesar Chavez, the labor leader and civil rights activist, is nestled among an array of framed family photos displayed on a desk behind the new president. Busts of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and Robert F. Kennedy also feature.

A dark blue rug has been brought out of storage to replace a lighter colored one installed by former President Donald Trump.

Also gone are Trump's gold curtains, replaced with darker shade of gold that hung when Bill Clinton was president.

As has the portrait of controversial former president Andrew Jackson, America's first populist president, which was hung by Trump. Jackson was known to have built his personal fortune with slave labor while his time in office led to the deaths of thousands of Native Americans.

The Winston Churchill bust reinstated by Trump after it was removed by Barack Obama is no longer on display.

The move has sparked fury among some in the UK, with one Conservative Member of Parliament telling DailyMail.com that the bust is a 'symbol of the Special Relationship'.

Even Downing Street commented, saying it is up to Biden how he decorates after Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who counts Churchill as one of his heroes, previously suggested that Obama removing the bust could be viewed as a 'snub' to the UK.

Joe Biden revealed the new decor Wednesday as he invited reporters into his new office to watch him sign a series of executive orders hours after he took office. Framed pictures of his loved ones from left to right show the Biden family, late son Beau with his son Hunter in 2009, Biden and First Lady Dr Jill at the Home States Ball in 2009, a family picture of Joe, Jill and their children, a picture of the president with his daughter, the president's three children

U.S. President Joe Biden adjusts his face mask as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, after his inauguration as the 46th President of the United States. A framed picture of his late son Beau is left; a picture with his mother is second right, a picture with Pope Francis

Biden has already added some personal touches to the Oval Office. A picture with the Pope sits behind him. Biden will be the nation's second Catholic president

Also pictured is Biden's late mother Catherine Eugenia Finnegan. The image appears to have been taken during the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver

In other additions Benjamin Franklin peers down at Biden from a portrait on a nearby wall. A portrait of Franklin D. Roosevelt also hangs. Paintings of rivals President Thomas Jefferson and former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton have been placed near one another. As have George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

A Biden spokesperson told The Washington Post that reflects how 'differences of opinion, expressed within the guardrails of the Republic, are essential to democracy'. The decorative changes were made Wednesday, they added.

Ashley Williams, the deputy director of Oval Office operations, said : 'It was important for President Biden to walk into an Oval that looked like America and started to show the landscape of who he is going to be as president.'

Framed pictures of the president's late son Capt. Beau Biden carrying his son Hunter, his mother Catherine Eugenia Finnegan and the pope also feature.

As do images with wife and first lady Dr Jill Biden and his wider family.

One office feature does remain: Biden is also using whats known as the Resolute Desk because it was built from oak used in the British Arctic exploration ship HMS Resolute. Trump used that desk, too.

Biden brought a dark blue rug out of storage to replace a lighter colored one installed by former President Donald Trump. Also gone are Trump's gold curtains, replaced with darker shade of gold that hung when Bill Clinton was president

A bust of Cesar Chavez, the labor leader and civil rights activist, is nestled among an array of framed family photos displayed on a desk behind the new president. Busts of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and Robert F. Kennedy also feature

This image appears to be of the Biden family in more recent years. Ashley Williams, the deputy director of Oval Office operations, said : 'It was important for President Biden to walk into an Oval that looked like America and started to show the landscape of who he is going to be as president'

In this Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 file photo, Capt. Beau Biden carries his son on his shoulders after an official welcome home ceremony for members of the Delaware Army National Guard 261st Signal Brigade in Dover, Del

Joe Biden and Jill Biden at Vice President Biden Home States Ball in 2009 also features

A family picture of Joe and Jill when their children - Beau, Hunter and Ashley - were young is also placed in the Oval Office

The newly elected president also has this picture with daughter Ashley on show

Beau, Ashley and Hunter feature in this childhood image. A Biden spokesperson told The Washington Post that reflects how 'differences of opinion, expressed within the guardrails of the Republic, are essential to democracy'. The decorative changes were made Wednesday, they added

Trump famously posed in front of the Winston Churchill bust alongside Theresa May in 2017 during her visit to Washington. It is no longer on display, sparking fury among some in the UK

In January last year Trump showed off his backdrop of gold-colored curtains, the flags of the United States and the Presidential Seal, and some personal items.

On the far left side of the credenza he had a collection of military challenge coins. On the right side of the credenza were three family photos.

Those photo showed the Trumps in their apartment in Trump Tower. Donald Trump is sitting on a sofa while his son is lying down, leaning against his father while he puts his hand over his dad's leg.

Melania Trump is seen sitting on the floor while resting her back against the sofa, her head held upright as Barron has his feet directly behind her.

It is notable that Trump placed that picture on the credenza alongside the portraits of his parents.

In past photographs of the Oval Office, the photo with Melania Trump and Barron was not there.

There is the portrait of his father, real estate developer Fred Trump; his mother, Mary Anne Trump; and a family photo showing the President with his current wife, Melania, and their young son, Barron.

The last photo was taken in January 2016 - ten months before he defeated Hillary Clinton in the presidential election.

The Oval Office of the White House is newly redecorated for the first day of President Joe Biden's administration, Wednesday

The president revealed the new decor Wednesday as he invited reporters into his new office

Biden brought a dark blue rug out of storage to replace a lighter colored one installed by Donald Trump. Also gone are Trump's gold curtains, replaced with darker shade that hung when Bill Clinton was president

On the the table is a bust of former President Harry Truman. One office feature does remain: Biden is also using whats known as the Resolute Desk because it was built from oak used in the British Arctic exploration ship HMS Resolute

Benjamin Franklin peers down at Biden from a portrait; a painting of Franklin D. Roosevelt also hangs. Portraits of rivals Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton have been placed near one another

The Oval Office of the White House is newly redecorated for the first day of President Joe Biden's administration, Wednesday, in Washington, including a rock from the moon on the center shelf

A pairing of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt over the mantle of the fireplace. Busts of Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and Robert F. Kennedy also feature

A bust of civil rights leader Rosa Parks in The Oval Office Wednesday after Joe Biden took office

Busts of civil rights leader Rosa Parks, left, and President Abraham Lincoln, right are pictured Wednesday

A bust of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is pictured. The Winston Churchill bust reinstated by Trump after it was removed by Barack Obama is no longer on display

When Trump first moved in to the White House he was quick to decorative changes to his new home.

The Oval Office was redecorated for Trump, as gold curtains were installed behind the Resolute desk, replacing the crimson curtains that were installed under Barack Obama tenure.

In addition to the curtains being changed, the real estate mogul also got rid of a huge, circular rug from Obama's presidency that featured quotes from leaders including, MLK Jr. and four former presidents.

It replacement appeared to be the sunburst gold and yellow rug with garland edges designed by Laura Bush during her husband's presidency, as it's said Bush requested to have one that expressed his spirit of optimism, ABC News reported at the time.

The couches inside the historic office were also replaced to be brocade and no longer grey suede, CNN reported.

Trump also followed through with one of his early promises, as he returned a Winston Churchill bust that Obama had removed to be replaced with a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

It is common for a newly elected president to redecorate the Oval Office as well as other parts of the White House, which is worth $397.9million.

In January last year Trump showed off his backdrop of gold-colored curtains, the flags of the United States and the Presidential Seal, and some personal items. On the far left side of the credenza he had a collection of military challenge coins. On the right side of the credenza were three family photos. President Donald Trump delivers a speech from the Oval Office as the credenza behind him held his collection of military challenge coins (1); a portrait of his mother, Mary Anne Trump (2); his father, Fred Trump (3); and his wife, Melania, and their son, Barron (4)

A collection of US President Donald Trump's challenge coins are seen in the Oval Office of the White House April 24, 2017

Those photo showed the Trumps in their apartment in Trump Tower. Donald Trump is sitting on a sofa while his son is lying down, leaning against his father while he puts his hand over his dad's leg. Melania Trump is seen sitting on the floor while resting her back against the sofa, her head held upright as Barron has his feet directly behind her. It is notable that Trump placed that picture on the credenza alongside the portraits of his parents. In past photographs of the Oval Office, the photo with Melania Trump and Barron was not there

President Donald J. Trump (R) with Attorney General William Barr (L), make remarks before signing an executive order on social media that will punish Facebook, Google and Twitter for the way they police content online, in the Oval Office, White House, Washington, DC, USA, 28 May 2020

The living quarters inside the 132-room building is the area inside of the White House where the First Family has most authority in making changes.

It's allowed for rooms in that specific area to be repainted to their liking as well as new decorations, bedding and furniture pieces are often times brought in for the First Family.

Though the First Family is allowed to make changes within the White House, there are rooms inside the historic building that are untouchable, such as the Lincoln Bedroom and public spaces like the state dining room and Green Room.

Changes that are sought to be made to any of those rooms have to be approved by from the Committee for the Preservation of the White House, as the White House is a living museum that contains hundreds of years of American History.

It has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.
To the Editor:

Re Never Forget What Ted Cruz Did, by Mimi Swartz (Op-Ed, Jan. 12):

If I have to read one more reference to the academic pedigrees of Senator Ted Cruz (Princeton University, Harvard Law School) and Senator Josh Hawley (Stanford University, Yale Law School), Im going to burst.

As any recruiter worth his salt will tell you, what matters in assessing a job candidate is his or her experience and achievements after graduation, as well as the candidates ability to work well with others. And all of white-collar America can attest that a colleagues fancy education does not automatically equate to professional effectiveness or even superior intelligence. Being good at school does not equal being good at work.

Im an educated, white-collar worker of a supposedly lesser academic pedigree: Ithaca College, the Pratt Institute and San Francisco State University. And yet I practice the basics of ethics and moral philosophy, value humility, am wary of unbridled ambition and respect the Constitution and laws of our country. In short, Im better than Mr. Cruz and Mr. Hawley, regardless of our societys exaltation of Ivy League education.

If I were a Stanford, Yale, Princeton or Harvard administrator, Id ask myself how people who graduated from my institution failed to learn the importance of right and wrong.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
Global logistics company C.H. Robinson is to establish a new technology development centre in Cork, creating 30 new jobs over the course of three years.

The company, which offers freight transportation, transportation management, brokerage and warehousing, said the technology development centre in Cork will contribute to creating the newest solutions that keep driving the logistics industry forward.
The coronavirus crisis has hampered international travel for the past 10 months and countries all over the world are feeling the effects. Using data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and The World Bank, visa waiver processing firm Official ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation) recently revealed the countries with the biggest tourism revenue loss due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"The past year has been extremely difficult for the travel and tourism industry, with the unpredictable circumstances resulting in countries being forced to close their borders to tourists, often with little notice. As a result, the pandemic has had a huge financial impact on tourism globally, affecting all countries around the world, as well as airlines, travel operators and other hospitality providers in the sector," Jayne Forrester, Director of International Development at Official ESTA, said in a statement.

The US has been hit hard by the loss of tourism dollars among countries around the world. Credit:iStockphoto

"As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, with vaccine rollouts now getting underway around the world, we can only hope that we can regain some control over the pandemic and ensure that it is safe enough for us to travel once more in order to prevent further losses to one of the largest industries in the world."

Here's a look at how the top 10 countries rank in terms of the total number of tourism dollars lost over the first 10 months of 2020.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

African Scientists Discover 2 Dwarf Giraffes So Small, Theyre Only a Bit Taller Than a Human

Conservation scientists with the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF) have discovered two giraffes with a rare form of dwarfism that renders the animals half their normal size and height.

In fact, these giraffes are so small, theyre only a foot or two taller than a large human.

The GCF announced in a press release this month that a Nubian giraffe was discovered in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda, measuring at just 9 feet, 4 inches. He was affectionately dubbed Gimli, after a J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings character.

The second giraffe showed up more than once on a private farm in central Namibia. When measured, he was found to be just eight-and-a-half feet tall. He is known by the less-puny name of Nigel.

Researchers concluded that the spotted creatures have a form of dwarfism, also known as skeletal dysplasia, a condition that is characterized by shortened anatomy and abnormalities in bone development.

Recently, the researchers with the GCF published a paper in BMC Research Notes, detailing the discovery.

Instances of wild animals with these types of skeletal dysplasias are extraordinarily rare, wrote Dr. Michael Brown, lead author of the report. Its another interesting wrinkle in the unique story of giraffe[s] in these diverse ecosystems.

What makes this discovery truly extraordinary is that both giraffes have matured into adulthood.

Skeletal dysplasia has been known to lead to death in smaller domestic species. And according to GCF researchers, [a]lthough seldomly observed in wild animals, cases of skeletal dysplasia in captive animals have been associated with inbreeding and a lack of genetic diversity.

The researchers study points out that the Ugandan giraffe population suffered from civil unrest and poaching in the 1980s, leading to a bottleneck of the species. They speculate whether a reduction in genetic diversity has led to the development of dwarfism in the animals.

For now, scientists plan to observe the two and learn whether they have any differences in behavior or social status in the wild due to their reduced stature.

Emma Wells, researcher with the GCF, explained that the giraffes are so small, they seem like babies. In fact, the owner of the farm in Namibia saw Nigel often, but it took years for him to realize his wild visitor wasnt growing.

While the Namibian farmer had spotted Nigel regularly over the years, it was only after our observations that he realized that Nigel was not a juvenile but a fully-grown male giraffe, Wells said in a statement. It is mainly in comparison to other giraffes that his difference in stature becomes obvious.

The GCF reports that only about 111,000 giraffes remain in the wild of the African continent today.

Giraffes are undergoing a silent extinction in Africa, said Dr. Julian Fennessy, director and co-founder of GCF. The fact that this is the first description of dwarf giraffes is just another example of how little we know about these charismatic animals. It is only recently that our research has shown that there are four distinct species of giraffe. There is just so much more to learn about giraffes in Africa and we need to stand tall now to save them before it is too late.

Though the giraffes have undergone a crisis of near-extinction, their populations are on the rise thanks to the efforts of organizations like the GCF.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us here: emg.inspired@epochtimes.com
Participants in the molded fiber pulp packaging market are leveraging strict regulations imposed by many countries against the use of plastics to provide sustainable alternatives.

DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / The molded fiber pulp packaging market is anticipated to grow steadily reaching a substantial US$ 13 billion by the end of 2030. The coronavirus pandemic is likely to negatively impact the short-term prospects of the molded fiber pulp packaging market. Reduced demand in automotive, logistics, cosmetics, and the food service sectors are likely to hurt market players. However, the market is likely to display steady recovery towards 2021 as governments take steps to gradually relax lockdown regulations in the near future.

"Molded fiber pulp packaging provides superior compression, thermal, and shock resistance in addition to a number of protective functions which is generating scope of niche applications amidst electronics manufacturers contributing to long term prospects of the industry," says the FMI study.

Request a report sample to gain comprehensive market insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2900

Molded Fiber Pulp Packaging Market - Leading Takeaways

Non-wood fiber pulp as a source will display relatively faster growth owing to the abundant availability of inexpensive plant options for raw materials.

Thermoformed molded packaging types will register a high rate of growth with widespread use in the electronics and food & beverage sectors.

Asia Pacific is a dominant regional market due to high demand in the food industry, catering to a vast and rapidly growing population in the region.

Molded Fiber Pulp Packaging Market - Growth Factors

Growing environmental awareness among consumers and preference for recyclable and renewable resources is a major market influencer.

The transition in the global packaging industry from materials such as plastics and Styrofoam has contributed to an increase in adoption.

Molded Fiber Pulp Packaging Market - Constraints

The highly competitive market with numerous small and medium scale players has reduced the scope of profitability in the molded fiber pulp packaging industry.

New automation technologies for the production of molded fiber pulp products are cost-effective, limiting advancements in the industry.

Expected Impact on Market by Coronavirus Outbreak

The coronavirus pandemic has had an adverse impact on the molded fiber pulp packaging market. Lockdown restrictions on automotive, electronics, food service, and other end use industries has hurt short term demand.

Also, changes in consumer spending aimed towards essential commodities has also limited demand during the crisis. On the other hand, applications in the healthcare packaging sector, and food packaging sector for retail will provide sales opportunities, which will help to minimize losses, and aid a faster recovery in the months ahead.

Explore data on the molded fiber pulp packaging market with 78 figures, 114 tables and the ToC. You will also find market segmentation on https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-2900

Competition Landscape

Some of the leading manufacturers participating in the molded fiber pulp packaging market are UFP Technologies Inc., Henry Molded Products Inc., ESCO Technologies Inc., Brodrene Hartmann, EnviroPAK Corporation, ProtoPak Engineering Corporation, Huhtamaki Oyj, Keiding Inc., and Pacific Pulp Molding LLC among others.

Leading players in the molded fiber pulp packaging market have been increasingly interested in expanding portfolios in addition to strategic collaborations to widen scope of expertise and applications for their offerings.

For instance, Acorn Pulp Group - a joint venture between strategic investors and Oak Paper Products Co. is acquiring a cutting-edge molded fiber manufacturing machine from Southern Molded Pulp and Molded Fiber Technologies, to improve production in tech, agriculture, food and medical sectors. Also, HP has partnered with Pulp Molding Dies Inc. to unveil HP Molded Fiber Advanced Tooling Solution for electronic packaging applications. Further, Sonoco has announced the acquisition of TEQ Thermoform Engineered Quality to merge manufacturing locations around the world including molded fiber products.

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More on the Report

FMI's provides in-depth insights on the molded fiber pulp packaging market. The market is segmented in terms of product type (trays, drink carriers, boxes, end caps, plates, bowls, cups, clamshell containers), application (primary packaging, secondary packaging, and edge protectors), molded pulp type (thick wall, transfer molded, thermoformed fiber, and processed pulp), and end use (CDEG, Food & Beverage, Cosmetics, Food Services, Healthcare, Automotive, Logistics, and others) across seven regions (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, and Middle East & Africa).

Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FMI's Packaging Landscape

Pyramid Tea Bags Market: Find insights on the pyramid tea bags market with analysis of statistics, segments, players, influencers, and business strategies adopted over a 10-year forecast period.

Cheese Packaging Market: FMI's report on the cheese packaging market provides insights on the market for 2019-2029. The study evaluates restraining forces, revenue sources, market leaders, and market strategies.

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About FMI

Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert-led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.

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The New NAU and ICT Partnership We are excited to work with Interactive College of Technology to continue making higher education accessible to ICTs degree-seeking students

National American University (NAU) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with the Interactive College of Technology (ICT) in Chamblee, GA, to enhance educational opportunities for graduates of ICT.

The relationship between the two institutions allows ICT graduates to continue their education in an NAU online degree program, including associate degree programs in Management and Medical Administrative Assistant, or bachelors programs in Business Administration, Construction Management, Healthcare Management, Information Technology and Management. Under the agreement, NAU will provide ICT graduates the opportunity to participate in online classes at a reduced tuition rate and study when and where they choose.

National American University has a long history of working with community and technical colleges to help working adults and other non-traditional students take the next step in their education and career journey. We are excited to work with Interactive College of Technology to continue making higher education accessible to ICTs degree-seeking students, commented Dr. Ronald Shape, National American University President.

For more information, please contact Amanda Oppel at 816.412.7702 or aoppel@national.edu.

About Interactive College of Technology

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Interactive College of Technology has seven campuses in Georgia, Texas and Kentucky. The institution is accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education (COE), and offers Associate of Science Degrees and Diploma programs in technology and business, as well as one of the most comprehensive English as a Second Language programs in the United States. For nearly 40 years ICTs mission has been to educate and train success-driven men and women by providing training and certification opportunities for in-demand occupations that lead to well-paying positions.

About National American University

Now celebrating its 80th year, National American University prepares students for high-demand careers in technical and professional fields. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, NAU has transitioned to offer 100% online doctoral, masters, bachelors, associate, diploma, and certificate programs, including programs in Healthcare Management, Business, Accounting, Technology, Criminal Justice, and Strategic Security.
Baghdad, Jan 21 : At least 13 people were killed and 30 others injured on Thursday in twin suicide bombings at a crowded market area in Baghdad, according to Iraqi officials.

A BBC report citing a military official said that the bombers blew themselves up at a clothing market in Tayaran Square, in Bab al-Sharqi, as they were pursued by security forces.

Meanwhile, an Iraqi Interior Ministry source told Xinhua news agency that ambulances and civilian cars have evacuated the wounded to nearby hospitals and medical centres.

It was the first such attack in the Iraqi capital city in nearly two year, as the security situation has improved since the Iraqi security forces fully defeated the Islamic State terror group across the country late in 2017.

However, sporadic deadly incidents still occur in the war-ravaged country No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday's bombings yet.
Meatpacking Industry Pushes for Worker Vaccinations

Big meatpacking companies like Tyson and JBS are working to get their employees vaccination quickly to avoid more coronavirus cases in meatpacking facilities.

As COVID-19 cases rise within the meatpacking industry, top meatpacking companies and unions are advocating for meatpacking workers to be a priority vaccination group, according to Bloomberg Government.

Various meatpacking facilities have been cited by OSHA for COVID-19 violations. The Food Environment Reporting Network reports 53,620 positive coronavirus cases and 269 deaths among meatpacking employees as of Jan. 15.

Companies such as Tyson Food, JBS and Cargill Inc. are attempting to get workers vaccinated. Tyson has partnered with Matrix Medical Network, a clinical services company, as part of the companys effort to vaccinate its employees. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union also wrote a letter on Dec. 23 asking governors in each state to give meatpacking workers very high priority for the coronavirus vaccine.

Another common sentiment in the meatpacking industry is the desire for President Biden to mandate an emergency temporary standard that enforces social distancing in meatpacking facilities and supplies ventilators to workers.
Five people were killed on Thursday in a major fire that broke out in a factory, but the worlds largest vaccine maker said the incident would not affect the production of Covid-19 vaccine even as new launches may be hit.

Sparks from welding work being carried out in the under-installation factory in Pune had triggered the fire that destroyed some floors of the building, local authorities said. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope said an investigation and a fire audit will be done.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the incident. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest, he tweeted.

Serum Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla offered condolences over the loss of lives. I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #Covishield production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at the Serum Institute of India, Poonawalla tweeted, while thanking the Pune City Police and the fire department.

However, the incident could cause delays in launching new products and the firm expects revenue losses of over Rs 1,000 crore, Poonawalla was quoted as saying by CNBC-TV18.

In a statement, the company said: Today is an extremely sorrowful day for all of us at Serum...We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone for their concerns and prayers in these distressing times.

The firm announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to each family, in addition to the mandated amount as per the norms.

The incident took place around 2 pm in the companys Manjri plant in the outskirts of Pune in the M SEZ3 building where Rotavirus vaccine is to be manufactured. Inflammable insulation material was spread in the area which spread the fire, Tope told reporters.

It took around three hours for the fire engines and water tankers to douse the fire. Five bodies were found inside the premises... Real-time updates of casualties will be given, Tope added.

Pune police commissioner Amitabh Gupta said: There was no production happening in the building which caught fire. Preparatory work was underway to start manufacturing of vaccines. We will investigate once fire is brought under control and rescue work is completed.

Ajit Pawar, Maharashtras deputy chief minister, said orders for a detailed inquiry into the incident had been issued. The site manufacturing Covishield is secure, he added.

Serums forte throughout the past half a century has been a combination of affordable vaccines and high volumes.

The firm produces more than 1.5 billion doses of vaccines which includes polio vaccine as well as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella vaccines.

It is estimated that about 65 per cent of the children in the world receive at least one vaccine manufactured by Serum.

The institute will need to ramp up capacities for new products if the demand for a Covid-19 vaccine persists. Should demand for the vaccine dwindle, it will continue to use this enhanced capacity for other vaccines.
Varun Dhawans wedding is just around the corner and the whos who of Bollywood and even fans are going gaga about it. The actor ties the knot to his childhood sweetheart Natasha Dalal this weekend and the wedding festivities begin from tomorrow at Alibaug. Today an online portal gave us some inside details.

Varun Dhawan whos getting married on Sunday, January 24th has not spoken about his marriage or revealed it on social media. According to reports, Varun and Natashas wedding will take place in The Mansion House resort in Alibaug. The property has some 25 rooms in the resort and it's 10 minutes away from Alibaug jetty. The family members are said to be travelling by road for the shaadi, while other guests might board a jetty from the Gateway Of India. The wedding planners who handled Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohlis wedding will be handling this big Bollywood wedding. Everyone is excited about this wedding which has been pending for a long time.The couple were supposed to tie the knot in Vietnam in 2020, but due to the lockdown, the plans had to be pushed. Karan Johar, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Arjun Kapoor, Anil Kapoor are said to be present at the wedding and were really hoping to get some sneak peek at the wedding through social media posts. Come Sunday, Jan 24 and were sure Varun Dhawan fans will be glued to the internet, trying to get some clicks from this intimate wedding affair.
Baker Lifts Stay-at-Home Order, Business Curfew

Public health restrictions implemented last month aimed to reduce mobility and gatherings. We're seeing modest improvements in public health data but we have more work to do.



Today we're extending lower capacity + gathering limits and rescinding our early business closure order. pic.twitter.com/KqWPTpiJF5  Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) January 21, 2021

BOSTON  Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday announced that the commonwealth will start to ease up on some of its COVID-19 restrictions on business starting Monday in response to positive trends in the public health metrics.

Effective Monday at 5 a.m., the state is lifting an overnight stay-at-home advisory that was put in place in early November and allowing certain businesses to again remain open past 9:30 p.m.

"We are keeping in place the across-the-board 25 percent capacity limits for at least another two weeks, until 5 a.m. on Feb. 8," Baker said.

But ending the "curfew" and early closure for businesses like restaurants and movie theaters is possible because the state's key COVID-19 indicators are improving, Baker said.

"Three weeks into 2021, our public health data is trending in a better direction for some categories, like hospitalizations and the percent of positive tests, for the first time in a long time," he said. "Hospitalizations are down by 10 percent since they peaked in early January. Today, we have 2,209 individuals in the hospital [for COVID-19], which is down from 2,428 on Jan. 4.

"The average positive test rate for COVID-19 has gone down by 33 percent since the beginning of January, from 8.7 percent to 5.8 percent. The seven-day average of cases is also down, by about 30 percent from its peak in January, from 6,120 down to 4,548."

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who chairs the governor's reopening committee, said the time has come to begin carefully lifting some restrictions.

"Businesses previously required to close early may operate past 9:30 p.m., effective Jan. 25 at 5 a.m.," Polito said. "That includes, as a few examples: restaurants, arcades and other indoor and outdoor recreation in Phase 3, Step 1 only; indoor and outdoor events and other gatherings, movie theaters and other recreational experiences; casinos and horse track simulcast facilities; driving and flight schools; close contact personal services like hair and nail salons; museums and gyms."

Polito said the full list of businesses will be posted at mass.gov

She commended the business community throughout the state for its efforts to meet the state's safety guidelines throughout the pandemic, particularly singling out restaurants for developing new outdoor and patio spaces and creative takeout options.

The administration Thursday also continued to emphasize the small-business grants that it has distributed to support small businesses during the pandemic.

"Small businesses account for over 40 percent of the commonwealth's prepandemic workforce," Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy said. "In real numbers, that's the equivalent of about 1.5 million employees, distributed throughout the state. It's that workforce, who operates in an extensive network of small businesses, that is fundamental to the health of the Massachusetts economy.

"Understanding how much pressure the pandemic has put on these businesses  it remains a top priority for us to provide relief with an urgency that this situation calls for."

To date, the commonwealth has distributed $232 million small business grants from a fund of a $720 million the administration has dedicated to that purpose, Baker said.

"COVID-19 has emerged to be the most remarkable and damaging global pandemic in our lifetime," he said. "Every resident has been affected by this merciless virus that respects no boundaries and, in some cases, can be, sadly, deadly.

"Our administration has and will continue to work hard to stop COVID-19 spread, to administer vaccines and to get our economy back on track. Today, there are some glimmers of hope as some public health trends show some retreat businesses can get some financial relief and resume activity. But there are still many challenges ahead for us, and the best weapon we continue to have is prevention, patience and vigilance."

He praised Bay Staters for the vigilance they showed in December, which appears to have paid off in preventing a surge in COVID-19 cases on the level that the commonwealth saw in the aftermath of Thanksgiving.

"People took to heart our messaging around Christmas and New Year's," Baker said. "We continued to see some of the momentum that came out of Thanksgiving, but we did not see anything like the sustained and dramatic spike we saw in new cases every day and hospitalizations every day that we saw coming out of Thanksgiving.

"It's hard to draw really specific conclusions about some of this stuff, but it does appear to us that people were really careful and cautious through that whole Christmas and New Year's period, which is a really good thing. I know it stinks with respect to how you would like to spend that holiday, but here we are, it's three weeks later, and over that time, we've seen a 30 percent drop in case positivity, a 30 percent drop in new cases and a 10 percent drop in hospitalizations.

"It's the first time we saw a drop in those cases for quite a while."
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Israel has invited tenders for more than 2,500 new settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, a watchdog said Wednesday, hours before Joe Biden's swearing-in as US president

Jerusalem, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ):Israel has invited tenders for more than 2,500 new settler homes in annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, a watchdog said Wednesday, hours before Joe Biden's swearing-in as US president.

On Sunday, Israel approved 780 new settler homes in the West Bank ahead of a March general election in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to face a fierce challenge from the right from pro-settler candidate Gideon Saar.

Peace Now said the government had now invited tenders for a further 2,112 units in the West Bank and 460 in east Jerusalem, which the Palestinians hope to make the capital of a future state.

The watchdog accused the government of a "mad scramble to promote as much settlement activity as possible until the last minutes before the change of the administration in Washington".

"By doing so, Netanyahu is signalling to the incoming president that he has no intention of giving the new chapter in US-Israel relations even one day of grace, nor serious thought to how to plausibly resolve our conflict with the Palestinians," Peace Now said in a statement.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, said the Israeli move was equivalent to a "race to eliminate what remains of the two-state solution, while posing more and more obstacles to the new US administration." Neighbouring Jordan condemned the decision.

"The policy of colonisation... is neither legitimate nor legal," said foreign ministry spokesman Dhaifallah Ali al-Fayez.

"It violates international law and undermines the foundations of peace, as well as efforts to reach a two-state solution," he said.

- Netanyahu facing right-wing challenge - All Jewish settlements in the West Bank are regarded as illegal by much of the international community.

But Trump's administration, breaking with decades of US policy, declared in late 2019 that Washington no longer considered settlements as being in breach of international law.

Biden has indicated his administration will restore Washington's pre-Trump policy of opposing settlement expansion.

But on Tuesday his nominee for secretary of state said the incoming administration would not reverse Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

"The only way to ensure Israel's future as a Jewish, democratic state and to give the Palestinians a state to which they are entitled is through the so-called two-state solution," Antony Blinken said.

Beyond the change in Washington, experts say Netanyahu also has domestic political reasons for pushing settlement expansion.

Electioneering is intensifying ahead of Israel's March 23 vote, in which the country's longest-serving premier faces a new challenge from Saar, a prominent pro-settler voice who split with Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party late last year.

Israel has occupied the West Bank since the Six-Day War of 1967 and has increasingly expanded the size and number of its settlements there, particularly under Netanyahu's leadership since 2009.

There are currently some 650,000 Jews living in east Jerusalem and the West Bank amid an estimated 3.1 million Palestinians.

Governments around the world see the settlements as one of the biggest obstacles to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A British Columbia man who plied two teenagers with drugs and alcohol and then failed to intervene as they died will remain in prison indefinitely after the B.C. Court of Appeal refused to overturn his sentence.

Martin Tremblay was convicted in 2013 of two counts each of criminal negligence causing death and failing to provide the necessities of life, and was labelled a dangerous offender, which carries an indeterminate sentence.

His trial heard he invited 16-year-old Kayla Lalonde and 17-year-old Martha Jackson to his home, gave them drugs and alcohol until they passed out, sexually assaulted them and then failed to get help when their conditions deteriorated.

In a decision posted online Thursday, a panel of three judges ruled unanimously against allowing the appeal of his sentence or an introduction of new evidence that shows his progress in sexual offender programs.

Tremblay asked that his sentence be changed to 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years under supervision, claiming the trial judge failed to properly consider his risk during sentencing.

Writing for the panel, Justice Patrice Abrioux says there was no legal error and while Tremblay had made progress is addressing his risk factors, he wouldn't admit it as new evidence.

"The reasons as a whole indicate that the judge paid careful consideration to the appellants risk assessment and treatment prospects," he says in the ruling.

Tremblay had a long history of offences, the court noted.

He was convicted in 2003 of assaulting five teenage Indigenous girls. He invited them to his house to party, gave them alcohol and drugs, waited until they passed out and videotaped himself sexually assaulting them.

Tremblay claimed as a result of the programs he had completed in prison, he had taken responsibility for his actions.

The Crown had opposed the introduction of the new evidence, telling the Appeal Court it did not relate to the legal error Tremblay claimed the trial judge made or relate to the prison sentence he had been given.
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.
The CEO of the Saolta hospital group, Tony Camavan has said that the situation at Galway University Hospital (GUH) deteriorated overnight and the hospital is now under significant pressure.

At present there are 133 Covid-19 patients in GUH with 17 in ICU, he told RTE Radios Morning Ireland.

There was still an upward curve in the number of cases, he added, and in recent days the hospital moved to Surge Level 3 to increase capacity in intensive care beds as required.

However, he cautioned that this was dependent on the availability of staff.

Staff availability was a significant issue with 387 staff at GUH currently on Covid leave, which represented almost 10% of the workforce.

This week there was a change in the number of days recommended for self-isolation from 14 to 10 and that will assist in terms of staffing rosters.

More staff were expected to return to the work at the weekend, but there would be a critical two day period before then with great pressure on staff.

Read More Cork City to have major new hospital by 2024

Covid patients were across all age groups, but the most devastation was being experienced by the older population, he said.

The move from Level 5 to Level 3 in December and then people coming together over Christmas had all led to the increase in cases, he said, along with the new strains.

By and large, people were compliant with the restrictions, but the level of non-compliance was concerning, he said.

Its really important that people continue to do what needs to be done.

The focus should be on the existing measures and ensuring that they were applied rigorously - especially in areas such as Tuam, Oranmore and Galway City where the levels remained high.

Immunology expert Professor Tomas Ryan has said that there are still too many people moving around and that the Government should consider narrowing the definition of essential workers and reducing the 5km limit to 2km.

The associate professor in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin told Newstalk Breakfast that the Government should also consider mass antigen testing for serial testing of healthcare workers.

It was unknown how many infections were coming through hospitals and into the communities. A time frame for Level 5 restrictions was not the main issue he said.

The crucial thing is not about how long we need to be in restrictions, I think when we ask that question we're setting ourselves up for the same problems as before.

"The question needs to be when can we get control of the virus - when we get control of the virus, then we can start to open up.

The number of cases would need to be reduced to about 10 per day, he said.

"When you get to that level of virus case number, that's in the zone where our test, trace and isolation infrastructure can manage it.

The high number of cases could be down to the so-called UK variant, he said as it was significantly more transmissible and now made up most of the virus population in Ireland.

However, he acknowledged there was not perfect surveillance on that yet.

The publics behaviour should be stricter as, based on traffic analysis, people were not restricting their movements as much as they did during the first lockdown.
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Europe, World Biden Hopes: U.S. allies have expressed optimism for future bilateral relations ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden Wednesday. But despite the warm words, there are potential stumbling blocks ahead, as Henry Ridgwell reports from London.
High Ground is a sumptuous presentation of a difficult historical truth: that Australias First Nations didnt cede the country to the invaders; they fought long and hard for it. Jack Thompson, the veteran actor who was the very embodiment of the bush bloke in Australian films of the 70s  and who plays Traviss commanding officer, Moran, in High Ground  says white Australians have avoided acknowledging that bloody past. When I was at school, we were told they all died of bad colds and smallpox and thats why there were none around, he says. But the newspapers of the 1800s talk quite openly about the war with the natives and it was only in about the mid-1860s that we stopped reporting it in those terms. And as we came closer to Federation, we really stopped talking about it at all. But it went on. And it didnt just stop. Actor Jack Thompson, who plays commanding officer Moran, says White Australians have avoided acknowledging the bloody past. The events in High Ground are real; the characters are composite but, says Johnson, all based on real people. In 1923, former army sniper Travis leads a small posse of white men in pursuit of one man accused of murder; his nervous recruits massacre a whole tribe of men, women and children bathing at a waterhole. Birds wheel overhead; a goanna clings immobile to a tree: it is as if all nature is watching in horror. One child called Gutjuk survives, hiding in the reeds; Travis takes him to the local mission. Other survivors simply disappear into the bush until, 13 years later, Gutjuks uncle Baywara (Sean Mununggurr) gains notoriety as the leader of a series of arson attacks on surrounding cattle stations. Travis is recalled from his new life as a crocodile hunter to bring Baywara in, taking Gutjuk, now an adult (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) in the hope that he may be able to help negotiate peace. Not that Travis is optimistic; he never says so, but he may just be looking for the redemption of an honourable death.

Johnson is white  Balanda, as we soon learn to say  but his fathers job meant he grew up among Yolgnu friends; his first feature was Yolgnu Boy (2001). Jack Thompson came up to Arnhem Land to play a police officer in that film too; they have been friends ever since. I wanted to make High Ground prior to that film, but wasnt able to, says Johnson. People werent ready for a story like this  no one wanted to know about massacres. Most of his work was in documentary and music videos; he became a close associate of the band Yothu Yindi, shooting all their videos including Treaty, and was adopted into the Gumatj clan by the late Mandawuy Yunupingu. Simon Baker as Travis and Jacob Junior Nayinggul as the adult Gutjuk. Yothu Yindi co-founder Witiyana Marika is with him in Berlin, having served as cultural adviser and producer on this film as well as playing a strong supporting role as tribal elder and grandfather Dharrpa. Other actors were recruited locally. Jacob Junior Nayinggul is a scion of a Yolngu clan who stepped up to play Gutjuk because, he says, he didnt want somebody else coming into country to play the part. The land made me be an actor, he says. Simon Baker describes him as a natural; it is extraordinary to see the tussle of feelings cross his face as Gutjuk wrestled in the moment with where he belongs: with his mission family, with his rebel uncle, with Travis on the trail or somewhere else in country that will provide peace.

Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu has described High Ground as a both-ways film in the spirit of Makarrata, a Yolngu word for reconciliation meaning coming together after a struggle. Its been gathering momentum, this whole idea of how we have to find balance in this country, says Johnson. He has tried to find that balance; even the patrol officers are not uncomplicated villains. We talk about having PTSD when you come back from Afghanistan, says Thompson. These guys had come back from World War I. Jesus! And then go out into the world and OK, shit, what are we doing? Theres another war on. Thats who these men are. This brings it right into our age. Baywara makes his stand in 1936. Thompson was born, as he says, in 1940. Its the world of my father! he says, then repeats himself slowly. The world of my father! A young Gutjuk (Guruwuk Mununggurr) hiding in a waterhole with his mother Wak Wak (Magnolia Maymuru) during the massacre. By no means all Indigenous people supported the conclusions of the Uluru statement; many felt it did not go far enough. The same conflict plays out in High Ground, with some Bining-Yolgnu people raring to fight back while others  the wise elders  counsel parleying and caution. Your anger is all youve got, declares Gulwirri (Esmerelda Marimowa), a young woman who was raped repeatedly as a child by her white boss and who can fell an armed man with one blow of a club. Marikas Grandfather Dharrpa, by contrast, takes Gutjuk to a spectacular cliff ledge to teach him to listen to the wind, to Father Sky and Mother Earth. Listen to what she is saying to you. Stay here and protect yourself. Makarrata: no more fighting. Wed like to go gently. Is there a way we can deal with it? Tribal elder and supporting actor Witiyana Marika
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Funding has been granted to Annaduff NS for a two-classroom extension alongside the provision of a prefab to accommodate pupils from September next. The funding was granted under Additional Accommodation Scheme 2021.

The Minister of State Frank Feighan TD was informed by his colleague Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education of the funding this week.

I am delighted to see this much needed extra classroom provision for Annaduff to accommodate the increasing number of pupils, I want to compliment the principal and board of management for an excellent application. I hope when the extension is completed in September, pupils will be returning to school under normal times and that the worst of the pandemic will have passed, concluded Minister Feighan.
Teachers, transit workers and other workers in New York City denounced Tuesdays police attack on striking warehouse workers at the Hunts Point Produce Market in the Bronx and called for unified action to defend the striking workers and to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in schools and workplaces.

Over 1,400 warehouse and truck drivers walked out on Sunday, January 17 to demand a dollar an hour increase over three years for workers who have suffered more than 400 infections and at least six deaths from the virus. The workers perform backbreaking labor at the worlds largest wholesale food market, where workers handle more than 200 million pounds of food for distribution to grocery stores and restaurants across the region. The market generates $2.3 billion in revenue each year, accounting for approximately 60 percent of produce sales in New York City.

Hunts Point pickets on Tuesday (Source Teamsters)

The operators of the produce market, many of whom received government bailout money, have steadfastly refused to accede to Teamsters Local 202s meager wage demands. Instead, they have hired private security goons, who have been supplemented by the New York Police Department. Early Tuesday morning, hundreds of cops in riot gear, dispatched by the citys supposedly progressive Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio, violently attacked striking workers, arresting five and escorting scabs through the picket lines.

The battle is at a critical turning point. While there is broad sympathy for the strikers, the Teamsters and other city unions, including the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the Transport Workers Union, have isolated the struggle. Opposed to a broader mobilization of the working class throughout the city that would lead to a direct conflict with the union-backed Democrats, the unions have brought a parade of Democrats to the picket line, including millionaire mayoral candidate Andrew Yang and US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. But their empty gestures of support cannot cover up the fact that it is their party that sent the police to beat up and arrest strikers.

The Democrats, like the Republicans, have handed over trillions to Wall Street, while workers have borne the brunt of the deadly pandemic and the economic and social crisis. Over the last three years alone, the city has subsidized the produce market operators with over $150 million in infrastructure development funds. Meanwhile, the official poverty rate in the Hunts Point/Longwood section of the Bronx was 40 percent, three times the citys overall rate, and 54 percent for children, even before the pandemic led to the loss of one million jobs in the city. At the same time, the bipartisan bailout of the New York Stock Exchange has raised the collective wealth of the citys billionaires during the pandemic by $81 billion, to $600 billion.

The Hunts Point strike is an expression of the growing anger and militancy of workers over the grotesque inequality in America and the criminal policy of both parties, which have sacrificed the lives of over 400,000 for corporate profit.

Workers throughout the city have expressed their support for the Hunts Point workers. Theres strength in numbers, Crystal, a New York City transit worker, told the World Socialist Web Site. If we can all get on one accord it would be extremely beneficial. There is a common ground. When Hunts Point workers are going to work they use the trains. Were eating the food they have in the market. Were all in the same struggle.

Like other frontline and essential workers, transit workers have been forced to sacrifice their lives due to the lack of PPE and other necessary measures by the transit authority and city officials. Since March, approximately 150 New York transit workers have died from COVID-19. Now workers are confronting plans for next year to lay off more than 9,000 workers, institute a wage freeze, and cut bus, subway and train service to the bone.

Crystal said: We know about the lack of PPE, the fear of putting your life in danger by even coming to work, performing the duties, and upper management doesnt even care. The numbers are going back up with the COVID rate, and nothings shutting down. Its kind of like the pandemic has a job, never clocking out. Now with a new strain, theyre not even taking it seriously.

I used to live in the Bronx, not too far from the Hunts Point area. I know the market is something thats important. They supply so much produce to so many peopleand most of the stores were able to stay stocked with groceries through the pandemic. That speaks volumes to the amount of work they were doing. To know that you have people not making livable wages, thats insane.

Mike, an electrical technician, has experienced firsthand the isolation and betrayal imposed by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3 during the multi-year strike against Spectrum, beginning in March 2017. He told the WSWS, I support the Hunts Point strikers because they are the working men and women of our country. Workers must unite. I dont want to see what happened to me happen to them.

Mike explained that he spent 24 years at the company building its broadband internet system from scratch. The supposed support of the unions, he said, went down the drain when some rich execs that never worked a day in their lives didnt want to pay the premiums for our health insurance. Spectrum bought [Local 3] off. Who says they are not doing the same at Hunts Point? We need to protect and provide for our own class first.

The decision by de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo to herd teachers and students back into infected schools, for the sole purpose of getting parents back to work, has generated widespread anger. Members of the New York Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee, which was established independently of the UFT, issued a statement Wednesday expressing full support for the Hunts Point struggle.

Our brothers and sisters at the Hunts Point market have taken a courageous stance for the rights of workers everywhere. They have been earning poverty wages, while sacrificing their lives to help procure food for 22 million people amid the pandemic. It concluded, The Hunts Point strike must become the starting point for a counteroffensive by workers in New York, the US and internationally. We pledge to do everything we can to broaden this struggle.

The Hunts Point workers cannot fight this struggle alone. But they must take the conduct of the fight into their own hands by forming a rank-and-file strike committee, independent of the Teamsters and other unions, to call for collective action by the working class throughout the city. The demand for a real living wage, not a dollar over three years, health care benefits and genuine protection for essential workers must be combined with the fight to close schools and non-essential businesses until the pandemic is under control, and to demand full income protection for workers and small businesses. Preparations must be made for a political general strike to win these demands and for a radical redistribution of wealth to guarantee vaccinations for all and a vast expansion of public health measures.

This fight will require the independent political mobilization of the working class against both corporate-controlled parties and the new Biden administration, which will continue to sacrifice the lives of workers to the profit interests of corporate America.

We urge striking workers to contact the World Socialist Web Site to take up the fight to build a rank-and-file strike committee.
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BASEL, Switzerland, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kinarus, today announced it has appointed Thierry Fumeaux, MD as its Chief Medical Officer. In this new role, Dr Fumeaux will provide leadership and direction to the clinical strategy of the company. He will report to Dr Alexander Bausch, CEO, and will serve on the Senior Management Team.

Dr Fumeaux is a specialist in internal and intensive care medicine, with a long clinical experience as Head of the Intensive Care Unit and the Internal Medicine department of the hospital of Nyon. He was a member of the Swiss National Covid Scientific Task Force, as president of its Clinical Care Expert group. He is also past president of the Swiss Society of Intensive Care Medicine, from 2018 to 2020.

"Dr Fumeaux's expertise in intensive care and treatment of Covid-19 will be critical in advancing Kinarus's clinical programs," said Dr Bausch. "His proven leadership, as well as his extensive medical and research experience, will strengthen our clinical development efforts and support the progress of our product pipeline especially in Covid-19."

Dr Fumeaux commented, "I am excited to join Kinarus at this stage of its development! It is a fantastic opportunity for me to use my clinical experience and to participate actively to the development of new therapeutic options that have a potential to significantly improve the patients' outcome in various diseases including Covid-19."

Dr Fumeaux has a physician's diploma from the University of Lausanne, and an MD from the University of Geneva, where he was also adjunct professor. He also holds an MBA from IMD and the University of Lausanne.

About Kinarus

Kinarus is a privately held, development-stage biotechnology company located in Basel. Kinarus has licensed a clinical stage P38 inhibitor Pamapimod. Pamapimod as well as other P38 inhibitors in clinical development has suffered from a reduced effect already after a short treatment time. With a new proprietary drug combination (KIN001) Kinarus was able to overcome this limitation.

The company is led by a management team with long standing experience in drug development in several indications. The company has patent protected and prepared several indications ready for a start in phase 2 clinical studies.

A phase 2 study (potentially pivotal) with more than 400 patients was submitted to the German authorities in December with a potential start of treatment already end of February. P38 inhibitors have not only a direct anti-viral effect in Covid-19 but in addition show broad anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. Therefore, this treatment could make a significant impact on the Covid-19 patients and has the potential to save lives and intensive care capacity. Based on this broad impact there could also a beneficial effect on "long Covid" with KIN001.

Kinarus has managed to finance the initial phase of the study and currently seeks financing for the full program until KIN001 could be broadly available for patients already early next year.

For more information on Kinarus, please visit the company's website at www.kinarus.com.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423615/Kinarus_Logo.jpg

Contact:

Alexander Bausch

CEO

Kinarus AG

alexander.bausch@kinarus.com
He is known for portraying the merciless high school bully 'Flash' Thompson who ridiculed Peter Parker in Spider-Man.

But Joe Manganiello positively melted hearts as he was pictured lovingly carrying his wife Sofia Vergara's pet dog Bubbles out of a veterinarian's office in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The actor, 44, sported a rock star look in a Slayer T-shirt as he bundled the little chihuahua up in a blanket, while gently cradling her in one arm.

Doting dog dad: Joe Manganiello positively melted hearts as he was pictured lovingly carrying his wife Sofia Vergara's pet dog Bubbles out of a vet's office in Los Angeles on Wednesday

The screen star teamed his tee with skull-print Vans slip-on shoes and grey striped knee-length shorts.

The True Blood actor strolled in the winter sun and blocked out the rays with black Wayfarer sunglasses.

Bubbles was comfortably cradled in the crook of Joe's arm and carefully swaddled in a blanket.

Joe and Sofia adopted Bubbles from the LA shelter Dogs Without Borders in 2019.

Puppy love: The actor, 44, sported a rock star look in a Slayer T-shirt as he bundled the little chihuahua up in a blanket, while gently cradling her in one arm

The caring couple rescued the chihuahua after they discovered she had a potentially cancerous cyst on her tummy.

The pair - who have been married since 2015 - are devoted dog parents to the poorly pooch.

'She's been with us ever since. She loves me and she's just been like the light of our lives since we've had her,' Joe told The Drew Barrymore show in December.

Joe and Sofia first met at the White House Correspondents dinner in 2014 and are said to have had visible chemistry as soon as they were introduced.

Pooch parents: Joe and Sofia adopted Bubbles from the LA shelter Dogs Without Borders in 2019 after discovering she had a potentially cancerous cyst on her tummy

The Colombian beauty was engaged to her former fiance Nick Loeb at the time.

'We didn't start dating until she was single,' the Magic Mike actor told E! News. 'I'm not trying to start a fight at the White House.'

The couple embarked upon a whirlwind romance and were happily engaged by December 2014.

The glittering Hollywood couple celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary in lockdown in November.

Sofia took to Instagram to display her affection for her handsome husband, alongside a series of gorgeous throwback photos.
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YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ara Ayvazian held a vide-conference with Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Stef Blok, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia.

The interlocutors discussed a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, emphasized readiness to take measures for further deepening cooperation in the spheres of mutual interest. FM Ayvazian thanked his Dutch counterpart for the support and solidarity with the Armenian people in the fight against COVID-19.

The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and the Netherlands referred to the post-war situation in Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone. Minister Ayvazian presented the efforts aimed at the elimination of the consequences resulted by the Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh.

Minister Ayvazian emphasized issues of humanitarian nature as a priority for the current stage, particularly the safe return of POWs and other detainees.

The two Ministers highlighted the restoration of Nagorno Karabakh peace process under the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs' format.

Ara Ayvazian and Stef Blok also exchanged views on issues of regional security and stability.
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Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted his congratulatory remarks over Twitter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday evening.

"I congratulate Joe Biden on his Inauguration as President, and pray that he is guided by God and follows the Constitution as he assumes leadership of the greatest country in the history of the world. May we forever remain that way," Abbott tweeted in congratulations to the 46th President.

Abbott failed to tag President Joe Biden with @JoeBiden in his tweet or mention Vice President Kamala Harris after both were inaugurated Wednesday morning.

The move came after Abbott faced heat Tuesday for a different tweet.

While a few people supported Abbott Tuesday after controversial remarks about vetting National Guard members in the wake of the insurrection, users overwhelmingly tackled governor for his hypocrisy as Texas suffers through the worst wave ever of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After receiving hundreds of replies criticizing his view on the Capitol and COVID-19 response for the state, Abbott sent out multiple tweets about vaccine distribution efforts across Texas and a new COVID-19 therapeutic infusion center in Lubbock, Texas.


New Delhi:

The Bihar School Examination Board is all set to release Bihar BSEB Class 10th Results 2017 on June 22 at its official website biharboard.ac.in, srsec.bsebbihar.com, www.biharboard.org.in and www.skillmissionbihar.org.

The confirmation about the result was announced at a press conference on Tuesday, BSEB chairman Anand Kishor said the board would also release a list of top ten scorers who would be rewarded.

The first, second and third toppers will get Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 each respectively along with a laptop, an e-book and stationeries. Those obtaining fourth to tenth positions will get Rs 10,000 and a laptop each, Kishor said.

This year Bihar Board BSEB Class 10 examinations were conducted by the board from march 1 to March 8 across the state and around 15 lakh stidents appeared for the same.

The Bihar School Examination Board has already postponed its class 10th results twice after the huge discripancies in its higher secondary examination result.

Steps to check Bihar BSEB Class 10th Results 2017:

1. Visit the official website of the board biharboard.ac.in

2. Click on results-You will be directed to a new page

3. Enter important data such as roll number, date of birth etc.

4. Your Bihar Board Class 10th results will be displayed on screen

5. Download your BSEB Class 10th Results

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

Last year around 75.15% students were declared qualified in the BSEB Class 10th examination. While 76.08 percent girls cleared the examination, the passing percentage for boys was 72.88 percent.

About Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB):

The Bihar School Examination Board is a statutory body under section 3 of Bihar School Examination Board Act - 1952 which is functioning under Government of Bihar devised to conduct examinations at secondary and senior secondary standard in both government and private schools belonging to state of Bihar on the basis of syllabus as prescribed by the Government of Bihar.

As both an African American and a woman, I never thought I would see a moment like the swearing-in of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Watching from home, while wearing pearls in honor of Harris, I was literally crying. Im glad I wasnt at work, where people could see my reaction. It kind of surprised me.

I was thinking of my late mother, who would have loved this great moment in our history.

I thought of my three wide-eyed twentysomething nieces and what it might mean for them and their careers.

I thought of little brown girls and white girls and young women everywhere who have to push back against sexism and Me Too-type antics in the workplace.

As Harris took her oath of office, our new Madam Vice President burst through one of the toughest remaining barriers to one of the highest seats of power with a vengeance. She shattered the proverbial glass ceiling. Its no more. For me, the historical implications of that overshadowed practically everything else.

Yes, President Joe Biden was sworn in and delivered a great inaugural address. And Lady Gaga killed it in that red-and-navy ballgown when she sang our national anthem. The symbolism behind Garth Brooks rendition of Amazing Grace moved me.

But what I will remember for the rest of my days is that America finally got her first female vice president, who was also Black and Asian American. And she was sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first woman of color on the Supreme Court, and used a Bible that belonged to the late Justice Thurgood Marshall. The optics were surreal.

To me it symbolized what the American dream is supposed to be about  you can work hard and achieve what you want regardless of your race or sex. As a nation, we can take great pride in this moment because we inched closer to living up to what this country is supposed to be about.

As a result, future generations will get to grow up in a world in which having a female vice president  and hopefully someday soon a woman president  wont be noteworthy.

Were not there yet. Not by a long shot. But one day, we will be.

And when that time finally arrives, we will wax nostalgic about this moment. Well smile and recall where we were and what we were doing when we witnessed Harris swearing-in on a chilly day more than 100 years after the passage of the 19th Amendment granting women the vote and 56 years after the Voting Rights Act was passed. Yes, it took America way too long to get a female this far, but its finally happened.

Looking back, its hard to believe our much-revered Founding Fathers didnt think enough of their wives, daughters, and sisters to ensure them that basic right. Their paternalism, misogyny, and racism will forever stain their legacies.

Going forward, women and girls of all backgrounds will draw inspiration from what Harris has accomplished. This moment is not hers alone. Harris stands on the proverbial shoulders of Hillary Clinton, Shirley Chisholm, and Fannie Lou Hamer, as well as countless others. Harris doesnt shy away from acknowledging those who helped pave the way, as you were probably reminded by that double-handed fist bump she gave former President Barack Obama after the inauguration ceremony.

I never met Harris when we were students at Howard University during the 1980s. I wish I had. I spent most of my time hanging around the student newspaper and campus radio station. She was probably busy with student government and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority events.

I look forward to seeing what she and Biden accomplish during the next four years.

I am going to love saying Vice President Harris.

Regardless of political affiliation, its something the rest of America will get used to as well.


A day after the announced that those excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be eligible to vote in the upcoming assembly poll if their names are there on the voter list, the ruling BJP on Thursday said status quo about their voting rights has to be maintained while the Congress and the AIUDF welcomed the decision.

The final NRC, a database of Indian citizens living in which was updated under the supervision of the Supreme Court and published on August 31, 2019, excluded names of over 19 lakh of the 3.29 crore applicants.

However, it has not been notified by the Registrar General of India yet. This leaves the document without any official validity.

"Lakhs of Indian citizens were excluded in the NRC but names of many illegal immigrants are there in it. The NRC document in its present form has not been accepted by the party and we have asked for a re-verification. Till it is done, status quo has to be maintained as the notification is yet to be issued," BJP unit president Ranjeet Dass told PTI.

State Congress Spokesperson Bobbeeta Sharma said that Names of many genuine Indian citizens were left out of the final NRC.

"The EC has taken the right step in allowing them to vote. Otherwise, their democratic rights would have been infringed upon," she said.

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), an alliance partner of the Congress for the assembly polls due in March-April, also welcomed the EC's decision describing it as "a positive move".

AIUDF General Secretary Aminul Islam said, "We also want a permanent solution to the problems of Doubtful or D- voters which exists only in We requested the that doubtful voters should be allowed to vote unless they have been declared as foreigners," he said.

D-voters are those who could not provide evidence in favour of their Indian nationality.

Altogether 83,008 cases of doubtful voters are pending in Foreigners Tribunals in Assam while 86,756 others were declared as foreigners in the last five years, the government informed the Lok Sabha in September last year.

Lurinjyoti Gogoi, president of the newly formed Assam Jatiya Parishad, however, said that those excluded from the NRC should not be allowed to vote as it will only lead to the advantage of some political parties.

Gogoi, as general secretary of All Assam Students Union (AASU), was a petitioner in the Supreme Court seeking to remove discrepancies in the NRC.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, citing a Union Home Ministry order, said here on Wednesday that those excluded from the final NRC can vote in the assembly polls if their names are there in the published electoral rolls.

After the publication of the final NRC, almost all stakeholders and political parties criticised it as a faulty document, alleging exclusion of indigenous people and inclusion of illegal migrants.
Payment systems changed, and the government or insurance companies took over paying for vaccinations. Then the Affordable Care Act in the US waived all copayments, allowing pharmacies and grocery stores to advertise "free" vaccinations while you shop. Pediatricians were given bonuses if they reached assigned target levels of "fully vaccinated" children, which could amount to tens of thousands of dollars.

Vaccination used to be an individual decision, made jointly by patient and doctor, that the benefits of a vaccine for that patient exceeded the expected harms. Patients paid small sums to be vaccinated.

The deaths of frail elderly after vaccination , and subsequent guidance to Norwegian doctors to perform an assessment instead of issuing universal guidance on vaccinations for their patients, has reanimated an old medical concept: fitness for vaccination.

Dr. Meryl Nass, MD wrote Covid-19: Doctors in Norway told to assess severely frail patients for vaccination/ Fitness for Vaccination in the BMJ Rapid Response system. Doctors here in the USA have been actively discouraged and punished for assessing and then writing a medical exemption when indicated. And yet, everyone who undergoes a surgical procedure has to have a "fitness to operate" exam here in the USA. From this exam, the surgeon will know if the patient can survive the surgery. Because the surgeon can be sued. Vaccines, without any liability, instill no fear in medical professionals. They default assumption is the same for adults as it has been for infants and children since we started writing 14 years ago. Safe for everyone all the time. But we know that is not true. A description of what a Pre-Op appointment entails is below Dr. Nass' Rapid Response. Following the deaths of dozens of elderly Norwegians, Dr. Nass poses what should be a question on everyone's lips to ensure SAFETY and HEALTH for all. ###

Vaccine mandates were brought in, and became tighter over the ensuing years. Children who are not fully vaccinated cannot attend school in certain states, regardless of their religious or philosophical orientation.

To make the mandates work, the concept of "fitness for vaccination" was undermined, then deeply buried. All vaccines became "safe and effective."

It is a tragedy that deaths and anaphylac events have occurred following Covid vaccinations. But maybe some good will come of it, by focusing awareness on the fact that vaccines are drugs, whose use is never absolutely risk free. Let us hope that the idea of establishing fitness for vaccination has been permanently disinterred.

Competing interests: No competing interests

19 January 2021

MERYL NASS

MD Internal Medicine

Private Practice

Ellsworth, Maine 04605 USA

@NassMeryl

BMJ Rapid Response



Medline Plus Test and Visits Before Surgery

Pre-op is the time before your surgery. This checkup usually needs to be done within the month before surgery.

During this visit, you will be asked about your health over the years. This is called "taking your medical history." Your doctor will also do a physical exam. Your surgeon will want to make sure that other health conditions you may have will not cause problems during your surgery. So you may need to visit:

A heart doctor (cardiologist), if you have a history of heart problems or if you smoke heavily, have high blood pressure or diabetes, or are out of shape and cannot walk up a flight of stairs.

A diabetes doctor (endocrinologist), if you have diabetes or if your blood sugar test in your pre-op visit was high.

A sleep doctor, if you have obstructive sleep apnea, which causes choking or a stop in breathing when you are asleep.

A doctor who treats blood disorders (hematologist), if you've had blood clots in the past or you have close relatives who have had blood clots.

Your primary care provider for a review of your health problems, exam, and any tests needed before surgery.

Tests Before Surgery

Your surgeon may tell you that you need some tests before surgery. Some tests are for all surgical patients. Others are done only if you are at risk for certain health conditions.

Common tests that your surgeon may ask you to have if you have not had them recently are:

Blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC) and kidney, liver, and blood sugar tests

Chest x-ray to check your lungs

ECG (electrocardiogram) to check your heart

Some doctors or surgeons may also ask you to have other tests. This depends on:

Your age and general health

Health risks or problems you may have

The type of surgery you are having

These other tests may include:

Tests that look at the lining of your bowels or stomach, such as a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy

Heart stress test or other heart tests

Lung function tests

Imaging tests, such as an MRI scan, CT scan, or ultrasound test
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump rescinded an executive order early Wednesday morning that had limited federal administration officials from lobbying the government or working for foreign countries after they leave their posts, undoing one of the few measures he had instituted to fulfill his 2016 campaign promise to "drain the swamp."

Trump had signed the now-reversed executive order with much fanfare in an Oval Office ceremony in January 2017.

"Most of the people standing behind me will not be able to go to work" after they leave government, Trump said at the time, flanked by senior aides.

The order required executive branch appointees to sign a pledge that they would never work as registered foreign lobbyists, and it banned them from lobbying the federal agencies where they worked for five years after leaving the government.

Ethics experts at the time noted the order had loopholes - but still offered cautious praise for Trump's attempt at halting the revolving door that allows government employees to use their positions to land lucrative jobs in the private sector.

No explanation was given for why Trump chose to rescind the order. The White House released the directive at 1:08 a.m. on the day he will leave office. It had been signed Tuesday.

Government watchdog groups expressed disgust with Trump's decision to reverse the policy in his final hours as president.

"The revocation of the 5-year lobbying ban for presidential appointees is the perfect coda for the most corrupt administration in American history," Robert Weissman, president of the group Public Citizen, said in a statement.

Weissman said Trump cited the ban "to buttress his preposterous claim that he actually cared about corruption and cronyism. Now, as he exits the White House, Trump is revealing that even that signature policy was nothing more than a prop in his demagogic play-acting before the American people."

Trump largely failed to fulfill the pledges he made to change Washington's culture, including the specific promises he made to curtail moneyed interests in a 2016 campaign speech in Green Bay, Wis.

He promised he would push Congress to pass a five-year lobbying ban into law so it could not be lifted by a future president. But he never proposed such legislation. Nor did he ask Congress to impose a similar five-year lobbying ban on its members, as he had promised he would do in the speech.

He also never tried to seek to "close all the loopholes" used by former government officials who get around registering as lobbyists by calling themselves "consultants" and "advisers." And he never acted on his pledge to stop foreign lobbyists from campaign fundraising - and in fact, benefited from their financial support.

Among the five pledges Trump made to "drain the swamp" and curtail the influence of lobbyists, a Washington Post review last year found that he sought to address only two - through the executive order in January 2017 that he has now reversed.

Meanwhile, Trump gave wealthy donors ample access to him and his top aides, holding pricey fundraisers where supporters personally pitched him on their ideas.

He also forced the government to spend money at his private hotels as he and his family traveled around the globe. And he sidestepped rules that had been designed to prevent nepotism, allowing his son-in-law to serve in a top government role.
Oil pared a rally late in the trading session as concerns over lackluster consumption clouded optimism around the likelihood of additional U.S. stimulus.

Futures closed less than 1% higher in New York on Wednesday. Investors are focusing on Washington with U.S. President Joe Biden taking office. Biden has asked lawmakers to pass a $1.9 trillion virus aid package, which could support crude consumption. Still, fuel use is expected to take another hit as new virus outbreaks in China add to a wave of infections in Europe and other parts of the world.

The U.S. is still the biggest market in the world and it hasnt recovered all the demand loss, said Peter McNally, global head for industrials, materials and energy at Third Bridge. In the nearterm, additional lockdown measures in China are weighing on the outlook as Chinese demand has been one of the big drivers of improved oil fundamentals.

Despite the day-to-day fluctuations in headline crude prices, U.S. crudes closest contract is the most expensive versus those for six months out in about a year. Key Brent spreads are also in what is known as backwardation, an indication of tight supply.

Crude has held near $53 a barrel in New York with the nation working to roll out vaccinations as it struggles to contain the pandemic. Still, prices remain supported by the OPEC+ alliances continued production curbs.

The U.S. inauguration will tilt oil supply risks in a bearish direction, but Saudi determination to support markets holds sway for now, said Paul Sheldon, chief geopolitical risk analyst at S&P Global Platts. OPEC+ production cuts are markets most supportive factor at current prices and now appear to be running ahead of coronavirus-related demand uncertainty.

Meanwhile, Chinese imports of U.S. and Russian crude last month were at similar levels to November, while purchases from Saudi Arabia and Iraq fell, according to customs data released Wednesday. Imports from Iran almost doubled.

In the U.S, crude inventories are expected to have declined last week, according to a Bloomberg survey. The American Petroleum Institute will report its tally later Wednesday ahead of U.S. government storage figures at the end of the week.

In the past, every rally was met by a massive surge in U.S. production and it killed the rally, said Vikas Dwivedi, a global energy strategist for Macquarie Group in Houston. This time, U.S. output will likely grow, but a lot more modestly.
It's something that's drilled into us from a young age, and now a new study has reaffirmed just how important it is to get a good night's sleep.

Researchers found that getting a good night's sleep - defined by the NHS as six to nine hours - 'clears the mind' by removing potentially dangerous toxins from the brain.

This includes toxic proteins that may lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, indicating that deep sleep could be key to maintaining brain health.

Researchers found that getting a good night's sleep 'clears the mind' by removing potentially toxic proteins from the brain (stock image)

HOW MUCH SLEEP DO WE NEED? The NHS advises that most adults need around six to nine hours sleep a night. It said: 'Most adults need between 6 and 9 hours of sleep every night. By working out what time you need to wake up, you can set a regular bedtime schedule. 'It is also important to try and wake up at the same time every day. While it may seem like a good idea to try to catch up on sleep after a bad night, doing so on a regular basis can also disrupt your sleep routine.' Advertisement

In the study, researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago examined fruit flies' brain activity and behaviour.

While the insects may seem very different to humans, the neurons that govern flies' sleep-wake cycles are surprisingly similar to our own.

For this reason, fruit flies are often used as model organisms for sleep and neurodegenerative diseases.

In the study, the team examined proboscis extension sleep - a deep sleep stage in fruit flies that's similar to deep sleep in humans.

During this stage, the researchers found that the fruit flies repeatedly extended and retracted their proboscis (snout) in a pumping motion.

Dr Ravi Allada, senior author of the study, explained: 'This pumping motion moves fluids possibly to the fly version of the kidneys.

'Our study shows that this facilitates waste clearance and aids in injury recovery.'

The team then impaired the flies' deep sleep, and found that the insects were less able to clear an injected dye from their systems, and were more susceptible to traumatic injuries.

In the study, researchers from Northwestern University in Chicago examined fruit flies' brain activity and behaviour. While the insects may seem very different to humans, the neurons that govern flies' sleep-wake cycles are surprisingly similar to our own

Dr Allada said: 'Waste clearance may occur during wake and sleep but is substantially enhanced during deep sleep.'

The researchers hope the findings will help to unravel the mystery of why all organisms need sleep.

'Our finding that deep sleep serves a role in waste clearance in the fruit fly indicates that waste clearance is an evolutionary conserved core function of sleep,' Dr Allada added.

'This suggests that waste clearance may have been a function of sleep in the common ancestor of flies and humans.'

The NHS advises that most adults need around six to nine hours sleep a night.

It said: 'By working out what time you need to wake up, you can set a regular bedtime schedule.

'It is also important to try and wake up at the same time every day. While it may seem like a good idea to try to catch up on sleep after a bad night, doing so on a regular basis can also disrupt your sleep routine.'
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Citizens 65+ among those next in line for vaccination
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The Hale County Appraisal District has compiled property tax information covering a wide range of topics for taxpayers.

Whether you are a homeowner, business owner, disabled veteran or taxpayer, its important you know your rights concerning the property tax laws, said Nikki Branscum, Chief Appraiser of the Hale County Appraisal District, in a news release from HCAD.

Information is available about the following programs:

 Property Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans - The law provides partial exemptions for any property owned by disabled veterans or surviving spouses and surviving children of deceased disabled veterans. Another partial exemption is for homesteads donated to disabled veterans by charitable organizations at no cost or not more than 50 percent of the good faith estimate of the homesteads market value to the disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. The exemption amount is determined according to percentage of service-connected disability. The law also provides a 100 percent homestead exemption for 100 percent disabled veterans and their surviving spouses and surviving spouses of U.S. armed service members killed in action.

 Property Tax Exemptions  Non-profit organizations that meet statutory requirements may seek property tax exemptions and must apply to their county appraisal district by a specific date. Businesses that receive tax abatements granted by taxing units; ship inventory out of Texas that may be eligible for the freeport exemption; store certain goods in transit in warehouses that are moved within 175 days; construct, install or acquire pollution control property; own and operate energy storage systems; convert landfill-generated gas; or store offshore drilling equipment while not in use may also be eligible for statutory exemptions.

 Rendering Taxable Property - If a business owns tangible personal property that is used to produce income, the business must file a rendition with its local county appraisal district by a specified date. Personal property includes inventory and equipment used by a business. Owners do not have to render exempt property such as church property or an agriculture producers equipment used for farming.

 Appraisal Notices  Normally, taxpayers receive a notice of appraised value from the appropriate local county appraisal district. The city, county, school districts and other local taxing units will use the appraisal districts value to set property taxes for the coming year.

 Property Taxpayer Remedies  This Comptroller publication explains in detail how to protest a property appraisal, what issues the county appraisal review board (ARB) can consider and what to expect during a protest hearing. The publication also discusses the options of taking a taxpayers case to district court, the State Office of Administrative Hearings or binding arbitration if the taxpayer is dissatisfied with the outcome of the ARB hearing.

 Homestead Exemptions  A homestead is generally defined as the home and land used as the owners principal residence on Jan. 1 of the tax year. A homestead exemption reduces the appraised value of the home and, as a result, lowers property taxes. Applications are submitted to the appropriate local county appraisal district.

 Productivity Appraisal  Property owners who use land for timberland production, agricultural purposes or wildlife management can be granted property tax relief on their land. They may apply to their local county appraisal district for an agricultural appraisal which may result in a lower appraisal of the land based on production, versus market value.

 Property Tax Deferral for Persons Age 65 or Older or Disabled or Disabled Veteran Homeowners  Texans who are age 65 or older or disabled, as defined by law, or who qualify for a disabled veteran exemption may postpone paying current and delinquent property taxes on their homes by signing a tax deferral affidavit. Once the affidavit is on file, taxes are deferred, but not cancelled, as long as the owner continues to own and live in the home. Interest continues to accrue at 5 percent per year on the unpaid taxes. You may obtain a deferral affidavit at the appraisal district.

 Protesting Property Appraisal Values  Property owners who disagree with the appraisal districts appraisal of their property for local taxes or for any other action that adversely affects them may protest their property value to the appraisal districts ARB.

For more information about these programs, contact the Hale County Appraisal District at 302 W. 8th Street, Plainview, Texas 79072 or by calling (806)293-4226. Information is also available on the Comptrollers Property Tax Assistance Divisions website at comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/property-tax/.
Our goal is to really, with our leftover doses, is to vaccinate those people that are not yet eligible but are high risk for getting COVID, Gandhi said. So people in our group homes, people who are in our homeless shelters, some of them are not yet 70, but have medical problems. And again, living in a homeless shelter in close quarters, theyre at risk.
Joe Bidens swearing-in as US president is expected to usher in a relatively liberal visa regulation and immigration regime compared to Donald Trumps tenure.

In a policy document, titled The Biden Plan For Securing Our Values As A Nation Of Immigrants, released in November, Biden had assured to undo" the damage" caused by outgoing President Donald Trump on immigration concerns.

Recently, the Trump administration published a final rule that said H-1B candidates will be selected this year based on the wage level instead of the existing lottery system. In response, the Indian government said it was engaged" with the US to ensure increased predictability" in American visa rules.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

Experts said while some short-term reforms may be expected, long-term structural changes will have to be addressed for greater stability. As Biden has announced already, Trumps policies on immigration will be jettisoned on his arrival in office. His ideas for reforming immigration are sensible but long-term structural fixes to the H-1B programme are overdue," said Ashley Tellis, an analyst with Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Biden proposes to protect the H-1B visa system as it existed before Trump, but if it is to be expanded in the future, it needs to be reformed significantly."

The Indian government is hoping for more predictability and is optimistic about American visa rules, especially those governing H-1B visas, but the changes are not expected overnight.

H-1B is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring theoretical or technical expertise. For many years, Indian IT firms have been among the biggest beneficiaries, accounting for about 70% of the 85,000 H-1B visas issued every year. The likes of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd and Wipro Ltd depend on H-1B visas to send employees to work at client locations in the US, their largest market. However, due to a less conducive visa regime under Trump, they have reduced their dependency on the H-1B visa over the last 4-5 years by hiring locally. Infosys plans to hire 12,000 American workers over the next two years, bringing its hiring commitment in the country to 25,000 over five years. In 2019-20, 70% of Wipros staff in the US were American nationals.

One can expect the Biden government to bring in reformations to the H-1B visa regulations, which may be favourable to Indians. In the last few years, owing to an increase in the rejection rate of H-1B visas, IT companies started hiring more American talent. With Bidens plan to make the H-1B programme more liberal, we could again expect IT companies to place reliance on Indian talent," Probir Roy Chowdhury, partner, J Sagar Associates, said.

ayushman.b@livemint.com

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[225+ Pages Research Report] According to the recent analysis research report; the global 3D Printed Medical Devices Market in 2020 was approximately USD 1.9 Billion. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17% and is anticipated to reach around USD 4 Billion by 2026. Top market manufacturers are Organovo Holdings, Inc., Renishaw Plc, 3T RPD Ltd., Prodways Groups, EOS GmbH Electro Optical Systems and others.New York, NY, May 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Facts and Factors have published a new research report titled 3D Printed Medical Devices Market By Component (Software & Services, 3D Printers & 3D Bioprinters, Material, & Others), By Type (Surgical Guides, Dental Guides, Craniomaxillofacial Guides, Orthopedic Guides, Surgical Instrument, & Retractors), By Technology (Laser Beam Melting (LBM) Technology, Electronic Beam Melting (EMB) Technology, Selective Layer Sintering (SLS) Technology, Photopolymerization, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) Technology, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) Technology, & Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) Technology), By End-Users (Medical & Surgical Centers, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Companies, & Academic Institutions), and By Regions - Global and Regional Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecasts, 2021  2026. According to the research report, the global 3D Printed Medical Devices Market was estimated at USD 1.9 Billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 4 Billion by 2026. The global 3D Printed Medical Devices Market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17% from 2021 to 2026. Notable factors that are responsible for the growth of the 3D printed medical device market are a considerable increase of similar applications in the market. Furthermore, these structures offer a longer-lasting life cycle alongside a better fit than traditional components. With future developments in the structure and material utilization, a wider range of applications can be implemented using customized 3D printed medical devices. This will boost the growth of the market from a positive perspective. An uptake of personalized surgeries for cosmetic effects will open the opportunities for a rise in 3D printed medical devices. Advancements in computer-aided design will further help create complex structures required for minuscule operations. Furthermore, these parts take a lesser toll on the human body and possess less risk than their counterparts. Request Your Free Sample Report of 3D Printed Medical Devices Market @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/sample/3d-printed-medical-devices-market (The free sample of this report is readily available on request). Our Free Sample Report Includes: 2020 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysisCOVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis Included190+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research)Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request2020 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & TrendsIncludes Updated List of table & figuresUpdated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue AnalysisFacts and Factors research methodology (Note: The sample of this report is updated with COVID-19 impact analysis before delivery) Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/inquiry/3d-printed-medical-devices-market (You may enquire a report quote OR available discount offers to our sales team before purchase.) Industry Major Market Players Stratasys Ltd.3D Systems CorporationMaterialise NVConcept Laser GmbHArcam ABBiomedical Modelling Inc.Organovo Holdings Inc.Renishaw Plc3T RPD Ltd.Prodways GroupsEOS GmbH Electro Optical SystemsEnvisiontec GmbH To know an additional revised 2020 list of market players, request a sample report: https://www.fnfresearch.com/sample/3d-printed-medical-devices-market Market Dynamics The 3D printing powder market is based on packing tons of services under one roof for maximum capitalization. In essence, 3D Systems Corporation holds a considerable market share in the space as they include a wide range of products. Their product line includes desktop 3D printers, printing materials, cloud-sourced customized parts, 3D fabrication solutions, and many more. Stratasys includes a similar portfolio and caters to sectors such as automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace, defense, education, and commercial to name a few. Collaborations are often part of exchanging and combining technological advancements. Materials coupled with a number of medical professionals in their region can help lower the cost of trials and also improve the safety ratings of such products. The global 3D printed medical devices market can be segmented on the basis of components into software & services, 3D printers & 3D bioprinters, material, and others. Additionally, the material segment can be further bifurcated into plastics, biomaterials, metals, & alloys. The software & services segment is expected to retain the highest market value during the forecast period owing to recent technological advancements and an increased need for higher quality 3D printed products. The global 3D printed medical device market can be segmented on the basis of technology into laser beam melting (LBM) technology, electronic beam melting (EMB) technology, selective layer sintering (SLS), photopolymerization, selective laser melting (SLM), fused deposition modeling (FDM) and direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). Polymerization is expected to recoup the highest market share during the forecast period owing to an increased use case across all sectors for a wide range of applications. Directly Purchase a copy of the report with TOC @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/buynow/su/3d-printed-medical-devices-market Global 3D Printed Medical Devices Market: Segmentation The global 3D printed medical devices market can be segmented on the basis of component, type, technology, end-user, and regions. On the basis of components, the 3D printed medical devices market can be divided into software & services, 3D printers & 3D bioprinters, material, and others. The material segment can be further bifurcated into plastics, biomaterials, metals & alloys. The software and services segment accounts for the largest market share in terms of revenue generation owing to an increase of advent in technological advancements for the production of higher quality 3D printed medical devices. On the basis of type, the 3D printed medical devices market can be divided into surgical guides, dental guides, craniomaxillofacial guides, orthopedic guides, surgical instruments, and retractors. Surgical guides are expected to witness the highest market share during the forecast period owing to improved accuracy of 3D printed medical devices over their traditional counterparts and accurate implant restoration abilities. On the basis of technology, the 3D printed medical devices market can be divided into laser beam melting (LBM) technology, electronic beam melting (EMB) technology, selective layer sintering (SLS), photopolymerization, selective laser melting (SLM), fused deposition modeling (FDM) and direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). Photopolymerization is expected to witness the highest market share during the forecast period owing to an exponential growth of technology across the medical sector in terms of processing similar applications. On the basis of end-users, the 3D printed medical devices market can be divided into medical & surgical centers, pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, and academic institutions. Request Customized Copy of Report @ https://www.fnfresearch.com/customization/3d-printed-medical-devices-market (We customize your report according to your research need. Ask our sales team for report customization.) Asia-Pacific Will Lead the Market In Terms Of Global Revenue During The Forecast Period The region of Asia-Pacific is expected to witness the largest market share on a global scale. Factors pertaining to a higher rise of revenue generation in the sector, an increased number of skilled technicians, and a comparable range of implemented 3D printing research centers in the region will boost the growth of the market to a larger extent. Additionally, an overwhelming need for 3D printing medical devices and implants in condensing the need of the growing population in the region will further drive the market value of the 3D printed medical devices to the larger extent. Browse the full 3D Printed Medical Devices Market By Component (Software & Services, 3D Printers & 3D Bioprinters, Material, & Others), By Type (Surgical Guides, Dental Guides, Craniomaxillofacial Guides, Orthopedic Guides, Surgical Instrument, & Retractors), By Technology (Laser Beam Melting (LBM) Technology, Electronic Beam Melting (EMB) Technology, Selective Layer Sintering (SLS) Technology, Photopolymerization, Selective Laser Melting (SLM) Technology, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) Technology, & Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) Technology), By End-Users (Medical & Surgical Centers, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnological Companies, & Academic Institutions), and By Regions - Global and Regional Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, and Forecasts, 2021  2026 report at https://www.fnfresearch.com/3d-printed-medical-devices-market The global 3D printed medical devices market can be segmented on the basis of: Global 3D Printed Medical Device Market: By Component Segment Analysis Software & Services3D Printers & 3D BioprintersMaterial PlasticsBiomaterialsMetals & alloys Others Global 3D Printed Medical Device Market: By Type Segment Analysis Surgical GuidesDental GuidesCraniomaxillofacial GuidesOrthopedic GuidesSurgical InstrumentRetractors Global 3D Printed Medical Device Market: By Technology Segment Analysis Laser Beam Melting (LBM) TechnologyElectronic Beam Melting (EMB) TechnologySelective Layer Sintering (SLS) TechnologyPhotopolymerizationSelective Laser Melting (SLM) TechnologyFused Deposition Modeling (FDM) TechnologyDirect Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) Technology Global 3D Printed Medical Device Market: By End-User Segment Analysis Medical & Surgical CentersPharmaceutical & Biotechnological CompaniesAcademic Institutions KEY REPORT POINTERS & HIGHLIGHTS: Statistically Validated Analysis of Historical, Current, and Projected Industry Trends with Authenticated Market Sizes Information and Data in terms of Value and Volume, wherever applicableDirect and Indirect Factors that Impacted the Industry as well Projected Rationales expected to affect the industry going forwardMicro, Meso, Macro, and In-Depth Analysis of Technically relevant and Commercially viable Segments and Sub-segments of the MarketHistorical and Projected Company / Vendor / OEM / Supplier Market Shares, Competitive Landscape, and Player Positioning DataHistorical and Current Demand (Consumption) and Supply (Production) Scenarios as well as Projected Supply-Demand Scenario AnalysisDetailed List of Key Buyers and End-Users (Consumers) analyzed as per Regions and ApplicationsValue Chain and Supply Chain Analysis along with Horizontal and Vertical Integration ScenariosManufacturing and Production Cost Structure Analysis including Labor Cost, Raw Material Expenses, and Other Manufacturing Expenses, wherever relevantOverview of Key Marketing Strategies and Key Sales Channels Adopted in the Market Related Reports: Pulse Oximeters Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/pulse-oximeters-market 3D Printed Wearable Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/3d-printed-wearable-market 3D Printed Medical Implants Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/3d-printed-medical-implants-market Patient Handling Equipment Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/patient-handling-equipment-market-by-type-wheelchairs-and-1294 Medical Ventilator Market: https://www.fnfresearch.com/medical-ventilator-market-by-mobility-intensive-care-portable-1278 About Facts & Factors (FnF Research): Facts & Factors is a leading market research organization offering industry expertise and scrupulous consulting services to clients for their business development. The reports and services offered by Facts and Factors are used by prestigious academic institutions, start-ups, and companies globally to measure and understand the changing international and regional business backgrounds. Our clients/customers conviction on our solutions and services has pushed us in delivering always the best. Our advanced research solutions have helped them in appropriate decision-making and guidance for strategies to expand their business. Follow Us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fnfresearch Follow Us Twitter: https://twitter.com/fnfresearch Contact Us: Facts & Factors USA: +1-347-989-3985 Email: sales@fnfresearch.com Web: https://www.fnfresearch.com Blog: http://fnfnewsblog.com
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01/21/2021

Photo (c) sanfel - Getty Images Former President Trump has left the White House, but the controversy over his last weeks in office may be haunting one of his staunchest corporate supporters.

Bed Bath & Beyond has disclosed that it has stopped carrying My Pillow products, a brand that made a name for itself over the last decade by saturating the airwaves with TV commercials featuring its founder and CEO, Mike Lindell.

Lindell claims his products are being blacklisted by Bed Bath & Beyond and other retailers because of his strong support for Trump and his public claims that the election of President Biden was fraudulent -- a claim for which there has never been any evidence.

Bed Bath & Beyond denies Lindells claim or a political motive. In a statement to Yahoo Finance, the retailer said it was simply a business decision.

As previously announced, we have been rationalizing our assortment to discontinue a number of underperforming items and brands. This includes the MyPillow product line, a Bed Bath & Beyond spokesperson said in a statement. Our decisions are data-driven, customer-inspired, and are delivering substantial growth in our key destination categories.

Other retailers?

Lindell says Bed Bath & Beyond isnt the only retailer to distance itself from the My Pillow brand. In recent days, he says Kohls, Wayfair, and H-E-B have decided to remove My Pillow products from their stores and websites. Lindell told the Minneapolis StarTribune that companies are reacting to pressure from left-wing activist groups.

The other retailers Lindell cited declined to comment.

Lindell has always been a strong Trump supporter, but he ratcheted up his rhetoric in the wake of the November election, which Biden won by a 7 million vote margin and an Electoral College vote of 306 to 232.

Lindell has repeated Trumps baseless claim that Biden stole the election. The StarTribune reports that Lindell was photographed Friday at the White House, allegedly carrying a document suggesting apparent steps Trump could take to try to remain in power, including invoking martial law.

Lindell told the newspaper he is considering a run for governor of Minnesota. In the meantime, he could be facing a lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems. The company has sent Lindell a cease and desist letter, accusing him of defaming the company with claims that the machines purposefully miscounted votes.

Lindell told WCCO-TV in Minneapolis he would welcome a lawsuit by the voting machine company.
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SPRINGFIELD  Officials are relaxing security at the Illinois State Capitol.

The plywood over the windows, which cost taxpayers $30,000, was starting to come down Thursday after nearly a week of a heightened security presence based on a threat that never materialized.

Last week, images of construction crews putting plywood over the windows of the Illinois State Capitol were mixed with images of armed Illinois National Guard soldiers blocking streets and creating a perimeter around the complex.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday ordered 250 soldiers from the Illinois National Guard to support security at the capitol and other state government buildings in Springfield. The move was in response to a threat the FBI said involved possible armed protests at the state capitals of every state leading up to the inauguration of President Joe Biden Wednesday.

Such protests never materialized in Illinois.

Plywood was applied to the windows on Saturday.

Andrea Aggertt, The Architect of the Capitol, on Thursday said the plywood on the windows at the state capitol is starting to come down with a goal of having it all removed by Monday morning.

Aggertt said she didnt hear of any reports of any vandalism to the property over the duration of the past week. She said the Office of the Architect at the Capitol is utilizing Secretary of State crews for the installation and removal of the plywood rather than a third-party vendor.

The Illinois Secretary of States office said Thursday morning that the Capitol Complex is reopened.

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I wrote one of Hassans letters, the first one, for the competition entry [the letters form the historical part of We Are All Birds of Uganda, and date from 1945 to 1981] and even for that the research was extensive. I went to the British Library to read academic texts on the experiences of refugees on multicultural Britain, and various other text books and memoirs and literature about the Ugandan/Asian expulsion specifically. I wasnt expecting anything to come of it, not in the slightest.

A month passed and I was shortlisted, and I was asked by Merky to submit the rest of my manuscript within seven days  and I had absolutely nothing. So I had to bash out as much as I possibly could! I think I did another Hassan chapter, because I didnt have the time to research more of his story, and a couple of Sameer chapters [Sameer is a 20-something lawyer living in modern-day London]. It was like, 20,000 words  definitely not the real novel. And thats what they judged it on.

When I won, they asked if I could submit the full manuscript by December. At this point, it was June. So I was like, I guess, Ill try?
When will the Theater District Houstons stages spring to life again?

Certainly by sometime in the fall, and some perhaps sooner. Its not a minute too soon, after an agonizing year (and counting) of virtual shows that have been the tiniest of Band-Aids, a story that played out nationally. Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across the U.S. have collectively lost $14.8 billion to date, and 35 percent have laid off or furloughed staff since the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the nation, according to a survey released this month by the advocacy group Americans for the Arts.

Houston First, which operates the districts city-owned venues, says its theaters are ready and available now and are following the citys official protocols. Leaders of the resident companies say they were encouraged by Dr. Anthony Faucis assessment on Jan. 9 that once 70 percent to 85 percent of the U.S. population is vaccinated against the coronavirus, well-ventilated venues should be able to operate at full capacity safely, although audiences may be wearing masks for some time.

Though Houston Symphony has performed live for months now at Jones Hall, the other groups will continue to produce virtual programs through this season, which ends in June. Their plans beyond that remain tentative. Some cannot return to live stages, even outdoors, until their performers unions agree its safe. For example, members of the Actors Equity Association may not perform until the city and county have consistently maintained an infection rate of less than 5 percent.

The districts resident companies generally announce their upcoming season lineups in late January or early February. Most are postponing that until March or April this year.

A lot is still up in the air, says new district chair James Nelson, Houston Ballets executive director. But people are feeling pretty confident that we will be back by the end of the year. And we hope theres pent-up demand. He also is happy construction will begin early this year on the new Lynn Wyatt Square, a major reinvention of Jones Plaza that will give the district a new center.

We asked the leaders of each company when and how they expect to bring live performances back, what their fall seasons could hold and how the pandemics impact is influencing their plans.

Dean Gladden, managing director, Alley Theatre:

Were putting together budgets for the board with a summer show option and planning a full season in the fall; hopefully, early fall, but if not, starting with A Christmas Carol. Our feeling is that once people are vaccinated they will still have to mask up, but we will have protocols. We will ease into it.

Were budgeting for a normal eight-play season plus A Christmas Carol. Well have to hire employees and shops back, but weve already built a flexible rep set with traps, dual turntables and steps that will be an efficient, primary set for next year. Were revisiting plays that were canceled and looking at some other options. Were very anxious to get back and perform again. We enjoy doing videos, but for us its all about the live experience.

James Nelson, executive director, Houston Ballet:

Were not ruling out live performances at Miller Outdoor Theatre, which we generally do in May, but we dont have a program yet or a green light on when Miller will be open. As far as next year, we just dont know when were going to be back in the Wortham Theater. Were counting on live performances pretty much normally for The Nutcracker and will see what we can do before that. We normally begin our season the Thursday or Friday after Labor Day, and we have a plan for if we cant be back in the theater.

Were not going to present ballet live with the circumstances we have right now. Were just not there. We need to get to a point where the dancers can rehearse and perform without masks, and then ramp up to get them back into performing shape. Were doing gut checks with Methodist Hospital about having 300 people together backstage, onstage and in the orchestra pit. Were going to come back, and were going to come back strong, with same standards our audiences have always expected. Well be the same size, with the same level of shows. While it wont be last years unfinished season, you can expect to see some of the things we had hoped to present this season.

John Mangum, executive director and CEO, Houston Symphony:

Were planning as though well need to keep distancing in place at least at the beginning of the 2021-22 season. Well follow the guidance of state and local authorities and adjust accordingly when we can. The sooner, the better!

We are planning on a full season of classical and pops offerings. At this point, were just lining up key artists and projects, and well develop more specific programming down the road, when we have more clarity about whats possible. We need to know our capacity and whether or not the musicians will have to distance on stage before we can plan for certain pieces or projects. Hopefully, well know more in the coming months.

Molly Dill, acting chief operating officer, Houston Grand Opera:

With the regulations and guidelines currently in place, socially distanced performances are not currently viable for HGO. We will continue to work with our advisers from the professional health care community to monitor the progress of the vaccine rollout and the evolving COVID-19 numbers in Houston to evaluate when we will return to doing live performances.

We are exploring options for an in-person, outdoor event for the spring and planning to resume in-person performances for the 20-21 season beginning in October.

Meg Booth, CEO, Society for the Performing Arts Houston:

Touring artists have largely not returned to touring, and further, the economics of socially distanced performances with touring artists are untenable for most nonprofit presenters. Our return timeline is still fluid, so we continue to plan various programming scenarios, present digital events and support new works by artists in our own community.

While were not planning live indoor performances this spring, we are exploring live outdoor events, which we hope to announce in the next month. We are planning live performances for the 2021-22 season, including the live-performance phase of the Houston Artist Commissioning Project at Jones Hall. Compared to previous years, the 2021-22 season will be slightly smaller in scale, in terms of the overall number of performances. The intention is to announce additional performances as touring artists and audiences fully return.

Hillary Hart, executive director, TUTS:

Were planning on coming back for what would still be part of a 2020-21 season. It could be as early summer. Right now our goal is to keep our community intact. We didnt cancel anything. We have just rescheduled, pushing most of the 2020-21 season into 2021-22. Were looking at a summer/early-fall return to the main stage in terms of full-scale musicals, and were working on additional opportunities for programming later next season.

Were beholden to the Hobby Center as resident tenants, so we dont have access to our performance venue right now. Also, we deal with unions and the Broadway Across America touring schedule. Then, on top of that, we have the basic economics. With social distancing, a 2,600-seat (venue) like Sarofim Hall, were only able to capture 750 seats, about 29 percent of our audience. We need about 46 percent just to break even on a show. But were also looking at hybrid opportunities with digital pairing. It wont be an either-or; itll be an and.

Robert Leslie, executive director, Da Camera:

Da Camera continues to have discussions with artists regarding the feasibility of traveling to and performing live events in Houston in the late-spring time frame. Based on those discussions, and how the vaccine program and the overall COVID environment progresses, we will be transparent to our audiences and make announcements regarding late-spring live performance in Houston First venues. In the meantime, Da Camera will announce new online programming for January through March.

Da Camera is planning a full 2021-22 season with no negative impact on live fall performances resulting from the 2020-21 season disruptions. We anticipate announcing the 2021-22 season in mid-March and anticipate some new, innovative announcements. We continue to explore and pursue other venues, and if possible will utilize our relationships with the Menil and Miller Outdoor Theatre to have outdoor concerts.

features@chron.com
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The United States will remain steadfast in its support for Ukraine, so that it is secure within its internationally recognized borders, including Donbas and Crimea, according to Charge d'Affaires Kristina A. Kvien.

Her message on the occasion of the inauguration of new U.S. President Joe Biden on January 20 has been published by the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.

"As the President-elect and his administration work to shape the domestic and foreign policy of the United States in the coming months, let me reassure you of one thing: The United States will remain steadfast in its support for a prosperous, democratic, and free Ukraine, secure within its internationally recognized borders including the Donbas and Crimea, and resilient against Russian aggression," Kvien said.

She also said that inauguration events in Washington this year look very different - "you will not see the crowds on our National Mall, nor the traditional Presidential parade." This decision, according to Kvien, was made "in order to put public health before pomp and circumstance."

Joe Biden took the oath of office as the 46th President of the United States on January 20.

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I got the shock of my life when a teacher abruptly ended Lolas online class saying: I think one of my children has fallen down the stairs. Sorry. Goodbye. Homeschooling is tough for all parents. I cant imagine how hard it must be for teachers up and down the UK teaching up to 30 kids in their home while they are looking after their own children.

But when teaching unions complained that streaming classes from home is an invasion of privacy, I was gobsmacked. Havent they worked out they can put a blank backdrop behind them  even a photo of the Caribbean ? How can anybody in teaching not have worked that out yet?

We are all in the same boat weathering the storm. My main concern is that I cant keep up with all the online school projects. Ive had to put my foot down. This week, we were asked to make homemade playdough for her maths lesson. I understand it helps Lolas weighing skills, but as a working mum, quite frankly what is wrong with the pre-packaged stuff? I raided the kitchen cupboards for oats and flour to make a turtle that went straight in the bin, but by the time they asked us to bake a cake, even if I had the time, I had no flour left.


Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2021 4:29 pm

Morton Police Chief Roger Morningstar was the subject of criticism again last week after sharing a video on Facebook, the thumbnail image of which featured a doctored photo of President Joe Biden with a noose around his neck, with bold text reading hang him up.

On Tuesday, Morton Mayor Dan Mortensen told The Chronicle that no disciplinary action will be taken. He criticized recent news reports on the incident. Last week, Seattles KING 5 News visited the East Lewis County town to report on the story.

Those reporters didnt know that the first amendment is protected under the constitution. So because someone doesnt like what he posts doesnt mean he shouldnt post it, or that hes breaking some law, or that he should be hung by the neck until dead, Mortensen said.

Morningstar  who deleted the post  could not be reached by The Chronicles print deadline. He declined to provide comment to KING 5 News. But Mortensen said the police chief didnt know the post contained something offensive at first and that he was unaware that the Biden thing was in the post fairly further down.

When The Chronicle informed Mortensen that the post was a video, rather than something in writing, Mortensen said he hadnt actually seen the post in question, or any screenshots circulated by activist groups. But that information, he said, doesnt change his stance.

I think if the chief had known that was in there he wouldnt have posted it. That was what he told me, he said.

Its not the first time Morningstar  whose homemade Trump tower in his front lawn drew attention and some criticism last year from residents and a city councilmember  has come under fire for his posts and political affiliations. Over the summer, he similarly deleted a video of trucks driving through protesters with the caption when MAGA strikes back in Portland. He regularly uses his Facebook account to echo debunked claims of widespread voter fraud and called Reverend Raphael Warnocks recent victory as Georgias first Black senator the product of Voodoo math.

Mortensen said the city doesnt have any policies around the use of social media. The existing policies, he said, likely havent been updated since cellphones became commonplace.

The reason I can tell you that is because I wrote the policy and procedure manual when I was the chief of police for 33 years in the City of Morton, he said.

A public disclosure request of Mortons code of conduct regarding social media use has not yet been returned.
AN expose of a rogue Klosad Clinical Diagnostics Lab employee who was issuing fake Covid-19 certificates, has opened a can of worms on syndicates involved in the same vice, Zim Morning Post has heard.

This development comes amid allegations that the office of the Chief Coordinator National Response to Covid-19 is deliberately sitting on several complaints.

Inside sources revealed that several complaints have been submitted on the desk of chief coordinator Agnes Mahomva but she has not taken due action.

I can tell you that I have personally seen more than 50 letters of complaints implicating different top labs including Lancet been submitted to Dr Mahomvas office, an impeccable insider told Zim Morning Post.

There is a ploy to weed out some specific and targeted labs that were approved by government to conduct Covid-19 testing to push preferred candidates, the source added.

Zim Morning Post established that Covid-19 testing and issuance of certificates has become big business hence the tension that has seen the crucifixion of some targeted labs which are owned by individuals perceived to be enemies by the powers be at the Chief Coordinator National Response to Covid-19s office.

Last December, Apostolic Faith Mission cleric Cossum Chiangwa and his wife were denied exit to Dubai at Robert Mugabe International Airport after a red flag was raised over the authenticity of the couples paperwork including Covid-19 certificates.

At the time, Chiangwa told this publication that he acquired the certificates at Lancet Laboratories.

Efforts to get a comment from Lancet drew a blank as the person who answered the phone refused to comment and referred the reporter to another official whose mobile number failed to go through on Wednesday.

Mahomvas mobile phone was also unavailable when efforts to get a comment to clarify the alleged goings on in her office. Mahomva is however on record acknowledging the existence of the underground syndicates.

We are aware that there are some who are operating underground and we urge members of the public who have information about such operations to come forward so that we can begin investigations, she has said previously.

Syndicates selling fake Covid-19 certificates to international travellers have fueled the spread of the coronavirus.

During the festive season a Botswana bound bus was nabbed with fifty passengers carrying fake certificates.

National Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the law enforcement agents will clampdown on such perpetrators.

We have already arrested individuals and syndicates selling fake certificates at Robert Mugabe International Airport, Beitbridge Border Post and Chirundu Border Post, said Nyathi.

We are aware that there are some who are operating underground and we urge members of the public who have information about such operations to come forward so that we can begin investigations. Zim Morning Post

Superstar Priyanka Chopra moved to the US to live with her extended family at the age of 12. However, the actress soon broke up with the country and returned back to India during her teen days. In a recent interview, the Quantico actress bared it all for the world to know about her dark phase when she faced racist bullying while studying at an American high school.

The actress recalled how she took all the bullying personally and retreated into a shell. Priyanka said that the torment was so bad that she eventually had to return back to India to complete her schooling.

Speaking about how all the bullying took a toll on her, Priyanka told People magazine, "I took it very personally. Deep inside, it starts gnawing at you. "I went into a shell. I was like, 'Don't look at me. I just want to be invisible. My confidence was stripped. I've always considered myself a confident person, but I was very unsure of where I stood, of who I was."

Further, in her memoir Unfinished, PeeCee has mentioned that other teenage girls would yell insults like, "Brownie, go back to your country!" and "Go back on the elephant you came on" as she walked down the hall.

Priyanka said that she tried to ignore the bullies and sought refuge with a close group of friends, while also reaching out to the guidance counselor for help. However, it was no avail.

The actress was quoted as saying, "I don't even blame the city, honestly. I just think it was girls who, at that age, just want to say something that'll hurt. Now, at the other side of 35, I can say that it probably comes from a place of them being insecure. But at that time, I took it very personally."

The former Miss World said that she finally "broke up with America" and returned back to India after a phone call with her parents. "I was so blessed that when I went back to India, I was surrounded by so much love and admiration for who I was. Going back to India healed me after that experience in high school," Priyanka was quoted as saying.

Priyanka said that following her father's advice, she decided to leave her baggage behind. "In America, I was trying not to be different. Right? I was trying to fit in and I wanted to be invisible. When I went to India, I chose to be different," she told the magazine.

Talking about how she regained her confidence, Priyanka revealed that she started participating her extracurricular activities. The actress recalled, "People were like, 'Oh my gosh, you're so good at this. [That] built my confidence, having made new friends who were amazing and loving and doing actual teenage things. Going to parties, having crushes, dating, all the things, the normal stuff. It just built me up."

Priyanka said that by writing her memoir, she hopes that her story can encourage others who have been bullied or are battling the resulting "sadness" and low self-esteem that she experienced in her life.

Well, we must say, it's quite brave of PeeCee to open up about how a global icon like her, too have had her share of struggles in life.

Priyanka Chopra is currently busy with the promotions of her upcoming Netflix film The White Tiger which also stars Rajkummar Rao and Adarsh Gourav in pivotal roles.

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra Clarifies Her Joke About Having Enough Kids With Nick Jonas To Make A Cricket Team

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra Reveals The Three 'Amazing And Complex' Characters She Has Played On Screen Till Date
Rochester, N.Y. -- Two kids who were kidnapped from a foster home near Rochester on Monday have been found safe, according to New York State Police.

Shekeria Cash, 3, and Dimitri Cash Jr., 5, were taken from their foster home on English Road in Greece around 8:40 p.m. on Monday but were found Wednesday, police said.

An Amber Alert issued for the kids has been canceled.

The alert had been issued just before noon on Tuesday, nearly 15 hours after two men slipped through the window of the Rochester-area home.

A woman who lived at the home walked to the front of her Greece residence after hearing a loud crash on the first floor, police said. She was investigating the sound when she saw two ski-mask-wearing men smash a window and break into her home, police said.

The womans seven foster children  all under the age of 11  were upstairs. The suspects kidnapped two of the kids: Shekeria Cash, 3, and Dimitri Cash Jr., 5. The children were considered to be in imminent danger of serious harm or death.

We believe, based on the investigation, that this was a planned and targeted abduction, Greece Police Chief Andrew Forsythe said at the time.

READ MORE: Amber Alert issued for boy, girl kidnapped from Rochester area by men wearing ski masks

Forsythe gave the following account of what happened after the two suspects entered the home:

When she saw the two masked men the foster mother screamed. Two of her foster children, startled by her screams, came downstairs to see if she was OK.

The woman pulled the two kids close and wrapped her arms around them. The suspects bound the three together with duct tape  placing tape over the womans mouth to muffle her screams.

One of the children, a boy, suffered a cut lip.

The men then went upstairs and found the Cash siblings. After forcibly taking Shekeria and Dimitri from the home, the suspects stole the foster mothers van and drove away with the kidnapped children.

Using GPS, police later tracked the stolen van to White Hall Drive. The van was empty and abandoned.

While no suspects have been identified, the police chief said investigators wanted to speak with Dimitri Cash, Shekeria and Dimitri Jr.s father. So far, police have not been able to find the siblings biological father or mother.

Shekeria and Dimitri Jr. had been with their foster family for about two years, Forsythe said.

Dimitri Cash, of Rochester, was arrested last January and charged with forcibly taking Dimitri Jr. from his elementary school, according to the Democrat & Chronicle. The case against him is pending.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
Pavel Grierosu allegedly grabbed his wife by hair and kicked her

A MAN poured a bottle of wine over his wife, dragged her by the hair and kicked her when she told him to stop drinking, it is alleged.

Pavel Grierosu (61) is facing trial accused of attacking and injuring his wife in an incident at their home.

He had a book of evidence served on him when he appeared before Dublin District Court.

Mr Grierosu, with an address at Mount Drummond Avenue, Harolds Cross, is charged with assault causing harm to his wife on March 8, 2020.

The DPP consented to the case being dealt in the district court, subject to a judge accepting jurisdiction.

Garda Sergeant Niall Murphy said it was alleged the accused was drinking at home on the date in question and, when his 58-year-old wife told him to stop, he found another bottle of wine.

It was alleged he tried to strike her on the head, then poured the bottle over her, grabbed her by the hair and kicked her several times.

The court heard the alleged victim had outright refused medical attention.

Judge Ann Ryan refused jurisdiction, and when the case came back before her she was told a book of evidence was ready.

A state solicitor said the DPP was consenting to the accused being sent forward for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The judge gave the accused a warning that he had 14 days to produce any alibi evidence.

Mr Grierosu, through a Romanian interpreter, indicated that he understood this.

Judge Ryan ordered the prosecution to furnish the defence with copies of the accuseds garda interview video.

The judge granted free legal aid after his solicitor made an application and said Mr Grier- osu was in receipt of disability allowance.

The accused was sent forward to the circuit court on bail under existing terms, with no garda objection.

He has not yet entered a plea to the charge.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
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Authorities in North Carolina are hunting for a felon with the words 'convict' and 'devil' tattooed on his body in connection to an assault and a chase.

Just before 5pm on Wednesday, deputies from the Davidson County Sheriff's Office responded to an assault call on Cabin Creek Road near Denton.

According to officials, Diehl had assaulted someone and fired a gun at them, then got in a car with two other people and took off.

Wanted: Dustin Diehl, from North Carolina, is wanted on charges of assault, felony fleeing to elude arrest and resting, obstructing and delaying. He has tattoos of 'CONVICT,' 'devil,' and a large swastika in the middle of his throat

Diehl is suspected of assaulting and shooting at a person in Davidson County on Wednesday, then leading sheriff's deputies on a car chase, before fleeing on foot

The victim called 911 and summoned the deputies, who were able to track down the getaway car and attempted to pull it over, reported Fox8.

The driver refused to stop and led the officers on a brief chase, which crossed into Randolph County and came to an end when the vehicle crashed in a yard on Gopher Woods Road.

According to the sheriff's office, Diehl then jumped out of the car and fled on foot. Witnesses reported seeing a pistol in a holster on Diehl's belt.

He was last seen running near Moore Road. State troopers used a helicopter to search for the fugitive but could not locate him.

Diehl is wanted on charges of assault, felony fleeing to elude arrest and resting, obstructing and delaying.

Diehl has a criminal record in North Carolina, which includes convictions for felony breaking and entering, and larceny. He works as a tattoo artists, according to his Facebook profile

Witnesses last saw Diehl fleeing with a pistol in a holster on his belt. People who encounter him are warned to not approach him

Diehl has a criminal record in North Carolina, which includes convictions for felony breaking and entering, and larceny.

According to his Facebook page, Diehl works as a tattoo artist. Photos posted on his social media account show his extensive body art, including a skull with the word 'devil' etched across the top of his bald head, two large swastikas in the middle of his throat and on his right shoulder, and the word 'CONVICT' in capital letters emblazoned over his collarbones.

People who encounter Diehl are warned not to approach him. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is being asked to call 911.
According to reports, three BJP workers have been arrested after this including Hooghly district youth wing Chief Suresh Sahu. A bench of Election Commission of India will be reviewing these incidents and the situation in the state.

Ahead of the West Bengal polls this year, Goli Maro slogans were heard at Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP rallies recently. TMC supporters on Tuesday raised the slogan Bangla ka gaddaro ko, goli maro (shoot the traitors of Bengal) at their rally. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh admitted that the slogans should not have been raised and blamed some over enthusiastic party supporters for the act.

After the incident BJP Bengal tweeted, TMC called it Peace Rally but it witnessed rampant vandalism and tearing away of BJP flags and posters. Slogans like Goli Maro Salo Ko were heard in their Peace Rally in South Kolkata. Is this Pishis definition of peace? This is how TMC is letting down the City of Joy?

Following that desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro slogan (shoot the traitors of the country) was raised at a rally led by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday. BJP workers claimed that the slogan was made against some of the people who are part of the ruling Trinamool Congress while BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya in a statement said that BJP does not approve of such slogans.

Also Read: Joe Biden takes office: What does it mean for Indo-US ties?

Also Read: China announces sanctions on high-ranking Trump administration officials as Joe Biden takes office

TMC spokesperson remarking on the incident said, We strongly condemn the slogans that were raised at the BJP rally. However, we want to know if the BJP wants to shoot the people opposed to its ideology

According to reports, three BJP workers have been arrested after this including Hooghly district youth wing Chief Suresh Sahu. A bench of Election Commission of India will be reviewing these incidents and the situation in the state.

Last year in March, similar slogans were raised in Kolkata by BJP supporters heading towards Amit Shahs rally and 4 individuals were arrested.
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A U.S. soldier was found unresponsive at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait on Wednesday, just nine days after another soldier at the base died during routine troop movement.

The Army Central Command shared news of the soldier's death but did not identify the soldier, as they are waiting until 24 hours after the next-of-kin is notified.

'We send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased,' they said in a statement, the Army Times reports.

The unidentified soldier is the second stationed at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait to die in the year

The Army shared that the incident will be investigated.

The soldier is the second stationed in Kuwait to die this year.

Staff Sgt. Anthony Bermudez, 28, died January 11 during routine troop movement near Camp Buehring.

There were two other troops who were injured in the accident. Their names have not been released.

While the troops were on duty, they had been driving in a commercial vehicle instead of a tactical vehicle.

Staff Sgt. Anthony Bermudez, 28, died January 11 during routine troop movement near Camp Buehring
Anglo Asian Mining PLC - gold, copper and silver producer in Azerbaijan - Says it welcomed the agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia which has ended the military conflict over the enclave of Nagorno Karabakh. As a result, three contract areas have been restored to the company, Soutely in the Kalbajar district, Kyzlbulag in Nagorno Karabakh, and Vejnaly in the Zangilan district, it says. The company will fully evaluate the potential of those three restored contract areas when permission to access is received from the government of Azerbaijan.

Current stock price: 152.00 pence, up 17% on Thursday

Year-to-date change: up 16%

By Evelina Grecenko; evelinagrecenko@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Osun on Thursday confirmed the death of two persons in an accident involving a truck and Toyota Hiace bus at Iwaraja junction on Ipetu-Ijesa highway.

The Sector Commander, Kudirat Ibrahim, said this in a statement issued by the commands Spokesperson, Agnes Ogungbemi, in Osogbo.

Mrs Ibrahim said the accident occurred about 4km from Iwaraja junction on Ipetu-Ijesa highway on Wednesday at 10:0p.m.

A Truck with registration number XP 817 EPE collided with another Toyota Hiace Bus with registration number DKA 597 BQ involving six persons.

Two persons lost their lives in the process while three other persons got injured and were rushed to Wesley Hospital, Ilesa, for further treatment.

The corpses have been deposited in a mortuary while free flow of traffic has returned to the affected area, Mrs Ibrahim said.

According to her, the accident occurred due to speeding, lack of patience and disregard for road traffic regulations by the two drivers.

(NAN)
From left to right: Second daughter Ella Emhoff, poet Amanda Gorman, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images/Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty Images/NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Cold weather often accompanies inauguration day in DC.

Today was no different, and both men and women adorned stylish coats.

The poet Amanda Gorman and second daughter Ella Emhoff, among others, wore standout pieces.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Biden-Harris inauguration was met with harsh winds and temperatures that hovered around 40 degrees in Washington DC.

That meant everyone wore coats. Many political leaders and performers saw outerwear as an opportunity to make statements, both bold and subtle.

From Jennifer Lopez's white suffragette coat to inaugural poet Amanda Gorman's sunshine yellow overcoat, here are some of the most stunning looks from the historic day.

Vice President Kamala Harris wore a purple overcoat as a tribute to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for president.

Vice President-elect Senator Kamala Harris, right, and husband Douglas Emhoff wave while arriving at the 59th presidential inauguration. Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris wore a blue-purple monochromatic look at her inauguration.

The coat, by American designer Christopher John Rogers, may have been meant as a symbol of unity, as purple is red and blue mixed together.

Others pointed out that it could have been a nod to Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for president. Chisholm's campaign colors were yellow and purple.

Amanda Gorman, the inaugural poet, wore the brightest outfit of the day, featuring a bright-yellow Prada coat.

American poet Amanda Gorman reads a poem during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington DC on January 20, 2021. PATRICK SEMANSKY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Amanda Gorman made history as the youngest inaugural poet  she's just 22  and recited her poem "The Hill We Climb" wearing a bright-yellow coat.

Gorman told Vogue the coat was a nod to First Lady Jill Biden, who suggest Gorman for the role as inaugural poet.

Gorman's Prada coat, which initially sold for $2,777.28, is currently sold out.

She accessorized the look with a special gift of jewelry from Oprah Winfrey, a pair of gold hoops from Nikos Koulis's Energy Collection, and a birdcage ring from Of Rare Origin as a nod to Maya Angelou.

First lady Jill Biden made a statement with her tweed blue coat from the American fashion label, Markarian.

Story continues

First lady Jill Biden wore a monochromatic blue look. Jim Lo Scalzo/Associated Press

President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and first gentleman Doug Emhoff all wore American designers.

Jill Biden wore an ocean-blue overcoat from Markarian, a New York-based luxury fashion label founded in 2017 by designer Alexandra O'Neill. Her outfit, which featured velvet accents, was matched with ocean-blue gloves and a mask.

Speaking to Insider, a representative for the brand said the color was to "signify trust, confidence, and stability."

The new second daughter Ella Emhoff wore an embellished plaid coat.

Ella Emhoff and Cole Emhoff walk to their seats at the 59th presidential inauguration in Washington, DC. Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

Ella Emhoff is already being regarded as a "style icon." For inauguration day, she didn't disappoint.

The Parsons textile design student wore a Miu Miu coat, which featured a plaid pattern, embellishments, and strong shoulders. An embroidered, floppy collar peeked out.

Michelle Obama wore an impeccable inauguration outfit, which featured a plum overcoat.

Former US President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Rob Carr/Getty Images

The former first lady, Michelle Obama, had a style moment at the Biden-Harris inauguration.

Obama wore a monochromatic plum suit complete with a coat from Black designer Sergio Hudson.

Twitter users were quick to comment on Obama's fashion upgrade from the 2017 inauguration.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi wore a bright blue ensemble.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her husband Paul Pelosi arrive in the Crypt of the US Capitol. JIM LO SCALZO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has become known for her powerful coats, after wearing a bright orange coat from Max Mara to a meeting with former President Donald Trump over his proposed border wall.

Today, she continued her powerful looks with a mask-to-heals turquoise look.

Hillary Clinton's outfit matched Obama's with a similar plum-colored overcoat.

Hillary Clinton wore a plum overcoat and purple scarf to the Biden-Harris inauguration. Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Underneath her plum coat, Clinton wore a pussy-bow-like scarf, which is often worn by female politicians as a symbol of protest.

Additionally, the decision to wear purple may have been a nod to bipartisanship compromise. It's a color she's worn in the past.

Inauguration performer Jennifer Lopez made a statement in her head-to-toe white outfit.

Jennifer Lopez sings during the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol. Rob Carr/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez performed a rendition of "This Land is Your Land" while wearing a suffragette white Chanel pantsuit. White has historically been a way to honor the women's suffrage movement.

The fitted coat sparkled with pearl detailing that created an overall dazzling look.

While Sen. Bernie Sanders garnered attention for his mittens, others noticed a repeat coat from his presidential campaign.

Sen. Bernie Sanders at the 59th inaugural ceremony. Patrick Semansky-Pool/Getty Images

Sen. Bernie Sanders arrived at the inauguration wearing a familiar coat, the same one he wore in a presidential campaign video that quickly turned into a meme. The coat is from a Vermont-based brand, Burton.

Others were more focused on his mittens and his look quickly sparked a flood of interest.

The mittens were knitted by a Vermont teacher named Jen Ellis, who constructed them out of recycled sweater bits and lined the gloves with fleece.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar wore the same coat from the day she announced her run for the presidency.

Klobuchar wore a familiar gold coat at the Biden-Harris inauguration. Melina Mara - Pool/Getty Images

Sen. Amy Klobuchar wore a mustard yellow overcoat as she spoke throughout today's inauguration.

It was the same coat she wore when she announced her presidential run in 2019, according to The Washington Post. The Post also added that the gold and purple may have also been a subtle reference to the University of Minnesota, her husband's alma mater.

Former First Lady Laura Bush was twinning with Jill Biden in a baby-blue coat.

Laura Bush wore a baby-blue overcoat to the Biden-Harris inauguration. Win McNamee/AP

Laura Bush matched her baby-blue coat with a sparkling set of pearls.

Read the original article on Insider
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The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website:

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PHILIPSBURG:---The first Virtual 5k hosted by the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity of the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine raised over $1000 for the Nature Foundation St. Maarten. This event organized by Phi Chi Service Chair Julie Wancik offered prizes for participants to complete a 5-kilometer walk or run on their own time. Fifteen local businesses contributed prizes in an effort to reward participants ranging from gift cards to local restaurants, hour-long massages, and even an introduction to scuba diving courses.



We are so thankful for the hard work of Ms. Wancik and the 5K committee to put together this event. Due to the restrictions of the COVID19 virus pandemic, it was difficult to host group events throughout the year. Having a virtual 5K was a great way to promote the foundation and help motivate the community to get out into nature and stay healthy. This event would also not have been a success without the generous support of the many local businesses that donated prizes for runners. We cant express how very thankful we are that so many chose to support us even in these difficult times, said Leslie Hickerson Educational Outreach officer at the Nature Foundation St. Maarten.



Over 50 participants showed their support for the Nature Foundation by donating the $20 registration fee and competing for the amazing prizes by running or walking 5 kilometers. As a gift for registering for the run each runner received a Nature Foundation Eco Bracelet. Prizes were given to the top fastest runners and random prize drawings were held throughout the submission dates.



Both the American Medical University and the Medical Fraternity Phi Chi often show their support for the Nature Foundation through beach clean-ups, program support, and awareness campaigns. Phi Chi (Medical Fraternity) has always had a commitment to the environmental health of SXM. As the Nature Foundation helps us with Mullet Bay beach clean-ups every term of the year, it felt only natural to support the Foundation in a way that helps them sustainably further their mission. Further, as medical students learning online during this pandemic, I knew how important maintaining physical activity is. My team of fellow Phi Chi members, Andy, Teresa, and Tanique, and with Leslie at the NFSXMs help, we're able to reach many across SXM and across the USA to participate. I am very grateful for the business who donated their goods and services to reward participants.



The funding raised from the Virtual 5K will help the Nature Foundation continue to perform its essential tasks in order to preserve and protect the natural environment of St. Maarten. The Foundation performs essential research and monitoring, responds to environmental disasters, works to help educate residents and visitors about the importance of protecting our delicate ecosystem, and monitors the marine protected area in St. Maarten.



The Nature Foundation Eco-Bracelets are available at many locations including the Nature Foundation office in return for a $10 donation to the Nature Foundation. The Eco-bracelet is made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric, which is the primary material used for the production of many water bottles around the world. Billions of PET bottles are discarded each year and a significant amount of them become littered in the natural environment, representing one of the biggest waste problems on Earth.



A special thanks to our generous prize donations from Fit Foods SXM, FM Hair Salon, Grace Yoga, Jules French Bakery, Ocean Explorers Dive Center, The Scuba Shop St. Maarten, Spaghetti House, Sunset Spa, The Palms Restaurant, Tri-Sport, and Yami Sushi.



Watch to enter and participate in the 2nd Annual Virtual 5K run/walk benefiting the Nature Foundation of SXM later this Spring of 2021.
Canadian institutional fund manager, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), has bought a highway project in Odisha from highway developer Bharat Road Network Limited (BRNL) in a deal valued at about Rs 2,000 crore.

The BRNL highway project taken over by CDPQ is a 67 kilometre toll road project from Bhubaneswar to Chandikhole in Odisha. Sources close to the development told BusinessToday.In that the deal is valued between Rs 1,800 crore and Rs 2,000 crore.

Meanwhile, in a release on Thursday, BRNL said that the company along with its partners, has signed an agreement with India Highway Concession Trust, an infrastructure investment trust set up by CDPQ for the sale of a build operate transfer (BOT) highway project in the state of Odisha. BRNL is currently the largest shareholder, with a 40% stake in this project.

"The Share Purchase Agreement provides for the complete transfer of ownership of Shree Jagannath Expressway Private Limited -- the special purpose vehicle (SPV) engaged in the development, operation and maintenance of the toll road," BRNL release added.

A build BOT project involves construction of a highway project by a private developer after participating in competitive bidding undertaken by a government agency. The top bidder is then allowed to construct the asset and recover its investment by collecting toll on the project through the concession period. After the completion of the period, the project is transferred back to the government.

Bhubaneswar to Chandikhole toll project started in December 2011 with a concession period of 26 years.

The company aims at debt mitigation from the deal proceeds. Bajrang Kumar Choudhary, Managing Director, BRNL said, "The transaction is expected to help BRNL in reducing its debts and will also provide the company with funds for reinvesting in its existing assets under construction."

BRNL has a project portfolio worth Rs 6,800 crore with six operational BOT projects covering 2,095 kms across six states in the country.

Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure, CDPQ, said, "We are thrilled with the acquisition of Shree Jagannath Expressway. It will be the first asset integrated into the new CDPQ-owned roads platform in India, which we set up and staffed in 2020. This reflects our long-term confidence and interest for the sector and more broadly the Indian infrastructure market." CDPQ invests globally in financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate and private debt.BRNL shares were trading with gains of 2.20 percent at Rs 34.80 on the National Stock Exchange.

Also Read: Record 534 km of national highways constructed in a week, says Centre

Also read: Sobha reports 29% rise in sales bookings in Oct-Dec 2020 due to festive season

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TORONTO, Jan. 19, 2021 -- Scholars, educators and policymakers from around the world will join a global conference hosted by York University, to reimagine international learning opportunities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of York's Sustainable on the Go initiative to support study-abroad opportunities that promote sustainability, the conference on Sustainable and Inclusive Internationalization is expected to attract more than 600 participants from 65 countries.

The three-day international conference, from January 20 to 22, will be co-hosted by York International and the UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education Towards Sustainability at York University, in collaboration with the International Association of Universities, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, and Okayama University, Japan.

"It is crucial that today's leaders and those in the future understand global contexts and working in transdisciplinary and intercultural teams towards the common goal of a sustainable future," said York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. "York University is very pleased to host this important conversation among colleagues and partners, as we all look forward to a better and safer 2021 and beyond."

"Higher education has long been a force for cross-cultural exchange, and advancing global cooperation for education and research, but there are barriers to creating equitable access for all to these opportunities.," says Vinitha Gengatharan, executive director, York International. "The global pandemic has led to an unprecedented pause in international student and faculty travel that warrants universities to examine their policies and practices."

"Issues such as global geopolitical tensions, economic strains, climate change concerns and systemic racism and exclusion continue to limit the participants in these initiatives," says Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair at York University. "Further, the growing concern around the ecological footprint of higher education mobility and the exclusiveness of opportunities has already caused fundamental discussions on the future of international student mobility."

The upcoming conference will be an open forum that will allow participants to tackle these concerns and find workable solutions under the themes of sustainability, inclusivity and innovation.

###

York University is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change and prepare our students for success. York's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. York's campuses in Costa Rica and India offer students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Media Contact:

Gloria Suhasini, York University Media Relations, 647.463.4354, suhasini@yorku.ca

By Nidhi Verma NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Iraq has reduced annual supplies of Basra crude oil to several Indian refiners by up to 20% for 2021, industry sources said, in a rare move by OPEC's second-largest producer which is trying to meet its obligations under the group's production deal. Iraq was the top oil supplier to India in 2020 and a reduction in long-term Basra crude supplies could erode Baghdad's market share in the world's third largest oil importer and consumer. Iraq's Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) has reduced the 2021 Basra term volumes to several ...
Schneider said he actually started a self-quarantine when he returned to Deerfield on Jan. 8 after spending several hours Jan. 6 in close quarters with a number of colleagues. They fled the floor and gallery for their safety because of a mob insurrection seeking to overturn the Nov. 3 election which sent Biden to the White House. Several did not wear masks.
HCM City will continue to strengthen HIV preventive efforts with tests for early detection and treatment among high-risk groups to help achieve the national goal of eradicating the spread of the disease by 2030.

An adolescent with HIV being treated at HCM City Childrens Hospital 1.

It is also providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention services, especially to vulnerable and high-risk groups.

One other goal of the citys programme on HIV/AIDS prevention is to prevent discrimination against people with HIV.

The city identified its first HIV patient in 1990, and monitored her health regularly since and treated her with antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.

Now 60, the unidentified woman remains relatively healthy and is being treated at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Citing her example, doctors point out that if people with HIV are diagnosed and treated early, and they comply with the treatment regime, they could lead a long life.

Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy head of the city Department of Health, said since the first case was detected, the city had spent 30 years fighting the epidemic.

In 1990-2000 the city strengthened communication to educate and improve public awareness of protection against HIV/AIDS and creating prevention models.

As a result, the rate of transmission among injecting drug users fell from 42.3 per cent in 1995 to 18.6 per cent in 1998.

In 2000-10 HIV transmission prevention models were expanded throughout the city with ARV therapy.

The city also has programmes for prevention of mother-to-child transmission to help significantly reduce transmission.

In 2010-20 the city controlled the epidemic through a number of strategies such as immediate treatment after testing positive, breakthrough in policies and technologies for HIV tests and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

A 24-year-old gay man in Thu Duc District is availing PrEP to prevent the risk of HIV transmission, and said he felt assured.

The city has more than 30 public and private facilities under the programme.

It has achieved the 90-90-90 goal, meaning 90 per cent of those living with HIV know their status, 90 per cent are receiving treatment and 90 per cent on treatment have viral suppression which stops further transmission.

It has 145 facilities for HIV counselling and testing, with 24 of them providing methadone treatment to nearly 5,400 patients.

Challenges

However, speaking at a conference held last week to review 30 years of HIV/AIDS prevention, Hung said the city unexpectedly had nearly 5,500 people living undetected with HIV in the community, leading to a high risk of transmission.

Besides, an increase in the number of men who have sex with men raises the risk of outbreaks, and risk groups are changing, becoming difficult to access and demand high confidentiality, and this is also a big challenge, according to Hung.

Doctors also warn about the high risk of HIV transmission among male adolescents who have sex with men.

Pham Thi Lua, a social worker at Childrens Hospital 1, cited the case of a 15-year-old boy who was found to have HIV while being treated for genital warts.

He had sex with an older man who rents a room near his house.

Dr Du Tuan Quy, acting head of the hospitals infectious and neurological diseases department, said four or five 14- and 15-year-olds last year came to the department for HIV treatment after having sex with men.

"It is alarming," he said.

Moreover, many boys were sexually abused and did not even know their infection status, he lamented.

When they did know their status, they did not dare tell their parents, and this was further cause for worry, he said.

His department is treating 57 HIV patient who are more than 15 and 226 others aged just 10-15, and they could easily spread it if they have unsafe sex, according to the doctor.

At these ages psychological and biological changes occur to people, and, compared to people of other ages, are more sensitive and rebellious. So, when they know they are infected with HIV, they often fall into a negative mood and live irresponsibly.

Many say their parents died of HIV and so they themselves have no hope of living, become depressed, act indiscriminately like having unprotected sex, and transmit it to their partners.

He said the family should play an important role in helping detect HIV infection in adolescents by paying attention to symptoms of health problems and taking them for examination.

In the unfortunate case that their child is infected with HIV, parents need to be calm, accompany their children for treatment as prescribed by the doctor and avoid creating stress thus resulting in the patient stopping treatment, he said.

According to Ministry of Health statistics, the number of people with HIV in the ages of 15-16 tripled in 2019 from 2011.

Quy said the Childrens Hospital 1 had collaborated with the Centre for Diseases Control and Prevention and others to organise training courses in counselling for HIV prevention and in psychological and biological issues for adolescents with HIV.

It also worked with vocational training schools to train adolescents with HIV.

Assoc Prof Dr Pham Duc Manh, deputy head of the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, said the city was a "bright spot" in the country in mobilising the political system and society in HIV/ AIDS prevention and control.

It had carried out prevention and fighting efforts well and pioneered initiatives in treatment and prevention, he said.

It had also obtained and used donations effectively, he said.

But with its high population density, the city still faced many challenges like the increase in HIV/AIDS infections in the MSM community and the high rate of new incidence each year compared to other localities in the country, he warned.

Therefore, it should have the right strategies for each risk group and continue to solicit social resources, especially people with HIV, to persuade infected people to go for treatment and high-risk groups to avail of preventive services. VNS

HCM City sees high HIV infection risk from undetected virus carriers An estimated 5,500 people living with HIV in the community have yet to be identified in Ho Chi Minh City, with about 30 percent having high viral load rates that are potentially transmitting the virus to others.
San Francisco, Jan 21 : Volkswagen AGs chief executive officer Herbert Diess made his debut on Twitter with light trolling of Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

In his first tweet, he said that VW was coming after Tesla's market share and already winning the battle for buyers in Europe.

"Hello @Twitter! I'm here to make an impact with @VWGroup, especially on political issues. And, of course, to get some of your market shares, @elonmusk - after all, our ID.3 and e-tron have won the first markets in Europe. Looking forward to productive discussions," Diess said in his tweet on Wednesday.

The two have been friends with one another for years, with Tesla's CEO tweeting in September 2019 that Diess was "doing more than any big carmaker to go electric." In September last year, after Musk paid a friendly visit to Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess to get a special look at VW's new upcoming electric cars, Diess drove Tesla Model Y, saying it was a "reference" car for the German automaker.

The carmaker confirmed that there was no deal in the making between the two automakers and it was basically just Diess checking out Musk's latest electric car.

"Of course, I also tested a Tesla Model Y - with my colleague Frank Welsch. This car is for us in many aspects (not in all!) a reference: user experience, driving features, the performance of the top of the range models, charging network, range," Diess as said.

Diess has often praised Tesla and Musk's approach to electric vehicles and recently predicted that Tesla could become the most valuable company in the world.

-- Syndicated from IANS
An ongoing slump in shoppers, tourism and city office workers is undermining the value of Australia's shopping malls, prompting Vicinity Centres to report a $570 million hit to its portfolio.

The country's second-largest landlord owns and manages 60 malls nationwide including a half share of Australia's largest shopping centre Chadstone and Sydneys prestigious The Strand Arcade.

Shoppers at Chadstone on Boxing Day. Despite a bounce back in shoppers over the festive period, volumes are still done. Credit:Getty Images

Vicinity said on Thursday the value of its pandemic-hit properties had slumped 4 per cent over six months to December last year. The continued decline follows a precipitous 11.4 per cent drop in values over the first half of 2020 as the full force of the pandemic disrupted retailers across the country.

Chief executive and managing director Grant Kelley blamed the fall on the economic impact of COVID-19, saying the ill effects of the pandemic continue to be felt this year.
Three Maryland independent insurance agencies contracted with Erie Insurance have filed complaints with the Maryland Insurance Administration alleging Erie engaged in discriminatory practices against low-income and minority communities in the Baltimore area.

The complaints were filed by Baltimore, Maryland-based Baltimore Insurance Network, Windsor Mills, Maryland-based Ross Insurance Agency, and Baltimore, Maryland-based Welsch Insurance Group.

The three agencies claim Erie has systemically discriminated against clients and potential clients by refusing to underwrite insurance policies based on the clients race, ethnic origin, geographic location and/or socioeconomic status.

In their complaints, the agencies say they were restricted from offering insurance policies underwritten by Erie to residents of primarily Black communities. They say that Erie threatened and executed actions against them for challenging what the agencies refer to as discriminatory redlining policies at Erie. The agencies claim these retaliatory actions impacted and continue to impact their business.

Specifically, Baltimore Insurance Network states in its complaint that Kristopher Marrion, vice president and Silver Spring, Maryland, branch manager at Erie, began taking increasingly aggressive action against the agency as retaliation for issues it raised about Eries discriminatory practices. Baltimore Insurance Network claims it was harassed to write less business even though the business generated by Eries online leads program included qualified individuals under Eries published policy guidelines. The agency also claims Marrion retaliated by closing Baltimore Insurance Networks Bowie, Maryland, office without explanation or notice.

Welsch Insurance Group also says in its complaint that in August 2019, Erie terminated its 12-year agency relationship with Welsch, citing poor underwriting practices, unacceptable policyholder service and broken trust.

Matthew Cummings, public relations and social media manager at Erie Insurance, told Insurance Journal that Erie will respond as appropriate to the Maryland Insurance Administration to directly address the complaints, adding that Eries underwriting standards comply with state insurance laws and regulations.

The claims and accusations made within them are baseless, and we will vigorously defend our business practices, he said.

Cummings said Erie is committed to the fair and equitable treatment of all prospective and existing customers.

Erie Insurance was founded on the core values of dignity and respect, and these values have been central to our success for more than 95 years, he said. We strive to create an environment where customers, agents and employees reflect the diversity of the communities where we all live and work.

In their complaints, the three agencies state this isnt the first time Erie has been accused of racial discrimination. The agencies pointed to a 2009 federal lawsuit in which Erie agreed to pay a $225,000 settlement to the Fair Housing Council of Central New York after it filed a lawsuit alleging Erie was discriminating against Black individuals in Syracuse, New York.

The three agencies are requesting that the Maryland Insurance Administration take actions including granting administrative relief, banning Erie from using discriminatory redlining practices, imposing a financial penalty that includes attorneys fees, costs and expenses and awarding damages to the agencies.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Erie agreed to a $225,000 settlement with the Fair Housing Council of Central New York in 2009, not 2019 as previously written.

Topics Agencies Maryland

A COVID-19 outbreak at Timberlyn Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Great Barrington has reduced staff to a skeleton crew. As of Tuesday, 28 employees and 25 residents were infected at the facility off Route 23, according to a text message obtained by The Eagle.
MOSCOW, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) announces the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has authorized the use of Russian Sputnik V vaccine in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The vaccine was registered under the emergency use authorization procedure based on the results of the Russian Phase III clinical trials which included over 33,000 subjects. Moreover, local Phase III clinical trials of Sputnik V in the UAE are ongoing under the supervision of the MOHAP and Department of Health (DOH) of Abu Dhabi with 1,000 volunteers already enrolled into the study. Medical protocols are handled by the public health provider, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA.

As a precursor to the emergency authorization procedure, Sputnik V trials were conducted in the UAE and were facilitated through a partnership between RDIF and Abu Dhabi-based Aurugulf Health Investment and Pure Health  the marketing and distribution partner. Since the launch of the trials in December 2020, a total of 1000 volunteers received their first dose of the vaccine, a celebrated milestone which paved the way for registering the vaccine under the emergency use authorization.

Sputnik V had been registered under the same procedure earlier in Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay and Turkmenistan. The vaccine is also registered in Russia and Belarus.

Supplies of the vaccine to the UAE will be facilitated by RDIF's international partners in India, China, South Korea and other countries.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said:

"The UAE is one of Russia's key partners in the Middle East. RDIF appreciates the cooperation with health authorities of UAE and welcomes the regulatory approval of Sputnik V. We strive to help people of UAE to get access to a safe and effective Russian vaccine against coronavirus based on a proven and well-researched platform of human adenoviral vectors. The decision to include Sputnik V in UAE's national vaccine portfolio is an important step towards protecting the population with one of the best vaccines against coronavirus in the world."

Sputnik V has a number of key advantages:

Efficacy of Sputnik V is over 90%, with full protection against severe cases of COVID-19.

The Sputnik V vaccine is based on a proven and well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors, which cause the common cold and have been around for thousands of years.

Sputnik V uses two different vectors for the two shots in a course of vaccination, providing immunity with a longer duration than vaccines using the same delivery mechanism for both shots.

The safety, efficacy and lack of negative long-term effects of adenoviral vaccines have been proven by more than 250 clinical studies over two decades.

Over 1.5mn people have already been vaccinated with Sputnik V.

The developers of the Sputnik V vaccine are working collaboratively with AstraZeneca on a joint clinical trial to improve the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Sputnik V vaccine has been approved in Russia , Belarus , Serbia, Argentina , Bolivia , Algeria , Palestine, Venezuela , Paraguay and Turkmenistan ; the process to approve the vaccine in the EU has been initiated.

There are no strong allergies caused by Sputnik V.

The storage temperature of Sputnik V at +2+8 C means it can be stored in a conventional refrigerator without any need to invest in additional cold-chain infrastructure.

The price of Sputnik V is less than $10 per shot, making it affordable around the world.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB2 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1140939/Russian_Direct_Investment_Fund_Logo.jpg

SOURCE The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)

Related Links

http://www.rdif.ru


The Cherry Street Tavern, a new restaurant, is moving into the space at 719 Cherry Street, the former location of Mad Priest. The owners, Martin Thomas Bohannon and George Louis MacEwan, have a combined 40 years of experience in the food service business. Their new restaurant received a beer license at the Thursday morning meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board. The restaurant will serve food and beer and, in the future, has plans to serve alcohol. There will also be music.

Cheese Dip Mexican Grill, 3643 Hixson Pike, Unit D, is a family owned, small, family style restaurant. It has been open for about a year without selling beer, but has now been approved for a consumer and carry-out beer permit for the purpose of increasing business. The owner Roberto Venegas, described the business as a restaurant with a food bar serving Chipotle style fare, and is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Menlo Park Neighborhood Grocery Store, 3630 Ridgeside Road, is owned and operated by Sean Sharif Daniels, who is also the president of the Menlo Park Neighborhood Association. The store sells tobacco products, lottery tickets, drinks and snacks in addition to food-to-go from the kitchen. The store is open from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon until 6 p.m. on Sundays if he chooses to open.


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In a farewell message to the Syrian people, Joel Rayburn has said that the regimes military solution has failed and that their demise is only a matter of time reports Sowt Al-Asima.

Former US Envoy for Syria Joel Rayburn sent out a farewell message that he addressed to the Syrian people, as his assignment with the State Department came to an end. The message included his vision regarding the situation of the regime, which, according to Rayburn, has no place left to go except towards a political solution.

In his message, which he published on his Facebook account in Arabic on Tuesday evening, Rayburn confirmed that he will forever stand with the Syrian people.

He said, To all Syrians: I will not stop working for justice and peace Americas interests and values call for a different type of government in Damascus, a government that treats its people and the world in a completely different manner.

Rayburn noted that he was able to witness all the crimes committed against the Syrian people, and that the evidence against the regime is overwhelming. Rayburn stressed that justice will be served.

The American official considered that the Assad regime has failed in its quest for a military solution, stressing that the only solution is a political solution under UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

He added, All the way from Washington, we can clearly see that the Assad regime is unable to escape the pressure of the Caesar Act, and it cannot overcome the consequences of its international isolation. He said, My message to Damascus at the end of my term is: youve got nowhere to go. You have no choice but to ascribe to Resolution 2254.

The former envoy said, The Assad regime has reached its breaking point, and what will follow is further internal weakness within the regime, week after week, month after month. If the Syrian people are able to remain united, they will have the opportunity to shape their future, perhaps sooner than many imagine possible.

On Nov. 9, 2020, the US Department of State appointed Rayburn as envoy for Syria, as a successor to former Special Envoy, James Jeffrey, who had resigned.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.

Suppose Smokey Bear were to lose it and start setting forest fires instead of putting them out. That roughly describes the behavior of certain cells of our immune system that become increasingly irascible as we grow older. Instead of stamping out embers, they stoke the flames of chronic inflammation.

Biologists have long theorized that reducing this inflammation could slow the aging process and delay the onset of age-associated conditions, such as heart disease, Alzheimers disease, cancer and frailty, and perhaps even forestall the gradual loss of mental acuity that happens to nearly everyone.

Yet the question of what, exactly, causes particular cells of the immune system to kick into inflammatory overdrive has lacked a definitive answer.

Now, Stanford Medicine researchers think they have one. If their findings in old mice and in human cell cultures apply to actual humans, they could presage the pharmaceutically managed recovery of older peoples mental abilities.

In a study published Jan. 21 in Nature, the investigators pin the blame on a set of immune cells called myeloid cells. Katrin Andreasson, MD, professor of neurology and neurological sciences, is the studys senior author. Its lead author is MD-PhD student Paras Minhas.

Myeloid cells, which are found in the brain, the circulatory system and the bodys peripheral tissues, are part soldier and part park ranger. When not fighting off infectious intruders, they keep busy cleaning up debris, such as dead cells and clumps of aggregated proteins; provide nutrient snacks to other cells; and serve as sentinels watching for signs of invading pathogens.

But as we age, myeloid cells begin neglecting their normal, health-protecting functions and adopting an agenda of endless warfare with a nonexistent enemy, inflicting collateral damage to innocent tissues in the process.

Effective blockade

In the study, blocking the interaction of a particular hormone and a receptor that abounds on myeloid cells was enough to restore the youthful metabolism and placid temperament of mouse and human myeloid cells in a dish and in living mice. This blockade also reversed age-related mental decline in older mice, restoring their recall and navigation skills to those exhibited by young mice.

If you adjust the immune system, you can de-age the brain, Andreasson said. Her teams experiments in human cells suggest that similar rejuvenation may be possible in people, she said.

Myeloid cells are the bodys main source of PGE2, a hormone that belongs to the family known as prostaglandins. PGE2 does many different things in the body  some good, some not always so good  for example, promoting inflammation. What PGE2 does depends on which cells, and which of several different varieties of receptor on those cells surfaces, the hormone lands on.

One receptor type for PGE2 is EP2. This receptor is found on immune cells and is especially abundant on myeloid cells. It initiates inflammatory activity inside the cells after binding to PGE2.
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KANAZAWA, Japan, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Researchers at Kanazawa University report in Clinical Cancer Research that in the most common type of lung cancer, certain secondary mutations occurring with another gene alteration known as ALK make the efficacy of alectinib, an otherwise commonly used drug for treating lung cancer, become unfavorable. Combining alectinib with another kind of drug can overcome this adverse effect, however.

Most lung cancers are of a type called non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). This type of cancer is relatively insensitive to chemotherapy, so NSCLC therapies are usually based on drug treatment. Alectinib is a drug commonly used for treating patients with NSCLC. It addresses a gene rearrangement known as ALK that occurs in 3 to 5% of NSCLC patients (alectinib belongs to a class of drugs called ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors). It has been unclear, however, whether there is a correlation between the use of alectinib and the poorer prognosis in ALK-NSCLC patients in which secondary cancer mutations are observed - the latter are known to occur with a frequency of about 25%. Now, Azusa Tanimoto from Kanazawa University and colleagues have investigated this correlation. They found that such secondary mutations reduce the efficacy of alectinib, but they also suggest how to overcome this issue.

The researchers looked at data on 124 NSCLC patients who were treated with ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including alectinib, and who had tested positive for the ALK gene rearrangement. Out of these, for 31 patients, a secondary gene rearrangement known as TP53 mutation was detected. Tanimoto and colleagues looked at whether there is a correlation between alectinib use and TP53 mutations in this group of patients.

The data showed that the cancer's progression-free survival was significantly poorer in patients with TP53 mutations who received alectinib treatment. (The same conclusion was obtained for other treatments with other ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors.) The resistance to the drugs is linked to the loss of normal p53 function in ALK-rearranged NSCLC; p53 refers to a set of proteins that are known to play a role in preventing cancer formation.

The scientists then investigated how to overcome the adverse effect of alectinib when secondary TP53 mutations occur. Based on their insights into the biochemical mechanisms at play, they proposed to combine alectinib with another drug: ixazomib. The latter is a drug from the class of proteasome inhibitors, which block the action of proteasomes, which in turn break down proteins. Experiments in mice showed promising results: general tumor shrinkage, and complete regression of 3 out of 8 tumors.

The findings of Tanimoto and colleagues show that the combined use of a proteasome inhibitor and alectinib restores the latter's unfavorable efficacy in ALK-rearranged NSCLC. The scientists further conclude: "Based on these [clinical and preclinical] data, this combination therapy is needed to be validated in  clinical trials."

Related figure

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/FigureTanimoto.pdf

Caption: Graphical schema showing the mechanism for overcoming intrinsic resistance to ALK-TKIs owing toTP53 mutations

Background

NSCLC

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) are the two types of lung cancer. 85% of all lung cancers are of the NSCLC type. NSCLCs are less sensitive to chemotherapy than SCLCs, making drug treatment of the highest importance.

Alectinib is a drug used for treating NSCLC, normally with good efficiency. However, in certain scenarios where gene alterations occur, the drug has an adverse effect, as now shown by Azusa Tanimoto from Kanazawa University and colleagues. Tanimoto and colleagues further show that in such situations, combining alectinib with another drug (of the proteasome-inhibitor type) restores its efficacy.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

A tyrosine kinase inhibitor is a drug inhibiting (that is, preventing or reducing the activity of) a specific tyrosine kinase. A tyrosine kinase is a protein (enzyme) involved in the activation of other proteins by signaling cascades. The activation happens by the addition of a phosphate group to the protein (phosphorylation); it is this step that a tyrosine kinase inhibitor inhibits. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are used as anticancer drugs. One such drug is alectinib, used to treat NSCLC.

Reference

Azusa Tanimoto, Shingo Matsumoto, Shinji Takeuchi, Sachiko Arai, Koji Fukuda, Akihiro Nishiyama, Kiyotaka Yoh, Takaya Ikeda, Naoki Furuya, Kazumi Nishino, Yuichiro Ohe, Koichi Goto, and Seiji Yano. Proteasome inhibition overcomes ALK-TKI resistance in ALK-rearranged/TP53 mutant NSCLC via Noxa expression, Clin. Cancer. Res.December 11, 2020.

DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-20-2853

URL: https://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2020/12/11/1078-0432.CCR-20-2853

Further information

About WPI nanoLSI Kanazawa University

Hiroe Yoneda

Vice Director of Public Affairs

WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)

Kanazawa University

Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp

Tel: +81 (76) 234-4550

About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University is a research center established in 2017 as part of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The objective of this initiative is to form world-tier research centers. NanoLSI combines the foremost knowledge of bio-scanning probe microscopy to establish 'nano-endoscopic techniques' to directly image, analyze, and manipulate biomolecules for insights into mechanisms governing life phenomena such as diseases.

About Kanazawa University

http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/

As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.

The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa - a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas.
Council Member Mark-Ridley Thomas Reflects on Martin Luther Kings Mission During 29th Annual Empowerment Congress Summit

The awareness brought on by activist Martin Luther King Jr., outlined a plan for empowerment; he addressed it to a society founded on freedom. King spoke of unity in a time of division, to celebrate his life and reflect on what he stood for, Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas paid tribute to Kings accomplishments; by curating the 29th Annual Empowerment Congress Summit during the week the nation celebrated Martin Luther King Day.

On Saturday, January 16, Congressmember Karen Bass opened the summit from her office in Washington D.C. She shared her experience of the insurrection that took place on Capitol Hill on January 6. Bass said, I looked out of the window and I spoke to a member of the Capitol Police, I said whats going on outside?

The policemen confirmed the protesting seems to have changed in tone. Bass went on to explain her feelings in that moment, she said, Little did I know, a few minutes later they would storm the very steps where I was on top of. They would over run the Capitol police, breaking into the building, and begin to destroy thingsactually looking for the Speaker of the House, looking for the vice president, as they chanted that they wanted to hang him because he refused to violate the constitution 

Bass described her colleagues as being terrified, and the policymakers were boarded up in rooms as the doors were being pounded on. Bringing it back to the concerns of present day, Bass spoke of the needed change in power, and the future steps that will be taken to respond to COVID-19. She spoke of her confidence in the Biden-Harris administration and their efforts to provide relief.

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Although COVID-19 prohibits physical gatherings, the virtual event was tethered to the main goal of social responsibility. The Empowerment Congress Summit looked to bring awareness to the current times of drastic change, and why the well-being of one, affects everyone else. This is a lesson reinforced by the fatality of the COVID-19 outbreak; the use of masks not only protects oneself, but it also sends a message of mindfulness to the surrounding population.

The theme for this years summit is to re-imagine civic engagement and fuel a movement for a better tomorrow, and it was hosted by radio personality, Dominique DiPrima. She outlined the goal for the event, she said, Our goal is to create not just a chance to reflect, but to reset our intentions and turn them into opportunities for engagementin an effort to better our community.

The online gathering continued to show national influence, the audience heard from all levels of government. Each of them took a moment to gather their thoughts of progression; they shared their personal gratitude for Kings map to the promised land. The elected officials had common goals in nurturing the seeds King planted; a world without the aggression that fuels an imbalanced hierarchy, that will lead to opportunities to have the best quality of life.

California State Governor, Gavin Newsom tuned in to project unity and a sense of hope. He said,  Its right to reflect on Dr. King and so much of not on what he stood for, but what he promoted, nothing more than the foundation of the notion that we are all bound together as he said, in a web of mutuality.

Racism does not just affect one group; it affects everyone sharing the timeline of inequality. This was a major pillar used to build Kings foundation of peace, that housed his mission for equality. During the time of segregation, it may have felt unattainable, but King hoped for a reality where opportunity for freedom existed for all. Over forty years have passed since his claim for peace, and a new level of social awareness is being harvested from the seeds King planted.

The audience sat in solitude, as Ridley-Thomas filled their homes with a frequency of reflection. A slide show of historic moments of Kings life played on the screen, the energy and passion radiating from the captured moments. Elected officials shared their experiences on how some part of King played into their perspective of civic duty; to protect and serve the people that make up the community.

Every inch gained to better humanity, has led to the uncovering of the real measurement of work that still needs to be done. Ridley-Thomas has rolled up his sleeves and dived into the abyss of problems the community is facing, he looks to find the hidden resolution for issues that plagued humanity for generations.

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Through recent events that took place on Capitol Hill, there is much ground to be covered, but gatherings like the Empowerment Congress Summit creates a sense of security around the community, in a time of disparity. The event looks to bridge public policy and the neighborhoods they serve together, in order to improve the quality of life for all diverse groups.

Ridley-Thomas closed the ceremony with a word of encouragement, that followed the reality of where the community is on the spectrum of increased civic engagement. The Councilmember stated, This is the fundamental principle of self-determination, we defined what civic engagement could look like. Ridley-Thomas shared his sight of unity seen across the 10th district, neighbors helping neighbors survive through a time of uncertainty. He stated, Our diversity is married to our commonalitywe call it community.

Civic engagement promotes power and influence, breaking through the barriers of inequality. Although the world is looking at another source of division from COVID-19, Kings mission built the confidence for the collective community to rally for change and continuously submit to a new level of awareness.

According to Oxford Languages Dictionary Publisher, empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling ones life and claiming ones rights. The Annual Empowerment Congress Summit reflected on the will of Kings mission for peace and made it stronger, by recognizing the influence that his legacy has on the lives that came after his era.

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Elected representatives above 50 years of age are likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the second round of the ongoing inoculation drive after over three crore healthcare and frontline workers are vaccinated in the first round.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, most of his Cabinet ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari, a majority of chief ministers and top-rung leaders of all political parties besides MPs and MLAs fall in this category.

A government source, however, insisted that there is no specific timeline for the vaccination of top politicians.

The prime minister in his interaction with chief ministers before the nationwide rollout of the vaccination programme had asked politicians to not jump queue as the first round of inoculation is meant for healthcare and frontline workers.

Modi had also said that the turn of those over 50 years of age besides those younger but living with comorbidities will come after that, sources noted.

Though the government has given no timeline, Modi had said on January 11 that 30 crore people, including those above 50 years of age, will be vaccinated in the next few months.

The vaccination programme was launched by him on January 16.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For the last seven months, Yosemite National Park has encouraged, but not required, that visitors wear masks. Even when they were indoors. Even when hundreds attended a Thanksgiving dinner at the Ahwahnee hotel.

That is now a thing of the past. As one of his first actions on Wednesday, President Joe Biden signed a federal mandate requiring face coverings inside federal buildings and on land controlled by the federal government.

This executive action will direct the agencies to take action to require compliance with [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance on mask-wearing and physical distancing in federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors, Biden counselor Jeff Zients, who will lead the new administrations coronavirus effort, told CNN.

And the president will call on governors, public health officials, mayors, business leaders and others to implement masking, physical distancing and other public measures to control COVID-19, he added.

Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images

For some of Californias national parks, the new mandate wont change anything. For instance, at Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, "masks or other face coverings were already required to be worn inside all indoor and public spaces. This applies to both guests and employees," the official website for the parks' lodgings stated.

But in Yosemite, that wasnt the case. Back in December, Yosemite Public Information Officer Jamie Richards told SFGATE, Yosemite does not require masks, but they are strongly encouraged.

The inconsistency was a reflection of how the nation's response to the pandemic was fractured under the Trump administration, with some national parks and vendors requiring and enforcing masks, and others not, depending on state and local ordinances.

Employees working indoors at Yosemite National Park expressed relief that public health guidance on mask wearing would finally become compulsory within their workplace. Im just thankful we finally have it, says Lianne Saylor, an Ahwahnee roomskeeper, and thankful to have a president who acts like an adult.

In response to a emailed request for more details about what the new mandate would mean for Yosemite, Information Officer Scott Gediman wrote, We do not have any info.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TIS Insurance Services, Inc. (TIS) announces the onboarding of Spencer Nelson and Brad Starkey to its talented team of insurance specialists. Nelson is a business insurance consultant in the general commercial division, and Starkey is a client executive in the employee benefits division. TIS is one of Tennessee's largest independent insurance agencies, serving individuals and businesses in the Southeast.

Spencer Nelson, TIS Business Insurance Consultant, General Commercial Division Brad Starkey, TIS Client Executive, Employee Benefits Division

"We're excited to welcome these two talented client executives to TIS," said TIS CEO Donald B. Wake, CPCU. "Spencer and Brad will be active in the community and will be valuable assets to our clients and prospects."

Most recently with Anderson Insurance Associates, Nelson also worked for Liberty Mutual before joining TIS. He relocated to Knoxville from South Carolina to focus on business development. Nelson is a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

"The reputation and brand of TIS in combination with the locally owned family atmosphere is why I decided to come to TIS," Nelson said. "I hope to have a successful and impactful career to serve the agency, my community, and provide for my family. I would like to develop longstanding relationships within the area and mutually partner with successful businesses."

Formerly a global client manager for A.P. Moller-Maersk, Starkey is known for his ability to build strong customer relationships. He holds a bachelor's degree in selling and sales management from Purdue University. Starkey will work with logistics companies and contractors to design customized employee benefits plans.

"TIS is a value driven organization that is focused on integrity. I also appreciated that TIS is privately held, which really allows us to make the best decisions on behalf of its customers," Starkey said. "My hope is that I can partner with regional companies to ensure that we as a community are providing strong benefits in order to recruit and retain top talent in the area."

About TIS

Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., TIS Insurance Services, Inc. (TIS) is an independent, privately-owned insurance consulting and brokerage agency. TIS has served the insurance needs of policyholders in Tennessee and throughout the Southeast since 1945. With over 100 employees, TIS is one of the largest independently owned insurance agencies in Tennessee. For more information, visit tisins.com.

Media Contact:

Laura Mansfield, APR

Tombras

865.599.9968

[email protected]

SOURCE TIS Insurance Services, Inc.

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Partly cloudy early then becoming cloudy with periods of rain this afternoon. High 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%..

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No matter how you feel about Elon Musk, there's no denying he's one of America's most visionary business leaders. He turned the electric car into a product consumers actually wanted to buy and, in the process, turned Tesla into one of the world's most valuable companies.

Musk may not like conventions, but some are universal. One is productivity.

In a 2018 email that leaked to the public, the Tesla CEO outlined six recommendations for his employees to make the best use of their time.

Members of the military will quickly realize their units take few, if any of his recommendations.

While that's not the end of the world (and probably no surprise), due to the fact that the U.S. still has the world's most powerful military, those who have spent their whole lives in the service may want to take pause -- especially if they're transitioning out.

Judging by Musk's email, the military and civilian worlds are light years apart, and it's something for which veterans entering the civilian workforce should be prepared. Even Musk's other company SpaceX is unlikely to bridge this divide anytime soon.

1. No Large Meetings

Sometimes, the military requires an all-hands meeting or some other kind of all-call. Unlike many large companies, military units deal with life or death situations, which is actually a good reason to have a large meeting. If it's not that serious, Musk says, don't have it.

"Excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time," he wrote. "Please get [rid] of all large meetings, unless you're certain they are providing value to the whole audience."

2. No Long Meetings

The military also has well-intended short meetings. If Musk learned what a stand-up meeting is, he'd probably implement the practice of not being able to sit down all over his companies. In the case of large meetings with an important message, he believes they should be very short. And they definitely shouldn't be regular, writing:

"Also get rid of frequent meetings, unless you are dealing with an extremely urgent matter. Meeting frequency should drop rapidly once the urgent matter is resolved."

3. Don't Be Afraid to Leave

The idea of leaving a meeting called by a superior officer or noncommissioned officer is anathema to everything we know about the military. Try leaving when your squadron commander is speaking to the unit and tell me how that goes (please don't actually do that). But Musk is just fine with it, especially if the remainder of that meeting doesn't pertain to you.

"Walk out of a meeting or drop off a call as soon as it is obvious you aren't adding value," he wrote. "It is not rude to leave; it is rude to make someone stay and waste their time."

This was actually probably a very important meeting. (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

4. Don't Use Acronyms

If the military implemented this policy, its entire world might come to a screeching halt. Acronyms in the military aren't just part of a long-standing cultural tradition, they really do help ease communication. Would you rather say "Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System" or "HERCULES." My guess is Musk might give the military a pass -- but not Tesla.

For his company, he believes buzzwords and acronyms are a hindrance.

"Don't use acronyms or nonsense words for objects, software or processes at Tesla," the email states. "In general, anything that requires an explanation inhibits communication. We don't want people to have to memorize a glossary just to function at Tesla."

5. Communication Is Not Subject to Chain of Command

Somewhere, an O-4's head just exploded reading this. Unlike some companies, part of the U.S. military's functionality depends on handling situations at the lowest level of the chain of command, so the general doesn't have to sweat battlefield tactics or get tempted to override field officers closer to the action. It works for the military, but Musk doesn't believe it works for Tesla.

To him, communicating through a chain of command is just one giant game of "Telephone."

"Communication should travel via the shortest path necessary to get the job done, not through the chain of command," Musk writes. "Any manager who attempts to enforce chain of command communication will soon find themselves working elsewhere."

6. Use Common Sense.

In the military, we like to think that everything we do or did was designed using common sense. But any veteran will tell you that common sense isn't common and the phrase "Charlie Foxtrot" exists for a reason. Musk agrees.

"If following a "company rule" is obviously ridiculous in a particular situation, such that it would make for a great Dilbert cartoon, then the rule should change," he wrote.

Any veterans who learned a few productivity rules of their own in the service should send them to Blake Stilwell at blake.stilwell@military.com. Or on Twitter @blakestilwell and on Facebook.

Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs?

Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers, as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox.
There have been further 61 deaths related to Covid-19 reported today.

There have also been a further 2,488 number of confirmed cases.

Of the deaths reported today, 58 deaths occurred in January.

The Department of Health confirmed that the median age of those who died was 83 years and the age range was 41-100 years.

Some 726 of today's cases are in Dublin, with 314 in Cork and 148 in Galway.

There were 133 cases reported in Limerick, 130 in Meath and the remaining 1,037 cases are spread across all other counties.

Of today's cases:

1,090 are men / 1,383 are women

51% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 44 years old

The Department added that as of 2pm today, 1,923 Covid-19 patients have been hospitalised, of which 210 were in ICUs at 11am.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned that the country can't underestimate the virus.

"The number of cases and deaths that we are reporting today and the persisting high incidence rate of Covid-19 across the country shows that we cannot underestimate the highly infectious nature of this disease and the impact that it can have on families and communities," he said.

The virus spreads through close contacts, through the congregation of people. We need everyone to stay at home as much as possible, and to work from home, where possible.

"You should not meet up with friends or loved ones, unless you are caring for them. If you go out for exercise, you need to stay within 5km from your home, wear a face covering where appropriate and wash your hands when you return home to protect yourself from infection.

If you are Covid positive you should self-isolate and stay at home, in your room, avoiding contact with other people. This is to protect the other people that you live with.

The death toll from the virus now stands at 2,768 while there has been a total of 179,324 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

Earlier today, it was revealed that current Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions look set to be extended next week.

Ministers will discuss the review of the country's restrictions, due to expire on January 31, next week, but Cabinet sources say they will be extended.

While there is no clarity on exactly when restrictions would be lifted, sources say it could be a number of weeks.
Romania's ambassador to the US George Cristian Maior expressed his conviction that the term in office of the new American President Joe Biden, who has been a constant supporter of Romania, will see the reaffirmation of both sides' commitment to deepening and developing the Strategic Partnership.

"As a strategic partner, Romania remains firmly committed at the side of the United States to further promoting the common defense, strategic security and economic goals, so as to continue to contribute to the prosperity and security of the two peoples," said Maior, who attended President Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.

On this occasion, ambassador Maior had a series of contacts with members of the future US administration. The topics of discussion focused on the Romanian-American cooperation priorities in terms of the development of the Strategic Partnership, the Embassy informs in a release on Thursday.

In their turn, the US leaders expressed appreciation for Romania being a reliable partner and for its firm support to America and sent strong messages regarding the strengthening of the partnership between the two countries.
Former President John Mahama who is challenging the 2020 election results is asking the Supreme Court to put all proceedings relating to the Election Petition on hold.



In an application, he said: "At the hearing of this application, counsel will crave the indulgence of the Court to refer to the statement of Case in support of the Application for Review, particularly to show that there are indeed serious matters of law that are to be determined in this review application, and I am likely to succeed, as the Ruling of the Court is manifestly in error



All the above constitute exceptional circumstances on the basis of which we respectfully seek orders of the Court staying the proceedings in this case until the determination of the Application for Review. Not to stay proceedings would create the unfortunate impression that the review application has been pre-determined. No prejudice will be caused to the Respondents by the grant of such leave.



It seems the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B got wind of this before the information came out.



Listen to his comments in the video below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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BarcelonaJoe Biden's team landed at the White House yesterday and, as they settled into the west wing offices, began working knowing that they would find some surprises in the drawers; something they didn't know and will have to deal with before they can fully dedicate themselves to the priorities the new government has set for itself: covid-19, the economy, racial justice, immigration and climate change. There has been a part of Donald Trump's political team - not everyone - that has dedicated itself to delaying or even blocking the information that, as is customary in a period of transition, the incoming government should have received. It was not until November 23 that the transition officially began (most commonly the day after the election), but Trump's last-minute appointments with the Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency, for example, have not allowed for a full and transparent transfer of powers in these areas. Biden's team arrives in Washington without even being fully briefed on the government's handling of such critical issues as the covid virus.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The Covax programme, bolstered by the new US presidency on Thursday, aims to secure enough COVID-19 vaccines this year for the most vulnerable 20 percent in every country, rich or poor.

Top US government scientist Anthony Fauci told the World Health Organization (WHO) that the United States intends to join Covax, the globally-pooled coronavirus vaccine procurement and equitable distribution effort.

The move should give the facility a much-needed powerful impetusamid fears that rich countries are undermining the project by cutting their own direct deals with manufacturers.

Since December, dozens of the world's wealthiest countries have begun vaccination campaigns in a bid to halt the coronavirus pandemic.

As members of the Covax facility, the poorest nations are hoping to see their very first doses arrive in February.

In Covax, funding is covered for the 92 lower- and lower-middle income economies involved, while for richer countries, it operates as a back-up insurance policy.

Aimed at pooling the risk and rewards, Covax has struck agreements with manufacturers for two billion vaccine doses, and has secured options on a further billion.

Global solidarity

The Covax facility was launched in June 2020 at the Global Vaccine Summit.

It is co-led by the WHO as well as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

It sought an immediate $2 billion to kick-start the programme, with the intention of ensuring poorer nations can vaccinate their health workers and most vulnerable citizenson the basis that the pandemic would remain a global threat if it was not tackled worldwide.

Currently, around 190 countries are participating, including the 92 low-income and lower-middle income nations such as India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Vietnam.

Covax is inspired by similar previous mechanisms that facilitated universal and equitable access to pneumococcal and Ebola vaccines.

It guarantees the purchase of a fixed volume of COVID-19 vaccines even before they have been approved for use, and offers market guarantees.

Covax thereby aims to give pharmaceutical companies the confidence to invest in production, to ensure that vaccines are ready to go, at scale and speed, once regulators give the go-ahead.

Which vaccines?

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is the leader in UN vaccine logistics and is preparing to transport up to 850 tonnes of doses per month.

Covax deals have been struck with several vaccine manufacturers: Novavax, Sanofi-GSK, Johnson and Johnsonwhich have not so far been licensed for use by any national regulatorplus AstraZeneca.

So far, the WHO has only given its emergency use validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has been given the green light in several countries.

The WHO hopes to make a decision in late February on the Moderna vaccine, which has also been authorised by several national health authorities.

The WHO is in talks with Pfizer and Moderna to procure doses.

'Vaccine nationalism'

The vaccine shipments depend on several factors, including national regulatory approval and the recipient country's preparedness to start vaccinating.

The project's success also rests on whether it can raise the required funding.

Covax raised the initial $2 billion last year.

But at least $4.6 billion more will be needed this year for procurement, with a further $800 million needed for research and development and $1.4 billion for vaccine delivery support.

The WHO hopes to distribute 145 million doses worldwide in the first three months of this year.

However, the WHO has repeatedly hit out at "vaccine nationalism"particularly rich countries hogging the first doses off the production line in their own direct deals with manufacturers, bypassing Covax.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday that 39 million doses of coronavirus vaccines had been administered worldwide at that point, of which 25"not 25 million; not 25,000; just 25"were in a lower-income country.

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

 2021 AFP
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Police have today apologised to hundreds of people wrongly arrested and charged as it was revealed a quarter of cases linked to breaking lockdown were dropped for being unlawful.

Assaults on emergency workers such as spitting and coughing at them were the most common coronavirus-related crimes prosecuted in the first six months of the pandemic, figures show.

But in other cases police were involved in dozens of miscarriages of justice after failing to apply the law correctly or unfairly targetting the public.

1,137 charges were specifically for breaking coronavirus laws brought in so police could enforce lockdown, the CPS said, but some 286 of these prosecutions were 'withdrawn or set aside' after alleged rulebreakers were wrongly charged, with some victims having to go to court before their cases collapsed.

In the majority of cases police had used the wrong legislation to charge the people - or they had not done anything wrong at all.

Gregor McGill, CPS Director of Legal Services, said: 'I am confident the measures we have put in place will enhance the consistency of charging decisions across the country and ensure a fair criminal justice response for all as we adjust to these challenging times.'

Martin Hewitt, National Police Chiefs' Council chair, said: 'We apologise for the mistakes but all parties have worked hard to manage this new legislation as effectively as they can and to keep the public safe'.

Today police revealed a father-of-two has been arrested after he drove 350 miles with his wife and young family to get a kebab then crashed on the way home near Bristol.

The crashed BMW on the M5 belonging to a driver who had no licence or insurance who told officers they had travelled from Exeter to Coventry and back to pick up a kebab

Another Covidiot has been fined for making a 128-mile round trip to buy fish and chips in Great Yarmouth

The CPS has admitted that around a quarter of early cases were withdrawn because people were wrongly charged

The driver, who has not been named had no licence or insurance, crashed on the M5, near Portishead, Bristol.

EXCLUSIVE: Police chief's daughter, 19, breaks lockdown rules by partying with 40 revellers at illegal gathering - despite her father instructing everyone to stay at home The damning video footage of Amy and her mates in Leeds was posted to Snapchat by a fellow reveller from the event at 3am on Sunday. It is believed to have been held in one of the university's halls of residence The student daughter of a senior police chief has been caught on video at an illegal party brazenly flouting lockdown restrictions. Second-year undergraduate Amy Slattery, 19, is seen dancing along to 'Murder on the Dancefloor' with other students at Leeds Beckett University in the clip from a boozy Saturday night party where no masks or social distancing were evident. Her father, Cumbria Police Assistant Chief Constable Andy Slattery, has been at the forefront of the fight to control the pandemic and is chair of the county's multi-agency Covid-19 Strategic Coordination Group. The damning video footage of Amy and her mates in Leeds was posted to Snapchat by a fellow reveller from the event at 3am on Sunday. It is believed to have been held in one of the university's halls of residence. The day after the party, the university tweeted on its official account: 'Unfortunately a small number of students have breached the regulations by organising or attending parties/gatherings in halls, putting the safety and welfare of other residents and staff at risk.' The young people in the video were clearly making no attempt to take precautions against Covid-19 as the music boomed out, despite the fact that Leeds has been hard-hit by the virus. A source told MailOnline they had been 'utterly disgusted' to witness the footage from the party. 'Of course, it's not just Amy who was behaving irresponsibly, but given who her father is, it's outrageous that she has ignored all the rules in this way. 'Her dad is never off the local TV and radio, rightly ramming home the message that we must all adhere to the laws on wearing facemasks and maintaining a safe distance if we're to stay safe from this disease. 'Andy takes all this very seriously. This won't go down well at all.' Advertisement

The man, with his wife and two children, told officers they had travelled from Exeter to Coventry to pick up a kebab, and were on their way home when the smash occurred.

Officers fined the motorist for various offences, including driving with no licence or insurance, and coronavirus breaches.

Avon and Somerset's road policing unit tweeted: 'RTC on the M5 at Portishead. The driver had no licence or insurance. He had his wife, and 2 young children in the vehicle.

'They were returning to Exeter from Coventry where they had travelled to buy a kebab. Driver reported for various offences including the Covid breach.'

Twitter users have responded angrily to these latest Covid rule breakers.

One user tweeted: 'Exeter - Coventry return to buy a kebab uninsured + unlicensed driver, sure went out of his way to provide for his family.

'Too many selfish unnecessary journeys happening nationwide adds to spread virus.

'Stay home essential travel only!'

Another has been fined for making a 128-mile round trip just to buy fish and chips. The motorist drove from Mildenhall, in Suffolk, to Scratby, near Great Yarmouth on the Norfolk coast, for his dinner.

There are 16 chippies within a 12-mile radius from Mildenhall, according to Google.

However he decided to ignore lockdown rules - to stay local - and take an two hours and 40 minute round trip to the coast.

Norfolk Police found his reasons for travelling a bit fishy, and slapped with a fixed penalty notice.

Officers would not reveal how much the motorist was fined - with the minimum charge being 200.

The charges over the past year were among almost 6,500 coronavirus-related crimes prosecuted in the period, according to figures published on Thursday.

Some 1,137 charges were for breaking coronavirus laws, including a man caught travelling between counties in Wales to solicit the services of a sex worker and another who claimed 15 people having a party at his house in Manchester were part of his support bubble.

Other crimes the CPS 'flagged' as being coronavirus-related, for example if the offender was caught while found outside their home without a reasonable excuse, included 480 charges for public order offences, 466 for criminal damage and 464 for common assault.

Flouting coronavirus rules was regarded as an 'aggravating feature' of the crimes during sentencing.

Overall, 2,106 defendants were prosecuted for 6,469 coronavirus-related offences, with a conviction rate of 90%, according to the CPS.

The data includes the number of wrongful prosecutions, the CPS added, saying 286 had been 'withdrawn or set aside' as of October.

A sex-mad man has been slapped with a 200 Covid fine - for visiting a brothel during the pandemic.

Police found him entering the seedy property in Minster on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent at around 6pm last Friday.

He is one of 729 people who have been punished by Kent Police for breaching coronavirus legislation.

Fines have ranged from 200 to 1,000 for throwing parties, making non-essential trips or even going out in public while carrying the virus.

Other covidiots include three men and three women having a party at a house in Dartford on Saturday.

After dispersing the bash, officers were called back to find the three ladies attempting to hide in cupboards.

They were all fined despite one woman already receiving a fixed penalty notice after the first police attendance.

Over in Folkestone, another woman was fined at 1am on Saturday after admitting she had tested positive for Covid-19 three days earlier and should have been self-isolating.

Officers also busted a party of 20 people in Canterbury just after 9pm on Friday. Two men and a women were fined.

There were almost 6,500 coronavirus-related crimes prosecuted in the period, according to figures published on Thursday

Kent Police Headquarters, 729 people have been punished by the force for breaching coronavirus legislation since March 2020

Kent Police is pleading for people to continue following lockdown rules.

Britain said on Thursday it had prosecuted 6,500 people for coronavirus-related offences in the first six months following the nationwide lockdown last March, with most relating to assaults on emergency workers.

The Crown Prosecution Service said 1,688 people were charged with assaulting emergency staff, with many relating to police officers being coughed, spat at or bitten, or hit with heavy objects when they tackled suspected rule-breakers.

There were also another 1,200 people charged between the start of April and end of September for breaking specific rules to stop the spread of COVID-19, including a man who was caught travelling to solicit the services of a sex worker.

'Particularly appalling is the high number of assaults on emergency workers still taking place and I will continue to do everything in my power to protect those who so selflessly keep us safe during this crisis,' Max Hill, the Director of Public Prosecutions, said.

Moment police raid illegal party in a marquee with 50 revellers inside as organiser is hit with 10,000 fine for breaching Covid rules

This is the shocking moment police raid an illegal party in a marquee with 50 revellers inside.

Bodycam footage shows police officers storming in and breaking up the New Year's Eve gathering in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

Bedfordshire Police has handed the organiser a 10,000 fine after giving them a warning following a tip-off, but still returning to find dozens of party-goers.

The event featured a dance floor, disco lights, four speakers, tables and chairs.

Body cam footage shows police officers storming in and breaking up the illegal party in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, on New Year's Eve

In the video, a police officer can be heard shouting 'get out of the marquee now' while a female responds: 'I live here.'

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said: 'People are being warned of the consequences of attending large gatherings during lockdown after the organiser of a New Year's Eve party attended by dozens of people was issued with a 10,000 fine.

'We have published an open letter to anyone looking to attend large gatherings such as parties, protests or funerals which breach the existing regulations, warning that officers will take enforcement action to disperse large groups of people.

'The fresh call comes after action was taken against the organiser of a party at a location near Leighton Buzzard.

'On 31 December officers called to the site had found a marquee with a number of tables and chairs, a small dance floor and four speakers.

'The organiser was spoken to and given words of advice, but when officers returned later they found around 50 people in attendance.

'Police were able to bring the event to a close and disperse the attendees. After reviewing the evidence, officers have now issued a 10,000 fine to main organiser for breaching Covid-19 regulations.'

Chief Superintendent John Murphy, who is leading the force's Covid response, said: 'Throughout the pandemic, we have been working with our partners to urge and remind members of the public to adhere to the Government guidance so we can all play our part in stopping the spread of the virus, so it is astonishing to see people brazenly and blatantly ignoring these rules.

Police officers wearing face coverings pictured approaching the revellers as they disband the illegal New Year's Eve party in Bedfordshire

A police officer seen inside the marquee. The event featured a dance floor, disco lights, tinsel, balloons, four speakers and numerous tables and chairs

In the video, a police officer can be heard shouting 'get out of the marquee now' while a female responds: 'I live here'. Police had earlier given a warning following a tip-off

'This party was not only a huge breach, but also showed a total lack of respect to those people who haven't been able to attend the funeral of a loved one, or spend Christmas and New Year with their friends and family, which is why we have not taken this lightly and have taken firm action.

'We understand the past 10 months have been difficult for everyone and we are grateful to those who have been following the guidelines, but the pressure on the NHS is still immense and we all need to everything we can to keep ourselves and others safe.'

The force added that it has issued 103 fixed penalty notices for Covid-19 regulation breaches over the past week, with 399 incidents reported over the same period.

There were similar raves across the country, as Greater Manchester Police issued 105 fines, compared to 66 in Brighton and Hove.

The maximum fine for breaking coronavirus restrictions is 10,000 for the most egregious breaches.

A top police officer previously slammed New Year's Eve revellers who ignored Covid lockdown rules and 'decided partying was more important than protecting other people'.

Bottles of what appears to be alcohol pictured at the event in Bedfordshire. The organiser was handed a 10,000 fine after police found dozens of party-goers, despite giving a warning

Bedfordshire Police officers inside the marquee as they break up the party. The force has issued 103 fixed penalty notices for Covid-19 regulation breaches over the past week

Revellers pictured at the illegal gathering. Bedfordshire Police said: 'The organiser was spoken to and given words of advice, but when officers returned later they found around 50 people'

A woman who organised an event in Sewardstonebury involving a fire dancer and an entertainer was fined 10,000.

Elsewhere in the county officers broke up an illegal rave at an abandoned church in East Horndon and another at a warehouse in Brentwood.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet criticised those who 'decided to blatantly flout the coronavirus rules and regulations and, ultimately, they decided that partying was more important than protecting other people'.

Met Police issued 217 people with fixed penalty fines and five people could receive 10,000 fines for organising large gatherings across London.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier confirmed people would only be allowed to celebrate indoors on December 31 with people in their own household, saying the Government would 'not be bringing in a special set of rules' for New Year.

There are some exemptions that apply to gatherings, such as those that are necessary for work purposes, escaping the risk of harm and providing emergency assistance.
A prosecutor Thursday questioned Lebanon's central bank chief Riad Salameh, the latter and a judicial source said, after a Swiss request for help in an anti-graft probe linked to capital flight

Beirut, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ):A prosecutor Thursday questioned Lebanon's central bank chief Riad Salameh, the latter and a judicial source said, after a Swiss request for help in an anti-graft probe linked to capital flight.

The Swiss attorney general's office said Tuesday it had requested assistance from Lebanon in an investigation into "aggravated money laundering... in connection with possible embezzlement to the detriment of" the Lebanese central bank.

A Lebanese judicial source has said the probe was looking into $400 million purportedly transferred out of Lebanon, by Salameh, his brother, his assistant and financial institutions linked to the central bank, allegations Salameh's office has denied.

Salameh in a statement said he had been seen Thursday by public prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat.

"I answered all his and the Swiss general attorney's questions. I assured him that no money transfer had been made from the Bank of Lebanon accounts or budgets," he said.

A judicial source said that Salameh mentioned only "transfers not exceeding 240 millions dollars made since 2002 from personal accounts to fund a company founded with his brother".

The prosecutor will request the central bank provide the records of these transfers, including the amount and date of each transaction, before it replies to the Swiss attorney general, the same source said.

Salameh said he would be happy to travel to Switzerland to defend himself against any accusations, the source said.

According to Lebanon's Al-Akhbar daily newspaper, the probe is part of a wider effort spearheaded by France, Britain and the United States to investigate shady dealings by Lebanese officials, including Salameh.

It comes as Lebanon grapples with its worst economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

DES MOINES, Iowa and NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP) announces that Nichole Aksamit is named Editor in Chief of Allrecipes magazine, the eponymous bi-monthly magazine of the leading multi-platform food media brand for home cooks, effective immediately. Previously Executive Editor of Allrecipes, Aksamit will oversee the print editorial for the brand and report to Meredith VP/Group Editorial Director Stephen Orr.

Stephen Orr said, "Allrecipes connects directly with home cooks like no other brand. And there's no one better than Nichole to bring her passion for food journalism and community into America's kitchens. As a founding member of the Allrecipes magazine editorial team, she has been integral to its success and there are few people that know this brand as well as she does. Allrecipes magazine is in great hands and poised for continued growth with Nichole leading the way."

Aksamit has worked for Allrecipes magazine since its inception in 2013, beginning as Senior Editor and rising to Executive Editor in 2018. Prior to that, she developed and edited cookbooks at Oxmoor House, a book publishing division of Time Inc. She began her journalism career at newspapersincluding the Omaha World-Herald, where she worked for 11 years serving as food critic, restaurant reviewer and health reporter, among other roles. She earned her B.A. in Mass Communications and English from Minnesota State University-Moorhead.

Aksamit said, "Having been a part of the magazine team from its outset, I'm thrilled to take this leadership role and keep the momentum going. At a time when people are cooking even more at home, I believe we have not only a great opportunity, but a great responsibility to help our readers live a more delicious life. We'll continue to surface the best of Allrecipes.com while tapping a wide range of voices and emerging talent to bring our audience something inspiring and new in every issue."

Aksamit succeeds former Editor in Chief Jennifer Darling who retired earlier this month.

Allrecipes magazine has expanded its audience since its 2013 debut, now reaching an more than 9 million readers, with a rate base that has increased from 500,000 to 1.4 million. Allrecipes.com remains the leading food media site with nearly 60 million unique visitors in December 2020, according to Comscore. Last fall, Allrecipes was named Hottest in Food on Adweek's Hot List 2020.

ABOUT ALLRECIPES

Allrecipes, the world's largest community-driven food brand, provides trusted resources to more than 60 million home cooks, publishes recipes from home cooks around the world who connect and inspire one another through photos, reviews and videos. Since its launch in 1997, Allrecipes has become a dynamic, indispensable resource for cooks of all skill levels seeking trusted recipes, cooking trends, entertaining ideas, every day and holiday meal solutions, grocery savings information and practical cooking tips. The brand helps cooks shop, budget and make healthy, sustainable choices in the kitchen. In addition to the site, Allrecipes produces content across numerous platforms, including voice skills, smart appliances, apps and podcasts. Allrecipes Magazine, the magazine industry's first large-scale digital-to-print brand extension, reaches an audience of more than 9 million. Published six times a year, the magazine has grown rapidly to a 1.4 million rate base from 500,000 at its inception seven years ago.

SOURCE Meredith Corporation

Related Links

https://www.meredith.com


Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has called to deepen ties with Russia, he said speaking at the parliament on Wednesday, TASS reports.

"Our cooperation with the Russian Federation in the security field is certainly at the most intensive and highest level. The issue on our agenda is to deepen the military and political alliance with the Russian Federation," he indicated.

Earlier, both the prime minister and other high-ranking Armenian officials had repeatedly reiterated Russias key role in the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement.
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PFAS investigation in Pellston completes second round of samples

Officials discovered polyfluoroalkyls in Pellston residential water sources in late 2019. The airport is believed to be the source of the substances.
Azerbaijan sees economic growth rebounding this year as it emerges from a Covid-19-induced slump and the war with neighboring Armenia that restored its control over formerly occupied territories, Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said, Bloomberg writes in the article Azerbaijan Sees Economy Bouncing Back After Covid-19 Slump, War. Gross domestic product is forecast to increase by 3.4% after contracting 4.3% in 2020, Jabbarov said in an interview Tuesday. Our projections for 2021 are more optimistic than those of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, he said.

The World Bank predicts Azerbaijans economy will grow 1.9% this year and the IMF forecasts a 2% expansion. While growth will depend on the success of Azerbaijans vaccination program against Covid-19 that began Monday, other areas which are important for the well-being of Azerbaijans economy I think we are pretty confident about, Jabbarov said.

The economy of the former Soviet Unions third-largest oil producer shrank last year for the first time since 2016, buffeted by lockdown measures against the epidemic and the slide in crude prices. Amid the turmoil, Azerbaijan won back seven regions occupied for more than two decades around the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh in the 44-day war with Armenia that ended with a Russia-brokered truce deal in November.

The new geopolitical reality after the war, with major reconstruction plans in the reclaimed territories and an agreement to reopen borders and transport links across the region as part of the truce, will make a significant contribution to growth and employment in Azerbaijan, Jabbarov said. Azerbaijan will spend 2.2 billion manat ($1.3 billion) in the former occupied regions this year, he said.

Still, a target to double Azerbaijans GDP by 2030 under a new 10-year development plan that requires an average annual growth rate of 7% will be challenging, said U.S.-educated Jabbarov, 44, who was appointed in 2019 after nearly two years as tax minister. As part of efforts to boost growth, the Caspian Sea nation is moving 21 major government-owned companies to a new state holding company tasked to improve efficiency and corporate governance as well as prepare them for possible privatization, he said. We expect increased value for the shareholder and also for the economy, Jabbarov said. While the companies wont all be privatized, the state will have the same point of view as an investor. It requires a lot of change in the way companies operate.

There are no plans to sell stakes in state companies this year, including in the oil company Socar, Jabbarov said. But Azerbaijan intends to adopt a privatization program that will include new assets that havent been offered until now, he said, without offering a timeframe for sales.

We dont believe its correct to do privatization for the sake of privatization or to do privatization within a certain deadline, he said. Thats why our choice was to set up an investment holding company, giving it a chance to work and increase shareholder value.

The end of the conflict over the occupied territories will improve stability in the Caucasus and boost Azerbaijans role as a regional hub, with more trade and transit of goods and people contributing to prosperity, Jabbarov said. That may even extend to cooperation with Armenia, its enemy for three decades in the fight over Nagorno-Karabakh, according to Jabbarov.

President Ilham Aliyev has made clear that Azerbaijan has no problems with any of its neighbors now that its territorial integrity has been restored, said Jabbarov. A joint commission of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan is due to start work this month on plans for restoring regional transport links, the minister said. Mutual cooperation will bring benefits to all the countries involved in the region, Jabbarov said


Biden Says Trump Wrote Him A Very Generous Letter

President Joe Biden praised the letter President Donald Trump left him but declined to share details of its contents.

Biden told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday that Trump wrote him a very generous letter. But he called the contents private and said he wouldnt share more until he had a chance to speak with Trump.

A spokesman for the Trump administration said before Biden was inaugurated that Trump left a note for Biden, following a presidential tradition.

Then-White House press secretary Judd Deere didnt elaborate on the contents, citing privacy concerns.

Asked about the letter and whether a phone call is pending during a briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters: This was a letter that was private, and it was both generous and gracious. And it was just a reflection of him not planning to release the letter unilaterally, but I wouldnt take it as an indication of a pending call with the former president.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania make their way to board Marine One before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Vice President Mike Pence also reportedly left a note for Vice President Kamala Harris, and Trumps press secretary Kayleigh McEnany left notes for Bidens incoming press officials.

Former President Barack Obama left a note in 2017 to Trump that read in part: This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I dont know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful  American leadership in this world really is indispensable. Its up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order thats expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend.

And before that, former President George W. Bush left a letter to his successor: Very few have had the honor of knowing the responsibility you now feel. Very few know the excitement of the moment and the challenges you will face  There will be trying moments. The critics will rage. Your friends will disappoint you. But, you will have an Almighty God to comfort you, a family who loves you, and a country that is pulling for you, including me. No matter what comes, you will be inspired by the character and compassion of the people you now lead.

Trump departed Washington for Florida on Wednesday morning, skipping all inauguration ceremonies.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
[January 21, 2021] Leading Medical Journal Features ATC Alert's Successful RPM Program with New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Telemedicine and E-health, the leading peer-reviewed journal for telemedicine applications, recently published a paper overviewing New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital's (NYPBMH) engagement with ATC Alert's remote patient monitoring (RPM) program. NYPBMH engaged the services of ATC Alert, a leading connected health company, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in NYC. Together, they worked to rapidly implement a successful RPM program monitoring low to moderate-risk COVID-19 patients from their homes under the direction of care algorithms set forth by leadership at NYPBMH. The engagement developed as NYPBMH was inundated with COVID-19 patients, leading to limited manpower and resources at the onset of the pandemic and needed a trusted partner to responsibly alleviate the hospital's burden. ATC Alert leveraged its current RPM technology, which is widely used by physicians in the tristate area, along with its 24/7 nursing staff to develop a COVID-19 RPM program allowing NYPBMH to discharge the patients into ATC Alert's RPM care. ATC Alert jumped into action and created and implemented the program in under thirty days allowing for immediate assistance to an overburdened healthcare system. "Since launching ATC Alert's RPM program, our mission has been to provide high quality care for patients in-and-out of the physician's office," says Jordan S. Savitsky, CEO of ATC Alert. "During this trying time, we were able to act fast due to our turn-key end-to-end RPMsolution and provide assistance to the great doctors and nurses of NYPBMH."



The results of this engagement showed high patient satisfaction with ATC Alert's RPM program and led NYPBMH to conclude that "Telehealth and RPM's concurrent use with a third-party vendor (ATC Alert) could be successfully utilized for safe discharges with high patient satisfaction." To read the full academic paper click here . SATISFACTION STATISTICS

91% of patients surveyed said they were satisfied with the care they received

96% of patients felt comfortable taking readings

96% of patients felt getting on-boarded was simple

100% said ATC Alert's platform was easy to use As COVID-19 continues to put Americans at risk, RPM remains a key tool to keep our healthcare system functioning effectively. RPM programs allow for the remote monitoring of patients using cellular enabled devices to limit patients exposure to healthcare facilities and save physician time to see more high risk patients. ABOUT ATC Alert

ATC Alert's RPM program provides a unique turn-key solution for practices and hospital systems to monitor and care for patients. ATC Alert provides the platform, all necessary equipment, and unbeatable patient support. By monitoring patients with chronic conditions from their own homes, doctors are able to provide patients with enhanced care, while significantly lowering the risks of a health incident going unnoticed. For more information on ATC Alert's RPM service and how you can increase your bottom line while also providing better care, visit https://health.atcalert.com/products-solutions/rpm/ . Media Contact:

Michael Burian

917-345-6262

289615@email4pr.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-medical-journal-features-atc-alerts-successful-rpm-program-with-new-york-presbyterian-brooklyn-methodist-hospital-301212057.html SOURCE ATC Alert LLC

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A married couple, including a woman who worked for the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance, is accused of submitting fraudulent unemployment assistance claims.

Tiffany Pacheco, 35, and Arthur Pacheco, 47, were each indicted in Boston on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Tiffany Pacheco was also indicted on five counts of wire fraud and Arthur Pacheco on two counts.

The couple, originally from New Bedford, was arrested in San Antonio, Texas, in December.

Tiffany Pacheco was hired by the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) in April of 2020, shortly after her release from federal prison following a conviction for aggravated identity theft, authorities said. While employed by DUA, Tiffany, authorities said, submitted fraudulent PUA claim information for herself and her husband, who was incarcerated in Texas until Sept. 4, 2020, and no longer eligible for PUA funds.

In June 2020, claims submitted for the couple reflected no income for 2019 and no dependents, authorities said. A month later in July, authorities said, Tiffany changed the claim to increase the income amount to $240,000 and the number of dependents to seven. The adjustments would lead to an increase in PUA funds.

In November, Arthur called DUA and falsely denied that he had been incarcerated during the timeframe leading up to September, authorities said.

Authorities searched the couples home in New Bedford and said they found various tools of identity fraud, including an ID laminator, 100 blank ID cards, 68 hologram overlays, 150 card lamination sheets and 649 sheets of blank checks.

Law enforcement also seized approximately $17,000 cash and a notebook that appeared to contain the personal identifying information of various individuals, authorities said.

Tiffany worked for the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance until being terminated in September.

The charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud include a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.
Kamala Harris on Wednesday opted to wear a dress designed by two Black designers for her historic inauguration as the US Vice-president.

Her husband and the Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff was wearing a Ralph Lauren suit. In fact, President-elect Joe Biden was also wearing a navy suit and navy overcoat by the American designer.

Harris, 56, has created history by becoming the first woman, first Black and first Indian-American vice president of the United States.

In opting to wear the dress designed by Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson, Harris has sent her own message to the country that Black designers have arrived on the scene.

It's an honor to be your Vice President. pic.twitter.com/iM3BxJzz6E Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) January 20, 2021

It's an honor to be your Vice President. pic.twitter.com/iM3BxJzz6E Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) January 20, 2021

Rogers is a young Black designer, from Baton Rouge, and lives in New York City. Hudson is a Black designer from South Carolina. Rogers has sold made-to-order designs from his Brooklyn studio since 2016, according to Forbes.

In 2020 his eponymous label was sold in storesincluding Net-A-Porter and Forty-Five Tenfor the first time. Winner of the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, he has already dressed Michelle Obama, Lizzo, Rihanna and Cardi B in the past. Hudson is determined to prove that Southern designers have what it takes to succeed in the fashion industry, according to his website. Hudson hates over-embellishments and believes that his strongest skill is constructing structured, but feminine pieces.

He is currently working on the second collection of his namesake womens line, The Sergio Hudson woman is a vision of a lifestyle. Hudson graduated from Bauder College with an Associate degree in Fashion Design.
The research consortium is developing improved ways of predicting the presence of naturally occurring potentially destructive rogue waves that can have a harmful effect on critical offshore structures. Credit: Ilona Froehlic, Unsplash

A well-known mathematical method, used as a predictive tool in engineering and the physical sciences for more than 70 years, has been radically redesigned in landmark research led by Cambridge engineers.

The Finite Element Method (FEM), a tool that provides computer-simulated solutions to otherwise unsolvable mathematical models, has been at the cornerstone of modern day applied mathematics, numerical analysis and software development, but the ability to integrate data with the FEM to improve techniques for making physical model predictions has been overlookeduntil now.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge, the University of Western Australia (UWA) and The Alan Turing Institute have collaborated to redesign the FEM and lay the foundation and methodology by which Digital Twins can be realized. They report their findings in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Co-author of the report, Professor Mark Girolami, Sir Kirby Laing Professor of Civil Engineering, Royal Academy of Engineering Research Chair at the University of Cambridge, and Programme Director for Data-Centric Engineering at The Alan Turing Institute, said the research had commercial interest.

"Digital Twinsthe pairing of the physical and virtual worldis of significant current interest to the broader engineering community. By integrating data with FEMs, this new work provides the foundation and methodology by which these Digital Twins can be realized," he said.

"By accepting that our mathematical descriptions of complex systems can be wrong and not capture all aspects of the system, we were able to define a statistical description of the FEM that provided a very natural and entirely novel way to blend data and mathematical models in a really powerful way.

"This provides the opportunity to couple statistical techniques with FEMs to lay the mathematical foundations of the Digital Twin revolution. Until now, how data can be taken directly into account has been missing from FEMs."

The PNAS paper demonstrates the method in the context of improving our understanding of oceanic solitons, i.e. large amplitude internal waves that occur on Australia's North West Shelf and elsewhere around the world.

Connor Duffin, Ph.D. student from UWA's School of Physics, Mathematics and Computing and lead author on the paper, added: "Scientifically, solitons are significant events that introduce turbulence and mixing, that impact local fertilization, and hence biology, due to nutrients from the seabed being dispersed into the water column. For engineering practice, predicting the occurrence and magnitude of solitons is of particular interest to the Australian offshore industry, as it impacts the safety and operation of current and future assets."

Explore further Thermodynamics of computation: A quest to find the cost of running a Turing machine
Australian actor Luke Cook and celebrity stylist Kara Wilson welcomed their first child, a son named Chaplin, in November.

And on Sunday, the married couple enjoyed a dip at Sydney's Balmoral Beach with their newborn.

The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star flaunted his buff biceps and muscular physique as he cradled his little boy.

Baby's day out! Actor Luke Cook flaunted his muscular physique as he and wife Kara Wilson took their newborn son Chaplin for a dip at Balmoral Beach

The 34-year-old wore black boardshorts and concealed his gaze behind sunglasses as he cooled off in the ocean.

Meanwhile, Kara flaunted her slender post-baby body in a nude bikini.

She styled her brunette hair loosely and drew attention to her natural beauty by going makeup free.

Doting dad: The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star, 34, flaunted his buff biceps and muscular physique as he cradled his little boy

Luke looked every inch the doting father to Chaplin, who wore a white onesie.

After a quick swim, Kara changed into an oversized shirt and white shorts and pushed Chaplin's stroller along the boardwalk.

Meanwhile, Luke secured his son in a pink carrier as he walked alongside his wife.

Handsome: Luke wore black boardshorts and concealed his gaze behind dark sunglasses

Home time: After a quick swim, Kara changed into an oversized shirt and white shorts and pushed Chaplin's stroller along the boardwalk

In November, Luke announced the birth of the couple's first child on Instagram and shared a gallery of sweet photos of the newborn.

'Chaplin Benjamin Cook. Born 11/11/2020. Kara was brave. We all cried. He's a joy,' he wrote in the caption.

Kara also shared a photo of herself crying as she held her son just moments after giving birth.
Conor Pierce used to fly planes.

The Dubliner, Samsungs vice president for the UK and Ireland, held a private pilots licence in Ireland, flying out of Weston Aerodrome in the 1990s.

Then his family had a stern word.

When baby number three arrived, I was informed that this wasnt really a great activity, he says. But I still fancy myself as a bit of a pilot.

He hasnt completely given up, he says. I just purchased a copy of Microsofts Flight Simulator 2020.

Although this comes up during a chat about uses for curved televisions and monitors, its the kind of thing Conor Pierce drops into conversations.

The Blackrock-born executive has a taste for dare-devil hobbies, from planes to high-altitude mountaineering. The last time we talked, he pined after his dream of becoming a sea-rescue paramedic off the stormy west coast of Ireland.

Some of this has crossed over into his professional life.

He graduated from UCD with a Masters degree in international marketing and, after a stint in his dads sock factory, he moved to Ericsson, leading the Irish business from 1996.

Then Nokia called in 2004, when it was the biggest, most powerful mobile company in the world. There, he had several country manager roles across Europe.

After Nokia fell into decline following its acquisition by Microsoft, Mr Pierce was hired in 2015 to Samsung as its vice president for IT and Mobile. It was a time of intense competition with Apple, as well as some corporate misfires (principally the overheating Galaxy Note 7 in 2016, which Mr Pierce helped remediate in the UK).

That competition with Apple is still white hot, as Mr Pierce makes clear in some of the metrics he uses for assessing the progress of Samsungs latest devices.

For example, when I ask him about whether Samsungs 2,000 folding smartphones are having much impact, Mr Pierce cant resist one little nugget of data hes noticed.

We know that the folding form factor is attracting iPhone users like never before, he says. If you look at the number of people who purchased a Fold phone last year, twice as many of them came from iPhone than a standard Samsung smartphone.

Samsung isnt quite saying how many Galaxy Fold smartphones it has sold, though.

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Theyre growing, he says. But the fact that we've we haven't had access to retail [shops] to really showcase the phones has been a bit of a challenge for us.

Mr Pierce says that Samsung has a customer base of 1.8 million people in Ireland and claims that it has grown its overall customer base across Ireland and the UK by 1 million to 15 million in the last year.

But it wants more. January is a big month for Samsung. Not only does it show off its home technology concepts for the year, but it launches its flagship S series phone range.

That means the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra phones, ranging from around 879 to around 1,600.

So far, the reception, while broadly positive, suggests that they deliver on incremental improvements rather than any big new idea. Is this a fair summary?

No, I think there's been significant improvement, says Mr Pierce.

If you take the cameras, the the S21 Ultra has 108 megapixels and you can shoot with 8k video and take an 8k snapshot. There are also improvements to the 100x space zoom.

There would need to be though. Many people found the 100x zoom on last years Samsung flagship phones to be unusably blurry and stretched.

I'm confident that we've learned from last year, he says. I think it's going to be a much better experience. And I'm sure you'll put it to its test. So I'm looking forward to that feedback.

(Ill have an in-depth review of the high-end S21 Ultra in these pages next week. So far, the 100x zoom appears to still struggle a bit for clarity.)

One of the other main changes that can also be seen with the S21 in its lack of a charging plug. This is something Apple did with its iPhone 12, claiming environmental reasons. Samsung was among many who mocked Apple for it, but its now clear that it will become standard practice for smartphones across the industry.

But with Samsung, Apple and others promoting wireless charging capabilities, does Mr Pierce think the days of cabled charging may be endangered?

Yes, he says.

I do believe the standard in the future will be wireless charging, says Mr Pierce. Already, 25pc of smartphone users actually choose to use wireless charging. You can get multiple device charging at the same time or even off one another. So that's definitely the trend. I also think there an obvious environmental benefit to that.

And folding phones? Will they remain a very narrow expensive niche? Or will they become Samsungs de facto premium range in a year or two?

Right now, it is obviously at the ultra high premium level, he says. What's interesting is that during the pandemic the market dropped by around 8pc last year but the ultra premium segment grew significantly. People are willing to invest in ultra ultra premium smartphones especially for photos.

In one sense, Samsung has benefitted from something it has had no control over: the US ban on Huawei. This has badly hurt the fortunes of what was the only large-scale Android competitor to Samsung in Europe.

I've been around the block since the mid 1990s and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, he says of the trade barriers put in Huaweis way.

And yes, we some some significant market share growth in Ireland and UK due to a lot of those Huawei customers coming home to Samsung, But to be clear, I think competition is healthy, no matter where it comes from. It puts pressure on the incumbents to think differently.

Does he see a global split in technology emerging between western and Chinese companies, as trade and political tensions simmer?

I wouldnt want to comment from a global perspective, but from a UK and Ireland point of view, I think we've obviously seen an opportunity for us to grow our market share.

Other than its phone launches, Samsungs two standout home technology reveals this month have been a kitchen helper robot that can pick up things, thanks to an ability to see using cameras and artificial intelligence, and a 110-inch television.

The robot home help is a seductive notion. But is it really close to fruition?

I dont know how soon that will actually be released, he says. But I do think that that concept will become quite normal in years to come.

The giant TV is a sign of our times, Mr Pierce says.

I think during the last 12 months, people are really looking for new tech at home, he says. Of course, size does matter. And TVs have seen a huge increase in the last year, for all the reasons you know about. Samsung, in its DNA, is always pushing boundaries, even though I think I'd need a new wall at home if I went that big.

Speaking of home, Mr Pierce has been working from Ireland during the pandemic.

"Its been great to spend time with the family. But I also get my energy from people, so I do miss that team spirit from engaging in person with my team.




Mumbai, Jan 21 : Terming the recent revelations of WhatsApp chats of two media personalities Arnab Goswami and Partho Dasgupta as "extremely serious and violative of the Official Secret Act, 1923" the Maharashtra Congress on Thursday announced state-wide protests on Friday (Jan. 22) demanding their arrest and prosecution.

State party President and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the chats between the Republic TV Editor and the ex-BARC head had some serious revelations related to national security and pertaining to the retaliatory surgical strike by India in Balakot, Pakistan.

"How did Goswami get the information on the air-strikes of Feb. 23, 2019, three days before the action was taken? Who is the 'Big Name' in the government that he refers to? With whom did Goswami share such sensitive information that is violative of the OSA, 1923," Thorat demanded.

The Congress leader pointed out that the WhatsApp chats indicate how Goswami enjoys very close ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other ministers in the Bharatiya Janata Party government, many ministers or high-ranking officials have helped him out by flouting rules, and the Pulwama attack pointed to vested interests of some big functionary.

"The chats mention that 'he will win elections' on the issue - so did the BJP use the martyrs' sacrifice only to win polls? What is the connivance between Goswami and the BJP which is dangerous not only for the press freedom, but also the country's security and democracy," Thorat pointed out.

Claiming that Goswami is not 'the only culprit', the Congress chief alleged that many Central ministers have violated their oath to help the Republic TV chief earn commercial gains, and action must be taken against all those who were party to the entire episode.

Referring to the ongoing TRP manipulations scam and Republic TV illegally using Doordarshan's satellite frequencies causing huge losses to Prasar Bharati, Thorat said even after DD lodged a complaint, the then Information & Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore failed to take cognizance of the matter and set it aside.

"This shows that Goswami enjoys great support from within the BJP government is it the reason he has been spared of action despite misappropriation of public funds," Thorat asked.

Last week, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the state government will seek legal opinion to examine how it could proceed against the Republic TV head in the matter which concerned national security.
SALEM, Ore.  After reports of threats to state capitols across the country on inauguration day, the scene outside Oregons capitol building was calm.

Oregon State Police, Salem Police, Marion County Sheriffs Office, FBI, Oregon National Guard and other agencies were all prepared for the threat of violent protests, but they never materialized.

Throughout the afternoon Wednesday outside the capitol, there were more journalists than protesters. The two or three people who did hold signs and wave flags were supporters of President Joe Biden. Michael Miller, a Salem resident, was one of Bidens supporters.

It turned out to be a little bit of nothing. Well, a lot of nothing, Miller said of the anticipated violence.

Andrew Kinow, a life-long Salem resident who was walking his dogs in front of the capitol, said he was glad the threats never materialized.

The past couple protests we had here were a little more chaotic, Kinow said. Im glad its not like that.

Salem Police were seen patrolling the streets the capitol with regularity, but there was no sign of national guard troops who had been activated to quell any violent outbursts.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 49F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.


FBI Director Christopher Wray speaks during a press conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, on Oct. 28, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Pool via Reuters)

Biden Intends to Keep Wray as FBI Director, White House Confirms

The White House confirmed on Jan. 21 that President Joe Biden will retain FBI Director Christopher Wray in his administration.

I caused an unintentional ripple yesterday so wanted to state very clearly President Biden intends to keep FBI Director Wray on in his role and he has confidence in the job he is doing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote on Twitter.

The ripple Psaki referred to was caused by her answer to a reporter at a White House press briefing on Jan. 20 asking her if Biden has confidence in Wray, to which Psaki said she hadnt spoken to Biden about his views on the FBI director.

I think I have not spoken with him about specifically FBI Director Wray in recent days, Peter, but Ill circle back with you if theres more to convey.

Meanwhile, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said in a Jan. 21 statement that hes pleased Biden will retain Wray as FBI director.

Christopher Wray became FBI Director at a moment of tremendous turmoil for the Bureau and the country, and he has served with great professionalism and integrity, Schiff said. I am glad to see that President Biden intends to keep Director Wray in his position, and restore the ten-year terms for FBI Directors.

Wray is leading the federal investigation of the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol and potential follow-up protests in Washington and around the country. In light of FBI intelligence that there might have been more protests, the U.S. Capitol had around 25,000 National Guardsmen deployed before the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration.

At a Jan. 15 press briefing about inauguration security, Wray said, In that vein, we and our partners have already arrested more than 100 individuals for their criminal activities in last weeks siege of the Capitol and continue to pursue countless other related investigations.

Wray was praised by Psaki and Schiff for his effort to investigate which security loopholes allowed for the breach on Jan. 6.

I look forward to our continuing work with Director Wray, as we analyze the intelligence and security failures that led to the January 6th assault on the Capitol, and the need to dramatically expand the focus and resources devoted to the threat of domestic terrorism, Schiff said.

Wray became the eighth director of the FBI in August 2017. He began his law enforcement career in 1997 with the Department of Justice in the state of Georgia.
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An emotional Mike Pence gave a farewell speech on his return to his Indiana hometown on Wednesday after he broke with Donald Trump once more to attend President Biden's inauguration.

His voice breaking as he thanked his family for their support, Pence told a small crowd of supporters in Columbus that he would 'always be grateful' to Trump but also publicly congratulated Biden by name - something which Trump has never done.

Pence, whose refusal to throw out the election results in Congress wrecked his close alliance with Trump and was part of the sequence of events that led to the January 6 violence at the Capitol, did not attend Trump's leaving ceremony on Wednesday.

Instead, with Trump boycotting the inauguration, Pence played the more traditional role of applauding the new president and greeting his successor as VP, Kamala Harris.

'Back home again': Former vice president Mike Pence speaks alongside his wife Karen after landing in his hometown of Columbus, Indiana following the inauguration on Wednesday

Farewell: Pence spoke to supporters and said he was 'proud' to have worked on the Trump administration's pandemic response but also offered his congratulations to President Biden

Transfer of power: Pence, at the rear, watches Biden recite the oath with chief justice John Roberts on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, after Trump boycotted the inauguration

Moment of unity: Mike Pence and Kamala Harris spoke on the dais in the Capitol - something Trump refused to do with Biden

Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff escorted Pence and his wife Karen out of the Capitol after Biden's inauguration, a gesture usually performed by the incoming and outgoing presidents.

Pence then flew to Columbus, Indiana on a government plane, speaking to a small audience while flanked by the former second lady and his daughters Charlotte and Aubrey at a municipal airport.

The former VP's brother, congressman Greg Pence, was also at the farewell ceremony along with Indiana's lieutenant governor Suzanne Crouch.

Speaking from a lectern saying 'Back Home Again', Pence did not address speculation that he would run for president in 2024 but said that he would be returning to live in Indiana now that his term is over.

The former congressman and governor praised Trump for his economic policies and appointment of conservative judges, adding that he was 'proud' of the administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

'I will always be proud to have served in an administration that came alongside doctors and nurses and first responders and organized a whole-of-government response to federal, state and local level to meet this moment, Pence said.

Return: Pence is planning to live in the state where he previously served as governor - but after returning with his wife Karen (pictured) he did not address speculation about a 2024 run

Pence's voice broke as he thanked his family for their support during his term as vice president

'Serving as your vice president was the greatest honor of my life. But now that that season of service has come to an end, we just had to come home,' Pence said.

'As we come home, thank you for giving us the privilege of serving the United States of America as vice president.

'Today, we inaugurated a new president and a new vice president, and allow me to offer my congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

'But let me also take a moment to say thank you to President Donald Trump and Melania for all they have done to make America great again.

'We'll always be grateful for the opportunity that they gave us to serve, the way they allowed us to make a difference in the life of this nation.'

Pence did not address the riot at the Capitol two weeks ago that tore apart his relationship with Trump and scarred the administration's legacy forever.

After four years as a loyal lieutenant, Pence came into Trump's firing line after announcing he would not use his role as president of the Senate to throw out Biden's election victory in Congress.

Having failed to persuade the courts or state legislators to defy the will of the voters, Trump had turned in desperation to Pence - claiming falsely that the VP had the power to reject electoral votes in the January 6 certification by Congress.

'If Mike Pence does the right thing we win the election,' Trump wrongly told his supporters shortly before they rampaged through the halls of the Capitol.

Pence, in his final moments as vice president, walks through the Capitol with his wife Karen as they arrived at the inauguration on Wednesday

While Trump boycotted the ceremony, Pence applauded when Biden embraced his family after taking the oath as America's 46th president

Pence speaks to former president George W. Bush during the inauguration ceremony

The Pences maintained tradition by walking down the steps of the Capitol with their successors, second gentleman Doug Emhoff (left) and vice president Kamala Harris

Some of the rioters were so enraged by Pence's refusal to comply that they threatened to hang him for failing to stay loyal to Trump.

After the hours-long assault that left America's place as a beacon of democracy in tatters, Pence finally brought down the gavel on the 2020 election and certified Biden's victory.

Pence allies were left outraged at how Trump had made his loyal deputy a scapegoat for his defeat.

The public split even led to demands that Pence should use the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office in final days, but the VP rejected the Democratic bid.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi told CBS that Pence had refused to come to the phone when she and her Senate counterpart Chuck Schumer called to urge him to initiate 25th Amendment procedures.

Days later, Trump and Pence had a 'good conversation' in the Oval Office in an effort at detente, and Trump thanked Pence by name in his farewell speech in Washington.

But Pence chose not to be part of Trump's send-off, instead watching on the steps of the Capitol as Biden and Harris were sworn in at noon on Wednesday.

Pence, 61, was pictured speaking to his successor and other guests including George W. Bush before flying back to Indiana when the ceremonies were over.

On Tuesday evening, Pence sent a farewell tweet, including four pictures of his time in office  none including Trump.

The dramatic end to his term as VP has called into question whether Pence could run for president in 2024 since his credentials as a Trump loyalist are severely damaged.

Neither Trump nor Pence has said in public whether they intend to run in 2024, although Trump said cryptically on Wednesday that 'we will be back in some form'.

Trump still has a historic second impeachment trial looming over him which could theoretically lead to his disqualification from future office, although this would require significant Republican support.

Betting markets have Pence as one of the most likely GOP hopefuls, along with former UN ambassador Nikki Haley and Texas senator Ted Cruz.

Donald and Melania Trump departed Washington, D.C. Wednesday morning and landed in Palm Beach at the same moment Biden's inauguration ceremony kicked off. Pence was not present at the remarks where Trump thanked his No. 2
COLUMBUS, Ohio  The U.S. attorney overseeing the massive House Bill 6 corruption investigation is being replaced under the Biden administration, Sen. Sherrod Brown said Thursday.

The same day President Joe Biden assumed office, Brown, a Democrat, put out a call for applications to replace David DeVillers, whom former President Donald Trump appointed as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio in November 2019. Its common for new presidents to appoint their own U.S. attorneys, who oversee teams of federal prosecutors in regional Justice Department offices.

DeVillers has agreed to remain until a successor is found.

We dont clean house. We just change the U.S. attorney, the top job. The professional staff will continue to do its day by day work, Brown, a Democrat, told reporters Thursday during a conference call. He said more than a dozen people had applied so far.

DeVillers, based in Columbus, has become more familiar to people in Northeast Ohio and across the state due to the federal corruption probe his office has overseen into the Ohio Statehouse that last July led to the arrest of then-House Speaker Larry Householder, a Republican, and four others. Prosecutors say that FirstEnergy, the Akron-based utility, and its affiliates paid $61 million in bribes to help make Householder speaker, in exchange for Householders help passing HB6, which bailed out two Ohio nuclear plants owned by a former FirstEnergy subsidiary. The money was given to pro-Householder political groups that helped Householder and advance HB6, prosecutors said.

DeVillers also is overseeing a separate corruption investigation that has led to the indictments of two Cincinnati council members, including PG Sittenfeld, a Democrat prominent in state activist circles.

Householder and Sittenfeld both have pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

Asked how replacing DeVillers could affect high-profile investigations, Brown told reporters Thursday that theres always ongoing investigations.

DeVillers plans to stay until he is asked to leave, spokesman Jennifer Thornton said.

Our office, like the Department as a whole, is comprised primarily of career professionals who remain in their positions before and after administrative transitions. Those trial attorneys remain consistent in prosecuting their cases, she said.

Justin Herdman, Trumps appointee as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, which includes Cleveland, resigned in January in the aftermath of Trumps loss in the November election.

Some said to be interested in applying to replace DeVillers include Democratic elected officials such as Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein, a former Biden aide; Fanon Rucker, a former Hamilton County judge who lost a close race for county prosecutor last November; and longtime Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn. Its also expected that a number of internal candidates will be interested in applying.

The corruption cases arent the only politically sensitive investigations DeVillers is overseeing. His office also is helping probe two recent fatal police shootings of unarmed Black men in Columbus that have led to criticism from the mens families and community activists.

The process for appointing judges and U.S. attorneys in Ohio in the recent past has involved setting up a screening committee of lawyers to help whittle down applicants to a handful who are then interviewed.

Brown and Sen. Rob Portman, a Republican, have worked together collegially on filling these seats during the Trump and Obama administrations, with the Senator from the party opposite of the White House getting input.

Rob stands by ready to help with this process in any way he can, said Emmalee Kalmbach, a Portman spokeswoman.

A factor in how long it takes to replace DeVillers could be the U.S. Senate confirmation of Merrick Garland, Bidens pick for U.S. attorney general. Previous attorneys general, including Janet Reno under President Bill Clinton and Jeff Sessions under Trump, demanded the resignations of all holdover U.S. attorneys in the early days of their term.

Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said there have been limited instances of U.S. attorneys being allowed to stay on to wrap up politically sensitive investigations even when the White House changes parties.

But U.S. attorneys offices are staffed with career prosecutors, and are set up to continue investigations despite changes in leadership, he said.

If they think theyre completely apolitical investigations and theyre comfortable with the job hes doing, maybe theyll let him continue to do that, Tobias said. On the other hand, if there are other people in the office and theyre perfectly competent to do it and Biden has his own person, maybe ask him to resign. It depends on the facts and the optics.

There have been some calls for Biden to allow DeVillers, who has gained respect for political independence by pursuing corruption cases against Republicans and Democrats, to remain in his job. DeVillers predecessor, Ben Glassman, was appointed during the Obama administration and led the office for almost three years after Trump was elected while Republicans worked to find a replacement.

Mark Weaver, Republican political strategist in Ohio who worked in the Department of Justice during the Reagan administration, said DeVillers should be kept on through the end of the House Bill 6 investigation.

I think Ohioans look to David DeVillers as a bright light of ethics and integrity at a time when the Statehouse was rocked by this scandal, and keeping him on sends a strong message of good government, said Weaver, who recently published an op-ed arguing his point.

Cleveland.com / Plain Dealer reporter Sabrina Eaton contributed to this story.
It's only (super)natural for a San Antonio native and Texan to reboot the legendary Cordell Walker character.

Jared Padalecki, a Madison High School grad best known for the long-running series "Supernatural," has big boots to fill as he takes over the title role made famous by Chuck Norris in CW's reboot of "Walker, Texas Ranger."

Pet owners of two staffies have issued an urgent plea to the community, after their beloved dogs went missing from their padlocked yard on Wednesday night.

Rocky, a four-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Rumble, an 18-month-old puppy, went missing after the owner's front gate was broken into between 7pm and 8am on Coolibah Crescent, East Side in the Northern Territory.

The owners took to social media to notify the Alice Springs Community on their missing pets, claiming they are 'devastated' by their loss.

Rocky, four-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, (pictured, right) and Rumble, an 18-month-old puppy (pictured, left) went missing from their owner's Northern Territory home on Wednesday night

It is unknown whether the dogs were stolen or escaped through the broken gate, but owners suspect their two beloved staffies 'were stolen'.

The owners described their two dogs in a desperate plea to help locate their beloved pets.

The first dog named Rocky is microchipped with one white front paw, two rear white paws with a white patch on his chest.

The puppy named Rumble has a brindle coat with white patches on nose, chest and both rear paws.

Rocky (pictured) is microchipped with one white front paw, two rear white paws with a white patch on his chest

The pet owners desperate plea lead to a flood of sympathy from the local community.

'I hope you get your fur-babies back', one said.

'That is so sad and cruel, hope they are found soon', another wrote.

'My heart is hurting reading this, I am thinking of you', another commented.

The incident has been reported to police.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Northern territory Police for comment.
Two suicide bombers hit an open-air market in central Baghdad. Several seriously injured people were taken to hospitals in the capital, which had not experienced such violence for a while. No one has yet claimed responsibility but fingers point to the Islamic State group. [W] did not expect it, said Baghdads auxiliary bishop. Pope Francis sent his condolences.

Baghdad (AsiaNews)  After a long period of relative calm, the Iraqi capital was hit by a serious terror attack this morning.

The attack hit the centre of the city and surprised everyone; we did not expect it and it is difficult to understand what happened, said Mgr Shlemon Audish Warduni, auxiliary bishop of Baghdad and right-hand man of the Chaldean patriarch, Card Louis Sako, speaking to AsiaNews.

Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolences. We are waiting to gather more information, for the rest we have to wait, said Bishop Warduni.

The twin suicide bombing killed more than 30 people and injured 70 around noon in an open-air market in al-Tayaran Square, central Baghdad. This comes after a long hiatus of relative quiet.

The death toll is not final and the number of victims is destined to increase in the coming hours. Several injured people, some of them in serious condition, were taken to city hospitals.

A similar attack in the same square in 2018 resulted in 31 dead. The last major attack in Baghdad occurred in June of last year. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the city during his trip to Iraq on 5-8 March.

The pontiff is closely following the evolution of the Iraqi situation and, through the Secretary of State Card Pietro Parolin, sent a telegram of condolences to President Barham Salih.

In his message, the pope says that he was deeply saddened and deplored this senseless act of brutality. He added that he prays for the deceased victims and their families, for the injured and for the emergency personnel in attendance.

Trusting that all will continue work to overcome violence with fraternity, solidarity and peace, Pope Francis invokes upon the nation and its people the blessing of the Most High.

So far no group has claimed responsibility but given the type of action, fingers point to the Islamic State (IS) group. Although defeated militarily, the group still has active cells across the country and thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is regaining ground.

After the fall of Mosul, a former IS stronghold, the group claimed responsibility only for small-scale attacks, carried out mostly at night against military posts in isolated areas.

According to the first witness accounts, two suicide bombers blew themselves up among shoppers.

The first suicide bomber rushed into the market and claimed to feel sick so that people would gather around him. He then detonated his explosives. As people gathered around the victims, a second attacker detonated his bomb.

For Baghdad this is the most serious attack in the last three years. Crowds had begun gathering again in markets lately, after months of closures and restrictions due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, the country is preparing for a general election, which have provided an opportunity for violence. In fact, attacks preceded the 2018 vote.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi chose June for the election, partly in response to mass protests in October 2019 that sparked a crackdown by the previous government. However, for organisational and bureaucratic reasons, the electoral commission postponed the vote to October.
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On January 10, voters in Kyrgyzstan went to the polls and elected Sadyr Japarov new president and voted to change the form of government to a presidential system. Although the turnout was a historic low of less than 40 percent, those casting the ballot gave Japarov and his preference for a presidential form of rule resounding support. This spelled the end of the road for Kyrgyzstans decade-long experimentation with a parliamentary-style political system, begging the question what went wrong and caused this political turnaround?

BACKGROUND: Following the twin vote, Kyrgyzstan enters a new phase in its tumultuous development. The result confirmed Sadyr Japarovs meteoric rise as the countrys new strongman since the discredited parliamentary election in October last year. The outcome further represents an almost complete turnaround compared to a decade ago when Kyrgyzstan in the summer of 2010 adopted a constitution with an empowered legislature and decentralized executive power. The declared intent with the move towards parliamentary governance was to avoid the kind of presidential family rule that had plagued the country during the presidencies of Askar Akayev and Kurmanbek Bakiyev.

The 2010 constitutional reform stripped the presidency of considerable powers in favor of the prime minister, the government, and the legislature. Notably, the president was restricted to a single six-year term and no longer had the right to initiate legislation. The president, nonetheless, retained significant powers, which included the spheres of foreign policy and national security as well as the right to veto legislation. Although frequently referred to as a parliamentary system, in reality it was thus a mixed parliamentary-presidential system. The subsequent parliamentary election in fall 2010 brought several closely matched parties to the national legislature, inspiring several observers to talk about a genuine democratic breakthrough for Kyrgyzstan.

Initially, there were some encouraging signs: Political representation became more inclusive, as most major political factions gained access to the parliament and the government, through the formation of ruling coalitions. The new rules provided elites with a formal arena to settle disputes instead of taking their grievances to the street as had been the case the previous decade. For the first couple of years, Kyrgyzstani politics increasingly evolved around debates taking place in the legislature, while President Almazbek Atambayev appeared to stand as a slightly aloof figure.

Yet, gradually, the formally strengthened parliament failed to safeguard the country from a return to presidential authoritarianism. Indeed, over the course of the supposedly parliamentary system, the countrys democratic progress slowly but steadily backtracked according to international observers, such as Freedom House. The system also hollowed formal institutions, weakened governance further and failed to establish a social contract between the electorate and the state.

IMPLICATIONS: Why did Kyrgyzstans parliamentary experiment fail to live up to expectations? The overarching problem lied in the ambiguity of the constitutional design: it raised the status of the prime minister without fully diminishing the powers of the president. Both in letter and spirit, the constitution prescribed ample powers and functions for the president to influence the direction of the states domestic and foreign policy. Combined with informal influence, these formal levers allowed first Atambaev and then Sooronbay Jeenbekov to re-establish the presidential office as the focal point, towards which all the other political institutions gravitated.

Neither did the constitution encourage any of the major political actors to carry out long overdue reforms. First, the single mandate tenure provided the president scant incentives to endorse reforms in a bid to seek re-election. The absence of a scheduled election further meant that there was no way to hold the president accountable. Second, the unstable nature of Kyrgyzstans coalition governments undermined the position of the prime minister, who faced the threat of removal from the outset. During the past decade, Kyrgyzstans prime ministers, on average, remained in office for less than a year. Finally, the parliament filled up with roving deputies, jumping from one party to another. Consequently, Kyrgyzstans elites collectively operated according to a short-term decision-making horizon, primarily engaging in a struggle to control and amass the countrys resources during the limited time available to do so. Naturally, this was not a conducive environment for long-term policy development.

Kyrgyzstans weak and fragmented political parties placed at the heart of the political system were ill-equipped to serve as a channel between the citizens and policymaking. For example, the shift from majoritarian single districts to proportional representation based on party lists severed the ties between politicians and their local constituencies. In the past, there had been a direct linkage between politicians and the people: members of parliament resolved their issues by mobilizing their supporters for protests, and in return the latter knew whom to turn to with their grievances. Admittedly, these elite-led protests created much instability. But replaced by an abstract and immature party system with little to offer in terms of concrete policy, the gulf between the political elite and the people widened.

This was not the only way that the state-society relationship weakened. Growing parts of the population are economically active in the domestic informal sector while many others are guest workers abroad. This economic disengagement in state-society relations has significantly weakened the demand for truly national legislation as large parts of society operate outside of the formal reach of the state. Conversely, political elites prospering from informally taxing economic flows along the new Silk Road have little interest in establishing mechanisms of accountability, including a formal tax contract with the population.

The composition of the empowered legislature determined its subsequent behavior. Ahead of parliamentary elections, the major political parties auctioned off slots in their party lists. The practice approximated a formal contract between candidates and party leaders, specifying both the sum a candidate must contribute to party funds and how many votes the same candidate is expected to bring the party from his or her local stronghold. As parliamentarians entered office after having made financial contributions in the amount of several hundreds of thousands of dollars, they had strong incentives to get their money back. Accordingly, the national parliament became the primary marketplace for transacting corrupt deals.

All of this led to a loss of faith in the post-2010 political leadership and the system it came to represent, leaving a political void to fill. The man who came to fill this void was Sadyr Japarov, a charismatic politician sprung from prison by supporters following the protests against the October parliamentary vote. While mistrusted among parts of the political establishment and feared for his alleged ties to organized crime and past links with the brutal Bakiyev regime, Japarov has gathered an unusually wide following even transcending the traditional north-south divide in the country. His support base includes overlapping categories of rural followers, youth, labor migrants and nationalists.

More than anything, he has emerged as the ultimate symbol for a nationalistic current in Kyrgyz politics and society that has been on the rise in Kyrgyzstan since 2010. This is not unique for Kyrgyzstan; it can be seen in many other countries around the world. At the heart of this sentiment is a perceived need to preserve and safeguard the traditions, culture and values of the Kyrgyz people from real or imagined enemies within and outside the country. In Kyrgyzstan, no party has advocated the nationalistic agenda more consistently than the Ata Jurt (Fatherland) party and its successor party Mekenchil (Patriots), which Japarov is closely associated with. The political programs of Ata Jurt/Mekenchil have consistently emphasized an aversion against parliamentarism and advocated a return to a strong presidential system, with a subordinated parliament and a formalized role for the traditional Kyrgyz form of assembly  the Kurultai.

These traditional and nationalist-oriented values find resonance among a large group of Kyrgyz citizens, particularly in rural areas, where the old secular Soviet values are a thing of the past and where liberal, pluralistic influences never have taken hold. Given the overwhelming support that Japarov enjoys at the moment, it seems highly probable that the parliamentary election scheduled for May will consolidate this value system as the dominant paradigm in Kyrgyz politics. However, given that the January 10 referendum simply affirmed a change to a presidential form of government, the step before that will be for the new authorities to present a draft presidential constitution for the electorate to approve in another referendum. This vote is likely to be hold in conjunction with the April 11 elections for local councils.

CONCLUSIONS: What will or can Japarov do with all the powers he is all set to concentrate in his own hands? His presidential campaign program was full of lofty goals and priorities. Buzzwords, such as fighting corruption and preserving national unity and stability, featured prominently, as did pledges to strengthen social welfare benefits and create jobs. With the helping hand of the parliament, he has pushed through a law that grants economic amnesty for individuals with illegally obtained financial assets in exchange for compensating the state some amount of their theft. Such shortcuts might give him some respite in the short-term. Addressing Kyrgyzstans many challenges, however, require a grounded reform program. Yet, on matters of policy, Japarovs program appears conspicuously hollow.

This is particularly the case regarding the most pressing issue of how to try to pull the country out of its economic crisis, the extent of which can hardly be exaggerated. First, according to the National Statistical Committee, GDP dropped by 8.6 percent last year; the biggest decline in the country since 1994. Second, with weakly developed domestic production sectors, Kyrgyzstan is dependent on remittances sent by its labor migrants, particularly from Russia and Kazakhstan. These remittances have provided the country with an alternative social security net and alleviated poverty. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, these remittances dried up. Given the continuing havoc wreaked by the pandemic the prospects look anything but certain. Third, direct investments have likewise been in decline. Thus far, the new leadership has not presented any concrete proposals for how to attract much-needed foreign investment. Finally, there is the issue of repayment of Kyrgyzstans $1.8 billion public debt to China. Unlike other foreign creditors, China has been reluctant to suspend debt service payments, leaving Kyrgyzstan with a possible risk of defaulting on its debt.

The main challenge for the President-elect will be to live up to the high expectations. Given the magnitude of the problems facing the country, this is an unenviable task. If he fails to meet expectations, the most likely outcome is that Kyrgyzstan enters another cycle of authoritarian rule coupled with social resentment. In that case, sooner or later, a fourth major revolt is waiting to happen.

AUTHOR'S BIO:

Johan Engvall, Ph.D., is a researcher at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), and a non-resident senior fellow with the Central-Asia Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center. He is the author of the book The State as Investment Market: Kyrgyzstan in Comparative Perspective, published by University of Pittsburgh Press.

Image Source:United States Department of State via Flickr. Accessed 1.21.2021



Calls have been made on the Taoiseach to directly intervene in talks to reopen special education as the responsible Ministers have "lost control" of the situation.

Opposition parties have rounded on Education Minister Norma Foley and have questioned her ability to get children with special education needs back into the classroom following two failed attempts.

Sinn Fein and Labour have also hit out at Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan after she compared children with additional needs not attending school to the mother and baby homes.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald told the Dail that responsibility for the "mess" lies squarely with the Government as they failed to develop a Plan B.

"Your government has now abandoned plans to reopen special schools this week and special education. Minister Foley has twice promised that this would happen and she has twice failed to deliver on the promises," she told the Taoiseach.

Read More Level 5 lockdown to be extended as Varadkar predicts slow reopening of society

She said the Education Minister had shown "gross misjudgement" on special schools and had "rushed very quickly to point fingers" at SNAs and teachers when the Government is responsible for the "fiasco".

However, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said engagement with representatives continues and Ms Foley will be speaking to the parents of children with special educational needs today.

"It's wrong to play politics with children with special needs, which is what I've witnessed this morning," he said.

Labour's education spokesperson Aodhan O Riordan called on the Taoiseach to get involved in failed talks to reopen special education.

Referring to comments made by Ms Madigan and Ms Foley, he said: "We have been doing our best as a political entity to try to be constructive.

"So Taoiseach can I ask you in the spirit of being constructive, that your office will now get centrally involved in the situation, that you would appreciate the severity of the situation and how dangerous it is for young people to be out of school for this length of time.

"Will you recognise that the entire reopening of schools is now in jeopardy because of the bad faith that has been shown by ministers in their public comments?"

He suggested that the next round of vaccinations should include those working in education.

Read More Confusion over Covid-19 ventilation guidelines in schools and congregated settings

Speaking on radio this morning, Ms Madigan said: "We spent last week talking about Mother and Baby Homes, where our most vulnerable were left to their own devices in less than satisfactory conditions and we're now allowing further anxiety and upset to be placed on the shoulders of parents whose children desperately need to go to school."

Separately Ms Madigan has corrected the record of the Dail today after she referred to children without special educational needs as "normal" during a debate last week.

Education Minister Norma Foley said: "There can be nothing more essential than providing care and education for children with additional needs."

"The word was not appropriate and I did not use this intentionally. This is not what I meant to say," she told the Dail.

Earlier, Ms Foley slammed a union head as "disingenuous" as the row over special schools became increasingly divisive.

The Department of Education conceded last night that the phased return of special schools and classes could not go ahead on Thursday.

Appearing on RTE's Morning Ireland, John Boyle from the INTO said his union very clearly did not instruct its members not to show up for work tomorrow, something Education Minister Norma Foley called "incredibly disingenuous".

"He has made it very clear in statements that they were not happy to accept the public health advice that was issued to them, that they were not happy to accept all of the measures that were put in place," she said.

"The public health advice was categorical, unequivocal, and this is public health advice that came from two experts who have worked hand in hand and with whom, Mr Boyle, and the other union leaders met on a weekly basis throughout the reopening of our schools."

It was pointed out that nowhere in their statement did the unions say they had instructed their members not to show.

Ms Foley replied that "guidelines were issued last Friday, guidelines that they had seen, and that they were happy to issue to schools in preparation for a reopening on Thursday, and now at the 11th hour, they have said that they cannot accept the public health advice and we had no guarantee, none whatsoever, from the unions that staff will be prepared to turn up on the day".

It was pointed out to Ms Foley that the public health advice given to teachers did not garner much confidence in their return.

A statement by deputy chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn's has been highlighted among the union concerns. Mr Glynn said: "The experience to date does align with the fact that schools in themselves are a safe environment, but whenever you have levels of transmission like this the reality is that schools and everything else we provide are threatened, and unfortunately that came to pass."

Ms Foley said the statement should be seen in the "broader context of what was also said that day and indeed what has been said previously in relation to public health, that when, generally, society is not doing what general society has been asked to do in terms of reducing contacts and following public health advice, it puts us in a precarious position".

"It did not change, schools had proven themselves to be safe environments.

The National Campaign "Youth Free from Smoking" in Ukraine, following a recent monitoring of restaurants and cafes in Kyiv, Lutsk, Kherson and Dnipro, has announced an increasing number of violations of anti-tobacco legislation and a weak response to it by the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection.

"We monitored whether it is allowed in coffee houses and restaurants to smoke cigarettes, hookahs, electronic cigarettes or tobacco heating devices (IQOS, glo)," the campaign coordinator Oleh Slabospytsky said, commenting on the main task of the monitoring at the presentation of its results in Kyiv on Thursday.

According to him, about 80 restaurants and coffee houses were seen in violation of anti-tobacco legislation, but only the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection in Kyiv showed a relatively high level of response to information about such facts. In particular, according to the results of monitoring, 12 out of 15 network establishments and hookah bars in Kyiv, which activists complained about, were fined.

At the same time, in Dnipro, according to campaign participants, the authority was able to properly check and prosecute only seven out of 37 violators, and in Lutsk, fines were imposed on half of 10 establishments complained of.

According to the presentation, in 20 establishments in Kherson, smoking of one or several types of tobacco products is allowed: in 15 establishments  smoking hookahs, in 19  electronic cigarettes and six  cigarettes, while nine of them were fined.

Speaking about other violations in trade in tobacco products, activists cited the example of Dnipro, where in 62% of cases there is one or more points of sale of tobacco products within a five-minute walk from 50 checked schools.

In addition, in 13 out of 31 checked outlets of tobacco products sales, tobacco advertising was present before entering them, almost all of the surveyed outlets (28 out of 31) were engaged in displaying tobacco products, including in 11 cases such displays were at the eye level of children (1 meter).

According to the study, in these cities (Kyiv, Lutsk, Kherson and Dnipro), almost half of tobacco products are sold through supermarkets, 35.5% are sold in kiosks, and 16.1% in small grocery stores.

The activists also call the adoption of a law on a complete ban on smoking in public places (No. 4358) and other toughening in relation to smoking and tobacco products as ways to improve the situation.
(YouTube)

Celebrities welcomed Joe Biden into the White House on Wednesday after he officially became the 46th American president.

The Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and more performed during a 90-minute television special hosted by Tom Hanks from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The broadcast replaced the traditional inaugural ball, which couldnt take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was in turn celebratory and solemn. Themes such as unity and the turning of a new leaf dominated the evening, including by way of musicians song choices. Jon Bon Jovi covered the Beatles Here Comes the Sun, John Legend reinterpreted Nina Simones classic Feeling Good, and Demi Lovato sang Bill Withers upbeat tune Lovely Day.

Review: Bidens inauguration ceremony was a safe, soothing tribute to anti-fascism

Katy Perry wrapped up the broadcast with a spectacular rendition of her 2010 hit Firework, as a real-life fireworks display lit up the sky in the nations capital.

Here are the 10 main talking points from the evening:

Tom Hanks remains Americas sweetheart

In times of trouble or confusion, the nation knows it can always turn its lonely eyes to Tom Hanks. Back in March 2020, the actor and his wife Rita Wilson became the first high-profile US celebrities to announce they had been diagnosed with Covid-19. They recovered, and Hanks surprised America by hosting a remote episode of Saturday Night Live the following month. On Wednesday night, he proved a competent host  solemn but not severe, reflective but not grandiose. He was a perfect choice for the evening. (Clemence Michallon)

And Bruce Springsteen is still the Boss

Wednesdays broadcast opened with Bruce Springsteen playing his 1999 song Land of Hope and Dreams. It was an emotional performance, and the tune set the right tone  one of careful, slightly weary optimism. Land of Hope and Dreams played after Barack Obama's farewell address in January 2017. Featuring it in first position on Wednesday night felt like a moving callback, and a nod to Bidens past work as Obamas vice president. (CM)

Jon Bon Jovi joined from Florida

Jon Bon Jovi, who, like his fellow performers Bruce Springsteen and Ant Clemons, hails from New Jersey, joined from Florida  incidentally the state where Donald Trump is expected to live now that he has left the White House. The location left some viewers puzzled (based on their social media comments), but the musicians cover of Here Comes the Sun hit an emotional note for many as well. (CM)

John Legend should play at the Lincoln Memorial more often

John Legends rendition of Feeling Good was absolutely one of the highlights of the evening. Was it because he chose the perfect song? Was he energised to be performing at such a historical venue as the Lincoln Memorial? Or was it the energy Legend  a vocal critic of Trumps  brought to the stage, hours after Joe Biden took the oath of office? Probably a mix of all these things, and more. Either way, it was the recipe for a spectacular performance. (CM)

Dave Grohls tribute to teachers

Dave Grohl, the son of a teacher himself, made sure to honour the countrys educators before he and the rest of the Foo Fighters launched into song. Grohl has advocated for teachers rights during the coronavirus pandemic. His address on Wednesday also resonated with Dr Jill Bidens own background as a teacher. It was a smart introduction to a very satisfying performance by the band, who played the 2003 song Times Like These. (CM)

The song choices were on point

Lets discuss the song choices for a minute. Musicians expressed hope and optimism on Wednesday, while also acknowledging the difficult times people in the US have faced in the past months and years. Springsteens Land of Hope and Dreams, as discussed, was a pretty perfect opener for the evening. Bon Jovi and Legend were more outwardly celebratory, with Here Comes the Sun and Feeling Good, respectively. Ditto Demi Lovato and the very energetic version of Withers 1977 tune Lovely Day. Foo Fighters Times Like These, meanwhile, brought an edgier touch. And Katy Perrys Fireworkmade for a spectacular finale for obvious reasons (more on that below). (CM)

Katy Perry closed out the night with a brilliant fireworks display

Who better to wrap up an already star-studded and very musical evening than pop titan Katy Perry? Dressed all in white and performing in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the Grammy-nominated radio mainstay broke out her 2010 chart-topper "Firework" for the occasion in a set that culminated with a huge display of actual fireworks. Maybe it was a little on the nose, but Perrys never really been one for subtlety. Firework and Perrys soaring delivery was the ideal closer for an already inspired evening. (Rachel Brodsky)

Broadway got a chance to shine

New York Citys beloved Broadway theatres have been closed since March 2020, as a necessary measure to slow the spread of Covid-19. How the city has missed the venues and their performers! Wednesdays broadcast included a wonderful medley from various Broadway actors and singers. Together, they sang Seasons of Love from Rent, aka the hymn of theatre kids across the US, and Let the Sunshine In from Hair, another classic. It was so good to experience a taste of Broadway, if only for a few moments. (CM)

Yo-Yo Mas rendition of Amazing Grace was a thing of beauty

Amazing Grace occupies a prominent place in the American psyche  and beyond, actually. When the coronavirus pandemic first took hold, Andrea Bocelli sang it in a very emotional performance from the Duomo Cathedral in Milan. Somewhat understandably, most performances of Amazing Grace place an emphasis on the songs lyrics. But on Wednesday night, cellist Yo-Yo Ma played a wonderfully pure, deceptively simple version that enabled viewers to enjoy it in a whole new way. (CM)

Lin-Manuel Miranda poignantly recites Seamus Heaneys The Cure at Troy

If you've seen Joe Biden speak before, you'll know that he really likes to quote Irish poet Seamus Heaney's poem The Cure at Troy. In the opening moments of Celebrating America, none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda honoured both men by reciting an excerpt from the poem. It was a poignant reading that reflected the US's politically polarized moment, with Miranda concluding, Once in a lifetime / The longed for tidal wave / Of justice can rise up / And hope and history rhyme. The passage offered hope that the nation can heal and unite, just as President Biden has wished for on too many occasions to count. (RB)

See how the night unfolded in our live blog:
Manitoba will run out of its supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 7 if it does not receive any more doses from the federal government.

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Manitoba will run out of its supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 7 if it does not receive any more doses from the federal government.

Thats according to Dr. Joss Reimer of the provinces vaccine implementation task force, who provided updates on Manitoba vaccination efforts during a pair of media briefings on Wednesday.

"We have now been told that we will not be receiving our shipment next week as we have been expecting," Reimer said. "Our deliveries for the rest of the month have been cut in half. Originally, we were told wed be receiving 18,720 doses and our new estimate is 9,360."

The federal government has said Canada wont receive any doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine next week after the company advised it is slowing production at its facility in Belgium to make upgrades that will eventually boost its output.

Ottawa further noted it cant tell provinces how many doses theyll get over the next month as a result of the changes at Pfizer.

Canada was scheduled to get 417,000 doses over the next two weeks and now expects to receive about 171,000.

During a technical briefing held Wednesday morning before the regular COVID-19 media briefing, a government official said that the province has had to revise its projection of providing approximately 2,500 vaccine doses per day in February to 1,496 per day.

However, Reimer also said that no vaccination appointments will be cancelled as a result of the deferred shipments at this point, and the schedule for vaccinations at personal care homes will remain intact. If shipments continue to be delayed or decreased, the province will revise its schedule and projections.

The province added vaccination statistics to its COVID-19 online dashboard on Wednesday. Vaccination information will be updated along with the rest of the provinces COVID statistics every day at 12:30 p.m.

"This shows how many doses we have received, how many have been given to eligible Manitobans, how many doses are scheduled to be given to Manitobans in the next 28 days and it breaks down the age of sex of those Manitobans who have been immunized," Reimer said.

Asked why the dashboard shows that the vast majority of vaccines have been administered to women, Reimer said that the reason is early vaccinations have gone to health-care workers and that field has a gender balance skewing toward women. She was not concerned that these numbers showed vaccine hesitancy in men.

Slides shown to members of the media during the technical briefing showed how large the scale of Manitobas COVID-19 vaccination program is compared to other vaccination programs the province runs.

Between Oct. 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020, 22,988 doses of the measles/mumps/rubella/varicella (MMR) vaccine were injected. In that same timeframe, 381,365 doses of flu vaccine were given to Manitobans.

Manitoba will run out of its supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 7 and Dr. Joss Reimer says vaccination schedules and projections have to be adjusted each time the estimates change. (Province of Manitoba)

During the H1N1 pandemic, 695,333 doses of various flu vaccines were administered in Manitoba between Oct. 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010. Before COVID-19, this was the biggest vaccination effort in Manitobas history.

If the province follows through with its goal of vaccinating 70 per cent of Manitobans for COVID-19, 1,480,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine will have been administered by the end of 2021.

A timeline graphic shown during the technical briefing said that after the Pfizer vaccine was approved for use by Health Canada on Dec. 9 last year and the Moderna vaccine was authorized on Dec. 23, Manitoba administered 20,000 doses of vaccine.

According to provided statistics, the Keystone Centre vaccination supersite in Brandon vaccinated 563 people on its first day of operation on Monday. As currently designed, the site has the capacity to provide 1,407 doses of vaccine per day.

On the subject of the Keystone Centre vaccination supersite, Reimer said she has been hearing good news from staff working at the site since it opened on Monday.

In comparison, the larger supersite at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg can provide up to 2,077 doses per day. Between that site opening and Monday this week, it has administered 14,022 doses of vaccine, 935 on average per day.

When the Thompson supersite opens on Feb. 1 at the citys regional community centre, it will be able to provide up to 694 doses of vaccine per day. Reimer said because of supply issues, the province has decided to temporarily use Moderna vaccines at the site instead of the Pfizer ones.

The smaller-scale focused immunization teams, which are in charge of administering vaccines at personal care homes, have administered 1,067 doses so far. Another official participating in the technical briefing said the province is actually expecting to finish its 28-day vaccination campaign at care homes a week early.

As supply problems with vaccines are resolved, the province will start up medium-scale immunization hubs in communities farther away from the supersites and small pop-up sites for remote and northern communities even farther away from supersites.

The province had hoped to announce some of the locations for these sites this week, but the Pfizer news disrupted those plans.

Eventually, when distribution issues are ironed out, medical offices and pharmacies will have vaccines made available for them to administer.

Also during the technical briefing, officials said that the number of staff at any of the vaccination sites on a given day is determined by how many vaccines that site plans on administering. It is assumed that on average, one staff member will be able to administer 7.5 doses per hour in a 9.5-hour shift and that formula is used to determine how many staff are needed.

Reimer spoke of the challenges that the news about the decreasing amounts of Pfizer vaccine has provided the provinces logistics team. Every time they receive a different estimate of how many doses Manitoba will receive, they have to change their projections for how many doses of vaccine can be administered and change what quantities will be administered at each vaccination site.

 cslark@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press

 Twitter: @ColinSlark
Construction of as many as 1.68 lakh houses have been approved by the government under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has said.

The decision was taken at the 52nd meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) held on January 20 in which representatives of 14 states/UTs participated.

Construction is in various stages for more than 70 lakh houses. More than 41 lakh houses have been completed, the statement said.

These houses are proposed to be constructed across the verticals of beneficiary-led construction, affordable housing in partnership and in-situ slum redevelopment under PMAY (Urban).

The states also put in their proposals for revision of projects due to various issues such as of land, topographical hazards, inter-city migration, change of preferences of verticals, it said.

Durga Shanker Mishra, secretary, MoHUA, who presided over the meeting, urged the states/UTs to strategise the expeditious implementation of PMAY(U) projects.

The progress under the mission has been steady. We have to move towards completion of houses with all the basic physical and social infrastructure, he said.

All the states/UTs may also learn from the six Light House Projects (LHPs) initiated in six cities, namely, Agartala (Tripura), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). The technology can be replicated and scaled across the country for mass housing, he said.

This was the second CSMC meeting held during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PMAY(U) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015 and aims to ensure Housing for all by 2022. The government has set a target of 1.12 crore houses to be constructed in urban areas in the country over a period of seven years from 2015 to 2022.
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A North Carolina mother has filed a lawsuit claiming that her 16-year-old son, whom she had taken to a hospital during a mental health crisis, was hit with a stun gun, beaten and body slammed by security guards and sheriff's deputies, leaving him bleeding and handcuffed.

The complaint stems from the violent confrontation involving Jessica Long's son, which took place in December 2019 at Atrium Health Lincoln in Lincolton.

Long had taken the teen to the hospital and asked security officers to help get him inside.

A 45-minute surveillance video cited in the lawsuit shows a handcuffed teenager sitting outside Atrium Health Lincoln on a curb when he is punched in the face by a deputy responding to 911 call.

Jessica Long (left) has filed a lawsuit, accusing hospital security guards and North Carolina sheriff's deputies of tasing, beating and body slamming her 16-year-old son (right). She took the boy to Atrium Health Lincoln in Lincolton in December 2019 during a mental health crisis

Long's lawsuit alleges assault and battery and excessive force, false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress, negligence and constitutional violations

Longs attorney, Brad Smith, told the Charlotte Observer that the video clearly shows that Long and her son went to the hospital 'in crisis and in desperate need of medical care.'

About 40 minutes after he arrived, the teenager is led into the emergency room.

The lawsuit says the boy suffered serious injuries and deals with 'persistent psychiatric trauma' from the confrontation. He was arrested for assault and other crimes, but Smith said the charges were dropped.

The lawsuit also said the defendants libeled and slandered the family by making false statements about the incident and the teenager to justify their actions, while also sharing the teens private medical records with unauthorized individuals.

Surveillance video shows Long bringing her son to the hospital and asking a guard for help

Security guard Adam Harczuk comes over and pushes the 16-year-old to the ground

The lawsuit names Atrium Health, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital Authority, two security guards, Lincoln County sheriffs deputies Justin Polson and Michael Johnson, and Sheriff Bill Beam. It lists a variety of claims, including assault and battery and excessive force, false imprisonment, infliction of emotional distress, negligence and constitutional violations.

Deputy Polson filed a counter claim, in which he accuses the teenager of assault by spitting blood in his face.

Beam and the health system have said their actions were appropriate given the teenagers behavior.

'Spitting in a law enforcement officers face... is a felonious assault and he had a right to stop that assault from occurring,' Beam said.

Two security guards from the hospital try to stop the teen from approaching is mother's car

As the boy sits on the curb in handcuffs, he allegedly spits blood in the face of a deputy who had responded to the scene

The deputy punches the teen in the face. The sheriff later defended his actions

Atrium said the teens behavior forced the security officers 'to make sure they could keep themselves, our patients, and our entire care provider team safe.'

A Charlotte attorney asked a judge to dismiss the case, citing governmental immunity and the teenagers 'contributory negligence.'

In an interview with CBS last February, Long accused the guards and deputies of escalating the situation.

'They just immediately went for full-blown physical force. And these were big guys, and my son's, what, maybe 120 pounds,' Long said.

Footage of the incident taken on the hospital's surveillance cameras shows Long arriving at the emergency room with her son after midnight on December 8, 2019.

Long's lawsuit says her son suffered serious injuries and deals with 'persistent psychiatric trauma' from the confrontation

After getting out of her car, which carried her 16-year-old son and his seven-year-old brother, Long gestures for a security guard inside the hospital to come and help them.

The video, which has no sound, shows the teen arguing with his mother and shoving her, before security guard Adam Harczuk comes over and pushes the 16-year-old to the ground, knocking him down with such force that the teenager's shoes fly off.

According to the lawsuit, Harczuk tased the teen several times, despite Long's attempts to stop him - a claim the guard denies.

After the teen gets back on his feet and walks back toward the car, another security officer knocks him to the ground, causing him to fall face first, and then attempts to handcuff him.

A short time later, three sheriff's deputies arrive on the scene and help the guards restrain the teen.

As the handcuffed boy sits on the sidewalk, Deputy Polson crouches in front of him to tell him something. Suddenly, he flinches, purportedly marking the moment when the teen spits blood in his face, and punches the youth twice in the face.

According to the lawsuit, Long asked the deputies to stop assaulting her son, which prompted Polson to charge her 'like a raging bull,' before another officer stopped him.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
The company saw a 25 percent increase in global downloads and a 22 percent increase in average stream length. Bigo Live also reports that its most popular stream of the year brought together more than 300,000 users in a single Live House, further demonstrating the value of live streaming for connecting with others when it isn't safe to gather in person.

"The pandemic kept so many people isolated and away from their loved ones last year, which made our work at Bigo Live even more important," said Lynette Yang, General Manager of Bigo Live America. "I'm very proud of our team's unwavering efforts to create a safe space for people from all walks of life to express themselves freely and forge meaningful relationships with people from across the globe."

In terms of company growth, Bigo Live has invested heavily in its U.S. team, which is based in Los Angeles. The team's headcount grew by more than 300 percent and Bigo Live intends to make additional key hires in the U.S. as it continues to grow rapidly in the market.

This year Bigo Live will build new service, operation and tech centers in the Americas, aiming to provide more job opportunities and value to society. By making upgrades and optimizations in organization and structure, with the U.S. team serving as the "brain" in the region, Bigo Live can now confidently offer even more localized, professional service in the Americas.

Finally, Bigo Live carried out many philanthropic initiatives last year, including raising funds for several deserving organizations and curating in-app programming dedicated to social good. For example, the company raised $100,000 in donations through its Global BIGOer One World Together campaign for the World Health Organization's Solidarity Response Fund for pandemic relief, and donated $10,000 to both The Trevor Project and Living Beyond Breast Cancer. Bigo Live intends to continue its philanthropic efforts this year and has already pledged $100,000 in charitable donations, with the recipients to be announced throughout the year.

For more information on Bigo Live please visit www.bigo.tv .

About Bigo Live

Bigo Live is one of the world's fastest-growing live streaming social communities where users broadcast in real-time to share life moments, showcase their talents, and interact with people from around the world. Bigo Live has around 400 million users in over 150 countries and is currently the market leader in the live streaming industry. Launched in March 2016, Bigo Live is owned by Bigo Technology, which is based in Singapore.

SOURCE Bigo Live

Related Links

http://www.bigo.tv



WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Hours after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, Biden signed in the Oval Office an executive order that returns his country back to the Paris Agreement on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision to abandon the deal. Enditem

[ Editor: SRQ ]
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN) agreed to pay $221.5 million to settle complaints over price-fixing allegations. The settlements amount will reflect in the first quarter 2021 financial statements, the company disclosed in a regulatory filing. Settlement terms were reached with the putative Direct Purchaser Plaintiff Class, the putative Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiff Class and the putative End-User Plaintiff Class in its broiler chicken antitrust litigation, the company said. The company did not admit any liability as part of the settlements, but it believes that the settlements were in the best interests of the company and its shareholders in order to avoid the uncertainty, risk, expense and distraction of protracted litigation. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Information is changing rapidly as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the country, infection rates surge and dip and health care providers roll out the coronavirus vaccine across the country.

Thats what the Houston Chronicles COVID-19 Help Desk is here to get right. Every week, a Chronicle reporter will take readers questions about how the virus works and what to expect with the vaccine.

Whats in the ingredient list of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the ingredients of both vaccines online as part of their emergency use authorizations. Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine includes mRNA, lipids, potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate and sucrose. Moderna's vaccine includes messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), lipids, tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate and sucrose.

The main component is the lipids (also known as fats), which provide a protective casing around mRNA to keep it from degrading before entering the body. Modified mRNA carries the blueprints for cells to create antibodies that attack SARS-CoV-2. The rest are salts that help the body take in the vaccine and sugars to protect the vaccine from freezing when stored at cold temperatures.

As for what the vaccines dont have, Dr. Megan Berman, a physician and faculty member at the Sealy Institute of Vaccine Sciences at the University of Texas - Medical Branch in Galveston, is keeping a list: Neither of the vaccines contain eggs, gelatin, latex or any preservatives, she said. There are no aborted fetal cells in the vaccine.

And no, there are no tracking microchips in there, either.

VIRUS FAQS: World-renowned expert Ben Neuman shares which COVID vaccine he'd take, given the choice

Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine if youve previously had an allergic reaction to an injection?

There are few reports of anaphylaxis in response to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  just 11 cases in 1 million vaccinations, to be precise.

Symptoms of swelling or difficulty breathing usually appear within half an hour, which is why medical providers monitor people for 15 to 30 minutes after inoculation.

People might hesitate to get the vaccine if theyve had an allergic response in the past to the flu or shingles vaccines, but thats not necessarily a reason to avoid the vaccine.

Instead, Berman suggests patients consult their allergist or primary care doctor before scheduling an appointment for the vaccine and ensure their vaccination site can treat them if they have a response.

To put this in perspective, we can treat anaphylaxis, Berman said. All of these cases of anaphylaxis have actually been successfully treated. When you look at the lives taken by COVID-19 and you don't know the long-term consequences for those who do survive, the risk/benefits just really seem to go toward vaccination.

You may see some other side effects, such as a sore arm, fatigue or headache after the injection. Theyre not signs of an allergic reaction, Berman said  just a sign that your body is creating the right immune response to COVID-19.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine have to be given in the arm, or can it go into another muscle?

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are intramuscular vaccines. Although designed for the arm or deltoid muscle, Berman said they can be administered in the thigh.

These vaccines target a kind of cell circulating through your muscle tissue called dendritic cells. When the cell receives the mRNA from the vaccine, it creates the protein response and carries it to the rest of the bodys immune system.

The resulting cells are then programmed to hunt down SARS-CoV-2 in the body, said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Texas A&M.

However, San Antonio-based Texas Biomedical Research Institute and U.K.-based Lancaster University are developing a nasal spray vaccine that is currently in clinical trials.

Why are scientists saying they dont know if people who have been immunized can transmit the virus?

The clinical trials for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines did not study whether people who had been immunized can transmit the virus.

Scientists are now checking trial participants for antibodies, active infections and whether theyre shedding virus particles.

We don't really know about the asymptomatic spread, Berman said. What we know about the current virus is that 40 percent of people are able to transmit it while they're asymptomatic.

MORE FROM OUR COVID REPORTERS: Men more likely to get, die from COVID, Houston researchers find

Neuman told the Chronicle researchers may know the answer to that question in a year or two.

Are these vaccines on the market still effective against the more infectious U.K. strain?

The U.K. strain catching everyones eye is reportedly more infectious, but researchers say it does not cause more severe illness in the people who catch it.

Pfizers vaccine protects people from the new strain, Berman said.

Because the Pfizer and Moderna are so similar, we can just assume that both of them are going to have the same effect, she said.

At least one person in Harris County has been diagnosed with the new strain of virus.

Have a question for the Chronicles COVID-19 Help Desk? Ask it here.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

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[January 21, 2021] Statement from Connected Nation Chairman & CEO Thomas W. Ferree applauding the designation of Jessica Rosenworcel as Acting Chair of the FCC

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomas W. Ferree, Chairman & CEO of Connected Nation, released the following statement on the designation of Jessica Rosenworcel as Acting Chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC): Jessica Rosenworcel has been a tireless champion for the expansion of broadband access to all Americans. "We applaud President Biden's designation of Jessica Rosenworcel as Acting Chair of the FCC. As a commissioner at the agency, she has been a tireless champion for the expansion of broadband access to all Americans and has been a passionate voice on behalf of the most disconnected and overlooked among us. Her advocacy for the improvement and preservation of the E-rate Program has meant, as our Connect K-12 data indicate, dramatically better connectivity for our nation's schools over the past five years.



"Beyond that, she has been a staunch advocate for policies that will help close the 'Homework Gap' for students that have no access at home, as well as for the long-awaited improvement of the FCC's broadband maps, which guide where federal dollars are invested to improve access. While there is still much work left to be done, we look forward to her leadership of the agency and to working alongside her to ensure that every American has access to fast, affordable broadband service." About Connected Nation: Our mission is to improve lives by providing innovative solutions that expand access to and increase the adoption and use of broadband (high-speed internet) and its related technologies for all people. Everyone belongs in a Connected Nation.

Connected Nation works with consumers, local community leaders, states, technology providers, and foundations to develop and implement technology expansion programs with core competencies centered on a mission to improve digital inclusion for people and places previously underserved or overlooked. For more information, please visit: connectednation.org and follow Connected Nation on Facebook and Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-from-connected-nation-chairman--ceo-thomas-w-ferree-applauding-the-designation-of-jessica-rosenworcel-as-acting-chair-of-the-fcc-301212941.html SOURCE Connected Nation

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HOUSTON, Miss. (WTVA) - One hospital in Chickasaw County had to cancel vaccine appointments after running out of doses.

Employees had to turn some people away the day of their appointments.

They told us you know; we couldnt get a shot, Glen Vance, 85, said.

He lives a few miles outside of Houston.

Vance and his wife had been relieved when they got a vaccination appointment at Trace Regional Hospital.

But when the couple arrived for their noon appointment on Friday, Jan. 15, an employee broke the bad news

The lady was putting a notice on the front glass door, taping it on and said that they had run out of the vaccine.

Beverly Pulliam, the head of Employee Health and Infection Control, said medical workers could only give 80 vaccines on that day.

She said the hospital scheduled appointments up until March, but the state department of health didnt deliver enough doses as promised.

Pulliam said the state health department contacted her the day before and told her the hospital would not get a new shipment until mid-February.

As for Vance, his daughter is trying to find another vaccination site.

When it happens, well get a shot, he said.

Pulliam said she understands the situation is an inconvenience to many people, but said workers need to save whats left for second doses.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) consignment of COVID-19 vaccines with 10 lakh dosages that will be dispatched to Kathmandu and 20 lakh dosages to Dhaka, has arrived at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Thursday. The dosages will reach the two countries by Thursday morning.

READ | Iraq Approves Sinopharm, AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines For Emergency Use Against COVID-19

India's Ministry of External Affairs had announced a vaccine rollout for Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday which comes in line with its Neighbourhood First Policy.

READ | Cambodia's PM Seeks Help From India For The Provision Of COVID-19 Vaccines As List Grows

Consignment already received by Bhutan and Maldives

On January 20, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had announced that India's vaccines have already reached Bhutan and Maldives. Bhutan received 150,000 doses and Maldives recieved 100,000 doses.

The Nepal Government has arranged to inoculate 72 percent of its citizens. Nepal has announced that legal and financial preparations for rolling out of vaccine have been completed and everything is set with vaccination drive soon to start in the Himalayan Nation. Earlier, India had provided Nepal with medical equipment, medicines and other logistical support to fight the pandemic.

READ | Israel's Ultra-orthodox Rabbi Says COVID-19 Vaccines Will Turn People 'homosexuals'

On January 8, Bangladesh had approved the procurement of 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' from India.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked for assistance from India for the provision of COVID-19 vaccines since the country has produced its own vaccine which is scheduled to be rolled out to more than 300 million Indians, as Cambodia media reports. The Cambodia PM also congratulated India on its successful production and launch of Covid-19 vaccines.

(With Agency Inputs)

READ | Brazil Approves Emergency Use Of Sinovac And AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccines, Rollout Begins

Scientists have created a highly detailed map of skin, which reveals that cellular processes from development are re-activated in cells from patients with inflammatory skin disease. The researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Newcastle University and Kings College London, discovered that skin from eczema and psoriasis patients share many of the same molecular pathways as developing skin cells. This offers potential new drug targets for treating these painful skin diseases.

Published on 22nd January in Science, the study also provides a completely new understanding of inflammatory disease, opening up new avenues for research on other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Part of the global Human Cell Atlas effort to map every cell type in the human body, the new comprehensive atlas of developing and adult skin is a valuable resource* for scientists worldwide. It could also provide a template for regenerative medicine, helping researchers grow skin in the laboratory more effectively.

Our skin acts as a barrier, protecting us against invading bacteria or viruses, and is vital for health. Inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic eczema and psoriasis are chronic conditions, where the immune system becomes overactive, causing itchy or flaky skin that can be very painful and prone to infection. These conditions can have significant impact on people's lives, but the trigger is unknown and there is no cure, with treatments only helping to relieve the symptoms, not the cause.

Skin is a complex tissue made up of many different types of cells. To learn how skin forms and how this relates to adult health and disease, the researchers studied cells from developing skin**, comparing these with biopsies from healthy adults, and eczema and psoriasis patients. Using cutting-edge single cell technology and machine learning, the team analysed more than half a million individual skin cells, to see exactly which genes were switched on in each cell. This allowed them to find out what each individual cell does and how the cells talk to each other.

To their surprise, the researchers discovered that the diseased skin cells shared many of the same cellular mechanisms as developing cells.

Professor Muzlifah Haniffa, co-senior author from Newcastle University and Associate Faculty at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "This Skin Cell Atlas reveals specific molecular signals sent by healthy developing skin to summon immune cells and form a protective layer. We were amazed to see that eczema and psoriasis skin cells were sending the same molecular signals, which could over activate immune cells and cause the disease. This had never been seen before. Discovering that developing cell pathways re-emerge is a huge leap in our understanding of inflammatory skin disease, and offers new routes for finding treatments."

Dr Gary Reynolds, a first author on the study from Newcastle University, said: "While our study focused on inflammatory skin disease, there is potential that other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease could be triggered in the same way. This research shows the importance of studying development, and could open up entirely new avenues for inflammatory disease research."

The study uncovered how healthy skin tissue develops, and revealed the cells that are present in adult skin. This has great implications for regenerative medicine, especially for burns victims.

Professor Fiona Watt, co-senior author from Kings College London, said: "There have been decades of research on skin cells grown in the laboratory. However, it is not always clear how the properties of the cells change in the laboratory setting. By revealing the detailed make-up of cells immediately on isolation from developing and adult human skin, this Skin Cell Atlas can act as a template for researchers trying to reconstruct healthy skin in regenerative medicine. Our data is openly available, and we hope this will aid research into creating skin tissue in the laboratory."

Dr Sarah Teichmann co-senior author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Cambridge, and co-chair of the Human Cell Atlas initiative, said: "Part of the international Human Cell Atlas initiative to create a 'Google map' of the human body, this skin cell atlas study reveals that studying development can not only help understand how tissues are formed in the first place, but also shed vital light on diseases. This map reveals a completely new way of thinking about inflammatory diseases, and is an important reference that other scientists can use to investigate the causes of disease, and inform potential new treatments."

###

Notes to editors:

*Skin Cell Atlas data is publically available via an interactive browsable web portal at: https:/ / developmentcellatlas. ncl. ac. uk/ datasets/ hca_skin_portal

** The researchers analysed human embryonic skin tissues between 7 and 10 post-conception weeks, provided by the Wellcome- and MRC- funded Human Developmental Biological Resource (http://www. hdbr. org ). Healthy adult skin from mammoplasty surgery and skin biopsies from patients affected by atopic eczema and psoriasis were also studied.

Selected websites:

About Newcastle University

Newcastle University, UK, is a thriving international community of some 27,750 students from over 130 countries worldwide. As a member of the Russell Group of research intensive universities in the UK, Newcastle has a world-class reputation for research excellence in the fields of medicine, science and engineering, social sciences and the humanities. Its academics are sharply focused on responding to the major challenges facing society today. Our research and teaching are world-leading in areas as diverse as health, culture, technology and the environment.

The Research Excellence Framework 2014 (REF) placed Newcastle University 16th in the UK for Research Power and the vast majority of our research (78%) was assessed to be world-leading or internationally excellent. Newcastle University is committed to providing our students with excellent, research-led teaching delivered by dedicated and passionate teachers. This is reaffirmed by achieving the best possible outcome - a Gold Award - in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). https:/ / www. ncl. ac. uk

King's College London

King's College London is one of the top 10 UK universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2018/19) and among the oldest in England. King's has more than 31,000 students (including more than 12,800 postgraduates) from some 150 countries worldwide, and some 8,500 staff.

King's has an outstanding reputation for world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), eighty-four per cent of research at King's was deemed 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (3* and 4*).

Since our foundation, King's students and staff have dedicated themselves in the service of society. King's will continue to focus on world-leading education, research and service, and will have an increasingly proactive role to play in a more interconnected, complex world. Visit our website to find out more about Vision 2029, King's strategic vision for the next 12 years to 2029, which will be the 200th anniversary of the founding of the university.

World-changing ideas. Life-changing impact: https:/ / www. kcl. ac. uk/ news/ headlines. aspx

The Wellcome Sanger Institute

The Wellcome Sanger Institute is a world leading genomics research centre. We undertake large-scale research that forms the foundations of knowledge in biology and medicine. We are open and collaborative; our data, results, tools and technologies are shared across the globe to advance science. Our ambition is vast - we take on projects that are not possible anywhere else. We use the power of genome sequencing to understand and harness the information in DNA. Funded by Wellcome, we have the freedom and support to push the boundaries of genomics. Our findings are used to improve health and to understand life on Earth. Find out more at http://www. sanger. ac. uk or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and on our Blog.

About Wellcome
A nurse holds a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at Guy's Hospital in London, on Dec. 8, 2020. (Frank Augstein/AP Photo)

Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine May Be Effective Against UK Viral Strain: Study

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be effective against the more transmissible CCP virus variant found in the United Kingdom that has spread worldwide, according to a preprint study that has not been independently reviewed.

The discovery of different variants of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus since the pandemic began has led to concerns about the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, prompting Pfizer and BioNTech to conduct their own research, which was published on bioRxiv on Jan. 19.

The study evaluated whether serums of 16 participants whove been vaccinated in phase 1/2 trial could neutralize non-replicating SARS-CoV-2 (spike protein) pseudoviruses containing the mutation found in the UK variant B.1.1.7 or the Wuhan reference strain.

SARS-CoV-2 is the scientific name of the CCP virus that causes the disease COVID-19.

A pseudovirus is an artificially made virus in a laboratory used in place of the more pathogenic live virus for research purposes.

The authors of the study found that there was no biologically significant difference in neutralization activity against the two pseudoviruses.

While results are encouraging with the small samples in the study, the authors caution that the ongoing evolution of SARS-CoV-2 necessitates continuous monitoring of the significance of changes for maintained protection by currently authorized vaccines.

Scientists have yet to establish, for COVID-19 vaccines, what reduction in neutralization would require a vaccine strain change, like for the flu vaccine.

Public Health England reported (pdf) in December 2020 that they found no statistically significant difference in hospitalization and 28-day case fatality between the UK variant and the original CCP virus strand. There was also no significant difference in the likelihood of reinfection between variant cases and the comparator group.

A person receives the COVID-19 vaccine in Portland, Ore., on Dec. 16, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images)

Adverse Reactions

Since the rollout of the vaccine program, reports have emerged of people experiencing adverse events, including death after receiving a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Just this week, officials in Norway are investigating the deaths of 23 frail and elderly patients after they were immunized. All were aged 80 and older and many with underlying conditions. Around 40,000 people live in nursing homes in Norway.

The Norwegian Medicines Agency updated its guidance on COVID-19 vaccination that very frail people, including those who are terminally ill, should not get the shot.

Following the deaths, Pfizer and BioNTech said they are working with the Norwegian Medicines Agency to gather all the relevant information.

More than 42,000 Norwegians have received the COVID-19 vaccine as of Jan. 14.

While in the United States, 55 people have died after being inoculated with either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, according to reports made to the federal database, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).

Reports made to VAERS do not prove that an adverse reaction resulted from a vaccine since its not required to show proof of a vaccine injury for the report to be accepted in the system.

People also reported over 1,300 emergency room visits, 225 hospitalizations, and 24 permanent disabilities after receiving a COVID vaccine.

A spokesperson for Pfizer wrote in an email to The Epoch Times that the company closely monitor[s] all reports following vaccination, while Moderna didnt respond to requests for comment.

Over 16 million people have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, although more than 35 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed as of Jan. 20.
Though it was smashed in mid-March, the ASX healthcare sector recovered and held up better than most of the market, according to experts.

The outlook for the sector this year is positive, particularly as COVID-19 vaccines begin to roll out.

The ASX healthcare sector, like every other sector and facet of life in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic, stumbled significantly in March, but it held up better than most of the market, analysts have told Proactive.

The ASX200 healthcare index, AXHJ, fell to a low of 33,730 points in mid-March 2020 as Australia went into lockdown to tackle the first wave of the virus.

But despite some ebbs and flows, by mid-November the index was sitting at nearly 46,000 points, its highest point since mid-February, when most Australians were wondering just how serious the whole COVID-19 thing really was.

The healthcare indexs recovery is in line with most of the Australian market  as previously reported by Proactive, the ASX200 and the All Ordinaries had recovered almost all of their losses by the end of the year.

And while the healthcare index has dropped slightly as 2021 began very similarly to how 2020 ended, Morgans associate analyst Iain Wilkie, who covers healthcare, biotechnology and medical devices, said the sector had held up well.

COVID-19 was obviously the story of 2020 and when it really hit in March healthcare went down, like everything else, he said.

But after that initial drop, it held up better than the broader market. COVID-19 was a health issue and the healthcare sector is seen as a safe haven.

COVID-19 causes haywire

Wilkie said when the pandemic first hit, it caused chaos in the healthcare sector as companies scrambled to figure out how to remain relevant.

There were many me too announcements, everyone came out with some sort of angle on the pandemic, about how its drugs or its devices could be used to fight against it, he said.

That caused a number of companies share prices to go on opportunistic, short-lived runs.

It seemed for a while that we had companies moving hundreds or thousands of per cent in a day, every couple of days, Wilkie said.

Some people made money, but more were torched by it.

Wilkie said, however, that the healthcare sector was able to fan the flames.

It was a healthcare issue, and it led to increased utilisation of hospitals, increased telehealth appointments, and healthcare was the talking point for everyone, he said.

2021 outlook

Wilkie said the outlook for the healthcare sector for this year was positive, particularly as COVID-19 vaccines begin to roll out across the world.

It is looking really nice, particularly as more people get the vaccine, however, it will have a lot to do with infection rates and lockdowns as that can kill business sentiment, he said.

He said telehealth had been a major trend of 2020, and that would continue to shape the healthcare environment as more doctors, hospitals and healthcare and medical technology companies realised what could be done remotely.

Wilkie also said the stability offered by US president Joe Bidens swearing-in would play a role in Australian markets, as well as the make-up of the US Senate and the strength of the Australian dollar.

Healthcares long-term strength

Wilkie also pointed to the healthcare sectors long-term strength  the AXHJ index has gained about 110 per cent in the past five years, compared with gains of 38 per cent and 43 per cent for the ASX200 and All Ords respectively.

- Daniel Paproth
Abraham is less apprehensive now that he has seen aid workers return to Adi Harush camp, after escalating violence in the Tigray region of Ethiopia forced humanitarian agencies to cease operations last November.

When the aid workers left, we felt alone. Its comforting to see UNHCR back, says the Eritrean father of four, who has been a refugee in Ethiopia for the past four years.

He adds that the services offered by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and other aid agencies before the temporary withdrawal gave them some hope.

Back then, we knew that we were not forgotten. We had a school and a clinic  at least UNHCR tried to give us a future, even though it seemed so far away he continues. Life was not easy in the refugee camp but at least we felt safer.

UNHCR staff pulled out of the camp in early November last year amid escalating conflict in Tigray that has driven over 58,000 civilians to seek refuge across the border in neighbouring Sudan. Hundreds of thousands more are displaced within Ethiopia and some areas remain inaccessible.

Richelle Haines, UNHCRs Protection Officer based in Shire, in the Tigray region, recalls the day they had to leave Tigray.

When we left, the people shrugged, as if to ask, Why are you going? What happens now? says Haines who has worked in Ethiopia for over 10 years.

Although it wasnt a choice to leave, it felt like we were forsaking them. While this is my duty station, it has also become home and leaving meant leaving behind many dear friends, she adds.

When we left, the people shrugged, as if to ask, Why are you going? What happens now?

Now, Haines and her colleagues are back, although for a short while until UNHCR receives authorization from the Government to fully return. As she moves through the camp and surrounding areas, she greets and chats with people easily in Amharic and Tigrinya.

When we came back, they all made the same hand gestures, as if to say, There you are at last! she says.

Some 96,000 Eritreans refugees  some who arrived just last year, others some 20 years ago  are registered in four UNHCR camps in the Tigray Region.

While UNHCR regained access to Adi Harush and Mai Aini camps, it has not yet had any access to the Shimelba and Hitsats refugee camps since the start of the law enforcement operation two months ago, despite repeated requests.

UNHCR remains concerned for the safety and wellbeing of the Eritrean refugees in those camps, who have been without any aid for many weeks.

In Adi Harush, refugees live in small huts stringed together, sometimes with a tiny pen for some chickens or a goat. Most built their houses by themselves, with fieldstones from the area. The result is a small, sometimes windowless hut, without water or electricity. But it is home for most and the refugees have felt safe here.

That feeling is gone, says Amanuel, another Eritrean living in Adi Harush. At the beginning of the conflict, I thought food and clean water were our biggest problems. But now it is the security situation.

Thankfully, Adi Harush and Mai Aini refugee camps were not directly impacted by the conflict. The camp infrastructure is largely intact, but robberies were common, especially at night and refugees could hear sounds of the military conflict. Some people had their mobile phones stolen, which for many, were their only valuable items and the only way to communicate with family back in Eritrea or elsewhere.

We live in fear every night, that conflict will begin again. We fear thieves and looters taking advantage of the lack of law and order, adds Amanuel.

See also: UNHCR finds dire need in Eritrean refugee camps cut off in Tigray conflict

Samuel, 36, agrees that life is hard. For over two months, he, and his family of six did not receive any food. The prices of items at the little marketplace have skyrocketed and the only water source is a river, a few minutes walk from the camp.

Life in a refugee camp is hard, says Samuel. But now it is unbearable.

He adds that the water from the river, more of a creek, is barely usable. The water is almost stagnant, muddy, and murky.

It is justnot clean, he says.

But they have no alternative, so refugees use that water for washing, cooking and even for drinking.

My children need to drink water; we all need to drink. But if they drink this water, they will get diarrhoea. But what else can we do? he asks.

Just before Christmas, together with the Ethiopian Governments refugee agency, the World Food Programme and UNHCR delivered the first food aid to refugees in Adi Harush and Mai Aini. A Christmas miracle, some said.

We will do everything we can to help. Now, more than ever.

We waited for you. Now, not everything is good, but it is looking better, Abraham says. The schools must be opened soon, and we hope for clean water. But most important is that we have safety and security again.

UNHCRs Haines recognizes Abrahams hopeful sentiments.

It will be hard work to realise these hopes, she says. But we will do everything we can to help. Now, more than ever.

Kangana Ranaut is one Bollywood celebrity who has managed to make headlines every day for one controversy or another. Now, once again she has become part of the controversy. The Mumbai Police have summoned the Bollywood actor in a defamation case filed by veteran writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar.



According to reports, she has now been asked to appear before the Juhu police on Friday. Javed Akhtar had filed a criminal complaint against Kangana Ranaut in November last year before the Andheri metropolitan magistrate for allegedly making defamatory and baseless comments against him in television interviews.

Javed Akhtar had filed a complaint in November 2020 alleging that the actress had made defamatory comments against him while speaking about the Sushant Singh Rajput death probe. He also alleged that she made baseless remarks in her ongoing spat with Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan by dragging his name.



Later, his lawyer had sought action against Kangana Ranaut under various sections of the IPC.

 BCCL

The complaint also said that Kangana falsely claimed that Akhtar threatened her to keep silent about her alleged relationship with actor Hrithik Roshan. These remarks made by Kanganas had tarnished Akhtars public image.



The court on January 17th allowed the police time till February 1 to file a report of their probe into the defamation complaint.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below!

It was like an earthquake, I thought a bomb had gone off. That was one witnesss account of the explosion that ripped through a building in central Madrid at 2.56pm on Wednesday, at number 98 Toledo street  just a kilometer from the landmark square Plaza Mayor and 15 minutes on foot from the central Puerta del Sol.

The seven-story building was destroyed in the blast, leaving at least four people dead and 10 injured. According to source from the emergency services, all the evidence points to a gas boiler that exploded. The building in question was the Church of the Virgen de la Paloma parish center. It contains office space, a shelter run by the charity group Caritas, a meeting room, a living room and three housing units for priests.

The blast damaged the nearby area. Jaime Villanueva

A strong smell of gas was detected in the building at around 2pm, spreading throughout the seven floors. One of the priests who was present, according to sources from the archbishopric, called a well-known electrician from the parish, David Santos Munoz. On arrival, the 35-year-old started to inspect several boilers that were located in the building. Minutes later the explosion took place, blowing out one of its facades. The emergency services confirmed at 7pm on Wednesday that Santos Munoz had died in the incident. He was married and had four children. Two other men died in the blast but their ages have not been confirmed.

Another priest, aged 36, was confirmed on Thursday morning to have died after being injured in the explosion. Another 10 people were left with injuries by the huge blast. The most serious of these was a 26-year-old male who was taken to La Paz hospital in a moderate to serious condition; another male, aged 53, suffered minor head injuries, and was taken to the Ramon y Cajal hospital; and a third man, aged 29, suffered a fractured fibula and was moved to the Clinico hospital. A 27-year-old who suffered injuries to his ankle was taken to the Fundacion Jimenez Diaz for tests. Two National Police officers were also taken to hospital with mild injuries.

The Church priest, Gabriel Benedicto, 39, was locked down in the building due to coronavirus at the time of the blast. He is okay and in a state of shock, sources close to him reported.

Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida and Madrid regional premier Isabel Diaz Ayuso at the scene of the blast on Wednesday. Jesus Hellin / Europa Press

The first minutes after the explosion caused chaos in the central La Latina neighborhood. Hundreds of residents came out to their balconies, as a plume of white smoke  visible from kilometers around  pointed to the origin of the blast. Police and ambulance sirens began to wail all around.

Images of the aftermath began to reach WhatsApp groups of thousands of people. Pablo Nogales, 43, came upon the scene as he left the Puerta de Toledo Metro station. There, he explained, he saw a woman crying, as well as parked cars on the street completely destroyed by the rubble. He saw smoke and the faces of passers-by in complete shock. He took out his cellphone, almost as a reflex, and began to record the scene. It was all full of rubble, it was really shocking, he said.

All of the patrons of a nearby bar, called Eduardo, came out onto the street to see what had happened. It was as if a bomb had dropped, the noise was tremendous, said the bars eponymous owner.

Firefighters inspecting the damage to the building, which authorities said may undergo controlled demolition at a later date. Jesus Hellin / Europa Press

In around 30 minutes, ambulances, fire crews and dozens of police officers had cordoned off the area, and had begun to evacuate residents and passers-by. A neighboring senior residence, Los Nogales, was immediately evacuated, with its 57 residents taken to safety.

Also next to the affected building is a school, La Salle-La Paloma. The 200 students had only just returned to class on Wednesday, after a delay of a week and a half due to the effects of the recent Storm Filomena, which left a near-unprecedented amount of snow on the city. The children had a lucky escape from injury, given that they were not in the school yard at the time of the blast as they normally would be due to the snow that was still present in the area. Despite the huge amounts of rubble that fell onto the school yard, just one child was left with a mild injury, a minor head wound according to the regional education department. The school has already been inspected by the local councils technicians, but its students will be studying from home while the full structural damage is evaluated.

English version by Simon Hunter.
COUNCILLORS have called for the permanent return of the popular ferris wheel at Arthurs Quay park.

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March,, the wheel, which provides panoramic views, has provided panoramic views of the city.

It was initially only slated to open for a short period of time in 2020 having been introduced for the St Patricks festivals in 2018 and 2019.

At this months metropolitan meeting, Fine Gael councillor Olivia OSullivan urged the local authority to look to install a permanent panoramic or Ferris wheel in the park.

I think the council should be commended for the fact the panoramic wheel was in Arthurs Quay Park for so long. It obviously wasnt intended to be. It hasnt stayed through the winter seasons in previous years, and this year, the council has supported it and retained it during the dark winter months., she said.

Its meant an awful lot to people, and you could tell how sad people were when it was dismantled and taken away. It was such a beacon of hope during these dark times, Cllr OSulliivan added.

The northside member also praised the fact the lights on Limericks riverside were kept on.

Labour councillor Conor Sheehan added: We cannot underestimate the impact of having the Ferris wheel there. It was great to have a positive focal point down at Arthurs Quay Park. We all know over the years, there were issues there with anti-social behaviour. The wheel brought families in particular down there, and served as a beacon of positivity and hope during the pandemic.

He suggested any future wheel should be known as The Limerick Eye, as a nod to the landmark in London.

Cllr Daniel Butler said: The wheel has generated iconic pictures for social media and shown our city in a good light.

In a written reply, community director Gordon Daly said the local authority will consider the technical and financial feasibility of installing a permanent wheel as part of the impending development of Arthurs Quay shopping centre and park.

Lawton, OK (73501)

Today

Showers this morning becoming less numerous during the afternoon hours. High 76F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
A 13-year-old murder suspect burnt a car and bought gloves which were used in a gang shooting, the Old Bailey heard today.

The schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is said to have assisted in the 'tit-for-tat' revenge hit in Hayes, west London, last October 13.

Along with a 16-year-old boy, Guled Hassan, 21, and Jamie Ayres, 46, he is charged with murdering Shakur Hassan, 23.

A 13-year-old murder suspect burnt a car and bought gloves used in a gang shooting, the Old Bailey heard today. Along with a 16-year-old boy, 21-year-old Guled Hassan, and 46-year-old Jamie Ayres, he is charged with murdering Shakur Hassan (pictured), 23

Mr Hassan was found with gunshot injuries and, despite the best efforts of medics, he was pronounced dead at the scene, in Austin Road, a short time later.

The 13-year-old boy appeared in court via a video-link from a secure unit in Bristol wearing a pale blue T-shirt and raised his hand to confirm his name and date of birth.

Duncan Atkinson, QC, prosecuting said the 13-year-old was aware of the plan to kill Mr Hassan.

'He was assisting with a group of others with a plan, of which the Crown say he was fully aware, to carry out a shooting.

'Assisting them by the acquisition of gloves in advance and the burning of a vehicle that had been used in the shooting immediately afterwards.

Last October, Mr Hassan was found with gunshot injuries and, despite the best efforts of medics, he was pronounced dead at the scene (above), in Austin Road, a short time later. Duncan Atkinson, QC, prosecuting said the 13-year-old was aware of the plan to kill Mr Hassan

'This was a murder in the context of tit-for-tat violence of a very serious kind with a degree of organisation with reference to using stolen vehicles and weapons.'

The 13-year-old is charged with murder and perverting the course of justice.

Guled Hassan, of Southall, Ayres, from Northolt, and the 16-year-old are all charged with murder.

There will be a further preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey tomorrow.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With 91% of its more than 100 employees rating it a Great Place to Work, ICD, an independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments, earned a Great Place to Work-Certified 2020 designation. According to Great Place to Work, ICD's rating compares with 59% of employees at a typical U.S.-based company.

Visit the Institutional Cash Distributors (ICD) page at Great Place to Work to see what else ICD employees are saying.

"At ICD, we thrive off each other's passion, energy and invested commitment to our work and to those we serve," says ICD CEO Tory Hazard. "We are proud to have earned a Great Place to Work certification by our employees as the outcome of this designation correlates directly with the above average/excellent service score we receive from 99% of the respondents to our client survey each year."

Using validated employee feedback gathered with Great Place to Work's rigorous, data-driven "For All" methodology, certification confirms 9 out of 10 employees have a consistently positive experience at ICD.

ICD employees also said the following:

99% - Our customers would rate the service we deliver as "excellent."

95% - When you join the company, you are made to feel welcome.

93% - Management is honest and ethical in its business practices.

93% - People celebrate special events around here.

92% - Management is competent at running the business.

"We congratulate ICD, on their certification," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Best Workplace List Research at Great Place to Work. "Organizations that earn their employees' trust create great workplace cultures that deliver outstanding business results."

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue and increased innovation.

To learn more about ICD's Great Place to Work certification, visit https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/7026457. For more information about ICD, visit icdportal.com or contact [email protected].

About ICD

ICD is treasury's trusted, independent portal provider of money market funds and other short-term investments. We provide intuitive technology and unbiased access to over 300 investment products through ICD Portal, a model in the industry for trading, reporting and analysis. Through our Global Trade Desk, located in London, Boston and San Francisco, we offer follow-the-sun support and expert service.

ICD Media Contact

Zoe Sochor

+1 646.581.3277 [email protected]

SOURCE Institutional Cash Distributors, LLC

Related Links

http://www.icdfunds.com


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January 21, 2021 by Judy Isaac

Category: Purchasing and Contracting



Public agencies award a variety of contracts to many different individuals, vendors, firms, and contractors. The criteria that an entity must meet to be eligible for a public contract award will depend on the type of solicitation and contract involved. The necessary criteria is identified under each of the specific contracting types below.

Public Works

Award of public works contracts must be to the lowest responsible bidder who has a responsive bid. Responsiveness is determined by the agency as they review bid responses to assess if all the requirements of the bid have been met. This step pertains to all types of solicitations, not just public works contracts.

In addition, the bidder responsibility criteria of RCW 39.04.350 provides a clear definition of the mandatory criteria a contractor must meet to be considered a responsible bidder who is eligible for a public works contract award. The criteria were established to ensure that award is to a legitimate contractor, properly licensed in the state, and who has not been debarred from performing work in Washington. An agency may require other criteria be met for a project award through supplemental bidder criteria. These requirements must be detailed in the project specifications and pertain to elements that specifically impact the project to which they are being applied.

Services

When contracting for services, there are no statutory requirements that must be met by a bidder in order to be eligible for an award. Instead, performance criteria are established by the agency dependent on any qualifications, training, licensing, and expertise necessary to complete the work. An agency will want to be sure that the entity is properly licensed for the work that is necessary, if applicable, and that the entity meets the required specifications outlined in the solicitation. Usually all that is requested by the agency when the award is extended is a Unified Business Identifier (UBI) and a tax account. Using the Washington State Debarred Contractors List, the agency should verify and document that the contract awardee is not prohibited from receiving a public contract.

The agency will want to determine whether the entities it contracts with are required to obtain a business license from the local jurisdiction. If so, the jurisdiction may also require business license applicants have a state UBI. Beyond that, it is not understood that the agency is under an independent duty to require the entities it contracts with provide a UBI.

The exception to the above process would be work that is solicited as a purchased service requiring prevailing wages. These contracts fall within the prevailing wage description of public works (WAC 296-127-010) and the responsible bidder criteria of RCW 39.04.350 listed above under Public Works should be followed.

Purchases

When soliciting for materials, supplies, and equipment, most agencies are required to award to the lowest responsible bidder. There are no statutory definitions of a responsible bidder for purchases. The bidding agency will typically outline what is required in the solicitation. Primarily the bidder must be responsive to the specifications for the products being requested, which can include availability and delivery charges. The procuring agency might also require a business license for the jurisdiction depending on the nature of the purchase. An agency should check for and document that the winning bidder is not debarred on the states Debarred Contractors List.

State agencies have statutory guidelines, shown below, that address awards for purchases (RCW 39.26.160). Some local government agencies with broad contracting authority have adopted these guidelines in their own policies. If a local government agency has or considers using these guidelines, it is essential to consult with your legal counsel as this statute authority is for state agencies only.

RCW 39.26.160 Bid awardsConsiderations

(2) In determining whether the bidder is a responsible bidder, the agency must consider the following elements:

(a) The ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to perform the contract or provide the service required;

(b) The character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, and efficiency of the bidder;

(c) Whether the bidder can perform the contract within the time specified;

(d) The quality of performance of previous contracts or services;

(e) The previous and existing compliance by the bidder with laws relating to the contract or services;

(f) Whether, within the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the bid solicitation, the bidder has been determined by a final and binding citation and notice of assessment issued by the department of labor and industries or through a civil judgment entered by a court of limited or general jurisdiction to have willfully violated, as defined in RCW 49.48.082, any provision of chapter 49.46, 49.48, or 49.52 RCW; and

(g) Such other information as may be secured having a bearing on the decision to award the contract.

(3) In determining the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, an agency may consider best value criteria, including but not limited to:

(a) Whether the bid satisfies the needs of the state as specified in the solicitation documents;

(b) Whether the bid encourages diverse contractor participation;

(c) Whether the bid provides competitive pricing, economies, and efficiencies;

(d) Whether the bid considers human health and environmental impacts;

(e) Whether the bid appropriately weighs cost and noncost considerations; and

(f) Life-cycle cost.

Here are some examples of policies addressing award of purchases that were developed by a few agencies:

Award. The award of bid shall be made to the lowest responsible bidder whose bid meets the specifications and evaluation criteria set forth in the invitation for bids. The city may reject all bids at its discretion.

Award. The purchasing division may award purchase to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder whose quote fulfills the intended purpose, quality and delivery needs of the solicitation. In lieu of awarding the purchase, the purchasing division may reject bids, or may negotiate further to obtain terms.

Invitation for Bids. An invitation for bids shall be used in all cases where adequate information exists to form a complete and realistic bid specification, where the procurement lends itself to a firm, fixed-price dollar amount, and where award can be made principally on the basis of selecting the lowest responsible bidder. All awards to other than the low bidder must be authorized by law, documented on the bid sheet or where appropriate, and with the selection rationale clearly set forth.

MRSC is a private nonprofit organization serving local governments in Washington State. Eligible government agencies in Washington State may use our free, one-on-one Ask MRSC service to get answers to legal, policy, or financial questions.
(Natural News) Informed people know that the far left has desires, designs, and determination to overthrow America because we have been a beacon of freedom for hundreds of years. They want that light extinguished forever. The light has grown dim in recent years and is now flickering. Traitors, dupes, and fellow travelers have been at work and the results are obvious in Washington, D.C.

(Article by Don Boys republished from AllNewsPipeline.com)

What has been happening in Democrat-controlled cities is not accidental. Its called treason. The desired result is revolution.

Historian Will Durant wrote in the Age of Napoleon that the Jacobins and all Frenchmen who had rejected divine revelation and were now dependent on reason all concurred in hoping that devotion to the young republic would become the religion of the people; that Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity would replace God, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that the furtherance of the new Trinity could be made the overriding aim of social order and the final test of morality.

But it was not to be.

Abbe Augustin Barruel was an honest, scholarly, informed apologist and defender of Christian morality and Roman Catholic Churchs rights. He was a Jesuit priest and famous writer during the French Revolution who charged that the Revolution was planned and executed by secret societies and had been planned for decades, beginning with Voltaire. Voltaire, Rousseau, and other philosophers conspired with secret societies to destroy Catholicism and Frances monarchy.

The philosophers writings had a significant influence on those who would lead the Revolution, and Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and their followers were responsible for the training of budding revolutionaries. However, they would have been horrified had they lived to see the results of their diatribes against the church, the crown, and the cottage.

It is charged that Barruel developed the above as a conspiracy theory because of his hatred of the Illuminati. Still, even if he hated or feared the Illuminati, that does not mean his information is faulty. The Illuminati refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, a secret society founded on May 1, 1776, in Bavaria, now a part of Germany. The secret group opposed all religious influence over public life and what they considered abuses of state power. Moreover, they believed any kind of government was unnecessary because of the perfectibility of man. There was no need for the church, crown, or cottage.

Highly principled and respected leaders in Europe and England, living at the time, had high praise for Barruels work in exposing the conspiracy. The much-respected Englishman Edmund Burke wrote to Barruel in praise of his book, declaring, I have known myself, personally, five of your principal conspirators; and I can undertake to say from my own certain knowledge, that as far back as the year 1773, they were busy in the plot you have so well described, and in the manner, and on the principle you have so truly represented. To this I can speak as a witness.

A contemporary of Burke in England, the Scottish scientist John Robison, published Proofs of a Conspiracy against All the Religions and Governments of Europe, carried on in the Secret Meetings of the Free Masons, Illuminati, and Reading Societies. Robison reported the same as Burke as to secret societies and their involvement in the Revolution.

Winston Churchill wrote of the Illuminati in a February 8, 1920 article in the Illustrated Sunday Herald and referred to it as this world-wide conspiracy for the overthrow of civilization.

This alone does not prove that the Illuminati were a significant cause of the French Revolution, but it does demonstrate the group existed at the time and exercised enormous influence. It was not a group of nutty men who had more toes than teeth, but the oppositethe Illuminati were the leaders in the universities and some European governments. The Illuminati were such a threat that various governments outlawed them.

In his Lectures on the French Revolution, Lord Acton observed, The appalling thing in the French Revolution is not the tumult, but the design. Through all the fire and smoke, we perceive the evidence of calculating organisation. The managers remain studiously concealed and masked; but there is no doubt about their presence from the first.

The first two volumes by Abbe Barruel published in 1797 and the other two in 1798, following the French Revolution in 1789, took great pains to document that Jacobins, Freemasons, the Illuminati, and others carefully planned on removing from France all government authority, all churches, and the father-led family. The conspirators used the peasants resentment toward the special privileges of the Church and nobles and gave the people the reason for self-justification for the extremism that followed.

The philosophers, trying to change public opinion, decided to publish a multi-volume Encyclopedie consisting of general knowledge. It was co-founded and edited by Denise Diderot, who thought he was moral because he had only one mistress at a time. They began publishing in 1751 and had profound political, social, and intellectual repercussions in France just before the Revolution. Its contributors were called Encyclopedistes.

The Encyclopedies purpose was to change the way people think based upon human reason, not divine revelation. Chief Editor Diderot expressed the radical philosophy of many revolutionaries by having one of his characters in a drama say, Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest. That was the tone of many of the articles that were published and prepared France for revolution.

It would have been a surprise if a revolution had not happened.

Among the skepticism and humanism in the publication, there was much useful information. Of course, a little poison can make a pot of soup deadly. The writers had a big job to corrupt the nation since the people (especially outside Paris, Versailles, and Marseilles) had marinated for centuries in family traditions, the Roman Church, and respect for the king. For decades, they and their children had been educated by the Catholic Jesuits.

Barruel defined philosophism as the error of every man who, judging of all things by the standard of his own reason, rejects in religious matters every authority that is not derived from the light of nature. The political termites believed mankind must rely on reason, not revelation since the elitists thought only fools trust revelation over reason. So, religion (the Roman Catholic Church) and the monarchy based on the divine right of kings must be denigrated, denied, and destroyed.

Barruel believed the volumes of the Encyclopedie were successful in controlling the minds of intellectuals and creating public opinion against the church and crown. The various writers were men dedicated to expanding science and secular thought, laying a foundation for the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was reasonable, reforming, and eventually revolutionary.

Barruel and others declared the publication was an intellectual introduction to the French Revolution. He and others believed the volumes of the Encyclopedie were successful in controlling the minds of young intellectuals and creating public opinion against the church and crown and cottage.

The skepticism and lack of support for the Church and the Bible in the Encyclopedie brought much criticism and opposition from Church leaders from its first volume. The Catholic Jesuits especially fought the offensive publication, and the group was made illegal in France in 1764 as they were in Portugal, Hungary, Austria, and other nations.

The Encyclopedies publication was opposed by Church and government officials and was censored and repressed in 1752. In 1759, the government denied permission for publication. The Revolution started in earnest in 1789 and lasted until the late 1790s ending with Napoleons dictatorship.

The volatile, vicious, and often vile authors fed into the common peoples hatred and envy against the Church and anyone wearing silk knee-breeches, the nobility. Aldous Huxley correctly asserted, The surest way to work up a crusade in favor of some good cause is to promise people they will have a chance of maltreating someone. To be able to destroy with good conscience, to be able to behave badly and call your bad behavior righteous indignation this is the height of psychological luxury, the most delicious of moral treats.

The Revolution was an attack upon all authority and gave frustrated, angry, resentful, and hungry people an excuse to take their licks on those people and groups they hated.

America has been softened by pious preachers, purring politicians, pathetic professors, and a perverted press to where few people think for themselves or think critically. They long ago rejected revelation and climbed into bed with reason.

We are ripe for the Second American Revolution, and the chaos around us was planned by the radical left; and they are charging Trump and his followers of doing what the left itself has successfully accomplished. Democrats have traditionally accused Republicans of what the Democrats have been doing.

I dont want to shout fire in a crowded theater, but folks, we are surrounded by an uncontrolled conflagration, and leftists have cut the water hose. It is time to form bucket brigades, and everyone does their part to extinguish the flames.

America is at risk.

Read more at: AllNewsPipeline.com

When Pearl Properties bought the Embassy Suites hotel on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in 2018, the real estate investment and development company planned a few upgrades for the then-newly renovated hotel. It intended to welcome guests to the hotel, which catered to business travelers, for many years to come.

Then came the pandemic.

Pearl Properties anticipates that business travel will take awhile to come back. So the company decided to invest in a pivot. It is converting the hotel into apartments and believes the balconies on each unit will draw residents looking for private outdoor space.

When the company bought the 288-suite property for $67 million, the Embassy Suites by Hilton became the companys second hotel, joining the Cambria on South Broad Street. Pearl Properties portfolio mainly consists of apartment and mixed-use buildings.

Obviously, its a tough time for the hotel world, Pearl Properties principal Reed Slogoff said.

A year ago, hotel revenue in Philadelphia was on the upswing, partly due to groups bringing their conventions to the city, and city tourism officials envisioned welcoming even more visitors in 2020. But the hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, and industry watchers dont think tourism will fully recover for two or three more years. The number of leisure hotel room nights booked in the city dropped by more than 70% last spring and summer compared with the same period in 2019.

Pearl Properties closed the Embassy Suites the weekend of July 4th and is taking the property back to its residential roots. The building was built in 1963 as the Plaza Apartments.

We thought that this particular building would really be a tremendous building where our residents would be able to have outdoor space, have coworking space to adapt to lifestyles in the post-pandemic world, said James R. Pearlstein, president of Pearl Properties.

The Terrace on 18th will feature 288 one-bedroom, one-bath apartments with balconies and new kitchens. Planned amenities include a fitness center, a movie room, recreation rooms, and a space with a commercial kitchen that residents will be able to rent out for gatherings. The Terrace is accepting applications for leases that will start June 1.

Rent will start at $1,895 for the apartments, which will range in size from 680 square feet to 715 square feet.

The Terrace also will host Downingtown-based Victory Brewing Co.s first Center City location, a two-level brewery and taproom. The space was formerly occupied by a TGI Fridays. Pearl Properties expects to announce a second restaurant at the site this spring.

In 2015, the firm bought the former Latham Hotel at 17th and Walnut Streets and converted it into 144 apartment units with retail space on the lower floors.


Image Credit: Irish Life Sciences

Irish Life Sciences has released its new 2.0mL round, deep well storage plate. Compliant with SBS standards, the plate has been researched in depth to enhance its fit into the heater blocks featured on automated liquid handlers and a wide range of additional workstations. The deep well plates are supplied in boxes of 50 plates housed in sealed bags containing five plates each.

This new deep well plate is accurately designed to adhere to the footprint dimensions outlined by ANSI/SLAS. This ensures its compatibility with automated and manual sample handling systems, microplate washers and readers.

The storage plate has stacking features for ease of use in plate and automation hotels. An ISO Class 8 cleanroom is used to mold the plate, which delivers an affordable and repeatable high-quality product. The 2.0mL round, deep well plate is verified to be free from pyrogen, RNase and DNase, along with being highly sterile.

A main advantage of the 2.0mL round deep well plate is that it is molded in medical grade polypropylene. This achieves extremely low levels of extractable elements and positions it ahead of the deep well storage and collection plates of numerous competitors.

Irish Life Sciences utilize medical grade polymer for molding its deep well storage and collection plates, which has high temperature and chemical resistance. This feature makes it possible for the plates to be stored long-term in a -80 C freezer and they are additionally autoclavable at 121 C.

Easy sample tracking is achieved through the clear alphanumeric well coding. The new 2.0mL deep well storage plate has been designed to have a smooth, flat surface to offer optimal sealing integrity with adhesive and heat seals. Irish Life Sciences also provide a silicone sealing mat to fit the 2.0mL round well deep well plate, which is reusable.

Additionally supplied as a sterile product, E-Beam sterilization technology is used to process the deep well storage plates, which removes the polymer discoloration produced by Gamma sterilization. The plates are frequently screened by an independent laboratory to verify plate sterility in line with the vigorous quality standards of Irish Life Science.

Irish Life Sciences is an established manufacturer of deep well storage plates, assay plates and reagent reservoirs. Its 40,000 square foot facility houses a wide variety of injection molding presses with a high degree of automation to deliver an affordable product with minimal human contact and assembly capability via medical grade adhesives and ultrasonic welding.

Irish Life Sciences prides itself in offering the highest standard of customer service. The company supplies products to customers on an international scale, with distribution centers in Europe and the USA.

Irish Life Sciences will soon release its new 2.4mL square deep well plate with V bottom and 2.2mL square deep well plate with a round bottom. A medical grade polymer will be used to produce both plates.

About Irish Life Sciences

Our goal at ILS is to build relationships through openness, quality, high service standards and flexibility that make us the natural choice as your supplier of Scientific Consumables.

Customer

Our relationship with customers is based on actively listening and collaborating to satisfy their requirements. Our team is committed to proactively identifying solutions that meet your current and future needs.

Team

Our team comprises of the finest, highly motivated people, dedicated to supporting our customers, each other and continually improving our products and service.

Excellence

Accepting the status quo is contrary to our core beliefs. We look to each other to constantly achieve the highest levels of safety, quality, and service. Our team are empowered to contribute ideas and to own our processes, delivering with passion the excellence of service expected of us all.

Respect

Whether working with colleagues or external partners, we will act with the highest level of integrity and assume the same of others. Our team will treat each other and our partners with dignity. We are a trusted partner.

Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments.


Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
SpaceX has purchased two deep-water oil rigs off the Texas Gulf Coast to someday use as seagoing spaceports for its Starship spacecraft.

The commercial space firm, through an entity called Lonestar Mineral Development, bought the platforms from offshore drilling company Valaris in July, according to public filings.

Several media reports say Lonestar Mineral Development bought the rigs, which were headed to the scrapyard, for $3.5 million each, a steal compared to the original production costs of between $330 and $515 million in 2008.

London-based Valaris has corporate offices in Houston and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August.

The new owner has renamed the rigs Deimos and Phobos, presumably after the Martian moons, according to space media outlet NasaSpaceFlight.com.

Bret Johnsen, SpaceXs chief financial officer, is listed in public records as Lonestar Mineral Developments principal.

Listen to the EN-Depth podcast episode on Space X Listen to journalist Brandon Lingle explain his time spent reporting on SpaceX in Boca Chica and Brownsville. More from EN-Depth

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceX Starship chasers converge in South Texas

Elon Musk, CEO of privately held SpaceX, hinted at his companys plans to launch spacecraft from offshore platforms in a June 16 tweet: SpaceX is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon & hypersonic travel around Earth.

News of the purchase came Monday when Jack Beyer, a NasaSpaceFlight.com photographer, tweeted images of Deimos.

Ive been exploring around the Port of Brownsville while waiting for Starship testing and found an oil rig that appears to be named Deimos, after one of the moons of Mars! he said in the tweet. Based on job postings and @elonmusks tweets, Im willing to bet that SpaceX is involved.

NasaSpaceFlight.com first reported details of the sale.

SpaceX currently has more than 100 positions open at its Brownsville-area facility, including two offshore jobs.

Sea-based spaceports give companies flexibility, but pose logistical and regulatory challenges that land-based space operations dont have, said Sam Ximenes, founder and CEO of San Antonio-headquartered XArc, Exploration Architecture.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio company working with military, SpaceX to move cargo anywhere in world in an hour or less

Offshore platforms are very beneficial for mitigating launch and landing risk in areas of high population density and lessens disruption to aviation airspace operations, he said. It depends if the platform is located in international waters for which regulatory regimes apply. And, of course, the closer to shore, the easier the logistics.

Ximenes firm is working with U.S. Transportation Command to evaluate land- or sea-based locations for future Starship operations, but XArc is not currently involved in developing the former oil platforms into spaceports.

SpaceXs Starship, a 160-foot-tall rocket that Musk hopes will someday shepherd people and cargo anywhere on Earth in under an hour  and eventually to the moon, Mars and beyond  is in development at the companys Boca Chica facility outside Brownsville.

The first high-altitude launch of the 30-foot-wide, stainless-steel craft came in December when SN8 (Serial Number 8) successfully flew to 41,000 feet, about 7.7 miles.

On ExpressNews.com: Awesome test: SpaceXs Starship blasts off from Boca Chica, explodes on landing

Once at altitude, the engines cut out and the rocket fell or belly flopped 90 degrees and glided back to earth.

Movable body fins on its base and the nose cone helped Starship maneuver while gliding horizontally like a skydiver in free fall during the descent.

Several hundred feet from the landing pad, the engines reignited, snapping the craft back into a vertical orientation and creating a controlled descent in order to land. But the landing sequence didnt go as planned, and SN8 disappeared in a fireball and dark smoke on its landing pad.

Despite the loss, SpaceX deemed the test a success, and the next Starship, SN9, is slated to blast off sometime this month.

In their current configuration, the oil rigs have living quarters for up to 150 people, and their main decks span nearly 1.4 acres. They will likely require a significant retrofit to support space operations.

SpaceX operates a fleet of unmanned drone ships and manned boats off the coast of Florida to recover the Falcon 9 boosters and fairings after launches from Cape Canaveral.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceXs Starship poised to launch Texas space industry into new era

Vessel-tracking websites indicate Deimos is docked in the offshore rig construction firm Keppel AmFELS facility at the Port of Brownsville, and Phobos is moored in the Port of Galveston.

Port of Brownsville spokesman Jorge Montero said he learned of the SpaceX project Wednesday from news reports and could not corroborate their accuracy.

SpaceX, Valaris and Keppel AmFELS did not respond to request for comment.

Brandon Lingle writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. brandon.lingle@express-news.net
Comedian Jason Manford has signed up to host new BBC quiz show Unbeatable.

The TV personality, 39, has announced he will front the upcoming daytime show, in which four contestants will compete to find the best answer to a series of questions.

He said in a statement: 'I know how important daytime quizzes are for a lot of people. I used to sit with my Nana Manford and mum watching them.

New gig: Comedian Jason Manford has signed up to host new BBC quiz show Unbeatable

'They keep the brain going, theyre a chuckle and Im really looking forward to being a part of this exciting new one.

'The great thing about Unbeatable is you dont even need to know the actual answer to appear clever. I feel like this is the quiz show Ive been waiting for my whole life.'

Unbeatable, which is set to debut on BBC One later this year, will be Jason's second go at hosting a quiz show following last year's First & Last.

News of Jason's new gig comes after he revealed he's been volunteering to drive locals to a COVID-19 vaccine centre so they can get the jab.

Show: The TV personality, 39, has announced he will front the upcoming daytime show, in which four contestants will compete to find the best answer to a series of questions

The comedian reassured fans he wasn't actually giving out the jab after he shared a snap outside his local vaccination centre in Stockport on Wednesday.

It comes after Jason took on a job as a delivery driver for Iceland during the first COVID-19 lockdown last year, with his wages being donated to The Children's Adventure Farm Trust.

Jason shared a snap from his car which was parked outside the vaccination centre proving he was still doing his bit for the nationwide effort.

The star didn't hold back in taking a swipe at anti-vaxxers, who among other theories have claimed the vaccine was being used to 'chip' people for monitoring.

Kind: Jason recently revealed he's been volunteering to drive locals to a COVID-19 vaccine centre so they can get the jab

He wrote: 'Busy day at the vaccination centre today here in Heald Green. Have already take 3 people & have got another 3 to do!

'Same again tomorrow & Friday I do wonder why Bill Gates wants to chip poor old Doris from Offerton, but ours is not to reason why I suppose.'

In the comments Jason then clarified he'd been driving locals to get their vaccines, after one asked: 'Are you bringing people to get vaccinated?' as he responded with 'Aye.'

Another asked: 'Are you jabbing people?' with the comic replying: 'ha nope! Just driving them here.'

Generous: The comedian reassured fans he wasn't actually giving out the jab after he shared a snap outside his local vaccination centre in Stockport

Jibe: The star didn't hold back in taking a swipe at anti-vaxxers, who among other theories have claimed the vaccine was being used to 'chip' people for monitoring

Many business have been offering their own staff to assist with vaccinations as many remain closed with their staff furloughed due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

ASDA announced last Wednesday it is set to become the first supermarket in the country to dish out the jabs this month - after being recruited to the scheme.

Meanwhile, easyJet cabin crew staff have also been drafted in to administer Covid-19 vaccines across the country, to bolster the nationwide effort.

Britain's vaccine drive has started to pick up pace following the approval of the Oxford vaccine but has still only seen 2.43million people immunised against the disease since launching at the beginning of December.

Another 20,000 second doses were also added onto the cumulative total, with 2.8million shots administered in total.

But the daily vaccination figure needs to double if the Prime Minister has any chance of delivering on his pledge to vaccinate all 13.9million Britons in the top four priority groups by February 15.

With just days left to deliver on his lockdown-ending promise, around 11.5million over-70s, NHS workers, care home residents and workers, and adults with underlying conditions still need to be vaccinated  the equivalent of around 340,000 a day.

Jason was praised in June when he took on the role of an Iceland delivery driver for the day, with the supermarket donating his wages to his chosen charity.

The comic had previously revealed his application to work for rival Tesco had been rejected, after offering his time to join the 'wartime' effort during the pandemic.

Frontline: It comes after Jason earned praise from fans after he took on a job as a delivery driver for Iceland during the first lockdown with his wages being donated to charity

He previously joked he was 'livid' that Tesco had declined his application and admitted that he was 'only trying to do his bit' amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Iceland replied to his tweet offering him work for a day and promising to make a donation to the NHS in his name.

In response to Tesco's rejection, Jason had posted: 'Absolutely livid Tesco. I was only trying to do my bit.

He went on to joke that he'll be keeping an eye on the new employee, and said: 'I hope the better person got and enjoys the job, I'll be watching.'

But Iceland stepped in, saying: 'Our door is always open for you. Help us out for the day and we'll make a donation to the NHS in your name.'
Donald Trump used his final hours in office to pardon Steve Bannon, his former chief strategist who had denied fraud charges relating to fundraising for the US-Mexico border wall, and grant clemency to 142 others including rapper Lil Wayne, who was convicted of weapons charges in Florida.

But Mr Trump did not pre-emptively pardon himself or members of his family, reportedly deciding it might imply they were guilty of crimes.

Mr Bannon, 67, was a key adviser in Mr Trumps 2016 campaign and in the early period of his presidency. He was fired from his role at the White House amid acrimony in August 2017.

Last year, Mr Bannon was charged with defrauding supporters of the president over an effort to raise private funds to build the US-Mexico border wall. He has pleaded not guilty.

The pardon power, which emanates from the US Constitution, is extremely broad.

It is generally used to pardon people who have been prosecuted, but can cover conduct that has not yet resulted in legal proceedings. However, the power only applies to federal crimes and does not cover state prosecutions.

There were pardons for other high-profile people from the world of politics.

They included Elliott Broidy, a Republican fundraiser who pleaded guilty last year to violating lobbying laws in an attempt to influence the Trump administration on behalf of Chinese and Malaysian interests.

Mr Trump also commuted the prison sentence of Kwame Kilpatrick, a former mayor of Detroit, who had served seven years after being convicted of charges including racketeering.

In previous waves Mr Trump had already pardoned Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law, and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
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(Natural News) The rise (and success) of President Donald Trump and the threat his tens of millions of supporters pose to the existing establishment order (the deep state) is so immense there is a movement afoot by the powers that be to eliminate them before they grow strong and organized enough to take America back.

One of the ways this effort is taking shape is to simply designate Trumps supporters, among them Americans who remain skeptical of vaccines, as extremist groups, enemies of the state and terrorists.

As Big Pharma  bolstered by the former presidents COVID-19 vaccine push  grows in wealth and power, the industry is emulating Corporate America and Big Tech by growing closer to the leviathan federal government.

As noted by Technocracy News, last month The Hill claimed the anti-vaccination movement sees COVID-19 as an opportunity to shore up its opposition, adding: As public health officials seek to reassure Americans on the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine, anti-vaccine efforts could prevent the country from reaching herd immunity.

Meanwhile, a separate report in The Times said the British government regards tackling false information about COVID-19 vaccination as a rising priority, likely for the very same concern.

And yet, how do democracies justify utilizing cyber warfare against citizens just to implement public health policies that not all may agree with (and certainly policies that the science doesnt always prove)?

Arent concerns over the safety of vaccines legitimate? Should they not be part of the policy debate and discussion? Since when is it okay to impose uncertain healthy policies on supposedly free people the same way a dictatorial leader would? (Related: After abandoning objective science and endorsing left-wing political agendas, how is the Lancet still considered a medical journal?)

Not if the objective, the real objective, is control over the population; when control is the overriding goal, then discussion is an impediment.

And along those lines, opponents to government policy  in this case, when governments have decided that vaccines are good and dissent to vaccines is bad, the powers that be then must not simply disagree with their opponents, they have to demonize, dehumanize and de-legitimize them, even if it means putting their lives in danger with false accusations of extremism.

Consider, per Technocracy News:

In July 2020, Imran Ahmed, a member of the Steering Committee on Countering Extremism Pilot Task Force under the British governments Commission for Countering Extremism and the chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), told The Independent he considers anti-vaxxers an extremist group that pose a national security risk, because once someone has been exposed to one type of conspiracy its easy to lead them down a path where they embrace more radical world views that can lead to violent extremism.

Who thinks like this? Authoritarians do. Dictators. Tyrants. There is absolutely nothing to link concern over vaccines to violent extremism. Nothing.

But the same kind of tyranny is brewing in the land of the free  across the pond in America.

Before President Trump even boarded Air Force One out of D.C., Democrats and their sick, twisted media lapdogs began fantasizing about deprogramming his 74 million-plus supporters by sending them all to reeducation camps so they can indoctrinate them back into the Biden/Democrat/Deep State fold.

Some of them have actually said as much out loud, including Marxist-Anarchist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The New York Post reported:

Ocasio-Cortez said the House subcommittee on civil rights she serves on has held hearings over the prior two years on white supremacy and said there are programs to de-radicalize brain-washed adherents.

But she said funding was not a priority for those programs during the Trump years.

There are people who are radicalized right now. Its going to take a very long time to de-radicalize these people and a lot of effort, she said.

Just a few years ago, she would have been run out of Congress for saying things like that. Now, post-Trump, she not only gets away with it, she is celebrated for it and her thoughts are echoed across other platforms  including so-called news networks like CNN, whose media watchdog doesnt even push back on calls to censor competitors.

Watch:

See more at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

NYPost.com

Technocracy.news

NaturalNews.com
Kim Kardashian was looking back on Thursday morning.

The 40-year-old makeup mogul shared an image to Instagram that was about two years old. She was holding her daughter Chicago West, now aged three, as well as Kylie Jenner's little girl Stormi Webster, now aged two.

Chicago and Stormi are only two weeks apart in age as Chicago was born on January 15, 2018 and Stormi was welcomed into the world on February 1, 2018.

Sweet day: Kim Kardashian was looking back on Thursday morning. The 40-year-old makeup mogul shared an image to Instagram that was about two years old. She was holding her daughter Chicago West as well as Kylie Jenner's little girl Stormi Webster

The pinup wore no makeup as her long black hair fell down her back. She was dressed in a sheer white tank top and had on light gray sweatpants.

Her gold wedding ring from Kanye West was in place and she had a black hair tie on her wrist.

Chicago, her third child with West, was in white while Stormi, who is Kylie's only child with Travis Scott, was in blush pink.

My how she has grown: Chicago looked tiny on the left; on the right she is seen in 2020

A bigger girl these days: Stormi is a cutie on the left and snowboarding in December on the right

Kim said in her caption, 'OMG found this pic in my phone and our babies are so tiny and cute and chunky and perfect!!!'

Her pal Jonathan Cheban liked the photo as did sister Khloe Kardashian.

Earlier in the day Kim was seen working out with sister Khloe at 6 am. The star had on a black workout outfit in a small gym.

The makeup mogul said that she liked running into her sister so early and she was also wearing Khloe's brand, Good American.

Not sleeping in: Kim was seen working out with sister Khloe at 6 am on Thursday. The star had on a black workout outfit in the gym. The makeup mogul said that she liked running into her sister so early and she was also wearing Khloe's brand, Good American

She is with Fit Gurl Mel: In the background Kim's trainer Mel could be seen

This post comes after a report West is not happy that his alleged divorce from Kim will be broadcasted on TV.

The 40-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star will reportedly discuss the end of her marriage on the last series of the family's E! reality show much to the horror of the Bound 2 rapper, a source told UsWeekly.

'He is less than thrilled,' a source said as West continues to stay in Wyoming on his ranch as Kim is with all four kids at their Hidden Hills, California mansion.

Please don't talk about me! Kanye West is not happy that his alleged divorce from Kim will be broadcasted on TV; seen in early 2020

But Kim wants to keep her career going. 'She will continue to focus on her business empire. Kim has been in individual counselling and is at peace with where her life is headed.'

Kim and Kanye - who share North, seven, Saint, five, Chicago, two, and Psalm, 19 months, together - had been in marriage counselling as they 'tried to work through things.'

A source said of their counselling sessions: 'Divorce has been discussed, but Kim wants more than anything for their relationship to work. There wasn't anything specific that happened that led them to this point ... They are 100 percent aligned when it comes to the kids.'

In the country: 'He is less than thrilled,' a source said as West continues to stay in Wyoming on his ranch as Kim is with all four kids in Hidden Hills, California

However, another insider insists the couple are just dealing with 'regular relationship issues.'

They added of the couple's struggles: 'It's just regular relationship issues. There is no one else involved. Divorce talks have been on and off with them since the spring.'

But the site reported earlier they have stopped marriage counseling for now.

However, family has always been incredibly important to the rapper and he previously said that part of his goal in running for President of the United States is to bring a 'culture of family' to the world.

They tried: Kim and Kanye - who share North, seven, Saint, five, Chicago, two, and Psalm, 19 months, together - had been in marriage counselling as they 'tried to work through things'

He explained: 'It's like, family is just the key to the world, period.

'From our immediate family to our friends and family, our co-workers and family, our city and family, our state and family, our country and family, our world ... the culture of humanity needs to be family.

'A culture of family. But the design of our cities, the design of our schools, there's a lot of things designed to not promote family; they're designed to create separation ... At the beginning, middle and the end of the day, I'm a dad.'

He is on the mend: Meanwhile, on Wednesday DailyMail.com exclusively reported that Kim's best friend Jonathan Cheban has been fighting COVID-19 in Miami. It has kept the FoodGod from filming scenes of Kim's show KUWTK; seen in 2019

Later PageSix added more information.

'The Kardashians intend to go out with a bang. Theyve filmed Kim discussing her marriage problems. But everybody involved is on a nondisclosure agreement, because the finale wont screen until later in 2021,' a source told the site.

Kim and Kanye have not been seen together since December.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday DailyMail.com exclusively reported that Kim's best friend Jonathan Cheban has been fighting COVID-19 in Miami.

It has kept the FoodGod from filming scenes of Kim's show KUWTK.
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Photo: (Photo : Pexels/Alena Shekhovtcova)

A couple celebrates their 73rd anniversary by getting the COVID vaccine during a drive-up event. They want to return to their normal lives very soon so they could "square dance" again.

Phase 1B plan allows people aged 65 and up to get vaccinated

Noel "Gene" Record and Virginia Berryman Record had their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine during a University of Cincinnati Health drive-up event on Tuesday. The NBC affiliate WLWT reported that the couple of 73 years were among the first patients to get vaccinated under the state's Phase 1B plan.

The state's Phase 1B plan allows people over the age of 65 to get the COVID vaccine. During a video released by the Ohio-based hospital, Noel explained why they got vaccinated immediately.

READ NEXT: Pregnant Doctor Explains Reason Why She's Getting the COVDI Vaccine

Want to get back to their normal lives

He said that they want to get back to normal as soon as possible. He said that as a square dance caller, he has not got together since March. The 93-year-old said that they are looking forward to getting the people to have the COVID vaccine so life could become normal again. He added that they would square dance and have fun again once it happens.

According to the "New York Times" database, there have been over 24.3 million COVID-19 cases in the US as of Wednesday afternoon. It also showed that 403,929 have died due to the deadly virus.

LEARN MORE ABOUT: Indianapolis Couple Excited to Get COVID Vaccine Die One Day Apart

Need two doses of the COVID vaccine

Both vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna require two-doses for them to be fully effective. Recipients who receive Pfizer would have to go back after three weeks for their second dose, while those who had Moderna should return after four weeks.

People who had the COVID vaccines should wait for about two weeks to reach their peak effectiveness. According to WLWT, Noel and Virginia have to go back to the University of Cincinnati Health to receive their final dose early next month.

Excited about what the second dose would mean, Virginia said she is excited to go back to their normal life in a hospital video.

READ MORE: 4-Year-Old Arkansas Boy Could Develop MIS-C While Battling COVID-19, Says Doctors

Still need to wear face masks and social distance after getting the coronavirus vaccine

Health professionals recommend that people still wear face masks and follow social distancing even after getting vaccinated. Earlier this month, Laurel Bristow, an infectious disease clinical researcher, explained about the vaccine.

She said that they are still not sure whether the COVID vaccine could stop the spread of the deadly disease or if it just stops the infected people from getting COVID symptoms. She said that it is something that they are looking into now.

Bristow said that they wanted to let the people know that after getting the vaccine, they could still get asymptomatic COVID and transmit them to others.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th January, 2021) The Dominican government wants to boost trade relations and cooperation in various spheres with Russia, including in trade and economic sectors, Dominican Ambassador in Moscow Hans Dannenberg Castellanos told Sputnik on Wednesday.

"We are selling Dominican rum, tobacco, we are exporting pineapples, mangoes, organic bananas...

we want to increase these sales of agricultural products, but we also want to increase the presence of Russian products in our country," Dannenberg said.

The diplomat also said that the Dominican Republic wants to develop scientific and academic exchange between the two countries and increase the number of Dominican students in Russia.

In addition, the ambassador said that his government aims to promote Russian investments in the Caribbean nation.
SELBYVILLE, Del., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on Global Market Insights Inc.'s report, the global Oilfield Surfactants Market size was estimated at $1,000 million in 2020 and is slated to surpass $1.3 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 4% from 2021 to 2027. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the top winning strategies, wavering industry trends, drivers and opportunities, top investment avenues, competitive scenarios, market estimations and size.

Global Market Insights Inc.

The growing demand for surfactants in various oilfield activities, such as sustainable oil exploration, extraction, and production, may drive oilfield surfactants market growth. Additionally, increasing demand for the product from various end-use industries such as petroleum, pharmaceuticals, and polymer industries may boost the product demand.

Silicone surfactants are anticipated to show moderate growth over the coming timeframe in the global oilfield surfactants market and expected to reach over USD 65 million by the end of 2027. This is owing to its unique properties such as low surface tension, wetting, surface activity in nonaqueous media, polymeric nature, and low toxicity.

Request for a Sample Report: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4583

The drilling surfactants application witnessed the highest growth potential, and the sector is further anticipated to grow due to massive application drilling in multiple industries such as construction, oil & gas, and others.

The bio-based surfactants source witnessed the highest growth potential in the global oilfield surfactants market. This is owing to strict environmental regulations by the government to control pollution.

The Oilfield Surfactants market for the anionic type is expected to register significant growth over a CAGR of 4.0% between 2021 and 2027. This is owing to the wide application of anionic in the oil & gas industry.

The North American region holds a large share in the market and is anticipated to grow with the highest CAGR of 4.5% due to continuous expansion of the industrial sector in this region and continuous government support for transportation in the U.S. region.

The European region is expected to show significant growth of a 4.0% CAGR in the forecasted period and anticipated to reach at a value over USD 250 million in the year 2020. It is owing to the growing European oil & gas due to a huge number of projects in the development phase throughout the Europe region. For instance, on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, the Johan Sverdrup field is one of the largest oil fields, with expected resources of 2.1-3.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent.

The field is due for development in multiple stages. The first stage comprises three bridge-linked platforms, process platform, drilling platform, and riser platform. Phase two includes a new standalone processing platform and a new wellhead platform. Later developments could include a further wellhead platform and subsea templates. The project's value is USD 10.345 billion. The aforementioned factors will stimulate the demand for surfactants for surface cleaning & drilling operations, stimulating the oilfield surfactants market demand.

Request for customization of this report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4583

Players in the oilfield surfactants industry Sasol Limited, Lubrizol Corporation, BASF SE, Evonik Industries AG, Oxiteno USA LLC, Croda International PLC, Kao Corporation, Clariant AG, Halliburton, 3M Company, Solvay, Flotek Industries, Inc., Nouryon Holding B.V., Schlumberger Limited, Ethox Chemicals, LLC, LIBRA SPECIALITY CHEMICALS LIMITED, The Dow Chemical Company, Ashland, Innospec, Pilot Chemical, Stepan Company, Baker Hughes and so on.

Major players are implementing strategic initiatives including increasing production capacity, joint venture mergers, and acquisitions to improve and increase market share and global their presence and product offering.

Read the latest blog on "Why are industry leaders banking on biobased oilfield surfactants?": https://www.altcoinbeacon.com/oilfield-surfactants-industry/

About Global Market Insights, Inc.

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making.

GMIPulse, our business analytics platform offers an online, interactive option of exploring our proprietary industry research data in an easy-to-use and dynamic manner. Clients get to explore market intelligence across 11 top-level categories and hundreds of industry segments within them, covering regional, company level and cross-sectional statistics that make our offering a stand-out for decision-makers.

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The Democratic Party now has a narrow majority in the US Senate following Joe Bidens inauguration as president Wednesday. The shift from a Republican-controlled chamber will have effects on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and US policy in the Middle East.

There are 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats and two Independents (who caucus with Democrats). Democrats possess a one-vote majority when taking into account the role of Vice President Kamala Harris, who also serves the role of 'president of the Senate.' This also allows Democrats the majority to claim the chairmanship of committees.

With the shift, New Jersey Democrat Bob Menendez is expected to replace Idaho Republican Jim Risch as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a Republican Senate aide told Al-Monitor on Wednesday. Menendez, the highest-ranking Democrat on the committee, was previously chairman from 2013 to 2015.

Menendez has an extensive record on Middle East issues. In October, he was instrumental in convincing the Library of Congress to use the term Armenian Genocide in reference to the killings of Armenians in the early 20th century in Turkey. In September, he told Trump administration officials that the sale of F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates would undermine the US commitment to Israels regional military superiority.

Menendez notably broke with members of his party in 2015 when he voted against the Iran nuclear deal. Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told the Senate this week that the new administration will consider returning to the agreement if Iran complies with the pact's stipulations.

A rising number of progressives in Congress often adopt more pro-Palestine positions. The advocacy director for one Palestine-focused organization said the new Senate should stop aid to Israel.

The Democratic-led Senate should enforce US law, including the Foreign Assistance Act and Arms Export Control Act, which prohibits aiding human rights abusers, Raed Jarrar told Al-Monitor.

Israeli officials have welcomed Biden, a long time friend of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And while a few Senators are willing to consider a slightly more conditional approach to Israel, they are in the minority.

Republicans could try to thwart any attempt by Biden to return to the Iran nuclear deal. Considering that they have 50 seats and some Democrats voted against the deal the first time around, they could be successful.

Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy has also vowed to continue fighting the weapons sales to the UAE that the Trump administration made last year. Such weapons transfers can take years to complete.

The Democrats also have a majority in the House of Representatives. House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat, introduced on Jan. 15 legislation opposing arms sales to Saudi Arabia in one of his first acts as the panel's leader. The previous chairman, Eliot Engel, lost his Democratic primary election last year.
Before he left office, former president Donald Trump issued a directive to extend the post-presidency Secret Service protection to his four adult children and two of their spouses, who were not automatically entitled to the service.

According to three people familiar with the matter, protected under Trump's directive are Ivanka and her husband Jared, Eric and his wife Lara, Donald Jr., and Tiffany Trump.

They said that Trump also ordered for the protection of three former top officials for six more months. They were former treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and former national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien, Washington Post reported.

According to federal law, Trump and his wife, Melania, including their 14-year-old son, Barron, are the only immediate family members entitled to Secret Service protection once they leave the office.

Trump and Melania are entitled to a lifetime Secret Service protection, while Barron will only be protected until he's 16 years old. However, Trump wanted every family member, protected by the Secret Service during his term, to be covered for another six months.

According to a Business Insider report, Trump's grandchildren will also indirectly receive protection that would come from being close to their parents.

The extended security service could cost taxpayers millions of dollars, particularly with the amount of traveling that Trump's children do in connection to the family company, the Trump Organization.

A former Trump White House spokesman refused to comment on the issue. The same goes for a spokeswoman for the Secret Service, saying that the agency does not discuss individuals it protects.

Another Washington Post report showed that from 2017 to 2019, Trump family members took 4,500 trips that needed the Secret Service to be with them, which had cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.

The Post also reported that the Secret Service rented a studio for $3,000 a month near Ivanka and Jared's Washington home to give agents access to a bathroom.

Forbes reported that the agents were not allowed to relieve themselves in any of the home's half-dozen bathrooms.

Read also: Department of Homeland Security Official Investigating Secret Service Prostitutes Scandal Resigned, Denies Reports of Hiring His Own Prostitute





Presidents Extending Secret Service Protections

Trump is not the only president of the United States to extend Secret Service protection. Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were granted additional security services to their college-age daughters for some time after their terms.

Former President Barack Obama also extended protections for daughters Sasha and Malia after he left office. His daughters were in high school and college, respectively. A Secret Service official declined to comment when did the protection for Obama's daughters had ended.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to questions about the threat assessment that prompted Trump's decision to extend the Secret Service protection to his children. The DHS oversees the Secret Service agency.

The Secret Service has already mobilized details for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' extended families. Security teams are being deployed to protect Biden's two grown children and seven grandchildren, as well as Harris' two stepchildren.

Related story: Secret Service Arrests Man For Threatening to Kill, Kidnap Joe Biden and Kamala Harris




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1. Atlas Jewellery India | Return in December 2017: 44.51% | 2016: 23.74% | 2015: 20.66% | Atlas offers a wide range of choice in fashionable jewellery coupled with high standards of purity and service.

Unperturbed by the decline in footfalls of consumers in malls and high streets, Symphony Asia-backed jewellery brand Melorra plans to launch 350 outlets by 2026 with a total investment of $50 million.

The company on January 21 launched three of them in Delhi besides one in Bangalore last month. It plans to launch at least a couple more in March in Mumbai and then step up the expansion from April with 30-40 outlets launched across the country by December.

"I do believe that COVID has accelerated the growth of online businesses ... for the jewellery business we are still talking about 10-20 percent in the coming years being online. There's still a huge market out there that online businesses haven't been to access by being purely online," Saroja Yeramilli, Founder and CEO of Melorra, told Moneycontrol.

"It is not necessary to be offline for trust or touch and feel. These issues are really going down as we speak and will go down more and more as India digitises rapidly. It is just about being wherever the consumer is... I am not one of the people who believes that offline retail is dead," she added.

Melorra last raised $12.5 million in an oversubscribed funding round by Symphony Asia, Lightbox Ventures and Alteria Capital, family offices of Burman, Jeejeebhoy and others.

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

On an average the company is investing Rs 2 crore in setting up one outlet of around 700 square feet. Yeramilli declined to comment on its fundraising plans.

Till late last year, offline jewellers across the country reported at least 20-25 percent dip in the business following COVID and successive lockdowns.

Melorra sells bracelets, rings, pendants among other jewellery itms and claims to be delivering across 2,100 pin codes in the country.

It targets young users seeking affordable, better-designed and trendy items. It locks horns with CaratLane which was acquired by Tata Group's Titan in 2016 and BlueStone, backed by firms such as Accel Partners and Saama Capital.

President Joe Biden's first day in office included the revival of Spanish online communication for the White House.

The White House website, which can be toggled to a Spanish version at the bottom of the page, and La Casa Blanca Twitter account were live on day one of the Biden administration.

RELATED: 'We want to gloat': Vice President Kamala Harris' San Antonio sorority sisters celebrate

Both versions had gone dark in 2017 mere days after Trump took office. Then-White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer promised the pages would return or be used, claiming more time was needed to build the website.

Four years worth of time later, the Spanish version of the website never came to fruition. A La Casa Blanca Twitter account for the Trump administration was launched in January of 2017, but has gone unused since October of 2020.

The new Twitter account is also up to reach Spanish-speaking Americans.

"President Biden takes office at a time of crisis for our nation that demands urgent action. Starting today, the president will take decisive action to confront these challenges, prevent further damage, and restore America's place in the world," the translated first tweet says.

The return marks a shift in rhetoric from former President Donald Trump who over the years chastised people for speaking Spanish. In 2015, while he was still on the campaign trail, he said people in the U.S. should be speaking English, not Spanish.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
Peer-reviewed / Modelling / People

UK modelling study estimates 59% of SARS-CoV-2 transmission may be prevented by completing the WHO recommended 14-day quarantine period after exposure to a confirmed COVID-19 case

Model assumes that quarantine adherence levels are moderate, with 67% of people completing the recommended 14-day isolation period after testing positive for COVID-19 and 50% of contacts of confirmed cases completing 14 days of quarantine.

A similar proportion of transmission could be prevented with only 7 days of quarantine (assuming the same level of adherence) if a COVID-19 test is performed on the seventh day of quarantine and people who receive a negative result are released, the model predicts.

They also estimate that the use of daily rapid lateral flow tests for traced contacts for 5 days could potentially replace the requirement to quarantine, if all tests are negative.

More research will be needed before such a strategy could be used in the UK population, and this study does not evaluate cost or number of tests required. Researchers recommend people continue to follow official guidance on quarantine and self-isolation.

Researchers say this approach could improve adherence to quarantine rules and reduce the financial and social impact on those affected, while maintaining control of the virus at least as well if not better than the recommended 14-day strategy.

Quarantine time after contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case could potentially be reduced to 7 days without raising the risk of onward transmission of the virus by testing people on the seventh day of quarantine with either a PCR or lateral flow antigen (LFA) test, findings from an English modelling study published today in The Lancet Public Health journal suggest.

The study, which accounts for infected people's potential viral load and the sensitivity of COVID-19 tests, estimates that people who test negative after 7 days of quarantine are unlikely to be infectious and could potentially be released without raising the risk of onward virus transmission above what would be expected by quarantining for 14 days without testing.

Daily testing for 5 days after exposure to COVID-19 using rapid lateral flow kits could potentially avert a similar level (50%) of onward virus transmission as the 14-day approach without the need to quarantine at all, if individuals isolate when receiving a positive test, the model predicts.

The study does not evaluate the number or cost of tests that would be required for this approach, however. The authors stress that people should continue to observe the official guidance on quarantine and self-isolation, which the UK government has set at 10 days, until their findings can be verified with further research.

Assistant Professor Sam Clifford, joint-lead author and member of the CMMID COVID-19 Working Group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says: "Adherence to quarantine rules is key for reducing onward COVID-19 transmission. Our findings suggest that incorporating testing of contacts into a trace-isolate system could potentially help to reduce quarantine times, and this in turn may improve adherence by making it easier to complete the full isolation period. Our study did not evaluate costs, however, and further studies are needed to address this, as well as to further verify our findings. A large component of the effect of any strategy we modelled was that of strict isolation upon the onset of COVID symptoms, which should be followed at any point after exposure, including after the end of the specified quarantine period or after negative test results. We recommend people continue to follow the official guidance on quarantine and self-isolation, which will give us the best chance of bringing this virus under control while vaccination continues." [1]

Assistant Professor Elizabeth Fearon, a collaborator within the CMMID COVID-19 Working Group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, adds: "This study highlights the importance of facilitating adherence to quarantine and self-isolation in the effectiveness of contact tracing. Testing on its own will have no impact on transmission if cases are not financially enabled and socially supported to self-isolate after a positive test." [1]

Around 95% of people who develop symptoms of COVID-19 will show signs of disease within 14 days of exposure to the virus. The World Health Organisation therefore recommends that people who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 should quarantine for a full 14 days after their last day of contact [2]. This approach helps to prevent further onward spread of the virus because anyone who may have been infected after contact with the initial case will already be separated from others before they develop symptoms or start shedding virus. However, adherence to quarantine rules varies and there is increasing global evidence that many people cannot afford to take the required time away from work or caring responsibilities when they may not be infected at all. Some countries have reduced their official guidelines on quarantine and self-isolation to 7 days to try and improve compliance, including France and Belgium [3].

Testing could help to identify people who are not infected so they can be released from quarantine early. PCR tests offer the most sensitive method of detecting COVID-19 infection, and also result in few false positives. These tests work by amplifying and detecting virus genetic material and are highly sensitive, meaning they can detect even low levels of virus RNA. However, samples have to be sent to a laboratory for processing and, in the UK, it currently takes around 2 days to return a result. Additionally, the high sensitivity of PCR means it can detect very low viral loads in people who are unlikely to be infectious, as well as trace viral particles for weeks after a person has ceased to be infectious [4].

Rapid lateral flow tests work by detecting surface molecules of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These tests can deliver a result within 15 to 30 minutes and are substantially cheaper. However, this approach is less sensitive than PCR and relatively high levels of virus need to be present in the person to return a positive result. Initial studies to evaluate the performance of LFA tests found that 76.8% of positive COVID-19 cases were detected and that LFA tests have a 95% chance of detecting cases with high viral loads, who are likely to be most infectious [5]. More recent analysis (based on real-world trials of mass testing in Liverpool, UK) suggests LFA tests detect less than half (48.89%) of COVID-19 cases [6] when compared to PCR. As PCR tests also detect people with very low viral loads who are unlikely to be infectious, comparing LFA tests to PCR tests in this way may underestimate their effectiveness at detecting people who are likely to be infectious, but further research is needed.

In the new study, researchers used mathematical modelling to estimate the effect of different quarantine and testing strategies on reducing onward transmission from traced secondary infections. Using data from Public Health England and NHS England, the team simulated the levels of virus an infected person would be likely to produce at each stage of infection, alongside timing of symptom onset, test sensitivity and tracing and testing timings.

The researchers acknowledge that adherence to quarantine guidance is not perfect in the real world. Their model assumes around two thirds (67%) of people will complete the full 14 days of self-isolation after testing positive or developing symptoms of COVID-19, and that half of people who come into contact with a confirmed case complete the recommended 14-day quarantine period after exposure. It also assumes that there is a delay of three days from a person taking a COVID-19 test until their contacts are traced and instructed to quarantine, based on the latest National Health Service test and trace data.

Based on those assumptions, completing the full 14-day recommended quarantine period for contacts of COVID-19 cases is estimated to prevent 59% of onward virus transmission. A similar proportion of onward transmission could potentially be prevented with only 7 days of quarantine if a PCR or LFA test is performed on the final day of quarantine and people who receive a negative result are released (PCR, 54%; LFA, 50%).

The study estimates that the quarantine period could be replaced if traced contacts are required to take a daily LFA test for five days and those who do not receive any positive results are released, with 50% of onward virus transmission predicted to be prevented. Reducing delays, such as in the tracing and notification of contacts, is integral to getting people to quarantine as quickly as possible, the authors say.

Boosting rates of adherence to quarantine and self-isolation would bring substantial increases in the levels of virus transmission that could be prevented. The model predicts that if people adhere perfectly to self-isolation for the recommended 14 days after a positive test and their close contacts are required to take a daily LFA test for 5 days before release on the final day if all tests are negative, 80% of onward virus transmission could potentially be averted.

Notably, the model is based on the assumption that the LFA test works at the higher level of sensitivity, detecting on average 76.8% of cases that tested positive in a PCR test [5]. When the team based their analysis of the LFA test based on the lower figure from the Liverpool trial 48.89%, they found comparable but slightly lower results for the benefit of using these kits to reduce quarantine times [6]. In this analysis, taking an LFA test on day 7 of quarantine would prevent 44% of onward virus transmission, while daily LFA testing for 5 days would prevent 43% of transmission (see appendix).

Billy Quilty, joint-lead author and research assistant in the CMMID COVID-19 Working Group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, says: "Our findings suggest that introducing testing of contacts in contact tracing may allow for a large reduction in the duration of quarantine. Daily rapid tests for at least 5 days may allow for the quarantine requirement to be removed entirely, with self-isolation required only upon the onset of symptoms or a positive rapid test result. This strategy may allow for critical essential workers to continue working if exposed but not infected. However, our findings must be confirmed by studies in real-world conditions before they can be adopted as policy. Crucially, any changes in behaviour following either a positive or negative test which may increase or decrease transmission risk should be closely monitored to ensure that the costs of such a strategy do not outweigh the potential benefits." [1]

The authors note that their study does not consider other aspects of the test and trace system that might affect virus transmission. These include the number of people with COVID-19 who do not engage with the system at all, variation in the number of secondary cases generated by each infected person, and the proportion of secondary cases that are missed by tracers for example if they are unable to find contact details or the person has moved.

###

NOTES TO EDITORS

The study was carried out by researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK. It was funded by the National Institute for Health Research, UK Research and Innovation, Wellcome Trust and the Horizon 2021 programme from the European Union.

The labels have been added to this press release as part of a project run by the Academy of Medical Sciences seeking to improve the communication of evidence. For more information, please see: http://www. sciencemediacentre. org/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2018/ 01/ AMS-press-release-labelling-system-GUIDANCE. pdf if you have any questions or feedback, please contact The Lancet press office pressoffice@lancet.com

[1] Quote direct from the author and cannot be found in the text of the article.

[2] Considerations for quarantine of individuals in the context of containment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). World Health Organisation, 19 August 2020 (accessed 14 January 2021).

https:/ / www. who. int/ publications/ i/ item/ considerations-for-quarantine-of-individuals-in-the-context-of-containment-for-coronavirus-disease- (covid-19)

[3] L. Atlani-Duault et al. COVID-19: France grapples with the pragmatics of isolation. The Lancet Public Health, 09 October 2020.

https:/ / www. thelancet. com/ journals/ lanpub/ article/ PIIS2468-2667 (20)30235-8/fulltext

[4] J.J.A. van Kampen et al. Duration and key determinants of infectious virus shedding in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Nature Communications, 2021. https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41467-020-20568-4

[5] Oxford University and PHE confirm high-sensitivity of Lateral Flow Tests following extensive clinical evaluation. University of Oxford, 11 Nov 2020 (accessed 14 January 2021).

https:/ / www. ox. ac. uk/ news/ 2020-11-11-oxford-university-and-phe-confirm-lateral-flow-tests-show-high-specificity-and-are

[6] Innova Lateral Flow SARS-CoV-2 Antigen test accuracy in Liverpool Pilot: preliminary data. UK Government., 26 November 2020 (accessed 14 January 2021).

Cuba has expressed high hopes for its Sovereign II coronavirus vaccine, as the second phase of human trials got under way. Eventually, Cuba hopes to produce 100 million doses of the vaccine, for use at home, and to fulfill demand from countries like Vietnam, Iran and Venezuela.

The Finlay Vaccines Institute started Phase II clinical trials for the vaccine, testing the vaccine on 900 volunteers after successful trials involving a sample size of 100 people. Authorities said that previous tests have shown no negative effects on the volunteers, and highlighted that Sovereign II doesn't require special refrigeration conditions to be stored.

Aside from Sovereign II, Cuba is developing three other vaccines, which are still in earlier research stages. Sovereign I is being tested as a vaccine for the new mutations of the virus found in the UK, Japan, and California. While Cuba kept the pandemic spread at bay during 2020, the island suffered an outbreak at the beginning of 2021 after opening its airports. Cuban authorities have reported 180 deaths among 19,122 people infected with COVID-19.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Vegan brand Oatly has been accused of 'seriously misusing statistics' after it claimed the dairy and meat industries emitted more CO2e than global transport.

Numerous farmers and industry groups have been fighting back against the Swedish plant-based drink manufacturer's extraordinary claim.

In the new adverts for the oat-based drink, a man is seen criticised by his own son for drinking cows milk.

Oatly posted a tweet with the advert, saying the dairy and meat industries emit more CO2e than all the worlds planes, trains, cars boats etc combined.

Now the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has joined the chorus of criticism, slamming the marketing campaign for misusing statistics.

Government figures show that emissions from UK agriculture stand at 9% in total - with just 3.7% coming from cattle and sheep - compared to 27% from transport.

Mark Bridgeman, president of the CLA, which represents 30,000 rural firms, said 'pitching people against one another is deeply unhelpful'.

We have no problem with oat drinks  and encourage manufacturers to support British farmers," he said, adding that the problem was with 'peddling misinformation and half-truths'.

Emissions from British beef, for example, are 50% lower than the global average. Just 3.7% of the UKs emissions come from cattle and sheep, a fraction that of the transport sector.

"So telling British consumers that their dairy and meat industries are somehow more damaging to the environment than transport is a serious misuse of statistics."

He said farmers and food brands needed to work together to improve sustainability, and urged Oatly to understand the measures by UK farmers to drive emissions down further still.

There is a place for oat drinks on the market, but Oatly should concentrate on convincing consumers of the quality of their product rather than simply trying to put down the competition, Mr Bridgeman said.
"Servicemembers, first responders, and law enforcement pros continue to go above and beyond to keep our country and communities safe, which is why backing these nonprofits is more important than ever." - Alan Cole, GovX CEO

The charitable efforts of GovXthe online shopping site exclusively for current and former military, first responders, and federal employeesclosed out 2020 by reaching over half a million dollars in total GovX Gives Back donations. Since the inception of GovX's inaugural charitable giveback efforts in October of 2015, GovX has now raised a lifetime total of $565,000 for nonprofits supporting Americans with service-related backgrounds and their families.

The bulk of GovX Gives Back fundraising was generated by sales of the Patch of the Month, originally designed collectible patches based on the unique cultures among military, law enforcement, and first responder communities. Examples include the American of Service patch, which benefited Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and the special 9/11 anniversary United We Stand patch, which supported FirefighterAid, the long-time GovX partner and nonprofit dedicated to fire professionals nationwide.

The complete list of nonprofits the GovX community supported in 2020 is:



Navy SEAL Foundation

Angels of America's Fallen

Workshops for Warriors

IAVA  Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

NLEOMF - National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Team Red White & Blue

Active Valor

FirefighterAid

Team Rubicon

The Honor Foundation

Our Military Kids

GovX was also proud to provide additional support to local foundations in the company's hometown of San Diego. GovX donated to Veterans Village of San Diego to aid in their mission to overcome veteran homelessness, The Rosie Network which empowers veteran small business ventures, and the San Diego Police Department Academy's mission to train tomorrow's law enforcement pros.

"In a year as tough as 2020, it was vital to maintain our steadfast support for the organizations that care for the GovX community," said Alan Cole, GovX CEO. "Servicemembers, first responders, and law enforcement pros continue to go above and beyond to keep our country and communities safe, which is why backing these nonprofits is more important than ever. I want to thank each member who participated in GovX Gives Back last year by buying the Patch of the Month to help support these causes."

GovX aims to exceed their 2020 charitable donations in the new year. Sales of 2021's first Patch of the Month are already underway. The American Explorer patch benefits the mission of Green Beret Foundation, the nonprofit dedicated to soldiers of the US Army's special forces branch and their families.

Learn more about the ongoing GovX Gives Back mission.
IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In the 2021 edition of Super Lawyers, Attorney Marshall Silberberg of the Law Office of Marshall Silberberg has earned listings for his work in personal injury law in Irvine, California yet again. This is a marked achievement, as he has obtained listings in every single edition of Super Lawyers since 2004.

Attorney Silberberg is the founder of the Orange County-based firm, which has a legal team composed of former defense attorneys who utilize their years of experience to fight against the negligent parties they used to defend. This gives them an advantage in the courtroom, as they know many tactics that the other party could potentially use to deny liability. Attorney Silberberg himself worked as an insurance lawyer for almost three decades before founding the Law Office of Marshall Silberberg in 2004  the same year he was first listed by Super Lawyers.

Attorney Silberberg was listed in 2021 Super Lawyers for his exemplary legal work in the following practice areas in Irvine:

Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff

Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff

Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff

A Thomson Reuters company, Super Lawyers aims to provide consumers with a directory of legal professionals who have demonstrated great skill in their chosen practice areas. Therefore, these lawyers are evaluated on a dozen different categories that Super Lawyers believes to be characteristic of "professional achievement and peer recognition," such as honors, employment background, bar activity, achieved verdicts, and more. Only a small portion of the nation's attorneys are listed in Super Lawyers annually.

Please note: Aspiring and veteran listees alike must be evaluated during the Super Lawyers selection process each year, no matter if they are attempting to obtain a new listing or renew an old one. Thus, Attorney Silberberg has passed this in-depth review every single year since 2004.

The Law Office of Marshall Silberberg has helped countless Orange County residents who have sustained severe injuries due to another party's negligence. Over the past 16 years, the firm has recovered more than $500 million in compensation. To learn more about Attorney Silberberg and the Law Office of Marshall Silberberg, visit silberberglaw.com. To visit Super Lawyers, go to superlawyers.com.

SOURCE Law Office of Marshall Silberberg
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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

Just as Joe Biden was sworn in as President on Wednesday, an unidentified person was spotted at the gravesite of his late son, Beau. While Biden was giving his inauguration speech, a lone man in blue uniform kept Beaus memory alive with his presence at St. Joseph on the Brandywine church in Greenville, Delaware. A photo of the mystery man was shared by a journalist on social media. Patricia Talorico was driving by Beau's grave when the new president was taking the oath of office. On reaching the site, she realised that she was not the only person present at Beaus grave. She saw the person kneeling with his head bowed before the former National Guardsmans tomb.

In an article published in Delaware Online, Talorico detailed on why she took the picture of the unknown man at Beaus grave. She mentioned that the person clasped his hands and said nothing. It was a windy afternoon and nobody except a few maintenance workers were present in the cemetery. Although the News Journal reporter did not reach the man out of respect, she saw him remain at Beaus grave after the new Presidents inaugural address was over. She mentioned that she did not wish to interrupt the solemn moment and decided to click some photos from a distance. Talorico pulled her car over to a nearby roadway, tuned into the radio and listened to Biden's speech till the end. She drove back and the person was still kneeling, with head bowed.

Take a look at Twitter post:

Poignant moment: While Joe Biden gave his inauguration speech, a lone man in a uniform knelt at the Delaware grave of his son Beau. pic.twitter.com/QkCuJRHzTz Patricia Talorico (@PattyTalorico) January 20, 2021

Taloricos photo on Twitter and the story behind it quickly went viral and were widely shared across all social media platforms.

For the unversed, Beau, a member of the Delaware National Guard and the former state attorney general, passed away in 2015. He died at age 46 of brain cancer. In 2016, Joe cited his eldest sons demise as the primary reason why he didnt run for President that year. A day back, Joe became teary eyed while delivering a farewell speech to his home state.

The presidents admiration for Beau became apparent again on Tuesday as he expressed sorrow that his son is not swearing as the 46th president. His voice broke at the Major Joseph R. Beau Biden III National Guard Center. With tears in his eyes, the 78-year-old said, Ladies and gentlemen, I only have one regret. Hes not here, because we should be introducing him as president.
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) ranks among the globally most important causes of infections in humans and is considered a dreaded hospital pathogen. Active and passive immunisation against multi-resistant strains is seen as a potentially valuable alternative to antibiotic therapy. However, all vaccine candidates so far have been clinically unsuccessful. With an epitope-based immunisation, scientists at Cologne University Hospital and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) have now described a new vaccination strategy against S. aureus in the Nature Partner Journal NPJ VACCINES.

S. aureus causes life-threatening conditions such as deep wound infections, sepsis, endocarditis, pneumonia or osteomyelitis. Furthermore, the increase in antibiotic resistance such as in case of the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) poses new challenges in medicine. In the past, numerous vaccines against S. aureus were developed, but without exception they proved unsuccessful in the clinical trial stages. "For the future development of vaccines, this means that the traditional approaches in vaccine development have to be qualitatively changed in order to achieve a breakthrough for an effective vaccine against S. aureus," explains Prof. Dr. Martin Kronke, Director of the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene at Cologne University Hospital.

After decades of research, the Cologne scientists have now published a new promising vaccine strategy against S. aureus. Having initially characterised several S. aureus antigens as potential vaccine candidates, they went a step further. With the aid of monoclonal antibodies that had shown a protective effect in the infection model, Dr. Alexander Klimka, first author of the study and head of a DZIF working group, was able to establish the precise location of their binding sites, known as epitopes, in the vaccination antigens.

"For the S. aureus protein coproporphyinogen III oxidase (CgoX), we were able to narrow the epitope to a section comprising 12 amino acids," Klima explains. "What makes this work special is that it has been possible with this extremely small section of CgoX to trigger a protective immune response against the S. aureus infection. Narrowing the vaccine to a small epitope of 12 amino acids constitutes an unprecedented precision of a vaccine candidate against S. aureus."

Particularly encouraging is the observation that greater than 97 percent of the more than 35,000 investigated clinical strains of S. aureus feature this epitope unchanged and that this vaccine candidate will thus have a broad effect. "Epitope focused immunisation represents a new quality in vaccine development because far fewer adverse immune reactions can be anticipated than those observed occasionally for the use of total proteins or even inactivated pathogens," Prof. Kronke concludes.

###
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
C ITY spread betting house IG is splashing out $1 billion to buy tastytrade, a US platform that allows retail investors to enter the complicated world of derivatives, a move which could prove controversial.

With share prices booming and US markets hitting highs, IG said the move to diversify its product range and boost the educational offering to clients was a landmark transaction.

IG chief executive June Felix said: Derivatives can clearly be perceived in a different way. It is more mainstream in the US.

It gives IG access to 1.5 million sophisticated retail traders in America  it is IGs biggest ever deal.

Felix said that betting against the market was more mainstream in the US. It is not something people do on the side, she said. There is real substance here. It is not punting.

The deal comes alongside half year results which show the UK is in the midst of a trading boom. Revenues are up 67% to 417 million, while profits leapt 129% to 231 million. IG saw 64,000 new clients onboarded.

Tastytrade has a lively website that claims: We eat, sleep and breathe trading. Customers are invited to: Get your binge on.

Felix added: This acquisition will materially expand and scale our business in the US and see us further diversify into the exciting high growth market if US retail options and futures.
The Iranian President expressed his contentment on Thursday over the departure of Donald Trump from the U.S. presidency, hours after Joe Biden was sworn in. Hassan Rouhani said those who conspired against Iran with the intent of overthrowing its government, were overthrown themselves with shame and dishonour, without naming Trump.

Rouhani made the remarks during an inauguration ceremony of the Middle East's largest gas refinery called Persian Gulf Bid Boland Gas Refinery in southern Iran.The inauguration was carried out through videoconferencing. About 4,590 million U.S. dollars have been invested in the giant project completed in 36 months, according to the report. It is expected to bring in 700 million dollars in revenues per year.

(Image Credit: AP)

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)

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BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain



and minister Mukesh Sahni were on Thursday declared elected unopposed to the legislative council, an official said here.

Hussain and Sahni were handed over their certificates by Patna Divisional Commissioner Sanjay Agarwal, who had been designated as the returning officer for by-elections to the two seats.

Hussain has been elected on the seat vacated by former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, the term of which expires in 2024.

Modi has been elected to the Rajya Sabha from the seat which fell vacant upon the death of Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

Sahni, the founding president of NDA partner Vikassheel Insaan Party, has been elected from the seat vacated by former minister and BJP leader Binod Narayan Jha, who is now a member of the assembly.

Both Hussain, who has been in politics for more than 20 years, and Sahni who is a greenhorn, have made their debut in the state legislature.

Hussain, who is one of the spokespersons of the BJP, had burst on the political scene in 1999 Lok Sabha polls when he wrested Muslim-dominated Kishanganj seat from RJD strongman Taslimuddin.

He earned a berth in the Union council of ministers headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

He lost Kishanganj five years later, but got re-elected to the Lok Sabha from Bhagalpur in a by-election necessitated by resignation of Sushil Kumar Modi who took up the new assignment in after the NDA grabbed power in the state.

Speculations are rife that Hussain may be in for a key assignment in the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has hinted that an expansion would take place shortly.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Some Jersey City parents are demanding that their kids public schools reopen for in-person instruction.

A change.org petition started by parents at School 37  which says prolonged remote learning because of the coronavirus pandemic has led to increased stress, social isolation and anxiety  has garnered 228 signatures in a week.

The parents say data shows kids arent driving the spread of COVID-19 and the parents also point out that neighboring areas like Hoboken and Manhattan have found a way to reopen its schools.

School 37 parent Sylvia Jackson says the district has not been transparent, spending too much time telling parents its not safe to return, instead of talking about what needs to be done to get the students back in classrooms.

A lot of the (COVID-19) cases even in school, they are often brought in by a teacher from the community, Jackson said. We need to start being active about the plans (to re-open.)

The remote learning plan has been hampered from the start by a lack of laptops and other devices to connect to the virtual classrooms. Superintendent Franklin Walker admitted in an interview Wednesday that the district is seeing an academic slide that teachers will have to deal with when in-person classes resume.

Yet, the district is sticking with the plan to stay remote until at least April.

Our top priorities has always been to get kids in school ASAP, said Walker, whose initial plan of having kids back in school by November was waylaid by a second wave of COVID-19. We review the potential for that every day  it is still not a foregone conclusion that we cant get some type of in-person instruction before the school year ends.

Tricia Cuthbertson said she doesnt want to force everyone back to the school, but she would like the choice.

I think the major issue in Jersey City doesnt have a coherent plan, so they just been kind of kicking it down the road basically, Cuthbertson said. We just want there to be a choice and we want to know how you are going to keep the kids safe.

The 30,000 students in the district havent been inside classrooms since March 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit. Statewide, 339 districts started 2021 remotely, while 77 school districts returned with full in-person instruction and 348 returned with a hybrid of in-person and remote instruction, New Jersey Advance Media reported.

Jersey City has seen nearly 3,000 new COVID-19 cases this month, with 73 people hospitalized at Christ Hospital and the Jersey City Medical Center, according to statistics provided by the city.

Walker says he has to also think about the health of teachers and other school workers when considering when to reopen.

The superintendent said another issue would be how many teachers would return to the classroom if the district reopened now. In July, more than 200 district teachers said would not return to the classroom this school year due to coronavirus health concerns.

Jersey City Education Association President Ron Greco said Tuesday that the teachers are ready to return, but he is leaving it up to the experts. Greco would like to see teachers vaccinated before going back.

I would want to hear from the professionals; the medical community; and the department of health and if we were all vaccinated, Greco said. I hear from people all the time. They really want to go back.
Falun Gong practitioners hold a vigil to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, in Washington, on July 17, 2020. (Lynn Lin/The Epoch Times)

Three New Reports Expose Chinas Human Rights Violations

News Analysis

The international community has recently released three human rights reports. All three directly point to the Chinese communist regime for violation of basic human rights and freedom of belief.

On Jan. 13, the British Conservative Party Human Rights Commission issued a report calling on the British government to take the lead in responding to a human rights crisis in China.

The report is titled, The Darkness Deepens: The Crackdown on Human Rights in China 2016-2020 and pointed out that human rights violations in China are intensifying.

The use of abhorrent practices such as the imprisonment and torture of dissidents, mass surveillance, organ harvesting, and the use of slave labour shows the Chinese Communist Party for what it is, the report said, urging the UK government to lead the free world by sending a clear message that China must stop these abusive behaviours.

Also, on Jan. 13, the international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch released their World Report 2021, saying the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) authoritarianism was on full display in 2020 as it grappled with the deadly coronavirus outbreak first reported in Wuhan province.

It described Chinese authorities response to the COVID-19 pandemic as initially delayed by withholding information from the public, under-reporting cases of infection, downplaying the severity of the infection, and dismissing the likelihood of transmission between humans. Authorities also detained people for rumor-mongering, censored online discussions of the outbreak, and curbed media reporting.

Chinese students and their supporters hold a memorial for Dr. Li Wenliang outside the UCLA campus in Westwood, California on Feb. 15, 2020 for Dr. Li was the whistleblower of the CCP virus (novel coronavirus) that originated in Wuhan, China and caused the doctors death in that city. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)

On Jan. 14, 2021, the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) issued their 2020 Annual Report, revealing that the CCP authorities continued to detain Falun Gong practitioners and subject them to harsh treatment. It reported, at least 774 practitioners sentenced for criminal cult offenses in 2019.  Falun Gong news outlet Clear Wisdom reported that abuse by authorities resulted in the deaths of 96 practitioners in 2019 and an additional 17 in the first quarter of 2020. The report cited, Clear Wisdom reported that between January and April 2020, 6 practitioners died as a result of being tortured while in custody, and 11 more died after being released or as the result of mistreatment by security officials. The report also referred to a paper published in BMC Medical Ethics in November 2019 which claimed that the Chinese government may have falsified annual statistics on organ donation numbers in China, and that involuntary organ removals continue to take place in China.

[Note: Clear Wisdom is the former name of the English-language version of Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the persecution of Falun Gong in China.]

Police detain a Falun Gong protester in Tiananmen Square as a crowd watches in Beijing in this Oct. 1, 2000 photo. (AP Photo/Chien-min Chung)

Human Rights Are Universal

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on Dec. 10, 1948 states that, Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms contained in this declaration, regardless of race, color, sex,  birth or other status. Everyone has the right to life, freedom and personal security.

In other words, all human beings have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, peaceful assembly and association, etc. However, in the seventy-two years since the adoption of the Declaration, genocide and many crimes against humanity have been committed.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an example of how the CCP denies human rights to the Chinese people. In July 1999, Jiang Zemin, the general secretary of the CCP at the time, launched the persecution of Falun Gong by systematically exploiting the state apparatus and power to brutally extinguish the beliefs of 100 million Falun Gong followers who live by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance.

Jiang adopted a policy of defaming their reputation and destroying them physically and economically. Practitioners who refused to reform were illegally detained in psychiatric institutions, brainwashing centers, labor camps and prisons where they suffered cruel mental and physical torture that often resulted in death. According to Minghui.org, the identities of 4,582 practitioners who were persecuted to death are confirmed. The actual number is believed to be much higher, but difficult to verify at this time. Additionally, tens of thousands of practitioners annually are believed to have been, and still are, victims of Chinas state-sponsored live organ harvesting practice.

Falun Gong practitioners hold a banner in reference to organ harvesting of practitioners that is still happening today inside China. (Edward Dai/Epoch Times)

Freedom of religion and belief was originally a basic right granted to Chinese citizens by the Chinese Constitution. But the CCP has ignored its own Constitution and uses authoritarian and totalitarian means to trample on and deprive people of their basic rights.

For decades, the CCPs human rights record has been widely criticized by the international community. Whether its the human rights reports published by the United Nations, the U.S. Department of State, or human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, the CCPs violations of freedom of belief and basic rights always top the list.

As far as 2020 is concerned, the situation in China has only worsened. On Jan. 8, the CECCs annual report clearly sent that message. The report urged the United States to hold Chinese officials responsible for serious human rights abuses by denying them visas to the United States or access to its financial markets.

On April 28, 2020, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2020 annual report. China was on the list of countries of particular concern (CPC) because their governments engage in or tolerate systematic, ongoing, egregious violations. Communist China has been listed as a CPC for 21 consecutive years.

More than 300 human rights groups and NGOs submitted an open letter to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, and U.N. member states on Sept. 10, calling for an international investigation of the CCPs violation of human rights.

On Oct. 26, the websites of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in China released the Chinese version of Chinas Human Rights Report 2019. According to the report, significant human rights issues included: arbitrary or unlawful killings by the government; forced disappearances by the government; torture by the government; arbitrary detention by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison and detention conditions; censorship; perform torture; strictly control speech and information, restrict citizens freedom of movement, etc.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that one of the core characteristics of the CCP is that it continuously violates the basic human rights of the Chinese people.

Its what President Trump has directed us all to work to try and preserve: as much freedom, as much dignity for every citizen of China as we possibly can when theyre confronted with these massive human rights violations that are being conducted by the Chinese Communist Party, Pompeo said.

Sanctions against those who abuse human rights are a common trend by democratic countries. In 2016, the United States passed the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to punish foreign individuals committing human rights violations. So far, 28 countries around the world have enacted a human rights accountability act similar to that of the United States, denying visas and freezing the assets of persecutors.

In 2019 alone, the United States has designated 97 individuals and entities under this program, which complement other tools and authorities the United States uses to impose economic and visa restrictions on malign actors.

On July 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned one Chinese government entity and four current or former government officials in connection with serious rights abuses against ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). These designations include Chen Quanguo, the Communist Party Secretary of XUAR. Over the past two decades, Chen Quanguo has also actively participated in the persecution of Falun Gong, causing many Falun Gong practitioners to be persecuted to death, according to a report by Minghui.org.

On Dec. 7, 2020, the European Commission adopted the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the European Unions version of the Magnitsky Act. It applies to acts such as genocide, crimes against humanity, torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, slavery, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, enforced disappearance of persons, arbitrary arrests or detentions. The sanctions consist of travel bans applying to individuals and freezing the assets of both individuals and entities. The first sanctions list is expected to be implemented before the end of the first quarter of this year.
Nurse Brianne Stockman, left, prepares to draw some blood from study participant Lani Muller in a mobile medical unit parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Lani Muller doesn't have to visit a doctor's office to help test an experimental COVID-19 vaccineshe just climbs into a bloodmobile-like van that parks on a busy street near her New York City neighborhood.

The U.S. is rightly fixated on the chaotic rollout of the first two authorized vaccines to fight the pandemic. But with more vaccines in the pipelinecritical to boosting global suppliesscientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work.

Those studies, like earlier ones, must include communities of color that have been hard-hit by the pandemic, communities that also voice concern about the vaccination drive in part because of a long history of racial health care disparities and even research abuses. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer.

Muller, who is Black, said her family was worried about the vaccine research so she didn't mention she'd signed up to test AstraZeneca's shot.

"The legacy of African Americans in science in these sort of trials hasn't been great and we haven't forgotten," said Muller, 49, a Columbia University employee whose participation in some prior research projects made her willing to get a test injection earlier this month.

Pedestrians look over branded giveaways while receiving information about the COVID-19 vaccine in front of a mobile medical van parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Muller knows more than 20 people who have gotten or died from COVID-19. "I'm much more afraid of the disease than the vaccine trial," she said.

From the beginning, the National Institutes of Health was adamant that COVID-19 vaccines be tested in a population about as diverse as the nation'skey to building confidence in whichever shots proved to work. In studies of the Pfizer and Moderna shots so far cleared for widespread U.S. use, 10% of volunteers were Black, and more were Hispanic.

Diversity is an even tougher challenge now. The high-risk volunteers needed for final testing of other vaccine candidates have to decide if they want to stick with an experimental injectionone that might be a dummy shotor try to get in line for a rationed but proven dose.

AstraZeneca, with about 30,000 volunteers so far, didn't release specific numbers but said the last weeks of enrollment are focusing on recruiting more minorities and people over age 65. Another maker, Novavax, just began recruiting for its final testing last month.

Research recruitment specialist Cristina Barron, right, talks with a pedestrian passing by a mobile medical van parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Studying the vaccines in diverse populations is only one step in building trust, said Dr. Wayne Frederick, president of Howard University, a historically Black university in the nation's capital.

Howard's hospital shared video of Frederick and other health workers getting vaccinated as a public service announcement encouraging African Americans to get their own shot as soon as it's their turn.

Frederick, a surgeon who's also at high risk because of diabetes and sickle cell disease, said he's dismayed to get emails espousing conspiracy theories such as that vaccination is "an experiment on African Americans."

"There is misinformation that does require all of us to be in the forefront of getting involved and challenging it," he said.

But efforts to build confidence in the vaccines could be undermined if, once there's more supply to go around, hard-hit minority communities get left behind.

Pedestrians look over branded giveaways while receiving information about the COVID-19 vaccine in front of a mobile medical van parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

"The equity issue is absolutely important," said Stephaun Wallace, a scientist at the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center who also is part of the NIH-created COVID-19 Prevention Network that helps with vaccine research and education. "It's important that we ensure that the vaccine is getting to the people, and that is an access issue."

Using vans to reach at-risk communities has long been a staple of fighting HIV, another illness that has disproportionately struck Black Americans. And as more doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines arrive, mobile clinics are expected to help expand COVID-19 vaccination access, especially in rural areas.

But the NIH program has a different focus, offering RV-sized mobile clinics from Matrix Medical Network to help improve the diversity of ongoing vaccine studies. Officials say they've been used at a Lakota reservation, at chicken-processing plants with a largely Hispanic workforce, and in cities like Washington where Howard University is recruiting volunteers for the new Novavax study.

Co-investigator Jorge Soler, center, talks to pedestrians about the COVID-19 vaccine and the studies they are conducting in front of a mobile medical van parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

"I don't think we can sit in the ivory towers and hope that people come to us. I think that would be a mistake," said Howard's Frederick.

Researchers from the New York Blood Center regularly park their lab-on-wheels in parts of Queens and Brooklyn with large Black, Asian and Hispanic populations, so that even after study enrollment ends the participants can pop in for required check-ups.

They also make a point of standing outside to answer questions from passersby confused about COVID-19 vaccination in general.

It's "building trust and rapport," said Dr. Jorge Soler, who helps study the AstraZeneca vaccine as part of the blood center's Project Achieve. "I'm Latino and I'm a scientist. To be able to say that to people means something."

Soler sometimes has to dispel fears that getting vaccinated might mean being "injected with a chip," or having information collected for surveillance purposes.

Pedestrians look over branded giveaways while receiving information about the COVID-19 vaccine in front of a mobile medical van parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Nurse Brianne Stockman, left, takes a sample for a COVID-19 test of study participant Victorya Kaon in a mobile medical unit parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Study participant Victorya Kaon talks with a nurse in a mobile medical unit parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Nurse Brianne Stockman, left, injects study participant Lani Muller with either a COVID-19 vaccine or a placebo in a mobile medical unit parked in the Queens borough of New York, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. With more vaccines in the pipeline, scientists worry whether enough volunteers will join and stick with the testing needed to prove if they, too, really work. To help, researchers in more than a dozen spots around the country are rolling out mobile health clinics to better reach minority participants and people in rural areas who might not otherwise volunteer. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

He stresses that the Pfizer and Moderna shots now being used cannot give someone the coronavirusthat's biologically impossible as neither is made with the actual virus.

And over and over, people wonder how these vaccines appeared so quickly.

Soler's simple explanation for how to speed research without cutting corners? "This is what happens when the world is invested in something. You build a car faster with 20 people than you do with two."

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 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Champaign, IL (61820)

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Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 58F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
U.S. President Joe Biden has promised to re-energize the nation's response to COVID-19, but one of his top pandemic advisors says that effort could be hamstrung by both the virus and the failings of the previous administration.

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said he's particularly worried about new coronavirus variants that could cause cases to surge and potentially evade the immune protection afforded by COVID-19 vaccines.

On top of that, the new Biden administration will need to fix a very shaky system for distributing existing and upcoming COVID-19 vaccines, one that has led to a severe lag in getting shots into people's arms, Osterholm said during an HD Live! interview.

"I am extremely worried about the U.K. variant," Osterholm said, noting that it is associated with much higher transmission. "I think over the course of the next six to 12 weeks, we could see the darkest days of this pandemic in this country, with that variant being responsible for greatly increased transmission."

Osterholm also is worried about new variants reported from South Africa and Brazil, which might "actually have mutations that may in fact compromise the protection we get from the antibody from a vaccine."

"At this point, we don't have any compelling evidence that has happened, but there's enough circumstantial evidence to make us very concerned that there could be some lesser impact from the vaccines because of that particular variant," Osterholm said.

If these variants do dodge vaccine immunity, researchers "may very well end up finding ourselves thinking about altering these vaccines somewhat, much like we do with influenza vaccines each year, to try to adjust to these new variants if in fact that continues to be a problem," Osterholm said.

Right now, the main focus is on helping distribute the vaccines, Osterholm said. There have been reports of widespread frustration from people who want to get vaccinated but can't navigate the systems in place to sign up for a shot, which vary from state to state.

"Every effort will be made to support the state and local health departments and all those who are working on the front lines to deliver the vaccine," Osterholm said. "The previous administration really had not done any meaningful work in terms of laying out that last mile and that last inch, meaning actually getting people vaccinated. So you're going to see a much greater effort in actually making sure once those doses are manufactured, they're quickly put into people's arms."

Part of the problem is that demand simply is outrunning supply. Accounts of large stores of unused vaccine are "misleading," while reports meant to detail the number of doses distributed often "reflects what Operation Warp Speed has allocated to you, and it's not even in your state yet," Osterholm said.

"Eventually, I think you're going to find that every day that a dose of a vaccine arrives somewhere in the country, it's going to be within hoursmaybe a day or twoand it will be in someone's arm," Osterholm said. "That is going to happen quickly."

These supply problems are exacerbated by the lack of a national scheduling tool that would give people an honest idea of when they might expect to get the vaccine.

"At this time I'm not aware of a national scheduling tool, as such. It's surely a technological issue that should have been addressed long before the vaccine rollout occurred. As you see, these systems being set up around the country by states, they probably will unfortunately become the norm for the short term," Osterholm said.

"Potentially down the road, several months from now, there will be more of a national approach to this, but in the short term it's going to be very tough to develop a national sign-up system for vaccines that is going to be effective," he continued. "We're going to have to rely on what's going on at the local and state level."

Returning to even an altered state of normality in the United States likely won't happen until mid- to late summer, "but there's one caveat to that, and that is how well that vaccine will be received," Osterholm said.

"Right now, we're reporting even in health care settings, 30% or more of health care workers are taking a pass on the first dose of the vaccine because they're concerned about safety," Osterholm said, adding that these concerns are "understandable" because a poor job has been done explaining the vaccines and their development.

For example, steps were taken to ensure no short cuts were made on assessment of the vaccines' safety and effectiveness, but those steps have not been clearly explained, Osterholm said.

People also haven't been provided clear messaging on the messenger RNA vaccines, Osterholm added. For example, some are concerned that the vaccine would somehow alter their personal genetics, which isn't true.

"We've not done a good job of [easing these concerns] at all, so if we come around to mid-summer and we've not improved on the uptake of the vaccine by citizens throughout all the country, I think we're going to be in real tough shape in terms of trying to get back to even a new normal," Osterholm said.

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

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about COVID-19 vaccines

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Samsung Galaxy M12, Galaxy F12 Stops By Google Play Console: All You Need To Know News oi-Sandeep Sarkar

Amongst the several upcoming Samsung smartphones making splashes via leaks are the Galaxy M12 and the Galaxy F12. Both smartphones have been certified by several mobile authentication platforms in the past and it has been tipped that the Galaxy F12 is a rebadged version of the Galaxy M12. The Galaxy M12's live images were leaked online recently revealing the design. Now, both the upcoming Galaxy F12 and the M12 have made an appearance at the Google Play Console database. Thanks to the listing, we get some more clarification on the specifications and features of both smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy M12, Galaxy F12 Listed At Google Play Console

Starting with the Galaxy M12, the Google Play Console listing mentions the Exynos 850 processor. The octa-core chipset will get accompanied by Mali G76 GPU. As per the listing, this smartphone will be launched with a 4GB RAM configuration. The storage capacity isn't mentioned. However, this device could be launched with a 64GB/128GB storage option.

The Google Play Console listing further suggests Android 11 OS. Samsung will likely use a custom One UI skin overlay. The Galaxy M12 will sport an HD+ display that will have 720 x 1339 pixels resolution. It will come with a 300 PPI pixel density. The listing doesn't drop any clues on the camera and battery capacity.

However, it is worth mentioning that the Galaxy F12 specifications listed on the Google Play Console website are identical to the Galaxy M12. This variant is also listed with the octa-core Exynos 850 processor integrated with Mali G76 GPU. The remaining aspects including the RAM capacity and display specifications are also the same as the Galaxy M12.

This is a reaffirmation that Samsung will indeed launch the Galaxy M12 as rebranded Galaxy F12 in some markets. We don't know when the company will introduce these two models officially in the market. But, the launch seems imminent.

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US-based drugmaker Moderna's covid-19 vaccine caused allergic reactions after vaccination in people from one lot of the company's Covid-19 vaccine, a report given by the California's health department.



The company is "fully cooperating" with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) in investigating these reported adverse events, Moderna said on Tuesday.

Moderna, a US-based drugmaker received a report from California's health department that several individuals at one vaccination center in San Diego developed allergic reactions after first shot of covid-19 vaccine.





"Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory and pause the administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until the investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Moderna and the state is complete."



All appeared to be experiencing a possible severe allergic reaction during the standard observation period -- a type of adverse event that the CDC reports some people have experienced when receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.



The vaccine site switched to another lot of Moderna vaccine after closing for a few hours.



Moderna said that it is unaware of comparable clusters of adverse events from other vaccination centers which may have administered vaccines from the same lot, or from other Moderna lots.



"Moderna confirmed that a total of 1,272,200 doses were produced in batch number 041L20A, with nearly a million doses (964,900) already distributed to approximately 1,700 vaccination sites in 37 states," the company said in a statement.



While Moderna said it does not know how many doses may have ended up in the arms of people, it did report that the lot was shipped between January 4-8, and thus it expects that a significant portion of the distributed doses have already been used.



Moderna said a detailed review of the manufacturing intermediates and final drug product was performed including raw materials, batch records, release and characterization testing results, and Moderna shipping and storage records.



"The review confirmed that all criteria for product release of lot 041L20A were met," the statement added.







Source: IANS "A higher-than-usual number of possible allergic reactions were reported with a specific lot of Moderna vaccine administered at one community vaccination clinic. Fewer than 10 individuals required medical attention over the span of 24 hours," said Dr Pan."Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory and pause the administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until the investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Moderna and the state is complete."All appeared to be experiencing a possible severe allergic reaction during the standard observation period -- a type of adverse event that the CDC reports some people have experienced when receiving a Covid-19 vaccine.The vaccine site switched to another lot of Moderna vaccine after closing for a few hours.Moderna said that it is unaware of comparable clusters of adverse events from other vaccination centers which may have administered vaccines from the same lot, or from other Moderna lots."Moderna confirmed that a total of 1,272,200 doses were produced in batch number 041L20A, with nearly a million doses (964,900) already distributed to approximately 1,700 vaccination sites in 37 states," the company said in a statement.While Moderna said it does not know how many doses may have ended up in the arms of people, it did report that the lot was shipped between January 4-8, and thus it expects that a significant portion of the distributed doses have already been used.Moderna said a detailed review of the manufacturing intermediates and final drug product was performed including raw materials, batch records, release and characterization testing results, and Moderna shipping and storage records."The review confirmed that all criteria for product release of lot 041L20A were met," the statement added.Source: IANS

The confirmation comes after California State Epidemiologist Dr Erica Pan on Sunday recommended halting the administration of lot 41L20A of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine due to possible allergic reactions that are under investigation.
ITHACA, N.Y. - Far below the gaseous atmospheric shroud on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, lies Kraken Mare, a sea of liquid methane. Cornell University astronomers have estimated that sea to be at least 1,000-feet deep near its center - enough room for a potential robotic submarine to explore.

After sifting through data from one of the final Titan flybys of the Cassini mission, the researchers detailed their findings in "The Bathymetry of Moray Sinus at Titan's Kraken Mare," which published in the Journal of Geophysical Research.

"The depth and composition of each of Titan's seas had already been measured, except for Titan's largest sea, Kraken Mare - which not only has a great name, but also contains about 80% of the moon's surface liquids," said lead author Valerio Poggiali, research associate at the Cornell Center for Astrophysics and Planetary Science (CCAPS).

A billion miles from Earth, frigid Titan is cloaked in a golden haze of gaseous nitrogen. But peeking through the clouds, the moonscape has an Earthlike appearance, with liquid methane rivers, lakes and seas, according to NASA.

The data for this discovery was gathered on Cassini's T104 flyby of Titan on Aug. 21, 2014. The spacecraft's radar surveyed Ligeia Mare - a smaller sea in the moon's northern polar region - to look for the mysteriously disappearing and reappearing "Magic Island."

While Cassini cruised at 13,000 mph nearly 600 miles above Titan's surface, the spacecraft used its radar altimeter to measure the liquid depth at Kraken Mare and Moray Sinus, an estuary located at the sea's northern end. The Cornell scientists, along with engineers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, had figured out how to discern lake and sea bathymetry (depth) by noting the radar's return time differences on the liquid surface and sea bottom, as well as the sea's composition by acknowledging the amount of radar energy absorbed during transit through the liquid.

It turns out that Moray Sinus is about 280 feet deep, shallower than the depths of central Kraken Mare, which was too deep for the radar to measure. Surprisingly the liquid's composition, primarily a mixture of ethane and methane, was methane-dominated and similar to the composition of nearby Ligeia Mare, Titan's second-largest sea.

Earlier scientists had speculated that Kraken may be more ethane rich, both because of its size and extension to the moon's lower latitudes. The observation that the liquid composition is not markedly different from the other northern seas is an important finding that will help in assessing models of Titan's Earth-like hydrologic system.

Beyond deep, Kraken Mare also is immense - nearly the size of all five Great Lakes combined.

Titan represents a model environment of a possible atmosphere of early Earth, Poggiali said.

One puzzle is the origin of the liquid methane. Titan's solar light - about 100 times less intense than on Earth - constantly converts methane in the atmosphere into ethane; over roughly 10 million-year periods, this process would completely deplete Titan's surface stores, according to Poggiali.

In the distant future, a submarine - likely without a mechanical engine - will visit and cruise Kraken Mare, Poggiali said.

"Thanks to our measurements," he said, "scientists can now infer the density of the liquid with higher precision, and consequently better calibrate the sonar aboard the vessel and understand the sea's directional flows."

###

NASA provided funding for this research.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : In yet another data breach, sensitive data of nearly 3.25 lakh users of India-based global cryptocurrency exchange and wallet, BuyUcoin, have been exposed on the Dark Web.

The data leaked include names, e-mails, mobile numbers, encrypted passwords, user wallet details, order details, bank details, KYC details (PAN number, passport numbers) and deposit history.

According to independent cyber security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia, the 6GB file on MongoDB database contains three backup files containing BuyUcoin data.

"This is a serious hack as key financial, banking and KYC details have been leaked on the Dark Web," Rajaharia told IANS and shared some screenshots of the leaked data.

Researchers at cyber security firm Kela Research and Strategy Ltd first discovered the stolen data, linked on the same forum, from Wongnai Media Co Ltd, Tuned Global Pvt Ltd, BuyUcoin, Wappalyzer, Teespring Inc and Bonobos.com, which looks the handiwork of infamous hacking group ShinyHunters.

"Over this past summer, ShinyHunters was seen publishing leaked data for free, exposing millions of personal records from all over the world," Victoria Kivilevich, threat intelligence analyst at Kela Research, told SiliconANGLE.

"We have seen collaborators of Shiny Hunters selling and leaking other dumps in the recent months." BuyUcoin was yet to react to the report.

ShinyHunters has also leaked 1.9 million user records stolen from free online photo editing application Pixlr.

According to Rajaharia, the hacker is the same who earlier leaked BigBasket and JusPay data in India.

In November last year, one of India's popular online grocery stores BigBasket found that its data of over 20 million users had been hacked and were on sale on the dark web for over $40,000.

"Now, the same hacker group is asking about $10,000 in Bitcoin for the BigBasket database and is also selling the three companies' databases," Rajaharia said.

"There is a strong connection between all these recent data leaks, including BigBasket," he added.

Earlier this month, Bengaluru-based digital payments gateway JusPay said that about 3.5 crore records with masked card data and card fingerprint were compromised by the hacker.

Rajaharia also disclosed that three Indian companies -- e-marketplace ClickIndia, fintech startup for small business owners ChqBook and wedding planning website WedMeGood -- were also hacked possibly by the same hacker.

"Nearly 80 lakh users of ClickIndia (name, email, mobile and other personal details), 10 lakh users of ChqBook (name, email, mobile, full address and other personal details) and 13 lakh users of WedMeGood (name, email, hashed password, other sensitive personal information)," Rajaharia had revealed.
Schools are closing again in response to surging levels of COVID-19 infection, but staging randomised trials when students eventually return could help to clarify uncertainties around when we should send children back to the classroom, according to a new study.

Experts say that school reopening policies currently lack a rigorous evidence base - leading to wide variation in policies around the world, but staging cluster randomized trials (CRT) would create a body of evidence to help policy makers take the right decisions.

The pandemic's rapid onslaught meant many public health policies had to be put into practice quickly despite uncertainty about the risks from SARS-CoV-2 and the effectiveness of various prevention measures.

An international research team say that when governments renew steps toward re-opening schools, there will be an opportunity to answer questions about the impact of closures on transmission of the virus, as well as when and how these restrictions can be safely lifted.

Led by scientists at the University of Birmingham, the team - which includes experts from Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and Western University, Canada - today published their findings in Clinical Trials.

Report co-author Professor Karla Hemming, from the University of Birmingham's Institute of Applied Health Research, commented: "As COVID-19 cases and deaths ebb and flow around the world, the question of when and how to withdraw public health policies is pressing.

"Many regions face new waves of outbreaks and new lockdowns. Whether and when schools can re-open and stay open will continue to be a question of upmost importance, but policymakers are left to make such decisions in the absence of rigorous evidence.

"Given the impact of school closures on both education and the economy, schools cannot remain closed indefinitely. But when and how can they be reopened safely? A cluster randomized trial is a rigorous and ethical way to resolve these uncertainties."

Researchers noted wide variation between countries. Swedish schools remained open for under-16s throughout the pandemic, whilst Denmark, Germany, and Norway reopened schools after a period of closure. Italy and Spain chose to keep schools closed until autumn last year, whilst schools in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Russia have at times closed. Variability is also seen within the United States at state and county level.

Justifications for these decisions varied, with some officials relying on local test positivity rates and others focusing on numbers of new cases within schools.

Re-opening primary schools in Quebec, Canada, was associated with relatively few new cases, yet opening primary and secondary schools in Israel was associated with several outbreaks and the re-closure of some schools.

The researchers say CRTs are well suited to the rigorous evaluation of public health policies, with key aspects of trial design deserving special attention:

1. Running such a study should only be considered when community transmission is under control and the health system has capacity. 2. As the main interest is community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the study would have to include many municipalities or regions. 3. Entire regions (including all schools within) would be randomized to either remain closed or to re-open. 4. For schools reopening, this would mean operating under precautions, including social distancing, mask wearing, and possibly evening testing. Teachers and children are clinically extremely vulnerable should be allowed to remain at home. 5. For schools remaining closed, the burdens of keeping schools closed require careful consideration, especially for those who are more vulnerable at home.

###

For more information, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0)782 783 2312 or t.moran@bham.ac.uk. For out-of-hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7789 921 165.

Notes to Editors

* The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.

* 'Reopening schools safely in the face of COVID-19: Can cluster randomized trials help?' - Charles Weijer, Karla Hemming, Spencer Phillips Hey and Holly Fernandez Lynch is published in Clinical Trials.
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A State High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced a 23-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping his 3-year-old step-daughter.

The judge, Justice Okon Okon, who delivered the sentence on Wednesday against the convicted paedophile, Iniobong Moses, said the man was a disgrace to humanity, whose conduct falls abysmally below even the conduct of beasts.

The judge said Mr Moses does not deserve to walk freely on Nigerian soil and breathe the air of freedom meant for decent members of the society.

The convict, who hails from Afaha Udo Eyop in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, said, in his confessional statement, he acted under the influence of alcohol.

The court rejected the claim by the accused that he was drunk. The judge said drunkenness was not an exculpatory defence in law for the commission of a crime and more so, as it was self-inflicted.

The Police Medical Report showed a history of abnormal vaginal discharge and wound on the labium of the victim, a case of sexual assault with genital ulcer and genital tract infection.
While the UK's recent departure from the EU avoided the cliff-edge of a no-deal exit, the imposition of new customs paperwork and a backup of goods lorries at ports has left those in the freight management and warehouse business in a lucrative position

As the Brexit deadline loomed at the end of 2020, a number of Londons listed logistics firms found themselves seeing a boom in business as companies scrambled to shore up their supply chains and stock up on goods in order to cushion themselves from any disruption.

While the chaos of a no-deal Brexit was avoided with a last-minute trade deal, the first weeks of 2021 have seen a steady stream of reports chronicling businesses struggling with a newly imposed customs regime between the UK and the continent that has left hundreds of lorries stranded at ports on both sides of the English Channel.

For example, two weeks ago retailer Marks & Spencer Group PLC ( ) said that complex administrative processes resulting from Brexit, as well as tariffs on some products, were significantly impacting its activities in Ireland, France, Czech and supplies of Percy Pig, while angry seafood hauliers have staged protests outside Downing Street after being "tied in knots with paperwork".

Despite these incidents, the worst appears to have so far been avoided at and the Eurotunnel terminal because of abnormally low traffic, however, the situation looks set to worsen in the coming weeks when freight traffic returns to usual levels and stockpiles begin to run out.

Hauliers are now being warned by the UK Cabinet Office that tailbacks at ports could increase as more and more lorries arrive without adequate paperwork, a Times report on Thursday revealed.

When combined with the new requirement for drivers to provide a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test, this has the potential to exacerbate the chaos currently unfolding at ports.

There could be more disruption as trucks come through that arent prepared with paperwork or drivers who havent been tested for Covid. There will be more issues. Then we could see some of these lorry parks starting to fill up, Stephen Bartlett, chairman of the Association of Freight Software Suppliers, told the newspaper.

Freight managers could cash in

However, while the avalanche of additional paperwork may be causing a headache for many businesses, those involved in the management of freight could find themselves cashing in on the increased demand for their services.

AIM-listed ( ) recently said its freight forwarding team was continuing to help businesses adapt to the new regulations, having also set up a new customs brokerage team at the tail-end of last year to handle what it said was a likely increase in declarations whatever the Brexit deal outcome.

This trend seems to have been reflected in the companys share price, which has risen 17% to around 38p since early December.

Sector peer ( ) also seems to be befitting, with the company saying in a trading update on Wednesday that it has benefitted from work commencing on a number of recent contract wins, including a mandate to provide logistics services at a number of Inland Border Clearance Centres and a contract for the storage, order fulfilment and customer delivery of testing kits to priority locations across the UK.

Shares in the firm have also surged into the post-Brexit era, rising just under 21% to around 309p since December 8.

Other logistics groups receiving share price bumps in the same period include DX Group PLC ( ), which has jumped 52% to 37.3p, and ( ) which has continued to inch higher after more than doubling last year.

Seeing a similar trend amid the Brexit chaos are companies controlling logistics warehouses, which look set to be in high demand as customs backlogs leave firms searching for places to store their goods as paperwork is filed.

In an update on January 14, Tritax Big Box REIT ( ) said the large-scale logistics real estate market in the UK had significantly strengthened last year as demand for leases increased, pushing up the value of its portfolio beyond market expectations.

The companys shares have also jumped 18.4% to around 186p since early December.

But the rest of the UK economy could suffer

While the prospect of hundreds of businesses needing help with a newly expanded pile of customs paperwork may have left the freight management industry and its investors salivating, analysts at UBS have warned that the ongoing disruption is unlikely to be a positive for the rest of the British economy.

In a note on Wednesday, the Swiss bank forecast that the additional checks and regulations at the border brought on the Brexit, in combination with the drag on the economy caused by pandemic lockdowns, will contribute to an estimated 1.5% decline in gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2021, highlighting forecasts from November that the adjustment to the new trade arrangement and customs checks could reduce first quarter GDP by 1%.

UBS added that the additional red tape could risk long-term investment and employment plans.

The new [Brexit] agreement has avoided a damaging imposition of tariffs. However, the increased administrative burden (to some extent softened by a number of provisions) poses risks to companies' long-term investment and employment plans. For example, our earlier work suggests that disruption to services trade stemming from non-tariff barriers (NTBs) could be equivalent to a tariff of anywhere between 6% and 26% depending on the sector, with a cumulative GDP growth impact of -106 [basis points] over time, the bank said.

Looking at the logistical challenges and resulting disruption in food supply chains and delays and shortages of certain goods, UBS economist Anna Titareva specifically saw an impact on the food and transport sectors.

While some issues such as additional paperwork are likely to be resolved over the coming weeks and months, there are also risks of more permanent shifts in supply chains that could have a negative impact on the UK food production and transport services sectors, the analyst said.
Syracuse, N.Y.  A year into the coronavirus pandemic, Americans are eager to get back to normal life. A pair of Covid-19 vaccines approved last month hold promise that we might be able to do that soon.

But it will be months before everyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one, and before America achieves herd immunity, when enough of us have had the vaccine or the disease that the virus has a hard time finding new people to infect.

So what happens in the meantime? If you get the two-shot sequence for the vaccines, can you resume that longed-for normal life? We talked with two of Central New Yorks leading infectious disease experts  Dr. Helen Jacoby at St. Josephs Health and Dr. Stephen Thomas at Upstate Medical University  about what the vaccine will let you do, and what it wont.

Once I get the vaccine, can I take off my mask and stop social distancing?

No.

Until further notice, people need to continue the public health interventions that we try to encourage: practice masking, do not gather and, if youre sick, stay home, said Thomas, who was the lead investigator for the Pfizer vaccine, the first to be released. Its not going to be, I have proof of vaccination on my phone or Ive got my yellow card, and I can now go around without a mask.

Thats because its still unknown if vaccinated people can transmit the virus without knowing it, Jacoby said. The principal reason for a vaccine is to keep people from getting sick, and from overwhelming hospitals. Preventing infection outright is a much higher bar, and is much harder to test for.

We know that the vaccines currently licensed are very effective at preventing symptomatic disease, but what we dont know for sure is how good they are at preventing asymptomatic infections or your ability to catch the virus, feel fine and give it to somebody else, Jacoby said. We dont think its safe for people who have been vaccinated to go out and act like Covid never happened.

Thomas is hopeful that the vaccines will prevent people from passing along the illness, but that remains to be studied.

I will say that the way these vaccines are supposed to work, it is highly feasible that an effective vaccine could impact a persons ability to transmit to another person, he said.

How long will we have to keep up the mask-wearing and distancing? It could be months or even well into 2022. That depends on how quickly people get vaccinated and how well vaccines work.

Can I see my grandchild after I get the vaccine?

Thats a personal judgment call, Jacoby said. The two vaccines that have won emergency approval are about 95% effective in keeping people from getting sick: not a guarantee, but a big step forward.

Visiting that grandchild can become significantly safer, Jacoby said. You would be much less likely to get sick if you caught Covid from that grandchild. For those personal things, it does make a persons life safer.

Can I visit grandpa in the nursing home?

That will ultimately depend upon state regulations, individual nursing home policies and the comfort level of families, Jacoby said.

Even when visitors are allowed, she said, families should remember that the vaccine will not be as effective for nursing home residents as it will be for younger, healthier people. The Covid-19 vaccine, like those for flu and other illnesses, works by triggering the bodys immune system to produce antibodies. Older people have weaker immune systems that simply arent as prolific at producing antibodies.

The trick, especially in nursing homes, is that the vaccine may not work quite as well in the very elderly, Jacoby said. We know they work, but it might not the 95% efficacy weve heard about.

Do I still have to quarantine if I go out of state or get exposed?

Yes, because, again, health officials dont know yet if you can pass along the virus without knowing it.

None of the rules have been changed for people who have been vaccinated, Jacoby said. At St. Josephs we have vaccinated a large percentage of our staff, but they are expected to follow the same precautions as if they hadnt been vaccinated. They have to wear masks and face shields, they have to socially distance at lunch; if they travel, they have to follow the same rules, and if theyre exposed, they have to quarantine.

If Ive had Covid-19, do I still need the vaccine?

Yes. Thomas said that while having had Covid-19 gives some resistance to the disease, its not clear yet how strong that resistance is or how long it will last. People who were sicker with Covid-19 had stronger immune responses and might have greater immunity than those who had a mild case of the disease, he said. In addition, there have been reports of people getting infected twice.

The vaccine also appears to protect people better than if theyve had the disease, Jacoby said.

We think the vaccine gives better immunity than a naturally occurring infection, she said. People who have had Covid should get immunized.

Jacoby said you should wait until you completely recover from the illness, then get the vaccine within 90 days.

Will the vaccine last a lifetime, or will I need one every year?

Covid-19 is only a year old, so its too soon to know how long the vaccine lasts. It probably wont be like the measles vaccine, which confers lifetime immunity after a sequence of two shots in childhood. The Covid-19 vaccine is also not likely to be needed annually, because the coronavirus doesnt mutate as rapidly as the flu virus, Jacoby said. The Covid-19 vaccine could fall somewhere in between, like tetanus, she said, which requires a booster shot every 10 years.

I dont anticipate a yearly shot, but are we going to need a booster every two or three years? she said. Thats something we dont know at this point.

Pfizer is conducting a two-year study of how well the vaccine works, she said, so well know more at the end of that review.

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Contact Glenn Coin: Email | Twitter | 315-470-3251
HOUSTON (AP)  A chemical company and a former employee have been indicted for their roles in a 2014 poisonous gas leak that killed four workers at a Houston-area plant, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Four employees at the now-closed DuPont chemical plant in LaPorte, Texas, died in the release of methyl mercaptan  a chemical used in the manufacture of insecticide and fungicide.

The chemical began leaking from a valve around 4 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2014, in a unit at the plant in La Porte, about 20 miles (32.19 kilometers) east of Houston. Killed in the accident were Crystle Wise, Wade Baker and brothers Robert and Gilbert Tisnado. A fifth worker was injured.

A federal indictment issued earlier this month and made public Tuesday accuses DuPont and Kenneth Sandel of knowingly failing to implement certain company safety procedures required by federal regulations.

Sandel, 49, ran the unit at the plant where the employees who died worked and was responsible for ensuring unit workers followed applicable federal safety regulations, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.

In a statement, Corteva, a spinoff that took over DuPonts agriculture division, said the company will never forget the colleagues we lost and will continue to honor their memory.

We strongly disagree with the basis of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas decision to bring criminal charges and will contest the charges vigorously, said Wilmington, Delaware-based Corteva.

In a statement, Amy Craig and Miles Ehrlich, Sandels attorneys, said their client did not cause this accident and he did nothing wrong. Charging him with a crime compounds the tragedy of this case. Ken Sandel is absolutely innocent and we are confident a jury will agree.

During a hearing before a federal magistrate judge Tuesday morning, the company and Sandel pleaded not guilty to the charges. Jury selection in the case was set for March 29.

According to prosecutors and the indictment, Sandel and DuPont engineers allegedly devised a plan to divert a large volume of methyl mercaptan gas into a waste gas pipe system during the day before and night of the fatal incident. However, Sandel failed to implement necessary procedures to evaluate safety aspects of that plan, according to prosecutors.

The unit where the workers died did not having adequate ventilation or air monitoring to ensure employee safety, and procedures werent followed that would have restricted worker access into areas where ventilation fans werent working, according to an investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.

In its final report on the deadly gas leak, the safety board concluded that various safety management system deficiencies, including problems with troubleshooting operations, safe work practices, toxic gas detection and emergency response, contributed to the severity of the incident.

In 2016, DuPont permanently shut down the insecticide production unit where the workers died.

Sandel and DuPont were each indicted on two counts of knowing violation of requirement to prevent accidental releases and one count of negligent release of extremely hazardous substance.

If convicted, Sandel faces up to six years in federal prison, while DuPont faces potential fines of $500,000 or twice the gross gain derived from the offense, whichever amount is larger.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Oklahoma schools are advising people to throw away milk products received from districts after a dairy company recalled its chocolate milk because some of it may have been contaminated.

Hiland Dairy is recalling 4,800 cases of its one-half pint 1% low fat chocolate milk made at the Norman, Oklahoma, plant because some of that milk may contain food-grade sanitizers, which can make people sick if consumed.

SSM Heath St. Anthony Hospital reported examining 50 children who were sick after drinking the milk and 28 were brought to Oklahoma Childrens Hospital to be evaluated and monitored.

Hiland Dairy was saddened to learn today that a product from our Norman, Oklahoma Plant had been improperly filled and caused several children and their families additional distress at an already worrisome time, said President and CEO Gary Aggus.

Edmond Public Schools and Oklahoma City Public Schools urged families to discard milk products distributed last week at schools.

OKCPS School Nutrition Service is completing an audit of our Hiland Dairy products at all schools to determine if we received any of the recalled products, the district said in a statement. OKCPS will properly discard any recalled products to ensure its not served in cafeterias or at our drive-thru locations.

Hiland Dairy said its working with the Food and Drug Administration on handling the contaminated products.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Agribusiness Oklahoma

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Small businesses suffering during the pandemic may receive some much-needed relief as part of a program Gov. Andrew Cuomo first proposed Tuesday in his annual budget address.

On Wednesday, his office issued a media release that laid out the $130 million tax-credit proposal in more detail, including $50 million specifically for restaurants impacted by shutdowns.

As we embark on our post-COVID reconstruction, its critical that we not only jump-start our economic recovery, but also ensure we find ways to support highly impacted small businesses that have been among the hardest hit throughout this pandemic, Cuomo said.

In addition to the restaurant relief, $50 million in tax credits would be available to other small businesses, $25 million in tax credits for businesses in the musical and theatrical production industries, and the remaining relief comes from an extension of an existing tax credit to those industries for another four years.

Restaurants and small businesses that will be able to receive part of the $100 million in tax credits will be credited $5,000 per employee up to 10 employees. The money for restaurants is meant for those in areas of the state hardest-hit by pandemic restrictions, including in New York City.

Indoor dining in New York City has been closed since Dec. 14, and it remains the only part of the state with those restrictions despite higher infection rates in other New York regions.

For businesses to be eligible for the tax credits, Cuomos proposal will need to pass as part of the finalized budget that he and the state legislature agree upon.

Through the creation and expansion of $130 million in tax credits, we are working to lessen the burden on critical sectors - restaurants, the arts, and so many others - so those funds can be redirected back to the businesses themselves and get them back up and running, Cuomo said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 20:42:49|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed higher Thursday, with the benchmark Nikkei stock index ending at a 30-year high on expectations for more stimulus measures under new U.S. President Joe Biden, to underpin the pandemic-hit economy.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average added 233.60 points, or 0.82 percent, from Wednesday to close the day at 28,756.86, marking its highest closing level since Aug. 3, 1990.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, meanwhile, gained 1.06 points, or 0.60 percent, to finish at 1,860.64.

Tokyo stocks followed major indexes on Wall Street higher overnight, as Biden's inauguration raised hopes that the new U.S. administration's hefty stimulus package could help spur growth, with more measures possibly in the pipeline to add further relief to the world's largest economy, hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republicans in the U.S. Congress have signaled they are willing to work with Biden on his 1.9-trillion-U.S.-dollar fiscal stimulus plan, although some have suggested the figure may be too high.

In mid-February, Biden is thought to be considering another round of stimulus measures, which would further bolster investor sentiment, market analysts here said.

"The market rose on expectations for more stimulus packages in the United States," Yoshihiro Takeshige, general manager at investment management department of Asahi Life Asset Management, was quoted as saying.

The market here also got a boost from other major Asian bourses' solid performance, with some reaching all-time highs, brokers here also highlighted, adding that expectations were higher for Japanese firms to now upwardly revise their earnings outlooks, with some companies set to report from Monday.

By the close of play, service, information and communication, and metal product-oriented issues comprised those that advanced the most.

Panasonic climbed 5 percent after the company said it has developed storage boxes for coronavirus vaccines that need to be kept at sub-zero temperatures, with the electronics firm saying that sales will begin in spring.

Nikkei heavyweight SoftBank Group added 2.9 percent to a record high, while advertising agency Dentsu Group leapt 5.3 percent, after reports it plans to sell its Tokyo headquarters, which could net the firm around 300 billion yen (2.9 billion U.S. dollars ), making it the highest-priced building to be sold in Japan.

The 48-story headquarters building is located in the upscale waterfront district of Shiodome in the capital and many of Dentsu's 9,000 employees are currently working from home due to the pandemic.

Only about 20 percent of Dentsu's employees are currently working from the office, sources close to the matter have said.

On the main section on Thursday, 1,144.47 million shares changed hands, dropping from Wednesday's volume of 1,150.00 million shares.

Issues that rose outpaced those that fell by 1,288 to 785 on the First Section, while 117 ended the day unchanged.

The turnover on the penultimate trading day of the week came to 2,495.51 billion yen (24.14 billion U.S. dollars). Enditem




Haiti - Turks and Caicos : 23 Haitian boat people intercepted south of Bird Rock





Two days after the rescue of 159 Haitians aboard an overloaded boat stranded on the reefs 18 km south of Providenciales https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-32800-icihaiti-shipwreck-159-haitians-rescued-east-of-the-turks-and-caicos-islands.html the Coast Guard of the Turks and Caicos islands, alerted by the coastal radar station of the presence of a suspicious boat in territorial waters, went there and intercepted a 27-foot boat, 9 km south of Bird Rock.



23 undocumented illegal Haitian migrants were on board, 15 men and 8 women, who were transported aboard the Coast Guard boat. The operation proceeded without incident according to the police authorities. The Haitians were handed over to the execution unit of the Department of Immigration and the health official for immediate assessment, treatment and repatriation to Haiti.



Vaden Delroy Williams the Minister of Immigration declared "This is the second interception in three days, which is very alarming" Recall that for less than a month, 319 illegal Haitians have been intercepted at sea during 4 separate operations, the second largest interception of which was on December 18, or the US Coast Guard intercepted another ship containing 111 Haitians https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25567-icihaiti-security-arrest-of-111-haitians-at-sea.html



Vaden Delroy Williams addressing those who would be tempted to follow the example said "[...] traveling here illegally is wasted time as our border protection team is very efficient and you will be caught and sent back to your country of origin [...]" adding "[..] Do not risk everything you have in these dangerous journeys [...]"



See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25567-icihaiti-security-arrest-of-111-haitians-at-sea.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-32019-icihaiti-social-206-haitian-boat-people-intercepted-off-providenciales.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31892-icihaiti-turks-and-caicos-islands-124-haitian-boat-people-intercepted.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31844-icihaiti-social-23-haitian-boat-people-intercepted-in-the-caicos-islands.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30469-haiti-health-quarantine-missed-for-180-haitians-repatriated-from-the-tuks-and-caicos-islands.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30153-haiti-tic-bahamas-530-haitian-boat-people-intercepted-in-less-than-2-months.html



S/ HaitiLibre


















NYSE | TSX: ACB

EDMONTON, AB, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Aurora Cannabis Inc. ("Aurora" or the "Company") (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB), the Canadian company defining the future of cannabinoids worldwide, today has announced today that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of underwriters led by BMO Capital Markets and ATB Capital Markets, under which the underwriters have agreed to buy on bought deal basis 12,000,000 units of the Company (the "Units"), at a price of US$10.45 per Unit for gross proceeds of approximately US$125 million (the "Offering"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each full common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") for a period of 36 months following the closing date of the Offering at an exercise price of US$12.60 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustment in certain events.

The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable at the offering price for a period of 30 days following the closing of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional 10% of the Offering to cover over-allotments, if any. This option may be exercised by the Underwriters for additional Units, Common Shares, Warrants or any combination of such securities.

The net proceeds of the offering will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include opportunistically reducing debt. The Company believes that the Offering fits with its broader strategy to have a strong balance sheet while maintaining maximum flexibility to invest and build towards being a leader in global cannabinoids.

The closing of the Offering is expected to take place on or about January 26, 2021 and will be subject to customary conditions, including approvals of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.

A prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated October 28, 2020 (the "Base Shelf Prospectus") will be filed with the securities commissions or securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada, except Quebec, and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") as part of the Company's registration statement on Form F-10 (the "Registration Statement") under the U.S./Canada Multijurisdictional Disclosure System. The Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement contain important detailed information about the Company and the proposed Offering. Prospective investors should read the Prospectus Supplement, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement and the other documents the Company has filed for more complete information about the Company and this Offering before making an investment decision.

Copies of the Prospectus Supplement, following filing thereof, and the Base Shelf Prospectus will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and copies of the Prospectus Supplement and the Registration Statement will be available on EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Copies of the Prospectus Supplement, following filing thereof, the Base Shelf Prospectus and the Registration Statement may also be obtained from BMO Capital Markets by contacting BMO Capital Markets, Brampton Distribution Centre C/O The Data Group of Companies, 9195 Torbram Road, Brampton, Ontario, L6S 6H2 or by telephone at (905) 791-3151 Ext 431 or by email at [email protected] or from BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attn: Equity Syndicate Department, 3 Times Square, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10036 (Attn: Equity Syndicate), or by telephone at (800) 414-3627 or by email at [email protected]. Copies of such documents may also be obtained from ATB Capital Markets Inc., Attn: Gail O'Connor, 410-585 8th Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2P 1G1, (403) 539-8629 or by email from [email protected].

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this press release. This press release is for information purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Aurora

Aurora is a global leader in the cannabis industry serving both the medical and consumer markets. Headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Aurora is a pioneer in global cannabis dedicated to helping people improve their lives. The Company's brand portfolio includes Aurora, Aurora Drift, San Rafael '71, Daily Special, AltaVie, MedReleaf, CanniMed, Whistler, and Reliva CBD. Providing customers with innovative, high-quality cannabis products, Aurora's brands continue to break through as industry leaders in the medical, performance, wellness and recreational markets wherever they are launched. For more information, please visit our website at www.auroramj.com.

Aurora's common shares trade on the TSX and NYSE under the symbol "ACB", and is a constituent of the S&P/TSX Composite Index.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes statements containing certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements made in this news release include statements regarding: the timing and completion of the Offering and the expected use of proceeds of the Offering. These forward-looking statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions, estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected developments at the date the statements are made, such as current and future market conditions, the ability to maintain SG&A costs in line with current expectations, the ability to achieve high margin revenues in the Canadian consumer market, the current and future regulatory environment and future approvals and permits. Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances could cause actual events, results, level of activity, performance, prospects, opportunities or achievements to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks associated with: entering the U.S. market, the ability to realize the anticipated benefits associated with the acquisition of Reliva, achievement of Aurora's business transformation plan, general business and economic conditions, changes in laws and regulations, product demand, changes in prices of required commodities, competition, the effects of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and other risks, uncertainties and factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated September 24, 2020 (the "AIF") and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and filed with and available on the SEC's website at www.edgar.gov. The Company cautions that the list of risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities law.

SOURCE Aurora Cannabis Inc.

Related Links

https://auroramj.com/


WOODLAND HILLS, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Roseman Law, APC, Southern California based business and real estate law firm, is celebrating their 25th anniversary. With COVID-19 primarily at the forefront of everyone's mind, Roseman Law, APC decided the best way to celebrate their major milestone of success is to give back to areas where it is needed most. The firm has organized 25 Days of Giving in honor of their 25th year and has partnered with various charities including Working Wardrobes, Giving Tree-Thomas Shelter/Big Brother-Little Sister, JDRF, PCRF and more.

While Roseman Law, APC has successfully navigated their way through a recession, evolved gracefully through all technological changes, and has survived their own personal hardships, the firm recognizes their ample success as a reason to contribute during these unprecedented times. With 19 employees, 4 reputable offices and an exponential increase in revenue, Roseman Law, APC deems it is their duty to contribute where it is most greatly needed.

"We understand that this pandemic has brought an enormous amount of hardship to our communities," says Steven Roseman, managing partner and Founder of Roseman Law, APC. "We hope that through these charitable contributions we are able to aid with the health, vibrancy and sustainability of our communities."

Roseman Law's unmatched customer support and efforts within their community is a true reflection of their commitment to helping those in need. The law firm recognizes that their personal 25 years of success is a reason to assist in the many hardships the pandemic has created.

For more information on Roseman Law, APC go to https://roseman.law.

About:

Headquartered in Woodland Hills, CA, with offices spread across Southern California, Roseman Law, APC prides itself on providing quality and ethical legal representation to their clients in the areas of real estate, corporate/business, homeowner association, and construction defect law. The firm provides innovative legal solutions and carries substantial trial experience that best meet their diverse spectrum of clients' unique and varied needs in a timely and cost-effective manner. Roseman Law, APC utilizes the latest technologies including web-based secure encrypted data for clients to access information, internet-based video conferencing, additional redundant system backups, and many other new and innovative technologies to best serve their clients legal needs in the twenty-first century.

SOURCE Roseman Law, APC

Related Links

https://roseman.law


Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
The government and airlines are discussing the possibility of the latter operating their domestic services at full capacity.

However, airlines have requested the government to delay the permit since they will not be able to operate any more capacity profitably, Business Standard reported. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has currently permitted carriers to run domestic flights at 80 percent capacity, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The government intends to take things back to normalcy and that's why it is seeking suggestions to remove the cap on capacity from the middle of January. A decision will be taken soon," an official told the publication.

All airlines, except IndiGo, have asked the government to postpone such a decision till March, since forward-booking for the next three months is weak, the report said.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story.

Domestic flight operations had resumed on May 25, 2020, after a gap of two months due to COVID-induced travel restrictions. The Centre had initially allowed airlines to operate at 33 percent capacity, which was subsequently increased in a staggered manner.

According to DGCA data, SpiceJets passenger load factor (PLF) was 78 percent in December 2020, while IndiGo's was 71.5 percent. Air India and Vistara recorded PLF of 66.9 percent and 66.8 percent respectively.

Air Asia India's PLF during the month was 65.1 percent, and GoAir's was 66.3 percent.

International flight operations remain suspended, but some flights are permitted through air bubble arrangements with other countries and the Vande Bharat Mission.
When intensive care units are swamped with COVID-19 patients, death rates may climb, a new study finds.

Looking at data from 88 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, researchers found a pattern: COVID-19 patients were nearly twice as likely to die during periods when ICUs were dealing with a surge of patients with the illness.

The results, experts said, do not necessarily mean that a busy ICU puts COVID-19 patients at greater risk.

The study looked at numbers of patients, and not the actual care they received, said Dr. Lewis Kaplan, president of the Society of Critical Care Medicine and a professor of surgery at the University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.

One hospital may have a busy ICU, but be able to expand its capacity and recruit doctors with critical-care training who do not normally work in the unit. Another hospital, Kaplan said, might have fewer COVID-19 patients, but relatively less experience caring for patients who need ventilators.

Kaplan, who was not involved in the study, said the issue is complicated, and not all hospitals would be affected by COVID-19 surges the same way. And since the researchers looked only at VA hospitals, he noted, it's unclear whether the findings extend to other medical centers.

Kaplan stressed that as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to soar across the United States, people should not delay needed care.

"This shouldn't make people afraid to go to the hospital," he said. "If you're sick, we're here for you."

At the same time, the findings underscore the importance of people doing everything they can to avoid contracting COVID-19.

According to study author Dr. Dawn Bravata, of the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, in Indianapolis, "What's important is that the public should socially distance to avoid infection. The data show that mortality [death] increases during periods of peak ICU demand. Therefore, the more the public can do to avoid infection, the better."

For the study, published online Jan. 19 in JAMA Network Open, Bravata's team looked at data on patients treated for COVID-19 at 88 VA hospitals between March and August 2020. The vast majority were men, and their average age was 68.

The investigators found that among ICU patients, those treated during a time of "peak" ICU demand were almost twice as likely to die as those treated during relatively quiet times, when the unit was seeing no more than 25% of its peak number of COVID-19 patients.

Bravata agreed that the findings leave many questions open.

For one, she said, the study did not look at the degree to which hospitals "augmented ICU capacity" during the pandemic, and how that related to death rates. It's also unclear how "patient characteristics" might have played a role.

Bravata pointed out that over time, death rates among COVID-19 patients varied considerably, with a high of 25% in April, to just under 13% in July and August.

"COVID-19 patient characteristics, such as age and disease severity, have also varied over time," Bravata said.

"Future studies," she added, "are needed to examine how much of the variation in mortality is due to patient factors versus facility factors."

Patient factors could indeed be a contributor, said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, a professor of infectious diseases at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston.

For one, he noted, people might hesitate to head to the hospital during local COVID-19 surges. "Maybe some patients are getting to us when they're sicker," Ostrosky speculated.

But while all the answers are not in, the findings reflect what doctors are seeing on the ground, according to Ostrosky, who is also a fellow with the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

"COVID patients do best when they're cared for by a team with the best resources," he said. If local ICUs are full, and those resources are strained, that can make for care that is "not ideal," Ostrosky added.

"In the early days of the pandemic," he pointed out, "we always talked about 'flattening the curve.'"

That means slowing down infection rates in the community, so that seriously ill people are not flooding hospitals all at once.

"The idea is to turn it into a manageable stream," Ostrosky said.

That "flatten the curve" mantra, he added, is as important as ever.

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

More information: Harvard Medical School has advice on slowing the spread of Journal information: JAMA Network Open Harvard Medical School has advice on slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., a former executive board member, asked why Lake County has the same number of executive board representatives as LaPorte and Porter counties, each of which have less than half of Lake Countys population.
A prosecution witness narrated to an Abuja court, on Thursday, how two companies allegedly linked to a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, were paid N544 million for the controversial grass cutting contract.

The grass-cutting scandal cost Mr Lawal his job in 2017.

Hamza Buwai, a Deputy Director, Finance and Accounts from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), appeared before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja, as the second prosecution witness in Mr Lawals trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Mr Lawal with amended 10 counts, including awarding contracts to companies in which he had interests, fraud, criminal conspiracy, and diversion of about N544 million belonging to the government.

Those standing trial along with him are his younger brother Hamidu Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh Monday and two companies, Rholavision Engineering (fifth defendant) and Josmon Technologies (sixth defendant).

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the EFCC, on Wednesday, called its first prosecution witness, Mohammed Babasule, a banker with the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), who tendered the statement of accounts and the account opening documents of Josmon Technologies.

EFCC gave an account of Thursdays court session in a statement sent to journalists after the proceedings.

It said Mr Buwai told the court how Mr Lawal, as the then SGF, approved separate payments for the contractor and the consultant for the removal of invasive plant species irrigation programme and construction of water gates along the N250km River Kamadugu Yobe River.

Mr Buwai said Josmon Technologies Ltd was the contractor while Rholavision Engineering Ltd was the consultant on the contracts.

The witness, who was formerly the Head of Finance of the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), noted that the contracts were awarded in two phases and the vouchers raised for them went through different processes with necessary tax deductions done, before payments were made to the companies.

He said the first phase of the contracts was approved on January 14, 2016, with the letter of award of the contract issued to the contractor on March 4, 2016, while the second phase was awarded on August 22, 2016.

The witness also told the court that upon approval of payments by the Permanent Secretary, Special Services, which was under the office of the SGF, payments were made to both Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.

According to the witness, Josmon Technologies Ltd was initially paid the net sum of N203.357 million for the phase one after the Withholding Tax and Value Added Tax of five per cent each had been deducted.

The contractor received a net sum of N20.68 million as the final payment for the first phase of the contract, he added.

Mr Buwai pointed out that in phase two of the contract, two vouchers were raised in favour of the sixth defendant, Josmon Technologies Ltd.

He said one of the vouchers captured N182.95 million inclusive of N10.2 million Withholding Tax and N10.2 million Value Added Tax, and the other captured N49.37 million with N2.7 million for Withholding Tax and N2.7 million for Value Added Tax.

The prosecution counsel, Offem Uket, tendered six payment vouchers raised in the name of Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd with the attached documents.

With no objection from the defence lawyers, the judge, Charles Agbaza, admitted the payment vouchers as exhibits.

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The judge adjourned the trial till February 17.
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Photographs of a Welsh coastal town that were so loathed by the locals they were forgotten for 40 years have been rescued for a new exhibition.

The black and white images show dreary landscapes in areas such as Deeside, Ffnnongroyw and Mostyn during the winter and summer.

They capture the mood at holiday camps, on the beaches, restaurants and at the amusements in the small towns and villages that litter North Wales.

The shots were taken by Michael Bennett in 1979 as a photographic journey through the region and were commissioned as part of a piece titled Anatomy of Melancholy.

The plan was for them to be showcased at the newly-refurbished Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno but it was shelved when its director Hugh Adams resigned.

He was replaced by Clive Adams who thought the nature of Mr Bennett's project would cause funding problems by showing the area in too negative a light.

The black and white images show dreary landscapes in areas such as Deeside, Ffnnongroyw and Mostyn during the winter and summer

They capture the mood at holiday camps, on the beaches, restaurants and at the amusements in the small towns and villages that litter North Wales

The shots were taken by Michael Bennett in 1979 as a photographic journey through the region and were commissioned as part of a piece titled Anatomy of Melancholy

The plan was for them to be showcased at the newly-refurbished Mostyn Gallery in Llandudno but it was shelved when its director Hugh Adams resigned

He was replaced by Clive Adams who thought the nature of Mr Bennett's project would cause funding problems by showing the area in too negative a light

The original pictures were taken during the winter, so Clive asked the photographer to return in the summer - when tourists and warm weather would return - but the pictures still showed the region looking dreary.

Clive's solution was to hang amateur photographers' work next to Mr Bennett's to try to distract from the pessimism, as well as rename the piece The Road to Barmouth in 1980.

But the exhibit was panned by local newspapers and was swiftly closed, dismantled and forgotten for 40 years - until now.

Curators of Seaside Photographed Val Williams and Karen Shepherdson created an exhibition in 2019 and first seen in Margate.

They called for submissions from the public and Mr Bennett filed a selection of his images from the project all those years ago. Ten were selected and shown in Ms Williams's and Ms Shepherdson's exhibition.

The original pictures were taken during the winter, so Clive asked the photographer to return in the summer - when tourists and warm weather would return - but the pictures still showed the region looking dreary

Clive's solution was to hang amateur photographers' work next to Mr Bennett's to try to distract from the pessimism, as well as rename the piece The Road to Barmouth in 1980

But the exhibit was panned by local newspapers and was swiftly closed, dismantled and forgotten for 40 years - until now

Curators of Seaside Photographed Val Williams and Karen Shepherdson created an exhibition in 2019 and first seen in Margate

They called for submissions from the public and Mr Bennett filed a selection of his images from the project all those years ago. Ten were selected and shown in Ms Williams's and Ms Shepherdson's exhibition

But the rest of the film negatives from Mr Bennett's portfolio have been digitised, restored and re-mastered for a new book called Pier Closing Time.

The photographer taught himself the trade and has since worked for national organisations such as the Daily Mail, the BBC and the Sunday Times.

Some of his images of prominent Britons - taken for the Independent newspaper - made it into the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Ms Williams and Ms Shepherdson said of the images: 'Michael Bennett's extraordinary Seaside in Summer and Winter (1980) inflects acute visual observations with satirical pessimism.

'This series... was commissioned by Llandudno's Mostyn Gallery, briefing Bennett to document the town in winter for an exhibition in the following year.

The rest of the film negatives from Mr Bennett's portfolio have been digitised, restored and re-mastered for a new book called Pier Closing Times

The photographer taught himself the trade and has since worked for national organisations such as the Daily Mail, the BBC and the Sunday Times

Some of his images of prominent Britons - taken for the Independent newspaper - made it into the National Portrait Gallery in London

Ms Williams and Ms Shepherdson said of the images: 'Michael Bennett's extraordinary Seaside in Summer and Winter (1980) inflects acute visual observations with satirical pessimism'

They continued: 'Partisan locals' bewilderment is understandable. Bennett's work is utterly uncompromising, with one photograph exclaiming in uppercase: ''YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED''- warned of what? 'It reads as a 'scare' sign, alerting us to the dangers of a visit'

'The then progressive gallery director Hugh Adams actively encouraged a melancholic picturing of the North Wales seaside town.

'But at the point of delivery Adams had gone and the passive desperation captured by the photographer was not quite what was anticipated by the incoming director.

'To salvage the gallery's position, Bennett was asked to return and record what was assumed would be a more optimistic summertime view.

This photograph by Mr Bennett showed two men and a woman at what appears to be a bus stop looking unimpressed

Two men stand next to their car at a Weslh resort in one of Mr Bennett's pictures that were taken back in the 1970s

Women and men stand on the beachfront and look at a weather information board as others sit on the coastline and watch the waves

'Contrary to the commissioner's expectations, Llandudno in summer appeared in Bennett's photographs as austere and alienating as in wintertime.

'The submitted work was ill-received, with the new gallery director openly loathing the work and the regional press printing numerous critiques.

'Partisan locals' bewilderment is understandable. Bennett's work is utterly uncompromising, with one photograph exclaiming in uppercase: ''YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED''- warned of what? 'It reads as a 'scare' sign, alerting us to the dangers of a visit.

'Nevertheless, his work foreshadowed the huge decline in visitors in the 1980s, thereby providing a robust visual antidote to any rose-tinted assumptions about the British seaside.'
State-owned Forestry Corporation says last summer's record bushfires scorched half of the native forest estate and a quarter of its softwood plantations, setting the agency on track for a sharp drop in revenue in coming years.

The corporation's latest annual report for 2019-20 showed revenue from hard and softwood operations was slightly higher than previous years but mostly because of urgent operations to salvage timber from burnt forests.

Logs pile up near the Lower Bucca State Forest, where harvesting continues despite devastating fires nearby. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Forestry Corp noted the window for salvaging charred trees is about a year before fire-affected timber begins to deteriorate. Such operations ensured it could meet contracts but coming years will see both output and revenue drop.

While fiscal years 2020 and 2021 still had "fire-salvage volumes, revenue is set to decline by $100 million or 25 per cent [from about $425.2 million] from fiscal year 2022 onwards," it said in its Statement of Corporate Intent.
As President Biden took his oath of office as the nations 46th president on Tuesday, New Yorkers played several roles in the ceremonies, from providing security at the United States Capitol to the main events.

One state official whom viewers might have expected to see was absent. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said on Wednesday that he had chosen to forgo the trip out of concern about potential protests in Albany, which did not materialize.

Im very excited about the president and the change for this nation, Mr. Cuomo said. Hes been a great friend to me personally.

Heres how other New Yorkers participated in Inauguration Day:

The ceremonies

Before Mr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took the oath of office, Lady Gaga performed the national anthem. She is well-known for her roots in New York City and wrote her first album in a walk-up apartment near Tompkins Square Park.
New Delhi: Bigg Boss 14 former constant Eijaz Khan is quite serious about his former co-contestant Pavitra Punia. The actor divulged that Pavitra has been showering love on him since he came out of the Bigg Boss house.

In an interview with DNA, Eijaz, when asked about Pavitra, said, She's cooking lunch for me right now and she also prepared breakfast for me too. Pavitra is being too loving to me and more loving right now. But we are still having that argument. Oh, god! Those fights were so real and now we just have our arguments and love."

The Kkavyanjali actor also opened up about Pavitras exes namely Paras Chhabra and Sumit Maheshwari making controversial claims about her. Sumit had said that he and Pavitra were married. Responding to this, Eijaz said, Well, of course, we (Pavitra and him) have discussed a few things which needed to be addressed to make the foundation of this relationship strong. Yeah, this has been discussed."

They are all small people. Insecure people do it. No, Pavitra and I are not accepting character certificates from people. We know what we have, it was always in our minds, he added.

During the family week in early January, Pavitra had re-entered the Bigg Boss house to visit Eijaz. He had confessed his love for Pavitra in the show and declared that he wants to spend his life with her. In return, Pavitra had also confessed her love.

On Monday (January 18), Eijaz exited the show voluntarily citing other professional commitments. TV actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee has entered the Bigg Boss house as his proxy.
The government is warning of worsening chaos at Britain's ports as lorry traffic returns to normal levels.

But Brussels says it won't grease the wheels unless Boris Johnson abandons his plans for a 'Singapore on the Thames.'

Projections from the Cabinet Office anticipate cross-Channel freight will rise rapidly following a New Year slowdown, The Times reported.

Tailbacks stretching for miles are expected if drivers aren't equipped with the correct customs paperwork or negative covid tests which the French demand.

Lorries queue in at the border control of the Port of Dover on Friday. Traders stockpiled goods on both sides of the Channel before Jan. 1 but now supplies are dwindling, around 2,000 per day were crossing in the week to Jan. 10 - the normal level is 6,000 - and it will quickly rise back to that figure in the coming days

Brussels is turning the screw on Boris Johnson to abandon plans for a 'Singapore on the Thames' (pictured: the Prime Minister leaves Downing Street on Wednesday, left; and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaking at a conference yesterday)

'Of course we can in future discuss how to have less friction,' an EU diplomat told The Times.

'Discussing further facilitation or ways to reduce friction would depend on what the UK is doing and where they want to go.

'Initiating that conversation and negotiation will not be made easier if the other side of the table is talking up deregulation or Singapore on the Thames.'

Britain formally left the EU last January but remained within its regulatory orbit until the end of the year under the terms of its divorce.

Although the two sides struck a Christmas Eve free-trade deal, avoiding trade tariffs and quotas, the departure from the single market and customs union has resulted in bureaucracy and hold-ups.

Britain and the EU are continuing to tie up loose ends to allow for free flowing freight while the Cabinet Office has warned of the worst days at the ports since December 31.

Lorry traffic lulled after Brexit as stockpiles on either side of the Channel had been prepared by nervous traders.

But now those supplies are dwindling and traffic is picking up again.

Stephen Bartlett, chairman of the Association of Freight Software Suppliers, told The Times: 'We've been lucky so far. Traffic volumes through ports have been quite low. But the next couple of weeks are going to be the main test.

'There could be more disruption as trucks come through that aren't prepared with paperwork or drivers who haven't been tested for Covid. There will be more issues. Then we could see some of these lorry parks starting to fill up.'

The Road Haulage Association estimates that of the 2,000 outbound lorries a day through Dover and the Channel Tunnel in the week ending Jan. 10, 20 per cent were turned back.

It said problems will surge as these numbers increase to the normal 6,000 a day.

Around half of the turn-backs are down to post-Brexit paperwork and another half are because drivers don't have the negative test demanded by the French.

The port at Dover on Tuesday as hauliers face post-Brexit customs rules and covid testing

A sign at the Port of Dover ferry terminal warns lorry drivers to have their Covid-19 tests ready for inspection on Tuesday

Britain's ports were already under huge pressure before January 1 after covid shattered the system for shipping goods around the world and children lost out on their Christmas presents.

Last Friday, tailbacks for more than mile had built up outside a customs facility in Ashford, Kent, with many forced to wait for days.

Last month the French banned HGV drivers from crossing the Channel in a desperate bid to prevent the spread of 'mutant' coronavirus detected in London and the southeast.

The ban left thousands of lorry drivers stranded in Kent during the Christmas period and led to clashes with police at the border.

This was only resolved when the UK gave drivers lateral flow tests which take 20 minutes to produce a positive or negative result.

Since then the French have quibbled over the accuracy of the tests and called on the Britain to introduce a fully saliva-based PCR test for the truckers.

Ministers, who are already drawing up plans to allow supermarket lorries to bypass queues at the Channel ports amid fears of food shortages in the UK, are concerned that the demand will result in gridlock at the border again.
The European Parliament has passed a resolution calling on the European Union to "immediately" stop completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to take Russian natural gas to Germany in response to the weekend arrest of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny.

European lawmakers on January 21 voted overwhelmingly -- with 581 votes in favor, 50 against, and 44 abstentions -- to call on the EU and its member states to critically review cooperation with Russia in various foreign policy platforms and on projects such as Nord Stream 2.

Navalny was detained at Sheremetyevo airport late on January 17 upon his return to Moscow after being treated in Germany for a nearly fatal poisoning with a nerve agent in August 2020.

The next day he was remanded in custody for 30 days in a summary hearing held in a Moscow police station. The court claimed he violated probation requirements in a previous criminal case that is widely considered trumped up and politically motivated.

Russia has rebuffed the global outrage and chorus of international calls demanding Navalny's release. He faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison.

The nonbinding resolution urges member states to take an active stance on the arrest of Navalny and his followers at their next meetings and to significantly strengthen the EUs restrictive measures vis-a-vis Russia.

This includes expanding asset freezes and travel bans already imposed on those held responsible for Navalnys poisoning to include individuals and legal entities involved in the decision to arrest and imprison the opposition leader.

Those targeted by sanctions should also include "Russian oligarchs," President Vladimir Putin's "inner circle," and "media propagandists, according to the resolution, which also calls on the bloc to "devise a new strategy for the EU's relations with Russia, centered around support for civil society."

Manfred Weber, the leader of the conservative European People's Party (EPP) faction in the European Parliament, and a close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, told Der Spiegel Online that after the nerve agent attack and arrest of Navalny, energy issues must be put on the table.

"This is the most powerful instrument we have. And the Nord Stream 2 project is therefore one of the ways to generate further pressure," he said ahead of the vote. "Simply appealing to Russia is not enough."

Any additional sanctions on Russia would need unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states.

EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss the issue next week, but any concrete decisions are likely to wait until the completion of Navalny's judicial proceedings.

There is mounting pressure on the German government at home and abroad to halt Nord Stream 2, which is designed to double capacity of the existing undersea Nord Stream gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

The U.S. government and several EU members want to prevent the pipeline from being completed, saying it will strengthen Russia's energy hold on Europe and undercut Ukraine's role as a transit country for Russian gas.

On January 19, the United States sanctioned a Russian pipe-laying vessel in its latest bid to stop completion of pipeline, which is 94 percent completed.

Despite the growing criticism, the German Economy Ministry said on January 20 its plans for the project were "unchanged.

With reporting by Der Spiegel


The brickbats between the Ondo State Government and the Presidency over the ultimatum given to herdsmen to vacate Ondo forest reserves have yet to end, as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security Matters, Jimoh Dojumo, suggested that the reaction was due to misconceptions and poor understanding of the security situation in the state by the presidency.

He said the poor awareness resulted in the manner the presidency reacted to the order that herdsmen should vacate forest reserves in the state within seven days.

The governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who gave the vacation order on Monday, also ordered the herdsmen to stop grazing their cattle in the city, highways and at night.

But the presidency, in its reaction to Mr Akeredolus order, faulted the seven days ultimatum.

Mr Dojumo, who spoke with journalists in Akure on Wednesday, said tthe vacation order became necessary after considering available options to check incessant kidnapping, killing and destruction of farm crops.

He said the state government had a meeting with the leadership of the herdsmen in the state on how to check activities of armed herdsmen kidnapping and killing people in the state.

I want to believe that President Muhammadu Buhari is not in the picture of what is happening here because if he knew the clear picture of what is happening in Ondo State, there wont be any negative reaction, he said.

We voted for him before he became the president and he is there to protect us not to destroy us.

The security situation in Ondo State is becoming unbearable, every one of us living in the state know that its becoming unbearable to the fact that after the #EndSars saga, there was never a day that one to two people will not be kidnapped in the state.

This situation is embarrassing, disturbing even to the fact that our Amotekun Corps is overstressed and the best thing is to look for a way out which led to the invitation of Fulani and Hausa leaders four days ago where we rubbed minds together to address this issues of insecurity.

We discovered during the meeting that most of the destruction of farmers crops occurred at night time based on night grazing, then the Governor banned it.

Mr Dojumo also raised the issue of under-aged herders  mostly aged seven or eight  who he said lead over 200 cows to destroy farmlands.

He cited an incident at Arimogija in Ose Local Government Area of the state, where herdsmen allegedly uprooted the cassava tubers of a particular farmer and gathered it for their cows to feed on.

He said the herdsmen shot at the farmer and his sons when confronted during the act.

According to him, anyone who wants to do anything within the forest reserves, which belong to the state government, should get a permit before doing so.

It is very unfortunate that we found ourselves in this situation because all along we have been addressing this issues. We have written to them, invited and dialogued with them, meeting their leaders, he said.

Even there was a time we held some workshop with them where the National President of Miyetti Allah was invited to Ondo State just to find a way of addressing this problem and we agreed on some points.

He even promised us that this thing will stop, but we discovered that these issues are increasing. Many people have been killed and kidnapped, one of our first class traditional rulers was recently killed by these Fulani herdsmen on his way back to his domain. All these are callous.

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The presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, had earlier reacted to the ultimatum by Mr Akeredolu, saying it was unconstitutional.

He said the governor, being a senior lawyer and a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association should have known the position of the law in respect to his ultimatum and should have been cautious.

He had said the governor should have had a dialogue with the herders rather than associating the herders with criminality.

But the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, replied Mr Shehu, accusing him of being emotionally attached to the herdsmen.

Mr Shehus statement is a brazen display of emotional attachments and its very inimical to the corporate existence of Nigeria, he said.

Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political group and other youth groups in the South-west, have also joined the fray condemning the reaction from the presidency.
Biden Mandates Masks, Rejoins Paris Climate Accord, Among Other Executive Actions on First Day in Office

President Joe Biden on his first day in office took a total of 17 executive actions, including to mandate masks and having the United States rejoin the United Nations Paris Climate Accord.

The new president is mandating social distancing and the wearing of masks on federal property in a new executive order. He also launched a 100 Days Masking Challenge to compel all Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days of his administration, in efforts to prevent the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19.

Biden is also creating a COVID-19 response coordinator position to fill the role former Vice President Mike Pence played in the Trump administrations Coronavirus Task Force, and will re-embed his COVID-19 pandemic response team within the National Security Council. He is also calling on Congress to pass extensions for COVID-19 aid, extend eviction and foreclosure moratoriums, and pause payments for federal loans, including student loans.

Biden took a few actions over policies to address climate change, including signing a document that allows the United States to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord within 30 days. He released a statement that said he will hereby accept the [Paris] Agreement and every article and clause thereof on behalf of the United States of America.

Former President Donald Trump first announced in 2017 his intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, calling the United Nations framework to tackle climate change it a total disaster for U.S. economy that was too lenient towards communist China and its greenhouse gases emissions.

The Paris Climate Accord is simply the latest example of Washington entering into an agreement that disadvantages the United States to the exclusive benefit of other countries, leaving American workerswho I loveand taxpayers to absorb the cost in terms of lost jobs, lower wages, shuttered factories and vastly diminished economic production, Trump stated in 2017.

The United States formally left the climate agreement on Nov. 4, 2020, but Biden on Nov. 5, 2020 vowed he would have the country rejoin the agreement once he came into office. Former President Barack Obama had the United States join the accord during the final months of his administration in 2016. At the time, he said that the fight against climate change is not one that any one country, no matter how powerful, can take alone.

In a separate executive order, Biden directed federal agencies to review and address actions taken by the Trump administration on the environment or public health. The order involves a number of other action items, including revoking authorization for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and placing a moratorium on Arctic oil and gas leasing.

Biden is also having the United States rejoin the United Nations World Health Organization, reversing another Trump decision for the country to leave the WHO after criticisms over the bodys handling of the CCP virus outbreak from Wuhan.

A number of actions to promote equality of outcome according to an individuals social identity were also signed on Jan. 20, including an executive order that Bidens team said would advance racial equity, and an executive order that disbands the Trump administrations 1776 Commission that sought to promote national unity through education about Americas founding principles over historical revisionism that the Commission said tackles claims of systemic racism with more discrimination.

Biden also signed an executive order that directs the government to interpret the Civil Rights Act as one that prohibits workplace discrimination, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and not just race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

The president also took a slew of other actions addressing immigration on his first day. These include a memorandum that directs the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an executive action to repeal the Trump administrations restrictions for passport holders from seven terror-prone countries, and an executive order that reverses Trumps decision to exclude illegal immigrants from the Census. He also pushed out a memorandum to further extend temporary protected status and working authorization to Liberians granted refuge in America before 2007.

Biden also signed an executive order that seeks to reverse Trumps immigration enforcement and reset the policies and practices to align enforcement with the Biden administrations values and priorities. Part of the order involves revoking Trumps Executive Order 13768 signed in 2017, which withheld federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

He signed a separate proclamation to pause the building of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and determine how to divert funds previously assigned to the effort.

Biden signed two other separate executive orders on Jan. 20. One addressed new ethics commitments for executive branch appointees aimed at maintaining public trust in government, and the other focused on reviewing executive branch regulatory actions in a way that ensures the promotion of the administrations values informed by public engagement with relevant stakeholders.

US Senator Bernie Sanders attending Joe Biden's inauguration.

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is a fierce advocate of fair wages and a former presidential candidate who lost the Democratic nomination to now-President Joe Biden. And thanks to his practical clothing choices he is also now the center of a seemingly endless flood of altered pictures that dominated some corners of the internet in the hours after Bidens socially distanced inauguration Wednesday.

Amid the dark suits and bright coats dotting the Capitol steps, Sanders was photographed sitting masked, cross-legged and bundled up in a bulky coat and mittens against the frigid weather in Washington, D.C. Soon after, the image, taken by photographer Brendan Smialowski for Getty Images, began to circulate on social media inserted into a wide array of photographs and scenes from movies and artworks.

Also Read: Bernie Sanders with his mittens has given us a gold mine of memes; check out the best ones here

On a day all about Biden, it was in some ways appropriate that Sanders, whose strongest political support in the presidential race came from young voters, would nonetheless be the star of the days biggest meme by doing nothing but sitting and crossing his arms. In their primary competition, Sanders enjoyed a significantly larger online following than Biden, especially among those who often communicate through memes.

Though other memes starring Sanders were often used to say something  he wore what appears to be the same coat in a 2019 fundraising video in which he is once again asking for your financial support, a line that has been repurposed in a litany of ways  there was no such deeper meaning to the newest meme. Instead of using his image to make an argument, he was simply placed into new contexts, with his pose, outfit and expression themselves serving as the joke.

While the day belonged to Biden, the meme served as an amusing sideshow, a bit of fun and levity after four years in which presidential politics brought Sanders supporters few reasons to be in a good mood.

It wasnt the only meme inspired by Inauguration Day: Others touched on former first lady Michelle Obamas outfit and on Lady Gaga, who sang the national anthem dressed not entirely unlike a character from the Hunger Games. But even with Janet Yellen, Bidens nominee for Treasury secretary, dressed just as warmly, it was Sanders, the incoming chair of the Senate Budget Committee, who seemed far the favorite.

Early posts about him started with simple reviews of his practical, relatively unglamorous outfit. Some saw their uncles and fathers in his choice to put warmth over style.

Then came the memes, in which social media users took the original image of Sanders and found new locations for him and his coat. He was inserted into history. Sat at the bowling alley with The Dude. Enjoyed the sun at a closed state beach in New Jersey with that states former governor, Chris Christie.

Still others brought the Sanders image to the movies, showing him on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise in Star Trek, and as a member of the Avengers.

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame capitalized by selling its own version of the pose. Nick Sawhney, a software engineer in New York, created a tool that allows you to insert Sanders into any street address in Google Maps street view.

The senators avatar looked busy. It visited a museum and sat on the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones. It dropped in on a curling match and photobombed a Leonardo da Vinci painting.

There was a cameo in Mario Kart, a news conference in Mexico and a trip to the surface of the moon. He took a tour of New York City.

BuzzFeed News reported that Sanders got his mittens from Jen Ellis, a second-grade teacher in Essex Junction, Vermont, who made gloves on the side. She said she sent him a pair after he lost a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016.

Ellis tweeted that the mittens were made from repurposed wool and lined with fleece.

In an interview with CBS, Sanders laughed off the attention.

In Vermont, we dress, we know something about the cold, he told Gayle King. And were not so concerned about good fashion. We just want to keep warm. And thats what I did today.

Mission accomplished, King said.
The Mother Baby Center offers a unique, personalized experience for family and baby with top-notch care throughout the childbirth journey. Since opening its first location in 2013, The Mother Baby Center has grown to three centers in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Coon Rapids.

"Every family deserves the best care throughout their childbirth journey, whatever that may look like, and we want to be there to partner with families from conception to pregnancy care to parenting and support after delivery," said Dr. Lisa Saul, President of Mother Baby Clinical Service Line. "We know that the families we serve have unique stories and come from diverse backgrounds, and we're energized by the way that the campaign illustrations by KP Inspires reflects that and honors those stories."

The Mother Baby Center is a collaboration between two of the best-known names in mother and baby care: Allina Health and Children's Minnesota. With more than 10,000 babies delivered at The Mother Baby Center each year, it offers unique services including:

Childbirth and neonatal experts : Labor, delivery, and postpartum care experts from Abbott Northwestern, United, and Mercy hospitals (part of Allina Health) are dedicated to personalized and family-centered care. Families whose babies need higher levels of care will take comfort in knowing they have access to the highest level neonatal intensive care unit through Children's Minnesota .

: Labor, delivery, and postpartum care experts from Abbott Northwestern, United, and Mercy hospitals (part of Allina Health) are dedicated to personalized and family-centered care. Families whose babies need higher levels of care will take comfort in knowing they have access to the highest level neonatal intensive care unit through Children's . Convenient, family-friendly locations: The Mother Baby Center is conveniently located in Minneapolis, St. Paul , and Coon Rapids , and is designed to keep families together as much as possible to foster bonding.

The Mother Baby Center is conveniently located in , and , and is designed to keep families together as much as possible to foster bonding. Wide-range of services: The Mother Baby Center offers labor and delivery care for routine and high-risk pregnancies; home health services, integrative services, neonatal intensive care, newborn care and pain management services with non-medicinal options.

About Children's Minnesota

Children's Minnesota is the seventh largest pediatric health system in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children's Minnesota serves kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, 12 primary and specialty care clinics and six rehabilitation sites. Children's Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children's hospital.

Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrensMN.org.

About Allina Health

Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 11 hospitals, 15 retail pharmacies, specialty care centers and specialty medical services that provide home care, senior transitions, hospice care, home oxygen and medical equipment, and emergency medical transportation service s . Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Children's Minnesota

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Position Objective: Support and sustain efforts to expand cancer prevention programs, tobacco avoidance/education/cessation programs to the community, especially among vulnerable, high-risk populations, and medically underserved populations. Establish and maintain relationships and collaborations with community partners across Anne Arundel County and neighboring counties, as appropriate. Conduct tobacco cessation classes and individual tobacco treatment counseling services in accordance with established course curriculum guidelines developed by AAMC Cancer Prevention Nurses, Oncology Nursing Society, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, American College of Surgeons CoC , Quality Oncology Practice Initiative and other quality and standard setting organizations as approved by the Cancer Committee. Essential Job Duties: Reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions may be made available. Knowledge of public & community health principles in assessing, planning and implementing health promotion programs. Coordinates resources and implements health education programs offered at the AAMC campus, and in various community setting for diverse populations. Represents the AAMC DeCesaris Cancer Institute, Cancer Prevention Department in a professional manner, as a participant in internal and external community health event planning meetings. Network with key community stakeholders including, but not limited to county governments, public/private school systems, faith-based organizations, workplaces, and other non-profit organizations in order to improve and expand community engagement through education and outreach in the community. Ability to communicate health information effectively with diverse populations. Coordinate resources and participates in grant writing and implementation to support Cancer Prevention and organizational initiatives. Plan, teach and evaluate tobacco cessation classes and other cancer prevention topics. Conduct evidence-based individual counseling with clients, utilizing Motivational Interviewing techniques. Course curriculums/counseling are evidence-based, supported by local, state and national organizations, and approved by the Cancer Committee. Communicate in written and verbal format on a regular basis to keep the Cancer Prevention team and manager informed of activities and outcomes. Attend community outreach meetings, staff meetings, training and other pertinent meetings or classes as scheduled by manager. Document patient encounters, including assessment and follow up data, in the Electronic Medical Record, always maintaining patient confidentiality. Collect and compile program data to prepare statistical logs and reports. Collect and enter Community Benefit Reporting data. Participate in quality improvement processes and data collection to measure and improve health and patient outcomes. Attend community outreach activities such as church events, health fairs, physician office visits, hospital visits etc., as requested by the cancer prevention manager. Obtain needed supplies and equipment for classes and events in order to conduct outreach activities effectively and efficiently. Educational/Experience Requirements: Associates degree required / bachelor's degree preferred.

Minimum two years of experience in related field of work.

Demonstrate effective communication skills.

Demonstrate competency in tobacco treatment.

Certification in Health Education Specialty (CHES) preferred.

Bi-lingual, Spanish speaking a plus. Required License/Certifications: Obtain required certification/qualification in tobacco treatment within 6 months of hire. Working Conditions, Equipment, Physical Demands: There is a reasonable expectation that employees in this position will be exposed to blood-borne pathogens. Physical Demands - The physical demands and work environment that have been described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The above job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; your supervisor may assign other duties as deemed necessary.


Russian officials have stepped up their campaign against jailed Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny, rounding up his associates and warning social media and news networks against spreading information about nationwide protest this weekend.



At least five allies of the 44-year-old were detained on January 21, including top figures from his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK).



The police sweep comes as demonstrations are planned in dozens of cities on January 23 in support of Navalny following his detention last weekend upon his return to Russia from Germany, where he was being treated for a nearly fatal poisoning with a nerve agent since August.



Those detained included Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer and ally of Navalny, Vladlen Los, a lawyer for FBK, Anastasia Panchenko, coordinator of Navalny's headquarters in the southern Krasnodar region, Georgy Alburov, an FBK employee, and Navalnys spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh.



Late in the evening of January 21, Sobol walked out of a Moscow police station where she had been held since morning.



"The Kremlin is having a panic attack. They are ordering that everyone be detained," Sobol told Current Time outside the police station, describing the authorities behavior as "absolute lawlessness."



Several of those detained have hearings scheduled for January 22, including Yarmysh and Sobol.



Los, who is Belarusian citizen, said he was briefly detained and informed that he must leave Russia by January 25.

Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most-prominent critic, was remanded in custody on January 18 for a month in a summary hearing held in a Moscow police station a day after his arrival from Germany.

The court claimed he violated probation requirements in a previous criminal case while receiving life-saving medical treatment in Berlin in a case widely considered trumped up and politically motivated. He faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison.



Navalny has accused Putin of ordering his assassination and has called for Russians to "take to the streets" to protest against his detention, which has sparked widespread Western condemnation, with the United States, the European Union, France and Canada all calling for his release.



EU lawmakers on January 21 passed a resolution calling on the bloc to "immediately" stop completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to take Russian natural gas to Germany in response to Navalny's arrest.



Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis renewed his call for further sanctions on Russia, adding in an interview with RFE/RL that a trip by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Moscow next month should be canceled.

The Kremlin denies any role in Navalny's poisoning and with support for the protests appearing to grow, Russian officials have begun to issue warnings that participation in any unsanctioned rallies will be met with punishment.



Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandr Gorovoi said that police across Russia "are getting ready to defend public order during the events scheduled for Saturday as some quasi-politicians have announced unsanctioned events across the country via their structures."



Russia's telecommunications watchdog, Roskomnadzor, went as far as urging social media networks, including video-sharing app TikTok, to stop the spreading of posts by users that call on Russia's youth to take part in "illegal" public gatherings such the planned Navalny demonstration.



"Despite being poisoned and repeatedly thrown into jail, Aleksei Navalny refuses to go away, so Russian authorities will likely try to make him and his supporters disappear via censorship," said Gulnoza Said of the Committee to Protect Journalists.



Even though he was behind bars, Navalny's anti-corruption campaign delivered a solid blow to Putin this week when it released a probe into an opulent Black Sea property in the Krasnodar region allegedly owned by Putin.



The two-hour video report had been viewed more than 44 million times since its release on January 19, becoming the Navalny's most-watched YouTube investigation ever.

With reporting by Reuters, TASS, AFP, Interfax, and Current Time
(Newser)  For Kristen Gray, Bali proved to be a dream come true, and the 28-year-old American wanted to share that dreamspecifically, how the island is tolerant toward the LGBT community and Black visitors like her, and how others should move there. The Indonesian government, however, didn't exactly appreciate her amateur ambassadorship. The New York Times reports that immigration officials arrested Gray on Tuesday and deported her and her partner, Saundra Alexander, claiming Gray was "carrying out dangerous activities" and "spreading information that could unsettle the public." The charges revolve around a recent Twitter thread in which Gray gushed about how cheap it was to live the high life in Bali, and how "queer friendly" the locals are. She's also been pushing an e-book co-written with Alexander, entitled Our Bali Life Is Yours. The two ditched the high-cost US in January 2019; they originally planned to stay in Bali for six months, but the pandemic has kept them there.

story continues below

Per BuzzFeed, Gray, a graphic designer, has long been posting pictures and videos on Instagram and TikTok showing how the couple was living it up in Bali, and the Times notes she wrote that her book had "direct links to our visa agents and how to go about getting into Indonesia during COVID." But her most recent post was the last straw. Bali officials and locals were irked that she and Alexander were promoting the LGBT lifestyle in a nation where same-sex marriage isn't legal, that they're encouraging foreigners to visit as the pandemic rages on, and that visitors like them are spurring gentrification. Officials also say Gray's visa was set to expire this month. The two were deported shortly after their detention and were due to arrive in Los Angeles on Thursday after a stopover in Tokyo. "I have not overstayed my visa," Gray says, per the Guardian. "I put out a statement about LGBT and I am deported because I am LGBT." (Read more Bali stories.)
And so another retired general will be secretary of defense. When President Joe Biden nominated former Army commander Lloyd Austin for the post last month, several senatorsincluding some Democratssaid they would oppose his confirmation, leery of eroding the tradition of civilian control over the military.

The Defense Departments founders, back in 1947, were so adamant about civilian leadership that they wrote a law barring military officers from taking the job until at least seven years after retiringunless both houses of Congress pass a formal waiver exempting them from the rule. After voting to grant a waiver to retired Gen. Jim Mattis at the start of the Trump administration, Jack Reed, top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, pledged never to do so again, saying that it shouldnt happen more than once a generation. (Mattis was only the second defense secretary in history to get a waiver; the first was Gen. George Marshall, in 1950.)

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But on Thursday, after the House approved a waiver, the Senate Armed Services Committeewhich Reed now chairsdid the same, and then confirmed his nomination, on a voice vote. The full Senate is almost certain to do the same.

Congress gave Austin a pass for three reasons. First, the Senate tends to let a president choose his top Cabinet secretaries as long as theyre at least somewhat qualified for the job, and Austinwho was the Armys vice chief of staff as well as commander of U.S. Central Commandis certainly qualified.

Second, Austin would be the first Black defense secretary, and rejecting him, for whatever reason, would send a dangerous signal at a time when even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have openly expressed concern about the rise of white supremacist views within the military ranks. (Rep. Adam Smith, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made precisely this argument on Monday in a letter urging colleagues to vote for a waiver.) This is especially true since Austin, in his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, committed to rooting out extremist views from the armed forces as a top priority. (He also pledged zero tolerance of sexual harassment.)

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Finally, at that same hearing, Austin said many times, in many ways, that he would rely heavily on the Pentagons top civilian officials, turning to them for advice even more than he would turn to the Joint Chiefs. He even said that he would regard the presumptive deputy secretary of defense, Kathleen Hicks, as a partner in setting policyunusual, as deputy secretaries usually play a more managerial role, running the Pentagons day-to-day operations. Austin also said he would routinely consult with Colin Kahl, nominated to be undersecretary of defense for policy, touting him at one point as a very talented young man. (Kahl will turn 50 this year, though Austin, who is 67, has known him since Kahl was in his late 30s. The two worked closely together during President Barack Obamas first term, when Austin was the last commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Kahl was deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East affairs.)

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Austins pledge to work with the Pentagons top civilians seemed sincerehe also knew Hicks from when he was commander of CentCom and she was deputy undersecretary for policy. More than that, it stood in stark contrast with Mattis, who, as defense secretary, surrounded himself with a tight entourage of fellow Marine officers and ignored or dismissed civilian advice and analysis. In part for that reason, Mattis was an undistinguished secretary. Though he earned plaudits and scorn for restraining Trumps belligerence toward U.S. allies, he imposed no discipline on the militarys unleashed appetite for weapons systems and left no legacy on defense policy broadly.

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In other words, a great military commander doesnt make a great secretary of defense; if anything, history suggests the contrary. The two jobs entail very different skill sets. Mattis failure, which highlighted this distinction, heightened many lawmakers concerns about confirming Austin; they didnt want the militarization of the job to become normal.

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So why did Biden choose Austin? The reason seems clear: Biden has known him for many years, trusts his judgment, and regards him as a member of his inner circle. The same is true of the other top members of his foreign policy team. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Colin Kahl all worked as Bidens national security adviser when he was vice president; Blinken also served as Bidens staff director on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines also worked on Bidens Senate staff, then became Obamas deputy national security adviser and deputy director of the CIA, where she continued to have contact with Biden.

Biden and Austin got to know each other well in Iraq, when Austin was commander of U.S. troops and Biden was entrusted by Obama to work out the details of the American withdrawal. The two became particularly close when Bidens late son, Beau, served on Austins staff in Iraq in 200809. As Bryan Bender and Lara Seligman reported in Politico, Austin and the younger Biden attended Mass together, sitting side-by-side almost every Sunday, and they kept in touch after Beau returned from his deployment.

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Theres nothing wrong with this. A president must have trust in his Cabinet secretaries, especially the defense secretary, who speaks with the highest authority in advising him whether or not to send troops into combat. And this trust can be based on whatever makes the president comfortable. Biden is comfortable with Austin. Austin says hell rely for advice on a very competent crew of civilian advisersnot just Hicks and Kahl, but also 22 new midlevel specialists, many of whom worked in the transition team (along with Hicks and Kahl), dont require Senate confirmation, and were sworn in on Wednesday.

Maybe it will all work out.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
In a move that is key for the development and take-up of 5G networks, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefonica and Vodafone are joining forces to support the rollout of Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) as the technology of choice for future mobile networks across Europe.

The four carriers signed a memorandum of understanding in which they expressed their individual commitment to the implementation and deployment of Open RAN solutions that take advantage of new open virtualised architectures, software and hardware to build more agile and flexible mobile networks.

The Open RAN market is expanding rapidly and is expected to exceed the traditional RAN market for the first time by 2027-2028.

Meanwhile, according to a report by RAN Research, Open RAN deployments will account for 58% of total RAN capex spending at $32.3 billion and be deployed at 65% of all sites by 2026.

Enrique Blanco, chief technology & information officer at Telefonica, commented: Open RAN is the natural evolution of radio access technologies and it will be key for 5G networks. Telefonica believes the whole industry must work together to make it a reality. I am excited to be partnering with major European operators to promote the development of an open technology that will help to enhance the flexibility, efficiency and security of our networks. This is an extraordinary opportunity for the European industry not only to promote the development of 5G but also to participate in its sustainable technological development.

Added Michael Trabbia, chief technology & information officer at Orange: Open RAN is the next major evolution of 5G RAN. Orange believes it is a strong opportunity for existing and emerging European actors to develop O-RAN based products and services, starting with indoor and rural areas. This evolution should be supported by a large European ecosystem (academics and research, software and hardware developers, integrators, public funding for R&D) as it is a unique occasion to reinforce the European competitiveness and leadership in the global market.

Deutsche Telekom CTO Claudia Nemat said: Open RAN is about network innovation, flexibility and faster rollout. Deutsche Telekom is committed to its promotion, development and adoption to ensure the best network experience for our customers. To seize this opportunity, it is critical that we join forces with our leading European partners to foster a diverse, competitive and secure 4G/5G ecosystem based on open RAN solutions. Through our open labs and community activities, we facilitate smaller players to enter the market with their solutions. To build on this foundational work, we urge government support and funding for community activities that will strengthen the European ecosystem and leadership in 5G.

Vodafone Group CTO Johan Wibergh added: Open RAN has the power to stimulate European tech innovation using the expertise of the companies that develop it and the governments who support it. Opening up the market to new suppliers, with our ambition and government advocacy, will mean faster 5G deployment, cost-saving network efficiencies and world-class services. We remain committed to rolling out our Open RAN program across Europe, and were taking it even further. We aim to open R&D labs for new, smaller suppliers to develop their products. But to do this we need a supportive investment environment and political backing, and we urge European governments to join us in creating the Open RAN ecosystem.

The four operators believe that the European Commission and the national governments have an important role to play to foster and develop the Open RAN ecosystem by funding early deployments, research and development, open test lab facilities and incentivising supply chain diversity by lowering barriers to entry for small suppliers and startups who can avail of these labs to validate open and interoperable solutions.
As calls to deprogram Trump supporters mount, CNN has hosted a former Moonie-turned-professional deprogrammer who suggested the whole nation had been negatively influenced and needed help. Viewers were not eager to sign up.

Cult expert Steven Hassan was on Tuesday brought on CNN to advise on how to deprogram members of what he described in his 2019 book as the Cult of Trump. Perhaps with an eye toward boosting his deprogramming business, however, he suggested the entire country was in need of his services.

After CNN anchor Alisyn Camerota spoke of the Trump supporters whod thronged the Capitol earlier this month as if they were no longer living, dramatically intoning over footage of the raid that some of the people that you see here were once elementary school counselors, some of these people were firemen, she asked Hassan how Trump had radically changed their personality.

A former member of the infamous Unification Church (better known as the Moonies) during the 1970s, Hassan suggested Trump devotees had been deceptively recruited by an authoritarian political cult and had undergone a radical personality change psychologically diagnosable as dissociative disorder.

Also on rt.com PBS lawyer fired after championing REEDUCATION CAMPS for children of Trump supporters in latest Project Veritas sting

While he briefly described how cult leaders use control of behavior, information, thought, and emotion to create a new identity thats dependent and obedient, he stopped short of explaining how Trump would have done this.

As Camerota bemoaned how long Hassans one-on-one deprogramming approach would take to brainwash (or re-brainwash) millions of Americans, the cult counselor acknowledged were going to need a top-down approach, even suggesting he be invited to testify in front of Congress.

The bottom line is all of America needs deprogramming because weve all been negatively influenced by Donald Trump, he said.

Trump supporters did not take kindly to being deemed cult members.

I am a highly educated adult and I have never been a member of a cult, much less some fictitious Trump cult. I resent anyone saying Im not capable of thinking for myself. Ive voted both parties in my life. I support the policies of the President, I dont worship the man.  Margaret   (@MargaretAUGrad) January 19, 2021

I love my country, no way no how are they going to change that. FU duma$$.  Ccwill22 (@Ccwill221) January 19, 2021

Some pointed out that the accusations leveled at Trump supporters could just as easily be lobbed back at their accusers  specifically the part of Hassans checklist in which the cult member is discouraged from seeking outside sources of information and gaslighted with revised versions of the past.

OMG! Do they really think 80 million of us are that stupid that we joined a cult? The arrogance of the left astounds me. We think for ourselves and loved Trump because he loved us and gave us a voice. And by the way, the election was stolen. Just watch the evidence...lot of it. https://t.co/6ezgbd1DjW  soberandfocused (@Soberandfocused) January 19, 2021

What are his thoughts on people who still believe in Russiagate?  Pardon Julian Assange & Edward Snowden (@JohnFiliss) January 19, 2021

What you expect from the liberals, they took the play book from the Nazi's.  Tony (@DeanDearinger) January 19, 2021

Though some seemed to take pride in embodying elements of the cult behavior checklist.

i will NEVER "recover" (read programmed and brainwashed into their thinking) This is some scary scifi shit going on there!  Angel Patriot of Qanomoly (@AngelGrace1313) January 19, 2021

The liberals are evil. The patriots are good. This is about good vs evil. MSM = EVIL  MountainMamaforTRuMP2020 (@MMp2020) January 19, 2021

Its understandable that anyone would bristle at being told theyve been duped by a cult. But Hassans advice for people looking to deprogram their Trump-supporting loved ones ironically bore little resemblance to CNNs usual derisive coverage of a contingent that  despite the networks best efforts  comprises millions of Americans. The professional deprogrammer advised his host that to encourage cultists to start thinking for themselves, the most powerful technique is asking a respectful, thoughtful question and being quiet and really waiting a long time for an answer.

The network is far from alone in suggesting Trump supporters need deprogramming. Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson appeared on MSNBC earlier this month with New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones to lament that there are millions of Americans, almost all white, almost all Republicans who somehow need to be deprogrammedas if they are members of a cult. Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was more circumspect with her call to deprogram white supremacists, though many others in her party have suggested the two categories are one and the same.
The EU has demanded Boris Johnson drop plans to turn the City into a 'Singapore on Thames' global economic powerhouse before it will consider helping unclog the huge backlog of goods at UK ports.

The EU is said to be open to discussing how to reduce friction, with shoppers complaining of shortages at UK and French supermarkets as post-Brexit red tape has hit supplies in and out of Britain.

It emerged today that up to 200 lorries a day are being turned back from UK crossings into the EU because they lack the proper paperwork.

Emma Churchill, the head of the border and protocol delivery group at the Cabinet Office, said between 3 per cent and 8 per cent of HGVs - 100 to 200 vehicles a day - were being refused permission to enter the continent.

But EU diplomats have suggested that they will make moves to ease problems if Boris Johnson keeps the UK close to rules made in Brussels and ditches any plans to emulate the growth of the Asian trade powerhouse on its doorstep.

Singapore is a low tax economy and shipping fulcrum in Asia and ministers are believed to see its model as a way to reshape the UK after Brexit.

A senior European diplomat told the Times that 'of course we can in future discuss how to have less friction', but they added: 'Discussing further facilitation or ways to reduce friction would depend on what the UK is doing and where they want to go.

'Initiating that conversation and negotiation will not be made easier if the other side of the table is talking up deregulation or Singapore on the Thames.'

It came as it emerged Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has 'engaged' with the Ministry of Defence to put troops on standby to step in to ease congestion.

Lorry drivers have reportedly been warned that tailbacks at ports could get worse in the coming days as traffic returns to normal levels

Ministers have admitted that post-Brexit rules are partly to blame for empty shelves in Northern Ireland supermarkets

Mr Shapps said in a letter to the transport and international trade select committees that the Army will get involved 'should the situation at ports reach a sufficiently critical level and a clear role for military support emerge'.

It came amid reports that the Cabinet Office has told haulage firms to prepare for a further squeeze at ports and as Liz Truss admitted that Brexit is partly to blame for food shortages in Northern Ireland.

The Times said the Cabinet Office has informed lorry drivers that they could face further disruption in the coming days as traffic increases.

Government modelling apparently shows freight numbers are set to return to normal levels after a post-Brexit dip.

There are fears that if drivers arrive at the Port of Dover with the wrong paperwork tailbacks and delays will worsen.

Giving evidence to the Commons Public Accounts Committee Ms Churchill said the numbers were far fewer than had been expected following the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31.

She said that in around half the cases it was because the drivers did not have a negative coronavirus test following the introduction of new controls by the French at the end of last year.

She said that traffic was 'completely free-flowing' at the Channel ports with most drivers arriving with the correct documentation.

'That is because the general level of trader readiness has been higher than either we feared or anticipated,' she said.

'The level of turnbacks at the short straits is running at about 5% which is very, very much better than we had feared but we need to keep a very, very watchful eye on that as volumes increased.'

Shoppers in the UK have reported shortages of some items in domestic supermarkets after Britain split from Brussels at the start of the year.

Items seemingly in short supply have included cauliflower packs, citrus fruit, courgettes, French wine and brie.

Meanwhile, M&S stores in France have faced supply issues and millions of pounds worth of meat exports from the UK have been left to rot in ports on the continent because of new border rules.

Northern Ireland has also experienced food shortages but ministers have previously been insistent problems were not Brexit-related.

Northern Ireland Minister Brandon Lewis said empty shelves had 'nothing to do with leaving the EU' as he blamed the coronavirus crisis.

But Ms Truss, the International Trade Secretary, has now said Brexit is partly to blame, putting her at odds with her Cabinet colleague.

She told ITV's Peston programme: 'Well, I think it is down to both of those issues. Of course we were always clear that we are leaving the single market, we are leaving the customs unions, there would be processes to be undertaken.

'We are now seeing a more rapid flow of goods into Northern Ireland and those supermarket shelves are being stocked.

'Of course there was always going to be a period of adjustment for businesses but at the same time the benefits of having the trade deal we now have with the EU is we are able to strike trade deals with the rest of the world.'

Her comments were in response to Simon Coveney, the Irish Foreign Minister, who said food shortages in Northern Ireland were 'clearly a Brexit issue'.

He told the same programme: 'I don't think it is only to do with Covid-19 although certainly that doesn't help but the supermarket shelves were full before Christmas and there are some issues now in terms of supply chains and so that is clearly a Brexit issue.

'It is part of the reality of the United Kingdom now being outside not only the European Union but of the customs union and the single market as well.

'What we have in place in Northern Ireland is a protocol which effectively de-facto creates an extension of the EU's single market for goods into Northern Ireland even though Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom is outside of the EU.

Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary, said problems in Northern Ireland were 'down to both' Brexit and coronavirus

'That requires a certain amount of checks on goods coming from GB into Northern Ireland and that involves some disruption that I think companies will take some time to get used to and that is what we are seeing at the moment, some companies simply weren't ready for the change that Brexit brings, it is a very real change.'

Mr Lewis said earlier this week that shortages of some products in the weeks since the post-Brexit transition period ended on December 31 were due to the knock-on effects of UK trade with continental Europe being temporarily halted due to concerns over the new Kent variant of coronavirus.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'That's actually something we've seen across other parts of the UK as well, nothing to do with leaving the EU, nothing to do with the Northern Irish protocol but actually to do with some of the challenges we saw with Covid at the port of Dover just before Christmas and the impact that had on supply lines coming through.

'I have to say supermarket supply lines at the moment are in good fettle.'

The Northern Ireland Protocol between the UK and the EU requires health certifications on animal-based food products entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

A Whitehall source added: 'Brandon has been clear that it is important to put these issues in context. There were multiple challenges for businesses trading across the UK, including Northern Ireland, over Christmas and into the New Year.

'That wasn't unique to Northern Ireland and was unrelated to the Protocol. Those challenges included staff shortages due to coronavirus, NI being at the end of the supply chain and the issues we saw at Dover before Christmas.

'This was compounded by a period of adjustment as businesses adapted to new processes for trade from GB to NI. The flow of goods under the Protocol is now smooth overall and individual issues are being addressed quickly by relevant departments.'
The mayor of the last remaining Sydney council area still considered a red zone by the Victorian government has taken a shot at Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today, saying he doubted Mr Andrews knew where Cumberland was located.

The Victorian government has today reclassified nine Sydney local government areas from red to orange zones, but Cumberland remains the sole red zone for now.

The LGA has not had a new COVID-19 case for nine days, and has seen a total of 26 infections related to recent outbreaks in Sydney.

Cr Steve Christou of Cumberland City Council in Sydneys western suburbs complained to radio station 3AW on Friday afternoon that his council had received no consultation from Premier Andrews in Victoria to understand the local situation.

Without a phone call, does he even know where Cumberland City Shire Council is? he said.

Earlier this week, Mr Christou said his residents were being treated as second-class citizens by Mr Andrews.

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The Sydney Mayor said that he hoped the Victorian governments decision today to keep Cumberland a red zone was not as a result of his criticism earlier in the week.

I would hope not and if it is, I would encourage the Premier Daniel Andrews to put his big boy pants on and not let it affect the rest of the community, he said.

Mr Christou, who claims he has no affiliation to either the Labor or Liberal party, said Victorias traffic light permit system made no sense.

Its something out of Yes Minister or Utopia [television shows], he said. Out of those 26 [infections], more than half of those dont live here, they just passed through.

The mayor said he wasnt as angry with the ACT - which is also keeping Cumberland a designated COVID-19 hotspot for now - as he was with Victoria.

The ACT hasnt created the kind of chaos that has been created in Victoria, Mr Chistou said, referring to lockdowns seen in the state in 2020.
Demand for vaccines is skyrocketing as the United States grapples with a record death toll from Covid-19 and the threat of new, more contagious variants. After a slow start in December, many states and cities have quickly ramped up vaccine delivery, widening access to larger groups of people and setting up mass testing sites.

But now theres a new wrinkle: Some mayors and governors say they have run out of available vaccines, and have had to cancel appointments.

The Biden administration has promised to overhaul the countrys faltering vaccine effort, but theres only so much it can do to increase the available supply.

Heres what you need to know.

How many doses are available?

There are simply not enough doses of authorized vaccines to meet the enormous demand. And that is not likely to change for the next few months.
Courtesy: Rare Beauty

Texas native Selena Gomez was seen on the set of filming Hulu's new series 'Only Murders in the Building' in New York City on Tuesday morning, according to Daily Mail.

The 28-year-old actress will star alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short as they play three strangers obsessed with true crime while working together to solve a murder in their New York City apartment, described on the Hulu website.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)  Some people living in Tippecanoe County are confused and frustrated about their unemployment claims. And they're having a hard time getting answers.

The pandemic is causing historic levels of job loss in Indiana that's resulted in an unprecedented number of unemployment claims.

Lafayette resident Marlon Adams is tired of waiting on hold with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development just to get the same answer every time he calls.

"Only thing they could tell me is we're looking into it," he says. "We have somebody, they're going to contact you. That's it, every time, that's what they tell you, and I haven't heard anything since and this is January of 2021."

Adams filed for unemployment in July last year because he recently received a kidney transplant. His doctor told him to stay home from his job at Kirby Risk because he's immunocompromised.

"Seven, eight weeks I was off work with no money coming in. Nothing," he says. "That put me way behind and I'm still trying to catch up, still trying to catch up, and it's hard."

Adams says he waited for months before he received a lump sum for pandemic assistance, but he's been calling ever since to ask why his regular unemployment claim was denied.

"Unemployment is not giving you your money that you deserve and they're not giving you any reason, no explanation, no anything, and it's confusing when you don't know anything," he says.

A spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development confirmed there's an issue with Adams case and it's been assigned to an adjudicator.

Clarks Hill resident Laurie Neidigh also feels like she's been getting the runaround.

She was furloughed from her job at Cato Fashions but forgot her password for her unemployment account.

"So they said that I had to send in this paper after two weeks of waiting to get them to call me back, so we filled out this paper, we sent it into them four different times," she says.

The paper was a request to file a late unemployment claim and it's been in limbo for nearly a year.

"I would call them continuously, like every two to three days, and they keep saying they've got it, it's on their desk, it just takes a while," she says.

News 18 reached out to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development about Neidigh's request to file a late claim but has not heard back.
In an article published in Nature Communications , Brazilian researchers show for the first time that in severe cases of scorpion envenomation it is the neuroimmune reaction triggered by the venom that leads to death.

Tityus serrulatus, the Yellow scorpion, causes more deaths than any other venomous animal in Brazil. Its sting can induce heart attack and pulmonary edema, especially in children and the elderly. According to the Brazilian Health Ministry, more than 156,000 cases of scorpion envenomation, 169 fatal, were reported in the country in 2019.

Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo (USP) have demonstrated for the first time that in severe cases of scorpion envenomation a systemic neuroimmune reaction produces inflammatory mediators leading to the release of neurotransmitters. A paper reporting the results of their study is published in Nature Communications. It suggests the inflammatory process can be inhibited by administration of a corticosteroid almost immediately after the patient is stung. The paper features as an Editors' Highlight on the journal's Therapeutics webpage.

Besides local inflammation that causes acute pain but does not lead to death, scorpion venom may also trigger a systemic inflammatory reaction resulting in pulmonary edema (excess fluid in the lungs), heart failure and shortness of breath.

"Although a previous study by our group described the inflammatory mechanism that leads to pulmonary edema and death in severe cases, the impact of envenomation on the heart and the link between neurotransmitters and inflammatory mediators weren't entirely elucidated," said Lucia Helena Faccioli, a professor at USP's Ribeirao Preto School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and principal investigator for the study. "There was no consensus as to whether neurotransmitters or inflammatory mediators were the villains, and whether pulmonary edema leads to cardiac alterations or the other way around. This study suggests inflammatory mediators produced in the lungs not only induce pulmonary edema but also affect the heart via neurotransmitters. The inflammatory process causes various kinds of damage and can lead to death unless it's blocked very swiftly."

The study was conducted with Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP's support during the PhD research of Mouzarllem Barros dos Reis as part of a Thematic Project for which Faccioli is principal investigator.

This was an in vitro and in vivo study in mice focusing on an investigation of the inflammatory process triggered by envenomation and its association with neurotransmitters. The scorpion venom spreads rapidly from the sting site into the bloodstream. In severe cases, recognition of the venom by macrophages (immune cells) results in the release of inflammatory mediators, especially interleukin-1beta (IL-1), leading to release of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which in turn induces production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Produced in the lungs, these mediators cause both pulmonary edema and cardiac alterations.

"The mediators produced in the lungs in response to the venom activate production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that has a strong effect on the heart due to its association with the control of cardiac muscle tone," Faccioli explained. "This neurotransmitter makes the heart beat irregularly. In one and the same process we have pulmonary edema and heart disturbances."

In a previous study, published in 2016, the same research group showed that pulmonary edema resulted from release of IL-1 due to activation of the inflammasome, a protein complex present in immune cells, and that regulation of this process by lipidic mediators involves activation by PGE2 and inhibition by leukotriene B4 (LTB4). It remained to demonstrate the neuroimmune interaction and the key role played by acetylcholine.

Rapid inhibition of the neuroimmune process The study also highlighted the need to inhibit the neuroimmune process triggered by inflammatory mediators as quickly as possible, so that the patient does not reach the "point of no return", when the effects of the mediators are so critical that improvement is no longer possible.

"We demonstrated that administration of the anti-inflammatory corticosteroid dexamethasone not more than 30 minutes after envenomation can avoid death in mice," Faccioli said. "The aim was to block the inflammatory process before it became irreversible. It's important to note that this study used a murine model and the time to the point of no return can't be extrapolated for humans."

Almost immediate administration of the drug does not avert the need for antivenom. "Dexamethasone will block the process that releases acetylcholine and mitigate damage to the lungs and heart. The antivenom is important to inhibit other possible effects of the toxins that may damage tissues and other parts of the organism," Faccioli said.

"In previous studies, we showed that indomethacin and celecoxib can prevent or at least minimize the inflammatory reaction triggered by envenomation, and avoid death. However, these drugs may not be effective for all patients.

Dexamethasone is far more efficient, despite possible adverse side-effects for a small proportion of patients" (read more at: https:/ / agencia. fapesp. br/ 22758 ). Improper use of corticosteroids can entail significant risks to the organism. Dosage and the duration of treatment should be prescribed by a physician.

Snakes

Previous research by Faccioli and her group also showed that venom from the pit viper Bothrops moojeni and the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus contains lipids as well as toxins (i.e. proteins and polypeptides), potentially explaining several biological effects of envenomation.

"The presence of lipids points to a biological function," Faccioli said. "Biochemical analysis of pit viper and rattlesnake venom showed that one of the lipids resembled platelet aggregation factor [PAF], so thrombus formation after a snake bite may be due to the presence of these lipids. This is typically what follows a snake bite: blood clotting and thrombosis."

This study, published in Archives of Toxicology, extended scientists' understanding of the mechanisms that lead to complications of envenomation. "The PAF-like lipid is also important to induce inflammation," Faccioli said.

The analysis was based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry using equipment funded by FAPESP that enabled the scientists to identify several lipids for the first time in snake venom.

It was conducted as part of the postdoctoral research of Tanize dos Santos Acunha, with FAPESP's support via the Thematic Project mentioned earlier.

Faccioli explained that venom is a complex substance comprising molecules with several biological functions that cause local and systemic manifestations. A great deal of research has been done on venom composition and effects, but most studies focus on the toxins and ignore or are unaware of the lipids.

###

About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
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Joe Biden is not generally thought of as a great speaker, but on Wednesday he found the right balance between the eloquence of an Abraham Lincoln and the plain-speaking truth of a Harry Truman. His inaugural speech was not that long, a mistake that some politicians make in a moment like this. It was unpretentious, focused and deliberate, just like the man who delivered it.

The 46th presidents important and timely words were just what our fractured nation needed. This is the kind of president who can give hope to all Americans, whether they voted for him or not. They may not like everything he does, but they have nothing to fear from him either.

His address was not just filled with lofty sentiments, another mistake that some speakers make. He spoke bluntly about the threat from white supremacists and domestic terrorists, the people who had tried to disrupt Congress just 14 days before on that same ground, the temple of democracy as Sen. Amy Klobuchar called it when she introduced him. This president explicitly condemned those rioters.

Biden reminded us that through all the tests in our past, from our own Civil War to foreign wars, we united behind the better angels of our nature, as Lincoln put it, and overcame them. He thinks we can do that again, because we have never, ever failed when a challenge was put before us. His formula for doing this was simple: Without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path.

He brought forth two of his qualities that even his critics must acknowledge, blunt honesty coupled with real patriotism: I will always level with you. I will defend our Constitution. I will defend democracy. That is what all of us should want in a commander in chief, not just in good times but especially in bad ones.

And make no mistake about it, Bidens inauguration took place at one of the gloomiest points in our nations history. He correctly called this time of COVID a dark winter, just one day after we passed the once-inconceivable total of 400,000 virus deaths. In an unprecedented move, he paused in his own inaugural speech for a moment in silence in memory of those lost to this disease. Not since the inauguration day of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1940 had the countrys future looked so questionable, with a Depression at home and war looming abroad. But we overcame those tests, and Biden assured us that we can do it again.

Above all, Biden promised to be a president for all Americans, pledging to work for those who voted for him and those who didnt. This is something we used to take for granted, but lately we have become too divided to grasp it. The new president reinforced the simple point that we are Americans first before we are Republicans and Democrats. He spoke of tolerance and humility, the classic virtues that define a good citizen. He noted that some days we need a hand, but other days we need to lend a hand. This is what we need to hear today, and on many other days.

A year ago it would have seemed unlikely that Biden would be standing in this spot on Jan. 20. This was the third time he had run for president, and his early campaign stumbled. He lost badly in both the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, a one-two punch that no candidate had overcome. Many people, even his fellow Democrats, said he was too old and too unimaginative, a figure from the past who could not lead us into the future.

But whatever Joe Biden was, he was not a quitter. He came from a blue-collar background, and he kept plugging away. Slowly, and then quickly, his simple message of unity and hope gained strength and then overwhelmed his challengers. Within a few weeks, he vanquished them and was getting ready for the November showdown, which he also won in a surprisingly strong manner.

That is why he was standing on the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, telling America that we were down but not out, that he would do his part to lead us to better days.

The hard work for him starts today, the first full day of his presidency. Now he has to grapple with members of his own party who think he isnt liberal enough and members of the other who think hes too liberal. He has to motivate doctors and scientists to crush a pandemic so that our economy can flourish. He knows that every misstep will be pointed out by many, and that even every success will be questioned by some.

But Biden has shown a doggedness over the course of his career that will serve him well, and his own life has been touched by personal loss that gives him empathy for others who are grieving. He is ready for this challenge, as much or more than any other senior politician on the scene today.

Right now, no one knows if Joe Bidens presidency will be judged by history as successful or disappointing. But if the words of his inaugural address are any guide, at least we have a chance to make 2021 a better year than 2020, and then every year after that. Realistic Americans will take that chance and move forward with it.

Thomas Taschinger, TTaschinger@BeaumontEnterprise.com, is the editorial page editor of The Beaumont Enterprise. Follow him on Twitter at @PoliticalTom
In viral videos seen by 300,000+, youth target Charmin toilet paper brand over concerns about caribou habitat, boreal forest destruction, and Indigenous sovereignty

CINCINNATI, Jan. 15, 2021 /CNW/ -- As Procter & Gamble executives took center stage at CES 2021 this week to tout their sustainability initiatives, youth activists upset over the company's greenwashing have been overwhelming social media platforms TikTok and Instagram to air their grievances in dozens of viral videos and posts seen by more than 300,000 people. The influencers are calling out the Charmin toilet paper brand and raising concerns about declining caribou habitat, boreal forest destruction, and Indigenous sovereignty in Canada, where the company sources some of its fiber.

"Procter & Gamble is the parent company of Charmin, and they mislead consumers with reassuring claims about planting trees. What they don't tell you is that they're actually cutting down massive swaths of the boreal forest, which destroys the habitat of endangered species like woodland caribou," said TikTok's @trison_b .

This public callout comes three months after shareholders defied the company and voted in favor of a proposal for P&G to assess how it can do better on forest sourcing and impacts  a clear indication that the world's largest consumer goods company is not doing enough to deal with the financial threats of deforestation and forest degradation in its supply chains. Procter & Gamble has not released plans for how it will respond to the proposal.

"Companies like P&G sit and label themselves environmentally conscious and get praised for it  like they're not literally making toilet paper out of trees taken off of Indigenous land," said TikTok's @_reem.k_ .

Nearly a dozen youth activists and youth organizations joined environmental organization Stand.earth in posting videos using the hashtag #GreenOut22 and #WipeRightCharmin.

"Procter & Gamble is destroying the boreal forest to make your Charmin toilet paper  unsustainably and using greenwashing methods," said TikTok's @jaysoune , a Canadian resident. "This is her now, isn't she gorgeous?" he asks sarcastically while standing in front of a photo of a clearcut.

See all the videos and posts:

SOURCE Stand.earth

For further information: Virginia Cleaveland, [email protected], +1 510 858 9902, https://www.stand.earth

Related Links

https://www.stand.earth


The company three contract areas have been restored following a cessation of hostilities over the region between Armenia and Azerbaijan

( ) has updated investors on the status of three restored contract areas located in Nagorno Karabakh and other formerly occupied territories following the end of a military conflict over the enclave between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The AIM-listed gold, copper and silver producer said three contract areas have been restored, Soutely in the Kalbajar district and Vejnaly in the Zangilan district of the formerly occupied territories, and Kyzlbulag in Nagorno Karabakh. Kalbajar and Zangilan are currently under the control of the government of Azerbaijan, while Russian peacekeepers are present at the Kyzlbulag site.

Anglo Asian said it will fully evaluate the potential of the three restored areas when permission to access is received by the Azerbaijani government, with a production sharing agreement in respect of the areas to reset to year zero upon notification of access.

While the company said illegal mineral exploration had been carried out in all three areas during their occupation by Armenia, it said very considerable exploration potential exists both near the existing mines and on known geological trends within the areas.

The group added that as part of a proposed ceasefire agreement it has been proposed that Armenia will grant territory in its Syunik region to Azerbaijan to allow construction of direct road and rail links between the exclave of Nakhchivan and the rest of Azerbaijan, which the company said will greatly improve access to its Ordubad contract area.

"It is a tragedy that this long-standing territorial dispute has resulted in a humanitarian crisis and significant loss of life. Anglo Asian Mining very warmly welcomes the recent ceasefire agreement which ended the hostilities. The conflict has resulted in extensive damage across the region which will require substantial investment to repair and rebuild. Anglo Asian Mining will work with the Government of Azerbaijan, pursuant to its contractual rights, in the three restored contract areas within the Zangilan and Kalbajar districts as well as in Nagorno Karabakh, Anglo Asians president and chief executive Reza Vaziri said in a statement.

The company will properly manage and invest in the mineral resources of the region to the benefit of the local communities and other stakeholders. Anglo Asian Mining has been a model of sustainable and sound mining practices at its current operations while working with, and investing in, the local communities. The company intends to bring that commitment to high-quality development to its restored contract areas in the regions internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan and which have now been returned to Azerbaijan, following the declaration by the Governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan and cessation of hostilities", the CEO added.

Shares in the firm rose 3.5% to 134.5p in early deals on Thursday.
It was a year unlike any other, as the coronavirus brought most of the world to a standstill in 2020. While the wedding industry suffered immensely, life went on, and people still fell in love, proposed and got married no matter.

There was no shortage of creativity when it came to asking that age-old question, more often than not on bended knee. A New Jersey senator sang his proposal in India, a foreign affairs officer popped the question in Geneva and there was a sob story in Central Park.

Here is a selection of a few of our favorite Will you marry me? moments we learned about from couples who married in 2020.

Image During a visit to the Taj Mahal, Senator Bob Menedez began singing a song to Nadine Arslanian. She knew it was the beginning of his proposal.

The Singing Senator Who Found Love at IHOP

One day last month, Senator Bob Menendez made three separate calls to three friends, each of whom was celebrating a birthday.
Unique

Flashback to the year 2000: the 20th century was drawing to a close. We were on the threshold of a new millennium that will outlast us all. From January 1, 2000 onwards, there would be those born in 19-something  and everybody else. Henceforth, Gen Z would be taking the place of the Millennials. The year 2000 had long been a milestone in the collective imagination: the subject of dreams, paintings, and designs. In 1900, they imagined 2000 with air travel, deep-sea exploration, underground cities, time machines, and mobile houses. Which all goes to show that some predictions can be trusted. Watchmaking is all about measuring the passing of time  and the year 2000 began with the fear of the Y2K Bug. The world was afraid of collapsing because computers wouldnt be able to read a date. How ironic! In the end nothing happened, and computer scientists everywhere breathed a sigh of relief. But lets get back to watchmaking: the challenge before us is to choose 21 watches that tell the story of the years 2000-2020. Where should we start? 2000 is a unique year, so the watch in question must be equally unique.

Daytona 116520  Rolex

The timepiece had to be the symbol of watchmakings past as well as its future. Like the magical number 2000, it must evoke something for everyone. It absolutely had to have a legendary name. And it must be one that has endured, so that it can take us by the hand, guide us along the path, and still be there in 2020. All that left only one possibility: the Rolex Daytona. At the time, Rolex was already an iconic brand, on the verge of achieving world domination. The Cosmograph, now regarded as the ultimate Daytona model, was a baby-boomer chronograph, presented at Basel sporting a new movement  the 4130  made for the first time by Rolex. Gone were the Valjoux and Zenith movements of the 20th century. In that extraordinary year, the Daytona, first released in 1963, became a Rolex product through and through, looking to the future  and the rest is history. Little-noticed when it first arrived, only attracting much greater scrutiny later, today its come to symbolise a new order in watchmaking. Having also become impossible to get hold of, its now the epitome of frustration marketing. The dawning century of watchmaking would come to be defined by many words: icon, legend, vintage, Manufacture, product placement, auction, star, China, and globalisation. All of those were to apply to the Daytona. And thats why its our watch for the year 2000.

Why Rolex?

The Geneva-based brand is the best-known in the world. Its aura comes from its incredible ability to resist both change and ageing. In and of itself, its the perfect counter-example of the era commencing in 2000. At a time when everyone was talking about growth, booms, crises, and globalisation, Rolex didnt budge, remaining true to its principles and confident in its vision. And thats precisely its strength. Rolex is a solid rock, a reference point, and a reassuring name. It invented watchmaking marketing  and yet made non-communication a profitable strategy in a world that was on the cusp of placing too much value on image alone.

The Rolex Daytona 116520

As the first Daytona fitted with an in-house calibre, the 116520 was when Rolexes became 100% inhouse-made. It wasnt until the end of the millennium that Rolex produced its own chronograph movement, and that was a sign. In doing so, Rolex strengthened its independence and its ethos of mechanical perfection. In addition to the new, superbly-fashioned movement (albeit hidden behind the watchs spartan caseback), Rolex was discreetly changing other components, too: the dial, hands, and strap were subtly given a new design. By getting rid of the El Primero in favour of its own calibre, Rolex sought to close a chapter of its history: Queen 16520 is dead. Long live Queen 116520. But that was not to be. On its death in the spring of 2000, the Daytona Zenith became an overnight legend. Rolex had just invented another form of marketing: immortality marketing.

The Take From The Devils Advocate

Lucifer likes the dark side of the force aspect of Rolex: its the brand of the powerful and symbolises  despite itself  a world of money and excess. More seriously, the Daytona 116520 is an unassailable watch; even its weaknesses are strengths. That said, it does have a few minor faults that have always bothered me a little. First of all, theres that silver circle round the counters, and all the wording on the dial. I think simplifying the dial would be a great way of Rolex coming more into line with its image of simplicity and discretion. But that wasnt how things played out in 2000. Well just have to wait until 2023  when the Daytona turns 60.

*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English.

Order now
He soared to fame less than a year ago, following the release of his critically-acclaimed BBC series Normal People.

And Paul Mescal was spotted shooting scenes for his next hopeful hit, as he continued work on his upcoming movie Carmen in Sydney on Thursday.

The 24-year-old actor displayed his muscular physique in a black form-fitting tank top as he shot rooftop scenes alongside his equally hunky body double.

Back to work: Paul Mescal was spotted shooting scenes for his next hopeful hit, as he continued work on his upcoming movie Carmen in Sydney on Thursday

The Irish actor cut a casually cool figure as he made his way through the sun-kissed set sporting indigo jeans, while he shielded his eyes with a pair of shades.

His stunt double was similarly dressed, though his jeans were distressed and curly mane notably longer than that of the film's star.

In between scenes, Maynooth native Paul was seen sitting on the steps to his trailer as he puffed on the cigarette in the sweltering heat.

Two days earlier, Paul was spotted wearing next to nothing as he filmed his latest project in the coastal Australian city.

Seeing double: The 24-year-old actor displayed his muscular physique in a black form-fitting tank top as he shot rooftop scenes alongside his equally hunky body double

Eye on the action: The Irish screen star kept a keen eye on the production in between takes

Similarities: His stunt double was similarly dressed, though his jeans were distressed and curly mane notably longer than that of the film's star

He stripped down to his boxer shorts as he shot scenes for the movie adaptation of opera Carmen on Maroubra Beach.

The actor  who is playing the male lead of Aidan, after replacing Fifty Shades star Jamie Dornan  looked effortlessly cool as he held hands with his co-star Melissa Barrera during the flirtatious scene.

Paul was seen flaunting his rippling muscles and tattooed arm as the pair frolicked together by the sea, with Melissa  who plays the titular role of Carmen  sporting a gorgeous yellow shirt and an electric blue skirt.

Melissa, 30, later removed the floaty skirt from her svelte frame, and was pictured walking up the beach in lacy lilac underwear.

The duo's scene was later crashed by their co-stars Elsa Pataky and another mystery male, with the gang chasing each other around on the beach while smiling giddily.

Casually cool: The Irish actor cut a casually cool figure as he made his way through the sun-kissed set sporting indigo jeans, while he shielded his eyes with a pair of shades

Big role: The actor plays the male lead of Aidan, after replacing Fifty Shades star Jamie Dornan

Screen adaptation: Carmen is filmmaker Benjamin Millepied's feature directorial debut, and is an adaptation of the beloved opera of the same name

Carmen is filmmaker Benjamin Millepied's feature directorial debut, and is an adaptation of the beloved opera.

Frenchman Benjamin, who is married to Israeli-born actress Natalie Portman and arrived in Australia in November, previously shared his excitement at having cast Paul and Melissa in the roles.

'I feel so lucky to have actors as extraordinary as Melissa, Paul and Rossy (Rossy de Palma) with me on this film,' he said in an official statement.

'Melissa is so intelligent and intuitive, both as an actor and as a mover. I know she will bring depths to Carmen I could not even imagine.

'Paul has so much nuance and consideration in his work. I am thrilled to have them bring this romance to life.'

Titular tole: In the upcoming film, 30-year-old actress Melissa Barrera takes on the titular role

Production: Filming, which was originally slated to occur in Mexico and Los Angeles, will reportedly continue in Broken Hill, New South Wales

Career boost: Paul's career has gone from strength to strength since debuting as Connell Waldron in Normal People in April last year

While Carmen is set in Spain and tells the story of the downfall of Don Jose, who is seduced by Carmen, this adaptation will follow a Mexican woman's search for freedom in Los Angeles, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Filming, which was originally slated to occur in Mexico and Los Angeles, will reportedly continue in Broken Hill, New South Wales.

Paul's career has gone from strength to strength since debuting as Connell Waldron in Normal People in April last year.

He has since featured in drama The Deceived and will star in The Lost Daughter, opposite Dakota Johnson and Olivia Colman.

Paul's work as a lovelorn student on Normal People alongside co-star Daisy Edgar-Jones, also won him a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Normal People is available to stream on Stan in Australia

Nomination: Paul's work as a lovelorn student on Normal People won him a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie at the 2020 Primetime Emmy Awards

Puff: In between scenes, Maynooth native Paul was seen sitting on the steps to his trailer as he puffed on the cigarette in the sweltering heat
Kerry Co-op will move forward with a bid for Kerry PLC's dairy business in a move set to trigger a break-up of the group's consumer brands, the Irish Independent has learned.

The consumer foods division is likely to be split up after the Kerry Co-op agreed to bid for a majority stake in the dairy unit, including brands like Dairygold as well as processing capacity.

Other food brands, mainly UK-based, could now be sold separately.

The Co-op board is understood to have take a decision yesterday to move to the due diligence phase of a process to acquire a 60pc stake in the dairy arm.

The proposed deal is for the Irish-headquartered dairy business which includes not only dairy processing but valuable consumer brands such as Dairygold and Cheestrings.

That sale could get the ball rolling on the disposal of all of Kerry Groups consumer foods division, according to Goodbody food and beverage analyst Jason Molins.

The greater focus on the higher growth and higher margin Taste and Nutrition business is a more attractive proposition to investors, he wrote in a note to clients yesterday.

Without the dairy brands, Goodbody estimates the residual value of the consumer foods business to be 650m.

Exiting consumer foods would fulfill an ambition of CEO Edmond Scanlon to transform Kerry Group into a global ingredients company, unlocking substantial value for shareholders.

It is understood Kerry Group has valued the dairy business at 800m. It has a turnover of 1.03bn and profits of around 75m.

The Co-op will have to raise 480m to buy a 60pc stake with the balance owned by the PLC. The Co-op will have an option to buy out the remaining 40pc at a later date.

It is believed the Group is keen to sell but is insisting any deal be done without debt.

The Co-op currently has around 90m on its balance sheet to part-fund the deal. Another 125m can be raised based on a contribution of 10c/litre of milk per supplier. The remainder would come from a placement of part of the Co-ops 12.3pc stake in the Group.

Read More

A deal of this size would require approval by Kerry Groups shareholders. While it is understood the Group is prepared to deal with the Co-op bilaterally, a bid could open up a wider bidding process involving third parties.

With consumer foods going in two directions, there is a question mark over the fate of the rest of the division, which includes meat brands like Denny as well as convenience foods and ready meals.

These businesses have been unofficially for sale for years, but no buyer has emerged. Hiving off the higher value brands in a dairy deal could make it an even harder sell.

Valeo Foods and Eight Fifty Food Group  both owned by private equity firm CapVest  have been active acquirers recently and could potentially take pieces of the group in bolt-on acquisitions, sources said.

Eight Fifty agreed to buy ham maker Carrolls Cuisine in December, bringing sales for the group to more than 2bn. Valeo, which already owns several well-known Irish and UK food brands such as Batchelors and Kelkin, this month bought German confectioner Schuckwerder.

A trade buyer such as Greencore or McEvoy foods could also take an interest in the rump consumer foods business, which would mesh well with their focus on convenience foods.

Duncan Everett left his position as head of Kerrys consumer foods division last year to become CEO of Noble Foods in a sign that the business was facing an uncertain future.

Kerry Group is trading at a 20pc discount to its peers and shareholders would be likely to welcome any movement to re-orient the company towards the higher growth, higher-margin ingredients business, sources said.

It is understood that investors would like to see Kerry exit its lower-margin, capital-intensive businesses to realise cash for investment in growth opportunities or for capital returns.

Sales volumes for the company decreased by 4.5pc in the nine months to the end of September, with margins eroding by 130 basis points.

Brands within consumer foods varied in performance, with Dairygold and spreadable butters doing well as more consumers ate at home due to lockdown restrictions. Sausage brands Richmond and Denny saw reduced sales due to retail closures.

The company told shareholders in November that its taste and nutrition business, which makes up 72pc of group sales, was more critical than ever.
We have all seen the corrupt U.S. Justice Department aggressively prosecute and imprison political opponents such as General Michael Flynn and former Texas congressman Steve Stockman on the flimsiest of "crimes." Meanwhile, left-wing figures such as Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden, who commit serious crimes, remain untouched. The full truth is worse than what most people are aware of. Here is just one case we're familiar with.

Philip Zodhiates is recognized as one of America's best direct-mail professionals for conservative and Christian non-profits. His company, Response Unlimited, has sent out tens of millions of fundraising letters regarding the homosexual agenda and other anti-Christian movements. Prior to and during the Obama administration, his company sent out over 80 million fundraising letters targeting various suspect issues concerning Barack Obama, including his status as a "natural born citizen" and his ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. In addition, Zodhiates operated the Conservative Petitions website that generated impactful feedback and millions of email messages opposing leftist programs.

Zodhiates is a committed Christian who adopted six children from Central America and has generously donated money to, and volunteered for, Christian causes.

On Sept. 21, 2009, Zodhiates gave a young woman he knew from his church, Lisa Miller, a car ride from Virginia (where they all lived) to New York. At the time, Miller was under emotional stress and was accompanied by her seven-year-old daughter, Isabella.

That was the beginning of Zodhiates's nightmare. The Obama Justice Dept. and major liberal and LGBT groups used the incident to manufacture an outlandish charge against him, leading to a tremendously expensive trial and landing him in federal prison, where he is today.

The story began almost ten years earlier. It's not surprising that a "gay rights" dispute is involved.

In December 2000, Lisa Miller and another young woman, Janet Jenkins, were in a lesbian relationship. They traveled from home in Virginia to Vermont to enter into a "civil union," which was not legally recognized in Virginia.

Lisa wanted to have a child and was artificially inseminated. In April 2002, when Isabella was born, Jenkins was not listed as a parent on the baby's birth certificate. Since then, Jenkins also declined to adopt Isabella on at least two occasions, according to published documents.

In July 2002, the couple and child moved from Virginia to Vermont. But in September 2003, the relationship broke up, and Lisa and Isabella moved back to Virginia. In November 2003, the domestic partnership was dissolved. After that, according to documents, Jenkins saw Isabella once in 2003 and twice in 2004. Soon after, Lisa became a Christian. In 2004, a Virginia judge officially recognized Lisa as Isabella's sole parent. Lisa decided not to allow Jenkins to have any further visits with Isabella. And according to published papers, Jenkins expressed little interest in Isabella.

Then the LGBT movement stepped in.

The ACLU along with the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund sought to make Lisa's ordeal into a test case to establish that same-sex partners in civil unions could have "parental rights" over children  even if they were not biologically related and had never legally adopted them. In addition, according to documents, the Southern Poverty Law Center convinced Jenkins to allow the firm to make this case the precedent-setting attempt to nullify the Virginia Marriage Amendment and the Federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Starting in 2007, these groups funded Janet Jenkins's protracted custody battle over Isabella in the courts of Virginia and Vermont. A Vermont judge ordered that Janet should be allowed unsupervised overnight visits with Isabella, even though at that time she had not seen Isabella for two and a half years.

Lisa initially complied with these orders. But then she noticed that Isabella was acting disturbingly after these visits. According to published documents, after one visit in 2007 (when Isabella was five years old) Lisa noted (published later in an affidavit):

Isabella has been crying at night asking me to promise that she doesn't have to take a bath or shower with [Janet.] ... Since I picked her up on Sunday, Isabella has been exhibiting severe behaviors of stress, including pushing a comb against her stomach and telling me she is going to kill herself. She has been excessively and openly masturbating since she returned on Sunday and at one point tried to put a pen in her vagina.

When Lisa could see that Isabella was obviously being sexually abused during the visits with Jenkins, she declined to yield to the orders of the Vermont court. She continued fighting, but the massive legal force of the national groups was no match for Lisa's meager resources.

Three licensed social workers in Virginia submitted affidavits stating that they believed that Isabella was in danger with these visits, but that did not sway the courts. The Vermont court would not even allow those affidavits to be introduced as evidence.

The Virginia courts were persuaded to go along with the Vermont decision on visitation. In 2008, Lisa fought it all the way up to the Virginia Supreme Court. The court ruled in favor of continuing visitation rights for Jenkins!

Lisa still refused to comply. In 2009, a judge warned that if Lisa did not allow the visitations, he would transfer full custody of Isabella to Jenkins. In November 2009, the judge followed through with his threat and ordered Lisa to hand Isabella over to Jenkins.

But by then, it was too late. Lisa and Isabella had left the country.

On Sept. 21, 2009, Lisa asked her friend from church, Philip Zodhiates, to drive her to Buffalo, N.Y. The next day, Lisa and Isabella took a taxi across the border to Canada. They apparently flew from there to Central America, but their exact whereabouts are still unknown, according to reports.

At that point, the LGBT groups got the Obama Dept. of Justice (DOJ) involved. The DOJ charged Zodhiates with international parental kidnapping and conspiracy. The two-week jury trial was largely a sham. Among other things:

The DOJ got the jury trial moved from conservative Lynchburg, Virginia to liberal Buffalo, New York. But the supposed "kidnapping" took place in Virginia. Buffalo was simply the endpoint of the ride.

Lisa had full legal custody of Isabella, they had legal passports, and there were no travel restrictions.

Virginia's Defense of Marriage Amendment to its Constitution forbade the Virginia courts from recognizing the Vermont civil union, and Isabella's Virginia birth certificate lists Lisa as her only parent. Lisa lived in Virginia when Isabella was born.

The trial was largely on ad hominem characterization, not points of law. During the trial, the SPLC helped introduce "evidence" that Zodhiates was a horrible Christian bigot. But the judge refused to allow evidence of Zodhiates's philanthropy and charitable work.

The jury never heard any evidence of the horrible sexual abuse regarding Isabella (or the affidavits from the social workers), which was the reason Lisa was escaping with her daughter. More important, fear of sexual abuse is a legal defense for alleged "parental kidnapping." But Zodhiates's lawyers purposefully chose not to tell the jury about that  an act of apparent legal malpractice which Zodhiates brought up in his appeal.

By any normal measure, Philip Zodhiates committed no crime. And certainly by the normal standards of today's legal system, he wouldn't have been charged even if he had. But that's not how things turned out.

The massive DOJ, SPLC, and LGBT legal team was overwhelming, and Zodhiates's lawyers were frankly unimpressive. The jury convicted Zodhiates.

The appeal was also shameful. The court rejected all of the problems with the trial that Zodhiates brought up. Petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court were also rejected. In 2018, he was sentenced to three years in federal prison, where he sits now until the end of 2021. They would not even let him out early for COVID, even though thousands of other inmates were released.

Philip Zodhiates is also hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt for legal fees and lost income. It is likely that the SPLC will bankroll a further lawsuit against him on behalf of Jenkins for "damages."

In December 2019, Zodhiates filed a petition for pardon from President Trump. Unfortunately, no action was taken.

Brian Camenker is president of MassResistance, a pro-family activist group that has been fighting the left's attacks on family, traditional values, and religious belief for over 25 years.

Image: Gaspartacus via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Below Deck's 'Chef Rachel' Hargrove has dismissed accusations that she drinks too much and has downplayed her on-screen feud with deckhand James Hough.

Speaking to the POPlitically Incorrect podcast, the fan favourite said that some of her castmates were overreacting about her drinking on the show.

'I just think they're being uptight, I really do,' the 38-year-old said.

Speaking out: Below Deck's 'Chef Rachel' Hargrove (pictured) has dismissed accusations that she drinks too much and has downplayed her on-screen feud with deckhand James Hough

'The focus was on me because everybody else wasn't doing anything so... it is what it is, I don't really care,' she continued.

'I do think that I get singled out a lot now. It was Elizabeth [Frankini] that got singled out a lot, and Izzy [Wouters] was getting her turn in the very beginning.

'She got her flogging in the beginning, Elizabeth's getting her flogging still, and now it's my turn. [Francesca Rubi] went after James at one point too.'

'I just think they're being uptight, I really do,' the 38-year-old said. 'The focus was on me because everybody else wasn't doing anything so... it is what it is, I don't really care'

On this week's episode, Rachel shocked viewers after drunkenly slamming James to Elizabeth while he was in earshot during a boozy dinner party.

'I'm so mad at you. I'm mad at you,' Rachel told Elizabeth after learning that she was having a fling with James.

'Why the f**k would you go f**k that dude?' she said, adding: 'He's a f**king idiot.'

Unfiltered: On this week's episode, Rachel shocked viewers after drunkenly slamming James to Elizabeth while he was in earshot during a boozy dinner party

James and Rachel then started clashing at the table, all while Elizabeth got caught in the middle of the drama.

Speaking to POPlitically Incorrect, Rachel said that she doesn't actually have any issues with the handsome lad.

'I don't dislike James at all, I like James, it's just that when James came in at the very beginning he was like, "I'm on holiday. That bird's fit!"

'Why the f**k would you go f**k that dude?' she said, before adding, 'He's a f**king idiot.' (Pictured: James Hough)

'He just annoys me because he does come into the galley and just stands there sometimes, like he's posing. He does this blue steel face all the time towards the camera, and I'm like, "B***h, wash!"

'He's actually a nice guy, I don't hate James at all. He's a douche. I can still like you if you're a douche, it's totally fine.'

Below Deck is currently airing on Bravo in the U.S. and streaming on Hayu in Australia.
FORT MILL, S.C., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nation Ford Chemical (NFC) is pleased to announce it has been recognized for outstanding efforts in improving environmental, health, safety and security (EHS&S) by the Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA), the leading trade association representing specialty and fine chemical manufacturers.

NFC participates in SOCMA's ChemStewards program that has for 14 years encouraged and recognized companies for operating their facilities in an environment that promotes safety and environmental compliance to all stakeholders.

NFC received the Silver Performance Improvement Award for EHS&S Planning & Operations during SOCMA's 2020 Annual Meeting. NFC has previously won two gold awards and nine silver awards. The company will also be recognized at the Specialty & Custom Chemicals Show.

A panel of judges undertake a blind review of applications each year to select the Performance Improvement Award winners. Particularly impressing the judges was Nation Ford Chemical's investments to ensure EHS&S success, including the company's thorough processes and procedures, communication with local emergency responders, self-assessments, and what-if scenarios. The judges also noted Nation Ford Chemical's improvements in safe production operations and wastewater treatment.

"We are extremely proud of the hard work our employees have put into our EHS&S program," said Brooke DiDomenico. "This award reflects our commitment to constant improvement for our products, our workers and our neighbors in the community."

"Maintaining a safe environment for employees and the community requires a commitment from the executive office to the manufacturing floor," said SOCMA President & CEO Jennifer Abril. "It also takes resources and dedication to continuously improve a facility's operations and processes. The tenacity of the Nation Ford Chemical team to enhance and strengthen its EHS&S efforts year after year is a shining example for our industry. We look forward to NFC's continued participation in ChemStewards, our EHS&S management program where companies can share best practices on the implementation of safe, sustainable and environmentally responsible operations."

About Nation Ford Chemical

Founded in 1978, Nation Ford Chemical is one of America's most respected custom manufacturers of specialty organic chemicals. NFC's products, including Sulfanilic Acid (CAS#121-57-3) and PANA (N-Phenyl-1-naphthylamine, CAS#90-30-2), are sold worldwide through offices in the United States, Europe, China, and Japan. NFC has a diverse background in toll manufacturing custom chemicals with production at our 27-acre site in Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA. For more information, visit www.nationfordchem.com.

SOURCE Nation Ford Chemical

Related Links

http://www.nationfordchem.com


An 18-year-old man, who allegedly stabbed a man with a screw driver to death during a scuffle, has been arrested by the police at Neoplan Station in Accra.



The suspect, Jude Mensah, is in the custody of the police assisting in investigation, the Kaneshie Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)Edward Faakye-Kumi, disclosed to the Ghanaian Times, in Accra, yesterday.



He said Monday at about 1:30, Kweku Kwarteng assisted by others arrested and brought to the Neoplan station, Jude Mensah together with a screw driver.



ACP Faakye-Kumi said they reported that Mensah was spotted fighting with the deceased,Saani Osman, at Neoplan Lorry station, and suspect used screw driver to stab him (Osman) and he fell unconscious.



He said Osman was rushed to the Sape Agbo Clinic at Kotobabi, and when the police followed up to the health facility, they were told Osman died whiles receiving treatment.



ACP Faakye-Kumi said inspection on the body revealed multiple stab wounds on the chest, neck and his head.



He said there also bruises on his knee and toe, and the body was conveyed to the Police Hospital mortuary.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Washington: The Indian economy, severely hit by the coronavirus pandemic, is projected to contract by a massive 10.3 per cent this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Tuesday.

However, India is likely to bounce back with an impressive 8.8 per cent growth rate in 2021, thus regaining the position of the fastest growing emerging economy, surpassing China's projected growth rate of 8.2 per cent, the IMF said in its latest 'World Economic Outlook' report.

Released ahead of the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, the report said global growth would contract by 4.4 per cent this year and bounce back to 5.2 per cent in 2021.

America's economy is projected to contract by 5.8 per cent in 2020 and grow by 3.9 per cent the next year, the IMF said.

China is the only country, among the major economies, to show a positive growth rate of 1.9 per cent in 2020, it said.

The IMF in its report said that revisions to the forecast are particularly large for India, where Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted much more severely than expected in the second quarter.

"As a result, the economy is projected to contract by 10.3 per cent in 2020, before rebounding by 8.8 per cent in 2021," it said.

In 2019, India's growth rate was 4.2 per cent.

According to the IMF, India is among those likely to suffer the greatest damage from global warming, reflecting its initially high temperatures. For India, the net gains from climate change mitigation-relative to inaction-would be up to 60-80 per cent of GDP by 2100.

While estimates of losses from climate change are somewhat smaller for colder regions (for example, Europe, North America, and east Asia), these are likely underestimations as they do not include a number of damages (for example, rise in sea levels, natural disasters, damage to infrastructure from thawing of permafrost in Russia) and negative global spillovers from large economic disruptions in other parts of the world.

Last week, the World bank said India's GDP this fiscal is expected to contract by 9.6 per cent.

"India's GDP is expected to contract 9.6 per cent in the fiscal year that started in March," the World Bank said in its latest issue of the South Asia Economic Focus report.

"The situation is much worse in India than we have ever seen before," Hans Timmer, World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia, told reporters during a conference call last week. "It is an exceptional situation in India. A very dire outlook," he said.

There was a 25 per cent decline in GDP in the second quarter of the year, which is the first quarter of the current fiscal year in India.

In the report, the World bank said the spread of the virus and containment measures have severely disrupted supply and demand conditions in India.
The NSW Premiers office has been cleared of breaching the states freedom of information act when it shredded documents relating to a $250 million grants scheme now at the centre of a pork-barrelling inquiry.

However, the Information and Privacy Commissioner did hand over its report on the matter to the Independent Commission Against Corruption and the State Archives and Records and Authority.

A senior member of Premier Gladys Berejiklians staff revealed to a parliamentary inquiry last year that she likely destroyed documents relating to the Premiers approval of grants from the Stronger Communities fund.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The matter was referred by the NSW opposition to the states Information and Privacy Commission, which, on Thursday, released a report to interested parties saying it was not satisfied that the complaint in respect of allegations of serious breaches of the Act was justified.
January 21 : Since son Arik's first birthday, Arjun Rampal and his girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades have been frequently sharing pictures of the little Rampal. Arik is Gabriella, a South African model and a designer, and Arjuns son. Arjun has two daughters, Mahikaa and Myra, with his former wife and supermodel Mehr Jesia.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Arjun shared an adorable video clip, wherein the Dhaakad actor is seen working out with Arik on his lap. Starting young. #ironman, Rampal wrote. In the cute video clip, little Arik is seen trying to pull a machine with his little hands.

Arjun, who keeps sharing pictures with Arik, recently, shared a couple of pictures, in which father-son duo can be seen taking a stroll hand-in-hand. In another picture, the little munchkin can be seen sitting on Arjuns shoulders as they spend fun time on a perfect Sunday. Perfect Sunday with junior, senior Rampal captioned the pictures.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Arjun Rampal, was last seen in the web series The Final Call and Nail Polish. Both the film and the web series are streaming on Zee5. Currently, Arjun is shooting for Dhaakad, where he plays the antagonist Rudraveer, who is dangerous, deadly and cool at the same time! Dhaakad, which stars Kangana Ranaut as the lead character, will hit the cinemas on October 1, 2021.

Besides Dhaakad, Arjun has Aparna Sen's film The Rapist, and Ramesh Thete's directorial venture The Battle of Bhima Koregaon in the pipeline. While filming for The Rapist will begin in March, Arjun will resume shoot for The Battle of Bhima Koregaon in April this year. The actor also has an action film up his sleeves, for which he will shoot in London. Rampal will also make his Telugu debut this year.
THE former president of the Royal British Legions Henley and Peppard branch has died.

Brigadier Malcolm Page MBE, who was 94, had stepped down for health reasons in January 2019.

He lived in Henley for most of his life and was awarded the town medal for exceptional contribution to the community in 2011.

He served the Legion, which organises the annual Poppy Appeal, for more than a quarter of a century.

In 1982 he founded the Henley-Borama Friendship Association, which maintains a link with the Somalian city and organises cultural exchange visits.

Brig Pages military career spanned more than 30 years and he attained his rank while serving in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in the Seventies.

He always recalled proudly being invited, as commander-in-chief, to show the Queen around Bicester Garrison a short time before he left the forces in 1978.

Twenty years later, he led a guard of honour for Her Majesty featuring about 60 Legion members from across Oxfordshire when she attended the opening of the River & Rowing Museum in Henley.

Brig Page joined the Somaliland Scouts as a junior officer after the Second World War and committed his life to helping Somali veterans who had fought for the Crown in the former British protectorate.

He adminstered relief funds to scores of ex-Scouts through the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, of which he was a council member for 22 years and chairman for a time.

He led campaigns to improve schools, hospitals and roads in Somalia, raising at least 75,000.

He also arranged annual visits to Henley in which scores of delegates sang, danced and played drums in traditional costume.

Brig Page also supported the Kings African Rifles and East African Forces Association for more than 20 years and published a definitive history of the Rifles in 1998.

He was made an MBE for voluntary service to ex-servicemen and women in the 2017 New Years Honours and collected his medal at Buckingham Palace from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

At the time, he told the Henley Standard: It was a very proud moment  its one thing to get a little letter from the Foreign Office and another to actually be there amid the pomp and splendour of the palace. I will be wearing the medal with pride at events like Remembrance Sunday.

Brig Page was born in Gloucester on May 12, 1926 and lived with his father Robert, mother Winifred and younger sister Yvonne (Meachen).

His grandfather had been a Christian missionary in China but moved back to England when Brig Pages father, who fought for the London Scottish Regiment during the First World War, was born.

He was educated at the Sir Thomas Richs School, a grammar in Gloucester, serving in the cadet corps, then joined the Gordon Highlanders in 1944.

During his posting in India, he rose through the ranks and was commissioned into the regiment as an officer in 1945. He was also attached to the 9th Gurkha regiment and passed his Urdu proficiency test with a perfect score.

When the war ended, he served in Greece and Ethiopia being posted to Somaliland with the Scouts in 1947. He served with them until 1951.

He moved to Henley in the early Eighties and joined the Legion a few years later. He was appointed branch chairman before becoming president. He continued as a patron after handing over the presidency to Lt Col Peter Blaker.

Mr Green, who is the current president, said: Malcolm was a well-known and highly respected figure in the life of Henley for many years. He devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Legion and was an energetic and highly effective leader.

One of his innovations was to provide sherry for the monthly committee meetings, which improved attendance immeasurably.

As his physical health started to fail, he moved to permanent residence at Chilterns Court but continued to plan presentations which, sadly, he was unable to give.

I was in almost daily contact, either by phone or by visiting prior to lockdown. He never lost his positive attitude and always asked about the wellbeing of his many friends and showed interest in world and local affairs.

He thought it important to support local businesses and buying locally produced Mr Hobbs gin was his contribution to the cause. He will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

Branch chairwoman Anne Evans said: As well as working with Malcolm, I got to know him as a friend and was always astounded by his phenomenal memory for dates of events such as battles and manoeuvres. We had a lot in common as he loved Africa and I was born in Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe] and he was the reason I joined. They needed a treasurer and he persuaded me that they wouldnt need me for long but that was 10 years ago.

His knowledge meant he always had a quick answer when I needed help and he was always courteous and gentlemanly.

Brig Page lived in Ancastle Green, Henley, before moving late last year to Chilterns Court care centre, off York Road, where he died peacefully on January 11.

He is survived by Mrs Meachen and her daughter Kate Osbourne.

His funeral will be held in the south chapel at Reading Crematorium in Caversham at 2.30pm on Thursday (January 28).

Attendance is severely restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic but the service may be viewed online by calling funeral director Tomalin & Son on (01491) 543370. It is also accepting donations to the Legion.

Alternatively, the service may be viewed or donations offered at https://malcolmpage.muchloved.com

His family request that no flowers are sent. Anyone wishing to express condolences should write to Mrs Meachen care of Kate Osbourne, The Keep, 69 Drum Tower View, Caerphilly, CF83 2XJ.
Kerry Washington pulled out all the stops to craft a stylish yet reserved ensemble to celebrate the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president.

The 43-year-old actress joined other celebrities on the Celebrating America broadcast to mark the transition of power while showing off her elegant blue and brown plaid Autumn Adeigbo Alyssa pant suit ensemble.

Earlier, Washington gave her 6.3 million Instagram followers and advanced look at the classy ensemble.

Stunning: Kerry Washington, 43, looked fierce in a blue and brown plaid Autumn Adeigbo Alyssa pant suit ensemble as she appeared on Celebrating America to mark the inauguration of Joe Biden on Wednesday

Washington looked chic in her Autumn Adeigbo Alyssa double-breasted suit blazer, which was covered in a brown and navy blue pattern.

The jacket featured striking silky blue lapels, and she paired it with a matching set of pants.

She added some extra flair with a set of pointy brown leopard-print AGL heels, and she wore her raven locks tied back in a mass of voluminous curls.

The Django Unchained star rounded out her Instagram post with a closeup of her chest and her crimson nails, which were decorated with red, white and blue stars and the Biden/Harris campaign logo.

New president: Biden was sworn in as the 46th president earlier in the day at a scaled-back inauguration ceremony, while the usual performances were moved to a live-stream show called Celebrating America

On point: Washington looked chic in her Autumn Adeigbo double-breasted suit coat which had silk blue lapels. She also wore pointy leopard-print AGL heels

Ready for anything: 'Suited up & ready for the Inauguration Celebration,' Washington captioned her photos while showing off her Biden/Harris nails

'Suited up & ready for the Inauguration Celebration,' Washington captioned her photos, adding a brown heart emoji.

The actress made a statement with her ensemble by choosing the Black female designer Autumn Adeigo to design her outfit.

Washington's business-chic ensemble was likely a reference to her stylish character Olivia Pope, a Washington fixer who runs a crisis-management firm catering to the president on her ABC drama Scandal.

Iconic character: Washington's business-chic ensemble was likely a reference to her stylish character Olivia Pope, a Washington fixer who runs a crisis-management firm catering to the president on her ABC drama Scandal; still from Scandal

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the usually lavish inauguration celebrations had to be significantly cut down for the safety of performers and guests.

In place of the balls that the new president would normally attend, the Biden Inaugural Committee launched a program called Celebrating America, which featured musical performances and celebrity appearances to mark the new administration and the end of Donald Trump's administration.

Tom Hanks hosted the ceremony, while Bruce Springsteen was among the high-profile musicians performing.

Washington appeared about 50 minutes into the evening program with a short video filmed in front of a tree, in which she wore her blue and gold suit.

Finally: Washington appeared about 50 minutes into the evening program with a short video filmed. She said Vice President Kamala Harris' swearing in had 'been a long time coming'

Beaming: 'Ground-breaking women have fought for their dreams and carved the path, and now Kamala Harris is the first Black and South-Asian woman vice president of these United States,' she said

'This day has been a long time coming,' she began on a victorious note as she serenaded newly installed Vice President Kamala Harris.

'Ground-breaking women have fought for their dreams and carved the path, and now Kamala Harris is the first Black and South-Asian woman vice president of these United States.

'She is the first, but she will not be the last. The future for girls everywhere is limitless. To celebrate this historic day, some extraordinary Broadway players have come together to provide inspiration,' she said.

A group of theater stars, including B. D. Wong, Betty Buckley, Vanessa Williams, Laura Benanti and original Rent Broadway cast member Anthony Rapp took turns singing verses from the iconic tune Seasons Of Love from Rent.

Though it was stripped down compared to previous years, the inauguration ceremony earlier in the day still featured show-stopping performances from Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez.

Gaga was on hand to sing The Star-Spangled Banner, while Lopez sang the Woody Guthrie classic This Land Is Your Land.

Star power: Though it was stripped down compared to previous years, the inauguration ceremony earlier in the day still featured performances from Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez

The Army general brother of former national security adviser Michael Flynn has denied that his sibling influenced his thoughts during the Capitol riots, but admitted he could not remember if he spoke during a crucial call to discuss the military response.

Officials previously denied that Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn, the deputy chief of staff for operations for the US Army, was on the contentious January 6 call between the Pentagon, Capitol Police, and DC officials about deploying troops to help in the riot.

Charles Flynn told the Washington Post on Wednesday that he in fact had been on the call.

And on Thursday he further insisted that his thinking was not colored by his sibling's provocative views, saying it was an insult to his integrity to suggest he was so easily swayed.

'Suggesting that my brother's relationship would somehow influence my actions  I categorically deny,' Flynn said in a conference call with reporters.

'And I take it as a bit of a questioning of my integrity. So those are my thoughts on that.'

Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn (left), the brother of Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn (right) was involved in the Capitol riot response, despite the Army denying it, it has been revealed

On Wednesday, he told the paper: '[I] entered the room after the call began and departed prior to the call ending as I believed a decision was imminent,' Flynn said.

The general, who will soon be promoted to a four-star officer, said he could not remember whether he spoke on the call.

'I do not recall saying anything in the conference, but I may have, and I just don't recall saying anything to the audience on the other end,' he said.

Sources told The Washington Post on Thursday that Flynn did indeed speak during the discussion.

The Army has not clarified why they falsely said for days that Flynn was not involved, but it is likely due to his brother Michael Flynn's support for Donald Trump.

In the days leading up to Inauguration Day Michael Flynn publicly suggested Trump declare martial law and told Trump supporters 'there has to be sacrifice.'

Army officials once told The Post in a statement on January 12 when asked if Charles Flynn was in on the call: 'HE WAS NOT IN ANY OF THE MEETINGS.'

One official familiar with the situation said there was concern in the Army and National Guard about possible political fallout if it emerged that Flynn was part of the call.

However, there is no indication that Charles Flynn shares his brother's views or carried out his duties on January 6 in a manner that was influenced by his brother.

Michael Flynn served as national security adviser for the first 22 days of the Trump administration until his resignation.

He is a figure in the QAnon conspiracy and in the weeks before the Inauguration spoke at rallies about voter fraud in support of Trump.

On December 12 he spoke at a pro-Trump rally in Washington DC where he told Trump's supporters 'to be fearless as Americans', saying they reached a 'crucible moment' and 'there has to be sacrifice.'

Weeks prior Michael Flynn publicly suggested Donald Trump declare martial law and have the US military oversee a redo of the election. Trump pardoned Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, in November.

The Army denied his involvement in the Capitol riot response for days but on Wednesday Charles Flynn said he was on the January 6 call among officials about deploying troops to help. '[I] entered the room after the call began and departed prior to the call ending as I believed a decision was imminent,' Flynn said. A view of the MAGA mob storming the Capitol on January 6 above

In the January 6 call, Capitol Police and DC officials begged for backup as protesters broke into the Capitol building and stalled the Congress joint session to certify the election.

But Army officials were reluctant to deploy troops to the Capitol because of the negative 'visual' a heavy military response would have.

Eventually troops were deployed, arriving about three hours after the call, to clear the grounds - a move that has been heavily criticized as being too slow and reluctant.

Charles Flynn said he left the call early because he anticipated then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, who was in another meeting, would soon take action to deploy more guards.

Logistically, it makes sense that Flynn - the deputy chief of staff for operations for the US Army - would be involved in the Pentagon response.

The Washington DC Guard answers to the president, but the president delegates control over the forces to the defense secretary and the Army secretary, meaning the Army's top brass is responsible for critical decisions on the District's military force.

Flynn himself, however, is not in the chain of command.

In the January 6 call, Capitol Police and DC officials begged for backup. But Army officials were reluctant to deploy troops to the Capitol because of the negative 'visual' a heavy military response would have. Eventually troops were deployed, arriving about three hours after the call, to clear the grounds - a move that has been heavily criticized as being too slow and reluctant. A view of the National Guard at the National mall on January 19 above

Now it's likely that Michael Flynn's comments and his brother Charles Flynn's role in the slow Army response will come under further scrutiny.

Lawmakers have demanded transparency from the Defense Department in the aftermath of the devastating siege that left a police officer and four rioters dead.

Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who resigned after the riot, and acting DC police chief Robert J Contee III were shocked at the Army's reluctance to send in the Guard despite the severity of the breach, according to four people on the call.

McCarthy, though he was not on the call and did not comment on whether Charles Flynn was involved, defended his character in service.

'Charlie Flynn is an officer of an incredibly high integrity. Multiple combat tours. He has buried a lot of people. This guy has given a lot to this country. It is incredibly awkward for this officer every day for what is going on with him and his brother, but he puts his head down in, and he is locked in to serve the Constitution,' he said.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is officially Senate majority leader after the inauguration of Vice President Kamala Harris and the swearing-in of new Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

Why it matters: With a 50-50 Senate, Schumer will control a narrow majority with Harris as the tie-breaking vote. Democratic control of the Senate is crucial to President Biden's agenda, from getting his coronavirus relief proposal passed to forgiving student debt.

The big picture: After more than 20 years in the Senate, Schumer will be taking the position from Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who became majority leader in 2015.

McConnell and Schumer met on Tuesday to discuss a power-sharing agreement for the new Senate and to sort out when to hold President Trump's second impeachment trial.

Context: The last time the Senate was divided 50-50 was in 2001, under former President George W. Bush. The Senate agreed on a power-sharing plan that gave Republicans "a narrow advantage on setting the agenda on contentious issues," Roll Call writes.

Yes, but: The parties have become more divided since then and negotiations on how the power-sharing will work are likely to drag along, meaning Biden will not have any confirmed Cabinet members on his first day in office.

Details: Ossoff is Georgia's first Jewish senator.

Warnock is Georgia's first Black senator.

Padilla is the first Latino senator in California.

One fun thing: As Harris addressed "the certificate of the appointment to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California," she burst into laughter, adding: "Yeah, that was very weird."

Go deeper: Schumer's m(aj)ority checklist
South Carolina attorney Butch Bowers has reportedly been named as Donald Trumps impeachment lawyer.

Senator Lindsey Graham announced the news on a call with Republican members of the upper chamber of Congress, according to a report by Punchbowl News, confirmed by other outlets.

Mr Bowers will defend the former president in his second impeachment trial before the US Senate. He has previously served as counsel for three governors of South Carolina  Nikki Haley, Henry McMaster and Mark Sanford  and has experience in impeachment, ethics, voter ID and campaign cases.

Many of Mr Trumps previous legal representatives have distanced themselves from him following his role in inciting the mob who stormed the US Capitol on 6 January.

The legal team from Mr Trumps first impeachment either declined to represent him again or said they had no interest in doing so.

Mr Bowers has a wide range of experience relevant to Mr Trumps legal issues including serving as counsellor to Governor Sanford before the South Carolina House Judiciary Committee in 2009.

The governor was threatened with impeachment due to ethics violations resulting from a clandestine trip to Argentina to pursue an adulterous affair. Mr Sanford disappeared for six days telling his staff he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Ultimately that impeachment did not go ahead with the state House of Representatives instead voting to censure him.

Mr Sanford stayed on as governor until 2011, then taking a hiatus from politics before returning as a congressman, winning election in 2013.

He backed Mr Trump in 2016 but lost his seat in 2018 after criticising the president and losing a primary to a pro-Trump challenger. Mr Sanford briefly tried to run against Mr Trump for the Republican nomination in 2020.

Recommended Trump challenger Mark Sanford drops out of presidential race

The report that Mr Bowers would be representing Mr Trump comes after earlier reporting suggesting that any Senate impeachment trial could be held up while the former president looked for legal counsel.

Law firms Porter Wright Morris & Arthur and Snell & Whitmer stopped representing the Trump campaigns post-election lawsuits challenging results due to a public backlash.

Jones Day saw demonstrators gather outside its offices in New York and so also disassociated itself from Mr Trump.

Rudy Giuliani has said he cannot represent his client as he qualifies as a witness to the events leading up to the storming of the Capitol. Former Trump legal advisers Pat Cipollone, Jay Sekulow, Pam Bondi, and Eric Herschmann have all distanced themselves from the new impeachment.

There is no schedule yet for Mr Trumps second Senate impeachment trial.

Mr Bowers works as part of the Miller Law Group and currently serves in the South Carolina Air National Guard and holds the rank of Colonel.

The Independent has contacted Mr Bowers for comment.
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde has visited the Zolote entry-exit checkpoint during her visit to Donbas.

As part of her visit to Luhansk region, Ann Linde visited an entry-exit checkpoint in Zolote. An offsite meeting of Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov with Head of Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhii Haidai and Head of Donetsk Regional Civil-Military Administration Pavlo Kyrylenko also took place there," the press service of the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories reported on January 20.

As noted, Ukraine opened the entry-exit checkpoint in Zolote, together with the new entry-exit checkpoint in Shchastia, back in November 2020 as part of the agreements reached at the Normandy format summit in Paris and during consultations in the Trilateral Contact Group, which provided for the simultaneous opening of two checkpoints in Luhansk region to meet humanitarian needs.

Linde noted the work of Ukraine in the context of the implementation of the Normandy Four agreements and consultations within the TCG. She stressed Ukraine's desire to end the war and expressed support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

During the visit, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office met with the staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) mission and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

On January 19-20, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Ann Linde was on a two-day working visit to Ukraine.

ish

An urgent warning has been sent out for four popular battery charger banks that can catch fire if they overheat.

The Comsol products sold at Officeworks were recalled by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) due to an internal defect.

The regulatory body warned there is a 'risk of fire, serious injury or death'.

An urgent warning has been sent out for four popular battery charger banks that can catch fire if they overheat. Pictured: Two of the affected Comsol batteries

'Consumers should immediately stop using the power bank,' the ACCC said.

Anyone who purchased one of the faulty models can return it to their nearest Officeworks store for a full refund.

The product is an external battery for laptop computer, often used by people who are travelling and not near a power point.

Comsol is a Swedish computer software firm that also makes electronic goods such as batteries.

'Consumers should immediately stop using the power bank and return it to their nearest Officeworks store for a full refund,' the ACCC said. Pictured: Two of the affected batteries
The number of casualties due to the 6.2-magnitude which struck Indonesia's West Sulawesi province has increased to to 91, the national disaster management agency said on Thursday.

At least 1,172 people suffered wounds caused by the natural disaster on January 14, the agency's spokesman, Raditya Jati said, adding that 9,910 people were forced to flee their homes due to the

A disaster emergency response status for 14 days has been declared in West Sulawesi since January 15, reports Xinhua news agency.

President Joko Widodo recently visited the affected region to observe the conditions of evacuees and the evacuation process.

The president said that the government buildings collapsed by the will be rebuilt so that public services could resume immediately.

The government will also provide financial aid for damaged houses, he added.

In the last 30 days, was struck by three quakes of magnitude 6.0 or above, 22 quakes between 5.0 and 6.0, 143 quakes between 4.0 and 5.0, 367 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 247 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0, according to authorities.

There were also 13 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people do not normally feel.

On September 26, 2019, at least 41 people were killed, 1,578 injured, while more than 150,000 were evacuated when an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the Seram Island in Maluku.

There were at least 1,105 aftershocks in Maluku after the temblor.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

By Valerie Volcovici and Trevor Hunnicutt WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced America's return to the international Paris Agreement to fight climate change, the centerpiece of a raft of day-one executive orders aimed at restoring U.S. leadership in combating global warming. The announcements also included a sweeping order to review all of former President Donald Trump's actions weakening climate change protections, the revocation of a vital permit for TC Energy's Keystone XL oil pipeline project from Canada, and a moratorium on oil and ...
The preclinical research pipeline consisted of a high-throughput drug screen, followed by further testing of well-known compounds that work well with established chemotherapy drugs. Credit: R. Endersby et al., Science Translational Medicine (2021)

A new combination of drugs could help to increase survival rates with fewer side effects for some children with one of the most aggressive forms of childhood brain cancer.

Researchers and clinicians from Western Australia, the U.S. and Germany collaborated to develop the innovative approach to treating children with Medulloblastoma, using a two-pronged attack to stop cancer cells from repairing themselves, and their findings have been published in the medical journal, Science Translational Medicine.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy drugs are used to kill cancer cells by damaging their DNA, but those cells are often able to repair their own damaged DNA and can continue to grow after treatment.

The team conducted extensive laboratory modeling on a number of different therapies and discovered that a new type of molecularly-targeted drugprexasertibwas able to "switch off" the cancer cells' ability to repair itself when used in conjunction with chemotherapy.

Those findings paved the way for a major clinical trial of the drug combination, currently underway in Australia and the United States. The trial is called SJ Eliot, named after four-year-old Perth boy Elliot Parish who lost his battle with medulloblastoma in 2011.

Telethon Kids co-head of Brain Tumor Research, Dr. Raelene Endersby, said the trial was the result of years of work to evaluate new treatment options for children with specific types of medulloblastoma. "Our challenge was to find new drugs that we could combine with current therapies to use against this disease."

Dr. Endersby said the results generated from rigorous lab work conducted over an eight-year period allowed the multi-national team to design the clinical trial. "We've actually used all of that detailed laboratory information to select which patients should be on the trial and which combinations should be tested, then used that to design a clinical trial," she said. "It's one of the first times that's been done for this disease so it's really quite exciting."

Telethon Kids co-head of Brain Tumour Research, Dr Raelene Endersby and Head of the Oncology and Haematology Department at Perth Childrens Hospital and Telethon Kids co-head of Brain Tumour Research, Professor Nick Gottardo. Credit: Telethon Kids Institute

Head of the Oncology and Hematology Department at Perth Children's Hospital and Telethon Kids co-head of Brain Tumor Research, Professor Nick Gottardo, said too many children were dying from brain cancer and those who survived often had permanent side effects from their treatment. "We know we can change that with research, by finding and using smarter treatments that are more effective on the cancer and cause less collateral damage on the body. This has been our aim over eight years of research and this is what we are currently testing in the SJ Eliot clinical trial."

Co-leader of St Jude Children's Research Hospital's Cancer Biology program, Martine Roussel Ph.D. said the use of molecularly targeted drugs could enable clinicians to tailor treatments to a specific child's illness.

"If we can improve the effectiveness of the therapies we're giving to these children, it not only improves their chances of survival but will mean we can reduce the amount of toxins we expose them to during the treatment," she said. "This will mean fewer side-effects and reduce the risk of secondary cancers caused by the treatments themselves."

Scientists from the Hopp Children's Cancer Centre (KiTZ) in Heidelberg, Germany also contributed to this significant research.

Medulloblastoma is the most common type of brain tumor in children, starting in the lower back part of the brain involved in muscle coordination, balance and movement. About 30 percent of children diagnosed with the disease do not survive.

Explore further Personalized drug screens could guide treatment for children with brain cancer

More information: Raelene Endersby et al. Small-molecule screen reveals synergy of cell cycle checkpoint kinase inhibitors with DNA-damaging chemotherapies in medulloblastoma, Science Translational Medicine (2021). Journal information: Science Translational Medicine Raelene Endersby et al. Small-molecule screen reveals synergy of cell cycle checkpoint kinase inhibitors with DNA-damaging chemotherapies in medulloblastoma,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba7401

Provided by Telethon Kids Institute
Huntsville police have made an arrest in a Monday murder.

Lemond Lawerance Burns, 21, was arrested Wednesday in Vestavia Hills and charged with capital murder.

Police say he shot and killed Alabama A&M student Dallis Patrick Ryan Wolfe, 22, on Monday as part of an ongoing dispute. (Read more HERE)

The U.S. Marshal Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force and Talladega Sheriffs Department assisted in the arrest.
One man was found dead Thursday at a house fire in Newark that left two other people hospitalized, officials said.

Firefighters were called to the blaze around 12:30 p.m. and found flames on the second and third floors of a three-story residence in the 400 block of Roseville Avenue, according to Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose.

Emergency crews found a man unresponsive on the third floor of the North Ward building, authorities said. Another man and a woman suffered smoke inhalation and were rushed to University Hospital.

About 55 city firefighters worked to battle the fire and search for victims, according to Ambrose. Crews declared the fire under control around 1:45 p.m. Three families - four adults in total - were displaced from the incident, officials said.

The Essex County Prosecutors Office was investigating the cause and origin of the fire, Ambrose said. Officials did not immediately release more details.

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Shiv Sena and BJP have locked horns over the Tandav row as Shiv Sena has questioned the BJP's position on the latest Amazon web series. Taking a swipe on the BJP's protests against the web series through its mouthpiece Saamana, Shiv Sena said that the saffron party has made a fool of itself and the party creates issues for entertaining people.

Shiv Sena added people don't like these shallow experiments of the BJP and they never tolerated disrespect towards Hindu gods and goddesses and cited the example of famous painter MF Hussain.

Saamana added even though Hussain was an exceptional artist, the Sena took offence to the manner in which Hindu gods and goddesses were portrayed in his paintings and ultimately the painter had to leave India. It also questioned the BJP's selective outrage and added the disrespect towards gods and nation is not limited only to the Saif Ali Khan web series and was also applicable when a BJP spokesperson called Prime Minister Modi the 13th incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

After this editorial came out, BJP leader Ram Kadam hit out at Shiv Sena and alleged that the latter cares about Hindutva only in case of an upcoming election. The BJP leader who is leading the protests against the makers of Tandav said, "Whenever elections are around Sena thinks of HIndutva. How is it a laughing matter when BJP has hit the ground to protests the disrespect to Gods and Goddesses? It was only after 100 hours that the government was forced to take the FIR here. How low will the Sena stoop for power?"

The BJP leader from Maharashtra has also asked Saif Ali Khan to make his stand clear on the entire controversy and said, "Whenever an actor signs a film or a web series, he's narrated the script. A seasoned actor like Saif Ali Khan would have clearly known what the content of the series was and yet he agreed to do it. So, we have a question for Saif. Why didn't he say no to such a project where the religious sentiments of Hindus are being hurt? Why didn't he say such content is inappropriate? So, we want to know what the position of the talented actor is in this regard."

Also read: 'Tandav' makers remove contentious scene after spate of FIRs
In his first official acts as US president, Joe Biden is signing executives orders on a broad range of issues, from the coronavirus pandemic to climate change and immigration, to fulfil campaign promises.

Here are some highlights of the actions Mr Biden is taking on Wednesday:

The coronavirus pandemic

 Mask requirement: Mr Biden is requiring the use of masks and social distancing in all federal buildings, on federal lands and by federal employees and contractors.

Consistently wearing a mask is a practice that science has shown to be effective in preventing the spread of the coronavirus, particularly when social distancing is difficult to maintain.

He is challenging all Americans to wear a mask for the first 100 days of his administration. That is a critical period, since communities will still be vulnerable to the virus even as the pace of vaccination increases in pursuit of Mr Bidens goal of 100 million Covid vaccinations in 100 days.

 World Health Organisation: Mr Biden also is directing the government to rejoin the World Health Organisation, which Donald Trump withdrew from earlier this year after accusing it of incompetence and bowing to Chinese pressure over the coronavirus.

Symbolising Mr Bidens commitment to a more prominent global role, White House coronavirus coordinator Jeff Zients announced that Dr Anthony Fauci will deliver a speech on Thursday to the WHO as head of a US delegation. Dr Fauci, the governments top infectious disease expert, will lay out how the administration intends to work with the WHO on reforms, supporting the coronavirus response and promoting global health and health security

Joe Biden will sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accord (Thibault Camus/AP)

Climate

 Paris climate accord: Mr Biden will sign an executive order to rejoin the Paris climate accord, fulfilling a campaign pledge to get back into the global climate pact on day one. Mr Trump, a supporter of oil, gas and coal, had made a first priority of pulling out of global efforts to cut climate-damaging fossil fuel emissions.

It will take 30 days for the US to officially be back in.

 Reviewing Trump rollbacks: Mr Bidens day one plans also include a temporary moratorium on new Trump administration oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, moving to revoke a presidential permit for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline and reviewing a Trump administration freeze on vehicle mileage and emissions standards. Mr Biden also is setting in motion an evaluation of another Trump move that cut boundaries and protections for some national monuments.

Agencies will be directed to consider impact of climate change on disadvantaged communities and on future generations from any regulatory action that affected fossil fuel emissions, a new requirement.

Donald Trump tours a section of the US-Mexico border wall earlier this month in Alamo, Texas (Alex Brandon/AP)

Immigration

 Ending travel ban: Mr Biden is ending what is variously known as the travel ban, one of the first acts of the Trump administration. Mr Trump in January 2017 banned foreign nationals from seven mostly Muslim countries from entry into the country. After a lengthy court fight, a watered-down version of the rule was upheld by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision in 2018.

The new administration says it will improve the screening of visitors by strengthening information sharing with foreign governments and other measures.

 Border wall: Mr Biden is immediately ending the national emergency that Mr Trump declared on the border in February 2018 to divert billions of dollars from the Defense Department to wall construction. He also is halting construction to review contracts and how wall money might be redirected.

Despite Mr Trumps repeated promises that Mexico would pay for the wall, US Customs and Border Protection says Americans have committed 15 billion dollars for more than 700 miles. It is unclear how many miles are under contract and what penalties the government would have to pay for cancelling them.

The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments on February 22 on the legality of Mr Trumps diverting Defence Department funds for counter-narcotics efforts and military construction projects to wall construction.

 DACA: Mr Biden will order his Cabinet to work to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme, which has shielded hundreds of thousands of people who came to the country as young children from deportation since it was introduced in 2012.

Mr Trump ordered an end to DACA in 2017, triggering a legal challenge that ended in June when the Supreme Court ruled that it should be kept in place because the Trump administration failed to follow federal rule-making guidelines in undoing it. But DACA is still facing legal challenges.

In his presidential proclamation, Mr Biden is calling on Congress to adopt legislation that gives DACA recipients permanent legal status and a path to citizenship. There are currently about 700,000 people enrolled.

 Deportations: Mr Biden is revoking one of Mr Trumps first executive orders, which declared that all of the roughly 11 million people in the country illegally are considered priorities for deportation. The Department of Homeland Security will conduct a review of enforcement priorities. Mr Bidens campaign site says deportations will focus on national security and public safety threats.

The order says nothing about a 100-day moratorium on deportations that Mr Biden promised during the campaign. Susan Rice, who is tapped to run the White House Domestic Policy Council, says any decision on moratoriums would come from Homeland Security.

 Census: Mr Biden is reversing a Trump plan to exclude people in the country illegally from being counted in the 2020 Census. The once-a-decade census is used to determine how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as the distribution of 1.5 trillion dollars in federal spending each year.

Mr Bidens team says the new administration will ensure the Census Bureau has time to complete an accurate count for each state and that the apportionment is fair and accurate.

Support for President-elect Joe Biden and vice president-elect Kamala Harris outside the California state Capitol in Sacramento (Rich Pedroncelli/AP)

Student debt

Mr Biden is asking the Education Department to extend a pause on federal student loan payments through to at least September 30, continuing a moratorium that began early in the pandemic but was set to expire at the end of January.

Borrowers, who owe a collective 1.5 trillion dollars, would not be required to make payments on their federal student loans, their loans would not accrue any interest, and all debt collection activity would halt through September.

Congress paused student debt payments last March as part of a virus relief package, and the Trump administration extended it twice.

Mr Bidens order does not include the type of mass debt cancellation that some Democrats asked him to orchestrate through executive action. He has said that action should come from Congress.

Housing foreclosures

Housing foreclosures and evictions would be delayed until at least March 31 2021. Almost 12% of homeowners with mortgages are late on their payments, while 19% of renters are behind, according to a Census Bureau survey of households.

The federal moratoriums would ensure that people could stay in their homes even if they cannot afford their monthly bills. Mr Biden is also calling on Congress to extend assistance to renters. While the moratoriums have aided several million Americans during the pandemic and helped to contain the disease, they have also meant that billions of dollars in housing costs have gone unpaid.
MIDDLETOWN  Two sisters are drawing on their sense of humor to help process the blessing of the hastily-pulled-together wedding of their youngest sister at their dads bedside in the ICU just two days before he died.

Sara Estela and Michael Krystek of New Britain were wed at Middlesex Hospital, in full protective gear amid the pandemic, the bride said.

Juan Estela of Middletown, 67, who suffered from asthma, COPD, diabetes and congestive heart failure, was admitted to the Middletown hospital on Christmas Day, after his family realized he was struggling to breathe, according to his daughter Alyssa Broe.

Sara Estela wants to spread the joy the family felt when her dad was able to be at their marriage, even though the family wasnt sure he was aware of it because his eyes were closed and he was being aided with a breathing device.

With everything going on in the world right now, people need a feel-good story. Its not something the community needs  its something the world needs, she said.

Amanda Falcone, Middlesex Health public relations director, noted that each day, we provide compassionate care to our patients and their families, and sometimes, that means connecting family members so they can enjoy their last moments together,

It was our privilege to care for Juan and to help him attend his daughters wedding. Our hearts go out to Juans family, and we wish the newly married couple all the best, Falcone said.

After the Zoom wedding ceremony, the family prayed. As they said amen, they said they were shocked at what followed.

Their father had his eyes shut during the ceremony, Broe said. But then, His eyes shot wide open. You heard him say, Wow. Married. Sara got married.

I did it. I did it. I attended it, he said. It was very emotional, Sara Estela said.

Their father died Monday.

Juan Estela never indicated, or likely knew, his condition was as dire as it turned out to be, Broe said.

The sisters laughed when recounting how their father was absolutely thrilled when they sent him a goodie bag of sugar-free snacks early in his stay.

He got into the candy. He was in his own little paradise. He popped little jelly beans into his mouth and was all content like a child, Broe said.

The family would joke about his tendency to open the icebox  even minutes after it was filled, Broe said.

Before he said hi, he was sticking his head in the refrigerator.

She laughed thinking about the time the fridge was filled to the brim just after they went grocery shopping. Her father peeked in the freezer and said, Why is this ice cream just sitting here?

It had only been inside for 10 minutes, Broe said.

Juan Estela, a Jehovahs Witness, didnt observe Christmas due to his faith, although the sisters do, they said. For the entire family, it was a secular day during which they celebrated with one another, Broe said. That morning, the sisters went to pick him up for holiday dinner and noticed he was struggling to breathe.

He came down (the stairs) and he was the grayest, pale color, Broe said. He was extremely bloated. He would take a couple of little steps, and be out of breath severely, said Broe, who attributed the swelling to his heart issues and asthma.

Juan Estela took a nebulizer treatment and appeared to perk up. He smiled and laughed a little bit, but his breathing was still not good, Broe said. Eventually, they insisted he go to the emergency room.

As much as we want to have you here all day for dinner, we need to get you to a hospital, she said.

Their father, who lived by himself, had a fear of hospitals, and dreaded needles, Broe said. The thought of staying overnight would have frightened him, she said. Hes the type who would try to sneak away.

Estela, who was on a very limited income, had a heart of gold, and would often eat at the St. Vincent de Paul Middletown soup kitchen so he could donate to St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, the daughters said.

He was doing all this secretly, Broe said. He would give you his last $5.

During the early days when Estela was at the hospital, the family learned both of his kidneys had shut down. Physicians were mystified as to why he had deteriorated so quickly, Broe said. After a series of tests, they learned Estela also had cancer  prostate and stage 4 multiple myeloma.

If we didnt force him to come over for Christmas, he would have been dead in a day or two, Broe said.

Before doctors could conduct a biopsy on his prostate and kidneys, he went into cardiac arrest, she said, and He flatlined on the table. Emergency crews were able to bring him back after 10 minutes, Broe said.

Originally, Sara Estela and her now-husband had planned to marry in May. Realizing Juan Estela could only have days, if not hours, to live, they sprang into action, and were somehow able to get a minister friend to wed them via Zoom as the family watched.

Only the bride and groom were allowed in the room due to COVID. The couple spent less than $100 on the arrangements, Sara Estela said. We bought some cheap rings we thought were so beautiful to us. It didnt matter about the ring. It didnt matter about having anything fancy. It mattered that my dad was there.

Even though it was a $20 ring that I swore my vows on, it was the most meaningful thing I could ever have, she said. People think when you buy a ring its about the money you spend. Thats not it at all, Sara Estela said. Its about the love you share with that person ... and the people around you when youre saying those vows.

The ring can always be replaced, but the person that youre with cant, Broe said.

The bride has had a difficult time processing the rush of emotions shes been feeling.

I was overcome with joy. I felt so sad, and at the same time, speechless, Sara Estela said. My heart still aches with happiness and sadness at the same time.

She held her husbands and fathers hands as she and her husband exchanged vows. I wanted him to know we were there beside him, she said.

The family has been doing a lot of crying since the death of their patriarch, Broe said.

I know in my heart I will see him again one day. That brings me a lot of peace, the bride said.

The family has set up a GoFundMe drive, Juans Multiple Myeloma & Funeral Expenses, with a $5,000 goal. For information, visit gofundme.com.
The Biden administration fired the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board, a Trump appointee deeply unpopular with prominent labor unions, according to a White House official.

The term of the current general counsel, Peter B. Robb, was not supposed to expire until November, but the administration has a rarely used right to oust him or her prematurely. The general counsel, a Senate-confirmed official, is charged with enforcing the labor rights of private-sector employees and has substantial discretion over which cases the agency brings.

The effort by the administration was reported earlier by Bloomberg Law.

Mr. Robb was a polarizing figure who once proposed demoting the senior government officials who resolve most of the agencys cases and whom unions accused of seeking to settle a high-profile case against McDonalds to avoid an adverse decision against the company.

Mr. Robb also argued in a memorandum that Uber drivers should be considered contractors rather than employees and therefore not protected by federal labor law.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - More snow is possible this weekend for parts of Northeast Ohio, plus well see some frigid temps too.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for highs in the 20s on Friday and Saturday with highs climbing back to near freezing on Sunday. Snow chances are most likely Friday afternoon, continuing on through Saturday morning. Most of Saturday should be dry and cloudy before snow chances return in the overnight hours and through Sunday. While temperatures will begin to warm slightly at the end of the weekend, expect overnight lows Friday and Saturday to fall into the teens.

Lake Erie Marine forecast

Water temps will help keep things a little warmer on the lake this weekend. Highs Friday and Sunday should remain at or above freezing while Saturday will see air temps in the upper 20s. Overnight lows will stay out of the teens and hover in the lower 20s. Conditions will remain breezy Friday into Saturday with wave heights of 3-4 feet, but winds will calm Saturday night allowing for waves of one foot or less on Sunday.

Work week forecast

Snow chances continue on into the start of the work week with highs Monday finally climbing back above freezing. Snow showers are likely to taper off after midnight with Tuesday staying dry and cold with highs dropping back into the 20s.

Ohio regional radar
Danger to life flood warnings are given along the River Mersey in East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden as Storm Christoph moves in on the UK. A person walks past a snow-covered flood warning sign in Didsbury, United Kingdom, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Hundreds of Homes Evacuated Overnight as Storm Christoph Sweeps the UK

Hundreds of homes were evacuated overnight as Storm Christoph caused extensive flooding in parts of Manchester and Merseyside in Englands North West, and areas of North Wales.

Homes were evacuated in Manchesters Didsbury and Northenden areas as well as in Ruthin and Bangor-on-Dee in North Wales, and in Maghull in Merseyside, the BBC reported on Thursday.

While visiting Didsbury amid the crisis Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Hundreds of people got notice to leave their homes because of the risk of flooding from the [river] Mersey.

He also said that thousands of Manchester homes had been protected by Environment Agency measures overnight but warned of more to come with further rain expected next week.

Today Prime Minister @BorisJohnson visited Didsbury to see how the @EnvAgency and the emergency services are working with local and national government to defend against flooding and support those who might be affected. pic.twitter.com/8U8rHrhdZv  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 21, 2021

Echoing Johnsons warning the Environment Agency said in a statement, There remains a significant risk of flooding after heavy rain from Storm Christoph falling on already saturated ground led to exceptionally high river levels, affecting parts of the North West of England and Yorkshire.

Its Flood Duty Manager, Craig Woolhouse, added that the rise in levels brought on by overnight rainfall may also bring flooding to parts of Yorkshire today and Friday, with a risk of damage to buildings in some communities.

The Agency said it is working round the clock to help bring down the flood risk, with over 9000 properties in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire already protected from flooding.

Remedial measures included operating flood defenses, flood storage reservoirs, and putting up temporary barriers where needed to help protect communities, it said.

Environment teams are also out on the ground clearing grilles, screens, and closing flood barriers, Woolhouse added.

The River Ouse in York floods as rain and recent melting snow raise river levels in York, England, on Jan. 21, 2021. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

However, Shadow Environment Secretary, Labours Stephanie Peacock called on the government to do more.

We need a proactive rather than reactive approach to this crisis, she said.

So will the Minister today commit to holding an emergency flood summit that brings together agencies and regional leaders to make sure we have a coordinated response to support local communities? she asked.

But Secretary of State for the Environment George Eustace responded by saying that the government had already held such a summit covering South Yorkshire and also want to hold a series of roundtable meetings around the country, covering individual water catchments.

England is currently under stringent Stay at Home national lockdown rules to slow the spread of the (Chinese Communist Party) CCP virus but emergencies are one of the reasonable excuses for which people can leave their homes under the measures, and Wales has similar measures in force.

One person affected by the flooding told the BBCs Breakfast program that though he had been told to evacuate, you dont want to impose yourself on other people, during the pandemic.

So, we are trying to hold on as long as we can, and hopefully it will pass, he said.

But the Environment Agency said people should quit their homes if advised to.

Preparations for evacuations and to create COVID-secure rest centers will have been made by the relevant agencies as a precautionary measure, it said.

We would urge anyone advised to evacuate to follow the advice of the emergency services at the time, it added.

Met Office Chief Meteorologist, Paul Gundersen, meanwhile said ice and strong winds were adding to the mix of heavy rain and floods.

Colder air is now established across the UK as Storm Christoph moves away into the North Sea, and gale-force winds will impact the northeast of the country, he said.

This afternoons weather will be colder but much less wet than yesterday for England & Wales. However, rain, snow & ice will continue in parts of northern Scotland as #Christoph only slowly moves away. Warnings are in force. See https://t.co/QwDLMfRBfs for details pic.twitter.com/J37xd6MnWc  Met Office (@metoffice) January 21, 2021

He also pointed to the National Severe weather warnings that are in place in the country:

There are three National Severe weather warnings in place, two in north and east Scotland, one for rain and one for snow valid until noon on Friday, and an ice warning cover western Scotland, northwest England, Northern Ireland, and much of Wales, valid until 10 am Friday.

Woolhouse meanwhile urged people to sign up to receive free flood warnings and to keep away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood water.

It is often deeper than it looks and just 30cm of flowing water is enough to float your car, he warned.
A 290 million financial package will help Northern Ireland through the coronavirus restrictions, the finance minister Conor Murphy said (Sinn Fein/PA)

A 290 million financial package will help Northern Ireland through the coronavirus restrictions, the finance minister said.

It includes more than 130 million to support businesses.

Conor Murphy said: Businesses continue to face immense challenges.

These allocations include an additional 100 million for my departments Localised Restrictions Support Scheme to ensure this can continue providing financial assistance to businesses.

So far, more than 120 million has been issued to over 11,000 businesses through this scheme.

The cash has been allocated between the Stormont departments as part of a routine rethink of spending plans for this year known as a monitoring round.

Extra money has also been paid from the Treasury over recent times for Covid-related action.

Mr Murphy distributed over 290 million to Stormont departments as part of the Covid-19 and January monitoring round.

He added: 16 million has been allocated to support the tourism and hospitality sector.

A further 20 million is being provided for additional funding for the Company Directors Scheme.

And Im pleased the Executive have agreed my proposal to extend the 12 months rates holiday to local newspapers, which are a key part of the fabric of society.

The minister continued: 7.5 million is also being allocated to meet the challenges of education through Covid, including resources for blended learning and support for childcare.

.@Economy_NI Minister Diane Dodds announces new support scheme for large tourism and hospitality businesses https://t.co/2qti2X14UZ pic.twitter.com/iT5BqlxVe4  Economy NI (@Economy_NI) January 21, 2021

Economy Minister Diane Dodds unveiled details of a new 26.1 million support scheme for larger hospitality and tourism businesses that have been impacted by restrictions to contain the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said: Large businesses within the tourism and hospitality sectors have endured considerable fixed cost outlays throughout the pandemic.

Furthermore, they have not been able to avail of funding from either the Small Business Support Grant Scheme or the Business Support Grant Scheme for the retail, hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors which was made available to smaller firms to assist with unavoidable fixed costs.

Therefore this scheme will provide support to large businesses within some of our most important sectors to help them meet the fixed costs and overheads that they need to keep their business going and to protect jobs.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
After supporting President Donald Trumps disproven claims of voter fraud and backing efforts to overturn the presidential election, N.J. Rep. Jeff Van Drew finally acknowledged Wednesday that Joe Biden was the duly elected president of the United States.

Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., attended the inauguration at the Capitol to respectfully watch President Joe Biden take his oath as the duly-elected 46th president of the United States.

His acknowledgement of Bidens victory came two weeks after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a failed attempt to block Congress from certifying the electoral votes giving Biden the victory.

After the rioters were cleared out, Van Drew joined a majority of House Republicans and voted twice to reject the certified electoral votes. The efforts failed.

Van Drew also joined a House GOP effort to get the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out millions of votes cast for Biden and overturn his victory.

On Wednesday, though, Van Drew mirrored the new presidents call for unity.

Our work will once again begin anew and while we may not always agree, we must all work together to fight for a strong America and a strong South Jersey, Van Drew said. It is up to all of us to build upon our past success and write the next chapter of our uniquely and inherently American story.

New Jerseys only other Republican representative, Chris Smith, declined to join the lawsuit and voted to uphold the electoral votes.

Van Drew first was elected as a Democrat in 2018, but switched parties after opposing Trumps first impeachment and then was feted by the president at a rally in Wildwood. He was re-elected as a Republican in 2020 and again voted against impeaching Trump.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant.

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On Thursday, the president of the Mesa del Turismo, Joan Molas, demanded that the Spanish government accelerates the vaccination process so that 70% of the population can be vaccinated by the summer and tourism can be reactivated.

Molas was speaking at a summit of organisations representing various sectors of the tourism industry - hospitality, nightlife, airlines, cruises, holiday rentals and more. He said that the government has an "obligation" to accelerate the vaccination programme. "If it is done well, efficiently and intelligently, 70% of the population can be reached." This percentage, he stated, would mean that part of the population is "out of danger" and that there could be a tourism season.

He called for all available resources to be mobilised - from private health to the army, hotel facilities, conventions' sites and even fleets of buses. The tourism industry, he stressed, is willing to help by providing spaces for vaccination. Workers in the tourism industry, he argued, should be one of the vaccination priority groups, as this would allow businesses to open up safely.

Molas highlighted the importance of a vaccination passport to facilitate international mobility and was of the view that if the rate of vaccination increases and the health situation improves, Spain could receive 45 million tourists. These would be just over half the total in 2019. He doubted that there would be full recovery before 2022 or even 2023.
David Cho, a special agent, is leading Biden's security detail. Early last month, he was assigned to the position as a result of staff changes ahead of Biden's inauguration.

Two Korean Americans will work for U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, one to guard the husband and the other to handle the wife's schedules.

Cho is a familiar face who also protected Biden when he was vice president from 2008 to 2016. He was given the job to "give the incoming president the comfort of the familiar," according to press reports.

Cho also oversees security planning at the White House complex. He was also in charge of arranging security with North Korean security agents when U.S. President Donald Trump met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Singapore and Hanoi in 2018 and 2019.

Gina Lee, meanwhile, has been appointed director of scheduling for the new first lady. Born in Korea, she grew up in Long Island, New York and graduated from Boston University.

Before joining the Biden presidential campaign, Lee worked as a senior policy officer at the nonprofit Biden Foundation, focusing on Jill Biden's campaigns for welfare for military families and affordable access to community colleges. She also worked at the White House offices of legal counsel and personnel affairs when Barack Obama was president.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
UPPLANDS VASBY , Sweden, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Envirotainer, the global market leader and by far the largest provider of secure cold chain solutions for air transport of pharmaceuticals, today announced that they are expanding their network of RAP e2 stations by adding Taipei (TPE) to its growing list of network stations. Taipei (TPE) is the 42nd station in the Envirotainer network to carry the flagship RAP e2, an extremely cost efficient and high-performing solution compared to other active and passive alternatives which provides a strong capacity increase to support the rapidly growing APAC pharmaceutical market, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

"We are expanding Envirotainer's capabilities to support the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine(s) shipments across our network," explains Suat Toh, Head of Sales APAC at Envirotainer. "We expect that our investment in the Taipei station will spearhead a fast and secure delivery of COVID-19 vaccines which quickly will hit unprecedented shipment volumes and will be absolutely time- and life critical to people all over the world," she continues.

Recognizing the need for secure temperature-controlled air freight solutions, Envirotainer has been expanding its sales offering in Asia-Pacific over the past years, investing in both service capabilities and an agile network model.

"The entire APAC region is a growing area for all types of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical cargo. Current predictions estimate that some 8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed globally during 2021," explains Eddy Cojulun, Chief Sales Officer at Envirotainer. He continues, "Some 5 billion or more of the COVID-19 doses will require a fast and dependable air freight solution to reach populations across the world. I personally don't want my parents in Guatemala to have to wait any longer than necessary to receive the vaccines, regardless of where in the world they are manufactured."

Sustainability aspect

The RAP e2 is the most environmentally friendly temperature-controlled air cargo container available in the market. Delivering pharmaceuticals using the Envirotainer RAP e2 emits 0.9kg CO2e per vial shipped. This can be compared to, for example, a smaller passive solution's 11.6kg CO2e per vial shipped. Adding the quality aspect and reducing the risks of having to discard pharmaceuticals that have been damaged during transport, and produce and deliver replacement products, has a tremendous positive commercial as well as environmental impact using the RAP e2 versus using a passive box solution.

Contact information:

Eddy Cojulun

Chief Sales Officer, Envirotainer

+46 8 586 292 12

[email protected]

Suat Toh

Head of Sales APAC, Envirotainer

+65 98801103

[email protected]

CONTACT:

Mattias Isaksson

Head of Marketing & Communications

Envirotainer AB

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/envirotainer-ab/r/envirotainer-opens-first-rap-e2-station-in-taipei,c3270884

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[January 21, 2021] INVESTOR ALERT: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Investigates Stifel Financial Corp.'s Directors and Officers for Breach of Fiduciary Duties - SF

Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), an international securities and consumer rights litigation firm, is investigating certain directors and officers of Stifel Financial Corp. ("Stifel") (NYSE: SF) for breaching their fiduciary duties to Stifel and its shareholders. If you are a Stifel shareholder, you may contact attorney Joe Pettigrew for additional information toll-free at 844-818-6982 or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com. p> Scott+Scott is investigating whether Stifel's board of directors or senior management failed to manage Stifel in an acceptable manner, in breach of their fiduciary duties to Stifel, and whether Stifel has suffered damages as a result.



On January 5, 2021, an employee filed a lawsuit against a subsidiary of Stifel, alleging sexual assault and harassment by one of Stifel's leading senior investment managers seeking injunctive, declaratory, and monetary relief. What You Can Do

If you are a Stifel shareholder, you may have legal claims against Stifel's directors and officers. If you wish to discuss this investigation, or have questions about this notice or your legal rights, please contact attorney Joe Pettigrew toll-free at 844-818-6982 or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com. About Scott+Scott Scott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and consumer rights actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Connecticut, California, Virginia, and Ohio. Attorney Advertising View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005851/en/

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About an hour after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, Sisters High School senior Paola Mendoza weighed in on the inaugural playlist of 46 songs chosen as the soundtrack to Wednesdays festivities.

The curated collection, chosen by a production company founded by actress Issa Rae and endorsed by the Biden-Harris team, features odds and ends from across the musical spectrum, from jazzy classics like Curtis Mayfields Move On Up to one-hit wonders such as New Radicals You Get What You Give.

The music on it is not that bad. Its actually kind of good, Mendoza told her AP U.S. government classmates, a hint of surprise in her voice.

The critique was part of an exercise Gail Greaney assigned the Sisters High class of 14 Wednesday morning. The class has met remotely since the start of the school year.

It was the third mid-week class session in a row where these seniors were as much witnesses to history as students of it.

The Sisters School District draws from a community of about 10,000 in northwest Deschutes County. Of the nearly 8,300 registered voters in the area, 35% are Republicans. Another 32% are Democrats.

Greaneys classes typically consist of students with views from across the political spectrum.

On Jan. 6, she tossed much of her lesson plan after a pro-Trump mob penetrated the U.S. Capitol in an effort to postpone the certification of Bidens Electoral College win. Last week, the students discussed President Trumps second impeachment.

As both events unfolded, Greaney collected news clips from various sources, from partisan outlets like MSNBC and Fox News to more down-the-middle accounts from The Washington Post and The New York Times.

I always tell my students, Corroborate your sources. Triangulate your data, Greaney said. The truth is usually somewhere in that triangle.

These particular students began their freshman year at Sisters High about two months before Trump captured the presidency in 2016. In June, months after the 45th president officially departed the White House, theyll walk across the graduation stage.

The Trump presidency honestly bookended her students high school careers, Greaney said.

For her, the last four years have been marked by an urgent need to incorporate media literacy into lessons. Over the span of 14 months, Trump made 20,000 false claims, according to a count by The Washington Post.

Whats more, Greaney asked her students to take note of whom presidents provide with a platform. On Wednesday, she pointed out that Jennifer Lopez was chosen to sing This Land is Your Land ahead of Bidens swearing-in.

Inaugurations send a message, Greaney told her students. They send a message about the values and direction of the administration.

She noted that many of the traditions associated with the transfer of power that occurs every four or eight years are built on customs, not laws. The Constitution sets a date for the event but little else.

Greaney asks her students to closely scrutinize the text of the document. On Wednesday, she pointed to Article I, Section II of the 20th Amendment and asked them to take note of the pronouns.

What could be problematic if youre a strict constitutionalist? she asked.

A voice offscreen said something about the president having to be a man.

Youd have a hard time arguing its inclusive, Greaney said.

She told The Oregonian/OregonLive that its more essential than ever to have students critically study the nations founding documents and what they say, particularly when punditry and outrageous sound bites from either side of the political spectrum dominate much of the media landscape.

Greaney sees the dialed up rhetoric on both sides.

While Republicans hold a 3-point advantage in voter registration across the school district, those ratios are flipped in the City of Sisters. Thirty-four percent of its nearly 2,600 registered voters are Democrats. Another 29% are Republican.

The best way to get at the truth, Greaney said, is to have open and sometimes harsh discussions about controversial issues.

I feel like we have a responsibility to have those conversations to help students process. Thats what were supposed to do, she said.

The last year has been rife with such conversations, prompted by historic occasions such as a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, widespread protests against systemic racism and a presidential election. But on Wednesday, the most exciting aspect of class might have been the stinging commentaries of inaugurations past Greaneys students prepared.

Ilya Goheen noted Grover Clevelands non-consecutive term bookended Benjamin Harrisons one-term presidency.

That probably says more about Benjamin Harrison, Goheen said, noting Cleveland ousted Harrison from office after losing the presidency to him four years previously.

And Evan Eby noted the countrys 31st president presided over one of the worst economic downturns in the countrys history.

When I think about Herbert Hoover, I always think of the vacuum brand. And what do vacuums do? Eby said before denigrating the one-time Newberg resident.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook

Eder is The Oregonians education reporter. Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email ecampuzano@oregonian.com.

BSF reviews left wing extremism situation in Odisha

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: Border Security Force (BSF) Director General Rakesh Asthana on Wednesday held a meeting with senior police officers of Odisha to review the left-wing extremism (LWE) situation in the state, an official said.

At the meeting attended by DGP Abhay, Odisha Police and BSF also resolved to work with synergy to combat the LWE effectively in the state.

"Issues relating to the present LWE scenario in the state, particularly in areas where BSF companies have been deployed, progresses made towards combating the menace, operational strategy, redeployment of BSF personnel, coordination and other matters were discussed in the meeting," a senior official engaged in anti-Maoist operation, said.

BSF detects trans-border tunnel along Indo-Pak border

Earlier in the day, Asthana visited the Company Operating Base (COB) at Kartanpalli in the foothills of Tulsi Hills in Malkangiri district bordering Chhattisgarh.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

He reviewed the security scenario along the Odisha- Chhattisgarh border and appreciated the synergy between the state police and BSF.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 8:31 [IST]
[January 21, 2021] Turnitin Highlights Importance Of Originality Checking Following Ministerial Resignation Over Plagiarism Allegations

- Global education software provider Turnitin says that Aschbacher's case demonstrates the need for universities to use robust academic integrity tools to help prevent plagiarism before submission. - The database of the plagiarism checker currently used by Slovakian institutions is predominantly Slovak content, thereby making it more difficult to identify similarity in work submitted in other languages NEWCASTLE, England, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the Austrian minister for labour, families and youth, Christine Aschbacher, facing allegations of plagiarism, Turnitin has highlighted the need for education institutions across Slovakia to implement improved originality checking solutions throughout the learning process. Christine Aschbacher has resigned due to allegations that her thesis submitted last year to the Technical University of Bratislava in Slovakia was plagiarised. Aaran Yaverski, Turnitin Regional VP, EMEA explained: "This case demonstrates exactly why robust academic integrity solutions must be in place for universities across . Without effective originality checks, universities are leaving themselves open to academic misconduct cases such as these.



"If institutions cannot be sure that students' work is truly their own and that their grades haven't been honestly earned, this also has major consequences for employers taking on graduates from Slovakian universities - as the Austrian government is now seeing." Using Turnitin software, Aschbacher's thesis was found to have a significant lack of citation and referencing.

Similarity scores are a feature of Turnitin's academic integrity solutions, and are designed to help students and teachers identify unoriginal work. Turnitin has the largest academic database of its kind in the world, comparing submissions against its database of over 70 billion current and archived web pages and 1 billion student papers, with submission available in all languages. In contrast, the plagiarism checker currently used by Slovakian universities is predominantly made up of Slovak content - meaning universities are at risk of non-Slovakian texts being submitted without accurate similarity checks, thereby increasing the chance of misconduct. Auschbacker's thesis was submitted to the Technical University of Bratislava in German. In addition to its comprehensive similarity checker, Turnitin also offers a number of tools and resources to support institutions in upholding academic integrity. This includes assessment and grading solutions to save time marking and support the transition to online learning, as well as resources to support students' critical thinking. About Turnitin Turnitin is a global company dedicated to ensuring the integrity of education and research and supporting the development of original thinking skills. For more than 20 years, Turnitin has partnered with educational institutions to promote honesty, consistency, and fairness. Our products are used by educators to guide their students towards higher standards of integrity and by students and researchers to do their best, original work. Turnitin is headquartered in Oakland, Calif., with international offices in the U.K., Netherlands, Australia, Korea, India, and throughout Latin America. Over 15,000 academic institutions, publishers, and corporations use our products: Feedback Studio, Gradescope, iThenticate, Turnitin Originality, Turnitin Similarity. https://www.turnitin.com/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1345190/Turnitin_Logo.jpg

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Inaugurations are always remarkable, sacred moments.

The bright, shiny pomp and circumstance that Washington puts on celebrates a democratic nation that acknowledges its union is not quite yet perfect.

Its young, fragile, imperfect.

That it strives to be perfect, however, has been embedded in ceremonial rituals and in repeating words of wisdom.

At their best, they can help mend political wounds. At least for a day, perhaps only a moment, they make us more hopeful of their promise, more sure that this American experiment can right itself and mend its foundations.

Its a little wobbly now.

Im not sure that the inauguration Wednesday  the pomp, the pop stars, the poetry and a new president  will mend us.

But its a start.

It was also momentous, coming on the heels of a seditious attack.

Despite an insurrection in the same building just two weeks ago, the inauguration of a new president and vice president assured us democracy won.

One more time.

It assures us the nations leaders will carry on with the work of governing and lawmaking in spite of deep political divisions; in spite of racists, white supremacists and anti-democratic forces; in spite of a pandemic that has killed more than 400,000; in spite of four years of assaults on the free press.

On truth itself.

Unity can come from this.

But that unity demands the pursuit of justice. It demands that those who attacked democracy and attempted to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power are rounded up, charged and held accountable.

Unity demands no less.

In the middle of the inauguration, as patriotic songs were sung and a poet laureates words inspired us, it was easier to forget, at least for a moment, that the outgoing president incited the Jan. 6 attack on the capitol.

Some lamented his absence at the inauguration as a break from tradition, but it was a relief.

Inauguration Day held so much joy, and no moment was as joyous as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor administering the oath of office to Vice President Kamala Harris.

The scene was one of pride, as the first Latina and first woman of color on the U.S. Supreme Court officiated Harris solemn promise to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Those words were so crucial, so meaningful.

There was so much pride in bearing witness to the moment the first African American, first Asian American and first woman  a biracial woman  became vice president of the United States.

I watched on my laptop imagining all the girls and women throughout the country watching. In San Antonio, some of them wore pearls and Converse sneakers in the vice presidents honor.

I watched knowing my 5-year-old goddaughter a few miles away was watching, wearing a T-shirt that says, Empowered Girls Power the World, and that her grandmother helped her draw a U.S. flag and two small banners bearing the names of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

All three were hanging from the mantle as they watched history, as they heard President Joe Biden take the oath of office as the 46th president of the United States and as they heard him speak with grace and strength about restoring democracy.

He spoke on those sacred steps.

I imagined those who were there in spirit: U.S. Sen. John McCain, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and U.S. Reps. John Lewis and Elijah Cummings.

So much stands ahead of us, ahead of the new administration.

Over the course of the next four years, it will get its share of criticism, especially from Democratic and Republican critics. It will get push back on immigration, climate change, spending and economic reforms.

Well go back to some sort of normal.

Though much was invested in the inauguration, no moment was as poignant as the national memorial Tuesday night. For me, it marked the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration.

At sunset and before the glow of 400 lights along the edges of the Lincoln Memorials reflecting pool, they paid respects to those whose lives were lost to the coronavirus.

For the first time since the pandemic, we grieved as a nation.

One line from that solemn event stays with me.

Its hard sometimes to remember, Biden said, but thats how we heal.

As we watch Washington regroup and resume its work, another line stands out from Bidens inaugural speech.

Politics, he said, doesnt have to be a raging fire.

Let it guide us.

eayala@express-news.net
The threat of the coronavirus pandemic and fears of a recurrence of the violence that rocked the Capitol two weeks ago combined to give President Bidens swearing-in on Wednesday a look and feel like no previous inauguration.

Instead of throngs of celebrating well-wishers crowding the Capitol and adjacent areas, the grounds were cut off by what had to be the most intense security ever for the event. Streets were barricaded for blocks in all directions, thousands of National Guard troops flooded the Capitol grounds for additional protection, and military vehicles were conspicuous.

To prevent the spread of the coronavirus, Biden inauguration planners imposed strict testing and social distancing requirements for the ceremony. As a result, the usually crowded inaugural platform was reserved for the main participants themselves. Lawmakers and other dignitaries were relegated to carefully spaced seats in front of the platform.

But Mr. Biden and his inner circle believed it was essential for the ceremony to take place as usual outside the West Front of the Capitol  an area overrun by a violent mob two weeks earlier  to show the American public and the world that democracy would endure in the face of even the most strident attempts to upend it.

6:52 A.M.
Multimillion bribery case against ex-police colonel Zakharchenko reaches Moscow court

 RAPSI

17:00 21/01/2021

MOSCOW, January 21 (RAPSI)  Moscows Presnensky District Court will proceed with a 1.4 billion-ruble ($19 million) bribery case against convicted ex-police colonel Dmitry Zakharchenko and his three alleged accomplices, according to the courts press service.

Investigation into the case was completed earlier this month.

Other defendants in the case are Valery Markelov, Vasily Kritinin and Victor Belevtsov. Depending on their alleged role in the crime they are charged with receiving a bribe, mediation in bribery and bribegiving.

Three other personal allegedly involved are on the international wanted list.

According to the investigation, between 2007 and 2016, Zakharchenko systematically received bribes from an organized group controlling several companies not involved in real business activities but managed funds deposited on their bank accounts by conducting illegal bank transactions for their purpose.

In total, Zakharchenko received over 1.4 billion rubles in bribes, investigators claim.

In June 2019, Zakharchenko was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison and a 117 million-ruble (about $1.7 million) fine after he had been found guilty of corruption charges and obstruction of justice. The former policeman still does not admit guilt.

However, the court acquitted him of an $800,000 bribery count. The court held that these charges against the defendant were not proven. Investigators claimed that in 2014 Zakharchenko and his accomplice initiated audit of restaurant business. The check was completed when Zakharchenko received $800,000 from a businessman, they insisted.

Ex-Russian anti-corruption official was arrested on September 8, 2016. During searches at his sisters apartment law enforcement officers found around 9 billion rubles ($123 million at the current exchange rate). He denied any relation to the seized funds.




Mumbai: On Sushant Singh Rajputs birth anniversary, family and friends celebrated the late actors legacy by sharing photographs, memories and moments from his life. Rajput, 34, was found dead in his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14, 2020, leaving the film industry and his fans shocked.

The actors sister Shweta posted a photo of young Rajput with his mother and wrote on Twitter, This smile can melt every heart Happy #SushantDay. Shweta also announced a scholarship programme for aspiring students to pursue studies at the Department of Physics at the University of California, US.

I am happy to announce that on 35th Birthday of Bhai, a step has been taken towards fulfilling one of his dreams. The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund of $35,000 has been set up in UC Berkeley. #SushantDay, she said. Rajputs former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande said she would like to remember him as a happy, intelligent, romantic, mad and adorable person.

Sharing a throwback video of Rajput playing with his dog in their house, she said, I dont know how to start and what to say but yes today Im gonna share few of your old videos Sushant to celebrate you. These are the only memories I have with you and I will always remember you Like this happy, intelligent, romantic, mad and adorable #HappyBirthdaySSR. Rajputs friend and co-star Kriti Sanon said she would like to remember him as a smiling child. This is how Ill remember you.. Smiling like a child! Happy Birthday Sush. I hope you are smiling and at peace wherever you are.. Sanon tweeted alongside a smiling photo of Rajput.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee shared a poster of Sonchiriya, a film in which he worked with Rajput. Always remember you celebrate you, your work and cherish all the time that we all spent with you Sushant Singh Rajput!! Jahan bhi ho tum khush raho, he wrote.

TV-film producer Ekta Kapoor shared a short video clip of Rajput as Manav from her popular show Pavitra Rishta, which made the actor a household name.Sushi forever! Shining bright like a star! Love n light wherever u r! Happie birth on earth day!, she tweeted.

The actors longtime friend, casting director-filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra, who directed his last film Dil Bechara, posted an animated video of Rajput of all his films and wished him happy birthday and said, Miss you bro. Filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor, who helmed Rajputs debut film Kai Po Che and later worked again with him on Kedarnath, said he is missing him a lot.

Rajputs co-star from his debut film Kai Po Che Rakummar Rao shared a picture on his Instagram Stories of the actor playing a guitar with a heart emoji to express his sentiment. Bhumi Pednekar too took to her Instagram stories and shared a picture of a smiling Rajput and captioned the post with a heart emoji. The two have worked together in 2019 movie Sonchiriya.

Rajputs death had sparked a debate about the treatment of outsiders in Bollywood with allegations of nepotism. The speculation around the actors death, however, took a turn when his father K K Singh had lodged a complaint against the actors girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty for his suicide. The CBI had taken over the probe from Bihar Police into the alleged abetment to suicide case. In October, the medical board of the New Delhi-based All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had ruled out murder in the death of Rajput, terming it a case of hanging and death by suicide" Actor Kangana Ranaut, who had accused prominent producers in Bollywood for Rajputs death, took to Twitter to reiterate her claims.

Dear Sushant, movie mafia banned you bullied you and harassed you, many times on social media you aksed for help and I regret not being there for you. I wish I didnt assume you are strong enough to handle mafia torture on your own. I wish Happy Birthday dear one #SushantDay," she wrote. Rajputs last film Dil Bechara, released on Disney+Hotstar last year on July 24.

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
No social protection institutions are registered on 150b Nyzhnia Gyivska Street in Kharkiv, where 15 people died as a result of a fire on Thursday, said Yuriy Shparaha, director of the department for social protection of the population of the regional state administration.

"There is a private house behind the fence. Nobody had access there, because this institution has no purpose as an institution for social protection of the population," Shparaha told reporters at the scene on Thursday.

According to him, elderly people who were in the house at the time of the fire and those who were rescued, if necessary, will be placed in group homes in the region. Shparaha also said that the relatives and friends of these people are now being identified.

As reported, at 15:03 in Kharkiv, a fire broke out on the second floor in a two-story residential building on 150-b Nyzhnia Gyivska Street, previously converted into a nursing home. At the time of the fire, there were 33 people in the house, 15 of them died. The area of the fire was 100 sq. m. At 16:14 the fire was localized. Now rescuers and police officers are examining the premises located on the second floor of the building.

On this fact, criminal proceedings have been launched under Part 2 of Article 270 (violation of fire safety requirements established by law, resulting in the death of people) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Vice president Kamala Harris has sworn in newly elected US Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, as well as her replacement, Alex Padilla of California, affirming the slimmest possible Democratic majority in the Upper Chamber of Congress.

Hours after she was inaugurated alongside President Joe Biden, the vice president entered the Senate chamber to a round of applause on Wednesday afternoon. She swore into office the three senators in her first official act.

With a 50-50 split in the Senate, the vice president can deliver a critical tie-breaking vote, providing Democrats a crucial voice in the Democratically-controlled Congress, holding a slim majority to set legislative agendas.

Senator Chuck Schumer is now the chambers Majority Leader, replacing Republican Mitch McConnell. Senator Pat Leahy is the Senates president pro tempore, replacing Republican Chuck Grassley.

Read more: Follow live updates and news on Inauguration Day 2021

The brief ceremony in the Senate on Wednesday marked another series of historic firsts following the milestone of the vice presidents inauguration.

Senator Padilla is the first Latino senator to represent California. Senator Warnock is the first Black senator from Georgia and the first Black senator to represent a former Confederate state.

Senator Ossoff  Georgias first Jewish senator and the youngest member of the Senate  was sworn in on a book of Hebrew scripture once owned by Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, an ally of Martin Luther King Jr. The civil rights leader was a co-pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Senator Warnock has preached since 2005.

In his first remarks on the Senate floor as its majority leader, Senator Schumer called the role an awesome responsibility  awesome, in the biblical sense.

Today I feel the full weight of that responsibility, a sense of reverence, of awe, in the trust placed in me, he said.

Alluding to the deadlocked Senate under GOP control, he said the Senate wont offer timid solutions" but will act "with boldness and courage.

We have no choice but to try to work together to reward, he asid.

Vice president Harris was seated at the dais that the so-called Q Shaman Jacob Chansley sought to claim during a deadly insurrection on 6 January.

"It takes more than a band of hooligans to bring our grand democracy down," Senator Schumer said.

Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Show all 82 1 /82 Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-SALIDA-TRUMP El presidente saliente de los Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, y la primera dama Melania Trump descienden del Marine One en la base conjunta Andrews en Maryland AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes us-politica-trump-partida La Primera Dama Melania Trump habla antes de abordar el Air Force One en la base conjunta Andrews en Maryland AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El "Campo de banderas" en Washington El "Campo de banderas" se ve en el National Mall frente al edificio del Capitolio de EE. UU. Antes de las ceremonias de inauguracion. REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion presidencial de Estados Unidos El presidente Donald Trump (derecha) y la primera dama de Estados Unidos, Melania Trump, abordan el Air Force One durante una ceremonia de despedida en la base conjunta Andrews, Maryland EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes TOPSHOT-POLITICA-ESTADOS UNIDOS-TRUMP-SALIDA El presidente Donald Trump y la primera dama Melania son recibidos por Ivanka Trump (segunda a la derecha), su esposo Jared Kushner (derecha), sus hijos, Eric (CR) y Donald Jr. (CL), Tiffany Trump y otros miembros de la familia Trump en la pista de Base conjunta Andrews en Maryland AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes POLITICA-ESTADOS UNIDOS-SALIDA-TRUMP El presidente Donald Trump se dirige a los invitados en la base conjunta Andrews en Maryland AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente electo Joe Biden asiste a un servicio religioso antes de su investidura presidencial, en la Iglesia Catolica St. Matthews en Washington. El presidente electo Joe Biden, su esposa Jill Biden, la vicepresidenta electa Kamala Harris y su esposo Doug Emhoff asisten a un servicio religioso antes de su inauguracion presidencial REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes INAUGURACION DE LA POLITICA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS Lady Gaga llega para la inauguracion POOL/AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Escenas del Capitolio de los Estados Unidos en el dia de la inauguracion del presidente electo Joe Biden Escenas del Capitolio de EE. UU. REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes INAUGURACION DE LA POLITICA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS La Guardia Nacional de Estados Unidos mira en Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La seguridad esta instalada a lo largo de Pennsylvania Avenue antes de la 59a inauguracion presidencial AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente de Estados Unidos, Trump, abandona la Casa Blanca Donald Trump hace un gesto mientras el y la primera dama Melania Trump salen de la Casa Blanca para abordar el Marine One REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes POLITICA-ESTADOS UNIDOS-SALIDA-TRUMP Eric Trump y su esposa Lara llegan para la partida del presidente saliente de los Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, y la primera dama Melania Trump, en la base conjunta Andrews en Maryland. AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes INAUGURACION DE LA POLITICA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS El equipo antidisturbios esta listo AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Un partidario del presidente Donald Trump espera la caravana en la carretera a Mar-a-Lago, la propiedad de Trump en Palm Beach. AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion presidencial de Estados Unidos El presidente Donald J. Trump (derecha) y la primera dama de Estados Unidos, Melania Trump, abordan el Air Force One EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El ex presidente Barack Obama y su esposa Michelle llega al Capitolio de EE. UU. AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion presidencial de Estados Unidos El senador de Vermont Bernie Sanders es visto por telefono EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion presidencial de Estados Unidos La vista desde el podio donde Joe Biden hablara tras su juramento EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden presto juramento como presidente numero 46 de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de inauguracion del Capitolio de EE. UU. Doug Emhoff, la vicepresidenta electa de EE. UU. Kamala Harris, Jill Biden y el presidente electo Joe Biden saludan a su llegada al frente este del Capitolio de EE. UU. Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El lider de la mayoria del Senado, Mitch McConnell, a la derecha, y su esposa, la exsecretaria de Transporte Elaine Chao, llegan al frente este del Capitolio de los Estados Unidos. AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente de los Estados Unidos, Trump, celebra la ceremonia de salida antes de viajar a Florida Donald Trump Jr., vicepresidente ejecutivo de desarrollo y adquisiciones de Trump Organization Inc., a la izquierda, y su socia Kimberly Guilfoyle, llegan a una ceremonia de despedida en Joint Base Andrews, Maryland EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente de los Estados Unidos, Trump, celebra la ceremonia de salida antes de viajar a Florida Partidario del presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald J. Trump, ondear banderas estadounidenses antes de una ceremonia de despedida en la base conjunta Andrews, Maryland EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente de los Estados Unidos, Trump, celebra la ceremonia de salida antes de viajar a Florida Ivanka Trump, asesora principal del presidente Trump, Jared Kushner, asesor principal de la Casa Blanca, y sus hijos llegan a una ceremonia de despedida en la Base Conjunta Andrews, Maryland EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente de los Estados Unidos, Trump, celebra la ceremonia de salida antes de viajar a Florida Donald Trump, centro izquierda y la primera dama de Estados Unidos, Melania Trump, llegan a una ceremonia de despedida EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden, Kamala Harris El presidente electo Joe Biden, su esposa Jill Biden y la vicepresidenta electa Kamala Harris y su esposo Doug Emhoff llegan a los escalones del Capitolio de los Estados Unidos para el inicio de las ceremonias oficiales de inauguracion. AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La capital de una nacion fuertemente protegida alberga la inauguracion presidencial Banderas decoran el "Campo de banderas" en el National Mall cerca del Capitolio de EE. UU. Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Heidi Forte, en el medio, con otros partidarios del presidente Donald Trump esperan la caravana en la carretera a Mar-a-Lago AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos La exsecretaria de Estado de los Estados Unidos, Hillary Rodham Clinton, y el ex presidente de los Estados Unidos, Bill Clinton, llegan para la inauguracion REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La capital de una nacion fuertemente protegida alberga la inauguracion presidencial Miembros de la Guardia Nacional patrullan las calles antes de la inauguracion Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente de los Estados Unidos, Trump, celebra la ceremonia de salida antes de viajar a Florida El presidente Donald Trump, izquierda, y la primera dama Melania Trump llegan a una ceremonia de despedida en la base conjunta Andrews EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Los partidarios del presidente Donald Trump, Jennifer Aiello, izquierda, Ron Raven bailan mientras esperan la caravana en la carretera a Mar-a-Lago AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden presto juramento como presidente numero 46 de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de inauguracion del Capitolio de EE. UU. El vicepresidente Mike Pence y Karen Pence llegan a la inauguracion Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos El expresidente estadounidense George W. Bush, el expresidente Bill Clinton y el expresidente estadounidense Barack Obama y su esposa Michelle Obama llegan para la inauguracion REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion presidencial de Estados Unidos El expresidente estadounidense Barack Obama (izq.) Y su esposa Michelle Obama (der.) Llegan antes de la inauguracion EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion presidencial de Estados Unidos La banda del ejercito estadounidense 'Pershing's Own' toca durante la inauguracion EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion presidencial de Estados Unidos El ex presidente George W. Bush y Laura Bush llegan a la cripta del Capitolio de EE. UU. EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Kamala Harris y su esposo Doug Emhoff AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos La vicepresidenta electa Kamala Harris saluda al expresidente estadounidense Barack Obama antes de la inauguracion REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Los botones del presidente electo Joe Biden se muestran antes de su investidura, en Washington. Los botones del presidente electo Joe Biden se muestran antes de su investidura REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos El presidente electo de Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, hace gestos cuando llega a su investidura REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes TOPSHOT-us-POLITICS-trump-SALIDA El presidente Donald Trump aborda el Marine One cuando sale de la Casa Blanca en Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden presto juramento como presidente numero 46 de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de inauguracion del Capitolio de EE. UU. Los invitados asisten a la inauguracion Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos La vicepresidenta electa Kamala Harris y su esposo Doug Emhoff llegan para la inauguracion REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion presidencial de Estados Unidos Finnegan Biden (R) abraza a Michelle Obama (L) cuando llegan a la inauguracion EPA Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden presto juramento como presidente numero 46 de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de inauguracion del Capitolio de EE. UU. Lady Gaga llega para cantar el Himno Nacional Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden presto juramento como presidente numero 46 de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de inauguracion del Capitolio de EE. UU. El presidente electo Joe Biden saluda al padre Leo J. O'Donovan Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos Lady Gaga canta el Himno Nacional durante la inauguracion de Joe Biden REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos Kamala Harris presto juramento como vicepresidenta de los EE. UU. Ya que su esposo Doug Emhoff sostiene una biblia REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden presto juramento como presidente numero 46 de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de inauguracion del Capitolio de EE. UU. Joe Biden presta juramento como presidente de Estados Unidos durante su toma de posesion Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden presto juramento como presidente numero 46 de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de inauguracion del Capitolio de EE. UU. El presidente estadounidense Joe Biden abraza a Jill Biden y a su hija Ashley Biden Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La vicepresidenta Kamala Harris choca los punos con el presidente electo Joe Biden despues de que presto juramento durante la inauguracion. AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos Jennifer Lopez con la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Un empleado de una tienda de Verizon observa la inauguracion televisada del presidente electo Joe Biden en Filadelfia. Un empleado de una tienda de Verizon mira la toma de posesion televisada del presidente electo Joe Biden y el vicepresidente electo Kamala en un restaurante, en Filadelfia, Pensilvania. REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La capital de una nacion fuertemente protegida alberga la inauguracion presidencial Los miembros de la Guardia Nacional saludan mientras se encuentran cerca del Capitolio de los Estados Unidos mientras se canta el Himno Nacional Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Donald Trump regresa a Florida antes de la inauguracion de Joe Biden Un detalle de un automovil decorado con el presidente saliente de los Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, mientras sus seguidores esperan su regreso a Florida a lo largo de la ruta que conduce a su finca Mar-a-Lago. Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos Jennifer Lopez hace gestos durante la inauguracion REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente Joe Biden habla durante la 59a inauguracion presidencial AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente Donald Trump hace gestos a los partidarios en ruta a su Mar-a-Lago Florida Resort AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos Joe Biden es juramentado como el 46o presidente de los Estados Unidos REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos Una vista general del Capitolio durante la inauguracion REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La capital de una nacion fuertemente protegida alberga la inauguracion presidencial Edwina Rose de California lucha contra las lagrimas mientras escucha el discurso de inauguracion del presidente de los Estados Unidos, Joe Biden Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Donald Trump regresa a Florida antes de la inauguracion de Joe Biden El presidente saliente de los EE. UU., Donald Trump, y la primera dama, Melania Trump, salen del Air Force One en el aeropuerto internacional de Palm Beach de camino al club Mar-a-Lago Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden presto juramento como presidente numero 46 de los Estados Unidos en la ceremonia de inauguracion del Capitolio de EE. UU. El presidente Joe Biden abraza a su hijo Hunter Biden y a su hija Ashley Biden Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Inauguracion de Joe Biden como el 46  presidente de los Estados Unidos El presidente estadounidense Joe Biden con el ex presidente estadounidense Barack Obama REUTERS Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La gente levanta copas de champan para brindar por el nuevo presidente de Estados Unidos, Joe Biden, AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Donald Trump regresa a Florida antes de la inauguracion de Joe Biden Tiffany Trump (R) y Michale Boulos salen del Air Force One en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Palm Beach Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La capital de una nacion fuertemente protegida alberga la inauguracion presidencial Los partidarios del presidente Joseph Biden celebran mientras lo escuchan hablar durante la inauguracion presidencial Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes El presidente Joe Biden firma tres documentos que incluyen una declaracion de investidura, nominaciones al gabinete y nominaciones al subgabinete en la Sala del Presidente en el Capitolio de los Estados Unidos despues de la ceremonia de inauguracion. AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Los partidarios del presidente Joe Biden bailan en las calles AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La gente ve la ceremonia del Dia de Inauguracion por television en Manuel's Tavern en Atlanta AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-INAUGURACION Lady Gaga canta el Himno Nacional AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes Joe Biden Desde la izquierda, la primera dama Jill Biden, el presidente Joe Biden, la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris y su esposo Doug Emhoff se paran en los escalones del Capitolio de EE. UU. AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes INAUGURACION DE LA POLITICA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS Joe Biden abraza a su esposa Jill AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes POLITICA DE ESTADOS UNIDOS Los miembros de la Guardia Nacional de Utah llegan al edificio del Capitolio del Estado de Utah para brindar seguridad en Salt Lake City, Utah AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes La vicepresidenta Kamala Harris y su esposo Doug Emhoff, saludan desde los escalones del Capitolio mientras sale la caravana del ex vicepresidente Mike Pence AP Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes PRI179903077.jpg Joe Biden (CR) y la Primera Dama de EE. UU. Jill Biden (CL) suben las escaleras cuando llegan al portico norte de la Casa Blanca. POOL/AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes PRI179928679.jpg El ex candidato presidencial, el senador Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) se sienta en las gradas en Capitol Hill AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes PRI179908625.jpg El presidente Joe Biden se sienta en la Oficina Oval de la Casa Blanca AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes PRI179929117.jpg El presidente Joe Biden (izq.) Y la primera dama Jill Biden (segunda izq.) Aparecen en el balcon de la habitacion azul mientras ellos y sus familiares (der.) Ven los fuegos artificiales desde la Casa Blanca. AFP via Getty Images Dia de la inauguracion de Biden 2021 - En imagenes PRI179928862.jpg Los fuegos artificiales se ven sobre la Casa Blanca al final del dia de inauguracion. AFP via Getty Images

In his first floor speech as minority leader, SenatorMcConnell said madam vice president is now a part of our American lexicon."

Congressional Democrats have sought to quickly get to work passing the presidents agenda, including a nearly $2trn Covid-19 relief package, with an impeachment trial for former president Donald Trump looming in the Senate.

The proposal, on the heels of a protracted debate for a $900bn relief package after months of GOP roadblocks, is his administrations pitch to begin repairing a scarred economy and provide immediate relief to millions of Americans, including direct payments to supplement the recently approved $600 cheques.

Members of Mr Bidens cabinet also must be confirmed by the Senate  his nominees to lead the State Department as well as the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security and Treasury are on hold until later this week or next week.

The two Senate leaders have not yet committed to a power-sharing agreement to determine the Upper Chambers operation in its first 50-50 split in 20 years. Senator McConnell has sought assurances from Democrats that they wont eliminate the filibuster, while progressive Democrats have called to get rid of it to prevent GOP hurdles for critical legislation thats essential to the Biden agenda.

But Senator McConnell said he does not believe Democrats have a mandate despite the congressional majority.

"Our country deserves both sides and both parties to find common ground for the common good where we can," he said.
Paymentology, a leading payment processing platform, has been selected by Mastercard to join Mastercards Fintech Express programme and its Engage Programme.



Mastercard and Paymentology will work together to co-innovate in the field of banking technology in Europe and across the world. Powered by Mastercard, Paymentology is now positioned to support clients in the categories of digital wallets, commercial payments, and speed to market.



Joining the Mastercard Fintech Express and Engage programmes will also give Paymentology the opportunity to engage with Mastercards extensive network thus helping Paymentology scale its businesses.



Jason Lane, Executive Vice President, Market Development Europe, Mastercard noted: We are delighted to welcome Paymentology into both the Mastercard Fintech Express and Mastercard Engage programmes. As the partner of choice for leading fintechs across Europe, our focus is to propel our fintech partners towards greater success and help them scale at speed. Paymentology is an invaluable player in the fintech space and look forward to working together to enhance the payment experience of the people that we serve.



Shane OHara, Founder and CEO of Paymentology, said: Mastercard has rapidly evolved its network in recent years to support changing consumer spend behaviour including mobile wallets, higher ecommerce use and greater card control demands. We are thrilled to be joining Mastercards fintech programmes, enabling Paymentology to further develop leading edge processing which connects banks into the Mastercard network in real time whilst removing the processing pressure from the bank.



Together, Mastercard and Paymentology are bringing the bank closer to its customer. Our flexible product configuration and customisation give control to the bank to deliver new products, at point of spend.



The Mastercard Fintech Express Programme falls under the umbrella of Mastercard Accelerate  Mastercards overarching fintech platform that gives start-ups and emerging brands support and assistance for every stage of their growth and transformation, from market entry to global expansion. Mastercard Accelerate is comprised of four main programmes: Fintech Express, Start Path, Engage and Developers.



Through its open API, multi-currency wallet dedicated platform, Paymentology is putting banks in control of their cardholders journey at point of spend. The company is opening the doors for banks to deliver new insurance, buy-now-pay-later and instalment to their cardholders, through its industry leading real-time data feed to the bank at point of spend.  TradeArabia News Service


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Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will leave his post on Wednesday. An infectious-disease specialist with a focus on treatments for AIDS/H.I.V., Dr. Redfield led the public health agency during one of the most tumultuous periods in its history. He was frequently criticized for moving too slowly to protect the United States from the coronavirus, especially regarding the initial rollout of coronavirus tests, while being attacked by Mr. Trump and others within the administration for contradicting their overly optimistic scenarios of the likely course of the pandemic.

On the weekend before his departure, Dr. Redfield talked in an interview about his challenges and his disappointments. Here are two of his notable responses.

(This interview has been edited and condensed.)

What is it like to leave now, before the pandemic is over?

Its hard to leave at a time when the pandemic still hasnt reached its peak and the worst days havent come. It would have been more rewarding to leave when the pandemic is under control, but I do feel proud.

I encourage the president-elect to focus on his pledge to get people vaccinated in 100 days. Im glad we gave him a foundation to build on. Last week, we had two days when we vaccinated one million people a day. We laid a foundation for vaccine administration. I find it unfortunate when some people suggest that the vaccine program delivering one million a day is somehow a disaster  but it will be a model when the Biden administration does it.
BAGHDAD  Two suicide bombers detonated explosive vests in a crowded market in central Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 32 people in the biggest such attack in several years, according to the government.

The health and interior ministries, which reported the death toll, said that at least 100 were wounded. Officials said it was the deadliest attack in Baghdad since January 2017.

The first suicide bomber blew himself up after pretending to be sick to gather people around him, said Maj. Gen. Khalid al Muhanna, a spokesman for the interior ministry. He said the bomber had fallen to the ground and then detonated the vest after people rushed to help him. The second bomber detonated his explosive nearby minutes later.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they were aimed at Iraqi Shiite Muslims, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. The Islamic State is a Sunni Muslim terrorist group, which has been regaining strength in Iraq since it was vanquished from the territory it held in the region in 2019.
Laredo City Council on Wednesday, in continuation of their discussion from Tuesdays meeting, voted to explore the feasibility of focusing their vaccination effort on the citys elderly population.

In Texas, health care workers, people over age 65 and individuals over age 16 with a chronic health condition are eligible to receive the vaccine. But several council members worried that Laredos elderly are being left behind in the rollout process.

Councilmember Dr. Marte Martinez said 80 year olds are calling him saying theyre still waiting to get the vaccine, while he knows 40 year olds with obesity or another comorbidity who have been vaccinated.

The citys vaccination scheduling system is largely online, although they take calls too. Because the appointments fill up within minutes, council members are concerned that the system benefits the younger, more tech-savvy generations.

The citys IT department ran a query and found that about half of the people who have scheduled a vaccination through the citys system are over age 65 and about half are younger, Deputy City Manager Rosario Cabello noted.

Martinez floated an idea to prioritize elderly vaccine recipients by their birthdays  from oldest to youngest  to first protect these older generations.

However, city management worried about the legality of prioritizing among priority groups.

The Dallas County Commissioners Court had voted this week to concentrate their vaccine distribution efforts in the countys hardest-hit zip codes. But the Department of State Health Services on Wednesday threatened to cut the countys supply of vaccines if they moved forward with this system.

While we ask hub providers to ensure the vaccine reaches the hardest-hit areas and populations, solely vaccinating people who live in those areas is not in line with the agreement to be a hub provider, Imelda Garcia, an associate commissioner for the Texas Department of State Health Services, wrote Dallas County, per the Dallas Morning News.

Nonetheless, council unanimously approved Martinezs motion for the city to explore the legality of prioritizing vaccinations for the elderly.

Emergency Management Coordinator and Fire Chief Guillermo Heard added that he created a vaccination committee to help guide the citys efforts in this rollout. They completed a door-to-door vaccination trial run at the Villa San Luis public housing apartments last week, and they are now ready to deploy this effort in other areas of the city too, he said.

Council also voted to coordinate free rides with El Lift for the elderly to get the vaccine.

In an effort to prove that the city takes seriously the enforcement of COVID regulations, council voted to offer help to the Municipal Court to rule on pending violation cases.

Councilmember Vanessa Perez noted that 453 people who have been issued citations, about 40% of all COVID violation cases, have not shown up to court. She underscored the importance of sending the community the message that they are serious about enforcement as the incidence of the virus continues to rise in the community.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that recidivist securities law violator Geoffrey Thompson agreed to a permanent, conduct-based injunction and to pay more than $540,000 to settle the SEC's charges that he conducted illegal securities offerings. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered a final judgment against Thompson on January 20, 2021.

The SEC's complaint, filed September 3, 2020, alleged that Thompson and his company, Covalent Collective, Inc., raised more than $19 million from approximately 500 investors through unregistered securities offerings for which no exemption from registration applied. As alleged in the complaint, Thompson used numerous mechanisms to solicit investors, including providing investors video and audio recordings in which Thompson encouraged investors to spread the word about the company's securities to friends and family.

Without admitting or denying the allegations of the complaint, Thompson agreed to be permanently enjoined from directly or indirectly, including through any entity he owns or controls, participating in the issuance, purchase, offer, or sale of any security (provided, however, that he shall not be prevented from purchasing or selling securities for his own personal account). He also agreed to pay disgorgement of $481,328, prejudgment interest of $51,615, and a penalty of $9,639.

The SEC's litigation was conducted by Benjamin Hanauer and Ariella Guardi. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Ariella Guardi and Pesach Glaser and supervised by C.J. Kerstetter.
Beijing: China's move to sanction former Trump administration officials was "unproductive and cynical", a spokeswoman for incoming US President Joe Biden's National Security Council said on his first day in office, urging Americans from both parties to condemn the action.

Around the time Biden was sworn in as President on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), China announced sanctions against "lying and cheating" outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other top officials under former president Donald Trump, a striking repudiation of its relationship with Washington under Trump.

China also said it wanted to cooperate with Biden's new administration.

The move was a sign of China's anger, especially at an accusation Pompeo made on his final full day in office that China had committed genocide against its Uighur Muslims, an assessment that Biden's choice to succeed Pompeo, Anthony Blinken, said he shared.
Evie Adams, 23, died in 'unexplained circumstances' on October 27, 2019, at an address in Blackburn, Lancashire

The 'murdered' girlfriend and two young children of an alleged triple killer have been pictured.

Evie Adams, 23, died in 'unexplained circumstances' on October 27, 2019, at an address in Blackburn, Lancashire.

Her partner, construction worker Jordan Monaghan, 29, has been charged with her murder, along with the murders of two of his own children, Ruby and Logan Monaghan.

Ruby was just three weeks old when she died at home on January 1, 2013.

Just eight months later, her older brother Logan, 21 months, was found unresponsive after his afternoon nap on August 17, 2013.

Following their deaths, Monaghan and his ex-fiancee Laura Gray, the children's mother, spoke of their heartbreak at losing their two young children within eight months of each other.

But on Monday, following a lengthy investigation by Lancashire Police's Force Major Investigation Team (FMIT), Monaghan was charged with their murders.

Construction worker Jordan Monaghan, 29, has been charged with her murder, along with the murders of two of his own children, Ruby (left) and Logan Monaghan (right). Ruby was just three weeks old when she died at home on January 1, 2013. Eight months later, her older brother Logan, 21 months, was found unresponsive after his afternoon nap on August 17, 2013

Jordan Monaghan is set to stand trial for the murders of Ruby and Logan Monaghan and Evie Adams in October 2021.

The construction worker appeared at Preston Crown Court today wearing a black hooded top and surgical mask over his face.

Jordan Monaghan, 29, is set to stand trial for the murders of Ruby and Logan Monaghan and Evie Adams in October 2021

Monaghan faces further charges of attempted murder and cruelty relating to a third child, who can not be named for legal reasons, in 2016.

He is accused of 'wilfully assaulting, ill-treating, neglecting or abandoning the child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health' on September 27 and October 2 2016.

The construction worker has not entered any pleas to the charges but at an earlier hearing at Preston Magistrates' Court, his legal team said he 'strongly denied' the allegations.

Judge Altham remanded Monaghan in custody and ordered him to return to court on April 28 to formally enter his pleas.

A trial has been scheduled for October 4 2021. It is expected to last 10 weeks.

by Shafique Khokhar

Prof Anjum James Paul writes to Prime Minister Imran Khan to denounce a new example of intolerance. A dialogue in a middle school textbook is at the centre of a controversy. But there are hundreds of examples, Prof James warns. Students must be taught humanity, ethics and moral values.

Lahore (AsiaNews)  Racism is a crime against humanity, it is the enemy of pluralism, peaceful coexistence and harmony in society, writes Anjum James Paul, president of the Pakistani Minority Teachers Association (PMTA) a letter addressed yesterday to Prime Minister Imran Khan, denouncing a new case of discrimination in school textbooks.

Pakistans foreign policy has always condemned racial discrimination, but unfortunately it still exists in our country, he adds. The religious identity of minorities matters as much as that of the majority and for this reason every form of racism and marginalisation must be fought.

In this case, a middle school textbook is at the centre of a controversy, but there are hundreds of examples, warns the educator and activist from Faisalabad.

The offending words had a wide echo on social media, sparking anger and pain in the Christian community according to which this attitude is now rooted in a part of the population and is instilled in school to new generations of pupils in Punjab.

On page 155 of an Urdu language middle school textbook (pictured) distributed by the provincial government of Punjab, the following dialogue can be read:

Nasir: I have brought a dish of sweets for your guests

Girl: But who is that black boy?

Nasir: He is our neighbour, Joseph, who is my friend

Girl: I don't like to eat anything from black people

Nasir: Oh Saima, what are you talking about. We have to see the inner beauty of a person. This is what Allahs beloved Prophet Muhammad taught us.

This is just one of many examples from recent years. Activists, experts and human rights groups have long underlined that racism and confessional hatred must be opposed from an early age and that peace and integration must be promoted in school classrooms, starting with the youngest.

In this context, a crucial role is played by school textbooks which, in too many cases, are themselves the first to sow divisions and promote intolerance.

Mariyam Kashif Anthony, a teacher and human rights activist from Karachi, stresses the urgent need to counter hate speech in textbooks. As a teacher my priority is to teach my students about humanity, ethics and moral values , she said.

Many associations share such concerns, including the Pakistani National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), which has long been involved in this area.

From 2011 to 2020, Christian experts point out, a climate of hatred seem to have increased and episodes of intolerance have multiplied, despite the appeals and demands for greater attention to the material published for students, especially the youngest.

On a positive note, some programmes have been inclusive, regarding national heroes from religious minorities, such as Air Force Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry, a Christian.
After the despicable acts of violence in our Capitol building, it is hard to imagine a worse moment to undermine hopes for political stability in our nation. Democrats, big tech and the media are doing exactly that, however, despite president-elect Biden's call for unity. They are tarring the 74 million Americans who cast votes for Donald Trump as insurrectionists and silencing legitimate dissent. They are also pretending that Republicans who want to repair our broken election system incited the unforgivable violence in the people's house on January 6th.
James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, popularly called Kabilla, a former Director of Elections for the Convention People's Party (CPP) has slammed the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin over some statements the latter recently made regarding the Majority-Minority drama in Parliament.



There's still confusion over which party in the Legislative House holds majority.



Whereas the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus claims majority by virtue of the fact that they hold 137 seats and Fomena Member of Parliament, an independent candidate, accepting to join them; the NDC caucus also say they are the Majority in Parliament.



A recent reportage indicated the Speaker had ruled over the matter, declaring the NPP caucus Majority but he's vehemently denied making statements to that effect.



Speaking on the floor of the august House, Speaker Alban Bagbin stated emphatically he had not declared the NPP as majority group but rather said time will tell who should become the Majority in Parliament.



Touching on the Parliamentary drama, James Kwabena Bomfeh questioned the neutrality of the Speaker.



According to him, the Speaker sounded partisan in his speech and so cautioned him to live by his oath not to show partisan partiality in Parliament.



''...if he wants to be non-partisan, he should live by word but the speech he gave the other time, it was a bit veiled and I saw partisanship in it. I'm talking about the Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Bagbin; I saw partisanship in the speech. If he was to be neutral and non-partisan, as the oath of office he took prescribes, he should do so'', he accentuated during a discussion on Peace FM's Wednesday edition of ''Kokrokoo''.





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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New York, Jan 22 : US President Joe Biden's nominee for defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, has said that he would continue to build on the "strong defence cooperation" with India and ensure that the militaries of the two countries can collaborate on shared interests.

In written answers to questions from the Senate Armed Forces Committee, he said that he would "further operationalise India's 'major defence partner' status and continue to build upon existing strong defense cooperation to ensure the US and Indian militaries can collaborate to address shared interests".

India received the status of major defence partner in 2016 when Biden was the vice president and Barack Obama was the president.

Austin gave an indication of continuity in Washington's defence approach to India that was further enhanced during Donald Trump's term as president.

"If confirmed, my overarching objective for our defence relationship with India would be to continue elevating the partnership," he said.

Austin also brought a multilateral element to the cooperation with India by mentioning the Quad, the strategic Indo-Pacific group of India, the United States, Japan and Australia.

"I would also seek to deepen and broaden our defense cooperation through the Quad security dialogue and other regional multilateral engagements," he said.

The Quad was revived during Trump's administration and received a boost in its pivot to the Indo-Pacific as threats from China to the regional partners grew.

Austin is a retired US Army general and in addition to being confirmed by the Senate like all senior US officials, he will also have to get a waiver from Congress because US laws forbid former generals from becoming defence secretaries for seven years since their retirement.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The proposed expansion at the site is marked in blue

THE Ornua Co-Operative has unveiled details of a major expansion project at its Kerrygold Park site in Mitchelstown, with the company saying the development will bring a significant financial boost to the town and the wider north Cork region.

A planning application for the development is due to be lodged with Cork County Council next month, with the company hoping to start and complete work on the 40 million project, which will take approximately a year to complete, during the summer.

The proposal makes provision for a new butter churn and cream processing infrastructure, two new packaging lines, additional cold storage capacity, extended office space and extra car parking space on existing grounds within the campus.

An Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) is currently being prepared for submission with the planning application, which is being prepared in conjunction with Cork-based company KMPC.

An Ornua spokesperson said the expansion project would create 120 temporary local jobs during construction and a further 30 additional permanent jobs when finished, bringing the total workforce at Kerrygold Park to more than 150.

They said the expansion project underscored Ornua's commitment to the Mitchelstown area and focussed on the long-term growth of the Kerrygold brand, which in turn helps to "support the livelihoods of more than 14,000 family farms across Ireland".

"Ornua Co-Operative has been producing and packing the Kerrygold butter brand at Kerrygold Park since opening in 2016. Since then Ornua has been a proud part of the Mitchelstown community," said the spokesperson.

"Today, Kerrygold Park employs more than 120 people, supporting local economic activity for the Mitchelstown area through local services and businesses."

The spokesperson said that in addition to bringing new jobs to the region, the development would help stimulate economic growth at what is a "challenging time for many rural communities" and enhance the existing benefits that Kerrygold Park brings to the local area.

"In addition to supporting local farming families and important local community initiatives, the facility increases economic activity for the area and showcases Mitchelstown as a great location for other businesses," said the spokesperson.

"Ornua and Kerrygold greatly appreciate the ongoing support of the Mitchelstown community and our valued employees from the local area. We sincerely hope that, with your support, we can continue to grow and flourish in the years ahead."

Once submitted, the planning application will be available to view at Cork County Council's local offices (Covid restrictions permitting) or through the planning link at www.corkcoco.ie.

"In the meantime, should people wish to learn more about the project, please feel free to contact KMPC by post at Ballinora, Waterfall, Cork; by email at lmccoy@kmpc.ie or by phone on 021 421 4349", said the spokesperson.

News of the development was welcomed by North Cork Labour TD Sean Sherlock who urged the public to 'buy-in' to the expansion plan.

"Given the state of the economy, such investment in north Cork and Mitchelstown is a vote of confidence. I welcome the fact that the planning application will be submitted this February and would urge everyone to engage in the planning process, whatever your concerns. Ensuring robust public engagement is the only way to ensure success," he said.
Hensoldt UK has launched Spexer 600 multi-mission, X-Band ground-based surveillance radar utilising our world beating SharpEye solid state transceiver technology.

Building upon the excellent pedigree of well-established Hensoldt products and technologies, Spexer 600 complements the Spexer family of Active Electronically Scanned Array or AESA radars, offering a cost effective and truly crew portable field deployable solution.

Designed to meet user requirements to detect multiple threats in the modern battlefield or security environment, it offers a number of modes allowing multiple functions to be carried out by a single radar sensor. The built-in tracker reduces the need for additional electronic units, making it a lightweight, crew portable unit that can be set up in a few minutes. In fixed installations the low weight allows it to be installed without any specialist masts or structures.

Controlled either locally or remotely from a command centre, Spexer 600 can be easily networked with other sensors.

Spexer 600 from Hensoldt UK is the solution for todays complex operational needs on the battlefield, or in securing the nations critical infrastructure against multiple threats, stated Adrian Pilbeam, Head of Sales  Ground and Maritime Surveillance Radar.-- Tradearabia News Service
The analyst says that despite the massive hit to film and TV production and to cinema chains from Covid-19, there are several opportunities for network carriers and telcos to help broadcast and media companies particularly. Indeed it says that the pandemic has brought about an urgent need to transform their operations through digital solutions. It added that those companies which are adept at leveraging mobile, cloud, analytics and automation will gain significant competitive advantages in terms of cost of business, ability to reach a wider audience and providing new ways of consuming content.The study singled out the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region as the largest online video-on-demand (SVOD) market in terms of subscribers, expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) 12.7% from 231 million subscriptions in 2018 to 420 million in 2023. Yet despite the growth, the pandemic has also impacted content supply in the region, from the delay in the production of new films to the cancellation of major sporting events. This has resulted in a loss of revenue from both content and advertising, impacting mostly content producers, pay-TV operators, cinemas, and broadcasters.The research cited network carriers such as BT , Tata Communications and Telstra as having a dedicated business unit to support the broadcast and media industry and offer solutions beyond connectivity addressing different aspects of the broadcast media industry from content creation, distribution, aggregation, to the user interfaces transforms.The telecommunications networks play a crucial role in delivering content to consumers around the world, observed GlobalData research director Siow Meng Soh. Increasingly, network carriers are building stronger relationship with broadcast and media companies to provide services beyond the transmission network. Some carriers have developed a practice dedicated to the broadcast and media industry, offering solutions tailored to the needs of this industry and going beyond the content delivery network (CDN). GlobalData believes that to mitigate these business issues, the providers need to adopt and/or hasten digital transformation plans. It adds that virtualisation of IT and broadcasting technologies and the migration of on-premise systems to the cloud will facilitate this transformation and simplify operations. It adds that 5G technology, global fibre networks and remote facilities will continue to reduce the need for large on-site production crews, facilities and expensive on-site equipment and also increase the coverage of live events.
As the protesting farmer unions turned down the Centre's proposal of suspending the contentious farm laws for 18 months, the Congress on Thursday said this rejection of the government's "lollipop" by the farmers signals their "awakening". Stepping up his attack on the government over the farmers' issue, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi, "Stop the daily 'jumlas' and atrocities, just simply repeal the anti-agriculture laws." Protesting farmer unions on Thursday rejected the government's proposal to suspend the three farm laws for 18 months and set up a joint committee to find an amicable solution to end the deadlock.

This was announced by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of unions leading protests at several Delhi border points. Reacting to the development, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Modi ji, the country's farmers are awakened. When will you wake up?" "The martyrdom of 147 'annadaatas' will not go in vain. The rejection of the government's lollipop by the farmer unions is the bugle of their awakening," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

"Don't say later that you were not told," Surjewala added. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Haryana and Punjab, have been protesting at several border points of Delhi since November 28 last year, demanding a repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee to the MSP system for their crops.

Enacted in September last year, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country. However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of the MSP and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi attacked the government over the Kattupalli Barrier island port project in Tamil Nadu, alleging that the port on the island is illegal but the Modi government is ensuring its construction. "The handover of our country to his crony capitalist friends continues," he alleged.
With restaurants affected due to the COVID-19 crisis, a restaurant in Pune has come up with a unique scheme to attract customers. Shivraj Hotel, located in the outskirts of Pune, has come up with 'Win a Bullet bike' contest for those who finish a massive Bullet Thali within an hour.

The customer who manages to finish the Bullet Thali will win a Royal Enfield Bullet worth Rs 1.65 lakh.

Bullet Thali is a massive non-veg thali which consists of around 12 types of dishes made with 4 kgs of mutton and fried fish. It includes dishes such as Fried Surmai, Pomfret Fried Fish, Chicken Tandoori, Dry Mutton, Grey Mutton, Chicken Masala and Kolumbi (Prawn) Biryani. The thali is priced at Rs 2,500.

Atul Waikar, the owner of the Shivraj Hotel, told India Today that the response had been great and people had been visiting to try the thali and participate in this unique contest. As per Waikar, the hotel sells around 65 daily.

To attract attention, Waikar placed five brand new Royal Enfield Bullet bikes on the verandah. He also put up Banners in the restaurant and also shared the ad on his Facebook page.

Established eight years ago, Shivraj Hotel also serves other six types of giant thalis like Special Ravan Thali, Malvani Fish Thali, Pahelwan Mutton Thali, Bakasur Chicken Thali and Sarkar Mutton Thali. Each thali is priced at Rs 2,500.

Source: Facebook/Atul Waikar

When asked if anyone had managed to finish the Bullet Thali, Waikar said that Somnath Pawar who is a resident of the Solapur district of Maharashtra won the contest. He managed to finish the thali in less than an hour.

But, this is not the first time Waikar has come up with a unique idea. Earlier, he had arranged a contest that required four people to finish the 8 kg Ravan Thali within 60 minutes and the winner was awarded a cash prize of Rs 5,000 without paying the bill of the thali.

New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 86F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
English French

REGULATORY RELEASE



CANCELLATION OF

KLEPIERRE SHARES

Paris  January 21, 2021

On January 19, 2021, the Klepierre Executive Board decided to cancel 5,091,144 Klepierre shares with effect as of January 19, 2021. These shares had been acquired between February 15, 2019 and June 18, 2019, as part of the share buyback program initiated in February 2019.

The Klepierre Executive Board took this decision in accordance with existing financial authorizations, specifically the one pertaining to capital reduction as per Resolution No. 18 approved by shareholders at the Combined General Meeting of April 30, 2020.

Pursuant to this decision, Klepierres issued share capital now stands at 412,787,275.60, consisting of 294,848,054 shares, each with a par value of 1.40 and one theoretical voting right.

ABOUT KLEPIERRE

Klepierre, the European leader in shopping malls, combines development, property and asset management skills. The companys portfolio is valued at 22.8 billion at June 30, 2020 and comprises large shopping centers in 12 countries in Continental Europe which together host 1.1 billion visits per year. Klepierre holds a controlling stake in Steen & Strm (56.1%), Scandinavias number one shopping center owner and manager. Klepierre is a French REIT (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris and is included in the CAC Next 20, EPRA Euro Zone and GPR 250 indexes. It is also included in ethical indexes, such as DJSI World and Europe, FTSE4Good, STOXX Global ESG Leaders, Euronext Vigeo France 20 and World 120. These distinctions underscore the Groups commitment to a proactive sustainable development policy and its global leadership in the fight against climate change.

For more information, please visit the newsroom on our website: www.klepierre.com

AGENDA February 17, 2021 2020 full-year earnings May 6, 2021 Annual General Meeting





investor relations Hubert dAILLIERES

+33 (0)1 40 67 51 37  hubert.daillieres@klepierre.com

Mengxing ZHANG

+33 (0)1 40 67 53 05  mengxing.zhang@klepierre.com

Paul LOGEROT

+33 (0)1 40 67 53 02  paul.logerot@klepierre.com

Attachment
Patricia Gonzales felt flabbergasted when she saw the newspaper notice about Intercontinental Terminals Co.  a company whose name she wouldnt forget after a 2019 fire at its Deer Park tank farm sent a plume of dark smoke over the region.

ITC was asking Texas environmental agency to adjust what pollution it was allowed to release from another tank farm, this one near Gonzales home in Pasadena. On the list: carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter. The 52-year-old medical phone line operator, who had formed a nonprofit to advocate for her community, alerted an attorney.

Gonzales wanted to understand what exactly ITC was proposing. Shed lived around petrochemical plants long enough to lose faith that they would necessarily do the right thing: We dont trust these refineries around here to be good stewards, she said.

Air quality permit requests like the one ITC is seeking are routine  in fact, the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality had already given preliminary approval to this one. But the companys high profile caught the eye of advocates such as Gonzales and of attorneys, who argue the agency is letting ITC off too easy.

TCEQ declined to comment on that criticism. But in emailed responses to questions, the agency said it had reviewed the permit and determined the emissions would harm neither the environment nor public health. An ITC spokesperson in a written statement reiterated similar points.

With the 2019 blaze and environmental disaster still on their minds, advocates simply contend state rules should be applied differently. In a public comment period soon to close, theyre making one last stand.

Stink-a-dena

When she saw the news ad, Gonzales contacted Colin Cox, then an attorney for Lone Star Legal Aid. Cox learned TCEQ over the last decade had approved three separate permits for ITC to build out the Pasadena facility, which stores chemicals for transport.

The company applied in late 2018 to amend its air quality permit to reflect the as-built facility. That was common. What irked Cox was that the three earlier stages of permitting allowed ITC to represent the facility as three entities instead of one, thereby avoiding more stringent emissions regulations.

Harris County Pollution Control, in a letter dated Feb. 8, 2019, said it thought the company inappropriately classified what it was doing too.

ITC sees it differently. TCEQ approved each construction project with set emissions limits. A different type of permit, known as a Title V permit, regulates the storage terminal as a whole.

A public comment period ended March 22, 2019  five days after the Deer Park facility first caught fire. Officials during the disaster ordered some residents to shelter in place after finding elevated levels of benzene, a carcinogen. Toxic runoff prompted a days-long closure of the Houston Ship Channel. Schools sent kids home.

On the day the public comment period ended, after 11 tanks had burned, fires reignited again.

The Harris County Attorneys office requested TCEQ give residents another chance to weigh in.

On behalf of Gonzales advocacy group, Caring for Pasadena Communities, Cox too implored the agency to hold a public meeting and reconsider the facilitys pollution requirements.

The Texans who live here desperately need an effective regulatory agency to safeguard their air quality, Cox wrote in a December 2019 letter. TCEQ must hold ITC to the appropriate standards.

He reminded the agency that the situation was bad enough, that people already call the city of Pasadena Stink-a-dena.

Another chance

People now have a chance to comment in light of the disaster. The formal comment period ends Jan. 29.

On Jan. 12, TCEQ staff and ITC consultants took part in the state-sponsored virtual public meeting that Cox had hoped for, prepared to answer any question. A translator was poised to explain everything on another line in Spanish.

Shanon DiSorbo, a consultant representing ITC, made the point again that the permit application was linked to three discrete projects previously reviewed by TCEQ.

An informal Q&A period ensued. Tedious answers were difficult to follow. About 25 people, including advocates, residents and reporters, listened.

Among them were Cox, now a staffer with the Environmental Integrity Project, and two other Lone Star attorneys, Heejin Hwang and Rodrigo Cantu, both of whom were working on the case and familiar with helping residents track complicated issues like this.

Hwang and Cantu agreed with Cox that ITC used a false categorization, as Hwang explained it, to avoid requirements on what are considered major emitters. The projects have instead been classified as minor, the attorneys said.

They believe , the minor classification cuts ITC a break from tougher regulation.

These are just additional checks on the facility and ways to further assure the public that the facility is not harming public health, Hwang said. So when TCEQ and the company choose to categorize their application and their permit so that it could avoid these additional requirements, then it reduces public confidence in what the facility is doing.

Cox knew it wasnt too late for the agency to address this; he didnt think they would.

The moderator called for feedback. Four participants took the opportunity to excoriate the company and agency.

Michael Moritz, a 25-year-old engineer, learned about the meeting on Twitter. He remembered the Deer Park explosion. His advice to the agency was straightforward: It should act for the citizens, he said, and not for the representation of a single private company.

With that, the meeting closed. The agencys executive director will respond next to the comments, then can issue final approval of an application already found to be in compliance with the rules.

emily.foxhall@chron.com
AV

But theyll probably heat up once more, and one of the first signs of that is the announcement made by Honda that GMs Cruise autonomous vehicle () will begin testing in Japan soon.The move is made possible by the fact that Honda agreed back in 2018 to pump $2 billion over the next 12 years in Cruise, the GM offshoot company tasked with making AVs. The announced plan at the time was to have whatever technology is developed launched into service as the backbone of some future mobility service, and perhaps even delivery business.According to Honda, by the end of the year, the first AVs will be on Japanese roads for testing. No specifics were provided, other that these machines will support Hondas upcoming autonomous vehicle mobility service (MaaS).This collaboration with Cruise will enable the creation of new value for mobility and peoples daily lives. which we strive for under Hondas 2030 Vision of serving people worldwide with the joy of expanding their lifes potential, said in a statement Takahiro Hachigo, President & Representative Director, Honda.Through active collaboration with partners who share the same interests and aspirations, Honda will continue to accelerate the realization of our autonomous vehicle MaaS business in Japan.As is, Cruise Origin will eventually be a weirdly-shaped vehicle with no steering wheel, no rearview mirror, or pedals, which is to say it will be a full Level 5 . Thats not what the Japanese will get though this year: Cruise will probably fit Origin hardware on an existing platform and send it on its merry way.
Blue 'jets' of lightning shooting upwards from thunderclouds have been detected by an instrument on board the International Space Station, a study has reported.

Measured by the European Space Agency's Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM), the phenomenon originated in a cloud top over the Pacific island of Nauru.

It reached up into the stratosphere  experts believe that blue jets can span distances of up to 31 miles (50 km)  and lasted less than a second.

Because blue jets form above the cloud layer, they are very difficult to see  and study  from down on the surface of the Earth.

Orbiting some 249 miles (400 kilometres) about the clouds, however, the International Space Station is afforded a non-obstructed view.

Understanding the formation of blue jets  and other energetic phenomena in the stratosphere and above  can reveal clues about how lightning is triggered.

Experts also believe blue jets may play a role influencing the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere  something for studies to investigate further.

Blue 'jets' of lightning shooting upwards from thunderclouds have been detected by an instrument on board the International Space Station, a study has reported. Pictured, a photograph of a thunderstorm taken from the ISS by astronaut Andreas Mogensen in 2015

ASIM  a collection of optical cameras and photometers, as well as an X-ray and gamma-ray detector  was installed on the International Space Station back in 2018.

The monitor us designed to look for electrical discharges that originate in stormy weather conditions and extend above thunderstorms into the upper atmosphere.

The blue jet recently detected by ASIM was kicked off by an intense series of five 10-microsecond flashes, the researchers reported.

Also generated by the flash were so-called 'elves'  expanding rings of optical and ultraviolet emissions which appear at the bottom of the ionosphere, some 50 miles (80 km) above the Earth's surface.

They are formed by electrons and radio waves interacting with the atmosphere.

'Blue jets are lightning-like, atmospheric electric discharges of several hundred millisecond duration that fan into cones as they propagate from the top of thunderclouds into the stratosphere,' the researchers wrote in their paper.

'They are thought to initiate in an electric breakdown between the positively charged upper region of a cloud and a layer of negative charge at the cloud boundary and in the air above,' they continued.

'The breakdown forms a leader that transitions into streamers when propagating upwards. However, the properties of the leader, and the altitude to which it extends above the clouds, are not well characterized.'

Understanding the formation of blue jets  and other energetic phenomena in the stratosphere and above, as pictured  can reveal clues about how lightning is triggered

Measured by the European Space Agency's Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (pictured), the phenomenon originated in a cloud top over the Pacific island of Nauru

'This paper is an impressive highlight of the many new phenomena ASIM is observing above thunderstorms,' said the ESA's physical sciences coordinator for human and robotic spaceflight, Astrid Orr.

'[It] shows that we still have so much to discover and learn about our Universe.'

'Congratulations to all the scientists and university teams that made this happen as well as the engineers that built the observatory and the support teams on ground operating ASIM,' she continued.

The effort, she concluded, was 'a true international collaboration that has led to amazing discoveries.'

The full findings of the study were published in the journal Nature.
Paul Walker didn't just pretend he liked cars in The Fast and the Furious series. He was a petrolhead indeed. There are endless accounts of him driving on the racetrack, meeting up with famous people in the industry, and of course, there are the cars. The list includes about 30 special vehicles, some of which were partly owned with Roger Rodas, who also lost his life in the same car accident on the 30th of November, 2013.That list includes vehicles such as the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale, a Ferrari Testarossa, three Porsches 911 997 GT3 RS, two Porsche 930 Turbos, a Saleen S7, several Mustangs and Saleen Mustangs, a 1st gen Ford GT with reportedly 800 horsepower on tap, a C1 Chevrolet Corvette, and several BMWs. While he was definitely a fan of the M3, owning five such different cars (two of which were E30s and three of which were E36s), he didn't forget the older cars either.Alongside a BMW 2002tii Touring Alpina, there was also a very rare and special BMW M1. And we just came across that exact M1 on Bring a Trailer , where the current bid stands at $350,000 with 11 more days to go. This wouldn't be the first time this car is being auctioned off, as it also did the rounds back in November of 2014 . Some 460 were ever built, including the road cars and the race cars. But just under 400 of them were actually street legal.If that doesn't sound special enough to you, besides the low production numbers, the racing history of the vehicle, and the fact that it was part of Paul Walker's collection, you might like to hear that this car has got another very special thing going on. It's one of only ten BMW M1 examples to receive the AHG M1 Studie treatment, which means it's a special blend of stock and Procar versions, with custom bodywork and upgrades.While the standard BMW M1 inline-six engine developed around 273 horsepower, this vehicle is rated for about 350, which by 1980 standards was quite a lot, especially if you'll consider the fact that a Lamborghini Countach LP400 S had a similar power output. The car is currently offered with a clean Montana title, and the odometer shows slightly over 4,200 miles (around 6,800 km).And don't think that we mentioned the Lamborghini LP400 S just for the sake of it; the BMW M1 actually came about after an agreement between the Italian supercar builder and BMW in the late '70s, which ultimately didn't really work out and left BMW to handle the issue themselves. The car was also fitted with brand new Yokohama Advan tires in December 2020, so it should be good to go should you fancy taking it out for a spin.Even though it was built with racing in mind, BMW didn't steer away from its premium extras, so the car is also fitted with air conditioning, power seats, and a Blaupunkt cassette player. Perhaps the only downside of this car is the fact that, according to the seller, it will not pass the California emissions test, so a private party buyer from this state will not be able to access this vehicle. But there are certainly ways to deal with problems like these.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict ended with a Russian-brokered ceasefire that grants Turkey joint monitoring rights. This framework formalises cooperation between the two regional powers, a development that has significant political implications for Georgia, the US, and the EU, former Georgian Ambassador to US Tedo Japaridze writes in the article Can Armenia and Azerbaijan win peace together? for Brussels Morning.

While visiting Baku in December, Erdogan extended an invitation to Armenia  a longstanding Russian ally  to join a regional platform of cooperation together with Azerbaijan and Turkey, along with Georgia, Russia and Iran. Whats more, he noted that President Vladimir Putin was keen on the idea.Tedo Japaridze discussed the regional perspectives with Baku-based technocrat, the Cambridge and Georgetown-educated Dr. Taleh Ziyadov. Director-General of the Port of Baku since November, 2014, Ziyadov is a true expert in geo-economics and geopolitics.

Tedo Japaridze: For nearly two decades Azerbaijan has been building itself into a multimodal trans-shipment hub. How is this planning affected by Sino-American economic competition and the Iranian embargo? How can you make the South Caucasus (the Azerbaijan/Georgian infrastructure) more attractive for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)?

Taleh Ziyadov: Azerbaijans quest to become a key multimodal transport and logistics hub in Central Eurasia is a phased and multifaceted strategy that has domestic, regional and global aspects. First and foremost, this strategy entails building and upgrading internal infrastructure to meet international standards. Thanks to oil revenues, the government of Azerbaijan has mostly achieved this goal by investing billions of dollars into modernizing its highways, railways, ports and airports over the last two decades. Along with its internal infrastructure, regional connectivity and its seamless integration with regional and global transport networks has been pivotal. Here, a number of energy and transport projects have been completed linking Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey on the East-West axis (i.e. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, etc.) and with Russia and Iran along the North-South axis.

Today, we are on the verge of witnessing the emergence of 21st century hubs that will once again revitalize hitherto diminished, land-based trade between Europe and Asia. Alat/Baku, Poti/Tbilisi, Mersin, Aktau/Kuryk, Turkmenbashi, Khorgos, Mazar-i Sharif and many other cities of Eurasia are contenders for becoming hubs. Located at the strategic crossroads of Europe and Asia and in close proximity to sizeable markets, Azerbaijan aims to become not only a transit bridge between Europe and Asia, but also a major distribution and value-adding centre of Eurasia. The Baku International Sea Trade Port (aka the Port of Baku) plays a key role in Azerbaijans hub concept and its strategy for attracting FDI into its non-oil economy. International businesses looking to establish their regional headquarters in Baku do so with an eye to serving a market of 130 million people within a radius of 1,000 km. To support this, the Port of Baku is reinforced by a legal regime (a free economic zone law passed in 2018) that will protect the interests and investments of these businesses. In short, it is a strategy aimed at creating a global logistics hub with a 21st century ecosystem that is thriving, smart, green, and innovative.

A robust network of these interconnecting hubs will provide the economic backbone for Euro-Asian commerce, linking regional and global markets in new ways. In order to succeed, this strategy requires a well-coordinated regional effort. In the case of Azerbaijan, the connectivity with countries like Georgia, Turkey, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran is essential. Moreover, connectivity to larger economic blocks like the EU, China, Japan, India and the Middle East is critical to making the hub concept viable and sustainable. In light of this, Chinas Belt and Road initiative could contribute positively to the emergence and development of new hubs across Eurasia and increase the significance of Azerbaijan and Georgia in general, and of the Port of Baku in particular.

The economic competition of global powers combined with certain restrictions put on countries within the region could negatively affect this hub strategy. However, the changing nature of the business and innovative trends (i.e. e-commerce, 3D printing etc.) point to a number of advantages possessed by countries like Azerbaijan and Georgia. These include: geographic location and the proximity to large customer pool, regional connectivity, tax and legal incentives, and so on. In other words, the current geopolitical environment should not be considered an obstacle to achieving these goals. Rather, what will define the success of the hub strategy is how innovative and customized the governments actions are in creating investment-friendly conditions to attract investors.

Tedo Japaridze: Azerbaijan is pursuing a so-called non-aligned foreign policy, which seems to echo the rhetoric of Yugoslavia during the Cold War. What does that mean in terms of tax regimes and regulatory standards?

Taleh Ziyadov: Azerbaijan is pursuing an independent foreign policy based on its national interest. This policy entails respect for international law and the principles of justice. It is no accident that 120 countries of the Non-Aligned Movement unanimously elected Azerbaijan to chair the group, starting in October 2019. However, the foreign policy choices of a country should be viewed distinctly from the social and economic standards the government wants to achieve for its people. Social, institutional and economic transformation is an objective that could be achieved by the introduction of innovative solutions, which in todays world could be found in the West as well as in the East. As such, adopting a particular regulatory standard should be viewed in the framework of economic benefit and its impact on long-term economic development of the country. Having said this, the hub strategy highlighted above necessitates building economic cooperation and adopting regulatory standards that will attract major business and investors from around the world to our region. Some countries prefer to apply these standards to the entire economy. Others choose to start with regulatory islands like free zones with the intention of building on their success to expand them further.

Tedo Japaridze: Following the recent war with Armenia, is Azerbaijan and the region at large an attractive destination for FDI?

Taleh Ziyadov: The answer is yes. The ceasefire agreement signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia has effectively ended an unpredictable no war-no peace situation that existed in the region for almost thirty years. Azerbaijan restored sovereignty over its internationally recognized territories that had previously been occupied by Armenia and managed to stipulate clauses in the agreement that could become the building blocks for future regional cooperation. Of course, the involvement of Armenia in future regional initiatives will depend on the choices of future Armenian governments and the countrys vision of itself in this rapidly changing region.

For nearly 30 years, Armenia occupied the Nagorno-Karabakh region and held seven adjacent districts of Azerbaijan as a buffer zone. This resulted in all transport and urban infrastructure that had existed in these regions during the Soviet era being destroyed by Armenian forces. We are talking about villages, towns and cities that have been effectively erased and could no longer be used by the returning Azerbaijani population. Hence, the first priority of the government will be to rebuild new villages, towns and cities from scratch. We are talking about multi-billion dollar investments in new cities, highways, railways, airports, electrical networks and other essential infrastructure over the course of the next five-to-ten years. This constitutes a new opportunity for international investors.

In the larger context, we should consider the transportation link between Azerbaijan and its exclave, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR), which borders Turkey, Iran and Armenia. During the Soviet era, the city of Julfa, which is situated at the Azerbaijan-Iran border in NAR, acted as a major logistics centre; the railway that connected Azerbaijan and NAR via Armenia was the only international railway along the North-South corridor. Some three million tons of freight was transported via this railway every year  a major land-based trading route between the Soviet Union and the Middle East. In addition, the restoration of railway and highway links between Azerbaijan and NAR will open new access points to Turkey and the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the opening of all communications between Armenia and Azerbaijan will boost the economic significance of the region as a whole. Therefore, an integrated, peaceful and well-connected South Caucasus region has a better chance of being an attractive destination for FDIs than would be the case if each country were acting independently in an uncoordinated context.

Tedo Japaridze: Is energy sustainability  the use of less fossil fuels  part of the Azerbaijans value proposition when it comes to logistics?

Taleh Ziyadov: At the Port of Baku, we view sustainability as one of our core values. In 2017, the Port of Baku became the first port in the Caspian region to be awarded the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO)s PERSEcoPorts certificate. For us, becoming an EcoPort embodies our genuine belief in a green and sustainable future. While oil and gas exports still remain an important source of foreign exchange for Azerbaijan, the shift from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified economy was initiated by President Aliyev several years ago. The very logic of our hub strategy entails diversification and sustainability. Any socially responsible business or country in the 21st century must have sustainability as part of its value proposition.
The UK has recorded its deadliest day in the coronavirus pandemic, as the Government's chief scientific adviser warned parts of the NHS were like a 'war zone'.

Official figures broken down by date of death showed that January 12 saw the highest number of victims recorded in a single 24-hour period - with 1,110 Covid-19 fatalities, eclipsing the previous peak of 1,073 on April 8, 2020.

Separate figures for deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 saw a record 1,820 fatalities reported as of Wednesday, although there is a time lag between a patient dying and appearing in the statistics.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the figures were 'appalling' and warned 'there will be more to come because what we're seeing is the result of the wave of the new variant that we saw just before Christmas on December 18, or thereabouts'.

The grim statistics appeared as chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance gave a stark warning about the strain the pandemic was putting on hospitals.

'This is very, very bad at the moment, with enormous pressure, and in some cases it looks like a war zone in terms of the things that people are having to deal with,' he said.

Official figures broken down by date of death showed that January 12 saw the highest number of victims recorded in a single 24-hour period - with 1,110 Covid-19 fatalities, eclipsing the previous peak of 1,073 on April 8, 2020

The grim statistics appeared as chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance gave a stark warning about the strain the pandemic was putting on hospitals

But there was 'light at the end of the tunnel' in the form of the vaccination programme, which has so far seen 4,609,740 people receive a first jab.

Based on the latest figures, an average of 399,625 first doses of vaccine would be needed each day in order to meet the Government's target of 15 million of the highest priority patients receive a jab by February 15 - on Tuesday the total was 343,163.

Answering viewers' questions on Sky News, Sir Patrick warned that vaccines were not doing enough of the 'heavy lifting' at the moment to consider easing lockdown restrictions, with case rates needing to decline further before ministers could consider relaxing the measures.

Boris warns 'there will be more' Covid deaths after UK records daily high of 1,820 victims Boris Johnson warned 'there will be more' Covid deaths to come after Britain recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic for second day in a row with 1,820 more victims. With the UK's overall death toll creeping ever closer to the grim 100,000 milestone, the Prime Minister called the daily figure 'appalling'. Department of Health data shows nearly 20,000 fatalities have been recorded in 2021 already, with today's figure being a 16 per cent rise on the 1,243 recorded last week. Health bosses declared 1,610 deaths yesterday. Despite the country's ever-growing death toll, statistics also showed the UK's second wave is continuing to fade away as a result of lockdown. Officials recorded another 38,905 coronavirus cases today, down 18 per cent on last Wednesday's figure of 47,525. Fatalities lag by a few weeks behind infections due to the time it takes between catching and falling seriously ill with Covid, which means the effects of the January 4 shutdown might not be felt in the death figures until next week. Experts say Britain will suffer more 'record-breaking' days in terms of deaths before they eventually fall. When the death figures are broken down by date, it reveals 1,110 people succumbed to the virus on January 12, the highest number of fatalities to occur on a single day since the start of the pandemic. The Government's daily toll is the number of deaths registered in the last 24 hours, which includes deaths over the past few days. Advertisement

The Government has pledged that all those in the top priority groups, including the over-70s and frontline health and social care workers, will have received an offer to have had their first dose of the jab given to them by mid-February.

'The advice at the moment is vaccines are not going to do the heavy lifting for us at the moment, anywhere near it,' Sir Patrick said.

'This is about, I'm afraid, the restrictive measures which we're all living under and carrying on with those.

'The numbers are nowhere near where they need to be at the moment, they need to come down quite a lot further - we need to make sure we stick with it.

'You go for a walk in the park or something, life looks normal; you go for a walk in a hospital, if you work in a hospital, you will see life not looking normal at all.'

He suggested tougher measures could have been needed earlier in the pandemic.

'I'm afraid that's a grim message but that is what the evidence says - you've got to go hard, early and broader if you're going to get on top of this. Waiting and watching simply doesn't work.'

He said it was hoped that as the vaccine took effect and cases dropped, it would be possible to start a 'slow release' of some of the measures - but there would not be a 'big bang' relaxation.

The Prime Minister insisted the vaccination programme remained 'on track' despite 'constraints on supply'.

He told reporters: 'We're going absolutely as fast as we can and it is literally a race against time, a race to protect the elderly and the vulnerable in the context of what is still a very, very tough pandemic.

'There are still tough weeks to come.'

Pfizer has said it is reducing deliveries for the next three to four weeks while it makes improvements to its factory in Belgium, while AstraZeneca expects to scale up to two million doses per week before or by mid-February.

The British Medical Association (BMA) criticised the Government over a lack of transparency around vaccine supply, which is impacting the speed at which jabs are rolled out.

In a statement, GP committee chairman Dr Richard Vautrey said: 'Despite having the staff and resources available, some GP-led sites are not able to vaccinate patients at the rate at which they could if they had continued access to the vaccine.

'As well as accelerating the delivery of supplies to ready and willing sites across the country, the Government needs to be honest both with the public and practices about what supplies are available.'

In other developments:

Home Secretary Priti Patel was recorded admitting that the Government 'should... have closed our borders earlier' and said she had pushed for that last March.

Three Birmingham hospitals are to start piloting delivery of 24-hour Covid-19 vaccinations for health and social care staff.

Covid-19 vaccines may be less effective against the South African coronavirus variant, researchers there warned in a paper which has not yet been peer reviewed.

The Government's programme to test pupils and staff daily in England's secondary schools and colleges as an alternative to self-isolation will be 'paused'.

In a sign the lockdown measures in England are having an impact, analysis shows Covid-19 case rates in two regions of England are at their lowest level since before Christmas.

In London, the rolling seven-day rate as of January 15 stood at 703.7 cases per 100,000 people - down from 1,053.4 a week earlier, and the lowest since the seven days to December 19.

Eastern England is currently recording a seven-day rate of 526.8, down from 763.5 and the lowest since December 20.

All regions of England are continuing to show a week-on-week fall in seven-day rates, though levels are dropping faster in some areas than others.

Another 38,905 coronavirus cases were recorded on Thursday, down 18 per cent on last Wednesday's 47,525.

But Mr Johnson warned of 'tough weeks to come' in the pandemic. He said: 'These figures are appalling, and of course we think of the suffering that each one of those deaths represents to their families and to their friends.

'I've got to tell you ... there will be more to come because what we're seeing is the result of the wave of the new variant that we saw just before Christmas on December 18, or thereabouts.'

Fatalities lag a few weeks behind infections due to the time it takes between catching and falling seriously ill with Covid, which means the effects of the January shutdown might not be felt in the death figures until next week.

The PM told the Downing Street briefing: 'We must hope that by getting the numbers - the daily infections - down in the way that perhaps has been happening since the lockdown, that will feed through into a reduction in deaths as well.

'But I must stress we have tough weeks to come now as we roll out the vaccine. The light will only really begin to dawn as we get those vaccinations out.'

It comes amid renewed hopes for Britain's great vaccine rollout as 350,000 doses were dished out yesterday. One Government insider told MailOnline they hoped it meant the programme was 'back on track'.

Mr Johnson said: 'We're going absolutely as fast as we can and it is literally a race against time, a race to protect the elderly and the vulnerable in the context of what is still a very, very tough pandemic.'
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
US President Joe Biden signs his first executive order in the Oval Office of the White House. (Image: AP)

Climate-change leaders and campaigners worldwide welcomed US President Joe Biden's move to rejoin the 2015 Paris Agreement but said Washington must also cut emissions and use its influence to encourage other countries to do the same.

In one of his first acts as president, Biden issued an executive order on Wednesday to bring the United States, the world's second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, back into the global treaty committing nearly 200 countries to halt rising temperatures quickly enough to avoid disastrous climate change.

Washington formally left the Paris accord last year but its role as a heavyweight in global climate negotiations had already stalled with the 2016 election of President Donald Trump.

Trump cast doubt on climate science and asserted that the accord was an economic burden. UN climate negotiations have stuttered since then, with multiple summits failing to deliver ambitious action.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they get a standing ovation just by entering the room," former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said, referring to a US return to global climate talks. "That doesn't mean that they will have a standing ovation forever. They have to prove that they are really determined to make the changes that are necessary."

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the US return to the Paris accord but added: "There is a very long way to go. The climate crisis continues to worsen and time is running out to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build more climate-resilient societies that help to protect the most vulnerable."

Climate diplomats said they want to see an ambitious US commitment to cut emissions this decade and a diplomatic push to convince others to follow suit. Top of the list would be China, the world's biggest polluter, which plans to become carbon neutral by 2060 but has yet to unveil a short-term plan to reduce emissions.

Climate agreements signed by China and the United States played a big role in securing a deal at the Paris climate talks in 2015.

But during the Trump administration, climate became another source of friction between the world's two biggest economies, and experts said it was unlikely that their relationship could immediately return to normal.

"A lot has changed since the Obama years that will make the G2 climate relationship under Biden unpredictable," said Li Shuo, senior climate and energy policy officer for Greenpeace East Asia, referring to the United States and China as the G2.

Li pointed to the rock-bottom US-China relationship and divisive politics that create challenges for climate engagement.

"What remains unchanged is the need for the G2 to move towards the same direction ... Now the task is for the pair to switch to high gear, holding each others hand or not," Li said.

CARBON BORDER TAX?

Biden has said he wants to put the United States on track to net zero emissions by 2050 but has yet to detail what regulatory tools he intends to use to achieve that goal.

"One of the core challenges for the administration is going to be reframing this as opportunity for green growth, for jobs - for the kind of things we've seen in Europe, which has managed to significantly grow its economy while reducing its carbon emissions," said Kelley Kizzier, a former European Union climate negotiator, now at the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund.

The EU is already eyeing areas for collaboration.

In June, it will propose a carbon levy on imports of certain polluting goods to protect European industry from cheaper competitors in countries with weak climate policies. Biden pledged in his election campaign to do the same, through "carbon adjustment fees or quotas" at the US border.

Carbon border policies offer "an opportunity to work together to set a global template for such measures," the EU said in a December memo on its priorities for the new EU relationship with the Biden administration.

Policy analysts say a joint US-EU carbon border measure could drive faster decarbonisation in countries with high-emitting export-oriented sectors - including China, the world's largest steel producer.

"This is a very important tool in the hands of the EU and the US administration to stimulate global climate action," said Simone Tagliapietra, research fellow at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.

Frans Timmermans, the EU climate policy chief, said he would team up with John Kerry, Biden's international climate envoy, "to convince ever more countries that ambitious climate action is in their best interest."

But for vulnerable countries grappling with floods, heat waves and droughts made more devastating by climate change, the priority is finance.

Former President Barack Obama's administration pledged to deliver $3 billion to the UN flagship fund to help vulnerable countries fight climate change. Washington has delivered only $1 billion so far.

"President Biden should fulfil the remaining pledge," said Tanguy Gahouma-Bekale, chair of the African Group of Negotiators in global climate talks.
LONDON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Avon Products, Inc. ("Avon") announced today the expiration of its previously announced solicitation (the "2023 Notes Consent Solicitation") of consents and receipt of requisite consents from holders (the "2023 Notes Holders") necessary to effect the amendments (the "2023 Notes Amendments") to the indenture governing Avon's outstanding 5.000% Notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes"), as described in the Consent Solicitation Statement, dated January 12, 2021 (the "Consent Solicitation Statement").

The 2023 Notes Consent Solicitation expired at 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on January 20, 2021 (the "2023 Notes Expiration Date"). The holders of a majority of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2023 Notes have validly delivered and did not validly revoke Consents to the 2023 Notes Amendments (the "Requisite Consents"). Accordingly, Avon and the trustee will enter into a supplemental indenture (the "2023 Notes Supplemental Indenture") to the indenture governing the 2023 Notes to effect the 2023 Notes Amendments. The time and date on which the 2023 Notes Supplemental Indenture is executed is hereinafter referred to as the "2023 Notes Consent Time" with respect to the 2023 Notes.

Avon will pay to 2023 Notes Holders who delivered valid and unrevoked Consents to the 2023 Notes Amendments on or prior to the 2023 Notes Expiration Date (the "2023 Notes Consenting Holders") an amount equal to U.S.$2.50 per U.S.$1,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes (the "2023 Notes Consent Payment") held by the 2023 Consenting Holders to The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") for the benefit of the 2023 Notes Consenting Holders, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Consent Solicitation Statement. Avon expects to pay, or cause to be paid, the 2023 Notes Consent Payment on January 22, 2021 (the "2023 Notes Settlement Date"). No accrued interest will be paid in respect of the 2023 Notes Consent Payment.

Although the 2023 Notes Supplemental Indenture and the related 2023 Notes Amendments will become effective immediately upon execution at the 2023 Notes Consent Time, the 2023 Notes Amendments will not be operative until the 2023 Notes Consent Payment is paid to DTC for the benefit of the 2023 Notes Consenting Holders on the 2023 Notes Settlement Date.

In addition, Avon announced today that it has extended the expiration date of its previously announced solicitation (the "2043 Notes Consent Solicitation") of consents from holders (the "2043 Notes Holders") of Avon's outstanding 6.950% Notes due 2043 from 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on January 20, 2021, to 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on January 27, 2021 (as amended hereby, the "2043 Notes Expiration Date"). 2043 Notes Holders who have previously delivered consents in connection with the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation do not need to redeliver such consents or take any other action in response to this announcement in order to consent to the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation.

Except as set forth herein with respect to the 2043 Notes Expiration Date, the terms and conditions of the Consent Solicitations, as well as the proposed amendments to the indentures governing the Notes, remain the same as set forth and described in the Consent Solicitation Statement. In particular the Revocation Deadline with respect to the 2043 Notes Consent Solicitation has passed and is not being extended.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ("Citi") is acting as the Solicitation Agent for the Consent Solicitations. D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as the Information and Tabulation Agent for the Consent Solicitations. Questions or requests for assistance related to the Consent Solicitations or for additional copies of the Consent Solicitation Statement may be directed to Citi at +1 (212) 723-6106 (banks and brokers) and +1 (800) 558-3745 (all others, toll free), or to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at +1 (212) 269-5550 (banks and brokers), +1 (866) 356-7813 (all others, toll free) or by email at [email protected]. The Consent Solicitation Statement is available at: www.dfking.com/avon. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Consent Solicitations.

About Avon

For 130 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are primarily sold to women, through women. Millions of independent Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands such as Avon Color and ANEW through their social networks, building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time basis. Avon supports women's empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over U.S.$1 billion to women's causes through Avon and the Avon Foundation. Avon is a wholly owned subsidiary of Natura &Co Holding. To learn more, please visit Natura &Co. Holding's website at https://naturaeco.com/en/brands/avon/.

Forward-Looking Statements

Disclosures in this press release contain forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that management expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include statements regarding the consummation of the Consent Solicitations, including the timing thereof, the Proposed Amendments and the execution of the Supplemental Indentures. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by Avon based on its management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Avon, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks set forth in reports filed by Natura &Co Holding with the Brazilian Securities Commission (Comissao de Valores Mobiliarios) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and by Avon with the SEC. Any forward-looking statement applies only as of the date on which such statement is made and Avon does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Natura &Co Holding S.A.

Investor Relations:

Viviane Behar de Castro, Investor Relations Officer, Natura &Co Holding

[email protected]

SOURCE Avon Products, Inc.
T he opening show of the 46th presidency of the United States was a nicely judged piece of political theatre. Short on razzmatazz and shorn of crowds by Covid, the inauguration of Joe Biden was a careful repudiation of the Trump era that also tried to appeal to its fans: a sober but emotional palate cleanser after four years of garish horror porn.

Amid the obligatory references to duty, god, and the great nation of America, the word that stood out in Bidens speech was unity. There were also bold references to the countrys heinous racial, gender and income inequality, and a description of those who two weeks ago stormed the building where he stood as representatives of white supremacy, domestic terrorism.

He didnt mention his absent, satsuma-hued predecessor by name. But there were plenty of sideswipes at Trumps incendiary rhetoric, isolationism, and serial violation of the truth. Pointedly, Biden cited ex-presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama behind him, and the absent Jimmy Carter, as patriots. As opposed to venal, would-be demagogues who tried to mount a putsch, then sulked off to Florida when they lost, presumably.

Hes no Shakespearean orator, Biden, though his conquered stutter only reared its head a couple of times. Religion threaded through his speech, though the tone was more of the porch than the pulpit. He used the term my fellow Americans (which in George W Bushs mouth always sounded like merkins) but seemed more comfortable addressing the crowd as folks.

He was the town doctor, the ageing sheriff, the platoon captain in a foxhole telling everyone that yes, times were perilous, but if they all pulled together, theyd pull through. This is a great nation. We are good people, he said, appealing for the restoration of forgotten values: calm, dignity, and respect. Calling for silence and prayer for Americas Covid dead was a classy touch.

Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures 1 /33 Inauguration Day 2021 - In pictures Joe Biden is sworn in as U.S. President during his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty Images Kamala Harris is sworn in as U.S. Vice President as her spouse Doug Emhoff holds a bible during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington REUTERS President Joe Biden signs three documents including an inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations in the President's Room at the US Capitol after the inauguration ceremony AP Lady Gaga arrives to sing the National Anthem during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington REUTERS Jennifer Lopez performs during the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington REUTERS U.S. President-elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive at Biden's inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Getty Images Vice President-elect Kamala Harris greets former U.S. President Barack Obama ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden REUTERS Doug Emhoff, U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Jill Biden and President-elect Joe Biden wave as they arrive on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration Getty Images U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and husband Doug Emhoff Getty Images Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden arrive AP Former U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush arrive to the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary Clinton arrive before the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States REUTERS Lady Gaga arrives at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden o Getty Images Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (R) and her husband Doug Emhoff (L) attend services at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle Getty Images US President-elect Joe Biden and incoming First Lady Jill Biden attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, DC, AFP via Getty Images Joe Biden House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, left, and her husband Paul Pelosi attend Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle during Inauguration Day ceremonies AP Former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez arrives at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images The motorcade of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence arrives at the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris Getty Images Outgoing President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive on Marine One before boarding Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base AP Two US Marines take up positions on the West Front of the US Capitol as preparations are made prior to the 59th inaugural ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Marine One flies by the Washington Monument on its way to the White House in Washington, DC POOL/AFP via Getty Images US flags are seen in the early morning as preparations continue for the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden AFP via Getty Images A military band arrives at the U.S Capitol early morning ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images Socially distanced seating is seen on the West front of the Capitol before Joe Biden's presidential inauguration in Washington REUTERS Preparations are made at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for the departure of outgoing US President Donald Trump AFP via Getty Images A jumbotron is seen ahead of the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden Getty Images Diagram shows who will sit where during the inauguration ceremony AP US flags representing those who could not attend the inauguration due to Covid-19, flutter in the wind at the Mall before the Inauguration of US President-Elect Joe Biden in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Garth Brooks performs Getty Images Amanda Gorman recites a poem REUTERS U.S. President Joe Biden hugs his wife Dr. Jill Biden after being sworn in as president, as their children Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden look on Getty Images A general view of the Capitol during the inauguration of Joe Biden REUTERS

The supporting cast, including those ex-presidents, were muted and masked, which was also a source of intriguing fun. Was Mike Pence praying throughout? Was Brett Kavanaugh crying? Where did Bernie Sanders get his parka? The mixture of delight and awe on Kamala Harriss face as she was sworn in as the first female, black and Asian vice president was a scene stealing moment.

Its often said that American politics is more showbizzy than ours, but an inauguration is more like an awards ceremony than a blockbuster or Broadway show. Theres lots of waiting around and rigmarole, enlivened by star turns between the endless speeches.

Here, a relatively dressed down Lady Gaga reined herself in on the national anthem, using a gold microphone that the Trumps presumably forgot to pocket on their way out. A blinged-up Jennifer Lopez let rip on America the Beautiful, slipping at times into Spanish. The Trump rump is undoubtedly criticising her for being divisive for this already.

The USs great, patriotic anthems are terrible, though. More moving was Garth Brookss unaccompanied rendition of Amazing Grace, which, like the flags in place of the crowds, made a virtue of necessity. And it was Amanda Gorman, the 23-year-old youth poet laureate, who really blew everyone away with an impassioned work of elliptical rhyme that spoke of a nation that isnt broken, but just unfinished. Her yellow coat was also excellent.
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Pfizer and BioNTech have agreed to supply their Covid-19 vaccine to the World Health Organization co-led COVAX vaccine access scheme, two sources familiar with the deal said, the latest in a series of shots to be included in the project aimed at lower-income countries. The deal is expected to be announced on Friday, according to the sources, who declined to be named due to the confidentiality of the agreement. Details on the size of the deal or the price per dose COVAX would pay were not immediately clear, but the sources said the allotment would likely be relatively small. ...
A health worker prepares a Moderna CCP virus vaccine at the vaccination center Hall Victor Hugo in Luxembourg on Jan. 21, 2021. (Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP via Getty Images)

CCP Virus Vaccine Certificates May Become New Norm: Qatar Airways CEO

Anyone boarding an airliner will have to show proof that they were vaccinated against the CCP virus, the CEO of Qatar Airways predicted this week.

Quite frankly, I think that this will be the new norm, that everybody will have to produce a vaccination certificate to board an airplane. And not only to board an airplane; a lot of countries would require that you be vaccinated before you come to their countries, Akbar Al Baker told BBC World.

Virtually all of the worlds airlines already require proof of a negative CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus test to fly. Another airline executive, Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce, said late last year that the group was looking at changing terms and conditions to require people to be vaccinated against the virus before boarding one of the companys planes.

The certificates, Al Baker said, will stem from a joint project stewarded by the International Civil Aviation Organization and World Health Organization (WHO), which are United Nations agencies, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a trade association, he added.

WHO officials said last month that they are looking into deploying digital vaccination certificates being developed with Estonia.

IATA said last year that it was working on launching the IATA Travel Pass, which would include information on vaccination and testing.

Informing passengers on what tests, vaccines, and other measures they require prior to travel, details on where they can get tested, and giving them the ability to share their tests and vaccination results in a verifiable, safe, and privacy-protecting manner is the key to giving governments the confidence to open borders, the organization states on its website.

Several airlines are using the pass, including Etihad Airways and Emirates.

Being one of the first airlines globally working with IATA as a pioneer partner on the IATA Travel Pass is a big step forward for Etihads guests and for the industry, Mohammad Al Bulooki, chief operating officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said in a statement.

The trade associations director-general, Alexandre de Juniac, meanwhile, in an open letter this week urged the European Union to support a digital CCP virus vaccination certificate.

Some countries have begun giving certificates to people who are vaccinated, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The United States gives people who receive an injection a paper card with information that includes the date on which theyre injected and what company manufactured the dose.

The CCP virus causes the disease COVID-19. Countries began authorizing COVID-19 vaccines for use in December 2020.

Many members of the Four Corners energy industry contributed to the project, led by platinum sponsors LOGOS Resources and DJR Energy, gold sponsors NMOGA, Merrion Oil & Gas, Whiptail Midstream, Basin Disposal, and High River Resources, silver sponsor The Aztec Well Family, and bronze sponsors Big Red Tool, Kelly Oilfield Services, and High Jacked LLC. All proceeds from the project have directly benefitted 8 chapter houses of the Navajo Nation and the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the majority of the supplies were distributed to impacted Native American communities in the Chaco Canyon region.

Ervin Chavez, President of the Nageezi Chapter of the Navajo Nation, stated: "I want to express our appreciation to LOGOS, DJR, and the API Four Corners Tribal Relief Project for stepping forward to assist the Checkerboard Region of the Navajo Nations. Our area has been good neighbors with the oil and gas industry for many decades. We want to thank API and its members for donating hand sanitizer, bottled water for the safety of community people and portable camping tents, in case an individual family member came positive with COVID19 and needed isolation. LOGOS and DJR have always been willing to meet with community members and leadership, should an issue arise. We appreciate the responsible developments of the region."

The Four Corners oil and gas community will carry Mr. Chavez's sentiment forward by stewarding responsible natural resource development, while respecting the needs and desires of our community and continuing to make positive impacts in the Four Corners area.

SOURCE LOGOS RESOURCES LLC

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Even by the standards of politicians, President Trump pursued his international policy goals in a transactional, self-centred and unilateralist manner. His administration represented a clear break with the past: no longer would the United States support multilateralism, nor would it necessarily honour security guarantees, nor would it respect global and regional trade rules. Even if previous administrations had, from time to time, been selective in their support of the liberal world economic order and for democracy, there has never been an American administration that has conducted itself in the manner witnessed over the past four years.

European nations, both inside and out of the European Union, have not escaped President Trumps wrath. European steel producing nations were among those slapped with import tariffs on the unsubstantiated grounds that their exports constituted a threat to the national security of the US. Car exporters were threatened with similar treatment but for some reason were ultimately spared. Beyond the trade policy sphere, the Trump administrations contempt for the European Union and NATO was palpable.

Only in the second half of President Trumps four-year term did US officials begin seriously exploring joint approaches with European counterparts to so-called level playing field concerns in the world trading system. Largely, these concerns were taken to involve various forms of subsidies received by Chinese firms. In parallel, there was an essentially unsuccessful unilateral attempt by the US to force China to reform its economy.

Not surprisingly, then, the failure of President Trump to win re-election induced sighs of relief in the European halls of power. During the past two months, many proposals have been advanced to revitalise transatlantic cooperation on a host of climate change, economic, geopolitical and trade-related matters. Even before the Biden administration took office, the European Commission (2020) laid out its wares in a formal Communication on potential future transatlantic cooperation. In addition, President Trumps defeat has been accompanied by a volley of commentary on the prospects for greater cooperation across the Atlantic (the more insightful of which in the opinion of this author are Demertzis, 2020; Freudlsperger et al., 2020; Odgaard, 2020; Kohler-Suzuki, 2020; van Daniels et al., 2020; and Williams, 2020).

In such commentary, mention is often made of the political constraints and imperatives in the United States and in European nations (including the growing desire of strategic autonomy on the part of the latter), of the continuing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and the near-term challenges created for policymakers, of the relative success of state-driven forms of capitalism as compared to liberal democratic alternatives, of the longer term global challenges such as climate change, of the malaise at certain international organisations (such as the World Trade Organization) and of the growing economic, military and technological rivalry between the worlds leading powers. The context, then, of future transatlantic cooperation is multi-faceted to say the least.

The focus of this paper is on one recurring and prominent feature of recent proposals for strengthened transatlantic cooperation  namely to counter state-driven forms of capitalism. This is taken here to refer principally to the Chinese economic model but arguably includes Russian, South African and other emerging market variants. Claims made in such proposals that transatlantic cooperation should tackle the Chinese Dragon and has the means to do so are scrutinised and found wanting. This is not the end of the matter  after all, the Biden administration has yet to take office. But the following discussion highlights the prerequisites for translating stated intentions into a coherent international economic strategy.

Specifically, in this respect, it is worth asking whether any transatlantic counter to state-driven capitalism can convincingly answer the following questions:

What is the purpose of the strategic counter? What evidence is there that the proposed strategy has identified tangible, first-order problems faced by European and North American nations? First-order for whom? Is the objective to induce the reform of state-driven capitalism, to protect against the adverse effects of such capitalism, or both?

of the strategic counter? What evidence is there that the proposed strategy has identified tangible, first-order problems faced by European and North American nations? First-order for whom? Is the objective to induce the reform of state-driven capitalism, to protect against the adverse effects of such capitalism, or both? What guiding policy has been developed as to how to attain this purpose? What capabilities are required? Critically, what is the Theory of Change that relates those capabilities and the coherent policy to the desired outcomes? Is that Theory cogent? Does the future application of that Theory have convincing, relevant precedents?

has been developed as to how to attain this purpose? What capabilities are required? Critically, what is the Theory of Change that relates those capabilities and the coherent policy to the desired outcomes? Is that Theory cogent? Does the future application of that Theory have convincing, relevant precedents? What coherent actions would follow from the adoption of the guiding policy? By whom and with whom? Over what time frame? Will the actions that follow from the guiding policy compromise other cherished policy objectives? If cooperation between states is to be codified, what instruments will be deployed and how will compliance be induced and verified?

Asking these questions is essential if policymakers are to avoid going down blind alleys, influenced perhaps by certain corporate interest groups to pursue initiatives that are lucrative for them but ultimately of second or third order. It is also necessary to avoid the pursuit of initiatives that have little or no chance of influencing policymaking in Beijing or indeed any other government whose current policies are deemed objectionable.

It is also worth noting that the first terms of the von der Leyen Commission and the Biden administration both conclude within two months of one another. Given the time it takes for a US Administrations senior officials to get confirmed and master their briefs, essentially officials on both sides of the Atlantic have approximately three years to design and execute a new approach to transatlantic cooperation before the next US presidential election is in full swing. This is not a long period of time and it ought to induce harder thinking than has been witnessed to date. Officials on both sides of the Atlantic need to choose their battles wisely. Consequently, the evidentiary bar that a proposed initiative must meet should be set high.

To provide grist for the mill, the next section provides summaries of two high-profile, very recent proposals for enhanced transatlantic cooperation. Both proposals give pride of place to countering authoritarian regimes and their state-driven economic models. Those proposals are then assessed in terms of the answers implicitly provided to the three questions listed above and implications are drawn concerning the prospects of transatlantic trade cooperation taming the Chinese Dragon.

Hot to trot: Two high-profile proposals to revitalise transatlantic cooperation

More ink has likely been spilt on transatlantic relations during the two months since the US presidential election than over the previous five years. To provide a sense of the substance and apparent logic being advanced, two high-profile recent initiatives are summarised here. Readers are encouraged to bear in mind the three questions raised in the section above when reflecting on the excerpts that follow.

A new EU-US agenda for global change

On 2 December 2020, the European Commission published a Communication titled A new EU-US agenda for global change. While recognising the importance of transatlantic cooperation in the past, not least in rebuilding Europe after World War II, the Communication contends that the future cooperation must be grounded in todays circumstances: The US and the EU have changed, as have power dynamics and geopolitical and technological realities (European Commission, 2020, 1). In terms of the status quo, the European Commission (2020,1) contends: Today, our combined global power and influence remains unrivalled.

Moving closer to a general statement of intent, the European Commission (2020) puts the need for greater cooperation in key areas of policy in the context of the rise of non-democratic powers:

This combined power and influence is indispensable to anchor global cooperation in the 21st century  whether it be on health, security, climate, trade and technology, or on the multilateral rules-based order. Our joint commitment is essential in a world where authoritarian powers seek to subvert democracies, aggressive actors try to destabilise regions and institutions, and closed economies exploit the openness our own societies depend on. (1)

The Communication then turns to the specifics of cooperation on health, climate change, technology and the digital economy, trade, democracy and foreign and security policy. Interestingly, the discussion on health policy focuses exclusively on what the EU and US can do together or on unilateral initiatives the US could take. No mention is made of inducing changes in policy by non-democratic nations. The same is true for climate change (and the related discussion on biodiversity).

On technology and trade matters, the European Commission (2020) acknowledges: While we are still the most influential regulators, both the EU and the US face increasing standard competition from third country actors. Where both sides agree, the world usually follows (7). This statement is a fragment of a Theory of Change. This followed a discussion of the threats posed by non-democratic nations to digital supply chain security, cybersecurity and the regulation of advanced digital technologies more generally. Little is said about how to tackle those threats in practice.

While reference is made to unilateralism in trade policy and the desire to promote transatlantic trade and investment flows, the attention given to resolving long-standing trade frictions is cursory.

With respect to promoting democracy, human rights, and labour rights, the European Commission sees potential for greater transatlantic cooperation. The Commission is willing to participate in a Summit for Democracy (thought to be a priority of the Biden administration) and to join others in making further commitments on fighting corruption, authoritarianism and human rights abuses around the world (European Commission, 2020, 8). Notice there is no claim that those commitments would be taken on by other nations.

In the ensuing discussion on making the world safe, prosperous and more democratic, the Communication singles out China:

For the EU, China is a negotiating partner for cooperation, an economic competitor, and a systemic rival As open democratic societies and market economies, the EU and the US agree on the strategic challenge presented by Chinas growing international assertiveness, even if we do not always agree on the best way to address this. (European Commission, 2020, 8)

This vague statement of objectives is a good example of those that pervade the Communication. Is the goal to protect EU and US interests from Chinese assertiveness? To protect the rest of the world from such assertiveness as well? To change Chinese behaviour, perhaps moderating Beijings apparent assertiveness? Or all of the above? These goals are not the same. Nor necessarily are the guiding policies and coherent actions that would follow from a strategy to pursue each of them.

Overall, when compared to the documents issued by the European Commission at the time the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was launched in 2013, the European Commissions position has shifted markedly. Geopolitical, climate change and digital technology initiatives take centre stage now, essentially pushing the resolution of long-standing transatlantic trade and investment disputes to the side. As will become evident, another recent high-profile set of proposals for transatlantic cooperation was not prepared to go that far.

Stronger Together: A Strategy to Revitalize Transatlantic Power

Harvard Universitys Belfer Center joined forces with the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) to form a Transatlantic Strategy Group comprising of 16 established experts and former diplomats. In December 2020 this group published a report titled Stronger Together: A Strategy to Revitalize Transatlantic Power. Their headline recommendation is that [t]he United States, Europe and Canada must work together toward one ambition in 2021to renew, revitalise, and retool for the decade ahead the most powerful democratic community in modern history (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 2).

Looking beyond years of mistrust, recrimination, and division, nations on both sides of the (north) Atlantic must cooperate because the world needs a more powerful and purposeful transatlantic alliance to drive a new global agenda (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 2). In addition to tackling climate change, the following end is given prominence:

We must also harness our joint power to deter a more confident and aggressive China and a cynical and disruptive Russia. They have exploited transatlantic tensions for too long. Together we must oppose their illiberal agendas in Europe, Africa, the Indo-Pacific, and around the world. (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 3)

A wide range of objectives is then laid out: rebuilding trust, revitalising democracies at home, a joint strategy to tackle global challenges and to defend liberalism, and transformation of our political, military, technological and economic capacity to be the most effective force for freedom and rules-based order in a challenging world (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 9).

Action plans for eight areas of policy were then advanced, of particular interest here are those relating to Economics and Trade and to China. With respect to the former, although the action plan is motivated by various challenges posed by Chinas rise, the preponderance of the Action Plan relates to steps the EU and the United States can take to reduce trade frictions between themselves. Of the 17 specific trade-related steps articulated on pages 19 and 20 of this report, only two specifically refer to China and another two items (subsidies and supply chain resilience) relate to matters said to arise from Chinese policy. Moreover, earlier in the Action Plan it was recognised that to date the EU and the US have had different interests and approaches to key trade policy matters, including dealing with Chinas growing clout.

The latter point is reinforced in the Action Plan on China where it is argued that European Union member states often see Chinese relations in terms of economic or trade ties, whereas the US regards China as a threat to its primacy. It is argued that these differences must be overcome now that Chinas assertiveness materially affects the European Union and the United States, in the following ways:

The transatlantic community is not immune to Beijings assertiveness. The U.S. and Europe share concerns over Chinese forced technology transfers; trade subsidies; issues over reciprocity and market access for U.S. and European companies; surveillance technologies; and political influence associated with its economic investments. There is also increasing support in the U.S. and across Europe for pushing back against Chinese human rights abuses and developing global standards in emerging technologies as China advances its own digital authoritarian model. (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 36)

Having described the evolving hardening of positions within Europe and the United States, the Harvard-DGAP report articulates the following Theory of Change:

Only together can the U.S. and Europe build the leverage necessary in trade, technology and multilateral engagement to hold China to a set of standards that protects democratic societies and contributes to global stability. United they can rally other nations around these objectives. (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 39)

The following trade and investment-related recommendations are advanced in the Action Plan for China:

Bring joint cases to the WTO that prioritize Chinese intellectual property theft, uncompetitive trade practices and cybertheft (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 39).

Forming a U.S.EU working group on WTO reform could serve as an initial step in assessing how best to address Chinese uncompetitive trade practices (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 39).

Strengthen and align polices that screen foreign direct investments, in particular those relating to critical infrastructures.

Increased intelligence sharing on cyber espionage, forced technology transfers and IP theft (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 40).

Technology transfers to China through collaboration in research institutions and universities must be more closely scrutinized (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 40), with particular emphasis on collaboration with European universities.

Develop an alternative to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative by providing transparent finance and infrastructure to developing countries that are growing increasingly indebted to Chinese loans and infrastructure projects (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 41).

Greater collaboration to prevent sensitive technology transfers to Chinese companies and military actors involved in surveillance. Collaboration should also focus on developing joint standards to evaluate relevant transactions (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 41-42).

Where their paths cross

There are clear parallels to some of the framing of both proposals: confronting authoritarian regimes and state capitalism being perhaps the most important examples. Not surprisingly, then, China has pride of place in both proposals. The scope of both  encompassing climate change, geopolitical matters, human rights, etc.  are similar and far broader than that envisaged when the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership was being negotiated. This raises the important question as to whether traditional trade policy initiatives will be subordinate to other policy imperatives, possibly being demoted, bargained away, taken up later or even dropped? Or whether geopolitical and other considerations are used to overcome some of the longstanding impediments to classic forms of transatlantic trade cooperation?

Having laid out these two proposals, that are representative of many of those which have called for closer transatlantic cooperation in recent months, the discussion now turns to whether they constitute fully fledged strategies in the sense articulated in the last section.

Critical assessment: Falling short as strategy

To what extent do the European Commissions Communication and the Harvard-DGAP study proposals constitute well-formulated strategies? Some may object that it is too much to expect that these documents lay out in full detail the purpose, guiding policy and cogent actions associated with their proposals for future transatlantic cooperation. Even if this were a fair comment, then should these proposals be taken forward, those details need to be worked through and the following discussion may be useful at that stage.

To sharpen ideas, the following discussion focuses on the multiple references in these two documents that amount to, at a minimum, countering Chinese influence and possibly seeking to change Chinese government behaviour. Although taming China is in vogue, many of the following remarks apply with equal force to attempts to influence government decision-making in, for example, Ankara, Moscow and New Delhi.

With respect to the purpose of taming the Chinese Dragon, while Chinese actions are alluded to, the lack of specificity concerning Chinese ends, means and consequences for other nations is alarming. Prioritisation of Chinese threats (if that is what they are) is going to be very difficult under these circumstances.

For example, if excess capacity in Chinese manufacturing industry is a problem, how big a problem is it? Are the problems bigger in some manufacturing sectors than others? In assessing how big a problem there is in any one sector, what evidence is there that increased excess capacity results in increased Chinese exports, in increased imports into Europe and into the United States, and into greater tangible harm to import-competing firms and their employees? (Bear in mind that imports may rise because demand in the importing nations for the products in question has risen  so higher imports from China do not automatically signify larger excess capacity in Chinese manufacturing).

In short, a lot of work needs to be done to determine which threats, if any, from China are really first order. In the absence of this groundwork, there is a risk that national policymaking and transatlantic cooperation will be hijacked by influential corporate interests that exaggerate the importance of well-chosen examples. Evidence, not war stories and the fear they engender, should underpin any new phase in transatlantic cooperation.

With respect to guiding policy, it is difficult to discern any from either document advocating enhanced transatlantic cooperation. To draw a historical parallel, if taming the Chinese Dragon is really the goal, then what is needed is the contemporary equivalent of George Kennans 1946 telegram to the US State Department that outlined a strategy to contain the Soviet Union. In places, there are statements that might be part of a plausible candidate Theory of Change  an example being the quote from page 39 in the Harvard-DGAP study reproduced above. Such examples should be scrutinised carefully.

For instance, suppose the EU and US agree on a common approach to a particular regulatory problem. What incentives are there (or could be created) to induce other nations to rally round and sign up to such an initiative? How many nations can plausibly be expected to do so and how much economic activity would they cover? Which nations are likely to refuse to join  and do they constitute a critical mass of their own? Particular focus should be given as to whether China would see it in its interests to sign up.

More generally, it is worth differentiating between the Theories of Change purporting to induce Beijing to reform elements of its foreign economic policy and to reform its domestic economic, social and political policies. Depending on the terms, a multi-party deal to reform certain aspects of international development finance might be more acceptable to Beijing than agreeing to reforms to establish independent trade unions.

Evidently, taking account of the factors that drive Chinese policymaking is critical. Yet in the preparation for this paper, which involved reading hundreds of pages of text on proposals and commentary on the future of transatlantic relations published over the past two months, only one document made reference to one of the well-known books on Chinese economic statecraft. If taming the Chinese Dragon is the goal, then surely this requires some understanding of policymaking in Beijing? In the absence of such understanding, there is little in current proposals to keep defenders of the status quo in Beijing awake at night.

There is another troubling feature of the two proposals described here and it relates to the leverage of the European Union and the United States. Repeatedly, readers are informed that together the transatlantic nations global power and influence remains unrivalled, indispensable (European Commission, 2020, 1), etc. Here it is worth differentiating between positive and negative liberty, along the lines advanced by Isaiah Berlin (1958), but reinterpreted here for governments rather than individuals.

Together, the EU and the United States may be able to block more initiatives that are not to their liking. However, such negative liberty does not imply that the transatlantic economic powers have positive liberty  that is, the capacity to persuade other governments to sign up to their initiatives. Clearly, there is a link between the capability and likelihood of gaining acceptance of ones own proposals for global norms (positive liberty in this sense) and the adopted Theory of Change, as the latter relates to the willingness of other governments to accept and comply with those norms.

Indeed, although both documents reviewed here were thin on specifics, they tended to be thinner on precisely what the European Union and the United States could plausibly accomplish when persuading third parties to follow their lead and how that might come to pass. If this relative lack of detail reflects doubts after decades of limited multilateral trade cooperation about the true degree of leverage that these two economic powers can muster in commercial policy matters in the 21st century, then greater emphasis might be put on accommodating different forms of capitalism in the world economy and on building defences against the negative spillovers created by rival capitalisms.

Finally, important questions arise concerning the coherence of the transatlantic and other international initiatives that might be undertaken in the years ahead. If, as both EU and Biden administration officials have stated, Chinas cooperation is needed to tackle climate change, then how much can transatlantic cooperation hope to accomplish in inducing China to change policies in areas where it is reluctant to do so? To what degree can initiatives with Beijing and those targeting Beijing be compartmentalised? If issue-linkage develops and progress on climate change, say, requires going slow on tackling subsidies, intellectual property theft or cybersecurity, then is such a trade-off acceptable in European capitals and Washington, DC? And can the latter two remain aligned when such trade-offs arise?

For all of these reasons, the leading proposals for enhanced transatlantic cooperation fall short. In the form published, they do not rise to the standard of a well-thought through strategy. That is not to imply that no compelling strategy is possible, rather, that readers should curb their enthusiasm until such a blueprint is presented by officials. The level of ambition on both sides of the Atlantic is currently sky high, as Williams (2020) put recently, but such ambition has yet to translate into a serious strategy  let alone one that could tame the Chinese Dragon.

Concluding remarks: Girding their loins but then what?

After four of the worst years for transatlantic relations since the World War II, it is only natural that many policymakers and analysts want to turn the page. Moreover, that the world has moved on implies that the next chapter of transatlantic cooperation, if there is to be one, will probably look different from the past. This is just as well for, at least as far as trade policy cooperation is concerned, arguably little of first-order importance has been accomplished since European nations and the United States joined forces to create the World Trade Organization a generation ago.

Still, being keen to cooperate and establishing a sound basis upon which to cooperate are two very different matters. As the past two months have demonstrated, the appetite is there but evidence of hard thinking is scarce. Perhaps, officials at the European Commission and in the Biden Transition Team have done their homework and are keeping it to themselves; however, given the ways in which they are framing their arguments, this is doubtful.

The desire of many policymakers to tame the Chinese Dragon is apparent. But what is particularly disappointing is the little, if any, reflection on how to induce the government in Beijing to change course, whether with respect to domestic policy or foreign economic policy. If this is a consequence of doubts about the leverage of European and American policy then, whether intended or not, attention is likely to shift to how tensions can be better managed with Beijing or, worse, to whether further decoupling of economic and governance processes is necessary. Hardliners, who have had the upper hand in the past decade, are likely to favour the latter outcome.

This is not an argument in favour of decoupling. Rather it is an argument that, unless a cogent strategy is formulated with some sense of a plausible alternative endgame, then there is a risk of sleepwalking into a scenario of extensive decoupling. Such decoupling is a recipe for the fragmentation of the global economic and governance processes, with its attendant losses in terms of specialisation and productivity, collaboration on innovation, and opportunities for dialogue and engagement. If fragmentation is the ultimate, unintended by-product from attempts to revitalise transatlantic cooperation over the next four years, then historians may look back at this era and wonder if the outcome of the November 2020 US presidential election really mattered.

References

Berlin, I. (1958), Four Essays on Liberty, Oxford University Press.

Demertzis, M. (2020), The Biden Promise, Bruegel.

European Commission (2020), A new EU-US agenda for global change, Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the European Council and Council.

Evenett, S. and J. Fritz (2018), Going Spare: Steel, Excess Capacity, and Protectionism: The 22nd Global Trade Alert report, CEPR Press.

Freudlsperger, C., E. Knudsen and N. Redeker, (2020), Transatlantic Trade post-Trump, Jacques Delors Centre Policy Paper, Hertie School.

Harvard-DGAP (2020), Stronger Together: A Strategy to Revitalize Transatlantic Power.

Kohler-Suzuki, N. (2020), Strategic Choices for the EUs Digital Trade Policy After the US Election, Thinking Europe.

Odgaard, L. (2020), The New Normal in Transatlantic Relations: The US and Europe Eye China, Istituto Affari Internazionali.

Rumelt, R. (2011), Good Strategy/Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why it Matters, Crown Business.

Van Daniels, L., M. Kaim, R. Kemptn, K.-O. Lang, M. Overhaus and J. Thimm (2020), A New Beginning with President Biden, SWP Comment, German Institute for International and Security Affairs.

Williams, C. (2020), The U.S. and EU have a lot of work to do rebuild their trade relationship, CNBC Newsletters.
Trump leaves White House, snubs Biden inauguration

Trump leaves White House, snubs Biden inauguration

President Donald Trump left the White House for the last time on Wednesday, skipping the inauguration of successor Joe Biden as the 46th US president in an extraordinary break with tradition.



Drawing a curtain on the most tumultuous administration of modern times, Trump is being ousted by a polar opposite with the Democrat Biden intent on charting a new course to tackle Covid-19 and unite a splintered nation.



A small crowd waved goodbye as Trump, 74, and First Lady Melania Trump walked a short red carpet and boarded the Marine One helicopter shortly after 8:15 am (1315 GMT), for the short flight to the air base where they will continue to Florida on board Air Force One.



"I just want to say goodbye," Trump told the gathering, calling his time in office "the honour of a lifetime."



Trump will be at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida when Biden, a 78-year-old former vice president, is sworn in at noon on the US Capitol's western front.



Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take the oath of office at the very spot where pro-Trump rioters clashed with police two weeks ago before storming Congress in a deadly insurrection.



While a transition of power will occur much as it has for more than two centuries, this inauguration is unlike any other.



Official Washington has taken on the dystopian look of an armed camp, protected by some 25,000 National Guard troops tasked with preventing any repeat of this month's attack.



And with the pandemic raging, the general public is essentially barred from attending the swearing-in, leading to the unprecedented sight of an empty National Mall on Inauguration Day.



With the death toll soaring past 400,000, Biden on Tuesday led a powerful tribute to victims of Covid-19 as he arrived in Washington.



"It's hard sometimes to remember, but that's how we heal. It's important to do that as a nation," Biden said in sombre remarks in front of the Lincoln Memorial, once more stressing the need to unite the country after Trump's chaos.



On the Mall's grassy expanse, some 200,000 flags have been planted to represent the absent crowds at the inauguration.



Trump broke days of silence on Tuesday with a pre-recorded farewell video address in which - for the first time - he asked Americans to "pray" for the success of the incoming administration.



But Trump has yet to personally congratulate Biden, who first ran for president in 1987, on his win, and the 11th-hour message followed months spent persuading his Republican followers that the Democrat cheated his way to election victory.



In one of his last acts before departing the White House, Trump issued scores of pardons to people convicted of crimes or facing charges, including several key allies.



Influential former Trump aide Steve Bannon - charged with defrauding people over funds raised to build the Mexico border wall, a flagship Trump policy - was among 73 people on a list released by the White House.



However, neither Trump nor his relatives were listed, amid speculation he could use the legally dubious tactic of a preemptive pardon to fend off future charges.



Former Trump fund-raiser Elliott Broidy was similarly pardoned, after pleading guilty last year to conspiring to violate foreign lobbying laws.



The rapper Lil Wayne, who last month pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and faced 10 years in jail, also made the list.



Tensions have soared on Capitol Hill, where the Senate is expected to put Trump on trial soon following his record second impeachment by the House of Representatives over the Capitol riot.



The spectacle will clash with the opening days of Biden's tenure, as the new president seeks to swiftly confirm his Cabinet picks and push through ambitious legislation - including a US$1.9 trillion rescue package.



"We don't have a second to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face as a nation," Biden tweeted late on Tuesday.



"That's why after being sworn in tomorrow, I'll get right to work."



He plans to kick off his tenure by rejoining the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organisation, according to aides, who said Biden would sign 17 orders and actions just hours after being sworn in, setting new paths on immigration, the environment, Covid-19 and the economy.



In first-day moves, he will end Trump's much-assailed ban on visitors from several majority-Muslim countries and halt construction of the wall that Trump ordered on the US-Mexico border to stem illegal immigration, the aides said.



To symbolise the new spirit of unity, Biden has invited the two top senators - Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican Mitch McConnell - and other congressional leaders to attend a church service with him on Wednesday before the inauguration.



Overseas leaders weighed in to mark the end of a presidency which has deviated from orthodox American foreign policy.



Iran's President Hassan Rouhani hailed the White House departure of "tyrant" Trump, saying "the ball is in America's court" to return to a landmark nuclear deal and lift sanctions on Tehran.



And Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said the inauguration would "be a demonstration of the resilience of American democracy," as well as "the resounding proof that, once again, after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House." (AFP)
On Wednesday, when the Centre put forward the offer during their tenth round of talks with the farmers, the union leaders said they would decide upon it only after holding internal consultations.  PTI

New Delhi: The agitating farmers unions on Thursday rejected the Centres offer to suspend the three controversial agricultural reform laws for 18 months and set up a joint committee to address their grievances. The unions also rejected a suggestion by the Delhi police to hold their proposed Republic Day tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhis busy Outer Ring Road.

However, late on Thursday night, some of the farmers leaders said a final decision was yet to be taken on the governments proposal and the next course of action would depend on the eleventh round of talks with the Centre at Vigyan Bhavan on Friday. Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar also rushed to Union home minister Amit Shahs residence late on Thursday to discuss the future course of action. Mr Tomar has been leading the government side in the talks along with railway and commerce minister Piyush Goyal and minister of state for commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab.

Earlier on Thursday, at the general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of the protesting farmers unions, the members reiterated their demand for a full repeal of the three laws and enacting of legislation for remunerative MSP. Generally, the representatives of 41 farmers unions had been participating in such meetings, but the meeting on Thursday was attended by about 80 farmers unions.

After the meeting, a statement issued by the Morcha said: The proposal put forth by the government yesterday was rejected. A full repeal of three Central farm laws and enacting legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement.

The union leaders also paid homage to the 143 farmers martyred in this agitation which has been going on at Delhis borders for the last 57 days. The morcha said: These companions are separated from us while fighting this mass movement. Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repealing of these farm laws.

On Wednesday, when the Centre put forward the offer during their tenth round of talks with the farmers, the union leaders said they would decide upon it only after holding internal consultations. The next round of talks with the government has been scheduled for Friday.

The three laws were already stayed by the Supreme Court till further orders. An experts committee set up by the court to find a solution to the impasse after studying the farm laws and talking to the stakeholders also held its first virtual meeting with 10 farmers organisations on Thursday. None of the unions which interacted with the panel have been protesting at Delhis borders.

The farmers organisation which interacted with the panel were from Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Tamil Nadu. The panel will submit its report to the Supreme Court within two months.

A statement by the panel said: The farmers unions participated in the discussion and gave their frank opinion, including suggestions to how to improve the implementation of the laws.

Currently, the panel has three members -- Maharasthra-based Shetkari Sanghatana chief Anil Ghanwat and agri-economists Ashok Gulati and Pramod Kumar Joshi. Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann has recused himself from the committee.

While the protesting farmers decided not to appear before the panel, they have also decided to go ahead with their peaceful tractor march on Republic Day on Delhis Outer Ring Road. After meeting police officers from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Swaraj Abhiyan chief Yogendra Yadav said the police wanted the farmers leaders to take out the tractor rally outside the national capital. We will hold our parade peacefully inside Delhi. They wanted us to hold the tractor rally outside Delhi, which is not possible," he said.

Thousands of tractors in four tiers -- the first led by representatives of the protesting farmers unions and the second by women -- will move out in a parade from different protest sites at Delhis borders on January 26. The third tier will have the youth, while volunteers and others will make up the fourth tier.

BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said they will synchronise the plan with the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha. Tractors will move from the Tikri, Singhu, Shahjahanpur, Palwal and Ghajipur borders on to Delhis Outer Ring Road and will have tableaus displaying the plight of farmers.

The bulk of the tractors in the parade will be those now on the way to the borders from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Not more than 10 per cent of tractors already parked at the protest sites on Delhis borders will take part in the parade. The tractors and trolleys parked at the borders are our home away from home, and we dont want to empty out the dharna sites. The protests at these sites will go on as usual, said Jagseer Singh Kothaguru, a farmers leader from the BKU (Ugrahan) group.

A unique campaign  Bharat Ke Mann Ki Baat Suno, Kisaano Ke Mann Ki Baat Suno -- has also been initiated by Hamari Awaaz, an umbrella group under which several professionals and volunteers joined hands. Kanwar Deep Kaur, one of those behind the campaign, said the groups aim was to make it the worlds biggest letter drive.

Ms Kaur said already 10,000-plus postcards have been filled by farmers and ordinary people supporting the agriculturists. We have kept the postcards at the Singhu and Tikri border protest sites, where volunteers are getting them filled by farmers. Volunteers are also getting postcards filled in different districts. Many send messages online and we write it on the postcards on their behalf, she said.
The Very Group is the UKs largest integrated digital retailer and financial services provider. It offers 1,900 brands to its four million customers. Due to the companys growth, it built a new state-of-the-art fulfilment centre - close to one million square feet - to centralise operations and drive efficiency. The Very Group has historically operated from three fulfilment centres in the north of England.

Due to the business growth, it needed a new, purpose-built and automated facility in a central, well connected location; that could accommodate all one-man fulfilment and returns operations on one site, and that provided room for continued expansion. The space offered by the new site in the East Midlands means that The Very Group can process more orders and use new technology to make the business more responsive, reducing the time it takes to get products to customers.

Support business growth

The sites position in the East Midlands, adjacent to the M1 and East Midlands Airport, with its own rail freight terminal, will enable the business to increase its cut-off time for next day delivery to midnight from 7pm, and explore the introduction of same day delivery in the future. A crucial aspect of the new hub was security - with the need to not only secure the site and the stock inside, but implement solutions which would benefit the wider business too.

The Very Group required a platform which could provide the business-wide value it was seeking

The Very Group required a platform which could unite operations and provide the business-wide value it was seeking. The company approached Grantfen, initially on a consultancy basis, to guide the organisation on the route it should be taking and the technologies that could support its ambition. Grantfen quickly recognised the scope of The Very Groups ambitions for a platform that was easy-to-use and that could bring together information from hundreds of different sensors and technologies.

Incorporating video surveillance

It put forward a comprehensive solution built on the Genetec Security Center unified platform. Incorporating video surveillance and analytics, access control, automatic number plate recognition and integration with other key business systems, this allowed The Very Group to deploy best of breed technologies from a range of vendors including HID Global, Axis Communications and SenStar.

Perhaps the most important solution needed was tracking who was coming in and out of the building - with such a large workforce, combined with inbound and outbound deliveries, the facility has hundreds of people inside at any one time. Previously, security manually searched people selected at random. However, thanks to the robust Genetec software development kit, and Grantfens specialist development expertise, The Very Group has been able to adapt the solution and write its own code in order to use the access control system to implement truly random searches.

Number plate recognition

This has involved getting permission to hold employee data, but again, thanks to the new system brought together by Security Center, the data is housed safely. Moving from three fulfilment centres into one, consolidated facility meant a change in operations for The Very Group, and security needed to mirror this evolution. Therefore, with the volume of traffic coming in and out of the site increasing, The Very Group implemented automatic number plate recognition (ANPR).

Heavy goods vehicles could be monitored coming in and out of the site, enabling those in the diary to enter and exit the grounds in an efficient manner. Plus, with timestamps now able to show when vehicles entered or exited the grounds, it helped with yard management and traffic flow, with Security Center able to generate reports on how traffic is moving around the yard. Employees are able to take advantage too - with the ANPR recognising them and seamlessly letting them into the car park.

Health and safety standards

The opening of Skygate, our new fulfilment centre, means a new era for the group"

This enhanced integration has benefitted other areas of the business too. The CCTV control room is now able to monitor fulfilment centre flow, looking at movements such as trailers, to help maximise efficiencies and ensure high health and safety standards.

Dean Cooper, Head of Security at The Very Group, commented: The opening of Skygate, our new fulfilment centre, means a new era for the group. We are a digitally-led business, and the fact we are now able to enhance operations and yield more value from security functions is going to help us operationally. Genetec and Grantfen have played a huge part in accelerating our sophistication in this area, and I look forward to how we can gain increasing insights from all the technology has to offer.

Deep integration and analytics

While the roll-out has been relatively recent, the positive effects are already being felt across the business. This has led to future plans about what else could be introduced - all underpinned by Genetec Security Centre.

Genetec Security Centre is helping to improve inter-departmental collaboration thanks to its reporting functions, alongside benefiting operations and ensuring the security of the facility. We are an ambitious business, and as we grow we need a system that will continue to evolve with our requirements. Genetec enables this, and alongside its deep integration and leading analytics, we look forward to continuing the partnership over years to come, concluded Cooper.
A Cork TD has called for the payment of student nurses and midwives to be increased, describing the current wage as a scandal.

Speaking in the Dail yesterday afternoon, Solidarity TD Mick Barry noted the number of deaths as a result of Covid-19, and discussed the decision by the Government to suspend placements for nursing and midwifery students through first to third year.

The suspension came into effect on Monday but does not include final year students.

With all of this going on, you have decided that fourth-year students should go into the hospitals, overwhelmingly female, overwhelmingly young, into Covid wards, into hospitals raging with Covid, risking their lives, risking their health, and that they should be paid less than 10 an hour, less than the minimum wage, said Mr Barry.

Government are paying 4th year student nurses working in Covid-ravaged hospitals less than 10 euro an hour #PayStudentNursesandMidwives @solidarityie @SocialistParty pic.twitter.com/sSH9PhQMAd  Mick Barry TD (@MickBarryTD) January 20, 2021

He called for the reintroduction of a payment that matches that of a healthcare assistant, as was the case last March.

It should be reversed, its not too late to be reversed. Theyve been paid the healthcare assistants rate before, do it again.

You know its the right thing to do.

'Gaslighting an entire generation'

Speaking on the motion to pay student nurses and midwives, Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns said that the Government is gaslighting an entire generation.

The West Cork TD called on the Government to reintroduce the payment given to student nurses and midwives last March as a bare minimum.

We are now back to where we were last March, so the Government need to bring our student nurses and others who are working in hospitals back to where they were last March as a bare minimum, said Ms Cairns.

We need certainty for students in healthcare in their placements and contracts as healthcare assistants for these students.

Todays motion to pay student nurses



This government needs to listen to our young people. Their lives and futures have been turned upside-down.



Aa country, we have a very long legacy of letting our young people down. We cant condemn another generation to emigration. pic.twitter.com/99JCrQUpJd  Holly Cairns TD (@HollyCairnsTD) January 20, 2021

Ms Cairns said that generations of young Irish people have been forced to emigrate and called for the Government to address the issues raised by young people working in healthcare.

Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould said:

Sinn Fein...brought a motion before the Dail that would see student nurses and midwives paid for the work they are doing on the Covid-19 frontline. I was proud to speak in support of this motion.

I raised the issue of travel allowances. This is calculated from the university and not a students home. Those working in the Bons Secours in Cork get no travel allowance despite travelling from areas such as Glanmire.

I am calling on all TDs from across all parties in Cork North Central to do the right thing and back this motion.

The Minister for Health has suggested paying student nurses and midwives just 100 per week. This wont cut it.

There should be no more empty promises or delays. This is a crisis.

The review the Minister based this small sum on was conducted before the current crisis and recognised that, if the situation changed, that it would be appropriate to return to the March pay agreement.

Where students are needed to fill employment gaps they should be paid appropriately.

There was a severe staffing crisis before the pandemic, and now it is even worse.

Throughout the pandemic, student nurses and midwives have been working bravely and tirelessly every day to protect our families and communities from Covid-19.

The way the Government has treated them has been nothing short of insulting. Its time to do the right thing and ensure they are paid properly. They deserve respect and must be protected from exploitation.

Sinn Feins motion next week will ensure the March pay agreement returns. This is more important than ever, as the public health crisis worsens.

The Government cannot keep trying to hide from this issue. Sinn Fein will stand up for student nurses and midwives to ensure they are treated fairly.

The decision to pay student nurses and midwives lies with the Minister for Health but Minister Harris is also responsible for protecting students from exploitation.

The time to deliver is now.
Hyundai Motor opened the country's fastest electric vehicle charging station in Gangdong-gu, southeastern Seoul, Thursday, in collaboration with SK Networks. The move came after the so-called "battery meeting" between Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won at SK Innovation's facility in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, last July. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor
The president and his allies have paid lip service to issues of racial equity, police brutality and mass incarceration, she said. And now they must be pressed to put action where their mouths are.

In Seattle on Wednesday, a crowd of about 150 people marched through the streets chanting both anti-Trump and anti-Biden slogans. One member of the group handed out fliers that said: Biden won! And so did corporate elites! The fliers argued that a Democratic administration is not a victory for oppressed people and Biden will not save us.

I came out here because no matter what happens, Biden and Kamala arent enough, said one of the protesters, Alejandro Quezada Brom, 28, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris. He said the new president needed to know that the pressures not off for progress on immigration and policing reforms.

Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, said she had met with members of Mr. Bidens transition team and held initial conversations with Merrick Garland, the attorney general nominee, and Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary nominee. They agreed to sit with Black Lives Matter organizers for more formal meetings once the administration was in office, she said.

She said she believed that Mr. Biden was off to a good start with the executive order he signed on racial equity, which included things her group had discussed with the transition team around eradicating white supremacy and discrimination in communities and government agencies.
Pune, Jan 21 : At least five persons suffocated to death as a major fire broke out in an under-construction building in a plant of global vaccine giant, the Serum Institute of India (SII), her on Thursday afternoon, shocking the country.

Health Minister Rajesh Tope and Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol announced that five persons, including one woman, had perished in the blaze and their bodies were found during the cooling operations.

Another four persons were rescued from the blaze which erupted on two upper floors of the SII building which was being readied for a BCG vaccine plant.

Allaying nationwide concerns over the fate of the Covid-19 vaccines being manufactured by the company, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a press conference while SII CEO Adar Poonawalla issued a personal statement of reassurance.

"I would like to reassure all governments and the public that there would no loss of Covishield production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at SII," Poonawalla said, seeking to quell anxieties among the company's global clientele.

After speaking with top officials, Thackeray said that he had reviewed the situation and was informed that the Covid-19 vaccine production was not affected in any manner, and the priority was to bring the blaze under control and save people.

Similarly, Union Minister Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Health Minister Tope, FDA Minister Rajendra Shingne, and others called up the SII top brass to apprise themselves of the exact scenario.

Though sabotage has been ruled out, in view of the national and global concerns, Pawar announced a thorough probe into the incident, while reiterating that the Covidshield line was unaffected.

The fire, which broke out around 2.15 pm, was brought under control within three hours by a team of firemen and around a dozen fire tenders, while Mayor Mohol, PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar, Collector Rajesh Deshmukh and other official minutely monitored the situation.

Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta, who rushed to the site said that the affected building was an upcoming SII facility for its BCG vaccines, scheduled to be operational in a month or so.

"The company has informed us that Covid-19 vaccine facility is at least one km away, and there is no cause for worry," Gupta told media persons, as the nation heaved a collective sigh of relief.

As thick clouds of dark-grey smoke billowed out of the nearly-ready Manjari complex, social media went wild with speculation whether even the crucial Covid-19 vaccines had also been snuffed out in the flames, but the clarifications by the SII and authorities scotched all conjectures.

Police and fire brigade officers said that there was some welding work going on in the affected floors 4-5 of the building and a short-circuit is believed to be the tentative cause of the conflagration that sent nationwide panic-waves.

The SII is currently under a global limelight after it ranked among a handful of pharmaceutical companies worldwide to notch success in developing and manufacturing the Covid-19 vaccine, (branded Covishield), currently being administered to millions in India.

SII officials said that Covishield vaccine is produced and stocked at its Hinjewadi manufacturing facility, which is located around 30 km away from Manjari.
MEPs passed two annual reports, condemning the Russian occupation of Ukraine and Georgia.

The European Parliament (EP) is concerned that large parts of Ukraine and Georgia are still occupied by Russian troops.

This is stated in an annual report on the implementation of the EU's common security and defense policy in 2020, which was adopted at a plenary meeting on January 20, DW reported.

Read alsoTerritorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected, including Crimea  OSCE chair-in-office

Some 387 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted for the document, 180 were against, another 119 abstained.

The document says that the European Parliament "is concerned that Russian Federation military forces are still occupying large parts of Ukraine and Georgia in violation of international law, that they are still present in the Republic of Moldova, and that Russia continues to destabilise peace and security in the region."

The resolution also reaffirms the commitment to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and all other Eastern Partnership countries.

Also, the MEPs adopted another annual report, which mentions Ukraine. This document is dedicated to the implementation of the EU's common foreign and security policy in 2020. As many as 340 MEPs voted for the document, 100 voted against, another 245 abstained.

In the document, the European Parliament says it is "concerned by the proliferation of hot conflict zones in the EU's closest neighbourhood, as well as frozen conflicts and the ongoing de-facto occupation by the Russian Federation of territories belonging to sovereign states."

MEPs also reiterated their "condemnation of Russia's aggressive policies vis-a-vis Ukraine, its negative role in several frozen conflicts and its pressure against some of its immediate EU neighbours, in addition to its violations of the rights of the Crimean Tatars, its blockade of the Azov Sea, its continued seizure of Ukraine's gas fields in the Black Sea, and its violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia and Moldova."

In addition, the European Parliament says it "remains fully committed to the policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea; calls on Russia to assume its responsibility, to use its influence over the Russian-backed separatists and to fully implement its commitments under the Minsk agreements."

Other related news reports

Reporting by UNIAN
Experts also advocated for sector-specific allocations as the lockdown has had its economic impact, especially among retail, manufacturing, FMCG, aviation and automobile

New Delhi: The upcoming budget must build on recent reforms in labour and education and the government should continue to provide policy as well as financial support for skilling to ensure that the workforce in India is future ready, say HR experts.

The scale of provisions under the Digital India mission and the Skill India campaign needs to increase as there has been a rapid rise in new-age digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, and Big Data, they suggested.

"One place where India Inc is looking for clarity from the government is on Wage code implementation  both on timelines and certain policy issues," said Nitin Sethi, CEO, India and South Asia, Performance, Rewards and Organisation Effectiveness, Aon.

Last year, Parliament passed three labour codes on Industrial Relations, Social Security and Occupational Health Safety & Working Conditions (OSH).

The Code on Wages was approved by Parliament last year and its rules have been firmed up. But the implementation of the rules for Code on Wages was held back because the government wanted to implement all four labour codes in one go. These four codes are likely to be implemented from 1 April this year.

"The four labour codes rules will soon be notified and hugely increase manufacturing employment; the budget should announce a three-year timetable to move to one labour code," said Rituparna Chakraborty, Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, TeamLease Services.

Experts also advocated for sector-specific allocations as the prolonged lockdown has had its economic impact, especially among retail, manufacturing, FMCG, travel, aviation, and automobile, to name a few.

"The Finance Minister could address the sectoral sensitivities following the impact of the prolonged pandemic on the companies by extending budgetary provisions with tax relaxations for businesses, increase scale of provisions under the Digital India mission and Skill India," said Kamal Dutta, Managing Director, Skillsoft India.

TeamLease Services' Chakraborty also advocated for modernisation of ESIC and asked for reforms to make employee contribution to Provident Fund voluntary.

"The budget should announce modernisation of ESI governance in parallel with a 1 June, 2021 deadline so that employees have the freedom to opt the service provider for their payroll deducted health insurance contributions," she said.

She noted that mandatory payroll confiscation levels that are higher than savings rate breed informality. And hence making it voluntary will accelerate the current cycle of enterprise formalisation.

According to Mala Chawla, Managing Partner, Global Practice Group Leader for Diversity and Inclusion, Stanton Chase, the budget must also look at building confidence for investment by Indian companies and promoters. Over the last decade, India has realised that innovation and technology have the potential to bring about a serious change. This needs a push by the government to bring back the lost confidence in the market".
 Flash

Bilateral cooperation between China and Brunei in various fields had continued to develop and expand in the year 2020, Yu Hong, Chinese ambassador to Brunei, said on Wednesday.

"From January to November 2020, the bilateral trade volume between China and Brunei reached 1.72 billion U.S. dollars, up 104.1 percent year on year, while China's imports from Brunei increased by 415.2 percent. Both growth rates rank the first among ASEAN countries in terms of trade with China," Yu said during the inauguration ceremony of the 42nd Board of Directors of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Bandar Seri Begawan.

"2020 was an extraordinary year. In the face of the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and Brunei stood by each other to overcome difficulties," the ambassador said.

"The Chinese government, military, enterprises and the embassy have all actively supported Brunei's anti-epidemic efforts and offered sincere assistance. China and Brunei have not only effectively contained the spread of the epidemic, but also achieved positive economic and social development," she added.

"2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei. I hope that through the joint efforts of both sides, our bilateral relations will scale new heights," the ambassador said.
Text messages have revealed a prior working relationship between prominent businessman Ali Choudhri and state District Judge Brittanye Morris, who is presiding over a case involving the Houston real estate developer, plaintiffs allege in court documents.

Investigative consultant Wayne Dolcefino first reported the possible conflict after Morris last week halted arbitration in the lawsuit, siding with Choudhris attorneys. The next day, the judge denied a motion to recuse herself from the case.

The suit, filed in 2012, goes back even years before, when commercial property owner Mokaram-Latif West Loop, Ltd. alleged that Choudhri demolished an entire floor of a Mokaram building at the Interstate 610 West Loop and Westheimer - without first signing a lease. That case has stretched almost a decade and includes hundreds of pages of court filings.

Judge Daryl Moore presided over the case until he left the bench late last year, after Morris defeated him in the 2020 primary. Moore had ordered that both sides enter arbitration.

When Morris took the bench, Choudhris attorneys asked her to stay the arbitration proceedings and Mokarams attorneys countered with a motion to recuse her from the proceedings, saying the judge has previously helped the developer on legal matters.

Choudhris attorneys and Ali Mokarams attorneys declined to comment and deferred to court records. Morris has not directly responded to a request for comment, but judges typically do not comment on individual cases because of standards set forth in judicial cannon.

In the motion for recusal, Mokaram detailed text messages between Morris and the Choudhri-owned Jetall Companies then-Chief Operating Officer Chris Wyatt, all taking place in September and October 2020. Mokarams attorneys claimed that Wyatt was acting as Choudhris representative to defend the claims in arbitration, and Morris was helping him.

It would clearly be improper for Judge Morris to preside over the claims in this case, as she has been representing and/or advising Respondents against Mokaram as recently as a few months ago in this same matter, the attorneys wrote.

Choudhris attorneys called the allegations frivolous attempts to fabricate evidence, which they said were also obtained through improper means. Even if the texts are genuine, they said, the motion for recusal was a desperate hit job that only showed Morris being helpful in the manner that any future judge should be.

The reality is this: Mokaram and Abdullatif are engaged in evidence laundering, they said in court documents. They illegally obtained evidence.

Osama Abdullatif, the Latif in Mokaram-Latif, is associated with Mokaram and involved in the lawsuit.

Some of the texts in late September show Morris sharing with Wyatt contact information and links for three other attorneys contacts.

She said she was willing to help out behind the scene, to organize or facilitate, the record shows.

Ali needs to run his company and make deals, the text reads. Just let me know where I can be of assistance.

The motion to recuse Morris also alleges that the judge - then a civil litigation attorney - made two appearances in 2020 during Choudhris court cases, sitting with his attorneys and conferring with them in private attorney rooms on breaks.

Choudhri disputed all allegations raised in the motion to recuse, including that Morris was ever retained, paid or officially made an appearance on his or his companies behalf . Wyatt, who no longer works for Choudhri, also told the court that Morris worked with him on an advisory capacity in the arbitration, and that she had an office in the Jetall offices where she would work from time to time.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com

Time to strengthen Korea-US alliance



Joe Biden was sworn in as the new president of the United Sates on Wednesday, raising the hope that his administration will restore the democracy so severely damaged by his predecessor, Donald Trump. In his inaugural address, he called for unity by promising to bring America together. As he said, unity is the path forward to end divisive politics and heal the U.S.



Biden's inauguration marked a new start for both America and the world. His top priority at the moment is to tackle domestic issues such as the raging COVID-19 pandemic and the slumping economy. Most of all, he should stand up for democratic values and principles, ending Trump's blatant disregard for them. We hope that he and Americans work together to liquidate Trump's bad legacy and move toward national unity and social cohesion.



It will take several months for Biden to determine his administration's foreign policy -- but he will scrap Trump's "America first" approach and unilateralism. He has vowed to rebuild a rules-based international order and promote multilateralism. Most notable is his commitment to strengthening traditional U.S. alliances with countries around the world.



In this regard, it is worth noting what Biden said in his first presidential speech: "We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again  We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security." He needs to restore America's global leadership to make the world peaceful and prosperous. To that end, the U.S. must play a more active role and take greater responsibility as a global superpower.



Our major concern now is how to solidify the alliance between Seoul and Washington in the Biden era. The U.S. leadership change could offer both opportunities and challenges for South Korea. Unlike Trump, Biden will not likely demand an unreasonably high increase in Korea's payment for hosting American troops here. But the Biden administration might take a tougher stance on North Korea, making it hard to achieve a breakthrough in the stalled nuclear negotiations.



We urge Seoul and Washington to work together to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue. The denuclearization talks have been deadlocked since Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un failed to reach a deal at their second summit in Hanoi in February 2019. Now the Biden government and the Moon Jae-in administration should make joint efforts to resume dialogue with Pyongyang to find a negotiated solution.



It is somewhat worrisome that Biden is seeking to discard Trump's top-down approach in dealing with the North. Antony Blinken, Biden's nominee for secretary of state, said Tuesday that the new U.S. administration would review the country's "entire approach and policy" toward North Korea. His remark could signal a significant change in how to denuclearize the North. It could also cause a rift between the two allies over the issue.



That's probably why President Moon tapped Chung Eui-yong, former director of the National Security Office (NSO), as new foreign minister. Chung played a crucial role in brokering two historic summits between Trump and Kim for denuclearization talks. Moon and Chung should work closely with their U.S. counterparts to map out a new strategy to prod the Kim regime to return to dialogue and move toward denuclearization.




Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Eco Depot, Inc. (OTC Pink: ECDP), a Nevada company, has chosen Daniel Gosselin to lead Eco Depot in establishing product distribution and deployment as Chief Executive Officer and President.





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Mr. Martin S. Read is transferring the offices and responsibility to Mr. Daniel Gosselin with mutual affinity, to maximize the efficiency of execution of corporate agenda relevant to experience and resources to achieve corporate goals expeditiously. Eco Depot appreciatively thanks Mr. Read for his long-standing service to the company, maintaining operations and stability during periods testing the resilience of all citizens and most companies throughout the world. The transition of office and responsibility is effective immediately, upon this announcement.[1]

Mr. Gosselin will execute the office of Eco Depot, Inc.'s President and Chief Executive to establish Bronya Climate Shield product distribution within intended channels during the product rollout phase, with fulfillment forecast of six months. Mr. Gosselin will implement the roll-out phase until achievement of targeted vertical product distribution establishment expectations, then transition the company to carry out the growth phase with focus on internal enterprise development, to permit revenues and organic growth to follow successful deployment. Mr. Gosselin will also serve as a valuable contributor to the Board of Directors, as President, providing wisdom in leadership for strategic formulation of agenda, planning, execution policy and shareholder representation. The company is honored to have the leadership and expertise of one of North America's all-time master distribution specialists to establish the Eco Depot distribution platform, structuring for long-term achievement, stability, and security.

Since 1980 Mr. Gosselin has been distributing and converting Military Specification Packaging Supplies for military contractors, working directly with many defense agencies. Mr. Gosselin has received numerous awards for his hard work, dedication, and expertise, from the most respected and renown defense agencies. Mr. Gosselin is honorably recognized by a large and important community for his ethics, principles, and excellent work product with clear ability to communicate and transfer such into his organization, community, and family.

As a premier packaging and distribution specialist for Department of Defense (US), Department National Defense (Canada), Pratt and Whitney, General Dynamics, Boeing, Canadian Marconi, Spar Aerospace, Bendix, Avalex, Nortel, etc., Mr. Gosselin has proven mastery of product distribution operations establishment balancing all of the economies of manufacturing, supply and delivery to meet expectations and demands of government, defense, industrial and enterprise clientele.

With current manufacturing at sufficient levels to adequately supply the roll-out phase of Bronya Climate Shield, Mr. Gosselin contributes social and human capital in abundance to establish supply and distribution chains with efficient economies to meet demand and anticipated demand within targeted industries in a scalable distribution platform designed to maximize corporate performance tuned to global scope.

Under the executive command of Mr. Gosselin, the company will initiate Bronya Canada Group's product roll-out phase with focus on establishing sector-based distribution via contractual partnerships with lead industry organizations to achieve a harmonic entrance onto the world stage as a reliable, non-invasive solution to achieve 30% to 40% instant energy efficiency in each and every aspect of energy consumption, demand and management.

The company's management intends to establish the roll-out phase in the projected time, with strong attention given to DIY retail stores, building contractor supply (home and commercial), industrial building suppliers, specialized electronics, military, aerospace, manufacturing, and others. As the product roll-out success returns geographical and other data necessary to set anticipation schedules under the command of Mr. Gosselin, the company will dynamically coordinate within the established expertise of the existing board and executives, as well as additions to the organization, to determine the most cost effective means of establishing strategically positioned sales, manufacturing and distribution facilities for maximum advantage to the organization relative to regions, demand, resources and agenda.

With energy conservation initiatives being deployed by major global stakeholders, Eco Depot products can support achievement of energy conservation goals immediately as an additive application to existing infrastructure for all stakeholders in energy consumption until new transformative infrastructure technologies can be invented and implemented. Even then, Eco Depot visions that Bronya Climate Shield technology would be at the heart of all energy management, from the unseen nano applications within electronics to the aesthetically pleasing but reassuring macro applications on housing, commercial buildings, and data centers.

Having effective leadership tailored to the immediate and long-term vision of the company caps the organizational efficacy and galvanizes the corpus for effective market penetration. Eco Depot welcomes Mr. Gosselin as President and CEO to embark on the mission of establishing Bronya Climate Shield liquid thermal insulation as an affordable, functional, and immediate energy efficiency tool beneficial to the planet while serving human energy needs with long reaching economic benefit.

Achieving energy sustainability for both the planet and the people is important, necessary, and now, with the chief office held by such esteem and capability, possible.

[1] Note: The decision and acceptance to transfer title and responsibility was executed earlier, however the company preferred to wait until after the inauguration of President Joe Biden, 46th President of the United States of America and Vice President Kamala Harris, in honor of this important and momentous event. Eco Depot is proud to support democracy and the transfer of power with respect and dignity and is a supporter and contributor of President Biden's Build Back Better plan. Eco Depot thanks President Biden and Vice President Harris for your service.

ABOUT ECO DEPOT

Eco Depot, Inc. acquires, manages, and develops eco-friendly real estate assets and consumer brand products. Their focus is to provide investments, funding, and support for acquisitions, start-ups, entrepreneurs, and green companies dedicated to protecting the environment. Eco Depot is a development stage distributor of eco-friendly consumer brand products and is publicly traded Over the Counter at OTC Pink: ECDP.

ABOUT BRONYA CANADA GROUP

Bronya Coatings Group, Inc. ("the Company") is based in Montreal and intends to commercialize a Multi-Purpose liquid thermal insulation paint Bronya Climate Shield product line in North America. The Company's mission is to establish third-party production facilities globally to reduce the costs associated with the business' supply chain. The Company also has established relationships with major home improvement stores on a worldwide basis.

ABOUT BRONYA CLIMATE SHIELD

Bronya Climate Shield increases energy efficiency, energy savings, and reduces carbon emissions through energy conservation. Product website: www.bronyaclimateshield.com.

CONTACT:

Eco Depot, Inc.

2001 Sources Boulevard Unit 2001

Pointe-Claire, QC H9R5Z4, Canada

WEBSITE:

ecdp.co

+1-(844)-427-6692

info@ecdp.co

PRODUCT INQUIRIES:

info@bronyaclimateshield.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This Press Release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company has tried, whenever possible, to identify these forward-looking statements using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends," "potential" and similar expressions. These statements reflect the Company's current beliefs and are based upon information currently available to it.

Accordingly, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or advise in the event of any change, addition, or alteration to the information catered in this Press Release, including such forward-looking statements.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect the Company's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release includes information relating to the new team members expertise and how the Company will benefit from their ability to assist the Company implement its business plan. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company with respect to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: risks associated with the implementation of the Company's business plan and matters relating thereto, risks associated with the industry, competition, regulatory change, the need for additional financing, reliance on key personnel, the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors, and the volatility of the Company's common share price and volume. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements.

There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the Company's proposed business, such as failure of the business strategy and government regulation; risks related to the Company's operations, such as additional financing requirements and access to capital, reliance on key and qualified personnel, insurance, competition, intellectual property and reliable supply chains; risks related to the Company and its business generally. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed a certain progression, which may not be realized. It has also assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. While the Company may elect to, it does not undertake to update this information at any particular time.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72512
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have inked a joint partnership action plan that aims to boost public and private sector investments in Africa amid the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

The joint action plan focuses on climate action and environmental sustainability, transformative large-scale quality infrastructure investment, information and communication technology infrastructure and services, financial inclusion with a gender lens aimed at the empowerment of girls and women, education and training, and the health sector, according to the AfDB.

It is crucial that more multinational development banks and other development finance institutions commit to closer and stronger collaboration, such as seen through this joint action plan between the AfDB and the EIB, in order to more efficiently and effectively support our regional member countries during these troubling times, said AfDBs acting Senior Vice President Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala.

Sustainable economic growth and security in regions facing particular challenges, such as the Sahel and Horn of Africa, are our top priority,

Meanwhile, EIB Vice President Thomas Ostros said that the signed action plan demonstrates the firm commitment of the EIB and the EU Bank to delivering investment that makes a real difference to Africa and enhance cooperation and engagement with African partners to ensure that Africa emerges from the health, social, and economic challenges of COVID-19.

Over the past 5 years, the shared portfolio of the two institutions has grown to 3.4 billion, leveraging investment totaling 10.2 billion for 26 projects across the continent, according to the AfDB.

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01/21/2021

Photo (c) Peter Zelei Images - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 24,475,210 (24,273,831)

Total U.S. deaths: 407,111 (402,400)

Total global cases: 97,116,661 (96,396,565)

Total global deaths: 2,080,009 (2,063,594)

Biden plans extensive use of Defense Production Act

The incoming Biden administration says it has found an acute shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) nearly a year into the pandemic. Officials say the president is likely to make extensive use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to alleviate that issue.

Biden today issued executive orders and directed government agencies to use wartime powers to require U.S. companies to produce more N95 masks, swabs, and other equipment to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Defense Production Act gives the president the power to require U.S.l companies to prioritize manufacturing supplies that are necessary to meet an emergency situation. It was devised to meet wartime requirements but has already been used to deal with the pandemic.

CDC expects 100,000 more deaths in a month

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is out with a new, and even more grim, forecast. The health agency says the U.S. could record an additional 100,000 deaths in the next 30 days.

The U.S. death toll went over 400,000 this week, so the new forecast would be a 25 percent increase in the number of people who die in just a months time.

Truly heartbreaking, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the CDC. But putting a more optimistic spin on it, she predicted that healthier days lie ahead.

National plan for schools

The Biden administration has signaled it will take more of a national approach to combat the pandemic, and that will also extend to policies on school reopenings. Until now, each state -- and sometimes even individual school districts -- have devised their own plans.

The Biden plan includes an increase in testing, stepping up the pace of vaccinations, and providing more funding for schools. Disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could be used to pay for those measures.

The White House has called for schools to get more personal protective equipment, sanitation, improved ventilation, reconfigured classrooms, and upgraded technology. It has set the goal of having all kids back in the classroom within 100 days.

Experts say former COVID-19 patients still need a vaccination

Millions of Americans have had the coronavirus and recovered. But if they think they can skip the COVID-19 vaccine, health experts say theyre wrong. They may have some immunity against the virus, but it is probably temporary.

People shouldnt have a false sense of security that theyre immune to COVID-19 just because theyve recovered from the disease, said Dr. Thomas Bader, vice president of medical quality at Hackensack Meridian Health.

Bader said it isnt known how long any COVID-19 antibodies that are in your system may protect you from the virus. There have been a few reports of recovered patients being reinfected with COVID-19, suggesting the natural immunity wears off over time.

How the pandemic will impact 2021 travel

Theres no doubt that the pandemic drastically affected travel last year. Just ask the nations airlines and hotels, which have seen business crater. But according to Tripadvisor, 2021 is a new year, and consumers have a different attitude.

The company analyzed first-party search data and sampled traveler sentiment across six major markets. It identified consumers' increasing confidence that they will travel abroad in 2021, particularly in the second half of the year. It found a lot of people are making travel plans.

Not only are consumers thinking about foreign travel this year, but domestic travel also has a prominent place on the agenda. The report concludes that the widespread rollout of vaccines won't just impact travelers' confidence to travel, it will have a major influence on where leisure travelers are prepared to go.

Around the nation
An elderly couple crashed their vintage Rolls Royce into a family home in Sydney's West, sending the car flying straight through a garage door.

A 84-year-old man was driving his 1987 Rolls Royce Silver Spirit, that retails for around $59,000 in today's market, when he ploughed straight into his neighbour's home through the garage in Holroyd, Sydney.

Neighbour Kaustabh Raychaudri, said he was upstairs when suddenly there was a cloud of smoke and 'bricks everywhere' as the car smashed a hole into his back wall.

A Rolls Royce Silver Spirit crashed into a family home in a cloud of smoke after the elderly driver had an alleged lapse of judgement (pictured)

'I heard a tyre sort of screeching like a burnout,' Mr Raychaudri told 9News.

'It stopped for a couple of seconds and then next minute a big bang.'

The elderly man was driving with his wife when he had a lapse of judgement and mistook the accelerator for the break pedal when giving way to another driver, onlookers allege.

'The car, maybe a couple of scratches, they just knocked out my house instead,' Mr Raychaudri said.

Fire and Rescue services were called when a vintage Rolls Royce ploughed into a family's garage (pictured)

NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that no one was injured in the crash.

The driver and his wife were briefly treated for shock by paramedics at the scene.

Fire and Rescue services were also called to help safely remove the vehicle from the home.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to urgently sort out the situation with a fire in a nursing home in Kharkiv, which killed 15 people, and urgently create a State Commission under the leadership of Minister for Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Chernyshov to clarify the causes of the tragedy and develop mechanisms to prevent such emergencies in future.

"Minister of Internal Affairs is to open and take personal control of the relevant criminal case and as soon as possible answer the question of what the causes of the tragedy are and who is to blame for it. I call on the local authorities - leaders of cities and regions - to cooperate as much as possible with the central government and do everything possible for assistance to the victims and relatives who have lost their loved ones. My sincere condolences," the head of state said in a message on the Telegram channel.

During a discussion on the possibility of testing the water quality in the Petersburg Harbor at the Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht said the Department of Environmental Conservation is already scheduled to come to town this summer to do just that.

Mayor Mark Jensen said he and other mayors in Southeast Alaska lobbied Sen. Bert Stedman to pass legislation that would test the water quality of the region's aquatic traffic lanes. He said fishermen were complaining about waste foam trails from cruise ships in major traffic lanes. Legislation was passed, bu...
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HAMILTON, Miss. (WTVA) - The search for the body of a 39-year-old man came to an end Wednesday in Monroe County.

The body of Jack Cowan was found Wednesday at Cedar Grove Cemetery in the Hamilton area, the Monroe County Journal reported Wednesday night.

Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley confirmed the same information to WTVA.

Sheriff Kevin Crook told the newspaper the body was not buried in a grave but buried on the edge of the cemetery.

The sheriff told WTVA the discovery happened in the evening.

An autopsy will be performed.

On the morning of Dec. 16, 2020, deputies responded to a report of a vehicle fire on Levee Road along the Tombigbee Waterway near Amory.

The owner of the vehicle filed a missing person report for her brother, Cowan, who had been driving the vehicle.

Crook said investigators had enough evidence to prove Cowans death, and investigators continued to search for his body.

Investigators initially arrested and charged three suspects in the investigation.

Related - Three suspects arrested in Monroe County death investigation

They later arrested and charged Melonie Tate for accessory after the fact.

The sheriff said the motive for the crime was related to drugs.
Amaravati, Jan 21 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president and principal opposition leader in Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Thursday termed the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government's statements on the Ramateertham issue as 'dangerous thinking'.

He said the government is allegedly doing this with an ulterior motive to terrify and suppress the voice of the opposition cadres and the general public.

In December last year, unidentified miscreants had cut off the head of the Lord Ram's idol at the Ramateertham hilltop temple in Nellimarla village in Vizianagaram district, which triggered a massive controversy with the opposition parties accusing the ruling party of allegedly ignoring the temples' safety and security.

Naidu also condemned the arrest of party member Kala Venkatrao on Wednesday, asserting that he was a non-controversial leader with 40 years of experience.

"The government's attitude is dangerous as it wants all the opponents to either kill themselves or get killed by criminals under suspicious circumstances," Naidu claimed.

Training his guns on the police department, the TDP supremo demanded that Director General of Police (DGP) Gautam Sawang should explain what crime did Venkatrao commit.

"False cases have been filed against TDP leaders in the name of attack on an MP's car. The DGP should explain why no preventive steps are taken nor any cases are filed against the YSRCP MP," Naidu said.

He added that it is high time for Sawang to follow the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and safeguard the rights of the people, and not follow the 'Jagan Reddy Penal Code'.

"If the DGP cannot overcome pressure from the ruling YSRCP leaders to implement the rule of law, he should resign and go home. The government is just daydreaming that the TDP leaders could be suppressed with fabricated cases and false arrests," the former Chief Minister said.

Naidu also claimed that there is no proper response from the CM or the DGP despite the sawing away of Lord Ram's idols and 150 alleged temple attacks.

"The DGP should at least respect his uniform. Otherwise he should quit expressing his inability to stop the atrocities," Naidu said.

Meanwhile, the opposition leader welcomed the high court order to conduct rural local body elections and said that the YSRCP leaders should realise that judges may change, but justice will remain.

"They resorted to election irregularities which is why 27 per cent unanimous results were seen in the MPTC and ZPTC elections. The fake CM and his party leaders are trying to use rowdyism to terrify and suppress all sections of voters," Naidu alleged.

He also asked Sawang how permission to the 'dharma parirakshana yatra' could be cancelled on Thursday after granting it on Wednesday.

Currently, a huge controversy is raging in the southern state over the alleged attacks on temples. While the YSRCP is blaming the TDP for these incidents, the latter is accusing the YSRCP of not protecting the temples and being lax about their safety.

Several alleged temples attack cases have emerged in the past six months, compelling the government to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to crack them.

The police are also focusing on people who are peddling fake news on temple attacks, resulting in some journalists and other social media users getting arrested for their alleged propaganda.
Simon Fraser University researchers have found evidence that large ambush-predatory worms--some as long as two metres--roamed the ocean floor near Taiwan over 20 million years ago. The finding, published today in the journal Scientific Reports, is the result of reconstructing an unusual trace fossil that they identified as a burrow of these ancient worms.

According to the study's lead author, SFU Earth Sciences PhD student, Yu-Yen Pan, the trace fossil was found in a rocky area near coastal Taiwan. Trace fossils are part of a research field known as ichnology. "I was fascinated by this monster burrow at first glance," she says. "Compared to other trace fossils which are usually only a few tens of centimetres long, this one was huge; two-metres long and two-to-three centimetres in diameter. The distinctive, feather-like structures around the upper burrow were also unique and no previously studied trace fossil has shown similar features."

Pan and SFU Earth Sciences professor Shahin Dashtgard are part of an international team that named the homes of these ancient giant worms Pennichnus formosae. Pan initiated the work while completing her M.Sc. degree under the supervision of Professor Ludvig Lowemark, from the Department of Geosciences at National Taiwan University, Taiwan.

After investigating 319 specimens preserved in early Miocene strata (22 million - 20 million years ago) in northeast Taiwan, the morphological model of this trace fossil was constructed.

"Shahin encouraged us to reach out to marine biologists, marine photographers and aquarium keepers to compare the burrows to biological analogs, which enabled us to reach the conclusion that this trace fossil was produced by giant, ambush-predatory worms," says Pan.

The modern-day Bobbit worm, which is also large and predatory, is sometimes called the 'sand striker,' sensing prey with its antennae, then grabbing them with its powerful jaws, and retreating into its burrow. When it burrows, its body occupies the whole burrow which explains the two-metre-long burrow observed in Pennichnus.

Further analysis revealed a high concentration of iron around the upper burrow, leading researchers to believe the worm secreted mucus to reinforce and rebuild its burrow wall after each feeding.

Modern Bobbit worm burrow openings are similar to that of Pennichnus, suggesting that the sediment collapsed into the burrow upon retreating or pulling still live prey below the seafloor.

Marine predatory worms have existed since the early Palaeozoic (> 400 million years ago), but their soft tissue bodies decay leaving little trace of their existence behind. Pennichnus formosae is believed to be the first known trace fossil produced by a sub-surface ambush predator, allowing researchers a rare opportunity to learn more about this ancient sand striker's behaviour.

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Chandigarh, Jan 21 : Three persons, including two advocates, have been arrested on the charge of involvement in the sale of two acres of land 'acquired' through fraudulent means in Gurugram district to a private company, causing loss of crores of rupees to the state exchequer.

Director General of Police Manoj Yadava told the media that the land in Islampur village, acquired by Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) in 1993, was sold to a private company for Rs 2 crore on the basis of "fake and forged documents and witnesses".

He said that to make a quick buck, accused Rohit Thakran of Jharsa village and Ajay Chaudhary of Islampur village hatched a plan and got the land transferred in the name of Ajay by producing fake witnesses, who impersonated Murti Devi, Lakshmi Devi and Bala Devi, the original owners of two acres of the ancestral property.

Lawyers Chaman Lal Arora and Subhash Chand Arora, who 'identified' the 'owners' were also arrested.

The fraud came to light when Murti Devi of Gupta Colony in Gurugram filed a police complaint. State Crime Branch (Gurugram Unit) later arrested Thakran and the Aroras.

The probe revealed that mastermind Thakran had learnt the work of 'patwari' and was aware of the acquired land.

Chaudhary allegedly transferred Rs 29 lakh out of the Rs 2 crore sale proceeds to the bank account of Thakran. The accounts used to receive sale proceeds were opened by Chaudhary on the basis of different PAN numbers.

Investigation found that Thakran was involved in other crimes also, including liquor smuggling. Chaudhary was involved in the killing of a Rajasthan Police Constable in 2006, police said.
NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Jewish Committee (AJC) mourns the passing of Howard Friedman, who served as president of the premier global Jewish advocacy organization from 1983 to 1986. He was 92 years old.

A longtime partner in the Los Angeles law firm of Loeb and Loeb, Friedman served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of California from 1955 to 1957. Before being elected AJC President, the first person on the West Coast to hold the position, he served as Chair of AJC's Board of Governors, Chair of AJC's Board of Trustees, and President of AJC Los Angeles. He was an AJC Honorary President from 1986 till his death.

"I had the privilege of knowing Howard during the years of his presidency and thereafter," said AJC CEO David Harris. "Without any exaggeration, he had one of the sharpest minds I have ever encountered. An exceptionally gifted speaker and writer, he was a consummate ambassador and advocate for AJC in the halls of power, both at home and abroad. The Jewish people were incredibly fortunate to benefit from his leadership and passion."

During his presidency, the organization deepened its interactions with Germany, begun shortly after the end of World War II. AJC was well-positioned, as the pioneering Jewish organization engaged in dialogue with Germany, to reach out to President Reagan regarding his controversial visit, in May 1985, to the Bitburg cemetery, where SS officers are buried. Friedman, together with AJC Associate Director William Trosten and AJC International Relations Director Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum, shuttled among Bonn, New York, and Washington. On April 29, 1985, an AJC delegation led by Friedman met with President Reagan at the White House.

At AJC's suggestion, President Reagan and Chancellor Kohl added to the visit the gravesite of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, where Reagan spoke about Adenauer's sense of shame for the Holocaust as well as his support for the State of Israel. In addition, the two leaders visited the former concentration camp of Bergen-Belsen, where they spent more time than planned and President Reagan delivered a highly emotional speech.

In July 1987, Friedman was honored by the Federal Republic of Germany for his work to promote greater understanding between American Jews and West Germany. He was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, "in recognition of the actions and initiatives he had taken as president and representative of the American Jewish Committee to further develop contacts, dialogues, and cooperation, to foster mutual understanding between his country and the Federal Republic of Germany."

Over the decades, Friedman held numerous leadership positions in Jewish organizations, and was committed to Commentary Magazine. He learned Jewish values from his parents Sam and Emma, who founded The Southwest Jewish Chronicle, 1932-1991, which circulated and united the small Jewish communities of the American Southwest.

He served for 18 years (1996-2014) as the founding Chairman of the Board of the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, and as an Emeritus Governor of the Board of Overseers of the Hebrew Union College.

A native of Chicago, Friedman received a BA, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Oklahoma, an MA from the University of Chicago, and an LLB from Yale Law School, where he was an Editor of the Law Journal. At the end of the Korean War, he served as a Captain in the United States Air Force JAG Corps. He then moved to California to teach at Stanford University Law School. Friedman spent his career at Loeb & Loeb, where he was the managing partner and head of the litigation department, as well as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


Terra.do - Product Shot We built a platform that allows talented individuals from around the world to develop the skills and network needed to jump into the climate fight.

There has been an explosion of funding for climate tech in the past decade, and several global multilateral funds have pledged to commit vast resources towards climate causes. Additionally, many of the worlds largest companies have signed a pledge to meet the Paris Agreement goals ten years early.

While these endeavors are promising, whats missing is a global network of action-oriented climate professionals with the skills needed to maximize the impact of these initiatives.

Terra.do is building that network.

The Mission

Terra.dos mission is to get 100 million climate-conscious people substantially working on climate change solutions relevant to them by 2030.

The company raised $1.5M in early funding from a group of climate-conscious angels in August 2020 and has seen 100% quarter over quarter growth in revenue since the company launched earlier in the year.

Terra.do seeks to accomplish its mission through three steps:

 Learning - The foundation of Terra.do is its mission-focused online educational platform, managed by co-founder and climate expert Dr. Kamal Kapadia. The fully remote courses train professionals on the complexities of the global climate landscape. Each program is curated to a specific climate challenge and taught live by world-class instructors and guest lecturers like the leading climate scientist Dr. Charles Chip Fletcher and climate investor Sierra Peterson. The flagship program is Climate Change: Learning for Action, a 12-week intensive course covering every major angle of the climate landscape.

 Network - Through these courses, the company is building a robust global community of climate-aware individuals that want to engage in climate action. Participants, called fellows, can expand their climate networks by tapping into a deep base of alumni, instructors, climate experts, and global partners such as Techstars. They also have access to career-focused resources, such as job fairs and mentorship programs.

 Action - Fellows and alumni engage with the climate solutions world in a variety of ways, including internships, projects, climate jobs, and entrepreneurship in climate. Alumni from early cohorts have gone on to found organizations such as Climate Changemakers, landed full-time positions in climate-aware companies such as Sidewalk Labs, and are running hands-on internship programs for new fellows.

A massive wave of climate jobs is coming that will require all kinds of skills, states Anshuman Bapna, founder and CEO of Terra.do. We built a platform that allows talented individuals from around the world to develop the skills and network needed to jump into the climate fight. This infrastructure, which is the only one of its kind, will be critical to creating a high-impact climate workforce that can solve the diverse problems our world will face in the coming decades.

The Story

The company was founded in early 2020 after Kamals brother-in-law randomly overhead Anshuman discussing climate in a cafe in Bengaluru, India. The two were introduced virtually, and leveraging their skills and networks, built a company designed to be 100% remote. In fact, the entire Terra.do team has never met in person.

While the distance appears to many as an obstacle, the companys structure lets it thrive despite the challenges presented by COVID-19. Our company and our community were designed to be completely online and remote from day one to enable every corner of the world to collaborate asynchronously on the problem, states Bapna. In that regard, were light years ahead of other real-world platforms that have been challenged during the pandemic.

There was also a founding focus on diversity, inclusion, and a big-tent approach to climate solutions. This approach is baked into the companys mission that 100 million minds from all over the world are necessary to create a transition to a post-climate-crisis world. Reflecting this is the companys makeup of employees, instructors, fellows, and alumni from over 25 countries.

New Courses

Terra.do will launch over 25 new courses this year and is excited to announce the lineup for Q1 2021:

 January 25: The New Hydrogen Economy

 February 1: Climate-Smart Buildings

 February 8: Climate-Resilient Agricultural Value Chains

 February 21: Climate Camp for VCs and Investors with Techstars and Moxxie

Ventures

 March 4: Climate Change: Learning for Action (Flagship Course)

 March 13: The Climate Justice Workshop

These courses kick-off a banner year of activity and cover several of the most in-demand climate areas. Terra.do's team of skilled instructors provide intensive, personalized teaching, and support to small groups of fellows. Students also receive 1-on-1 mentoring from 100+ experts who cover 50+ professional climate sectors. Terra.do's courses regularly feature globally recognized guest speakers from a range of countries.

Job Fair

Terra.do also announces its ClimateTech Job Fair, which occurs on Friday, March 5. The job fair, which is the worlds largest online climate career event, is a live event that will match recruiters with job seekers looking for tech-focused roles. Its a unique opportunity for those looking to interact with a massive network of individuals who are about climate work.

Terra.dos first online job fair in November 2020 attracted companies such as Pachama, ZeroAvia, and Myst.AI, and over 1,000 job seeker registrants. This expanded version is expected to attract double that figure.

Dozens of organizations will be posting hundreds of technology jobs in fields such as software engineering, data science, product management, design, and more. Hiring managers and participants will have the opportunity to interact with one another in real-time via Slack and Zoom.

If youd like to participate, as well as learn more about Terra.dos courses, please visit:

https://www.terra.do
The 21-year-old man killed in a Woodbridge house fire Wednesday morning was found dead in the basement of the home after firefighters and police rescued multiple other family members, authorities said.

Avenel firefighters and Woodbridge police got family out of the single-family house on South Inman Avenue after the fire broke shortly after 9 a.m, a township spokesman said.

The Red Cross of New Jersey said its volunteers were assisting a family of five with lodging and clothes.

The Middlesex County Prosecutors Officers arson team and Woodbridge police are investigating the cause.

The victims identity was not released.

No police officers or firefighters were hurt.

Photos from the scene showed the front yard of the structure blocked off with emergency tape.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Woodbridge police Det. Jorge Quesada at 732- 634-7700 or Det, Kevin Schroeck of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732-745-4194. Avenel Fire Official Cory Spillar can be reached at 732-855-9747.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the government cannot put the lives of employees in peril by forcing them hold the gram panchayat polls.  ysrcongress.com

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court on Thursday expressing its difficulty to conduct the gram panchayat polls as scheduled by the State Election Commission and hold the Covid-19 vaccination programme simultaneously, following the High Courts verdict allowing the elections to be held.

The SLP followed the High Court verdict earlier in the day allowing conduct of the polls despite objections from the state government.

The governments main contention in the SLP is that employees were now preoccupied with the Covid-19 management and vaccination programmes. It would be difficult to simultaneously handle the vaccination programme and the gram panchayat polls, the SLP stated. The government expressed the fear that performing both the tasks at the same time could jeopardise the safety of the general public and the employees. It sought the intervention of the apex court to defer the polls.

Meanwhile, state government adviser (public affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the government cannot put the lives of employees in peril by forcing them hold the gram panchayat polls. The state government should not be blamed if the Covid-19 pandemic spread aggravated as a result of simultaneous polls.

Speaking to the media, Reddy slammed Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu for spreading lies such as arrest of former TD president K. Kala Venkata Rao. The police only served a notice on Rao under section 41-A CrPC, asking him to report for an inquiry. Naidu was also making false allegations against the state DGP, he said, and added that such derogatory remarks could invite defamation suits and payment of compensation. .

The adviser flayed Naidu for his insulting remarks about the idols of gods and in particular of Lord Ram. Naidu used expressions like beheading of Ram idol. It only reflected his mental state.

On desecration of the Nandeeswar statue at Santhabommali, Reddy alleged that TD leaders were behind the recent attacks on temples. TD leaders are trying to save their face after CCTV footage exposed their wanton acts. Naidu, he said, encouraged such acts as he was worried over peoples growing support to Chief Minister Jagan for providing good governance and initiating a series of welfare schemes in the state.

Meanwhile, agriculture minister K. Kannababu said in Visakhapatnam that the state government would respect the verdict given by the High Court on gram panchayat polls. He slammed State Election Commissioner N. Ramesh Kumar for his adamant attitude towards holding the polls before completion of his tenure. The SEC, he said, is bent on putting the lives of the people and the employees in danger.

Minister for social welfare Pinepe Viswaroop said in Ongole that the state would move apex court against the High Courts verdict.
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DUBLIN, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Propylene Oxide Market Outlook 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global propylene oxide market is anticipated to achieve a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period, i.e. 2021-2025.

On account of the growing number of applications in a wide variety of end-use industries such as food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, plastics, and others, the production of propylene glycol has seen a substantial rise in recent years. Propylene glycol is used as a chemical feedstock in the manufacturing of unsaturated polyester resins, medication vaporizers, hand sanitizers, airplane de-icing oils, and solvents for several compounds. The rising number of applications of propylene glycol derived from propylene oxide is another main factor responsible for the growth of propylene oxide market.



The global propylene oxide market consists of various segments that are segmented by production process, end user and by region. Production process is further segmented by chlorohydrin process, styrene monomer process, hydrogen peroxide process, TBA co-product process, and cumene-based process. It is projected that the chlorohydrin process (CPHO) will account for a business value of around USD 4800 million by 2020. CHPO is the oldest process used in propylene oxide processing and held the highest market share in 2019.



Based on end user, the global propylene oxide market is segmented into automotive, building & construction, textile & furnishing, chemical & petrochemical, packaging, electronics, and others, out of which, building & construction is the largest end user segment. Propylene oxide is used in the construction industry as a structural solvent for use in paints, adhesives, grout, coatings and waterproofing materials. In addition, the second-largest consumer of propylene oxide, an unsaturated polyester resin derived from propylene glycol, is used for reinforcing fiberglass to form fiber-reinforced plastics.



Based on region, the global propylene oxide market is segmented into five major regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa. The market in Asia-Pacific held the highest share in 2019 and is estimated to hold this position throughout the forecast period. China, India, Japan, Australia, and Southeast Asian nations are some of the main contributing nations.



Growing application of propylene oxide in end-use industries, such as automotive, manufacturing, food & beverage, and others is anticipated to drive the demand for propylene oxide in this region. Furthermore, an increase in the demand for propylene oxide in countries such as China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia owing to growth in commercial construction is projected to trigger the demand for propylene oxide in the region.



Some of the affluent industry leaders in the propylene oxide market are Dow, Balchem Inc, BASF SE, Ashland; Alfa Aesar, Thermo Fisher Scientific.; Sumitomo Chemical Co, Ltd., Huntsman International LLC, Lyondellbasell Industries Holdings B.V., Eastman Chemical Company and others.



Key Topics Covered:



Global Propylene Oxide Market



1. Introduction

Market Definition

Market Segmentation

Product Overview

2. Assumptions And Acronyms



3. Research Methodology

Research Process

Primary Research

Secondary Research

Market Size Estimation

4. Executive Summary- Global Propylene Oxide Market



5. Regulatory Landscape



6. Market Dynamics

Drivers

Restraints

Trends

Opportunities

7. Industry Risk Analysis

Demand Risk Analysis

Supply Risk Analysis

8. Competitive Landscape

Benchmarking Of The Competitors

Company Market Share Analysis (%)

Company Profiles

9. Global Propylene Oxide Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size And Forecast, 2015-2025

By Value (USD Million), 2015-2025f

By Volume (Tons), 2015-2025f

Market Segmentation

By Production Process

Chlorohydrin Process, Styrene Monomer Process, Tba Co-Product Process, Hydrogen Peroxide Process, Cumene-Based Process, 2015-2025f (USD Million & Kilotons)

By End-User

Automotive, Building & Construction, Packaging, Electronics, Textile & Furnishing, Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, Others, 2015-2025f (USD Million & Kilotons)

By Region

North America , Europe , Asia Pacific , Latin America , Middle East & Africa , 2015-2025f (USD Million & Kilotons)

10. North America Propylene Oxide Market Outlook

Market Size, By Value (USD Million)

Market Size, By Volume (Kilotons)

Macro-Economic Indicators

Market Overview

Market Segmentation

By Production Process

By End-User

By Country

11. Europe Propylene Oxide Market Outlook

Market Size, By Value (USD Million)

Market Size, By Volume (Kilotons)

Macro-Economic Indicators

Market Overview

Market Segmentation

By Production Process

By End-User

By Country

UK, Germany , France , Italy , Russia , Spain , Netherlands , Switzerlands, Turkey , Rest Of Europe, 2015-2025f (USD Million & Kilotons)

12. Asia Pacific Propylene Oxide Market Outlook

Market Size, By Value (USD Million)

Market Size, By Volume (Kilotons)

Macro-Economic Indicators

Market Overview

Market Segmentation

By Production Process

By End-User

By Country

China , India , Japan , South Korea , South East Asia , Oceania, 2015-2025f (USD Million & Kilotons)

13. Latin America Propylene Oxide Market Outlook

Market Size, By Value (USD Million)

Market Size, By Volume (Kilotons)

Macro-Economic Indicators

Market Overview

Market Segmentation

By Production Process

By End-User

By Country

Brazil , Argentina , Columbia, Chile , Peru , Rest Of Latin America, 2015-2025f (USD Million & Kilotons)

14. Middle East & Africa Propylene Oxide Market Outlook

Market Size, By Value (USD Million)

Market Size, By Volume (Kilotons)

Macro-Economic Indicators

Market Overview

Market Segmentation

By Production Process

By End-User

By Country

Gcc, North Africa , South Africa , Rest Of Middle East & Africa , 2015-2025f (USD Million & Kilotons)

15. Analyst's Review



Companies Mentioned

Dow

Balchem Inc

BASF SE

Ashland; Alfa Aesar

Thermo Fisher Scientific.; Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd.

Huntsman International LLC

Lyondellbasell Industries Holdings B.V.

Eastman Chemical Company

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/f6k3re

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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

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SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


SAN FRANCISCO  A University of Connecticut graduate is believed to have killed his 9-year-old son before taking his own life amid a custody dispute over the child getting vaccinated.

The San Francisco Medical Examiners Office identified the father as Stephen OLoughlin, 49, and the son as Pierce OLoughlin, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

San Francisco police discovered their bodies Jan. 13 when they were conducting a welfare check because the child did not show up at school that day.

Stephen OLoughlin graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1994, according to a post from the UConn School of Business office of alumni relations. The post said he was employed by LoCorr Funds.

A spokesman for the company said OLoughlin had been employed there since October 2018.

Online property records show OLoughlin lived in Ridgefield during the 1990s.

OLoughlin and the boys mother, Leslie Hu, were involved in a custody battle fueled in part by the fathers opposition to vaccinating their son.

Stephen OLoughlin had agreed to begin vaccinations on Jan. 12, the day before the deaths. A trial on the matter had been scheduled for last week, but court records state the proceedings were delayed until March.

Lorie Nachlis, an attorney for Hu, said OLoughlin suffered from untreated mental illness.

Yes, the parents disagreed about vaccinations, but they disagreed about other issues affecting the childs well-being. In fact, they disagreed about whether Pierce was a healthy child or a sick child. Was his stuffy nose a product of allergies or something bigger? she said in a statement. Pierce wasnt killed because of a disagreement over a stuffy nose and he wasnt killed because of a disagreement regarding vaccinations. He was killed for much more complex reasons.

Hu filed for sole legal custody of the boy in July, nearly four years after the couple divorced in November 2016. The parents had shared both physical and legal custody over Pierces medical decisions since the divorce, meaning they both had to approve vaccinations of any kind, court records show.

In a news release, San Francisco Police said they responded to an apartment on the 3800 block of Scott Street for a welfare check around 6 p.m. on Jan. 13.

Police entered the apartment where they discovered two people dead, the release said.

This incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide involving family members, police said.
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Jakarta, Jan 21 : The number of casualties due to the 6.2-magnitude earthquake which struck Indonesia's West Sulawesi province has increased to to 91, the national disaster management agency said on Thursday.

At least 1,172 people suffered wounds caused by the natural disaster on January 14, the agency's spokesman, Raditya Jati said, adding that 9,910 people were forced to flee their homes due to the earthquake.

A disaster emergency response status for 14 days has been declared in West Sulawesi since January 15, reports Xinhua news agency.

President Joko Widodo recently visited the affected region to observe the conditions of evacuees and the evacuation process.

The president said that the government buildings collapsed by the earthquake will be rebuilt so that public services could resume immediately.

The government will also provide financial aid for damaged houses, he added.

In the last 30 days, Indonesia was struck by three quakes of magnitude 6.0 or above, 22 quakes between 5.0 and 6.0, 143 quakes between 4.0 and 5.0, 367 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 247 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0, according to authorities.

There were also 13 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people do not normally feel.

On September 26, 2019, at least 41 people were killed, 1,578 others injured, while more than 150,000 were evacuated when an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the Seram Island in Maluku.

There were at least 1,105 aftershocks in Maluku after the temblor.
SALEM, Ore.  Governor Kate Brown and Senator Jeff Merkley released statements on Wednesday after the swearing-in of President Joe Biden as 46th President of the United States  both of them celebrating the change in leadership, and alluding to a bill that would overhaul voting in the country.

Sen. Merkley is one sponsor of the For the People Act, which promises to reform the nation's campaign finance laws, expand vote-by-mail, automatically register eligible citizens, require greater accessibility for disabled and older voters, and ban false information about elections, among a number of other measures.

A similar version of the bill was passed in the House in 2019, but was blocked in the Senate by outgoing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Governor Kate Brown:

"Today marks a new chapter for our country as we welcome President Joseph R. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to the White House. It is an especially extraordinary moment for our nation to celebrate the historic swearing-in of our first female, Black and Asian Vice President  and the incredibly diverse Cabinet that President Biden has nominated. Our government should be reflective of the people it represents, and now Americans across the country will see themselves in the people holding leadership positions.

"We have waited a long time to have a strong, competent and trustworthy partner we can work with at the federal level  and now more than ever, we need that federal leadership to help states beat COVID-19, once and for all. As we still face what could be the darkest days of the pandemic, President Biden has laid out a strong vision and clear plan, based on science, for how the federal government will help the American people, and governors across the country  starting with the announcement of a much-needed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. I look forward to working with the President, Vice President and Congress on getting this ground-breaking package across the finish line.

"I also look forward to working with the new Congress on their For the People Act, which would establish Vote-By-Mail and Automatic Voter Registration nationally.

"Election after election, here in Oregon, we set the example for our country. Our 30-year-old Vote-by-Mail system took a turn on the national stage as states across the country shifted to voting by mail, and voting early, to enable people to vote safely and securely.

"Now, the work begins to make that permanent. I am so very proud that Oregons Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Amy Klobuchar have crafted this comprehensive legislation, which will be the first bill taken up by the new Congress. If passed, this bill will require the reforms we started in Oregon to be adopted by every state in the country. Automatic Voter Registration and Vote-By-Mail should be available to every citizen in this country.

"I hope that all of you will join me in supporting the passage of the For the People Act in the Senate. Because, the right to vote is fundamental  and it is sacred.

"While there are many challenges ahead, on this historic day I remain hopeful. We are determined as ever to rise, rebuild, and reinvent a more just and equitable country."

Senator Jeff Merkley:

In the midst of one of the darkest winters in American history, today is cause for celebration and resolve. Today, our nation begins the hard work of turning the page on a dark chapter marked by racism, division, and incivility, as we set out to write a new one of hope, freedom, and equality for all.

It wont be easy. First and foremost, we must face and defeat a devastating pandemic that has already claimed 400,000 American lives and robbed millions of their livelihoods. But we must also reckon with deeper and more long-lasting forces that have shaped everything about our lives and our politics, up to and including the current pandemic.

For decades, powerful special interests have done everything in their power to rig our economy and our society in their favor. Theyve flooded Washington with dark money, and stoked fears and pitted groups of Americans against each other in order to protect themselves. Their project has done real, lasting damage to the fabric of our republic, and its on each of us to do our part to restore it.

I have every confidence that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are well equipped to lead that charge with the skill, compassion, and determination it will require. And I am fully committed to doing all that I can to ensure that the Senate is a strong partner to their effortsfrom tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the climate crisis, to passing the For the People Act and reinvigorating our democracy, to addressing directly our national shame of racism and discrimination and ensuring that every hardworking American has a roof over their head and food on their table. Lets get to work.

Congressman Peter DeFazio:

As we take the historic step of inaugurating Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, our first Black and Asian-American woman Vice-President, we have the opportunity to turn the page on the turmoil of the past four years.

With the Biden Administration at the helm, I look forward to working to solve our nations most urgent crises: overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and providing real relief to the millions of families who have been impacted by the economic recession, expanding voting rights and democracy reforms so that all Americans can make their voice heard at the ballot box, increasing access to affordable healthcare and lowering the cost of prescription drugs, addressing the existential threat of climate change, fighting for racial justice, tackling economic inequality, and finally passing comprehensive legislation to rebuild and modernize our nations crumbling infrastructure.

I look forward to the many accomplishments we will achieve in these next four years to better the lives of the American people.

Ron Wyden took to twitter saying, "Today our country starts a new chapter to build back better, for everyone. The road ahead wont be easy, but democracy is worth the effort. Lets get to work."
Despite exhortations by Amazon, markets regulator SEBI has approved the deal between Future Group and Reliance Industries. SEBI, in a letter issued on Wednesday, approved the deal subject to a number of conditions in the Composite Scheme of Arrangement.

The BSE on its part said that it has no adverse observations on the transaction.

In August 2020, Kishore Biyani and Future Group had entered into a Rs 25,000 crore agreement with Reliance Retail. As part of the pact, Future Group was to sell its retail, wholesale, logistics and warehouse businesses to Reliance Retail Retail Ventures (RRVL).

SEBI vide its letter dated January 20 has inter alia made the following comment(s) on the Composite Scheme of Arrangement for Future Consumer and Future Retail.

"Company shall ensure that the shares of the transferee entity issued in lieu of the locked-in shares of the transferor entities is subjected to lock-in for the remaining period post scheme," it said.

"Company shall ensure that proceedings pending before SEBI against the entities part of the promoter/promoter group or are directors of the companies involved in the scheme, should be highlighted in the scheme document filed before National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)," SEBI said.

"Company shall ensure that the details of the complaints made by Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings LLC (Amazon), the submissions of Future Retail Limited and the counter submissions of Amazon and all the proceedings pending and completed related to the same in the Delhi High Court Order in CS(COMM) 493/2020, the Award of Emergency Arbitrator in the Singapore International Arbitrator Centre or any other ongoing court/ arbitration proceedings, or any orders issued therein are bought to the notice of the shareholders of the listed entities involved in the scheme while taking shareholder approval on the scheme. Further, the same shall also be brought to the notice of NCLT while filing the draft scheme for their approval," as per the SEBI letter.

It added that "company shall ensure that any future disputes, complaints, regulatory actions or proceedings, or orders issued therein involving the draft scheme if any, shall be brought to the notice of shareholders prior to the approval by NCLT".

"Company shall ensure that as a part of the notice to shareholder seeking their approval on the scheme, the following fact should be suitably highlighted: 74.2% of the Business Value of the Future Enterprises Limited post amalgamation of all the Transferor companies is getting transferred to Reliance Retail Ventures Limited and Reliance Retail and Fashion Lifestyle Limited and these two companies would not be seeking listing post the scheme of arrangement," it said.

"The Company is advised that the observations of SEBI/Stock Exchanges shall be incorporated in the petition to be filed before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the Company is obliged to bring the observations to the notice of NCLT," SEBI said.

"The Company should ensure that suitable disclosure about the latest financials of the companies involved in the Scheme being not more than 6 months old is done before filing the s"ame with the Hon'ble National Company Law Tribunal. In addition, it will ensure that additional information, if any, submitted by the Company, after filing the Scheme with the Stock Exchange, and from the date of receipt of this letter is displayed on the websites of the listed company and the stock exchanges.

"Company shall duly comply with various provisions of the Circular. Company is advised that the observations of SEBI/Stock Exchanges shall be incorporated in the petition to be filed before National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the company is obliged to bring the observations to the notice of NCLT," the regulator said.

"It is observed that there are certain ongoing litigations/arbitration/legal proceedings against the draft scheme. In view of the same, the company is advised that these comments of SEBI on the draft scheme of arrangement are subject to the outcome of any of the ongoing litigations/arbitration/legal proceeding involving the draft scheme and/or the decision by any competent authority/competent court in this regard," SEBI said.

On January 11, Amazon had written to SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi informing that the regulator should not give no-objection to the Future Retail transaction with Reliance as the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has constituted an arbitral tribunal.

In a letter to Tyagi, Amazon.com NV Investment Holdings said, "We write to inform you that the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) has constituted the arbitral tribunal in the Arbitration Proceedings initiated by Amazon against inter alia FRL, Kishore Biyani and Rakesh Biyani."

"We wish to highlight that in view of the constitution of the Arbitral Tribunal, the Interim Award passed by the EA stands automatically extended for the duration of the Arbitration Proceedings unless it is reconsidered/modified/vacated by the Arbitral Tribunal," Amazon had communicated to Tyagi.
IDLIB, Syria  Syrians are finding it hard to move around in northwest Syria, where Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and Turkish-backed opposition factions control the crossings linking the areas in Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo, and the Olive Branch and Euphrates Shield areas.

The Deir Ballut crossing is located between Atma in northern Idlib, which is under the control of HTS, and Deir Ballut in the southern countryside of Afrin, under control of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) factions.

The Ghazawiya crossing is located between the town of Darat Azza in the HTS-controlled western countryside of Aleppo and the Afrin area where the FSA is in control.

Syrian activists have often called on the Syrian opposition factions to remove the crossings between opposition areas, as they hinder the movement of civilians and increase division between the factions.

In this context, media activist Mahmoud al-Bakor, who lives in the Idlib countryside, told Al-Monitor, The crossings between the Syrian opposition factions constitute a major obstacle to the movement of civilians and increase the difficulties of their lives. These factions set conditions for civilians that differ according to the controlling faction; for instance, the FSA factions do not accept the license plates granted by the HTS-affiliated Syrian Salvation Government. The inspection mechanism also differs at each crossing, depending on the controlling party. Meanwhile, factions financially benefit from these crossings as they impose taxes on goods. The factions also gain further political control, as these crossings are considered political borders between them.

Activist Qais al-Ahmad, who resides in the countryside of Afrin, told Al-Monitor, It is a shame to have crossings between areas that are both controlled by the Syrian opposition. These crossings look like the ones between different states. This causes great disruption to civilians who move between Idlib and the northern countryside of Aleppo. On the Idlib side, the crossing is controlled by HTS, and on the opposite side in the countryside of Aleppo, the crossing is controlled by the FSA-affiliated military police and the Sham Legion affiliated with the National Liberation Front.

He added, HTS relies heavily on those crossings for the economic income it reaps from the taxes imposed on entering goods, and it uses it to control its areas of influence in Idlib and its countryside, which it considers its own state where it has established the Syrian Salvation Government and controls all the affairs of the area.

Ahmad continued, The crossings do not seem as important to the [FSA] factions as much as they are to HTS. The passage of civilians is greatly facilitated [at FSA-controlled crossings], unlike at the crossings controlled by HTS, which is stricter and often carries out arrests there as well as prevents many from entering the Idlib area.

Saif Abu Omar, the official in charge of the media office of the Sham Legion, which controls the Ghazawiya crossing in the Afrin area, told Al-Monitor, We do not have crossings; we rather erect checkpoints to facilitate the civilians affairs and movement, as well as to maintain security. We do not control crossings; only HTS does. We do not impose taxes, nor do we grant movement permits.

Meanwhile, Taqi al-Din Omar, head of HTS media relations office, told Al-Monitor, The role of the crossings in northern Syria, much like crossings all around the world, is to facilitate the passage of travelers and protect local production, as well as maintain security and combat smuggling and crime of all kinds, especially in a place abound with cells affiliated with the regime and the Islamic State (IS).

He added, The role of these crossings is to control and prosecute people fleeing the judiciary and curb smuggling to and from the regimes areas. One of their most important tasks is preventing regime and IS cells from entering the Idlib area. This is why we have not had any active cells in Idlib in recent years after dozens of them were arrested at these crossings.

In reference to HTS, Omar added, Securing the lives of people and providing the appropriate environment is the responsibility of the existing authority." He added, Commercial transactions take place according to the conditions stipulated by said authority in order to serve the public interest. A huge number of people pass through these crossings on a daily basis, all within the procedures and measures recognized at any crossing existing between two areas in the world.

Khaled Hamed, a pseudonym for an activist in Idlib, told Al-Monitor, Opposition factions have two states: one in Idlib [controlled by HTS] and another in the areas controlled by the Turkish-backed factions. [And even those areas] are each controlled by a different Turkish-baked faction as a state of its own, as each faction gives itself the right to act based on its own personal interest, as an independent state. Meanwhile, HTS has its own state and political borders with the aim of extending control and obtaining financial resources, as they impose taxes on goods and prevent the entry of tobacco into Idlib, which increases its price. It also prevents the entry of potatoes to protect the local production, and the list of banned products is long. Not to mention the list of wanted people whom it arrests at crossings. HTS uses these crossings to impose its control and laws, creating all sorts of difficulties for civilians.

Khalil al-Moussa, a civilian who lives in the Idlib countryside camps, told Al-Monitor, I go to Afrin to bring olive leaves and branches; I use the greens to feed my livestock and the wood to keep warm and cook since domestic gas cylinders are expensive here.

Moussa added, Because of the crossings, I need to leave my house at 3 a.m. to make it before the congestion. Sometimes cars line up for over 1 kilometer. I try to skip traffic because I need to be back on the same day, but it [often] takes me ages. Although my destination is no more than 20 kilometers away, my journey takes long hours because of the crossings as I am sometimes forced to unload everything at the checkpoints and put it back in my car after inspection. It is exhausting, and like hundreds of other people, I sometimes get delayed and stalled for no reason.
She is a devoted mother and wife.

And Kate Mara enjoyed another day of quality family time with her daughter and husband Jamie Bell.

The actress, 37, carried her little girl against her hip as she enjoyed a leisurely walk in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Baby love! Kate Mara enjoyed another day of quality family time with her daughter and husband Jamie Bell in Los Angeles on Wednesday

Both her daughter and husband wore jerseys as they enjoyed a day of fresh air and sunshine with one another.

Kate, meanwhile, opted for a nearly all-denim look.

The House Of Cards actress worked a jean jumpsuit, sneakers, and a leather backpack on her shoulders as she juggled her daughter against her hip.

The youngster stayed by her side as they made their way down the tree-lined street.

That's her girl! Mara sweetly carried her daughter on her hip

At one point, both Kate and her beau removed their sunglasses as they ventured into shadier terrain.

Even though they were nowhere close to other passerby, Kate and Jamie continued wearing their face masks throughout the stroll.

Kate married her Fantastic Four co-star Jamie in 2017, and two years later the couple welcomed their baby girl into their lives.

Throwing shade: The couple removed their sunglasses as they ventured into shadier terrain

The actress' sister, Rooney Mara, has also recently welcomed a child with her fiance, Joaquin Phoenix.

According to director Viktor Kossakovsky, Joaquin was not able to promote his latest film Gunda - on which he serves as executive producer - because he 'just got a baby'.

The couple named the child after Joaquin's late brother, River Phoenix.

Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival, Viktor said: 'He just got a baby, by the way, his name was ... a beautiful son called River, so he cannot promote it [the film] now.'
General view of a Yara's ammonia plant in Porsgrunn, Norway, in this picture obtained January 13, 2021. Yara/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

Two of the worlds biggest fertilizer producers, CF Industries Holdings Inc and Yara International Asa, are seeking to cash in on the green energy transition by reconfiguring ammonia plants in the United States and Norway to produce clean energy to power ships.

The consumption of oil for transportation is one of the top contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, and fertilizer producers join a growing list of companies adjusting their business models to profit from a future lower-carbon economy.

By altering the production process for ammonia normally used for fertilizer, the companies told Reuters they can produce hydrogen for fuel or a form of carbon-free ammonia used either as a carrier for hydrogen or as a marine fuel to power cargo and even cruise ships.

The shift may improve their standing with environment-minded investors as fertilizer emissions attract greater government scrutiny in North America and Europe.

But the green fuels are not yet commercial and will require significant investment to turn a profit - a reality that has the worlds largest fertilizer producer, Canadas Nutrien Ltd, staying out of the space for now. Oslo-based Yara is seeking government subsidies to proceed.

Still, renewable ammonia represents a 6 billion-euro ($7.25 billion) opportunity for fertilizer producers by 2030, according to Citibank, based on 20 million tonnes of annual sales globally for clean power and shipping fuel compared with virtually none now. Global ammonia sales currently amount to 180 million tonnes.

We absolutely could be known more for being a clean energy company than an ag supplier, CF Chief Executive Tony Will said in an interview, speaking of long-term prospects for the Illinois-based company.

EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS

Fertilizer plants separate hydrogen from natural gas and combine it with nitrogen taken from the air to make ammonia, which farmers inject into soil to maximize crop growth.

Production generates carbon emissions that CF says it can avoid by extracting hydrogen instead from water charged with electricity. It can then combine that hydrogen with nitrogen to make green ammonia, which the marine industry is testing as fuel.

CF is in discussions about selling green ammonia to a Japanese power consortium including Mitsubishi Corp, but buyers will break most of it down to pure hydrogen for use in transportation sectors.

This is a market that easily can exceed what the total ammonia (fertilizer) market is, Will said. Were going to grow into that over the next 20-25 years.

Adopting green ammonia or green hydrogen to replace crude oil-based fuel would help the International Maritime Organization (IMO) meet a target to reduce emissions, and is suited to both short- and long-haul vessels.

Methanol and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are other clean alternatives.

Everybody is looking for solutions and I think the jury is still out, said Tore Longva, alternative fuels expert at Oslo-based maritime advisor DNV GL. Of all the fuels, (green ammonia) is probably the one that we are slightly more optimistic on, but its by no means a given.

Ammonia remains toxic and corrosive, requiring special handling on ships, Longva said.

Furthermore, combusting ammonia may produce nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas, that ships would need to neutralize to prevent emissions, said Faig Abbasov, shipping director for European Federation for Transport and Environment, an umbrella group of non-governmental organizations. Fuel cells are another potential marine use for ammonia and hydrogen.

Still, Abbasov sees ammonia and hydrogen as the greenest and most practical shipping fuel alternatives, and cheaper than methanol.

Development of ammonia and hydrogen for shipping fuel holds decarbonization potential but is at the pilot stage for small vessels, while LNG and methanol are in use on ocean-going ships, an IMO spokeswoman said.

South Koreas Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, one of the worlds biggest shipbuilders, plans to commercialize super-large container ships powered by ammonia by 2025, a spokesman said.

THE PLANS

CF is reconfiguring its Donaldsonville, Louisiana, plant to produce green ammonia. It plans to spend $100 million initially to enable the plant to produce by 2023, about 18,000 tonnes. By 2026, production across its network could reach 450,000 tonnes, and 900,000 tonnes by 2028, Will said.

The hydrogen it will sell may have nearly 10 times the margin of ammonia fertilizer, according to CF, making the 75-year-old farm companys newest product its most profitable.

Yara is developing a green ammonia project with power company Orsted in the Netherlands and also has green projects running in Australia and Norway.

Unlike CF, Yara is seeking government subsidies because green ammonia costs could be 2-4 times higher than conventional production, said Terje Knutsen, Yaras head of Farming Solutions.

The technology behind this is not mature enough today, he said.

Yara, which aims to cut all CO2 emissions from its 500,000 tonnes-a-year Porsgrunn ammonia plant in Norway, wants funding from the Norwegian government to switch the plants production process to electricity by 2026.

Norway already supports hydrogen and green ammonia through a tax exemption on electricity used to produce hydrogen, Minister of Climate and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn said in an email.

Hydrogen and hydrogen-based solutions, such as ammonia, will be important in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the future, Rotevatn said.

Global ammonia production would need to multiply five-fold if it is to replace all oil-based shipping fuel, Abbasov said. But given the abundance of nitrogen in the air, potential supply is almost unlimited if production costs drop, he said.

Nutrien is looking into green ammonia, but sees high costs and insufficient prices as major obstacles, Chief Executive Chuck Magro said.

Industry efforts underway to produce small volumes of green ammonia are largely window-dressing, said Nutrien Executive Vice-President, Nitrogen, Raef Sully.

The reason (for Nutrien) to look at it is to position ourselves for when people are willing to pay, Sully said.

The problem is were just right at the start of development.
A mother and her young daughter who were reported missing last week were found shot to death inside their SUV in St. Louis County in an apparent murder-suicide, after relatives say the woman took the child to Chuck E Cheese for an early birthday celebration.

Police in Bridgeton, Missouri, said Kanisha 'Kani' Richardson, 37, and three-year-old Ava Richardson were found on Saturday near an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Nottingham Lane inside their 2014 GMC Terrain. Ava would have turned four on Monday.

Officers found a gun inside the vehicle, but no suicide note.

Kanisha 'Kani' Richardson, 37, was found dead from an apparent suicide alongside her daughter, Ava (pictured together), who police say was shot to death before her fourth birthday.

The mother and daughter were reported missing by a relative last Wednesday  two days after they were last seen near their home in the 11300 block of Hi Tower Drive in Bridgeton, reported St Louis Post-Dispatch.

During the search for Richardson and Ava, authorities had said the woman had made some suicidal statements and was possibly armed with a gun.

'Everything points to the murder-suicide,' Bridgeton police Major Mark Mossotti. said.

Family member Niki Harris wrote on Facebook that Ava was supposed to celebrate her birthday at Walt Disney World in Florida on Monday.

The mother and daughter were reported missing by a relative last Wednesday  two days after they were last seen near their home in Bridgeton, Missouri

A relative wrote on Facebook that Ava was supposed to celebrate her birthday at Walt Disney World in Florida. Instead, Richardson took her to a Chuck E Cheese

Police said Richardson had made suicidal statements before taking off with Ava

Instead, loved ones dressed in pink - Ava's favorite color - gathered outside the Chuck E Cheese where the girl was taken by her mother and released pink balloons in her honor.

Meanwhile, a woman who identified herself as Richardson's wife has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help her lay the mom and daughter to rest.

'My babies are no longer here to laugh with,argue with, make new memories, or grow,' wrote Alea Turner in the description. 'I wont hear mommy ima be a lady like you or Im getting big like my sis sis. I wont hear Kani obsess about IHOP coffee or laughing at all her new style stunts.

'Im breaking down. No ones prepared for one burial let alone two. Nobody should ever have to bury a child.'
ROME, JAN 21 - Foreign Minister and 5-Star Movement (M5S) bigwig Luigi Di Maio said Thursday he had "no fear" about the prospect of a snap election should Premier Giuseppe Conte's government fall. Di Maio also said the formerly anti-establishment M5S was the "centre of gravity" of the government against the "egoisms" of opposition leader Matteo Salvini, who leads the nationalist-anti-migrant and Euroskpeic League party, and of former premier Matteo Renzi who plunged the government into crisis by pulling his small centrist Italia Viva (IV) party out of the ruling coalition. Conte is seeking to shore up his now-minority government so it regains a solid majority in the Senate as reportedly requested by the arbiter of the crisis, President Sergio Mattarella. He was reportedly continuing to sound out more centrist Senators after a handful helped him get a relative majority of 156, five shy of the overall majority of 161, in the upper house Tuesday night. But Di Maio and the rest of the M5S on Thursday ruled out appealing to the UDC party after its leader Lorenzo Cesa resigned after being named in an 'Ndarngheta mafia probe, protesting his innocence. The other main government partner, the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) which Renzi once led, said via several members Thursday that Conte's securing the Senate confidence, albeit with a minority government, had averted "dramatic" consequences for the country. Salvini and the other two leaders of the centre right, former premier Silvio Berlusconi of the conservative Forza Italia (FI) party and Giorgia Meloni of the nationalist Brothers of Italy (FdI) party, on Thursday met with Mattarella to present their request for Conte0's resignation and fresh elections which all opinion polls say they would win. (ANSA).
Australian premiers have been blasted in a new campaign by Meat and Livestock Australia that pokes fun at the ongoing border wars between states.

Cheeky murals of state premiers fighting over a lamb chop will be plastered across the country at border points and in major cities over the next week.

In one hilarious portrait, Gladys Berejiklian is seen facing off with her Queensland counterpart, Annastacia Palaszczuk, as they tear into a cutlet, while WA premier, Mark McGowan sinks his teeth into a chop with Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The summer campaign didn't end there with the meat company also producing a satirical two-and-a-half minute video depicting what Australia will look like in the year 2031 if the strict Covid-19 border restrictions stay in place.

Gladys Berejiklian and Annastacia Palaszczuk are seen fighting over a lamb chop as part of Meat and Livestock Australia's new summer campaign

In a video as part of the company's campaign, Australia is seen in the year 2031 with walls separating every state

Queensland is seen with a huge wall that reads: 'The Sunshine State' as part of Meat and Livestock Australia's latest ad campaign

The ad featuring former AFL star and media personality, Sam Kekovich, shows the states divided by the 'Great State Walls' that run across the country.

'Today marks 10 years since our once united nation was divided by the Great State Walls as tensions continue to escalate,' a news presenter is heard saying in the ad.

A newsagent advertises a paper with the headline 'Sydney votes itself best city, again' while a gift shop is set up near one of the barriers selling 'I love wall' merchandise.

In one scene, a little girl asks her mother what's on the other side of the wall only for her to ominously respond 'Queenslanders'.

It isn't until an elderly man notices a crack in the wall that a hand sticks through holding a freshly cooked lamb cutlet.

Suddenly crowds from every state are seen running towards the wall in a desperate effort to tear it down and wrap their hands around a lamb chop.

The cheeky murals of premiers fighting over a lamb chop will be plastered across the country at border points and in major cities over the next week (pictured WA Premier Mark McGowan and Scott Morrison)

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is seen tucking into a lamb chop with Ms Berejiklian

The ad pokes fun at Queensland's tourism campaign 'Where else but Queensland?' and instead changes the line to 'Nowhere else but Queensland'

A 'Sydney' couple is seen making sure their shoes don't get dirty while drinking a takeaway coffee, while a sign for Queensland reads 'Nowhere else but Queensland' - a play on their tourism campaign 'Where else but Queensland?'.

In a jab to Western Australia, a miner pops up on the other side of the wall and says: 'Yeah, sorry for trying to become our own country  again'.

When a small group of Tasmanians arrive wet and clad in life jackets, a news reporter asks where the rest of their state is.

'This is all of us,' one of the Tasmanians replies.

Kekovich then storms in riding a tank and proudly declares: 'I love the smell of lamb in the morning'.

Even the prime minister wasn't spared in the hilarious ad that ended with a reference to Mr Morrison's controversial trip to Hawaii during the height of the bushfires.

Mr Morrison, clad in a Hawaiian shirt, is seen stepping off a plane with a cocktail in hand only to ask: 'What have I missed?'.

The 'Make Lamb, Not Walls' campaign will be rolled out across Australian televisions over the next six weeks as well as on social media.

Graeme Yardy, the Domestic Market Manager for Meat and Livestock Australia said the ad was a light-hearted way to bring Australians together after a horror year.

The states are eventually brought together after a hand pokes through the wall to offer a freshly cooked lamb cutlet

Residents from every state are then seen rushing to the wall in bids to tear it down and get their hands on the lamb chop

'2020 has been a year that has really tested the Australian spirit. For the first time in our history, hard borders between states challenged how we stay connected as individuals and as a country,' Mr Yardy said.

'As a brand that celebrates unity, in this year's campaign, we wanted to reinforce that as a nation we are always stronger together.

'Our hope for 2021 will be that the virtual get togethers of the last 12 months will be replaced with family and friends enjoying each other's company and sharing an Aussie lamb barbie, the most delicious meal of all.

'As ever, the campaign positions lamb as the meat of choice to unite us, installing a sense of Aussie pride while tapping into cultural themes and topical issues in a humorous and tongue-in-cheek way.'

The ad comes amid escalating border tensions as the Covid-19 pandemic rages on across the country.

Those from the Greater Sydney area are banned from entering Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia without an exemption.
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VAST Data , the storage company breaking decades-old tradeoffs, today announced a new reference architecture based on NVIDIA DGX A100 systems and VAST Datas Universal Storage platform. This reference architecture is designed to significantly increase storage performance for AI use cases such as large-scale training of conversational AI models and petabyte-scale data analytics. Jointly designed, built and tested by NVIDIA and VAST Data, the reference architecture eliminates the guesswork of building a solution from the ground up by providing enterprises with a turnkey petabyte-scale AI infrastructure solution that maximizes performance without adding needless cost and complexity.



Historically, enterprises have been forced to choose between two specific infrastructure configurations based on workload (i.e. GPU-intensive or storage-intensive), but as applications and data science teams requirements evolve, that infrastructure choice may limit and negatively impact performance. Built on VAST Datas recently released LightSpeed platform and NVIDIAs universal AI system, DGX A100, the architecture leverages VASTs unique capabilities such as NFS-over-RDMA, NFS Multipath, and support for NVIDIA GPUDirect Storage as well as a converged fabric design. The joint reference architecture delivers more than 140GB/s of throughput for both GPU-intensive and storage-intensive AI workloads.

For the first time, enterprises, and more importantly data science teams, are no longer constrained by the limitations of rigid infrastructure configurations, said Jeff Denworth, Co-founder and CMO at VAST Data. Weve worked with NVIDIA on this new reference architecture, built on our LightSpeed platform, to provide customers a flexible, turnkey, petabyte-scale AI infrastructure solution and to remove the variables that have introduced compromise into storage environments for decades.

AI workloads require specialized infrastructure, which is why weve worked with VAST Data, a new member of the NVIDIA DGX POD ecosystem, to combine their storage expertise with our deep background in optimizing platforms for AI excellence, said Tony Paikeday, Senior Director of AI Systems at NVIDIA. This new reference architecture provides customers with a winning formula to achieve their AI success.

For more information on VASTs GPU Reference Architecture, including specific tests showcasing both infrastructure level microbenchmarks as well as benchmarks representative of real-world AI training workloads, please visit https://vastdata.com/gpu-reference-architecture/ . VAST and NVIDIA will also be participating in a webinar with IDC, Smart Coupling of Next Generation AI Computing with Hyperscale Low-Cost Flash, on Thursday, January 21 at 1 pm ET. For more details on the groups participation and to register for the event, please click here .

VAST Data AI-Ready Ecosystem Quotes

Organizations looking to take advantage of AI can now access AI assessments to guide them as they build out and deploy high-throughput AI architectures based on NVIDIA DGX systems and VAST LightSpeed storage with the following resellers today.

Mark III Systems

We offer a diverse and unique portfolio of full stack technology platforms. As our team of data scientists, DevOps, and solution architects work with enterprises to build out and manage their applications and pipelines from end to end, we are constantly looking for ways to provide the performance needed for innovative organizations. Were seeing significant interest with VAST in multi-petabyte solutions looking to increase technology adoption while removing complexity. - Stan Wysocki, President at Mark III Systems

Trace3

Our customers are increasingly looking to AI to provide meaningful insights to give them a competitive advantage and deliver a better experience to their customers. At Trace3, we are helping our customers at every level of what it takes to make AI impactful. With NVIDIAs DGX A100 and VASTs Universal Storage Platform, our customers can focus on the business problem and be completely free of worry about the limitations of their infrastructure. VAST Datas LightSpeed with NVIDIAs DGX A100 systems allow them to unleash the full potential of their data  from ingest to insights. - Matt Fornito, Head of AI at Trace3

Cambridge Computer Services

Providing clients the resources, ideas, and expertise needed to leverage cutting-edge technologies to drive their business forward is our core tenet. We're constantly identifying new capabilities that can help our clients optimize their workflows and overcome the cost, capacity, scale, and resilience challenges they've been facing for decades. VAST and NVIDIA's joint reference architecture provides these capabilities for mission-critical enterprises that want to transcend the limitations of rigid infrastructure configurations." - Jose Alvarez, Director of Industrial and Scientific Computing at Cambridge Computer Services

UClick

We continue to work towards solving the data processing bottleneck that has emerged as a concern for many of our customers as they build out and operate their AI data centers. VASTs best-in-class performance combined with NVIDIAs DGX A100 systems have paved the way for GPU-efficient computing using the industry standard NFS file system and has eliminated all bottlenecks. With this new reference architecture, we can further strengthen our AI solution lineup and provide our Korean customers with the latest and greatest as they look to maximize the value of their data. - Namhan Eom, CEO of UClick

XENON Systems

Providing our customers with the right technologies to drive outcomes for their clients has remained an important focus of ours. We recognize that data-intensive AI will always be a big part of that strategy. With NVIDIAs DGX A100 servers and VASTs Universal Storage Platform we can provide a petabyte-scale AI infrastructure solution for GPU-intensive and storage-intensive AI workloads. - Dragan Dimitrovici, CEO XENON Systems

About VAST Data

Headquartered in New York City, VAST Data is a storage company bringing an end to complex storage tiering and HDD usage in the enterprise. VAST consolidates applications onto a highly scalable all-flash storage system to meet the performance needs of the most demanding workloads, while also redefining the economics of flash infrastructure to finally make it affordable enough to store all of your data on flash. Since its launch in February 2019, VAST has established itself as the fastest selling storage startup in history. VASTs Universal Storage now powers several of the worlds leading data centric computing centers. For more information, please visit https://www.vastdata.com and follow VAST Data on Twitter and LinkedIn .

The newly sworn-in president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, has swung into action on his first day in office.

His administration announced plans for a temporary postponement on oil and gas leasing in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

This was after the Donald Trump administration issued some leases in a particular part of the refuge that the Indigenous Gwich'in considered somewhat sacred.

The Trump Administration Prioritized Leasing in Alaska

According to a spokesperson for the United States Bureau of Land Management in Alaska, Lesli Ellis-Wouters, the Trump administration had prioritized issue leases following a 2017 law that called for lease sales.

The first lease sale for the refuge's coastal plain was held on January 6.

However, 8 days later, the agency signed leases for up to 9 tracts, totaling almost 1,770 square kilometers (685 square miles). The leases' provision was not publicized until President Donald Trump's last full day in office on Tuesday.

Ellis-Wouter stated via email on Wednesday that she is yet to receive anything on executive orders that pertain to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge lease sales.

E. Colleen Bryan also stated that the state corporation which was issued up to 7 leases and was the primary bidder in the lease sales, could not contemplate what may happen with Biden's brand-new administration.

The President has signed a series of executive orders lately, one of which is pittsburg agreement, rejoining the paris climate agreement.

He was congratulated on twitter by the famous swedish environmental activist, Greta Thunberg.

ALSO READ - A New Environmentally Friendly Oil Spill Clean Up Discovered

President Biden's Executive Order Halts Drilling Activities in Alaska

President Biden is opposed to drilling within the region while drilling opponents still hope that the executive action is just a step towards providing permanent protections that the president had called for during his presidential campaign.

Biden's executive order cites "alleged legal deficiencies" supporting the oil and gas lease program in calling on the Interior secretary to, "as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, place a temporary moratorium on all activities of the Federal Government" related to the implementation of the program.

The executive order also calls on the Interior secretary to review the program as well as potentially carry out a "new, comprehensive" environmental review.

The fight to open up the coastal plain to drilling activities goes back several decades.

The state's Republican congressional delegation hails the issuance of leases as "significant and meaningful for Alaska's future."

They severely criticized the planned moratorium on Wednesday.

Oil has always been the economic lifeblood of Alaska and supporters of drilling view this development as a way to significantly enhance oil production, which is a fraction of what it once was in the late '80s and generate revenue and sustain or create jobs.

Drilling critics state that the region off the Beaufort Sea is a habitat for wildlife including birds, caribou, wolves, polar bears, etc. and should be off-limits to any drilling activity.

The Gwich'in have also raised concerns on the overall impact of drilling activities on herds of caribou which they rely heavily on for subsistence.

The executive director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee, Bernadette Demientieff said in a statement that it is also essential that young individuals see that the president has heard and acknowledges their voices, their identity, as well as their human rights.

RELATED ARTICLE - Air Pollution From Oil and Gas Sites Seen From Space

For more news, updates about oil and gas, and related stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News!
On Tuesday, the Biden administration announced it is tapping Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvanias secretary of health, as the nominee for assistant secretary of health and human services. If confirmed by the Senate, she would be the highest ranking transgender person ever to serve in the federal government.

The historic nomination means that Gov. Tom Wolf needs a new health secretary for the next three years  a job that arguably has never been more important and more difficult. Coronavirus is still raging and vaccine distribution a mess, overdose deaths are increasing, and thats on top of many other ongoing health challenges of the pandemic  from obesity to lead poisoning to care access.

In the past, Pennsylvania required health secretaries to be physicians  medical doctors  but later, that requirement was removed to create the physician general position. Dr. Levine started her tenure in Wolfs administration as the physician general under a health secretary who wasnt a physician. But in this challenging time, should Gov. Tom Wolf prioritize a physician to lead the states health department? The Inquirer turned to two experts to debate.

Yes: Physicians have the expertise and hands-on patient experience to inform decisions

Although Act 87 of July 2, 1996, P.L. 518 removed the requirement that the secretary be a physician, I strongly believe that another physician is most qualified to fill Dr. Levines shoes. Heres why.

First, undergraduate and graduate medical training in the U.S. provide an incredible breadth and depth of experience along many aspects of the health-care continuum. Folded into the education curricula are many critical elements of epidemiology, population health, health delivery systems, and preventive care in addition to the fundamental biology of physiology and disease. This rigorous and multidimensional medical training  including meeting the needs of our sickest patients  unequivocally provides a physician with the diverse armamentarium of knowledge and skills desirable for such a critical position that can help shape the future of Pennsylvania. Whether the need is to weigh in on managing the rise in health-care-associated infections or improving Pennsylvanias prescription drug monitoring program, the looming SARS-CoV-2 crisis, or future emergency preparedness, a physicians unique background allows for greater understanding of and informed responses to the needs of various bureaus and offices under the Department of Healths umbrella.

Second, physicians are uniquely positioned in their ability to provide clinical context and account for patient implications to burgeoning evidence and research results. Take the case of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. From quickly shifting evidence on the characteristics of the virus to the effect of SARS-CoV-2-associated lockdowns on accessing treatment for substance use disorders, physicians are well-equipped to understand the whole gamut of impact on various walks of life and can appropriately partner with respective bureau heads to devise innovative solutions.

Few professions have direct exposures to Pennsylvanians adversely impacted by ... housing and food insecurity, lack of health insurance, and low health literacy. Lala Tanmoy Das

For example, as SARS-CoV-2 mutation variants are gaining considerable traction, a physician can synthesize what this means and then partner with departments like the Bureau of Woman, Infants and Children to come up with precautionary measures. In this way they cannot only help risk-mitigate exposures at a community level, but also speak the same language as clinical colleagues to monitor maternal/fetal health. As another example, a new physician secretary can contribute equally to SARS-CoV-2-related conversations in health promotion and risk reduction as they can around resources for emergency medical services to prepare for more transmissible virus strains.

Finally, few professions have direct (nearly daily) exposures to Pennsylvanians adversely impacted by social and structural determinants of health  such as housing and food insecurity, lack of health insurance, and low health literacy. As is our practice to better understand and help our patients navigate systems and resources that can hopefully improve their biopsychosocial needs, a physician secretary can similarly spearhead various efforts to fill in the gaps of community health systems, improve insurance and health access challenges, and innovate health technology offerings.

Historically, health professionals have helped redefine many parameters of sociopolitical normalcy, much as they did when they pathologized and then de-pathologized homosexuality in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. They can do the same to better reshape the future of Pennsylvania.

Lala Tanmoy (Tom) Das is an M.D.-Ph.D. student at the Weill Cornell/ Rockefeller University/ Memorial Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional Program in New York City.

No: A medical degree provides insufficient training to lead a state public health agency

The U.S. experience with COVID-19 is a reminder that protecting and ensuring the publics health has implications for the entire economy and that public health recommendations should be based in science rather than politics. Few would argue against the notion that leadership today matters more than ever, including those who lead state public health agencies. I believe (and evidence suggests) that medical training is insufficient for most challenges of leading a statewide public health agency, as Dr. Levine did in Pennsylvania. For sure, requiring a medical degree may ensure that states have highly intelligent leaders, but having a medical degree alone does not provide the necessary expertise needed to effectively lead a public health agency.

In a recent study, my colleagues and I asked current and former state health officials what skills they felt they needed most in their roles. In addition to a solid understanding of core public health science, their answers focused on navigating state political processes related to lawmaking, working with state leadership, and having administrative experience. None of these skills are part of medical training. Further, a medical degree does not provide a thorough understanding of governmental public health responsibilities.

In fact, until recent changes to medical school accreditation requirements, most programs did not cover public health topics in the standard medical curriculum. Many medical schools meet the new accreditation requirement by adding lectures on the four public health core areas  biostatistics, epidemiology, health policy, and health behavior. However, doing so rarely confers public health expertise, resulting in vast numbers of physicians with little understanding of the expectations on governmental public health. Thus, requiring a medical degree as a condition of serving as leader of the state public health agency is problematically misaligned with the job requirements.

Public health focuses on preventing disease and protecting existing health at the population-level  and requires a different mindset and orientation. Valerie Ann Yeager

Medical doctors spend the vast majority of their time working with individual patients and treating the sick and injured. This essential work is critical and praiseworthy. Public health, on the other hand, focuses on preventing disease and protecting existing health at the population-level  and requires a different mindset and orientation.

The experiences of COVID-19 have shown that using a clinical lens for public health prevention can actually impede the effectiveness of public health response. While having a strong understanding of health is beneficial for public health leaders, medical acumen is not a substitute for public health expertise. State Health Officials need to be versed in public health science and able to navigate complex policy-making. State health officials also need leadership and management skills because in most cases they will be running an agency with a budget in the 100s of millions of dollars, with many hundreds of employees.

There are at least seven states that require state health officials to have prior public health experience. An additional eight states require that leaders have both public health and management experience. The largest portion of states, nevertheless, require a medical degree as the only mandatory criteria. The pandemic has shown how crucial public health expertise and management skills are to effective public health leadership. In the words of my colleague, Dr. Nir Menachemi, If you have COVID-19, you need a doctor. If you want to prevent people from getting COVID-19, you need public health.

Valerie Yeager is an associate professor at Indiana Universitys Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management.
Standpipe: Delivering Water in Flint

By David Hardin

Belt Publishing. 176 pp. $16.95

- - -

In "Standpipe," David Hardin, volunteering with the Red Cross, is assigned to deliver bottled water to the residents of Flint, Michigan, during the early days of the city's public water crisis. But forget about a plot. There is none, in this book or in Flint, where life is episodic, untethered, fraught with Faustian bargains, structural injustices and tangled lives that are "hobbled by the past." These fragmented and parallel narratives - capturing Hardin's work and his personal history - don't hinder the book however. They become the architecture for a case study of Flint, expressed in a more personal and poetic way than a straightforward investigation could.

The short diarylike entries are like sun shining through trees, revealing light and shadow, hope and despair. They are artful yet concise, candid yet snappy as gum, and vary between personal grief and the grief Hardin witnesses, sometimes within the same paragraph, drawing the thinnest line from his middle-class upbringing to the "grinding, generational poverty" of the residents he serves. The fugitive quality of the book's structure and plot also parallels the arc of his strained on-again, off-again relationship with his mother, who eventually descends into dementia.

"I chase a mirage of validation," Hardin writes as he considers both his role as a human standpipe and his mother's thorny love. While his story runs as an undercurrent, touching riverbanks of grief as we go, the main conundrum is Flint, where Hardin understands he delivers water, not salvation. "I am toiling on the right side of a river of betrayal and indifference," he writes. And while the chasm is wide, Hardin negotiates his privilege and blind spots with awareness and care. He admits that Flint used to be just "another town through which I've passed free of claim." He sees that apathy and hubris activated Flint's public health crisis in 2014 and fuel it to this day. For example, Hardin begins to notice the persistent chirp of dying smoke detectors in residents' homes, which are as "common as brimming ashtrays, threadbare carpet, pungent cooking odors, pit bulls, crime bars, blaring televisions, and children rendered mute by our sudden, inexplicable presence in their living room." The smoke detectors, he discovers, had been maintained by AmeriCorps volunteers, who now install faucet filters instead. The chirping? It's white noise Hardin learns to ignore, as ignored as the people of Flint have been.

The hills and vales of the crisis emerge mainly through observations of people doing their best under duress, like "knots of men saddled with surplus time and lack of purpose," or homes sagging with "water-frescoed plaster" or "a peeling nineteenth-century clapboard rooming house ... on a rubbish strewn lot tucked into the crooked elbow of an impenetrable thicket of bramble," and other such scenes that go unreported in the news.

Delivering water helps "dispel the nagging guilt of a slumming dilettante, but only a little" Hardin writes, while wondering whether it's possible to make a difference in a place "where the devastation extends back decades." The author's ongoing internal dialogue and conflicted fealties scaffold the conundrums and questions the book asks: Can bottled water, lead-free pipes or million-dollar settlements fix underlying systemic social and racial injustices or eliminate the repercussions to the families Hardin meets? It's a conflict as stark as the gleeful "rooty-toot-toot" of Hardin's vehicle as he approaches residences and the gloomy necessity of his task. What is the real disaster, the friendly toot asks, and is limited and sporadic aid enough to resolve a "battered community" filled with "ghosts of a long-dead middle class haunting every byway"?

Meanwhile, Flint is still a disaster but not sexy or explosive enough to make headlines anymore. It has become, like so many such sacrifice zones, an island of despair and invisibility, relegated to the economic, political and cultural periphery by agencies and leaders who are supposed to support them, and by the media when they get bored. Hardin makes clear that the machinations of the solution - delivering water to thirsty people - can be part of the problem. "The less time we spend at each stop, the more water we can distribute during our shift." Timekeeping, data and accountability are what make the world go around. But the darker side of statistics and efficiency is also what leaves empathy and human prosperity to remain submerged.

- - -

Arsenault is the book editor for Orion magazine, contributing editor at Literary Hub and author of "Mill Town: Reckoning with What Remains."
Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) :President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday promised all students in France two square meals a day for just one euro ($1.21) each to help them cope with Covid-19 restrictions.

He said students would also be given subsidies to pay for professional counselling if they felt overwhelmed by the restrictions, which include closed universities, a 6:00 pm nationwide curfew and diminishing opportunities for student jobs.

Speaking to students at the Paris-Saclay university, Macron said there could be no return to normality before the end of the current semester with Covid-related restrictions remaining in force "until the summer".

Macron's promises came a day after students protested across France over their conditions during Covid-19 restrictions, saying they were being pushed to the brink of despair by solitude and financial uncertainty.

Many have demanded a return to full face-to-face teaching suspended due to the pandemic.

For the time being, only first-year students will be permitted to attend classroom tutorials, from January 25 but in half-groups.

But on Thursday, Macron said all students should be allowed on campus once a week as long as distancing measures in auditoriums and classrooms were respected.

"A student must have the same rights as a salary earner," Macron said. "If needed, they must be allowed to come to university once a week."He acknowledged that this would be "complicated" to implement, but that he had confidence in universities that they would manage.
FLORENCE, JAN 21 - Florence's iconic Uffizi Gallery reopened on Thursday after a 77-day COVID-linked closure. "If you want to play truant," Director Eike Schmidt appealed to students using a Florentine dialect phrase, "fare forca", "then come and do it here". Visitors to the Uffizi, as well as enjoying its matchless Florentine Renaissance collection, will be able to see a masterpiece by Joseph Wright of Derby, loaned by the National Gallery in London, 'An Experiment On A Bird Inserted Into a Pneumatic Pump'. They may also take in the archaeological show 'Empresses, Matrons, Freed Slaves, The Faces And Secrets Of Roman Women'. A tourist guide and a Florentine woman were the first back into the celebrated museum. "It's moving for me to be back in here, it's like coming home," said the guide. The visitor, a 55-year-old woman, said "I came back to see my favourite works, which I hadn't seen for so long". Schmidt said "welcome back to the Uffizi after 77 days, the longest closure since the Second World War. "The crisis is not yet behind us but we have this as a signal, the importance of culture and direct access to culture". Democratic Party Senate Whip Andrea Marcucci said the reopening of the storied Florentine gallery "is one of the few pieces of news that warm your heart in this period and is also a beautiful sign of hope. We'll succeed in getting through this nightmare". (ANSA).
The current Miss England winner has received her first dose of the Covid vaccine so she can continue to help saving lives as a doctor on the NHS frontline.

Dr Bhasha Mukherjee, 24, returned from India to the UK to answer the government's call for retired and junior doctors back in April.

She has since worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic treating patients at Boston Pilgrim Hospital in Lincolnshire and Derby Royal Hospital.

The current Miss England winner has received her first dose of the Covid vaccine so she can continue to help saving lives as a doctor on the NHS frontline

This week the reigning beauty queen was delighted to receive her Pfizer vaccination so she can carry on fighting the virus on coronavirus wards at her busy hospital.

Dr Mukherjee, of Derby, posed for a selfie with her nurse so she could document the moment she received the potentially life-saving jab.

She said: 'It's good to know I'm protected and I'm sure my colleagues feel the same.

'When I walked over to my allocated nurse, I asked nervously if I could have a photo taken because I wanted to cherish the moment.

Dr Bhasha Mukherjee, 24, of Derby, returned from India to the UK to answer the government's call for retired and junior doctors back in April

'She told me I was the first one to ask for a photo so far but of course I could have one.

'I'm thankful as being BAME, I'm in a high-risk group. I was so excited but also nervous. I was jumping on my seat before I got jabbed.

'My colleagues and I found out just days before that we would be receiving the vaccine this week.

'The nurse giving me my injection told me to sit still or the photo would come out blurry.

Dr Mukherjee has worked tirelessly at Boston Pilgrim Hospital in Lincolnshire and Derby Royal Hospital said she was 'excited but also nervous' about receiving her jab

'The gentleman taking the photo did a cheeky selfie shot with us all in and we all had a laugh.

'I then asked for the customary sticker and the lovely nurse said "Oh you are needy" before chuckling and handing me the sticker.

'It didn't hurt and after a few hours, I even did a Zoom home workout, press-ups and all, to celebrate. I have been perfectly well since.

'I feel so grateful to be in the position to have received the vaccine when millions are in the waiting line across the globe.

Dr Mukherjee, of Derby, posed for a selfie with her nurse so she could document the historic moment she received the potentially life-saving jab

'My prayers are with everyone who's waiting patiently at home including my own family members who I hope will get their vaccines soon too.'

Dr Mukherjee became the longest-serving winner in the 92-year history of Miss England in October after Covid-19 scuppered the 2020 finals.

She was crowned Miss England in July 2019 and cut her stay in India short while carrying out charity work to return to the frontline.

The doctor, who was the nation's first South Asian Miss England, has been working 12-hour shifts often seven days a week at the height of the pandemic.

Dr Mukherjee admitted the crisis has been a far cry from the glitz and glamour of beauty pageants but had managed to juggle work with her Miss England duties.

Dr Mukherjee became the longest-serving winner in the 92-year history of Miss England in October after Covid-19 scuppered the 2020 finals, having been crowned with the title in July 2019

She added: 'It's been an honour to continue serving my country during the Covid pandemic as well as being able to do it as Miss England.

'There's no better time for me to be Miss England while helping England at this time of need.

'It has been tough for everyone and while I was doing my charity work abroad I just wanted to be back home helping my colleagues.

'I've still been doing plenty of charity work remotely and being able to do that and serve the nation at the same time has been really special.

'It's a shame the Miss England contest was postponed again but I'm delighted to be their longest-serving winner.

Dr Mukherjee asked the nurse for a sticker reading 'I've had my Covid vaccination' which she stuck on her lanyard

'It's bitter-sweet in a way as the circumstances aren't ideal, it's hard to celebrate when you're seeing Covid numbers rising in your hospital.

'In the summer we had far fewer positive Covid cases - but now suddenly it is a different story.

'We're seeing more asymptomatic patients testing positive and more people coming in for different problems who turn out to have the virus.

'So it has certainly been a challenging time, I'm in the urological surgery department as well as the Covid ward.

'Juggling that with Miss England duties can be tricky - but I think I've managed to find the balance.'

KORE Mining Shareholders Overwhelmingly Approve Spin-Out of British Columbia Exploration Assets Creating Karus Gold

Posted by Publisher Internet

KORE Mining Ltd. (TSXV: KORE | OTCQX: KOREF) (?KORE? or the ?Company?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/kore-mining-ltd/ ) is pleased to announce that with respect to its special meeting of shareholders held today (the ?Meeting?), all of the resolutions were duly passed, including the special resolution (the ?Arrangement Resolution?) to approve the proposed plan of arrangement (the ?Arrangement?) pursuant to which KORE will spin-out its British Columbia exploration assets to Karus Gold Corp. (?Karus Gold?).

KORE CEO Scott Trebilcock commented, ?With the recent high-grade gold discovery at FG Gold of 14.35 meters of 6.44 g/t gold and drill results across 1.8 kilometers of strike from 14 pending holes, Karus is strongly positioned to attract capital and generate significant value for shareholders. We are excited to see Karus? assets exposed to the valuation forces for a pure play explorer with high grade drill results in an excellent jurisdiction.?

Pursuant to the Arrangement, the owners of common shares of KORE as of the close of business on the day before (anticipated to be January 22, 2021) the effective date of the Arrangement (anticipated to be January 25, 2021) will receive: (i) one-half of a common share of Karus Gold and (ii) one new common share of KORE, for each common share of KORE held on the day before the effective date of the Arrangement.?

There is no change to a shareholder?s ownership of KORE as a result of the completion of the Arrangement.? The majority of shareholders (those who hold their shares through their broker) will receive their Karus shares with no further action.? Please contact the Company if you do not get your Karus shares by mid-February. Further information on the Arrangement can be found on the Company?s website www.koremining.com.

Mr. Trebilcock continued, ?Karus Gold will now raise seed capital in a rights offering.? This is a rare opportunity for shareholders to access seed round financing usually reserved for industry insiders.? Karus then plans to list its shares on the TSX Venture Exchange later in the first half 2021, subject to regulatory approvals.?

The Arrangement Resolution required and received approval by more than: (i) 662/3% of the votes cast by the KORE shareholders present in person or represented by proxy; and (ii) 50% of the votes cast by the KORE shareholders other than those required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101.

Closing of the Arrangement remains subject to final court approval as well as other customary closing conditions. Assuming the timely completion of these conditions, the Company expects the Transaction to close on January 25, 2021.

At the Meeting, KORE shareholders also approved: (i) the stock option plan for Karus Gold; (ii) the omnibus share compensation plan for Karus Gold; and (iii) the advance notice policy for Karus Gold.

This year, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Meeting was held by way of virtual only format whereby shareholders participated in the Meeting remotely. Voting for each of the resolutions was by ballot.

KORE wishes to clarify its Management Information Circular dated December 18, 2020 in connection with the Meeting (the ?Circular?). The Circular referred to a ?Distribution Record Date? to be on or about January 22, 2021. To clarify, the reference to this date is not a ?record date? but an anticipated date for determining which KORE shareholders will be eligible to receive the consideration disclosed in the paragraph above,?pending approval and completion of the Arrangement.

About KORE Mining

KORE is 100% owner of a portfolio of advanced gold exploration and development assets in California and British Columbia.? KORE is supported by strategic investor Eric Sprott who owns 26% of KORE?s basic shares.? KORE management and Board are aligned with shareholders, owning an additional 38% of the basic shares outstanding.? KORE is actively developing its Imperial and Long Valley gold projects and is aggressively exploring across its portfolio of assets.

Further information on the Arrangement and KORE can be found on the Company?s website at www.koremining.com/Karus or by contacting us at karusgold@koremining.com or 888-455-7620.

On behalf of KORE Mining Ltd

?Scott Trebilcock?

Chief Executive Officer

Karus Gold Spin Out Investor Support

David Jan

1-888-455-7620

karusgold@koremining.com

KORE Investor Relations

Arlen Hansen, KIN Communications

1-888-684-6730

kore@kincommunications.com

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and Karus Gold and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as \will\, \may\, \plan\, \should\, \anticipate\, \expects\, ?intends?, ?indicates? and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company and Karus Gold are forward-looking statements.? Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the expected timeline and date of completion of the Arrangement, the ability of KORE to receive and obtain court approval, the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to closing of the Arrangement, the future listing of Karus Gold and the expected timeline and completion of the anticipated Karus rights offering. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed or that it will be completed on the terms and conditions contemplated in this news release. The Arrangement could be modified or terminated in accordance with its terms. Such forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.?

Such factors include, among others: the Arrangement will be completed on the terms currently contemplated, the Arrangement will be completed in accordance with the timing currently expected without any undue delay, all conditions to the completion of the Arrangement will be satisfied or waived in due course and the Arrangement Agreement will not be terminated prior to the completion of the Arrangement, assumptions and expectations related to the trading price of KORE and the future listing of Karus Gold, and other expectations and assumptions concerning the Arrangement.?

In addition to the above summary, additional risks and uncertainties inherent to the Company and its operations are described in the ?Risk Factors? section of the Company?s management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019, prepared as of April 27, 2020, available under the Company?s issuer profile on www.sedar.com. Other risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the Arrangement may not be completed on the terms, or in accordance with the timing currently contemplated, or at all; the Company and Karus Gold has incurred expenses in connection with the Arrangement and will be required to pay for those expenses regardless of whether or not the Arrangement is completed; the Company and Karus Gold may not be successful in satisfying the conditions to the Arrangement; the possibility of adverse reactions or changes in business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Arrangement; the failure to realize the expected benefits of the Arrangement; and other risks inherent to KORE?s current business and/or factors beyond its control which could have a material adverse effect on KORE or the ability to consummate the Arrangement.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.?
Days ahead of the Republic Day, the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Thursday chaired a key meeting of Unified Command in Jammu. The meeting started at around 12 in the noon and continued for over three hours.

The year 2020 was successful for the security forces as they manage to gun down 225 terrorists apart from busting major terror hideouts and gunning down top commanders of each and every terror outfit operating in Kashmir Valley. Top officials from the Indian Army, Border Security Force, Jammu and Kashmir Police, Central Reserve Police Force and other intelligence agencies were part of this meeting.

The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of Pakistan shifting its focus to the Jammu region after facing huge losses to its terror cadres in Kashmir Valley under Operation All Out. There have been attempts on an almost daily basis by the Pakistan side to push-in terrorists into the Indian soil in wake of cross-border firing or ceasefire violation in the Jammu region so as to target vital installations and public places.

Read - JK Bank's Executive Manager Among 6 Booked By CBI For Depositing Rs 12.84 Cr In Banned Currency

Read - JK Govt Seeks Detailed Report On Development Of Border Tourism In Jammu

Attempts by the Pakistani side

Sources told Republic Media Network that during the meeting, BSF officials put forth the challenges posed by the Pakistani rangers along with terrorists using drones and tunnels for weapon dropping and terror infiltration. In past six months, there have been seven attempts of weapon dropping and surveillance using drones by the Pakistani side and three tunnels have been unearthed so far by the alert troops of BSF which were either used or were about to be.

Jammu and Kashmir Police officials also shared the details of the operations carried out by the police in Jammu as well as in Kashmir in the past six months.

During the meeting, the new plan of Pakistan to revive those terror-prone areas which were once active in Jammu region has also been discussed and the steps being taken by the security forces to foil such attempts of the enemy. In last 2-3 months various terror associates have been arrested who were once an active part of these terror outfits but were out of this terror game for so many years, the official said.

Sources also told that inputs were also taken from all the security agencies regarding the restoration of high-speed internet in remaining 18 districts of Jammu which are yet to get 4G mobile internet services post abrogation of article 370 and 35A. The next review meeting for the restoration of high-speed mobile internet is scheduled to be held tomorrow.

Read - Arms, Ammunition Seized In JK's Poonch

Read - Killing Of Kashmir Goldsmith Attack On Concept On One India, One Nation': JK BJP
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The city of San Francisco and its health care providers announced a goal Wednesday to vaccinate all residents by the start of summer.

"Working with our major health system partners and other community clinics, our goal by June 30 is to get our entire population of 900,000-plus individuals in San Francisco vaccinated for COVID-19," said Roland Pickens, director of San Francisco Health Network, the city's public health care system, at a supervisors hearing Wednesday. "As you can imagine there will be many twists and turns in the road, but we are feeling confident that once the vaccine supply is more readily available and reliable we will be able to reach this goal based on our current planning and collaboration."

This is an ambitious goal amid a national vaccine effort that has been plagued by problems, particularly a scarcity of supply and a lack of infrastructure to administer the vaccine.

To meet this goal, the Department of Public Health said it needs to double or triple its vaccination rate to 10,000 a day. The city is preparing to open multiple vaccine sites as supply increases. Plans are underway for mass vaccine sites at Moscone Center, City College and S.F. Market as well as for smaller community locations in underserved neighborhoods.

The chief obstacle we are facing is not enough doses, said Pickens. You only get it one way; you get it for free and you get it from the federal government.

UCSF / Maurice Ramirez

UCSF epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford called the city's goal "aspirational" amid the current situation where the vaccine supply is scarce, but he expects the situation to improve in coming weeks.

"I suspect things will really speed up here shortly," Rutherford, a professor of epidemiology and the head of the division of infectious disease and global epidemiology at UCSF, wrote in an email.

As of this week, the city (both health care providers and the Department of Public Health) has received roughly 103,000 doses. There are more than 210,000 currently eligible people in San Francisco in Phase 1a (which includes health care workers) and those over 65, and they each need two doses, resulting in the need for 420,000 doses, according to the department.

San Francisco announced its June 30 goal after Mayor London Breed said in a Tuesday press conference that the health department was on track to run out of its COVID-19 vaccine allotment today. This doesn't include the vaccines health care providers have on hand. Breed said any remaining vaccines are earmarked for those who have already been scheduled to receive a first dose or who need a second.

The department is currently charged with vaccinating workers at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, EMTs and other frontline workers, as well as those 65 and over within the San Francisco Health Network, which serves the most vulnerable people in the city, including patients without insurance.

"This really shows while we are making progress, we simply need more vaccines," Breed said.

California and other states across the country are struggling to meet the challenge of vaccinating all those awaiting inoculation. Officials are pinning their hopes on President Joe Bidens promise to ramp up resources for vaccination. There's hope the state's vaccination rate will speed up.

Under a Biden administration, our country has a fighting chance at defeating this virus, California state Sen. Scott Wiener said Wednesday.

One recent hurdle in the rollout had been a halt to administering injections of a batch of Moderna vaccine after some people fell ill.

California on Wednesday said its safe to resume using the vaccine, freeing up more than 300,000 doses to counties, cities and hospitals struggling to obtain supplies.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Editor's note: This story was edited Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m. to make clear the city has set a goal to vaccinate all residents by June 30 but not made a pledge.
"At a time when the healthcare system is facing tremendous pressure for change, employers continue to seek ways to support employees in making informed health care decisions," said Alex Mechling, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, The Fedeli Group. "Employers and individuals need a steward to help them navigate the array of available care options. With an aging work force, Medicare is an important piece of this equation. We are excited to add the expertise of KAZ Company and provide greater value to our clients and individuals across Ohio and beyond."

Whether entering retirement or choosing to continue their career, individuals age 65 and older have an important decision to make regarding Medicare. Often, these individuals are unsure of where to go for assistance or support in navigating the Medicare decision making and enrollment process.

"With most health care programs offered through one's employer, we are used to our employer helping us select a health care benefit program," said Kathy Hirko, President, KAZ Company. "Once we reach Medicare age, that support goes away or is much more limited. Together with The Fedeli Group, we are closing that gap and guiding the individual through the Medicare insurance maze in a way that is positive for both the individual and the employer."

"Kathy and her team share in The Fedeli Group's purpose to impact the lives of those we serve," Mechling said. "Whether you are managing an employer health care program, or an individual seeking assistance for yourself or a loved one, we are positioned to help you."

About The Fedeli Group

At The Fedeli Group, our purpose is to impact the lives of those we serve in business and in life. Our mission is to help clients protect assets and enhance employee outcomes through the delivery of exceptional risk management and employee benefits consulting services and products. For more information, visit thefedeligroup.com.

About KAZ Company

Founded in 1990 by Kathy M. Hirko, KAZ Company is one of Ohio's premier Medicare insurance agencies, serving thousands of individuals to meet their Medicare needs.

SOURCE The Fedeli Group

Related Links

https://www.thefedeligroup.com


(Natural News) A prominent progressive activist and Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioter who was seen leading people into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 during that days civil unrest has been charged by the Department of Justice.

According to the Justice Department, John Earle Sullivan, 26, has been charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and one count of interfering with law enforcement who are engaged in the lawful performance of their official duties incident to and during the commission of civil disorder.

Sullivan, who was arrested Thursday, Jan. 14 in his hometown of Provo, Utah, faces jail time if he is convicted.

Sullivan was one of the first people to illegally enter the Capitol

According to a court filing, Sullivan told agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that he was at the Capitol during the unrest and was one of the first people to illegally enter the federal building. He said he entered it through a window that had been broken by someone in the crowd and once inside he pushed past several Capitol police officers.

The complaint also alleges that video footage from other people inside the Capitol proves that Sullivan was there and that he was wearing a ballistics vest and a gas mask. Furthermore, he admitted to being present at the scene when Trump supporter and Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was shot by a Capitol police officer.

Sullivan took several videos while he was inside the Capitol. He showed this footage to the federal agents. One of the videos showed him and other people breaking through a barricade. He was caught on the recording saying:

There are so many people. Lets go. This [expletive] is ours. [Expletive] yeah. We accomplished this [expletive]. We did this together. [Expletive] yeah. We are all a part of this history. Lets burn this [expletive] down.

Other videos from the incident show Sullivan helping others climb over Capitol walls and enter the Capitol through the same broken window he entered through.

In at least two encounters, Sullivan can be heard on the video arguing with the officers, telling them to stand down so that they do not get hurt, read the charges. Among other things, Sullivan can be heard telling officers, You are putting yourself in harms way, The people have spoken and There are too many people, you gotta stand down, the people out there that tried to do that [expletive], they got hurt. I saw it. Im caring about you.

As the crowd was trying to enter a different part of the Capitol, Sullivan reportedly told people that he had a knife. He asked them to let him get to the front, supposedly to use the knife to break through. However, he was not able to squeeze his way through the crowd.

In one other video, he was seen attempting to threaten officers guarding the Speakers Lobby to go home. Bro, Ive seen people out there get hurt, he said, insinuating that he or other members of the crowd will hurt the officers if they did not let them pass.

Sullivan identifies as member of Antifa and has extensive criminal record

Sullivan is one of the founders of a left-wing social justice group known as Insurgence USA. The group identifies itself as anti-fascist and is affiliated with both Black Lives Matter and Antifa. Their activities include supposedly protesting incidents of police brutality.

The lack of care for the human life was unacceptable, so we set out to end police brutality, read the groups website. We then set out to empower and uplifting Black and Indigenous voices.

Immediately after the events of Jan. 6 at the Capitol, Sullivan spoke to every media outlet that was willing to interview him. (Related: WATCH: CNNs Anderson Cooper interviews BLM/Antifa leader who was part of Capitol siege, recently arrested for RIOTING, caught on video threatening to beat a woman  Treats him like he was a reporter on the scene.)

He previously told alternative news outlet The Epoch Times that he took steps to blend in with the crowd of President Donald Trumps supporters so that he would not get beat up.

Sullivan has also bragged about being well known in the left-wing activist community as being a member of the far-left, anarcho-communist organization Antifa, although he has denied being a member.

A day after speaking with the media, he was detained by Washington, D.C. police. He claimed at the time that he was only there to document the event. However, he admitted during questioning that he does not have any press credentials. Police investigations also noted that Sullivan has no connection with any journalistic organizations.

His claims of being a journalist were further torn down after federal investigators said that Sullivans voice could be frequently heard encouraging the pro-Trump protesters to break the law while they were inside the Capitol.

In fact, FBI agent Matthew Foulger alleged in an affidavit he signed on Wednesday that Sullivan knowingly and willfully joined a crowd of individuals who forcibly entered the U.S. Capitol and impeded, disrupted and disturbed the orderly conduct of business by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate.

Sullivan is facing charges in Utah County, Utah for organizing a demonstration in Provo last summer during the height of the engineered George Floyd riots. One person was shot and injured during that demonstration.

Sullivan has not responded to requests for comments from several alternative media outlets.

Learn more about the Antifa and Black Lives Matter-organized and led riots occurring all over the country by reading the latest articles at Rioting.news.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Justice.gov

Deseret.com

JustTheKnews.com
SPRINGFIELD  The city plans to expand public COVID-19 testing with sites at the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy on State Street and an additional location in the Mason Square area.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health Commissioner Helen R. Caulton-Harris outlined the plan this week during an update with the City Council.

The focus is on taking it to the streets, taking it to our neighborhoods, Sarno said Wednesday.

We are going to continue our efforts to expand, especially to make it easier for our neighborhood residents and our seniors, Sarno said.

The two sites will offer testing for Springfield residents only, and are funded by federal coronavirus CARES Act grants.

The state has operated a public testing site for several months at the Eastfield Mall on Boston Road, but it is open to all state residents under the Stop the Spread program. The mall site has often had long wait times, Caulton-Harris said.

American Medical Response, which administers the tests at the mall, has done more than 100,000 COVID tests since August, including about 50,000 tests involving Springfield residents, Caulton-Harris said.

The neighborhood sites will help accommodate residents without transportation or limited means to travel, officials said.

Caulton-Harris said she is working with state Rep. Bud Williams to finalize the Mason Square location. The sites under consideration are being assessed for safety and convenience, she said.

Putnam Vocational is an ideal site, she said, because it has already been used as a test site for student athletes.

The schedule for the new sites has not been site. The city will partner with American Medical Response to provide the tests, Caulton-Harris said.

Separately, the New North Citizens Council is planning two separate COVID-19 testing dates Feb. 4 and 11 at the Greek Cultural Center in the North End, said Terry Rodriquez, program supervisor for the citizens council. The sites are geared toward neighborhood residents, including a large senior citizen population, she said.

The hours will be announced later.

In addition to testing, the North End site will offer personal protective equipment and COVID-19 information to the residents, she said.

Rodriguez also noted that many residents dont have cars or an easy way to get to the testing site at the Eastfield Mall.

Caulton-Harris said the city is also expanding its vaccination program to eligible groups at the Boland Elementary School on Thursday and Friday this week.

Last week, the city administered COVID vaccines to 920 people, primarily first responders such as police, firefighters and emergency medical workers.

The vaccines are being provided Thursday and Friday from 9 am. to 1 p.m. The clinic will focus on local staff at home care agencies, workers at local shelters, and first responders who did not get the vaccine last week, Caulton-Harris said.

The general public is not yet eligible for vaccination.

While a statewide ban on indoor dining continues, Michiganders came up with a creative way to not only sit down for a hot meal but support their local restaurants while theyre at it.

Across the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond, residents are repurposing pop-up ice fishing shelters to keep themselves warm outside in Michigan winter as they enjoy a meal at their favorite local eatery.

Bay City resident Jimmy Flathau noticed a restaurant in West Michigan use ice shanties to wait on diners outside, which is currently permitted under state restrictions. He thought it was a cool idea and wanted to see it happen on a larger scale.

So, he contacted a few friends and together they created the Operation Shantyvillle  Support Local Businesses Facebook group. They brought a shanty tent down to Beavers Pub in Bay City, approved the idea with the owner and continued the trend.

The Facebook group now has 1,800 members and Flathau said the concept has taken off.

To get the idea off the ground, they started with a few organized shanty nights at area restaurants. However, Flathau didnt want residents to wait on them to create an event so, he worked with area restaurant owners to get them on a list of participating restaurants.

Residents are welcome to bring their shanties anytime during open hours to the restaurants on the list to be served. The list, which includes more than 25 eateries in Bay City, Auburn, Sanford and beyond, can be viewed in the Facebook group here.

While some restaurant owners have pivoted to purchase their own outdoor seating tents, igloos and heaters, it can be an expense that others cannot afford. So, Falthau said if residents purchase their own ice shelters, which are comparatively cheaper and can be used in many winter settings, then it helps out more local businesses.

In our area, the Tri-City region, how many people probably have an ice shanty in their shed or garage just hanging out? Probably quite a few, he said.

Supporting local businesses is a philosophy thats been with Flathau since he was young, since his father-in-law owned a small business for decades. Its now more important than ever, amid the coronavirus pandemic and state shutdowns, to keep them afloat.

Without these (amenities) your towns going to crumble, he said. ... I want my town to be just as great for (my kids) growing up as it was for me.

The idea has since grown and Flathau said theyve worked with other local businesses to do two shanty giveaways, food giveaways and more. He said Operation Shantyville could continue until the end of the winter season, even if restrictions ease.

Just stimulate the economy as best as you can, as much as you can  I know its hard for everybody right now and not everybody is working ... I know its tough but if youre able to, get out there and help them out as much as you can, he said.
The peaceful transfer of power is a central tenet of our Constitution that has kept our country together for over 240 years. Thank you to President Trump and Vice President Pence for their years of service to our nation, and congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. I am praying for their administration to work for the good of our country.

The United States is the greatest country the world has ever known, and conservative values are the bedrock of our republic. I pledge to work on behalf of the people of the 11th District of Texas in the coming years to protect our Constitution, our freedoms and the security of this great nation. May God continue to bless America.



--Congressman August Pfluger (Texas-11)




Nikkei Asia  As he steps into his role as the supremo of Laos communist party, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith faces a diplomatic brief with a twist: continuing to appear loyal to older ally Vietnam even as the economy of his impoverished, debt-ridden country is being underwritten by China, the increasingly assertive giant to its north.

It is a delicate balancing act in Southeast Asias communist-ruled backyard that Thongloun already had has a foretaste, say veteran political observers of Laos. After all, it was during his five-year term as the premier of the one-party state that China eclipsed Vietnam as landlocked Laos leading lender, investor and builder. China also betters Vietnam as Laos bilateral trading partner, coming second after Thailand.

The 75-year-old Thonglouns work has been cut out for him following his elevation last week as the secretary-general of the ruling Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party at its three-day, quinquennial national party congress in Vientiane, the capital. The Russian-speaking and Soviet Union-educated Thonglouns promotion to the most powerful political post in the LPRP paves the way for his appointment as the countrys next president this year.

Thongloun, who served as foreign minister before beginning his one term as premier in 2016, succeeds the aging President Bounnhang Vorachit. The 83-year-old Bounnhangs term as the party supremo marked the last of the so-called generation of revolutionaries, who have dominated politics in the landlocked Southeast Asian country since 1975.

Bounnhangs generation fought alongside communist allies in Vietnam during the U.S. war in Indochina, laying the foundation for strong fraternal ties between the postwar neighbors. Ever since, Laotian citizens have known only one political party that has ruled their lives with an oppressive grip to achieve its stated goal: building a utopia for the proletariat.

It still remains a tall order for the sparsely populated mountainous country of 7.2 million people. Laos, which has a per capita income of $2,500, is still ranked as one of the worlds 47 Least Developed Countries, a U.N. ranking of countries at the bottom of the development scale.

Not surprisingly, the storied ties between the two neighbors assured the larger and stronger Vietnam a dominant role. It saw apparatchiks of the LPRP spending time in Vietnam to learn Marxist ideology and socialist theory en route to rising through the ranks of the party.

Bounnhang is a veteran of Vietnamese training, as is Thongloun. Others in the LPRPs current pecking order have also been groomed in Hanoi: Pany Yathotou, chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister Bounthong Chitmany, and Vice President Phankham Viphavanh. These are the new generation of leaders, and they are all graduates of the political theoretical college in Vietnam, a Laotian political observer told Nikkei Asia. Training in political theory in Vietnam is a must to become a national leader.

Norihiko Yamada, a Japanese academic who has had stints as a visiting scholar in Laotian government ministries, affirms that the ideological ties have deep roots. Historically, Laos has had deepening political ties with Vietnam, and it is no exaggeration to say that the founding of Laos is attributed to Vietnam, Yamada, a scholar specializing in Laos at the Institute of Developing Economies at the Japan External Trade Organization, told Nikkei Asia. An important element of the close relationship between the two countries [is] that high-ranking Lao officials study and receive training in Vietnam. That has not changed.

But Chinas economic juggernaut that is barreling through Laos has upended Vietnams monopoly. In 2013, Vietnam was still the largest investor in Laos, having poured $4.9 billion to finance over 420 projects since 1989, followed by Thailand, which had invested $4 billion by then, and China, with $3.9 billion. By 2020, China had turned tables to be in the pole position, pumping in over $12 billion to support 785 projects, spanning special economic zones to mega-infrastructure projects.

China had done likewise on two other economic fronts to overshadow Vietnam. By 2020, China was the largest lender to Laos $20 billion economy, accounting for $5.9 billion of the countrys estimated $12.6 billion foreign debt. By 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, China was ranked Laos second-largest trading partner after Thailand, with bilateral trade valued at $3.5 billion, according to official reports.

Consequently, Chinese cash has emboldened Laos communist rulers to cold shoulder Western government-backed development agencies who had made inroads into Laos before the Chinese tilted the scales. Even though donor assistance has risen considerably over the past decade, its impact or influence in relation to that of China has greatly diminished, said a veteran analyst of development assistance in Laos. These donors are increasingly turning a blind eye [to human rights abuses and corruption] to maintain a seat at the table.

These changing economic tides in Laos have not been lost on the Vietnamese. Vietnam does not feel comfortable watching Laos evolve its deep relationship with China, said Yamada, but reckons that Laotian leaders are skillfully balancing [ties] between Vietnam and China, and [they have] not failed to save face for Vietnam.

It is a sentiment that Supalak Ganjanakhundee, a Bangkok-based Southeast Asia analyst and Laos watcher, has detected about the LPRP politburo members faced with the tug of China over Vietnam.

Many Laotian leaders and officials I have talked to over the past years have hinted that they look to China as their role model for development, although they were trained and educated in Vietnam, he said. What Laos tries to do is not to upset Vietnam.

This story was first published by Nikkei Asia

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It's Wednesday, the sun is shining, Washington has been locked down and the troops have been vetted by the CIA for any pro-Donald Trump sympathizers. Joe Biden's inauguration is now protected against recriminations by some of the US electorate who believe Biden is not the legitimate winner of the 2020 presidential election.



While voices in the US constantly label China as a threat, clearly the greater threat to the US comes from within. Furthermore, it is plain that the US, with its constant hysterical denunciations of China, actually poses a threat to China's system. With this internal and international contradiction in mind, is it possible that Biden's presidency will lead to an improvement in Sino-US relations?



On a micro level, much has been made of Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son's business dealings in China. This has been portrayed as compromising Joe Biden who will be more pro-China. However, the obvious fact is that just about all in the US capital has dealings and investments in China. With US democracy being so heavily co-opted by the lobbying power of US transnational capital, which funds both parties, there will always be knotty relations and apparent conflict of interests within the US' governing elite.

However, let's not assume that just because transnational capital does business in China means it will be more friendly to Beijing. Clearly, the US neoliberal mass media takes a solid anti-China line. As such, the position of the US elites is that they are happy to trade and profit from China while they simultaneously would like to take provocative actions against it for their own gains.



Biden, unlike Trump who predominantly stood for national capital, represents US neoliberal transnational capital. As such, with his transnational outlook, he will deal with China in a more calm and diplomatic manner. But this calmness comes down to the pragmatism of representing his class interests rather than anything else.



Let us not forget Obama, who Biden served under as vice president, was also a mouthpiece for neoliberal capital. This was demonstrated by his bailout of private banks and the fact that his cabinet was chosen by Citibank. Obama, who initiated the pivot to Asia, which fuels defense spending, demonstrates that Obama was hardly China's ally and neither will Biden be.



The tragedy of US democracy is that the important long-term strategic decisions are simply not in the hands of elected leaders. Instead, the deep state, formed by neoliberal capital, controls the strategic levers of power. This was manifestly demonstrated by Trump's Twitter cancellation.



Trump despite his stubbornness was unable to counter this neoliberal power. Indeed, he was played well by them. Thus, Biden who is supportive of neoliberal capital will tend to swim with the current of the deep state and not against it. As such, Biden's inauguration will make little difference to the decisions coordinated behind the scenes amongst a neoliberal military-industrial-complex alliance that pulls in think-tanks, the mass-media, capital, NGO's and universities.



The think tanks funded by Washington and the military-industrial complex will no doubt continue to misrepresent the situation in Xinjiang. Indeed, according to Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, the former Secretary of State Colin Powell's chief of staff, the reason the US is in Afghanistan is to disrupt China's Belt and Road Initiative with hard power and use the Uygurs to destabilize China's rise.



Going back from a macro outlook back to a micro outlook, it is said that Biden has a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Biden claims to have spent more time with Xi than any world leader. When Biden toured China, in August 2011, he was accompanied to Beijing and Chengdu by Xi.



On that visit, Biden bought his granddaughter Naomi Biden who speaks Chinese. Furthermore, when Xi went to the US in February 2012 he was accompanied by Biden to Los Angeles. There they jointly announced a deal to show more Hollywood movies in China every year.



Consequently, with the progress, both men have made together, China will no doubt feel that a presidency under Biden could be more business-like and less precarious than a Trump presidency. However, sometimes too much can be made of statements of personal friendship. Trump, after all, said he got on well with Xi and Trump's grand-children, who are learning Mandarin, sang Mo Li Hua (jasmine flower) when Xi met with Trump. Nevertheless, on the geopolitical level, Sino-US relations hardly thrived.



This is because, lamentably, when it comes to US liberal democracy there is a small smorgasbord of rhetoric that creates the illusion of democracy.



However, deep state machinations always prevail and Biden, no matter how nice he is, won't be able to change this because power in the US doesn't lie in democratically elected officials.



The author Keith Lamb is a University of Oxford graduate with an MSC degree in Contemporary Chinese Studies. (CGTN)




Patna, Jan 22 : The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has decided to hold a massive protest event against the three Central farm laws on January30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who's also the leader of the opposition in Bihar Assembly, said that the farmers of the country are agitating against the farm laws which have been supported by the state government.

"If the NDA government is claiming that the laws are not against the farmers, then why are they protesting against them for months now? If the farmers believe that the laws are not beneficial for them, why the NDA government is not rolling them back? Over 60 farmers have secreficed their lives, but the NDA government is just not listening to them," Tejashwi said.

"During our government, the farmers were getting price above the MSP. After the Nitish Kumar government came to power in 2005, it abolished this act in 2006. As a result, the farmers became labourers and now they have become beggars. The situation is such that the farmers are getting only Rs 700 to 800 for their agricultural produce though the MSP of crops like paddy is Rs 1,868 per 100 kg," Tejashwi added.

"Our agitation will start at the block level from January 24 and our leaders and party workers will go to every doorstep to make people aware of the consequences of the three farm laws passed by the Parliament in September last year. On January 30, we will form human chains across the state with the participation of our alliance partners," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Joe Cimperman knows food.

For 18 years, he served as Cleveland city councilman for Ward 3, home to the West Side Market and dozens of restaurants in Ohio City, Tremont, the Flats, Warehouse District and Downtown Cleveland.

Cimperman is now president of Global Cleveland, an economic development nonprofit that welcomes immigrants and international newcomers to the city, connecting them to opportunities here. The position has made him a bit of an expert on international cuisine.

We caught up with Cimperman, the proud son of a Slovenian immigrant, to chat about his favorite places and foods to eat in Cleveland.

1. Whats your favorite Cleveland-area restaurant and why?

My top 5 Cleveland restaurants are Nates Deli, Banana Blossom, Maries Restaurant, Superior Pho and Irie Jamaican Kitchen. You honestly cannot ask me for just one international restaurant, Joey, thats un-American and I wont stand for it. Lebanese, Thai, Croatian, Vietnamese, Jamaican goodness. Capiche?

2. Favorite dish you have ordered from anywhere in the Cleveland area?

Easy. The Ube ice cream at Masons Creamery. This is the ice cream served in heaven for dessert I am 100% sure of it.

3. Whats your favorite dish/meal to prepare at home?

My favorite meal to prepare at home is the basket we make ready for blessing on Holy Saturday. Some Slovenian sausage (Raddells Sausage Shop, of course) Hren (Slovenian for horseradish that we pull from the yard) hard-boiled painted eggs, homemade Kruha (Slovenian bread), Potica (a Slovenian walnut raisin roll that is like an edible sleeping bag of love). This Slovenian Catholic meal has so many similarities to the meal our Jewish sisters and brothers celebrate on Pesach (Passover). Food is the one worldness of us all. Are we aware?

4. Favorite place for takeout?

Astoria is my favorite place for takeout. The calamari and the Horiatiki salad are fantastic as is whatever else is on the menu and that I order.

5. As president of Global Cleveland, what do you think of Clevelands international food scene?

Clevelands international food scene is extraordinary. From repping continents all over the world to making you feel like you are in someones kitchen. Empress Taytu Ethiopian Restaurant on St. Clair has this vibe times 10. We need these places now more than ever. The last four years have been merciless to immigrants from a federal perspective and quite stupid economically to our nation. The last year has been brutal on our local food scene. Want to support your city, community and be anti-xenophobic? This is it. We have so many families sharing their beauty with us. We need this beauty now more than ever. Every place I listed has immigrant roots. Bridges, not walls is what we have and need more of in Cleveland. Peace be with you.
The European Union will seek to address the difficulties facing hauliers and retailers in Northern Ireland as a result of Brexit, Michel Barnier has said.

Post Brexit red-tape has caused the volumes of trade from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland to fall sharply, with empty shelves appearing in supermarkets and certain products becoming unavailable.

Mr Barnier, who negotiated the Brexit deal on behalf of the EU, said they would look at finding a way to address the difficulties but warned that the new rules are here to stay.

Expand Close Michel Barnier with Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney at a meeting in Brussels (@simoncoveney) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Michel Barnier with Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney at a meeting in Brussels (@simoncoveney)

Mr Barnier said: Brexit means Brexit. It cannot be business as usual, either in Northern Ireland or Ireland, nor in any other EU member states.

We have to tackle these consequences. I know. I carefully follow the situation in Northern Ireland for the hauliers, for retailers. I know the difficulty for the fishermen.

So we look at this difficulty with objectivity, to find a way to to address the difficulties. But for the last four years I have always, very often explained that we have to be prepared for the challenges.

The changes are linked mechanically, automatically to the Brexit, and the fact that the UK decided unilaterally to leave the Union, the single market and the customs union.

So that means many, many changes. We will continue to follow your difficulties to try to help.

He added: Each and every product entering the single market in Ireland, and everywhere else, must respect the standards and the rules that we implement inside the EU.

These rules, he said, are for the protection of the consumers, the food security, animals and vegetables, to protect our budget also, and to protect businesses against counterfeiting.

Mr Barnier was speaking from Brussels on Thursday, where he was named European of the Year 2020 by European Movement Ireland.

Congratulations @MichelBarnier on being named #EuropeanOfTheYear by @emireland

Over the past four years, you embodied all that was best about the EU a resourcefulness, determination and integrity - as you worked tirelessly to make a Brexit deal possible. https://t.co/JNLmEIzmwS  MicheAl Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 21, 2021

It was intended that he would receive the award last year but the planned ceremony was disrupted by Brexit talks.

Mr Barnier said that while he was not concerned that other EU member states might follow the UK out of the bloc, he said Europe must remain vigilant against unrest.

We need to show that Europe works for its citizens  as an added value for each and every citizen he said.

We need to better understand the reasons of social anger in some regions of Europe, ensure that we are working to provide provide real workable solutions.

There are reasons and we have to listen. We have to understand, and we have to answer. Its obviously too late for the UK but its not too late for the member states.

Tributes were paid to Mr Barnier by Irish premier Micheal Martin, and the foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney.

Mr Martin described Mr Barnier as the face and embodiment of European solidarity.

He added: Over the past four years, a very particular bond has been formed between you and people of Ireland.

That you are so well known in Ireland is a reflection of the fact that from the beginning you spared no effort to understand the unique and disproportionate challenges facing our island in the context of Brexit.

He added: You can also be credited with ensuring the wider united cohesive approach of the European Union 27 throughout the Brexit process, including during its most critical moments.

Michel has asked me for one thing when this is all over - a quiet and peaceful fishing trip in the west of Ireland Simon Coveney

Mr Coveney said: I had the privilege of working closely with you from the very start at the Brexit negotiations, and you have never faltered throughout our regular meetings in Brussels and Dublin and beyond.

Ive been struck, not only by how effectively and persuasively youve represented the EUs interests and values, but also by the enormous effort youve made to understand the specific issues affecting our island.

Youve done this with fairness and commanding attention to detail in the most challenging of moments.

He added: Michel has asked me for one thing when this is all over  a quiet and peaceful fishing trip in the west of Ireland.

I can assure you that is guaranteed. Congratulations on the award. And thank you from everybody in Ireland.
Sharing a bed with a partner isnt always the picture of romantic bliss we imagine it to be, and some couples are realizing that more than ever during the pandemic. CNN reports sleep problems are on the rise among cohabiting couples as the pandemic drags on, and those issues may be leading to bigger problems in the relationship.

Sleep amongst couples is completely interdependent, Wendy Troxel, a senior behavioral and social scientist at the nonprofit RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California, told the outlet. When you share a bed with another human being, your sleep is affected and it affects the other person who shares the bed with you.

Thats true even under normal circumstances, but during a pandemic, those effects can be increasingly negative. The enormous stress of the past several months has disrupted sleep for many people, and if they share a bed with a partner, that means their partners sleep is likely being disrupted as well. For others, changes in daily schedules and routines amid the pandemic may have shifted sleeping habits, potentially throwing off a previously synchronized sleeping arrangement with a partner who is suddenly more of a night owl now that theyre no longer getting up early to commute to the office. Either way, poor sleep is not a great recipe for a good relationship, and couples experiencing sleep problems may soon have another set of problems to deal with.

But while poor sleep can certainly cause relationship issues, it might also be a symptom of a relationship already in distress. The pandemic has strained many relationships in numerous ways, and some may see those fractures reflected in a bad nights sleep. Some partners may have moved in together too quickly to avoid being separated during the pandemic, while other couples who have lived together peacefully for years may have found that spending all day every day together is just too much. For those couples suddenly spending unprecedented amounts of time in each others company with little to no alone time, sharing a bed might feel suffocating.

There is a hyper-focus on the other person, and not enough distance between people to feel their independent existence, clinical psychologist Orna Guralnik told CNN. You put that in the context of sleeping together all night  it becomes too much, too symbiotic for people.

For some couples, this has made the idea of separate bedrooms a more attractive option. As relationship expert Susan Winter told InsideHook back in July, separate sleeping arrangements for couples were already becoming less stigmatized in recent years, and the pandemic has only exacerbated the trend.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many couples into small quarters with little to no privacy, said Winter. We live in stressful times with continual information overload. Having your own retreat space means you can reboot. Night time is when we unwind, collect our thoughts, and chill. This is an act of self-care that benefits both parties in the relationship.

It may seem counterintuitive, but sleeping separately might actually be the thing that saves your relationship from becoming yet another victim of COVID-19.

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The post Couples Are Having Sleep Problems Amid the Pandemic appeared first on InsideHook.
Pathologists around the world are facing an increasing burden as rates of disease continue to rise as a result of a higher life expectancy worldwide. Meanwhile the methods these healthcare professionals currently rely on are manual, sometimes time-consuming, and subject to a certain degree of bias. Pathan's pathologists alone handle about 110,000 requests a year. After adopting digital pathology in their lab to digitize their analysis, they are ready to add artificial intelligence to this workflow to optimize their output.

"With this collaboration Pathan's aim is to better understand the opportunities that AI can offer in the future organization of the diagnostic process, especially given the fact that the number of oncology patients will increase substantially over the next twenty years," according to Arlinke Bokhorst, director of Pathan b.v. "With AI, Pathan expects to support pathologists with a toolbox of routine assessments, measures and recognition options to optimize their diagnostic workflow."

Artificial intelligence excels at image analysis, with the potential to surpass human capabilities in speed and accuracy. The Aiforia Platform brings deep learning AI straight to the hands of medical experts with its intuitive software. Pathologists are able to create AI models to analyze images from any sample or disease, for example breast cancer, improving the accuracy and speed of analysis while producing quantitative and reproducible results for clinicians.

The Pathan pathologists are working closely with Aiforia's expert team of scientists to use Aiforia's software to build clinical grade algorithms, or AI models, aiming to be one of the first to receive CE-IVD marking for these clinical applications.

Pathan starts out with the development and the routine use of relatively simple algorithms, for instance algorithms that aid in screening digital histological slides for focal abnormalities, like helicobacter or acid-fast bacteria. Later on they expect to develop more complex algorithms, for instance ones that aid in tumor grading, quantitative assessment of immunohistochemical stains or screening for angioinvasion.

"This is an exciting step for Aiforia, if not the most exciting!" explains Kaisa Helminen, Chief Operating Officer of Aiforia: "Through this collaboration we are able to bring the latest advances in technology to the daily clinical laboratory practice and ultimately influence patient care by helping pathologists make speedier, more consistent, and accurate decisions."

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A team of sherpas set a new record for climbing the worlds second tallest K2 mountain in winters paving new achievements in the field of mountaineering on January 16. The team climbed the 28,251-foot summit located in Pakistans part of the Karakoram range which was never ascended before due to extremely rugged terrain, chilling temperature and speedy winds that require expertise in technical climbing. Its a savage mountain, an American mountaineer that climbed the peak in August 1953 told Kathmandu Post.

Climbers share experience

K2 was climbed by a group of 10 sherpas including Nirmal Purja, a former Gurkha and the UK special forces member. He had previously set a record for climbing all 14 8,000-metre-plus peaks. "History made for mankind, History made for Nepal!", Nirmal Nims Purja wrote in a social media post.

It was one of the hardest pushes ever. There had been close calls where team members nearly turned around due to extreme cold. But everyone was pushing themselves to the edge of their limits for a purpose; a common goal, to make the K2 winter happen, to make the last greatest mountaineering challenge happen, with positive power and honour, Purja wrote on his Facebook page.

According to the accounts of the previous climbers, reaching the top of the mighty rugged snowy peak situated between Pakistan and China is a "killer feat". A climber narrated spine chilling experience of his ascent in 1954 calling the expedition the toughest and most dangerous to climb. The mountain experiences fast 200km per hour gushing chilled winds and has harsh weather conditions and a temperature that goes as low as -60C.

K2 requires stark skills

K2 requires stark technical skills as compared to Mount Everest and other high altitude mountains as it is prone to deadly avalanches. Thus far, only 367 are known to have climbed the dangerous mountain while as many as 4,000 have climbed Mt. Everest according to the NatGeos tally. The team braved strong chilly winds and temperatures that dipped below -58 degrees Fahrenheit while climbing the Abruzzi Spur on the mountains southern side.

A 'special moment' for the team

Secretary of Pakistan's Alpine Club Karrar Haideri admired the teams achievement as he told Euronews that the 10 Nepali Sherpas wrote history in golden words by climbing K2 as it was never done by anyone before in winter. Website of Nirmal Purja called it a very special moment. According to a statement released by one of the team members on their official website, the group reached the peak that lies in the Pakistani side of the Himalayan range, stands tall at 8,611 meters, at around 5 pm as they fixed ropes on the upper top of the mountain and valiantly hopped on the summit. The expedition was led by Purja in close coordination with another member Mingma G Sherpa ho combined their strategies and hit the peak together.

"All 13x8000 peaks have been climbed in winter by our international climbing community so it would be a great feat for the Nepali climbing community to make history", Purja tweeted from the mountains base camp. Once they made history, the mountaineering team sang the Nepali national anthem and rejoiced together. The members were Dawa Temba Sherpa, Dawa Tenjin Sherpa, and Kilu Pemba Sherpa. Mingma David Sherpa, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, Geljen Sherpa, Pem Chiri Sherpa among others.

Read: NKorea Vows To Redevelop Mountain Tour Site Despite Pandemic

Read: Nilgiris Mountain Rail Resumes Service After Nine Months

[Team of 10 sherpas that made it to K2. Credit: Twitter/@mukkipathan]

[Nirmal Purja. Credit: twitter/@RONBupdates]

The #Nepali climbers are making the history today in #Pakistan & about to achieve the greatest mountaineering prize, the ascent of #K2 in Winter 2021.



The great #Nepali climbers are just 200m below to the summit . pic.twitter.com/LrVf7s0Ecd  Tourist Police Gilgit-Baltistan (@GBPolice1422) January 16, 2021

1ST EVER WINTER ASCENT:K2 CLIMBED, HISTORY MADE!



Congrats to all memb. of the Nepalese team summiting the world 2nd highest mountain in the world's first ever winter ascent.



A GREAT SIGN for winter tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan. Hope to see more of such news in coming years! pic.twitter.com/kiwDF3L9tA  Ali Taj (@iAliTajGB) January 16, 2021

Summit Push in the K2 tonight (1AM approx)

At least,10 Nepalese climbers including the fixing team will start their ascend from C3 to C4 and to the Summit of K2, tonight.

The team has a plan to get to the top by 13:00 tomorrow (16th Jan).

Wating for the remarkable ascent.  pic.twitter.com/l9d6pJf9Hi  Seven Summit Treks  (@sst8848) January 15, 2021
(@FahadShabbir)

China is ready to improve relations with the United States, damaged under the Trump administration, by focusing on "unity," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st January, 2021) China is ready to improve relations with the United States, damaged under the Trump administration, by focusing on "unity," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"I noticed President [Joe] Biden stressed on the word 'unity' during his inauguration speech. I think this is exactly what China-US relations need today," the ministry's spokeswoman Hua Chunying said during a regular press briefing.

Bilateral relations between the two countries need "healing and recovery," after too many damages caused by the Trump administration, Hua added.

"President Biden also mentioned that the United States have a lot of healing and recovery to do. I think the same also applies to China-US relations. In the past few years, the Trump administration, especially [former Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo, laid down too many mines in bilateral relations that need to be cleared, burned too many bridges that need to be rebuilt and destroyed too many roads that need to be repaired," she said.

Nevertheless, Hua believed both countries could still work together to improve bilateral relations.

"I believe, with efforts from both sides, the kind angel in bilateral relations can defeat the evil forces," she said.

China's response came after Biden swore in as the 46th US President on Wednesday, ending former President Donald Trump's four-year tenure in the White House when bilateral relations sank to the lowest point after formal diplomatic relations were established in 1979.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she will send the impeachment article against Donald Trump to the Senate in 'a few days' so his trial can begin - and dismissed Republican claims that it was an obstacle to Joe Biden's calls for 'unity.'

'It will be soon, I don't think it will be long, but we must do it,' Pelosi said.

She said Trump doesn't deserve a 'get out of jail card' in his historic second impeachment just because he has left office.

Pelosi said it would be 'harmful to unity' to forget that 'people died here on January the 6th, the attempt to undermine our election, to undermine our democracy, to dishonor our Constitution.'

Republicans have criticized the impeachment for failing to live up to Biden's 'unity' theme.

But Pelosi said: 'Joe Biden said it beautifully: "If youre going to unite, you must remember."'

She added: 'Just because hes gone now, thank God, you dont say to a president "do whatever you want in the last months of your administration."

'People think we should make nice-nice and forget that people died here, that the then-president to undermine our election, to undermine our democracy, to dishonor our Constitution.'

Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died in the mayhem, and the House impeached the outgoing president a week later with 10 Republicans joining all Democrats in support.

Pelosi said she'll be talking with the House impeachment managers 'in the next few days' about when 'the Senate will be ready' to receive the article.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she will send the impeachment article against Donald Trump to the Senate in 'a few days' so his trial can begin

Former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate could last a mere three days once it gets started - the start date remains unclear

'We will be in another few days, when I'll be talking with managers, as to when the Senate will be ready for the trial of the then President of the United States for his role in instigating an insurrection on the House, on the Capital of the United States, on our democracy to undermine the will of the people,' she said.

The Speaker said she was waiting on Biden's inauguration to take place and for the Senate to return to session. With Kamala Harris becoming vice president, Democrats now control the upper chamber.

'We had to wait for the president, the Senate to be in session. They've now informed us they're ready to receive. The question is, other questions about how a trial will proceed. But we are, we are ready,' she said at her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell are still working out a power-sharing agreement for the 50-50, evenly divided chamber. There are also questions over who would preside over Trump's trial when it begins.

WHERE THE GOP SENATORS STAND To get a two-thirds majority of every voting senator Democrats need at least 17 Republicans, assuming all Democrats vote to convict. None of the 50-member GOP caucus has said they will vote to convict. Here are some of those in play. COULD VOTE TO CONVICT Mitt Romney (Utah) Voted to convict before and slammed Trump's actions after riot Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) Said Trump should quit over the riot. Already survived a primary defeat Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) Publicly OKed his caucus voting guilty and says he is genuinely undecided Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania) Not running again and already condemned Trump's conduct Richard Burr (North Carolina) Not running and said Trump 'bears responsibility' Ben Sasse (Nebraska) Targeted before by Trump, slammed GOP leaders for violence already Susan Collins (Maine) Moderate who said when she acquitted first time Trump had 'learned a lesson' John Thune (South Dakota) Number two in the Senate caucus, already target of Trump demand for a primary Roy Blunt (Missouri) Called riot 'darkest stain' and 'unpardonable.' State GOP establishment is furious at Josh Hawley Richard Shelby (Alabama) At 86 considered unlikely to run again. Called riot 'dark day' Rob Portman (Ohio) Called attack 'assault on democracy.' Up in 2022, never a Trump loyalist UNCLEAR James Inhofe (Oklahoma) Apologized to black voters for planning to overturn election Chuck Grassley (Iowa) Oldest GOP senator at 87 and unclear if he plans to run again Kevin Cramer (North Dakota) Said Trump voters 'want my head off' for not overturning election Mike Lee (Utah) Legal conservative, represents state where Trump wasn't personally popular Thom Tillis (North Carolina) Not up for election until 2026 in purple state Marco Rubio (Florida) Up in 2022 and could face Ivanka; convicting her father might help Mike Braun (Indiana) Friend of Mike Pence, could be moved by calls for him to 'hang' LEANING TO NO John Cornyn (Texas) Not personally loyal to Trump but also called trial 'bad idea' Joni Ernst (Iowa) Says she doubts trial is constitutional but will listen to arguments FIRM NO Tom Cotton (Arkansas) Called trial unconstitutional Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) Says impeaching will destroy GOP Advertisement

When pressed on if she could be more specific on when she will transmit the article, Pelosi responded: 'Nope.'

'There's no use asking. I'm not going to be telling you when it is going,' she noted.

Pelosi, who had a contentious relationship with Trump throughout his presidency and already impeached him once, castigated the former president for his role in the January 6th riot on Capitol Hill.

'He roused the troops, he urged them on to fight like hell, he sent them on to the Capitol,' she said.

Schumer said Thursday he is waiting on Pelosi to send the article over but noted he and McConnell are talking about how the trial will proceed.

'Leader McConnell and I are trying to come up with a bipartisan agreement on how to conduct the trial. But make no mistake about it, there will be a trial, there will be a vote up or down on whether to convict the president,' he said.

He added they were waiting on Pelosi.

'We'll have to wait until she sends the article over to figure out how to do all that,' he said.

Former President Trump's impeachment trial could last a mere three days once the Senate begins the proceedings.

Trump, on Wednesday, spent his first afternoon out of office at his Mar-a-Lago residence on the phone with allies. He had two queries: asking if GOP senators will vote to bar him from ever running for office again, two people with knowledge of the calls told The Daily Beast. He also asked what lawyers should represent him in trial.

The former president is having trouble finding a legal team to represent him. Members of his first impeachment legal team, including Jay Sekulow and former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, aren't interested.

But Trump finally found a lawyer to represent - a South Carolina attorney who is an expert in election law issues.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina revealed the news on conference call with GOP senators on Thursday afternoon, Punchbowl News reported.

Butch Bowers is a former chairman of the state Election Commission and an attorney who specializes in election issues. He also served as counsel in Florida for John McCain's president campaign, did work for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and serves as a Judge Advocate for the South Carolina Air National Guard, according to his website.

His hiring will likely raise questions about whether Trump will want to try to revive his false claims that the election was fraudulent and stolen from him.

Graham , a close Trump ally, is one of the people who spoke to the former president on Wednesday and confirmed the former president's troubles.

'I think he's going to get a legal team here pretty soon,' Graham told reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday.

He said his advice to Trump's legal team would be to focus on the constitutional question of whether or not a former president can be tried for treason.

'I'd make that argument. There's a lot of support in the law, legal, academic types,' he said. 'We'll make our own decisions about did the president go too far, was this incitement under the law, what's the right outcome there? So it should be a quick trial really, quite frankly.'

He said of Trump: 'I don't think he believes he played a role in the defiling of the Capitol. I think the argument that the election was stolen was overdone and got people ginned up, I think he's responsible for that, but people's decision to come here and take over the place, that lies with them. But his last couple of statements have been good, you know, rejecting violence.'

Other lawyers who have defended Trump in the past - including former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, Eric Herschmann, Pat Philbin and Marc Kasowitz - aren't interested, Bloomberg Law reported.

It's also unclear what role Rudy Giuliani, the president's private attorney, would play.

Giuliani told ABC News he would defend the president but other reports indicated Trump wasn't sure he wanted the former New York City mayor on his team.

Trump will face trial on the charges of 'incitement of insurrection' for his role in the January 6th riot on Capitol Hill, where his MAGA supporters stormed the Capitol building, interrupting the certification of the election. The insurrection resulted in five deaths, hundreds injured and damage throughout the Capitol, including smashed windows, broken furniture and destroyed offices.

Lawmakers have privately discussed a three-day impeachment trial, Politico's Playbook reported, which would be a record for any such matter.

Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin, a House impeachment manager, said Thursday he didn't know how long a trial would take but didn't think it would take as long as Trump's first trial, which lasted 20 days.

'I dont think it will take as long as the last one,' he told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Some consider the case open-and-shut given Trump's actions on the day of riot. In comparison, the president's first impeachment trial was a web to untangle regarding his call to the Ukrainian president and the legalities there.

At a rally the morning of riot, Trump told his supporters to march on the Capitol - a speech that resulted in many Republicans blaming him for the subsequent mob. Both McConnell and House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy have said Trump shouldered some of the blame for the thousands of supporters that swarmed the building.

But a speedy trial also has its benefits.

Republicans don't believe there are 16 votes to convict the president - the number of senators needed to join Democrats. And many are ready to move on from their former president.

'Some people are for censure, some are for [convicting Trump], some say it's unconstitutional. People are all over the place,' a Republican senator told Punchbowl.

Notably, unlike Trump's last impeachment trial, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is telling senators to vote their conscience - a dramatic difference from last year when McConnell actively worked to acquit Trump when he was impeached the first time.

An alternative would be for senators to vote to disqualify Trump from holding future office. The Senate could apply that punishment by a simple majority vote, but only if two-thirds of senators first found Trump guilty. It's an option that could appeal to many Republican senators since it would prevent Trump from running for president again in 2024.

A short trial would also allow the Senate, now controlled by Democrats, to focus on President Joe Biden's legislative agenda and confirming his Cabinet nominees.

Biden's ambitious legislative plans include a $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan and reforming immigration.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (left) said he spoke to Trump and the former president was struggling to find a legal team to defend him

Members of Trump's first impeachment legal team, including attorney Jay Sekulow, center, stands with his son, Jordan Sekulow, left, and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone have indicated they are not interested in representing Trump again

It's unclear what role Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani would play

White House press secretary Jen Psaki down played concerns Trump's trail would overshadow President Biden's first weeks in office

The White House is downplaying any questions about concerns Trump's trial could overshadow their first weeks in office.

'We are confident that ... the Senate ... can do their constitutional duty while continuing to conduct the business of the American people,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her first briefing.

'He's going to leave the mechanics, the timing and the specifics of how Congress moves forward on impeachment to them,' she noted.

Senator Dick Dubin, a member of the Democratic leadership, told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday morning it's unclear when they'll receive the article and what form the trial will take.

'It's still unresolved as to when she's sending it over. It could be today, unlikely. Could be tomorrow. And then what we're going to do with it, is whether or not it's going to be a full blown trial with evidence and witnesses. Or quote expedited whatever that means that final decision isn't even closed,' he said.

There's also the issue of whether Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will preside over the trial.

The Constitution states that 'When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside.'

But Trump is a former president, which could give Roberts a way out of presiding.

That would put Vice President Kamala Harris as next in line to preside over the trial, in her constitutional role as the Senate's presiding officer.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer seems unlikely to ask Harris to do it.

It is up to the Senate to set the rules of the trial and if the two party leaders, Schumer and McConnell, want to see Roberts preside, it is difficult to see how he would not, short of formally turning down their request.

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who serves as president pro temp, is another potential candidate.

Schumer and McConnell are in talks about a possible power-sharing deal governing daily Senate operations, similar to one struck two decades ago.
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Fenton Quinn Bring On New Partner

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Christine Arace, Certified Public Accountant has joined the accounting firm of Fenton Quinn, PC as partner.

Arace has over 25 years of experience, most recently at Furlano & Arace, PC before her transition to Fenton Quinn, PC.

As a lifelong resident of the area, she is well-regarded by both her clients and peers. Arace is licensed in Massachusetts. Her skills include financial statement preparation, business, personal, trust and non-profit income tax preparation, assistance with non-profits, consulting and controller activities.

She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of CPAs. She received her accounting degree from Elms College and has been a licensed CPA since 1998. Arace presently serves on the Board at Mount Carmel Care Center and is Treasurer of Blythewood Associates, Inc.

She lives in Pittsfield with her husband, Michael and their son and daughter.
Unity, God and country were the themes of President Joe Bidens Wednesday inauguration. For those who treasure the First Amendments guarantee of religious liberty and fear that much of the political left seeks to drive religion from the public square, the days events likely came as a welcome relief.

Michael Rosenwald reports in the Washington Post:

Joe Bidens first stop Wednesday morning before becoming president was a Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, one of the most prominent Catholic churches in Washington.

Biden, just the second Catholic to become president of the United States, attends Mass every Sunday and refers to his faith as all about hope and purpose and strength."

At the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Biden crossed himself when Father Leo J. ODonovan III began to deliver the invocation.

Shortly afterward, President Biden explicitly called for toleration of religious belief in his inaugural address:

I understand that many Americans view the future with some fear and trepidation...

But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who dont look like you do, or worship the way you do, or dont get their news from the same sources you do.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.

If we show a little tolerance and humility.

As luck would have it, President Biden has just been blessed with a wonderful opportunity to show his commitment to religious tolerance. The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty reports on its Tuesday courtroom victory:

A federal court in North Dakota just blocked a requirement known as the Transgender Mandate... In 2016, the federal government issued a mandate, applicable to nearly every doctor in the country, interpreting the Affordable Care Act to require them to perform gender transition procedures on any patient, including children, even if the doctor believed the procedure could harm the patient. Doctors who refused to violate their medical judgment would have faced severe consequences, including financial penalties and private lawsuits. Immediately, religious organizations and states sued, challenging the legality of the mandate in multiple courts. In 2016, a federal court in North Dakota put the rule on hold, and in 2019 another federal court in Texas struck it down. In June 2020, HHS passed a new rule aimed at walking back the requirement, but other courts have blocked that new rule.

Becket attorney Luke Goodrich elaborates on Twitter:

The plaintiffs are religious doctors, hospitals, and clinics who joyfully serve ALL patients regardless of sex or gender identity. They routinely provide top-notch care to transgender patients for everything from cancer to the common cold.

But should they be forced to perform procedures that violate their faith? Citing the relevant statute and Supreme Court precedent, federal district judge Peter Welte explains:

Congress enacted the [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] to provide very broad protection for religious liberty." ...The RFRA forbids government to substantially burden a persons exercise of religion" unless the burden (1) is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest" and (2) is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling interest." ...If a substantial burden exists, then the government assumes the obligation to meet the exceptionally demanding" strict scrutiny standard...

The judge observes that there are various ways for the government to assist in the provision of such services without forcing doctors to violate their consciences and notes:

... compliance with the challenged laws would violate the Catholic Plaintiffs religious beliefs as they sincerely understand them. The RFRA broadly defines exercise of religion" as any exercise of religion, whether or not compelled by, or central to, a system of religious belief." ... [T]he exercise of religion involves not only belief and profession but the performance of (or abstention from) physical acts."...

In meticulous detail, the Catholic Plaintiffs have explained that their religious beliefs regarding human sexuality and procreation prevent them from facilitating gender transitions through either medical services or insurance coverage... The Defendants in no way dispute the sincerity of those beliefs... Nor is it this Courts domain to question them.

Judging by todays inaugural address, President Biden likely understands that its also not his place to question the sincerity of the beliefs of his fellow Americans and fellow Catholics. He should immediately call off this federal campaign against religious liberty, rather than forcing Tuesdays winners to continue to slog their way through the court system against a vengeful Washington bureaucracy.

All the president needs to do is simply affirm the wisdom of the vote he cast in 1993 for the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was sensibly written by a New York congressman named Charles Schumer.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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File image: US President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden attend a COVID-19 memorial event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, United States on the eve of his inauguration as the 46th President. (Image: Reuters/Tom Brenner)

New US President Joe Biden warned the worst of the pandemic is still to come, as the number of American coronavirus deaths surpassed the country's troop fatalities in World War II.

Coronavirus cases have surged past 96 million worldwide, fuelled by the emergence of new variants including one that was first detected in Britain and has now spread to more than 60 nations, the World Health Organization said on January 20.

The United States remains the worst-hit country, with around a fifth of the two million global Covid-19 deaths, and Biden has made the fight against the pandemic his administration's top priority.

"We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus," Biden said at his inauguration, where those in attendance wore face masks and social distancing was enforced.

A Johns Hopkins University tracker on January 20 showed that 405,400 people have died from the disease, more than the 405,399 total US combat and non-combat deaths in WWII.

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

Read: Biden takes the helm, appeals for unity to take on crises

Among the Biden administration's targets is to inoculate 100 million Americans in 100 days, hoping to revive a vaccine rollout that had floundered in the last weeks of the Trump presidency.

E-commerce titan Amazon on Wednesday offered its vast logistics infrastructure to help with that effort.

Biden's point-man for fighting the pandemic, Jeff Zients, said the US would also rejoin the WHO, reversing his predecessor's decision.

He added that top US expert Anthony Fauci would lead a delegation to the WHO executive board meeting on Thursday.

'A war zone'

The announcement came as the WHO confirmed that the virus variant first detected in Britain had spread to more than 60 countries, while one that emerged in South Africa has made it to 23.

The South African variant is more contagious than earlier ones, experts have warned.

Both have tempered optimism that mass vaccination will help to end the unpopular restrictions such as shutdowns that have wrecked economies around the world.

There was some good news, however, with early results from two studies on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine showing it is effective against the British variant, which is fuelling a surge that has overwhelmed UK hospitals.

"When you go into a hospital... in some cases it looks like a war zone," the British government's chief scientist, Patrick Vallance, told Sky News.

Britain is mounting a massive vaccination drive, that has involved the repurposing of all kinds of large buildings -- including Salisbury Cathedral, where thousands of elderly people are receiving shots.

Two musicians worked in shifts throughout the day on its 19th-century organ, playing soothing pieces by composers including Bach and Dvorak.

"It's quite a scary thing to be going through -- the thought of the disease and what it can do to families and people," said Jeanie Grant, who had brought her 98-year-old father to the cathedral for his shot.

"(So) to actually come to a building that has seen so much history and is still serving a beautiful purpose for the community, I think it's very special."

Read more: Biden looks to galvanize COVID-19 fight, vaccinations as he takes office

'No one needs to panic'

There are concerns, however, that rich nations are hogging doses -- of the 50 nations that have started vaccination campaigns, 40 are high-income, according to WHO assistant director-general Mariangela Simao.

But Simao said efforts were underway to ensure access for all.

"No one needs to panic, because you're going to get a vaccine," she said.

The WHO co-led Covax facility, a globally-pooled vaccine procurement and distribution effort, has struck agreements with five manufacturers for two billion vaccine doses.

The urgency to be vaccinated wasn't being felt everywhere, however.

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan plans to vaccinate its entire population, but not until after March 13 because the period before has been deemed "inauspicious".

The shots will start after that, the prime minister's office said, adding that it was "important we roll out the nationwide vaccination on an auspicious date."
Representative image

India has handed over 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh under grant assistance, a senior minister said on Thursday.

The vaccines were given to Bangladesh at a crucial time when the number of coronavirus cases in the nation continues to rise and has reached 529,687 till Thursday.

"India had stood by Bangladesh during the (1971) Liberation War, and today, when the pandemic is rattling the world, India again came with gifts of vaccines, Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said as Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami handed him over the vaccines.

Health minister Zahid Maleque joined the function during which Momen termed the New Delhi initiative as a proof of true friendship between Bangladesh and India.

Doraiswami said that India, in line with the discussions held during the virtual summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, delivered the vaccines within a week of their rollout in India.

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

Anti-coronavirus vaccination began in India on January 16.

Follow our LIVE blog for latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic

He said as part of Indias "Neighbourhood First" policy, his country accorded high priority to the India-Bangladesh relationship and the gift of 20 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine was in fact the biggest such dispatch by India to any of the neighbouring countries.

India has also handed over 1 million similar vaccines to Nepal.

On Wednesday, India sent 150,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives.

India is one of the worlds biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines.

India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

While Oxford-AstraZenecas Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and the Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.

India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries to help them deal with the pandemic.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
T

here was a time, not so very long ago, when Ted Cruz pitched himself as the model of integrity, the very antithesis of the likes of Donald Trump.

Campaigning for the Republican Partys nomination in 2015 and 2016, he was an early favourite of many conservatives and pro-constitution Republicans.

He had enough support among evangelicals to bag Iowa, the very first state in the primary process, and to earn a brief word of congratulations from Trump, before Trump resorted to form and accused the Texas senator of stealing the race.

Later, as the race thinned and Cruz found himself fighting against Trump for his political life, he famously accused him of being a pathological liar, as the Republican frontrunner insulted the senators wife, and claimed his father was somehow involved in the assassination of John K Kennedy.

He is proud of being a serial philanderer, hissed Cruz. He describes his own battles with venereal diseases as his own personal Vietnam.

Trump then went on to win the Indiana primary, and Cruz dropped out of the race. Such was the bad blood, that Lyin Ted did not endorse Trump at that summers Republican convention, waiting until September before finally offering his support.

 Republican Ted Cruz compares himself to Bernie Sanders

Since then, like a mountain stream in flood, Ted Cruz, 50, has changed course several times.

In 2018, the man who studied at Princeton University and Harvard Law School, wrote a profile of Trump for Time magazine, in which he heaped bountiful praise on him.

President Trump is a flash-bang grenade thrown into Washington by the forgotten men and women of America, he said. The fact that his first year as Commander-in-Chief disoriented and distressed members of the media and political establishment is not a bug but a feature.

Cruz, a hardline conservative on social and economic issues and who was among the most strident Republican backers of Brett Kavanaugh, Trumps 2018 pick for the Supreme Court, might have fancied himself another run at the White House in 2024.

Yet he has found himself in controversy, after supporting Trumps assertion that Joe Bidens victory was unfair and that the 2020 election was rigged. Though unable to provide any evidence to prove such assertions, he was among more than a dozen Republican senators and 150 members of the House planing to vote against Bidens confirmation in a joint session of Congress on January 6.

The purpose of the objection was to protect the integrity of our election, he told KTRK-TV

Eleven senators came together and proposed that the Congress create an election commission that would be credible, impartial, and could conduct an emergency 10-day audit into the election returns, into the very serious allegations of voter fraud, that could consider the evidence and make a definitive adjudication.

When Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol and stopped the vote to confirm the electoral college tallies of the 50 states, some of those senators decided not to oppose.

Yet Cruz still voted to oppose, along with Missouri senator Josh Hawley, Mississippi senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, Kansas senator Roger Marshall, Louisiana senator John Kennedy, and Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville.

Cruz denounced the violence that left five people dead, among them a Capitol Hill police officer. But he in turn was condemned for seeking to stop the democratic transfer of power and the ratification of Bidens win.

In Texas, the Houston Chronicle wrote in an editorial: Those terrorists wouldnt have been at the Capitol if you hadnt staged this absurd challenge to the 2020 results in the first place.

Some believe that Cruzs chances of having a successful run have been derailed because of his association with the events of January 6.

Cruz is very talented, really savvy. Obviously ambitious. The first time he ran for president he did really well. I would never count him out. But its hard to argue that the last few weeks have been helpful, GOP strategist Alex Conant told the Dallas Morning News. Cruz has angered a lot of people who otherwise could be helpful to him in a future campaign.

Cruz has long been seen as someone who was popular with the base of the party, but less liked by its elected officials.

In 2013, when he forced a government shutdown in an effort to derail the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, he was named Man of the Year by two conservative publications, The Blaze, and The American Spectator.

At the same time he was derided as the most disliked politician on Capitol Hill. In a 2016 interview with CNN, fellow Republican senator Lindsey Graham joked that if you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.

In 2018, Democratic congressman Beto ORourke captured the imagination and enthusiasm of millions of Americans, when he challenged Cruz in that years senate race, and ran him very close

In the aftermath of the inauguration of Joe Biden, an event that had to take under the protective gaze and weaponry of 25,000 National Guard soldiers following the attack on the US Capitol, Cruz has again been looking to land some punches.

Perhaps seeking to make headlines to appeal to that chunk of Republicans who have feverishly supported Donald Trump - a calculation that also presumably lay behind his and Hawleys decision to vote against Bidens certification - the Texan attacked the new presidents decision to rejoin the Paris Accord on climate. The US had joined in 2016 under Barack Obama.

By rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, President Biden indicates hes more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh, Cruz tweeted, seemingly of the belief that the deal had something to do with France, rather than being an international agreement to try and tackle climate change that was signed in the French capital.

This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans.

Cruzs comments were widely ridiculed, not least by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

So happy that USA has finally rejoined the Pittsburgh Agreement. Welcome back, she tweeted on Thursday, without mentioning Cruz by name.

Meanwhile, the Lincoln Project, the group of Never-Trumper Republicans said its next target would be Cruz.

The Hill reported that co-founder Rick Wilson had revealed now Trump was no longer president, he planned to turn his attention to Cruz.

It said Wilson told politics-focused podcast Yall-itics he would focus on the Texas senator because of his support of Trumps challenge to the legitimacy of Bidens win.

We all know Ted Cruz is sort of a political force of nature. He is what he is. You either hate him or you hate him, Wilson said.

And he is a guy who went so far over the edge, not just to appease Donald Trump and Trumps base, but because he felt like Josh Hawley had got out ahead of him on it.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa says all Zimbabweans not doing essential work should stay indoors due an upsurge of COVID-19, which has claimed the lives of some top government officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo.

Speaking at National Heroes Acre on Thursday during the burial of Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Ellen Gwaradzimba and veteran nationalist Morton Malianga, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabweans should unit to fight against COVID-19 like what they did in the 1960s liberation war.

Our freedom and independence was achieved by many in their own various ways. No one family, no clan ever can be credited for our independence. We achieved our aspirations for independence and peace as a united people. Equally with the current war against this evil COVID-19 pandemic as much facing our nation, we will win as a united people  I therefore urge all our people to continue to sanitize, wear face masks properly and maintain social distancing. This is not time to be tired and to let our guard down in hopelessness. Those who are not on essential duties stay at home.

Fifty-four people died between Wednesday and Thursday and 733 tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health.

In a tweet, the ministry said as at 20 January, 2021, Zimbabwe had 29,408 confirmed cases, including 19,253 recoveries and 879 deaths.

In several tweets posted on the ministrys Twitter account, Acting Health Minister, Dr. John Mangwiro, warned Zimbabweans to follow the countrys lockdown regulations in order to avoid contracting COVID-19.

Dr. Mangwiro attributed the upsurge in COVID-19 cases and deaths being recorded in the country to uncontrolled movements of people during the festive season.

He said all people in rural and urban areas are at equal risk of being infected by the viral disease.

Dr. Mangwiro urged Zimbabweans to adhere to laid down COVID-19 preventative measures such as wearing masks, washing of hands, sanitizing, maintaining social distance and limiting traveling.

He noted that people with underlying conditions such asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and heart problems are at high risk because their immune system is not at its peak.

Zimbabwe is currently under restrictive COVID-19 measures announced three weeks ago.

Johns Hopkins University reports that than 93 million people have contracted COVID-19 worldwide. Over two million people have succumbed to the disease.

Democracy in the US will limp back to functionality, but the events set a terrible precedent that will encourage demagogues and dictators worldwide to undermine democracy and suppress will of the people

As Marine One took off from the White House lawns on Wednesday with the Trumps in tow, curtains fell on a norm-busting presidency that may have changed America forever.

On Day 1 as president, Joe Biden took as many as 17 executive actions to turn back the clock including rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and World Health Organisation, but Donald Trumps complex legacy will endure deeper than Bidens pen strokes can ever reach and continue to shape US domestic and foreign policy for ages. Except that it wont bear Trumps signature.

Even in defeat, Trump garnered support from 74 million Americans  roughly the half of the voter population in United States but for the Democratic Party, its allies in the US media and beltway power brokers in Washington and New York, Trump had become the epitome of all evil. The sound of the chopper whirring away from the White House to Joint Base Andrews, to them, signified the end of an evil empire.

Trumps opponents invested far more power in him than even the narcissistic 45th president believed he possessed, and all of Americas woes were laid at his door. Trump became the living, breathing signifier of Americas decline on global stage and the prospect of his reelection was deemed as the last straw.

As Eliot A Cohen, Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine  the essence of American establishment  a Trump victory would mark a sea change for the United States relationship with the rest of the world. It would signal to others that Washington has given up its aspirations for global leadership and abandoned any notion of moral purpose on the international stage. It would usher in a period of disorder and bristling conflict, as countries heed the law of the jungle and scramble to fend for themselves. And a second Trump term would confirm what many have begun to fear: that the shining city on a hill has grown dim and that American power is but a thing of the past.

As the perennial outsider left the citadel of American power, it was easy to conclude that Trumps departure alone will restore Washingtons moral leadership, end chaos, restore order and make American great again. It is as if the structural causes behind US decline do not exist. The delusion of grandeur is spectacular.

Today was-despite the limitations placed on the planners--by far the best realized, most moving inaugural I have ever seen. In an instant, a city that had been awash in vileness for four years, was cleansed, transformed and elevated and with it, a country's aspirations restored.  David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) January 21, 2021

Its a beautiful day in Washington DC! The sun is out and America is back.  Victor Cha (@VictorDCha) January 20, 2021

This is once again a country that self confidently believes in itself.  David Brooks (@nytdavidbrooks) January 20, 2021

In the end, though, Trump destroyed his own legacy by seeking to overturn his electoral loss and ordering supporters to march on the US Capitol to stop lawmakers from certifying Bidens victory  a move that ended up sparking a violent riot leaving five dead and America permanently scarred.

The pro-Trump rioters  some of whom were more comical than sinister in attempting a coup  dealt a body blow to Trumps legacy, his political future and conservative politics everywhere. The tumultuous events on 6 January raised questions against the sanctity of US electoral process and ripped apart the sanctity of a political system that is increasingly finding fewer and fewer takers amid Chinas remarkable success story.

Democracy in the US will limp back to functionality, but the events set a terrible precedent that will encourage demagogues and dictators worldwide to undermine democracy and suppress will of the people.

Still, amid this carnage, Trump dealt the biggest damage to conservative movement globally by turning himself into a caricature and validating the fanatical notions that leftists accuse conservatives of. In so doing, Trump handed over the right as well as the moral authority to his opponents to strip him of every achievement that he had made during his tenure at Oval Office.

As Greg Sheridan of The Australian writes, Many things the left says about Trump are untrue. And many things they say about his record over the past four years are untrue. They have contributed more than their fair share to the poison running through American democracy today. But since 3 November, Trump has fully lived down to the worst expectations of his critics.

The Biden administration has already indicated that it will continue with many of Trumps policies. On India and China, specifically, the indications are of bipartisan support and continuity that is congruous with recent tenets of US foreign policy. Anthony Blinken, Bidens pick for secretary of state, during his confirmation hearing in the US Senate, called China the most significant challenge of any nation-state in the world to the United States and agreed with GOP senators about a series of issues ranging from Russias aggressive moves in Eastern Europe to the deals that the Trump administration brokered for Arab states to recognise Israel.

He called Trumps policy on India a bipartisan success story.

And yet, despite emboldening American policy and forging a bipartisan adversarial view on China, intensifying strategic cooperation with India, introducing three new peace accords in West Asia and signaling the end of Americas longest continuing war in Afghanistan, ending the free-riding of NATO nations, increasing pressure on Iran  policies that the incoming Biden administration are unlikely to change  Trump will be denied authorship or recognition for these achievements because, to quote from Wall Street Journal, Trump crossed a constitutional line that he hasnt previously crossed.

There was never any doubt about the onerous nature of Trumps character. But he understood power rather instinctively and wielded it as an outsider to break down or question the basic principles behind the bipartisan consensus that has so far driven Washingtons engagement with itself and the world causing an internal grievance that made possible his ascendancy to White House in the first place.

Trump also succeed in giving shape to the righteous grievance of so many Americans who were left behind, disdained and discarded by a global elite that enjoys unimaginable power and privilegeand wields it for its own gain.

This was a political masterstroke as long as it lasted. But just when it seemed that Trump may remain a political force to reckon with despite Bidens narrow victory, he ended it all driven by a self-delusion that feeds on its own lies.

In the process, Trump left Republican Party shattered in his wake, and conservative politics discredited beyond repair in the short term.

Just like a lot of other Christians, one of my new year resolution is to read the Bible back to front. This time, Im praying to finish the book every three months, so that I could have read it 4 times by the end of 2021.

Great goal, I know, but as a person that had a similar resolution every year and miserably failed, I cannot promise you that this year Id be luckier.

But Christians get back up though they fall face flat, right? The plan that Im following requires me to read more than 10 chapters daily, which means that if I do not mindfully set a time and a place for this, I would end up leaving my bookmark at around Leviticus (3rd book of the Bible) again for me to start all over in 2022.

The forest

I decided on a time in the morning and so far, Ive stayed consistent and although I may have started with a motivated willpower, these days, I come back each day longing  God has led me to taste the sweetness of His Word and every morning I am a joyful miner, digging for gold in the richest soil.

If in Quiet Time I see the trees and attempt to study their leaves and their rings, this plan takes me to see the whole forest. As a person who enjoys pondering about the smallest thing for hours, I was initially worried I would miss out in the depth of His Word if I was to read chunks of them at a time.

But oh, how Id been a fool! His Word is so great and profound that depth is promised in any way one reads it. The Holy Spirit satisfies all the knocks of the hungry soul. The experience is so enlightening that I often need to stop myself to jot down what God has unveiled for me. Even the smallest exposure baffles me in awe.

Magnified

The other day, I was taken to the Red Sea and followed Moses and the Israelites finally leave Egypt. Behind them came the Pharaoh and his troops to recapture their lost slaves and in front of them lied the ocean.

Despite the amazing miracles and plagues God used to demonstrate His power, the people of Israel complain immediately in utter despair, saying it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness (Exodus chapter 14, verse 12).

Here, one of the greatest miracles shown through the Bible begins. Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent, declares Moses, as he stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided (Exodus chapter 14, verse 13 and 21).

This majestic scene alone dazzles, but what stood out for me the most that day was how God purposely used Moses. The Creator of the universe, the holder of time, the one who controls every atom in all things, decided to use the stretched hand of his servant to separate the great waters.

As I read, I saw how it was totally God who caused the miracle, but it was His man that this was demonstrated through. It was as if I had rediscovered what it was like to walk with God.

Although God is more than able to miraculously lighten every room in the country, he uses men to ignite the candle. How glorious that He uses the weakest to magnify His power! Our limitations do not limit His strength.

His right hand

What is also profound is the proper response the used men show. In Exodus chapter 15, we see Moses and the Israelites praising God for His great power. Its as if Moses had forgotten about his own hand he stretched as he sings, Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy (verse 6).

He knew perfectly that it was the Lord who had triumphed gloriously: while they had become the beneficiaries, receiving salvation and joy, God was to have his glory and praise.

As the Psalmist said, such truth is more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb (Psalms chapter 19 verse 10).

I invite you to join me in filling the year with the most precious golden truths that taste better than the sweetest nectar! Hallelujah for the happy new year!
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
A roundup of statements from Missouri leaders after the Inauguration offers a view of so many expectations that the new administration will NEVER fulfill.

Read more . . .
The son of Pamela Wood, a beloved Wakefield elementary school speech therapist who was found slain in her home earlier this week, has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with his mothers killing, according to authorities.

Timothy Martin, the victims 23-year-old son, was shot by two officers Tuesday, prosecutors said, after he charged at them with a knife following the discovery of Woods body in the basement of her Wakefield home.

The Manchester, New Hampshire man was hospitalized shortly after the shooting and has now been officially placed under arrest, according to a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office.

He is being charged with murder and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with his 61-year-old mothers killing and the assault of three officers who were at the crime scene Tuesday, the statement said.

Martin is under arrest pending arraignment, Ryans office noted.

Police responded shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday to Woods home on Otis Street. Officers were sent to perform a wellbeing check on her after after officials at Greenwood Elementary School, the victims place of employment, alerted the womans family she had not arrived at work for a scheduled appointment at 8:30 a.m., according to the district attorneys office.

Woods family members went to her home but were not able to enter as they did not have a key, Ryans office said. They then walked into the Wakefield police station to ask for help, while the departments school resource officer went to the house to try to locate the victim.

Wakefield police officers and firefighters were able to get inside the home by prying open the back door. First responders announced they were entering and started to clear the house, beginning with the top floor, according to authorities.

Firefighters proceeded to the basement of the home and found Wood dead with severe trauma and called for backup, officials said.

Multiple officers went downstairs, continuing to announce they were there, when, the district attorneys office claimed, Martin emerged and ran toward police with a knife that he was holding above his head. The suspect did not live in the home and was not expected to be there, Ryans office noted.

A pair of officers shot Martin as he charged at them, performing life-saving efforts on him afterward. The New Hampshire man was taken to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington, where he remains in stable condition, according to the prosecutors office.

Five officers were treated at nearby hospitals as well, though they did not suffer serious injuries, authorities said.

The two officers who fired their guns have been placed on administrative leave per department policy, according to officials.

The district attorneys office said through their investigation, detectives learned Martin killed his mother. Police obtained and executed a search warrant on the victims home and found two knives.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation, Ryans office said.

In a statement Tuesday, Wakefield Public Schools Superintendent Douglas Lyons described Wood as a beloved staff member and a vibrant and integral part of the community.

It is with great sadness that we are reaching out. Today we were devastated to learn of the sudden loss of one of our colleagues, Pamela Wood, Lyons wrote. She will be missed by students, families and staff alike. Our hearts go out to her family during this tremendously difficult time.

Related Content:
The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested 105 persons for flouting government's directives on the wearing of nose masks as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19.



The arrest were carried out in a four-hour operation by the police on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 around Tema Community 1, to enforce the directives on the observation of the Covid-19 protocols.



The Acting Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Stella Dede Dzakpasu told journalists that the suspects were going about their usual businesses without regard for the directives.



Breakdown

She said of the total number of people arrested, nine were women while 96 were men all within the age brackets of 17 to 64 years.

"Out of the total number, 22 of them had no masks at all while 83 had the masks in their possession but woefully refused to wear them. Some of the suspects called friends and relatives to bring them masks while under police custody", she said.



Chief Inspector Dzakpasu said he suspects will be interrogated and screened by the Command after which further action would be taken.



She urged the public to adhere strictly to government's directives in order to curtail the spread of the virus.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Mongolia's Prime Minister on Thursday, Jan 21 turned in his resignation, days after thousands of protesters flooded the streets demanding his ouster for the death of the coronavirus-infected mother and her newborn baby. "Unfortunately, we made a mistake during relocating that mother," said Khurelsukh Ukhnaa in a press address, adding that "as prime minister, I must take the responsibility. Ukhnaa Khurelsukh announced the resignation of his entire government, with two ministers that voluntarily left positions in his cabinet. According to sources of ANI, the leaders decision to withdraw cabinet members from his ruling party Mongolian Peoples Party is subject to discussion at a Parliament meeting.

Outrage spewed across Mongolia as scores of protesters took to the capital Ulaanbaatar demanding Khurelsukh to step down and assume responsibility for the heavy-handed treatment of the COVID-19 infected mother and her newborn. In the TV footage aired by the state-run press, the patient that had just then given birth was forcibly moved to an infectious disease centre for isolation in temperatures as low as minus 25 degrees Celsius. She was shown wearing only plastic slippers and pajamas as the authorities prompted her to move inside an ambulance where she clutched her newly born baby tightly. Later, the woman and her child succumbed.

Read: Brazil Receives Oxygen From Venezuela For COVID-19 Patients

Read: United Airlines Reports COVID Induced Loss Of $7.1 Billion In 2020, Hopes To Bounce Back

People condemned 'inhumane treatment'

Citizens took to the streets in angst as they protested against the governments mishandling of the pandemic. The director-general of the Mongolian National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD), Dulmaa Nyamkhuu, was the first to be removed from his position, according to the sources of state news agency Montsame. People condemned the inhumane treatment of ill covered patients across the country by Mongolias National Center of Communicable Diseases. They protested for the dismissal of the leaders, including Mongolias deputy prime minister, the head of the cover task force, head of the hospital and disease center, and health minister, all of whom resigned amid the row and clashes between the citizens and enforcement officials.

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The possibility of Vietnam developing nuclear power is low, according to the Energy Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT).

The institute, in its draft report on Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Energy Master Plan for 2021-2030 with a vision until 2050, is now open for opinions from relevant ministries and branches.

The report says that nuclear power can help ensure national security as this electricity source is stable and continuous. Nuclear power plants only stop generating electricity in cases of breakdowns and have a life span of over 50 years.

Meanwhile, the electricity price would be stable with 80-90 percent of production costs fixed, and not affected by the worlds crude oil prices and the situation of other countries.

Regarding the environmental impact, nuclear power does not generate greenhouse gas emissions, dust and other pollutants.

According to the Energy Institute, if Vietnam relies on certain types of fuel when developing its electricity generation system, it will face problems when unexpected events occur, including fuel price fluctuations, political uncertainties and supply cost increases.

The import of coal and LNG in large quantities also poses this risk. If developing nuclear power, Vietnam will be able to ease reliance on the coal and gas imports.

However, the institute has also pointed out some disadvantages of this type of power. The biggest problem is the high investment rate required, about $6,000 per kwh. There are requirements to cope with risks such as tsunamis and terrorism.

Vietnam plans to strongly develop renewable energy until 2050, so there is no need to, or it is very difficult to, develop nuclear power during this period, the report commented.

Moreover, nuclear power is a source of power with low flexibility, with output capacity changing very slowly.

Nhan Dan reported that solar power developers have signed more than 100 PPA (power purchase agreement) with Electricity of Vietnam, and that total operational solar power capacity has reached 6.000 MW.

As for wind power, there are nine wind power farms with total capacity of 304.6 MW, including the Bac Lieu Farm with capacity of nearly 100 MW.

Therefore, the Energy Institute believes that nuclear energy will be used only when the CO2 tax is applied, which helps increase the competitiveness of nuclear power in comparison with other types of electricity using fossil fuel.

Under the National Assemblys Resolution No 31 dated November 2016, Vietnam will not develop nuclear power until 2030. The plan to build Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plants has been cancelled.

Luong Bang

Will cheap nuclear power be safe enough? Vietnam is drafting the eighth national power development master plan after failure to implement electricity generation and electricity network projects under the seventh plan.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication, distribution or dissemination, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (Pure or the Company) (CSE: PULL)(XFRA: A2QJAJ) is pleased to announce that it has completed the second and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement offering of special warrants (each, a Special Warrant) at $0.505 per Special Warrant, previously announced on December 16, 2020 (the Private Placement). At this final closing, the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 10,839,230 Special Warrants for gross proceeds of $5,473,811.14. Together with the first closing, the Company issued an aggregate of 16,900,263 Special Warrants for gross proceeds of $8,534,632.81 pursuant to the Private Placement.

The Special Warrants will automatically convert to units (the Units) upon the earlier of the receipt for a final prospectus qualifying the distribution of the Units or four months and a day from the closing date of the final tranche of the Private Placement, which is May 21, 2021. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (each a Common Share) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole Common Share purchase warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one Common Share (a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.65 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months following the deemed exercise date of the Special Warrants.

Finders fees of $139,501.41 cash and 395,817 finders warrants (each a Finders Warrant) were paid and issued in conjunction with the final tranche of the Private Placement. Each Finders Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company (the Finders Warrant Shares) at an exercise price of $0.65 per Finders Warrant Share until January 20, 2023.

All securities issued under the final tranche of the Private Placement will be subject to a statutory 4-month hold period, which expires on May 21, 2021, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Company intends to use net proceeds from the Private Placement primarily for expansion of capacity for the Companys extraction business and for general working capital.

The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to qualify the distribution of the Common Shares and Warrants issuable upon exercise of the Special Warrants by way of a short form prospectus (Qualifying Prospectus). The Company will make an application to list the Warrants on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the Exchange), subject to the Company fulfilling all of the listing requirements of the Exchange. The Special Warrants will not be listed on any stock exchange or overthecounter market.

The Company has filed a preliminary base shelf prospectus, which is available under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities.

The Company also announces it has granted 5,000,000 stock options to purchase common shares to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company. The options are exercisable for periods ranging from two to five years from the date of issuance at an exercise price of $0.73.

About the Company

The Company features an all-new, state-of-the-art processing facility located just 20 minutes north of world-famous Whistler, British Columbia. The bespoke facility has been constructed to European Union GMP standards aiming towards export sales of products and formulations, including those currently restricted in Canada, into European jurisdictions where they are legally available. On September 25, 2020, Pure Extracts was granted its Standard Processing License by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act and the Companys stock began trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) on November 5, 2020. Find out more at https://pureextractscorp.com/.

For further information please contact Empire Communications Group at (604) 343-2724.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

(signed)  Ben Nikolaevsky 

Ben Nikolaevsky

CEO and Director

This information release contains certain forward-looking information, including about the proposed use of proceeds of the Private Placement, the receipt of a final qualifying short form prospectus, the receipt of CSE approval and the listing of the Warrants. Such information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by statements herein, and therefore these statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to it as well as other factors. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified by the Company in its public securities filings, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Further restrictions, including reducing the number of essential workers and the 5km travel limit to 2km, could help to get coronavirus numbers down, one of the countrys top health experts has said.

Tomas Ryan, an associate professor in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin (TCD), told Newstalk Breakfast there are too many people leaving their homes to go to work.

"There's still a lot of people going to work, and so we could reduce that by reducing what essential workers are, he said.

"We could reduce the radius around us - we could go from the 5km limit to a 2km limit. And we could ask the Government to engage in things like mass antigen testing, which still hasn't happened in serial testing of healthcare workers.

He added: "And I think it's also fair to say that we don't really know how many infections are coming through hospitals and into the communities".

The professor was speaking after Taoiseach Micheal Martin told his parliamentary party that level five restrictions will continue into February as the numbers remain too high.

Expand Close Taoiseach Micheal Martin denies the current catastrophic coronavirus situation is the result of his decision to ease restrictions too soon. Photo: Arthur Carron / Facebook

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"Our behaviours could also be stricter, Mr Ryan said. Based on traffic and based on mobility analysis, we're not exactly restricting our movements as much as we did in the first lockdown.

He also argued that the crucial thing is not about how long we need to be in restrictions, but rather the question needs to be when can we get control of the virus.

When we get control of the virus, then we can start to open up, he said, indicating that this would need to see a level of "about 10 cases a day.

"When you get to that level of virus case number, that's in the zone where our test, trace and isolation infrastructure can manage it, he stated.

Prof Ryan also suggested that the reason for the high case numbers could be largely down to the "newbie 117 variant - what we call the British variant - which is significantly more transmissible.

"And now that probably makes up most of the virus population in Ireland, though we don't have perfect surveillance on that yet.

The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will meet later to consider the current situation.

The Cabinet sub committee on Covid-19 is then expected to meet on Monday to finalise plans to extend the current restrictions before Cabinet ministers approve the measures at a meeting on Tuesday.

It is expected the situation will be reviewed again in February but it is not believed the Government will make the decision to reopen the economy substantially before the end of March or early April.
Indian stock exchanges on Wednesday gave the go ahead for Future Group's $3.4 billion deal to sell its retail assets, taking it a step closer toward closing a deal that has soured its ties with its business partner Amazon.com.

Future and Amazon are locked in legal tussles over the Indian group's August deal with Reliance Industries. The US e-commerce giant alleges the deal breached some of its pre-existing contracts with Future.

In late night notifications, Indian exchanges said they had no objection or adverse observation on the deal, saying they had reached the decision after communicating with India's markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

SEBI has advised that Future should share various details of company's ongoing litigation with Amazon when it approaches India's National Company Law Tribunal, which also needs to sign off on the deal, the Bombay Stock Exchange notification said.

SEBI has separately not made its observations public. Reliance and Future did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The notifications will be a setback for Amazon, which has in recent weeks repeatedly written letters to SEBI and stock exchanges to suspend the deal's review.

Amazon has also dragged Future before a Singapore arbitrator, which passed an interim order in October saying the Reliance deal should be halted. Future says that order is not binding on it.

Following the nod from the exchanges, Amazon in a statement said it would continue to pursue legal remedies to enforce its rights, noting that the approvals were subject to the outcome of the ongoing arbitration process and other lawsuits.

The outcome of the dispute embroiling Future, Reliance and Amazon is seen shaping India's retail landscape, especially in deciding who will emerge as a leader of a groceries market expected to be worth around $740 billion a year by 2024.

(With inputs from Reuters)
Besides proposing death penalty for certain offences against women and children, Shakti Bill also reduces timeline for investigation, trial and appeals without taking into account severe manpower shortage in the police department and the courts in Maharashtra

The Maharashtra government introduced the Shakti Bill in the state Legislative Assembly in December 2020 to curb sexual offences committed against women and children. The Bill proposes amendments to existing laws on crimes against women and children and provides for stricter punishment, including death penalty, for offences such as rape and gang rape. It also reduces the time for completion of investigation and trial for crimes against women while also adding punishment for false complaints, among other things.

The Shakti Bill is similar to the Disha Bill passed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in 2019 to provide enhanced punishment (including death penalty) for crimes against women.

In 2013, post the Delhi gangrape case, the Parliament passed a law to allow for death penalty in rape cases where the accompanying brutality leads to death, and in cases of repeat offenders. Further, in 2018, the Parliament passed a law allowing death penalty for rape and gangrape of girls below the age of 12 years.

The Shakti Bill has been referred to a joint select committee of MLAs and MLCs for review. In this article, we discuss the key changes proposed by the Bill, and some issues to consider.

Shorter timeline for investigation and trial may be unrealistic

The Bill expedites the timeline for the investigation, trial, and disposal of appeal for certain offences against women and children such as rape, gang rape, and acid attacks. As per the proposed Bill, the investigation should be completed within 15 working days (extendable by seven days) after filing the FIR, the trial should complete within 30 days of filing the charge sheet, and appeals must be disposed of within 45 days.

However, it must be noted that despite the existence of a timeline for investigation (two months) and trial (two months), 44 percent of crimes against women are pending investigation, and 94 percent pending trial in Maharashtra.

Reducing the time further, may not give sufficient time to the police and the judiciary to complete the relevant procedures. Further, there is a severe manpower shortage in the police department and the courts in Maharashtra which could impact the timely resolution of cases.

As of 2019, the national police-population ratio was 195 policemen per lakh population (less than the ratio of 222 recommended by the United Nations), and district and subordinate courts across India had 22 percent vacancy for judges.

Punishment for filing a false complaint may act as a deterrent

The Bill penalises filing of a false complaint for offences committed against women and children such as acid-related crimes, and rape. It is punishable with imprisonment for up to one year, or with fine, or both. This may deter people from reporting such crimes in a situation where such crimes are already severely under-reported.

Further, punishment for the offence of making false complaints and providing false information already exists under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Sharing of data for investigation without safeguards may restrict the right to privacy

Under the Bill, social media platforms and telecom service providers will be punished for failure to share information with the Investigation Officer for investigation of crimes against women and children. Such punishment could include imprisonment of up to one month and a fine of Rs 5 lakh.

Note that the Information Technology Act (IT Act), 2000, already requires sharing of data with authorised persons for investigation of any offence. Under the IT Act, an authorised person can request access to information by order (and for reasons recorded in writing).

The Shakti Bill allows an investigation officer to seek information without a court order or a warrant but does not provide any safeguards for when and what kind of information could be sought. This may violate an individuals right to privacy.

The Supreme Court (in the Puttaswamy judgement) has held that individuals have a fundamental right to privacy, subject to reasonable restrictions. Any restraints on privacy must be: (i) in accordance with the procedure established by law, (ii) in pursuit of a legitimate state need, and (iii) proportional to the aim. The restrictions imposed by the Bill on the right to privacy may be disproportionate and arbitrarily applied, and therefore, fail to meet the requirements specified by the Court.

Mandatory death penalty has been held as unconstitutional

The Shakti Bill provides for the death penalty for causing grievous hurt by acid attacks, rape, and gang rape. It also provides for the death penalty for penetrative sexual assault of a child below 16 years of age. The death penalty will be awarded when the offence is heinous in nature and the circumstances warrant exemplary punishment. This could be interpreted as the Bill providing for the mandatory death penalty in such cases.

The Supreme Court has held that mandating the death penalty for any offence is unconstitutional as it violates Articles 14 (right to equality) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution. Before opting for the death penalty, the circumstances of the crime and the circumstances of the offender must be taken into consideration. However, under the Shakti Bill, the death penalty will apply when the crime is heinous and the circumstances warrant exemplary punishment; which may not factor in the circumstances of the offender.

There is also the question of whether the death penalty should be awarded for rape. The death penalty for rape could deter individuals from committing the offence, and provide retributive justice for the victims. However, the Justice Verma Committee (constituted after the Delhi gangrape case) noted that though rape is a violent crime, the punishment should be proportionate and the death penalty should not be applied, as it is possible to rehabilitate the survivor.

As noted earlier, Parliament has passed laws to allow for death penalty for certain rape cases such as where the accompanying brutality leads to death, and in cases of repeat offenders.

While the Shakti Bill enhances punishments for certain offences against women, experts have suggested various other steps that may be taken to improve the safety of women. These include: (i) strict implementation of laws to protect women, (ii) better infrastructure for women safety such as CCTV and panic buttons in all public transport and increase in the number of women police officers, and (iii) increased public awareness about laws on women safety and consequences for violating these laws.

The authors are analysts in the research team at PRS Legislative Research
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(Editor's Note: This is the 150th history column by Jerry Summers since his series started on Chattanoogan.com, and hopefully many more are in the pipeline).

The Peach State has always been prone to have some drama in its politics and elections.

The years 1946-1947 produced one of the most bizarre political spectacles in the history of American politics.

At one point Georgia had not one, not two, but three claimants to the Governors office.

The controversy arose out of the death of Gene Talmadge, who had been elected four times to occupy the top office in Georgia.

In the summer of 1946 he won the Democratic primary. The Republican Party during this era was almost non-existent and did not even have an opponent for Talmadge so victory in said primary was a guarantee of election for the Democratic nominee.

Talmadge had always been a controversial politician who came from a family of prominence and wealth in Forsyth, Georgia, but gained his main political support from lower class country folks who were called rednecks and opposed integration with the support of the Ku Klux Klan and opposition to the New Deal of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

One of his campaign references to blacks was We in the South love the Negro in his place  but his place is at the back door!

Another cliche referred to his appeal to his rural base of voters I can carry any country that aint got street cars.

However, Talmadge had developed serious health problems due to a life of hard drinking. When he died on December 21, 1946 at the age of 62 the cause of his death was diagnosed as hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.

Knowing of his bad health his followers were concerned that he would not live to be sworn in at his planned inauguration in 1947.

There arose an issue of who would become governor if the governor elect died prior to taking the oath of office due to ambiguities in the Georgia Constitution and law.

Talmadges supporters came up with the theory that the Georgia legislature could choose between the second and third place vote getters from the general election.

They came up with a plan to initiate a write-in campaign to nominate Talmadges son, Herman, as a secret write in campaign candidate. Their thinking was that his fathers rural supporters in the General Assembly had enough votes to elect Herman Talmadge.

The State of Georgia had recently adopted a new state Constitution and had created the new office of lieutenant governor, which was to be filled in the 1946 election. Under that document the newly elected lieutenant governor would become the chief executive officer if the governor died in office.

The new Constitution was silent as to who would become governor if the Democratic nominee died in office prior to taking the oath of office.

An open Talmadge opponent, Melvin E. Thompson, had been elected to that position and would make the claim for the office upon Talmadges death.

In January 1947 the legislature met to fill the vacancy and chaos reigned.

The Talmadge forces wanted the legislature to elect Herman Talmadge, the write-in winner, and the Thompson supporters wanted the General Assembly to elect their candidate.

The state Constitution did contain a provision that the election results would not be certified until the legislature met and approved the outcome.

Thompson unsuccessfully urged the body to certify the election returns so that he would have a stronger position to claim the governorship.

Talmadge forces prevailed in winning a motion to delay certifying the vote results and to immediately select a new governor.

On January 15, 1947, the Talmadge legislature prevailed and Herman Talmadge was elected governor.

Marvin Thompson immediately filed a lawsuit that ultimately would be heard by the Georgia Supreme Court.

The sitting governor, Ellis Arnall, entered the fray by announcing that he would not leave office until the issue of who would be the new governor had been resolved.

Arnall had been an anti-Talmadge governor and had opposed many of Genes policies. Arnalls refusal to give up the governorship thus created a physical confrontation between his and Genes supporters which ended in fist fights.

When Talmadge asked Arnall to honor the General Assemblys selection of his son, Herman, as governor, Arnall refused.

As a result Talmadge ordered state troopers to remove Arnall from the capitol in Atlanta and to escort him safely to his home.

On January 15, 1947, both Herman Talmadge and Arnall claimed to be governor of the State of Georgia and they each shared the same office.

On January 16, 1947, Herman Talmadge had seized control of the governors office and had the locks on the doors changed.

The controversy continued when Arnall set up a satellite governors office in exile in an information kiosk in the capital. However, ultimately due to the public outcry, Arnall relinquished his claim upon the governorship and supported Thompson.

With Arnalls exit this left Georgia with only two governors and both had exercised their authority to appoint government officials which put the state in further chaos.

In March 1947, the Georgia Supreme Court in a 5-2 decision ruled that Thompson would be the acting governor until a special election could be held to fill out the balance of the term from 1947 through 1951.

Talmadge left the governors office immediately after the decision and started his campaign for governor in the special election to be held in September 1948.

Herman Talmadge won the election mainly with the support of younger voters and World War II veterans in addition to the rural support that his late father had always possessed.

It also helped that his supporters would create the perception that the anti-Talmadge force had stolen the election.

The electoral merry-go-round of having three governors (one dead) sitting at the same time was detrimental to Georgias national image and the state became the laughing stock of America.

The wool hat boys of poor whites who had to do their own plowing and picking of cotton and other farm products after the Civil War had always supported Gene Talmadge and they also gave their support to his son Herman.

Some old time historians stated that such a circus could only have happened in Georgia while modern history buffs claim that the same type of entertaining politics may be prone to occur in Walker or Catoosa counties.

* * *

Jerry Summers



(If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com)
In what comes as the first controversy of Joe Biden's presidency, the US Embassy in Israel changed its Twitter account name and included West Bank and Gaza on January 20 around 1:05 AM. After reflecting the same for around two hours, the name was changed back to 'U.S Ambassador to Israel'. The changed name showed as 'U.S Ambassador to Israel, West Bank and Gaza.' The changed sparked an immediate row on social media and policy observers wondered if it hints at a change in a foreign policy under President Joe Biden. However, issuing a clarification, spokesman for the embassy gave a statement to The Times of Israel, and said that changes "did not reflect a policy change or indication of future policy change" and that "it was an inadvertent edit."

The change appeared just after Biden was sworn-in as 46th PResident of the US and David Friedman, a political appointee of former President Donald Trump, stepped down from the post os US Ambassador to Israel.

The development assumes significance as under Donald Trump significant changes had taken place in the Arab world, especially with respect to Israel. For instance, the US Embassy was moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognising the latter as part of Israel. Though the Embassy serves for those living in the West Bank and Gaza, it doesn't officially recognise the two region, due to Israel's claim that they are part of Israel. The change, thus, makes a massive statement - that the US is recognising the West Bank and Gaza as sovereign regions. Biden has hinted that his administration will restart talks with Palestinians, a process that was put to halt after the authorities and stakeholders refused to recognise Trump's Middle East Peace plan.

Reacting on the same, Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida, said that the Biden administration has started showing "hostility to Israel" and that there is "no country of West Bank or Gaza".

The Biden Admin title change for the @USAmbIsrael shows the Democrats' hostility to Israel. There is no country of West Bank or Gaza, only territories that Israel has been willing for decades to negotiate sovereignty over but has been met with only hostility and terrorism. https://t.co/8TIjQQrxJO  Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 20, 2021

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US back on Paris Climate Accord

President Joe Biden returned the United States to the worldwide fight to slow global warming in one of his first official acts and immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts that would transform how Americans drive and get their power. Biden said in his inaugural address on Wednesday, that a cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now. Biden signed an executive order rejoining the Paris climate accord within hours of taking the oath of office, fulfilling a campaign pledge. The move undoes the US withdrawal ordered by predecessor Donald Trump, who pulled out of the Accord.

Joe Biden, the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris, the first woman vice president were inaugurated at the US Capitol on January 20.

A new chapter begins today. Tune in now for #Inauguration2021 as @JoeBiden and I are sworn in to office and set our nation on a new path forward. https://t.co/U1RQ98R6Ka  Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 20, 2021

Now the real work begins, folks. Follow along at @POTUS as we build back better. pic.twitter.com/fHViqSqwp2  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 20, 2021

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READ | Joe Biden writes a heartfelt message for wife Jill Biden, says 'couldn't be more grateful'
Safety and compliance are just two of the main factors directing freedom of business in the country, photo Le Toan

The new laws on enterprises, investment, and investment under the public-private partnership model, passed by the National Assembly in June 2020 and took effect on January 1, are all components of Vietnams revised economic institutions.

Nguyen Dinh Cung, a member of the Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Group, however noted that the initial provisions of these laws were still sketchy, as enterprises could only do business in areas that the state allowed. In the future, Cung said, enterprises could participate in many more sectors as the state slowly opens up.

Four factors

Investment and business are now based on the pillars of freedom of business, equality in activities, safety in operations, and compliance costs. In todays Vietnam, freedom of business is relatively high, but enterprises still lack reliable tools to protect their interests and rights, Cung pointed out.

For example, large-scale inspections can cause businesses to shut down. Vietnam already has a Law on Inspection that regulates such operations, thereby helping to avoid arbitrary actions or abuse of authority of agencies and officials. However, overlaps with other laws still exist.

Up to now, Cung said that policies and enforcement risks are still high and complex, leaving many businesses in an unpredictable situation that makes even complying with the law a challenge.

The cost of compliance, although significantly reduced, also remains high, according to annual reports on the Provincial Competitiveness Index. Moreover, the reduction of compliance costs is only enabled by administrative reforms as there is no suitable institution to systematically reduce such costs.

Many businesses that want to implement investment projects do not know where to start, and which regulations should be implemented first, Cung explained. Complicated regulations on procedures for implementing projects may have caused many businesses to give up and halt their investments. While a project may only take 6-12 months to complete, some companies have not completed their investment procedures for several years, thus missing out on opportunities and facing increasing costs and lost profits.

With procedures for licensing projects often leading to conflicts because of overlaps and ambiguities, investors are practically scared away from taking on new projects, Cung said. As a result, they may not dare to engage in large-scale investment projects and rather focus on smaller endeavours.

As the investment and business laws move into effect, Cung said that the biggest challenge is now complying with them, citing some industries remaining limitations in business freedom such as in legal services, finance and banking, and other areas.

Finding the way

The new laws largely focus on defining what kind of businesses can be participated in, while the question of how to execute these properly and in compliance with the law remains to be considered, Cung argued.

A survey by the Central Institute for Economic Management under the Ministry of Planning and Investment across many localities showed that to carry out procedures related to an investment project, it usually takes businesses from six months to three years.

This lengthy time is required to carry out land, construction, and environmental procedures in licensing activities, which deprives business often from apparent opportunities and increases costs while reducing possible profits. Those shortcomings have been pointed out by analysts previously but still exist, with some even arguing that they tend to increase.

Among such limitations, procedures for implementing investment projects are related to a system of nine different laws, regulating investment, construction, land, and environmental issues, thus creating several barriers for enterprises to execute their projects.

Dau Anh Tuan, head of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industrys Legal Department, said that there is still room for further reforms of investment procedures. The new Law on Investment solves many problems for businesses, but how they can actually apply the laws provisions will largely depend on the guiding decrees that are to be issued soon, Tuan said.

Meanwhile, the new Law on Enterprises continues to reform business registrations towards the protection of low-capital investors. Yet, there remain debates about the mechanisms for business households as well as price appraisal regulations and other issues.

Policy analysts believe that there are three groups of significant issues that need to be remedied to guarantee the highest efficiency in Vietnams investment and business environment. They relate to market entry procedures; how to manage import-export procedures like customs and specialised management; and procedures for investments.

It is necessary to tackle these various issues as they represent a real bottleneck within the business and investment environment, currently hindering the mobilisation and disbursement of investment capital, Cung of the Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Group said.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong enters Seoul High Court for the re-hearing of evidence in an appeal in a major bribery case, Monday. / Yonhap



By Baek Byung-yeul



Lee Jae-yong, the imprisoned chief of Samsung Group, has vowed to continue his support for the activities of the conglomerate's compliance committee in his first message from behind bars, a move to fulfill his pledge to enhance transparent management at the country's largest chaebol



Samsung Electronics, the crown jewel affiliate of the group, said Thursday that Lee, who is listed as vice chairman of the company, delivered the message through his legal team.



"Vice Chairman Lee sent a message that he will continue to support the activity of the group's compliance committee. He also earnestly asked the committee members to continue doing their jobs," the company said.



On Monday, an appellate court handed a prison sentence of two-and-a-half years to the vice chairman in the re-hearing of evidence in an appeal of his bribery conviction. Lee was convicted and imprisoned in 2017 after being found guilty of paying bribes to former President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil.



However, Lee was released in 2018 after the Seoul High Court partially suspended the sentence. The Supreme Court, however, ordered a re-hearing of the appeal in 2019, stating he should be found guilty of some bribery charges excluded from an earlier ruling. The vice chairman was said to have bribed Park and Choi to smooth the transfer of power to him from his father.



The compliance committee was initiated in February 2020 as the nation's most powerful conglomerate realized the need for assistance in helping it recover its tarnished reputation after a series of scandals including the corruption conviction of the vice chairman.



Lee has encouraged the compliance committee to play a role as a watchdog in ensuring Samsung abides by the law and improves transparency in management. The compliance committee has looked at three issues  the group's attitude to unions, management succession and communication with civic organizations  as key points on its agenda to improve the conglomerate's business compliance.



After the committee's recommendation, Lee issued a public apology saying he wouldn't seek to pass on management of the conglomerate to his children and would work to facilitate active communication between management and any union.



During his final testimony, Dec. 30, 2020, Lee said Samsung was doing its utmost to enhance compliance and the committee had helped to create 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.


A video clip showing police officials in Switzerland dancing together to the beats of popular African hit Jerusalema has gone viral on social media.

The video was released recently by the law enforcement department associated with Zugar Polizei and has been making huge buzz online. The over four-minute dance clip features the officers foot tapping to the popular song. The viral video has now turned into a challenge once again and has now been accepted by the Irish cops.

For the unversed, the Jerusalema dance challenge was one of the biggest social media trends of the year 2020.

In the video, one can see the staff at control rooms and police officers in riot gear, all matching steps in great synchronisation. All the officials of the respective authorities are seen clad in face masks as they dance their hearts out. The compiled video picks snippets from small groups of the departments shaking legs with enthusiasm and in high spirits.

While sharing the video on their official page on the social networking site, the Swiss police force wrote that it doesnt always take a lot to meet life with a smile.

The dance routine has gathered over 8 million views on Facebook with many resharing it on other social media platforms.

After watching the video, Irish radio DJ based in Portugal by the name Frankie Beats has requested the national police of Ireland, Gardai to participate in the viral challenge. Sharing the clip on Twitter, he praised the Swizz police teams and tagged the Irish Polices official Twitter handle. In the continuation of the post, he asked the Gardai if they would accept the dance challenge if there were enough retweets for it.

Police officers in Switzerland @fedpolCH decided to do something special for its people in these dark times. Just amazing! @gardainfo? Will you accept the challenge if enough people retweet this? #Garda #Ireland #Police #Jerusalem pic.twitter.com/n32XWzwO5j Frankie Beats - KISSFM (@itsbeats) January 15, 2021

Later, after Ireland's Department of Justice got involved and asked the Irish Police force to make the country proud.

Weve got this. Challenge accepted #Jerusalemachallenge Garda Info (@gardainfo) January 15, 2021

The Swiss Federal Polices official Twitter page replied to Frankies tweet by saying that they are looking forward to Gardais performance.

We are looking forward to the performance of the @gardainfo ! Even though the  product of the @ZugerPolizei can hardly be topped in terms of #precision, #discipline an #perfectionism. fedpol (@fedpolCH) January 15, 2021

The Irish Police force is yet to reveal to the world how they accepted the challenge. While the masses eagerly await their dance challenge rendition, the tweet has already become highly popular as it is being flooded with numerous entries of cops remaking the viral dance choreography.

The #JerusalemaDanceChallenge in 2020 became a global phenomenon after several people from all walks of life were seen participating to provide hope amid the coronavirus pandemic. The trend of dancing to the spiritual Zulu song refuses to die as the new year advances.
Another 6,683 South Carolina residents signed up for jobless benefits last week as the state continues to manage a workforce that has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic.

The number of first-time filings is higher than what the state reported in November and early December.

But it's unclear whether the jump is the result of an uptick that shows up every year after the holidays or whether it signals a weakening economy.

The new applicants joined more than 170,000 others around South Carolina who continued to seek state and federal unemployment aid as of Jan. 2, which is the most recent date that comprehensive figures are available.

Not everyone who signs up for benefits are eligible for the payments. But economists use the jobless claims figure to gauge new layoffs and how many people remain out of work on a week-to-week basis.

As of Jan. 2, 70 percent of the applicants who continued to request benefits in South Carolina went though two federal programs.

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Roughly 45,400 residents submitted claims for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which provides aid to contract employees, self-employed individuals and so-called gig workers.

Another 73,900 applied for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which provides aid to individuals who already used up their 20 weeks of state eligibility.

Congress extended both programs by 11 weeks in late December, meaning many applicants could be eligible for the federal benefits until mid-March.

The remaining 51,000 who continued to certify claims as of Jan. 2 were seeking to collect through the state's unemployment insurance trust fund, which lawmakers replenished with federal dollars last year.

Altogether, the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce said it paid out $64.4 million last week.

That includes the normal unemployment checks of up to $326 per week and the extra $300 per week that Congress made available to every eligible unemployment applicant in the country.
Spuds that keep mysteriously showing up on the lawn of a Massachusetts library have caught the attention of one of the countrys most-watched political satirists and late night talk-show hosts.

During his Wednesday night episode of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert gave a shoutout to the Wayland Free Public Library, where staff members have been finding what they described as perfectly lovely baked russets on the buildings front lawn for the past week.

One potato, two potatoes. Calling all sleuths!, the library wrote in a Facebook post. None of us can imagine how they got here... Part of a rare potato migration? Kid on a bus revolted by a packed lunch? Its such a dreary day, maybe one of you, if not able to solve this mystery definitively, perhaps you can come up with more fanciful explanation!

One potato, two potatoes. Calling all sleuths! The front lawn of the library has been accumulating what appear to be... Posted by Wayland Free Public Library on Thursday, January 14, 2021

In Wednesdays episode of The Late Show, titled Quarantinewhile... White Castle Wont Let Covid Ruin Valentines Day, Colbert took a few minutes to poke fun at the quirky mystery going on in Wayland, along with other lighter news stories of the new year.

This is the kind of news Im hoping to spend more time thinking about in 2021, because in Wayland, Massachusetts, librarians are mystified by potatoes gathering on the librarys front lawn, Colbert said. I think the words youre looking for are accumulating or appearing. Gathering implies theyre responding to some sort of primal potato call to assemble for the great potato uprising.

Arise my fellow tubers! Never again will they sprinkle us with chives! The cream may be sour, but our revenge will be sweet!, the comedian added.

One potato appeared on the front lawn of the building last Monday, according to the librarys post, and a second spud cropped up two days later.

Colbert in his segment teased wording used in WBZs article on the puzzling tuber discoveries that described the spuds as random potatoes.

Yes, random. These potatoes are neither expected nor orderly. These are taters of chaos!, the talk-show host said.

Patch reported that Wayland Free Public Library Director Sandy Raymond found the first potato Monday while walking around the grounds of the building. She came upon the second tater while getting steps in Tuesday, according to the news outlet.

Thats how vicious this crime is. Shes trying to get her steps in, and some sicko is taunting her with carbs, Colbert joked.

You know were only hearing about this because of the second potato. If it was one potato, the mainstream media would totally ignore it. But two potatoes, thats a clear pattern of po-terrorism, he added.

The Late Show host joked at the end of his segment that the story of the so-called random potatoes is not over yet.

Theres more potato story coming, Colbert said, because if you think this is just some funny, isolated little potato incident, youre adorable.

Related Content:
DOYLESTOWN, Pa., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OrthogenRx, Inc., a medical device company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA), today announced its company highlights for 2020 which have exceeded revenue targets. Among many accomplishments, OrthogenRx is proud to have launched new pricing options to facilitate access to affordable healthcare products, needed more than ever during the health and financial crisis of 2020.

"OrthogenRx's mission has been to provide safe and efficacious treatment options to our patients for the treatment of OA knee pain while providing fair and consistent pricing to healthcare professionals and their patients," said Michael Daley, PhD, Co-President, Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Founder of OrthogenRx, Inc. "All of the employees embody our core values, and have been the hallmark of our ability to not only survive but thrive in the most trying year for healthcare products sales. With additional focus on training, a focused commercial strategy, continued innovation, and a rich product portfolio, we are poised for continued success in 2021."

The company reported the following results and highlights:

Expanded national footprint and reach in key accounts through strategic partnerships;

Launched TriVisc  Direct Purchase Program to provide greater access to TriVisc and a convenient solution for patients without insurance coverage;

Direct Purchase Program to provide greater access to TriVisc and a convenient solution for patients without insurance coverage; Launched a Patient Assistance Program to provide access to TriVisc  for patients without the financial resources to pay for the treatment by providing Patient Assistance Product at no cost to certain appropriately qualified patients;

for patients without the financial resources to pay for the treatment by providing Patient Assistance Product at no cost to certain appropriately qualified patients; Publication in "The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS)" Orthopaedic Forum, titled " Consequences on Private Insurance Coverage: The AAOS Clinical Practice Guidelines and Hyaluronic Acid Injection" , co-authored by OrthogenRx Co-CEO, Michael Daley, PhD as well as C. Thomas Vangsness Jr., MD, Thomas C. Adamson III, MD, FACP;

, co-authored by OrthogenRx Co-CEO, Michael Daley, PhD as well as C. Thomas Vangsness Jr., MD, Thomas C. Adamson III, MD, FACP; Spotlighted media coverage in Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technology TIMES, Orthopedics This Week, and Bucks County Herald;

Supported the local community through volunteer work and donations to the following organizations: Broad Street Ministry, Gary Sinise Foundation for Veteran's, Covenant House, The Make a Wish, Phil Abundance, New Jersey Food Bank, Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, DMAX, Bucks County Opportunity Council, and Minds Matter.

"Early in 2020 we focused on leadership and our commercial strategy to optimize customer acceptance, service and experience, and coupled this with what we believe is most ethical business practice. That includes taking care of employees and the local community. Great companies are only possible through great teams!", said Michael Daley, Co-CEO of OrthogenRx.

"I continue to be amazed at the company's resilience and team performance that created significant value for all the key stakeholders and customers in the most trying of years. Our team continues to be an industry leader in efficiency as assessed by revenue generated per full-time employee equivalent."

2021 Outlook

The company projects it will continue a growth trajectory in 2021 and has experienced significant year over year sales growth since inception. The company is actively recruiting for highly motivated and dedicated team members across the organization, including customer service, marketing, finance, compliance, and quality. Among the operational plans for 2021, the company is planning new innovative products, building strategic partnerships, and delivering superior customer experiences.

"Entering 2021, our performance sets the stage for continued growth and product expansion," added Daley. "As you would expect, we closely monitor all conditions that may impact the business but remain optimistic that we can continue to expand our business at pace and deliver an industry-leading value proposition."

ABOUT OrthogenRx

OrthogenRx Inc. is a late-stage development company headquartered in Doylestown, it licenses, develops, and sells equivalent orthopedic medical devices at competitive pricing and efficient operating processes, thereby maintaining favorable margins. This reduced cost to the healthcare system maintains affordable access to quality healthcare. The management team has decades of industry experience in product development, commercialization, sales/marketing, and reimbursement of medical device products.

Contacts

OrthogenRx Inc.

c/o McDAY  Public Relations

Alison Guzzio, 484-459-3243

[email protected]

1515 Market St #1200

Philadelphia, PA 19102



ORTGEN-OGXPR-0121

SOURCE OrthogenRx, Inc.
Budget 2021: PM Modi to chair all-party meeting on January 30 virtually

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair an all-party meeting on January 30 during which the government will put forth its legislative agenda for the Budget session of Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Wednesday.

He said the meeting will be held virtually and an invitation has been extended to floor leaders of all parties.

An all-party meeting is a customary procedure before the beginning of every session of Parliament to ensure its smooth functioning. However, this time it is being held a day after the session starts on January 29.

Ahead of Budget session, BJP leaders meet at Singhs residence

"The all-party meeting will be held on January 30, where government will put forth its legislative business for the Parliament session and would also listen to the opposition's suggestions," Joshi told PTI.

The Budget session of Parliament is starting from January 29 and will be held in two parts. The first part will conclude on February 15 and second part will be held from March 8 to April 8.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

Parliament will sit in two shifts with Rajya Sabha in the morning and Lok Sabha in the evening. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting of top government officials for holding the Budget session amid the pandemic.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 11:14 [IST]
As even the mighty Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, keeper of Pennsylvanias most famous groundhog, prepares for a virtual Groundhog Day on Tuesday, February 2, events across the region are taking various approaches to their own celebrations in a time of pandemic and social distancing.

The Union Kanaal Grundsau Lodsch No. 17 (Groundhog Lodge Number 17 on the Union Canal) has canceled its festivities along the banks of the Tulpehocken Creek in Myerstown.

Since 1981 members of the lodge have given Uni the groundhog a raft ride down the creek to a seasonal forecast celebration in English and Pennsylvania Dutch.

The Slumbering Groundhog Lodge of Quarryville similarly has cancelled its 2021 celebration with Octoraro Orphie.

That prognosticating event in southern Lancaster County has been held annually since 1908 with just one previous cancellation, in 1943 during World War II.

The annual Groundhog Day event at Valentinos Cafe in Lancaster, featuring Vinny Valentino the stuffed woodchuck, has been canceled. Since its humble beginnings in 2009, the celebration had grown to several hundred attendees last year.

Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation, Millersville Borough, Lancaster County, will hold its forecast event with rescue groundhog Poppy at 11 a.m. February 2 on the Facebook page of Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Poppy makes her prediction through her selection among treats arrayed in front of an early spring to more winter gauge.

Grover the Groundhog and Sweet Arrow Sue, the only prognosticating husband-wife team, will make their 15th annual, Schuylkill County prognostication on the Facebook page of Sweet Arrow Lake County Park at 7:30 a.m. February 2. They will be joined by Matthew Dodd, who will perform a virtual Groundhog Day concert and share some stories about the event.

Shipoke Sheena, a chihuahua named Bubble that dresses in a groundhog costume (which is technically a bear costume), for an annual Ground Dog Day prediction and celebration in the Shipoke neighborhood of Harrisburg, wont be doing her early-February event this year.

Shipoke Sheena may do something in the spring some kind of celebration, explained her mom, Joanne Kaldy. Sheena is very flexible.

But, she explained, people are so consumed right now with just life.
Its over. The 45th president who came into office four years ago decrying this American carnage left in an aftermath of death (400,000 from the coronavirus pandemic he downplayed for too long, with lethal consequences) and destruction (an insurrection of the U.S. Capitol he incited with lies about a stolen election he lost decisively).

Ant its starting. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took their oaths of offices that was as dignified as it was necessarily surreal in light of the threats of a pandemic and domestic terrorism that were elevated by the outgoing presidents failed leadership.

Biden spoke of truth and unity in his inaugural address, words seldom spoken, let alone lived, by his predecessor. Harris was an inspiration for so many: those who knew her as a child in the East Bay (Oaktown pride!), those who saw her political career take flight in San Francisco and untold millions of young women, especially of African American or Asian American descent, who saw themselves in the vice president of the United States.

It was a day of triumph for American democracy. Even the absence of Donald J. Trump could not take away from the miracle of the peaceful transfer of power, the hallmark of this amazing experiment in representative government.

Heres our editorial on Inauguration Day

What else were saying in editorials

Recharge the swamp: President Donald J. Trump left office Wednesday after a flurry of actions that showed the hollowness of the principles he espouses, his appreciation for grift and graft and his fundamental disregard for the hard-working Americans who believed in him. None of those actions was more despicable or instructive than his pardon of former White House strategist Steve Bannon. Read our editorial

All over but the indictments and lawsuits: Presidents enjoy a variety of perks, among them public housing and transportation. But for President Trump, long accustomed to private aircraft and a South Florida mansion that he often preferred to the White House, the most valuable privilege has been immunity from prosecution. Read our editorial

Guest opinions

Kamala Harris: From helping seniors navigate the Medicare system to helping veterans get the benefits they are owed, from securing funding for families to rebuild after the wildfires to working to get small businesses what they need to stay afloat  my team heard you, we saw you and we fought for you. Read the outgoing U.S. senators farewell message to Californians

Barbara Lee: Against the backdrop of the insurrection inspired by Trump, and his attempts to reverse the outcome of the election in part by disenfranchising millions of Black voters in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, this weeks inauguration of Kamala Harris as the first Black and South Asian woman to hold the office of the vice president is so important for our country as we try to move forward and repair the damage wrought by the Trump administration over the past four years. Read the East Bay congresswomans piece

Champion for whistle-blowers: With all the strengths and conviction we can expect to see from our new health care czar, it is in the area of fraud-busting where we likely will see soon-to-be (HHS) Secretary (Xavier) Becerra shine brightest. Based on his strong record as California attorney general, he likely will use the one-two punch of whistle-blowers and the False Claims Act to get the job done. Read the piece

In case you missed it

The cost of Trumps lies: So here we are, a few days from a new president promising to restore truth, civility and the scientific way to American politics, amid the ruins of a vainglorious president who failed us as none before him. Stores are shuttered, schools are closed, hospitals and morgues are overwhelmed, families are stressed, stadiums are empty, 25,000 troops are lining the streets of Washington to protect us from a threat within, and young people are facing a future of climate calamity in no small part because of a serial liar of a president. Read my column from Sunday 1/17

Josh Gohlke: In the broad sweep of American history, this verdict of the moment is myopic and uncharitable. Donald Trump isnt a bad president; Donald Trump is the worst president. Sure, its a competitive category, but dont take my word for it. Read Joshs column

Letter of the Week

Allen Kanner of Berkeley is not letting former President Donald Trump off the hook:

Any calls for healing the country by not convicting President Trump in his upcoming Senate impeachment trial are terribly shortsighted, if not downright disingenuous.

You dont bandage an infected wound to heal it. You first clean out the infection.

Trumps lies about election fraud have infected America. They have exacerbated racism and encouraged fascism, as has his presidency in general. His conviction is a desperately needed step in fighting such trends. It would send a strong message to future politicians, including presidents, that such behavior will not be tolerated.

That is true healing.

And please check out our other letters of the day responding to this and other matters. You can send us a letter via this form.

Where to follow us

We have a Twitter channel, Opinion Central (@sfc_opinions). Please add it to your stream. Youll catch our editorials and opinion pieces, as well as our drive-by comments on assorted subjects in the news. Follow me on Twitter: @JohnDiazChron

Just a reminder

The Chronicles editorials represent the collective judgment of our Editorial Board, which includes the publisher as well as the writers and editors from the opinion team. Our editors and reporters on the news side are not involved in those decisions (including election endorsements). They are charged with reporting fairly and objectively without regard to our editorial positions. It is one of the core values here at Fifth and Mission streets.

Opinion Central is a thrice-weekly newsletter from John Diaz, The Chronicles editorial page editor, and the rest of the Editorial Board. Follow along on Twitter: @sfc_opinions
LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Buckle up for a classic drive-in movie night celebrating Arkansas students, K-12 education and National School Choice Week. The free movie night is open to all families in the Little Rock area and will take place at 6 p.m. at MP Outdoor Cinema on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The evening will feature a screening of "Miss Virginia," starring Uzo Aduba. Based on a true story, the movie portrays a single mother's fight to expand education options for low-income children.

The drive-in setting with socially distanced cars will allow families to come together in a safe way to celebrate the Week. As a health and safety precaution, the concession stand at the venue will be closed, but families can register before the screening to receive a free Chick-fil-A meal.

The drive-in movie night is part of the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2021, which will feature more than 33,000 celebrations across all 50 states.

The Reform Alliance will also host a statewide "Wear Yellow Day," a virtual town hall to help parents learn about education options, an essay competition for students in grades 4-12 and a TikTok dance challenge.

The Reform Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting educational opportunities for all students.

Families can learn more and register to attend the drive-in movie night at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drive-in-movie-screening-of-miss-virginia-tickets-136646295749 .

MP Outdoor Cinema is located at 6700 Allied Way in Little Rock.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com


By Benjamin Jumbe

Kampala City Lord mayor elect Erias Lukwago has castigated the continued house arrest of the National Unity Platform president, Robert Kyagulanyi.

Security agencies have denied Kyagulanyi the opportunity to leave his house since presidential elections that were held a week ago.

Speaking shortly after being officially declared winner of the Kampala mayoral race, Lukwago said the continued house arrest of Kyagulanyi and denying him access to lawyers and other visitors is a violation of his rights.

Lukwago says working through the umbrella body, Unity in diversity, he will work with all other political players to secure the freedom of Kyagulanyi and release of those NUP supporters who were arrested and imprisoned ahead of last weeks polls.

Lukwago has won the race after garnering, 194,592 votes beating NUPs Nabila Nagayi Ssempala who got 60,082 votes out of the 295,592 valid votes cast.

The race attracted 11 candidates.
SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntkey, a leading provider of power solutions, has officially released its 20W Mini PD Charger - the K20 in China. It is now available on Tmall.com, one of biggest e-commerce giants in China.

The Huntkey 20W Mini PD Charger:

http://www.huntkey.com.cn/product/product_id=996.html

The K20 is designed with one USB-C charging port that is compatible with PD charging protocol to intelligently deliver the fastest possible charging speeds. It is well-suited for iPhone 8 or later models, and it is able to charge an iPhone 12 to 50% within 30 minutes when it is paired with a Huntkey MFI-certified cable.

It is compatible with multiple devices like small phones and tablets, and provides 5 different protections - Over Current Protection, Over Voltage Protection, Over Heat Protection, Over Charging Protection and Short Circuit Protection to ensure charging safety.

It's designed like a mini cube, measuring a dimension of 30*30*30mm, which is smaller than the original charger of iPhone. It features a 2-pin plug and supports 100-240V input power, meaning it can be directly used in China, Japan and North America. For more information, please visit: https://en.huntkey.com/

About Huntkey

Founded in 1995, Huntkey is a leading global provider of PC power supplies, power strips, surge protectors, laptop adapters, phone chargers, monitors and air purifiers. Huntkey is an Asia renowned brand, a member of The International Power Supply Manufacturer's Association (PSMA) and China Power Supply Society (CPSS). Including three total nearly 1,000,000 square meters industrial parks, Huntkey is one of the most famous brands and largest companies in mainland China. It is headquartered in Shenzhen, with branch companies in the US, Japan and Hong Kong, and with cooperating factories in Vietnam, Brazil, Argentina and India.

In 2020, Huntkey introduces its latest photocatalyst air purifier - the desktop air purifier globally. The desktop air purifier is designed portable and can efficiently remove chemical vapors, odors, haze particles, and many more air pollutants. Check them out via: https://en.huntkey.com/products/air-purifiers/

SOURCE Huntkey

Related Links

https://en.huntkey.com/




Thousands of aircraft aroud the world have gone into long-term storage, such as at this facility in Alice Springs, due to the downturn in air travel in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: Shutterstock

Proper maintenance procedures are in place to ensure that planes grounded for months or years due to worldwide travel restrictions are not an additional danger when they fly again.

Air passengers should not be concerned about flying in the future, according to a UNSW Sydney aerospace expertdespite many aircraft being held in long-term storage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Air safety was brought into focus earlier this month when 62 people died following the crash of a Sriwijaya Air Boeing 737 shortly after take-off from Jakarta in Indonesia. The aircraft involved in that incident had been in long-term storage for many months during 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a huge decrease in air travel in the past year, especially on intercontinental routes, and subsequently forced airlines around the world to ground thousands of aircraft for long periods.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said in a Safety Information Bulletin released last August that it had noticed an 'alarming trend' in the number of reports of unreliable speed and altitude indications during the first flights following the aircraft leaving storage, caused by contaminated air data systems.

A significant percentage of those contaminations were due, it said, to the accumulation of foreign objects, such as insect nests, in the pitot static system which crucially monitors airspeed and altitude. They recommended careful compliance with the maintenance procedures for stored aircraft coming back into service.

But Dr. Sonya Brown, senior lecturer in aerospace design at UNSW Engineering, says there is no reason for passengers to be unduly worried about the condition of stored aircrafteven if planes remain grounded for longer periods due to extended border restrictions.

"In any aircraft maintenance manual there are procedures for grounding the plane and they're very, very specific about what should be done depending on the different lengths of storage," Dr. Brown says.

Many aircraft are sent to long-term storage facilities in desert regions where the low humidity helps prevent damage to the plane and its crucial flight systems. Credit: Shutterstock

"And if the aircraft is stored correctly, and if all those procedures are followed by the appropriately licensed personnel, there is very little additional risk.

"It is also dependent on environmental factors. So that's why somewhere like Alice Springs is often used as a storage facility, as well as the desert in Arizona, because they've got very low humidity, so it reduces the chance of some of the degradation we might see."

The storage facility in Alice Springs, run by Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage (APAS), has grown rapidly since the pandemic heavily impacted air travel and could ultimately hold up to 200 planes.

The company also increased its maintenance staffing levels to 70, with plans for future expansion if required.

In terms of local fleets, and with intercontinental travel to and from Australia decimated, Qantas has put 12 of their long-haul Airbus A380s into storage in the Mojave desert in the U.S. until 2023. In addition, 11 of their Boeing 787s have also been grounded long-term at the same facility.

In total, Qantas announced last June they would put around 100 planes in storage for at least a year, and likely for even longer as the Australian government seems reluctant to open its borders quickly.

Unprecedented situation

Even before the COVID pandemic, aircraft would be taken out of regular service and go into storage due to, for example, varying levels of passenger demand during the year.

Many flight systems are covered up to prevent damage when planes go into long-term storage. Credit: Shutterstock

But Dr. Brown acknowledges this is an unprecedented situation with regards to the sheer number of planes sitting unused for long periods of time, which could potentially cause some issues.

"The problem we have in this COVID environment is that normally storage would be happening a small number of times to small numbers of aircraft, and the airlines or the facilities have a dedicated crew to maintain them properly," the lecturer in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering explains.

"But with COVID, there are so many planes worldwide going into storage and that means some might end up in non-ideal conditions, or in places without the appropriate equipment, or with not enough proper maintenance personnel.

"There will be a lot of maintenance people who haven't dealt with these storage issues very regularly, and if they haven't done the procedures often before, they might not necessarily spot something. And that's where some additional risk may come into play, simply because the increased numbers of stored planes could lead to more imperfections in the process."

However, Dr. Brown says those potential issues are mitigated by the fact that it's likely to be a long and slow process to get back to the previous 'normal' levels of air travel.

"April 2020 was the very lowest point in terms of air traffic and ever since then there has been a continual gradual increase," she explains.

"I don't think the airlines are going to suddenly need a lot of these stored aircraft to be ready at short notice, so the fact they are likely to come back into service gradually and slowly means there should be time to do the proper inspections fully."

Explore further Parking in a pandemic
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scali Rasmussen Founder and Managing Shareholder Christian Scali has been elected to the Board of Governors of the Italian American Lawyers Association (IALA). The IALA, a Los Angeles-based bar association, was founded in 1977 as an organization of Italian American lawyers through a generous donation from Frank Sinatra. They are known for outstanding speakers, authentic Italian meals, and an energy that is unique to the IALA.

Scali has a diverse legal practice that includes advice and counsel and complex and high stakes litigation. He frequently serves as outside general counsel on behalf of a variety of companies, including Italian American companies. Years of litigating buy/sell and commercial lease disputes on behalf of his clients have made him an effective transactional attorney. His ability to recognize the difference between an important or consequential deal point and one that has no real practical advantage or disadvantage, avoids pointless disputes and allows the parties to more quickly get to a deal.

Scali also creates effective corporate compliance and ethics programs for his clients and represents clients in regulatory enforcement actions and requests for information.

In addition to his work with the IALA, Scali serves on the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) Litigation Section Executive Committee and is a delegate for the Board of Directors of the Independent Auto Dealers Association of California (IADAC). The Los Angeles Business Journal named Scali a "2019 Top Litigator" and he was recognized by the publication as a Leader in Law Nominee in 2019 and 2020.

The Italian Lawyers Association's Annual Installation Gala was held on Saturday, January 16, 2021. The Gala was held virtually and it was attended by several judges and several attorneys in the U.S. and Italy.

About Scali Rasmussen

Entrepreneurs and business owners in automotive, retail, hospitality and other industries count on Scali Rasmussen to manage their litigation portfolios as well as a full range of legal issues: employment, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, acquisitions, real estate and more. With extensive depth representing retail automotive dealerships, the firm is a one-stop, diverse resource for practical, experienced and strategic business legal counsel. For more information, visit Scali Rasmussen.

SOURCE Scali Rasmussen
When federal agents found two kids who had been kidnapped in Rochester on Monday, they were being hidden on the floorboards of a rental car underneath blankets in Montgomery, Alabama.

It was the rental car and forensic work done on phones that had tipped off federal officials.

The car had been rented in the Rochester area and driven to Alabama, according to Greece Police Chief Andrew Forsythe.

Within 40 minutes of finding the address in Alabama, a surveillance detail was set up on a house. A woman drove from the house in the rental car just before 5:50 p.m. Wednesday and was pulled over, Forsythe said.

While the stop led federal officials to Shekeria Cash, 3, and Dimitri Cash Jr., 5, law enforcement officials are still trying to wrangle the group of people involved in the kids kidnapping.

Theres interviews going on as we speak, Forsythe said at a Wednesday night press conference live-streamed by 13 WHAM ABC.

The woman has not yet been charged and Forsythe said the two people who kidnapped the kids have not yet been arrested. He declined to identify the woman or anyone else they suspect was involved in the kidnapping.

Forsythe also said that while police have spoken to Dimitri Cash Sr., the father of the two kids, theyre still unsure where he is. The police chief stopped short of calling Cash a suspect but said theyd like to talk to him. Cash had previously been arrested for forcibly taking Dimitri Jr. from his elementary school last January, according to the Democrat & Chronicle.

Ultimately, police arent sure yet whether those arrested will face state or federal charges, Forsythe said. Police are currently consulting with Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley and the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York.

The bottomline: These kids are safe, said Charles Salina, the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of New York.

The Cash kids were abducted Monday from their foster parents on English Road in Greece, near Rochester.

A woman who lived at the home walked to the front of her Greece residence after hearing a loud crash on the first floor, police said. She was investigating the sound when she saw two ski-mask-wearing men smash a window and break into her home, police said.

The womans seven foster children  all under the age of 11  were upstairs. The suspects kidnapped the Cash kids. The children were considered to be in imminent danger of serious harm or death.

READ MORE: Amber Alert issued for boy, girl kidnapped from Rochester area by men wearing ski masks

Forsythe gave the following account of what happened after the two suspects entered the home:

When she saw the two masked men the foster mother screamed. Two of her foster children, startled by her screams, came downstairs to see if she was OK.

The woman pulled the two kids close and wrapped her arms around them. The suspects bound the three together with duct tape  placing tape over the womans mouth to muffle her screams.

One of the children, a boy, suffered a cut lip.

The men then went upstairs and found the Cash siblings. After forcibly taking Shekeria and Dimitri from the home, the suspects stole the foster mothers van and drove away with the kidnapped children.

Using GPS, police later tracked the stolen van to White Hall Drive. The van was empty and abandoned.

This wasnt a spur of the moment type of event, Forsythe said Wednesday.

Less than 48 hours later, the car, forensics done on phones and GPS tracking led law enforcement to the address in Alabama, more than 1,000 miles from where the kids originally went missing.

At the time of the press conference, Forsythe said the kids were eating chicken nuggets and watching Tom & Jerry cartoons in Alabama. Theyll be taken back to their foster parents when they return to Rochester, he said.

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter.
Bets on the Indian rupees rebound this year are already facing headwinds.

The signaled recently it wont relent on dollar purchases that pushed the currency to the bottom of Asias currency rankings in 2020. Analysts had forecast for the to rise for the first time in four years on hopes the RBI may slow its foreign-currency accumulation after the stockpile rose to a record.

The RBIs comments suggest the large FX intervention that the central bank undertook in 2020 totaling almost $120 billion will continue in 2021, said Khoon Goh, head of research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. in Singapore. Persistent FX intervention will see INR underperforming regional currencies, he said.

RBI Governor said on Saturday that emerging markets need to build reserves as buffers against external shocks even at the risk of being added to the U.S. watchlist for currency manipulation. India rejoined the list in December due to RBIs sustained forex purchases and a large goods trade surplus with the U.S.

Indias central bank officials are usually reticent about commenting on the nations foreign exchange policy. This marks a departure from from the RBIs fifteen-year plus stance of intervening only to contain volatility, Indranil Sen Gupta and Aastha Gudwani, economists at Bank of America wrote in a note.

Das comments also put the spotlight on bullish trades from banks including Nomura Holdings Inc., which said in a report last week that the Indian currency may outperform the Indonesian rupiah as the RBI may allow it to appreciate in a positive inflow backdrop. Deutsche Bank AG also recommended buying the against the Philippine peso.





The median estimate of a Bloomberg survey shows the rupee may strengthen rise to 72.50 to a dollar by year-end. Its risen 0.1% so far in 2021 to 73.03 after three straight years of declines. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. sees it appreciating to 70 by March 2022.

The rupee is under pressure to rise on heavy foreign inflows. However, that prompts the central bank to mop up excess dollars with the aim of keeping the local exchange rate stable. Deutsche Bank expects inflows to reach $82 billion by the end of the fiscal year ending March, before continuing at a similar pace in the following 12 months.

Silver Lining

Indias rose to a record $586 billion. Thats catching up with Russia, which has the worlds fourth-largest stockpile. Mizuho Bank Ltd. sees this having a positive implications for the rupee when the greenback strengthens.

This prudential FX reserve building means that on episodes of sudden USD strength, rupee resilience will be greater, said Vishnu Varathan, the Singapore-based head of economics and strategy at the bank. In a stronger-dollar scenario, and barring a surge in oil prices the rupee could fare better than peers such as the Indonesian rupiah and Philippine peso, he said.
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The first day of Joe Bidens presidency prompted celebrations and protests in Oregon, with many gathering to cheer the new administration and push for more rapid policy changes than those that have been promised.

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took their oaths of office Wednesday on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol in a ceremony that stood in stark contrast to the violent insurrection that took place there two weeks prior.

Many Oregonians cheered both the inauguration and Donald Trumps departure from power, while making it clear that they would continue to push the new administration to make major reforms.

And while large demonstrations at the Oregon State Capitol did not materialize, a few hundred people came together for protests in Portland.

Heres what Oregonians should know, looking back on Inauguration Day.

TEAR GAS DEPLOYED AT SOUTH PORTLAND PROTEST

Portlands most heated clash between protesters and police came Wednesday night, when a crowd of at least 100 marched to a U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility on South Macadam Avenue.

Upon reaching the facility, several people spray-painted Reunite families now onto the wall of the building. The gathering was declared an unlawful assembly about 9:30 p.m.

Federal Protective Service officers used smoke grenades and grenades of CS gas  a type of tear gas  to move crowds back from the building after receiving reports of people trying to vandalize a card entrance reader on the buildings gate, according to a law enforcement official familiar with the federal officers actions but not authorized to speak publicly.

Once officers emerged from the building, some in the crowd threw rocks, bottles and fired pepper PAVA, a substance similar to pepper spray, from paintball guns, the official said.

At one point, the air was so thick with gas and smoke that it was difficult to see.

Portland police said seven people were arrested in the demonstration, which was the latest between protesters and federal officers at the South Portland site.

Whether federal public disorder tactics will change under the new presidential administration is an open question.

Biden has named Alejandro Mayorkas as a nominee for U.S. Department of Homeland Security, but he hasnt been confirmed yet.

Federal officials are unsure whether changes in U.S. immigration policy under Biden will lead to a reduction in protests at the Portland ICE field office.

Mayorkas told Sen. Jeff Merkley, one of Oregons two Democratic U.S. senators, that he would review DHS policies after Merkley expressed his concerns about federal officers authoritarian tactics responding to protests, according to Sara Hottman, a spokeswoman for Merkley.

Hottman said that during the conversation, Merkley made it clear that he wants to see the rights of peaceful protesters respected.

As Biden assumed the presidency, he signed several executive orders that undo many of former President Donald Trumps initiatives, such as halting work on a border wall with Mexico, lifting a travel ban on people from several Muslim countries and reversing a plan to exclude people in the country illegally from a 2020 census.

Hank Stern, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, said no word has come yet on whether the Biden administration will direct federal officers to police protests differently, but the philosophy is a vast departure from Trumps.

Sen. Wyden knows the Biden administration is just as committed as he is to ending systemic racism and to opposing violence from any quarter anywhere, Stern said. The difference between this administration and the previous administration is that federal forces this past summer were controlled by a megalomaniac calling for the US military to make American blood run in the streets. Now the same military is controlled by a man pleading with our country for peace and unity.

Our community must come together to root out a small subset of criminal opportunists who abuse peaceful protests as a cover for their violent actions, but the violence Sen. Wyden continues to oppose includes law enforcement violence to peaceful protesters.

WINDOWS BROKEN IN NORTHEAST PORTLAND

The most striking daytime demonstration was a direct action march in which some protesters smashed windows at the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters in Northeast Portland.

Eight people were arrested in the protest, which decried the government, including Bidens presidency, and focused on various calls for justice  including reforming policing and improving education and foster care.

The event drew about 200 people at its peak.

PORTLAND ARRESTS

At least 11 of the 15 people arrested in Wednesdays demonstrations are from Portland or the surrounding area, according to police. Two are from Albany, and another is from McMinnville. One persons city of residence is not listed.

The youngest two people arrested are 18 years old, according to police. The eldest is 44. Ten are in their 20s.

Those arrested are accused of charges that include disorderly conduct, interfering with a peace officer, reckless burning, riot, assaulting a public safety officer and criminal mischief, according to police. One is accused of possessing a destructive device, police said, and another is accused of carrying a concealed weapon.

The Multnomah County District Attorneys Office said that three of the people arrested were accused of damaging the Democratic Party of Oregon office.

QUIET SCENE AT STATE CAPITOL

Large demonstrations at the Oregon State Capitol never materialized amid a heightened law enforcement presence and the fortification of buildings including the Capitol itself.

Only a handful of demonstrators  including Trump supporters and critics  turned out in front of the Capitol in Salem.

One pro-Biden demonstrator toted a pair of signs, one of which read: Lock Trump up!!! in all capital letters.

The Capitols windows remained boarded up, and the entrance was protected by a chain-link fence.

The scene in Olympia, Washington states capital, also remained calm.

CELEBRATIONS

Many Oregonians also gathered in celebration.

An Inaugurate Justice car caravan started at Portland Community Colleges Cascade Campus Wednesday afternoon and proceeded to Northeast Portlands Irving Park for a rally and march.

As the event started, people chanted messages in support of Black Lives Matter. A drumline also played, cheering the day while calling for more progressive changes.

This is such a monumental day, a speaker told the crowd. Because today is the day we dump Trump. But we need to embrace resistance too. The fight is just beginning.

Earlier Wednesday, roughly a dozen people holding signs supporting the Black Lives Matter movement were met by almost constant honks of approval from drivers on Northeast Broadway  the only breaks in the noise coming when the streetlights turned red.

The Democratic Party of Oregon and Portlands Trinity Episcopal Cathedral were among those who hosted virtual Inauguration Day events.

OREGON OFFICIALS REACTIONS

Gov. Kate Brown hailed the inauguration of Biden as the nations 46th president and Harris as the first woman and first woman of color to serve as vice president, describing it as an extraordinary moment.

Brown, a fellow Democrat, said she looked forward to working with the new administration to address the coronavirus pandemic as she also plugged a plan to establish a national vote-by-mail and automatic voter registration system.

Election after election, here in Oregon, we set the example for our country, Brown said in a statement. Our 30-year-old Vote-by-Mail system took a turn on the national stage as states across the country shifted to voting by mail, and voting early, to enable people to vote safely and securely.

Brown was part of a chorus of Oregon officials who cheered the new administration.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
Google has threatened to remove its search function in Australia and Facebook warned it would pull news content if a new law requiring the tech giants to compensate media organisations is passed.

The proposed law, introduced to the Australian Parliament in December, will force Facebook and Google to negotiate fees with news companies whose stories appear on their platforms.

The world-first code states that if a negotiation breaks down then an independent umpire will step in and decide the fee based on a 'final offer' method, which chooses one side's position as the resolution.

Mel Silva, the Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand, said the company may be forced to pull its search function out of Australia if the code goes ahead

Google and Facebook are fighting the code, claiming it is 'unworkable' and poses an existential threat to their business models.

Australia's battle with Big Tech is being keenly watched by governments across the world, not least in London, Washington DC and Brussels, where concerns have been raised over the 'advertising duopoly' of Google and Facebook.

Australian regulators found that for every $100 spent on digital advertising, $53 goes to Google, $28 to Facebook and only $19 goes to others.

Google turns over $4.9billion in Australia, with $4.3billion of that from advertising - while many Australian publishers are struggling to make money. The company only paid $59million in Australian corporate tax last year.

In a hostile public hearing before senators on Friday, Mel Silva, the Managing Director of Google Australia and New Zealand, said the company may be forced to pull its search function out of Australia if the code goes ahead.

'The principle of unrestricted linking between web sites is fundamental to search and, coupled with the unmanageable financial and operational risk, if this version of the code were to become law, it would give us no real choice but to stop making Google Search available in Australia,' she said.

'That would be a bad outcome for us but also for the Australian people, media diversity and the small businesses who use our products every day.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison hit back, saying Google will have to respect the law.

'Australia makes our rules for things you can do in Australia. That's done in our parliament. It's done by our government. And that's how things work here in Australia. And people who want to work with that, in Australia, you're very welcome - but we don't respond to threats,' he told reporters on Friday afternoon.

Facebook vice-president of public policy for Asia-Pacific, Simon Milner appears via video link before a senate inquiry

Ms Silva said forcing Google to pay for snippets of news to appear on Google Search poses an 'untenable' risk to the business.

She said the company has been unable to work out how much it would be forced to shell out to media companies.

Ms Silva also said news searches only make up 1.25 per cent of Google searches and that paying news organisations would be unfair to other companies that appear on Google Search.

Facebook Public Policy Asia-Pacific Vice President Simon Milner said the company may have to stop showing news content to Australian users if the law is passed.

'I can reassure the committee that this does not mean that Facebook would no longer be available... but we have explained that that is something we have to seriously consider giving the nature of this unworkable code,' he said.

Mr Milner said the code gives publishers 'complete control' of negotiations and encourages them to make unreasonable claims.

He also said publishers freely choose to put their content on Facebook and have generated an estimated $394million from referral traffic from January to November last year.

Mr Milner claimed news content generates 'almost no commercial value for Facebook' and represents only five per cent of users' newsfeeds.

But he said the potential cost to Facebook posed by the code was 'unknowable and uncapped'.

In questioning, Independent Senator Rex Patrick compared Google to the Chinese government which has blocked trade with Australia after Mr Morrison called for an inquiry in the origins of coronavirus.

He said: 'The Chinese response was to threaten our market, to threaten our trade... We've got a similar situation here where our government steps out first and the very large organisation that is Google threatens to leave our market, do you think that's proper conduct for a large international corporation?'

Ms Silva replied: 'It is the only rational choice if this law were to pass for us.'

Senator Patrick said the code was going to go world-wide. 'You're going to pull out of every market are you? Or is this about stopping the precedent?'

Ms Silva scoffed and said the code posed an 'untenable risk to our Australian operations.'

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young accused Google of threatening Australia by suggesting it would leave the market.

'Why come here and threaten the Australian people with cutting off their search results,' she asked.

Ms Silva replied: 'We are outlining the worst case scenario, we don't want that to happen.'

The director admitted that Google is worried about the precedent the code will set, amid fears other countries - who have been struggling to regulate Big Tech - could adopt a similar model.

She said Google has never shared full news articles and that it helps publishers by 'providing them free traffic every day.'

Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg accused Google of 'blackmailing Australian consumers and policymakers'.

Why come here and threaten the Australian people with cutting off their search results Senator Hanson-Young

Last week Google banned Australian news content from appearing in its search as part of what it called an 'experiment'.

A representative for Nine Entertainment Company, one of Australia's largest media companies, said this showed Google was so powerful it could 'hold Australians to ransom'.

'They have shown they are not afraid to bully and intimidate and make changes to their service,' he said.

A representative for Guardian Australia said Google's power was 'dangerous' and the code was needed to redress a market failure where Google and Facebook receive 81 per cent of digital advertising revenue.

The organisations, together with News Corp, rejected Google and Facebook's claims their operations were under threat by the code.

They said the companies have made them offers for their content but they are too low to be considered.

Every month 19million Australians use Google and 17million use Facebook.

Chris Cooper, executive director of Reset Australia, a group that aims to counter digital threats to democracy, said Google's threats to leave the market proved that regulation was needed.

'Today's egregious threats show Google has the body of behemoth, but the brain of brat,' he said.

'When a private corporation tries to use its monopoly power to threaten and bully a sovereign nation, it's a surefire sign that regulation is long overdue.'

How Google dominates the global advertising market and spends billions squeezing out competitors 1) Dominating search engine space Google, through both its deals placing its search engine above others on devices and through public interest in it, accounts for 80 percent of every internet search in the US. In 2020, it accounted for 94% of all mobile searches in the US 2) Monetizing its dominance through ads Google monetizes the amount people use it with ads, which generate around US$40billion in revenue every year 3) Spending its billions to cement its dominance with 'exclusionary deals' With the money it makes through ads, Google pays companies like Apple, LG and others to block out any of its competitors from having their search engine preferred on devices Among the deals is one with Apple. Google is the default on Safari on iPhones and it's also the default on Siri. The deal amounts to up to a fifth of Apple's worldwide income which last year would have been around US$11billion Advertisement

The United States government this week asked Australia to scrap the proposed laws, which have broad political support, and suggested Australia should pursue a voluntary code instead.

Instead of paying for news that appears on Search, Google is offering to have its 'news showcase' feature included, which allows users to read some stories that are otherwise behind paywalls.

Facebook has argued the code has already deterred its planned investments in Australian news.

'The bill is not, as its name suggests, a bargaining code: it removes the potential for genuine bargaining by forcing Facebook to make payments that are detached from true calculations of commercial value and by incentivising news publishers to make unreasonable ambit claims and bargain in non-commercial ways,' the company said.

'It removes any meaningful influence over our own commercial dealings with publishers.'

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher drew up the law after a three-year inquiry by Australia's competition regulator, the ACCC.

The inquiry found Google and Facebook have 'an imbalance in bargaining power' when dealing with news companies.

They are going to say things to stop the code coming into force. What they'll actually do, I honestly don't know ACCC Chairman Rod Sims On Friday, ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said Google and Facebook's threat to leave were possibly empty words. 'They want deals where they're in full control of the deal. That's not a commercial deal in my view,' he said. 'They are going to say things to stop the code coming into force. I think that's what you'd expect them to say. What they'll actually do, I honestly don't know.' He rejected Google's claims that the code will ruin the company's search function. 'I do not accept the argument that the code will break search or destroy a ''free and open Internet'' any more than paid search ads destroyed search,' he said. 'Importantly also, the code does not require Google and Facebook to pay for linking news content. Indeed, discussions we are aware of have focussed on paying up front lump sum amounts, not per click. 'Further, they can negotiate and make offers on other terms, including on products like Google Showcase or Facebook News Tab, outside the code or under the code,' he added. The Code will initially apply to Facebook NewsFeed and Google Search - but other services such as Instagram and YouTube can be added if a bargaining power imbalance arises. The tech giants would face $10million fines if they don't follow the rules.

In addition to payment for content, the measures would also force transparency around the closely guarded algorithms that tech firms use to rank content.

The code will require Google and Facebook to give publishers 14 days notice of any algorithm changes that are likely to have a significant impact on their traffic.

Under a two-way value model, the payment for content would take into account the value that Google and Facebook provide to news organisations by driving traffic to their sites.

What is the bargaining code and why is it needed? WHY IS IT NEEDED? Google and Facebook derive a benefit from the ability to make Australian news content available to their users. Australian news businesses have had to accept commercial deals with the platforms that are less favourable than they would otherwise agree to. Intervention is needed to address this imbalance because of the public benefit of news and the importance of a strong independent media in a well-functioning democracy. For every $100 spend on advertising, $53 goes to Google, $28 goes to Facebook and $19 goes to other media. WHAT IS THE CODE? The government wants good faith commercial deals to be struck outside the code. But if the platforms and news organisations are unable or unwilling to reach an agreement 'final offer arbitration' will take place. The arbiters will take into account the benefits traditional news media businesses get by having eyeballs on their product. The digital platforms will also need to adhere to a series of minimum standards. WHO IS INCLUDED? * Facebook and Google. * ABC, SBS and Australian commercial news media organisations. Source: AAP Advertisement
New Delhi, Jan 21 : The Congress has slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked him to wake up after the farmers rejected the government's proposal to suspend the three farm laws for one and half years.

"Modiji, the farmers of country have woken up when will you wake up? The deaths of 146 farmers will not go in vain. Farmer organisation rejecting the government's offer is the bugle of their waking up. Don't say that we didn't warn you," Congress General Secretary and national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said in a tweet.

His remarks came after the Samyukt Kisan Morcha after a full general body rejected the government's proposal to suspend the three farm laws for one and half years and made it clear that nothing beyond the repealing of these laws are accepted.

The farmers also rejected the Delhi Police request to not hold the parade on Republic Day in the national capital.

In a statement the Samyukt Kisan Morcha said, "The proposal put forth by the government yesterday, was rejected.' "A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement," it said.

The government had on Wednesday proposed to suspend the three farm laws for one and half years during the 10th round of dialogue.

The five hour long meeting ended inconclusively on Wednesday.

The next round of talks of the farmers and the government is scheduled for January 22.

Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryanand western Uttar Pradesh have bee protesting at several borders of the national capital since November 26 last year demanding repealing of the three farm laws.
Nerve cells communicate with one another via synapses. Neuroscientists at the University of Zurich and ETH Zurich have now found that these connections seem to be much more powerful than previously thought. The larger the synapse, the stronger the signal it transmits. These findings will enable a better understanding of how the brain functions and how neurological disorders arise.

The neocortex is the part of the brain that humans use to process sensory impressions, store memories, give instructions to the muscles, and plan for the future. These computational processes are possible because each nerve cell is a highly complex miniature computer that communicates with around 10,000 other neurons. This communication happens via special connections called synapses.

The bigger the synapse, the stronger its signal

Researchers in Kevan Martin's laboratory at the Institute of Neuroinformatics at the University of Zurich (UZH) and ETH Zurich have now shown for the first time that the size of synapses determines the strength of their information transmission.

Larger synapses lead to stronger electrical impulses. Finding this relationship closes a key knowledge gap in neuroscience. The finding is also critical for advancing our understanding of how information flows through our brain's circuits, and therefore how the brain operates." Kevan Martin, Institute of Neuroinformatics, University of Zurich (UZH)

Reconstructing the connections between nerve cells of the neocortex

First, the neuroscientists set about measuring the strength of the synaptic currents between two connected nerve cells. To do this, they prepared thin sections of a mouse brain and, under a microscope, inserted glass microelectrodes into two neighboring nerve cells of the neocortex. This enabled the researchers to artificially activate one of the nerve cells and at the same time measure the strength of the resulting synaptic impulse in the other cell. They also injected a dye into the two neurons to reconstruct their branched-out cellular processes in three dimensions under a light microscope.

Synapse size correlates with signaling strength

Since synapses are so tiny, the scientists used the high resolution of an electron microscope to be able to reliably identify and precisely measure the neuronal contact points. First, in their light microscope reconstructions, they marked all points of contact between the cell processes of the activated neuron that forwarded the signal and the cell processes of the neuron that received the synaptic impulse. Then, they identified all synapses between the two nerve cells under the electron microscope. They correlated the size of these synapses with the synaptic impulses they had measured previously. "We discovered that the strength of the synaptic impulse correlates directly with the size and form of the synapse," says lead author Gregor Schuhknecht, formerly a PhD student in Kevan Martin's team.

Gaining a deeper understanding of the brain's wiring diagrams

This correlation can now be used to estimate the strength of information transmission on the basis of the measured size of the synapse. "This could allow scientists to use electron microscopy to precisely map the wiring diagrams of the neocortex and then simulate and interpret the flow of information in these wiring diagrams in the computer," explains Schuhknecht. Such studies will enable a better understanding of how the brain functions under normal circumstances and how "wiring defects" can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders.

More computing power and storage capacity than thought

The team was also able to resolve another longstanding puzzle in neuroscience. Until now, the conventional doctrine had been that only a single neurotransmitter-filled packet (a so-called vesicle) is released at a synapse upon activation. The researchers were able to use a novel mathematical analysis to prove that each synapse in fact has several sites that can release packets of neurotransmitter simultaneously. "This means that synapses are much more complex and can regulate their signal strength more dynamically than previously thought. The computational power and storage capacity of the entire neocortex therefore seems to be much greater than was previously believed", says Kevan Martin.
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Education Minister Peter Weir hopes the Executive can update schools next week on whether or not they can reopen.

Northern Irelands schools are due to open their doors after the mid-term break in February, but that was thrown into doubt after First Minister Arlene Foster confirmed that the current lockdown regulations have been extended until March 5.

Speaking alongside deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill during Thursdays Covid-19 press conference in Dungannon, Mrs Foster explained that the regulations will be reviewed again on or before February 18.

Ms ONeill added that there may well need to be further restrictions after March 5.

Read More

Education Minister Mr Weir explained that the health paper that was discussed by the Executive on Thursday afternoon didnt directly mention schools.

Everything is a level of overall contribution and we saw the surge which took place particularly around the Christmas period, he told BBC Radio Ulsters Evening Extra. I dont think that was particularly linked in with schools.

What happens directly within schools has a limited amount of impact on the virus but what it does have is an element of behavioural aspects, particularly around freeing up adults to be in other places.

I think we do need to weight up all the factors. The overriding aim should ultimately be to have children directly in schools getting that face to face learning.

That is best for their future but that has got to be weighed up against the overall impact that is there in terms of contacts and how that impacts in on the wider public health considerations.

DUP leader Mrs Foster stated earlier that there was plenty of time to provide clarity for schools and parents.

It comes after another 21 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported here.

The Department of Health reports 16 died in the 24 hours up to 10am on Thursday. Another five died previously. The death toll has risen to 1,692.

Another 732 people have tested positive for the virus.

In the past seven days 5,563 people have tested positive. That is down on the 7,942 the previous week.

In total 98,351 people have been confirmed to have caught the disease since testing began following the outbreak in Northern Ireland.

Read More

There are 806 coronavirus patients in hospitals, down on the 987 a week ago. A total of 70 people are in intensive care.

Hospital are operating at 96% occupancy with four - the Royal, Ulster, Causeway and Antrim - operating beyond capacity.

There are 134 confirmed outbreaks of coronavirus in hospitals.

Read More

Meanwhile, the chief Executive of the Belfast Trust has made an emotional apology to the hundreds of cancer patients whose operations have been cancelled.

"We cannot treat everyone the way we would want to treat them, at the moment," she said.

None of this is easy, none of us wanted to be here ... there is moral distress amongst our staff, but that is nothing in comparison to the anguish and devastation those families are facing, particularly those who had a date for surgery which was then ripped out as we had to prepare for Covid, she said.

So, we are doing all we can."
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CALGARY, AB, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Connacher Oil and Gas Limited ("Connacher" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the following:

While 2020 was an extremely challenging and unprecedented year for the energy sector, Connacher advanced several key initiatives in the second half of the year to position the Company for the future. Earlier in the year, following the precipitous drop in crude oil prices caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Connacher significantly reduced production from its Great Divide operations in order to preserve cash. As prices began to recover, production was safely ramped back up to pre-COVID levels towards the end of the second quarter. While there are many challenges remaining in the sector, including pipeline egress out of the basin and the regulatory environment, the Company exited 2020 in a relatively strong position to take advantage of an improving economy post-COVID and enhanced market access as major pipeline projects come into service.

Improved Cost Structure

In 2020, Connacher began two new initiatives and continued a third to improve profitability, enhance the Company's competitiveness and position it for the future:

Operational Efficiency Improvements through "One Connacher"

In Q2 2020, Connacher approached the Alberta Energy Regulator ("AER") and Alberta Boilers Safety Association to secure approvals to streamline its operations at its Pod One and Algar thermal projects. Their facilities are physically separated by only 7 kilometers but have always been operated as separate entities. Under the One Connacher project, wherever safely possible, duplication has been eliminated. The most recent step in this initiative was achieved in November 2020 through the combination of the Pod One and Algar control rooms. The efficiencies gained from the One Connacher project are expected to reduce operating costs, as well as increase consistency across the Company's operations.

Drilling of New Infill Wells

In Q3 2020, Connacher took advantage of favorable market conditions and drilled four infill wells at Algar. Each infill well has been drilled several meters below the current producing wells, accessing previously bypassed pay. The additional production from these infill wells will reduce Connacher's steam oil ratios, reduce operating costs per barrel, increase proven reserves, and lower Connacher's GHG emissions intensity.

Enhanced Transportation and Marketing

Connacher engaged with pipeline companies to explore alternatives to improve the transportation and marketing of its product. The evaluation of the various alternatives included a collaborative review with Indigenous stakeholders in the region. Following a thorough assessment of the alternatives and commercial negotiation of transportation arrangements with third party carriers, the Company filed an application with the AER for a 26.5 kilometer, 10 inch diameter pipeline that will have an initial capacity of 18,000 barrels per day (bpd). On December 21, 2020, Connacher received AER approval to build this sales oil pipeline lateral from its Great Divide project. The pipeline is expected to be completed by the second half of 2022 and will provide Connacher with efficient access to a liquid market hub for the sale of its product. While the in-service date is dependent on the Company's financing efforts, this new pipeline will reduce Connacher's transportation costs and increase market access. In addition to enhanced access for blended bitumen, Connacher is also pursuing alternatives to improve access and reduce costs of diluent.

2020 Performance and Financial Strength

Connacher entered 2020 with production just over 12,000 bpd. With the decline in crude oil prices in March, Connacher made the decision to significantly reduce production until crude oil prices recovered. Production reached a low of 1,350 bpd in April and then began to ramp back up through May and June and returned to 12,000 bpd in July. Current production levels are approximately 13,000 bpd, recognizing the partial benefit of the four new infill wells that were completed in Q3 2020 and currently being brought on stream.

First half 2020 EBITDA was negatively impacted by low crude oil prices and reduced production. However, through a combination of recovering crude oil prices and production, and various improvements in costs and efficiencies, second half 2020 EBITDA recovered to $13.5 million. This was in line with the second half 2019 EBITDA of $14.1 million during which time crude oil prices, specifically WCS in Canadian dollars, were approximately 30% higher.

As a result of Connacher's initiatives, the Company ended 2020 with a relatively strong balance sheet. At December 31, the Company had $48.7 million of long-term debt offset by $52.1 million in cash and non-cash working capital while also considering the development capital spent in 2020 on drilling four infill wells.

Strengthened Connacher Team

Connacher strengthened its Executive Team with the appointment of J.P. Buyze as Chief Financial Officer in December 2020. Mr. Buyze was the CFO at an ARC-backed private oil producer for the past two years and prior to that was CFO of a natural gas focused private oil and gas producer. Before these two executive roles in the producing sector, Mr. Buyze spent 20 years as an investment banker in Calgary, Toronto and New York primarily focused on the energy sector. Mr. Buyze joins an experienced executive team with significant history with Connacher. Merle Johnson has been with the Company for 14 years and is the longest serving executive in the Company's history, having been appointed CEO in 2015. He successfully led the Company through a very challenging period from when it entered CCAA in 2016 through to the completion of its restructuring and exit from CCAA in September 2019; at which point Connacher became a private company. Mr. Johnson has 24 years of experience with various companies in the Canadian energy sectors focused on both conventional and thermal oil production. Gord Trainor is the Company's Chief Operating Officer. A geologist by training, Mr. Trainor has been with the Company for 11 years and has over 24 years of experience in development and exploration. Ms. Suzanne Loov is General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Ms. Loov, who joined Connacher in 2013, practiced in the area of corporate finance initially at a boutique securities firm and as a partner of a major national firm. After leaving private practice she consulted to the energy industry for a period of 10 years.

About Connacher

Connacher is a Calgary-based in situ oil sands developer, producer, and marketer of bitumen. The Company's principal asset is a 100 per cent interest in the Company's Great Divide oil sands leases near Fort McMurray, Alberta. The Company operates two steam-assisted gravity drainage facilities at these oil sands leases.

SOURCE Connacher Oil and Gas Limited

Related Links

http://www.connacheroil.com



The Public Accounts Committee is to ask permission to go outside its remit to examine the 292,000 salary for the new secretary general at the Department of Health.

Members of the PAC met behind closed doors yesterday and formed a view that there may be a wider issue behind the proposed payment of 292,000 to the incoming secretary general of the Department of Health.

Robert Watt, when confirmed, will be paid 81,000 more than in his previous role as secretary general at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

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Now politicians at PAC, which is drawn from all parties, believe the proposed arrangement for Mr Watt  which has drawn furious political and public criticism  may go back to an understanding arrived at in the retirement of a previous senior civil servant.

Accordingly the CPP, the Dail committee on procedure and privilege, will ask for permission to technically exceed the committees scope of examination to take in higher civil service remuneration, pension rights and other conditions.

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Even if granted, the issue would have to be voted upon in the Dail, where the Government has a majority.

Meanwhile the PAC has sent a letter to Mr Watts old department, seeking information from David Moloney, the acting secretary general.

It asks if any meetings were held by the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) regarding the Watt appointment, and in what circumstances there can be a deviation from the pay scale of grades in the civil service.

One question asks: Please explain how the selection process can be deemed to be open and transparent when Mr Watt is already the interim Secretary General of the Department of Health.

He is due to be confirmed in a weeks time.

Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry raised the issue in he Dail.

He said: I have to put this on record today, and indeed it's the subject of PQs (parliamentary questions) to the Taoiseach  the idea that the Department of Health, without it coming before the Dail for approval, were going to up the price of the secretary general of the Department of Health by 81,000. I'm sorry, we need to address these things.

He said that, according to former health minister Simon Harris, there had not been a memo to Cabinet either on the issue  which is now also drawing the attention of the Oireachtas Finance Committee.

A spokesman for the Taoiseach told the Irish Independent: The parliamentary questions will be answered in time as part of the appropriate process.

He said Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Micheal McGrath had statutory responsibility for the remuneration of civil servants and the fixing of terms and conditions of service.

Existing legislation says the Minister may make such arrangements as he thinks fit and may cancel or vary those arrangements.

In meeting these responsibilities, the minister had taken into account that the policy area of health is a highly complex one with a very challenging brief, particularly so in the midst of a global pandemic, the Government spokesman said.

The role will require an individual with the ability, ambition and experience to take on this large portfolio with a department of almost 600 staff and 19 non-commercial state bodies under its aegis, including the HSE and a sector employing over 125,000 people.
Harris County prosecutors have informed six current and former Houston drug cops they are targets of investigation, widening a probe stemming from a deadly narcotics raid nearly two years ago.

Current officers Frank Medina, Oscar Pardo, Nadeem Ashraf, Felipe Gallegos and retired officers Griff Maxwell and Cedelle Lovings received the letters, representatives for the men confirmed. All six men are or were members of the Narcotics Division.

Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg was not available for comment Thursday afternoon.

The widened investigation is the latest development following the January 2019 raid of 7815 Harding St., which led to the deaths of homeowners Dennis Tuttle, 59, and Rhogena Nicholas, 58. Five members of Narcotics Squad 15 were also injured in the raid: Sergeants Thomas Wood and Clemente Reyna, and officers Gerald Goines, Frank Medina and Lovings, who was paralyzed in the operation.

In the days after the operation, police announced that Goines, a veteran narcotics officer and the leader of the raid, was under investigation for lying about buying drugs from the Harding Street home. The scandal prompted several other investigations, including a federal civil rights probe, and a massive review by the Harris County District Attorneys Office of cases that Goines and his colleagues had handled.

Goines was later charged with murder, tampering with government records, and violating Nicholas and Tuttles civil rights. His partner, Steven Bryant, was charged with tampering with government records. Both men retired from the department.

So far, prosecutors have identified more than 150 convictions they believe may need to be overturned. Three defendants have had convictions overturned. Lawyers for relatives of the slain couple have also signaled their intent to sue the officers and the city.

As the scandal widened, Ogg announced in July that a grand jury had indicted Goines, Bryant and two sergeants, a narcotics lieutenant, and one of Goines old partners, Hodgie Armstrong, for overtime theft and records tampering.

At the time, Ogg described the officers behavior to straight-up graft, which she said can literally rot an institution from the inside out.

Court documents filed in those cases show investigators used cell phone records to try to show that officers and their supervisors were lying when they said they were together for operations such as confidential informant payments  but werent actually present.

And defense attorneys for the accused men have lambasted Oggs prosecutors for refusing to turn over critical evidence in the case, including an initial offense report prepared by DA investigators, and cell phone mapping.

Twice, judges have ordered prosecutors to turn over the information, but Oggs subordinates have appealed both orders.

In September, a district attorney investigator filed search warrant affidavits expanding the probe against several more Squad 15 team members.

But union officials and lawyers for the accused men contend that the charges the DA has already filed could be easily explained by officers listing the location of their assignment detail versus where they actually performed the work.

Houston Police Officers Union President Douglas Griffith said he was waiting to learn more from the DAs office about the latest letters before commenting on any new allegations or possible charges.

I have full confidence in our officers at the Houston Police Department, especially the officers of our narcotics division, he said. I believe that issues brought forward  outside of Goines  are merely policy violations and the DAs Office is overreaching by pursuing charges.

Of the officers who received letters informing them they are now under investigation, Gallegos, Medina, Pardo, Lovings and Ashraf were all present during the Harding Street raid, according to records from the District Attorneys Office.

Rusty Hardin, who is representing Gallegos, confirmed that his client received a letter notifying him he is a target of the investigation specifically related to the shooting deaths of Tuttle and Nicholas.

He got a target letter, Hardin confirmed. I never thought any sane prosecutor would think he was a target.

An attorney for Nicholas relatives said they welcomed additional scrutiny of Squad 15 and the narcotics division.

If the mayor and police chief will not end the two-year cover-up of HPDs murderous Harding Street raid, then perhaps county prosecutors can help do so, said Mike Doyle, the attorney. The family of Rhogena Nicholas welcomes a sweeping investigation of the corruption of HPD Narcotics Squad 15 and all who knew of its illicit activities before, during and after the raid. The Nicholas family will continue its quest for justice as long as it takes to find out what caused Rhogena to be murdered in her own home.
Toyota Capital Malaysia has partnered with UMW Toyota to introduce Kinto One, said to be the worlds first Islamic-based car subscription programme. It provides Malaysians with a new alternative to obtain the use of a car without being burdened by the hassles of a conventional hire-purchase loan.

Available to all individuals with valid driving licences as well as businesses, Kinto One is a Shariah-compliant car subscription programme that lets customers rent a vehicle with an all-inclusive, fixed monthly payment plan. Available plans include the subscription of a car for two or three years, with mileage limited to 30,000km per year. The plans will cover the following costs:

Registration of the vehicle

Annual comprehensive insurance and road tax

Periodic and preventive maintenance

According to Kinto Ones FAQ, the only payment that you need to make to begin your subscription is the initial payment of a one-month subscription fee, a refundable deposit, and the stamp duty fee (if applicable). After that, you can continue paying for your fixed monthly subscription amount via your credit card. Also, if you exceed the annual 30,000km allotted to you, there is a minimal top-up charge of RM0.50 per km.

Once your subscription period ends, you will then have the option of returning the car to Toyota or renewing your subscription at a lower subscription fee. The FAQ also clarified that there are various Toyota and Lexus models currently available for subscription, with more models to be added eventually. At present, prices start from RM1,678 per month for a Toyota Yaris to RM10,738.00 per month for a Lexus RX300  both for a three-year subscription plan. Prices will be slightly higher if you decide to opt for a two-year subscription plan instead.

The president of the president of Toyota Capital, Thomas Chai said that Kinto One is a distinctly curated response to the new generation lifestyle seeking for mobility. It is about the shift of consumer behaviour from car ownership to car usership. It is about Toyotas vision of Mobility for All, he shared.

The president of UMW Toyota, Ravindran Kurusamy also concurred, adding that Kinto One aims to cater to the newer generation of car owners seeking for freedom and mobility through monthly subscription plans. He also explained that prior to launching Kinto One in Malaysia, the service has already been introduced in many other parts of the world. These include Europe, North and South America, as well as several other Asian countries.

You can find out more about Kinto One in Malaysia on its official website.

(Source: Toyota, Focus Malaysia)

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This article first appeared on the Boston Business Journals website.

Marijuana dispensaries are suing the state board that oversees the industry over its new regulations that only allow members of certain disenfranchised groups to deliver cannabis products for the first three years, saying that stipulation violates state law.

The regulations, approved by the Cannabis Control Commission in November, created two different license types for recreational cannabis delivery. One allows delivery companies to purchase product wholesale and to warehouse the product. A second license type offers a courier model that allows individuals to partner with recreational marijuana shops to deliver recreational marijuana, known as a marijuana courier license.

Both license types were made exclusively available to applicants that come under the commissions two equity programs  the social equity program and economic empowerment applicants  for a period of three years.

The exclusivity provisions were widely lauded by advocates, who said its essential that disenfranchised applicants be given a first crack at the licenses to overcome other barriers small, often minority, businesses face. While the current licensing program was set up to give participants in the equity programs faster review of applications, only 53 of the 986 completed licenses submitted as of Jan. 14 were from participants in the economic empowerment program, which is limited to those certified as being disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs. Another 76 applications were from social equity participants, or groups in the commissions training program for people disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.

But in a lawsuit filed Jan. 13 in Suffolk Superior Court, the Commonwealth Dispensary Association said that not allowing marijuana retailers to deliver marijuana under their existing retail licenses violates a statute which says marijuana retailers shall be permitted to deliver their products. The statute, chapter 94G section 1, defines a marijuana retailer as an entity licensed to purchase and deliver marijuana and marijuana products from marijuana establishments and to deliver, sell or otherwise transfer marijuana and marijuana products to marijuana establishments and to consumers.

The association also argued that the commission didnt have the authority to enact new regulations at the time of the November vote. When the regulations were approved, the commission had just four members, after the resignation of commissioner Kay Doyle. Additionally, Commissioner Shaleen Titles term had expired at the end of August, yet she remained on the board in a holdover until state officials appointed a new commissioner to the seat. The association argued that state law doesnt allow for such holdover members to vote.

Simply, the CCC overstepped its authority and disregarded state law, radically upending the established rules that hundreds of small businesses and their host communities operated in accordance with since 2016, the association said in a statement.

The association is asking the court to declare the laws invalid.

The Cannabis Control Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, applications have already been flooding in for the courtier type license. Commission staff said last week it would likely take five weeks to stand up an application process for the warehouse delivery license.

The association said in a statement it supported exclusivity for the smaller delivery license type, and wanted greater participation from equity applicants in the industry. Yet it objected that the bigger business of purchasing cannabis wholesale and warehousing it wouldnt be available to larger dispensaries for three years.

Todays action goes beyond a disagreement about cannabis delivery  the CDA is dedicated to ensuring that the Commonwealths established laws are upheld and appropriately observed through fair procedures and adequate due process, the association said.
An Indian Army jawan was martyred when Pakistan violated the ceasefire and resorted to firing on forward positions along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Thursday, officials said. The Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked firing along the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch, the officials said.

The Indian Army responded to the enemy fire in a befitting manner, they added. Havaldar Nirmal Singh of the 10 JAK Rifles unit of the Army was critically injured in the firing and subsequently succumbed to his injuries, the officials said. The Jammu and Kashmir Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army.

Singh was a brave, highly-motivated and sincere soldier, a defence spokesperson said, adding that the nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty.

On January 20, four soldiers of the Indian Army sustained injuries as Pakistani troops opened fire targeting forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector, official sources told news agency PTI on Wednesday.

The ceasefire violation from across the LoC in the Keri Battal area took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, they said. Four soldiers suffered splinter injuries and were shifted to the military hospital in Udhampur for treatment, the sources added.
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe wins a confidence vote in the Senate, allowing him to remain in office after a junior partner quit his coalition last week. But Giuseppe Conte failed to secure an absolute majority which means he now heads a minority government as the country battles to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic and recession.

By Susy Hodges

Giusppe Conte survived the vote by 156 to 140 with 16 abstentions, having overcome a similar confidence motion in the lower house of parliament on Monday.

Had he lost, he would have had to resign, pushing Italy into more political turmoil and potentially opening the way to new national elections, two years ahead of schedule.

The crisis began when the small Italia Viva party, headed by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, abandoned the cabinet in a row over Contes handling of the pandemic and economic recession. It abstained in Tuesdays vote, leaving the door open for a possible return to the coalition if its policy demands are met.

In his speech to senators, Conte accused Renzis party of having created chaos by persistently making demands that were clearly divisive. The prime minister promised to revamp his policy agenda, saying he wanted to modernize Italy and speed up implementation of a post-Covid economic recovery plan funded by the EU. Despite his promises, only two members of the opposition centre-right Forza Italia party switched sides on Tuesday while a number of unaligned politicians who had come under heavy pressure to help the government, ended up voting against Conte.

In his speech in the Senate, Renzi told Conte to make bolder reforms, saying Italy is wasting its biggest opportunity since the Marshall plan. This was a reference to the U.S. aid package for Europe following the end of World War Two. Renzi is calling for investment in the digital economy and green energy and rejects Contes plan to let technocrats, rather than lawmakers, decide spending priorities.

Italy has had plenty of minority governments before but history has shown they risk collapse at any divisive vote in parliament. The outcome of this confidence vote means Contes coalition is badly weakened at a time when the country is struggling with unprecedented challenges.
[January 21, 2021] Google Awards MonetizeMore 2020 Innovation Award in Publishing Technology

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MonetizeMore has achieved the top echelon of ad tech innovation by winning the 2020 Google Certified Publishing Partner Program Innovation Award. MonetizeMore was chosen for its sophisticated machine learning solution to help publishers minimize ad fraud. Traffic Cop is MonetizeMore's proprietary Invalid Traffic Detection and Prevention software that uses advanced machine learning with fingerprinting algorithms to identify and block invalid traffic. This keeps publisher ad inventory safe from dramatic losses in revenue that leads to irreparable damage to their advertiser relationships. It also provides actionable data to help publishers prevent invalid traffic and ad setup policy violations so publishers don't get blacklisted by advertisers. This Innovation Award follows a series of major achievements this year from MonetizeMore . In October, MonetizeMore earned its spot on The Globe & Mail's Canada's Top Growing Companies with a three-year growth of 181%. Google als recently appointed MonetizeMore as a North America Google Certified Publishing Partner after exceeding rigorous policy standards, demonstrating expert knowledge of Google's Publisher products, and providing excellent service to the digital publishing community.



"When the biggest player in Ad Tech recognizes your work with such a significant award, it's an amazing feeling. Advertising fraud is a scourge of the ad tech industry that takes major innovation to fight back and make progress. As the industry continues to evolve, so will ad fraud, which means that the battle is far from over. We're proud that Traffic Cop is leading the fight against invalid traffic and other forms of ad fraud. Traffic Cop gives publishers the peace of mind that they have the most innovative software available to keep their traffic high quality and revenues safe. All types of companies in the programmatic value chain can rejoice thanks to that!" - Kean Graham, CEO of MonetizeMore.

About MonetizeMore

MonetizeMore started in 2010, has grown to over 180 team members across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia & Latin America. MonetizeMore's divisions have grown to fuel a $30 million dollar enterprise from its core offering of ad operation services in 2010 to their PubGuru ad tech suite, including Traffic Cop , which empowers ad monetized publishers. MonetizeMore - Realize your ad revenue potential

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A rare twin suicide bombing killed 32 people and wounded 110 at a crowded market in central Baghdad on Thursday, Iraq's government said, the city's deadliest attack in three years.

The first attacker drew a crowd at the bustling market in the capital's Tayaran Square by claiming to feel sick, then detonated his explosives belt, the interior ministry said.

As more people then flocked to the scene to help the victims, a second suicide bomber set off his explosives.

The open-air market, where second-hand clothes are sold at stalls, had been teeming with people after the lifting of nearly a year of Covid-19 restrictions across the country.

An AFP photographer at the scene said security forces had cordoned off the area, where blood-soaked clothes were strewn across the muddy streets and paramedics were rushing to take away the casualties.

The health ministry said those who lost their lives had died on the scene of the attack, and that most of the wounded had been treated and released from hospital.

The attack was the bloodiest in Baghdad since January 2018, when a suicide bomber killed more than 30 people in the same square.

The attack was not immediately claimed but suicide bombings have been used by jihadist groups, most recently the Islamic State group.

They were commonplace in Baghdad during the sectarian bloodletting that followed the US-led invasion of 2003 and later on as the IS swept across much of Iraq and also targeted the capital.

But with the group's territorial defeat in late 2017, suicide bombings in the city became rare. Baghdad's notorious concrete blast walls were dismantled and checkpoints across the city removed.

'Senseless and Barbaric'

President Barham Saleh led political figures in condemning Thursday's attack, saying the government would "stand firmly against these rogue attempts to destabilise our country".

Pope Francis, who hopes to visit Iraq in March, deplored the "senseless act of brutality".

The United Nations and the European Union strongly condemned the attack.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued an appeal "to the people of Iraq to reject any attempts to spread fear and violence aimed at undermining peace, stability and unity."

The EU called the attack "senseless and barbaric" and reiterated its "full support to the Iraqi authorities in the fight against extremism and terrorism."

The UN's Iraq mission offered condolences to the victims and said: "Such a despicable act will not weaken Iraq's march towards stability and prosperity."

Iran also denounced the attack, with foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh saying his government was ready to assist Iraq "in the struggle against terrorism and extremism".

The attack, he said, was meant "to disrupt the peace and stability of Iraq and to provide a pretext for foreigners to maintain their presence there".

Elections Looming

The attack comes as Iraqis prepare for an election, events often preceded by bombings and assassinations.

The 2018 attack took place just a few months before Iraq's last round of parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi had originally set this year's general election for June, nearly a year ahead of schedule, in response to widespread protests in 2019.

But authorities are in talks over rescheduling them to October, to give electoral authorities more time to register voters and new parties.

The IS seized a third of Iraq in 2014 and was dangerously close to the capital, but a ferocious three-year fight by Iraqi troops pushed them back.

Still, the group's sleeper cells have continued to operate in desert and mountain areas, typically targeting security forces or state infrastructure with low casualty attacks.

Still, the US-led coalition that had been supporting Iraq's campaign against IS has significantly drawn down its troop levels over the past year, citing the increased capabilities of Iraqi troops.

The United States, which provides the bulk of the force, has 2,500 troops left in Iraq -- down from 5,200 a year ago.

They are mainly in charge of training, providing drone surveillance and carrying out air strikes while Iraqi security forces handle security in urban areas.

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Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. At the inauguration ceremony Wednesday in Washington, D.C., it was a celebration of the return of the Obama administration and the Democratic Party. With the absence of outgoing President Donald Trump, the image of the Republican Party at the end of Mr Trumps turbulent tenure was one of a contemptible lack of graciousness in loss.

In his inaugural address, President Biden called for an end to the uncivil war, addressing the toxic politics of the past four years, even as the Senate prepares to try his predecessor in the coming weeks following a second successful impeachment trial by the House of Representatives. Mr Biden asked for a lower[ing] of the temperature but took a swipe at the Trump administration and the falsehoods that ensued after the elections, which MrTrump still refuses to concede.

We must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured, the new president said.

The unprecedented global health crisis, and the usually high number of casualties in the U.S., currently over 400,000, was already going to affect the layout of the inauguration. But the bitter contention between the two political parties, especially in the period following the November 4 elections have further heightened the contention in Washington, D.C., and culminated in the attack on the Capitol on January 6 by Trump supporters. As a consequence, the inauguration was conducted amidst a lockdown in the nations capital city. Entire sections of the city have been shut to the public and a wide perimeter created around the Capitol Hill to prevent a repeat of the brazen attack of two weeks prior. The inauguration committee made a decision to plant flags throughout the lawn in the National Mall, where attendees would ordinarily have occupied. The city has also been besieged by the presence of about 25,000 National Guardsmen, an overwhelming security move to quell any prospects of violent protest. One thing is certain, there will be no contest of crowd numbers regarding the 2021 Inauguration.

Yet, the tensions did not mask the palpable sense of victory for Democrats who turned out in their numbers, within the constraints of the COVID-19 protocols. Notably, former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost the last election to Mr Trump in 2016, appeared to revel in being instrumental in thwarting the 2nd term ambitions of President Trump.

Amy Klobuchar, a sitting senator and former presidential hopeful who was once tipped to be Mr Bidens running mate, opened the event and welcomed the bunch of Bidens, mirroring the warmer, less contentious atmosphere that is expected to replace the fraught Trump Administration. Ms Klobuchar also celebrated the glass-ceiling breaking achievement of the incoming Vice-President Kamala Harris, who is the first woman to attain these heights in the history of the US.

The orders for the new president are tall. Mr Biden will fall in headlong into a global health crisis that has had devastating effects on the U.S. health sector and the US economy at large. President Biden has lain out plans to carry out a series of Executive Orders this week, including rejoining the World Health Organization (WHO). He is also expected to expedite the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in the coming weeks.
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Judges have been urged to cut payouts for whiplash by 80pc ahead of a meeting where they will consider new personal injury award guidelines.

The Judicial Council will meet on February 5 to consider whether to adopt the guidelines, which have yet to be published.

The body representing the car rental industry in Ireland said such a reduction may seem large at first glance, but it was actually needed to bring Irish soft-tissue injury awards down to European levels.

The Car Rental Council of Ireland (CRCI) said insurance premium levels, fuelled by high awards, were making business unsustainable even before the pandemic hit.

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According to Car Rental Council figures, the cost of motor insurance per car is several multiples higher than that of the same cars we insure in other European countries, largely due to the massive impact claims have on premium costs in Ireland, said spokesman George OConnor.

An 80pc reduction in minor injury awards is necessary to bring Irish award levels in line with other European countries.

A 2018 report by the Personal Injuries Commission found the average amount paid out in Ireland for whiplash injuries was 4.4 times higher than in England and Wales. Average whiplash awards in Ireland are around 20,000.

The CRCI said unless there is action the gap is going to get even wider as reforms being introduced in the UK this May will reduce awards there significantly.

This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the judiciary to take this into their hands and solve this societal issue we have got, said Mr OConnor.

He said that if award levels are not cut by 80pc the Government should be prepared to intervene with legislation to bring soft-tissue injury awards in line with other European countries.

In a statement last month the judicial committee which has drafted the guidelines said it was exceptionally cognisant of the need to ensure the guidelines are anchored in reality.

It said it was aware many interest groups and individuals feel the cost of insurance is prohibitive and having a significant effect on their ability to trade profitably and in some cases to trade at all.
Karen Gillan is shaping up to have a very busy 2021.

On Monday, the 33-year-old took to her Instagram story to take part in a running trend where followers make assumptions about their chosen individual, who then responds to the query.

When an assumption was posed asserting that the actress was wearing a wig in preparation for a future role, she responded that she had recently cut it in order for most of it to fit inside the bald cap for her character Nebula.

Breaking the news: On Monday, Karen Gillan revealed that she will be reprising her role as Nebula in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe entry Thor: Love And Thunder

This indirectly confirmed that the actress is set to appear in Thor: Love And Thunder.

She partially stated in the video: 'I cut it the other day in preparation for Nebula, so that we don't have to get so much hair into the bald cap because I have so much hair, it's unbelievable. It's just so thick.'

Speculation regarding Gillan's role in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe entry had been rampant since earlier this month, when the Doctor Who actress made a post to her Instagram story depicting her touching down in Sydney, where the sequel is being shot.

The upcoming film is set to star series lead Chris Hemsworth alongside costars Tessa Thompson and Natalie Portman.

Longstanding role: Gillan has appeared as Nebula in multiple Marvel films, beginning with 2014's Guardians Of The Galaxy

Earlier this month, Christian Bale signed on to portray the villain in the project, and he was later revealed to have taken on the role of Gorr the God Butcher.

Other Marvel mainstays have teased their involvement in the new entry, including Chris Pratt and many others from the cast of Guardians Of The Galaxy.

Matt Damon has been rumored to be prepping for a cameo role in the future feature.

The story of the film is partially set to follow Thompson's character, Valkyrie, as she searches for a queen to rule over Asgard with.

Costume requirements: Gillan commented in an Instagram story that she had cut her locks so 'that we don't have to get so much hair into the bald cap'; she is pictured at the 2020 premiere of The Call of the Wild

The film is set to be directed by Taika Waititi, who will also portray Korg in the upcoming motion picture; the actor-director also led the production of the previous film in the Thor series, which was released in 2017.

In addition to helping the picture, the Academy-Award winning writer will also collaborate on the screenplay with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.

Waititi reportedly placed the production of the long-planned adaptation of the manga series Akira on hold in order to focus on the development of the forthcoming Marvel feature.

Sharing the view: Earlier this month, the actress made a post to her story to let her followers know that she had touched down in Sydney, where the upcoming feature is set to be filmed

Gillan has been involved with the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since 2014, when she first appeared in the original Guardians Of The Galaxy film.

The actress also returned for the feature's 2017 sequel, where she switched allegiances and became an ally to the aforementioned superhero team.

She took up the mantle of Nebula for the third time in the 2018 blockbuster film Avengers: Infinity War, where she was part of the universe that was not wiped out by Thanos.

Gillan made her most recent appearance as the character in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, where her character committed an act that would normally result in a time paradox, although the writers explained that Nebula's past did not affect her future.
Chahid El Hafed, Jan 21 2021 (SPS) - The Frente POLISARIO representative to the United Nations Sidi Mohamed Amar affirmed that the Sahrawi cause had taken a new turning point since November 13 by continuing the armed struggle, adding that participation in any negotiation operation was dependent on developments on the ground.

Sidi Amar told a press conference held on Tuesday on the developments of the Sahrawi question, following the resumption of the fight army, said that "the Sahrawi people are counting on their resistance and their resolution to wrest their entire rights."

The "Sahrawi cause began a new phase after November 13, date of Morocco violation of the ceasefire agreement and the continuation of the armed struggle."

"Any participation in any negotiation operation remains dependent on developments on the ground and the seriousness of the UN Security Council," he said.

"The only solution to the Sahrawi conflict consists in guaranteeing our people their intangible right to freedom and independence," insisted the Sahrawi diplomat, affirming that "there is currently no negotiation."

In addition, he said that the position of Morocco is behind the delay in the appointment of a UN new envoy in Western Sahara.

Sidi Amar reaffirmed the right of the Frente POLISARIO to defend itself by all legitimate means including armed struggle, adding that the POLISARIO remains open to any possible peaceful solution ensuring firm respect for the right of the Sahrawi people to independence."

Regarding the human rights situation induced by the constant violation of these rights by Morocco in the occupied cities, the same Sahrawi official declared "it is France which hinders the establishment of a UN mechanism to monitor them." SPS

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New Delhi: The United States of America is considered to be the most modern, prosperous, and liberal society in the world, but religion is deeply entrenched in its politics, and that exposes its principles on secularism. You will be surprised to know that American Constitution does not require the use of a specific text for swearing-in ceremonies of the US President's oath, but Joe Biden swore by laying a hands-on Bible that attracted people's attention across the world.

Joe Biden's Bible is said to be 128 years old and 5 inches thick. His late son Beau Biden also took the oath of Attorney General of Delaware with the same holy book. You can imagine when a family maintains its religious book for so many years, then how important will be the place of religion in their thoughts.

On the contrary, if any Indian Prime Minister had taken the oath of office and secrecy by placing his hand on the Ramcharit Manas in place of the Constitution, it would have severely criticised for going against the basic structure of the Constitution and would have been termed as a communal practice.

No hue and cry was created as it happened in America, and nobody even felt anything wrong in it, but the same America would have questioned democracy and secularism if it had happened in India or any other country, which is run according to the Constitution.

The hollowness of the American idea of democracy and Secularism can be further exposed here. A religious ritual is performed before the President takes the oath. In this ritual, religious leader worships God, and his blessings are sought, besides remembering the ancestors of the President.

Joe Biden is a Catholic, a major branch of Christianity, and he is the second Catholic President after John F Kennedy. The Constitution of America does not mention the use of a specific religious book, but the first President of America, George Washington, started this tradition in the year 1789. However, there were a few occasions when this tradition was not followed.

In the year 1825, John Quincy Adams, the sixth US President took the oath of office by placing his hand on the Book of Law instead of the Bible. In 1901, the 26th President of America, Theodore Roosevelt, also did not take an oath by laying his hands-on Bible. In 1963, the 36th US President Lyndon B Johnson was sworn-in with a Roman Catholic book.

There have been many presidents in America who took an oath on their Inauguration Day with not one but with two Bibles, and this also includes Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, when the whole of America was getting ready for its new President, Donald Trump was leaving the White House along with his wife Melania Trump. Trump ignored 152 years of tradition of presidents attending their successors' swearing-in ceremonies and left Washington early for his Atlantic coastal mansion in Florida.
GENEVA: The World Trade Organization recommended on Thursday that the United States revise a series of duties imposed in the pre-Trump era on South Korea, presenting new U.S. President Joe Biden with a dilemma.

A day after Bidens inauguration, his new administration faces a test of its multilateral credentials, with a choice between complying with the WTO ruling or lodging an appeal to put the case into a legal void.

The United States has up to 60 days to appeal. If it does so, the case would enter a legal limbo because the Trump administration paralysed the WTOs Appellate Body by blocking appointments and leaving it with too few adjudicators to rule.

The duties were imposed on four grades of steel in 2016 and on large power transformers in 2012 under the administration of Donald Trumps predecessor Barack Obama, whose vice president Biden was.

A three-person WTO panel found that the U.S. Department of Commerce failed to take into account all the information available when it calculated the level of dumping or subsidies.

The Commerce Department had not specified in detail the information requested, did not take into account some of the information submitted and rejected other information provided after a certain date, the panel found.

The tariffs on transformer makers Hyosung Heavy Industries Corp and Hyundai Electric & Energy Systems Co and steelmakers from Hyundai Steel and POSCO were therefore inconsistent with WTO rules, the panel said.

The European Union also joined the case, saying steel producers in Italy, the Netherlands and Britain, then an EU member, had also suffered from this U.S. practice.

South Korea did though fail to convince the panel that U.S. authorities had an unwritten measure" of using the most adverse facts available in order to maximise duties, where an exporter had failed fully to cooperate.

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
Spotlight PA is an independent, non-partisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. This story originally appeared in our weekly newsletter, The Investigator.

After six years, the Office of Open Records has a new executive director  Liz Wagenseller, former chief of staff to ex-Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.

The agency was created in 2008 after Gov. Ed Rendell and the legislature greatly expanded the publics access to government records. The office plays a critical role for journalists and citizens whose requests for these records are denied, they believe, unfairly.

Wagenseller will now serve as the chief arbiter of disputes related to state and local agencies, as well act as a conduit between government and the public to explain how the states Right-to-Know law works. Spotlight PA spoke with her about the role via email. Our interview was edited for grammar and clarity.

For those who dont know, how would you describe the role of the Office of Open Records?

The role of the Office of Open Records is to promote citizen access to government information. Individuals can request public records from a local or commonwealth agency, and if denied, they can appeal to our office.

The main activity of the office is to decide these appeals and determine whether the information should be released. The OOR also provides extensive trainings on the Right-to-Know law as well as the Sunshine Act, which governs which meetings and hearings should be open to the public.

Additionally, the OOR responds each year to thousands of inquiries regarding the Sunshine Act and how to use the RTKL request and appeal process from interested citizens, agencies, and third parties. We invite anyone with questions to contact us.

What are your priorities for your first few months in your new role?

My primary goal is to ensure that the office continues to operate seamlessly. Like the former executive director, Erik Arneson, I plan to improve an already outstanding office. I am committed to maintaining the timely issuance of appeal decisions, as well as finding new techniques to effectively and efficiently advance open government in Pennsylvania.

Additionally, within the next few months, I intend to start the process to put OOR regulations into effect. The regulations will simplify the OOR appeal process by addressing the steps an agency must take at the request stage to properly prepare for an appeal. They will also outline the filing of an appeal, the appeal process itself, and the process of seeking judicial review of an OOR decision.

Finally, I plan to strengthen and expand transparency and accountability by coordinating with lawmakers, public officials, and open government advocates to ensure the best application of the RTK law, as well as ensure the OOR is properly funded and able to meets its statutory duties.

Do you think the legislature could improve the states Right-to-Know law? If so, what changes would you support or recommend?

The RTK law has improved each level of Pennsylvania government. I never settle for complacency and there is always room for improvement. My predecessors worked closely with the General Assembly on suggested improvements to the RTK law and I look forward to continuing that dialogue. I am especially concerned about commercial entities using the RTK law in a way that strays from its purpose.

I support addressing the use of the RTK law by inmates, an issue that requires balancing proper access with proper use of the process. Sen. John Blake (D., Lackawanna) introduced legislation last session that addressed these issues along with others, and I will support its passage if again introduced.

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AKRON, Ohio  An argument between two men Tuesday night resulted in a man being shot and wounded and a suspect is in custody, according to police.

Joseph Rowe Jr., 36, is being held in the Summit County Jail on charges of felonious assault and having weapons under disability, jail records show.

Police say officers were called to the 1200 block of Florida Avenue just before 7 p.m. after receiving reports of shots fired. When they arrived, they found the 35-year-old victim with gunshot wounds. Police say the victim had run to another house for help after being shot.

Rowe was identified as a suspect in the shooting but run from the scene. Officers searched the area and found Rowe in front of a home on the 1200 block of Kenmore Boulevard, where he was taken into custody without incident. A handgun was recovered nearby, police say.

The victim was taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General Medical Center for treatment of his wounds, which are not considered life-threatening, according to police.

More crime-related content on cleveland.com:

Two men die after exchanging gunfire in Maple Heights shootout, police say

Man killed, second man wounded and arrested in shootout in Clevelands Glenville neighborhood, police say
Candie Sweetser's

Capitol

Deming

Republicans

Democrats

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Capitol

Capitol

Hidalgo

Luna

Grant County

Peter Wirth

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Santa Fe

New Mexico Senate

Melanie Majors

New Mexico Foundation for Open Government

Capitol

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Las Cruces Sun-News

Greg Baca

Belen

Crystal Diamond

Elephant Butte

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Joe Biden's

New Mexico

Cris Balzano

Las Cruces Public Schools

Santa Fe

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Jon Sweetser

Luna County

(TNS)  Among New Mexico Democratic state Rep.favorite customs when a new legislative session gets rolling is welcoming young people from her southwestern rural district to the stateWith the Roundhouse closed to the public for the 60-day session, that won't happen this year, and Sweetser expressed sorrow that she won't be showing them around in person."Having another virtual experience for a generation that is having all virtual experiences  it's just not the same," she said Wednesday.TheDemocrat joinedand some fellowin the Legislature in a lawsuit last summer arguing that the 2020 special session should be open to the public, after leadership announced thewould be closed as a measure against community spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.It remained closed and mostly empty as lawmakers convened for 2021's 60-day session on Tuesday.Sweetser suggested one solution for the brief special session would have been a "hybrid" approach encouraging the public to follow the session virtually through webcasts and virtual committee meetings, while allowing those unable to do so to visit theInstead, it will remain closed under rules allowing legislators to participate remotely via technology while at theSweetser represents the 32nd House district, which includesandcounties plus the southern tip of, where she said there are gaps in broadband infrastructure, spotty internet service in many areas, and a number of constituents who are not accustomed to computer and internet technologies.Speaking on the floor Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader, D-, argued that virtual processes were a boon to participation for residents spread out across the state, who would otherwise need to travel and find accommodations to participate.Yet Sweetser said residents in her district are often caught between two challenges: Traveling and lodging infor long enough to participate in meetings or hearings, or struggle with internet applications some take for granted.More:sets rules for a more virtual sessionIn the meantime, opportunities for citizens, lobbyists and experts to weigh in on crafting legislation or simply follow what's going on are being moved almost entirely to virtual processes, even as leadership still works out how to incorporate public participation and transparency into a virtual format., director of the, said the predicament is ironic, given the opposition by legislators a decade ago to broadcasting and livestreaming the process."FOG really worked hard to get the legislature to be aired over the internet and the airwaves, so they would be open to electronic transmission of the proceedings in committees, etc.," she said. "Now, something that the Legislature found to be a difficult move has actually been their saving grace in all of this."And while legislative rules require for proceedings to stop immediately if the Legislature's livestream is disabled, thehas no control over service outages around the state.This is not simply a rural problem: On Tuesday, as the session was getting underway, commercial internet service providing signal to a swath ofwas down for part of the day.'It lacks that personal touch'Even with a steady broadband signal, many argue that communicating with people in-person added an essential quality to the process.Lawmakers who spoke to thesaid the nonverbal communications and physical presence made a distinct impression compared to viewing someone on a screen, and Majors said that buffer could prove a hindrance for accessing one's lawmakers."You don't get the same feel for the passion of people or the feel of the room, the energy, you don't get the undertones, the nonverbal communications that you get when you are meeting in person with people," Majors said.Senate Minority Leader, R-, suggested the situation challenges what we mean when we speak of the New Mexico Constitution's guarantee of "access" to government."We've been forced to redefine that access as video access," he said Tuesday. "Now that just lacks the immersion that's required to legislate and govern properly for our state.  It lacks that personal touch. It lacks the exposure of one person to another, and it really takes away from the transference of ideas from one person to another.""We're passing laws that directly impact New Mexicans and without their direct influence and participation in that law, New Mexicans should be very concerned about what it is that a very small group of elected officials are deciding to do," state Sen., R-, said.Diamond is among the freshman lawmakers getting oriented to the legislative process under far from ordinary circumstances: A mostly emptybuilding currently separated from the public by temporary fencing, erected over concerns about potential political violence in protest of Presidentinauguration Wednesday.More:governor has lengthy to-do list for sessionLimits on social gatherings owing to the pandemic forbid many of the parties and meals out during which lobbyists, local leaders and others mix with lawmakers.Nonetheless,, a lobbyist advocating for clients including the, said that even with those avenues closed, lobbyists are still able to make contact with lawmakers."Our legislators are very open to listen to what we have to say. I can reach out to any of them," Balzano said. "They are always welcoming by phone, by text message or a Zoom meeting, and I also have visited with some on a one-on-one basis as well  following the public health order and making sure we are safe.""Having a lobbyist inis needed more than ever because those relationships are built over years," he added.SolutionsSweetser conceded that a hybrid solution along the lines she advocated for a brief special session would be far more difficult for a 60-day session, during which the Legislature is mandated to pass the state's budget.A typical session, she said, "is fast-moving. It's difficult to mobilize advocates or opponents to bills in the best of circumstances, and with things being hybrid  it would have made it even more challenging."Majors said that video conferencing applications like Zoom can allow for public input, but they are also vulnerable to being hijacked (or "Zoom-bombed") by people who flood the meeting with inappropriate messages, beyond the reach of the Sergeant at Arms.Leadership could try to institute some sort of lottery system for public input, she said, but this would not assure equity among different opinions on an issue.One solution Majors said leadership could explore is limiting the length and scope of legislative sessions until the pandemic is under control."The constitution says, in a 60-day session, you are required to pass the state budget. They could decide that's the only thing we are constitutionally bound to do: Create a budget, then go home; and if the pandemic eases in the late summer or early fall, hold another session," she said.A legislative session devoted to redistricting is planned for September, or later in the year depending on when data from the 2020 U.S. Census is available.As thespoke with Sweetser, her husband, aCommissioner, was on a Zoom meeting while multiple phones were ringing."We'll figure out how to do it better but it will never be ideal," Sweetser said.
Sinn Fein, as well as the SDLP, do not want to commemorate the centenary of Northern Ireland. Instead, in 2021 Sinn Fein will probably look back 50 years to commemorate the introduction of internment in 1971 and, indeed, 1971 was a particularly important year in Ulster.

After the emergence of the Provisional IRA in December 1969, they spent much of 1970 on consolidation. That year, 29 people were killed and 19 of the deaths were the result of actions by republicans.

The consolidation of 1970 paved the way for the escalation of 1971. During that year, 180 people were killed and, of that number, republicans were responsible for 107.

Republican apologists often suggest that the escalation was a reaction to internment, known as Operation Demetrius, but that is said in an effort to conceal the cynical reality of the IRA strategy.

There was only one person killed in January 1971 and, according to Lost Lives, he was killed by the IRA, the first of many people to be murdered as alleged informers. But from February onwards, the IRA stepped up its campaign of shooting and bombing.

On the night of February 6, IRA gunmen fought a gun battle with the Army in north Belfast. Robert Curtis, a young soldier, was shot dead by an IRA sniper and James Saunders, a senior IRA man in Ardoyne, was shot by the Army.

Bernard Watt, a Catholic, was also shot by the Army in disputed circumstances in Ardoyne when republicans attacked an Army vehicle with nail bombs.

Five civilians were then killed when an IRA bomb destroyed a BBC vehicle carrying workmen up to a transmitter on Brougher Mountain. Three of the victims were Protestants and two were from England.

The IRA followed this up with the murder of a soldier in Ardoyne and the murders of two unarmed policemen in Ardoyne.

On March 8, the Army shot a republican rioter in west Belfast and a member of the Provisional IRA was killed by the Official IRA in a republican feud.

Then, on March 9, an IRA unit from Ardoyne murdered three Scottish soldiers at the White Brae on the outskirts of Belfast.

The victims were off duty, in civilian clothes and unarmed and two of them were brothers, aged 17 and 18. They were the first off-duty soldiers to be killed and their deaths caused a wave of revulsion and anger.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Belfast city centre, many of them weeping, as they came to express their sympathy.

The temperature was rising, but there was only one death in April, a young Belfast IRA man who was accidentally shot at a Provisional training camp in the Republic of Ireland.

The camp was on the farm of a former Sinn Fein councillor and the incident led to allegations of collusion between the IRA and members of the Garda.

All of this happened in the first four months of the year and long before internment, which was actually a response of desperation to what the IRA had been doing.

The IRA bombing campaign escalated with the blowing up of the Unionist Party headquarters and took on a distinctly sectarian character, designed to provoke a Protestant reaction. The IRA turned to no-warning bomb attacks on targets likely to be frequented by Protestants, particularly public houses in working-class Protestant communities.

They bombed the Bluebell Bar in Sandy Row and later, in September, two Protestants were killed when the IRA bombed the Four Step Inn on the Shankill Road.

Loyalists then attacked the Fiddler's House Bar, killing a Protestant woman, and three more Protestants were killed when the IRA bombed the Red Lion on November 2. Violence always begets violence and the UVF then bombed McGurk's Bar, killing 13 Catholics.

The IRA had dragged the city into bitter tit-for-tat bombings and an afternoon IRA attack on a furniture store on the Shankill Road killed four people, two of whom were just babies. Tracey Munn was two and Colin Nicholl was 17 months.

There were other deaths in December, including three IRA men who died when a bomb they were transporting exploded prematurely in Magherafelt, and Senator Jack Barnhill, a unionist, was murdered by the Official IRA in front of his wife.

So, before Sinn Fein commemorate internment, perhaps they might care to reflect on why 1971 was the prelude to the bloodiest year of the Troubles.
An outbreak of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), a highly contagious disease caused by a Calicivirus, is inflicting huge losses on rabbit farmers in Oyo State.

Calicivirus was first discovered in China in 1984, and has been found to be a swift rabbit killer, giving little warning, and sometimes without any symptoms to the hare.

Rabbit meats are in high demand for their richness in iron, a mineral the body requires to bolster the human immune system. However, the outbreak of this infection is depleting the population of rabbits rapidly, especially in Oyo State.

An Oyo rabbit farmer, Oyelami Josephine, said she lost over 350 mature rabbits and 150 newborns to the disease since its outbreak in June.

She quantified her loss at N5 million, an impact that has been debilitating on her business.

Ive fumigated the entire environment more than four times now, and I have used gas flaring to burn all the galvanized hutches, and some that are mixed with wooden. Im reconstructing new galvanized hutches and by January I will be restocking with improved breeds. I have some improved breeds kept in some peoples farm, she told PREMIUM TIMES.

The impact of Calicivirus has spread to other rabbit farms, says Onaolapo Farouq, founder of Olayimika Farms in Oyo.

He said: I lost 57 rabbits actually. Ten fully matured Hyla rabbits that cost N23, 000 each, 20 weaned hyla doe that I would have sold for N10, 000 each, 15 weaned hyla buck that each goes for N4, 000 each, seven New Zealand White grower at N8, 000 each and five English spotted weaned rabbit at N5,000 each. In all, my losses are in the region of N567, 000.

The vice president of Oyo State Rabbits Breeders, Abayomi Okunade, said he has lost no less than 500 rabbits whose monetary value was more than N1 million since the outbreak.

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He lamented that rabbit farmers in the state have been battling the outbreak by self-help.

I tried to fumigate my farm, and I heat up the whole cage area. The government doesnt know that we exist. We are just trying to create awareness, he said.

But the director of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development in Akinyele local government of Oyo State, Ibikunle Abiodun Ismail, said the government has the resources to support rabbit farmers.

The extension service organ trains farmers, and if they have to seek for loan, there are established institutions like Bank of agriculture. The support is both financial and technical. The technical aspect is being handled by agricultural development projects. They train farmers, sponsor programmes on radio and television to educate them.

We also have the veterinary department in the state and in all the local government. If they have any complain, they go to the veterinary doctor of the state, they come to the local government as well, and they will render services to them to prevent the disease which they will pay at subsidised rate.

Theres also annual vaccination program for ruminant and non-ruminant animals, he said.

A veterinary physician and senior lecturer at the Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan, Dr. Gbenga Alaka, explained that Cacilivirus is new in Nigeria because it was first reported in August.

We believe it was introduced through the importation of some exotic rabbits into the country, he said.

He advised rabbit farmers against introducing animals from infected stocks to their farms.

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They have to quarantine any animal they are buying, and ensure they are not from an infected source. And if you already have the disease on your farm, you should clear out your stock, properly clean, disinfect the pen, allow to rest for six months before you introduce a new set of rabbits, he said.

He counseled farmers against treating animals themselves, rather, allow professionals to come to their aid and offer proper diagnosis so as to mitigate the problems.

Another veterinarian and lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Adeola Olusoji, said the best way to prevent infection in a pen from new animals should be to quarantine them for at least fifteen days before they are mixed with the others.

A specialist of small and laboratory animal testing, Dr. Odumuyiwa Adejumobi, who also teaches at the Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, said farmers should embark on strict bio-security which involves discouraging strangers into their colony, and those working in the farm should always keep themselves clean by washing their hands, clothes, and equipment with soap, water and disinfect regularly.
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.
Brussels:

Belgian soldiers shot a terror suspect after an explosion rocked the central train station in Brussels in the latest attack to hit Europe. Witnesses said the suspect shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) before causing the blast on Tuesday, with local media saying the individual had activated an explosive belt.



Authorities reported no casualties, apart from the attacker who was killed in the confrontation. Crying passengers were evacuated from the station as the city that hosts the EU's headquarters was struck by a new attack just over a year after suicide bombers hit the city's airport and metro system.



"This is considered as a terrorist attack," federal prosecutor's office spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told a news conference outside Brussels Gare Centrale station.



The blast in Belgium comes a day after a man mowed down Muslims near a mosque in London, and a radical Islamist on a terror watchlist rammed a car laden with weapons into a police vehicle in Paris.



Brussels has been on high alert since suicide bombers struck the city's airport and metro in March 2016, killing 32 people and injuring hundreds more. The Islamic State group claimed the attacks, which were carried out by the same Brussels-based cell behind the November 2016 Paris attacks that killed 130 people.

ALSO READ | Belgium: Police intercept speeding car and thwart 'attempted terrorist attack'



Van Der Sypt said that at about 1830 GMT there has was a "small explosion at Central Station here in Brussels."

"The suspect has been neutralised by the military that were present at the scene immediately after the explosion," the spokesman said. "He is dead." There were no other casualties, Van Der Sypt said.



The incident happened well after rush hour, but hundreds of passengers were still evacuated from one of Belgium's busiest stations. The nearby Grand Place, a major tourist destination, was also evacuated.



"There were people crying, there were people shouting," said Elisa Roux, a spokeswoman for the Belgian rail company SNCB. Social media images showed an intense yet contained ball of fire in a nearly empty underground arrival hall.



"I went down to the mezzanine level, someone was shouting. Then he cried 'Allahu Akbar', and he blew up a wheeled suitcase," Nicolas Van Herringer, a railway sorting agent, told reporters.



"I was behind a wall when it exploded. I went down and alerted my colleagues to evacuate everyone. He (the suspect) was still around but after that we didn't see him."



Van Herrewegen added: "It wasn't exactly a big explosion but the impact was pretty big. People were running away." He described the suspect as well-built and tanned with short hair, wearing a white shirt and jeans.



"I saw that he had something on him because I could see wires emerging, so it may have been a suicide vest," Van Herrewegen said. Prosecutors told Libre Belgique that the individual was carrying a backpack and an explosive belt, before being shot down.



The report said the suspect activated the belt once the soldier's attention turned to him. About an hour after the events, the situation was "under control", the federal crisis centre said in a tweet.



It said it was keeping the country's terror alert at level 3, the second highest. "The centre of Brussels is calm," mayor Philippe Close said in a tweet.



Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel hailed the "courage" of security forces and said he would chair a security council meeting on Wednesday morning. Gare Centrale is largely underground, located in the heart of Brussels, a few blocks from the Grand Place and the Manneken Pis statue.



It appeared that the suspect was neutralised by soldiers who have been deployed at railway stations and landmark buildings since the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks when a link to Brussels was first established.



Belgium suffered a similar shock last August when a machete-wielding man shouting "Allahu akbar" attacked two policewomen in the industrial town of Charleroi, before being shot dead.



The country's law enforcement agencies and intelligence services came under intense scrutiny after the attacks for apparently missing a series of leads after the Paris attacks that could have led to the Brussels bombers.

ALSO READ | EU, UK agree for Brexit negotiations: Michel Barnier

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PURDUE UNIVERSITY (WLFI)Wednesday's swearing in of President Joe Biden and Madam Vice President Kamala Harris is no doubt one of the most unique ceremonies in modern history.

In curious times Purdue University is still making strides to celebrate democracy, holding several Inauguration Day events online.

"I was just talking about the transition from my perspective," said Purdue graduate and CEO of Avantus Federal, Andrew Maner.

More than 20 years ago Maner was also a staff member for George H.W. Bush.

"I was a newly-minted Purdue grad and was a part of that transition," said Maner.

Maner was a featured speaker Wednesday. He said he spoke to people about the uniqueness of a one term president and the emotions around that.

"The peaceful transfer of power is an incredible part of our nation and President Bush when we lost the election in '92 he was very firm with us about, that this we have to protect this part of our great country," said Maner.

Maner said he wanted to convey a deep message of hope.

"The only advice I can give people is to inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide and just breath and know that our country is a resilient place and people govern it and the beauty of the whole thing is we get to choose," said Maner.

In terms of Purdue's event as a whole, Dean for the College of Liberal Arts David Reingold weighs in.

"Well we thought it was important to put together some educational programming for our students and as well as our alumni. The Inauguration is a historic day," said Reingold.

Reingold said the goal is to bring historical perspective to a day that follows many politically tense moments in America

"We thought it was particularly important to make sure our students and our community had some appreciation for the historical context," said Reingold.

The last event ended at 7 P.M. Wednesday.

You can re-watch events from earlier in the day including Andrew Maner's speech by clicking here.

Gurugram, Jan 21 : The Gurugram police have arrested three persons including two advocates, who had fraudulently sold two acres of 'acquired' land here to a private company that caused a huge loss to the state exchequer, officials said on Thursday.

According to the police, the land of village Islampur which was acquired by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) in 1993 was sold to a private company at Rs 2 crore on the basis of fake and forged documents and witnesses.

Those arrested were identified as Rohit Thakran the kingpin, along with Chaman Lal Arora and Subhash Chand Arora.

Both Chaman Lal and Subhash are advocates, while another accused identified as Ajay Chaudhary is still at large.

"Rohit and Ajay hatched a conspiracy and got the land transferred in the name of Ajay by showing three women as witnesses impersonating as Murti Devi, Lakshmi Devi and Bala Devi as original owners of the 2 acres of the property," said Subhash Boken, spokesperson of the Gurugram police.

The two advocates, Chaman Lal Arora and Subhash Chand Arora who had identified the three fake women witnesses as original owners of the land were also nabbed by the probe team after an investigation.

The fraud came to light when one of the victim Murti Devi, a resident of Gupta Colony in Gurugram, who was also an original owner of the land filed a complaint in this regard.

"Thakran had learnt privately the work of Patwari and was fully aware of the acquired land while Ajay Chaudhary has been found to have transferred Rs 29 lakh out of Rs 2 crores to the account of Thakran. Chaudhary had received the amount in different bank accounts through using different PAN numbers," Boken said.

"Investigation also reveals that accused Rohit Thakran was also involved in other cases including liquor smuggling while Chaudhary was involved in murder case of a Rajasthan police constable in the year 2006. Further probe into the case is underway," he added.
Just over 200,000 Americans suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, a condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues, especially joints and skin, a new study shows.

Led by a researcher at NYU Grossman School of the Medicine, the study provides the first national estimate of how widespread the autoimmune disease is since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set up a half dozen state registries to track the illness more than a decade ago. SLE affects mostly women, can be fatal, and often involves debilitating flare-ups of fatigue and pain that keep nearly half of adult patients from working.

Importantly, the researcher says the report, publishing in the journal Arthritis and Rheumatology online Jan. 21, comes statistically close to officially reclassifying the illness as a rare disease, which disproportionately affects mostly American Indian/Alaskan Native, Black, and Hispanic females. The U.S. Rare Diseases Act of 2002 classifies such conditions as those affecting 200,000 or fewer Americans.

Until now, researchers had relied on disease estimates that were larger but unverified.

"Our study potentially redefines systemic lupus erythematosus as a rare disease in the United States and lays the groundwork for where we need to focus our efforts to reduce the burden of this disease on Americans," says study lead investigator and rheumatologist Peter Izmirly, MD. Izmirly is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Langone Health.

Rare-disease classification could, the investigator says, significantly change efforts to study and treat SLE by decreasing the number of study participants needed for testing new treatments and shaping the design of clinical trials needed before seeking regulatory approval. He also says the team's findings could help plan which neighborhoods or population groups need extra medical resources, including specialty rheumatology clinics, to combat SLE.

Current treatments for lupus, he notes, include steroids or other anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressing medications, especially newer biologic drugs, made from living cells, to prevent patients' immune system's attack on their tissues.

For the study, researchers at NYU Langone and elsewhere analyzed records for 5,417 adults and children diagnosed with SLE since 2002 at all of the state registries for the disease, as well as the Indian Native Health Service. They then calculated the number of people with SLE for every gender and ethnic group and applied those demographic numbers to national population statistics from the 2018 U.S. Census. They concluded that among every 100,000 people nationwide, 72.8 had SLE, for a total of 204,295 out of a population of 330 million.

Their calculations also found that nine times more women than men have SLE, the dominant form of lupus. SLE rates were highest among Native American/Alaskan Native females, at 270.6 per 100,000. Black females ranked next, at 230.9 per 100,000, followed by Hispanic females, at 120.7 per 100,000. Similar disparities were seen among males with SLE, with American Indians/Alaskan Natives having the highest number, at 53.8 per 100,000, and Black males next, at 26.7 per 100,000.

###

Funding support for the study was provided by New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Additional support was provided by the CDC; state lupus registries in Georgia, Michigan, California, and New York; the Indian Health Service, and National Institutes of Health grant UL1 TR002240.

Izmirly has served on an advisory board sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, a manufacturer of drugs used to treat SLE. These arrangements are being managed in accordance with the policies and practices of NYU Langone.

Besides Izmirly, other researchers involved in the studies are Hilary Parton, MPH, at New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Lu Wang, PhD; W. Joseph McCune, MD; and senior investigator Emily Somers, PhD, ScM, at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; S. Sam Lim, MD, MPH, and Christina Drenkard, MD, PhD, at Emory University in Atlanta; Elizabeth Ferucci, MD, MPH, at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in Anchorage; Maria Dall'Era, MD, at the University of California at San Francisco; Caroline Gordon, MD, at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom; and Charles Helmick, MD, at the CDC in Atlanta.

Media Inquiries:

David March

212-404-3528

mailto:david.march@nyulangone.org
HONOLULU, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (NYSE: ALEX) (A&B) today announced the allocations of the Company's 2020 dividend distributions on its common shares. The table below, presented on a per share basis, is provided for informational purposes only and should only be used to clarify the information on Form 1099-DIV.

Common Shares (CUSIP # 014491104)









Ordinary Income in 2020 Ex-

Dividend

Date Record

Date Payable

Date Distribution

Per Share Total Non-Qualified Qualified 3/5/2020 3/9/2020 3/24/2020 $ 0.190 $ 0.190 $ 0.190 $  12/24/2020 12/28/2020 1/12/2021 $ 0.150 $ 0.150 $ 0.150 $ 



Totals $ 0.340 $ 0.340 $ 0.340 $ 

Shareholders of record should expect to receive IRS Form 1099-DIV ("1099-DIV") from Computershare, the Company's dividend paying agent. Shareholders of record will receive Forms 1099-DIV relating to the quarterly dividends paid or deemed paid in 2020. "Street name" shareholders should expect to receive their Forms 1099-DIV from their bank, brokerage firm, or other nominee. The amounts indicated on the 2020 Forms 1099-DIV should be reported on shareholders' 2020 federal income tax returns.

Investors are encouraged to seek legal and/or professional tax advice about the specific tax treatment of distributions paid by the Company for the 2020 tax year.

About Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.

Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. (A&B) is one of Hawai'i's premier commercial real estate companies and the largest owner of grocery-anchored, neighborhood shopping centers in the state. A&B owns, operates and manages approximately 3.9 million square feet of commercial space in Hawai'i, including 22 retail centers, ten industrial assets and four office properties, as well as 154 acres of ground leases. These core assets comprise nearly 72% of A&B's total assets. A&B's non-core assets include renewable energy generation facilities, nearly 27,000 acres of agricultural and conservation land and a vertically integrated paving business. A&B is achieving its strategic objective of becoming a Hawai'i-focused commercial real estate company by expanding and strengthening its Hawai'i CRE portfolio and monetizing non-core assets. Over its 150-year history, A&B has evolved with the state's economy and played a leadership role in the development of the agricultural, transportation, tourism, construction, residential and commercial real estate industries. Learn more about A&B at www.alexanderbaldwin.com.

Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the relevant forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, prevailing market conditions and other factors related to the Company's REIT status and the Company business generally discussed in the Company's most recent Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information in this release should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. We do not undertake any obligation to update the Company's forward-looking statements.

Contact:

A&B Investor Relations

(808) 525-8475

[email protected]

SOURCE Alexander & Baldwin
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  One of the six federal defendants accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has a plea hearing set for next week.

Ty Garbin, 24, an alleged leader of the Michigan-based militia, Wolverine Watchmen, has a plea hearing set for Jan. 27 before U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker in Grand Rapids, court documents show.

The details of any plea agreement were not contained in court records.

Garbin, who lives in Livingston Countys Hartland Township, was indicted on a federal kidnapping-conspiracy charge with Brandon Caserta, 33, of Canton, Barry Croft Jr., 44, of Bear, Delaware, Adam Fox, 37, of Wyoming, Kaleb Franks, 26, of Waterford, and Daniel Harris, 23, of Lake Orion.

The six defendants are scheduled for a jury trial on March 23. All are jailed without bond.

They are among 14 men charged in federal or state court with plotting to kidnap Whitmer because they were upset over coronavirus restrictions.

Police alleged that some of the men gathered in at least two field training exercises, one in Wisconsin and the other in Michigan, as part of the planning. They also conducted surveillance on Whitmers vacation home in Northern Michigan.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nils Kessler wrote in court documents the defendants planned a violent plot to kidnap the Governor of Michigan last year.

The government said in court records that Garbin suggested to co-conspirators that they shoot up Whitmers vacation home, even if it only resulted in property damage.

Garbin in June met with Fox and others in the basement of Foxs employer in Wyoming. He attended a tactical-training exercise in Munith and participated in firearms training and combat drills in Wisconsin, records said.

Garbin and others tried to make improvised explosive devices in Wisconsin, the government said.

Some of the suspects in the kidnapping plot had conducted overnight surveillance of Whitmers vacation home, testimony showed.

The suspects stayed in contact using an encrypted messaging. They were unaware that the FBI had infiltrated the group, and also had informants on the inside, who provided real-time information to investigators.

Fox, the Wyoming man, ordered $4,000 in explosives from an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a co-conspirator. In October, Fox bought a Taser-type high-voltage stunning device.

Conspiracy to kidnap carries a penalty of up to life in prison upon conviction.

Read more:

Suspect in plot to kidnap Michigan governor fights extradition from Wisconsin

6 suspects in alleged plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer indicted by federal grand jury

Alleged leader in Gov. Whitmer kidnap plot faces first Michigan court appearance

Judge denies bond for alleged leader in Whitmer kidnapping plot, described as violent extremist

Kidnapping plot included leaving Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in boat in Lake Michigan, FBI says
"Post Reports" is the daily podcast from The Washington Post. Unparalleled reporting. Expert insight. Clear analysis. Everything you've come to expect from the newsroom of The Post - for your ears.

- - -

In this episode:

Joe Biden has been inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States, calling for unity in a speech to a divided nation. Sean Sullivan reports on the inauguration.

Kamala Harris is the first woman. Jordan-Marie Smith talks to her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters about how they're celebrating.

Moving presidents' families into and out of the White House is a complicated process, expertly coordinated by the chief usher of the residence. Bonnie Berkowitz describes the delicate dance, usually completed in under five hours.

They went public with their romance back in early July.

And Jordana Brewster and Mason Morfit have become inseparable as their relationship goes from strength to strength.

The Fast & Furious star, 40, couldn't stop smiling as she and the tech entrepreneur left a private gym in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

So in love: Jordana Brewster couldn't stop smiling as she and tech entrepreneur beau Mason Morfit, 44, left a private gym in West Hollywood on Wednesday

Morfit, 44, placed a hand gently on Brewster's arm as they stood by her car chatting following their sweat session.

The actress was dressed in a black tank top and leggings and wore a sweater knotted around her waist.

Her long hair was tied back from her face and she sported sunglasses.

Brewster carried a black purse on a shoulder strap and accessorized with several pendant necklaces and a gold bracelet.

Fit: The actress, 40, was dressed in a black tank top and leggings and wore a sweater knotted around her waist. Her long hair was tied back from her face and she sported sunglasses

Brewster filed for divorce from husband Andrew Form on July 1, 2020.

She and the 48-year-old film producer met on the set of the 2006 movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and married in May 2007.

They are parents to two sons, born via gestational surrogate - Julian, seven, and Rowan, four.

Divorce: Brewster split from husband Andrew Form last year. She and the producer met on the set of 2006 movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and married in May 2007

Mom of two: Brewster and Form share sons Julian, seven, and Rowan, four, both of whom were born via gestational surrogate

Brewster will next be seen on screen in F9, the latest installment in the Fast And Furious franchise that's slated to be released in May after being pushed back due to the pandemic.

In October, it was announced that the film's director Justin Lin is set to helm two more movies which will wrap up the franchise after a 20-year run.

Brewster is likely to be back along with series headliner Vin Diesel and castmembers Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris.

Since the first film The Fast And The Furious premiered in 2001, the franchise has become the highest-grossing movie series in the history of Universal Pictures.

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Jamie Foxx has proven hes a formidable actor in films such as Ray and Any Given Sunday, but he wasnt always so skilled.

Earlier in his career, he had the chance to star in Jerry Maguire in Cuba Gooding Jr.s role but missed out when he blew his audition with Tom Cruise.

Jamie Foxx landed an audition for Rod Tidwell role in Jerry Maguire

Jamie Foxx attends the 51st NAACP Image Awards | Leon Bennett/Getty Images for BET

RELATED: Jamie Foxx Got So Mad at LL Cool J On Set Their Brawl Was Broken Up by Police

According to a resurfaced interview with Howard Stern, Foxx somehow landed an audition for the role of Rod Tidwell despite his lack of experience.

Im in LA and I audition, just like, on aI dont know how I got in, Foxx said. And the guy goes, Hes great! Were gonna take you to New York, because they hadnt signed Tom Cruise on yet. Were gonna take you to New York and read for Tom Cruise.

He got to audition with Tom Cruise

Immediately upon arriving in New York, Foxx was overwhelmed by Cruises presence.

So I get to New York, and I was justcome on, man, Foxx said. Tom Cruise walked in with the little leather jacket  he looked like he had just walked off of Top Gun. I was just done.

Jamie Foxx tried unsuccessfully to impress Tom Cruise

Foxx knew he was out of his league, so he tried to impress Cruise by bragging about his homes.

I had no business being there, I felt, Foxx said. So Ill never forget making a fool of myself by  speaking to Tom, and Tom said, Where do you live. I said, Oh, I got two houses. I live in LA and Vegas, you know what Im saying?

Foxxs boasts did little to impress Cruise, who was living in Rome, Italy at the time.

Im going toe to toe with Tom Cruise. F it, Im late on payments and all kinds of st,  Two houses.  So I said, where do you live? He said, Rome. And I said, Rome Street?  He looked at me like, No motherfer, Italy!

He blew his audition

After exchanging pleasantries, Foxx continued to screw up his audition by staring at Cruise while they were reading.

It blew it because I kept looking at him, Foxx revealed. Imagine youre from Texas, and youve done a little bit of st, but you aint seen no real fing stars, right? So Im just sitting there watching, and we get to reading, right?  And as Im reading he does a dramatic pause but thats his thing. I fing think he lost his place.

Foxx ended up taking the script and trying to remind Cruise where they were at in the script, which annoyed Cruise. However, Cruise found Foxxs lack of preparation funny.

I say, Ok, yeah, Im fing this up  So I blew it, but I blew it so bad that he just started laughing at me  Foxx said.

One of the Jerry Maguire producers gave him an intense pep talk

Later in the audition, Foxx was having trouble hearing Cruise, because Cruise was delivering his lines in a whisper. Foxx decided to ask Cruise to repeat them louder, which really upset Cruise.

He looked at me  hes like, Hey guy.  Hey guy, youve got to get it together, Foxx recalled. So anyway, Im blowing it, and the guyI cant remember the producers namehe pulls me out of the thing and he goes, What in the f are you doing!? You gotta f him up, hes Tom Cruise! You gotta take it to him! 
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed Dalrada Financial Corp. (OTCQB: DFCO) ("the Company"), a company that solves real-world problems by producing innovation-focused and technologically centered solutions on a global scale, with a recent uplisting to the OTCQB platform. COO of the Company, Fawad Nisar, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly.

Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's background and current projects. "Dalrada Financial Corporation is a science, engineering, and technology company," shared Nisar. "We provide alternative products and services mainly focusing on accessibility and low to mid-income countries, and also developed countries where we can make a worldwide impact in the form of healthcare solutions, clean energy products and services, along with IT and technology services."

Jolly then commented on the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked how the Company faced the challenges of 2020. "The structure and diversified portfolio that we put together was prior to the pandemic," explained Fawad before elaborating on the Company's numerous divisions. "Having that diversified portfolio allowed us to stay focused on the opportunities that we had in front of us and overcoming the challenges of the other business segments; where one was dormant for some time, the others were ramping up," said Nisar, noting that many of these changes were caused by the shifting challenges of their international locations.

"We focused heavily on customer service," he continued. "Having that exceptional experience across each touch-point helped us sustain our business," said Nisar. "Most importantly, our dedicated staff, whether it was remote, whether it was the challenges of the lockdown, or if we needed to get shipments out, our staff and our employees worldwide pulled together. I'm excited looking ahead to 2021."

"How has the Company's vision shifted to accommodate the world's needs right now?", asked Jolly. "It's interesting that the vision that was put in place about two years for Dalrada is aligning and coming to fruition during this pandemic," said Nisar, addressing the Company's sanitizing and disinfectant division. "We still have to treat cervical cancer across the board, regardless of a pandemic or not," he added, noting that the Company will also continue to focus on pollution and climate change moving forward. "The pandemic has already caused 2 million deaths so far, and pollution kills roughly 7 million annually," said Nisar.

Nisar then elaborated on the potential applications for its mobile LikidoCRYO chiller technology, as well as the significance of their high-efficiency heating and cooling systems for commercial and residential use, and ramping up production in Bonham, Texas. "These have allowed us to remain very competitive during the pandemic," shared Nisar, adding that the current environment has also allowed the Company to grow their IT services and technology offerings as the need for remote solutions continues to grow.

"Moving forward, we're always looking for additional acquisitions to make an impact globally," said Nisar. "We're currently in the process of acquiring a stem cell organization to add to our Dalrada health portfolio," he shared, adding that recent studies have found that stem cells have proven promising in the treatment of COVID-19. "We're also looking at potentially acquiring a nursing educational program," he said before elaborating on the increasing demand for health care workers.

"What do you see for your company over the next two to three quarters?", asked Jolly. "What we're doing is making sure that we provide custom solutions," said Nisar. "So, instead of selling hand sanitizer and a surface cleaner, what we're providing is a safety solution," he explained. "In addition to that, through our business segments, we're looking at how we can help businesses save money and be able to continue to meet their business goals," said Nisar. "We're looking at ways to ease the overall experience worldwide," he added. "When you work with Dalrada, we try to be a part of your business and give you a solution that is going to help resolve some of the challenges that you're having during this pandemic."

To close the interview, Nisar encouraged listeners to reach out with any questions at: inquiries@dalrada.com or 1-858-283-1253.

To hear the entire interview with Fawad Nisar, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/7778324-dalrada-financial-corp-discusses-its-2021-potential-and-goals-with-the-stock-day-podcast.

Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/.

About Dalrada (DFCO)

Dalrada Financial Corp. (OTCQB: DFCO) ("Dalrada") solves real-world problems by producing innovation-focused and technologically centered solutions on a global scale. Delivering next-generation manufacturing, engineering, and healthcare products and services designed to propel growth, Dalrada is a team of industry experts and an organization built upon a strong foundation of financial capital. The Company and its subsidiaries are positioned for stable long-term growth through intelligent market research, sound business acumen, and established operational infrastructure. For more information, visit https://dalrada.com or call 1-858-283-1253.

Disclaimer

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future revenues and sales projections, plans for future financing, the ability to meet operational milestones, marketing arrangements and plans, and shipments to and regulatory approvals in international markets. Such statements reflect management's current views, are based on certain assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results, events, or performance may differ materially from the above forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors, and will be dependent upon a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to obtain additional financing that will allow us to continue our current and future operations and whether demand for our products and services in domestic and international markets will continue to expand. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard to these forward-looking statements or the occurrence of unanticipated events. Factors that may impact the Company's success are more fully disclosed in the Company's most recent public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including its annual report on Form 10-K.

About The "Stock Day" Podcast

Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. Stock Day recently launched its Video Interview Studio located in Phoenix, Arizona.

SOURCE:

Stock Day Media

(602) 821-1102

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72515
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(Newser)  New Jersey man Damon Williams didn't brandish an ax, stick his face through a door, or say "Heeere's Damon" when he stole $4,600 from a bank in 2014, and his lawyers say it was unfair for prosecutors to liken him to Jack Nicholson's character in the famous scene from The Shining. New Jersey's Supreme Court granted Williams a new trial this week after deciding it was improper for prosecutors to have used a photo of the scene in Williams' first trial, the New York Times reports. In the 2014 crime, Williams handed a note saying "Please, all the money, 100, 50, 20, 10. Thank you." Prosecutors said they used the horror movie photo to demonstrate that "actions speak louder than words."

story continues below

"This guy looks creepy and he's saying some very unthreatening words, 'Here's Johnny,'" the prosecutor said during closing arguments in Williams' trial, per NJ.com. "But if you have ever seen the movie The Shining, you know how his face gets through that door." Williams was convicted of second-degree robbery, which requires the use of force or threats of force, and received a 14-year sentence, the AP reports. His lawyers argued he was guilty only of third-degree theft, which carries a lesser sentence. "The use of a sensational and provocative image in service of such a comparison, even when purportedly metaphorical, heightens the risk of an improper prejudicial effect on the jury," Justice Lee Solomon wrote in the opinion vacating Williams' sentence. (A bank robber in Texas blamed COVID-19 for the crime.)
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
Activists attend a rally after the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden, in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 20, 2021. (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters)

Portland Police Arrest 8 After Agitators Vandalize Democratic Party Offices

Police officers in Portland, Oregon, made eight arrests on Jan. 20 as agitators smashed windows and vandalized the offices of the states Democratic Party during rioting that took place just hours after the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

At least 150 people, some of whom were seen carrying the flag of the far-left, anarcho-communist group Antifa, gathered and participated in events punctuated by violence and destruction that began about two hours after Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th president of the United States, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

The crowd, mainly dressed in Antifas characteristic black, first gathered at Revolution Hall in southeast Portland, where they were met by police officers on bikes. They then marched to the Democratic Party headquarters and began smashing windows, applying graffiti, and later moving dumpsters in the street, lighting the contents of one on fire, police said in a statement.

A clip filmed by a journalist at the scene shows a person, dressed in all-black, walking through Portland streets carrying an Antifa flag. Antifa adherents commonly use this black bloc tactic to hide their identities.

Others held banners that had varying messages, including We are ungovernable and A new world from the ashes.

Video from the scene showed one sign saying, We dont want Bidenwe want revenge for killings allegedly committed by police officers and fascist massacres.

To those gathered near the Democratic Party of Oregon Portland Headquarters: Members of this group have been observed damaging the building, the bureau wrote on Twitter before arrests were made. Anyone who is involved in criminal behavior including: vandalism and graffittiing [sic] is subject to arrest or citation.

Journalist Andy Ngo shared footage on Twitter of people attacking a Portland police officer and flipping a car on its side.

Some of the weapons seized by Portland Police officers on Jan. 20, 2021. (Portland Police Bureau)

The people, aged 18 to 38, were arrested on charges ranging from criminal mischief to possession of a destructive device, to riot, to reckless burning, the bureau said, noting that some of the charges were connected to the extensive damage caused to the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters.

Police Sgt. Kevin Allen said officers recovered batons, irritant spray, Molotov cocktails, and a crowbar during the arrests.

Of the individuals arrested, four are from Portland, two are from Albany, one is from McMinnville, and the other is from Vancouver, Washington. At least two people detained on Jan. 20 had been previously arrested and released.

Kaiave Douvia, 22, who was charged with criminal mischief, had been arrested during a protest in Portland on Nov. 2 last year and charged with felonies of criminal mischief and burglary, as well as disorderly conduct. He was released the following day without bail.

The 22-year-old in May 2017 penned an article in which he described himself as a social democrat  a leftist, but an alien among my leftist peers.

Self-described Antifa member Davis Beeman, 38, was charged with rioting and disorderly conduct; in May 2020, he was charged with two misdemeanors of reckless driving and interfering with a peace officer.

The Democratic Party in a statement late on Jan. 20 said it was disappointed in the damage caused by the group to its headquarters.

None of this should take away from the fact that today is a joyous day for America, the party said.

In its latest update, the bureau said that further arrests were made following a separate gathering of some 150 people at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices in the city.

Police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly after people began vandalizing the federal building and throwing eggs. People were seen carrying pepper-ball guns, electronic control weapons similar to tasers, shields, and rocks, the bureau said.

If you are exercising your free speech rights, do so peacefully. Vandalism, assault, and blocking traffic is not protected activity and people engaged in it are subject to arrest. For those protesting peacefully, thank you, Allen had urged protesters earlier after an afternoon of arrests.

Former President Donald Trump earlier this month signed a memorandum to block the entry of individuals affiliated with the Antifa movement into the United States. The White House on Jan. 5 said that the violence spurred on by the group endangers the fabric of the nation.
Here are the upcoming Chattanooga Live Music weekend events beginning Thursday through Sunday. Check the CLM Facebook schedule page for details of each event.

21-Jan Rowdy Henson at Farm To Fork -7PM

21-Jan Trailer Hippies at Jacob Meyer's - 8 PM

22-Jan Herrick Band at Puckett's - 8-PM

22-Jan Lenox Hills w/ Drumming Bird & Daniel Nunnelee - The Signal -8 PM

22-Jan Steely Bruno - Wanderlinger Brewing - 8:30 PM

22-Jan Right Turn Clyde at Jacob Meyer's - 9 PM

22-Jan Six Shooters Returns at Farm To Fork - 8:30 PM

22-Jan KAPO at The Great Scotland Yard - Bar Watson -9 PM

22-Jan Throttle 21 Weekend at Buds Sports Bar - 10 PM

22-Jan Jason Lyles Vinyl Rel.





Party - Yellow Racket Records - 12 noon23-JanZoso The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience at The Signal- 8 PM23-JanMichael Seabolt Band at Jacob Meyer's Restr.- 8 PM23-JanJosh Bearden at Mayo Bar & Grille - 8 PM23-JanErik Kirkendoll at Puckett's - 8 PM23-JanKillaKeyz Band at Wanderlinger Brewing - 8:30 PM23-JanMoJo Whiskey Debuts at Farm To Fork 8:30 PM24-JanBrunch w/ Jimmy Dormire at Farm To Fork - 11 AM
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In February 1945, over 800 of Americas highly skilled and educated women, many from the Southeast, shipped out to Europe for the opportunity of a lifetime. The United States Armys 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was the only all African American Womens Army Corps unit to serve overseas during World War II. Their story began right outside of Chattanooga, at the Third Womens Army Corps Training Center at Fort Oglethorpe.

The 6888ths story, long forgotten, is now the subject of an award- winning documentary called The Six Triple Eight. The 55-minute film will be shown on local access cable station UCTV265 on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7 pm and is supported by Georgia Humanities, in partnership with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, through appropriations made by the Georgia General Assembly.

The North Georgia screening was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. February is Black History Month and the students will soon be learning about World War II. Showing the film on UCTV will reach a large audience and add to what our teachers can share with their students, said Executive Director Chris McKeever. Theres North Georgia ties to the 6888ths story with Abbie Noel Campbell, who was second in command of the unit, teaching school in Summerville before she joined the Army.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion completed their extended field service training at Fort Oglethorpe then deployed to Birmingham, England in February 1945. Their assignment was to clear a two-year backlog of mail in the European Theater of war. The 855 members of the battalion were given six months to clear the backlog. Working round the clock in triple shifts, the women accomplished their task in three months, then were sent to Rouen, France, and then Paris to continue processing mail. The units motto of No Mail, Low Morale, inspired the women to accomplish the overwhelming task of getting an estimated 17 million letters and packages delivered to the troops.

The 6888th were completely unique for their time, said Ms. McKeever. They were part of a new, professional Womens Army Corps, commissioned by General Dwight D. Eisenhower and President Roosevelt to support combat troops during World War II. They were the best and the brightest of African American women in the U.S. and their story started right here at Fort Oglethorpe.

The Six Triple Eight showing is the first event in February, part of a larger project to commemorate the 6888 in Fort Oglethorpe with the virtual opening of the permanent exhibit on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. and public opening at the 6th Cavalry Museum on Feb. 26. UCTV is on Comcast Channel 265, Charter Channel 198, Dalton Utilities Optilink Channel 129 and 133, Roku and live streamed at UCTVlive.com.

For more information contact the 6th Cavalry Museum at (706) 861-2860.

SHOW FILM - The Six-Triple Eight on UCTV265  Thursday, Feb. 11, 7-8 p.m.

Sponsored by Georgia Humanities grant



VIRTUAL OPENING 6888th Exhibit  Thursday, Feb. 25, 7-8 p.m.

Sponsored by National Park Service African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund Grant

Panelists to speak and answer questions- Colonel (ret.) Edna Cummings, Producer of Lincoln Penny Films The Six-Triple-Eight documentary. 6th Cavalry Museum Director Chris McKeever and exhibit curator Molly Sampson.

Curator tour of the exhibit.

Q&A from the virtual audience.

PUBLIC OPENING 6888th Exhibit  Friday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m.

Sponsored by National Park Service African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund Grant

Four Education Videos

Origins of the WAC

The Fight for Overseas Service

Training at Fort Oglethorpe

Overseas Service in the 6888th




The military will help the government with the delivery of coronavirus vaccines to the public set to begin next month, the defense ministry said Thursday.







According to the ministry's policy plan for the New Year, the government will set up a 41-member coronavirus vaccine logistics support team, comprised mostly of service members and headed by the Army's Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Park Ju-Kyeong.







President Moon Jae-in said this week that the government will provide free-of-charge COVID-19 vaccines to all Koreans starting in February.







"The actual delivery will be done using private infrastructure as much as possible. Which company will be in charge has yet to be decided," an official told reporters.







The military's main tasks will include escorting the vaccines from the airport to inoculation centers and dealing with contingencies, among other things, he said.







The government earlier said it has secured access to COVID-19 vaccines for 56 million people from four pharmaceutical companies and the World Health Organization's global vaccine project, known as COVAX.







Korea reported 401 new virus cases on Thursday, raising the total caseload to 73,918. (Yonhap)




The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate held a virtual economic outlook summit Thursday morning, looking at the New Orleans-area economy for 2021.

Tapping insights from business and community leaders, the event focused on the anticipated pace of the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, with a view toward any obstacles and emerging bright spots for New Orleans.

Watch a replay of the discussion in the player below. Can't see the video? Click here.

The panel includes Katy Casbarian, proprietor of Arnauds Restaurant; Lacey Merrick Conway, president and CEO of Latter & Blum; David Ellis, president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans; Greg Feirn, CEO of LCMC Health; Thomas LaVeist, dean of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; and Tania Tetlow, president of Loyola University.

The event is sponsored by Entergy, Tulane University, LCMC Health and Hancock Whitney.
Photo: (Photo : Pexels/Pixabay)

Children with autism could benefit from family cats based on a study. A shelter cat could help improve empathy in children with ASD and help reduce separation anxiety.

Learns responsibility when caring for an animal

University of Missouri Human-Animal Interaction Research Center scientist, Gretchen Carlisle, explained what they found in their study. She said that companion animals, like cats, in general unconditionally accept and listen to someone talking. She also said that a person learns responsibility when caring for an animal.

Autism spectrum disorder is a condition that affects not only social skills but also communication and impulse control. According to the US CDC, one in 54 children is affected by the disorder.

CONTINUE READING: Children with Autism at Higher Risk of Developing Mental Health Conditions, Study Proves

The research team studied 11 families with children with ASD with an age range between six and 14. They let the families adopt a shelter cat for 18 weeks and used standardized social skills and anxiety scales to check how a child would respond well to a pet.

An instant bond between the cat and the children with ASD

Including screening the cats for temperament, the team found an instant bond between the cat and children with autism. Over time, the bond remained strong even though there is an added responsibility with caring for the pet.

Over the study period, the research team found decreased separation anxiety, bullying, and overactivity in children with autism. The kids showed more empathy after adopting the shelter cat.

READ NEXT: Yoga Improves Symptoms for People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Study Proves

Carlisle explained that while it does not mean that cats are better pets than dogs, she said that feline companions are better for children with ASD and their families. She explained that the children with special needs might have sensory issues.

She added that children might get overwhelmed when a dog barks. On the other hand, a cat would sit beside you and prevent sensory overwhelming, Carlisle said.

Benefits of cats to physical and mental health

Here are science-backed proofs that show the benefits of owning a cat as a pet in your physical and mental health.

LEARN ABOUT: How to Discipline Children with ADHD and Autism Effectively

Stress reliever

Researchers found that people who own cats had a lower resting heart rate and blood pressure than those who did not. A study showed that people who have feline pets felt more challenged than threatened when given a stressful task.

Better well-being

Cat-owners have better psychological health than others who are not. One Australian study's subjects revealed that people who own cats feel more confident, happy, and less nervous. Apart from that, they can also sleep, focus, and face problems better in their lives.

Benefits human relationships

Studies prove that people who own cats trust other people more, are more socially sensitive, and like other people. A cat or dog person would usually think that other people like them than others who do not.

Eastern Kentucky University's Rose Perrine and Hannah Osbourne wrote that people who have positive feelings about cats or dogs help them feel good about other people. It makes them show kindness and generosity toward others.
Married At First Sight fans will remember the moment that Lauren Huntriss told her virgin groom Matthew Bennet that she 'used to be a lesbian'.

But two years on from appearing on the series in Australia, Lauren has addressed the controversial comments she made as her season airs in the UK for the first time.

In a post to Instagram on Wednesday, the 32-year-old explained that she wasn't a lesbian but instead went through a phase experimenting 'as most girls do'.

'Truth: Lauren Huntriss (left), 32, has addressed telling co-star Matthew Bennett (right) she 'used to be a lesbian' on Married At First Sight in 2019 as the sixth season airs in the United Kingdom

'Are you guys sitting down? Are you ready for this? Let me tell you what really went down... Firstly, to answer your question. No, I was not a lesbian. I hate titles. I hate labels,' she said.

'As you guys know the question was "what is something about you that would shock me?". Anything would've shocked him so me being me - the comedian, stirrer that I am - I thought "what is something that'll really shock this guy?".

'I started telling him I went through a phase in my life, as most girls do, when they're young adults. I was like 18 at the time. I started experimenting with girls and had crushes on girls.'

Lauren, who met Matthew at the alter during filming in late 2018, said producers were thrilled by her response as it would 'make great TV' but asked her to repeat it up to five times and state she 'used to be a lesbian'.

'Firstly, to answer your question. No, I was not a lesbian. I hate titles. I hate labels,' she said. 'I started telling him I went through a phase in my life, as most girls do, when they're young adults. I was like 18 at the time. I started experimenting with girls and had crushes on girls'

'The producers were like "that's awesome"': Lauren, who met Matthew at the alter during filming in 2018, added producers were thrilled by her response as it would 'make great TV' but asked her to repeat it up to five times and state she 'used to be a lesbian'

'The producers were like "that's awesome, this is great content, this is going to make great TV but we'll get you to repeat it and say you used to be a lesbian - keep it short and simple",' she said.

'I argued back and forth with him and said "I don't label myself as a lesbian nor was I... I don't feel right about that".'

However, Lauren said she gave in to the producer's request due to sleep deprivation and just wanting 'it done with'.

'The producers were like "that's awesome, this is great content, this is going to make great TV but we'll get you to repeat it and say you used to be a lesbian",' she said. 'I argued back and forth with him and said "I don't label myself as a lesbian nor was I..."'

Giving them what they want: Lauren said she gave in to the producer's request due to sleep deprivation and just wanting 'it done with'

Lauren, who confirmed she was single in a separate video to her Instagram Stories on Wednesday, added she was approached to star on the 2019 season of Married At First Sight after being approached in an Irish bar.

'I would never, ever applied for a show like that but when the opportunity comes at me I'm someone that takes every opportunity,' she said.

Matthew, who ended up losing his virginity to Lauren on the show, has since found love with girlfriend Annabel Jameson, who he met at a Sunshine Coast wrestling club.
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Sequel to inauguration of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry by the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, to investigate and ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the recent crisis that erupted in Oruku, Nkanu East Local Government Area, which led to the killing of the communitys traditional ruler, EmmanuelMba, the Commission has called for Memoranda from the general public, individuals, organizations and concerned persons.

In a statement by the Secretary of the Commission, Godwin Anigbo, the Memoranda shall be in ten (10) copies typed in A4 paper, and addressed to: The Chairman, Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the killing of HRH Igwe Emmanuel Chidiebere Mba, Court 8, Judiciary Headquarters, opposite WAEC Office, Enugu.

Mr Anigbo disclosed that the deadline for submission of Memoranda shall be two weeks from 16th January, 2021, but not later than Monday, 1st February, 2021.

It would be recalled that Governor Ugwuanyi while inaugurating the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, headed by Justice Harold Eya, canvassed peace and charged members of the panel to expeditiously and most sincerely discharge the onerous task, which outcome, he said, will inform further government actions on the Oruku crisis.

The governor reiterated his administrations commitment to the security and welfare of the people, which is the primary purpose of government as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria.

He further urged the people of Oruku community to stay the course of peace, which his administration has striven to entrench and nurture in the state.
A petition filed on the Cheong Wa Dae website urging harsh punishment for a man who killed his girlfriend and her sister has garnered more than 250,000 signatures. / Screen captured from Cheong Wa Dae official website



By Bahk Eun-ji



A 33-year-old man was given a life sentence, Wednesday, for murdering his girlfriend and her sister in their apartments.



The Daejeon District Court said it was only proper for the man, surnamed Kim, who it had found guilty of robbery and murder, to be isolated from society forever.



According to court records, Kim strangled his girlfriend in her apartment in Dangjin, South Chungcheong Province, at around 10:30 p.m., June 25 last year. He then broke into the apartment of her older sister in the same building and killed her too after she returned from work the next morning.



Kim then stole the sister's car and drove to Ulsan, where he abandoned the vehicle and fled after being involved in a traffic accident.



He also withdrew money using the victims' credit cards and tried to conceal the crime by sending a message to his girlfriend's family and acquaintances through her mobile phone as if she was still alive.



"As the defendant killed the victims for reasons that are difficult to understand, the parents lost their two daughters at the same time," the judge said in the court ruling.



"His crime was so grave, with him stealing a brand-name bag from the victim and giving it as a gift to another woman he had previously dated."



The victims' parents, who had called for the death penalty, contested the verdict, saying it didn't make sense that a person who destroyed their family should be allowed to continue living on taxes paid by the family.



Last month, the victim's father posted a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website, calling for harsh punishment to be meted out to Kim. The petition had garnered more than 250,000 signatures as of Wednesday.


A Greens senator has hit back at an email calling her a 'disgusting anti-Aussie cow' after she criticised Australia Day.

Senator Mehreen Faruqi shared an email from a man named Garry on Thursday, in which he berated the politician in response to a Tweet she made on Wednesday.

'January 26 is Invasion Day, a day of mourning, no matter what a few people in the racist bin fire of my Facebook comments think,' she wrote.

Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi (pictured) made a Tweet saying 'January 26 is Invasion Day, a day of mourning' on Wednesday before she received an angry email from a man named Garry

Angry Garry's email was titled 'scum' and began by calling Ms Faruqi a 'disgusting anti-Australian immigrant'.

'You should be ashamed of yourself. I bloody hope you chase me up cos you anti-Aussie scum hide behind parliamentary privilege,' he wrote.

'You'd never get away with your discriminatory dialogue in your home country you disgusting anti Aussie-cow.'

Ms Faruqi is an Australian citizen who was born in Lahore, Pakistan.

Angry Garry's email was titled 'scum' and began by calling Ms Faruqi a 'disgusting anti Australian immigrant'. Ms Faruqi shared the email to her social media pages on Thursday

Ms Faruqi responded to Garry's email, saying she is 'unapologetically a brown, Muslim, migrant, feminist woman and Greens senator'

The senator shared the email to her Facebook and Twitter with an eloquent response in the caption.

'Garry, I said this in my first speech to Parliament, almost like it was written for you: "I am unapologetically a brown, Muslim, migrant, feminist woman and Greens Senator",' Ms Faruqi captioned the post.

'I say "unapologetically", because if there is one thing people with stories like mine are asked to do constantly, it is to apologise for our presence, because we are not quiet enough, not respectful enough, not thankful enough, not Australian enough.'

She then wrote a sentence in her native tongue of Urdu before translating it into English: 'Sorry, not sorry! This is my home, and I'm not going anywhere.'

Ms Faruqi is Australia's first female Muslim senator and was re-elected in the 2019 federal election, securing 8.7 per cent of the NSW vote.

Facebook users flooded the comments to support Ms Faruqi.

'I'm sorry you have to deal with people like Garry. Thanks for standing up for decency, compassion and fairness,' one woman wrote.

Ms Faruqi responded to Garry's email, saying she is 'unapologetically a brown, Muslim, migrant, feminist woman and Greens Senator'

Meanwhile, a man wrote: 'I'm so sorry you have to endure vitriolic abuse like this. It's un-Australian and this bloke shames the rest of us.'

Invasion Day campaigners want Australia Day to be moved from January 26 as it is the day the First Fleet of British ships arrived Australia, which marks the beginning of colonisation and disenfranchisement of Indigenous people.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently came under fire for saying January 26 was a tough day for convicts on the First Fleet in 1788.

'On Australia Day, it's all about acknowledging how far we've come,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Queensland on Thursday.

'You know, when those 12 ships turned up in Sydney, it wasn't a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either.'

Critics accused Mr Morrison of drawing a false equivalence between those aboard the First Fleet and the experience of Australia's Indigenous people who endured forced labor, massacres, oppression and dispossession.
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When Amanda Gorman was a teen, years before she recited her poem "The Hill We Climb" at President Joseph Biden's inauguration today, she used to look forward to Wednesday afternoons. That's when she would share coffee cake and hot chocolate (sometimes juice) with her writing mentor at a coffee shop close to her school.

For nearly two years, Michelle Chahine Sinno, supported Gorman through the L.A.-based non-profit program, WriteGirl, a volunteer organization that helps teen girls hone writing skills, from poetry to journalism. Mentors and mentees meet one-on-one and often work through prompts together. Once, Chahine Sinno remembers asking Gorman to write about the view from the West L.A. cafe.

"When she was reading to me what she saw I was amazed... and this was just a city sidewalk," Chahine Sinno said. "The way she sees the world is amazing....from the mundane to today, talking about democracy."

Chahine Sinno joined a group of current WriteGirl students, mentors, and alumnae this morning for a virtual watch party to see Gorman recite her poem on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. (Full disclosure: I'm one of the alums -- I took part in WriteGirl's workshops at the same time as Gorman.)

As the morning went on, more teens joined the Zoom call (some in pajamas) in anticipation of Gorman's reading. In the chat, participants reminisced about Gorman's time in WriteGirl, and occasionally called out glimpses of her bright yellow coat in the inaugural crowd. By the time Gorman took the stage, tissues were out and the messages were blowing up.

Victoria Rosales, a current WriteGirl and high school student, listened to the poem and felt grateful to be part of the same writing community.

"This was absolutely wild." Rosales said. "It's really cool to see young women of color getting up there and blowing everyone away."

You can listen to Gorman's recital of "The Hill We Climb" here:

Gorman, now 22 years old, was 14 when she joined WriteGirl. She was named the first-ever Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate while she was still in the program.

"WriteGirl has been pivotal in my life. It's been thanks to their support that I've been able to chase my dreams as a writer," Gorman said in a WriteGirl press release. "Special shout-out to my former mentors Michelle and Dinah (Berland). Couldn't have gotten here without you!"

Chahine Sinno was proud when she heard that Gorman would be reading at the inauguration -- but not entirely surprised. She knew her mentee had ambitious goals, even as a teenager.

"Her dream when she was 16 or 17, was to become president," Chahine Sinno said. "When I first saw this news, I thought to myself, 'Wow, she got to that podium way earlier than she even thought she would'."

When she was working as a volunteer, Chahine Sinno remembers that Gorman considered herself as a fiction writer more than a poet, and was in the middle of writing a novel.

"She'd come with pages and pages. Interestingly, it was filled with poetry, but she may not have known it," Chahine Sinno said. "Once she got on stage a few times, and got on the microphone ... that's when she found her home in the world."

At the time, Gorman was still working through a speech impediment, just like President Biden struggled with as a boy. Gorman worked hard for years in performance workshops, Chahine Sinno said, and today, she couldn't detect a lisp at all.

"They were on live TV, in front of millions, giving probably the most important -- for him a speech, for her a recitation -- of their lives. They could do it, and it was flawless," Chahine Sinno said.

Gorman was hesitating to apply to be a Los Angeles youth poet laureate during her time in the Writegirl program. Chahine Sinno encouraged Gorman to apply and helped her with the process, but says she can't take credit for her mentee's talent.

"At the time, I felt Amanda knows more than me, she's a better writer," Chahine Sinno said. "But it's just about being there for someone at a moment when it's important."

How it started How it's going pic.twitter.com/xnYhDUzomG  L.A. Public Library (@LAPublicLibrary) January 20, 2021

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This is the blog of Dr Caitlin Green FSA. It features posts on my main academic research foci alongside other topics that I'm currently working on, including drafts of papers, ideas and similarthese are usually identifiable by the presence of footnotes. You're free to cite these drafts if they are of interest, and are reminded that academic blogs are indeed citable under most citation systems. In addition, the current site also houses posts relating to my personal interests, including long-distance trade, migration and contacts; landscape and coastal history; early literature and legends; and the history, archaeology, place-names and legends of Lincolnshire and Cornwall. For further details of this website & how to contact me, please see the ' About ' page or @caitlinrgreen on Twitter.
India's Bharat Biotech submitted an application on Thursday for the emergency use of its coronavirus vaccine in the Philippines, news agency Reuters quoted Food and Drug Administration chief Rolando Enrique Domingo as saying.

Bharat Biotech, which has developed Covaxin with the Indian Council of Medical Research, is the fourth vaccine maker to apply for emergency use in the Philippines.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

India has already rolled out a massive Covid-19 vaccination programme under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

While Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, and the Covaxin is being produced by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech.

Covid vaccine hesitancy

India, which has reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases after America, has so far vaccinated 786,842 frontline workers after starting the campaign on Saturday, according to reports.

The world's second-most populous country reported on Wednesday 13,823 new infections, taking the total tally to 10.9 million. The number of deaths from Covid-19 rose by 162 to 152,718, data from the health ministry showed.

The government has urged frontline workers not to refuse the vaccines, after almost all states failed to meet their targets in the first few days of the immunisation drive.

Many people have declined to take the shots, especially the Bharat Biotech vaccine whose efficacy data from late-stage trials are not known, fearing side-effects.

In a survey conducted by New Delhi-based online platform LocalCircles, 62% of 17,000 respondents were hesitant to get vaccinated immediately, mainly due to worries over possible adverse reactions. The government has reported hospitalisation from side effects in only 0.002% of vaccine recipients.

With agency inputs

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predict that up to 508,000 Americans could die of COVID-19 in less than one month.

Published on Wednesday, the 'ensemble' forecast combines 37 independent forecasts of coronavirus deaths over the next four weeks into one projection.

The forecast predicts that between 22,500 and 23,300 deaths from the virus will be reported each week for the next four weeks.

For the week ending February 13, the ensemble forecast projects that reported COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. will be between 17,000 and 29,300.

This means that, in the first 24 days in office for President Joe Biden, anywhere from 465,000 to 508,000 Americans will have died from COVID-19.

It comes just one day after the national death toll eclipsed 400,000.

A new CDC ensemble forecast projects the U.S. coronavirus death toll will be between 465,000 and 508,000 by the week ending February 13 (above)

The forecast predicts that between 22,500 and 23,300 deaths from the virus will be reported each week for the next four weeks (above)

It comes just one day after U.S. reported more than 400,000 coronavirus fatalities, on former President Donald Trump's final day in office. Pictured:E l Paso County Medical Examiner's Office staff roll bodies that are in bags labeled "Covid" from refrigerated trailers into the morgue office, November 23

More than 38,000 Americans died from coronavirus in the first two weeks of 2021, and the numbers only appear to be increasing.

'This is just one step on an ominous path of fatalities,' Dr Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, told the Associated Press.

He said the Trump administration's handling of the crisis led to thousands of avoidable deaths.

'Everything about how it's been managed has been infused with incompetence and dishonesty, and we're paying a heavy price,' he said.

The current death toll of 404,284 is greater than the number of Americans who died in World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War combined.

It is nearly equal to the number of Americans who died in World War II at 407,000.

If the death toll reaches 508,000, it means more people in the U.S. will have died from COVID-19 than the number of people who live in Atlanta.

The figure will also be greater than the number of lives lost in the U.S. to Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, the flu, pneumonia and strokes combined.

America's death toll is the highest in the world despite the country accounting for less than five percent of the global population.

Because of the number of deaths, researchers at University of Southern California and Princeton University, say the pandemic will reduce life expectancy in the U.S. by more than a year to 77.48 years, which is the lowest figure since 2003.

Health experts said widespread vaccination could help curb the surge of cases but only 16.5 million shots have been administered, less than half of the 35.9 million distributed

Health experts said widespread vaccination could help curb the surge of cases, but rollout has been slow.

More than 35.9 million doses have been distributing but just about half - 16.5 million - have been distributed, according to a CDC tracker.

Newly sworn in President Biden say he plans to ramp up vaccination efforts and called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish 100 federally support vaccination centers across the nation by the end of February.

He said he hopes to meet a goal of injecting 100 million shots during his first 100 days in office.

'We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus,' Biden said during his inaugural address on Wednesday.

'We will get through this together.'
The World Health Organization reports that as of January 19, 2021, there are approximately 94 million cases of COVID-19 globally, with over 2 million deaths. In the face of these numbers -; driven in part by an aggressive resurgence of the virus in the U.S. -; health authorities face a tenuous balancing act: how to enact policies to keep citizens safe while doing the least possible damage to quality of life and local economies, especially in smaller cities and towns, where short supply of intensive care units and tight budgets make the thin line between precautionary measures and normalcy even thinner.

A new theory and simulation platform that can create predictive models based on aggregated data from observations taken across multiple strata of society could prove invaluable.

Developed by a research team led by Maurizio Porfiri, Institute Professor at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, the novel open-source platform comprises an agent-based model (ABM) of COVID-19 for the entire town of New Rochelle, located in Westchester County in New York State.

In the paper "High-Resolution Agent-Based Modeling of COVID-19 Spreading in a Small Town," published in Advanced Theory and Simulations, the team trains its system, developed at the resolution of a single individual, on the city of New Rochelle -; one of the first outbreaks registered in the United States.

The ABM replicates, geographically and demographically, the town structure obtained from U.S. Census statistics and superimposes a high-resolution -; both temporal and spatial -; representation of the epidemic at the individual level, considering physical locations as well as unique features of communities, like human behavioral trends or local mobility patterns.

Among the study's findings are those suggesting that prioritizing vaccination of high-risk individuals has only a marginal effect on the number of COVID-19 deaths. To obtain significant improvements, a very large fraction of the town population should, in fact, be vaccinated. Importantly, the benefits of the restrictive measures in place during the first wave greatly surpass those from any of these selective vaccination scenarios. Even with a vaccine available, social distancing, masks, and mobility restrictions will still be key tools to fight COVID-19.

Porfiri pointed out that focusing on a city of New Rochelle's size was crucial to the research because most cities in the U.S. have comparable population sizes and concentrations.

We chose New Rochelle not only because of its place in the COVID timeline, but because agent-based modeling for mid-size towns is relatively unexplored despite the U.S. being largely composed of such towns and small cities." Maurizio Porfiri, Institute Professor, NYU Tandon School of Engineering

Supported by expert knowledge and informed by officially reported COVID-19 data, the model incorporates detailed elements of pandemic spread within a statistically realistic population. Along with testing, treatment, and vaccination options, the model also accounts for the burden of other illnesses with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19.

Unique to the model is the possibility to explore different testing approaches -; in hospitals or drive-through facilities-; and vaccination strategies that could prioritize vulnerable groups.

"We think decision making by public authorities could benefit from this model, not only because it is 'open source,' but because it offers a 'fine-grain' resolution at the level of the individual and a wide range of features," noted Porfiri.
LILLE, France, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Openbravo, the global omnichannel platform vendor for agile and innovative commerce, today announced the adoption of the Openbravo Store solution by BUT, the leading French retailer of furniture, decoration and home appliances. The implementation has covered the deployment of Openbravo software across more than 310 stores in France.

This strategic project has enabled BUT to support the growth of its stores and online sales with new features that modernize its retail operations, improve its customer experience in all stores, and help accelerate its omnichannel strategy, while gaining greater IT agility and scalability.

Among the key new features is a stylish, mobile-enabled clienteling solution that empowers associates to deliver enhanced service everywhere in the store and gives them access to information like multiple product images, stock levels or reviews from online users, so helping them engage more with customers. The solution has also enabled the stores to more efficiently support BUT's omnichannel strategy for scenarios like Click & Collect, buy online for home delivery or curbside pickup. Online orders can now be received and processed faster thanks to an intuitive order preparation functionality that allows preparation tasks to be executed from mobile devices.

The project also included integration with a variety of legacy systems. Key integrations included the central ERP system, stock management, customer and loyalty databases (including a customized loyalty module integration with Cetelem), and reservations. Openbravo is also integrated with some business-specific applications in areas such as address normalization and EDI set-up.

"Openbravo has been key to helping us execute our vision of the type of customer service and shopping experience we want to deliver. In the stores, Openbravo allows us to provide more personalized and convenient experiences with a lighter and much more flexible IT infrastructure. It also helps us to better fulfill our growing volume of online orders and prepare the stores to support a variety of omnichannel scenarios more efficiently," says Max Dragone, CIO of BUT.

"We've been able to offer BUT a solution that equips its stores with the tools they need to better prepare for the new retail reality, while providing a significant increase in IT agility thanks to our mobile and web-based platform," adds Bruno Menteaux, General Manager for France & Northern Europe at Openbravo.

"We are very proud of the strong relationship we have built with BUT since 2011 and this new project clearly confirms the value we bring to specialty retailers like BUT that want to be at the forefront of retail innovation and leaders in omnichannel commerce. It is further proof of how the strengths of our retail platform have enabled us to rapidly become a vendor of reference in the French retail software market," says Marco de Vries, CEO at Openbravo.

Read the complete story here .

About BUT

BUT is a French brand of stores specializing in home equipment. Established initially in Le Havre, the brand has grown rapidly to cover the whole country. BUT today has the largest network of points of sale in France with nearly 310 stores. BUT stores offer an average of 35,000 m, with a wide range of products spanning six markets: furniture, decoration, fitted kitchens, household appliances, multimedia and bedding.

To learn more visit but.fr .

About Openbravo

Openbravo is the omnichannel software platform of choice for brands and retailers seeking to accelerate their digital transformation and omnichannel strategy. A flexible and cloud-based platform that allows integration between the online channel and physical stores, personalized, convenient and safer customer experiences, as well as an intelligent order management system with a unique vision and real-time inventory. International brands like Caroll, Zodio, Rubaiyat, Sharaf DG and Cooltra prefer Openbravo, which today counts over 18,000 back office users and 60,000 point of sale terminals.

Visit openbravo.com .

Xavier Places, Marketing Director, +34 607 676 568, xavier.places@openbravo.com

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An impasse in Parliament has stymied a push to investigate banks and insurance companies that consider climate change as a factor in major deals, with Nationals MP George Christensen struggling to get the numbers for the inquiry.

In a test for the government, Mr Christensen has failed twice to secure a majority vote for a review he vowed to pursue last year out of concern banks were refusing to lend to coal and gas projects.

Nationals MP George Christensen is struggling to get the numbers for the inquiry. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Liberals are seeking to change the terms of reference after Mr Christensen blew his top at a meeting in December when Labor refused to vote for the inquiry and a key Liberal MP, Katie Allen, could not attend.

The objections are a setback for Resources Minister Keith Pitt, who asked the committee to set up the inquiry, and Nationals colleagues who have railed at banks for questioning projects like the Adani coal mine in Queensland.
Suzuki Philippines is giving buyers a good reason to purchase a brand new car, for less. From January 19 to 31, 2021, Suzuki is giving interested buyers a treat with their 'All Out Blow Out' and 'Happy New Wheels' promos.

Starting with the former, special all-in low downpayment schemes are offered on all variants of the Ciaz, S-Presso, and the XL7. For as low as PHP 8,000 downpayment, you can get your hands on a brand new Ciaz. Those that have been planning to get an S-Presso can take advantage of a PHP 49,000 all-in low downpayment. As for the XL7, buyers can cash out PHP 120,000 as a downpayment for the high-riding 7-seater.

Suzuki is also offering cash discounts for all three models. The Ciaz comes with a PHP 200,000 discount, while the S-Presso is offered with a PHP 32,000 discount. Finally, the XL7 can be yours with a PHP 65,000 cash discount.

Over to the Happy New Wheels promo, Suzuki is offering a special downpayment and low monthly amortization schemes for the Ertiga. With it, buyers can pay PHP 68,000 as an all-in downpayment, or save up to PHP 544 per day for the next 5 years for a brand new Ertiga.

To know about Suzuki's latest deals, customers can check out http://suzuki.com.ph/auto/ for more details. Remember, both the Happy New Wheels and All Out Blow Out promos are only available until the end of January.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers are likely to get vaccinated against Covid-19 in the second round, sources said. The PM said in the CMs' meet that the turn of other politicians, who are above 50, will come in next phase.

After healthcare and frontline workers such as police, armed forces and municipal workers, the third category to be vaccinated is likely to be people over the age of 50, followed by those who are below 50 but suffer from co-morbidities.

A tentative prioritisation for vaccination was discussed at the meeting held between PM Modi and the state chief ministers on November 24 and has been communicated to state governments, said people familiar with the development, Economic Times reported.

A 50-year plus grouping appears to be an expansion of the earlier category that was under discussion. So far, the government officials had been saying this category would comprise 'senior citizens' and the 'elderly', and it was expected that this group would consist of people over the age of 65.

"In India, co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and coronary heart diseases occur much earlier than in western populations. So, prioritising the 50 plus population is the right approach," Public Health Foundation of India president K Srinath Reddy was quoted as saying.

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had earlier this month 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. This is the world's largest vaccination programme covering the entire length and breadth of the country.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding more than $50 million in funding for 15 projects focused on field validation and demonstrationas well as next-generation extraction, separation, and processing technologiesfor critical materials.

Critical materials are used in many products important to the US economy and energy technologies, such as rare-earth elements used to manufacture high-strength magnets for offshore wind-turbine generators and lithium and cobalt in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Projects selected under this funding opportunity announcement will reduce both the costs of critical materials and the environmental impacts of production. The projects are divided into two main topic areas:

Field Validation and Demonstration of Extraction, Separation, and Processing Technologies. Four projects were selected under this topic to validate improved upstream extraction and midstream separation and processing technologies of critical materials at scales that facilitate the next step to commercialization.

Next-Generation Extraction, Separation, and Processing Technologies. Eleven projects were selected under this topic to develop early to mid-stage R&D alternative, cost-competitive technologies for upstream extraction and midstream separation and processing of critical materials key to energy technologies.

Topic 1, Area of Interest 2: Improved Beneficiation, Separation and/or Processing

PUREgraphite LLC; High Efficiency Continuous Graphitization Furnace Technology for Lithium-Ion Battery Synthetic Graphite Material

Partners: Harper International, Phillips66

DOE funding: $5,577,738; cost share: $5,925,475; Total costs: $11,503,213

American Battery Metals Corporation; Field Demonstration of Selective Leaching, Targeted Purification, and Electro-Chemical Production of Battery Grade Lithium Hydroxide Precursor from Domestic Claystone Resources

Partners: American Lithium Corporation, DuPont Water Solutions

DOE funding: $2,272,112; costs share: $2,272,112; Total costs: $4,544,224

Topic 1, Area of Interest 3: Large Scale Projects

General Atomics; Rare Earth Element (REE) Separation and Processing Demonstration Project

Partners: Rare Element Resources, Inc., Umwelt- und Ingenieurtechnik GMbH Dresden, LNV LLC

DOE funding: $21,989,530; Cost share: $21,989,530; Total costs: $43,979,060

BHER Minerals, LLC; Electrolytic Production of Battery-Grade LiOHH 2 O from Geothermal Brine

Partners: ZAP Engineering & Construction Services, Inc., CalEnergy Operating Corp, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, Momentum

DOE share: $14,894,540; Cost share: $14,894,541; Total costs: $29,789,081

Topic 2, Area of Interest 1: Rare Earth Element Separation

Phinix,LLC; Rare Earth Element Separation Using Gas-Assisted Micro-Flow Extraction with Task-Specific Ionic Liquids

Partners: NICHE Industrial Chemicals, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

DOE share:$500,000; Cost share $225,000; Total costs: $725,000

Technology Holding LLC; Next Generation Separation Method for Rare Earths

Partners: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

DOE share: $499,673; Cost share: $124,999; Total costs: $624,672

Topic 2, Area of Interest 2: Conversion to Rare Earth Metals (RE-metals)

University of Wyoming; Generation of Rare Earth Metals from Rare Earth Oxides by Using Microwave Plasma

Partners: Colorado School of Mines, Ames Laboratory, Eutectix, Rare Element Resources

DOE share: $500,000; Cost share: $125,500; Total costs: $625,500

Case Western Reserve University; Novel Electrowinning Reactor for the Energy-Efficient, Low-Cost Production of Rare Earth Metals

Partners: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

DOE share: $500,000; Cost share: $125,000; Total costs: $625,000

University of Virginia; Development of Industrial Scale Rare Earth Master Alloys from Their Native Oxides for Magnet Production

Partners: Ames Laboratory

DOE share: $500,000; Cost share: $125,000: Total costs: $625,000

Topic 2, Area of Interest 3: Li Extraction from Unconventional Sources

National Renewable Energy Laboratory; Advanced Mineral Separations with Novel Simulated Moving Beds

Partners: Colorado School of Mines, Critical Materials Institute, Shell International Exploration & Production, Inc., Standard Lithium

DOE share: $500,000; Cost share: $156,380; Total costs: $656,380

Oregon State University; Microchannel-based Membrane-less Extraction of Li from Unconventional Lithium Sources & the Separation of REE

Partners: University of Pittsburgh

DOE share: $500,000; Cost share: $125,000; Total costs: $625,000

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory; Lithium Recovery from Unconventional Sources Using Magnetic Core-Shell Nanoparticles

Partners: Moselle Technologies, Enerplus Corporation, Prairie Lithium Corporation, Enertopia Corporation, and Dajin Lithium Corporation Richland, WA

DOE share: $425,000; Cost share: $160,000; Total costs: $585,000

525 Solutions, Inc.; Ultra-High Capacity Adsorbent Nanofibrous Mats for the Recovery of Lithium from Seawater, Geothermal Brines, and Beyond

Partners: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Wyonics, LLC, University of Wyoming

DOE share: $500,000; Cost share: $125,024; Total costs: $625,024

University of Texas at Austin; Direct Conversion of Li-Ions to Li-Metal from Domestic Brines or Produced Water through Electromagnetically-Controlled Dendritic Electrodeposition

Partners: University of California, Berkeley, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Critical Materials Institute

DOE share: $500,000; Costs-share: $125,000; Total costs: $625,000

Mineral Selective Technologies; Informed design of crystalline ion exchangers: Improved -MnO 2 phase for lithium extraction from geologic fluids

Partners: Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Geo40, Ltd.

DOE share: $400,000; Cost share: $100,000; Total costs: $500,000

This funding opportunity is part of DOEs efforts to reduce American dependence on imported critical materials by both diversifying the sources of materials needed for energy technologies and establishing domestic capabilities to refine materials used in manufacturing.

Projects are funded through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energys Advanced Manufacturing Office, which supports the development of technologies that improve energy efficiency in US manufacturing as well as foundational, cross-cutting manufacturing processes, information, and materials technologies critical to efficient and competitive domestic manufacturing.
The UK has recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

More people will lose their lives in the coronavirus outbreak, Boris Johnson has warned, after the UK saw its deadliest day in the pandemic.

Official figures showed that January 12 saw the highest number of deaths take place on a single day  with 1,110 Covid-19 fatalities, surpassing the previous peak of 1,073 on April 8, 2020.

The Prime Minister described the figures as appalling and warned there will be more to come, saying we are seeing the result of the new variant that spread rapidly just before Christmas.

A record 1,820 further deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 were reported as of Wednesday, although there is a time lag between a patient dying and appearing in the Governments official statistics.

Drawing attention to the strain hospitals are under, chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said there is enormous pressure, and in some cases it looks like a war zone in terms of the things that people are having to deal with.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has said it is extremely concerned about the mental health of frontline doctors, after a poll found more than one in four medics have sought mental health support during the pandemic.

More than half of college members who took part in the survey said they were very concerned about the impact of rising Covid-19 admissions on their organisations capacity to deliver safe and effective care.

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Echoing Mr Johnsons words, Professor Paul Elliott, director of the React study at Imperial College London, warned if prevalence of the virus remains high more and more lives will be lost.

The latest research showed prevalence across England increased by 50% between early December and the second week of January, with one in 63 people infected up to January 15.

Prof Elliott said the data was showing worrying suggestions of a recent uptick in infections, and added if prevalence continues at the high rate we are seeing then hospitals will continue to be put under immense pressure, and more and more lives will be lost.

The PM said there are tough weeks to come as the vaccine rollout continues, adding that the light will only really begin to dawn as we get those vaccinations out.

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Former prime minister Tony Blair has called for the current vaccination rate to be doubled to allow a speedier route out of lockdown.

New modelling from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) has suggested that a quicker rollout, delivering up to 600,000 jabs per day, would mean almost all Covid-19 restrictions could be lifted as early as mid-May.

Mr Blair said the ability to use test and trace had collapsed due to the new more transmissible variant, sending cases rocketing again.

He said: So now the choice is: mass lockdown or mass vaccination.

Across the UK, 4,609,740 people have so far received a first jab.

Based on the latest figures, an average of 399,625 first doses of vaccine would be needed each day in order to meet the Governments target of 15 million of the highest priority patients receiving a jab by February 15  on Tuesday the total was 343,163.

NHS England said a mosque in Birmingham and Odeon cinema in Aylesbury are among the latest sites to become vaccination centres as the rollout continues.

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Nadim Zahawi, the minister in charge vaccine deployment, said: Each week the NHS is making it easier for people to get a jab closer to home, in places at the heart of their community from the local pharmacy to the local mosque.

In Northern Ireland, more than 100 medically trained technicians are set to be brought in to support health staff, as Health Minister Robin Swann warned the number of patients needing critical care is likely to increase further.

People in Wales have been told they should not expect a significant easing of coronavirus rules despite rates of the virus falling across the country.

Health minister Vaughan Gething said while the drop is good news, coming out of lockdown restrictions too soon, too fast could result in a rebound in cases.

Scotlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said while case numbers appear to have stabilised and may be declining there, they remain too high and the NHS is under pressure that is almost certain to increase.
A midstate company has acquired the Copy Doctors.

York County-based Doceo, a technology company acquired the Virginia-based company last month. Copy Doctors Inc. is an authorized dealership for Toshiba and Lexmark technology products, and was founded in 1986 by Rick Stockwell and Ron Toth.

Although Doceos existing footprint already included most of the state of Maryland, the acquisition of Copy Doctors allowed Doceo to reach another milestone of offering Toshiba and Lexmark products and services throughout the entire state in addition to the state of Pennsylvania, Doceo said in a press release.

Toth will stay on with the Copy Doctors team for the foreseeable future. Copy Doctors will maintain its name.

I wanted the new owner of Copy Doctors to see the value in our 34 years in business, Stockwell said in the press release. I wanted someone who would appreciate our long tenured technical staff. Through our staffs efforts, we have provided the best customer satisfaction experience in the D.C. Metropolitan Area. I wanted to see the company name continue to grow and prosper in this marketplace. I firmly believe my goals will be fulfilled by this sale.

Doceo was founded in 2004 and is a copier and printer provider. The company also provides information technology services, network infrastructure, disaster recovery, cybersecurity and document management. Doceo has offices in the Harrisburg, Carlisle, York, Hanover and State College areas as well as offices in Maryland and Virginia. In 2018, Doceo acquired York County-based Saxe & Associates. John Lewis is the president and CEO of Doceo.

--Business Buzz

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Former Todt Hill resident Cynthia Ariosta is among 50 Napa Valley restaurant owners suing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and State Public Health Officer Tomas J. Aragon. She and others in The Wine Country Coalition for Safe Reopening (the Coalition) announced the lawsuit Tuesday alleging the states outdoor dining and wine tasting ban is arbitrary, irrational, and unfair.

Carl Dene, also a former Todt Hill resident, also is part of the litigation as owner of Sams General Store in Calistoga, CA.

The Coalitions complaint alleges that the states outdoor dining and wine tasting ban violates the equal protection and due process clauses of the California Constitution. The lawsuit asks the court to declare the outdoor dining and wine tasting ban in violation of the California Constitution and stop the bans enforcement.

Ariosta co-owns Tra Vigne Pizzeria in St. Helena. She maintains, There is no basis in science for this decision. We have to get open. Its causing another huge crisis which is mass unemployment. Restaurants, hotels and wineries are the basis of Napa Valleys entire economy. We just dont have enough local people to support us and keep us all going.

Calzone from Pizzeria Tra Vigne in St. Helena, CA owned by native Staten Islander Cynthia Ariosta. (Courtesy of Pizzeria Tra Vigne)

She and the Coalition demand an immediate change in policies.

Social distancing, sanitizing and masking are some of the practices we are already doing to stay safe. We are willing to do more if thats what it takes. We just have to be able to reopen for on-premise outdoor dining, said Ariosta. She and co-owner/chef Anthony Nash Cognetti operate the 25-year old restaurant currently for pickup and to-go service only. It is known for its wood-fired pizza and its signature dish, Mozzarella al Minuto, served at the table warm.

Ariosta said, Our members have collectively invested millions of dollars to reconfigure their spaces, buy safety equipment, and train staff and customers about new dining protocols, often going above and beyond the state and local guidelines. The Governor must base his decisions in science and data and give our local restaurants and wineries a chance to survive this.

With dining restrictions on and off to varying degrees of capacity since March 16, Tra Vigne and other eateries and wineries have invested in new construction, plexiglass, two-sided tent rentals, heaters, personal protection equipment and more. Like NYC food businesses in the pandemic, the expenses have been for naught at times as regulations and metrics to determine closures have continually changed.

On Staten Island, about 40 restaurants were represented at the Richmond County Courthouse Sept. 9 to announce a lawsuit and injunction on behalf of restaurant owners and IROAR, a lobbying group. The suit was tossed about a month later. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Staten Island Advance

THE LAST STRAW FOR NAPA OWNERS

But it was California state regulations in December that served as the last straw for the restaurants in the Coalition, according to the complaint, as those regulations arbitrarily and unfairly targeted restaurants, wineries, and tasting rooms by indefinitely and without scientific basis banned on-premise, al fresco food and drink consumption in Napa, Sonoma and other regions.

Said Dene, All we ask is to be treated fairly and in accordance with the science. Though the data shows we can operate outdoors safely, our state officials continue to shut us down while trusting big-box retail stores to operate in much riskier indoor settings.

Were projected to have lost more than $3.5 million in gross revenue last year, said Ariostas business partner Cognetti of his other business, Tre Posti Events & Catering, also in St. Helena.

He lamented, The latest shutdowns have forced us to layoff 95 valuable staff members, and its devastating to consider what this has meant for them and their families. If we make it through the dining ban, we fear there wont be enough local industry workers left to rebuild our staff.

Over the summer on Staten Island, signs of protest popped up around Staten Island to open New York State businesses. (Courtesy of Big Nose Kate's Saloon)Pamela Silvestri

LAWSUITS RUN IN A PARALLEL WORLD TO NYC

Meanwhile, in early September restaurants here sued Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to expedite the reopening of dining rooms to more capacity. Bocellis of Grasmere, Joyces Tavern of Eltingville and I.R.O.A.R. (Independent Restaurant Owners Association Rescue) served as plaintiffs in the case.

Judge Thomas P. Aliotta tossed that litigation out of Richmond County Court in the fall. He determined, The threat of the infection and resurgence of this deadly virus arises when patrons from different households and environments enter restaurants and then depart to move around the densely populated city, potentially coming into contact with 27,000 individuals within every square mile. Ultimately, the judge felt the indoor dining limit of 25% capacity impacted public health in the city.

On Wednesday afternoon, Fonte updated the status of another class-action lawsuit filed in Manhattan with Italianissimo restaurant owner Franco Ortega as one of the lead plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit brought on behalf of New York businesses. The St. George attorney said, After being denied relief in State Court our lawsuit to open restaurants is now pending in Federal Court. We are hoping for a more favorable outcome in light of recent decisions in other jurisdictions.

As for his other client, the defiant Macs Public House in Grant City remains closed. The owners of the bar had chosen to serve patrons indoors and drew national attention for the stance before a subsequent collision with a City Sheriff. Fines and violations were reversed, then reinstated and criminal summonses remain.

In protest in December: Hundreds of Staten Islanders showed up in support of Mac's Tavern in Grant City whose bar was closed by NYC Sheriffs. (Staten Island Advance File Photo)Staten Island Advance

Fonte said, Macs is closed and will remain closed pending the outcome of a State Supreme Court hearing on Feb. 2. We are seeking a decision striking down Gov. Cuomos emergency powers as over broad, arbitrary and unconstitutional.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
KYODO NEWS - Jan 21, 2021 - 21:45 | All, Japan

House of Councillors member Anri Kawai was sentenced Thursday to a year and four months in prison, suspended for five years, for buying votes in the 2019 upper house election.

The Tokyo District Court ruled that Kawai, 47, distributed money to local legislators in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan, in violation of the Public Offices Election Law. If the ruling is finalized, she will lose her status as a lawmaker.

"It harmed the fairness of elections, which are the basis of democracy," said Presiding Judge Yasuaki Takahashi regarding the impact of the case on Japanese society.

The court, however, found her not guilty on part of the charges. She had denied all the charges against her.

"It is very regrettable that only part of my argument was accepted," Kawai said after the ruling, adding she will examine it and decide how to respond.

The ruling and findings in her trial are expected to affect the case of her husband, Katsuyuki Kawai, a former justice minister who has been tried separately on vote-buying charges, as the court determined the couple has conspired to buy votes.

Katsuyuki Kawai, a 57-year-old House of Representatives member, is accused of handing about 29 million yen ($280,500) to 100 individuals in total.

According to the indictment, Anri Kawai conspired with her husband to violate the election law by handing out 1.7 million yen in total to five local assembly members in the prefecture between March and June in 2019.

The court ruled Thursday she was guilty of bribing four of them.

Prosecutors said the money was given as a reward for securing votes for her in the July 2019 election, and called for an 18-month prison term for her.

The five local politicians -- four Hiroshima prefectural assembly members and one Etajima city assembly member -- admitted to receiving cash. Four of them testified they thought the Kawais were asking them to secure votes for Anri Kawaii in the election.

They also said they thought that the offering and receiving of such money was illegal.

Based on their testimony, the court decided it was reward money for obtaining votes.

The evidence brought up by prosecutors included a payment list, which showed Katsuyuki Kawai organizing whether he or his wife would hand out the money, as well as who to pay, according to the trial.

"It was obvious the couple were conspiring," prosecutors said.

In the election, Anri Kawai, a former prefectural assembly member, won one of the two seats in the Hiroshima constituency by beating out a fellow Liberal Democratic Party candidate, the then-incumbent veteran Kensei Mizote.

Mizote failed to win re-election due to the conservative vote being split, with another incumbent backed by opposition parties retaining the seat.

The judge pointed out that Anri Kawai was aware it was going to be a difficult path because she did not receive support from the LDP's prefectural federation branch of Hiroshima, suggesting it served as a vote-buying motive.

Tetsuro Fukuyama, secretary general of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, told reporters, "She should immediately step down as a lawmaker without appealing," insisting people in Japan, under financial stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will not tolerate her continuing to receive allowances.

Prior to the election, the LDP headquarters gave an unusually large 150 million yen in total to Kawai's camp.

Asked about the amount by reporters, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said after the ruling, "I received a report about it after I became the president (of the LDP). It was provided in accordance with the rules through the prescribed procedures of the party."

The Kawais left the ruling LDP before their arrest in June 2020.

Following the conviction of a state-paid secretary of Anri Kawai over illegal payments to election campaigners, prosecutors in Hiroshima filed a separate lawsuit seeking to nullify her election victory based on the application of guilt by association under the Public Offices Election Law.

If prosecutors win the case, she will lose her lawmaker status regardless of the development of her criminal case.

Related coverage:

18-month jail term sought for lawmaker Anri Kawai over vote-buying

Ex-Japan farm minister Yoshikawa indicted for bribery without arrest

Conviction of lawmaker's aide to stand for violating election law
Friendlys restaurants are now under new ownership.

The sale of more than 100 corporate-owned and franchised restaurant locations to a Connecticut-based entity of restaurant operators and investors was finalized this week.

Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, the Western Massachusetts-based parent company of Friendlys restaurants, announced in November that the company entered into a sale agreement with Amici Partners Group.

The investors of Amici Partners Group, LLC have been involved with the Friendlys Restaurant brand in many capacities over the years, not only as owners/operators and leaders in the system, but also as longtime loyal customers of this iconic brand, Craig Erlich, president and CEO of Amici Partners, said in a statement Tuesday. Based on our personal connection to the chain, strong investment capabilities, and seasoned management team, we believe we will be able to continue to reinvigorate this much-loved brand for both loyal patrons and new customers alike.

Under new ownership, the company will work to reestablish Friendlys as a family-friendly destination and introduce both new ice cream flavors and other menu offerings, Erlich said. Friendlys holds a special place in the hearts of its many loyal patrons, and we look forward to nurturing that legacy and creating new programs and menu items to meet the changing needs of our customers.

There are 130 franchised and corporate-owned Friendlys restaurant locations. Amici is expected to retain staff at the corporate-owned locations. Staffing decisions at franchised locations are determined at the local level.

Over the last two years, Friendlys has made important strides toward reinvigorating our beloved brand in the face of shifting demographics, increased competition, and rising costs, George Michel, CEO of FIC Restaurants, said when the sale was announced in November. We achieved this by delivering menu innovation, re-energizing marketing, focusing on take-out, catering and third-party delivery, establishing a better overall experience for customers, and working closely with our franchisees and restaurant teams. Unfortunately, like many restaurant businesses, our progress was suddenly interrupted by the catastrophic impact of COVID-19, which caused a decline in revenue as dine-in operations ceased for months and re-opened with limited capacity.

As part of the sale process, the company filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11.

We believe the voluntary bankruptcy filing and planned sale to a new, deeply experienced restaurant group will enable Friendlys to rebound from the pandemic as a stronger business, with the leadership and resources needed to continue to invest in the business and serve loyal patrons, as well as compete to win new customers over the long-term, Michel said. Importantly, it is also expected to preserve the jobs of Friendlys restaurant team members, who are the heart and soul of our enterprise and have been critical to the progress we have made in transforming this iconic brand.

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2011 in a plan that closed 63 restaurants, including five in Western Massachusetts: Federal Street in Greenfield; East Street in Chicopee; Wilbraham Road in Springfield; Main Street in Ware; and Westfield Street in West Springfield.

Over the past decade, more than 300 Friendlys restaurant locations have closed. It has opened new locations in recent years, including at the Apex Center in Marlborough.

Friendlys sold its retail ice cream and manufacturing business to Dallas, Texas-based Dean Foods Co. in 2016 for $155 million. Dean sells ice cream to supermarkets and Friendlys restaurants.

Brothers S. Prestley and Curtis Blake founded Friendly -- the possessive wasnt added until years later -- in 1935 in Springfield and grew the company quickly in the years following. The company was sold to Hershey Foods in 1979. It has changed several times in the decades since.
Russian reinforcements have been sent to Hassakeh to monitor the ceasefire and prevent further attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces by Turkey reports Al-Masdar.

The Russian military police recently sent reinforcements to Hassakeh Governorate, following a string of attacks carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces and their allied militants.

According to a local military source, the Russian reinforcements were deployed to the frontlines of the Tel Tamr area, where they are tasked with monitoring the ceasefire in the western countryside of Hassakeh Governorate.

The source said the Russian military police entered the Tel Tamr area with armored vehicles and deployed to the areas controlled by the Syrian Arab Army and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The Turkish Armed Forces and their allied militants have been targeting Tel Tamr nearly everyday this year, which has prompted the Russian military police to deploy more troops to this area in order to quell the hostilities.

While the Turkish Armed Forces reached an agreement in October 2019 to halt their hostilities east of the Euphrates, they have continued to carry out operations and attacks against the SDF.

It is not clear if the Turkish Armed Forces and their allied militants will launch an offensive in western Hassakeh in the near future; however, if they choose to, they run the risk of running into the Russian military police, who are deeply embedded there.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The health of our residents is intertwined with the prosperity of our city, and every policy has health implications. Its the most important lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic that our leaders must recognize.

Some examples: Spending more time in traffic is associated with anger and higher blood pressure  and increases the odds of having a heart attack by threefold. Poor streets and a lack of access to safe parks is associated with obesity. Higher home temperatures lead to heat illness. Stress and heat can provoke domestic violence. By expanding highways, building more parks and creating public roofing programs, we inherently address these three health problems.

Fundamental to health is health inequality; as it increases, prosperity becomes less stable. COVID-19 had a smaller economic impact in every nation with more health equality. Why? Health inequality means more residents with underlying health risk factors such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and asthma, and less access to medicine  all conditions associated with higher COVID-19 fatality and long-term morbidity.

These facts should lead San Antonios leadership to one goal: Eliminate health inequality. Its simple: Consider every policys health implications. If the policy makes some people wealthier but doesnt reduce communitywide health inequality  or, worse, exacerbates the gap  then abandon it.

By focusing on health inequality, Mayor Ron Nirenberg would have recognized that the $150 million Ready to Work program mostly helps a few individuals, not the community. By focusing on health inequality, the city would be more willing to negotiate harder with companies like Amazon.

On ExpressNews.com: Amazon plans to open three new facilities in San Antonio and create over 1,500 jobs

Research has found that Amazon fulfillment facilities lead to a net job loss in a community as competitors, restaurants and boutiques are drowned out. Research shows people cant afford housing at $15 per hour, which Amazon intends to pay its employees. At that wage, forget about vacation, building wealth, paying for emergency health services, eating better or anything else our residents require to live well. Because we know these Amazon facilities would kill local small businesses and not close the health gap, at the very least the City Council should have demanded living wages and better benefits for future Amazon employees in San Antonio from the companys CEO, Jeff Bezos.

COVID-19 has created tragedy for all of us. Recently, my great-uncle died. In the 24 hours before his death, he was hooked to a ventilator and removed, then placed in hospice care. One of my aunts suffered in the hospital through Christmas, dying the first week of 2021. My family is in pain, particularly my 80-year-old grandfather who never thought he would outlive his beloved oldest child. He, too, is fighting COVID-19. About two dozen relatives in the South Side have caught it, and 10 either have active infections or are in quarantine.

My family and many other San Antonians recognized that health inequality is our communitys fundamental problem long before COVID-19. It shouldnt take more immense personal tragedies before city officials do the right thing. Sadly, that is their pattern: reacting to social problems like COVID-19 and systemic issues like racism only after people take to the streets.

We should not blame current city officials for the health inequality that has killed and sickened so many through COVID-19; a century of policies made our city chronically ill.

But every eligible voter has learned the importance of health inequality during the pandemic. If our elected officials do not close gaps in public health, then they are responsible for every other San Antonian who suffers because of inequality. It is time we have a City Council and mayor who understand that health is everything. If they dont, they need to go.

Sean Vina is an associate instructor of sociology at Texas A&M University- San Antonio.
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The mass exodus of Big Tech out of the Bay Area continues, with a smaller but similarly-moneyed presence making its way over to Austin, Texas.

Digital Realty, reported ZDNet and CultureMap Austin, is the latest tech firm to announce its headquarters' relocation to the tech capital of Texas. The company, which markets itself as a company that supports businesses with "data center, colocation and interconnection strategies," employs around 1,500 people worldwide.
A rare twin suicide bombing killed 32 people and wounded 110 at a crowded market in central Baghdad on Thursday, Iraq's government said, the city's deadliest attack in three years.

The first attacker drew a crowd at the bustling market in the capital's Tayaran Square by claiming to feel sick, then detonated his explosives belt, the interior ministry said.

As more people then flocked to the scene to help the victims, a second suicide bomber set off his explosives.

The open-air market, where second-hand clothes are sold at stalls, had been teeming with people after the lifting of nearly a year of Covid-19 restrictions across the country.

An AFP photographer at the scene said security forces had cordoned off the area, where blood-soaked clothes were strewn across the muddy streets and paramedics were rushing to take away the casualties.

The health ministry said those who lost their lives had died on the scene of the attack, and that most of the wounded had been treated and released from hospital.

The attack was the bloodiest in Baghdad since January 2018, when a suicide bomber killed more than 30 people in the same square.

The attack was not immediately claimed but suicide bombings have been used by jihadist groups, most recently the Islamic State group.

They were commonplace in Baghdad during the sectarian bloodletting that followed the US-led invasion of 2003 and later on as the IS swept across much of Iraq and also targeted the capital.

But with the group's territorial defeat in late 2017, suicide bombings in the city became rare. Baghdad's notorious concrete blast walls were dismantled and checkpoints across the city removed.

'Senseless and Barbaric'

President Barham Saleh led political figures in condemning Thursday's attack, saying the government would "stand firmly against these rogue attempts to destabilise our country".

Pope Francis, who hopes to visit Iraq in March, deplored the "senseless act of brutality".

The United Nations and the European Union strongly condemned the attack.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued an appeal "to the people of Iraq to reject any attempts to spread fear and violence aimed at undermining peace, stability and unity."

The EU called the attack "senseless and barbaric" and reiterated its "full support to the Iraqi authorities in the fight against extremism and terrorism."

The UN's Iraq mission offered condolences to the victims and said: "Such a despicable act will not weaken Iraq's march towards stability and prosperity."

Iran also denounced the attack, with foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh saying his government was ready to assist Iraq "in the struggle against terrorism and extremism".

The attack, he said, was meant "to disrupt the peace and stability of Iraq and to provide a pretext for foreigners to maintain their presence there".

Elections Looming

The attack comes as Iraqis prepare for an election, events often preceded by bombings and assassinations.

The 2018 attack took place just a few months before Iraq's last round of parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi had originally set this year's general election for June, nearly a year ahead of schedule, in response to widespread protests in 2019.

But authorities are in talks over rescheduling them to October, to give electoral authorities more time to register voters and new parties.

The IS seized a third of Iraq in 2014 and was dangerously close to the capital, but a ferocious three-year fight by Iraqi troops pushed them back.

Still, the group's sleeper cells have continued to operate in desert and mountain areas, typically targeting security forces or state infrastructure with low casualty attacks.

Still, the US-led coalition that had been supporting Iraq's campaign against IS has significantly drawn down its troop levels over the past year, citing the increased capabilities of Iraqi troops.

The United States, which provides the bulk of the force, has 2,500 troops left in Iraq -- down from 5,200 a year ago.

They are mainly in charge of training, providing drone surveillance and carrying out air strikes while Iraqi security forces handle security in urban areas.

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Priti Patel is looking for a new speechwriter who will be paid up to 63,000 a year to 'reflect her voice and priorities'.

The Home Secretary has advertised for a 'confident and committed' writer who will pen 'high profile speeches'.

In an address to the country last April, Ms Patel's hard-hitting message was slightly undermined by a remark proudly revealing a drop in shoplifting - when shops had been shuttered.

She was also roundly ridiculed after she repeatedly vowed to tackle 'counter-terrorism offenders' following a knife attack in Streatham last year.

Priti Patel, pictured during a media briefing in Downing Street, is looking for someone to writer her speeches

The civil servant will be paid up to 63,175 and is required to 'write high profile speeches'

The civil servant will be paid up to 63,175 and is required to 'write high profile speeches' and to 'lead the speech-writing team.'

But candidates are warned they face 'sometimes long and unpredictable working hours.'

The job description states: 'The Home Office is looking for a talented, confident and committed speechwriter to write high profile speeches for the Home Secretary and to lead our speech-writing team.

'You will draft speeches for the Home Secretary across the diverse Home Office portfolio, for a wide range of events and audiences.

'This will involve writing in a variety of styles to reflect the Home Secretary's voice and priorities. You will also advise on and produce other written products as required.'

Last year, allies leapt to the Home Secretary's defence in the wake of a critical bullying report.

Ms Patel, 48, apologised for her treatment of civil servants in November after an official investigation found she bullied staff, on occasion shouting and swearing at them.

The PM let the Home Secretary off with an apology after the investigation launched in March found she broke the ministerial code but also blasted 'inflexible' civil servants for obstructing her.

Addressing Sky News last February, the Home Secretary promised the Government would announce new initiatives aimed at cracking down on 'counter terrorism'.

Social media users mocked the minister in charge of national security for not knowing the difference between terrorism and counter terrorism.

The slip of the tongue, which Mrs Patel repeated at least four times, left viewers baffled and comparing her interview to hit satire show The Thick of It.

Ms Patel was also mocked last April when she told the nation, 'Three hundred thousand and thirty four, nine hundred and seventy four thousand' Covid tests had been carried out in the UK.

In an address to the country last April, Ms Patel's hard-hitting message was slightly undermined by a remark proudly revealing a drop in shoplifting - when shops had been shuttered. She was also ridiculed after she repeatedly vowed to tackle 'counter-terrorism offenders' following a knife attack

Mrs Patel was speaking in the aftermath of the terror attack in south London on Sunday, where Sudesh Amman stabbed two people before he was shot dead.

She told Sky News: 'There is a police investigation taking place right now and this offender clearly had some history in relation to counter-terrorism offences.

'We've also been very clear that we will be bringing about a counter-terrorism bill in her first 100 days and we will absolutely do that.

'Tomorrow we will also be announcing some fundamental changes - in addition to what I've already said - to deal with counter terrorism and counter terrorism offenders.'

The speech writing candidates are required to 'love writing' and have 'exceptional communication and organisational skills.'

The advert goes on to describe the role as a 'rare and exciting opportunity' and the environment as 'fast-paced', 'dynamic' and 'high profile'.

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.
Oriel Windfarm Limited, a joint venture between Parkwind and ESB, has commenced a public consultation on plans to develop an offshore wind farm in the waters off the coast of north County Louth.

The consultation will be hosted online due to Covid-19 restrictions.

A virtual exhibition featuring details of the project is now also available online and a public webinar is scheduled to take place on February 10th.

Once operational, the Oriel offshore wind farm is expected to generate enough electricity to cover the needs of over 300,000 households  more than the population of counties Louth, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan and Down  and contribute to the reduction of Irelands carbon emissions by 600,000 tonnes per annum.

Garrett Connell, Project Manager for Oriel Windfarm Ltd said: This public consultation is an important step in the development of the Oriel project.

The updated Oriel proposal will deliver significant environmental and economic benefits, both for the region and for the island of Ireland.

Our emerging design harnesses new technology to deliver even greater benefit with significantly fewer more efficient turbines located further offshore.

Moving to renewable energy with projects like Oriel will be crucial for us to meet the goals in our climate action plan.

The Oriel project will deliver considerable investment, a spokesman said.

He continued that the Oriel project is committed to providing a significant annual community fund to support local community initiatives and projects.



The Oriel project is aiming to make a formal planning application in mid-2021.

There will be a further opportunity to engage in the planning process when an application is submitted.

Oriel will be hosting their public consultation online at www.orielwindfarm.ie which will be available until February 19th.

An online community briefing webinar will take place on February 10th at 7pm. People can register a place at this event on their website or by emailing contact@orielwindfarm.ie

The public can email their views on the project to contact@orielwindfarm.ie or write to Oriel Wind Farm, DKIT, Dundalk, Co. Louth or call on 01 963 0313.
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.

Five individuals convicted of crimes in Texas were among Donald Trump's 73 pardons and 70 commutations he issued during the final hours of his presidency Tuesday night.

Several notable names on the list included Trump's former chief strategist Steve Bannon and rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black. A number of pardons also went to individual who were serving lengthy sentences for low-level drug crimes.

The four of Texas convicts were serving time on drug-related charges. The fifth was imprisoned for her role in the burning of a Tyler car dealership.

Below are the Texas convicts who received pardons Tuesday night:

Kenneth Charles Fragoso

The 66-year-old U.S. Navy veteran was serving 30 years for a non-violent drug crime committed in Houston. He was indicted in 1990 after selling 10 kilogrmas of cocaine to a Drug Enforcement Administration informant.

Because it was his third offense, Fragoso was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute.

James Brian Cruz

Cruz was convicted of a drug crime in 2001 out of the Western District of Texas and was sentenced to 40 years in Seagoville. Trump commuted his sentence to time served with five years of probation.

According to nbcdfw.com, Cruz was convicted for his role in a meth-dealing ring.

Syrita Rashida Steib

Steib was convicted in 2000 at the age of 19 for her role in an auto theft that ended in the burning of a car dealership in Tyler. She served nine years of her 120-month sentence and released in 2009.

James Romans

In 2010, Romans was originally sentenced to probation for buying drugs from a supplier in Mexico and then distributing them in Texas and Indiana.

While on work release, he began selling drugs again because he needed money but was eventually caught with 22 pounds of marijuana with 15 others. They were charged with numerous drug offenses. Romans received life in prison.

Ferrell Damon Scott

Because it was his third strike, Scott was given a life sentence for transporting shipments of marijuana in 2007 and had served more than 11 years of his sentence in a Beaumont prison before the former president commuted his sentence.

He applied for clemency in 2016 under the Obama administration but was denied.

Supporters of the clemency said they believe Scott wouldn't have received such a harsh sentence under today's marijuana sentencing guidelines, NBCNews reported.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
China spent more than 400 billion yuan (61.73 billion U.S. dollars) of fiscal funds on fighting COVID-19 by the end of November 2020, the Ministry of Finance said.

The fiscal system has given top priority to funds for fighting COVID-19 so that people will not be deterred by the cost of medical treatment, said Finance Minister Liu Kun in an online speech released Wednesday. Due to the availability of funds, Liu added, local governments will not be hampered by the cost of medical treatment and epidemic control.

Facing remarkable challenges in 2020, the fiscal system has explored ways to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the economy, Liu said.

China set a 2020 fiscal deficit of at least 3.6 percent of GDP, up from the previous year's 2.8 percent. It has issued 1 trillion yuan of government bonds for COVID-19 control to release more funds for companies and individuals.
Origins of the chiroptical effects explored in this work. (a) a cartoon depicting the mechanisms that underpin the chiroptical response in nonaligned and aligned thin lms and (b) the polymer systems evaluated here, and (c) Spatially resolved circular dichroism (50micron resolution) of annealed achiral polymer blended with a chiral additive (ACPCA) thin films using B23 beamline. Credit: Nature Communications

The 10,000th paper published by Diamond Light Source could fundamentally change the technology landscape by enabling a new generation of devices. This study presents a new way of looking at chirality in thin polymer films that are important for electronics. It presents disruptive insights into chiral polymer films, which emit and absorb circularly polarized light, and offers the promise of achieving important technological advances, including high-performance displays, 3-D imaging and quantum computing. These findings were published recently in Nature Communications.

Chirality is a fundamental symmetry property of the universe. We see left-handed (LH) and right-handed (RH) mirror image pairs in everything from snails and small molecules to giant spiral galaxies. Light can also have chirality. As light is traveling, its internal electric field can rotate left or right creating LH or RH circular polarization. The ability to control and manipulate this chiral, circularly polarized light presents opportunities in next-generation optoelectronics (Figures 1a and 1b). However, the origin of the large chiroptical effects in polymer thin films (Figures 1c and 2) has remained elusive for almost three decades. In this study, a group of researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Nottingham, the University of Barcelona, Diamond Light Source and the J.A. Woollam Company made use of Diamond's Synchrotron Radiation Circular Dichroism beamline (B23) and the Advanced Light Source in California.

"This breakthrough study shows how Diamond's capabilities can be used to study processes that normally occur far out of our reach. The team's findings present a roadmap for introducing chiroptical properties into more electronic devices in the future," says Professor Laurent Chapon, director of physical science at Diamond.

In situ chiroptical response of ACPCA and cholesteric chiral sidechain polymers (CSCP) thin lms. In situ CD spectra recorded during heating and cooling of ACPCA (F8BT: aza[6]H) and CSCP (cPFBT) thin lms (note blue represents low temperatures and red represents high temperatures), (c) and (d) the CD intensity recorded at 480nm as a function of temperature during heating (red) and cooling (blue), and (e) and (f) CD intensity of thin lms held at 140C as a function of time for [P] (turquoise) and [M] (purple) systems (note the different time on-axis). Credit: Nature Communications

Circular dichroism (CD) has a surprisingly long history. In the 19th century, French scientists observed that chiral molecules that do not superimpose to their mirror image absorb left and right circularly polarized light differently depending on their configuration (like for L or D amino acids) and also the handedness of their structure. By the 1960s, scientists had realized that CD could be extremely helpful for the study of intricate material structures. Diamond's B23 beamline is dedicated to CD and generates a unique highly collimated monochromatic micro beam from vacuum ultraviolet (UV) to visible light.

For this study, the research team combined ultraviolet CD studies at Diamond with resonant carbon K-edge soft X-ray scattering measurements at the Advanced Light Source.

"Using a combination of spectroscopic methods and structural probes, the researchers questioned the validity of hitherto data interpretation of these polymer films," explains Professor Giuliano Siligardi, principal beamline scientist on Diamond's B23 beamline.

It was previously thought that the large chiroptical effects seen in these polymer films were caused by structural chirality like that seen in cholesteric liquid crystalline phase. However, this study shows thatunder conditions relevant for device fabricationthey are caused instead by magneto-electric coupling that generates the natural optical activity of these polymers.

Next generation of quantum computing materials take cues from nature. Credit: Diamond Light Source

Dr. Jessica Wade, lead author of the paper, says, "This study presents a new way of looking at chirality in thin polymer films, which is important for electronics. The discovery that magneto-electric couplingand not the longer-range structural chiralityis responsible for the large chiroptical effects will allow the rational design of polymers for a broad range of device applications."

All of the experiments were carried out under conditions relevant for real-world applications, with active layer thicknesses (<200 nm) that allow for the production of highly efficient electronics.

"Our ndings will inform the design of new polymers and device architectures where chemical structure and backbone conformation have been optimized to maximize magneto-electric coupling, allowing for strong chiroptical effects without the need for alignment and excessively thick active layers. The fabrication protocols optimized at B23annealing time, temperature (Fig. 2), etc.have already resulted in the realization of highly efficient displays and photodetectors, and we are continuing to investigate these systems with the new Diamond B23 Mueller Matrix Polarimeter (MMP) functionality."

Professor Sir David Stuart, director of life science at Diamond and joint head of structural biology at the University of Oxford, says, "As one of the most advanced scientific facilities in the world, Diamond strives to enable world-changing science every day. An important part of our mission is to aid in the publication of papers and results of the experiments done here into the public domain. This innovative 10,000th publication exemplifies the importance of international cooperation between scientiss and facilities as well as the vital links between fundamental research, applied science and the technologies that move humanity forwards."

Explore further Electromagnetic chirality: From fundamentals to nontraditional chiroptical phenomena

More information: Jessica Wade et al. Natural optical activity as the origin of the large chiroptical properties in -conjugated polymer thin films, Nature Communications (2020). Journal information: Nature Communications Jessica Wade et al. Natural optical activity as the origin of the large chiroptical properties in -conjugated polymer thin films,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19951-y
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An Auburn man who authorities say was involved in the breach of the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago said he was armed with mace and a pocketknife but denies taking part in any of the violence or destruction.

William Wright Watson, 23, has been charged federally for his actions on Jan. 6 in D.C. The criminal complaint against him was filed Jan. 17 in United States District Court. Among the charges are violent entry and civil disorder.

Watson was arrested in July on state charges for trafficking LSD and marijuana. He had his six-figure bond revoked after Lee County prosecutors said he participated in Wednesdays riots at the U.S. Capitol.

Court documents made public this week chronicle Watsons events of that day as told to FBI Special Agent Matthew Minshew in interviews with Watson, who violated his state bond by traveling to D.C.

Watson told federal agents he went to D.C. on Jan. 5. He said he and a friend left Auburn about 7 p.m. and drove through the night, arriving in D.C. about 6:30 a.m. He went to support the patriots, support Trump, support freedom.

I guess the overriding thing for why we were there that day is because they were certifying the fraudulent election that day, and so we, to protest that, Watson said.

After arriving in Washington, Watson said he was in an area south of the White House when he saw others walking toward the Capitol and began to follow them. He worked his way to the front of the crowd at the state which had been set up on the west side of the Capitol for the upcoming presidential inauguration.

He said he had been directed by a radio show host  Alex Jones who operates the website InfoWars - to meet at the Capitol at 1 p.m. He said he didnt bring anything with him except a bottle of water. Watson told the agent he had a taser but had left it in the car.

The crowd started chanting, among other things, that the law enforcement officers oaths were to protect us, not them, Watson said. I mean, it is to protect all of us, but not if theyre committing treason.

He said law enforcement officers sprayed tear gas and mace into the crowd and one of the protesters yelled, Charge, and everybody started moving forward.

Its like 100 people there getting stopped, and theyre all, and I assumed at the top was cause of riot shields holding people back, but we just started all pushing and pushing and pushing and eventually got through that one area and then they kind of made another little line and then we pushed on that line and then they gave up and after that one, they gave up, completely, and moved the rest of the barricades climbing up the steps toward the building and then ushered us, like made hand motions for us to go in, Watson said.

He approached the Capitol and then began banging on windows trying to get people to hear me,' he said. He eventually entered the building through a broken window.

At some point, Watson said, he was in a hallway with others from the crowd and they encountered police. Some of the protesters, he said had shields and batons and one man was dressed like a viking with spear.

The police are freaking out because it looks like an armed crowd running in there and, at that point, was when I went straight up to the first cop and literally got on my knees and was like, listen, I want to be peaceful here, we have to be peaceful here. I want to help you get these people peaceful so that we can have a conversation,' Watson claimed. He said he worked with a law enforcement officer for about 30 minutes to get people to calm down.

Asked by the agent whether he had received guidance or direction from others to cause violence or criminal activity, Watson replied, No, it was kind of just what the mob was doing. I was, I was there, helping push on their backs. He said he had no prior knowledge the event would turn violent and that, in hindsight, he would have stayed back from the area where people were charging at.

A search warrant of Watsons home turned up a yellow sweatshirt matching photographs taken of Watson inside the Capitol. In that picture, Watson is standing with Jake Angeli, the so-called QAnon Shaman, widely seen in photos of the breach.

The agent said that a Capitol police officer had reported that when he asked if anyone in the crowd had weapons, the man in the yellow sweatshirt  now identified as Watson  showed him a can of pepper spray. He was asked to hand it over, but he did not. The officer stated the man was quiet and reserved and helped (police) to try to calm the crowd.

The agent said Watson was seen on video fiddling with the cannister. Later, he said, Watson was seen holding the canister in the direction of police officers.

In a second interview with federal agents  on Jan. 15  Watson admitted to having the pepper spray. He said someone had given it to him, but he had no idea how to work it. He later acknowledged he pointed toward lawmen but said it was more of, like a, dont (expletive) do anything to me type thing. Not necessarily a threat, but like, a threat of definitely going to defend myself if one of yall decides to shoot some mace at me or something.

Watson told the agent he was scared and didnt know what was going on at that point and that he never figured out how to use the mace.

During the second interview, he also admitted to having a pocketknife on his waistband while at the Capitol. He said he used the several-inches-long flip box cutter to cut down cloth around the inauguration scaffolding so the crowd could progress.

The search of his home didnt turn up the mace and the agent noted that it appeared items had been removed from the home prior to the search.

Watson remains held in the Lee County Detention Center.

A tiny, lush-green Indian village surrounded by rice paddy fields was beaming with joy on January 20, hours before its descendant, Kamala Harris, takes her oath of office and becomes the U.S. vice president. (Image: AP)

Harris is set to make history as the first woman, first woman of color and first person of South Asian descent to hold the vice presidency. (Image: AP)

In her maternal grandfathers hometown of Thulasendrapuram, about 350 kilometers from the southern coastal city of Chennai, people were jubilant and gearing up for celebrations. We are feeling very proud that an Indian is being elected as the vice president of America, said Anukampa Madhavasimhan, a teacher. (Image: AP)

Harris grandfather moved to Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, decades ago. Harris late mother was also born in India, before moving to the U.S. to study at the University of California. She married a Jamaican man, and they named their daughter Kamala, a Sanskrit word for lotus flower. (Image: AP)

Ahead of the U.S. elections in November, villagers in Thulasendrapuram had pulled together a ceremony at the main Hindu temple to wish Harris good luck. After her win, they set off firecrackers and distributed sweets and flowers as a religious offering. (Image: AP)

Posters of Harris from the November celebrations still adorn walls in the village and many hope she ascends to the presidency in 2024. President-elect Joe Biden has skirted questions about whether he will seek reelection or retire. (Image: AP)

Ahead of the inauguration, special prayers for her success are expected to be held at the local temple during which the idol of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva, will be washed with milk and decked with flowers by the priest. (Image: AP)


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The Onitsha Community, Anambra State, has commenced training about 100 men and women who are to serve as members of a neighborhood security watch.

The training, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), began on Thursday. It is sponsored by the Chairperson of Onitsha North Local Government.

The council chair, Patrick Agha-Mba, said the training was aimed at equipping participants with skills to combat crime within their neighborhood.

He said it would create an active security network in the various communities of the metropolitan city.

It is also aimed at providing job opportunities to the youth.

Engaging them on crime control will reduce their participation in crimes and other irregularities within the neighborhood, Mr Agha-Mba said.

The council boss said the neighborhood security watch was also aimed at complimenting the efforts of the state government which had made security its priority.

Also speaking, the President-General of Onitsha Improvement Union, Chike Ekweogwu, described the training as a welcome development to the residents of Ontisha and environs.

Mr Ekweogwu admonished the participants to be of good behaviour and see their duty as a contribution to the development of Onitsha.

You are not trained to become terrors in the community but to guard and protect life and property within your neighborhoods, he said.

Governor Willie Obianos aide on youth matters, Eloka Egbunike, pledged the support of the state government to the Neighborhood Security Watch.

Mr Egbunike urged the participants to be committed to the training as they were lucky to be selected from among the youth that applied.

Charles Osegbue, a retired assistant commissioner of police, is the coordinator of the Anambra Vigilance Group. He said the participants were all mentally and physically prepared for the training which would last for three weeks.

Nigeria is facing various security challenges, which have prompted some states and communities to devise ingenious means to secure lives and properties.

(NAN)

With the arrival of winter and the U.S. coronavirus outbreak in full swing, the restaurant industry  looking at losses of $235 billion in 2020  is clinging to techniques for sustaining outdoor dining even through the cold and vagaries of a U.S. winter.

Yurts, greenhouses, igloos, tents and all kinds of partly open outdoor structures have popped up at restaurants around the country. Owners have turned to these as a lifeline to help fill some tables by offering the possibility at least of a safer dining experience.

Were trying to do everything we can to expand the outdoor dining season for as long as possible, said Mike Whatley with the National Restaurant Association.

Dire times have forced the industry to find ways to survive. Whatley said more than 100,000 restaurants are either completely closed or not open for business in any capacity.

Its going to be a hard and tough winter, Whatley said. As you see outdoor dining not being feasible from a cold-weather perspective or, unfortunately, from a government regulations perspective, you are going to see more operators going out of business.

In recent months, many cities and states have imposed a raft of restrictions on indoor dining, given the high risk of spreading the virus in these crowded settings.

Many have capped occupancy for dine-in restaurants. Some halted indoor dining altogether, including Michigan and Illinois. Others have gone even further. Los Angeles and Baltimore have halted indoor and outdoor dining. Only carryout is allowed.

Those who can serve customers outdoors, on patios or sidewalks, are coming up with creative adaptations that can make dining possible in the frigid depths of winter.

Embrace the yurtiness

Washington state shut down indoor dining in mid-November and has kept that ban in place as coronavirus cases continue to surge.

On a blustery December evening, servers at the high-end Seattle restaurant Canlis huddled together in the parking lot, clad in flannel and puffy vests, while their boss Mark Canlis gave a pep talk ahead of a busy night.

The hospitality out here is exactly the same as it is in there, Canlis said, gesturing to his restaurant, which overlooks Lake Union. But that looks really different, so try to invite them into the yurtiness of what we are doing.

Canlis has erected an elaborate yurt village in the parking lot next to his familys storied restaurant.

It includes an outdoor fireplace and wood-paneled walkways winding between small pine trees and the circular tents. The assemblage of yurts, with their open window flaps, is the Canlis familys best effort to keep fine dining alive during the pandemic and a typically long and wet Seattle winter (referred to locally as the Big Dark).

Arriving guests are greeted with a forehead thermometer to take their temperature and a cup of hot cider.

It gives us an excuse to think differently, Canlis said of the outdoor dining restrictions.

The yurts are meant to shield diners from the elements and from infectious airborne particles that might otherwise spread from table to table.

Dining inside such structures is not risk free: Guests could still catch the virus from a dining companion as they sit near each other, without masks, for a prolonged period. But Canlis said there is no easy way to determine whether every member of a dining group is from the same household.

Im not the governor or the CDC, he said. Im assuming if you are there at the table, youre taking your health into your own hands.

New rules for outdoor dining structures in Washington require Canlis to consider issues such as how to ventilate the yurts properly and sanitize the expensive furniture.

What is the square inch of yurt volume space? What is the size of the door and the windows? How many minutes will we allow the yurt to breathe?' Canlis said.

The structures get cleaned after each dining party finishes a meal and leaves; during the meal service the waiters enter and leave quickly, wearing N95 masks.

Igloos, domes, tents: Just how safe are they?

Another, more modern-looking take on outdoor dining involves transparent igloos and other domelike structures that have become popular with restaurant owners all over the country.

Tim Baker, who owns the Italian restaurant San Fermo in Seattle, had to order his igloos from Lithuania and assemble them with the help of his son.

His restaurants policy is that only two people are allowed in an igloo at a time, to cut down on the risk of those from different households gathering together.

Youre completely enclosed in your own space with somebody in your own household. These domes protect you from all the people walking by on the sidewalk, and the server doesnt go in with you, he said.

Baker said he consulted with experts in airflow and decided to use an industrial hot air cannon after each party of diners leaves the igloo and before the next set enters  aiming to clear the air inside the structure of any lingering infectious particles.

You fire this cannon up, and it just pushes the air through really aggressively, quickly dispersing the particles, Baker said.

His restaurants igloos have become a big attraction.

Im particularly proud of anything that we can do to get people excited right now, because we need it, he said. Were all getting crushed by this emotionally.

Not all outdoor dining structures are created equally, said Richard Corsi, an air quality expert and dean of engineering and computer science at Portland State University in Oregon.

Theres a wide spectrum, Corsi said. The safest that were talking about is no walls  a roof. And then the worst is fully enclosed  which is essentially an indoor tent  especially if it doesnt have really good ventilation and good physical distancing.

In fact, Corsi said, some outdoor dining structures that are enclosed and have lots of tables near each other end up being more dangerous than being indoors, because the ventilation is worse.

Dining that is truly outdoors, with no temporary shelter at all, is much safer because there are higher air speeds, more dispersion and more mixing than indoors, Corsi said, which means respiratory droplets harboring the virus dont accumulate and are less concentrated when people are close to one another.

If they have heaters, then youre going to actually have pretty good ventilation, Corsi said. The air will rise up when its heated, and then cool air will come in.

He said private pods or domes can be fairly safe if they are properly ventilated and cleaned between diners. That also assumes that everyone eating inside the structure lives together, so they have already been exposed to one anothers germs.

But Corsi said he is still not going out for a meal in one of the many new outdoor dining creations  even though I know theyve got a much lower risk of spreading covid-19 than most indoor alternatives.

This story comes from NPRs health reporting partnership with Kaiser Health News.
A rare twin suicide bombing killed at least 13 people on a bustling commercial street in the heart of Baghdad on Thursday, the military said, rupturing months of relative calm.

Iraq's joint operations command said another 19 people were also wounded, calling it a "preliminary toll."

Medical sources told AFP they feared the death toll could be twice as high as officially announced. The health ministry said it had mobilised medics across the capital to respond to the deadly attack.

Military spokesman Yahya Rasool said two suicide bombers detonated their explosives as they were being pursued by security forces.

An AFP reporter at the scene said the bombers had struck a huge open-air market for second-hand clothes in Tayaran Square.

It had been teeming with people following nearly a year of restrictions imposed in a bid to halt the spread of Covid-19.

Security forces cordoned off the area and paramedics were working to help the casualties.

After years of deadly sectarian violence, suicide bombings have become relatively rare in the capital. The last such attack took place in June 2019 and left several people dead.

In January 2018, a suicide bombing in Tayaran Square killed more than 30 people, just a few months before the last parliamentary election.

Elections in Iraq are typically preceded by escalating violence, including bombings and assassinations.

Iraq is gearing up for a new general election this year, which Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi originally set for June -- nearly a year ahead of schedule -- in response to widespread protests in 2019.

But authorities are in talks to reschedule them for October in order to give electoral authorities more time to register voters and new parties.

Thursday's twin attack was not immediately claimed but suicide bombings have been used by ultra-conservative Islamist groups, most recently the Islamic State organisation.

Iraq declared IS defeated at the end of 2017 after a fierce three-year campaign to retake the one-third of the country that had been seized by the jihadists.

But the group's sleeper cells have continued to operate in desert and mountain areas, typically targeting security forces or state infrastructure with low casualty attacks.

Still, the US-led coalition that had been supporting Iraq's campaign against IS has significantly drawn down its troop levels over the past year, citing the increased capabilities of Iraqi troops.

The United States, which provides the bulk of the force, has 2,500 troops left in Iraq -- down from 5,200 a year ago.

They are mainly in charge of training, providing drone surveillance and carrying out air strikes while Iraqi security forces handle security in urban areas.





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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Three of four people who burglarized 21 vehicles in Secaucus early Wednesday morning were captured after leading police on a chase through five Hudson County communities, authorities said.

Kasia Rodriguez, 19, of Brooklyn, New York and a 17-year-old girl were arrested in a stolen Toyota Corolla that was used in the burglaries when the driver ditched the car at 16th and Clinton streets in Hoboken, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said.

A 17-year-old boy who fled from the car was tracked down running toward Park Avenue by police officers from Hoboken and Weehawken, Miller said. The driver is still at large.

Secaucus police were alerted by a resident to vehicle burglaries on Pandolfi Avenue at 3:28 a.m. Wednesday. When the resident confronted the assailants, they fled in the Corolla, which was reported stolen out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Jan. 13.

Secaucus police spotted the vehicle on Centre Avenue and when the driver refused to stop, a pursuit through North Bergen, Union City, Weehawken and Hoboken ensued, Miller said.

During the course of the pursuit, Secaucus police received assistance from the Hoboken and Weehawken police departments and the Hudson County Sheriffs Departments K-9 Unit.

The three people arrested were found in possession of stolen property from a majority of the 21 vehicles that had been burglarized on Secaucus residential streets. An imitation firearm was found in the stolen vehicle, Miller said.

I am extremely proud of my officers determination and diligent efforts in making these arrests, and I fully support their decision-making, Miller said. I want to thank the Hoboken and Weehawken Police Departments and the Hudson County Sheriffs Office for their assistance.

Miller noted that vehicle owners make it easy for burglars when they leave their vehicles unlocked. He also advised residents they should not approach someone suspected of committing a crime, but instead call 9-1-1.

Rodriguez, the 17-year-old girl, who is from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and the 17-year-old boy, who is from Brooklyn, were each charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, multiple counts of burglary and theft, conspiracy to commit burglary and possession of an imitation firearm.

The 17-year-old boy was additionally charged with resisting arrest by flight, while Rodriguez was additionally charged with two counts of using a minor in the commission of a crime. Rodriguez was released pending her appearance in court and both juveniles were released to responsible adults.

Anyone with additional information on this incident, or anyone who would like to report their vehicle was burglarized, can contact the Secaucus Police Detective Division at (201) 330-2052 or detectivedivsion@secaucus.net.
Garry Ringrose with his Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Men's Player of the Year award for 2020. Photo: Sportsfile

If one broken jaw was bad luck, then two in less than two months was just plain cruel.

Garry Ringrose had just about gotten used to eating solid food once again before he picked up another nasty bang in his face during the first game on his return.

That the freak injury occurred a week before Christmas meant there was no festive dinner with all the trimmings as he was forced to return to the grim prospect of eating blended food through a straw.

When it was all eventually behind him and his jaw healed, Ringrose did at least treat himself to a McDonald's, a welcome alternative to downing pureed chicken breasts.

Read More

It has been a tough few months on the injury front for Ringrose who, after missing most of the Six Nations due to a broken thumb, later found himself facing another spell on the sidelines when he caught an Italian boot flush into his jaw as he attempted to block a kick.

Luckless

A metal plate and a few screws later, the centre was back in action, only for his luckless spell to continue as he clashed heads with Leinster team-mate Jimmy O'Brien.

The forceful collision narrowly avoided making direct contact with the previously broken jaw, as the implants held firm, but the impact reverberated through his face and caused a fracture in his other jaw.

"Thankfully there was no displacement," Ringrose explains. "It was just a matter of letting the bone heal, which was a big bonus.

"It obviously meant the injury was a lot shorter and I didn't have to go through an operation or anything. It was just unlucky, but thankfully it wasn't as bad as the previous one.

"I hit the side of the previous fracture. Because there are screws and a plate in there, they did their job and held up strongly, but then the other side of the jaw cracked. Apparently it isn't uncommon to get a knock on one side and, whatever the force, (it) gets transferred through the jaw bone (and) the other side can crack. That's pretty much what happened."

Ringrose immediately knew he had done significant damage and was facing the prospect of having to return to eating through a straw again.

"I had a prescription for these supplement drinks that are higher in calorie content than protein shakes," he says. "Obviously protein shakes have loads of protein, but it was calories that were the big thing for me - just trying to keep them up.

"My mum was blending chicken breasts and spuds and carrots for me to eat through a straw. A lot of soup. I was able to get some really well done porridge in. Towards the latter end, it was some scrambled egg and stuff like that.

"I had to try and get inventive, but the first couple of weeks of adjustment was the tricky part for the first injury, but this time around, unfortunately and fortunately I had the tools to be able to tackle it. So, in terms of weight and anything from the physical perspective, it was a non-issue.

"Certainly after the first one I had a McDonald's, that was pretty high on the craving list, pizza as well, but then also trying to minimise eating those junk foods to get back training and playing.

"I am back on solid foods now for the last week or two which is another big step. I have been reintroduced to training this week. I have to hit a few markers from the contact perspective. So, it's going along nicely."

Amid the setbacks, Ringrose enjoyed an excellent season, which saw him pick up the 2020 Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year award.

The 25-year-old is well on the comeback trail now and is sure his jaws will stand up to the physicality that awaits upon his return.

"Players go through their whole careers without ever having a jaw issue. I've just been unlucky to have one and then do the same thing the first game back.

"Hopefully that's all my bad luck used up and I'll be good to go in terms of it being healed,

"I wouldn't be let back out until it was medically clear. Once that's the case, from my confidence perspective, it's fine.

"It's just unlucky. I could go out and do any injury really when it's a broken bone or something like that, it was just a matter of bad luck.

"I won't think about it, just hopefully I can get back out playing as soon as I can. Certainly what has been introduced at the start of this week, it feels OK and there are no issues, confidence-wise, about how it feels.

"Probably as a consequence of not having an operation, it feels good, so that's positive."
The Head of State called on citizens to comply with the health protocols and regulations designed to avoid COVID-19 contagion, as the new measures for the electoral process are approved.

Mr. Sagasti emphasized that the Government is also working and continues to make progress regarding the vaccines, patient care, staff recruitment, and anything that involves addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presidente @FSagasti : Agradezco esta iniciativa privada que reune instituciones academicas, empresas, gremios y trabajadores en estrecha colaboracion con el sector publico, demostrando lo productivo que es juntar esfuerzos. pic.twitter.com/DiBgr25Tu4

Presidente @FSagasti: Estas plantas de oxigeno medicinal llevaran vida a varias regiones del pais y seguiran trabajando para asegurar que la salud y el derecho a la vida sea algo concreto y real para los peruanos. pic.twitter.com/XjnnIH4hRk
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Serious doubts have been cast over Health Minister Stephen Donnelly's promise to have everyone vaccinated by September after it was claimed the numbers "do not add up".

The Health Minister has admitted that a "significant" number of nursing home staff and residents will not be vaccinated before Sunday's target due to outbreaks of the virus.

Fianna Fail TD Marc MacSharry hit out at Mr Donnelly's "continuing headless chicken approach" after the minister pledged to have all people vaccinated by September.

While Mr MacSharry said the commitment was "great news", he questioned how this would be done, given there was still uncertainty around the delivery schedule of vaccines.

"The supply chain that is available to us and the vaccines that are available to us do not add up to meeting that sort of deadline."

He called on the minister to "get on the phone" to AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna to secure additional supplies.

"There are no gold medals for being good Europeans on this one," Mr MacSharry said, adding that if they want 70 a dose the Irish Government should pay that.

Calling for full transparency and proper communication in relation to the rollout, Labour health spokesman Duncan Smith also queried how Mr Donnelly expected to have all residents vaccinated and pointed to discrepancies in the figures provided.

"As of 13 January, 69,700 frontline healthcare workers had received a vaccine, according to the HSE's figures. The minister stated, however, that as of Sunday next, 24 January, a target of 140,000 will have been reached, split more or less evenly between healthcare workers and people in nursing homes and their staff.

If 70,000  half of 140,000  are to be vaccinated in the space of two weeks, how will those figures match up? Are we making any progress?"

Mr Donnelly told the Dail that about 94,000 people had received the first dose of the vaccine by last Sunday and "at the end of this week, our most vulnerable citizens  those in long-term residential care  will have received the first dose of the vaccine.

"As a nation, we should all be really proud of this."

Mr Donnelly told the Dail that about 94,000 people had received the first dose of the vaccine by last Sunday.

But responding to Social Democrat co-leader Roisin Shortall, he admitted there were "outliers where there will be residents who, because they have Covid-19, cannot be vaccinated".

The HSE has listed 6,551 people working or resident in care homes on their vaccine plan for next week, however, it is understood this number could increase as outbreaks have halted the rollout in some homes.

Mr Donnelly admitted his plan to get delivery of the "game-changer" vaccination from AstraZeneca ahead of approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), is not possible and it is now likely to be mid-February before we take delivery of the drug.

The minister last week said he was working to get the vaccine into the country to have it ready for rollout immediately after the EMA approval, which is expected on January 29.

He said this may not now be possible because "anything that is brought forward has to be done on a full, commission basis".

"A country cannot get special treatment as a single member state."

Meanwhile, Mr Donnelly has clarified that the plan to vaccinate everyone in the state by September does not include children.

Speaking on Newstalk's The Hard Shoulder, Mr Donnelly said: It is not about being a citizen, obviously. If you are living here you will be offered a vaccine and you will be offered it for free.

At the moment the vaccines we have are for adults. The Moderna one I think is 17 up. Pfizer, I would have to check absolutely, but for the moment it is adult residents."

Mr Donnelly warned that the timelines were, however, "super preliminary".
BALLSTON SPA  A 50-year-old man with a lengthy criminal record was sentenced to 12 years in state prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary, the Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen's office said Wednesday.

Christian Crannell of South Glens Falls admitted that on July 15, 2019, he unlawfully entered a dwelling in the town of Day intending to commit a crime. He ransacked the home and piled valuable items outside of it, until he was caught by the homeowners niece who contacted her father and the authorities, county prosecutors said.
Indigenous fashion's problem, says Yolngu woman Liandra Gaykamangu, is that historically, people rarely considered it sexy. So, she decided to fix it.

While on maternity leave after the birth of her second child, Gaykamangu, a former school teacher, launched a side project making swimwear "with purpose", naming each style after an Indigenous woman who had achieved great things. Sexy and educational.

Liandra Swim is an Indigenous label making waves, in a good way.

Instead of sticking to Cathy Freeman or Christine Anu, who Gaykamangu admires but who she says have major platforms of their own, she unearthed the astrophysicists, Harvard graduates and community leaders from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities who are so rarely spoken about on a national stage.

"It was a space Aboriginal culture wasn't really in," she says. "I grew up with a lot of stereotypes put on to me at different times. If I was going to advocate that Aboriginal culture was really strong, and were not just in the tourism industry, I wanted to prove that."
WINSTON SALEM, NC / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / Winston Salem Roofing Contractor, Grace Roofing and Construction LLC, is well-aware that these are unprecedented times that call for measures to be taken by everyone to minimize virus spread. They also realize the importance people place on having a watertight roof over their heads. That's why they have put protocols in place that will help protect their customers and employees from virus spread but will also allow them to complete their customers' necessary roof repairs. This reputable roofing company wants to assure its customers and prospective customers that they are doing all they can to safely provide quality roofing services at this time.

The company owner, Richard Sakowski, says, "We are experiencing something now that most of us never thought we would have to go through in our lifetimes. The virus has definitely changed the way that we all live. Being a business owner during the pandemic has also forced me to make changes to the way we go about doing our roofing work to help ensure the safety of my crews and our customers. The face to face consultations that I enjoy so much with my customers are now done virtually and my crews wave hi from a distance instead of exchanging pleasant greetings at a customer's doorstep. Hopefully, this will not go on much longer but until then, we will operate in the safest possible manner while still providing our customers with exceptional roofing services."

Sakowski continued by saying that those who want to know more about their Winston Salem coronavirus roofing operating procedures can refer to a new blog that they just published on the company website. This new post started by saying that while the virus itself presents many problems for their customers, so too does having a roof that is leaking or needs other repairs. That's what makes it so important to balance virus safety with getting their customers' roofing needs taken care of. The newly posted blog added that this is why roofing work is considered an essential service during the pandemic. This new Grace Roofing and Construction blog says that the first safety priority when they are doing their roofing work is to limit anything but socially distanced contact with their customers. It was also pointed out that with their crews working high up on a customer's roof during a project, this should not present any opportunity for virus spread between customers and their crews. The blog also talked about how their crews go through daily temperature screenings and must work in full PPE, including masks and gloves. Their tools are also being regularly sanitized according to OSHA guidelines. All of their health protocols are even being strictly enforced by the dedicated site manager that they assign to every roofing project they undertake. The article finished by saying that they are a company that is dedicated to earning their customers' trust no matter what circumstances they are working under.

A review from an extensive roof repair project that was completed just last month attests to the fact that Grace Roofing and Construction has been able to maintain their high-quality standards even with their virus protocols in place. Barry Griffith stated, "We are very impressed with Richard and his team. From start to finish the service they provided was professional, quick, and of excellent quality. They kept the site clean and left no trace of debris behind on any day they were working on our roof. Our home is old and the roof was badly neglected. They took care of its issues with clear solutions resulting in no stress on our part. Fantastic job, thank you so much."

Sakowski mentioned that all of the commercial and residential roofing services that they offered before the pandemic arrived are still available now. This includes such company specialties as metal roofing panel installation, application of advanced flat roof coatings, and whole roof replacements. Sakowski added that those who need reliable roofing Winston Salem NC services are welcome to contact him by phone, email, or by filling out the contact and quote form that's found on their website. Grace Roofing and Construction provides roofing services for the entire Piedmont Triad Area of North Carolina including Greensboro, Winston Salem, and High Point.

For more information about Grace Roofing And Construction LLC - WS, contact the company here:

Grace Roofing And Construction LLC - WS

Richard Sakowski

(336) 985-8173

info@graceroofingnc.com

SOURCE: Grace Roofing and Construction LLC

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625374/Roofing-Company-Winston-Salem-NC-Balancing-Necessary-Roof-Repairs-with-Virus-Safety

An East Berlin man recently threatened U.S. Rep. Scott Perry through phone calls and email, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Mark S. Malinowski, 64, was charged Wednesday with one count of harassment by communication, a third-degree misdemeanor.

State police said their York station was first contacted about the incidents Jan. 12. No other information, including what the content of the messages, was provided.

Perry, 58, refused to resign from his post after central Pennsylvanians voiced outrage with his invalidation of the 2020 presidential results.

READ MORE: Not that Riley Williams: Mechanicsburg teen mistaken for woman arrested in U.S. Capitol riot
Statement of LP president Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

"In behalf of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, we extend our heartfelt congratulations on your election as President and Vice President of the United States of America.

Against all odds, the American people have given you a new mandate marking the beginning of the long road back for one of the world's greatest nations.

The Liberal Party also lends its full trust and support to your plan to hold a democracy summit to address authoritarianism and attacks on democracy all over the world.

The Filipino people here and the millions more living in the U.S. share the hope and enthusiasm in looking forward to your administration's success."
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The European Parliament adopted resolutions on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy  annual report 2020 and on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy annual report 2020 on January 20.

ARMENPRESS reports the 24th Article of the resolution says that the European Parliament ''Takes good note of the agreement on a complete ceasefire in and around Nagorno-Karabakh signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on 9 November 2020; hopes that this agreement will save the lives of both civilians and military personnel and open brighter perspectives for a peaceful settlement of this deadly conflict; regrets that changes to the status quo were made through military force, rather than peaceful negotiations; strongly condemns the killing of civilians and destruction of civilian facilities and places of worship, condemns the reported use of cluster munitions in the conflict; urges both Armenia and Azerbaijan to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which comprehensively bans their use, without further delay; stresses that a lasting settlement still remains to be found and that the process of achieving peace and determining the regions future legal status should be led by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and founded on the groups Basic Principles ; highlights the urgent need to ensure that humanitarian assistance can reach those in need, that the security of the Armenian population and its cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh is ensured, and that internally displaced persons and refugees are allowed to return to their former places of residence; calls for all allegations of war crimes to be duly investigated and those responsible to be brought to justice; calls on the EU to be more meaningfully involved in the settlement of the conflict and not to leave the fate of the region in the hands of other powers'.

In Artcile 38 the European Parliament strongly condemns the destabilising role of Turkey which further undermines the fragile stability in the whole of the South Caucasus region; calls on Turkey to refrain from any interference in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including offering military support to Azerbaijan, and to desist from its destabilising actions and actively promote peace; condemns, furthermore, the transfer of foreign terrorist fighters by Turkey from Syria and elsewhere to Nagorno-Karabakh, as confirmed by international actors, including the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries; regrets its willingness to destabilise the OSCE Minsk Group as it pursues ambitions of playing a more decisive role in the conflict.

In the resolution on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy the European Parlaiment welcomes the cessation of hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh; underlines with concern the military involvement of third countries in the conflict and notably the destabilising role and interference of Turkey; calls for an international investigation into the alleged presence of foreign fighters and use of cluster munitions and phosphorous bombs; calls on the European Union and international bodies to ensure that there is no impunity for war crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh and for the use of prohibited weapons in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; insists on the need to allow humanitarian aid to get through, to proceed without delay with the exchange of prisoners and casualties, and on the need to preserve the cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh.

In the resolutions on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy the European Parlaiment recognises that the stability, security, peace and prosperity of the Western Balkans and the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood countries directly affect the Unions own stability and security and that of its Member States, as well as its reputation as a geopolitical global actor; underlines the fact that the European Union is the biggest trading partner and investor in the Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries; calls for the EU to assume its strategic responsibility in the EU neighbourhood and play a more timely, active, unified and effective role in the mediation and peaceful resolution of the ongoing tensions and conflicts, and in the prevention of any future conflicts in the neighbourhood; believes that this can be achieved by prioritising efforts at pre-emptive peace-building, including preventive diplomacy and early warning mechanisms, by strengthening bilateral cooperation and supporting democratic forces and the rule of law, by creating positive incentives for socio-economic stabilisation and development, and by building up the resilience of societies, backed up by adequate budgetary resources; reaffirms its strong support for the Normandy Format, the Berlin Conference on Libya and the Minsk Group.
By Kiley Russell

Bay City News Foundation

As the CZU Lightning Complex fire bore down on Gail Mahood's tree-shrouded Felton neighborhood last August, she gathered what possessions she could and fled.

"As I drove away and saw how fast the fire was moving, I didn't have much hope for my home," Mahood recalled.

Thankfully, fire crews saved the little community of 20 or so houses, stopping the blaze within a half-mile of Mahood's home in the Santa Cruz Mountains, but the pipes that delivered drinking water from a spring just up the hill were completely destroyed.

"There were a lot of people who didn't have water for a long time," Mahood said.

In fact, much of the drinking water system operated by the San Lorenzo Valley Water District that serves Mahood's neighborhood, along with some 7,100 other households, was damaged or destroyed.

Over the past five years or so, hundreds of California drinking water systems have suffered similar fates while struggling with the impacts of the state's increasingly intense climate-driven wildfires.

In 2020 alone, 250 water systems were either damaged by fire or were subject to fire-related public safety power shutoffs, according to Stefan Cajina, who leads the Drinking Water Division for the State Water Resources Control Board's North Coast Section.

The damage these systems endured ranges from the complete destruction of treatment plants, office buildings and distribution pipelines to water supplies contaminated with volatile organic compounds, including benzene, the "bellwether" chemical most associated with fire damage.

"It's costly and it is capable of doing real damage to a community's ability to exist," said Cajina, who oversees about 20 percent of the state's drinking water systems. "You can't have a community without an intact water supply."

Last year, several water systems serving communities around the Bay Area suffered the effects of three massive wildfires sparked by a rare cluster of late-summer thunderstorms that swept across Northern California.

Several of these fires merged into three separate "megafires" that bracketed the Bay Area -- the CZU, LNU and SCU lightning complex fires, which burned more than 843,000 acres in 13 counties and killed seven people.

"Cleary we are starting to see fire impacts in neighborhoods that were not thought of as at risk, seeing a speed and level of destruction we have not seen previously," Cajina said. "It looks like this is a type of impact that is here to stay, unfortunately."

In the immediate aftermath of the lightning complex fires and in the weeks and months that followed, it became clear that one of the biggest obstacles to recovery efforts was the damage done to drinking water systems.

In the San Lorenzo Valley Water District's service area, which was entirely evacuated ahead of the blaze, 5 to 7 miles of above-ground plastic distribution pipes burned, along with creek diversions, storage tanks and hundreds of homes.

This resulted in what the district called "widespread" depressurization of the system.

The burned plastic and depressurization led to benzene and other volatile organic compounds contaminating parts of the system in some outlying reaches of the service area and all residents were warned not to drink the water, even after boiling it.

The damage was bad but it could have been much, much worse were it not for the efforts of the water system's general manager and operations manager, said Mahood, who in November was elected to the San Lorenzo Valley Water District's board.

These two staffers realized that by closing valves to pipelines leading off from the main service lines, they could effectively protect the central part of the distribution system from depressurization.

This both kept the water flowing for the firefighting effort and prevented "the back-syphoning effect" that would have drawn contaminants into the central part of the system, Mahood said.

"They were really quite heroic," she said. "From Boulder Creek you could see a towering line of flames. It was no joke -- they were putting their lives on the line to keep the water there so the firefighters could try to save the town and as many homes as they could."

Still, the damage was done and it wasn't until Oct. 23 that the final "do not drink/do not boil" notice was canceled, and Mahood said the ultimate repair bill could run from $10 million to $20 million.

While the Federal Emergency Management Agency could chip in up to 75 percent of the cost, that still leaves a major financial burden for a small water system like Mahood's.

"The fragility of the water systems in these rural and semi-rural areas stems from the fact that they are all under-capitalized," she said. "A lot of our customers are not wealthy people. Unfortunately, the rate payers will have to support some of this."

In the meantime, almost half of the system's water sources -- nearby creeks that run down the east side of Ben Lomond Mountain -- are unavailable because the intake equipment burned.

That means almost all the drinking water is being drawn from wells.

"The problem is that we don't want to do that for a long time because then you draw down the aquifers," Mahood said.

And while the fire itself was bad enough, the fact that it denuded hillsides of vegetation around the water district's surface water sources is cause for lingering concern, especially in the winter months when rain is liable to wash ash, fire-damaged soil and other detritus into local streams where it can clog or damage intakes.

Newsha Ajami, director of Urban Water Policy at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, said researchers are still working to understand the way megafires and post-fire runoff effect drinking water systems.

"This is something that everyone is trying to wrap their heads around," Ajami said. "It's a learning curve."

While Western states have always braced for seasonal fire events, things have clearly become much more worrisome over the past five years or so.

Climate change, urban encroachment into wild spaces and forest management practices have all contributed to intensifying impacts of wildfires on water systems throughout the region, Ajami said.

"It's a combination," she said. "You have these landscapes, these watershed areas burning and if there is development in that area, then you're dealing with a lot of toxins and chemical compounds that after the fire can end up in the watershed and then get washed off into our water bodies if we don't clean it up."

Additionally, drinking water systems are built on the assumption that the immediate landscape is basically unchanging, that water flows down hillsides in certain volumes and at certain rates of speed.

"As soon as it burns, you now have a totally different landscape that you're dealing with," Ajami said. "When you have a lot of pretty mature landscapes, the trees and shrubbery and all that sort of slows down the water and allows some of that water to infiltrate the soil."

"If the whole landscape is burned, that doesn't function anymore," she said. "It is very important to highlight the water-related issues with fire because so often they are forgotten. These lingering impacts are still unwinding."

That's a lesson Napa County Deputy Director of Public Works Phillip Miller has learned in his role managing water systems serving the small communities of Berryessa Highlands and Berryessa Estates, which draw their water from Lake Berryessa on the border of Lake and Napa counties.

While neither of the water systems were directly damaged by fire, both were used so extensively by crews battling the LNU Lightning Complex fire that they essentially ran dry, leading both to depressurize.

Also, in Berryessa Highlands, water was leaking from plumbing destroyed by flames that leveled roughly 100 homes.

The pipes leading to those homes weren't made of plastic, however, so the system wasn't contaminated with benzene or other volatile organic compounds, Miller said.

Still, because the systems depressurized, they had to be treated as if they were contaminated and completely flushed with fresh water.

For about a month, Berryessa Estates customers were required to boil their tap water before using it and Berryessa Highlands was under a "do not drink/do not boil" order.

Some of the biggest challenges came after the fires, which essentially burned around the entire perimeter of Lake Berryessa.

"Depending on how hot the fire gets in a particular area, it essentially waterproofs the soil surface," Miller said. "That's why you get these flash floods after big burns."

That means water is running unchecked into the lake, flushing ash and soot from the burn areas.

"It clogs up filters that would have normally worked fine but the ash is so fine, it gunks everything up," Miller said. "You've got to get down there with pumps and vacuums and literally suck the gunk out of pipes."

He also said this runoff, which can contain nitrogen and phosphorus from fire retardants, tends to encourage algae blooms.

"The algae love it. The impacts of the algae and aquatic weeds have gotten much, much, much worse," Miller said. "We found that our treatment plant really wasn't capable of dealing with the algae problem."

And while the water is safe to drink, people have complained about its taste and odor.

"It makes people afraid of drinking their water," Miller said. "It tastes bad, it smells bad, it tastes musty and that makes people worry about the quality of their water."

Perhaps the most concerning effect of the latest fires is the fact that a significant number of Berryessa Highland residents might never move back, leading to a permanent loss of revenue for the little water district.

"You've got a small system where one-third of the customers are now gone," Miller said. "It's like, holy crap, now what? We're going to be dealing with that in the coming years. The county is going to have to make some decisions about what are we going to do with these people."

"The aftermath is a story that's just beginning to be told," he said.

Kiley Russell reported this story with support from the 2019 Impact Fund, a program of the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism.

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(CNN)  Questions have arisen over the constitutionality of former US President Donald Trump's impending trial in the US Senate. Trump is the first US president to be impeached twice and would be the first ex-president to have his impeachment tried in the Senate while out of office.

House Democrats are expected to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate soon but the timing remains unclear. Sources have told CNN it could be as early as Friday.

Following Trump's most recent impeachment in the House, former US Circuit Court Judge J. Michael Luttig weighed in on some constitutional questions, writing on January 12 in the Washington Post that "Congress loses its constitutional authority to continue impeachment proceedings against" Trump after he leaves office because "the Senate's only power under the Constitution is to convict  or not  an incumbent President."

Since then, several Republican senators, including Tom Cotton, Joni Ernst and Roger Marshall, have said they don't think it would be constitutional to convict Trump in the Senate after he's left office.

Senate Democrat Richard Blumenthal called arguments questioning the constitutionality "bogus" saying that "[T]here's nothing in the Constitution that prevents any federal officer from being tried after they're out of office."

Facts First: Given the limited language in the Constitution on impeachment, legal experts disagree about whether the Senate can convict a former president. However, with Democrats holding slim control of the Senate, there's no reason to think the trial won't go forward.

Under the US Constitution, the US House can impeach a President for "treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors." Then the US Senate holds a trial and needs a two-thirds majority to convict and remove the President from office. Another vote would be necessary to bar the then ex-President from holding office again, but this vote would require only a simple majority.

The US Constitution doesn't specifically address convicting an ex-President but simply says "The President," VP and all civil officers "shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Legal experts and precedents

A January 15 Congressional Research Service report notes that while the Constitution "does not directly address" the issue, most scholars have concluded that Congress does have the authority to impeach and convict a former President.

In op-eds for the Washington Post and the New York Times, respectively, Harvard Law School professor Laurence Tribe and CNN legal expert Steve Vladeck, argue that such a trial is constitutional in part because the US Senate's role in an impeachment is defined by two separate judgments: one to remove and then subsequently another to disqualify.

Tribe noted that even though a former officer such as the President can no longer be removed from office, that "has no bearing on whether such an ex-officer may be barred permanently from office upon being convicted."

And according to Vladeck, the US Senate's power to disqualify an individual from future office is "the primary evidence" that trying the impeachment of a former officer is constitutional.

"Were it otherwise, an officer facing impeachment, or an officer who has already been impeached and is about to be removed, could also avoid disqualification simply by resigning," Vladeck wrote.

Yale University law professor Akhil Reed Amar agreed, telling CNN's Joan Biskupic that "It would be absurd if you could escape by resigning one step ahead of the gavel."

Biskupic also reported that Tulane Law School professor Ross Garber, who asserts that the US Senate may try only a sitting president, nonetheless said the 1993 precedent, in which Mississippi federal judge Walter Nixon unsuccessfully challenged Senate trial procedures in his impeachment case, would likely make it difficult for Trump to find a court that would hear his appeal.

"I think the reasoning of Nixon (case) could be a problem for any Trump litigation effort," Garber told CNN, adding that "it is very unlikely the Supreme Court would stop the Senate in its tracks in a direct Trump challenge to its jurisdiction."

In addition to the Nixon case, a Congressional Research Service report from November 2019 cites -- as precedent -- the 1876 impeachment trial of Secretary of War William W. Belknap, who was tried and acquitted even after he'd resigned his office. The US Senate ultimately upheld its authority to try Belknap even after his abrupt resignation -- though some senators who voted to acquit indicated they did so because they felt the Senate lacked jurisdiction over Belknap once he was no longer in office.

This story was first published on CNN.com Fact check: Is it constitutional for Trump to be tried in the Senate after leaving office?

Supermodel Christy Turlington shared a rare snap of herself boating with her husband, Independent Spirit Award winner Ed Burns, on Wednesday.

The 52-year-old Every Mother Counts founder - who boasts 1.2M social media followers - captioned her Inaugural Day snap with a quote from the late Martin Luther King Jr.

'Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.'

Supermodel Christy Turlington shared a rare snap of herself boating with her husband, Independent Spirit Award winner Ed Burns, on Wednesday

'Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that': The 52-year-old Every Mother Counts founder captioned her Inaugural Day snap with a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.

Christy's post received glowing comments from her fellow 'Big Six' nineties supermodels Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista, as well as Bruce Springsteen's wife Patti Scialfa.

It was 55-year-old Evangelista who famously told Vogue in 1990: 'We have this expression, Christy and I. We don't wake up for less than $10K a day.'

The married couple of 17 years starred in last fall's campaign for Calvin Klein's Eternity, a fragrance Turlington fronted when it originally launched in 1988.

'It was really nice and, honestly now that the world is changing so much, looking back at the shoot, it was one of the last getaways we had. So I think I will hold it even more closely because of that,' the NoCal native told Marie Claire UK last month.

Heart emoji love: Christy's post received glowing comments from her fellow 'Big Six' nineties supermodels Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista

'It's my favorite': The married couple of 17 years starred in last fall's campaign for Calvin Klein's Eternity, a fragrance Turlington fronted when it originally launched in 1988

The NoCal native told Marie Claire UK last month: 'It was really nice and, honestly now that the world is changing so much, looking back at the shoot, it was one of the last getaways we had. So I think I will hold it even more closely because of that' (pictured in 2014)

'I'm very much focused on the present and because it's us now, it feels that much more meaningful and special. There's so much great work from previous years but who we are now [as a couple] is where I want to be and that's why it's my favorite.'

Christy will next celebrate Ed's 53rd birthday on January 29 alongside their 17-year-old daughter Grace and 14-year-old son Finn.

The genetically-blessed duo originally met at a Hamptons party back in 2000.

Parents-of-two: Christy will next celebrate Ed's 53rd birthday on January 29 alongside their 17-year-old daughter Grace (L) and 14-year-old son Finn (R)

Burns wrote, directed, and acted in the six-episode dramedy series Bridge and Tunnel, about 1980s Long Island college grads, which premieres this Sunday on Epix.

'I have a smaller supporting part in this one [as Jimmy's (Sam Vartholomeos) father Artie],' the native New Yorker told the New York Post on Tuesday.

'Like the characters in this, I didn't have any connections to anyone in the film or TV business and it seemed like an impossible dream. But my mom and dad were both supportive. So that's really the one part from my experience that I pulled - the idea that Jimmy is in a home where the impossible is embraced.'
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin confirmed Thursday that he plans to run for re-election this year.

Two challengers have held events this month announcing they plan to run against Woodfin. Businessman Chris Woods and Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales both said they are running for mayor.

The filing deadline for candidates to run for mayor is July 10. The election is Aug. 24, with a runoff on Oct. 5 if needed.

I am seeking re-election for mayor of Birmingham, Woodfin said. I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of the City of Birmingham as mayor of Birmingham. There is much work to continue to be done.

Woodfin also said hes looking forward to support for cities from President Joe Biden.

As mayor, what I look forward to is actual partnership with the administration, Woodfin said. There are many people I know who serve in cabinet positions in the actual White House who have I relationships with. Its fortunate. Its actually a positive for our city to have genuine relationships with people who work in the White House, who want to see urban cores, who want to see our cities, win.

He expects a stark contrast to former President Donald Trumps rhetoric against cities with Democratic mayors.

The last three years Ive been mayor, and I know for many other mayors, its been a fight we didnt want to participate in where the previous administration made an intentional effort not to support cities, Woodfin said.

While the airline industry, ground transportation industry, non-profits, small business and other levels of government received bailouts from COVID-19 relief packages, municipalities did not, he said.

President Biden has already signaled and made clear that they will give additional resources to cities that are hurting from the coronavirus with no strings attached, Woodfin said.

Woodfin also dismissed any rumors he plans to work in the Biden administration.

I look forward to working with the Biden administration, he said. I will be working with the Biden administration while mayor of Birmingham.

Woodfin said he continues to recover from COVID-19, for which he was hospitalized on Jan. 4. He was treated for pneumonia and released from Princeton Baptist Medical Center on Jan. 6. He encouraged people to get vaccinations as they become available and to seek information from the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency online at https://www.jeffcoema.org/

We want our citizens to be vaccinated, Woodfin said.

Woodfin also suggested that, in light of crimes committed when meeting strangers to buy or sell merchandise in transactions arranged on social media, people should meet in a safe place.

Being robbed is a devastating experience, he said.

He recommended meeting in the lobbies of the Birmingham Police headquarters or at one of the four patrol precinct buildings.

Woodfin also reminded the public that anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge can apply for a pardon by going through the citys Pardons for Progress web site, https://www.pardonsforprogress.com/
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City continues to deny Catholic schools the same coronavirus (COVID-19) testing services for public school students, despite a judge ruling that it is required to do so.

Michael Deegan, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York, said in a press release that Mayor Bill de Blasio and city Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza are not providing the testing that they are required to do by state education law and two consecutive court decisions.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York opened on time for in-person instruction in September, and have safely operated since then, complying with all city and state health and safety requirements, Deegan said.

The Archdiocese recently won the court case in the New York State Supreme Court on Staten Island, after Judge Wayne Ozzi ruled in favor of the Archdiocese in the case in a judgment filed on Jan. 11.

Deegan explained that the judgment orders the city Department of Education (DOE) to immediately comply with state law and provide COVID-19 testing services and facilities to New York City children attending Catholic schools in designated yellow zones in the same manner and extent the city is providing to public schools.

...It is further adjudged and decreed that section 912 of N.Y. Education Law requires [New York City] to administer COVID-19 testing to New York City resident children attending inperson instruction in the Archdioceses schools located in COVID-19 yellow zones in New York City on the same terms and in the same manner and to the same extent as such services are made available for New York City resident children attending the Departments public schools in COVID-19 yellow zones in New York City, court documents said.

Section 912 of the state education law says that the board of education of every school district, upon request of authorities of a school other than public, provide children who attend such school with any or all of the health and welfare services and facilities made available to children attending public schools in the district. That could include, but isnt limited to services provided by a physician, dentist, registered professional nurse, school social worker, speech therapist, and so on.

The city DOE appealed the decision on Jan. 12.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

CITY MAKES APPEAL

According to the appeal, attorneys for the city stated that the Supreme Court erred in granting the petition because Section 912 of the Education Law does not require the respondents to conduct random COVID-19 surveillance testing in non-public schools.

Court documents showed that the city argued that COVID-19 testing in schools is not considered a health and wellness service under the state education law.

The appeal also stated that the Supreme Court improperly ordered the city to conduct random COVID-19 testing in non-public schools in a different manner and to a different extent than what is currently conducted in public schools. Under the judges ruling, the DOE would need to provide COVID-19 testing for Catholic school students in all grades.

The city argued that it shouldnt be required to test private school students in middle and high schools, as that would constitute a windfall to the private schools, court documents showed.

Thats because the citys public middle and high school buildings are closed, which means there is no COVID-19 testing being conducted for those students. Many Staten Island Catholic elementary schools, which serve up to eighth grade, and high schools have been open since September for in-person learning.

However, Ozzi wrote in court documents that the DOE elected, of its own accord, to have its middle and high school students remotely, and that doesnt alter or diminish the mandate of the state education law.

If the Department of Education opened its intermediate and high schools to in-person learning, those students would be provided with testing by the City, Ozzi wrote, according to court documents.

The DOE didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

The judgment comes after Ozzi issued a preliminary injunction in November requiring the DOE to provide the same COVID-19 testing for Catholic school students as it does for those attending public school. The city would appeal the preliminary injunction shortly after.

After the city declined to provide testing following the November ruling, the Archdiocese contracted with a coronavirus testing organization with no out-of-pocket expense for families.

SCHOOL TESTING REQUIREMENTS

New York City announced a stricter testing regimen last month as part of its effort to reopen public schools, which required every student to consent to random weekly coronavirus testing of 20% of the school population.

The state has different testing requirements for public and non-public schools in yellow, orange, and red zones.

After a school enters a yellow zone, it must test 20% of the school population over the two-week period immediately following the announcement of a yellow-zone designation. If after the first two weeks, positivity rates are lower than the yellow zones current seven-day positivity rate, the school can stop testing. If its higher, the school must continue testing 20% of in-person school populations every two weeks.

For schools in an orange zone, 20% of the in-person population must be tested for COVID-19 over the course of a month. In a red zone, that increases to 30%. If the random testing sample generates nine or more positive cases, or if a sample size of more than 300 weekly tests achieves a positivity rate of 2% or higher, the school building must close.

OPEN SINCE SEPTEMBER

Catholic schools have been open for in-person learning since early September, made possible by the development of clear health and safety protocols under the Archdioceses Catholic Schools Reopening Plan, and strict adherence from school administrators, staff, and students.

The Catholic schools have been safely open for in-person instruction since September, and have carefully followed all city and state health regulations, in conformity with the Catholic Schools Reopening Plan as established by the Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, said the Archdiocese.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York serve nearly 62,000 students from pre-K through 12th grade in 172 schools across nine counties and boroughs throughout New York, including Staten Island.

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP)  Authorities say an elderly Sioux Falls man charged in a 1974 stabbing death has been released from jail because of his declining health.

Eighty-year-old Algene Vossen was charged last summer with killing 74-year-old Mable Herman, at her home in Willmar, Minnesota after investigators found new DNA evidence they say ties him to the crime.

Willmar Police Chief Jim Felt says Vossen has been released from the Kandiyohi County Jail after suffering some medical complications.

Felt says the Minnesota Department of Corrections was unable to find an appropriate care facility within the system, so, in an unusual move, he was released to a relative in Iowa.
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A full-size replica of a junk, a type of Chinese sailing ship, from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) completed a test sail recently in Quanzhou city of southeast Chinas Fujian province.

The Fujian junk is a traditional ocean-going vessel typical to the coastal region. The 30-meter-long replica was built by over 10 famous boat builders roughly over the course of five months. It features an original watertight bulkhead, which separates the hull of the ship into several watertight compartments.

The bulkhead construction was inscribed by China as a national intangible cultural heritage. The replica will be used to demonstrate the ancient Fujian junk and its bulkhead technology, which is still widely used in todays shipbuilding industry.
Sapreme, a biotechnology company focused on improving the delivery and efficacy of macromolecule therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Henrik L. Luessen, Ph.D., as Chief Business Officer. In this role, Dr. Luessen will advise Sapreme in its business development, partnerships and funding activities, and will report to Guy Hermans, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer.

"Henrik brings strong experience with emerging biotechnology companies to Sapreme including licensing, portfolio strategy, financing and strategic development which are critical aspects for Sapreme at this stage of development," commented Guy Hermans, Chief Executive Officer of Sapreme. "Over the past year, we have been building a strong foundation for our proprietary endosomal escape platform and we look forward to working with Henrik as we discover its extensive applications, both for our internal pipeline and through partnerships."

"In just one year, Guy has built a strong team and rapidly advanced a unique platform that has the potential to improve the therapeutic profile for a broad range of medicines," said Henrik Luessen, Chief Business Officer of Sapreme. "It is this broad potential that attracted me to join the company and I am looking forward to contributing my skills and experience to help Sapreme execute on its mission to develop improved therapeutics by circumventing endosomal entrapment."

Henrik Luessen joins Sapreme through Tytonis B.V., an advisory company specialized in accelerating life science companies, expediting product development and facilitating the introduction of life sciences products. Dr. Luessen previously was Chief Business Officer at Promethera Biosciences, a Belgian biotechnology company focused on cellular and antibody-based treatments to reduce the need for liver transplantation. At Promethera, he was responsible for the scouting and execution of strategic corporate development initiatives, as well as licensing opportunities. Prior to this, Dr. Luessen was Director Business Development at Activaero, a German pharmaceutical company focused on the development of a proprietary smart nebuliser-based technology, and OctoPlus, a leading European provider of advanced drug formulation and clinical scale manufacturing services. Earlier in his career, he was Manager Corporate Development at LTS LOHMANN Therapie Systeme AG. Dr. Luessen is also co-founder of a number of other companies including Dendropharm, Atriva Therapeutics and ICA Aesthetic Navigation.

Dr. Luessen holds a Ph.D. from Leiden/Amsterdam Center of Drug Research in Pharmaceutical Technology, funded by the German National Scholarship Foundation. He graduated as a Pharmacist at University of Hamburg and holds a certification as a Dutch Pharmacist.

About Sapreme

Sapreme's mission is to develop next-generation macromolecule therapeutics by circumventing endosomal entrapment, thereby enhancing target engagement. The company's proprietary endosomal escape platform improves the therapeutic window by enabling access to intracellular targets with minimal toxicity. This approach is applied for Sapreme's internal pipeline and is available for partnering, without limitation to biologic modality or indication.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005346/en/

Contacts:

For further inquiries, please contact:

Guy Hermans, CEO

+31 30 760 09 76

hermans@sapreme-technologies.com

For Media Inquiries, please contact:

Trophic Communications

Eva Mulder or Valeria Fisher

+49 89 238 877 30

sapreme@trophic.eu
Colorado Springs School District 11 added to the number of schools pivoting to remote learning amid the increase in coronavirus cases in El Paso County.
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 24 Seven, LLC announced that Anthony Donnarumma, the current Chief Operating Officer, has been named Chief Executive Officer and will lead the company in its next phase of growth and development. Celeste Gudas, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, has transitioned to the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors as of January 1, 2021. Since founding 24 Seven in 2000, Gudas has grown the company from a single office in New York to 13 offices worldwide  growing the business to become the leading privately-held digital, creative, marketing, and technology freelance talent provider. Following Gudas' transition, Anthony Donnarumma, formerly the company's Chief Operating Officer, will transition to the Chief Executive Officer role.

"24 Seven has experienced tremendous growth over the past 20 years and now is the right time to pass the baton to a new leader," Gudas said, "One of my goals as CEO was to put in place a successful leadership transition for 24 Seven. I strongly believe that there isn't anyone with more experience or better prepared than Anthony to take 24 Seven to the next level of achievement. It has been an honor to lead the dedicated, talented professionals at 24 Seven, and I look forward to partnering closely with Anthony in the months ahead while supporting the company's mission in my new role". Gudas will predominately focus on leading 24 Seven's strategic direction while also championing the Company's diversity and inclusion efforts over the coming years.

Donnarumma joined 24 Seven in 2008 as Vice President of Operations, and in 2009, assumed the Chief Operating Officer role. Prior to joining 24 Seven, Donnarumma was COO at the Gromwell Group and Controller at Starpoint Solutions.

"I am exceptionally proud to have been a part of the 24 Seven journey over the past 13 years and it is a great honor to be named the next CEO of 24 Seven. Celeste has led the business with great vision and built a company with a culture of excellence. I look forward to working with Celeste, the Board, and the entire 24 Seven team as we take on the next phase of growth. I would like to thank the 24 Seven employees who work to achieve client satisfaction while ensuring freelance talent has access to leading opportunities in the market."

About 24 Seven

24 Seven is one of North America's preeminent human capital management firms specializing in the placement of freelance and full-time creative, digital marketing, and technology talent through a network of eleven U.S. offices and two international offices. Clients include a combination of corporations and marketing/advertising agencies. 24 Seven attracts and places high-quality talent through a consultative, relationship-driven approach and has demonstrated consistently strong growth and increasing profitability.

SOURCE 24 Seven, LLC
Neither the South African variant nor a similar mutant virus in Brazil has yet been detected in the United States. (The more contagious variant that has blazed through Britain does not contain these mutations and seems to be susceptible to vaccines.)

Fears that the vaccines would be powerless against new variants intensified at a scientific conference held online on Saturday, when South African scientists reported that in laboratory tests, serum samples from 21 of a group of 44 Covid-19 survivors did not destroy the variant circulating in that country.

The samples that were successful against the variant were taken from patients who had been hospitalized. These patients had higher blood levels of so-called neutralizing antibodies  the subset of antibodies needed to disarm the virus and prevent infection  than those who were only mildly ill.

The results strongly, strongly suggest that several mutations that we see in the South Africa variant are going to have a significant effect on the sensitivity of that virus to neutralization, said Penny Moore, a virologist at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa who led the study.

The second study brought better tidings, at least about vaccines.

In that study, Dr. Nussenzweig and his colleagues tested samples from 14 people who had received the Moderna vaccine and six people who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The researchers saw a slight decrease in antibody activity directed against engineered viruses with three of the key mutations in the variant identified in South Africa. That result was significant because its seen in just about every individual tested, Dr. Nussenzweig said. Still, it is not something that we should be horribly freaked out about.
Right now, all signs point to 2021 being a turning point for Samsung smartphones. An end-of-year scoop from Reuters cites multiple anonymous sources who claim there wont be a new Galaxy Note this year, and a Samsung official basically confirmed as much to a Korean news agency. Weve also seen Samsung announce plans to make its flashy new foldable phones more accessible, which dovetails with earlier reports saying the resources that wouldve been allocated to the Note is instead going to those foldables. The times, they are a-changing.

All of that means the new Galaxy S21 Ultra is more important than usual  it might be the only premium traditional smartphone in Samsungs line-up for all of 2021. The pressure was on for Samsung to nail it with this phone, and for the most part, the company did just that.

Key specs

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra Processor Octa-core Snapdragon 888 RAM/storage 12GB+128GB, 12GB+256GB, 16GB+512GB MicroSD card support No Main display 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display Display resolution 1440 x 3200 (20:9) Rear cameras 108MP f/1.8 wide camera with OIS, 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera (120 field of view), 10MP f/2.4 telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, 10MP f/4.9 telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom, laser autofocus Front-facing camera 40MP f/2.2 camera OS Android 11 with One UI 3 Battery 5,000mAh Charging USB-C, supports fast wireless charging Dimensions 161.5x75.6x8.9mm Weight 229g Fingerprint sensor Yes, in-display Waterproofing Yes, rated IP68 NFC Yes Headphone jack No 5G support Yes, sub-6 and mmWave

Configurations

If youre mulling buying a Galaxy S21 Ultra, you have some decisions to make. The first is color: In addition to the Phantom Silver and Phantom Black options weve already seen, Samsung has navy, titanium, and brown models available on their website. (Our review unit came in matte black, and despite all of Samsungs breathless press conference hyperbole, it doesnt look that different from any other black smartphone.)

Story continues

Your next decision will be about how much storage you need, and its worth really thinking about this one. Here are your options:

12GB of RAM and 128GB of storage: $1,200

12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage: $1,250

16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage: $1,380

There are two quick things worth noting: First, none of these have expandable storage, which most people wont have a problem with. Second, the starting price is a full $200 less than the equivalent model last year. If you look at old S20 Ultra reviews, you wouldnt find a single one that didnt call the phone out for being too costly. Samsung clearly made the right move here, and the price cut is certainly appreciated, but lets be clear: this is still a very expensive smartphone. Its just not an obscenely expensive one the way last years model was.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review photos

Design and display

Well, look who got a makeover. The Galaxy S21 Ultra is just big and beefy as last years highest-end S20, but Samsung says it benefits from the biggest redesign in the Galaxys history. Apart from the weird, bandage-backed Galaxy S5, the company has tended to favor generational polishing over sweeping visual changes. Lets be real, though: Samsung is basically just talking about what it did with the Ultras massive camera array.

Rather than place all four cameras and the laser autofocus module in a graceless lump like it did last year, Samsung moved all of them slightly to the left and extended the metal frame to wrap around them. Personally, Im a fan of the pointedly asymmetrical look, though it isnt without issues. One of my most used accessories is a Bluetooth game controller that telescopes to hug a smartphone, and it just cant fit around that hump.

Samsungs new aesthetic signals a new visual lineage for its high-end smartphones, but its important to note that it doesnt change the fundamentals of the Ultras design. Thats a polite way of saying the S21 Ultra is still massive. There are some minor differences in heft  a fraction of a millimeter here, a few grams there  but the S21 Ultra is still about the same size and shape as last years S20 Ultra, so its going to be too big for a lot of people. With that in mind, if youre even thinking about buying this phone (and you can figure out a safe way to do it), its definitely worth holding one before you splurge on it. The Ultra basically weighs as much as an iPhone 12 Pro Max, but is a lot easier to handle because of the screens tall and narrow aspect ratio.























Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review photos Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review photos

Speaking of, $1,200 also gets you what has to be one of the best-looking screens Ive ever seen in a smartphone. (I mean, just look at that image above.) Screens are Samsungs thing the way camera sensors are Sonys thing, so none of this really comes as a surprise. Its one of Samsungs Dynamic AMOLED 2X panels. Colors are rich, viewing angles are great, and its max brightness is higher than ever  think 1500 nits  so the phone never falters outdoors.

Just like on the Note 20 Ultra, Samsung went with a variable refresh rate display  it sinks as low as 10Hz when youre just looking at photos, and surges to 120Hz when youre scrolling through Twitter or playing compatible games. And for the first time, you can get this screen running at its full 3200x1440 resolution and at its peak 120Hz refresh rate at the same time. I know people who have been just clamoring for this, and having that extra pixel density can be helpful at times  say, when youre trying to see all the detail in one of the cameras 108-megapixel photos. Generally, though, you should just leave this screen at Full HD. The difference in resolution isnt as meaningful as having smooth on-screen motion, and believe me  your battery will thank you.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review photos

In use

A phone thats as dedicated to excess as the Ultra needs to offer excellent performance, and thats just what we got out of Qualcomms new, 5nm Snapdragon 888 chipset. This is the first 888 phone we've had the chance to test, and as youd expect, it sets a high bar for the rest of 2021s smartphones  there's more than enough power here to keep all your go-to apps and graphically intense games running beautifully.

That's hardly a surprise when benchmarks point to notable performance gains over last year's Snapdragon 865, which was already more than fast enough for most use cases and most people. Whats more, weve long passed the point where people routinely push their high-end smartphones to their limits, not that thats going to stop chipmakers from pushing the envelope anyway.

I mention all this because it can be easy to take this kind of performance for granted. What benchmarks are less apt at describing is how fast the S21 Ultra feels  between that extra compute power, that 120Hz screen, and some software tweaks, the Ultra feels like the most immediately responsive phone Ive used in a long time. (Well soon see if the rest of the years premium smartphones can replicate that feat.) And beyond that, being able to play high-fidelity mobile ports of gorgeous PC tech demos like Bright Memory never fails to impress.

Performance aside, there are some notable changes to the Galaxy S experience this year. For one, the Ultra ships with Samsung's OneUI 3 running atop Android 11, which comes with enough tweaks that it probably warrants a full review on its own. Since this review is pretty long as-is, I'll just shout out a couple standout additions here.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

In addition to less obtrusive message alerts and a cleaner approach to notifications, the S21 Ultra also packs Google's excellent Discover Feed in lieu of the lousy, ad-ridden Samsung Daily. You also get Samsung Free as a possible Discover replacement and, while its not as immediately helpful as Googles feed, it offers niceties like free streaming video channels. Its odd, yes, but Id take this over a screen full of Bixby nonsense any day. I was also really looking forward to trying Samsungs Private Share app, which lets you securely share files and control access to them. The problem is, the feature only works as long as your intended recipient also has a Galaxy phone running the Private Share app.

Samsung started leaning into 5G with its 2020 flagship, but here we are a year later and the experience remains mixed. Our review unit came pre-activated on Verizons 5G network, and for the most part, data speeds were pretty much as fast  or not fast, depending on where you are  as the LTE networks we had access to before. (Note: Engadget is owned by Verizon Media, but our editorial independence remains fully intact and Verizon has no say over what we publish.)

Yes, there are occasions when youll happen on a mmWave node and see your download speeds shoot through the roof  were talking more than a gigabit per second. If you find that kind of coverage, consider yourself lucky and dont get attached. When I tried the S21 Ultra in Bryant Park, one of the easier-to-find mmWave 5G hotspots in New York City, the difference between gigabit speeds and the status quo was often a few steps. Hell, sometimes, I didnt even need to move: while perched on the steps near the parks west edge, back-to-back speed tests returned wildly different results.

Point is, 5G is here and it can be pretty good depending on what carrier youre using. But even though these networks stand to get much better with time, actual, valuable performance improvements can be harder to come by than you might expect right now.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review photos

And of course, theres the S Pen. Over the years, weve seen Samsung slowly release versions of its hallmark stylus for laptops and tablets, but never for non-Note smartphones until now. As mentioned earlier, thats probably because theres a strong chance we wont actually get a Galaxy Note this year  or ever again, if Reuters reporting is on the money.

It feels weird to use one of these styluses on a non-Note phone at first. Theres a bit more latency here, so youll see your strokes trailing behind the tip of your S Pen. And while the S21 Ultras Wacom digitizer means you can still click the S Pen to access your shortcuts, you cant do any of the remote control tricks that made the Note 20 Ultra such a joy to use. (For that, youll probably have to wait for Samsungs S Pen Pro to ship later this year.) Dont get me wrong: you can still take notes and sketch portraits with the S21 Ultra just fine, it just lacks the elegance and technical finesse that the Galaxy Note was known for.

Clearly, theres much more going on inside this phone than usual, so how does its battery stack up? So far, the Galaxy S21 Ultra has seemed on par with devices like the Note 20 Ultra. With the screen set to Full HD, I usually finished a day of consistent use with between five to six hours of screen-on time logged and plenty in the tank left for the following morning. For many people, the Ultra will be a multi-day phone. Just know that its definitely possible to drain the phone in a day without much effort, especially if you run the screen at its max resolution.

Frankly, I was expecting a little better since the S21 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery, and because the Snapdragon 888 has a built-in modem instead of a separate module. On the whole, were looking at quite good  not game-changing  battery life.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review photos

Even more cameras

One of the big reasons the Ultra costs as much as it does is because of its cameras. This year, you get five of them: a 40-megapixel front camera for needlessly detailed selfies, plus a 108-megapixel wide camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and a pair of 10-megapixel telephoto cameras: one with a 3x optical zoom range and another with a 10x optical range. Throw in a laser autofocus to fix the issues we saw with last years S20 Ultra and weve got one of the most competent camera setups Samsung has ever put together.

That 108-megapixel wide camera is going to do most of the heavy lifting, and its a solid all-around performer. Thats partially because of Samsungs ludicrous sensor and the way it treats nine smaller sensor pixels as one big one by default, but also because of Samsungs approach to colors. Theyre really punchy, especially when youre looking at photos on the phone, to the point where they usually look better than reality.

Thats classic Samsung, and ordinarily, this is where Id say that whether the images the Ultra takes are better than others depends on the way you like your photos to look. This time though, I gotta give it to Samsung  Ive been using Apples iPhone 12 Pro Max pretty extensively, and its Smart HDR seems a touch too aggressive at times, making photos look a little moodier and more contrasty than in real life. Samsungs images might skew a little vivid, but theyre often the more natural-looking  I never expected to say that.





















































































Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra camera sample photos Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra camera sample photos

If detail is more important to you than anything else, you can also shoot at the sensors full 108-megapixel resolution. Assuming you get close enough to your subject, you can capture just about everything it has to offer, with all of Samsungs eye-catching image processing intact. (For cases where youd prefer to have a completely untouched image to play with, switch to Pro mode and shoot in 12-bit RAW instead.) There are two things you should keep in mind, though. First, the resulting files usually weigh in between 20 and 30 megabytes  that's about ten times larger than normal, so be mindful of your storage. The other thing is that shooting in full resolution means you don't get the benefits of pixel binning, so you probably shouldn't try using this setting in low light.

Speaking of low-light, the S21 Ultras Night Mode is noticeably better than last years, which often produced images with a yellowish-greenish cast. Though my usual gripe still applies  Samsung phones want night photos to look as bright as possible, which is nice in theory but not always what you want. That said, it also stacks up really well against the competition  I tested it against the Pixel 5 and Apples iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the Ultra generally produced the cleanest results. Just remember that cleanest doesnt necessarily mean best. The iPhone can blow out parts of images, but its photos actually look like they were taken at night.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra camera sample photos

Meanwhile, the 12MP ultrawide is back, and its the most forgettable camera here. Thats not a knock on its performance: it takes perfectly nice photos when you cant back up from your subject, or when capturing more space is your biggest concern. Its just that, it doesnt come in handy all that frequently. The two telephoto cameras are a different story.

Having two distinct zoom cameras in a single phone is unusual, but they both do a great job of putting you closer (sometimes much closer) to the action. Even better, were working with pure optical zoom here, so the resulting photos  while maybe not as detailed as ones youd take with the main camera  are still impressive. Thats especially true of the 10x zoom camera, which seemed unnecessary going into this review and now I dont want to give it up.

If you need even more range than that, theres always Space Zoom, which lets you push in as much as 100x on a subject. Again though, Space Zoom raises some ethical concerns. Knowing you can watch someone who has no idea youre even there never stops feeling unsettling. There are of course more legitimate uses for Space Zoom, though, and it feels more polished overall. For example: when youre framing up your shot, the camera tries to keep whatever youve settled on in the frame. It doesnt always work, but its a huge improvement over pointing and praying.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra zoom comparison

Space Zoom feels much more functional, more consistent than it did last year, especially at super-long range. One could even argue the relative merits of shooting at 30x zoom  it brings you dramatically closer to your subjects, and the results are still clear enough to be worth sharing. But shooting at 100x still feels like a meaningless flex on Samsungs part. Its proof of what the company can do, but I get the impression Samsung never stopped to think about whether should.

Theres still more in Samsungs bag of camera tricks, though. SingleTake, a feature designed to collect a flurry of stylized photos and clips from a single seconds-long recording produces a slightly wider variety of results, but you probably wont find more than two or three that are actually worth hanging onto. And beyond that, a new (and pretty well-hidden) content eraser tool lets you selectively remove objects from your photos, sort of like Photoshops content-aware fill feature. Its very much a work in progress, though, so youll probably wind up with at least a few failed or awkward attempts for every successful, clean excision it makes.

Chris Velazco/Engadget

The Ultra is also very capable at video, if that's more your speed. Samsung added a bevy of new features to spice up your footage (and I'll get to those), but there's one big upgrade to note right off the bat. For the first time, you can shoot 4K60 video using any of the Ultra's cameras  even the one pointed straight at your face all the time. If that somehow wasn't enough, you can also switch to full-blown 8K video recording, even though I can just about guarantee you dont have a display that can properly do it justice yet. Hell, even some desktop PCs will struggle to play back that footage.

That's where Samsung's new features start coming into play. If youre going to record in 8K anyway, have fun, and know you can tap a button to pull some pretty decent stills from the video stream. Meanwhile, Directors View is a legitimate treat  rather than blindly switching between cameras and hoping for the best, you can now see video streams from each of them so you know exactly what youre committing to. And just like last year, Samsung's Super Steady video mode returns  with support for 60fps recording, no less  to make sure you run-and-gun footage doesn't turn out a shaky mess.

No matter what weirdo tool youre using to help you shoot, your footage will mostly turn out great. Emphasis on "mostly". There are some exceptions though  at least a few of my clips with very detailed scenes look grainy and overprocessed when looking on a proper monitor, but those were thankfully in the minority. Even so, overall video quality is one area where the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max easily have the Ultra beat.

All told, I was  and still am  shocked at how much I enjoyed the S21s cameras. Those relatively minor video issues aside, the flexibility, range and overall competence on display here has me wondering if I should trade my personal phone in for an upgrade. They say the best camera is the one you have with you, and if youre carrying one of these around, youve got a great tool for just about any occasion.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra review photos

Wrap-up

In many ways, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is a by-the-book upgrade  its faster, its cameras are more polished, and its software is a little cleaner. Calling it a thrill would be a stretch.

With that in mind, the Ultra absolutely shines this year, not because of game-changing updates, but because it addresses basically all the problems we saw in last years model. This level of competence on display here counts for a lot more than ambitious, half-baked features. Best of all, its less expensive than the model it replaces. With all that in mind, the Galaxy S21 is definitely worth the splurge for power users and camera fanatics, though Id recommend waiting a while before buying one. Samsung is notorious for its aggressive deals and promotions even shortly after a devices launch. So in this case  as in many others  your patience may be rewarded.
The next stage in the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has workforce implications that may seem surprising.

Rather than fostering tech-savvy, AI is making emotional intelligence and empathy increasingly important, and analytical ability less important, write authors Roland Rust and Ming-Hui Huang in their book The Feeling Economy: How Artificial Intelligence Is Creating the Era of Empathy, released today by Springer International Publishing.

"Ironically, as AI is becoming more able to think, human intelligence is deemphasizing thinking in favor of feeling and interpersonal relationships," says Rust, Distinguished University Professor, David Bruce Smith Chair in Marketing and founder and Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Service at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business.

The book sheds light on the stages of AI's ongoing development and shares strategies to help business leaders, educators and today's workers prepare for careers, organizations, and a world in which AI and human intelligence collaborate closely, says Huang, Distinguished Professor in College of Management at National Taiwan University. "This involves AI doing more of the 'brain' work and humans handling the 'heart' work, including social interaction, emotion recognition, nuanced communication and genuine care for customers."

The Feeling Economy further means:

Women are poised to become more important in business and society than ever before.

Feeling Intelligence will be dominant in the economy - a shift already well underway.

A much greater emphasis on empathy, and less emphasis on rational thinking in politics - a shift also underway and being amplified.

STEM education may have already passed its peak and is likely to be much less important in the future.

The book draws from the authors' research published recently in California Management Review. They sifted through U.S. Department of Labor data on work tasks associated with jobs and the people who perform those jobs, covering millions of workers throughout the U.S. economy. They coded the things people report doing in their day-to-day jobs as physical tasks, thinking tasks or feeling tasks and compared the breakdown for each job in 2006 and 2016. The results revealed "a profound shift across the board toward feeling tasks, a big indication that the move to a Feeling Economy is already under way," says Rust.

That evidence confirms "that knowledge workers should prepare now for the coming reality: As AI evolves to handle much of the thinking required in fields from manufacturing to retail to healthcare, humans will need to recalibrate and capitalize on strengths beyond pure intelligence--like intuition, empathy, creativity, emotion and people skills," Rust adds.

The book adds real-world examples to the research to illustrate and guide readers on the emerging future of "feeling jobs" and "relationalization" (personalization plus relationship), Huang says and elaborates:

"Collaborating with thinking AI inevitably changes the nature of human jobs and what business leaders can do to keep pace. This starts with upgrading existing jobs--including financial analyst, immigration officer, bank teller, and physician--to emphasize people skills.

"With women inherently advantaged in the Feeling Economy, we give strategies to support women's rise to the top and encourage every woman to leverage 'soft' skills and people-oriented strengths without reinforcing gender stereotypes or discrimination.

"The advance of thinking AI is changing consumers--from their product expectations to their everyday life--we explain how to tailor sales, marketing, and service to meet the needs of emotionally-driven buyers."

###

Rust is an award-winning scholar who has edited several major journals and consulted with American Airlines, AT&T, Dupont, Eli Lilly, FedEx, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, NASA, and Sony, among many companies worldwide. Huang is a Fellow of European Marketing Academy, International Research Fellow of the Centre for Corporate Reputation, University of Oxford, UK, and Distinguished Research Fellow of the Center for Excellence in Service at Maryland Smith. She is also the incoming Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Service Research (JSR).
BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Since its founding in 2001, real estate and community development company Oakpointe Communities has operated on a mission to create value by building better places to live, work and play throughout the Puget Sound community. Today, Oakpointe proudly reflects on the myriad milestones achieved and the change it's igniting across the Puget Sound region.

"Despite the obvious challenges associated with the pandemic, our team made exciting progress over the past year in multiple communities across the Puget Sound region," said Oakpointe CEO Brian Ross. "For us, it's more than just construction and development. Our dedication to placemaking and creating strong, livable communities goes beyond providing new buildings and constructing new roads. Our goal is to improve the overall quality of life in our communities for the people who choose to live and work there."

In 2020, Oakpointe forged ahead with work on two of its most notable projects in southeast King County:

Ten Trails: Located in the historic town of Black Diamond, Washington , the origin of this influential residential, shopping and outdoor community dates back to 2009, when Oakpointe began developing Ten Trails. The community will eventually offer a total of 4,800 residences and more than 1.2 million square feet of commercial office and retail space. Beyond residences and retail, Ten Trails offers a variety of parks and trails for hiking, biking and walking, with more in development.





, the origin of this influential residential, shopping and outdoor community dates back to 2009, when Oakpointe began developing Ten Trails. The community will eventually offer a total of 4,800 residences and more than 1.2 million square feet of commercial office and retail space. Beyond residences and retail, Ten Trails offers a variety of parks and trails for hiking, biking and walking, with more in development. LakePointe: This project is aimed at transforming a former rock quarry into a 214-acre community, which will include a 20-acre lake, new homes and a retail haven located in Covington, Washington . Initially conceived in 2015, LakePointe will eventually offer more than 1500 residences and over 800,000 square feet of commercial office and retail space. Upon completion, it will serve as a much-needed social hub for the south King County community, equipped with grocery and lifestyle retail, hotels, assisted living centers, outdoor spaces, trails and a regional park and ride.

The most noteworthy milestones for Oakpointe's real estate and development projects in 2020 include:

Official launch of the Covington Connector project:

With a celebratory groundbreaking event taking place on October 13, 2020 , this represented the first step in starting work on the LakePointe community itself. The much-needed new transit route will provide Covington residents with a safe and convenient option for access to Washington state Route 18, effectively alleviating long commutes for a number of residents.





With a celebratory groundbreaking event taking place on , this represented the first step in starting work on the LakePointe community itself. The much-needed new transit route will provide residents with a safe and convenient option for access to Route 18, effectively alleviating long commutes for a number of residents. Purchase of Gravel Pit on the future site of LakePointe

In November, Oakpointe acquired the 214-acre gravel pit in Covington, Washington . Closing the deal on the gravel pit was a necessary early step in the development of the LakePointe project.





In November, Oakpointe acquired the 214-acre gravel pit in . Closing the deal on the gravel pit was a necessary early step in the development of the LakePointe project. Four additional builders began construction within Ten Trails

In addition to the six builders already offering homes in the Black Diamond community of Ten Trails, Oakpointe added local builders JK Monarch and Oakridge to the list, as well as national builders Toll Brothers and Pulte.





In addition to the six builders already offering homes in the community of Ten Trails, Oakpointe added local builders JK Monarch and Oakridge to the list, as well as national builders Toll Brothers and Pulte. Home sales surge in Ten Trails

In light of the pandemic-induced search for more space, easy access to outdoor activities and better work-from-home arrangements, home sales for Ten Trails surged in 2020. Since construction began in 2016, Ten Trails has sold more than 550 homes, including more than 325 homes in 2020.





In light of the pandemic-induced search for more space, easy access to outdoor activities and better work-from-home arrangements, home sales for Ten Trails surged in 2020. Since construction began in 2016, Ten Trails has sold more than 550 homes, including more than 325 homes in 2020. Oakpointe continues to give back to the community

As in previous years, the company invested in the communities in which it serves by supporting organizations like the Black Diamond Community Center, the Black Diamond and Maple Valley Chambers of Commerce and more. It even launched a GoFundMe page for a much-needed furnace for the Black Diamond Museum, while matching funds donated to support the purchase.

Oakpointe is ready to hit the ground running in the new year, with much exciting progress to come. Work will continue on the Covington Connector, and once completed, the construction of LakePointe itself will begin. Traffic improvements are in store for Ten Trails, with road connections to state Route 169 and safety improvements to the Roberts Drive and 169 intersection. Retail openings are also on the horizon after COVID-related delays in 2020. In addition, Black Diamond will welcome the start of construction on a new Fire Department.

For new homeowners, builders, retailers and other vendors who are interested in getting involved, buying a home or leasing space in the development of Ten Trails and/or LakePointe, contact the Oakpointe team here: https://www.oakpointe.com/contact-us/.

About Oakpointe Communities

Oakpointe Communities is one of the Pacific Northwest's premier land and commercial development companies. Together with a team of the areas most respected homebuilding professionals, it has built many of the best places to live in the Puget Sound region. Oakpointe's expertise, combined with innovative home design, allows it to create communities that bring neighbors together. Learn more about Oakpointe Communities by visiting www.oakpointe.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Aaron Blank/Nikki Arnone, The Fearey Group for Oakpointe

(206) 343-1543, [email protected]

SOURCE Oakpointe Communities

Related Links

https://www.oakpointe.com/


A magistrate court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom has ordered Deborah Okezie, the mother of the allegedly assaulted Deeper Life schoolboy, to d...

A magistrate court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom has ordered Deborah Okezie, the mother of the allegedly assaulted Deeper Life schoolboy, to desist from posting any material on the issue on social media.





The Akwa Ibom police had earlier charged seven persons, including minors, in connection with the alleged molestation of Okezies 11-year-old son who attended the Deeper Life High School (DLHS) in the state.

According to The Nation, David Okokon, Okezies lawyer, on Wednesday, said the mother was asked not to make social media comments or posts on the issue during her first court appearance on January 6.

Before now, Okezie had frequently opened up to Nigerians by filming live videos on her Facebook page, where she has since made several accusations against the school and other parties involved in the case.

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News of the directive issued to Okezie came to light after journalists were barred from covering proceedings on the Deeper Life School controversy.

It is understood that the court held its session behind closed doors on Wednesday.

Speaking about the sitting, Okezies lawyer said: Since it was a juvenile court, journalists were not allowed to observe the proceedings. A juvenile court deserves a jurisprudencial privacy it has.

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Why the court did this was because, the court knows that the press has every power to get the information from the lawyers, which I am here with you.

Ordinarily, the court had warned that parties should not address press because they want to allow the proceedings to be in the walls of the court in its merit, so that lawyers would not talk in and out of the matter and then confuse the public.

In terms of the proceedings, it was a normal trial and legal proceedings were carried out. The mother to the molested boy opened the floor and the told her story which was carried by the press.

But the only difference is that this time she is in the court but there is no discrepancy in what she said earlier, and her statement to the police was admitted as her evidence.
A great-grandmother who had her first Covid vaccine a month ago has now caught the virus - as medics warned the controversial decision to space jab doses two weeks apart is risking lives.

Eileen Davies, 82, contracted the virus after trying to help her neighbour who had just been sent home from hospital.

The neighbour had been tested for Covid but returned home without knowing the result.

Within days of Eileen trying to help, the elderly neighbour was told she had tested positive - and then the great-grandmother started to suffer Covid symptoms and also tested positive - despite having received a vaccination a month earlier.

The 82-year-old is not the only vaccinated person to catch the virus after their second jab was delayed amid a number of other similar incidents.

A&E nurse David Longden, 43, tested positive for coronavirus a month after having his first dose of the Pfizer jab.

Eileen Davies, 82, contracted the virus after trying to help her neighbour who had just been sent home from hospital after being tested for Covid but without knowing the result

Eileen from Bournemouth, Dorset, told of her shock at having caught Covid despite being inoculated against it

His Covid diagnosis came just days after his second dose due on January 5 was cancelled when the guidance changed to try to get as many as people vaccinated with their first jab's as possible.

Another nurse in Wales also caught coronavirus three weeks after getting the vaccine while working in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

A&E nurse, 43, catches Covid after his second vaccination was postponed when Government changed jab rules He tested positive on January 8 - three days after he was due to have his second shot A&E nurse David Longden tested positive for coronavirus after his second vaccination jab was posted when the Government changed the rules. The 43-year-old was given the first Pfizer jab because he worked on the frontline at the Princess of Wales hospital in Bridgend, South Wales. His second injection was due to take place on January 5 but was scrapped when the guidance changed to try to get as many as people vaccinated with their first jab's as possible. Mr Longden was one of the first to get his first dose of the Pfizer jab on the day it was first rolled out in Wales on December 8. But he tested positive on January 8 - three days after he was due to have his second shot. He said: 'The Government needs to protect their frontline NHS staff - to not do so is just short-sighted.' Advertisement

The nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, said she contracted Covid-19 while waiting for the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech developed vaccine.

She said she felt 'angry and heartbroken' about catching the virus at this stage.

Speaking today at her home in Bournemouth, Dorset, Eileen also told of her shock at having caught Covid despite being inoculated against it.

She said: 'My next door neighbour was not at all well, she had been in the hospital and they sent her home after five days. I went over to help her get into bed and sort her out.

'After she was sent home the hospital rang to tell her she had tested positive for coronavirus. I ended up having a test as everyone kept going on at me to get one and, despite the jab, it came back positive.'

Mrs Davies said that she had been self-isolating but that her coronavirus symptoms were similar to a common cold.

She said: 'The jab I had could have made the virus less dangerous, I haven't had any symptoms other than a cough and a cold which I get annually, but it is stopping me from sleeping. By the time I get up in the morning I want to go back to sleep again.

'Normally I am quite active, I used to go swimming three times a week but the pools are closed at the moment, I am missing that.

'My neighbour is back in hospital on oxygen at the moment, she is not very well, she's terribly unlucky - she's only 74.'

Today it emerged that NHS hospitals could be banned from giving out Covid vaccines if they don't stick to the strategy of delaying second doses by three months or longer.

A leaked internal memo sent to staff at an NHS trust in Southampton warned second doses must not be given out too soon.

Britain has gone against vaccine manufacturers' instructions to space out the first and second doses of Covid jabs by 12 weeks or more, instead of the recommended three weeks.

The controversial decision was made to try and stretch the limited supply of jabs to cover more vulnerable Britons and get the UK out of lockdown as soon as possible, rather than offering stronger protection for fewer people.

But it has drawn sharp criticism from both scientists and doctors, with medics now writing to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock and vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi to urge them to rethink the policy.

David Longden (pictured), 43, was given the first Pfizer jab because he worked on the frontline at the Princess of Wales hospital in Bridgend, South Wales

The Doctors' Association UK said no studies had been done to prove a single dose of a vaccine, or two spaced very far apart, would reliably prevent cases of Covid.

It comes as Matt Hancock today boasted Britain has given more than 5million doses to 4.6million people across the UK  around one in every 14 people.

Around 2million vaccines were dished out last week  and one in ten inoculated Brits have received their second dose.

Staff at the University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust, The Independent reports, received an email that said: 'This has become of the highest political import.

'David French, our CEO, has been sent a letter which is absolutely crystal clear and leaves nothing to the imagination  we are not to offer any second vaccines before 12 weeks under any circumstances, at risk of losing our licence.

William Shakespeare, 81, was one of the first people in Britain to receive a Covid vaccine. He is pictured at a hospital in Coventry last year

'This is not at the present time negotiable in any way. A region near us has given 34 second doses and are being investigated centrally.'

ISRAEL STUDY SUGGESTS PFIZER VACCINE ONLY 33% EFFECTIVE AS ONE DOSE Israel's top coronavirus medic has claimed the first dose of Pfizer 's Covid vaccine is less effective than he expected. Dr Nachman Ash, one of the medics leading the Covid-19 response in Israel, said the first instalment of the jab did not cut infection rates as much as he had hoped. He told local media Army Radio: 'Many people have been infected between the first and second injections of the vaccine.' It can take 10 days or more for the immunity to kick in. Real-world data from Israel's world-beating rollout showed the first dose led to a 33 per cent reduction in cases of coronavirus between 14 and 21 days afterwards in people who got the jab. Another of the country's top doctors said it was 'really good news'. But the figure is lower than the British regulator's estimate, which said it may prevent 89 per cent of recipients from getting Covid-19 symptoms. However, Israel's data does not prove anything about possible impacts of the UK's controversial 12-week gap between doses. The country does not give any more than three weeks between the first and second doses, during which time protection is expected to be minimal at best  and the vaccine is not intended to prevent infection, but severe disease and death. Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's chief scientific adviser, said he would expect all vaccines to be less effective in the real world than in trials. He added that Britain should look 'very carefully' at data during the vaccine rollout to see what effect its having. Dr Ash's comment comes after Britain's decision to prolong the gap between the first and second doses from three weeks to 12 weeks triggered anger among scientists. Pfizer's own data shows that protection from Covid starts from about 12 days after the first dose but one jab can only prevent around 52 per cent of cases of disease, compared to the 95 per cent reduction offered by two. It does not offer any proof that a single dose works for longer than three weeks. For this reason, the US pharmaceutical firm refused to endorse Britain's decision to change the dosing schedule, saying there was no proof it would work. Advertisement

The letter was sent by anaesthetist Dr Caroline Marshall, who had been chief operating officer at the hospital before the Covid pandemic.

A spokesperson for University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust told The Independent: 'No vaccine has been wasted as we have progressed through our first dose programme, offering a second dose 12 weeks after the first, which is in line with national guidance.'

NHS England denied the claim hospitals would lose their vaccination licences for not following the rules, but declined to comment.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which sets the ground-rules for the vaccine programme, has said the country should get first doses of the jabs to as many people as possible.

Although a single dose of the two-dose vaccine regimes will not offer as much protection, it may still prevent many people from getting Covid-19.

The JCVI claims that one dose of Pfizer's vaccine could prevent as many as 89 per cent of illnesses.

But new data emerging in Israel suggest this initial dose's protection could be as low as 33 per cent, meaning two thirds of people given the single vaccine dose could still catch Covid if they were exposed to the virus.

This has not yet been verified in a publicly available scientific study, but raises concerns about Britain's strategy.

When the UK made the decision to split the doses with a wider gap than Pfizer had intended, both the company and the World Health Organization refused to endorse the policy because they said there was no proof the jab would still work.

Now, angry doctors have written to the Government to urge them to rethink.

Doctors' Association UK has warned the move risks patients' health and there is no reliable science to prove the vaccines work when given in this way.

The organisation gave its warnings in a letter address to health bosses including Matt Hancock, Professor Chris Whitty, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi, and Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, The Times reports.

It said: 'We must be clear that it is completely unacceptable to ignore the need for a second vaccination.

'All studies confirm the need for this to provide reliable and lasting immunity.

'It must be noted that there is currently no data around the reliability of the immune response if vaccines are interchanged.'

They added: 'We understand the rationale for the delay in scheduling the Pfizer-BioNTech second dosing from three to 12 weeks.

'The concerns arise from decisions being made without acknowledging the consequences of enacting them on the front line.

'We are concerned that there are no clear plans to follow up and monitor the immunity of these patients, to ensure the 12-week booster will be adequate, given that this schedule goes against the advice of both the manufacturer and WHO.'
My mom would tell me to go do it, and I would just go in my room and watch TikTok on my phone, she said.

She was not the only one. By the end of the first grading period in September, 77 percent of the districts remote high school students were failing at least one class. Those who opted to attend in person, by contrast, were mostly passing.

Similarly, about 30 percent of the youngest students, particularly in first and second grades, were not meeting grade-level expectations on a reading assessment administered at the start of the school year  roughly double the number from previous years, Delynn Wheeler, the elementary school principal, said.

To district officials, that was evidence that remote education last spring had set students back. And those who remained remote at the start of the fall semester struggled to catch up.
A tropical low currently looming of the North West coast is unlikely to develop into a cyclone, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

People in Western Australias Kimberley and Pilbara regions on Thursday had been urged to prepare for a cyclone reaching up to category two strength and bringing gusts of up to 140 km/h.

But the bureau announced on Friday the low had gradually shifted its track east and was running out of time to develop into a cyclone over favourable ocean conditions. There was still the possibility it could develop into a category one system before it crossed the coast on Friday night.

While Port Hedland may get some rain and possibly even a thunderstorm on Friday, the roughest weather would hit further east, with 80 Mile Beach already experiencing squally winds and heavy rain ahead of the tropical low crossing the coast.

A cyclone blue alert is in place for communities between Bidyadanga and De Grey in the Kimberley and Pilbara, and the main impacts forecast by the bureau for the region included heavy rain and possibly damaging winds.
The Institute, established in 2017 with a goal of raising $20 million, promises to embody the spirit of "honesty, integrity, compassion and courage" that it claims Biden stands for - yet, as Politico notes, "the Biden Institute continues to engage in a multimillion-dollar fundraising campaign, which could attract donations from those interested in currying favor with the Biden administration."

Meanwhile, Bidens pick for Secretary of State, Tony Blinken, is facing calls to explain over $20 million in anonymous Chinese funding of the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, established in 2018 and run by Blinken since its inception along with former Obama Administration aides.

The National Legal and Policy Center (NPLC) is demanding "that the University of Pennsylvania and its Penn Biden Center disclose the identity of $22 million in anonymous Chinese donations since 2017, including a single eye-popping donation of $14.5 million given on May 29, 2018, shortly after the opening of the Biden Center in Washington, DC. Altogether, China gave $67 million in two years to the University of Pennsylvania."

Apparently nobody asked Blinken about this during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

At least 28 people with ties to Biden nonprofits and academic centers have either advised his transition or are joining the Biden administration.

Tony Blinken, Bidens pick for secretary of State, worked as a managing director at the Penn Biden Center and was paid nearly $80,000 in the first six months of 2019, according to his personal financial disclosure. Other Penn Biden Center alumni joining the administration include Steve Ricchetti, who will be a White House counselor to Biden; Brian McKeon, Bidens choice for a top State Department post; Colin Kahl, Bidens pick for under secretary of Defense for policy; Jeff Prescott, whom Biden will nominate as deputy ambassador to the United Nations; and Carlyn Reichel, Juan Gonzalez and Ariana Berengaut, all of whom will serve on the National Security Council staff. Ted Kaufman, whos running the transition, served as the Biden Foundations chair, and Louisa Terrell, who will be Bidens White House legislative affairs director, drew a salary of more than $220,000 as its executive director, according to a tax filing. -Politico

Were sure the MSM will get right on that Chinese money trail.
New Delhi: China s message of congratulations to the newly sworn in Biden administration on Thursday was accompanied by a call for a reset in ties that had been badly frayed during the previous Donald Trump regime because of sharply contrasting views on a host of issues, including disputes over trade, technology, human rights, and the origins of the covid-19 pandemic.

However, the presence of the Taiwanese representative to the US at the swearing in on Wednesday in of Joe Biden as the president of the US, the naming of Kurt Campbell as Bidens Indo-Pacific coordinator in the National Security Council, and remarks made by key nominees of Bidens incoming foreign policy team signal that their China policy may differ more in tactics than in substance from Trumps confrontational approach.

There is speculation that that could mean that the rhetoric could be less shrill and there could be a scaling back in freedom of navigation operations while the US will not relent on issues of technology.

For India, the Biden presidency will be good" given that it will focus on rebuilding alliances, reviving US economic growth and underlining US leadership on global platforms, said analysts.

Chinas call for a reset in ties came at a foreign ministry press briefing in Beijing with foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying telling reporters that with cooperation from both sides, the better angels in China-US relations will beat the evil forces". Noting that Biden had used the word "unity" several times in his inauguration speech, Hua said this was "precisely what is needed currently in US-China relations", PTI reported.

There is a clear recognition now across the political spectrum in the US that China is a strategic competitor. Coping with the dangers it poses to its own people, to its neighbours, to US allies, and to US interests more generally is not optional," according to Ashley Tellis, analyst with the Washington-based think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Under Trump, the United States attempted to rise to this challenge, but it did so often in erratic and self-defeating ways. Under Biden, I expect a more measured approach but a resolute one nonetheless," he said.

No surprise then that Bi-khim Hsiao, Taiwans representative to the US was present at the Biden-Harris inauguration. A Reuters report quoted Taiwan's foreign ministry as saying that it was the first time an inauguration committee had formally invited the island's Washington representative. According to news reports, Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has been in touch with Hsiao since the November presidential polls that Biden won. President Biden will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values in the Asia-Pacific region, and that includes Taiwan," Emily Horne, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, was quoted as saying.

The appointment of Kurt Campbell as the Indo-Pacific Coordinator" sets at rest doubts about whether the Biden administration would do a rethink about the Indo-Pacific policy, said a person familiar with the developments. There were concerns earlier this month about whether Biden would pick up or jettison Trumps Indo-Pacific policy that China sees as a strategy to contain it. Recently declassified documents dating to the Trump era said that the US recognises India as a capable and reliable partner and a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific region.

In his Senate confirmation hearing, secretary of state nominee Antony Blinken said that China presents the most significant challenge" to the US, while India has been a bipartisan success story" and the new US government may further deepen ties with New Delhi. Bidens candidate for secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, said that he saw China as our most serious global competitor".

Taken together, Beijing can expect a temporary reprieve from the breathtaking pace of new punitive measures while Biden and his team focus on the coid-19 pandemic at home, but the foundation of the relationship is set", said Shannon Tiezzi in an essay in the Diplomat magazine.

For India, Tellis said, the Biden presidency will be predictable, focused on the right issues bilaterally and internationally, and will have a cadre of officials who are knowledgeable about the global challenges at this juncture and will respond appropriately to them".

The administration is also strongly committed to restoring American power, reviving US economic growth, rebuilding US alliances and partnerships, and reaffirming US leadership globally, all things that should be very helpful to India as it navigates its own challenges," he said.

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The percentage of students in Midland ISD elementary schools needing reading intervention at the elementary school level is above 50 percent.

That is what interim Superintendent Ann Dixon told the Midland ISD school board Tuesday during its regular monthly meeting. And there is at least one campus where more than 70 percent of the students need intervention, Dixon said and another member of the administration later confirmed.

These comments echoed comments made in December when she stated second-graders were showing a beginning-of-the-year score of 56 (the percentage reading at or beyond grade level). The percentage of eighth-graders was 36 percent. That is just more than one-third reading at or above grade-level.

The staggering picture of how much education in Midland has declined came out during an informative discussion about the school calendar for 2021-22. School board members representing both sides of the issue and those wanting more information to make up their minds in February heard Dixons defense of an intersessional an intersessional calendar that allows for week-long breaks in the fall and spring to allow elementary school students in need of intervention get immersed in instruction for a week. It would start with reading in 2021-22 and then could be used in other areas, including math, if it proves to be successful.

Katie Joyner said the intersessional calendar is a threat to the family unit, doesnt take into respect divorced parents and households where both parents work, will impact families when it comes to vacations, will create burnout situations for teachers and students and is another burden on children already impacted by COVID.

I do think children need a real break. I think they need to get tired of being out of school. And I think they need to be ready to go back, Joyner said. Our children are over-scheduled. And I think that summer is an important developmental period. And I also think that for teachers as well. And when you're in the traditional calendar, people are accustomed to that. They're used to the workhorse nature of when we're in school that we're in school and we get a summer.

For those wanting the facts on the calendar debate, there was a period when District 6 board member Rick Davis went through a question-and-answer with Dixon.

She confirmed that the intersessional calendar starts a week earlier (Aug. 9 compared to Aug. 16) and finishes a week later (May 26 compared to June 3). Both calendars call for 180 days of instruction. The intersessional calendar actually shortens the typical day by 15 minutes, which according to Dixon translates to eight additional days of school.

The key piece of the debate are the intersessional weeks, one which takes place in October and the other which takes place after spring break. They allow for a student to take part in intense reading instruction  five hours a day for the five days of the intersessional weeks  potentially 3,000 additional minutes, according to Dixon. The weeks wouldnt be mandatory for any student but be used to close the learning gap that exists with students inside the district.

Between these two calendars, which do you believe is in the best academic interest of our students? Davis asked Dixon.

The intersessional because we have no remediation for these kids in the 19 D and F schools down in this lower end.  My crystal ball didn't say this will work, but I sure don't think it can hurt. Dousing kids with 3,000 more minutes of reading, at least the gap will be closed.

Dixon responded to questions of whether participation will take place by stating that if the district enforced a rule that required students to pass state assessments, the incentive would be there.

In December, Dixon told the Reporter-Telegram that of the 457 eighth-graders who failed either the reading or math portion of the STAAR, not one student was held back. Of the 422 fifth-grades, only 36 were retained. That is a combined 96 percent that was allowed to move to the next grade, she said.

District 3 representative Tommy Bishop said no matter what calendar is used, parents need to understand that students that dont meet standards will not be promoted to the next grade moving forward.

I don't know if that'd be a mindset change or be an encouragement for parents or their students to enhance their learning to get us to the next level academically, Bishop said. But nothing is going to be given to you like it has been in the past (being moved to the next grade).

Dixon said that 67.2 percent of the District Educational Improvement Committee (DEIC) members (community members, parents and teachers) that participated in a survey recently favored the intersessional calendar. She also said that 69 percent of the campus principals responding preferred the new calendar.

Both calendars will move to 180 days of instruction, and Dixon hopes instruction can start to attack the learning gap, but the students that are the neediest and with the largest deficits will have an opportunity to catch up with an intersessional calendar.

If we don't close that gap, it just gets bigger and bigger and bigger, she said.

School board President Bryan Murry told residents to contact their school board members with their feedback on the calendars.
[January 21, 2021] reMYND extends Series B funding to EUR 24 million

Press Release reMYND extends Series B funding to EUR 24 million Financing enables advancement of key programs in Alzheimers and Diabetes through Clinical Proof of Concept in 2022

Additional EUR 12 million raised Leuven Belgium, 21 January 2021: reMYND NV, a clinical stage company developing innovative treatments for Alzheimers, diabetes and other diseases caused by cellular dysfunction, has successfully extended its Series B financing round to EUR 24 million. The second close of EUR 12 million by a consortium of investors including Korys Investments, FPIM, KU Leuven, PMV, and BNP Paribas Fortis Private Equity follows an initial EUR 12 million raised in December 2018. Proceeds from the fundraise will allow completion of proof-of-concept clinical trials for both the Alzheimers and the diabetes programs in 2022. A first-in-human trial of RES19-T for the treatment of Alzheimers was initiated in 2020. reMYND expects to announce the launch of a first-in-human trial in diabetes during 2021. Staph Leavenworth Bakali, Chairman of reMYND, commented This successful financing round comes at an exciting time in reMYNDs growth story. With an expanded Board and managementteam, our Alzheimers program in the clinic and this latest investment, we are well placed to keep up this strong momentum as we look to advance further programs into the clinic.



Koen De Witte, Managing Director of reMYND, commented With this financing secure, we look forward to continuing our discussions with potential pharma partners on collaborating with us, as well as exploring opportunities with international investors to raise the required capital to advance our programs past clinical proof-of-concept independently. About reMYND

reMYND is a clinical stage company developing novel treatments for Alzheimers, diabetes and other diseases caused by cellular dysfunction. It is backed by a proprietary drug discovery platform, which enables the identification of novel mechanisms-of-action, targets and first-in-class small molecules. reMYNDs most advanced program is ReS19-T, an investigational compound for the treatment of Alzheimers, which entered the clinic in Q4 2020. In animal models it has shown to produce an acute response, restoring synaptic plasticity, a process central in the disease cascade leading to neuronal demise and build-up of plaques and tangles. The company is also developing a treatment for diabetes, ReS39. Animal models have demonstrated the compounds efficacy to increase endogenous insulin production capacity with a sustained and durable effect on blood glucose levels and end-organ protection. Other treatments for major health challenges are being explored using reMYNDs discovery platform, with a focus on mitochondrial dysfunction in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In addition, reMYND has a dedicated Contract Research Organization (CRO), which focuses on CNS disorders. The team helps clients to assess the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and efficacy of their experimental treatments in reMYNDs proprietary animal models. The CRO has a global client base, including the US, Europe and Japan. reMYND was founded in 2002 as a spin-off from the University of Leuven, and has been substantially supported by grants from VLAIO/IWT (Flanders, Belgium). Find out more at https://www.remynd.com .



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Melbourne:

Indian-origin owners of a former coffee club have been fined more than 180,000 dollars in Australia for exploiting an Indian employee by forcing him to hand back his wages and threatening to have his visa cancelled if he refused.



Federal Court Judge Michael Jarrett fined Saandeep Chokhani 30,000 dollars and imposed a further 150,000 dollars penalty against the company he and his wife owned over the unlawful cash-back arrangement, Australian Associated Press reported.



Chokhani formerly owned and ran the Coffee Club at Nundah Village Shopping Centre in Brisbane with his wife. The worker, an Indian national in his late 20s, was threatened with visa cancellation if he didn't pay back 18,000 dollars.



The Indian worker was sponsored by a company run by Chokhani and his wife to work as a cook while on a '457 visa', the most common visa for Australian or overseas employers to sponsor skilled foreign workers to work temporarily in the country.

ALSO READ | Racial attack: Indian cab driver hospitalised in Australia



The court found that Chokhani, who then owned and operated a Coffee Club franchise at Nundah, had failed to pay the Indian national any wages for four months from July to November 2014 and for another four weeks in Feburary/March 2015.



He then transferred just over 19,300 dollars to the worker, only to ask him to pay back 18,000 dollars and in 2015 threatened to have the worker's 457 visa cancelled unless he complied.



Judge Jarrett said the worker felt he did not have any choice but to pay the money and Mr Chokani's behaviour was "especially egregious" and a grotesque exploitation of the power imbalance between the two men.



"He could not leave his employment because if he did so he would breach a condition of his visa and his ability to remain in Australia would be seriously compromised. He was effectively working for nothing," Judge Jarrett said.



Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James said she was concerned that cashback schemes were being used by unscrupulous operators to get around record-keeping laws and disguise serious underpayment of wages.

ALSO READ | US: Indian-origin Cornell University student found dead

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The Ministry of Health plans to conclude an agreement with another supplier of vaccines against coronavirus (COVID-19) in the near future, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said.

"When we started to develop a strategy for vaccination against COVID-19, it was immediately determined that the Health Ministry should not independently carry out any purchases. State-owned enterprise Medical Procurement of Ukraine entered into an agreement with the first manufacturer, Sinovac. Then two companies have expressed readiness for the purchase. We have signed an agreement with one of them (Sinovac), and we will conclude an agreement with another company in the near future," he told Interfax-Ukraine.

At the same time, Stepanov said now he cannot name this company because of the confidentiality agreement.

"The disclosure of any information before the signing of the contract will lead to the breakdown of agreements, these are the conditions of cooperation. Immediately after signing the supply contract, I will be able to provide all the details," he said.

According to Stepanov, this purchase will be carried out not through the Health Ministry, but through another operator.

As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers has designated the Crown Agents British purchasing agency as the operator for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines for Ukraine.
President Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement on his first day in office, one of a sweep of executive orders to tackle the climate crisis.

Following his swearing-in ceremony as the 46th president, Mr Biden committed to rejoining the international pact to cut the greenhouse gas emissions heating the planet.

Its a U-turn on Donald Trumps decision to exit the deal in the first months of his presidential term, after he dubbed the agreement a disaster for America.

Rejoining Paris was one of about a dozen executive orders that the newly-minted president signed, the beginning of his administrations plan to unwind the destructive environmental and climate policies of the Trump era.

Read more: What is the Paris Climate Agreement?

There was also an order to restore 100 public health and environmental rules that former president Trump had rolled back or weakened.

Mr Biden canceled the permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline and banned new leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a pristine landscape which Mr Trump opened to oil and gas drilling

Mr Biden also tackled Mr Trumps rollbacks on methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, and on fuel-economy standards for vehicles with executive orders.

When it comes to the Paris Agreement it is believed that, once the United Nations is notified by letter the US intends to rejoin, it should officially take effect in 30 days.

President Biden also declared that the US is rejoining the World Health Organisation and signed an order prohibiting interference in the operations of the Justice Department from other parts of government.

On the campaign trail Mr Biden had promised to recommit to the Paris Accords, adding that his administration would also push other countries to ramp up their domestic emissions targets.

Its expected in the coming months, that the US - which accounts for 15 per cent of global emissions - will submit updated reduction targets from the Obama-era goals, in an effort to lead by example

The US had pledged to reduce emission levels between 26-28 per cent by 2025 from 2005 levels. It is not on track to reach those goals.

The core of the Paris agreement is reliant on countries continually ramping up their emissions targets, called Nationally Determined Contributions.

Mr Trumps decision to exit the accords meant that other major emitters have lagged on their goals.

Nations current pledges are not enough to achieve staying well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, and pursue efforts of an increasingly ambitious 1.5C, the levels which scientists say will prevent catastrophic heating.

By 1 February, the Biden administration has promised additional executive actions to address the climate crisis.

Further down the line will be the goal of passing a $2 trillion climate package to jumpstart Americas race to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

President Biden is expected to convene a summit with leaders from other major polluters in the hopes of ramping up ambitions ahead the UN climate talks, COP26, this November in the UK.

The Paris deal provides pathways for richer countries to help poorer ones, some of which are already bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.

As part of the Paris deal, former president Obama pledged $3 billion toward the Green Climate Fund to help poorer countries adapt. Mr Trump moved to withhold $2bn when he became president. In 2019, 27 countries announced contributions totalling $9.8bn. The US refused to contribute.
In the wake of his inauguration Wednesday, Joe Biden signs his first executive orders. The author says that this first-100-days-in-office thing is accorded more significance than it deserves. Presidents, after all, should be judged not just on initial bursts of activity, but on their entire time in office.
SUMNER, Iowa (AP)  Police say the owner of a child care facility in northeastern Iowa has been arrested and charged with child endangerment after being accused of injuring a 1-year-old in her care.

Television station KCRG reports that an employee on Tuesday reported 54-year-old Crystal Bahe, of Sumner, to authorities.

Bahe owns and operates Crystal's Christian Child Care in Sumner.

The facilitys operations have been suspended while local police and the Iowa Department of Human Services conduct investigations into the allegation.

Officials say families of the children attending the daycare have been notified and children have been moved from the facility.
Trial designed to investigate the cardioprotective properties of CardiolRx in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who have a prior history of, or risk factors for, cardiovascular disease

Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL) (OTCQX: CRTPF) ("Cardiol" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, today announced the formation of the Data Safety Monitoring Committee ("DSMC") and the Clinical Endpoint Committee ("CEC") for the Company's Phase II/III trial in high-risk patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at clinical centers throughout the United States.

The DSMC comprises independent experts who will assess the patient safety data, and, if needed, critical efficacy endpoints of the trial. In order to do so, the DSMC may review unblinded study information (on a patient level or treatment group level) during the conduct of the trial. After each data review, the DSMC will advise the study Steering Committee with recommendations for protocol modifications, if concerns over safety have developed, or that the study should continue according to the protocol if no concerns are identified. The DSMC will also perform an interim analysis after 200 patients have completed the study, to determine if the study is likely to enroll enough patients to achieve statistical significance or if additional patients should be recruited.

The DSMC currently consists of three members:

Chair: Dr. Jean Lucien Rouleau - Professor and Former Dean, University of Montreal and Cardiologist, Montreal Heart Institute. Dr. Rouleau has an international reputation in cardiovascular research, particularly in the field of both basic mechanisms and improving the clinical care of patients with heart failure. His publication list includes more than 475 articles and 7 book chapters.

- Professor and Former Dean, University of Montreal and Cardiologist, Montreal Heart Institute. Dr. Rouleau has an international reputation in cardiovascular research, particularly in the field of both basic mechanisms and improving the clinical care of patients with heart failure. His publication list includes more than 475 articles and 7 book chapters. Statistician: Dr. George Wells - Professor, School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa and Director, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Dr. Wells has worked extensively with governments and non-government research organizations, as well as private pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He has been an Investigator in over 240 research projects with research funding exceeding $120 million. Dr. Wells is the author or co-author of over 400 published articles.

- Professor, School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa and Director, Cardiovascular Research Methods Centre, University of Ottawa Heart Institute. Dr. Wells has worked extensively with governments and non-government research organizations, as well as private pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. He has been an Investigator in over 240 research projects with research funding exceeding $120 million. Dr. Wells is the author or co-author of over 400 published articles. Dr. John Teerlink - Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Director of Heart Failure and the Echocardiographic Laboratory at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Center. Dr. Teerlink is actively involved in many acute and chronic heart failure clinical trials, serving on endpoint, data safety monitoring, and steering committees for numerous international cardiovascular studies. He currently serves on the Acute Heart Failure Committee of the European Society of Cardiology Heart Failure Association and has served on the National Committee on Heart Failure and Transplantation of the American Heart Association. Dr. Teerlink was profiled in The Lancet as an internationally recognized leader in heart failure.

The CEC comprises clinical experts in cardiology and Intensive Care and has been established to ensure accurate and consistent assessment of the trial endpoints and/or serious adverse events. In order to ensure an unbiased endpoint assessment, members of the CEC are blinded to treatment assignment. The goal of the CEC is to standardize endpoints and optimize data quality.

The CEC currently consists of three members:

Chair: Dr. Brent Mitchell - Professor of Cardiac Sciences and Former Director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary. After a Fellowship in Clinical Cardiology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Dr. Mitchell undertook a Fellowship in clinical electrophysiology at Stanford University Medical Centre, California. Dr. Michell's clinical practice and research interests are in the area of cardiac electrophysiology, particularly in the diagnosis and management of tachyarrhythmias. Dr. Mitchell has published several sentinel papers in the diagnosis and management of serious cardiac arrhythmias.

- Professor of Cardiac Sciences and Former Director of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary. After a Fellowship in Clinical Cardiology at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Dr. Mitchell undertook a Fellowship in clinical electrophysiology at Stanford University Medical Centre, California. Dr. Michell's clinical practice and research interests are in the area of cardiac electrophysiology, particularly in the diagnosis and management of tachyarrhythmias. Dr. Mitchell has published several sentinel papers in the diagnosis and management of serious cardiac arrhythmias. Dr. Maria Rosa Costanzo - Professor, Rush Medical College and Cardiologist, Advocate Health, Naperville, IL. Dr. Costanzo is Board Certified in Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation. Dr. Costanzo is currently the Medical Director of the Midwest Heart Specialists - Advocate Medical Group Heart Failure and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Programs, and Medical Director of the Edward Hospital Center for Advanced Heart Failure. Dr. Costanzo has published nearly 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is the author of numerous review papers, monographs and book chapters.

- Professor, Rush Medical College and Cardiologist, Advocate Health, Naperville, IL. Dr. Costanzo is Board Certified in Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation. Dr. Costanzo is currently the Medical Director of the Midwest Heart Specialists - Advocate Medical Group Heart Failure and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Programs, and Medical Director of the Edward Hospital Center for Advanced Heart Failure. Dr. Costanzo has published nearly 200 peer-reviewed manuscripts and is the author of numerous review papers, monographs and book chapters. Dr. Courtney Bennett - Cardiologist and Intensive Care Physician, Director of Quality Improvement in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Dr. Bennett is a board-certified cardiologist and board-eligible in critical care medicine. Her clinical interests include cardiac critical care and contrast echocardiography. Dr. Bennett is Mayo Quality Academy gold-certified and serves as the Director of Quality Improvement in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Cardiol's double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase II/III clinical trial is designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx, a pharmaceutically produced extra strength cannabidiol formulation, in 422 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with a prior history of, or risk factors for, cardiovascular disease. This patient population is at significant risk of developing cardiovascular complications, which are frequently fatal, during their illness.

About Cardiol Therapeutics

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (TSX: CRDL) (OTCQX: CRTPF) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the research and clinical development of anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Company's lead product, CardiolRx, is a pharmaceutically produced oral cannabidiol formulation that is currently entering a Phase II/III outcomes study in hospitalized patients testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. This potentially registrational trial is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx as a cardioprotective therapy to reduce mortality and major cardiovascular events in COVID-19 patients who have a prior history of, or risk factors for, CVD, and to investigate the influence CardiolRx has on key markers of inflammatory heart disease.

Cardiol is also planning to file an IND for a Phase II international trial that will investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties of CardiolRx in patients with acute myocarditis, which remains the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in people under 35 years of age. In addition, Cardiol is developing a subcutaneous formulation of CardiolRx and other anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of chronic heart failure - a leading cause of death and hospitalization in North America, with associated annual healthcare costs in the U.S. alone exceeding $30 billion.

Cardiol recently commercialized Cortalex (cortalex.com) in the Canadian market. Cortalex is a pharmaceutically produced cannabidiol formulation, developed for patients who wish to avoid THC or for whom THC exposure is not recommended. For more information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.

For further information, please contact:

David Elsley, President & CEO +1-289-910-0850

david.elsley@cardiolrx.com

Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855

trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. ("Cardiol" or the "Company") believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could or might occur in the future are "forward- looking information". Forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, statements that our Phase II/III study is potentially a registrational trial and is expected to provide invaluable data with respect to the therapeutic potential of CardiolRx in the treatment of inflammatory heart disease, including heart failure, the Company's plans for a Phase II international trial of CardiolRx in acute myocarditis and to develop a subcutaneous formulation of CardiolRx and other anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of chronic heart failure. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2020, including the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies, and uncertainties in predicting treatment outcomes. These risks, uncertainties and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Cardiol believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks, and uncertainties and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. It is important that each person reviewing this news release understands the significant risks attendant to the operations of Cardiol.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72477
Leave it to Intelligentsia, the coffee company that travels the world sourcing its beans to make a perfect cup, to focus the same attention on its hot chocolate. Askinosie, a bean-to-bar chocolate-maker in Springfield, Missouri, gets the nod for the base. The dark chocolate bars are melted and combined with cream to make a ganache, which creates an intense near-black pool in the bottom of the cup as the barista preps your drink. Rich, creamy and not too sweet, the finished drink warms the heart even more than the cute foam art on top. $4. Multiple locations, intelligentsiacoffee.com
Two weeks to the day after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress and the Electoral College from doing their duty, the Trump era came to a close when Joseph R. Biden Jr. took the oath of office as the 46th U.S. president. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal, the new president said. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.

The message was great. All the pundits said so. But other than the media, assorted members of government and Lady Gaga, who belted out the National Anthem into a golden microphone and wore a giant broach that looked like something out of The Hunger Games, no one listened.

At least, no one listened in person. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were inaugurated in a ghost town, a capital city occupied by more combat-ready American soldiers than are now deployed in either Afghanistan or Iraq. It was as different as it could be from the inauguration four years ago when the chaos candidate became president.

The Secret Service, the agency credited (or blamed) for the armored cars, steel fences, concrete barriers, and legions of National Guardsmen in the streets of Washington, D.C., ruined the plans of any tourist unfortunate enough to travel here this week. Most everything was closed ahead of Wednesday. They shut down the National Mall, set up check points with roadblocks and razor wire across downtown, and established a security perimeter akin to the Green Zone in Baghdad. (House Speaker Pelosi reportedly wanted crew-operated machine guns deployed onsite, a request denied by the Department of Homeland Security on grounds that heavy weapons were not appropriate for civilian occasions.) Soldiers in full kit cradled M4 carbines, and shop owners who forgot to cover their windows during the unrest last summer prepared for the worst by putting up plywood boards.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, who oversaw much of these preparations, had asked her citys residents to stay home. Enjoy it virtually, she pled. We know this is the right request for our public safety and our public health. And they listened. While revelers passed around bottles of Veuve Clicquot just blocks from the White House when the Associated Press finally called the race for Biden, inauguration celebrations were socially distanced. A disappointed vendor hawking Biden and Harris merchandise at Black Lives Matter plaza summed up the day with one word: Thin.

What crowd there was consisted mostly of photographers and foreign press milling about, waiting their turn to interview the handful of Biden supporters present. A loudspeaker blared the presidents speech at an unnecessary volume considering that the empty downtown streets were uncharacteristically quiet. Here and there, however, tiny contingents of ordinary Americans tried their best to witness an extraordinary event.

My parents called, Olivia Wisont told me after the speech. They expressed their strong preference that I dont come out and stay on campus. But the freshman at George Washington University had cast the first vote of her life for the Biden-Harris ticket back home in Seattle, as did her two friends from New York. The lonely trio explained that Inauguration Day was too important to miss. A little girl in a pink sweatshirt agreed. She held up a tiny blue Post-it note that read Go Joe!

Beyond another checkpoint, manned by TSA agents too bored to bother patting me down, another group of students said the same. They took the subway from American University to try and get as close as they could to the White House. What are their hopes for the incoming administration? Amanda Jordan said she would like the government to focus on climate change. Lucy Matthews wanted more vaccines. Their parents also preferred they watch the inauguration from the dorm rooms. But its completely safe, Matthews insisted. Theres National Guard everywhere, and nothing is happening.

And those soldiers were everywhere. They had been objects of affection earlier in the week as members of Congress and local businesses showed their gratitude for the protection by bringing them doughnuts and coffee in the morning and burgers and pizza at dinnertime (one pizzeria donated over 1,500 pies). But come Inauguration Day, the guardsmen just didnt have much to do. Four years ago, it was different. They could have helped then. They might have kept me out of the hospital.

Demonstrators were out in force at Donald Trumps inauguration. Most of them protested the 45th president peacefully by carrying signs, singing songs, and chanting slogans such as Love trumps hate! Others, though, chucked rocks at cops. Masks were unnecessary then, unless you didnt want to be identified, and there wasnt really a word for the hooligans dressed head-to-toe in black who formed their own line to push back riot police trying to clear them out of McPherson Square. My editors at the time suggested a quick article on the scuffle, and I hustled toward the sound of flashbang grenades. I stopped long enough to watch a protester dousing his own face with milk.

Proteins in dairy can dissolve hydrocarbons like those found in pepper spray, I learned later. The protester emptied an entire gallon on his eyes. This didnt strike me in the moment as ominous, only odd -- just like the man who brought llamas into the city, or the Code Pink protesters who fell to their knees screaming at 12 p.m. (the constitutionally prescribed moment when Trump turned from B-list celebrity to leader of the free world). But when words and screams failed them, many demonstrators turned into rioters. My introduction to mob politics came as the rabble took out their anger on the windowpanes of coffee shops and banks and restaurants. Suddenly enemies of public transportation, they inexplicably trashed a bus stop. It was thrilling nonsense, like the man who scooped up a tear gas canister, hurled it back at the police, then scurried up a tree for protection. Wouldnt that make an interesting picture? I ran over to snap a photo, confident that the press credentials swinging around my neck would keep me out of any trouble.

Photography, it turns out, was discouraged. A vigilante dressed in black informed me of this by yanking my phone from my hands and shattering it on the ground. Next, something blunt hit my head. A few moments later, I woke up in the road. I walked back to the newsroom nauseous with ringing ears. Protesters would torch a limousine that night and defend barricades made from pushed-together trashcans and flaming newspaper boxes. I filed my story and then went to the hospital emergency room.

Nothing like that happened this time, and McKenzie Levie was disappointed. No extremists came to town, he told me while standing in the street outside the FBI building downtown dressed in full chainmail. I just look like one. A self-appointed protector of the peace nicknamed the Alt-Knight, Levie usually mixes it up with antifa types at protests. He travelled from Cleveland to do so this time. Because none showed, his crusade ended early. So did my day. There were a few other characters, like the street preachers in search of a congregation, but little to note.

The crowds, or lack thereof, didnt register at the White House during Jen Psakis first briefing as Joe Bidens presidential press secretary. Sean Spicer entered that role four years ago, earning lasting scorn among the press corps by claiming erroneously that Trump had the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe. Psaki, for her part, said she welcomed disagreements but told reporters they shared a common goal of sharing accurate information with the American people. She took multiple questions (none about crowd size). She promised not to lie. She also promised to hold daily briefings, closing out the briefing telling the reporters, Let's do this again tomorrow.

Presidents normally close out the day with a series of inaugural balls where lobbyists do their best to cozy up to the new administration, and journalists angle for scoops from sauced staffers. The pandemic and the security lockdown ended that tradition, as least this time. Biden settled instead for a dazzling fireworks show that punctuated a star-studded television special broadcast from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Tom Hanks hosted. Bruce Springsteen kicked off the event singing Land of Hopes and Dreams.

Biden gave brief remarks there on the steps, a CliffsNotes version of his earlier address, shortened for prime time. Thank you for this honor, he concluded. I will give my all to you. After John Legend and Katy Perry ended the production with separate numbers came the fireworks, big explosions of red, white, and blue whose echoes reverberated through an empty capital city and into the Virginia and Maryland suburbs, marking the end of an otherwise unusually quiet Inauguration Day.
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Massachusetts Senate overruled Governor Charlie Baker's veto of ROE Act which allows minors to have an abortion even without parental consent, a report said.

According to CBS Boston, the senate has expanded access for girls aged 16 and 17 to abortion by vetoing the bill on it a day after the Massachusetts House of Representatives did. The bill also grants abortion after 24 weeks into pregnancy.

NPR explained that the ROE Act only allows abortion for 24 weeks of pregnancy when a deadly fetal anomaly is in place or in instances prescribed by a physician as a necessary procedure to "preserve the patient's physical or mental health".

Baker, as per NPR, actually vetoed the bill last December only on the account of its access for minors. He actually is in full support of granting abortions to those 24 weeks in pregnancy "if the fetus would not survive after birth" and of supporting access to reproductive health care.

"I cannot support the sections of this proposal that expand the availability of later term abortions and permit minors age 16 and 17 to get an abortion without the consent of a parent or guardian," Baker wrote.

WBUR added that Baker, through a letter addressed to legislators, expressed support in eliminating the waiting period of 24 hours before an abortion along with the changes to the judicial bypass process for abortions to be made accessible to minors without their parents' consent.

"The House voted 107-50 on Tuesday to re-enact the abortion bill (H 5179), giving leadership in that branch a slim cushion of two votes to reach the two-thirds majority needed to override Baker. In the Senate, the margin was a more comfortable 32-8 to reject Baker's amendment," WBUR said.

NPR revealed that the ROE Act Coalition organized efforts across the state to pass the bill into law. The Coalition released a statement in celebration of the bill's passing into law.

"With the ROE Act provisions now law, most young adults seeking abortion will be able to access the care and support they need without navigating the court system," the statement read, "and pregnant people facing a fatal fetal diagnosis later in pregnancy will be able to access abortion care here in Massachusetts, with a provider they know and trust, rather than traveling across the country for care."

As per WBUR, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts is one of the members of the coalition that pushed for the bill's approval into law. Baker's veto of the law last December, according to the coalition, was "'callous and dangerous' to the health and well-being of women in Massachusetts."

"With this veto, the Governor has made plain that he has no problem imposing medically unnecessary barriers that delay and deny care, and forcing families to fly across the country to get compassionate care," the coalition stated. "Our abortion laws are broken, and with two recent actions against equitable abortion access, Governor Baker is upholding our broken system."

Movements in politics and government leadership such as the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett by President Donald Trump as reasons behind abortion in the state warming up since this threatened pro-abortion groups in the area.
RIYADH  Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with the Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Saudi-Afghan Joint Cooperation Commission, Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, to discuss trade, investment, labor and development cooperation between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Atmar, while appreciating Saudi Arabia's generous assistance to Afghanistan in various fields, noted that Afghanistan is interested in Saudi-Afghan cooperation to be organized and managed within four strategic areas of (1) trade and transit, (2) investment, (3) facilitation and deployment of workers and (4) development assistance.

The Saudi Minister of Transport welcomed the concept and agreed to have it developed and discussed in the next joint meeting to be held in Kabul.

The two sides discussed in detail the implementation of the decisions of the first meeting of the Joint Commission and followed up on the actions needed to complete the pending actions.

The Saudi side also pledged to build a specialist hospital including a medical school in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Minister invited Engineer Al-Jasser to visit Kabul for the second meeting of the Joint Commission of Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia, which the Saudi side welcomed.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Sheriffs Office Probes Claims an Employee Participated in Capitol Riot

The Orange County Sheriffs Department (OCSD) is investigating one of its own after receiving a tip an employee was at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.

Sgt. Dennis Breckner told The Epoch Times the department launched the probe after someone turned over photos of an OCSD staffer at the rally.

A member of the public informed OCSD about pictures they saw on social media, Breckner told The Epoch Times via email.

No pressure has been put on the OCSD. We are looking into the matter because as an employer, we want to know if any wrongdoing took place.

Breckner confirmed that the employee was not a deputy sheriff, and was off duty at the time of the rally.

The rally consisted of thousands of people protesting outside the Capitol as, inside, congress counted Electoral College votes from the November general election. The event turned violent when some protestors stormed the building, ultimately leading to five deaths.

The OCSD has not publicly identified the employee in question, but The Epoch Times obtained photos of an OCSD special officer attending the Capitol with friends. An image posted to her own Twitter account shows a crowd marching toward the Capitol.

Social media screenshots also show the woman posting about recent trips to Arizona and Washington D.C. that took place last November, where she attended other Stop the Steal rallies, as well as a curfew breaker rally in Huntington Beach.

Records from Transparent California also confirm she is a special officer for the department.

It was not clear whether the employee entered the Capitol or participated in any wrongdoing.

Breckner said they are investigating, because it was reported that the employee was in the DC area during the time of the unrest and we are looking into it to determine if the OCSD employee was involved in anything illegal.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : The update in Co-WIN application has led a huge impact on the immunisation figures in the fourth session of Covid vaccination drive conducted in the national capital on Thursday. Many government hospitals which were struggling to achieve even 30 per cent of their target, have crossed the halfway mark now.

The Delhi government's Lok Nayak Hospital achieved 100 per cent of their inoculation target before the end of Thursday's session. "The 100th dose was administered around 3.15 p.m.," said Dr Anil Gupta, vaccination coordinator at the hospital.

The hospital had vaccinated 35 people on Tuesday.

One adverse event following immunisation was reported in Lok Nayak where a healthcare worker suffered shivering and was admitted to a general ward. "His condition is stable. We are just keeping him under observation. He will be discharged soon," Gupta said.

The Delhi State Cancer Institute (DSCI) vaccinated 50 people.

Dr Pragya Shukla, its nodal officer for Covid vaccination, said that the hospital has touched this figure (50) for the first time since the vaccination drive started. "I hope that we will be able to vaccinate at full capacity in the coming days," she added.

The hospital had immunised 21 beneficiaries in the last session of Covid vaccination.

Meanwhile, many private hospitals, who were already performing better than the government ones, also achieved full targets.

HMCT Manipal Hospital stood out as it inoculated 7 per cent more than the target. "A few people from CGHS dispensaries who were not included in our list came for inoculation. We did not refuse but extended our services to them," a hospital spokesperson said.

It had inoculated 66 people in the last session that happened on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Union Health Ministry had updated the Co-WIN application with an addition of "allot beneficiary" feature in it which now allows the vaccination sites to manually add the beneficiaries expected to undergo the inoculation exercise, who earlier, were randomly picked by the application itself.

The Centre-run Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hopital was able to achieve only 35 vaccinations on Thursday. However, 30 of them were done through walk-ins.

The reason for the low turnout was that around 70 per cent of the names in the list generated by Co-WIN included those who could not undergo immunisation in the last three sessions, Dr Neelam Roy, Head of Department, Community Medicine and nodal officer for Covid immunisation at the hospital, told IANS.

"The Co-WIN app generates a list of 100 beneficiaries a day prior to the immunisation session. Around 70 per cent of the names in the list already had some health conditions which did not allow them to be vaccinated. Only 5 people from the remaining chunk turned up. However, we managed 30 walk-in inoculations which is a satisfactory indication. In the coming days, our performance will improve sharply," she added.
In addition, the Metro East region outside St. Louis was expected to have restrictions scaled back Friday if its state-set COVID-19 bench marks continue to improve. It would become the last of the states 11 regions to emerge this month from tighter restrictions that were in place across the state starting in November amid an aggressive fall resurgence of the virus.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - (TSXV: NNO) (OTC PINK: NNOMF) (FSE: LBMB).

Highlights

Nano One is part of AUI's successful bid to Chilean Clean Technology Institute.

Proposal to make nickel-rich (low-cobalt) cathode direct from Chilean lithium carbonate.

Nano One process avoids costly conversion to lithium hydroxide.

No need for costly hydroxide facility nor related consumption of water and energy.

Lithium carbonate is easier-to-handle and less costly than lithium hydroxide.

Nano One CEO Mr. Dan Blondal is pleased to announce that Nano One submitted a non-binding proposal and letter of intent in March of 2020 to the Chilean Clean Technology Institute, Instituto Chileno de Tecnologias Limpias (ICTL), as part of a joint project proposal with Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI). AUI was announced as the winning bid by the Corporacion de Fomento de la Produccion de Chile (CORFO) Council on January 4 2021 to build, manage and operate the Institute.

"Chile is one of the largest lithium producers in the world by making lithium carbonate from brine resources in the Atacama desert," explained Mr. Blondal. "We have proposed to ICTL a demonstration of Nano One's patented One Pot process using lithium carbonate directly for the production of nickel-rich cathode materials. Our innovation avoids the need for lithium hydroxide, the costs of the required conversion plants and the associated consumption of water and energy. Furthermore, lithium carbonate eliminates issues related to shelf-life and corrosion making it easier-to-handle and less costly. These advantages could disrupt the supply chain and lead to increased demand for lithium carbonate and are at the core of the proposal we have made to the Chilean Clean Technology Institute."

Nano One's technology offers the flexibility to use either lithium carbonate or hydroxide. This is enabled by mixing lithium with all other metal inputs in Nano One's patented One Pot reaction to produce a fully-lithiated mixed-metal intermediate powder that is neither carbonate nor hydroxide, allowing it to form finished cathode powder when thermally processed in a furnace. In contrast to this, conventional methods form mixed-metal intermediate powders that must then be milled and thermally processed with lithium hydroxide powders because the required furnace temperatures are not compatible with lithium carbonate.

Mr. Blondal added, "We look forward to exploring this opportunity further to showcase our technology with the Chilean Clean Technology Institute and we would like to congratulate AUI for their successful bid."

AUI CEO Dr. Adam Cohen explained, "We are excited to work with Nano One as we prepare to create, manage, and operate the ICTL, including a new battery testing and manufacturing facility in the Antofagasta region."

Dan Blondal

For information with respect to Nano One or the contents of this news release, please contact John Lando (President) at (604) 420-2041 or visit the website at www.nanoone.ca.

About Nano One

Nano One Materials Corp has developed patented technology for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium ion battery cathode materials used in electric vehicles, energy storage and consumer electronics. The processing technology enables lower cost feedstocks, simplifies production, and advances performance for a wide range of cathode materials. Nano One has built a demonstration pilot plant and is partnered with global leaders in the lithium ion battery supply chain to advance its lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNM) cathode technologies for large growth opportunities in e-mobility and renewable energy storage applications.

Nano One's pilot and partnership activities are being funded with the assistance and support of the Government of Canada through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program (ASIP) a program of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), and the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. Nano One's mission is to establish its patented technology as a leading platform for the global production of a new generation of battery materials. www.nanoone.ca

About AUI (Associated Universities, Inc.)

At AUI, we make scientific breakthroughs possible. AUI was created in the public interest as an independent, non-profit, non-member organization to establish and manage one of the first Federally Funded Research and Development Centers. We pioneered the open access user facility model allowing the research community to tackle scientific projects at a scale that no single institution could afford individually. User facilities are the backbone of today's lab system, providing access to cutting edge facilities to enable new technologies that push the boundaries of science. We continue to be the trusted manager of the US radio astronomy assets for over 70 years and we are pursuing design work for the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA). Through our incubator initiatives we continually expand our focus to address grand challenges including cybersecurity, elearning, and social science initiatives. AUI is committed to realizing the broadest public benefits that flow from vigorous scientific research. As part of this commitment, AUI supports effective programs of education and public outreach, and seeks to help build a scientific enterprise that is broadly diverse and representative of our society. www.aui.edu

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, any statements regarding its financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, budgets, operations, financial results, plans, objectives and other information that is not historical fact. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form which is available on www.sedar.com for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. We caution that the list of risk factors and uncertainties is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect our results. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72491

Queen Letizia met with some members of the Board of Trustees and the management team of the Telefonica Foundation at the headquarters of Telefonica Foundation to hold a working meeting with the aim of deepening the strategic lines of her action plan in Spain for 2021. The Foundation has been working for more than 20 years to be a catalyst for social inclusion in the digital age and to contribute to creating a more just and supportive world.

The Foundation works successfully on the transformation of society and social development by promoting new technologies and projects that are applied to knowledge, culture and solidarity. The Foundation also aims to contribute to creating more opportunities for all people in Europe and Latin America.

Hugo Boss Black Capina Cape
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  The Department of Health has recommended to update the country's testing protocols to ensure the detection of coronavirus infections.

Health Department spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday said they proposed for inbound passengers regardless of country of origin to be tested upon arrival then undergo another swab test five days into their quarantine to ensure they are negative for COVID-19 before they are cleared to go home.

"Our agreement with the technical working group of IATF, we will be revising our protocol where we will be testing when they get to their place of destination, especially for international travelers. And they get to be tested again after five days," she told CNN Philippines.

COVID-19's incubation period is five to 14 days. This means coronavirus symptoms could appear within five days to two weeks after a person has been exposed to the virus.

Current testing protocols require passengers to undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival at the airport. They will be housed in a government-accredited hotel or facility while awaiting results. If negative, they are allowed to go home, but they should ideally complete their 14-day quarantine.

Vergeire said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will discuss the proposal today. When asked about the funding for the repeat RT-PCR tests, she replied, "Hopefully we will have the resources for this."

Three co-passengers and the girlfriend of the Filipino infected with the more transmissible COVID-19 variant tested negative upon arrival in Manila, but later showed positive swab test results.
A teenager is fighting for life after nearly drowning at a Sydney public pool in front of horrified families.

Emergency crews were called to the Prairiewood Leisure Centre in Fairfield, in the city's west, around 3.15pm to reports a 17-year-old boy was involved in a near drowning.

Lifesavers performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

He has been rushed to Liverpool hospital in a critical condition.

Emergency crews were called to the Prairiewood Leisure Centre in Fairfield (pictured), in the city's west, around 3.15pm to reports a 17-year-old boy was involved in a near drowning

NSW Ambulance Inspector Dylan Snape commended the lifesavers, police and bystanders who commenced CPR on the patient until paramedics arrived for their brave actions.

'Its so important to learn basic CPR skills and also to have a defibrillator close by, like this premises did,' Mr Snape said.

'With hot weather expected across the state from tomorrow, its vital we remain vigilant to the potential dangers around water.'

'It only takes a few seconds for anyone to get themselves into serious trouble.'

The incident comes a day after a 15-year-old boy drowned at Kentlyn Basin, near Campbelltown.

His body was found by police divers after a two-and-a-half hour search on Wednesday evening.

The boy had been jumping into the water with three other teens when he failed to resurface.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 09:18:02|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Wednesday said that 48 illegal migrants have been rescued off Libyan coast.

"IOM staff are at the Tripoli port to provide emergency assistance to 48 migrants returned to shore by the coast guard today," IOM Libya tweeted.

Among the migrants are 11 children and a woman, IOM said, stressing that Libya is not a safe port for disembarkation.

IOM revealed on Wednesday that some 40 illegal migrants drowned off Libyan coast, stressing the need to "re-activate State-led search and rescue operations."

Thousands of illegal immigrants choose to cross the Mediterranean from Libya towards Europe, as the North African country has been mired in insecurity and turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising killed the country's long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

In 2020, 323 migrants died and 417 others went missing on the Central Mediterranean route, while 11,891 illegal migrants were rescued and returned to Libya, according to IOM. Enditem
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Shanghai authorities began evacuating a residential neighbourhood near the historic Bund riverfront after Chinese officials discovered at least three new coronavirus cases on Thursday.

Officials did not say how many people were being moved out of the area in central Shanghai as they ramped up testing to stamp out the small outbreak, the latest example of China's tough response to small clusters.

Two of the people found with the virus work at hospitals and are neighbours, local health officials told a press conference. The third case was detected in one of their contacts.

An AFP reporter at the scene said that buses were on standby and being disinfected before whisking away people living in the neighbourhood to a hotel. Some roads were sealed off.

The coronavirus emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, unleashing a global pandemic which has killed more than two million people and shattered economies.

But with aggressive lockdowns, mass testing and travel restrictions, the country has broadly managed to bring the virus under control within its borders.

There has recently been a small uptick however in locally transmitted infections. About 1.6 million residents were banned from leaving Beijing on Wednesday after two cases linked to a new virus variant in Britain were found in the Chinese capital.

The virus has officially killed fewer than 5,000 people in China.

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

 2021 AFP
The Peoples Republic of Kampuchea, run by the Vietnamese-backed Kampuchean People's Revolutionary Party, was facing a multi-front attack on the fledgling nation-state in 1984. Three insurgent forces  a mixture of republicans, monarchists, and Maoists supported by both China and the United States  were putting up a formidable fight on the countrys western border. The then-Prime Minister Chan Sy died suddenly in December 1984, leaving the young government without a leader  the second change of leadership in its five-year-long term. Influential politburo member Say Phuthang wasted little time to put forth his name to a five-member team, of which he was a member, tasked with finding a new premier. After deliberations, the five senior party leaders instead picked their young foreign minister, Hun Sen, to lead the government. They were aware of my capabilities, which I had demonstrated as the foreign minister, Hun Sen told authors Harish C. Mehta and Julie Mehta in a 1998 interview. They [put] a lot of confidence in me [even though] at that time, among the members of the government and the party I was the youngest, said Hun Sen during the same interview, which was published in Strongman: The Extraordinary Life of Hun Sen." Last week, Hun Sen crossed 36 years as prime minister of Cambodia, making him one of the longest-serving elected officials in the world. During his time as prime minister, Hun Sen has overseen the entry of the U.N.-backed UNTAC, a bloody 1997 coup that saw him regain control as prime minister the following year, his much-touted peace and development agenda, a narrow victory at the 2013 general election, and, more recently, the countrys return to de facto one-party rule after the 2018 election. Since the 2018 election, there is increasing talk and speculation over Hun Sens succession plans. Analysts and Cambodia observers told VOA Khmer that Hun Sen would spend the next phase of his hold on power solidifying his legacy and setting up a transition to a new leader. Harish Mehta, co-author of Strongman: The Extraordinary Life of Hun Sen, said the Cambodian prime minister had not wavered from principles he had held since their first meeting at the National Assembly in 1991.

The prime minister had successfully created a part power-structure with him at the core, said Harish Mehta, ensuring that the functioning of the government and Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) was intrinsically linked to him. He stated [in 1998] that it would be very difficult for his opponents to remove him from power because he had built up such a network, Harish Mehta said of Hun Sen. The CPP remains disciplined, and they have accepted Hun Sens leadership. If Hun Sen had performed badly on the economy, the old guard may have called for his removal, but when the economy has done so well, why would they disturb him? Harish Mehta added. In 2017, Hun Sen made one of his most decisive steps to hold on to power, since the 1997 coup. In September of that year, Cambodia National Rescue Party President Kem Sokha was arrested and charged with treason, shortly after the opposition party had won one-third of all commune chief positions Two months later, the party was dissolved by the Supreme Court, headed by CPP permanent committee member Dith Munty, for allegedly fomenting a so-called color revolution, assisted by the United States. The following February, the CPP won all elected positions in the Senate, a feat that was repeated in July 2018, when the ruling party swept all 125 National Assembly seats. David P. Chandler, the author of A History of Cambodia, said there seemed to be no challenge to Hun Sens current hold on power  both domestic and international threats had been nullified. Chandler contends that Hun Sen, with full control of the country, would see no immediate reason to relinquish the prime ministers position. I know that I cant talk about the future, but if you feel good holding the power up to now, I dont see any good reasons to think he is weakening or people have been saying for years that hes about ready to be overthrown and so on, Chandler said. Its not going to happen.

Hun Sens crackdown against the political opposition has continued unabated. But, he has also ensured that civil society groups and independent media organizations  some set up under or just after UNTACs presence in the early 1990s  have been silenced or kept in check. This includes the shuttering of the Cambodia Daily in 2017 and the sale of the Phnom Penh Post to a friendly Malaysian businessman in 2018. Non-governmental organizations and workers' unions advocating for free expression, the right to the association, or highlighting environmental and land rights violations have been intimidated or harassed, with many activists languishing in prisons on politically-motivated charges. Analysts say these actions collectively have given the ruling party and Hun Sen the space to prepare a secure transition. [Hun Sen] has to be sure that his family is safe and prosperous. Nothing else that should concern him beyond the exit, said David Chandler. CPP members have fully embraced their control over all legislative positions on the national level, and are now espousing the need for the ruling party to continue its hold on power for decades. Cambodian Peoples Party Spokesperson Sok Eysan said the party needed a stable environment for a national and intraparty transition to take place. You cannot expect anything but extending solid control by the CPP, not only for the next 10 years but for the next 20 or 30 years, so that no one is capable of or able to jeopardize the national political peace, stability, and peoples harmony. Sok Eysan then equated the wellbeing of the nation with that of Hun Sens family and that the latter was equally needed to ensure national harmony. Amidst all the speculation over the CPPs future, Hun Sen has said he would step down in 2030, which would be midway to the 2033 national election. Media reports have pegged his eldest son, Lt. Gen. Hun Manet, who now serves as the countrys army chief, as the primary candidate to take over from his father.
Nothing to see here? Dale Moss fidelity (or infidelity) had nothing to do with his split from Clare Crawley, a source close to the model tells Us Weekly.

Read article

There is zero truth to any cheating rumors, the source claims. Dale was faithful the entire time he was dating Clare. He never cheated on her.

The former football player, 32, made headlines on Thursday, January 21, after E! News reported that he had been spotted enjoying a late-night candlelit dinner with a mystery woman at Cipriani Downtown in New York City in November 2020, soon after his proposal to the hairstylist, 39, aired on The Bachelorette.

It definitely looked like a date, an eyewitness told the outlet, alleging that Moss and the unidentified woman left holding hands. Dale looked really smiley and happy with her. They were laughing and flirting.

Gregory Pace/Shutterstock; ABC/Craig Sjodin

However, the source insists to Us that the woman is simply a longtime friend of the South Dakota native.

She is a real estate broker and [had] been helping him find a new apartment for him and Clare in NYC, the source adds.

Read article

Moss and Crawley met on season 16 of the ABC reality dating series and got engaged only two weeks into filming. After they left the show, Tayshia Adams replaced the California native as the Bachelorette and ultimately accepted a proposal from Zac Clark.

Moss and Crawleys fast-tracked relationship came to an end earlier this month after Us exclusively reported that they had been dealing with serious issues. He confirmed their split via Instagram on Tuesday, January 19.

I wanted [to] share with you all that Clare and I have decided to go our separate ways, the former wide receiver wrote in a statement on his Instagram Stories. We appreciate the love and support weve received from so many people, but this is the healthiest decision for both of us at this time. We strongly believe in leading with love and always remaining true to oneself  something our families have taught and instilled in us throughout our lives. We only hope the best things for one another.

Read article

The Bachelor Winter Games alum later claimed that she was made aware of a mutual statement at the same time you all were, writing via Instagram on Thursday, Speaking for myself, my intentions with this relationship have always been very clear, so the truth is I am crushed. This was not what I expected or hoped for and am still trying to process this.

A source exclusively told Us on Thursday that Moss broke up with Crawley last week after their San Diego trip and wanted to release his statement then, even though his ex-fiancee begged him to wait.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
New York, Jan 21 : The expected right extremist attacks on the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris did not materialise in the nation's capital Washington, but leftist groups rioted in Washington state on the west coast and elsewhere turning their ire now on the Democrats.

The protests happened after Biden said in his inaugural address, "We must end this uncivil war." Speaking at the Capitol, where a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump's supporters had stormed the building two weeks earlier, he said: "Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything its path." The protests signal the difficulties Biden will face from the left also as he tries to heal the polarisation.

His calls for national unity seemed to have angered some of the protesters and the Seattle Times newspaper quoted one of them as saying, "Calling for unity with people who actively want to harm people is disgusting." The Oregonian newspaper reported that in Portland they carried sign reading, "We don't want Biden, we want revenge!"

The violent protests, mainly focusing on immigration, came hours after Biden had issued orders undoing some of Trump's actions on immigration and said he was sending to Congress a bill that would legalise and give a pathway to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants, which was not enough for the protesters.

In Seattle in Washington state, protesters, demanding the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), burned an American flag outside its office, the Seattle Times newspaper reported.

They also attacked an Amazon store and a federal courthouse, the newspaper said on its website.

The newspaper said that those involved were "anti-fascist marchers who have demonstrated for months".

They chanted slogans against both Trump and Biden, it said.

KOMO TV reported that the demonstrators targeted people not in the protest and damaged several vehicles.

In neighobouring Oregon state also, protesters targeted the ICE office and began painting slogans on it and throwing things at the office and police, KPTV television reported.

Federal law enforcement, now under the Biden administration, used teargas and flash grenades to disperse the protesters, the TV said.

Portland protesters also attacked the state Democratic Party headquarters and damaged it while setting fires at several places elsewhere, KPTV reported quoting police.

The Oregonian said that they chanted slogan decrying both Biden and former President Trump.

Protesters from the left, anarchists and others known as Antifa -- short for antifascists -- have been holding violent protests in Portland, occupying parts of the city and keeping out law enforcement.

Trump blamed the Antifa, a loosely organised group made up mostly of White people, for many of the violent riots in the US over several months in conjunction with the Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality against African Americans and racism.

While condemning the violence, Biden had, however, said that the Antifa was not an organisation.

In his inaugural address he referred specifically to "White Supremacists" but not to other groups while calling for confronting and defeating extremism.

The national capital Washington was turned into a virtual armed camp by about 25,000 National Guard troops deployed to protect the inauguration. But the right-wing protests and attacks did not materialise.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
ROME, JAN 21 - Lorenzo Cesa said Thursday that he had resigned as the leader of the centrist, opposition UDC party after being notified by criminal prosecutors that he was under investigation. La Repubblica's website reported that Cesa's Rome home had been searched as part of a big nationwide operation called 'low profile' targetting the 'Ndrangheta mafia. Cesa denies any wrongdoing. "I have received notification that I am under investigation for events dating back to 2017," Cesa said. "I consider myself to be totally innocent and I will ask, via my lawyers, to speak to the competent prosecutors as soon as possible. "As always, I have full and total faith in the judiciary. "And given the particular period the country is going through, I resign as national secretary (of the UDC) with immediate effect". The region of Calabria's budget chief, UDC member Franco Talarico, was put under house arrest as part of the 'low profile' op, sources said. The Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta is now widely considered to be Italy's most powerful mafia. The operation, coordinated by Catanzaro prosecutors, saw 13 people arrested and taken to jail while another 35 were put under house arrest, sources said. It involved around 200 State, Carabinieri and finance police and members of the DIA anti-mafia department, with the support of four dog units and a helicopter. Many of the suspects are seemingly respectable white-collar workers based in the province of Catanzaro, the sources said. These included public officials who were allegedly in cahoots with the mob and some important business people. (ANSA).
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Thursday congratulated Joe Biden on his inauguration as U.S. president and expressed hope the Japan-U.S. alliance will strengthen further.

"Japan and the United States are allies tied firmly by bonds and shared universal values," Suga said in a tweet. "I look forward to working with you and your team to reinforce our alliance and to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific." - Kyodo

Panel approves extension of coronavirus emergency

NHK - May 28

An advisory panel to the Japanese government has approved an extension of emergency coronavirus measures for Tokyo and eight other prefectures. An advisory panel to the Japanese government has approved an extension of emergency coronavirus measures for Tokyo and eight other prefectures.

No longer top dog, Japan languishes at fifth place in foreign aid

Nikkei - May 27

Japan doled out more foreign aid than other countries in the 1990s but now ranks only fifth, partly on the ending of assistance to China. Japan doled out more foreign aid than other countries in the 1990s but now ranks only fifth, partly on the ending of assistance to China.

Japanese government offices hacked

NHK - May 27

Hackers have accessed information-sharing software developed by Japan's Fujitsu, resulting in data leaks from Japanese government offices. Hackers have accessed information-sharing software developed by Japan's Fujitsu, resulting in data leaks from Japanese government offices.

Gov't considers new cash handout for needy households

Japan Today - May 26

Japan's government is considering another cash handout program of up to 100,000 yen each for needy households to help ease the financial strain of the prolonged coronavirus pandemic, sources close to the matter said Tuesday. Japan's government is considering another cash handout program of up to 100,000 yen each for needy households to help ease the financial strain of the prolonged coronavirus pandemic, sources close to the matter said Tuesday.

Ex-town councillor found strangled in Kumamoto

tokyoreporter.com - May 25

KUMAMOTO (TR)  Kumamoto Prefectural Police have launched a murder investigation after a former town councillor was found dead in Kumamoto City, reports TBS News. KUMAMOTO (TR)  Kumamoto Prefectural Police have launched a murder investigation after a former town councillor was found dead in Kumamoto City, reports TBS News.

LDP OKs bill promoting greater awareness of LGBT in Japan

Kyodo - May 25

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved Monday a cross-party bill to promote greater awareness among the public of sexual minorities in Japan. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party approved Monday a cross-party bill to promote greater awareness among the public of sexual minorities in Japan.

Japan administers 1st Moderna vaccine shots to SDF members

Japan Today - May 24

The Defense Ministry said Sunday it administered Moderna Inc.'s coronavirus vaccine among Self-Defense Forces members, the first confirmed use of the vaccine in Japan. The Defense Ministry said Sunday it administered Moderna Inc.'s coronavirus vaccine among Self-Defense Forces members, the first confirmed use of the vaccine in Japan.

Japan may consider halting economic aid to Myanmar

NHK - May 22

Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has indicated that his ministry may consider halting the country's current economic assistance to Myanmar, whose military has been oppressing protesters. Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu has indicated that his ministry may consider halting the country's current economic assistance to Myanmar, whose military has been oppressing protesters.

Japan adds Okinawa to state of emergency

NHK - May 22

Japan's Prime Minister has confirmed the southern prefecture of Okinawa will be added to the coronavirus state of emergency. Japan's Prime Minister has confirmed the southern prefecture of Okinawa will be added to the coronavirus state of emergency.

French president to attend Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony

Japan Today - May 22

French President Emmanuel Macron plans to attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, France's sports minister said on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron plans to attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, France's sports minister said on Friday.

Japan health panel approves Moderna, AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines

Reuters - May 21

Japanese regulators recommended the approval of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca PLC on Thursday, paving the way for the country to speed up its slow-moving vaccination campaign. Japanese regulators recommended the approval of COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca PLC on Thursday, paving the way for the country to speed up its slow-moving vaccination campaign.

Japan ready to freeze all Myanmar development aid: Motegi

Nikkei - May 21

TOKYO -- Japan will consider cutting off all official development assistance to Myanmar, even for ongoing projects, if the situation there does not improve, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told Nikkei. TOKYO -- Japan will consider cutting off all official development assistance to Myanmar, even for ongoing projects, if the situation there does not improve, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told Nikkei.

Japanese who received Biden checks should return them, says IRS

Nikkei - May 20

U.S. President Joe Biden's COVID relief checks sent to ineligible Japanese by mistake are causing much confusion, with banks in Japan flooded with inquiries and the Internal Revenue Service asking for the return of the payments. U.S. President Joe Biden's COVID relief checks sent to ineligible Japanese by mistake are causing much confusion, with banks in Japan flooded with inquiries and the Internal Revenue Service asking for the return of the payments.

Japan to scrap 1% GDP cap on defense spending: Minister Kishi

Nikkei - May 20

TOKYO -- Japan plans to boost defense spending without worrying about sticking to its long-standing limit of 1% of gross domestic product, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told Nikkei on Wednesday. TOKYO -- Japan plans to boost defense spending without worrying about sticking to its long-standing limit of 1% of gross domestic product, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told Nikkei on Wednesday.

Suga: Tokyo Games can be held safely

NHK - May 19

Japan's prime minister says he believes that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics can be held in a safe manner by implementing thorough anti-virus measures. Japan's prime minister says he believes that the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics can be held in a safe manner by implementing thorough anti-virus measures.
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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FRAND Forever? Or Are Other Business Models Possible?

In the context of the development of new technology standards, Intellectual Property Rights (IP Rights) are the engine that ensure and sustain technology innovation. The FrameWork License approach intends to move past FRAND assurances which havent reduce

Luxembourg( )

What is the FrameWork License (FWL)

In the context of the development of new technology standards, Intellectual Property Rights (IP Rights) are the engine that ensure and sustain technology innovation. FWL intends to move past FRAND assurances which havent reduced friction between innovators and implementers.

In fact, the question of the implementation of FRAND assurances has created a diversity of interpretations, including different decisions taken by the courts. So much so that the recent judgment of the UK Supreme Court affirms a comprehensive principle of the meaning of FRAND: "This is a single, composite obligation, not three distinct obligations that the license terms should be fair, and separately, reasonable, and separately, non-discriminatory".

So, the FRAND assurance, made during the standardization process of a new technology, has become a "headache" not only for the courts, but also for those who have to operate on the basis of what happened during the standardization process.

For this reason, Leonardo Chiariglione, who was for 32 years the convenor of the MPEG standardization group, has founded a new international and unaffiliated standards association called MPAI (Moving Picture, audio and data coding by Artificial Intelligence) which has adopted a new management model of the IP Rights associated with the works done within a standardization body. This new industrial property management model is called FrameWork License (FWL). This model intends to overcome all the uncertainties generated by the FRAND declaration, because guidelines on how the future licenses relating to the Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) should be applied are already established at the outset of the standardization work.

With these more precise guidelines already decided in the course of the standardization process, MPAI plans to help both the holders of SEPs and the implementers of the new standardized technologies to find an agreement for the use of SEPs, avoiding the frictions that we have sometimes seen.

As a consequence of the standardization works, a Call for Technologies supporting the MPAI AI Framework (AIF) standard was recently issued, along with AIF Framework License for its potentially essential IPRs.

The technical goal of MPAI-AIF is to enable the set up and the execution of mixed processing and inference workflows made of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and legacy Data Processing components called AI Modules (AIM).

The MPAI AI Framework standard will facilitate integration of AI and legacy data processing components through standard interfaces and methods. MPAI experts have already validated MPAIs innovative approach in a sample micro controller-based implementation that is synergistic with MPAI-AIF standard development.

The Framework License.

Access to the standard will be granted in a non-discriminatory fashion in compliance with the generally accepted principles of competition law and agreed upon before a standard is developed.

MPAI has replaced FRAND assurances with FWLs defined as the set of voluntary terms to use in a license, without monetary values. FWLs are developed by a committee (the IPR Support Advisory Committee) of MPAI members who are experts in the field of IP.

Practically, the FWL is the business model to remunerate IPRs in the standard that does not bear values: no $, no %, no dates etc. At most, the FWL could provide that in individual cases there is a CAP for the royalties to be paid, or an initial grace period where no royalties are paid to foster the adoption of the technology by the market and so on. Furthermore, the FWL states that the total cost of the licenses issued by IPR holders will be in line with the total cost of the licenses for similar standardized technologies and will take into account the value on the market of the specific standardized technology.

Only when the future standards developed by MPAI will be adopted by the marked and the FWLs will operate as guidelines for licensing the technologies compliant with the standard, it will be possible to really understand if the FWL is useful to help close the gap between the licensors and implementers. At that point, we might simply put the current FRAND declaration concept in the attic.

The full text of the FWL associated with the MPAI-AIF standard can be found on at this link.

The guidelines for the subsequent licenses to the AIF-FWL are listed in the following:

Conditions of use of the License
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The company that manufactured famous scooters like Lambretta and Vijai Super will be shut down after the Cabinet gave its nod to a proposal to close the loss-making state-owned firm, sources said.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is believed to have given consent to shutting down of Lucknow-based Scooters India Ltd at its meeting on Wednesday, they said.

The Scooters India brand name shall be sold separately as the company holds famous brands such as Lambretta, Vijai Super, Vikram and Lambro, shared an official. The company produces several types of three-wheelers under the Vikram brand.

The government's go-ahead to the closure proposal paves the way for the Heavy Industry Ministry to begin the process of winding up of the firm.

As per the proposed plan presented to the Cabinet, Rs 65.12 crore required for closure of Scooters India Limited is being sought as loan with interest from the Government of India, sources said.

The proposal also entails offering voluntary retirement scheme/voluntary separation scheme (VRS/VSS) to the regular employees rendered as surplus, once sufficient funds are available. The Lucknow-headquartered firm has around 100 employees.

The employees not opting for VRS/VSS will be retrenched as per the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, said the official who did not wish to be identified.

Moreover, 147.49 acres of the company's land shall be returned to the Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority at mutually agreed upon rates.

However, this process is expected to take time.

The process of winding up of the company also involves delisting of its shares from the stock exchange under the Companies Act.

The Centre has made several efforts in the past to find buyers for Scooters India and nurse the ailing firm back to health, but they have not yielded results.

In 2018, the government had invited expression of interest (EoI) to sell its entire stake with transfer of management control in loss-making Scooters India.

Scooters India was incorporated in 1972. It was engaged in designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing a broad spectrum of conventional and non-conventional fuel driven three-wheelers.

In 1975, the company started commercial production of scooters under the Vijai Super brand for the domestic market and Lambretta for the overseas market. Later it also introduced three wheelers under the brand name of VIKRAM/LAMBRO.

In 1975, it started commercial production of scooters under the brand name of Vijay Super for domestic market and Lambretta for overseas market.

However, in 1997, the company strategically discontinued its two-wheeler production and concentrated only on manufacturing and marketing of three-wheelers.
Geojit's report on Agri Picks

India is likely to produce around 10 mln tn of mustard in 2020-21 (Jul-Jun), up 35% from a year ago due to higher acreage and favourable weather conditions, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India. The International Grains Council has scaled down its estimate for global maize production in 2020-21 to 1,133 mln tn from the 1,146 mln tn projected in November. The Centre has allowed sugar mills to exchange their Maximum Admissible Export Quantity with the quantity of monthly release quota with mills, which are willing to take the additional quantity for exports, the food ministry said in a notification. There are about 95% chances of La Nina conditions prevailing in the central Pacific Ocean region till March, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society of the Columbia University said in its January report. In a major breakthrough in the deadlock with farmers, the Centre today said it is ready to defer the implementation of three recent agriculture laws for oneand-a-half years. The government will wait for the Supreme Court-appointed panel to arrive at a solution to the crisis sparked by the recently-enacted laws.

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Angola, IN (46703)

Today

Cloudy. Periods of rain this morning. High near 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.


Throughout the month of January, leading Austin law firm The Kelly Legal Group, PLLC is offering free foreclosure defense consultations to help local homeowners understand their rights.

Many hardworking Texans are struggling financially due to the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, with some facing the prospect of losing their homes to foreclosure. The foreclosure process can be difficult to navigate without legal assistance, but its common for homeowners to believe that they cant afford to hire an attorney.

During Kelly Legal Groups free foreclosure defense consultations, a real estate attorney who specializes in foreclosure defense will advise prospective clients of their legal options. There is no obligation to move forward with Kelly Legal Group for legal representation; homeowners can opt to have the attorney they consulted with represent them in their case, or they can simply leave with a better understanding of the foreclosure process.

A foreclosure defense attorney carefully examines a homeowners mortgage and foreclosure paperwork, as this may uncover careless, illegal, or unethical practices that can halt a foreclosure. If there are no irregularities found, an attorney can renegotiate with lenders on a homeowners behalf to help them stay in their home, with a mortgage payment that they can afford.

Kelly Legal Group works in all areas of Texas real estate law. In addition to foreclosure defense, their attorneys work on commercial and residential closings, loan modifications, refinancing, evictions, deed transfers, property taxes, and more.

About The Kelly Legal Group, PLLC

The Kelly Legal Group, PLLC is a boutique real estate and corporate law firm located in Austin, Texas. Founded by attorney Jeffrey S. Kelly, KLG strives to provide its clients with competent legal advice, first-class service, and rapid matter resolution. Over the years, KLG has expanded its practice areas beyond business and real estate to include wills & estates, personal injury, aviation, and criminal law.

To learn more, visit https://www.kellylegalgroup.com, call 512-505-0053 to schedule a free consultation, or stop by The Kelly Legal Group, PLLC office at 4934 West US Highway 290 Sunset Valley, Austin, TX 78735.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
New Delhi: After sending shipments of vaccines to fight covid-19 to Indias immediate neighbours, New Delhi will begin commercial export of vaccines on Friday with the first two batches being despatched on a commercial basis going to Morocco and Brazil.

On Friday, Indian manufactured vaccines will be sent to two Indian Ocean island nations  Mauritius and Seychelles besides Myanmar. These as with other neighbours like Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka are under a grant or as gifts by from government of India.

Consignments for Brazil and Morocco will also be despatched on Friday, a person familiar with the matter said adding that the shipments would include two million doses of vaccines each to the two countries. The supplies to these two countries will be on a commercial basis, the person cited above said.

The flight for Brazil is expected to leave at 0415 hours on Friday morning while the second to Morocco is to leave at 8 am.

The person did not say whether these vaccines were the Pune based Serum Institute of India manufactured Covishield vaccine developed by Oxford and AstraZeneca or the indigenously developed Covaxin manufactured by Bharat Biotech.

Bharat Biotech has also signed an agreement with authorities in Phillipines for the necessary clearances, according to a Reuters report. This is a preliminary step ahead of starting commercial sales, a second person said.

Supplies to South Africa and Saudi Arabia too could be despatched soon, the second person said.

India began supplying vaccines to neighbouring countries on Wednesday with the despatch of vaccines to Bhutan and Maldives. The supplies to these two countries were on a grant basis or gifted by New Delhi. On Thursday, vaccines from New Delhi were sent to Nepal and Bangladesh.

The shipments to neighbouring countries cements Indias position as the first responder in times of crises as well as its primacy in South Asia. Shipments to countries beyond underlines Indias reputation as the pharmacy to the world."

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Ciara and Andrea McKevitt take to a Harley-Davidson in celebration of Joe Bidens inauguration

The Stars and Stripes were flying across Co Louth yesterday to mark the inauguration of 'Cousin Joe' as the 46th president of the United States.

"It's really huge for our family, we are so proud and have a real sense of pride that one of our own, whose ancestors hail from the Wee County, is in the biggest office in the world," said Andrea McKevitt, who is believed to be a distant cousin.

It was an all-American affair "with cheeseburgers, hot dogs and French fries on the menu and Bruce Springsteen and Garth Brooks on in the background".

Euphoria

With parents Veronica and Martin, and sister Ciara, Andrea watched the inauguration from her home on the Cooley Peninsula in north Co Louth.

"There is a euphoria in the air. We will be Zooming to the rest of the clan and bursting with pride watching Cousin Joe being sworn into office," said Andrea, a member of Louth County Council.

"He will be a president for all US citizens, not just those who voted for him, and I believe this is a welcome change on the world stage.

"Joe has a strong affinity to Ireland and I think that was clear in his commitment to our country through the Brexit talks and his dedication to the Good Friday Agreement."

The question on everyone's lips is when will he be back in Cooley?

"There is no word on a visit just yet, but we're hopeful 2021 will see the return of Cousin Joe to the peninsula," Andrea added.

"There is no doubt that we will all be ready and waiting for him whenever he wishes to make a return visit."

Meanwhile, Mr Biden has an open invitation to visit his ancestral home near Carlingford.

The building is very close to Lily Finnegan's pub, which Mr Biden visited twice - in 2016 as vice president and then during a private visit in 2017 with his brother and other members of his family.

Mr Biden's great-great grandfather is understood to be Owen Finnegan, who was baptised in the Cooley parish in 1814 and emigrated to the United States in 1849.

The single-storey stone building is owned by Robbie Coan and his wife Aoife Curran.

Robbie said he and Aoife bought the house in 1994, and one of the previous owners was a Finnegan.

Thrilled

"We both are thrilled that Biden is now the new president of the USA," he said.

"We would be delighted to welcome Joe and his family back to Whitestown and show him around the remains of his ancestral home."

Robbie said they had no idea that either the old farmhouse and barn - which were on the land with their bungalow - had any connection to Mr Biden when they bought it.

Speaking about the prospect of a visit from Mr Biden, Robbie added: "We would absolutely welcome him back with open arms."
Although Chris Wallace of Fox News declared that Biden's inaugural speech was "the best inaugural address I ever heard" in 60 years, I have to admit to being less charmed. His slurred delivery, banal repetition, and vicious edge just didn't work for me. What can I say? I wasn't his target audience.

First, lest you doubt me, Chris Wallace really did go all fan girl on Biden. Mind you, we all saw this coming when he moderated the first debate. Wallace doesn't like Trump, and, in the last year, he stopped trying to hide it:

Fox News' Chris Wallace: "Martha, I thought it was a great speech. I have been listening to these inaugural addresses since 1961. John F. Kennedy's 'ask not'. I thought this was the best inaugural address I ever heard." pic.twitter.com/LVnziRqqEY  Lis Power (@LisPower1) January 20, 2021

Second, let's talk about Biden's delivery. To give him credit, he remained upright and coherent for the entire 22-minute speech. I wasn't sure he could, so a big bravo! for that. Now, before I get to my next point, let me make it clear that I do not believe that Biden has Parkinson's disease, a tragic, progressive nerve disorder. I mention it only because one of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease is slurred, flattened speech.

Listen to Biden, just four years ago, explaining how he got Ukraine to back off investigating Burisma:

It's an older man's voice, but it's still got flexibility and inflection. And now listen to just a few minutes of his inaugural address. His only tool for inflection is volume:

Second, let's talk about content. It was an exceptionally banal speech. Just as Biden carefully avoided substance during the 2020 campaign, he avoided it as well during the speech. There were a lot of tested words ("repair," "restore," "heal," "unity," "unity," "unity") and somewhat meaningless greeting card phrases ("But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us."), but there wasn't a lot of meat on its bones.

Putting aside the trite and repetitive and focusing on substance, this is what was left:

"Democracy has prevailed."

He was standing "on this hallowed ground where just days ago violence sought to shake this Capitol's very foundation[.]" (I need to remind you here that, following January 7, the media hastened to describe all Trump-supporters as "white supremacists." Indeed, even before the election, that was the mantra.)

America's racial justice problems have been "some 400 years in the making." (Did I mention that the Biden administration's very first act was to shut down the 1776 Project?)

The planet has uttered "a cry for survival ... that can't be any more desperate or any more clear." He did not elaborate on the specifics.

There is "a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat." That's going to be some confrontation because, by the media's metrics, there are some 75 million white supremacists in America, many of whom are black, Hispanic, and Asian.

"We can deliver racial justice."

America, "once again," will be "the leading force for good in the world." You thought it was good only when Trump squashed ISIS, curtailed China's depredations; shored up our allies; and, at long last, seems to have brought peace to the Middle East.

"We can treat each other with dignity and respect." Indeed, the second half of his speech was a drivel of greeting card platitudes about unity, respect, civility, listening, etc. Having said that, if Biden is able to take those vapid expressions and make them real  if he is indeed able to lower the national temperature and allow us to return to a time of free and honest discourse without having one side dehumanize and threaten the other  he will go up in my estimation.

I have to admit, though, that it would be out of character for Biden, who has been distinguished for his nastiness since entering Congress almost 50 years ago, as well as being out of character for the people with whom he surrounds himself. And of course, it would be out of character for everything the Democrats have been saying and threatening for weeks.

Image: Biden's inaugural address. YouTube screen grab.


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The vice-principal of a community secondary school in Katsina State has been arrested for repeatedly raping his 12 years old student and impregnating her.

The police paraded the suspect alongside other suspected criminals in the state on Wednesday.

The suspect, Ibrahim Sale, 38, the vice principal of Community Day Secondary School, Kadandami in Rimi Local Government Area, told reporters how he committed the crime for eight months until his arrest.

The suspect, Mr Sale, said he lured the underaged girl and raped her repeatedly at his matrimonial home despite the presence of his three wives.

I used to give her N200, N300 up to N500 before having her canal knowledge until she got pregnant and delivered a baby boy.

I did that at my residence despite the presence of my three wives. However, I now realised that I have breached the trust parents accorded to me to teach their children, he said.

The police spokesperson in Katsina, Gambo Isah, said the vice principal was among the eight suspected rapists arrested in the state within five days.

The development shows a disturbing trend of rape in Katsina, the spokesperson said, cautioning parents to take responsibility for safeguarding their children.

Its very unfortunate to note that the rape victim got eight months pregnant without her parents knowledge until her delivery on Sunday, Mr Isah said.

He added that the student delivered her baby following surgery because her body was not matured enough to deliver the baby without surgery.

He said the suspect will be charged to court after the police conclude their investigation.
ROME, JAN 21 - A European Union spokesperson said Thursday that Pfizer has promised that its supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine to EU countries will return to being 100% what was agreed as of next week. The spokesperson also said that the company has said it will have made up for the recent reductions in deliveries by the middle of February. The cut in supplies has caused big problems for the vaccination campaign in Italy, as well as in other parts of Europe. Regional Affairs Minister Francesco Boccia said this week that the government was considering taking legal action. (ANSA).


Newspapers around the world welcomed the inauguration of Joe Biden as the United States 46th president as a moment of healing and unity, ushering an end to a chaotic and divisive four years under Donald Trump.

In his 20 minute inaugural address, President Biden called for America to end this uncivil war.

"Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause: the cause of democracy."

Several newspapers focused on the perceived return of democratic values, with The Guardian, The New York Times and The Financial Times all running the headline: Democracy has prevailed.

Meanwhile, The Times and The Washington Post emphasized the need to heal divisions, with the headines: Time for unity and Biden: Unity is the path.

In the UK, the Metro used an image of Mr Biden taking his oath of office alongside words similar to former president Donald Trumps slogan: Now make America great again. The i newspaper meanwhile went with: Ready, steady Joe!

Relations between Mr Trump and the EU had been fraught with tension, and so many on the continent breathed a sigh of relief over the prospect of working with a new administration. In Italy, La Reppublica described the moment as The liberation of America while in Spain El Mundo used an image of the president and his wife Jill Biden with the words Hay mucho que sanar en EEUU", which translates roughly to We have much to heal in the US".

China, however, is unlikely to see a significant change in its relationship with the US, with Mr Biden likely to take a similarly hardline approach to Beijing.

In Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post published an image of Mr Biden, Ms Harris and their respective spouses, waving from the steps of the White House, writing: [The] world wakes up to new American leader".
UpCountry Magazine Editor/Features Digital Editor

Jennifer Huberdeau is the editor of UpCountry Magazine and The Eagle's features digital editor. Prior to The Eagle, she worked at The North Adams Transcript. She is a 2020 New England First Amendment Institute Fellow and a 2010 BCBS Health Care Fellow.
Serum Institute of India on Thursday expressed sorrow and offered condolences to families of those who lost their members in the fire that broke out in itManjhri plant in Pune earlier today.

Along with that, Cyrus Poonawalla, Chairman & MD, SII, announced that the vaccine manufacturing company will be offering compensation of 25 lakh to each family, "in addition to mandated amount as per the norms."

"Today is an extremely sorrowful day for all of us at SII. We're deeply saddened and offer our condolences to families of the departed. We'll be offering compensation of 25 Lakhs to each family, in addition to mandated amount as per the norms," said Cyrus Poonawalla.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condoled the deaths caused by the fire incident.

"Anguished by the loss of lives due to an unfortunate fire at Serum Institute of India. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest," PM Modi tweeted.

President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed grief over the demise of five people who lost their lives in the fire incident at Serum Institute of India (SII), in Pune.

"The loss of lives in a fire accident at the Serum Institute of India in Pune is distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured," President Kovind tweeted.

Five persons died and nine were evacuated from the Serum's Manjari premises today, according to officials.

In a later development, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar informed reporters that contractor's men were working on that floor (where the fire broke out) and when the fire brigade officials went there, they found five completely burnt bodies. 2 of them were from UP, 2 from Pune and 1 is from Bihar.

"The place where COVID vaccine is manufactured was not affected. I was informed that preparation was going on at this building (site of fire) to make Rotavirus vaccine," he further said.

"Our government is trying its best to gather more information. Energy Audit teams have been instructed to conduct fire audit, they will do it tomorrow," Pawar added.

Meanwhile, Serum chief Adar Poonawalla also expressed condolences for the loss of lives.

"We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation, we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed," tweeted Poonawalla.

The Manjari facility is where the Covishield vaccine used in the nationwide inoculation drive against the pandemic is made. The building where the fire broke out is part of the under-construction site of the Serum facility and is one km from the Covishield manufacturing unit, PTI sources said.

Moreover, Covishield vaccine production won't be hit due to the fire, Poonawalla said.

"I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia," Poonawalla tweeted.

Mayor Murlidhar Mohol said it appears the five persons who died in the fire were working on the building floor. Fire officials recovered the bodies during an inspection, he said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the state government has ordered a probe into the blaze.

However, state health minister Rajesh Tope later added that the plant caught fire due to "some ongoing welding work. "Insulation material, which is inflammable, was kept near the work site. So far, 5 deaths have been reported," Tope told news agency ANI.

The fire, which broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floors of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises, was brought under control in two hours, police said.

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Controversial rapid lateral flow tests 'can detect most infectious cases' of coronavirus, a Government-led study has claimed amid concerns about their reliability.

Oxford University scientists who carried out the research found the devices, which give a result within half an hour, catch between 84 and 90 per cent of Covid-positive people.

Number 10 has spent more than 1billion on at least half a dozen different lateral flow tests and is offering them to councils across England to be used in schools, universities, care homes and in critical businesses to keep the country ticking over until everyone is vaccinated.

The Oxford study found the Government's most sensitive lateral flow devices (LFD) detect 90.5 per cent of Covid cases, while the least sensitive catch 83.7 per cent of infectious people.

Tim Peto, professor of medicine at Oxford and senior author of the paper, said the tests could be a 'game-changer' in the UK's Covid fight, although he admitted they 'are not perfect'.

However, the research only looked at the effectiveness of the tests when administered by trained health professionals. Previous studies have shown that when people do them themselves, as is the plan for Boris Johnson's Operation Moonshot, their accuracy plummets.

The tests missed 60 per cent of infected people in a mass trial in Liverpool when people swabbed themselves.

It comes after MailOnline revealed the Department of Health was repackaging lateral flow tests as ' NHS self-tests' to get around manufacturer instructions which say they are for professional use only.

Rouxel Maryline, a lorry driver travelling to Caen, France, via Portsmouth tonight at 11pm, receives a lateral flow test

Scientists have for weeks been sounding the alarm about LFDs over fears about their accuracy and because previous studies have shown they can only detect Covid in people with high viral loads - the amount of virus in the nose and throat.

But the Oxford study found that the vast majority of infectious people have high viral loads, which makes it easier for lateral flow devices to be effective.

Researchers looked at nearly 20,000 PCR-positive samples across the UK that were submitted to NHS Test and Trace.

Overall, 87 per cent of infected people had case viral loads of over 10,000 RNA copies/ml. Just under half (47.1 per cent) had case viral loads over 1million RNA copies/ml.

Department of Health puts NHS branding on rapid Covid tests so it can get around manufacturer's instructions that people should NOT swab themselves The Department of Health is repackaging controversial rapid coronavirus tests as NHS self-tests in what critics claim is a 'bizarre' move to get around manufacturer instructions which say they are for professional use. UK officials announced on Sunday that they will roll out 15-minute lateral flow swab tests to all councils and schools in Britain in a bid to get on top of Covid transmitting between people without symptoms. But one of the main tests being used only detected 41 per cent of Covid cases in a trial in Liverpool where people swabbed themselves, and the manufacturer insists they are only 'intended for use by trained clinical laboratory personnel'. MailOnline can now reveal that the kits are being bought and repackaged as a self-test by the Government. Ministers have spent more than 825million buying the lateral flow tests from American firm Innova. Innova says that a medic should use the test on someone with Covid-19 symptoms within five days of those symptoms starting, but the Department of Health is rolling them out for the public to test themselves when they don't have any symptoms at all. This is despite Public Health England's own study finding the tests are at least 20 per cent less accurate when people do them themselves, and top scientists urging the Government to stop using them, warning they are unfit for purpose as self-tests. In order to override the original instructions, the Department of Health has listed itself as the manufacturer  despite the fact it plays no part in making the device  so it could have 'flexible' use of the test with the blessing of the regulator, the MHRA. Scientists described the move as 'bizarre' and warn that the use of low quality rapid testing will potentially give tens of thousands of people a false sense of security by wrongly telling them they are negative when they actually have coronavirus. Testing experts including Professor Jon Deeks, from the University of Birmingham, have repeated called for the Government to stop using the Innova test  Professor Deeks said today that officials are suggesting to people the test is better than it is. Advertisement

The team ran data from previous studies on the accuracy of the devices through a simulation to see how many of the PCR-positive tests - which are known to be far more accurate - they would spot.

It found the Chinese made device Orient Gene could detect 90.5 per cent of cases, while the American firm Innova's test spotted 83.7 per cent of infectious people.

Another test, known as the Deep Blue Lateral Flow Assay, was found to be 87 per cent effective.

Professor Peto said: 'Lateral flow tests have been very popular with staff at our hospitals in Oxford, with over 60,000 tests done since November.

'We've been able to detect asymptomatic infected staff who would not have been otherwise diagnosed, protecting patients and staff.

'The tests can be done at home before coming to work with a result available within 30 minutes.'

'We know that lateral flow tests are not perfect, but that doesn't stop them being a game changer for helping to detect large numbers of infectious cases sufficiently rapidly to prevent further onward spread.'

Dr David Eyre, of Oxford's Big Data Institute and Nuffield Department of Population Health, who co-led the study, added: 'When the time comes to relax the current lockdown restrictions, by rapidly identifying the most infectious people using these lateral flow tests, we can potentially relax the lockdown much more safely.

'This would allow people to get back to work, school and their normal activities and still stay safe.'

In a lateral flow test, a swab of the nose or throat is taken and then mixed with fluid that is applied to a piece of absorbent paper that will change colour to indicate whether or not the virus is present, taking just 15 to 30 minutes to produce a result.

Ministers have suggested the tests were a way to help regions come out of tougher lockdowns, enable relatives to visit care home residents and let schools open on time.

But there is fierce debate about whether they are effective enough to allow people to make decisions about their behaviour and movements.

University of Oxford researchers initially found the tests picked up 77 per cent of cases, rising to over 90 per cent of the most infectious.

However, accuracy fell from 79 per cent when used by experts to 58 per cent when carried out by ordinary people without any training.

Real-world testing in Liverpool found the LFDs only picked up 41 per cent of cases when people were using them themselves.

The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said last month that lateral flow testing 'should not be seen as a way on its own of enabling high-risk activities to take place, but could reduce the risk of activities that are due to occur anyway'.

Professor Jon Deeks, a testing expert at the University of Birmingham, has accused the Government of making lateral flow tests seem 'better than they are' in a bid to justify the 100billion Operation Moonshot scheme.

Professor Deeks' own study into the reliability of lateral flow tests on students at the University of Birmingham.

Professor Deeks' trial found that the test picked up on only two positive results out of 7,189 people.

To check how well the tests were working, experts at the university retested some of the students using a PCR machine, which is the test used by the Government and is up to 97 per cent accurate. PCR tests are analysed in laboratories and usually take at least a day to return a result.

Retesting around one in 10 of the students in the trial (710 out of 7,189), they found that six of them had wrongly been given negative results and were actually infected.

Multiplying this by 10 to take the whole group size into account suggested as many as 60 cases may have been missed.

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Katy Perry, John Legend, Demi Lovato, and Bruce Springsteen were among the many stars welcoming the Biden administration to the White House with the inauguration concert, Celebrating America.

Perry, 36, closed out the star-studded spectacle with a majestic rendition of her hit track Firework before the Washington Monument.

A dazzling display of red, white, and blue fireworks surrounded the obelisk as Perry sang the track, clad in a caped, patriotic dress.

As Perry sang, President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her husband Doug Emhoff watched on.

USA! Katy Perry, John Legend, and Demi Lovato were among the many stars welcoming the Biden administration to the White House with the inauguration concert, Celebrating America

Katy put on a radiant display in an all-white ensemble, which she accessorized with a pair of earrings from Rahaminov Diamonds and Jimmy Choo Rene pumps.

There were no shortage of celebrities welcoming the President to his new role.

Demi Lovato performed a powerful rendition of the upbeat track Lovely Day from Los Angeles with a chorus of supporters - including healthcare workers - singing along virtually.

John Legend sang the empowering track Feeling Good before the Washington Monument.

Bundled up in a camel coat, the showbiz icon didn't let the cold weather stop him from putting on an incredible show.

Sparkle and shine! A dazzling fireworks display lit up the night sky as Katy performed

America the beautiful: Perry gave the stirring performance her all

Powerful: Perry put on a show-stopping performance for viewers

Red, white, and blue: Perry wore a patriotic, caped white dress as she performed for the new administration

Star power: There were no shortage of celebrities welcoming the President to his new role

Ray of sunshine! Demi Lovato sang Lovely Day with a slew of virtual supporters, including healthcare workers

To the rescue: Lovato sang along a chorus of virtual fans, including healthcare workers

Bruce Springsteen kicked off the show with a poignant track, Land Of Hope and Dreams.

'Good evening America, I'm proud to be in cold Washington, D.C. tonight,' he began. 'I want to offer this small prayer for our country, this is Land Of Open Dreams.'

Standing at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, Bruce was bundled up in a black coat as he strummed his guitar to the touching song.

Greetings from LA! Lovato performed with a view of the Los Angeles skyline behind her

Feeling Good! John Legend sang the empowering track Feeling Good before the Lincoln Memorial

Total pro: Bundled up in a camel coat, the showbiz icon didn't let the cold weather stop him from putting on an incredible show

Patriotic: The Ordinary People hit-maker entertained audiences with a view of the historic statute to his right

Kicking things off! Bruce Springsteen opened the special with the poignant track, Land Of Hope and Dreams

Hello America! 'Good evening America, I'm proud to be in cold Washington, D.C. tonight,' he began. 'I want to offer this small prayer for our country, this is Land Of Hope and Dreams'

Meanwhile: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden watched the show from inside the White House

Tom Hanks, who hosted the special, reflected on the legacy of Inauguration Day as he opened the show from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

'The last few weeks, and the last few years, we've witnessed deep divisions and a troubling rancor in our land. But tonight we ponder the United States of America. The practice of our democracy, the foundations of our republic, the integrity of our constitution, the hope and dreams we all share for a more perfect union,' he began.

Not only was the show packed with musical entertainment, but actresses Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington also made appearances.

Madam Vice President: Kamala Harris spoke to viewers with a view of the Washington Monument behind her

Historic: Tom Hanks, who hosted the special, reflected on the legacy of Inauguration Day as he opened the show from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

Speaking up: Not only was the show packed with musical entertainment, but actresses Eva Longoria and Kerry Washington also made appearances

Lights, camera, action: Washington was among the many celebrities appearing in the special

Sing it! Jon Bon Jovi sang the cheerful Beatles track Here Comes The Sun

Here comes the sun! The rocker performed the song in Miami, Florida

Coming from Texas: The Black Pumas performed Colors from Austin

Forward thinking: Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemens sang the song Better Days

Optimistic: The track tells of happier times on the horizon

Class act: The Foo Fighters dedicated their track Times Like These to teachers working during the pandemic

Jon Bon Jovi performed the cheerful Beatles song Here Comes The Sun from a boardwalk in Miami, Florida.

Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemens sang of happier times on the horizon as they performed the moving song Better Days from Memphis, Tennessee.

Black Pumas performed Colors from Austin, Texas, the Foo Fighters dedicated their track Times Like These to teachers working during the pandemic.

In Los Angeles, DJ Cassidy played a virtual game of inaugural pass-the-mic with Ozuna and Luis Fonsi.

Going for the gold! In Los Angeles, DJ Cassidy played a virtual game of inaugural pass-the-mic with Ozuna and Luis Fonsi

Oh yeah! Despite being physically distanced, Luis Fonsi and Ozuna still had a lot of fun

From the heart: Tim McGraw performed Undivided with Tyler Hubbard in Nashville

Coming together: The song was about 'unity and faith'

Despite being physically separated, everyone had a blast singing with one another.

Tim McGraw and Tyler Hubbard performed a song of 'unity and faith', Undivided, in Nashville.

Indeed, the special was not just a who's who of Hollywood stars, but also of political heavyweights, including former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and newly-sworn in Joe Biden.

Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, succeeding President Donald Trump.

Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, made history becoming not just the first female Vice President, but also the first Black and South Asian woman to hold the office.
On the eve of an inauguration speech in which newly sworn-in President Joe Biden invoked the need for unity nearly a dozen times, the Senate conducted confirmation hearings for key nominees for his security cabinet. The tenor of these sessions made it clear that a principal foundation for unity between the incoming administration and a Republican Party that sought to overturn Bidens election, including through the January 6 fascist coup attempt at the Capitol, will be bipartisan agreement on policies of imperialist aggression abroad.

Three nominees appeared before separate Senate committees Tuesday: Anthony Blinken, Foreign Relations; Lloyd Austin, Armed Services; and Avril Haines, Intelligence.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., listens during a confirmation hearing for Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021. (Alex Edelman/Pool via AP)

All of them are veterans of the criminal policies carried out by the Obama administration, from wars and regime change interventions in the Middle East and the drone assassination program to the 2014 coup in Ukraine.

The overriding issue discussed in the hearings was preparation for great power conflict with China. While in the course of the 2020 election campaign Trump had tried to portray Biden as soft on Beijing, the nominees made it clear that the incoming administration is determined to escalate Washingtons anti-Chinese campaign to the point of armed conflict.

Blinken was the most explicit on this score, embracing the thrust of the Trump administrations policy. I also believe that President Trump was right in taking a tougher approach to China, he told the committee. I disagree very much with the way that he went about it in a number of areas, but the basic principle was the right one, and I think thats actually helpful to our foreign policy.

While failing to spell out where the incoming administration will be at odds with the Trump administrations China policy, Blinken embraced its anti-Chinese tropes, including the charge that Beijing had deceived the world about the coronavirus, and the claim that China is guilty of genocide against Uighur Muslims, a designation issued by Trumps rabidly anti-Chinese Secretary of State Mike Pompeo the very same day. This parting shot against Beijing has been endorsed by no other country.

The one area of potential conflict with the Senate panel was the Iran nuclear accord that the Obama administration, together with the worlds other major powers, joined in 2015 trading a lifting of sanctions for Tehrans agreement to sharply curtail its civilian nuclear program. The Trump administration unilaterally abrogated this treaty in November 2018, imposing a maximum pressure sanctions regime that is tantamount to a state of war and has led to widespread poverty, hunger and preventable deaths among the Iranian population.

While Biden had indicated his intention to rejoin the accord, Blinken made it abundantly clear that this would not happen anytime soon, if ever. Both the Senate panels new Democratic chairman, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, and its ranking Republican member, Jim Risch of Idaho, are opposed to the treaty, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Blinken said that Iran would have to come back into full compliance with the JCPOA before any of the draconian sanctions are lifted. Tehran has increased its uranium stockpile, as well as its level of enrichment in response to US aggression and the failure of the Western European powers to effectively counter Washingtons economic blockade. The Iranian government has insisted that Washington must make the first step by ending its violation of the agreement.

Also, Blinken said that the Biden administration would seek a longer and stronger agreement, meaning an accord that would not only restrict Irans nuclear program permanently, but also compel Tehran to scrap its conventional missile program and submit to US hegemony in the Middle East. Iran has insisted that these issues are not up for negotiation.

Were a long way from there, he assured the Senate committee in relation to the US rejoining the nuclear accord.

Blinken also indicated that the incoming administration will pursue a more aggressive policy toward Russia. The challenge posed by Russia across a whole series of fronts is also one that is urgent, he said. This is very high on the agenda for the incoming administration. He declared his support for providing the right-wing regime in Ukraine with lethal support and indicated that the incoming administration would continue the Trump administrations campaign to stop completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

He expressed essential agreement with the Trump administrations policy of aggression toward Venezuela, saying that the new administration would continue recognizing the right-wing US puppet Juan Guaido as the countrys head of state and would refuse any negotiations with President Nicolas Maduro.

Blinken indicated that the Biden administration has no intention of reversing the Trump administrations policies of total accommodation to Tel Aviv, including the transfer of the US Embassy to Jerusalem. He said that it would return to a policy of nominal support for the so-called two-state solution, while assuring the senators that there was no prospect for near-term progress toward such a solution, which has been turned into a dead letter by relentless US-backed Israeli occupation of Palestinian land in the occupied territories.

The one issue where he expressed differences with the Trump administration was on its support for the near-genocidal Saudi-led war against Yemen and the Trump administrations recent branding of the Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization. This designation will serve to block food supplies to a population confronting mass starvation.

No one on the committee was so rude as to note that it was Blinken who, as Obamas deputy secretary of state in 2015, flew to Riyadh to cement the deal under which the Pentagon provided arms and logistical support, including refueling for Saudi bombers, paving the way to the mass murder of Yemeni civilians. Even in feigning disagreement with the Trump administrations policies, Blinken affirmed Washingtons obligation to defend the House of Saud against Houthi aggression!

In his tenure in the State Department and as a member of the Democratic Partys foreign policy establishment, Blinken was a fervent advocate for a more aggressive US military intervention in both Libya and Syria.

Summing up his subservience to the Republican right, he answered a series of litmus test questions from South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, formerly a fervent Trump supporter.

Did he consider Iran the worlds number one state sponsor of terrorism? I do, Blinken replied. Did he believe that Israel is a racist nation? No. Should any withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan be conditions-based? Absolutely. And what would he tell Central Americans fleeing for their lives from violence and hunger? I would say, Do not come.

Graham was visibly elated. I think you are an outstanding choice, and I intend to vote for you, he said.

The essential line laid down by Blinken was echoed by the other nominees who testified Tuesday. Avril Haines, tapped by Biden as his director of national intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee that China is Washingtons most important strategic competitor.

Haines, who as deputy CIA director under Obama, was one of the architects of the drone assassination program that claimed countless victims in the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. She is being touted by the Biden team as the first woman DNI.

China is a challenge to our security, to our prosperity, to our values across a range of issues, and I do support an aggressive stance, Haines said. That is the place we are now and one that is more assertive than where we had been in the Obama-Biden administration.

On Iran, she answered a question about Biden rejoining the nuclear accord by saying, I think, frankly, were a long way from that, adding that the incoming administration will have to look at the ballistic missile issues and Irans destabilizing activities.

In his testimony before the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Gen. Lloyd Austin (ret.), nominated by Biden as defense secretary, used bellicose language to describe China as a regional hegemon whose goal is to be a dominant world power. He added that they are working across the spectrum to compete with us in a number of areas, and it will take a whole of government approach to push back on their efforts in a credible way.

Included in this pushback, Austin said, would be an accelerated production of advanced nuclear weapons systems.

Similar to Haines, Austins nomination has been promoted as ground-breaking in that he would be the first black defense secretary. More significant than his skin color, however, is that he, like Trumps first defense secretary, Gen. James Mad Dog Mattis, is a recently retired general, whose confirmation requires that both houses of the Congress waive an act prohibiting any ex-officer from serving in the post until seven years after leaving the military.

This act was aimed at bolstering civilian control over the military. The nomination of Austin, who succeeded Mattis as the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), overseeing US imperialisms bloody wars throughout the Middle East and in Afghanistan, is another indication of the thorough-going militarization of the US state apparatus.

Since leaving the military, Austin took a position on the board of Raytheon Corp., one of the largest arms suppliers to the Pentagon. Upon confirmation as defense secretary, he would be required to quit the defense contractors board, for which he would receive a severance package worth $1.7 million.

One statement by Secretary of State nominee Blinken summed up the incoming administrations view of Washingtons global role. He told the Senate committee, The reality is the world doesnt organize itself. When were not engaged, when we dont lead, then one of two things happen: either some other country tries to take our place, but probably not in a way that advances our interests or values. Or no one does, and then you get chaos.

In other words, US imperialism must organize the world. Under conditions of its declining economic hegemony, this can only translate into a global eruption of American militarism.
It was known that her Majestys condition was most serious, and it was believed that the result would be fatal. But underneath that belief lay a glimmer of hope. It was hard to believe that the life of the most august lady of the known world was actually approaching a close.

"The Queen, God bless her"' had been so long a phrase to conjure with, it had been so long a national shibboleth, that it was hard to understand that it was in a few hours to cease being a part of everyday speech. While the Queen lived the people were willing to hope. It was only when the definite announcement that the end had come was flashed across the wires that the community as a whole realised that a change had taken place. A message from Mr. Seddon, received through the New Zealand Agent-General (Mr. W.P. Reeves), was the first to reach the Melbourne newspaper offices, and a few minutes afterwards flags were drooping half-mast from many of the business places in the city. To the majority of people these flags were the first intimation of what had happened. Thousands and tens of thousands of people coming into the city read in them the news that their Sovereign was no more. A special edition of The Age was immediately brought out, and was eagerly bought up by sympathetic crowds.

In every sense of the term Melbourne was profoundly stirred. Men on their way to business walked with more thoughtful step, housewives lowered their voices, even the children in the streets - those of them who were old enough to understand - hushed themselves in sympathy with their surroundings. It was not a mere formal mourning. It mattered nothing that the end was expected, that it was not unnatural, that reason declared it must come soon. As far as Melbourne was concerned - and Melbourne is only a type of the Empirethe feeling of sorrow was one born of a loyalty that transcends the reasonings of the sophists or the diatribes of Socialistic levellers. That loyalty is consistent with the most perfect independence of a self-governing people. It is part of the traditions of the Empire, and it is inseparable from its dignity.

Thus in honouring the memory of Queen Victoria and in sorrowing as it did yesterday for her death, the city paid its tribute to one who for upwards of sixty years has filled to admiration the highest office that it is in the power of an individual to hold. And it also paid its tribute to the character of the woman against whom no public or private scandal has been breathed.

As regards outward manifestations, the metropolis bore the appearance of semi-mourning. Half- masted flags were flying everywhere. In most instances they drooped rather than flew. The weather was close and sultry, with scarcely a breath. The large flag at the Town Hall hung dejected and motionless. It was the same with the banners that were hoisted over the Government offices, and with those hanging over business places. As a rule, however, the commercial life of Melbourne went on as usual. Here and there the shutters were put up, but in Collins-street, Bourke-street and the other thoroughfares, people bought and sold and went about their ordinary affairs. The chief difference was that most of the drapery establishments made crape a feature of their window decorations. Crape was also shown from the Town Hall and other places.
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Abiodun Owolabi, a major general, on Thursday, assumed duty as the Corps Commander, Nigerian Army Signal Corps, Apapa, Lagos.

Mr Owolabi took over from Felix Agugo, a major general, who has been deployed to the Defence Headquarters, Abuja, as Chief of Defence Communication.

The ceremony in Apapa, Lagos, witnessed the signing of the handing and taking over notes, and the handing over of the divisions flag to the new Corps commander.

Other highlights were the decoration of the new commander with Signal Corps insignia, inspection of Quarter Guard, lowering and hoisting of outgoing and incoming Commander Corps of Signal flags and parting words to officers and soldiers.

Mr Agugo in his farewell speech thanked officers and soldiers of the Corps for their untiring commitment and cooperation during his tenure.

He urged them not to relent but work harder and give the new commander maximum support.

Speaking, the new commander appreciated his predecessor for the efforts to take the Corps to greater heights.

He solicited the support of officers and men of the Corps to enable him work in line with the mission of the Corps.

Mr Owolabi, until his appointment, was the Chief of Defence Communication at the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Present at the ceremony were the Commandant, Nigerian Army School of Signal, Gbenga Adesina, a major general, Commander and Directors of various Army formations and units in Lagos State, among others.

(NAN)
President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

Biden Orders Census Bureau to Include Illegal Immigrants in Apportionment

President Joe Biden in his first day in office issued an executive order mandating the Census Bureau include illegal immigrants in its apportionment.

Former President Donald Trump sought to exclude aliens.

The secretary of commerce shall report the tabulation of total population by State that reflects the whole number of persons whose usual residence was in each State as of the designated census date in section 141(a) of title 13, United States Code, without regard to immigration status, the order states.

In addition, the Secretary shall use tabulations of population reflecting the whole number of persons whose usual residence was in each State as of the census date, without regard to immigration status, in reports provided to the Governor and officers or public bodies having responsibility for legislative apportionment or districting of each State, it added.

Apportionment is how the number of U.S. representatives is set; states with a higher population get more. Excluding illegal immigrants stoked fears that several states would lose seats, including California.

Trump through two executive orders directed executive agencies to give data on citizenship to the Census Bureau and the bureau to use the data to determine who is in the country illegally and then exclude them from the apportionment report. The orders were upheld as lawful by the Supreme Court.

The Census Bureau was supposed to hand in the report by Dec. 31, 2020, but missed the statutory deadline. The bureau soon after stopped complying with Trumps orders. Bureau Director Steven Dillingham, a Trump appointee, resigned on Jan. 18.

Virtually all Democrats in Congress opposed Trumps orders. Cheering Bidens mandate, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) wrote on Wednesday: The Trump admins efforts to exclude noncitizens from the census was both illegal and rooted in hate. Im proud to see that @POTUS is acting decisively to reverse that decision and ensure that federal resources can be fairly and accurately distributed over the decade to come.

Bidens order claims that at no point in U.S. history a persons immigration status alone served as a basis for excluding that person from the total population count used in apportionment.

Trumps policy broke from this long tradition, the order added. It aimed to produce a different apportionment baseone that would, to the maximum extent feasible, exclude persons who are not in a lawful immigration status. This policy conflicted with the principle of equal representation enshrined in our Constitution, census statutes, and historical tradition. The policy further required the Census Bureau to inappropriately rely on records related to immigration status that were likely to be incomplete and inaccurate.

No deadline was outlined in the new order, and its still not clear when the bureau will have the apportionment data ready.
Congratulating Houngboungnuang on his appointment as Ambassador of Laos to Vietnam, Lich, who is also a Politburo member and Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission, expressed his belief that the diplomat will excellently fulfill his duties to contribute to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation, including in defence, between the two countries.

He emphasised that the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation are the priceless assets nurtured by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh, Kaysone Phomvihane, and Souphanouvong, as well as generations of the countries leaders and people.

He thanked Laos for its active support, participation, and contributions to Vietnams 2020 Chairmanship, including activities held by his ministry, especially the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting, the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus, and related events.

The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence will continue sharing experience and providing support in the COVID-19 combat and help the Lao Peoples Army to improve its capacity, the minister affirmed.

Congratulating Vietnam on its successful 2020 ASEAN Chairmanship, Sengphet Houngboungnuang echoed his hosts views on the Vietnam - Laos relations, noting that defence links are among the pillars of their ties and receive attention from their countries and armies leaders.

The two sides are pushing ahead with implementing the annual cooperation protocol and plan, with a focus on delegation exchange; personnel training; coordination between border management and protection forces in fighting against trans-national crimes, smuggling, and drug trafficking; along with border patrol to prevent illegal crossings to help combat COVID-19 in each country, according to him.

The ambassador vowed utmost efforts to help relations between the Lao and Vietnamese Parties, States, people, and armies develop more and more strongly.

Also on January 20, a delegation of the Defence Ministry led by Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Deputy Director of the Foreign Relations Department, visited the Lao Embassy in Hanoi to extend congratulations on the 72nd founding anniversary of the Lao Peoples Army (January 20, 1949 - 2021) and the success of the 11th National Congress of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party.
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Egypts House of Representatives approved on Thursday President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis decree extending the countrys state of emergency for three more months, effective as of 24 January.

The state of emergency, which has been in effect since 2017, has been extended on the grounds of fighting terrorism, implementing development programs in a stable climate, and containing the coronavirus crisis.

According to the House of Representatives internal bylaws, the majority of lawmakers must approve the declaration of the state of emergency for a period not exceeding three months. Under the same article, a state of emergency shall not be extended except for another similar period after the approval of two-thirds of the House members.

The first article of the decree states that the extension of the state of emergency countrywide  for a period of three months  will go into effect as of 1pm on 24 January.

According to the decree published in the official gazette, the Egyptian Armed Forces and the Police Authority are taking the necessary measures to confront the dangers of terrorism and its financing, maintain security nationwide, protect public and private properties, and preserve the lives of citizens.

The state of emergency was declared for the first time in May 2017 by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, when two churches were bombed in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria on Palm Sunday, killing 47 people.

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[January 21, 2021] Benevity Releases Fourth Annual list of Top 10 Causes Supported by Companies and Their People

Nonprofits supporting racial justice and food security dominate Top 10 list for the first time

Four causes from 2019 retain their Top 10 positions in 2020

Overall giving is up dramatically: 2019s Top 10 Causes see 58 percent increase in donations

CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Benevity, Inc ., the leading provider of global corporate purpose software, today announced its annual trend data on the 2020 Top Causes that companies and their people supported through the Benevity platform, as well as the shifts in ranking compared with the previous two years. This years Top 10 Causes received $232 million and were among 189,000 nonprofit organizations that saw a record-breaking $2.3 billion donated through the Benevity platform in 2020  a 63 percent increase over the previous year. Over 300,000 global causes have received funds through the Benevity platform to date. Key Findings Causes supporting racial justice and equity hold the top three positions, and comprise more than half of the donations (51 percent) to the Top 10 Causes: NAACP, Equal Justice Initiative, ACLU and Thousand Currents (the official fiscal sponsor of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Project from 2016 to mid-2020).

Feeding America and Second Harvest of Silicon Valley see a dramatic year-over-year increase in donations, 14x and 7.5x respectively, indicating a desire for people to provide food security for those experiencing a loss of income during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Top 10 Causes of 2019 collectively received 58 percent more donations in 2020; four nonprofits made the list two years in a row: ACLU, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders and St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

Although Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders each dropped one spot in the Top 10 Causes ranking, both received well over double the amount of donations this year over last.

51 percent of Red Cross donations went to the American Red Cross, followed by the Australian, Lebanese, Canadian, British and Italian societies.

Donations to the Armenia Fund skyrocketed from several thousand dollars annually to millions as the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh warbegan in late September.



COVID-19 pandemic which prompted a swift shift toward support for human services and food security from March through May. Then, an exponential spike in support for racial justice and equity came in June following the murder of George Floyd. The shift in top causes receiving support is a clear indication that business is improving the fabric of society by backing the causes chosen by their people through grassroots, bottoms-up action  a growing trend over the past decade that has reached a tipping point this year, said Bryan de Lottinville, Founder and CEO of Benevity. Corporate purpose is taking hold where all great movements do, in a groundswell of action from employees, the progressive employers who empower them, their customers who are increasingly discerning about the brands they support, and the community organizations who rely on their support.

During this unprecedented year, our global community has come together like never before, said Don Herring, chief development officer at the American Red Cross. The generosity of companies and their employees through Benevity has helped American Red Cross volunteers provide emergency shelter, meals, emotional support and distribute relief items to hundreds of thousands of people in need. Benevity data from 2020 showed that more people gave more money to nonprofits than ever before. In fact, 51 percent more people donated through corporate purpose programs in 2020, with 41 percent more dollars per donation. About Benevity

Benevity , a certified B Corporation, is the leader in global corporate purpose software, providing the only integrated suite of community investment and employee, customer and nonprofit engagement solutions. A finalist in Fast Companys 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards, many iconic brands rely on Benevitys cloud solutions to power their purpose in ways that better attract, retain and engage todays diverse workforce, embed social action into their customer experiences and positively impact their communities. With software that is available in 20 languages, Benevity has processed more than 6 billion dollars in donations and 34 million hours of volunteering time, 275,000 positive actions and awarded over one million grants to 300,000 nonprofits worldwide. Media Contact

Amanda Orr

Kickstart for Benevity

1.323.601.5734

press@benevity.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e172f3c1-9453-4b16-8733-5c3684886bc5



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Oti Mabuse has revealed the tough separation she has faced from her family during the global coronavirus pandemic.

The Strictly Come Dancing professional spoke to Lorraine on Thursday morning, revealing that she didn't see her older sister Motsi, a judge on Strictly, for almost a year until Strictly reunited them.

She explained that before the 2020 series of the BBC dance competition began last Autumn, she hadn't seen Motsi since the final of the 2019 series thanks to travel restrictions.

Separated: Oti Mabuse has revealed the tough separation she has faced from her family, including older sister Motsi, during the global coronavirus pandemic

Oti lives in the UK with her husband Marius Iepure while Motsi is based in Germany with her husband Evgenij Voznyuk and their young daughter.

After Motsi flew home following the 2019 Strictly finale, the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020 meant the two sisters were separated until the 2020 series.

'Actually the last time I had seen my sister was the Strictly final in 2019 and because of the travel bans I couldn't go over to see her on her birthday,' Oti explained to Lorraine.

'We usually celebrate together so because of Strictly that was the only family member that I could actually see.'

Tough: The Strictly pro spoke to Lorraine on Thursday morning, revealing that she didn't see Motsi, a judge on Strictly, for almost a year until the show reunited them

Oti is also missing her family back home in South Africa, explaining: 'I havent seen my family in about two years because theyre from South Africa and it's currently not great in South Africa as well.'

'So to have Strictly is another thing that Im grateful for, even though we were in separate bubbles it was nice that I could actually see her and she was there.'

Oti added that the lack of travel has actually allowed her to connect with her extended family though, as she explained:

'Theres opportunity to make new connections, to bond I know during the first lockdown we started Zooming weekly with the extended family, so first second and third cousins.'

Apart: After Motsi flew home following the 2019 Strictly finale, the coronavirus outbreak in early 2020 meant the two sisters were separated until the 2020 series (pictured)

'Everyone got to know each other, all the children. Christmas was also spent on Zoom, it was the entire family so it gave us the opportunity to make more connections and deeper ones.'

Oti has also used technology to connect with her fans over the past year, leading online dance classes with her husband.

'Honestly I havent done a lot of exercise so doing these dances helps me to do exercise,' she laughed.

'Its about doing things that make you feel good in lockdown whether that's dancing or projects, its really important whenever we are at home to do something you love.'

Relying on Zoom: Oti is also missing her family back home in South Africa, explaining: 'I havent seen my family in about two years' and adding they catch up on weekly Zoom calls

In the UK: Oti lives in the UK with her husband Marius Iepure, who is also a professional dancer

'I am the kind of person who will eat crisps and watch Bridgeton, I think Ive watched it maybe three times.'

Oti capped off 2020 with her second Strictly Come Dancing win in a row, picking up the Glitterball trophy with her celeb partner, comedian Bill Bailey.

'I love how restrained he was and determined to do well. hes doing my dance classes as well, which is amazing,' she gushed of her partner.

But when Lorraine asked if she was aiming for a third win on the BBC show in 2021, she was modest, insisting: 6'I dont know, I honestly never go for them I just focus on my celeb for that week. you made my heart pump there!'
The Mauritius Institute of Directors hosted a panel discussion exclusively for its members, from both private and public sectors, comprising of an esteemed panel of business leaders and policy makers to address the issue of Corporate Governance in the post COVID era.

In this unprecedented era caused by the Coronavirus outbreak, many familiar features of the corporate governance landscape have changed significantly. Organizations are facing difficult times as the measures being deployed to slow the spread of COVID-19 are impacting capital markets, supply chains, and business operations.

A strong corporate culture, reinforced by effective governance practices, is more important than ever in this post-pandemic era and thus, treating corporate governance as last priority on the boards agenda is the last thing to do. Undeniably, Boards are facing a complex new reality as a result of COVID-19 where the new environment is characterized by pressures and demands from various stakeholders, heightened expectations for societal engagement. The uncertainties of the current environment serve as a powerful reminder to decision-makers of the need for corporate governance, including risk management and crisis planning amongst others, to ensure business steadiness. The aim of this forum is to open the discussion to national and international business leaders and policy makers on this specific theme, which challenges the shareholder-centric model of governance that has guided boards and business leaders for the past years, said Sheila Ujoodha, Chief Executive Officer at the Mauritius Institute of Directors.

During the forum, the discussion panel moderated by Sheila Ujoodha has featured salient themes such as best practices in Corporate Governance, its significance on business responsibilities, organisational performance, board diversity and corporate culture. Participants lined up for the event included Jane Valls, Executive Director at GCC Board Directors Institute, Arnaud Lagesse, Group CEO at IBL Ltd, Aruna Radhakeesoon Chairman of the National Committee of Corporate Governance and Amedee Darga, Managing Director at Straconsult ABDS. Each panelist has voiced out their views and perspectives in a constructive matter on whether the code should be revised, on challenges that Boards are facing, effectiveness of public sector governance, the reputational and signalling effects of dividend payment in such difficult times and board diversity.

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Leaders of the nation's major media companies will argue proposed laws to force tech giants Google and Facebook to pay for news content they have used for free to build their businesses are critical to the survival of Australian journalism.

Executives from Nine Entertainment and News Corp Australia are expected to mount similar arguments on Friday before the Senate economics committee, which is scrutinising the Morrison government's proposed media bargaining code bill.

The code aims to force digital platforms to pay media companies for news content, and follows a 12-month review into Google and Facebook by the competition watchdog. The legislation, which was introduced into the House of Representatives in December, comes amid a push by global governments to rein in the power of digital monopolies.

Nine's chief digital and publishing officer, Chris Janz, who will give evidence to the Senate hearing as part of a panel featuring representatives from News Corp, Guardian Australia and Australian Associated Press, said time was "clearly running out" to regulate the digital platforms.
A Texas man has pleaded guilty to helping his father evade arrest for over 12 years after he allegedly shot dead his teen daughters as part of so-called 'honor killings' when he found out they were dating non-Muslim men.

Islam Yaser-Abdel Said, 32, of Irving, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to conceal a person from arrest, concealing a person from arrest and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, federal prosecutors said.

Islam Said's father, Yaser Said, was arrested by FBI agents in August in Justin, a small city 36 miles northwest of Dallas.

chad been wanted on a capital murder warrant following the 2008 New Year's Day fatal shootings of his daughters, Sarah Yaser Said, 17, and Amina Yaser Said, 18.

Law enforcement officials said the murders were so-called 'honor killings' in which a woman is murdered by a relative to 'protect' her family's honor.

In this case, the young women had tried to hide from their father that they were dating non-Muslim men, but he found out and then killed them, authorities said.

Islam Yaser-Abdel Said, 32, of Irving, pleaded guilty Tuesday to helping his father, Yaser Said, evade arrest for over 12 years in connection to the 'honor killings' of the man's two teen sisters

Yaser Said had been wanted on a capital murder warrant following the 2008 New Year's Day fatal shootings of his daughters, Sarah Yaser Said (left), 17, and 18-year-old Amina Yaser Said (right)

Authorities said Islam Said conspired with his uncle, Yassein Said, to harbor his father, Yaser Said, inside an apartment in Bedford, Texas, where a maintenance worker spotted Yaser on August 14, 2017.

After the maintenance worker reported the sighting to the FBI, an agent was dispatched to interview Islam, but Islam refused to cooperate, instead calling his uncle to say, 'we have problem,' prosecutors said.

He later harbored his father inside a home in Justin, Texas, that belonged to his cousin, the Justice Department revealed.

On August 25, 2020, FBI agents observed Islam Said and his uncle deliver grocery bags to the residence, then followed the men to a shopping center 20 miles away, were they dumped trash retrieved from the home.

Investigators said Yaser Said took his daughters for a ride in his taxicab on January 1, 2008, under the guise of taking them to get something to eat.

He drove them to Irving, Texas, where he allegedly shot both girls inside the taxicab outside a motel in the Dallas suburb. Amina was found shot twice in the chest. Sarah was shot nine times.

Investigators said Yaser Said (left) took his daughters (both, right) for a ride in his taxicab on January 1, 2008, under the guise of taking them to get something to eat

He drove them to Irving, Texas, where he allegedly shot both girls inside the taxicab outside a motel in the Dallas suburb of Irving. Police found their bodies after one of the girls called 911 from a cellphone and said she was dying

Yaser Said was placed on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on December 4, 2014. He was arrested in August 2020

Authorities said Islam Said conspired with his uncle Yassein Said (pictured) to hide Yaser Said from police. Yassein Said is set for trial on February 1

Police found their bodies after one of the girls called 911 from a cellphone and said she was dying.

'Help,' said a crying voice on the 911 recording, later determined by police to be that of Sarah Said. 'I'm dying. Oh my God. Stop it.'

Police could not immediately find the teens after the 7.33pm call.

Much of what Sarah said in the recording was unintelligible, and the dispatcher's repeated requests for her to provide an address went unanswered.

An emergency dispatcher received another call about an hour later from the motel.

The girls' bodies were in the cab, one in the front passenger seat and the other in the back. The caller said he could see blood.

'They don't look alive,' said the caller.

A police report at the time said a family member told investigators that the suspect threatened 'bodily harm' against Sarah for going on a date with a non-Muslim.

The story of the sisters' murders is the subject of the 2014 award-winning documentary The Price of Honor, and it was also featured on an episode of the Investigation Discovery channel show Forbidden: Dying for Love.

In the documentary Ruth Trotter said: 'Amina always knew that Yaser was going to murder her. It was just a question of when and where.'

Amina was dating Trotter's son, Joseph, when she died, and Sarah also had a boyfriend, though both had tried to keep this from their father.

Their mother, Patricia Said, fled with her daughters in the week before their deaths because she was in 'great fear for her life'.

'Islam Said prioritized the whims of his father, an alleged killer, over justice for his own sisters. Thanks to the dogged work of the FBI and its law enforcement partners, however, Mr Saids efforts were ultimately in vain,' said US Attorney Prerak Shah.

'We are grateful to the many agents and officers who worked to apprehend Mr. Said, along with his father and uncle. Sarah and Amina deserve justice.'

Yaser Said, the father, indicted by the state on capital murder charges, faces the death penalty.

Islam Said, the son, faces up to 30 years in prison when he's sentenced in April.

Yassein Said, the uncle, is set for trial on February 1.
WASHINGTON - A new federal strategy to tame the coronavirus pandemic focuses on trying to make tests and vaccines more abundant, schools and travel safer, and states better able to afford their role in the long road back to normal life.

The plan and 10 executive orders that President Joe Biden issued Thursday include the creation of a Pandemic Testing Board that can spur a "surge" in the capacity for coronavirus tests. Other orders will foster research into new treatments for covid-19, the disease caused by the virus; strengthen the collection and analysis of data to shape the government's response to the crisis; and direct the federal occupational safety agency to release and enforce guidelines to protect workers from getting infected.

Several aspects of the "National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness" are intended to steer more money to states, which have complained they need more funding to carry out the work placed on them for testing, vaccinating residents and other functions. The plan says the White House will try to persuade Congress to cover the entire cost for states to vaccinate low-income residents on Medicaid, while directing health officials to explore whether the program's payment rates for vaccinations should be higher.

These actions, dealing with the public health crisis the new president has defined as his top priority, were the subject of Biden's central public event his first full day in office. He framed them in a tone that balanced grimness with optimism.

"It's going to take months to turn things around," Biden said, predicting that the virus will have killed a half-million Americans by next month. But then he added, "To a nation waiting for action, let me be clearest on this point: Help is on its way."

The 198-page plan released Thursday is far from a federal takeover of the nation's efforts to cope with the worst health calamity in a century. Yet it represents a pronounced shift away from the Trump administration's deference to each state to design its own plan for coronavirus testing and carry out other elements of its response.

The replacement plan synthesizes many of the goals and strategies for fighting the coronavirus that Biden has mapped out in the weeks and days leading to his inauguration, including in a $1.9 trillion request to Congress for these efforts and to hasten the nation's economic recovery. Many represent promises whose success or failure will be borne out in their details and execution.

Speaking from the White House's State Dining Room, Biden portrayed the strategy as "a wartime undertaking," noting the coronavirus has claimed more U.S. lives in the past year than World War II.

Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious-disease expert and Biden's chief medical adviser for the pandemic, distanced himself slightly Thursday from the new administration's depiction of fully rejecting President Donald Trump's response to the pandemic. "We're coming with fresh ideas but also ideas that were not bad ideas from the last administration," Fauci said, without elaborating.

Biden reiterated that his goal, set in December and written into the new plan, of giving 100 million vaccine shots in his first 100 days in office represents "one of the greatest operational challenges our nation has ever undertaken." But The Washington Post's tracking of vaccinations shows that the pace needed to meet the goal - 1 million doses administered per day - was already achieved Thursday and four other times in the previous 10 days.

Jeff Zients, coordinator of the White House's coronavirus response, said the plan was the product of conversations with medical and scientific experts and interest groups, along with state and local leaders. Many of the goals - though not all - will require Congress to provide more funding, Zients said.

Biden's actions Thursday came as the pandemic has killed more than 408,000 Americans since it was first detected in the country a year ago.

At the end of his first afternoon in office on Wednesday, the president signed three other executive orders relating to the pandemic. The flurry of actions over the two days serves a substantive and symbolic purpose for the new White House, illustrating in concrete terms that Biden's approach to the pandemic is different from his predecessor's.

His first-day executive orders - the three dealing with the public health crisis and 14 on other issues - compare with one that Trump signed his first night in office that sought to weaken the Affordable Care Act.

As he has said before of his pandemic approach, Biden characterized the national strategy document as apolitical. In an implicit contrast with Trump's handling of the health crisis, he said it "is comprehensive, it's based on science not politics, it's based on truth not denial."

The first of seven broad goals in the plan is to "restore trust with the American people." Zients pledged that the new administration will hold regular briefings with government scientists, including from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Trump administration marginalized the CDC for much of the past year.

Another executive order is intended to improve federal agencies' collection of data, including to help make sure the government directs enough help to racial and ethnic groups that have suffered especially severe consequences from the pandemic. More of this data will be shared publicly, Zients said.

One of Thursday's orders gives governors more help by directing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay states more for using members of the National Guard and for supplies, such as protective gear for schools and child-care providers.

As Biden announced in a vaccine plan last week, the government will help create mass vaccination sites, including in stadiums, gyms and community centers. Similarly, the plan envisions a program to build the public health workforce to help with testing, contact tracing and vaccination.

The strategy also incorporates the vaccine plan's call for greater use of the Defense Production Act, a decades-old law giving the government power to boost manufacturing during wars or other national emergencies. The idea is to help produce supplies to expedite vaccine production, such as glass vials, stoppers, syringes and packaging. Trump officials insisted they also used the law, and it is not clear exactly how the new administration will change that.

And the strategy folds in a decision Biden announced earlier this month to distribute most vaccine doses as they are made, rather than holding back significant reserves for the second doses required for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Those are the two companies whose coronavirus vaccines have received federal permission for emergency use.

Biden has set a goal for most K-8 schools to be open within his first 100 days, but his aides have not explained how they measure school opening or what portion of schools are open today. By some estimates, a majority of schools are already open.

He issued a presidential memorandum Thursday, allowing FEMA to reimburse expenses for emergency supplies to reopen schools, including personal protective gear or cleaning materials, officials said. They did not specify how much money would be available from FEMA. Last week, Biden asked Congress for $130 billion to cover a range of school reopening expenses as part of his larger relief package.

The president also signed an executive order intended to provide guidance to help schools, child-care providers and higher education operate safely. The White House plan calls for an expansion of coronavirus testing in schools, to try to give teachers and parents more confidence in reopening buildings. Still, this executive order will encourage the Federal Communications Commission to increase support for students who lack reliable Internet service at home, which is needed for remote learning.

For travel, the president signed an executive order requiring masks to be worn in airports and international travelers to show proof of a negative coronavirus test before boarding planes to the United States, and to quarantine once they arrive. Masks will be required in domestic airports.

Other actions Thursday formalized the creation of a health equity task force to help devote more aid and money to underserved communities where covid-19 infections and deaths have taken a disproportionately high toll. Another presidential directive is designed to strengthen the nation's work with other countries in fighting the pandemic and future global health threats.

The vow to provide greater support for states is a response to months of assertions that they lacked adequate direction and money from the government. State and municipal health officials said they welcomed a more robust federal role in carrying out vaccinations and were optimistic the new administration would communicate with them more clearly.

Chicago's public health commissioner, Allison Arwady, said conflicting statements about vaccine distribution by the outgoing and incoming administrations forced her to lower expectations about how many people could be vaccinated quickly. "It's been a struggle these last couple weeks with all of the different messaging," Arwady said.

LG is considering the discontinuation of its smartphone business following years of unprofitability, according to a report by the Korea Herald.

The companys smartphone division has lost around $3.5 billion over the past five years, and CEO Kwon Bong-Seok has notified staff of a potential major change in the smartphone business this year.

In an internal memo, Bong-Seok said the sale, withdrawal, or downsizing of LGs smartphone business was being considered.

However, he assured staff that their employment would be unaffected.

Since the competition in the global market for mobile devices is getting fiercer, it is about time for LG to make a cold judgment and the best choice, LG told the Korea Herald.

The company is considering all possible measures, including sale, withdrawal and downsizing of the smartphone business.

LG confirmed that it was considering ways to resolve the problems with its smartphone business in a separate statement to The Verge.

LG Electronics management is committed to making whatever decision is necessary to resolve its mobile business challenges in 2021, an LG spokesperson told the publication.

As of today, nothing has been finalized.

LG currently holds a 2% share in the global smartphone market, markedly smaller than its competitors Apple, Samsung, and Huawei, and its smartphone division has posted a loss for 23 consecutive quarters.

Unique smartphone designs

LG has tried many strategies to stand out from the competition, the most recent of which was its LG Wing swivelling smartphone, which comprised two displays that rotated between a standard smartphone form factor and a perpendicular T-shape.

This allows the user to expand a single application to both screens when or two applications can be displayed simultaneously  one on each display.

LG has also teased a new rollable smartphone device this year, and despite the re-evaluation of its smartphone business, it still plans to launch this handset this year.

The rollable smartphone has a resizeable screen which extends from the phone and functions as a small tablet display.

If launched, the LG rollable smartphone will be one of the most unconventional smartphone designs on the market.

However, it may also be the last smartphone the company produces, depending on when the smartphone division will be shut down.

Now read: LG unveils first OLED UltraFine monitor
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
WASHINGTON - Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emoff will not be immediately moving into the Naval Observatory while work is done on the 128-year-old home, according to two people familiar with the arrangement.

They are intending to move to a temporary residence while the repairs, which involve liners in the chimney and other maintenance, according to a person close to Harris, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not have authorization to speak publicly.

The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal on Thursday met the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and alleged that the BSF is threatening people in the border areas of the state to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party. The Border Security Force (BSF) is yet to issue a reaction to the TMCs allegation.

The full bench of the ECI, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, arrived in the state on Wednesday evening on a two-day visit ahead of the assembly polls, the dates of which are yet to be announced. We have informed the CEC and other ECI officials that the BSF is threatening voters in border areas. We have received inputs that officers of the paramilitary force are visiting various villages and asking people to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party.

This is a dangerous situation and the ECI must look into it, TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee told reporters after meeting the ECI delegation here. The ECI officials are meeting the representatives of various political parties before holding discussions with officials of central and state regulatory agencies.

There will also be a review meeting with divisional commissioners, district election officers and senior police officers over the assembly elections in the state, sources in the state poll panel said.



Vishwanath Pratap Singh visited Kuala Lumpur in June 1990 as the Indian prime minister. He was surprised with the economic progress he saw around. Malaysia was one of the handful of Asian countries that had engineered an economic miracle by the 1980s, as it harnessed domestic capabilities to build an export engine that pulled people out of poverty. The average Malaysian was better off in 1990 than the average Indian is today.

Singh later asked Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who was then working in the Prime Ministers Office, to write a policy note on the steps India needed to take to emulate what so many other countries to the east of our borders had done. The result was the M-Document" that brought together the thinking of economic reformers who had begun to make an impact within the Indian government over the previous decade.

This anecdote is part of the folklore of the 1991 economic reforms, introduced by the duo of then prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and finance minister Manmohan Singh when India was on the brink of an international default. It is also strikingly similar to the epiphany Deng Xiaoping hadand the lessons he took back to Chinaat the end of his Asian tour in 1978, soon after he had consolidated his power following the death of Mao Zedong. China embarked on its new economic strategy soon afterwards. The Asian model was worth emulating.

View Full Image In the neighbourhood

The role of the twin epiphanies should not be exaggerated. Large countries do not change their economic course only because of what their leaders see on a foreign visit. However, the Asian story cannot be ignored either. It tells us that economic success is not just about accelerating the rate of economic growth on a sustained basis; it is also about structural transformation of the economy.

The process of structural economic transformation is built around three interlinked transitionsfrom farm to factory, from informal to formal enterprises, from villages to cities. Each of these transitions provide opportunities for people to shift from low-productivity to high-productivity activities, with access to financial capital, labour markets and commercial networks. Several Asian countriesfrom Japan in the 1950s to China in the 2000ssuccessfully made these transitions.

In his landmark 1992 budget speech, Manmohan Singh was clearly referring to the Asian success stories when he said: We  embarked on a medium-term programme of structural reform, including new initiatives in trade policy and industrial policy aimed at improving the efficiency, productivity and international competitiveness of the Indian industry. Our longer-term objective is to evolve a pattern of production that is labour intensive and generates larger employment opportunities in productive higher-income jobs, and reduces the disparities in income and wealth between rural and urban areas."

It will soon be 30 years since the economic reforms of 1991. Much of the debate over this period has focused on the second of the two themes mentioned abovethe reduction in poverty as a result of higher average incomes. India has done reasonably well on the first front. The size of the Indian economy has increased from $274 billion in 1991 to $2.87 trillion in 2019. Average incomes have increased from $308 to $2,097 over the same period. The World Bank now defines India as a lower middle-income country.

Much of this is known. However, far less attention has been drawn to the equally important first themethe structural transformation of the Indian economy. Have there been enough opportunities for Indians to move out of their traditional occupations, which are also often linked to caste hierarchies? A December 2019 story in the Plain Facts section of this newspaper used data from the India Human Development Survey to show that social mobility is still very weak in India: There is only a one in three chances that a son born to a farmer or farm worker or construction worker moves to a different occupation.

Indians have begun exiting the overcrowded agriculture sector in recent decades. The proportion of the Indian labour force employed in agriculture has come down sharply over the past three decadesfrom 62.56% in 1991 to 42.39% in 2020, according to estimates from the International Labour Organization.

Yet the Indian farm continues to shrink in size, as farming families divide land because of the lack of economic opportunities elsewhere. The average Indian farm is now just over one hectare in size. It was around 1.4 hectares in 1995, a little after the 1991 economic reforms. Indian agriculture has a problem of scale.

That is why job creation outside farming matters. Where have these sectoral migrants been absorbed? The proportion of the Indian labour force in industry climbed from 15.72% in 1991 to 25.57% in 2020. Industry in this context includes manufacturing, construction, mining and public utilities. Services sector employment rose from 21.72% in 1991 to 32.04% in 2019. The bottom line is that a fifth of the labour force has moved out of agriculture since 1991, a sign of structural transformation in progress.

One way to see how India is doing in comparison to some other significant Asian economies is to compare the structure of the economy today with that of its regional peers when they were at a similar level of development. India had an average income of $2,000 in 2019, the year before the recession induced by the pandemic. South Korea was at a similar level in 1983, Thailand in 1992, China in 2006, Indonesia in 2007 and Vietnam in 2012. Bangladesh had a per capita income of a little less than $2,000 in 2019.

The table shows that India is broadly comparable to these Asian countries when they were at a similar level of economic development. It is worth pointing out that urbanization levels across countries are not strictly comparable because each nation uses a different way to define a city, and India is far more urbanized than our official statistics show.

However, there are some major challenges as well. Much of the industrial work that Indians who have exited farming have got is not productive enough to pay them good wages. The reason: They have not moved from farming to modern factories or modern offices, but are finding work in stunted enterprises that act more as social shock absorbers rather than engines of income growth.

The average Indian enterprise is tiny. Only one in every 50 enterprises hires more than 10 employees. An average enterprise has only 2.24 employees. This is in sharp contrast to the situation in China, where people leaving farms have been absorbed into large enterprises that often have links to global supply chains. In a study done for NITI Aayog, researchers at IDFC Institute pointed out that most workers in India are employed by firms with less than eight people while most workers in China are employed by firms with 51-2,000 people.

India needs to create 100,000 competitive small and medium enterprises over the next 10 years, each employing about 500 people, if it hopes to create 100 million well-paying jobs by 2030. The proliferation of tiny enterprises will not do the trick.

India is at the crossroads right now. Thirty years after it reintegrated with the world economy, it is a lower middle-income country that has sustained its economic momentum for three decades, one of the few countries to do so. It has covered around a third of the long journey towards an economy freed of mass poverty. The biggest economic challenge over the next 10 years is to meet the aspirations of a young population through the creation of jobs with decent wages. The record has been a mixed one till now.

The biggest public policy challenge in the coming years will thus be robust job creation through the growth of modern enterprises. It does not help that the organized sector which is better placed to create high-quality jobs has shown a marked preference for machinery over men in recent decades.

One of the great paradoxes is that the Indian industry is capital intensive despite the country having surplus labour. Economists have pointed out the capital intensity of Indian manufacturing has been steadily rising since 1980, for a range of reasons, from labour market regulations to infrastructure bottlenecks. The result is that job creation in the industry has been weaker than expected.

Job creation is the best way to guarantee inclusive growth. The inability to do so since 1991 has meant that the Indian state has come under pressure to use its fiscal resources to buy social stability, through programmes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme or the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi.

Such income support programmes leave less money aside for the provision of public goods or the building of infrastructure. The inability to provide quality jobs in modern enterprises in effect means that the Indian state has been forced to move from a development role to a compensatory role, not exactly the best option for a country at our level of development.

The task ahead is thus to double down on the goal Singh spoke about in his 1992 speechto emulate what other countries to the east of our borders have managed. The Asian success stories have many common themes. The more orthodox economists stress on their export orientation, high levels of domestic savings, a liberal import regime, competitive exchange rates and macroeconomic stability. The heterodox economists point to successful industrial policy, subsidies to select sectors, preferential credit allocation and administrative guidance. What both agree on is that these countries pursued export promotion rather than import substitution, and invested heavily in human capital.

The 1991 reforms were a decisive turn away from import substitution in a protected domestic market. India reintegrated into the world economy. Import tariffs have been going up over the past few years. Industrial policy is making a comeback through incentives to specific sectors that have been identified by the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has maintained strategic ambiguity about what he means by atmanirbhar, but some of his ministers have been talking about the importance of import substitution.

India is unlikely to slide back into a 1970s-style interventionist economy. Yet the decision to bank on the $3-trillion domestic economy rather than the $85-trillion global economy could be a strategic mistakeespecially at a time when international discomfort with Chinese aggression has hastened the shift of global supply chains from that country.

One insight from trade economics is that an import tax is in effect an export tax. Indias own pre-1991 record shows that protectionism does not help build a competitive industrial sector. The lessons from Asia are still key.

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha is a member of the academic board of the Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 19:34:42|Editor: huaxia

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-- In his inauguration speech, Biden said he would unify the nation to overcome its many challenges, urging the American people to come together at a "moment of crisis."

-- Two weeks ago, Capitol Hill -- the site of Biden's inaugural ceremony -- was stormed by a mob of pro-Trump demonstrators trying to stop Congress from rectifying his election victory, leaving not only five people dead but also an ugly stain on the nation that takes pride in its peaceful transfer of power.

-- "America is deeply divided along partisan lines in a way that would have been tough to imagine a few decades ago," said Christopher Galdieri, an assistant professor at Saint Anselm College.





WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, taking over a nation hollowed out by a health crisis unprecedented in living memory, the worst economic recession in over eight decades and a protracted political divide that is still sharpening.

While taking the presidential oath of office, Biden pleaded with Americans to reunite as one in the face of challenges and pledged to bring healing to the nation.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden (L, Front) is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT

Under the gaze of National Guard troops standing beneath the Capitol steps to provide security for the ceremony, Biden took his oath of office administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, putting his hand on the 127-year-old family Bible.

In his inauguration speech, Biden said he would unify the nation to overcome its many challenges, urging the American people to come together at a "moment of crisis."

"This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward," Biden said, referring to a "once-in-a-century virus" pandemic that took over 400,000 American lives, as well as the existence of a "cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making."

"To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words and requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity," said Biden.

A man watches a live broadcast of U.S. President Joe Biden's inaugural address in Times Square in New York, the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Biden in his speech didn't mention his predecessor, Donald Trump, who departed early for his private residence in Florida. The new U.S. president has vowed to undo many of Trump's policies and is expected to do so by signing a flurry of executive orders later in the day.

"Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path," Biden said.

"Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured," he said in what appeared to be a veiled reference to the unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and other conspiracy theories that led to the takeover by a pro-Trump mob of the building Biden was standing directly in front of.

Photo taken on Jan. 19, 2021 shows a view of the National Mall ahead of the 59th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C, the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

AN INAUGURATION LIKE NO OTHER

Two weeks ago, Capitol Hill -- the site of Biden's inaugural ceremony -- was stormed by a mob of pro-Trump demonstrators trying to stop Congress from rectifying his election victory, leaving not only five people dead but also an ugly stain on the nation that takes pride in its peaceful transfer of power.

Washington was under partial lockdown as Biden and Kamala Harris, the new vice president of the United States, took their oaths of office, with the Capitol building surrounded by barbed wire fencing, and the National Mall emptied and filled with some 200,000 flags to represent those who were disallowed to attend the ceremony due to the pandemic and security concerns.

Up to 25,000 National Guard members were deployed in the city, where a public emergency declaration is in effect, patrolling the streets to prevent a recurrence of violence.

Police officers stand guard during the inauguration ceremony of the 46th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Among those soldiers, 12 were removed on Tuesday from duty due to various threats they were perceived to pose. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters that "there's enough information for us to determine to remove them from the Capitol."

What also made the inauguration unorthodox was the no-show of the former president immediately preceding Biden, which had been unseen since 1869. Trump departed Washington and headed to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida to intentionally skip the event.

There was, however, one long-held tradition that the former president indeed followed -- leaving his successor a private note in the presidential residence. Biden said in the Oval Office that Trump wrote a letter to him, but he refused to disclose the content of it "because it was private."

U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (C) is sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

DAUNTING TASKS

Biden took swift actions to discharge the duty of president after being escorted into the White House as its new occupant, swearing in administration staffers in a virtual ceremony and signing 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations that all aimed to reverse or revise policies of the Trump administration.

Among the president's executive actions were a mask-wearing mandate on federal property, the start of a process to bring the United States back to the 2015 Paris Climate Accord the country exited under Trump, as well as a sweeping immigration overhaul to end the travel ban on several Muslim-majority countries, the construction of the border wall, and the suspension of the DACA legislation that protects immigrants who came to the United States illegally during their childhood.

The United States on Wednesday notified United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of its acceptance of the Paris Agreement on climate change, thus making its re-entry effective on Feb. 19, said Guterres's spokesman.

On Day One of his presidency, Biden also sent to Congress an expansive immigration bill that would give unlawful immigrants in the United States an eight-year pathway to citizenship, expand the use of technology along the southern border instead of relying on a wall, and offer foreign aid to Central American nations.

U.S. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris (L, Front) is sworn in as the 49th Vice President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

That the president acted without any procrastination to sweep aside what his national security adviser Jake Sullivan said were "elements of the Trump policies that were deeply inhumane" drew immediate criticism from a conservative group leader, whom The New York Times cited as saying that Biden's first moves as president "will make America less safe, less free, and less prosperous."

That was an indication of just how divided Washington remained despite Biden's call for unity.

With three new Democratic senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock from Georgia and Alex Padilla from California, having been sworn in, the Democrats now have control of the White House, the Senate and the House.

The 100 seats in the Senate are currently evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, with Harris as president of the chamber -- the tiebreaker. Meanwhile, the majority the Democrats now hold in the House has shrunk to the slimmest in decades, which could complicate the passage in Congress of the Biden administration's agenda.

Supporters of U.S. President Joe Biden hold flags during the inauguration ceremony of the 46th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

In an evenly divided Senate, Democrats, thanks to their effective control of the chamber, could rely on a so-called "reconciliation process" to pass budget-related legislation by a simple majority, thus nixing Republican filibusters. However, there is a limitation on the number of times this tactic could be applied.

"America is deeply divided along partisan lines in a way that would have been tough to imagine a few decades ago," said Christopher Galdieri, an assistant professor at Saint Anselm College, adding that "I don't think this is something that can be bridged by an inaugural address."

"Instead, I think Biden's challenge is to make government work for people of all political stripes in a palpable way," he said. "That depends entirely on the timing of the impeachment trial. The earliest months of a presidency are crucial."

(Video reporters: Hu Yousong, Tan Yixiao; Video editors: Peng Ying, Zhang Qiru)
Hours after he was sworn in, US President on Wednesday announced that the United States plans to re-enter the Paris climate accord, the landmark agreement signed in 2015 to limit global warming.

The United States under the Trump administration had abandoned the agreement late last year. President signed an executive order to rejoin the US into the Paris climate agreement on Wednesday, CNN reported.

"We are going to combat in a way we have not done so far," Biden said.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty on It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in Paris on December 12, 2015, and entered into force on November 4, 2016. It aims to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

Biden's action on Paris sends a strong message that the US is prepared to cooperate in the fight against and to reclaim the leadership role it once held, experts say.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

The need to clamp down on the spread of the new variants of coronavirus will dominate discussions between the 27 heads of state and government on Thursday evening.

The European Union could ban travellers from Britain and restrict movement at the bloc's own internal borders under proposals to be debated by leaders at a videoconference summit.

The need to clamp down on the spread of the new variants of coronavirus will dominate discussions between the 27 heads of state and government on Thursday evening, The Guardian wrote.

The prevalence of the variants in any area, whether the country is in the EU or outside the bloc, would be sufficient to ban travel under one proposal paper drafted by the German government.

For those outside the EU, such as the UK, the prohibition on movement would be countrywide, according to Berlin. "Where member states consider this necessary to protect public health, they are free to impose further-reaching temporary bans on entry and on transporting passengers entering from third countries with virus variant areas," German officials write.

Read alsoNumber of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide exceeds 96.8 mlnIn the German paper sent to the 27 member states earlier this week, officials in Berlin write that "protecting the health of EU citizens while ensuring freedom of movement within the EU and travel without border checks within the Schengen area make it necessary for member states to take coordinated action to contain the spread of new variants of concern of the Sars-CoV-2 virus".

"The variants known so far are B117 (British mutation) and 501V2 (the South African mutation); there is the fear that further mutations will emerge," the paper adds. "Only if member states take joint and coordinated action can the virus be contained effectively. For this reason, we see an urgent need to act in order to prevent, or at least slow down, the spread of worrying virus variants to and within the EU+ area (EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland)."

The priority, the German government says, is to maintain essential supply chains while clamping down on further infection.

Berlin has proposed test centres at internal EU borders as one tool, with mandatory quarantine for those coming from areas with high prevalence of the new variants.

There would only be exceptions for transit and people working in the passenger and goods transport sector and health workers.

But Berlin has said the prevalence of virus variants in parts of the EU should also be added to the criteria for restricting freedom of movement, with the option to prohibit movement out of a virus variant area "in line with national law, for example to a 15km [9-mile] radius."

On Thursday, Angela Merkel's chief of staff, Helge Braun, told ARD television that the EU's own internal borders would also need to be closed if the new, more transmissible, variants could not be brought under control.

"The danger is that when the infections in a country go up, this mutation becomes a quasi-majority variant and then the infection can no longer be controlled," he said. "And therefore even stricter entry rules at our internal borders are unavoidable, and since everyone does not want that, it is important that we act together now."

More news reports

Reporting by UNIAN
But the first attempt to break into the brick home failed, so McNair, with three others, decided to rob Champs Liquors, documents said. Kevin Champion, 41, was killed as he sat in his SUV in the parking lot. A surveillance video shows the shooter climbing into the truck to search for cash. He didnt find any.
Millions of Australians will be let in to Tasmania after the coronavirus risk was downgraded from medium to low.

People from 24 local councils in Sydney will be allowed to travel to Tasmania from 12.01am on Friday, Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Thursday.

'The outbreak in the northern beaches appears to be over. The last diagnosed case was over a week ago now,' Tasmanian Public Health Director Mark Veitch said.

Millions of Australians could be let in to one idyllic holiday state after the coronavirus risk is downgraded from medium to low (stock image)

Pictured: A beach in Tasmania. People in 24 Sydney regions and the whole of Brisbane will be able to travel without quarantining

However 10 council areas in the city's west, including Canterbury and Parramatta, remain medium risk.

Anyone who has recently been on those areas must still quarantine upon arrival.

Mr Gutwein also announced Brisbane will shift from medium risk to low risk.

It means travel between Queensland and Tasmania can occur without restrictions.

'Queenslanders entering the state will no longer need to quarantine,' Mr Gutwein said.

Tasmania declared Brisbane high risk on January 8 after an outbreak of the more contagious British Covid-19 strain and forced all recent arrivals into isolation.

Pictured: People wearing masks while shopping in Sydney CBD on Wednesday, January 20

Travel between Queensland and Tasmania can occur without restrictions (stock image of a woman in Tasmania)

Medium Risk Areas in Sydney: Anyone who lives in the areas below has to quarantine for two weeks before entering Tasmania, at a government-approved hotel. Blacktown Burwood Canada Bay Canterbury-Bankstown Cumberland Fairfield Inner West Liverpool Parramatta Strathfield Source: Tasmanian Government Advertisement

Those people still in quarantine will be allowed out at 12.01am on Friday.

'I want to thank them for their patience during this. It's been a challenging period of time,' Mr Gutwein said.

'Not everybody I'm sure will race out at one minute past 12. Some may like to sleep through the course of the night, but it will be welcome news.'

Both Queensland and NSW recorded no locally-acquired cases on Thursday.

Parts of Sydney are the only remaining quarantine requirement for domestic travellers entering Tasmania.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also downgraded Brisbane from a 'red zone' to an 'orange zone' from 6pm on Saturday.

Travelling from an orange zone means Brisbane residents will have to get a permit to cross the border, get a test within three days and isolate until it comes back negative.

A red zone means residents cannot cross into Victoria without an exemption.

Greater Sydney, including Wollongong and the Blue Mountains, is still classified as a 'red zone'.

The Morrison Government is also considering allowing quarantine-free travel from Pacific islands.

In October, Scott Morrison allowed travel from New Zealand after the country eliminated Covid-19, but Australians are not yet allowed to go the other way.

Aerial view of a boat carrying tourist to the stunning Erakor island in the Port Vila bay, Vanuatu

Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday said medical experts are considering adding Pacific nations such as Fiji and Vanuatu to the list of 'green' countries which can send flights to Australia without quarantine.

If those nations, which are heavily dependent on tourism, agree to a two-way travel bubble then Australians could be allowed to fly overseas for the first time since March.

'We have been supportive of the idea of expanding the existing travel bubble with New Zealand,' Mr Hunt told reporters.

'This is based very much on the health advice and so we keep countries under review.'

The government categorises countries as green, amber or red, depending on how many Covid infections they are suffering.

The government is considering allowing quarantine-free travel from Pacific islands such as Fiji, giving Aussies hope of an overseas holiday this year. Pictured: Mamanuca Islands

Fiji has only had 55 cases of the virus and has zero active cases.

'Our goal is if the Pacific countries are able to be shown to be at the lowest risk level - and they are doing extraordinarily well - and that we're able to put in the appropriate protections, then we could well expand that bubble,' Mr Hunt said.

'But that's evidence based, based on very hard medical data, and the overview of the Commonwealth Chief Health Officer on the advice of the medical expert panel.'

Mr Hunt declined to say which countries would be included or when a decision would be made.
SEATTLE  While the state struggles to bolster its vaccination distribution efforts, the Washington Department of Health on Tuesday began reporting its most updated vaccination numbers on its online COVID-19 data dashboard.

The dashboard, launched months ago, updates Washingtonians every day on the states latest number of COVID-19 cases, deaths, hospitalizations, tests and other information. On Tuesday evening, vaccination data was added to the list.

As of Monday night, 294,386 doses had been given, with a seven-day average of 14,064 per day. The states goal is to reach 45,000 vaccine doses per day, Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday, promising to add new vaccination sites, mobilize thousands of workers and make everyone 65 and over immediately eligible.

But The Seattle Times reports there is pushback from the health community to Inslees plan for meeting the new goal. Instead of waiting for vaccines to arrive before making appointments, providers should operate on the assumption that more supplies are coming and cancel appointments if necessary, Inslee said.

We have really serious concerns about this idea, said Washington State Hospital Association CEO Cassie Sauer at a briefing with several other hospital leaders. Nurses would be pulled away from other work for vaccinations that might not happen. And, Sauer said, I believe the public outrage at having a vaccine appointment scheduled and then canceled will be extreme and will really undermine the confidence in our vaccine delivery system.

In King County, the states most populous and home to Seattle, 109,120 doses have been administered. Pierce County, home to Tacoma, which has given the second-highest number of shots, has administered 33,845 doses, according to state health officials.

The dashboard also reported more than 607,000 doses have been delivered to state health care providers and nearly 89,000 doses have been delivered for the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions long-term care vaccination program. About 42% of the delivered doses have been administered, officials said.

(@ChaudhryMAli88)

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 21st Jan, 2021) Emirates Waste to Energy Company, a joint venture between Beeah and Masdar will undertake a pioneering project to develop Beeahs landfill into a solar farm, the first of its kind in the UAE.

The agreement was announced jointly by Khaled Al Huraimel, Group Chief Executive Officer of Beeah and Chairman of the Emirates Waste to Energy Company, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week which takes place virtually this week.

Emirates Waste to Energy Company will deliver the solar photovoltaic (PV) project that will comprise up to 120 megawatts (MW) and will be constructed on top of Beeahs Al Sajah landfill in close proximity to the Sharjah Waste to Energy facility and Beeahs Waste Management Complex. The solar landfill project will be delivered across three phases, with the first phase due for completion in 2023.

"Masdar is proud to be extending our existing partnership with Beeah through the Emirates Waste to Energy Company to develop this landmark project in Sharjah. Waste is a growing issue in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. However, this project highlights how we can utilize closed landfills to deliver clean energy, while simultaneously supporting the UAEs clean energy targets and UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are confident that this project can become a benchmark for other landfill sites in the region," said Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar.

"As a pioneer of zero waste solutions, Beeah is looking to create new value from capped landfills while supporting the deployment of renewable energy in the UAE and I am confident that we can replicate this same model of success for other cities in the middle East.

Through Emirates Waste to Energy Company, we are proud to be partnering with Masdar to support the UAEs pioneering sustainability vision," said Khaled Al Huraimel, Group Chief Executive Officer of Beeah, Chairman of the Emirates Waste to Energy Company.

Finding productive uses for closed landfills is a global industry issue due to stringent environmental monitoring and remediation requirements that can take up to 30 years. Redeveloping the landfill into a solar farm will add to Sharjahs renewable energy generation, and it is also economically and environmentally beneficial.

Emirates Waste to Energy Company will be responsible for the financing, design, procurement and construction. Under the terms of the lease agreement, operation and maintenance services will also be provided by the company for a 25-year period.

Established in 2017, Emirates Waste to Energy Companys first project is the Sharjah Waste to Energy facility housed in Beeahs Waste Management Complex. The 30 MW Sharjah Waste to Energy project is currently under construction and is due for completion later this year.
A painter making a housecall has left the owner with a considerably more sizable renovation bill after backing her car through the closed garage door and out the wall on the other side.

The tradesperson had visited the client in Browns Bay, New Zealand, to prepare for a job on Monday and intended to glide out of the driveway and turn right - but instead she reversed.

Security footage from the neighbour's house across the street shows the white sedan slowly moving backwards before rapidly accelerating and smashing through the double sized garage door.

The painter's car went through the garage and out the wall on the other side and a crane had to be brought in to remove the car (pictured)

While on road level at the front, the garage is on the second level at the rear, causing the car to plunge into the backyard, resting vertical against the house.

The driver was rushed to hospital but discharged shortly after without any injuries.

'She just got a fright,' a resident of the house told the New Zealand Herald.

The resident, one of six people who live in the house, said thankfully no one was at home when the car smashed through the wall with them all at work about 9am on Monday.

'The landlord had sent a message to us so one of the girls who lives here went back to the flat to see and she took photos,' she recalled.

'I couldn't believe it. The whole thing was being downplayed as 'a little bit of damage', then we saw the photos and thought holy s**t, that's a big hole.'

Remarkably there was no structural damage to the house and the girls were allowed to stay as long as they steer clear of the garage and a lounge room directly above.

The house will be freshened up with some new paint ahead of being listed for sale.
Surgeon General Jerome Adams walks to the West Wing of the White House after a television interview in Washington on July 7, 2020. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Honolulu Judge Drops Charges Against Former Surgeon General for Allegedly Flouting Virus Restrictions

A judge in Honolulu on Wednesday dismissed a case against former Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who faced criminal misdemeanor charges for allegedly violating local COVID-19 restrictions while in Hawaii to help with testing efforts.

The dismissal of charges came on the same day Adams announced that he had been asked by the Biden transition team to resign from his role as surgeon general, and one day after Honolulu prosecutors submitted a motion to dismiss charges against Adams and his aide, Dennis Anderson-Villaluz, for allegedly violating Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwells Aug. 18 emergency proclamation, Act Now HonoluluNo Social Gatherings.

In Tuesdays filing of a motion to dismiss charges, newly elected Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Steve Alm said in a statement cited by local outlet KITV, a prosecutors paramount goal is to do justice. After a careful review of the facts and law in this case, I have determined that further prosecution of this matter would not achieve that goal.

This offices resources are better spent prosecuting other offenses, including serious violations of the Mayors emergency orders that pose a real threat to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, Alm added.

Adams and Anderson-Villaluz were stopped by Honolulu police officers as the men were getting back in their car after walking through part of Kualoa Regional Park to get to the ocean on Aug. 23.

A Honolulu police officer cited Adams after seeing him with two men looking at the view taking pictures at the park, KITV reports.

Adams was in Hawaii to help with COVID-19 testing efforts amid a surge in infections, with their detention by officers taking place less than 24 hours after they arrived in Honolulu.

Following an initial court hearing, prosecutors filed criminal misdemeanor charges against Adams and Anderson-Villaluz, with convictions punishable by up to a $5,000 fine or up to a year in jail, or both.

According to a criminal complaint, Adams told the officer he was visiting Hawaii to work with the governor on COVID-19 and didnt know parks were closed.

Adams had been granted a government exemption from requirements that travelers to Hawaii quarantine for 14 days because he was helping the state, his attorney, Michael Green, said.

The two men entered not guilty pleas through their attorney at a Nov. 2 arraignment.

Green said he spoke to Adams after the motion to dismiss was submitted Tuesday, saying Adams was thrilled by the development.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Information is changing rapidly as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the country, infection rates surge and dip and health care providers roll out the coronavirus vaccine across the country.

Thats what the Houston Chronicles COVID-19 Help Desk is here to get right. Every week, a Chronicle reporter will take readers questions about how the virus works and what to expect with the vaccine.

Whats in the ingredient list of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the ingredients of both vaccines online as part of their emergency use authorizations. Pfizer-BioNTech's vaccine includes mRNA, lipids, potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate and sucrose. Moderna's vaccine includes messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), lipids, tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate and sucrose.

The main component is the lipids (also known as fats), which provide a protective casing around mRNA to keep it from degrading before entering the body. Modified mRNA carries the blueprints for cells to create antibodies that attack SARS-CoV-2. The rest are salts that help the body take in the vaccine and sugars to protect the vaccine from freezing when stored at cold temperatures.

As for what the vaccines dont have, Dr. Megan Berman, a physician and faculty member at the Sealy Institute of Vaccine Sciences at the University of Texas - Medical Branch in Galveston, is keeping a list: Neither of the vaccines contain eggs, gelatin, latex or any preservatives, she said. There are no aborted fetal cells in the vaccine.

And no, there are no tracking microchips in there, either.

VIRUS FAQS: World-renowned expert Ben Neuman shares which COVID vaccine he'd take, given the choice

Should you get the COVID-19 vaccine if youve previously had an allergic reaction to an injection?

There are few reports of anaphylaxis in response to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  just 11 cases in 1 million vaccinations, to be precise.

Symptoms of swelling or difficulty breathing usually appear within half an hour, which is why medical providers monitor people for 15 to 30 minutes after inoculation.

People might hesitate to get the vaccine if theyve had an allergic response in the past to the flu or shingles vaccines, but thats not necessarily a reason to avoid the vaccine.

Instead, Berman suggests patients consult their allergist or primary care doctor before scheduling an appointment for the vaccine and ensure their vaccination site can treat them if they have a response.

To put this in perspective, we can treat anaphylaxis, Berman said. All of these cases of anaphylaxis have actually been successfully treated. When you look at the lives taken by COVID-19 and you don't know the long-term consequences for those who do survive, the risk/benefits just really seem to go toward vaccination.

You may see some other side effects, such as a sore arm, fatigue or headache after the injection. Theyre not signs of an allergic reaction, Berman said  just a sign that your body is creating the right immune response to COVID-19.

Does the COVID-19 vaccine have to be given in the arm, or can it go into another muscle?

Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are intramuscular vaccines. Although designed for the arm or deltoid muscle, Berman said they can be administered in the thigh.

These vaccines target a kind of cell circulating through your muscle tissue called dendritic cells. When the cell receives the mRNA from the vaccine, it creates the protein response and carries it to the rest of the bodys immune system.

The resulting cells are then programmed to hunt down SARS-CoV-2 in the body, said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Texas A&M.

However, San Antonio-based Texas Biomedical Research Institute and U.K.-based Lancaster University are developing a nasal spray vaccine that is currently in clinical trials.

Why are scientists saying they dont know if people who have been immunized can transmit the virus?

The clinical trials for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines did not study whether people who had been immunized can transmit the virus.

Scientists are now checking trial participants for antibodies, active infections and whether theyre shedding virus particles.

We don't really know about the asymptomatic spread, Berman said. What we know about the current virus is that 40 percent of people are able to transmit it while they're asymptomatic.

MORE FROM OUR COVID REPORTERS: Men more likely to get, die from COVID, Houston researchers find

Neuman told the Chronicle researchers may know the answer to that question in a year or two.

Are these vaccines on the market still effective against the more infectious U.K. strain?

The U.K. strain catching everyones eye is reportedly more infectious, but researchers say it does not cause more severe illness in the people who catch it.

Pfizers vaccine protects people from the new strain, Berman said.

Because the Pfizer and Moderna are so similar, we can just assume that both of them are going to have the same effect, she said.

At least one person in Harris County has been diagnosed with the new strain of virus.

Have a question for the Chronicles COVID-19 Help Desk? Ask it here.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

twitter.com/gwendolynawu
Education, professional skills and experience are the essential criteria for filling a position - or at least that is the expectation. The reality often looks different, as numerous studies have shown. When deciding whether to hire a candidate or not, gender, origin or ethnicity sometimes also play an important role; factors that say little about a candidate's suitability for a job.

This type of discrimination violates the principle of equal opportunities. For those affected, this may have long-term disadvantages, such as longer unemployment or lower wages. This is why it is crucial to understand who is discriminated against, and why. The study conducted by Dominik Hangartner (Public Policy Group), Daniel Kopp and Michael Siegenthaler (both KOF Swiss Economic Institute) was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and has just been published in Nature.

The research team collaborated with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to gain access to anonymized data from Job-Room, one of the largest recruitment platforms in Switzerland. Job-Room contains profiles of more than 150,000 job seekers. Recruiters hiring on Job-Room specify the criteria required for a particular job. They then receive a list of suitable candidates and can view their profiles. Among other things, the profiles contain information on expertise, gender, nationality and language skills of candidates. If recruiters are interested in particular candidates, they can contact them with just one click and invite them to a job interview.

Observing millions of decisions

The researchers analysed over ten months which candidates were contacted for an interview, and how recruiters made their selection. Their novel approach - which has significant advantages over conventional methods of studying discrimination - enabled them to determine how the origin or gender of a candidate influenced the likelihood of being contacted.

Previous research has mainly used correspondence studies to shed light on discrimination. In these studies, researchers send HR managers fictitious CVs that are identical except for the characteristic of interest, e.g. the applicant's ethnicity. The researchers then record which applicants are invited to an interview. This is a costly and, because of its interference in actual hiring processes, not unproblematic procedure. Furthermore, correspondence studies are typically limited to few applications and occupations. "By contrast, our method allows us to study discrimination across different professions and points in time, and to analyse the entire search process on the platform. We know which candidates are displayed to recruiters, when and for how long recruiters view a profile, if they click on the contact button - and we observe millions of such decisions," says co-author Daniel Kopp.

Discrimination is larger towards the end of the workday

The research team found that on average immigrant jobseekers were 6.5 percent less likely to be contacted than Swiss jobseekers with otherwise identical characteristics. This discrimination was particularly pronounced for migrants from the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, who are often faced with prejudices in everyday life. The researchers were able to show that a foreign origin has a stronger negative impact towards noon and in the evening - when recruiters review CVs faster. So the same recruiter makes different decisions depending on the time of day. "This result suggests that unconscious biases, such as stereotypes about minorities, also contribute to discrimination," says co-author Dominik Hangartner.

These unconscious biases might play a larger role when we are tired or want to leave work.The study also found that both men and women face discrimination. Given equal qualifications, women are mainly discriminated against in typical male professions and men in typical female professions. In the five professions with the lowest proportion of women, women are 7 percent less likely to be contacted. In the five occupations with the highest proportion of women, they are 13 percent more likely to be contacted. According to co-author Michael Siegenthaler, some recruiters still seem to think that women are more suited to certain professions than men, and vice versa. "As a result, occupational segregation persists or is even increased."

Does digitisation lead to more discrimination?

Online platforms such as Job-Room are becoming an increasingly important tool for recruitment. Does that mean discrimination in the job search is growing? The researchers do not expect this to be the case. There is no evidence of more discrimination on online platforms than in traditional recruitment processes. According to Daniel Kopp, discrimination is rather a structural and societal problem that is reflected across the entire labour market. "But in the case of online portals, we can use the existing data to study hiring discrimination in detail and, based on the results, develop strategies to increase equal hiring opportunities."

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KATHMANDU : India sent 1 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Nepal on Thursday, a gift that is likely to help repair strained ties between the two neighbours.

Nepal health minister Hridayesh Tripathi said the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, will be given to health workers and other front-line personnel within a week to 10 days.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

Tripathi said Nepal would like to purchase 4 million more doses, and asked for the Indian government's help. There was no immediate response from Indian officials who were the airport when the vaccine arrived.

Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali flew to India last week to formally request the vaccine.

India, the world's largest vaccine producer, began supplying coronavirus vaccine to its neighbours this week as it attempts to strike a balance between maintaining enough doses to inoculate its own people and helping developing countries without the capacity to produce their own vaccine.

Indias foreign ministry said it sent 150,000 doses to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives on Wednesday, and would send more to Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Seychelles in coming weeks.

Relations between India and Nepal have been strained by a territorial dispute which led to an exchange of strong-worded statements by the two sides.

India has also accused Nepal's Communist government of becoming closer to other giant neighbour, China.

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Chattanooga Tea Party president Brendan Jennings posted the following on Thursday to Tea Party members via its website and social media:

"For a variety of reasons, the officers of the Chattanooga Tea Party hereby serve notice of the intent to dissolve the organization effective Jan. 31, 2021.

"Its important for any viable organization to foster broad participation and bring in new people who can provide a fresh perspective and energy to move things forward. The pandemic made those efforts more challenging and also put a crimp in our fundraising efforts.

"Nevertheless, we are proud of what the Chattanooga Tea Party and our collective group of citizens have been able to accomplish in our 12 years of existence. We brought in national speakers, such as Senator Ted Cruz, David Barton and former presidential candidate Rick Santorum. We held several candidate forums featuring candidates for various local and state political offices. We held monthly meetings that educated citizens on local issues, and in many cases we were able to positively influence outcomes in state and local issues and elections. We built a broad and active social media network so that our supporters could better influence lawmakers, keep in touch with each other and share their opinions in the open, as Americans have done (up to now, at least) since before our nations founding in 1776.

"Despite the closing of the local 501(c)(4) organization, as free citizens with freedom of association you are invited to continue to interact with us and each other via social media and email. We will maintain our full social media presence until relevant subscriptions expire, and you will have an opportunity to opt in to a new conservative group that will be presented and described in separate messaging. In a way, we have an opportunity to simply migrate into a different type of organization. More on that soon.

"And if you want to be active on other conservative fronts, check into these two groups that are fighting against overreaching executive orders from Governor Lee and local mayors:



Tennessee Stands (https://tennesseestands.org)

Hamilton County Advocates for Freedom (Facebook Group)



"In the meantime, thank you for your support over the years. I hope it clearly demonstrated the power and influence a group of concerned American citizens can have when organized into a coherent organization with clear objectives and a determination to be heard. God willing, thats something that will not change."







For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has appealed to former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State to return to the Peoples Democratic Party ...





Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has appealed to former Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Recall that Daniel had, in 2019, declared that he was no longer a member of the PDP or any other political party.

The former Governor said he had retired from partisan politics, blaming the unending crisis in the Ogun State chapter of the PDP for his decision.

But, on Wednesday, Gov Makinde visited the Asoludero residence of Daniel in Sagamu, where they had a closed-door meeting with former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun and other South West party leaders in attendance.

The meeting, it was gathered, was to reconcile the various factions of the party in Ogun and to make Daniel the leader of the PDP in the State.

The Oyo State Governor was quoted to have maintained that Daniel was in the best position to provide leadership for the party in the State.

According to a statement issued by Daniels media office, Makinde said he recognised Daniels capacity to reconcile all aggrieved factions of the party in the State, saying he played significant role in his emergence as the PDP governorship candidate in Oyo.

That is why he felt it is important that he takes charge of the party in Ogun State, the statement noted.

It was gathered that PDP National Working Committee would not have any choice than to agree with the South West line of party leadership if it realises there is unity among leaders of the region.

Reacting, Daniel stated that the PDP remained a good brand in Ogun, adding that the only way for the party is to redefine the character of leadership for the party.
[January 21, 2021] ADEA JDE: Oral Health Professionals Have Greater Role to Play in Improving Overall Health

Oral health professionals have a crucial but not fully realized role to play in advancing and improving the overall health of the general population, according to an essay published in the Journal of Dental Education. Noting that experts have recognized the basic connection between oral health and overall well-being for close to a century, Keith A. Mays, D.D.S., M.S., Ph.D., Interim Dean at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, wrote: "Approximately 100 years later, we are still having this conversation on the importance of oral health within the greater health system to help keep the population healthy." Dr. Mays's commentary, "The ability of oral health professionals to significantly influence improving overall health," was published in the January issue of JDE, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA).



In his essay, Dr. Mays noted that a 2000 report by then-Surgeon General David Satcher brought national attention to the fact that "dental caries was the most common childhood disease and that oral health was an integral component of good general health." In that report, Dr. Satcher called on all health care providers to play a role in improving the nation's oral health status. "I would suggest that, not only should all health care providers contribute to enhancing oral health, but that oral health providers should contribute to enhancing overall health," Dr. Mays wrote.

Dr. Mays identified several obstacles to achieving that goal, including a health care system that is often too fragmented (instead of integrated and person-centered), inadequate communication between dental health providers and the overall medical team, and financial reimbursement models that do not support oral health professional screening for chronic diseases. "Despite these and other obstacles, we are still in a moment of significant opportunity for oral health professionals to contribute to the improvement of overall health in the population," he wrote. Dr. Mays is the Chair-elect of the ADEA Board of Directors and has served the Association in various capacities since 2003. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005980/en/

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The Hanoi Department of Public Security will mobilize 100 percent of their personnel to ensure around-the-clock safety during the upcoming 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The municipal police forces on Wednesday held a ceremony to begin the implementation of plans aimed at ensuring security and order during the 13th National Party Congress, which is scheduled for January 25-February 2.

Officers under the Hanoi Department of Public Security salute on an armored vehicle during a ceremony on January 20, 2021. Photo: D. Le / Tuoi Tre

A command committee for protecting the Congress has been established, and specialized groups have also been formed to stay ready for security missions.

Speaking at the event, Major General Nguyen Hai Trung, director of the Hanoi Public Security Department, ordered all units to complete all missions and plans in a responsible and effective manner.

Officers under the department will coordinate with the military, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant municipal agencies to maximize order and security for the Congress.

Traffic police officers under the Hanoi Department of Public Security patrol on a street following a ceremony on January 20, 2021. Photo: D. Le / Tuoi Tre

All of the departments officers, units, and vehicles are ready to perform their tasks, Trung stated.

Thousands of officers will be mobilized to ensure 24-hour safety during the grand event, he added.

According to Deputy Minister of Public Security Bui Van Nam, Hanois police should pay special attention to current situations to promptly detect, prevent, and disable any conspiracies and activities by hostile and reactionary forces as well as other crimes during the Congress.

Officers under the Hanoi Department of Public Security patrol on a street following a ceremony on January 20, 2021. Photo: D. Le / Tuoi Tre

Armored vehicles join a parade on a street following a ceremony in Hanoi, January 20, 2021. Photo: D. Le / Tuoi Tre

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Houston police investigators are seeking more information in the recent death of a 5-year-old boy.

The boy, identified by police as David Niwamanya, went to a playground around noon Jan. 3 at his aparment in the 6100 block of Glenmont. After several minutes, his father went outside and noticed him struggling to get back up the stairs, according to Houston police.

The child eventually became unresponsive, and paramedics transported him to a hospital, where he died. The child showed signs of bruising, but its unclear what caused the injuries, police said.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, which listed the boys last name as Neowamana, has not issued a ruling on his cause of death. Anyone with information on the case has been asked to notify the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

julian.gill@chron.com

George Clooney has been on lockdown with his wife of six years, 42-year-old lawyer Amal Clooney, and their three-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella.

And this week the Ocean's 11 star - who will turn 60-years-old in May - told the Los Angeles Times what it has been like.

'It's been nine months mostly inside the house,' said Clooney. 'I have three-year-old twins, so that's been an adventure in a lot of washing dishes and changing diapers. My own, mostly.'

His immediate family: George Clooney has been on lockdown with his wife of six years, 42-year-old lawyer Amal Clooney; seen at the wedding of Harry and Meghan in 2018

One of his many fancy homes: A look at his $10M mansion in England. 'I wound up living in a home with some space in it. We can walk around outside,' said the pal of Brad Pitt. George also owns properties in California and the Lake Como area of Italy

And he is aware how lucky he is to live in a mansion; he has a $10M home in England as well as a property in Los Angeles' Studio City neighborhood and a villa in Lake Como, Italy.

'I wound up living in a home with some space in it. We can walk around outside,' said the pal of Brad Pitt.

But he is happy to be able to stay indoors unlike first responders.

'We have a great deal of gratitude for the fact that we were able to be in our homes and have some security, because there are an awful lot of people around the world that don't,' said the ER veteran.

Their little ones: Together George and Amal have three-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella; seen in NYC in 2018

Meanwhile, George previously insisted he is convinced we will 'come out better' after a difficult year.

The Monuments Men star said: 'This has been a crappy year for everyone. Started badly and ran badly all year long, until recently  But I'm very lucky. I ended up having a successful career.'

His sci-fi disaster film Midnight Sky has been a blockbuster on Netflix.

He knows they are lucky: 'We have a great deal of gratitude for the fact that we were able to be in our homes and have some security, because there are an awful lot of people around the world that don't,' said the ER veteran. Seen in 2015

But he has hope.

'You worry about your immediate family, and at the same time you worry about all of the Earth ... I't's been a crappy year. It has. But we're gonna get through it. I believe that with my whole heart,' said Clooney.

'If I didn't believe that I don't know how we'd raise kids in this world. We're gonna get through these things and my hope and my belief is that we will come out better.'

The Oscar winner also said he is missing his father, 87-year-old journalist, anchorman, and television host Nick Clooney, he told the Los Angeles Times.

'My father's 87 years old and lives in Kentucky. So I miss being with my family,' said the Casamigos founder.

Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadavs video speaking to a top official during a protest in Patna has gone viral on social media.

The Bihar opposition leader joined the protest led by teachers at a ground in Bihars capital. The RJD leader came to know that the protestors had been denied permission for a sit-in at their designated area. In a show of support, Tejashwi dialled the Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh to seek permission for the protest to be held at the designated site, Indian Express reported.

The video shows Tejashwi talking to the district magistrate on the phone with the protestors sitting at the ground.

There has been lathi charge, their food has been thrown away, they were driven away Now, some are here with me at ECO Park. All they want it to be allowed to protest, Tejashwi Yadav reportedly said, adding that he would WhatsApp their application.

When Yadav asked for a response on when could he hear back from the DM, Chandrashekhar Singh shot back saying Kab tak meaning? You havent sent the application and are questioning me?.

It was then the RJD leader introduced himself as Hum Tejashwi Yadav bol rahein hai, DM sahab (This is Tejashwi Yadav speaking).

After a pause, the district magistrate replied Ok, sir, sir, sir!. The quick change of tone of the district magistrate brought a laughter from the protestors.

In the assembly elections held few months back, the RJD gave a tough fight to the BJP alliance and got 110 seats out of the 243 member assembly. On the other hand the ruling coalition got 125 seats with Nitish Kumar remaining for the fourth term.
Silvia Depaire France

Originally from Buenos Aires in Argentina, Silvia completed all her school education there before going on a cultural exchange year in California. During her stay in the United States, she began to learn about art, especially urban arts, thanks to the large amount of graffiti that adorns the walls of New York. She also did not miss out on visiting the modern masterpieces preserved in the museums of the capital. When she returned to Argentina, Silvia set her new aspirations to one side in order to satisfy her family and enrolled in a course dedicated to marketing.

A few years later, settled in France and encouraged by her husband, Silvia began attending evening classes at the School of Fine Arts in Nice to learn painting and drawing techniques. Today, a painter in her home studio, in Antony, located in the Paris region, she divides her time between the creation of her paintings and the running of thematic workshops.

Created from acrylic and mixed media, her works underwent an important development to the discovery, of the informal and choreographic world of American artist Paul Jenkins (1923-2012) in 2016. Since then, the young artist has worked with enthusiasm and passion in the practice of flow painting, combining acrylic with various pigments and textures to compose bold, colourful, vibrant and luminous compositions. Deeply attached to the nature and landscapes of her childhood, Silvia is inspired by the elements, in particular water, to translate the transparency of the seabed and the depth of the celestial vault into painting.
By Eli Walsh

Bay City News Foundation

Santa Clara County public health officials have allowed administrations of certain Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses to resume following the state's investigation of potential allergic reactions to the vaccine.

The California Department of Public Health ordered a temporary pause Sunday on administrations of COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna lot 41L20A after several recipients in San Diego County experienced an allergic reaction possibly connected to the vaccine.

California's top epidemiologist, Dr. Erica Pan, issued new guidance Wednesday allowing health care providers to resume administering doses from the 41L20A lot after the state consulted with officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and San Diego County's Department of Public Health.

Santa Clara County's Public health Department had received 21,800 doses of vaccine from the 41L20A lot as of Monday to distribute to health care providers. However, the vaccine doses had not been administered at the time of the freeze.

"These findings confirm that the systems put in place to ensure vaccine safety are working just as they should," Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody said.

According to the county, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, El Camino Health and Stanford Health Care will now be able to administer the vaccine doses to health care workers, nursing home residents and staff and people age 75 or older.

"People in Santa Clara County can feel confident that vaccinating our community against COVID-19 will save lives and serve as our path out of the pandemic," Cody said.

County residents can visit sccfreevax.org to find updated information on who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and where it is available.

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.

Delivering a minor electric shock into a stream to reveal any fish lurking nearby may be the gold standard for detecting fish populations, but it's not much fun for the trout.

Scientists at Oregon State University have found that sampling stream water for evidence of the presence of various species using environmental DNA, known as eDNA, can be more accurate than electrofishing, without disrupting the fish.

"It's revolutionizing the way we do fish ecology work," said Brooke Penaluna, a research fish biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service who also has an appointment in OSU's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife. "You can identify species from a bottle of water using genetic tools. When you go out to the site, I can tell you what's in that stream just based on what's in this bottle of water."

Penaluna is lead author on a study published Wednesday in Ecosphere that compared the efficacy of eDNA sampling and electrofishing in detecting how far upstream coastal cutthroat trout were present in coastal and Cascade streams throughout Washington and Oregon.

Determining how far upstream fish are present is crucial for guiding forest management practices, as streams with fish in them receive more protections than streams without fish. It also helps inform conservation by improving scientists' understanding of specific species' distribution and movements.

Electrofishing has been the standard method for surveying fish distribution in bodies of water since the 1960s. It involves sticking two electrodes into the water and applying direct current, which affects fish swimming nearby and causes them to swim toward one of the electrodes. The person doing the sampling can then scoop up the dazed fish in a net and collect data before returning them to the water, where they resume normal activity within a few minutes.

Research sampling for eDNA has been used for over a decade but is not widely used yet in industry or resource management. It involves collecting water samples on-site and running lab tests to check for the presence of DNA for certain species of fish, which the fish shed regularly through excretion and changes in their skin or mucus.

The OSU study tested the effectiveness of eDNA in finding the "last fish" point, the farthest upstream fish are present. The researchers looked for coastal cutthroat trout as they are the fish most commonly found the highest upstream in streams on the west side of the Pacific Northwest, due to their life cycle and size.

Researchers chose 60 coastal streams in Oregon and Washington and conducted eDNA sampling and electro-fishing every 50 meters up to 250 meters upstream of the last recorded "last fish" point for each stream.

They found that in streams where electrofishing detected no trout, there was still a 40% chance that eDNA sampling would show evidence of their presence. eDNA detection revealed fish higher upstream than electrofishing did in 31 streams, in some cases up to 250 meters above where electrofishing pinpointed the "last fish."

However, both methods still struggled to detect trout when the fish were in low density.

The researchers determined that eDNA is a useful complement to electrofishing, especially in places where debris or vegetation make electrofishing impractical, but it's not a full replacement. eDNA detection is less disruptive to fish and requires fewer permits for researchers, but electrofishing provides researchers the opportunity to record other physical data about the fish, including size, health and appearance, that eDNA detection does not allow.

"We're trying to make the point that we're not aiming to eliminate electrofishing; just that we can use this as a complement to that, to provide more information quickly and cleanly," said Ivan Arismendi, co-author on the study and an assistant professor in OSU's Department of Fisheries and Wildlife.

"You can use one and the other like a confirmatory tool -- so if you have a question about endangered species, you can use both, and you can be more robust about the presence if both methods agree."

The researchers hope eDNA detection becomes more popular, as the cost and time required to run eDNA tests continues to fall and field-based equipment is becoming more readily available. eDNA detection in a nearby stream would even be possible to use for a school project, Penaluna said.

"I think there's really broad use for this," she said. "Now I think the next steps are for managers and policymakers to start drawing some of those guidelines."

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The study was an example of co-production science where federal, state and private landowners worked with researchers. Penaluna collaborated with OSU researchers Arismendi, Jennifer Allen, Taal Levi and Tiffany Garcia; and Jason Walter of the Weyerhaeuser Centralia Research Center in Washington.

A wave of 'low-tech' bank card thefts at pay-and-display machines and car parks has seen drivers lose thousands of pounds in a matter of minutes.

Criminals impersonating needy members of the public claim the parking machines swallowed their bank cards when trying to make a payment, before making off with the debit and credit cards of unwitting helpful motorists who try to pay for them.

The scam, which was first highlighted by This is Money over a year ago, claimed a number of victims in London's Richmond, according to local police investigating a series of such offences.

Scam alert: Drivers are warned to be extra vigilant at car parking machines after Richmond Council said it had seen a rise in cases of thefts of bank cards by criminals

In some cases, criminals impersonate car park attendants and tell victims they face a fine and frogmarch them to a card machine.

The victim is distracted while inserting their card - before it is stolen, according to UK Finance.

But the more common scenario is that criminals dupe victims by claiming to have forgotten their cards or had a machine them, then offer cash in exchange for borrowing a card from an unwitting motorist who also intends to use the card-payment-only machines.

Drivers are warned not to fall for the relatively rudimentary tactic, with officials explaining it is impossible for the machines to 'swallow' bank cards during payment.

Richmond Council said it has received several reports of the scam being used in the last few weeks at locations in Kew, Twickenham and Teddington.

It said scammers successfully stole thousands of pounds within a few minutes of getting away with a driver's bank card.

Both Richmond Council and Richmond Police have shared details of the scam to warn motorists paying for parking in the area

The council said: 'Motorists are reminded that it impossible for a parking meter machine to swallow bank cards as Pay and Display machines are manufactured so that cards can only be inserted part of the way.

'If your card disappears, you have been victim of fraud and should contact your bank immediately.

'If anyone approaches you when you go to pay for parking please be cautious and never insert your card into a parking machine when someone you do not know is present.'

It is impossible for payment machines in car parks to swallow a bank card, so motorists are warned to no fall foul of the false claims made by criminals preying on unwitting drivers

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee for Richmond Council, added: 'Until the criminals are caught please take extra care to be on guard against scammers and tell your friends and family, who might not have seen this warning message, to be careful too.

'We will be working with local police Safer Neighbourhoods Teams to put a stop to these crimes.

'In the meantime, please try to use contactless payments or cash at parking machines or use RingGo. If you think you might have fallen victim to this scam, contact your bank immediately to cancel your bank card.'

DVLA's five top tips to spot if a text or email is phony 1. Never share driving licence images and vehicle documents online 2. Never share bank details or personal data online 3. Avoid websites offering to connect to DVLAs contact centre 4. Only use GOV.UK when looking for DVLA contact details 5. Immediately report it to the police via Action Fraud if you think you have been the victim of a scam

Banking industry group UK Finance urged people to be wary of anyone who makes an approach at a card machine, be it for paying for parking or when using a cashpoint.

The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency recently warned drivers to remain extra vigilant of fradulent texts and emails impersonating the government agency.

It saw a 603 per cent jump in scam activity in the last 12 months and warned drivers to be alert to the deceitful tricksters behind the false communications, which commonly ask drivers to verify their driving licence details, offer vehicle tax refunds, or highlight a failed vehicle tax payment and ask for bank details.

It outlined five steps for how to identify if you're being singled-out by con artists and what you need to do about it.
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Anne Hoguet, 74, fan maker and director of the hand fan-making museum, poses with a a wood roasted hand fan representing the falcon hunt, gouache painting on paper dated from 1880 in Paris (Michel Euler/AP)

Frances storied fan-making museum could fold and vanish due to the effects of the pandemic.

The splendid Musee de lEventail in Paris, classed as a historical monument, is the cultural worlds latest coronavirus victim.

It has until January 23 to pay more than 117,000 euros (103,000) in rent arrears  stemming mainly from losses during lockdowns, otherwise it will close.

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And with it will go the savoir-faire of its workshop.

The studio that teaches design and restoration to a new generation of fan-makers was placed on Frances intangible heritage list last year.

Anne Hoguet, the museums 74-year-old director, told the Associated Press: It is a tragedy. I cant believe Parisians will let a part of their heritage die.

I have a problem, because I always believed there would be a miracle.

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There may be some surprise that France, a country that famously prizes its culture, has not done more to save the museum, especially given that the French public was so eager to help other cultural sites in danger, such as its burned-out Notre Dame cathedral.

It might be a question of size.

Ms Hoguet said she was exhausted by the fight for survival that has hit smaller institutions but spared larger ones, such as Florences Uffizi which reopens this week.

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Like all small museums, we had troubles before, but the health crisis has been a catastrophe, she said.

Bailiffs are even threatening to seize the museums artefacts from next Monday, numbering 2,500 original pieces  including historic fans made from turtle shell, lace and silk and adorned with diamonds and rubies.

Like many of Pariss 130 museums, Ms Hoguet said her institution  which charges just seven euros for entry and is located in the French capitals popular 10th district  was forced to close for most of 2020 because of government virus restrictions.

On top of that, money coming from the workshops fan restorations also evaporated because of the tightening of spending during the pandemic.

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The aristocratic families who send me their fans to restore all fled to their country homes in lockdown, so I had no more commissions. They wanted to save their money, Ms Hoguet said.

She said she would previously have charged between 500 and 600 euros per fan to restore them to their original state using traditional materials, and she used the income from that to pay the rent.

Even when the museum briefly reopened last September, Ms Hoguet had trouble getting the same levels of footfall as before.

Because people were preoccupied with the virus, culture and heritage got forgotten  and dangerously, she said.

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Ms Hoguet is the fourth generation in charge of what is Pariss last original fan-making workshop.

She has trained directly or indirectly five young fan-makers, whom she hopes will carry the torch of the storied craft.

The making of fans, traditionally with wooden sticks and painted paper leaves, has been considered sacred in many ancient cultures.

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But in France, its golden age was in the French court of 18th-century Versailles, where women used fans as forms of communication to flirt expertly or to hide modestly behind.

The images painted on them would often chronicle the current affairs of the world around them.

To this day, they remain part of Frances fashion heritage DNA, featuring elaborately in couture collections by Chanel, Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Ms Hoguets father bought the museums impressive collection of fans in 1960.

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It spans the period from the Renaissance to the 20th century, including advertising or illustrated pieces, as well as vellum, kidskin and feathered fans.

She is very much an eccentric of the old school.

A staff of one, Ms Hoguet has no cohesive fundraising tool set up other than email, but her efforts to rally support since 2019 have been valiant.

Expand Close Ms Hoguet with a wood roasted hand fan representing a falcon hunt, gouache painting on paper from 1880 (Michel Euler/AP) / Facebook

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She says that she has been so failed by French authorities that she now has trouble sleeping.

Ms Hoguet had rallied the French Culture Ministry and been in talks with Paris City Hall, but it has made no difference, she said.

What is the point of marking us out as intangible heritage if they will not protect us? she asked.

Expand Close A hand fan representing a learned dog (Chien savant), gouache painting on silk dated from 1775 (Michel Euler/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp A hand fan representing a learned dog (Chien savant), gouache painting on silk dated from 1775 (Michel Euler/AP)

Paris City Hall did not immediately respond when contacted by AP.

The problem with savoir-faire, is that it can very quickly die, Ms Hoguet said.


A Stephen Lawrence murder suspect has been ordered to hand over 90,000 of ill-gotten gains from a cannabis importation plot - or be jailed for an extra year.

Jamie Acourt, 44, masterminded the 2.1million racket which saw imported cannabis resin distributed across England, and is serving a nine-year sentence after being convicted in 2018.

He appeared in the dock on Thursday at Kingston Crown Court where a judge ruled he personally pocketed 500,000 from the scheme, made 30,600 while on the run, and has 90,000 in hidden assets.

The court heard how, after police busted the ring in 2016, he escaped capture in the UK by hiding in the back of a car as he passed through border security and was sofa surfing in Barcelona until eventually renting a flat with two others.

Acourt and his brother were among five men suspected of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, 18, who was killed in Eltham, south east London, in April 1993.

But the charges against the pair were dropped due to lack of evidence.

Two men, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were convicted of the killing.

Stephen Lawrence murder suspect Jamie Acourt (pictured above fighting with crowds after a public inquiry into Stephen's death in 1998), 44, has been ordered to hand over 90,000 of ill-gotten gains from a cannabis importation plot - or be jailed for an extra year

Acourt told the judge that, while on the run, he supported himself by doing maintenance work for a landlord, making commission by finding them new tenants, and working as a personal trainer.

In all he claimed he was making roughly 4,000 each month, leaving him 1,700 after paying for rent and accommodation.

The racist murder that shocked the nation Stephen Lawrence's murder in Eltham sparked outrage in 1993 Acourt and his brother were teenagers when Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993. Two of the other suspects, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were convicted of murder in 2012 and jailed for life following a DNA breakthrough. But the Acourt brothers have never been convicted. At the time of Stephen's death, the Acourts described themselves as the Krays, modelling themselves on the brothers who dominated London's criminal underworld in the 1960s. The gang they were in is believed to have been responsible for a string of violent attacks, invariably featuring knives. Advertisement

Despite standing before the same judge who sentenced him and branded him the 'ring leader' of the cannabis conspiracy, Acourt tried to tell the court his only job was counting and delivering money.

He added his brother, Neil - who also uses the surname Stuart - gave him the job because he was 'down on his luck' after a hernia operation and couldn't continue his normal building work.

He claimed he made roughly 5,000 each time he counted cash and passed it on but only carried out his role five times before leaving the gang in 2015.

But prosecutor Sarah Przybylska suggested he was lying, claiming it seemed more than a co-incidence that five was the number of times cops proved he had done it during his trial.

She also said evidence suggested he was receiving cash from his cousin, convicted money-launderer Jason Stuart, back in the UK.

The court heard how Jason was found by police with a bag containing around 60,000 and an encrypted phone - using a programme called PGP, similar to one which matched a box found in Acourt's home in 2016.

Because of this, she said, police believed the money was destined for Acourt and suggested he had possibly received transfers in the past which weren't intercepted.

Ms Przybylska estimated he had amassed around 90,000 in hidden assets - a figure accepted by the judge.

She added police uncovered a notebook in his Spanish flat which listed a number of valuable watches - something the prosecution claim showed he may have been hiding money by buying jewellery.

Concluding the hearing, Judge Lodder said: 'My findings in respect of this defendant's role were set out in my sentencing remarks - that being that he was someone who took a leading role.

'I described him as a ring leader. To that must be added his evidence today in which he stated he enjoyed a profit share arrangement.

'I am satisfied that he benefited form this particular criminal conduct in the sum of 500,000.

'I am also satisfied that he had benefit from general criminal conduct and that is in sum varied.

'36,800 being the expenditure and cost of living whilst he was living while he was in Spain and so the total benefit is 536,800.

'The defendant asserts that he has, in effect, no assets and certainly no hidden assets but when his house was searched in February 2016 police discovered a note on the wrapping of a Blackberry phone about a PGP connection - that is, as it were, an encrypted form of communication.

Acort, pictured above in Barcelona after being arrested, masterminded the 2.1million racket which saw imported cannabis resin distributed across England. He is currently serving a nine-year sentence after being convicted in 2018

'He had, of course, by then been, or perhaps, succeeded to abscond to Spain.

'Later that year in November his cousin, Jason Stuart, was arrested for money laundering.

'He and at least one other were involved with drawing almost 60,000 euros and at that time the defendant's cousin had in his possession a PGP phone and that had a Spanish sim card.

A judge at Kingston Crown Court ruled Acord had 90,000 in hidden assets

'That arrest led to Jason Stuart's conviction at southwark Crown Court for money laundering.

'This gives rise to a clear inference that the money was being passed to this defendant and I find that to be so.

He added: 'Following the calculation made by the prosecution after the defendant's evidence, he obtained a, and I use the phrase 'bare minimum' of 30,000 from drugs.

'There was surplus of drugs of some 30,000 as a result of his activities in Spain and there was the withdrawal to which I have just referred of approximately 60,000.

'I am invited to infer that at least another 30,000 would have been withdrawn which I think is wholly appropriate.

'That then computes to a total figure of 90,000 in hidden assets which I find is this defendants position.

'As I have indicated, I find a benefit figure of 536,800 and a hidden assets figure of 90,000 in respect of which I make an order of payment with a default term of 12 months.'

Jamie's brother Neil (pictured, left, after his arrest in 2016 and, right, after the 1998 public inquiry) also ran the drugs gang and was jailed in 2017

Neil Acort walked free in 2019 having served less than half his sentence.

The gang included Neil Acourt, Lee Birks - the father of Jamie Acourt's partner, and Jack Vose - Neil's father-in-law.

They were convicted of conspiracy to supply class B drugs along with three more men; Paul Beavers, Darren Thompson, and James Botton.

After his 2018 conviction, Jamie Acourt's lawyer cited the notorious killing of Stephen as he pleaded with the judge to take pity on his client.

Michael Holland QC said at the time: 'This is an instance of a man who was overwhelmed by events, events that have followed him since he was 16.

'He could not face the idea of coming into court again and face the amount of press coverage he would face.'
VATICAN CITY, JAN 21 - A French Catholic priest who is credited with discovering the genetic cause of Down syndrome took the first step towards sainthood Thursday. Pope Francis authorised a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints recognising the "heroic virtues" of Father Jerome Lejeune (1926-1994). This puts Lejeune on the path to beatification, a prelude to canonisation. His cause must now be supported by miracles his intervention brought about. Servant of God Jerome Jean Louis Marie Lejeune (13 June 1926 - 3 April 1994) was a French pediatrician and geneticist, best known for discovering the link of diseases to chromosome abnormalities and for his subsequent opposition to prenatal diagnosis and abortion. In 1958, while working in Raymond Turpin's laboratory with Marthe Gautier, Lejeune reported that he had discovered that Down syndrome was caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. This discovery was the first time that a defect in intellectual development was shown to be linked to chromosomal abnormalities. After devoting much of his career to the pro-life cause, Lejeune was appointed the first president of the the Pontifical Academy for Life in 1994, the year he died. A few years later, during his visit to Paris for World Youth Day 1997, long-time admirer Pope John Paul II visited Lejeune's grave in Chalo-Saint-Mars. Lejeune has been named "Servant of God" by the Catholic Church, and his cause for sainthood is being postulated by the Abbey of Saint Wandrille in France. (ANSA).
[January 21, 2021] Griffon Corporation Schedules Conference Call to Discuss First Quarter Financial Results

Griffon Corporation ("Griffon" or the "Company") (NYSE:GFF) today announced it will release the Company's fiscal first quarter results on Thursday, January 28, 2021, followed by a conference call at 8:30 AM ET. The call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-407-0792 (U.S. participants) or 1-201-689-8263 (International participants). Callers should ask to be connected to the Griffon Corporation teleconference or provide conference ID number 13715112. Participants are encouraged to dial-in at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. A replay of the call will be available starting on Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 11:30 AM ET by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (U.S.) or 1-412-317-6671 (International), and entering the conference ID number: 13715112. The replay will be available through Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 11:59 PM ET. About Griffon Corporation Griffon is a diversified management and holding company that conducts business through wholly-owned subsidiaries. Griffon oversees the operations of its subsidiaries, allocates resources among them and manages their capital structures. Griffon provides direction and assistance to its subsidiaries in connection with acquisition and growth opportunites as well as in connection with divestitures. In order to further diversify, Griffon also seeks out, evaluates and, when appropriate, will acquire additional businesses that offer potentially attractive returns on capital.



Griffon currently conducts its operations through three reportable segments: Consumer and Professional Products ("CPP") conducts its operations through The AMES Companies, Inc. ("AMES"). Founded in 1774, AMES is the leading North American manufacturer and a global provider of branded consumer and professional tools and products for home storage and organization, landscaping, and enhancing outdoor lifestyles. CPP sells products globally through a portfolio of leading brands including True Temper, AMES, and ClosetMaid.

conducts its operations through The AMES Companies, Inc. ("AMES"). Founded in 1774, AMES is the leading North American manufacturer and a global provider of branded consumer and professional tools and products for home storage and organization, landscaping, and enhancing outdoor lifestyles. CPP sells products globally through a portfolio of leading brands including True Temper, AMES, and ClosetMaid. Home and Building Products ("HBP") conducts its operations through Clopay Corporation ("Clopay"). Founded in 1964, Clopay is the largest manufacturer and marketer of garage doors and rolling steel doors in North America. Residential and commercial sectional garage doors are sold through professional dealers and leading home center retail chains throughout North America under the brands Clopay, Ideal, and Holmes. Rolling steel door and grille products designed for commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail use are sold under the CornellCookson brand.

conducts its operations through Clopay Corporation ("Clopay"). Founded in 1964, Clopay is the largest manufacturer and marketer of garage doors and rolling steel doors in North America. Residential and commercial sectional garage doors are sold through professional dealers and leading home center retail chains throughout North America under the brands Clopay, Ideal, and Holmes. Rolling steel door and grille products designed for commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail use are sold under the CornellCookson brand. Defense Electronics conducts its operations through Telephonics Corporation, founded in 1933, a globally recognized leading provider of highly sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and communications solutions for defense, aerospace and commercial customers. For more information on Griffon and its operating subsidiaries, please see the Company's website at www.griffon.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005302/en/

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The Opposition BJP accused the police administration of being partial as it failed to take action against the TMC supporters who had raised similar slogans on Tuesday

Chandannagar/Kolkata: Three BJP activists, including its Hooghly district youth wing chief, have been arrested for allegedly raising "goli maro... (shoot the traitors)" slogan at a roadshow of party leader Suvendu Adhikari, triggering a war of words between the saffron party and the TMC Thursday in poll-bound West Bengal. The three arrested persons were produced before the Chandannagar Sub-divisional Court, which remanded them to judicial custody till 30 January.

The incident came out as the latest flashpoint between warring BJP and the Trinamool Congress ahead of the Assembly elections. The opposition BJP accused the police administration of being partial as it failed to take action against the TMC supporters who had raised similar slogans at a party's rally recently.

BJP's Hooghly district youth wing chief Suresh Shaw was among the three held in the case. Some BJP activists had allegedly raised the slogan at a party programme in West Bengal's Hooghly district on Wednesday. The district police registered a suo motu case and arrested them late at night, an officer said.

BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said that the party does not endorse the slogan raised by the participants holding the BJP flag. However, no police action has been initiated against the TMC activists, who had raised similar slogans at a party's rally on Tuesday.

A few TMC supporters had chanted the slogan "Bangal Ke Gaddaro Ko, Goli Maro..." (shoot the traitors of Bengal) during a rally in Kolkata. However, the TMC had distanced itself from the rhetoric and rebuked the activists who raised it, but remained silent on police inaction against their party cadres.

Describing the slogan as "excessive exuberance" on the part of some young supporters, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated that the party does not endorse it and those who have raised the slogan have been suspended from the party. The BJP, however, said the police inaction against the TMC activists proves that the police have turned into "cadres of the ruling party".

"The partisan approach of the police in two similar cases proves that the police have turned into cadres of the ruling party. The police should have also arrested the TMC cadres," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

Reacting to Ghosh's allegation, Kunal Ghosh said the party did not influence the police, and it is for the administration to decide on it.

"I would urge the BJP not to rush to conclusions rather wait for few more days," he said. Incidentally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in March last year had criticised the BJP for raising "Goli Maro..." slogans at a party rally. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty claimed that both the BJP and the TMC are indulging in "destructive politics and hampering peace in the state".

Polls to the 294-member West Bengal Assembly are due in April-May this year and with every passing day acrimony between the main rivals  the TMC and the BJP  is increasing in Bengal.
Researchers from LSTM's Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions (CSRI) have led an international team investigating the evolutionary origins of a novel defensive trait by snakes - venom spitting - and demonstrated that defensive selection pressures can influence venom composition in snakes in a repeatable manner.

In a paper published in the journal Science, the team, which includes authors from the UK, USA, Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, Norway, Brazil and Costa Rica, provide the first example of snake venom evolution being demonstrated to be associated with a role in defence, rather than the wide consensus that venom evolution is driven solely for prey capturing-ability.

LSTM's Dr. Taline Kazandjian is joint-first author on the paper. She said: "The evolution of adaptations is of fundamental importance in biology for understanding the processes by which organisms survive in their ecological niches. Venom systems are fantastic natural models for understanding the molecular basis of adaptations because there is a direct and measurable link between the genes associated with a trait, and the ecologically relevant phenotype, i.e. the venom activity and the consequences of that activity. Defence is not considered to be a strong selection pressure on the evolution of venom activity in snakes, however in this case we clearly demonstrate that defence can be a powerful influence on snake venom evolution."

The team used a variety of laboratory analyses to show that the three independent origins of venom spitting found in cobras and their near relatives corresponded with repeatable changes in venom composition in the three spitting lineages, thus demonstrating strong evidence of convergent evolution - i.e. that evolution has been repeatedly funnelled down the same pathway. The three different groups of spitting cobras were each found to have independently increased the production of PLA2 toxins for use for enhancing the defensive capabilities of their venom.

The researchers demonstrated that these increases in PLA2 toxins result in enhanced pain-causing ability of the venoms, by working synergistically with pre-existing "cytotoxins" found across all cobras, whether they spit their venom or not. The evolution of more potently painful venom likely enables spitting cobras to more effectively defend themselves from predators or aggressors by spitting venom into sensitive eyes, resulting in pain, inflammation and even blindness. That each independent lineage has evolved the same 'solution' for defence, represents an exemplary case of convergent evolution in the natural world.

Dr. Daniel Petras, a postdoctoral researcher at UCSD and joint-first author of the study said: "Through the combination of RNA sequencing, intact protein mass spectrometry and functional analysis of venom from the entire genus of cobras, we were able to identify a toxin class that is responsible for the pain inducing effect of the venom of spitting cobras. Excitingly, we showed that these toxins have evolved independently, yet convergently, in African and Asian spitting cobras."

Looking at why these three groups of closely related 'cobras' (note one is actually not a cobra, but a closely related cobra-like species called the rinkhals) are the only snakes that spit their venom, the team suggest this is likely due to two important preadaptations that are first required to enable the later inception and retention of venom spitting. First, cobras can raise the front third of their body up when hooding, which provides them with an ideal posture for defensively spitting venom at eyes. Second, cytotoxins existed in cobra venom before spitting ability evolved and these toxins likely caused initial low level pain, which was an important precursor to the advanced, highly painful, venom spitting trait seen today.

But what selective pressures stimulated the origin of defensive venom spitting in the first place? LSTM's Professor Nick Casewell, who led the study, explains: "While we cannot be sure, we make the argument that venom spitting is ideally suited to deterring attacks from our very own ancestors - hominins. Bipedal larger-brained hominins are likely to have posed a strong threat to snakes, and we show in this study that the evolutionary timing of the origin of venom spitting in Africa first, and then later in Asia, roughly corresponds with the divergence of our ancestors from chimps and bonobos in Africa, and our ancestors later migration to Asia. While further data is required to robustly test this hypothesis, its intriguing to think that human ancestors may have influenced the origin of this defensive chemical weapon in snakes".

###
COLUMBIA  A bill to ban most abortions in South Carolina took another step closer to passage Wednesday, advancing out of the state Senate's Medical Affairs Committee to set up a vote by the full chamber just a few weeks into the 2021 legislative session.

The committee voted 9 to 8 in favor of the legislation, which would outlaw abortions in South Carolina after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which generally occurs around six to eight weeks into a pregnancy. Opponents of the bill note that many women may not even realize they are pregnant before reaching that point.

Republicans have tried and failed to pass the bill into law in previous years. But both parties are more confident the measure will pass this year after Republicans expanded their majorities in both the state Senate and House.

All six Democrats on the committee voted against the bill, as well as two Republicans, state Sens. Tom Davis of Beaufort and Sandy Senn of Charleston.

The only exception provided in the bill is if the physician determines that the pregnant woman's life would be in danger if an abortion were not performed.

Davis proposed an amendment to add exceptions in cases of rape or incest, but that failed by a 7-4 vote.

The committee's Democrats abstained from voting on that amendment. State Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston, explained that the party did not want to participate in the process of tweaking a bill that they believe is fundamentally unconstitutional.

"Since there's no way to cure the defects, I will not try and put lipstick on a pig in an effort to help (Republicans) sanitize a fatally flawed bill," Kimpson said.

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The abortion ban's foremost advocate, state Sen. Richard Cash, argued that punishment for rape should fall exclusively upon the rapist, not the "innocent human life" of the fetus.

"This is not in any way to minimize the violence, the trauma, the very difficult situation that the woman has been put in by the rapist," said Cash, R-Anderson. "There are no easy answers in a situation like this."

If the bill becomes law, it would almost certainly face instant legal challenges.

But some supporters of the ban say that is the point: They are hoping a lawsuit will ultimately rise all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, giving conservative justices an opportunity to reverse or substantially amend the court's landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that found women have a right to abortion access.

Gov. Henry McMaster has long vowed to sign the bill, a promise he reiterated during his annual State of the State address last week.

According to the bill, anyone who performs an abortion after a fetal heartbeat had been detected would be guilty of a felony crime and subject to a fine of $10,000 or a prison sentence of up to two years.

Physicians would also be required to check whether a fetal heartbeat could be detected after eight weeks of pregnancy and would be subject to similar penalties if they did not.

The lawmakers did approve an amendment to cover the health care costs of the pregnancy if the woman does not have insurance. The bill could face further changes when it comes up for debate on the Senate floor.
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Starbucks Korea's store in Seoul was closed to visitors and only allows take-out orders under the government's new regulations amid a resurgence of COVID-19 infections nationwide. / Korea Times photo by Bae Woo-han



By Kim Jae-heun



The government's recent anti-COVID-19 countermeasures imposed on local retailers are being criticized for their ambiguity.



According to the quarantine authorities, all restaurants in the capital area must close for walk-in customers at 9 p.m. from Aug. 30 to Sept. 6 and they can only make food for takeout or delivery until 5 a.m.



In the case of coffee shops, franchise brands cannot allow customers in the store and they can only serve take-out or delivery orders. However, privately owned cafes can seat customers inside.



This is unfair for coffeehouse chains such as Starbucks Korea, which make most of their sales from customers visiting the shops.



Starbucks Korea currently operates 1,460 shops across the country with 900 of them located in Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon. It gets 40 percent to 50 percent of its revenue from takeout services and does not offer delivery.



Local coffee franchise Ediya, which owns the largest number of stores across the country with over 3,000, is struck hardest by the equivocal regulation.



Ediya only has two stores managed directly under the headquarters and the rest are all franchises operated by individuals.



"The situation is different for us unlike Starbucks, which operates all its stores under direct management. Independent business owners are vulnerable to immediate economic damage and obviously they express concern and complain about the government's unfair action," an Ediya official said. "For us, it is right to follow the government's guidelines thinking about what is going on in our society and witness the rising number of COVID-19 cases."



Over 1,600 Ediya shops are prohibited from serving customers until Sunday.



The country's largest bakery franchise operator SPC Group has luckily avoided the restrictions as its Paris Baguette is registered as a bakery.



Bakeries are included under the category of restaurants so they are also permitted to accommodate customers any time from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. However, patisseries can have customers to drink coffee along with desserts.



Fast food restaurants are also worried about the government's restrictions.



"There is a considerable amount of revenue coming from operating 24 hours a day. Because we are force to close from 9 p.m. we are expecting some decrease in sales," an industry source said.



However, the outlook for fast food restaurants is not hopeless compared to that of coffeehouse chains because 50 percent of their sales comes from delivery and take-out.



"Normal restaurants are allowed to bring in customers under the new guidelines so it won't affect them much as they will close only one hour earlier. However, for coffeehouse chains, not being able to take customers will have a huge impact on their sales," a Lotte GRS official said.



Lotte GRS operates both fast food restaurant Lotteria and coffee franchise Cafe Angel-in-us.



"We are reviewing countermeasures to fight this emergency case."



The Korea Foodservice Industry Association (KFIA) see big economic damage in the market as only 30 percent of restaurants operate a delivery service.



"Nearly 70 percent makes profits solely from selling food inside the restaurants and so it is inevitable for them to suffer losses. Local restaurants and bars will be hurt the most," a KFIA official said.




Road bosses were yesterday ordered to draw up plans to ramp up the rollout of smart motorway safety measures.

Highways England officials have been told by roads minister Baroness Vere to devise a blueprint to fast-track the installation of life-saving measures on the controversial roads and submit it by this weekend  ahead of crisis talks with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Monday.

It comes after a coroner ruled this week that smart motorways, which use the hard shoulder as a 'live' traffic lane, present an 'ongoing risk of future deaths' after the deaths of two drivers on the M1 near Sheffield.

Mr Shapps ordered a 'stock take' of the system in 2019. But potentially life-saving technology has only been rolled out on about 83.6 miles of motorway, and only around 26.8 miles over the last year, according to analysis by the AA. The remaining 523 miles is to be completed in 2023.

But potentially life-saving technology has only been rolled out on about 83.6 miles of motorway, and only around 26.8 miles over the last year, according to analysis by the AA. The remaining 523 miles is to be completed in 2023

Highways England officials have been told by roads minister Baroness Vere to devise a blueprint to fast-track the installation of life-saving measures on the controversial roads and submit it by this weekend. Pictured: M3 smart motorway

Yesterday the Mail revealed a Department for Transport lawyer warned highway bosses nearly ten years ago that smart motorways could lead to deaths and corporate manslaughter charges.

Smart motorways are controversial because cars that break down can be marooned in fast moving traffic due to the hard shoulder being turned into a live lane of traffic.

They have refuge areas where drivers can stop but are spaced up to 1.5 miles apart. Motoring groups have long called for them to be spaced more frequently.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ordered a 'stock take' of the system in 2019

An industry source was sceptical about the talks between Mr Shapps and Highways England, saying: 'I don't see how it's going to be done. Highways England will say 'OK we need some more cash', but the Department for Transport will probably say no.'

Tory MP Karl McCartney, who sits on the Commons' transport committee, said: 'It seems we were right to suspect the policy [of smart motorways] was and is ill-thought out and unsafe.'

Edmund King, AA president, said: 'Questions were asked by government lawyers ten years ago when the plans to remove the hard shoulder were discussed.

'Had our calls for more emergency laybys been listened to a decade ago, we may not be in this position.'
Since midnight, enemy forces have not attacked Ukrainian troops.

The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported one wounded in action (WIA) amid two violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Wednesday, January 20.

"In the past day, January 20, two ceasefire violations were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) zone," the press center of the Ukrainian JFO Command said on Facebook in an update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on January 21, 2021.

In particular, the Russian Federation's armed formations fired a heavy machine gun and automatic rifles near the village of Starohnativka.

Read alsoOSCE Chairperson-in-Office Linde makes field visit to Donbas"One member of the Joint Forces was wounded as a result of the shelling. The soldier was rushed to the hospital where he received medical assistance," the report says.

The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire in Donbas.

Since midnight, enemy forces have not attacked Ukrainian troops.

The Ukrainian military say the situation is under full control.

Donbas ceasefire: Background

Participants in the Trilateral Contact Group (Ukraine, Russia, and the OSCE) on the peace settlement in Donbas on July 22 agreed on a full and comprehensive ceasefire along the contact line from 00:01 on Monday, July 27.

On the very first day of the newly-agreed truce, Russia's hybrid military forces mounted three attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine.

Reporting by UNIAN
(Natural News) Scientists from the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) are investigating a mysterious radio signal emanating from the direction of Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to the solar system.

Researchers working on Breakthrough Listen, a project devoted to the search for alien civilizations, detected the signal in April or May this year using the Parkes radio telescope in Australia. They have since been hard at work deciphering its cause. Though it likely has a mundane explanation, the researchers are intrigued about the signals very peculiar nature.

The beam, which has not been spotted again since its detection, appears to have come from Proxima Centauri. The red dwarf sits around 4.2 light-years from Earth and has two known planets orbiting it. Along with an apparent shift in the signals frequency, its direction may indicate the presence of a third planet or even hint at the existence of an advanced alien civilization.

But other astronomers remain cautious about the finding, stating that the signal might have a terrestrial origin.

Mysterious signal akin to 1977 Wow! signal

The researchers are currently preparing a research paper on the findings and are keeping details under wraps. But based on what theyve revealed so far, the signal appears to be an exceptional find. It is the first serious candidate since the Wow! signal, the researchers said.

The Wow! signal was a strong short-lived narrowband radio emission detected in 1977 during a SETI survey at the Big Ear Radio Observatory in Ohio. The enigmatic signal generated a flurry of excitement and earned the name Wow! after Jerry Ehman, the astronomer who discovered it, wrote the interjection next to the data. It was the most intriguing radio signal that SETI scientists discovered.

Now, Breakthrough Listens finding may be rivaling that one. The signal has not been attributed to any man-made source, fueling speculation that it is a technosignature  an indicator of technologically advanced activity. Breakthrough Listen was launched in 2015 to look for technosignatures but they have remained elusive. (Related: Astronomers say technosignatures can be used to find advanced alien civilizations.)

Skeptics say the signal is of man-made cause

However, many other scientists are skeptical that the mysterious signal is anything other than man-made. Astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell of the University of Westminster in the U.K. said that the signal is not likely to have originated from an alien civilization.

Weve been looking for alien life for so long now and the idea that it could turn out to be on our front doorstep, in the very next star system, is piling improbabilities upon improbabilities, said Dartnell.

If there were intelligent alien life as close as Proxima Centauri, then the galaxy is probably teeming with life, according to Dartnell. The chances of the only two civilizations in the entire galaxy happening to be neighbors, among 400 (billion) stars, absolutely stretches the bounds of rationality, he added.

Moreover, there are only two known planets orbiting Proxima Centauri  one is an inhabitable gas giant while the other one is thought to be a rocky planet roughly 17 percent more massive than Earth. Known as Proxima b, the planet is located in its host stars habitable zone, the orbital region around a star where the conditions are just right to support liquid water  a prerequisite for life.

But Proxima b is believed to be inhospitable despite its seemingly cozy location. In 2017, scientists from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) found that if Proxima b had an Earth-like atmosphere, it could easily have been stripped away by the intense solar flares generated by its host star. The planet, estimated to be four billion years old, could have lost its entire atmosphere in 100 million years.

It is possible there are other planets, slightly further from the star, that have yet to be discovered by astronomers, but they are likely too far away for liquid water to form, Dartnell said. (Related: Nearby exoplanet could potentially support life.)

Pete Worden, former director of NASAs Ames Research Center in California and executive director of the Breakthrough Initiatives, also said that the researchers already detected several bizarre signals. All of these were likely caused by human-made interference that scientists cannot yet fully explain.

But Worden noted that further analysis is underway and that it is important to wait for the researchers to unveil the entirety of their findings before ruling out any possibilities. Dartnell also said that he would love to be proved wrong.

Read more stories about mysterious discoveries in space at Unexplained.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

TheGuardian.com

The nine of us were not involved in the public hearings that started last fall or the negotiations that resulted in the final bill that was approved. Asking the nine of us to essentially take a new vote on the governors binary choice to either sign or veto the bill, its just simply inappropriate, in my opinion, Kelly said. Perhaps most importantly, its another issue where our council seems to be dividing our community rather than bringing it together.
Thunder Bay, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Benton Resources Inc. (TSXV: BEX) ('Benton' or 'the Company') is pleased to announce it has received the second anniversary option payment of $25,000 from Rio Tinto Exploration Canada ("RTEC") for Baril Lake West project (see PR: Benton Completes Option to Purchase Deal with Rio Tinto on Baril Lake Project, dated January 2, 2019). Baril Lake West is situated approximately 4km west of Benton's Bark Lake project, also under option to RTEC (see PR: Benton Options Bark Lake Cu-Ni-PGE Project to Rio Tinto, dated October 25, 2016), and immediately adjacent to RTEC's Baril Lake Project where RTEC discovered significant mineralization grading 4.78%Ni and 0.43% Cu over 2.08m in 2018 (Ontario ENDM Assessment File: 200000017073). These projects are approximately 100km west of the Escape Lake and TBN projects, along the major crustal-scale, east-west oriented, Quetico fault, in which the Escape Lake and TBN projects held by Clean Air Metals Inc. are situated. While the Baril Lake West and Bark Lake projects are early stage in nature, the Company believes they have the potential to contain a magmatic conduit system that could host Cu-Ni-PGEs. At Bark Lake, numerous mineralized boulders near the Quetico Fault contain anomalous Cu-Ni-PGEs grades up to 4.35gpt Pd, 2.64gpt Pt, 0.74gpt Au, 1.2% Cu, 1.5% Ni. Drilling completed by RTEC in 2018 on the Bark Lake project encountered mineralization of 0.31% Cu and 0.72gpt Pt + Pd over 19.2m (see PR: Benton Receives Results from Rio Tinto on Bark Lake Option, dated May 25, 2018). A map showing the location of the Baril West and Bark Lake projects appears on the Benton website (www.bentonresources.ca).

Equity Holdings

Benton continues to be very excited about the future of Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air"), in which Benton holds 24.6 million shares. Clean Air has two drill rigs operating on the Thunder Bay North and Escape Lake Copper-Nickel-PGM project and has released excellent drill results from its ongoing drill campaign. Benton anticipates ongoing success for Clean Air and looks forward to future resource developments and drill results.

Benton also holds 4.0 million shares of Quadro Resources Ltd., which is advancing various projects in Newfoundland and Ontario. Additionally, Benton holds 3.6 million shares of Maxtech Ventures Inc. Maxtech has an Option and Joint Venture agreement on Benton's Panama Lake gold project in the Red Lake mining region. Further, Benton holds 1 million shares of Sokoman Minerals Corp. which has recently released excellent drill results from its Moosehead Project in Newfoundland. Benton holds 1.38m shares of Metallica Metals Corp. advancing Benton's Saganaga Gold project in NW Ontario. Benton has two NW Ontario projects optioned to Rio Tinto Exploration Canada (the Bark Lake and Baril Lake West Copper-Nickel PGE projects).

QP

Nathan Sims (P.Geo.), Senior Exploration Manager for Benton Resources Inc., the 'Qualified Person' under National Instrument 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release and prepared or supervised its preparation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Benton Resources Inc.,

"Stephen Stares"

Stephen Stares, President

About Benton Resources Inc.

Benton Resources is a well-funded Canadian-based project generator with a diversified property portfolio in Gold, Silver, Nickel, Copper, and Platinum group elements. Benton holds multiple high-grade projects available for option which can be viewed on the Company's website. Most projects have an up-to-date 43-101 Report available.

Parties interested in seeking more information about properties available for option can contact Mr. Stares at the number below.

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Stares, President & CEO

Phone: 807-475-7474

Email: sstares@bentonresources.ca

CHF Capital Markets

Cathy Hume, CEO

Phone: 416-868-1079 x231

Email: cathy@chfir.com

Website: www.bentonresources.ca

Twitter: @BentonResources

Facebook: @BentonResourcesBEX

THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements."

Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to gold price and other commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72418
A multimodal pain regimen (MMPR) designed to minimize opioid exposure and relieve acute pain associated with traumatic injury kept patient self-reported pain scores low while also reducing the daily and total amount of opioid drugs given to trauma patients. Results from the first study of its kind to evaluate an MMPR in a rigorous, randomized controlled trial are published online as an "article in press" by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons in advance of print.

"Opioids should not be considered the pillar of treatment for acute pain after injury," said lead study author John A. Harvin, MD, FACS, an associate professor for the department of surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and trauma surgeon at the Red Duke Trauma Institute at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.

Trauma patients are at particularly high risk for developing an opioid drug disorder. These patients often have injuries that affect several parts of the body and require multiple surgical procedures resulting in acute pain that cannot be managed by local or regional anesthesia. About 15 percent of trauma patients are at high risk for persistent opioid use as they are more likely than the general population to have a history of substance abuse.

Multimodal pain regimens are increasingly being used to reduce opioid exposure, control acute pain, and enhance recovery after surgery. The trauma team at the Red Duke Trauma Institute and UTHealth developed an MMPR for trauma in 2013. The regimen decreased opioid exposure by 31 percent as well as patients' pain score ratings. However, it involved the use of high-cost drugs not widely available in the hospital, such as intravenous acetaminophen, and drugs at discharge that were not covered by insurers. The regimen also included the medication tramadol that was considered at the time to be a weak opioid but is now considered to be a narcotic-like drug.

In 2018, the trauma team evaluated the Multimodal Analgesic Strategies in Trauma (MAST) MMPR, which only provides opioids for breakthrough pain. MAST MMPR includes four classes of medications: acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents--ketorolac and naproxen--local lidocaine anesthetic patches, and gabapentin.

This pragmatic study compared the effectiveness of the original MMPR with the MAST MMPR, both of which could be escalated or de-escalated by providers. The study included all trauma patients who were admitted over the course of a year to the Red Duke Trauma Institute, a teaching hospital for McGovern Medical School. Patients were randomized in the emergency department to be placed on either the original MMPR or the MAST MMPR.

A total of 1,561 patients across all levels of injury were included in the study. Nearly half of patients in both groups had rib fractures, 20 percent had a traumatic brain injury, and 32 percent had long bone fractures. Twelve percent of patients in both groups underwent laparotomy (surgical opening of the abdomen), 4 percent underwent thoracotomy (surgical opening of the chest), and 1-2 percent underwent amputation of a limb.

Patients who received the generic MAST MMPR had less overall exposure to an opioid than patients in the other group. Per day, patients in the MAST MMPR received 14 fewer oral morphine milligram equivalents (MME): MAST MMPR patients had 34 MME per day versus 48 MME per day for the MMPR group. This amount is roughly equivalent to 10 milligram of oxycodone per day during hospitalization. Fewer patients in the MAST MMPR were discharged with a prescription for an opioid--62 percent versus 67 percent.

Pain scores were the same in both groups of patients: The median Numeric Rating Scale for pain was 3.3 for MAST MMPR and MMPR patients.

Although this study was intended to answer a local question about MMPRs developed by at the Red Duke Trauma Institute and UTHealth, its findings have broad implications. "We used a generic pain regimen that is affordable at discharge. The discharge medications acetaminophen and naproxen can be bought over the counter. The only drug that requires a prescription is gabapentin and an as-needed opioid, if prescribed," Dr. Harvin explained.

This regimen may be adopted by any trauma center, although implementing it will take time. "The MAST MMPR is a regimen that can be duplicated in any trauma center. However, first the culture of an institution needs to change. Implementation requires education, auditing feedback about responsible opioid prescribing, physician and nursing champions to lead efforts to change clinical practice, and managing the expectations of how to treat pain with other, non-opioid adjuncts," he added.

The MAST MMPR is now standard practice at the Red Duke Trauma Institute and UTHealth physicians. The regimen is being adapted for the treatment of acute burn pain and additional interventions are being studied to better control acute pain and reduce opioid exposure in the first 72 hours of hospital admission.

Post-traumatic pain, even in the most severely injured patient, can be effectively treated in an opioid-minimizing manner." Dr. John A. Harvin, Lead Study Author
Oregons high school graduation rate climbed nearly 3 percentage points to reach 83% for the class of 2020, marking a fourth straight year of significant gains in the much-watched benchmark.

The biggest improvements occurred among Black and Latino students and students with disabilities.

About 76% of Black students graduated within four years statewide and nearly 80% of Latinos did so. Approximately 60% of students with disabilities graduated on time.

But the unprecedented upheaval that Oregon schools experienced last spring, as the pandemic closed them with little warning and educators were ordered to abandon normal grading practices, calls into question whether the latest uptick was primarily the result of schools improving their performance or relaxing their standards.

Oregon schools chief Colt Gill said he thinks the improved graduation rate reflects schools greater success helping students in the class of 2020 succeed during their first 3  year of high school, not a pandemic-imposed change in grading or expectations in the final three months.

Students who were on track to graduate in their senior year were already primed to do so, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Oregon officials have long pledged to improve the states poor record of getting students to earn diplomas in four years of high school. The most recent federal ranking, for the class of 2018, put Oregon in a tie with Arizona for the third-worst graduation rate in the country.

Oregon graduation rates, 2016-2020

Gill contends that Oregon requires its high schoolers to complete more credits to earn a diploma compared to other states. Though technically true, that statistic is due in large part to the number of electives the states high schoolers must complete before graduating, not more stringent requirements to pass English, math or science.

Gill pointed to the statewide trend in graduation rates over the last half-dozen years, during which Oregon registered an 11 percentage points gain.

He told The Oregonian/OregonLive that 2020s numbers are not out of line with that six-year average.

Among large districts, McMinnville, Woodburn and Hillsboro posted the best graduation rates for low-income students and Latinos.

Among districts with at least 100 students in the class of 2020, the highest overall graduation rates were in Sherwood (98%) and Lake Oswego (96%), communities with high rates of parental education and some of the lowest rates of child poverty on the West Coast.

Oregons online charter schools posted graduation rates well below those of their brick-and-mortar counterparts.

In the far-flung Mitchell district, the number of students graduating within four years fell 5 percentage points.

One, Insight School of Painted Hills, graduated just 26% of its 128 seniors. The online school is overseen by the tiny Wheeler County district of Mitchell. It had just four seniors who attended its brick-and-mortar school, two of whom graduated.

Oregon Connections Academy enrolled the most seniors  691  of any public school in Oregon. But just 62% of them graduated on-time, an uptick of 5 percentage points over the previous year. The states second-largest charter high school, Oregon Virtual Academy, posted a four-year graduation rate of 45%.

As in Mitchell, both online academies are overseen by a brick-and-mortar district.

The Santiam Canyon district administers Oregon Connections Academy while the North Bend district oversees Oregon Virtual Academy.

The states largest district, Portland Public Schools, posted an 84% on-time graduation rate, 3 percentage points higher than for the class of 2019.

Rates for both its Black and Latino students improved about 4 percentage points to reach approximately 77%

After Gov. Kate Brown ordered schools to close in March, the Department of Education cancelled standardized testing, ordered schools not to give failing grades to any seniors who were passing a class as of March 1 and waived the requirement that students in the class of 2020 demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing and math to earn a diploma.

Gill said schools used the time and energy they normally would have used to get students to prove proficiency in the three subjects, either with test scores or detailed essays or math write-ups, to instead contact seniors who were deficient in credits required for graduation and help them complete those classes.

Oregon graduation rates, 2016-2020

It did allow districts to redirect the efforts of counselors and administrators for students who were not on track, Gill said.

In Portland Public Schools, district leaders credit the efforts of educators and partner organizations such as Latino Network and Self Enhancement, Inc., which provide s academic support for the districts Latino and Black students, for helping some of the districts most vulnerable student populations stay afloat.

While the pandemic obviously threw us a huge curve ball, we were able to leverage the relationships we already had in place, said Korrina Wolfe, the districts senior director for the Multiple Pathways to Graduation program.

Those partner organizations helped track down and assist students with myriad issues during the pivot to distance learning. Some made home visits to deliver internet hotspots for families who couldnt afford access. Others did so to check in with students who needed a shoulder to lean on, figuratively speaking.

Weve really worked to meet students where theyre at in all the settings theyre in, Wolfe said.

Still, the district saw pockets of decreased success.

In Northeast Portlands Madison High School, for instance, about 76% of Latino students graduated, a 4 percentage point decline from 2019. Latinos at Jefferson High posted a striking drop, from 76% to 62%.

Ledezma said there was no one reason for the drops in various schools.

Were really taking a student-specific approach and assessing those unique needs, she said.

Wolfe added that in most cases, students who dont graduate on time are facing intense pressures outside of school. For example, some live in homes where they split their time between work and school.

Sometimes students have had to prioritize things outside of school, she said. Weve always had students who took care of their families. That increased due to the pandemic.

--Eder Campuzano and Betsy Hammond
BRUSSELS, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- One year after the adoption of the European Green Deal, leading cloud infrastructure providers and data centre operators have created the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact. Twenty-five companies and 17 associations have agreed to a Self Regulatory Initiative to make data centres in Europe climate neutral by 2030. Companies joining the Pact represent the most significant industry players in cloud infrastructure and data centres in Europe. This is an historic and unprecedented commitment by an industry to proactively lead the transition to a climate neutral economy.

Frans Timmermans, European Commission Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal : "Citizens across Europe use ever more technology to go about their daily lives and want this technology, also to help secure a sustainable future for people and planet. Today's pledge from important parts of the data industry constitutes a promise to society and offers a welcome first step towards achieving our common ambitions for a smart and sustainable future."

Alban Schmutz, Chairman of CISPE (Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers in Europe) : "With cloud infrastructure the backbone of the European Union's digital economy, our industry is committed to the idea that we must all play a central role in addressing climate change. This commitment underpins a roadmap for Europe's cloud infrastructure industry to offer climate neutral services to customers by 2030."

Apostolos Kakkos, Chairman of EUDCA (European Data Centre Association) : "Data centres are the supporting pillars of the fourth industrial revolution and, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, are essential infrastructure of not only the digital economy but of the entire global economy. It is our duty to commit to a self-regulatory initiative that will help to ensure the operational availability, sustainability and the future of our industry."

The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact establishes a Self Regulatory Initiative which has been developed in co-operation with the European Commission. It supports both the European Green Deal, which aims to make Europe the world's first climate neutral continent by 2050, and the European Data Strategy by making EU data centres climate neutral by 2030. The Self Regulatory Initiative sets ambitious goals that will facilitate Europe's essential transition to a greener economy. It commits signatories to ensuring their data centres are climate neutral by setting ambitious measurable targets for 2025 and 2030 in the following areas:

Prove energy efficiency with measurable targets

Purchase 100% carbon-free energy

Prioritise water conservation

Reuse and repair servers

Look for ways to recycle heat

Progress towards achieving climate neutral data centres will be monitored by the European Commission twice a year.

For more details on the new Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, please visit ClimateNeutralDataCentre.net

Signatories:

Cloud providers and operators of data centres

3DS Outscale (Dassault Systemes)

Altuhost

Aruba

Atos

AWS (Amazon Web Services)

CyrusOne

Data4

DigiPlex

Digital Realty/Interxion

Equinix

FlameNetworks

Gigas

Google

Ikoula

Ilger

Infloclip

Irideos

ITnet

LCL

Leaseweb

NTT

OVHcloud

Register

Scaleway

Seeweb

Trade associations

CISPE, the association of Cloud Infrastructure Services Providers Europe

EUDCA, the European Data Centre Association

Cloud28+

Cloud Community Poland

Danish Cloud Community

Datacenter Industrien

Data Centre Alliance

Dutch Data Center Association

Dutch Hosting Providers Association

Eco - Alliance for strengthening digital infrastructures in Germany

EuroCloud Croatia

EuroCloud France

France Datacenter

Host in Scotland

IKT-Norge

ISPConnect

TechUK

Press contact

Simona Romeo

Senior Communication Officer, CISPE

+32 492 24 98 68

[email protected]

CONTACT:

Elisabeth Lennhede

Head of Communications

+46703322705

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/digiplex/r/climate-neutral-data-centre-pact-commits-european-cloud-and-data-centre-industry-to-ambitious-sustai,c3271434

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/7526/3271434/1361839.pdf Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact Commits European Cloud & Data Centre Industry To Ambitious Sustainability Action https://news.cision.com/digiplex/i/cndcp-infographic,c2869397 CNDCP-Infographic

SOURCE DigiPlex
OPECs second-biggest oil producer, Iraq, has reduced its term supplies for 2021 to several major Indian refiners by 10-20 percent, industry sources told Reuters, some of them noting that the Iraqi move was totally unexpected.

Iraq has been the biggest laggard in the OPEC+ production deal, producing above its quota in the agreement and drawing criticism from OPECs de facto leader and largest producer, Saudi Arabia, last year.

In what looks like a move to try to fall in line with its commitment, Iraq is now said to be reducing term supplies of its Basrah grades for all of this year to India. Iraq is Indias single largest oil supplier, ahead of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The cut from Iraq comes just as Indias fuel demand and oil imports are rebounding from the lows during the pandemic.

Crude oil imports in the worlds third-largest oil importer and consumer, India, surged in December 2020 to their highest in almost three years, while provisional data from Indias Petroleum Ministry showed that fuel demand in India posted its fourth consecutive monthly rise in December, to the highest since February 2020.

We never expected Iraq to cut volumes. We may have to look for alternatives like tapping the spot markets, a source at an Indian refiner told Reuters, noting that the Iraqi cut is happening at a time when we are preparing to increase run rates as fuel demand is recovering.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) increased crude oil throughput of its refineries to 100 percent in November 2020, as consumption of all petroleum products has almost reached pre-Covid levels, the countrys biggest refiner and fuel retailer said in December.

According to Reuters sources, Iraq has cut its supply to IOC by 10 percent to around 350,000 bpd for all Basrah crude grades.

Meanwhile, Iraq has pledged, yet again, that it would compensate this year for its lack of compliance with the OPEC+ pact last year.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 04:00:46|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The UN secretary-general's special representative on sexual violence in conflict, Pramila Patten, on Thursday expressed grave concern over serious allegations of sexual violence in Ethiopia's conflict-stricken Tigray region.

The allegations include a high number of alleged rapes in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray. There are also disturbing reports of individuals allegedly forced to rape members of their own family, under threats of imminent violence, said Patten in a statement.

Some women have also reportedly been forced by military elements to have sex in exchange for basic commodities. In addition, there are increasing reports of sexual violence against women and girls in a number of refugee camps, she said.

Patten called on all parties involved in the hostilities in Tigray to commit to a zero-tolerance policy for crimes of sexual violence, in line with their respective obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

She called on the federal government of Ethiopia to further exercise its due diligence obligations to protect all civilians from sexual and other violence, regardless of their ethnic origin and those displaced by conflict; promptly allow for an independent inquiry into all allegations of sexual and other forms of violence; establish the facts and hold perpetrators accountable; provide redress to victims; and prevent further grave violations.

It remains critical that humanitarian actors and independent human rights monitors be granted immediate, unconditional and sustained access to the entirety of the Tigray region, including camps for internally displaced persons and refugees, she said.

Immediate medical and psychosocial assistance must be accompanied by protection measures, to ensure that those who have been forced from their homes due to violence are not placed at further risk of sexual violence within the camps. This includes the more than 5,000 Eritrean refugees in and around the area of Shire living in dire conditions, as well as the more than 59,000 Ethiopians who have fled into neighboring Sudan. The United Nations estimates that of these refugees, more than 25 percent are women and girls of reproductive age, she said.

Constrained humanitarian access and limited resources for service providers have reduced the availability of essential health care and assistance for survivors of sexual violence, including sexual and reproductive health care. Access to life-saving assistance, such as dignity kits, post-rape kits, treatment to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections and psychosocial support is also critical. Accordingly, enhanced funding and support are urgently required to scale up the provision and coverage of essential services, said Patten. Enditem
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Questions are mounting about California Governor Gavin Newsom's pandemic ban on outdoor dining, as experts suggest it may have fueled infections by driving gatherings into homes, and furious restaurateurs are filing suit challenging the order.

Newsom's order on December 3 quickly shut down outdoor dining statewide, just days after Los Angeles had implemented its own ban, despite officials admitting there was no evidence linking outdoor dining to infections.

California is one of the few states with a climate conducive to outdoor dining in the winter, and experts question whether the outdoor ban only encouraged more risky indoor gatherings.

'It shut down in early December, and things did not get better from there; things actually got worse,' Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, told SFGate. 'We won't be able to know the exact percentage it drove, but I would say closing outdoor dining certainly did not help and likely hindered efforts to avoid a surge,' she said.

California has averaged 500 deaths per day over the past two weeks, and the death toll there has contributed to the surge in deaths across the U.S., which recorded its second deadliest day of the pandemic on Wednesday with 4,229 fatalities.

California Governor Gavin Newsom's pandemic ban on outdoor dining may have fueled infections by driving gatherings into homes, experts say

In early December, when Newsom implemented his ban, new COVID-19 cases (left) and deaths (right) in California were already sharply rising, but they have continued to go up

Wednesday marks the third time that the U.S. daily death toll has surpassed 4,000 and is second only to January 12 on which 4,327 deaths were recorded, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

Since the pandemic began, 406,162 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19.

The grim milestone came on the same day President Joe Biden was inaugurated and exactly one year to the day since the first case of the virus was recorded in the U.S. in Washington state. Since then 24.4 million Americans have tested positive.

In the first order he signed since arriving at the White House, Biden on Wednesday mandated masks and physical distancing in all federal buildings and the development of a testing program for federal employees for COVID-19.

Biden's order says federal employees, contractors and others in federal buildings or on federal lands should 'wear masks, maintain physical distance, and adhere to other public health measures, as provided in (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.'

The president directed agencies to 'immediately take action...to require compliance with CDC guidelines' and for employees to wear masks and engage in social distancing. He called for all Americans to wear masks for 100 days.

It comes on the heels of a recent CDC projection that the national death toll could rise as high as 508,000 by February 13 - a figure higher than the population of Atlanta.

On Wednesday, the U.S. recorded the second deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic with 4,229 deaths with a total death toll of 406,162

Wednesday also marked one year to the day since the first case of the virus was recorded in Washington state with more than 24.4 million people since testing positive

In California, when Newsom implemented his outdoor dining ban, new cases of COVID-19 were already sharply rising, and totaled around 20,000 per day.

They peaked at more than double that earlier this month, and as of Tuesday the seven-day rolling average of daily new cases was 38,368.

Though there is no way to be certain whether the outdoor dining ban caused an increase in transmission, experts suspect it could have contributed to the surge.

'Restrictions should be about understanding the human condition and keeping places that are safe open,' said Gandhi. 'Those of us who argue for a harm reduction approach have the same goal as the lockdownists: We want to reduce transmission, but we understand the human condition and the need to be with people.'

In California, as elsewhere, there is reason to believe that harsh restrictions on public gatherings have driven social activity underground.

In Los Angeles, sheriff's deputies busted several secret parties with hundreds in attendance last weekend.

Newsom, a Democrat, was repeatedly pressed in December to offer evidence that outdoor dining contributed to the spread of COVID-19, but declined to do so, saying his restrictions were intended to send a message to the public discouraging socializing.

Sorrento Restaurant and Bar is seen in San Diego's in Little Italy this month. Orders have banned outdoor dining in most of California since early December

Meanwhile, a consortium of over 50 restaurants, wineries, tasting rooms and suppliers across Napa and Sonoma counties filed a lawsuit against Newsom on Tuesday.

The group alleges that the state's ban on outdoor dining is 'arbitrary, irrational, and unfair' and has had a 'ravaging' effect on the industry.

Newsom spokesman Jesse Melgar responded to the suit, telling DailyMail.com: 'We will vigorously defend against this lawsuit challenging public health orders implemented to save lives and prevent the regional medical system from collapsing, so all residents can access lifesaving treatment.'

'We are confident the court will uphold the order, as have numerous courts that have recently considered similar challenges,' Melgar added in a statement.

According to the complaint, the state regulations unfairly targeted restaurants, wineries, and tasting rooms by banning outdoor dining 'indefinitely and without scientific basis.'

'All we ask is to be treated fairly and in accordance with the science,' said Carl Dene of Sam's General Store in Calistoga.

'Though the data shows we can operate outdoors safely, our state officials continue to shut us down while trusting big-box retail stores to operate in much riskier indoor settings,' he added.

Teo Galindo sweeps up leaves in the street under a tent that was used for outdoor dinning at Solunto Restaurant and Bakery in Little Italy on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021 in San Diego, CA

The coalition members said the ban has destroyed small businesses, plunging them into debt and forcing countless layoffs and permanent closures.

'We're projected to have lost more than $3.5 million in gross revenue last year,' said Chef Anthony 'Nash' Cognetti, Executive Chef and Founder of Tre Posti in St. Helena.

'The latest shutdowns have forced us to layoff 95 valuable staff members, and it's devastating to consider what this has meant for them and their families,' he added.

'If we make it through the dining ban, we fear there won't be enough local industry workers left to rebuild our staff.'

The complaint, filed in Napa County Superior Court, alleges that the state's outdoor dining and wine tasting ban violates the equal protection, due process, and takings clauses of the California Constitution.

The lawsuit asks the court to declare the outdoor dining and wine tasting ban in violation of the California Constitution and stop the ban's enforcement.
Chinese authorities have given a fresh push to a conspiracy theory that links the origins of the novel coronavirus to a US army laboratory.

The country's state broadcaster told its millions of viewers today that 'something fishy' was going on at the Fort Detrick lab, reviving rumour that the contagion could have come from there.

The official report came three days after Beijing urged Washington to 'open the biological lab at Fort Detrick' and 'invite WHO experts to conduct origin-tracing in the United States' in an apparent attempt to point the source of the virus to America.

China's state broadcaster CCTV suggested that 'something fishy' was going on at the Fort Detrick lab in the United States during a news programme on Thursday (screenshot above)

China's Central Television Station claimed that the lab was branded as 'the darkest experiment centre of the US government' by American political news sites - without mentioning specific publications. A scientist is pictured working in the lab in the above photo from March 19, 2020

While the virus's exact origin remains unknown, the broad scientific consensus holds that it came from bats and jumped to humans through an intermediate host.

China is now rejecting the widely held assessment that Wuhan is the birthplace of the pandemic after daily infections dropped there but soared in Europe and the United States.

The Fort Detrick lab is known in full as the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and situated in Frederick, Maryland.

In a news report on Thursday morning, China's Central Television Station claimed that the lab was branded as 'the darkest experiment centre of the US government' by American political news sites - without mentioning specific publications.

A female anchor asked her audience rhetorically: 'Exactly what fishy businesses were going on [in the lab]?'

The state-run outlet listed various safety concerns related to the lab and stressed that the lab had been linked to alleged leaking and disappearances of lethal viruses.

The report came hot on the heels of relevant statements made by Hua Chunying, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at a press briefing on Monday.

Hua Chunying (pictured on Thursday), a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called on Washington to let WHO probe the virus's source in the United States on Monday

The Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured) is also at the centre of a COVID conspiracy theory

Ms Hua accused the US of spreading 'conspiracy theories' and 'a bunch of lies' before calling on Washington to let the World Health Organization (WHO) probe the virus's source in the United States.

She said: 'I'd like to stress that if the United States truly respects facts, it should open the biological lab at Fort Detrick, give more transparency to issues like its 200-plus overseas bio-labs, invite WHO experts to conduct origin-tracing in the United States, and respond to the concerns from the international community with real actions.'

Ms Hua made the assertions in response to a US state department 'fact sheet' from last week which named new evidence linking the virus's origins to the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The US document alleged that researchers at the Wuhan lab had fallen ill before the first known cases of COVID-19 in the city. But the state department has yet to provide data to support its allegations.

Ms Hua also branded the 'fact sheet' as part of the '"Last-day Madness" of "Mr Liar"', seemingly taking a swipe at former US President Donald Trump or his Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.

Most of the first cases recorded in Wuhan at the beginning of the pandemic were associated with the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, seen in a picture taken on March 20, 2020

The novel coronavirus, scientifically known as SARS-CoV-2, first emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019.

Most of the first cases recorded in Wuhan were associated with a seafood market, which, among others, sold live wild animals such as snakes, rats, beavers and foxes.

However, several conspiracy theories have appeared on the internet since the beginning of the pandemic.

They suggest that the virus could have been purposely created as a biological weapon or escaped from a lab - claims that have been 'strongly condemned' by scientists around the world.

This is not the first time the Chinese state TV has called out America as a potential root of the coronavirus.

In April last year, one of its presenters claimed that the coronavirus originated from the US instead of China in an Arabic programme.

In a video series called 'China View', Ms V first quoted unidentified research and claimed that the coronavirus started spreading after the Wuhan Military World Games in October last year

The anchor, who calls herself 'Ms V', referred to several conspiracy theories in an opinion show on CGTN, the English arm of CCTV, to prove 'it is clear that the virus in China was transmitted from abroad'.

The Arabic-speaking reporter hinted that the contagion could have escaped from Fort Detrick or been brought into China during the Military World Games in Wuhan - a theory promoted by another of foreign ministry's spokespersons, Zhao Lijian.

Ms V suggested that that the 'CDC suddenly and completely shut down' the Fort Detrick Biological Weapons Laboratory after failing to 'fully prevent the loss of pathogens'.

The Maryland lab was, in fact, partially closed in July 2019 by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention over sanitation concerns, according to the press.

It had been operating under partial capacity since November that year and reopened in April 2020.
San Antonio Police Department

A San Antonio police officer was arrested for a second time this year stemming from allegations that he was providing a suspect with sensitive case information, according to an affidavit.

Erik Rodriguez, 39, was charged with bribery Wednesday. The 14-year veteran was previously arrested on Jan. 13 for misuse of official information.
Sushant Singh Rajputs demise has left a massive void in the hearts of Bollywood fans all over. Not just fans, even Sushants co-stars and colleagues are struggling to come to terms with the loss even today. Social media is flooded with posts remembering the late actor and actress Kriti Sanon too has joined the list.





Kriti Sanon, who is currently shooting for Bachchan Pandey with Akshay Kumar in Jaisalmer, took to social media and remembered the late actor with a special post. Along with sharing a picture of Sushant, she wrote, This is how Ill remember you.. Smiling like a child! Happy Birthday Sush I hope you are smiling and at peace wherever you are.. Take a look at the post below.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kriti (@kritisanon)

Kriti and Sushant shared the screen in Dinesh Vijan's reincarnation drama Raabta.





New York, Jan 21 : Donald Trump in one of his last acts as president has pardoned Dinesh D'Souza, an Indian American writer, filmmaker and conservative political activist convicted of making illegal political contributions.

Trump said that D'Souza had been "treated very unfairly by our government".

He was one of 73 people whose pardons were announced on Wednesday morning. Seventy others had their sentences commuted.

Last month, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, the father-in-law of his daughter Ivanka Trump. Kushner was convicted of tax fraud, retaliation against a witness and lying to the Federal Election Commission.

At that time another person close to Trump, 2016 campaign chairman Paul Manafort, also received a pardon. He had been convicted of a financial fraud involving the former Soviet Union.

Trump's former political strategist Stephen Bannon, who had been charged with alleged fraud in connection with a private campaign to build a wall along the Mexican border to further Trump's border wall promise was also pardoned.

Mumbai-born D'Souza was convicted of illegally sending $20,000 in contributions to the senate campaign of former classmate, Wendy Long, by routing them through others to avoid the maximum limit on political funding.

He spent eight months in a halfway house -- where those sentenced stay under strict restrictions in the prison-like facility while being allowed only to go to work or to other essential functions.

D'Souza, who is a conservative, has made movies critical of Democrats like "Obama's America" based on his 2010 book "The Roots of Obama's Rage", which was an attack on the former president.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)
Government has been called upon to, as matterof urgency, prioritise gender responsiveness and sensitivity in all up-coming ministerial, boards, MMDCE and other public appointments.



According to ABANTU for Development and the Women Manifesto Coalition (WMC), both women-focused groups, this would ensure increased womens participation and empowerment in the countrys growing democracy as enshrined in the global human rights instruments, Ghanas 1992 Constitution and other national laws.



In a joint statement issued in Accra on Monday, they said prioritising gender sensitivity in the appointments of public officials would ensure the governments agenda to provide equality and access to opportunity for all citizens.



It stated that the low representation of marginalised groups, especially women, not only limited the diversity of legislative bodies like parliament, but also posed a challenge to the provision of societal benefits central to true democracy.



As we reflect on the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, we are once again disappointed in the perennial historic failure of elections to deliver equity and inclusiveness in Ghanas decision-making spaces, both local and national, they said



According to them, the 40 women parliamentarians in a 275-member house represent only 14.5 per cent of the membership, an abysmal increase of 0.7 per cent over the seventh parliaments 13.8 per cent.



This, the statement stated,was clearly unreflective of the demographic environment and the increased levels of womens commitment to engage in the electoral process.



It explained that the evidence for this was in the phenomenal numbers of females who turned up to be registered as voters for the 2020 elections, which were far more than those of male voters.



It expressed worry that the current rate of increment in the number of women elected to Parliament in elections was highly unlikely to help Ghana attain the minimum United Nations (UN) recommended threshold of 30 per cent for womens effective engagement in decision making in the next several decades.



According to the statement, the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections were Ghanas eighth general elections since the introduction of constitutional democracy in 1992 and so should have stood as a testimony to the countrys growth and maturity in representative democracy.



It said the elections should have facilitated greater opportunities for the marginalised, especially women, to deepen accountability to womens rights, gender equality and social justice.



The world around us is growing more disposed to the expansion of democratic ideals and greater equality. ABANTU and the WMC acknowledge the many challenges and barriers that women candidates have to contend with in a bid to equally participate in and contribute towards national development. We insist that womens equal participation in politics and decision-making can lead to a qualitative difference in the countrys governance in terms of inclusiveness and equitable management and distribution of national resources, it stressed.



In furtherance, the statement gave assurance that ABANTU and the WMC would continue to advocate and campaign in the post-election 2020 period for the immediate passage of the Affirmative Action Law (AAL) as a concrete mechanism towards the removal of gender imbalances.



The AAL, it said, would chart the way forward in the implementation of global, continental and regional commitments in fulfilment of womens rights and gender equality.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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

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A 72-year-old woman was hospitalized with severe COVID-19 disease, 33 days after the onset of symptoms. She was suffering a prolonged deteriorating illness, with severe pneumonia and a high risk of death, and she was unable to mount her own immune defense against the SARS-CoV-2 virus because of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which compromises normal immunoglobulin production.

But when physicians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham recommended a single intravenous infusion of convalescent blood plasma from her son-in-lawwho had recovered from COVID-19 diseasea remarkable, beneficial change followed. Her physician, Randall Davis, M.D., professor in the UAB Department of Medicine, says she showed prompt and profound improvement within 48 hours.

Her 104-degree F fever rapidly dropped. In three days, the virus was no longer detectable in her respiratory swabs. And four days after the infusion, she was discharged from the hospital.

However, this single case appears to be an outlier, as shown through collaborative research at UAB, the University of Pennsylvania and several other institutions. In their study, reported in Cell Reports Medicine, researchers show that the woman's recovery was due to an extremely high virus-neutralizing titer in the son-in-law's donated plasma that she received. They found that this titer was higher than titers they measured in 64 other remnant convalescent plasmas collected by two blood banks.

Only 37 percent of the convalescent plasmas from the first blood bank had neutralizing antibody titers above 250, the lower cut-off value allowed by the Food and Drug Administration's emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma, which allows an unapproved medical product to be used in an emergency to treat life-threatening disease. In the plasmas from the second blood bank, only 47 percent exceeded the neutralizing antibody titer cut-off of 250. Thus, many of these plasmas were inadequate for transfusion.

While eight convalescent plasmas from the second blood bank exceeded a neutralizing antibody titer of 1,000, they were far beneath the extremely high, 5,720 neutralizing antibody titer of the son-in-law's plasma that was given to his immunodeficient COVID-19 mother-in-law.

The researchers also analyzed plasma titers in 17 other patients besides the 72-year-old woman, both before and after they were given convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19. Before infusion of plasma, 53 percent of these patients already had neutralizing antibody values greater than 250, and seven of the patients had titers greater than 3,000.

For the 16 patients the researchers were able to analyze, the infusion of convalescent plasma had no significant impact on their preexisting neutralizing antibody titers, and many of the recipients had endogenous neutralizing antibody responses that far exceeded those of the administered convalescent plasma units.

In contrast, the infusion of 218 milliliters of the son-in-law's convalescent plasma into the index COVID-19 patient, an amount equal to about one cup, resulted in an obvious rise in her neutralizing antibody titers that persisted four days after infusion.

"Our results have important implications for how convalescent plasma therapy is being used now and how it may be improved," Davis and colleagues reported. "The low neutralizing titers in most convalescent plasma donors raise concern.

"Convalescing individuals with truly high-titer neutralizing antibodies are rare, which underscores the need for a concerted effort to identify them but also poses the question of whether there are ample numbers of suitable convalescent plasma donors," they wrote. "The generally low neutralizing antibody titers in most donors, as well as high titer baseline neutralizing antibodies in many recipients, highlight the importance of first testing the convalescent plasmas, and also the recipients. Doing so should optimize the clinical benefit and reduce the effort spent when convalescent plasma therapy is not appropriate."

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

More information: Kazuhito Honjo et al, Convalescent plasma-mediated resolution of COVID-19 in a patient with humoral immunodeficiency, Cell Reports Medicine (2020). Kazuhito Honjo et al, Convalescent plasma-mediated resolution of COVID-19 in a patient with humoral immunodeficiency,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2020.100164
Dat Tran, one of the Department of Veterans Affairs' top experts in strategic planning and information technology, has been named acting head of the department as Denis McDonough, President Joe Biden's nominee for VA secretary, waits for confirmation from the U.S. Senate.

Tran currently serves as principal deputy assistant secretary for the VA Office of Enterprise Integration, where he advises VA leaders on performance, policy research, data analytics and transportation.

In the early months of the Trump administration, he served as acting assistant secretary.

His official biography notes that he is a former staff member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and a graduate of Ohio State University.

Read Next: SecDef Pick Lloyd Austin Pledges to Rid the Ranks of Extremists

Stepping in as acting deputy secretary is Dr. Carolyn Clancy, familiar to many within the VA for having served in a variety of roles, including as executive director of the Veterans Health Administration from 2017 to 2018. In that post, she essentially performed the duties of the under secretary for health, responsible for a budget of $70 billion.

In 2018, Clancy was replaced as executive director by Dr. Richard Stone, who will remain in his role, where he also serves as acting under secretary for health, according to the VA.

The top health care position -- undersecretary for health -- was vacant during the entire tenure of the Trump administration, with the role filled by acting leaders and the VHA executive directors, Clancy and Stone.

The last official under secretary for health, a position that requires Senate confirmation, was Dr. David Shulkin, who was promoted in 2017 to VA secretary, then removed from office just over a year later.

On the benefits side, Thomas Murphy will assume the role of acting under secretary for benefits, a position he held from 2016 to 2018.

Rounding out the three leadership positions of the VA's divisions is Ron Walters, who will serve as acting under secretary for memorial affairs. Walters previously served as principal under secretary for memorial affairs.

The Biden administration also named a number of other acting senior leaders in the department, including Richard Hipolit, who will serve as acting general counsel; Dominic Cussatt, who will step us as acting assistant chief information officer -- a critical billet as the VA continues its effort to modernize its electronic medical records system; and Hansel Cordeiro, who will serve as acting assistant secretary for accountability and whistleblower protection.

Cheryl Mason, chairwoman of the Board of Veterans Appeals, and VA Inspector General Michael Missal will remain in their positions.

Missal was an outspoken critic of VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, who stepped down with President Donald Trumps departure. Missal publicly rebuked Wilkie after the secretary claimed that an investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center found the charges were unsubstantiated.

Reaching a decision to close the investigation with no criminal charges does not mean that the underlying allegation is unsubstantiated, Missal wrote after Wilkie claimed they were in a letter to the chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee last year.

McDonough, whose Senate confirmation hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27, is expected to build out his leadership team in the months following his swearing in as secretary. But several permanent roles, especially those in key outreach positions, also were announced Wednesday.

Kayla Williams, an Army veteran who previously directed the department's Center for Women Veterans, will serve as assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs.

Meg Kabat, a licensed clinical social worker who has been active with the VA Caregiver Support Program, will serve as senior adviser for families and caregivers.

Raymond Kelly, the former majority staff director at the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, will work as the veteran service organization liaison.

Terrence Hayes, who previously handled media relations in the VAs public affairs shop under Shulkin and Wilkie, will return as press secretary.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: New Acting SecDef Service Secretaries Named as Biden Takes Office
SEBIs Insider Trading Orders: Is There Any Method in the Madness?

On 13th January, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued an ex-parte order to bar Hemant Ghai, host of a show on CNBC Awaaz, from the capital market for price manipulation and unfair trade practices. Social media erupted with vindication, since complaints about SEBIs inaction over market manipulation have been rife. Does this signal increased seriousness about tackling market manipulation, front-running and insider trading, which has been fairly brazen in the past few years?

Hold on. Investors who think that SEBIs interim orders and show-cause notices signal improved action, need to get a glimpse into the crazy and convoluted world of regulatory orders on what are called fraudulent and unfair trade practices (FUTP). This article looks at just five recent orders for you to draw your own conclusions. Remember, SEBIs orders make news only when they involve high-profile individuals or companiesothers quietly slip below the radar. SEBIs byzantine system of dealing with market manipulation can lead to three kinds of outcomes.

1. SEBI punishes someone and imposes a monetary penalty, but SAT (Securities Appellate Tribunal) converts it into a warning. Matter goes to the Supreme Court and is stayed (Bharti Goyal case).

2. SEBI indicts an insider/tipee but does not impose a fine (forgetting the stand above); the insider appeals to SAT to have the stigma of being an insider washed clean. SAT refuses to oblige (Utsav Pathak case).

SEBIs hasty and cruel actions which I have described earlier in 3.SEBIs hasty and cruel actions which I have described earlier in this article

Monetary Penalty Waived

Bharti Goyal and Laxmikant Vyas challenged a SEBI order charging them with FUTP before SAT. The two were part of a group of 16 entities who allegedly ramped up the price of Mapro Industries from 1 July 2014 to 30 November 2014, when the scrip rose from Rs79.15 to Rs 493.40. Initially, SEBI investigated six entities, but added another 10 to the list, although they had no connection to the original six manipulators. Their 43 trades for just 1,174 shares had helped ramp up the price, says the regulator. What the 10 new entities had done was interesting. They placed buy orders for Mapro at the beginning of trading hours, well above the last traded price (LTP) of the scrip. SEBI has a detailed calculation on how this strategy helped push up Mapros price.

Of these, Ms Goyal and Mr Vyas filed separate appeals against the order claiming they were small investors who had nothing to do with the manipulation. They had been slapped with a penalty of Rs5 lakh each. Bharti Goyal said she had purchased only 284 shares in nine trades, while Mr Vyas claimed he bought 251 shares in seven trades. SAT heard them out. SEBI, correctly, argued that it is irrational for any investor to place a buy order substantially above the LTP that too early in the day, unless it was meant to impact prices.

Probably, because the amounts involved were small, SAT decided to sympathise with Ms Goyal and Mr Vyas. Bharti Goyal did not even have a lawyer and had appeared in person. It said, the dividing line between placing orders to deliberately manipulate prices or not doing so was very thin in the absence of some more analysis of the overall trading in the scrip during the investigation period to connect the dots, it was inclined to waive the penalty and convert it into a warning. However, it warned that a repetition of trading of similar nature/pattern would lead to penal consequences.

But SEBI was charged up enough to rush to the Supreme Court with an appeal (Civil Appeal No(s).3596-3597/2020), which was heard by a bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna on 5January 2021. It also had attorney general KK Venugopal argue the case. The crux of SEBIs argument was that Section 15HA of the SEBI Act, which was amended in September 2014, provides for a minimum penalty of Rs5 lakh that can go up to Rs25 crore. Mr Venugopal argued, Imposition of a warning, which is not a penalty is beyond the jurisdiction of SAT, since it is a creature of statute and does not have jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution.

In other words, SAT cannot convert a monetary penalty into a warning. Mr Venugopal submitted that SAT had passed such orders in many other cases leading to several appeals being filed before this Court by SEBI. The Supreme Court has stayed the order and two individuals will either have to fight it out before the apex court, or may find it less expensive to just pay up. We don't know what will happen.

But if you thought this was a shining example of SEBIs tough stance against market manipulation, check out the next case.

Monetary Penalty Not Imposed: Utsav Pathak was an employee of Morgan Stanley in 2013 when it was working on an open offer by McGraw Hill Asian Holdings for acquiring shares in CRISIL Ltd. On 3 June 2013, McGraw Hill made an open offer at Rs1,210 per share, when CRISIL was trading on the exchange at Rs1,129.90. CRISILs price jumped 20% immediately after the offer. Now, SEBI alleges that Mr Pathak (the tipper) provided inside information to his sister, her mother-in-law and father-in-law, who traded in the shares and made a profit of nearly Rs38 lakh. Mr Pathak denied passing on any information and claimed that they were all independent professionals. But SEBI discovered that: a) the sisters family had never traded in large quantities; 2) they traded heavily only in this scrip and sold the shares when the offer was announced; 3) one family member had even borrowed Rs1 crore and sold off existing holdings to be able to buy CRISILs shares.

In a separate investigation, SEBI had charged the sisters family with insider trading and they had settled the matter by paying up Rs2 crore (which included the profit earned and interest). SEBIs adjudication officer noted, in his order, that Mr Pathak had resigned from Morgan Stanley on 31 December 2018 and is, unemployed since then. Also, since his family had paid up over Rs2 crore, he ruled, I am not inclined to impose any penalty on the Noticee. So, what happened to the minimum penalty issue that was taken to the Supreme Court in the much smaller matter of Bharati Goyal? The bizarre case doesnt end here.

Mr Pathak, apparently unemployed, found expensive lawyers to file an appeal before SAT (Misc. Application No.138 of 2020 And Appeal No.430 of 2019) and argued that merely having a close relationship doesn't make him guilty. The fact that SEBI had held him guilty of insider trading but did not impose any penalty in August 2019 was held up to support this contention. His lawyers also pointed out that another person, Ajay Bhalla and his firm, had made a profit of over Rs5 crore but were let off (I have not investigated this, as yet). On 12 June 2020, SAT rejected the argument and upheld SEBIs order.

Hasty and Half-baked Action? Now let us come to the final order of Udyant Malhoutra, CEO (chief executive officer) and managing director of Dynamatic Technologies (DTL). In an ex-parte order on 15 June 2020, SEBI accused Mr Malhoutra of trading on the basis of unpublished inside information. SEBI alleged that he avoided a loss of Rs3.83 crore by selling 51,000 shares before the company announced its results. In a detailed interim order, SEBI said that the money be impounded and deposited in an escrow account immediately. This was in the middle of the COVID lock-down.

Was SEBI being tough and quick, for once? Without going into details of the order and the price movement of shares, what is important here is that Mr Malhoutras decision to sell was apparently imperative and in line with an agreement he had with a consortium of lenders to reduce (to 7.5%) the shares pledged by the promoter group with IL&FS (Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services) as part of a facility agreement dated 29 June 2016. The promoter group had a Rs50-crore loan against pledged shares and that Mr Malhoutra had sold the share to pre-pay the loan and bring down his holding, in line with that agreement.

The matter went to SAT which quashed SEBIs order pointing out that there is no real urgency in the matter to pass an ex-parte interim order especially during the pandemic period. And said that, even if it has the powers to do so, it ought to use them sparingly and not cause irreparable injury. SEBI went to the Supreme Court with an appeal, but the apex court held that SAT was correct in setting aside the order. SEBI will hear the matter again and, probably, pass another order by examining Mr Malhoutras contention more closely. But it is clear that this is not a simple matter of insider trading that required such harsh action in a pandemic.

Importantly, Anant Barua, SEBIs whole-time member (WTM) who passed the order, has been with the regulatory body for over three decades and surely understands the hardship he was seeking to inflict.

So, for all those who wonder what happens to the innumerable case of market manipulation that they have reported to the regulatorremember, this is just the starting point to what seems like a bizarre and byzantine world of SEBI orders!
ADBs study Reaping the Benefits of Industry 4.0 Through Skills Development in Vietnam examined the logistics and agro-processing industries in the country, which are both important for growth, employment, international competitiveness and 4IR.

It has found that 4IR technologies may eliminate between a quarter and a third of jobs in these industries, but these would be more than offset by new labour demand, which could lead to positive job gains in both sectors.

According to the report, as the impact of COVID-19 on supply and value chains, Vietnams agro-processing industry would need to adjust to shifting consumer behaviour. While logistics should see a post-pandemic upswing due to the growth of e-commerce and the changing nature of retail, both industries would have to embrace digital supply chains and launch digital initiatives  rendering the need to upskill and reskill even more urgent.

While 68% of training institutions in Vietnam reported feeling adequately equipped for 4IR, this was lower than its regional neighbours which are part of the four-country study, including Cambodia (73%), the Philippines (81%) and Indonesia (95%).

There is also a mismatch in perceptions between training institutions and employers in the preparedness of graduates to work. Only 4% of training institutions reported using online training platforms while 18% reported using augmented reality and virtual reality tools for training.

ADB Principal Education Specialist Shanti Jagannathan said that as 4IR technologies spread rapidly, extensive investments in digital skills would help the young and old improve their chances to access higher quality jobs and lower the risk of job losses.

She suggested to re-think delivery of skills using virtual platforms and mobile technologies, while developing agile training institutions with courses and credentials that match labour market needs.

ADB Country Director for Vietnam Andrew Jeffries affirmed that adequate and timely investments in skills development could help the country not only to harness the potential of 4IR to increase productivity but also to ensure the 4IR will benefit workers at large.

While applications of 4IR technologies would help the country move up the value chain in products and services, Vietnam should consider new approaches to ensure inclusion and social protection for entry level workers, especially those at risk of job displacement and those who need upskilling, Jeffries suggested.
Jammu, Jan 21 : An Indian Army NCO was killed in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan on the Line of Control at Krishna Ghati sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch on Thursday, officials said.

"Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked ceasefire violation on LoC in J&K today," the Army said.

"Our army responded strongly to enemy fire. In the ceasefire violation, Havaldar Nirmal Singh was critically injured and succumbed to his injuries later. We shall ever remain indebted to him & salute his supreme sacrifice." There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations along the LoC in multiple sectors in Poonch with Pakistan targeting civilian areas and defence positions with long range mortars and small arms.

The Army says it is giving a benefiting response to all acts of aggression by Pakistan along the LoC.

J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has expressed grief over the soldier's death.

Paying tributes to the martyred soldier, he said that "we are eternally indebted to our men in uniform for their supreme sacrifices towards ensuring integrity and sovereignty of the country".

He prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in its hour of grief.

Czech Republic - planning to adopt controversial rules governing the sale of food in supermarkets

The European Union is monitoring Czech Republic plans to adopt legislation requiring shops there to sell mainly domestically-made food.

The Czech Republic is an EU member state and the proposed law might raise questions over whether it is contrary to EU single market rules.

In a statement sent to just-food, a spokesperson for the European Commission, the EU's executive branch, said: "The free movement of goods and services in the internal market is our strongest asset in ensuring supplies across the EU, and it is also our best tool to ensure recovery for all.

"It is of utmost importance that national measures are not at the expense of our fundamental principles and values as set out in the treaties. Any restrictive measures must be limited to what is necessary and be strictly proportionate.

"The free movement of agricultural products throughout the internal market is essential to ensure food security throughout the Union. Local restrictions of whatever type are counter-productive."

Czech lawmakers approved the legislation on Wednesday (20 January). It stipulates that shops larger than 400 square metres must, as of next year, offer at least 55% of items that can be locally produced. The proportion would rise gradually to 73% in 2028.

The European Commission said it would analyse the Czech legislation once fully adopted.

"On this specific case, we are aware of the draft amendment to the Czech Food Act including the food quotas in stores. We are monitoring the situation closely," it said in its statement.

"The Commission will analyse the Czech legislation once adopted. We cannot speculate at this stage."

News agency Reuters suggested the Czech quotas are a part of a bill aimed at preventing double standards in food. Some former communist eastern members of the EU have complained that inferior food products are sold in poorer eastern markets by western European food companies. A European Parliament committee voted to take action on this issue in early 2019.

just-food has asked the Czech government to comment on its planned legislation.
Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time, the second feature by the Hungarian writer-director Lili Horvat, considers the slippery relationship between consciousness and desire with a poignant hypothetical: what if you fall so hard for someone that you convince yourself they love you back? At the shattering of such an illusion is where we meet Marta (Natasa Stork), an accomplished, 40-year-old neurosurgeon who hastily leaves behind her life and career in the U.S. to reunite with the man she loves. Yet when she arrives at their agreed-upon meeting point  the Pest end of Budapests Liberty Bridge  Janos (Viktor Bodo) is nowhere to be found. And when she tracks him down at the nearby medical institute, he claims to not know who she is.

Horvats subversive portrait of obsession flips the femme fatale trope on its head by taking the enigmatic womans point of view. A noirish psychodrama simmering with ambiguities, the film cleverly toys with our perception by loosening our heroines grip on reality. Steely, self-possessed Marta is riddled with doubt over whether she is either the victim of gaslighting or legitimately insane. Summoning these ideas against a clinical backdrop, Horvat upends the glib notion of a womans intuition.

SALEM, MA  North Shore Medical Center President Dr. David Roberts said during a Salem Public Schools health and wellness forum Wednesday that coronavirus vaccination rates must reach "70 to 75 percent" of residents before life gets back to "normal."

Roberts said it could take "another two or three years" to safely be around people not in your bubble without face masks, go to the movies and enjoy indoor dining without the vast majority of the population being willing to accept the vaccination.

"If you know vaccine skeptics in your bubble, or in your circle of influence, please talk to them about it," he said. "We are not going to change our lives unless 70 percent  at least 70 percent  of the people in our lives get the vaccine. If we don't get to 70 to 75 percent immunity the virus will be able to spread.

"We will still wear a mask. We will still not go to movies. We will still not eat indoors. This will go on for another two or three years if we don't get to 70 percent vaccination rates. So when anybody says to you: 'It's my choice.' It is their choice. But it's affecting society in a meaningful way. So I think it's our obligation to think strongly about getting the vaccine when you get a chance.

"We're not going to be able to get back to the way we used to live until everybody says that I'm doing this, not just for myself, but for my community. It's part of being a citizen  I believe."



He also urged people to get both shots of the vaccine if you are scheduled for a two-shot regimen.

"We have some people calling up saying: 'I'd like to cancel my second one because the TV said it's OK,'" he said. "That's a really stupid thing to do because you get maybe 40 to 60 percent immunity after one dose  which is about what we get with the flu (vaccine)  and you get 95 percent on the second. So the difference between a 50 percent chance of getting COVID and a 95 percent chance of not getting COVID is pretty huge in my view."

Story continues

The forum included district school officials and regional medical personnel, and focused on the ability to continue in-classroom learning amid elevated coronavirus rates and the vaccine rollout.

Salem Superintendent of Schools Stephen Zrike said the district is part of a push to have teachers in more urban, or higher-risk, districts be among the first to have faculty vaccinated when they are eligible in phase 2 of the rollout slated for between February and April.

(Peabody Health Director Preaches Patience While Awaiting Vaccine)

Dr. Kristin Pangallo, Salem State professor and Salem School Committee member, said she believes school virus protocols can remain effective in keeping students in school as long as the overall case numbers are relatively in check.

"It's really critical that we understand that there is a tension there in terms of what is possible scientifically and also logistically how that's going to work," she said. "The thing is that as community case counts rise, the logistical problems increase. So it becomes more and more challenge.

"So we really need to work together as a community to keep our cases lower."



She added that things that might have been considered "safe" in the summer and fall  including play dates for children and going to friends' houses  are "very problematic right now  and likely to become even more problematic."



Salem Public Schools conducted testing for all students, staff and families of students willing to be tested during a remote week of school after winter break with a positive test rate of 1.7 percent. Faculty and high school student testing during the week of Jan. 11 was 0.88 percent, though Zrike allowed there have been additional positive tests this week.

The statewide test positive rate as of Wednesday was 5.86 percent  down from a high of 8.7 percent on Jan. 2.

(How To Volunteer To Help North Shore Vaccine Distribution)



Roberts said about 97 percent of North Shore Medical Center beds are filled, including 85 percent of intensive care capacity, as of this week. He added that while total hospitalizations are not as high as they were in the spring, the hospital is able to transfer 10 to 15 people to Boston facilities to help alleviate the capacity crunch.

He said the average age of the patients in the spring was 10 or 15 percent older than it is now.

"We haven't yet peaked," he said. "People ask if we've hit the peak of the Christmas/New Year's thing. It's generally 14 to 18 days. We're 20 days out from New Year's now. But we're still going up a little bit.

"It's really hard for me to be optimistic about anything given the positive rates in the communities. ... When we run a hospital that is 98 percent full, and positive rates are still climbing, it gets me worried about capacity down the road."

Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

This article originally appeared on the Salem Patch
If you live alone or are just lazy to cook for a day, ordering in is the best solution and we all trust the delivery executives to bring the food on time to satiate our hunger.

But things are not always hunky-dory when it comes to placing food orders. There are times when the food gets delayed, the delivery address goes wrong or in some rare cases the delivery guy chomps off your food.



YouTube

Also Read: Meet The Indore Entrepreneur Who Became A Delivery Boy To Help The Needy During Lockdown



More recently, an American customer was left fuming after she caught a Just Eat delivery guy cancelling her order and eating her food right outside her doorstep.

A spokesman told The Mirror, "At Just Eat we're committed to providing a positive experience for all of our customers. When we become aware of any practices that fall below the high standards we expect, we will always take steps to address this. As such, we were concerned to hear about this incident. We are investigating, will take action as appropriate and are also in contact with the customer."

Also Read: This Will Make Your Stomach Churn! Video Shows Delivery Boy Urinating In Lift In Ahmedabad

The spokesman added, "Most delivery drivers delivering food to customers doors are employed directly by independent restaurants. But we do engage with third-party courier companies, agency couriers and self-employed independent contractors to deliver on behalf of restaurants that don't have this service."





Back in 2018, a video of a delivery guy from Zomato eating food meant for delivery went viral. The video was shared on Twitter by a user with the handle @Madan_Chikna with the caption, "This is what happens when you use coupon codes all the time. Watch till end. (sic)"

Also Read: People Are Uninstalling Zomato App Post Company's Response To Swara Bhaskers Tweet, Here's Why

In a blog post, Zomato wrote, "The person in the video happened to be a delivery partner on our fleet. We have spoken to him at length and while we understand that this was a human error in judgment, we have taken him off our platform."





But in this case the delivery guy received empathy from users on the Internet. 'If people have to steal food, there is some problem with our society. I feel sorry for him,' wrote a user named @nfuel90.

'For some reason my heart breaks every time I see the video and this man. I hope n pray he gets a job somewhere n leave this stigma behind him,' wrote another user named Aysha Suzana on Twitter.

Even in the McDonald's delivery incident above, it's natural for the customer to be miffed with the delivery guy's unprofessional behaviour, but reports still don't state the circumstances that forced him to eat the order, there's always room for some empathy when it comes to food.
For more than a decade, the Palestinian factions have been negotiating the holding of new presidential and parliamentary elections. They reached consensus four days ago when the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that legislative elections using a proportional representation system would be held on 22 May followed by a presidential race on 31 July.



The decree said the elections would take place in all the cities of the homeland including the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Shtayyeh said he wanted the EU, which has welcomed the announcement, to prepare a team of international observers to help us, mainly in the election process in Jerusalem.



As Israel prohibits any activities by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Occupied West Bank, Shtayyeh said he would ask Israel to allow our people in Jerusalem to participate in the elections.



Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group which rules Gaza, showed a readiness to cooperate in the process despite the divisions between itself and the PA, which is mainly composed of the Fatah group.



We have worked over recent months to resolve all obstacles so that we can reach this day, Hamas said in a statement. The elections will be the first national elections in Palestine in 15 years.



There has been strong regional backing for a Fatah-Hamas rapprochement, carried out over the past 12 months under Egyptian sponsorship. Allies of Hamas such as Turkey and Qatar have also seemingly backed rapprochement between the Palestinians.



The intra-Palestinian split started after Hamas won the parliamentary elections in Gaza in 2006. The group is considered to be a terrorist organisation by some Western governments and Israel, making it almost impossible for these governments to work with a Palestinian government in Gaza that is affiliated to a movement they do not recognise.



Dozens of people lost their lives following Fatah-Hamas clashes in Gaza that ended with Hamas taking control of the coastal enclave. The PA as a whole has not been able to extend its control beyond its autonomous areas of the Occupied Territories, making it difficult for the factions to cooperate on holding new elections.



The image of a Hamas militant sitting in the chair of Abbas in his former Gaza office in 2007 has been difficult to forget.



Hello Condoleezza Rice [the then US secretary of state]. You have to deal with me now; there is no Abu Mazen anymore, he said, holding the phone and referring to another name for Mahmoud Abbas. During the subsequent negotiations, the most that the two sides reached were fragile reconciliation agreements that were never implemented.



Abdel-Mahdi Metawei, a Palestinian political analyst close to the PA, believes that the elections will be held successfully this time round. The election of Joe Biden as US president had changed the positions of many on the Palestinian issue, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was facing difficult circumstances in Israel.



Such reasons combined with the proportional electoral system would mean fair representation for the Palestinian factions in the Palestinian parliament and guarantee the success of the electoral process, Metawei said.



He said the failure of the negotiations between the Palestinian groups over recent years had been due to a camp inside Hamas opposing any agreement on elections as it benefited from existing divisions.



The long delay in holding elections was due to the Hamas coup that happened in Gaza that led to divisions. After this, Hamas took control of all the state institutions in Gaza. The new elections represent a means of ending the divisions, as the rounds of talks were fruitless, Metawei told Al-Ahram Weekly.



It has yet to be seen how Israel will respond to the news. The Palestinian-Israeli peace process has been in deadlock since 2014, one of the results of the Palestinian divisions.



Netanyahus government announced a unilateral suspension of talks with the PA after it reached a reconciliation deal with Hamas, accusing the latter of being a terrorist organisation that calls for the destruction of Israel.



Hamas and Israeli have fought each other several times over the last decade, and there have been frequent border skirmishes.



Ian Lustick, a professor of political science at the University of Pennsylvania in the US, said that the collapse of the peace process had positively affected Fatah-Hamas reconciliation.



The disappearance of meaningful options for a two-state solution and the virtual abandonment of the Palestinians by the United States have forced President Abbas to find something to do to increase his political capital by rallying Palestinian sentiment and strengthening ties with Europe and the new American administration under the flag of democracy, Lustick said.



He referred to other factors that had led Abbas to announce the elections, including the ability of both Fatah and Hamas to call them off if they appear to be developing in ways that would threaten their interests. He added that the long absence of elections had drained the PAs legitimacy.



Even so, Lustick believes that the elections will likely not happen and there could be moves towards a new conflict between Hamas and Israel.



Israel has shown itself to be very reluctant to enter Gaza both because of the fear of casualties and because it has no real plans for what to do with Gaza if it enters the Strip. I think the situation is slowly moving towards a modus vivendi between Israel and Hamas, which would allow Israel to play one off the other. My own view is that the elections are unlikely to take place, he said.



Palestinian-Israeli relations have been improving, and the two sides began to meet again recently after a cut in ties that was economically costly for the Palestinians.



Israel decided in early December to begin transferring money again to the PA. The Israeli government transfers all financial dues to the account of the Palestinian Authority, amounting to three billion and 768 million shekels, Civil Affairs Minister Hussein Al-Sheikh wrote on Twitter, referring to taxes, including customs, that Israel collects on behalf of the PA.



But the scale of disagreements is still large. Israel has been close to annexing new areas of the West Bank, a project that only normalisation agreements with some Arab states has halted. The annexations would have ended Palestinian hopes to have East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state, for example.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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JACKSON, Mich., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of CMS Energy today increased the quarterly dividend on the company's common stock to 43.50 cents per share, up from 40.75 cents per share.

Based on Wednesday's closing price for CMS Energy common stock, $58.70, the dividend represents an annualized yield of 3 percent.

The first quarter dividend for the common stock is payable Feb. 26, 2021, to shareholders of record Feb. 5, 2021.

Garrick Rochow, CMS Energy's president and chief executive officer, said the board's decision to increase the current dividend to $1.74 per share on an annualized basis reflects the successful execution of the company's strategy.

"CMS Energy will remain committed in 2021 to our Triple Bottom Line strategy, focusing on people, planet and profit," Rochow said. "We've seen our approach lead to consistent industry-leading financial results that reward our investors, while we continue to deliver world-class performance for all stakeholders."

CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based company that has an electric and natural gas utility, Consumers Energy, as its primary business. It also owns and operates independent power generation businesses.

For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at cmsenergy.com.

To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website.

Check out Consumers Energy on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/consumersenergy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumersenergy

SOURCE CMS Energy

Related Links

http://www.cmsenergy.com


Gardai will increase patrols on trains after noticing an increase in addicts travelling on the rail network to Dublin so that they can purchase drugs during the lockdown.

As part of a special policing plan, gardai have been working closely with Irish Rail in a bid to tackle the problem on a number of different routes.

The problem is particularly acute in the Kildare garda division where community policing units have been deployed to train stations and to travel on trains.

A senior source said: They are using the rail network to travel to train stations in west Dublin such as Clondalkin/Fonthill or the city centre from towns such as Portaloise, Portarlington, Newbridge and Kildare so that they can buy drugs and then travel back to their home towns.

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It is not a nice situation for example for an elderly person who is travelling for a hospital appointment to be faced with these type of individuals who are often off their head on drugs.

Irish Rail have provided gardai with a timetable of the problematic trains in terms of drugs and anti-social behaviour and these are most common in the morning time and it is these trains that gardai have been focusing on, the source explained.

Under the current travel restrictions people are expected not to travel more than five kilometres from their home and last week at Kildare Town Garda Station two men received fixed penalty notices for not observing the travel restrictions.

These were two highly intoxicated individuals who were well in breach of the regulations. They got out of the train in Kildare and then ran away from gardai across the train tracks, the source explained.

When gardai caught up with them they claimed that they had missed their stop at Sallins which is over 28km away  they were issued with the on-the-spot fine.

Gardai have had some significant seizures from people travelling on the rail network, including a juvenile teenage boy who was caught with a large haul of cannabis on a train in Co Kildare after travelling from Westport, Co Mayo, to Dublin to buy 2,000 worth of the drug.

He was later cautioned under the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.

When contacted about the issue, Barry Kenny, the corporate communications manager at Irish Rail said: Our local management meet regularly with gardai collectively from Ballyfermot to Portlaoise to review all issues and coordinate policing support.

Gardai are very active in supporting us on issues relating to non-essential travel and anti-social behaviour including in Clondalkin Fonthill and along the Heuston commuter routes.

There has been a number of incidents in which trains have been delayed because of people using drugs on them including on Monday evening of last week.

Gardai were called to the incident, which led to the 6pm service from the Dublin to Cork stopped at Hazelhatch, Co Kildare, for over half an hour until the suspects were removed by officers.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, gardai have been boarding trains on a much more regular basis and have even removed passengers who refuse to where face masks including in one incident at Thurles, Co Tipperary last July.

The wearing of face masks is compulsory on public transport, with staff including drivers and ticket inspectors permitted to refuse entry to those not complying.
[January 21, 2021] LEADING RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR SELECTS BRIGHTSPACE

Kitchener, Waterloo, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global learning technology leader D2L announced today that the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) has selected Brightspace as their learning management system after a competitive process. Founded in 1962, LSTC is a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is based in Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to form visionary leaders to bear witness to Jesus Christ. It does this through its public church curriculum, a diverse, community-focused educational experience. LSTC searched for a learning management system that would make their move to a completely online curriculum as seamless as possible for students, faculty and staff. Moving to fully online course delivery was a tremendous challenge, but one weve had to embrace because of the realities of COVID-19 and our commitment to the safety of our people and the communities we serve, together with our belief in our educational mission, says Dr. Eric J. Kyle, Director of Contextual Education at LSTC. After examining all of the options available to us, it was clear that Brightspace was the ideal platform to ensure we succeed in this transition. According to LSTC, Brightspace offered several advantages: Ease of Use: Reviewers found Brightspace intuitive and easy to use, yet powerful and more than capable of meeting complex and diverse needs across the schools system.

Reviewers found Brightspace intuitive and easy to use, yet powerful and more than capable of meeting complex and diverse needs across the schools system. Data and Analytics: Brightspace provides faculty with a robust learning analytics dashboard, including intelligent agents, release conditions and program outcomes, that provides crucial insight into user engagement, a top priority for LSTC.

Brightspace provides faculty with a robust learning analytics dashboard, including intelligent agents, release conditions and program outcomes, that provides crucial insight into user engagement, a top priority for LSTC. A True Partnership: D2Ls commitment to continual improvement and working as a true partner with educators stood out as a clear advantage for Brightspace. Were incredibly excited to be working with the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in its mission to form the next generation of leaders for a public church by helping them move to fully online learning, says Krystian Groecki, Head of Mid-Market Education Sales  North America at D2L. Were looking forward to building on this partnership in the months and years to come.



ABOUT D2L BRIGHTSPACE  Higher Education

D2L Brightspace is a cloud-based learning platform built for people who care deeply about student success and helping to prepare them for what comes next.



It gives faculty across your institution tools theyre going to love, makes it easy to support exceptional student experiences in the classroom or fully online. D2L Brightspace is designed in close collaboration with clients around the world  building a pedagogically rich set of features to improve engagement, retention and learning outcomes. It also makes it easier to do assessment and give feedback.





D2L Brightspace is worry-free with 99.99% reliability. Its fully accessible and looks beautiful on any mobile device, making it easier for educators to reach every learner.



D2L Brightspace has won multiple industry awards , including the #1 LMS Technology for next generation online teaching and learning. To learn more, visit D2L for Higher Education . ABOUT D2L

D2L is transforming the way the world learns  helping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with clients all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person. Our more than 900 global employees are dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than where they found it. Learn more about D2L for K-12, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com . About the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

The Lutheran School of Theology (LSTC) a seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), is dedicated to bearing witness to the good news of Jesus Christ. Based in Chicagos Hyde Park neighborhood, it is the leading urban Lutheran seminary training students for purposeful vocations in the global community. Aligned with its Lutheran heritage and built on a foundation of intellectual rigor, LSTCs innovative, nationally recognized curriculum gives students skills for visionary Christian leadership in the public sphere. LSTC recognizes that our school stands on the lands of the Potawatomi, Miami, and Peoria peoples. For thousands of years before their forced removal, this was their traditional homeland, and it continues to hold their ancestral stories and wisdom. We honor and thank the elders of these and other nations, past and present. These lands are still home to many indigenous people, and we are grateful to learn in this place. To learn more visit www.lstc.edu . D2L MEDIA CONTACT Dana Dean, Director of Awareness, D2L Corporation, pr@D2L.com Twitter: @D2L  2021 D2L Corporation. The D2L family of companies includes D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L Asia Pte Ltd, and D2L Brasil Solucoes de Tecnologia para Educacao Ltda. All D2L marks are trademarks of D2L Corporation. Please visit D2L.com/trademarks for a list of D2L marks. LSTC MEDIA CONTACT Jan Boden, Public Relations Manager, jboden@lstc.edu Twitter: @JanBoden_lstc



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ITHACA, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Northeast ADA Center recently unveiled a new resource to help small businesses successfully hire and retain employees with disabilities.

A no-cost, web-based resource, the Small Business at Work Toolkit offers information and essential resources exploring how small businesses can capitalize on the talents of workers and job seekers with disabilities and the bottom line benefits of doing so. It also features easy-to-understand, practical advice on disability employment best practices, along with expert guidance on following Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The toolkit was developed based on the findings of a 2019 research study focused on small business and disability employment conducted by the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability at Cornell University.

"Small businesses are the backbone of America, and finding and keeping qualified employees is crucial to their success," said Wendy Strobel Gower, Northeast ADA Center Project Director. "We created this Small Business at Work toolkit to help small businesses access a wider range of potential employees and to ensure that they are performing at their best."

Recognizing that many small businesses operate with small or limited human resources (HR) departments, the toolkit's creators developed a centralized, easy-to-navigate resource that provides the information small businesses need, when they need it. Guidance is segmented into eight relevant categories including the business case for disability inclusion; the ADA's implications in a small business; recruiting and hiring people with disabilities; providing workplace accommodations; responding to the COVID-19 pandemic; and more.

Key features of the toolkit are Situation Room scenarios to help small businesses practice the information presented, What to Do mini-guides that summarize key points, and Deeper Dives for additional learning from recommended resources.

To access the toolkit and learn more, visit: SmallBusinessAtWork.org

About the Northeast ADA Center

The Northeast ADA Center provides information, guidance, and training on implementation of all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It strives to educate and empower the diverse range of ADA stakeholders throughout New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands to increase their knowledge of the ADA. The Center supports the inclusion of people with disabilities through implementation of the ADA in businesses, workplaces, and other community settings. The Northeast ADA Center is a member of the ADA National Network , funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DP0088). It is located at the Yang-Tan Institute at Cornell University's ILR School. To learn more, visit NortheastADA.org.

Media Contact:

Greta Menard

[email protected]

202.423.7101

SOURCE Northeast ADA Center

Related Links

http://NortheastADA.org


[January 21, 2021] Data Governance Market Value Could Exceed $5 Billion By 2025

- Financialnewsmedia.com News Commentary PALM BEACH, Fla., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In spite of the recent global pandemic, the global data governance market has been growing and is expected to continue for years to come. Data governance is a set of processes that ensures the systematic management and protection of important and critical data throughout the organization. It ensures trusted information is used for accounting, decision-making, and other critical business processes. With the advent of several data regulations by governments, it has become more critical than ever to ensure data within an organization is stored, used, and discarded appropriately. Organizations wish to achieve data regulation compliance to observe international and national laws and standards, along with industry-specific regulatory data requirements. Several US states are developing legislation and passing laws about data privacy that are similar to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data governance solutions enable business users across verticals to efficiently and effectively monitor, manage, and control data movement across organizations. The increased use of mobile devices among individuals within an organization and the easy availability and ubiquitous accessibility of data have enabled organizations and individuals to adopt data governance solutions. Active Companies from around the market with recent developments this week include: Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. (OTCPK: ATDS), Snowflake Inc. (NYSE: SNOW), Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL), Cloudera, Inc. (NYSE: CLDR), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR). The data governance market is expected to grow from USD 2.1 billion in 2020 to USD 5.7 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22.3% during the forecast period, according to a report from MarketsAndMarkets. Factors such as the rapidly increasing growth in data volumes, rising regulatory and compliance mandates, and enhancing strategic risk management and decision-making with the increasing business collaborations are expected to drive the growth of the global data governance market. The report said: "COVID-19 would have an impact on all the elements of the technology sector. The global ICT spending is estimated to decline by 45% by the end of 2020. The hardware business is predicted to have the most impact on the IT industry. Due to the slowdown of hardware supply and reduced manufacturing capacity, the IT infrastructure growth has slowed down. The businesses providing solutions and services are also expected to slow down for a short span of time. However, the adoption of collaborative applications, analytics, security solutions, and AI is set to increase in the remaining part of the year. Many of the significant COVID-19 initiatives involve sensitive data, from patient data to personal banking data. There are great risks to data security posed by the swift influx of these new data sources into a company's data ecosystem." Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. (OTCPK: ATDS) BREAKING NEWS: DATA443 PARTNERS WITH LEADING CLOUD DATAWAREHOUSE PROVIDER ACTIAN CORPORATION - Data443 Risk Mitigation, the leading data security and privacy software company for ALL THINGS DATA SECURITY, is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the performance leader in the cloud data warehouse market  Actian Corporation. Actian, the hybrid data management, analytics and integration company, delivers data as a competitive advantage to forward-thinking organizations around the globe that trust Actian to help them solve their toughest data challenges and transform their data into real-time business insights. With over 3,000 clients managing business critical customer data, the demand for sophisticated capabilities in data classification and data security are increasingly becoming a standard requirement for cloud or hybrid deployments. Data443, anchored by the leading the ClassiDocs data classification and governance platform will offer capabilities to the Actian solution set including: Over 900 exclusive data taxonomies in 14 languages

Up-to-date data detection patterns-including U.A.E., Qatar , Saudi and Covid-19 sensitivity

, Saudi and Covid-19 sensitivity Optical Character Recognition classification engines

Cross-platform policy-engine support for advanced platforms, including Zoom

Cross-device platform support to include data from unstructured data sources including laptops and desktops The tecnology and customer relationship will involve product integration, joint product marketing activities and cross-catalogue sales activities for SaaS and hybrid commercial offerings. The requirements for privacy compliance and governance management continue to require increased sophistication, performance and depth of intelligence that is available to the data owners.



"Actian customers are on a journey to the cloud and require a hybrid-cloud data warehouse solution that provides an integrated ability to identify, manage and secure sensitive data across multi-cloud platforms or in a hybrid deployment," said Marc Potter, Chief Revenue Officer, Actian. "The partnership with Data443 and Actian provides customers with the industry's first solution to address these requirements with zero impact on performance." Jason Remillard, CEO of Data443, commented, "Oncoming privacy requirements drive increased performance and capabilities. Cloud Data Warehousing is a massive marketplace and opportunity for our product set. Actian is a great company to work with, solid and respected product set and a very impressive executive leadership and board team. Their growth is an incredible story and we look forward to working with them!" Read this full press release for ATDS at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-atds/

In the industry developments and happenings in the markets include: Snowflake Inc. (NYSE: SNOW) the Data Cloud company, recently announced an over 300% increase in the total number of data providers on Snowflake Data Marketplace since April 2020. Thousands of organizations are leveraging the power of the Data Cloud via Snowflake Data Marketplace to unlock more rich insights faster, with seamless access to data from open and commercial third-party data providers and SaaS vendors. Leading brands in Snowflake's Data Cloud, such as DoorDash, Pacific Life Insurance, and S&P Global are already leveraging Snowflake Data Marketplace to move their businesses forward: "Snowflake Data Marketplace enables Pacific Life to access business-critical data from strategic business partner Experian, eliminating file transfers and ETL," Kurpal Sandhu, Director of Data and Visualization, Pacific Life Insurance said. Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) recently announced that Oracle database 21c, the latest version of the world's leading converged database, is available on Oracle Cloud, including the Always Free tier of Oracle Autonomous Database. Oracle Database 21c contains more than 200 new innovations, including immutable blockchain tables, In-Database JavaScript, native JSON binary data type, AutoML for in-database machine learning (ML), and persistent memory store, as well as enhancements for in-memory, graph processing performance, sharding, multitenant, and security. Unlike other vendors' single-purpose databases in the cloud or on-premises, Oracle Database 21c provides support for multi-model, multi-workload, and multi-tenant requirements  all within a single, modern converged database engine. In addition, Oracle today announced the availability of Oracle APEX (Application Express) Application Develpoment, a new low-code service for developing and deploying data-driven enterprise applications quickly and easily. The browser-based, low-code cloud service enables developers to create modern web apps for desktops and mobile devices using an intuitive graphical interface. Cloudera, Inc. (NYSE: CLDR), the enterprise data cloud company, recently announced that Gary Huhas been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of Icahn Enterprises in accordance with the Voting and Standstill Agreement between Cloudera and affiliates of Icahn Enterprises, dated August 12, 2019. Gary Hu replaces Nicholas Graziano who had been an Icahn designee and resigned from the Company's Board of Directors, effective January 7, 2021. Jesse Lynn continues as the other Icahn board designee. "On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I'd like to welcome Gary to the Board as well as thank Nick for his service," said Rob Bearden, Chief Executive Officer, Cloudera. "I'm looking forward to working with Gary and the rest of the Board as we continue to execute the long-term strategic plan to cement our position as the leader in the enterprise data cloud market." Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) recently announced the Army (PEO IEW&S) down-selected it to deliver a prototype for the first phase of the Army's Ground Station modernization in support of the Army's Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) program. The contract value for this phase is $8.5 million, with a potential contract value of approximately $250 million over all 4 phases. Palantir was awarded a Phase 1 Project Agreement through an Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) with Consortium Management Group, Inc. (CMG) on behalf of Consortium for Command, Control and Communications in Cyberspace (C5). During the first phase of the effort, Palantir will collaborate with the Army to design and demonstrate the ground station prototype solution for the Army's TITAN program. The Palantir solution will leverage space, high altitude, aerial, terrestrial sensors and data sources for use in intelligence and military targeting operations. It will field a "turn key" solution for the Army that integrates data from a variety of sources including commercial and classified sources from space to ground sensors. DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. 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For current services performed FNM was compensated forty six hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press release issued by Data443 Risk Mitigation, Inc. by the company. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE. This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". 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A mother accused of stabbing her private school graduate son has scored a minor legal victory at her first court appearance since making bail.

Samantha Palmer allegedly attacked her son, Hugo Ball, 22, with a 12-inch knife at the family's $3.1million mansion in Sydney's Bellevue Hill at 1.30am on November 21.

Ball had just arrived home at the family's sprawling Drumalbyn Road home about 1.30am on Saturday, November 21, and she was angry he allegedly broke curfew.

Palmer, 55, faced Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday charged with domestic violence wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Samantha Palmer allegedly attacked her son, Hugo Ball, 22, with a 12-inch knife at the family's $3.1million mansion in Sydney's Bellevue Hill at 1.30am on November 21

Ball (pictured) had just arrived home at the family's sprawling Drumalbyn Road home about 1.30am on Saturday, November 21, and she was angry he allegedly broke curfew

Police prosecutor Malek Alzaim successfully sought a two-week adjournment while detectives completed their brief of evidence.

The privileged mother gained a win of her own as she will not have to show up in person to her next court date.

Mr Alzaim reiterated to the court that police believe they have an ironclad case against her and her claim of self defence is inconsistent with the facts.

Palmer emerged from court wearing a blue and white striped collared dress with a mask and sunglasses hiding much of her face. She is yet to enter a plea.

She was released on bail last month after week behind bars when she offered up her multi-million dollar home in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs as security.

Police prosecutor Kerry-Ann McKinnon at the bail hearing on December 17 outlined why Palmer's alleged attack had to be deliberate.

'We say that no court could entertain an argument of self defence considering almost all of the stab wounds are to the back of the complainants body,' she said at the time.

Palmer, 55, faced Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday charged with domestic violence wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. She is pictured with her lawyer

Palmer emerged from court wearing a blue and white striped collared dress with a mask and sunglasses hiding much of her face

She told the court Palmer allegedly attacked Mr Ball after he returned to the family's sprawling Drumalbyn Road home at about 1.30am on November 21.

Sergeant McKinnon said there was a 'strong prosecution case' against Palmer, who allegedly stabbed Ball from behind to his back, shoulders and rear of his neck.

He lost two litres of blood, the court was told, but survived - and the case has been the talk of the affluent area since.

'We say this is an unprovoked attack on her own son,' Sergeant McKinnon told the court, adding that alcohol was a factor in the alleged attack.

Palmer was released on bail last month after week behind bars when she offered up her multi-million dollar home in Sydney's affluent eastern suburbs as security

Palmer walked from the correctional facility in what appeared to be green and white inmate clothes, where she was picked up by an elderly man

Palmer allegedly attacked Mr Ball after he returned to the family's sprawling Drumalbyn Road home at about 1.30am on November 21

But Ms Palmer's lawyer Justin Wong said the case against Palmer was 'not strong.'

Ball has refused to give NSW Police a formal statement about the events of that night.

Detectives had taken down a version of events in a police notebook, but it could be inadmissible at trial, Mr Wong told the court.

Ball's sister and step-father were present at the the home at the time of the alleged attack and have given statements to police.

However the court was told they were not direct eye-witnesses to the incident, the court heard.

Mr Wong offered the court $200,000 in security from Palmer and her husband, James Tilley.

Those funds would be forfeited if she did not show at court. 'It's all on offer,' Mr Wong told the court.

Last Christmas: Palmer with her son, Ball, and his father in 2019. Under the terms of her bail conditions she is banned from approaching her son - the alleged victim

Palmer upon her arrest last month after she allegedly stabbed her son about 1.40am on Saturday, November 21, in the affluent Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill

Mr Wong noted that Ms Palmer had no criminal record whatsoever prior to the alleged attack, had strong community ties and had lived at their home for eight years.

A previous, aborted, bail application heard claims from Palmer's lawyer that Ball had returned home speaking 'incoherently' and had made a remark about being involved in a murder.

Magistrate Philip Stewart granted Palmer bail on strict conditions including that she be banned from drinking alcohol while at liberty, abide by a 9pm curfew and report to police daily.

Palmer was bailed to the same home where the attack allegedly occurred, however she is banned from approaching her son whatsoever.

Ball was living with his father, the former chief executive Ian Ball, at his $5.5 million Paddington terrace, but was kicked out of there after destroying the front shutters.

His lawyer Alicia Catron last week entered a guilty plea for Hugo to the charge of destroy or damage property with a value of less than $2,000.

Ball was living with his father, the former chief executive Ian Ball, at his $5.5 million Paddington terrace, but was kicked out of there after destroying the front shutters

$200,000 in equity from Palmer's $3.1 million Bellevue Hill mansion was offered up as security. That means Palmer would forfeit that sum if she failed to show for court or abide by her conditons

She said told the court he was in rehab for six weeks, and meanwhile, the defence and the prosecution will negotiate over the facts he will be sentenced upon.

The lawyer did not say why Hugo was in rehab. A previous court hearing was told he has suffered addictions to drugs including to ice, heroin and Valium.

Hugo's father successfully sought to remove restraining order conditions that banned Hugo from going near his home or workplace.

Mr Ball senior told Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley that his relationship with his son was 'generally, good'.

Hugo's charge will return to court in February.
A man convicted of coercively controlling and repeatedly assaulting his former partner has been jailed for ten-and-a-half years.

During a 20-month relationship, Daniel Kane (52) repeatedly attacked the woman, including burning her foot, cutting her with a pizza slicer, headbutting her in the face while she was recovering from nasal surgery and stamping on her arm causing her multiple fractures.

On another occasion he stamped on her head and strangled her, leaving finger marks along her throat. After being charged with these attacks Kane threatened to send explicit images of the victim to her family if she did not withdraw the charges.

Last November a jury convicted the Kane of Waterville Terrace, Blanchardstown, Dublin, of coercive control, intimidation, assault and 12 counts of assault causing harm.

The offences occurred at various locations, including the couple's Dublin home, on dates between May 2018 and January 2020.

The jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted Kane of one charge of assault causing harm and one charge of endangerment, both alleged to have occurred in the same time period. He had pleaded not guilty to all the offences.

Following the convictions, Kane pleaded guilty to a separate charge of intending to pervert the course of justice in the period between March and July 2020. This related to several attempts by the man to get the woman to withdraw her statements to gardai.

Kane has two previous convictions for drunk driving and intoxication in a public place.

Speaking outside the Courts of Criminal Justice building following the sentencing, Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy commended the victim in the case for her bravery and said she has been an inspiration to a number of women not only in Ireland but beyond Ireland as well.

They have found inspiration by your actions to come forward and a lot of them in the last couple of days have come forward and told their stories, he said.

The case was reported on last week after a hearing in which the victim encouraged victims of domestic violence to seek help from service's such as Woman's Aid and said they would be heard.

In her victim impact statement she told the court she might be dead or in a vegetative state if doctors and gardai had not intervened to get her away from Kane.

Prior to sentencing today, Kerida Naidoo SC, prosecuting, said that prior to the trial an order was made that neither the accused or the victim could be named. He said this order was made where there was accepted evidence of the vulnerability of the victim.

Mr Naidoo said that subsequent to the trial, the view of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is that the anonymity provision contained in Section 36 of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 does not appear to cover the offence of coercive control.

This new assessment followed inquiries raised by the media regarding the legal justification for the restrictions. The convictions follow the first circuit court trial for offences under the 2018 Domestic Violence Act.

Passing sentence Judge Elma Sheahan noted that Kane has not taken the opportunity to apologise to the victim or express remorse for his actions.

Judge Sheahan noted that during the trial, the accused's senior counsel was instructed to suggest to the victim, during cross-examination, that she was prone to hysteria.

She said that but for the intervention of a doctor the assaults would have continued. She said the victim remained beholden to the defendant. His repeated assaults accompanied by rants and demeaning language all served to maintain his control of her, she said

Judge Sheahan said the assaults were aggravated by the attacks taking place in the victim's home, the persistent nature of the offending, the fact of the intimate relationship, the level of fear instilled on the victim and her psychological vulnerability.

She noted as aggravating factors the fact that Kane was on bail for other charges when he committed the intimidation offence and was already charged with intimidation when he attempted to pervert the course of justice.

Judge Sheahan said the case was mitigated by his previous good character, but noted that had to be juxtaposed with his repeated offending in this case over a 20-month period.

She also noted his caring for his parents as a mitigating factor, but commented that the compassion and empathy shown to his parents is in marked contrast to the callous disregard shown to the victim. She said the court views that therefore Kane chose to treat the victim in such a manner.

Judge Sheahan said that emotional abuse and assault occurring within a relationship was unfortunately all too prevalent in society. She described the physical harm done in this case as significant, brutal and cowardly.

She said Kane's failure to acknowledge wrongdoing was a troubling feature of the case. She said he has in fact done the direct opposite by blaming the victim for his predicament at times.

Judge Sheahan imposed an effective sentence of twelve-and-a-half years imprisonment. She suspended the final two years of the sentence on strict conditions, including that he follow all directions of the Probation Service for two years post release.

Speaking on the steps of the courthouse Superintendent Murphy thanked the victim for telling your story in the manner you did and wished her every success and good health in her life.

He told other victims of domestic abuse and coercive control that what was happening to them is not your fault. He said that if they came forward we will believe you the way we believed the lady in this case.

He urged those who recognised themselves in committing this type of behaviour to take responsibility for the behaviour, get help and stop. He said if they do not then they will be prosecuted.

He said it has been shown today the courts, society, everybody takes this matter extremely seriously.

He said the law is the same for all people and told victims that we will back you 100 per cent if you come to us in relation to this. He said gardai are asking you to reach out to us if you are a victim of domestic abuse.

Superintendent Murphy said the victim had been informed of the sentence and while he would not speak for her, he said his understanding is that she is pleased with the outcome.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has joined a growing chorus of calls demanding that Bosnia-Herzegovina immediately provides adequate, winterized accommodation for hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers stranded in freezing temperatures in the country's northwest.



The authorities have done little to address an unfolding humanitarian emergency after a fire destroyed a temporary camp in December, with hundreds now living in tents that "do not meet basic humane housing conditions," the New York-based rights watchdog said in a statement on January 21.



Bosnia has been under growing international pressure to address the future of stranded migrants and asylum seekers since the Lipa temporary emergency camp was destroyed on December 23, leaving an estimated 1,200 people stranded outdoors, the statement said.

HRW said that within days of the fire, about 350 people were transported to a camp in Sarajevo at their own expense, while the remaining 850 were "stranded at the destroyed camp site or forced to seek shelter in the nearby forest."



Authorities have set up 30 tents near the site, each with the capacity for about 30 people. But the Danish Refugee Council told HRW that not all of the tents are suitable for winter conditions, with some generator-powered heaters failing during the night.



In addition to the 850 people at the Lipa site, another 900 migrants and asylum seekers are elsewhere in the Una Santa canton, forced to sleep in the open or squat in abandoned buildings, the statement said.

Reopening the Bira camp in nearby Bihac, which was closed in September due to pressure from local residents, "appears the most viable option" to ensure that people previously in Lipa can be housed during the winter in buildings with heating, electricity, toilets, and showers, according to HRW.

The group called on EU institutions to pressure Bosnian authorities at "state, entity, cantonal, and local levels" to adequately address the ongoing crisis and ensure that the 28,5 million euros ($34.6 million) of EU funding allocated to Bosnia in December and January for managing migration and providing humanitarian assistance are properly used.



The European Commission should also seek "meaningful long-term solutions to the situationinstead of allocating largely short-term and emergency funding, and tie its support to the Bosnian authorities to clear progress in terms of suitable reception conditions and fair and effective access to asylum."



Since early 2018, the EU has provided 88 million euros ($106.8 million) to the Balkan country for migration management, including 13.8 million euros ($16.8) for humanitarian assistance.

Many of the migrants in northwestern Bosnia are seeking to enter European Union-member Croatia, which HRW said has "responded with violent police pushbacks that breach EU, human rights, and refugee law and exacerbate the degrading conditions for migrants."



The watchdog urged the European Commission to "trigger legal action against Zagreb for the continued patterns of violent pushbacks at its border" with Bosnia.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell revealed Monday that retailers are dropping his products following a controversy over his friendship with Trump and his voter fraud allegations in the recent presidential election.

Lindell said that companies discontinued selling his products due to boycotts and lagging sales, The Blaze reported.

"I just got off the phone with Bed Bath & Beyond. They're dropping MyPillow. Just got off the phone not five minutes ago. Kohl's, all these different places. These guys don't understand... They're scared. They were good partners. In fact, I told them, 'You guys come back any time you want,'" he said.

Wayfair and H-E-B have reportedly also severed ties with Lindell's company. Further, his products would no longer be sold on the home shopping channel, Shopping Source.

The news added that in Lindell's email to NBC News, he revealed that his vendors have been attacked by a group and that his retailers have also called informing him that they were threatened with a "boycott if they don't comply" and so they have to drop his products.

Kohl's released a statement through an email to the Dallas Morning News saying that, "There has been decreased customer demand for MyPillow. We will sell our current inventory and not buy additional/future inventory in the brand."

Amazon and Costco, on the other hand, will continue selling MyPillow products, the Seattle Times reported.

Newsweek reported that according to the CEO, the companies were responding to social media campaigns perpetrated by a "leftist group."

Sleeping Giants, a campaign group, tweeted on Friday and asked Lowe's, Amazon, Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond if they would continue selling MyPillow products after its CEO "called for the insurrection."

A video of Lindell was also included in the tweet filmed after the Jan. 6 violence in the Capitol where he can be heard saying, "This is the only time we have in history to beat the evil. This is a fight for everything we've grown up with, everything we live for, everything this country stands for. The whole world is watching, and 100%, Donald Trump is going to be your president for the next four years."

Lindell told Brian Glenn of Right Side Broadcasting Network that Sleeping Giants were "the most evil people on the planet" for attacking his vendors.

The Blaze added that in addition to this predicament, Lindell is also expecting litigation from Dominion Voting Systems, following his accusation that the company took part in defrauding the 2020 presidential election.

Dominion has denied the allegation and issued a cease-and-desist letter saying that, "Despite knowing your implausible attacks against Dominion have no basis in reality, you have participated in the vast and concerned misinformation campaign to slander Dominion. Litigation regarding these issues is imminent."

To which Lindell responded, "I want Dominion to put up their lawsuit because we have 100% evidence that China and other countries used their machines to steal the election."

According to his profile in People Pill, Lindell, also known as "MyPillow Guy," is an American businessman and inventor of the pillow he now sells today. He started his business in 2004 and flourished into a major manufacturing company in Minnesota. He was awarded with an honorary Doctor of Business by Liberty University. He also founded Lindell Foundation and Lindell Recovery Network.
(Natural News) Since the days of Barack Obama, the Democratic Marxism Party has been steadily and fundamentally transforming America away from its founding principles of freedom, individual liberty, and constitutionalism.

But we got a reprieve when Donald Trump was elected in 2016. Right away, from his inaugural speech, the billionaire president who would never take his salary and went on to build the best economy and strongest military in record time, it was obvious he was for the restoration of our founding principles and value.

Our reprieve was short-lived, however.

Now that Obamas second-in-command, Joe Biden, has become the temporary benefactor of an election stolen from Trump by deep state maggots whose only concern is the concentration of power in their hands, the fundamental transformation is on again.

And this time around, Bidens handlers are accelerating right out of the gate.

On Wednesday, shortly after taking the oath of office, Biden sent a massive immigration reform bill to an all-Democrat Congress that, among other things, will provide their party with perhaps as many as 30 million new voters.

The Washington Examiner reports:

President Biden sent Congress a bill Wednesday that proposes significant changes to immigration policy, including a pathway to citizenship for millions of people who are illegally residing in the United States.

The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 would create a new system to responsibly manage and secure our border, keep our families and communities safe, and better manage migration across the Hemisphere, Bidens transition team said in an announcement Wednesday morning as Biden prepared to be sworn in.

The legislation came as Biden was busy signing a wave of executive orders that reversed President Trumps law enforcement and border security approach to immigration law: Bidens orders halted construction on the border wall, loosened asylum restrictions, and will no doubt contribute to new migrant caravans like the one already heading to the U.S. border from Honduras.

Honduran migrant: President-elect Biden is "going to help all of us." pic.twitter.com/dlvld5APd0  The Hill (@thehill) January 18, 2021

And already those who are coming know that our new president is going to welcome them in.

What I want for my people, I just want to get to the US because theyre having a new president, with Biden, hes going to help all of us, one Honduran said. He is giving us 100 days to get to the US and give us papers so we can get a better life for our kids and families.

Added one Biden transition official: The situation at the border isnt going to be transformed overnight. We have to provide a message that health and hope is on the way, but coming right now does not make sense for their own safety  while we put into place processes that they may be able to access in the future. (Related: Obama administration creating massive humanitarian crisis by openly encouraging wave of illegal immigration.)

ExclusiveBiden teams message to migrant caravan: Dont come now, you wont get in. https://t.co/yXK9pw4Tkx  Julia E. Ainsley (@JuliaEAinsley) January 17, 2021

Will that deter people? Probably not, thanks to the fact that Bidens bill dangles eventual citizenship in front of migrants, which includes those caught up in Obamas unconstitutional DACA program (implemented by executive order but which federal courts would not allow Trump to end by executive order).

President Bidens new vision for immigration reform is extraordinary and a welcome development for America, including the millions of people who are caught up in an outdated immigration system that no longer meets the needs of the nation, said Jorge Loweree, policy director for immigrant advocacy group American Immigration Council.

The only thing that is outdated is this fools opinion: Americans have rejected increases in immigration (legal and otherwise) for decades, and they still do.

The surest and fastest way to destroy a country from within is dilute and then marginalize the heritage, history, traditions and values of its people. Thats whats coming to Bidens transformed America.

See more reporting like this at InvasionUSA.news.

Sources include:

WashingtonExaminer.com

NaturalNews.com
Cutting the quarantine period for people who have been in contact with an infected person to one week and requiring them to test negative on the last day would be just as effective as the existing government advice of 14 days, a study claims.

Currently, a person who tests positive for coronavirus is told to self-isolate for two weeks, as are people they may have come into contact with.

But researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine created a computer model to see how reducing the quarantine period for contacts affected the spread of the virus.

The findings indicate that contacts who test negative after seven days of quarantine are unlikely to be infectious and can be released with little risk.

Scroll down for video

Cutting the quarantine period for people who have been in contact with an infected person to one week and requiring them to test negative on the last day would be just as effective as the existing government advice of 14 days, a study claims (stock)

In the new study, published in The Lancet Public Health, researchers used mathematical modelling to estimate the effect of different quarantine and testing strategies on reducing onward transmission of the virus.

Using data from Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England, the researchers simulated the levels of virus an infected person would be likely to produce at each stage of infection, alongside timing of symptom onset and test sensitivity.

Within the computer model the scientists found 59 per cent of onward coronavirus transmission is prevented with a 14-day quarantine for close contacts.

This is based on the assumption that two out of three people who are told they need to self-isolate actually do so, what the researchers call 'moderate adherence'.

If the same level of adherence was applied to a seven-day isolation window with a PCR test at the end of the week, the model predicts the impact on onward transmission to be roughly the same, at 54 per cent.

Using a lateral flow test instead would result in an effectiveness of 50 per cent, the authors found.

This figure is based on the assumption the lateral flow tests detect 76.8 per cent of cases, in line with if they are administered by a healthcare professional.

But when using the accuracy level of 48.9 per cent, as was found from the Liverpool trial, the figure drops to 44 per cent.

Impact of various quarantine protocols for close contacts of an infected person on spread of coronavirus Protocol impact on transmission 14-day quarantine 59% 7-day quarantine with a PCR test on last day 54% 7-day quarantine with a lateral flow test on last day (upper estimate) 50% 7-day quarantine with a lateral flow test on last day (lower estimate) 44% 5 consecutive days post-exposure of lateral flow tests 43%

Pictured, a lorry driver in France getting a lateral flow test to screen for Covid-19

Rapid lateral flow Covid tests 'do more harm than good' Boris Johnson's extortionate Operation Moonshot mass-swabbing scheme could accelerate Covid's spread because the tests are so inaccurate, a top expert has warned. Professor Jon Deeks, a testing expert at the University of Birmingham, accused the Government of making lateral flow tests seem 'better than they are' in a bid to justify the 100billion scheme. Professor Deeks and other scientists are concerned that the tests are significantly less accurate when people do them themselves, as is the plan for Operation Mooonshot. A trial of one test used by the Government found that it detected 79 per cent of coronavirus cases when administered by a trained professional but only 40 per cent in a real-world self-swabbing scenario. This is significantly lower than the more expensive but slower PCR tests which detect 70 to 99 per cent of positive cases. Despite concerns about their reliability, the 15-minute tests  which the UK has spent more than 1billion on  are being offered to councils across England to be used as self-tests in schools, universities, care homes and in critical businesses to keep the country ticking over until everyone is vaccinated. Over the weekend Business Secretary Alok Sharma suggested the rapid tests had the potential to make workplaces 'completely safe', while Matt Hancock claimed the quick tests had 'been hugely successful in finding positive cases quickly'. But Professor Deeks warned the tests missed 60 per cent of infected people in a mass trial in Liverpool when people swabbed themselves, a statistic which he feels is not being communicated to the public. He told Sky News: 'Government messaging on this hasn't been explaining this to people and it's a bit difficult. Most of us have never done a diagnostic test in our lives ourselves, and we would expect a positive to mean 'yes' and a negative to mean 'no'. Advertisement

But the model also found quarantine could be replaced entirely by daily testing with lateral flow kits for the first five days after exposure.

These tests are far less accurate than lab-based PCR tests and have been found to identify as few as 79 per cent of coronavirus cases when administered by a trained professional but only 40 per cent in a real-world self-swabbing scenario.

However, repeated testing over time increases their accuracy, experts say.

In the model, taking a lateral flow test for the first five days would prevent 43 per cent of transmission events, the study suggests.

Dr Alexander Edwards from the University of Reading, said: 'The maths of diagnostics is unfortunately not very intuitive.

'For example, if a test is only able to detect virus half of the time, you might think an easy improvement is to just test twice. But unfortunately testing twice doesnt really double the accuracy.

'On the other hand, if you have access to inexpensive quick lateral flow tests, maybe using multiple tests in a carefully designed system could give the same benefit as using a single expensive and slow test.'

The authors stress that people should continue to observe the official guidance on quarantine and self-isolation, which the UK Government has set at ten days, until their findings can be verified with further research based on real-world data.

Assistant Professor Sam Clifford, joint-lead author of the study, says: 'Adherence to quarantine rules is key for reducing onward COVID-19 transmission.

'Our findings suggest that incorporating testing of contacts into a trace-isolate system could potentially help to reduce quarantine times, and this in turn may improve adherence by making it easier to complete the full isolation period.

'Our study did not evaluate costs, however, and further studies are needed to address this, as well as to further verify our findings.

'A large component of the effect of any strategy we modelled was that of strict isolation upon the onset of COVID symptoms, which should be followed at any point after exposure, including after the end of the specified quarantine period or after negative test results.

'We recommend people continue to follow the official guidance on quarantine and self-isolation, which will give us the best chance of bringing this virus under control while vaccination continues.'
Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Continues Investigating SolarWinds Corporation's Directors and Officers for Breach of Fiduciary Duties - SWI

Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), an international securities and consumer rights litigation firm, continues investigating whether certain directors and officers of SolarWinds (News - Alert) Corporation ("SolarWinds") (NYSE:SWI) breached their fiduciary duties to SolarWinds and its shareholders. If you are a SolarWinds shareholder, you may contact attorney Joe Pettigrew for additional information toll-free at 844-818-6982 or jpettigrew@scott-cott.com.







Scott+Scott is investigating whether SolarWinds's board of directors or senior management failed to manage SolarWinds in an acceptable manner, in breach of their fiduciary duties to SolarWinds, and whether SolarWinds has suffered damages as a result.

On December 13, 2020, SolarWinds disclosed that its Orion monitoring products may have been implicated in alleged hacks of governmental email traffic by the Russian Federation.

What You Can Do

If you are a SolarWinds shareholder, you may have legal claims against SolarWinds's directors and officers. If you wish to discuss this investigation, or have questions about this notice or your legal rights, please contact attorney Joe Pettigrew toll-free at 844-818-6982 or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com.

About Scott+Scott

Scott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and consumer rights actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Connecticut, California, and Ohio.

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Anti-government and anti-fascist protesters in Portland and Seattle vandalised a Democratic Party office and other buildings and scuffled with police on Thursday (AEDT), protesting against President Joe Biden's inauguration.

People dressed in black and with their faces covered broke windows and the glass door at the Democratic Party of Oregon business office in Portland, spray-painting an anarchist symbol over the party sign, video posted on social media showed.

A group of protesters tagged and smashed windows at the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters. Credit:The Oregonian via AP

"We don't want Biden. We want revenge for police murders, imperialist wars, and fascist massacres," read a banner they marched under.

The new Democratic president was sworn in on Wednesday, urging unity and restoration after Republican Donald Trump's divisive tenure.
From kids pretending to give a speech on the inaugural stage to dancing mailboxes, President Joe Bidens hometown of Scranton didnt miss out on celebrating his inauguration Wednesday.

46

The number 46 has been with Biden since his beginnings in Scranton.

Beginning today, Biden will forever be known as the 46th president of the United States.

Those two numbers  four and six  are now highlighted on a small wooden plaque that hangs on the porch of 2446 N. Washington Ave., the home where the countrys new president spent the first 10 years of his life.

The atmosphere outside of his childhood home in Green Ridge was quiet during Bidens Inauguration Day. A Scranton police SUV idled outside of the home while a crew from ABC News broadcasted from across the street. A white Honda Civic drove by shortly after Bidens inauguration speech, beeping and waving a Biden/Harris flag.

It was a change from the morning of Election Day, when Biden stopped to visit the homes owner and his friend, Anne Kearns, and address a waiting crowd. When Biden was declared the winner of Pennsylvania on Nov. 8, residents and supporters flooded the future presidents block, now called Joe Biden Way, as bagpipes played.

Im gonna be Joe Biden

Lazarus Mulrine, 8, of Scranton, stepped onto a wooden box to look over a replica of the inaugural podium on the steps of the Lackawanna County Childrens Library.

His mother, Lindsay Powers, took a video as he said, When Im 35, Im gonna be Joe Biden.

His grandfather, Larry Mulrine, hopes the podium can serve an educational purpose.

I hope it teaches him a little of acceptance of other people, a little bit of kindness, he said.

Marywood University students designed and built the replica, which was part of a slate of events and attractions organized to celebrate the inauguration. Scranton Public Library CEO Scott Thomas previously said the display would be up until 5 p.m. today.

Brighter future

Performers dressed as mailboxes on Lackawanna County Courthouse Square celebrated that democracy was delivered.

Ahead of the 2020 presidential election, dancing and singing mailboxes put on Delivering Democracy, a piece of street theater, in different parts of Pennsylvania. Performers distributed information about the ins and outs of voting, including mail-in ballots.

We are one of the theater companies across the nation who made mailboxes, said Tannis Kowalchuk, artistic director for Farm Arts Collective in Damascus.

It was the second time the group has visited Scranton. The Inauguration Day performance celebrated an end to the election. It was exciting to perform in Bidens hometown the day of his inauguration, she added.

Its a celebration of the truth and its a celebration of a brighter future, she said.

Respect and dignity

A day after Joe and Jill Biden posted a special message on the Scranton Inaugural Celebration Facebook page, people of Scranton and the surrounding region congratulated the couple.

On Tuesday night, the Bidens posted a video promising to bring what Joe Biden learned in his hometown to Washington, D.C., and thanking the community for its support.

Wednesdays video featured clips of people saying a few words, which were edited together. They said theyre proud of Scrantons local son and wished him the best of luck.

We will have a humble leader, a compassionate leader, a leader with faith, a resilient leader, an inclusive leader, a leader that has and gives respect and dignity, supporters said.

Kathleen Bolus, staff writer, contributed to this report.
National Rifle Association Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre speaks at the NRA Annual Meeting of Members in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 27, 2019. (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

Manhattan Judge Refuses to Dismiss New York AGs Lawsuit Against NRA

A New York state judge ruled Thursday that state Attorney General Letitia James lawsuit seeking to dissolve the National Rifle Association (NRA) can go ahead.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Joel Cohen on Thursday denied the NRAs motions to dismiss the case, pause it, or transfer it to another court.

The attorney general is the chief law enforcement of the state of New York. She is enforcing a New York state statute, Cohen said in a court hearing, as reported by several news outlets. It would be inappropriate in these circumstances to find that the attorney general cannot pursue her claims in state court just because one of the defendants prefers to proceed in federal court.

He added: State courts have their role to play, particularly when enforcing state law.

Last week, the NRA declared bankruptcy and said it would move its headquarters from New York to Texas. James said that the move was an attempt to dodge her lawsuit, which accuses the group of rewarding loyalists with no-show contracts and other allegations. It claims that NRA head Wayne LaPierre took lavish vacations using NRA funding to buy Christmas gifts and misappropriated other funds.

The NRA said the lawsuit brought by the attorney general is motivated by political animus.

In a statement on Jan. 15, the organization said it will restructure the Association as a Texas nonprofit to exit what it believes is a corrupt political and regulatory environment in New York and will enable long-term, sustainable growth and ensure the NRAs continued success as the nations leading advocate for constitutional freedomfree from the toxic political environment of New York.

James, in response to Cohens decision, said that his order reaffirms what weve known all along: the NRA does not get to dictate if and where they will answer for their actions.

We thank the court for allowing our case to move forward and look forward to holding the NRA accountable, she said in a statement.

The NRA filed a counter-suit in a federal court in Albany, the capital of New York state, saying the organizations rights were violated.

Its a one-of-a-kind case, NRA attorney Sarah Rogers said Thursday. We have real constitutional claims here.

Whats more, she argued, Albany should be the proper venue to try the case based on where the NRA was incorporated.

The NRA is fighting for its very existence, Rogers said, according to Politico. To the extent that theres any ambiguity, why not let us fight for our existence in the place we chose?
Elliot Samuel, Chief Laboratory Technician, in the interim before a firm arrangement is established with private labs, urged persons requiring exit screenings to make their applications early.

Persons requiring exit screening as it relates to COVID-19 can now access this service at private laboratories.





This, as the Ministry of Health moved to outsource testing to private laboratories, in light of the surge in the number of samples coming into the governments molecular testing facility, where PCR tests are conducted.





Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, in his address to the nation on January 18, said that private sector labs are being approached to handle exit screenings, and that those persons requiring the labs service will be required to pay a fee.





That fee will be determined by the labs, the PM said.





On Wednesday, this publication was able to ascertain that one private laboratory here had fixed its rates at EC$195.00 for a rapid antigen test, and EC$400.00 for the PCR test.





Lab overwhelmed





According to Dr. Gonsalves, the testing capacity of the one government facility had been challenged in responding to the increased volumes of samples, stemming from the required exit screening for persons leaving the country and the rise in local cases.





As of January 18, the Prime Minister said, the molecular testing facility had conducted 24,705 tests.

Elliot Samuel, Chief Laboratory Technician explained at a press briefing on January 13 that the testing facility had initially responded to testing around 300 samples per day.





Since the recent spike and the requirements for exit screening by Canada, the United States, United Kingdom and Barbados, that number has increased to an average of 500 samples per day. This increased demand has resulted in delays in getting results within the 24-to-48-hour period, Samuel admitted.





According to Samuel, at one point they were 921 samples behind  but as of January 12 they were able to bring the figure down to 394, and it had been anticipated that by January 13 they would have cleared the backlog.

However a release issued by the Ministry of Health on January 19 stated that as a result of the robust contact tracing and active flu clinics, the Molecular Laboratory was still reporting delays in the processing and reporting of results for RT-PCR tests.





It stated that some additional equipment was to be installed which was expected to minimize these delays.





And as a result of the recent spike in cases among locals with no history of recent travel and the focus on contact tracing and testing local samples, persons requiring an exit screening were being encouraged to make their applications early, in order to have their samples in and the results returned within the required time of 72 hours, Samuel said.
People walk pass by a notice on the wall of a Uniqlo store in Gangnam, southern Seoul, explaining that the store will close on Aug. 31, 2020. / Yonhap



By Kim Jae-heun



Japanese casual wear brand Uniqlo made its breakthrough here with a collaboration with Jil Sander, last year.



The "+J Collection" revealed in last fall came 11 years after the retailer first collaborated with the German fashion designer in 2009.



The first +J Collection created a sensation all over the world including Korea, where its biggest store in the country in Myeong-dong, Seoul, alone gathered 600 people before the opening.



In a matter of days the entire line sold out in Korea.



The casual wear brand sought this chance to rebound its sales after facing its worst record due to the boycott campaign on Japanese products two years ago.



In July 2019, Japan decided to put restrictions on certain exports to Korea after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of surviving South Korean victims of wartime forced labor who filed against Japanese firms.



This led many people to reject Japanese products and brewery companies, and Uniqlo was struck hardest.



Uniqlo also pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing number of online shopping options as the major cause of its sales' drop but it did not deny the fact that the tense relationship between Korea and Japan has had a considerable impact on its sales.



Since the company first recorded over 1 trillion won in sales in 2015, Uniqlo has been maintaining the same business performance for four consecutive years. But this rapidly dropped to record 974.9 billion won, which is a 30 percent drop from 2018 sales.



The drop in business led the company to close down 22 stores operating across the country.



FRL Korea, the operator of Uniqlo, has also laid off 1,129 employees in the last seven months. The number of employees is a 25.3 percent drop from the 3,340 employees that were registered to the national pension in late January.



The Japanese firm has fired nearly 100 workers every month since March. In June and July, particular, the number of employees at FRL Korea decreased sharply by 11.1 percent, with the firm laying off 417 people.



This is seen as a result of poor business performance following the COVID-19 pandemic.



Uniqlo's sister brand GU pulled out of its business here as of last August too. It has been less than two years since the brand entered the Korean market.



Here, its most successful collaboration with Jil Sander was good news for the Japanese retailer to attract young customers again.



"Our new fall collection with Jil Sander constitutes both womenswear and menswear. We hope to satisfy our global customers with the modernist style of clothing that promotes both minimalism and comfort," a Uniqlo official said last year.



Upon the release of the fall collection with Uniqlo, Jil Sander said, "My creativity comes from fitting and experimenting with fabrics and at the same time using a method of pushing it in a particular direction."


The Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office on Wednesday declined to charge a woman who police had accused of fatally shooting a Danish tourist in May of 2019 in one of the city' highest-profile murder cases that year.

A spokesperson for District Attorney Jason Williams, who was sworn in Jan. 11, didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the decision not to press a case against Brandy Myles, who is the lone suspect identified in the slaying of Poul Hansen. A representative of Hansens family said a prosecutor from Williams office had notified the family earlier this week that there was not sufficient evidence to support a case against Myles, who had been booked with second-degree murder in September and jailed in lieu of a $250,000 bail.

The DAs office had until Wednesday to either charge Myles, 38, or release her from jail without having to post bond. The decision to let her out doesnt preclude authorities from later charging Myles if they obtain new evidence because there is no statute of limitation in murder cases.

Before her arrest in the case, Myles told investigators she was on her way to a New Orleans East hotel to have sex with Hansen when they pulled over, got out of the car, and a stranger who came out of nowhere killed the visitor from Denmark, according to documents that police filed in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. But police didnt find Myles credible, so first they jailed her on a drug case that sent her to prison for more than a year, then in connection with Hansens killing after her release.

Hansen, 44, was touring the U.S. with a motorcycle club comprised of fellow war veterans from the Denmark when the group stopped at the Super 8 motel in the 6300 block of Chef Menteur Highway, which is off the beaten path for many visitors but is right off Interstate 10.

Police found him shot dead on the morning of May 18, 2019, in the 4200 block of America Street, a half-mile from the motel. Detectives wrote in court records that a nearby surveillance camera recorded video of a car stopping for 10 seconds at the exact spot where the slain Hansen was found. His cellphone, wallet and money were missing.

The car left the scene, but with the help of a license-plate reading camera, police determined the vehicle was registered to Myles. Investigators spotted the car parked outside of Myles apartment in Gretna. She allegedly approached police, said she knew why they were there, and offered to speak with them.

In court records, police wrote that Myles met Hansen on Bourbon Street, and the pair had agreed to go to his hotel to have sex. Myles allegedly said she was driving them in her car and getting close to the hotel when Hansen told her to turn off Chef Menteur and onto the nearby neighborhood surrounding America Street.

According to police, Myles said she and Hansen got out of the car and started to kiss when a man wielding a gun emerged from behind some bushes in a vacant lot. Myles drove away, leaving Hansen and the armed man to face each other, she said.

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Myles allegedly claimed that she heard a single gunshot as she turned back onto Chef Menteur.

Suspect booked in Danish tourist's killing; prosecution unlikely barring stronger evidence Brandy Myles told police she was going to have sex with visitor but fled when another man approached

Police didnt believe her. Based on the surveillance video and the wounds on Hansens body, police suspected he had been fatally shot at close range from his left side before being dumped out of Myles car.

Detectives obtained a warrant accusing Myles of murder. But first they charged her with having a stash of illegal drugs at her apartment, to which she pleaded guilty, landing her a prison sentence that she finished serving on Sept. 22.

As the end of her prison sentence approached, a spokesperson for Williams predecessor, Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, said the office did not believe there was sufficient evidence to obtain a grand jury indictment charging Myles with murder, which carries mandatory life imprisonment upon conviction.

But following her release from prison, authorities transferred Myles to New Orleans lockup to be booked with the warrant from the Hansen murder. Cannizzaros office said the agency would review the case for potential indictment while exercising its right to keep Myles detained in jail in lieu of a bond for up to 120 days without charging her.

A Denver-based private investigator working for Hansens family, Natasha Powers, said Wednesday that her office had recently been contacted by an assistant district attorney who cited a lack of evidence to prosecute Myles for Hansens death.

Hansen was a husband and father of two, Powers said.

His family is desperate to find out who did this, she has previously said.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Express Employment Professionals, the leading global staffing provider franchise, announced today that it experienced significant growth in 2020, signing a total of 61 franchise agreements to bring 27 new offices to key target markets, while continuing operations at 34 existing locations and welcoming 50 new franchise operators, systemwide.

In February 2020, Express also acquired direct hire staffing firm, Frontline Recruitment Group, further expanding its global footprint into Australia and New Zealand for the first time.

"The global workforce was hit hard in 2020 by COVID-19 and each industry sector had different needs at different times. Despite the challenges and complexities that the pandemic presented, our franchisees rose to the occasion and helped fill thousands of jobs last year," said Bill Stoller, CEO of Express Employment Professionals. "We feel humbly grateful to be able to make an impact on people's lives in the way we do, and we're excited to grow this impact in the years to come."

Since its inception 38 years ago, Express has become the dominant brand in the staffing franchise sector, growing to more than 830 locations across three countries. Express's longstanding reputation as a staffing industry leader, top-tier unit-level economics and proven track record of success have been driving forces behind its accelerated franchise development, and the brand is positioned for continued growth in 2021. This year, the company plans to open new offices in key areas across the globe; throughout the U.S. in California, New York and Ohio; in Ontario, Canada; as well as South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Throughout 2020, Express was also recognized among the franchise and staffing industries' most prestigious accolades, including Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, Franchise Direct's Top 100 Global Franchises, the Canadian Franchise Association's Recognition Awards, and ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing Client and Talent Awards.

Express Employment Professionals is the number-one flexible staffing franchise for people, communities and businesses. The company works with job seekers to help them find the right job for their skills and experience, and annually employs over 552,000 people across 830+ franchise locations worldwide. Express has been recognized as the staffing category leader on Entrepreneur magazine's prestigious and highly competitive Franchise 500 ranking of the top franchise opportunities for 10 consecutive years and its franchisees have average annual sales per territory of over $6 million in the U.S.

Express's long-term goal is at the heart of its company's vision: to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people. The brand is actively seeking qualified candidates to help grow its brand footprint throughout the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Express Employment Professionals, contact Vinny Provenzano, Vice President of Franchising, at [email protected] or visit www.expressfranchising.com.

ABOUT EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS

At Express Employment Professionals, we're in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offer localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, employing 552,000 people globally in 2019. For more information, visit www.ExpressPros.com.

Contact:

Caitlin Willard

Fish Consulting

954-893-9150

[email protected]

SOURCE Express Employment Professionals

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The UK's first female suicide bomb plotter and a Kurdish bomb-maker who encouraged a German terror cell to commit mass murder should not have their minimum jail terms increased, Appeal Court judges ruled today.

Muslim convert Safiyya Shaikh, 37, was jailed for a minimum of 14 years after she told police during an interview she was planning a Sri Lanka-style terror attack on St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Meanwhile, Kurdish asylum seeker Fatah Mohammed Abdullah, 35, was handed a nine-year minimum jail term after he pleaded guilty to bomb-making and inciting two Iraqi jihadists to commit a planned terror attack with a car, bomb and meat cleaver in north Germany.

Lawyers representing the Attorney General's office had argued that the minimum terms given to the pair were too lenient.

Muslim convert Safiyya Shaikh, 37, (pictured giving the Islamic State salute) was jailed for a minimum of 14 years after she told police during an interview she was planning a Sri Lanka-style terror attack on St Paul's Cathedral in London

A CCTV still of Shaikh in the lobby at Great St Helen's Hotel, near the Gherkin office block in the City of London, on September 7, the night before her reconnaissance

Fatah Mohammed Abdullah was handed a nine-year minimum jail term after he pleaded guilty to bomb-making and inciting two Iraqi jihadists to commit a planned terror attack with a car, bomb and meat cleaver in north Germany

They argued that Shaikh should be handed a 18-and-a-half year minimum term, and Abdullah a minimum term of 12 years.

But today, Lord Justice Fulford, Mr Justice Edis and Mr Justice Foxton ruled that their minimum jail terms should stay the same. They had considered arguments at a Court of Appeal hearing in London in December.

But the three judges acknowledged, in a written ruling, that 'the statutory scheme' for taking into account convicted criminals' early release provisions when setting minimum terms gave rise 'to a number of anomalies'.

Shaikh and Abdullah were both handed their sentences by the same judge, Mr Justice Sweeney.

Lawyers representing the Attorney General's office argued that Mr Justice Sweeney had 'misapplied or misconstrued' pieces of legislation.

Shaikh, a mother of one, from Hayes, West London, wanted to attack St Paul's Cathedral and a central London hotel during Easter celebrations

Pictured: Shaikh's pink 'girly' backpack which was to be filled with explosives ahead of her attack

They said he should have taken into account Terrorist Offenders (Restrictions of Early Release) Act - legislation, introduced in 2020, aimed at preventing terror offenders automatically being released from jail in the wake of attacks in London.

The three appeal judges said: 'We have been unable to accept that submission, although we acknowledge that the statutory scheme for taking into account early release provisions when (setting) minimum terms gives rise to a number of anomalies.'

After the ruling, the Solicitor General, Michael Ellis QC MP, said: 'I acknowledge the decision of the Court of Appeal to not increase Shaikh and Abdullah's sentences. However, this was a matter for the court and I respect their decision.'

What does the one finger gesture mean? Raising an index finger is often used in Muslim prayer as a symbol of tawhid. Tawhid is the belief in the oneness of God, a central concept of Islam. The gesture can signify the oneness of Allah. However in recent years the point has also been used by members of IS. Historian Nathaniel Zelinsky has said it could refer to a fundamentalist interpretation of the tawhid which rejects any other views. Advertisement

Shaikh, of Hayes, west London, was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years in July after a judge at the Old Bailey heard that she had plotted a terror attack on St Paul's Cathedral.

She admitted preparation of terrorist acts and dissemination of terrorist publications on the internet.

As Shaikh was sentenced, she smiled while wearing a black hijab and raised her index finger in a salute associated with ISIS as she was taken to the cells.

Shaikh, born Michelle Ramsden in Hounslow, west London, told undercover police officers she wanted to 'do a piece of history and kill as many kuffar as possible' in a day of carnage across the capital.

The single mother - who claimed to be a manager at a London garage - ran a chat room dedicated to martyrs and told followers of her determination to become Britain's first female suicide bomber.

She was addicted to heroin but said she always wanted to 'do something big' and that killing one infidel was 'not enough for me.'

After setting off the two bombs, she wanted to blow herself up on the London Underground.

Shaikh told an undercover officer: 'So this is really what I want but I would like to kill a lot brother. Until I'm killed. This is what I really want. Bi'idnillah [god permitting].

'I am ready for jannah [paradise] but I want to do big things, insha'Allah [god willing].'

Shaikh during a police interview where she spoke about detonating a bomb. She was inspired by the Sri Lanka bombings on Easter Day last year which killed 259 people

The Old Bailey was told how Shaikh (right, in Islamic dress) radicalised in 2015 after converting to Islam in 2007, following an act of kindness by a neighbouring Muslim family

Shaikh shared images of Charles and Diana's wedding at the St Paul's and wrote: 'If I had choice I blow the church to ground. With kuffar in it,' adding a laughing emoji.

'I want start planning. I am serious about this,' she added. 'It not only words akhi [brother] I want action and revenge deep from my heart.'

She was inspired by the Sri Lanka bombings on Easter Day last year which killed 259 people and wanted to strike when the cathedral was full.

How Shaikh was snared by undercover officers Safiyya Amira Shaikh was snared by undercover officers last year as she planned to plant two explosive devices in central London. In encrypted chat with an undercover officer last August, she said that she would 'rather die young and get to Jannah (paradise) quickest way possible'. She also stated: 'I always knows (sic) I wanted to do something big....killing one kafir (infidel) is not enough for me.' Shaikh expressed a desire to target a church or somewhere 'historical' on a day like Christmas or Easter to 'kill more', according to the case summary. In September last year, she revealed her plan to stay in a hotel near St Paul's then check out the cathedral and 'take photos like a tourist'. On September 24 last year, she met the fake explosive expert's wife in Uxbridge to hand over her bags. Then on October 13, the female undercover officer cancelled a second meeting and police forced their way into Shaikh's flat to arrest her. Advertisement

Shaikh, whose parents are no longer together, has one brother and one sister. She also has a half-brother from her mother's side.

Alison Morgan QC, prosecuting, described her as a 'violent extremist' who had pledged her support for ISIS in a written oath on pink note paper.

Shaikh 'gave the impression she was ready, in fact desperate, to launch an attack,' Ms Morgan said.

Jailing her for life, with a minimum of 14 years, the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, said she sought to encourage lone wolf attacks and had become 'determined to carry out terrorists acts of your own in this country.'

The judge jailed her for another eight years, concurrently, for running the chatroom.

Jenny Hopkins, head of the Counter-Terrorism Division of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: 'Safiyya Shaikh chose to live her life as a violent extremist with a murderous hatred of those who did not share her twisted version of Islam.

'She hoped to inspire others by sharing terrorist images on social media but wanted to go much further.

'The damning evidence presented by the CPS of her planned suicide mission to St Paul's Cathedral left her with no room to talk her way out the charges.'

The court heard how she became radicalised in 2007 and followed extremist preachers on Facebook.

But she became disillusioned by what she saw as the moderate version of Islam preached in mosques and started to follow and talk to extremists online in 2015.

She was radicalised by watching online videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary and clips of his acolytes on YouTube.

In a joint Met Police and MI5 investigation, Shaikh believed that an undercover officer would be able to help her obtain explosives and gave her two bags which she thought would be converted into bombs.

She plotted to leave one bomb in St Paul's Cathedral, another in a nearby hotel and a third, to wear as a suicide vest, at a train station.

A text message sent by Shaikh to an undercover officer about her intentions to bomb St Paul's Cathedral in London, showing the ceiling and message: 'Under this dome I would like put bomb.. It centre of church'

A court artist's sketch of Shaikh, who was sentenced for life with a minimum of 14 years in July last year at the Old Bailey in London

In one message, she told the undercover officer: 'Even though it was first hard to see the beheading videos, but I kept watching more and more and now I love and would take a kuffar [infidel's] head off easy lol [laughs out loud].

She previously had her daughter removed to the care of social services and told a female undercover officer that she was launching a suicide attack so that 'Allah to forgive me for everything.'

In September 2019 she visited St Paul's Cathedral and photographed the ceiling, sending the image to the undercover officer with the words: 'Under this dome I would like to put bomb'.

The undercover officer arranged for Shaikh to meet his 'wife', known as Azra, in Fassnidge Park in Uxbridge to be fitted for a suicide vest and hand over a Pink Nike holdall and what she referred to as a 'girlie backpack', to be filled with explosives.

After she was arrested, Shaikh claimed she had got cold feet and was trying to back out of the plan, but in a recorded telephone conversation from prison, she told a friend: 'I was going to go through with it, I wasn't getting cold feet, I wasn't having doubts.

'The reason why I didn't turn up on the day was that I was doing drugs. I would have arranged another appointment with them, I would have met them. That day I just didn't wake up in time and that's the truth.'

A CCTV still of Shaikh on her way to a meeting with an undercover officer. She was jailed for one count of preparation of terrorist acts and one count of dissemination of terrorist publications

A still taken from a video of Shaikh (pictured, circled) conducting a recce at St Paul's Cathedral in London

When she was first arrested Shaikh could not be interviewed by police because she was on a heroin comedown, a court hearing was told.

On August 18 last year, Shaikh was stopped at Luton Airport on her way to the Netherlands under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Her ticket had been purchased by Yousra Lemouesset, the wife of a so-called ISIS 'martyr' who had returned to the Netherlands from Syria after her husband was killed.

Shaikh's telephone was examined and her passport was seized from her. She was released but not allowed to travel.

Two days later, an undercover 'role play' officer, known as 'H', began chatting to her on Threema, an encrypted anonymous messaging app.

Shaikh told him: 'I try to inspire others to fight Insha'Allah [god willing] but lately I fell it's not enough.

'I want to take revenge for Allah our Prophet. I hate the kuffar [infidels] for what they do and I fell I cannot live comfortably in this dunya [earthly life] while our ummah [Muslim nation] suffer.'

Shaikh believed the man online could get hold of explosives for her and told him she was going to conduct a reconnaissance mission around St Paul's Cathedral.

Shaikh's home in West London. The undercover officer, arranged for Shaikh to meet his 'wife', known as Azra, in Fassnidge Park in Uxbridge

She said she had no 'kafir clothes' of her own and would have to 'take something from my daughter.'

'Also, just in case I was ever stop by police, what story I give them? I was thinking to say am visiting that church cos my gran loved it,' she added.

On September 7 last year, Shaikh booked into the 200 a night, Great St Helen Hotel, near the 'Gerkhin' office block in the City of London, and the next day toured the cathedral, noting the number of American and Chinese tourists.

Timeline of terror: Shaikh's journey to becoming the UK's first female suicide bomb plotter 2007: Michelle Ramsden, a single mother in her early 20s, is befriended by a kindly Muslim family. Impressed by their warmth, Ramsden converts to Islam. 2016: Ramsden, now known as Safiyya Shaikh, is referred to the Government's Prevent anti-terrorism strategy after rejecting moderate Islam and becoming increasingly extremist. She no longer attends mosque because her fundamentalist ideology does not fit in. August 18 2019: Shaikh is stopped at Luton Airport as she tries to get to Amsterdam. Her ticket is bought by Yousra Lemouesset, who had previously been convicted of assisting Islamic State. August 20: Shaikh begins chatting with a man on an encrypted messaging app, later believing he can source a bomb and help her become a jihadi. She is unaware the man is an undercover police officer. August 22: Shaikh confesses to the undercover agent her desire for martyrdom. She tells him: 'So this is really what I want ... But I would like to kill a lot brother. Until I'm killed. This is what I really want.' August 31: She identifies St Paul's Cathedral as a potential location for the attack, posting a map and an image from the inside of the cathedral online and asking the undercover police officer: 'Is it possible to do here?' September 8: Shaikh carries out a reconnaissance mission in London. She visits St Paul's Cathedral where she spends an hour inside the landmark taking pictures. She describes the prospect of planting a bomb there as 'easy'. September 24: A second undercover officer - pretending to be the wife of the man who Shaikh believes is her would-be accomplice - travels to Uxbridge in west London to meet with Shaikh to discuss the plot. Shaikh breaks down when she discusses her 'really horrible path' and says she wants forgiveness from Allah for 'everything in my life that I've done'. They discuss getting fitted for a suicide vest and agree to meet again the following month. October 10: Shaikh cancels her second meeting with 'the wife' on the day they were due to see each other again, saying she feels unwell. Concerned, police storm her flat and arrest Shaikh. She later tells police: 'I don't know if I ever would have gone through with it because I had doubts.' February 21 2020: Shaikh pleads guilty to preparation of terrorist acts and dissemination of terrorist publications at the Old Bailey. June: Shaikh's sentencing hearing begins, during which her counsel says she had 'doubts' over the plan, and would never have gone ahead with it. Reading press coverage of her case, Shaikh makes a phone call from Bronzefield prison in which she describes the mitigation offered as a 'lie' and maintains her intention was to carry out the attack. July 3: Mr Justice Sweeney sentences Shaikh to life in prison, with a minimum term of 14 years. Shaikh raises her index finger - a widely accepted Islamic State salute - as she is led from court. Advertisement

She picked up an order of service for Matins, noted down the exit routes and sent images to the officer suggesting she would place a bomb under the dome to bring the whole building down.

The next day, she sent an image of herself wearing a red niqab and black headband with Arabic writing on it, and giving the single fingered salute of ISIS.

Raising one index finger is often used by Muslims in prayer as a symbol of tawhid, the belief in the oneness of God, but has recently been used by members of IS.

Historian Nathaniel Zelinsky has said it could refer to a fundamentalist interpretation of the tawhid which rejects any other views.

She wrote: 'I got this the other day. I love it. Always wanted to be a warrior, Soldier of Allah. I just don't want waste any second. If I am gonna die, I want do most I can til end.'

Interviewed by police, Shaikh confessed that she planned to carry out a suicide bomb attack like the terrorist attack in Sri Lanka in order to gain access to heaven.

Asked what she was planning, she said: 'Obviously if I had the rucksack, you know like what happened in Sri Lanka, like that. I was going to do the same thing - blow everything up.'

She said she intended to die in the attack and added: 'I thought that was my way into heaven. I thought that was my way for forgiveness.'

Shaikh pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and disseminating terrorist publications but claimed she would not have gone through with the plan.

She wept as her legal representation Ben Newton described her 'life of pain and loneliness', and disclosed she suffered a 'truly traumatic childhood'.

'She didn't want to blow up a church of people,' her defence counsel Ben Newton told the Old Bailey. 'She just wanted friends.'

Her counsel said she simply had a history of trying to please people, even flying to Pakistan for an arranged marriage against her will before backing out at the last minute and being sent home in disgrace.

Conversations with the undercover police revealed she once asked how much of her body would be destroyed by detonating a suicide vest, and also enquired about the date of the September 11 terror attacks.

Commander Richard Smith, head of counter-terrorism at Scotland Yard said: 'Safiyya Shaikh was clearly dangerous. She was spreading vile directives for mass murder across the world and also planning her own horrific attack on UK soil.

'I am pleased to say that we were able to identify her plans, assess her intent and then lay before her the evidence of her criminality resulting in the guilty pleas.'

He concluded: 'Shaikh was dedicated to her extremist beliefs. In addition to wanting to carry out her own sickening attack on UK soil, she hoped to inspire others to implement attack plans even after she had died. Thanks to the hard work of officers from both the Met Police and MI5, she is instead in jail.

'Every day, including during the pandemic, the national counter terrorism police network is continuing to fight terrorism. We're working with businesses and places of worship to try and keep everyone safe. I urge the public to help us by reporting anything at all suspicious to police.'

At the same time as she was planning the attack, Shaikh was running a 'channel' on the encrypted Telegram application called GreenB1rds.

The channel disseminated extremist propaganda in support of ISIS and instructional material encouraging others to carry out 'lone wolf' attacks.

It included posters threatening attacks on Tower Bridge - wrongly labelled 'London Bridge'- and Big Ben, saying: 'Know O Crusader that you - Allah willing - will soon be pursued in your own homeland.'

Ms Morgan said Shaikh 'personally created some of the imagery and videos and also instructed others with necessary skills to create the material, which she then circulated.'

The channels were run with a high degree of secrecy and technical application, storing the content in back-ups and re-creating the channels under different details whenever Telegram shut them down.

Shaikh kept a 'banned list' of those suspected to be spies, and even created a false persona of herself as a man.

Two weeks before her arrest, Shaikh boasted she was now running six 'brothers' channels' along with her own, but added: 'Alhamdullilah it's good, and it's an honur [sic] to be asked.'

Others included channels called Lone Wolves and Jannah is my Goal.

Shaikh had 15 'admins' who helped her run the GreenB1rds channel of whom seven were 'totally committed,' she said.

'They will continue my work when gone inshaAllah [god willing],' Shaikh told the undercover officer.

After her arrest, Shaikh told a probation officer that when she ran the chatroom she 'felt happier than she had ever done.'

She talked of having a 'sense of purpose and no longer feeling empty' and said that any doubt expressed about going through with the attack was mainly because her daughter had unexpectedly been returned to her care.

Mr Sweeney said: 'I have asked myself whether life is required, and in my view, self-evidently it is, not least because it is impossible to predict whether you will be safe at the end of a determinate sentence.'

Safiyya Shaikh: The lonely Muslim convert determined to kill and be killed An artist's impression of Shaikh appearing at the Old Bailey All Safiyya Shaikh had ever wanted, according to her legal representation, was friendship. She also had a long-held desire to take her own life. So when the couple she thought to be like-minded conspirators in her plot to bomb St Paul's Cathedral and become a martyr were unmasked as undercover police officers with no intention of launching a terror attack, the single mother became immediately distressed. 'She didn't want to blow up a church of people,' her defence counsel Ben Newton told the Old Bailey. 'She just wanted friends.' Yet the idea that she had got 'cold feet' over the plot was later denounced - in truly extraordinary circumstances - by Shaikh herself. During a recorded prison telephone conversation to an acquaintance part-way through her four-day sentencing hearing, Shaikh described claims she was having doubts over the plot as 'a lie'. 'I was going to go through with it,' she said during a 14-minute telephone call from HMP Bronzefield, recorded by the authorities. I wasn't getting cold feet, I wasn't having doubts.' In fact she said the only reason she backed out of a meeting with her co-conspirators - the undercover police - was because of her drug habit. 'I would have arranged another appointment with them,' Shaikh said in her phone call. 'I would have met them. I just didn't wake up in time and that's the truth.' It was acknowledged in court that security conscious Shaikh would have known her telephone calls were being recorded from prison. Judge Mr Justice Sweeney described the development as 'somewhat unusual', and delayed passing sentence to take into account her frank and chilling admission. The full horrors of 37-year-old Shaikh's formative years were only alluded to in court. An artist's impression of Shaikh at the Old Bailey, on June 22. The idea that she had got 'cold feet' over the plot was later denounced - in truly extraordinary circumstances - by Shaikh herself She wept as Mr Newton described her 'life of pain and loneliness', and disclosed she suffered a 'truly traumatic childhood'. Her life was to change for the better, at least initially, when in 2007 - still living by the name Michelle Ramsden and as a single mother to her daughter - she was befriended by a local Muslim family who impressed her with their warmth and kindness. Unwittingly, it set the impressionable Shaikh on a path that would see her reject mainstream Islam taught in her mosque in search of an extremist ideology. She found it. By 2016, buoyed by the popularity of her pro-Jihad propaganda being shared around the world, Shaikh set her sights on martyrdom. And in the undercover police officers, Shaikh thought she found the perfect confidantes. She sought to impress them with her determination to 'kill as many as possible' before being killed herself. Shaikh would later confess to police following her arrest that she had always wanted to take her own life. Advertisement

Meanwhile, Kurdish asylum seeker Fatah Mohammed Abdullah, 35, a fanatic of the so-called Islamic State, was given a nine-year minimum term in June last year after a judge at the Old Bailey heard that he encouraged a terror cell in Germany to commit mass murder with a car, bomb and meat cleaver.

He pleaded guilty to inciting terrorism overseas and engaging in conduct in preparation to assist others to commit terrorist acts.

Abdullah bought chemicals, over 8,000 matches, an igniter fuse, and a remote-control detonator on eBay and Amazon from April 2018.

Police who suspected he was planning to build explosives raided his Arthur's Hill flat, Newcastle, that December, discovering the various items as well as his own Islamist literature.

Abdullah, whose origin remains a mystery, had scribbled notes supportive of ISIS and 'violent jihad'. A review of the browsing history on his mobile phone showed searches for pressure, and the use and manufacture of gunpowder.

Police who suspected Abdullah was planning to build explosives raided his Arthur's Hill flat that December, discovering the various items as well as his own Islamist literature (pictured, counter-terrorism officers pictured on Philip Place in Newcastle)

Six weeks later - in January 2019 - German police raided apartments in Meldorf and Elpersbuttel in Schleswig-Holstein after a surveillance operation.

Omar Babek and Ahmed Hussein were accused of plotting to drive a vehicle packed with 10kg of TNT into a crowd and then attack passers-by with a meat cleaver.

Abdullah had taken 'very real and significant steps to plan an attack', Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Snowden of Counter-Terrorism Policing North-East said.

He pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism and to incitement to terrorism overseas. His case was heard over video link between Liverpool Crown Court, the Old Bailey, and HMP Belmarsh in southeast London.

It was adjourned for psychiatric reports and the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, said a video link would probably be needed for the sentence hearing in May.

Abdullah had taken 'very real and significant steps to plan an attack', Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Snowden of Counter-Terrorism Policing North-East said

Abdullah was smuggled into Britain in the back of a lorry when he was 20. He claimed to be Iranian when he arrived, and was granted asylum.

However, the jobless refugee is suspected of being an Iraqi Kurd.

He told officials he came from a violent family home where he was physically abused by father and brothers, and was thrown out of home at the age of 13.

After his arrest, Abdullah also claimed that his mother had died seven to eight months earlier - and that his sister had burned herself to death.

Officials learned that he made at least one call to his mother from Belmarsh.

Prof Michael Kopelman, emeritus professor neuroscience at King's College, told a pre-trial hearing: 'There is no doubt that his mental state has fluctuated with time.'

In March 2008, Abdullah was charged with public disorder and spent a short spell in jail. Four months later he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after he had a dispute with his partner and attempted to jump off the Tyne Bridge.

In 2013, his mental health deteriorated again and was said to be suffering from nightmares, inadequate self-care, and at moderate risk of self-harm.

Abdullah claimed that he had been hearing heard voices since before he arrived in Britain, made worse by a beating in 2010.

He was diagnosed with anxiety, depression and personality disorder along with a long-term diagnosis of PTSD. A psychiatric nurse cared for him for two years.

In Belmarsh, he talked about voices telling him to kill himself, talked about wanting to burn himself and was refusing to eat.

Abdullah told a psychiatrist that he used to smoke, drink and take prescribed anti-depressants and that he 'feels that he let himself down.'
A Nepalese airport ground staff unload a box carrying AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. India sent 1 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Nepal on Thursday, a gift that is likely to help repair strained ties between the two neighbors. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

India sent 1 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Nepal on Thursday, a gift that is likely to help repair strained ties between the two neighbors.

Nepal health minister Hridayesh Tripathi said the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, will be given to health workers and other front-line personnel within a week to 10 days.

Tripathi said Nepal would like to purchase 4 million more doses, and asked for the Indian government's help. There was no immediate response from Indian officials who were the airport when the vaccine arrived.

Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali flew to India last week to formally request the vaccine.

India, the world's largest vaccine producer, began supplying coronavirus vaccine to its neighbors this week as it attempts to strike a balance between maintaining enough doses to inoculate its own people and helping developing countries without the capacity to produce their own vaccine.

India's foreign ministry said it sent 150,000 doses to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives on Wednesday, and would send more to Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Seychelles in coming weeks.

Relations between India and Nepal have been strained by a territorial dispute which led to an exchange of strong-worded statements by the two sides.

India has also accused Nepal's Communist government of becoming closer to other giant neighbor, China.

A van stands parked waiting to transport AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccines, manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. India sent 1 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Nepal on Thursday, a gift that is likely to help repair strained ties between the two neighbors. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Nepalese airport ground staffs pull a trolly full of boxes containing AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, manufactured under license by Serum Institute of India, arrive at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. India sent 1 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine to Nepal on Thursday, a gift that is likely to help repair strained ties between the two neighbors. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

In this Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, file photo, an Indian doctor shows a COVID-19 vaccine at a government Hospital in Jammu, India. India started exporting COVID-19 vaccines to its neighboring countries on Wednesday, Jan. 20. To start with, India will send 150,000 shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Bhutan and 100,000 shots to Maldives. Afterwards, vaccines will be sent Bangladesh, Nepal, India's foreign ministry said. (AP Photo/Channi Anand, File)

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

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A teenage boy was killed after he was flung from a car overnight.

Initial investigations suggest the silver Ford Falcon sedan was travelling south on Appleton Drive near the Fig Tree Creek Bridge near Yeppoon, in central Queensland, shortly after midnight.

The vehicle then left the road and rolled, with the teenager from nearby Taranganba thrown from the vehicle.

Appleton Drive near the Fig Tree Creek Bridge (pictured above) is believed to be the scene of the fatality overnight

Queensland Police confirmed a boy, 16, died at the scene after he was flung from the vehicle when it rolled after leaving the road (stock image)

'A 16-year-old boy was pronounced deceased at the scene,' police said in a statement.

Two other occupants, the 18-year-old male driver and a 16-year-old female passenger, were treated at the scene, with the young woman suffering chest and abdominal injuries, according to the Courier Mail.

They were taken to Rockhampton Base Hospital, where both are said to be in a stable condition.

The Forensic Crash Unit are continuing to investigate the matter.

Queensland Police are appealing for anyone with dashcam vision or who may have noticed the vehicle in the area around midnight to come forward or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

In 2020, Queensland's road toll saw 276 people lose their lives. NSW recorded the most fatalities, with 296 deaths.
Global integrated agency launches platform to transform the way brands in B2B Financial Services access and engage influencers to deliver stronger brand to audience engagement

LONDON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognito, the international specialist communications and marketing agency, today announced the launch of a new influencer discovery platform that will deliver an important shift in the way brands in the B2B Financial Services sector can view and integrate influencer marketing into their communication strategies.

Finfluence acts as a discovery platform for influencers from Fintech to Blockchain, wealth management and investment banking. It leverages a bespoke algorithm developed by Cognito to serve up the most relevant influencers to match a brand's campaign objectives. Companies will have the opportunity to search for influencers across global regions - EMEA, APAC and North America - with 120+ influencers included from launch and more being added constantly.

Finfluence is underpinned by Cognito's deep sector expertise in financial services and its work helping a wide range of FS clients with their communications strategies. Cognito's clients have increasingly asked whether influencer marketing can work for them and if so, how? This has been spurred on both by a shift to digital communication accelerated in part by Covid-19.

"Finfluence was conceived based on conversations with many of our clients telling us that while they understood influencers as a 'concept', there was a knowledge gap in how to activate this channel within their communication plans, and what the attributable KPIs would be," said David Simpson, director at Cognito. "With Finfluence opening up this credible route to market for brands in financial services, we feel the sector will follow the trend of other B2B verticals in their adoption of influencer marketing, delivering more authentic audience engagement and business impact."

Cognito provided early access for platform testing to some clients, including London-based marketing professional Sairah Mojib. "I would definitely use the platform from a research POV as part of my content strategy," she said. "When planning events in particular, it's crucial to have the right individuals representing your brand, particularly when trying to identify influencers who could moderate a panel or guest host a webinar/podcast. Finfluence makes this simple, and also quickly shows insights about an influencer's channels; helpful especially for reaching into new markets."

Finfluence is the first project to launch from the newly established Cognito Labs. Cognito Labs is a division of Cognito EMEA led by Director David Simpson in London.

"Cognito Labs is the innovation engine of Cognito and was established as part of our drive to develop the communications approach for brands and to further connect our service offering to deliver full funnel solutions," said Sebastian Mathews, Managing Director for Cognito EMEA. "With a mantra of 'global innovation, central enablement', Cognito Labs connects the global offices of Cognito to deliver innovation excellence for its clients in all regions."

Find out more at https://finfluence.io/our-approach

About Cognito

Cognito is an integrated financial communications and marketing firm for the finance, technology and professional services sectors. With offices in New York, London, San Diego, Singapore, Hong Kong and Amsterdam, we help firms improve their performance, meet business objectives and manage their reputation. We combine strategy and planning, marketing, design, PR and social expertise, together with proprietary software that delivers measurability and intelligence. Read more at cognitomedia.com and follow us on Twitter at @CognitoMedia.

Media Contact Information

US - Sam Barber / sam.barber@cognitomedia.com / +1 917 246 2775

EMEA - Jon Schubin / jon.schubin@cognitomedia.com / +44 7307 063066

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1420877/Cognito_Logo.jpg
The Army was investigating what caused the death of a soldier at a base in Kuwait this week.

The soldier, who has not yet been publicly identified, was found unresponsive Wednesday at Camp Arifjan, the Army said.

We send our heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased, U.S. Army Central said in an emailed statement Thursday.

The soldier's name was being withheld until 24 hours after family had been notified, it said.

It's the second soldier's death in Kuwait this year, coming a little over a week after Staff Sgt. Anthony Bermudez, 28, was killed in a vehicle accident near Camp Buehring.

Bermudez, from a suburb of Dallas, Texas, died Jan. 11. His remains were returned to the U.S. in a dignified transfer ceremony Jan. 13 at Dover Air Force Base, Del.

Two other soldiers were injured in that accident and taken to a military hospital in Kuwait, including the driver, who was treated and released the same day.

Some 600 soldiers of the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division are on a 10-month deployment to the country as part of Operation Spartan Shield, which supports logistics, security cooperation, exercises and humanitarian assistance missions in the region. The division took over command of Task Force Spartan in November.

There were also about 2,200 active duty personnel from all services in Kuwait, Defense Department data in a September report showed. U.S. Central Command declined Thursday to provide more up-to-date numbers, citing operational security concerns.
LG Group headquarters in Yeouido Seoul / Courtesy of LG Electronics



By Kim Hyun-bin



Vingroup is set to acquire all of LG Electronics smartphone manufacturing plants in Vietnam, China and Brazil as part of the Korean tech giant conducting a split sale of its mobile communications division due to mounting deficits in recent years, according to a source familiar with the matter, Thursday.



One of the biggest conglomerates in Vietnam, Vingroup is seeking to expand into the high-tech sector through its acquisition of LG's state-of-the-art production facilities.



"The Vietnamese government and Vingroup have been seeking to expand into high-tech industries and to boost local job creation. Also premium demand in the region including in Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand is high," a senior industry official told The Korea Times. "They are only seeking to purchase the manufacturing facilities, while LG plans to continue it R&D but with a reduced staff that will be stationed here at its Korean headquarters. Vingroup has presented the best offer among other potential buyers."



On Wednesday, LG Electronics CEO Kwon Bong-seok hinted that the group would pull out of mobile phone manufacturing saying the company was open to all options over whether to continue running its money-losing smartphone business or not.






A sell-out designer dress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge on a visit to Northern Ireland has proved so popular a duplicate has been launched on shopping website ASOS.

Kate Middleton's mint green Missoni dress, which is worth 1,590, was worn by the royal on an appearance during a trip here in 2019.

The duchess, along with husband Prince William, spent two days in Northern Ireland in March 2019 on a whistlestop tour.

It was her dress by the Italian luxury fashion house that proved to be one of the stand-out pieces as her choice of outfit for her final appearance on day one of the tour, worn to Belfast's Empire Music Hall that evening.

While the price tag puts it out of reach for many, women's fashion brand TNFC has now launched a midi dress for bridesmaids.

And with a 47.60 price tag, it could be worn on any occasion and not just by bridesmaids.

For her third look of the day Kate paired her dress with a Mulberry clutch and nude Gianvito Rossi pumps - for which any number of duplicates are available on the high street.

The Missoni gown was one of the stand-out pieces the Baroness of Carrickfergus, as Kate is known here, wore on the tour, during which they visited Windsor Park, met with young people's charity Extern and spent the day at Sure Start, that supports parents of children under four living in disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland.

The V-neckline, long sleeves and the midi length mean the dress is a perfect dupe for the one worn by Kate and is perfect paired with nude heels and her signature blowdry.

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When it comes to demand for clothing worn by the royals, Kate is once again influencing her fashion followers with what's been deemed 'The Kate Effect' after her popularity took a tumble when Meghan Markle became engaged to Prince Harry.

Founder of Belfast Fashion Week Cathy Martin said the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a product is the best form of advertising a brand could ask for.

"It's someone endorsing a product and saying it's good enough for a princess and therefore ordinary people will want to have that association.

"If that's just wearing the same dress, it's creating a talking point.

"When a celebrity, but someone as ladylike and as elegant and as lovely and regal as Kate wears something like that, it sprinkles fairy dust on it.

"We see influencer marketing now as a proper industry where influencers are taking over the marketing mix when it comes to promoting beauty and fashion.

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"Kate's been known for wearing Zara and supporting British brands like Jigsaw and Karen Millen. As the wife of the heir to the throne, that's the right move for someone in her position.

"She's an advocate for rewearing clothes which is a good nod to sustainability and a lesson in how to shop cleverly."

Discount clothing website LovetheSales.com, which has analysed all outfits worn by Kate in 2019 and 2020, said Kate's star is once again on the rise since Harry and Meghan left the UK.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 22:33:05|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to work with Laos to further intensify high-level contact, cement strategic communication and deepen experience exchanges on party and state governance.

Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee. Enditem
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will work to broaden support for his depleted coalition after falling short of an outright majority in a crucial Senate vote.

The premier secured the support of 156 senators on Tuesday, less than an outright majority of 161 votes, while 140 rejected him. He campaigned hard to persuade centrists and unaffiliated lawmakers to join his coalition but failed to fully plug the gap left by the defection of a small party led by ex-premier Matteo Renzi

Now the goal is to make this majority even more solid, Mr Conte said on Twitter.

Though the government remains fragile, the result in parliament should provide a boost for officials across the European Union who are trying to coordinate efforts to fight the coronavirus. It also provides vindication to investors who have wagered that Italian politicians wouldnt pitch the country into an election campaign with the pandemic raging around them.

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With the European Central Banks bond-buying programmes offering support to governments across the euro area, Italys 10-year yields have traded in a narrow range throughout the political turmoil.

Italian bonds rallied to send the 10-year yield premium over Germany, a key gauge of risk in the region, to 109 basis points, the lowest in more than a week.

Mr Conte will still need an outright majority if hes to govern in the longer term because thats the threshold for passing key legislation including budget laws.

His position is all the more precarious given that he owes his Senate win to the fact that most of Mr Renzis senators abstained, lowering the quorum.

Mr Conte is likely to meet President Sergio Mattarella to discuss options but will not resign, Corriere della Sera reported. According to the newspaper, Mr Conte could have about two weeks to build a new majority in the Senate.

Mr Conte lives to fight another day, wrote Eurasia Group analyst Federico Santi.

He is under no immediate pressure to resign and has showed no indication of wanting to do so, despite his now more precarious parliamentary majority. A government reshuffle might be in order.

The premier, who won an outright majority in a similar confidence measure in the lower house on Monday, will look to add further backing over the coming days, and a group of senators has indicated theyll declare their support for him, according to a local source.
Boris Johnson's first meeting with Joe Biden could take place in a Zoom video call.

The PM has never met the President and may not see him in person until the summer because of the global pandemic.

The UK was represented at yesterday's inauguration by Dame Karen Pierce, Britain's US ambassador.

She said the UK was waiting to hear whether the new administration wanted a face-to-face meeting or a virtual one ahead of the G7 summit in June, when world leaders will gather in Cornwall.

The Ambassador told Radio 4's Today programme: 'We know they want to increase the protections [from Covid-19] so we [will] wait to hear from them in the coming days as to whether that will encompass face- to-face meetings. If it does, we are very practiced by now in having Zoom meetings, virtual meetings, so I'm sure those will take place between the Prime Minister and President Biden. But we wait to hear.'

Choosing her words carefully, she said the diplomatic community was 'very pleased to see American democracy come out on top' and looking forward to a 'period of co-operation'.

Boris Johnson's first meeting with Joe Biden could take place in a Zoom video call. Pictured: The PM watching yesterday's inauguration on television

The lack of an early invitation to Washington will be seen by some as a snub, particularly if other Western leaders travel to the US to congratulate Mr Biden in the next few weeks.

It will also raise fears about the strength of the so-called Special Relationship under Mr Biden, who has previously described the PM as a 'clone' of Donald Trump.

Following the inauguration of a new US President, world leaders usually race to be the first to secure an invitation to the White House.

In 2017, the race was won by Theresa May, who immediately returned the favour by granting President Trump the honour of a full state visit.

Despite Mr Biden's long career in frontline politics, and Mr Johnson's stint as foreign secretary under Mrs May, the two men have never met, and had not even spoken until the Democrat leader beat Mr Trump in November.

Ministers had feared a diplomatic snub from Mr Biden's team. In 2019, Mr Biden, a strong opponent of Brexit, described Mr Johnson as a 'physical and emotional clone' of Donald Trump. But he moved swiftly to build bridges last year. Mr Johnson was the first European leader called by Mr Biden following his victory over Mr Trump in November.

Ministers hope the UK's hosting of the G7 summit and Cop26 climate conference this year will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to form a bond over their shared commitment to tackling climate change.

Diplomats at the Foreign Office were rejoicing at the departure of Donald Trump, who has caused shockwaves in the department on countless occasions. One diplomat said: 'Many will not be shedding a tear.'

The feeling was shared on both sides of the Atlantic, with a US source saying: 'The sigh of relief is not necessarily about policy but more the character of the man leaving the White House.'

Defending his close relationship with Mr Trump, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it is very important the Prime Minister of the UK has the best possible relationship with the President of the United States. That is part of the job description.'

He later dodged a question yesterday on whether he considered Mr Biden to be 'woke'  a US term originally used to describe those concerned about social and racial injustice.

He said there was 'nothing wrong with being woke'  but said he would always stand up to those wanting to tear down statues of historical figures like Churchill.

U.S. President Joe Biden signs three documents after his inauguration in Washington yesterday

It came after Labour's foreign affairs spokesman Lisa Nandy said the election of Mr Biden was a lesson for her party that it was possible for a 'woke' politician to win a major election.

She said the President was a 'woke guy' who had 'stood up for the Black Lives Matter protesters'.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson stressed the common ground between the Biden administration and his own.

He said the UK was the first country to set a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050s, adding: 'We hope that president Biden will join us. We will work with President Biden to secure the transatlantic alliance and Nato.' The issue of Northern Ireland and Brexit has been a source of tensions between the Government and Mr Biden, whose ancestors were Irish Catholics. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis plans to fly out to the US to meet the Biden team for a post-inauguration visit, sources said.

Government officials are also exploring options for better engagement on Northern Ireland in Washington DC. They have had talks about seconding an official from the Northern Ireland Office to the UK embassy in Washington.
For the first time since June 2020, India has added fewer than 100,000 new coronavirus cases in a week, government data from the past seven days shows.

More than 1,100 people died during these days, but the weekly toll is declining fast as well. Just four months ago, a similar number of patients were dying every day.

With the virus largely in control, the focus has moved to the vaccination drive, which began on 16 January. A total of 786,842 healthcare workers got their first dose in the first five days. Karnataka administered 16% of these doses, Andhra Pradesh 15%, Telangana 11%, and Odisha and West Bengal 6% each.

Kerala, the epicentre of the pandemic in India, lags behind on this front at this stage, with only 24,000 doses administered so far.

The outbreak in the southern state is not showing any sign of slowing down. Thirteen of its 14 districts added more than 1,000 new cases each this week, according to data compiled by howindialives.com on Wednesday evening. Ernakulam (5,895) was the worst and Kasargod (502) the only exception.

Only eight other districts across India hit the 1,000 mark during the seven-day period, five of them in Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Pune, and Thane. Pathanamthitta recorded the biggest weekly growth (9%), followed by Idukki (8%), and Wayanad (8%), all in Kerala.

All weekly growth trends are based on seven-day rolling averages to minimize the effect of delayed and volatile reporting by authorities.

With this, Indias total coronavirus cases have reached 10.61 million and the toll has touched 152,869. A total of 98,790 cases were added this week, of which 39% were in Kerala and 20% in Maharashtra. Nearly 61% of the 192,308 currently active cases are in these two states. The active cases tally is the lowest since 27 June 2020.

Indias case load grew just 1% this week, but Kerala bucked the trend with a 4.5% growth rate. However, in terms of deaths, Maharashtra continued to perform worse than Kerala. One in three covid-related deaths this week were in Maharashtra.

Lakshadweep, the only place in India protected from the virus so far, reported its first set of cases this week. A person who travelled from Kerala tested positive on Monday. Several of his primary contacts also tested positive, and the case load rose to 30 by Thursday morning. The Centre rushed an expert team to take stock of the situation and containment zones were declared.

Fewer than 2% of the more than 11 million coronavirus tests conducted in India in the last two weeks have been positive. Despite high testing, Keralas positivity rate continues to be high at 9%. The state is expected to ramp up testing after a recommendation from an expert team of the Union health ministry earlier this month.

Globally, the US continued to add the most cases in the world, averaging 200,000 per day. The new Joe Biden administration, which took oath on Wednesday, is likely to announce fresh measures to curb the spread.

More than 46 million people have been vaccinated in 51 countries as of Wednesday, show latest numbers compiled by Our World in Data. The US leads the way with 15.7 million, followed by China (15 million), the UK (4.7 million) and Israel (2.8 million). Israel had the best vaccination rate, with 34 doses already given per 100 population.

View Full Image Graphic Mint

India is currently administering two vaccines approved for use, the Serum Institute of Indias Covishield and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin. The turnout of health workers registered to get the jab has been lower than expected in states such as Punjab and Tamil Nadu

More than 600 adverse effects have been reported so far among individuals who have received their first dose. The government claimed that none of these cases were severe or could be attributed to vaccination yet.

Fears are understandable, given the short time-frame in which the vaccines came up and as one of the two jabs got approval with final efficacy results awaited. As the vaccination drive picks up in India, the central and state governments have the big task of not only inoculating people, but also to allay their fears and build trust.

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LONDON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prescient Healthcare Group (Prescient), a global product strategy advisory firm serving the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, announced today that Bridgepoint Development Capital, part of Bridgepoint, the international alternative asset management group, has agreed to invest in the business for an undisclosed sum, replacing current investor Baird Capital as the majority shareholder.

Founded in 2007, Prescient is headquartered in London and has offices in the US, India and China. The business provides product strategy services to help its clients make better clinical and commercial decisions, resulting in enhanced outcomes for patients. Prescient works with many of the leading multinational pharmaceutical companies, as well as a growing number of emerging biotech and specialty pharmaceutical organizations. Prescient has formed a partnership with Bridgepoint to support the continued scaling of its talent platform, client value proposition and global infrastructure.

"We are thrilled to be partnering with Bridgepoint, which has an impressive track record supporting the scaling of people-based businesses. Bridgepoint buys into our mission of becoming the biopharma strategy partner most respected for its people, expertise and impact," said Jamie Denison-Pender, Prescient CEO. "I'm excited by the collaborative approach and hunger for excellence that Bridgepoint will bring to the boardroom and much look forward to our partnership as we continue to invest in our passion for helping our amazing clients develop and commercialize innovative treatments that bring such hope and relief to patients globally."

"We're delighted to partner with Prescient to help it drive growth and consolidate its market leadership and share management's ambitions for the expansion of the Prescient platform. This will be achieved through a combination of investment to enhance scale and expertise, organic growth and selective M&A, with the aim of becoming the leading technology- and data-enabled strategic product partner of choice for decision support and advisory services to the large pharma industry," said Stephen Bonnard, partner at Bridgepoint Development Capital.

Dr. Nick Edwards will remain Prescient's Chairman. Baird Capital will be reinvesting in the company as a minority shareholder alongside Bridgepoint.

About Prescient

Jamie Denison-Pender Christina Maffei Prescient Prescient [email protected] [email protected] +44 79 7145 8128 +1 908 342 3556

Prescient is a pharma services firm specializing in dynamic decision support and product and portfolio strategy. We partner with our clients to turn science into value by helping them understand the potential of their molecules, shaping their strategic plans and allowing their decision making to be the biggest differentiating factor in the success of their products. When companies partner with Prescient, the molecules in their hands have a greater potential for success than the same science in the hands of their competitors.

Founded in 2007, Prescient is a global firm with six offices across three continents. Our team of more than 250 experts partners with 23 of the top 25 biopharmaceutical companies, the fastest-growing mid-caps and cutting-edge emerging biotechs, including some of the biggest and most innovative brands. More than 80% of our employees hold advanced life sciences degrees, and our teams deliver an impressive depth of therapeutic, clinical and commercial expertise. For more information, please visit www.PrescientHG.com.

About Bridgepoint Development Capital

James Murray

Bridgepoint

[email protected]

+44 78 0225 9761

Bridgepoint Development Capital (BDC), part of Bridgepoint, the international alternative asset management group, invests in companies at the lower end of the mid-cap market. It typically invests in and works actively to develop successful businesses undertaking growth and expansion, with enterprise values up to 200 million. The investment in Prescient is made by Bridgepoint Development Capital III. In 2020, BDC successfully completed the fundraise of Bridgepoint Development Capital IV (BDC IV), a successor 1.5 billion fund. Bridgepoint has offices in Europe (Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London, Luxemburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Stockholm), the US (New York and San Francisco) and China (Shanghai). For further information, see www.Bridgepoint.eu.

SOURCE Prescient Healthcare Group

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The vaccine, Sputnik V, received a six-month authorisation Wednesday from Hungarys National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition, institute director Matyas Szentivanyi told public television

Budapest: Hungarian authorities have approved a Russian coronavirus vaccine, moving the country closer to becoming the first in the European Union to administer the shot to its population.

The vaccine, Sputnik V, received a six-month authorisation Wednesday from Hungarys National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition, institute director Matyas Szentivanyi told public television. It must be approved by the countrys National Public Health Center, a process that could take several weeks.

Hungary was the first EU country to receive samples of the Russian vaccine in November.

Around 1,34,000 people have been vaccinated with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines in Hungary so far. Hungarys prime minister, Viktor Orban, has been critical of the speed of the EUs vaccine rollout and pursued separate agreements with Russia and China in an effort to get more doses to the central European country.

Sputnik V  hailed in August by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the worlds first registered COVID-19 vaccine  has not been approved by the European Medicines Agency, the blocs medicines regulator. But member states may negotiate separately with manufacturers not covered by the blocs joint procurement programme, and issue temporary emergency use approval to such vaccines.

The Russian vaccine has been approved in six countries including Argentina, Belarus, and Serbia, Hungarys non-EU neighbour, which began administering Sputnik V this month.
Yves here. Even though I am running Richard Wolffs piece, I do not accept his premise that capitalism is ever and always bad. Capitalism in Japan, where entrepreneurs are revered for creating employment, not for getting rich, performed well until the US forced rapid deregulation on its banks to make the world safer for American investment bankers. Even in Japans bust, large companies further narrowed the already-not-large by Western standard gap between entry-level and executive pay to preserve employment levels, the opposite of what you see here. Similarly, the Nordic model also delivered high levels of social services and low levels of inequality until neoliberals had increasing success in eroding it.

What Wolff misses is that democracy and democratically-organized organizations dont scale well, as anyone who participated in Occupy Wall Street and encountered stack can tell you. Mondragon is the worlds largest worker cooperative. But its actually 257 companies, so the average company size is under 300 employees. Many lines of enterprise have economies of scale or scope. That means smaller entities, unless they have managed to create a defensible niche, will be at a big disadvantage. Scale in turn virtually necessitates hierarchy. Even Mondragon has had to relent on its maximum wage rules and has widened the gap between minimum and maximum pay.

As we explained long-form in ECONNED, the reversion to a more tooth-and-claw form of capitalism is the direct result of a concerted and well-funded effort, codified in the Powell Memo of 1971, to move the values of the US to the right. One of the proof of the success of this campaign has been the successful attack on unions and the erosion of worker rights. Another is deregulation and the denigration of government employees and government service. Im old enough to remember, for instance, when the SEC and the FDA were respected and feared.

So shorter: Wolff is awfully late to the propaganda party and in my opinion, is far too black and white in choosing his targets.

By Richard D. Wolff, professor of economics emeritus at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a visiting professor in the Graduate Program in International Affairs of the New School University, in New York. Wolffs weekly show, Economic Update, is syndicated by more than 100 radio stations and goes to 55 million TV receivers via Free Speech TV. His three recent books books with Democracy at Work are The Sickness Is the System: When Capitalism Fails to Save Us From Pandemics or Itself, Understanding Marxism, and Understanding Socialism. Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute

The more victims and critics of capitalism coalesce and thereby strengthen one another, the more that economic system is questioned and challenged. That in turn provokes capitalisms defenders. They increasingly resort to attaching qualifying adjectives to capitalism and deflecting criticisms onto them. They say that the capitalism they support is a particular kind of capitalism. Their support depends on whether or not certain adjectives are attached to capitalism. For example, is it free market capitalism (minimum or no government intervention)? Similarly, is it perfectly competitive, conscious, compassionate, socially responsible, progressive, or still other qualifying adjectives? Defenders of capitalism criticize kinds of capitalism that lack the particular adjectives that matter most to them. Many defenders go a step further: kinds of capitalism lacking those adjectives are not really capitalism at all.

The placing of qualifying adjectives to differentiate among kinds of capitalism allows defenders to accept some of the rising chorus of criticisms of capitalism. Those criticisms, defenders say, apply only to certain kinds of capitalism that defenders also reject in favor of some other, preferred kind of capitalism. The flaws cited by capitalisms critics become flaws not of capitalism per se but rather of its (unfortunately) currently existing kind. Such defenders can then focus our attention on changing from one kind of capitalism to another. By changing to a different kind of capitalismone designated by a different adjectivethe criticized flaws will vanish.

With such reasoning, for example, free market capitalisms devotees can accept all sorts of criticisms of actually existing capitalism. They too can denounce its inequalities, instabilities, and injustices. But, they explain, that actually existing kind lacks a fully free market. They urge policies that change the economy from a government-regulated kind of capitalism to their preferred free market kind. Similarly, champions of a competitive kind of capitalism can join critics of the monopoly kind. They attribute monopoly capitalisms social ills to the adjectivemonopolynot to the noun, capitalism, itself. The solution follows: take anti-trust steps to establish a competitive capitalism, their preferred kind. Progressive or social responsibility advocates are also included among capitalisms defenders using adjectives. They find narrowly profit-driven capitalism to be a kind that causes all sorts of social ills. A different kind of capitalism could rectify those ills by adding social responsibility to the goals and standards of success for capitalists. Such a compassionate kind of capitalism represents the better world they seek.

For defenders, placing adjectives before the word capitalism removes its core relations of production from criticism. The focus of analytical attention becomes the adjective, not the noun. That noun, capitalism, is the employer-employee relationship that structures the enterprises producing the goods and services sustaining the economy and thus the society. Capitalism, per se, is defined by how it organizes production. The employer-employee relationship is what differentiates it from the master-slave relationship in slave systems of production, the lord-serf relationship in feudal economies, the economic structure of individual self-employment, and so on.

Qualifying adjectives for capitalism can be combined, a la Donald Trump, with a reversion to economic nationalism around the slogan Make America Great Again. Trump could and did criticize kinds of capitalism (e.g., as globalized or unpatriotic) that outsourced production beyond U.S. borders or that promoted immigration. He advocated, instead, a kind of capitalism that positioned America First as its qualifying adjective. Criticizing capitalism per se never entered his mind.

Qualifying adjectives can alternatively be combined with libertarianism. Then, criticism of a currently existing kind of capitalism (e.g., as welfare or nanny statist) blames its faults or flaws on the governments intrusions (taxes, regulations, mandates, etc.). Libertarians policy proposals focus on reducing or, better, eliminating government intrusion into a capitalist economy. Their goal is the aforementioned free market kind of capitalism.

Opposite the libertarians, Keynesians and certain kinds of socialists also focus on capitalisms alternative adjectives. Their critiques of currently existing kinds of capitalism often attribute their income and wealth inequalities, cyclical instabilities, and so on to inadequate governmental management of the economic system: too few and too constrained governmental intrusions. Keynesians therefore promote a more intrusive system of governmental monetary and fiscal policies, a state-macro-managed kind of capitalism. That, they believe, will overcome its central, cyclical problems (Keynes key work was published in the depths of the 1930s depression).

Further-left Keynesians want government intrusions to also reduce income and wealth inequalities. They often call themselves socialists. But in fact they put the adjectives welfare state or social democratic or Scandinavian style in front of the word capitalist. Many do not question or oppose the employer-employee organization of the workplace that defines capitalism. Neither do many communists who want the state to own and operate enterprises internally organized around the employer-employee division. If an economys enterprises, public and private, retain the basic capitalist organization of productionthe employer-employee split described abovethen that economy is a kind of capitalism even if and when its advocates call it socialism or communism.

It is important to note that the socialists and communists mentioned above, like the libertarians, Keynesians, and so on, all generally acceptoften implicitly without comment or criticismthat workplaces must be organized around the distinctively capitalist division between employers and employees. When they advocate for more state-regulated or state-owned-and-operated enterprises as better economic systems than capitalism, they rarely question the internal organization of those enterprises. It is as if nature or technology or history mandates no other possible modern workplace organization than the employer-employee division and relationship. Their socialisms and communisms are then less nouns differentiated from capitalism and more adjectives distinguishing different kinds of capitalism. Such is the ideological power of the long tradition of defending capitalism with adjectives. Ironically, that tradition also captured many of capitalisms critics.

As traditions, socialism and communism also include advocates who define those terms as entailing radically different organizations of enterprises. Instead of the capitalist division into employers and employees, such socialists and communists seek the democratization of enterprises internal organization. That means all participants in the enterprises work have equal votes in deciding what, how, and where production occurs and what is done with the output. Interestingly, the practical going beyond capitalism already exists in enterprises and has for a long time and around the globe. Sometimes socialists and communists helped establish such worker cooperatives, but often individuals outside those traditions did so as well.

Our current debates about our societys problems and prospects need to refocus beyond the different adjectives for a common noun they qualify. It is time to expose and challenge capitalisms core: that employer-employee organization of enterprises, private and state. We need to drop the taboo on debating how we ought to organize the workplaces where most adults spend most of their lives. Workplace organization shapes society in many ways. Different workplace organizations have always existed. Changing from the prevalence of one to the prevalence of another can help solve social problems. To that end, we need to challenge capitalisms workplace organization, not presume its inevitability as the unacknowledged prison of our politics.

Parallel debates over free markets versus state-regulated markets in slavery were finally resolved by abolishing slavery. So too were debates over harsh versus compassionate slavery. Masters tried to save slavery by focusing people on choosing among its different kinds. However, people eventually grasped that the problem was not what kind of slavery existed; the problem was slavery itself. It had to end. Likewise, debates over monarchy contrasted those with parliamentary advisers and those without them, harsh versus popular kings and queens. Monarchs tried to hold on by offering alternative kinds of monarchy. But eventually, people decided that what was needed was not this or that kind of monarchy but rather monarchys abolition. Capitalism now faces that same historic resolution.
The Conversation Africa is an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community. Its aim is to promote better understanding of current affairs and complex issues, and allow for a better quality of public discourse and conversation.Go to: https://theconversation.com/africa
Shutting it down. Marc DAmelio is defending his 16-year-old daughter, Charli DAmelio, after she was criticized for traveling during the coronavirus pandemic last month.

Read article

Marc, 52, spoke out about the scandal during a recent conversation with YouTuber Kevin Wong after Charli and 19-year-old Dixie DAmelio both faced backlash on social media for their New Years Eve visit to the Bahamas. First of all, to blame Charli  it was a family vacation, Marc explained. Shes 16 so she has no say in where were going. So, you guys can put it on me, but we did what we had to do, you know, we went away.

Health experts have recommended not traveling during the COVID-19 crisis to help reduce the spread of the virus. However, Marc assured fans that his daughters heard their concerns loud and clear and tried to be as safe as possible.

Anthony Behar/Fox Sports/PictureGroup/Shutterstock (2)

Corona is real and people have to take it seriously, Marc said. We left a hotbed and went to a place where there was very little corona, but we do take it seriously and we want to protect other people and we dont take it lightly. Its a real virus and many people have gotten killed and died from it.

Charli and her sister were among several TikTok stars  including Noah Beck, Chase Hudson, Avani Gregg and Madi Monroe  who sparked controversy before the new year when pics and videos surfaced online of their tropical getaway. As the social media personalities were swarmed with negative comments, beauty YouTuber James Charles chimed in with a cheeky remark.

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Waking up this morning in Los Angeles, the 21-year-old joked in an Instagram Story amid the scandal, clearing the air for any fans who thought he was also out of the country. Just thought Id let yall know since some people seem to think Im elsewhere lmfao.

Charlis travels came as a shock to some of her followers, especially since she had previously clapped back at inconsiderate people who were partying during the pandemic. You may think, Oh, this isnt going to affect me, its not that bad. Youre thinking youre a teenager, youre immune, she said during an Instagram Live before her vacation sparked controversy. Youre putting other people at risk to get hurt and to be in pain.

While the Connecticut native hasnt addressed the backlash herself, Beck, 19, who is dating Dixie, defended the groups Bahamas trip earlier this month and claimed that they were all very cautious while abroad.

Read article

It is what it is, he told Pop Galore at the time. I think, especially the business were in, its, like, you need some time to kind of disconnect for a little. Thats what that was meant for. It was just a little trip to getaway.  No matter what we do in life, people are going to say things. I always say, Do what makes you happy.'

Millions of people around the world watched Joe Biden being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday - including Naomi Watts.

The British-born Australian actress, 52, revealed on Instagram that she was watching Biden's inauguration with her loyal dog by side.

She shared an adorable clip of the pup reaching up to the TV screen while Biden was delivering his first speech as the new Commander-in-Chief.

Observer: Millions of people around the world watched Joe Biden being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday - including Naomi Watts

'Feeling all the feels,' she captioned the post.

She included a small GIF on the video that read 'USA' alongside a love heart.

Naomi is isolating at her home in New York City with her sons, Sasha, 13, and Kai, 12.

Cute: The British-born Australian actress, 52, shared an adorable clip of her dog reaching up to the TV screen while Biden was delivering his first speech as the new Commander-in-Chief

She is a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party, and previously pledged her support for Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential Election.

At the time, she posted a simple message of support for Clinton, writing 'It's time' along with the hashtags #I'mWithHer and #StrongerTogether.

She also shared several posts to Instagram encouraging her followers to vote in the most recent presidential election.

Change: During the inauguration on Wednesday, President Biden, 78, said 'it feels like I'm going home' as he received the keys to the White House, as Donald Trump departed

During the inauguration on Wednesday, President Biden, 78, said 'it feels like I'm going home' as he received the keys to the White House, as Donald Trump departed.

In his first speech as president, Biden vowed to commit his 'whole soul' to uniting the nation and said that together the U.S. can 'write the next great chapter in the story'.

He said this story could 'sound a lot like' the song American Anthem, before he recited his favorite verse from the tune.

'We'll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America, the American story,' Biden said.
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A federal judge is pondering whether a 44-year-old Leeds man should remain in custody after authorities say he was part of a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago today.

Joshua Matthew Black, who runs a lawn service in Leeds, appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John H. England, III in a federal courtroom in Birmingham. Black was arrested last week and has been held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals at a west Alabama jail.

Authorities say Black was among the crowd that forced its way into the building while the joint session of Congress was underway to certify the vote count of the Electoral College in the 2020 presidential election.

Several of the protesters then made their way into the Senate chambers, video of which was captured on multiple cell phones.

One of those men, according to a federal criminal complaint, was Black. He is charged with entering a restricted building or grounds, violent entry and disorderly conduct. The violent entry charge is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison in which there is no parole.

In a hearing that lasted more than three hours Wednesday, FBI Special Agent Darius Hill testified about his interview with Black once Black returned to Alabama from D.C.

The agent interviewed Black on at least two occasions. He told me mainly God led him there to plead the blood of Jesus in the the Senate,' Hill testified.

Testimony indicated that Black was shot in the face during the Capitol breach, which he said happened when he was trying to protect a police officer, or police officers, during the breach. It wasnt immediately clear whether he was shot with a shotgun pellet, or a bean bag or another kind of projectile.

Black had driven alone to D.C. from Leeds, but spent the night with another protester he met that day.

Black was not known to be a member of any militia or organized right-wing extremist group. Though armed with a knife, there was never any evidence that he pulled the knife or intended to use it in an act of violence.

The purpose of the hearing was twofold: first to determine whether there was enough evidence against Black to proceed with the charges against him and secondly to determine whether he should be granted bond.

Lead prosecutor Henry Cornelius argued that Black is a danger to the community and that Black had stated, The only thing that can happen now is an armed revolution,' Cornelius said. Its chilling.

A video produced by The New Yorker was introduced as evidence and played in court.

Public defender Kevin Roberts argued that Black should be let out on bond, pointing to roughly a half dozen others arrested in the Capitol protests who were arrested on similar charges and granted bond, including a protester who was videotaped sitting at the desk of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Black has no prior criminal arrest record, owns a home in where he has lived for at least seven years, and has family ties in the area.

Roberts argued that Blacks role in the siege was passive. Video showed in court from the Senate chambers depicted Black sitting on the floor talking on a cell phone, raising his hands in prayer with other protesters and, at one point, telling another protester to get out of Vice President Mike Pences chair.

A police officer in the Senate chamber told the protesters he didnt want the chambers disrupted or disrespected, at which point Black said: Im making sure its not disrespected.

The judge noted that Blacks actions appeared to be passive that day, but also noted that may not always be the case.

Just because he was passive in the Senate chambers, will he remain so if God tells him something else? England said. God could tell him to do something a little more violent, couldnt he?

Black is being held in the custody of U.S. Marshals at the Pickens County Jail. He said nothing during Wednesdays hearing but nodded frequently in agreement with his attorney and took some notes on a legal pad.

Four of his family members were there to support him court and declined to comment. They did snicker at some of the allegations offered by prosecutors.

Black was seen on video and in photos wearing a red hat, camouflage jacket and yellow gloves and appeared to be bleeding from the left cheek.

Two days after the riots, the complaint says, someone using the username LetUs Talk posted two videos to YouTube. Like Black in the videos shot in the Senate chambers, the man had blood on the left side of his face and said in the YouTube video he had been shot with a projectile. In that video, federal prosecutors say, Black discussed entering the Capitol and being on the Senate floor.

Joshua Black

On Jan. 7, the FBI received an anonymous call from a man admitting he was among the crowd that broke into the Capitol.

The telephone number, according to the FBI, was associated with Black. Later last week, when the FBI released photos in hopes of getting the intruders identified, a tipster called the FBI National Threat Operation Center to report Black was among the rioters sought.

The caller said they knew Black 15 years ago when they lived in Alabama.

On Jan. 8, the court records state, Black voluntarily met with an FBI agent in Moody.

Black stated to the agent that he had recorded the YouTube video about his experience entering the Capitol and the Senate chamber. Leeds and Moody police confirmed they assisted the FBI with the ongoing investigation.

Black was questioned by officers and federal agents at the Moody Police Department headquarters.

Alabama police said theyd had no prior dealings with Black. Court records dont indicate any prior arrests locally. He is being held in a west Alabama jail.

Earlier today, federal prosecutors said in a court filing that there is clear and convincing evidence that Black would pose a danger to the community if released.

The factors considered when debating release including the nature and circumstances of the offense, the weight of the evidence against the defendant, the history and character of the person, and the nature and seriousness of the danger to anyone in the community if released.

Joshua Matthew Black, of Leeds, was identified being in the crowd of protesters that breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Federal Court Documents)

Prosecutors pointed out that Black believes he was constitutionally mandated to take part in the Capitol siege.

When he was hit in the face with a projectile and offered medical attention by those he believed to be law enforcement, records state, Black told them he believed they were trying to pull him behind enemy lines and said, No. Im with them. Im here to defend the constitution. Im a patriot.

Other statements Black made on the video include:

 Mob rule situation. The Patriots were pissed. There was so much anger.

 Next thing I know, I was up there at six riot gear type cops. Someone sprayed them with pepper spray.

 Weve got to show these politicians we mean business.

 The defendant told a law enforcement officer inside the Capitol that the officers mission was over and that the officer might need to retreat.

 The pissed off patriots were there to defend the Constitution of the United States  it clearly says something  states that if the government gets as crooked as they are now, they need to be abolished or overthrown or something to that effect. So thats what I was there for. I was obeying the Constitution.

 So I was walking around pleading the blood of Jesus, praising God. His Spirit was strong in there.

 It must have been the Spirit of God in me, because people tended to do what I said.it was amazing.

 Saw U.S. Senate on glass door  the Spirit of God wanted me to go in there. Was tempted to break window, but it was our house.Im pretty upset you know. They stole my country. My father, brother, grandfather fought for it. My familys been fighting in wars for generations to defend this country.

 Everybody found out that we lost our country and they were pissed you know because the Constitution specifically says if they get out of line then we the people will abolish them and thats what the Constitution said so thats what we were doing.

 No organized plan, it was just we the people standing up to obey the Constitution and abolish a corrupt government. Thats what I mean but once we got in there what are we going to do? We cant kill nobody I mean that aint gonna look right its all about PR, you know? I mean, it may come to that. I hope it dont but its a democrat house, a crooked Democrat house, crooked Republicans too, in a crooked Democrat Senate, crooked Republicans too, and now theres a straight up crooked lying cheating you know President and I aint even gonna say nothing about Kamala Harris. I mean Im a Christian - I aint supposed to talk bad about folks so Im not goingbut  you know how she got to the top but you know theyre the ones leading this country and theyre not the antichrist but theyre anti-Christian and theyre in charge now and aint nothing we can do to stop it. All they want to do is get rich and take away our freedoms and itll be a one world government.

 God bless America. I dont know whats coming next, but America has been stolen.

(Black) has stated that he was led to the Capitol by Jesus and if called to go again, he would,' the document states. After being shot in the face and spitting out a substantial amount of blood (he says his mouth filled with blood 6-7 times) and after another person at the Capitol dug out some portion of the projectile from his cheek, the defendant continued on to the Senate floor.

The defendant has stated that he did not want to go to Washington at all, but that he felt the Lord wanted him to, so he went,' according to the document. The defendant poses a danger to the community. It is evident that he believes he has a duty to participate in abolishing the Government because of its crookedness and that it he is called to go again he would.
Cambridge-based triathlete Kyle Smith has taken the long distance triathlon world by storm over the past eighteen months.

He is now looking to defend his Tauranga Half crown this Saturday, against one of the best fields ever assembled for the event, says event organisers.

It all started for Smith in December 2019 with a classy victory in his debut event  the Taupo 70.3.

This performance put the triathlon world on notice, before his second crack at this distance put them on alert.

He dominated the mens field in the 2020 Tauranga Half from start to finish, to record victory in a time of 3:42:07, smashing 3 minutes 31 seconds off the course record, set by Braden Currie in 2017.

After the event, Smith acknowledged the man whose course record he had just broken saying Braden Currie is such a classy athlete, who has paved the way for athletes such as myself to follow. I hope he returns to the race next year.

Smith gets his wish on Saturday with legendary multisport athlete Braden Currie back at the Tauranga Half for the first time in four years.

Currie is joined by 2019 winner Mike Phillips, last years runner up Jack Moody, along with 10 time race winner Cameron Brown, as part of the best mens field that the Tauranga Half has assembled.

Kyle Smith is aware of the formidable challenge to his title.

The field for the 2021 Tauranga Half is the best there has been for a while, with a very classy field of athletes racing. I am excited to toe the line alongside them.

He is an athlete aiming for excellence.

It will be huge for me to defend my title after having such a good performance last year. It would be the cherry on top to break the course record I set last year too.

A strong time is on the cards with the bike section of the Tauranga Half now taking place on the new Toll Road, as opposed to a three lap stretch up and down Ocean Beach Road, with judder bars to contend with.

When assessing the course change, Smith says the new bike course is very exciting, a super flat and fast new road surface that should see some lightning fast bike splits on Saturday".

Kyle Smith looks to be in good shape heading into this years Tauranga Half winning the Rotorua Suffer event in December, taking 22 minutes of the race record in the process.

My training has been really consistent compared to last season.

"Last year, I picked up an injury around Christmas and had to have some time off running, so hopefully this year I will see a better run performance.

He cant wait for this Saturdays event which starts at 6:35am on Pilot Bay.

I am very happy to be racing again in 2021, we are so lucky in NZ to be able to race and would like to thank the team at Tauranga Half for making this happen."

General Manager of the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival Lauren Watson says the elite field for the 2021 Tauranga Half is the strongest it has been in over a decade".

"It will be an absolute showdown this Saturday.

Fulton Hogan Mount Festival of Multisport  January 23

Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui

Tauranga Half 2km Swim 90km Bike 21km Run

Enduro 3km Swim 115km Bike 25km Run

Aqua Bike 3km Swim 115km Bike

Mount Run Run/Walk  5km, 10km or 21km
As Connecticut pushes ahead with the massive challenge of vaccinating the general population against COVID-19, another daunting task remains  whence the 100,000 jobs that would boost employment back to levels in early 2020 that had not been seen in a dozen years?

Entering this year, nearly 150,000 Connecticut residents were receiving unemployment compensation as they searched for work. For the first time last November, survey estimates of joblessness by the Department of Labor came into line with the actual numbers of people reporting themselves as out of work, with the states unemployment rate at 8.2 percent.

That matches or is below the unemployment rate for a three-and-a-half year stretch of the Great Recession and its aftermath  a scenario many in Connecticut would have signed up for last spring, as economists floated the possibility of an extended economic depression.

And in the back half of January, Gov. Ned Lamonts budget chief Melissa McCaw reported that her office now expects the state to close out the 2021 fiscal year this June with a $137.6 million surplus, the result of federal stimulus programs buoying business and consumer spending with implications for income and sales taxes among other categories of state revenue. President Biden took office Wednesday with a pledge to inject an additional $1.9 trillion into the U.S. economy.

Its good news  with the caveat that things change all the time, in COVID times, Lamont said the day before details on the revised budget estimates were made public. Our revenues are coming back stronger than we would have thought. ... Right now, it looks like we will not have to tap our rainy day fund.

Still, DOL received more than a million applications for unemployment assistance as workers were furloughed at varying points last year, and as independent earners filed for benefits as allowed for the first time under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act and a second stimulus package passed in December. Unemployment peaked last April at nearly 319,000 furloughed workers.

With many economists citing the hope last year for a V-shaped economic bounce back, they now concede the jobs recovery will resemble more the letter K in which some sectors trend upward, but others remain on a downward track over an extended period.

The December [U.S.] jobs report showed that 150,000 jobs were lost  and 100 percent of them were held by women, said Fran Pastore, CEO of the Stamford-based Womens Business Development Council which provides entrepreneurship advice. The majority of people who are losing their jobs are definitely women who are hourly wage workers, and the majority of those hourly wage workers are Black and Brown women.

Entering January, Connecticut employers had posted less than 50,000 job opportunities online as tracked by The Conference Board and the state Department of Labor. Even finding workers willing and able to fill every one of those jobs, that would leave the state with an employment gap equal to the combined work forces, at the eve of the pandemic, of Electric Boat, Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, Pfizer, ESPN, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino.

In the coming weeks and months, job one will be replacement careers for hospitality sector workers, particularly hotel staff as the industry braces for many venues shuttering with the evaporation of business meetings that were their bread and butter weekdays and evenings.

Its huge, the amount of people that coming in new to [real estate]  a lot of people from the hospitality industry, said Paul Breunich, CEO of the Stamford-based brokerage firm William Pitt Sothebys International Realty. And a lot of them have the skill set, in dealing with people.

The pandemic has produced a new, tantalizing question: will office locales be a long-term determinant of employment in any state, or will remote working become the norm for jobs requiring only a broadband connection? And if so, will states with high costs of living like Connecticut lose higher-earning professionals freed from the shackles of the commute to live wherever they choose, if working for companies that will allow it? Or will those families be drawn by its small-town charms, quality schools and other advantages?

I think thats a question that still hasnt been answered yet. Theres a lot of speculation out there about what may or may not be going on, and if somebody says, oh no, we know  they dont, said Jim Fagan, executive managing director in the Stamford office of commercial real estate brokerage firm Cushman & Wakefield. I think the big question for these companies is, ... how do we improve our corporate culture to attract and retain the best [people] when we dont get to put our eyes on them every day?

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
WALLINGFORD  After 23 years of service, including countless investigations like the reopening of the Barbara Pelkey homicide in 2009, Lt. Cheryl Bradley is retiring from the police department.

A familiar face at press conferences, Bradley has been department spokesperson for the past six years. She will be taking a position with the Southern Connecticut State University Police Department after retiring from Wallingford.

Bradley, 51, started as a patrol officer in 1997 and had an opportunity early on to join the detective division where she spent 10 years. That was her favorite assignment, she said in a recent interview.

Each had its own adventures and challenges, she said of her various roles. ... I really enjoy investigating crimes, being able to get into the nitty gritty. The interviews, figuring out who did something, collecting evidence.

Deputy Chief John Ventura said he started working with Bradley in 2006 in the detective division. Bradley took him under her wing and showed him how to conduct an investigation. Ventura said Bradley taught him the importance of always treating people fairly and putting the victim first.

That kind of set the groundwork for me to be able to progress in my career, Ventura said. I owe a lot to her. She showed my how to do things and do them properly.

Pelkey case

One of the most memorable cases Ventura worked on with Bradley was the 1986 Barbara Pelkey homicide  which had resulted in a wrongful conviction prior to their tenure with the department. Kenneth Ireland served 21 years in prison before being exonerated through the use of a DNA test sought by Irelands lawyers at the Connecticut Innocence Project.

Pelkey, a mother of four, was found dead at a Wallingford industrial park where she worked the overnight shift. Following Irelands release from prison, advances in DNA testing linked Kevin Benefield to the crime leading to his conviction in 2012. Benefield was one of dozens of industrial park workers who agreed to provide saliva samples in the early days of the murder investigation.

Bradley, Ventura and Lt. Robert Flis pored over the case file from the original investigation, Bradley said. They sent the saliva samples to the state forensic laboratory for DNA testing, which was not available in 1986. While they were waiting for the results, the detectives conducted more interviews and watched videotapes of all of the original interviews.

We really gave it a good effort and did a lot of work in coming to the right conclusion, Bradley said. ... Ultimately in the end, although it was our agency who put (Ireland) in jail, I think we did some justice in having some part in making that right.

Ventura said looking back the most important lesson Bradley instilled in the detective division was never to forget the victim. Sometimes in police work officers can get focused on catching the bad guy, but Bradley always made sure to keep the victim informed and let them know the police were there for them, he said.

Were going to miss her experience, her smile, Ventura said Friday. You cant replace an investigator, officer, supervisor like (Bradley).

Critical role

Police Chief William Wright worked with Bradley for several years on the same shift in the detective division, he said. Wright described her as a highly dedicated and professional police officer and said he would miss her.

She took over the role of public information officer from the now retired Deputy Chief Marc Mikulski.

Her commitment to the agency and her critical role as our P.I.O. will be hard to replace, although not surprisingly she has been mentoring her P.I.O. replacement for the past few weeks, Wright said. I wish her nothing but the best as she continues her law enforcement career at Southern and I have no reservation in saying that she has been a tremendous asset to our department and Im sure she will be for Chief Dooley and his department at Southern.

Bradley said she was happy to work for an agency that has high moral and ethical standards. She said if a member of the department wants to be successful, they have the opportunity here.

Core mission

She often tells the officers reporting to her that they should treat every incident as if it were a relative making the complaint, Bradley said.

How would you want (a family member) to be treated if they were looking to us to help them with something? I tell all the guys I supervise, I instill that in them. We are service oriented, that is our primary goal here, Bradley said.

The job has gotten more difficult over the past year with the pandemic, Bradley said, but noted that police officers always have to adjust to change.

The core mission of service to the community, however, is still the same.

We still have a function, still need to go out there and protect people and property and serve the community, Bradley said.

lsellew@record-journal.com203-317-2225Twitter: @LaurenSellewRJ
[January 21, 2021] Arcadia Congratulates Micky Tripathi on New Leadership Role as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology with the Department of Health and Human Services

BURLINGTON, Mass., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Arcadia, the leading population health management and healthcare intelligence platform company, congratulates Micky Tripathi, PhD, MPP, on his new leadership role as the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Most recently, Tripathi served as Arcadia's Chief Alliance Officer and was responsible for developing strategic partnerships between Arcadia and other innovative companies to further accelerate the use of advanced technology to improve healthcare.



The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is the principal entity charged with coordination of nationwide efforts to implement and use the most advanced health information technology and electronic exchange of health information. As National Coordinator, Tripathi will be at the forefront of the new administration's health IT efforts, the adoption of health information technology, and the promotion of a nationwide health information exchange to improve healthcare.

"It is a pleasure to congratulate Micky on his appointment to serve our great nation in this capacity," said Sean Carroll, Arcadia's CEO. "I can personally attest to Micky's industry-wide leadership on healthcare interoperability and to his vision for the value that shared, timely, and accurate data provides for improving healthcare delivery and reducing costs. No one is better suited for this absolutely critical mission." About Arcadia

Arcadia (arcadia.io) is the only healthcare data and software company dedicated to healthcare organizations achieving financial success in value-based care. We work with health systems, providers, payers, and life science companies positioning themselves to win in value-based care, including some of the largest, most complex, and influential health systems and health plans in the country. Our purpose-built, HITRUST CSF-certified population health management platform enables our customers to consistently overperform industry average outcomes by reducing medical expenses, improving risk coding accuracy, and improving quality and patient health outcomes. Our software continuously aggregates and curates the highest quality, most complete and up-to-date data foundation, provides relevant, timely and predictive analytics, and enables action through care management tools and in-workflow insights that present at the point of care. Arcadia has off-the-shelf integration technology for more than 50 different physical and behavioral health EHR vendors, powered by machine learning that combs through variations in over 107 million longitudinal patient records across clinical, claims, social determinants of health, and operational data sources. Founded in 2002, Arcadia is headquartered outside Boston in Burlington, MA, with offices in Seattle, Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Rockford, IL.?Arcadia has been recognized as a leading vendor by industry analysts, including Chilmark, Gartner, and KLAS. We were awarded Best in KLAS for Value-Based Care Managed Services in 2019 and 2020. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arcadia-congratulates-micky-tripathi-on-new-leadership-role-as-the-national-coordinator-for-health-information-technology-with-the-department-of-health-and-human-services-301212632.html SOURCE Arcadia.io

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NSW has recorded its fourth consecutive day without a new locally-acquired COVID-19 case, as millions of Sydneysiders prepare for the easing of restrictions next week.

The state recorded zero new local COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, as well as five cases in travellers in hotel quarantine.

The tally came from just over 12,200 tests - lower than would have otherwise been the case due to a minor IT delay on 6000 negative tests.

Health authorities still want an increase in testing numbers before social restrictions are eased.

NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty continued to implore the state's residents to get tested if they suffer even minor respiratory symptoms.

Just 12,213 people came forward for testing, compared with the previous day's total of 19,959

New South Wales has recorded no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases for a fourth consecutive day

NSW Health said the testing numbers today appear lower after a minor IT issue didn't include about 6,000 negative tests, which will be counted in tomorrow's numbers

'High testing rates help reveal cases that would otherwise go undetected. Every person who gets tested is not only helping to protect others in the community, but they are also playing an important role in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19,' Dr McAnulty said in a statement.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday promised to ease COVID-19 restrictions in a week's time, if all goes well in the meantime.

'Please know that if things continue the way they are, by this time next week there will certainly be decisions made around getting us as close as possible to pre-Avalon conditions,' Ms Berejiklian said.

Masks are likely to remain compulsory on public transport, however, to give people the confidence they need to return to work safely.

December's Avalon outbreak caused the government to clamp down on numbers for both indoor and outdoor gatherings in Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong, as well as weddings and funerals.

Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Wollongong residents have also had to wear masks indoors when out of the home for the past few weeks.

'This is the last weekend you'll have to go through before there'll be some relief,' Ms Berejiklian promised aspiring brides and grooms.
Parler may still be (mostly) offline, but the company may face new investigations into its role in the deadly riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray asking for an official investigation into Parler.

I am writing to request that as part of its comprehensive investigation of the January 6 assault on the Capitol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conduct a robust examination of the role that the social media site Parler played in the assault, including as a potential facilitator of planning and incitement related to the violence, as a repository of key evidence posted by users on its site, and as a potential conduit for foreign governments who may be financing civil unrest in the United States, Maloney writes.

The letter cites news reports that Parler users were making violent threats in the days leading up to January 6. It also raises questions about Parlers financing and its ties to Russia, noting that posters on Parler have reportedly been traced back to Russian disinformation campaigns, and that CEO John Matze may have personal ties to Russia.

The New York Democrat told the Washington Post that the Oversight Committee may also launch a formal committee investigation into sites that may encourage violence, including Parler. Its not the first time a member of Congress has raised questions about Parlers role in the deadly violence in Washington D.C. Virginia Senator Mark Warner previously sent a letter to Parler, along with several other tech companies, asking them to preserve evidence tied to the attack.

But a formal investigation from Congress, and a potential FBI inquiry, would be even more significant. Parler is already facing a shaky future after Amazon Web Services cut off its servers and Apple and Google kicked the app out of their app stores. Parler has sued Amazon over its actions. On Monday, a version of Parlers website came back online, though it hasnt restored its former functionality. Matze has said he intends to get Parler up and running by the end of January.
Every person in the country will have received a Covid-19 vaccination by September, the Minister for Health has told the Dail.

Minister Stephen Donnelly said Ireland would receive 3.3 million doses of the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine when approval for use is given by the European Medicines Agency, as expected on January 29.

He said Ireland was trying to get advance supplies of the vaccine before formal authorisation of use, as otherwise it would be mid-February .

But every citizen would then be able to receive the vaccine by September because the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine is a game-changer, he said.

Read More

It is more easily storable and usable, and was produced on a not for profit basis. This country will receive 200,000 doses a month.

You dont have to be a citizen, its for anybody whos here, Mr Donnelly told TDs.

We are on target (for vaccines). By Sunday we will have hit nearly half  70,000  of 150,000 frontline healthcare workers.

From Sunday, notwithstanding the outliers, the nursing homes will have been done, he said.

Meanwhile 40,000 doses a week of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab were being received and an initial shipment from Moderna of 4,000 to 6,000 doses had been received.

About 94,000 people have received the vaccine by last Sunday he said. This included residents aged over 65 in long-term care settings and nursing home staff.

One million people will have received both doses of the vaccine by the end of March, with 400,000 people having received at least one dose.

The government hopes to start vaccinating people aged over 70 next month and by the end of March, it is hoped that healthcare workers, nursing home residents and staff and people aged over 70 will be vaccinated.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said that the prioritisation list for the vaccine should be reviewed at the that point.

When we have those three groups done, then that might be the time for [the National Immunisation Advisory Committee] to review and look at the prioritisation order again, but I dont think anyones in doubt that those three groups are the ones that need to get it first," he told the Dail.

Meanwhile, Mr Donnelly said he was disappointed by allegations that some vaccines were being politically diverted from priority groups which he had heard from one member of the Opposition, and saoid it was not true.

There is no political involvement in this. There are operational decisions.

The political involvement had been to adopt the priority scheduling proposed by NIAC, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.

Mr Donnelly said he was aware of three hospitals  the Rotunda, the Coombe and Kerry  where the protocols on prioritisation of the vaccine had not been followed.

But he added: You dont need a protocol to know you do not vaccinate family members.

The chair of the Coombe maternity hospital has now engaged a Senior Counsel to establish all the facts in an independent review, he said.

Some family member were administered vaccines in the Coombe earlier this month after 16 jabs were found to be left over.

Sinn Fein TD Sean Crowe said the Government had to up its game in terms of stressing and explaining the safety of the vaccine. He asked what the HSE was doing to combat the disinformation campaign springing up online.

Mr Donnelly confirmed all vaccinations were being recorded and there would be a electronic record for all of them. When there was a wider rollout to the over-70s it would be wholly electronic, the minister added.

He said he agreed wholeheartedly on disinformation. But he said new research on the public view of the vaccine showed the positive public attitude had moved markedly in the right direction.
Japan has joined a battle of diplomatic notes over the South China Sea dispute, adding to pressure on Beijing over its expansive claims in the strategically important waterway.

In a note verbale  a type of diplomatic communication  sent on Tuesday, Japans permanent mission to the United Nations said Chinas drawing of territorial sea baselines  on relevant islands and reefs in the South China Sea failed to satisfy conditions set out in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It also accused China of restricting freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.

Beijings claims to most of the waterway were rejected in 2016 by a tribunal in The Hague that ruled several of the land features were low-tide elevations without territorial waters.

China has not accepted this [2016] award, and has asserted that it has sovereignty in sea and airspace surrounding and above those maritime features found to be low-tide elevations, Japan said in the note addressing UN secretary general Antonio Guterres.

As a matter of fact, China protests the overflight of Japanese aircraft in the surrounding Mischief Reef and attempts to restrict the freedom of overflight in the South China Sea, it said.

While Tokyo has previously urged Beijing to recognise the tribunal ruling, it is rare for Japan  which has its own territorial disputes with China in the East China Sea  to openly push back over its activities in the South China Sea, a potential military flashpoint between China and the US because of its geostrategic location.

The note was issued hours before a high-level consultation on maritime affairs between China and Japan during which Japanese diplomats lodged a protest against the growing presence of Chinese coastguard vessels near the Senkaku Islands, according to Stars and Stripes. Known as the Diaoyus in China, the islands are controlled by Japan but also claimed by Beijing and Taipei. - South China Morning Post
A recent McGill study published in Environmental Science and Technology finds that annual methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas (AOG) wells in Canada and the US have been greatly underestimated - by as much as 150% in Canada, and by 20% in the US. Indeed, the research suggests that methane gas emissions from AOG wells are currently the 10th and 11th largest sources of anthropogenic methane emission in the US and Canada, respectively. Since methane gas is a more important contributor to global warming than carbon dioxide, especially over the short term, the researchers believe that it is essential to gain a clearer understanding of methane emissions from AOG wells to understand their broader environmental impacts and move towards mitigating the problem.

Multiple sources of uncertainty

The researchers show that the difficulties in estimating overall methane emissions from AOG wells in both countries are due to a lack of information about both the quantities of methane gas being emitted annually from AOG wells (depending on whether and how well they have been capped), and about the number of AOG wells themselves.

"Oil and gas development started in the late 1850s both in Canada and the US," explains Mary Kang, the senior author on the paper and an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at McGill. "Many companies that dug wells have come and gone since then, so it can be hard to find records of the wells that once existed."

Thousands of undocumented AOG wells

To determine the number of AOG wells, the researchers analyzed information from 47 state, provincial or territorial databases as well as from research articles and national repositories of drilled and active wells in the US and Canada.

They found that, of the over 4,000,000 AOG wells they estimate to exist in the US, more than 500,000 are undocumented by the relevant state agencies. A similar picture emerges in Canada. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) only has records going back to 1955 although historical documents confirm that oil and gas activity in Canada began in the 1850s. Based on the various sources they examined, the researchers estimate that there are over 370,000 AOG wells in Canada. Over 60,000 of are not included in databases of provincial or territorial agencies.

More methane gas emitted by AOG wells than shown by government records

To gain a better sense of exactly how much methane was being emitted from the wells, the researchers analyzed close to 600 direct measurements of methane emissions drawn from existing studies covering the AOG wells in the states of Ohio, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Pennsylvania in the US and from British Columbia and New Brunswick in Canada. They developed different scenarios to attribute different levels of annual methane emissions to the wells, depending on what is known of the plugging status of the wells as well as whether they were oil or gas wells.

"We see that methane emissions from abandoned wells can vary regionally, highlighting the importance of gathering measurements from Texas and Alberta which have the highest percentage of wells in the U.S. and Canada and no prior measurements," adds James P. Williams, the first author on the study and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil Engineering at McGill.

All five scenarios show annual emissions of methane gas from AOG wells in the US that are approximately 1/5th higher than the amount that the US EPA's estimates for 2018. In Canada, the study findings suggest that methane emissions from AOG wells in 2018 were nearly three times higher than estimated by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

"As society transitions away from fossil fuels, the millions of oil and gas wells around the world will be abandoned," says Kang. "It is critical to determine the climate, air, water and other environmental impacts of these wells quickly."

###

To read: "Methane Emissions from abandoned oil and gas wells in Canada and the US" by James P. Williams, Amara Regehr and Mary Kang in Environmental Science and Technology

DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04265

The research was funded by Fonds de Recherche du Quebec Nature et Technologie, the McGill Engineering Doctoral Award and the McGill Graduate Mobility Award.

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada's top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

Contact:
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 11:31:47|Editor: huaxia

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- California on Wednesday became the first state in the United States to register more than 3 million COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, showed data released by the state health authorities.

The California Department of Public Health confirmed 22,403 new COVID-19 infections in a daily release, pushing its cumulative cases up to 3,019,371. The Golden state is the most populous U.S. state with a population of around 40 million.

Official statistics showed that it took about 10 months for California to reach the threshold of 1 million confirmed cases on Nov. 13, 2020 since the start of the pandemic and another six weeks to hit the 2 million mark on Dec. 24, 2020. The state went on to hit the 3 million mark in four weeks.

The department also reported 694 additional deaths on Wednesday, the second-highest daily rise in the state. There have been 34,433 COVID-19 deaths to date.

There are 19,979 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in the state with 4,682 of them in intensive care, the department said.

Public health officials said that providers have reported administering a total of 1,525,816 vaccine doses statewide as of Tuesday. Enditem
Washington: Joe Bidens first mission as US President was rhetorical - to ask for national unity, call for a renewed respect for facts and create a sense of optimism that America can begin to get on top of the coronavirus pandemic.

But after his inaugural speech and arrival at the White House, Bidens focus quickly turned to policy. Through a flurry of 15 executive orders issued on Thursday (AEDT) from the Oval Office, Biden moved to reverse several of Donald Trumps signature policies and signal his own governing priorities.

President Joe Biden signs his first executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House. Credit:AP

One of Bidens most significant steps was rejoining the Paris climate accord - a decision that will take effect in 30 days. It was a sign to governments around the world that America is back in the international climate game after four years under Trump, who famously described climate change as a "hoax" and railed against multilateral organisations.

The decision was quickly welcomed by global leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron saying on Twitter: "Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!"
When we launched this nightly briefing around the Ides of March, the pandemic  not politics  was our focus.

But in short order, we realized the pandemic had become politicized, so political commentary became a recurring theme in the opening remarks to our COVID-19 roundup.

On the day Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was sworn in as the 46th U.S. president, Im again returning to the political well, although I hope it wont be seen as partisan, regardless of your political stripe.

What took place this morning on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, two weeks after an attempted insurrection, might be the most significant step forward in the global fight against the pandemic beyond the approval of the vaccines now deployed in the race against the virus.

Weve gone from a superspreader in the White House to a healer. Instead of a commander-in-chief who weaponized masks in his misguided cultural war, there is a head of state not afraid to wear one and encourage others to do so. Where once denial or injections of disinfectant were the daily prescriptions from the variants bully pulpit, there is now someone not afraid to deal with the hard truths of this deadly virus by trusting in science.

"Look, you all know, we've been through so much in this nation, Biden said in his inaugural address. "In my first act as president, I'd like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those who we lost in this past year to the pandemic, those 400,000 fellow Americans moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbours and co-workers. We'll honour them by becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be."

At various points in the pandemic, some readers of this newsletter have taken me to task for what they said was my obsession with how COVID-19 was ravaging the United States. They complained that all I wanted to do was take cheap shots at Donald Trump. One even sent me a bright red shirt emblazoned with the message "Keep Calm America and Trump on" accompanied with a rant that I was overstating the threat of COVID-19 and biased against the "greatest modern-day president and true leader the USA has ever had."

But those attacks critiques ignored the reality of this virus that has now killed more than 400,000 Americans. My concern about what was happening south of the 49th parallel was motivated by the fact COVID-19 doesnt give a damn about blue states or red states and respects no international borders.

What happens on the front-lines of the U.S. war on COVID-19 has ramifications far beyond its 50 states. Despite Trumps nativist bent, the U.S. still plays a role on the global stage, especially in the midst of a global pandemic. Would we have had anti-mask rallies everywhere from Steinbach to London if Trump was not providing some of the oxygen that fueled those protests in defiance of public health orders?

COVID-19 wont simply disappear because Biden is now the president. Nor will the virus become any less of a foe because there is a new man in charge of the worlds biggest superpower.

But the long road ahead of the United States, and by extension the rest of us, just became a little easier to navigate, a little smoother. The light at the end of the pandemic tunnel weve all been longing for is suddenly a little brighter.

 Paul Samyn, Winnipeg Free Press editor

THE LATEST NUMBERS





Note: Manitoba and Canada figures may not match due to differences in data sources.

THE LATEST IN MANITOBA

 Provincial health officials announced 154 new cases of COVID-19 and six more deaths in Manitoba Wednesday. There are 3,137 active cases in Manitoba, with 273 people in hospital, 36 of them in intensive care. The five-day test positivity rate is 9.5 in Manitoba, and 6.7 in Winnipeg.

 More than 750 seniors at six Winnipeg personal care homes have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said in a statement on Tuesday that the average resident immunization rate at those homes has been 95.4 per cent and it believes all residents in the other 33 residences will get their first shots by the end of the month. The WRHA says there are currently COVID-19 outbreaks at 23 of its 39 long-term care facilities, including the St. Amant health-care facility. The WRHA says there are 42 residents and 37 staff with active cases of COVID.

 For the latest information on current public health orders, restrictions, essential items and other guidance, visit the provincial government's website.

THE LATEST ELSEWHERE

 Dangerous misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines is spreading on social media among all age groups and could harm Canada's efforts to end the pandemic, the head of the Ontario Medical Association says. The association's analysis of more than 65,000 recent online posts in Ontario shows that conspiracy theories about the origin of the novel coronavirus and fears that vaccines are dangerous and untested run particularly rampant among people under age 35. People in older age groups are more concerned about the government's rollout of vaccines, including when they can get one, and shortages of supplies.

 Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller says Ottawa is working with the provinces to prioritize vaccinating Indigenous people against COVID-19.There is a need to distribute COVID-19 vaccines to Indigenous people living both on reserves and in urban centres, he says, noting the government is focusing on vaccinating those living in long-term care facilities and essential workers but other vulnerable Indigenous groups will get the COVID-19 vaccine next.

 Ontario should improve working conditions in long-term care homes in an effort to retain staff and prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the facilities, a new report from a group of health experts advising the province suggests. The immense toll the pandemic has taken on the long-term care sector is only increasing as infections and deaths among residents speed up, mirroring the virus's spread in the community at large, the report released Wednesday from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said.

 At least four doctors began a hunger strike Wednesday as a protest against the substandard working conditions that Peru's medical workers say they have faced in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. The hunger strike in Peru's capital, Lima, is the latest action by health care workers asking the government to improve their work environment. Medical personnel have been protesting for a week just as a second wave of coronavirus cases is hitting the country. "We are concerned about the abandonment of our doctors, the lack of good working conditions," said Dr. Teodoro Quinones, who joined in the hunger strike. "There is still a lack of oxygen. There is still a lack of medicines. The economic commitments that the government had offered have not been fulfilled, and nothing happens here. On Wednesday, he lay on some mattresses in the middle of the street and was hooked up to an IV with fluids. Peru has tallied 1,073,214 coronavirus cases and 39,044 deaths related to COVID-19 as of Tuesday, according to data from the Ministry of Health.

 Five trucks carrying oxygen from Venezuela arrived at Manaus, a city of two million people in the Brazilian rainforest where the local health system has collapsed amid a devastating second wave of COVID-19 and a severe shortage of oxygen for breathless patients. Venezuela's consul in Manaus, Patricia Silva, said the trucks delivered 132,000 litres of oxygen late Tuesday. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the move Sunday night. He is a political adversary of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has drawn criticism for his handling of the crisis in Manaus as well as the pandemic in general, which has caused more than 207,000 deaths in Brazil.

QUOTE, UNQUOTE

"We should respect the provincial orders and align ourselves with so many that have had to shutter their businesses due to this unprecedented time. My plan for 2021 is to make use of this facility, but Im resisting until public gyms and fitness are allowed."

 Winnipeg City Coun. Shawn Nason on the fact the gym at city hall has been open throughout the code-red restrictions in Manitoba

LOCAL NEWS

NATIONAL NEWS

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

COVID-19 BASICS
The films of Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, Studio Ghiblis founding directors, are well known. The achievements of Toshio Suzuki, the third man who has steered the storied studio from day one, are harder to pin down. That is partly because theyre so disparate: he has served as Ghiblis managing director and president, produced most of its films, orchestrated their marketing campaigns, promoted them through his charismatic media appearances, and more.

His route to Ghibli, however, ran through publishing. Throughout the 1980s, Suzuki was an editor at the influential Animage, Japans first dedicated animation magazine aimed at the general reader. He championed the works of Miyazaki and Takahata in its pages and came to know the men well in the process, eventually co-founding Ghibli with them in the middle of that decade.

Animage and Suzuki are the joint subjects of an exhibition coming to Japan this spring. Animage and Ghibli  The Work of Toshio Suzuki: It Began with One Magazine will trace Suzukis career through his time at the magazine, which played a key role in fomenting an anime fandom in Japan through its coverage of Miyazaki and Takahata, but also other epochal works like Space Battleship Yamato and Mobile Suit Gundam.
An oil-soaked pelican is treated after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Credit: International Bird Rescue Research Center

On January 5, 2021, the day before the world watched in horror as the U.S. Capitol was assaulted, the Trump administration laid siege to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The revision is a major blow to conservation efforts, lifting penalties for industries that accidentally cause harm to birds protected under the act.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which was enacted in 1918, originally sought to protect migratory birds from being hunted. At the time, feathers were a major fashion commodity, and bird populations were being decimated. In addition to protecting birds from intentional slaughter, it also protected its listed species from being killed by "incidental take"the unintentional loss of birds as a consequence of an otherwise legal activity. In the century since its inception, human activity has led to many potential hazards for birds.

"Many industrial activities can result in incidental take," said Felicity Arengo, the associate director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History, in an interview with GlacierHub. "Wind turbines, construction of pipelines and shipping channels even beach cleaning (which destroys the nests of ground-nesting shorebirds)."

For years the Migratory Bird Treaty Act has been used to hold oil and power companies accountable for such unintentional deaths. The act laid the groundwork for the $100 billion settlement that British Petroleum paid after the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, which killed an estimated 1 million birds. Because of this recent change, the act no longer provides a means through which to fine companies that damage bird populations.

An Arctic tern defends its territory. Credit: Lindsay Robinson on Flickr

The changes, which have been described as Trump's "parting gift" to the oil industry, were initiated by the Trump Administration in 2017. Now they have been finalized, despite having been struck down by a federal district court in Southern New York in August 2020. "It is deeply alarming that the Trump administration decided to ignore the courts," said the Audubon Society's policy manager, Erik Schneider, in an interview with GlacierHub. "It is really a jaw-dropping abdication of responsibility by the Interior Department under the Trump administration."

The timing of the evisceration of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act couldn't be worse. A report in Science published last year showed that almost 3 billion breeding birds have disappeared from North America since 1970. That's a population loss of 29% in the last 50 years. Today, climate change is posing an unprecedented risk to bird numbers and it is estimated that if we maintain our current warming trajectory, more than 65% of North America's bird species will be at risk of extinction by 2100. Many of the protected birds, like the osprey, snowy owl, Arctic tern and peregrine falcon, breed in glaciated areas or along rivers fed by glacial meltwater, and are already reeling from habitat loss.

"We need to be doing much more to protect and conserve birds," said Schneider. "Maintaining protections that have been in place for decades is only the minimum if we're going to recover populations, so it's critical that these protections are restored."

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects more than 1,000 species of birds across the United States, Canada, Japan, Russia and Mexico. The species protected include beloved birds such as the Atlantic puffin, American flamingo, bald eagle and Arctic loon. This law isn't the only bird protection that the Trump administration has tampered with, though. Just this week, the administration cut protected habitat for the soon-to-be-endangered northern spotted owl by millions of acres, including forested areas near glacier peaks in Washington (Mt Baker, Mt. Adams, Mt. Rainier), Oregon (Mt. Hood) and California (Mt. Shasta). This loss is a major setback for a bird whose population is dwindling.

An Arctic tern defends its territory. Credit: Lindsay Robinson on Flickr

There's still time to preserve this landmark conservation act. The changes made don't go into effect for 30 days, meaning that if the incoming Biden administration acts quickly they could overturn the changes before they are finalized. "I hope the Biden administration takes swift action to restore the [Migratory Bird Treaty Act] and reinstate bird protections," said Schneider. "In doing so, the Interior Department can ensure that it carries out its core obligations, and regain a critical tool to help meet its biodiversity goals."

Time is ticking for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In the meantime, the birds around us hang in the balance.

"It is a great joy to see a bird like the golden-winged warbler on a beautiful morning during spring migration," said Schneider. "It is disheartening that this species is one that has declined dramatically in recent decades. However, I'm confident that these protections will be restored, and we will help ensure that our bird populations continue to provide joy, inspiration, and more, for the next generations."

Explore further Bird protections lifted in last-minute Interior Department rule change

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.
The investigation done so far is to ascertain the statements given by accused regarding the conversion of villages into Christian villages and destroying idols.  Representational image

VIJAYAWADA: The CID informed that investigation in the pastor Praveen Chakravarthys issue about conversion of villagers is progressing.

In a press release here on Thursday, CID officials informed that Singam Venkata Srilakshminarayana, resident of Pandaripuram, Guntur lodged a complaint on January 12 in the CID police station at Mangalagiri against Praveen. The complainant stated that in YouTube, he found a video of the pastor who stated that idols of Hindu gods were fake. He enclosed a CD containing the video of Praveens statement.

The report disclosed a cognizable offence and the same was registered as Case in Cr.No.1 of 2021 of Cyber Crime Police Station, CID U/s 153 A,153B(1) (c), 505(1)(c), 505(2), 295(A), 124(A), 115 IPC r/w 66 (F) of Information Technology Act. The investigation officer and his team acted fast and verified the facts and arrested the accused a day later.

The pastor was produced before court, which sent him jail on January 13 midnight. The inquiry officer filed a petition for police custody on January 18, and the court gave orders for custody the next day and raids were conducted at his residence, orphanage and office at Kakinada. The police custody ends on Saturday.

The investigation done so far is to ascertain the statements given by accused regarding the conversion of villages into Christian villages and destroying idols.

The report cautioned media against carrying unauthorised and false stories regarding the case.
Argentinosaurus huinculensis reconstruction at Museo Municipal Carmen Funes, Plaza Huincul, Neuquen, Argentina. Credit: William Irvin Sellers, Lee Margetts, Rodolfo Anibal Coria, Phillip Lars Manning, PLoS ONE (2013). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078733

A team of researchers with Naturales y Museo, Universidad de Zaragoza and Universidad Nacional del Comahue has found evidence that suggests the remains of a dinosaur discovered in Argentina in 2012 may represent a creature that was the largest ever to walk the Earth. In their paper published in the journal Cretaceous Research, the group describes the fossilized remains that have been found so far and what they have revealed.

The largest creature ever to live is believed to be the blue whalethe largest of which grow to 33.6 meters long. The biggest land creatures are believed to have been the dinosaursof them, the titanosaur (as their name suggests) is believed to be the largest. And of those, Argentinosaurus represents the largest that left enough evidence for it to be classified the heaviestat approximately 36.5 meters in length and weighing in at a hundred tons, it would have dwarfed today's land animals by a considerable amount. Researchers studying Patagotitan fossils (another titanosaur found in Patagonia) have suggested some of them might have broken the record for the largest, but there was insufficient fossil evidence to prove it. In either case, the researchers studying the new remains have begun to believe that they have found an even bigger titanosaur.

Thus far, the dinosaur has been dated back to 98 million years ago (putting it in the Late Jurassic to the early Cretaceous). The fossils found include 24 vertebrae, all belonging to a giant tail, parts of a pelvis and a pectoral girdle. The huge size of each suggests the dinosaur was a very large titanosaurone that might be bigger than Argentinosaurus. That claim cannot be confirmed, however, until leg bones are found. Their size will allow the researchers to make estimates of the animals' body weight.

Handout picture released on January 20, 2021 by the CTyS-UNLaM Science Outreach Agency showing a palaeontologist during an excavation in which 98 million-year-old fossils were found, at the Candeleros Formation in the Neuquen River Valley, Argentina.

Titanosaurs belong to the sauropod family, which means they were herbivores, had massive bodies and long necks and tails. Such dinosaurs would have had few worries from meat-eating enemies if they managed to grow to full size. Their fossils have been found on all continents except Antarctica. The researchers conclude by noting that more digging in the area will likely reveal more fossils from the same dinosaur and perhaps evidence of its true size.

Explore further Patagotitan mayorum: New study describes the biggest dinosaur ever

More information: Alejandro Otero et al. Report of a giant titanosaur sauropod from the Upper Cretaceous of Neuquen Province, Argentina, Cretaceous Research (2021). Journal information: Cretaceous Research , PLoS ONE Alejandro Otero et al. Report of a giant titanosaur sauropod from the Upper Cretaceous of Neuquen Province, Argentina,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104754

 2021 Science X Network
A man walks on the bund in front of the financial district of Pudong in Shanghai, China on March 9, 2016. (Aly Song/Reuters)

Shanghai Gang Leader Bribes Chinese Officials by Offering Prostitutes

A big scandal erupted recently in Shanghai when allegations came to light that a local crime boss offered prostitution services to government officials in exchange for business advantages.

On Dec. 30, 2020, a Shanghai supreme court upheld a lower court decision by Shanghais second intermediate court against the defendant, 47-year-old Zhao Fuqiang, a former controller of Shanghai Yusheng Investment Management Co. Zhao was indicted on charges of organizing a criminal gang and prostitution ring, rape, fraud, picking quarrels and stirring up trouble, coercion, and bribery.

The ruling said that Zhao influenced local government officials, state-owned company executives, judges, and police officers through offering sex services in exchange for business advantages, according to a Jan. 18 report by Chinese finance magazine Caixin.

Zhao first struggled to make a living as a tailor after he moved to Shanghai from his rural hometown of Taixing city, Jiangsu Province, in the late 1990s. He then turned to running a prostitution ring. A local barbershop served as the front business.

A former female employee at the barbershop said Zhao was a demon, in an interview with Caixin. According to the womans account, Zhao recruited her from a babysitter agency. Soon, he coaxed her into agreeing to provide sex services by promising her lifetime care and telling her, lets make money together for our family. But he didnt pay her a salary. He gave her some money at the end of the year to cover her living expenses. If she disobeyed, he would beat her or threaten to tell her family about her sex work.

Eventually, Zhao moved into the office leasing sector. Thats when he transformed an office property he rented into a secret brothel. There, he coerced women he hired into providing regular, long-term sex services to his clients.

He invited powerful local figures to his office and treated them to meals and sexual favors in return for business opportunities to help him monopolize industry resources for lease. By relying on such ties, he swiftly built a team, expanded his operations, and accumulated tremendous wealth.

But his collusion with corrupt local officials eventually landed Zhao in jail. He was sentenced to death with two years probation and restrictions on commutation. His personal assets will likely be confiscated as well.

More than a dozen CCP officials were sacked and charged with taking bribes and colluding with Zhaos criminal gang, Caixin reported.

They include Lu Yan, standing member of Yangpu District Party Committee and chief of the local political and legal affairs committee; Ren Yongfei, head of Yangpu District Court; Cen Hongquan, vice director of Yangpu Public Security Bureau; Lin Feng, general manager of Shanghai Wuhuan Mansion Investment Development Co.; Jiang Shan, general manager of Shanghai Huangpu Public Leasing Housing Management Co.; Hu Chenghao, director of Yinxing Road Police Station; and Sun Zhendong, vice director of Changbai Xincun Police Station, among others.

The majority of them ended up with prison sentences ranging from seven-and-a-half to 17 years.

Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took power in 2012, many officialschiefly those who were part of factions that opposed his rulehave been sacked under a sweeping anti-corruption campaign.

[January 21, 2021] Drug Topics and Managed Healthcare Executive Announce Partnership with Scientia Pharmacy Advisors

Drug Topics, a leading multimedia resource that has served the pharmacy field for more than 160 years, and Managed Healthcare Executive, a multimedia platform that provides market intelligence and solutions to C-suite executives of health plans, are pleased to announce a partnership with Scientia Pharmacy Advisors. The partnership will offer educational opportunities in the areas of clinical practice, network distribution development and utilization management in oncology pharmacy. "We have worked with the founders of Scientia Pharmacy Advisors in several different capacities over the past decade, and we share the goal of advancing science and offering innovative health care solutions," said Brian Haug, Executive Vice-President, Healthcare of MJH Life Sciences, parent company of Drug Topics and Managed Healthcare Executive. "Through this collaboration, we look forward to building upon that relationship and working together to serve as a trusted resource for pharma and healthcare professionals." Through live and virtual formats, Scientia Pharmacy Advisors will leverage the Drug Topics and Managed Healthcare Executive industry-leading platforms in the pharmacy and payer verticals to help guide pharma partners and other industry professionals through the complex oncology pharmacy landscape. The content will be produced quarterly and will focus on best practices necessary to provide efficient and optimal care to oncology patients across the country. ''The partnership will allow Scientia Pharmacy Advisors to benefit from the experience and national reach of some of the leading brands in our space, most of which we use and trust on a regular basis," said Jeff Lombardo, PharmD, BCOP, of Scientia Pharmacy Advisors. "This alliance will allow our organization to have greater visibility, resulting in the opportunity to have a greater impact on cancer care across the country." For more information on Drug Topics, click here.



For more information about Managed Healthcare Executive, click here. For more information on Scientia Pharmacy Advisors, click here.

About Drug Topics

Since 1857, Drug Topics has been reporting on issues related to retail, community and health systems pharmacists. Drug Topics serves as a multimedia platform and is the go-to digital resource for the rapidly evolving field of pharmacy. Drug Topics is a brand of MJH Life Sciences, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels. About Managed Healthcare Executive

Managed Healthcare Executive provides healthcare executives at health plans and provider organizations with analysis, insights, and strategies to pursue value-driven solutions. The multimedia platform keeps healthcare professionals informed by sharing updates on all the industry changes and innovations. Managed Healthcare Executive is a brand of MJH Life Sciences, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted healthcare news across multiple channels. About Scientia Pharmacy Advisors

With both clinical and business experience, the Scientia team offers comprehensive insights into the development of distribution networks, hub services, stakeholder messaging, patient education and engagement resources. With combined expertise and a collaborative approach, Scientia Pharmacy Advisors assists clients in developing innovative strategies to distinguish programs, define best-in-class offerings and position future trajectories for success within the rapidly evolving and highly competitive oncology pharmacy marketplace. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005873/en/

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Bhopal, Jan 21 : In an effort to make the Covid-19 vaccination drive a huge success in Madhya Pradesh, several religious leaders and eminent personalities across the state have launched a 'Jan Jagriti Abhiyan' to raise awareness for maximum participation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16 launched India's coronavirus vaccination drive via video conference.

The municipal corporation here has organised the 'Jan Jagriti Abhiyan' to create awareness about mass participation in the inoculation drive.

The campaign is being carried out across the state at various levels.

In Bhopal, the campaign saw the participation of over 85 religious and society leaders. They committed their support and took a pledge to back the drive.

Yashwant Yadav, head of the Shivmandir Yadav Samaj Samiti of Jahangirabad area, who had participated in the programme, said that it is necessary to use face masks, regularly wash hands and maintain social distancing to keep coronavirus at bay.

"People should also get the vaccine jabs as soon as possible to break the virus transmission", said Yadav.

Bhopal Municipal Corporation Commissioner V.S. Choudhary sought the support of the leaders of different religions and sects to make the campaign a huge success.

He also apprised them of the ongoing efforts by the civic body on sanitation, waste management and cleanliness to curb the spread of the infection.

The representatives in the programme heaped praises on the drive for waste management and assured cooperation in the "Cleanliness Survey 2021".

Padmakar Tripathi, Deputy Director Immunization, Department of Health and Family Welfare of the state, shed light on the importance of vaccine prioritization.

Vandana Bhatia, Health Specialist, UNICEF, Madhya Pradesh and Dr Ravindra Bagal, Health Officer, UNICEF, spoke on the importance of vaccination and the need for Covid-19 appropriate behaviour.
Gender clinic whistleblower details why he exposed medical abuse of children

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The psychoanalyst who blew the whistle on England's Tavistock gender clinic has detailed the troubling culture within the facility where he says children are being persuaded to pursue experimental transgender medical practices.

In a Jan 13 Triggernometry podcast interview with hosts Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster, Dr. Marcus Evans explained the reasons he felt compelled to speak publicly about the variety of influences that have led many young people down the pathway of the medicalization of gender.

The NHS' Gender Identity Development Services (GIDS) has come under intense scrutiny in recent years due to the experimental nature of the hormonal gender-transition of minors. It operates two clinics in London and Leeds, England, for children 18 years old and younger.

Evans is among the clinicians who have gone public with their concerns about troubling internal protocols within the London clinic, known as Tavistock. His wife, Sue, also worked at the clinic and became alarmed at the number of children who became fixated on the idea that their body was wrong and that they needed to physically transition genders.

"What she felt was that there should be a thorough psychological investigation, as was the Tavistock's tradition, into five family dynamics, individual psychology. And she felt there was too much of a willingness to sort of go along with the kid in terms of the kid's idea [to transition]," he said, noting that the youth being treated with gender issues were often suffering from a number of mental health conditions.

Whereas gender-transitions decades ago were mostly males, in recent years a new cohort has emerged, mostly females at increasingly younger ages. During his wife's tenure, there were 14, 15, and 16-year-olds, but now children as young as 10 are going to the clinic and the age at which they are acquiring cross-sex hormones is getting younger.

But in the culture of the clinic, she felt that her concerns were being shut down and dissenting voices were being squelched, "and she felt she got nowhere," he said.

It soon became realized that gender dysphoria had been politicized and that the medical facility was being unusually influenced by transgender activist groups like Mermaids and Gender Intelligence. While Evans had professionally interacted with other charities, they had never insisted on having sway over the culture of the clinic as the gender activist groups did.

The pushing of those professional boundaries yielded a clinical environment where Evans felt uncomfortable working.

"Once your decision-making is based on a preexisting belief structure, maybe embedded within the clinicians, maybe met by some of the parents ... you're not in a clinical environment," he said of the politicization of the topic.

Social media has compounded the problem kids are having during adolescence by encouraging them to undergo gender-transition, experts have warned. Another recurring concern is that a large number of autistic children are being pushed into transitioning.

An alarming piece of evidence that was discovered during a recent case against Tavistock was that it was receiving very little scrutiny from government and medical authorities and that children were being fast-tracked into radical interventions.

"Ninety percent of the kids who start on puberty blockers are on a medical conveyor belt, which doesn't stop until cross-sex hormones etc.," he said.

Commenting further on the Tavistock case, which was brought by a detransitioner named Keira Bell, Evans said there was no comparison in terms of the quality and depth of the research and evidence presented by the experts arguing against the gender-transitioning of youth versus the pro-trans side whose arguments rested almost completely on political beliefs. Those beliefs were backed up by one study done in the Netherlands in 2011 on 70 boys, 20 of whom dropped out, he explained.

"The case is an amazing win for sanity and it safeguards against early medicalization of kids," Evans said.

Evans recounted that he is sometimes told that people tell him that what he's describing cannot be as bad as he says, or that he's angry at the clinic.

"As a mental health practitioner who is proud to be in the business, I'm really quite ashamed ... this is political belief and ideology over rational, scientific argument," he said.

"There's all sorts of things you can't do until you're 18," he said, like getting a tattoo, adding that "there's a sort of non-think about this area. It's like a group phenomenon and you cannot challenge it."

Evans said he has been called a "Christian right-wing bigot" and the accusation that is sometimes leveled at him is that he wants to control people's lives and make patients into a version of what he wants them to be.

"We've become obsessed by people's feelings and at the moment our discourse is dominated by what people feel," he added.

"This idea that you can define who you are ... your identity is partly formed by who you think you are but it's also in negotiation with the external world. And we've sort of lost sight of that. We live in relation to the external world.

He concluded: "We don't have the right to say, 'This is me and you've got to accept it and if you don't I'll scream and shout at you.' Other people have got their own minds. They're entitled to have a view, including what they think of you. This is important for individual psychology and psychological health and it's important for democracy."




Armie Hammer's ex-girlfriend appeared to be covered in bruises in photos she posted on her public social media during the few months she was dating the actor. But she posted loved-up photos of the pair on her private Instagram account, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Model Paige Lorenze, 22, showed off the handsome actor on her secret account, in one snap hugging him from behind while riding a scooter and writing on October 31, 2020: 'Finsta meet daddi.'

The 34-year-old Call Me By Your Name star even let Lorenze meet his mother, all three posing for a photo together shortly after Thanksgiving.

The loved-up shots were kept off Lorenze's public Instagram, where internet sleuths have pointed out that she appeared to be covered in bruises during the few months she was dating Hammer, as photos seem to show purplish bruises on her back, legs and breasts.

Lorenze, who said she dated Hammer from October to December, gave a recent interview to Star Magazine, where she has claimed Hammer was '100 percent serious' about figuring out a way to remove her ribs so he could eat them.

She said: 'He said he wanted to find a doctor that would remove my ribs. He was telling me you can remove the bottom ribs so he could smoke them, cook them and eat them. He kept saying ''You don't need them''.'

Lorenze claims that not only did Hammer make clear he wanted to eat her ribs, but had carved the letter 'A' into her skin using a knife, saying it was 'extremely painful' and he later boasted about it to his friends.

Last week, Hammer dropped out of his upcoming film Shotgun Wedding costarring Jennifer Lopez after he was rocked by disturbing claims of cannibalism and violating BDSM practices.

While he decried the 'bulls**t claims' made against him, he has yet to comment further after two of his former girlfriends spoke out about their 'traumatizing' flings with Hammer, as his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers is in 'complete shock' and 'sickened' over the allegations.

Armie Hammer's ex-girlfriend appeared to be covered in bruises during the few months she was dating the actor, as DailyMail.com obtained intimate photos of the pair posted to her private Instagram account.

Model Paige Lorenze, 22, showed off the handsome actor on her secret account, in one snap hugging him from behind while riding a scooter and writing on October 31, 2020: 'Finsta meet daddi'

The 34-year-old Call Me By Your Name star even let Lorenze meet his mother, all three posing for a photo together shortly after Thanksgiving

The loved-up shots were kept off Lorenze's public Instagram, where internet sleuths have pointed out that she appeared to be covered in bruises during the few months she was dating Hammer, as photos seem to show purplish bruises on her back, legs and breasts. Pictured: The model appears to have a discolored mark on her chest in an Instagram picture posted in late October

Lorenze's upper and lower back, as well as her thigh appear to have purplish bruises on them in a photo she posted to her Instagram account in October 2020

The 22-year-old told Star Magazine: 'He said he wanted to find a doctor that would remove my ribs. He was telling me you can remove the bottom ribs so he could smoke them, cook them and eat them. He kept saying ''You don't need them''

Lorenze claimed to Star that at first Hammer was so 'charming,' drawn to the handsome actor fresh off a recent breakup.

But things took a turn when Lorenze claimed Hammer 'eased me into darker and darker things... he manipulated me - and I liked him - which is the scary part.'

Lorenze categorizes her experience with Hammer as 'traumatic,' saying she's seeing a therapist to sort through what happened.

She said: 'Consent is really complex, and saying yes to something does not negate the trauma you might be burdened with after the fact.'

Lorenze isn't alone in saying she sought out treatment after dating Hammer. Another ex-girlfriend, Courtney Vucekovich told DailyMail.com last week that Hammer was into 'master-slave fetishes' and told her he wanted to break and eat her ribs.

Although Vucekovich said she didn't want to get into graphic detail about Hammer's behavior during their four-month relationship, she said it was enough that she checked into a 30-day intensive course of therapy for trauma and PTSD to deal with the 'warped relationship' with the movie star after their breakup in early October.

Vucekovich, 30, said Hammer quickly manipulated her into playing along with his twisted fetishes, and that he would often fantasize about cannibalism.

'He was really into saying he wants to break one of your ribs and eat it. Like barbecue it and eat it,' she said.

'In terms of the BDSM stuff, he made that pretty clear that it is something he is interested in very early on in the relationship and he referenced breaking my ribs often.'

Armie Hammer's ex-girlfriend has claimed the actor was '100 percent serious' about figuring out a way to remove her ribs so he could eat them. Model Paige Lorenze (pictured together in December) said the 34-year-old Call Me By Your Name star brought up the subject of cannibalism 'multiple times,' while they were dating from October to December 2020

Lorenze claimed to Star that at first Hammer was so 'charming,' drawn closer to the handsome actor fresh off a recent breakup. But things took a turn when Lorenze said Hammer 'eased me into darker and darker things... he manipulated me - and I liked him - which is the scary part'

Courtney Vucekovich (pictured with Hammer) told DailyMail.com last week that Hammer was into 'master-slave fetishes' and told her he wanted to break and eat her ribs

While he decried the 'bulls**t claims' made against him, he has yet to comment further after two of his former girlfriends spoke out about their 'traumatizing' flings with Hammer, as his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers is in 'complete shock' and 'sickened' over the allegations

Last week, DailyMail.com exclusively obtained videos from Hammer's private Instagram account, where he showed off a woman dressed in lingerie waiting patiently on all fours on his bed and bragged about passing a drug test despite having drugs in his system.

While his team once again did not wish to make comment on the videos, Hammer was forced to apologize in a statement, due to referring to the woman in the lingerie video as 'Miss Cayman'.

He said: 'I would like to clarify that the person in my video, which was stolen from my private Instagram, is not Miss Cayman.

'I am genuinely sorry for any confusion my foolish attempt at humor may have caused. 'My deep sympathies to Miss Cayman, who I don't know, and to the entire organization, as I had no intentions of implying she was actually Miss Cayman.'

In another video posted to his private Instagram account, followed by his close friends, a snippet of himself taking a drag from a vape box on December 16, writing: 'When you realize they don't test for DMT on drug tests.'

He also shared a screenshot of what appears to be a court order that states he must take a drug test, as source revealed he is required to pass it before seeing his two young children with his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers, 38.

Last week, DailyMail.com exclusively obtained videos from Hammer's private Instagram account, where he showed off a woman dressed in lingerie waiting patiently on all fours on his bed

The 34-year-old posted to his secret Instagram account, which only a handful of his close friends are allowed to follow, a snippet of himself taking a drag from a vape box on December 16, writing: 'When you realize they don't test for DMT on drug tests'

The graphic Instagram DMs that Hammer allegedly penned to a woman included talk of rape fantasies, BDSM and cannibalism. They were leaked publicly by an anonymous account, House of Effie, on Instagram over the weekend

The couple announced in July they were ending their 10-year marriage and the children have been living with Chambers in the Cayman Islands.

Hammer documented taking his home drug test, writing: 'All negative, b***hes. My body is a finely tuned toxicant processing unit. To be fair I had THC and benzos in my piss. But who doesn't.' He added: 'Divorce is so fun. Not as fun as drugs. But what is.'

But the actor seemingly found a perk of traveling to Grand Cayman to see his children, aged six and three, posting a video of a woman dressed in strappy black lingerie waiting patiently on his bed on all fours, her rear end appearing to be bright pink as she looked straight ahead.

He wrote: 'Well my ex (for a very good reason) wife is refusing to come back to america with my children. So I have to go back to Cayman which sucks. Except there are a few silver linings. Like f**king Ms. Cayman again while I'm down there.'

And Hammer was paid a visit by local police over the sexy video, as Royal Cayman Island Police Service issued this statement: 'On January 15, 2021, the RCIPS received an allegation of misuse of ICT in relation to a suggestive video which had been posted on social media.

'Officers investigated the matter and spoke to the suspect, who was warned about his conduct, in accordance with the wishes of the complainant. The matter is now closed.'
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company


The American Petroleum Institute will support federal regulations for oil and gas industry-generated methane, the industry body said on Thursday, according to the Washington Examiner.

This is in stark contrast to its previous position against federally regulating the greenhouse gas.

Methane is a part of natural gas and is sometimes vented or leaked during the course of its extraction, causing climate concerns that have been growing in recent years.

The API is now reading the room carefully, and is hoping to get a seat at the negotiating table when it comes to the details about how this methane will be regulated.

It has become nearly impossible for the oil and gas industryand the APIto ignore the growing clamor from climate activists on methane leaks and venting for stricter regulations. With the change in administration, it has tipped the scales from nearly impossible to absolutely impossible.

This is a new position for API, but we think given where the industry is at this time and the continued importance of reducing methane, it was critical we update this position as the administration changes, API CEO Mike Sommers told the Washington Examiner.

APIs shift on methane regulations is about as severe as the shift in U.S. President from Trump to Biden, and the oil and gas industry is likely to see more such shifts courtesy of the regime change.

Somewhat surprisingly, not everyone in the oil and gas industry is resistant to federal regulations. Some of the more prominent oil and gas playerswith deeper pocketshave supported tighter methane regulations as a way to clean up their image in a world that is gearing up for greener practices.

But smaller oil and gas players will have a more challenging time coping with the high price tag of increased regulations.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Amazon is the second largest employer in the United States with over 800,000 employees and has a massive transport and logistics network with reach all over the US. In a letter addressed directly to the newly inaugurated President Joe Biden, Amazon offers its resources to assist in Bidens goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans during his first 100 days in office.

Additionally, we are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist your administration's vaccination efforts. Our scale allows us to make a meaningful impact immediately in the fight against COVID-19, and we stand ready to assist you in this effort.

Amazon has a licensed third-party health care provider that is ready to administer vaccines to its 800,000 essential employees once they become available. This includes workers at Amazon fulfilment centers, AWS data centers, and Whole Foods Market employees.

Amazon's delivery trucks being loaded

Vaccinating all Amazon employees would aid nearly 1% of Bidens end goal of 100 million Americans, but the companys massive operation scale and logistics could assist the US Governments efforts to physically get the vaccines reached across the United States.

Currently, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are in very limited supply. Around the world, an estimated 54.3 million doses of the vaccine have already been administered, 17.2 million of them in the US. In the last sever days, an verage of 912,497 shots were administered. All these numbers are as of January 20 as per Bloomberg. You can check the progress of the vaccine here.

Via
Rural Education Center receives NSF grant focusing on drones and geoscience careers

Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021

MANHATTAN  The Rural Education Center in the Kansas State University College of Education has received a $340,000 National Science Foundation grant for using drones and other technology to encourage rural students' interest in geoscience degrees and careers.



"SOARING: Sharing Opportunities, Approaches, and Resources in New Geo-teaching" is a three-year grant that will provide training on the latest in geotechnology for teachers and students at middle schools and high schools in eight partner rural school districts. It will target geotechnology applications of airborne remote sensing in the areas of environmental and hazardous geology, water resources and geology mapping.



According to current data, Project SOARING will likely reach more than 4,400 middle and high school students in Kansas, including more than 1,900 female rural students, 2,200 Hispanic/Latino rural students and more than 200 students underrepresented in STEM fields. School districts involved are Ashland USD 220, Clay County USD 379, Dighton USD 482, Haviland USD 474, Lakin USD 215, Liberal USD 480, Skyline USD 438 and Twin Valley USD 240, all members of the Rural Education Center's newly established Rural Professional Development School network.



"Jobs in education and agriculture are two staples in rural communities and the possibilities are increasing because of this technology," said Debbie Mercer, dean of the K-State College of Education. "Project SOARING is the Rural Education Center's latest multidisciplinary initiative to help rural communities protect their greatest natural resource: their young."



Spencer Clark, associate professor of curriculum and instruction and Rural Education Center director, is the grant's principal investigator. Co-principal investigators are Lori Goodson, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction and Rural Education Center assistant director; Aida Farough, teaching assistant professor in the K-State geology department; and Shawn Keshmiri, professor in the aerospace engineering department at the University of Kansas and faculty/researcher with the KU Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets.



"Our Rural Education Center is always looking for ways to bring innovative career awareness and exploration to rural schools in Kansas," Clark said. "This is a very exciting project because not only does it involve teachers and students, it will also expose students to possible career opportunities they'd never considered."



Each year of the grant, nine teachers, accompanied by student apprentices from their schools, will participate in summer training on the KU campus and then teach middle schoolers on the K-State campus. A key element for Project SOARING is the Summer STEM Institute, a successful partnership between Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 and the K-State College of Education. Recently completing its 10th summer, the STEM institute serves around 325 students with a variety of STEM courses. The nine teachers selected for Project SOARING will also teach content at the institute.



Goodson said she is especially excited to see two of her main areas of interest  providing additional opportunities for rural teachers and students, as well as exposing more people to the Summer STEM Institute, which she has coordinated for the past seven years  converging for this project.



"The Summer STEM Institute is an incredible experience for middle schoolers, teachers, and our pre-service teachers who assist with the various classes," Goodson said. "Through Project SOARING, we can expand the institute's reach and impact by including rural students in this opportunity."






As part of its ongoing support to Member administrations in the area of Risk Management, the WCO delivered a virtual Workshop to Ecuador Customs from 23 to 28 November 2020. Some 25 Customs officers from Headquarters and local units actively participated in the various sessions of this six-day initiative.

In her opening address, Ms. Colombo Cordero, Director General of the National Customs Service of Ecuador (SENAE - Servicio Nacional de Aduana de Ecuador), welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of this type of training for strengthening the capacities of Customs officers in intelligence-driven Risk Management.

The Directors of Risk Management, International Relations and Customs Surveillance also encouraged their teams to take advantage of such training opportunities. This Workshop was made possible through the WCO Reserve Fund, and the SENAE management team expressed its gratitude for this initiative.

The Workshop provided theoretical training on the use of a comprehensive Risk Management methodology to facilitate legitimate trade and increase the efficiency of Customs controls. The facilitators also encouraged the participants to make use of the WCO Risk Management Compendium as well as other relevant tools and instruments which are crucial for enabling Ecuador Customs to achieve its strategic objectives, especially during this period of global crisis as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The participants expressed their appreciation for the practical part of the Workshop, which will be useful in enhancing the application of Risk Management techniques in their daily duties. They also recognized the importance of such training to gain familiarization with the practices for selecting suspicious goods using intelligence-led Risk Management.
HARBOR BEACH  Due to structural changes to the Harbor Beach Marina project, the language for several grants the city received needed to be amended, according to Harbor Beach Mayor Gary Booms.

At the Jan. 18 city council meeting, council members discussed amending four matching grants given through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. An agreement addendum was required by the state for each of the matching-grants.

Later, the mayor explained the changes were necessary due to water level changes on Lake Huron, and the physical/structural changes needed at the towns marina. He went on to say there were no dollar amount changes.

The scope of the work changed, Booms said.

That required revised resolutions. Basically, the mayor said the state required more paperwork than anything else.

The four matching grants were awarded to the city in 2019, and the city has been working on upgrades to the marina since that time. This included floating docks, which would help solve some of the issues of high/low water levels on Lake Huron.

In total, these grants amounted to $862,000. Individually, they were for $153,000, $234,000, $411,000, and $64,000, respectively. The city of Harbor Beach is required to match these amounts given by the state.

In other business, the council discussed a request from water treatment plant Supervisor Karl Krull. In order to keep the plant running efficiently, he recommended purchasing a flow meter, air valve and drain valves as part of a rebuilding project for Filter #3.

After hearing the request, council agreed to pay WesTech of Sturbridge, Massachusetts, a total of $9,596.00 for the needed parts at the Harbor Beach Water Treatment Plant.

Each year, the city splits a fire department subsidy with Sand Beach Township. This year, the city and the township agreed to subsidize the Harbor Beach Area Fire Department at total of $150,000, with each entity paying 50% of the total amount.

It was reported that resident Clark Ramsey had moved from the city limits. Ramsey was on the Harbor Beach Recreation Commission and the Harbor Beach Planning Commission. Because he would no longer be a resident of Harbor Beach, he would not meet the requirements to sit on these commissions.

Unanimously, the mayor and council selected former Harbor Beach Council Member Al Kleinknecht to replace Ramsey. Kleinknecht had sat on the council for nearly two decades, retiring at the beginning of this year.

Booms went on to praise the former council member, saying he had been a visionary over his years in office.

Im glad he still wants to be involved, Booms said.

The next Harbor Beach City Council meeting is scheduled for Feb. 1, starting at 7 p.m. At this time, the meeting is scheduled to take place at the pavilion at North Park.
Grease is one of the best musical films ever. From the bubbly songs to the unforgettable performances, its just an all-around good movie. But behind the scenes, it seems like it was incredibly difficult to pull off.

Many actors notably wound up getting sick or injured on set. Some luckily only seemed to be mild cases, but others found themselves in some pretty serious situations, including one actor who was even rushed into surgery after falling ill. Read on for more about Grease and the actors who got hurt during the filming of the movie.

Jeff Conaway, Olivia Newton-John, John Travolta, and Stockard Channing | Paramount Pictures/Fotos International/Getty Images

Grease is a top musical

Released in 1978, Grease tells the story of high school teenagers Danny Zukko (John Travolta) and Sandy Olsson (Olivia Newton-John). The two fell in love during a summer vacation in Australia. But when it ended, they went their separate ways, believing they would never see each other again.

To their luck, Sandy wound up moving to America and attending Dannys school. But they struggled to rekindle their relationship after Danny started posing like a tough guy to impress his friends.

With help from their friends and changes on both of their parts, the two reunited at the end of the film, expressing their love for one another in the closing song, Youre the One That I Want.

RELATED: Grease: What Happened to Danny and Sandy After the Movie, According to John Travolta

Many people got hurt while filming Grease

With a film like Grease, where theres plenty of hip-shaking, hand-jiving, and other dance sequences, injuries are bound to happen. But more people fell ill than you probably realize.

One take that reportedly left cast members sick is the prom scene. Living 101 reports that it was shot in a gym that didnt have windows, meaning it got really hot. According to Broadway, temperatures reportedly reached 116 degrees, causing some of the cast to come down with heat-related illnesses, including Michael Tucci (Sonny LaTierri), allegedly.

Another dance scene that left someone hurt is the Greased Lightning moment. Jeff Conaway (Kenickie Murdoch) had been grooving along to the song when he fell, causing significant damage to his back. To help with the pain, a doctor prescribed him opioids, which he, unfortunately, became addicted to before his death in 2011.

RELATED: Grease: These 2 Songs from the Movie Became No. 1 Hits

Theres also the racing scene, which we admit looks like a lot of fun. But unfortunately, according to The Sun, the water that Danny and Leo Balmudo splashed through was stagnant and filled with contaminated bacteria, allegedly causing more illnesses.

Among those who reportedly got sick was director Randal Kleiser, who told Bustle: When I was shooting here, it was very hot, so I was barefooted. I cut my foot, and I walked through this river, and the next day I had a fever. We were shooting the Frosty Palace scene and I was completely out of it. I had a 101-degree temperature because of cutting my foot here.

There was even one actor who had to be hospitalized

According to the Connecticut newspaper The Hartford Courant, Annette Charles (Cha Cha DiGregorio) found herself in pain while shooting the aforementioned racing scene.

She had reportedly been hospitalized days earlier but had checked out to get back to set. It turns out she had suffered an ectopic pregnancy, which required immediate surgery. But luckily, she made a full recovery and quickly resumed her acting career.
Despairing Heathrow passengers queued up for hours to get through passport control today as the Covid border situation worsened as one asked 'are they making sure we all get infected before entering the UK?'.

The lines to get through passport control were so long staff were said to have handed out free water to exhausted travellers.

This prompted another issue with one member of a queue pointing out it would mean masks would have to be removed and risk transmission of the virus.

And it came hours after the Home Office insisted there were no staffing issues and people were moving through in 'good time'.

But on the ground airport visitors were having a very different experience among heavy queues where social distancing was difficult to maintain.

World Health Organisation Health systems development consultant Alvaro Garbayo was so infuriated he attempted to contact Matt Hancock on Twitter to complain.

He asked him: 'Border control at Heathrow a complete mess, a crowd queuing for more than one hour with not enough space to keep safe distance. Just making sure we all get infected before entering UK? Proactively pushing for herd immunity?

Huge queues prompted anger from passengers and questions over the number of staff at work

Heathrow airport cancelled and stopped the use of the electronic passport gates for checks

People who have travelled from multiple destinations queue in a system difficult to space

Luggage piled up as the enormous backlog saw passengers unable to get through to collect

'And just to make it more likely they hand over water for free so people remove their masks. No special arrangements for people with children, people with disabilities, elders... and we get surprised with our numbers?'

MailOnline told yesterday how people were screaming 'Get more staff' as they had to queue for at least an hour to get through passport control.

But the Home Office had insisted there was enough personnel to do the job and it was not true there were not enough workers there.

Meanwhile the self-service e-gates at Heathrow Airport are currently closed - with border guards having to check all paperwork and passports manually.

A Home Office spokeswoman said on Wednesday: 'Border Force has the necessary staff needed to fulfil its vital function of keeping the border secure and protecting the public.

Home Secretary Priti Patel today said the 'stringent' travel measures were 'absolutely right' due to the identification of new mutant strains of Covid in other parts of the world

'Even with the increased Border Force spot checks on arrival, with passengers liable for a fine of 500 for failing to comply with the new rules, the vast majority of people have been moving through the UK border in good time.'

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Priti Patel today said the 'stringent' travel measures were 'absolutely right' due to the identification of new mutant strains of Covid in other parts of the world.

Speaking at the Downing Street press conference tonight, Ms Patel said: 'It's right that the Government does everything we can, number one to protect the roll-out of this vaccine.

'Just look at the stringent measures we have brought in. The public now need to show proof of a negative test, we have quarantine, we have the passenger locator form, we have taken action at the border when new strains of the virus have appeared.

'All our measures are constantly under review, particularly now when we see mutant strains, it is absolutely right we take precautionary measures so we can safeguard the delivery of this vaccine.'

Ms Patel, who said it was 'too early to speculate' on whether people should be booking a summer holiday, also reiterated the Government's 'Stay at Home' message.

She added: 'With regards to borders and travel, people should not be travelling unless of course it is absolutely critical and essential.

We have stringent measures for a very good reason, because we want to protect the health of members of the public and also to deliver and safeguard this world-leading vaccine roll-out.'

It comes as travellers flying into Britain are having their Covid paperwork checked by both airlines and Border Force officials in an effort to finally halt new strains of the virus.

The government decided that a negative COVID test was required within 72 hours of travel

The scenes come as it was predicted the governement would introduce quarantine hotels

Heathrow airport have cancelled and stopped the use of the electronic passport gates

WHO Health Systems expert was in line and was furious about the delays and queues

Hundreds of people were left waiting with some unable to social distance properly

They are expected to show proof of a negative test or risk being stopped or fined 500.

Yesterday occupational therapist Libby Pannett told how she returned to the UK after her mother's funeral in New Zealand today - where there were no cases of coronavirus.

Describing the scene she faced after her long haul flight, the 52-year-old said: 'It was awful coming through Heathrow, the queues are horrific. There were probably 1,000 people in front of me because they aren't doing the fast track, they are not letting kids go through first either so there are all these screaming kids.

'At passport control they have to check all your paperwork, it's awful. There are not enough passport control officers and people were screaming out 'get more staff.' I thought there was going to be a real riot, some people were pushing their kids through saying 'let this baby through'.'

Mrs Pannett, from Berkshire, added: 'We have to have a test to come back to the UK now and that was really difficult because you had to do it in 72 hours. That was hard coming from New Zealand as there is a time difference. It cost me 276, they are ripping people off because they know you need to do it.

'Getting the results was really stressful because I had to fly internally to get to Auckland and they had added in the time, it was running down the clock and it was over a Sunday when nobody works too.

'I was worried that results wouldn't come back in time. Emirates Airlines told me that when I landed in the UK it would be over the 72 hour period so I could run the risk of getting a fine in the UK or stay for another 12 hours and get another test in Dubai.

'I had to make that choice, to risk the fine or stay in Dubai - it was really stressful and I was lucky I got through.'

But 27-year-old Salma was another arrival who spoke of the lack of passport control officers.

Landing from visiting her family in Cairo, the doctor said: 'There were not many officers at border control so it took time to get everybody through. There were a lot of people in the queue but hopefully we were maintaining a safe-ish distance. It's not the most comfortable of situations I've been in, it could be better definitely.

Nurse Anila Dominic, 27, said 'there were not enough people' at the passport checks

Libby Pannett, 52, an occupational therapist, said people were screaming 'get more staff'

Q&A: Do I need to have proof of a negative Covid-19 test when I arrive in Britain - and what standards must it meet? What are the new rules for UK arrivals? All of the travel corridors were scrapped yesterday, so arrivals from every destination will need to self-isolate for ten days, or receive a negative result from a Covid-19 test taken at least five days after they enter the UK. Do I need to get a negative test when I arrive in the UK? Yes, all arrivals into England - including British citizens - must test negative for Covid-19 up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure. Your test will also be checked by the airline before you board a plane abroad. What will you have to present at the UK border? Border Force officials are carrying out spot checks on those arriving by air, land or sea - but they have so far been checking all arrivals, according to passengers. Your Covid-19 negative test results must be presented in either English, French or Spanish. Translations are not accepted, and you must provide the original certificate. The test result must be provided either as a physical printed document or via email or text message, which can be shown on a mobile phone. This must include: your name, matching it on your travel documents

your date of birth or age

the result of the test

the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider

the name of the test provider and their contact details

the name of the test device Anyone arriving without a test result that includes all of the above information will be committing a criminal offence which could see them receive a 500 fine. What test must you have? The test must meet standards of 97% specificity and 80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml. The Government says this could include tests such as: a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Lamp) tests

an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device. Will you have to prove your test meets requirements? Yes. The Government says it is your responsibility to ensure a test meets minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details - so you must check with your test provider that it meets those requirements. You may need proof in the form of a letter from a test provider detailing its specificity and sensitivity levels. What happens if I don't have the correct documents? New arrivals who flout the rules will face a minimum 500 fine while their flight operator will also be fined. The passenger will then be let on their way without further action, but will still have to quarantine for ten days like everyone else arriving in the UK. Separately, arrivals into England who do not self-isolate can face fines between 1,000 and 10,000. What is the difference between the tests? PCR tests, nasal and throat swab tests normally take between 12 and 48 hours to return results. Lamp tests can return results in two hours, and lateral flow tests can generate results in less than 30 minutes. Whichever test it is must meet the required performance standards listed by the Government. Border Force agents will check that the information required is present on the notification. Provided the test meets the set criteria, then it will be accepted. If it does not, you could be fined - even with a negative test result. What are the concerns over lateral flow tests? There are fears that lateral flow tests might not be as reliable as PCR tests. But Innova makes a lateral flow test which has a sensitivity of more than 95 per cent for high viral loads - meeting UK Government requirements. A trial of one lateral flow test used by the Government found that it detected 79 per cent of cases when administered by a trained professional but only 40 per cent if someone is self-swabbing. This is significantly lower than the more expensive but slower PCR tests which detect 70 to 99 per cent of positive cases. Passengers are responsible for ensuring their test meets requirements and may be asked to provide proof. Is there a specific list of accepted tests? No. The Government does not provide a list of approved providers or tests worldwide. The passenger has to check that the test that they use meets the standards. What are the exemptions? It applies to arrivals who began their journeys in every country of the world, with the following exceptions: Ireland

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Isle of Man

Jersey

Guernsey

Ascension

Falkland Islands

St Helena There will also be an exemption until 4am on January 21 for people who began their journey in: Antigua and Barbuda

St Lucia

Barbados There are also limited exemptions for the likes of hauliers, young children and train crew members. Which countries are subject to travel bans? Travel to and from all of South America, Portugal and Cape Verde was banned from 4am last Friday. British and Irish nationals as well as people with residency rights will be exempt, but will have to self-isolate for ten days with their household on returning from any countries on the banned list. A similar ban was put into place for South Africa on December 23 last year, after another new variant was identified by scientists. On January 9, the rules were also applied to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola, Seychelles and Mauritius. What are the rules on travel from South Africa? Anyone arriving into the UK who has been in or transited through South Africa in the previous ten days will not be permitted entry to the UK. But British people will still be able to enter via indirect routes from South Africa. Are there any differences for the US? There are no specific differences for travellers arriving from the US, although it is understood some airlines are placing their own requirements on passengers. The US Embassy in the UK states: 'The test must be a viral test (NAAT or antigen test) to determine if you are currently infected with Covid-19. Travellers should avoid the antibody tests which look for prior infection.' Advertisement

'We had to get a test in Egypt before returning to the UK, I was worried about getting the test on time and that I would miss my flight. I was worried about the test I had, whether it was legitimate enough for them or whether they needed something extra like a government seal on it, that was stuff I had to think about.

'In the space of 18 days I have had two tests and I need to get another one in the next five days so I don't have to self isolate because I need to get back to work, I don't have enough annual leave for that.'

Adult nursing student Mohamed Akram explained that he started running with his luggage after he landed at Heathrow to get ahead of the crowds of travellers heading for border control with their forms.

Having landed from Egypt, the 24-year-old said: 'It was a bit busy on the borders here. I actually jogged from my flight so I didn't have to wait for so long but when I looked back the queue was so long.

'Most people were distancing, at least I did it, that is what matters. It took 48 hours to get my test results and thank God it came out as a negative.'

Returning from an extended trip to see his parents in Bangalore, India, after his flight was cancelled at the beginning of the new year, Athmeeya Rao claimed the mandatory test for UK-bound travellers should have come sooner.

The 32-year-old Boeing Defence employee said: 'I had to have a test in India before flying to the UK, I just went to a hospital and it was quite straightforward. I got the results within six hours or so.

'Once we landed at Heathrow there was a big queue at immigration as there were not that many officers. They were taking longer as they explained to people that they had to quarantine themselves for 10 days and other checks to see they had the right passenger forms.

'I think for kids and families the queue is difficult but it wasn't too crowded as we all had to distance. I think the mandatory tests to get back into the UK should have been done before, sooner than now.

'It started when people were coming from Spain and Italy in the summer last year, they should have implemented it then but it's better late than never.

'There were a couple of passengers in India who did not have the pdf copy of their test, they just had the negative test result on a text message which didn't count. I'm not sure if they were left behind or have to do a test once they got to the UK,' he added.

Queuing outside the Heathrow testing centre with a dozen others were seamen Tomas Kotlaga aged 50 years and work colleague 58-year-old Wieslaw Frednczak.

The pair were awaiting a rapid flow test before their flight back home to Poland today.

They said: 'We booked a fast Covid test at the Heathrow testing centre before our flight departs to Amsterdam and on to Poland today. We should get our results within 30 minutes.

'We don't understand why we must have the test, because we have been effectively quarantining at sea. We work four weeks on the ship and then four weeks at home, we come here often for work.'

Nurse Anila Dominic who had flown from India waited for 45 minutes before she could pass through border control. The 27-year-old said: 'I had to wait nearly 45 minutes. There were not enough people, that is why it took a long time. If there were more people there to check it would be easier for passengers. They were asking for cover test, the passenger locator form and my passport.'

Simlairly, Physics PhD student Megha Emerse - who had travelled from Kerala in Southern India - said: 'I was a little bit tense because I didn't know all of the new rules and procedures but it was fine and everything was explained.

'The queues weren't good, I had to wait an hour. But it was calm and everyone was distancing,' the 26-year-old University of Nottingham student added.

But there has emerged a worrying trend for people just to accept a financial punishment rather than to hand their information to officials.

Lucy Moreton, professional officer for ISU, the union for borders, immigration and customs workers, said she had heard reports of some arrivals choosing to pay the fine because they don't want to give their personal details on the locator form.

But border officials are powerless if it is a British citizen.

She said: 'We have people landing and choosing the fine instead, it's not common but it does happen.

'We can speculate that it is because they don't for some reason want the UK government to have their personal details.

'We can't detain or arrest them if they have a right of entry into the UK. We can only refuse people who don't have right of entry.' Those flouting the rules face fines of between 200 and 6,400.

On Monday there were chaotic scenes as arrivals queued for up to two hours at the border at Heathrow airport before being let through, due to the extra documents border guards need to check.

Ms Moreton said: 'There was a little bit of a moment yesterday when Border Force did allow queues to build up which shouldn't have happened, but when you're seeing documents for the first time with no background it does make it slower and with the urge to try and check everything and keep variant viruses out of the UK, we checked too many.

'But then on the other hand maybe we should be checking all of them.' Fines for not having a proper test are issued as fixed penalty notices and do not stay on a criminal record.'

But they continued to face delays after landing in the UK as officials checked each passenger arriving had a negative test - even though they will have all already been checked by their airline when boarding a flight in a foreign country.

Passengers can be fined a minimum of 500 for not complying with the rules, but the Home Office confirmed today that they are then let on their way - meaning dozens of people with Covid-19 could have been let into the UK since the rules were brought in.

However they must still follow the rules on quarantining for ten days like all arrivals into the UK - and those who breach those regulations can be fined up to 10,000.

The fines for not having a proper test are issued as fixed penalty notices and do not stay on a criminal record.

The Home Office has not yet revealed whether those fined were penalised for having no test at all or for their test certificate not fulfilling the required criteria.

Many passengers were also surprised by long queues, after they had already been checked by their airlines when boarding flights abroad - with some saying the carriers were being the 'strictest' in enforcing the rules in terms of people maintaining social distancing.

While official figures for arrivals at Heathrow are not yet available, tens of thousands of people are estimated to be coming in to the airport every day at the moment - after about 35,000 a day arrived last month.

Queues again built up yesterday in Heathrow's immigration hall with some travellers reporting having to wait up to an hour before their documentation was checked at Terminal Two, and up to 30 minutes at Terminal Five.

All the electronic passport gates were closed forcing overseas as well as British passport holders to undergo a face-to-face check. British and European Union passport holders were funnelled into one queue while other passport holders into another.

They had to present their passports, a negative test - in most cases a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - and locator form listing where their mandatory ten-day quarantine will take place in Britain.

Passengers arrive at London Heathrow Airport after the new rules on Covid-19 tests came in

Noelia Moreno (left) and Cristina Torrance (right) both arrived at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five. Ms Torrance said she took a 40 Antigen test before leaving Seville and arriving on a British Airways flight.

Marissa Leo, a student arriving at London Heathrow's Terminal Five from Chicago, said she spent 30 minutes queuing to show her documents to immigration officials. She said: 'I had to show the PCR test and locator form but it was all very smooth'

A passenger leaves Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two this morning with all arrivals having to present negative Covid-19 test

Air passengers wait for a lift in the international arrivals hall at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two this morning

Staff instructed arrivals to keep a 6ft (2m) distance from each other but passengers said people ended up facing each other and cramming together.

Initially, only four officials were checking paperwork but as queues lengthened an additional four Border Force staff were brought in to help.

Molly Jarvis, who arrived on an overnight flight from Atlanta, Georgia, told MailOnline at Heathrow: 'Lots of people ended up facing each other as they waited.

'I was a bit concerned about the social distancing and glad to get out. All the e-gates were closed and when I arrived there were only four people at the passport checks. Another four came out.'

Ms Jarvis, a US citizen who lives in London, said the official looked at the time and date of her negative PCR test, adding: 'They were very thorough and wanted to check what day I had taken the test.'

Aviation expert Julian Bray told MailOnline: 'It's been flagged up for ages that anybody coming into the country has got to have the right paperwork and has got to have the negative test. I understand the fines they are handing out are as a minimum because I heard earlier that it's anything between 500 and 1,000.

'They can come in but they're going to have to isolate for ten days. They have been told to isolate for ten days so there's no point (in having a test) then because the idea of the pre-flight test, which has to be done 72 hours in advance of the flight, is that it'll give the airline an idea of whether they've had the test or not.

'But it's surprising the airlines didn't pick up on the deficiencies. The ground crews, quite often they're a separate company, and they're hired in. They're not actually airline employees.

'If they're tasked with checking the paperwork, it sounds like there's a deficiency in the paperwork, so they might have had the test but they weren't given the right paperwork, which comes back to the fact that the Department for Transport directions are not that clear. The whole situation has been very shoddy, the way it's been rolled out.'
Trumps Twitter

Regarding Big Tech has too much power, (A14, Jan. 27): I, like many others, have spent the last four years being embarrassed by the onslaught of information placed on Twitter by our president. At first I felt happy and relieved that Twitter took him off and closed his account. But then I realized the bigger issue. Our right to express ourselves, voice our thoughts and opinions is one of our most basic freedoms. Americas ability to allow freedom of speech and right of assembly needs to remain bigger than the issue of what is actually being said. We must continue to listen to someone voice at the top of their lungs that which we would spend our lifetime disagreeing with at the top of ours. Reviewing material and commenting on its truthfulness is one thing social media should do. But closing down someones account is canceling their right to be wrong, and we have no right to do that.

Chris Tripoli, Houston

Mental health awareness

Regarding Elected officials skip the line for vaccine, (A3, Jan. 19): Despite all the talk and press coverage of mental health issues related to COVID-19, providing these services throughout the pandemic in my office apparently has earned me no place in line for vaccination. I dont qualify for 1A designation because my patients are not known to be ill with the virus. I agree that health-care workers on COVID units should go first, as well as other groups, but there should be some designation for health-care providers who are at risk of exposure trying to provide services in the community, whether affiliated with hospitals or not.

Denis M. Feldman, Houston

As a physician and chair of the Texas District of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, I applaud Gov. Greg Abbotts proclamation of Jan. 23 as Maternal Health Awareness Day.

Too many pregnant or postpartum women experience adverse outcomes or even death. The goal of this observance day is to promote education and awareness to Texas women, families, communities and other health-care providers.

Our nations maternal death rate, which is higher than other developed countries, is highest for non-Hispanic Black women. Cardiovascular conditions are the leading cause and are largely preventable.

The solution requires a community, education and culturally sensitivity, as well as better health care(see cdc.gov/hearher). We must join together with a united purpose, for the sake of our mothers. What better way to start our inaugural Texas Maternal Health Awareness Day?

Eugene C. Toy, Houston
Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony was a star-studded affair with performers like Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez but the one who grabbed the nation's attention was 22-year old African American poet Amanda Gorman.

Gorman, who earned the honour of being the country's first Youth Poet Laureate in 2017, recited a poem called the 'The Hill We Climb' after Biden and Haaris were sworn in.

Minutes after her performance, Gorman started trending on social media with people curious to find out more about the young poet who enamoured the audience with her performance.

Born and raised in Los Angeles by her mother, a middle school teacher, Gorman studied sociology at Harvard. She drew inspiration from Pakistani activist and Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai and became a youth delegate for the United Nations at 16.

She has had a speech impediment since childhood.

"We've seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it / Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy / And this effort very nearly succeeded / But while democracy can be periodically delayed / It can never be permanently defeated," she said in the roughly five-minute reading of her poem.

"We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother / Can dream of becoming president, only to be reciting for one," she added.

"For there is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it," she concluded.

Gorman has great plans for her future. Back in 2017, she told The New York Times that she intends to run for President in 2036. "I'm going to tell Biden that I'll be back," she recently told the AP.

Also read: Joe Biden's Day-1 agenda: To reverse Trump's policies, restore US to WHO, Paris Agreement

Also read: Newly elected US President designs a new look to Oval Office
Probe into 1994 double homicide case against businessman Bykov completed

 sledcom.ru

14:34 21/01/2021

MOSCOW, January 21 (RAPSI)  Investigation into the 1994 double murder case against Krasnoyarsk businessman Anatoly Bykov has been completed, the Investigative Committees press service reports.

According to the Russian Investigative Committee, in the first half of 1994, Alexander Naumov, a 23-year old member of a criminal group headed by Bykov, had a conflict with the gang leader because of unjust, according to him, dividing of the joint criminal income. Later, Bykovs car was exploded. The businessman suspected Naumov and his friend Kirill Voytenko of the blast organization and decided to kill them. He ordered his acquaintance Vladimir Tatarenkov to organize the murder; the latter in turn involved his gang members in the crime. On July 24, 1994, Naumov and Voytenko were shot dead, investigators claimed.

One of the killers Sergey Bakurov was sentenced to life. Another one is on a wanted list. Tatarenkov was sentenced to 13 years in prison, the Investigative Committees statement read.

Bykov pled not guilty. However, investigators claim that many witnesses confirmed that Bykov had business relations with Naumov and a conflict after which the latter was afraid of his life and began wearing body armour.

Moreover, he is prosecuted of leading a criminal community and organization of one more murder. According to investigators, in the summer of 2004, Bykov ordered his acquaintance to kill a 42-year resident of Krasnoyarsk, the founder of an industrial waste utilization firm, for an award of $50,000. On January 18, 2005, the killer shot the victim dead.

Bykov is in detention.
Please know that the health and safety of our students and staff will always be at the forefront of our decision making, she said in a statement.
Corporate presentations of Voltas Ltd today trumpet its landmark early years. In 1956, the company installed eight air conditioners (ACs) at the Mumbai home of chief minister Morarji Desai. And in the early 70s, Indias first high-speed train, the Rajdhani Express, was air-conditioned by Voltas.

The company, however, sold more than just cooling solutions. In the decades preceding economic liberalization, Voltas was a distributor for Amul, Pepsi and Rasna. It sold tomato ketchup and developed milk vending machines for the National Dairy Development Board. The company lost its mojo as an AC maker in the mid-90s when multinationals launched an array of good-looking products.

Broadly, this is the story of most Indian companies, big and small. In the licence-permit raj era, pre-1991, manufacturers were given licences to make products but the capacities allotted were limited. Businesses couldnt expand beyond a point in one product category; they went horizontal, trying to play in many industries.

Take the example of ELGi Equipments Ltd, a Coimbatore-based mid-tier compressor maker. Pre-1991, the company sold compressors, automotive equipment, braking systems for trucks, pasteurizers and washers for breweries and drip irrigation systems, among others. As the licensing system was dismantled, new market entrants with more capital and superior technology ate into the companys share.

Nonetheless, both Voltas and ELGi bounced back. This is the tale of two Indian companiesa large consumer-facing company and a smaller business-to-business manufacturerthat learnt crucial life lessons after liberalization, adapted and eventually thrived.

While Voltas started in 1954, ELGi was established in 1960. Both the firms had a lean 10 years after the economy opened up. Voltas slipped in the pecking order, from being No. 1 in the AC market to No. 7 between 1993 and 2005. ELGis growth declined. Between 1995-96 and 2005-06, the company grew by about 6% every year while the economy jumped 7-8% in seven of the 10 years.

Voltas is back to being the No.1 AC maker today; ELGi, which mostly sold in the domestic market and Russia before 1991, is now a global player in compressors, selling in 120 countries.

How did the two companies turn around? Turns out, most companies that survived and thrived in the post-liberalization era did things that seem commonsensical today. For instance, focus on a few products they could compete in rather than be a marginal player in many. Yet that period of adjustment took several years.

Indian companies ran on relationships rather than processes. Because of the shift towards cost competitiveness, companies adopted process-improvement techniques like Six Digma," said R. Gopalakrishnan, author and a former director at Tata Sons Ltd. The realization was that companies should run irrespective of who was the boss," he added. Consumer goods companies would manufacture everything internally before 1991. They started shifting to outsourcing over a period of time."

THE VOLTAS TALE

Before India opened up, the consumer electronics landscape in India had fewer players. Voltas dominated the AC market; BPL was known for televisions; Videocon for washing machines and refrigerators. Around 2000-01, the competitive landscape changed with LG, Samsung and Sony aggressively marketing its products.

The multinationals came not just with deep pockets but with superior manufacturing processes. Indian manufacturers, like Gopalakrishnan mentioned, had high fixed costs. In the AC market, the multinationals started introducing spiffier indoor units. Consumers, all of a sudden, were flooded with choice.

With the entry of multinationals in India, we realized that our products were getting irrelevant and that we had to create a differentiation," said Pradeep Bakshi, managing director and chief executive officer of Voltas. In 2006-07, we set up a new factory at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand and differentiated our ACs by introducing energy efficient and technologically advanced products at an affordable price. That is how we started clawing back a lead over our competition and regained our market leadership."

Before the new factory came up, Voltas had manufacturing plants scattered across the country because of the fragmented nature of its business. From a vast array of products and services, the firm decided to focus on ACs and commercial refrigeration products. It hived off cost-heavy plants in cities like Hyderabad.

The Pantnagar plant was a lean unitjust like carmakers, Voltas encouraged suppliers to set up ancillary factories around its plant. Instead of Voltas investing in components, the companys suppliers invested in return for promised business volumes. This turned around Voltas cost structure. Profit after tax stood at 22 crore in 1995. Profits doubled in 2004-05 to 50 crore but spectacularly shot up to 385 crore in 2009-10.

The second phase of the companys turnaround started in 2010-11 with the launch of an all-weather AC. The all-weather positioning, backed by aggressive marketing, firmly established the brand in the consumers mind. Voltas also opened up many more distribution channels in modern retail, regional retail and multi-brand outlets. We have been the market leader with a huge lead over our immediate competitor for the last 10 years. Today, we have a 27% market share in the AC category," Bakshi said. In 2019-20, LG, the No. 2 player, had a market share of about 14%, according to market research reports. In 2011, LG led the market with a share of 28%.

ElGis JOURNEY

ELGi grew its revenues 28% between 1981 and 1990. The revenue growth nosedived to 10% in the next decade, between 1991 and 2000, because of its reliance on domestic sales and weaker products. ELGis revenue growth consequently picked up; between 2001 and 2010 the firm clocked a CAGR of 16%.

We had to either sell or shut down most of our businesses. We shrunk it down to twocompressors and automotive equipment," said Jairam Varadaraj, ELGi managing director.

Some of the businesses the company sold were profitable in the 90s. Nevertheless, Varadaraj realized that market share and profits would be illusionary" in the future because his company didnt have the technology required to sustain many of the products it manufactured, given the growing competition. The divestment took seven to eight years.

The company then invested heavily in the businesses it retained, particularly compressors. It built stronger manufacturing systems, quality processes and developed its own technology while focussing on productivity.

The Indian market size was not big enough to justify the investment we were making. Our aspiration had to be global. It was a long haul. We now sell in over 100 countries but strategic markets are Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Europe and America," Varadaraj said. From 2011, international sales for compressors got a boost as ELGi made acquisitions in Europe and the US. In 2019-20, 45% of the companys income of 1,829 crore came from international sales.

Professor Kavil Ramachandran, executive director of the Thomas Schmidheiny Centre for Family Enterprise at the Indian School of Business, said family businesses in the 90s were shored up by the arrival of the next generation. The manufacturing sector needed more competitiveness, technology, professionalism and working with non-family professionals. That was enabled by the arrival of the next generation, many of whom were educated outside India," he said.

This certainly appears to be true in the case of ELGi and other family concerns that have thrived. They managed to do this by shifting the basis of competitiveness from managing Delhi and getting licences to making products that are globally competitive.

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The American flag blows in the wind outside the Supreme Court building on Sept. 18, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Ideological Alignment Pushing America Toward Totalitarianism, Experts Warn

Concerns over the nexus of big tech, big media, and big government

News Analysis

The formation of a totalitarian state is just about complete in America as the most powerful public and private sector actors unify behind the idea that actions to stamp out dissent can be justified, according to several experts on modern totalitarian ideologies.

While many have warned about the rise of fascism or socialism in the land of the free, the ideas have largely been vague or fragmented, focusing on individual events or actors. Recent events, however, indicate that seemingly unconnected pieces of the oppression puzzle are fitting together to form a comprehensive system, according to Michael Rectenwald, a retired liberal arts professor at New York University.

But many Americans, it appears, have been caught off guard or arent even aware of the newly forming regime, as the idea of elected officials, government bureaucrats, large corporations, the establishment academia, think tanks and nonprofits, the legacy media, and even seemingly grassroots movements all working in concert toward some evil purpose seems preposterous. Is a large portion of the country in on a conspiracy?

The reality now emerges that no massive conspiracy was, in fact, neededmerely an ideological alignment and some informal coordination, Rectenwald argues.

Despite the lack of formal overarching organization, the American socialist regime is indeed totalitarian, as the root of its ideology requires politically motivated coercion, he told The Epoch Times. The power of the regime isnt yet absolute, but its becoming increasingly effective as it erodes the values, checks, and balances against tyranny established by traditional beliefs and enshrined in the American founding.

The effects can be seen throughout society. Americans, regardless of their income, demographics, or social stature, are being fired from jobs, getting stripped of access to basic services such as banking and social media, or having their businesses crippled for voicing political opinions and belonging to a designated political underclass. Access to sources of information unsanctioned by the regime is becoming increasingly difficult. Some figures of power and influence are sketching the next step, labeling large segments of society as extremists and potential terrorists who need to be deprogrammed.

While the onset of the regime appears tied to events of recent yearsthe presidency of Donald Trump, the CCP virus pandemic, the Capitol intrusion of Jan. 6its roots go back decades.

Is It Really Totalitarian?

Totalitarian regimes are commonly understood as constituting a government headed by a dictator that regiments the economy, censors the media, and quells dissent by force. Thats not the case in America, but its also a misunderstanding of how such regimes function, literature on totalitarianism indicates.

To claim power, the regimes dont initially need to control every aspect of society through government.

Adolf Hitler, leader of the National Socialist Workers Party in Nazi Germany, used various means to control the economy, including gaining compliance of industry leaders voluntarily, through intimidation, or through replacing the executives with party loyalists.

Similarly, the regime rearing its head in America relies on corporate executives to implement its agenda voluntarily but also through intimidation by online brigades of activists and journalists who take initiative to launch negative public relations campaigns and boycotts to progress their preferred societal structure.

Also, Hitler initially didnt control the spread of information via government censorship but rather through his brigades of street thugs, the brown shirts, who would intimidate and physically prevent his opponents from speaking publicly.

The tactic parallels the often successful efforts to cancel and shut down public speakers by activists and violent actors such as Antifa.

Dissenting media in America havent been silenced by the government directly as of yet, but they are stymied in other ways.

In the digital age, media largely rely on reaching and growing their audience through social media and web search engines, which are dominated by Facebook and Google. Both companies have in place mechanisms to crack down on dissenting media.

Google gives preference in its search results to sources it deems authoritative. Search results indicate the company tends to consider media ideologically close to it to be more authoritative. Such media can then produce hit pieces on their competitors, giving Google justification to slash the authoritativeness of the dissenters.

Facebook employs third-party fact-checkers who have the discretion to label content as false and thus reduce the audience on its platform. Virtually all the fact-checkers focused on American content are ideologically aligned with Facebook.

Attempts to set up alternative social media have run into yet more fundamental obstacles, as demonstrated by Parler, whose mobile app was terminated by Google and Apple, while the company was kicked off Amazons servers.

To the degree that a totalitarian regime requires a police state, theres no U.S. law targeting dissenters explicitly. But there are troubling signs of selective, politically motivated enforcement. Signs go back to the IRSs targeting of Tea Party groups or the difference in treatment received by former Trump adviser retired Lt. Gen Michael Flynn and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabeboth allegedly lying to investigators but only one getting prosecuted. The situation may get still worse as the restrictions tied to the CCP virus see broad swaths of ordinary human behavior being considered illegal, opening the door to nearly universal political targeting.

I think the means by which a police state is being set up is the demonization of Trump supporters and the likely use of medical passports to institute the effective equivalent of social credit scores, Rectenwald said.

While loyalty to the government and to a specific political party plays a major role, its the allegiance to the ideological root of totalitarianism that gives the system its foot soldiers, literature on the subject indicates.

Totalitarian Ideology

The element that holds totalitarianism together as a composite of intellectual elements is the ambition of fundamentally reimagining societythe intention to create a New Man, said author Richard Shorten in Modernism and Totalitarianism: Rethinking the Intellectual Sources of Nazism and Stalinism, 1945 to the Present.

Various ideologies have framed the ambition differently, based on what they posited as the key to the transformation.

Karl Marx, co-author of the Communist Manifesto, viewed the control of the economy as primary, describing socialism as socialized man, the associated producers, rationally regulating their interchange with Nature, bringing it under their common control, instead of being ruled by it as by the blind forces of Nature, in his Das Kapital.

Meanwhile, Hitler viewed race as primary. People would become socializedthat is transformed and perfectedby removing Jews and other supposedly lesser races from society, he claimed.

The most dominant among the current ideologies stems from the so-called critical theories, by which the perfected society is defined by equity, meaning elimination of differences in outcomes for people in demographic categories deemed historically marginalized. The goal is to be achieved by eliminating the ever-present white supremacy, however the ideologues currently define it.

While such ideologies commonly prescribe collectivism, calling for national or even international unification behind their agenda, they are elitist and dictatorial in practice as they find mankind never woke enough to follow their agenda voluntarily.

In Marxs prophecies, the revolution was supposed to occur spontaneously. Yet, it never did, leading Vladimir Lenin, the first head of the Soviet Union, to conclude that the revolution will need leadership after all.

The idea is that you have some enlightened party  who understand the problem of the proletariat better than the proletariat does and is going to shepherd them through the revolution that they need to have for the greater good, said James Lindsay, author of Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identityand Why This Harms Everybody.

Elements of this intellectual foundation can be found in ideologies of many current political forces, from neo-nazis and anarcho-communists, through to progressives, and to some extent even neoliberals and neoconservatives, Lindsay said.

This is why you see so many people today saying that the only possible answers are a full return to classical liberalism or a complete rejection of liberalism entirely as fatally disposed to create progressivism, neoliberalism, etc., he said.

Thats not to say these ideologies are openly advocating totalitarianism, but rather that they inevitably lead to it.

The roadmap could be summarized as follows:

Theres something fundamentally and intolerably wrong with current reality Theres a plan to fix it requiring a whole society buy-in People opposing the plan need to be educated about the plan so they accept it People who resist the persuasion need to be reeducated, even against their will People who wont accept the plan, no matter what, need to be removed from society.

I think thats the general thrust, Lindsay said. We can make the world the way we want it to be if we all just get on the same page and same project. Its a disaster, frankly.

Points four and five now appear to be in progress.

Former Facebook executive Alex Stamos recently labeled the widespread questioning of the 2020 election results as violent extremism, which social media companies should eradicate the same way they countered online recruitment content from the ISIS terrorist group.

The core issue, he said, is that we have given a lot of leeway, both in traditional media and on social media, to people to have a very broad range of political views, and this has led to the emergence of more and more radical alternative media like OAN and Newsmax.

Stamos then mused about how to reform Americans whove tuned in to the dissenters.

How do you bring those people back into the mainstream of fact-based reporting and try to get us all back into the same consensus reality? he asked in a CNN interview.

And can you? Is that possible? CNN host Brian Stelter said.

The logic goes as follows: Trump claimed the election was stolen through fraud and other illegalities. That hasnt been proven in court and is thus false. People who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and managed to break inside and disrupt the electoral vote counting did so because they believed the election was stolen. Therefore, anybody who questions the legitimacy of the election results is an extremist and potentially a terrorist.

With tens of thousands of troops assembled to guard the inauguration of President Joe Biden, Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) recently told CNN that all guard members who voted for Trump belong to a suspect group that might want to do something, alluding to past leaders of other countries who were killed by their own people.

Former FBI Director James Comey recently said the Republican Party needs to be burned down or changed.

They want a one-party state, conservative filmmaker Dinesh DSouza said in a recent podcast. That is not to say they dont want an opposition. They want a token opposition. They want Republicans where they get to say what kind of Republican is OK.

Just as Marx blamed the ills of the world on capitalists and Hitler on Jews, the current regime tends to blame various permutations of white supremacy.

Expel the Republican members of Congress who incited the white supremacist attempted coup, said Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) in a recent tweet, garnering some 300,000 likes. She was referring to the Republican lawmakers who raised objections on Jan. 6 to election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Their objections were voted down.

Can U.S. Spy Agencies Stop White Terror? Daily Beasts Jeff Stein asked in a recent headline, concluding that a call for secret police to sniff out extremist Americans may well get renewed attention.

Under the regime, allegations of election fraudde facto questioning the legitimacy of the leaderhave become incitement of terrorism. YouTube (owned by Google), Facebook, and Twitter have either banned content that claims the election was rigged or are furnishing it with warning labels. Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey was recently recorded as saying that banning the presidents account was just the beginning.

The approach closely mirrors that of the Chinese communist regime, which commonly targets dissidents for subverting the state or spreading rumors.

Whats the Alternative?

If calls for radically reorganizing the world are inherently totalitarian, how is the world to avoid them? The question appears to be its own answer. If totalitarianism inherently requires allegiance to its ideology, it cant exist in a society with a lack of such allegiance.

The United States was founded on the idea that individual rights are God-given and unalienable. The idea, rooted in traditional beliefs that human morality is of divine origin, stands a bulwark against any attempt to assail peoples rights even for their own good.

Rectenwald said: If youre not a believer in actual God, you can posit a Gods ideal on the matter.  We have to posit some arbiter whos above and beyond our own prejudices and biases in order to ensure these kinds of rights.  Because otherwise, you have this infinitely malleable situation in which people with power and coercive potential can eliminate and rationalize the elimination of rights willy-nilly.
Madam Shirley Ayorkor-Botchwey, Chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, says ECOWAS will continue to assist the Government and people of Guinea Bissau on their democratic journey.



She said ECOWAS would pursue the agenda even after the drawdown of the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) and the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) in the latter part of 2021.



Madam Ayorkor-Botchwey said this in her opening address at the 45th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



She said the meeting would examine the report of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial level, and internal memoranda, including; the Memorandum on the Political and Security situation in the region, update on the Status of the implementation of the National Early Warning Centres in the Member States, and the Humanitarian situation in the region.



Madam Ayorkor-Botchwey called on Ministers and Representatives of Member States to conduct a thorough consideration of the recommendations from the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial level and the various memoranda that had been put before them for approval.



She acknowledged the determination of the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, his peers and the entire ECOWAS Commission, led by Jean-Claude Kassi BROU, in steering most proficiently the programmes of the Commission, and especially for supporting and consolidating the peace and stability of the region.



Madam Botchwey commended members of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial Level and ECOWAS Ambassadors for the remarkable contributions towards peace and security in the region, noting that elections in six of its member countries - Togo, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cote dIvoire, Ghana and Niger- demonstrated ECOWASs growing democratic credentials.



Speaking on COVID-19, she said it was time not to let ones guard down and said, We need solidarity, a common resolve, and a coordinated regional effort if we are to succeed in eradicating this scourge.

Source: GNA









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Featured Video
Newsfrom Japan

Tokyo, Jan. 21 (Jiji Press)--Tokyo High Court on Thursday denied the responsibility of the Japanese government over the March 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima Prefecture.

The high court revoked part of a lower court ruling that ordered the government to pay compensation to evacuees over the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s <9501> Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

Presiding Judge Akira Adachi said that the government "was unable to foresee the occurrence of the massive tsunami" that caused the accident, based on a long-term evaluation by a state panel.

The lawsuit involved 91 residents of the northeastern prefecture who sought 450 million yen in total damages from the government and TEPCO after the accident forced them to evacuate to Gunma Prefecture, eastern Japan, and elsewhere.

The high court ordered TEPCO to pay some 120 million yen in total to 90 plaintiffs. The plaintiffs plan to file an appeal.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
The new 2021 Dodge Durango is the winner of a Vincentric Best Value in America award, taking home the honors for the Large SUV/Crossover segment.



The Vincentric Best Value in America awards are model-specific honors that determine the best value in each segment. Value is determined using a statistical analysis that incorporates the total cost of ownership of all vehicles for the 2021 model year along with the current market price of those vehicles.



"The Dodge Durango had a strong performance in the 2021 Vincentric Best Value in America awards," said David Wurster, Vincentric President. "It had the best results in more cost categories than any other vehicle in its segment, including the lowest fuel, depreciation, fixed and operating costs. Combined, these low costs helped the Durango outperform all competitors and earn the win for 2021."



Dodge Durango, the ultimate "no-compromise" SUV and the Charger of the three-row SUV segment, raises the bar for 2021 with new aggressive exterior styling, a new interior with a Challenger-inspired cockpit and more performance than ever with six distinct models  SXT, GT, Citadel, R/T, SRT 392 and the new 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat  the most powerful SUV ever.



The Challenger and Charger muscle car exteriors are reflected in the Durango's new, aggressive exterior, which features a new front fascia, LED low/high projector headlamps, LED daytime running lamp (DRL) signatures, grille, rear spoiler and wheels.



The Durango interior is significantly upgraded for the 2021 model year with a new performance-inspired cockpit, including a redesigned instrument panel, center console and front doors, and five-times-faster Uconnect 5 with the largest-in-class available 10.1-inch touchscreen. With all of the updates, the interior feels more driver-oriented, modern and refined than the outgoing model.



The new Tow N Go Package on the 2021 Durango R/T AWD leverages its 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine performance, SRT's menacing looks, unmatched best-in-class towing of 8,700 pounds, an improved top speed of 145 mph, Track, Sport, Snow and Tow drive modes and SRT-tuned performance exhaust with an iconic Dodge exhaust rumble.



The 2021 Durango Citadel is the all-in luxury trim of the Durango lineup, delivering many premium features as standard equipment, including heated and ventilated Nappa leather driver and passenger seats, the full suite of safety features and more. The Citadel offers two powertrain options, both of which include class IV towing with integrated trailer brake as standard equipment:

The award-winning 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine, rated at up to 295 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, and 6,200 lbs. towing capacity is standard

The classic 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine, available on the Citadel , produces a best-in-class 360 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque with 7,200 lbs. towing capacity

As the industry's only three-row muscle car, the Durango maintains its claim of being a family-friendly SUV with available seating for up to seven, standard Dodge muscle car attitude and the capability of best-in-class towing leadership at every trim level.



Vincentric

Vincentric provides data, knowledge, and insight to the automotive industry by identifying and applying the many aspects of automotive value. Vincentric data is used by organizations such as AAA, JD Power, FCA and other OEMs as a means of providing automotive insight to their clientele. Vincentric, LLC was founded in 2004 and is a privately held automotive data compilation and analysis firm headquartered in Bingham Farms, Michigan.

Dodge//SRT

For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.



2021 marks the year that Dodge is distilled into a pure performance brand, offering Hellcat-powered, 700-plus-horsepower SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2021 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the new 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the new 710-horsepower Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat, the most powerful SUV ever. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry's most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.



In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). The Dodge brand also ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market). These results are historic because it marks the first time a domestic brand has earned top spots in both J.D. Power studies in the same year.



Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.



Follow Dodge and company news and video on:

Company blog: http://blog.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Media website: http://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com

Dodge brand: www.dodge.com

DodgeGarage: www.dodgegarage.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dodge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dodgeofficial

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dodge

YouTube: www.youtube.com/dodge, https://www.youtube.com/StellantisNA

SOURCE Stellantis

Related Links

http://www.stellantis.com


Joe Biden took to Twitter yesterday to pledge to start work on rebuilding US. Photo: Saul Loeb/Reuters

Joe Biden became @POTUS on Twitter yesterday. But unlike four years ago, when Donald Trump took over the handle, Biden wont keep the accounts current followers.

He took over the account yesterday with more than 955,000 followers. These are those who had followed his transition account in the last week. Trumps POTUS account became @POTUS45 at the same time.

The previous followers of the POTUS account will get a notification about the transfer with the option to follow Bidens POTUS account if they wish.

Bidens first tweet as US president was sent from the account at 12.36pm (US time).

There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face, the tweet read. Thats why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.

Mr Bidens digital director Rob Flaherty had called Twitters transition plan for the official accounts profoundly insufficient in a tweet last week. Theyre bending themselves over backwards to break with the 2017 protocol they set on the transfer of accounts, and also breaking with every other social platform in providing the new administration a follower base, he said. Twitter declined to comment.

The move of accounts between administrations is just one of a broader digital transition among social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube taking place as Biden became US president.

Social media companies are handing over the keys to the White House accounts to the Biden administration after archiving them on Inauguration Day, ushering in what is expected to mark a different tone and cadence of the accounts after the past four years.

The Biden administration took over the @POTUS account on Twitter, as well as @WhiteHouse, @VP, @FLOTUS and @PressSec.

On Facebook, the administration took over accounts for the White House and POTUS, and on YouTube they will inherit the White House channel.

( Washington Post)

 Washington Post
Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was fondly known for portraying diverse roles with perfection, passed away in June 2020 but his unforgettable charm lives on. Remembering the star on hi 35th birthday anniversary, celebrities, fans and other well-wishers took to social media to pay their tributes to Bollywood's ever-shining star.
Beijing hoping vaccines can win hearts of Taiwanese

Taipei says vaccines have become the latest frontline in Beijing's charm offensive. File photo: AFP

Beijing is touting a state programme that gives Taiwanese on the mainland priority for Covid-19 vaccines, prompting concern within Taiwan's government which sees it as the latest mainland tool to win over the island's population.



Beijing is making the free-of-charge offer at a time when Taipei has yet to begin vaccinations of its own, with mainland government departments and state media quoting Taiwanese on the mainland in support of the programme.



"This shows the mainland's warmth and affection towards us," a Taiwanese teacher surnamed Wang was quoted as saying in a post this month by China's United Front Work Department, which is in charge of co-opting overseas Chinese and non-communists.



Beijing has for decades offered incentives such as tax breaks and subsidies to the estimated 400,000-strong Taiwanese business community on the mainland, but the move underscores a greater push to curry favour.



Wang Yang, the Communist Party's No. 4 leader, this week instructed government officials to offer Taiwanese comprehensive benefits in a bid to give "a sense of gain" among Taiwanese in aid of the "reunification with the motherland".



It is unclear how many Taiwanese on the mainland have been vaccinated but in Taiwan, officials are unnerved by the programme and say vaccines have become the latest frontline in Beijing's charm offensive.



"The tactic is to reinforce Taiwanese businessmen's allegiance towards the mainland and further add pressure to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party," a Taiwan security official investigating the matter said.



The official was not authorised to speak to the media and declined to be identified.



Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement that vaccination is a matter for the medical profession and "should not be used as political propaganda."



Taiwanese should "cautiously evaluate the safety and necessity" of receiving vaccines on the mainland, it said, adding that it will continue to monitor the situation.



Taiwan government officials have repeatedly reminded people of health "risks" related to Chinese vaccines and said those who get the vaccines on the mainland must still undergo 14-day quarantine when returning to the island. Imports of the vaccines are banned.



Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office referred the media to recent remarks it made that Taiwan's government was spreading "baseless concerns" over the Chinese vaccines for "political purposes", and that China's vaccines were "very safe".



While Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention methods, the government has come under increasing pressure amid a rare outbreak of domestically transmitted Covid-19 cases.



Taiwan has ordered nearly 20 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, including 10 million from AstraZeneca, but none will start arriving until March at the earliest. (Reuters)
Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump waves after landing at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

Florida Rep. Proposes Renaming Major Florida Highway President Donald J. Trump Highway

Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-Fla.) is planning to propose legislation that would name the U.S. 27 Route in Florida as the President Donald J. Trump Highway, in honor of the 45th president of the United States.

This legislative session I will be sponsoring an amendment to rename U.S. Highway 27 as the President Donald J. Trump Highway, This great highway runs through the heartland of Florida in the State that President Trump calls home, the representative wrote on his Facebook page.

Rep. Sabatini told the Orlando Sentinel that he chose Route 27 because it passes through Lake County, his home district.

Its one of the most historic highways and one of the longest highways which goes through pretty much the whole state, Sabatini said. I just think its a pretty good choice.

The 481-mile highway connects the states capital Tallahassee to Miami.

Looking forward to working on this important designation honoring one of the greatest Presidents in American History, Sabatini wrote on a Twitter post on Tuesday.

During the last moments of Donald Trumps presidency, he traveled by motorcade from a Florida airport to his private club Mar-a-Lago.

He was greeted by a crowd of supporters in Florida on Wednesday.

Trump flew to West Palm Beach from Washington via Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

We just wanted to show him how much we appreciate him, Anita Bargas, who traveled from Texas, told WLPG.

For the most part, its just a somber but at the same time celebratory moment for us to welcome him back home, Trump supporter Iam Hedendal added.

We want to show him hes not alone, Daniel Rakus, a 65-year-old Palm Beach resident, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He did a great job. We support him.

President Trump knows we had his back from the very beginning, and he proved that he had our back.

Lisa Beche, 53, a Boca Raton resident, added, He is one of the best. She gave high marks to his presidency. For four years, we were listened to. We were heard.

Trump left Washington on Wednesday morning, skipping inauguration ceremonies for President Joe Biden, who was sworn in around noon. Every president in the past 100 years had attended his successors inauguration, according to the White House Historical Association.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania make their way to board Marine One before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.

A healthcare worker receives a dose of Covishield, a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India, at a government-run hospital at Baruipur on the outskirts of Kolkata. (Image: Reuters)

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has clarified that neither a vial of COVID-19 vaccine nor a session is wasted in case of absenteeism as the jabs are allotted to another beneficiary.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the vaccination drive with healthcare workers at the frontline of India's COVID-19 battle getting their first jabs on January 16.

Indias drug regulator has approved two vaccines - Covaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield from the Oxford/AstraZeneca stable being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India -- for emergency use in the country.

Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic

According to the government, the shots will be offered first to an estimated one crore healthcare workers and around two crore frontline workers, and then to persons above 50 years of age, followed by persons younger than 50 years of age with associated comorbidities.

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

A total of 7.86 lakh beneficiaries have so far been vaccinated for COVID-19 through 14,119 sessions held till the evening of the fifth day of the immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry.

Here are all developments related to the COVID-19 vaccine in India:

> On the third day of the COVID-19 inoculation drive in Maharashtra, 18,166 healthcare workers or 68 percent of the targeted beneficiaries for the day were administered vaccine doses on January 20, according to an official release.

> The authorities have ordered an investigation to find out how 1,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine got frozen and wasted due to their storage in sub-zero temperature violating norms at Silchar Medical College and Hospital in Assam's Cachar district, an official said.

> Bhutan and Maldives have become the first two countries to receive COVID-19 vaccines from India under grants assistance in sync with its 'neighbourhood first' policy.

> India will provide one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal under grant assistance, the Minister for Health and Population said.

> IndiGo has transported 21.6 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 16 cities across the country between January 12 and January 19. The vaccines were moved from Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune to 16 locations across the country, including Vijayawada, Guwahati, Patna, Raipur, Bhopal, Thiruvananthapuram, Indore, Imphal, Agartala, via 21 flights, IndiGo said in a statement.

> Altogether 1,097 healthcare workers received coronavirus vaccine shots in Nagaland on January 20, taking the number of vaccinated beneficiaries to 3,970, a health official said.

> As many as 45 healthcare workers received COVID-19 vaccine in Himachal Pradesh on the day, a health official said.

States Total Beneficiaries Andhra Pradesh 22,548 Bihar 38 Chhattisgarh 5,219 Karnataka 36,211 Kerala 262 Madhya Pradesh 6,731 Tamil Nadu 25,251 Telangana 6,834 West Bengal 2,296 Maharashtra 16,261 Odisha 7,891 Punjab 2,003 Haryana 1,192

On January 20, 1,12,007 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm through 2,353 sessions, the ministry said. Here is the state-wise vaccination on the day:

(With inputs from PTI)

Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here
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A drunk driver has crashed his luxury Mercedes into a Melbourne tram barrier on Thursday morning.

A 33-year-old man was driving his Mercedes AMG that retails for around $855,000, along Nicholson Street when he smashed into a tram stop barrier near Elgin Street at around 12.45am.

Victorian Police said the Baybrook man and his female passenger 'were very lucky they weren't injured' when the car mounted the barricade and became stuck.

A drunk driver has smashed his Mercedes AMG into a tram stop barrier near Elgin Street (pictured)

Emergency services were called to the scene to remove the vehicle from the barrier.

The man returned a positive breath test before recording a reading of .127, police said.

The 33-year-old's license was immediately suspended.

The driver is expected to be charged on summons with drink driving.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba discussed with State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi the priorities for developing strategic partnerships between the countries for this year and asked for assistance in granting permission to export COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine.

The two ministers discussed these issues during a phone conversation on January 21, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Kuleba expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the Chinese government to the Ukrainian government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, and asked his Chinese counterpart to facilitate the early granting of permission to export the Chinese coronavirus vaccine to Ukraine.

"We consider the issue of cooperation in relation to vaccines not just as an intergovernmental agreement but as interaction between the peoples of China and Ukraine," he stressed.

In turn, Wang Yi assured of the PRC governments readiness to continue supporting Ukraine in the fight against COVID-19 until the pandemic is completely overcome.

The Chinese side reaffirmed its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine, as well as for the country's development course chosen by the Ukrainian people.

ish
Mumbai, Jan 21 : The real estate sector in India attracted private equity investments of around $4,068 million involving 21 deals in 2020, said a Knight Frank India report.

The report noted that India attracted private equity investments to the tune of $38,149 million in total last year and real estate sector accounted for 11 per cent of it. The share of office and warehousing PE investments have jumped remarkably over the last decade from 24 per cent in 2011 to 62 per cent in 2020 and 6 per cent to 24 per cent during the same period, respectively.

Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director, Knight Frank India said: "Despite a slowdown in overall PE investment, we continue to witness a strong investor appetite for rent yielding office assets. Knight Frank believes that with more clarity on the pandemic resolution and sense on structural changes, the deal activity is expected to pick up further in 2021." "After a temporary lull due to the global lockdowns in early 2020, India witnessed sharp resurgence in investor sentiments towards the end of the year. The real estate sector in India witnessed private equity investments to the tune of $4.1 billion in 2020 of which $2.64 billion (64 per cent of annual investments) came in the last quarter of 202," said Rajani Sinha, Chief Economist & National Director of Research, Knight Frank India.

Since 2011, on average investors invested through both debt and equity structures. However, there is a shift in investors' risk appetite as 96 per cent of total PE investment was through the equity route in 2020. The trend is likely continue in the near future, Sinha said.

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A former Inspector General of Police, Gambo Jimeta, is dead.

His death was confirmed by the presidency in a statement by presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr Jimeta died Thursday although the cause of his death could not be ascertained at press time.

President Muhammadu Buhari expresses sadness over the death of Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta, a one-time Inspector General of Police whose transition was announced Thursday evening, Mr Shehu wrote.

Conveying the condolences of his family and that of the government and people of Nigeria, the President describes the late crack police detective as a man of great courage, intellect and a true Nigerian Statesman, adding that Today, Nigeria lost a great son. He lived for the nation and served with all his strength.

May Allah bless his soul and give fortitude to the bereaved family, the government and people of Adamawa State to bear this irreparable loss, President Buhari prayed.

Mr Jimeta was appointed IGP in 1986 to succeed Etim Inyang. He was succeeded by Aliyu Attah in 1990.
No headway at police-farmer unions meeting on Republic Day tractor parade

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 21: The second round of meeting between the police and farmer unions regarding the proposed January 26 tractor rally by them remained inconclusive on Thursday as the farmers stuck to their demand of taking out the rally on Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road.

Taking to reporters after the meeting, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said the police wanted the farmer leaders to take out their tractor rally outside the national capital. "We will do our parade peacefully inside Delhi.

Punjab govt gives Rs 5 lakh each to families of 4 farmers who died during protest

They wanted us to hold the tractor rally outside Delhi, which is not possible," Yadav, who is actively participating in the ongoing agitation against the Centre's new farm laws, said. Sources said police officers tried to convince the protesting farm unions to hold their tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway instead of the Outer Ring Road, but in vain.

A farmer leader, who attended the meeting with the police, said, "The government wants us to take out our rally outside Delhi, but we want to hold it inside Delhi. No decision was taken in today's meeting." Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) SS Yadav coordinated the meeting held at Mantram Resort near the Singhu border.

Farmers protest: Govt ready to suspend laws for 18 months; next meeting on Jan 22

The meeting was also attended by Special Commissioner (Law and Order-Western Zone) Sanjay Singh, Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) Dependra Pathak and other senior officers from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police.

A similar meeting was held on Wednesday between the union leaders and officers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana police at Vigyan Bhawan to discuss the route and arrangements of the proposed rally on January 26.

However, the farmer unions had rejected a suggestion by the police officers to hold the rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road, sources said. Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at several Delhi border points against the Centre's new agriculture laws for nearly two months.

The unions representing the farmers have begun holding tractor rallies at villages in Punjab to mobilise people for the demonstration on Republic Day. The farmers are vehemently opposing the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.

Enacted in September last year, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

V in the V shaped: India within striking distancing of attaining positive growth

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP (minimum support price) and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 14:37 [IST]
EU leaders shift focus to the new coronavirus variants whose spread risks outpacing the hope that vaccines will put a quickish end to the pandemic in Europe, reports AFP. The chiefs will hold a summitby videolink to protect themselves from infection"to raise political awareness on the seriousness of the situation with the new variants," an EU official said. Virus mutations that emerged in Britain, South Africa and Brazil have alarmed EU authorities because of their increased infectivity, prompting bans or restrictions on travellers from those countries.

USA rejoins WHO on Biden order

View Full Image In April last year, as the coronavirus pandemic was spreading across the globe, Trump cut off US funding to the WHO

The US rejoined the World Health Organisation (WHO) in one of the first official orders of the Joe Biden presidency, reversing a key foreign policy decision his predecessor Donald Trump took last year after accusing the UN health agency of incompetence and bowing to Chinese pressure over the coronavirus pandemic. In April last year, as the coronavirus pandemic was spreading across the globe, Trump cut off US funding to the WHO, saying it was "virtually controlled by China." He then went further, triggering the process to pull the US completely out of the organisation. The withdrawal was due to go into effect in July this year, but Biden's order will cancel it, reports the Press Trust of India. Biden also announced America's return to the international Paris Agreement to fight climate change. Biden has promised to put the United States on a track to net-zero emissions by 2050.

Eyes on Turkey as Ankara FM visits



View Full Image The European Union will press Turkey to make good on recent gestures from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to calm tensions

The European Union will press Turkey to make good on recent gestures from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to calm tensions, as Ankara's foreign minister visits Brussels, reports AFP. Mevlut Cavusoglu will meet EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and then council president Charles Michel on Friday in a push to mend ties between the 27-nation bloc and its hulking southeastern neighbour. Tensions between Brussels and Ankara reached new levels last year after Turkey repeatedly sent a ship to search for gas deposits in disputed waters, angering the EU and its member states Greece and Cyprus. But, in the weeks after Turkey withdrew the vessel, Oruc Reis, in November and Brussels announced plans to expand sanctions last month, both sides have softened their rhetoric. In an important move, Turkey and Greece agreed to hold exploratory talks on their maritime dispute in Istanbul on January 25, resuming consultations suspended in 2016.

Covids impact on housing



View Full Image Covid has impacted not just property prices, but also apartment sizes

Covid has impacted not just property prices, but also apartment sizes. Average apartment size in residential projects launched last year increased by 10% to 1,150 sq ft, as builders expected demand for bigger flats to rise after the covid-19 pandemic, according to property consultant Anarock. The consultant said the average apartment sizes were reducing year-on-year since 2016 but the trend has reversed last year. The reasons for apartment sizes reducing in previous years were affordability and millennials' preference for low-maintenance homes. Keen to generate more buyer interest with smaller price-tags, developers whittled down their flat sizes. However, the year 2020 saw an almost immediate reversal of buyer preferences. As more people started accommodating the work-from-home and learn-from-home culture, flat sizes began increasing for the first time in four years.

Sri Lanka reopens to tourists



View Full Image Full operations also resumed Thursday at the island's two international airports, accommodating the commercial flights

Sri Lanka reopened to foreign tourists Thursday after a nearly 10-month pandemic closure that cut deeply into the Indian Ocean island nation's lucrative travel industry. Full operations also resumed Thursday at the island's two international airports, accommodating the commercial flights. Under new protocols to prevent the spread of covid-19, tourists must be tested for the virus in their country 72 hours prior to their flight, when they arrive at their hotel in Sri Lanka and again seven days later. They must stay in a travel bubble" designated in 14 tourism zones without mixing with the local population. About 180 hotels have been earmarked for tourist accommodations. The government had closed the country to tourists last March. The resumption of tourism follows a pilot project that began December 26 in which 1,500 tourists from Ukraine visited Sri Lanka in such a travel bubble.

Counting elephants, but from space



View Full Image The breakthrough could allow up to 5,000 sq km of elephant habitat to be surveyed on a single cloud-free day

Scientists are using images to count African elephants from space. The pictures come from an Earth-observation satellite orbiting 600km above the planet's surface says the BBC. The breakthrough could allow up to 5,000 sq km of elephant habitat to be surveyed on a single cloud-free day. And all the laborious elephant counting is done via machine learning - a computer algorithm trained to identify elephants in a variety of backdrops. According to Dr Olga Isupova, from the University of Bath, scientists just have to present examples to the algorithm and tell it, 'This is an elephant, this is not an elephant,'. By doing that, they can train the machine to recognise small details that humans wouldn't be able to pick up with the naked eye. Scientists looked first at South Africa's Addo Elephant National Park because of its high density of elephants, areas of thickets and of open savannah.

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TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2021 /CNW/ - Argonaut Gold Inc. (TSX: AR) (the "Company", "Argonaut Gold" or "Argonaut") is pleased to announce that the province of Ontario has filed the Closure Plan for the Magino project. Site preparation, such as tree removal and clearing, is expecting to commence imminently, with construction scheduled to begin as soon as site preparation is complete. Argonaut envisions a two-year construction period with first gold production at Magino during the first half of 2023.

Argonaut Gold Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Argonaut Gold Inc.)

Pete Dougherty, President and CEO stated: "The filing of the Closure Plan is a significant milestone and allows us to begin site preparation activities for construction of the Magino mine and processing facility. Magino is truly a valuable and strategic asset given existing infrastructure, the already-known mineral endowment of the ore body and the existing exploration potential, its location within the mining-friendly jurisdiction of Ontario, Canada and its proximity to other strong cash flowing operations such as the Island Gold mine. By moving Magino forward, we are executing on our vision to transform Argonaut from a junior, relatively high-cost producer with short mine lives to an intermediate, lower-cost producer with long mine lives."

Kyle Stanfield, Director of Environment and Community Relations commented: "We are humbled by the tremendous community support that has enabled this important project milestone to pass. We will continue to coordinate closely with our Indigenous and Municipal partners as we develop this investment into a world class mining operation."

The Magino project has received incredible stakeholder support locally, provincially and federally, as well as strong shareholder support to see the project move forward. The Magino project initial capital estimate of between C$480 million and C$510 million, of which approximately 40% is covered by a fixed-bid contract with Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc., is considered fully financed through Argonaut's current cash balance and anticipated cash flow from operations assuming a gold price environment at or above US$1,600 per ounce. At December 31, 2020, Argonaut had US$214 million in cash and also has access up to US$125 million through its existing revolving credit facility, which is fully undrawn.

Story continues

The Magino Feasibility Study demonstrated that the Magino project is a strategic, scalable, long-life asset in the attractive mining jurisdiction of Ontario, Canada. Highlights from the Magino Feasibility Study include:

A 10,000 tonne per day processing facility;

Average annual gold production of 150,000 ounces over the first five years;

A 17-year mine life;

Cash cost of US$669 per gold ounce sold*; and

All-in sustaining cost of US$711 per gold ounce sold*.

* See Non-IFRS Measures Section

For further information on the Magino project, please see the report as listed below on the Company's website or on www.sedar.com:

Magino Gold Project Feasibility Study Technical Report on the Magino Project, Ontario, Canada dated December 21, 2017 (effective date November 8, 2017)

Non-IFRS Measures

The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures including "Cash cost per gold ounce sold" and "All-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold" in this press release. Cash cost per gold ounce sold is equal to production costs less silver revenue divided by gold ounces sold. All-in sustaining cost per gold ounce sold is equal to production costs less silver revenue plus general and administrative expenses, exploration expenses, accretion of reclamation provision and sustaining capital expenditures divided by gold ounces sold. The Company believes that these measures provide investors with an improved ability to evaluate the performance of the Company. Non-IFRS measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). Therefore they may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies. The data is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Please see the most recent management's discussion and analysis for full disclosure on non-IFRS measures.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws concerning the business, operations and financial performance and condition of Argonaut Gold Inc. ("Argonaut" or "Argonaut Gold"). Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information include, but are not limited to statements with respect to the realization of mineral reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production; costs of production; estimated production and mine life of the various mineral projects of Argonaut; permitting and legal processes in relation to mining permitting and approval; the benefits of the development potential of the properties of Argonaut; the future price of gold, copper, and silver; the estimation of mineral reserves and resources; success of exploration activities; and currency exchange rate fluctuations. Except for statements of historical fact relating to Argonaut, certain information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Argonaut and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.

Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward-looking statements include variations in ore grade or recovery rates, changes in market conditions, risks relating to the availability and timeliness of permitting and governmental approvals; risks relating to international operations, fluctuating metal prices and currency exchange rates, changes in project parameters, the possibility of project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated.

These factors are discussed in greater detail in Argonaut's most recent Annual Information Form and in the most recent Management's Discussion and Analysis filed on SEDAR, which also provide additional general assumptions in connection with these statements. Argonaut cautions that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on forward-looking statements should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Argonaut believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release.

Although Argonaut has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Argonaut undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Statements concerning mineral reserve and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements to the extent they involve estimates of the mineralization that will be encountered if the property is developed. Comparative market information is as of a date prior to the date of this document.

About Argonaut Gold

Argonaut Gold is a Canadian gold company engaged in exploration, mine development and production. Its primary assets are the El Castillo mine and San Agustin mine, which together form the El Castillo Complex in Durango, Mexico, the La Colorada mine in Sonora, Mexico and the Florida Canyon mine in Nevada, USA. The Company also holds the development stage Magino project, the advanced exploration stage Cerro del Gallo project and several other exploration stage projects, all of which are located in North America.

For more information, contact:

Argonaut Gold Inc.

Dan Symons

Vice President, Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Phone: 416-915-3107

Email: dan.symons@argonautgold.com

Source: Argonaut Gold Inc.

SOURCE Argonaut Gold Inc.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/January2021/21/c7922.html


The final 24 hours of the presidency of Donald Trump, in bookends: At noon Tuesday, in a muted pageant of utter competency, Joe Biden's nominees began to submit themselves for Senate confirmation. And just before noon the following day, outgoing Vice President Mike Pence, in the shadow of his defeat, watched the clouds part so that Lady Gaga could sing the national anthem into a gold microphone bathed in sunshine.

In between those moments, the country went through its own peaceful transition - of emotion, of memory, of pain and hope. On the final day, anchors on cable news talked about the quiet. Trump was quiet. Washington itself was 9/11-quiet, its avenues void of humanity except for an army of law enforcement. The president had entered office four years earlier with a huge clamor, and he seemed to be leaving it with a stifled scream.

In the early afternoon Tuesday, in Hodgenville, Ky., a pastor named Jonathan Carl was at his Baptist church, calling congregants who were in the hospital with covid-19. He could hear their dry, ragged breath, the beeping of machines, the intercession of nurses, the fear. He prayed with them so they were not alone. And Carl thought of how Trump, in 2019, had dragged him into a social-media frenzy by mistyping the Twitter handle of journalist Jonathan Karl.

The pastor thought that Trump could heal the country now, on his way out, by simply apologizing to everyone. Carl thought of Abraham Lincoln, whose birthplace he passes every day on his commute, and how a leader is remembered by how he finishes.

"If I could summarize it to President Trump, I would say that you don't remember the in-between so much as the finish," Carl said. "My encouragement is: 'Finish it well. Please apologize.' "

There would be no apology; only one more spin ofthe Village People.

Around 2:43 p.m. Tuesday, as Biden was on his way from Delaware to Washington,the media reported that the total number of U.S. covid deaths hadpassed 400,000.

At 4:25 p.m., on Twitter, Pence's spokeswoman Katie Rose Miller posted a photo of herself holding her young child in the colonnade outside the West Wing. Her husband, Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's ruthless immigration policies, was by her side. They were cooing over their baby.

"Forever thankful for the Trump-Pence administration," Miller tweeted, "because of the last four years, we became a family of three."

Around that time, in New England, a Brazilian immigrant was praying in church for her son, from whom she was separated in 2017 while seeking asylum. Under the name "Ms. C," she has been fighting U.S. immigration agencies in court for years, and seeing a therapist because of the trauma of being separated from her child (with whom she was reunited after several months).

"Tomorrow I know that I'm going to pray for the new president," said the woman, whose lawyer asked that her identity not be revealed, through an interpreter. "I'm going to pray that life goes back to normal for so many people, especially people like me who were detained, and who have been treated in such a way. I'm going to pray for a new beginning."

By 4:30 p.m. Fox News was running Trump's taped farewell address. "I am especially proud to be the first president in decades who has started no new wars," Trump said, as 25,000 members of the National Guard monitored Washington following an attack on the Capitol by militant Trump supporters.

At dusk, as the mauve sky behind the Capitol turned navy, Biden and Kamala Harris faced the fading light around the Lincoln Memorial to memorialize those who had died in the pandemic. The Potomac River, absent any boats except law enforcement, was white with reflected sunset.

"To heal we must remember," Biden said. "And it's hard, sometimes, to remember."

Minutes later, at home in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sandy Brown dialed into her daily prayer call. It was Call No. 302 since her Pentecostal church in Flint closed last March, around the time her husband and son died of covid-19. You may remember Brown from photos of the double funeral: She wore a brilliant chartreuse coat and purple hat, and waved at drive-by mourners from distance, a living symbol of the difficulty of mourning these days. Last year she wondered why God didn't take her, too. Why leave me here to suffer to such a great loss? she asked, and the answer has come in small ways. People are drawing strength from her, she knows, even if she doesn't understand it.

Brown sang "Shake the Devil Off" into her phone, into the ears of people who needed to hear it.

Around midnight, Trump rained down pardons on people like Stephen Bannon, charged with defrauding the president's own supporters. Biden and Trump slept 500 feet from each other: the outgoing president in the White House, the incoming in Blair House on Lafayette Square.

On the morning of Inauguration Day, with four hours left in Trump's presidency, CNN's Wolf Blitzer helpfully confirmed that "The sun is rising." President Trump and Melania Trump emerged from the White House for the final time at 8:13 a.m. On their helicopter flight to meet Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, they passed the Old Post Office Museum, refurbished into a Trump hotel (and a cesspool of influence-peddling) that may soon be placed on the auction block.

"We know he's angry, we know he's sad," a voice on Fox News was saying, as if talking about a 6-year-old in a parent-teacher conference. Marine One landed at the base as Laura Branigan's "Gloria" played. Trump emerged just after Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."

"So, have a good life," Trump told his teary-eyed children and supporters. After a last round of "YMCA," Air Force One ferried him into the sky. The event's loudspeakers blared "My Way."

"I ate it up," Frank Sinatra belted as the plane soared away, "and spit it out."

By then Joe and Jill Biden were in the front pew of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, listening to the Gospel of Luke: If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk . . . .

At 9:16 a.m. a woman named Misty picked up her phone in Siloam Springs, Ark., and called C-SPAN. "Well I don't think there'll be any unity," she said to her fellow countrymen. "I don't think there's anything [Biden] can say that will make me think this election wasn't stolen."

Within the hour, elected officials began to file through the Capitol crypt, which two weeks earlier had been the site of a vicious melee of rioters, including white supremacists.

Susan Bro had seen the riot on the news and thought "We told you so." Her daughter, Heather Heyer, was killed during the neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville in 2017, and Bro and others have tried to tell authorities about the coming dangers. Her work had become about education ondiversity and inclusion; Trump had signed an executive order forbidding federal funds for such initiatives.

On Wednesday, Bro sat in her singlewide trailer in Greene County, Va., to watch the inauguration, hoping for a signal from a better future. Nearby was her purple reflecting yarn for knitting and a pencil drawing of Heather.

Biden entered the Capitol at 10:31 a.m.

"Hey man, how are you, good to see ya," he said to Eugene Goodman, the Capitol Police officer who during the riot had distracted the pro-Trump mob away from the Senate chamber. On this day, Goodman would escort Harris to her seat.

Around 10:50 a.m., as George W. Bush made his entrance through the Capitol, Air Force One swooped low over Mar-a-Lago. Trump's coastal exile was visible through the starboard windows. There was no crowd to greet him at the airport, but supporters gathered two or three deep along his route to Mar-a-Lago, just before the bridge to Palm Beach. Trump's armored Suburban slowed, perhaps so he could inhale a final hit of adoration as president.

At the Capitol, the ceremony was ramping up. It was happening: America, blitzed by insurrection and impeachment, was capping two weeks (four years?) of chaos and ugliness with a graceful inauguration.

"So proud of you," Barack Obama said to Kamala Harris as she took her seat at the front. "So proud of you."

When Lady Gaga finished singing the anthem, she wished Biden and Harris "a wonderful inauguration" and then said to herself, overcome, clutching her red silk faille dress: "God bless this country."

Back in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sandy Brown had dressed in pink, put on her own pearls and sat in her husband's recliner. She watched a fellow Black woman swear her oath on Justice Thurgood Marshall's Bible. She watched Biden swear his own on a family Bible bound in 1893, five inches thick, with a celtic cross on the cover - the same tome he touched in a Wilmington hospital as a new widower in 1973, at the bedsides of his injured young sons.

When Biden asked for a silent prayer for the 400,000 lives lost, Sandy Brown thought about how two of those lives had belonged to her men, her Freddie Jr. and Freddie III, and she wept. But she zeroed in on Biden's invocation of Psalm 30.

Weeping may endure for a night, she echoed in prayer to herself, but joy cometh in the morning.

As Biden quoted Abraham Lincoln, saying "my whole soul is in it," Pastor Jonathan Carl in Kentucky asked God to speak life and truth into that soul.

"The battle is perennial and victory is never assured," Biden said at 11:59 a.m. "Through civil war, the Great Depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice and setbacks - " here the clock struck noon - "our better angels have always prevailed."

In her trailer in Virginia, Susan Bro saw a sign when Garth Brooks began to sing "Amazing Grace." The song was performed a cappella at her daughter's funeral after Charlottesville.

To hear it now - after years of pain, work, doubt and determination- felt like a seal of approval from Heather.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has warned there is a clear horizon of Covid-19 restrictions continuing into next month, raising significant doubt over the planned reopening of schools on February 1.

Fine Gael TDs were also told by their deputy leader, Simon Coveney, that the severe restrictions will continue well into February.

Speaking at a private meeting of his parliamentary party, Mr Martin said: We have some distance to go, and the recent increase in deaths show the devastation of this virus, he said.

The Cabinet will meet next Tuesday to discuss restrictions and a final decision has not been taken yet, he said.

The numbers are too high and we need to get them down. We will take advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team [Nphet] and others when making a decision.

Mr Martin also expressed his support for education minister Norma Foley who, he says, has done her best.

Ms Foley told colleagues that she would not give up, and said she was waiting for the results of a student survey before a decision on whether the Leaving Cert exams will go ahead or not.

The Taoiseach, in reference to the strong attacks from Sinn Fein yesterday, said no party should be playing politics with an issue as sensitive as special needs education.

We acknowledge anxiety in the workforce and population with a global pandemic, the Taoiseach told his colleagues.

This isnt a normal industrial relations scenario with a pandemic and we will continue to engage."

The Taoiseach, in reference to the strong attacks from Sinn Fein yesterday, said no party should be playing politics with an issue as sensitive as special needs education. Picture: Jim Coughlan

However, dampening down hopes of schools reopening next month, a senior Government source said: "The numbers are going to have to fall".

"It's also important to reiterate that public health advice continues to be that schools are safe, the source said.

Talks with Forsa and the Irish National Teachers' Organisation are due to resume today following the breakdown of talks on the planned reopening of special schools and classes this week.

The Taoiseach was called on to directly intervene as opposition parties rounded on Ms Foley, questioning her ability to get children with special education needs back into the classroom following two failed attempts.

Sinn Fein and Labour also hit out at Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan after she compared children with additional needs not attending school to the mother and baby homes.

The minister later apologised for her remarks, saying she in no way intended offence towards anyone who works with children with special educational needs".

Nphet, the National Public Health Emergency Team, is due to meet today ahead of the Cabinet meeting next week.
A group of Lao fishermen who lost jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic are shown stranded in Malaysia's Pahang state in an undated photo.

Over 100 Lao fishermen stranded in Malaysia for several months after losing work amid fears over the spread of COVID-19 have returned home, flying in a chartered flight to an airport in Vientiane on Jan. 17, Lao sources say.

The 177 fishermen, the first to return from a larger group of 328, traveled from Malaysias Pahang state on an Air Asia flight chartered by the Oudomsin Company, a Lao travel firm, one of the returnees told RFAs Lao Service on Jan. 18.

We flew from Kuala Lumpur to Wattai Airport, where we were scanned, tested for COVID-19, and transported to a quarantine center in the suburbs of Vientiane, RFAs source said, with a second source saying that on arriving at the center, they were briefed on center rules.

We are forbidden from taking pictures or video, or going live on Facebook to talk about what goes on here. We were also told that well be kept in quarantine for at least 14 days, he said.

A third returnee said the group had been made to pay for their transport home, saying that each had paid 2,050 Malaysian ringgit (U.S. $560) for airfare alone. We also had to pay extra for COVID-19 testing at the airport and for the bus trip from the airport to the quarantine center, he added.

We were all happy to have come back to our families after waiting for more than two months in Malaysia, though, the returning fisherman said.

Still waiting in Malaysias Pahang state, another fisherman told RFA that a total of 328 Lao fishermen had been waiting on Jan. 9 for flights back to Laos. Then on Sunday, Jan. 17, the first chartered flight took 177 of us home, he said.

The remaining 151 are now waiting for the second flight, which is scheduled for Jan. 24, and more Lao fishermen may still be coming from other states to join our group, he said.

Living in harsh conditions

Lao fishermen still waiting in Malaysia for flights home are now living in harsh conditions, sources told RFA.

Were running out of our savings, and we have no money to buy cigarette and sim cards for our phones and many other necessities, he said.

Our former employer brings us some rice and other food items every three to four days, but the food aid is not enough, another fisherman said, adding, We have to look elsewhere for extra food, and some of us are foraging for bamboo shoots and vegetables in the nearby forest.

Others rely on financial aid from their families back home, he said.

According to earlier reports, up to 700 Lao fishermen in Malaysia were laid off from their jobs in early October amid an economic downturn in the country due to fears of the spread of COVID-19, but flights chartered to take them home were at first postpone and then canceled.

A group of 328 then arranged for flights on Air Asia while others decided to go home on their own, with around 100 later arrested for crossing illegally into Thailand and then deported back to Laos.

As of Jan. 20, at least 12 Lao fishermen have decided not to return home, but to stay in Malaysia, and have applied for work with another company which is helping them renew their visas and work permits, sources said.

Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Richard Finney.
EU leaders will grapple Thursday with the threat of new coronavirus variants as wary countries push for a closure of Europe's internal borders to stop the spread.

The chiefs will hold a summit -- by videolink to protect themselves from infection -- "to raise political awareness on the seriousness of the situation with the new variants," an EU official said.

Virus mutations that emerged in Britain, South Africa and Brazil have alarmed EU authorities because of their increased infectivity, prompting bans or restrictions on travellers from those countries.

But calls are increasing to shut the intra-EU borders in a coordinated manner and not to repeat the experience in March when several member states panicked and closed off their national borders unilaterally, triggering travel chaos.

That decision came to be seen as disastrous, disrupting the already stumbling European economy, and the leaders will work hard to find ways to thwart the variants while keeping factories and businesses running at capacity.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Tuesday that while she hoped leaders would find alternative ways to stop the variants, she could not rule out border checks.

Belgium -- wedged between Germany, France and the Netherlands -- said it would plead for a "temporary" closure for the February holiday, when millions of Europeans usually head for the ski slopes.

"Non-essential travel that we can now do without, like tourism, clearly we can no longer take that risk," Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told RTBF TV.

For now, the variants remain a tiny proportion of overall cases in the EU, ad health officials are in a race to execute vaccination jabs before the mutants dominate.

While there was no indication as yet the new variants were more deadly, there were concerns they could infect more people and overload hospital intensive care capacity.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will soon expand vaccines beyond the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna ones currently authorised to inoculate 70 percent of adults in the EU before September.

"This is doable, it is ambitious, but we have to be ambitious -- people are waiting for that," she said Wednesday.

The vaccination roll-out across the European Union has been disappointingly slow compared with the United States, Israel and other countries, a problem compounded by delivery shortfalls of the BioNTech/Pfizer doses.

There is also a minority, particularly in countries such as France, who hesitate to be inoculated.

And, while many hope the jabs will soon put an end to limited travel, tests, nighttime curfews and home quarantines, EU officials and diplomats warn against Europe lowering its guard too early.

- Talk of vaccine certificates -

The leaders are also expected to discuss the idea of using vaccine certificates as a form of travel passport in Europe, as championed by tourism-dependent Greece, but diplomats insisted this topic was at its early stages.

"There are still many, many, many questions to be answered. First of all, we don't know if people who have been infected can still be contagious and can still infect other people," a senior EU diplomat said.

One concern for EU officials is seeing Europe divided between a small minority able to travel and enjoy post-pandemic life while the others remained confined.

The summit was to also talk about moves to have antigen tests that are cheaper and less invasive -- but less reliable -- than the nose-scratching PCR swabs that are currently widespread.

In the meantime, the EU will have to ramp up genome analysis of virus samples to detect the spread of the new variants.

bur-arp/dc/gd

PFIZER

BioNTech

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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The date is March 1, 2024, and Britain is about to enter its fifth year of lockdown.

Despite the entire population being vaccinated every six months and the death toll from Covid-19 falling to zero, scientists are still warning that it is too early to ease restrictions.

At the Old Bailey, anti-lockdown campaigner Piers Corbyn is jailed for life after being found guilty of failing to wear a mask in his own bathroom while cleaning his teeth.

Corbyn was arrested during a dawn raid by armed police executing a warrant under the new Contagious Diseases (Safety of Ablutions) Serious Offences Act.

A civic-minded neighbour using night-vision binoculars rang Scotland Yard's dedicated Covid Narkline after spotting a maskless Corbyn through a frosted glass window spitting toothpaste into the sink and rinsing it down the plughole.

The date is March 1, 2024, and Britain is about to enter its fifth year of lockdown, writes RICHARD LITTLEJOHN

Despite the entire population being vaccinated every six months and the death toll from Covid-19 falling to zero, scientists are still warning that it is too early to ease restrictions. Pictured: Teenage Youtube star Canking claimed last week that up 20 police officers swooped on his apartment after receiving a false tip-off that he was holding a lockdown party

Despite the fact that there is no evidence of anyone falling ill after contracting a toothpaste-related Covid variant, scientists have warned that if a single droplet of human saliva contaminates the water supply, it could result in hundreds of millions of horrible premature deaths.

At yesterday's five o'clock news conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared that the blanket policy of 'Stay Home; Stop Cleaning Your Teeth; Protect the NHS' had been a roaring success.

Hospital admissions and deaths from Covid have now fallen to nil for the fourth year running.

So have admissions from all other illnesses, since routine operations for everything apart from coronavirus remain suspended  just to be on the safe side.

At the Old Bailey, anti-lockdown campaigner Piers Corbyn is jailed for life after being found guilty of failing to wear a mask in his own bathroom while cleaning his teeth

This has had the added benefit of freeing up hard-pressed NHS staff to do absolutely nothing, as there are now no patients in hospital anywhere in the country  a statistic which the Prime Minister boasts proudly makes Britain's health service the envy of the world.

Ever since everyone in Britain was ordered to stay indoors and wear a mask 24 hours a day, after the fourth spike in 2021, Covid has been successfully eradicated.

But still the long-serving Health Secretary Matt Hancock and the Government's top advisers insist it is too risky to allow a resumption of what we used to think of as normal life . . .

OK, so I exaggerate. Up to a point. But how much more hysterical and illogical can the Government's response to the pandemic get?

There are already demands to force us to wear masks in our own homes. Some fanatics want face coverings made compulsory outdoors, too.

How much more hysterical and illogical can the Government's response to the pandemic get? Pictured: Home Secretary Priti Patel

Police are urging friends, neighbours, even young children to grass up anyone they suspect of breaking the increasingly bizarre lockdown rules.

Transgressors face heavy fines, from 200 up to 10,000. How long before mandatory prison sentences follow?

And given that most of us have effectively spent the past ten months behind bars, would we notice? Still, better get used to it.

Case numbers appear to be falling, but sadly deaths hit record daily levels this week.

Thankfully, vaccination is proceeding quickly, although not without hiccups, but just as we're getting our hopes up, 'the science' claims this is not the be-all-and-end-all.

Doubts are being raised over the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine if the second jab is not given after three weeks, as originally planned.

We're also told there may not be enough vaccine to go round for the forseeable future.

That deceptive light at the end of the tunnel may be just another burglar's torch.

While Boris blusters about keeping restrictions going till summer, the Two Ronnies want some kind of lockdown to stay in force until next year at the earliest. Everybody back in your box.

That cadaverous Jeremiah Chris Whitty (and it's goodnight from him) says that despite vaccination, we should all carry on wearing masks and maintaining social distancing until  well, how long is a piece of string?

Apparently, once Covid is beaten, flu will make a comeback. So what? We've been living with flu for generations without resorting to panic measures.

What's different now is that too many people have tasted power during this pandemic and they're not about to give it up any time soon without a fight.

While Boris blusters about keeping restrictions going till summer, the Two Ronnies want some kind of lockdown to stay in force until next year at the earliest. Everybody back in your box

The scientists, so-called 'experts', civil servants, Toytown politicians, coppers, covid marshals and self-appointed covigilantes are having a field day throwing their weight around.

At the beginning of June, just as the first corona restrictions were being eased, I warned you that the New Normal would be ten times worse than lockdown.

As I've been telling you for decades, once you give anyone any authority, especially if it comes with a hi-viz jacket, they will always . . . well, you know the rest. I don't want to rain on the vaccination parade.

The scientists at Oxford and elsewhere  as opposed to 'the science'  have played a blinder. Funk beyond the call of duty.

But if you think that when everyone's had the first and second jabs we can get back to the Old Normal, I'm here to tell you we won't. Ever.

People will still be required to social distance in five, maybe ten years' time. Who knows? Fancy face masks are here to stay, not just a transient fashion fad.

Working From Home will become a way of life for millions.

Along with long-term unemployment for millions more, as thousands of recently profitable businesses go to the wall, never to recover.

The notion that our ghost town centres will be revived in a hurry with affordable housing and a continental- style cafe culture is for the birds.

Even though the tree-hugging bike lane zealots suffered a setback with the defeat of London's mayor Genghis Khan's insane anti-car Streetspace scheme in the High Court this week, they'll be back everywhere.

They won't give up without a fight, either.

Get set to spend even more time stuck in your own backyard.

Public transport services will be slashed to the bone and become ever more expensive.

Air travel will struggle to recover, despite pent-up demand.

The economist Milton Friedman got it right when he said there's nothing more permanent than a temporary government programme.

Dishi Rishi is already finding it politically virtually impossible to reclaim his stop-gap Covid largesse.

Free school meals all year round and other expensive social handouts are here to stay.

No ambitious politician dares take away anything which has come to be seen as an entitlement. Life's a ratchet not a pendulum.

Now we're required to do only what we're told by ministers who make laws on a whim and hand the police new powers without even bothering to put any of it before Parliament

Sorry if this has been a column to slash your wrists by. I hope I'm proved horribly wrong.

The lasting, most depressing thing about this pandemic  tragic loss of life aside  is the way our assumptions about liberty and democracy have been turned on their head.

And repeated scaremongering has persuaded far too many people to accept it's for their own good.

This was once a country where you could do what you liked as long as it wasn't specifically proscribed by law.

Now we're required to do only what we're told by ministers who make laws on a whim and hand the police new powers without even bothering to put any of it before Parliament.

Covid has permitted an allegedly Conservative Government to create a punishment culture in which people constantly have to ask whether they are 'allowed' to do this, that or the other.

Better brush your teeth while you still can.

Welcome to the New Normal.

Eurostar is in desperate financial trouble and seeking a British Government bailout over Covid.

Heres a plan. French-owned Eurostar could advertise at the camps near Calais, where thousands of migrants are waiting to cross to Britain.

Instead of paying the people-traffickers exorbitant sums and risking a hazardous Channel crossing in a dinghy, they could be persuaded to buy a ticket and travel in style.

One way, obviously.

Eurostar could even cut out the middle man and build a branch line direct to the DSS in Croydon.

On the toot at the Trumpet

Thanks to all those of you who have written to assure me there was a royal connection behind the old Black Boy & Trumpet pub in Peterborough.

In Tudor times, an African trumpeter called John Blanke served both Henry VII and Henry VIII, and is thought to have come to England as a valued member of Katharine of Aragons court.

Katharine, Henry VIIIs first wife, is buried at Peterborough Cathedral. That would explain it.

In Tudor times, an African trumpeter called John Blanke served both Henry VII and Henry VIII, and is thought to have come to England as a valued member of Katharine of Aragons court

Blanke was no slave, he was a free man. Trumpeters were paid ten times the wage of an average Tudor labourer.

This (above) is believed to be a image of him, taken from a contemporary manuscript.

So, far from being a poisonous symbol of racism, the Black Boy & Trumpet was actually an early celebration of diversity. Trebles all round!

Now that formerly hard-drinking Bez from the Happy Mondays has become a born-again fitness guru, maybe other 1980s rock stars could be roped in for public health campaigns.

How about the Pogues Shane MacGowan as an ambassador for Dry January?
This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (yellow)also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab.
The movement of bad loans in Bandhan Banks book during the third quarter has come as a surprise. If one reads between the lines, there is stress developing due to COVID and local factors. Going by the reported numbers, the Gross NPAs (non-performing assets) have declined in the December quarter to 1.1 percent from 1.18 percent in the September quarter and net NPAs declined to 0.26 percent from 0.36 percent.

But these figures dont tell us the whole story. If one excludes the impact of a Supreme Court order which barred banks from tagging accounts that are standard as on August 31 as NPAs, the proforma gross NPA ratio would have been 7. 12 percent. In other words, there is a huge gap between proforma GNPAs and reported GNPAs.

The banks chief financial officer Sunil Samdani has clarified that post-COVID many customers are making part payments. That doesnt mean its a loss given default situation. It might take around three months more for these accounts to be regularised (Sic), the CFO has said.

But, for now, the GNPA levels have shot up and that could be a point of worry for Bandhans investors. Despite the guidance from the bank that collections will improve going ahead, one needs to closely watch the asset quality risks emanating from multiple factors.

The five-year-old bank derives its strength from microcredit customers where it has a loyal customer base. The bank doesnt call it a microcredit portfolio but Emerging Entrepreneurs Business (EEB). Besides pure microcredit, this chunk also includes micro home loans and other micro-business loans. At the end of the December quarter, the EEB loans constitute 60 percent of the bank, largely the same as in the previous quarter. The other two large chunks include mortgage loans and commercial banking loans.

Bandhan Bank has witnessed a dip in its collection efficiency in Assam where a law has been promulgated to control the operations of microlenders. The law doesnt really target banks but MFIs. But this legislation was bound to have an impact on banks as well as credit culture and repayment behaviour typically takes a hit during such events and associated political risks.

Bandhan has to be watchful on the asset quality front going ahead, especially till clarity emerges on the Assam law. COVID isnt the only challenge for the microlender-turned-commercial bank.

On the positive side, the bank has beefed up provisions and has taken extra caution against the asset quality risk. In addition to the provision of Rs 1,740 crore made up to September 30, 2020, during the current quarter the bank has made further provision of Rs 1,000 crore against the potential impact of COVID-19. With this, the aggregate additional provisions held by the bank amounts to Rs2,74,0 crore, it has said.

Higher provisions have hurt the profits in December quarter. Profits declined by 13.5 percent on a year-on-year basis to Rs 632 crore on a year-on-year basis. But, as mentioned above, the higher provisions make sense considering the risks on the asset quality front not only on account of COVID but also local factors.

William Grant & Sons has released a Chinese New Year-themed gift pack for the 21-year-old expression of its Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky brand.

William Grant's gift pack for Glenfiddich 21 was designed by Chinese illustrator Rlon Wang

The limited-edition packaging depicts the story of a stag's homecoming and was designed by Chinese illustrator Rlon Wang. It is Wang's second collaboration with William Grant after he designed last year's Chinese New Year Glenfiddich gift packaging.

The Chinese New Year design is available with Glenfiddich Reserva Rum Cask 21-Year-Old, which is finished in Caribbean rum casks, and is on sale in the UK for GBP145 (US$200) per 70cl bottle.

Maria Ropero-Ortiz, senior brand manager for Glenfiddich UK, said: "We are proud to bring this limited edition to the UK market to celebrate Chinese New Year. We felt it's only right to re-commission the innovative Chinese artist Rlon Wang to bring 'The Great Homecoming' to life."

This year, Chinese New Year falls on 12 February. Most Scotch whisky distillers release limited-edition Chinese New Year bottles to help drive demand during what is a major selling occasion for the category. Last year, Diageo launched a Year of the Rat Johnnie Walker Blue.

"The longer something goes on, the more permanent it becomes" - just-drinks speaks to William Grant senior category director Ian Baines about post-COVID trends
A few months ago, the Los Angeles Times reported on a Southern California man who was collecting discarded dumbbells from dumps, garage sales and dark corners of the internet, then selling them for absurd profits. He detailed his process with a measure of pride: soak the weights in vinegar, scrub them with a steel brush, spray-paint them black. He sold one $50 pair of weights for $500.

Its a predictable, Mad Max-esque endgame in a world where demand for home fitness equipment has far outpaced the production capacity of a broken supply chain for almost a full year. The dumbbell shortage is real, its still going strong, and Americans  unable or unwilling to return to the gym  are paying more for someones 30-year-old 10-pound weights than the most respected fitness manufacturer in the country would normally charge them for a pair of 125-pound dumbbells.

In short, its a bummer. But your strength-training routine doesnt need to succumb to price gauging or panic. You can do bodyweight exercises. Or learn to exercise with a household chair. And most importantly, youre allowed to look elsewhere for strength-training equipment. Cast iron, rubber, and stainless steel have long reigned over the gym floor, and for good reason, but there are young brands out there experimenting with alternative materials. Their products are just as effective, and at the moment, far more available.

The many lives of FitFighters CEO, Sarah Apgar. FitFighter

Earlier this year, that search led us to FitFighter, a New York-based company founded by Iraq War veteran Sarah Apgar. If any studio execs out there are short on biopic ideas, might want to bookmark Agpar: after graduating from Princetons Army ROTC Program (where she was a two-time All-American collegiate rugby player) she served as Platoon Leader for the 52nd Engineer Battalion attached to the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul in 2003. After that, she completed her MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, and had a stint at Warby Parker as Director of New Stores and Facilities.

She longed for the camaraderie of her days in the military, though, and after marrying her husband, joined the volunteer fire department in their Long Island town. There, Apgar registered some of the professions more sobering modern realities. Namely, that the job demands exceptional strength and stamina, two qualities men and women struggle to retain as they age. The leading cause of death for firefighters in the United States isnt fighting fires. Its heart disease.

Apgar went full DIY. She collected three-foot tubes of recycled hoses from trucks and taught herself to sew. She filled each with steel shot (pellets with five times the density of water), then attached brass grommets to either end of the weights. The goal was to get Huntington, New Yorks firehouse in shape. But the Steelhouse, as Apgar named it, soon became a staple for the FDNY Fire Training Academy. And made it all the way to the other coast, becoming part of the San Diego Fire Rescue Academys training regimen. Last year, she earned a $250,000 investment from Daniel Lubetzsky, the CEO of Kind Healthy Snacks, on Shark Tank.

While it may not have been Apgars original intention, it feels fitting that a workout tool built for first responders is so popular with laymen and women looking to build muscle. The functional movements needed to confront a disaster or execute a mission  all that pushing, pulling, carrying and swinging  are needed in everyday situations, too, albeit with lower stakes. The Steelhose is an ideal bedfellow to the functional fitness movement. And as far as home gym equipment goes, its a veritable Swiss Army knife, capable of working as a dumbbell, kettlebell, sand bag, medicine ball or sledgehammer, depending on how you choose to use it.

That versatility can be traced back to the clever design. Ive logged several workouts with the Steelhose now (alternating between a pair of 10-pounders and a single 15-pound weight), and Im particularly impressed with the semi-firm filling; in other words, the Steelhose is designed to let its steel pellets slide around and flow like water, which forces a trainee to constantly engage his or her grip. As a form of imbalance training, its tricky. But thats exactly why it works. The exterior of the hose is double-walled and feels indestructible, but that soft give means you can comfortably toss it up in the air or swing it against a tire.

Ive done shoulder presses with my Steelhose weights. Box jumps. Russian twists. Hammer curls. Single-leg squats. Its a tool, but for the fitness junkies out there, itll feel more like a toy. You can have fun with it in a way that is prohibitive with a dumbbell  thats unless youre jonesing for a broken toe. That said, for those who tend to buy equipment and feel lost when they pull it out of the box, Apgar also launched a full online library of classes (many of them live!), which schools the FitFighter community on everything from fundamentals to free-wheeling circuits.

Decades of infomercials swearing that a new wellness product must make it to every household in America have justifiably made many lifters dubious of new technology. But its hard to think of a home, especially in the equipment shortage era, that couldnt find something productive to do with a recycled firehose invented by a veteran-turned-entrepreneur.

To shop the Steelhose, head here. (Enjoy seeing that Add to Cart instead of a Notify Me, for once.) To shop it and earn a full year of training classes free, head here. And shop with the knowledge that with every purchase, FitFighter supports the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which serves first responders, wounded vets and their families.

Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.

The post Meet the New-Age Strength-Training Tool That Firefighters Swear By appeared first on InsideHook.
Many of Trumps most significant actions as president were aimed at limiting regulation of the environment and pulling back from efforts to combat climate change

Washington: President Joe Biden unleashed a full-scale assault on his predecessors legacy Wednesday, acting hours after taking the oath of office to sweep aside former President Donald Trumps pandemic response, reverse his environmental agenda, tear down his anti-immigration policies, bolster the sluggish economic recovery and restore federal efforts aimed at promoting diversity.

Moving with an urgency not seen from any other modern president, Biden signed 17 executive orders, memoranda and proclamations from the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon. Among the steps the president took were orders to rejoin the Paris climate accord and end Trumps travel ban on predominantly Muslim and African countries.

Individually, the actions are targeted at what the president views as specific, egregious abuses by Trump during four tumultuous years. Collectively, Bidens assertive use of executive authority was intended to be a hefty and visible down payment on one of his primary goals: To, as his top advisors described it, reverse the gravest damages done to the country by Trump.

Well press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, Biden said during his inaugural address at the Capitol, delivered to a crowd shrunken by coronavirus risks and threats of violence. Much to repair. Much to restore. Much to heal. Much to build and much to gain.

In his remarks, Biden stressed unity of purpose, urging Americans to see each other not as adversaries but as neighbours and pleaded with citizens and leaders to join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature.

But his first actions in office were aimed not at compromise and cooperation with his adversaries, but instead suggested a determination to quickly erase much of the Trump agenda. They fell within four broad categories that his aides described as the converging crises he inherited at noon Wednesday: The pandemic, economic struggles, immigration and diversity issues, and the environment and climate change.

Moments after Bidens inaugural address, the leader of a conservative advocacy group underscored the divisiveness that remains in Washington, accusing the president of making moves on day one that will make America less safe, less free, and less prosperous.

As the Biden administration begins today, conservatives are prepared to fight back against the destructive policies of the Far Left, said Jessica Anderson, the executive director of Heritage Action.

In some cases, Bidens actions unilaterally and immediately reversed policies and procedures that Trump had put in place. In other instances, limits on his authority require the president to direct others in his administration to act or even to begin what could be a long process to shift the federal government in a new direction.

A new day, Jeff Zients, the coordinator of Bidens coronavirus response, said Tuesday. A new, different approach to managing the countrys response to the COVID-19 crisis.

One of Bidens first acts was to sign an executive order making Zients the governments official COVID-19 response coordinator, reporting to the president. The order also restored the directorate for global health security and biodefence at the National Security Council, a group that Trump had disbanded.

Biden signed an executive order that Trump had steadfastly refused to issue during his tenure  imposing a national mandate requiring masks and physical distancing in all federal buildings, on all federal lands and by all federal employees. And he terminated Trumps efforts to leave the World Health Organisation, sending Dr Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease specialist, to participate in the groups annual executive board meeting Thursday.

Many of Bidens actions on Wednesday were aimed at reversing Trumps harshest immigration policies, moving swiftly to send a message to the world that the United States borders are no longer slammed shut.

He signed an executive order revoking the Trump administrations plan to exclude non-citizens from the census count and a second order aimed at bolstering the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that protects Dreamers from deportation. Trump had sought for years to end the programme, known as DACA.

Biden repealed two Trump-era proclamations that established a ban on travel to the United States from several predominantly Muslim and African countries, ending one of his predecessors earliest actions to limit immigration. The president also directed the State Department to develop ways to address the harm caused to those prevented from coming to the United States because of the ban.

And in a strike at Trumps most cherished ambition, the construction of a border wall between the United States and Mexico  which was devised to keep immigrants out of the country  Biden halted construction as his administration examines the legality of the walls funding and contracts.

Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security advisor, said the presidents actions would immediately reverse the elements of the Trump policies that were deeply inhumane and did not reflect our countrys values. At the same time, he said, they send a practical, credible, clear signal that this is not the moment to be coming to the southwestern border because our capacity to take people across that border is extremely limited.

Biden, who takes office after a year of racial upheaval in the country, moved quickly to begin unwinding some of Trumps policies that he views as contributing to the polarisation and division.

In a nod to the diverse coalition that helped him get elected, the president signed a broad executive order aimed at requiring all federal agencies to make equity a central factor in their work. The order requires that they deliver a report within 200 days to address how to remove barriers to opportunities in policies and programs.

Biden directed federal agencies to conduct reviews looking to eliminate systemic discrimination in their policies and to reverse historic discrimination in safety net and other federal spending. And he began a working group examining federal data collection on diversity grounds.

The president-elect promised to root out systemic racism from our institutions, Susan Rice, who leads the presidents Domestic Policy Council, told reporters on Tuesday. And this initiative is a first step in that historic work. Delivering on racial justice will require that the administration takes a comprehensive approach to embed equity in every aspect of our policymaking and decision-making.

Another executive order required that the federal government does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, a policy that reverses action by Trumps administration. Another overturned a Trump executive order that had limited the ability of federal government agencies to use diversity and inclusion training.

And Biden cancelled Trumps 1776 Commission, which released a report Monday that historians said distorted the history of slavery in the United States.

Many of Trumps most significant actions as president were aimed at limiting regulation of the environment and pulling back from efforts to combat climate change. Bidens earliest actions as president took aim at those policies.

On Wednesday, he signed a letter indicating that the United States would rejoin the Paris climate accords, reversing Trumps departure from the global organisation.

He then signed an executive order beginning the process of overturning environmental policies under the Trump administration, including rescinding rollbacks to vehicle emissions standards; imposing a moratorium on oil and natural gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; revoking the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline; and re-establishing a working group on the social costs of greenhouse gases.

Gina McCarthy, Bidens national climate advisor, said the orders begin to put the US back on the right footing, a footing we need to restore American leadership, helping to position our nation to be the global leader in clean energy and jobs."

As he promised during the campaign, Biden took several steps on Wednesday to help Americans struggling through continued financial hardship brought on by the pandemic, in some cases reversing policies embraced by his predecessor.

He extended a federal moratorium on evictions and asked agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, to prolong a moratorium on foreclosures on federally guaranteed mortgages. The extensions all run through the end of March.

Another order targets Americans with heavy educational debt, continuing a pause on federal student loan interest and principal payments through the end of September.

Progressive groups and some congressional Democrats, including Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, who became majority leader Wednesday, had pushed Biden to move even more aggressively and act on day one to cancel up to $50,000 per person in student debt. Instead, Biden renewed his campaign call for Congress to cancel up to $10,000 in individual student debt.

As some of his predecessors have done, Biden signed an executive order meant to establish ethics rules for those who serve in his administration. He also ordered all of his appointees in the executive branch to sign an ethics pledge.

Biden also froze all new regulations put in motion by his predecessor to give his administration time to evaluate which ones should move forward  if any.

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said that the executive actions Biden took on Wednesday would be followed by a steady stream of others almost daily.

President-elect Biden will continue to take action over the next 10 days  and over his entire time in office  to address the four crises that hes laid out, Psaki said. In the coming days and weeks, we will be announcing additional executive actions that confront these challenges and deliver on the president-elects promises to the American people, including revoking the ban on military service by transgender Americans.

Michael D Shear c.2021 The New York Times Company



Electrical goods retailer Dixons Carphone has experienced what it calls teething problems with its supply chain into Ireland since the Brexit trade deal became effective at the start of the month.

The group  which trades here under the Currys-PC World, Carphone Warehouse and Dixons Travel chains  said it was confident the disruption was only temporary. It is the latest UK retailer to have Irish supply chain concerns in the wake of the Brexit deal, following stores such as of Tesco and Marks and Spencer.

There have been some teething troubles when it comes to the Republic of Ireland business but in short were confident we can get over the disruption there, Dixons Carphone chief executive Alex Baldock said.

Mr Baldock said it would take a matter of "days and weeks"  and not months  to resolve the matter.

One of the areas that we benefit from being number one at what we do  were first in the queue for scarce stock with our suppliers and weve been able to manage the situation to keep some disruption to customers to a minimum, he said.

Dixons Carphone reported an 8% jump in like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland for the Christmas period  buoyed by a 118% surge in online sales. However, its shares extended their losses on no updated profit guidance and the warning of continued uncertainty over trading conditions.

Elsewhere, shares in Woodies DIY owner Grafton Group rose nearly 2% on the business reinstating its second interim dividend for 2019  suspended due to last years Covid disruption  which will see it pay out 30m (34m) to shareholders.

Meanwhile, WH Smith has said it expects to burn through 15m-20m in cash per month over the first quarter of the year, if current restricted trading conditions continue.

The British newsagent and stationery retailer said trading over the Christmas period was better than expected and that it closed out 2020 with 340m of available cash and facilities after managing to generate cash at the tail-end of the year.

In November, WH Smith reported a pre-tax loss of 69m for the year to the end of August.

It said it remained committed to its shops in Cork, Dublin, and Shannon airports despite Covid wiping out virtually all income from them during 2020.
Australia Day barbeques across Sydney are ruined as draconian gathering restrictions will stay in place at least another week.

Gladys Berejiklian said no changes would be made to the five guests to a home limit until the arbitrary date of next Wednesday - the day after the national holiday.

The NSW premier said she was 'confident' restrictions could be relaxed to close to pre-outbreak levels by the end of next week.

But this is little comfort for millions who hoped the state's run of four days of zero new cases and just seven more infections in two weeks would allow them to enjoy January 26 like the rest of Australia.

Sydney's current restrictions limit home gatherings to no more than five people and outdoor events to a maximum of 30 people

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) has confirmed COVID-19 restrictions will not change for Greater Sydney for Australia Day

'Its only been a few days since weve had zero cases,' she told 2GB radio on Thursday.

'There is no doubt the signs are very positive but the health experts can't say definitely that we've quashed it [Covid-19] in the community.

'We just want to make sure, once you ease restrictions, we don't want another super-seeding event which then has us go backwards again.'

'Every day that goes by gives us an extra bit of confidence, and we dont want Australia Day to become a super-seeding event, where so many people spread the virus.'

Ms Berejiklian said Australians could celebrate in bigger groups in open public spaces, though this is only what some of the population does each year.

'Outdoor gatherings are a healthy way to celebrate Australia Day. You can have an outdoor picnic or a BBQ, or go down to your local park,' she said.

'So long as you have got good social distancing, you're allowed to have larger gatherings 30 people at an outdoor gathering.'

Ms Berejiklian urged Sydneysiders to opt for outdoor Australia day celebration. Pictured: Friends enjoy Australia Day at Bondi last year

Ms Berejiklian said coronavirus restrictions will be evaluated next Thursday and will be eased if case numbers remain low. Pictured: A group of women mask-up while out in Sydney's CBD on Wednesday

Ms Berejiklian justified her decision in fairly arbitrary terms based on comments she made a day earlier.

'On Wednesday, we said we'd give it another week,' she said.

'I'm confident that we'll be able to announce something towards the end of next week but not beforehand.'

NSW recorded its fourth consecutive day without a new locally-acquired Covid-19 case on Thursday, but health authorities still want an uptick in testing numbers before social restrictions are eased.

The state recorded zero new local Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, as well as five cases of travellers in hotel quarantine.

The tally came from just over 12,200 tests - lower than would have otherwise been the case due to a minor IT delay on 6,000 negative tests.

NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty continued to implore the state's residents to get tested if they have even minor respiratory symptoms.

'High testing rates help reveal cases that would otherwise go undetected. Every person who gets tested is not only helping to protect others in the community, but they are also playing an important role in helping to contain the spread of Covid-19,' Dr McAnulty said in a statement.

All of the just seven cases recorded within the past twp weeks were connected through close contacts.

Ms Berejiklian said current restrictions will be evaluated next Thursday, but masks are likely to remain compulsory on public transport. Pictured: Residents walking through Sydney's CBD on Wednesday

The figures were down more than half from the following week, which counted 15 locally acquired cases in NSW, with the majority linked to the Berala cluster, in Sydney's west.

If restrictions are eased, masks are likely to remain compulsory on public transport to give people the confidence they need to return to work safely, the government indicated

New South Wales has conducted 4.5 million coronavirus tests since the onset of the pandemic in March, with 0.11 per cent returning a positive result, and there were currently just two people in hospital with Covid-19 statewide - neither in ICU.

The Premier also renewed her ongoing dispute with her counterparts in other states over border closures.

Western Australia and South Australia are maintaining closed borders with NSW.

Queensland is closed to residents and visitors to Greater Sydney, and requires those from elsewhere in NSW to apply for a permit to enter.

Victoria remains closed to those from the areas of Sydney affected by December's clusters, and permit applications and compulsory testing for those from other areas of the state.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/21/2021 -- Community Group Buying Market Comprehensive Study is an expert and top to bottom investigation on the momentum condition of the worldwide Community Group Buying industry with an attention on the Global market. The report gives key insights available status of the Community Group Buying producers and is an important wellspring of direction and course for organizations and people keen on the business. By and large, the report gives an inside and out understanding of 2020-2025 worldwide Community Group Buying Market covering extremely significant parameters.



Key Players in This Report Include,

Meituan (China), Didiglobal (China), Pinduoduo (China), Alibaba Group Holding Limited (China), Xingshen Youxuan (China), Shixianghui (China), Niwonin (China), Shihuituan (China), Songshu Pinpin (China) and Tencent (China).



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Brief Summary of Community Group Buying:

In today's market situation the community group buying become one major trend in China's lower-tier markets, it is also known as the sinking markets. This is considered as a loose term covering all those cities smaller than the country's four first-tier metropolises Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. The pandemic has enthused the growth in the community group-buying model in China because of the rapid shift towards online shopping. According to the industry experts, China's online grocery market is predicted to reach USD ~18.86 billion by 2022, this shows the huge growth in community group buying in coming years. Many e-commerce companies in China are increasingly focus on group buying. For instance, E-commerce giant Pinduoduo built on group purchases. Through this, the company provides products at low prices.



Market Growth Drivers

- Increasing Number of E-Commerce Players across the Globe Majorly in China

- Growing Number of Application Services from Various Sectors



Influencing Trend

- Development in Online Group Buying



Opportunities

- Development in Online Grocery Market

- Advancement in Technology Enabled Group Buying, this Drives Millions of Consumers to Access Huge Discounts from the Manufacturers to Buy on a Certain Amount



The Global Community Group Buying Market segments and Market Data Break Down are illuminated below:

by Type (Large Enterprise, Unicorn Company), Services (Business to Business, Business to Consumer), Platforms (Online Platform, Offline Platform), Industry Verticals (Food & Beverages, Amusement Parks, Hotels & Restaurants, Salon & Spas, Consumer Electrics and Computers, Outdoor, Cosmetics, Household Appliances, Furniture and Homeware, Others)



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Regions Covered in the Community Group Buying Market:

- The Middle East and Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Egypt, etc.)

- North America (United States, Mexico & Canada)

- South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, etc.)

- Europe (Turkey, Spain, Turkey, Netherlands Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Russia UK, Italy, France, etc.)

- Asia-Pacific (Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Australia).



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The detailed elaboration of the Global Community Group Buying Market has been provided by applying industry analysis techniques such as SWOT and Porter's five-technique. Collectively, this research report offers a reliable evaluation of the global market to present the overall framework of businesses.



Attractions of the Community Group Buying Market Report:

- The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2014-2018) and forecast (2019-2025)

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- The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market

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Key Points Covered in the Table of Content:

Chapter 1 to explain Introduction, market review, market risk and opportunities, market driving force, product scope of Community Group Buying Market;

Chapter 2 to inspect the leading manufacturers (Cost Structure, Raw Material) with sales Analysis, revenue Analysis, and price Analysis of Community Group Buying Market;

Chapter 3 to show the focused circumstance among the best producers, with deals, income, and Community Group Buying market share 2020;

Chapter 4 to display the regional analysis of Global Community Group Buying Market with revenue and sales of an industry, from 2020 to 2022;

Chapter 5, 6, 7 to analyze the key countries (United States, China, Europe, Japan, Korea & Taiwan), with sales, revenue and market share in key regions;

Chapter 8 and 9 to exhibit International and Regional Marketing Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis, Trade Type Analysis;

Chapter 10 and 11 to analyze the market by product type and application/end users (industry sales, share, and growth rate) from 2020 to 2026

Chapter 12 to show Community Group Buying Market forecast by regions, forecast by type and forecast by application with revenue and sales, from 2020 to 2025;

Chapter 13, 14 & 15 to specify Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source of Community Group Buying market buyers, merchants, dealers, sales channel.



Browse for Full Report at @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/162403-global-community-group-buying-market



Community Group Buying Market research provides answers to the following key questions:

? What is the expected growth rate of the Community Group Buying Market?

? What will be the Community Group Buying Market size for the forecast period, 2020  2026?

? What are the main driving forces responsible for changing the Community Group Buying Market trajectory?

? Who are the big suppliers that dominate the Community Group Buying Market across different regions? Which are their wins to stay ahead in the competition?

? What are the Community Group Buying Market trends business owners can rely upon in the coming years?

? What are the threats and challenges expected to restrict the progress of the Community Group Buying Market across different countries?



Contact US:

Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)

AMA Research & Media LLP

Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ

New Jersey USA  08837

Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218

sales@advancemarketanalytics.com
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New Delhi:

Uber founder Travis Kalanick quit as company CEO after five of the entities major investors demanded his resignation citing weak leadership.

According to the reports, Travis Kalanick resigned after much pressure from Ubers investors who insisted that he should resign as the company needed a change in leadership.

On Tuesday, five of Ubers major investors demanded the resignation of the chief executive. The investors made their demand in a letter Moving Uber Forward which was delivered to the chief executive while he was in Chicago. The investors included one of Ubers biggest shareholders, Benchmark.

In a statement, Kalanick said, I love Uber more than anything in the world and at this difficult moment in my personal life I have accepted the investors request to step aside so that Uber can go back to building rather than be distracted with another fight.

In the letter, the investors asked Travis Kalanick to resign immediately as the company needs to move forward and needs a change in the leadership. As per the reports by the US media, Kalanick resigned after consulting with one Uber board member and some of the investors. He will, however, remain on Ubers board of directors.

Under the leadership of Travis Kalanick, the company was exposed as a company that is rife with sexual harassment and discrimination.

Recently, an engineer who worked with Uber alleged sexual harassment at the workplace opening the gates for more complaints and investigation. In addition, Uber has also been gripped with an intellectual property lawsuit from Waymo, and a federal inquiry into a software tool.

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President Joe Bidens message of unity and optimism on Inauguration Day did not necessarily make it to Alabamas Republican congressional delegation that voted to challenge the election results two weeks ago.

There was one lukewarm sentiment acknowledging Biden becoming the nations 46th president Wednesday but in an array of social media messages and at least one press release, Alabamas Republican representatives in Washington are already protesting policy decisions of the new administration.

At the same time, thank you messages were posted in commending the presidency of Donald Trump.

I of course did not support Joe Biden, but he is now the President of the United States, Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, posted Wednesday on Twitter as Biden was taking the oath of office. And I echo President Trump in that I will be praying for him and his family in these coming years.

I will look for ways to work with his Administration but I will also work to make sure that conservative ideals and principles are not swept aside either.

I will look for ways to work with his Administration but I will also work to make sure that conservative ideals and principles are not swept aside either.  Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) January 20, 2021

Sen. Richard Shelby of Tuscaloosa, the lone Alabama Republican who did not vote to challenge the election results, offered the most rousing reception to Biden  and the only one to mention Vice President Kamala Harris -- among Alabama Republicans, posting on Twitter, Congratulations to our 46th POTUS Joe Biden and VP Kamala Harris. I wish them all the best as they lead our country over the next four years.

Congratulations to our 46th @POTUS, Joe Biden, and @VP, Kamala Harris. I wish them all the best as they lead our country over the next four years. Thank you to the @USNationalGuard and other law enforcement for securing and protecting our Capitol for this important ceremony.  Richard Shelby (@SenShelby) January 20, 2021

Two Biden initiatives were singled out by multiple Alabama representatives: The executive order for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and Bidens plan to offer a path to citizenship for undocumented aliens already in the country.

Trump, of course, withdrew the U.S. from the climate pact and his candidacy rose to prominence in 2015 with promises to build a wall on the Mexican border. Both decisions will negatively impact the U.S. economy, according to freshman Congressman Barry Moore of Enterprise.

On his first day in office, President Biden has made it clear that putting Americans first is over, Moore posted on Facebook on Wednesday about five hours into the Biden presidency. These priorities cater to foreign powers like China and Russia, encourage illegal immigration, and put devastating limits on efforts to rebuild our economy.

Now more than ever, we need to be building Americans and business owners up, not putting their needs on the backburner. I dont see how these policies put the needs of hard-working Americans first, do you?

On his first day in office, President Biden has made it clear that putting Americans first is over. These priorities... Posted by U.S. Representative Barry Moore on Wednesday, January 20, 2021

If there was Biden honeymoon to Alabama lawmakers, its already over.

At 7:22 p.m. Wednesday, freshman Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Auburn issued a press release.

Related: Tuberville raises serious concerns on Biden halting border wall construction

I have serious concerns about President Bidens executive order to stop construction of a wall along the southwest border, the Tuberville press release began.

It ended with, If President Biden truly cares about getting American workers back on their feet after the pandemic and protecting our country, he will reconsider this decision and recommit to enforcing the laws as passed by Congress.

Rep. Mo Brooks of Huntsville got started a day before the inauguration, linking on Twitter to a Fox News story about Bidens immigration plan.

Impact on Americans: lost jobs, lower income, higher taxes to pay for I.A. welfare, more crime, etc., Brooks posted on Twitter with the Fox News link.

1986 illegal alien #amnesty begat todays 15+ million illegal alien problem.



Biden = amnesty & citizenship result = another illegal alien surge coming.



Impact on Americans: lost jobs, lower income, higher taxes to pay for I.A. welfare, more crime, etc.https://t.co/mrJzksCggr  Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) January 19, 2021

Brooks followed with another Twitter message Thursday about Bidens environmental policies.

.@JoeBiden joins Paris Climate Accord: helping China, hurting struggling American families, worsening pollution.



Paris Accord: higher USA pollution control costs drive USA jobs & manufacturing to China's bad pollution controls, worsening world pollution.https://t.co/pLAqitCuAr  Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) January 21, 2021

Freshman Rep. Jerry Carl of Mobile on Facebook linked to another Fox News story concerning the Biden immigration policy and added this message:

Bidens proposed immigration plan to suspend deportations and open our borders will prove disastrous. We have got to be tough on immigration and prevent people from illegally crossing our borders.

Bidens proposed immigration plan to suspend deportations and open our borders will prove disastrous. We have got to be... Posted by U.S. Representative Jerry Carl on Tuesday, January 19, 2021

As for Trump, he will be missed by Alabama Republicans.

In retweeting a post from House GOP Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy praising achievements of the Trump administration, Rep. Mike Rogers of Saks said, I am proud to support these major accomplishments. Thank you, President Trump, for everything you did to make America great again.

I am proud to support these major accomplishments. Thank you, President Trump, for everything you did to make America great again. https://t.co/PHV9oc2BdV  Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) January 20, 2021

Carl posted a collage of photos on Facebook, including two of himself with Trump, just before Biden was inaugurated.

Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Pence, for four years of accomplishments and keeping America first, Carls accompanying message said. Promises made, promises kept!

Thank you, President Trump and Vice President Pence, for four years of accomplishments and keeping America first.... Posted by U.S. Representative Jerry Carl on Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Meanwhile, Rep. Gary Palmer of Hoover did not mention the incoming Biden administration nor the outgoing Trump administration on his Facebook or Twitter accounts.
The Crimean Platform summit, scheduled for August 23 in Ukraine, should raise the full range of issues concerning the occupied Crimea, from the humanitarian aspect to the security sector.

"The short-term task of the Crimean Platform is to keep the topic of Crimea [on the agenda], to find new ways and steps to start discussing even more actively the topic, which has not changed in seven years, and the consequences of the occupation have only become more intense," First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar said at a joint online hearing in the Verkhovna Rada entitled "Foreign policy aspects of de-occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol: parliamentary dimension" on January 20, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

She stressed that the summit should not be limited to discussing an important human rights topic.

"Human rights are not the only dimension we can talk about. From the point of view of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine must look for arguments on militarization and security issues. There are many of them, and measures must be planned proceeding from our strategic goals," Dzheppar said.

She called the date of the Crimean Platform summit symbolic.

"The Crimean Platform summit will be held in Kyiv on August 23 this year along with the events planned for the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence ... Symbolism cannot be overestimated as there is no truly independent Ukraine without Crimea," the first deputy foreign minister stressed.

As noted, the invitations for foreign leaders and heads of international organizations to attend the Crimean Platform summit will be sent soon.

As reported, the Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to improve the efficiency of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupying power and to achieve the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine.

The Crimean Platform is expected to operate at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, in the dimension of inter-parliamentary cooperation and expert network.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Cardinal Timothy Dolan officially dedicated the new Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy on Thursday, blessing both the South Beach school and its Father Capodanno statue.

The Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy was created by merging the former St. Adalberts School in Elm Park with Holy Rosary School in South Beach  with the new academy operating out of the South Beach location.

Dolan was greeted by school staff, students, members of the community, as well as family members of Father Capodanno on Thursday for the outdoor ceremony which began with the presentation of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of the national anthem, and an opening prayer by the Rev. Michael Martine, Holy Rosary pastor.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan visits the newly merged Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy to cut the ribbon and bless both the school and the Father Capodanno statue. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)

Principal Diane Hesterhagen led the remarks by sharing the story of Father Vincent Capodanno, who was born on Staten Island and was ordained a priest in 1958. He spent time as a Maryknoll missionary, a Catholic priest and U.S. Navy chaplain.

He died in action at age 38 in 1967 while ministering to wounded Marines on the battlefield during the Vietnam War. He posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his valor in the Marine Corps during some of the most harrowing battles of the war.

We pray to him and for him every day. This school named in his honor will continue to cultivate young patriots who will understand that God walks with them every single day, Hesterhagen said.

Every day, the school honors its patron and promotes the cause for canonization of Father Capodanno  an active effort that has been underway for his courage, fearlessness and heroism.

Dolan, Superintendent of Schools Michael Deegan and regional superintendent Zolita Herrera cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the school. Jan. 21, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)

He has already been declared a Servant of God, the first step on the path that leads to sainthood.

Dolan explained he is grateful to the wonderful Catholic schools because they teach a sense of duty  to God, to our country, to the church and the common good.

We dont apologize for the fact that our wonderful Catholic schools teach values. They teach the faith. They teach virtue. They teach right and wrong. They teach about God, and prayer and faith. They teach about duty. Duty to God and country, Dolan said. And to have a school named after somebody who gave his life out of a sense of duty to God and country, that about says it all. The only wish I have on this beautiful morning is that one day, Ill be here to re-dedicate this to Saint Vincent Capodanno.

Michael Deegan, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York, said there was no greater honor as each day, all of our children walk through these hallowed halls and look up at his name.

You have heard the expression, For God and country, all of your lives, Deegan said. There is no one who is more fitting for the honor that we bestow on this school to his name, than Father Vincent Capodanno, who gave his life for his country and for his God.

Dolan is presented with a lithograph of Father Capodanno. Jan. 21, 2021. (Staten Island Advance/Annalise Knudson)

Dolan was then joined by Deegan and Zolita Herrera, regional superintendent of Staten Island Catholic schools, to cut the ribbon in front of the school building. Dolan blessed the statue of Father Capodanno at the schools main entrance and was gifted a lithograph of the Medal of Honor recipient.

Dolans visit ended with a student performance of Let There Be Peace, and a tour of the school campus.

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Statues of prominent City of London figures William Beckford and Sir John Cass are to be pulled down over their connections to the slave trade following this summer's Black Lives Matter movement.

The City of London Corporation's Policy and Resources Committee voted to remove them from their historic Guildhall headquarters.

They are to be spirited away to a not yet disclosed location and could be replaced with a new memorial to the slave trade in the City.

The decision is at odds with Prime Minister Boris Johnson's own thoughts after he said last year he thought tearing controversial statues down was to 'lie about our history'.

The statue of William Beckford is inside the Guildhall HQ of the City of London Corporation

A replica of this statue is also in the HQ and will be removed and whisked elsewhere

But the corporation said it was going to set up a working group to make the change as soon as possible.

Their removal was suggested by The Tackling Racism Taskforce, which was set up in June in the wake of the Black Lives Matters protests.

It came after last year the City Corporation held a consultative exercise asking people for their views on statues and other landmarks in the Square Mile linked to slavery, which garnered more than 1,500 responses.

The consultation came following the Black Lives Matter protests in London and elsewhere

Memorials to politicians, war heroes and authors all targeted due to links to slavery and racist beliefs Since Edward Colston's statue was thrown into Bristol Harbour, there has been a wave of attacks from vandals on various monuments across Britain. A statue to Winston Churchill was defaced with the words 'was a racist' and 'f*** your agenda' written underneath the memorial to the war time PM in Westminster Square, London. Slave trader Robert Milligan's was covered with a shord and the message 'Black Lives Matter' was placed on it in West India Docks amid calls for it to be taken down. It was later removed by Tower Hamlets Council. Tower Hamlets Council removed a statue of slave trader Robert Milligan after it was covered and displayed the message 'Black Lives Matter' during last month's protests Less than a year after it was erected, 'Nazi' was scrawled underneath a statue of Nancy Astor, the first woman to take a seat in Parliament, in Plymouth. A monument to 19th-century politician Henry Vassall-Fox, the third Baron Holland, was left splattered with red paint in Holland Park. A cardboard sign reading 'I owned 401 slaves' was perched in the bronze statue's arms, with the number painted on the plinth alongside red handprints. A Grade II-listed monument to Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain's foremost naval hero, which stands in the grounds of Norwich Cathedral, was sprayed with a black 'V' in the middle of a circle - an anarchist symbol. Red paint spattered another stature of Lord Nelson at Deptford Town Hall in South London. In Kent, a former councillor wrote 'Dickens Racist' outside a museum dedicated to the beloved 19th century author. Letters sent by the Oliver Twist author showed he wished to 'exterminate' Indian citizens after a failed uprising. A statue of Civil War leader Oliver Cromwell in Wythenshawe Park, Manchester, had the words 'Cromwell is a cockroach,' 'f*** racist' and the Black Lives Matter acronym 'BLM' scrawled across it last month. Thousands of people were massacred during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland. BLM was also scrawled across the Worcester Civil War memorial in Royal Park. Advertisement

City of London Corporation Policy Chair Catherine McGuinness said: 'This decision is the culmination of months of valuable work by the Tackling Racism Taskforce, which has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing injustice and inequality.

'The view of members was that removing and re-siting statues linked to slavery is an important milestone in our journey towards a more inclusive and diverse City.'

The statue of William Beckford, a two-time Lord Mayor of London in the late 1700s who accrued wealth from plantations in Jamaica and held African slaves, will be removed, re-sited and replaced with a new artwork.

Meanwhile, the likeness of Sir John Cass, a 17th and 18th century merchant, MP and philanthropist who also profited from the slave trade, will be returned to its owner, the Sir John Cass Foundation.

City of London Corporation Tackling Racism Taskforce Co-Chair Caroline Addy said: 'I'm really pleased Policy and Resources Committee has agreed what we think is the correct response to a sensitive issue.

'The slave trade is a stain on our history and putting those who profited from it literally on a pedestal is something that has no place in a modern, diverse City.'

Recommendations by the Tackling Racism Taskforce to boost diversity among staff by introducing anonymised recruitment for all pay grades, extra training and a 'reverse mentoring' scheme have already been approved.

City of London Corporation Tackling Racism Taskforce Co-Chair Andrien Meyers said: 'I'm really proud of the wide-ranging work the Taskforce has carried out to promote inclusion in the City Corporation, our schools and institutions and the City as a whole, which support our commitment to ensuring the Square Mile is a place where people of all ethnicities and backgrounds feel safe and welcome.'

The BLM movement was sparked by the killing of George Floyd in the US where he was arrested by police.

Protesters tore down a statue of Edward Colston on Sunday, June 7, on the same day a memorial to Winston Churchill in London was defaced with the words 'was a racist' written on a plinth underneath.

It prompted a wave of statues being targeted with graffiti or being attacked during protests, culminating in some statues, including ones of Nelson Mandela and Winston Churchill, being covered up to be protected from vandals.

The Topple the Racists campaign launched a comprehensive list of statues it wanted to see removed as it believed the names behind the monuments held racist beliefs.

It led to Oriel College at Oxford University voting to remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes, a colonialist politician in southern Africa in the 19th century.

Boris Johnson wrote last year: 'We cannot now try to edit or censor our past. We cannot pretend to have a different history. The statues in our cities and towns were put up by previous generations.

'They had different perspectives, different understandings of right and wrong. But those statues teach us about our past, with all its faults.

'To tear them down would be to lie about our history, and impoverish the education of generations to come.'
According to a new study which the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society recently published, there is enough greasy matter in the Milky Way to make about 40 trillion trillion trillion packs of butter. The team of Australian and Turkish astronomers which conducted the study discovered that there are 100 greasy carbon atoms for every million hydrogen atoms in the entire Universe. According to them, the so-called space grease is not only toxic, but also dirty and only forms in the interstellar space and inside a laboratory. Its also very interesting that such an important organic material is so abundant in the Universe.

Tim Schmidt, one of the authors of the study, says that their team wanted to discover just how much greasy carbon exists in the Universe. So, in order to do this, they recreated interstellar dust in their laboratory. They copied the entire natural process through which stars make organic molecules by expanding a plasma that contains carbon into a vacuum at very low temperatures. Then, they were able to analyze how strongly the dust absorbed the light by using a certain wavelength. That indicated the amount of aliphatic carbon.

There is a lot of space grease all over the Universe

According to Schmidt, the next step was to combine the results that they got with certain observations from astronomical observatories. This process allowed the team to measure just how much aliphatic carbon there is between us and the stars in the Universe.

It seems that this greasy and toxic carbon represents between a quarter and a half of the entire carbon that exists in the Universe. Now, the team wants to discover how much aromatic, or mothball-like carbon there is. Knowing how much of these two types of carbon there is in space, experts might be able to figure out the entire quantity of this element in the Universe.

Image source: Wikimedia
While some Congressional Democrats spent Inauguration Day in Washington D.C., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spent it in the Bronx, supporting striking food manufacturer workers.

A worker strike at the Hunts Point Market has been going on in New York City borough for four days, hamstringing the distribution of produce across the region.

The employees, members of Teamsters Local 202, are looking for a $1 dollar hourly raise, as well as some gratitude after working day in and day out during the pandemic.

AOC lent her support to the strike on Wednesday, going to Costco to buy some hot chocolate and supplies for the workers.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reposted a photo she took with New Yorker Nathalia Castillo at a local Costco

Wednesday's picture post was accompanied by AOC's tweet on the strike in the Bronx

She reposted a photo of herself at Costco on Twitter, writing: 'Stocking up on Bustelo + hot chocolate to support the picket line of @TeamstersJC16 workers later! Hundreds are on strike at Hunts Point Market in the Bronx for a $1 raise. They need our support! Check out their story & thank a food worker today.'

Ocasio-Cortez might one of the most prominent politicians to support the strikers, but she isn't the only one, according to The City.

Others who have shown up in support of Teamsters Local 202 since the strike began include mayoral candidates Maya Wiley and Andrew Yang.

'Were not asking for very much, and if they would have gave that, then all of this right here could have been prevented,' warehouse worker Ismael Cancela told The City.

The strike at Hunts Point Market in the Bronx has been going on since midnight on Sunday

The workers are demanding a raise of $1 an hour, which management has not agreed to

Management is reportedly only offering a 32-cent hourly raise to the salaries of workers

Workers at the Hunts Point Market, which supplies around 60 percent of New York City's produce and handles 210 million pounds of produce each year, earn an average of $18 to $21 an hour.

They sought an increase of $1 an hour in negotiations, but they were countered with just a 32-cent raise, leading to the strike beginning after midnight on Sunday, the first at Hunts Point Market in 35 years.

Gothamist reports that 1,400 workers walked off the job once the strike began, which came several days after negotiations with the management of the market broke down.

One protester holds a clever sign, reading, 'No Justice, No Peas,' as it's a produce market

The protesters have garnered plenty of support, including from local colleges

The strikers have been successful in blocking some trucks from entering the market

In addition to a bigger raise, employees at the market are seeking more respect from management and the community they serve.

'Dont say we should be lucky to have a job,' Hiram Montalvo told The City; Montalvo unloads trucks at the market. 'Say thank you that were actually coming to work and risking our lives so that they can take care of their families as well.'

Tuesday night marked the most tense evening of the strike so far, with 400 workers being confronted on the picket line by around 300 police officers, leading to five arrests.

Police have reportedly been present at the strike since it began.

Unions from other cities have also expressed their support for the Bronx strikers

If the strike persists, the distribution of local produce will be affected in a severe way

But there haven't been any reports of management and strikers heading back to negotiations

'Our battles not with the NYPD, but we think they could handle this more delicately. Lets put it that way,' said Local 202 President Daniel Kane Jr.

Union officials say ten employees at the market have lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic, further galvanizing the Teamsters.

'I am sick and tired of working people begging for crumbs,' said city council member Vanessa Gibson. 'One dollar should be the floor.'

If the strike continues, produce will start drying up at grocery stores in the coming days and weeks.



Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday vowed to deal with troublemakers. In a statement by his spokesman, Taiwo Adisa, Makinde said hoodlums...

Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde on Wednesday vowed to deal with troublemakers.

In a statement by his spokesman, Taiwo Adisa, Makinde said hoodlums, bandits and kidnappers are criminals, not the Hausa or Fulani.

He urged residents to come together and put the interest of Oyo first in the fight against insecurity.

A Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho, had ordered the Fulani to leave Igangan by Friday.

Igboho blamed them for incessant murders and abductions in Oyo.

In his response, Makinde vowed to punish anyone disrupting the peace of the state.

Makinde told individuals or groups planning to take actions that would lead to the forcible removal of anyone to desist.

The governor appealed to residents not to take judgement into their hands, adding that there are bodies constitutionally empowered to arrest and prosecute criminals.

He said the government cannot overlook the fact that there have indeed been instances that cause concern.

Makinde expressed concern that the fragile peace between the herdsmen and farmers in Oke Ogun is being threatened.

Individuals who are not authorised are going around chasing people from their homes and causing mayhem. This assault on residents of Oyo State is not the way to further the Yoruba cause.

Let me state that we shall not sit back and watch anyone make any law-abiding resident of Oyo State feel unsafe in their homes, farms, or business places.

We are aware of some people circulating flyers and giving people ultimatums to leave their land. This is totally unacceptable and will not be condoned, Makinde added.
An upcoming Nokia phone powered by the 5G ready Snapdragon 690 chipset appeared in a listing on Geekbench. The device is code-named Quicksilver and managed 471 points in the single-core department and 1,500 on the multi-core test. According to speculations, this is the rumored Nokia 6.3/6.4 which appeared in renders two weeks ago.



Nokia "Quicksilver" Geekbench listing

The new listing reveals the device packs 6GB RAM and boots Android 11. According to past rumors, the Nokia 6.3/6.4 will release a 6.45-inch waterdrop notch display with a 16MP selfie cam.



Nokia 6.3/6.4 render

The back will house a quad-camera setup with a 24MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor units. Well make sure to update you with more details once they are available.

Source | Via
Indonesia may take years to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic with hospitals reaching breaking point and forced to turn away desperately sick patients.

Those living in the nation's capital who have been struck down with the virus have been seeking ICU beds only for some to be turned away from as many as ten different hospitals.

One 50-year-old man was riding in a taxi with his daughter on his way to his 11th hospital trying to seek treatment when he tragically died inside the car, gasping for breath.

The country's borders were shut again in December to deal with the outbreak and to stop dangerous mutant strains coming in from overseas, leaving the tourist-reliant economy on its knees.

Jakarta's death toll has now jumped to more than 27,000 after the city suffered its highest weekly number of fatalities in the week from January 11 to 17.

Passengers are seen waiting for a Covid-19 test in Jakarta in the days before Christmas. Hospitals in the Indonesian capital have nearly reached capacity

Those living in the Indonesian capital who have been struck down with the virus have been desperately seeking ICU beds only for some to be turned away from as many as ten different hospitals (pictured health workers are seen loading a coffin with a coronavirus victim into an ambulance in Jakarta)

Heartbreaking photos show healthcare workers loading coffins of coronavirus victims into ambulances - a grim but common sight in Jakarta.

The Jakarta government revealed that just 13 per cent of their 8,890 intensive care and isolation beds were free for Covid-19 patients.

LaporCOVID-19, a coronavirus data centre ran by volunteers in Indonesia, say they have been spending everyday trying to find hospital beds for those battling the virus - but most are completely full.

Irma Hidayana, who co-founded the organisation told The Australian her team had called more than 200 hospitals this week trying to find space for patients.

'Normally if you go to the hospital and it is determined that you're in a critical condition and need to be moved to better facilities, the hospital would find a place for you,' she said.

'Now hospitals are telling families they can't help them and they have to find an ICU bed for themselves.'

A deserted street in Kuta, Bali shows the devastating affect the coronavirus pandemic has had on Indonesia

The Jakarta government revealed that just 13 per cent of their 8,890 intensive care and isolation beds were free for Covid-19 patients (pictured medical staff wheel away a body in Jakarta)

Last week, Indonesia started rolling out its plan to vaccinate 181million of its 270million population

She said many families were forced to stand in a line and hope a bed would free up, only for most to give up and return home without any medical attention.

'The system is collapsed. One of the indicators is you see people physically standing - or sitting - in line trying to enter a hospital. That is happening now,' Dr Irma said.

Last week, Indonesia started rolling out its plan to vaccinate 181 million of its 270 million population.

The first doses of China's CoronaVac, which will be free to all Indonesians, will go to 1.3 million healthcare workers with President Joko Widodo receiving the first shot last Wednesday.

The island, which has been hammered by the epidemic, remains officially closed to overseas tourists but is home to many long-term residents from abroad.

Kuta Beach in Bali is seen nearly empty during the height of the pandemic in March (pictured) with foreign tourists locked out

Bali's provincial governor Wayan Koster said the island will not reopen to tourists for many months.

'The situation in Indonesia is not yet conducive to allowing foreign tourists to visit Indonesia, including visiting Bali,' he said.

The Indonesian government predicted $14billion was lost from tourism in 2020 and introduced a $28billion in fiscal stimulus to fight the downturn.

Foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia slumped 89.22 percent year-on-year to 164,970 in August 2020. Meanwhile, Bali arrivals plunged 100 percent to just 12.
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JACKSON, MI -- It stood for nearly a century as a building where children came to learn.

But after 95 years of classrooms, playgrounds and hallways, new plans are expected for the site of Jacksons former Griswold School. Demolition of the building at 500 Griswold St. began in mid-January.

Jackson-based Smalley Construction is leading the demolition and expects to finish the site cleanup this week, co-owner Joseph Smalley said. Demolition includes the building, parking area, playground and surrounding fencing.

A limited liability company formed in 2018 and run by Cardinal Capital Management of West Allis, Wisconsin owns the property. City of Jackson officials said no formal plans have been submitted for development of the property. It was previously discussed as a possible market-rate housing development, they said.

Multiple attempts to reach the developer to determine plans for the site went unreturned.

The 28,000-square foot building was built in 1926, city records show. It was a Jackson Public Schools elementary school until 1980 before transitioning to adult education and special education through 1995, JPS officials said.

In 1996, JPS sold the land to Faith Christian Academy, which operated in the building until 2003. The academy sold the building to the Jackson Arts & Technology Academy charter school, which occupied it until closing in 2011. The building has been vacant since then.

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Amaravati, Jan 21 : Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSRCP candidate Pothula Suneetha was elected, without any contest, to the Legislative Council on Thursday to fill up a casual vacancy.

"The returning officer and Deputy Secretary to the state legislature has declared Pothula Suneetha, YSRCP as duly elected uncontested," said a statement from the chief electoral officer's office.

No other party had contested the bypoll, which was necessitated as Suneetha, then a Telugu Desam Party member of the upper house, had resigned on November 1, in protest over her party's activities "harming development" in the state and joined the ruling party.

Her earlier term was up to March 3, 2023.
January is among the darkest months yet for Covid-19 deaths, with the fatality toll rising to 485 as the virus claimed the lives of 61 more people yesterday.

The youngest person reported to have died from Covid-19 yesterday was 45, while the oldest was 100.

Hospitals are increasingly relying on surge intensive care beds to care for the sickest patients, although there are hopes admissions will slow down before they reach the limit.

The number of Covid-19 hospitalised patients fell slightly to 1,923 yesterday, while new patients admitted in the previous 24 hours went down to 85 from an average of around 120.

However, there are 210 seriously ill patients in intensive care - including a significant number in younger age groups.

Although there are increasing signs the lockdown is working, the daily number of new cases rose to 2,488 yesterday, up from 2,001 on Tuesday.

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said: "The number of cases and deaths that we are reporting today and the persisting high incidence rate of Covid-19 across the country shows that we cannot underestimate the highly infectious nature of this disease and the impact that it can have on families and communities.

"The virus spreads through close contacts, through the congregation of people.

"We need everyone to stay at home as much as possible, and to work from home, where possible.

Caring

"You should not meet up with friends or loved ones, unless you are caring for them.

"If you go out for exercise, you need to stay within 5km from your home, wear a face covering where appropriate and wash your hands when you return home to protect yourself from infection."

Meanwhile, an independent review has been ordered by the Coombe maternity hospital in Dublin into how the relatives of a number of staff were given the Covid-19 vaccine.

The hospital said its board had met to discuss the issue, which arose late in the evening of Friday, January 8, in relation to the vaccine roll-out.

"Given the serious nature of the matter the board has made the decision to commence an independent review. It expects this review will be completed within a number of weeks," a spokesperson said.

"The board has also taken the decision to task a senior clinician from within the hospital to lead and take full responsibility for the next stage of its vaccination roll-out until it is completed."

Earlier this week it emerged 16 family members of staff were given the vaccine after vaccinators could not find other health workers to receive leftover jabs.

The hospital said that on Friday January 8, at around 9pm, 16 vaccine doses were available and if they were not used then they would have had to have been discarded.

"At that time, the HSE booking system and portal was not live as it came online the following morning and so it was not possible to pre-book vaccinations and therefore be certain of the number of vaccinations required. The HSE booking system and portal is now live.

"That evening there were 16 vaccine doses that had been made up remaining, and to ensure that vaccines were not wasted they were administered to family members of employees of the hospital.

"Of the 16 recipients, nine were over 70 and the remaining seven were of varying age."

Session

It has also emerged that two relatives of staff in the Rotunda Hospital were given leftover vaccine.

New guidelines in place since last week state that a vaccination session must have a reserve list of staff who could be offered leftover vaccines.

A spokesman for Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said last night he had spoken to the chair of the hospital board and "noted their intention to carry out a full review".

He said Mr Donnelly welcomes the decision to have a senior clinician leading the next roll-out.

Highlights US President Donald Trump had disclosed in his financial disclosure report that he had received gifts worth $40,000 last year.

he list includes gifts from the honchos of companies including Boeing Co., Apple Inc. and Ford Motor Co.

Cook had apparently gifted him the Mac Pro worth $5,999.

Former US President Donald Trump had disclosed in his financial disclosure report that he had received gifts worth $40,000 last year. The list includes gifts from the honchos of companies including Boeing Co., Apple Inc. and Ford Motor Co. Apple CEO Tim Cook had invited Trump to announce the new generation of Mac Pro.

As per the financial report disclosed by Trump, Cook had apparently gifted him the Mac Pro worth $5,999. In the report, it has been mentioned that the Mac Pro has been produced at the Flex Factor in Austin, Texas. It is not entirely true because Apple had produced its 2013 Mac Pro at the Texas facility. This comes years before the company announced the redesigned model of the computer.

Among all the expensive gifts that Trump received over the years. The most expensive gift worth $25,970 was a bronze statue of U.S. Marines gifted by Timothy Davis, President, and CEO of the Greatest Generations Foundation.

Donald Trump, who is no longer the supreme leader of the United States of America, left the White House on Wednesday. Trump skipped new President Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony but left a letter in the Oval Office for Biden. Melania Trump, the former first lady of America also left a similar letter for the First Lady Dr Jill Biden.

"The president wrote a very generous letter," Joe Biden told reporters at the White House, news agency AFP reported."Because it's private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him," Joe Biden said. Although Trump gave his ceremony a miss, former presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama attended along with their spouses.

Biden had taken oath as the 46th President of the United States of America. Aged 78, he is also the oldest president to assume the chair. Kamala Devi Harris was sworn-in as the first female Vice President of the country ahead of Joe Biden.

At his oath-taking ceremony, Biden said, "The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We've learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said.

"Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. And, we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated, and even manufactured. My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. America has to be better than this, and I believe America is so much better than this," he added.
Terming their arrest by the police as "shocking", the Gujarat High Court has ordered the immediate release of an inter-faith couple arrested by Palanpur police in Banaskantha district.

The division bench of Justices Sonia Gokani and Sangeeta Vishen expressed unhappiness over the turn of events after the coupe was arrested by the police following an FIR lodged by the woman's family, which was against her decision to marry someone from a different religion.

While ordering the couple's release, the high court observed that police had shown "undue fervour" while dealing with this case of "inter-religion marriage".

Couple to be released immediately

The high court, while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the brother of the 30-year-old man, quashed the remand order issued by a local magistrate and asked the Palanpur police to release the couple immediately.

The court in its order directed the range inspector general, under whom Banaskantha falls, to inquire into the conduct of police inspectors of Palanpur-East and Palanpur- West police stations, "in whose custody the couple has been detained for all these days, and report to the DIG".

The 30-year-old Muslim man from Palanpur got married to a 29-year-old Hindu woman, hailing from same town, in December-end last year.

The petition stated that the woman and the man were friends since childhood.

Representational Image

Girl's father had lodged complaint

Apparently being unhappy over the woman's decision, her father lodged a complaint with Palanpur-East police, alleging that she stole money from the family's home before running away.

Based on the complaint, the Palanpur police arrested the couple around a week back. Later, a local magistrate remanded them in four-day police custody from January 18.

Following the police action, the man's brother approached the HC on January 18 with a habeas corpus petition, seeking production of his recently-married brother while claiming that he was illegally arrested.

As the couple has decided to settle in Surat, the state government has assured the HC that Surat police commissioner will be intimated to provide them protection initially for four weeks.

This comes as Gujarat like many other BJP-ruled states is planning to introduce laws against love jihad.

AFP

Last week Gujarat deputy chief minister Nitin Patel had said that the government is reviewing laws enacted recently by Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh against love jihad.

The state already has the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003 already prohibits forced religious conversion, and those who wish to change their religion are first required to seek the District Commissioner's approval.


remaining of

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Out of two dozen requests for sentence reductions from inmates concerned about their health amid the pandemic, federal judges in Colorado approved only three in the final four months of 2020.

Known as compassionate release, a 2018 change in the law allows federal inmates to petition a court directly if there are extraordinary and compelling reasons to leave prison, which could mean an elevated threat to an inmate's life from COVID-19. However, an inmates susceptibility is not the only factor, and different judges may apply the criteria differently.

The problem, as with many cases in law, is the interpretation, said Jackie Fielding, a fellow and counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. While some judges may interpret a COVID-19 risk factor like obesity or smoking to weigh heavily in the inmates favor, others are saying that unless you can prove that theres been enough transmission within your facility specifically, its not extraordinary and compelling enough.

The American Bar Association in December advised that courts were looking at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's identified risk factors in addition to pre-pandemic legal requirements, directing lawyers to "use their creativity in developing arguments for compassionate release."

Colorado Politics reviewed 24 opinions that judges in the U.S. District Court in Colorado published from September through December in response to compassionate release requests. Judges also reviewed other types of release requests related to inmates fears of COVID-19, including a temporary release from custody pending sentencing, pretrial release to a halfway house and release from U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement detention for an asylum applicant who contracted the novel coronavirus.

In many cases, judges analyzed inmates circumstances in great detail.

On Dec. 26, Judge William J. Martinez rejected an application for compassionate release in what he admitted was a very close call. The inmate had received a sentence of 40 years for bank robbery and had served nearly 17 years at the time of his request. The man, 56, had an exemplary record while incarcerated, a minimum risk of recidivism and medical conditions that included coronary artery disease, hypertension, chronic lung disease and a past heart attack.

"I have earned 40 college credit hours with a 4.0 GPA from Pueblo Community College and certificates in both renewable energy and business management," the man explained in his handwritten compassionate release motion, adding: "May I be granted just one second chance?"

Nevertheless, the inmates crimes were among the most serious and violent crimes that the undersigned has encountered, Martinez ruled. In three years, once the inmate had served at least half of his sentence, a request for compassionate release would enjoy greater equities in its favor.

Beyond finding that an inmates health condition or the level of prison transmission was not severe, judges commonly denied requests to those who were not 65 or older, had not served 75% of their sentence or whose family circumstances did not merit release.

The U.S. Sentencing Commissions 2018 guidelines list those factors, plus other reasons as determined by the director of the Bureau of Prisons as extraordinary and compelling circumstances.

However, in her two opinions denying compassionate release, Senior Judge Marcia S. Krieger found inmates may be safer from COVID-19 in prison than outside of it.

 Release from custody would not ensure that he would not contract COVID-19, Krieger wrote in the case of a man whose health problems weighed in favor of release, but who also had a lengthy and violent criminal history. Indeed, his release into the community  to socialize, to work, to shop, etc.  could increase, rather than decrease his risk of contracting the disease.

In some ways, an argument could be made, she concluded, that continued incarceration serves to protect him against COVID-19.

Some inmates who applied for sentence reductions resided in facilities with relatively successful containment of the virus. The Federal Defenders of New York noted a rate of 86 COVID-19 infections per 1,000 inmates within the federal Bureau of Prisons, an incidence nearly five times higher than the U.S. as a whole.

As of January 14, the bureau reported 190 federal inmate deaths from the disease, with 38,535 prisoners having recovered, out of a population of 123,052 in bureau-managed facilities.

Virginia L. Grady, the federal public defender for Colorado and Wyoming, declined to comment on compassionate release.

I think we need to acknowledge at a certain point what is more important: Preserving peoples lives and allowing them to return to their communities because they havent finished their punishment, said Fielding, with NYUs Brennan Center, or if you want to stand so firmly on these retributive principles that you're willing to endanger somebodys life because you dont want to relax their punishment.

A previous Colorado Politics analysis covering the period from March through August found that five out of 42 court opinions, 12%, resulted in a successful compassionate release. Two judges, Martinez and Christine M. Arguello, issued half of the opinions and did not grant a single sentence reduction.

In two of the three compassionate releases that Colorados federal judges approved in the last four months of 2020, two of them fit under the category of death or incapacitation of the caregiver of the defendants minor child or minor children, in the words of the U.S. Sentencing Commissions handbook.

On Nov. 6, Judge R. Brooke Jackson cleared a woman for release who was serving a 30-month sentence for mail fraud. She gave birth in prison, and the responsibility was on the grandmother to care for the child. However, the grandmothers job and health issues created additional burdens.

Noting that the woman had served 85% of her sentence, Jackson determined the childs need to be with its mother qualified as an extraordinary and compelling circumstance.

The court hopes that being reunited with the baby she has hardly seen and the knowledge that any new conviction is likely to take her away from the child for an extensive period will be enough, he wrote, to develop respect for the law and the rights of others."

In December, Martinez granted a sentence reduction to an inmate serving time on drug, identity theft and money laundering charges. However, the applicant had only served 28 months of his 66-month sentence  significantly less than the 75% threshold in the sentencing guidelines. Furthermore, the 66-month sentence was already less time than recommended for his offenses.

Nevertheless, Martinezs decision centered almost entirely around the mans ex-wife, who had from cancer and was the only caregiver besides himself for their children. The inmates crimes did not involve violence and, while incarcerated, he comported himself well.

This case presents extraordinary extenuating circumstances, and given the fairly unique facts of this case, justice more than amply supports the courts decision to exercise its discretion, Martinez concluded.

The final grant of compassionate release also came from Jackson, who, in effect, waived the six-month sentence that an inmate would have served for a firearm offense in Colorado. The man, who was in poor health and at elevated risk of contracting COVID-19, was 70% of the way through a 126-month sentence for crimes in Virginia. He was to serve the brief Colorado sentence afterward, until Jacksons order.

The Marshall Project, a news organization focused on the criminal justice system, released findings in October that between March and May, 10,940 federal prisoners applied for compassionate release. Such requests must first go to wardens, who have 30 days to respond. If they do not, prisoners may petition the courts directly  although several judges in Colorado pointed out where inmates failed to pursue the administrative route correctly before filing their motions.

Of those requests, 156 were approved. Including judicial grants of compassionate release, the number amounts to more than 1,600.

The Bureau of Prisons reports more than 2,600 compassionate releases in total since the enactment of the 2018 legislation that provided the judicial workaround for inmate requests. While compassionate release existed prior to 2018, the bureau only approved 6% of applications between 2013 and 2017, and 250 people died awaiting a decision.

In a recent report providing policy recommendations for the Biden administration, the Brennan Center suggested the Bureau of Prisons proactively identify vulnerable inmates for release. The CARES Act, and a subsequent memo from then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr, granted greater flexibility to the bureau in moving inmates into home confinement, using factors similar to those judges apply in compassionate release cases. The Marshall Project reported in October that less than 5% of the prison population benefited from the change.

Cynthia Orr, a lawyer in San Antonio and the past chairwoman of the American Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section, believed that inmates know about their options, but may not understand how to properly pursue release.

"People eventually will be released," she said. "I think we're recognizing that our wisdom in 'we just need to lock up the bad people and throw away the key' does not fly at all."

Orr, who successfully obtained a compassionate release for an 80-year-old inmate in Mississippi through the Bureau of Prisons, also favors re-instating federal parole, which the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 abolished. She worries that people with money who can hire an attorney may disproportionately benefit from the program, as is the case generally in the justice system.

"I just think this ad hoc system we have now," Orr added, "that's not a fair process."

On Tuesday, the heads of the German Lander (federal states) met again with Chancellor Angela Merkel to discuss pandemic measures. On the same day, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) again reported almost 1,000 coronavirus deaths.

The new coronavirus variant, which is already ravaging Ireland, Portugal and Spain, in addition to Britain, is taking centre stage in Germany was well. Other mutations have been discovered in South Africa and Brazil. Yet the politicians at both the federal and state level continue to insist on keeping workplaces, schools and day care centres open and rejecting any serious restrictions on the economy.

Crowds of pupils in a school in Dortmund-Hacheney, Germany

A radical change of strategy is being increasingly demanded from doctors and virologists, as well as from school children and kindergarten teachers. A joint declaration by scientists from all over Europe, first published in the journal The Lancet, bears the signatures of well over a thousand scientists, including Christian Drosten and the head of the RKI, Lothar Wieler. The virus does not respect national borders, Prof. Isabella Eckerle told the Neue Zurcher Zeitung (NZZ). What is needed, she said, is a coordinated, complete lockdown across Europe.

This policy is supported by signers of a petition titled ZeroCovid, whose initial signatories include some 400 scientists, medical professionals, artists and journalists. The petition easily reached its first target of 75,000 signatures in Germany. It reads: To stop the virus and prevent further deaths in the tens of thousands, a pause of solidarity is now necessary We must shut down all non-socially necessary sectors of the economy for a time.

A group of doctors has written directly to the federal government, stating that there should be no room for a so-called herd immunity strategy. Denying facts and watering down scientific proposals must not be allowed to further negatively influence political decisions.

The imperative of a hard lockdown is all the more urgent given that vaccination has already begun. The new, even more contagious mutant strains have already been detected in Berlin, Bavaria, Hesse and Baden-Wurttemberg.

A medical professional wrote on Twitter: If we take [coronavirus mutation] B 1.1.7 seriously, we should now vaccinate around the clock as if disaster had struck. Because it has.

But the vaccination rollout is a debacle. It is going much more slowly than necessary because every step is subordinated to the profit interests of the pharmaceutical companies.

There can be no doubt that government officials are unwavering in keeping the profits flowing. Profits before human lives is the unspoken motto, which prevailed again at the Federal-Lander Round Table on Tuesday.

It was agreed to extend the previous, half-hearted measures until 14 February, but not tighten them significantly, so as to not restrict non-essential production and service companies. The only new step is to make compulsory in the future the wearing of an FFP2 mask or surgical mask in public spaces and on public transport.

The government officials did not even pass a truly binding resolution on the issue of working from home. At present, only about 15 percent of employees work from home, whereas in April 2020, more than twice as many people worked from home. Now, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs is to issue a temporary decree urging employers to allow working from home wherever it is possible and provided operations allow it. These woolly formulations leave so many loopholes that much will remain the same.

In recent days, several state heads and education ministers were still urging that schools and day care centres be kept open. These include Susanne Eisenmann, the education minister of Baden-Wurttemberg, and the education ministers of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Hamburg and Berlin. The consequences of the half-measures called for by the highest levels of government are predictable: trains and buses will remain full, millions of employees will be forced into workplaces every day, and children will be sent to schools and day care centres in order to keep production running.

Berlin journalist and author Markus Feldenkirchen commented sarcastically in the newsweekly Der Spiegel, Of course, priority is given to manufacturers of pork chops, downhill skis, egg liqueur, rapid-fire weapons, toasters and cigarettes. To produce them, millions of people may continue to gather in closed roomsas if there were no virus at all.

Not surprisingly, the pandemic continues to accelerate. On Tuesday, nearly 11,369 new infections were reported in one day. The number of coronavirus deaths rose to a total of 47,622, with 989 new deaths. The seven-day incidence rate is still many times too high, with officially 131.5 infected persons per 100,000 inhabitants.

These figures may be grossly incomplete. This was recently pointed out by the Central Institute for Statutory Health Insurance (Zi). The research institute wrote in a concerned press release on Thursday, 14 January that far too often overburdened health offices report case numbers too late or incompletely.

Given systematic reporting delays, as in the current calculation procedure, there is a danger that individual districts will permanently appear in the statistics with infection incidence values that are too low, the Zi wrote. For this reason, the Zi stressed that it was urgently necessary to look at other central aspects of infection incidence rates, above all, the utilisation of intensive care units and the incidence in risk groups.

The situation in hospitals and overcrowded intensive care units is highly threatening. Large parts of the nursing staff are increasingly becoming infectedsimilar to the situation in Britain. In a hospital in North Friesland, 2,200 people have been in quarantine since Tuesday, after 73 staff and 60 patients tested positive for the coronavirus. The hospital has imposed a general admission ban.

A district hospital in Ansbach in eastern Franconia also reported that 33 patients and 29 staff members had become infected.

The situation in numerous crematoria is gruesome. In Saxony, deaths doubled in December, according to the Federal Statistical Office. Pictures of chaotically stacked coffins from the Meissen crematorium circulated in the news, while coffins in Zittau had to be stored temporarily outside the crematorium.

In an interview with gmx.net, undertaker Tobias Wenzel from the Erzgebirge region explained that he was unable to even begin to imagine such a situation. He said that undertakers and crematoria staff in Saxony had to cope with at least a third more funerals than usual. He added, At the moment, we are just managing.

Wenzel had worked 280 hours in December, and his hours were by no means exceptional. He concludes the interview with a bitter indictment of the responsible politicians for failing to act when experts warned during the summer of exactly such a situation.

Government officials at all levels will continue to fail to act. Not even the gruesome scenes at crematoria, reminiscent of images from Bergamo in Italy last spring, can change their minds. The demand for a tougher lockdown, including all non-essential production, is highly popular among working people, as petitions by scientists and ZeroCovid show.

But the federal and state governments will not be swayed by pressure. From the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to the Christian Democrats (CDU), Free Democrats (FDP), Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and the Left Party: all the establishment politicians are aligning themselves with the needs of the banks and corporations.

I dont want us to have to run down our entire economy, declared Federal Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (Social Democratic PartySPD) shortly before the discussion round in the Chancellery. Meanwhile, several leading business representatives were able to air their views in Der Spiegel. Under the headline, Top economists warn against economic lockdown, they emphasised almost word for word that a shutdown of the economy was out of the question.

The President of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) and Humboldt Professor Marcel Tratzscher said, A forced closure of companies could disrupt supply chains and thus cause considerable costs for the entire economy A work from home obligation could cause great economic damage, as it could severely damage effective working hours and productivity.

These bosses receive support from the trade unions. In an interview with the Augsburger Allgemeine , IG Metall leader Jorg Hofmann warned of the consequences of an economic lockdown. Then our economic power would collapse, he said. But we urgently need this strength to be able to continue to afford all the welfare state measures to cushion the consequences of the crisis. Such a shutdown of the economy has long-lasting consequences We mustas far as possiblecontinue industrial production, because this creates value and income for many people.

The high-ranking union official even claimed that infection figures are lower in production plants than in the private environment, an assertion that would quickly vanish into thin air if the unions ensured that corporations truthfully informed their workers and the public about COVID-19 cases in the workforce and had workers systematically tested.

The interview again makes it very clear that the union leaders are in the same boat with the politicians and the capitalistsdoing everything they can to keep the German economy open at the expense of working people. Any appeal to these officials is absurd.

What is needed is a political struggle against this criminal policy. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) and the World Socialist Web Site call for workers to build independent action committees and unite with their colleagues around the world based on a socialist programme.
Kodak Black could have a new jail cell in his future as prosecutors in South Carolina prepare to 'aggressively' pursue a sexual assault charge against him after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump in a separate federal case.

The 23-year-old rapper, whose real name is Bill Kahan Kapri, has spent the past two years in a federal penitentiary after being convicted of making a false statement in order to buy a firearm in 2019.

Kodak is now set to be released halfway through his 46-month sentence after receiving one of the dozens of pardons Trump issued this week hours before leaving office.

But his legal woes are far from over, because Trump's pardon doesn't shield him from the pending sexual assault case he's facing in state court in Florence County, South Carolina.

Kodak was indicted on a felony charge of first-degree sexual misconduct after prosecutors said he raped an 18-year-old woman in a hotel room after a concert in 2016.

The case was disrupted last year when the coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of jury trials, but prosecutors haven't forgotten about it.

Kodak Black could have a new jail cell in his future as prosecutors in South Carolina prepare to 'aggressively' pursue a sexual assault charge against the rapper after he was pardoned by President Donald Trump in a separate federal case

Kodak, whose real name is Bill Kahan Kapri, has spent the past two years in a federal penitentiary after being convicted of making a false statement in order to buy a firearm in 2019

Florence County Solicitor Ed Clements on Thursday told TMZ that his office will continue pursuing the case 'aggressively' until it goes to trial or Kodak accepts a plea deal.

Clements also told Courthouse News that he hopes to have Kodak transported to South Carolina after he is released from federal prison. A date for his release has not been set.

Kodak was indicted on a felony charge of first-degree sexual misconduct in 2016 after prosecutors said he raped an 18-year-old woman in a hotel room after a concert. He is pictured in a mugshot from that year

Court documents supporting the sexual assault charge allege that Kodak forced himself on the college-age woman in a hotel. He allegedly bit her neck and breast while she 'repeatedly told [him] to stop'.

'Her injuries were documented in a sexual assault kit that was completed by medical personnel,' an affidavit for Kodak's arrest states.

The rapper's attorney in the case, Beattie Ashmore, responded to Clements' remarks by telling TMZ: 'Aggressively prosecute? It's been four years. That speaks volumes. Kodak was on bond and on tour for two years before his federal case even began.'

But Ashmore indicated that he is fully prepared to continue fighting for his client, adding: 'Ed's a very fine and experienced prosecutor and I look forward to once again speaking with him about this case. It's been awhile.'

If convicted on the felony sexual misconduct charge, Kodak could face up to 30 years in state prison.

Kodak posted this photo of himself wearing a jail jumpsuit on Instagram in 2019 after he was sentenced to 46 months in prison for lying on a federal document to obtain a gun

Kodak has an extensive rap sheet dating back to his teenage years, when he was placed in juvenile detention on three separate occasions.

In 2016 he was arrested twice in Florida on charges including armed robbery, unlawful possession of a firearm and marijuana possession. He ended up agreeing to plea no contest to those charges in exchange for one year of house arrest and five years probation.

But prosecutors revoked that plea deal at the last minute after discovering two outstanding warrants for Kodak's arrest - one for the sexual assault in South Carolina and another for marijuana possession in Florida.

He pleaded no contest to the drug charges and served four months in jail before being extradited to South Carolina.

Kodak was released from custody there in December 2016 after posting $100,000 bond.

Kodak crashed into the music scene in 2016. The rapper (pictured at a concert in 2018) is best known for the songs 'Roll in Peace, 'ZEZE' and 'Tunnel Vision'

After a few more brushes with state authorities in 2017 and 2018, Kodak found himself in hot water with the feds in April 2019, when he was arrested for weapons and drug possession at the US-Canada border.

Less than a month later he hit with two counts of making a false statement on a governmental form while attempting to purchase firearms.

He took a plea deal and was remanded to the Big Sandy federal penitentiary in Kentucky before being transferred to Thomson penitentiary in Illinois, where he is currently being held.

On Wednesday Kodak took to Twitter to express his gratitude over Trump's pardon.

'I Want To Thank The President @RealDonaldTrump For His Commitment To Justice Reform And Shortening My Sentence,' he wrote.

'I Also Want To Thank Everyone For Their Support And Love. It Means More Than You Will Ever Know. I Want To Continue Giving Back, Learning And Growing.'

Last fall Kodak reportedly pledged to donate $1million to charity if he received a pardon, but it's unclear if he plans to follow through.

Kodak was among a multitude of high-profile figures pardoned by the now-former president, including fellow rapper Lil Wayne and ex-Trump campaign manager Steve Bannon.

On Wednesday Kodak took to Twitter to express his gratitude over Trump's pardon

Kodak was among a multitude of high-profile figures pardoned by Trump on Tuesday
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

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Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

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Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
As per a report published on CNBC, a Tesla Model 3 has exploded in an underground residential parking garage in Shanghai recently. Citing Tesla's response to Chinese media, the report further suggests that no people were injured in the fire.

Initial investigation by US based EV maker indicates the accident was caused by an impact on the underbody of the Model 3. Tesla has been producing Model 3 in Shanghai plant for more than a year now, however it was not immediately clear whether the Model 3 affected was a locally made or imported version.

The impact caused the battery pack of Tesla to spontaneously combust, however Chinese battery manufacturing giant Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) said it did not make the battery pack for the car.

This is not the first time a Tesla has caught fire and more so in China itself. Before beginning local manufacturing in China, the world's most valuable automaker was selling imported Model S and X in the country. One such Model S caught fire in 2019.

A video went viral on Chinese social media which showed a parked Tesla Model S car exploding. The video was widely shared on China's Twitter-like Weibo and showed the parked EV emit smoke and burst into flames seconds later. A video purportedly of the aftermath showed a line of three cars completely destroyed.

Tesla quickly sent a team to investigate the matter. There have been at least 14 instances of Tesla cars catching fire since 2013, with the majority occurring after a crash. However, no such incident was recorded in last 2 years, and the recent Chinese fire incident is the latest one after a couple of years.

The automaker has said its EVs are approximately 10 times less likely to experience a fire than petrol-powered cars, based on its fleet of over 500,000 vehicles which have driven more than 10 billion miles. It did not specify whether the statistic referred to normal use or involving accidents.
The number of employees who were working in offices during the same hours, Mondays through Fridays, had been dwindling for years. Then the coronavirus crisis hit, disrupting the office schedules for millions more.

About 90 percent of mostly North America-based human resource leaders plan to allow employees to work remotely at least part of the time, even after COVID-19 vaccines are widely distributed, according to a survey conducted last month by Gartner, a Stamford-based consulting and research firm. Sixty-five percent of respondents said that their organizations would continue to give employees flexibility when it comes to when they work.

In a recent interview with Hearst Connecticut Media, Elisabeth Joyce, vice president of advisory in Gartners HR practice, discussed how companies and employees are adapting to the pandemics transformation of the workplace.

The following is a condensed and edited version of that interview.

Q: How has the pandemic influenced how companies think about workplace arrangements?

Joyce: What weve seen in what I would call the globes largest remote-work pilot is that even where we had biases against remote work, people can be quite successful. And when we layer in other flexibility around not just where do you work, but when do you work and how much you work, we see folks getting even higher levels of performance out of their workforces.

This giant shift is really around the posture of organizations around flexible work  remote being one of the options. It will more likely be a standard part of standard operating procedures in most organizations where youre allowed to work at home in an alternate location based on the work you do, as opposed to what your manager or organization allows.

Youre going to see organizations that will have people come into the office all the time because they like to or because their work requires it, and some that work remotely all the time. But the large majority will be somewhere in the middle.

Q: What do employees now want with their work routines?

Joyce: What it really comes down to is people want flexibility and choice. What they really to do is make choices about where they work, when it fits them best.

I think theres going to be a lot of people who are going to opt into the office at least some of the time. When you start looking into the data, theres still only like 20 percent who are saying they want to work remotely full time.

The larger majority is actually saying I want to work in the office sometimes, but out of the office sometimes. And I want to make that choice.

Theres a lot of value in coming into the office space, and I think people will want to do that when they feel comfortable doing it.

Q: How do you expect companies to continue adapting to the pandemic this year?

Joyce: We expect organizations to have a plan around the vaccinations and to say something about it.

With this entire experience, weve had to course correct basically every day  watching what the scientists are saying, watching what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization are saying.

We adjust and adapt with every day that we find out more information, and I think thats true with vaccinations as well.

I think the organizations that plan to adapt will be the best-positioned to navigate the next few months.

The short term is really around keeping people safe and productive, including from a mental health perspective.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
New Delhi, Jan 21 : The farmer leaders have welcomes the Central government's proposal during the 10th round of talks to resolve the issues related to the newly passed agricultural laws through a committee, keeping the legislations on hold for one and a half years on a positive note.

Terming the proposal "worth considering", the farmer leaders said that representatives of all the farmer organisations will hold consultations and then apprise the government about their stand during the 11th round meeting scheduled to be held on Saturday.

Farmer leader Shivkumar Kakka, who has been a part of all the 10 meetings held with the government at Vigyan Bhawan here so far, said: "We do not trust the committee, but the government has offered to put the laws on hold... It is definitely a matter to consider. We will discuss this and eventually try to form an opinion." Another farmer leader Darshan Pal Singh, who was present in the meeting on Wednesday, said: "The Central government told us that it would submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court to put the laws on hold. Implementation of laws would be put on hold till the issues are resolved This proposal of the government is worth considering." Reacting on the development, All India Kisan Sabha General Secretary Hanan Mullah said: "The government said in the meeting that by submitting affidavit in the court, it can put the law on pause for a year and a half. Meanwhile, we will go by the report that would be provided by the committee.

"Now all the farmers associations will discuss the government's proposal on January 21 and reply to the government on January 22. Also, the attitude of farmer leaders has always been positive."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Saulo Silveira Portugal

Saulo boldly exhibited his abstract works at national meetings. Going against the current in a country with conventional pictorial traditions, the painter was especially taken notice of during the 5th Art Fair of Sao Paulo in the late 1980s. The spontaneous strokes and strong colours of his paintings imposed his original cultural identity. On arrival in Lisbon (Portugal) in 1990, Saulo only expressed himself non- figuratively, declining warm colours in textured shades on large formats. Ever since the Brazilian artist has associated abstraction with figuration.



With strong technical know how and precise gestures, Saulo is a rational painter. Nothing is left to chance in his compositions. To reinforce his message, popular images appear in the maelstrom of shapes and colours. Galloping horses or natural motifs inspired by his original Minas Gerais also enrich his abstract proposals in order to impose his own personal language.
Displaced Syrians have been forced from their homes by heavy rain, but an initiative has been launched to provide shelter writes Enab Baladi.

We did not sleep all night. We were digging, said Hajj Nouhad al-Jali. This is how people tried to mitigate the consequences of rainwater in the Umm Jirn camps in Kafr Aruq, north of Idleb.

Jali said no party showed up to help them or offer housing alternatives, except for a party he did not name that offered to pump water, provided they can obtain permission from the owner of the land, which the residents rent.

With the beginning of the rainstorm, the Civil Defense intensified its response operations in the camps and began draining rain water and cleaning the gutters, in addition to pumping water in residential areas, dredging mud, and laying roads in the camps to facilitate the movement of civilians.

The people of Jisr al-Shughur, southwest of Idleb, launched an initiative to shelter the displaced in temporary homes during the winter season.

The coordinator of the initiative, Mohammad Habboub, told Enab Baladi that the initiative is made possible by the people of Jisr al-Shughur, who have availed a number of houses to receive the people from the camps. No families have been sheltered as of yet.

Several parties took care of the process of transferring the displaced from the camps to Jisr al-Shughur, including the Civil Defense, the Violet organization, the administration of Jisr al-Shughur, and people from the city.

However, civilians Enab Baladi met in camps north of Idleb were not aware of the initiative. Habboub justified that by saying that the initiative is still new, and it was only launched last Monday.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Trump admin. declares China's persecution of Uyghur Muslims 'genocide'

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The United States has officially designated China's persecution of Muslim minorities in western Xinjiang Province  including mass internment, forced labor, and forced sterilization  as "genocide" and "crimes against humanity."

After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that since at least March 2017, the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), has committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement released Tuesday.

I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state, Pompeo said, adding that the CCP  which he described as a Marxist-Leninist regime that exerts power over the long-suffering Chinese people through brainwashing and brute force  is "engaged in the forced assimilation and eventual erasure of a vulnerable ethnic and religious minority group."

Pompeo made the determination just one day before President-elect Joe Biden takes office, making the U.S. the first country to adopt these terms to describe the CCPs human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

In his statement, Pompeo called on other countries to follow suit in denouncing Chinas actions.

We will not remain silent. If the Chinese Communist Party is allowed to commit genocide and crimes against humanity against its own people, imagine what it will be emboldened to do to the free world, in the not-so-distant future.

Johnnie Moore, the president of the Congress of Christian Leaders who also serves on the congressionally mandated U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, called the designation a fitting, parting shot from an [sic] historic Secretary of State.

This is a determination everyone  Democrat or Republican  ought to agree with, he tweeted. Religious Freedom must remain the beating heart of American foreign policy. Its also high time the Europeans step up

USCIRF Vice Chair Tony Perkins, president of the Christian conservative advocacy group Family Research Council, also praised the move.

"The goal is clear: Chinese officials want to reduce the Uyghur population in China by whatever means necessary," Perkins said in a statement. "The sad reality is that while the rest of the world has been focused on containing the coronavirus, Chinese communists appear to have ramped up the persecution of anyone the government perceives is a threat."

While the word genocide alone wont stop the suffering, it will certainly go a long way to sparking the desperately needed actions that can bring help and hope to all those suffering under the communist regime," Perkins added. The way forward is to continue spotlighting these flagrant abuses of religious freedom and international human rights laws and demand the rest of the world hold China accountable."

Previous reports from U.S. officials and human rights groups found that China has imprisoned more than 1 million people, including Uyghurs and other mostly Muslim ethnic groups, in tightly-controlled concentration camps in Xinjiang, where they are taught to be secular citizens who will never oppose the ruling Communist Party.

There, prisoners are subjected to torture, sterilization, and political indoctrination in addition to forced labor.

A recent report documented how hospitals in Xinjiang were ordered to abort and kill all babies born in excess of Chinas mandated family planning limits  including newborns born after being carried to full term. The orders were part of strict family-planning policies intended to restrict Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities to three children.

Nury Turkel, a Uyghur American attorney born in Xinjiang and a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, revealed that forced labor has been part of Uyghur life for as long as he can remember.

Its one of the methods, one of the vehicles the Chinese used to repress the Uyghur religion and Uyghur culture, he said. "When you buy anything made in China, if it's a textile cotton product, I think it should be something that gives you pause. As a consumer, please do your due diligence. Please stop at least buying any cotton or textile products coming from China ... this should be something easy to tackle.

Sam Brownback, U.S. ambassador at large for International Religious Freedom, said that the tactics used against Uyghur Muslims represent the cutting edge of religious persecution."

Though they live in a remote region, China is employing its most aggressive technology to oppress Uyghurs, including sophisticated cameras, facial-recognition technology, and collecting DNA samples, Brownback said.

They've got technology deployed now where they've got surveillance cameras virtually everywhere in the public, he noted. They've collected genetic data on most of the people in the region to where you can be tracked on the internet, they have facial recognition systems. They could now theoretically close all the concentration camps and you would still live in a virtual police state if you were a Uyghur in Xinjiang.

Christian leaders have repeatedly condemned the persecution of Uyghur Muslims. In September, Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore said that the crimes being perpetrated against religious minorities in China and elsewhere rely on invisibility where the rest of the world doesn't pay attention and tribalism.

The way of Jesus Christ says that we pay attention to our neighbor on the side of the road who is persecuted, who is being beaten, he said. So let's pray for the Uyghur [and] for other persecuted peoples. Let's pray not just individually, but together, and pray for them by name.

Let's be the people who stand up for whoever is being made invisible, whoever is being intimidated and bullied in our own neighborhoods and in our own communities because we're the people of Jesus Christ.
[January 21, 2021] New CyberCube Scenarios Aid Lloyd's Syndicates' Cyber Planning

CyberCube has updated its data-driven analytic software to seamlessly enable insurers to quantify losses to scenarios that Lloyd's has issued to syndicates for the upcoming March data collection deadline. These scenarios are used to report to Lloyd's on how their portfolio of business would be affected by major cyber events. CyberCube has introduced the three scenarios for realistic cyber disasters as part of its Portfolio Manager product, which is used by risk carriers. The three scenarios, which CyberCube designed in conjunction with Lloyd's Underwriting team, Lloyd's market practitioners and Guy Carpenter, are: - a cloud outage - a power or infrastructure outage - a major malware attack The Lloyd's Market Association's Cyber Risk Strategy Group has also been heavily involved in developing the scenarios over the past 15 months. By analysing how their portfolios of insurance risks are affected by these scenarios, the Lloyd's market can assess each syndicate's financial resilience and that of the market as a whole. The scenarios also expose the most up-to-date threat landscape and associated cybe threats that cause significant accumulations of losses.



The three cyber scenarios, which will in future be included in Lloyd's formal Realistic Disaster Scenario (RDS) framework, will play an important role in syndicates' business planning processes. They mark the market's most sophisticated cyber analysis exercise to date. Pascal Millaire, CyberCube's CEO, said: "Lloyd's syndicates have long been leaders in the global cyber insurance market and so it is no surprise that the Lloyd's market is also taking a leadership role amongst regulators in thoughtfully measuring cyber exposure accumulation. We're thrilled to be able to help Lloyd's syndicates with this exercise using our platform."

Kirsten Mitchell-Wallace, Lloyd's Head of Portfolio Risk Management, said: "The Lloyd's market is a global leader in cyber insurance so understanding and controlling exposure to this class of business is critical. Cyber is a rapidly evolving risk that demands scrutiny at both syndicate and market level: the use of scenarios helps Lloyd's to achieve this." Siobhan O'Brien, Managing Director and Head of Guy Carpenter's International Cyber Centre of Excellence, commented: "This is a very important piece of work for the broader RDS framework. The findings of the study will prove valuable not only for Lloyd's syndicates but also for the wider insurance industry in helping to address some of the most challenging aspects of cyber risk that impact multiple lines of insurance." The three new scenarios are available with immediate effect. CyberCube's Portfolio Manager is a cyber risk catastrophe model that allows insurers to understand how their book of business would be affected by a series of cyber threats. The model has not been signed off by Lloyd's but is widely used in the market. Deviations need to be reported to Lloyd's and any questions regarding the collection period (January 8 to March 31) should be addressed in the first instance to Lloyd's. ENDS About CyberCube CyberCube delivers the world's leading cyber risk analytics for the insurance industry. With best-in-class data access and advanced multi-disciplinary analytics, the company's cloud-based platform helps insurance organizations make better decisions when placing insurance, underwriting cyber risk and managing cyber risk aggregation. CyberCube's enterprise intelligence layer provides insights on millions of companies globally and includes modelling on thousands of points of technology failure. The CyberCube platform was established in 2015 within Symantec (News - Alert) and now operates as a standalone company exclusively focused on the insurance industry, with access to an unparalleled ecosystem of data partners and backing from ForgePoint Capital, HSCM Bermuda, MTech Capital and individuals from Stone Point Capital. For more information, please visit www.cybcube.com or email info@cybcube.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005403/en/

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Editor

Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His three books are available on amazon.com

Pictured is the Titusville Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC). The ECLC building is due to receive $3 million of renovations through the PlanConn grant program. Of the millions spent on the project, $2.5 million will be reimbursed by the state.
A mother-of-three who died following liposuction in Turkey underwent the treatment because she was fed up of people asking if she was pregnant, her husband told an inquest.

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, a 38-year-old social worker from Dartford, Kent, passed away in August after buying an overseas package deal with Mono Cosmetic Surgery.

Her husband Moyosore Olowo told the hearing that his wife had not said she was travelling to Turkey to undergo the liposuction as well as a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL).

Instead, Mr Olowo believed his wife was simply going on holiday with her friends.

It was only after she had undergone the treatment in Izmir that Mrs Bamgbose called her husband to say she was suffering from stomach pains following the procedure

Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, a 38-year-old social worker from Dartford, Kent, passed away in August after buying an overseas package deal with Mono Cosmetic Surgery

Her husband Moyosore Olowo (seen with Ms Bamgbose) told the hearing that his wife had not said she was travelling to Turkey to undergo the liposuction as well as a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)

Mr Olowo said: 'I wasn't happy to know after she had done it. I told her: "You have had it now, when you get home we will discuss it further".'

Describing his wife's reason for wanting the treatment, he said: 'When a woman is unhappy and getting feelings about her looks, the clothes she buys do not fit and people ask if she is pregnant because of her tummy, sometimes there is nothing we can do, we are powerless.

'I wasn't concerned. I told her "You have three children", I told her my tummy is bigger than hers, "Why are you bothered about having surgery?"'

Mr Olowo said his wife had visited a private medical practice in the UK but that the cost had been too high for her to have the treatment carried out there.

He was forced to travel to Turkey after his wife stopped calling him and he was unable to find out about her well-being.

Mr Olowo believed his wife (seen with their three children) was simply going on holiday with her friends when she travelled to Turkey

Mr Olowo said his wife had visited a private medical practice in the UK but that the cost had been too high for her to have the treatment carried out there

Mr Olowo said that after he arrived he found she had been rushed to hospital and had undergone further surgery.

He added: 'It wasn't until I got there the medical director told me candidly it was serious, the clinic was just telling me everything was fine.

'It was just then he confessed it had been a mistake and there had never been such a mistake before.'

The inquest heard that a post-mortem examination found that Mrs Bamgbose suffered perforations to the bowel and a cause of death was given as peritonitis with multiple organ failure as a complication of liposuction surgery.

The hearing was told that such perforations were a rare complication in the UK, with about three to five cases in the past decade, but that it might be more common abroad.

The inquest heard that a post-mortem examination found that Mrs Bamgbose (pictured) suffered perforations to the bowel and a cause of death was given as peritonitis with multiple organ failure as a complication of liposuction surgery

Mr Olowo (seen with his wife and children) previously said he is suing Mono Cosmetic Surgery and the surgeon responsible, Dr Hakan Aydogan, for 1million, claiming medical negligence

Recording a narrative conclusion, assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon said: 'This is a tragic case, the more so because the surgery was elective cosmetic surgery.

'Whilst Mrs Bamgbose was determined to have it performed, her husband had not seen it in any way as necessary.

'Although he was supportive if she was to have the surgery in England, he was very concerned about any decision to have the surgery abroad, which was the explanation why she had concealed the surgery from him and masked her trip to Turkey as a holiday with some girlfriends.'

Mr Olowo previously said he is suing Mono Cosmetic Surgery and the surgeon responsible, Dr Hakan Aydogan, for 1million, claiming medical negligence.

Proceedings have been issued in the Turkish courts.

He said that his wife had paid 5,000 for the package with Mono.
A City insurance executive has avoided jail after he grabbed his 'petrified' girlfriend by her throat and lifted her onto her tiptoes in a row outside his 1.6million west London flat.

Howard James Burnell, 62, was convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend Mary Phillips in the doorway of his flat in Richmond, where they both lived, after a dinner date on March 14.

The former head of Marine & Energy Liability was ousted from his lucrative directorship at insurance giants Apollo when news of the late-night attack broke.

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court heard how Burnell, a divorced father-of-two, inflicted bruising to the throat and thigh of Ms Phillips when they rowed after an evening out.

Howard James Burnell, 62, (pictured right), a City insurance executive, was convicted of assaulting his then-girlfriend Mary Phillips after a dinner date on March 14

Wimbledon Magistrates' Court heard how Burnell, a divorced father-of-two, inflicted bruising to the throat and thigh of Ms Phillips (pictured) when they rowed after a dinner-date

'Parliament intends to make strangulation a separate offence because it is so scary and frightening and Mary was frightened by this,' magistrate Timothy Nathan told him.

Burnell was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes a three-month electronically-tagged curfew between 7pm and 7am.

He must also attend fifteen days of Probation Service-approved rehabilitation; pay Ms Phillips 400 compensation; 620 in court costs and a 95 victim surcharge.

Burnell was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order prohibiting him contacting his ex-girlfriend or visiting her new address in Kent.

'He lost his employment. He fell foul of the regulatory body and was dismissed and lost a substantial amount of equity in that partnership when this case was reported,' said Neville Gray, defending.

'He does not envisage ever being able to work again after working in the industry for many, many years and is deeply ashamed and apologetic for what happened.'

Burnell was placed on a twelve-month community order, which includes a three-month electronically-tagged curfew between 7pm and 7am. Pictured: The flat block in Richmond

Ms Phillips told the trial the pair had enjoyed a restaurant meal earlier on the evening of March 14.

'We shared one bottle of wine, but Mr Burnell likes his alcohol so it could have been two,' she said.

While travelling home the couple fell into an argument, with Burnell telling his partner of nine years: 'You have crossed the line'.

He stormed off ahead, shutting Ms Phillips out of the home they shared, which he owns.

'He positioned himself in the doorway,' she told the court from behind a screen. 'He said: "You insulted my parents," and was very aggressive, more than usual.

'He was red, his eyes were evil-looking. The hatred. His hand came up and grabbed my throat and I was lifted up on to my tiptoes and was in sheer fear.

Burnell must also attend fifteen days of Probation Service-approved rehabilitation; pay Ms Phillips 400 compensation; 620 in court costs and a 95 victim surcharge. Pictured: Wimbledon Magistrates' Court

'I thought he was going to headbutt me. I was absolutely petrified.

'He also used the door to bar my way and that bruised all of my leg and the bruise was under my jaw for a week and my neck was painful.'

Burnell denied throttling his ex-partner, suggesting she may have sustained injuries as she tried to barge her way into the flat against his wishes.

Ms Phillips was forced out that night with just a travel bag, leaving behind her collection of mink coats and tens of thousands of pounds worth of jewellery, silver and crystal.

'The victim states the defendant's verbal abuse had been escalating and was worse when he was in alcohol and this was the first example of physical abuse,' said prosecutor Suleman Hussain.

'She says his mood swings are erratic and states: "I feel my future safety is at risk if Howard's in one of his moods. If he loses control he becomes abusive and bullying.

'My health has deteriorated both mentally and physically since the assault, with stress and anxiety attacks and periods of uncontrollable shaking".'

By Lee Hyo-jin



Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol said Thursday that herd immunity against COVID-19 is expected to be achieved in Korea by November with a public vaccination program set to begin next month.



"As the first round of inoculation will be completed in September, we expect herd immunity to be formed by November, when 70 percent of the population will have received the vaccine," Kwon said during a virtual New Year press conference, his first press "meeting" following his inauguration in December.





Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol speaks during a virtual New Year press conference, Thursday. / Courtesy of Ministry of Health and Welfare

"The calculated percentage of people needed to be inoculated in order to reach herd immunity varies among health experts; some estimate it as 50 percent, but we view that 70 percent will need to have been vaccinated," he said.



He added that vaccination will not totally eradicate the spread of the coronavirus, as seen in the cases of seasonal flu and the common cold. "The ultimate goal of the vaccine plan is to minimize infections before next winter and prevent high-risk patients from deteriorating into critically ill patients," Kwon said.





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Avril Haines (C) and Dan Coats (L), former Director of National Intelligence, arrive at the start of the Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing in Washington to consider her to be President Joe Bidens pick for national intelligence director on Jan. 19, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Senate Confirms Biden Nominee as Top Intelligence Chief

The Senate on Jan. 20 confirmed President Joe Bidens nominee to serve as the head of the U.S. Intelligence Community, the first of the presidents Cabinet picks to be approved.

Avril Haines, who was nominated as the director of National Intelligence, was confirmed by an 8410 vote. Democrats were hopeful that they would be able to get more Biden nominees confirmed on Jan. 20 but it appears that Haines will be the only official to receive the confirmation from the upper chamber on the administrations first day.

Haines is replacing former Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) who served in the post for almost eight months. During his tenure, he declassified documents relating to the FBI investigation of the Trump campaign over alleged collusion with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. Special counsel Robert Muellers investigation from May 2017 to March 2019 found there was no collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia during the 2016 campaign, and it found no evidence of a criminal conspiracy.

During her confirmation hearing, Haines told lawmakers that she believes the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is an adversary to America in some areas while a partner in others, such as climate change.

Is China, under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party, an adversary of the United States? Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) asked.

China is adversarial and an adversary on some issues and, in other issues, we try to cooperate with them, whether in the context of climate change or other things, Haines responded.

And ultimately, the frame that the president-elect has identified for thinking about this is a global competitor, she added. But I think that doesnt, to your point, in any way mitigate the fact that when it comes to espionage or the variety of areas that Ill be focused on if Im confirmed as the director of national intelligence, they are an adversary and that we have to work on those issues, in particular, countering their illegal, unfair, aggressive actions in these spaces.

Warner, the top Democrat on the committee, and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the then-committee chairman, both said the CCP poses the greatest national security threat to the United States.

Haines had also pledged during her hearing that she would keep her office out of politics.

To be effective, the DNI must never shy away from speaking truth to powereven, especially, when doing so may be inconvenient or difficult, she said in her opening statement. To safeguard the integrity of our Intelligence Community, the DNI must insist that, when it comes to intelligence, there is simply no place for politicsever.

Haines served as deputy national security adviser in the Obama White House from 2015 to 2017. Prior to that, she served as the deputy director of the CIA.

Biden announced his intention to appoint Haines on Nov. 23, 2020. She was one of the five Cabinet nominees who had their confirmation hearings on Jan. 19.

Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
While the public outcry over the alleged sexual abuse of an 11-year-old boy at Deeper Life High School, Uyo, is yet to fizzle out, another Akwa Ibom school is enmeshed in a child sexual abuse case.

The latest case involves a three-year-old girl whose mum discovered, last week, her underwear was soaked with blood when she returned from school  Awin International Schools  in Ikono, about 32 kilometre from Uyo, the state capital.

The victim is in the nursery section of the school which also has sections for primary and secondary schools.

My daughter went to school on Wednesday, 13 January, in the morning, nothing happened to her. When my daughter came back from school, I put water (in a bucket) and wanted to bathe her immediately they dropped her at my shop. I removed her knicker, I saw blood. I removed the pant, I saw blood. The pant was torn. I shouted and asked her, mummy, what happened to you? She said it was aunty that chucked her, the victims mother, Dorathy Alphonsus, told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday afternoon, at her lawyers office in Uyo.

I checked her private part, a big wound is there, she said.

Mrs Alphonsus and her husband, Iniobong, were at the lawyers office to seek legal aid over their daughters case. They looked frightened and helpless, when a PREMIUM TIMES reporter met with them.

Their daughter appeared restless. She cried intermittently.

A police medical form filled by a doctor at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital confirmed the girl has been sexually abused.

From the doctors report, the girl told her mum that a pen was forcefully inserted into her vagina by her class teacher.

The police in Uyo arrested some of the school officials and a man, said to be the landlord to the Alphonsus, who drove the victim from school and handed her over to the mum, before it was discovered that she was sexually abused, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

Some of the arrested persons were, however, said to have been released by the police.

The Alphonsus said they are under pressure to withdraw the case from the police.

Chris Ekpo, a civil rights lawyer Uyo, is offering free legal services to the victim and her parents.

Mr Ekpo said there was a threat to evict the family from the community where they are living in Ikono, for reporting the case to the police.

The principal of Awin International Schools declined to comment on the case when PREMIUM TIMES contacted him on phone.

Please I am not in the position to speak (on the case), you can get to the police station and find out (what happened), he said.

The principal later called back our reporter to say, The head teacher is a better person for you to speak with because it happened in the nursery section, not in the secondary section.

The police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, Odiko MacDon, said he was not aware of the case.

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532 sexual assault cases treated in one centre in three years

A magistrates court on Wednesday commenced trial in the alleged sexual abuse of 11-year-old boy in the Deeper Life High School, Uyo.

The victim was said to have been abused by two senior students of the school when he was switched from his dormitory to another filled with senior students.

The two students, both of them 13 years old, and five officials of the school, including the suspended principal, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Also, a 23-year-old man, Iniobong Moses, was on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment by a State High Court in Uyo for raping his three-year-old step-daughter.

The judge rejected the claims by the convicted paedophile that he acted under the influence of alcohol.

The judge said Mr Moses did not deserve to walk freely on Nigerian soil and breathe the air of freedom meant for decent members of the society.

Agape Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Akwa Ibom State, told PREMIUM TIMES, early this month, they have treated 532 sexual assault cases in the past three years.

Ten of the victims were boys, the centre said.

The number is sure to be higher than that when cases, both reported and unreported, in other places in the state are taken into consideration.
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Even before we entered this darkest of winters, when Covid-19 is relentlessly causing more and more sickness and death  not to mention additional stress, isolation and economic pain  there was evidence suggesting that significantly more people have thought about ending their lives during the pandemic than in recent years. In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the results of a nationwide survey conducted during the last week in June: More than 40 percent of those who responded reported symptoms of anxiety or depression or increased substance use, in addition to other struggles. And more than 10 percent said that they had seriously considered suicide in the past 30 days, compared with just over 4 percent who said the same thing in 2018  and who were referring to suicidal ideation over the previous 12 months. We want to know, who is most at risk from suicide in the pandemic, says Paul Nestadt, a psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who was not involved in the survey. And yet, he adds, we wont know until its mostly over. Thats because it can take a year or two for the C.D.C. to collect and analyze national mortality data.

To try to get a sense of what might be happening now, Nestadt and colleagues looked at data from Maryland, a much smaller sample. The total number of suicide deaths from January to early July, 236, was actually lower than it was during the corresponding periods in the previous three years. When they looked at the data for Black and white suicide deaths separately, however, starkly different trends emerged. From March 5, when Maryland announced its first Covid cases and declared a statewide emergency, until May 7, when public spaces began to reopen, the number of suicide deaths among Black residents doubled compared with an average of the same period during the preceding three years; deaths among white residents fell by nearly half. Similar shifts have been observed in Connecticut and Chicago.

The data cant say whether the pandemic or any other factor caused those changes. But these results highlight how the experiences of vulnerable groups can be missed unless researchers look for them specifically. As Sean Joe, who is the director of the Race and Opportunity Lab at Washington University in St. Louis and who studies suicide among Black people in the United States, puts it, You cant assume the overall trend describes whats happening with all Americans.

Suicide may be the most difficult human behavior to study. Its relatively rare, meaning that mortality data can typically be broken down only into fairly broad categories  like race and gender  before the sample size possibly becomes too small to reveal clear patterns. Researchers can talk with people who have attempted suicide, but they may be categorically different from those who complete it. In the United States, women are more likely to attempt suicide, for instance, but men are more likely to die by it. Many more people contemplate suicide than act on those thoughts.
Egypt has condemned deadly twin suicide bombings that killed and injured dozens of people in Baghdad on Thursday, the foreign ministry said.

In an official statement, Egypts foreign ministry expressed its condolences and sympathy to the Iraqi government and people over the terror attacks.

Egypt stressed its support for Iraq in its efforts to maintain peace and stability and combat all forms of terrorism and extremism.

At least 28 people were killed and 73 were injured in the twin suicide bombings in a market in central Baghdads Tayaran Square. The attack is the first of its kind in years.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility; however, the countrys Civil Defense Chief Major Kadhim Salman told journalists that the Islamic State terrorist group might be behind the bombing.

This is the first attack of its kind in Baghdad since the defeat of the Islamic State group.

The last deadly suicide bombing in the capital killed at least 27 people in January 2018.

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[January 21, 2021] White Oak Healthcare MOB REIT Announces Acquisition of Class-A Medical Office Building in Henderson, Nevada

White Oak Healthcare MOB REIT today announced it has acquired a Class-A Medical Office Building in Henderson, Nevada. The property was built in 2008 and is less than a mile from Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican Hospital, in Henderson, Nevada, a well-regarded, fast-growing suburb of Las Vegas. The attractive property has excellent visibility and access within a retail / medical corridor. Dr. David Lynn, President and Chief Investment Officer of White Oak Healthcare MOB Holdings who is leading the REIT said, "We are pleased to add this stabilized, high-quality asset with long-term leases to prominent physicians to our portfolio." About White Oak Healthcare MOB REIT & White Oak Healthcare Finance White Oak Healthcare MOB REIT is a vertically-integrated healthcare real estate investment platform with extensive capabilities in acquisitions, underwriting, research, asset management and capital markets. The REIT primarily invests in Class A medical properties in close proximity to large healthcare facilities in primary and secondary markets. It is a business division of White Oak HealthcareFinance, LLC ("WOHCF"), an affiliate of White Oak Global Advisors, LLC. WOHCF is a lender to all subsectors within the healthcare industry including healthcare services, pharma and life sciences, medical devices, healthcare technology, healthcare real estate, hospitals and SNFs. WOHCF has deep domain expertise with a sole focus on healthcare which enables it to provide flexible and creative solutions with certainty of execution. WOHCF offers a differentiated product set including cash flow term loans, asset based loans and ABL Stretch facilities, unitranche facilities, last out financings, real estate financings, equipment financings and opportunistic investments. As a lender with large pools of capital to deploy, WOHCF generally holds its full loan positions to maturity.



About White Oak Global Advisors White Oak Global Advisors, LLC ("WOGA") is a leading alternative debt manager specializing in originating and providing financing solutions to facilitate the growth, refinancing and recapitalization of small and medium enterprises. Together with its financing affiliates, WOGA provides over twenty lending products to the market, including term, asset-based, and equipment loans, to all sectors of the economy. Since its inception in 2007, WOGA has deployed over $8 billion across its product lines, utilizing a disciplined investment process that focuses on delivering risk-adjusted investment returns to investors while establishing long term partnerships with our borrowers. More information can be found at www.whiteoaksf.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005041/en/

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The World Bank will provide Ukraine with about UAH 2.5 billion to purchase a vaccine against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, Deputy Health Minister Svitlana Shatalova said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday.

"Ukraine will receive funds for the purchase of vaccines against COVID-19. Such assistance is provided by the World Bank. About UAH 2.5 billion is planned to be allocated for the new Ukraine Emergency COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Project," she said.

"Relevant negotiations are being held between the Board of Directors of the World Bank and the government of Ukraine since December 2020. As part of the preparation of the project, the implemented vaccination strategy will be taken into account," Shatalova said.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks rose on Thursday as investors hoped for more economic stimulus from the newly inaugurated administration and looked ahead to the European Central Bank's latest policy announcement. The central bank is expected to keep its policy rates and stimulus package unchanged after unveiling a slew of measures at the December meeting. The announcement is due at 7.45 am ET. ECB President Christine Lagarde is set to hold the customary press conference at 8.30 am ET. On the Covid-19 front, Germany has seen a significant drop in its seven-day coronavirus incidence rate, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease prevention said today. The benchmark DAX edged up 70 points, or half a percent, to 13,992 after gaining 0.8 percent the previous day. Automakers and banks were among the prominent gainers. Daimler rallied 1.7 percent and Deutsche Bank rose 0.7 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The FBI and two other organizations announced Thursday they are offering up to $18,000 in reward money for information concerning the vandalism of two Huntsville synagogues last year.

An individual believed to be involved in the vandalism may have a prosthetic leg, law enforcement officials said.

The FBI released this image on Jan. 21, 2021, of a possible suspect involved in vandalism last year of two Huntsville synagogues. The FBI said the possible suspect may have a prosthetic leg. (FBI).

The FBI is offering up to $15,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the individual responsible. Huntsville Area Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 in reward money and the Anti-Defamation League is offering up to $2,000.

The reward campaign will be advertised on digital billboards across north Alabama and southern Tennessee.

The incidents occurred in the early morning hours of April 9 and April 10.

Weve gathered information and evidence but we also know that we need more and we need to ask the community to help us, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. Were asking the community to come forward and tell us what they know about this crime.

The #FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual who vandalized the synagogues. Call 256-539-1711 or visit https://t.co/8y0X7Od6lx if you have a tip. @HsvPolice https://t.co/afxugg13s0 pic.twitter.com/Ceej2Ul8n0  FBI Birmingham (@FBIBirmingham) January 21, 2021

The first incident took place at the Etz Chayim Synagogue located on Bailey Cove Road when anti-Semitic graffiti was spray painted on the building. The next day, similar graffiti tarnished the Chadbad of Huntsville on Parkhill Road.

Police said surveillance camera footage indicated the vandalisms were perpetrated by the same individual  who walked with a pronounced, distinct limp and appeared to have a prosthetic leg.

The individual may have been driving an early model Toyota Prius that was light in color.

On April 4, less than a week before the vandalizations, the individual was seen walking on residential streets near the Chabad of Huntsville in the Blossomwood neighborhood.

Hate crimes are the highest priority of the FBI civil rights program because of the devastating impact they have on families and communities that we live in, FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. said. The crimes committed by this individual have impacted this community and we need your help to bring the person responsible to justice.

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the conviction of the person responsible for vandalism at two Huntsville synagogues. Heres some background information: https://www.al.com/news/2020/04/second-jewish-synagogue-vandalized-with-anti-semitic-graffiti-in-huntsville.html Posted by The Huntsville Times on Thursday, January 21, 2021

U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona declined to speculate on what charges might be brought but Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray said it could be declared a hate crime.

The good thing about bringing the federal task force in on this, it rises to the level of a hate crime, McMurray said. That brings enhanced sentencing availability.

Said Escalona, This is not only a threat to the victims but to the community as a whole. We should all feel safe in our homes, in our schools, in our communities and especially in the places where we worship.

Individuals with information are asked to contact the FBI at 256-539-1711 or Huntsville police at 256-427-7009. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.
The crew of USS Pueblo at a press conference in North Korea in 1968. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP Images

In January 1968, US Navy spy ship USS Pueblo left Japan for a normal operation off the coast of North Korea, where it could eavesdrop on North Korean and Soviet communications.

Days later, however, the Pueblo's mission was interrupted by the North Korean navy, which seized the ship in a deadly attack.

More than 50 years later, Pueblo remains on display in Pyongyang, a symbol of the lasting enmity between the US and North Korea.

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Every day, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang proudly displays a number of war trophies taken from US and UN forces during the Korean War.

But one of the main attractions was seized 14 years after the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.

Moored on the Pothong River, the USS Pueblo features captured US Navy uniforms, flags, encryption machines, and written confessions by its crew, who were fired on in international waters and taken into custody by North Korea on January 23, 1968.

The incident shocked and embarrassed the US Navy, the National Security Agency, and the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

A routine mission in a tense hotspot

A North Korean sailor next to the USS Pueblo, August 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

Pueblo was a small spy ship fitted with electronic equipment designed to eavesdrop on North Korean and Soviet communications.

On January 11, 1968, Pueblo set out of Sasebo, Japan, for an intelligence-gathering mission off of North Korea's east coast. At the time, this type of operation was not viewed as particularly risky; almost every country conducted similar missions, and Pueblo was ordered to stay at least 12 miles to 13 miles off the coast in order to remain in international waters.

Pueblo also had no escort, as the US military was focused on Vietnam, where fighting and troop numbers had been steadily increasing since 1965.

But the Korean Peninsula was still extremely tense. North Korean soldiers mounted periodic infiltrations and killed a number of American and South Korean soldiers, and the violations of the armistice were increasing. The US and UN Command recorded 50 such violations in 1966. From the beginning of 1967 to the time of Pueblo's capture, that number skyrocketed to 610.

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The attacks were also growing more brazen. Two days before Pueblo's capture, 31 North Korean commandos unsuccessfully assaulted the South Korean president's official residence in Seoul, killing dozens of South Koreans and four Americans.

Assault on the Pueblo

US Navy signal intelligence gathering ship USS Pueblo off San Diego on October 19, 1967. US Navy

Pueblo arrived in its area of operation on January 12 and encountered no problems until January 20, when a North Korean submarine chaser spotted it. Two days later, two North Korean trawlers started following it.

The next day the North Koreans were more aggressive. The sub chaser returned, circled Pueblo, and questioned Pueblo's nationality. Pueblo, which had been flying the international signal flag for hydrographic operations, responded by hoisting an American flag.

Having figured out that Pueblo was an intelligence ship, the chaser signaled "heave to or I will open fire." It was then joined by four torpedo boats, who promptly surrounded the Pueblo. Two MiG-21s had also joined the operation and were circling overhead.

Pueblo's commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Lloyd Bucher, ordered the ship to sail farther out to sea. A chase ensued, but Bucher ordered his men not to man Pueblo's two .50-caliber machine guns, as he did not want to provoke the North Koreans. He believed that as he was in international waters, the North Koreans would not open fire, and that Pueblo could escape.

Pueblo's chief communications technician requested permission to destroy sensitive documents, which his superior denied. The technician ordered his unit to begin destruction anyway, but it was too late.

The North Koreans open fire

Lt. Cmdr. Lloyd Bucher and his crew in North Korea in 1968. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP Images)

At 1:32 p.m., two hours after initial contact, the sub chaser opened fire with its 57 mm cannons. Almost simultaneously, the four torpedo boats raked Pueblo with machine-gun fire, immediately wounding two of its crew, including Bucher, who finally ordered the destruction of sensitive material.

That destruction effort faced immediate problems. The crew had not been trained to destroy everything properly, and the ship had so many documents that the incinerator was overloaded. Pueblo radioed for help, but the Navy had no available ships, and the Air Force was unable to respond in time.

Under fire and with no aid coming, Bucher accepted the North Koreans' demand to follow them to the coast. He briefly stopped to buy time for the destruction process but was immediately fired on again by the North Koreans. Four crewmen were wounded, one of whom later died.

Out of options, Bucher radioed his intention to surrender. After following the North Korean escort for almost a half-hour, Pueblo was finally in North Korean waters and was boarded.

A massive propaganda victory

A North Korean military guide leads a tour of the USS Pueblo, January 24, 2018. AP Photo/Eric Talmadge

The capture of Pueblo and its 82 surviving crew was a massive propaganda victory for the North Koreans. Every four days a "confession" of wrongdoing by a crew member was aired on North Korean television, and pictures of surrendering Americans were displayed at every opportunity.

Some of the documents the North Koreans presented were clearly forged or altered; a visual contact log, for instance, showed that Pueblo had traveled 500 miles in 12 minutes, and listed coordinates that would have put it some 32 miles inside North Korea itself.

But the crew was unable to destroy the majority of the classified material they had aboard, making it one of the worst intelligence losses in history.

Crewmen from the USS Pueblo are escorted by MPs upon arrival at a US Army hospital near Seoul, December 23, 1968. AP Photo

For 11 months, the crew were subject to countless acts of torture, including beatings, sleep deprivation, and threats of execution. They initially resisted making confessions; in one show of defiance, they raised their middle fingers during photo sessions, telling their captors it was a Hawaiian symbol for peace.

The Johnson administration was thoroughly embarrassed. Military action was considered, but it would've endangered the crew and risked reigniting the Korean War. Moreover, just a week after Pueblo was taken, the Tet Offensive started in Vietnam, drawing US attention away.

Johnson did send additional aircraft carriers and aircraft to the Sea of Japan and South Korea, but the US ultimately agreed to admit wrongdoing in order to secure the crew's release nearly a year later.

Pueblo remains an important symbol for North Korea today. Pyongyang casts the ship as an example of North Korea standing up to the imperialist Goliath and winning without losses. Pueblo is the second oldest US Navy ship officially in service and the only one in the custody of an adversary.

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IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited (IndiaFirst Life), promoted by Bank of Baroda and Union Bank of India has launched a new social media campaign, titled #BhonduJustChill  Stress Ko Karo Kill, IndiaFirst Life & Chill. The campaign plays with the catchphrase 'Bhondu Just Chill' adapted from a popular Hindi movie with a slight twist. Stemming from the companys core value of Because Life Is Full of Certainties and its #CustomerFirst philosophy, the campaign is an endeavour to encourage investments albeit in a fun and quirky manner.

#BhonduJustChill  Stress Ko Karo Kill, IndiaFirst Life & Chill campaign features versatile Bollywood actor Sanjay Mishra. True to its brand ethos, the campaign highlights the significance of opting for life insurance, a must-have tool to ensure financial protection of family and loved ones, making it important to fortify its awareness across life stages.

As the country is embracing the new normal, the campaign conceptualised by WATConsult is rooted in the idea that your life is secured and protected with IndiaFirst Lifes insurance plans. This will ensure peace of mind for the entire family during life-changing milestones like marriage, childrens education, and retirement.

Commenting on the campaign, Sonia Notani, Chief Marketing Officer, IndiaFirst Life Insurance Company Limited said, "We understand the importance of a stress-free life and want to propagate the role IndiaFirst Life Insurance can play in ensuring the same for our customers. We have a suite of 40+ products tailored to suit protection and assurance needs of customers across life stages. This campaign provides an interesting take on the fact that safeguarding our familys needs, does not have to come at the cost of our own peace of mind.

Versatile actor Sanjay Mishra has been roped in for this campaign Building on the actor's quirky image, the brand drove home the importance of self-care and reinstated that having life insurance helps you sail through worry-free.

Talking about his association, Sanjay Mishra, Indian Film Actor, said, "The life mantra that I abide by is to chill. And I will only be able to abide by this mantra when my loved ones are taken care of and secured. The attitude of being relaxed can only be donned when you experience peace of mind. When you're sure that you're living a protected life, a covered life, there ought to be peace of mind. You can chill more and stress less"

Expanding on the digital collaboration with IndiaFirst Life, Heeru Dingra, CEO, WATConsult said, Inspired by a famous comedy movie dialogue, the campaigns catchphrase - Bhondu just chill is a humorous way for people to bring in a little relaxed and chilled moment to their lives. We wanted to capture the hilarity and weave it with the brands belief that the right insurance plan can ensure peace of mind at various life-changing moments. Humour also wraps the message in a more fun package, helps in better expanding its reach and accentuates the point further. Today, as stress has become an unavoidable part of everyones lives, a small reminder to simply chill definitely presents itself as a welcome breather.

The film will be aired across social media platforms including ShareChat, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The campaign is envisioned and executed by WATConsult.

The campaign has a total of five ad films which will be released phase-wise over a period of three months.
Twitter recently took strict action against actress Kangana Ranaut by switching her account to 'read-only' mode after her controversial post on the web series Tandav. For the unversed, the Amazon Prime Video web series is currently in the news for allegedly hurting Hindu sentiments in some scenes.

Apparently, Kangana Ranaut had tweeted in response to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting asking the makers to explain the allegations of insulting Hindu gods. The Panga actress' now deleted tweet read, "Because even Lord Krishna forgave 99 mistakes of Sheshupala.... pehle Shanti phir Kranti (Silence must be followed by revolution).... time to take their heads off... Jai Shri Krishan..." (sic)

Notably, Kangana even dared Twitter to ban her in a tweet. She wrote, "Anti nationals are trending #SuspendKanganaRanaut .... please do, when they suspended Rangs I came and made their lives even more miserable,now if they suspend me will exit virtual world and in real world will show you real Kangana Ranaut- the mother of all fathers #babbarsherni." (sic)

When NDTV contacted Twitter, its spokesperson said, "We take action on any account that violates the Twitter Rules. We welcome people to freely express themselves on our service, however as outlined in our Abusive Behaviour Policy, you may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so."

"We prohibit content that wishes, hopes or expresses a desire for death, serious bodily harm against an individual or group of people and take enforcement action when we identify violations which could include placing an account in read-only mode," the spokesperson added.

Also Read : Sushant Singh Rajput's Birth Anniversary: Kangana Ranaut Says 'I Regret Not Being There For You'

Talking about Tandav, the web series stars Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Gauahar Khan, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and others in pivotal roles. Created by Ali Abbas Zafar, the show released on Amazon Prime Video on January 15, 2021.

Also Read : Tandav Controversy: Political Drama Faces Another FIR In Greater Noida

Unlike clear bone broths, seolleongtang is an opaque, creamy white, achieved by boilingnot simmeringthe bones, coaxing out all of the flavor, collagen, marrow, and fat. (TMON/Shutterstock)

Korean Bone Broth to Soothe the Soul

Seolleongtang, Korea's thick, milky-white ox bone soup, gets its characteristic color from hours and hours of boiling

Its 3 a.m. on a Decembers night in 1997, and Im sitting in Gammeeok, a cozy restaurant on 32nd Street, Koreatown in New York City. Despite the hour, the restaurant is buzzing, full of late-night revelers wanting a bit of sustenance after a long night of drinking.

Its bitterly cold outside, and Im tucked into a comfy corner table with some friends. The rustic, blond wooden decor gives the restaurant the homely feel of a hanok, a traditional Korean house, and a savory, beefy aroma fills the air.

In the back, an open Korean-style hearth, called a buttumak, boasts two gigantic black cast iron pots, called gamasot, settled over roaring fires. An elderly man stands next to the cauldrons with a long, dark wooden paddle and slowly stirs the silky, milky-white liquid insidethe magical broth that everyone has come for.

Seolleongtang, this nourishing, long-boiled ox bone soup, is the signature dish on the menu at Gammeeok. One of Koreas most traditional dishes and beloved wintertime soups, its possibly the tastiest, most satisfying bone broth youll ever try.

Seolleongtangs most notable quality is its color: a creamy, milky white. In fact, the commonly used Hanja (Sino-Korean) characters for the dish literally translate to snowy thick soup. This color comes from boiling a medley of bones for hours and hours, coaxing out all of the flavor, collagen, marrow, and fat. The longer it cooks, the richer the flavor, and the thicker and milkier the broth becomes.

Unlike clear bone broths, seolleongtang is an opaque, creamy white, achieved by boilingnot simmeringthe bones, coaxing out all of the flavor, collagen, marrow, and fat. (TMON/Shutterstock)

Since the primary ingredient of seolleongtang is bones, rather than meat, it was initially a cheap peasant food, a staple during trying times. Anything from cow feet, knuckles and legs, head, tongue, gristle, to even intestines can be thrown into the mix, and the broth is continuously skimmed of any impurities. Although inexpensive to make, the soup is rich in nutrients, especially protein and calcium, and a deeply savory flavor.

Murky Origins

The origins of seolleongtang, much like the broth itself, are somewhat cloudy.

One theory dates the soup back to Koreas Joseon dynasty (13921910). During this time, nationwide sacrificial ceremonies were held every lunar new year to pray for a bountiful harvest. The sacrifice was called seonnongje (seonnong meaning venerated farmer), and was performed on a sacrificial altar. One altar was built in Bojewon, a medical facility used to aid the poor, in what is now in modern-day Seoul.

Pigs and oxen were usually slaughtered, and the king himself always attended these honored rituals. As a result, large crowds often gathered, bringing along with them hearty appetites. The king wished to feed these citizens who had traveled so far and long, and thus requested that the cooks invent dishes to feed as many people as possible with few ingredientsnamely the sacrificial ox. Seonnongtangtang meaning soupwas thus created. Over time, the pronunciation of seonnongtang changed to seollongtang for ease, and the romanization evolved into seolleongtang.

Another theory is that the Mongols brought the dish over during their invasions of Korea in the 13th century, during the Goryeo dynasty. A Mongolian textbook published later in the Joseon era, during King Yeongjos rule (17241776), documented the Mongols making large quantities of soup by boiling cows, goats, or sheep in water, and later seasoning it with salt, to feed their armies. The Mongolians also had a dish of sliced and boiled beef with scallions, called sulen, that could have eventually evolved into seolleongtang in Korea.

Whatever the historical origin, the humble soup has become a source of national pride for Seoul, so much so that the citys government has placed it on the Seoul Future Heritage list, declaring it worthy of preservation.

A Masters Secrets

Hyung Kee Choi, a Seoulite and founder of Gammeeok restaurant, with locations in New York City and New Jersey, researched and developed his legendary seolleongtang recipe for years before opening his first restaurant in New York in 1990.

He uses a combination of 80 percent cow knuckles and 20 percent cow feethe says the feet are essential to achieving his signature thick, gelatinous brothand soaks and washes the bones well to remove any blood before he boils them. He then places the bones in a well-used and seasoned gamasot and boils them over high heat for 10 to 12 hours.

But the real secret to his recipe, he says, lies in what he calls babysitting the broth. During these long hours of cooking, someone must watch and continuously stir the broth, skimming it and adding water at just the right times.

I vividly remember that no matter what hour of the day I went to Gammeeok, there was always someone standing over the pots, watching their contents intently, stirring the soup with care. It is a meticulous process, a labor of love, but the resulting creamy, silky broth is worth the effort.

Finishing Touches

Once the broth is ready, some simple ingredients are added to complete the soup.

Traditionally, rice was added, but wheat noodles were introduced after the Korean War, due to a rice shortage and an abundance of white flour. In fact, the government forced certain soups to be served with wheat noodles instead of rice, to reduce demand. Thus, a tradition was created, and to this day youll often find noodles served in seolleongtang.

Sliced boiled beef is another typical add-on. Historically, off-cuts of meat were tossed in, but nowadays, brisket is commonly used. Choi takes pride in his choice of beef: He only uses meat from large cattle weighing at least 900 pounds. These bigger cows are fattier, and boast nicer marbling, thus adding a rich, beefy flavor to the broth.

Seolleongtang is also served with a myriad of side condiments. Notably, salt is always only added at the table, never during the cooking process, so each diner can season their soup as they prefer. Korean red chile flakes (gochugaru) or black pepper are also options, but the vital garnish is freshly sliced scallions, with diners usually scooping heaping spoonfuls at a time.

Kimchi, specifically radish kimchi (kkakdugi), is an essential side dish, as its sharp tang and spice nicely cut the richness of the soup. A little bit of the kimchi juice can also be added to the broth, to give it a fresher taste.

Conventionally, seolleongtang is served in an unassuming earthenware bowl called a ttukbaegi. Gammeeok also offers each table a ttukbaegi full of sliced scallions and a ceramic urn full of homemade kkakdugi radish kimchi, which is cut tableside with scissors.

A Waiting Game

Gammeeoks longevity on New York Citys restaurant scene is a testament to the popularity of seolleongtang, and Chois much loved recipe: He celebrated Gammeeoks 30th anniversary last year. (Note that the restaurant moved to a new location on 32nd Street.)

To this day, Choi still enjoys a bowl of his seolleongtang 3 to 4 times a week. He says that he is especially passionate about the purity of his broth, and the natural, deeply savory flavor derived only from the best ingredients.

I asked him why he feels that Gammeeoks seolleongtang is so loved.

We are a culture of broths, he said. All Koreans crave broth.

I am no exception. Even as I write this story in London, I cannot wait until I can sit at Gammeeok again for a piping-hot bowl of seolleongtang. But for now, I will have to babysit my own broth on my own stove.

A proper seolleongtang needs to be boiled for at least 10 hours; as a result, I have only made it a few times at home. Still, if you can sacrifice half a day, its a worthy endeavor, as you can make a big batch to freeze and enjoy time and time again. It is the perfect soup to make during lockdownmake no bones about it.

I am even finding the whole process somewhat meditative: gently skimming the broth, watching it slowly cloud over. In the end, the reward is a bowl of comforting goodness, from modest beginnings made rich with time and patience, warming and restoring you from the inside out.

RECIPE: Seolleongtang (Korean Beef Bone Soup)

Judy Joo is a chef, restaurateur, author, and TV personality. Her newest book is Judy Joos Korean Soul Food.
Should your gas boiler break down or there be an interruption to energy supplies in the midst of the bleak winter pandemic, don't expect an immediate response from your British Gas engineer.

At a moment in time when unemployment queues are lengthening, insolvencies surging and the NHS is working to capacity, the GMB union is taking thousands of members at British Gas out on strike.

Chris O'Shea, installed as chief executive of British Gas-owner Centrica in March 2019, regards the group's 20,000 engineers as being in the front line in keeping people warm in winter, ensuring the lights are on, dealing with emergencies and getting behind the Government's 2050 net-zero carbon target.

At a moment in time when unemployment queues are lengthening, insolvencies surging and the NHS is working to capacity, the GMB union is taking British Gas members out on strike

To this end, he is seeking to modernise pay structures at the energy giant, changing some contracts which date back to pre-privatisation in 1986.

Some 7,000 engineers have been offered a basic contract paying 40,000 a year, preserving membership of a defined benefit pension scheme and with productivity incentives.

The majority of workers have signed up but the GMB is resisting, describing the changes as a 'fire and rehire' scheme and taking its members out on a series of one-day strikes.

Militant GMB members have been photographed burning the new contracts. There is a strong suggestion that ordinary GMB members, many of whom have signalled acceptance of the deal, are being embroiled in a politically motivated dispute.

The industrial disruption comes at a moment when Centrica finally appears to be stabilising its customer base of 9m energy and service customers after a period of intense price competition which saw it lose 2m UK customers in short order.

The cost savings from the new contracts are thought to be immaterial but their passage would pave the way for the recruitment of 1,000 apprentices.

After a string of profit warnings, trading at Centrica, notwithstanding the industrial dispute, looks to have been resilient in 2021 with earnings heading higher.

Proceeds from the 2.7billion sale of US operations will be used to pay down debt and plug the pensions deficit.

O'Shea is also reinstating plans to sell North Sea exploration and production operations. However, it is not exactly a seller's market at present.

Centrica has abandoned its grandiosity and is seeking to better compete with online upstarts. The GMB is in danger of sabotaging prospects for all stakeholders.

Rose tinted

Stuart Rose is a better retailer than political campaigner.

He was the last Marks & Spencer boss to report 1billion of profits but his Britain Stronger in Europe movement failed miserably. In the interim, his faith in Ocado technology has paid off handsomely as value headed into the stratosphere.

Rose even managed to do his former employers at M&S a huge favour when he and fellow retail veteran Archie Norman carved out a joint 700million UK food venture.

The City will be closely watching Rose's arrival as non-executive chairman of ambitious convenience and food retailer EG.

Until last year, when founders Zuber and Mohsin Issa launched their bid for Asda, the brothers were barely on the radar. Now they are regarded as a hot property, having built up a chain of 6,000 sites across ten countries with private equity backers TDR.

Recent history tells us that the arrival of a powerful non-executive chairman is no accident. Usually it is a prelude to swapping private equity for public with a stock market float. Where Asda (if regulatory clearance is won) fits in to all this is not yet clear.

But the opportunity to cash out, at a time when the London discount is starting to fade, must look enticing.

Tasty morsel

IG chief executive June Felix is not waiting for Rishi Sunak's Big Bang 2.0 to go global. In anticipation, she has done that rare thing and splashed out on a significant American acquisition rather than waiting to be bought.

The deal comes after an extraordinary boom in spread betting and exotic trading which saw profits at IG soar by 129 per cent in the first half of the year as wannabee sharp shooters were glued to their screens during lockdown.

The US target for IG is Tastytrade, founded a decade ago, which has 105,000 active traders and a huge presence on social media.

The price is a hefty 730billion with more than half being satisfied in shares. That, after all, is what equity is for.
[January 21, 2021] Penn Foster Secures Investment to Accelerate Pairing of Data Science with Skills-Based Digital Learning

BOSTON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Workforce development pioneer Penn Foster today announced a significant new investment from BayPine and Two Sigma Impact to accelerate the build-out of its digital learning platform focused on preparing frontline workers to thrive within high-growth, high-skill jobs. The two investment businesses will partner with Penn Foster to bring new capabilities in data science and advanced technology to help the company continue to offer practical, affordable solutions to its students. "Skill gaps and economic mobility are, in many ways, two sides of the same coin," said Frank Britt, Chief Executive Officer of Penn Foster. "This investment reflects our belief that the combination of advanced labor market analytics with low-cost digital training can help individuals make better-informed decisions about their educational investments. It's about enabling employers to close skill gaps by identifying and creating career paths for historically untapped talent." A digital learning platform that works in partnership with employers, public workforce agencies, and community-based organizations, Penn Foster delivers skill-based training for more than 300,000 working learners each year. In addition to offering accredited programs and certificates in fields ranging from healthcare to skilled trades, Penn Foster partners with major employers, including Lowe's and Walmart, to provide high school diploma and career training courses that are often on-ramps to higher wage roles. "Two Sigma Impact believes that by focusing on creating a better workforce, we can create long term value and better business outcomes," said Ian Blasco, Partner at Two Sigma Impact. "We are excited to work with Penn Foster to apply advanced data science techniques to the development of dynamic, skills-based training that is tightly coupled with the demands of the labor market." "For decades, Penn Foster has been at the forefront of delivering flexible, affordable, and job-relevant development programs that have redefined the intersection of education and work," said Anjan Mukherjee, Managing Partner at BayPine. "The implementation of digital transformation initiatives to unlock human potential is core to our thesis, and we look forward to working closely with management to develop a modern, agile platform at Penn Foster that leverages the power of data to drive better outcoes for working learners."



In "Unstuck in the Middle," a white paper released by Penn Foster last year, the company made the case that recognizing skill attainment along a spectrum could unlock economic mobility for workers employed in jobs that require more than a high school diploma but not a four year degree. According to the National Skills Coalition, while middle-skill jobs make up the largest portion of the US labor market, just 44% of workers are currently trained to the middle-skill level. A recent study published by the nonprofit, Opportunity@Work, suggests that the estimated 71 million Americans who lack four-year degrees, but are "Skilled Through Alternative Routes" (STARs), represent an untapped pool of talent for US employers. "The critical need for different ways to approach training and education for workers has become more prominent in the past few years, and the pressure on our economy created by the pandemic has only emphasized that the time has come for a workforce transformation," said Ann Ruble, Operating Partner at Two Sigma Impact. "New data-driven approaches to learning will help expand access to training in high-demand fields for both workers and employers at a time when it is needed most."

This investment represents the next phase of Penn Foster's growth following a successful partnership with Bain Capital Double Impact, the impact investing unit of Bain Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Macquarie Capital served as financial advisor and William Blair & Company as co-advisor to Penn Foster. Everberg Capital also participated in the transaction. Jamieson provided transaction management advice. About Penn Foster

Penn Foster is bridging the gap between education and economic opportunity to build tomorrow's workforce. We partner with employers, education and workforce organizations, and local community groups to design and deliver digital and blended learning programs that attract, upskill, and retain workers in America's fastest-growing fields and professions. With more than 40,000 graduates each year, Penn Foster helps individuals discover pathways to opportunity through accredited diploma, certificate and degree programs that matter in the world of work. For more information, visit https://www.pennfoster.edu. About BayPine

BayPine is a private investment firm that seeks to create lasting value for the firm's investors, portfolio companies and communities in which they operate by driving innovation, digital transformation and sustainable growth in market-leading businesses across traditional sectors of the economy. Headquartered in Boston, BayPine was founded by a team of accomplished investors and senior executives who have a shared passion for building enduring companies. For more information about BayPine, please visit www.baypine.com. About Two Sigma Impact

Two Sigma Impact is a business of Two Sigma. Its mission is to combine active, principled ownership and data science with the goal of achieving superior returns and positive social outcomes. The Two Sigma Impact team is focused on workforce impact  where they anticipate innovative and thoughtful investments in humans will lead to an enhanced employee experience, productivity, and long-term financial returns. As part of Two Sigma, Two Sigma Impact has access to expertise in data science, technology, and a range of corporate specialties, and seeks to support its portfolio companies with those resources. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/penn-foster-secures-investment-to-accelerate-pairing-of-data-science-with-skills-based-digital-learning-301212749.html SOURCE Penn Foster

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Taking a big step forward in 2021 "will not be easy" for Ferrari, according to the Maranello team's former boss Stefano Domenicali.

Domenicali has now taken over from Chase Carey as Formula 1's CEO, but he was asked by Italy's Sky Sport 24 to comment on his former employer's notably poor performance in 2020.

"In contrast to what happened last year, we all need a competitive Ferrari. We need a Ferrari that comes back, but I realise it's in a difficult context," he said.

However, Domenicali backed Ferrari to make obvious progress this season.

"I am convinced that things will improve, even if it will not be easy with regulations that are stable," he said. "They were able to work a little on the power unit to close last year's gap.

"Now, I expect a Ferrari that is close to the goal of being able to fight again. I think even team principals like Toto Wolff and Christian Horner also wish for it so that we have a show that is more attractive for everyone."

(GMM)
Getting into a new fitness routine after having time off over the Christmas break is never easy, but it will feel more comfortable if you have new kit to wear.

And if your budget is as tight as your waistband after all that festive indulgence, you'll be pleased to hear you can pick up affordable activewear on Amazon for everything from running and yoga to hiking and indoor workouts.

The BALEAF cotton sweatpants are made from a warming mix of cotton and spandex to fit close to the body and keep you cozy before you get your heart rate up.

The BALEAF sweatpants have proven to be popular in the US, but they're now also notching up fans in the UK, with reviewers describing them as 'lovely quality' and 'really comfortable'

But you'll never have to worry about overheating thanks to the fabric's sweat-wicking properties. No matter how many downward dogs, warrior poses or headstands you do, you'll stay dry and comfortable.

With a tapered hem, they're much more flattering than loose sweatpants and will make your legs appear slimmer before you've even started.

The BALEAF sweatpants have proven to be particularly popular in the United States, but they're also now notching up fans in the UK, with reviewers describing them as 'lovely quality', 'really comfortable' and 'lightweight and slim fitting'.

One impressed customer in the US wrote: 'These are the softest, velvety, luxurious sweat/lounge pants I have ever owned. I just feel sorry for my other clothes because they won't be seeing much of me in the future. I'll be living in these. They are even pretty enough for outdoor activities as well.'

The cotton sweatpants are made from a warming mix of cotton and spandex to fit close to the body and keep you cozy before you get your heart rate up

But you don't have to wear the BALEAF pants for working out, as other reviewers have pointed out that they work just as well as comfy loungewear. One shopper in the UK described them as 'Great "Stay at Home" trousers'.

They added: 'Purchased during Covid 19 lock-down and they are just perfect! Never thought I'd be so please to own a pair of black sweatpants. Maybe one day I'll do some exercise in them ;)'

In the UK, the BALEAF sweatpants come in three neutral colors, including Black, Charcoal and Navy Heather.

MailOnline may earn commissions on sales from the links on this page.
On Wednesday, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will officially begin their respective roles as president and vice president of the US.

Ahead of the historic occasion, which will mark the first time a woman and a person of colour has been appointed vice president of America, social media users have been posting photographs of themselves wearing pearls, prompting the phrase wear pearls on inauguration day to trend on Twitter.

Happy Inauguration Day! We are wearing our pearls for Kamala, tweeted one couple.

Another person tweeted: Happy Inauguration Day!!!!! You can find me joyously wearing my grandmas pearl necklace with my scrubs today.

But why are people wearing pearls to mark inauguration day? And what do they have to do with Ms Harris? Heres everything you need to know.

Why are people wearing pearls on inauguration day?

More than 430,000 people have pledged to wear pearls on Wednesday 20 January as part of a Facebook group titled: wear pearls on Jan 20 2021.

However, judging by the thousands of tweets posted today, it looks like the number of women wearing pearls today will be far greater.

The idea is that wearing pearls is a way of honouring and celebrating Ms Harris, who frequently wears a string of pearls around her neck, as she enters the White House as the countrys first female vice president.

There is a historical trend of wearing pearls to support women in politics, which has led to the jewels representing a degree of power and authority. Jackie Kennedy, Michelle Obama , Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi are just some of the famous faces to have frequently sported the trend.

But for Ms Harris, pearls carry a particularly special symbolic meaning.

During her time at Howard University, Harris was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. (AKA), a historically black institution based in Washington DC.

AKA was founded in 1908, and ever since, sorority members have referred to their founders as the Twenty Pearls.

This is because of a tradition within AKA that dictates that every time a new woman is initiated into the sorority, she receives a badge covered with twenty pearls.

Because of this, and the fact that Harris is almost always seen wearing pearls, the jewellery is largely viewed as a token of sisterhood and female solidarity.

Why did people wear pearls to support Ruth Bader Ginsburg?

When Ruth Bader Ginsburg died in September last year, women around the world chose to honour the US Supreme Court judges legacy by donning a string of pearls around their necks.

However, this drew criticism as people were already wearing pearls to show support for Ms Harris, who was busy on the campaign trail at the time, leading to accusations of whitewashing their efforts to show solidarity with a biracial candidate.

One person tweeted: White Women: Before you post your pearls on Nov 3, first understand the meaning behind them.

"Its a great gesture and show of support for Kamala. Whats not great is appropriating it to RBG [Ruth Bader Ginsburg]. Its an AKA thing to show solidarity among her sorority sisters.

Respect Black Women. As the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, Justice Ginsburgs campaigning work for women and the LGBT communities has, for many, cemented her status as a feminist icon.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Dozens of judges have rejected Jaime Davidsons bids for a new trial in the 1990 robbery-turned-murder of an undercover Syracuse police officer.

For 29 years, Davidson tried to convince judges, lawyers, activists, athletes, musicians and even the U.S. Supreme Court of his innocence. The federal Office of the Pardon Attorney turned down his case twice, in 2013 and 2017, records show.

Davidson, of Brooklyn, was found guilty by a jury of leading a drug ring and directing the robbery that ended in undercover officer Wallie Howards death. He maintained his innocence. He described himself as a rapper whose associates were fellow artists to defend against conspiracy charges.

Neither a jury nor a parade of judges believed him. One said his defense arguments were utterly baseless and border on frivolous. Others emphasized the strength of the evidence against him: The gunmans testimony at trial. The vehicle used in the murder was registered in Davidsons name. The recording captured on a wire Howard was wearing at the time.

But Davidson will be released from federal prison, anyway, thanks to a surprise commutation signed early Wednesday by President Donald Trump hours before he left office.

It is unclear why Trump did it. Davidson was one of at least 144 pardons and commutations granted at the end of Trumps last full day in office. Some of Trumps pardons did not go through the rigorous review of evidence typically required by previous presidents, published reports have shown. Trump just made a decision.

Local prosecutors were blindsided by Davidsons commutation, suggesting that this decision was made outside the normal, careful fact-finding required to set free a criminal.

All Trump left behind was a paragraph in a news release, contending that the case against Davidson had fallen apart.

Notably, witnesses who testified against Mr. Davidson later recanted their testimony in sworn affidavits and further attested that Mr. Davidson had no involvement, a White House news release said.

The key witness against Davidson was the 16-year-old who pulled the trigger in Howards murder, retired U.S. Attorney John Duncan, a Republican, told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

Robert Bam Bam Lawrence, who identified Davidson as the drug ring leader who planned the fatal robbery, did recant his testimony in 2000, swearing in an affidavit that Davidson was not involved.

But then in 2014, in his own petition for his release from prison, Lawrence said Davidson was responsible for the murder. He told his defense lawyer that Davidson had pressured him to sign a statement years ago to help exonerate Davidson, but that none of what he wrote in the statement was true.

Duncan, the prosecutor, said there was no benefit to Lawrence to lie on the witness stand: He was facing a life prison sentence and was offered no deal for his testimony, Post-Standard archives show.

Lawrence testified that Davidson gave him a .357-Magnum revolver (the eventual murder weapon), just hours before the shooting and asked Lawrence to collect some money for him.

The teen told the jury he took the stand because Davidson had set up the murder, then abandoned him in prison.

Ive been Upstate for two years and some change, and I got in trouble because of (Davidson), Lawrence said at trial, pointing at Davidson in the courtroom, according to The Post-Standard coverage. And while I was Upstate, he was out there doing whatever he had to do. He didnt send me no money, give my people no money. He didnt do nothing for me, and Ive been Upstate for him.

Duncan recalled that the courtroom was so quiet during Lawrences testimony that you could have heard a pin drop. Afterward, Davidsons lawyer called the gunmans testimony incredibly damaging. A juror who convicted Davidson agreed: I certainly think it made an impact.

The teen ended up getting a life sentence for killing Howard; He was released in late 2020 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles (Lawrence was 16 at the time) could not be sentenced to life in prison.

After Davidsons release, the only people who will spend life in prison for Howards death will be lesser players: Juan Pedro Morales and Gary Anthony Stewart, who were at the shooting scene, and Lenworth Parke, Davidsons second-in-command, who helped get the guns used in the murder.

Meanwhile, Duncan said, the killer and the ringleader will be free.

If thats the kind of rationale the White House is using, its kind of hard to explain or justify, he said.

The case against Davidson

The federal trial was the second in which prosecutors publicly aired the facts of Wallies Howard death and a jury examined them.

The three men who tried to rob and then shot at Howard at the scene were first tried and convicted in state court. Federal prosecutors brought additional charges, alleging Davidson and another man were key players in the murder and in a cocaine ring operating in Syracuse.

The federal trial in 1993 was five weeks long and culminated with Lawrence taking the stand. His testimony was preceded by more than 70 other witnesses.

Evidence at trial showed Lawrence shot Howard in the back of the head in broad daylight in a parking lot on South Salina Street, according to Post-Standard coverage.

There were 14 officers within a stones throw away of Howard to back him up at the time of the shooting. Howard, serving on a DEA task force, was trying to buy two kilograms of cocaine when Lawrence, Morales and Stewart showed up armed with handguns demanding money. Howard fired his gun three times, striking Stewart in the back, before Lawrence fired the fatal shot at Howard.

Witnesses testified they knew Davidson led the drug ring. One person said on the stand that Lawrence and Morales both told him they were going to rob someone who had ripped off Davidson in the weeks before the murder. Investigators have said Howard was not the intended target and the men did not know he was a police officer.

The undercover cop was wearing a wire when he was shot. A tape recording was played at trial in which the men can be heard talking with Howard. Jurors asked to listen to the tape again right before rendering their decision. They deliberated for 10 hours before delivering their verdict: guilty.

Duncan noted the sheer scope of the trial  culminating in the shooters testimony  in arguing there was overwhelming evidence to convict Davidson. And he didnt have to be at the scene to be convicted of the conspiracy, Duncan noted. If he planned it, he is as guilty as the one who pulled the trigger in the eyes of the law.

Theres no question from the evidence that (Davidson) planned this, Duncan said.

Howards death shocked Syracuse. He was the first police officer killed in the city since 1929. His funeral was broadcast live on TV. The local law enforcement community has continued to mourn his death every year since. The countys forensic sciences center was named after Howard. The Syracuse Police Department annually awards the Wallie Howard Medal to an officer.

Davidson insists hes innocent

Davidson has maintained he was simply the leader of a Reggaeton Dancehall group, and the men charged as his co-conspirators were artists working for him. He has claimed, without evidence, that Howard was killed by fellow police, either by accidental friendly fire or in an assassination plot.

In three decades, Davidson has filed thousands of pages in court, once at such a fast pace that a federal judge barred him from filing without getting permission first.

Appellate courts have rejected him at least three times, and trial court judges have denied him retrials and other requests dozens of times. The Supreme Court was unwilling to hear his arguments, rejecting him in 1994.

Davidson first appealed the case in 1994, along with his co-defendants. They were all represented by lawyers. The appellate court affirmed their convictions, noting there was strong evidence in the case.

The appellate judges noted two defendants, including the convicted shooter, Lawrence, were caught as they fled the scene. They made admissions to police and signed confessions implicating Davidson; all were later found guilty at trial  twice.

The appellate court, like the trial judge, dismissed Davidsons alibi defense. At trial, four witnesses  all of them Davidsons relatives  testified he was in New York City at the time of the shooting. But the judges wrote that didnt matter, because no one accused Davidson of pulling the trigger.

There was extensive evidence that Davidson masterminded the narcotics conspiracy and the plan to rob [Howard and another man], the judges wrote in 1994.

Most recently, in 2019, Davidson attempted to convince U.S. District Court Judge David Hurd, who is based in Utica, to reopen his case, claiming testimony from a juvenile witness at the time of the trial was false and had been manipulated by police.

In court records, he detailed a phone call he made from prison in which the woman apparently admitted she had lied during testimony.

According to the filings, the woman said Syracuse police officers viciously interrogated her, and forced her to sign a statement incriminating Davidson. She was also prejudiced, Davidson said, because one of his co-defendants had abused and raped her as a teen. According to Davidson, the woman told him police had scripted and planned her grand jury testimony in 1993.

Davidson claims he has more evidence he was railroaded, too: An affidavit from Lawrences girlfriend, who testified the co-defendants had all met up at their apartment before the murder. In it, she says she wasnt actually there.

But Judge Hurd tossed Davidsons petition and the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that decision, noting he lacked an arguable basis either in law or fact.

The court dockets over the years follow a pattern like this.

Another judge rejected a similar motion to vacate his sentence in 2000. Davidson at the time complained two defense lawyers representing him at trial conspired with prosecutors against him. He said police threatened his co-defendants.

U.S. District Court Judge Neal McCurn wrote in a decision tossing out the motion that the evidence wasnt credible, and even if it was, would not be enough to overturn a jurys finding that he was guilty. McCurn writes Davidsons arguments were based on pure conjecture and utterly meritless.

Furthermore, utterly baseless and border on frivolous, McCurn wrote.

Davidson fired back in another motion, claiming fraud has been committed upon this court.

He asked for McCurn to be recused and filed a judicial misconduct complaint against him. He wrote a letter to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg entitled, Judicial, Governmental and Bureau of Prisons Conspiracy to Cover-Up Assassination of Syracuse Police Officer and Fraud upon the Court. Davidson also appealed to then-Chief U.S. District Judge Frederick Scullin, asking him to preside over his case personally. Scullin denied the request.

In a 125-page letter filed in court, Davidson claimed that a forensic scientist and crime scene reconstructionist involved in his case was an imposter. He questioned autopsy reports, and the position Howards body was found in after the shooting.

Still, one by one, the 2nd Circuit reviewed the issues Davidson kept raising. Occasionally, the appellate judges would have a question, or see a technical issue. Theyd send the case back to Syracuse for local review.

But ultimately, appellate judges shot down every one of Davidsons pending issues on appeal. Each time, they noted, his arguments lacked an arguable basis in law or fact.

Reporter Julie McMahon can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992

Read more:

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Dozens of judges rejected Wallie Howard killers pleas for freedom. Then came Trump
The limousine Tiger King star Joe Exotic booked in hopes of receiving a presidential pardon was indeed a stretch after all. In more ways than one.

Team Exotic was reportedly so confident about the Netflix docuseries star being pardoned by former President Donald Trump that he had a limo parked near his Fort Worth prison and elaborate plans to be whisked away for a medical evaluation and pampering. This, after the embattled zoo operator, whose real name is Joseph Allen Maldonado-Passage, mounted one of the most high-profile campaigns to receive a pardon.

Exotic was sorely disappointed Wednesday when he was excluded from the list of pardons and commutations that came during Trumps final hours in office. Exotic, convicted in April 2019 on federal charges of animal cruelty and attempting to hire a hitman to kill rival Carole Baskin, had choice words for the former POTUS and his son Don Jr. But it was too little, too late.

I was too innocent and too GAY to deserve a Pardon from Trump, read a tweet on the Tiger King stars account. I only mattered to Don Jr. when he needed to make a comment about me to boost his social media post. Boy were we all stupid to believe he actually stood for Equal Justice? His corrupt friends all come first.

ME-OW.

Indeed, Trump did pardon a number of his friends and political allies Tuesday, including former campaign and White House advisor Stephen K. Bannon and Republican congressmen Randy Duke Cunningham of California and Rick Renzi of Arizona.

He also pardoned Paul Manafort and Roger Stone  his political advisors who were convicted in the Russia investigation  in December as well as Jared Kushners dad and three other former Republican congressmen, including California Rep. Duncan Hunter.

On Tuesday, Trump also pardoned rapper Lil Wayne, who endorsed Trump in the final days of his failed 2020 campaign, and commuted the sentence of rapper Kodak Black.

Its likely Exotic would have been singing a different tune had he been pardoned or had his sentence commuted. He lapped praise on Trump for months to curry favor with the twice-impeached leader and Don Jr., the latter of whom believed Exotics 22-year sentence was aggressive. The imprisoned stars team has been running a noisy campaign in the meantime, and Exotic has so far served about a years time.

If I have ever looked up to anyone it would be you, the convicted felon wrote to Trump last September in his 257-page pardon application. Not because I need you to save my life but because you stand for what you beleive [sic] no matter what anyone thinks.

Presidential pardons are intended as a show of mercy to offenders who demonstrate contrition for their actions, according to The Times Eli Stokols and Laura King, but few of Trumps picks have done that. Commutations reduce the sentences that petitioners are serving but, unlike pardons, leave convictions intact. Trump also operated largely on whim, disregarding the Justice Department office that previous presidents relied on to vet clemency requests for full pardons or commutations of sentences.

Back in April, when word of Exotics flamboyant pardon campaign found its way to the White House press corps, Trump notably asked CNN journalist Jim Acosta for his opinion on pardoning the former zoo owner. Im not weighing in on Tiger King, Acosta replied.

Acosta had another Tiger King moment Tuesday when the White House reporter and perennial Trump foe swore live on air while reading a statement provided by a Trump loyalist that called the Netflix star a dips.

Times staff reporter Christie DZurilla contributed to this story.

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US based start-up DryMax Solutions have developed a grain drying system that uses radio waves in a bid to maintain quality and keep costs down.

Grain drying systems are commonplace on many UK arable farms and have proven their worth in some of the wet seasons we have seen over the last few years

Images from the summer of 2012, when combines became bogged down and operators struggled to haul grain trailers out of fields, will last long in the minds of many growers.

On some of the biggest setups there is such a large acreage that grain drying is carried out without hesitation, and crops are brought in at moistures well over 20%.

However, for many producers there is a fine balance to be struck between spending money drying a wet crop and the risk of losing quality by leaving it in the field to dry.

However, this could be about to change as the DryMax system aims to slash grain drying costs by using radio waves to dry grain.

Traditional methods

Most of the dryers currently found on UK farms are either continuous flow systems or drying floors.

A continuous flow system work by moving the grain through the dryer using a series of chains and conveyors, it then draws hot air from a series of burners through the grain to dry it. Once dry it then goes into storage.

Drying floors consist of a raised wooden floor with a tunnel through the middle: The system uses fans to blow air down the tunnel and out under the floor to slowly take the moisture out of the crop.

The advantage of drying floors is that you can keep tipping on the floor and are not going to be held up by the capacity of the dryer.

The crucial issue with both systems is cost: When drying grain using a drying floor, it costs roughly 1/tonne for every percentage point of moisture you take out, and with a continuous flow dryer that can be as much as 1.50/tonne.

Whilst this may not sound much, when multiplied across hundreds or thousands of tonnes the numbers soon start to add up.

When this is twinned with rapidly rising energy costs, the money farmers spend on drying grain can have a real impact on margins: In the last twenty years energy costs in the UK are reported to have tripled.

There are other issues with conventional dryers: Drying with heat can lead to a potential loss of quality  protein can reduce at high temperatures and there is a risk of grains cracking.

Continuous flow systems can lead to uneven drying, or even overdrying, which can prove costly, with a 30% increase in costs when drying to 13% rather than 14%.

Radiowave drying

DryMax appear to have found a solution to many of these drawbacks by swapping out the use of heat for radio waves.

Whilst radio waves are regularly used for drying a variety of applications in the industrial sector such as ceramics, fibreglass, foam, and paper, they are a novel concept to agriculture.

The process is very simple, and the dryer essentially works in the same way as the microwave in your kitchen.

It follows a similar method to a conventional continuous flow system, using a tower design that allows grain to flow through it and large quantities to be dried per hour.

Like traditional tower systems, the grain is pumped to the top and then uses gravity to let the grain flow down through it to the bottom auger or belt.

Unlike with conventional methods, radio waves dry the grain from the inside out: The radio waves penetrate each individual grain causing the water to move out from the inside, then low energy fans push the moist air away.

This involves very limited heating of the grain, with it leaving the dryer at around only 25?, which means that the water leaves the grain as a vapour rather than as steam.

DryMax said that the system can dry grain from any moisture, but that it is actually more efficient when drying grain from a higher moisture.

Benefits

Founder and CEO of DryMax, Kevin Eichhorn, said that he first came up with the radio wave solution in his attempts to find a way to dry grain without heat, and there are proving to be considerable benefits to this.

Drying the grain using radio waves, and drawing the water out from the inside, is far more efficient, as traditional methods dry grain by making it hot and dry on the outside, whilst it is still relatively wet on the inside.

Avoiding this temperature differential between the inside and the outside helps to maintain quality and reduces the risk of grains cracking, whilst it also dries the crop far more evenly.

Keeping the heating of the grain to a minimum also voids any issues regarding lower germination rates for producers who may be growing a seed crop.

The radio wave system is powered by electric and far less energy intensive than fuelling burners, which could slash the costs of grain drying.

The future

As of 2020, DryMax have radio wave dryers installed and operational on sites across the US and Canada.

Kevin Eichhorn said that DryMax is now looking to move forward from the development stages.

He said: "We are looking for strategic investors to help us roll out; the best path for us is probably through companies that can afford an expensive system."

The cost of the technology is a major drawback at present, with the prototype DryMax tower coming in at close to 250,000: However, Kevin insisted that over time the costs will go down dramatically.

He also said that he expects the technology to move into Europe over the next few years.

"I am looking for 10 farmers to purchase dryers in 2021, who will help us with testing and improving algorithms.

"These will be in the US only, but we could use assistance from a capital or strategic partner to help us move into Europe in 2022," he explained.

"By eliminating carbon for fuel, having no pollution, and reducing running costs, this could align with the goals of a company that wants to jump ahead of the competition."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted his congratulatory remarks over Twitter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday evening.

"I congratulate Joe Biden on his Inauguration as President, and pray that he is guided by God and follows the Constitution as he assumes leadership of the greatest country in the history of the world. May we forever remain that way," Abbott tweeted in congratulations to the 46th President.

Abbott failed to tag President Joe Biden with @JoeBiden in his tweet or mention Vice President Kamala Harris after both were inaugurated Wednesday morning.

The move came after Abbott faced heat Tuesday for a different tweet.

While a few people supported Abbott Tuesday after controversial remarks about vetting National Guard members in the wake of the insurrection, users overwhelmingly tackled governor for his hypocrisy as Texas suffers through the worst wave ever of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After receiving hundreds of replies criticizing his view on the Capitol and COVID-19 response for the state, Abbott sent out multiple tweets about vaccine distribution efforts across Texas and a new COVID-19 therapeutic infusion center in Lubbock, Texas.
More than 300 schools and districts in Massachusetts have expressed interest in a program that would allow for weekly pooled COVID-19 testing, an initiative aimed at getting more children back into classrooms during the pandemic.

As of Wednesday, 302 schools and districts, including 213 out of approximately 400 public school districts statewide, have expressed interest in the program, according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

It is not yet clear when DESE will have a final list of districts and schools that are participating.

With pooled COVID tests, 10 nose swabs from one classroom or cohort of students and staff will go into one tube to be tested together at the lab. If the pooled sample is negative, all the individuals are presumed negative. If the pooled sample comes back positive, all the individuals will be re-tested with the rapid test. The person with the positive sample and any close contacts would then need to isolate and quarantine.

Ideally, the program will help more students stay in school as the pandemic continues, Gov. Charlie Baker and DESE officials said in announcing the program earlier this month.

The pooled tests cost at least 75% less than the cost of an individual test, officials said.

While the state is prioritizing schools with in-person learning for the pool testing, remote districts could still apply. Districts interested in participating were asked by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to complete a survey by close of business Jan. 15.

DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said that the department will cover costs for testing during the initial phase of the program, which is estimated to be between $15 and $30 million and will be funded by federal stimulus money. After the initial launch, districts can continue pooled testing by purchasing tests through a statewide contract using federal stimulus dollars.

Education officials have said that mitigation strategies for schools, like mask-wearing, hand-washing and keeping a distance, appear to be working.

Six clusters of COVID-19 were identified in K-12 schools from Dec. 13 to Jan. 9, including 16 confirmed cases and 25 contacts, according to state Department of Public Health data published Jan. 14. A total of 58 clusters were identified before Dec. 23 and have not met criteria for closing yet, including 64 confirmed cases and 137 contacts. A cluster is considered closed after 28 days have passed since the last confirmed case.

School clusters include cases associated with a school where in-school transmission cannot be completely ruled out, officials said, although other transmission settings are considered more likely. Evidence of possible in-school transmission includes two or more cases that share a classroom or other school setting; timing between cases, as the average time between exposure and development of disease for COVID-19 is 5 days; and ruling out of other exposure settings, officials said.

While school-aged children have been infected with COVID-19, health officials believe most of those infections are not coming from spread in a school setting.

In December, a rapid testing began at more than 100 schools in the state.

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One of the best views of Mount Fuji is from the Fujiyama roller coaster at the Fuji-Q Highland theme park.

But soon non-riders will be able to drink in the same incredible views of Japan's most famous volcano, thanks to a new $10million (7.3million) 180ft-high (55m) observation deck being built in the middle of one of the coaster's summits.

What's more, visitors will be able to zoom all the way back down along an epic tube slide.

A rendering showing the observation deck and epic tube slide that will open in the middle of one of the summits of the Fujiyama roller coaster at the Fuji-Q Highland theme park in Japan. Stunning views of Mount Fuji are guaranteed in good weather

The platform is being built to mark the roller coaster's 25th anniversary and is due to open this summer. Visitors will reach it via an internal lift inside a new tower called the Fujiyama Tower.

It was originally planned that the tower would only be used by theme park staff in order to carry out inspections and maintenance on the roller coaster.

However, as staff saw the 'superb view' that would be offered from the top, it was decided to open it up to the public.

The theme park says: 'This tower is the only tower where you can see the lush sea of trees below the magnificent Mount Fuji and the endless blue sky.

The theme park says: 'This tower is the only tower where you can see the lush sea of trees below the magnificent Mount Fuji and the endless blue sky'

A rendering of an open-air 'windswept' maintenance track that will open to harness-wearing visitors

'Whether you're visiting Mount Fuji for a photo, or were riding Fujiyama but were screaming so couldn't see the mountain slowly, climbing up here will give you a spectacular view.'

As well as the observation deck and the slide, an open-air 'windswept' track that was previously used by maintenance staff, and does not have any handrails, will also open for visitors - but for this experience they'll need to strap into a harness.

When the roller coaster opened in 1996, it was one of the tallest in the world with a top height of 259ft (80m). At the time it boasted the largest drop in the world at 230ft (70m).

When the Fujiyama roller coaster, pictured, opened in 1996, it was one of the tallest in the world at 259ft (80m)

The observation platform is being built to mark the Fujiyama coaster's 25th anniversary and is due to open this summer

In July, two executives from the theme park filmed themselves riding the roller coaster in silence to demonstrate the new 'no screaming' rule to stop the spread of coronavirus.

It came after a group of Japanese park operators released joint guidelines on how to operate safely under the threat of the virus.

Among the recommendations was that thrillseekers should wear masks at all times and 'refrain from vocalising loudly' on roller coasters and other rides.
When oil prices crashed last year and work in the oil patch dried up, Jonathan Click found salvation in solar.

For the previous 15 years, the Houston petroleum landman had been tracking down Texas land owners and mineral rights holders to help negotiate lease deals for oil and gas companies. But since the coronavirus pandemic wiped out crude demand and production, Click has spent the bulk of his time helping solar companies ink leases to develop solar farms across the state.

If it wasnt for solar, I wouldnt be a landman right now, Click said. Its gotten to that point.

During the downturn, some oil and gas workers such as Click are finding work in renewables, the nations fastest-growing energy sector. Its another sign of the energy transition toward a lower carbon future, which will have profound implications for Houstons dominant oil and gas industry from jobs to the broader economy.

Texas is already the nations top-producer of oil and wind energy, but solar is picking up steam statewide. The Lone Star State has the nations second highest number of solar installations annually, behind only California. Some 750,000 Texas homes are powered by solar energy, and by the end of this year, its estimated that more than 1 million homes could be powered by the sun.

Large solar farms are going up across Texas. Solar company Lightsource BP, half of which is owned by the British oil major, recently completed its largest project on 1,500 acres in Lamar County in northeast Texas. Lightsource BPs 260-megawatt Impact Solar project will power more than 41,000 homes in Texas while eliminating the equivalent of carbon emissions from more than 68,000 gasoline-powered cars. The solar farm is a key part of BPs pivot from fossil fuels and its goal to become a net-zero carbon emissions company.

BRIGHT FUTURE?: Solar is smallest but fastest growing renewable energy source

Clean energy is growing and growing fast in Texas, said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group, an Austin-based clean-energy research firm. As prices have dropped, interest in solar has really gone up.

These solar companies have created extra work, Click said. If it werent for them, itd be even worse.

Born and raised in Houston, Click always thought hed be in the oil and gas industry. His father owned an oil-field services firm selling pipe flanges and valves. After getting an economics degree from the University of Houston, Click began his career as a landman in 2006, just as the shale boom kicked off.

The shale revolution  made possible by technological breakthroughs in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling  led to a land rush in shale plays nationwide. As the president and founder of Houston-based Click Energy, Click would visit county clerks offices to research land titles and mineral rights and then track down owners to help negotiate oil and gas leases.

The Great Recession in 2008, however, delivered a swift blow to the oil industry. Click went two months without work.

Youre sitting there, praying a broker calls you with a job, Click said. When it rains, it pours. When its dry, its a desert.

Those calls finally came as drilling in the Eagle Ford in South Texas and then the Permian Basin in West Texas took off. Clerks offices were again packed with landmen trying to get photocopies of real estate records.

Q&A: How renewable fuels can help aviations climate challenges

But after oil busts in 2014, 2018 and especially 2020, oil companies slashed budgets, limiting exploration and production to their most prolific shale plays. That has meant less work for landmen, said Eli Huffman, former president of the Houston Association of Professional Landmen, which has some 1,300 members.

If oil prices are too low, no one is buying land, Huffman said. It really has challenged landmen who provide services to third parties.

As oil companies contracted, the value of land in oil-fields around the country plunged. The average price of U.S. shale acreage has fallen by more than 70 percent to $5,000 per acre in 2020 from $17,000 in 2018, according to Norwegian energy research firm Rystad.

The land grab is over, Click said. Private equity has dried up because theyre not getting the returns they wanted, and thats created a damper on spending.

Landmen face other challenges beyond the pandemics economic fallout. Computerized land records and new mapping technology have taken a toll on the profession and the downturn has reduced wages.

Instead of waiting for the tide to turn, Click hustled his way into solar. Like oil companies, solar companies need to assemble large tracts on which to install panels, and they have turned to landmen to research owners and negotiate leases with them.

Minerals research is minerals research, Click said. It doesnt matter if theyre putting a zoo on top of the land. Whos wanting us right now are solar companies.

Solar energy has a 2 percent market share in Texas, so theres room for growth, Prabhu said. Texas is an attractive market for solar companies because of its abundant and affordable land, flat topography, sunny climate, robust transmission system and a deregulated electricity grid that makes it easier to do business in the state. Within five years, Prabhu said, Texas could become the nations No. 1 producer of solar energy.

IT JUST MAKES SENSE: Harris County turns to renewable energy to power its buildings

Oil and gas is boom and bust, while solar has seen nothing but gradual growth over the last 10 years, Prabhu said. This is where the jobs are going to be and where the economy is heading. If youre not going to make the shift, youre going to be left behind.

Kevin Smith, Lighthouse BPs CEO in the Americas, said his company is developing more than $1 billion worth of solar projects and wants to invest another billion this year. The San Francisco-based solar company plans two more projects over the coming years in Texas, the companys largest U.S. market.

Lighthouse BPs Impact Solar farm in North Texas employed 320 construction workers at its peak, the vast majority of them local hires. The project will require only about five employees to maintain, however. The company has hired former oil and gas workers to construct and maintain solar farms, Smith said.

No question, we are getting workers moving over from oil and gas, Smith said. A lot of the oil and gas skills are applicable to solar.

Click said hes experienced no stigma doing contract work for solar companies during the downturn. He expects oil and gas work to return as crude prices have surpassed $50 a barrel, he said, but in the meantime hes grateful for the solar work.

No one cares if youre working in solar, Click said. Its tough out there. Youre considered lucky.

paul.takahashi@chron.com

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Federal agents on Thursday arrested a 20-year-old Philadelphia man on charges of cyberstalking a teenage girl while he was in high school.

Federal prosecutors said that they arrested Mikael Laferla, previously known as Mikael Zarett, on a single count of cyberstalking and that he is scheduled to appear in federal court Friday. He was arrested at the Center City home of his mother and stepfather.

The FBI said in a criminal complaint that the alleged victim told Lower Moreland police in 2018 that Laferla had threatened to distribute, via social media, pictures depicting her unclothed if she didnt agree to perform sex acts on him. He and the girl were both about 17.

The affidavit by FBI special agent Adam Sucheski said that Zarett, who had been a student and rowing and squash athlete at Shipley School, a Bryn Mawr prep school, later enrolled at Fordham University in New York and began using the last name Laferla.

The investigation began in October 2018 after the girls mother went to police in Lower Moreland. The affidavit did not address why there was no arrest until 28 months later. Nor did it explain why the FBI got involved. The FBI would not answer those questions. Police in Lower Moreland said reporters would have to file a Freedom of Information request and wait for any information.

Laferla was arrested by the FBI on Thursday morning at the house on Delancey Place of his stepfather, Richard Vague, appointed last year to serve as Pennsylvania banking and securities secretary.

Last year, Vagues wife formally changed her name from Victoria Laura Zarett, to Victoria Laura La Ferla. Authorities spelled her sons name as Laferla in the arrest papers.

Laferlas father, Joseph Zarett, declined comment. Vague issued a statement saying the arrest was unrelated to himself or his wife. I have no additional information to share and ask for privacy for my family at this time, he said.

Staff writers Dylan Purcell, Jeremy Roebuck, and Sam Wood contributed to this article.
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HYDERABAD: With graduate MLC elections round the corner, the Telangana Congress started the exercise of finalising names of its official candidates.

Party state affairs in-charge and MP Manickam Tagore held a meeting with key leaders, including TPCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy at Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday.

On the first day Tagore discussed with senior leaders from Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Mahbubnagar graduate MLC candidates.

Party sources said that former minister Chinna Reddy and Vamshi Chander Reddy are front-runners for Hyderabad-Ranga Reddy-Mahbubnagar MLC election. But some leaders raised objections. A few suggested that tickets be given to candidates from frontal organisations.

Most of the leaders agreed to give the ticket for G. Chinna Reddy who is former minister and former MLA from Wanaparthy constituency.

The meeting to select the Warangal-Nalgonda-Khammam candidate will be held on Friday.

Sources said that seniors suggested backing Prof. Kodandaram of the Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS) for the seat. But Tagore said it was better to reward loyalists who stood by the party during every crisis. In the Warangal-Nalgonda- Khammam race for the ticket is on between Ramu Naik and Bellayya Naik, with OU student leader Manavata Rai also in the hunt.

Names for both seats are likely to be decided on Friday.
Obviously the scenario Im describing could be disrupted by the entirely unexpected, as 2020 was by the pandemic, or it could be squandered if the Biden administration mires itself in culture-war battles or pushes too hard on liberal legislation. And Bidens party still has little in the way of answers for the deepest problems in American life  a social crisis born of both liberal and right-wing forms of individualism, a deep cultural separation between the meritocracy and the masses, a stagnation and sclerosis given vivid embodiment by its own aged leadership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief ministers may be vaccinated in the second round of vaccination drive. PM Modi, during his meeting with CMs of different states, reportedly said politicians who are above 50 could be vaccinated in the next phase, News18 reported citing sources.

Vaccination of priority groups was one of the items on the agenda in the meeting between the PM and CMs of different states, which was held on November 24.

The Centre is currently conducting phase 1 of the vaccination, under which healthcare workers and frontline workers are getting vaccinated.

Overall, 30 crore people from priority groups will be vaccinated first. These 30 crore Indians come from three groups - 1 crore healthcare providers, 2 crore frontline workers and 27 crore people over 50 and under 50 with co-morbidities.

This will allow ministers and chief ministers who are above 50 years of age to be vaccinated first. Those below 50 years of age and face comorbidities, are likely to be vaccinated next.

"We believe in the initial phase, vaccination will be limited. However, it'll increase in subsequent months. Therefore, all different priority groups can be vaccinated together," Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said last month.

In total 7.43 lakh healthcare workers have received COVID-19 vaccine jabs, with 1,12,007 beneficiaries vaccinated on 20th January (till 06:00 pm) alone, according to a report of the Union Health Ministry.

On Tuesday, 1,77,368 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm through 3,800 sessions.

Also read: BT Buzz: Who will fund India's mega COVID-19 vaccination?
DPGO Markets - Los Angeles California 1 billion hotel rooms unsold in the United States alone

According to Bloomberg, the 2020 festive period saw 1 billion hotel rooms unsold in the United States alone. That figure is, quite frankly, staggering. While the end of last year wasnt great for the hotel industry, the short-term vacation rental market fared pretty well over the festive period.

In an article published on December 11, 2020, Bloomberg writer Patrick Clark said This year has been anything but normal, and the extra 350 million unsold nights come at a heavy cost. Based on an average daily rate of $131, hotel owners have seen about $46 billion in lost revenue.

We wanted to bring in the new year with a round-up of the top-performing counties and cities for short-term Airbnb rentals. This is just one example of the kind of in-depth data insights DPGO is capable of. Were experts in local market data and what better way to prove it than to create a comprehensive report, detailing all the facts and figures from the top-performing counties and cities in North America.

Weve arranged this list according to the average occupancy rate figures over the 2020 Christmas period. For your interest, weve also mentioned the average daily rate for those areas too.

Now lets examine the Top 10 North American Cities/Counties, According to Occupancy Rate

According to our data, the counties with the highest occupancy rates are spread out across the North American continent. Our average occupancy rates are calculated by combining the occupancy rates of every property type.

And so, without further ado, the county with the highest occupancy rate is...

Maricopa, Arizona, US

Maricopa County in Arizona carries impressively high occupancy. As the metropolitan city of Phoenix falls under Maricopa County there was no real shock in seeing it on the list, but such high occupancy rates are always impressive. Maricopas average occupancy rate was 94.04% and the average daily rate was $91.84.

Miami-Dade, Florida, US

Next up is Miami-Dade, a giant of US counties as it is home to Miami central and Miami Beach  two hugely popular STR locations. The average occupancy rate in Miami-Dade was 93.46%, with an average daily rate of $125.72.

Maui, Hawaii, US

Well, theres no surprise here  the holiday island of Hawaii is a logical feature on any top 10 Airbnb destinations. The average occupancy rate was 93.38% with an average daily rate of $199.41.

King County, Washington, US

Playing host to the behemoth city of Seattle, King County comes in with an average occupancy rate of 87.61% and an average daily rate of $85.61.

Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Our first Canadian entry is an icon. The white ski slopes of Whistler are a huge hit in wintertime, and its no surprise! The average occupancy rate was 87.13% with an average daily rate of $350.82 - the highest daily rate on our list!

Harris, Texas, US

Next up is Harris County, US. As home to Houston, Pasadena, and Baytown, Harris plays host to thousands of Airbnb listings. The average occupancy rate in Harris County, Texas was 79.71%, with an average daily rate of $73.39.

Fulton County, Georgia, US

Atlanta is a very popular city for Airbnb rentals, in fact, its the 7th most popular! The average occupancy rate in Fulton County, Georgia was 79.60%, and the average daily rate was $100.09.

Los Angeles County, California, US

Los Angeles county comes in surprisingly low down on our top 10 list. The overall occupancy rate in Los Angeles County was 77.99% and the countys associated average daily rate came in at $102.05.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto is arguably one of the most popular cities in Canada, and with that stunning skyline, its almost expected. In Toronto, Ontario, the average occupancy rate over the festive period in 2020 was 61.73% and the average daily rate was $95.66.

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Last but certainly not least is the historic city of Montreal. Made of formerly independent cities, Montreal is a hugely popular tourist destination as it includes influences from a range of cultures and inspirations from various European cities. In Montreal, the average occupancy rate was 57.08% and the average daily rate was $76.41.

Ever wondered how the STR market in your city is performing? Find out by visiting the DPGO Markets page on our website, and see the aggregated data for your local market in real-time. Markets will show you a range of data relating to your STR location, including the average occupancy rate, average daily rate, market supply, minimum night stay, and more!

For more in-depth insights, register now with DPGO at http://www.dpgo.com and start dynamic pricing your Airbnb way to higher occupancy rates and revenue! Were even offering a free 30-day trial, register now to get started!
The California Supreme Court rejected an appeal Wednesday allowing a suit against the business-review company Yelp for secretly recording sales pitches to customers, leaving intact a ruling that bars taping either side of a phone conversation without both parties consent.

Yelp was sued by San Francisco attorney Eric Gruber after he learned the company had recorded at least a dozen calls from sales representatives between March 2014 and July 2016 trying to sell him advertising space. Gruber said he discussed some confidential matters with the representatives, one of whom was a friend. He sued Yelp after learning that the company had recorded the calls.

Yelp, based in San Francisco, explained that it records all of its sales calls for training purposes, but usually tapes only its employee and not the prospective customer, and followed that practice with Gruber. Although Californias 1997 privacy law prohibits recording phone calls and other confidential conversations without the consent of all participants, a Superior Court judge said Grubers rights had not been violated because his voice was not recorded.

But the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco reinstated Grubers suit in October and said state privacy laws make no distinction between the speaker and the listener, requiring agreement from all sides before recording a conversation.

This case shows why the law must be interpreted broadly, the court said, because Yelps employees were recorded discussing information they had learned from Gruber.

The recordings revealed firsthand and in real time their understanding of or reaction to Grubers words, effectively making his side of the discussion available on tape, Justice Teri Jackson said in the 3-0 ruling.

Eighteen news organizations  including the California Newspaper Publishers Association, whose members include The Chronicle  filed arguments asking the appeals court to allow reporters to use recorders for note-taking during interviews without asking the interviewees for consent. Jackson said the court did not need to address that issue in the Yelp case.

Yelp appealed to the state Supreme Court, but the court unanimously denied review Wednesday. The appellate ruling is now final and binding on trial courts statewide.

Yelp issued a statement indicating a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

California law should not prevent people from recording themselves or other consenting speakers if, like in this case, no one else is recorded, the company said. Yelp believes the Court of Appeals decision is at odds with the First Amendment and will be evaluating its next steps in this case.

The case is Gruber vs. Yelp, S265509.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
BATON ROUGE  Gov. John Bel Edwards and International Paper Bogalusa Mill Manager Bernie Chascin announced the company plans to invest up to $52.2 million in capital to increase the efficiency of the mill, which has been a manufacturing mainstay of Washington Parish for more than a century.

Through the project, International Paper plans to retain the mills 492 direct jobs that provide an average annual salary of more than $86,000, plus benefits. In Bogalusa, IP operates a paper mill and an associated corrugated box plant. The modernization program would enhance the paper mills efficiency by upgrading the recovery boiler system, along with filtration, condenser and acid system enhancements in the papermaking process.

We congratulate International Paper for improving the competitiveness of its Bogalusa Mill and for investing in the future of IP employees in Louisiana, Gov. Edwards said. This commitment to Bogalusa and Washington Parish represents a significant project win for our entire state and reinforces the great strength of Louisianas forest products sector.

The latest project plan would bring International Papers investment in capital upgrades at the Bogalusa Mill to $487 million since the company purchased the Washington Parish site in a 2012 acquisition of Temple-Inland Inc.

Our planned investment represents the mills ongoing focus on maintaining safe and reliable operations, producing essential products that meet the needs of our customers and providing good jobs to the region, said Chascin, the Bogalusa Mill manager. We are grateful for the support of Louisiana leaders and our community partners who play an important role in our success. The plentiful fiber resources and hardworking people of Louisiana have made doing business here a worthwhile investment for over a century, and that is why we continue to invest today.

Since making an initial $44 million capital investment in crane and wood-chipping technology in 2012, International Paper has increased the number of direct employees in its Bogalusa workforce from 411 to 492, a nearly 20 percent gain.

We are fortunate to have International Paper  one of the worlds leading producers of renewable, fiber-based packaging, pulp and paper  as an industrial citizen in Washington Parish, said Parish President Richard Thomas Jr. International Papers forward-thinking vision for modernization is the reason they have remained stalwarts in our community. Their continued commitment to investing in upgrades has allowed the competitive production necessary to maintain a stabilized workforce. The economic impact of International Paper is very important not just to the City of Bogalusa but to the livelihood of our parish. Additionally and just as important as their economic impact is the generosity of their employee-giving, which has always played a key role in the fabric of the progress and well-being of our community.

Louisiana Economic Development began formal discussions about the Bogalusa Mill project plan with International Paper in March 2020. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered a competitive incentive package that includes a $500,000 Modernization Tax Credit, and the company also is expected to utilize the Industrial Tax Exemption Program.

Upon hearing the news of International Papers plans to invest millions of dollars into the mill and into our community, I was elated, Bogalusa Mayor Wendy OQuin-Perrette said. This is a significant reinvestment by International Paper that will affect the lives of every citizen in the City of Bogalusa. By securing nearly 500 jobs, we look forward to the economic prosperity this investment will bring to our community for many years to come.

International Paper maintains significant operations across Louisiana. Beyond the Bogalusa Mill and box plant, IP maintains container plant operations in Springhill; a preprint and coatings plant along with a regional fiber-supply procurement office in Shreveport; a containerboard mill in Mansfield; a containerboard mill in Campti; and a bulk plant in Lafayette.

International Paper is a critical economic driver for our parish and the most vital manufacturing presence in our community, said Executive Director Ryan Seal of the Washington Economic Development Foundation. We were delighted to work with the company and our state and regional partners to secure not only IPs presence in Bogalusa, but also to heighten its performance and to preserve this great industrial asset for future generations.

This announcement ensures that International Paper will remain a world-class facility and a leading employer for Washington Parish, said President and CEO Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans Inc. While the company has been a significant force in the community for years, the production efficiency increases created by these upgrades will pave the way for an even brighter future. Its great to know that the economic strength of Bogalusa will remain in good hands.
Travellers to Britain could be forced to quarantine in hotels under plans to be discussed by ministers today as chaos continues at the border.

Any new restrictions would be a further blow to the beleaguered travel industry and put the holiday plans of millions at risk.

It comes as Britain's airports are already struggling to cope with demand, with passengers queuing for hours on Thursday to get through passport control at Heathrow as the border situation worsened.

The lines were so long staff were said to have handed out free water to exhausted travellers just hours after the Home Office insisted there were no staffing issues and people were moving through in 'good time'.

Rishi Sunak's Treasury and Grant Shapps' Department for Transport are pushing against new travel measures over the 'severe' impact they would have on aviation, one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic, and the wider economy.

But Priti Patel and Matt Hancock are eager to enforce harsher rules to stop mutant strains from entering the country, potentially undermining the vaccine operation.

Amid growing doubts over the summer holiday season, the Cabinets Covid operations committee will thrash out how to tighten border controls. Passengers are pictured queuing at Heathrow Airport on Thursday

Huge queues prompted anger from passengers and questions over the number of staff at work

One senior source told The Telegraph: 'Once in place, the restrictions would be difficult to exit, as Australia and New Zealand have found and their economies are suffering as a result. Nor have their quarantines and managed self-isolation proved watertight.'

World Health Organisation Health systems development consultant Alvaro Garbayo was so infuriated with the chaos at Heathrow on Thursday he attempted to contact Matt Hancock on Twitter to complain.

He asked him: 'Border control at Heathrow a complete mess, a crowd queuing for more than one hour with not enough space to keep safe distance. Just making sure we all get infected before entering UK? Proactively pushing for herd immunity?

'And just to make it more likely they hand over water for free so people remove their masks. No special arrangements for people with children, people with disabilities, elders... and we get surprised with our numbers?'

The self-service e-gates at Heathrow Airport are currently closed - with border guards having to check all paperwork and passports manually.

A Home Office spokeswoman said on Wednesday: 'Border Force has the necessary staff needed to fulfil its vital function of keeping the border secure and protecting the public.

People who have travelled from multiple destinations queue in a system difficult to space

'Even with the increased Border Force spot checks on arrival, with passengers liable for a fine of 500 for failing to comply with the new rules, the vast majority of people have been moving through the UK border in good time.'

The Home Secretary said last night it was far too early to speculate about whether foreign holidays would be possible this summer.

In a further sign of the disruption ahead, it emerged that EU leaders are discussing plans to close the borders to British travellers to slow the spread of the new Covid variant first identified in Kent.

Miss Patel, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove are pushing for arrivals in the UK to be required to stay at isolation centres to complete their ten-day quarantine.

Luggage piled up as the enormous backlog saw passengers unable to get through to collect

In practice, this is likely to mean hotels, although it could include isolation at state-run premises as happened with travellers from Wuhan in the early days of the pandemic last year.

However, one Government source said a final decision on the move had not been taken and might not be finalised until next week.

Around 90 powerful Tory MPs and Peers have said they would accept the closure of travel corridors, but it would be a 'devastating blow' for the aviation industry.

Leaked documents revealed last night that the Home Office even considered requiring travellers to wear electronic tags on arrival in the UK, like criminals released early from jail do.

The idea was rejected because of concerns about legal challenges and the potential strain on the monitoring system.

The move to tighten the borders comes amid fears that new strains of the virus emerging abroad could undermine the effectiveness of the vaccination programme.

The government decided that a negative COVID test was required within 72 hours of travel

Home Secretary Priti Patel said last night it was far too early to speculate about whether foreign holidays would be possible this summer

The scenes come as it was predicted the government would introduce quarantine hotels

One Whitehall source said Mr Hancock was paranoid about the threat from abroad, adding: We are rolling out the vaccine now much faster than many other places. That is the key to unlocking in the UK.

Mr Hancock told MPs the Government would be very cautious on travel for now to stop the arrival of Covid variants against which vaccinces might not be so effective.

Miss Patel, who is pushing for tougher border restrictions, said the Government has already moved to close all travel corridors and banned all travel from South America following the emergence of a new strain in Brazil.

She confirmed that further restrictions are being kept under review.

Ministers hope using hotels for isolation, as in Australia, will improve compliance with quarantine rules but have ruled out banning all inbound travel by foreign nationals.

Occupational therapist Libby Pannett told how she returned to the UK after her mother's funeral in New Zealand where there were no cases of coronavirus.

Describing the scene she faced after her long haul flight, the 52-year-old said: 'It was awful coming through Heathrow, the queues are horrific. There were probably 1,000 people in front of me because they aren't doing the fast track, they are not letting kids go through first either so there are all these screaming kids.

'At passport control they have to check all your paperwork, it's awful. There are not enough passport control officers and people were screaming out 'get more staff.' I thought there was going to be a real riot, some people were pushing their kids through saying 'let this baby through'.'

Mrs Pannett, from Berkshire, added: 'We have to have a test to come back to the UK now and that was really difficult because you had to do it in 72 hours. That was hard coming from New Zealand as there is a time difference. It cost me 276, they are ripping people off because they know you need to do it.

'Getting the results was really stressful because I had to fly internally to get to Auckland and they had added in the time, it was running down the clock and it was over a Sunday when nobody works too.

'I was worried that results wouldn't come back in time. Emirates Airlines told me that when I landed in the UK it would be over the 72 hour period so I could run the risk of getting a fine in the UK or stay for another 12 hours and get another test in Dubai.

'I had to make that choice, to risk the fine or stay in Dubai - it was really stressful and I was lucky I got through.'

But 27-year-old Salma was another arrival who spoke of the lack of passport control officers.

Landing from visiting her family in Cairo, the doctor said: 'There were not many officers at border control so it took time to get everybody through. There were a lot of people in the queue but hopefully we were maintaining a safe-ish distance. It's not the most comfortable of situations I've been in, it could be better definitely.

Nurse Anila Dominic, 27, said 'there were not enough people' at the passport checks

Libby Pannett, 52, an occupational therapist, said people were screaming 'get more staff'

Q&A: Do I need to have proof of a negative Covid-19 test when I arrive in Britain - and what standards must it meet? What are the new rules for UK arrivals? All of the travel corridors were scrapped yesterday, so arrivals from every destination will need to self-isolate for ten days, or receive a negative result from a Covid-19 test taken at least five days after they enter the UK. Do I need to get a negative test when I arrive in the UK? Yes, all arrivals into England - including British citizens - must test negative for Covid-19 up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure. Your test will also be checked by the airline before you board a plane abroad. What will you have to present at the UK border? Border Force officials are carrying out spot checks on those arriving by air, land or sea - but they have so far been checking all arrivals, according to passengers. Your Covid-19 negative test results must be presented in either English, French or Spanish. Translations are not accepted, and you must provide the original certificate. The test result must be provided either as a physical printed document or via email or text message, which can be shown on a mobile phone. This must include: your name, matching it on your travel documents

your date of birth or age

the result of the test

the date the test sample was collected or received by the test provider

the name of the test provider and their contact details

the name of the test device Anyone arriving without a test result that includes all of the above information will be committing a criminal offence which could see them receive a 500 fine. What test must you have? The test must meet standards of 97% specificity and 80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml. The Government says this could include tests such as: a nucleic acid test, including a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test or derivative technologies, including loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Lamp) tests

an antigen test, such as a test from a lateral flow device. Will you have to prove your test meets requirements? Yes. The Government says it is your responsibility to ensure a test meets minimum standards for sensitivity, specificity and viral load details - so you must check with your test provider that it meets those requirements. You may need proof in the form of a letter from a test provider detailing its specificity and sensitivity levels. What happens if I don't have the correct documents? New arrivals who flout the rules will face a minimum 500 fine while their flight operator will also be fined. The passenger will then be let on their way without further action, but will still have to quarantine for ten days like everyone else arriving in the UK. Separately, arrivals into England who do not self-isolate can face fines between 1,000 and 10,000. What is the difference between the tests? PCR tests, nasal and throat swab tests normally take between 12 and 48 hours to return results. Lamp tests can return results in two hours, and lateral flow tests can generate results in less than 30 minutes. Whichever test it is must meet the required performance standards listed by the Government. Border Force agents will check that the information required is present on the notification. Provided the test meets the set criteria, then it will be accepted. If it does not, you could be fined - even with a negative test result. What are the concerns over lateral flow tests? There are fears that lateral flow tests might not be as reliable as PCR tests. But Innova makes a lateral flow test which has a sensitivity of more than 95 per cent for high viral loads - meeting UK Government requirements. A trial of one lateral flow test used by the Government found that it detected 79 per cent of cases when administered by a trained professional but only 40 per cent if someone is self-swabbing. This is significantly lower than the more expensive but slower PCR tests which detect 70 to 99 per cent of positive cases. Passengers are responsible for ensuring their test meets requirements and may be asked to provide proof. Is there a specific list of accepted tests? No. The Government does not provide a list of approved providers or tests worldwide. The passenger has to check that the test that they use meets the standards. What are the exemptions? It applies to arrivals who began their journeys in every country of the world, with the following exceptions: Ireland

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

Isle of Man

Jersey

Guernsey

Ascension

Falkland Islands

St Helena There will also be an exemption until 4am on January 21 for people who began their journey in: Antigua and Barbuda

St Lucia

Barbados There are also limited exemptions for the likes of hauliers, young children and train crew members. Which countries are subject to travel bans? Travel to and from all of South America, Portugal and Cape Verde was banned from 4am last Friday. British and Irish nationals as well as people with residency rights will be exempt, but will have to self-isolate for ten days with their household on returning from any countries on the banned list. A similar ban was put into place for South Africa on December 23 last year, after another new variant was identified by scientists. On January 9, the rules were also applied to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique, Angola, Seychelles and Mauritius. What are the rules on travel from South Africa? Anyone arriving into the UK who has been in or transited through South Africa in the previous ten days will not be permitted entry to the UK. But British people will still be able to enter via indirect routes from South Africa. Are there any differences for the US? There are no specific differences for travellers arriving from the US, although it is understood some airlines are placing their own requirements on passengers. The US Embassy in the UK states: 'The test must be a viral test (NAAT or antigen test) to determine if you are currently infected with Covid-19. Travellers should avoid the antibody tests which look for prior infection.' Advertisement

'We had to get a test in Egypt before returning to the UK, I was worried about getting the test on time and that I would miss my flight. I was worried about the test I had, whether it was legitimate enough for them or whether they needed something extra like a government seal on it, that was stuff I had to think about.

'In the space of 18 days I have had two tests and I need to get another one in the next five days so I don't have to self isolate because I need to get back to work, I don't have enough annual leave for that.'

Adult nursing student Mohamed Akram explained that he started running with his luggage after he landed at Heathrow to get ahead of the crowds of travellers heading for border control with their forms.

Having landed from Egypt, the 24-year-old said: 'It was a bit busy on the borders here. I actually jogged from my flight so I didn't have to wait for so long but when I looked back the queue was so long.

'Most people were distancing, at least I did it, that is what matters. It took 48 hours to get my test results and thank God it came out as a negative.'

Returning from an extended trip to see his parents in Bangalore, India, after his flight was cancelled at the beginning of the new year, Athmeeya Rao claimed the mandatory test for UK-bound travellers should have come sooner.

The 32-year-old Boeing Defence employee said: 'I had to have a test in India before flying to the UK, I just went to a hospital and it was quite straightforward. I got the results within six hours or so.

'Once we landed at Heathrow there was a big queue at immigration as there were not that many officers. They were taking longer as they explained to people that they had to quarantine themselves for 10 days and other checks to see they had the right passenger forms.

'I think for kids and families the queue is difficult but it wasn't too crowded as we all had to distance. I think the mandatory tests to get back into the UK should have been done before, sooner than now.

'It started when people were coming from Spain and Italy in the summer last year, they should have implemented it then but it's better late than never.

'There were a couple of passengers in India who did not have the pdf copy of their test, they just had the negative test result on a text message which didn't count. I'm not sure if they were left behind or have to do a test once they got to the UK,' he added.

Queuing outside the Heathrow testing centre with a dozen others were seamen Tomas Kotlaga aged 50 years and work colleague 58-year-old Wieslaw Frednczak.

The pair were awaiting a rapid flow test before their flight back home to Poland today.

They said: 'We booked a fast Covid test at the Heathrow testing centre before our flight departs to Amsterdam and on to Poland today. We should get our results within 30 minutes.

'We don't understand why we must have the test, because we have been effectively quarantining at sea. We work four weeks on the ship and then four weeks at home, we come here often for work.'

Nurse Anila Dominic who had flown from India waited for 45 minutes before she could pass through border control. The 27-year-old said: 'I had to wait nearly 45 minutes. There were not enough people, that is why it took a long time. If there were more people there to check it would be easier for passengers. They were asking for cover test, the passenger locator form and my passport.'

Simlairly, Physics PhD student Megha Emerse - who had travelled from Kerala in Southern India - said: 'I was a little bit tense because I didn't know all of the new rules and procedures but it was fine and everything was explained.

'The queues weren't good, I had to wait an hour. But it was calm and everyone was distancing,' the 26-year-old University of Nottingham student added.

But there has emerged a worrying trend for people just to accept a financial punishment rather than to hand their information to officials.

Lucy Moreton, professional officer for ISU, the union for borders, immigration and customs workers, said she had heard reports of some arrivals choosing to pay the fine because they don't want to give their personal details on the locator form.

But border officials are powerless if it is a British citizen.

She said: 'We have people landing and choosing the fine instead, it's not common but it does happen.

'We can speculate that it is because they don't for some reason want the UK government to have their personal details.

'We can't detain or arrest them if they have a right of entry into the UK. We can only refuse people who don't have right of entry.' Those flouting the rules face fines of between 200 and 6,400.

On Monday there were chaotic scenes as arrivals queued for up to two hours at the border at Heathrow airport before being let through, due to the extra documents border guards need to check.

Ms Moreton said: 'There was a little bit of a moment yesterday when Border Force did allow queues to build up which shouldn't have happened, but when you're seeing documents for the first time with no background it does make it slower and with the urge to try and check everything and keep variant viruses out of the UK, we checked too many.

'But then on the other hand maybe we should be checking all of them.' Fines for not having a proper test are issued as fixed penalty notices and do not stay on a criminal record.'

But they continued to face delays after landing in the UK as officials checked each passenger arriving had a negative test - even though they will have all already been checked by their airline when boarding a flight in a foreign country.

Passengers can be fined a minimum of 500 for not complying with the rules, but the Home Office confirmed today that they are then let on their way - meaning dozens of people with Covid-19 could have been let into the UK since the rules were brought in.

However they must still follow the rules on quarantining for ten days like all arrivals into the UK - and those who breach those regulations can be fined up to 10,000.

The fines for not having a proper test are issued as fixed penalty notices and do not stay on a criminal record.

The Home Office has not yet revealed whether those fined were penalised for having no test at all or for their test certificate not fulfilling the required criteria.

Many passengers were also surprised by long queues, after they had already been checked by their airlines when boarding flights abroad - with some saying the carriers were being the 'strictest' in enforcing the rules in terms of people maintaining social distancing.

While official figures for arrivals at Heathrow are not yet available, tens of thousands of people are estimated to be coming in to the airport every day at the moment - after about 35,000 a day arrived last month.

Queues again built up yesterday in Heathrow's immigration hall with some travellers reporting having to wait up to an hour before their documentation was checked at Terminal Two, and up to 30 minutes at Terminal Five.

All the electronic passport gates were closed forcing overseas as well as British passport holders to undergo a face-to-face check. British and European Union passport holders were funnelled into one queue while other passport holders into another.

They had to present their passports, a negative test - in most cases a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) - and locator form listing where their mandatory ten-day quarantine will take place in Britain.

Staff instructed arrivals to keep a 6ft (2m) distance from each other but passengers said people ended up facing each other and cramming together.

Initially, only four officials were checking paperwork but as queues lengthened an additional four Border Force staff were brought in to help.

Molly Jarvis, who arrived on an overnight flight from Atlanta, Georgia, told MailOnline at Heathrow: 'Lots of people ended up facing each other as they waited.

Passengers arrive at London Heathrow Airport after the new rules on Covid-19 tests came in

Noelia Moreno (left) and Cristina Torrance (right) both arrived at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Five. Ms Torrance said she took a 40 Antigen test before leaving Seville and arriving on a British Airways flight.

Marissa Leo, a student arriving at London Heathrow's Terminal Five from Chicago, said she spent 30 minutes queuing to show her documents to immigration officials. She said: 'I had to show the PCR test and locator form but it was all very smooth'

A passenger leaves Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two this morning with all arrivals having to present negative Covid-19 test

Air passengers wait for a lift in the international arrivals hall at London Heathrow Airport's Terminal Two this morning

'I was a bit concerned about the social distancing and glad to get out. All the e-gates were closed and when I arrived there were only four people at the passport checks. Another four came out.'

Ms Jarvis, a US citizen who lives in London, said the official looked at the time and date of her negative PCR test, adding: 'They were very thorough and wanted to check what day I had taken the test.'

Aviation expert Julian Bray told MailOnline: 'It's been flagged up for ages that anybody coming into the country has got to have the right paperwork and has got to have the negative test. I understand the fines they are handing out are as a minimum because I heard earlier that it's anything between 500 and 1,000.

'They can come in but they're going to have to isolate for ten days. They have been told to isolate for ten days so there's no point (in having a test) then because the idea of the pre-flight test, which has to be done 72 hours in advance of the flight, is that it'll give the airline an idea of whether they've had the test or not.

'But it's surprising the airlines didn't pick up on the deficiencies. The ground crews, quite often they're a separate company, and they're hired in. They're not actually airline employees.

'If they're tasked with checking the paperwork, it sounds like there's a deficiency in the paperwork, so they might have had the test but they weren't given the right paperwork, which comes back to the fact that the Department for Transport directions are not that clear. The whole situation has been very shoddy, the way it's been rolled out.'
The Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Forestry, Senator Pippa Hackett has welcomed the news that the EU Commission has agreed to an extension of the state aid approval for the Irelands National Forestry Programme for 2021.

Acknowledging the importance of the extension, the Minister said, This is good news which will provide assurance to those who wish to apply for grants under the current forestry programme. The extension was necessary as there were delays in issuing new EU guidelines for state aid in the agriculture and forestry sector, but this gives legal certainty for the continuation of the programme. I am pleased to have secured it in time for 2021 and I would like to thank the Commission for agreeing to my request for an extension.

The Minister also spoke about the scope the extension provides her for delivering a new model for forestry. Commenting, she stated, This extended period gives us a much needed opportunity to look afresh at forestry in Ireland. We know we need to build and improve on the existing model to provide ecosystem services, income, jobs and recreational opportunities as well as contributing to our challenging environmental goals. I want to oversee the design of that model and am fully committed to the consultation with all stakeholders which will help inform a new Forest Strategy and deliver a sustainable forestry programme.

She added, From my first day in office, resolving forestry issues has been one of my top political priorities. Clearly we still have some way to go to meet the ambition we have set ourselves but I intend to build on the momentum we have created, so that we not only increase the number of licences issued to land and forest owners in the months ahead, but we also design a model of woodland creation which works for all.

Providing updates on the current position on forestry planting and licencing, the Minister also said, A well-functioning licensing system is the bedrock of any successful forestry programme and we are continuing to invest heavily in the licensing process so that we can deliver the service that stakeholders expect. I appreciate that the challenges to the existing system means that 2020 was a difficult year for many in the sector and I know we have some way to go with the current system but the trend is encouraging and has continued into the new year. I believe that the recent improvements allied to the confirmed extension of our schemes for another year means that we can look forward to 2021 with more hope for forestry in Ireland. I will continue to engage intensively with all interested stakeholders on these issues.

Notes for Editors:

The updates provided by the Minister on the current position on forestry planting and licencing are as follows:

On 1st October 2020, DAFM had 4,832 applications on hand for processing. 1,045 new licences have issued since then and we currently have 4,453 licences on hand for processing when new applications received since are included. A breakdown of these figures is below.

The total number of licences issued in 2020 was 2,593. 1,045 new licences have issued since 1st October reflecting the improvement in licencing output in Q4 of 2020. This positive trend has continued into January with 177 new licences issued in the first two weeks;

On felling: The volume licenced in 2020 was just over 5 million m3. This is down from the 6.5 million m3 licensed in 2019. 40% of this output or 2 million m3 was licenced between October and December. This rate of progress has continued into January with 444,000m3 licenced in the first two weeks of the new year. 2,760 felling applications are on hand at present. This is down from 3,230 applications on hand at 1st October last; Since 1st October, 29 felling licence decisions have been appealed for 474ha/124,803m3



On afforestation, Licences to provide for 4,300ha of new afforestation issued in 2020 which is the same figure as 2019. 2,433 new has were planted in 2020. There were 960 afforestation licence applications on hand on 1st October, 2020; 1,009 afforestation licences are on hand at present. 172 sites have been licensed since 1st October at 1,639 hectares Afforestation licences have a three-year validity and a total of 4,900ha remains licenced and available for planting with a valid afforestation licence and not subject to appeal. The Minister encouraged any landowner with a valid afforestation licence to strongly consider using it given the strong economic and environmental benefits to using some of their land for tree-planting; Broadleaf trees made up 34% of all new planting In 2020. This is an increase from 21% just 3 years ago and means that the 30% broadleaf planting target set out in the Forestry Programme has been exceeded for the first time since the start of the Programme;. Since 1st October, 23 afforestation licences were appealed totalling 306ha.


CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio reported a weekly increase of 2,350 cases in K-12 students and 1,114 in staff for the week of Jan. 11 through Jan. 17.

The numbers are slightly down from the week before, when the state reported an increase of 2,679 cases in K-12 students and 1,312 in staff. This weeks increases bring total cases in K-12 students reported since Sept. 7 to 29,724, and total staff to 18,285.

Search your school district in the database at the bottom of this post.

These numbers do not include children and staff not attending on-site instruction, activities, or support services. Cases in children have stayed steady at about 8% of overall total cases. Childrens cases in January are still below the number for December, with just over 12,000 cases. About 46% of cases in children are in ages 14-17.

About 42% of students are currently in buildings five days a week, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced on Thursday. About a third are in hybrid format, and just under a quarter are fully remote. DeWine said he was pleased with the shift as the state moves closer to when school staff and teachers will begin to receive vaccinations, on Feb. 1.

Just before the press conference, a statement signed by teachers unions presidents from Ohios eight urban school districts condemned the decision to link vaccines being made available to school staff with a return to in-person learning by March 1. The statement follows DeWines announcement that 96% of Ohios public school districts have signed a form agreeing to that condition.

The unions urge school reopening to be tied to a number of public health indicators, including testing availability and vaccine availability.

The forms were due Jan. 18. Overall, 95% of Ohio schools have submitted forms, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

See the full list of schools that have submitted forms in the document viewer at the bottom of this post, or here.

State information breaks down the percentage of schools that submitted forms by type of school:

-- Public: 98%

-- Private: 91%

-- Community: 97%

-- Educational service center: 96%

-- Joint vocational: 100%

State database of school coronavirus cases:

Schools that have submitted forms:
Anthony Levandowski, a leading expert in robot-car technology who was convicted of stealing trade secrets from Google, was among dozens pardoned by former President Donald Trump in the final hours of his administration.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup said in August that the star engineer had committed the biggest trade secret crime I have ever seen and sentenced Levandowski to 18 months in prison. Levandowski now will not need to spend a day in prison, as the sentence had been delayed because of the pandemic.

My family and I are grateful for the opportunity to move forward, and thankful to the President and others who supported and advocated on my behalf, Levandowski said in a tweet Wednesday.

Facebook investor and Founders Fund co-founder Peter Thiel, Oculus founder Palmer Luckey and former Disney executive Michael Ovitz were among those supporting the pardon, according to a White House press release. Levandowskis lawyers, James Ramsey, Miles Ehrlich and Amy Craig, also supported it.

The White House statement quoted Judge Alsup calling Levandowski a brilliant, groundbreaking engineer that our country needs.

Mr. Levandowski has paid a significant price for his actions and plans to devote his talents to advance the public good, the White House release said.

Levandowski was at the center of an explosive court case in which Waymo, the self-driving arm of Google parent Alphabet, sued Uber over trade secrets which it said Uber illegally obtained by hiring Levandowski to lead its self-driving unit. The 2018 trial ended in a settlement in which Uber paid Waymo $245 million in stock and agreed not to use any Waymo technology. Uber has since sold off its self-driving unit altogether.

Separate from the Waymo-Uber lawsuit, Levandowski faced his own charges for stealing Googles intellectual property after having worked on its robot-car project for years. He had loaded 14,000 Google files onto his laptop before leaving the company. Levandowski was charged with 33 counts of theft or attempted theft from Google and pled guilty to a single count.

Besides the prison terms, Levandowski was also sentenced to three years of post-prison parole, during which he was to make speeches titled Why I Went to Federal Prison. He also was fined $95,000 and ordered to pay $756,499 in restitution to Waymo.

Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available.

Levandowki filed for bankruptcy in March as he faced a $179 million fine to Alphabet, Googles parent company. His filing said he had $50 million to $100 million in personal assets.

In July he sued Uber for $4.128 billion, saying it reneged on a pledge to indemnify him against claims by Google and Waymo.

Waymo declined to comment. Uber did not respond to a request for comment.

Levandowski founded a self-driving truck company called Pronto.ai in July 2018. The company moved quickly to replace Levandowski as its leader after he was charged with the trade-secret crime.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid

MANITOBAS test positivity rate for COVID-19 infections dropped below 10 per cent on Wednesday  a good direction as the provincial government considers loosening public health restrictions.

MANITOBAS test positivity rate for COVID-19 infections dropped below 10 per cent on Wednesday  a "good direction" as the provincial government considers loosening public health restrictions.

The number has rarely fallen to single digits since the fall, but was announced to be 9.5 per cent provincewide, and 6.7 per cent in Winnipeg, as case counts in the capital dropped dramatically but surged in the north.

On Wednesday, the province also announced six more Manitobans had died of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and 154 new cases had been detected (nearly half of them in northern Manitoba).

"Overall, our numbers are headed in a good direction, and we have started to look at the reopening process," said acting deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal.

Of the new cases, 70 were in Northern Health. Test positivity rates for the region havent been provided by the province because of the small population size, Atwal said in response to reporters questions, but it far exceeds the provincial rate.

There were 48 new cases in Winnipeg, 18 in Interlake-Eastern, 10 in Southern Health, and eight in Prairie Mountain.

The deaths announced Wednesday include: a man in his 50s from the Winnipeg region; a woman and a man in their 60s linked to an outbreak at Southeast Personal Care Home (Winnipeg); a woman in her 60s from the Winnipeg region; a woman in her 90s linked to an outbreak at Holy Family care home (Winnipeg); and a woman in her 90s linked to an outbreak at McCreary/Alonsa Health Centre.

Meanwhile, a final decision will be made later this week on loosening public health restrictions as early as Saturday, Atwal said. On the table: expanded household gatherings, and reopening unregulated health services and businesses such as hair salons  while maintaining social distancing, masking and cleaning protocols.

"Businesses that are not being considered (for reopening) at this time didnt do anything wrong. They are not being punished; we just cant open everything all at once," he said. "We will not be successful if we do that.

"Reopening needs to be a cautious process, slow  and I ask for your patience in this. Our current situation is encouraging, but it remains crucial that we continue to follow the orders."

Since Nov. 12, 2020, Manitobans have been under code red restrictions that banned all household gatherings (except for people who live alone) and non-essential shopping, and forced most retail businesses to close.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay

Shortly after taking the oath of office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order ending the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries  reversing one of Donald Trumps signature acts and signaling a more inclusive vision for America.

Bidens move sent reverberations of optimism, albeit cautious, through Chicagos Muslim community.

Its a day of celebration for Muslims, not only in Chicago but throughout the United States, said Saba Khan, chairperson for civic engagement at the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. Its a joyous time. I feel like we are getting our America back. We stumbled for a time, but we are back, hopefully.

________

Columns are opinion content that reflect the views of the writers.

________

Khan said her organization spent the last four years offering support and guidance to families and individuals who were unable to travel to see relatives, or who feared that if they did, theyd be barred from coming back to the United States to rejoin friends and family, complete academic studies, continue medical treatments theyd begun here, return to the careers theyd built and cultivated.

Just knowing there are not these kind of restrictions, Khan said, that there is now this freedom for people, that they can go back when they want to go back and, of course, follow due process and in compliance with laws and in compliance with rules. Its an amazing feeling, to know you are free to go visit your own family and your own people when you want to.

In January 2017, Trump signed an executive order placing a 120-day pause on the refugee resettlement program, placed an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees and banned nationals from seven Muslim-majority nations  Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen  from entering the U.S. for 90 days. Later that year, he introduced a version of the ban that lasted indefinitely.

In June 2018 , the Supreme Court upheld the ban, rejecting a challenge that it discriminated against Muslims or exceeded Trumps authority by a vote of 5-4.

Story continues

The last four years brought so much agony that did not need to happen, said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Thousands of families were affected by this needlessly. Biden lifting the Muslim ban as one of his first executive orders feels like the right correction of that history.

Rehabs organization established a travelers assistance project to match lawyers to travelers who are Muslim or Muslim-perceived and who worried about being detained without cause.

We saw a lot of agony, Rehab said, a lot of tears.

Naser Nasser, an immigration consultant who lives in Chicago and works out of Palos Hills, has spent the last four years helping clients fill out immigration forms and travel to and from the United States for medical care, academic studies and more. He said COVID-19 has added a layer of complication onto a system already filled with roadblocks.

Weve had families not knowing if theyll ever see each other again with this pandemic, Nasser said. Lifting this ban is a huge deal.

Welcoming more immigrants to travel in and out of the United States more freely is a boon to America too, Nasser said.

The travel ban limited the expertise from people overseas who are valuable assets to the country  doctors, scientists, engineers, Nasser said. Besides reuniting families, getting rid of the ban is a good asset to America.

Rehab said lifting the ban is a vote of confidence in Americas people and the systems it has in place to protect them.

My take has always been, if were going to take on where you were born and what faith you have and your nationality as singular factors for whether youre a security threat, were both selling our security short and hurting families needlessly, Rehab said. Do the work to figure out whos a danger and whos not. The ban was lazy, political red meat to the base. This is a correction.

Khan said the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago is inviting faith-based organizations around Chicago to write notes of support and celebration for Bidens executive order. She and her colleagues will share the notes on CIOGCs website and social media channels.

The purpose is to send a message that we are happy about what happened, Khan said, and we are going to hold the Biden administration to the promise they made on their first day.

The ban, Rehab said, can be eliminated with a pen stroke. The sentiments that fed it and were stoked by it cant.

Im not going to fool myself into thinking you sign a piece of paper and the culture and mentality changes overnight, Rehab said. But Im cautiously optimistic. Its the right step, absolutely.

I wholeheartedly agree. Its a step closer to the promise of an America that embraces, protects and values people of all faiths, all backgrounds, all nationalities.

Join the Heidi Stevens Balancing Act Facebook group, where she continues the conversation around her columns and hosts occasional live chats.

hstevens@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @heidistevens13
Paris, TX (75460)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Staff and patients were locked out of the Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas without warning Monday, leaving medical equipment locked away, and forcing doctors to treat patients in the parking lot without access to their records.

The only notice given was a note on the locked door stating, Please be advised that the door locks to the leased premises have been changed and tenant shall be excluded therefrom due to non-payment of rent. The note further stated that the back rent and fees amounted to almost half a million dollars. Medical workers and other employees at the clinic, which treats more than 500 patients per week, are left not knowing if they will be paid their wages.

Heights Hospital in Houston (Credit: Facebook)

The sudden closure of the Heights Hospital follows 21 hospital closures in 2020 across the United States, many of which were thrust into acute financial crisis by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most of the hospitals on the list compiled by Beckers Hospital Review, many with hundreds of beds each, cited various financial strains including loss in federal funding, some citing severe staff shortages following mass desertions from horrifying conditions in hospitals, a loss in patients volume due to restrictions on elective surgeries, and a loss in reimbursement rate due to a higher rate of poorer patients. All of this has combined to contribute to a dramatic shrinking of profit margins which lead to the various for-profit and non profit hospitals to restructure their business in order to cut their losses.

Security and police were sent to the Heights Hospital this week to prevent staff from entering the hospital. The building, located at 1917 Ashland St. in the Heights, is home to three medical providers, including 1917 Ashland Ventures LLC. The building, according to property records, is owned by 1917 Heights Hospital LLC.

According to a lawsuit filed by Arbitra Capital Partners LLC in Harris County on January 8, the Nevada based company gave a $28 million construction loan to 1917 Heights Hospital LLC which still owes some of the loan money, with the suit seeking over $2 million. The dispute over this money appears to be the reason for the lockout. 1917 Heights Hospital is a subsidiary of AMD Global, a Houston commercial real estate company that bought the hospital in 2017.

The lawsuit further alleges that the owners of the Heights Hospital failed to pay crucial management and maintenance expenses for this property, including invoices for utilities, elevator repair and even property insurance. Another lawsuit from earlier in July 2020 was filed by Integranet Physician Resource, Inc. in Harris County against 1917 Heights Hospital LLC, claiming that the hospital owed it $300,000.

Hospital staff members and patients spoke to ABC13 to express their exasperation at the desperate situation. Dr. Felicity Mack, the director and outpatient physician at the hospital, stated, I tried to contact the owners They aren't responding. The title company is not responding. We are really not getting any answers, but at the end of the day, my primary concern, like I said, is my patients. Speaking to KHOU 11 Dr. Mack stated, In the middle of a pandemic to take away health care access even further than what we already have issues with is just atrocious.

A patient, Linda Fisher, who was suffering from long-term COVID-19 effects, said, Its detrimental to patients and to myself It will impact my functionality. I get regular visits all the time, so I don't know what's going to happen.

Harris County, which is comprised of Houston and its suburbs, has seen over 287,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections and 3,866 deaths as of this writing, the highest death toll out of all of Texas counties.

It's kind of disheartening, patient Aneida Alexander told ABC13. Kind of frightening too ... to have the rug jerked from under us with this. I'm so disappointed in whoever is running the place.

Dr. John Thomas a physician at the hospital noted to KTRK, It is very obvious that somebody is thinking only about money and not about community and lives.

Only on Tuesday were some medical workers allowed back into the hospital briefly after having waited for hours outside, with a medical worker telling KHOU 11 that they were limited to two people at a time to retrieve items from the building.

The fiasco at the Heights Hospitalresulting from the private ownership of hospitals and a petty squabble over profit in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemicillustrates the objective necessity for the working class to nationalize the medical system and put it under the control of the working class for the fulfillment of human need rather than private profit.
Lucknow, Jan 21 : BJP president J.P. Nadda was given a warm welcome at Lucknow airport when he arrived here on a two-day visit.

Nadda's visit was re-scheduled and he arrived about six hours late on Thursday evening.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy chief ministers, Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma, along with over a dozen ministers greeted the party president at the airport.

Hundreds of party workers lined up along the route to accord a welcome to their party president.

The BJP president drove straight to the party headquarters where he will interact with ministers and discuss the road map for the upcoming panchayat and then the 2022 assembly elections.

Later in the night, he will hold a meeting with the party's core committee.

Despite a huge media presence at the airport, the BJP president did not speak to the media though he stopped his convoy to acknowledge the greetings of party workers.

The BJP national president will, on Friday, address a conference of social medial volunteers and intellectuals and also attend a meeting of Chinhat rural area and booth and district presidents.

He will address meetings of office bearers from Kanpur and Avadh regions.

The meetings will focus on the upcoming panchayat elections and preparations for the 2022 UP assembly elections.

The BJP chief is expected to give directives to party workers to publicise the welfare projects of the Modi and Yogi government and, more importantly, counter the misinformation campaign of the opposition, especially regarding the farm laws.
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PHOENIX  The 20-year-old son of Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb has been arrested after toxicology tests showed he was impaired at the time of a 2020 crash in which a bicyclist was severely injured, authorities said.

Cooper Lamb was booked into a Maricopa County jail late Wednesday on suspicion of aggravated assault and possession of dangerous drugs, said Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez, a Maricopa County Sheriffs Office spokesman.

Mark Lamb had asked the Maricopa County Sheriffs Office to take over the investigation into the July 8 crash in the San Tan Valley area.

Cooper Lamb is accused of smashing into a bicyclist after veering off the road.

Asked about the allegations, John Schill, an attorney for Cooper Lamb, said he was innocent until proven guilty.

The sheriff did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Enterprise Ireland is hosting a series of webinar workshops aimed at helping Irish businesses to grow through export. The Export Compass Webinar Series takes place between 28 January and 25 March.

Attendance is complimentary for all micro and SME companies that are taking their first steps on their export journey.

The series will feature five webinars, each of which will guide businesses in developing their export strategy and plans. This includes helping companies to understand overseas business cultures, and how to build digital capabilities for selling and developing customer, distributor and/or partner relationships.

The webinars will feature interviews with companies that have already successfully exported. Attendees will also hear from market experts from Enterprise Irelands overseas offices.

Topics covered during each of the five webinars are as follows:

28th January: What is the basis of your export plan? Where in the world might you export to?

11th February: Who is your ideal customer? Culture and doing business in other countries.

25th February: How to prepare for export. Sales and marketing to win export customers in a digital world.

11th March: How to finance your export plan. Finance management through funding and pricing.

25th March: Bringing it all together, followed by a Q&A session.

All Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise Office clients are welcome to attend the webinars, but registration is also open to any company across sectors, particularly those new to navigating the process of becoming an exporter.

Read also: Businesses can find more information and register for the webinar series HERE

Commenting on the launch of the webinar series, Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Robert Troy TD said: Maximising our ability to promote and export Irish goods and services successfully is key to future-proofing the Irish economy for stable and sustainable growth in the future. I welcome Enterprise Irelands Export Compass Webinar Series, which particularly targets companies that are developing their export journey.

SMEs are the backbone of the Irish economy. For both myself, as Minister for Trade Promotion, and the wider Government, this sector is a priority as we work to support business growth and job creation in every region across Ireland. I hope that participating companies will find the webinars of significant value. During these challenging times, I would also urge SMEs in particular to ensure that they are availing of other forums like this and the supports that are available through agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices.

Mark Christal, Manager Regions and Entrepreneurship at Enterprise Ireland, said: The Export Compass Webinar Series is open to all start-ups and pre-exporting companies across industries. The series will cover in detail a range of topics essential for developing an export strategy, including business planning, sales and marketing, operations, finance, innovation and people. At Enterprise Ireland, our focus is on helping businesses to scale and expand their reach into global markets.

"A robust export strategy is key to achieving this, so its particularly important for growing companies to ensure that they have the right plan and processes in place from the start. For businesses with ambition to break into new markets, these are the building blocks that will allow them to compete and grow with confidence into the future, said Mr Christal.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A streamlined process for awarding green cards to international STEM doctoral students graduating from U.S. universities could benefit American innovation and competitiveness, including leveling the field for startups eager to attract such highly skilled workers, according to a new study by researchers from Cornell University and the University of California, San Diego.

The new Biden administration backs policy reform aimed at achieving that end, which was part of bipartisan legislation proposed more than a decade ago. But progress has been stalled by broader concerns about visasparticularly the temporary H-1B, commonly used to hire entry-level guest IT workersthat critics say displace Americans with lower-paid foreign labor and should be scaled back.

The new study presents evidence that the same concerns shouldn't apply to foreign-born STEM doctorates from U.S. universities, said Michael Roach, assistant professor in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business.

"Given that these doctorates often possess highly specialized skills and training at the leading edge of research in areas like vaccines, artificial intelligence, robotics and space," Roach said, "blanket visa restrictions could significantly impact U.S. firms' ability to hire and retain the best and brightest scientists."

Roach is the co-author with John Skrentny, professor of sociology at UCSD, of "Rethinking Immigration Polices for STEM Doctorates," to be published Jan. 22 in the journal Science.

The scholars surveyed a cohort of nearly 1,600 American and foreign-born STEM doctorates from U.S. research universities about their first industry research and development jobs, including their qualifications, starting salaries, hours worked and visa paths, where applicable.

The researchers found a majority of the international doctorates followed a complex and inefficient path toward permanent residency that involved multiple steps and visas. After their student visa, two-thirds were sponsored in their first job for an H-1B guest worker visa, which are offered annually by lottery, valid for three years and renewable for three more.

The percentages were highest among STEM doctorates from India and China78% and 67%, respectivelywho because of per-country quotas face waits for green cards of as long as five to 10 years.

Employers didn't use the temporary H-1B visas as a means to give employees extended trial periods, Roach and Skrentny found. Rather, they appeared to be used to buy time between graduationand working on their student visa through the Optional Practical Training (OPT) programand a green card, with employers transitioning within two or three years, on average, to sponsorships for permanent residency.

According to the researchers, doctorates pass through the H-1B on their way to a green card not because it is legally required, but rather because delays and uncertainties in the U.S. visa system necessitate this step as a bridge to working in the U.S. permanently.

Those delays and uncertainties have given Big Tech firms such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft a recruiting advantage over startups, for whom sponsoring foreign-born STEM doctorates may be too costly or burdensome. In addition, the study noted, leading U.S. firms have opened R&D centers in countries with immigration policies designed to attract highly skilled workers, such as Canada.

"Rather than rolling out a red carpet for these doctorates, the visa system necessitates a wait at a crowded front door, and multiple steps, with no guarantee they can get in," said Skrentny. "These individuals have rare and valuable skills, and they can get jobs in almost any country."

In previous research, Roach and Skrentny found that international STEM doctorates from U.S. universities were more interested than their American counterparts in working for startups, but less than half as likely to accept startup job offers, largely due to visa concerns.

A relatively simple solution, the researchers saidas proposed in the Stopping Trained in American Ph.D.s from Leaving the Economy (STAPLE) Act in 2009, and again now by the Biden administrationwould be to give foreign-born STEM doctorates green cards upon graduation through existing employment-based visa categories while also exempting them from national caps.

Roach and Skrentny found a highly competitive market for STEM doctorates, who, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, had a pre-COVID 19 unemployment rate of roughly 1% and a median annual salary of $100,000. The researchers found in their own survey data that American and foreign-born doctorates reported no significant differences in compensation or hours worked early in their industry R&D careers, suggesting that U.S. workers were not being negatively impacted and foreign workers weren't being exploitedtwo significant concerns relating to H-1B visas.

Such detailed data about the visa paths of U.S. university STEM doctorates hasn't previously been available to inform policymakers, the researchers said. They said the data suggests immigration policy should treat STEM doctorates from U.S. universities differently, given their relatively small numbersroughly 3,000 to 5,000 per yearbut disproportionate contributions to innovation.

"We provide new evidence that, we think, dispels many of the concerns that have hindered past efforts at visa reforms for high-skilled workers," Roach said. "We are optimistic that this study might provide much needed evidence in support of visa changes.

Explore further Visa concerns deter foreign-born PhDs from working in startups

More information: M. Roach at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY el al., "Rethinking immigration policies for STEM doctorates," Science (2020). Journal information: Science M. Roach at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY el al., "Rethinking immigration policies for STEM doctorates,"(2020). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.abe7151
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The journey that has transported Joe Biden from his native Scranton to the presidency of the United States has taken 78 years.

He took the oath of office Wednesday amid a turbulent era, and now there is no time to waste. Inauguration Day dawned on a nation facing multiple interlocking crises  of nature, public health, economics, governance, social justice and the national spirit  all amid the rubble of a failed administration that for four years defied objective reality, constitutional standards and civic norms.

As demonstrated by the appalling Jan. 6 attack on the government and democracy it-self at the U.S. Capitol, restoration of truth and accountability, and the competence of the federal government, must begin with Bi-den as the 46th president of the United States.

Part of that turnaround will be in the form of policy.

Biden got busy following his inauguration. He was sending to Congress a comprehensive immigration reform bill that, rather than demonizing immigrants, recognizes them as a positive economic force and an engine of American global leadership. It would create an eight-year path to citizenship including background checks, tax payments and interim green cards.

Finally, it would provide a citizenship path for Dreamers, those who were brought to the United States as young children and know no other home.

The new president also was sending Congress a bill for a further $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package that includes a long-overdue national strategy for defeating the virus.

Biden was to issue executive orders quickly to counteract some of his predecessors policies. Foremost is renewing U.S. involvement in the Paris accords to accelerate the global effort against destructive climate change. He also will instruct relevant agencies to reunite immigrant families who had been separated at the border. And amid the ongoing pandemic, he will extend moratoriums on evictions and student loan payments, harness federal resources to accelerate vaccine distribution and mandate mask-wearing on federal property and in interstate travel on airlines, trains and transit systems.

The Democrat has a 10-vote majority in the House and an even narrower margin in the Senate, where Vice President Kamala Harris has the constitutional authority to break ties in the chamber, in which each caucus has 50 members. So nothing will be automatic.

But aggressive effort on multiple fronts is the right approach.

Biden should take a cue from Martin Luther King Jr., who answered criticism in 1967 that his stance against the Vietnam War distracted from his principal mission of advancing civil rights: We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today, he said in a speech at Riverside Church in New York City. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late.

Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood  it ebbs.

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Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) on Wednesday was critical of President Joe Biden's actions on the Paris Climate Accords and the Keystone Pipeline.

He said, President Bidens decision to rejoin the failed Paris Climate Accords props up our adversaries at the expense of American workers. This agreement will cost thousands of jobs and place our economy on its heels at a time when our focus should be on policies that grow jobs.

It does nothing to actually enforce carbon emission reductions, nor does it hold accountable the worlds biggest polluter  China.

"Since withdrawing from the agreement, the United States has achieved a significant decline in American carbon emissions, and we continue to have some of the cleanest air and water in the world. Our global adversaries benefit when the United States burdens itself with policies that our competitors ignore. Special interests in Washington continue to be obsessed with these counterproductive accords, but they are not the answer.

Senator Hagerty also said, Todays order halting construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline undercuts hard-won American energy independence and will significantly harm our national security. Our adversaries in China, Iran, and Russia must be thrilled that the United States is damaging its own prosperity and pushing itself back to a reliance on foreign sources of energy.

"The decision to halt this project  one that has been studied more than any other  will eliminate thousands of American jobs and result in rising energy costs, hurting struggling American families most. Our economic security and our national security are at stake with this decision. I strongly encourage the Biden Administration to reconsider.

Senator Hagerty said also, "The legislative proposal to grant amnesty and a path to citizenship to those who have come here illegally, and the executive action today to halt construction of the border wall pose significant security risks, encourage uncontrolled immigration, and undermine opportunities for American workers.

"These proposals inspire lawlessness, enable the flow of illegal drugs and human trafficking, and threaten Tennessee communities already hurting due to the ongoing pandemic. Our priorities must be to continue to secure our border, strengthen our legal immigration system, and protect jobs for hardworking Americans.
READING, Pa. - As the Biden administration begins to take shape, members of Berks County's U.S. congressional delegation weighed in Wednesday on what it will take for the administration to reach its long-term and more complex goals.

"There is so much on this president's plate, but he's not alone," said U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean. "He does have Congress. He has an able body of folks he's bringing into the administration."

Dean, a Democrat who serves parts of Berks and Montgomery counties, said the situation President Biden is inheriting is a dire one.

"A pandemic, economic collapse with millions unemployed, and civil unrest," Dean exclaimed.

She said, however, she also feels a sense of optimism.

"We do have a new majority leader in the Senate," she said. "We have a new administration that is steeped in public service."

22:21 WATCH: President Joe Biden delivers inaugural address President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States.

Biden acknowledged the challenges ahead in his inaugural address.

"I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real," he said.

The president's message resonates with U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who represents Reading, southeastern Berks County, and all of Chester County. It's one of the reasons she endorsed his campaign early on.

"I felt like he had that message of civility, that message of decency and a message of unity," Houlahan said. "We are broken. We are damaged, but we're also American, and I know we have the resilience and strength with the ability to come out of this pandemic and this dark winter."

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, a Republican who represents Pennsylvania's 9th District, which includes all of Carbon, Columbia, Schuylkill and Lebanon counties, as well as parts of Berks, Luzerne, Montour, and Northumberland counties, released a statement leading up to the inauguration that reads, in part:

"I intend to work with him on policies that will benefit the long-term interests of our people, but building back better should not begin with starting from scratch. As he takes office, I hope his administration recognizes some of the policy achievements of the last four years that have been to the benefit of all Americans."

The administration is calling on Congress to consider the president's proposed $1.9 trillion COVID recovery package, which he says will help distribute vaccines and shore up the economy.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Heavy downpours are possible. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Thunder possible. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
(CNN) - A fire broke out at facility for the Serum Institute of India (SII), the worlds biggest vaccine maker, in the city of Pune on Thursday.

Murlidhar Mohol, mayor of the western Indian city, told reporters that five bodies, believed to be those of construction workers, were retrieved from the six-floor building, while four people were rescued.

The blaze, which is now under control, will not impact production of the Covid vaccine, the company says.

SII is in partnership with Oxford University and AstraZeneca to produce the Covishield vaccine.

I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia," the companys CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted.

In a separate post, Poonawalla tweeted, We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed.

The cause of the fire is yet to be determined though, according to Mohol, preliminary investigations suggest that during the buildings construction, some welding work could have led to the fire.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Blaze at facility of world's biggest vaccine maker kills 5 people"
New Delhi, Jan 22 : A woman gave a new lease of life to critically ill patients in Chennai, Mumbai and two other locations by donating her organs after her death on Thursday.

The 44-year-old resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh suffered brain aneurysm and was declared dead by the doctors of Fortis Hospital in Noida where she was undergoing treatment.

The doctors requested her family to donate the organs to save the lives of patients who were in dire need of organ transplant. After receiving consent from the family, the hospital retrieved her heart, liver and pair of kidneys and lungs and sent to the hospitals located in Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi, where the patients were admitted.

National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) arranged the recipients of the organs in a short time after the hospital authorities informed the organisation about the cadaver donor.

The hospital told IANS while the liver and one kidney were donated to patients in Fortis Hospital, Noida, the live heart was transferred to MGM Healthcare in Chennai and the lungs to HN Reliance Hospital in Mumbai.

Besides, one kidney was donated to a patient in Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh.

Two separate green corridors were created from the hospital to Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) to transport the live heart and lungs to Mumbai and Chennai, respectively.

The first green corridor with a distance of 48 km carried the live heart to the IGIA.

The distance was covered in a mere 36 minutes. Another corridor to transport the lungs was created with a distance of 49 km. The distance was covered in 35 minutes.

The hospital said that the whole process went smoothly with efficient coordination by NOTTO and traffic police of Noida and Delhi. It also praised the family for agreeing for the noble cause which saved life of five people.

"We express our heartfelt gratitude to the donor family for this noble cause. The role played by the Noida and Delhi traffic Police to ensure smooth travel of the retrieved organs to their destinations is commendable. We would also like to thank NOTTO for their support during the whole process," said Hardeep Singh, Zonal Director, Fortis Noida.

Dr Shanu Sharma, Medical Superintendent, Fortis Noida, said the hospital would remain indebted to the family of the donor who in the hour of grief and loss, decided to save the lives of those in need.

"A cadaveric donation is a critical surgery where timing is key. It is commendable that a live heart, lungs and kidney were retrieved and transported within such a short span of time. We remain indebted to the family of the donor who in this hour of grief and loss decided to save the lives of those in need," he added.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A steady, heavy rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.

Public School Academies (PSA's or charter schools) were enacted by the Michigan Legislature in 1993. As part of sweeping school funding reform, charter schools were allowed to form to give choice to parents within the public school system. Under Michigan's charter school law, enacted as Part 6A of the Revised School Code, a charter could be issued to establish new charter schools by the following existing educational bodies: school district boards, intermediate school district boards, community college boards, and state public university boards. These entities are designated authorizing bodies (authorizers).

In 1996, the Legislature imposed a limit, or cap, on the total charters that could be issued by the governing boards of state public universities. According to that legislation, the combined total number of schools that could be chartered by public university boards could not exceed 85 through 1996; 100 through 1997; 125 through 1998; and 150 thereafter. The authorizing bodies in the State of Michigan were capped at this level until 2011.

In December 2011, the Michigan Legislature passed PA 277 which expanded the cap to 300 in December 2012, and 500 through December 2014. After 2014 the cap was completely lifted so that there is no restriction on the combined total number of contracts that may be issued by all state public universities.
A cross is pictured at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kaya in the city of Kaya (SESAME PICTURES)

Father Rodrigue Sanon, a Catholic priest of Banfora, a city in southwestern Burkina Faso, has been missing since Tuesday.

Paul Samasumo  Vatican City

As days pass, there are fears that Father Rodrigue Sanon may have been spirited away into the Sahel by one of the various armed gangs operating in region. The area has been plagued by a five-year-old jihadist offensive.

Attacks and abductions in the Sahel region

Father Rodrigue Sanon, the parish priest of Notre Dame de Soubaganyedougou, was reported missing on 19 January, Bishop Lucas Kalfa Sanou of the Diocese of Banfora said in a statement Wednesday. According to an AFP report in French, Fr Rodrigue left Soubaganyedougou for a meeting in Banfora but never arrived, the Bishop said.

He added, I invite all the faithful to pray so that Father Rodrigue may be found safe and sound as soon as possible. Bishop Sanou has also appealed to anyone with information about the missing priest to come forward. AFP further says local security authorities were immediately informed and were searching for Fr Rodrigue.

Some residents of Banfora spotted the missing parish priests car parked by the main road. It then occurred to them that the priest had been abducted.

Burkina Faso has witnessed a spate of mostly Jihadist related kidnappings and deadly attacks on villages and places of worship. The armed violence has resulted in the deaths of 1100 persons while more than one million people are now internally displaced since the crisis began.

Years of peaceful co-existence

The religiously targeted violence has shaken ages-old peaceful co-existence in the country. Fr. Joel Yougbare, parish priest of Djibo in the Diocese of Dori, northeastern Burkina Faso, has been missing since March 2019.

For years members of the various Christian churches, traditional religions and Muslims have lived in relative harmony. The armed attacks are undoubtedly meant to destabilise and create conflict among the people of the different faiths. There are also criminal groups kidnapping on behalf of terrorist gangs in return for money.

On 12 May 2019 at about 9 a.m., Fr. Simeon Yampa, 34 years old, was celebrating Mass at a Catholic Church in Dablo when about 30 assailants arrived on motorcycles. They started firing at the congregation gathered for the Eucharist and continued shooting even as parishioners fled. Six persons, including the priest, were killed. The attackers then set fire to the church, several nearby shops, a cafe and ransacked the local health centre.

Following the attacks on the community of Dablo, Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Koupela, Seraphin Francois Rouamba called for forgiveness, reconciliation and continued peaceful co-existence even in the face of such an outrage.

The Archbishop was quoted by local media saying, We have been working together for years and years. Muslims, Protestants, Catholics, those of traditional religions, we have always all walked hand in hand. Therefore, we must not allow such tragic acts to separate us, Archbishop Rouamba said at the time.

It is not only Catholics who are on the receiving end in Burkina Faso. Protestants and Muslims have also been targeted and killed.

August 2020: The killing of the Grand Imam of Djibo

Last year, in August, Souaibou Cisse, the great imam of Djibo town and president of the Muslim community of the Soum province in the Sahel region was found dead three days after being abducted from a public bus which was intercepted by unidentified armed men.

Considered a moderate religious leader, the 73-year-old Cisse was returning from the capital Ouagadougou, along the Namsiguia-Djibo axis. He was a well known and loved figure. His work in trying to bring together Christians and Muslims in the country endeared him to the people. There had been repeated threats against his life, but he had refused to leave the city.
A police chief has today listed off some of the worst lockdown-breaching parties thrown by Covidiots, as he promised a crackdown on reckless ravers with increased fines of up to 800.

In one of the worst breaches, described as 'egregious' by Home Secretary Priti Patel, three officers were injured attempting to break-up a 40-strong group of revellers at a house party in Brick Lane, London.

At another equally shocking lockdown breaching bash, police discovered a rave of 150 people in Hertfordshire earlier this month.

And in Bedfordshire officers were left stunned when they found a marquee, speakers and a dance floor prepared ahead of a New Year's Eve party.

But their astonishment turned to fury when, despite being told to cancel the event, organisers went ahead and threw it anyway.

When officers returned later that evening they found more than 40 people inside the venue.

The shocking details emerged during a Downing Street press conference this evening, during a talk by Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council.

Police officers wearing face coverings pictured approaching the revellers as they disband the illegal New Year's Eve party in Bedfordshire

In another equally shocking lockdown breach, police broke-up a party of 150 people in Hertfordshire. They seized DJ equipment at the scene (pictured)

It was also revealed how officers were assaulted as they attempted to bust a gathering of 40 people in Brick Lane, London. Pictured: The Met Police released this image after breaking up a a party in Brick Lane on Friday

Home Secretary Priti Patel announced those who go to illicit events will now face fines of 800, as she lashed out at people aiding the spread of Covid

Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said officers had had to deal with several dangerous parties this week, including one with 150 people in Hertfordshire and another with 40 people in Brick Lane in London's East End

Mr Hewitt described such events were 'dangerous, irresponsible, and totally unacceptable'.

Home Secretary Priti Patel, standing beside Mr Hewitt at the conference, announced higher 800 penalty for people going to gatherings of more than 15 people.

Fines will double for each repeat offence, up to a maximum of 6,400. Organisers of large parties already face penalties of up to 10,000.

Ms Patel told the press conference: 'These fines will apply to those who attend illegal gatherings of more than 15 people in homes.

'The science is clear: such irresponsible behaviour poses a significant threat to public health.

'Not only to those in attendance but to our wonderful police officers who attend these events to shut them down.'

Following the announcement, Mr Hewitt reeled off some of the worst offences officers had encountered in the last month.

He spoke about the Leighton Buzzard party, which was captured on bodycam.

The footage, released by police, shows officers storming in and breaking up the New Year's Eve gathering.

In the video, a police officer can be heard shouting 'get out of the marquee now' while a female responds: 'I live here.'

Body cam footage shows police officers storming in and breaking up the illegal party in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, on New Year's Eve

Parties, car meets and snowball fights as people ignore the rules Southwark house party: Earlier this month Met officers broke up a party at an industrial unit in Southwark, south London, where they found at least 20 revellers on top of the building. Local residents cheered when police arrived. Two people were arrested, one on suspicion of carrying an offensive weapon, the other for suspected drug dealing. Five people were handed fines for breaching Covid restrictions Hertfordshire party: An illegal house party attended by up to 100 people in South Mimms, Hertfordshire, was also broken up by police. Police seized alcohol and music equipment from the organiser. One officer was hurt while trying to disperse the crowd and one person was arrested. At least 12 people were handed fines Brent car meet: And over the last week, the Met responded to a bar which was still open and serving customers. In Brent, 14 people attended a car meet, intentionally breaking the rules and potentially spreading the virus. In both of these cases, fixed penalty notices were issued by officers Leeds snowball fight: Around 200 youngsters took part in a snowball fight in Hyde Park, Leeds, on Thursday Oxfordshire leisure drive: Three friends from Oxfordshire who drove 21 miles to visit Cotswolds have been fined 200 each Devon surfing: Devon police have slammed a group who travelled from London to Woolacombe on Thursday in a camper van to go surfing Nottinghamshire lock-in: Pub owners, staff and four customers have been fined after the venue was found serving alcohol inside Advertisement

Bedfordshire Police handed the organiser a 10,000 fine. Chief Superintendent John Murphy had previously labelled the event a 'huge breach' which showed 'a total lack of respect'.

Speaking about the event in the Downing Street Press Conference today, Mr Hewitt said: 'Officers were called to a site that had been set up for a large party, where they had a dance floor and speakers.

'As part of our "Engage, Explain and Encourage" approach, the organiser of the event was given advice and told that the event was not to take place.

'But when officers checked later in the day, 50 people were there. Again, a 10,000 fine was issued.'

Mr Hewitt also spoke about a 40-strong party in Brick Lane, London, where revellers turned on police as they attempted to break-up the event.

Officers were called to the property after neighbours reported hearing loud music.

Police found as many as 40 people cramped inside the property, where a struggle broke out with officers.

Mr Hewitt told the Downing Street press conference this evening that two officers were injured, while a third needed hospital treatment - for a broken finger.

He said drugs were found at the property and that arrests were made and fines issued.

In a third lockdown breach listed at the press conference, Mr Hewitt said police broke-up a 150-strong party in Hertfordshire.

The event took place in the South Mimms area on Wednesday, January 13.

Officers discovered a group of around 150 people, along with music equipment such as amplifiers and a DJ set - all of which were seized.

Mr Hewitt said: 'Neighbours contacted us after seeing an unusual number of cars outside. Multiple fines were given in that example, equipment was seized and sadly, again, an officer was injured.'

Despite strict lockdown laws banning such large gatherings, they have continued to take place.

A woman who organised an event in Sewardstonebury involving a fire dancer and an entertainer was fined 10,000.

Elsewhere in the county officers broke up an illegal rave at an abandoned church in East Horndon and another at a warehouse in Brentwood.

As part of the Home Secretary's new crackdown, adverts have been produced with an image of partygoers covered in yellow tape which warns of the 800 penalty

Police raided several parties in Manchester over the weekend.

Fines were handed out on Saturday night to partygoers at an address in Hulme, and at a property in Greengate, Salford, where police responded to reports of 30 people attending.

Social media photos showed people at the Greengate party drinking champagne and dancing close together.

More photos from a party in Cheetham Hill showed around 20 officers raided a party of more than 50 revellers.

It comes after police launched a New Year's Eve crackdown on party-goers.

The Met Police said officers were called to 58 unlicensed events on New Year's Eve and issued 217 people with fixed penalty fines.

Five people could receive 10,000 fines for organising large gatherings across London, the force said.

Fines were handed out on Saturday night to partygoers at a property in Greengate, Salford, where police responded to reports of 30 people attending

Police raided a house party of 50 at an address in Manchester last night, though it is unclear if anyone was arrested

Social media photos showed people at the Greengate party drinking champagne and dancing close together

Police also fined 49 petrolheads earlier this month for breaking Covid lockdown after they were caught speeding round a roundabout at an illegal Romford car meet.

Meanwhile Greater Manchester Police say they issued 105 fines to revellers over the weekend, compared to 66 in Brighton and Hove.

Mr Hewitt today said large gatherings such as house parties are 'dangerous, irresponsible, and totally unacceptable'.

'I hope that the likelihood of an increased fine acts as a disincentive for those people who are thinking of attending or organising such events,' he said.

Mr Hewitt added: 'When we see people that are putting themselves and others in danger, we will not waste time trying to reason with them. They are demonstrating no regard for the safety of others, or even for themselves.'

At the same conference, NHS England chief for London Dr Vin Diwakar compared breaking the rules to turning on a light in the middle of a blackout during the Blitz.

Homes were forced to go dark during the Nazi bombing campaign in 1940 and 1941 to avoid lights accidentally helping guide bombers to their targets.

'It doesn't just put you at risk in your house, it puts your whole street and the whole of your community at risk,' Dr Diwakar said.
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja directed the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and related government agencies to plug all revenue leakages by ensuring strict compliance of tax payments by foreign companies operating in Nigeria, urging the deployment of more digital platforms and seamless connections.

Speaking, virtually, at the First National Tax Dialogue held at the Conference Hall of the State House, the president ordered all government agencies to automate operations and ensure more synergy in advancing the interest of the nation in revenue generation.

It is not enough that our citizens and local businesses pay their fair share of taxes. Equally, foreign businesses must also not be allowed to continue to exploit our markets and economy without paying appropriate taxes. Accordingly, the FIRS has my mandate to speedily put all measures in place to fully implement programmes to stamp out Base Erosion and Profit Shifting in all their ramifications and generally automate its tax processes.

In line with this, I have directed all government agencies and business enterprises to grant FIRS access to their systems for seamless connection. FIRS must ensure that its deployment of technology for automation is done in line with international best practices. In particular, FIRS can borrow a leaf from other countries which have successfully automated their tax processes.

The president said Nigeria will continue to work with the Inclusive Framework (on equal footing) to develop internationally acceptable rules for taxation of the digital economy, while hoping that the Inclusive Framework would have evolved into an acceptable multilateral solution that will comprehensively address the tax challenges of the digitalised economy by the middle of 2021.

President Buhari assured citizens that the government will continue to pursue its mandate of improving lives through investments in infrastructural projects like railways, roads, electricity, healthcare and education, in spite of dwindling revenues and the challenge of coronavirus.

Our government has continued to pursue all those projects despite massive decline in government revenues occasioned by a combination of factors among which is the COVID-19 pandemic.

The devastating effect of COVID-19 on the health and economy of the world is evident across every strata of our society. It is obvious to every citizen of this country that our economy is not immune from the global economic downturn. As such, we have had to confront the conflicting situations of reflating the economy and at the same time raising revenue to meet our budgetary needs. It is within this context that the government undertook an expansive budgetary projection of over N13 trillion for 2021.

The president said the government had inevitably resorted to deficit budgeting as a result of declining revenues for some years, resulting to increase in Nigerias debt profile.

As we might expect, this has led to increase in Nigerias debt profile which stood at about N32 trillion in September 2020. This funding gap created by the dwindling government revenue, therefore, underscores the importance of the national tax dialogue we are holding today.

No nation has ever made progress without having to pay for it or make the necessary sacrifice. I, therefore, call on all Nigerians to be alive to their tax obligations. This government is strategically restructuring the tax revenue mix in favour of indirect taxes in accordance with our national tax policy document. To this end, FIRS is mandated to do all that is required in order to efficiently collect tax revenue due from transactions carried out using local and foreign online platforms. The government has made relevant statutory amendment to tax laws in the Finance Act 2020.

While urging all citizens to play more active roles in nation building by paying their taxes, the president said the administration is, however, not seeking to increase the tax burden upon the citizens but to plug the existing tax loopholes or leakages and to ensure even and equitable application of the tax laws.

According to him, this was clearly demonstrated by the provisions in the Finance Act 2019 whereby government exempted small companies from tax and reduced the income tax rate for medium companies from 30% to 20%. In the Finance Act 2020 which I signed into law at the tail end of 2020, we went further to cushion the burden of tax on the low-wage workers by exempting minimum wage from personal income tax.

President Buhari said necessary amendments had been made to the FIRS Establishment Act in the Finance Act 2020 in order to provide the legislative framework for the adoption of technology in tax administration.

Every Nigerian must see tax payment in its proper context, which is, as a solemn and patriotic obligation that is necessary for building a better society.

In his keynote presentation, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, projected a rebound of the Nigerian economy from recession, with a 1.5 per cent growth rate in 2021, and 2 per cent growth in 2022.

Mr Adesina said taxes should be employed as instruments for promoting development by encouraging private sector companies to take up responsibilities in infrastructure, and attracting Foreign Direct Investments, admonishing that prolonged tax holidays could be counterproductive.

He said youth should be incentivised to grow businesses with appropriate tax regimes, adding that Africa loses about 60 billion U.S. dollars annually from taxes.

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The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, said the government will improve its template for tax collection, especially in the face of dwindling revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic, describing 2021 as a year of recovery for the economy.

The minister noted that emphasis on tax collection will be shifted from income to spending and all multinational corporations in the country will be required to fully comply with new directives.

The FIRS Chairman, Muhammad Mamman Nami, called for a new, comprehensive tax payment culture.
The Government of India on Wednesday said China's attempt to construct a hydropower station on the Brahmaputra river will act as an encroachment on the entitled rights of lower riparian states like India and Bangladesh and would adversely affect the availability of water in its basin during the lean season.

The issue was discussed during a review meeting of the Central Water Commission (CWC), led by Rattan Lal Kataria, Minister of State in the Jal Shakti Ministry.

"Regarding the alleged plan of China to set up a super hydropower station at the Brahmaputra at Mekong, Tibet, the officials apprised that any attempt to divert the water of Brahmaputra river shall act as an encroachment on the entitled rights of lower riparian states like India, Bangladesh and adversely affect the availability of water in the Brahmaputra basin during the lean season," a statement by the ministry said. "However, there are official platforms - like the Expert Level Mechanism set up between India and China in the year 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers," the statement added.

In November, Yan Zhiyong, chairman of the Power Construction Corp of China, said the country will "implement hydropower exploitation in the downstream of the Yarlung Zangbo River" (the Tibetan name for Brahmaputra) and the project could serve to maintain water resources and domestic security.

READ | China Reveals Plan To Build The World's Largest Hydropower Project On Brahmaputra River

India plans to build a reservoir in Arunachal

To offset the impact of the project, India too plans to build a multipurpose 10,000 MW reservoir in Arunachal Pradesh. The proposed 9.2 BCM "Upper Siang" project on the Siang river in Arunachal will take the excess load of water discharge and store it, to be used in case of a deficit.

Owing to the abundant rainfall in the northeast region, 90% of the Brahmaputra water comes through its tributaries in India, during the monsoon. During winters, 80% of the Siang river gets its water from the upper stretches, as glaciers become the main source.

READ | China Gives Assurance About Its Planned Brahmaputra Dam; India Mulling Offset In Arunachal

During the discussion on flood forecasting and management, the officials also talked about the issue pertaining to flooding caused by the Brahmaputra river.

"The CWC officials apprised about the need for setting up a project at Upper Siang/Brahmaputra which shall be highly beneficial for the state of Assam," the statement added.

The mighty Brahmaputra, one of the longest rivers in the world, flows through China, India, and Bangladesh and has several tributaries and sub-tributaries.

Yarlung Zangbo, which originates in Tibet, takes the name Siang when it enters India through Arunachal Pradesh. It is further joined by several tributaries to flow into the Brahmaputra. As a lower riparian state with established rights to the waters of the trans-border rivers, the Indian government has consistently conveyed its concerns to the Chinese authorities and has urged them to ensure that the interests of downstream states are not affected by any activities in upstream areas.

READ | With Aim To Study Brahmaputra, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Flags Off Rafting Expedition

READ | Owaisi Flags China's Construction Of A Village In Arunachal, Questions PM Modi's Silence
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said it was impossible to end the war in Nagorno Karabakh with lesser territorial losses.

"It is a myth that it was possible to end this war with less territorial losses," he said yesterday in response to deputies' questions during a question-and-answer session with government officials in parliament.

Opposition Prosperous Armenia Party MP Naira Zohrabyan asked the PM if Russian President Vladimir Putin's words about the possibility of "ending the war on more favorable (for the Armenian side) conditions while maintaining control over Shusha." Pashinyan replied that he touched on these issues in detail in his interviews earlier.

During the negotiations not a single option was discussed, according to which the refugees from Azerbaijan would not return to Shusha, he said.

The number of Azerbaijanis living in Shusha was over 90% before the conflict, the prime minister recalled. "Are you saying that Shushi with its more than 90% Azerbaijani population is Armenian?" Pashinyan concluded.
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A southern Manitoba resident who skipped town during a mandatory quarantine period after returning to Canada from abroad faces a stiff penalty.

A southern Manitoba resident who skipped town during a mandatory quarantine period after returning to Canada from abroad faces a stiff penalty.

A resident of Plum Coulee has been charged $1,750 under the federal Quarantine Act.

Altona Police Chief Perry Batchelor said officers went to the residents home for a routine checkup, as directed by the RCMP and Canadian Border Services Agency.

"Our officers attended the address during the quarantine period and there was no answer at the door," said Batchelor.

"We did conduct a very small investigation and found out that the person who was supposed to be in quarantine had actually left the province."

Batchelor said the travellers family member revealed that information.

When officers followed up on Jan. 5, the Plum Coulee resident had returned and was issued the fine for failing to comply with the conditions of an order governing re-entry into Canada under the Quarantine Act, Batchelor said.

Generally, Batchelor said there has been "about 98 per cent compliance" with isolation rules in the jurisdiction in which Altona police operate.

"The majority of people do what theyre asked to do and that is commendable," Batchelor said. "If you decide you want to travel, you know what the restrictions will be on you when you come back its important to pay attention to that."

A representative for the province said two federal tickets have been issued in Manitoba in the last two weeks. No further details were provided.

Since the pandemic began in March, the Public Health Agency of Canada has issued 127 contravention tickets and eight summary convictions under the Quarantine Act.

In Manitoba, 125 tickets have been issued to alleged rule-breakers in the past two weeks. The majority of those tickets, 99, went to individuals and were issued by RCMP and other police agencies.

The Winnipeg Police Service said Wednesday its officers issued 20 tickets related to gatherings and two for failing to wear a mask, during the period of Jan. 4 and 17.

A dozen of the 20 tickets related to gatherings were issued at protests and rallies, police said. Officers also issued a 34 warnings to people who gathered in private residences in contravention of public health orders.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

@jsrutgers
Weis Markets announced Thursday it will begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations to priority populations on Thursday in 55 of its in-store pharmacies across Pennsylvania.

Locations include 3011 William Penn Highway in Palmer Township, 365 S. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Allentown and 5020 Route 873 in Schnecksville, North Whitehall Township, according to a news release Wednesday from the supermarket chain.

Under federal and state guidance, Weis pharmacy staffs will prioritize individuals 65 and older for COVID-19 immunizations, as well as people ages 16-64 with high-risk conditions including cancer, chronic kidney disease, smoking, COPD, heart conditions, Down Syndrome, obesity and diabetes.

To receive the vaccine, customers must schedule an appointment with a Weis certified immunizer through weismarkets.com/pharmacy-services. Appointment sign-ups are available one day prior to the immunization, and a face covering is required. To ensure the effectiveness of the vaccine, Weis pharmacies will schedule customers for a second immunization four weeks after their first shot.

Our pharmacies have received a limited quantity of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and will begin immunizing on Thursday, Rick Seipp, Weis Markets vice president of pharmacy, says in the release. Over time, we hope to expand to other priority categories as vaccine becomes more available and in coordination with the Commonwealths guidelines. Were ready to help.

Lehigh Valley Health Network on Thursday announced the start of vaccinations against the coronavirus on Jan. 27 at its mass clinic set up at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, and St. Lukes University Health Network this week released details on how to register for the vaccine at its hospitals.

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

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
It has been corroborated, through not only investigative actions but also forensic tests, that it was a suicide, Artur Melikian, the deputy head of the Investigative Committee, told reporters.

Nevertheless, Melikian said, a criminal investigation into his death is continuing.

The 38-year-old Kutoyan, who ran the NSS during the final years of former President Serzh Sarkisians rule, was found shot to death on January 17, 2020 at a Yerevan apartment belonging to the family. The Investigative Committee opened at the time a criminal case under an article of the Armenian Criminal Code dealing with suicides induced by others.

The law-enforcement agency said earlier this month that the probe has been suspended because investigators have not identified anyone who might have driven Kutoyan to kill himself.

Melikian insisted, however, that the probe is still not over even though we have no suspects or accused individuals.

We do not maintain that [Kutoyan] was driven to the suicide, he explained. We only say that the investigation was launched into an induced suicide because we could not characterize the case under a different article at that moment.

Kutoyan was appointed as director of Armenias most powerful security agency in February 2016. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian sacked him in May 2018 immediately after coming to power in the Velvet Revolution that toppled Sarkisian.

There is a widespread consensus, supported by evidence, that the EPFO (Employees Provident Fund Organization) has not met its objectives. It has not adapted to the changing economy and aspirations of members.

EPFO administers the EPF (Employees Provident fund), Employees Pension Scheme (EPS) and EDLI (Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme), an insurance cover provided to its members. Managing these three schemes requires different skills, with EPS and EDLI needing robust actuarial skills.

Also read: The nuts and bolts of EPFO

The combined contribution rate of the three schemes varies between 18.83 and 20.83 percent.

Reports by EPFO suggest that as of 31 March 2019, the EPFO had 47 million contributing members (only around 9 percent of the labour force), of which around 22 percent were in only 1,340 exempt funds.

EPFO is Indias largest NBFC (Non-Banking Financial Company), with total assets under management of Rs 16.6 trillion as at end-March 2019 (around 8.3 percent of GDP). Of this amount, Rs 4.6 trillion (27.7 percent) was accounted for by exempt funds whose investment pattern is regulated by the EPFO.

As at end-March 2019, the total number of pensioners under EPS was 6.5 million, less than a tenth of the population over 60 years of age. All these numbers suggest that the contribution of EPFO to Indias social security goals has so far been minimal.

EPFO needs to reform itself on three broad counts: design, governance, and management information systems. These reforms could help EPFO make better contribution to Indias social security goals and to meet the aspirations of its members.

Design Reforms

The EPF, EPS and EDLI should be re-designed. Given the robust life insurance industry that the country has, EDLI is now redundant and need not be offered to future members, thereby causing minimal disruption to existing members.

The EPF scheme is still being applied to around 200 industries, a feature from the 1950s design. EPF could henceforth be offered to all employees who are eligible, with the list of industries eliminated, as Indias dynamic economy spawns new economic activities.

The requirement for firms with 20 employees or more also needs to be reduced gradually as EPFOs capabilities increase. This will enable many more employees to benefit from EPFO schemes.

Also read: How EPF changes over the years impact your retirement funds

EPFO has over-generous withdrawal provisions before retirement, thereby drastically reducing the accumulation of members through the power of compound interest. These provisions need to be reduced, as currently the lump-sum accumulated from the EPF at retirement is quite inadequate to finance old age.

The EPS is widely believed, even by many informed government officials, to be actuarially unsustainable. This requires reducing benefits, increasing contribution rates, greater government subsidy, or turning EPS from a defined benefit to a defined contribution scheme (with grandfathering clauses to protect existing members). The sooner this exercise is undertaken, the better it would be for the viability of the EPFO as an organization.

The EPFOs investment pattern has also meant foregoing returns while increasing risk. Globally, provident and pension funds invest in a mix of debt, equity, real estate and other assets, across both domestic and global markets.

A significant portion of their earnings, from which dividends are paid, comes from trading in bonds (not keeping till maturity) and equities in a diversified portfolio.

The EPFO started investing in passive equity funds in 2015 on a gradual basis. But its lack of professionalism has led it to invest in the equity of government public enterprises  an asset class the government is trying to rationalise, including by divesting. Fortunately, the amounts involved are reportedly not very large in relation to its asset under management.

The EPFO needs to invest in broader index funds that mimic the broader stock market.

EPFOs portfolio has underperformed the National Pension System (NPS), resulting in foregone income to its members. EPFO is urged to set up an internal investment management unit that can help minimize investment management costs, and act as a benchmark to assess the performance of outsourced investments. For this, recruitment and promotion practices will need to be revamped.

Alternatively, a separate government-appointed specialist group with accountability could be formed to undertake the EPFOs investment function

Governance Reforms

EPFOs 43-member Board structure, with the Minister of Labour effectively appointing all the members  none with expertise in pension economics, finance, actuarial, and management information specialists  is unwieldy, and not conductive to outcome-oriented management. The key is to bring expertise to the EPFO Board of trustees to manage its responsibilities with competence and professionalism.

The EPFO should not continue to be a service provider as well a regulator of exempt and non-exempt funds. The two functions must be separated.

The provision of permitting EPF members and NPS members to choose between the two should be more effectively implemented as such competition would push efficiency levels in both organizations.

Also read | NPS versus EPF: Which is the better retirement investment?

Management Information System (MIS) reforms

The EPFOs use of digital technology to deliver routine services has improved, but there is still scope for improvement. Settling provident fund payments, and competing pension arrangements in a shorter time after retirement are important areas.

The EPFO, however, needs a major revamp of its MIS. It must develop a dashboard, to be refined as experience is gained, which includes the following data: members and actual contributors to its three schemes both as a flow and as a stock; contributions and withdrawals for different purposes to each scheme during a period; rate of return earned by different schemes and by asset classes, stock of assets for each scheme; and balances by income range, gender, and age group.

Also read | Voluntary Provident Fund: Heres how you can increase your retirement corpus

The actuarial valuations by professionals need to be undertaken for three schemes at regular intervals, and put in public domain for evaluation.
With the stroke of a pen, President Joe Biden has ended his predecessors ban on travelers entering the United States from several Middle Eastern and African nations, fulfilling a campaign pledge to dismantle policies seen as discriminatory against Muslims.

A week after taking office in January 2017, President Donald Trump issued an executive order banning nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries  Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Syrian, Sudan and Yemen  that he said posed a national security threat. The hastily announced travel ban created scenes of chaos at international airports, a slew of federal lawsuits and protests across the country.

Early iterations of the travel ban, which followed Trumps campaign trail comments calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States, were struck down by federal courts. The Supreme Court in 2018 upheld a revised version that also barred travelers from North Korea and certain Venezuelan government officials. Last year, the Trump administration imposed additional restrictions on travel from Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania. Iraq was dropped from the list of banned countries in 2017.

Krish OMara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, said Bidens decision to overturn the Trump-era travel ban Wednesday sends a clear message that the United States will once again be a welcoming nation for immigrants and refugees.

Turning the page on this dark chapter in American history is the first step in rebuilding and reimagining an immigration system that works humanely and justly for all, Vignarajah said. The concern is going to be, what does the pipeline of individuals abroad look like and how quickly can we resume the program?

Processing the backlog of visa applications wont be easy. US immigration and consular officials will have to sort through the thousands of names languishing in a sort of limbo known as administrative processing" where applications are sent for further review.

Those who were originally denied entry due to the travel ban may also want to reapply. A waiver process allowed applicants who met certain criteria to gain entry to the United States, but critics said the system was confusing and arbitrary. Between December 2017 and March 2019, just 5% of those who had applied for a waiver were granted one, according to State Department figures.

To complicate matters for the new administration, the coronavirus has slowed down the processing of visas across all US consulates, said Muzaffar Chishti, senior fellow at the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute in Washington.

Government machinery is very difficult to unwind in the best of circumstances, Chishti said. The pandemic adds a layer of complexity to this.

Bidens executive action makes good on a campaign promise to reverse what he described as a vile ban that was part of an assault on black and brown people. Iman Awad, deputy director of Muslim-American advocacy group Emgage Action, commended the president but said there's more to be done.

The mechanism which allowed Trump to wield such unchecked power still exists, Awad said.

Emgage Action and other immigration advocates are calling on Congress to pass legislation that would amend the Immigration and Naturalization Act to ensure no future administration can institute a blanket ban without offering credible evidence and appropriate oversight.

They're also calling on the new president to fulfill his pledge to admit 125,000 refugees in fiscal year 2021, compared with Trumps 15,000 cap. The historic cuts made to the US refugee resettlement program during the Trump administration saw the number of Muslim refugees admitted to the United States plunge from nearly 40,000 in 2016 to just 2,500 in 2020.

Biden signed the execution action terminating the travel ban in the Oval Office; he also has called for a direct review of the Trump administrations extreme vetting practices. The president also announced he is sending immigration legislation to Congress that includes new funding to promote integration and inclusion, increase English-language resources and assist individuals seeking to become US citizens.

People can strut just a little  today. Then, we get on with work, said Anthony Elghossain, a Beirut-based lawyer who, along with others, assisted families impacted by the travel ban.

He recalled when a Syrian-American woman called to let them know that she and her spouse had made it to the United States after years spent waiting for his visa to be cleared. I dont know where she, or everyone else, is today, Elghossain said. But I can see her smile.

Significant rainfall continues to cause flooding issues across parts of Wrexham

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 21st, 2021

Significant rainfall across parts of Wrexham is continuing to cause issues this morning.

Last night large parts of the county borough saw flooding as Storm Christop brought heavy rain and snow to the area.

In the early hours of the morning emergency services asked Bangor-on-Dee residents to evacuate due to a severe flood risk.

Houses in Berse Road, New Broughton, were also evacuated shortly before midnight.





NEWSAR (North East Wales Search and Rescue) also assisted North Wales Police and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service with the incident by recusing residents of flooded properties in New Broughton with one of the teams inflatable rescue sled.

Team members also went door to door with firefighters to check on other residents affected by the flooding and rescued a motorist from the roof of his car near the Wrexham Industrial Estate.

A spokesperson for NEWSAR, said: A massive thank you to a couple of householders in New Broughton who provided hot drinks and biscuits for team members.

The NEWSAR service is made up of volunteers team members and they do not receive any payment for providing this service. You can read more about fundraising and donation to NEWSAR via this link.

Over 40 members of the councils streetscene team are being deployed across Wrexham to deal with the flooding  with parts of the county seeing flood levels rise to waist height.

The Ty Mawr and Alyn Waters riverside paths are also closed due to the flooding.

Cllr David A Bithell Lead Member Environment and Transport, said: Please dont ignore road closed signs.

We have evacuated some properties in New Broughton with the assistance of mountain rescue due to high water levels.

On high ground we now have levels of snow falling and our gritting crews are being deployed to higher routes as temperatures drop. Please do not go out unless absolutely necessary as all emergency services are being deployed across the county assisting with many calls.

Our staff will remain out all night.

There were also concerns about flooding around the Wockhardt factory on the Wrexham Industrial Estate, which is involved in the fill and finish stages of the Oxford AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine.

Appearing on Sky News this morning leader of Wrexham Council, Mark Pritchard said: We had to work with the company logistically with their storage facility, that was under possibility of flooding.

We worked overnight with that and that was a success. This could have had an impact not just in Wrexham but across the country with the vaccination supply.

They had serious concerns their warehouse could be flooded so they asked up for help and support, we gave them that without hesitation.

Weve put resources, pumps and gulley emptiers and its been successful.

Durham, NC - Karina Narbute, Ph.D. is the latest recipient of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine's Young Investigator Award. The award fosters advancements in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine by honoring a young researcher who is the principal author of an article published in SCTM that, over the course of a year, is deemed to have the most impact.

Dr. Narbute, a research assistant in Prof. Klusa's lab in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Latvia in Riga, was awarded the prize for her work demonstrating, for the first time, the therapeutic efficacy of extracellular vesicles derived from stem cells harvested from dental pulp in pre-clinical Parkinson's disease model animals.

In her winning paper, "Intranasal Administration of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Human Teeth Stem Cells Improves Motor Symptoms and Normalizes Tyrosine Hydroxylase Expression in the Substantia Nigra and Striatum of the 6?Hydroxydopamine?Treated Rats," Dr. Narbute and her team examined therapeutic effects of intranasal administration of EVs derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth stem cells (SHEDs) on unilateral 6?hydroxydopamine (6?OHDA) medial forebrain bundle (MFB) rat model of PD. Their proof of concept study demonstrates that EVs could be potentially exploited for the development of novel and minimally invasive therapies that delay progression of the disease and mitigate disability in PD patients.

"More than 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson's Disease, and, while there are therapies to help treat the symptoms, this proof-of-concept study shows the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles derived from stem cells to potentially delay disease progression," said Anthony Atala, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Dr. Narbute hopes her findings can one day be used to develop new treatment strategies not only for Parkinson's, but for other devastating neurogenerative diseases, too.

"Even though we have shown that EVs possess therapeutic properties to reverse neurodegeneration, we still have a lot of work ahead of us, e.g., to determine the exact molecular mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effects of EVs," said Dr. Narbute.

Learn more about Dr. Narbute's work on treatment options for spinal cord injuries.

###

About STEM CELLS Translational Medicine:

STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM), co-published by AlphaMed Press and Wiley, is a monthly peer-reviewed publication dedicated to significantly advancing the clinical utilization of stem cell molecular and cellular biology. By bridging stem cell research and clinical trials, SCTM will help move applications of these critical investigations closer to accepted best practices. SCTM is the official journal partner of Regenerative Medicine Foundation.

About AlphaMed Press:

Established in 1983, AlphaMed Press with offices in Durham, NC, San Francisco, CA, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, publishes two other internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals: STEM CELLS, celebrating its 39th year, is the world's first journal devoted to this fast paced field of research. The Oncologist, also a monthly peer-reviewed publication, entering its 26th year, is devoted to community and hospital-based oncologists and physicians entrusted with cancer patient care. All three journals are premier periodicals with globally recognized editorial boards dedicated to advancing knowledge and education in their focused disciplines.

About Wiley:

Wiley, a global company, helps people and organizations develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Our online scientific, technical, medical and scholarly journals, combined with our digital learning, assessment and certification solutions, help universities, learned societies, businesses, governments and individuals increase the academic and professional impact of their work. For more than 200 years, we have delivered consistent performance to our stakeholders. The company's website can be accessed at http://www. wiley. com .

About Regenerative Medicine Foundation (RMF):

The non-profit Regenerative Medicine Foundation fosters strategic collaborations to accelerate the development of regenerative medicine to improve health and deliver cures. RMF pursues its mission by producing its flagship World Stem Cell Summit, honouring leaders through the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Action Awards, and promoting educational initiatives.
Lately, dark web actors have one more worry: getting caught by law enforcement. Tracking dark web illegal activities has been a cat-and-mouse game for authorities, but in the end, they often catch their adversaries and seize the dodgy money. On the night of the 2020 presidential election, for example, US government officials managed to empty out a $1 billion Bitcoin wallet recovering funds linked to Silk Road, seven years after the markets closure. Silk Road was a popular underground marketplace dealing in illegal goods and services such as narcotics, hacking for hire, and contract killing.

Cybercriminal group closure and exit scams

Events like these have compelled cybercriminals to plot new strategies, which sometimes involves closing shop and cashing out before they get on the feds radar. In October 2020, the Maze ransomware group, which has breached hundreds of companies including Xerox, LG, and Canon, shut itself down over a six-week period stating they had retired their activities. However, experts have suggested this is likely a facade. Ransomware operators often shut one operation down to join another rather than exit the business completely.

In recent years, the dark net has dramatically changed, quite organically, due to increased organized criminal organizations use of anonymous forums and marketplaces, the increased presence of young YouTube inspired 'criminal wannabes,' and naturally, the subsequent increased presence of law enforcement and their attempts to infiltrate, de-anonymize, and take down such groups and hidden services, says Mark Turnage, CEO of DarkOwl, a dark web search engine.

Dark web becoming a recruiting channel

According to Turnage, the dark web has evolved into an intermediary ground where cybercriminals minimally interact to poach new members for their group. They then move communications to private, encrypted channels such as Telegram, Jabber, and WickR. Malware developers and financial fraud [criminals] rely less on dark net marketplaces for distributing their exploits and instead levy black hat forums across the deep web and darknet to establish their brand, develop clout across the community, and recruit new members, says Turnage. Many criminal organizations use the dark net merely to vet potential affiliates, particularly in the ransomware-as-a-service industry, and their [co-conspirators].

Turnage says that DarkOwl has seen more technically savvy criminals increase their use of alternative decentralized dark nets and meshnets such as Lokinet and Yggdrasil. He attributes this to the short lifespan of dark net marketplaces and services across Tor and server seizures by globally coordinated law enforcement agencies.

Moving marketplaces from Tor nodes to private messaging services may also come with technical advantages, such as distributed denial of service (DDoS ) protections. These technical safeguards may lure dark web admins as underground marketplaces like Empire have been forced to shut themselves down following DDoS attacks by other cybercriminals in rather ironic extortion attempts. Empires abrupt exit has also rendered its so-called escrow guarantee void, prompting some patrons to label the closure an exit scam.

By switching patrons over to legitimate end-to-end encrypted messaging services, cybercriminals leverage the reliable distributed infrastructure of these platforms while remaining discreet and avoiding the scrutiny of law enforcement. Granted, messaging platforms like Telegram may not be entirely immune from DDoS attacks, protecting against such attacks then becomes the responsibility of platform owners rather than dark web ops.

Leveraging underground chatter for intel gathering

According to Raveed Laeb, product manager at KELA, the dark web of today represents a wide variety of goods and services. Although traditionally concentrated in forums, dark web communications and transactions have moved to different mediums including IM platforms, automated shops, and closed communities. Threat actors are sharing covert intelligence on compromised networks, stolen data, leaked databases and other monetizable cybercrime products through these mediums.

The market shifts are focused on automation and servitization [subscription models], aimed at aiding the cybercrime business to grow at scale, says Laeb. As can be witnessed by the exponential rise of ransomware attacks leveraging the underground financial ecosystem, the cybercriminal-to-cybercriminal markets allow actors to seamlessly create a supply chain that supports decentralized and effective cybercrime intrusionsgiving attackers an inherent edge.

On the bright side, security professionals and threat analysts can tap into this intel to identify and patch system weaknesses before threat actors can exploit them. Defenders can exploit these robust and dynamic ecosystems by gaining visibility into the inner workings of the underground ecosystemallowing them to trace the same vulnerabilities, exposures, and compromises that would be leveraged by threat actors and remediate them before they get exploited, says Laeb.

This can be done by monitoring forums and darknet sites where threat actors are most likely to lurk, discuss upcoming threats, and put exploits up for sale. A hacker recently posted exploits for over 49,000 vulnerable Fortinet VPNs on a forum, for example, some of which belonged to prominent telecoms, banks and government organizations. This was followed by a second forum post in which another threat actor exposed plaintext credentials for all the VPN devices for any adversary to exploit. Although the vulnerability in question is a two-year-old path-traversal bug, likely not on anyones radar anymore, thousands of corporate VPNs present on the list remained vulnerable to this critical issue.

Tapping into such forums and monitoring for such intel can give heads up to security teams at organizations to do their due diligence in where adversaries may be headed next.

Tracking illicit activity disguised under legitimate programs

Advanced persistent threat (APT) groups are now using the dark web to gather knowledge of their targets and then use legitimate network protocols and programs for covert data exfiltration purposes. In the past, organizations tended to only be concerned about their own data appearing on the dark web, and even then, it would only ring alarm bells if significant data were located. However, many of the Chinese and Russian nation-state backed advanced persistent threat groups are now using the dark net to perform reconnaissance of potential targets, and then provide a cover for exfiltrating data, says Vince Warrington, CEO at Dark Intelligence.

Since the start of 2020, the use of SSH by these APT groups has increased by over 200%. Our research indicated that APT groups are using SSH via port 22 to infiltrate organizations unnoticed and, once inside, are using poorly monitored and maintained systemsespecially industrial control systemsto steal significant amounts of data. Several recent attacks are alleged to have stolen over 1 terabyte of data from individual businesses, a huge amount that organizations are failing to spot because they are unable to monitor effectively for dark net connections, says Warrington.

This point has been substantiated by the discovery last month of the massive SolarWinds supply chain attack attributed to the Russian espionage group APT29, a.k.a. Cozy Bear. By exploiting trust within a legitimate program like SolarWinds Orion and its secure update channels (or protocols), sophisticated attackers managed to silently breach over 18,000 of the 300,000 SolarWinds customers and remained undetected for months. Their sinister activities conducted as a part of this attack could have involved covert surveillance and data exfiltration leaving no obvious trace.

This is different from cases where threat actors make noise on public or dark web forums when leaking data dumps. So, monitoring the dark web alone for signs of data exfiltration isnt enough.

Threat analysts and security researchers are therefore encouraged to reevaluate their monitoring strategies. Rather than focusing solely on detecting anomalies within corporate networks, such as foreign IPs and odd port numbers, or waiting for proprietary data to appear on the dark web, it is worth monitoring trustworthy programs and services, including their security updates, and your organizations software supply chains where threat actors could be hiding unnoticed.
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MEDFORD, Ore-- Across Oregon and California today, congressmen and senators reflected on what their new president and vice president means for the country, as well as their political parties.

For Oregon Democrats in the House and the Senate, it couldn't come soon enough for a new administration to be ushered in.

"I feel a tremendous sense of relief," said Congressmen Peter DeFazio. "It was kind of like having a really bad thorn stuck somewhere and just pulling it out."

"We are starting a new chapter in America," said Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley. "A chapter in which I think we have that refreshed energy to tackle very significant challenges facing our nation. I think all Americans, of every political party expect us to do it well, so let it be so."

But for some republicans on the other side of the political spectrum, today marked the official day that control of the House, Senate and the oval office went into democratic hands.

"We've got a tough road of hope," said California Congressmen Doug Lamalfa. "For those people happy about the inauguration today, I say we still have to work together. And for those saddened by the new administration, we are just going to have to hold on and look for better results in future elections. You can't give up on America."

Although Congressmen Lamalfa does believe there is a chance for bi-partisan collaboration between democrats and republicans with in the House and Senate, he is still concerned with the make-up of President Biden's cabinet. According to Lamlfa, the cabinet which checks off all of boxes for diversity in race and gender backgrounds, he says that there is not enough republican ideology within the group.

"He is not getting opinions that are different from a liberal philosophy," said Lamalfa. "There aren't any conservative opinions."

During the end of the Trump administration, more than half of the former president's cabinet picks were listed a nonpartisan, while in Joe Biden's case, the cabinet consists almost entirely of democrats.

However, before the end of Trump's term in office, the administration had the highest turn over in cabinet positions over the last five presidents.

Although, the future may be uncertain at this time on whether the Biden-Harris administration will be a success or failure, congressmen and senators alike can only hope for the best.

"Biden talked a lot today about unity and about bringing the country together, said DeFazio. "We have got to heal this country."

ST. HELIER, Jersey, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Komainu, an institutional grade digital asset custody services provider, today announced a framework service agreement with Derbyshire Constabulary on behalf of the National Police Chiefs' Council Cybercrime Programme. Komainu will provide policing with a robust and advanced digital asset custody and security solution that will enable UK policing to securely store digital assets seized during the investigatory process.

This Komainu led procurement contract was supported by CoinShares, Europe's largest digital asset manager, and Gentium, a UK law enforcement consultancy service specialising in financial and cybercrime. This collaboration of services will provide UK policing with the infrastructure needed to ensure the efficient handling of criminal cases that involve cryptocurrencies.

Assistant Commissioner, with responsibility for the NPCC economic and cybercrime portfolio, Angela McLaren said: "Specialist Cyber Crime Units at local, regional and national level are seizing cryptocurrencies as part of their investigations on a regular basis and desperately needed access to a secure storage solution from a regulated provider. On behalf of The National Cybercrime Programme, Derbyshire Constabulary procurement team led a commercial tender to identify a storage solution which law enforcement would be able to use via a framework agreement.

"Following completion of the tender process, Komainu were awarded with the contract making their storage solution available to all police forces in England and Wales, the police service of Northern Ireland, the police service of Scotland, British Transport Police and all law enforcement agencies within the UK. It will provide teams with the proper technology and security they need to store cryptocurrencies and other digital assets as part of their investigations. The framework agreement also reduces the duplication and costs associated with different forces all running separate tender processes to find their own solution. This is a significant step forward in supporting specialist cybercrime teams in pursuing and prosecuting offenders and denying criminality the proceeds of crime."

Jean-Marie Mognetti, Komainu's Co-Founder and CEO, commented on today's news: "We're excited to support the NPCC in their investigative efforts against criminals looking to take advantage from the perceived anonymity of digital assets for illicit purposes. As per the framework agreement, Komainu will provide a fulsome and secure cryptocurrency custody solution for UK policing while also utilizing CoinShares best-in-class realisation services to source liquidity for the seized assets when required and Gentium's operating guidance. Combining these industry leading services will allow us to provide UK police forces with the highest level of support throughout the entire course of their investigations and resulting legal proceedings. We are looking forward to the beginning of this collaboration and are certain other government entities will require the same level of service in the near future."

About Komainu

Komainu is the first hybrid custodian offering safe keeping for institutional client's digital assets. Created by the Japanese investment bank, Nomura, digital asset investment house, CoinShares and digital asset security company, Ledger, Komainu provides a single application-based solution to institutions, allowing multi-asset support benefits, regulatory compliance and insurance.

About NPCC Cybercrime Programme

The National Cybercrime Programme forms part of the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) economic and cyber-crime portfolio led by Commissioner Ian Dyson and supported by Assistant Commissioner Angela McLaren. The programme was initially established to deliver the local capabilities project, establishing force level dedicated cybercrime units across England and Wales. The remit has widened with the programme currently working on over thirty live projects, including national training, the national roll out of the Cyber Tools App, Cyber Resilience Centres, Cryptocurrency training and tools, Police CyberAlarm and the new Cyber Digital Specials and Volunteers program. The programme team are here to support the Team Cyber UK Network to build a word leading cyber policing capability with access to the best training, tools and technology available.

The NPCC brings police forces in the UK together to help policing coordinate operations, reform, improve and provide value for money.

For more information, please visit: https://www.komainu.com/

Contact:

Jay Morakis

M Group Strategic Communications

646-859-5951

jmorakis@mgroupsc.com
Brother of Christian imprisoned in Pakistan on blasphemy charge pleads for Biden to help

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A United States citizen whose brother is facing the possibility of being sentenced to death in Pakistan on trumped-up blasphemy charges is asking the Biden administration to put pressure on Pakistan to release his brother.

In three months, 47-year-old Pakistani Christian man Nadeem Samson will go before Pakistans Lahore High Court as he petitions against blasphemy charges that stem from and were cemented by a false accusation, corrupt police, and his own confession under torture, his brother, Shakeel Anjum, told The Christian Post.

On Nov. 24, 2017, a man named Abdul Haq told Pakistani police that Samson had opened a fake Facebook account where he allegedly posted blasphemous material. He asked for an immediate police raid on Samsons home to catch him in the act.

Police captured Samson and a police report claims that he admitted to the crime.

But according to his Anjum, it was all a setup.

Anjum explained that Samson leased his home from Haq and was planning to move away. But Haq wanted to keep Samsons $4,000 deposit for the lease. Anjum believes that Haq created the Facebook account using Samsons phone number.

Then, Haq bribed the police, he said.

Police beat Samson for three days until he admitted to the crime, the brother recalled. When Samson appeared in open court in 2018, people physically attacked him, he said. Now, Samson attends his court hearings online from within prison.

Ive been fighting for my brother, Anjum said. After one year of the lease, the owner had to pay him $4,000. But the owner chose not to do that and instead invent this conspiracy. He paid the police and he made it a cybercrime.

Anjum has lived in the U.S. since 2012. He entered the U.S. as a permanent resident after marrying an American and later became a U.S. citizen.

He told CP that police dont allow him to speak with his imprisoned brother by phone, so he depends on a network of Pakistani friends who visit Samson in Lahores District Jail.

Anjum said he has worked with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to publicize his brothers case. Other human rights groups usually dont visit people imprisoned for blasphemy, he said. He has appealed to the Biden administration to put pressure on Pakistan to release his brother.

We are not free to pray. We do not say anything and we are charged for blasphemy, said Anjum of Christians in Pakistan. This is a question of genocide of Christians in Pakistan. They just destroyed three years in trial. They are destroying the lives of blasphemy victims.

Irregularities in a police report prove Haq bribed police, Anjum said, noting that the report on his brother should have been signed by the Lahore chief of police but it wasn't.

Instead, the report was signed by a lower-ranking inspector who did not have the authority to log the report. Anjum said police never investigated this signature.

Three years after the case was filed, Haq produced three more police witnesses against Samson, Anjum said.

There were eight witnesses against my brother. They were all paid-off police officers. This year, after three years, they are adding three more police officers as witnesses, Anjum added. In any case when you add more witnesses after three years, your previous accusation has to be false, its not correct.

Samson has officially been charged under section 295-C of Pakistanis criminal code.

The death threats and extremist pressure that often exist during a blasphemy trial in Pakistan mean that Samson will be convicted by the lower courts because judges fear they will be killed unjustly by Islamist radicals if they dont give Samson the death penalty, Anjum believes.

Pakistan ranks as the fifth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. Pakistan has imprisoned as many as 200 people on blasphemy charges, Pakistani rights activist Shaan Taseer said during the U.S. State Departments 2019 Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom.

Samson will petition Pakistans High Court, where the judges have bodyguards and might make a fair decision, said Anjum. The High Court system has ordered lower courts to finish Samsons case in three months.

On Dec. 12, Samsons lawyer, Asad Jamal, was supposed to petition the High Court for bail. Instead, he withdrew the request for bail. Three weeks later, Anjum said Jamal told him the court had rejected the request for bail. Its unclear why he didnt request bail for Samson.

He didnt tell us. He didnt tell the victim. The attorney never visited in the jail, Anjum explained. They never told me what was going on.

Samson and Anjum are both Catholic, and Pakistans Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace is funding his legal defense. However, the CCJP did not respond to Anjums calls about legal issues or tell him his lawyer withdrew the bail request, he said.

The CCJP didnt tell me whats been wrong. I was calling the CCJP. Im responsible for everything concerning the case and fighting for my brother. Please, you have to give me evidence, I said. They are not returning my calls, they are not returning my emails, said Anjum.

A source with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity told CP that Jamal is a great lawyer and one of the few Muslim lawyers willing and capable of working on blasphemy cases. The source also said that CCJP has also done great work and thinks withdrawing bail is likely part of a legal strategy being employed by Jamal.

In Pakistan, accusations of blasphemy need not be proven to tear through someones life. Many radicals in the country consider the crime so horrible that they attack anyone accused.

[Samson] says he is not free, said Anjum. My brother is unmarried. He has no kids, no wife. [Because of the accusation,] he cannot start his career, he cannot start his own business. [People accused of blasphemy] have no career. They have no life. They have to leave their country to start a new life.

Samson has already spent three years in a prison that does not have a dedicated medical facility, he said. Even if the court declares him not guilty, the process might take three more years.

Before he was thrown in jail, Samson sold herbal medicine. If he gets out, he will almost certainly have to flee Pakistan, much like fellow blasphemy victim Asia Bibi did after she was acquitted by the Pakistan Supreme Court after spending over a decade in prison.

Pakistan is recognized by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern, designating it as a country that tolerates or engages in egregious violations of religious freedom.

During the 2019 State Department Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, a U.S. National Security Council official said that there are more people imprisoned for blasphemy in Pakistan than in all the other countries in the world combined.

Under the Trump administration, the State Department issued statements of concern blasting countries that maintain laws criminalizing blasphemy, apostasy or language that might insult religious sentiments.

We see governments using such laws to wrongfully imprison and punish individuals whose views on matters of religion or belief may differ from official narratives or the views of majority populations, a 2019 statement of concern reads.

Anjum and Samson have a younger brother named Michael who also lives in Pakistan. Hes currently dodging death threats by moving from place to place, Anjum detailed. He depends on Anjum to provide for his needs.

Michael got threats and he got penalized [after the blasphemy accusation], said Anjum. Hes in hiding. I have to save his life and his childrens lives.
Sweden extended a ban on serving alcohol at restaurants as the coronavirus situation in the country "remains serious," Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said.

The alcohol ban after 8 p.m. was pushed back to Feb. 7, while a recommendation to wear face masks in public transport during rush hours was prolonged through spring, Lofven and the Health & Social Affairs Minister, Lena Hallengren, told reporters in Stockholm on Thursday.
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Pei is working on a stealth project that he plans to unveil this month. Kunal (Shah) is one of the sharpest people I know. I am proud and glad to have him as a friend, advisor and now also an investor, said Carl Pei. We are in advanced stages of our vision and are excited to introduce it to the world soon. ...

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The Japanese government has signed agreements with US pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. to receive the drugmaker's Covid-19 vaccine doses enough for a total of 72 million people within this year, the Health Ministry said.

The additional supply added to the country's agreement last year with the drugmaker to acquire doses for 60 million people, which accounted for roughly half the country's population of 126 million, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper, the government hopes majority of the adults will be vaccinated by July, when the Olympic Games are slated to open.

The country aims to begin inoculating the general public against Covid-19 from May after vaccinating medical workers and the most vulnerable, according to local media reports.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Wednesday that Japan aims to start the vaccinations "as soon as possible," as the country is struggling to curb the spread of the virus amid a resurgence and the mounting pressure on the medical system.

The vaccination process is slated to start with medical workers, then people aged 65 or older from late March, followed by people with pre-existing health conditions and those caring for the elderly.

Around 10,000 medical workers are in line to get the free inoculations first, followed by 50 million most at-risk people, according to government officials.

Suga, who turned 72 last month, falls in the second category and will be inoculated when his turn comes, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Meanwhile, the Japanese government is considering limiting the vaccination within residents aged 16 and older, taking into consideration the ages of people who participated in the clinical trials overseas.

Taro Kono, administrative reform minister who was appointed to lead the vaccination efforts this week, has pledged to ensure the swift distribution of doses nationwide.

Top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato has said it was yet too early to announce a vaccination schedule.

"Vaccination will begin only after the vaccine is approved," he said.

But experts have warned that vaccine hesitancy in Japan may dampen its rollout.

Around 60 per cent of Japanese respondents in an international survey published in December 2020 said they were willing to get vaccinated, local media reported.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UV-radiation can affect hormone levels of postmenopausal women negatively and this may contribute to several health issues.

UV-radiation can affect hormone levels of postmenopausal women negatively and this may contribute to several health issues. The concentration of oestrogens in the blood affects a woman's health in many ways. For example, oestrogens contribute to a strong bone structure and help wounds heal more quickly:

"When a woman reaches menopause, we see the levels of oestrogens decline and an increase of other hormones, called gonadotropins", says Kai Triebner at the University of Bergen.

For several years, he has studied the hormonal balance of women in relation to menopause: What effects changing hormone levels have on health and wellbeing, how environmental factors affects hormone levels and how to estimate the progress of the menopausal transition, among other things. Read more: Calculating menopause with fuzzy logic.

Triebner's earlier research has shown that menopause affects women's lung function negatively, and that access to green spaces may postpone menopause. Recently, he has investigated how UV-radiation affects the level of oestrogens and gonadotropins.

The article is published in Maturitas, the official journal of the European Menopause and Andropause Society: Ultraviolet radiation as a predictor of sex hormone levels in postmenopausal women: A European multi-center study (ECRHS).

Too much sun may cause health problems

Triebner and his team have collected data from 580 postmenopausal women across Western Europe, participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). Using satellite data, they have developed a model of how much UV-radiation the women have been exposed to, depending on their place of residence. They also asked the women to state how much time they spend in the sun; which parts of the body are usually exposed and if they use sunscreen.

"The basis for the model is a validation study from ISGlobal in Barcelona where they have used a necklace to measure UV-radiation exposure" explains Triebner. This resulted in a model that gives the researchers a good measure of the individual UV-exposure for every participant included in the study.

They have also measured the hormone concentrations and compared that to the UV-exposure during the month before: They found that participants who were most exposed to sunlight had lower levels of oestrogens and more gonadotropins compared to those exposed to lower levels of UV-radiation. This may cause health problems:

A low oestrogen level and a high level of the other hormones increases the risk of osteoporosis, cardiac diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer," says Triebner.

"Use sunscreen!"

The women included in the study were from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, France, and Spain, in other words a cross segment of Western Europe. Women who used hormonal medication where excluded from the study. The country of residence of the participants did not seem to cause a great difference in UV exposure:

"If you live in Spain, you preferably stay inside during the sunniest hours, but if you live on the rainy coast of Norway, you use every possibility to get a tan", says Triebner.

The researcher says that sun exposure needs to be carefully monitored after menopause, as it is potentially harmful, but at the same time, UV light is needed to keep the vitamin D level up and stay healthy:

"How much vitamin D you need varies from person to person and where you live. As a rule of thumb, ten to fifteen minutes a day in the sun with your face and lower arms exposed is recommended". If you exceed this, you should wear sunscreen, regardless of whether you sunburn easily:

"When you get a sunburn, you are already far above the recommended level of UV-radiation, and at an increased risk of developing melanoma", reminds Triebner.

"We have only dipped our toe in the water" This method of determining UV-exposure is unique, says Kai Triebner:

"As of today, there is no study that looked into this with greater detail", he confirms.

According to Triebner, one has just begun to see what effect UV-radiation has on women's hormonal levels and reproductive ageing. The researchers have identified an association between the dose of UV-radiation after menopause and the concentrations of hormones in blood. They do not yet know what effect the sun has on the hormone balance of younger women:

"UV-radiation might affect when in life you reach menopause. But it might also be plausible that UV-radiation has a beneficial effect on the hormone balance before menopause. As researchers we have only dipped our toe in the water". There is still much to investigate", concludes Triebner.

###


YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. 9 new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Artsakh in the past 24 hours.

56 tests were conducted on January 18, the ministry of healthcare told Armenpress.

A total of 2266 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Artsakh.

The death toll stands at 31.

The number of active cases is 33.

The ministry of healthcare has again urged the citizens to follow all the rules to avoid new outbreaks and overcome the disease.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

Beijing: The Chinese government imposed sanctions against former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other high-ranking officials of the Donald Trump Administration, accusing them of "prejudice and hatred" against Beijing.

This was confirmed by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying a day after Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the US on Wednesday. Former President Donald Trump did not attend the ceremony.

Besides Pompeo, the other individuals include Peter Navarro (incumbent Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy), Robert O`Brien (former National Security Adviser), David R. Stilwell (former Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs), Matthew Pottinger (former Deputy National Security Advisor), Alex Azar (former Secretary of Health and Human Services), Keith J. Krach (incumbent Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment), and Kelly Craft (former Ambassador to the UN), John Bolton (former National Security Advisor) and Stephen K. Bannon (former White House Chief Strategist), Chinas official news agency Xinhua reported.

The spokesperson said that these individuals "have been mainly responsible for a series of crazy US moves on China-related issues".

"These individuals and their immediate family members are prohibited from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China. They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China," the spokesperson said.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said, "Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the US, out of their selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people, have planned, promoted and executed the crazy moves which have gravely interfered in China`s internal affairs, undermined China`s interests, offended the Chinese people, and seriously disrupted China-US relations."

The spokesperson further said that the Beijing government was "firmly resolved to defend China`s national sovereignty, security and development interests". Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying claimed that the Trump Administration had made numerous "fundamental mistakes", resulting in "serious damage" to bilateral ties.

Hua hoped that the new administration under Joe Biden would "look at China rationally and objectively, meet China halfway and, in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, push China-US relations back to the right track of healthy and stable development as soon as possible", CNN reported.

Thursday`s announcement came more than a week after Pompeo on January 11 announced that the US would lift decades-old restrictions on contacts between American and Taiwanese officials, a decision which prompted threats from China.

In another statement which came less than 24 hours before leaving office, the former Secretary of State declared that China "has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang".

"I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state," he added. The Trump administration had also directly blamed China for the global coronavirus crisis.

Live TV

Keenan Mundine can still smell the prison cell he was locked up in when he was 14 after breaking into a car to steal a laptop.

My first night in that cell was the loneliest of my life, the Biripi and Waka Waka man told the United Nations in Geneva in 2018, almost two decades after he was first incarcerated in a youth detention centre.

Right now, children as young as 10 are being locked away in prison cells across Australia.

Keenan Mundine is a passionate advocate for Australia to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14. Credit:Louie Douvis

Mr Mundine, who had spent half his life in prison by the time he addressed the United Nations, has become a passionate advocate for Australia to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years in line with most European nations.
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A recent market study published by Future Market Insights (FMI) on the DC powered servers market includes a global industry analysis for 2015-2019 and opportunity assessment for 2020-2030, and delivers a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics. After conducting a thorough research on the historical as well as current growth parameters, growth prospects of the market are obtained with maximum precision.

DC Powered Servers Market: Segmentation

The global DC powered servers market is segmented in detail to cover every aspect of the market and present a complete market intelligence approach to readers.

Type

DC-Powered Rackmount Servers

DC-Powered Tower Servers

DC-Powered Blade Servers

Power Rating

12V DC Power

24V DC Power

48V DC Power

Application

Telecom

Data Centers

IT Enterprises

Government

Energy & Utilities

Others

Region

North America (U.S & Canada)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico & Rest of Latin America)

Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain, BENELUX, Russia & Rest of Europe)

East Asia (China, Japan & South Korea)

South Asia & Pacific (India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia & New Zealand and Rest of South Asia & Pacific)

Middle East & Africa (GCC, Turkey, Northern Africa, South Africa & Rest of MEA)

Request a Sample of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-12903

Report Chapters

Chapter 01  Executive Summary

The report begins with the executive summary of the DC powered servers market, which includes a summary of key findings and statistics of the market. It also includes the demand and supply-side trends pertaining to the market.

Chapter 02  Market Overview

Readers can find the definition and detailed taxonomy of the DC powered servers market in this chapter, which will help them understand the basic information about the market. Along with this, comprehensive information pertaining to DC powered servers market and its properties are provided in this section. This section also highlights the inclusions and exclusions, which help readers understand the scope of the DC powered servers market report.

Chapter 03  Key Market Trends

The DC powered servers market report provides key market trends and key features that are expected to significantly impact market growth during the forecast period. Detailed end user trends are also provided in this section.

Chapter 04

The section provides information regarding the pricing of types of DC powered servers.

Chapter 05 Pandemic Crisis Impact Analysis

The section provides information regarding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on DC powered servers market

Chapter 06 Market Structure Analysis

In this chapter, readers can find detailed information about the tier analysis and market concentration of key players in the DC powered servers market, along with their market presence analysis by region and product portfolio.

Chapter 07-Global DC Powered Servers Market Demand (in Volume in Units) Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This section explains the global market volume analysis and forecast for the DC powered servers market during the forecast period of 2020-2030. It includes a detailed analysis of the historical DC powered servers market, along with an opportunity analysis of the future. Readers can also find the absolute $ opportunity for the current year (2020), and an incremental $ opportunity for the forecast period (20202030).

Chapter 08-Global DC Powered Servers Market Demand (in US$ Mn) Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This section explains the global market value analysis and forecast for the DC powered servers market during the forecast period of 2020-2030. It includes a detailed analysis of the historical DC powered servers market, along with an opportunity analysis of the future. Readers can also find the absolute $ opportunity for the current year (2020), and an incremental $ opportunity for the forecast period (20202030).

Chapter 09 Market Background

This chapter explains the key macroeconomic factors that are expected to influence the growth of the DC powered servers market over the forecast period. Along with macroeconomic factors, this section also highlights the supply chain, forecast factors, and value chain analysis of the DC powered servers market. Moreover, in-depth information about the market dynamics and their impact analysis on the market have been provided in the successive section.

Chapter 10  Global DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030, by Type

Based on Type, the DC powered servers market is segmented into DC powered rackmount server, DC powered tower server, DC powered blade server. In this chapter, readers can find information about key trends and developments in the DC powered servers market and market attractiveness analysis based on type.

Request for Report Ask A Question @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-12903

Chapter 11 Global DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030, by Power Rating

Based on Course, the DC powered servers market is segmented into 12 V DC Power, 24V DC Power, 48V DC Power. In this chapter, readers can find information about key trends and developments in the DC powered servers market and market attractiveness analysis based on power rating.

Chapter 12  Global DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030, by Application

This chapter provides various details about the DC powered servers market based on application, and has been classified into telecom, data centers, IT enterprises, government, energy & utilities, and others. In this chapter, readers can understand the market attractiveness analysis based on application.

Chapter 13  Global DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030, by Region

This chapter explains how the DC powered servers market is anticipated to grow across various geographic regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia & Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.

Chapter 14  North America DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter includes a detailed analysis on the growth of the North America DC powered servers market, along with a country-wise assessment that includes the U.S. and Canada. Readers can also find the regional trends, and market growth based on application, and countries in North America.

Chapter 15 Latin America DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the DC powered servers market in Latin American countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and the rest of Latin America. Along with this, assessment of the market across target segments has also been provided.

Chapter 16  Europe DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

Important growth prospects of the DC powered servers market in several countries such as Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, BENELUX, Russia and the rest of Europe are included in this chapter.

Chapter 17  East Asia DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides the growth scenario of the DC powered servers market in East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea.

Chapter 18  South Asia & Pacific DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter highlights the growth of the DC powered servers market in the South Asia & Pacific region by focusing on India, ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of South Asia & Pacific. This section also help readers understand key factors that are responsible for the growth of the DC powered servers market in the South Asia & Pacific region.

Chapter 19  MEA DC Powered Servers Market Analysis 2015-2019 and Opportunity Assessment 2020-2030

This chapter provides information about how the DC powered servers market is anticipated to grow in major countries in the MEA region, such as GCC countries, South Africa, Turkey, and the rest of MEA, during the forecast period of 2020-2030.

Chapter 20 Key Countries Analysis

This chapter provides information about key countries analysis on DC powered servers market. The chapter provides information regarding incremental opportunity share.

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Chapter 21  Competition Analysis

In this chapter, readers can find a comprehensive list of all the prominent stakeholders in the DC powered servers market, along with the detailed information about each company. This includes the company overview, revenue shares, strategic overview, and recent company developments. Some of the market players featured in the report are Dell Technologies, IBM Corporation, HPE, Intel Corporation, Lenovo, Vertiv, Perle among others.

Chapter 22  Assumptions and Acronyms

This chapter includes a list of acronyms and assumptions that provides a base to the information and statistics included in the DC powered servers market report.

Chapter 23-Research Methodology

This chapter help readers understand the research methodology followed to obtain various conclusions as well as important qualitative and quantitative information about the DC powered servers market.
first systematic large-scale evaluation of the UK National Early Warning Risk Score (NEWS) 2 as a scoring system for predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes in patients

In the first systematic large-scale evaluation of the UK National Early Warning Risk Score (NEWS) 2 as a scoring system for predicting severe COVID-19 outcomes in patients, researchers at King's College London have found poor-to-moderate accuracy for identifying patients at risk of being transferred to intensive care units (ICUs) or dying after 14 days of hospitalisation. Accuracy of predictions in short term (three days) showed moderate success.

For people who are hospitalised with severe COVID-19, it is vital to quickly identify which patients may deteriorate and require transfer to an intensive care unit (ICU) for organ support or may die. NEWS2 is an early warning score that combines physiological parameters such as respiration rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure and temperature. NEWS2 is currently used almost universally in UK NHS Trusts to identify which patients are at risk of deteriorating early.

The paper was published today (Thursday 21 January) in BMC Medicine.

Accuracy of NEWS2

Researchers analysed data from 1,276 COVID-19 patients admitted to King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust during the first wave in March-April 2020. The team then validated their models using data for over 6,000 patients across eight other hospitals globally (five in the UK, one in Norway, and two in China). At all UK sites, around one third of patients with COVID-19 were transferred to ICU or died within 14 days of hospital admission.

The researchers evaluated how well patients' NEWS2 scores measured at hospital admission anticipated who would have severe COVID-19 outcomes, which means either being transferred to ICU or dying. In all UK sites, combining NEWS2 and age to predict outcomes showed moderate success in the short term (three days), but for poor-to-moderate success for medium-term (14 days) outcomes.

Dr Ewan Carr, Statistician Research Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, and co-lead author said: "We have conducted the largest study to date evaluating the accuracy of NEWS2 for predicting medium-term COVID outcomes. NEWS2 is widely used in UK NHS trusts but little is known about how well it can predict severe COVID outcomes and so evaluating its accuracy is important as we look to improve patient care now and in future.

By collecting data from nine hospitals globally, our results have robust external validation. We found consistency across sites both in the performance of NEWS2 alone, as well as for the supplemented model. In short, NEWS2 tended to have poor-moderate performance but was improved by adding common blood and physiological measures."

The research team used CogStack, an existing platform developed by NIHR Maudsley BRC and in use at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which allows for rapid extraction and processing of data from patient's electronic health records.

Professor Richard Dobson, Head of the Department of Biostatistics & Health Informatics, NIHR Maudsley BRC, said: "The CogStack platform allows us to extract information from deep within hospital records at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in real time in order really explore complex questions such as this. This includes being able to extract information relating to co-morbidities, for example, that may only be mentioned in passing in the physician narrative"

Improving predictive ability

Researchers found that accuracy in predicting severe outcomes was improved by considering routinely-collected blood and physiological parameters from patients including age, oxygen saturation and neutrophil count, which is an important infection-fighting immune system cell. In models that supplemented NEWS2 with these parameters the ability to predict severe outcomes was improved.

Dr James Teo, Consultant Neurologist at King's College Hospital and Clinical Director of Data Science and lead of CogStack platform, said: "Our results for the first time validates NEWS2, and shows how it could be improved by adding common blood and physiological parameters. Thankfully, this NHS scoring system is easy to adapt and implement in real-world clinical practice, compared to other complex risk-scoring models.

I, alongside all the authors and collaborators, would like to thank the guidance and contributions of the patients and members of the King's Electronic Records Research Interface that made this all possible."

###

The study was a collaboration between the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Notes to editors Data analyzed comes from patients admitted to: King's College Hospital National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust Hospitals, University Hospitals Southampton, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, University College London Hospitals, University Hospitals Birmingham, one hospital in Norway (Oslo University Hospital), and two hospitals in Wuhan, China (Wuhan Sixth Hospital and Taikang Tongji Hospital).

Contact

To receive a copy of the embargoed paper or to arrange interviews please contact the Communications team at NIHR Maudsley BRC:

Alex Booth, Communications and Engagement Manager, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, Tel 020 7848 0495 alex.booth@kcl.ac.uk

Serena Rianjongdee, Communications and Engagement Officer, NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, Tel 020 7848 2137 serena.rianjongdee@kcl.ac.uk

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)

NIHR is the nation's largest funder of health and care research. The NIHR:

Funds, supports and delivers high quality research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care

Engages and involves patients, carers and the public in order to improve the reach, quality and impact of research

Attracts, trains and supports the best researchers to tackle the complex health and care challenges of the future

Invests in world-class infrastructure and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services

Partners with other public funders, charities and industry to maximise the value of research to patients and the economy

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About King's College London and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience

King's College London is one of the top 10 UK universities in the world (QS World University Rankings, 2020) and among the oldest in England. King's has more than 31,000 students (including more than 12,800 postgraduates) from some 150 countries worldwide, and some 8,500 staff.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

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Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

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Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

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Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

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Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

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His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

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Urban Company (formerly UrbanClap)  India and the UAEs largest home services marketplace  today announced the appointment of Abhinav Tyagi as Senior Vice President, Marketing. The appointment is in sync with the companys efforts to invest in and attract world-class leadership to further accelerate business growth.

An alumnus of the Delhi College of Engineering and Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Abhinav has over 17 years experience in the Sales & Marketing function at Hindustan Unilever Ltd, donning many hats across functions, including Customer Development, Skincare and Homecare.

He has had a varied and deep experience working across countries and cultures - handling skincare brand GTM in India, skincare brand launch in South East Asia, and brand communication and mix design in the laundry category for brands across South America, Africa and Asia. In addition, he has also had a stint as a Strategy Director assisting the then President of Homecare (and current Unilever COO) Nitin Paranjpe.

Commenting on the appointment, Varun Khaitan, Co Founder Urban Company said, We are thrilled to welcome Abhinav to the Urban Company leadership. Working across countries, categories and cultures, has given Abhinav a unique opportunity to understand and develop deep consumer understanding and insights across different stages of category and brand evolution - something we believe can add great value to Urban Company given the width of categories we operate in and continue to develop across the globe. He will play a key role in strengthening our marketing capabilities as we build towards our mission of transforming home services worldwide.

On his move, Abhinav Tyagi said "Urban Company is on a very exciting journey of radically enhancing the home services experience for consumers and the quality of life for professionals delivering those services. I count myself fortunate to be able to come on board and help build upon the wonderful work being done by the team at UC and look forward to helping take the UC experience to many many more consumers globally."
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The resignation of an officer from the Northampton Police Department last week reflects a broader morale problem in a department that has seen nearly 10 officers either laid off or resigned after massive budget cuts were made to the agency over the summer, according to city officials.

The number of officers in the department went from 65 to 60 following a vote from the Northampton City Council in June to cut nearly $$883,000 from the agencys fiscal 2021 operational budget in the wake of calls for changes to the traditional public safety model in the U.S. and a defunding of law enforcement.

One officer resigned shortly after the budget cuts were implemented. Three were laid off, and one position was left vacant. Eleven officers also put in applications for employment at other departments, according to Northampton Police Chief Jody Kasper.

Another five officers sent in resignations in the months that followed, the chief added.

Weve lost a lot of officers, Kasper told MassLive in an interview last week. This is coming during a time when its particularly hard to recruit people into this field.

Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz has expressed opposition to the 10% budget reduction - especially a cut of that magnitude, he noted - multiple times in the past year.

But obviously, that is the decision that they made, and we are implementing it, Narkewicz said in July 2020.

After the killing of George Floyd in May and the thousands of protests against police brutality that followed, Narkewicz proposed cutting the agencys funding by $19,066, marking a 0.28% decrease in the departments budget compared to fiscal 2020.

He and Northampton City Council President Gina-Louise Sciarra also later created the Northampton Policing Review Commission, a 15-member body tasked with looking at a wide swathe of law enforcement issues, ranging from department size and structure to use-of-force policies and citizen complaint processes. In March, the group will issue its final report that lays out recommendations for the city.

In a letter to Sciarra in June, the mayor stated he is committed to working with the city council to address the larger systemic issues of institutional racism and bias laid bare by the killing of Floyd.

The city council went ahead with the $882,602 reduction in the departments funds, though, following a series of debates about how much to cut from the police departments budget as well as multiple largely peaceful demonstrations that drew thousands to downtown Northampton.

In the aftermath of the cuts, the Northampton Police Department lost and continues to lose staff members with multiple years of experience, which is a big hit to the agency, Kasper said.

The communitys officer-to-resident ratio remains much lower than the national average, 2.08 officers per every 1,000 inhabitants locally compared to 2.3 nationally. Regionally, New Englands ratio stands a bit higher at 2.2, according to the chief.

We do exit interviews, so we know why theyre leaving, Kasper said about the officers who have resigned from the department. Theyre happy with their work in the police department, but the climate in the city is challenging.

Along with the staff reduction announced over the summer, the city councils budget cuts also forced the department to move Officer Josh Wallace, formerly the departments sole full-time school resource officer, to the agencys the patrol unit.

During the first public hearing last month for the policing review commission, one resident criticized the budget cuts, recalling how Wallace helped her high school-age daughter when a man was sending her and others pornographic images over Snapchat.

This was done backwards. They cut the budget, and now were deciding whats needed and whats not needed, resident Ellen McGrath said at the hearing.

Contrastingly, others at the hearing claimed to have had much worse interactions with police in Northampton, with some calling for the city to improve how it responds to mental health-related emergencies and how it interacts with houseless residents.

Emily Coffin, a social worker in Western Massachusetts, was one of the several participants at the hearing who called for completely defunding the Northampton Police Department and reinvesting the funds into what she described as community-based support programs.

When I imagine my work without policing, I do not take it lightly, Coffin said. I know its work that can be done.

In the months since the city councils cuts to the departments budget, three officers have filed paperwork for early retirement, and another officer resigned as recently as Jan. 11. Their last day is Friday, Kasper noted.

The police chief and mayor pointed out the departures from the department after the summer reflect a common issue for the agency, where officers feel a lack of support from the city at large.

Just now, were watching people walk out the door, and its costing the city quite a bit, Kasper said. They want to work in a city that values its police officers.

According to Kasper, the agency has seen nine officers leave the department, either due to layoffs or resignations, in the wake of the budget cuts. Losing that many staff members costs the city around $414,000 in hiring costs, Police Academy tuition and the salary of the officer while they were in the academy and field training, the chief said.

And well have to reinvest in new folks, she added.

Notably, Kasper said, the department wont see new members of the agency actively serving in the city until they go through the hiring process, academy and field training first - a process that takes roughly a year, Kasper said.

Northampton has two police recruits in the academy and one officer in field training at the moment, leaving 57 officers who are actively serving in Northampton. The department is staffed for 60 officers, Kasper noted.

In this field, for the most part, you hire someone, and then you have to send them away for five or six months. Its difficult, the police chief said.

Narkewicz, like Kasper, claimed those who have left the agency have cited the feeling of a lack of support from the city.

Its a concern, the mayor pointed out, noting the department has seen a roughly 22% decrease in its patrol force, again, either due to layoffs or resignations.

For those in favor of cutting the agencys budget, such reductions may also have an unintended consequence, Kasper said, where the departments newest members, those who may have diverse backgrounds and career paths, are laid off first.

She pointed to Officer Brandon Donahue, who had been working as an addiction and mental health counselor prior to being hired as a police officer in Northampton. He was laid off before he could graduate from the Police Academy in July, Kasper said.

We have a department based on seniority, so when we have to make layoffs, we have to make them at the bottom, the chief said. It seems the opposite of what our city wants.

What makes the situation more frustrating, according to Kasper, is the work she said the Northampton Police Department has done to become a progressive, forward-thinking department with exceptional and educated officers.

The agency is one of a number of police departments in the state that has a minimum education requirement, where officers have to have an associates degree to be hired, the chief noted. Eighty-three percent of the departments staff have a four-year degree or higher in not just criminal justice, but psychology, sociology and other subjects, according to her.

Its reflective of the diversity of thought that has come through the door, Kasper said.

She pointed out the police department was also one of the first in Massachusetts to join the Obama White Houses Police Data Initiative to improve transparency surrounding law enforcements data.

The chief noted the agency is award-winning too. In 2019, for example, the Northampton Police Department was chosen to be highlighted at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Conference in Chicago, Illinois, as an exemplary agency for some of its progressive programs.

The department was also on the forefront of improving how it assists those with substance abuse problems, Kasper said.

Tapestry Healths needle exchange program, which former Northampton Police Chief Russell P. Sienkiewicz collaborated with the nonprofit on, marked its 25th anniversary in December.

Weve put a lot of effort into changing the climate around addiction, Kasper said. When I came on the job, addiction was viewed as a crime. That has shifted, and our department was on the forefront of that, working with Hampshire HOPE and other collaboratives in the city.

Still, the Northampton Police Department recognizes it has work to do, according to Kasper. The chief said she and her agency have been listening to the national conversations that have been going on for the past several months regarding the need for policing reforms.

We have been listening. Weve been listening to the national response and the national conversations. Weve been listening to the local conversations, and we understand we have work to do, she said. There are challenges ahead, but I think we could look at it collaboratively as an exciting time to evaluate public safety and provide those services better than we are.

One of the greatest developments, Kasper said, is hearing how the department can better respond to mental health emergencies, which the policing review commission has taken a strong look at in its preliminary report. The group presented the report to the city council earlier this month.

Having a co-responder model where both an officer and a clinician respond to a mental health call is a fantastic idea, Kasper said. Citing data from 2019, the chief noted the department gets between 150 and 200 calls per month that are related to mental health emergencies.

Looking at our policies and practices, making sure theyre inclusive and reflective of our city are good, Kasper said. I welcome feedback on how we can do better. At the end of the day I believe we have the same goal, which is to protect the health and safety of our community members.

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Qatars national carrier Qatar Airways and UAEs Etihad Airways announced Wednesday to resume air traffic between the two countries after three years of suspension due to diplomatic brawl.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) reports said it would operate services on a daily basis pending government approvals as of February 15.

While the Emirati airlines set resumption for February, Qatar Airways on the other hand said it will resume flying to Dubai on Jan. 27 and to Abu Dhabi as of 28th of the same month.

The resumptions come following a reconciliation deal between Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt signed early this month.

The Saudi-led group severed ties with tiny Gulf country in June 2017 on charges of supporting terrorism. Doha had vehemently rejected the accusations.
Police have closed their probe into the death of 'cult mom' Lori Vallow's third husband after affirming a medical examiner's initial conclusion that he died of natural causes.

Joseph Ryan died of an apparent heart attack aged 59 in April 2018 in Phoenix - 14 years after he and Lori divorced in 2004.

The Phoenix Police Department opened a review of the original investigation into Ryan's death in November after his sister, Annie Cushing, came forward with an audio recording she claimed incriminated Lori, who is jailed awaiting a June trial on charges related to the murders of her two children, Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan.

In the audio, recorded six months after Ryan's death, a voice identified by Cushing as Lori's was heard telling friends that she considered murdering him because of a custody battle over their daughter Tylee years earlier.

But Phoenix police put an end to the speculation that Lori had a hand in Ryan's death this week, as department spokeswomen Sgt Mercedes Fortune confirmed to the East Idaho News that the review has been finalized.

Meanwhile Lori remains under investigation for the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot and killed by her brother in Chandler, Arizona, in July 2019.

Another investigation into the deaths of her children, who disappeared in September 2019 and were found buried in the yard of her fifth husband Chad Daybell in Idaho last June, is also ongoing.

Phoenix Police have closed their probe into the death of 'cult mom' Lori Vallow's third husband Joseph Ryan (pictured at their wedding in 2001) after affirming a medical examiner's initial conclusion that he died of natural causes

Ryan (pictured) was ruled to have died of a heart attack on April 3, 2018. His body wasn't discovered until a week later. The Phoenix Police Department opened a review of the original investigation into Ryan's death in November after his sister, Annie Cushing, came forward with an audio recording she claimed incriminated Lori

Lori (left) and her fifth husband Chad Daybell (right) are both behind bars awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to hide the remains of her children

Lori and Chad are set to face a joint trial this summer on charges of conspiracy to hide the remains of 16-year-old Tylee and seven-year-old JJ.

Authorities launched a multi-state search for the children, who were never reported missing by their mother, in November 2019 after relatives contacted police and said they hadn't heard from them in months.

The search came to a devastating end on June 9, 2020, when JJ and Tylee's bodies were found buried on Chad's property in Salem, Idaho.

The case captured national attention with the revelations that Lori and Chad had also been linked to at least four mysterious deaths - including that of her third husband, Ryan.

Two sources close to the investigation into Ryan's death had told OK Magazine in November that both Lori and her now-deceased brother Alex Cox were considered persons of interest in the case.

'[Ryan] was cremated, so there is not going to be any new physical evidence,' one source told the outlet.

'It is really just looking at what they already have from the autopsy, and what Lori and Alex were doing around that time, where they were doing it.'

Police sources claimed both Lori and her late brother Alex Cox (pictured) were considered persons of interest in Ryan's death. Cox had threatened to kill Ryan in 2007, according to court documents

Cox died aged 51 of natural causes while he had the overdose drug Narcan in his system on December 12.

Affidavits for Lori and Chad's arrests alleged that Cox may have helped the couple bury the bodies of Tylee and JJ on Chad's property.

At the time of his death, Cox was also under investigation for fatally shooting Lori's fourth husband, Charles, five months earlier on July 11, 2019.

Charles had gone to Lori's home in Chandler, Arizona, that day to pick up their adoptive son JJ when the couple got into a verbal altercation and Cox intervened.

Police initially determined that Cox acted in self defense, but the case was reopened amid the search for JJ and Tylee last fall. In August, police said they plan to bring charges against Lori in that case before the end of the year.

Earlier this year court documents revealed that the incident with Charles was not the first time Cox had been violent with one of Lori's husbands.

In 2007, Cox was jailed for aggravated assault in Texas after he tasered and threatened to kill Ryan following a hearing in Lori and Ryan's custody battle over Tylee.

Lori ultimately won custody of the girl and moved to Arizona. When Phoenix Police contacted her in 2018 to inform her that Ryan had died, she said she hadn't spoken to him in two years.

Ryan was ruled to have died of a heart attack on April 3, 2018. His body wasn't discovered until a week later, when a neighbor noticed a smell coming from his home.

Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua 'JJ' Vallow (pictured) were found buried on the property of Lori's husband Chad in June, nine months after they disappeared. An investigation into the children's deaths remains ongoing as Lori and Chad face charges for conspiring to hide their bodies

Lori is also still under investigation for the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow (above together), who was shot and killed by her brother in Chandler, Arizona, in 2019

In April of this year an FBI official confirmed that Ryan's death had 'become part of the investigation into Lori Vallow'.

Phoenix police opened their review of the Ryan's death investigation months later after Cushing came forward with the audio clip which she said was evidence that Lori had a motive to kill him.

Cushing did not disclose who gave her the audio but said she verified the source and she is '100 percent' sure it is authentic.

She said she consulted with lawyers and a law professor before giving the Post Register a version of the clip, which she had edited to 'remove parts of the audio that gave information about people in the recording who are not involved in the case', the outlet said.

Cushing said she was informed that the audio was recorded on October 19, 2018 - roughly six months after Ryan died - during a Preparing A People gathering at the home of Melanie Gibb, Lori's best friend, in Gilbert, Arizona.

Ryan's sister, Annie Cushing (pictured), came forward in November with an audio clip from October 2018 in which she claimed Lori could be heard telling friends that she considering murdering Ryan because of a custody battle over Tylee years earlier

Friends and family of Lori and Chad have described Preparing A People as a doomsday cult, speculating that the couple's extreme religious beliefs may have something to do with the string of deaths surrounding them.

At the start of the 46-minute clip a voice identified as Lori's is heard describing a 'turning point' in her life that propelled her to deepen her involvement in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

'When people hear my story, they're like: "I can't believe you did that. I can't believe you lived through that. I can't believe that you're still here,"' Lori says.

'I had been married to someone who was very awful, who raped my children, and I had divorced him and gotten away from him,' she continues, in apparent reference to Ryan.

Lori's fraught relationship with Ryan has been described at length in court documents from their custody battle over Tylee, and in interviews with the couple's eldest son, Colby Ryan.

A court filing unearthed over the summer describes how Tylee, then five, told a therapist that she was afraid to stay the night with her dad 'because Joe molested me and Colby'.

Colby validated Tylee's claims in a Dateline interview in May, saying that Ryan 'was sexually abusive' and that he had confided in Lori about the abuse.

Ryan is pictured with his and Lori's daughter Tylee. Lori and Ryan were embroiled in a bitter custody battle over Tylee for years after they divorced in 2004

In the audio clip from the Preparing A People meeting, Lori talks about how Ryan tried to get custody of Tylee, then three years old, after they divorced 'just to rub it in my face'.

She goes into chilling detail about wanting to kill Ryan after he was granted partial custody of Tylee even after she told the court about his abuse.

'I was going to murder him. I was going to kill him. Like the scriptures say,' Lori says.

'Just to stop the pain and to stop him coming after me and to stop him coming after my children. I just thought I couldn't take it anymore.

'I would go through the scriptures and find all the things. Like: "If he comes against you once, if he comes against you twice, if he comes against you three times then you can kill him." It says it in the scriptures in the Book of Mormon.

'I was like there it is. There's my answer. I don't want to do anything that's wrong. I did not have a murderous heart. I just wanted to stop the bleeding and stop the pain.'

Lori then describes how she turned to her faith to ease her pain.

'Someone wise was speaking to me and said: "You need to go to the temple,"' she says. 'So I went and met with my bishop, and I was like: "I'm either going to turn my life to the temple or I'm going to commit murder. So do you want to give me a temple recommend?"

A temple recommend is a card that gives LDS members access to temples, which are considered the church's holiest buildings.

'I was perfectly honest because at that point I had nothing left to lose,' Lori concluded.

Cushing claimed the audio was recorded during a Preparing A People gathering at the home of Melanie Gibb, Lori's best friend (pictured together), in Gilbert, Arizona

Later in the recording Lori and a few other people at the meeting share their belief that the end of the world is coming.

'The Lord is gathering his people. He is calling people to the 144,000. They're already being called. They're already being sent on their missions. They're already going full circle. The time is now. He is coming,' Lori says.

Gibb lifted the lid on Lori's beliefs about the end of the world taking place in July 2020 in an interview with the East Idaho News back in May.

She charged that Lori had adopted those extreme beliefs from Chad, who believed he was a prophet sent to lead the 'chosen people' through the apocalypse.

Gibb acknowledged that she too held some of those beliefs, but said she had since come to realize that Chad's 'teachings' are not supported by the LDS church.

In the recording, Gibb is heard echoing Lori's comments about the end of the world and reminding that that was why they formed their group.

'Preparing a People. That's what we're trying to do with them,' Gibb says.

'We're trying to help people realize that things are really happening like they did a long time ago. In the old day, people had visions and dreams. This is not rocket, new science, this is like old.'

Lori is heard saying that she was surprised to have been chosen by God to help lead 'the 144,000' because she is 'sweet and innocent'.

But, she claims God sent her a 'pre-mortal memory' of herself that showed her she was up to the task.

'I got to see myself as a warrior fighting for the savior in the pre-mortal world,' Lori says. 'I went to other worlds and I fought. And I was one of his strongest warriors.

'He showed me so I could never deny it again. I was not sweet and I was not innocent. I am old. I have fought. I have fought in this war for millennia. And that's who I am. And I came down here to be a warrior and fight. And I only thought that I was sweet and innocent.'

Lori's descriptions of herself as 'sweet and innocent' bear stark contrast to those portrayed in the media in the 10 months since news broke that her kids were missing

In this aerial photo, investigators search for human remains at Chad Daybell's residence in the 200 block of 1900 East in Salem, Idaho on June 9

Lori's descriptions of herself as 'sweet and innocent' bear stark contrast to those portrayed in the media in the year since news broke that her kids were missing.

She is now gearing up to face trial alongside Chad after a judge ruled that their cases should be combined.

Lori is facing two felony counts of conspiracy to destroy or conceal evidence, as well as three misdemeanor counts of resisting or obstructing officers, solicitation to commit a crime and contempt of court.

Chad is also charged with two felony counts of conspiracy to destroy or conceal evidence, along with two other felony counts for destruction or concealment of evidence.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty and have maintained their innocence.

Neither Chad nor Lori have been accused of harming Tylee or JJ. Authorities have yet to say how the children died, or whether homicide charges will be filed in the future.

Tylee vanished on September 8, 2019, just days before her 17th birthday. Investigators said her body was burned and dismembered before being buried sometime the following day.

JJ was last seen two weeks later on September 23. His body was wrapped in duct tape and plastic and buried the same day, investigators said.
National Guard screening, Airbnb cancellations: 5 heightened security measures for Biden's inauguration

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When President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office to become the next president of the United States, there will be a host of unprecedented security measures taken to ensure his protection.

Although tighter security for inauguration ceremonies is far from unprecedented, the actions taken to secure the District of Columbia have garnered many headlines  from news about travel and hotel cancellations to reports on how the FBI vetted 25,000 National Guard soldiers amid fears that some might be a threat to Biden.

These heightened security measures, which many say haven't been seen in the nation's capital since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, are in response to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in which hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the building. Some of them violently pushed their way in by force while others gained easy entry, leading to questions about why there wasn't more security.

The FBI had said it knew about in advance and had warned U.S. Capitol Police about the possibility of violence. After urging federal law enforcement to maintain light security around the Capitol on the day of the Jan. 6 protest, Mayor Muriel Bowser sent a letter to Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf requesting enhanced security for Biden's inauguration.

Following the unprecedented terrorist attacks on the United States Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, and the continued threat of violence in the District of Columbia, we are extremely concerned about the upcoming National Special Security Event (NSSE) led by the United States Secret Service, wrote Bowser.

We believe strongly that the 59th Presidential Inauguration on January 20 will require a very different approach than previous inaugurations given the chaos, injury, and death experienced at the United States Capitol during the insurrection.

Bowser said some enhanced security measures will continue even after Biden's inauguration, describing it as a "new normal" for the city and country. One area where small protests have been allowed to continue is at Black Lives Matter Plaza, where Biden, BLM and Antifa flags are also on display.

The following pages highlight five security measures being taken by government agencies and companies.
Trust in the media is at an all-time low, with less than half of all Americans and just 18 percent of Republicans saying they trust traditional media outlets.

The new data from Edelman's 2021 Trust Barometer was shared with Axios, and found that trust in social media has also hit an all-time low of just 27 percent.

'This is the era of information bankruptcy,' said Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman, in a statement.

'We've been lied to by those in charge, and media sources are seen as politicized and bias[ed]. The result is a lack of quality information and increased divisiveness,' he said.

The poll found that 56 percent of Americans agree with the statement that 'Journalists and reporters are purposely trying to mislead people by saying things they know are false or gross exaggerations.'

Trust in traditional media hit an all-time low this year, with just 46% of Americans saying they trust traditional media

The poll found a 15-point drop in media trust among Trump supporters (18 percent) since November, opening up a staggering 39-point gap with Biden voters

Nearly the same share, 58 percent, think that 'most news organizations are more concerned with supporting an ideology or political position than with informing the public.'

These figures are close to the average across 27 countries included in the Edelman survey, indicating that fading trust in the media is not an American phenomenon.

Republican trust in traditional media plunged following the 2020 election, when Donald Trump pressed claims of election theft that were not borne out by facts, and were rejected by traditional media outlets.

The poll found a 15-point drop in media trust among Trump supporters (18 percent) since November, opening up a staggering 39-point gap with Biden voters (57 percent).

Among the countries surveyed, trust in the media was highest in Indonesia and China, and lowest in Russia and Japan.

Followers of QAnon were told to 'trust the plan', not the media, and viewed journalists as either clueless or in cahoots with a globalist Satan-worshiping cabal of pedophiles

The US figures are similar to the global average (above) from 27 countries on questions of media trust, indicating that it is a worldwide phenomenon

'Fifty-seven percent of Americans find the political and ideological polarization so extreme that they believe the U.S. is in the midst of a cold civil war,' Edelman said.

'The violent storming of the U.S. Capitol last week and the fact that only one-third of people are willing to get a Covid vaccine as soon as possible crystallize the dangers of misinformation,' the CEO continued.

The survey found that business has emerged in the pandemic as the most trusted institution, with 61 percent trust worldwide.

Business is the only institution deemed ethical and competent by a majority in the survey, with business outscoring government by 48 points on competency and approaching NGOs in ethics.

Media trust was the lowest in Russia and Japan, and highest in China and Indonesia

Edelman said that trust continues to move local, with respondents placing even higher reliance on my employer at 76 percent, and my employer CEO at 63 percent.

International trust dropped precipitously in the world's two largest economies.

Respondents from the other markets surveyed deeply distrust the U.S. (40 percent) and Chinese (30 percent) governments.

Trust among Chinese citizens in their own countrys institutions fell 18 points in the last six months, to 72 percent.

Trust among American citizens for their own government, in the bottom quartile of countries as of November, dropped a further 5 points post-election (43 percent), a score which would place it ahead of only Japan and Russia.
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[January 21, 2021] babyTEL Rebrands as Cloudli Communications to Focus on Next Generation Voice, Data and Messaging

Cloudli Bolsters Leadership Team to Execute on Business Growth Goals and Product Strategy in North America MONTREAL, Jan. 21, 2021 /CNW/ -- Cloudli Communications , Corp. (Cloudli), a leading provider of voice, data and messaging solutions, today announced a new corporate identity (formerly babyTEL). The repositioning of the company as Cloudli better aligns its brand with its mission to enhance how businesses of all sizes communicate internally and with their customers  how, where and when they want  without compromising security, reliability and efficiency. Cloudli provides work-from-anywhere unified communications apps for SMBs, start-ups and entrepreneurs; VoIP connectivity solutions optimized for businesses of any size; and digital fax solutions that leverage new technologies without disrupting trusted and established workflows. These solutions are delivered directly and through a partnership ecosystem to over 7,000 customers, including some of the largest healthcare, financial and government organizations in North America. Originally founded in 1982 as Voice and Data Systems by renowned innovator Stephen Dorsey , Cloudli was acquired in November 2020 by Toronto-based private equity firm CPS Capital and has over 50 employees throughout Canada and the United States. This new corporate identity comes at a time when the company is well positioned for growth. Analysts agree that the Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) market is on a trajectory to reach $25 billion in 2024. In Q3 2020 alone, market resarch firm IDC reported that the hosted voice/UCaaS market grew 23.3% year-over-year. Unsurprisingly, customer interest in UCaaS spiked 88% in the midst of the pandemic, according to Avant Analytics .



In addition to its new brand, Cloudli has expanded its leadership team to reinforce the delivery of its vision: Gavin Macomber has been appointed President and CEO of Cloudli, bringing a wealth of communications and business transformation experience to the organization. Prior to joining Cloudli, Gavin held executive positions at noted telecommunications and SaaS firms including Vonage and First Orion.



has been appointed President and CEO of Cloudli, bringing a wealth of communications and business transformation experience to the organization. Prior to joining Cloudli, Gavin held executive positions at noted telecommunications and SaaS firms including Vonage and First Orion. Elinor Johansen has joined the team as SVP, CMO and Head of US Sales. Elinor has more than a decade of unified communications experience at companies such as Intrado Enterprise Collaboration and Life and Safety, Cogeco Connexion and viiz communications. Gavin and Elinor join an accomplished management team with well over 100 years of combined experience in the VoIP and IP fax space.

"The world is undergoing a massive shift in the way businesses communicate," said Gavin Macomber, CEO of Cloudli. "We are enabling successful organizations to set the pace with our next-generation unified communications and connectivity solutions. The entire Cloudli team is incredibly excited to execute on our vision to help businesses of all sizes find better ways to communicate with customers, partners and team members." About Cloudli

Cloudli Communications, Corp. (formerly babyTEL) delivers feature-rich communications solutions to businesses of all types and sizes, with a track record that spans decades. Today, our solutions include work-from-anywhere unified communications apps for SMBs, start-ups and entrepreneurs; VoIP connectivity solutions optimized for businesses of any size; and digital fax solutions that leverage new technologies without disrupting trusted and established workflows. Serving over 7,000 customers in the United States and Canada, Cloudli helps businesses across North America better communicate with their customers  how, where and when they want  without compromising security, reliability and efficiency. Find us on the web , LinkedIn , and Twitter . Cloudli Communications, Corp. is owned by CPS Capital , a Toronto-based private equity firm. All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective companies. Cloudli Media Contact

Gary Bird

FortyThree, Inc.

Cloudli@43pr.com

831.401.3175 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/babytel-rebrands-as-cloudli-communications-to-focus-on-next-generation-voice-data-and-messaging-301212136.html SOURCE Cloudli

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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bureau Veritas today announced the acquisition of Orion Assessment Services International Inc.'s Canadian food auditing business based in Toronto, ON. Orion delivers best-in-class food certification services to food manufacturers across Canada.

This strategic business acquisition gives Orion's food safety customers access to the broader suite of Bureau Veritas GFSI accredited and unaccredited services while ensuring the continued high quality standard of food auditing service they have come to expect from Orion. For Bureau Veritas, the Orion food safety business serves as a platform to expand its food certification presence in Canada and complements Bureau Veritas' US position in food auditing to provide a complete solution for North American food manufacturers. The geographic expansion of its food certification business in Canada also enhances Bureau Veritas' market leading food laboratory testing capabilities in the country.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to work with the Orion team to ensure continued delivery of a gold-standard service to Orion's outstanding food safety clients. Orion's focus on a customer-centric approach to food certification has helped to build a successful business and made it easy for us to find common ground. This strategic acquisition confirms our commitment to being a full-service food safety service provider in Canada and throughout North America." - Waylon Sharp, VP/COO  Food & Agri North America.

Mark Curtis, CEO Orion, stated, "Bureau Veritas has been the perfect partner for this important transition for our clients. We believe strongly Bureau Veritas' focus on food safety, commitment to client service and global reach will be of tremendous value to our customers now and in the future."

About Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas is a world-leading provider in testing, inspection and certification. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 75,000 employees located in more than 1,500 offices and laboratories around the globe. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the Next 20 index.

Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI.

For more information, visit www.bvna.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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A postman has been slammed by Australia Post after he filmed himself doing jumps, wheelies and burnouts on a motorbike while on the job.

Online user 'JustSlammingAndJammin' posted a compilation of his stunts to TikTok on Wednesday, where it has since amassed more than 550,000 views.

'You've got mail!' he captioned the post, along with a number of hashtags such as '#WhyIsMyMailLate' and '#NedKelly'.

Online user 'JustSlammingAndJammin' posted a compilation of his stunts to TikTok on Wednesday, where it has since amassed more than 550,000 views. He is pictured doing a wheelie (left) and doing a burnout (right)

The video begins with the Australia Post worker doing a wheelie on a wet road in a rural area of Australia.

Next, he did a burnout on a gravel road before kicking up dirt on a rural path and speeding through dense bushland.

After this he took his hands off the handle bars and stood up on the motorbike to do a T-pose while driving down another rural road.

He then showed himself making a splash as he drove through a puddle and a dog barking at him as he delivered some post.

He took his hands off the handle bars and stood up on the motorbike to do a T-pose (pictured) while driving down another rural road

The postman also performed a jump using a bump on a dirt path. He posted a compilation of his stunts to TikTok on Wednesday, where it has since amassed more than 550,000 views

Lastly, he performed a jump using a bump on a dirt path and finished the video by throwing two cans of VB in his satchel before cracking one open.

The postman appears to have set his phone up on a tripod before performing each individual scene of the video.

TikTok placed a warning on the video that read: 'The action in this video could result in serious injury.'

He kicked up dirt on a rural path (left) and sped through dense bushland (right). The postman appears to have set his phone up on a tripod before performing each individual scene of the video

He then showed himself making a splash as he drove through a puddle (left) and a dog barking (right) at him as he delivered some post.

An Australia Post spokeswoman slammed the postman's behaviour and said he no longer works for them.

'Australia Post takes safety very seriously, and these actions are not in line with our policies and procedures, and do not reflect the service we expect our people to deliver to the community,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'We can confirm the individual has not worked for Australia Post for some time.'

Sue Spooner this week went looking for the scrapbook she kept as a teenager, an artifact from that time in life when a kid hangs onto everything. The handwritten note is still there, glued down next to the original envelope, a note thanking Spooner for the wonderful and exquisite gift.

Spooner hardly saw it as a piece of history. She saved it for the meaning it held at the time, based on the lasting impact of one particular teacher.

She could not anticipate, some 55 years later, that it would link her to the inauguration of a president.

When Joe Biden took the oath Wednesday and became the 46th president of the United States, Spooner  like dozens of others in their late 60s, raised in her old neighborhood  was thinking of the teacher they once called "Miss Hunter," but the one they now simply describe as Neilia.

Spooner lives just outside Syracuse, where Biden settled while attending law school at Syracuse University. That makes him the first president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt  so deeply linked to Hyde Park  to have lived in upstate New York, and Spooner was there to see the reason why.

In seventh and eighth grade, her English teacher at the old Bellevue Academy was Neilia Hunter, an Auburn native who met Biden on spring break when they were both in college, and whose presence played a central role in why he attended Syracuse. We all loved her in the neighborhood, said Spooner, who figures that even in a country so divided over politics, it is worth taking a communal moment to remember the life, impact and vast loss she associates with the teacher who was Joe Bidens first wife.

Biden has been married since 1977 to Jill Tracy Biden, also an educator. In December 1972, Neilia died with their 13-month-old daughter, Naomi, in a Delaware car crash, after a collision with a tractor-trailer. The two young Biden sons, Beau and Hunter, were badly injured but survived, though Beau would die years later, at 46, from brain cancer.

Spooner was working as an administrative assistant at a Syracuse television station when her boss put a newspaper on her desk after the crash, which is how she learned Neilia had been killed. Biden was preparing for his first term as a U.S. senator from Delaware, but Spooner's grief had nothing to do with politics.

Oh my God. Thats my old teacher, she said out loud, stunned that such a tragedy could befall a young woman revered by her students.

If you think back on the uncertainties of being 13 or 14, Spooner said, Neilia was one of those teachers who brought an extra dimension of understanding. We call it going to Neilialand when we talk about those days, Spooner said, describing how she and Syracuse-area residents Rosalie Parrillo Reap and Sally Braunitzer, her closest friends, still reflect on Neilia's lasting influence on many city school kids of the time.

They loved her sense of fashion, the way she carried herself with a palpable sense of joy and empathy. After their marriage, Neilia and Biden lived in an apartment not far from the school, a familiar part of the city landscape. Spooner recalls Biden walking past and stopping to shoot the breeze with her dad while he worked on a ladder at the house.

At school, at quiet moments after classes ended, students lingered for the chance to speak with Neilia.

We all loved her, said Spooner, who will join many Bellevue graduates in thinking today of their teacher.

Pat Cowin Wojenski, 66, a Syracuse resident who is fighting through the harsh cough and headaches of Covid-19, still intended to watch the inauguration. She has worked for about a quarter-century in what is now Bellevue Elementary School, an educational passion Neilia helped to kindle.

When Wojenski was in junior high, her parents had divorced and her mother had grown ill. The weight of holding together the family fell on Wojenski's oldest brother. Neilia somehow sensed the girl's anxiety, Wojenski said, "and always encouraged me, made time for me, made me feel better about myself."

As for Spooner, a few years older than Wojenski, she went to the Biden wedding with a group of classmates that included Reap and Braunitzer, close friends she met routinely for pizza until the pandemic intervened. Neilia was their eighth grade homeroom teacher, and while some parts of the memory are vague, Reap believes about 20 teens from that group showed up for at least part of the celebration.

The reception was in Skaneateles, not far from where Neilias parents ran Hunters Dinerant, the landmark restaurant in Auburn. Spooner recalls how she rode a bus to downtown Syracuse to pick out a gift, a red candy dish with a distinctive handle, and then went on a mission to deliver it.

Neilia, in her wedding dress, spotted the teen despite all the demands of a reception. She grabbed her husband, and for a moment the Bidens made Spooner their center of attention. As the 14-year-old watched, her teacher opened the gift and made a big deal about the candy dish, providing a sense of importance, of belonging, Spooner remembers to this day.

Not long afterward, she received the thank you note, and the line that mattered most was the last one:

"It was wonderful," Neilia wrote, your being at the wedding.

Like many who lived near the school, Spooner and her friends recall the couple's presence in the larger neighborhood. Bidens affection for German shepherds, for instance, did not begin with the dogs he and Jill are bringing to the White House. In Syracuse, their neighbors included JoAnne DelVecchio, a dog lover who had returned from teaching in Puerto Rico with a German shepherd named Flaquita.

The dog had puppies. Neilia loved to go to the window and watch them playing in the yard, and DelVecchio said Biden noticed, then bought one for his wife as a surprise. In line with his aspirations, the couple named the puppy Senator, and Reap remembers how the Bidens often took the dog for strolls around the neighborhood.

A lovely person, just beautiful in every way, said DelVecchio, now in Florida, of Neilia.

She left the same impression on Syracuse resident Mark McCarthy, a Marine Corps veteran whose family owned a nearby seafood restaurant that he managed even as he and Biden attended law school. McCarthy and his wife, Peggy, often joined Joe and Neilia at a table there for Friday fish fries, and the two women forged a quiet bond.

They were like the rest of us, struggling along, said McCarthy, now 83.

From Syracuse, the Bidens moved to Delaware, where Neilia and Naomi died barely four years after Neilia last taught at Bellevue. Spooner and Wojenski, like dozens of students, felt aching loss and disbelief that still lingers today. More than 10 years ago, shortly after Biden became vice president, he paid a visit to meet with children at the Bellevue school and to tell them stories about Neilia, before he surprised the Secret Service by walking a few blocks for an emotional stop at the house where they once lived.

The general sense of disbelief, Spooner said, has gone up yet another notch.

All of what were talking about was a while back, she said, and now hes going to be the president.

If not for Covid, Wojenski knows where she would have left flowers Wednesday. Working with then-principal Joanne Harlow, she played a central role in having a memorial to Neilia built at Bellevue. About a decade ago, the school district brought in a boulder with a plaque, and Wojenski donated a flowering tree as a touch of life and color. While she and Spooner were in different grades, they both offer the highest praise any teacher can receive.

If this White House tale had never happened, they would still remember Neilia.

Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Buffalo News. Email him at skirst@buffnews.com.

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[January 21, 2021] Luciteria Science Looks Back at 2020 in a New Article on the Company Website

TUMWATER, Wash., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The founders of Luciteria Science are pleased to announce that they have posted a new article to their website that discusses the ways that 2020 was a great year for the company. To read the article, which is titled "Luciteria Science 2020 Year in Review" in its entirety, please visit https://luciteria.com/blog/2021/1/8/luciteria-science-2020-year-in-review. As the article noted, 2020 was a positive time for Luciteria Science, due in large part to their loyal and outstanding customers. The founders are pleased to be part of peoples' quests to learn about and appreciate science, so they composed an article that examined what went well during the last 12 months. For instance, with the many stay-at-home orders in place, element ollecting quickly became one of the fastest-growing hobbies in the world.



"Inexpensive to start, easy to store, and fun to use, Luciteria Science's elements collections have helped transform an interesting niche pastime into a major learning tool that is fun and exciting for the whole family or classroom," the article noted, adding that the company also introduced new products to their line of basic and refined element samples. For example, in addition to their non-yellowing and exceptionally durable Lucite acrylic cubes and custom element density cubes, Luciteria Science added element bullion bars stamped with the company's name and logo, atomic number, and purity.

Luciteria Science also added Education Sets that offer common and rare elements as "starter kits" for the classroom, hobbyist, or laboratory, and they greatly expanded their density mirror cube lineup. "As we've grown in popularity, Luciteria Science has established itself as a leading source of unique element samples for element enthusiasts of all ages," the article noted, adding that everyone at the company is looking forward to what 2021 will bring. About Luciteria Science: Luciteria Science sells a variety of museum-quality elements for people to collect, including beryllium, carbon, mercury, and uranium. They also offer Lucite acrylic display cases and more. The company can ship elements domestically and internationally both quickly and at a reasonable rate. For more information, please visit https://luciteria.com. Contact: Luciteria Science, mike@luciteria.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/luciteria-science-looks-back-at-2020-in-a-new-article-on-the-company-website-301212631.html SOURCE Luciteria Science

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David Hooker and his daughter, Mary, shared a champagne toast in front of the TV as President Joe Biden took his oath of office.

He sighed with relief as Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris made their way to the Capitol after a ceremony that was free of mayhem. He described the inaugural speech as just what was needed to calm the passions that had erupted into lethal violence there just two weeks earlier.

I feel like a whole lot of tension has just gone out of my body, he said.

Political leaders in Southeast Texas, where a majority of voters supported the former president, reacted in more measured ways.

May God give wisdom and grace to President @JoeBiden and @VP Kamala Harris, tweeted Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont. May God continue to bless the United States of America.

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, expressed cautious optimism even as he warned of a return to Obama-Biden administration policies and positions that hurt the Texas economy, left our borders insecure, and infringed on our sovereignty.

Gov. Greg Abbott said in a message to the Black Tie and Boots Ball, an inaugural gala for Texans that was held virtually this year, We come together not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Texans, to honor the American tradition of the transfer of power.

In the U.S. Congress, where Southeast Texas is represented by two of the representatives who voted to reject Bidens Electoral College victory, the messaging had a different tone.

Rep. Randy Weber, R-Friendswood, did not mention the new president in his only tweet of the day.

Thank you President and Mrs. Trump for your service to all Americans, he wrote. May GOD bless you and your family. You truly made America Great Again.

Nor did U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville, remark on Bidens inauguration.

Back in Beaumont, Hooker, 74, recalled growing up in a conservative family in Mississippi. He was not strongly political even while a student at Lamar University in the 60s, he said.

I was into my studies in English and in the theater, just what I was doing in my own life, he said. But as time went on, I realized my interests tended to coincide more with the liberal, Democratic side.

He cast his first vote for president for Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Enjoying the ceremony with his daughter on Wednesday, he said his joy over a change in administrations was mixed with relief that the inauguration went off without violence or tragedy.

For him, Bidens speech included so many things that needed to be said that it should satisfy even supporters of the outgoing president, especially those who might have extremist tendencies.

I hope they were calmed by this speech, he said.

Benjamin Wermund contributed.

kbrent@beaumontenteprise.com

kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com
Northern Ireland's coronavirus lockdown rules will be extended to March 5 amid growing fears the measures could still be in place at Easter.

Stormont health minister Robin Swann proposed the step to help drive down case numbers.

Ministerial colleagues at the Executive in Belfast then agreed the move as First Minister Arlene Foster said the draconian curbs are needed to counter the 'serious and imminent threat posed by Covid-19'.

The current lockdown started after Christmas and the restrictions include closing non-essential shops, keeping schools shut to most pupils and encouraging employees to work from home.

Family gathering have also been banned while police enforcement has been stepped up in a bid to catch rule-breakers.

First Minister Arlene Foster, pictured right and alongside deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill, said lockdown rules 'remain an appropriate and necessary response'

Ms Foster said: 'The Executive today has reviewed the current restrictions and agreed that they remain an appropriate and necessary response to the serious and imminent threat posed by Covid-19.

'Following a detailed outline from health highlighting continuing pressures on hospitals and intensive care units and the emergence of highly-transmissible variants the Executive has agreed that the restrictions will be extended for four weeks until March 5 2021.'

The decision came as the number of new cases in Northern Ireland appeared to be easing off.

But struggling hospitals are expected to face even greater pressures by this weekend due to the lag between infection and serious illness developing.

A further 21 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland have died.

Another 732 new cases of the virus have been detected, according to the Department of Health.

There are 806 Covid-positive patients in hospitals, with 70 in intensive care.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said it was a difficult decision to prolong the curbs, which will be reviewed next month.

She said: 'It has been a long and hard road for all. There is no doubt that there are better days ahead but we need to keep working together right now to save lives and protect the health service.'

The next review of the lockdown measures in Northern Ireland is due to take place on February 18.

During a press conference in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, the First Minister said the reproductive number for cases  referring to the number of people that an infected person will pass the virus on to  was now down to between 0.6 and 0.8, a halving of the rate of cases in two weeks, but that transmission rates were falling slowly.

She added: 'This is undoubtedly the most difficult of times and we know the sacrifice that you're all making to save lives and as an Executive we are committed to taking every possible step to move us forward out of this pandemic.'

Business leaders reacted with dismay to the extension as they said it would be 'little surprise' to companies but warned financial support is 'still slow to materialise'.
Siemens together with GIZ support the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in the Eastern Cape in the fight against Covid-19

A dose of Moderna vaccine against COVID-19 is prepared at the vaccination centre in Phoenix Park, Dublin, as mass vaccination drive for GPs and practice nurses has begun in Ireland (Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland/PA)

Every person in the country will be offered a vaccine against Covid-19 by September, the Health Minister has said.

As of Wednesday night, 121,900 vaccines have been given to frontline healthcare workers, as well as residents and staff in nursing homes.

The latest figures show that 73,100 vaccinations have been given to frontline health workers and 48,800 to staff and residents of long-term care facilities.

The majority of those in nursing home care facilities will be vaccinated by Sunday, Stephen Donnelly said.

Up to last night 121,900 vaccines given to our frontline healthcare workers and residents and staff in nursing homes. Well done to all involved, especially @paulreiddublin @CcoHse @HSELive @roinnslainte @AmbulanceNAS @defenceforces pic.twitter.com/Zssb5hGXzB  Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) January 21, 2021

On Thursday, Minister Donnelly told the Dail that the Governments plan is to vaccinate every Irish citizen and resident by the end of September.

The projection is based on approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the European Medicines Agency, scheduled for January 29.

He said: At that point we will be in a position to provide more accurate vaccination timelines for all citizens.

I know people are looking for it and I hear that loud and clear and fully agree.

As I said before, we are planning our programme based on a supply of vaccines that would mean every citizen can be vaccinated by September.

He added: We are on target to have the nursing home residents and staff vaccinated.

We set an ambitious target for this Sunday to have them all done or to have all of them done except for the outliers, where there will be residents who, because they have Covid-19, cannot be vaccinated.

Ireland is line for 3.3 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine if and when it is approved.

It seems that as many of as a third of patients in hospital got Covid in hospital Leo Varadkar

Meanwhile, the Tanaiste has said there are real concerns over the numbers of people contracting Covid-19 while in hospital.

The number of patients acquiring Covid-19 in Irish hospitals is of real concern, the Tanaiste has said.

He told the Dail: It seems that as many of as a third of patients in hospital got Covid in hospital.

They didnt come in Covid positive, they picked up Covid while in the hospital.

Some of them may not be sick as result, they may be sick for a different reason.

But it still is a matter of real concern that so many people are acquiring Covid in our hospitals.

Speaking during Leaders Questions, Mr Varadkar said that while mass-testing sometimes takes place where there is an outbreak of coronavirus in hospital wards, this can often distract from patient care.

Mr Varadkar also poured cold water on calls to introduce a mandatory 14 day quarantine for travellers arriving in the country, saying it would be disproportionate and unworkable.

Stay at home and save lives. Staying home is the best way to protect each other from #COVID19

a

You must stay at home except to travel for work, education or other essential purposes, or to take exercise within 5km of your home. https://t.co/grleONZjM7 #StaySafe #HoldFirm pic.twitter.com/DhbpCRyErb  HSE Ireland (@HSELive) January 21, 2021

He was responding to questions from Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy, who has obtained data showing some 49% of incoming travellers are failing to comply with passenger locator forms.

Mr Varadkar said the number of people entering the country has reduced to about 33,000 people a week.

He said many of them were travelling for essential reasons such as work or visiting dying relatives.

He added: We do need to make sure that we dont cut off essential travel entirely because sometimes it is necessary.

Thursday saw a further 51 deaths due to Covid-19 and 2,608 new cases recorded by the Department of Health.

There were a total of 1,949 people in hospital with the virus on Thursday morning with a record 214 people with the disease in intensive care units.

The 14-day incidence rate of the disease now stands at 1,141 cases per 100,000 population.

KTR urged Ajay to concentrate across the erstwhile Khammam and not restrict himself only to the Khammam Assembly segment.  ANI

HYDERABAD: Party working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao took exception to Khammam TRS leaders indulging in group politics in the district.

He was at a meeting with Khammam MLAs, MLCs, MP and other senior leaders with regard to the upcoming Graduate MLC and Khammam Municipal Corporation elections.

Party sources said that Rao pulled up transport minister Puvvada Ajay for the group politics in the district.

He pointed out the behaviour of some MLAs was causing damage and urged the leaders to change their line of working style and mingle with both the old and new leaders in order to knit a cohesive unit.

Rao said that MLAs coming in from other parties should strengthen the TRS and put up a united fight during elections. He urged Ajay to concentrate across the erstwhile Khammam and not restrict himself only to the Khammam Assembly segment. He made it clear that TRS had to win the MLC and Municipal elections and the leaders should remember that they won only one Assembly seat in 2014 and 2018 elections.

After the meeting, Tummala Nageswara Rao met the working president alone in Pragathi Bhavan and discussed party issues pertaining to Khammam.
SpaceX has purchased two deep-water oil rigs off the Texas Gulf Coast to someday use as sea-going spaceports for their Starship spacecraft.

The commercial space firm, through an entity called Lonestar Mineral Development, bought the platforms from offshore drilling company Valaris in July, according to public filings.

Several media reports say Lonestar Mineral Development bought the rigs that were headed to the scrapyard for $3.5 million each, a steal compared to the original production costs between $330 and 515 million in 2008.

London-based Valaris has corporate offices in Houston and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August.

The new owner has renamed the rigs Deimos and Phobos, presumably after the Martian moons, according to space media outlet NasaSpaceFlight.com.

Bret Johnsen, SpaceXs chief financial officer, is listed in public records as Lonestar Mineral Developments principal.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceX Starship chasers converge in South Texas

Elon Musk, CEO of privately held SpaceX, hinted at his companys plans to launch spacecraft from offshore platforms in a June 16 Tweet: SpaceX is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon & hypersonic travel around Earth.

News of the purchase came Monday when Jack Beyer, a NasaSpaceFlight.com photographer, tweeted images of Deimos.

I've been exploring around the Port of Brownsville while waiting for Starship testing and found an oil rig that appears to be named Deimos, after one of the moons of Mars! he said in the tweet. Based on job postings and @elonmusk's tweets, I'm willing to bet that SpaceX is involved.

NasaSpaceFlight.com first reported details of the sale.

SpaceX currently has more than 100 positions open at its Brownsville-area facility, including two offshore jobs.

Sea-based spaceports give companies flexibility, but pose logistical and regulatory challenges that land-based space operations dont have, said Sam Ximenes, founder and CEO of San Antonio-headquartered XArc, Exploration Architecture.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio company working with military, SpaceX to move cargo anywhere in world in an hour or less

Offshore platforms are very beneficial for mitigating launch and landing risk in areas of high population density and lessens disruption to aviation airspace operations, he said. It depends if the platform is located in international waters for which regulatory regimes apply. And, of course, the closer to shore, the easier the logistics.

Ximenes firm is working with U.S. Transportation Command to evaluate land or sea-based locations for future Starship operations, but XArc is not currently involved in developing the former oil platforms into spaceports.

SpaceXs Starship, a 160-foot-tall rocket that Musk hopes will someday shepherd people and cargo anywhere on earth in under an hour  and eventually to the moon, Mars and beyond  is in development at the companys Boca Chica facility outside of Brownsville.

The first high-altitude launch of the 30-foot-wide, stainless-steel craft came in December when SN8 (Serial Number 8) successfully flew to 41,000 feet, about 7.7 miles.

On ExpressNews.com: Awesome test: SpaceXs Starship blasts off from Boca Chica, explodes on landing

Once at altitude, the engines cut out and the rocket fell or belly flopped 90 degrees and glided back to earth.

Movable body fins on its base and the nose cone helped Starship maneuver while gliding horizontally like a skydiver in free fall during the descent.

Several hundred feet from the landing pad, the engines reignited, snapping the craft back into a vertical orientation and creating a controlled descent in order to land. But the landing sequence didnt go as planned, and SN8 disappeared in a fireball and dark smoke on its landing pad.

Despite the loss, SpaceX deemed the test a success, and the next Starship, SN9, is slated to blast off sometime this month.

In their current configuration, the oil rigs have living quarters for up to 150 people, and their main decks span nearly 1.4-acres. They will likely require a significant retrofit to support space operations.

SpaceX operates a fleet of unmanned droneships and manned boats off the coast of Florida to recover the Falcon 9 boosters and fairings after launches from Cape Canaveral.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceXs Starship poised to launch Texas space industry into new era

Vessel tracking websites indicate Deimos is docked in the offshore rig construction firm Keppel AmFELS facility at the Port of Brownsville, and Phobos is moored in the Port of Galveston.

Port of Brownsville spokesman Jorge Montero said he learned of the SpaceX project Wednesday from news reports and could not corroborate their accuracy.

SpaceX, Valaris and Keppel AmFELS did not respond to request for comment.

Brandon Lingle writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. brandon.lingle@express-news.net

The official presidential Twitter account only follows 13 people, mostly government officials  and Chrissy Teigen.

Hello @joebiden I have been blocked by the president for four years can I get a follow plz, Teigen tweeted on Wednesday.

hello @joebiden I have been blocked by the president for four years can I get a follow plz  chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 20, 2021

Later that day she got her wish.

My heart oh my god lmao I can finally see the presidents tweets and they probably wont be unhinged, she tweeted.

OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/BmBfkPZgEj  chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 21, 2021

Former President Donald Trump had blocked Teigen, among a number of other people.

Trump was sued for this action, as Twitter was often his way of communication to the public. A federal appeals court ruled in July of 2019 that he was in fact violating the Constitution by blocking people from his Twitter account after they criticized or mocked him, The New York Times reported.

The decision was reaffirmed in 2020 when the appeals court said it would not revisit the ruling, CNN reported.

These tweets are published by a public official clothed with the authority of the state using social media as a tool of governance and as an official channel of communication on an interactive public platform, the judge wrote, according to the news station. Excluding people from an otherwise public forum such as this by blocking those who express views critical of a public official is, we concluded, unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.

Trump was banned from Twitter earlier this month due to the risk of further incitement of violence.

The social media platform announced the permanent suspension was possible after Trump tweeted multiple times, including a video as extreme supporters of the president stormed the U.S. Capitol Building.

Biden has tweeted about 10 times since taking over the POTUS Twitter account on Wednesday.

There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face, his first tweet in office stated. Thats why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:53:26|Editor: huaxia

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RABAT, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's airports recorded 7,150,277 passengers in 2020, down 71 percent year-on-year, the Moroccan Airports Authority ONDA said in a statement on Thursday.

During the year 2019 the passenger flow in Moroccan airports reached a record high of 25.059 million, up by 11.18 percent year on year.

The drop in traffic registered in 2020 has impacted all the Moroccan airports amid COVID-19 spread in the North African country, the statement added.

Casablanca international airport, Morocco's biggest airport, received 2,994,902 passengers, down 70.96 percent year on year, the statement added.

Morocco had suspended all the national and international flights since March 15 until June 25.

The state carrier Royal Air Maroc has approved plans to cut jobs and sell 20 aircraft in order to get through the COVID-19 crisis.

The Moroccan government also granted a package of 650 million U.S. dollars in loans and subsidies to the company. Enditem
World leaders have pledged to work with President Biden on issues including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, with many praising his move to begin the formal process for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.

The big picture: Several leaders noted the swift shift from former President Trump's "America First" policy to Biden's action to re-engage with the world and rebuild alliances.

What they're saying:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Brussels, "Once again, after four long years, Europe has a friend in the White House. This new dawn in America is the moment we've been waiting for so long. Europe is ready for a new start with our oldest and most trusted partner."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who on Friday is due to become the first world leader to speak over the phone with the president, noted the U.S. and Canada's close ties and said he would work with Biden "to make our countries safer, more prosperous, and more resilient."

Trudeau later issued a statement expressing his disappointment that Biden had signed an executive order revoking the Keystone XL oil pipeline's permit.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, one of the last leaders to congratulate Biden after his election win, said he's optimistic "there is going to be a good relationship" with the new U.S. president, per AFP.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, another of the final holdouts to congratulate Biden for his win, noted in a tweet that the relationship of the U.S. and Brazil was "long, solid and based on high values."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted that he looked forward to working with Biden to strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, "expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran."

Netanyahu issued a separate statement thanking Trump "for all the great things you have done for Israel."

Irans President Hassan Rouhani told state television that a "tyrant's era came to an end" with Trump's departure and said "the ball is in Washington's court" in regards to the nuclear deal that the former president withdrew the U.S. from.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who clashed with Trump on several issues, said she looked forward to "a new chapter of German-American friendship and cooperation," according to her spokesperson.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted, "We will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet. Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!"

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted, "America's leadership is vital on the issues that matter to us all, from climate change to COVID, and I look forward to working with President Biden."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had a warm relationship with Trump, said in a Twitter post he looked forward to working with Biden "to strengthen India-US strategic partnership."

Cui Tiankai, China's ambassador to the U.S., tweeted: "China looks forward to working with the new administration to promote sound & steady development of China-U.S. relations and jointly address global challenges in public health, climate change & growth."

(Of note: His tweet came as China slapped sanctions on Trump administration officials including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who declared Tuesday that China's mass internment and other abuses of over 1 million Muslim minorities in Xinjiang constitutes "genocide" and "crimes against humanity.")

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Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US President at the West Front of the Capitol yesterday in Washington, DC. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty

Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was sworn yesterday as the 46th president of the United States, pledging to unite the country and confront an array of convulsing challenges dividing a fractured nation.

This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, Mr Biden said in an inaugural address that called on the nation to end its uncivil war and embrace a united front amid a series of daunting problems. Unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail.

With his hand on his family Bible, Mr Biden recited the oath taken by his predecessors, the pinnacle of a career in public leadership that began a half century ago.

Moments before, Kamala Harris took her oath of office, making her the countrys first female vice-president, and also the first Black American and first with Indian heritage to hold the second highest office in the land. She had placed her hand on twin Bibles, one from a family friend and the second belonging to Thurgood Marshall, the first African American justice of the Supreme Court.

Expand Close US vice-president Kamala Harris is sworn in yesterday. Photo: Saul Loeb/AP / Facebook

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Whatsapp US vice-president Kamala Harris is sworn in yesterday. Photo: Saul Loeb/AP

Mr Biden replaced Donald Trump, whose scandal-plagued single term was constantly dogged by accusations that he failed to uphold his own oath  including in recent weeks as he refused to concede the election, tried to browbeat his vice president, Mike Pence, to violate the Constitution and inspired a deadly riot by supporters against the US Capitol.

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Mr Biden, who at 78 is the oldest man to be sworn in as president, secured the office by pledging to be the polar opposite of Mr Trump  to cool tempers rather than inflame them.

He has promised to undo much of Mr Trumps legacy and restore what he refers to as the soul of America by proving that the past four years represented an aberration rather than an enduring rift in the national fabric. Early yesterday he announced the first in a blizzard of actions reversing the Mr Trump administration on a wide range of issues.

Four years after Mr Trump gave a dark and defiant inaugural address pledging to end American carnage, Mr Biden takes office seeking to appeal to the countrys more hopeful sentiments and make a plea for unity.

Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path, he said, calling on the nation to start afresh.

He cited his inauguration as a symbol of the country turning the page after its very democracy was tested like never before.

Weve learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile  and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed, he said.

While Mr Biden described America as a place of hope and light, of limitless possibilities, during an emotional goodbye ceremony in Delaware on Tuesday, the scene surrounding his inauguration in Washington on Wednesday offered a visceral reminder of the dark challenges he now faces as leader of the free world.

The very platform where he stood, on the West Front of the US Capitol, was overrun on January 6 by a mob incited by Mr Trump that stormed the House and Senate chambers trying to stop legislators from affirming Mr Biden as the next president.

The decision by Mr Biden and Harris to take their oaths of office outside and at the Capitol was itself an act of defiance in the aftermath of an hours-long riot in which Mr Trump supporters screamed their intention to physically assault top elected officials.

The nations capital remained in a state of part-lockdown, with more than 20,000 members of the National Guard patrolling the streets to prevent a repeat of the insurrection that breached the US Capitol and left one police officer and four rioters dead.

The National Mall that Mr Biden and Harris faced as they took their oaths was filled not with people but with 200,000 flags, a reflection of the deadly pandemic that is still spiraling nationwide a year after Mr Trump first asserted it was totally under control.

More than 400,000 Americans have died of Covid and the virus continues to upend life for millions. Key to Mr Bidens success will be his ability to contain the pandemic and marshall the resources to hasten distribution of a vaccine.

Mr Trump, who recently became the first president in American history to be impeached twice, became the first incumbent to refuse to attend his replacements oath-taking since 1869 and has continued to claim falsely that he was the rightful victor in Novembers election.

Mr Trumps falsehoods have helped convince large swathes of the country that Mr Biden is an illegitimate president, effectively stunting his political capital from the outset of his term.

Spurning the traditional handoff, Mr Trump left the White House early yesterday, still having not spoken to Mr Biden since their last pre-election debate. Shortly before boarding Air Force One, Mr Trump lauded what he said were his accomplishments and asserted that he had delivered the incoming administration  he did not mention Mr Biden by name  the foundation to do something really spectacular.

We will be back in some form, he said. So have a good life. We will see you soon.

The recent turmoil added to the multiple crises Mr Biden faces.

In addition to the pandemic, the countrys economy is buckling, and the incoming president has pledged to address climate change and racial justice  two issues that dominated the past year with huge climate-propelled fires in California and massive unrest in cities and towns over police violence.

Coming in hes got his hands full obviously, said former senator from Connecticut Chris Dodd, a close Mr Biden confidant. Any one of these issues alone would be a major problem. But combining all of them poses some real challenges.

Mr Dodd stressed that Mr Bidens age and his deep experience with national politics and crises over the past half century will guide him. There is this expression, Its not his first rodeo,  said Dodd. There is a wonderful maturity and calm that Joe has demonstrated over these past few months. Thats the voice of experience, of confidence, of discipline  you dont become an alarmist. The country wants to see in their leader confidence and assurance.

Mr Biden, a six-term senator before his eight years as vice president, has been trying to court members of Congress as he prepares to pitch an ambitious legislative agenda that includes economic relief tied to the pandemic, an immigration overhaul, infrastructure spending and climate change policy.

He needs the help. The Senate hadnt confirmed a single member of Mr Bidens Cabinet ahead of his inauguration, a departure from previous new administrations that typically start with at least some key agency heads in place. Some major slots are expected to be given a Senate nod Wednesday.

Mr Bidens party will enjoy control of the White House and Congress for the first time since 2011 yet it holds only a narrow advantage in the House and the barest majority in the Senate  a 50-50 split driven by two Democratic runoff wins in December that will leave vice-president Ms Harris to break a tie.

Mr Biden, the second Catholic elected president after John F. Kennedy, invited Republican and Democratic congressional leaders to attend mass with him yesterday morning ahead of the inauguration.

The decision by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, to attend  and to skip a farewell event for Mr Trump that took place around the same time  offered one sign that Mr Bidens approach may at least take some of the vitriol out of the policymaking process.

But Mr McConnell, who spent years as minority leader frustrating then-president Barack Obamas legislative agenda when Mr Biden was vice president, has not openly embraced the idea of helping the new president pass legislation.

Several prominent GOP lawmakers, including McCarthy, have cast doubt on Mr Bidens legitimacy  voting earlier this month to overturn the results of the election and endorsing Mr Trumps specious fraud claims.

Mr Biden has said he would not question the motives of his political opponents, pledging to find common ground and pass cross-party legislation despite Washingtons bitter polarisation. The theme of his inaugural is America United.

While Mr Biden did not mention Mr Trump directly during the speech, he called out those who manipulate and manufacture their own facts and embrace untruths.

After taking the oath, Mr Biden planned to reenter the Paris climate accords, from which Mr Trump had withdrawn the United States, and repeal Mr Trumps ban on US entry for citizens of some majority-Muslim countries. Mr Biden also has signaled that hell extend nationwide restrictions on foreclosures and require that masks are worn on federal property.

Already his team is circulating a list of possible executive orders for the first seven days of his administration, as a way to show Congress what the new administrations priorities will be. Topics include the confronting the coronavirus, combating climate change, mandating the federal government buy more American goods, and shoring up national security.

Mr Biden spent his final weekend as a private citizen at his home in Wilmington, Delaware  leaving the state briefly with his wife on Monday to pack food into boxes at a Philadelphia hunger relief organisation. He also rounded out his slate of top advisers, formally announcing Saturday that he would elevate the White House science office to a Cabinet-level position  an implicit rebuke of Mr Trump, who frequently dismissed expertise.

Harris (56) the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants and a graduate of Howard University, is set to play a key role in the administration, not least as the potential tiebreaker in the Senate.

Ms Harriss ascension is in keeping with Mr Bidens pledge to assemble an administration that looks like America. Cabinet nominees on hand for the inauguration, several of whom would be the first of their respective backgrounds to serve in their posts, reflected Mr Bidens promise to have the most diverse administration in American history. The broad tapestry of races, genders and cultures surrounding Mr Biden stood in sharp contrast to the Mr Trump administrations open rejection of diversity and multiculturalism.

But how much Mr Biden is able to achieve with razor-thin Democratic majorities in Congress could depend on his ability to convince Republicans to turn the page from the combative approach championed by Mr Trump.

The former president has no intention of making his successors job easier.

Since losing the election, Mr Trump has raised more than $200m (165m) for a new leadership commiteee, publicly mused about running for president in 2024 and been banned from major social media sites for inspiring his followers to violently object to Mr Bidens presidency.

Even Mr Trumps pending impeachment trial could upend Mr Bidens legislative agenda, eating up critical time in the Senate that could otherwise be used to confirm nominees and mark up legislation.

While much of Mr Trumps legacy can be undone with a stroke of Mr Bidens pen, his lingering sway over the Republican Party remains rock solid.

Mr Biden, who decided to run for president in 2017 after hundreds of Mr Trump supporters held a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, now confronts the ramifications of Mr Trumps ability to amass a tenuous coalition of traditional Republicans, conspiracy theorists, racists and militant extremists.

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 Washington Post
Young Professionals Network (YPN has congratulated Madam Akosua Frema Opare, Chief of Staff, for her reappointment.



YPN is a network of young professionals that focuses on advocacy for youth empowerment and seeks avenues for unearthing budding talents as the future workforce of Ghana.



President of the Network, Stephen Asiedu noted YPN was happy to identify with the Chief of Staff on her reappointment and also as the first female Chief of Staff to occupy the post.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 confirmed Madam Frema Opares reappointment along with other individuals he will be working with in his second term as President following his re-election in the December, 2020 polls.



According to Mr. Asiedu, despite being faced with many challenges in her first term as Chief of Staff, she performed very well.



Her first year was challenging but she rose above the water and delivered creditably. She was in touch with the grassroots and had a very functional secretariat. To a large extent she contributed to the success of the President in his first term, he said.



Asiedu added; So for us at YPN it is a welcoming news and we are happy for her, her team and the President because she has proven very competent and capable and with the responsibility entrusted to her for the second time, there is no doubt she is the best person for the job and she will deliver to the expectation of all.



Other persons confirmed to have retained their jobs from Nana Addos first term include Messrs Eugene Arhin as Communications Director at the Presidency and Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President.



Meanwhile Stephen Asiedu has also congratulated MP for Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako-Mensah who is also a member of YPN for winning the seat.



As the President, on behalf of the executives and the entire membership, we are only excited and very happy to have one of our members become a Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North who has been duly sworn-in. A number of our members contested but unfortunately some did not make it but we are happy to have one of our own currently in parliament.



We believe that in subsequent elections we will be able to field more candidates and we will be able to field more of our members and support them to be able to win because at YPN, what we do is we inform policies. We work closely with government and development agencies to ensure that at least whatever it is will benefit the Ghanaian and Ghana in general, we are in support and want to be part of. So if we have a lot of our members in parliament we are sure they will better contribute to the development of our country in a very strategic way. It is one of our objectives to identify potential and where necessary support them to get into government.







Source: graphiconline.com









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

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But since then, discontent with Trump, who later condemned the violence, has boiled over. On social media, Proud Boys participants have complained about his willingness to leave office and said his disavowal of the Capitol rampage was an act of betrayal. And Trump, cut off on Facebook and Twitter, has been unable to talk directly to them to soothe their concerns or issue new rallying cries.

On Sushant's Birthday Kangana Pens A Note: Wish I Didnt Assume You Are Strong Enough To Handle Mafia Torture On Your Own

Sushant Singh Rajput would have turned 35 today. The actors first birth anniversary after his death marks a somber day for the all those who worked with him in the industry and also for his millions of fans who still hope that he finds the justice he deserved in death.

On the occasion actress, Kangana Ranaut penned a note for the actor remembering him in a series of tweets. Through her note the actress took a jab at the Bollywood mafia who apparently tortured Sushant in the industry.

She wrote, Dear Sushant, movie mafia banned you bullied you and harassed you, many times on social media you asked for help and I regret not being there for you. I wish I didnt assume you are strong enough to handle mafia torture on your own. I wish ... Happy Birthday dear one

Dear Sushant, movie mafia banned you bullied you and harassed you, many times on social media you aksed for help and I regret not being there for you. I wish I didnt assume you are strong enough to handle mafia torture on your own. I wish ...

Happy Birthday dear one #SushantDaypic.twitter.com/xqgq2PBi0Y  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 21, 2021

Talking about Sushants death and how the Bollywood mafia cornered him she continued her thoughts and wrote, Never forget before his death Sushant wrote on his social media that movie mafia is trying to throw him out of film industry and seeked help from his followers in making his film a success. he complained about nepotism in his interviews. His blockbuster films were declared flop. Never forget Sushant spoke about YashRaj films banning him,He also spoke about Karan Johar showing him big dreams and dumping his film on streaming, then crying to the whole world that Sushant is a flop actor. Never forget all Mahesh Bhatt children are depressed yet he told Sushant that he will die Parveen Babi death, he self admittedly gave him therapy. These people collectively killed him and Sushant himself wrote that in his social media interaction before his death. Never forgive never forget.

Never forget before his death Sushant wrote on his social media that movie mafia is trying to throw him out of film industry and seeked help from his followers in making his film a success. he complained about nepotism in his interviews. His blockbuster films were declared flop.  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 21, 2021

Sushant that he will die Parveen Babi death, he self admittedly gave him therapy. These people collectively killed him and Sushant himslef wrote that in his social media interaction before his death. Never forgive never forget #SushantSinghRajput#SushantDay  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 21, 2021

Sushant Singh Rajput died on June 14, 2020 in his Mumbai based apartment. The police did not recover any note from his room and several film personalities were questioned as an investigation was launched over speculations that he was treated unfairly. The investigations later took a turn when Sushants family filed an F.I.R and alleged that his death was a case of abetment of suicide which was later changed to murder allegations as the case was handed over to the CBI.

The late actor who rose to fame with the daily soap Pavitra Rishta on TV later went deliver several noteworthy performances in his career in Bollywood. Right from Kai Po Che, his debut film, to films like Chhichore, M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Kedarnath, Shudh Desi Romance, his performances struck a chord with the audiences.
Spain's public prosecutor is investigating more than 200 cases of potential criminal mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic at nursing homes, where the virus spread almost unchecked during the devastating first wave.

Nearly 43,000 care home residents died of COVID-19 or suspected infection during the March-May first wave of contagion, according to official data.

At the time, staff reported shortages of basic protective equipment and army units deployed on disinfection missions discovered unattended bodies at several facilities.

The prosecutor's office said nearly half of its investigations related to homicide through a neglect of duty of care, while it was looking into 21 cases of deficiencies in medical treatment.

With Spain reporting record infection numbers on an almost daily basis, it warned that risks still remained across the care home network, despite improvements made in recent months.

"The increase in general contagion is still a risk for residential environments," it said in a statement on Thursday, adding that it would continue to closely monitor the situation.

Pre-existing weaknesses, including governance, funding, working conditions, a lack of coordination with primary health care, and a lack of isolation spaces, are still widespread, the report said.

Prosecutors shelved other cases, most of the time after charges were rolled into other cases or passed to courts, rather than because investigators found no evidence of wrongdoing.

Spain has about 5,500 nursing homes, housing some 400,000 people, according to the European Ageing Network, which represents both individual carers and businesses.

The heads of both Spain's main care home associations said they needed more information on the investigations before commenting. In the past, the associations have blamed the government for failing to provide adequate supplies and the health service for refusing to admit residents with a positive diagnosis to hospitals.
Even as the coronavirus pandemic raged, Nigeria recorded its highest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in eight quarters in the third quarter of 2020, as the nation attracted investment worth $414.79 million.

The new figures are contained in the data released by the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) on Tuesday.

According to the Trade Data Quarterly brochure for the third quarter of 2020, the jump in Q3 represents a 179 per cent increase from the $148 million the country attracted in Q2 2020.

PREMIUM TIMES analysis of the figures shows that this is the highest figure since the third quarter of 2018 and it is more than the sum of both Q1 and Q2 of 2020.

The data also indicates that the FDI was 100 per cent equity.

Earlier in the second quarter of 2020, FDI slumped to $148 million from $213 million in the preceding quarter.

NOTN said the FDI value for the second quarter was the lowest in the range that covers 10 quarters, representing data from Q1 2018 to Q2 2020.

Relying on data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the report said Nigeria attracted FDI of about $148.59million in Q2 2020, and this was lower than it was in Q1 2020 ($213 million).

But the FDI figures soared in the third quarter of 2020, ostensibly because the gradual global ease of Covid-19 lockdown activated some economic activities around the world.

Capital Importation

In its report, NOTN said the value of Nigerias Capital Importation for Q3 2020 was $1.46 billion.

For full year 2019, the capital importation was $23,99 billion, and this implies that 2020 was short of $15,37 billion to match the 2019 figure.

In terms of sector, Q3 2020 capital importation figure shows that production led in value to the tune of $400.09 million, representing slightly over a quarter (27.38%) of total capital importation. Banking came second, followed by shares, financing, telecoms, trading, agriculture, oil and gas, servicing, fishing, electrical, construction, brewering, among others.

With capital importation of $594.65 million, the United Kingdom was the biggest source in the quarter under review. The second largest source was the Netherlands, while Ireland, with $130.00million, came third.

Other countries that contributed to Nigerias capital importation in Q3 2020 were Singapore, the UAE, United States of America, Mauritius, Togo, and South Africa.

Covid-19 Effect

The slump in FDI and capital inflows in Q2 of 2020 was largely attributed to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the global economy, just as the jump in Q3 was occasioned by the ease in lockdown measures.

Since the pandemic broke out, public health measures have caused severe economic disruptions that impact the foreign direct investment to countries of the world.

Last June, amid crash in commodity prices occasioned by the pandemic, foreign direct investment flows to Africa were projected to decline between 25 percent and 40 percent, according to the World Investment Report 2020.

FDI flows to the continent were forecast to contract based on gross domestic product (GDP) growth projections, as well as other investment factors.

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The contraction was necessitated by the disruption in several services industries including aviation, hospitality, tourism and leisure, among others.

Although the COVID-19 crisis had its impact on inflows, it only made a bad situation worse by arriving at a time when FDI was already in decline.

Earlier in 2019, Africa recorded a 10 per cent drop in inflows to $45 billion.

However, UNCTAD suggested that two distinct factors offer hope for the recovery of investment flows to the continent in the medium to long run.

The first is the higher value being assigned to ties to the continent by major global economies, promoting investment in infrastructure, resources, but also industrial development, it said in its 2020 report.

Investments from these countries, which have varying degrees of political backing, despite being affected by the joint impact of COVID-19 and low commodity prices to some degree, could be relatively more resilient.

The second is deepening regional integration due to the commencement of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) after years of deliberation and the expected finalization of its investment protocol.

In the short term, curtailing the extent of the investment downturn and limiting the economic and human costs of the pandemic is of paramount importance.

On a longer term basis, it said that diversifying investment flows to Africa and harnessing them for structural transformation remain a key objective.

These objectives will require a prudent, coordinated and timely response from countries on the continent, it noted.

The Mediterranean Sea.  UNHCR/Markel Redondo

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency are deeply saddened by a tragic shipwreck off the Libyan coast yesterday (19 January), the first of 2021 in the Central Mediterranean, which claimed the lives of at least 43 people. According to IOM and the International Rescue Committee (IRC), UNHCR's partner on the ground, 10 survivors were rescued and brought to shore by Coastal Security in Zwara.

The boat, which embarked in the early hours of Tuesday from the city of Zawiya, reportedly capsized due to bad sea conditions when its engine stopped, just a few hours after departure. Survivors, mainly from Cote dIvoire, Nigeria, Ghana, and The Gambia, reported that those who perished were all men from West African countries.



IOM staff and UNHCR's partner, IRC, provided them with emergency assistance, including food, water and medical screenings, before they were released from the port.

Hundreds of people lost their lives last year attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, where the highest number of fatalities along a single migration journey worldwide occurred. IOM and UNHCR fear that due to the limited ability to monitor routes, the actual number of people who perished in the Central Mediterranean during 2020, could be much higher.

This loss of life highlights once more the need for re-activation of State-led search and rescue operations, a gap NGO and commercial vessels are trying to fill despite their limited resources.

IOM and UNHCR reiterate their call on the international community for an urgent and measurable shift in the approach to the situation in the Mediterranean. This includes ending returns to unsafe ports, establishing a safe and predictable disembarkation mechanism followed by a tangible show of solidarity from European states with countries receiving high numbers of arrivals.

The situation for migrants and refugees in Libya remains extremely precarious. Arbitrary arrests and arbitrary detention in the direst of conditions continue. Many are victimized and exploited by traffickers and smugglers, held for ransom, tortured, and abused.



IOM and UNHCR acknowledge the efforts made by the Libyan authorities in combatting smuggling and trafficking and appeal for an increase in efforts to prosecute and hold accountable criminal groups responsible for human rights abuses targeting thousands of migrants and refugees in the country.

The agencies stress that should inaction and impunity prevail, more avoidable and tragic loss of life can be expected.

For more information please contact:

IOM

Safa Msehli at IOM Geneva, [email protected] , +41 79 403 5526

, +41 79 403 5526 Ryan Schroeder at IOM Brussels, [email protected] , +32 492 25 02 34

, +32 492 25 02 34 Flavio Di Giacomo at IOM Rome, [email protected] ,+39 347 089 89 96

UNHCR
A major fire broke out at the Pune-based vaccine manufacturing company, Serum Institute of India on Thursday.

The company is involved in producing Covid-19 vaccine Covishield  developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca  which has been given emergency use authorisation in India recently and is being used for inoculation in the country's mega vaccination drive.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Namrata Patil told PTI the fire broke out at 2:45 pm on the fourth and fifth floor of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises.

10 fire tenders have reached the site of the mishap. One team of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) moved to the site as well. Firefighting operations are underway.

The Manjari facility, where the fire broke out, is where Covishield vaccine is made, reported PTI. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the official said.

There would be no loss of Covishield production due to the fire, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said.

The site where the fire broke out, is an under-construction building at SII. The vaccine and vaccine manufacturing plant are safe, quoted ANI further.

Later, the mishap led to the death of five people while the resuce team evacuated four, Pune Mayor said.

"Four people were evacuated from the building but when it came under control, five bodies were found by our jawans," said Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol, according to news agency ANI.

WATCH: Fire at Serum Institute building in Pune

#WATCH Maharashtra: 10 fire tenders present at Serum Institute of India in Pune, where a fire broke out at Terminal 1 gate. More details awaited. https://t.co/wria89t22t pic.twitter.com/u960KTR7JS  ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021

The five people who died, were perhaps the workers at the under-construction building. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but it is being speculated that welding, that was going on at the building, caused the fire, Mohol added.

Meanwhile, Serum chief Adar Poonawalla also expressed condolences for the loss of lives.

"We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation, we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed," tweeted Poonawalla.

Earlier, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is in touch with Pune Municipal Commissioner and is taking complete on-ground updates on the incident at SII. He has directed state machinery to coordinate & ensure that situation is under control, said CM office.

Poonawalla's Serum Institute, which is the world's largest vaccine manufacturing company is spread over 100 acres in Pune.

India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Serum's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

Last year, as a part of the Covid-19 vaccine inspection, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the Serum Institute site to review its production out ahead of the vaccination drive in the country.

Several other countries are relying on the Serum Institute to supply them with the vaccine.

India exported its first batch on Wednesday -- to Bhutan and the Maldives -- followed by two million doses to Bangladesh and a million to Nepal.

The country plans to offer 20 million doses to its South Asian neighbours, with Latin America, Africa and Central Asia next in line.

With agency inputs

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Neha Marda On Long-Distance Relationship With Hubby Aayushman

Being a daily soap actress, Neha has to work continuously in Mumbai. Hence, the actress misses her husband a lot. Let us tell you that Neha's businessman-husband lives in Patna. While speaking about the long-distance relationship with Aayushman, the Balika Vadhu actress said, "I always used to wait to meet him. I would always chase him. I go gaga over my husband, I am mad about him. I always chase to meet him. Mujhe humesha aisa lagta hai, ki main unko kaise miloon... I remember when I got married, I got a show called Doli Armaanon Ki and because of it I was in Mumbai and I would travel to Patna for 6-7 days every month to be with him. Aayushman also would try to meet me and come here, so the chase to meet each other was always alive."

Neha Shares Her Family Plans

When asked about her family plans, Neha Marda shared, "I was so paranoid about it. Whenever I felt or had a hint that I might be pregnant because I used to feel that I have signed up for a show and if I get pregnant what will happen. I wanted to be a mother, but at the same time, I had given my commitment to a project for a year. Thankfully, the news has not come yet, but I am planning for it. My cards are never shut, it is an open card and whenever God wants to write a story will start writing and everyone will get to know it."

The Actress On Managing Personal & Professional Life

Managing personal and professional life is quite a tough task for Neha Marda. The actress revealed that she often requests makers to give her some time off to meet her husband. "The crux of our relationship is the long-distance which is working. I think because the chase is alive, the freshness is alive, we always look forward to meeting. I always request my makers to let me go and meet my husband. But being a daily soap heroine, it is difficult. We are working it out," Neha added.

About Neha Mardas Current Show

Neha Marda's current show Kyun Rishton Mein Katti Batti also stars Siddhaanth Vir Surryavanshi in the lead role. The show is produced by Arvind Babbal under his banner Arvind Babbal Productions.
China's State Council on Wednesday convened a plenary meeting to discuss a draft government work report and the draft 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035.

The two documents will be deliberated at the top legislature's annual session in March.

The meeting, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, decided to distribute the two draft documents to local governments and relevant departments of the central government to solicit opinion.

Li said despite multiple severe shocks such as the COVID-19 epidemic and global economic recession, China's economy posted growth in 2020. Its gross domestic product exceeded the 100-trillion-yuan (15.42 trillion U.S. dollars) threshold.

In addition to stabilizing its economy, China made historic achievements in the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, won a decisive victory in poverty eradication, and wrapped up the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) successfully last year, Li noted.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period will be the first five years as China embarks on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country, said Li.

Li underlined the importance of understanding the new development stage, acting on the new development philosophy, and establishing the new development paradigm.

He called for greater progress in upgrading the economic structure, improving the quality of people's lives and promoting high-quality development.

Li urged maintaining the continuity, stability and sustainability of macro policies and the necessary support for economic recovery, ensuring the economy runs in an appropriate range, strengthening scientific and technological innovation, and stepping up reform and opening-up.

He also called for efforts to boost enterprises' confidence, address people's concerns, and guard against and defuse risks.

By soliciting opinion, Li said the government would learn about the concerns of people and businesses. Through this feedback, the government will make its policies and measures more realistic and targeted, better demonstrate the scientific and democratic decision-making process, and further stimulate the vitality of market entities and social creativity.

Vice Premiers Han Zheng, Sun Chunlan, Hu Chunhua and Liu He, and State Councilors Wang Yong, Xiao Jie and Zhao Kezhi attended the meeting.
UPPER BERN TWP., Pa. - For the third time in recent years, fire has ravaged a farm in Berks County, this time consuming approximately 67,000 chickens and two large buildings, according to fire investigators.

The latest fire erupted around 2:15 a.m. Thursday at A&L Farms in the 3300 block of Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township, west of Hamburg, sending flames and smoke high into the frigid air.

The first firefighters arrived on the scene to find one chicken house, measuring several hundred feet in length, engulfed in flames, with the fire extending through the roof and spreading to a nearly identical building situated only several feet away.

"The first house was fully involved," said First Asst. Chief Steven Kauffman, Shartlesville Community Fire Company.

The crews worked about two hours to extinguish much of the fire, but they were met with some challenges along the way.

"The pond we use was filled with sludge," Kauffman said. "We couldn't get water out of the ponds, so we had to go to a secondary pond. That was full with sludge and halfway emptied, so we had a struggle getting water to the scene."

The two chicken houses eventually collapsed, with all of the lost chickens having been inside one of them, officials said.

The firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from spreading to surrounding buildings, including an egg house that was partially damaged by the flames and smoke.

+17 PHOTOS: Chicken house fire in Upper Bern Flames tore through chicken houses at a farm in Upper Bern Township, Berks County early Thursday morning, killing nearly 70,000 chickens.

A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal said the scene is currently too unsafe to conduct a through examination of site, so he expects the investigation to take several days. In the meantime, he is estimating the amount of damage to be about $2 million.

Unfortunately, the farm is no stranger to fires, as this is the third fire in the last several years.

Flames tore through chicken houses there in 2019, and the owners lost more than 37,000 chickens. In 2015, a fire destroyed an empty barn that was going to be used to house chickens.
DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The EB-5 Immigrant Investor program was created to stimulate the U.S. economy and create U.S. jobs through foreign investment, at zero cost to the U.S. taxpayer. The EB-5 Program operated for decades with many rules that were up for varying interpretations, which led to significant abuses within the program. Many EB-5 industry stakeholders, including CMB Regional Centers, knew that the EB-5 Program was a valuable tool for the U.S. economy when used properly, and urged Congress and the USCIS to take the necessary steps to reform the program and add strict integrity measures and oversight.

Watch a video from CMB Regional Centers Founder, Patrick Hogan, which discusses why Congress should take the necessary steps to reform, reauthorize and restore Congress intent for the EB-5 program.



Over the years, Congress and USCIS have made significant attempts (and some notable progress) toward improving the EB-5 Program, although there is much left to be accomplished. In November 2019, USCIS implemented new regulations for the EB-5 Program, wherein, among other things, the minimum investment amount in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) was increased from $500,000 to $900,000, and the USCIS took back the authority to declare what qualifies as a TEA from state and local authorities. USCIS through the regulations provided clear requirements for what qualifies as a TEA thus eliminating the previous abuse.



However, the USCIS was unable to accomplish everything through regulation that is necessary to establish improved integrity and transparency requirements for regional centers and regional center operators that align with established industry best practices. These integrity measures, which can only be accomplished through legislation, should:



1. Ensure that bad actors are properly sanctioned,



2. Provide clear rules and reporting obligations on all entities involved in the EB-5 program



3. Eliminate foreign control and ownership of regional centers and regional center projects, especially involving sensitive industries,



4. Provide a level playing field to allow those in EB-5 who are adhering to the rules to create new American jobs and investment in needy communities



5. Continue Congress original intent for EB-5, adding to visa availability, increased adjudication of petitions, for program participants thus creating new jobs and new investment for America



Senators Grassley and Leahy first introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the EB-5 Program as far back as 2015. Since that time, a number of subsequent pieces of legislation have been introduced by Senators Grassley, Leahy and others. Most recently, the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2020 , sponsored and co-sponsored, by Senators Grassley and Leahy, was proposed. Senator Grassley has now taken the stance that it is time to either reform or end the EB-5 Program. While CMB does not agree with ending the EB-5 Program, we agree that the time for reform is now.



A Summary of the bill can be found here on Senator Grassleys website.



The appropriate actions taken by USCIS in 2019 by implementing new regulations have created a clear and level path forward for all participants in the EB-5 Program. Once additional ethics and integrity reforms have been approved by Congress, the EB-5 Program should be given long-term extension, which is needed so that the benefits of the EB-5 Program can be felt by the communities and neighborhoods that are in need of rejuvenation, much needed job creation and investment. Finally, after Congress implements the appropriate integrity measures and long-term authorization for the EB-5 Program, the next necessary step will be to increase the availability of visas for the EB-5 Program.

EB-5 Costs and Challenges

The original intention of Congress in creating the EB-5 program was to create jobs and bring investment to communities that otherwise have a difficult time attracting private investment. 10,000 EB-5 investors each investing $1 million (now $1.8) or in the case of specific targeted needy communities or Target Employment Areas (TEAS) $500,000 (now $900,000) are allowed under the strict requirements of the program to obtain a permanent visa for themselves and their immediate family members. However, under the current implementation of the EB-5 Program it only allows approximately 3,500 to 4,000 individual investors to enter the country per year, as their family members are being counted against the number of allocated visas.



As a result of this disparity, there are literally thousands of families who may wait for many years to receive a visa through the EB-5 visa category, even though they have already made the investment and created new American jobs all within the job creation requirements of the EB-5 program. The job creation and investment impacts to the U.S. economy from the EB-5 Program have been more than impressive and could be multiplied by more than 2.5 times at no cost to the U.S. taxpayer the benefit to the entire country could be very significant if the original intent of Congress were reemphasized and the State Department implemented the policy of not counting derivatives or family members against the original cap of 10,000 investor visas.



Removing the dependents towards the 10,000 visa cap will allow for a reduction in the backlog of petitioners waiting for adjudication due to current oversubscription. This would allow for the expansion of the EB-5 visa category within the original parameters set by congress to meet the demand from prospective immigrant investors from around the world. This would also provide for an EB-5 Program that continues to fully provide the envisioned benefits of job creation and foreign investment. Today more than ever we need a robust EB-5 program that can also help businesses that are in trouble due to covid-19 as this program has provisions for providing investment into those suffering American businesses.



If you would like to learn more about becoming a lawful permanent resident (green card) using the EB-5 Investor Visa, or CMBs current EB-5 offerings, please contact us to schedule a free initial consultation with a CMB Investor Relations Manager.



To stay up to date with CMB and EB-5 News, Subscribe to CMBs Newsletter



CMB engages Prevail Capital, LLC, a broker-dealer registered with the SEC and a member of FINRA and SIPC, to be the administrative placement agent for all CMB EB-5 partnerships.

If you would like to contact CMB Regional Centers please call +1-309-797-1550 or email us at info@cmbeb5visa.com
The conversation about the Future of SF was supposed to be a small affair, just a few dozen people chatting on Clubhouse, the latest must-have, invite-only Silicon Valley app. That was according to the discussions host, Michelle Tandler, who tweeted about the event to her 13,000 followers a day before.

Her co-host, Mike Solana, a vice president of venture capital firm Founders Fund, who is widely known for skewering San Francisco government and dunking on anti-tech sentiment, retweeted the notice to his nearly 40,000 followers.

Well be having beers, talking future of SF, and seeing if anybody joins us. [Prayer-hands emoji], Tandler wrote. Re invites  reply here if you need one. I bet there are some people with extras.

This, naturally, is not at all what happened.

Instead, the discussion quickly turned to crime and public safety, attracted the attention (and then the participation) of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, grew to nearly 3,000 listeners and drew accusations of racism after Black and Latino participants determined they had not been invited to or represented in a conversation that was, ostensibly, about the future of a city where many have lived for generations.

It was a moment that encapsulated two of the citys familiar conflicts: the friction between moderate, affluent San Franciscans and progressive city leadership, perfectly embodied by Boudin, a former public defender who is arguably the most progressive elected prosecutor in the country; and the tension over a lack of people of color in conversations about crime and criminal justice, when theyre often disproportionately affected by both.

It was, in other words, a classic internet-fueled meltdown that seemed to revolve around a few all-too-common questions: Whose city is this? Whose concerns matter the most? And who gets to determine its future?

Briefly, for the uninitiated (and uninvited), Clubhouse is a San Francisco-based drop-in audio platform where people can visit digital rooms and listen to live conversations. If so moved, a listener can raise their hand to indicate theyd like to be allowed onto the virtual stage to speak. Moderators  in this case, Tandler and Solana  are in charge of fielding those requests.

Clubhouse rooms can range from guided meditations and workshops on how to grow your social media following to discussions about Caribbean herbs and sex talks for singles. All conversations are contemporaneous; they arent saved or archived. That gives the app a certain immediacy  if you dont catch the dialogue in real time, youll miss it (unless someone has covertly recorded the discussion, a no-no). But it also presents significant challenges for moderation, something for which the app has come under fire more than once.

For the past year, Tandler, a lifelong San Franciscan who is working on launching a life-skills education app, has dedicated a significant percentage of her time  10%, she guesses  to learning about the city with a self-described focus on crime, the drug epidemic and homelessness. This includes many tweets about the citys homeless population, the increase in certain crimes, anecdotes about friends leaving and other perceived failures of local government. My main goal is to engage people in a dialogue and get more people talking about San Francisco local politics, she said.

Her tweets sometimes include the sort of language that would make many progressives wary  comments about the broken windows theory or how the city needs to be tough on crime. At the same time, she made it clear multiple times in an interview last Friday that she likes the progressive Boudin and is increasingly understanding of the constraints his office is under. (Solana, who has called for Boudins resignation, is decidedly less so.)

Tandler says shes been wanting to host a public conversation with Boudin for a while now, but the Jan. 14 virtual gathering was not supposed to be that. Rather, she describes it as a test run to check out Clubhouses tech. Shes been a member of the app for a while but had previously only dropped into conversations; this was her first go at moderating.

In tweets and in an interview after the Clubhouse event, Tandler said she had expected it to amount to a few dozen people talking about the much-discussed tech exodus and maybe real estate prices.

Instead the conversation attracted an audience of hundreds early on and, according to multiple interviews and recaps of the conversation, Solana and Delian Asparouhov, a principal at Founders Fund, swiftly focused their comments on an increase in local crime and placed the blame, at least in part, at the feet of Boudin. Homicides and burglaries were both up considerably year over year in 2020, while car break-ins, sexual assaults and other assaults were down. As a result, Boudin is facing a recall campaign just a year into his tenure, and theres an ongoing effort to fund an independent journalist dedicated solely to investigating the district attorney and his office.

Tipped off to the conversation by a constituent, Boudin was soon in the room, raising his hand to speak.

He logged on and heard a tremendous amount of misinformation and disinformation, Rachel Marshall, Boudins communication director wrote in an email to The Chronicle. He was invited to join the conversation, and did so, intending to spend just a few minutes correcting misconceptions.

Tandler says Boudins appearance was a surprise and a welcome one. (She had invited Boudin to the Clubhouse app a couple days prior, she said, but not to the Future of SF discussion specifically.) What followed initially, Tandler later tweeted, was a heated conversation that took on an overly aggressive tone.

With Boudin participating, the event went viral, attracting around 3,000 listeners. Tandler, by this point, was feeling nervous and surprised.

Eventually, tempers settled enough that the conversation turned into a Q&A with Boudin. He spoke about how the pandemic had led to a logjam in jury trials; his offices decision to enter into a plea agreement with Troy McAlister, the man accused of killing two women while driving intoxicated on New Years Eve; and the ongoing push to reduce the states prison population. Tandler described this part of the event as pretty powerful. Its not often that one of the citys most high-profile politicians faces a panel of critics, on the fly, before an audience of thousands.

Boudin wound up leaving the room after about an hour, just as one of the speakers asked Nancy Tung, Boudins onetime political rival and persistent critic to weigh in on how shed charge a hypothetical crime. I'm going to gracefully exit because were in a land of speculation, Boudin said on his way out.

As all of this was happening, frustration was growing elsewhere. Even before Boudin had joined the discussion, other Clubhouse users had caught wind of the Future of SF conversation and noted that many of the speakers were white people advocating tough-on-crime policies that have historically hurt marginalized communities and people of color the most. (Boudins office was quick to highlight this dynamic in its statement sent to The Chronicle that said Boudin was disappointed to see a lack of diversity in the conversation and the exclusion of important voices of those who have personal experiences with the criminal justice system.)

Bivette Brackett, a community organizer and co-founder of the advocacy group SF Black Wallstreet, joined the Clubhouse conversation early and says she was immediately struck by the tone. She described it as Nextdoor on Clubhouse, referencing another online platform that often draws criticism for giving space to covert racism from white and wealthy participants. Speakers in the Future of SF room, she said, were talking about how they had to take our San Francisco back and calling for increased law enforcement, all of which struck her as dog-whistle politics.

When Brackett and others raised their hands to speak, she says, they were ignored. Tandler says she was overwhelmed by the number of requests, but Brackett doesnt buy that (at least one other speaker, angel investor Balaji Srinivasan, was allowed up to the stage during the fray). Nor does she buy that it was a complete surprise that Boudin showed up. Its not uncommon, she says, for celebrities and politicians to join rooms on Clubhouse after being alerted that theyre a topic of conversation.

Were supposed to be in community, Brackett said. The purpose of Clubhouse is to have a balanced conversation. It was the weirdest. This is the most destructive, asinine group Ive seen on Clubhouse ever.

The conversation was completely tone-deaf and privileged, said Tinisch Hollins, another co-founder of SF Black Wallstreet. This really hits home for me because this has been a long-standing issue.

Eventually, a spin-off room, started by Leon DNas Sykes, popped up, this one called Future of SF really means Make SF more white. Sykes lives in Oakland, but when a friend told him about the conversation, it reminded him of others hed seen on Clubhouse. A lot of these rooms are mostly white people who are in tech having these conversations about the Bay Area or San Francisco, he said. So he made one for the people he thought were being left out. Screenshots from that room show the audience included many people of color.

Brackett eventually stepped in to help moderate that rooms discussion, which drew around 800 people (including former city Supervisor Jane Kim) and became a freewheeling conversation among longtime San Franciscans and those who said theyd been pushed out. Other speakers, including Krea Gomez-Jones, countered what they saw as the bad-faith arguments being made in the original room.

The point of contention comes around this audacity to be concerned about the future of S.F. when so much of the conversation is around whether I should leave or not, Gomez-Jones said later in an interview. Im really grateful that we were able to hold space for Black and brown San Franciscans. Were not invited to these conversations unless we make them ourselves.

By the next morning, nobody seemed particularly happy.

On Twitter, progressives and people of color were still calling out the lack of diversity  in skin color, in class, in point of view  of the original conversation. On Twitter, Solana said he regretted (eventually) politely interviewing Boudin. It was chaotic, it was nebulous, it was manipulative, he tweeted. And Tandler, who received messages of both support and derision in the days that followed, wondered what she could have done differently and whether she would ever host a discussion on the platform again. I dont know if I have thick enough skin.

Boudins office was succinct in its sign-off: The district attorney, a statement read, was hopeful that future conversations around criminal justice in San Francisco center people from communities most impacted by, and with more knowledge of, the legal system.

In the end, of course, there was no consensus about the future of San Francisco  not after one night of conversation on an invite-only app with no public record  just a tense reminder of the citys persistent divisions and the voices often left out.

San Francisco Chronicle assistant audience editor Jenna Fowler contributed to this story.

Ryan Kost is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkost@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @RyanKost
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For the second time in his stateless life, Paul Pierrilus faced the possibility this week of being deported to a country that he has never known, that he has never lived in and that has never recognized him.

The 40-year-old New York man was minutes away from boarding one of the last deportation flights of the Trump administration before a relentless international effort by his family, his attorney and a fortuitous connection to a freshman U.S. congressman helped him evade removal.

Immigration attorneys and advocates say chartered deportation flights continued uninterrupted until the last hours of Donald Trump's presidency, sending dozens of immigrants like Pierrilus to nations they scarcely know or fled decades earlier.

Advocates who track such flights estimate that more than 1,000 deportation flights took place last year.

President Joe Biden has committed to halting deportations during the first 100 days of his administration, scaling back arrests and proposing a revision of the nation's immigration laws to include a path to legalization for millions of undocumented immigrants. The proposed legislation would require support from Republicans to pass, and some have already voiced their opposition.

In the years since the last major effort to pass major legislation on the topic, in 2013, immigration attorneys and advocates have sought the help of Capitol Hill lawmakers when all other legal and procedural options for their clients have been exhausted.

Pierrilus found himself in such a situation. The financial consultant was born in the French territory of St. Martin to Haitian parents and immigrated to the United States as a child. But neither Haiti nor the French government automatically confer citizenship by birth.

So Pierrilus was stuck in limbo, a citizen of nowhere and with no country willing to give him legal status. Precise data is elusive, but the Center for Migration Studies of New York estimates that about 218,000 people in the United States are stateless or at risk of being so.

Katrina Bleckley, staff attorney with the Haitian Bridge Alliance, said a drug offense put Pierrilus on the radar of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which tried to deport Pierrilus's brother, Daniel Pierrilus, who is in an identical situation. But when Daniel Pierrilus arrived in Port-au-Prince in 2006, Haitian officials sent him back, family members said.

ICE officials said Pierrilus entered the United States in 1985 and overstayed his visitor visa. An immigration judge ordered that he be removed after a 2003 conviction for selling drugs. Pierrilus asked for his case to be reopened in 2005 and 2008, and he lost an appeal.

"Pierrilus . . . is an illegally present citizen of the Haiti," ICE said in a statement, adding that the agency had travel documents for him but declined to provide evidence.

But Pierrilus could not be deported to Haiti because he is not a citizen - a fact confirmed by a tweet from the Haitian ambassador to the United States, Bocchit Edmond.

Instead, Pierrilus checked in routinely with federal immigration officials while under an order of supervision that allowed him to live and work in the United States for nearly two decades, his attorney said.

During his Jan. 11 appointment, Pierrilus was detained and within a few days was in a facility in Alexandria, La., shackled and awaiting deportation on the eve of a new presidency.

"My mother was devastated and distraught," said his sister Neomie Pierrilus, who reached out to a cousin who went to high school with their new congressman, Rep. Mondaire Jones, D-N.Y., to see whether they could help. "I am a fighter, and I wasn't going to give up on my family."

The cousin came through with a phone number for Jones. Bleckley left messages for Jones, unsure whether it would make a difference. Jones was on a treadmill when he saw the notification.

"There was nothing to do except go to Congress," said Bleckley, who was monitoring an online tracker to see whether Pierrilus's flight had taken off. "Minutes after the text, I got a call back. I've never had a turnaround like that."

Jones's staffers worked the phones all night with Bleckley, demanding that ICE send a copy of valid Haitian travel documents for her client. They received nothing. Bleckley finally heard Pierrilus's voice on the phone about 2 a.m. Tuesday, relieved that the flight had left without him. He is expected to return home this week.

"We have an immigration system where attorneys, advocacy organizations and members of Congress must work on a case-by-case basis to work miracles in order to obtain justice for clients and constituents," said Jones, who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, which will consider Biden's proposed immigration legislation. "That is no way to run an immigration system."

Edmond, the Haitian ambassador, tweeted that his government also intervened, but he did not offer specifics.

Pierrilus is still in Louisiana. It's unclear what happens next.

"I pray to a God who answers prayers," Neomie Pierrilus said. "This was a divine intervention."
Emirates Steel, a leading integrated steel plant in the UAE, has signed a MoU with Khalifa University of Science and Technology, as part of its efforts to boost co-operation in areas of mutual interest.

The scope of work includes implementing collaborative research projects; providing scientific and professional training and development programmes and offering technical consultations and student internships at Emirates Steel premises.

As per the deal, both entities will form a scientific committee to identify and agree on the potential sponsored research programmes related to the core business of Emirates Steel, mainly in slag utilisation in agriculture or construction; recovery of CO2 from flue gases; rebar discoloration problem; and cyber security issues, said Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, the CEO of Emirates Steel, after signing the deal with Dr Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive VP of Khalifa University of Science and Technology.

"This collaboration in research projects reflects our substantial commitment to placing innovation at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that our company can grow and realise its full potential in this challenging business environment," stated Al Remeithi.

"This is aligned with our endeavours to instill a research culture across the organisation, and engage young minds at an early stage so that they can dive into one of the core industries in the UAE where they can build their future career," he added.

Emirates Steel had recently formed a scientific committee to organise and promote the R&D activities across the organisation and boost collaborations that help in expanding its innovation aspirations.

Dr Al Hammadi said: "As a research-intensive university, we are delighted to enter into this collaboration with Emirates Steel and support their specialised production facilities."

"With our research strength and expertise, we will be able to support the emergence of new technologies that will facilitate some of the operational areas to bring in production efficiency," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Some area hospitals are easing some COVID-19 restrictions.

Both Terre Haute Regional Hospital and Union Hospital facilities will make the change starting Thursday.

Terre Haute Regional Hospital will allow patients to have one visitor at a time during regular visiting hours, which are 11 am to 8 pm. Those patients can not have or be suspected of having COVID-19.

At Union Hospital facilities, non-COVID-19 patients can have one designated visitor per day. People in the emergency room, for non-COVID reasons, can also have a visitor. Visiting hours are 11 am to 8 pm.

Visitors at both hospitals must be 16-years-old, screen negative for COVID-19, follow all on-site protocols, and wear a mask at all times.
Who will be the next CM of Assam? Sarbananda Sonowal or Himanta Biswa Sarma?

Voters excluded from NRC can vote in Assam: CEC Sunil Arora

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 21: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora on Wednesday said that those excluded from Assam's updated National Register of Citizens (NRC), if their names are on the final electoral rolls, can vote in the assembly polls likely to be held in April-May.

It can be seen that the updated NRC under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court was released on August 31, 2019, excluding the names of 19,06,657 persons. A total of 3,11,21,004 names were included out of 3,30,27,661 applicants.

The CEC cited a Union Home Ministry notification of August 29, 2019 that clarified that the exclusion of a person's name from the NRC does not amount to his or her declaration as a foreigner.

China's attempt to set up dam on Brahmaputra will be encroachment on rights of India: Govt

"Since the people, excluded in the NRC, have their names in the final voters' list, they can exercise their franchise in the elections," he told the media.

Those voters who were excluded from the NRC in Assam also cast their votes in the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019.

Meanwhile, the final electoral list in Assam on the basis of January 1 as the qualifying age, was published on Monday. Assembly polls are to be held on the basis of the final electoral rolls, which have enlisted a total of 2, 29, 92, 505 voters including 1,12,34,579 women.

Assam Elections 2021: Parties want three-phase elections

Compared to the final photo electoral roll of last year, the state has registered an increase of 2.46 per cent voters in this year's final voters' list.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

Arora arrived in Guwahati on Monday and during the three days held a series of meetings with the political parties, police nodal officers, election related regulatory agencies, district deputy commissioners and police officers, state home secretary and other senior central and state officials to review the poll preparedness.

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Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 8:41 [IST]

SpaceX has purchased two deep-water oil rigs off the Texas Gulf Coast to someday use as sea-going spaceports for their Starship spacecraft.

The commercial space firm, through an entity called Lonestar Mineral Development, bought the platforms from offshore drilling company Valaris in July, according to public filings.

Several media reports say Lonestar Mineral Development bought the rigs that were headed to the scrapyard for $3.5 million each, a steal compared to the original production costs between $330 and 515 million in 2008.

London-based Valaris has corporate offices in Houston and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August.

The new owner has renamed the rigs Deimos and Phobos, presumably after the Martian moons, according to space media outlet NasaSpaceFlight.com.

Bret Johnsen, SpaceXs chief financial officer, is listed in public records as Lonestar Mineral Developments principal.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceX Starship chasers converge in South Texas

Elon Musk, CEO of privately held SpaceX, hinted at his companys plans to launch spacecraft from offshore platforms in a June 16 Tweet: SpaceX is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon & hypersonic travel around Earth.

News of the purchase came Monday when Jack Beyer, a NasaSpaceFlight.com photographer, tweeted images of Deimos.

I've been exploring around the Port of Brownsville while waiting for Starship testing and found an oil rig that appears to be named Deimos, after one of the moons of Mars! he said in the tweet. Based on job postings and @elonmusk's tweets, I'm willing to bet that SpaceX is involved.

NasaSpaceFlight.com first reported details of the sale.

SpaceX currently has more than 100 positions open at its Brownsville-area facility, including two offshore jobs.

Sea-based spaceports give companies flexibility, but pose logistical and regulatory challenges that land-based space operations dont have, said Sam Ximenes, founder and CEO of San Antonio-headquartered XArc, Exploration Architecture.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio company working with military, SpaceX to move cargo anywhere in world in an hour or less

Offshore platforms are very beneficial for mitigating launch and landing risk in areas of high population density and lessens disruption to aviation airspace operations, he said. It depends if the platform is located in international waters for which regulatory regimes apply. And, of course, the closer to shore, the easier the logistics.

Ximenes firm is working with U.S. Transportation Command to evaluate land or sea-based locations for future Starship operations, but XArc is not currently involved in developing the former oil platforms into spaceports.

SpaceXs Starship, a 160-foot-tall rocket that Musk hopes will someday shepherd people and cargo anywhere on earth in under an hour  and eventually to the moon, Mars and beyond  is in development at the companys Boca Chica facility outside of Brownsville.

The first high-altitude launch of the 30-foot-wide, stainless-steel craft came in December when SN8 (Serial Number 8) successfully flew to 41,000 feet, about 7.7 miles.

On ExpressNews.com: Awesome test: SpaceXs Starship blasts off from Boca Chica, explodes on landing

Once at altitude, the engines cut out and the rocket fell or belly flopped 90 degrees and glided back to earth.

Movable body fins on its base and the nose cone helped Starship maneuver while gliding horizontally like a skydiver in free fall during the descent.

Several hundred feet from the landing pad, the engines reignited, snapping the craft back into a vertical orientation and creating a controlled descent in order to land. But the landing sequence didnt go as planned, and SN8 disappeared in a fireball and dark smoke on its landing pad.

Despite the loss, SpaceX deemed the test a success, and the next Starship, SN9, is slated to blast off sometime this month.

In their current configuration, the oil rigs have living quarters for up to 150 people, and their main decks span nearly 1.4-acres. They will likely require a significant retrofit to support space operations.

SpaceX operates a fleet of unmanned droneships and manned boats off the coast of Florida to recover the Falcon 9 boosters and fairings after launches from Cape Canaveral.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceXs Starship poised to launch Texas space industry into new era

Vessel tracking websites indicate Deimos is docked in the offshore rig construction firm Keppel AmFELS facility at the Port of Brownsville, and Phobos is moored in the Port of Galveston.

Port of Brownsville spokesman Jorge Montero said he learned of the SpaceX project Wednesday from news reports and could not corroborate their accuracy.

SpaceX, Valaris and Keppel AmFELS did not respond to request for comment.

Brandon Lingle writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. brandon.lingle@express-news.net
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  The Philippines may be granted free COVID-19 vaccines for 15-16% of its population through the COVAX facility, Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said Thursday.

COVAX is a global initiative led by the World Health Organization with the vaccine alliance Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations that aims to ensure equitable access to coronavirus vaccines. Galvez earlier announced they were expecting free doses for 20% of the population, or around 22 million Filipinos.

"Nakikita nating mabawasan po iyong 20%. Ang narinig ko po ay baka bumaba ng 15-16% ang matatanggap natin pero okay lang po iyon dahil preparado po tayo," Galvez told a briefing.

[Translation: We are seeing the initial allocation for 20% of the population will be cut. I heard we may get doses for 15-16% percent of our population. But that's okay because we are prepared.]

The initial batch of free anti-coronavirus shots from the facility would be delivered in the first quarter of the year after the approval of the country's participation in COVAX, the Department of Health earlier said. Galvez said US-based Pfizer, Novovax, and Johnson & Johnson, as well as the UK's AstraZeneca are among the vaccine makers that have joined COVAX.

Galvez assured the public that "with or without COVAX," coronavirus vaccines will reach Filipinos. This is through procurement, which is being handled exclusively by the national government, although tripartite agreements can be entered into by the private sector and local government officials.

The country seeks to buy 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from seven frontrunners in the COVID-19 vaccine race, including firms that are part of COVAX, to immunize 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year.

The Oath Keeper case could be a model moving forward for more complicated cases. The criminal complaint shows investigators employing a variety of techniques in tracking down and charging the defendants: Thomas E. Caldwell, Donovan Crowl and Jessica Watkins. Mr. Caldwell said he intended to fight the charges at a hearing this week. Mr. Crowl and Ms. Watkins have not yet appeared in court to respond to the complaint.

Agents in their case pored through video footage at the Capitol looking for badges or insignia suggesting that the three accused militia members were part of the same group. They trolled through social media accounts on platforms like Parler for any indications that the three were not only at the building, but had planned in advance to be there. And they obtained audio recordings of Ms. Watkins talking with others who are suspected of being Oath Keepers on Zello, a push-to-talk cellphone app that operates like a walkie-talkie.

Investigators also conducted an analysis of locational data from a cellphone registered to Mr. Caldwells wife, determining that it was near the Capitol at the time of the assault. Since Mr. Caldwell had no obvious connection to the others, agents followed up the lead with a more old-fashioned method.

While searching Ms. Watkinss home in Ohio, they persuaded one of her friends to tell them that Ms. Watkins had provided a phone number for a fellow Oath Keeper with whom she had stayed after the attack. The F.B.I. was able to determine the number was connected to the cellphone registered to Mr. Caldwells wife.

On Thursday, the F.B.I. indicated that it was actively pursuing the most serious actors in the Capitol attack, announcing a reward of up to $75,000 for information about anyone linked to devices believed to be pipe bombs that were planted at the headquarters of the Republican and Democrat National Committees. The bulletin showed a grainy photo of someone wearing a white mask, black gloves and a hooded sweatshirt, walking down a street and carrying a backpack.

The Capitol investigation is, by all accounts, an enormous undertaking, drawing on the efforts of hundreds of agents and prosecutors from across the country. It promises to become even more onerous and sweeping as the probe moves toward more complex charges and investigators begin to use techniques like writing warrants to search through peoples email accounts or possibly infiltrating online chat rooms frequented by extremists.

At this point, the only other conspiracy case stemming from the riot has been brought against Eric Munchel, a Nashville bartender who broke into the Capitol with his mother, intent, court papers say, on creating a civil disturbance and impeding the business of Congress. In new court papers filed on Wednesday night, prosecutors noted that Mr. Munchel encountered several members of the Oath Keepers in the Capitol and that one of them told him, Theres 65 more of us coming.
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.
Joe Exotic and his team roared in disappointment after President Donald Trump snubbed his request to be pardoned.

Earlier this week, Exotic's team said they were confident that the "Tiger King" star would finally receive a pardon.

"We will be standing by waiting for President Trump's confirmation of the Tiger King Joe Exotic," private investigator Eric Love, one of the zoo operator's legal counsel, told Metro.

The former zoo operator even reportedly booked a stretch limousine as they waited for a last-minute pardon.

Love also prepared supplies for "hair, makeup, wardrobes" for the felon, plus a doctor and mental health expert to see him in the event of his release.

Finally, on Wednesday, President Trump marked his departure from the White House by granting 73 pardons and 70 commutations.

The now-former POTUS said back in April 2020 that he would take a look at pardoning the convicted felon. However, things happened differently as he did not issue Joe Exotic's pardon.

Because of the unexpected result, the team revealed that all of them--including fans--were disappointed with President Trump's snub.

"We are as disappointed that the President did not sign Joe's pardon, as we were confident yesterday that he would," the team ranted to TMZ. "It's only because of his fans that the pardon was even a possibility."

Joe Exotic, Team Not Giving Up

President Trump never spoke about his possible pardon since last year. However, Exotic continued to publicly ask for it in the past few weeks.

About two weeks ago, he pleaded to be pardoned in time to attend his father's funeral.

Unfortunately, it did not happen and he was not able to see his father for the last time.

In other news, the pardons' recipients included former White House adviser Steve Bannon, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Kodak Black and Lil Wayne, among others.

While the aforementioned personalities will be wild and free again, Exotic will stay behind bars.

Despite that, his team said that they are not giving up. They also pledged not to leave their client's side until his freedom is gained.

After the news emerged, Love spent two hours on the phone with Exotic, and he made him listen to his Direct Appeal Oral Arguments.

Carole Baskin Reacted!

The greatest rival of Exotic was one of the first people to react to the pardon snub.

In the same report by TMZ, Baskin expressed her gratitude for not granting the zoo owner a pardon.

"If I understand the notice I got from the prison system, he's already gotten another month added to his sentence by not obeying prison rules," she said.

Baskin and Exotic already have bad blood against each other. It even worsened after the Netflix documentary alleged that the Big Cat Rescuer was involved in her husband's disappearance.

READ MORE: WWE WrestleMania 37: Stephanie McMahon Reveals There's Hope Fans Can Attend, Watch Live!

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VATICAN CITY, JAN 21 - The former head of the Vatican Bank IOR, Angelo Caloia, was found guilty of money laundering and embezzlement over the sale of IOR property by a Vatican court on Thursday. Two lawyer brothers, Gabriele and Lamberto Liuzzo, were also found guilty in the case. Caloia and Gabriele Liuzzo were sentenced to eight years and 11 months in a Vatican jail, while Lamberto got five years and two months since he was only found guilty of money laundering and not embezzlement too. The three men were permanently banned from public office. The first two were also sentenced to pay a fine of 12,00 euros, while the latter was fined 8,000 euros. IOR, whose acronym stands for Istituto per le Opere Religiose or Institute for Religious Works, was awarded damages of around 23 million euros. (ANSA).
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 51 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

49 of these deaths occurred in January.

The median age of those who died is 80 years and the age range is 58-103 years.

There has been a total of 2,818 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight, Wednesday 20th January, the HPSC has been notified of 2,608 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 181,922 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today:

1,230 are men / 1,346 are women

55% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 42 years old

1,019 in Dublin, 204 in Cork, 135 in Donegal, 132 in Galway, 131 in Kildare, and the remaining 987 cases are spread across all other counties.

As of 2pm today, 1,943 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 214 are in ICU. 105 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; While we are making clear progress in reducing incidence we can see we still have a very large burden of infection  to illustrate this on Dec 1st, when we last eased restrictions, our 5 day moving average was 261 cases per day, today it is almost ten times that number at 2,430 cases per day.

It is evident that the population is working as one to reduce contacts and interrupt further transmission of the disease. However, we are witnessing the effects of high levels of community transmission through our hospital and ICU admissions and reported deaths. We need to continue to work together to drive this infection down and bring the disease back under control.

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; There have been 532 deaths so far in January and we can unfortunately expect this trend to continue over the coming days. Limiting contacts, keeping physical distance from others, hand hygiene, appropriate use of face coverings and general awareness about how your interactions could potentially spread infection will ultimately prevent further morbidity. Following public health advice will directly save lives.

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said; Incidence is gradually falling but remains very high across all age groups but particularly in those aged 85 and older. A considerable effort by all of us to cut down on contacts has resulted in the R number reducing to 0.5 - 0.8. We have to keep it below 1.0 if we are to successfully emerge out of this current wave.

Karina Butler, Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, said; Vaccine arrival has been a real morale booster in hospitals and nursing homes. As we are able to roll it out to the wider community it will undoubtedly lift spirits. But please remember we are at a precarious time and if we drop our guard we could undermine our efforts to combat COVID-19. For now, we must stay the course, keep contacts to a minimum, stay home and follow public health advice.

The HSE has today (Thursday, 21 January, 2021) published the results of the PRECISE study, which looked at antibodies to COVID-19 in healthcare workers in two Irish hospitals.

In St Jamess Hospital, 15% of staff had antibodies for COVID-19 while 4.1% of staff in University Hospital Galway had antibodies.

Dr Lorraine Doherty, National Clinical Director for Health Protection HSE, Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), said; The results of the study will help the health service in its response to COVID-19. It is also important to note that antibody positivity cannot be taken to mean a person is immune, and all Infection Prevention and Control measures still need to be followed.

The study will be repeated in the springtime to see how seroprevalence changes with successive waves of the pandemic, and how antibody status changes in the individuals who participate both times. The second round of testing will also look at vaccine response versus natural infection, given recent commencement of the national vaccination programme.
(CNN) -- Joe Biden will be sworn in as president at noon Wednesday. During his campaign, he made sweeping promises to restore the economy and speed up the recovery from the pandemic.

Here are some of the policies he plans to institute to get Americans back to work, boost the number of jobs, increase racial equity and raise taxes, with an aim of reopening the economy.

Covid-19 response

Biden's plan for Day One, as detailed on on his campaign website, aims at getting the Covid-19 crisis under control. It calls for doubling the number of drive-thru testing sites around the nation, investing in at-home tests and hiring at least 100,000 Americans to perform contact-tracing. He also wants to invest $25 billion into vaccine manufacturing and distribution, with the goal of getting a vaccine to every American at no cost.

The plan also involves providing funds to state and local governments so they can avoid budget shortfalls, and asking Congress to help schools with Covid-19 resources and covering part of Covid-19 related costs for small businesses.

Inequality

Biden said he won't raise taxes on people earning less than $400,000 a year. But he plans to raise revenue in the following ways:

-Raise the top income tax rate to 39.6%, where it was during President Barack Obama's administration, from the current 37%

-Raise the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%

-Require American companies to pay a minimum tax of 21% on foreign income

-Institute a tax penalty on companies that move jobs overseas but continue to sell products back to America

-Require a 15% tax on book income for companies

-Anyone making over $1 million per year would be taxed at the same rate for investment income as they are on their wages

Biden also said he wants to expand the child tax credit to help working families during the pandemic to give parents $3,000 per year for each child between the ages of 6 to 17, and $3,600 per child under age 6. He plans to expand access to refundable health premium tax credits, up to $8,000 annually in tax credits to help pay for child care.

A study from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania projects Biden's tax plan would raise revenue by $2.3 to $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years with little impact on GDP.

Jobs

Biden plans to create "at least 5 million" new manufacturing jobs. He wants to invest $400 billion in procurement investment -- processes such as supply chains -- that drive demand for American products and services, and $300 billion in research and development in tech including artificial intelligence and 5G.

The federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25, would be raised to at least $15 an hour.

As part of his jobs plan, Biden also wants to invest $70 billion in historically Black colleges and universities and Tribal schools, a move that includes a host of initiatives including scholarships and new facilities.

As for clean energy, his administration would purchase billions of dollars worth of clean vehicles and products and require countries that aren't environmentally friendly to pay a carbon adjustment tax.

Another priority in Biden's plans is promoting racial equity. He's said he will fund state and local investment initiatives for Black and Brown entrepreneurs, as well as provide up of $100 billion in low-interest business loans to Black and Brown communities through state and local lending programs.

Student loans

Biden is calling for $10,000 of each student's federal student loan debt to be canceled immediately as part of the pandemic relief response. An additional $10,000 of student loan debt will be forgiven for every year of community service performed by individuals for up to five years, under Biden's plan. He also wants to double the maximum amount of Pell grants and increase the number of students who can access to financial aid, while halving federal student loan payments.

Those who attended historically Black colleges or minority-serving institutions and earn up to $125,000 should have all debt forgiven, according to Biden, and the schools would be made tuition-free for students whose families' incomes are below $125,000.

Additional proposals

Biden also plans to adopt Elizabeth Warren's bankruptcy reform proposal, which would streamline the bankruptcy proceeding and allow people filing for bankruptcy to set aside funds for childcare and items like toys and books.

He also wants to expand worker protection rights and make it easier for workers to join unions without employers forcing them into mandatory meetings or impeding negotiations.

Biden is looking to eliminate private dollars from federal elections through a constitutional amendment, according to his website, which would require candidates to rely on public dollars alone for their campaigns. He's also calling for a law that would keep foreign nationals from influencing American elections and create more transparency on election spending, so that an ad on Facebook would be required to disclose its donors.

On the infrastructure front, Biden will propose a $1.3 trillion plan over 10 years aimed at making American middle-class workers more competitive on a global scale, push the US to adopt more clean energy processes and grow the economy.

As to how these overhauls will be paid for, Biden said reversing Trump's tax cuts will offset some of the costs of the plan.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "4 ways Joe Biden plans to fix the economy"
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Even vaccinating 100 percent of the population may not be enough to eradicate COVID-19 once 'super-covid' variants become dominant in the US, a new study suggests.

The emergence of more infectious variants means that each new case could lead to a greater number of additional cases. As a result, vaccines - even the most effective ones - may not be able to outpace the rate of transmission.

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that the efficacy of the currently available vaccines, combined with the emergence of new more infectious strains of the virus, means the reproduction rate, described by scientists as 'R' will always stay above zero, meaning each infection will lead to another case.

If the transmission rate of coronavirus could be slowed to an R number of one, the pandemic would be considered 'stable.' If it falls below one, infectious disease experts would consider the outbreak to be waning.

The East Anglia study suggests that even the shot with the best efficacy rating  Pfizer's, at 95 percent  would need to be given to be given to more than 80 percent of the population to bring the R number of the UK variant (or similarly infectious ones) below one.

Even vaccinating 100 percent of the population with the more effective Pfizer and Moderna jabs would not drive the R number to zero, the researchers suggest. Less effective shots like Oxford University's could not drive the R number below one even if 100 percent of the population received it.

On his very first day in office, President Biden signed 17 executive orders, including a mask mandate for all federal territories and properties, and promised to get 100 million Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 in his first 100 days in office - but there's no guarantee he will succeed.

Biden's plans include opening 100 vaccination centers in stadiums and convention centers, funding states' own mass vaccination sites and using the Defense Production Act to ramp up manufacturing of vaccine ingredients and supplies.

It could take weeks for the results of these new plans to show themselves, and the new study suggests time is more of the essence than ever with the already dire race between vaccination and the spread of coronavirus is heating up more still.

And so long as vaccines are less than 100 percent effective, fast-spreading variants may always be able to slip through the cracks.

Even vaccinating 100 percent of the population with Pfizer's 95% effective shot (green) would leave the transmission rate of the 'super-covid' variant from the UK above zero, while less effective shots like Oxford's (red and blue) would fail to drive the R number below 1, at which point the pandemic would be considered 'stable'

Currently, the US has an average R number of about 1.1. But arrival of the more infectious UK 'super-covid' variant  or, potentially, the South African and Brazilian variants not yet found in the US - threatens to drive that number up by about 70 percent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted last week that the UK variant could be dominant in the US by March.

US health officials like Dr Anthony Fauci have estimated that between 75 and 90 percent of Americans need to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order for the US to reach herd immunity, at which point life could begin to return to normal.

But the more rapidly the virus is spreading, the more people need to be vaccinated for herd immunity to be reached.

While the two vaccines authorized in the US  Pfizer's and Moderna's  are each more than 94 percent effective, the rollout is moving at a glacial pace in the US, which has vaccinated just 5.2 percent of its population. If the US continues at its current rate of vaccination and the new variant takes hold, the new study suggests herd immunity through vaccination - rather than more illnesses - may disappear from reach.

The US two vaccines authorized in the US are highly effective with Pfizer's vaccine preventing 95 percent of infections and Moderna's preventing 94 percent of COVID-19 cases.

But public health experts are fond of saying: Vaccines don't save lives, vaccinations do.

WHAT'S IN THE PLAN Federal mask mandate on all federal land and property, interstate planes, trains, ferries and buses

Target of 100 million shots in 100 days

100 new federal vaccination centers in stadium and convention centers

States paid to open their own mass vaccination centers, which some already have

Use Defense Production Act to order factories to make N95 masks, testing kids, vaccine ingredients and needles

Cover cost of deploying National Guard and for states to but emergency supplies

Set up Pandemic Testing Board to oversee testing

Federal guidance on when and how it is safe to reopen schools

Federal standards on how to make workplaces safer from COVID

All international travelers have to provide negative test and self-isolate on arrival

Rejoin the WHO

Regular briefings by experts such as Dr. Fauci

County-level CDC dashboard showing infections Advertisement

US companies Moderna and Pfizer - with its German partner BioNTech raced ahead of much of the world to make high quality vaccines.

However, the US has fallen down on the vaccination front.

Only 17.2 million shots have been administered in the US - about 5.2 per every 100 people in the country - according to tracking from Bloomberg.

That comes out to an average of 912,497 doses injected per day over the past week.

If the US keeps up that rate, it will take nearly a year to get the entire population vaccinated - or about nine months to reach Dr Fauci's lower herd immunity estimate of 75 percent.

Even at this rate, another 100,000 people are expected to die of COVID-19 in the next month, according to CDC projections.

It also suspects that the UK's B117 variant could become dominant in the US by March, setting off yet another wave of infections, hospitalizations and deaths, akin to Britain's, which has sent the nation into crisis mode.

In order to combat both the increased transmission rate, a vaccine needs to be highly effective and given efficiently to a large majority of a population.

The new University of East Anglia research, from Dr Paul Hunter and Dr Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted.

In the US, Moderna's and Pfizer's vaccines have been authorized and found effective at preventing COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

And in the UK, the same two vaccines plus the less effective but far cheaper and easier to handle shot from Oxford University and AstraZeneca have been approved.

However, it remains unknown whether the shots can prevent infection itself or transmission.

'We don't know if any of the vaccines provide sterilizing immunity,' Professor Hunter told MailOnline.

'As far as we can tell, if you are to stop somebody spreading the infection, you need sterilizing immunity.'

And the UAE study found that the high efficacy of vaccines and the herd immunity threshold that goes with their effectiveness may only hold true for older variants of coronavirus.

The more infectious B117 variant that emerged in the UK may require an overhaul of the herd immunity equation.

Moderna's vaccine was not included in the analysis, but it is similarly effective to the Pfizer shot, and the researcher's referred to the two interchangeably.

Oxford's vaccine is not yet authorized in the US, but likely will be in the coming months.

The two vaccines being used in the US are more effective, bu the rollout may not be moving fast enough to keep up with the more transmissible virus

Data shows vaccinating 69 percent of the population with Pfizer's jab, which is 95 percent effective, would be enough for herd immunity against the old strain.

The study also noted that 93 percent of the UK population would need to be vaccinated with Oxford's jab to reach herd immunity.

The models are based on the UK, but the principle holds true for the US.

The UK is vaccinating people more quickly than the US, but one of its three shots is less effective than the two being used in the US. And in the UK, the R number is between 1.2 and 1.3, compared to 1.1 in the US.

But when accounting for the new variant, which the academics assume is 56 percent more infectious (although other research has suggested it is 70 percent more or even twice as contagious), the equation changes dramatically.

'Vaccinating the entire population with the Oxford vaccine would only reduce the R value to 1.325 while the Pfizer vaccine would require 82 percent of the population to be vaccinated to control the spread of the new variant,' the researchers write in their study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed but is available online a preprint.

The researchers included the Kent strain, which has been identified in at least 17 US states an now accounts for at least 61 percent of all UK infections, in their analysis, but did not have enough data to look at the impact of the South Africa variant.

The UK variant does not seem to be an escape mutant as it is lacking the E484K gene,' Dr Hunter says.

The E484K gene mutation is believed to make the virus adept at avoiding antibodies which have been made by the human immune system following prior infection.

As a result, it is to blame for numerous reinfection events and scientists are growing increasingly concerned it may be able to evade current vaccines.

'The problem with the English strain is it spreading more quickly,' Professor Hunter adds.

'The South Africa strain is a different matter and has both the increased infection mutant and a degree of escape mutant.

'This does not necessarily mean the vaccine is useless but is probably slightly less effective.'

Dr Jonathan Stoye from the Francis Crick Institute, who was not involved in the study, comments on the paper: ''It reaches the provocative conclusion that administration of the Adenovirus based vaccine from Oxford/AstraZeneca alone, despite a major reduction in the seriousness of COVID-19 disease, is unlikely to generate the herd immunity needed for complete control of virus spread.

'Based on the data currently available, this study appears strong and the conclusion unarguable.

'It points to a continuing role for non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the wearing of face masks and hand washing as well as suggesting a possible utility for booster vaccinations with RNA based delivery systems.'

The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
A computer is seen in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), in the U.S. Capitol, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Friend, Lawyer: Tip About Woman Allegedly Stealing Pelosis Laptop Came From Abusive Ex-Boyfriend

Woman freed from jail on Jan. 21 under strict conditions

A tipster claiming that a Pennsylvania woman stole House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) laptop computer with plans to sell it to Russia is the womans abusive ex-boyfriend, according to her lawyer and a friend who was with the woman on Jan. 6.

The whole story has been orchestrated by her abusive ex-boyfriend who currently has a [protection from abuse order] against him, Cy Sanders, who traveled to Washington with Riley June Williams, told The Epoch Times via email.

Lori Ulrich, Williamss defense lawyer, told a court the same thing on Jan. 21.

Williams left her house, changed her phone number, and closed her social media accounts because she was trying to escape from the man, Ulrich said.

The lawyer told U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Carlson that the ex-boyfriends accusations were overstated.

The FBI disclosed in a court document on Jan. 17 that it was probing the allegation that Williams, 22, stole a laptop from Pelosis office in the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 breach of the building. The bureau cited a former romantic partner of Williams, who claimed to have been shown video of her taking a computer or hard drive from the House speakers office. No evidence of the alleged theft was provided in the criminal complaint or an attached affidavit.

A Pelosi aide has said a computer was stolen from her office, but that it was only used for presentations. Pelosi has addressed the issue, saying shes not concerned about that particular laptop.

Riley June Williams in a booking photograph. (Dauphin County Prison via AP)

Sanders relayed to The Epoch Times that the former romantic partner is himself Russian. The man has been stalking Williams and has a protective order against him, he added.

He pretty much gassed this whole thing up. He went through videotapes and sent all kinds of stuff that FBI or wherever else, because hes smarting. Hes mad, and thats whats created this whole frenzy against her, Sanders said. An attempt to contact the former romantic partner wasnt successful.

Sanders traveled with Williams and her father to Washington. Williams at one point separated from them and entered the Capitol, he said. When she returned, she clearly didnt have a laptop with her, Sanders said.

Video from the storming of the Capitol shows a woman matching Williamss description exhorting protesters to go upstairs, upstairs, upstairs during the attack, which briefly disrupted the certification of President Joe Bidens electoral victory.

Williams, who has no criminal record, is facing charges of theft, obstruction, and trespassing, as well as violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

In adding the theft-related charges on Jan. 19, a Virginia-based FBI agent said Williams was recorded on closed-circuit cameras in the Capitol going into and coming out of Pelosis office. The agents affidavit said a cellphone video that was likely shot by Williams shows a mans gloved hand lifting an HP laptop from a table, and the caption reads, they got the laptop.

During a Jan. 21 court hearing, Carlson, the judge, told Williams: The gravity of these offenses is great. It cannot be overstated.

He ordered her released into the custody of her mother, with travel restrictions, and instructed her to appear Jan. 25 in federal court in Washington to continue her case.

Allen Zhong and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The only hospital at Iranduba, an Amazonian town in northwest Brazil, is fast running out of beds and scrambling each day for oxygen as it seeks to accommodate an influx of coronavirus patients who cannot get to the nearest big city.

With no dedicated intensive care unit, the Hilda Freire hospital has had to improvise under the onslaught of a second pandemic wave that has battered Brazil's northern Amazonas state.

"It was all very quick. Suddenly everything was full. Our structure cannot handle this," an administrative employee of the hospital, who asked not to be named, told AFP.

Iranduba, a town of 50,000 people some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Amazonas capital Manaus, registered 15 coronavirus deaths between Monday and Wednesday this week -- more than in the last four months put together.

Almost all the hospital's 30 beds are occupied, and it now has just enough oxygen left for one day.

"We have had some losses," said another hospital worker, clad in top-to-bottom, white protective gear. Health personnel say they do not wish to give their names for fear of professional repercussions.

"We were very sad. We had no way to help them," the worker said, describing how several patients left the world gasping for breath without access to oxygen.

The hospital has since received several oxygen cannisters from other Brazilian states as well as neighboring Venezuela.

But the relief is short-lived.

"As soon as they unload the oxygen, we start worrying where the next day's supply will come from. It is a constant stress," said one hospital staffer.

- One hospital for 100,000 -

Iranduba is accessible via a road with many muddy stretches that are hard to navigate in periods of heavy rain, which are frequent.

It is this road the more seriously-ill patients must travel to Manaus -- the only of Amazonas state's 63 cities with dedicated intensive care beds.

But Manaus, too, is under strain, and has itself received emergency oxygen deliveries.

Story continues

Privately, families in Manaus are scrambling to find oxygen as they set up makeshift intensive care units at home, distrustful of the state's ability to take care of loved ones.

Brazil has had more than 210,000 deaths due to the Covid-19 pandemic, second only to the United States.

Amazonas state has been particularly hard hit among Brazil's 27 states, with a death rate of 159 per 100,000 inhabitants in an area where rivers and forest terrain make the logistical challenges of confronting a health crisis even more difficult.

At the Iranduba hospital, a volunteer drops off an oxygen cylinder for an 86-year-old patient admitted two weeks ago.

She works for an NGO that delivers medicines and clothes to indigenous communities.

The patient, she told AFP, "spent three or four hours without oxygen, with manual ventilation, and her family asked us for help."

About 85 km west of Iranduba along a road that crisscrosses rivers and jungle, is the town of Manacapuru, which counts 223 Covid deaths among its 100,000 population -- the highest rate in Amazonas.

It has only one hospital, Lazaro Reis, where staff race up and down its dilapidated corridors to try and deal with the influx.

- 'Another ambulance' -

A patient lies on a stretcher in the hall, hooked up to an oxygen cylinder.

"I cannot tell you how many died, but it has been many," said a doctor, who also did not want to be named.

A siren rings out, drawing closer, prompting someone to exclaim: "Another ambulance."

"No, it's oxygen," cries a man from outside, where he was controlling traffic access with orange cones and making way for the convoy of four vans loaded with green cylinders.

A dozen men rush in to start unloading the vans.

"It gives great joy when they arrive," said the traffic controller.

"You never know if they will come again."

On Tuesday, a delivery delay caused seven deaths in Caori, a settlement west of Manacapuru, according to authorities.

One of the men helping load empty cylinders onto a truck pauses, raises his hands to the sky in a praying gesture, and exclaims: "May the oxygen not stop again!"

pr/mlr/st
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PUREgraphite Awarded US$5.57M from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for New Technology Development



US$5.57M Award from the U.S. Department of Energy

Brisbane, Jan 21, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - NOVONIX Limited ( ASX:NVX ) ( FRA:GC3 ) ( OTCMKTS:NVNXF ) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned, U.S.-based subsidiary, PUREgraphite, has been selected to receive a US$5,577,738 grant under the Advanced Manufacturing Office FY20 Critical Minerals FOA (Funding Opportunity Announcement): Next-Generation Technologies and Field Validation (DEFOA-0002322).This U.S. Department of Energy FOA specifically highlighted processing of battery critical minerals including synthetic graphite. The submission from PUREgraphite, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was the only graphite-based project to be funded under this FOA.The full list of recipients can be found on the Department of Energy's website:Novonix Chief Executive Dr. Chris Burns said: "We are excited to receive this show of support from the U.S. Government and to be working with Harper International and Phillips 66 on this project. This award demonstrates the commitment by the Government to support the establishment of a domestic supply of high-performance battery materials. It also highlights the expertise, progress, partners and technology we have assembled at PUREgraphite"."The new furnace technology to be developed under this award will be industry leading and state of the art in energy efficiency, environmental impact, and capital cost. This is all part of our roadmap for continued innovation to make the highest performance material at globally competitive costs, all based in the United States", Dr. Burns said.The project, entitled "High Efficiency Continuous Graphitization Furnace Technology for Lithium- Ion Battery Synthetic Graphite Material", will focus on development of proprietary furnace technology under the previously announced strategic alliance with Harper1. The award is a multi-year project that spans engineering, construction, and installation of new processing equipment at the PUREgraphite plant. The total project cost will be US$11,503,213 including PUREgraphite's contribution of US$5,925,475 which will be funded from existing reserves.Harper International Vice President, Paul Elwell, said: "We are delighted by the selection of this innovation project by the U.S. Department of Energy. This decision highlights the significance of our close collaboration with the Lithium-Ion battery material specialists at PUREgraphite as we develop and validate next-generation thermal process technologies to address the nation's critical supply chain needs."Novonix operates the PUREgraphite anode material plant, which is ramping up capacity to 2,000 tons/year of synthetic graphite. Included in this increased output will be the supply of an initial 500 tons to Samsung SDI, one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery makers for EVs.As the only US supplier of synthetic graphite to tier-one EV battery producers, Novonix also has a non-binding agreement with Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of Japan) to assess production materials from this plant.Also announced on Monday of this week was the appointment of Professor Jeff Dahn as the Company's Chief Scientific Adviser, commencing on 1 July 2021. Professor Dahn is currently the NSERC/Tesla Canada Industrial Research Chair at Dalhousie University.About NOVONIX Ltd

NOVONIX Ltd (ASX:NVX) (FRA:GC3) (OTCMKTS:NVNXF) is an integrated developer and supplier of high-performance materials, equipment and services for the global lithium-ion battery industry with operations in the USA and Canada and sales in more than 14 countries. NOVONIX's mission is to support the global deployment of lithium-ion battery technologies for a cleaner energy future.


More trade qualifications should be delivered outside traditional four-year apprenticeships under a controversial Australian Productivity Commission proposal recommended to the federal government.

Training providers are in favour of the proposal, but the Australian Industry Group and unions warn that moving away from traditional workplace-based apprenticeships could threaten the quality of training.

Jayden Fleischer is a fourth-year apprentice carpenter. The Australian Productivity Commission has recommended reducing barriers to apprenticeship and non-apprenticeship pathways. Credit:Peter Rae

The Australian Productivity Commission's final report on reforming the skills training sector released on Thursday says the apprenticeship pathway "can be time consuming and act as a major barrier, particularly for mature-age workers", taking up to four years to complete.

"Competency-based wage progression allows apprentices to progress through their apprenticeship faster, and receive higher wages sooner, if they can demonstrate competency of skills earlier than the nominal time-based progression," the report says.

Mandi Robertson: The perfect wine pairings for your next take out
The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Adika, the upstart Tel Aviv based Gen-Z fashion brand, is taking its cutting edge styles to the home of incumbent fast fashion heavy-weights of the likes of ASOS and Boohoo.

Commanding an online following half the size of ASOS, with a fraction of the marketing budget, Adika is truly a TikTok first brand. It has become common to see TikTok creators who are in the know wearing Adika styles from head to toe.

With the confidence of a true fashionista, the company's entry into the United Kingdom fashion market will see it face off with leading European brands of the likes of Boohoo, ASOS, Missguided Zalando and more. Visit www.adika.co.uk.

Not the first name on the fashion list, Tel Aviv is known for its fun and unique lifestyle. Adika is the Tel Avivian fashionista's street style brand that began its way exclusively as a fashion e-commerce site, introducing trendy fast fashion to Israel. Adika has since developed offline retail opening 10 stores as well as international expansion into North America.

Adika was launched in the US two years ago, with an international website and a flagship store in SoHo, New York, leading the fashion world of Gen Z. The site operates an extensive activity throughout the country, with revenues estimated at the tens of millions of dollars.

According to Roy Hessel, CEO of Adika: "We are excited to expand the brand further internationally and bring our recipe for success with today's Gen Z fashion to the United Kingdom. The company's innovative development techniques and technological capabilities are tailored for fast fashion needs. This allows us to bring forward the world's leading trends on a weekly basis and translate them into fashion items coveted amongst the young and Gen Z crowds in the UK who devotedly follow all the latest word in the fashion world."

"Adika is in line with the world's biggest international sites, as a leading site in the fast-paced global fashion scene. We are pleased to embark on a new arena with the launch of the UK site, which will strengthen the company's global operations and compete with the finest international European fashion brands," said Hessel.

The UK fashion site will provide fast free shipping on purchases over 50.

About Adika

Adika is an Israeli-based online fashion and lifestyle retailer established in 2011.

The brand offers an extensive selection of fashion clothing items, footwear, bags, and accessories for young women within a wide range of sizes, prices, and updated weekly styles.

The brand, highly popular amongst fashionistas, has established its position as a solid home for fast trendy fashion, with dozens of new items being uploaded to the site weekly, following up on the world's leading trends.

In light of its booming success, in 2014, a first pop-up store was launched, initiating Adika's further expansion of services into physical retailing.

In March 2018, the company became a publicly traded company listed at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

Gain a firsthand insight into the Adika spirit by checking out its throbbing socials:

TikTok: adika.com

Instagram: adikastyle

Facebook: @adikaUS

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423588/Adika_Logo.jpg
A Dec. 14, 2020, satellite image of Woody Island, where China is conducting construction work on the northern coast to prevent erosion.

China has reclaimed more land on Woody Island, its main outpost in the northern part of the South China Sea, and is fortifying the islands coast against erosion, according to new satellite imagery and Chinese government documents seen by Radio Free Asia.

This effort points to Chinas commitment to securing its island bases against the extreme environmental conditions of the South China Sea, where its sweeping territorial and maritime claims are disputed by its neighbors.

Woody Island is the largest natural land feature that China occupies in the South China Sea. The island, located in the Paracel group, serves as the headquarters for Sansha City, and hosts Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) forces.

China established Sansha City in 2012 to administer the Paracel and Spratly islands, Macclesfield Bank, Scarborough Shoal, and their surrounding waters  though these are areas contested by several other governments in the region.

Since then, China has significantly expanded Woody Island and improved the islands infrastructure, enlarging its original harbor, completing a new harbor, and carrying out significant land reclamation along its northern coast. This activity was part of China's broader land reclamation campaign in the South China Sea, which also saw it build massive artificial islands in the Spratly Islands further south.

Although Chinas land reclamation spree was largely complete by 2017, documents reviewed recently by RFA shed light on how work on Woody Island continues. They show that Sansha City launched the first phase of a coastal renovation and restoration project on the island in late 2018, inviting companies to bid on surveying and planning contracts.

Records reveal that China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Xian Survey and Design Research Institute Company Limited won the surveying contract. China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) Water Transport Planning and Design Institute Company Limited won the planning contract. Both companies are subsidiaries of state-owned enterprises.

According to an environmental impact assessment from February 2019, the local authorities planned to carry out work on 2,159.1 meters of coastline on the northern side of Woody Island. They were reportedly planning to build 336.9 meters of seawalls, a 55-meter blocking sand jetty, four 40-meter groins, and 1,822.2m meters of revetment. Another bidding document from March 2019 provides slightly different specifications.

In May 2019, Sansha City signed a physical model experiment contract with the Ministry of Transports Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering. The bidding paperwork for this contract suggests that the institute was responsible for modeling shoreline erosion on Woody Island in support of the citys renovation and restoration work.

The document specifies that the successful bidder would simulate waves breaking on Woody Islands fringing reef and transmission losses under extreme storm surge conditions, among other experiments.

This image from Dec. 14, 2020, illustrates land reclamation and other construction conducted on the northern coast of Woody Island in recent months. Credit: Planet Labs Inc.

The investment in protecting Woody Island from the elements reflects its strategic importance to China. Its infrastructure supports PLA Navy, China Coast Guard (CCG), and maritime militia operations. The CCG and Chinas maritime militia frequently harass the fishing boats and other vessels of other South China Sea claimants. The Paracels, where it is located, are disputed between China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

In June 2020, RFA reported that China had resumed dredging at Woody Island and had started building reinforcements on the islands northern coast. New satellite imagery reveals that China continued this work into late 2020, including additional land reclamation to expand the islands coastline. China appears to have reinforced most of the northern coast of the island, dug a 20-meter by 30-meter chunk out of the islands fringing reef toward the northwest, and since June has filled in around 30,000 square meters of new land toward the northeast.

These changes are likely the product of Sansha Citys coastal renovation and restoration project.

The citys restoration work on Woody Islands coast appears poised to continue in 2021. Records show that Sansha City signed another planning contract for phase one of the project with CCCC Water Transport Planning and Design Institute Company Limited in August 2020. Moreover, that the city initiated a phase one suggests that the city could launch subsequent phases of work.

Satellite imagery shows continuing construction work on an area of newly reclaimed land on Woody Islands northern coast.

Sansha Citys current efforts to fortify Woody Islands coast against erosion are part of a broader push to ensure the long-term viability of Chinas settlements in the South China Sea. For example, China has also planted trees on small islets to prevent soil erosion. These efforts underscore Chinas intention to maintain a permanent presence on the contested islands and reefs of the South China Sea, despite growing criticism that its territorial and maritime claims are not supported by international law.

Construction on the northern coast of Woody Island can be detected by comparing satellite images taken June 25 and Dec. 14, 2020. Credit: Planet Labs Inc.

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Modiv transforms industry with innovative, investor-first focus



NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RW Holdings NNN REIT, Inc. (the Company), a real estate investment manager and crowdfunding platform, announced that the Company will move forward as Modiv Inc. (www.modiv.com), effective February 1, 2021. The new name reflects the evolution of the Company following a series of acquisitions, its investor-first mission, past and future product innovation, and long-term growth potential as it continues to make strategic investments in the non-listed real estate industry.

Over the past two years, a series of transformative initiatives have been completed by Modiv that first began with the hiring of Aaron Halfacre as CEO and continued with the acquisition of Rich Uncles Real Estate Investment Trust I ("Rich Uncles"), the internalization of its management team and the fintech platform from its former sponsor, and the acquisitions of the REITless and BuildingBITs crowdfunding platforms. Next steps for the organization are expected to include the introduction of additional real estate investment products, capitalizing on the continued evolution of the crowdfunding and non-traded REIT sectors, forging new investment partnerships, and making strategic investments in fintech- and proptech-related ventures.

Led by Ray Wirta as Chairman and Halfacre as CEO, Modiv is the only company to have crowdfunded, directly from individual investors, a $400 million real estate investment trust (REIT) that holds title to all of its properties and charges no management or performance fees. Additionally, Modiv benefits from additional growth and revenue opportunities by being the first real estate crowdfunding platform to be wholly owned by its own investors  not by venture capitalists or external principals.

Given all the changes we have already made and the possibilities we see in the future, we felt it was time to better reflect our growth potential, said Wirta, the Chairman of Modiv and the former Chairman and CEO of CBRE, the worlds largest real estate services company. We believe Modivs portfolio of investments furthers the companys ability to deliver value across the real estate spectrum, and we will focus on our investors being at the center of everything we do.

Modiv is both a pioneer and innovator within the real estate crowdfunding space. We see tremendous change coming for the industry and we believe the events of the past year have accelerated a new phase where we could see further scale achieved, stated Halfacre, Modivs CEO and a veteran of over $12 billion in prior REIT merger activity. Just as Vanguard meaningfully improved the mutual fund industry, we are on a mission to reimagine real estate and create a leading alternative investment manager of commercial real estate products that champions the individual investor by reducing high fees, eliminates conflicts of interest and embraces strong corporate governance  aspects that have far too often been overlooked or ignored in the non-listed real estate industry.

Modiv is unique in the industry by virtue of its highly experienced internal management team and board of directors. Each of the six most senior members of its management team average more than 25 years of real estate leadership experience and the seven members of its distinguished board of directors hold the distinction of currently and/or previously serving in roles such as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer for more than 12 public and private real estate companies (including eight publicly listed REITs) that were responsible for managing nearly $200 billion in real estate assets in total during their respective tenures.

Rich Uncles, the public-facing brand acquired by the Company alongside its merger with Rich Uncles REIT I in 2019, will no longer be used after February 1, 2021. Those interested in learning more about Modiv are encouraged to visit www.modiv.com for information updates on the progress of its innovative, investor-first mission, with additional details being provided in the coming weeks.

About Modiv

Modiv Inc., the largest crowdfunded equity real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States, is reimagining real estate ownership. As the first real estate crowdfunding platform to be completely investor-owned, Modiv is on a mission to be the champion for the investor through its combination of low fees and investor-centric corporate governance in order to create better  and easier  ways to invest in real estate. As of December 31, 2020, Modivs publicly registered, non-listed portfolio consisted of 40 commercial real estate properties in 14 states including 15 retail, 14 office and 11 industrial properties, as well as a 72.7% tenant-in-common interest in an office property, with more than 2.3 million square feet of aggregate leasable space.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained herein, other than historical facts, may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). The Company intends for all such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act, Section 21E of the Exchange Act and other applicable law. Such statements include, in particular, statements about expanding crowdfunding opportunities, new investment partnerships and potential new investment opportunities. Therefore, such statements are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the Companys control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, the Company makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements contained hereunder. Except as otherwise required by federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact

Ryan Hoffman

rhoffman@wearecsg.com
Earth to Joe Biden: Canceling Keystone XL Pipeline Is Gift to China, Russia

Commentary

President Joe Bidens plans to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline is a gift to someone.

The radical green groups for sure: they have opposed the oil link since its inception. The trucking and railroad industry will benefit, too, because once the pipeline is stopped, the oil will be transported in and around America by something with wheels. Its also a gift to our adversaries: for who will benefit when America and Canada cant bring their fossil fuels to market? The competition. Russia and Venezuela will be thrilled to know their market share will increase thanks to the Biden administrations fumble.

Whats fascinating about Keystone is how un-fascinating the project actually really is. Sure, its a marvel of engineering and an extraordinary accomplishment of human and mechanical skills. The 1,200-mile pipeline, from Alberta, Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast carrying crude oil to be refined, is a great infrastructure project. A State Department study commissioned during the Obama administration (when Joe Biden was vice president, a point that requires emphasis) determined the pipeline would create 3,200 temporary construction jobs directly, 42,000 additional jobs indirectly, and generate over $2 billion in wages. For the people in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska, the states through which the proposed pipeline will transverse, thats an enormous opportunity.

Biden claims to love infrastructure. His Build Back Better program commits to infrastructure programs that create good-paying jobs and achieve net-zero emissions. (Know what has emissions? Trucks and trains. Know what doesnt? Pipelines. But alas, theres no place for facts in a party which simplistically believes in science.) Eliminating Keystone for purely political reasons eliminates these jobs and all the opportunities for these communities. Rural America will not fare well under the Biden energy agenda. After all, this is just the beginning.

Are pipelines scary? If you think so, I have the plot of a horror film: the call is coming from inside the house. Your house is full of pipelines. America is crisscrossed with over 2.6 million miles of pipeline. Thats enough to get to the moon and back.  more than five times. Is there a risk? Of course, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, records all pipeline incidents. Last year, there were fewer than a dozen considered serious and one tragically resulted in the death of four workers in Texas.

Lets compare that to trucking, which is the fallback transportation method after the pipeline is ignorantly canceled. Another office at the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, also records accidents. In 2018, the most recent year for recorded data, large trucks were involved in 4,862 fatal crashes, 112,000 crashes that resulted in injury, and 414,000 crashes that resulted in property damage.

You tell me which is greener and safer: pipelines or trucks? The facts are clear, and this is in no way a knock on the trucking industry, which is a vital, noble, and risky profession. Its just a technological reality.

Keystone was also making a massive renewable energy investment, and youd think that alone would please the green Biden team. According to The Wall Street Journal, Canadas TC Energy Corp. TRP 0.29 percent is committing to spend $1.7 billion on solar, wind, and battery power to operate the partially completed 2,000-mile pipeline. Furthermore, the company pledges also to hire a union workforce and eliminate all greenhouse-gas emissions from operations by 2030.

These points, which hit the very plan Biden promises, should trump (pardon the pun) politics and keep the project alive.

Canada has an economy to run, too, and the country has lots of oil to sell. If Keystone is stopped, it will simply be sold elsewhere. China? Probably. As the worlds largest oil importer at 1011 million barrels a day, China would love to buy oil from anyone but America. Canada needs revenue and jobs. China needs oil. Losing our northern neighbors reliable, inexpensive, and abundant crude to the Chinese Communist Party nation would be a foreign policy collapse. But if Biden wants to continue the Obama-Biden tradition, more foreign policy disasters are to be expected.

Ive written here before about the great gift to China which is the entire Biden energy agenda. At the same time, he will be watching Canadas oil go to China, Biden will be buying Chinese wind and solar technologies with borrowed American tax dollars. Meanwhile, Russia will be selling its natural gas to Europe, while America will join the other eunuchs of the Paris climate accord to keep China and Russia laughing at all of us.

Great plan. Putin and Xi themselves couldnt have crafted a better one.

Energy policy isnt the simplicity of soundbites. Cancel Keystone is a bumper sticker, not the decision of a serious politician who sees the real-world fallout of jobs and geopolitics, let alone the increase in emissions that will result.

This is just the beginning of an energy agenda that will cripple us on so many levels: jobs, cost of living, and opportunity. It will hurt our critical allies in Canada and Europe. It will benefit our enemies Russia and China. And it will do absolutely nothing for the environment.

Its almost as if Joe Biden isnt the moderate we were always told he is, even if his tweets will be nicer than his predecessor.

Daniel Turner is the founder and executive director of Power the Future, a national non-profit organization that advocates for American energy jobs. From RealClearWire.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Turns out, We the People drained the swamp. We the People took our country back from a dangerous and disastrous administration. To all of you who worked to bring Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris to this moment, thank you. Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their optimism, for bringing us back to hope and to a new and far, far better American story.

Kate Littleboy, Greenbrae

A serious breach of security

Regarding Not an insurrection (Letters, Jan. 19): I cannot tell whether the writer of the letter is being disingenuous or if hes just woefully naive. To describe the violent mob that attacked the Capitol as a handful of misguided individuals is ludicrous. This wasnt a case of breaking, entering and vandalizing. Lives were lost because of their actions.

Though the plan may not have been well-thought-out (though the continuing investigation may prove some planning was involved), its obvious from the footage gathered and shown that these rioters were willing to do what they felt was necessary to stop the certification process. So far, almost 150 people have been arrested. Id say thats more than a bunch or handful. I do agree with the writer on one point: They should be punished. But other than that, Id advise him to look up the word insurrection in the dictionary.

Rosa Carrillo, San Francisco

A disgrace to the presidency

Now that Donald Trump has left the White House and Washington, hopefully for good, I ask the media to refrain from the respectful title former president. He should be forever referred to as disgraced ex-President Donald J. Trump.

John Brooks, Fairfax

Hold bad cops accountable

The U.S. Constitution is one of the most critical founding documents of our nation. It has an Equal Protection Clause that essentially prevents states from depriving any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law. That provision ensures that our liberties are left intact, even when we are accused of a crime.

Unfortunately, a loophole in our legal system has overridden this critical constitutional clause. The qualified immunity doctrine allows bad cops to abuse civilians and evade accountability for their actions.

This loophole allows the vast majority of police misconduct to go unchecked. Consider the fact that only 106 officers have been charged with homicide and only four have been convicted of murder since 2005 despite a staggering 13,000 deadly police shootings.

If no one is truly above the law in this country, then we must end qualified immunity and hold bad cops accountable.

William Wallin, Richmond

The bar is low for Biden

Our new president will immediately face incredibly daunting challenges, and I believe that he is up to the task. But, for President Joe Biden to be a vast improvement over the last president, the bar is very low. All he really needs to do is occupy the White House while not being deranged.
The Delhi police sought to convince the farmer unions to hold their tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway instead of the busy Outer Ring Road, but the farmers stuck to their demand

The second meeting between the Delhi Police and protesting farmers over the tractor rally planned on Republic Day ended with the farmers rejecting the police's suggestion of changing the rally's location and insisting that they be allowed to conduct it on the Outer Ring Road.

This, a day after union leaders, meeting officers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana police at Vigyan Bhawan to discuss the route and arrangements of the proposed rally on 26 January, rejected the suggestion of using the KMP Expressway for the rally.

Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, who has been actively involved in the 56-day-protest against the Centre's farm laws, said that the police suggested that farmer leaders should conduct the tractor rally outside the National Capital.

"We will do our parade peacefully inside Delhi. They wanted us to hold the tractor rally outside Delhi, which is not possible," Yadav.

The Outer Ring Road passes through several areas of the National Capital. These include Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Uttam Nagar, Burari Peeragarhi, and Pitampura.

PTI quoted sources as saying that police officers sought to convince the farmer unions to hold their tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway instead of the busy Outer Ring Road, but the farmers stuck to their demand.

A farmer leader, who attended the meeting with the police, said, "The government wants us to take out our rally outside Delhi, but we want to hold it inside Delhi. No decision was taken in today's meeting."

Thursday's meeting was held at the Mantram Resort near the Singhu border, which has emerged as one of the epicentres of the protests.

The meeting was coordinated by Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) SS Yadav and was attended by Special Commissioner (Law and Order-Western Zone) Sanjay Singh, Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) Dependra Pathak and other senior officers from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police.

The Supreme Court, hearing the Centre's plea seeking a direction to halt the tractor rally, on Wednesday refused to interfere in the matter. The Centre then withdrew its plea seeking an injunction against such a march on 26 January.

The apex court said that the issue of the tractor rally is in the executive domain. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said that police has the "authority" to deal with the issue of proposed tractor march in Delhi and it is not for the court to pass an order in the matter.

"We have told you that we will not issue any direction. It is a police matter. We will allow you to withdraw (the application). You are the authority and you have to deal with it. You have the powers to pass orders, you do it. It is not for the court to pass orders," said the bench, also comprising justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.

Thousands of farmers from across the country have been protesting at several Delhi border points against the Centre's new agriculture laws for nearly two months. The unions representing the farmers have begun holding tractor rallies at villages in Punjab to mobilise people for the demonstration on Republic Day.

The farmers are vehemently opposing the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.

Enacted in September, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP (minimum support price) and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.

With inputs from agencies
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is easing some of its COVID-19 restrictions in southern and central areas as case numbers continue to slowly drop.

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Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister does not respond to a reporter's question as he makes his way to question period at the legislature in Winnipeg on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. The province is easing some of its COVID-19 public health orders. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is easing some of its COVID-19 restrictions in southern and central areas as case numbers continue to slowly drop.

Starting Saturday, non-essential retail stores will be allowed to reopen at 25 per cent capacity. Since November, they have been limited to delivery or curbside pickup service.

Hair salons, barber shops and some personal health services such as reflexology can restart as well.

A ban on social visits inside private homes is being eased. Households will be allowed to designate two people who will be allowed to visit indoors. Up to five people can visit outdoors.

"Our collective progress in reducing the spread of COVID means we can undertake these very careful, very cautious reopenings at this point," Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said Thursday.

The changes will last three weeks, at which time more openings could be considered, Roussin said. The changes are not being made in the northern health region, where outbreaks in isolated communities have caused a spike in case numbers in recent weeks.

Health officials reported 196 additional COVID-19 cases Thursday and five more deaths. More than half the new cases were northern residents.

The Retail Council of Canada welcomed the news that some restrictions would be eased.

"We're relieved by today's announcement that follows over two months of very severe restrictions that have left retailers limping along using curbside delivery where possible," council spokesman John Graham said.

While non-essential stores can reopen, some other businesses, including gyms, bars and nail salons, must remain closed. Restaurants will continue to be limited to takeout and delivery.

With the demand for intensive care unit beds still running above pre-pandemic capacity, Roussin said special care must be taken when it comes to places where people gather.

"Venues that have prolonged, indoor contact  crowded places, enclosed spaces  those are where a lot of the risk (of virus transmission) lies," Roussin said.

Premier Brian Pallister has left the door open to providing more supports for businesses as the closures and capacity limits continue, although did not provide specifics.

Pallister said he is trusting Manitobans to follow the rules, and made special mention of household visits.

"We don't have enough enforcement people to check every household," Pallister said.

"We're asking you to follow the rules because that's how we'll keep each other safe."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021
Vaccine nationalism and migration

Implications for the (mis)management of Covid-19 in South Africa.

As countries begin to roll out Covid-19 vaccination programmes, principles of global health must be at the fore: equity in access will lead to equity in health for all. There is no place for vaccine nationalism  already we have seen that Covid-19 has amplified existing and ever-increasing separatist, nationalistic and xenophobic politics globally.

Emerging from the racist and separationist histories of colonial, tropical and missionary medicine, and in response to the limitations of international health  which focuses on the (poor) health of people and places elsewhere  the field of global health aims to achieve equity in health for all people worldwide.

While defining global health remains messy, we must act upon the central ambition of a collective, global response that focuses on attaining equity in health for all. This is about more than the right to health (which is of course key); it is about recognising basic population health principles whereby promoting and ensuring the good health of every individual benefits us all (conversely, leaving anyone or any population group behind is detrimental to the health of us all).

A true global health response requires the ever-elusive political will needed to address the multiple structural determinants of poor health, including promoting the health and wellbeing of people over profit.

While the aspirations of many of us for a fairer, healthier and more just world feel increasingly out of reach, the Covid-19 pandemic threw down a gauntlet. A global health approach is, by definition, necessary to successfully manage a global health crisis. But, as we have seen time and time again with various public health emergencies (Ebola, Zika, H1N1), necessity is not enough. And it is no different in this context. Rather, Covid-19 has amplified existing and ever-increasingly separatist, nationalistic and xenophobic politics globally.

Fears of the contagious migrant body overshadow sensible approaches to the management of Covid-19 in the context of a globalised and mobile world. Not only has vaccine nationalism brought the inequities inherent in global biopolitics  and the power of big pharma  to the fore, it has the potential to be translated at the microlevel, with nation-states holding the power to exclude the undeserving, burdensome migrant from their vaccination programmes. Vaccine nationalism will not only have results on individual and public health, but it will also amplify other forms of discrimination, including in access to vaccination certificates that will likely become a condition for movement across international borders.

Public health has, historically, involved the management of disease outbreaks, and many public health interventions were designed to prevent and/or restrict the movement of people to stop the spread of disease. While such practices are necessary in various forms and different times for communicable disease control, current moral panics circulating globally  and within South Africa  relating to population movements are increasingly used to support and reinforce global health security agendas, resulting in the use of health as an additional mode for securing national borders.

The prevailing fear and threat of the diseased, foreign body as an unknown outsider whose movements should be restricted in order to exercise sovereignty and protect a native population is not new. But these public anxieties about the contamination of space itself by mobile bodies have, over time, led to multiple actions to prevent or restrict population movements, with international security and sovereignty debates being inappropriately influenced.

Such approaches echo the ambitions of colonial and tropical medicine which worked to protect the (healthy) coloniser from the (unhealthy) colonised, and falling back on the reductive notion of international health which pits the health of others, elsewhere against ours, here. Such thinking has influenced the restrictions placed by states on people attempting to move from (other, unhealthy) lower-income contexts to (our, healthy) higher-income contexts.

Restricting movement into South Africa from neighbouring countries under the guise of Covid-19 disease control measures risks health for all, fuels xenophobic and anti-foreigner attitudes and fulfils the (unfounded) idea of a dangerous other travelling in order to contaminate an innocent citizen.

As Felicia Chang et al write, Just as open borders are not synonymous with disorderly migration, securitised borders are not synonymous with orderly migration. Walls and hard border controls on movement of people lead to friction between neighbouring states. The harder the borders for the movement of persons, moreover, the greater the risk of injury and death at those places where people may try to pass notwithstanding the heavy controls.

But there is no question: an effective response to Covid-19 is an equitable one. This isnt (only) about the right to good health for all; its basic public health programming. Failure to ensure access to preventative and treatment interventions  including vaccines  for all, everywhere, undermines any single nations sovereign response to Covid-19.

This co-opting of health concerns to justify the securitisation of borders and sovereignty began to emerge at the end of the Cold War, when a renewed approach to what is now framed as Global Health Security (GHS) was initiated. Sara Davies and colleagues describe GHS as a framework for identifying the threat posed by pathogens in a globalised world as a way of promoting the need for a collective global response.

Premised, once again, on the recognition that infectious diseases  such as Covid-19  know no international border, GHS offers an approach for moving beyond nationalism, sovereignty and the reductive notion of international health to take necessary, coordinated action to control an unanticipated pandemic. But in an increasingly nationalistic world, GHS can be co-opted to support ever-more restrictive approaches to the management of movement across a nations borders.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) cautions against this: While some countries may still opt for extreme protectionism, importation of diseases is always difficult to prevent. The cross-border impact of infectious diseases is better addressed through multilateral efforts; a collective, global health response is essential.

In an attempt to guide global health security actions, the WHO developed the International Health Regulations, which aim to prevent, protect against, control and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade.

However, concerns have been raised relating to the dangers of blurring global public health with the global health security agenda. Currently, there is no consensus on the role and limitations of foreign policy in public health and health security.

This global health security agenda has, at times, been co-opted by nation-states to strengthen/justify national securitisation agendas, raising concerns about how Covid-19 could provide (further) opportunities for the (mis)application of the important global health security agenda to support and justify an increasingly securitised world. How to respond to this is of concern, particularly in the SADC region, where population mobility and communicable diseases are prevalent, the non-communicable disease burden is increasing and maternal health indicators are poor.

But there is no question: an effective response to Covid-19 is an equitable one. This isnt (only) about the right to good health for all; its basic public health programming. Failure to ensure access to preventative and treatment interventions  including vaccines  for all, everywhere, undermines any single nations sovereign response to Covid-19.

As countries begin to roll out Covid-19 vaccination programmes, principles of global health must be at the fore: equity in access will lead to equity in health for all. But how this plays out in a globalised world remains to be seen. Vaccine nationalism is not only about addressing inequities in access to the vaccine globally, it is also about the ways that nation states roll out their Covid-19 vaccination plans. While common public health sense  the central tenet of any successful vaccination strategy  is clear that everyone must be included, will this be the case?

Beyond impacts on individual health and undermining the success of a national vaccination programme, excluding non-citizens promotes the global endeavour to further securitise borders. Given that vaccination certificates are likely to become a requirement for safe and regular international travel, vaccine nationalism may further harm non-citizens by pushing them into unsafe and irregular border crossings.

Ultimately, vaccine nationalism is more than just about inequity in health; it offers opportunities for states to further restrict and manage movement across borders.

How vaccine nationalism will finally play out in South Africa remains to be seen. Beyond the immediate concerns associated with vaccine nationalism  accessing vaccinations in the first place  we must caution against language referring to citizens and South Africans when developing vaccination strategies.

We must ensure that we refer to all in South Africa when advocating, developing and implementing our vaccine roll-out strategy. Ultimately, there is no place for hypocrisy. We cannot call out the international community on issues of Covid-19 vaccine nationalism if South Africa does not plan for an inclusive national response.

Jo Vearey is director and associate professor at the African Centre for Migration & Society, University of the Witwatersrand. This article was first published in Daily Maverick/Maverick Citizen.
Soulstring Media provides coverage for iQSTEL Inc.; Record revenues and global reach could set up company for a strong 2021

Miami Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - iQSTEL (OTC: IQST) is proof that markets can miss the mark when valuing emerging companies. In fact, with a current valuation of roughly $22 million, iQSTEL's most recent stock price of $0.24 may expose a massive disconnect that undervalues the extraordinary growth taking place at the company. Its IP assets, client agreements, subsidiary interests, and surging revenue fully support that thesis.

For those not already following this cloud-based services company, iQSTEL published preliminary revenues that increased by 148% on a year-over-year basis. Moreover, that triple-digit percentage surge comes as the company posted its third consecutive month of reaching $5 million or more in revenues, with record-setting performances supporting guidance for 2021 revenues to reach $60 million. Notably, the growth rate is quickening, with December 2020 revenues reaching $5.1 million, a more than 168% jump compared to the same period in 2019.

And with an extremely experienced management team leading its charge, the company set its 2021 agenda to penetrate multiple market opportunities and substantially build shareholder value in the new year. Its financial performance, combined with the proven ability to reach milestones, fuels that optimism.





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A Decades Worth Of Experience

iQSTEL is not new to its industry. The company began in 2008, specializing in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) but has since expanded into more modern communications services. Now capitalizing on their experience and expertise, iQSTEL has established numerous partnerships and client agreements that set the stage for additional record-setting performances in 2021. In fact, not only would their estimated $60.4 million in revenues represent a more than 34% increase in YoY revenues, it would follow the extraordinary gains made last year. iQSTEL's growth is no accident.

Unlike smaller providers, iQSTEL telecommunications services target opportunities that service both carriers and enterprise customers. Those efforts are currently focused on capitalizing upon opportunities in valuable Latin America, Africa, and Asia markets. However, since iQSTEL has never shied away from strategic opportunities, don't underestimate their interest in taking advantage of merger and acquisition opportunities that could put other properties and geographic regions under the iQSTEL brand. It's a likely play that could add to their thirteen country business presence.

Also, iQSTEL is taking advantage of the communications sector inefficiencies exposed by COVID-19. The good news is that unlike the industry behemoths, iQSTEL is agile enough to quickly target valuable niche opportunities left exposed by the fallout from the virus. Everything from SMS messaging, VoIP services, and electronic payments have been affected by the strain on transmission resources. Deliverables that were often taken for granted are no longer just a click away for many consumers.

And, as emerging markets grow more dependent on internet transactions, iQSTEL's ability to provide innovative and timely solutions to its IoT (Internet of Things) and Fintech base could translate into significantly higher near-term revenue creation. Multiple initiatives are underway.

The first targets the IoT markets with solutions-based platforms that solve logistics problems to help facilitate cross-selling opportunities. But that's just one example. The IoT sector offers an almost limitless range of opportunities, and iQSTEL is staying most focused on driving revenues from products and services that can be immediately accretive to its overall growth. Updates are expected.

A second value driver is its Fintech division, where iQSTEL utilizes blockchain technology to provide users access to its Mobile Number Portability Application, a platform that virtually eliminates the potential of fraud during transactions. This business-to-customer program also facilitates offering prepaid Visa debit cards, remittance applications, bill payment, SMS messaging/payments, and more to immigrants who might not otherwise have easy access to these services. It's a potentially lucrative market that is supported by massive consumer demand.

Keep in mind, too, that while the SMS sector remains very lucrative on its own, it has evolved tremendously over the past five years. iQSTEL believes the value from marketing successful IoT and Fintech SMS solutions can bring exponential long term value. Numbers confirm that the company is on the right track.

As noted, revenue in 2020 surged. And, on a comparison basis, iQSTEL's speed of growth is higher than most of its peer competitors. The wild-card is iQSTEL making good on its acquisition ambitions, which would add to its ability to support substantially higher current and forward-looking valuations. All signs point to new deals being made. And value from those deals would likely be immediately accretive.

Subsidiaries Target Billion Dollar Market Opportunities

What also shouldn't go unnoticed is that iQSTEL is focused on growing its brand by developing other global opportunities. The company thinks it can find space in the International Long-Distance traffic market, an estimated $13 billion a year market with Wholesale Carriers holding a 68% market share. While the growth of popular apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger have created competition for the carriers, sector growth is still accelerating as demand surges from emerging global markets. iQSTEL expects to chisel away part of that wholesale carrier stronghold with products and services of its own.

Etelix.com USA LLC, a wholly owned by iQSTEL, is finding success by providing international and domestic VoIP communications, 4G and 5G International Submarine Fiberoptic connectivity, and IP-PBX (Internet Protocol private branch exchange) services across Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the US. Another iQSTEL interest, SwissLink Carrier AG, provides VoIP communication services in Europe. iQSTEL has said that its next goal is to expand similar services into Africa and Asia, sustaining its rapid growth in that sector.

Another iQSTEL subsidiary company, QGlobal SMS LLC., operates internationally and domestically to provide Wholesale Carrier services to customers ranging from government levels to Enterprise markets. Notably, SMS services are becoming more present in commercial transactions. QGlobal SMS connects customers in the US, Latin America, and Europe to address an application-to-person SMS market opportunity expected to surpass $100 billion by 2030. Obviously, that can be big.

iQSTEL's acquisition of QGlobal SMS also brings cross-selling opportunities with established clients and does so with respectable gross margins of approximately 25%. More value from iQSTEL's exposure comes through its acquisitions and international deals that boost its SMS communications footprint. Deals with China Mobile and Telefonica (Movistar) are examples of how iQSTEL is taking advantage of a global market shift, with these two companies projected to produce over 65% of upcoming revenues.

There's more.

IoT Labs Delivers "Smart Appliance Product of the Year"

The undeniable popularity of smart devices is also creating substantial opportunities for iQSTEL. A subsidiary company, IoT Labs, is targeting specific markets as a developer of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices for industries that use IoT and AI services. The company offers global utility solutions using 4G and Low-Power-WAN providers, offering developments directly for end-users through OEM or monthly service agreements.

IoT Labs flagship product is SmartGas, a smart device used to measure LP gas tanks in households. The product solves outdated methods of monitoring your gas tank by offering a mountable IoT sensor that connects to a web portal and phone apps. IoTLabs innovative approach allows users to quickly check their gas usage over time, can be left unattended for over two years, and works anywhere with a radio or cellular connection. Notably, the SmartGas solution has been selected as the winner of the "Smart Appliance Product of the Year" award in the 5th annual IoT Breakthrough Awards program conducted by IoT Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies, and products in the global Internet-of-Things (IoT) market today.

The company has also developed IoT Labs MX, a logistics service utilizing IoT, SMS, geolocation, blockchain, and financial technologies to support various business operations. Products that use seemingly futuristic technologies such as these are easing their way into everyday life, making for safe and simple transactions.

Blockchain and Fintech Solutions

Even more value is expected to accrue from iQSTEL 75% ownership stake of itsBchain LLC, a company specializing in fraud-prevention in business deals. Again, the company uses its Mobile Number Portability Application (MNPA), allowing users and carriers to transfer phone numbers quickly during telecom transactions. itsBchain is also finalizing its Settlement & Payment Marketplace for payments over VoIP and SMS carriers, allowing for instant payment settlement as well as fraud prevention. The value of these services is no longer in the shadows. Neither is digital currency.

The cryptocurrency sector is multiplying faster than ever with popular platforms such as PayPal, CashApp, and others, demonstrating the Cloud's importance in modern telco operations. The Fintech industry, too, is growing exponentially with over $500 billion in annual remittances and over $1.5 trillion in annual mobile payments made. iQSTEL sees other built-in market opportunities.

As noted, its fintech division's focus is geared towards immigrants, whose needs are not always met through traditional channels. A new agreement between iQSTEL and Payment Virtual Mobile Solutions LLC (PayVMS) is expected to serve this substantial population by providing clients the ability to access a Visa Prepaid Debit Card service, make purchases, send money internationally or domestically, and make money management more effortless.

PayVMS is working with Visa, MasterCard, and multiple other big-name financial services providers to make these mobile and in-person payment solutions possible. It's yet another massive and somewhat untapped market opportunity for iQSTEL to exploit.

A Sum Of The Parts Equals Greater Value

The bottom line is simple, iQSTEL's sum of the parts deserves a higher forward-looking valuation. Even using simple revenue models, the share price appears tremendously undervalued. But, after factoring in proven revenue growth, its market position in several highly lucrative sectors, and its ability to find and capitalize on accretive opportunities, the distance of the disconnect between price and performance is magnified.

As if performance wasn't enough, in January, iQSTEL announced that it has reduced its overall outstanding debt by 48%, lowering obligations by over $1.5 million from $3.3 million. At the same time, they eliminated all derivative liabilities, including convertible debt and warrants. Those deals removed a significant overhang and positions iSQTEL to more quickly benefit financially from its initiatives.

Perhaps the best news for iQSTEL and its investors is that because the company and its subsidiary interests are focused on creating value from high demand sectors, risk is inherently reduced. Finally, for investors that focus on revenues, the company expects to generate $60.4 million in 2021, a 34% increase from 2020. And if the pattern of consecutive record-setting quarterly sales continues, the company may eclipse that guidance, similar to how it surpassed its 2020 projections.

While no one can foretell the future, it's good practice to follow the clues. Higher revenues, new deals, and a focus on global market opportunities combine to create a single message... iQSTEL is doing the right things, in the right markets, at the right time. That's a great place to be.

Media Contact:

Hawk Point Media

Kenny Feigeles

ken@hawkpointmedia.com

Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.

Additional Disclaimers: Hawk Point Media is responsible for the production and distribution of this content. Hawk Point Media is not operated by a licensed broker, a dealer, or a registered investment adviser. It should be expressly understood that under no circumstances does any information published herein represent a recommendation to buy or sell a security. Our reports/releases are a commercial advisement and are for general information purposes ONLY. We are engaged in the business of marketing and advising companies for monetary compensation. Never invest in any stock featured on our site or emails unless you can afford to lose your entire investment. The information made available by Hawk Point Media is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, investment advice or recommendations. The contributors may buy and sell securities before and after any particular article, report and publication. In no event shall Hawk Point Media be liable to any member, guest or third pay for any damages of any kind arising out of the use of any content or other material published or made available by Hawk Point Media, including, without limitation, any investment losses, lost profits, lost opportunity, special, incidental, indirect, consequential or punitive damages. Hawk Point Media was compensated three-thousand-five-hundred-dollars by wire transfer to produce research, video, email, newsletters, and editorial commentary for iQSTQL, Inc. by a third pay. Past performance is a poor indicator of future performance. The information in this video, article, and in its related newsletters, is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, investment advice or recommendations. Hawk Point Media strongly urges you conduct a complete and independent investigation of the respective companies and consideration of all pertinent risks. Readers are advised to review SEC periodic reports: Forms 10-Q, 10K, Form 8-K, insider reports, Forms 3, 4, 5 Schedule 13D.

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides investors a safe harbor in regard to forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, goals, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact may be forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates, and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward looking statements in this action may be identified through use of words such as projects, foresee, expects, will, anticipates, estimates, believes, understands, or that by statements indicating certain actions & quote; may, could, or might occur. Understand there is no guarantee past performance will be indicative of future results. Investing in micro-cap and growth securities is highly speculative and carries an extremely high degree of risk. It is possible that an investors investment may be lost or impaired due to the speculative nature of the companies profiled.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72429
BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The India Association of Western Washington (IAWW) announces its new name  Indian-American Community Services (IACS). The new name reflects the unwavering commitment of IACS to support the local Indian-American community with essential programs and services, fostering an inclusive, diverse, and secular environment.

The IACS' evolution demonstrates a strategic shift to more advocacy for social justice issues providing vital community services to the underserved and marginalized people of the Indian American community. IACS programs and services aim to develop self-sufficiency and independence to navigate the day-to-day challenges across age, social, and economic strata.

Core IACS programs and services:

Youth Leadership  Developing emerging leaders through advocacy, peer-mentoring, awareness around mental health, and an annual summer camp, when permissible, to connect community youth. Senior Support Services  Offering wellness, support services around health, transportation, housing, legal needs, resource referrals, social connections and celebratory events. Crisis Care  Supporting families dealing with emergency crises  health issues, family loss, employment or business obstacles, legal needs, financial assistance. This effort includes COVID-19-related crises care. Women's Employment & Career Advisory  Employment placement, career advising and networking opportunities for women who are new immigrants or re-emerging to the workforce after a hiatus. Early Childhood Family Services  Addressing parent-child development, enrichment, wellness and developmental screenings to support young families. Individual and Family Services  Inter-generational events addressing community conversations, legal services, celebratory and cultural events, workshops on career development, panel conversations and speaker series. Small Business Support: Mentoring, emergency relief services, and policy-based advocacy for community small businesses. Mental Health & Wellness Support  Culturally-aware approaches to mental health and wellbeing via policy advocacy, support groups, meditative art, social connections, inter-generational gatherings, community conversations on cultural taboos, and vetted referrals for professional support. Civic Engagement - Voter registration, census outreach, ballot parties, candidate forums, townhalls, outreach webinars, engagement and education around issue-based advocacy and policy changes.

"The transformational shift that the IAWW/IACS has undergone over the past five years reflects the power of our community and how much we can accomplish through our collective effort," said Lalita Uppala, Executive Director, IACS. "It is both a solemn responsibility and honor to serve the needs of our community with a comprehensive approach administered by a team that is passionate, inspiring, and all about collective wisdom."

About Indian-American Community Services

The IACS is the longest-serving Asian Indian organization in the Pacific Northwest. Secular and volunteer-driven, the IACS works to connect and empower the Indian-American community through programs, services, and advocacy for people of all ages and all life stages. For more information: www.iacswa.org, Facebook.

SOURCE Indian-American Community Services (IACS)

Related Links

https://www.iacswa.org/


Donald Trump was permanently banned from Twitter on Jan. 8, bringing to an end to perhaps the worlds most prolific and influential Twitter account. While Twitter has deleted all of his tweets, the Trump Twitter Archive has preserved the 56,571 utterances sent by @realDonaldTrump since his first one on May 4, 2009.

What can we learn about how Trump used his account over the years?

The timeline below shows the total number of tweets he sent each week since he joined. Trump didnt begin tweeting heavily until August 2011 and really embraced it starting in September 2012 as he weighed in on that years presidential election. Beginning in October 2015, he steadily decreased his Twitter use week over week through the election, at which point he began to steadily ramp up his use. But from the 2020 election through his ban, he tweeted less and less.

A timeline of Donald Trump's tweets on Twitter.

Did Trump primarily tweet his own thoughts or amplify those of others? Zooming in on the August 2011-to-present period, the timeline below shows the percentage of his tweets that were retweets. It was not until January 2016 that he began noticeably retweeting others and it was not until the start of 2019 that he began relying ever more heavily on retweets. Yet, starting in July 2020, amid the ongoing George Floyd protests, he began turning back to his own statements. In all, 10,170 (18%) of his tweets were retweets.

This graph shows the frequency of Donald Trump's retweets on his Twitter account.

His increasing reliance on retweets coincides with a sharp decrease in the percentage of his tweets that exclude retweets (this includes replies and mentioning other accounts), dropping from around 80%-90% of his tweets to around 30% by mid-2016. Only in early 2019 did he begin once again mentioning other users, increasing through the end of 2019 and decreasing again from July 2020 onward. It appears the Floyd protests marked a turning point in which he shifted from largely amplifying the thoughts of others toward mostly putting forth his own commentaries. In all, 58% of his tweets have mentioned another user.

the percentage of Donald Trump's tweets that exclude retweets (this includes replies and mentioning other accounts).

Since mid-2019 he has steadily increased the percentage of capitalized letters in his tweets, from 8% a week to 12%, but has decreased his use of capitalized letters in the weeks since the election. In contrast, since the start of 2019 he has steadily reduced his use of exclamation points, from as much as 70% of his weekly tweets to around 40%, but then steadily increased their use in the weeks since the election.

Just over 28% of Trumps tweets contained either an image or video or a link to an external website. The most common sites he linked to were pscp.tv, facebook.com, donaldjtrump.com, breitbart.com, whitehouse.gov, winred.com, instagram.com, youtube.com, foxnews.com, thegreggjarrett.com, dailycaller.com, washingtonexaminer.com, nypost.com and thehill.com.

How often does Trump refer to himself? The timeline below shows the percentage of his tweets that mentioned I, me, or Trump versus we, our, or ours. From late 2012 to early 2016 he tended to spend four times as many tweets on himself. As his campaign accelerated during 2016, he sharply decreased his mentions of himself and steadily increased his references to we and our and ours. By his election he was using the two sets of terms equally, but began decreasing use of both categories in mid-2019.

This timeline shows the percentage of Donald Trump's tweets that mentioned I, me, or Trump (shown in blue) versus we, our, or ours (shown in orange).

What about the tone of his tweets? The timeline below shows the average weekly tone of his tweets using an eight-week rolling average of the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) tone dictionary. Tone is computed by counting the percentage of his words that were deemed negative (top Trump words include fake and bad) and subtracting them from the percentage of words deemed positive (top Trump words include great and thank). Higher weekly scores indicate there were more positive words than negative words that week.

This timeline shows the average weekly tone of Donald Trump's tweets using an eight-week rolling average of the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) tone dictionary.

The tone of Trumps tweets begins a steady negative slide in late May 2015 just before he formally announced his candidacy and reached a bottom in January 2020. As the pandemic raged, the tone of his tweets became sharply more positive as he projected an optimistic and upbeat message. In April he shifted his tone towards greater negativity and then rebounded in August heading into the election, then turned hard negative in the weeks after the election.

How much did Trumps tweets resonate with the media? The timeline below shows the number of online news articles per day that linked to one of his tweets from April 20, 2016 through present, as monitored by the GDELT Project. Despite tweeting more than ever, media interest in his tweets had been on a steady decline leading up to the 2020 election. His claims of a stolen election appear to have reversed this decline, drawing widespread coverage.

This timeline shows the number of online news articles per day that linked to one of his tweets from April 20, 2016 through present, as monitored by the GDELT Project

For Trump himself, television became the medium through which he could watch the effects of his tweets, the New York Times reported, while for voters themselves, 72% heard about his tweets through television coverage. So how much coverage did his tweets receive? Using data from the Internet Archive Television News Archive, the heatmap below shows the seconds of airtime each hour from Jan. 1, 2020 through present across BBC News London, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News in which the text @realDonaldTrump was visible somewhere on-screen.

This heatmap shows the seconds of airtime each hour from Jan. 1, 2020 through present across BBC News London, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News in which the text @realDonaldTrump was visible somewhere on-screen.

Since the start of last year, BBC showed his tweets over more than five hours of airtime, with CNN, MSNBC Fox News each devoting around 14.7 hours to his tweets. Even banishment from Twitter hasnt eliminated coverage of his tweets. In the days since the ban his Twitter handle is still shown on air for 100-200 seconds a day across the four channels, a decrease of around half of his pre-ban levels.

In the end, the graphs above show how celebrity Trump evolved into candidate Trump into President Trump and how his use of the platform changed from touting himself to amplifying the views of others, his focus on negativity and the medias fixation on his every word.

______

RealClear Media Fellow Kalev Leetaru is a senior fellow at the George Washington University Center for Cyber & Homeland Security. His past roles include fellow in residence at Georgetown Universitys Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and member of the World Economic Forums Global Agenda Council on the Future of Government.

Agartala, Jan 22 : Tripura police busted a nexus of monetary transactions between the militants and the contractors, and arrested four persons, police said on Thursday.

A senior police officer said that the police and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) troopers, acting on an intelligence report on Wednesday, arrested four persons hours before the transaction of Rs 15 lakh to the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) extremists.

"A team of police and TSR personnel led by sub-inspector Ajit Debbarma of Raishyabari police station under Dhalai district (in eastern Tripura) arrested the three persons along with Rs 15 lakh hours before they handing over the money to the NLFT rebels. Police arrested the three people and following their confession arrested an NLFT collaborator, who was hiding in a nearby areas," the official said.

An official statement, issued by the police headquarters said that during investigation and from the source information, it was revealed that some of the construction agencies instead of taking police help are assisting the extremists group by providing money clandestinely.

"In course of investigation of the recent militants' abduction of three persons, it was transpired that an NLFT extremist group with sophisticated arms led by Bikram Bahadur Jamatia was camping in Bangladesh, opposite to eastern Tripura's Raishyabari border. The militant group was engaged in extortion of money from the construction agency which constructed the border fencing along the India-Bangladesh border along Tripura," the statement said.

The NLFT extremists had earlier on December 23 released three persons after 17 days of captivity.

Supervisor Subhash Bhowmik, 48, JCB driver Subal Debnath, 37, and worker Gana Mohan Tripura, 37, were kidnapped by the NLFT ultras from Malda Kumar Para in eastern Tripura's Dhalai district on December 7 while they were engaged in border fencing work along the international border.

The NLFT militants had whisked away the three hostages to Bangladesh since the crime spot was just along the international border.

The government-owned National Building Construction Corporation was assigned the task to put up a barbed wire fence along the India-Bangladesh border to check crimes and infiltration.

Meanwhile, the Tripura police on January 15 recovered the mutilated body of a trader 50 days after he was kidnapped at gunpoint by terrorists from the northern part of the state.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Arindam Nath told IANS that the slain Litan Nath's body was recovered by the police from a forest in the Khedachara area in North Tripura district.

Earlier the state police, Tripura State Rifles and central para-military forces had jointly launched a massive combing operation to rescue the trader and also detained four suspected NLFT militants from the areas adjoining Mizoram and Bangladesh.

Litan Nath's wife told the police that a few heavily armed militants had raided their house on November 27 and looted jewellery, cash and abducted her husband.

After several years of lull, of late terrorist activities have resurfaced in Tripura, which was until 2008-09 devastated by the decades old insurgency.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 17:39:35|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved a vaccine by China's Sinopharm for emergency use amid rising cases of COVID-19 in the country.



A handout by DRAP on its official website late Monday read that Sinopharm, one of the two vaccines approved by the authority, has been given emergency use authorization after evaluating its safety and quality.

The authority said the authorization will be reviewed every quarter keeping in view further data regarding safety, efficacy and quality.





A vaccine manufactured by British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has also been given the authorization earlier, the handout said.

Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, the country's minister for science and technology, told Xinhua earlier that the Sinopharm vaccine has been approved for procurement by a cabinet committee for its safety and affordability.

Pakistan reported 1,920 new coronavirus infections and 46 deaths on Monday, bringing the total number of cases to 521,211 with 10,997 deaths.
Jennifer Beckmanns done just about everything a wine professional can do. Shes a sommelier and a certified wine educator, and in 12 years working in the Texas wine industry, shes helped to open four wineries for other people.

But now Beckmanns taking a quantum leap forward, with plans to open her own wine bar early next month at Hemisfair in the new apartment development called The 68. Shes calling it Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery.

Heres the next twist in Beckmanns evolution: Shes not just selling wine and educating people about wine; shes making it. Re:Rooted will feature a draft system pouring seven wines that Beckmann made at the Slate Mill Wine Collective in Fredericksburg.

The first seven offerings will include four reds, a rose and two whites, including one called Ghost Tracks, a blend of albarino, sauvignon blanc and fiano grapes inspired by the San Antonios legendary haunted railroad tracks.

Wine will be sold by the glass, by the flight, in growlers and eventually in bottles, with guided tastings and classes. Along with her own wines, Beckmann will feature about 40 Texas labels in bottles, a handful of global wines and local ciders, sakes and vermouths.

On ExpressNews.com: 4 San Antonio restaurants for great steak frites

To work within COVID-19 restrictions regulating bars and restaurants, Beckmann said Re:Rooted will feature cheese and charcuterie boards as well as food from local chefs through pop-ups and other food events.

Beckmann said she hopes to open fully by Feb. 3, with hours running from 1 p.m. until 9 or 10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Curbside wine sales could begin as early as next week, she said.

Re:Rooted joins at least two other food and drink operations in the works at Hemisfair, including a second location of the Bombay Bicycle Club and the first brick-and-mortar location for Box Street Social.

Re:Rooted 210 Urban Winery, 623 Hemisfair Blvd., Suite 106, at The 68, 254-661-2721, rerootedwine.com.

msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking | Instagram: @fedmanwalking

Injaz Bahrain, which inspires and prepares young Bahrainis to succeed in a global economy, has launched its first mobile application, the Injaz Bahrain App, designed to raise the bar for education volunteering.



The application developed by K-Labs in collaboration with Inforise Computers, under the sponsorship of Al Salam Bank, will facilitate meaningful volunteering opportunities for the public domain as well as provide Injaz Bahrain alumni with the chance to enrol in exclusive courses.



It features registration sections for both volunteers and alumni. Once a profile is set up, volunteers seeking to join Injaz Bahrain will be able to select among several programs available for Primary, Intermediate, Secondary and University levels. The App is introducing a reward system to recognize the volunteering hours contributed by volunteers towards program delivery. Volunteers will be able to avail exclusive offers as a token of recognition for their contribution towards youth development.



Beyond providing a list of programs to volunteer for, the Injaz Bahrain application features an online store Dukkan Injaz, where products and services are offered by Injaz Bahrain alumni who have set up their entrepreneurial businesses after completing the flagship Company Program.



Hana Sarwani, Executive Director of Injaz Bahrain said: We are excited to be launching our very first application today. The idea of launching the Injaz Bahrain application was conceived back in 2020 while the organization was on a quest to propelling the conventional style of education to transform into digital to support students during the Covid-19 outbreak.



Today more than ever, we call out all volunteers to support and empower our youth, the leaders of tomorrow through registering for our upcoming programs. I would also take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to the teams at Inforise and K-Labs for bringing this application concept to life.



Injaz Bahrain application is available now for both Android and IOS users.  TradeArabia News Service
(Newser)  Lady Gaga wore a stunning outfit at President Biden's inauguration Wednesday, but the most talked-about item of clothing by far was Sen. Bernie Sanders' comfy mittens. Sanders wore the mittensmade by Vermont second-grade teacher Jen Ellis from repurposed wool sweaters and lined with fleece made from recycled plasticwith a gray parka, and Twitter users praised him for "keeping it real" and "crushing Vermont dadcore," People reports. "In Vermont, we know something about the cold, and we're not so concerned about good fashion," Sanders told CBS. Ellis, who made and sold mittens with a partner before they both became too busy from parenting, says she sent Sanders the mittens after his failed 2016 White House bid.

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"I was thinking to myself, 'Is this crazy? I dont even know this guy. But I wanted to make them for him, so I did," Ellis tells the Washington Post. Sanders has been seen wearing the mittens many times since, including on the campaign trail in late 2019, when he loaned them to a supporter with cold hands. "I'm really honored he wore them today. The fact that hes still wearing them is delightful and flattering," Ellis says. "There were people at the inauguration wearing clothing from world-famous designers. Then there was Bernie, wearing my mittens." CNET reports that Twitter users created numerous memes using an image of Sanders socially distanced in a chair at the inauguration, including a Game of Thrones one of "Bernie Sanders, Wearer of Mittens." (Read more Bernie Sanders stories.)
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 21 : The CPI, an important constituent of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala, plans to field quite a few new faces in the coming Assembly elections, party sources said on Thursday.

The party has decided that state Communist Party of India leaders who have completed two terms as MLAs will not be fielded and instead asked to concentrate on party affairs.

The CPI has 19 MLAs in present Assembly, with a majority of its legislators poised to complete two terms each this year. Of the three women CPI MLAs, ES Bijimol and Geetha Gopi are two-term MLAs while CK Asha is a first-term legislator.

This situation casts a shadow over the nomination of four Ministers and CPI MLAs P Thilothaman, E Chandrashekharan, VS Sunil Kumar and K Raju as well as Assembly Deputy Speaker V Sasi, who all are two-term legislators.

CPI's Chief Whip of the Assembly KR Rajan could get one more opportunity to contest since he is through his first term as MLA.

Relaxation to certain party MLAs was given in the past on specific grounds like winnability. Hence, the CPI will decide on such relaxation at the National Council meeting in Hyderabad.

"The CPI has always promoted young blood. We will do the same in the 2021 Assembly elections also. The party has a strict policy of allowing two continuous terms for any legislator. If any relaxation is required, it will be finalised after the meetings of the National Council from January 29 to 31, State Council on February 10, and Executive from February 10 to 13," CPI National Executive Committee member Panniyan Raveendran told IANS.

The party candidates would be finalised at CPI state meetings on the basis of the National Council guidelines.


The entire Nation is lit up in tricolour to celebrate the 72nd Indian Republic Day on 26th January 2021. It is not just another national holiday and is the feeling of honour as India got independence from British rule in 1950 and got 'Purna Swaraj'. It is the day on which the Constitution of India officially came into effect. People celebrate republic day to mark the first revolution against the British regime.

January 26 carries sentimental significance for our country. It was on January 26, 1930, that the Indian National Congress proclaimed the demand for complete independence in the Lahore session. After that, on 26th January 1950, India came into existence as a Republic. And ever since then January 26 is celebrated as Republic Day every year. It is a great celebration and a moment of pride for the whole nation. The day reminds us about all the fundamental rights and privileges the country has offered us. The entire nation is decked up in tricolour.

Essays On Republic Day For Students And Teachers

Given below are some short essay ideas for students and teachers by Careerindia to write an essay on the topic of Republic Day.

1. Republic Day is considered a national day of importance and is celebrated every year on the 26th of January. Republic Day is celebrated because India got its Constitution on this day. A committee was formed after few days when India got its Independence on the 15th of August. And on 29th August, a constituent assembly was formed. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar became the first chairperson of this committee.

The handwritten copies of the Constitution were signed by the members of the constituent assembly in January 1950. After two days, on 26th January 1950, it was announced as Republic Day. There is also another historical significance of this day as Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed as the President of the Indian National Congress and also 'Poorna Swaraj' was declared.

Republic Day is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and patriotism across the country.

2. On the 26th of January, 1950, India celebrated its first Republic Day. The country got Independence on 15th August 1947, after which a constituent assembly was formed for making the Constitution of India. It took two years to make the Constitution which was finally completed on 26th November 1949.

This day also holds various historical significance for the country. Two most important things happened on this day. First, Jawaharlal Nehru got elected as the President of the Indian National Congress, and second, 'Poorna Swaraj' meaning 'Complete Independence' was declared. Jawaharlal Nehru promised his citizens to make them free from the oppressors. Thus, the 26th of January is celebrated as Independence Day. Later it got changed as we got Independence on 15th August 1947. Hence, the 26th of January is celebrated as Republic Day.

After Independence, making Constitution was important for the country. A constituent assembly was formed that later build the Constitution of India. The same day is referred to as Republic Day.

All across the country people hoist the national flag and pay tribute to martyrs. The President of India raises the national flag at Rajpath in New Delhi followed by a grand celebration.

Also Read: National Youth Day: Why Do We Celebrate On January 12?

You Can Also Prepare Speeches And Essays On These Topics:

1. Importance and History of Republic Day

2. The Constitution of India

3. Know the history of Tricolour

4. The Constitution of India is the world's largest written constitution!

5. Republic Day first parade was held in 1955

6. Dr. Rajendra Prasad's first speech

7. How 'Vande Mataram' got national song status

8. Learn the rules and laws of flag-hoisting

Also Read: CBSE Class 12th Exam 2021

Kolkata, Jan 21 : At a time when the Centre has constituted a high-level committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a section of Bose's family and researchers are unhappy with the inclusion of Anita Bose Pfaff in the panel.

"Anita Pfaff is not an acceptable member in the birth celebrations committee. Her birth certificate does not mention Subhas Chandra Bose as father at all," Rajyashree Chaudhuri, Netaji's great grand niece, told IANS.

Chaudhuri said Pfaff has been manipulated into the Bose family, vide affidavit, by some family members and the Nehru government, as per the declassified files.

Anita Bose Pfaff is a German economist and the only daughter of Subhas Chandra Bose and Emilie Schenkl. She has previously been a professor at the University of Augsburg as well as a politician in the Social Democratic Party in Germany.

"She or her guardian, the so called wife Frau Emilie Schenkl, never came before any inquiry committee or commission on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose," she said.

According to Chaudhary, all natural instincts of being the daughter of Netaji are absent in her and she is only interested in Netaji being declared and in the air crash on August 18, 1945 and bring back the 'ashes' from the Renkoji Temple in Tokyo.

"The Renkoji Temple was gutted to ashes in September 1989. From where the so called ashes reappeared? How it survived the fire," Netaji's kin questioned.

The high-level committee on Netaji will decide on the activities for a year-long commemoration beginning January 23. The members of the committee include distinguished citizens, historians, authors, experts, family members of Bose, as well as eminent persons associated with the Azad Hind Fauj.

The committee will lend guidance to the commemoration activities in Delhi, Kolkata and other places associated with Netaji and the Azad Hind Fauj, both in India as well as overseas, a statement issued by the Union Ministry of Culture said.

"If this 125th birth celebrations committee is to establish all these false things, then we will protest and bring about a people's revolt against the committee and its programmes," Chaudhari said.

"Only celebrations will not help. The committee needs to take action towards a positive direction if it really wants to honour Bose. Unfortunately, it has not included any Netaji researcher on the occasion of commemorating his 125th birth anniversary. But inclusion of Anita Pfaff into the body is absolutely questionable as she has no valid proof to be recognised as Netaji's daughter," said noted Netaji researcher Jayanta Chowdhury.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to the Centre demanding that January 23 be declared a national holiday in the memory of the founder of the Azad Hind Fauj. She also demanded that the Centre should declassify all the files related to Bose.
The United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten issued a statement on Thursday urging all parties to prohibit the use of sexual violence and cease hostilities in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, as well as commit to a zero-tolerance policy for sexual violence under international humanitarian and human rights law.

"I am greatly concerned by serious allegations of sexual violence in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, including a high number of alleged rapes in the capital, Mekelle. There are also disturbing reports of individuals allegedly forced to rape members of their own family under threats of imminent violence," Patten said.

The statement said that medical centres have indicated an increase in the demand for emergency contraception and testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which is often an indicator of sexual violence in conflict, in addition to the increasing reports of sexual violence against women and girls in a number of refugee camps.

"I call on the Government of Ethiopia to further exercise its due diligence obligations to protect all civilians from sexual and other violence, regardless of their ethnic origin and those displaced by conflict, and to promptly allow for an independent inquiry into all allegations of sexual and other forms of violence, to establish the facts and hold perpetrators accountable, provide redress to victims, and prevent further grave violations," Patten added.

Constrained humanitarian access and limited resources for service providers have reduced the availability of essential healthcare and assistance for survivors of sexual violence, including sexual and reproductive healthcare.

More than 5,000 Eritrean refugees in and around the area of Shire are living in dire conditions, many of them reportedly sleeping in an open field with no water or food, and more than 59,000 Ethiopians have fled the country into neighbouring Sudan.

The United Nations estimates that of these refugees, more than 25 percent are women and girls of reproductive age.

Short link:



Makers of Amazon Prime Video's latest web series 'Tandav' have removed the controversial scene after their second meeting with Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting officials. The I&B Ministry had received multiple complaints against the web series for its depiction of Hindu gods in the show.

The now deleted scene features Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub playing a character inspired a Lord Shiva holding a trishul (trident) at a college theatre festival in the first episode of the series. One of the actors in the scene talks about the character's social media following and how he can amplify it by posting and/or tweeting frequently. This is then followed by the contentious 'Azaadi' chants by the audience members.

Three FIRs have been registered against the latest Amazon web series in three different cities-Lucknow, Mumbai and Greater Noida. The latest FIR was registered against the show in Mumbai's Ghatkopar Police Station. The FIR was registered under Sections 153 (A), 295 (A) and 505 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Amazon India originals head Aparna Purohit, director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer Himanshu Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki, Saif Ali Khan and a few other actors featuring in the series have been named in this FIR.

Hundreds of activists staged a dharna and demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, seeking the arrest of the writer and director of Tandav. This demonstration was led by former Union minister and Delhi BJP President Vijay Goel.

Also read: Tandav controversy: BJP Delhi chief demands arrest of director Ali Abbas Zaffar

Meanwhile, Ali Abbas Zafar has tendered an unconditional apology and tweeted, "We have utmost respects for the sentiments of people of our country. We did not intend to hurt or offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or persons living or dead. The cast and crew of Tandav have made the decision to implement the changes to the web series to address the concerns raised towards the same. We thank the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the guidance and support in the matter. We once again apologise if the series has unintentionally hurt anybody's sentiments."





Also read: Tandav row: FIR filed against Amazon Prime India head, show director, writer

Also read: 'Ban or not to Ban': Here's how Twitterati reacted to Tandav controversy
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Dubai, Jan 21 : Two daughters of an Indian couple who were murdered inside their home in Dubai, will testify at a court next month, the media reported.

The two sisters, aged 18 and 13, will testify before the Dubai Courts on February 10, along with a friend of the slain couple, Gulf News said in a report on Wednesday.

Hiren Adhiya, 48 and his wife Vidhi, 40, were murdered inside their villa at the Arabian Ranches on June 17, 2020, by a 26-year-old Pakistani worker.

According to official records, the defendant, who had carried out some maintenance jobs at the villa a year before the murder, had been stalking the family for some time after he saw a lot of loose cash in the house.

The worker stabbed the husband 10 times and the wife 14 times. Both died of their injuries.

The accused admitted during the interrogation that he planned to rob the couple and bought a knife from a supermarket in Sharjah.

He also stabbed the 18-year-old elder daughter as he tried to escape, but she survived and managed to call the police.
Will Sasikalas release change TNs political spectrum: Wait and see says TTV

VK Sasikala to be discharged from hospital on Sunday

Sasikala to return on Feb 7, Dhinakaran sees changes in TN ahead of arrival

AIADMK goes to police again against Sasikala, alleges conspiracy to unleash violence in TN

Sasikala tests positive for Covid-19, shifted to intensive care unit

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala has tested positive for the coronavirus and has been shifted to the COVID-19 intensive care unit, according to reports.

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide, who is serving her jail term at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, had complained of fever and breathlessness on Wednesday, a week before her release.

"Sasikala was referred from Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, UTI and suspected SARI and treated with antibiotics, insulin, heparin and other supportive measures and was admitted here today," said Victoria Hospital.

"Her sugar levels are very high, there is severe chest infection. She is maintaining oxygen saturation on 10 litres of oxygen through NRBM (Non-rebreather mask)," the hospital said.

She was shifted from the prison and admitted earlier to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, also known as Bowring Hospital.

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021: EPS rules out truce with Sasikala

Sasikala's oxygen saturation level was 80 (against the normal of 95 and above) on Wednesday evening when she was admitted to the hospital. She was also sent to Victoria Hospital for the CT scan on Thursday afternoon.

Prior to it, she had undergone Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR tests which showed her COVID-19 reports negative, Kumar said.

Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case.

Her illness comes at a time when she is just six days away to walk free from the prison on January 27.

Following the deadly insurrection on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, an investigation into extremists within U.S. police agencies is underway.

More than 30 sworn officers from a dozen departments across the nation are believed to have taken part in the U.S. Capitol riot, according to NPR's Eric Westervelt. In the wake of that deadly Capitol takeover, Congress is now urging Major Cities Chiefs Association to identify and root out extremists from police agencies across the U.S.

Leading the charge to spot and track some of the extremists within policing is HPD Chief Art Acevedo.

"I think you're going to see a heightened level of alert to the threat that militia, white supremacists, hate groups pose to our country," HPD Chief Art Acevedo told KHOU's Marcelino Benito.

One of those officers who was involved in the storming of the U.S. Capitol was 18-year HPD veteran Tam Pham. Pham is now facing federal charges. Acevedo didn't mince words about the actions of a member of his police force.

HPD OFFICER CHARGED: Veteran HPD officer involved in U.S. Capitol insurrection faces federal charges

"There is no excuse for criminal activity, especially from a police officer," Acevedo said during a press conference last week. "I can't tell you the anger I feel at the thought of a police officer and other police officers thinking they get to go storm the Capitol."

Although Acevedo stated that there hasn't been any evidence that other HPD officers were involved, the agency is stepping up awareness about detecting and rooting out extremism on social media.

"We look at tattoos, social media, we talk to neighbors, coworkers and we conduct very thorough investigations, but to think we have none among our ranks would be naive at best," Acevedo said.

Police Executive Research Forum's Chuck Wexler underscored how critical it was that the officers involved in the U.S. Capitol insurrection be held accountable.

"Police officers should know more than others that engaging in mob behavior is abhorrent. At a time when people are questioning police legitimacy, this isn't helpful," Wexler told NPR. "Those officers who engaged in mob behavior should be held accountable and should not be police officers. Period.
Franklin Templeton MF: Observer Expresses Concerns on E-voting, Matter To Be Decided by the SC

While Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (FTMF) has been rejoicing with unit-holders voting in favour of winding-up of the six debt schemes, the observer appointed to oversee the e-voting process has expressed several concerns about the entire process. The observer, Taruvai Subayya (TS) Krishnamurthy, former chief election commissioner, points to the grey areas he spotted during the e-voting process, pertaining to voting rights, voting period, and voting rules. The report also mentions that 115,000 of the total unitholders, or about 38%, have participated on an overall basis in the e-voting.



"...there were many grey areas in the procedure adopted, which raised doubts and apprehensions in the minds of investors. Even FTMF did not seem to have had a clear idea about the procedure to be followed. This seems to be mainly because an exercise of this type was done for the first time and there were no clear-cut guidelines in certain areas to be followed," the report says.



Talking about voting rights, Mr Krishnamurthy points out that the one-unit-holder-one-vote adopted (by FTMF) seems to have been conceived in a scenario of physical meetings, where voting is normally only by show of hands. "In case of e-voting and that too on a very important matter like winding up, the provisions of the Companies Act in regard to listed companies seem to be more appropriate and democratic and accordingly, one vote be given per unit held by the unitholder in mutual funds," he says in his recommendations.



The observer says, "...the FTMF e-voting was decided to be conducted by FTMF based on one permanent account number (PAN) one vote (for those who had PAN) and one unitholder one vote for those whose PAN details were not available. No such percentage requirement has been specified in the instant case and the approval has been intended to be based on simple majority."



"The Companies Act specifies one vote per fully paid-up share of the concerned company. If this rule had been strictly applied, the unitholders would have been entitled to exercise one vote per unit held on the cut-off date. However, in this case, each unitholder has been given only one vote irrespective of the number of units held as on the cut-off date," the report points out.



There are 315,000 unitholders for all the six schemes put together as on 3 December 2020, after consolidation of the folios on PAN basis. Out of these, 309,000 unit-holders of these six schemes had either email ID or mobile number, which amounted to about 98% of the total. Notices were sent by FTMF only to 286,000 unit-holders in respect of whom email ID was available, based on the circular issued by the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) permitting companies to do so due to the prevailing pandemic.



The observer also pointed out the deviation in the cut-off date by FTMF. He says, " As per the Companies Act, the cut-off date cannot be earlier than seven days before the date of the meeting. If this rule had been applied, since the meeting was on 29th December, the cut-off date could not have been earlier than 22 December 2020. However the voting rights provided by FTMF had cut off dates as 23 April 2020 (the date on which the trustee took the decision to wind up the six funds) and unit-holders who have purchased units through off-market deals after 23rd April up to 3 December 2020. The rationale behind this deviation from the MCA guidelines is not quite clear."



As per the report, the six notices that went to unit-holders of FTMF are dated 6 December 2020 and issued by Alok Sethi, director of FTSS. "The said director has, however, digitally signed the said notices only on 28 December 2020. The reasons for these deviations have not been explained," the report says.



With reference to the six schemes being wound up, the trustee of FTMF in India, with the permission of the Supreme Court, had sought consent of all unit-holders under regulation 18 (15) (c) to wind-up the schemes. The unit-holders consent vote took place from 26th December to 28 December 2020.



According to the observer, for postal ballots of companies, the voting period is 30 days. However, for unit-holders of FTMF the voting period was just three days. "Considering the number of complaints received regarding the challenges posed using technology involved in the e-voting, a 30-day period would be in the interest of the unitholders. Further it may be worth considering whether in such cases, the unitholders' meeting could precede the e-voting period. This would enable the unit-holders to get their doubts clarified and take a more informed decision for exercising their voting rights," the observer's report says.



The SC is scheduled to hear the matter on 25 January 2021 and would decide on how funds can be returned to the unit-holders of the six debt funds of FTMF.



Meanwhile in an email to unitholders, Sanjay Sapre, president of Franklin Templeton Asset Management (India) Pvt Ltd says, "Out of the total number of unit-holders who cast their votes, over 96% of unit-holders have voted in favour of the winding up of the six schemes. We are thankful to our unit-holders for voting overwhelmingly in favour of the orderly winding up in all six schemes."



According to FTMF, from 1st January to 15 January 2021, these schemes received Rs669 crore, of which Rs617 crore was as pre-payments. Since winding up in April last year till 15 January 2021, these six debt schemes have received Rs13,789 crore, it says.



Individually, Franklin India Low Duration Fund, Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund, Dynamic Accrual Fund, Credit Risk Fund and Short Term Income Plan have 63%, 50%, 41%, 26% and 9% of their respective assets under the management in cash, FTMF said in a statement.

Earlier, on 23 April 2020, FTMF had announced shutting down six debt fund schemes due to poor and illiquid investments amid the coronavirus crisis, leaving lakhs of investors in a lurch. The total assets under management (AUM) of the six schemes were over Rs25,000 crore, spread across Franklin India Low Duration Fund, Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund, Franklin India Credit Risk Fund, Franklin India Short Term Income Plan, Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund and Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund.
Galveston is, in part, a living monument to its heyday as one of the most important cities on the Gulf Coast. The hurricane of 1900 and opening of the Houston Ship Channel combined to shift heavy commerce and settlement away from the island but left behind a foundation that even today helps lend historical heft to the citys tourist-driven modern economy.

Thanks largely to the decadeslong efforts of the Galveston Historical Foundation, numerous examples of all types of buildings  residences, churches, commercial structures  remain, most of them located downtown or in the adjacent East End Historic District. Some, including the 1892 Bishops Palace, Moody Mansion (now the Galveston Childrens Museum) and The Grand 1894 Opera House, are quite popular.

Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Still, its hard to spend much time in Galveston and not reflect on what the city must have looked like when streetcars zipped across town and horse-drawn carriages clopped along The Strand. About a decade ago, Brian M. Davis was working as GHFs director of preservation services when he found himself wondering the same thing.

I would see photographs of buildings that obviously were no longer there, recalls Davis, now the executive director for the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation. That got me to thinking, Where were they, what were they, and what happened to them?

Inspired, Davis began combing the archives of the Galveston County Historical Museum and other places, turning his findings into the 2010 book Lost Galveston. The book remains available through the GHFs website and its retail shops, including the Bishops Palace, while Davis detailed some of its more interesting locations in a Facebook Live lecture in September. The lecture can be viewed on the organizations Facebook page.

Hadley Chittum, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Lost Galveston features dozens of photos that testify to the islands colorful past. A random sampling might include the first YMCA in Texas; the Buccaneer Hotel, a 12-story structure next to infamous gambling parlor the Balinese Room; and Montoyas Bar, which hosted Depression-era canine celebrity Bozo the Wonder Dog. Copious warehouses, railroad depots and mills point to its bygone industrial might. Galveston Countys first jail was fashioned around the brig of a ship that washed ashore in 1837, two years before the citys founding.

Other remnants of the Lost Galveston era are almost hiding in plain sight. Standing behind the Hendley Building on The Strand  Galvestons oldest remaining commercial building  is a smokestack that was once part of the Galveston Ice and Cold Storage Building, torn down in 1978. A pair of three-story wings added to the original Ball High School in 1924 were incorporated into the headquarters of the American Indemnity Insurance Company when that building was built in 1955. The rest was demolished.

Landrys

Some of the true architectural jewels in Davis book are the work of Nicholas Clayton, an Irish immigrant who moved to Texas in the early 1870s to design the First Presbyterian Church. Over the next 30 years, Clayton designed dozens of Galvestons most prominent buildings and became renowned for the intricacy of his buildings, particularly his ornamental brick and iron work. (He also designed the main building of Austins St. Edwards University and consulted on the construction of the Capitol of Texas.)

You could just definitely tell looking at a building that it was a Clayton, Davis says.

Not all of Claytons buildings have been lost to history: the Bishops Palace is his, as is the Garten Verein in Kempner Park  one of Texas oldest dance halls, now operated by GHF as a venue for weddings and other events. But his masterpiece was arguably the Ursuline Academy, the all-girls Catholic school on Avenue N. Completed in 1895, largely of brick and stone, the Venetian Gothic-style building was admired for its masonry and majestic stained-glass windows.

The Academy sheltered roughly 1,000 people during the 1900 storm but was demolished after sustaining relatively minor damage from Hurricane Carla in 1961  a decision Davis believes was horribly shortsighted.

I think today, if we were looking at that same damage, wed definitely say, This is an easy fix and would have fought to the death on trying to save it, he says, but at that time, it was advised (by) an architect that was doing contracts for the schools and for the county, that it was just too far gone (and) just needed to be torn down and replaced by a new design off his drafting table.

Lance Childers

Weather has at times affected Galvestons cityscape as much as the wrecking ball. Carla and the tornadoes it spawned also claimed the Fraternal Order of Eagles meeting hall on Postoffice Street, the 1899 Galveston County Courthouse and the Historic Pleasure Pier, an amusement park built during World War II. In 2008, Hurricane Ike took out the Balinese Room and the USS Flagship Hotel, which was built in 1965 on the site of the Pleasure Pier. Tillman Ferttitas Landrys empire bought the property and opened a new Pleasure Pier in 2012.

Carla also administered the coup de grace to a building between The Strand and Market designed by Alfred Mueller, another leading Galveston architect. The structure, which later served as a firehouse, opened in 1888 as a combination marketplace/seat of government; it stretched for two full blocks with a narrow lane on each side, and featured an imposingly tall clock tower. Meat, produce, and fish were sold on the ground level, with city offices and a police station above them and the chamber of commerce on the top floor.

When I show that slide to others around the country, theres kind of a gasp and trying to figure out What is this building? laughs Davis, who says he tries to visit Galveston several times a year. It was pretty amazing.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

All that remains of Muellers magnificent City Hall today is a listless patch of road. Many other buildings in Lost Galveston met with similarly ignominious fates: gas stations, rental houses, condominiums. But Davis estimates that around 75 percent of Galvestons Victorian-era structures are still standing  a remarkable figure considering, for example, Houstons spotty record with its own historic buildings.

Galveston at a glance Here are just some of Galveston's architectural treasures: Hendley Building, 2010 Strand 1892 Bishop's Palace, 1402 Broadway Ave. J Garten Verein, 2704 Ave. O Galveston Children's Museum, 2618 Broadway Ave. J The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice See More Collapse

Anxiety over a vanishing past is not exactly a recent phenomenon, either.

In the introduction to Lost Galveston, Davis notes a September 1887 article from the Galveston Daily News mourning the market house that would soon make way for Muellers City Hall.

Surroundings in this vicinity naturally bear a strange aspect in the absence of the familiar old structure, which could many a tale unfold were its timbers possessed of tongues, the anonymous author wrote. But all of its reminiscences will be lost to memory when the site is covered by a new and improved structure.

Chris Gray is a Galveston-based writer.
(Natural News) Beating the war drums, Sec. of State Mike Pompeo issued a statement on Tuesday declaring communist Chinas policies against Muslims and ethnic minorities an act of genocide and crimes against humanity.

Just before Joe Biden was scheduled to be inaugurated, Pompeo spoke as if President Donald Trump is not necessarily going anywhere, though he did not specify whether the Trump administration plans to take any action against the Chinese regime in its last days.

After careful examination of the available facts, I have determined that since at least March 2017, the Peoples Republic of China, under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party, has committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other members of ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang, Pompeo indicated.

By using the word genocide, Pompeo and his allies will likely have an easier time imposing new restrictive measures against the CCP, which is responsible for imprisoning more than one million people who oppose its agenda. Many of these people are being held in concentration camps throughout Chinese territory, and primarily in the Xinjiang region.

Many of these political prisoners are used as human guinea pigs in medical experiments while others are tortured, sterilized or forced to work, depending on their ability, to promote communism. The CCP also subjects its human slaves to indoctrination and reprogramming curriculum.

Communist China denies Pompeos allegations, despite reporting from the Associated Press (AP) and others showing that many goods imported to the United States from China, including clothing and electronics, is made by slaves living in concentration camps.

According to official Chinese doctrine, all slaves are being held for the sole purpose of promoting economic and social development throughout the region. The only goal, it says, is to stamp out radicalism and keep all Chinese residents in line with the communist plan for global conquest.

I believe this genocide is ongoing and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uighurs by the Chinese party-state, Pompeo added, calling on all appropriate multilateral and relevant juridical bodies to join the United States in our effort to promote accountability for those responsible for these atrocities.

What about the genocide of GMOs, fluoride and vaccines?

The first time the word genocide was ever legally applied by a government was during World War II to describe the Holocaust. Because of this, it would appear that Pompeo is rallying the troops for a potential World War III, this time with China as the target.

This could happen under a second Trump term or a Joe Biden term, as the Biden team issued a similar statement back in 2020 referring to Chinas oppression of the Uighurs as genocide.

This writer has pointed out in past work that the U.S. has its own genocide to deal with in the form of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), crop chemicals, vaccines, fluoride, deprivation of legal access to healing plants like cannabis, and so much more. However, nobody in government, either left or right, has yet to declare any of this as such, let alone take action to fight it.

It would be nice, for once, to have government officials stand in defense of suffering Americans who are being targeted for genocide by Big Pharma, Big Vaccine and Big Chemical, not to mention Big Tech, which as of late has made it abundantly clear that people who engage in wrongthink and wrongspeech are to be terminated.

Perhaps Pompeo or whomever takes his place will get right on that in the coming weeks. We certainly will not hold our breath, though.

More related news can be found at Propaganda.news.

Sources for this article include:

JustTheNews.com

NaturalNews.com

FT.com

NaturalNews.com
Democrats are ambivalent about the military, something clear from their approach to the inauguration. The Democrats summoned 26,000 National Guard troops to D.C., purportedly to protect Joe Biden from rioters. They then accused those same troops of being potentially dangerous white supremacists. Many of the troops responded  not by being dangerous, because they're patriotic, constitutionally guided Americans, but by apparently turning their backs on Joe Biden.



National Guard Troops turn their backs.

Sure, some have argued that the backward-facing troops were providing operational security, protecting the president from attacks from beyond as his motorcade drove by. But a look at the video shows that only some units have some troops facing Biden and others looking backward. Many units show that all troops gave their backs to Biden  not a good look for a president's first day in office.

Beginning with the Vietnam War, the Democrats' basic principle has been to dislike the military. For example, as recently as 2009, Obama vividly described American troops as a people who are busy "air-raiding villages and killing civilians."

While he was in the White House, Obama worked hard to reshape the military into a more Democrat-friendly organization. At the officer level, the administration purged the old guard, making way for a horde of college-educated, hard-left politicians in uniform. At the rank-and-file level, the administration worked its social justice wiles on the troops.

The most visible and extreme example of the new social justice policies happened with the LGBTQ+ policies. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" gave way to openly homosexual troops, which gave way to drag queens in the Navy. This was taking Churchill's remark about the Navy being the home to "rum, buggery, and the lash" to a whole new level.

The Obama administration also welcomed so-called "transgender" people into the military. These are people with severe body dysmorphia who believe themselves to be the opposite of their genetic sex. They are tragic people, and the statistics show that they are emotionally unstable.

Even in transgender-friendly Sweden, and even after cosmetic surgery that makes their bodies comport somewhat more with their self-image, they have inordinately high suicide rates. The smart money is on keeping these damaged people away from military life.

Because of the problems associated with the so-called "transgender" phenomenon, Trump reinstated the ban on allowing them to serve. This decision, incidentally, saved taxpayers from being forced to pay for "sex change" surgery for "transgender" troops. Biden, however, has promised to reverse the Trump ban and reinstate in our military people who have inordinately high rates of suicide and other mental instability.

It turns out that leftists also like the military, not as a force against America's foreign enemies, but as a force against Americans. That's why the Democrats, working with their allies in the Pentagon, placed 26,000 National Guard troops in D.C. as part of Biden's decidedly weird inauguration. Instead of crowds of excited Americans, Biden would take the oath of office behind massive fences, surrounded by phalanxes of National Guard troops.

Democrats were still worried. While the officer corps is strongly allied with the Democrats, the troops still lean conservative. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) said what all the Democrats were thinking:

I was reading about this on my Twitter account, I guess, and people were reminding people of Anwar Sadat and Indira Gandhi who were killed by their own people. I was thinking, the guard is 90 some odd percent, I believe, male. Only about 20 percent of white males voted for Biden. You have got to figure that the guard, which is predominantly more conservative and I see that on my social media, and we know it, they are probably 25 percent of the people that are there protecting us who voted for Biden. The other 75 percent are in the class that would be the large class of folks who might want to do something. And there were military people and police who took oath to defend the Constitution and to protect and defend who didn't do it who were in the insurrection. So it does concern me. But the vetting at the last minute 

The FBI  another Democrat institution  therefore investigated the National Guard troops for ideological purity. It's reasonable to believe that those who passed the test were nevertheless offended that their loyalty to American norms was being questioned. Many of them revealed that sentiment by turning their backs on the Biden motorcade, in much the same way that the New York Police Department earlier turned their backs on New York's cop-hating mayor, Bill de Blasio:

Here's a word of advice to the Biden administration: if you're relying on armed American troops to protect you, not from foreign enemies, but from the American public, treat them well. It's really tacky to question their loyalty.

Image: National Guard troops turn their backs on Biden. YouTube screen grab.
Pune, Jan 21 : A major fire broke out in an under-construction building of the Serum Institute of India (SII)'s Manjari plant here on Thursday afternoon, officials said. There are no immediate reports of casualties.

Around 2 p.m., thick clouds of smoke could be seen billowing out of the structure in the SII complex at Manjari, said company sources.

At least 12 fire-tenders from Pune Fire Brigade rushed to the site and were battling the blaze, the cause of which is not clear.

The SII is currently under a global scanner as it has become one of the handful of pharmaceutical companies worldwide engaged in the manufacture of the Covid-19 vaccine, branded as Covishield, currently being administered to lakh of people in India.

SII officials said that Covishield vaccine is produced and stocked at its Hinjewadi manufacturing facility, which is located around 30 kms away from Manjari.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

The measure includes travel restrictions and limitations on the ability to do business in China. Spokesman for Biden: A "cynical and unproductive" move. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is the most prominent sanctioned personality. The Chinese are responding to the restrictions imposed by the former president.

Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Chinese government yesterday imposed sanctions on around thirty members of the Trump administration. The announcement was made minutes after Joe Biden was sworn in as the new president of the United States. The measure includes travel restrictions and limitations on the ability to do business in China. A spokeswoman for Biden condemned the move by the Chinese, considered "cynical and unproductive".

Of those sanctioned the most prominent personality is former secretary of state Mike Pompeo. On January 19, in his farewell address, he denounced the repression of Uyghurs and other Islamic minorities living in Xinjiang, calling it a "genocide".

Former National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien and Kelly Craft, who left her post as UN ambassador, were also targeted. In recent days, Craft was due to visit Taiwan, but the trip was cancelled after the heavy grievances of Beijing. Alex Azar has also ended up on Chinas blacklist: last August, Trump's health secretary met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei.

Other personalities who were sanctioned include Peter Navarro, economic adviser to the former president, and Stephen Bannon, the architect of the tycoon's victorious presidential campaign in 2016. Both strongly supported the tariff war against the Asian giant. Lastly, David Stilwell, the head of policy for Asia at the State Department and John Bolton, OBriens predecessor to National Security, were also affected.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry claims the sanctioned US officials are responsible for planning, promoting and implementing a series of "reckless" policies that have seriously interfered with China's internal affairs. Beijing maintains their actions have undermined the country's interests, offended the Chinese people and damaged Sino-American relations.

On January 14, in one of his latest acts, Trump authorized new sanctions against a range of Chinese public officials and companies: they are accused of coercion against nations contesting China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Since 2018 Trump has launched a campaign to boycott Chinese tech companies, part of a wider geopolitical conflict with the Asian giant; the most affected are those involved in the development of the 5G internet network (Huawei), artificial intelligence and microchips.

One year ago, in an attempt, a year ago the two sides signed a preliminary agreement (the so-called "phase one") with which China committed to buying around 184 billion euros in goods and services from the United States by the end of 2021. The target was not achieved; Beijing justified itself by arguing that this is due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Salvation Government has been accused of stealing aid meant for displacement camps and selling it at markets reports North Press.

Local sources revealed on Tuesday that officials of the General Administration of Displaced Affairs affiliated with the Salvation Government of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, take bribes and run corruption regarding the distribution of relief materials in the camps of northwestern Syria.

The Administration of Displaced Affairs distributes relief materials to some camps, while depriving others, in exchange for some officials in the local councils giving up a percentage of the aid in favor of the Salvation Government, the sources told North Press.

Some IDP camps in northern Idleb receive continuous relief support, while other camps live in difficult humanitarian conditions that are in need of the basic necessities of life like bread and water, the sources added.

The sources stated, the shops for buying and selling relief materials are spread in most markets of Idleb, and they have become a source of livelihood for officials and employees of the Administration of Displaced Affairs.

The Salvation Governments institutions control organizations and associations that receive support to establish charitable projects and camps, in order to seize support and take contracts in their favor, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The camps residents in northwestern Syria are suffering from poor conditions and a lack of services, amid appeals to humanitarian organizations and local councils to alleviate the suffering and to provide medicines and heating, but to no avail.

The suffering increases in winter, and recently, rain has washed away several camps.

The opposition-held areas in northwestern Syria are witnessing a state of chaos at all levels, accompanied by killings and assassinations through repeated explosions.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
SUNRISE, Fla., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Interim HealthCare Inc., the nation's leading franchise network of healthcare staffing services and home healthcare, hospice and personal care support, is ready to address the staffing needs required nationwide and be a major part of the COVID-19 distribution. Local Departments of Health are closely monitoring guidance and operations established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. To this effort, local Departments of Health across the U.S. need the skilled resources of staffing professionals to source and place the necessary healthcare providers to administer the vaccine, including those employed by Interim HealthCare.

As the First in Healthcare Staffing, multiple Interim HealthCare franchise locations are working with state Departments of Health to provide healthcare staffing services for individual state-organized distribution plans, but also with hospitals, pharmacies, skilled nursing homes and senior care communities to reduce long wait times. These professionals are helping to ensure effective vaccine distribution to seniors, essential workers and eventually the full U.S. population.

Shari and Scott LaFavre, owners of Interim HealthCare of Minneapolis, and their team launched a COVID-19 Call Center to provide the local hospital system with immediate and on-demand staffing support. A total of 52 staffing service employees, including registered nurses and assistants, are working full time at the hospital level to provide the necessary coverage to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. This is making it possible for in-house nurses and providers to continue caring for those at the bedside. A successful model, the local Interim HealthCare franchise location expects the staffing needs to continue over the next six months at these current levels and remain steady for all of 2021.

With reports of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses sitting in storage, waiting to reach intended recipients, there is risk that doses could become obsolete as their shelf life expires. With state-level distribution efforts and hospitals already strained for care providers, Interim HealthCare's workforce is being deployed to serve the U.S. healthcare ecosystem with timely support of trusted healthcare staff experienced in the full continuum of care and vaccine distribution.

"The availability of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are nothing short of medical miracles, although their availability is exciting, the U.S. healthcare ecosystem grapples with how to effectively distribute and staff for the administration of the vaccine," said Jennifer Sheets, president and CEO of Interim HealthCare Inc. "As a registered nurse, I have seen first-hand the power of life-saving medicine. Our healthcare providers have never backed down from a challenge and they're stepping up again now for our entire healthcare system and those who need it."

The Interim HealthCare team of professionals have led the charge in COVID-19 safety by providing temperature screening and testing services to essential businesses, law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, and healthcare facilities nationwide  as well as mobilizing partnership alignment with local medical labs to expedite test results. With the vaccine rollout, Interim HealthCare locations are strategically stationed across the country to help keep those at the highest risk safe and to make available the proper staffing needed to ensure a swift and effective distribution for all of the U.S.

With a more than 20-year history facilitating flu and pneumonia vaccine clinics, local owners are more than prepared to support the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations according to CDC guidelines as we look to return life to some normalcy.

Interim HealthCare is the country's oldest and longest-standing healthcare franchise organization, and all locations are owned and operated locally in 41 states across the country. Interim Healthcare franchises are alsorecruiting prospective employees in a range of career paths from LPNs, RNs, therapists and CNAs to paraprofessionals (home health, hospice and support aides). Interim HealthCare extends a warm welcome to those new to the healthcare industry from other sectors of the economy recently impacted by job loss due to the public health emergency including restaurant and food service, hospitality and tourism and retail and other customer service fields.

For more information on Interim HealthCare staffing services, please visit:

https://info.interimhealthcare.com/covid-19-vaccination-staffing

About Interim HealthCare Inc.

Interim HealthCare Inc., founded in 1966, is a leading national franchisor of home care, hospice and healthcare staffing. It is part of Caring Brands International, which also includes UK-based Bluebird Care and Australia-based Just Better Care, both well-known franchise brands in their countries. With 575 franchise locations in eight countries, Caring Brands International is a global healthcare leader.



Interim HealthCare in the United States is unique in combining the commitment of local ownership with the support of a national organization that develops innovative programs and quality standards that improve the delivery of service. Franchisees employ nurses, therapists, aides, companions and other healthcare professionals who provide 25 million hours of home care service to nearly 200,000 people each year, meeting a variety of home health, senior care, hospice, palliative care, pediatric care and healthcare staffing needs. For more information or to locate an Interim HealthCare office, visit www.interimhealthcare.com .

SOURCE Interim HealthCare Inc.
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Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh has proposed the resignation of his entire government after two ministers announced their withdrawal, local media reported on Thursday.

His decision is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the the parliamentary faction of the ruling Mongolian Peoples Party.

After that, the issue will be discussed at a session of the parliament.

Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the State Emergency Commission Yangu Sodbaatar and Health Minister Togtmol Munkhsaikhan on Wednesday evening announced their resignations amid social pressure and public protests.

The resignations came after a woman had tested positive for COVID-19 and was transferred from a maternity hospital to a quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients together with her newborn baby on Tuesday night.

Mass public protests were triggered in Ulan Bator as the woman wore slippers and no outerwear in freezing weather during the transfer.

(Xinhua/NAN)
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High 76F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Jeremy Regan was a bit shaken, after learning his Winnipeg barbershop may finally be able to welcome back customers this weekend.

Jeremy Regan was a bit shaken, after learning his Winnipeg barbershop may finally be able to welcome back customers this weekend.

After being closed for more than two months, "I was a little bit shell-shocked, because Im kind of in this routine of not working, which is not a good routine to be in. But overall, Id say I was pretty excited to hear the word that we potentially could," the owner of Hunter & Gunn said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the province announced a list of COVID-19 public health restrictions that could be loosened as early as Saturday, including the reopening of businesses such as barbershops and hair salons. A final decision is expected to be made public Thursday.

Regan said its not a surprise salons could be opening a little sooner than other businesses, because they were quick to reopen after the first pandemic shutdown in spring 2020.

However, its going to be difficult  and possibly illegal  to get up and running for the weekend.

His Broadway space has been shuttered for 2 1/2 months, and it needs to be cleaned and prepared for customers  a job Regan said will take five or six staff members to complete, bringing additional hurdles to reopening.

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Jeremy Regan, owner of Hunter & Gunn, said its going to be difficult  and possibly illegal  to get up and running for the weekend.

"On Friday, until midnight, having five people in that space is going to be highly illegal," he said. "So were going to have to sneak in, keep the lights down, keep the blinds closed, so we can go and clean the shop."

Hes already booking appointments for Saturday, and the weeks ahead, with the expectation the province will allow barbershops to open on the weekend.

Regan called it equal parts "funny and upsetting" the province has left his industry to wonder if it will be able to reopen just a day or two before Manitobas current code red restrictions expire.

"I could go on and on about the frustrations about this whole thing, that runs deeper beyond us just opening, but that particularly is just frustrating," he said. "After being off that long, you want to hit the road running on Saturday."

MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES "For so many of these businesses, its not just a case of turning a key and flicking on a light switch," said Loren Remillard, President and CEO of The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer Loren Remillard said the province could have been more considerate of the many parts at play in reopening a business. Inventory has to be restocked, staffing has to be rebuilt, and additional personal protective equipment and cleanliness training has to be completed.

"More time is always better," Remillard said. "For so many of these businesses, its not just a case of turning a key and flicking on a light switch."

The chamber has recommended its members "start doing the due diligence" necessary to reopen in advance of the province's decision, he said.

"Absolutely, they should prepare, but until such time as Thursday, when theres a green light  its a go  you can never say definitively... So our advice to our members is prepare as if you will be opening based on what weve heard to date."

The rush toward reopening was a little more muted Wednesday at Hilary Druxman Design, a Winnipeg jewelry boutique.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The door of Hilary Druxman Design will stay locked to casual shoppers, Hilary Druxman said, and she'll "play it by ear" when scheduling in-person appointments.

Customers have taken to the curbside pickup and delivery model, owner Hilary Druxman said, but said the downtown shop will have to make some changes should non-essential shopping be brought back Saturday. Namely, it will start setting up appointments for people who want to come inside and see product for themselves.

"If we just opened right now, we just dont have our inventory built up like we normally would, because were working with a smaller staff," she said. "And I just want to keep all my staff comfortable with having to deal with customers coming in, and we can service them better that way."

The door will stay locked to casual shoppers, Druxman said, and she'll "play it by ear" when scheduling in-person appointments.

"Certainly, being able to have customers able to come in by appointment and deal with them, that part we miss," she said.

"For some people, if theyre doing custom work or they have a certain repair, its better to have them come into the store. So that will help, being able to go back to at least a limited number of people in the store."

Whatever form the new public health orders take, they will be put in place for three weeks and reassessed in mid-February, the province said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_
Doubts over the holding of the Electric Picnic 2021 have been raised by the news that the organisers of the Glastonbury Festival in the UK have been forced to call off this year's event due to Covid-19.

Michael and Emily Eavis have apologised for having to cancel Glasto for the second year in a row.

"With great regret, we must announce that this years Glastonbury Festival will not take place and that this will be another enforced fallow year for us. Tickets purchased in October 2019 will roll over to 2022. Full statement below and on our website. Thank you for your incredible continued support," said a statement.

The festival - which was already postponed in 2020 and was set to take place from 23- 27 June 2021 with Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift as headliners.

The Electric Picnic is due to take place in Stradbally, Co Laois from September 2-5 having also been cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

MCD chief Denis Desmond expressed confidence recently that that Electric Picnic and Longitude music festivals would happen.

There is no reason other than logistics around the rollout of the vaccines here why this summer cannot happen. I am hugely optimistic, and I dont see any reason why we shouldnt be back this summer staging concerts, he said.

Read also: MCD BOSS CONFIDENT ABOUT ELECTRIC PICNIC 2021

Electric Picnic organisers Festival Republic have not announced line-ups for the Laois event but have pencilled in acts for its sister festivals in the UK, Leeds and Reading.

The Electric Picnic website says the event will happen.
In one sign of how much she may be involved in legislative campaigns, Harris has been in touch with mayors around the country to preview Bidens coronavirus relief package

Vice-President Kamala Harris represented the march of history when she was sworn in Wednesday by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. As a Californian of Jamaican and Indian descent, she is the first woman and the first woman of colour to hold the nations second-highest office.

It was a landmark moment. But just hours later, Harris was on the job, returning to the US Capitol to execute her constitutional role as president of the Senate and swear in three new Democratic senators: Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, the two Democrats elected in a Georgia special election this month, and Alex Padilla, her own successor to the California seat she resigned Monday.

Presiding in the Senate shortly before 5 pm, Harris was visibly amused as she announced that she would swear in Padilla to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Senator Kamala D Harris of California.

At that, she let loose a hearty laugh.

Yes, that was very weird! she added.

The light moment belied the serious stakes at play with the swearing in of three new Democrats. It also served notice of how important the Senate will be to the start of Harris' tenure as vice president in the Biden administration.

With the Senate divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, and President Joe Biden hoping to pass ambitious legislation on the coronavirus , the economy, climate change and other policy matters, Harris  who as vice-president will break any tiebreaking votes  may find herself returning often to the Capitol.

Theres definitely going to be a demand, I think, in a 50-50 Senate, like Ive never seen in the Senate before, said Senator Cory Booker, New Jersey.

For the Biden-Harris agenda, she will be in Congress very, very often or reaching out to senators very often to try to push that agenda through, Booker said.

An aide to Harris said that she had already begun reaching out to other senators about White House nominations, including that of retired General Lloyd Austin III to be secretary of defense.

But Harris, 56, is sure to be far more than a 51st Democratic senator to Biden. She will bring to her history-making role at the White House an array of skills that Biden will draw on, including the prosecutorial chops that she displayed in Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, her personal energy that balances Bidens low-key approach and the voice she will offer to women and people of colour.

Shell bring a justice lens, a racial justice lens, racial equity, to everything and every policy and every decision thats going to be made, said Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat, California, a longtime ally of Harris. Thats so important, to have a Black woman, a South Asian womans perspective, on the big issues that this administration has to tackle.

Current and former aides to both Biden and Harris say that while dealing with the Senate will be important to her job, she has not been assigned a specific issue portfolio, at least at the outset, and will instead serve as a governing partner to Biden on all of his top priorities. If fulfilled, that mandate could make her among the most influential vice-presidents in history.

In one sign of how much she may be involved in legislative campaigns, Harris has been in touch with mayors around the country to preview Bidens coronavirus relief package, the Harris aide said.

From the moment that Harris was chosen as Bidens running mate, Republicans sought to paint her as a radical who would co-opt the more centrist Biden agenda and push any administration far to the left, often relying on sexist personal attacks in the process.

Yet while Harris and Biden had sharp disagreements on a number of issues during the primary, as his running mate she made a point at every turn to demonstrate that she not only embraced his agenda but also had studied his proposals in detail and was fully on board as his partner.

On Wednesday, she reveled in the moment as she appeared outside the Capitol for her inauguration. So proud of you, former president Barack Obama told her as they fist-bumped shortly before her swearing-in. Minutes later, Harris, clad in a purple coat, barely suppressed a smile as she finished taking her oath from Sotomayor, her hand on a Bible once belonging to Thurgood Marshall, the former Supreme Court justice.

After the inaugural ceremony, Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, escorted her predecessor, Mike Pence, and his wife, Karen Pence, down the Capitol steps for Pences departure. The couples stopped midway for a friendly chat punctuated by laughter.

In her next role, though, Harris may face inherent challenges, including finding her place in a West Wing stocked with veterans of the Obama White House who have known and worked with one another for years and advising a president with deeply fixed ideas of how Washington operates.

And given speculation that the 78-year-old Biden may not seek a second term in office, Harris, who mounted her own unsuccessful 2020 White House bid, is sure to face scrutiny about her electoral future much earlier than did her predecessors.

One factor that may work in Harris favour is Bidens own experience as vice-president, especially at the beginning, when he joined an Obama White House team that at times had a clubby quality. Harris allies hope and expect that Biden  and many of the aides who worked with him, like the incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain  will remember what it was like to be on the other side and ensure that Harris and her team are included and empowered.

So many people in the Biden orbit are sympathetic to what its like to sit on the OVP side, said Liz Allen, a former campaign aide to Harris and to Biden in the Obama White House, using the official abbreviation for the Office of the Vice President. I think people are going to be jumping through hoops to make sure she can break through.

Harris and Biden bring starkly different political profiles to the new administration. When Biden walks into the White House on Wednesday, he will be returning to a building he knows intimately from eight years as vice president and countless visits during a 36-year Senate career. Harris, who was in the Senate for less than one term, has had far less exposure to the inner workings of a presidential administration.

Their differences in many ways flip the dynamic that existed between Biden and former president Barack Obama. Back then, Obama was a young, relative newcomer to the capital seeking experience and credibility with working-class white America. Biden, a Beltway veteran, was his West Wing partner.

In this case, Harris will play the role of relative Washington newcomer and offer Biden, the consummate insider, a starkly different perspective on the world and a bridge to a diverse nation.

Sometimes she may also offer him a decisive vote. Although the Senate filibuster means that much legislation requires 60 votes to pass, Biden and Chuck Schumer, Democrat, New York, who will become the Senate majority leader, may turn to the parliamentary tactic of budget reconciliation, which prohibits the filibuster and allows for 51-vote approvals.

Senator Chris Coons said he hoped that Harris would wind up less as the tiebreaking vote but more as a consensus-builder to help Biden win bipartisan majorities for his agenda. But bipartisanship has been in short supply, and Democrats expect Biden to operate on narrow legislative margins.

If not, she will indeed have to be a regular presence in the Senate, Coons allowed.

As vice-president, Biden himself cast no tiebreaking votes. But Vice-President Mike Pence was required to break deadlocks 13 times over the past four years.

More broadly, Biden will most likely feel that he needs little guidance in the workings of an institution where he served for so long and where Harris spent just four years. But Harris has relationships with newer members of the Senate with whom Biden did not overlap.

One early task for Harris will be ramping up her national security expertise. Aides say that she will support Bidens broader agenda of reengaging with allies, dealing with the challenges China presents and combating climate change. But she is likely to pay particular interest to certain issues, including global health and democracy, and human rights. Harris also has a strong interest in cybersecurity, informed by her service on the Senates Intelligence and Homeland Security committees.

Biden has suggested that he sees himself as a bridge to the next generation of leaders  and many Democrats expect that Harris would be a part of that next generation. If Biden does not run again, Harris would almost certainly be considered the early Democratic front-runner for 2024.

Robert Shrum, who served as a top political strategist to former vice-president Al Gore, whose presidential aspirations during President Bill Clintons second term were widely understood, said that Harris should focus only on serving Biden, not pursuing an independent political profile.

I think she will be very careful to do her job as vice-president, and unless and until he tells her and tells the country that hes not ready to run again, shes not going to focus on that at all, Shrum said.

Michael Crowley and Katie Glueck c.2021 The New York Times Company

The researchers examined data from study participants of the EPIC-Potsdam study who developed type 2 diabetes during the follow-up of the study. Thus, an increase in risk for microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes due to a higher BMI before diabetes diagnosis could be observed. Credit: DIfE

Successful weight loss is considered to be an integral part of the therapy for type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, studies keep appearing that question the importance of losing weight. However, new data from a large-scale observational study carried out at DIfE in cooperation with the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD) support the current recommendations of physicians. The findings, published in the journal Diabetologia, suggest that obesity and weight gain can lead to vascular disorders, the leading cause of disease and death for people with type 2 diabetes.

A close look at vascular disorders

Weight plays a crucial role in the development of type 2 diabetes. However, little research has been carried out on whether and how obesity and weight changes lead to late complications of type 2 diabetes. In particular, studies providing comparative data between microvascular and macrovascular diseases have so far been lacking. Microvascular disease affects the small blood vessels and can cause irreversible damage to kidneys, nerves and eyes, and thus lead to dialysis, amputation and blindness. Macrovascular injury, on the other hand, affects the large blood vessels and promote heart attacks and strokes.

Previous studies showed inconsistent results on the impact of obesity on the risk of vascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes. "Most studies, however, start with people who already have diabetes, in whom weight can also be a consequence of drug therapy. We studied body mass index (BMI) before diabetes diagnosis and thus unaffected by treatment", said first author Elli Polemiti, a doctoral student in the Department of Molecular Epidemiology headed by Professor Matthias Schulze at the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE).

Significance of BMI for the risk of microvascular complications

The team led by Schulze investigated whether the BMI prior to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis and a BMI change after diagnosis are associated with the occurrence of micro- and macrovascular complications. For this purpose, over a period of ten years, the research team observed about 1,000 participants of the EPIC Potsdam study with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who were free of other chronic diseases.

The researchers were unable to establish a clear relationship between the BMI and the occurrence of macrovascular complications. However, the situation was different with microvascular complications:

The results suggest that obesity can disrupt the function of the smallest blood vessels, arterioles and capillaries. Each five-point higher BMI at the time of diabetes diagnosis was associated with a 21 percent higher risk of microvascular complications. "This continuously increasing risk is independent of the initial value. That is, a patient with a BMI of 35 compared to 30 has a 21 percent higher risk. Likewise, someone who has a BMI of 28 compared to 23," Elli Polemiti said.

The research team also studied the effects of weight changes after a diabetes diagnosis. Doctors routinely recommend that overweight and obese people with type 2 diabetes lose at least five percent of their body weight to improve their metabolic condition. For a person weighing 80 kilograms, this means a loss of four kilograms. Weight loss can lead to improved blood pressure, blood lipid and blood glucose levels. "Our data reinforce the recommendations for weight management: the greater the weight loss after diagnosis, the lower the risk for microvascular complications. However, if the subjects gained weight instead, the risk also increased," said Professor Matthias Schulze, summarizing the results.

Protect blood vessels via weight control

In their observational study Schulze and his team provide a nuanced look at how overweight can promote late complications of type 2 diabetes. "While we did not observe a clear association between overweight and macrovascular complications, our data for microvascular complications are quite clear. Our results thus underline the importance of weight loss in preventing severe diabetes-associated complications," said junior researcher Polemiti.

Explore further Study reveals the devastating impact and hidden danger of type 2 diabetes diagnosis in younger adults

More information: Elli Polemiti et al, BMI and BMI change following incident type 2 diabetes and risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications: the EPIC-Potsdam study, Diabetologia (2021). Journal information: Diabetologia Elli Polemiti et al, BMI and BMI change following incident type 2 diabetes and risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications: the EPIC-Potsdam study,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s00125-020-05362-7

Provided by Deutsches Zentrum fuer Diabetesforschung
WASHINGTON - A Connecticut man has been charged in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol after he was allegedly identified in video that shows an officer crying out in pain while being pinned against a door frame by rioters.

Patrick Edward McCaughey was arrested Tuesday in South Salem, N.Y., and charged with assaulting or resisting government officers and riot as well as Capitol trespassing-related charges in the violent confrontation with District of Columbia police officer Daniel Hodges.

Information about McCaughey's attorney was not immediately available.

In a widely shared video of the violence against police that day, charging papers say, McCaughey appears to be the individual in a tan jacket seen thrusting a looted police riot shield against Hodges while the crowd he is with chants "Heave-ho" and presses its weight against it. The video shows a phalanx of police behind Hodges trying to push back the mob.

McCaughey engaged with Hodges shortly before the crowd sprayed tear-gas-like substances and ripped off the officer's gas mask to expose his bloodied mouth, charging papers said.

"Come on man, you are going to get squished just go home," a voice is heard consistent with McCaughey's tone and volume, an FBI affidavit said.

"Just go home. . . . Don't try and use that stick on me boy," McCaughey is identified as saying as he continued to push against Hodges, who held a police baton, the FBI said.

For the next 45 seconds, Hodges repeatedly cried out in pain while a crowd of dozens of rioters continued to push, chant and wave Trump and U.S. flags, charging papers said.

Eventually, McCaughey appeared to reset the officer's dislodged helmet and urged an officer behind him to let Hodges fall back, charging papers said.

"Hey you, this guy isn't doing too well," McCaughey said, according to the FBI, before repeating, "Let this guy through, he's hurt, he's hurt, let him back."

But McCaughey allegedly kept hold of the riot shield, even as the crowd behind him withdrew and, in the video "begins striking other uniformed law enforcement officers with the shield," the affidavit said.

McCaughey was charged after a witness claimed to identify him with 100% certainty based on photographs, including a lookout notice sent by D.C. police on Jan. 11, the FBI said.

The witness shared images McCaughey sent to mutual friends, including a selfie taken on Capitol scaffolding, that aligned with Capitol surveillance and other video recorded Jan. 6., the FBI said.

In announcing McCaughey's arrest with the FBI's Washington Field Office, Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for D.C., called the attack on Hodges "abhorrent and quintessentially un-American" and an assault on "the Capitol and the rule of law itself."

Sherwin added: "It is my pledge that anyone involved in violent attacks on law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Hodges, 32, has returned to duty.

"The zealotry of these people is absolutely unreal," Hodges previously told The Washington Post. "I didn't want to be the guy who starts shooting, because I knew they had guns - we had been seizing guns all day."

"And the only reason I could think of that they weren't shooting us was they were waiting for us to shoot first," Hodges said. "And if it became a firefight between a couple hundred officers and a couple thousand demonstrators, we would have lost."

Also on Wednesday, a Florida man wanted in the Capitol siege was arrested in northern Virginia while headed back to D.C., according to the FBI's Washington Field Office and a law enforcement document.

Samuel Camargo, 26, of Broward County, Fla., was detained by Alexandria, Va., police on four federal counts related to alleged actions during the mob attack Jan. 6, the FBI said in a statement.

It's unclear why Camargo was headed back to Washington on Inauguration Day. An arrest warrant was issued for him Friday.

A friend of Camargo contacted authorities Jan. 6 to report that Camargo had posted photos and messages on social media claiming that he had participated in the riot that resulted in the deaths of one police officer and four rioters and damaged the Capitol, according to charging documents in federal court in D.C.

In one of the posts, Camargo said he removed a piece of the Capitol he called "memorabilia" and posted a photo of what appeared to be a long piece of metal, according to the charging documents.

Another video showed Camargo struggling with a Capitol Police officer at an entrance to the Capitol, according to charging documents.

An FBI agent who interviewed Camargo wrote in court documents that Camargo acknowledged that he had been present at the Capitol riot.

Afterward, Camargo posted on social media that he had spoken with an FBI agent and wrote that "I believe I've been cleared," according to charging documents.

Camargo is facing charges of civil disorder, knowingly entering a restricted building, knowingly engaging in disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

No attorney for Camargo was listed in court documents. Alexandria police referred questions about his case to federal authorities.
A national Muslim advocacy group is denouncing racist graffiti found in Rhode Island and Virginia.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Wednesday that graffiti was found recently on the Stillwater Scenic Trail in Smithfield, R.I.

The organization didnt elaborate on the vandalism, but local news outlets said the graffiti was critical of the Black Lives Matter movement and included expletives.

CAIR noted that some residents have also complained local officials are not doing enough to remove the graffiti and have yet to publicly condemn it.

Meanwhile in Virginia, police recently found graffiti with white nationalist messages near an elementary school in Leesburg named after Frederick Douglass, the famed Black abolitionist.

CAIR said the graffiti was found the same weekend as white supremacist flyers were circulated in the neighborhood. White supremacist and neo-Nazi propaganda has also been distributed to residents and businesses in other parts of Virginia in recent days, the organization added.

Local, state and national leaders must speak out forcefully against growing bigotry nationwide, said Ayan Ajeen, a spokeswoman for CAIR. The continued targeting of Black and minority communities, and the promotion of white supremacy and racism, must end.
London, Jan 21 : The UK government has announced the funding of up to 23 million pounds ($31 million) to support seafood exporters that are most adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the challenges of adjusting to new export requirements after Brexit.

"This is in recognition of the unique circumstances of the fishing sector, which has had the most significant new requirements to adjust to, and for whom even a short delay can lead to goods perishing," Xinhua news agency quoted a statement issued on Wednesday by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as saying.

The industry has already been hit by the reduction in demand from the hospitality sector in the UK and other export markets as a result of the pandemic with market prices falling by as much as 40 per cent, according to the statement.

Fishing rights became a critical issue in the 11th hour talks that led to a post-Brexit trade deal agreed between the UK and the European Union (EU) last month.

Under the deal, the EU fishing quota in British waters will be reduced by 15 per cent in the first year and 2.5 percentage points each year after.

From June 2026, annual talks will be held between the two sides to set the amount EU fishing boats can catch in British waters and vice versa.

The UK will have the right to completely withdraw access to fishing boats from EU member states, but the bloc could respond by suspending access to its waters for British boats or impose tariffs on fish exports from Britain to the EU.

According to the UK's National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations, the fishing industry is "disappointed and frustrated" with the deal.

For Steve Barclay, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the new package of support will help the fishing sector "navigate the challenges of the next few months" and the government will continue its efforts to support jobs and build back better from the pandemic.

On December 30, 2020, British lawmakers approved the post-Brexit trade deal by a large majority, paving the way for an orderly Brexit when the transition period ended on the next day.

They voted 521-73 to back the trade deal in the House of Commons.

The deal, which came after nine months of arduous negotiations, is the biggest bilateral trade deal signed by either side, covering trade worth around 668 billion pounds.



This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, pink, cultured in the lab. Also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus causes COVID-19. The sample was isolated from a patient in the U.S. On Thursday, March 5, 2020, Tennessee's Department of Health Commissioner Lisa Piercey confirmed the state's first case of the new coronavirus. (NIAID-RML via AP)
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The pre-filled syringes market is poised to grow by 4.23 bn during 2020-2024, decelerating at a CAGR of almost 13% during the forecast period.

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Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Pre-filled Syringes Market 2020-2024 (Graphic: Business Wire)

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The report on the pre-filled syringes market provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis.

The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario and the overall market environment. The market is driven by increasing adoption by pharmaceutical companies.

The pre-filled syringes market analysis includes material segment and geography landscape. This study identifies the increasing number of biopharmaceuticals as one of the prime reasons driving the pre-filled syringes market growth during the next few years.

This report presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters.

The pre-filled syringes market covers the following areas:

Pre-filled Syringes Market Sizing

Pre-filled Syringes Market Forecast

Pre-filled Syringes Market Analysis

Companies Mentioned

Baxter International Inc.

Becton, Dickinson and Co.

Recipharm AB

Fresenius SE Co. KGaA

Medtronic Plc

Mylan NV

Nipro Corp.

Novartis AG

SCHOTT AG

Terumo Corp.

Related Reports on Health Care Include:

Microarray Biochips Market by Application and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024- The microarray biochips market size has the potential to grow by USD 10.22 billion during 2020-2024, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 19.84%. To get extensive research insights: Click and get FREE sample report in minutes



The microarray biochips market size has the potential to grow by USD 10.22 billion during 2020-2024, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 19.84%. To get extensive research insights: Proteomics Market by Product, Application, and Geography Forecast and Analysis 2020-2024- The proteomics market size has the potential to grow by USD 15.82 billion during 2020-2024, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 13.73%. To get extensive research insights: Click and get FREE sample report in minutes

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2019

Market outlook: Forecast for 2019 2024

Five Forces Analysis

Five forces summary

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

Market Segmentation by Material

Market segments

Comparison by Material

Glass pre-filled syringes Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Plastic pre-filled syringes Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Market opportunity by Material

Market Segmentation by Application

Insulin pre-filled syringes

Vaccine pre-filled syringes

Anticoagulant pre-filled syringes

Others

Market Segmentation by End-user

Hospitals and clinics

Home healthcare

Customer landscape

Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

Europe Market size and forecast 2019-2024

North America Market size and forecast 2019-2024

APAC Market size and forecast 2019-2024

ROW Market size and forecast 2019-2024

Key leading countries

Market opportunity by geography

Volume drivers Demand led growth

Volume driver External factors

Market challenges

Market trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendor landscape

Landscape disruption

Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

Baxter International Inc.

Recipharm AB

Fresenius SE Co. KGaA

Medtronic Plc

Mylan NV

Nipro Corp.

Novartis AG

SCHOTT AG

Terumo Corp.

Appendix

Scope of the report

Currency conversion rates for US$

Research methodology

List of abbreviations

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President Joe Biden became just the second Catholic to take the oath of office on Wednesday, but the nations top bishop is warning that his pro-choice policies will advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity.

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, who currently holds the presidency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, released a statement wishing Biden well.

But he also condemned the president for his stance on abortion.

I am praying that God grant him wisdom and courage to lead this great nation and that God help him to meet the tests of these times, to heal the wounds caused by this pandemic, to ease our intense political and cultural divisions, and to bring people together with renewed dedication to Americas founding purposes, to be one nation under God committed to liberty and equality for all, Archbishop Gomez said.

But, he continued, I must point out that our new President has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender.

President Joe Biden (left) became just the second Catholic to take the oath of office on Wednesday, but Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez (right), who currently holds the presidency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, condemned him for his stance on abortion

Of deep concern is the liberty of the Church and the freedom of believers to live according to their consciences.

The strongly worded statement was slammed by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, who called it ill-considered.

Aside from the fact that there is seemingly no precedent for doing so, the statement, critical of President Biden came as a surprise to many bishops, who received it just hours before it was released.

Cupich, who is considered an ally of Pope Francis, said the statement by Gomez was drafted without input from the conferences administrative committee.

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich (pictured in October 2018 in the Vatican) issued a rare public rebuke of Gomez, saying his statement criticizing Biden was 'ill-considered'

He said Gomez avoided a collegial consultation that is [the] normal course for statements that represent and enjoy the considered endorsement of the American bishops.

Cupich added: The internal institutional failures involved must be addressed, and I look forward to contributing to all efforts to that end, so that, inspired by the Gospel, we can build up the unity of the Church, and together take up the work of healing our nation in this moment of crisis.

Last month, Charles J. Chaput, a retired Catholic archbishop, said that Biden should not receive Holy Communion because of his stance on 'evil' abortion and same-sex relationships.

Chaput, 76, stepped down as archbishop of Philadelphia last year.

He claimed that the president's pro-choice support has created a 'scandal' for the faithful, and means 'he is not in full Communion with the Catholic Church.'

Bidens continued support for Roe v Wade, which first protected a woman's right to abortion in the US in 1973, as well as same-sex marriage, which was legalized federally in 2015, has caused a schism between Catholic leaders.

Writing in the conservative, religious journal, First Things, Chaput said: 'The implications for the present moment are clear. Public figures who identify as "Catholic" give scandal to the faithful when receiving Communion by creating the impression that the moral laws of the Church are optional.'

He added that bishops who give Biden Communion 'without clearly teaching the gravity of his facilitating the evil of abortion (and his approval of same-sex relationships), they do a serious disservice to their brother bishops and their people.'

Biden (seen left with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, at a church service in Washington, DC, on Wednesday) is the second Catholic to ever become US president

The first ever Catholic to become US president was John F. Kennedy (seen left during his inaugural address at the US Capitol on January 20, 1961)

Washington archbishop and soon-to-be Cardinal Wilton Gregory, who is now Biden's local bishop after the president moved in to the White House on Wednesday, said last month that he would not deny Biden a Communion and called the issue of denial a 'confusion' over Church teaching.

Chaput does note that Biden 'has championed many causes and issues that do serve the common good.'

But he added that 'many of his actions and words have also supported or smoothed the way for grave moral evils in our public life that have resulted in the destruction of millions of innocent lives.'

Chaput, who is a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, was the second Native American to be consecrated a bishop in the United States and the first Native American archbishop.

He was the ninth archbishop of Philadelphia, serving from 2011 until 2020 and previously served as Archbishop of Denver (19972011) and Bishop of Rapid City (19881997).

Unlike many of his predecessors as archbishop of Philadelphia, the Capuchin Franciscan was not made a cardinal.

Pope Francis told Biden on Wednesday that he was praying that God would guide his efforts to bring reconciliation in the United States.

In a message sent shortly after the second Catholic president was sworn in, Francis also said he hoped Biden would work towards a society marked by true justice, freedom and respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those with no voice.

Last month, retired archbishop of Philadelphia Charles J. Chaput claimed that Biden's pro-choice stance on abortion creates a 'scandal' in the Catholic faith. Chaput is pictured in 2011

'Under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding,' Francis said.

'I likewise ask God, the source of all wisdom and truth, to guide your efforts to foster understanding, reconciliation and peace within the United States and among the nations of the world in order to advance the universal common good,' he said.

Three days after the January 6 attack on the U.S. Congress by supporters of former president Donald Trump, Francis said the violence had left him 'astonished.'

In Wednesday's message to Biden, the pope said the 'grave crises facing our human family call for farsighted and united responses.'

The first Catholic to ever become president of the United States was John F. Kennedy in 1961.
As head of ABC Audio Studios for the last decade, Kellie Riordan was responsible for some of Australias most loved podcasts. Riordan championed a diverse slate of shows, from the true crime series Unravel, to Ladies We Need To Talk, to an unflinching look at someone experiencing a mental health crisis in No Feeling Is Final.

I've had the privilege to make, or be part of the making, of a lot of great shows over the last few years, says Riordan. To see the escalation in the amount of great podcast content in the Australian market over the last few years is, it's great. It really makes me super proud.

Kellie Riordan has started her own podcast consultancy after 20 years at the ABC.

Back in 2005 Riordan began posting the show Conversations in podcast form, learning enough technical know-how from a colleague to get the audio in a proper format and get it uploaded.

Richard Fidler laughs about it because at the time he was like, why are you sitting in the corner wasting an hour of time on this internet thing when we've got guests to lock in for tomorrow, she says.
On a historic day, New York U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer achieved some feats of his own.

With two new Democratic senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, Schumer, D-N.Y., became the Senate majority leader on Wednesday. Democrats and Republicans each hold 50 seats, but Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, holds the tie-breaking vote. That means Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate.

Schumer, a descendant of Holocaust victims, is the first Jewish majority leader of the U.S. Senate. He is also the first New Yorker to hold the post.

"Today, I feel the full weight of that responsibility. A sense of reverence, of awe at the trust placed in me," Schumer said in his first speech as majority leader. "I intend to honor that trust with all of my energy and with joy."

The Brooklyn-born senator, who has represented New York since 1999 and previously served in the House, lauded President Joe Biden for his inauguration speech and the symbolism of Wednesday's ceremony. The inauguration was held at the Capitol two weeks after a mob attacked the building where the legislative branch is housed.

With Biden and Harris taking their oaths, Schumer said democracy has prevailed and the peaceful transfer of power was fulfilled.



Press Release

January 21, 2021 Senate to hold hearings on rising food prices: Pangilinan THE Senate will be conducting hearings to determine the necessary interventions to stabilize and lower food prices following Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan's proposed Senate Resolution 618 seeking an inquiry into rising food prices. Toward the end of his privileged speech Wednesday afternoon, the former Presidential Assistant on Food Security and Agricultural Modernization thanked Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, for agreeing to conduct hearings on his resolution. In his proposed Senate Resolution 618, Pangilinan said the objective of the hearings is to ensure that every Filipino consumer, especially the poor, have access to adequate and affordable food. Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri said the issue is very timely and the hearing would help focus on the problem at hand. Senator Pia Cayetano moved to include the speech in a joint referral to the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Future Thinking. Senator Imee Marcos also moved to invite the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to enforce the Price Act which seeks to protect consumers from undue price increases during emergency situations. Pangilinan said the issue of rising food prices is closely related to the issue of health - everyone's primary concern now during the Covid-19 pandemic. "Habang tumataas ang presyo ng pagkain, lalo pang dadami ang magugutom," he explained. "Kailangan nating tutukan ito dahil ang usapin ng pagkain ay usapin din ng kalusugan. Kung patuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain, dagdag pasakit sa ating mga kababayan," he added. A Social Weather Stations survey last September 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, showed that families who experienced involuntary hunger or hunger due to lack of food reached a new record-high of 30.7 percent, or an estimated 7.6 million households. That is almost one in every three Filipinos. According to Unicef, a third of children in the Philippines are stunted. The World Health Organization estimates that the Covid-19 pandemic may cause stunting among children under five years old if no mitigating interventions are put in place. "Isa sa tatlong kababayan natin ay nagutom noong pandemya at isa sa tatlong bata ay nababansot dahil kulang sa pagkain at sustansya. Kung magpapatuloy ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga pagkain, mas dadami pa ang magugutom, mas madami pa ang mababansot," Pangilinan said. Aside from the pandemic lockdowns that disrupted the food supply chain, other factors that may have caused food prices to go up include: the African swine flu, which infected pigs in Luzon; flooding of food imports; and the decline in the number of Filipino farmers planting after consecutive losses as cheaper food imports push their produce out of the market. "Once we know what causes these sudden spikes in prices, we would do everything to bring down the prices as soon as possible. Tutulong kaming taga-Senado," said Pangilinan. The Department of Agriculture (DA), through Secretary William Dar is leading initiatives to bring down the prices. To stabilize the supply and price of pork, the DA is looking to increase shipments of hogs from Visayas, Mindanao, and other ASF-free areas or "green zones" in Luzon, while also encouraging pork imports from ASF-free countries. Executive Order No. 123 was also signed, to retain the tariff rate of imported mechanically deboned meat of chicken and turkey at 5 percent until end of 2022. This would help ensure the continued supply at stable prices of canned and processed meat products. But as we regulate the food imports, we must also push to fully implement the Sagip Saka law, which was signed in May of 2019, said Pangilinan. "Kapag kumikita ang ating mga magsasaka, sila ay mas ma-e-engganyong magtanim. At pag mas marami silang ani, mas mababa ang presyo ng mga bilihin sa palengke," he added.
WESTON  Attention has turned to the middle and high schools reopening plans as the district moves its youngest students to full, in-person learning.

Kindergartners at Hurlbutt Elementary shifted to in-person learning on Jan. 7, with a decision on whether first graders would return expected to come as early as Thursday. School officials have said second graders would be considered around Feb. 8.

At this point despite the increases in the infection rates with COVID-19 as with most districts around us were holding with that plan, Superintendent Bill Mckersie said at a Board of Education meeting this week.

He said the decision to move to reopening despite increased COVID rates comes as more information is learned about the virus and schools learn to adjust. He added he has continued to have conversations with the Weston Teacher Association to address staff concerns, and health and safety remain his first priority.

Thats what were going to work towards, balancing that with the needs for more in-person, Mckersie said.

Patricia Falber, principal of Weston Intermediate School, said about 25 percent of her students are in distance learning with many of their parents saying they will remain there until the end of February. She said this could help in reducing class sizes if students return.

Falber said one of her concerns will be decreased social distancing, especially in the cafeteria when students are eating for lunch.

Principals at the middle and high school level shared similar concerns about the challenges of bringing students back in full time.

But BOE members questioned what the process would be for seeing a full-in return at the middle school and high school, noting talks have consistently been about the lower levels.

I think its going to be critical to understand the criteria youre evaluating whether to stay here or to move, BOE Chair Tony Pesco said.

Dan Doak, principal of Weston Middle School, said as middle schools in neighboring districts bring back all of their students the reality is those schools are not maintaining six-feet distances.

The question is are we as a district willing to give up that key mitigating strategy? he said.

Doak said the current schedule gives the school consistency and predictability which has helped both staff and students.

If were going to go to a different scenario we really need to think long and hard about that so that the scenario we put in place will take us through the end of the year, Doak said, adding how to handle lunch in a full return would pose a challenge.

Lisa Wolak, principal at Weston High School, said administrators have a lot of ideas and scenarios but its premature to go down the road when the necessary health metrics arent in place. She added officials would continue to review plans.

That being said we have to see how we can mitigate the risks, Wolak said. While there are ideas theres nothing set in stone because one thing we see is it is kind of a fluid situation.

dj.simmons@hearstmediact.com
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands with US Vice-President Joe Biden on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Dec. 9, 2016. (Patrick Doyle/The Canadian Press)

Joe Biden Will Make First Foreign Leader Call to Trudeau

U.S. President Joe Bidens first call to a foreign leader will be to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the White House said, as the new administration prepares to engage with world leaders.

The call is scheduled to take place on Friday, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who made the announcement during the Biden administrations first press briefing on Jan. 20.

I expect they will certainly discuss the important relationship with Canada, as well as [Bidens] decision on the Keystone pipeline, Psaki said.

Psaki said there are no plans for a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin just yet.

His early calls will be with partners and allies, she said.

Psaki said the new U.S. administration will focus on relationship-building with allied nations.
Glastonbury Festival will not take place for a second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers have announced today.

The music festival's co-organiser, Michael Eavis - who curates the lineup with his daughter Emily, said he was 'so sorry' to have to cancel the event for the second year in a row.

Most live music events, including Glastonbury, were wiped out last summer by the pandemic and a recent study warned that without state support, Britain's 1.3billion live music industry is heading for another summer washout.

Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis (pictured in 2013), said he was 'so sorry' to have to cancel the event for the second year in a row

Glastonbury Festival will not take place for a second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic, the organisers announced today

Glastonbury and other summer music festivals could be cancelled unless the Government steps in to provide Covid insurance, a report warns today. Pictured: Kylie Minogue performing at Glastonbury on June 30, 2019

Emily had previously teased there would be 'a hell of a lot of surprises' for the festival in 2021, telling reporters last year: 'We're rolling two festivals together for 2021.

'We've got a hell of a lot of surprises and things that we were planning for the 50th (anniversary) and we're going to try to get those things going for next year.'

But in the announcement today, the pair apologised to fans as they confirmed they were forced to cancel the event once again.

They said: 'With great regret, we must announce that this year's Glastonbury Festival will not take place, and that this will be another enforced fallow year for us.

'In spite of our efforts to move heaven & earth, it has become clear that we simply will not be able to make the Festival happen this year. We are so sorry to let you all down.

'As with last year, we would like to offer all those who secured a ticket in October 2019 the opportunity to roll their 50 deposit over to next year, and guarantee the chance to buy a ticket for Glastonbury 2022.

'We are very appreciative of the faith and trust placed in us by those of you with deposits, and we are very confident we can deliver something really special for us all in 2022!

'We thank you for your incredible continued support and let's look forward to better times ahead. With love, Michael & Emily.'

Emily had previously teased there would be 'a hell of a lot of surprises' for the festival in 2021

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of Glastonbury, and the June festival in 2020 had been set to see Sir Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar perform on the hallowed grounds of Worthy Farm in Somerset, south west England.

Speaking last August, Eavis insisted that, even if they have to wait an extra year, Glastonbury would survive in spite of the financial impact.

Asked if he was concerned about the legendary event's future, he said: 'No I do not worry at all, I am so confident that it will survive.'

And Eavis reassured festival-goers that they would bounce back 'stronger'.

MP Julian Knight, Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: 'The news that the UK has lost the Glastonbury Festival for a second year running is devastating.

'We have repeatedly called for Ministers to act to protect our world-renowned festivals like this one with a Government-backed insurance scheme. Our plea fell on deaf ears and now the chickens have come home to roost.

'The jewel in the crown will be absent but surely the Government cannot ignore the message any longer  it must act now to save this vibrant and vital festivals sector.'

Miley Cyrus performed on the Pyramid Stage the last time the festival was held in 2019

Most live music events, including Glastonbury, were wiped out last summer by the pandemic. Pictured: Festival-goers enjoy Glastonbury in 2019

A study by the industry body UK Music, released earlier this month, urged ministers to indicate a start date when live music can resume with full audiences so that organisers can plan ahead and book events.

It says projects to pilot socially distanced gigs were 'not financially viable for the vast majority of venues'.

And it warns that, with commercial Covid insurance not available, summer festivals that take a long time to organise face cancellation in weeks unless the Government steps in.

UK Music chief executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said: 'With the right support, live music can be at the forefront of the post-pandemic recovery and play a key role in our country's economic and cultural revival.'
The hybrid event has helped stimulate renewed growth and partnerships across the pharma supply chain, with the pharma industry looking well positioned for 2021. It also provided a welcome glimpse of how returning international pharma events will encourage a boom for the global industry in 2021.

With 2020 seeing the majority of global pharma events postponed, there was a huge interest in exhibiting, learning and connecting at large scale event providing covid-secure standards. The ingredients, machinery and manufacturing sectors reported particularly robust attendance - with full implementation of the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) system, coupled with priority review pathways from the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) driving much new demand.

In fact, 2,958 companies from the pharma supply chain attended - including Pfizer, Sanofi, Capsugel, DuPont, Merck, BASF, Fosun Pharma, Hengrui Medicine, Yangtze River Pharmaceutical and Fette - as well as more than 90 providers of medical supplies for pandemic prevention at the newly launched MSE (Medical Supplies Expo) China.

Another key goal of the event was to enhance industry learning, and CPhI & P-MEC China hosted more than 80 professional conferences, Innovation Galleries and Tours, and even factory visits. Empowering new partnering, the 10th Buyers Sourcing Event attracted more than 100 buyers, delivering hundreds of meetings.

Finally, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of CPhI China, the organizing committee awarded a "CPhI China 20th Anniversary Founding Exhibitor Award" and "P-MEC China 15th Anniversary Founding Exhibitor Award" on the opening day at the CPhI China 20th anniversary reception.

For international online attendees, the event teamed up with PharmaSources.com to launch the Virtual Expo Connect (VEC), which ran for a full month in December and connected pharma in China with overseas customers.

The VEC provided access to eight features including the Digital Showroom, Online Matchmaking, Hosted Buyer Video Meeting, Exhibitors' Talk, Conference Webcasts, Guided Tours, VR Show, and Onsite Digital Center. Emphasising the global interest in China, especially in a period of restricted international travel, 5,105 registered users took part. These included 529 buyers from Europe, America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, who attended a total of 575 trade meetings online.

"It was a tremendously successful event for pharma and an encouraging piece of news to start the year with, providing a window into what the post-pandemic exhibition environment can return to. 2021 promises to be a celebration of the pharma industry with vaccine distribution now underway and we look forward to helping the industry meet both online and in person so it can continue its work in discovering and delivering vital therapies to patients," commented Laura Murina, Brand Manager, Informa.

CPhI & P-MEC China 2021 will return to SNIEC (from Dec. 16 to 18, 2021) with a comprehensive online and offline offering -- providing access to vital connections in person and through enhanced digital pharma platforms.

Media contact:

Ms. Yingqi Shi

T: +86 21 33392421

E: [email protected]

SOURCE CPhI & P-MEC China
Shocking scenes at the start of the second series of ITVs The Bay. A jolly retirement party for family solicitor Bill Bradwell (James Cosmo) is interrupted by the arrival of a courier at the door. Bills slightly soppy son-in-law and partner in his law firm, Stephen Marshbrook (Stephen Tompkinson), goes to answer. He is shot dead on his own doorstep in front of 10-year old son Jamie (Jack Archer), the little boys face suddenly all spattered and freckled with Daddys warm blood.

All hell breaks loose, obviously, and soon to arrive on this ugly scene are newly demoted Detective Constable Lisa Armstrong (Morven Christie, grim-visaged as ever) and her inexperienced boss (and former sidekick) Detective Ahmed Med Kharkim, a thoroughly wet young man who seems to be the West Lancashire Police Services answer to Gavin Williamson. (You may recall that Armstrong was caught in an unethical liaison in the last series and is lucky to still have a job. So shes more miserable and frustrated than ever.)

What happened to Stephen? Not the dramatic victim Stephen Marshbrook, mind you  who cares about him?  but the well-known actor playing him, ie Stephen Tompkinson. Some four minutes and 26 seconds in and hes kaput. Its disturbing when the obvious biggest name on the show takes an early bath, so to speak. Its really not the done thing. But the assassin pumped two bullets in, to make sure, head and chest shots. Classic. Knew what he was doing; no chance of survival. Tompkinson/Marshbrook was only wearing a shirt, plus there was claret everywhere, so there could be no far-fetched storyline about a bulletproof vest. Nor, even, an unconvincing plot twist where Tompkinson/Marshbrook somehow got past the Covid queue and is unconscious in intensive care. No: DOA, as they say on the cop shows.

The questions are urgent. Why have the scriptwriters dispatched Tompkinson so early? Was there some catastrophic mix-up at the casting stage? Will his fee be correspondingly reduced for such a modest cameo? Or will we have to keep seeing him  because he is such a relatively big star  in confusing flashbacks all the way through? Or  God forbid  will they try and break new ground for a British police procedural by having Tompinksons trademark gurning and twitching features returning in romantic spectral form, like Patrick Swayze in Ghost? Im afraid my speculations on all this are much more intriguing than the standard line-up of suspects in this murder of a seemingly ordinary man.

Marshbrook might have been done in on the orders of his brother-in-law (professional envy); by his father-in-law (just for being annoying); by his nice wife (ditto); or his wild child daughter (ditto)  but that all seems inconsequential. So, sadly, is everything else in the story, despite the actors putting in some commendable performances. They are all lumbered with carelessly constructed, barely two-dimensional characters, such as Daniel Ryan doing his best with the gruff-with-a-heart-of-gold DI Anthony Tony Manning. Incidental as he is, he deserves the Queens Police Medal for outstanding bravery in the face of such a hostile script. Cliche-ridden and knackered before the end of the first episode of a six-hour story arc, The Bay really isnt good enough, not even for passing the time in lockdown.
President Joe Biden prepares to sign a series of executive orders at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office hours after his inauguration in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Biden Administration Embraces Racial Equity Ideology Among Executive Actions

News Analysis

President Joe Biden signed an executive order that opens the door for instituting the quasi-Marxist critical race theory across the federal government.

The order is to launch a whole-of-government initiative to advance racial equity, his transition team said in a Jan. 20 release.

Biden will sign an Executive Order beginning the work of embedding equity across federal policymaking and rooting out systemic racism and other barriers to opportunity from federal programs and institutions.

Equity means equality of outcome, a concept tied to the critical theories that slice up society into identity groups based on race, gender, sexual proclivities, and others, while positing which groups are oppressed and which are the oppressors, similarly to how Marxism labels people as oppressors or the oppressed based on class.

The order defines equity as consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

While the order notes fair treatment of all, its specifics indicate some people will be more equal than others, based on whether their demographics fit the administrations profile of historically underserved and marginalized.

Each agency must assess whether, and to what extent, its programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color and other underserved groups, the order says.

The assessment will consider access to benefits and services in federal programs, taking advantage of agency procurement and contracting opportunities, as well as whether new policies, regulations, or guidance documents may be necessary to advance equity in agency actions and programs.

The order tasks the Office of Management and Budget to find ways to assist agencies in assessing equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability and study strategies, consistent with applicable law, for allocating Federal resources in a manner that increases investment in underserved communities, as well as individuals from those communities.

The administration also seeks to improve access to government benefits and services, for example, by reducing language access barriers and having agencies engage with communities who have been historically underrepresented, underserved, and harmed by federal policies, the release said.

Biden also reversed the September 2020 executive order of then-President Donald Trump that banned federal agencies, contractors, subcontractors, and grantees from instructing their employees to follow the tenets of the critical theories.

Trumps order cited the work of Christopher Rufo, director of the Discovery Institutes Center on Wealth and Poverty, who has been waging a one-man war against critical race theory in U.S. government. Rufo has repeatedly warned of the intrusion of the ideology into civil society, after obtaining documents showing the theory being pushed in various institutions.

In a Jan. 20 release, Rufo called the theory a grave threat to the American way of life that traffics in the pernicious concepts of race essentialism, race stereotyping, and race-based segregationall under a false pursuit of social justice.

The theories have produced an industry of consultants and speakers who are hired by corporations and government agencies to train their employees on themes such as implicit bias and white privilege.

Trumps order said the concepts of the theory are divisive and lead to race and sex stereotyping and scapegoating.

Bidens release said such training is important and needed. His order says that federal agencies shall consider reinstating any contracts that were canceled or restricted due to Trumps order.

Rufo says the training sessions advance the ideology through cult-like indoctrination, intimidation, and harassment.

He announced the formation of a coalition of law firms and legal foundations called Stop Critical Race Theory, saying the group has already filed three lawsuits, with the goal of having the Supreme Court rule that programs based on the theory violate the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Constitution.

When we are victorious in the courts, it will have an immediate ripple effect through every school, government agency, and private employer in the nation, Rufo said. We will effectively abolish critical race theory programs from American life.

Update: The article has been updated with information from President Joe Bidens executive order.
Tucked alongside promotional events on Costco's website for men's suits, mattresses and Vitamix blenders is MyPillow, the embattled pillow company.

Costco, in contrast to Bed, Bath and Beyond, Wayfair and other retailers that announced an eventual stoppage of MyPillow sales, shows no signs of ending its "special events" despite MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's seeming support of President Donald Trump invoking martial law during the final days of his presidency.

The beloved wholesale retailer features "special events" showcasing MyPillow's Giza cotton sheets, pillows and mattress toppers scheduled nationwide through the end of February.

A Costco representative told SFGATE: "We have contractual commitments to MyPillow that we intend to honor, as we seek to do with all of our suppliers."

Lindell, the founder of the as-seen-on-TV pillow brand that once claimed to cure insomnia and fibromyalgia, was captured by Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford holding a note before a meeting with Trump last week that included the phrase "martial law if necessary." It also allegedly invoked the Insurrection Act.

He has faced scorn for his strident support of Trump's policies and other extremist-right falsehoods  which included sponsoring the Jan. 6 rally, per Mother Jones, that led up to the riots and Capitol invasion later that day, repeatedly citing false claims of voter fraud and touting an unproven cure to COVID-19 early in the pandemic endorsed by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

He's also been linked to right-wing media, advertising heavily on Fox News commentators' primetime shows despite other brands calling out for various reasons, including attacks on Black Lives Matter protests.

Dominion, the voting machine company that emerged as a key figure in conspiracy theories about the election, also threatened to sue Lindell for perpetuating "misinformation." (Lindell said he'd welcome the challenge, CBS News reported.)

The other brands that will phase out MyPillow, according to the Seattle Times, cited reduced sales instead of Lindell's slew of controversies.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
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London: Emirates will resume flights to Australia after working out how to meet tougher testing and quarantine requirements for foreign air crews, giving hope to thousands of citizens still stranded in Europe nearly a year after the Morrison government closed Australia's borders.

The United Arab Emirates carrier blamed "the dynamic restrictions and requirements implemented by the different state authorities" for its decision last Friday to immediately suspend all flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Emirates is one of the few airlines still flying to Australia under the strict limits on the number of arrivals allowed in while the coronavirus pandemic rages abroad.

Some states recently slashed the maximum intake by 50 per cent over fears of new, more transmissible strains circulating in the United Kingdom and South Africa. New South Wales and Victoria also imposed new restrictions on foreign air crews.

The CRC unanimously agreed that PD1-Vaxx is safe with no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and has recommended to proceed to the next dose escalation due to safety and tolerability.

Primary goal of the trial is to determine safety and an optimal biological dose as a monotherapy.

Imugene Limited ( ) ( ) has received Cohort Review Committee (CRC) approval for the Phase I clinical trial of its checkpoint immunotherapy candidate, PD1-Vaxx and will proceed to the second dose cohort.

The CRC unanimously agreed that PD1-Vaxx is safe with no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) and no serious adverse reactions observed after CRC review of all safety and tolerability data for the first 3 patients dosed with the lowest dose of PD1-Vaxx (10mcg) as monotherapy.

After the completion of the review meeting, the CRC advised Imugene to proceed with opening the second PD1-Vaxx Phase 1 cohort at the 50mcg mid-dose level.

No observed toxicity

Imugene MD & CEO Leslie Chong said We are pleased with the results that we have seen so far with no observed toxicity.

Everyone supporting the study who are involved in developing this important new cancer therapy is very encouraged by the progress to date.

We look forward to continuing this study and reporting to the market of its progress.

PD1-Vaxx as a monotherapy

Clinicians at study sites in Australia and USA will also determine if the administration of PD1-Vaxx as a monotherapy in patients who have progressed on standard of care immune checkpoint inhibitors will prolong survival, delay tumour progression, or reduce the tumour burden in patients with lung cancer.

Imugenes PD1-Vaxx is a B-cell activating immunotherapy designed to treat tumours such as lung cancer by interfering with PD-1/PD-L1 binding and interaction, and produce an anti-cancer effect similar to Keytruda, Opdivo and the other immune checkpoint inhibitor monoclonal antibodies that are transforming the treatment of a range of cancers.

Phase I multi-centre study

The first-in-human, Phase 1, multi-centre, dose-escalation study of PD1-Vaxx is recruiting patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Medical investigators are testing three different doses of PD1-Vaxx.

The primary goal of the Phase 1 trial is to determine the safety and an optimal biological dose as a monotherapy (mOBD).

Efficacy, tolerability and immune response will also be measured. Determination of mOBD will be made by the Cohort Review Committee (CRC) and requires successive dosing within cohorts of at least 3 patients each.
His legal challenge had been dismissed last year on the basis that it related to a specific three-month period in 2016 and was academic

A man jailed for dissident republican terror offences is to receive 5,000 in a legal action over how prison authorities dealt with a potential threat against him, his lawyer revealed yesterday.

The payment forms part of a resolution reached in Luke O'Neill's challenge to being detained in the general prison population at HMP Maghaberry.

Other inmates were allegedly offered 50,000 "to do in" the 27-year-old while he was held there on remand. Proceedings ended yesterday after senior judges in Belfast allowed his appeal against previous rulings.

Under terms reached in a related writ action O'Neill is to receive an ex gratia sum, without any admission of liability.

His solicitor, Gavin Booth of Phoenix Law, said later: "Our client's rights have been vindicated by the substantial payment of 5,000 in respect of his treatment while in prison, in particular in relation to the Prison Service's reaction to threats made against him."

O'Neill, of Silverwood Green in Lurgan, Co Armagh, served a sentence imposed for the attempted possession of explosives. Charges were brought after the discovery of an armour-piercing mortar device in the town in 2016.

Judicial review proceedings centred on the initial decision to detain him on remand at Quoile House with non-paramilitary prisoners. O'Neill claimed that breached his human rights and put his safety at risk.

His lawyers argued that he should instead have been kept at Roe House - a separated landing for republican inmates.

A previous court was told of an alleged threat reported to prison authorities in October 2016. A Security Information Report into the incident disclosed: "A prisoner reported that a sum of money, from an unidentified source, had been offered to him and other prisoners 'to do in' the applicant. The sum of money referred to in the report was 50,000."

The source of the alleged threat was said to be in Quoile House. The PSNI determined there was no requirement to conduct a threat management process at that time. O'Neill was released on bail in March 2018. In June 2019 he received a six-year sentence and was transferred to Roe House. No subsequent incidents or concerns were reported.

His legal challenge had been dismissed last year on the basis that it related to a specific three-month period in 2016 and was academic. O'Neill was set to contest that decision at the Court of Appeal. But following discussions his barristers confirmed an "agreed way forward" had been reached.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.

THE Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has urged local hospital bosses to withdraw a memo which sees members threatened with disciplinary action.

Nurses at the University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) have been warned if they do not wear a specialist surgical type of facemasks, they may face sanctions.

In a memo, seen by this newspaper, front-line staff are being urged to wear a surgical facemask, and not to wear scrubs when coming into and leaving work. It urges all frontline healthcare workers to wear eye-protection and visors, and follow Infection Prevention and Control guidance for the wearing of this gear.

The memo states that this will be monitored closely by line managers.

Failure to comply may result in disciplinary procedure, it adds.

The union has reacted furiously to this, and referred the matter to the Health and Safety Authority for further investigation.

The INMOs assistant director of industrial relations Mary Fogarty said: Our members are outraged. They are doing the best they can to protect themselves and patients from the virus, but are being threatened with disciplinary action. These are trained, regulated professionals whose clinical judgement is to wear safer levels of PPE  especially given the more virulent strains of Covid-19 now circulating.

In response, a spokesperson for ULHG said: The use of PPE including masks across the group is in accordance with national HPSC guidelines, which have not been updated to recommend FFP2 masks for general use. We acknowledge the anxiety currently being experienced by all staff and we will continue to encourage compliance with the national guidance to help protect patients and staff.

According to sources, while the vast majority of staff are complying with the procedures in place in the hospital, there are still a small number who are non-compliant, "and are not taking the matter as seriously as they should."
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NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the rapid pace at which the world is currently moving forward, industries all across the globe are seen to eagerly transit and evolve their businesses so as to survive and keep up with the surging competition which is advancing in its all-time high. The healthcare industry among others is marked as one of the most highly sophisticated and trending industries on which the entirety of the human civilisation since its inception has been depending on. The industry has been continuously witnessing major developments which have been changing the course of how things predominantly work in the integral parts of it. The advent of the IoT technology recently among all of them has made the healthcare industry take a major leap forward and has changed the whole outlook of the industry with the services it has brought with it in the last decade or so. "IoT" also known as "Internet of Things" is basically the deployment of a range of connect devices, electronics, software, sensors, which collect and exchange data and information via the Internet. This enables the whole system of healthcare to be efficiently connected and offer enhanced and improved services and decision making after proper advanced analysis to all the stakeholders involved. It has given rise to what can be called as "The Smart Healthcare"system which can also be integrated with existing technologies and software and can also be modified.

By making use of various technology-based devices and services, the Internet of Medical Things or Internet of Healthcare things allow the patients to have their problems monitored remotely in real-time and the concerned doctors to reach out to the patients without physical presence at any given point in time. This has increased patient engagement and satisfaction drastically. It has made healthcare accessible to people and rural places where the traditional system failed to pave its availability. Also, products such as IoT devices tagged with sensors used for tracking real time location of medical equipment and medical staff; devices in the form of wearables like fitness bands and other wirelessly connected devices like blood pressure and heart rate monitoring cuffs, glucometer etc. which give patients access to personalized attention and on-time alert while dropping notifications to people about critical parts and emergency situations via mobile apps has enhanced the functioning of the medical system. IoT has brought into the table with pragmatic advantages that include unnecessary cost reduction, improved treatment, faster disease diagnosis, proactive treatment, error reduction, drugs and equipment management among many others. The internet of things in a broader sense; is playing a crucial role in healthcare tasks such as better patient outcomes and minimizing the complications in functions of healthcare facilities. An article, published in Deloitte, claims that "preventable readmissions cost the health care system approximately $17.5 billion annually". Remote patient monitoring, a crucial benefit of IoT in healthcare, can save up to "$36 billion globally over the next five years"

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Though the implementation of IoT in the global healthcare industry has been slow because of it being a capital-intensive process, factors such as the growing prevalence of chronic conditions in patients worldwide, the increasing governmental initiatives to support IoT platforms and for promoting digital health and for setting up the requisite infrastructure, the growing need for connected health services for serious ill cases and the growing R&D investments and activities will ensure fast and smooth adoption of the technology in the years to follow. Also, the improvement in healthcare infrastructure in developing countries, the increasing focus on active patient engagement and patient-centric care and the rapid growth in the integrated and connectivity tools for enhancing operations will prove to be beneficial in the implementation of this technology. As a result, the global IoT in healthcare market size is poised to grow from USD 70 billion in 2020 to USD 190 billion by 2025, at a whooping Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 22.0% during the forecast period. Also, some ongoing developments and about to launch products and services by the advent of this technology include; remote cancer monitoring and treatment, smart continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pens, close looped automatic insulin delivery, connected inhalers, ingestible sensors, connected contact lenses, depression monitoring, coagulation testing, Parkinson's disease monitoring and asthma monitoring, all of which are set to open new doors for the development of IoT in healthcare market and also offer enormous opportunities to the market players present in different regions of the world.

Geographically, the North American region dominated by the U.S is the most prominent market for IoT in healthcare and the region has been witnessing tremendous upsurge in the market in the recent years. The rapid technological advancements, increasing investments from top players, supportive governmental rules, rise in geriatric populace and increase in demand for cost effective disease treatment are factors that enhance the growth in this region. The Asia Pacific region on the other hand with presence of countries such as India, China and Japan is the fastest growing regional market for IoT in healthcare. This region has also been witnessing massive growth in the last years and is expected to continue doing the same in the upcoming years as well. This can be accounted to factors such as the growing number of initiatives for promoting connected health services in the region, the gradually increasing adoption of advanced technologies and leveraging of information-intensive IoT technologies to address the increasing healthcare service demand and in the region. Also, other factors such as the monumentally rising population, the growing number of investments by governments and the improving health IT infrastructure also contribute comprehensively in the market growth in this region.

Despite the growth, the involvement of extensive usage of data gives rise to data privacy and security issues and concerns which hamper the acceptance of IoT in the global healthcare industry. Alongside, the lack of awareness of this technology among public in developing regions and limited technical knowledge of the same also hinder the expansion of this market. However, with that said, the increasing adoption of more advanced and cost-effective methods for the development of these technologies by the key market players and the increasing efforts to spread awareness of these technologies and offering of medical training by the governments and companies globally will aid in the vast, ubiquitous application and implementation of this concept and which will also continue the rapid transformation of the healthcare industry in the forthcoming years.

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IOT IN HEALTHCARE MARKET SEGMENTATION:

By Component:

Medical Devices

Wearable External Medical Devices



Implanted Medical Devices



Stationary Medical Devices

Systems and Software

Remote Device Management



Network Bandwidth Management



Data Analytics



Application Security



Network Security

Services

Deployment and Integration



Consulting



Support and Maintenance

Connectivity Technology

Wi-Fi



Bluetooth low energy



ZigBee



Near Field Communication (NFC)



Cellular



Satellite

By Application:

Telemedicine

Store-and-forward Telemedicine

Remote Patient Monitoring

Interactive Medicine

Clinical Operations and Workflow Management

Connected Imaging

Inpatient Monitoring

Medication Management

Others (Fall detection, sportsmen care, and public safety)

By End User:

Hospitals, Surgical Centers, and Clinics

Clinical Research Organizations

Government and Defense Institutions

Research and Diagnostic Laboratories

By Region:

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific (APAC)

(APAC) Middle East and Africa (MEA)

KEY REGIONAL INSIGHT:

In 2019, North America accounted for the highest share in the IoT in healthcare market with significant revenue share and is expected to continue its upward trend owing to rapid technological advancements, increasing investments from top players, supportive governmental rules, rise in prevalence of chronic disease, patient population and increase in demand for cost effective disease treatment etc.

accounted for the highest share in the IoT in healthcare market with significant revenue share and is expected to continue its upward trend owing to rapid technological advancements, increasing investments from top players, supportive governmental rules, rise in prevalence of chronic disease, patient population and increase in demand for cost effective disease treatment etc. However, APAC is expected to hold the highest CAGR and to be the fastest growing market because of improving health IT infrastructure, innovative models such as e-catalogs and price transparency procedures, rising initiatives for promoting connected health services, gradually increasing adoption of advanced technologies, growing investment, leveraging of information-intensive IoT technologies in the region.

FEW KEY PLAYERS OF IOT IN HEALTHCARE MARKET:

Apple Inc

Cisco Systems Inc

GE Healthcare Ltd

Google (Alphabet)

International Business Machines Corporation

Medtronic PLC, Microsoft Corporation

Proteus Digital Health

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

QUALCOMM Incorporated

Abbot Laboratories

Other Key & Niche Players

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Body of kidnapped priest found with machete wounds in Nigeria; brother remains missing

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A Catholic priest's body was discovered last Saturday in Nigeria with apparent machete wounds while his brother remains missing following their abduction last week.

The Christian Association of Nigeria spoke out this week after the killing of Fr. John Gbakaan, a priest serving in the Minna Catholic Diocese in Kaduna state who was kidnapped by unidentified perpetrators.

We received the news of the kidnapp[ing] and killing of our dear Rev. Father John with great shock and pains, CANs Vice Chairman, the Rev. John Hayab, said in an interview with the Nigerian news outlet Vanguard published Sunday.

As reported by Agenzia Fides, a news service affiliated with the Pontifical Mission Societies, Gbakaan served at the Saint Anthony Church in Gulu. He was kidnapped last Friday along the road from Lambata to Lapai in the state of Niger in Nigerias troubled Middle Belt.

????????#Nigeria: Le Pere John Gbakaan, cure de la Paroisse Saint Antoine de Gulu a ete enleve et violemment assassine ce 15 janvier. Il a ete attaque en compagnie de son frere alors qu'ils allaient rendre visite a leur mere. L'AED prie pour sa famille et tous les #chretienspersecutes. pic.twitter.com/GbrGFbkKUU  AED (@AEDenFrance) January 19, 2021

Fides confirmed the priests killing with Fr. John Jatau, the parish priest of St. Teresa Catholic Church in Madala, a suburb of Abuja.

Jatau said that Gbakaan went with his brother and another priest on Jan. 14 to visit his mother in Benue state.

On their return trip home on Jan. 15, Gbakaan and his brother were attacked by armed men around 9 p.m. After the abduction, the kidnappers reportedly demanded an initial ransom equivalent to nearly $80,000 from the diocese. The ransom was later reduced to the equivalent of $13,000.

According to local media cited by Catholic News Agency, Gbakaans body was found tied to a tree on Jan. 16 around the same spot he was abducted. His Toyota was also recovered. However, there are no signs of Gbakaans brother.

Today in Northern Nigeria, many people live in fear, and many young people are afraid to become pastors because pastors lives are in great danger, Hayab said.

When bandits or kidnappers realize that their victim is a priest or pastor it seems a violent spirit takes over their hearts to demand more ransom and, in some cases, go to the extent of killing the victim.

The Christian Association of Nigeria, as well as Catholic clergy, have spoken out in recent years against the troubling number of religious leaders who have been killed or kidnapped by armed criminals and terrorists.

Last February, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria mourned the killing of an 18-year-old seminarian who was abducted along with his classmates.

In January 2020, the world mourned the execution of the Rev. Lawan Andimi, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerias chapter in the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa state. Andimi made headlines when he praised God in a ransom video produced by Boko Haram militants. He was reportedly killed for his refusal to deny Christ.

In October 2020, the Islamic State West Africa Province released a proof-of-life video showing that it had abducted the Rev. Polycarp Zongo of the Church of Christ in Nations. It was reported last week that Zongo is still believed to be held by his captors.

As Christians in Nigeria face the threat of violence from Islamic extremist groups in the northeast, radicalized Fulani herders in the Middle Belt and armed bandits, the country ranks as one of the worst places in the world when it comes to the level of Christian persecution.

Nigeria is ranked No. 9 on Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List, a list of the top 50 countries in the world where Christians are most persecuted. Additionally, Nigeria was named by the U.S. State Department in 2020 to its list of countries of particular concern. The list identifies countries where religious freedom violations are either tolerated or perpetrated by the government.

Critics of President Muhammadu Buhari contend that his administration has not done enough to thwart troubling trends of violence taking place nationwide, whether that is the rise of extremism in the north or the deadly communal violence in the farm-rich Middle Belt.

International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law, an Anambra-based civil society organization run by Christian criminologists Emeka Umeagbalasi, estimated in December that as many as 2,200 Christians were killed in 2020 across Nigeria.

Sadly, those in power are wanting us to be singing their praises while our loved ones are being killed, Hayab said. No responsible citizen will enjoy criticizing his leaders for fun or because he hates them. Citizens criticize leaders so that they will sit up and do what is right.

We are simply pleading to the Federal Government and all security agencies to do whatever it will take to bring this evil to a stop, he continued. A person living in fear can never be productive and effective in the things he is doing. All we are asking from the government is protection from evil men that are destroying our lives and properties.
INVESTOR ALERT: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Continues Its Investigation of Tapestry, Inc.'s Directors and Officers for Breach of Fiduciary Duties - TPR

Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), an international securities and consumer rights litigation firm, continues investigating certain directors and officers of Tapestry, Inc. ("Tapestry") (NYSE: TPR) for breaching their fiduciary duties to Tapestry and its shareholders. If you are a Tapestry shareholder, you may contact attorney Joe Pettigrew for additional information toll-free at 844-818-6982 or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com.

Scott+Sctt is investigating whether Tapestry's board of directors or senior management failed to manage Tapestry in an acceptable manner, in breach of their fiduciary duties to Tapestry, and whether Tapestry has suffered damages as a result.







On July 21, 2020, Tapestry announced the sudden resignation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Jide Zeitlin. It was later announced that Zeitlin had been the subject of a misconduct allegation relating to a past relationship.

What You Can Do

If you are a Tapestry shareholder, you may have legal claims against Tapestry's directors and officers. If you wish to discuss this investigation, or have questions about this notice or your legal rights, please contact attorney Joe Pettigrew toll-free at 844-818-6982 or jpettigrew@scott-scott.com.

About Scott+Scott

Scott+Scott has significant experience in prosecuting major securities, antitrust, and consumer rights actions throughout the United States. The firm represents pension funds, foundations, individuals, and other entities worldwide with offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Connecticut, California, Virginia, and Ohio.

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(CNN) - The Hungarian pharmaceutical authority has approved both the Oxford/AstraZeneca and Russias Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines, a spokesperson for the Hungarian government told CNN on Thursday.

Hungary becomes the first European Union country to approve both vaccines, but as far as the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine goes, it says it has to wait for a decision by the European Medicines Agency before it can distribute the shot.

Speaking about Sputnik, the spokesperson said talks with Moscow to buy the vaccine were ongoing.

We hope that vaccines will be available in Hungary from as many places and in as large quantities as possible, the spokesperson added.

In a statement, Russias sovereign wealth fund (RDIF) said the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition of Hungary approved the vaccine under the emergency use authorization procedure.

The approval is based on the results of the clinical trials of Sputnik V in Russia and a comprehensive assessment of the vaccine by experts in Hungary, the RDIF statement said.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the RDIF, said that Hungary is "the first EU country to realize all the advantages of Sputnik V vaccine and authorize its use. This decision is very important as it demonstrates that the vaccine's safety and efficacy of over 90% are highly regarded by our partners in Hungary.

Russia's announcement of Sputnik V as the "world's first" approved COVID-19 shot was met with international skepticism last year, after the country registered the vaccine in August ahead of key large-scale Phase 3 trials necessary to establish its efficacy and safety. While those trials are currently ongoing, the country is already moving towards mass vaccination.

On November 24, Russia announced that its interim data suggested the shot is at least 91.4% effective and could be more than 95% effective.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Hungary becomes first EU country to approve Russia's Sputnik V vaccine"
NORTHFIELD CENTER, Ohio -- Louise is the best guinea pig in the world. I got her when I was 3 1/2 and now I am 9 years old. Louise is 5 years old now. She is soft and very cuddly.

Louise loves taking baths; I think she thinks they are warm and cozy. I will ask her if she wants a carrot and she will look at me like she is saying yes. Louise eats pellets, hay, lettuce and carrots -- but lettuce and hay are her favorites.

At first, she lived in a room called the playroom. I cleaned the playroom because it was a mess, and now she lives in my room. She loves it in my room.

I also have a cat named Mittens, and Mittens jumps on top of her cage when Louise eats. Louise does not do anything. Mittens also sticks her paws in the cage.

We have to clean Louises cage every Thursday because if we dont, it gets really stinky. YUCK!

I let Louise share my birthday with me.

Back to Louises food -- she loves all food, but lately she has liked strawberry tops and oranges. When she eats oranges, she gets the juice all over her face. It looks like she has a beard with the orange juice on her! Same thing happens when she eats strawberry tops.

I think Louise is the messiest animal in our house.

Aubrey Dostal,

Northfield Center
For years, one of the primary ways that people experienced Donald Trump was through his tweets. All of that changed on January 8, when, in the aftermath of the capitol insurrection, Twitter banned @realDonaldTrump.

Due to the ongoing tensions in the United States, and an uptick in the global conversation in regards to the people who violently stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, these two tweets must be read in the context of broader events in the country and the ways in which the Presidents statements can be mobilized by different audiences, including to incite violence, as well as in the context of the pattern of behavior from this account in recent weeks, read the statement, which included the text of the tweets. After assessing the language in these Tweets against our Glorification of Violence policy, we have determined that these Tweets are in violation of the Glorification of Violence Policy and the user @realDonaldTrump should be immediately permanently suspended from the service.

Twitter was not the only social media service to crack down on Trump. Snapchat banned him permanently. Facebook banned Trump's account through the remainder of his term and suggested it could ban "indefinitely." Last week, YouTube suspended Trump for a week because they said he violated a violence policy.

This flurry of tech moves has raised questions about free speech and left some Christians wondering how well their First Amendment rights will be protected in the midst of this.

John Inazu is a professor of law and religion at the Washington University Law School. He is the author of Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving through Deep Difference and more recently, with Tim Keller, Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference.

Inazu joined global media manager Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss the complexity of defining free speech, what people misunderstand about the First Amendment, and the blind spots that Christians can have when advocating for free speech.

What is Quick to Listen? Read more

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Follow our hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen

Follow our guest on Twitter: John Inazu

Music by Sweeps

Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder

The transcript is edited by Yvonne Su and Bunmi Ishola

Highlights from Quick to Listen: Episode 249

How do you see the difference between broad discussions of freedom of speech and the specificities of the US First Amendment protection of it?

John Inazu: We can make a distinction between norms and laws. The norms guide what our cultural views about speech and expression should be. They're going to be contextualized based on what country we're in. In the United States, we have certain free speech norms that will be different than Germany, for example, or other places in the world.

As far as the law, it is more particularized and more constrained in terms of what it can do. Pull up the text of the First Amendment and you'll be surprised at what it actually says.

The first few words are Congress shall make no law. It means that the First Amendment applies only to the federal government, not to state and local governments. That has changed and it now applies to the local police department and the local town halls. But it applies only to government, not to private actors.

This is what's called the state action doctrine and it has always been the case with some rare exceptions. The First Amendment is not going to restrict private entities from their own restrictions on free speech and expression. The First Amendment itself is a restriction on what people can do, people being government entities, and they may not restrict speech, but it does not say anything about private actors. That's an important distinction these days.

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Is the conversation about free speech changing beyond governmental lines?

John Inazu: I find the UN aspirational language helpful, but not practical. Speech and expression and opinions without interference. What in the world does that mean? We can think of countless examples where speech is constrained for all kinds of reasons, whether it's peer pressure, social forces, private companies, or government. We all experience speech expression and dialogue subjectively. We have to be more modest in what we can actually restrict when it comes to speech.

Josh Hawley claimed that the publishers decision to cancel his book contract was a direct assault on the First Amendment. Does he have a point or is he over-inflating this grievance?

John Inazu: Not that much of a point there. Hawleys misuse of the First Amendment is deliberate. It follows efforts he's made in the past to blur the lines toward private companies, especially the powerful social media corporations.

As a descriptive matter, this has nothing to do with the first amendment. More importantly, he knows it has nothing to do with the First Amendment. He clerked for Michael McConnell, one of the leading free speech experts in the country, so he knows the First Amendment. To go on social media and tell his constituents that a private book publisher canceling his book contract is a violation of the First Amendment is absolutely wrong and he knows it's wrong. That to me is disturbing both as a subject matter expert, but also as a fellow Christian.

Is incitement the same thing as the proverbial yelling fire in a crowded theater? What do we mean when we say this is speech that is not protected by the First Amendment?

John Inazu: First of all, lots of speech is functionally not protected by the First Amendment. Even though the text says Congress shall make no law, Congress and other government entities make lots of laws that directly restrict speech.

You cannot form a criminal conspiracy through words. You cannot perjure yourself on the witness stand. You cannot say words that engage in insider trading. There are lots of words spoken that are completely restricted by law. Nobody bats an eye at that. Those are not the hard cases, but they do illustrate that there are laws that restrict speech.

The more contested questions are the line drawing examples and areas. The incitement standard traces back to a 1969 decision, Brandenburg v. Ohio, where the Supreme Court said the First Amendment will not extend to imminent incitement to law-breaking. Two things are important about that standard: it's not just violence, it's lawbreaking. If I say, Let's go trespass now, even if no one gets hurt, that's not protected free speech because of the law-breaking standard.

But the imminency standard piece of it is also really important. If I incite someone to future lawbreaking, that is not under the Brandenburg standard of speech. Back to the Capitol riots, it's unclear to me whether any of the public figures we've seen are legally culpable under the standard of imminent incitement.

The closest we get is Rudy Giuliani talking about trial by combat, but even that is not going to reach the Brandenburg standard. What the president, Hawley, and others said strikes me as nowhere near imminent incitement to law-breaking. Now, morally and politically, should they be culpable for their words? Absolutely.

There are serious consequences to what they said, but I don't see them as legal consequences and they don't violate the imminent standard. The blurring of this imminent standard is what has squelched all kinds of protest and dissent movements throughout history, including as recently as this summer and when we saw the responses to the murder of George Floyd. If you hold the precursors to those actions legally culpable, you're going to squelch and inhibit important speech. It's not to defend the actual actors of violence, but it is to say we should be careful about extending that imminent standard.

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People are incarcerated for participating in felony, including people who were several steps from the death. Are there examples where speech is being tied to murder?

John Inazu: I don't think so. Felony murder is a complicated and controversial doctrine. The prerequisite conditions are quite specific here. You have to have a predicate felony in which the actors are sufficiently linked in terms of proximity and causation to the subsequent death. It is saying that a homicide that would normally be punished as an unintentional homicide is going to be punished as intentional homicide.

It's elevating the degree of culpability to say, because the risk that you took in committing this felony was so great, it isnt normal recklessness, but extreme recklessness that somebody could die. Your disregard for human life is such that we're going to hold you culpable at a higher standard.

Digital media is similar to newspapers of yesteryear, but its also its own beast when it comes to freedom of speech issues. How do these doctrines apply to digital media?

John Inazu: The Capitol insurrection was such a horrific threat to our basic democratic practices that it deserves a lot of attention on its own. On the other hand, these issues have been foreshadowed by what we've seen with social media. We think back to not only newspapers but also the other big cases of the 80s and 90s involving cable news and broadcast stations.

They're similar in the sometimes near-monopolistic capture of news information, or at least the conveyance of news and ideas. Where they're vastly different is in the technological and sociological means of transmission.

The cases that garnered the most attention and scrutiny in the 80s and 90s were cases where you had the local news, The Miami Herald, that dominated Miami's market. If you have something printed in that paper that takes on an issue or a person, does someone have a right to reply in that paper?

With broadcast news, the question is Is there an equal time requirement for certain political ideas? If you're going to give time to one side, then you have to give it to the other side. As you can see, similar kinds of issues happen on social media, where some of these companies dominate so much of the landscape. The scale here is so much more magnified.

Even though people have tried, you can't really start Twitter 2.0 or Facebook 2.0 and pretend like that's going to capture a sufficient part of the market. The other thing that I think is important to think about is how we communicate on these new platforms.

It used to be you would read or hear the news and it was one-way communication of information. You call into the show or write a letter to the editor, but that least has a lag time and is limited. Now, everyone's sharing everything. Everyone's commenting on everything else. Theres been this collapse of the line between news authority and news recipient, especially on the opinion side. Its no longer the case that even granting space for a reply is going to make any difference. When bad tweets go viral, the corrections are a fraction of what their initial audience sees. We've got fundamental problems baked into the way we communicate online, none of which the law is going to solve.

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Do community policies by these platforms and the First Amendment seem like fundamentally different approaches to speech?

John Inazu: In some cases, they're trying to come close to the First Amendment. For example, private universities are not subject to the First Amendment. They've had to figure out what is our own internal speech code going to look like.

Entities have been struggling with this question for a long time. I've done a lot of advising for private schools about their speech codes and whatever policy you come up with is going to say something very loud about what your values are.

What you choose to restrict is your choice and the same with what you choose to permit. Whether you make that explicit or not, it is going to reflect your values. It's going to reflect what you actually think is harmful, which you actually think is not harmful. What you think is, you know, on balance, better or worse in communication.

One of the reasons we have something close to an absolute First Amendment when it comes to viewpoint or ideology is we've learned the hard way through the law that it's difficult to walk back an all viewpoints allowed approach because once you start defining certain people or ideas as out of bounds, it becomes hard to draw a principled line.

How important is it for Christian organizations to defend controversial speech?

John Inazu: Principles like the First Amendment only work if they're for everybody. If you only argue for civil liberties and free speech when it's your own interests, it looks like special pleading and it doesn't support the Constitutional system that we have. The other point is that civil liberties and constitutional rights are always going to be claimed by those who aren't in power.

If you're in power, you're not going to need these rights because you make the laws. Even if you make a general law that affects you, you write an exemption for yourself into the law. That's how legislative bodies work. You don't really need civil liberties at the moment as much when you're in power.

It's the people who lack that political and legislative power who need these protections. When Christians find themselves in non-majority positions, they should be advocating for civil liberties. But when they find themselves in majority positions, they should also be advocating for constraints on their own thinking and robust protections for others.

When they are in political minorities, they advocate strongly for their own rights. When they dominate the local school board or the local municipality, they say, No, it's our way only. We're not going to allow these other viewpoints in. That's just flat out inconsistent.

In the 1990s, Congress enacted legislation called the Equal Access Act. It said if you're a public school and you open up your classroom space, you've got to open it up to all groups. You can't just say the groups we like. Two groups around the country that benefit from it: the Christian groups and the gay rights groups. In progressive school districts that didn't want the Christians in, the Christian groups were relied on that law, In conservative districts that didn't want the gay rights groups in, the gay rights groups relied on that law.

That's exactly how it should work. We need to talk about more of that instead of What's good for me is, is good for me, but I'm not going to extend those same privileges to you.

How do we settle in our own minds whether loving our neighbor should mean advocating for more or fewer restrictions on freedom?

John Inazu: Christians know how we're supposed to engage in our speech. We're supposed to speak truthfully but also lovingly and with compassion and kindness. Law and culture are both encouraging more outlandish and offensive forms of speech. As Christians, we should be marching to the beat of a different drum here.

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What type of regulation does the government have with regards to social media right now? Is this something that you expect is going to change?

John Inazu: Im not at all sure if it was the right decision to take off Trumps accounts. As a personal matter, I was relieved not to have to read his nonsense anymore, but does it set a good precedent? I don't know. Simon and Schuster can pull Josh Hawleys book contract, and it's just a contract dispute. There's no First Amendment issue there. Part of the problem here is you have a subjective experience of what counts as harm by private actors who aren't really accountable to anyone. The worldview of the people in the boardroom or the operations room at Facebook or Twitter is going to affect how communication happens in this country.

Lets say someone writing a critique of transgender rights would have that book flagged or perhaps deplatformed from selling on Amazon. The argument would be that the words and arguments set out in this book are deeply harmful to transgender people. But lots of books out there cause siubjective harm to lots of people.

If you give power to private actors like Amazon to say, these are the things we find harmful that we're not going to carry, you've just given a lot of power to those decision-makers to also not publish the things that we don't find harmful.

Is the better approach to be more laissez-faire or is this something that you would advocate for trusting the government more?

John Inazu: The personal attacks, racial and sexual slurs, or demeaning comments or threats can effectively derail speech. Social media companies try to regulate and minimize some of those things.

Conceptually, some of our online communication can really chill speech, but it worries me a bit when we jumped to expand that category to basically to all speech we don't like or find offensive, which some people are doing right now.

What would the government do any better of a job? You would at least have more transparency and possibly accountability. You could have a governmental oversight board that is politically accountable that has to explain its decision-making and its processes.

I applaud the efforts of social media companies to move toward independent oversight boards. I just haven't seen how they function yet. What concerns me the most is how much power has been consolidated into these few companies. They are effectively controlling the marketplace of ideas today. The other concern is all of this is just reflecting who we already are. We're the ones who are putting this out and re-tweeting it, and paying attention to it, and letting it shape our hearts and minds and souls.

This includes Christians and non-Christians alike, and we're becoming who we already see reflected on social media. That's pretty unsettling.

Do you see a better solution to the rise of this kind of speech, both on the large corporate side and on the technological side?

John Inazu: A dialogue like the one we're having where we go back and forth and sharpen ideas presumes good-faith actors on both sides of the dialogue. The vast majority of speech and expression is not that.

In most cases, I don't think that more speech is going to remedy bad speech. A further confounding factor is that we have so much speech now that we're crowding out even the possibility of listening to the good speech.

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This is tied also to the collapse of institutions and lessening respect for expertise. In some Christian circles, there are dangerous attempts to impugn experts. It becomes more a question of celebrity and trust the person who is witty on Twitter.

That's a bad recipe for trying to figure out how to resolve hard issues and how to persuade one another. That seems to be the direction that we're headed. I think Christians need to figure out how to cut through the noise, how to decrease their inputs, and how to focus more on a select few trusted inputs.

We need to be doing more about local authority and actual relationships, rather than relying on celebrity authority. Do you trust the leaders of those churches and if they're not trustworthy, how do we get different people in there?

How do localized relationships differ from the premise of social media?

John Inazu: The premise of social media does not account for either human fallibility or Christian virtue. Theres a way in which too much pluralism just capitulates into relativism. If we're just trying to always get all viewpoints and all ideas on the table, then we're actually doing nothing.

I don't think we need to pay any attention to people are saying things like you shouldn't wear masks or it's all a big lie. Thats just not true. It's deeply harmful for Christians and Christian organizations to be giving any attention or any platform to that kind of view in the name of unity or in the name of exploring ideas. How do you manifest that to a practical, local level?

A lot of people don't know who to trust right now. The ability to strengthen reputation and credibility can happen when groups of people and institutions come together and say we got to start trusting this group. Im kind of frustrated with evangelicals for their unwillingness to cut ties with friends and neighbors who've just gone a bit nonsensical.

They're pretty quick to do it when it's on the left. When someone gets too progressive theyre pushed out of the conference circuit, or not getting book endorsements anymore. But when you look to the right, whether it's conspiracy theories about the pandemic or support for Trump's nationalism, there's a deep reticence to say we're going to cut ties with our friends here. I think we need to see more of that happening.

If harm and authority are helpful concepts when we're talking about community building, who should we include and who do we exclude in our institutions?

John Inazu: There are two different approaches here. One is we can distinguish between subjective harms. Harmful words spoken are almost always subjective. It's the way we work as human beings. It's difficult to approach subjective harms under the law.

Then, the question of whether more people are going to get COVID if you don't wear masks represents more of an objective harm. It doesn't matter what you say or how you experienced that. You're more likely to get the virus without masks.

In the First Amendment context, especially as Christians, it's okay to be wary of restricting words that cause subjective harm. I'm wary of laws that would restrict our ability to say things. But at the same time, we of all people should be leading the way to make our speech not subjectively harmful. Our fundamental call is for neighborly love.

What is Section 230? Why do some folks want it repealed?

John Inazu: Section 230 refers to a provision within the Communications Decency Act. And what it does is shield certain companies from potential liability to third-party postings of content. If you're an interactive computer service, you're basically a platform and people post their own videos and words on your platform.

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Then you cannot be held liable under Section 230 for the contents of those posts or those videos. If you happen to be not just the content service, but become what's called an information content provider under the statute, then you could be liable if you're actually producing some of the stuff there.

The reason that people are pushing against that law is the liability shield it provides. The computer services mean that they can grow the revenue streams because they don't have to worry about that liability cost. Individuals will still be liable for posting something defamatory. Their potential for liability is much smaller than these big companies.

It's another example where the statutory structure is empowering these companies for both growth and also immunity, which is one of the reasons that people are targeting that provision and asking for reform.

Can you speak to our willingness to allow people to say offensive things and not responding in a way that turns up the temperature?

John Inazu: We should be able to absorb critiques, even unfair ones. When they're unfair or outlandish critiques, it's important to push back and to explain, but it rarely helps to do that as its own hot take.

Why do we feel compelled to respond in the moment? Can we take half a day before we write the snarky or the critical response back to our relative or our college classmate or whoever it is? Half the time after I see something that frustrates me in the moment, within half a day, I realize that life goes on. I don't need to respond to that. I think more patience and more ability to just not respond would be helpful for all of us.
Day after being admitted to a hospital in Bengaluru, expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. She was shifted to the trauma care ward of Victoria Hospital in the city. Her condition was reported to be stable.

Her illness comes at a time when she was just a week away from being released from the prison on January 27. She will now have to remain quarantined in the hospital for 10 more days.

Sasikala, a close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, was admitted to the Government Bowring Hospital on Wednesday after she complained of fever and breathlessness.

She had developed symptoms of Severe Acute Respiratory Illness, the very feature of COVID-19, but her previous Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR test reports turned negative. However, the doctors felt that the infection in her lungs was significant and there was a need for re-test.

In the second test she was found positive and was admitted to the Victoria Hospital. A health bulletin issued by the hospital late on Thursday said, "COVID-19 Pneumonia (severe based on CT Scan - 16/25), hypertension, hypothyroidism on treatment."

Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case.
New Delhi: A stretch of road in Andrews Ganj in south Delhi will soon be named after the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput as the area's civic body has cleared a proposal for it, officials said on Thursday.

Sushant, who would have turned 35 on Thursday, was found dead at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14 last year. His fans and admirers took to social media to remember the actor whose untimely demise was followed by a high-profile investigation.

SDMC's Congress councillor Abhishek Dutt in September 2020 had moved the proposal to name the road after the actor.

"It was cleared by the SDMC House in its meeting yesterday," a senior official said.

The Andrews Ganj councillor in the BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation had sent the proposal to the civic body's road naming and renaming committee.

In the written proposal to the committee, Dutt had said that a large number of people living in the area abutting Road No 8 hail from Bihar, and had claimed "they have been demanding" to name the stretch from Andrews Ganj to Indira Camp as 'Sushant Singh Rajput Marg'.

So, it is proposed that Road No 8 be named after the actor in his memory, Dutt had said.
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Tuesday Morning Corp (OTCQX: TUEM), an off-price retailer, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market.

Following its successful financial and operational reorganization and emergence from Chapter 11, Tuesday Morning begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "TUEM." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Trading on the OTCQX Market offers companies efficient, cost-effective access to the U.S. capital markets. Streamlined market requirements for OTCQX are designed to help companies lower the cost and complexity of being publicly traded, while providing transparent trading for their investors. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws.

"We are pleased to have emerged from a highly successful reorganization that enabled our shareholders to continue owning our common equity. We welcome significant new institutional ownership through the back stopped rights offering which is led by Osmium Partners, LLC and Tensile Capital Management LLC. Trading on OTCQX is an important step forward for Tuesday Morning and our shareholders," commented Steve Becker, Chief Executive Officer of Tuesday Morning.

B. Riley Securities, Inc. acted as the company's OTCQX sponsor.

About Tuesday Morning

Tuesday Morning Corporation is one of the original off-price retailers specializing in name-brand, high-quality products for the home, including upscale home textiles, home furnishings, housewares, gourmet food, toys and seasonal decor, at prices generally below those found in boutique, specialty and department stores, catalogs and on-line retailers. Based in Dallas, Texas, the Company opened its first store in 1974 and currently operates 490 stores in 40 states. More information and a list of store locations may be found on the Company's website at www.tuesdaymorning.com.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors.

To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.

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Joe Bidens personal tragedies have shaped his career, from policy to politicking, learning to mourn as a public figure and relying on his history of loss to reach out to voters, including his campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee.

In December 1972, the former vice president  then a 30-year-old senator-elect from Delaware, weeks away from being sworn into office  lost his first wife Neilia and 13-month-old daughter Naomi in a car accident.

Joseph Beau Biden III, an Iraq War veteran and Delaware attorney general, died five years ago this month following a brain cancer diagnosis in 2015. He was 46.

In a statement following his death, his father wrote: Beau Biden was, quite simply, the finest man any of us have ever known.

Beau Biden had experienced a stroke in 2010, but three years later he was treated at MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston, Texas, where doctors removed a lesion from his brain.

His cancer returned two years later, when he received aggressive treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland.

He was survived by his wife Hallie and his two children Natalie and Hunter.

Beau Biden was 3 years old when his mother was killed in the crash that also took the life of his little sister. Beau and his brother Hunter, then 2 years old, were also in the car. Their father was sworn in at their hospital beds.

During his 2012 speech at the Democratic National Convention, where he moved his father to tears while nominating him for vice president, Beau Biden said: One of my earliest memories was being in that hospital, Dad always at our side. ... He decided not to take the oath of office. He said, Delaware can get another senator, but my boys cant get another father. However, great men like Ted Kennedy, Mike Mansfield, Hubert Humphrey  men who had been tested themselves  convinced him to serve. So he was sworn in, in the hospital, at my bedside.

In 1977, Joe Biden married Jill Jacobs, who became the boys stepmother, who helped rebuild the family, Beau later said in 2012. I have two moms now.

Beau Biden studied at the University of Pennsylvania and attended law school at Syracuse University, where his father also attended.

He served as a prosecutor in the US attorneys office in Philadelphia before running for attorney general in 2006. He won by 13,000 votes. In his reelection in 2010, he won by more than 149,000 votes.

In 2008, as a captain in the Delaware Army National Guard, Beau Biden was deployed to Iraq during a war effort that then-senator Biden had previously voted to support. Beau Biden briefly returned to the US for his fathers vice-presidential swearing-in ceremony in January 2009, then was shipped out to complete his yearlong service.

As Delawares chief law enforcement official, Beau Biden didnt seek a third term, as he planned to run for governor in 2016, before his health began to rapidly decline.

In a statement following his death, then-president Barack Obama cited a poem by William Butler Yeats, adding: Beau Biden believed the best of us all ... For him, and for his family, we swing our lanterns higher.

During an appearance on MSNBCs Morning Joe in January, candidate Biden said that Beau should be the one running for president, not me.

Mr Biden recalled Beaus support on previous campaign trails, when his son told him: Look at me, dad. Remember: home base. Just remember who you are.

Hed grab me by the lapel, Mr Biden said. He still grabs me by the lapel.

Mr Biden said: Every morning I get up, Joe, not a joke, I think to myself, Is he proud of me? Because hes the one who wanted me to stay engaged ... He walks with me. I know that sounds to some people kind of silly, but he really, honest to God, does. I know hes in me.

Beau was laid to rest at St. Joseph's on the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware, where Mr Bidens late wife Neilia and daughter Naomi are also buried.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:41:00|Editor: huaxia

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SANAA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition warplanes destroyed a missile depot of the Houthi militia in Yemen's central province of Bayda on Wednesday morning, a local government security source told Xinhua.

"At least five Houthis were killed in the airstrikes" that hit the depot in a mountain in al-Atf area of al-Qurashiyah district, the source in Bayda said on condition of anonymity.

Houthi-run al-Masirah TV also reported the coalition airstrikes in Bayda, without providing more details.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally-recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in 2015 to support Hadi's government. Enditem
Source: Reuters

A twin suicide bombing killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 50 in a Baghdad market on Thursday, the first such attack in years, security and medical sources said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Suicide bombings have been rare in the Iraqi capital since the defeat of Islamic State in 2017. The last took place in January 2018.

The Iraqi military said two attackers wearing explosive vests blew themselves up among shoppers at a crowded market in Tayaran Square in central Baghdad, adding that several people had been killed.

An interior ministry spokesman told Reuters the death toll was at least 13, saying that number was expected to rise as some wounded were in critical condition.

Baghdad has witnessed almost no such attacks since Iraqi forces and a U.S.-backed coalition drove the Islamic State militant group from territory it controlled in Iraq in 2017.

The last deadly suicide blast in the Iraqi capital took place in January 2018, also at Tayaran Square, killing at least 27 people.

Iraqi authorities did not immediately say who they believed was behind the bombing, but called it a terrorist incident, a reference usually used for attacks by Islamic State.

Militants from the group remain in Iraq, waging an insurgency against Iraqi forces and attacking local officials in areas of northern Iraq. Government and military officials do not now consider Islamic State able to take over significant territory but say it will continue to wage attacks that threaten Iraq's stability and security.

Iraqi forces continue to fight remaining Islamic State militants and are working to secure the border with Syria across which the group has often moved personnel.

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The Tarom airline operating a flight on the route Bucharest-Madrid, on Thursday, with 183 passengers on board, landed in Timisoara, for a medical emergency involving one of the passengers.

The representatives of the press office of the County Ambulance Service (SAJ) Timis told AGERPRES that the 64-year-old passenger felt sick on the plane, and the pilot decided to land in Timisoara.

"The passenger took a rapid COVID-19 test, which came out positive, and then she was transported to the Timisoara Municipal Hospital for medical care," said SAJ Timis's spokesman, Florin Crisan.

The aircraft will take off from Timisoara to Madrid shortly, according to the information posted on the Timisoara Airport website.

The passengers of the Madrid flight have been disembarked and the aircraft is disinfected before departure.
Vice President Mike Pence walks to the West Wing of the White House after addressing staff on the steps of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, in the White House complex, on Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)

Mike Pence Returns Home to Indiana, Says Being Vice President Greatest Honor of My Life

Former Vice President Mike Pence wished President Joe Biden and his administration well after returning to his home state of Indiana on Wednesday.

Its been the greatest honor of my life, Pence said to a small group of supporters in Indiana.

It is great to be home back home again. Thank you for coming out, he added. To be able to fly home to my hometown means more than I can tell you Thank you for your support, thank you for your prayers. We felt them every day.

Among supporters of President Donald Trump, Pences reputation took a hit in recent weeks as Pence presided over the joint session of Congress to certify President Joe Bidens win on Jan. 6. A day before the joint session, Pence spokesman Marc Short said there was no constitutionally backed mandate for Pence to challenge the electoral vote, as Trump and his supporters had suggested.

Trump also pilloried Pence on Twitter for presiding over Congress during the certification, accusing him of not [having] the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify  USA demands the truth!

Pence hasnt publicly responded to Trumps statement.

Ive known Mike Pence forever, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) told Tulsa World. Ive never seen Pence as angry as he was today, the longtime senator said, referring to the Capitol riots on Jan. 6 that interrupted Pence and Congress.

During his speech Wednesday, the former vice president touted a number of Trumps initiatives.

That included installing a record number of principled men and women to our federal courts at every level, including three Supreme Court justices, including Indianas own Justice Amy Coney Barrett, he said.

Let me also take a moment to say thank you to President Donald Trump and Melania for all they have done to make America great again, he said. Well always be grateful for the opportunity they gave us to serve.

The former vice president also thanked his staff members and family, while he congratulated the incoming administration. On Wednesday, Pence was seen at Bidens inauguration and listened to his speech.

Trump didnt attend the event and instead opted to deliver a speech to supporters before returning to his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

While weve just come back to Indiana today, Ive already promised Karen well be moving back to Indiana come this summer, Pence said to supporters on Wednesday. Theres no place like home.
Philippines operators PLDT revealed a surge in mobile download speeds since 2017, with more plans to invest and bolster its networks in the pipeline.

In a statement, PLDT said its tested more than 120 million connections in the Philippines in 2020, and testing was to measure the companys success in enhancing network performance for customers under lockdown measures.

The tests showed average mobile speeds increased by 62%, from 9.68Mbps to 15.72 Mbps over the period. Fixed broadband speeds surged 86% between 2017 and 2020, improving from 14.36Mbps to 26Mbps over the three years.

PLDT said it heeded government call to action to elevate the countrys telecommunications industry, by preparing to invest between PHP88 billion ($1.8 billion) and PHP92 billion this year to meet the requirements of customers.

"Providing good customer experience remains to be our 'North Star', as we aim to elevate PLDT and Smart to the level of global operators, said Alfredo Panlilio, Smart Communications President and CEO and PLDT Chief Revenue Officer.

In October, the company announced it secured permission to double its tower presence in the Philippines from 600 to 1,200, as the government announced a relaxing of rules to boost deployments.

The company noted its fibre infrastructure comprised of 429,000km of cables, which supported mobile brand Smart Communications to gaining 96% population coverage.

Smart increased the number of its base stations to over 59,000 at the end of 2020 and rolled out additional 5G sites as it accelerates its 5G commercial services nationwide.
ASX investors pulled away from 11-month highs in a soft Friday session that took the shine off an otherwise strong week for the local sharemarket.

The major banks and iron ore miners weighed on the ASX 200 as it drifted 0.3 per cent lower to close at 6800.4 and halt a three-session run of gains.

The ASX 200 fell 0.3 per cent on Friday but gained 1.3 per cent for the week. Credit:Peter Braig

Despite Fridays slide, the local benchmark still managed to add 1.3 per cent for the week as investors were buoyed by Joe Bidens inauguration as US President, and the promise of further US stimulus.

Buy now, pay later rivals Afterpay and Zip Co cooled off on Friday after an early surge, while Transurban and Woodside Petroleum also sagged.

Pulling the other way was biotech giant CSL, Telstra, as well as retail conglomerates Woolworths and Wesfarmers, the latter of which rose 2.2 per cent to a new record high $53.41.

Rare earths miner Lynas led the local market with a 13.7 per cent lift to a seven-and a half year high of $5.56, after it struck a deal with the US Department of Defence to build a commercial light rare earths separation plant in Texas.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq had pushed to new record highs on Thursday but US futures slipped as Democrat and Republicans tussled over a power-sharing agreement in the split Senate.

The risks are rising that the US Senate will not be the peace, love and beads that financial markets have been aggressively pricing in this week, OANDAs Asia-Pacific analyst Jeffrey Halley said in a note.

Any further signs of widening fractures could be the precursor to a downward correction by equity markets globally next week.

TMS Capital portfolio manager Ben Clark said the coming months could, however, prove bountiful for domestically-focused companies as the Australian economy continues its remarkable recovery from the coronavirus.

The economy is showing signs of going nuts and a lot of domestic companies are coming into a tailwind, he said.

Basically the stuff that is exposed to the Australian economy and consumers. The retailers, anything with exposure to renovation and building activity, the banks, media stocks, companies like Seek with job advertisements rising, mining services, that sort of stuff.

Dragging the materials sector lower was BHP, which fell 1.9 per cent to $46.13. Rio Tinto dropped 2.1 per cent to $119.32 and Fortescue Metals fell 2.2 per cent to $24.32.

NAB led the big four banks lower, dropping 0.7 per cent to $24.12.
The federal government expects the coronavirus vaccine program to start next month, as planned, despite concerns overseas about procuring enough doses.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had been told doses of the Pfizer vaccine, to be used in the first stage of the nation's five-stage rollout, should arrive in February despite concerns in Europe and North America over shortages and delays.

A health worker carries out a COVID-19 test at the Merrylands drive-through clinic in Sydney. Credit:Getty

"The latest advice that we have, and I spoke with Pfizer only yesterday [Wednesday], is that we are still on track for the first vaccines to be received in February but the final date hasn't been confirmed," Mr Hunt said.

NSW Health has been advised by the federal government that the rollout may commence on February 15, subject to Therapeutic Goods Administration approval and the delivery of the vaccine.
The Alabama Legislature will begin its annual session on Feb. 2, a date set in the state Constitution, but will take a break after two weeks to see how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the work and how to set priorities under the unusual circumstances, House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said Wednesday.

The legislative session lasts up to 15 weeks and lawmakers normally take a one-week break during the spring.

McCutcheon said the earlier break this year will allow a chance to see if there has been an outbreak in the State House and how well safeguards are working to protect lawmakers, staff, and the public. Also, it will be a chance to assess where legislation stands and determine what bills should be priorities.

During that break well do an assessment and see where we are, McCutcheon said. Lets look at the vaccines to see if any members have had the opportunity to have the vaccine. Have we had any COVID issues during those two weeks that we were working?

Well do a total assessment of where we are. Were going to look at committee meetings and access to the State House. Were just going to do a good overview of where we are and make decisions about how we can move forward.

McCutcheon said Senate leaders support the plan for taking a pause the third week of the session.

The House and Senate normally meet on Tuesday and Thursday, with committee meetings on Wednesday. McCutcheon said the House and Senate will meet three days the first two weeks, with the last day on Thursday, Feb. 11, before the break. They will return Feb. 23.

The House and Senate have changed procedures and to try to meet safely during the pandemic. Public access to the State House will be limited but livestreaming will be expanded.

The House, which has more than 100 representatives, will seat some members in the gallery and some in other overflows rooms because the House chamber is not large enough to space them out safely. The House purchased a remote voting system to allow members to vote and participate from the overflow areas with tablets.

The House and Senate will both offer video livestreaming from their chambers and from committee rooms. Walk-through temperature scanners have been installed at all the public entrances and on the seventh floor leading to the Senate.

The House considered the possibility of meeting somewhere other than the State House but has ruled that out.

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the session in mid-March. When lawmakers returned in May they narrowed their focus to passing the state budgets, local bills, and a few others.

One task the Legislature must finish is passing state education and General Fund budgets. Lawmakers often dont complete that until late in the session. McCutcheon said he has asked chairs of the budget committees to begin moving that legislation early.

The fear is that if we were to have a COVID outbreak during the session and had to shut the session down it would be good for us to at least have the budgets out of the way, McCutcheon said.

The speaker said several bills would be priorities during the first two weeks of the session. Bills to provide tax credits and rebates to help recruit industries expired last year and lawmakers plan to renew them. Another priority is legislation to provide an exemption from state income tax for payments that taxpayers got from the federal government through the COVID-19 relief bills passed by Congress. And another priority is a bill to provide businesses and other entities some protection from lawsuits filed by people alleging blame for exposure to COVID-19 unless there was reckless or intentional misconduct.
A Seismic shift occurred Wednesday, as U.S. President Joe Biden took the oath of office and stood before the American people, and the world, and vowed the climate crisis was among his top priorities for the nation.

A Seismic shift occurred Wednesday, as U.S. President Joe Biden took the oath of office and stood before the American people, and the world, and vowed the climate crisis was among his top priorities for the nation.

"A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear," Biden said in his inaugural address.

"We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterdays challenges, but todays and tomorrows. We will lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example."

After four years of slashed environmental regulations, inaction on climate change and the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under former president Donald Trump, the gap between the two approaches to the existential threat is enormous.

"It represents a tectonic shift globally, in terms of how we decide, as humanity, to respond to climate change. And I think one of the most significant parts of this is that the American government has now realigned itself with science," said Ian Mauro, executive director of the University of Winnipeg-based Prairie Climate Centre.

That move towards embracing science and fact-based approaches applies not just to climate change but also the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

"And so, as a foundation for moving forward, we will be using evidence. And evidence indicates that this is a problem that requires absolutely enormous amounts of effort, strategy and resources devoted to solving the issue of climate change."

Mauro points out this shift effectively means, overnight, the U.S. has leapfrogged Canada in terms of climate goals and progressive rhetoric.

On his first day as president, Biden took two notable actions in the climate file: the U.S. rejoined the Paris Agreement and revoked permits for the Keystone XL pipeline.

Keystone XL was intended to move 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the oilsands in northern Alberta to Nebraska, where it would connect to a previously-built pipeline and carry oil to the Gulf Coast.

Jane McDonald, executive vice-president for Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development, previously served as a policy adviser to Liberal MP Catherine McKenna, when McKenna was Canadas minister of environment and climate change.

From McDonalds perspective, a lot of media attention has been focused on the loss of the pipeline and potential drawbacks of the Biden presidency on the Canadian economy. What she hopes to see more of moving forward is a recognition of how much this could instead benefit Canadas green economy.

"Bidens platform talked about a shared strategy around the shift to electric vehicles, about increasing cross-border electricity  which is definitely in Canadas interest. He talks about environmental spending, that means a much bigger market for Canadas clean-tech companies. So there are a lot of places here that we can engage, and where there are market opportunities to get moving on with our largest trading partner," McDonald said.

Despite the fact Canada has moved forward on the climate file in the last four years, meaningful progress is difficult when your largest trading partner isnt at the table, she added.

Manitoba Minister of Conservation and Climate Sarah Guillemard echoed McDonalds focus on the opportunities created under the new U.S. administration.

"I look forward to working toward common objectives in our efforts to address climate change, as well as creating opportunities for economic growth in green technologies," she said Wednesday in a statement to the Free Press.

sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik
The Yankees are banking on starting pitcher Corey Kluber to be fully healthy for the first time in two years.

A highly respected orthopedic surgeon believes they have plenty of reason to believe the injury that limited Klubers 2020 to just one inning will be a thing of the past.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Kluber  who took a one-year deal expected to be worth about $11 million from the Yankees on Friday  spent the offseason recovering from a Grade 2 tear of the right teres major muscle, which he suffered last July.

Something like this, you could be optimistic that the likelihood of a re-tear is very low, Dr. Armin Tehrany told NJ Advance Media in a phone conversation on Wednesday night.

Tehrany called the tear unusual. The teres major is near the shoulder joint but isnt part of the rotator cuff.

Tehrany hasnt treated Kluber or seen his medical records, but he has extensive knowledge of the type of injury the 34-year-old endured. Tehrany is the found of Manhattan Orthopedic Care and serves as Honorary Surgeon for the New York Police Department.

Tehrany believes Kluber, a two-time Cy Young winner with a career 3.16 ERA, should be fine.

Think about this as a kind of tear that should do very well within a few months of rehab, Tehrany said of Kluber, who also missed most of 2019 after a line drive fractured his right arm.

This is plenty of time, and also remember that longer time doesnt necessarily mean greater severity. I would be optimistic.

Tehrany added, Could it bother him again? Sure. But when the right amount of time is spent in rehab and the player is compliant, the likelihood that it is a career-ending injury is extremely low.

The Yankees have yet to make Klubers deal official. Its unclear whether hes passed a physical with the club.

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But they should know more about Kluber than just about any other team. Kluber spent the offseason working out with Eric Cressey, who runs the Yankees strength and conditioning program. Kluber held his throwing session for scouts at Cresseys facility more than a week ago. The Yankees came away impressed enough to strike a deal with the three-time All-Star.

Tehrany said he believes Kluber has been in good hands.

That is not to be underestimated, the doctor said. The type of resources these players have and the motivation that they have to be compliant is so high that they have a chance to do extremely well as opposed to those who get similar tears in the layman population, the spectators or the nonprofessional athletes, who dont have the time.

I would be remiss if I didnt say that he does have to be re-evaluated and cleared by his team doctor, who is excellent, Terhany said, referring to Yankees physician Dr. Chris Ahmad. Once that happens, Id feel very confident that he should be fine.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

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Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
[January 21, 2021] Fortune Writer and Author Jeff John Roberts Hosts 'Bevel, Books and Bourbon' to Discuss "Kings of Crypto: One Startup's Quest to Take Cryptocurrency Out of Silicon Valley and Onto Wall Street"

Bevel, a strategic communications firm with category-leading clients in finance, tech and venture capital, has announced their first virtual event of 2021 as part of the firm's members-only 'Bevel, Books and Bourbon' book series. The conversation will be led by renowned tech and cryptocurrency journalist Jeff John Roberts, author of "Kings of Crypto," published in December 2020. "I first encountered Bitcoin in 2013 in a park where Wall Street bankers and crypto anarchists were trading it in the open air. Since then, the story has only become more fascinating. I'm eager to share some of the secrets I've learned from years covering Coinbase and crypto," Roberts said. "Kings of Crypto" depicts the rapid rise of Coinbase, the largest digital currency exchange in the world. Coinbase is the most dominant platform for trading Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Today, Coinbase is still valued at a 2018 price of $8 billion and is expected to go public in the coming months despite generating plenty of controversy along the way. "We've represented the leading crypto firms from seed through acquisition, including Tagomi (acquired by Coinbase) as well as institutional crypto funds such as Blocktower Capital and Ikigai Asset Management. Recently, our excitement and enthusiasm for cryptcurrency as a whole has been reignited," said Jessica Schaefer, founder and CEO of Bevel. "Jeff has been covering the space since the very beginning, and we think our audience will love his take on the emergence of cryptocurrency from Silicon Valley to Wall Street."



Since launching in April 2020 at the height of the global pandemic, 'Bevel, Books & Bourbon' has attracted over 500 CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs across industries. Bevel's books are carefully curated from recommendations of leading VC investors and startup founders. The book club series aims to open up engaging conversations around the most interesting people, ideas, and companies. Bevel was founded nearly four years ago by Schaefer, an industry veteran who drew on her experience as Vice President of Corporate Communications at Point72 and its venture capital arm, Point72 Ventures, to launch the first quantitatively driven, results-oriented public relations firm. The accountable and VC-like approach has led the firm to attract a notable roster of clients, including: Acorns, Dirty Lemon, Greycroft, Primetime Partners, Public.com, Rally, RX3 Ventures, Torch Capital, Upholdings, and Yieldstreet. Bevel has an extensive waitlist and is only accepting highly-vetted new business opportunities.

The Bevel team is known for its bold thinking, invite-only events for the media as well as clients, and its elite network. In June 2019, Bevel traveled to Monaco for the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year Summit and hosted a private yacht event with Steve Clemons, renowned Political & Foreign Policy Commentator and Editor at Large of The Hill, to launch a health-tech platform. The firm has also hosted "Bevel on Bourbon" in New Orleans, a private event for tech founders and investors, as well as an LGBTQ Fintech event in NYC in celebration of Pride Month. To be considered for membership to 'Bevel, Books & Bourbon,' please visit: https://www.bevelbooksbourbon.com/. ABOUT BEVEL Bevel is a leading strategic communications firm with offices in Soho and Santa Monica. The firm specializes in providing a full range of solutions to help companies articulate their values and build lasting brands. Our team of influencers creates breakthroughs between clients and their target audiences. Bevel is proud to represent leading companies in fintech, venture capital, enterprise software, consumer brands, and technology. Services include digital and traditional media relations, crisis communications, advisory and consulting, custom-events, content creation, media training and design services. For more information about Bevel PR visit www.bevelpr.com or follow the agency on Instagram or Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005596/en/

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Indian artist Jagjot Singh Rubal gives final touches to paintings showing U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the eve of their oath-taking ceremony, at his home workshop in Amritsar, India, Tuesday. / EPA-Yonhap



The foreign ministry, Thursday, welcomed new U.S. President Joe Biden's pledge to strengthen alliances, saying it will work with Washington to that end and seek an early summit between the two countries.



"Our government welcomes that President Biden, through his inauguration speech, has expressed a willingness to lead the international community with the power of example, and particularly, to strengthen alliances," ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said in a press briefing.



Noting that President Moon Jae-in expressed hope to meet with Biden soon in his congratulatory message to the new U.S. president, Choi added that the ministry will keep this objective in focus and make related efforts.



In the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday (local time), Biden promised to repair alliances and engage with the world to restore U.S. leadership.



Choi also stressed that denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula remains the shared goal of South Korea and the United States, as he commented on U.S. Secretary of State nominee Tony Blinken's remarks that the Biden administration should review its entire approach and policy toward North Korea.



"South Korea and the U.S. have worked together for complete denuclearization and permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula, and there is no disagreement on this objective," he said, adding that Seoul will continue close communication with the new U.S. administration to that end.



In a separate commentary, Choi also welcomed Biden's decision to reenter the Paris climate agreement, which the U.S. pulled out of last year under then-President Donald Trump's order.



"Our government hopes to expand cooperation with the U.S. government in the climate change and environment fields, including the Green New Deal and the implementation of the Paris agreement," the spokesperson said. The Green New Deal is one of Moon's key initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable growth through eco-friendly policies. (Yonhap)




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LONDON  The international art trades hopes of returning to some kind of in-person normality were set back Thursday when Art Basel announced that its flagship fair in Switzerland, scheduled for June, would be postponed until September.

Because of the ongoing impact of the pandemic and travel restrictions worldwide, the fair has now been rescheduled for Sept. 23-26, Art Basel said in a statement.

While the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination programs started in many parts of the world last month, 2021 is a year in which planning remains complex, said Marc Spiegler, Art Basels global director. By moving our Basel fair to September, we hope to offer our galleries greater possibility for successfully preparing their year. Following 10 months of vaccination programs in many countries, we anticipate broad international participation.

In 2019, sales from the worlds art fairs were estimated at $16.6 billion, generating more than 40 percent of dealers turnover, according to the 2020 Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report. But large in-person art fairs have been on hold since March, after the early closure of the Tefaf Maastricht fair in the Netherlands, where an exhibitor tested positive for the coronavirus.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kejetia Market Support Group in Kumasi has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for maintaining Ghana's first-ever female Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare in his second-term.



The group, which last month urged the President to maintain Mrs Opare because it would encourage more women into party politics and boost affirmative action said they were ecstatic about her appointment.



At a convocation in Kejetia to celebrate the "victory" as well as to thank the President, the Chairman of the NPP Kejetia Market Support Group, Mr John Sarpong, commended president Akufo-Addo for "for being a listening leader."



"It makes a lot of sense for the president to maintain her against the background that the Ashanti region alone gave him more than 1.7 million votes to be re-elected," he said.



Mr Sarpong said the former Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency was a pillar in the party and a woman whom many female budding political talents look up to saying, "it will attract more women into the party."



"A transformational leader by all standards, we believe her reappointment will do a lot of good for the party and for the regional caucus," he said.



While commending the president, the leader of the support group also appealed to the president to rally support for Vice President, Dr Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia, to become the next flagbearer of the party for the 2024 Presidential election.



Kayaye



The President of the Kayaye Association of Ghana, Hajia Adiza, said the re-election of the Chief of Staff has given a lot of hope and reason for the underprivileged Kayaye to continue to vote for the party since she has been very supportive in that regard.



"It is our hope that madam Frema Osei Opare will continue to assist us and will not overlook our cry," she said.



Hajia Hadiza, also backed the call for Dr Alhaji Bawumia become the next flagbearer of the NPP.







Source: graphiconline.com









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

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US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday she will consult fellow Democrats about the Senate's readiness to begin former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial on charges of inciting a riot at the US Capitol.

"I'll be talking with the managers as to when the Senate will be ready for the trial of the then-president of the United States for his role in instigating an insurrection on the Capitol of the United States," Pelosi told reporters.

A source familiar with the planning said Pelosi could send the article of impeachment to the Senate as early as Friday. The Republican Trump lost his November re-election bid to Joe Biden, a Democrat who took office on Wednesday.

In a House vote last week, Trump became the first president in US history to be impeached twice. It charged him with inciting the Jan. 6 attack in a failed attempt to prevent Congress from formally certifying Biden's victory.

Now it is up to the Senate to decide whether Trump is guilty of the impeachment charge. Democrats, who control the House, narrowly took control of the Senate on Wednesday, but at least two-thirds of the 100-member body are required to convict Trump.

Under Senate rules, the trial would start a day after the House delivered the charge. It was unclear, however, whether a delay might be engineered, as some Democrats have hinted, in order to keep Biden's agenda and appointments on track.

Some Senate Republicans have argued that Congress should not put a former president on trial and to do so will further divide the country.

But Pelosi said: "Just because he's now gone - thank God - you don't say to a president, 'Do whatever you want in the last month of your administration, you're going to get a get-out-of-jail card free."

"I don't think it's very unifying to say, 'Oh, let's just forget it and move on.' That's not how you unify," she said.

Short link:


The nation should understand that the upcoming Senate trial of former President Donald Trump on the House-adopted article of impeachment is not for incitement of insurrection. While the article bears that title, the actual charge is a less damning but easier-to-prove charge of willfully encouraging lawless action. This doesnt negate the presidents culpability, but the wording may increase the chances the Senate convicts the president on the constitutionally prescribed two-thirds vote.

The article of impeachment alleges that President Trump, while addressing the crowd on Jan. 6 at the Save America rally nearby, willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged  and foreseeably resulted in  lawless action at the Capitol. It further alleges that this conduct was consistent with prior efforts to subvert and obstruct the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election. The only place in the impeachment article where you find the word insurrection is in the articles title. This is not a defect, the House must allege conduct constituting a high crime and misdemeanor. As Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story explained in 1833, that term means official misconduct, which would clearly encompass willfully encouraging lawless action.

This may all sound like legalese semantics, but the wording of the article of impeachment renders Trumps most likely defense, that he neither intended nor incited an insurrection, almost irrelevant. Insurrection is a conspicuous constitutional word associated with the Civil War, and reasonable minds may disagree, particularly on whether interfering with Congress exercise of its 12th Amendment electoral vote certification, which is an accounting function and not substantive review, amounted to an insurrection. But it seems much harder to argue that Trumps speech didnt encourage and foreseeably result in lawless action at the Capitol, a leisurely 30-minute walk from where he delivered the speech.

Under 18 U.S. Code Section 2383 it is a federal crime to incite rebellion or insurrection against the United States. To incite arguably requires that an individual intend the result of rebellion or insurrection, meaning that someone said and/or did something with or for the purpose of producing that pernicious result. But the impeachment article simply alleges that the former president willfully made statements. Willfully qualifies the Trumps conduct in making statements at the rally, not the results of those statements. Stated plainly, proof that the he willfully encouraged lawless action should be sufficient to establish he violated this impeachment article. Congress need not find that his purpose in making the statements at the rally was to produce the result of insurrection.

Trump may prefer the focus be directed toward whether he subjectively intended that the participants at the rally engage in lawless conduct. He will likely support this claim by referencing his comment that everyone here should march to the Capitol to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. But by focusing on the foreseeable consequences of his willfully made statements, the relevant question is not whether Trump foresaw the lawless consequences but whether a reasonable person in that situation would have.

It is highly implausible that the storming of the Capitol by supporters who heard his incendiary speech and marched exactly where he told them to was not a reasonably foreseeable outcome. Indeed, millions of Americans listening to Trump at that moment saw some degree of lawlessness coming, especially in the context of inflammatory remarks by other speakers like his lawyer Rudy Giuliani who preached trial by combat.

The drafters of the impeachment article recognized that the true nature of Trumps most recent dereliction was the way in which he exacerbated a risk that any reasonable official in his position would have recognized. What he actually hoped for is obviously a more complicated question, although his reaction to the events that transpired  he waited hours before calling for his supporters to go home  certainly lend credence to the inference he got exactly what he wanted. But because of the careful language used in the article, in order to convict, Senators need only conclude that Trump willfully made statements that encouraged the conduct that he reasonably should have foreseen.

Corn is The Gary A. Kuiper Distinguished Professor of National Security at South Texas College of Law Houston in Houston. Jenks is an associate professor of law and teaches criminal law, evidence and the law of armed conflict at the Dedman School of Law, SMU Dallas.
Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2021 4:32 pm

Some Washington officials want to create the 51st state by splitting theirs in half.

State representatives introduced a bill Monday that would create a new state called Liberty. The newly formed state would exist in the eastern part of what is currently Washington, according to House Bill 1239.

The western boundary of Liberty follows the crest of the Cascade mountains and the western borders of Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat counties, the bill states. The eastern, northern, and southern borders of Liberty are the existing state borders.

In addition to establishing new state lines, the bill proposes creating 15 transition committees that would establish governmental functions within Liberty. Those include education, executive functions, legislative functions, judicial functions and courts, debt, statewide elections, health care and more.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Rob Chase and Rep. Bob McCaslin, Republicans who represent Washingtons fourth state house district.

The concept of splitting Washington state into two isnt new, The Olympian reported in 2018. The idea has been around for decades and was pushed heavily by former state Rep. Matt Shea.

Voters in rural eastern and southwest Washington tend to be more conservative on state initiatives than the rest of the state. The urban northwest, which includes Seattle and Tacoma, has historically backed more liberal candidates and initiatives.

People who support the creation of Liberty say Washington is already two states on virtually every major issue of the day, according to the movements website.

The Liberty State Movement is an effort to create a new state from Washington State based upon political and geographic lines, the website says. Since the formation of Washington State in 1889, people of the eastern and rural parts of Washington State have felt separate from the western capitol in Olympia.

The process to create a new state, however, isnt easy  and its unlikely. The bill would need to pass and be approved at a state level, then get the approval of the U.S. Congress.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

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UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

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France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

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Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

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Ulaanbaatar, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) :Mongolia's prime minister resigned Thursday following protests and public outrage over the treatment of a coronavirus patient and her newborn baby.

Landlocked Mongolia reported just a handful of Covid-19 cases last year after imposing strict border controls, but in November its first domestic transmissions caused a new wave of lockdowns and restrictions.

Anger mounted this week after tv footage showed a woman who appeared to have recently given birth being moved to an infectious disease centre wearing only hospital pyjamas and plastic slippers, despite temperatures dipping to minus 25 degrees Celsius.

After protests outside government buildings on Wednesday, the Mongolian politician apologised on behalf of the government and said he would stand down immediately.

"Unfortunately, we made mistake during relocating that mother," admitted Prime Minister Khurelsukh Ukhnaa Thursday. "It was heartbreaking to see how she was treated." "As a prime minister, I must take the responsibility." The video of the woman in an ambulance clutching her baby prompted fierce criticism, particularly as Mongolian tradition dictates new mothers should avoid the cold weather and cold food for the first month after birth.

On Wednesday around 5,000 mostly young protesters gathered in a square opposite government buildings in the capital Ulaanbaatar, some carrying wrapped up bundles to represent babies.

Ulziibayar Purevsuren, 30, held a banner reading "resign" and said she was there to complain about "incompetent doctors".

The vice prime minister -- also head of the national emergency commission handling the pandemic -- had already resigned on Wednesday evening, followed by the minister of health.

The head of the hospital and disease centre in the middle of the row also resigned.

Political instability has been a constant problem for the young Central Asian democracy, which passed its first constitution in 1992 after decades of Communist rule.

The outgoing prime minister had already survived a parliament vote to sack him in 2018 over a corruption scandal that implicated high-level politicians in a state fund embezzlement scheme -- a year after his predecessor was sacked over allegations of corruption.

As the prime minister stands down, President Battulga Khaltmaa remains in place as head of state.

But Khurelsukh has previously said he intends to stand for president in upcoming elections this year, and in his resignation speech he said he had "lost faith" in Battulga as head of state.

- 'Voices heard' - This week's row is the latest clash over the government's handling of the Covid-19 outbreak as anger simmers over Mongolian nationals stuck overseas after the country closed its borders.

"I don't think Mongolians will die of Covid-19, instead they will die of poverty and hunger," said 20-year-old student Odbayar Lkhagvadorj.

"We are here to make our voice heard," said Batzul Batenkh, a 21-year-old mining worker.

Restrictions on movement between provinces have been imposed since November, leaving about 80,000 people stranded in the capital.

Many have complained of waiting weeks for virus tests to allow them to return to their homes or of having to sleep in their cars with hotels closed due to lockdowns.

Officials were forced to apologise when a 58-year-old woman died in December after being refused entry to a hospital because she did not have a negative Covid-19 test result.

Since March, Mongolia has only allowed citizens to enter the country on chartered flights and required 21 days of quarantine in centralised facilities, followed by two weeks of further isolation at home.

There have been 1,584 coronavirus cases in the country so far.
President Joe Biden prepares to sign a series of executive orders at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office in Washington just hours after his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Biden Revokes Trumps Anti-Terrorism Travel Ban

In one of his first executive actions on Jan. 20, President Joe Biden rescinded former President Donald Trumps travel ban on nations with individuals posing a terrorist threat to the United States.

In a proclamation titled Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to the United States, Biden revoked a series of executive orders and proclamations that Trump had signed between 2017 and 2020.

Similar to the establishment media and groups that challenged Trumps actions, Biden accused his predecessor of discriminating against Muslims and African nations. Trumps actions focused on a small portion of majority-Muslim countries and some African countries.

The United States was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance, a principle enshrined in the United States Constitution, the proclamation states. Nevertheless, the previous administration enacted a number of Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations that prevented certain individuals from entering the United Statesfirst from primarily Muslim countries, and later, from largely African countries.

The countries affected by the travel ban prior to Bidens revocation were Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Trump issued the first version of the travel ban on Jan. 27, 2017. The ban was met with protests and blocked by the courts. The White House redrafted the order to insulate it from legal challenges and issued the new directive on March 6, 2017. Implementation of the second order was delayed by court challenges. In September 2017, Trump issued a proclamation modifying the order, which, after a legal battle, was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

In April 2018, Trump removed Chad from the list. Last year, he added Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania, due to their failure to share terrorist, criminal, or identity information for their travelers.

Establishment media outlets labeled the move as a Muslim ban because of the proportion of Muslims living in each country. The parties that challenged the order in court argued that the measure was motivated by an anti-Muslim animus. The administration disagreed, pointing out that more than 40 Muslim-majority countries werent included in the ban.

In 2020, radical Islamic terrorists killed 10,125 people and injured 7,725 as part of more than 2,100 terror acts, according to a list maintained by The Religion of Peace, a nonpartisan website that has tracked Islamic terrorism attacks around the world since 2001.

Last year, in the countries affected by Trumps travel ban, radical Islamic terrorists killed 3,283 people, accounting for nearly one-third of all Islamic terror slayings worldwide.

Some of the countries on the blacklist have few to no Islamic terror attacks domestically but were added for other reasons. Travel from Iran was banned because the nation is considered by the U.S. State Department to be the worlds leading sponsor of terrorism. Countries such as Somalia have had no government for decades to issue basic documents such as birth certificates and driver licenses, making it impossible to vet travelers. Other nations have active extremist militias, are wracked by active civil wars, or are home to terrorist groups such as al-Qaida.

The Trump travel ban fixed a real-world security problem, which is vetting visa applicants from countries that have no governments to help us do it, Todd Bensman, a senior national security fellow for the Center for Immigration Studies, told The Epoch Times. If you simply just ban travel from those places, you dont have to worry. It fixes the problem at its root, which is you dont have to investigate the backgrounds of people who are coming from those places.

Reversing it means were going to be right back to square one with all sorts of nefarious characters being given visas that we have to prosecute on terrorism charges. Quite a list of people from Somalia and Yemen and Sudan and Syria who got it under visas before the ban that turned out to be terrorists, hardcore terrorists.

In an apparent attempt to assuage concerns about the vetting issues, Bidens proclamation includes a section titled Review of Information-Sharing Relationships and a Plan to Strengthen Partnerships.

The order directs the secretaries of State and Homeland Security to provide a report to the president in 120 days that provides a description of the current screening and vetting procedures, a review of foreign government information-sharing practices, recommendations to improve screening and vetting activities, and a review of the current use of social media identifiers in the screening and vetting process.

The remark was made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh to a media outlet on Wednesday when asked about the arrest of Iranian university professor Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi in the US, reports Xinhua news agency.

Tehran, Jan 21 (IANS) The Tehran government has slammed the "blatant hostage-taking of Iranian national" by the US government for allegedly acting as an unregistered "foreign agent".

"Unfortunately, the US is addicted to this kind of actions and they take hostages under any pretext," the spokesman said.

Iran's government, he further noted, hopes the new US administration will move away from such an approach, that Khatibzadeh linked to former President Donald Trump.

Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, he went on to say, is a well-known university professor who has been arrested on "unrealistic charges".

This is not the first time that Washington has relied on "baseless allegations" to "create trouble" for Iranian citizens in different countries and "take hostages", he added.

Khatibzadeh voiced hope that the Iranian professor's problem will be solved as soon as possible.

Afrasiabi, a US resident for more than three decades, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on the accusation that he violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the Washington Post said in a report on Tuesday.

--IANS

ksk/
Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that partners John Carlin and David Newman have been named to Day One U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) leadership roles, as Acting Deputy Attorney General and Associate Deputy Attorney General, respectively. Mr. Carlin will lead the Deputy Attorney Generals office until the Senate confirmation of Lisa O. Monaco, after which he will assume the critical role of Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General. In addition to being part of the senior DOJ leadership, Mr. Newmans portfolio as Associate Deputy Attorney General will cover national security, cybersecurity, and crisis management.

We are extremely proud to see two Morrison & Foerster partners answer the call of public service and join the new administration in such crucial roles, said Larren M. Nashelsky, chair of Morrison & Foerster. Faced with unprecedented challenges, they have returned to guide the Department on day one. We extend our warmest congratulations to them and are grateful for their contributions to the firm. They are both lawyers of the highest caliber, whose hard-work, diligence, and integrity are unwavering.

Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster in 2017, Mr. Carlin served, among other top-level official positions, as former Assistant Attorney General for DOJs National Security Division (NSD)a role in which he oversaw nearly 400 employees responsible for protecting the nation against terrorism, espionage, and cyber, and other national security threatsand as former Chief of Staff to then-FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, where he helped lead the FBIs evolution to meet growing and changing national security threats, including cyber threats. Mr. Newman, who also joined the firm in 2017, previously held several key posts at the White House, including serving as Special Assistant and Associate Counsel to President Obama and in multiple positions on the staff of the National Security Council. Throughout his tenure at the White House, he played a central role in coordinating the Obama administrations response to domestic and international crises, including serving as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Ebola Response Coordinator. Mr. Newman also served as career attorney at DOJ in the leadership of NSD.

Morrison & Foerster is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert Litt and Alex Iftimie as co-chairs of the firms Global Risk and Crisis Management Group, a multidisciplinary practice group that guides clients through crises of the highest levels, including cybersecurity threats, national security threats, white collar criminal investigations, counseling, compliance, and enforcement, product, workplace, and environmental safety, as well as workplace misconduct investigations.

Robert and Alex have been instrumental in the groups operation in the past several years and will be tremendous leaders of the practice moving forward. The combination of their senior experience in government and private practice is invaluable to our clients when they navigate complex challenges, said Brad Wine, Global Co-Chair of Morrison & Foersters Litigation Department. I also look forward to further additions to the group in coming weeks, following the recent arrival of Brian Kidd, the latest senior DOJ official to join the firm and D.C. office in the past several years.

Mr. Litt, a former General Counsel for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), joined the firm in 2017. He regularly advises industry-leading organizations on sensitive national security and privacy matters, white collar investigations, and government enforcement actions. In his role at ODNI, Mr. Litt oversaw a team of attorneys providing legal advice to the agency and led interagency national security meetings. He is also an Adjunct Research Scholar in Columbia Law School's National Security Law Program. Mr. Litt is an experienced former federal prosecutor who held multiple senior roles at DOJ earlier in his career.

Mr. Iftimie, who joined Morrison & Foerster in early 2019, advises clients on sensitive cyber and U.S. national security matters, internal investigations, and government enforcement actions. He advises Fortune 500 and high-growth clients on all aspects of breach preparedness and response, including counseling executives on cybersecurity governance and risk management, and responding to cyber incidents ranging from ransomware attacks to nation-state sponsored economic espionage. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Iftimie held multiple senior positions at DOJ, including Counselor to the Attorney General, and Deputy Chief of Staff and Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, and as Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.

ABOUT MOFO

We are Morrison & Foerstera global firm of exceptional credentials. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, investment banks, Fortune 100, and technology and life sciences companies. The Financial Times has named the firm to its lists of most innovative law firms in North America every year that it has published its Innovative Lawyers Reports in the region. In the past few years, Chambers USA has honored MoFos Privacy and Data Security, Bankruptcy, and IP teams with Firm of the Year awards, the Corporate/M&A team with a client service award, and the firm as a whole as Global USA Firm of the Year. Our lawyers are committed to achieving innovative and business-minded results for our clients, while preserving the differences that make us stronger. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education for poor children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, winning asylum for the persecuted, and safeguarding the environment.

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SARAJEVO - Wounded people, overturned police cars, and broken windows on the "battlefield" demonstrated the scope of the serious unprecedented incidents that broke out on Wednesday evening in the migrant reception centre of Blazuj, near Sarajevo, where police estimate about 2,000 migrants participated.



Local media reported that the clashes broke out when officials from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) tried to transfer a migrant they said was responsible for provoking incidents to another camp.



However, on Thursday a migrant from Bangladesh named Hasan told broadcaster N1 that the clashes erupted after a Shiite Iranian insulted the prophet Muhammad, provoking the reaction of Sunni migrants - Afghan, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi - who were shouting "Tekbir" and "Allahu akbar" ("God is the greatest").



The Blazuj centre is the largest in Bosnia, hosting more than 3,000 migrants, and its security is overseen by the police of the Canton of Sarajevo and private agencies employed by IOM.
A Colorado man has been charged with murder after he allegedly dumped two suitcases with his victim's remains in it but forgot to remove the baggage claim sticker that had his name printed on it.

Benjamin Satterthwaite, 28, is charged with killing and dismembering 33-year-old Joshua Lockard's body in Denver last month.

Police say Satterthwaite put Lockard's remains in two different suitcases before dumping on a sidewalk near a creek.

The suitcases were discovered on December 29 by city employees who were plowing snow from the sidewalk.

The employees opened one of the suitcases and discovered a human foot.

Benjamin Satterthwaite, 28, is charged with killing and dismembering 33-year-old Joshua Lockard's body in Denver last month

Police say Satterthwaite put Lockard's remains in two different suitcases before dumping on a sidewalk near a creek. The suitcases were discovered on December 29 by city employees who were plowing snow from the sidewalk

Detectives who responded to the scene found that one of the suitcases contained a baggage sticker from a recent United Airlines flight.

They say it had the name Satterthwait, Den printed on it.

In that suitcase, detectives found the victim's right leg and left upper thigh.

The other suitcase contained his torso, which had been wrapped in a trash bag and secured with duct tape.

Authorities say the rest of the victim's remains have not yet been found.

Investigators subsequently contacted a detective at Denver International Airport to investigate the baggage claim sticker.

They found it belonged to Satterthwaite and that he had flown into Denver on December 21.

There were no reports of Satterthwaite reporting that his luggage had been stolen, detectives said.

As authorities were investigating the murder, police responded to reports of a possible overdose at Satterthwaite's apartment on New Year's Day.

Detectives who responded to the scene found that one of the suitcases contained a baggage sticker from a recent United Airlines flight. They say it had the name Satterthwait, Den printed on it

Police have since discovered that Lockard (above) was last seen alive on December 26. Friends told authorities that he struggled with a meth addiction. Police believe Lockard and Satterthwaite knew each other

They found Satterthwaite unconscious and potentially in the middle of an overdose episode.

A person was dead beside him that authorities believe died of an overdose.

Satterthwaite was taken to hospital where authorities obtained his fingerprints and a search warrant for his home.

During the search, investigators uncovered a suitcase that matched one found at the scene. Luminol also found that the couch, bathroom and bathtub were covered in blood.

Detectives also found a bloody saw in the apartment, which they later determined he had purchased at a Walmart on December 27, court documents show.

Police have since discovered that Lockard was last seen alive on December 26.

Friends told authorities that he struggled with a meth addiction.

Police believe Lockard and Satterthwaite knew each other.

The Medical Examiner says Lockard's cause of death is still under investigation.

Satterthwaite has been charged one count of murder in the first degree and one count of tampering with a deceased human body.
Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala's health condition is now normal and stable but she will undergo CT Scan and other tests, Director of the Bowring Hospital Dr Manoj Kumar H V said on Thursday. According to the doctor, her COVID test reports have come out negative.

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide, who is serving her jail term at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, had complained of fever and breathlessness on Wednesday, a week before her release. She was shifted from the prison and admitted to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, also known as Bowring Hospital.

Sasikala's oxygen saturation level was 80 (against the normal of 95 and above) on Wednesday evening when she was admitted to the hospital. "She had breathlessness. Before that she had a fever.

Accordingly we gave her treatment. Now her oxygen saturation level is normal, which is 96. Her condition is stable now," Kumar told reporters. According to him, she took a stroll in the morning.

The doctor said she has been sent to the Victoria Hospital for the CT Scan and once the tests are done, she will be brought back to the Bowring Hospital. Prior to it, she had undergone Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR tests which showed her COVID-19 reports negative, Kumar said.

Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case. Her illness comes at a time when she is just six days away to walk free from the prison on January 27..

.
Dr Catchpole comes to the company from Teck Resources where he was project manager and geoscience lead at the San Nicolas VHMS deposit in Zacatecas, Mexico, currently at pre-feasibility stage

Concurrent with the appointment of Dr Catchpole, Trevor Woolfe is stepping down as VP Exploration and will remain with the company as VP Corporate Development

Ltd. ( ) (FRA:GPE) (OTCQB:GRSLF) has announced the appointment of Dr Honza Catchpole as its VP Exploration effective January 20, 2021.

The group noted that Dr Catchpole has extensive experience working in Mexico, USA, Canada, Andean South America and Europe, mainly with porphyry Cu, skarn (Zn-Pb-Ag-Cu), epithermal precious (Au-Ag) and base metal (Ag-Zn-Pb-Cu) deposits.

He has worked in project generation, exploration and project evaluation of precious metal and porphyry Cu projects for Teck Resources Limited, Vale Exploration Canada and Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada.

said Dr Catchpole has been directly involved in designing, planning and executing drill programs, as well as managing greenfield and reconnaissance stage projects in Mexico. He comes to the company from Teck where he was project manager and geoscience lead at the San Nicolas VHMS deposit in Zacatecas, Mexico, currently at pre-feasibility stage. His background in geologic, alteration and structural mapping (surface and underground) in Andean volcanic arc settings with good understanding of hydrothermal alteration and mineralization is a valuable addition to the GR Silver Mining exploration team.

In a statement, GR Silver Mining president and CEO, Marcio Fonseca, commented: We are very excited to have attracted a highly qualified geoscientist with extensive experience in large polymetallic silver mining districts and all key stages of successful exploration programs to join GR Silver Mining in Mexico.

"Dr Catchpoles knowledge and experience working in Latin Americas world-class mining districts is a valuable component for the upcoming exploration program in our projects.

The group added that concurrent with the appointment of Dr Catchpole, Trevor Woolfe is stepping down as VP Exploration and will remain with the company as VP Corporate Development.

GR Silver Mining also announced that under its 10% rolling stock option plan and in compliance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, it has granted incentive stock options to certain directors, officers, consultants and employees of the company and its Mexican subsidiaries, to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,405,000 GR Silver Mining common shares.

These options are exercisable for a period of five years at a price of $0.74 per share. Of these options, 1,450,000 options granted to certain directors and officers of the company will vest as to one-third on the date of

grant, and a further third on each of the 1st and 2nd anniversaries of the date of grant.

The company said it has also negotiated a debt settlement with an arm's-length creditor. Under the agreement and subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange, the company has settled debt of US$82,500 (C$104,412) in consideration for which it will issue an aggregate of 141,097 common shares at a deemed price of C$0.74 per share.

GR Silver Mining is a Mexico-focused company engaged in cost-effective silver-gold resource expansion on its key assets which lie on the eastern edge of the Rosario Mining District, Sinaloa,

Mexico.

Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com
Julia A. Gauvin used her Girl Scout Gold Award project to show service men and women that she and her community care about them.

Care Packages For Those We Care About provided multiple care packages of toiletries for those serving the United States in the military throughout the world.

The daughter of Marc and Katie Gauvin, of Granby, she is currently in the nursing program at Fitchburg State University and is enlisted in the Air National Guard.

One thing I learned about myself is that I love to help people in need as much as I possibly can, Gauvin said.

Collaborating with the United Service Organizations (USO), she not only collected toiletries but donations for the USO to help offset the cost of shipping.

Because of Girl Scouts, I am not afraid to be myself, and show other people I am there for them whenever they need me, Gauvin, 18, said.

She has been a Girl Scout for 12 years, a member of Troop 40067 in Granby.

Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts honored 10 Western Massachusetts teens  now Gold Award Girl Scouts  in a ceremony at the Northfield Drive-In during the summer. Their projects earned them the organizations highest award and one of the most prestigious awards in the world for girls.

Gold Award Girl Scouts are recipients of one of the most prestigious awards in the world for girls. By the time they put the final touches on their seven-step projects, theyll have addressed a significant issue. Theyre also eligible for college scholarships and to enter the military one rank higher than non-Gold Award Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes girls in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through sustainable and measurable Take-Action projects and signifies achievement of the highest recognition for girls in Girl Scouting.

My main benefit in Girl Scouting would be learning the leadership skills, Gauvin said, encouraging all Girl Scouts to earn their Gold Award.
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States as his wife Jill Biden holds a Bible on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, January 20, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Kevin Lamarque.

Party chief, President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Thursday congratulated U.S. President Joe Biden on his inauguration.

In a congratulatory message to Biden, the 46th U.S. President, Trong and Phuc expressed their hopes for prosperity and happiness for all of the U.S. and its citizens, as well as global peace, stability, cooperation and development, according to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam believes the foundation of Vietnam-U.S. relations has been bolstered for the past 25 years, and would continue to grow with Biden as president, it said.

The same day, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh also sent a congratulatory message to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

Prior to their inauguration, the Vietnamese leaders took the opportunity to invite Biden and Harris to visit Vietnam at their earliest convenience.

Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. President at Capitol Building on Jan. 20, succeeding former President Donald Trump. At the age of 78, Biden became the oldest U.S. President in history.

Among the congratulations he received were messages from numerous world leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and South Korean President Moon Jae-In.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Fleet: Norwegian has grounded all but six of its 138 aircraft. Photo: Carina Johansen/Bloomberg

Norway backed Norwegian Airs survival plan on Thursday as Industry Minister Iselin Nyboe said that the government had no intention of being a shareholder but would stump up cash if private investors did too.

The heavily indebted budget carrier, which has been forced to ground all but six of its 138 aircraft due to the coronavirus crisis, asked the government for help last week.

Norwegian was granted bankruptcy protection by courts in Ireland and Norway last year as it seeks to shed much of its debt. It plans to end its long-haul service.

The governments support significantly increases our chances of raising new capital and getting us through the reconstruction process, Norwegian chief executive Jacob Schram said in a statement.

Norwegians share price, which has plunged 98pc in the last 12 months, were up 14pc by 08:20 GMT on Thursday.

The governments participation, in the form of a hybrid loan, will be dependent on private investors taking part in a planned share issue, Ms Nyboe said.

The plan appears more robust than the one we rejected last October and we are therefore inclined to contribute, she said.

The government does not have an ambition to become a shareholder in Norwegian.

If its reconstruction succeeds, Norwegian has said it will initially cut its fleet to about 50 aircraft.

The fleet could grow to 70 aircraft in 2022, depending on demand and potential travel restrictions, it has said.

We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but a participation from the government underscores that we are heading in the right direction, Mr Schram said.

The plan depends on the company raising at least 4.5bn Norwegian crowns (436m), primarily from institutional and strategic investors, and on the courts approving its restructuring, the government said.

It also depends on approval from Norways parliament, opposition parties have urged the government to help Norwegian weather the crisis.
Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday offered to help with the United States' efforts involving the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, seen by Reuters.

The world's largest online retailer has an agreement with a healthcare provider to administer vaccines at its facilities and will move forward once doses are available, Dave Clark, chief executive of Amazon's worldwide consumer business, said in the letter.

Beyond offering the vaccine to Amazon employees, Clark added, "We are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist your administration's vaccination efforts."

The offer comes as Biden became the 46th US president of on Wednesday. The president has laid out a goal of delivering 100 million COVID-19 vaccine doses within his first 100 days in office, an endeavor Amazon aims to support. Clark congratulated Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their inauguration.

The company employs more than 800,000 people in the United States, making it the second-biggest private employer behind Walmart Inc. More than 19,000 US workers at Amazon had contracted the virus as of September, underscoring the vaccine's importance to keeping its staff safe and warehouses operational.

Amazon said in the letter that its scale would let it make an impact in countering the virus, but it did not provide details on the form its help could take. The company did not immediately answer a request for comment on its vaccine rollout if any so far.

Also read: Tandav controversy: BJP Delhi chief demands arrest of director Ali Abbas Zaffar

Also read: BMW's MINI India sees 34% growth in 2020; delivers 512 cars in Q4
Birdtail Sioux First Nation and the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation have both seen COVID-19 vaccine roll out in their communities this week.

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Birdtail Sioux First Nation and the Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation have both seen COVID-19 vaccine roll out in their communities this week.

Elders in both communities are at the top of the list.

But Birdtail Chief Ken Chalmers did say vaccine fear is real. He said at least one person is waiting to see how it works out for others.

"But were campaigning to get that done," he said, but that vaccine wasnt wasted as someone further down the list, according to age, took it.

Social media, Chalmers said, is the main root of vaccine fear.

Chalmers said the community has had a few scares.

"We had one case that we isolated. Were back down to zero," he said, adding the person had travelled to a hospital and thats likely where the virus was contracted.

Everyone in contact with that person was isolated. All tests came back negative and that person is now doing well.

Keeseekoowenin Chief Norman Bone said, so far, his community hasnt seen a case.

"Weve been fortunate to not have any cases, here," Bone said.

"Weve done fairly well since last spring."

Bone said the community is observing the fundamentals, as dictated by provincial public health officials  and leadership has communicated those to community members.

"Weve tried to make all the people aware to take all the precautions, in terms of self-isolation, wearing masks, shopping for essentials only," he said.

"Whatever it is weve done, is working for us."

While Birdtail has barriers blocking visitors from entering the community, such is not the case at Keeseekoowenin, due to the community having multiple entry points. Bone has previously said it is simply not possible to blockade the community.

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Indigenous Services Canada associate deputy minister Valerie Gideon said the highest funding requests her department received are for perimeter security.

"For communities to be able to try and control that to-and-from traffic into community. Were close to 350 communities that have closed their borders to non-essential travel, and are really maintaining their resolve in order to protect their community members," she said.

However, Chalmers wonders which communities received those funds because he does not have certainty that his community will see reimbursement for roadblocks.

While Gideon said those measures are critical, Chalmers said hes getting mixed messages on that matter, and so far the First Nation is using its own dollars.

Chief Ken Chalmers

"We got zero," Chalmers said.

"Security costs $90,000 a month. And they wont tell us who got that money."

Chalmers references Shamattawa First Nation, which required an emergency response, which likely cost the federal government millions of dollars. He acknowledges Northern reserves are getting hit hard, but hes also very concerned about protecting his own reserve.

The feds, said Chalmers, told Birdtail is in a low-risk area. But due to the same reasons any reserve is vulnerable, so is Birdtail.

"That was a surprise to me. The whole province is in code red," he said.

Food security is an issue, and both Chalmers and Bone said thats being handled. Birdtail has its own store, and is providing vouchers for those who need them. At Keeseekoowenin, fishing and hunting continues to provide additional support.

"Last year, we started fishing, doing our own process of getting food to the people that would need. Were still doing that," Bone said.

The community also benefitted from the Fisher River Cree Nation receiving $11 million from the Surplus Food Rescue Program to rescue up to 2.9 million pounds of freshwater fish, which was distributed to more than 75 Indigenous communities throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the North.

"We took part in that and were still distributing some of that fish," Bone said.

The area sees mostly deer, and hunting parties have been out to add that to the communitys food source.

"The guys have been going out and providing some of that as a food source for some of the people that require it here in the community," Bone said.

"Some of the stuff wed been doing before. We also making sure potatoes and some basic stuff  Weve been doing some of this stuff over the years, already. We just carried on with that."

But Bone added distribution was increased over previous years.

School children are also being protected, as both communities have been going the remote learning route. Bone said that has been working well for Keeseekoowenin.

Whats hardest for on-reserve members? Funerals.

Gathering to grieve and celebrate the life of a loved one is impossible in these times. Public health orders have limited these gatherings.

A funeral may have been the site of some viral spread at Sioux Valley Dakota Nation  the community put out a notice that anyone who attended a particular funeral, and showed signs of symptoms, should get tested. Chief Jennifer Bone did not return a call from The Brandon Sun.

Chalmers plans to organize a memorial for all those the community has lost during these many long pandemic months.

For now, he just wants to keep all children and elders safe to the fall of 2021.

As for Bone, hes just grateful things have worked out the way they have for his community so far.

 mletourneau@brandonsun.com

 Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism.
A federal appellate court ruled Tuesday that insurers are entitled to a strict interpretation of a doctrine in maritime law that imposes a duty of utmost good faith on parties to marine insurance contracts.

The 1st Circuit Court of Appeals panel found that the owner of a 48-foot yacht had no coverage for damage caused by a fire on his vessel because he had failed to disclose a prior accident or other boats that he had owned on his application for insurance. The court affirmed a ruling by the U.S. District Court in Puerto Rico that uberrimae fidei still holds in U.S. admiralty law even though Parliament abolished the doctrine from English law in 2015.

The respect accorded by American courts to English maritime law stems from the wisdom of the particular doctrine, not from either the acceptance or the rejection of that doctrine by Parliament, the court said. It follows, we think, that federal courts tasked with hearing admiralty cases should take heed of developments in English law, but they are not obliged to change course merely because Parliament acts to alter a previously entrenched principle.

In March 2014 Carlos Morales-Vazquez applied to Optima Insurance Co. for insurance to cover Making Waves, his 48-foot Cavileer yacht, built in 2005, valued at $550,000. He disclosed on the application that 11 years earlier he had had a propeller strike accident, but he did not mention that in 2010 he had grounded his 40-foot Riviera Offshore yacht in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.

Whats more, Morales listed on a separate section of the application only two of the seven boats that he had previously owned or operated. The application form plainly stated that if incorrect answers are provided (either by error, omission or neglect), I will be in breach of this warranty and the policy, if issued, will be void from inception.

Morales submitted the application to his insurance broker and told him he needed coverage immediately. A policy was issued 36 minutes later. QBE Seguros later purchased Optima and became Molares insurer.

On Oct. 24, 2014, Morales Cavileer was damaged by a fire. He reported the loss to QBE. The carrier retained an independent adjuster and in December 2014 offered to pay $63,774.19 for the damage. Morales rejected the payout.

Negotiations continued until May 2015, when QBE became aware of the 2010 grounding incident, which had resulted in a total loss. Morales admitted when testifying under oath that he had failed to disclose the accident and also that he had owned five other vessels that he had not disclosed on his insurance application.

QBE filed suit, seeking a declaratory judgment that the policy was void because Morales had not honored his duty of utmost good faith. After a six-day bench trial, Magistrate Judge Bruce J. McGiverin ruled in favor of the insurer. He said the case was a poster child for the continuing relevance of the doctrine.

On appeal, Morales argued that the principle of uberrimae fidei no longer applies because the United Kingdom Parliament and striken the duty from English statutes when it passed the Insurance Act of 2015. U.S. Supreme Court precedent requires, because the doctrine was adopted from English common law, that U.S. courts should mirror developments in English law, Morales attorney said.

The 1st Circuit called that argument magical thinking. The panel said the three Supreme Court cases that Morales cited actually establish that there is a general desirability of uniformity between American and English law regarding maritime insurance, but U.S. courts do not have to automatically follow English precedents hawked by the insured.

At any rate, abandoning the doctrine of uberrimae fidei in marine insurance cases would have rebarbative consequences, both upending settled law and disrupting an industry that has long been premised on insureds telling the whole truth to insurers, the court said.
A British grandmother who shocked the nation when she shared a graphic description of her sex life with her Egyptian toyboy, 36, has penned an emotional Facebook post as they are forced to live apart.

Mohamed Ahmed Ibriham swept Iris Jones, 81, from Somerset, off her feet when they met on the social media platform last year and she soon flew to Egypt to be with him before marrying each other in November 2020.

The couple's relationship hit the spotlight last year when Iris went on ITV's This Morning to discuss the huge age gap and ended up revealing details of their sex life.

Iris made hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield blush after admitting that their first night of passion, which included an 'entire tube of KY jelly', left Iris 'saddle sore'.

But Iris, a former cleaner who claims pension and disability benefits, has previously revealed her worries that she may never see the love of her life again in person because he is struggling to secure a spousal visa for the UK due to red tape.

Taking to Facebook this week, Iris shared a GIF (an animated image) of a love heart formed out of rose petals and tagged Mohamed, adding: 'You are in my heart forever.'

Mohamed Ahmed Ibriham swept Iris Jones, 81, from Somerset, off her feet when they met on the social media platform last year and she soon flew to Egypt to be with him before marrying each other in November 2020 (pictured together)

But Iris, a former cleaner who claims pension and disability benefits, has previously revealed her worries that she may never see the love of her life again (pictured together) in person because he is struggling to secure a spousal visa for the UK due to red tape

Sharing the image to her social media page, the grandmother wrote 'For my husband' in the caption.

The loved-up message was certainly well received by Mohamed, who replied with an equally-sweet note.

He commented: 'I am for you forever,' alongside several love heart emojis, to which Iris responded: 'Thank you my honey.'

Taking to Facebook this week, Iris shared a GIF (an animated image, above) of a love heart formed out of rose petals and tagged Mohamed, adding: 'You are in my heart forever.'

The loved-up message was certainly well received by Mohamed, who replied with an equally-sweet note (pictured above)

Iris' post comes just weeks after she confessed to spending her days 'crying all the time' because she misses her partner.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk, the distraught grandmother said she had no idea when her husband would be able to join her in Britain,

She explained: 'I'm separated from someone I love, it's so hard. I haven't got time on my side, his lawyers know that. I've had to go over there three times and come back without him.'

However, she believes she can't go back to Egypt because the environment is ill-suited to her health, adding it is 'too hot and dusty'.

Meanwhile, the pensioner also revealed she was 'skint' after previous trips to the country, having spent 50 per day on accommodation.

The couple's relationship hit the spotlight last year when Iris (pictured) went on ITV's This Morning to discuss the huge age gap and ended up revealing details of their sex life

Iris explained: 'I haven't got age on my side. I could drop dead tomorrow. Every day is precious. It's bloody awful being apart.'

It comes months after she appeared on This Morning to discuss her marriage to her Egyptian toyboy.

At the time, she sent a call for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to let Mohamed come to the UK, where he would be an 'asset' to the economy.

The couple recounted how they tied the knot and celebrated during their segment, with Iris saying: 'It was third time lucky for us.'

The couple did not go through a traditional wedding, but signed paper written in Arabic to make things official.

Iris also appeared on This Morning in November where she spoke of celebrating her wedding to her husband (pictured together) at the local KFC

'It was an exchange of documents. We had to sign several documents for the signature,' she said. 'After that, the document was handed to us, one for Mohamed and one for me, all in Arabic, I don't know what it says at all.

'It might say that I'm completely under his thumb, but if that's the case, I'm not,' she added.

The couple then revealed they had not celebrated their union with a reception, but had instead gone to their local KFC, because they enjoyed the food and Iris had a Coca Cola.

Iris was a bit more tongue-tied about their bedroom antics after Holly asked: 'How was the wedding night, dare I ask.'

'Just the same as the first night, just it wasn't so difficult this time,' Iris said. Meanwhile, Mohamed shared how he felt about his union with Iris, saying: 'My feel is very good, we have in the past difficulties.'

Iris' post comes just weeks after she confessed to spending her days 'crying all the time' because she misses her partner (pictured together)

He added he was worried for Iris due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that it did not matter to him whether the couple stayed in Egypt or went to the UK.

The couple made hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield blush earlier this year after admitting that their first night of passion, which included an 'entire tube of KY jelly', left Iris 'saddle sore'.

Iris first struck up a conversation with Cairo native Mohamed in summer 2019 on a Facebook group exploring atheism.

He initially declared love for her through social media and then said his feelings were confirmed when he saw Iris for the first time at Cairo airport that November.

Speaking to MailOnline earlier this year, he recalled: 'I was very nervous but the moment I laid eyes on her I knew that it was true love. I'm a very lucky man to have found a woman like this.'

Mohamed worked as welding inspector but gave up his job to spend time with Iris when she came to Cairo.

Iris left This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield in hysterics after she appeared on the programme in January 2020 to discuss her sex life

He lives in a three-room house with his parents plus two sisters and a brother who are all younger than him, but vehemently denied he was with Iris for her money or a passport to Britain.

Iris, a former cleaner, lives in a 220,000 bungalow and gets by on a 200-a-week pension and disability benefit.

Mohamed said: 'I don't care where we live or how rich or poor she is, I just want to be with Iris. At the end of the day, which country she wants to make her home is her choice; it can be either Britain or Egypt.

'People think I am with her for all the wrong reasons. I know Britain is a beautiful country and a lot of people want to go there but I'm not bothered. I'm prepared to live with her anywhere in the world.'

Mohamed revealed that during her visit to Egypt he took Iris home for dinner, where she spent time with his mother.

'My mother really liked Iris and they got on well even though there was a language problem. But my mother said to me that if I'm happy, then she's happy. That's all any mother wants; for her son to be with a woman he really loves.'
A Washington State report put it bluntly: Because of the devastating effects of climate change and deteriorating habitats, several species of salmon in the Pacific Northwest are on the brink of extinction.

Of the 14 species of salmon and steelhead trout in Washington State that have been deemed endangered and are protected under the Endangered Species Act, 10 are lagging recovery goals and five of those are considered in crisis, according to the 2020 State of Salmon in Watersheds report, which was released last week.

Time is running out, said the report, which is produced every other year by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office. The climate is changing, rivers are warming, habitat is diminishing, and the natural systems that support salmon in the Pacific Northwest need help now more than ever.

Researchers say recovery efforts  involving state and federal agencies, Native American tribes, local conservation groups and others  have helped slow the decline of some salmon populations. The report found that two species  the Hood Canal summer chum and Snake River fall chinook  were approaching their recovery goals. It also noted that no new salmon species had been added to the endangered list since 2007.
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

China will donate 500,000 doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to Pakistan, the country's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Thursday.

It comes as the number of coronavirus cases surged to 527,146 in Pakistan, with over 11,000 deaths since the virus was first detected in February last year.

"Pakistan greatly appreciates the 500,000 doses of the vaccine gifted by China," foreign minister Qureshi tweeted.

The news follows similar announcements from other nations in the regionthe Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar have all announced they were set to receive vaccine donations from Beijing.

Qureshi had earlier told reporters: "China has assured us that the first shipment of half a million doses will be free of cost and will arrive by end of January".

Beijing also promised to send another one million doses by end of February, he said, adding that emergency use and authorisation of the SinoPharm vaccine had been approved in Pakistan.

For years, China has focused much of its attention in Pakistan on mammoth development projects, bankrolling the construction of roads, power plants and a strategic port.

Beijing has also recently tapped Islamabadone of its closest alliesto participate in the vaccine trials, despite the country's chequered history with inoculation campaigns.

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

 2021 AFP
The past work Casstevens referred to includes nearly eight years as chief of the Buffalo Grove Police Department. He was also with the Hoffman Estates Police Department for 30 years, leaving there as deputy chief. He then worked for two and a half years as chief in Cary, before moving to Buffalo Grove. He is also a past president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.
The Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto District (LDATD) contracts Toronto PR firm for public relations and social media services. Toronto, ON, June 16, 2011 -- The Learning Disabilities Association of Toronto District (LDATD) will be seeing many changes over the next few months. With the help of Gabriel Press and Relationships (Gabriel PR), a boutique PR & Communications firm, the LDATD has begun to incorporate social media and media relations into 
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WASHINGTON, DC  Environmental groups who are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over regulations that govern lead contamination in public drinking water say a long-awaited revision finalized in the waning days of the Trump administration offers utilities too much time to dig up and replace lead service lines in their distribution system.

A lawsuit was filed last week in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals by Earthjustice and joined by the NAACP, United Parents Against Lead, Newburgh Clean Water Project and Sierra Club. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a separate but related lawsuit.

The groups are pushing the new Biden administration to alter course and take steps to adjust the new rules implementation that they say would better protect peoples health.

The focus of their concern is the three decades in which utilities get to replace lead pipes, an expensive task that is backlogged in cities across Michigan and elsewhere.

The rule is among numerous Trump EPA actions put on a freeze by the new administration.

Basically, the EPA included a few minor tweaks on how monitoring is done and how you count whether a lead service line has been replaced, but it didnt fix the fundamental problem, which is that these lead service lines are going to remain in the ground for decades in most cases, said Erik Olson, a senior director on health and food issues at NRDC.

The EPA issued its Lead and Copper Rule revision in December and held a press conference that included Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley. The revision, in the works for years, was the first major change since the original rule was enacted in 1991. The rule was roundly criticized as being too lenient after the Flint crisis and prompted Michigan to tighten its own rules.

The EPA did not alter the nationwide action level for lead in public water, which is 15-parts-per-billion (ppb), but it did create a 10-pbb trigger level at which utilities must optimize or add corrosion control. The revision also modified tap sampling procedures and the criteria for selecting homes to test, as well as requiring 24-hour rather than 30-day customer notification of an elevated test result. It also requires some routine testing at elementary schools and daycares.

The bulk of the revision focused on lead service lines, which are leaded pipes in many cities that connect water mains to individual buildings. The rule requires utilities update their lead service line inventories and find and fix lead sources in homes with water above 15-ppb. But the EPA extended the time in which water systems have to eventually find and replace those lead lines; which, in the case of Flint, leached lead into drinking water across the city because plant operators failed to properly treat raw river water with corrosion control.

Critics of the revision say the extra time for replacing lead lines extends the risk of lead-tainted drinking water to another generation of people. Democrats like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer criticized a draft version of the rule last year. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, said the revision would do nothing to stop the next Flint water crisis from happening in other communities across the country when it was announced.

In Michigan, the lead rule is already stricter than the EPA revision. In 2018, under former Gov. Rick Snyder, the state dropped the action level to 12-ppb starting in 2025 and required utilities to remove all lead lines and galvanized steel lines that connect to lead lines.

Michigans rule requires lead line be replaced within 20 years and inventories be finished by 2025. There are an estimated 500,000 such lines in water systems across the state.

Water utilities led by the Great Lakes Water Authority in Detroit pushed back against the changes as being too expensive to manage, but lost in court in 2019.

NRDC argues that EPA should have adopted an at-the-tap standard used for most other regulated contaminants in drinking water called a maximum contaminant level, or MCL, rather than continue the complex lead rule, which bases response actions on test results from a percentage of pre-determined homes within a water system service area.

The new requirement that utilities test schools and daycare centers sounds good in theory, Olson said, but testing is only required at a small number of faucets every five years.

A school might have 20 or 30 different fountains, Olson said. Just testing five locations in a school over a five-year period is very likely to miss problems and mislead staff and parents into thinking theres not a problem, when, in many cases, there will be a problem thats going undetected.

Olson said filter first legislation, which was introduced in the Michigan Legislature in 2019 but died at the end of last session, would simply require filters on school drinking fountains. He said that would be less expensive than regular testing and more effective at curbing exposure.

Were hoping that kind of legislation will pass in Michigan and wed like to see that be a national model, he said.

Related stories:

EPA says it will regulate PFAS on Trumps last day

EPA lead rule revision will require testing at schools

Map shows where Flint lead lines remain

Court upholds Flint-inspired lead water rule

Judge approves $641M Flint water settlement

Grand jury helped beat legal deadline in Flint water case

Snyder lawyers push for venue change in Flint case

Ann Arbor may spend $14M replacing home water lines

Saginaw notifying residents who might have lead lines

Grand Rapids has 24K lead water service lines to replace

13 Michigan water systems flunk test for excessive lead

Owosso notifies water customers of elevated lead levels

Flint finishes water testing, results far below federal threshold
Herreid Legion to remember 400 Campbell County area veterans Monday

The Herreid American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion work together to recognize veterans on Memorial Day.

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BOSTON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Workforce development pioneer Penn Foster today announced a significant new investment from BayPine and Two Sigma Impact to accelerate the build-out of its digital learning platform focused on preparing frontline workers to thrive within high-growth, high-skill jobs. The two investment businesses will partner with Penn Foster to bring new capabilities in data science and advanced technology to help the company continue to offer practical, affordable solutions to its students.

"Skill gaps and economic mobility are, in many ways, two sides of the same coin," said Frank Britt, Chief Executive Officer of Penn Foster. "This investment reflects our belief that the combination of advanced labor market analytics with low-cost digital training can help individuals make better-informed decisions about their educational investments. It's about enabling employers to close skill gaps by identifying and creating career paths for historically untapped talent."

A digital learning platform that works in partnership with employers, public workforce agencies, and community-based organizations, Penn Foster delivers skill-based training for more than 300,000 working learners each year. In addition to offering accredited programs and certificates in fields ranging from healthcare to skilled trades, Penn Foster partners with major employers, including Lowe's and Walmart, to provide high school diploma and career training courses that are often on-ramps to higher wage roles.

"Two Sigma Impact believes that by focusing on creating a better workforce, we can create long term value and better business outcomes," said Ian Blasco, Partner at Two Sigma Impact. "We are excited to work with Penn Foster to apply advanced data science techniques to the development of dynamic, skills-based training that is tightly coupled with the demands of the labor market."

"For decades, Penn Foster has been at the forefront of delivering flexible, affordable, and job-relevant development programs that have redefined the intersection of education and work," said Anjan Mukherjee, Managing Partner at BayPine. "The implementation of digital transformation initiatives to unlock human potential is core to our thesis, and we look forward to working closely with management to develop a modern, agile platform at Penn Foster that leverages the power of data to drive better outcomes for working learners."

In "Unstuck in the Middle," a white paper released by Penn Foster last year, the company made the case that recognizing skill attainment along a spectrum could unlock economic mobility for workers employed in jobs that require more than a high school diploma but not a four year degree. According to the National Skills Coalition, while middle-skill jobs make up the largest portion of the US labor market, just 44% of workers are currently trained to the middle-skill level. A recent study published by the nonprofit, [email protected], suggests that the estimated 71 million Americans who lack four-year degrees, but are "Skilled Through Alternative Routes" (STARs), represent an untapped pool of talent for US employers.

"The critical need for different ways to approach training and education for workers has become more prominent in the past few years, and the pressure on our economy created by the pandemic has only emphasized that the time has come for a workforce transformation," said Ann Ruble, Operating Partner at Two Sigma Impact. "New data-driven approaches to learning will help expand access to training in high-demand fields for both workers and employers at a time when it is needed most."

This investment represents the next phase of Penn Foster's growth following a successful partnership with Bain Capital Double Impact, the impact investing unit of Bain Capital. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Macquarie Capital served as financial advisor and William Blair & Company as co-advisor to Penn Foster. Everberg Capital also participated in the transaction. Jamieson provided transaction management advice.

About Penn Foster

Penn Foster is bridging the gap between education and economic opportunity to build tomorrow's workforce. We partner with employers, education and workforce organizations, and local community groups to design and deliver digital and blended learning programs that attract, upskill, and retain workers in America's fastest-growing fields and professions. With more than 40,000 graduates each year, Penn Foster helps individuals discover pathways to opportunity through accredited diploma, certificate and degree programs that matter in the world of work. For more information, visit https://www.pennfoster.edu.

About BayPine

BayPine is a private investment firm that seeks to create lasting value for the firm's investors, portfolio companies and communities in which they operate by driving innovation, digital transformation and sustainable growth in market-leading businesses across traditional sectors of the economy. Headquartered in Boston, BayPine was founded by a team of accomplished investors and senior executives who have a shared passion for building enduring companies. For more information about BayPine, please visit www.baypine.com.

About Two Sigma Impact

Two Sigma Impact is a business of Two Sigma. Its mission is to combine active, principled ownership and data science with the goal of achieving superior returns and positive social outcomes. The Two Sigma Impact team is focused on workforce impact  where they anticipate innovative and thoughtful investments in humans will lead to an enhanced employee experience, productivity, and long-term financial returns. As part of Two Sigma, Two Sigma Impact has access to expertise in data science, technology, and a range of corporate specialties, and seeks to support its portfolio companies with those resources.

SOURCE Penn Foster
For the first time this year, new COVID-19 cases in San Antonio have fallen to fewer than 1,000.

Officials reported 850 new cases on Wednesday  a precipitous decline from the 2,395 cases recorded on Tuesday. Cases began spiking in November and have risen to record highs in recent days, a surge still apparent in the regions seven-day average of 1,966 cases.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg warned at the daily briefing that it was far too early to consider the sudden decline in cases a definite trend.

There may be some labs that didnt report today, Nirenberg said. The more important number is the seven-day rolling average.

Rita Espinoza, chief of epidemiology for the citys Metropolitan Health District, echoed the mayors note of caution.

It is just one point, so we really cant say its a trend, she said.

The number of patients hospitalized also fell, albeit more modestly, from 1,507 to 1,466. Of those, 452 were in intensive care and 247 were on ventilators.

Overall, there were 174 new admissions to hospitals  a figure that Nirenberg called troubling and very high.

The relentless pandemic continued to exact a grim toll in Bexar County, killing 18 more residents over the last two weeks.

The victims included a man in his 40s; a man in his 50s; a woman in her 70s; and a man in his 80s.

Also reported dead: a Hispanic man in his 80s; a Hispanic woman in her 70s; two Hispanic men in their 50s; a white woman in her 80s; two Hispanic women in their 60s; two white men in their 80s; a white woman in her 90s; a Hispanic woman in her 90s; and a white man in his 90s.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff warned that the vast majority of San Antonians  about 92 percent  who knew where they were infected by the deadly coronavirus said they came into contact with an infected person in their home.

So its the larger gatherings where people get together and let their guard down, Wolff said.

Wolff, who received his second dose of vaccine on Wednesday, said University Health will soon expand its capacity to administer vaccines, which remain scarce across the country.

By Feb. 8, the public hospital system will have the capacity to administer 5,000 doses a day at the Wonderland of the Americas mall near Loop 410 and Interstate 10 on the North Side.

University Health is currently administering about 1,500 doses a day there.

Thats a significant increase, Wolff said. But of course we need the vaccine to do it.

Providers typically learn the size of their weekly shipments one day before receiving them, Wolff said.

Here we are Wednesday night, and we dont know what were going to get next week, he said. We will be ready February 8 to do 5,000 every day  if we get it.

On the day of President Joe Bidens inauguration, Nirenberg said he was hopeful that the change in administration would presage the manufacturing of more vaccine, as well as direct allocations to local communities that bypass the state.

Were not alone. Every city in the country wants more vaccine, Nirenberg said.

The mayor added, I would just say that it is refreshing that at this point, we do have at least the words that are being said is that getting this pandemic under control is going to be this administrations number one priority. We have not heard that before, and so hopefully theyll put their money where their mouth is.
WEST SPRINGFIELD  Businesses will need help bouncing back when the coronavirus pandemic subsides, but the Town Council is split on whether funding a new government office would help.

At their meeting Tuesday, councilors could not reach a consensus on whether to back a proposal by Council President Brian Griffin and Mayor William Reichelt to hire a temporary economic recovery administrator with a $35,000 salary for the five months remaining in the current fiscal year.

Oftentimes a business just doesnt know where to turn, said Griffin. Having a direct individual for our business community to go to for this technical advisory assistance will go a long way toward us recovering. Its going to take years for us to recover. This is one of the best hires we could have in this time.

He said part of the new job would be seeking state and federal grants, and helping businesses apply for grants. He predicted the position would pay itself 10-fold or 15-fold by attracting grants.

Councilor Daniel OBrien said merchants need their government to cut its own red tape, ease COVID-19 restrictions and spend less, not hire more employees at taxpayers expense.

What if we gave the businesses a tax break, wouldnt that help them? he asked. Why dont we let the businesses open, and stop putting restrictions on them that are killing them.

He questioned whether the temporary hire would turn into a permanent fixture, and why the towns existing employees are not capable of doing what this temporary position will do. Reichelt said town departments are geared to handle business permits and regulations, not to advocate for private businesses or find grants.

Regardless of whether the idea is sound, the proposal needs more specifics, said councilors Anthony DiStefano and Michael Eger. DiStefano said he would need to see a detailed job description before he could support the proposal. Eger said his support would depend on what sort of person the mayor hoped to hire.

If we vote for the money and we get someone with a government mindset, from a government groupthink, were just going to watch that salary go down the tubes, Eger said. If we hire somebody with a more out-of-the-box, industry type of thinking, it could be amazing. But I have more questions about who would be amazing (that can be hired) for $35,000, knowing that the jobs going to be temporary. Ive seen a lot of people come into government as community or business development people, and I havent seen the dividends on their salary.

In addition to Griffin, councilors Nathan Bech, Brian Clune, George Kelly, Sean Powers and Edward Sullivan said theyd support the hire.

Businesses are getting killed, said Clune. If you have one point person whos dealing with their concerns every day, its a no-brainer.

The funds would come from the reserve fund, an account set aside every year for emergencies. Sharon Wilcox, the towns chief financial officer, said the account has not been tapped since the fiscal year began in July, and has $239,000 available.

The proposed position would expire at the end of June. Bech said the council could discuss whether to renew it as part of its review of the mayors budget proposal. By then, the economic development director could be judged on his or her performance over several weeks.

Councilors agreed to ask the mayor for more specifics and delay taking a vote until Feb. 1.
When it comes to great creative partnerships, theres perhaps no better example than Josef and Anni Albers, two artists who met in Germany in 1922 at the Bauhaus school. Later, the couple immigrated to the United States to teach at North Carolinas Black Mountain College and they ultimately ended up in New Haven, Conn., where Josef was chairman of the design department at Yale University. The two were teachers, colleagues and friends of a number of prominent 20th-century artists, including Ruth Asawa, Buckminster Fuller, Ray Johnson and Robert Rauschenberg. Now, a new monograph, published by Phaidon and written by Nicholas Fox Weber, who runs the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation, and who met the couple in 1971, when he was 23, captures in masterful detail the many sides of the Alberses, including their rigor as artists (Josef as painter and designer; Anni as textile artist and printmaker), their deep commitment to pedagogy and the way in which their work was both connected to and still fiercely independent of each others. The book weaves artworks throughout biographies of both artists and features portraits of the people who surrounded them (the architect Philip Johnson, the painter Jacob Lawrence), as well as lively anecdotes about the couples working relationship. When Josef designed a fruit bowl in 1924 with ebony bearing balls, a glass disk and a chromed rim, Anni commented: Oh, but think of what happens with blueberries. (The bowl was more suited to larger fruit, such as apples, oranges or bananas.) And, for those of us unable to afford an artwork by either Albers, the book also serves as a beautiful object. Anni & Josef Albers: Equal and Unequal, $150, phaidon.com.

try This

Osma, the Portable Coffee Maker
Trump also hinted about a comeback despite a legacy of chaos, tumult and bitter divisions in the country he led for four years

President Donald Trump has lost the support of many of his former loyalists in his administration after a riot at the US Capitol, two weeks before Democrat Joe Biden moved into the White House.

He will be forever remembered for inciting an insurrection at the Capitol that left five dead, including a Capitol Police officer.

'Just move on': Republicans grapple with post-Trump future

In his final weeks in office, Trump was accused of promoting false claims of widespread voter fraud, stood accused of inciting a mob of supporters to rampage through the Capitol and became the first president ever to be impeached twice.

An exodus of senior officials including Cabinet members shaken by the Capitol attack left him increasingly isolated in his final days at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He retreated from governing after the election even as the pandemic intensified.

Over the last four years, the GOP's values were inexorably tied to the whims of a president who undermined democratic institutions and traded the party's longstanding commitment to fiscal discipline, strong foreign policy and the rule of law for a brash and inconsistent populism.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, one of the few Republican elected officials who regularly condemned Trumpism, evoked President Ronald Reagan in calling this moment a time for choosing.

"We have to decide if we're going to continue heading down the direction of Donald Trump or if we're going to return to our roots," Hogan, a potential 2024 White House contender, said in an interview.

"The party would be much better off if they were to purge themselves of Donald Trump," he added, "But I don't think there's any hope of him completely going away."

Whether the party moves on may come down to what Republicans like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz do next.

Cruz acknowledged Bidens victory on Wednesday, but he refused to describe it as legitimate when pressed. "He won the election. He is the president. I just came from his inauguration," Cruz said of Biden in an interview.

Looking forward, Cruz said Trump would remain a significant part of the political conversation, but that the Republican Party should move away from divisive language and tone and rhetoric that alienated suburban voters, particularly women, in recent elections.

"President Trump surely will continue to make his views known, and they'll continue to have a real impact, but I think the country going forward wants policies that work, and I think as a party, we need to do a better job winning hearts and minds," said Cruz, who is also eyeing a White House run.

Trump 'provoked' Capitol siege, says Mitch McConnell

The Senates top Republican, Mitch McConnell, said on the eve of the inauguration that the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Capitol was provoked by Trump.

"The mob was fed lies," McConnell said. "They were provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the federal government which they did not like."

The Republican leader vowed a "safe and successful" inauguration of Biden on Wednesday at the Capitol.

Sour relations between Trump and Mike Pence

Even Mike Pence, Trumps vice president and long considered his most devoted cheerleader, skipped Trump's departure ceremony to attend Biden's inauguration.

Trump lambasted Pence for not finding a way to prevent Congress from certifying the election results, a power the vice president does not have. He also did not reach out to Pence to check on his safety during the riot at Congress, when Pence was evacuated along with lawmakers.

The two men are now not speaking, a striking end to their four years at the White House, where Pence had been a loyal lieutenant through multiple crises.

Lindsey Graham blames Trump for Capitol siege

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham was also critical of Trump in the aftermath of the riots at the US Capitol. "When it comes to accountability, the president needs to understand that his actions were the problem, not the solution," Graham said during a news conference, adding that the president's legacy has been "tarnished."

A prominent ally to Trump, the South Carolina senator on 8 January said that "enough is enough" after rioters breached the Capitol building and forced Congress to evacuate.

Graham slammed Trump's legal team for pushing false claims about the election after President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner.

Proud Boys now turn on 'extraordinarily weak' Trump

After the presidential election last year, the Proud Boys, a Far Right group, declared its undying loyalty to President Donald Trump.

In an 8 November post in a private channel of the messaging app Telegram, the group urged its followers to attend protests against an election that it said had been fraudulently stolen from Trump. "Hail Emperor Trump," the Proud Boys wrote.

But by this week, the groups attitude toward Trump had changed. "Trump will go down as a total failure," the Proud Boys said in the same Telegram channel Monday.

As Trump departed the White House on Wednesday, the Proud Boys, once among his staunchest supporters, have also started leaving his side. In dozens of conversations on social media sites like Gab and Telegram, members of the group have begun calling Trump a shill and extraordinarily weak, according to messages reviewed by The New York Times. They have also urged supporters to stop attending rallies and protests held for Trump or the Republican Party.

The comments are a startling turn for the Proud Boys, which for years backed Trump and promoted political violence. Led by Enrique Tarrio, many of its thousands of members were such die-hard fans of Trump that they offered to serve as his private militia and celebrated after he told them in a presidential debate last year to stand back and stand by. On 6 January, some Proud Boys members stormed the US Capitol.

But since then, discontent with Trump, who later condemned the violence, has boiled over. On social media, Proud Boys participants have complained about his willingness to leave office and said his disavowal of the Capitol rampage was an act of betrayal. And Trump, cut off on Facebook and Twitter, has been unable to talk directly to them to soothe their concerns or issue new rallying cries.

'Too innocent and gay to deserve a pardon from Trump': Joe Exotic

One name missing from Trump's flurry of pardons Wednesday was "Tiger King" Joe Exotic.

Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in federal prison for violating federal wildlife laws and for his role in a failed murder-for-hire plot targeting his chief rival, Carole Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida. Baskin was not harmed.

Clearly frustrated by the decision, he slammed the former president and his family on Instagram following the Inauguration Day ceremonies.

"I was too innocent and too GAY to deserve a Pardon from Trump," he wrote in a caption of a photo posted to Instagram that showed him next to a tiger. "I only mattered to Don Jr. when he needed to make a comment about me to boost his social media post."

He added: "Boy were we all stupid to believe he actually stood for Equal Justice? His corrupt friends all come first."

With inputs from agencies
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
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Its going to be a challenging time period for Republicans now that the U.S. presidency and Senate are under Democratic control, but Rep. August Pfluger, TX-11, said GOP House members will continue working to pass conservative legislation.

One upcoming item Pfluger is co-sponsoring is the Save Democracy Act, which has the support of the Republican Study Committee. Some components of the bill include requiring social security numbers when registering to vote and requiring voters to produce a matching SSN when they vote, as well as provide a valid I.D. for both absentee and in-person voting.

The bill would also eliminate public collection boxes for mail-in votes and prohibit states from sending unrequested absentee ballots for federal elections. The goal of the bill is to restore faith in the voting process by eliminating the potential for fraudulent votes, while still allowing states to oversee elections, Pfluger said.

Every person has the right to have one vote, but only one vote, the San Angelo Republican said.

The Save Democracy Act is unlikely to garner support from Democratic lawmakers, who have maintained there was no widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Pfluger said issues of election integrity should not be a partisan fight.

Everyone should care about it (election security), he said. And for the incoming president, if they fight against it, then I question their motives.

Pfluger is also going against President Bidens administration with the Saving Americas Energy Future Act, which he filed as his first legislation shortly after being sworn into Congress earlier this month. That bill would curtail the administrations plans to ban issuing new permits for drilling on federal lands.

Biden has made it clear climate change will be a focus of his presidency, and on his first day in office, he signed sweeping executive orders rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and blocking the Keystone XL pipeline.

Pfluger said these actions made it clear Biden and other Democrats are unwilling to compromise on matters related to oil and gas, even as some Democratic lawmakers represent states and districts in Americas energy centers.

Additionally, Pfluger said GOP House members will push to review and possibly overturn Section 230, which allows sites such as Facebook and Twitter to remove posts they deem offensive in good faith.

Im very, very worried about what is happening with the censoring of conservative speech, he said. Big Tech is assaulting people who dont ascribe to the train of thought of a liberal media outlet.

With a Democratic president and Democratic-led House and Senate, Republicans may face an uphill battle opposing progressive legislation and bringing conservative items to the table.

Were entering a challenging time where conservative thought processes and ideas and what has made our economy so strong is under full attack, Pfluger said. Were studying each issue as hard as we can and working as hard as we can to introduce meaningful legislation  to where  when we get the majority back  well have a chance to put forward these ideas that preserve what has made our district so successful.
The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
When the state's efforts to rebuild Louisiana's coastline impact a leased oyster bottom, a 14-year-old program guides how payments or buyouts are negotiated by the oysterman and state officials.

Alerted to concerns about the program last year, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority began soliciting ideas for tweaks to streamline the process.

After presenting its final 11 recommendations to CPRA's board Wednesday, Bren Haase, the agency's executive director, and board chairman Chip Kline said they believed they had reached a "good middle ground," with plans to increase efficiency while benefiting the oyster fishery.

"The people of Louisiana love oysters and want more oysters, but they also need and demand the protection that CPRA is providing by restoring land and marsh that eroded into open-water areas, including many areas occupied today by the oyster leases were talking about," Kline said. "Our goal is to have more oysters and more protection, and working with the oyster industry, we can have more of both.

State officials hope to save tens of thousands of dollars per buyout and speed the process along with some of the measures proposed. For example, taxpayers may be able to avoid spending money on the biological assessment of a lease or the cost of hiring a professional appraiser to assess an area's value, measures typically required before compensation can be offered.

Even so, the process reignited some of the mistrust felt by some members of the oyster industry toward the CPRA after members of the Oyster Task Force  an advisory body to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries  groused that they hadn't been fully included in the document's development.

Task force chairman Mitch Jurisich Jr. pointed to the lack of inclusion of an oyster industry representative in the program study group. That study group drafted the recommendations based on public feedback solicited last fall.

Jurisich also noted that much of the state's outreach during the process was held virtually because of the pandemic, limiting the ability of many fishers to participate.

"Fishermen don't have a computer, most of them," said Jurisich. "It kind of left us in the dark."

Attorney Larry Marino, who served on the study group, said CPRA officials "directly and repeatedly solicited views from the Oyster Task Force before and after issuing the recommendations," including a September presentation at a task force meeting. He said the lone response the group received was a letter from the task force asking to review public feedback alongside the state.

But Jurisich, referring to past conversations with the state, said: "Weve made recommendations, we talk, and it seems like our comments get heard but theyre never taken."

As it stands, the state coastal agency will seek to implement seven of the recommendations for changing the Oyster Lease Acquisition and Compensation Program, including one that would allow leaseholders to waive their right to a buyout for leases impacted by a restoration project. In exchange, the lessee would be allowed to keep leases in the hopes that productivity might return.

Another proposed change would set the market value of leases incapable of oyster production to zero, which would save the state from compensating oystermen for those leases. Some oyster fishers prefer to take the risk of purchasing or maintaining cheap, unproductive leases, anticipating that coastal changes could lead to better oyster habitat and transform the area into gold mines for raising bivalves.

Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Other recommendations that would require regulatory changes include:

 Giving leaseholders the option to accept a fixed payment of $100 per acre for nonproductive leases, with a minimum payment of $1,000 if they waive the assessment that typically precedes compensation.

 Allowing the CPRA and a leaseholder to settle without conducting a biological assessment.

 Allowing the CPRA and a leaseholder to settle without conducting an appraisal in cases where the valuation would likely fall between $10,000 and $25,000.

 Shorten the notice period for compensation to six months from one year.

 Expressly state that the program will only compensate lessees for marketable oysters on their leases.

As the process moves forward, the state will have to seek more public input before implementing changes.

Internally, the CPRA will work harder to avoid oyster leases in the planning of restoration projects; streamline biological assessments when scientists deem it appropriate; reduce the number of samples taken from leases; and look into studying smaller impact areas around restoration projects.

St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis and Plaquemines Parish businessman Bill Bubrig, who sit on the CPRA board, both stated they would support the recommendations, but emphasized the need to continue talks with the oyster industry.

Bubrig said he's often "beat up" by the Plaquemines community over state decisions.

"We still have a big disconnect between the oyster industry and the CPRA, at best," he said. "Maybe at its worst, a severe distrust between the oyster industry and CPRA."

Kline said he is committed to viewing the recommendation list as a "living document" and addressing ongoing stakeholder concerns with "productive dialogue," but also passionately called on the task force to collaborate with the coastal agency.

"We have attempted and we will continue to attempt to engage the oyster industry; we have repeatedly, time and time again tried to meet them halfway," said Kline. The industry can't refuse to engage with CPRA due to distrust, he added: "That's a copout."

Dr. Anthony Fauci is officially back in the fold and will attend the White House press briefing on Thursday after being told by President Joe Biden that America will rejoin the World Health Organization as part of his plan to fight COVID once and for all.

Fauci told WHO officials at a virtual meeting at 4.10am on Thursday that he had been told by the new administration the US was going to continue with its financial commitments.

The US is by far the WHO's largest donor. It gives $237million a year in fees and pledged an additional $635million for special projects between 2018 and 2019.

Trump announced in April that he was ending the contributions. He blamed the WHO for not warning the world about COVID when it was running rampant in China. The US was meant to officially withdraw in July.

Biden, in one of his first acts as President last night, wrote to the UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres to tell him that he was stopping the withdrawal.

Fauci, after informing his peers on the virtual call in the early hours, appeared on Good Morning America. He called it 'refreshing' and said he was due to speak with him later.

Scroll down for video

Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday called the US's commitment to stay in the WHO 'refreshing' as he gushed over Joe Biden and his plan to beat COVID

President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Wednesday, signing some of his first executive orders

"When you're dealing with a global pandemic, you have to have an international connectivity."



Dr. Anthony Fauci says it is "refreshing" to for the U.S. to renew its support for the World Health Organization. https://t.co/i9rZzYvW4s pic.twitter.com/v8JzZpzT6I  Good Morning America (@GMA) January 21, 2021

Biden sent this letter to the UN Secretary General last night stating that the US would not be withdrawing from the WHO, as Trump has planned

'When you're dealing with a global pandemic, you have to have an international connectivity.

'For us to not be in the WHO is very disconcerting. The official announcement that were re-joining and re-upping our financial commitment, it was really a very good day.

'The response Im getting from my colleagues all over the world is very refreshing,' he said.

Global health officials embraced the news that the US is rejoining the WHO on Thursday.

Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke wrote on Facebook: 'This is going to have a huge impact on the worlds ability to fight the pandemic.

This is going to have a huge impact on the worlds ability to fight the pandemic. Danish Health Minister Magnus Heunicke

'It is decisive that the United States is involved as a driving force and not a country that is looking for the exit when a global catastrophe rages.

'This is a good day for WHO and a good day for global health. The role of the United States, its role, global role is very, very crucial.

'Welcome back to the WHO to the US. Now let's get to work.'

John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called it 'great news' in an email.

'The world has always been a better place when the U.S. plays a leadership role in solving global health problems including the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, polio and other diseases,' he said.

Fauci also said Biden will issue a directive Thursday that shows America's intent to join the COVAX Facility, a project to deploy COVID-19 vaccines to people in need around the world - whether in rich or poor countries.

Fauci was unceremoniously removed from Trump's White House briefings in the early days of the pandemic after making conflicting remarks about the administration's handling of the crisis.

After winning the election, Biden asked Fauci to stay on and become his administration's chief medical adviser - a role he accepted.

Fauci will join White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki in the briefing room later on Thursday.

The US is by far the largest contributor to the WHO. It accounts for more than 20% of its donations

The US has only vaccinated 5.2% of its population whereas Israel has vaccinated 32% of its population

He also said that Biden's plan to vaccinate 100million Americans within his first 100 days in office was not only plausible, but that the US might surpass it if distribution is handled correctly.

'Were going to be there reasonably soon. The President has made this his top priority.

'Im going to meet with him later today to brief him and discuss vaccines.

Trump decided in April to withdraw the US from the WHO because it failed to warn the world about COVID-19

'His goal is to get 100milion people vaccinated within the first 100 days  I feel fairly confident that its going to be not only that, maybe even better,' he said.

Fauci said the contracts the US has with the vaccine manufacturers make it a reality but that distribution was slowing the vaccine program down.

'First of all, if you look at the contractual arrangements weve made, well be able to meet that goal  the important thing is the distribution. To do it in an effective, efficient way- get it into the arms of people.

'Thats something hes going to do by a number of new initiatives.

'Community vaccination centers to get it into pharmacies, to use the defense production act wherever he needs it, if that means syringes and needles as well as the vaccine itselfhes going to do everything he needs to do,' he said.

The US has been woefully slow in rolling the vaccine out. Israel has already vaccinated 20 percent of its population - 10 times what the US has done.

Until now, the plan has been to hand the vaccines out to each state in doses which correlate to their populations. It is then down to the states to distribute them locally.

The US is still in the grips of the pandemic with the number of daily deaths at its highest

It's unclear if that will continue or if Biden will shake up the distribution strategy. Many states and cities, like New York, are now running out of vaccine doses.

To date, Pfizer and Moderna are the only vaccines that have been approved in the US.

The UK has approved AstraZeneca's vaccine and it is easier to store and administer.

On Thursday, Fauci said the American company Johnson & Johnson was within 'a week or two' of being approved.

'I dont want to get ahead of the FDA  Johnson and Johnson are I a week or two of getting data analysed. The preliminary data looks good. We can look forward to having more companies supplying vaccines,' he said.

Biden has also reversed Trump's withdrawal from the Paris accord, a multi-nation agreement to combat climate change.

Both indicate his plan to reintegrate the US into the world of global politics and collaborations.

Trump's entire campaign and presidency sought the opposite - he wanted to insulate the country and focus on its independent success before any form of foreign policy.

The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

January 20, 2021

Sara Walter

USAID Mission Director

Did the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Liberian government misuse US $535M and subsequently failed to build public high schools in Monrovia, for example? The 2008-2011 Montserrado County Development Agenda reported that the Liberian government should have constructed a high school in West Point, a technical high school in Congo town, for people with disabilities, etc., as per page # 59 of the report. However, besides the high schools built in Monrovia prior to April 12, 1980s Coup, past and current administrations have not built the Tubman-High type-high schools in Monrovia.

If USAID and nongovernmental agencies cannot account for the US $535M, is the United States of America ready to help Liberia fight the war on corruption? This article does not focus on former President Sirleaf administration or President George Weah administration even though each administration, somehow, participated in selecting agencies that should account for the US $535M. This is because, as per Government Audit Reports, our officials are corrupt and are constantly awarding sweetheart deals to contractors and investors. Moreover, USAID had a significant influence over the allocation of the US $535M and selection of NGOs because US taxpayers contributed a significant portion of the money for education, according to 2012/13 through 2018/19 Liberian Citizens Budgets. US tax dollars of $975M, excluding World Banks money, was part of the US 5B appropriated for Liberia in seven years (2012/13-2018/19).

Let us review the three schedules (I, II, III) to trace the source of the US $535MB, which was included within the US $5B donors appropriated for different projects in Liberia. Row 1 of the 1st Schedule shows that the Liberian government itself generated ($4B) within seven years, while donors appropriated ($5B) during the same period. Schedule II shows that America donated US $927M to Liberia through USAID during the same period. Schedule III shows that US $535M was allocated for education, $1.1B for Energy and environment, $994M for Infrastructure, etc. Again, USAID and Liberian officials selected the NGOs.

SCHEDULE I NAMES 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 Total GOVERNMNET 515 583 622 635 563 600 570 4,088 DONORS/LENDERS 672 649 833 899 653 718 584 5,008 SCHEDULE II NAMES 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 Total UDSAID 170 127 93 186 128 142 129 975 IDA/WORLD BANK 166 98 108 125 147 124 159 927 AFRICAN BANK 48 25 86 74 77 95 102 507 SCHEDULE III NAMES 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 Total EDUCATION 61 64 88 84 86 76 76 535 AGRICULTURE 85 89 82 129 70 71 86 612 ENERGY/ENVIR. 103 187 139 184 223 159 132 1127 HEALTH 61 64 64 88 87 37 31 432 INFRASTRUCTURE 80 101 134 150 173 194 162 994 PUBLIC ADMINI. 22 37 45 108 81 56 65 414

Did USAID promote corruption in contracting the US $927M? Mr. Frank P. Catanoso, the author of the book called No More Boss Man, stated that USAID promotes corruption. In his fictional narrative of the April 12, 1980 Coup, he accused USAID, which had about twice as many employees as the United States Embassy in Monrovia, to have allowed government officials to siphon US millions of tax dollars onto private benefits. Sadly, even after the military regime killed thirteen former government officials for corruption, USAID allowed the military leaders to use donors money for personal benefits. For example, the US $21M awarded to Mrs. Nancy Doe, widow to former President Doe, should be part of the US tax dollars that President Samuel K. Doe deposited into his bank accounts.

Predictably, if USAID did not fight corruption in the 70s and 80s because of the cold war, why is it encouraging corruption since its parent (America) won the cold war? In 2006, after the cold war, USAID allowed officials of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to siphon US tax dollars for personal benefits. For example, commenting on INGOs' involvement in corruption, the former Minister of Public Works, Mr. Guyde Moore stated at the July 2015 Liberian Legislative Hearing that USAID and INGOs did not account for US $600M. Re-echoing the comment of the former Minister of Public Works, Ms. Linda Polman, a Dutch journalist and author of The Crisis Caravan, said that Aid organizations are businesses dressed up like Mother Theresa.

So, Liberians are happy that the US State Department is punishing Senator Senator-Varney- Sherman, now a prominent lawyer, and Chair of the Liberian Senate Judiciary Committee.

In its Press Release, the US State Department stated that Mr. Sherman had offered bribes to multiple judges associated with his trial for a 2010 bribery scheme, and he had an undisclosed conflict of interest with the judge who ultimately returned a not guilty verdict in July 2019. (Please visit Treasury Sanctions Corrupt Actors in Africa and Asia www.home.treasury.gov ) for the full story. But, if the public should welcome the US anti-corruption decision, how come America has been silent even after published reports conducted by impeccable institutions?

For instance, the Special African Union Committee, headed by the former President of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, established to investigate illicit financial flows from Africa, concluded that multinational corporations are responsible for 95% of US $60B stolen from African countries every year. The Committee published its reports in 2014, yet the US government is looking at Senator Varney Sherman of Liberia. Multinational corporations received 64 fraudulent concessionary agreements out of 68, according, Moore Stephen Audit Firm, yet America has focused on Varney Sherman.

In fact, the Mission Director of the USAID in Liberia, Ms. Sara Walter stated that USAID is doing a super job. In her 12/18/20 commentary published by the Liberian Daily Observer, she stated that USAID is corruption-free. She listed JFK Hospital in Monrovia, Monrovia Consolidated School System, etc. as developments accomplished by USAID. Truly, USAID had financed many developments in Liberia in the 70s, but where are the projects in 2012/13 through 2018/19?

What if Liberia had spent a portion of the US $535M and built schools for the 48,000 residents living within 42 towns located within Zorzor District? Presumably, the local branch of Eco-Bank would not have discontinued its operations because residents do not borrow money from the bank. The Zorzor-Echo-Bank-branch has closed because many of the unskilled residents usually cash checks and/or receive money from Western Union, less profit-making activities. This experience is found in Grand Geddeh County, River Cess County, River County, etc. So, America should investigate the misuse of the $535M, if it intends to fight corruption.



2019 USAID Financial Statements (https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1868/USAIDFY2019AFR_508R.pdf)

(https://en.wikipedia-on-ipfs.org/wiki/List_of_schools_in_Liberia.html)List of High Schools in Liberia

IRAQI FOOD FOR OIL SAGA: (https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2004/04/15/the-oil-for-food-scam-what-did-kofi-annan-know-and-when-did-he-know-it/)

2012/2013: (www.cabri-sbo.org/en/documents/citizens-guide-to-the-national-budget-2012-2013-fiscal-year)

2013/2014: (www.cabri.org/en/documents/a-citizens-guide-to-the-national-budget-fiscal-year2013-2014)

2014/15:(https://docs.google.com/a/mopea.gov.lr/viewer? a=v&pid=sites&srcid=bW9wZWEuZ292LmxyfG10ZWYtYnVkZ2V0fGd4OjUxODNkYzUwM2YyMzU5MTc)

2015/16: (https://www.cabri-sbo.org/en/documents/2015-16-citizens-guide-to-the-national-budget)



2016/17: (https://www.cabri-sbo.org/en/documents/fact-sheet-or-short-citizens-guide-to-the-fiscal-year2016-17-draft-national-budget)

2017/18: (https://www.cabri-sbo.org/en/documents/a-citizens-guide-to-the-national-budget-1)

2018/19: (https://mfdp.gov.lr/index.php/department-of-budget-reports/citizen-s-guide/citizen-guide-fy2018-2019)

(https://www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/MontserradoCDA.pdf)

Montserrado County Development Agenda 2008-2011




ALBANY  A former employee in the state comptroller's office faces federal criminal charges for allegedly conspiring to steer state business to a company that paid him kickbacks, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Authorities said Srinivas Kancha, 52, of Selkirk, worked for the state comptroller's office from 2015 to 2017, and is accused of taking the kickbacks after steering lucrative contract work to a computer programming company. Kancha is alleged to have helped the programming company falsify its experience and gave them an inside track through the interview process.
Using VDR data to audit navigation

You dont need to send an auditor to a vessel to meet OCIMFs TMSA guidance for navigation audits. Another way to do it is to inspect voyage data recorder (VDR) data. We spoke to Avencas Dr Neil Baines, an expert on maritime VDR analysis.

One of the sections of the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) Tanker Management Self-Assessment (TMSA) guidance is that shipping companies should engage independent navigation auditors to get a sense of how well the vessel is being navigated. This can be done by sending an auditor onboard the vessel to watch the crew at work. But this is very expensive, particularly in times of COVID-19 and uncertainties about when people can get on and off vessels. Also, having someone physically watching over the crew may not show the crews typical behaviour. Another way to do it is to review voyage data recorder data. OCIMF recently (Aug 2020) published a revision to its document Recommendations on the Proactive Use of Voyage Data Recorder Information, which was originally published in 2013. The revision considered the impact of recent updates to the VDR performance standards, made by IMO. It is available for free download on the OCIMF website. Dr Neil Baines, Managing Director of AVENCA, advised OCIMF on writing these recommendations. Dr Baines says that his company has seen increasing enquiries from tanker companies over the past few years for assistance working with VDR data, mainly for remote navigation auditing services. The original regulatory requirements of a VDR were that it should store a minimum of 12 hours of data, because the systems were designed to be used after an accident. 12 hours is not enough to make a general audit of navigation quality. Since 1 July 2014, the regulations have required new VDRs to provide storage for a minimum of 30 days data, but adding on additional storage capacity to older VDRs may not be very difficult or expensive, Dr Baines says. VDR data has 3 types  bridge audio recording; video data from the radar and electronic chart system; and equipment data (known as NMEA/serial). Some companies also have CCTV data. It is increasingly common for VDRs to be connected to the satellite communications system, although companies would usually only upload equipment data to the satcom, other data files are too large to routinely send by satellite. Insights you can get The data can be analysed over long time periods and short periods, and both would be done in different ways. For long time periods of data, you can run computer scans to get a sense of whether any risks were being taken. For short term periods, you can look at all of the available data to get a comprehensive understanding of how the vessel was being navigated. If you are looking at a long period of equipment data, you can check for specific events, such as if there was a low under keel clearance while the vessel was above a certain speed, if the rate of turn was above a certain change in degree per minute when the vessel had a certain speed, if there was an excessive rudder angle when going at higher speed. You can check the average time taken to change engine speed after an instruction is given. You can check AIS data for any close encounters. The position data can be analysed together with chart data, to check that the vessel has adhered to any Traffic Separation Schemes, and complied with any speed / depth restrictions of that scheme. If you are investigating an accident or near miss, or assessing performance in a time of difficult navigation, you might want to look at all the data over a shorter time period. For example, you can see what happened in the lead-up to an accident, or how the bridge team were working together. A comprehensive analysis can review all available data types together  audio, radar / ECDIS, and equipment data. That way you can hear what was being said on the bridge, see what the crew could see on the radar and ECDIS screen, understand how they interpreted it, and what they did with the equipment controls. If the file sizes are too large for digital transmission, a USB drive can be couriered. According to the best practise guidance, the navigation audit should also include a review of bridge team procedures, passage planning and voyage documents. This can be done alongside the review of VDR data. The aviation sector has long seen benefits from analysing flight data, with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) making flight data monitoring a standard for all aircraft over 27 tonnes since 2005, Dr Baines says. Ships are different to aircraft in that there is a larger group of people in charge of navigation. Listening to how the team are interacting [from audio recordings] is at least as important as analysing the numeric data coming from sensors, he says. Avencas service Avencas maritime customers include oil companies, shipping companies, national investigation authorities, insurers, law firms and marine consultancies. AVENCAs service includes gathering the data (via satcom or couriered file), organising and merging the data (including CCTV where available), loading it onto a cloud server, and making it available for the customer to access over the web, so they can hear and see exactly what was happening. It has developed its own software system to do this, called Aura. Tanker companies can view the data themselves and do their own navigation audit, or use Avencas navigation auditing service, where it deploys experienced master mariner auditors. They receive a written report with video clips. The audit would normally include analysis of a portion of a voyage identified as being of higher risk, such as a departure, approach / berthing, or transit through a traffic separation scheme. Avenca has produced videos for customers where it compiles together audio and video from the VDR to show something specific  such as an example of particularly desirable or undesirable behaviour, for use in training. Dr Baines background is a PhD in acoustic engineering, which gave him knowledge which, he says, often comes in handy improving poor quality audio recorded from some VDRs. He then worked in aerospace, finally as technical director with Smiths Industries Aerospace Data Management Systems division, which makes aircraft flight data recorders. When voyage data recorders were being mandated for shipping in 2001,the maritime industry was very focused on how to get the hardware fitted and comply with regulation. Based on his aerospace experience, Dr Baines believed that valuable safety and operational efficiency-related benefits could be derived from analysis of the new data that was being recorded. And he set up Avenca at that time to serve the maritime sector through the provision of suitable analysis software and services.




RIYADH  Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar met with the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and a well-known and respected scholar of the Islamic world Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Wednesday evening.

At the outset, both sides discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, in particular the role of the religious scholars of the Islamic world in ending the bloodshed and securing peace in Afghanistan and the fight against extremism and terrorism.

Foreign Minister Atmar said that the war in Afghanistan has global dimensions with links to transnational and regional extremist and terrorist groups. He stated that extremists from various countries and organizations have turned Afghanistan into a war zone to pursue certain goals in which rescuing Afghanistan from the current war actually means rescuing the Islamic world and humanity from the growing threat of violent extremism and global terrorism.

The Foreign Minister pointed to the horrific crimes in Afghanistan, which not only contradict the beliefs and teachings of Islam but any other religion.

Minister Atmar added, "Through the peace process, we want the Taliban to break away from other foreign extremist groups in the region and return to a peaceful and political life in their country". In this regard, he called for the cooperation of the Islamic world, especially the Muslim World League.

Sheikh Al-Issa said that crime and terrorism have no place in Islam and that criminal and terrorist acts should not be attributed to Islam. "We consider it our responsibility to end the war and ensure peace in Afghanistan," he said.

Sheikh Isa promised that in the near future, in accordance with his previous commitment, the Muslim World League will bring together influential thinkers, scholars, and muftis of the Islamic world in a great and historic conference and seek a fundamental solution to the Afghan crisis from a religious perspective.

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League said the outcome of the conference should be historic and decisive. He added that there will be a solution in this conference and the implementation of the decisions will be binding and therefore we will invite the Taliban to participate in this large conference to ensure broad participation.

Hyderabad, Jan 21 : A 12-year-old boy set ablaze by his father for not taking his studies seriously and not attending online classes succumbed to his injuries at a government hospital here on Thursday, police said.

R Charan, who had sustained 60 per cent burns, breathed his last at the Gandhi Hospital.

Police said Charan's labourer father R Balu had set him afire on Sunday night at their shanty in a private school campus in Kukatpally Housing Board Colony under Cyberabad police commissionerate. Balu's wife worked as an attendant at the school.

A police officer said that an inebriated Balu first beat up the Class 6 student over his educational activities even as the boy's mother tried in vain to save him. An infuriated Balu then poured turpentine oil on Charan and set him ablaze.

The boy ran out of the house, where area residents doused the flames and rushed him to a hospital. Police later arrested Balu, Originally hailing from Nagarkurnool.

Police said that the boy was rescued in 2019 under 'Operation Smile' while he was working at a bike-repair shop, following which police had counselled his parents.
Ajit Pawar said the state government has ordered a probe into the fire which broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floors of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises, and was brought under control in two hours.
Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here.
At the outset of rap music the lyrics were politically charged and stars were akin to urban political leaders. Then, quickly, big booties, bling and then mumble rap dominated the art form.

And so . . . This tune speaks to a bygone era of an international music tradition.



Check-it . . .
Peter Heneen, 29, is facing a charge for written threats to kill, do bodily injury, or conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, Polk County Sheriff's Office said

A Trump-supporting Florida sheriff's deputy who threatened to kill federal officers and called for 'the streets of D.C. to run reed with the blood of the tyrants has been arrested, the Sheriff's office announced on Wednesday.

Peter Heneen, 29, is facing charges for written threats to kill, do bodily injury, conduct a mass shooting or an act of terrorism, Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

He has been accused of sending 'threatening' text messages to a colleague on the night of January 6 in the hours after the riots and violence at the U.S. Capitol.

'Need to make the streets of D.C. run red with the blood of the tyrants,' Heneen said of members of Congress, according to Sheriff Grady Judd. 'Should have drug those tyrants into the streets and executed them.'

Heneen has also been suspended pending termination from the sheriff's office, with Judd saying an investigation into his messages revealed 'absolutely frightening things.'

Judd said Heneen sent message to another deputy, to whom he wrote things like 'f*** the feds,' 'Shoot the feds,' 'I'll f****** kill them all,' and 'take the fight to them.'

He also sent texts to his colleague where he threatened to 'slit the throats' of federal officials, and questioned the shooting of one of the rioters by a Capitol police officer, saying ''You shot someone for what, climbing into a building? You need to shoot the f--- back. F-- the feds, shoot the feds.'

The Sheriff said a lot of what his deputy said was 'hate talk', but some of it ventured into illegal threats of violence in multiple instances.

'As you can see, I am angry beyond words,' the sheriff said during a press conference on Wednesday when announcing the charges, before adding that he was 'super proud' of the deputy who received the messages, who reported them.

Sheriff Grady Judd held up a picture of Peter Heneen during a press conference on Wednesday announcing that the deputy had been arrested over the messages

'The good news is, one of our deputies did the right thing,' Judd said. 'Gave information of a written threat by one of his colleagues.'

'Our deputy that reported this is a hero. I tell my deputies that doing what's right is not always easy but it is always right. He stood in the face of not only one of his colleagues  but one of his friends.'

Heneen was arrested following an investigation into the messages and charged with a second degree felony of making threats.

Deputy Heneen has been accused of sending 'threatening' text messages to a colleague on the night of January 6 in the hours after the riots and violence at the U.S. Capitol

'Need to make the streets of D.C. run red with the blood of the tyrants,' Heneen said of members of Congress, according to Judd and shared test messages (pictured). 'Should have drug those tyrants into the streets and executed them.'

Heneen also said he would 'kill them all' and 'slit their throats' in text messages to a colleague (pictured)

Heneen was arrested following an investigation into the messages and charged with a second degree felony of making threats

PCSO deputy arrested Sheriff Grady Judd is giving details about the arrest of a PCSO deputy sheriff who made written threats related to the violence at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Posted by Polk County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, January 19, 2021

'Having him arrested was important,' Judd said. 'Having him arrested before inauguration day was even more important.'

The deputy that reported Heneen has returned to work at the Sheriff's office.

'You issue a written threat, you're gonna get locked up too,' Judd said.

'No matter who you are. Because we are going to ensure the safety and security of this community and quite frankly, it's time for this entire nation to take a deep breath, and to calm down.'

Judd added that Heneen had passed the rigorous background checks, that include a psychological evaluation and a polygraph test, that all employees and staff of the sheriff's office are required to go through.

Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress

The sheriff said that Heneen was not known to be a member of any militias, adding that 'there was no real history on him,' with the deputy's past conduct violations limited to an on-duty crash and defying a superior who told him to shine his shoes.

Judd took the opportunity to condemn the actions of pro-Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol building on January 6, calling it an illegal entry and calling it 'wrong, wrong, wrong.'

'Words matter,' Judd said. 'Threatening words to hurt  to kill  are just not acceptable. The community deserves a safe, secure environment where we can prosper. But if we can't police ourselves first, we can't police the community.'

MAGA protesters stormed Capitol Hill on January 6 where lawmakers were scheduled to confirm Biden's presidential victory. Five people died in the violence

The mob overran the Capitol Police shortly after Trump urged them to 'fight' on his behalf in a 'Save America' rally hours before the Capitol was breached

Lawmakers were forced to go into hiding for several hours as Capitol police grappled to take back control while the mob rioted in the Senate and House, invaded Nancy Pelosi's office and looted items potentially including state secrets.

One female Trump supporter, US Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, was shot dead by Capitol Police as she tried to climb through a window.

Three other Trump supporters died after 'medical emergencies' related to the breach and Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick died the following day from injuries sustained in the attack after the thug allegedly hit him over the head with a fire extinguisher.

Many people have already been arrested and prosecutors across the U.S. have vowed to bring to justice those who stormed the U.S. Capitol, sending lawmakers into hiding as they began their work to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

The assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump left five people dead

The group included white nationalists, neo-Nazis and QAnon conspiracy theorists, coming from states as far-flung as Arizona and Oregon, while photographs from the riot have shown people wearing clothes with a range of antisemitic messages.

Trump has become the only president to be twice impeached, and the first to be prosecuted as he leaves the White House, an ever-more-extraordinary end to his tenure.

A precedent set by the Senate in the 1800s established that a trial can proceed even after a federal official leaves office. Trump was first impeached by the House in 2019 over his dealings with Ukraine, but the Senate voted last year to acquit.

Ten Republicans joined all Democrats in the 232-197 impeachment vote on Wednesday, the most bipartisan modern presidential impeachment.

When his second trial does begin, House impeachment managers say they will be making the case that Trump's incendiary rhetoric hours before the attack on the Capitol was not isolated, but directly intended to interrupt the electoral count as part of his escalating campaign to overturn the November election.
We plan to bring strategic partnership with United States to new level of trust in 2021  Kuleba

Ukraine plans to bring the strategic partnership with the United States to a qualitatively new level of trust and interaction already in the current 2021, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

"The United States is still asleep after a big day yesterday. And we at the Foreign Ministry started the day by discussing the next steps in relations between Ukraine and the United States. We plan to bring our strategic partnership to a qualitatively new level of trust and interaction in 2021," Kuleba wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

As reported, Joe Biden took the oath of office in Washington on Wednesday and thus became the 46th President of the United States. Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris also took the oath.
Allies of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange have ramped up a push for a last-minute pardon from President Donald Trump, enlisting a lobbyist with connections to the administration, trying to rally supporters across the political spectrum, and filing a clemency petition with the White House.

The effort comes at a delicate moment for Assange and during a period of tension between the United States and Britain over a case that his supporters say has substantial implications for press freedoms.

The Justice Department announced last week that it would appeal a British judges ruling blocking the extradition of Assange to the United States to face trial on charges of violating the Espionage Act and conspiring to hack government computers. The charges stemmed from WikiLeaks publication in 2010 of classified documents related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Assanges supporters had been optimistic about the prospects of a pardon from Trump, who has issued dozens of contentious clemency grants since losing his reelection bid. But they now worry that pressure over his supporters ransacking of the Capitol last week could derail plans for additional clemencies before he leaves office on Jan. 20.

As unlikely as the prospect of a pardon from Trump might be, Assanges supporters are eager to try before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

As vice president, Biden called the WikiLeaks founder a high-tech terrorist. Some of his top advisers blame Assange and WikiLeaks for helping Trump win the presidency in 2016 by publishing emails from Democrats associated with Hillary Clintons campaign, which US officials say were stolen by Russian intelligence to damage her candidacy. Trump has long downplayed Russias role in the 2016 election.

For Assanges supporters and press freedom advocates, though, the issues at stake transcend him or politics.

This is so much bigger than Julian, said Mark Davis, a former journalist who worked with Assange in Australia, where they are from. If Assange is prosecuted, it will have a chilling effect on all national security journalism, Davis said, adding: If we can get Julian off, then the precedent hasnt been set. If Julian goes down, then its bad for all of us.

Davis, who is now a lawyer specializing in national security and whistleblower cases, is on the board of Blueprint for Free Speech, an Australia-based nonprofit group that advocates for press freedoms and whistleblower protections. The group, which was started by Suelette Dreyfus, a former journalist who is an old friend and collaborator with Assange, signed a pro bono contract on Saturday with the lobbyist Robert Stryk to seek a pardon for Assange.

During Trumps presidency, Stryk, who is well connected in Trump administration circles, has developed a lucrative business representing foreign clients in precarious geopolitical situations.

He has worked for a jailed Saudi prince who had fallen out of favor with his countrys powerful de facto leader, as well as the administration of President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, which the Trump administration considers illegitimate. Styrk also worked for Isabel dos Santos, the daughter of Angolas former president, who is accused of embezzling millions of dollars from a state oil company she once headed, as well as the government of the former Congolese president Joseph Kabila, which had faced US sanctions for human rights abuses and corruption.

Stryk said that he was representing Blueprint for Free Speech to seek a pardon for Assange without pay because of his belief in free speech and that he would continue pushing for the pardon in the Biden administration if Trump did not grant it.

This is not a partisan issue, Stryk said.

The contract, which he said he had disclosed to the Justice Department under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, calls for his company, Stryk Global Diplomacy, to facilitate meetings and interactions with the president and the president-elects administrations to obtain a full pardon for Assange.

Davis said Stryk had been chosen partly because of his entree into Trumps administration, which the group sees as its best chance to secure a pardon.

Davis noted that Assange, 49, was indicted during Trumps presidency. We are unabashedly reaching out to the Republican Party on this issue in the final weeks to correct something before its too late, and before it becomes part of Trumps legacy, Davis said.

He said, If Joe Biden is sympathetic, thats well and good, and we certainly hope he is. But, he added, its a far simpler process for an outgoing president than an incoming president.

Assanges cause has been taken up by a range of media freedom and human rights organizations, public officials and celebrities, including the actress Pamela Anderson.

Blueprint for Free Speech is working to harness some of that support, including from Anderson, a friend of Assange, who said in an interview that she had been trying to connect with Trump to plead the case. I just hate to see him deteriorate in jail right now, she said of Assange, describing the pardon push as a last-ditch effort for all of us who are Julian Assange supporters.

Asked about the effort by Blueprint, Jennifer Robinson, a lawyer representing Assange, said he is encouraged by and supports efforts by a variety of prominent supporters around the world.

Davis stressed that Blueprints push was independent of parallel efforts by Assanges family and his lawyers, though Stryk has been in contact with Barry J. Pollack, Assanges Washington-based lawyer, who is representing him against the criminal charges.

Prosecutors have argued that Assange unlawfully obtained secret documents and put lives at risk by revealing the names of people who had provided information to the United States in war zones.

Assanges lawyers have framed the prosecution as a politically driven attack on press freedom.
The possibility the UK variant of Covid-19 could lead to a bounce in infections in the coming weeks has heightened the need for a more robust response and greater compliance with public health restrictions.

That is according to Professor Cathal Walsh from the Health Research Institute at the University of Limerick, who said we may have to work harder to contain the more infectious UK variant.

A recent research paper by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), he said, highlighted the additional risks posed by "variant substitution", which could see the UK B117 variant becoming dominant in the US by March.

The more contagious UK variant required an even more rigorous containment strategy that should be implemented sooner rather than later, the CDC paper states.

While the B117 variant may already be dominant in Ireland, given it was detected in more than 50% of all new cases in recent weeks, we may not have seen its full effect yet, Prof Walsh said.

Despite optimistic signs that Covid-19 infection rates are falling in Ireland, the statistics and modelling expert said the next two to three weeks would be critical.

Even though weve seen a decrease recently, there is a concern about a possible increase in the coming weeks simply because of this variant substitution and the increase in transmissibility, he said.

So even if we maintain the same controls that we have in place, there is a concern that we may see an increase in the number of cases. That underscores the need to maintain restrictions to the fullest extent possible in the coming weeks."

Prof Walsh is one of several experts feeding into the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group that advises the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet). He said we may not have done enough yet to control the current surge.

The real concern is that we could see a bounce in transmission in this wave and before we get down to low enough levels of disease, he said, adding that GP Covid referrals had not slowed enough.

To contain the more infectious variant, he said, we may need to get the reproductive (R) number down to 0.7 or 0.6, where previously getting below 1.0 was sufficient.

Maximum compliance with public health restrictions, adequate ventilation in shared spaces, and as many people working from home as possible may be required, Prof Walsh said.

If you think back to the restrictions we had when we got the R number down to less than 0.7, thats how strict we need to be to get the new variant down to below 1.
[January 21, 2021] NANO Accelerates Content Delivery by Thirty Times with Solutions from ZephyrTel

Bhutan ISP improves customer experience and looks to the public cloud with long-term strategic partnership LONDON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ZephyrTel, a provider of public cloud solutions serving global telecommunications operators, has embarked on a strategic partnership with NANO, an Internet Service Provider (ISP) in Bhutan. Having already increased content delivery speeds by up to thirty times with ZephyrTel's PACache solution, NANO plans to further leverage ZephyrTel's public cloud innovations and investments to drive best practice and reduce TCO.



Tshering Norbu, CEO of NANO, comments: "The demands of 4K video and enriched digital content meant we were looking for a way to push data to users at a much higher rate, overcoming network congestion and boosting the overall customer experience. PACache has enabled us to achieve this, all while reducing our IP transit costs and eradicating any CapEx associated with managing this in-house."

"ZephyrTel's long-term vision for telecommunications providers chimes with our own vision of delivering maximum value for customers through continuous innovation. ZephyrTel's broad solutions portfolio combined with its ongoing investment in the public cloud makes ZephyrTel the ideal strategic partner for us, delivering future-proof systems via a single provider, to underpin our reliable, efficient and rapid service delivery to all customers right across Bhutan. One of our key aims is to enter into fewer strategic relationships, meaning that any partners we do choose must be the perfect fit. ZephyrTel is no exception to this rule." PACache is designed for mobile, cable and telecom operators to optimise their investments in next generation networks. It moves content closer to subscribers, supercharging networks to meet the increasing data streaming and download demands of today, while reducing CapEx and increasing customer satisfaction. Invisible to network subscribers and content providers, PACache augments service delivery without detracting from an operator's brand reputation. Michael Speranza, CEO at ZephyrTel, comments: "We're looking forward to a long and productive relationship with NANO and it's been great to share our public cloud vision with the team. We're committed to delivering optimum levels of value for our customers, continually developing our own offerings to revolutionise the cost equation for the Telco industry, and NANO is no different. By working alongside the team at NANO, we can ensure maximum operational efficiencies, establishing robust, forward-looking systems to build on the current success of the business." About ZephyrTel ZephyrTel brings the power of end-to-end public cloud solutions to telecoms operators around the world. ZephyrTel has acquired 9 companies over the last three years serving 300 telecoms operator customers and continues to expand the portfolio to offer the largest breadth of solutions based on the public cloud. Our strategy is to deliver solutions for the Telco space which are based on the public cloud and stand to truly transform our customers' businesses, revolutionising the cost equation and make them more competitive. For more information, visit www.zephyrtel.com. About NANO NANO is one of the three large Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Bhutan to own independent international gateway, international connectivity and domestic networks built on the latest DWDM and fibre technologies. Driven by the very Internet-passionate people who are motivated by their belief in "Nothing is No," the team - the so called "NANO WARRIORS" - is focused on delivering differentiated and enriched Internet Services Experiences, Managed Security Service and Enterprise (IT & Network) Services in Bhutan. http://www.NANO.bt/ CONTACT: Simon Gilford, VP of Marketing, simon.gilford@zephyrtel.com Video: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423486/ZephyrTel.mp4 SOURCE ZephyrTel

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The federal government expects the coronavirus vaccine program to start next month, as planned, despite concerns overseas about procuring enough doses.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had been told doses of the Pfizer vaccine, to be used in the first stage of the nation's five-stage rollout, should arrive in February despite concerns in Europe and North America over shortages and delays.

A health worker carries out a COVID-19 test at the Merrylands drive-through clinic in Sydney. Credit:Getty

"The latest advice that we have, and I spoke with Pfizer only yesterday [Wednesday], is that we are still on track for the first vaccines to be received in February but the final date hasn't been confirmed," Mr Hunt said.

NSW Health has been advised by the federal government that the rollout may commence on February 15, subject to Therapeutic Goods Administration approval and the delivery of the vaccine.

Residents of Esereso Adagya, a community in the Bosomtwe District, have appealed to the government to help complete an on-going classroom block to ease congestion in the local basic school.



Mr Emmanuel Adams, Assembly member for the area, who made the appeal through the Ghana News Agency, said the completion of the eight unit classroom block, which was started by the community members, had become critical to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the school.



He said the current situation where about 80 pupils were packed in one classroom was dangerous and there was the need for urgent action to complete the classroom block which was at the lintel level, to ease congestion in the school.



A visit to the school by the GNA indicated that most of the pupils were without nose masks, while the classrooms were over crowded.



Mr Adams said social distancing which was an effective way to prevent the spread of the virus was totally absent in the school.



He said the likelihood of both teachers and pupils contracting the virus, was high since most of them travelled from different locations to attend the school.



Mr Adams pointed out that pupils in the school found it extremely difficult to study comfortably due to the overcrowding in the various classrooms.



He said the community needed urgent support to complete the classroom block to help provide a conducive environment for the pupils and teachers to deliver quality education in the community.



Mr Adams also appealed to the government to provide Personal Protective Equipment to the pupils to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Source: GNA









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INVISTA's technology and licensing group, INVISTA Performance Technologies (IPT), and China Petrochemical International Co., Ltd. ("Sinopec Yizheng") have reached an agreement for licensing of INVISTA's industry leading PTA P8++ technology for Sinopec Yizheng's third PTA line. This plant will be installed in Jiangsu province, China, with an annual name-plate capacity of 3 million tonnes.

Sinopec Yizheng previously utilised IPT's P6 PTA technology for its 450,000 te/annum second PTA line. Sinopec Yizheng and INVISTA are pleased to once more leverage this technology to create long-term value for both parties.

This is a further confirmation of INVISTA's strategy of relentlessly improving its PTA technology offering, through a combination of increased scale, reduced capital and variable cost per tonne of PTA, and greater sustainability.

During the recent project kick-off meeting, Mr. Guo Xiaojun, Sinopec Yizheng's General Manager, expressed his trust in the INVISTA PTA technology and extended his gratitude towards the INVISTA project team. Mr. Guo said, "These 3 million te/annum PTA plants is a major project for SINOPEC during the 14th five-year plan period and a critical project for Sinopec Yizheng as well. I look forward to the cooperation between the two parties. To ensure the success of the project, we will execute the project in an effective manner by setting the goal as 'excellent quality, fast schedule and profitable investment'."

Adam Sackett, IPT vice president of PTA, commented, "Following the experience of working directly with the Sinopec Yizheng team on the second PTA line in 2003, I am excited by this new chapter in the partnership between our organizations. The manufacturing capability of Sinopec Yizheng combined with INVISTA's industry leading PTA technology is a great fit, which should meet the ambitious project goals set by Mr. Guo."

INVISTA's industry-leading PTA technology, including its latest version of P8 technology, is available as a license package from IPT. For more information, please visit the IPT website at www.ipt.invista.com

About INVISTA

From the fibers in your carpet to the plastic in your automobiles, INVISTA's commitment to continuous improvement has led its employees to develop some of the most durable, versatile polymers and fibers in the world. A subsidiary of Koch Industries since 2004, INVISTA brings to market the proprietary ingredients for nylon 6,6 and recognized brands including STAINMASTER, CORDURA and ANTRON. INVISTA also offers specialty chemical intermediates and process technologies. See the bigger picture at INVISTA.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005806/en/

Contacts:

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INVISTA

+8621 6389 9202

Shelley.Zhang@INVISTA.com
Streaming giant Netflix is introducing a 'Shuffle Play' feature for users in the first half of this year. According to a recent report, the company has made the announcement to bring in the shuffle feature in its latest financial results. The Shuffle Play feature has been under testing at Netflix since a while, and has worked by picking content based on your viewing history, helping users avoid feeling overwhelmed by the amount of content Netflix has to offer.

According to a report in Variety, Netflix COO and Chief Product officer Greg Peters said that the feature is designed for users to "indicate to us that they just want to skip browsing entirely, click one button and we'll pick a title for them just to instantly play." While testing the feature, Netflix has experimented with puting the Shuffle Play button on the profile screen, and a 'Play Something' option in the menu. While most reports have said that the feature may be called Shuffle Play, it is still not confirmed as to what the company will call its feature that will allow the algorithm to pick something for them to play. According to a report in The Verge, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings had joked that the company may call it "I'm Feeling Luck," same as the Google Search feature that skips straight to the top search result.

Shuffle Play will join Netflix's other recent attempt tp make it easier to find content to watch. Last year, the company added a New and Popular tab to Netflix which shows a combination of new, popular, and upcoming content.
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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
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Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) Plc on Thursday expressed commitment to explore diversified funding sources from the Nigerian capital market for enhanced growth and development.

FMN Group Managing Director, Omoboyede Olusanya, said this at the listing of the Tranche A and Tranche B bonds valued at N29.8 billion on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The bonds are under the N70 billion Flour Mills of Nigeria Plcs Bond Issuance Programme.

Mr Olusanya said the company would continue to explore funding opportunities inherent in the capital market to ensure business growth and continuity.

He said the bonds were floated to strengthen the companys capital base by de-leveraging its balance sheet and supporting its capital needs.

We are delighted with the response from the market, we are happy to be listed, he said.

We are introducing a N29.9 billion listing under a N70 billion bond issuance cover; we will continue to raise funding to diversify our funding sources.

Mr Olusanya said the company was passionate about feeding the nation to improve quality of living for Nigerians through increased production and investments in backward integration.

Earlier, Olumide Bolumole, Divisional Head, Listings Business, NSE, said the companys N29.9 billion Tranches A and B bond issue was a positive stand in the capital market.

Mr Bolumole said the COVID-19 pandemic had presented a new normal, noting that the NSE would continue to be resilient by ensuring business continuity.

He said that the NSE would continue to support companies to raise the needed funds from the market.

Also speaking, Rasheed Yussuf, Managing Director/CEO, Trust Yields Ltd., commended the company for exploring financing opportunities in the capital market instead of relying on short-term borrowings.

Mr Yussuf called on the company to ensure payment of enhanced dividend to shareholders in the years ahead.

(NAN)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 19:43:38|Editor: huaxia

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People learn about Huawei 5G products during a Huawei roadshow in Madrid, Spain, Nov. 5, 2020. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- China has urged Sweden to immediately correct its wrong practice of excluding Chinese firms from the construction of 5G network in the European country.

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority has finished its 5G spectrum auction with additional terms, which require telecom operators not to use equipment made by Chinese enterprises such as Huawei and ZTE in 5G network construction.

"Without any evidence, Sweden has excluded Chinese enterprises from its 5G network construction on so-called national security grounds," the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesman Gao Feng told a virtual news conference Thursday.

"The move has violated the basic principles of the World Trade Organization and international rules, and damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," Gao said. "China is firmly opposed to this."

China urges the Swedish side to immediately correct its wrong practice, meet China halfway and jointly find a solution to safeguard China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation, Gao said.

"China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," he added. 
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Seung Choi, the 86-year-old man who died five days after being struck by a vehicle in Stapleton, was a Korean immigrant who settled on Staten Island and was part of a loving family, his son and his granddaughter told the Advance/SILive.com.

Seung Choi, a member of the Christian Missionary Alliance, was returning home after walking to his sister-in-laws residence on Jan. 13 to deliver supplies to support an overseas mission when he was struck by a car while crossing Canal Street at the intersection of Bay Street, said police and the mans family.

He was hit just over a mile away from his home on New Lane in Rosebank. The driver remained on the scene, police said.

After police arrived, Seung Choi was transported to Staten Island University Hospital in Ocean Breeze. He succumbed to his injuries Monday.

He was a very devoted Christian pastor, said Sang Choi, 57, the victims son. He really focused on his ministry.

Born in Korea, Seung Choi immigrated to the United States in 1985 and has spent the majority of his time on Staten Island.

Seung Choi, a member of the Christian Missionary Alliance, died days after being hit by a vehicle in Stapleton. (Family photo)

Grandpa always had our best interest at hand, said Jeannie Choi, 26, one of his granddaughters. Even though he was strict, he really cared about us and cared about our futures.

He was a good man, she said, adding that her grandfathers life was inspiring to her.

If he never came to America, then I definitely would have been born in Korea, remarked Jeannie Choi, who along with her sister was born deaf. She said she would not have been able to receive the necessary cochlear implant surgery in Korea needed to correct the issue.

We were able to have a good life and a good education here in America, she said.

Seung Choi will be buried Thursday at a family service, according to his granddaughter.

Police said no charges have been filed in the incident. The NYPD investigation remains ongoing.
The liquid electrolytes in flow batteries provide a bridge to help carry electrons into electrodes, and that changes how chemical engineers think about efficiency.

The way to boost electron transfer in grid-scale batteries is different than researchers had believed, a new study from the University of Michigan has shown.

The findings are a step toward being able to store renewable energy more efficiently.

As governments and utilities around the world roll out intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, we remain reliant on coal, natural gas and nuclear power plants to provide energy when the wind isn't blowing and the sun isn't shining. Grid-scale "flow" batteries are one proposed solution, storing energy for later use. But because they aren't very efficient, they need to be large and expensive.

In a flow battery, the energy is stored in a pair of "electrolyte" fluids which are kept in tanks and flow through the working part of the battery to store or release energy. An active metal gains or loses electrons from the electrode on either side, depending on whether the battery is charging or discharging. One efficiency bottleneck is how quickly electrons move between the electrodes and the active metal.

"By maximizing the charge transfer, we can reduce the overall cost of flow batteries," said study first author Harsh Agarwal, a chemical engineering Ph.D. student who works in the lab of Nirala Singh, U-M assistant professor of chemical engineering.

Researchers have been trying different chemical combinations to improve it, but they don't really know what's going on at the molecular level. This study, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, is one of the first to explore it.

Researchers had believed that the negatively charged molecular groups from the acids provided more spots for electron transfer to take place on the battery's negative electrode. The findings from the team co-led by Singh and Bryan Goldsmith, the Dow Corning Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, tell a different story. Instead, the acid groups lowered the energy barrier of the electron transfer by serving as a sort of bridge between the active metal in the fluid--vanadium in this case--and the electrode. This helps the vanadium give up its electron.

"Our findings suggest that bridging may play a critical yet underexplored role in other flow battery chemistries employing transition metals," Singh said. "This discovery is not only relevant to energy storage but also fields of corrosion and electrodeposition."

The study shows that the reaction rate in flow batteries can be tuned by controlling how well the acid in the liquid electrolyte binds with the active metal.

"Researchers can apply this knowledge to electrolyte engineering or electrocatalyst development, both of which are important disciplines in sustainable energy," Agarwal said.

Agarwal and Singh measured the reaction rate between the vanadium and electrode for five different acidic electrolytes. To get a clearer picture of the details at the atomic level, the team used a form of quantum mechanical modeling, known as density functional theory, to calculate how well the vanadium-acid combinations bind to the electrode. This part of the study was undertaken by Goldsmith and Jacob Florian, a chemical engineering senior undergraduate student working in the Goldsmith lab.

At Argonne National Laboratory, Agarwal and Singh used X-ray spectroscopy to discover details about how the vanadium ions configured themselves when in contact with different acids. Density functional theory calculations helped interpret the X-ray measurements. The study also provides the first direct experimental verification of how water attaches to vanadium ions.

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Image: https:/ / docs. google. com/ document/ d/ 12zhpF3xUMztkFTI8tnuQc5dCOdSTYr_D1onvUbsMNCk/ edit

The study is titled "The effect of anion bridging on heterogeneous charge transfer for V2+/V3+." The work was supported by the University of Michigan Office of Research. This research used the resources of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, Argonne National Laboratory and the Canadian Light Source.

Nirala Singh

Bryan Goldsmith

Abstract of paper

Sushant, who would have turned 35 on Thursday, was found dead at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14 last year

New Delhi: A stretch of road in Andrews Ganj in south Delhi will soon be named after the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput as the area's civic body has cleared a proposal for it, officials said on Thursday.

Sushant, who would have turned 35 on Thursday, was found dead at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14 last year. His fans and admirers took to social media to remember the actor whose untimely demise was followed by a high-profile investigation.

SDMC's Congress councillor Abhishek Dutt in September 2020 had moved the proposal to name the road after the actor.

"It was cleared by the SDMC House in its meeting yesterday," a senior official said.

The Andrews Ganj councillor in the BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation had sent the proposal to the civic body's road naming and renaming committee.

In the written proposal to the committee, Dutt had said that a large number of people living in the area abutting Road No 8 hail from Bihar, and had claimed "they have been demanding" to name the stretch from Andrews Ganj to Indira Camp as 'Sushant Singh Rajput Marg'.

So, it is proposed that Road No 8 be named after the actor in his memory, Dutt had said.
The coronavirus pandemic is jeopardizing the long-term health of the public transit systems that provide a crucial circulatory system for major American cities  particularly for lower-income residents who depend on trains and buses to get to work, the market or the doctor.

Transit authorities have tried to ride out the pandemic, which has sharply reduced ridership and farebox revenues, by curtailing service. In New York, where the subway famously runs through the night, the subway no longer runs through the night. Metra, the Chicago areas primary commuter rail service, has suspended roughly half of its daily schedule. Atlantas regional transportation agency has stopped running buses on more than 60 of its 110 bus routes.

These transit cuts are yet another area in which affluence has shaped the experience of the pandemic. Many well-to-do commuters are able to work from home, or to drive to the office. The changes amount to an inconvenience. Millions of lower-income Americans, meanwhile, work in jobs that require their presence, and they cannot afford to get to work in other ways. They must leave home earlier, wait longer, walk farther and return later. What once took half an hour may now take two hours. A direct commute may now require two transfers.

At first blush, it may seem logical to calibrate service to current ridership. Running empty trains and buses, as a general rule, is bad public policy, Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts said in December, defending plans for sharp cuts in Boston-area transit services. Making sure that you have a system that actually serves the people who want to ride it when they want to ride it  and the way they want to ride it  is the right way to go.
Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2021 4:04 pm

The gray whale population has plunged 24 percent along the West Coast since the last estimate in 2016, estimates released Tuesday show.

The population of eastern north Pacific gray whales decreased by more than 6,000 whales, from 26,960 in 2016 to 20,580 estimated from counts made during the whales' southbound migration in the winter of 2019-20, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Southwest Fisheries Science Center in San Diego.

The population has been increasing overall since counting began in 1967, when only 13,426 of the mighty grays were counted.

The eastern north Pacific gray whale undertakes one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling 10,000 miles from its feeding grounds in cold arctic seas to calving lagoons in Mexico.

The whales are a conservation success story, surging back in numbers after the enactment of federal protection under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972. Gray whales neared extinction in the 1950s after excessive commercial hunting, and were listed as an endangered species. The whales were removed from the endangered species list in 1994.

Commercial hunts remain illegal. The cause of the most recent die-off in the population, called an "unusual mortality event" by NOAA, is not known. It is possible the population reached carrying capacity. Another possible cause is disruption of the ocean food web caused by climate change.

The whales have rebounded from an "unusual mortality event" before, weathering a decline of nearly the same size, from 1999-2000.

That die-off reported 651 dead gray whales in 1999 and 368 in 2000 along the West Coasts of the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

The cause was not determined but some stranded whales were in poor body condition, leading to the question of whether the population had reached carrying capacity at 21,000 grays estimated in the eastern Pacific.

But the population rebuilt to even stronger numbers by 2016  only to decline again.

Big fluctuations for these big whales are not rare, and short-term declines have not resulted in any detectable longer-term impacts on the population of the species.
At the meeting of a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology held in New Delhi on Thursday, representatives of Twitter and Facebook faced a barrage of pointed questions, including those for temporarily blocking Union Home Minister Amit Shahs Twitter account in November last year.

The panel, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, met Facebooks Public Policy Director Shivnath Thukral and Mahima Kaul, Public Policy Director, India & South Asia, Twitter, along with other officials from both platforms.

Sources said BJP MPs grilled Twitter representatives on the microblogging sites decision to suspend Shahs account for half an hour in November last year. Twitter explained the action was taken as per their policy after algorithms flagged a copyright issue. However, the matter was clarified and the account was restored within half an hour, they told the panel, according to sources.

When concerns were raised over monetising of data by the platforms, the social media giants are said to have clarified that even though a lions share of their revenue relies on advertising, at no point data of users is shared with advertisers.

Facebook officials also agreed to respond to the issue in writing. The written explanation will also deal with about 15 questions put forth by the IT Ministry on data safety of Indian citizens, said sources.

WhatsApp privacy policy debate

Members of the panel also flagged the issue of proposed changes in the privacy policy of WhatsApp. The social media giant clarified that the policy was not new, and in fact, had been in place since 2016. It has been openly put out only now, they told the panel, a source told CNN-News18.

The proposed changes had triggered an outcry regardless of WhatsApp's assertion that all private messages between friends and family members remain end-to-end encrypted.

No messages on WhatsApp are saved on the server unless they are undelivered. Once delivered, they get deleted, the panel was informed on Thursday.

The Centre, too, has strongly advocated against the privacy policy update, adding that any unilateral changes to the WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy would not be fair and acceptable to India.

The issue of banning accounts for hate speech, like in the case of former US President Donald Trump, was also discussed. While some MPs welcomed the move, others called it an arbitrary decision saying that some accounts in India have not been banned despite similar violations.

Data Protection Bill

After nearly a year of thorough discussion spread over 65 meetings by the joint committee for Personal Data Protection Bill, the Data Protection Bill is all set to be passed in Parliament soon.

The bill, which was introduced as Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019, in the Lok Sabha by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in December that year, underwent parliamentary scrutiny upon insistence from members of the House. BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi chaired the Joint Parliamentary Committee set up to analyse its provisions.

The committee, which has been discussing the bill clause by clause since November 2019, will not seek a further extension and is currently working on its report. Over 158 hours and 45 minutes of meeting time has gone in to firm up the bill which has a whopping 89 amendments. Of these, 86 are in 46 clauses and two in the schedule, while one more clause has been added.
LOS ALTOS, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Contrast Security, the leading developer-centric application security software company, today announced Zurich North America Insurance (Zurich), one of the largest providers of insurance solutions and services, uses Contrast Security to secure applications in development that are critical linchpins in its digital transformation strategy. The collaboration provides Zurich software developers needed tools for writing secure code faster and collaborating with application security peers to reduce application risk.

"Protecting the information of our customers, our third-party collaborators, and our own systems is a top priority for Zurich North America," said Adam Page, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Zurich North America. "Our applications enable us to deliver differentiated experiences, and our collaboration with Contrast empowers us to shift left by identifying software code issues earlier in the pipeline and in real time with easy-to-follow results."

The applications secured by Contrast Security are used by Zurich North America customers and its employees. Contrast helps Zurich's development team to address the challenges of today's advanced threat landscape in real time by automating and streamlining application security. "Contrast takes an innovative approach to application security that enables our developers to work smarter and focus on threats that pose the greatest risk," said Esther Speckhart, the Business Information Security Officer (BISO) at Zurich.

"The early adoption of Contrast Security by Zurich North America is the first step in what will soon be a larger rollout across Zurich as part of our ongoing digital transformation," said Paige Adams, Zurich's Global Chief Information Security Officer. "Digital transformation has been and continues to be the primary goal for Zurich as we move forward into the new year."

"Prominent insurance providers like Zurich are aggressively driving digital innovation to improve customer experiences and accelerate business growth," said Surag Patel, Chief Strategy Officer at Contrast Security. "Therefore, with substantially more software being created at accelerated speeds and the increasing focus of malicious attackers on the software, the risk of software vulnerabilities in applications has never been greater. Yet, legacy application security approaches simply are unable to keep pace with the speed and agility demanded by modern software development. Contrast transforms application security by using an automated approach via instrumentation to embed security observability into the software development process. This virtually eliminates false positives while empowering developers to detect and remediate vulnerabilities without specialized application security skills."

About Contrast Security

Contrast Security is the leader in modernized application security, embedding code analysis and attack prevention directly into software. Contrast's patented deep security instrumentation completely disrupts traditional application security approaches with integrated, comprehensive security observability that delivers highly accurate assessment and continuous protection of an entire application portfolio. This eliminates the need for disruptive scanning, expensive infrastructure workloads, and specialized security experts. The Contrast Application Security Platform accelerates development cycles, improves efficiencies and cost, and enables rapid scale while protecting applications from known and unknown threats.

About Zurich North America

Zurich North America is one of the latest providers of insurance solutions and services to businesses and individuals. Its customers represent industries ranging from agriculture to technology and include more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500. Zurich backed the building of some of the most recognizable structures in North America  from the Hoover Dam to the Confederation Bridge. Its North American, LEED Platform headquarters is located in the Chicago area. Zurich employs approximately 9,000 people in North America and has offices throughout the U.S. and Canada.

CONTACT:

Contrast Security

Patrick Spencer

[email protected]

888-371-1333

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Facebook promised to bid on at least 90% of auctions when it could identify the end user and committed to spending a certain amount of money  as much as $500 million a year by the fourth year of the agreement, according to the draft of the complaint. Facebook also demanded that data about its bids not be used by Google to manipulate auctions in its own favor, a level playing field not explicitly promised to other Open Bidding partners.
On Sundays, Bishop Bruce Davis preached love. Through his Pentecostal ministry, he organized youth parades and gave computers, bicycles, and food to families in need.

During the week, Bruce practiced what he preached, caring for prisoners at a Georgia hospital. On March 27 he began coughing, and on April 1 he was hospitalized. Hed tested positive for COVID-19. The virus swept through his household, infecting his wife and daughter, and hospitalizing their disabled son. Ten days after landing in the hospital, Bruce died.

But when Gwendolyn Davis received her husbands death certificate, she was taken aback. The causes of death? Sepsis and renal failure. No mention of COVID-19.

He wouldnt have had kidney failure if he didnt have COVID, Gwendolyn said.

After Bruce died, his wife applied to two pandemic relief programs seeking help with $1,500 in missed payments on a truck and an electricity bill. But, she said, she was denied because his death certificate didnt mention COVID-19.

I think its wrong, Gwendolyn said. Its almost like we didnt count.

The count has profound implications for families and the country. Omitting COVID-19 on death certificates threatens to undercount the toll of the pandemic nationwide. For Davis family and others, it can pile financial hardship onto emotional despair, as death benefits and other COVID-19 relief programs are withheld. Interviews with families across the U.S. shed light on reasons COVID deaths are being undercounted  and the consequences loved ones have endured.

When COVID patients die, the immediate cause of death is always something else, such as respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. Residents, doctors, medical examiners, and coroners make the call on whether COVID was an underlying factor, or contributory cause. If so, the diagnosis should be included on the death certificate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even beyond the pandemic, there is wide variation in how certifiers describe causes of death: Theres just no such thing as an objective measure of cause of death, said Lee Anne Flagg, a statistician at the CDCs National Center for Health Statistics.

Partly because of a lack of training in how to fill them out, the quality of the death certificates is not good, said James Gill, vice president of the National Association of Medical Examiners. And in cases in which people had other chronic conditions, it can be difficult to determine whether COVID was a contributing cause of death, he said. That was especially true early on, when reliable testing was not widely available.

Since early in the pandemic, the CDC has encouraged certifiers who suspect COVID as a cause of death to list it on the death certificate as probable or likely.

Still, some clinicians are reluctant to certify a death as a COVID death without a test in hand, Gill said.

Its not clear how Bruce Davis case slipped under the radar. His death was certified by William Ken Garland, deputy coroner in Baldwin County. Reached by phone, Garland said the causes of death were provided by Joseph Coppiano, a medical resident who pronounced Davis dead at Augusta University Medical Center, about 90 miles away. No autopsy was done.

I did certify the record, but thats about all I did, Garland said.

Hospital spokesperson Danielle Harris declined to comment on the case, citing patient privacy. She said the hospital follows Georgia Department of Public Health guidelines.

In the absence of certainty, the CDC has encouraged coroners to document the virus. Were not worried that were overcounting the number of [COVID-19] deaths, Farida Ahmad, epidemiologist and mortality surveillance team leader at NCHS, said in April.

Missed cases are one reason that experts agree COVID deaths are being undercounted nationwide. As evidence for that, they point to the vast number of excess deaths  additional deaths compared to what would be expected based on prior-year numbers and demographic trends.

Over the past year, the U.S. had endured up to 431,792 excess deaths as of Jan. 6, with 68% directly attributed to COVID, according to the CDC.

These excess deaths tend to track pretty closely with COVID cases, trailing by a couple of weeks, said Daniel Weinberger, an epidemiologist at Yale School of Public Health who has published on this topic. This strongly suggests that a large proportion of these uncounted deaths are due to COVID but not recorded as such.

We may never know how many COVID deaths went uncounted: Postmortem tests can detect the virus, but its unlikely that this type of testing will be performed at a [sufficient] scale, Weinberger said. Early in the pandemic, especially in the Northeast, many of those who were treated clinically for COVID and then died were not tested for the virus  so they never made it into the statistics.

Testing troubles affect lawsuits, hospital bills

Inaccurate death certificates can make it harder to pursue a lawsuit or win a workers compensation case when a loved one dies after contracting COVID on the job. Gwendolyn Davis did win workers compensation death benefits from Bruces employer, a state psychiatric facility in Milledgeville, by providing medical records. But problems with COVID testing can complicate the process.

Bruces supervisor at work, Mark DeLong, also died after contracting COVID, but it did not appear on his death certificate with the other causes: cardiopulmonary arrest, respiratory failure, and diabetes.

The omission on DeLongs certificate seemed to stem from a delay in test results: His COVID-positive results didnt arrive until three days after he died, according to his widow, Jan DeLong. She has asked the local coroner to correct the record.

In New Jersey, attorney Paul da Costa represents 75 family members who lost loved ones at veterans homes in Menlo Park and Paramus in April and May. He said he knows of at least five patients whose death certificates did not list COVID-19 despite evidence suggesting it killed them.

The root problem, he said, was a complete dearth of testing. Patients were transferred to hospitals, or dying in the veterans facilities, without ever being tested, he said.

The gap between excess deaths and confirmed COVID deaths has narrowed over time as testing has increased, Weinberger said.

Early testing inaccuracy may also have led to undercounting, which creates a different burden: hospital bills. Without a diagnosis, families can be on the hook for thousands of dollars in charges that otherwise would have been covered under the CARES Act.

Correcting the record

In some cases, families have sought to have death certificates changed to reflect COVID. Dorothy Payton, 95, who lived in the ManorCare nursing home in Denver, first showed COVID symptoms April 5. Five days later, Payton  known as Nana Dee  tested positive for it. And on April 13, her husband, Edward Benjamin, received a call that she had died.

The death certificate offered a litany of causes: vascular dementia, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, gait instability, difficulty swallowing, and failure to thrive.

But not COVID-19. So it seemed logical to fight for listing her cause of death under her cause of death, Benjamin said.

After a few calls, her husband was able to get the certificate amended. ManorCare could not be reached for comment.

For Benjamin, it wasnt about public health statistics or financial considerations. It simply offers a sense of closure.

I want her life and death remembered the way it was, and Im glad we set the record straight, he said. Its the first step towards moving on.

Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. This story is part of Lost on the Frontline, an ongoing project from The Guardian and KHN.
Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2021 4:44 pm

Just when residents of Washington will have access to a COVID-19 vaccine depends on how many doses the federal government delivers and how many the state can administer in a day.

Currently, the state is receiving 100,000 doses per week and administering 14,000 doses per day.

Gov. Jay Inslee acknowledged Jan. 18 there have been major bumps in the road so far.

I have to be forthright with Washingtonians, Inslee said. Patience is going to be one of the most important assets for us in the upcoming weeks and months.

The biggest roadblock to vaccine deliveries right now, according to Inslee, is the federal allotment the state is receiving. Inslee said he was confident that the state would be able to get an increasing number of vaccine doses each month, but he did not estimate how soon the federal government will be able to ramp up delivery.

Once doses are available, people who are 65 years or older, or who are 50 years or older and reside in a multigenerational household, are immediately eligible for a COVID vaccine, he said.

He also stressed that residents who are eligible should contact their healthcare provider to find out when they can secure a dose of the vaccine.

For residents in smaller rural counties, Inslee said the vaccine rollout could be slowed because, even though the currently eligible population for a county may already be completed, across the state, there are still 1.1 million people who fall under the new age category. Catching up to the backlog of medical workers who still need vaccines is also slowing down the process.

Inslee unveiled a goal of making 45,000 doses per day available, rising dramatically from the current federal allotment to our state of 100,000 per week. A list of mass vaccination sites will be ready by the week of Jan. 25, Inslee said.

PhaseFinder, an online tool and app for vaccine information, shut down for a moment following Inslees announcement, but due to a partnership with Microsoft, the server was running again with only a minor delay.

A private-public partnership between Washington businesses is assisting with volunteers, planning, infrastructure, support, and other tools to assist the state with vaccinations. The partnership includes Microsoft, Costco, Starbucks, healthcare providers, unions and community health care centers.

Susan Mullaney, the president of Kaiser Permanente, described the partnership as truly being a team sport.

Were going to give all of you, every Washingtonian, our best effort. Mullaney said.

In announcing their plans, Mullaney and Inslee were joined by the presidents of Starbucks, Microsoft, and Seamar Community Health Centers as well as Jane Hopkins, a registered nurse and vice president of a nurse collective, and Dr. Umair Shah, Secretary of Health with the Washington Department of Health.

At the end of the questions, Inslee made mention of the next phase, which is planned to include essential workers like grocery store clerks and educators, though no date of when this will take effect was given.

Lewis County Numbers

According to Lewis County officials, the expanded eligibility for vaccines means there are more than 18,000 residents of the county who now qualify for the vaccine, though there has been no increase in vaccine distribution.

In a press release, the county said qualified suppliers in Lewis County have received a very limited amount of Washingtons weekly doses.

Valley View Health Centers, Providence and Arbor Health have an average of 90 percent of the current vaccine supply spoken for and will have administered their available vaccines by this Sunday.

Its an incredible challenge and there is still much to be developed now that the state has announced their plan going forward, said J.P. Anderson, director of Lewis County Public Health and Social Services. Our local providers are doing phenomenal at ensuring what doses they have received are getting into arms. As we go forward, our department is ready to help stand up bigger events to accommodate the higher volume of doses we are all waiting for.

John Abplanalp, who heads the vaccine planning efforts for the county, said local providers are receiving a large number of calls and emails requesting appointments.

For those waiting on a response, we ask for your patience, he said in a press release. Our local providers can only give out what vaccine they have received. Up to this point, their supply has been incredibly limited.

Lewis County Public Health and Social Services ask that residents continue wearing face coverings, washing their hands and keeping their distance from others until there is a more robust vaccine supply in circulation.

Hungary became the first European Union nation to approve Russia's Covid-19 vaccine as Prime Minister Viktor Orban takes a pre-election risk to accelerate the country's exit from the coronavirus crisis.

Hungary's drug regulator granted emergency approval for Russia's Sputnik V and also to the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca, Cabinet Minister Gergely Gulyas said at a briefing on Thursday. The decision followed pressure by Orban to fast-track the process and skirt the EU, which has yet to authorize either one.

While Orban is regularly criticized in the EU for his cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Chinese Communist Party leadership, he may only be the first rather than the sole western leader to secure alternative supplies from the east amid the slow roll-out of western vaccines that has left governments exasperated. The government in Budapest is also considering procuring a Chinese vaccine from Sinopharm.

Like many of its EU peers, Hungary has faced public skepticism of the vaccines and so far has administered them for only a little more than 1% of its population amid a trickle of doses from Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech and Moderna.

The government has warned that without a ramp-up, curbs like an evening curfew and the closure of some businesses could be in effect through the summer.

Orban is also under the gun before 2022 parliamentary elections, which are expected to be the closest in years after the opposition united against the four-term leader. He has pledged to protect the living standards of Hungarians, a tall order after his cabinet projected a 6.4% economic decline for 2020.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto will be in Moscow on Friday where he may agree to a large purchase of the Russian vaccine. Despite the emergency approval, which is for an initial six months, Hungary's health authority is still reviewing the Russian version in tests and mass inoculations may happen only after its sign-off, state television reported late Wednesday, citing the national drug regulator.

"We only want to procure vaccines that have been already used on several million people and ones that Hungarian authorities deemed safe and effective and that they've approved," Cabinet Minister Gulyas said.

Hungary is also ready to purchase more than a million doses from Sinopharm within days of regulatory approval, Orban told state radio on Jan. 15.

The willingness to go ahead with eastern procurements follows Orban's ideological shift from once being a staunch supporter western values to a leader who has vowed to eradicate liberal democracy, cultivated ties with strongmen and frequently clashed with the EU over his decade-old consolidation of power.

Orban has sought to follow the warming of political ties with business deals, including a Russia-backed $15 billion expansion of Hungary's sole nuclear plant and a $2 billion rail link between Budapest and Belgrade, part of the China's Belt and Road Initiative. Both contracts are at least partly classified.

Extending the deal-making to vaccines the EU hasn't yet approved isn't without risks. Chinese and Russian developers have been slow compared with their western peers in releasing clinical trial data, raising questions over transparency, efficacy and safety.

Getting Hungarians to trust vaccines is also a challenge after Orban, an early supporter of Russia's Sputnik, said people wouldn't be told which doses they'd be getting. Citizens will be able to choose which vaccine they'd like to receive, Gulyas said on Thursday.

Hungarians are still generally skeptical of Covid-19 vaccines, with 27% responding "Yes" to a question on whether they would get the jab if it became available, compared with 29% who said "No," according to a survey by the state statistics office published on Jan. 14. That compared with 15% in favor of the vaccine and 36% against a month earlier.
There will be several thousand dollars in payments going to families with six-figure incomes whove had no income interruption whatsoever. Sen. Pat Toomey, in a Jan. 19 hearing on Capitol Hill

Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) this week criticized President Joe Bidens proposed $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, saying the direct payments Biden wants to send Americans are poorly targeted to those most in need.

There will be several thousand dollars in payments going to families with six-figure incomes whove had no income interruption whatsoever, Toomey said Tuesday during a Senate confirmation hearing for Janet Yellen, Bidens nominee for Treasury secretary.

We wondered just how much such families will receive if Bidens plan is signed into law.

Toomey is right. Married couples making up to $150,000 annually would qualify for $2,800 in new payments, on top of the $1,200 they should have received this month from the relief package then-President Donald Trump signed into law late last year.

Together, those payments would total $2,000 per person  the target Democrats in Congress set, the amount Trump made a late and unsuccessful push for, and what Biden is now pursuing from the White House.

Individuals making up to $75,000 would qualify for $1,400 in new aid on top of the $600 payments they just got. And adults with dependent children ages 16 and younger would qualify for an additional $600 per child.

Analysts estimate this component of Bidens plan could cost $465 billion.

During the Senate Finance Committee hearing, which took place the day before Bidens inauguration, Toomey argued against direct payments for upper-middle-class families who havent endured any loss of income during the pandemic.

Yellen acknowledged the payments arent designed to target the people hurting the most, but rather intended to support families and stimulate the economy broadly.

Some families presumably dont greatly need the money, but there are many families who are under stress, Yellen told Toomey.

 READ MORE: Fact-checking a top Pa. Republican who said false election claims didnt play any role in the Capitol attack

The eligibility criteria for direct payments under Bidens plan mirrors the one Congress agreed to a few weeks ago, which set the upper-income limit for the smallest payments at $174,000 for a married couple.

Toomey told Yellen it would be tough to find bipartisan support for Bidens proposal, but several Senate Republicans have already endorsed the idea, including Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Democrats were first to pitch the idea of $2,000-per-person direct payments, but it was Trump who made a late push for them in December, threatening to withhold his support for the relief package unless the payments were included. He eventually relented and signed the package into law without the larger payments.

Our ruling

Toomey said families with six-figure incomes whove had no income interruption would get several thousand dollars in payments under Bidens coronavirus relief package. Thats right. Couples who make up to $150,000 annually will get $2,800, plus $600 for each child age 16 and under, on top of payments received from the last relief package. We rate the statement True.

Our sources

Biden Harris Transition, The Biden Emergency Action Plan to Save the Economy, accessed Jan. 20, 2021

New York Magazine, What Is in Joe Bidens $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package Plan? Jan. 14, 2021

CNET, Make sure your second stimulus check was for the right amount. How to check, Jan. 14, 2021

CNN, Biden puts $2,000 stimulus payments back in play, Jan. 14, 2021

Tax Foundation, Congress Passes $900 Billion Coronavirus Relief Package, Dec. 21, 2020

PolitiFact, Whats in Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan?, Jan. 15, 2021

The Wall Street Journal, Yellen Makes Case for Sweeping Stimulus Package in Face of GOP Skepticism, Jan. 19, 2021

CNET, Whos eligible for a stimulus check? Here are income limit, age qualifications, more, Jan. 15, 2021

Newsweek, These Are The Senate Republicans Who Support $2,000 Stimulus Checks, Dec. 29, 2020

PolitiFact is a nonpartisan, fact-checking website operated by the nonprofit Poynter Institute for Media Studies.

Taiwan-Biden ties off to strong start with invite

Taiwan-Biden ties off to strong start with invite

Taiwan's ties with its most important global backer the United States are off to a strong start under President Joe Biden's government, after Taipei's de facto ambassador attended an inauguration for the first time with an official invitation.



Former President Donald Trump's administration ramped up support for Taiwan, increasing arms sales and sending senior officials to Taipei, angering China and stirring even greater enmity from Beijing towards Washington.



That had made Trump a popular figure in democratic Taiwan and raised concern in its government that Biden may not be as helpful.



Emily Horne, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council, said the US commitment to Taiwan was "rock-solid" after the island's de facto ambassador in Washington, Hsiao Bi-khim, attended Biden's swearing in on Wednesday.



"President Biden will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values in the Asia-Pacific region - and that includes Taiwan."



Taiwan's foreign ministry said it was the first time an inauguration committee had formally invited the island's Washington representative and showed the close friendship between Taiwan and the United States based on shared values.



"These shared values are democracy, freedom and human rights," said ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou.



In a video message on her Twitter account, Hsiao, who is close to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, said she was honoured to be there representing Taiwan's government and people.



"Democracy is our common language and freedom is our common objective," she said.



Tsai sent her congratulations too, saying she hoped the two sides could work together to maintain regional democracy, freedom, peace and stability.



Biden's nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said on Tuesday he was in favour of greater engagement with Taiwan.



Tsai met Blinken in 2015 at the State Department when he was deputy secretary of state and she was the presidential candidate for Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party. (Reuters)
Farming groups have given their backing to new targeted legislation looking to deal with dog attacks on livestock in Scotland.

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill, a Members Bill brought forward by Emma Harper MSP, will be debated in parliament today.

Recent figures from Police Scotland show that from April 2019 to March 2020, 265 incidents of livestock attacks were reported.

There is also evidence to suggest significant under-reporting where incidents are not escalated to police.

Attacks not only have financial and emotional impacts on farmers, but they also have an effect on the animals themselves, their productivity and welfare.

After extensive awareness campaigns by police and rural organisations, Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) said the time had come for legislation to assist in the prevention of dog attacks.

The organisation also said it supported tough penalties for irresponsible owners who put livestock at risk.

Emma Steel, policy adviser for the group said: Current legislation does not adequately balance the rights of dog owners with rights of farmers to protect their livestock.

We are supportive of tougher efforts to tackle livestock attacks and even within this draft legislation, there are elements we would like to see strengthened, such as increasing the penalties for those found guilty of an offence."

In response to the Bill, the Scottish government said it had commissioned a scoping study for the creation of a National Dog Control Database  a device SLE had been asking for.

Emma Harper MSP, who introduced the Bill, said it had received unanimous backing from Scotlands leading agricultural, animal welfare and outdoor access bodies

It received over 800 responses to the consultation from farmers, dog owners and those involved with the agricultural community who agreed that the current legislation was outdated.

I have agreed to a number of amendments to the Bill which will be taken forward at Stage 2 in February," Ms Harper said.

"These include a technical amendment to include an affirmative procedure for regulations regarding the definition of livestock, increasing the maximum available penalty to 12 months imprisonment or a fine of 40,000, or both."

I look forward to hearing all the contributions to the debate on Thursday and thank all who have been involved with the Bill thus far.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On his first day in office, President Joe Biden took executive action on a host of priority issues, including significant changes to America's immigration system long called for by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). The president has reinstated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects Dreamers, revoked the executive order that excluded undocumented immigrants from the census and Congressional apportionment, ended the Muslim Ban, and stopped the abusive interior immigration enforcement policy of the Trump administration. In response to these Day One actions, bipartisan mayors holding key leadership positions in the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) issued the following statements:

USCM President and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer said "The immigration policies of the last administration did not reflect the values of a great and inclusive country. They were dangerous and inhumane. They created fear and chaos for millions of people, including those protected by the DACA program who are as proudly American as anyone. Mayors applaud President Joe Biden for restoring decency to America's immigration policy. Dreamers, who are here through no fault of their own, no longer need to live in fear of deportation. By ending the Muslim Ban, we are closing the door on one of the most disgraceful policies in American history. And the President has honored the Constitution by reversing the unlawful effort to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census count.

"Today the President is also sending an immigration reform bill to Congress to establish a new system to responsibly manage and secure our border, keep our families and communities safe, and better manage migration across the Hemisphere. America's mayors are committed to working with him to make this happen.

"We are grateful that President Biden made these Day One priorities. We all know that much more work needs to be done to create an immigration system worthy of this great nation."

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Chair of USCM's Latino Alliance, said "Mayors nationwide have stood firm for the rights of the immigrant families and workers who strengthen our cities, our economies, our businesses, and our communities, and we look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration to advance fair, humane, and functional reform. After four years of cruel, regressive policies, President Biden's proposals and orders reflect the best of American values, putting 11 million immigrantsfamily members, neighbors, Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workerson a path to citizenship."

Mesa Mayor John Giles, Co-Chair of USCM's Immigration Reform Taskforce, said "Being from a border state, I believe that immigration reform is one of the most important issues facing our nation. I applaud President Biden for introducing a reform package on his first day in office. The economy of my city and so many cities across the country will be stronger if we can protect Dreamers and further integrate hard working residents into our community."

Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Co-Chair of USCM's Immigration Reform Task Force, said

"I applaud President Biden for prioritizing a pathway to citizenship on day one for Dreamers. This action affirms the belief that the American Dream can still be achieved by those who seek it with hard work and determination. The cultural, economic, and social contributions of the nearly one million DACA recipients and their families to their communities cannot be overstated; particularly during a global pandemic where over 200,000 DACA recipients are working in essential roles including 27,000 in health care positions. Dreamers are already Americans in virtually every sense of the word and, as essential members of our American family, we must honor their contributions to our country by providing this long overdue pathway to citizenship."

About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors , or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors .

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors

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www.usmayors.org



Joe Bidens inauguration yesterday has ushered in a new era, raising the hope  in the Middle East and around the world  that the four years of American foreign policy wilderness under Donald Trump are well and truly behind us. This is as relevant to our region as it is to any other part of the world, but perhaps it is especially relevant to our region. In the Middle East, Arabs, Palestinians, Iranians, Turks and Israelis have been repositioning themselves on questions of security, peace and stability the better to negotiate with a new administration. No one expects major breakthroughs in the region during the first six months of the Biden presidency, which will be present enough of a domestic challenge.

As a president for all Americans  the role he has repeatedly expressed his desire to play  Biden is eager to heal divisions exacerbated by the Trump presidency at home. These include racial, gender, economic and in some sense even cultural differences within the fabric of American identity, and movements like Black Lives Matter and Me Too have served to highlight inequalities and injustices which the Trump administration and its ultranationalist support base are more than happy to permit. To this point, no Middle East envoy or anyone in charge of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations has been announced or nominated, which suggests that the region may not be the new administrations immediate priorities.

The region is therefore entering a period of uncertainty and, to some degree, of unpredictability. With three major elections in Israel, Iran and Palestine in the first half of 2021, it remains to be seen what the picture in each country will look like and how it will interact with the Biden administrations vision. The last ten years have hardly been uneventful in the Middle East, and these elections will after all be taking place against a complex backdrop of political differences and interactions beyond the obvious points of contention.

Israels fourth general election in 48 months is to take place on 23 March, for one thing, the hope being that it will bring to power a significantly different perspective. The Palestinians too are to organise legislative elections in May, to be followed by a presidential election in July and eventually the election of the 700-member Palestinian National Council representing Palestinians in the occupied territories and the diaspora.

If held, these will be the first elections since 2005-06. If their results are accepted by all Palestinian organisations and groups, they could well kickstart a new chapter in Palestinian politics with a new, younger leadership leading an all-Palestinian reconciliation and eventually a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. All this depends on whether the new Israeli government is ready to abandon the Trump peace deal in favour of the course chartered by the Quartet or a modified version of the 2003 Roadmap, and on Washingtons commitment to resolve the conflict on terms other than Israels alone.

Another issue is how to resolve Washington and its Arab allies conflict with Tehran. So far, it is clear the Biden administration will be interested in rejoining the 5+1 nuclear agreement provided it is renegotiated to cover the Iranian ballistic missile programme and the Iranians agree to stop their destabilising activities in the Middle East and the Gulf. It may be a tall order but it is not impossible to meet the Iranians halfway by agreeing on a timeline to lift the sanctions gradually, for example.

The first test of Iranian good will would be reaching an agreement in Yemen. If the Iranian-supported Houthis agree in good faith to implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, accepting a united Yemeni government, this would be a sign of Tehrans cooperation. Another would be to stop Hamas and the Islamic Jihad organisation  both of which are supported and funded by Tehran  from obstructing a united Palestinian government in the course of the upcoming elections, letting the Palestinian Authority negotiate with Americans and Israelis. No such hopes would be possible before Trumps sanctions are lifted, the strategy of maximum pressure reconsidered as a tactical measure to facilitate a much larger understanding serving the security interests of all the major stakeholders whether in the Middle East itself or worldwide, in Europe and the US.

For at least six months, however, the Middle East must hold its breath while we see where the winds of change will blow. This time next year, it would be a pleasure to write on the imagination and foresight of all the various interested parties, large and small. Will that be possible? It remains to be seen how much conflict and instability remains in the region  and how much improvement is due to a change in American foreign policy brought about by the Biden inauguration.

The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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A scion of Australian department store royalty has graced the site of what was once one of his family's shops to instead face a judge over an alleged drunken incident.

Justin Drew, the great-grandson of Grace Bros co-founder Albert Edward Grace, appeared in front of a Sydney magistrate on Monday on charges of assaulting or resisting three different police officers.

Drew, 48, was arrested shortly after 6am on February 21 last year, alongside wife Pippi, at their $1.85million Rose Bay home.

The 48-year-old has pleaded not guilty to a string of charges at the Downing Centre court - a historic building once known as Grace Bros Piazza.

Officers have previously played bodycam video to the court which allegedly shows Pippi Drew screaming at officers who were called to the scene that morning.

Hotelier Justin Drew, above with wife Pippi, faced a Sydney court charged with assault and resisting police on Monday. He's the great-grandson of one of the original 'Grace Brothers'

Drew was charged over a stoush with police outside the couple's Rose Bay home on February 21, 2020. He also has an apprehended violence order against his wife Pippi

'Were a***holes. You f***ing f***ed us up. Ive got the best lawyers, Ive got the best lawyer in Sydney,' she said in the video, according to a court report.

Drew also has an apprehended violence order in force against his wife, who he runs Waterloo's Cauliflower Hotel alongside.

The case - which will return in May - isn't the first time the department store-turned-courtroom has played host to a descendant of the retail dynasty.

Drew's cousin Andrew Grace was pilloried in the tabloids as a 'poor little rich boy' after he pleaded guilty to drug importation in 2012.

At the time, a court heard Grace told a nurse he had swallowed condoms filled with cocaine prior to returning to Sydney from Los Angeles, in order to smuggle it past security.

One exploded in his digestive tract. Grace suffered seizures.

Justin Drew's cousin Andrew Grace was handed a good behaviour bond by the NSW District Court in 2012 for importing cocaine into Australia

A police statement said he pleaded with a nurse at St Vincent's Hospital: 'I'm dying, dying, it is going to explode. I'm dead.'

Grace was operated upon, the packages were removed and he was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug - 8.2 grams.

He pleaded guilty at the NSW District Court in early 2012 and was handed a seven months' suspended jail sentence and a good behaviour bond.

In the years since, Andrew has moved to Byron Bay and married the popular yoga instructor Kimilla Grace.

He also garnered deserved acclaim for rescuing a drowning man in the surf off Sydney's eastern beaches in 2015.

The Grace Bros name and ubiquitous waratah was scrapped by Coles Myer in NSW in 2004. The department stores became Myer

What is now Sydney's Downing Centre court was once known as Graces Bros Piazza, above

Andrew is the son of the late Michael Grace, the grandson of company co-founder Albert Grace.

Michael was at various times an executive at the company and was popularly known as 'The Merchant Prince.'

Michael's sister, Julia Drew, is Justin's mother.

Grace Bros was once a household name. In the 1980s, it boasted 163 stores across Australia.

The company merged with Coles Myer in 1989. In 2004, the company's last remaining stores were renamed Myer.

Albert Edward Grace (above, with his secretary) and his brother, Joseph Neal Grace, founded the department store chain which was a household name for a century

The original Grace 'Brothers' were Albert and Joseph Grace, who migrated from England in the 1880.

They had a background in the retail trade and originally sold goods door to door across the colony.

The brothers opened a small shop on George St, Sydney, in 1885 before later building the five-storey site now known as Broadway Shopping Centre.
As 49 states signed up for a program with two massive pharmacies  CVS and Walgreens  to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, just one state opted out of that plan. Now, that state is leading the country in what can generously be called a chaotic vaccine rollout.

West Virginia has delivered more shots per capita than any other state, the Associated Press reported, and was the first state to offer the first dose of the vaccine to all of its long-term-care facilities, which have been devastated by COVID-19.

West Virginias relative success stands in contrast to New Jerseys delayed and disappointing vaccination effort that has seen just under 4% of its population given at least the first dose of the vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. West Virginia has delivered at least the first shot to nearly 7.2% of its population.

The reasons for New Jerseys lagging performance are varied. Public health experts have pointed to an overly restrictive phased rollout. Gov. Phil Murphy has bemoaned the federal governments failure to effectively supply vaccine doses to the states. But on Tuesday, he also acknowledged another factor, and one that has helped West Virginia lead the nation in vaccinations.

On Walgreens, yes, we are frustrated, Murphy said in his news briefing on Tuesday. But theres no question the federal program is meaningfully lagging what we have control over in the state. Theres no question about that.

Theres one state in the country apparently that did not take the federal partnership with CVS and Walgreens. Its West Virginia. And if you look at the how well states are doing, theyre No. 1 in the country. Because all theyre worrying about is whats within their control.

West Virginia, instead of joining the federal program with the pharmacy giants to deliver vaccines to long-term-care and assisted-living facilities, partnered with 250 mostly smaller, in-state pharmacies to vaccinate people, according to an NPR report.

Those pharmacies, which had existing relationships with assisted-living facilities, particularly in rural areas of West Virginia, were able to be more nimble in the state than Walgreens or CVS could be, Krista Capehart, director of regulation for W.Va.s Board of Pharmacy, told NPR.

Had West Virginia opted to partner with CVS and Walgreens to vaccinate its most at-risk people, the state would have been much slower, Marty Wright, CEO of the states Health Care Association, told the AP.

If the state wouldve activated the federal plan, the state wouldve had zero control over the situation, Wright said.

But its not just this partnership that has slowed down New Jerseys effort. Until last week, the state was slow-rolling its vaccinations in a way public health experts felt was too restrictive.

The phases are not working; theyre hugely problematic, Perry Halkitis, dean of the Rutgers University School of Public Health, said last week. We have to have phases, but we want porous phases.

Murphy last week aimed to address some of those complaints by announcing the states first major expansion of the vaccination program, opening up shots for people 65 years old and over and people with conditions that put them at a greater risk of health complications related to COVID-19.

But even with expanded eligibility, New Jersey is still short vaccine doses, only having received 658,800 doses, according to the CDC. So eligible people are still finding it impossible to actually get the shot in their arms.

The shortage is unlikely to be resolved soon, officials said, because the state said it expects to receive only about 100,000 doses a week for the next month, with as many as 4 million people eligible for the vaccine.

Murphy on Tuesday said that the immediate future of the states vaccination program is unclear, because of a lack of information from the federal government on vaccine supply. And the governor expressed hope that it will improve soon.

Some of this is still not transparent or visible. I hope that tomorrow we get to a different and better place, Murphy said. If you listen to the companies, they will describe, Pfizer and Moderna will describe a different reality than the one that weve gotten from the feds.

My hope, is I dont think itll be tomorrow, unfortunately, but our collective hope is that gets to a different and better place very quickly.

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

Payton Guion may be reached at pguion@njadvancemedia.com.

In the first stage of the vaccination rollout, over 1 million citizens, including over 980,000 health care professionals and the residents and staff of the countrys care homes have been vaccinated so far, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said following a meeting of the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board on Wednesday.

Koca also noted that the country began vaccinating its citizens over the age of 90 as of Tuesday. Medical teams administered the vaccines to those in the age bracket in their homes.

Starting on Friday, medical teams will begin vaccinating citizens over the age of 85 in their homes, the statement added.

We are pushing the boundaries to provide as many citizens as possible access to the vaccine in the shortest amount of time possible, Koca added.

What are the stages of the vaccination rollout?

The stages of the rollout have been determined by evaluating the high-risk groups, potential exposure to the virus, the risks of spreading and transmitting the disease, and the negative impact of the disease on the functioning of social life. The vaccination will be administered to these groups in order.

The vaccination group order is available on the Ministry of Health website at the link below. Each group on the table is highlighted in green as the vaccinations are completed.

https://covid19asi.saglik.gov.tr/TR-77706/covid-19-asisi-ulusal-uygulama-stratejisi.html

Here is a translated version of the table for ease of understanding.

How do you find your priority status for the vaccine?

If you are a Turkish Citizen or have a Residence Permit, you can find information on your priority status via the e-nabiz personal health system  https://enabiz.gov.tr

To access the portal, you will need an e-devlet password (sifre). Your e-devlet password is available from the PTT (Post Office). You will need your Turkish ID number (starts with 99 for residents) and a Turkish telephone number. The cost of the password is 4 TL (price correct as of 21 January 2021).

Follow the steps below to access the e-nabiz system.

Go to https://enabiz.gov.tr and create an account. You will need your Turkish ID number and will be prompted to create a password  this is not your e-devlet password. You will receive a confirmation code via SMS so have your phone handy.

This is the screen youll see once youve signed in.

Initially the screen will be in Turkish however there is an option to select English on the left. Please note some screens are in Turkish so have Google Translate easily accessible too.

Select Login with e-Government and you will be taken to the e-devlet login screen.

You will be prompted to change your password. We recommend you make a note of your password in a secure place.

You will then be taken to a screen where you will complete your personal details  where you live, height, weight , blood group, telephone number.

Once that is competed, youre in and this is what you all see.

Select Please click to learn about your priority status for COVID-19 vaccine

Before your group is eligible for the vaccine you will receive the following message:

You are not in the priority group designated for COVID-19 pandemic vaccination. Your situation will be updated in line with daily evaluations of progress. If you are a healthcare worker, apply to the institution you work for and ensure that your information is updated. 

Once you are eligible for vaccination, you can make an appointment on e-enabiz, MHRS system or by calling 182.

We will monitor the system closely and bring you updates as we receive them.

Sources: https://www.sozcu.com.tr/2021/saglik/asi-sirasi-e-nabizda-corona-virus-asisi-uygulanacak-gruplar-yayinladi-6215137/

https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkey-to-increase-vaccine-capacity-health-minister-koca-says/news
Fit India Movement: PM Modi to interact with Kohli, Milind Soman among others

Where am I being sexist: Sunil Gavaskar clarifies his comment on Anushka Sharma

We want to protect privacy: Anushka, Virat appeal to paparazzi to not click their daughters picture

Virat-Anushka reveal name of their daughter

Virat-Anushka seen for 1st time post child's birth

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Mumbai, Jan 21: Team India Captain Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, were seen in public for first time after their daughter's birth on January 11.

"Thank you for respecting," said Anushka while referring to the couple's request to media photographers to "not take or carry any content" that has their child.

"We will...ensure...you get all the content...featuring us," they had said.

We want to protect privacy: Anushka, Virat appeal to paparazzi to not click their daughters picture

While Anushka Sharma was spotted in an all-denim look, her husband Virat opted for an all-black look.

They were on their way to a doctor's clinic.

The new parents sported face masks as a precautionary measure against COVID-19.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

The couple had requested the media persons not to click o publish pictures of their daughter.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 16:10 [IST]
Tory MPs last night demanded Boris Johnson agree to a timetable for lifting Covid lockdown restrictions by the beginning of March.

But on a visit to flood-hit Manchester, the Prime Minister said it was too early to tell when the crippling curbs would end.

Downing Street even refused to rule out the possibility of the third national lockdown stretching beyond the spring and into summer.

The 70-strong Covid Recovery Group of Conservative MPs is urging the PM to begin lifting the lockdown no later than the start of March and has called for the publication of a timetable to prevent further slippage.

'People must see light at the end of the tunnel and feel hope for the future and businesses need to be able to plan our recovery,' said the group's chairman Mark Harper.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a storm basin near the River Mersey in Didsbury on January 21, 2021 in Manchester, England

Government scientists yesterday urged ministers to delay the reopening of pubs and restaurants until at least May to prevent another wave of the virus. Whitehall sources suggested schools could remain shut to most pupils until after Easter.

Ministers meet today to discuss draconian travel curbs aimed at keeping out mutant Covid strains but which could also wreck the summer holiday plans of millions of families. Priti Patel last night said it was 'far too early to speculate' about whether foreign holidays would be possible this summer.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of the UK Hospitality trade body, said many pubs and restaurants would 'struggle to survive' if they were forced to keep their doors closed until May. She added: 'If we are forced to wait for a longer period then unfortunately there will be very little left of the hospitality sector  and the 3.2million people who work in it  to reopen at that point in May.'

A man walks past a closed pub in east London, Britain, 15 January 2021

Blinds cover the windows of a pub, temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, near Anfield stadium, in Liverpool, on January 17, 2021

In recent weeks, the Prime Minister has repeatedly spoken of a return to normality this spring. Last month he said: 'We're no longer resting on the mere hope that we can return to normal next year in the spring but rather the sure and certain knowledge that we will succeed.'

But asked directly whether the country was 'looking at summer rather than spring' for an easing of lockdown yesterday, he replied: 'I think it's too early to say when we'll be able to lift some of some of the restrictions.'

The PM said the new variant of the disease 'does spread very fast indeed', adding: 'It unquestionably will be a very tough few weeks ahead.'

No10 also refused to rule out an extended lockdown when asked to clarify Mr Johnson's remarks.

Asked directly whether he could rule out the lockdown lasting into the summer, the PM's official spokesman said: 'We will continue to keep all of the scientific evidence and data under review.

MELTDOWN IN THE HIGH STREET The embattled high street will shed 200,000 jobs in 2021 as shops close at a rate of 380 every week, experts warned yesterday. The Centre for Retail Research said retail will endure its worst year in a quarter of a century as tax breaks and Government support are withdrawn and the impact of the lockdown bites. The dire warning would mean that the next 12 months are even worse than 2020, which saw 16,130 shops close, or 310 every week. The retail industry employs around three million people. Shops are fighting to protect themselves from a mountain of rent and business rates costs, even as high streets remain shut. With scientists warning yesterday that much of the high street may have to wait until May before it can reopen, industry groups fear this would decimate the retail and hospitality sector. They had hoped shops would reopen sooner given the Government plans to vaccinate the most vulnerable groups by the middle of next month. Footfall is not expected to recover on high streets for up to two years. Professor Joshua Bamfield, head of the CRR, said: 'All sorts of damage was done last year which carries over to this year. You could argue 200,000 job losses is an underestimate.' Advertisement

'It remains our position that we want to ease restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so, but in order for us to do that we need to see the transmission rates of the virus come down and we need to see the pressure on the NHS reduce.'

A Government source insisted that the PM's comments did not amount to a change in the timetable for easing the lockdown.

'People should not read too much into this,' the source said. 'The PM wants to reopen as quickly as we safely can, but cases are very high and only coming down slowly  there has to be a degree of caution.'

Former Tory chief whip Mr Harper said the public now needed a timetable for easing the lockdown. Mr Harper, chairman of the Covid Recovery Group, said achieving the Government's target to vaccinate the 15million most vulnerable by February 15 should clear the way for restrictions to be lifted three weeks later when the vaccines had taken effect. 'Covid causes serious harm and it's vital we control it effectively,' he said. 'But this cycle of lockdowns and restrictions cause immense damage too  to people's health, livelihoods and businesses.

'Once the top four risk groups have been vaccinated and fully protected... the Government must start easing the restrictions.' But Government scientists and health chiefs warned it was much too soon to even contemplate easing restrictions.

Dr Vin Diwakar, medical director for the NHS in London said the pandemic was 'the biggest health emergency to face this country since the Second World War'.

Rounding on those still flouting the lockdown rules, he told a Downing Street press briefing: 'For me and my colleagues in the NHS breaking the rules.... is like switching on a light in the middle of the blackout in the Blitz.'

And Dr Marc Baguelin, of Imperial College London, who sits on a sub-group of the Government's Sage committee, said the early opening of the hospitality sector would lead to a rise in Covid cases. He told BBC Radio Four's World at One programme: 'Something of this scale, if it was to happen earlier than May, would generate a bump in transmission, which is already really bad.'

No Glasto in June for the second year

By Emma Powell for The Daily Mail

Glastonbury Festival has been cancelled for the second year running thanks to the pandemic.

The organisers say they 'moved heaven and earth' trying to make it happen but continuing uncertainty means Britain's biggest musical jamboree  attended by 200,000 fans in 2019  cannot go ahead.

It was due to celebrate its 50th anniversary last year but had to be called off days before the first lockdown in March.

Now organisers Michael and Emily Eavis say the 2021 event cannot go ahead. Sir Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift and rapper Kendrick Lamar were scheduled to headline the Pyramid stage and Diana Ross was the Sunday afternoon 'legend'.

People in the festival crowd enjoy watching Dizzee Rascal on the Pyramid stage during day two of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm on June 25, 2010 in Glastonbury, England

Primal Scream, Dua Lipa, Manic Street Preachers and Lana Del Ray were also on the bill.

The father and daughter Eavis team said yesterday: 'With great regret, we must announce that this year's Glastonbury Festival will not take place and that this will be another enforced fallow year for us.

'In spite of our efforts to move heaven and earth, it has become clear that we simply will not be able to make the festival happen.'

They said those who secured tickets with 50 deposits in 2019 will be able to roll this over to the next event in June 2022.

Disappointed fans due to descend on Worthy Farm, Somerset, from June 23-28 said the move was understandable, but Tory MP Julian Knight, chairman of the Commons culture committee, called it a 'devastating' blow and criticised the government's failure to set up an insurance scheme to save major events.

Tom Watson, head of UK Music, said such a backup scheme 'wouldn't have cost too much' and if Britain's vaccine rollout proved a success Glastonbury would have provided an ideal celebration.

Eurostar passengers down 94% of passengers

Eurostar passenger numbers plummeted 94 per cent at the end of 2020, it emerged yesterday, sparking fresh calls for a joint UK-French support package.

Officials from both sides continued talks yesterday in a bid to strike a deal amid fears the Channel Tunnel firm is facing bankruptcy.

Yesterday's figures reveal that, over the course of 2020, passenger numbers were down 77 per cent, dropping from just over 11 million in 2019 to 2.5 million.

Workers clean the platform area as a Eurostar train bound for Paris prepares to leave St Pancras International train station in London on January 18, 2021

The fall reached 94 per cent in the final quarter when passenger numbers were 170,010, compared with 2,624,943 in 2019.

One rescue option being discussed would involve the Bank of England providing funds from its Covid loan facility.

Industry projections suggest Eurostar, which is majority-owned by the French government, could go bust by April, although company insiders say reserves could stretch until summer. The UK Government sold its 40 per cent stake in Eurostar in 2015.

Cafes and bars could see 3.2m jobs axed

By Claire Ellicott and Sami Quadri for The Daily Mail

Hospitality chiefs issued a dire warning about the future of many businesses last night after doctors advised that the reopening of pubs and restaurants should be pushed back to May.

Industry leaders said that just one in five restaurants, pubs and bars had enough cash to get through beyond March.

It came after Sage scientists who advise the Government warned that the sector would have to stay closed until at least May to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, told Radio 4's The World At One that if the reopening of the sector was delayed until May, 3.2million could lose their jobs.

Diners in Old Compton Street, Soho, London, in August 2020

'Just one in five hospitality businesses are confident that they will have enough cash to get through beyond March,' she said. 'There is no way that businesses will be able to survive until May with no revenues coming in for seven months.

'It's a cash burn of half a billion pounds to keep the sector closed each and every month. If we are forced to wait for a longer period then unfortunately there will be little left of the hospitality sector and the 3.2million people who work in it to reopen at that point in May.'

She said she hoped that with the vaccination programme under way, there would be a 'pathway' to the lifting of restrictions.

'Otherwise I think you've got a danger that you have an impact on peoples' mental health and well-being and also their economic health and well-being,' she said.

A man wearing a face mask as a precautionary measure against COVID-19, walks past a closed pub in the City of London, on January 15, 2021

If the sector is closed until May, she warned, there would need to be a 'significant additional injection of cash support from the Government because the support at the moment is just not sufficient to sustain and maintain businesses and jobs'.

Doctors warned restaurants would not be able to open until May because it would push up the R rate.

Dr Marc Baguelin of Imperial College London, who sits on the Sage committee, said: 'We looked at partial reopening and the increase of the R number and found that it will generate an increase, the extent of which we don't really know.

'And if this was to happen earlier than May, it will generate a bump which is really bad ... at best you will carry on having a very unsustainable level of pressure on the NHS.'

School's out until Easter?

By Jason Groves for The Daily Mail

Schools could remain shut until after the Easter holidays unless virus cases fall dramatically in the coming weeks, it was feared last night.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday said he still hoped schools might be able to return after the February half-term.

But with Covid cases still at high levels, Downing Street refused to be drawn on the likely restart for millions of children stuck trying to learn from home.

And a government source acknowledged it was becoming 'increasingly difficult' to see how schools could be reopened next month, given the state of the pandemic.

During a round of media interviews yesterday, Mr Williamson insisted there would be no repeat of the shambolic episode at the start of this month when schools were ordered to close just one day after returning from the Christmas break.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday said he still hoped schools might be able to return after the February half-term (stock photo)

He said schools would get at least two weeks' notice of any order to reopen  suggesting that ministers will have to decide by February 8 whether classrooms will reopen for the start of the second half of the spring term on February 22.

Although Boris Johnson has prioritised the early reopening of schools, government scientists have warned that a return to the classroom could trigger another sharp spike.

'We have to be realistic about the situation we are in and the impact reopening schools might have,' a source told the Mail.

Dr Mary Bousted, of the National Education Union, said: 'After the chaos and confusion that government incompetence over school opening and closure has created, it is good we now have an assurance from Gavin Williamson that school staff will be given two weeks' notice before reopening.

'The last thing that parents and children need now is a stop-start approach. We all want schools to be open, but they must be opened when it is safe to do so, and when the conditions are right to keep schools open sustainably.'

Any delays will pile pressure on Mr Williamson to ensure high quality education is available to all those children forced to stay at home.

He said a further 1.3 million laptops, tablets and routers would be distributed to those in need in the coming weeks to widen access to online learning, providing the 'ultimate safety net' for disadvantaged pupils.

He added that he had 'made it clear to schools' what was the 'absolute minimum' they were expected to provide.

Mr Williamson said he wanted to get pupils back in the classroom at the 'earliest possible opportunity', adding: 'I would certainly hope that that would be before Easter.'

Downing Street confirmed that Mr Johnson wanted schools to reopen as quickly as possible but refused to be drawn on when that would be.

'If we can open them up before Easter we obviously will do but that is determined by the latest scientific evidence and data,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
It was 4.53 on the morning of November 18, 2011 when Castle Hill station officer Brett Johnson arrived at Quakers Hill Nursing Home, responding to a "run of the mill" fire alarm.

"I remember the time distinctly," Mr Johnson said, recalling the moment he was first confronted with the extent of the tragedy about to unfold.

The scene at Quakers Hill Nursing Home on the morning of the fire which resulted in 11 deaths. Credit:Dallas Kilponen

"I went into the building with my firefighters and saw the first seat of the fire in a room with no one in it, and I thought 'oh, this can be dealt with quite easily'.

"But as I came back out into the foyer, I looked the other way and saw, possibly 30 to 40 metres away, a door purging out with black smoke. That was the moment I knew."
Budget 2021: Aluminium industries look forward to supportive measures

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: The aluminium industry has urged the government to increase the basic custom duty on primary aluminium and aluminium scrap to 10 per cent, eliminate the cess on coal among others as the sector is going through a challenging phase and is under immense threat by rising imports.

In a representation to the government ahead of the Union Budget for 2021-22, the Aluminium Association of India said, "The Indian aluminium industry seeks immediate government support to tide over this challenging phase and look forward for supportive measures in the forthcoming Union Budget 2021-22.

Budget 2021: Auto dealers want FM to introduce vehicle depreciation benefits

In this regard, it said the Budget suggestions for aluminium industry are "increase in basic custom duty on aluminium scrap at par with primary metal to proposed 10 per cent, as in line with other non-ferrous metals like copper, zinc, lead, nickel, tin etc...elimination of cess on coal (GST Compensation cess of Rs 400/MT) to support highly power intensive industries like aluminium," among others.

The industry has also sought reduction in basic custom duty and correction of inverted duty structure on critical raw materials for aluminium industry value chain like aluminium fluoride and coal tar pitch.

"The Indian aluminium industry is going through a challenging phase and is under immense threat by rising imports, declining domestic market share, increasing production and logistics costs," it said.

These challenges have been further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic which has adversely impacted the domestic demand for aluminium.

At the same time, the industry is not able to compete effectively in the global markets as the burden of central and state taxes and levies amounting to 15 per cent of aluminium production cost puts the domestic industry in a significant disadvantage compared to its global peers.

"In this context, the Indian aluminium industry under representation from Aluminium Association of India urges the Union Government for support," it said.

Budget 2021: PM Modi to chair all-party meeting on January 30 virtually

India is one of the fastest growing economies and fastest emerging markets in the world and aluminium industry plays a vital role in the nation's economy and the country's vision for an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Aluminium is an essential commodity for various other industries/SMEs due to its critical role in diversified applications crucial for economy like energy security, national defence, infrastructure, electrification, aerospace, automobile, consumer durables, packaging etc.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

The Union Budget will be presented on February 1.

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Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 12:11 [IST]
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

The European Parliament has adopted resolutions on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy  annual report 2020 and on the implementation of the Common Security and Defense Policy annual report 2020 in which the European Parliament pays special attention to Nagorno-Karabakh and condemns Turkeys interference in the recent war.

Article 24 of the resolution says that the European Parliament ''Takes good note of the agreement on a complete ceasefire in and around Nagorno-Karabakh signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia on 9 November 2020; hopes that this agreement will save the lives of both civilians and military personnel and open brighter perspectives for a peaceful settlement of this deadly conflict; regrets that changes to the status quo were made through military force, rather than peaceful negotiations; strongly condemns the killing of civilians and destruction of civilian facilities and places of worship, condemns the reported use of cluster munitions in the conflict; urges both Armenia and Azerbaijan to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which comprehensively bans their use, without further delay; stresses that a lasting settlement still remains to be found and that the process of achieving peace and determining the regions future legal status should be led by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs and founded on the groups Basic Principles ; highlights the urgent need to ensure that humanitarian assistance can reach those in need, that the security of the Armenian population and its cultural heritage in Nagorno-Karabakh is ensured, and that internally displaced persons and refugees are allowed to return to their former places of residence; calls for all allegations of war crimes to be duly investigated and those responsible to be brought to justice; calls on the EU to be more meaningfully involved in the settlement of the conflict and not to leave the fate of the region in the hands of other powers'.

In Article 38, the European Parliament strongly condemns the destabilizing role of Turkey which further undermines the fragile stability in the whole of the South Caucasus region; calls on Turkey to refrain from any interference in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, including offering military support to Azerbaijan, and to desist from its destabilizing actions and actively promote peace; condemns, furthermore, the transfer of foreign terrorist fighters by Turkey from Syria and elsewhere to Nagorno-Karabakh, as confirmed by international actors, including the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries; regrets its willingness to destabilize the OSCE Minsk Group as it pursues ambitions of playing a more decisive role in the conflict.

In the resolution on the implementation of the Common Security and Defense Policy, the European Parliament welcomes the cessation of hostilities in and around Nagorno-Karabakh; underlines with concern the military involvement of third countries in the conflict and notably the destabilizing role and interference of Turkey; calls for an international investigation into the alleged presence of foreign fighters and use of cluster munitions and phosphorous bombs; calls on the European Union and international bodies to ensure that there is no impunity for war crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh and for the use of prohibited weapons in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; insists on the need to allow humanitarian aid to get through, to proceed without delay with the exchange of prisoners and casualties, and on the need to preserve the cultural heritage of Nagorno-Karabakh.
(Newser)  President Trump issued a final pardon before his presidency endedand it wasn't for himself, a family member, or Joe Exotic. In a statement issued less than an hour before President Biden was sworn in, when Trump had already landed in Florida en route to Mar-a-Lago, the White House announced that a full pardon had been granted to Albert Pirro, ex-husband of Fox host Jeanine Pirro, ABC reports. In 2000, Albert Pirro was sentenced to 29 months in prison on conspiracy and tax evasion charges. Prosecutors said he improperly deducted $1.2 million in personal expenses as a business tax write-off.

story continues below

Sources tell CNN that Jeanine Pirrowho supported Trump's false election fraud claims on her Justice With Judge Jeanine showlobbied Trump for a pardon after her ex-husband wasn't included on the list of 143 pardons and commutations released early Wednesday. The sources say White House aides were surprised by the last-minute order and had to scramble to make the pardon happen before noon. Jeanine Pirro has been one of Trump's staunchest allies on Fox, and this isn't the first favor he's done for her: In 2019, when her show was suspended after remarks on Rep. Ilhan Omar's hijab, Trump urged Fox to bring her show back, blaming "Radical Left Democrats" and the "Fake News Media" for the suspension. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
Navalny files appeal against detention

 Screenshot

18:42 21/01/2021

MOSCOW, January 21 (RAPSI)  Alexey Navalny and his defense have filed an appeal against a ruling of the Moscow Regions Khimki Town Court to detain the blogger for 30 days, his attorney Vadim Kobzev has told RAPSI.

On January 17, the blogger was arrested at the Sheremetyevo Airport on his return from Germany based on the search warrant issued in late December. Upon a court order, he was placed in detention until February 15.

In December 2014, he received a 3.5-year suspended sentence, a 500,000-ruble fine for embezzlement and 5-year probation after the sentence is served. In August 2017, probation was extended for a year.

In late December 2020, FSIN officials warned Navalny of the possible replacement of his suspended sentence with a real prison term because of breaching obligations imposed by court and evasion of the penitentiary control.

According to the penitentiary authorities, Navalny left a German hospital yet in September. However, he has failed to appear in a correctional inspection as necessary since then.

On August 20, a plane departed from Tomsk to Moscow with Navalny onboard urgently landed in Omsk after the blogger became heartily sick. He was taken to a hospital in coma. Later, he was transported to Berlin. Russian medics said no poison was found in his body.

Currently, the blogger is also a defendant in two other criminal cases: over fraud and defamation against war veteran Ignat Artemenko.




As Democrats took control of the Senate today, distributing the $1,400 third stimulus checks to Americans is one of their priorities.

In President Joe Biden's revelations of a new $1.9 trillion deal, he details the COVID-19 relief cash. Biden also unveiled that he aims to send the third $1,400 stimulus checks to Americans.

Within the thinnest of margins, Democrats still got the victory to control the Senate after Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock's twin victories in the Georgia runoff. Today, senators are sworn, clinching the party by 50-50 split in the upper chamber.

Therefore, Vice-President Kamala Harris will be the one to cast a vote as a tie-breaker and would make it a good start for Biden's stimulus check plans to go through.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer vowed to pass legislation to provide Americans with $2,000 stimulus checks and be one of the first orders of discussion in the new Senate.

According to The Sun, American households have already received two stimulus payments since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Stimulus check is less than what Biden promised

However, many Americans hoped for a fresh round of stimulus checks worth $2,000. The next wave of payments would be $1,400 under Biden's plan, a supplement of the $600 stimulus checks signed into action by Trump under that $900 billion stimulus plan in late December 2020.

During the runoff elections, on behalf of Warnock and Ossoff, President Biden said their election would hasten the direct payment delivery. This month. Democrats last controlled the White House, Senate, and House.

Read also: Americans Who Choose To Use Their Stimulus Money To Help Those in Need

$1,400 stimulus payments unlikely to be passed by January

The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan called the American Rescue Plan seemed to face pushback from Republican lawmakers, as per CNBC. Last year, Republicans resisted Democrats' $2 trillion bill. Hunter Hammond, Heights Securities analyst, expects the ultimate package to be trimmed to $1-$1.5 trillion. However, most analysts claim lawmakers on both parties will back the $1,400 stimulus checks, which economists suggest as lifelines for many workers who lost their jobs or plumbed their income during the pandemic.

According to IB Times, millions of Americans would wait for another month to get their stimulus checks. Experts claim it is unlikely that Biden's $1,9 trillion bill will be passed in January.

Biden unveiled the latest coronavirus relief proposal Thursday evening, including provisions for funding the small business, aid for local, state, and tribal governments, as well as the third round of stimulus payments worth $1,400.

The process of passing the new stimulus bill may take several weeks, even if Democrats are expected to take control of both the House and the Senate. The earliest Congress could approve Biden's rescue package potentially would be in early February, as per the IBT.

Experts warned that Congress might pass a one-off bill to boost the amount of stimulus checks to $2,000 from $600. But the passing of the $2 trillion bill might take weeks of talks between Democrats and Republicans.

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J oe Exotic has hit out at Donald Trumps failure to pardon him before leaving office, suggesting the ex-presidents decision was motivated by homophobia and corruption.

The Tiger King star had desperately hoped to be granted clemency by the outgoing leader but was not added to the list of nearly 150 high-profile beneficiaries.

The 57-year-old, who is currently serving a 22-year jail sentence for plotting to kill his rival Carole Baskin and for animal cruelty, was so confident he would be released that his legal team arranged for a limousine to pick him up from the prison gates.

But Exotic, real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage, did not feature among the 143 names released on Wednesday morning, which included rapper Lil Wayne and Mr Trumps former chief strategist Steve Bannon.

The former zoo keeper responded with fury to the omission, tweeting: I was too innocent and too GAY to deserve a Pardon from Trump."

He then hit out at the former presidents son, who had reportedly met with Exotics lawyers to discuss his potential reprieve.

Donald Trump pardons former strategist Steve Bannon

I only mattered to Don Jr. when he needed to make a comment about me to boost his social media post, the thwarted Netflix favourite wrote.

Boy were we all stupid to believe he actually stood for Equal Justice? His corrupt friends all come first.

In his pardon application filed in September, Exotics lawyers argued that he was railroaded and betrayed by others.

The 57-year-old is scheduled to be released from custody in 2037, but his lawyers said in the application that he will likely die in prison because of health concerns.

Exotic was jailed for plotting to have animal rights campaigner Baskin murdered. / Netflix

Meanwhile, Baskin, 59, welcomed news that her former adversary would stay behind bars.

She wrote on social media: I am thankful that Joe Schreibvogel Maldonado Passage was not granted a pardon.

Baskin said a notice she received from the prison system appeared to say Exotic has had an extra month added to his sentence for not obeying prison rules.
It is extremely important for Ukraine and Europe that Belarus remains a sovereign and independent state, free from Russian influence.

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar made a corresponding statement during a video conference "Democratic and secure Belarus. A view from Ukraine and Poland", Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bodnar paid special attention to Russia's influence on internal processes in Belarus.

"It is extremely important for Ukraine and the whole of Europe that Belarus remains a sovereign and independent state, free from Russian influence. Ukraine is ready to cooperate in various formats in order to assist Belarus in resolving the political crisis," Bodnar said.

The participants stressed their readiness to continue the dialogue, in particular within the framework of the Lublin Triangle (Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania) in order to provide solidarity support to the Belarusian people and promote the further development of Belarus as an independent and democratic state.

The video conference was initiated by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov and Head of the National Security Bureau of Poland Pawe Soloch.

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COVID-19 vaccinations are underway in many countries, including in the United States and the United Kingdom--both countries with high number of cases and deaths--with the Pfizer BioNTech coronavirus vaccine and the Oxford AstraZeneca dosages.

First Dose Only 33% Effective?

Nevertheless, an Israeli official has warned that the Pfizer vaccine is not as effective as what the public hoped.

In a report by Business Insider, Nachman Ash, the appointed leader against the coronavirus response in Israel, said that a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine is "less effective than we had thought."

According to the report, Ash says that the first dosage of the Pfizer vaccine is only 33% effective.

In context, Pfizer and BioNTech say that the first dosage has an efficacy rate of 52% while taking the second shot would increase that to 95%.

The COVID-19 vaccine is indeed designed to be given in two shots, with the second dosage given after three weeks, as per the clinical trials, and exactly how the country will be distributing theirs, which is deemed as one of the fastest nations in the vaccination program.

Read More: How Sleep Can Help Our Bodies Fight COVID-19

Possible Delays in the US, UK

According to Our World in Data, Israel has already vaccinated 32.4% of its population as of writing, which means they may be able to provide the second dose on schedule.

However, this could lead to certain issues, especially in the United Kingdom as they prioritize giving everyone the first dose of the vaccine, meaning the second shot may be delayed for as long as 12 weeks.

By now, the UK is hoping that partial immunity in many people would be better than full immunity in some.

There may also be some concerns within the United States even though incoming US President Joe Biden plans to vaccinate everyone the first and second dosages on schedule, but there could be delays on the second dose as President Biden wants to release all available dosages to maximize the number of vaccinated citizens.

No Strategy Changes in the UK

Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific adviser of the United Kingdom said in an interview with Sky News that they will have to look "very carefully" at the level of protection the British citizens are getting.

Furthermore, Vallance said they would have to "just keep measuring the numbers" of the shots being given to the people.

There is no mention of any strategy changes yet, but the UK official did say that he did not expect the rate to be "as low" as what Ash has claimed, but they did expect that the real-world effectiveness of the vaccine is expected to be lower than in clinical trials.

Scientists from the UK have also said in December that there is reported evidence that the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine would increase to an 89% efficacy rate after 10 days of being vaccinated.

This could mean that the first dose won't offer that much protection against COVID-19 for the first ten days of receiving it.

Besides the Pfizer vaccine, the UK is also distributing AstraZeneca vaccines to its citizens.

Related Article: COVID-19 Vaccine Trials: US Kids Reportedly Sign Up for Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca Tests

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by: Nhx Tingson

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
WNS (Holdings) Ltd on Thursday reported a marginal increase in net profit at $31 million for October-December quarter of the ongoing financial year. The company had posted a net profit of $30.9 million in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue declined 0.3 per cent year-on-year to $238.4 million during October-December quarter, but rose 4.7 per cent sequentially.

"Year-over-year, fiscal Q3 revenue was adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic including lower volume requirements from certain clients and service delivery constraints resulting from the transition to a "work from home" delivery model. These headwinds more than offset the year-over-year revenue growth driven by new client additions, the expansion of existing relationships, and currency movements net of hedging," the company said in a release.

It attributed the sequential rise in revenue to broad-based revenue growth across verticals, services and geographies, and currency movements net of hedging.

"Year-over-year, profit improvement was the result of reductions in travel, facility-related and discretionary expenditures, favourable currency movements net of hedging, and lower amortization of intangible expense. These benefits more than offset headwinds from the COVID-19 pandemic including revenue reductions and increased business continuity costs," it added.

Besides, the company recorded a higher effective tax rate versus last year, driven by the geographic mix of profit.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on the company's performance, and WNS is actively working to manage clients' changing requirements, adapt service delivery models, ensure data security, and manage costs. "Going forward, impacts to our financial performance will be a function of how long the COVID-19 pandemic lasts on a global basis, and how long it takes our clients' businesses to stabilize and recover," it said.

The business process management (BPM) company's revenue less repair payments declined 1.6 per cent to $224.5 million in October-December. It updated its revenue less repair payments guidance for fiscal year ending March 2021 to between $860 million to $870 million from $896.2 million in fiscal 2020.

"Our guidance for the full year reflects a reduction in revenue less repair payments of -4% to -3% on both a reported and constant currency basis. We currently have over 99% visibility to the midpoint of the range, consistent with January guidance in previous years," WNS Chief Financial Officer Sanjay Puria said.

Its chief executive officer Keshav Murugesh said, "During the third quarter, we also re-initiated global hiring in support of both signed new business and a healthy sales pipeline. Looking forward, while we continue to expect some COVID-related volatility in our business over the next few quarters, we believe the long-term BPM market opportunity continues to improve."

WNS added nine new clients during October-December and expanded 14 existing relationships. Its global head count stood at 42,830 as of December 31, 2020.

Also read: Republic Day: Traffic police issues advisory; check road diversions in Delhi, Noida

Also read: COVID-19 positive children more likely to transfer infection than adults: Lancet
Joe Biden, a man not long ago dismissed as having missed his moment, looked extraordinarily suited to the historic one he stepped into upon his inauguration Wednesday. His long Washington experience and old-fashioned centrism, often rated as liabilities in todays politics, offer hope for a restoration of competence and common purpose in a nation divided and adrift in a sea of troubles.

This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, Biden said in his inaugural address. And unity is the path forward. We must meet this moment as the United States of America.

The newly sworn president spoke in a ceremony steeped in the circumstances he described: to an inaugural crowd shrunk by precautions against the pandemic, guarded by an army arrayed against the kind of violence that recently breached the U.S. Capitol behind him.

In the shadow of that shattering of the time-honored peaceful transfer of power, Biden acknowledged that unity is no matter of easy platitudes but rather the most elusive of all things in a democracy. To that end, he fittingly paraphrased Lincolns comment on signing the Emancipation Proclamation, saying his whole soul is in the project of bringing the country together. He also alluded to Lincolns first inaugural address, one of few delivered to a more divided nation, in gauging the difficulty and hope of overcoming catastrophe and strife, urging us to see a terrible winter as holding both peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain

Through Civil War, the Great Depression, world war, 9/11  through struggle, sacrifice and setbacks  our better angels have always prevailed, Biden said. In each of these moments, enough of us ... have come together to carry all of us forward.

Bidens history-making former running mate, Barack Obama, also referred to Lincolns first inaugural on being elected president. The ex-vice presidents choice of running mate, former California Sen. Kamala Harris, demonstrated Bidens grasp of what it takes to heal after a year of mass protests over police violence against African Americans. The president cited the struggles of African Americans and women in introducing the new vice president, concluding, Dont tell me things cant change.

Harris, who became the nations first woman, first African American and first Asian American to hold the nations second-highest office, joined Biden months after landing a severe blow to his campaign for the nomination. After the longtime senator boasted of his ability to find accord with segregationists in the chamber, Harris blasted his opposition to busing from the perspective of her experience as a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools.

Unity is hard, that is, as Biden has come to understand. His campaign was ultimately rescued by his support among African Americans, starting in South Carolina with the endorsement of Rep. James Clyburn. But comity and compromise arent always possible: not with the political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront; not with those arrayed against our fragile democracy, which at this hour ... has prevailed; and not with another rampant ill unleashed and emboldened by Bidens predecessor, lies told for power and for profit.

There is truth, and there are lies, said Biden, whose decisive victory is doubted by an alarming share of Republicans. And each of us has a duty ... to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Biden and Harris began to show the way toward defeating the lies on the eve of their inauguration by hosting a memorial for the 400,000 Americans lost to the pandemic, whom the president paused to acknowledge again in his address. It was a startling reminder that no such national mourning took place under an administration that relentlessly dodged responsibility for the disaster and denied its reality. For many months, we have grieved by ourselves, Harris said Tuesday. Tonight, we grieve and begin healing together.

President Biden called on us to finally face this pandemic  as well as racial inequity, economic deprivation and the climate crisis  as one nation, signaling a refreshing determination to lead us in doing so. It wont be easy, but we have already endured the grim alternative.

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.
Washington: Within hours of his inauguration, US President Joe Biden returned the US to the international Paris Agreement to fight climate change, the centrepiece of a raft of day-one executive orders aimed at restoring US leadership in combating global warming.

The announcements also included a sweeping order to review all of former President Donald Trump's actions weakening climate change protections, the revocation of a vital permit for TC Energy's Keystone XL oil pipeline project from Canada, and a moratorium on oil and gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that Trump's administration had recently opened to development.

President Joe Biden signs his first executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House. Credit:AP

The orders by the newly sworn-in President will mark the start of a major policy reversal in the worlds second-largest greenhouse gas emitter behind China, after the Trump administration pilloried climate science and rolled back environmental regulation to maximise fossil fuel development.

Biden has promised to put the United States on a track to net-zero emissions by 2050 to match the steep and swift global cuts that scientists say are needed to avoid the most devastating impacts of global warming, using curbs on fossil fuels and massive investments in clean energy.
China on Thursday called for improved ties with the United States as it congratulated President Joe Biden on his inauguration and welcomed his decision to rejoin the World Health Organization (WHO).



But there were signs that Washington would likely continue the Trump administration's policy of ending engagement with the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the hope of enabling political change.



"With cooperation from both sides, the better angels in China-US relations will beat the evil forces," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing in Beijing, calling for "unity" in bilateral ties in a reference to Biden's inauguration speech.



But Washington hit out at sanctions on U.S. officials imposed by Beijing in the last days of the Trump administration, calling them "unproductive and cynical."



As Biden was sworn in, Beijing announced visa bans targeting outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, 27 other top officials and their families, accusing them of interference in its internal affairs.



Former Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, former National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien, former U.N. ambassador Kelly Craft, and recently resigned Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger were among those sanctioned, as were former national security adviser John Bolton and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.



"Imposing these sanctions on Inauguration Day is seemingly an attempt to play to partisan divides," Biden's National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement.



"Americans of both parties should criticize this unproductive and cynical move. President Biden looks forward to working with leaders in both parties to position America to out-compete China," Horne said.



Meanwhile, Biden's Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken said he agreed with Pompeo's assessment that the mass incarceration of at least 1.5 million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in "re-education" camps in Xinjiang and policies aimed at eradicating Uyghur culture amounted to genocide.

Low-key reporting



Chinese state media reporting on Biden's inauguration remained low-key, with the most commentary allocated to the tabloid Global Times newspaper in English, which has close ties to CCP mouthpiece the People's Daily.



"In the Global Times' view, [Biden] ... is much more rational than his predecessor Donald Trump," the paper said in an editorial. "China can be a partner with the U.S. in fighting COVID-19, resolving climate problems and promoting growth."



"If both the U.S. and China focus on doing their own things well and stop fighting against each other, the ... world will also be much more harmonious," it said.



But it hit out at the U.S. for inviting Hsiao Bi-khim, representing the democratic island of Taiwan, to the inauguration ceremony, noting Blinken's endorsement of Trump's China policy on Tuesday.



It blamed the Trump administration for worsening bilateral ties.



"During the past four years, China-U.S. relations have deteriorated," it said. "All conflicts have been provoked by Washington."



Wu Qiang, a former politics lecturer at Beijing's Tsinghua University, said he is expecting a mixture of competition and cooperation in Biden's China policy.



"They will likely inherit Trumps tendency towards adversarial competition," Wu said. But he said he expected "multiple channels of dialogue" nonethless.



"This will be a confrontational form of cooperation, a combination of confrontation and cooperation," he said.



"I believe that China will have to accept these so-called attempts at dialogue from the U.S., because that has been lacking in Sino-U.S. relations," he said. "Beijing will likely hand out some kind of olive branch in a bid to restart dialogue."



Chinese scholar Ma Guoqiang said Beijing is definitely hoping for a better relationship with Washington under Biden.



"They definitely want to see it developing in the direction of detente, because it will be more conducive to the CCP's goals for future development," Ma said.

Twitter bans Chinese Embassy



Beijing's call for a better relationship came as the social networking site Twitter blocked the official account of the Chinese Embassy in Washington after it tweeted in support of Beijing's policies in Xinjiang.



Twitter locked the account over a Jan. 7 tweet referring to Uyghur women as baby-making machines prior to government intervention.



"We have taken action on this Tweet for violating our policy against dehumanization," Twitter said in a statement reported by Bloomberg.



Twitter prohibits dehumanization of a group of people based on their "religion, caste, age, disability, serious disease, national origin, race, or ethnicity."



Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Multiple windows were shattered at the William Kenzo Nakamura Courthouse in Seattle, Wash., on Jan. 20, 2020. (Seattle Police Department)

Antifa in Seattle and Portland Smash Property, Oppose Biden, Police: We Are Ungovernable

Far-left activists vandalized buildings and clashed with police in the Pacific Northwest on Jan. 20, voicing their opposition to the government, law enforcement, and the freshly sworn-in President Joe Biden, with some carrying signs reading, We are ungovernable.

In Portland, black-clad activists with their faces covered broke windows and the glass door at the Democratic Party of Oregon business office, spray-painting an anarchist symbol over the party sign, video posted on social media showed. Some of them tipped over garbage containers and lit the contents on fire, according to reports.

We dont want Biden. We want revenge for police murders, imperialist wars, and fascist massacres, read a banner they marched under, while others carried a banner saying, We are not governable, which was dotted with anarchy symbols.

Portland Police confronted a crowd that gathered outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement building near downtown, with some in the crowd later burning a flag in the street.

According to KATU, the protest was billed as a demonstration against the Biden inauguration and law enforcement. At one point, demonstrators were approached by Portland Police officers on bicycles, with some people in the group taking an officers bike and throwing objects at retreating police.

Eight people were arrested in Portland on charges that include rioting and reckless burning.

In Seattle, Antifa activists marched into the iconic Pike Place Market to smash up property, with video from the scene showing broken windows in a Starbucks. A group of black-clad activists marched along the street, kicking over garbage containers, carrying a tattered American flag with the anarchy sign spray-painted on it.

Some spray-painted buildings with an anarchist symbol and smashed windows, including at the William Kenzo Nakamura Courthouse, a federal building, according to KOMO.

No Cops, Prisons, Borders, Presidents, said one banner that they marched under, according to The New York Times.

Police announced that two people were arrested during the unrest, one for property damage and another for assault.

Police are monitoring a group in #DowntownSeattle. Multiple sites have been vandalized. One arrest made for property damage. pic.twitter.com/oLfIsGt5Af  Seattle Police Dept. (@SeattlePD) January 21, 2021

Officers made a third arrest later in the evening after the glass storefront was shattered at the Starbucks in Pike Place Market, according to KOMO.

Seattle and Portland have been the scene of unrest for months, with a mix of protestersincluding anarchists, Antifa, and other far-left groups, as well as civil rights activistsvoicing various grievances and sometimes engaging in violence, damaging property, and clashing with police.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 19:15:40|Editor: huaxia

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Passengers register their information on arrival at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport in Gaborone, Botswana, June 3, 2020. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)



The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced the commencement of COVID-19 vaccines pre-order program for all African Union (AU) members.

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), has announced the commencement of COVID-19 vaccines pre-order program for all African Union (AU) members.

The move by the Africa Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP), on behalf of the Africa CDC, came a week after the announcement by the South African President and African Union (AU) Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa, on January 14 that the AU has secured a provisional 270 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for Africa through its COVID-19 African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT).

"The AMSP, on behalf of the Africa CDC, today commenced the COVID-19 vaccines pre-order programme for all AU members," an Africa CDC statement read.

The African Export-Import Bank (AfreximBank) will facilitate payments by providing advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to 2 billion U.S. dollars to the manufacturers on behalf of the members.

Students work at a hand sanitizer manufacturing station at the University of Zimbabwe in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, Sept. 22, 2020. (Photo by Tafara Mugwara/Xinhua)



According to the Africa CDC, the initiative offers an equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines doses for the 55 AU members.

"These are historical times. For the first time in history, Africa has secured access to millions of vaccine doses in the middle of a pandemic as most of Western countries," the statement quoted the AU Special Envoy, Strive Masiyiwa, as saying.

"There is still a huge shortage of vaccine doses and that is why this continental collaboration has designed a fair allocation coupled with timely and equitable access of COVID-19 vaccines across the continent," Masiyiwa.

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Benedict Oramah, also stressed that the AfreximBank is proud to expand its support to African economies in their bid to contain the pandemic.

"Our vaccine financing facility builds on the success of our Pandemic Trade Impact Mitigation Facility (PATIMFA) to open access to COVID-19 vaccines to African states based on a whole-of-Africa approach favored by the African Union," Oramah said.

"By providing advance procurement commitment guarantees of up to 2 billion dollars to candidate vaccine manufacturers, Afreximbank will ensure that African states are able to rapidly access COVID-19 vaccines, at competitive prices and in a timely manner thereby contributing to saving lives and livelihoods," he added. 
[January 21, 2021] BullseyeEngagement Appoints Raquel Furrer as Chief Customer Success Officer

BullseyeEngagement LLC today announced that it has named Raquel Furrer as its Chief Customer Success Officer. In this role, Furrer will be responsible for both expanding Bullseye's customer base and ensuring that all customers have an outstanding experience using Bullseye's human capital management software solutions. Furrer will assume her new role immediately. Furrer joined Bullseye in late 2019 as Vice President of Client Services and Success after more than 15 years' experience as a human resource executive in global companies. Her corporate experiences included global HR transformation, change management strategy, HR shared services management, succession planning, talent management, talent acquisition, employee relations and organizational development. In her last position before joining Bullseye, she was the system administrator for her company's use of several of Bullseye's software solutions. Befor assuming corporate management roles, Furrer started her own staffing and consulting firm, providing services to many Fortune 500 firms over several years.



Commenting on Furrer's appointment, Adeel Zaidi, CEO of Bullseye, stated "With her blend of entrepreneurial and corporate experience, Raquel is exceptionally well-suited for this new role. She connects personally with our primary customer audience because she has stood in their shoes and understands the issues they face in dealing with HR technology. She is a highly motivated executive, and I am very excited to see what she can accomplish in her expanded role." About BullseyeEngagement

BullseyeEngagement is a leading provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management Software Solutions. Bullseye's platform provides Talent Development, Employee Engagement, Succession Planning, Workforce Planning, and Leadership Business Intelligence Solutions in one simple, intuitive, integrated portal. Learn more at www.bullseyeengagement.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005766/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 22:38:45|Editor: huaxia

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Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, takes part in the group discussion to review several bills, including a draft revision to the Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention, a draft revision to the Administrative Penalty Law and a draft decision on establishing the Beijing Financial Court during the 25th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers held group discussions on Wednesday to review several bills, including a draft revision to the Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention and a draft decision on establishing the Beijing Financial Court.

The discussions took place during the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, with Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, taking part.

The legislators said it is imperative to amend the Law on Animal Epidemic Prevention as the country seeks to better safeguard biosecurity and public health security, and they suggested the draft be passed during the session.

Lawmakers also deliberated a draft revision to the Administrative Penalty Law and a draft decision on establishing the Beijing Financial Court. Suggestions on improving the drafts were raised during the discussions.

They agreed that it is necessary to establish the court to improve China's judicial system for finance-related cases and further enhance the country's say in the international financial judiciary field. Enditem

Ever since the Gujarat government changed the name of of the lotus-shaped dragon fruit to Kamalam, social media has been floodeing with too many meme games.

On Tuesday, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the government has applied for a patent to change the nomenclature of dragon fruit to 'Kamalam'. According to Rupani, the word dragon for the fruit sounded inappropriate, so the Gujarat government had decided for the fruit to be called as Kamalam.

While interacting with the media during the launch of the Chief Minister Horticulture Development Mission, Rupani said, "We have applied for the patent of the Dragon fruit to be called as Kamalam. But as of now, we the Gujarat government have decided to call the fruit as Kamalam."

ALSO READ: Kamala Harris' Inauguration Dress Representing Suffragette Was Created By Two Black Designers

Rupani pointed out that 'Kamalam' is a Sanskrit word and the fruit does have the shape of the lotus. However, she cleared that "there's nothing political about it."

However, for social media, the matter went beyond politics, when netizens started replacing the word 'dragon' in any phrase with 'kamalam' resulting in new and hilarious names. For example, from 'How to Train Your Dragon' to 'How to Train your Kamalam'. And this is nothing, the creativity of desi Twitter will leave you in splits.

How to train your Kamalam Mayank (@wishful_writerr) January 20, 2021

The Girl With The Kamalam Tattoo. Satbir Singh (@thesatbir) January 20, 2021

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Kamalam Mansi Says Hello (@MansiSaysHello) January 20, 2021

kamalamball z manishalakhe (@manishalakhe) January 20, 2021

Bhutan .. The land of thunder Kamalans simmi roy mishra (@simmir) January 20, 2021

Kamalam Heart  Naveen Choudhry (@NaveenChoudhry) January 20, 2021

Earlier, plenty other netizens including author Veena Venugopal, wondered whether Rupani's recommendation for a name change was a way to pay tribute to the newly sworn-in US Vice President Kamala Harris. The 56-year-old California Senator has scripted history by becoming the first woman of colour and Indian-American vice president of the United States.

ALSO READ: Was The Dragonfruit Renamed as a Tribute to Kamala Harris? What Desi Twitter Wants to Know

Author Veena Venugopal, took to Twitter to convey her best wishes and said, "What an exciting day for Kamala Harris. Congratulations for being the new name for dragon fruit. Oh and the new job."

What an exciting day for Kamala Harris. Congratulations for being the new name for dragon fruit. Oh and the new job pic.twitter.com/8uIkIFAxRS Veena Venugopal (@veenavenugopal) January 20, 2021

Harris is known for many firsts including being one of the only three Asian Americans in the Senate and she's the first Indian-American ever to serve in the chamber.

On Wednesday, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris took oath as the 49th Vice President, amidst heightened security concerns after a mob of pro-Trump extremists violently breached the Capitol two weeks ago.
Today, Vow CEO Henrik Badin presented the company at Pareto Securities' Power & Renewable Energy Conference, an online event for investors with leading players in the energy space on stage.

In the presentation, Badin elaborated on the company's broad offering of technologies and services for landbased industries in general, and its plans for Vow Industries in particular. With the launch of Vow Industries, Vow is taking the first steps to expand its business beyond being a provider of technology and solutions.

Vow Industries' business idea is to build, own and operate plants that valorise waste and produce biogenic raw materials that will help industry decarbonize, and produce CO2 neutral gas and hydrogen (decarbonized energy), low-carbon fuels and CO2 removal certificates. Vow Industries plans to build its first plant at Follum in Eastern Norway.

"With Vow Industries our ambition is to deliver 'decarbonising as a service' to industrial players which are undergoing significant restructuring in order to achieve their goals of CO2 neutrality", CEO Henrik Badin said.

For more information about Vow Industries, please see Vow's Newsweb announcement on 15 December 2020) and the attached presentation.

For further queries, please contact:



Vow ASA

Henrik Badin - CEO

Tel: + 47 90 78 98 25

Email: henrik.badin@vowasa.com

In Vow and our subsidiaries Scanship and Etia we are passionate about preventing pollution. Our world leading solutions convert biomass and waste into valuable resources and generate clean and CO2 neutral energy for a wide range of industries.



Cruise ships on every ocean have Vow technology inside which processes waste and purifies wastewater. Fish farmers are adopting similar solutions, and public utilities and industries use our solutions for sludge processing, waste management and biogas production on land.

Our ambitions go further than this. With our advanced technologies and solutions, we turn waste into biogenetic fuels to help decarbonize industry and convert plastic waste into fuel, clean energy and high-value pyro carbon. Our solutions are scalable, standardized, patented and thoroughly documented, and our capability to deliver is well proven. They are key to end waste and stop pollution.

Located in Oslo, the parent company Vow ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker VOW from 13 January 2020).

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

Attachment
The University of Manchester has been mercilessly ridiculed by students after suggesting they 'can beat their January blues by learning how to fold their socks'.

On Blue Monday, dubbed 'the most depressing day of the year', the institution shared a social media post detailing five 'foolproof ways' to keep happy during the pandemic.

The bizarre suggestions included discovering how to fold your socks, 'learning how to parallel park', being present in the moment and helping others amid the third national lockdown.

Floods of baffled students couldn't help but mock the unusual advice on Twitter, with one complaining that the random tips came 'on the first day' of their exam season.

The University of Manchester gave students unusual tips to bring them some happiness amid lockdown, which included urging them to watch a video to learn 'how to fold your socks'

The bizarre suggestion came alongside other tips, such as 'learning how to parallel park', being present in the moment and helping others amid the third UK lockdown

Advising students to learn a low-maintenance skill, the post read: 'This skill could be anything you can think of; from learning how to grow herbs in your kitchen, watching a video how to fold your socks or learning how to parallel park  the possibilities are endless.'

Sharing the university's post, one astonished student wrote: 'Not University of Manchester telling us to "watch a video how to fold your socks" to "beat the january blues" on the first day of exam season.'

Another simply tweeted: 'Good grief', while a fourth said: 'University of Manchester thinks watching sock videos = depression cured.'

A fifth added: 'How has University of Manchester suggested that to wind down and destress we should watch videos of people folding socks or learn how to parallel park?'

A University of Manchester spokesperson told Femail: 'This is one instance of what we offer to support students which ranges from the general wellbeing example given here, to a 24 hour support line, extensive counselling services and a unique city-wide partnership with the NHS.

But floods of baffled students couldn't help but rage about the unusual advice to Twitter, with one complaining that the random tips came 'on the first day' of their exam season

'Some of our suggestions will be more light-hearted, others more serious and we believe there is demand for both.'

Responding to the January Blues article on Twitter, one student also revealed an older Instagram post, shared by the University of Manchester, which said to look at lockdown 'as a retreat'.

While another also referenced the post, tweeting: 'University of Manchester really said "are you feeling down? we'll just treat everything like it's a retreat and maybe watch a video on folding socks and poof depression gone".'

The post came under fire for being 'patronising and insensitive' by some students at the time, reported The Tab.

After the post was shared on Twitter, one student posted an old Instagram post from the University of Manchester on Instagram, which advised pupils to treat lockdown 'as a retreat'

A University of Manchester (pictured) spokesperson said the old Instagram post 'highlighted' the results of a 'research project' and was not 'advice for student wellbeing'

A spokesperson for the University told Femail that the Instagram post 'highlighted' the results of an 'independent research project' and was not 'advice for student wellbeing'.

After student feedback, the post was later removed by the University of Manchester as they realised 'the content could be taken out of context'.

A University of Manchester spokesperson explained: 'The post in question was the result of an independent research project aimed at people working with teenagers and young people, learning about their lockdown experiences to create a toolkit.

'It was never intended to be University advice for student wellbeing. It was simply highlighting research carried out by a team at the university.

'After some student feedback and reflection however, we realised the content could be taken out of context so removed the post on Instagram and apologised for any distress it may have caused.'




Gov. Andrew Cuomos executive budget proposal for this coming fiscal year contains some big changes to New Yorks hunting regulations.

Among the proposals, the governor would lower the minimum hunting age for big game (deer, bear) with a firearm from 14 to 12, and expand the use of crossbows in all big game seasons, including the full length of the regular bowhunting season. (See page 128 of the budget bill)

Governor Cuomos Executive Budget proposals build upon the states ongoing efforts to connect more people, especially youth, to the outdoors by providing new ways for them to engage in New Yorks excellent hunting, fishing, and trapping opportunities, said Basil Seggos, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

But will these changes to hunting regulations happen?

Many sportsmen would love to see these changes, but its not unusual that some of these things would be deleted during budget negotiations, said Chuck Parker, president of the New York Conservation Council, a non-profit group that advocates for conservation and the states sportsmen.

Although such proposals have failed to gain traction in the past, Parker advised against complacency.

Could this be the year? Kudos if the governor can pull it off, he said. If sportsmen want to see these changes go into effect, they should contact their local state lawmakers right now  and particularly, the majority and minority leaders in both the state Senate and Assembly. Just dont sit back and let things just happen.

Cuomos proposed changes to hunting regulations include allowing junior hunters ages 12-13 to hunt big game with a rifle or shotgun when accompanied by a parent, guardian, or mentor. Under existing law, junior hunters are authorized to hunt small game with a rifle or shotgun and big game with a bow when under supervision of a licensed adult mentor.

The earliest these young hunters can go for big game with a firearm is 14. With a bow, 12.

Currently, 46 states allow hunters ages 12-years old or younger to hunt big game with a firearm.

Expanding junior hunting will allow youth to learn the basics of being a safe hunter from a young age and will drive increased family participation in the outdoors, the budget summary states.

Currently, junior hunters and their mentors must remain at ground level while hunting with a firearm or a crossbow. Its Ok, though, for junior bowhunters to be up in a tree stand. The restrictions pertaining to firearms and crossbows would be removed under Cuomos proposal.

With the popularity of two-person ladder stands and elevated hunting blinds, along with the availability of devices such as safety harnesses and lifelines that connect the hunter to the tree and prevent a fall in case of an accident or tree stand failure, mentors have a variety of options to safely teach firearm handling and hunting skills to junior hunters from elevated positions, the summary states. The idea is that shooting from elevated stands often helps to ensure that shots fired downward have a safe backstop (the ground).

This bill seeks to remove unnecessary restrictions on the types of implements that those youth hunters may use and the type of game they may pursue. Removing these restrictions will allow parents to teach their children important safety precautions.

Chris Cortner shot this 10-point buck with his crossbow this fall in Sodus, N.Y. in Wayne County.

Currently, crossbows can be used during the last week or two of the regular bow hunting seasons in the Northern and Southern Zones, during the regular firearms season and in the late bow/muzzleloading seasons.

Allowing their use during the entire regular bow hunting season is big change and has been debated for the past couple of years.

New hunters may prefer to learn to hunt with a crossbow than a firearm, the budget summary states. Expanded crossbow use in all big game seasons will allow increased participation by those who do not have the physical ability to handle a conventional bow or dont feel comfortable using, purchasing, or carrying a shotgun or rifle.

Crossbow users would be required to take a bowhunting education course in addition to hunter safety training under the new legislation.

Currently, crossbow hunters must merely read the crossbow hunting safety information in the DECs hunting guide and fill out a form (also in the guide) certifying that theyve read the information, and carry it with them while hunting..

The current minimum age for a crossbow hunter is 14. That would drop to 12 under the budget proposal to align with the existing minimum age for junior bowhunting.

Finally, Cuomos proposal would also remove current width and maximum draw weight restrictions on crossbows.

Officials for the New York Crossbow Coalition are encouraged by Cuomos proposal, noting that the state Department of Environmental Conservations recently proposed 10-year White-Tailed Deer Management Plan advocates their use during the full bow season. (page 73)

New York Crossbow Coalition is encouraged with the Governor including crossbow full inclusion into archery season and eliminating arbitrary restrictions on width and draw weight in the Executive Budget proposal, said Rick McDermott, of Pulaski, spokesman for the Coalition. We also support the lowering the age to 12 for youth to hunt big game under adult supervision.

The crossbow groups website currently has a form letter voicing support for the changes that can be sent to state lawmakers.

The sporting community needs to unite to make sure this remains in the final budget, McDermott said.

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"
High Ground is a sumptuous presentation of a difficult historical truth: that Australias First Nations didnt cede the country to the invaders; they fought long and hard for it. Jack Thompson, the veteran actor who was the very embodiment of the bush bloke in Australian films of the 70s  and who plays Traviss commanding officer, Moran, in High Ground  says white Australians have avoided acknowledging that bloody past. When I was at school, we were told they all died of bad colds and smallpox and thats why there were none around, he says. But the newspapers of the 1800s talk quite openly about the war with the natives and it was only in about the mid-1860s that we stopped reporting it in those terms. And as we came closer to Federation, we really stopped talking about it at all. But it went on. And it didnt just stop. Actor Jack Thompson, who plays commanding officer Moran, says White Australians have avoided acknowledging the bloody past. The events in High Ground are real; the characters are composite but, says Johnson, all based on real people. In 1923, former army sniper Travis leads a small posse of white men in pursuit of one man accused of murder; his nervous recruits massacre a whole tribe of men, women and children bathing at a waterhole. Birds wheel overhead; a goanna clings immobile to a tree: it is as if all nature is watching in horror. One child called Gutjuk survives, hiding in the reeds; Travis takes him to the local mission. Other survivors simply disappear into the bush until, 13 years later, Gutjuks uncle Baywara (Sean Mununggurr) gains notoriety as the leader of a series of arson attacks on surrounding cattle stations. Travis is recalled from his new life as a crocodile hunter to bring Baywara in, taking Gutjuk, now an adult (Jacob Junior Nayinggul) in the hope that he may be able to help negotiate peace. Not that Travis is optimistic; he never says so, but he may just be looking for the redemption of an honourable death.

Johnson is white  Balanda, as we soon learn to say  but his fathers job meant he grew up among Yolgnu friends; his first feature was Yolgnu Boy (2001). Jack Thompson came up to Arnhem Land to play a police officer in that film too; they have been friends ever since. I wanted to make High Ground prior to that film, but wasnt able to, says Johnson. People werent ready for a story like this  no one wanted to know about massacres. Most of his work was in documentary and music videos; he became a close associate of the band Yothu Yindi, shooting all their videos including Treaty, and was adopted into the Gumatj clan by the late Mandawuy Yunupingu. Simon Baker as Travis and Jacob Junior Nayinggul as the adult Gutjuk. Yothu Yindi co-founder Witiyana Marika is with him in Berlin, having served as cultural adviser and producer on this film as well as playing a strong supporting role as tribal elder and grandfather Dharrpa. Other actors were recruited locally. Jacob Junior Nayinggul is a scion of a Yolngu clan who stepped up to play Gutjuk because, he says, he didnt want somebody else coming into country to play the part. The land made me be an actor, he says. Simon Baker describes him as a natural; it is extraordinary to see the tussle of feelings cross his face as Gutjuk wrestled in the moment with where he belongs: with his mission family, with his rebel uncle, with Travis on the trail or somewhere else in country that will provide peace.

Gumatj leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu has described High Ground as a both-ways film in the spirit of Makarrata, a Yolngu word for reconciliation meaning coming together after a struggle. Its been gathering momentum, this whole idea of how we have to find balance in this country, says Johnson. He has tried to find that balance; even the patrol officers are not uncomplicated villains. We talk about having PTSD when you come back from Afghanistan, says Thompson. These guys had come back from World War I. Jesus! And then go out into the world and OK, shit, what are we doing? Theres another war on. Thats who these men are. This brings it right into our age. Baywara makes his stand in 1936. Thompson was born, as he says, in 1940. Its the world of my father! he says, then repeats himself slowly. The world of my father! A young Gutjuk (Guruwuk Mununggurr) hiding in a waterhole with his mother Wak Wak (Magnolia Maymuru) during the massacre. By no means all Indigenous people supported the conclusions of the Uluru statement; many felt it did not go far enough. The same conflict plays out in High Ground, with some Bining-Yolgnu people raring to fight back while others  the wise elders  counsel parleying and caution. Your anger is all youve got, declares Gulwirri (Esmerelda Marimowa), a young woman who was raped repeatedly as a child by her white boss and who can fell an armed man with one blow of a club. Marikas Grandfather Dharrpa, by contrast, takes Gutjuk to a spectacular cliff ledge to teach him to listen to the wind, to Father Sky and Mother Earth. Listen to what she is saying to you. Stay here and protect yourself. Makarrata: no more fighting. Wed like to go gently. Is there a way we can deal with it? Tribal elder and supporting actor Witiyana Marika
This one is just an interesting faith community news item from Kansas that offers a glimpse evolving traditions and restorative justice.



Read more . . .
Trials Still Ongoing Before Approval of COVID Vaccines for Children

Pfizer and Moderna, two of the major pharmaceutical companies leading the production of COVID-19 vaccines, are taking steps to make sure their treatments are safe for children.

As of now, though, neither vaccine has been approved for children under 16-years-old to receive.

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The trials in children are now only beginning. We are discovering what the appropriate doses are for adolescents and perhaps even infants, said Dr. William Schaffner, who is professor of Preventive Medicine in the Department of Health Policy as well as Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn.

We expect the results of those trials this summer, everything going well, he said.

Pfizer says its vaccine is already safe for children between16 and 18 years old. Now, the company has begun phased testing on children between 12 and 16 in California and across the country. Their intention is to follow with trials on kids 12 and under.

Moderna is in the process of recruiting children between the ages of 12 and 17 to participate in its vaccine trials across the country.

Stephane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said his companys goal is to complete the studies before the Fall 2021 school year begins.

This adolescent study will help us assess the potential safety and immunogenicity of our COVID-19 vaccine candidate in this important younger age population, he said. We hope we will be able to provide a safe vaccine to provide protection to adolescents so they can return to school in a normal setting.

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In California, more than 300,000 children under age 17 have been infected with the coronavirus since last March. There have been six deaths, according to numbers compiled by the California Department of Public Health.

Among African American children in the state, there have been 7,945 confirmed COVID-19 cases and one death.

Schaffner said the vaccines currently being administered are safe for women who want to become pregnant and for mothers who are breastfeeding.

Those women need to be reassured. The mRNA does not go anywhere near, in our cells, to the human DNA in the mother or the babies, he said, referring to the proteins present in the vaccines.

This is a safe process for all of them, he said.
The report released this week took aim at the 1619 Projects emphasis on slavery. For the pundits behind the new report, a focus on slavery shames Americans by highlighting only the sins of their ancestors. The solutions put forth by the 1619 report  including the affirmation of the integral role of slavery and coming to grips with this past  were simply more discrimination. A history of race and racism in the United States and the identity politics it generated, they insisted, does nothing but breed division, distrust and hatred among citizens.
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After a much-delayed cabinet expansion, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is facing yet another crisis. He has rejigged some portfolios and most of the newly inducted ministers and some seniors are unhappy with it.

Yediyurappa has cut two high-profile ministers to size by changing the portfolio of JC Madhuswamy and taking away Medical Education from Dr. K Sudhakar.

According to insiders, a shocked Madhuswamy has threatened to resign, terming it as an insult to him.

The powerful law and parliamentary affairs portfolio has now been given to Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Madhuswamy has got the unimportant Medical Education, Kannada and Culture as his new portfolios.

Madhuswamy, originally a Janata Dal man, is a new entrant to the BJP. Many of his colleagues feel that he is abrasive and unhelpful. In the last 18 months, he had rubbed many on the wrong side and the demotion is a punishment for not following CM's instructions, they claim.

According to some people in the government, he had tried to block the land deals of a powerful mutt in the state and he is now being made to pay for that.

Dr. K Sudhakar, a Congress turncoat, has lost the Medical Education portfolio. He will now have only Health and Family Welfare with him.

BSY has promoted his close confidant Bommai by giving him the additional charge of Law and Parliamentary Affairs.

Among the newly inducted seven ministers, five are openly expressing their dissatisfaction over the portfolios allocated to them.

Lingayat leader and sugar baron Murugesh Nirani has got the lightweight Mines and Minerals. He was expecting the lucrative Energy.

Senior BJP MLA from Bengaluru, Aravind Limbavali, has got the Forest portfolio. He was eyeing the powerful Bengaluru Development Authority or at least the Urban Development.

Another Congress turncoat MTB Nagaraj has got the Excise and he left the CM's house seething with anger, calling it a betrayal.

Umesh Katthi, an eight-time MLA, has got the unimportant Food and Civil Supplies and he is reportedly unhappy with it.

CM BSY is personally meeting the unhappy ministers trying to pacify them. His close aides are hopeful that the crisis will blow over in a day or two as these ministers have no other options.

BSY had inducted seven new ministers a week ago, ending month-long speculations.

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Early in the pandemic, many nurses in Wuhan, China, cut their hair short or shaved their heads in an effort to reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus. At the same time, groups of volunteers supported Wuhan residents sequestered in their homes under quarantine for weeks on end, risking their own health to bring food and supplies to those in need.

In a recent paper in Asian Bioethics Review, Duke researchers explored "reciprocity"the practice of doing something for others because there's a mutual benefitduring quarantine and how it was negotiated by healthcare workers, volunteers and citizens amid the lockdown in Wuhan in early 2020.

Global health researchers Yanping Ni, Morris Fabbri, Chi Zhang and Kearsley Stewart looked at the topic beyond previous debates about quarantine reciprocity at the state level, analyzing two Wuhan case studies: one that involved nurses who were asked by their hospital administration to shave their heads in the belief that it would reduce infection spread, and a second about citizen-to-citizen mutual aid societies that provided essential supplies to neighbors to fill gaps left by the state. They also tracked social media channels on the Chinese platforms Douyin and Sina Weibo, to understand how individuals defined and responded to ethical and legal obligations in the wake of COVID-19.

"The basic question of our research was, in our modern era shaped by the 2003 SARS outbreak and the 2014-2016 Ebola pandemic in West Africa, what are the new ethics of quarantine?" says co-author Stewart, professor of the practice at Duke University, with joint appointments in the Duke Global Health Institute and Cultural Anthropology.

She adds, "Is it justified to enforce quarantine? Will it effectively reduce transmission? What are the obligations of the state to the citizens it confines in quarantine? But beyond those classic quarantine questions, the scope and scale of COVID-19 has created new obligations that we need to examine, not just from an efficacy standpoint, but in terms of the impact on our social relationships in the communitybetween people."

What Stewart and her co-authors discovered is that prevailing quarantine principles didn't hold up at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that previous infectious disease outbreak responses, and the ethical issues surrounding them, needed to adapt to the virtual age to be effective.

In their paper, they offer ideas to strengthen and clarify reciprocal obligations for the state, hospital administrators, and citizens as the globe prepares for the next wave of COVID-19 circulating.

"One of the arguments we make is that quarantine ethics are now going to be a foundational part of public health discussions about policy going forward," Stewart says.

Their paper urges leaders to provide stressed frontline health care workers with adequate logistical and psychological support. For example, when leaders in Wuhan required female nurses to cut their hair, but not male health care workers, it highlighted the gendered and inequitable sacrifice imposed on women . They also studied the surprisingly widespread online solidarity and material generosity that quickly emerged when Wuhan citizens created mutual aid societies to help fellow citizens.

According to Chi Zhang, MSc-GH '20, our research "explored how smartphones and Internet connections facilitate people who want to assist their community." Zhang continues, "based on our evidence, we implore local governments to reconsider their attitudes towards social media rather than simply suppressing them."

"For the state, this may mean ceding elements of surveillance and control over people's abilities to access and use information," says Stewart.

A state that encourages ethical conduct among its citizens in a pandemic can build public trust and supportive capacity that will endure beyond the second wave of COVID-19 that certainly awaits us all, they concluded.

Stewart says the research impacted her personally as she watched U.S. leadership decisions and ensuing citizen behaviors.

"It was a lesson in humility to see the risks Chinese citizens took on behalf of others, to help strangers," she says.

She also points out that the research would not have been possible without the interdisciplinary team she was able to assemble at Duke, which included Yanping Ni, a masters student in the Asian Pacific Studies Program at Duke, who is conducting a larger study of the mutual aid societies that emerged during the Wuhan quarantine; Morris Fabbri, a master's student in Bioethics and Science Policy at Duke who was Stewart's teaching assistant this year in her ethics course and had written his master's thesis with Stewart on quarantine and HIV in Cuba; and Chi Zhang, a Duke student who had taken Stewart's ethics and qualitative methods classes and applied those skills to his focus on the social media aspect of the team's research.

"This paper reflects what can happen when an interdisciplinary, multilingual team works together to address an urgent research question of global importance. The resources at the Global Health Institute made this happen. It all just fell in my lap and I am really grateful to have been able to pull the team together so effectively," she says.

Explore further Chinese city rushes to build massive COVID-19 quarantine centre

More information: Yanping Ni et al. Reciprocity in Quarantine: Observations from Wuhan's COVID-19 Digital Landscapes, Asian Bioethics Review (2020). Yanping Ni et al. Reciprocity in Quarantine: Observations from Wuhan's COVID-19 Digital Landscapes,(2020). DOI: 10.1007/s41649-020-00150-2
A total of 127 soldiers are exiting the Nigerian Army despite the worsening security challenges the military is currently combating in some parts of the country.

The soldiers, drawn from various formations of the army across the country, are all of the junior cadres who are mostly at the forefront in the field.

The military personnel, comprising one Master Warrant Officer, three Warrant Officers, 22 Staff Sergeants, 29 Sergeants, 64 Corporals, seven Lance Corporals and one Private, will disengage in May, according to a memo seen by PREMIUM TIMES.

The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, a lieutenant general, has since approved their formal disengagement.

The list of the exiting soldiers did not distinguish between those embarking on voluntary retirement and those leaving the army on medical grounds.

According to the memo signed by T.A Gagariga, a brigadier general, who communicated the approval of their disengagements, the 127 soldiers are to submit all military properties in their possession.

In compliance with the provisions of section A, the COAS vide reference B has approved the voluntary discharge of the above named NWO and 126 others listed in annex A. The soldiers are to proceed on terminal leave WEF 26th April, 21 while their disengagement date takes effect from 26th May 21 in accordance with the NA administrative policies and procedures No. 27 paragraphs 3 and 4, the memo read.

Accordingly, I am directed to request you relate to their respective units to release the affected soldiers to report to HQ CAR with their unit service documents for documentation NLT 5th January 21 and ensure that:

a. All forms of military controlled items, arms, ammunition and items of combat kits are recovered from the soldiers prior to their disengagement date and certified that they are properly de-kitted.

b. They complete all necessary documentation for withdrawal from: 1. NAWIS contributions 2. DENFUND contribution 3. National Mortgage Contributions, the memo read.

Army spokesperson, Sagir Musa, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES enquiries on the resignation of the soldiers.

Low morale?

The exit of the 127 soldiers who have neither attained retirement age nor mandatory years of service, is coming in the middle of security crises in the country.

Their resignation is coming after a larger number of their colleagues quit en masse last July, a development which insiders in the military said was indicative of low morale in the forces.

The country is currently battling the Boko Haram insurgents in the North-east, armed bandits in the North-west and North-central, as well as militants and pirates in the South-south.

The Nigerian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, had in the past lamented about insufficient personnel to help in restoration of sanity in the country.

Recently, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, a retired major general, said the military was understaffed and underfunded to tackle the various security challenges facing the country.

Despite the ministers claim of low funding for the military, the defence sector has for the past five years taken a large chunk of Nigerias budget.

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Following repeated complaints about insufficient personnel, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo revealed last year that there was an ongoing deliberate and comprehensive consolidation of the security situation in the country which included plans to recruit more troops and officers to beef up the personnel of security agencies in order to contain the threats and security concerns in the land.



HACC, Central Pennsylvanias Community College, is expanding Pennsylvanians access to healthcare education with the launch of a fully online, 120-hour Community Health Worker (CHW) Program.

The CHW program is accredited through the Pennsylvania Certification Board, according to a press release.

Vic Rodgers, vice president of workforce development, said, Currently, there are over 400 job openings in Pennsylvania for community health workers. HACC has designed an educational program that satisfies Pennsylvania Certification Board requirements and meets a need in the community.

HACCs program includes lecture and clinical opportunities and covers six major areas: health care, social services, communication skills, health education, and individual and community advocacy.

Upon completion of the program, individuals may apply for professional certification as a CHW, the release said.

Community health workers contribute to improved health outcomes in their communities and may hold titles such as outreach worker, patient navigator or peer health educator.

Classes will begin Feb. 9.

For additional information about the program and how to enroll, visit HACCs website.
More than 500,000 pigs have been imported from Thailand since June 2020. However, the pork price has been rising to VND78,000-85,000 per kilogram in the lead-up to the Tet holiday.

Nguyen Van Trong, deputy director of the Department of Livestock Production, on January 14 told the press that total meat output in 2020 had reached 5.37 million tons, including 3.8 million tons of pork.

As of the end of December, Vietnam had 27.3 million pigs. Pig refarming after ASF (African swine fever epidemic) has gone well throughout the country. Sixteen provinces have reported over 100 percent refarming and increase in the herds of pigs.

Pork supply began increasing in late Q3 and early Q4, which forced the prices down to reasonable levels.

However, there have been signs of pork prices increasing again due to the sharp rise in demand. The last days of the 11th month and early days of the 12th month of the lunar year are the time that processors collect meat in large quantities to process sausages and pork pies. The demand at this time is the highest of the year.

Live pigs are now selling at VND78-85,000 per kilogram. Trong said the prices may continue increasing for days, but they wont be as sharp as seen in 2019, because the supply is plentiful.

The current prices are good enough for producers, suppliers and consumers. In Q2 2020, one breeder pig was sold at VND2.5-3 million. Meanwhile, the epidemic prevention costs have also increased. The production cost therefore has increased to VND70,000 per live kilogram on average.

Asked about the pork supply for Tet holiday, Trong said the demand would increase by 10-15 percent, but shortages wont occur. Suppliers have prepared big inventories for Tet.

For example, one livestock company, which sells 15,000-17,000 pigs a day, will sell 18,000 pigs a day for thexTet holiday.

However, in order to ensure sufficient supply, appropriate agencies and local authorities need to intensify their control over the illegal export of pigs to China.

Pork demand is very high in China and the price in China has doubled. Some sources said that Vietnam's pigs have been carried across border gates to China. Some enterprises import pigs from Thailand for re-export to China.

In 2020, Vietnam imported 226,000 tons of pork of different kinds, a 260 percent increase compared with 2019. The imports were mostly from Russia, Poland, Brazil, Canada, the US, Germany and Spain.

Since early 2021, Vietnam has imported 600,000 tons of pork to increase the supply to prepare for the Tet holiday.

Tam An

Pork prices drop after country flooded with imports Vietnam spent VND5 trillion ($214.78 million) to import pork in the first nine months of the year, leading to a drop in prices.
How smart cities can mitigate the impact of health crises

Smart city technologies can help detect and mitigate public health crises, as evidenced by the current COVID-19 pandemic, new research shows.

With data emerging as the star as governments at all levels work together to slow the virus spread, smart cities can facilitate collaboration and response, according to COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Smart Cities Initiatives to Face New Outbreaks, a June 2020 paper published in the IET Smart Cities Journal.

Thats because cities can be perceived as living organisms, the paper states. Terabytes of data can be daily provided from different sources, such as lamp posts, buses, climatic stations, police vehicles, traffic lights, security cameras, automatized hospitals, universities, museums, and any other element that can be connected to a digital citys macrocosm.

Some technologies -- such as cameras that can screen passengers at international airports for fevers -- can be used to fight COVID-19 now and detect, alert and mitigate other health crises in the future. One effort in 2017 to do that combined visible and thermal imagery with algorithms to assess heart rate, body temperature and respiration.

The study also points to the PortoLivingLab, a monitoring infrastructure that uses internet-of-things sensors to detect environmental variables in cities. That could help raise flags to outbreaks in early stages, the authors state.

Social media can also offer clues by monitoring what residents post about themselves and noting breaks in routine. Monitoring health conditions using wearable gadgets and sensors would work similarly. A smart city macro-system could retrieve that information and store the health behavior of their inhabitants, quickly detecting sick people, the report states. It acknowledges that both raise privacy concerns, but that COVID-19 has shown how some invasive solutions can be highly effective when trying to reduce virus spread.

But data collection is only one part of the job. Analytics is also necessary. Smart cities may provide massive amounts of data every single second, uninterruptedly, demanding highly efficient algorithms to transform such data in useful information, the report states. For smart cities planning for the next pandemic, recent use cases offer some lessons.

For example, Hong Kong has used robots to disinfect public transportation, and Wuhan, the coronaviruss epicenter, has deployed an app with a color-coded QR code to let residents know whether they may move about the city or need to quarantine. Hubei Province, of which Wuhan is the capital, served as a case study for an artificial intelligence model that looked at variances in average daily temperatures, city density, relative humidity and wind speed to predict the number of confirmed COVID cases in a 30-day period.

Singapore, largely considered the smartest city in the world, the report states, created Smart Nation, a program that uses smart city technologies such as a contact tracing app and a national-level WhatsApp one-way messaging group to provide information on COVID-19. A South Korean app called Corona 100m alerts users when they are within 100 meters, or 328 feet, of a location visited by an infected person.

To facilitate the sharing of electronic health records, the New York State Department of Health created the Statewide Health Information Network for New York that connects the states regional networks so they can exchange data quickly.

While the integration of different data sources combined with growing processing power, data science and deep learning has changed how cities operate, even more is possible when cities and their inhabitants are considered as a symbiotic organism, providing relevant data on the health of urban areas, the report states. This final massive integration of a city's cyberspace with social media and peoples smartphones and gadgets can not only pave the way for the anticipated digital society, but it can also be a source for prevention and mitigation of virus outbreaks.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  The Ohio Department of Health has halted future allocations of coronavirus vaccines to SpecialtyRx after it potentially mishandled 890 doses of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine, the agency announced Wednesday afternoon.

The department referred details of the possibly mishandled doses to the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, which has begun an investigation.

SpecialtyRx  headquartered in Ridgeeld Park, New Jersey, with locations in Columbus, New York City, Long Island, N.Y, and Florida  was given 1,500 vaccines for residents at eight long-term care facilities before the new year. It was not part of the federal Long-Term Care Pharmacy Partnership program that has been in Ohio nursing homes, the Department of Health said in a statement.

After administering the first doses, SpecialtyRx had 890 doses remaining. The company was exploring a transfer of the doses to another provider when it was discovered that it failed to appropriately monitor temperatures in its refrigerator and freezer.

The vaccines are sensitive to temperatures and can become ineffective after a time in warm temperatures. ODH requires all COVID-19 vaccine providers to check and record the minimum and maximum temperatures of cold storage refrigerators and freezers each workday.

The Department of Healths Immunization Program launched an investigation when it learned of the failure of temperature monitoring and determined that the 890 doses were not viable.

The first doses of the Moderna vaccine that were administered to the residents and staff of the long-term care facilities were viable. For the second dose, the long term care facilities will have to coordinate with another provider -- which will likely be the local health department.

In addition to not providing any future allocations, the health department instructed the provider to not administer or transfer any of the affected doses and to keep them quarantined in both units until next steps are given.

Ohio Department of Health spokeswoman Melanie Amato said this is the first time the agency has had to suspend a coronavirus vaccine provider.

Two messages from cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer were not returned by SpecialtyRx.

The Board of Pharmacy received the referral on Tuesday and has begun an investigation, said Cameron McNamee, the boards director of policy and communications.

I cannot speculate on the length of time it will take to complete the investigation, he said in an email. Should the Board take administrative action against the pharmacy, those proceedings will be publicly noticed.

More coverage:

Ohio reports 6,378 new coronavirus cases: Wednesday update

Ohio Chief Justice Maureen OConnor again calls for eliminating party affiliation on judicial ballots

Ohio reports 6,378 new coronavirus cases: Wednesday update

Gov. Mike DeWine releases list of fragile health conditions in Phase 1B, cautions of having to slow down age eligibility schedule of COVID-19 vaccine
Tiger King star Carole Baskin said she is thankful her rival Joe Exotic was not granted a pardon by Donald Trump (Netflix/PA)

Tiger King star Carole Baskin said she is thankful her rival Joe Exotic was not granted a pardon by Donald Trump.

Mr Trump, the now-former US president, issued a flurry of pardons in his final hours in office, with ex-advisor Steve Bannon included on the list.

However Exotic, the flamboyant big cat enthusiast from Netflixs wildly popular docuseries Tiger King, was not granted clemency despite a high-profile campaign from his legal team.

Expand Close Tiger King star Joe Exotic will remain behind bars after Donald Trump refused to pardon him (Netflix/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Tiger King star Joe Exotic will remain behind bars after Donald Trump refused to pardon him (Netflix/PA)

He is serving a 22-year sentence for breaching wildlife laws and plotting to have animal rights campaigner Baskin murdered.

Baskin, 59, welcomed the news Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, will stay behind bars.

She wrote on social media: I am thankful that Joe Schreibvogel Maldonado Passage was not granted a pardon.

Baskin said a notice she received from the prison system appeared to say Exotic has had an extra month added to his sentence for not obeying prison rules.

She also suggested he should follow the lead of another Tiger King star, Mario Tabraue, and give evidence in order to take years off his sentence.

Baskin said: If Joe really had a change of heart, he could do what Mario Tabraue did to lessen his 100 year drug trafficking conviction to 12 years by turning states evidence against the other animal exploiters.

Exotic, a mulleted, gun-toting polygamist, bred big cats while presiding over a zoo in Oklahoma.

The 57-year-old maintains his innocence. He is due to be freed in 2037 though his defence team argues he will likely die in prison if not released earlier due to health concerns.
MAKING A WAY OUT OF NO WAY

South L.A. nonprofit provides hope through employment

Derrick Hill, Outreach Specialist at Dads Back Academy and Community Build President Robert Sausedo partnered to secure employment for 80 formerly incarcerated individuals with felony convictions.

As the one year anniversary of the Coronavirus pandemic nears, Black unemployment continues to hover around 10% and thousands remain unemployed or underemployed. Many South Los Angeles nonprofits have stepped up their efforts to fill the employment void and made providing jobs a top priority. Leimert Park-based nonprofit Community Build, Inc. (CBI) is one of those agencies.

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CBI provides intervention and prevention social programs, job training for youth and adults as well as employment services. As the Coronavirus and shelter in place have persisted, CBI has focused on securing city and county grants to provide employment.

In an effort to spur an economy that has become stagnant due to mandatory stay at home orders, state and local governments have poured millions into temporary job creation. CBI has received county and city grants to provide hundreds of temporary jobs for South Los Angeles residents eager for work.

Part of Community Builds mission is to offer hope to individuals through employment opportunities that provide a living wage, CBI President Robert Sausedo said.

A native Angeleno who grew up in South Los Angeles, Sausedo said he feels a special responsibility to bring jobs to underserved communities. In September, when CBI lost an opportunity to hire 1,000 workers for the City of Los Angeles CARES Act outreach program, he was devastated. The day project was to be publicly announced, the City decided to delay the program launch.

To be unable to immediately provide these jobs was a devastating blow for our organization. I knew it was going to be even more devastating to the people that needed the work, said Robert Sausedo, CBIs president. I saw the hope in their eyes at the prospect of getting a job and being able to have an income. With all the disappointment and disillusion thats come with COVID, we had to find some way to keep hope alive. I knew we had to make a way out of no way.

Robert Sausedo and Derrick Hill discuss employment opportunities for individuals with felony convictions.

After the project was pulled, Sausedo spent days calling city and county agencies to secure funding for employment programs. Although he was unable to secure funding as large as the $15 million City contract that was postponed, he was successful in landing County and City contracts totaling over $2.2 million that have translated into over 600 temporary jobs. In addition, CBI hosted a job fair where 30 individuals were placed at nursing, security, sanitation and staffing agencies.

c was hired by CBI in November for a temporary assignment as a COVID-19 Community Health Workers. The position was part of a County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health (DPH) outreach initiative to deliver community-based services to areas disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. The six week assignment paid $1,000 per week.

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Williams is a single mother who also works part time at an Amazon warehouse to make ends meet. She said that she was grateful for employment even if it was temporary. I need to provide for my daughter and myself and its been really challenging during this COVID time, Williams said. This project gives me hope to know there are organizations out there that will cater to us and give us a chance.

AyAnna Boddie said she never thought about ageism when she took some time off from her work as a private homecare nurse before the pandemic hit. As money ran low and she tried to reenter the job market. Not willing to return to homecare because of COVID concerns, the 49-year old said she was interviewed by managers half her age for positions which she was well qualified.

Ageism is real. said Boddie. A lot of people my age are not afraid to work, want to come to work, will show up on time, and will stay late if you need us to, but nobody will hire us.

Boddie heard about CBIs community health care worker position from her niece. She interviewed and was hired the same day. The community outreach work was a perfect fit for Boddie. It just brought me back to something that I was missing when I did hospice care, she said.

Of the 600 canvass workers hired by CBI from October to December, 80 had felony convictions and were on probation or parole. CBI partnered with Derrick Hill, Outreach Specialist at Dads Back Academy, an organization focused on assisting fathers reentering society after serving a prison sentence. Individuals with felony convictions have an especially difficult time finding steady employment. For many of these men, the CBI temporary assignments made the difference between being housed and being homeless.

Dion Coleman served ten years for a felony assault conviction and was released in 2016. Coleman was hired as a supervisor on the Community Health Workers Outreach Initiative. Part of Colemans responsibility was to make sure his crew of 20 workers were operating within their radius in Koreatown and had all the supplies  hand sanitizers, masks, hand wipes, brochures, etc.  they needed to distribute to individuals, families, and businesses.

As a part of the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health (DPH) outreach initiative, Community Health Workers distributed personal protective equipment to the public.

Coleman said he appreciated how Sausedo has fought to get funding for employment programs. I think its a wonderful thing because it gives us a chance to be out in the community helping people, said Colman. This is my first time hearing about Community Build, but as I move forward in my life, Im always going to reflect on the professionalism I was shown.

As the Coronavirus pandemic nears the one year mark, Sausedo said the services and employment programs that CBI and other community nonprofits provide is more critical than ever.

In this country, at this particular time, we as black people, really have come to a point where we have to be the change we want to see, said Sausedo. Among many other things, 2020 proved that weve got to save ourselves because no one else is going to.

For more information visit communitybuildinc.org or call 323.290.6560.
The auger program at Coolaloo targeted selective areas based on prospectivity ranking generated from interrogation of DMIRS state-wide magnetic data, gravity data, historic soil sampling assay results and other spectral data sets.

A reconnaissance program is planned for this quarter with POWs approved

( ) is encouraged by results from a recently completed auger sampling program over two first-pass exploration areas at the Coolaloo Gold Project, 25 kilometres south of Mt Magnet in Western Australia.

The auger drill sampling program collected 458 surficial geochemical samples from a carbonate rich horizon up to 2 metres in depth and identified 12 targets at Coolaloo.

Five priority targets, which host coincident auger geochemical anomalism and magnetic hights have been fast-tracked for aircore drilling.

Planning for maiden drilling

Westar managing director Karl Jupp said the anomalous geochemical results had accelerated planning of first pass drill planning scheduled for this quarter.

He said: The anomalous geochemical results, coincident with the geophysical targets, have highlighted the gold prospectivity of the Coolaloo Project.

Were now planning our maiden drilling program to test these high priority targets and look forward to updating the market as we progress.

Exploration targets highlighted.

The auger program at Coolaloo targeted selective areas based on prospectivity ranking generated from interrogation of DMIRS state-wide magnetic data, gravity data, historic soil sampling assay results and other spectral data sets.

Looking ahead

Next steps at Coolaloo include:
New Delhi, Jan 21 : Amid whispers that Varun Dhawan will marry his longtime girlfriend Natasha Dalal on January 24 in a secret ceremony, we are reminded of how Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli, and Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, managed to escape the public glare. But the trend is not new.

For Bollywood stars, the popular line of the evergreen song, Khullam khulla pyaar karenge hum dono, might hold true when it comes to love, but not when it comes to getting hitched. Over the years, our stars have not only learnt to live their lives under public glare, but also to ditch the limelight when it is time to exchanging nuptials, and retreat into their inner circles for celebrations.

We take a walk down memory lane and find several Bollywood couples kept their marriage a hush hush affair.

Shammi Kapoor and Geeta Bali

Late star Shammi Kapoor got married to Geeta Bali in secret. Reportedly, Shammi was afraid that his parents would never accept Bali as she was elder to him. They got married in a temple in 1955, and the ceremony was not attended by any of their family members.

Randhir Kapoor and Babita Kapoor

They met and fell in love while working together, but it was not a smooth ride. The Kapoor-clan had apprehensions regarding the match. It is rumoured that they got married in a secret ceremony without even informing Raj Kapoor.

Dharmendra and Hema Malini

After showing sizzling chemistry in films like "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Sholay" and "Dream Girl", they got married in 1980. Reports have stated that they secretly converted to Islam to tie the knot because Dharmendra was already married.

Sridevi and Boney Kapoor

Boney Kapoor was a married man when he met Sridevi, and fell in love with her. Reportedly, Boney secretly married Sridevi and then divorced his first wife.

Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh

Saif got married to Amrita as his parents did not approve of their relationship due to their age difference -- Amrita was almost 12 years older. Saif was deeply in love, and they got married secretly in 1991.

Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna

Akshay got married to Twinkle in a secret ceremony in 2001. Today, they have a blissful marriage and two kids together.

Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta

Juhi Chawla secretly married businessman Jay Mehta in 1996 when she was at the peak of her career. The news of their wedding became public after she got pregnant.

Sanjay Dutt and Maanayata

In 2008, Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt and Maanayata had a secret court wedding in Goa. Four days later they solemnised the marriage as per Hindu rituals at a simple ceremony. Today, they have two children together.

Madhuri Dixit and Shriram Nene

Bollywood dancing diva Madhuri Dixit surprised her fans when it came to light that she had tied the knot with surgeon Sriram Nene in a private ceremony in Los Angeles. The news of the wedding was announced a day later by her manager.

Rani Mukerji and Aditya Chopra

She got married to him in Italy in 2014. Rani had revealed that only 12 people attended the wedding.

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli

Anushka and Virat went to Lake Como in Italy for their wedding in 2017, attended by their close friends and family. There were only around 42 guests. Reports state that they used fake email IDs and names to plan their wedding.

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh

In 2018, Ranveer got married to his girlfriend of six years, Deepika, in an intimate wedding ceremony at Lake Como in Italy. It was a very hush hush affair.

Surveen Chawla and Akshay Thakker

Surveen, known for her acting stint in shows like "Sacred Games" and "Haq Se", got married to her longtime boyfriend Akshay Thakker in the year 2015, but kept the wedding a secret till December 2017. The couple was blessed with a daughter on April 15 in 2019.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Benchmark Sensex hit the historic 50,000 mark in early trade today. The index rose to 50,126 points, a fresh all-time high. Sensex has risen a whopping 9,000% since its inception in 1986 to touch the historic 50k milestone today. The index when it started comprised 30 companies and had its base year as 1979.

The initial value of Sensex on 3 April 1979 was 124.15. On January 2, 1986, the value of the index stood at 549.43.

The index has risen from 549.43 on January 2, 1986 to 50K today. If a Sensex exchange traded fund (ETF) had existed on January 2, 1986 and one would have invested Rs 1,000 into it, the amount would have become Rs 91,000 today.

Four years after the launch, Sensex crossed the 1,000 mark in 1990 on the back of good monsoon and corporate earnings.

On July 25, 1990, Sensex crossed 1,000 mark for the first time closing at 1,007.97.

Few would have imagined that the index would reach 4,000 within the next two years.

Harshad Mehta's Rs 4,000-crore fraud which artificially inflated share prices triggered an exponential rise in the index to 4,000 points by April 1992. In 1991, Sensex rose 85.8%

However, the index fell back to 2,000 level on June 1, 1992 after the market absorbed the impact of the scam.

The index, which kept searching for triggers for the next phase of bull run, touched 5,000 mark on October 8, 1999 on boost from the global IT sector.

In 2006, Sensex crossed 10,000 led by a sharp rise in commodity prices. It gained 46.3% during the year.

By 2007 end, the index rose to 20,000 led by a liquidity driven rally on the back of heavy FIIs inflows. The index climbed 46.7% in the same year.

The index hit 21,000 mark in January 2008. However, it nosedived 64% to 8,500 level in October 2008 as subprime crisis roiled global markets. Over all, the index plunged 52.5% during the year.

In July 2009, Sensex regained 15,000 level with improvement in economic growth. The index added 80% to its value in the same year. By December 2010, FIIs-led rally again took the Sensex near 21,000.

But Sensex fell to 15k in the next one year as European debt crisis led to FIIs pulling out funds from the market. It fell 25.1% in 2011.

The indices again approached 20,000 by December 2012 and continued to rally in 2013 as FIIs poured funds into Indian market.

In 2015, economic reforms and global liquidity pushed the index to 30,000, but the index closed the year at a level of 26,117. Sensex fell 5% in the same year.

In 2020, Sensex ended the roller coaster ride of 2020 at a record closing high, buoyed by positive sentiments in global markets. The index gained 15.75% in 2020 despite falling to its multiyear low in March when coronavirus threat roiled the Indian equity market. The 30-share index closed at a record high of 47,751 on the last trading day of 2020.
As Stellantis, a world leader for a new era of sustainable mobility, marks its launch, it pledged to dedicate to providing freedom of movement with distinctive, affordable and efficient transportation solutions.

The company is uniquely positioned to capture the exciting opportunities of a global industry undergoing rapid and profound change.

Formed from the combination of two groups with strong track records and sound finances, Stellantis is a truly global company of 400,000 diverse, highly talented and experienced employees who design, develop, manufacture, distribute, and sell vehicles and mobility solutions around the world while remaining deeply rooted in the communities in which they live and work.

The 11-member Board of Directors is led by Chairman John Elkann. Carlos Tavares as Chief Executive Officer leads one of the most experienced and successful management teams in the industry whose diversity, experience and competitive spirit are amongst its key strengths.

With a deep bench of executive talent relentlessly committed to improvement and innovation, Stellantis is well-positioned to continue its founding companies track record of value creation for all stakeholders guided by a common principle: challenge the status quo.

With a proud heritage stretching back 125 years, Stellantis is home to a full portfolio of storied brands that have graced the road and conquered the podium in the world of motorsport.

Founded by visionaries who infused these marques with passion and a competitive spirit, the brands cover the full spectrum of market segments from luxury, premium and mainstream passenger vehicles to hard-charging pickup trucks, SUVs and light commercial vehicles, as well as dedicated mobility, finance and parts and service brands.

Stellantis already has a well-established presence in three regions  Europe, North America and Latin America  in addition to significant untapped potential in important markets such as China, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and India.

With industrial operations in more than 30 countries, the company has the ability to efficiently meet and exceed consumer expectations and deliver vehicles and services of unparalleled quality in more than 130 markets.

Stellantis starts from a position of considerable strength with robust operating margins reflecting the companys leading positions in North America, Europe and Latin America.

The company expects to leverage its size and economies of scale as an enabler to invest in innovative mobility solutions for its customers, targeting annual synergies of

more than 5 billion at a steady state. These synergy estimates will be achieved through the implementation of smart purchasing and investment strategies, optimising powertrain and platform utilisation, applying cutting-edge R&D and a continuous focus on manufacturing and tooling efficiencies.

These synergy estimates are not based on any plant closures resulting from the transaction.

Nine Governance Committees will ensure an efficient operating structure from Day One, including company-wide performance & strategy, planning, regions, manufacturing, brand and styling.

Stellantis portfolio is uniquely suited to offer distinctive, sustainable mobility solutions to meet its customers evolving needs, as they embrace electrification, connectivity, autonomous driving and shared ownership.

As the electrified market continues to grow, Stellantis is well positioned today with 29 electrified models available and plans to introduce ten additional vehicles by the end of this year.

The company is strongly committed to playing an active part in contributing to the societies in which it operates, as it works towards achieving a long-term goal of carbon neutrality across all products, assembly plants and other facilities.

Marking the occasion Elkann said: It is no coincidence that Stellantis is born precisely when our world requires a new kind of automotive company that will champion clean and intelligent solutions to provide freedom of movement for all. Our global scale and reach provide us with the resources to invest in state-of-the-art technologies, distinctive excellence and unmatched choice for our customers. But it is the geographic and cultural diversity of Stellantis people that from Day One is our greatest competitive advantage. It is they, with their energy, their knowhow and their constant commitment who make Stellantis what it is today. And it is they who day-by-day will build an even greater company for this new era of mobility.

Commenting on the first day of Stellantis journey, Tavares said: This is a great day. One year after we announced this project, Stellantis is born, notwithstanding the unprecedented societal and economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. I want to warmly thank all of the teams who made this possible and also thank the entire workforce who continued to move our operations forward during this exceptional year.

"This demonstrates the agility, creativity and adaptability of our company which aims to be great rather than big, determined to be much more than the sum of its parts. It is also a further signal of the new companys determination to be a leading player in the automotive industry in this ever-changing environment. Stellantis is dedicated to pursuing greatness and enhancing the well-being of its employees.

The new company began trading on January 18, on Euronext (Paris) and the Borsa Italiana (Milan) and today on the New York Stock Exchange. -- Tradearabia News Service
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A young Australian woman is scared to sleep in her own home after discovering that an intruder had been living in her attic.

Monica Green, a mother-of-three from Rockhampton, Queensland, had noticed weird things around her house for a while, but she never really worried, dismissing them as coincidences or figments of her imagination. But on Monday, after coming home with her kids from a doctors appointment, Monica couldnt ignore the obvious anymore. The backdoor was wide-open, the air-conditioning and the TV were on, and there was a half-eaten plate of chicken nuggets in the kitchen. She immediately called the police, and later learned that whoever had broken into her home, had probably been living there a while.

Photo:  /Unsplash

While checking the house for clues, officers noticed that the manhole cover leading into the attic was partially open, and upon checking the attic, they found evidence that someone had been living there. For how long, and how they managed to remain undetected no one can say, but an investigation in this case is underway.

I felt violated. I felt like my personal space had been invaded. I felt shocked, terrified, scared, Monica Green told the Courier Mail. Im finding myself constantly shaking at the smallest noise. Im triple-checking all my locks now before I go to bed. I spent the night in the house last night with family here, but being alone in the home scares me.

Thinking back on everything she had noticed around the house lately, Ms. Green says that there were plenty of signs that something was not right. On one occasion food had gone missing, and another time her security camera system had been disabled, but she didnt pay much attention when these things happened.

Photo: pasja 1000/Pixabay

Green and her family believe that the intruder must have gained access to the house by stealing her keys, and they have now changed all the locks. Still, the young woman is frightened that the person might return, and not knowing his intentions, she doesnt know what to expect.

Why was he in the roof? What was his intentions? Was he here to harm us? Was he here to steal one of my kids? Im meant to be the one that protects them and I feel like Ive failed, the mother-of-three said.

As creepy and bizarre this story may sound, it is definitely not unique. The act of secretly living in other peoples home is so common it even has its own name  phrogging -which aims to describe the culprits tendency to jump from one home to another.

Back in 2018, we wrote about a ninja squatter who lived in a womans house for six months without her noticing. A year later, we featured the story of a woman who discovered her ex-boyfriend living in her attic. So yeah, this sort of thing is apparently not that uncommon.
In Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, protesters marched through downtown areas Wednesday carrying signs opposing the police, immigration authorities and government in general, and some people in each city vandalized buildings symbolizing institutional power.

In Portland, about 200 people clad in black marched to the local Democratic headquarters, where some of them smashed windows and tipped over garbage containers, lighting the contents of one on fire.

Those who took to the streets Wednesday said they were a mix of anarchists, anti-fascists and racial justice protesters. One of their signs said, We dont want Biden  we want revenge for killings committed by police officers and fascist massacres.

In a city that has seen months of demonstrations over racial injustice, economic inequality, federal law enforcement and corporate power  and some of the harshest law enforcement responses to such protests  protesters have vowed to continue their actions no matter who is president. We are ungovernable, one sign in the crowd said.

In Seattle, about 150 people marched with large banners that said Abolish ICE, no cops, prisons, borders, presidents. Some spray-painted buildings with an anarchist symbol and broke windows, including at a federal courthouse.

Seattle police officers followed the group and began to surround it as night fell.

In Portland, police officers scuffled with protesters before the march began. Later, they made some arrests.

At a separate demonstration in Portland, people gathered to hear speakers who celebrated former President Donald Trumps departure but called for continued pressure for government action.

The fight has just begun, said Ray Austin, 25. He said the damage done by Trump could not be undone by the likes of President Joe Biden and that the nation needed a groundswell of people demanding more.

Speakers at the event called for the Green New Deal to fight climate change, a Medicare for All-style health insurance system, overhauls of police departments to address racial disparities and other fundamental changes.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
US President on Wednesday (local time) signed an executive order that revokes a key permit for the controversial

This is a devastating blow to the approximately 1,200-mile-pipeline that carried oil from to the US, The Hill reported.

In 2019, former President Donald Trump signed a presidential order to initiate construction of the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline with a facility in Montana.

The pipeline construction was initially blocked by former President Barack Obama's administration following agitation by various environmental groups who argued that the pipeline supports the extraction of crude oil from oil sands, which pumps about 17 per cent more greenhouse gases that standard crude oil extraction.

Environmentalists have been critical of the pipeline, particularly because it is supposed to carry oil made from tar sands, whose production is carbon-intensive.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he is "disappointed" to see President sign an executive order revoking the Keystone XL oil pipeline's permit.

"Earlier today, was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States of America. While we welcome the President's commitment to fight climate change, we are disappointed but acknowledge the President's decision to fulfill his election campaign promise on Keystone XL," Trudeau said in a statement today. "I spoke directly with President Biden about the project last November, and Ambassador Hillman and others in our government made the case to high-level officials in the incoming administration."

Trudeau added: "Workers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and across will always have our support. is the single-largest supplier of energy to the United States, contributing to US energy security and economic competitiveness, and supporting thousands of jobs on both sides of the border.

(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.)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calibre Mining Corp. (TSX: CXB; OTCQX: CXBMF) ("Calibre" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that open-pit mining has commenced at Pavon Norte and that mill feed has been delivered to the Libertad complex for processing, in accordance with the Company's "Hub-and-Spoke" operating philosophy.



Russell Ball, Chief Executive Officer of Calibre, stated: "I am extremely pleased with the team's effort to safely deliver mill feed from Pavon Norte ahead of schedule and under budget. Pavon Norte marks a significant milestone as we look to utilize the surplus installed processing capacity at Libertad. We expect to gradually ramp-up mill feed haulage rates to approximately 1,000 tonnes per day by the end of 2021."

To view a PDF of the figures as referenced in this news release, please go to the following links:

Link 1 - Pavon Gold Mine Images (https://calibremining.com/news-links/january-2021-photos/)

pit Images (https://vrify.com/decks/9173)

Qualified Person

Darren Hall, MAusIMM, SVP & Chief Operating Officer, Calibre Mining Corp. is a "qualified person" as set out under NI 43-101 has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Russell Ball"

Russell Ball

Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Ryan King

Vice President, Corporate Development & IR

T: 604.628.1010

E: calibre@calibremining.com (mailto:calibre@calibremining.com)

W: www.calibremining.com (http://www.calibremining.com)

About Calibre Mining Corp.

Calibre Mining is a Canadian-listed gold mining and exploration company with two 100%-owned operating gold mines in Nicaragua. The Company is focused on sustainable operating performance and a disciplined approach to growth. Since the acquisition of the Limon, Libertad gold mines and Pavon Gold Project, Calibre has proceeded to integrate its operations into a "Hub-and-Spoke" operating philosophy, whereby the Company can take advantage of reliable infrastructure, favorable transportation costs, and multiple high-grade mill feed sources that can be processed at either Limon or Libertad, which have a combined 2.7 million tonnes of annual mill throughput capacity.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Calibre's control. For a listing of risk factors applicable to the Company, please refer to Calibre's annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2019, available on www.sedar.com (http://www.sedar.com). This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Calibre's forward-looking statements.

Calibre's forward-looking statements are based on the applicable assumptions and factors management considers reasonable as of the date hereof, based on the information available to management at such time. Calibre does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.
Egypts Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) signed a Covid-19 tourism recovery technical assistance cooperation package last week to promote resilience, sustainability, and inclusive growth of the sector in Egypt.The package comes at a crucial time, as it supports the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and its affiliated agencies as well as the private sector to embark on the ongoing changes, Khaled El-Enany, minister of tourism and antiquities, said.Egypts tourism sector has been hard hit by Covid-19, with revenues diving by nearly 70 per cent to $4 billion in 2020. The number of tourists visiting Egypt sank to 3.5 million last year from 13.1 million in 2019, El-Enany told Reuters. Foreign occupancy rates in Egyptian hotels dropped to just 10 to 15 per cent of 2019 levels.The agreement is an example of deepening collaborations to advance sectoral support and accelerate progress to meet Egypts priorities going forward, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat said, adding that the package aims to formulate recommendations to stimulate the sector and retain jobs, protect the most vulnerable, strengthen supply chains in the tourism sector, and support the transition to the circular economy as well as support institutions operating in the sector such as small and medium-sized enterprises.The package includes areas of intervention structured around three main pillars: economic recovery, marketing and promotion, and institutional strengthening and resilience.Five tasks will be looked at: training inspectors and officials in the tourism sector on impact analysis and protocols; the development of tourism recovery incentive programmes to stimulate tourism through benchmarking with other tourism-dependent countries; a review of the institutional re-structuring of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities; a review of the effectiveness of operational protocols on safety, hygiene and security; and the building of the resilience of tourism enterprises to adapt to Covid-19, including on safety and hygiene.The package builds on measures already taken by the EBRD under its crisis solidarity package to support existing clients in their handling of losses caused by Covid-19 lockdowns. The aim is to expand on that client-level support package with country-level technical assistance to facilitate the fast and sustainable recovery of tourism.Since March 2020, the world as a whole has been struggling with the impacts of the new coronavirus, considered to be an unprecedented global health crisis, the repercussions of which are being felt in all sectors of society and the economy.In May 2020, the WTO forecast that the impacts of Covid-19 will result in international tourist arrivals dropping by 60 to 80 per cent compared with 2019 figures. It said that in 2009 international tourist arrivals had declined by four per cent in the wake of the world financial crisis, while the SARS outbreak had led to a decline of just 0.4 per cent in 2003.The Egyptian government has implemented various containment measures against the pandemic, including a lockdown.This has included a ban on travel, tourist activities, and major sporting events. The containment managed to limit the scale of infections in Egypt, and the government also took various decisions to support tourism and investors and employees in the sector as well as issuing health guideline to resume inbound tourism.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

Short link:


The recently updated PFS has highlighted the growth potential of the project with compelling base case and expansion case economics.

( ) (FRA:QFP) is moving towards the delivery of a low capital cost, early cashflow stage 1 operation exporting manganese concentrate from its Butcherbird Manganese Project in WA at a time of strong manganese prices and positive market fundamentals.

Construction of the processing plant has commenced and site infrastructure works including processing plant, offices, roads, civil engineering and borefield are on schedule for commissioning in the current quarter.

Notably, an updated pre-feasibility study (PFS) published in December 2020 returned outstanding economics for the Stage 1 base case and highlighted the significant economic potential of expanding the production profile beyond Stage 1.

PFS highlights growth potential

The updated PFS includes changes in the macro-economic inputs and other design parameters and includes the results of two options studies which examined the expansion of production at the project.

Results confirmed that robust economics are maintained and improved for the base case and the expansion options offer the company opportunities to substantially improve the economics of the project.

The expansion cases in the PFS assume that production will be increased to either 2x or 3x the plant throughput rates of the base case, commencing at the start of the second year of production.

This results in better utilisation of the large resource/reserve base underpinning the project. Economies of scale result in better equipment utilisation and operating efficiencies which improve project economics.

The initial 5-year of production in the base case utilises 92% measured resources and 8% indicated resources and the 40-year Life of Mine scenario for the base case utilises 27% measured resources, 68% indicated resources and 5% inferred resources.

Stage 1 of project delivery is on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2021.

Base case and expansion case economics.

Delivery and mobilisation of equipment

All principal mechanical equipment including the crusher, log washer, wet and dry screens and ore sorters have landed in Fremantle, Western Australia, and cleared customs.

The consolidation and mobilisation of equipment to site has commenced with a number of key process plant items already on site, including screens, administration blocks and associated infrastructure and services - which have been installed and are operational.

Construction and operations crews are now working from site and the mobilisation and delivery to site of the remaining key equipment is underway.

Kumarina accommodation facilities

During the December quarter, the company entered into an agreement with Refuel Australia for the provision of camp management services at their Kumarina Roadhouse facility about 30 kilometres south of the project.

E25 subsequently installed a 40-man camp at Kumarina, where the construction workforce is being accommodated.

Refuel will provide ongoing room servicing and messing through construction and into operations and a separate agreement is also in place for Refuel to supply diesel for the project at competitive rates.

Operational workforce

The company has appointed an experienced resident manager in Sven Tegeler who is overseeing operational readiness preparations as well as coordinating the recruitment and training of the operations team.

Tegeler will be a critical part of the construction and commissioning team and will then transition to a site management role to oversee operations of the operations.

Key contractors appointed

The company has appointed Iron Mining Contracting Pty Ltd ( ) as preferred mining contractor for the project. is completing the required civil earthworks including access roads, the Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) and the processing plant site.

On completion of the civil work program, IMC will transition to mining and provide material to feed the processing plant.

Great Energy has been appointed to provide site power for an initial contract period of four years with buyout and extension provisions.

Civilcon is undertaking a range of site civil works in preparation for the installation of the processing plant and associated infrastructure.

The company is also well advanced in finalising contracts in relation to haulage and port access.

Project development timeline.

OM offtake agreement

Key commercial terms have been agreed under a non-binding term sheet to sell 100% of the manganese ore produced (up to 365,000 tonnes per annum) from the first stage of the project development to OM Materials Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASX-listed company OM Holdings Limited ( ) under a take-or-pay offtake arrangement.

The Term Sheet contemplates an exclusivity period to allow the negotiation and finalisation of detailed terms to be documented in a formal offtake agreement.

Semeru offtake and financing

In addition, key commercial terms have also been agreed under a non-binding term sheet to sell 50% of the manganese ore produced from the second stage of the project development to Semeru Energy Limited, headquartered in Singapore.

The Semeru term sheet provides for a minimum allocation of 175,000 tonnes per annum and a maximum allocation of 200,000 tonnes per annum and contemplates a 5-year term with provisions for renewal subject to the satisfactory performance by Semeru against agreed KPIs - the details which will be negotiated and documented in definitive agreements, still to be drafted.

Notably, as part of the offtake arrangements, Semeru will provide USD$5 million in project finance to fund the companys expansion plans.
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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Wednesday took office leading a fractured nation, trumpeting the strength of a democracy tested and calling for Americans to come together, even as his first actions in office sparked tensions with Texas Republicans.

This is a time of testing, Biden said in his inaugural address. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis, Americas role in the world  any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways, but the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities weve had.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: Unity, Biden said.

TEXANS REACT: What theyre saying about Joe Bidens inauguration

The Biden administration  with Kamala Harris taking office as the first woman, first Black person and first Asian-American to serve as vice president  began with an inauguration unlike any other. The swearing in was set before a backdrop of 25,000 National Guard troops from across the nation who provided extra security in a locked-down D.C. after a Trump-inspired mob stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Those in the strictly limited crowd wore masks and sat at arms length to limit the spread of COVID-19. For the first time in decades, the outgoing president was not present.

In a 21-minute address with numerous references to the Civil War, Biden called for an end to this uncivil war that pits red versus blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

It was a message cheered by Texas Democrats, who declared Wednesday the end of a shameful era and a time to move forward as they pointed to the historic significance of Harris swearing in.

Democracy has prevailed, said U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio.

U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Houston Democrat, tweeted that Wednesday is a new day for our country, our people and our future: Hoy es un nuevo dia para nuestro pais, nuestra gente, y nuestro futuro. The work begins today.

In a separate tweet, Garcia called it an honor to attend the swearing-in of Harris. In 2018, Garcia and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar of El Paso were the first Latinas elected to represent Texas in Congress.

Even Texas Republicans, who fought for weeks to deny Bidens victory in court and in Congress, were calling for a peaceful transfer of power  though they were already pushing back on some of Bidens first actions just minutes after he was sworn in.

IN-DEPTH: Bidens immigration plan would give 1.7 million Texans a path to citizenship

Biden went to work swiftly, signing a flurry of executive actions aimed at corralling the coronavirus and taking his first steps toward undoing many of the signature policies of Donald Trumps presidency, including Trumps immigration crackdown.

First clash with Texas GOP

Among those first actions, Biden signed executive orders Wednesday canceling the construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement  sparking the new presidents first fight with Texas Republicans.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, called it an opening shot on Texas energy workers.

I hope this isnt a preview of whats to come from the Biden Administration, but rather that hell work with energy-producing states like Texas to find common ground on an all-of-the-above policy, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said in a statement issued shortly after Bidens inaugural speech.

And that is likely only the beginning. Texas oil companies are facing an administration committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, with Biden saying he plans to halt oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters and put an end to industry tax breaks.

With thin Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, Biden will need to win over Republicans if he wants to create a national carbon policy. Momentum for such a move is growing, with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday joining the list of companies and trade associations in support of a market-driven approach to climate change, like a national tax on carbon emissions.

At least in Texas, Republicans are showing few signs of endorsing such an approach. In a tweet earlier Wednesday morning, Cornyn summed up what he saw coming from Biden on his first day: Unity themes and divisive actions.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued unsuccessfully to overturn Bidens victory in four battleground states, was promising Wednesday to fight against the many and illegal actions that the new administration will take.

IN-DEPTH: A new crop of Texas-led lawsuits awaits Joe Bidens White House

The president, meanwhile, was also sending legislation to Congress now controlled  albeit narrowly  by his party. Just hours after she took the oath of office, Harris was set to swear in two new Democratic senators from Georgia, giving the party a one-vote majority in the chamber.

The first proposal Biden sent to the Hill was a sweeping overhaul of the nations immigration system that would create a path to citizenship for 11 million immigrants in the country without legal authorization, including more than 1.7 million Texans.

It was an early sign of the presidents priorities  and of the battles hes likely to face, as it was already drawing fierce opposition Tuesday from conservatives in Congress.

On day 1, Biden is making clear that the era of prioritizing regular Americans is over, tweeted U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Houston Republican. Instead, the priorities will be acquiescing to China, ceding energy dominance to Russia and Saudi Arabia, and unfettered illegal immigration. The America First agenda is gone.

Biden acknowledged in his address that his call for unity may sound like a foolish fantasy these days.

I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new, Biden said. Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

But his inauguration also provided a reminder of the stark divisions that remain.

Trump  who left the White House for Mar-a-Lago early Wednesday morning  did not attend the inauguration, the first outgoing president to skip since Richard Nixon.

Trump, the first president to be impeached twice, still faces a Senate trial, where Castro and other House Democrats will make the case that he incited the insurrection at the Capitol earlier this month.

In his departing address Wednesday, Trump said his administration left it all on the field as he boasted receiving 75 million votes in his loss to Biden.

I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening, Trump said. We will be back in some form.

Small crowds gather as troops patrol

Much of Washington, meanwhile, was locked down in anticipation of more violence after the U.S. Capitol building was breached by rioters two weeks ago. But the right-wing protests anticipated by law enforcement did not materialize.

Instead the downtown was near silent Wednesday morning, devoid of the hundreds of thousands of people who usually turn out for a presidential inauguration.

Small groups of spectators gathered a block away from Pennsylvania Avenue  the route of the presidential motorcade in typical years. But they were far outnumbered by National Guard that had taken over the downtown.

ON DAY ONE: Biden to propose path to citizenship for 1.7 million Texans

While warned to stay home by authorities, some Biden supporters traveled to Washington anyway, to watch the spectacle of an inauguration like no other.

Waiting in line to get into Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue, with dozens of armed soldiers patrolling around him, Steve Arash, 47, of New York City, said he wasnt worried by the threat of violence.

I like excitement, he said.

Across from the Willard Hotel, reporters and cameramen crowded around Kelly Janowiak, clad in an American flag and Make America Great Again hat, as she waited with her friend, an evangelical preacher from South Africa who claims to have visited the White House in a dream. Janowiak said shed come to support Donald Trump, who had been unfairly maligned by the Russia narrative.

He represents freedom for Americans, capitalism and the way forward, she said. Biden is a tool of the global elite.

Shortly after noon a few blocks from the White House, a bar and cigar lounge broadcast Bidens address onto the street.

Passers by stopped to listen, and when the speech was over, Dave McPherrin, 57, of West Palm Beach, Fla. quietly applauded.

I think the country was in need of a positive statement, he said. Its a relief.

ben.wermund@chron.com

james.osborne@chron.com

As of 1am on Friday, mask-wearing and gathering restrictions are now eased for Greater Brisbane after they were resurrected in response to fears of an outbreak of the highly infectious UK virus strain.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said Queensland has returned to "having among the lowest restrictions in our economy in the country", by going back to the COVID-19 roadmap in place in December.

At 1am on Friday, January 22, masks were no longer be mandatory, except in airports and on planes.

But Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk recommends masks to still be worn on public transport and in places where social distancing isnt possible, such as crowded shopping centres.
HOUSTON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Level Urgent Care, LLC introduces its new PRIME program, developed to provide convenient healthcare options for employees and enhance employer-offered health benefits.

Next Level Urgent Care

Next Level PRIME is a primary care program offered direct to employers, serving as an additional cost-free healthcare benefit to their employees. The program, which provides access to primary care and urgent care services at all Next Level Urgent Care clinics, is designed to ensure a healthy workforce and peace of mind for the entire family. Through the plan, employees and their family members also have access to 24/7 connection with a navigator and telemedicine.

According to Allyson Cooper, vice president of business development for Next Level Urgent Care, the Next Level PRIME program not only enhances employer service offerings available to help reduce the number of employee sick days and overall organizational healthcare costs, but also provides added value to employee benefits.

"An investment in this type of program keeps employees healthier and reduces company healthcare expenditures, while providing expanded care options for employees and their families - underscoring that they are valued and vital to the organization," said Cooper.

Those enrolled in the program anticipate a 20 percent reduction in ER visits, decreased costs for basic healthcare needs, fewer hospitalizations and improved health in those suffering from chronic illness as a result of increased accessibility, and a reduction in serious illness through preventive care.

Additionally, Next Level will work with employers to ensure that patients receive formulary medication and in-network referrals to further reduce cost of care.

Next Level founder and CEO Juliet Breeze, MD, said the PRIME program is part of an ongoing effort to support businesses, which along with a healthy workforce are key in maintaining strong communities.

"We have established trusted relationships with our business partners over the years. Our employer solutions continually evolve to meet their needs. The Next Level PRIME program was developed to help them protect their most valuable asset, their workforce, amid rising healthcare costs," said Breeze.

All Next Level Urgent Care clinics provide onsite X-ray and a vast array of urgent care health services for every member of the family - with extended hours seven days a week.

Call 281.783.8162 to learn more or complete the contact form and needs assessment here.

About Next Level Urgent Care

The largest and fastest-growing woman-owned Urgent Care organization in Houston, Next Level Urgent Care, LLC and its family of urgent cares across the Houston Metro Area and onsite employee health and wellness clinics are the vision of Juliet Breeze, MD, a primary care physician and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in healthcare. One of the few physician-owned urgent care organizations in Houston, it represents a new type of urgent care organization.

Contact:

Cheryl Bertrand, Director of Business Development & Marketing

Office: 281.201.0657 x 108

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BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The World Trade Organization recommended on Thursday that the United States bring a series of duties imposed in the pre-Trump era on South Korea into line with global trading rules. The tariffs on different grades of steel and on large power transformers were inconsistent with WTO rules because U.S. authorities had not correctly used the facts available to calculate the level of dumping or subsidies, the panel found. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Gareth Jones)(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the ...
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Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
LAST Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his team made their usual weekly briefing on the status of the coronavirus in Trinidad and Tobago.

Given the rise in cases, the addition of a state of emergency was added to the existing public health measures, setting a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Hyundai Motor has made an investment in Israeli manufacturing technology company UVeye, according to local reports.

South Korea's leading automaker participated in the Tel Aviv-based startup's recent US$40m fundraising round, along with other strategic and financial investors.

UVeye, which began operations four years ago, develops automated vehicle inspection systems for vehicle assembly plants, dealerships and vehicle auction centres.

Its drive-through system combines artificial intelligence, cloud architecture, machine learning and sensor fusion technologies to help standardize and speed up vehicle inspection processes.

Hyundai is said to be looking to adopt this system for its global production lines.

UVeye CEO and co-founder Amir Hever said in a statement "we are especially proud to be partnering with Hyundai Motor on exciting projects around the world that enable quick and efficient inspection of vehicles using deep learning and computer vision".

Hyundai Motor had been very active in recent years in investing in early-stage technology startups companies around the world, including in Israel where it has invested in Autotalks, an automotive semiconductor design firm, and Opsys Technology, a lidar control device and sensor developer.
Cases have decreased over the past week but are still high. The number of hospitalized Covid patients has also fallen in the Union County area. Deaths have remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Union County is high, suggesting that cases may be undercounted.

Avoid crowds , and limit the number of people you meet and the amount of time you spend with them. Avoid indoor spaces with poor airflow. Wash your hands often, especially after visiting a public place or blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

If you feel sick or have been exposed to someone with Covid, you should stay home and get tested . If someone in your household feels sick or has been diagnosed with Covid-19, everyone should wear a mask, wash their hands often and stay at least six feet apart from one another, even inside your home.

You should stay at least six feet away from people who live in other households. Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are outside your home and whenever you are around people who do not live with you, including any visitors to your home.

Do not skip or delay medical care , including mental health care . Talk to your doctors about postponing any nonessential appointments. If you have an appointment, call before your visit to find out if you need to take special precautions, and ask if telehealth is a good option for you.

Learning environments where students stay in small groups during meals and recess make it safer for younger students to go to school . Older students should consider online or hybrid instruction if possible. Avoid play dates and extracurricular activities that involve physical contact or more than a handful of students.

Children tend to have less-severe symptoms but can still spread the coronavirus, so consider the health risks of everyone in your household when making decisions about your childs activities.

Work remotely when possible and avoid in-person meetings . In the workplace, less crowded hours are the safest to be on the job.

Religious services are safest when conducted outside. If you attend an indoor service, choose one without singing and where everyone wears a mask and stays at least six feet apart.

Weddings , funerals , concerts , sporting events and other gatherings that bring multiple households together are places where Covid can spread easily. Consider postponing or keeping events small.

Avoid all nonessential travel . If you must take a taxi , open the windows and sit far away from others in the vehicle. If you need to take public transit , try to avoid rush hours and crowds so you can keep your distance from others. If you fly, choose less crowded flights or airlines that keep middle seats empty.

You can lower your risk during grocery shopping and other indoor activities by keeping your visits as short and infrequent as possible. If you visit an indoor area, choose places where its easy to stay apart from others, and avoid places where people do not wear masks. If you meet friends indoors, including inside your home, limit your group to a handful of people , keep your distance and wear a mask.

Avoid crowded indoor places like gyms and movie theaters ; nonessential shopping ; and indoor personal care services like haircuts and manicures . Given the severity of the outbreak in Union County, spending time inside with people from other households puts you at risk for getting the coronavirus or spreading it to others.

Heres how you can reduce the risk of getting Covid-19 if you havent yet completed your vaccination series.

The C.D.C. still recommends wearing a mask in settings where Covid-19 may spread more easily, including healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, transportation hubs and on all forms of public transportation. This helps protect people who may be particularly vulnerable to the virus and also to prevent spread.

Keep in mind that receiving medical care, even for unrelated conditions, may become difficult if hospitals at your travel destination are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.

Its low-risk to have indoor visits, such as inviting another household over for dinner without masks and without social distancing, as long as the size of these gatherings is limited to a few households.

Individuals are fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their final vaccine dose. If you are fully vaccinated, you may choose to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations for fully vaccinated people since your risk of getting sick is much lower.

We developed this advice with experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives , an initiative of Vital Strategies. If you or someone in your household is older or has other risk factors for severe Covid-19, you may need to take extra precautions .

Based on the high Covid-19 transmission in Union County right now, heres how to lower your personal risk of getting Covid-19 and protect your community, according to public health experts.

An average of 1 case per day was reported in Union County, a 42 percent decrease from the average two weeks ago. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 11 residents have been infected, a total of 2,258 reported cases .

About the data

In data for Georgia, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. Georgia typically releases new data each day. Weekend counts may be lower because fewer sources report to the state. The state reports cases and deaths based on a persons permanent or usual residence. The state also includes nonresidents diagnosed in the state, but The Times excludes this category since nonresidents are likely also counted in their home state.

The Times has identified the following reporting anomalies or methodology changes in the data:

Nov. 4, 2020: Georgia began reporting probable deaths, including 466 probable deaths from unspecified days.

Georgia began reporting probable deaths, including 466 probable deaths from unspecified days. Oct. 5, 2020: Georgia began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing. The number of probable cases is updated once a week on Mondays.

Georgia began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing. The number of probable cases is updated once a week on Mondays. April 12, 2020: Our database changed to exclude cases in non-Georgia residents, leading to a one-day drop in the total number of cases. These cases were previously reported with "Unknown" county.

The Times omits nonresidents that Georgia includes in its state totals.

The tallies on this page include probable and confirmed cases and deaths.

Confirmed cases and deaths, which are widely considered to be an undercount of the true toll, are counts of individuals whose coronavirus infections were confirmed by a molecular laboratory test. Probable cases and deaths count individuals who meet criteria for other types of testing, symptoms and exposure, as developed by national and local governments.

Governments often revise data or report a single-day large increase in cases or deaths from unspecified days without historical revisions, which can cause an irregular pattern in the daily reported figures. The Times is excluding these anomalies from seven-day averages when possible.

About the Covid-19 risk levels

Union County is at a high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 4 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks. The risk in Union County will decrease to moderate risk if the daily case rate drops to less than about 2.8 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks and the test positivity stays low. The case charts on this page show 7-day averages, while risk levels are assessed based on 14-day case averages, which may be different.

The New York Times worked with public health experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, to develop guidance on how individuals may reduce their risk of exposure to Covid. There is specific guidance for each risk level.

A countys Covid-19 risk is determined based on the number of reported cases and testing data. Although county risk levels are assigned based on expert guidance and careful analysis, it is possible that the risk level in a specific county may be over or underestimated because of a lack of reliable data.

A county is at an extremely high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of more than 45 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 32 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a very high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of more than 11 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 8 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of about 3 or more cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 2 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a moderate risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of about 1 case per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported 1 or more cases over the past two weeks.

A county is at a low risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of less than 1 case per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported no cases over the past two weeks.

In some cases, a county might not have a risk level if not enough recent data was available, or if inconsistencies were found in the data. If a countys recent testing data was not available, the rate of positive tests in the state was used, along with recent cases, to calculate the risk level.

Since the risk levels were first published in January 2021, The Times has made the following methodology changes:
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Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
The number of people killed in a terrorist attack in the center of Baghdad on Thursday has risen to 35, the Al Arabiya TV channel informed, citing Iraqi sources, adding that about 100 people have been injured.

The channel informed earlier that two blasts were heard at a central square in Baghdad where a market is located. According to an Iraqi army official, "the terrorist attack was committed by two suicide bombers who blew themselves up when they were chased by law enforcement officers."

It is reported that the terrorist attack was carried out by supporters of ISIS (the terrorist group, outlawed in Russia). They may have had accomplices, TASS reported.

The Iraqi security forces have set up road blocks on all roads leading to the so-called Green Zone of Baghdad, where embassies of many foreign states and central offices of government buildings are located.

President of Iraq Barham Salih condemned the attack on Twitter, promising that the Iraqi government will not let terrorists destabilize the situation in the republic.
Federal agents have not disclosed the circumstances of her arrest or whether they recovered the laptop. In fact, the theft itself and the accusations surrounding her alleged contacts with Russia barely came up during Thursdays brief court proceeding. Williams did not contest that there was probable cause for the case on felony charges of theft of government property and obstruction of Congress to proceed against her.
HARTFORD (AP)  A Connecticut man seen in a widely viewed video pinning an officer into a doorway during the attack on the U.S. Capitol has been charged with assaulting police officers, federal authorities said Wednesday.

Patrick McCaughey III, 23, of Ridgefield, was arrested Tuesday in South Salem, New York, on charges including assaulting, resisting or impeding officers, violent entry or disorderly conduct, and entering a restricted building or grounds.

A federal magistrate judge in New York ordered McCaughey detained without bail Wednesday afternoon, saying his actions were disturbing and he presented a threat to the community. McCaugheys case is being transferred to Washington and he is detained pending proceedings there early next month.

Federal authorities said McCaughey struck several police officers with a clear, plastic riot shield inside the Capitol. Authorities said he also used the shield to pin Officer Daniel Hodges of the Metropolitan Police Department against a doorway; a video shows Hodges writhing in pain and another rioter beating Hodges after ripping off the officers gas mask. Hodges survived.

Police asked for the publics help in identifying the attackers and released photos of a man later identified as McCaughey seen in the Capitol during the violence on Jan. 6. A witness came forward identifying McCaughey as the person in the photos.

What this case is really about is a man who on Jan. 6 of this year struck at the heart of American Democracy, that is the U.S. Capitol, both literally and figuratively, as part of a mob that was apparently attempting to overturn a legitimate election, Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Gianforte said during Wednesdays court hearing, which was held by video conference.

In a statement, acting District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin called the attack on Hodges vicious and quintessentially un-American.

McCaugheys public defender, Jason Ser, asked for bail to be set at $150,000, saying his client was not as maniacal and dangerous as federal prosecutors were portraying him. Ser said other people were pushing McCaughey, and other parts of the video show McCaughey trying to help Hodges by lowering the officers face shield and telling another officer that Hodges was injured.

McCaughey, who has both U.S. and German citizenship, is unemployed and lives with his mother in Ridgefield, an affluent town along the New York border, Ser said. He was arrested at his fathers second home, where he was quarantining.

The image I think thats being fostered here, created here, by focusing only on parts of the video certainly I think do a disservice to Mr. McCaughey, Ser said. The government is emphasizing two and a half minutes of out of essentially 23 years of Mr. McCaugheys life.

McCaughey is a high school graduate who got good grades, made the honor roll and has no criminal record, Ser said.

More than 150 rioters at the U.S. Capitol have been arrested. The attack came as Congress met to certify the results of the presidential election. But an angry mob coming from President Donald Trumps rally near the White House broke into the Capitol, forcing members of Congress to flee. Five people died during the riot, including one Capitol Police officer.

Federal authorities said McCaughey and other rioters pushed officers defending the Capitol back. A deputy U.S. marshal said in arrest documents that McCaughey pushed Hodges in a doorway with the riot shield as other rioters shoved McCaughey forward, putting a lot of force on Hodges. McCaughey told Hodges to just go home dude, the marshal said.

After another rioter assaulted Hodges, McCaughey motioned to other officers that Hodges was injured, the deputy said, and McCaughey later started hitting other officers with the plastic shield.

At one point during the Capitol attack, McCaughey told another person, Im not doing anything. Im just a regular person like everybody else, the marshal said, citing a cellphone video. McCaughey then said, This is our building.

Another man arrested in New York City early Wednesday as part of the riot roundup was ordered held without bail after prosecutors argued he is a danger to the community.

The government cited a photo on social media that suggested Samuel Fisher had stashed firearms in a vehicle he took to Washington for the pro-Trump protest. Court papers said he also posted a photo of himself at the Capitol entrance and later wrote online, seeing cops literally run . . . was the coolest thing ive ever seen in my life.

At a bail hearing, a prosecutor said that firearms, bullet-proof vests and ammunition were found at the Manhattan residence where he was arrested on Wednesday. Fishers lawyer said there was no proof he ever took weapons to Washington and that he was ever actually inside the Capitol.

___

Associated Press journalist Tom Hays contributed to this report from New York.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
Todd Talks

with Todd Muller

National MP

Happy New Year. I hope that you had a chance to relax over the Christmas and New Year period, and that 2021 is off to a great start for you already.

Arent we fortunate to live in the Bay of Plenty where we enjoy some of the most consistently sunny weather in New Zealand? Im hearing lots of positive feedback from people whove travelled here from other places and have enjoyed our beaches, amenities, shops and restaurants.

I feel refreshed after spending a few weeks of quality time with friends and family and Ive got a busy schedule of local events lined up as well as key meetings in Wellington where Ill be advocating for constituent issues.

Ill be seeking an urgent meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs about the safety implications of relying purely on mobile communication technology after Papamoas Volunteer Fire Brigade siren was silenced by just one persons complaint last year.

Im also going to be following up on my question to the Minister of Education about why Papamoa Primary, with its growing roll but declining classrooms, was excluded from the Governments most recent funding allocation for building work.

And I have requested a meeting with neighbouring East Coast MP Kiri Allan, Minister for Conservation, requesting that consultation be opened before our coastal fisheries are handed over the Regional Council for management. If you sign my petition at www.toddmuller.co.nz/motiti_island youll be invited to the public meeting I will be holding on this issue in early March.
It's the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail's had enough. It's time we called out those day-to-day moments when we're patronised for no longer being young...

Quite a few of my middle-aged female friends fancy Harry Styles. I don't get it, myself  but I found myself liking him more when I heard he was dating Olivia Wilde, who, at 36, is ten years his senior.

He obviously embraces the concept of dating older women (cf Nicole Scherzinger and the late Caroline Flack). And it's a concept that in my humble opinion needs to be normalised. Whatever Emmanuel Macron's politics are, I'm really thankful to him for having the guts to marry someone 24 years his senior.

Christa D'Souza (pictured) whose husband is six years her senior, argues age-gap couples should be normalised

I am blissfully happy with my partner, who is older than me (by six years)  so much so, in fact, that we will probably get married (Old people tying the knot! Huzzah!).

But if there were a parallel universe where I was single with no kids, then I would definitely  definitely  be dating a much, much younger man.

Not because I don't find older men attractive, but because I think doing so should be every woman's due.

And right now, in our world, it's not.
BELLEVUE, Wash., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Base2 Solutions, a Belcan Company, announced today that it has received the Boeing Performance Excellence Award for the seventh consecutive year. The Boeing Company issues the award annually to recognize suppliers who have achieved superior performance.

Base2 Solutions provides systems engineering, software application development, DevOps and information security services to Boeing and other clients in the aerospace, defense and healthcare industries. In 2019, the company was among only 357 of over 13,000 Boeing suppliers recognized for this award.

"As a trusted partner of Boeing, we are honored to be recognized for our commitment to delivering value-added, innovative solutions with a relentless focus on quality," said Lance Kwasniewski, CEO of Belcan, the parent company of Base2 Solutions. "This award reflects our team's specialized expertise and long-term dedication to Boeing's success, and we look forward to continuing this productive partnership."

Like many in the aerospace industry, companies such as Boeing recognize the opportunities presented by increasingly interconnected systems. Base2 Solutions specializes in helping manufacturers achieve digital transformation best practices and apply advanced technologies to bring their competitive products to market faster. This honor recognizes Base2 and Belcan's continued ability to support Boeing with the highest caliber technical capabilities and service.

About Base2 Solutions

Base2 Solutions, a Belcan company, assists clients in highly-regulated industries by delivering the processes and practices needed to develop highly reliable and complex interconnected systems. The Company helps its customers solve challenging problems by taking a whole systems approach to designing and developing solutions using technology, processes, security, and systems engineering. Headquartered in Bellevue, Washington with offices in Brea, California, Base2 Solutions has been named a Best Places to Work finalist in Washington State and Orange County, California. Clients include The Boeing Company, Thales, Halyard, and L3Harris, among others. For more information, visit http://www.base2s.com.

About Belcan

Belcan, LLC is a global supplier of engineering, supply chain, technical recruiting, and IT solutions to customers in the aerospace, defense, automotive, industrial, and government sectors. Belcan engineers better outcomes for customers  from jet engines, airframe, and avionics to heavy vehicles, automobiles, and cybersecurity. Belcan takes a partnering approach to provide solutions that are adaptable, integrated, and value-added, and has been earning the trust of its customers for over 60 years. For more information, please visit www.belcan.com.

Contacts:

Lambert & Co.

Jennifer Hurson

845-507-0571

[email protected]

or

Caroline Luz

203-656-2829

[email protected]

SOURCE Base2 Solutions; Belcan

Related Links

https://base2s.com


[January 20, 2021] INVESTOR ALERT: Kirby McInerney LLP Reminds Investors That a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Restaurant Brands International Inc. and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm Before February 19, 2021

The law firm of Kirby McInerney LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of those who acquired Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("Restaurant Brands" or the "Company") (NYSE: QSR) securities during the period from April 29, 2019 through October 28, 2019 (the "Class Period"). Investors have until February 19, 2021 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Restaurant Brands is a Canadian corporation and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. It is one of the world's largest restaurant chains with over 27,000 Tim Hortons, Burger King, and Popeyes restaurants in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. On April 24, 2018, Restaurant Brands announced a new strategy designed to improve performance within its Tim Hortons brand. Specifically, the "Winning Together Plan" would focus on three key pillars: restaurant experience; product excellence; and brand communications. Then, on March 20, 2019, Restaurant Brands announced "Tims Rewards" - a new loyalty program for Tim Hortons customers in Canada. Under the Tims Rewards program, customers would be eligible for a free hot brewed coffee, hot tea, or baked good after every seventh paid visit to a participating Tim Hortons restaurant. On April 10, 2019, Restaurant Brands announced that it was expanding the Tims Rewards program to include customers in the United States. The Class Period commences on April 29, 2019, when Restaurant Brands filed its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Among other things, Restaurant Brands reported 0.5% system-wide year-over-year sals growth for Tim Hortons on system-wide sales of $1.547 billion. The lawsuit alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants repeatedly touted the implementation and execution of Restaurant Brands' Winning Together Plan and Tims Rewards loyalty program. On the heels of Restaurant Brands touting the benefits of these initiatives, the Company completed two stock offerings on or about August 12, 2019, and September 5, 2019, collectively resulting in proceeds of approximately $3 billion to insiders.



However, on October 29, 2019, the truth about Restaurant Brands' execution of its Winning Together Plan and Tims Rewards loyalty program was revealed when the Company announced disappointing financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019. Among other things, Restaurant Brands reported a 0.1% system-wide year-over-year sales decline for Tim Hortons-representing a 1.4% same-store sales decline-on system-wide sales of $1.774 billion. Following this news, the price of Restaurant Brands common stock declined $3.59 per share, or approximately 5.2%, from $68.45 per share on October 25, 2019 to close at $64.86 per share on October 29, 2019. The lawsuit alleges that, throughout the Class Period, the defendants misrepresented and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Restaurant Brands' Winning Together Plan was failing to generate substantial, sustainable improvement within the Tim Hortons brand; (2) the Tims Rewards loyalty program was not generating sustainable revenue growth as increased customer traffic was not offsetting promotional discounting; and (3) as a result, the defendants' statements about Restaurant Brands' business, operations, and prospects lacked a reasonable basis.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Restaurant Brands securities, have information, or would like to learn more about these claims, please contact Thomas W. Elrod of Kirby McInerney LLP at 212-371-6600, by email at investigations@kmllp.com, or by filling out this contact form, to discuss your rights or interests with respect to these matters without any cost to you. Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based plaintiffs' law firm concentrating in securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation. The firm's efforts on behalf of shareholders in securities litigation have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP's website: http://www.kmllp.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005748/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]

Gandhinagar, Jan 21 : Taking up a Habeas Corpus plea, the Gujarat High Court has ordered the immediate release of an inter-faith married couple, arrested by Palanpur police in Banaskantha district on a complaint from the woman's family.

A 30-year-old Muslim man from Palanpur married a 29-year-old Hindu woman of the town in December last year.

On January 9, following the complaint by the woman's father that his daughter stole Rs 82,000 and fled with an already-married Muslim man, the Palanpur police had detained the couple, who were residing in Surat. A local court subsequently sent them to four day police custody, as sought by the police.

Following the arrest, the man's brother approached the high court on January 18 with a Habeas Corpus petition, seeking production of his recently-married brother and claiming the arrest illegal.

Taking up the petition, the high court quashed the remand order issued by the local magistrate and asked the Palanpur police to release the couple immediately.

A division bench of Justices Sonia Gokani and Sangeeta Vishen expressed its displeasure over the events, with its order on Tuesday saying "the facts are quite glaring and also shocking".

It also observed that Palanpur police had shown "undue fervour" while dealing with this case of "inter-religion marriage".

In its order, the high court directed the Inspector General of Police, Banaskantha, to inquire into the conduct of police inspectors of Palanpur East and Palanpur West police stations, "in whose custody the couple has been detained for all these days".

As the couple have settled in Surat where the husband works, the public prosecutor has assured the court that the Surat Police Commissioner will be intimated to provide them protection, initially for a period of four weeks.
Ukraine expects to borrow US$88.7 mln for fight against COVID-19

Talks between the World Bank and the Ukrainian government began in December 2020.

Reporting by UNIAN

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Following the 59th inaugural ceremony of US President Joe Biden, Indias Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu who also attended the event at the US Capitol said that he is looking forward to work with the Biden and vice president Kamala Harris administration.

On January 20, after the historic inauguration of the 46th US President and the first woman vice president in American history, Sandhu said that Bidens own commitment to the India-US relationship in previous political roles such as Vice president and Senator will be the guiding light. The Indian envoy also noted the shared values of democracy, pluralism and the rule of law between India and United States and said that they  provide a firm foundation for a vibrant partnership in the days ahead.

We look forward to working with President Biden's administration in deepening our comprehensive global strategic partnership in a range of areas," Sandhu said.

"President Biden's own commitment to this relationship in his previous roles as Vice President and Senator will be a guiding light," he added.

Further, on attending the ceremony at the US Capitol, Indias Ambassador to the US said, It was an honour to represent India at the inaugural ceremony of the 46th President of the United States Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) sent congratulatory tweets today to the President and the Vice President on the assumption of office.

Ambassador @SandhuTaranjitS at the Capitol to attend 59th Presidential Inauguration - Oath of Office Ceremony of US President-elect Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. & Vice President-elect Kamala Harris pic.twitter.com/8eRZ4IB71q  India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) January 20, 2021

Read - Joe Biden's Inauguration Was Predicted By 'The Simpsons' Fourteen Years Ago

Read - Dalai Lama Congratulates US President Joe Biden

PM Modi congratulates Biden, Harris

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Joe Biden on being sworn-in as the 46th President of the United States of America and wished him a successful term. Pm Modi also expressed his desire to work with Biden on elevating the India-US strategic partnership. Further PM Modi also congratulated Kamala Harris as she was sworn-in as the 49th Vice President of the United States by calling it a historic occasion. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that he is 'looking forward to interacting with her to make India-USA relations more robust'.

My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021

Congratulations to @KamalaHarris on being sworn-in as @VP. It is a historic occasion. Looking forward to interacting with her to make India-USA relations more robust. The India-USA partnership is beneficial for our planet.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021

Read - 'Will Fire You On The Spot': Biden Tells Staff Members To Treat Colleagues With Respect

Read - Indian-American Lawmakers Say Biden, Harris Will Heal America


NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / Tracesafe Inc., ("TraceSafe") (CSE: TSF) a global leader in wearable safety tech, including contact tracing and quarantine management, is pleased to announce an exciting new partnership with Tritan Software, the cruise industry's #1 provider of Health Information and Incident Management software platforms. In addition to the partnership, Nedko Panayotov, Head of Strategic Partnerships of Tritan Software Corporation will join TraceSafe's Strategic Cruise Advisory Council as TraceSafe continues to develop products for the cruise and hospitality industry.

Tritan Software supports 95% of existing cruise lines, including Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Carribean International, and Viking Ocean Cruises, and has a rapidly growing presence in the Commercial Shipping, Energy and Mining industries. TraceSafe contact tracing software and wearables are supporting their Health Management Platform "SeaCare," the first and only complete enterprise software solution for global medical operations in the maritime industry.

CDC frameworks for resumption of sailing operations specify compliance requirements for social distancing and close contact monitoring of both crew members and all passengers. BLE wearables have proven to be a reliable method to comply with these guidelines.

"There are few industries that require the degree of specialization, technology excellence, service and global experience that the cruise industry demands and that's why we're privileged to be working alongside the partner with the expertise, experience, market strength and trust that Tritan has," said Gordon Zeilstra, TraceSafe Chief Revenue Officer. "We are closely monitoring CDC guidelines to ensure the health and safety of passengers, crew and various requirements that national jurisdictions require-and as cruise passengers embark and disembark around the globe, our product allows them to truly enjoy their vacation."

TraceSafe's privacy-centric software, medical grade security and encryption uniquely position the firm to meet the stringent privacy and medical requirements on cruise liners and the regions they visit, like HIPAA and GDPR.

Nedko Panayotov, Head of Strategic Partnerships of Tritan Software Corporation, commented: "We firmly believe that our value-added turnkey, optimised and high-tech solution offers complete transparency and efficiency of services. Innovation, digitization and compliance is at the core of the combined solution offered through our health platform SeaCare and TraceSafe, managing every aspect of medical operations."

About TraceSafe

TraceSafe is a full suite of real-time location management services and contact tracing solutions enabled through advanced low power Bluetooth beacons and enterprise cloud management. TraceSafe's leading cloud management solution ensures both user privacy and comprehensive administrative control. TraceSafe's patented contact tracing bracelet has already been deployed in mission-critical quarantine applications around the world in partnership with leading governments. In addition to their government work, TraceSafe is developing leading-edge solutions for Enterprise, Healthcare, Education, Government and large-scale venue management.

About Tritan Software

Tritan Software is the maritime industry's #1 provider of health and safety management platforms. Tritan Software has over 95% adoption amongst all cruise lines with a rapidly growing presence within the commercial segments of the industry. Our products - the SeaCare Health Platform, the SeaEvent Management Platform and the SeaSafe Management Platform - combine patented synchronization technology and highly specialized functionality to deliver an unmatched value proposition resulting in optimal operational outcomes. Tritan Software has clients operating in every ocean of the world, sailing to over 1,000+ ports with over four million events being managed within its software platforms annually.

For more information and media enquiries, please contact:

TraceSafe

TraceSafe Investor Relations

invest@tracesafe.io

The Canadian Securities Exchange has in no way approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Statements in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on TraceSafe's expectations, estimates and projections regarding its business and the economic environment in which it operates, including with respect to expectations regarding the TraceSafe assets and their application, future business plans and relationships, future developments in respect of COVID-19 and solutions adopted in response to the virus, and the deployment and acceptance of the TraceSafe technology. Although TraceSafe believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict, including the suitability of our products to help businesses and governments reopen, competition, the spread or containment of COVID-19 and government responses thereto and general economic and market conditions. Therefore, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and TraceSafe undertakes no obligation to update them publicly to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances unless otherwise required to do so by law.

SOURCE: TraceSafe Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625238/TraceSafe-Named-Preferred-Partner-of-Tritan-Software-Working-with-95-of-Cruise-Lines
The globalsize is projected to reach USD 4.4 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2020. The growth of the agricultural adjuvants market is driven by factors such as the growing demand for agrochemicals and the adoption of protected agriculture technologies.

Key players in the agricultural adjuvants market include Solvay (Belgium), Evonik Industries (Germany), Nufarm (Australia), and Croda International (UK), Corteva Inc. (US), and BASF (Germany). Product innovation, expansions & investments, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and agreements, collaborations, joint ventures, disinvestments, and partnerships were some of the core strengths of the leading players in the agricultural adjuvants market. These strategies were adopted by the key players to increase their market presence. It also helped them diversify their businesses geographically, strengthen their distribution networks, and enhance their product portfolios. Some of the other leading players in the agricultural adjuvants include Miller Chemical and Fertilizer, LLC (US), Precision Laboratories (US), CHS Inc (US), Winfield United (US), Kalo Inc. (US), Nouryon (Netherlands), Huntsman Corporation (US), Clariant (US), Helena Agri-Enterprises (US), Stepan Company (US), Wilbur-Ellis Company (US), Brandt (US), Plant Health Technologies (US), and Innvictis Crop Care (US).

Download PDF Brochure:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=1240

Evonik Industries (Germany) is one of the leading specialty chemical companies. The company operates through business segments that include nutrition & care, performance materials, resource efficiency, services (technology and infrastructure), and corporate. The nutrition & care segment offers specialty chemicals that include amphoteric surfactants, ceramides, phytosphingosine, oleochemical quaternary derivatives, organically modified silicones, superabsorbents, amino acids and amino acid derivatives, synthesis products, pharmaceutical polymers, and DL-methionine. The company has a major presence in Europe, especially Germany, and other regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, and Central & South America.

Solvay (Belgium) is a chemical and advanced materials company and is involved in delivering innovative sustainable products and solutions. The company offers its products & services to diversified markets, which include agro, feed & food, automotive & aerospace, building & construction, consumer goods & healthcare, electrical & electronics, resources & environment, and industrial applications. It offers surfactants under its agro, feed, and food segment. The company has offices across 58 countries at 139 locations, along with 21 major research and innovation centers across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America; this enables it to have a significant global market presence.

Corteva Agriscience operates as a standalone agriculture company with industry expertise in seed technologies, crop protection, and digital agriculture. Globally, the company operates through eight segmentsagriculture, performance materials & coatings, industrial intermediate & infrastructure, packaging & specialty plastics, electronics & imaging, nutrition & biosciences, transportation & advanced polymers, and safety & construction. The agriculture segment has a diverse network worldwide, which markets the brands of the company and distributes its products to customers globally. The company ranks fourth in terms of market revenues in the agricultural adjuvants market in 2018, as per the MarketsandMarkets analysis. Adjuvants, particularly surfactants, are offered by the company under its industrial intermediates and infrastructure business segment, in its crop defense chemicals line. Being one of the leaders in crop protection chemicals, the company has a large consumer base for agricultural adjuvant products, and is hence, one of the global market leaders.

Make an Inquiry:

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=1240

Asia Pacific comprises of developing countries with vast agricultural lands; the per capita income of the region depends on agricultural activities. Agricultural technologies are widely accepted and practiced in this region. In Asia Pacific, the total area under agriculture is shrinking due to the high rate of industrialization and urbanization. As a result, farmers opt for practices such as the use of chemical pesticides, which help to increase the yield or productivity of crops.

Recent Developments:




Credit: Derick Hudson/Shutterstock

In non-pandemic times, a person goes missing every 90 seconds in the UK, either intentionally, accidentally or because they are forced to. While many missing people are found quickly or return voluntarily, some do come to emotional, physical and sexual harm, including self-harm.

It is crucial that we try to understand the impact that current lockdowns across the UK will have on the rates and types of people who go missing to try to prevent trauma, injury and death.

Figures from the first UK lockdown suggest a decrease in missing people reports to the police. In a report (which is presently under peer review for an academic journal), we compare missing person reports in the first UK lockdown with the same time period in 2019 and predict there will be an increase in particular groups of people who go missing in the current lockdown.

Instructions to stay at home and socially distance will have inevitably had an impact on well-being, leaving many feeling lonely and fearful. Some people will find it difficult to cope, especially in light of stressful life events such as losing a loved one to COVID-19 or financial hardship.

Therefore, we expect more people to go missing as a response to mental health issues, in order to have time to think or escape. This may be exacerbated by normally available resources becoming overburdened and difficult to access.

Based on recent research from April 2020, in response to the first lockdown, we anticipate an increase in suicide rates this lockdown. Some people may also go missing in order to take their own life.

Studies have shown that being locked down with our households as well as the absence of face-to-face contact with professionals may expose more people to family conflict and domestic violence, especially children. Victims of such abuse may need to escape in order to flee such adverse circumstances.

It's likely too that there will be a rise in children going missing from residential care so as to be locked down in familiar surroundings with family and friends, or perhaps because they are being drawn away by exploiters.

An increase in particularly vulnerable people going missing will have an inevitable impact on policing and search-and-rescue teams. If greater numbers of those classed as being at high risk of coming to harm go missing, it could lead to an increase in the demand on resources. This will be compounded by existing difficulties in relying on the public or friends and family to look out for or search for a missing person due to restrictions on movement.

Will rates drop again?

Based on directives to stay at home or "triggers" to going missing (such as being bullied at school) not being present, we anticipate that police reports will be lower compared with this time last year. Despite the likelihood of certain groups being more vulnerable to going missing, the police data may not give us the whole picture. The public may be reluctant to report their loved ones missing through fear of fines or criminalisation for breaking lockdown rules

Clear messaging

With increased coverage of the enforcement of stricter COVID-19 lockdown rules, it is crucial that the police and government clarify whether any sanctions will apply to those who are reported missing.

Messaging in this lockdown is harder than beforepolice statements reported in the media indicate that few "reasonable excuses" for lockdown breaches will be accepted.

Speaking to Sky News on January 10, the UK health secretary, Matt Hancock, explicitly stated that "every flexibility could be fatal" indicating that exceptions and discretion would be very limited and that fines would be applied when possible. Indeed, media coverage of sanctions for breaking restrictions is widespread.

If people are going missing as a result of crises and stress it is imperative that messaging be clarified as to what is and is not a "reasonable excuse" during the third lockdownand beyond.

It is clear that those at risk of going missing need the support of those around them (albeit socially distanced) as well as from appropriate services. There have been considerable efforts to support and increase funding to agencies in order to connect with at-risk individuals remotely. But there may be less infrastructure in place to identify those people not already "in the system" who become at risk during or as a result of the pandemic.

The charity Missing People has warned that the pandemic will, over time, mean that more people will go missing. It also suggests that disadvantaged communities, minority groups, and already vulnerable people will more severely affected. We echo their call for greater access to support for those at risk of going missing, as well as their family and friendsand for those who return.

Explore further Missing in lockdown  new report reveals the vulnerable are more at risk

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


Shah Rukh Khan who has not been seen on the big screen since 2018, will make his sort-of-comebacks with YRFs Pathan. Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone have completed two schedules of Pathan in Mumbai at YRF studios. The actors who reunite for the fourth time completed shooting for emotional scenes. Now the makers have the tough task to bring on, and start planning for the high-octane scenes.



According to reports in a leading daily, a 25-member team has flown down to UAE to hunt for some locations for the action sequences. The team started their recce from the UAE capital, where they visited Liwa Oasis and Ferrari World, the first Ferrari-themed park in the world. In Dubai, they will visit the Business Bay, which is the modern financial district. They are also planning an elaborate sequence at the architectural landmark, Meydan Bridge. The site served as a backdrop in Tom Cruises Mission: Impossible  Ghost Protocol, revealed a trade source to the daily.
Cabenuva allows virologically suppressed adults living with HIV without prior treatment failure or resistance to cabotegravir or rilpivirine to maintain viral suppression with 12 dosing days per year

ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc ("GSK"), with Pfizer Inc. and Shionogi Limited as shareholders, today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cabenuva, the first and only complete long-acting regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults. Cabenuva is provided as a co-pack with two injectable medicines ViiV Healthcare's cabotegravir and Janssen's rilpivirine- dosed once monthly, as an option to replace the current antiretroviral (ARV) regimen in those who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per milliliter [mL]) on a stable regimen, with no history of treatment failure, and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine. Prior to initiating treatment of Cabenuva, oral dosing of cabotegravir and rilpivirine should be administered for approximately one month to assess the tolerability of each therapy.1

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005951/en/

Cabenuva Packaging and Product (Photo: Business Wire)

Lynn Baxter, Head of North America, ViiV Healthcare, said: "Today's FDA approval of Cabenuva represents a shift in the way HIV is treated, offering people living with HIV a completely new approach to care. Cabenuva reduces the treatment dosing days from 365 days to 12 days per year. At ViiV Healthcare, we are dedicated to ensuring no one living with HIV is left behind, and adding this first-of-its-kind regimen to our industry-leading portfolio of innovative medicines reinforces our mission."

The approval of Cabenuva is based on the pivotal phase III ATLAS (Antiretroviral Therapy as Long-Acting Suppression) and FLAIR (First Long-Acting Injectable Regimen) studies that included more than 1,100 patients from 16 countries. Prior to initiating treatment with Cabenuva, oral dosing of cabotegravir and rilpivirine (lead-in) was administered for approximately one month to assess the tolerability of each therapy. In these studies, Cabenuva was as effective in maintaining viral suppression as continuing a daily oral three-drug regimen when injected intramuscularly in the buttocks once a month throughout the 48-week study period. In both studies, the most common adverse reactions (Grades 1 to 4) observed in 2% of clinical trial participants receiving Cabenuva were injection site reactions, pyrexia, fatigue, headache, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, sleep disorders, dizziness and rash. Serious adverse events occurred in 4% (24/591) of patients taking Cabenuva, and 3% (17/591) of adverse events led to withdrawal.1

Cabenuva was preferred by nine out of 10 patients over their previous daily oral therapy in these pivotal studies. Patient preference data was collected from clinical trial participants who received Cabenuva. In a pooled exploratory analysis of this Intent-to-Treat Exposed (ITT-E) population, 532 patients completed a single-item question at Week 48 (59 patients did not) and 88% (523/591) preferred Cabenuva compared with two percent (9/591) who preferred their previous ARV treatment. The results were descriptive in nature and are not intended to imply clinical significance.2,3

Dr. David Wohl, professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases in Chapel Hill, said: "Among the scientific community, we recognize the innovation behind Cabenuva is truly meaningful. Not only is it the first, complete long-acting regimen, which allows for a dramatic reduction in the frequency of dosing, but it also was preferred by most clinical trial participants when compared to their prior daily oral regimens. The FDA approval of Cabenuva underscores the value of community-centric research and I am pleased this new option will be available for those living with HIV."

To support the successful delivery of the once-monthly regimen to people living with HIV (PLHIV), ViiV Healthcare sponsored the CUSTOMIZE trial, the first-ever, pre-approval implementation science study to identify and evaluate approaches to integrate Cabenuva into clinical practices in the US. Interim findings presented at AIDS2020 demonstrated that at four months, the majority of clinical staff participants continued to perceive the implementation of Cabenuva as highly acceptable, feasible and appropriate for PLHIV, and clinical staff had a substantial decrease in what they thought would be barriers to implementation of the injectable regimen.4

Brett Andrews, CEO of PRC, said: "PRC provides legal, workforce and behavioral health services for those affected by HIV/AIDS in San Francisco. For years, many of our clients have struggled to manage their health while working to stabilize key aspects of their lives. Cabenuva will provide some people living with HIV greater freedom to pursue vocational, educational and other opportunities, like travel, without the need for daily oral medication management. A long-acting regimen is an innovation we have been waiting for."

ViiV Healthcare will begin shipping Cabenuva to wholesalers and specialty distributors in the US in February 2021.

The New Drug Application for Vocabria (cabotegravir) 30 milligram (mg) oral tablets was also approved by the FDA. Vocabria is indicated, in combination with rilpivirine tablets, as a complete regimen for short-term treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults who are virologically stable and suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL) on a stable ARV regimen with no history of treatment failure and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine, for use as an oral lead-in to assess tolerability of cabotegravir prior to initiating Cabenuva and as an oral therapy for patients who will miss planned injection dosing of Cabenuva.

About Cabenuva (cabotegravir, rilpivirine)

Cabenuva is indicated as a complete regimen for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per milliliter [mL]) on a stable regimen, with no history of treatment failure, and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine. Cabenuva is administered as two intramuscular injections (cabotegravir and rilpivirine) in the buttocks during the same visit at a specialist clinic by a healthcare professional.

The complete regimen combines the integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) cabotegravir, developed by ViiV Healthcare, with rilpivirine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) developed by Janssen Sciences Ireland UC, one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson Johnson. Rilpivirine is approved in the US as a 25mg tablet taken once-a-day for the treatment of HIV-1 in combination with other antiretroviral agents in antiretroviral treatment-naive patients 12 years of age and older and weighing at least 35-kg with a viral load 100,000 HIV RNA copies/mL.

INSTIs, like cabotegravir, inhibit HIV replication by preventing the viral DNA from integrating into the genetic material of human immune cells (T-cells). This step is essential in the HIV replication cycle and is also responsible for establishing chronic infection. Rilpivirine is an NNRTI that works by interfering with an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which in turn stops the virus from multiplying.

Trademarks are owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

About ATLAS and FLAIR

ATLAS (NCT02951052) is a phase III, open-label, active-controlled, multicenter, parallel-group, non-inferiority study designed to assess the antiviral activity and safety of a two-drug regimen of long-acting, injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine dosed every four weeks compared to continuation of current oral ARV of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus an integrase inhibitor (INI), NNRTI, or protease inhibitor (PI) among virally suppressed individuals. The primary endpoint for ATLAS is the proportion of participants with plasma HIV-1 RNA =50 c/mL per the FDA Snapshot algorithm at Week 48 (Missing, Switch, or Discontinuation Failure, ITT-E population). Subjects were required to be virally suppressed for six months or greater, on first or second regimen, with no prior failure.

ATLAS includes 616 men and women living with HIV and is being conducted at research centers in Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the United States.

FLAIR (NCT02938520) is a phase III, randomized, open-label, multicenter, parallel-group, non-inferiority study designed to assess the antiviral activity and safety of a two-drug regimen of intramuscular, long-acting, injectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine in virologically suppressed adults living with HIV, following 20 weeks of induction therapy with Triumeq (abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine). The primary endpoint for FLAIR is the proportion of participants with plasma HIV-1 RNA =50 c/mL per the FDA Snapshot algorithm at Week 48 (Missing, Switch, or Discontinuation Failure, ITT-E population).

FLAIR includes 566 men and women living with HIV and is being conducted at research centers in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Important Safety Information for Cabenuva

Cabenuva is indicated as a complete regimen for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in adults to replace the current antiretroviral regimen in those who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies per mL) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Do not use Cabenuva in patients with previous hypersensitivity reaction to cabotegravir or rilpivirine.

Do not use Cabenuva in patients receiving carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine, systemic dexamethasone (>1 dose), and St John's wort.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Hypersensitivity Reactions:

Hypersensitivity reactions, including cases of Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), have been reported during postmarketing experience with rilpivirine-containing regimens. While some skin reactions were accompanied by constitutional symptoms such as fever, other skin reactions were associated with organ dysfunctions, including elevations in hepatic serum biochemistries.

Serious or severe hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in association with other integrase inhibitors and could occur with Cabenuva.

Discontinue Cabenuva immediately if signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop. Clinical status, including liver transaminases, should be monitored and appropriate therapy initiated. Prescribe the oral lead-in prior to administration of Cabenuva to help identify patients who may be at risk of a hypersensitivity reaction.

Post-Injection Reactions:

Serious post-injection reactions (reported in less than 1% of subjects) were reported within minutes after the injection of rilpivirine, including dyspnea, agitation, abdominal cramping, flushing, sweating, oral numbness, and changes in blood pressure. These events may have been associated with inadvertent (partial) intravenous administration and began to resolve within a few minutes after the injection.

Carefully follow the Instructions for Use when preparing and administering Cabenuva to avoid accidental intravenous administration. Observe patients briefly (approximately 10 minutes) after the injection. If a post-injection reaction occurs, monitor and treat as clinically indicated.

Hepatotoxicity:

Hepatotoxicity has been reported in patients receiving cabotegravir or rilpivirine with or without known pre-existing hepatic disease or identifiable risk factors.

Patients with underlying liver disease or marked elevations in transaminases prior to treatment may be at increased risk for worsening or development of transaminase elevations.

Monitoring of liver chemistries is recommended and treatment with Cabenuva should be discontinued if hepatotoxicity is suspected.

Depressive Disorders:

Depressive disorders (including depressed mood, depression, major depression, mood altered, mood swings, dysphoria, negative thoughts, suicidal ideation or attempt) have been reported with Cabenuva or the individual products.

Promptly evaluate patients with depressive symptoms.

Risk of Adverse Reactions or Loss of Virologic Response Due to Drug Interactions:

The concomitant use of Cabenuva and other drugs may result in known or potentially significant drug interactions (see Contraindications and Drug Interactions).

Rilpivirine doses 3 and 12 times higher than the recommended oral dosage can prolong the QTc interval. Cabenuva should be used with caution in combination with drugs with a known risk of Torsade de Pointes.

Long-Acting Properties and Potential Associated Risks with Cabenuva:

Residual concentrations of cabotegravir and rilpivirine may remain in the systemic circulation of patients for prolonged periods (up to 12 months or longer). Select appropriate patients who agree to the required monthly injection dosing schedule because non-adherence to monthly injections or missed doses could lead to loss of virologic response and development of resistance.

To minimize the potential risk of developing viral resistance, it is essential to initiate an alternative, fully suppressive antiretroviral regimen no later than 1 month after the final injection doses of Cabenuva. If virologic failure is suspected, switch the patient to an alternative regimen as soon as possible.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions (incidence =2%, all grades) with Cabenuva were injection site reactions, pyrexia, fatigue, headache, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, sleep disorders, dizziness, and rash.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Refer to the applicable full Prescribing Information for important drug interactions with Cabenuva, Vocabria, or rilpivirine.

Because Cabenuva is a complete regimen, coadministration with other antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV-1 infection is not recommended.

Drugs that are strong inducers of UGT1A1 or 1A9 are expected to decrease the plasma concentrations of cabotegravir. Drugs that induce or inhibit CYP3A may affect the plasma concentrations of rilpivirine.

Cabenuva should be used with caution in combination with drugs with a known risk of Torsade de Pointes.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy: There are insufficient human data on the use of Cabenuva during pregnancy to adequately assess a drug-associated risk for birth defects and miscarriage. Discuss the benefit-risk of using Cabenuva during pregnancy and conception and consider that cabotegravir and rilpivirine are detected in systemic circulation for up to 12 months or longer after discontinuing injections of Cabenuva. An Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry has been established.

There are insufficient human data on the use of Cabenuva during pregnancy to adequately assess a drug-associated risk for birth defects and miscarriage. Discuss the benefit-risk of using Cabenuva during pregnancy and conception and consider that cabotegravir and rilpivirine are detected in systemic circulation for up to 12 months or longer after discontinuing injections of Cabenuva. An Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry has been established. Lactation: The CDC recommends that HIV-1-infected mothers in the United States not breastfeed their infants to avoid risking postnatal transmission of HIV-1 infection. Breastfeeding is also not recommended due to the potential for developing viral resistance in HIV-positive infants, adverse reactions in a breastfed infant,anddetectable cabotegravir and rilpivirine concentrations in systemic circulation for up to 12 months or longer after discontinuing injections of Cabenuva.

Please see fullPrescribing Information.

Important Safety Information for Vocabria

Vocabria is a human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) indicated in combination with rilpivirine for short-term treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults who are virologically suppressed (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL) on a stable antiretroviral regimen with no history of treatment failure and with no known or suspected resistance to either cabotegravir or rilpivirine, for use as:

oral lead-in to assess the tolerability of cabotegravir prior to administration of Cabenuva (cabotegravir; rilpivirine) extended-release injectable suspensions.

oral therapy for patients who will miss planned injection dosing with Cabenuva.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Previous hypersensitivity reaction to cabotegravir.

Coadministration with carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, and rifapentine.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in association with other integrase inhibitors. Discontinue Vocabria immediately if signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop.

Hepatotoxicity has been reported in patients receiving cabotegravir. Monitoring of liver chemistries is recommended. Discontinue Vocabria if hepatotoxicity is suspected.

Depressive disorders have been reported with Vocabria. Prompt evaluation is recommended for depressive symptoms.

Risks Associated with Combination Treatment: Review the prescribing information for rilpivirine prior to initiation of Vocabria in combination with rilpivirine.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions (Grades 1 to 4) observed in at least 3 subjects receiving Vocabria were headache, nausea, abnormal dreams, anxiety, and insomnia.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Refer to the full prescribing information for important drug interactions with Vocabria.

Because Vocabria in combination with rilpivirine is a complete regimen, coadministration with other antiretroviral medications for the treatment of HIV-1 infection is not recommended.

Drugs that induce uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A1 may decrease the plasma concentrations of cabotegravir.

USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Lactation: Breastfeeding is not recommended due to the potential for HIV-1 transmission.

Please see full Prescribing Information.

About ViiV Healthcare

ViiV Healthcare is a global specialist HIV company established in November 2009 by GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) dedicated to delivering advances in treatment and care for people living with HIV and for people who are at risk of becoming infected with HIV. Shionogi joined in October 2012. The company's aim is to take a deeper and broader interest in HIV/AIDS than any company has done before and take a new approach to deliver effective and innovative medicines for HIV treatment and prevention, as well as support communities affected by HIV. For more information on the company, its management, portfolio, pipeline and commitment, please visit www.viivhealthcare.com.

About ViiV Healthcare's Patient Assistance Program

ViiV Healthcare is committed to providing assistance to eligible people living with HIV in the US who need our medicines. ViiV Healthcare's centralized service, ViiV Connect, provides comprehensive information on access and coverage to help patients living in the US get their prescribed ViiV Healthcare medicines whether they are insured, underinsured or uninsured. ViiV Connect provides one-on-one support from dedicated access coordinators, as well as having an integrated website, one site with many resources, including a portal. For more information on ViiV Connect, visit www.viivconnect.com.

About GSK

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com/about-us.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements

GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D "Risk Factors" in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2019 and as set out in GSK's "Principal risks and uncertainties" section of the Q3 Results and any impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

1 Cabenuva (cabotegravir, rilpivirine) Prescribing Information. US Approval January 2021.

2 Swindells S, Andrade-Villnueva J-F, Richmond GJ, et al. Long-Acting Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine for Maintenance of HIV-1 Suppression. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(12), 1112-1123. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1904398

3 Orkin C, Arasteh K, Hernandez-Mora MG, et al. Long-Acting Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine after Oral Induction for HIV-1 Infection. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(12), 1124-1135. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1909512

4 Czarnogorksi M, Garris C, Wannamaker P, et al. Perceived Implementation Barriers Decrease During Initial Stages of an Implementation Science Hybrid III Study (CUSTOMIZE) of Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine Long-Acting (CAB RPV LA) in US Healthcare Settings: Healthcare Team Perspective. Presented at 23rd International AIDS Conference 2020.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005951/en/

Contacts:

ViiV Healthcare Media inquiries:

Audrey Abernathy +1 919 605 4521

Sofia Kalish +44 (0) 7341 079531

GSK inquiries:

Media inquiries:

Simon Steel +44 (0) 20 8047 5502 (London)

Tim Foley +44 (0) 20 8047 5502 (London)

Kristen Neese +1 804 217 8147 (Philadelphia)

Kathleen Quinn +1 202 603 5003 (Washington DC)

Analyst/Investor inquiries:

Sarah Elton-Farr +44 (0) 20 8047 5194 (London)

Sonya Ghobrial +44 (0) 7392 784784 (London)

James Dodwell +44 (0) 20 8047 2406 (London)

Jeff McLaughlin +1 215 751 7002 (Philadelphia)

Frannie DeFranco +1 215 751 4855 (Philadelphia)
After years of fundraising and not much success, the Beacon seems to be struggling and might be in need of more cash . . . HOWEVER, this news outlet still valiantly offers their very special brand of progressive local reporting with a repeated tribute to a longstanding fast food movement.



Read more . . .
JASONVILLE, Ind. (WTHI) -- President Joe Biden was sworn into office making him the 46th President of the United States.

State Representative Bruce Borders represents District 45 in the Wabash Valley. That includes Sullivan County and parts of Vigo, Greene, Knox, and Daviess.

He said that President Bidens' inauguration was unlike any he had seen before. With a small gathering, no public crowds and intense security.

Indiana Senator Todd Young sent News 10 a statement. He said he stands ready to work with the new administration to find common ground wherever possible. He said the peaceful transfer of power is an essential component of the American experiment.

Borders, however, said he did not see this as a peaceful transition. We asked borders if he thought republicans and democrats could work together on issues for the American people.

This was his response:

"Yeah I mean I think we have. I think the COVID-19 response has been heading in the right direction in that," Borders said.

We did reach out to other representatives from the area. Senator Jon Ford, Representative Tonya Pfaff, and Representative Bob Heaton. They all declined to be interviewed.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
A day before the government's crucial 11th round of talks with protesting farmers, Agriculture Minister on Thursday night met senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah, sources said.

The meeting followed a statement from the umbrella body of agitating unions, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, that it has rejected the government's offer to put on hold the three contentious farm laws for one to 1.5 years and set up a joint committee to reach an amicable solution.

However, some farmer leaders said a final decision is yet to be taken on the proposal and the next course of action will depend on Friday's meeting with the government.

Tomar has been leading the government side in the negotiations along with Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab.

Protesting farmer unions on Thursday rejected the government's proposal to suspend three farm laws for 18 months, and said they want nothing but a complete repeal of all these contentious legislations.

"In a full general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha today, the proposal put forth by the government yesterday, was rejected. A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement," the Samkyukt Kisan Morcha said in a statement.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SALEM, Ore.  The Oregon Health Authority said on Wednesday that it will not delay administering the Moderna vaccine after their counterparts in California opted to pause distribution of a batch of the same vaccine over allergy concerns.

California decided to hold up the shipment of 330,000 doses earlier this week following a cluster of severe allergic reactions at one clinic that was administering the vaccine.

OHA sent out a recommendation to local vaccination sites to continue inoculations with the same Moderna batch, after the CDC said that it did not think the vaccine should be halted.

CDC is aware of a situation in California in which multiple potential adverse events were reported after vaccination with a specific lot of Moderna vaccine . . . at one community vaccination clinic," the federal agency said. "We are working closely with the California Department of Public Health, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Moderna to investigate these potential adverse events. At this time CDC does NOT recommend health departments stop administering this lot or any lot of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine.

Oregon officials said that there were six allergic reactions at a single site in California, which prompted the state's response. In Oregon, health experts are investigating two "adverse events" at different sites that were associated with the same Moderna lot, but anyone who experienced a reaction to the vaccine has since recovered.

The Moderna batch in question consists of roughly one million doses. 57,400 doses of the batch have been distributed to 118 vaccination sites throughout Oregon, OHA said, and the majority of them have already been administered.

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Committee  a coalition of scientists appointed by Oregon, California, and Washington  is looking into the reports, and is expected to deliver more information by the end of the day Wednesday.

"OHA encourages local vaccine administration sites to share information about lot numbers in response to questions from patients," the agency said. "The Western States Scientific Safety Review Committee will continue to monitor further reports and will consider any additional guidance states receive from the federal government."

Health officials reiterated that local medical staff should monitor inoculated patients for 15 minutes after vaccination, or 30 minutes for people with a history of immediate allergic reactions.

Vaccines, along with wearing masks and limiting indoor gatherings, are the safest, most effective and most reliable ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19," said state health officer Dr. Dean Sidelinger. "Adverse reactions to vaccines are extremely rare, but were paying close attention when they do occur. At this time, theres no evidence that these events have been associated with any other vaccine site and I encourage every eligible Oregonian to get a vaccine as soon as vaccination is available to you.
Sleep in your workout clothes. If you're trying to start a morning exercise routine, make it easy to get dressed for a morning run or workout. Sleep in some or all of your workout clothes. Put your shoes and socks by the bed. Put hand weights by your desk. Keep light hand weights nearby and do some reps while you're on a conference call. Hang hooks by your door. Whether you're always losing your keys or forgetting your mask, creating a station of hooks or shelves by the door for masks, keys or any other essentials you need when you leave the house will help you make mask-wearing a habit. Stand on one leg while brushing. Standing on one leg while brushing your teeth is a way to practice balance. (Change legs after a minute of brushing.)

Buy kitchen tongs. You'll be amazed how much easier it is to cook, toss a salad or serve noodles with the right set of tongs. In general, having the right gadgets for your kitchen is a way to make cooking easier. Loading Organise your fridge. Often the tipping point in a kitchen is the refrigerator. When your fridge is a mess, it's hard to know what you have available to cook, what food might spoil soon and what you need from the store. Watch the jellyfish. One of the best mindfulness tips I came across this year was from Cord Jefferson, the television writer who thanked his therapist on national television when he won an Emmy. Jefferson told me he struggled with traditional meditation, but he enjoys watching the feed from a web camera showing the jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Bookmark the jelly-cam on your phone or laptop browser and get lost in the jellyfish for a short mindfulness break during your workday.

Complete a 1-minute task. One of my favorite health tips for dealing with stress is the one-minute rule. It comes from Gretchen Rubin, author of Better Than Before, a book about forming new habits. This simple advice helps you decide what to tackle on a long to-do list. Just do the one-minute tasks on the list first. Hang up a coat. Read some emails. Clear and wipe the kitchen counter. Tidy a bookshelf. Whenever you take on a one-minute task, you'll get a sense of accomplishment. Do a five-finger meditation. This is an easy way to calm yourself, no matter where you are. Start by holding your hand in front of you, fingers spread. Using your index finger on the other hand, start tracing the outline of your hand. Trace up your pinkie, and down. Trace up your ring finger and down. As you do this, breathe in as you trace up, and out as you trace down. Continue finger by finger until you've traced your entire hand. Now reverse the process and trace from your thumb back to your pinkie, making sure to inhale as you trace up, and exhale as you trace down. Loading Create a Sunday basket. I learned this tip from Lisa Woodruff, author of The Paper Solution. She suggests dumping your bills, receipts and various papers into a basket. Once a week, sort your actionable papers (those that need attention) from your archive papers (those that can be filed.) The Sunday basket approach (she claims it will add five extra hours to your week) is part of a larger system proposed by Woodruff that uses three-ring binders rather than a filing cabinet. (She suggests five binders for financial information, medical needs, household reference, school items and daily operations.) For me, the Sunday basket is enough, but if you feel chronically overwhelmed by paper, you can learn more at Organize365.com. Buy partly prepared food. Buying chopped up food and meal kits costs more, but it does save time. "I always used to avoid buying cut fruits and vegetables in the grocery store, but I found I actually use them sooner, so in the end it kind of pays off," Wood said.
While the world watches President Donald Trump, the best President the U.S. had in many years, give farewell messages to Americans, and watch Joe Biden being sworn-in after a long election period marred with tons of evidence of voter fraud, another nation proudly gloats at the events that unfolded: China.

Jan. 20, 2021 saw President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump leaving the White House aboard Marine One and then aboard the Air Force One as they made their way to Florida.

It also saw former Vice President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris getting sworn in into the highest offices in the nation - in front of a small number of supporters guarded by tens of thousands of National Guard members.

Everybody around the world watched as the peaceful transfer of power occurred, just as President Trump promised.

Prior to the smooth and peaceful turn of events, however, the world watched as leftist rioters infiltrated the Trump supporters who went to the U.S. Capitol to voice out their frustrations over the cheating that happened during the November 2020 elections.

These violent characters incited the President's supporters who were supposedly there to protest peacefully, just like they usually do, as opposed to the rioters that have burned, destroyed, and wreaked havoc in different states across the country.

President Trump was accused of inciting the violence. In response, he denounced it and said his true supporters will never resort to violence. On the one hand, those who accused him of doing something he did not do did not condemn the leftist violence that raged across the nation. But they were quick to blame Trump supporters for the chaos that leftist insurgents instigated.

While the world was watching the left harass the right, how mainstream media censored voices supportive of Trump, and how the elections were marred with many instances of voter fraud as revealed by hundreds of witnesses who signed affidavits under oath but were not given the chance to present proof of it in court, another group was busy watching the chaos unfold.

This group is the Chinese Communist Party.

Communist China has been waiting for this to happen

According to Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights, the CCP watched in glee as Americans, regardless of party, were so divided and agitated towards one another.

"Double standards! The U.S. media hailed the protests in Hong Kong as legitimate, and now denounce those in Washington DC as an attack against democracy," the magazine quoted a Chinese TV report regarding the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

"The U.S. fueled the unrest in Hong Kong, and now sees the same unrest in Washington DC!"

Bitter Winter noted how these comments were posted "time and again" on Chinese social media, posted and propagated by both genuine CCP supporters and paid trolls. This propaganda, the magazine noted, might have ignored the difference in context between Washington D.C. and Hong Kong, but had one clear intention:

To spread the idea that "the end of the United States is at hand."

Gloating

Fast forward to a few days earlier, in Jan. 16, Chinese state media Xinhua released an op-ed titled "Good riddance, Trump administration and its final madness." This op-ed was spotted and shared online by Navy veteran intel officer Jack Posobiec.

The article proudly boasted about how, in the eyes of the CCP, the Trump administration made the wrong decision to challenge China, and how along with this mistake ended up "underestimating" the Asian country's "strength and determination to take all measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests."

The op-ed closed with a post-script, saying, "good riddance to the current U.S. administration and its final madness."

Interference

Those last two lines quoted above provide a very good background that will help Americans understand what U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe revealed in a letter sent to Congress, The Epoch Times reported.

Earlier reports indicated that according to raw intel, China tried to influence the 2020 elections. Ratcliffe didn't sign off on the reports at the time because some didn't want this to be revealed. Now, the Director revealed it himself.

Per the letter, Ratcliffe "assessed" that China interfered in the 2020 elections. The news of the communist country's meddling, however, was "suppressed" by the CIA which "pressured" analysts to "withdraw" their support for the view. To quote the Director of National Intelligence,

"I am adding my voice in support of the stated minority view - based on all available sources of intelligence, with definitions consistently applied, and reached independent of political considerations or undue pressure - that the People's Republic of China sought to influence the 2020 U.S. federal elections, and raising the need for the Intelligence Community to address the underlying issues with China reporting outlined above."

The CCP, per Xinhua, indeed possessed "strength and determination to take all measures" - including, as per Ratcliffe, influencing the U.S. elections.

And now that Biden has been sworn in, the CCP isn't ashamed to gloat over the news that Trump's first term is over.
Jack London remembered for dedication, leadership, business acumen

Leaders across the government market are mourning the death of Jack London, long-time chairman and former CEO of CACI International.

London died Jan. 20 at the age of 83. He had been with the company since 1972 and a senior executive since 1981.

But beyond any official titles, London is being remembered for his integrity and dedication to his company. And even more so to the government customers CACI served, particularly in the national security arena.

He always kept the men and women who serve and sacrifice for our nation as foremost in his thoughts and actions, said David Wennergren, a former CACI executive and now president of the American Council for Technology and Industry Advisory Council (ACT-IAC).

It is hard to imagine the federal technologies industry without Jack London. It is an industry he helped create, Arnold Punaro, chairman of the board at the National Defense Industrial Association, said in an emailed statement. Anyone who knows CACI knew Jack London, and vice versa.

Jack was a tough, candid, hard-driving business leader who was thoroughly committed to the company's national security mission, said Stan Soloway, former president of the Professional Services Council.

Jacks vision and leadership led to much of CACIs success. In particular, he understood the importance of people as the key resource of a professional services company, and he led them with integrity," said David Berteau, current president and CEO of the Professional Services Council, in a statement.

London earned a reputation for his adherence to high ethical standards and that drove him to write his book "Character," which was cited by several people I spoke with as an example of how strongly London believed in honesty and integrity and how those principles drive your personal and professional success.

Another book he wrote was "Our Good Name," a methodical defense of the company against allegations of misconduct by employees working in Iraq.

His books on leadership and character are highly impactful and he was respected throughout our industry for his integrity, Punaro said.

Wennergren shared a quote from the book on character -- "Your character will absolutely determine the kind of life that you will live."

Through all the years I had the privilege of knowing him, he demonstrated that belief in his actions and served as a beacon of hope to those who knew him, Wennergren said.

Donna Morea, chairman of the board for Science Applications International Corp. said London built a company that set the bar for values that other organizations should aspire to.

Before we ever used the word purpose, Jack created a company whose purpose was never in doubt  to serve the mission of national security with integrity, excellence and impact, Morea said.

Michael Daniels, who was elected chairman of CACIs board following Londons death, called him an icon.

Jack was a strong and determined leader who built CACI from a small company to a major multi-billion dollar force in our government contracting industry, Daniels said.

London also set a standard for his business acumen. He launched a merger-and-acquisition strategy at CACI in the early 1990s that continues today. Hardly a year goes by where CACI doesnt make at least one acquisition.

The 79 deals CACI has closed under that strategy moved the company into new markets and grew it to a $5.7 billion-annual revenue entity.

It is a model many others in the market have emulated.

He, along with a handful of others, was really in the forefront of building what is today a mature, diverse, and vital industry that is an essential partner to the government across the board, Soloway said.

His successful M&A strategy at CACI paved the path that other strategic buyers and investors have tried to follow, said Bob Kipps, co-founder and managing director at the investment bank KippsDeSanto & Co.

Joe Kampf, CEO of private equity group CoVant, often competed with London and CACI for acquisitions as CEO of Anteon. Kampf called London a trailblazer.

"I'm not sure he had many equals in the M&A space," Kampf said. "I always felt that growing organically created more value but Jack proved that the stock market ascribed significant value to CACI because of its unique ability to find quality acquisitions and integrate them well."

Morea saw Londons M&A lens up close when CACI acquired the defense business of her former company, American Management Systems. The AMS civilian business was acquired by CGI Group.

While not as visible to the outside world, Jacks devotion to his employees and their success became evident to me, Morea said. Those former AMSers found a new home where they could perform up to their potential and know that they would get the support and recognition that they deserved. Many rose to the ranks of senior leadership and Jack was very proud of that.

In 2012, London was inducted into the Greater Washington Contractors Hall of Fame. That year also marked CACIs 50th anniversary and Londons 40th with the company. While London talked about that history, he was always looking forward.

The future is exciting, London said in his acceptance speech. Its been quite a ride, but in many ways it is just the beginning.

For people like Daniels and Punaro, Londons death is also the loss of a close personal friend.

Daniels and London first worked together at CACI in 1974.

He was a wonderful man, a dedicated friend, a brilliant thinker and someone who pushed all of us to succeed, Daniels said. We will miss him and honor his legacy going forward at CACI.

Punaro worked with London on business and philanthropic endeavors over many years.

He and his wife Jennifer were mainstays in supporting our troops and families, Punaro said. I have lost a dear friend. My sincere condolences to Jennifer and Jacks family as well as the CACI family.

Jody Brown, executive vice president of communications for CACI, worked for London for nearly 30 years and described working for him as one of the greatest things in her life.

"When youre in the orbit of a true entrepreneur backed by wisdom, creativity, experience, and integrity you learn fast and remember what youve learned," she said. "Jack was relentless in his vision to solidify CACI as a leading national security company. He loved CACIs tagline  Ever Vigilant. It was a perfect fit for the company  and exemplified Jacks dedication and love for CACIs employees, customers, friends, and most importantly his family."

Jack London is survived by his wife Dr. Jennifer Burkhart London and their sons Jackson, Jayson, and Jonathon London; J. Phillip London, Jr. and Laura McLain London; and five grandsons and one granddaughter.

Below is a interview with London on the Veterans Chronicles where he describes his philosophy and much of what drove his success.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 58F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
(Bloomberg) -- Oil erased its increase after an industry report showed U.S. stockpiles grew last week, heightening concerns over lackluster consumption.

Futures retreated from the settlement price after the American Petroleum Institute was said to report a surprise 2.56 million-barrel build in domestic oil supplies, ahead of U.S. government figures Friday. Crude inventories were expected to have declined last week, according to a Bloomberg survey. The API report also showed builds in refined products.

Worldwide, fuel use is expected to take another hit as new virus outbreaks in China add to a wave of infections in Europe and other parts of the world. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut its Chinese demand forecasts for January to March.

West Texas Intermediate for February delivery, which expired Wednesday, gained 26 cents to settle at $53.24. The March contract settled at $53.31.

The U.S. is still the biggest market in the world and it hasnt recovered all the demand loss, said Peter McNally, global head for industrials, materials and energy at Third Bridge. Additional lockdown measures in China are also weighing on the global outlook as Chinese demand has been one of the big drivers of improved oil fundamentals.

Despite the day-to-day fluctuations in headline crude prices, U.S. crudes closest contract was the most expensive versus those for six months out in about a year. Key Brent spreads are also in what is known as backwardation, indicating expectations for tight supply.

Crude has held near $53 a barrel in New York with the nation working to roll out vaccinations as it struggles to contain the pandemic. Still, prices remain supported by the OPEC+ alliances continued production curbs.

Saudi determination to support markets holds sway for now, said Paul Sheldon, chief geopolitical risk analyst at S&P Global Platts. OPEC+ production cuts are markets most supportive factor at current prices and now appear to be running ahead of coronavirus-related demand uncertainty.

Chinese imports of U.S. and Russian crude last month were at similar levels to November, while purchases from Saudi Arabia and Iraq fell, according to customs data released Wednesday. Imports from Iran almost doubled.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.
The Sun's corona  the outermost layer which can reach temperatures in excess of one million degrees Celsius  is chemically very different to the rest of the star despite being physically connected.

Astronomers have been unable to explain, and prove, this phenomenon for more than half a century, making it one of astronomy's enduring conundrums.

Now, researchers have found the first observational evidence showing magnetic waves in the chromosphere  the Sun's middle layer  split up plasma, forcing only charged ions into the corona and leaving behind neutral particles.

A paper published today from astronomers at University College London and the Italian Space Agency provide the first ever proof to back up this long-held theory.

Researchers have found the first observational evidence showing magnetic waves in the chromosphere  the Sun's middle layer  split up plasma, forcing only charged ions into the corona and leaving behind neutral particles

Researchers analysed data from telescopes in New Mexico as well as in space to simultaneously observe the same part of the Sun in a bid to find the waves.

The observed patterns were recreated using computer modelling and scientists found waves reflecting in the chromosphere were magnetically linked to areas of abundant ionised particles in the corona.

'These results indicate a connection between sunspot chromospheric activity and observable changes in coronal plasma composition,' the researchers write in their study, published today in The Astrophysical Journal.

The theory of magnetic waves splitting up plasma and forcing ions to the corona was first postulated in the 1960s.

What causes the waves remains unknown, but scientists believe they are generated in the volatile corona by millions of mini explosions, known as nanoflares.

Dr Deborah Baker, lead author of the study, told MailOnline: 'The different chemical compositions of the Sun's inner and outer layers were first noted more than 50 years ago.

'This discovery generated what is one of the long-standing open questions in astrophysics.

'The difference in composition is surprising, given that the layers are physically linked, and that matter in the corona originates in the innermost layer, the photosphere.

'Now, thanks to a unique combination of ground-based and space-based observations of the solar atmosphere, carried out nearly simultaneously, it has been possible to definitively detect magnetic waves in the chromosphere and link these to an abundance of elements in the corona that are not found in the inner regions of the Sun.'

Dr Marco Stangalini from the Italian Space Agency in Rome says the findings stand true for other stars as well as the Sun.

'By observing our local laboratory, the Sun, we can improve understanding of the Universe far beyond it,' he says.

The theory of magnetic waves splitting up plasma and forcing ions to the corona was first postulated in the 1960s. What causes the waves remains unknown, but scientists believe they are generated in the volatile corona by millions of mini explosions, known as nanoflares. Pictured, the surface of the Sun

Astronomers are more interested now in the Sun's corona than ever before because of its role in creating the solar wind.

It is the solar wind, which carries ions 92 million miles from the Sun to the Earth, that creates the Northern and Southern lights.

As these charged particles reach Earth's magnetic field, which is most powerful at the poles, they release energy and this manifests as the mesmerising celestial light show we see on Earth, visible at high and low latitudes.

However, when the steady stream of charged particles turns into a deluge following a violent belch from the surface of the Sun, this can impact on delicate electrical systems and satellite-dependent industries.

'Identifying the processes that shape the corona is crucial as we attempt to better understand the solar wind, a stream of charged particles flowing outward from the Sun, which can disrupt and damage satellites and infrastructure on Earth,' says Dr Baker.

'Our new findings will help us to analyse the solar wind and trace it back to where it is coming from in the Sun's atmosphere.'
An extensive trawl to identify a suitable site for a major new hospital in Cork city which would be up and running by 2024 has been completed by agents acting on behalf of Slaintecare, the government blueprint for health service reform.

The hospital, a walk-in facility of around 200,000 sq ft, dedicated to elective (scheduled) care, will be bigger than the recent very large 77m extension to the Bon Secours Hospital (c160,000 sq ft) on Western Road and could reasonably be expected to cost upwards of 100m.

Dublin-based commercial property agents Quinn Agnew conducted the search on behalf of Slaintecare, with similar searches carried out in Dublin and Galway.

Sites and premises were looked at, under a set of strict criteria, including that they had the capability to expand by up to 50% and that the site or premises had the capacity to deliver a facility that would be up and running by 2024.

The Irish Examiner understands all sides of Cork city were searched but Slaintecares Implementation Strategy suggests the west side is a more likely option, given a stated preference for new elective hospitals to be appropriately sited adjacent to major hospitals, in Dublin, Cork and Galway, where volumes are sufficient to merit them. These new hospitals should enable clinicians to work across the elective facility and general hospitals, the strategy says.

Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork. icture: Denis Scannell

One possible option may be the 70 hectare Science and Technology Park at Curraheen, where UCC, who own 18.3ha, are building a new dental school and hospital and a health innovation hub. However public transport options and access to the Curraheen site would need improvement as both feature in the site selection criteria. Development of the Science Park has been slow since the 2011 masterplan launch.

Another site in that part of town is the former home ground of Cork City FC, bought some years ago by McCarthy Developments, who sought planning permission for an office block. A further option may be Westfields Office Quarter in Ballincollig, owned by the OFlynn Group, a scheme with the potential to provide up to 285,000 sq ft of office space and on the same side of town as Cork University Hospital (CUH).

The Department of Health said in a statement that a site option appraisal in Cork, Dublin and Galway was carried out to explore indicative sites and was not a site selection process.

It said the inclusion of indicative sites is one of a number of elements that makes up the Preliminary Business Case.

The business case is being prepared to assist Slaintecares Elective Hospitals Oversight Group whose terms of reference include developing elective hospital capacity with a 10-year horizon of need, which facilitates the separation of scheduled and unscheduled care.

Healthcare players in Cork have been lobbying for years for a new hospital in the city, with proposals to merge the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) and the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) long mooted.

In 2016, the South/SouthWest Hospital group, which includes MUH and SIVUH, submitted a shortlist of six sites to the Department of Health for consideration as possible locations for a new 300m hospital in Cork city. In 2019, a project board was set up to drive the development of a new elective hospital that could ultimately replace MUH and SIVUH. At the time the boards chair, Professor Geraldine McCarthy told the Irish Examiner it would be best if site selection was out of our hands and done independently. She also said the new hospital could not be more than half an hour away from CUH.

The purpose of the new elective hospitals is to help tackle waiting lists and provide a range of walk-in diagnostic services.
WASHINGTON: The reminders of the siege were everywhere.

On the very spot where President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural address, an insurrectionist mob had tried and failed to overturn his election just two weeks before. Nearby, at the West Terrace doors, a Capitol police officer was brutally assaulted with a flagpole in a one of the sieges most chaotic moments.

And from the podium, the starkest sight of all: a National Mall mostly empty, dotted with troops, the usual crowd of spectators replaced by a silent field of American flags.

The Associated Press has the privilege of a seat on the inaugural platform every four years in a tradition dating as far back as anyone can remember. But there had never been a ceremony quite like this, in the still-fresh aftermath of a violent challenge to the peaceful transition of power that the inaugural is designed to celebrate.

Solemn in purpose and demeanor, Biden did not work the room not much, anyway. He was on a clock. At noon, he would become president.

And at that moment, the Democratic-heavy crowd gave the new president hearty applause, with some of the House lawmakers in attendance audibly voicing relief.

Unlike Trumps 2017 inauguration, which featured a speech that promised an end to decades of American carnage," Biden returned again and again to a theme of national unity.

I thought that inaugural ceremony today was so filled with energy, spirit and love, said Hillary Clinton, the former first lady and a losing presidential candidate in 2008 and 2016. She praised young poet laureate Amanda Gorman and entertainers who performed.

The global superstars included Lady Gaga, whose soaring rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner" left some in the audience agape. Garth Brooks, a country legend and Republican with a huge following in Trump strongholds, led the group in Amazing Grace."

The blue jean-clad Brooks, obviously elated, almost danced away, but not before greeting the new president and three ex-presidents with an oops-I-almost-forgot-about-the-pandemic hug with former President George W. Bush.

He just said, I love you guys,'" Clinton said. And we said, We love you too, Garth.'"

Republican Sen. James Lankford, from Brooks native Oklahoma, said the message of grace is just what a riven nation needs.

He made time when he finished singing to then go personally greet every one of the former presidents there and give them a very non-socially distanced hug to be able to touch base with everybody and to try to set an example for people to say, Hey, lets figure out if we can actually extend some grace to each other during this time.'"

Biden delivered his 21-minute address before a teleprompter in a stand of photographers. It ensured a quick pace and gave Biden helpful hints such as a reminder to build" to the finish. Biden had just a handful of small verbal stumbles and couldnt resist adding an unscripted folks a Biden trademark toward the end.

Before the ceremony, a morning mist left the platform icy. The wind whipped throughout. There were just enough snow flurries to tell stories about. And by the end, the sun came out and shown brilliantly.

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
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  As the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao celebrates its second founding anniversary, President Rodrigo Duterte assured that the region will continue to receive assistance from the national government especially amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Duterte on Thursday led an event in Malacanang with BARMM Interim Chief Minister Ahod Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, commemorating the Bangsamoro Founding Anniversary celebrated every Jan. 21.

"Today, like the rest of the nation, the BARMM is faced with many daunting challenges, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic," said the President in a speech. "This is why I've given marching orders to all relevant agencies to give full support to BARMM through continued assistance in the region."

On July 26, 2018, Duterte announced he had signed the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or more commonly known at the time as the Bangsamoro Organic Law. The law abolished the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and established a new autonomous political entity with more power, including its own parliament.

The creation of the BARMM has raised hopes that the Bangsamoro will have a chance at genuine self-governance that it has been fighting for for decades.

Duterte said the law has paved the way to several accomplishments such as "the participation of the BARMM government in the national planning process; the transfer of the management of existing reserves and protected areas from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the BARMM; and the creation of the Bangsamoro Electoral Office and the regional offices of several national government agencies."

"Be assured that this administration will remain determined in its commitment to support self-determination, uphold human rights, and advance social welfare in the Bangsamoro region," said Duterte.

BARMM officials are currently batting for an extension of the transition period to give them more time to put in place the normalization and peace-keeping process. Duterte's Cabinet officials earlier said he agreed to an extended transition period until 2025, while the House of Representatives are expected to tackle bills regarding this matter within the month.
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Seasoned provides an easy to use platform for restaurants to find applicants, schedule interviews, and hire people in as little as 24 hours, and at 60-70% lower costs. Seasoned also provides a community for industry employees to review openings, quickly schedule interviews with multiple operators, and connect with their peers for advice and guidance - creating a bespoke social network that brings the connections built during industry nights and events online.

"Our goal at Seasoned is to make life easier for people across the restaurant industry - owners, operators, and employees," said Ware Sykes, Seasoned's CEO. "Getting people into jobs quickly, filling open roles fast, and doing it all at a lower cost help is crucial to operating a successful business and supporting robust job growth, and Dallas is going to be a key market for Seasoned as the industry recovers and continues to grow."

Earlier this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Seasoned revamped its platform to respond to restaurants' pressing needs, and has seen rapidly growing demand from the fast-casual (FSR) and quick service (QSR) segments of the market. Already, Seasoned is working with major restaurant operators across DFW, including Starbucks, McDonald's, Chipotle, and many others. In addition, tens of thousands of local workers are networking on Seasoned, and thousands of well-paying jobs are available across the region.

The QSR and FSR segments of the restaurant industry continued to grow in 2020 despite temporary headwinds, and that growth is expected to accelerate rapidly coming out of the pandemic. Hiring remains the number one challenge to sustaining that growth, and with restaurants experiencing 100% employee turnover, there is an undeniable and growing need for tools like Seasoned. Ultimately, Seasoned estimates that more than two-thirds of the 320,000 restaurant job-seekers in Dallas will pass through the platform.

About Seasoned

Seasoned seamlessly connects people in the restaurant industry with each other and with well-paying jobs while giving businesses a frictionless tool to quickly hire people. Seasoned's platform provides a community for people to connect with their peers and build a deeper network in their industry. At the same time, Seasoned helps restaurant owners hire people more quickly, reduces costs for businesses, and allows them to focus more on enhancing their operations. Ultimately, Seasoned's tools will help hourly workers across industries become more financially secure, happier at work, and more connected to their industry.

Contact:

Francis Thomas

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SOURCE Seasoned, LLC.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 21:08:02|Editor: huaxia

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CHONGQING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- About 39,000 5G base stations had been built in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality by the end of last year as the city beefs up its digital infrastructure construction, local authorities said Thursday.

The 5G service has covered all major areas in the city, benefiting over 4.8 million people, said mayor Tang Liangzhi in his government work report delivered Thursday at the fourth session of the 5th People's Congress of the Chongqing Municipality.

This year, the city is expected to bring its total number of 5G base stations to 60,000 and enhance the integration of 5G technology with industrial development, according to the report.

China had set up 718,000 5G base stations as of November last year, according to Liu Liehong, vice-minister of industry and information technology. Enditem
India started exporting coronavirus vaccines on Wednesday with the first shipment to the neighbouring Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, the foreign ministry said.

First consignment takes off for Bhutan! Anurag Srivastava, spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, said on Twitter. India begins supply of Covid vaccines to its neighbouring and key partner countries.

Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles are also expected to get the shots from the worlds biggest vaccine making country.
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Days before leaving office, Donald Trump ensured that his extended family would continue to receive protection from the US Secret Service for the next six months, according to reports.

The former president is said to have issued a directive to extend post-presidency protection to his four adult children - Ivanka, Don. Jr, Eric and Tiffany - and two of their spouses, who were not automatically entitled to receive it, according to the Washington Post.

Trump also reportedly instructed that three key officials leaving government - former treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, former chief of staff Mark Meadows and former national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien  also receive a security detail until July, two sources said.

Under federal law, Trump, his wife, Melania Trump, and their 14-year-old son Barron are the only members of his immediate family entitled to Secret Service protection after he leaves office.

The former president is said to have issued a directive to extend post-presidency protection to his four adult children and two of their spouses, who were not automatically entitled to receive it

Trump also reportedly instructed that three key officials leaving government - (left to right) former treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, former chief of staff Mark Meadows and former national security adviser Robert C. O'Brien

Trump and Melania will received Secret Service protection for the remainder of their lives, in accordance with the Former Presidents Act of 1958. Barron is entitled to the protection until her turns 16.

Ex-Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen will also receive protection for the next six months, under the same law.

The arrangement involving Trump's grown children and former key staffers will see them receive around-the-clock protection until at least July, which is expected to cost millions of dollars.

However, the service will come at no cost to the Trump family with the bill footed entirely by taxpayers.

Protected under the motion will be Ivanka and her husband Jared; Eric and his wife Lara; Don Jr.; and Tiffany Trump.

Trump's 10 grandchildren will also indirectly receive protection that derives from being in close proximity to their parents, however they were not specifically mentioned in the directive.

Protected under the motion will be Ivanka and her husband Jared; Eric and his wife Lara; Don Jr.; and Tiffany Trump

Secret Service agents waits outside of the Washington D.C. home of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

The extension of security comes as the Secret Service has also mobilized protective details for the families of President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Twenty-four hour security teams are being deployed to protect Biden's two adult children  Hunter and Ashley  and his seven grandchildren, as well as Harris' two stepchildren.

It is not an unusual move for a president to ask for extended security protection for immediate family members. Former presidents Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama all asked for extended protections for their daughters after they left office.

However, it is considered unusual for a president to ask for so many extensions for family members, as well as for ex-staffers.

During his one term in office, the cost of the Trump family's protection has reportedly landed a significant hit to the Secret Service's budget, with his adult children regularly traveling across country and around the world for vacations and business, the Post reported.

From 2017 to 2019, Trump family members reportedly took a total of 4,500 trips which required the Secret Service to accompany them. The price of these trips is thought to have cost the taxpayer tens of millions of dollars.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the expansion of Secret Service security, has not yet responded to a Dailymail.com request for comment.

During his one term in office, the cost of the Trump family's protection has reportedly landed a significant hit to the Secret Service's budget, with his adult children regularly traveling across country and around the world for vacations and business

Trump departed Washington on Air Force One Wednesday morning, hours before Biden was sworn in as his successor.

Speaking on the tarmac of Andrews Air Force Base before fleeing to his Mar-a-Lago estate, trump told fans, 'We will be back in some form' and said 'have a good life.'

The president paused at times in his remarks. While he did not show tears, he appeared to feel the weight of the occasion while taking time to enjoy the final moments of his time in office. He notably did not mention the name of incoming President Joe Biden.

He told his supporters, who he hopes to harness as a power force in future elections, that he will be there for them.

'I will always fight for you. I will be watching, I will be listening and I will tell you the future of the country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular and in a position like it has never been,' he said.
TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - NEW WAVE HOLDINGS CORP. (the "Company" or "New Wave") (CSE: SPOR) (FWB: 0XM2) (OTCPK: TRMNF) an investment issuer that provides capital and support services, announced its latest addition to the scientific advisory board.

New Wave Holdings Announces New Scientific Advisory Board Member

New Wave Holdings Corp. announced today the appointment of a new member to their scientific advisory board. Iman Navab will be joining Dennis McKenna and Dr. Richard Knowles on New Wave's expert advisory board - providing innovative guidance and insight to support the company's continued growth and development in the blooming psychedelic and functioning mushroom sector.

Mr. Navab is a registered healthcare provider and brings years of experience to the table as a homeopathic practitioner, researcher, botanist, and historian of homeopathy. He is the president of the Applied Research in Homeopathy Foundation of Canada and has authored two books  Miasma of Cancer and An Interview with Samuel Hahnemann.

With his extensive knowledge in homeopathy and six years of academic studies in natural medicine at a prominent Canadian college under his belt, Mr. Navab will utilize his skills and expertise to leverage New Wave Holdings' strategic positioning in the industry.

"It is with great pleasure that we are formally introducing our newest member to the advisory team," said Daniel Fox, CEO of New Wave Holdings Corp. "Mr. Navab has a wealth of experience in homeopathy and alternative medicine, and his expertise and insights will be invaluable to our company's continuing endeavors in the psychedelic sector. We look forward to exponential growth and progress in the upcoming years with the help of our impressive panel of experts in the field."

In addition to his expertise in natural medicine, he is also the founder of Dynamise, a company that focuses on the development and creation of natural skincare and health products that are backed by science and research.

"It is an honour to be a member of New Wave's scientific advisory board. I strongly believe that science of mycology and herbology has great medicinal benefits for the wellbeing of mankind, which must be explored diligently. As Albert Einstein said - Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Said Mr. Navab.

ABOUT NEW WAVE HOLDINGS CORP.

New Wave Holdings Corp. (CSE: SPOR, FWB: 0XM2, OTC: TRMNF) is an investment issuer focused on rapid growth in the Nutraceutical space, with an impressive and growing number of organic plant-based health care products. New Wave is also focusing on the burgeoning psychedelic sector and support for adaptive and progressive mental health products and therapies. In the psychedelic sector, New Wave will focus on supporting research on active psychedelic compounds, focused on the creation of consumer products New Wave also contains various health and beauty products within its portfolio of non-psychoactive plants and fungi as it continues to expand its product distribution through vertical integration to provide end to end solutions while capturing a high margin business model.

Investors interested in connecting with New Wave Holdings can learn more about the company and contact the team at http://newwavecorp.com.

The CSE has not in any way passed on the merits of the Acquisition, and neither has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION DISCLAIMER

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forwardlooking information, including but not limited to, applicable regulatory approval in connection with the Acquisition, the closing of the Acquisition, expansion of operations, size and quality of future tournaments and projections regarding attendance at future events. Forwardlooking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forwardlooking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forwardlooking information. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forwardlooking information as a result of competitive factors and competition for investment opportunities, challenges relating to operations in international markets, transaction execution risk, changes to the Company's strategic growth plans, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forwardlooking information are reasonable based on current expectations and potential investment pipeline, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forwardlooking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forwardlooking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE New Wave Holdings Corp.

ARLINGTON, Va. (Jan. 21, 2021) -- A new research agenda developed by 40 leading experts in healthcare epidemiology and infectious diseases defines the critical areas of study to inform clinical practice, policy, and prevention strategies for COVID-19 and future pandemics. "COVID-19 Research Agenda for Healthcare Epidemiology," published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, identifies the gaps in the understanding of the epidemiology, transmission, and individual as well as public health consequences of viral diseases that were revealed through some of the worst phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The emergence and rapid world-wide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to unprecedented loss of life and socio/economic disruption. The scientific community has risen to this challenge and published an enormous body of work over the past year informing our response to the pandemic and leading to evolving guidelines for treatment, testing, and prevention," said Lona Mody, MD, an author of the research agenda. "Looking to the future, the community still has much to learn. We must be intentional with our approach to improve how we prevent and treat COVID-19 and other viral illnesses."

The SHEA Research Committee assembled a working group of experts in the field of healthcare epidemiology to identify immediate research priorities in epidemiology, outbreak investigation, surveillance, isolation precaution practices, personal protective equipment, environmental contamination and disinfection, drug and supply shortages, antimicrobial stewardship, healthcare personnel occupational safety, and return to work policies. The thought leaders highlighted three critical research questions in each of these 10 areas.

Among the most pressing areas for research, include:

Understanding the spread of the virus through asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic patients infected with COVID-19.

Determining how risk factors impact disease severity, as well as understanding long-term cardiometabolic, respiratory, neurological, and psychological impacts of the virus.

Developing tools to identify outbreaks more rapidly in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings leading to early interventions to curtail outbreaks.

Improving the understanding of personal protective equipment, or PPE, including socio-behavioral reasons for not following PPE guidance, as well as the continued need for PPE during and after the pandemic.

"This research agenda calls for translational studies from laboratory-based basic science research to well-designed, large-scale studies and health outcomes research," said Deverick Anderson, MD, MPH, the senior author of the research agenda. "To undertake this work, funding organizations must make COVID-19 research their highest priority."

The authors note that this research agenda, while a significant tool for shaping the direction of the scientific literature, represents expert opinion at a moment in time during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. They note that priorities may shift as the pandemic evolves and as vaccines and other therapeutics become available.

###

Lona Mody, Deverick Anderson, et al. "COVID-19 Research Agenda for Healthcare Epidemiology." Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. Web (January 21, 2021).

About ICHE

Published through a partnership between the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America and Cambridge University Press, Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology provides original, peer reviewed scientific articles for anyone involved with an infection control or epidemiology program in a hospital or healthcare facility. ICHE is ranked 41st out of 89 Infectious Disease Journals in the latest Web of Knowledge Journal Citation Reports from Thomson Reuters.

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) is a professional society representing more than 2,000 physicians and other healthcare professionals around the world who possess expertise and passion for healthcare epidemiology, infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship. The society's work improves public health by establishing infection-prevention measures and supporting antibiotic stewardship among healthcare providers, hospitals, and health systems. This is accomplished by leading research studies, translating research into clinical practice, developing evidence-based policies, optimizing antibiotic stewardship, and advancing the field of healthcare epidemiology. SHEA and its members strive to improve patient outcomes and create a safer, healthier future for all. Visit SHEA online at http://www. shea-online. org , http://www. facebook. com/ SHEApreventingHAIs and @SHEA_Epi.

About Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge. It furthers the University's mission by disseminating knowledge in the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Its extensive peer-reviewed publishing lists comprise 45,000 titles covering academic research, professional development, over 400 research journals, school-level education, English language teaching and bible publishing. Playing a leading role in today's international marketplace, Cambridge University Press has over 50 offices around the globe, and it distributes its products to nearly every country in the world.

For further information about Cambridge University Press, visit Cambridge.org.
No10 today backed Dominic Raab over his refusal to grant full diplomatic status to the EU's ambassador - but insisted the government is working with Brussels on a solution.

Downing Street underlined that the bloc is 'not a nation state' after it emerged that Joao Vale de Almeida has not been given the same status as other ambassadors.

The bloc has an ambassador in London for the first time after Brexit and the transition period formally ended on January 1.

The row has echoes of the wrangling in the Brexit negotiations, when the UK's Lord Frost reputedly frustrated Michel Barnier by referring to the EU as 'your organisation'.

Brussels said the EU's 143 delegations and staff in other parts of the world had been accorded a status equivalent to countries' embassies under the Vienna Convention, which governs the rules of international diplomacy.

Without the full protection of the Vienna Convention, diplomats do not benefit from immunity from detention, criminal jurisdiction and taxation.

Joao Vale de Almeida (pictured right with Michel Barnier) has not been given the same status as other ambassadors, with the Foreign Office declining to treat an international organisation in the same way as nation states

Who is Joao Vale de Almeida? Joao Vale de Almeida became the EU's first ambassador to the UK last February after Brexit was confirmed. Born in Portugal, the 63-year-old father of two and granfather was a journalist before joining the EU commission in 1982 - when Jacques Delors was president. He became a spokesman for the commission before being promoted to take charge of the Education and Culture directorate. He was chief of staff to Jose Manuel Barroso for five years from 2004, before taking on a series of ambassadorial roles. He was the first EU ambassador to the US from 2010 to 2014, launching the abortive TTIP trade negotiations. And after that he spent five years in New York as the bloc's ambassador to the UN. Advertisement

The PM's spokesman said that Mr Vale de Almeida and his team will get the 'privileges and immunities' necessary to do their work.

He said that the Foreign Office was 'working with the EU' on a long-term settlement, but added: 'It is a matter of fact that the EU is a collection of nations but it is not a state in its own right.'

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said the UK, which, as a member of the EU, was a signature to the Lisbon Treaty which established the European External Action Service diplomatic network, was 'well aware of the EU's status in external relations'.

'Nothing has changed since the UK's exit from the European Union to justify any change in stance on the UK's part,' he said.

'The EU's status in external relations and its subsequent diplomatic status is amply recognised by countries and international organisations around the world, and we expect the United Kingdom to treat the EU Delegation accordingly and without delay.'

He said granting reciprocal treatment based on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is 'standard practice' between equal partners and we are 'confident that we can clear this issue with our friends in London in a satisfactory manner'.

Mr Stano added: 'The European Union has 143 Delegations, equivalent to diplomatic missions, around the world.

'Without exception, all host states have accepted to grant these delegations and their staff a status equivalent to that of diplomatic missions of states under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, and the UK is well aware of this fact.'

Senior Tory Tobias Ellwood described the row as a 'silly spat' and insisted the UK should be 'better than this'.

Mr Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said: 'This is simply petty.

'(Joe) Biden commits to strengthening alliances and we engage in silly spats which will not help strengthen security and trade cooperation.

Dominic Raab is facing a Tory backlash over his 'petty' refusal to grant full diplomatic status to the EU's ambassador

'We are better than this.'

The BBC reported that the EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has written to Mr Raab directly to raise his concerns about the situation.

In the letter last November Mr Borrell says: 'Your service have sent us a draft proposal for an establishment agreement about which we have serious concerns.

'The arrangements offered do not reflect the specific character of the EU, nor do they respond to the future relationship between the EU and the UK as an important third country.

'It would not grant the customary privileges and immunities for the delegation and its staff.

'The proposals do not constitute a reasonable basis for reaching an agreement.'
Here was a presidential inauguration delivered within the teeth of a storm of American carnage, but bearing the promise that, this time, the storm might abate.

The 46th President, Joe Biden, stood on the steps of the Capitol, a building assaulted only two weeks before by a howling mob of insurrectionists, and listed the cascade of crises facing his nation: a pandemic that has taken as many American lives now as all those lost by the US in World War II; deep racial injustice; domestic terrorism; climate change; and yes, white supremacy.

He spoke of the fragility of democracy itself but declared that it had prevailed. He instructed his nation that it must unify and end its uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

And he called out the disease that has eaten away at public discourse over the past four years.
A bakery has unveiled a new range of lamingtons using Australia's native ingredients, ranging from finger limes and pepperberry to wattle seeds and lemon myrtle.

Tokyo Lamington in Sydney has switched up their quirky Japanese inspired twists to create nine new lamington flavours in collaboration with Melbourne Bushfood.

Founders Min Chai and former Black Star pastry chef Eddie Stewart have worked with bold flavours to transform the classic cake into the epic range of desserts.

Tokyo Lamington in Sydney has unveiled a new range of lamingtons using Australia's native ingredients, ranging from finger limes and pepperberry to wattle seeds and lemon myrtle

'Native ingredients are known for being sharp, stark and distinct in flavour, often reflecting the landscape of their origin,' Min, former owner of N2 Extreme Gelato, said.

'Given the lamingtons Australian icon status it seemed only right to pair this beloved cake with native herbs and spices to create the ultimate Australian dessert.'

There are nine new lamingtons to choose from, including the Finger Lime Meringue which consists of lime curd, vanilla cream, dipped in torched Italian meringue.

The Chai & Pepperberry features date and chai jam, vanilla cream, dipped in white chocolate and coated with coconut shreds and pepperberry.

The Black Sesame & Wattle Seed has been dipped in white chocolate while the Honey & Macadamia has honey butter with toasted macadamia with white chocolate and coconut shreds.

The bakery has switched up their quirky Japanese inspired twists to create nine new lamington flavours in collaboration with Melbourne Bushfood

All of the ingredients are sourced from Indigenous Communities, Wild Harvesters and Small Australian Farmers to ensure a sustainable and ethical supply chain.

The bakery's entire menu has been replaced with the new native flavour profiles for two weeks only, and will be available until Wednesday, February 3.

Each limited-edition native lamington will be available in-store and online for $7.

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A selfless restaurant worker who cooked and delivered over 5,000 boxes of food for vulnerable people in isolation during the Covid pandemic has been awarded an Australia Day honour.

Chahat Indian Restaurant owner Gurjinder Singh Kahlon, 42, took it upon himself to make sure those in need didn't 'go to sleep with an empty stomach' during the health crisis.

The Indian migrant who started a new life in Adelaide, originally planned to distribute about 30 boxes of meals per day, but after joining up with Sikh Support Australia, he was able to send out hundreds.

A selfless restaurant worker who cooked and delivered over 5,000 boxes of food for vulnerable people in isolation during the Covid pandemic has been awarded an Australia Day honour

Chahat Indian Restaurant owner Gurjinder Singh Kahlon, 42, 9 (pictured) took it upon himself to make sure those in need didn't 'go to sleep with an empty stomach' during the health crisis

The delicious Indian cuisine was delivered to return travellers in quarantine, international students who weren't able to work during the lockdown

Mr Kahlon also fed emergency workers at the Lyell McEwen hospital who were run off their feet in the early stages of the pandemic.

His restaurant also handed out over 3,000 grocery kits to members of the community feeling the pinch during the economic shutdown.

Although he told SBS he's honoured and extremely proud to receive the Australia Day Council of South Australia Active Citizen of The Year Award, the humble cook said his work in the community was the least he could do.

'We don't want anyone to sleep with an empty stomach. We also ran a campaign on social media to tell people that we're here to help,' Mr Kahlon said.

His passion for helping others was sparked after he suffered a serious neck injury in 2013 soon after migrating to Australia.

Mr Kahlon could barely walk and even had trouble going to the bathroom.

Mr Kahlon (pictured left) said he was honoured and extremely proud to receive the Australia Day Council of South Australia Active Citizen of The Year Award

Pictured: Mr Kahlon serving food

'I was depressed, seeing myself in a condition where I was bed-ridden due to my injury...I feel that our life has to be more than just focusing on making money.'

So the following year, the former diesel mechanic launched his restaurant and began delivering home-cooked meals to those in need.

He has provided daily breakfasts to the homeless in Light Square and Hurtle Square and also serves up free meals every Christmas day.

Sikh Support Australia nominated Mr Kahlon for the award and said he is doing 'remarkable' in the community and thoroughly deserves to be recognised.

'You and your family's hard work and dedication has been long and tireless,' the charity said.

'This journey together for the community is remarkable and will keep going.'

Mr Kahlon said his Australia Day honour is a tribute to his migration journey since growing up in Village Dhariwal in the Gurdaspur District of Punjab, India.

'There were times when we had to sleep in parks, on roads, or in hospital corridors. But that is in the past now. Life is beautiful now, and with God's grace, we intend to share what we have earned with those in need,' he said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  An Indian group has applied for emergency use authorization for COVAXIN, making it the fourth brand of COVID-19 vaccine to seek approval for distribution in the country.

"Ambica International Corporation and Family Vaccine (FVSC) and specialty clinics (through IP Biotech) has filed for emergency use authorization (EUA) for COVAXIN, India's indigenous vaccine in the Philippines," a statement released on Thursday said.

The EUA was filed with the Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday, it also said.

According to the statement, FVSC and Ambica International Corporation consortium signed an agreement with Bharat Biotech International Ltd., the developer of the vaccine, to distribute COVAXIN should it meet FDA standards.

"The Philippines is among the list of priority countries that Bharat Biotech will allocate supplies of COVAXIN to," the statement said.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo confirmed the receipt of the EUA application filed by COVAXIN's distributors.

"They submitted an application this morning and pre evaluation is going on," he told CNN Philippines in a text message.

Other companies seeking EUA approval are British firm AstraZeneca, Russian company Gamaleya Research Institute and Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech.

So far, only Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency use.

An EUA issuance from regulators is required for the vaccines to be legally rolled out in the country.
(CNN)  Scientists have long wondered how butterflies fly  compared with other flying animals, the creatures have unusually short, broad and large wings relative to their body size.

Now, experts have found that the insects "clap" their wings together  and their wings are perfectly evolved for better propulsion.

Biologists from Sweden's Lund University set out to test a 50-year-old theory, that butterflies "clap" their wings together, pushing out the trapped air to create a jet and push the animal in the opposite direction.

"Butterflies look different from many other flying animals, compared to birds and bats. They have a very extreme wing shape  very large, short but very broad wings compared to their little body," Per Henningsson, associate professor in biology at Lund University, told CNN. "That is a bit of a puzzle, because that sort of wing is quite inefficient."

The biologists studied free-flying butterflies, and in their aerodynamic analysis, found the creatures' wings form a cupped shape during the upstroke and "clap," thrusting the butterfly forward. Meanwhile, the downstroke helps with weight support.

They also noticed that the butterfly wings were behaving in an unusual way -- instead of slamming together, as two flat surfaces, the wings bent to create a "pocket shape," which would capture more air, and improve propulsion.

"When the wings go up during the upstroke, and they clap together at the end of the upstroke, we saw that they were not just two flat surfaces," Henningsson explained.

"Instead they were bending, and due to their flexibility, (they were) forming a sort of pocket shape," he said, adding that the team thought that in doing so, butterflies captured more air between their wings, which improved the clap and boosted performance.

The team tested their theory using a series of triangular robotic clappers, and found that flexible wings increased the efficiency of the clap by 28% compared with rigid wings

Experts think the creatures may have evolved to favor this unusual wing shape in order to evade predators.

"This flexibility might be one of the reasons they have this unusual wing shape," Henningsson said. "Butterflies take off very quickly -- they do this as a safety measure, to minimize risk of getting caught," he explained.

The research was published Wednesday in the journal Interface.

This story was first published on CNN.com Scientists have finally worked out how butterflies fly

DNA Payments Group (DNA), a fast-growing vertically integrated payments company, acquired Active Merchant Services (also known as Active Payments) a UK-based independent sales organisation with more than 2,500 merchants. This acquisition brings DNA's customer base to c. 30,000 merchants and 57,000 terminals in the UK and EU with the actual processing volumes of transactions to over 5.5 billion per annum. This transaction marks DNA's third acquisition in the last 14 months as it plans to further expand in its core markets with more acquisitions in different segments of payments value chain planned for this year.

Nurlan Zhagiparov, director of DNA Payments added:

"We are welcoming Active Payments to DNA's group. In late 2019, DNA acquired the CR7 Group of companies and turned it into profitability in 6 months. Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic, the year of 2020 was truly transformative for the group as we added acquiring services, industry leading e-comm proposition, Pay by Link, Pay by Bank and many other payment methods which help our customers to operate even during lockdowns. DNA Payments Group's estate have organically grown by more than 50% in 2020. We are tier agnostic and serve our SME customers through one of the UK's oldest Independent Sales Organisations 123 Send. Now, Active Payments' customers will have access to our amazing service propositions and product set, we look forward to the great future in 2021 and beyond".

DWF in London and Manchester provided legal transactional support to DNA Payments on the acquisition with EY providing support on financial and tax aspects of the transaction.

About DNA Payments

DNA Payments Limited is one of only a few independent, fully vertically integrated payments companies in UK and EU. DNA Payments Group owns the UK's largest independent omnichannel gateway Optomany, which services large corporates and medium size businesses. 123 Send Limited is also part of DNA Payments that provide services to SME customers. They are also one of the largest providers of PaaS and SaaS services to multinational Acquirers and Banks.

DNA Payments is committed to build a transparent business model, so that customers can easily track their money at each stage whilst it is being processed through the use of fast and efficient technology. DNA Payments Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, under the Payment Services Regulations 2017 for the provision of payment services.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005347/en/

Contacts:

Scott Weddell

scott@dnapayments.com

This may have been a rocky year, but work has still been done by the Central Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area.

Its mission is to protect and improve the natural resources, economy and human health in Central Michigan through collaborative outreach and management of invasive exotic species. This cooperative works within Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella and Midland counties and is a free resource for all invasive species questions.

Although this year was met with some challenges and breaks in their funding, they were still able to keep projects moving forward and offer support through the year. Their core funding through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program, which is funded by the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Environment, Great Lakes & Energy is still in place and, if awarded, will be renewed in April. In addition to this grant, they had the privilege of working under their United States Forest Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant (FS GLRI). The first phase of this grant near completion which includes field survey work of road right-of-ways, private properties, and public nature preserves. The next phase of this grant is carrying out treatment efforts on the determined sites based on the survey data collected.

To further their on-the-ground work in the region, they applied for an additional FS GLRI grant. This is another two-year grant that would allow them to determine post May flood effects on invasive species along the Tittabawassee River. This would aid in determining what species may have moved in and what may have spread more widely in our area. Treatment funds are also included in this grant and sites will be determined following survey work.

With the pause in funding and new restrictions, their education and outreach opportunities took a hit.

"I was excited for new opportunities to reach new audiences in our region through planned events, said Coordinator Megan Garrett. However, looking ahead my hope is that we can push forward and find new ways to reach people, with whatever restrictions we are presented with. We appreciate the support and interest from the community and will continue to do our best to provide important invasive species information, in whatever means we are able too.

The Central Michigan Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CM-CISMA) Facebook page has been their main form of outreach throughout the past year. However, the hope is to bring back other means of outreach in the coming year. One form of outreach is through informational videos. One that was created this year was How to use the MISIN app: from start to finish, which can be found on YouTube or through the CM-CISMA Facebook page.

To stay up-to-date on invasive species issues and what the CISMA is working on or offering for events, follow them on Facebook or visit their website, www.cmcisma.org. Have direct invasive species questions or topics you would like to see covered? Contact the coordinator directly at 989-414-2237, coordinator@cmcisma.org, or through Facebook.

 Processed by Victoria Ritter, vritter@mdn.net
Scientists at Oxford University are preparing to produce new versions of their vaccine to fight more contagious variants of the Covid 19 discover in the UK, South Africa and Brazil, The Telegraph report said on Wednesday.

The report suggested: The university has confirmed that the team behind the AstraZeneca jab is undertaking feasibility studies to reconfigure the technology at 48 hours notice. However, AstraZeneca deferred to Oxford for comment.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

The scientists were working on estimating how quickly they could reconfigure their ChAdOx vaccine platform, the report said.

"The team do not currently think they will need to, but it would be stupid not to be prepared," the source told The Telegraph. "It should take a day or two to tweak the system."

Suggesting that the vaccine might not work against the South African variant, the scientists said: The new study, conducted by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in Johannesburg, showed the new South African variant could evade three classes of "therapeutically relevant monoclonal antibodies".

An Oxford spokesman said the university is carefully assessing the impact of new variants on vaccine immunity and evaluating the processes needed for rapid development of adjusted COVID-19 vaccines if these should be necessary.

Johnson says record COVID-19 death figures are appalling

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday's record deaths from COVID-19 are "appalling" and the death toll is likely to keep rising in the next few weeks because of the spread of a new, more infectious variant of the virus.

Britain reported a record daily number of deaths with 1,820 people dying within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.

"These figures are appalling," Johnson told Sky News. "It is true that it looks as though the rates of infection in the country overall may now be peaking or flattening, but they are not flattening very fast and it is clear that we must keep a grip on this."

The Telegraph said Boris Johnson said he was holding "intensive talks" with scientists about the new variants. He said he is confident the nation's medicines regulator will be ready and able to give approval to new versions of COVID-19 vaccines designed to counter new variants of the coronavirus that may appear,

Recent laboratory tests have indicated that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc and partner BioNTech SE is likely to work against the UK variant spreading around the world.

BioNTech has said it plans to publish a more detailed analysis of the likely effect of its vaccine on the South African variant within a few days.

AstraZeneca Plc, Moderna Inc and CureVac NV are also testing whether their respective shots will protect against the fast-spreading variants.

(With inputs from agencies)









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Italy's anti-mafia police arrested politicians, white-collar workers and 'first-level' bosses in early-morning raids today on the 'Ndrangheta crime family.

The pre-dawn blitz dubbed 'Low Profile' by Italy's anti-mafia squad - the Direzione Investigativa AntiMafia (DIA) - targeted mobsters and individuals accused of aiding the crime syndicate's illegal activities in the city of Catanzaro, Calabria.

During the operation, 13 people were jailed and 35 were placed under house arrest, local media reported.

Among the arrests were mafiosi holding the position of capo (captain) in the organisation, politicians, prominent entrepreneurs, and suspects in public administration roles.

The arrests come as 355 members of the 'Ndrangheta crime family stand as defendants in a 'Maxi trial' in the southern town of Lamezia Terme.

Images released by Italy's anti-Mafia squad, the DIA, show law enforcement vehicles heading out on raids early this morning . Thirteen individuals were jailed and a further 43 put under house arrest in the operation, dubbed 'low profile' by investigators

A photo handout on January 21, 2021 by the Anti-Mafia directorate of Catanzaro in Calabria shows banknotes and items stored in a safe, seized by authorities following an anti-mafia raid on January 21, 2021 in Catanzaro

The 'Ndrangheta, which is now considered the most powerful Mafia in Italy, has expanded well beyond its traditional domains of drug trafficking and loan sharking.

The crime syndicate uses shell companies and front-men to reinvest illegal gains in the legitimate economy.

In many parts of Calabria, it has infiltrated practically all areas of public life, from city hall and hospitals, to cemeteries and even the courts, experts say.

According to La Repubblica, the Rome residence of Lorenzo Cesa, former MEP and secretary of Italy's Christian Union of the Centre party, was searched this morning by members of the DIA.

Shortly after, Cesa announced his resignation from the party in a statement.

'I have received notification that I am under investigation for events dating back to 2017,' he said.

Secretary of Italy's Union of the Centre party, Lorenzo Cesa (pictured in Campania in 2016), was arrested in connection with helping the 'Ndrangheta

'I consider myself to be totally innocent and I will ask, via my lawyers, to speak to the competent prosecutors as soon as possible.

'As always, I have full and total faith in the judiciary.

'And given the particular period the country is going through, I resign as national secretary (of the UDC) with immediate effect'.

Cesa's colleague, Calabria's budget chief, UDC member Franco Talarico, was also placed under house arrest, ANSA reported.

Investigators uncovered that over three million euros was moved between a web of suspects.

The Public Prosecutor's Office of Catanzaro executed seizures of a 'significant' value of assets, including real estate, vehicles, bank and postal current accounts.

The assets seized during the 'low-profile' operation will be returned to the state coffers, said Nicola Morra, the president of the parliamentary Anti-Mafia Commission.

News of the raids come as a 'Maxi trial', expected to go on for a year, continues in the southern Calabrian town of Lamezia Terme.

Italy's largest Mafia trial in more than 30 years opened Wednesday as more than 350 suspects face a judge in a specially courtroom (pictured) in the southern Calabrian town of Lamezia Terme, in the heart of 'Ndrangheta territory

Anti-mob prosecutor Nicola Gratteri (centre) said it was an 'important day', telling reporters outside court that the trial would 'give the idea of what the Calabrian Mafia is today - no longer a Mafia of shepherds dedicated to kidnapping, but a major criminal corporation'

The trial, expected to last at least a year and likely longer, features 355 defendants, more than 900 prosecution witnesses, and an unprecedented number of collaborators, given the close family ties within the 'Ndrangheta that discourage turncoats.

In Italy, so-called 'maxi-trials,' which include scores of defendants and countless charges, are seen as the best judicial resource against the country's various organised crime groups, of which the 'Ndrangheta is now considered the most powerful, controlling the bulk of cocaine flowing into Europe.

The most famous 'maxi-trial' of 1986-7 dealt a major blow to Sicily's Cosa Nostra, resulting in 338 guilty verdicts, but prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino were later assassinated by the mob.

Authorities believe there are some 150 'Ndrangheta families in Calabria and at least 6,000 members and affiliates in the region. That swells to thousands worldwide, although estimates are unreliable.
Im happy, but its a little bit scary, Emad Moradi, 38, a Kurdish refugee who left Iran in 2013 by boat, said in the hours after his release. He and other refugees were teary-eyed as they tasted their first moments of freedom in years.

The release of the men was one of the Australian governments largest concessions to the countrys refugee rights movement in recent years. But more than a dozen of the 60 or so men originally detained in the Mantra hotel remain in custody, and some say they have received no news about their visa status or when they might be granted freedom.

At least 100 more, advocates for refugees say, are still in the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel and Apartments in Brisbane, while several others, including a family, are locked up in other motels and apartments or in permanent facilities.

Im totally broken down today, Mohammad Joy Miah, who traveled by boat to Australia from Bangladesh in 2013 and has been in hotel detention for about a year, said on Wednesday. Mr. Miah and others still being held said they were struggling with their emotions after the release of their roommates and friends.

Hamid Reza Yousefi, another asylum seeker, said he was devastated that the Australian government had continued to detain him even after he was offered conditional resettlement in the United States, under a deal reached during Barack Obamas presidency. If you dont like me, send me to America, he said.

Two of the detainees have tried to take their own lives, activists said. One of them, Thanush Selvarasa, 31, who arrived in Australia by boat in 2013 after fleeing Sri Lanka, said that after being deprived of normalcy for so many years, he had simply lost hope.
With his health and job in good condition, a young lecturer at the HCM City University of Forestry and Agriculture with a doctorate registered to donate his organs after death to convey the message that giving is forever existing.

Hieu registers for organ donation

Dr Nguyen Van Hieu, 42, said his poor childhood turned him into a humble man who is always willing to help other people.

At university, when Hieu was a poor student, he was beloved by people because he saved people involved in traffic accidents many times.

I dont know why I often accidentally saw road traffic crashes. I then brought them to hospitals, he said.

I learned that the time from the moment when people have accidents to the time of hospitalization is the golden time for victims, he said. When discovering accidents, I always try to bring them to hospital as soon as possible."

The strange fate of meeting and saving people in accidents brought the young doctor problems. In many cases, victims relatives thought he was the person who caused the accident and was cursed for this.

However, he continued to bring people to hospital. If they die, the pain will strike their relatives. Those who are still alive will bear pain throughout their lives. I always try my best to prevent the pain from happening, he said.

In many cases, though people are brought to hospital immediately, they still cannot last because of the shortage of organs for transplants.

One day, he began thinking of donating organs after an accident.

I had an accident. When I recovered my consciousness and saw the image of myself, I was astonished. I realized that death can come unexpectedly. And I began thinking about what I would leave behind if I unexpectedly died at this age, he said.

Donating organs

If they die, the pain will strike their relatives. Those who are still alive will bear pain throughout their lives. I always try my best to prevent the pain from happening,

Dang Van Hieu

Thinking about organ donation, Hieu searched for articles and research on the field. One day, he read a document which said that human life span could be 120-140 years. But people die earlier because some of parts in their body are damaged.

Some people die because their hearts, liver or kidney are damaged, while other organs could have worked for many more years. It would be a waste not to use the other organs that are still in good condition,he thought.

Why dont I offer my organs to other people if I die? So I decided to register for organ donation, he said.

Only after completing the procedures for organ donation registration did Hieu tell his relatives. He did not inform them earlier because he did not want any interference from his family.

I believe that my family and friends will understand the significance of my decision. I hope that society has a positive view about organ donation. People still think that dead people must be kept intact, he said.

The intellectual class needs to lead and change this view. That is why celebrities such as Quyen Linh, Viet Trinh and My Linh have registered to donate organs, he said.

He said he is happy as he not only has taken a significant action but has helped spread the message of donating organs to save people's lives.

It would be great if you, after turning into ash and dust, still can leave something and save other people, he said. Giving is existing forever."

In 2020, Vietnamese doctors conducted a series of special transplants, including two bowel transplants from live donors, which require very high organ transplantation techniques.

There are 19 organ transplant centres in Vietnam, including the Military Central Hospital 108, Military Hospital 103 and the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Hospital which has conducted 1,000 kidney transplants so far.

Nguyen Son

Doctors carry out organ transplant to 6 patients from brain-dead donor The Hanoi-based 108 Military Central Hospital has performed a multiple organ transplantation with organs taken from a brain dead donor, saving the lives of six different patients.


The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
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Outgoing chairman and fellow CBC member transition to Biden Administration

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) announced that Rep. Cedric Richmond will resign his role as board of directors chairman. He will transition from the CBCF board on January 19 in preparation to serve as senior adviser to the president and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement for President-Elect Joe Biden. Under Richmonds leadership since 2019, the CBCF advanced its mission to develop leaders, inform public policy and educate the public by expanding its social justice, research and policy analysis initiatives, and the programming of the Leadership Institute. The CBCF also recognizes the appointment of Congressional Black Caucus member Rep. Marcia Fudge to serve as secretary of housing and urban development as part of the forthcoming Biden Administration.

It has been one of the great honors of my life to serve as CBCF board chairman over the past year and a half, said Rep. Richmond. Whether it was our fellowships, scholarships, internships, or our recently improved endowment, we have put a significant down payment on the development of tomorrows Black leaders. I am eternally grateful for the confidence bestowed on me as the board set out to navigate difficult challenges and fortify the Foundations long-term vision and infrastructure. Together, we have set the CBCF on a path of growth and prosperity that will only see its reach expand over the coming years.

Lori George Billingsley, vice chairwoman of the CBCF board of directors, will assume the role of chairwoman, effective January 19. Billingsley is global chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for The Coca-Cola Company.

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The Coca-Cola Company is a long-time supporter of the CBCF, including the Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) Prayer Breakfast and Day of Healing, said Lori George Billingsley. I am proud to lead this dedicated and accomplished board of directors at this pivotal time in our collective history.

The CBCF will continue to develop opportunities to advance the global Black community, said president and CEO Tonya Veasey. We congratulate Rep. Fudge and thank Rep. Richmond for his dedicated service to the CBCF and we are grateful for his leadership as board chairman. Moreover, it is a pleasure to continue our tradition of impactful work with Lori George Billingsley.

To receive updates on CBCF news, research, programs and events, subscribe to receive the e-newsletter and follow @CBCFinc on Twitter and Instagram.

About the CBCF

Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and educational institute committed to advancing the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public. For more information, visit cbcfinc.org.

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EgyptAir said passengers traveling to Jordan should present a negative COVID-19 test carried out at a certified lab no later than 72 hours before their flight.

According to an official statement, EgyptAir has been urging traveling passengers to Amman to provide a COVID-19 travel insurance document, and download Jordans Aman application, which alerts users when they are suspected of being infected or have been in contact with a person who is infected.

Travelers to Jordan will also be tested upon arrival at an additional cost, the statement added, with children under five exempted from the travel restrictions.

Jordan reported 978 new cases and 17 deaths on Wednesday, bringing the infections tally since the outbreak to 317,405.

Its death toll currently stands at 4,187.

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Older people in Derry are to take part in new artistic projects which will give them the chance to articulate how the coronavirus pandemic has affected their lives.

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has allocated 110,000 to enable 12 arts organisations to deliver a series of community-based arts projects benefitting older people.

Among those taking part in the initiative are the Derry-based arts group Echo Echo and the Waterside Theatre in the city.

They each will now use the funding to come up with creative projects.

The Waterside Theatre will put their funding towards a 1A2-week project with Longfield Care Home residents and care staff.

The project will see Waterside Theatre working with the residents and the staff to create pieces of visual artwork representing their experiences throughout 2020 and to visually show how they have all worked together to come through this very trying time.

A professional writer will also work with the residents and staff to listen to their stories; the sad times, the happy times and everything else in between and create a piece of original poetry representing their thoughts, feelings, and emotions of the past year.

The second element their project will extend the work that the Waterside Theatre has been doing with Dementia NI online.

They have been working with 20 people living with Dementia from throughout Northern Ireland using creative writing and the arts to explore participants feelings during lockdown.

The Arts & Older Peoples Programme funding will enable participants to create individual memory blankets that represent them as people.

They will get to experience different art techniques to produce a final piece that will be sewn together.

Waterside Theatre will also create two large wall hangings with one piece of artwork from each of the participants which will be showcased at a special event in the Waterside Theatre later in 2021.

Meanwhile, Echo Echo will use their funding for a film project entitled Body Wisdom, partnering with Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre and the Old Library Trust to identify ten project participants all aged 50+ years.

The Body Wisdom group have continued to meet online throughout the pandemic since March 2020 and this has been a vital source of regular social and creative interaction.

The film will recognise this commitment and reflect upon the individual and group work created during the pandemic.

The work will be shared to an invited audience through Echo Echo networks.

Another strand of the funding will go towards supporting an online video dance programmes delivered to older people in Derry and Limavady.

The videos will be focused mostly on chair work, gentle movement exercises with sequences and mindfulness, aiming to reach more than 4,000 older people.

The funding is part of the Arts and Older Peoples Programme, a pioneering initiative supported by National Lottery, Public Health Agency and Baring Foundation, which aims to tackle loneliness as-well as promote positive mental health and well-being among older people through engagement with the arts.

The programme has been designed to challenge perceptions of what it means to be an older person.

Lorraine Calderwood, Community Development Officer at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, explained how the Arts and Older Peoples Programme is making a difference to the lives of older people across the region.

"Research has proven that taking part in arts activities can raise self-esteem, confidence and motivation, as well as aid in relieving stress, worries and also pain, she said.

The Arts and Older Peoples Programme is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our older people to take part in arts activities, enriching their lives for the better.

The arts have a vital role to play in helping older people find their voice and express the issues which can often affect them on a day-to-day basis, thus promoting positive physical and mental health.

The Arts Council is hugely proud to have supported 196 projects since the programme began and were delighted today to announce that a further 12 arts organisations will be supported to deliver projects with funding of 110,000.
No evidence so far indicates that food or drinks can transmit the virus that causes COVID-19, but new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that people with problems in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be vulnerable to infection after swallowing the virus.

Studying tissue from patients with a common disorder called Barrett's esophagus, the researchers found that although cells in a healthy esophagus cannot bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, esophageal cells from patients with Barrett's have receptors for the virus, and those cells can bind to and become infected by the virus that causes COVID-19.

The study is published online Jan. 20 in the journal Gastroenterology.

"There is no evidence yet that people with Barrett's esophagus have higher rates of COVID-19 or are at any greater risk, but part of the reason is because that hasn't been studied," said senior investigator Jason C. Mills, MD, PhD. "Now that we've connected these dots, it may be worthwhile to look and see whether people with Barrett's have higher rates of infection."

Part of the reason it's been considered safe to eat and drink most foods during the pandemic is that they are unlikely to carry viral particles. And even if some viral particles are attached to food, stomach acid neutralizes the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

But when stomach acid backs up, people develop a disorder called gastric reflux that can cause long-term damage to the esophagus. In those with reflux disease, which affects about one in five people in the U.S., acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus, causing heartburn and damaging the lining of the esophagus. Over time, in some people with reflux, cells in the esophagus change and begin to resemble intestinal cells. Intestinal cells have receptors that can bind to the novel coronavirus, so Mills and his colleagues reasoned that in Barrett's patients, the cells that line the esophagus also would develop receptors that can bind to the virus and become infected.

In addition, standard medical management for patients with Barrett's esophagus is to suppress gastric acid secretions with drugs such as proton pump inhibitors. By reducing stomach acidity, those drugs may inadvertently make it possible for the virus to pass through the stomach and into the intestine, where even the normal, healthy cells carry receptors for SARS-CoV-2.

Many patients with COVID-19 -- most of whom contract it by breathing in the viral particles -- develop GI symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. The virus also has been found in the stool of COVID-19 patients. But this new study demonstrates that under the right circumstances, the virus also may have an impact in the upper part of the GI tract. As a result, Mills -- a professor of medicine, of developmental biology, and of pathology and immunology -- and his team believe esophageal cells in Barrett's patients are potential gateways for infection.

"You can imagine that if someone already has low levels of the virus in their respiratory tract, that individual could swallow some respiratory secretions, and the virus could infect cells in the esophagus to make them sicker that way," said Ramon U. Jin, MD, PhD, the paper's co-first author and a clinical fellow in the Division of Medical Oncology who studies Barrett's esophagus because it is a major risk factor for cancer of the esophagus. The other co-first author, Jeffrey W. Brown, MD, PhD, is an instructor in medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology.

In this study, the researchers analyzed tissue from 30 patients with Barrett's esophagus and found that cells in the tissue samples all had receptors for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which normal esophagus cells lack. They built and cultured mini organs from those and other esophagus tissue samples. Some of the sample organs were built with cells that came from healthy people while others came from patients with Barrett's esophagus. The scientists built the mini esophaguses, called organoids, in a dish to learn how those model organs interacted with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The virus was able to bind to and infect mini organs built from tissue from people with Barrett's esophagus. Moreover, the more the cells in a specific patient's mini esophagus culture resembled intestine, the more the virus bound to and infected that culture.

"The worry would be that, particularly for Barrett's patients, there even may be a susceptibility to infection from foods containing viral particles," Mills said. "This study provides data to indicate that we need to take a closer look to investigate whether a substantial portion of the population may be susceptible to infection through what they swallow."

###

Jin RU, Brown JW, Li QK, Bayguinov PO, Wang JS, Mills JC Tropism of SARS-CoV-2 for Barrett's esophagus may increase susceptibility to developing COVID-19. Gastroenterology, Jan. 20, 2021.

This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Grant number P30 CA091842, P30 DK052574, P30 CA006973, T32 HL007088, U54 CA163060, R21 DK111369, R01 DK105129, R01 DK110406. Additional support from an American Gastroenterological Association Foundation AGA-Takeda COVID-19 Rapid Response Research, the Department of Defense, the Children's Discovery Institute of Washington University and St. Louis Children's Hospital, the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

Washington University School of Medicine's 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, ranking among the top 10 medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare.
The Torah portion for this week, Bo, is filled with plagues (three, to be exact), darkness, laws of Passover, the commandment to sanctify the new moon, borrowed items and pidyon ha-ben  redemption of the first-born son.

This is a story about our liberation from slavery. It is about freedom. This is our story, the story to tell our children and their children. It is the story of our future, of light emerging from darkness.

The plague of darkness has always fascinated me. There was no warning. The JPS Commentary presents the symmetry between the three days of darkness and the three-day journey to worship God that Pharaoh repeatedly denied the Israelites.

Moreover, was it an insult to the Egyptians, who worshipped Ra, the sun god? As the sun was their ultimate god, darkness presented a troubling message. The rabbis suggested that the darkness during the day was even darker than that of night. Others said that wherever the Israelites were, there was light. And even in the darkness, those with faith could find their way.

Was the darkness not a physical aspect, but a moral deprivation?

During the bleak days of COVID-19, many have felt alone in the darkness of isolation. With little light or hope, we have been wearing the darkness like a heavy cloak.

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In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.

Rabbi Yossy Goldman shared the following story that illustrates how each of us can bring light to a darkened place. You may have heard variations of this tale:

The story is told of a wealthy man who had three sons. As he was uncertain as to which son he should entrust with the management of his business, he devised a test. He took his three sons to a room that was empty, and he said to each of them, Fill this room as best you are able.

The first son got to work immediately. He called in bulldozers, earthmoving equipment, workmen with shovels and wheelbarrows, and they got mightily busy. By the end of the day the room was filled, floor to ceiling, wall to wall, with earth.

The room was cleared, and the second son was given his chance.

He was more of an accountant type, so he had no shortage of paper: boxes, files, archives and records that had been standing and accumulating dust for years and years suddenly found a new purpose. At any rate, it did not take long, and the room was absolutely filled from floor to ceiling, wall to wall, with paper.

Again, the room was cleared, and the third son was given his turn. He seemed very relaxed and did not appear to be gathering or collecting anything at all with which to fill the room. He waited until nightfall and then invited his father and the family to join him at the room. Slowly, he opened the door. The room was absolutely pitch black, engulfed in darkness. He took something out of his pocket. It was a candle. He lit the candle and suddenly the room was filled with light.

As the new secular year has begun, I reflect upon the sparks of light I see even though the time of sunlight is brief. I am aware of renewed and perhaps stronger relationships. I learn about new hobbies or time to read those books waiting to be opened. I notice the world with a fresh intensity that I did not always spend the time doing.

In the words of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, Our goal should be to live in radical amazement  get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually.

We are living life with an intensity filled with meaning and intention.

The Rhiziner Rav wrote that every Jewish soul has a spark of light from the Light Above. Each of you carries within your soul a spark of the Divine, a glimmer of light. You have the ability to light your way, to bring rays of sunshine to others and to extinguish the darkness in which so many dwell.

You can bring light to this world. And the light you bring will be welcomed as a loving embrace. Light is hope. This is our moral obligation. It is a simple task and a way to affirm life and our sacred teachings.

Rabbi Elizabeth Hersh serves Temple Emanuel and is a member of the St. Louis Rabbinical and Cantorial Association, which coordinates the dvar Torah for the Jewish Light.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
No Pardons For Edward Snowden Or Julian Assange

By Kevin Gosztola

January 20, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - - Although several long shot campaigns were mounted, President Donald Trump did not pardon any whistleblowers who were indicted or prosecuted under the United States Espionage Act. He also declined to pardon the only journalist ever to be indicted under the World War I-era law.



WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden were not offered clemency because Trump "did not want to anger Senate Republicans who will soon determine whether he's convicted during his Senate trial."



"Multiple GOP lawmakers had sent messages through aides that they felt strongly about not granting clemency to Assange or Snowden," according to CNN.



NSA whistleblower Reality Winner, who was the first to be prosecuted under the Espionage Act under Trump, and former CIA officer John Kiriakou pursued pardons. They were effectively denied as well.



On January 17, the New York Times reported that an associate of Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told Kiriakou a pardon would cost him $2 million.

"I laughed. Two million bucksare you out of your mind?" Kiriakou told the Times. "Even if I had two million bucks, I wouldn't spend it to recover a $700,000 pension."

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The report exposed a sliver of the corruption around pardons in the final days of the Trump presidency, as "several people with connections" to Trump apparently "accepted large sums of money" in return for clemency.



Kiriakou said Trump was not the only president in history to encourage this kind of behavior. "Certainly, Bill Clinton did at the end of his administration well. But this just highlights how the pardon process in the United States is broken."



Throughout the past three months, prominent supporters of Assange, like Pamela Anderson and Glenn Greenwald, were frequent guests on Fox News during primetime in order to communicate the case for a pardon directly to Trump.



A few Republicans in Congress, like Senator Rand Paul and Representative Matt Gaetz, crafted a partisan pitch for pardoning Snowden that went something like Democratic allies, such as former director of national intelligence James Clapper, persecuted him.

He revealed that James Clapper, the highest-ranking, most powerful spy in the world, was spying on Americans and lied to us about it, Paul declared. So I think what Snowden did was a service to the American people and he ought to be pardoned.

But Snowden did not have millions of dollars to pay off Trump nor was he ever going to do Trump any political favors.



Snowden responded, "Reports that Trump has let himself be bullied out of pardoning Assange, mistakenly believing Senate Republicans won't vote to impeach him if he caves. Once he's out of power, they're going to vote to impeach him anyway. Which, wellthat's one way to be remembered."



"Trump will either be remembered as the first president since JFK, who from his first to last day in office was hated by the NSA, CIA, and FBI, or as the one who caved to pressure at the very last moment," Snowden further suggested.



He constantly bashed the "deep state" during his campaign and presidency, but whenever he needed to challenge national security institutions and stand up to their apparatchiks in the Republican Party, he showed there was nothing behind it.



"[The rhetoric] ended up not really serving anybody," Kiriakou contended.



Which is not to say the pardon campaigns by Assange, Snowden, Winner, Kiriakou, and others were a waste of time. Nobody would have predicted President Barack Obama would commute U.S. Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning's sentence in 2017 during the final days of his administration.



Assange, who was indicted under Trump, will remain in Belmarsh, a high-security prison in London where COVID-19 has recently spread through his unit. The Biden Justice Department is expected to pursue an appeal of a British courts decision to deny the U.S. government's extradition request against Assange.



With a newborn, Snowden and his wife, Lindsay Mills, will remain in Moscow. They will live in exile at least until Snowden can return and defend his whistleblowing acts in a courtroom in the Eastern District of Virginia. (Significant reform is necessary for that to happen.)



Winner will be able to leave Federal Medical Center Carswell and go to a halfway house as early as November 2021. However, she also must worry about COVID-19 outbreaks at Carswell.



Because Kiriakou completed his sentence several years ago, his circumstances are far less dire. He still would like to reclaim his pension.



In the end, a president who built up a brand of standing up to the so-called swamp did not want to take any heat for pardoning individuals loathed by the very establishment that despises him. He was spineless and weak.



Trump risked a scandal over pardons for his son-in-law or any one of his cronies. He was not willing to take the same risk for Assange, Snowden, or Kiriakou.



"No president wants to really be involved in a controversy. Donald Trump [was] no different," Kiriakou concluded.

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Demand for vaccines is skyrocketing as the United States grapples with a record death toll from Covid-19 and the threat of new, more contagious variants. After a slow start in December, many states and cities have quickly ramped up vaccine delivery, widening access to larger groups of people and setting up mass testing sites.

But now theres a new wrinkle: Some mayors and governors say they have run out of available vaccines, and have had to cancel appointments.

The Biden administration has promised to overhaul the countrys faltering vaccine effort, but theres only so much it can do to increase the available supply.

Heres what you need to know.

How many doses are available?

There are simply not enough doses of authorized vaccines to meet the enormous demand. And that is not likely to change for the next few months.
Erin Molan has brazenly revealed to movie legend Eric Bana that she once 'stalked' him for 'three days straight' to get an interview as a young Nine reporter.

On Thursday, Hollywood icon Eric laughed as he confirmed he could remember the 2014 incident on 2Days The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed & Erin - leaving the radio host, 38, completely elated.

As he attempted to discuss his new movie The Dry, Erin chimed in: 'Hey Eric, I've met you before. I stalked you - it was actually probably highly illegal!'

Keen! Erin Molan candidly revealed to movie legend Eric Bana on Thursday that she once 'stalked' him for 'three days straight' to get an interview as a young reporter - and hilariously, he remembered the entire incident

She continued: '...but I got the interview for Channel Nine, and I was so chuffed and my bosses were so happy!'

Hilariously, Eric responded: 'You know why I remember? Someone said to me "there's a girl who wants to do an interview - and I don't think she's going to go without it."'

The interview had taken place in 2014, when Eric competed in one of the toughest car races in Australia - the Bathurst 12 Hour - in Mount Panorama, NSW.

Eager! Erin, who still works for Channel Nine, said she waited outside to chat to Eric for 'three days straight' before she finally nabbed the interview

After a sea of laughter from her co-hosts, Erin added: 'It was day three, and I literally just sat outside your shed for three days straight.

'I hadn't filed another story because you were the only one I wanted to get. You were absolutely lovely and you did an incredible job.'

Meanwhile, Eric recently spoke about his lead role in The Dry while attending the film's premiere in Sydney.

With the local industry thriving amid the coronavirus pandemic, the actor said he felt the project was 'really special' to be part of.

'I hadn't filed another story because you were the only one I wanted to get,' Erin said when she spoke to Eric on Thursday morning

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Eric said he was excited to bring the best-selling novel to life without leaving the country.

'Being able to film in regional Victoria was really, really special and not having to sit on a plane for 20 hours, and that sort of thing, it did feel fantastic,' he said.

Eric, who also executive produced the film, said he was a longtime fan of Jane Harper's 2016 novel on which The Dry was based.

'Its always exciting when you read something that you really want to be a part of that becomes a reality,' the Dirty John star said.
Samil Mehajer is accused of stalking, choking, and bashing his model ex girlfriend over almost their entire three-year relationship.

The disgraced property developer was charged on Wednesday after Melissa 'Missy' Tysoe made domestic violence claims against him.

The pair met at a New Year's Eve party in Vaucluse, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in 2017 - sparking a relationship that lasted almost three years.

Burwood Local Court heard on Thursday that Mehajer's alleged abuse started only four months later in April 2018.

Melissa 'Missy' Tysoe met the now 34-year-old at a party on New Year's Eve in Vaucluse, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, in 2017

After years of alleged violence, she claimed the final attack happened on November 4 last year, when he is accused of choking her (pictured together)

After years of alleged violence, she claimed the final attack happened on November 4 last year, when Mehajer is accused of choking her.

Mehajer, 34, pleaded not guilty to four counts of common assault, one of stalking and intimidation, and one of choking with recklessness.

The 31-year-old finance graduate first reported her allegations to police on December 21 and an interim restraining order was granted on her behalf while her claims were investigated.

On Thursday, he was hit with five additional counts of breaching the restraining order from his prison cell.

Mehajer has been denied bail three times in a week.

The former deputy mayor of Auburn was charged with one count of breaking the domestic violence order on December 30.

Salim Mehajer arrives at the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney, August 13, 2020

On Thursday, he was hit with five additional counts of breaching the AVO from his prison cell (Ms Tysoe pictured)

Mehajer allegedly tried to pressure Ms Tysoe into dropping the allegations multiple times from behind bars, according to the NCA Newswire.

He called his sisters Zenah Osman and Mary Mehajer and allegedly asked them to convince Ms Tysoe 'not to make problems for him' so his attempts to be freed on bail wouldn't be harmed.

'Tell her to remove it can she remove it? If she removes it it can be removed,' he allegedly told Ms Osman according to court documents.

She then allegedly sent a WhatsApp message to Ms Tysoe saying her brother was 'broken' and 'never did anything wrong'.

'He said the [restraining order], there's no need and so forth. He wants u to withdraw it. I don't know man he was saying all this stuff about loving u I felt really sorry for him.'

Ms Osman the next day said Ms Tysoe was 'not listening' and 'had her reasons' for laying the charges.

Ms Tysoe claimed to police that Mehajer assaulted and threatened her

The former mayor of Auburn was charged with one count of breaking the domestic violence order on December 30 (Ms Tysoe pictured)

Mehajer then allegedly asked Mary to lean on her as well, and denied ever attacking her.

'I don't care about if she doesn't talk with me or whatever but the reason why I'm telling you to talk to her, is because there is [a restraining order] saying that I'm hitting her, I'm going to kill her all bulls**t like that,' he said.

Other calls cited in court documents revealed neither sister was able to sway Ms Tysoe into dropping the charges.

His lawyer Javid Faiz argued for the former politician's release under strict bail conditions.

Magistrate Rodney Brender denied bail and told the court Ms Tysoe was allegedly the victim of 'a series of violent assaults' and was the target of the restraining order breaches.

Mehajer was remanded in custody at Sydney's MRRC in Silverwater (above) after he was found to have breached his bail conditions on separate perverting the course of justice charges

Mehajer has denied contacting his ex-lover, claiming his sister contacted her without his knowledge.

But Sergeant Ashton Solomon claimed he became 'fixated' on Ms Tysoe, having allegedly breached the restraining order consistently.

'The accused has shown unrelenting willingness to try to contact the victim,' he told the court.

'He's basically putting pressure on the victim to withdraw the [restraining order].'

Mehajer was initially taken into police custody in November after his bail was revoked in after being found guilty at trial of perjury and perverting the course of justice.

He will return to court on February 25 for the assault charges, and will appear again on February 2.
Press Release

January 21, 2021 De Lima seeks probe into rising prices of commodities Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has called for a Senate investigation into the alarming increases in the prices of basic commodities, which greatly affects the country's poorest households. De Lima filed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 611 seeking to implement urgent measures that will control and manage the cost of these basic commodities that pose a threat to people's right to food and affect the fragile condition of many Filipino households. "It is imperative for the Senate, along with other key agencies, to discuss and assess the primary causes of this unabated increases in prices in basic commodities including pork, vegetables and fish," she said. "The State and its agencies must identify the policy levers that can rein in excessive volatility and maintain prices within a reasonable band," she added. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the COVID-19 crisis resulted in lower incomes and higher prices of some foods, putting food out of reach for many. De Lima said the prices of agricultural commodities in the market continued to climb as Filipinos welcomed the new year, citing the Department of Agriculture's (DA) price watch showing increases in vegetable and meat prices by as much as 66 percent from December 2020. As the national government shifts the public's focus and attention on the implementation of its COVID-19 vaccination program, De Lima said gut issues such as these should not be relegated to the background. "However, it is crucial that these price surges are duly addressed as price volatility on these basic commodities adversely impacts the very fragile condition and situation of many Filipino households given the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic," she said. "The dramatic slowdown in the economy, coupled with severe restrictions on movement, has resulted in mass job losses over the last few months. With no income or social support, millions of people cannot afford enough to eat," she added. De Lima likewise said that increase in the prices of these basic commodities is an extra burden for those whose income had fallen because of the economic shocks brought about by the pandemic such as loss of employment and underemployment. She stressed that it is also the duty of the Senate to review and enact policies and measures that can temper down and manage the surging prices of these commodities after its careful evaluation and assessment of the situation and factors affecting this persisting problem. "While the State must take action to control the spread of the coronavirus, urgent action is also required to stop the growing hunger crisis and build more resilient and sustainable food systems that work for all Filipinos," she said. "It must also scale-up investments in food production, ensure producers earn a living income by establishing minimum producer prices and other support mechanisms, and ensure workers earn a living wage," she added. In an earlier Twitter post, the lady Senator from Bicol slammed the lawmakers who, amid the pandemic and rising prices of basic commodities, are pushing for Charter Change. "Habang busy-busyhan ang mga Congressman magdebate para ibenta ang bansa natin, nagtataasan ang bilihin sa palengke. Pansinin niyo naman yung kababayan natin na wala nang maiulam!," De Lima said. Ultimately, De Lima underscored the need to show our countrymen that their government deals with their problems on food security with the same zeal as the matter of vaccination, quarantine, and travel restrictions with regard to COVID-19.
As state leaders clamored for more Covid-19 vaccine doses, Joe Biden became President on Wednesday with an eye toward changing approaches to the pandemic that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the US.

Some state officials say they aren't seeing as many doses as the federal government reports distributing and the demand for the vaccine is outpacing the supply. Georgia, for example, reports adequate staff, volunteers and infrastructure but not enough doses.

'We've been getting about 80,000 doses a week, and that's not much for a state with 11 million people,' Georgia Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey said Tuesday.

Biden, meanwhile, has signaled he intends to alter the federal government's approach to the pandemic and public health in several ways, and one of his first acts as President, a few hours after his inauguration, was to sign an executive order mandating masks on federal property.

He also intends to restore a previously disbanded National Security Council office that would focus on pandemic preparedness and to stop the previous administration's process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization, one of his aides has said.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said the agency is conducting a comprehensive review of all existing Covid-19 guidance. 'The toll that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on America is truly heartbreaking,' she said.

Biden took office just a day after the country surpassed 400,000 recorded deaths for the pandemic.

Across the country, hospitalizations and daily new cases and deaths have been dipping, though experts have warned that more-transmissible virus variants, including one first seen in the UK, could send cases surging again:

 Cases: The nation averaged 250,052 new coronavirus cases a day over the past week as of Tuesday, down 19% from the previous week but still nearly three times the country's peak average last summer, Johns Hopkins University data shows.

 Hospitalizations: 123,820 Covid-19 patients were in hospitals on Tuesday -- a number that has dipped five consecutive days for the first time since late September, according to COVID Tracking Project data.

However, this is not far from the pandemic peak of more than 132,400 recorded just two weeks ago, and some hospitals have long been struggling to tend to all their patients, with some diverting them to other facilities or treating them in hallways or ambulances.

 Deaths: The country has averaged 2,989 deaths a day over the past week, down 10% from the week prior, according to Johns Hopkins data.

An ensemble forecast published by the CDC projects there will be as many a 508,000 Covid-19 deaths by February 13. Its last forecast, published January 13, forecast as many as 477,000 deaths by February 6.

Officials say they need more vaccines

Across the US, almost 14.3 million people have received at least the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and more than 2.1 million of those have received a second dose, according to CDC data last updated Wednesday morning.

But state and local officials are worried the supply will not be enough to continue the momentum.

San Francisco's Department of Public Health announced its supply will be exhausted by Thursday if there isn't an additional allotment. New York City is set to run out by the same day, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday.

'If we don't get more vaccine quickly, we will have to cancel appointments,' de Blasio said.

New York state will see its current supply depleted by the weekend, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.

'We don't have enough vaccine. At this current rate of supply it takes seven and a half months to get enough vaccine for the currently eligible population,' Cuomo said.

Due to their low vaccine supplies, Baptist Health South Florida has canceled all vaccination appointments for anyone scheduled to receive a first dose beginning Wednesday.

Studies suggest vaccinated people are protected from variants identified in UK and South Africa

Experts have warned that while a coronavirus variant first identified in the UK does not appear to be more deadly, it is more easily transmissible. So far, at least 144 cases have been identified in 20 states, according to data from the CDC.

Other variants have been found as well, including two in Brazil. Another has shown up in California, but it's not known whether it is contributing to renewed spread there.

New research provides evidence that people vaccinated against coronavirus would be protected against at least some of the variants.

Two teams tested two of the variants against blood taken from people who had received the full two-course dose of either the Moderna or the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

While the mutations in the new variants of the virus -- the one first seen in Britain and another first identified in South Africa -- did allow them to evade some of the immunity induced by vaccination, it was far from a complete escape, the two teams reported separately.

A team led by Dr. Michel Nussenzweig of the Rockefeller University tested plasma taken from 20 people who got two doses of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccine as part of clinical trials. They found the vaccines produced strong antibody responses, as well as cells that keep producing new antibodies for months or years.

'We measured their antibody responses to the wild type virus. Then we took their plasmas and measured them against the variants,' Nussenzweig told CNN.

Different mutations in the viruses did allow some escape from some types of antibodies, but the bodies of the volunteers threw an army of different types of antibodies at the viruses, the team reported in a preprint -- not peer reviewed -- published online.

'When you start putting all these mixtures of antibodies together, what it means is that together they can take care of the variants,' Nussenzweig said. Even though they had a reduced effect, overall the response was so overwhelming that it should not mater, he said.

'What we really want to do with these vaccines is keep people out of the hospital. They are extremely likely to do that, irrespective,' Nussenzweig added.

Eventually, the vaccines should be updated -- but the new mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna can be changed very quickly. 'Should the vaccines be tweaked?' he asked. 'Probably -- but that doesn't mean that they won't be effective.'

Separately, Ugur Sahin, who helped invent the BioNTech vaccine being made and distributed by Pfizer, tested his vaccine against the variant first seen in the UK. The team found 'no biologically significant difference in neutralization activity,' they reported in a preprint report. But they said it would be 'prudent' to start tweaking the vaccine, just in case.
Scott Stafford has been a reporter, photographer, and editor at a variety of publications, including the Dallas Morning News and The Berkshire Eagle. Scott can be reached at sstafford@berkshireeagle.com, or at 413-496-6301 and on Twitter at @BE_SStafford.
Google has announced that it entered an agreement and signed a new deal between a group of French publishers for the purpose of overseeing copyrights, in which the company will pay the publishers for the online content to be released.

The move was enforced by the regulators in France which saw the start of negotiations between the two parties. This was after an already prolonged contention that has brought Google to remove all of the news previews by the publishers during one point of the ongoing talks back then.

Google's Agreement with the French Publishers

The company has now set deals and agreements among six newspaper websites and magazine websites, in which it includes the national dailies Le Monde and Le Figaro by November of last year. Yet they are still continuing to pursue negotiations with other websites and publishers, like press agency Agence France Press or AFP, as well as other magazine website publishers from the country.

Engadget has listed that the framework of the agreement has been given to Google and the group of the French publishers known to as Alliance de la presse d'information Generale or the APIG. Yet despite this taking effect at the soonest possible time, the payments will still undergo individual negotiations among the publishers. It will be based around such certain criteria being implemented, such as the number of unique visitors on the sites per day, as well as the amount of stories or articles to be published every day, and the classification of political or general information.

Also Read: Suspected Chinese Group of Hackers Reported to Rob Airline Passengers' Private Information

US News also reported that both parties did not give or disclose any information on how much would then be given along with the emergence of the said agreement. It will be comprised of local and national publishers from the country, and they will receive the payment from Google as long as they would comprehend and abide by the agreement rules and criteria. The way of calculating the amount of money the group of publishers would receive was also not given.

The History of the Google and French Publishers' Negotiations

During the time that the agreement took place, there was no certain way by which the multi tech giant would then pay the publishers intended for the content they are releasing online. Google also pointed out that the fact that they are helping and doing what they can to increase the online traffic for those publishers and websites is already a plus for them.

Another note is that most press publishers "allowed" Google to their licenses of utilizing their online content without being paid. With these being taken into consideration, the authority from France has given a spark to the argument, where they fought back and returned with a statement in which they mentioned that a continuing decline to the online traffic has been occurring to their websites and may still urge to continue if it was not because of the agreement that has been signed by both entities involved.

Related Article: Sonos Users Shift Music Streaming Platform as Google Discontinues Play Music; Shifts to YouTube Music

The man accused of killing two pedestrians after plowing through a stoplight in a stolen car on New Years Eve will remain in jail while he awaits trial, a San Francisco judge said Wednesday.

Troy McAlister, 45, appeared in orange sweats and a white face mask for his brief appearance before the court. McAlister is charged with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and a host of other felonies in the hit-and-run deaths of 27-year-old Hanako Abe and 60-year-old Elizabeth Platt at Second and Mission streets in San Franciscos South of Market district.

McAlister has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to over three decades in prison.

McAlister, who has been on parole for a 2015 robbery since March, was arrested several times since then, but his parole was never revoked, and prosecutors never filed new charges until his most recent case.

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin vowed while campaigning for his post to enact reforms meant to shift criminal justice in the city away from mass incarceration. Since the death of Abe and Platt, Boudin has been sharply criticized for allowing McAlisters release.

Reform advocates have come to Boudins defense, arguing that one extreme tragedy doesnt justify a return to the harmful tough-on-crime policies of the past.

In a hearing earlier this month, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Darwin ruled to detain McAlister without bail, but left the door open for defense attorneys to petition for pretrial release in the future.

McAlisters public defender, Scott Grant, lodged no such argument on Wednesday, but asked for the right to do so at a later date.

I believe that in order to have Mr. McAlister released, there would have to be a very intensive and robust plan, Grant said. Mr. McAlister has never received any intensive residential drug treatment.

McAlister reportedly admitted to using meth before the crash, and police say he had also consumed alcohol.

Grant said San Franciscos pretrial diversion program was not willing to investigate treatment options for McAlister, so the defense team would do it themselves.

On Wednesday, San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Brian Ferrall upheld Darwins earlier decision to keep McAlister behind bars. The judge based his ruling on McAlisters lengthy rap sheet and on evidence in the case, including footage that showed McAlister allegedly fleeing the scene of the crash while removing his shirt to avoid identification.

I think (prosecutors) have shown, by clear and convincing evidence, that there is a substantial likelihood that McAlisters release could result in great bodily harm to others, Ferrall said.

The deaths of the two victims, he added demonstrate a wanton disregard for public safety.

McAlister mostly hung his head during the proceeding, and spoke only to answer procedural questions.

Three of Abes family members attended the hearing, with at least one listening through a Japanese translator. Separated in the courtroom gallery by coronavirus policies, the family sat stoically throughout the brief proceedings, and declined to comment afterward.

McAlister additionally waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing, which by law is to occur within 60 days of charging.

Ferrall scheduled the next court appearance on March 3, to discuss what evidence will be presented.

Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy
NEW HAVEN  Yale New Haven Hospital staffers are vaccinating people as quickly as possible, but are bound by the amount of the vaccine they receive, which to date has been less than requested, officials said Wednesday.

Marna Borgstrom, CEO of Yale New Haven Health, and Dr. Thomas Balcezak, chief clinical officer of the health system, spoke at an online media event about the vaccine rollout and the hospitals efforts to address the pandemic.

Borgstrom said the hospital had peaked during the second coronavirus wave, a few weeks before Christmas, with 461 coronavirus patients in the system.

In spring, they had dealt with more than 800 patients at one time, Borgstrom said. As of Wednesday, there were 369 inpatients, 77 of them in intensive care and 44 of those on ventilators.

Yale New Haven Health includes Yale New Haven Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, Greenwich Hospital, Lawrence + Memorial in New London and Westerly (R.I.) Hospital, as well as the Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital.

Were now getting closer to wider-spread vaccinations, and we are anticipated that will give all of us, over a period of time, a little room for breathing  literally and figuratively  outside of these bubbles were living in. But while were doing that, we still continue to monitor the number of people who are testing positive for the coronavirus and those who are inpatients, Borgstrom said.

The hospital system has administered a few hundred doses of the vaccine as part of the states Phase 1B of the vaccination effort, which concerns people 75 and older, Balcezak said. More than 10,000 people eligible in that phase have signed up; by the end of Sunday, theyre hoping to have administered roughly 6,000 doses, he said.

As part of that effort, the health system is planning to open three large-scale distribution sites in the area, he said. One will be on the West Haven campus of Yale University; another on Ashmun Street in New Haven; a third at the Floyd Little Fieldhouse at James Hillhouse High School. Others are planned for Greenwich, Bridgeport and New London, he said.

More than 22,000 Yale New Haven Hospital staffers, or approximately 65 percent of the workforce, have received their first dose of a vaccine and 3,000 receiving a second one, Balcezak said.

As it prepares to shift into the next phase, Balcezak noted that the hospitals efforts to administer the vaccine is limited by the amount it has at hand.

Balcezak said the hospital has requested 10,000 doses of the vaccine per week, but has received only 2,000 to 7,000 doses weekly. Some of those are earmarked as the second shot in a course of vaccination, he said.

He said the federal government needs to provide more vaccines to the state.

We have the staff; we have the technology; we have the pharmacists; we have the nurses  what we need is vaccine, said Balcezak. As we scale up, we are going to need tenfold the number of doses that we are currently receiving.  Our challenge is we need more allocation from the federal government.

Balcezak said the state of Connecticut is actually receiving many, many fewer doses than we actually need. If our goal is to get 80 percent of the adult population in the state of Connecticut vaccinated in the next five months  you need to vaccinate 280,000 individuals per week in order to get there.

He said the health system could scale up to between 40,000 and 60,000 vaccinations per week and as such we think we can be a strong partner in this part of the state to get lots of individuals vaccinated.

Borgstrom said she hoped Wednesdays inauguration of President Joseph Biden would increase transparency at the federal level and better standardize vaccination and testing efforts.

Balcezak said he believed it was important to vaccinate at least 75 percent to 85 percent of the population in the next five to six months. As with any living organism, he noted, the coronavirus mutates regularly; a mutation that gives the virus a better chance to survive and propagate could become predominate.

Borgstrom and Balcezak reiterated the importance of following pandemic-related safety measures, including social distancing and wearing masks.

We are all tired. We are tired of social distancing; were tired of wearing masks; were tired of changing in cold garages when caregivers come home, said Borgstrom. It has taken a toll on each one of us as individuals, and our families and our communities, but there is hope.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
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If your biggest worry is how you will afford your rent, the City of San Antonio may be able to help.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg tweeted Wednesday that the city received $46.7 million in federal funds destined for its emergency assistance program. In a photo of a letter accompanying the tweet, City Manager Erik Walsh said the city received the funds on Jan. 19.
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South Africa will pay $5.25 per dose for 1.5 million shots of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII), a senior health ministry official said on Thursday, more than some wealthier countries are paying.

The price is higher than the $3 a dose that South Africa and other countries on the continent are due to pay for the same vaccines under an African Union (AU) arrangement, and the price European Union countries have agreed to pay.

The SII doses are intended for South Africas frontline healthcare workers, who have been under huge strain during a second wave of coronavirus infections. They are due to start arriving before the end of the month, before the AU doses become available from March.

The SII declined to comment when contacted by Reuters. AstraZeneca did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Health department Deputy Director-General Anban Pillay said SIIs price for South Africa was based on the countrys status as an upper-middle-income level country, confirming a report in the Business Day newspaper.

Developed countries that secured a lower price per shot did so because they contributed towards research and development costs of the AstraZeneca shot, he told Reuters.

Pillay said the South African government would try to negotiate a lower price if it procured more doses from SII but that it had been told $5.25 a dose was the standard global price for upper-middle-income level countries.

South Africas health department announced the SII deal earlier this month after being criticised by local scientists and trade unions for moving too slowly to acquire vaccines.

The SII is one of several manufacturers licensed by AstraZeneca to make its COVID-19 vaccine.

South Africa has recorded the most COVID-19 infections and deaths on the African continent, with more than 1.3 million cases and over 38,000 deaths to date. It is hosting clinical trials for the AstraZeneca shot.

Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden has asked Christopher Wray to stay on as FBI director and he has confidence in the job Wray is doing, the White House said on Thursday.

Appointed by former Republican President Donald Trump, Wray was a frequent target of Trumps anger over the FBI directors refusal to back false claims of voter fraud in the Nov. 3 election.

Federal Bureau of Investigation directors are appointed for 10 years and Wray has six years left in his term.

White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed on Twitter that Biden intends to keep FBI Director Wray on in his role and he has confidence in the job he is doing." Psaki said she caused an unintentional ripple" on Wednesday when she said she had not spoken to the president about Wray.

Bidens decision to retain Wray as FBI chief was welcomed by Adam Schiff, the Democrat who chairs the House Intelligence Committee and a critic of Trumps handling of intelligence issues.

Christopher Wray became FBI director at a moment of tremendous turmoil for the bureau and the country, and he has served with great professionalism and integrity. I am glad to see that President Biden intends to keep Director Wray in his position," Schiff said.

Schiff said he looked forward to working with Wray on analyses of intelligence and security failures that led to the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol, and the need to dramatically expand the focus and resources devoted to the threat of domestic terrorism."

Wray told a House committee last September that Russia was interfering in the 2020 U.S. presidential elections by spreading misinformation aimed at candidate Joe Biden.

Wray also told the panel the FBI was conducting multiple investigations into violent domestic extremists and that the largest chunk" of investigations involved white supremacist groups.

Regarding China, Wray said the FBI is opening a new counterintelligence investigation related to China every 10 hours."

CNBC first reported the decision to keep Wray.

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
Serum Institute of India (SII) Chairman & Managing Director Cyrus Poonawalla on Thursday expressed sorrow on the loss of lives due to the fire that broke out at its under-construction facility in Pune. He said the company will be offering a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to each of the families of the deceased, in addition to the mandated amount as per the norms.

Rama Shankar Harijan, Bipin Saroj, Sushil Kumar Pandey, Mahendra Ingle, and Pratik Pashte were the five contractual labourers who lost their lives on the spot while doing electrical work when the fire broke out.

Harijan and Saroj were from Uttar Pradesh, Sushil Kumar belonged to Bihar, and both Ingle and Pashte were Pune residents.

"Today is an extremely sorrowful day for all of us at Serum Institute of India. Regrettably, there were losses of lives in the fire that broke out in our under-installation facility situated at the Special Economic Zone at Manjri," Poonawalla said in a statement.

"We are deeply saddened and offer our condolences to the families of the departed. In this regard, we will be offering compensation of INR 25 lakhs to each of the families, in addition to the mandated amount as per the norms. We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone for their concerns and prayers in these distressing times," he added.

Earlier in the day, at least five workers were killed in the fire that broke out at SII's plant at Manjri in Pune. The plant is spread over 100 acres of area in the city. Although a team of 55 firefighters sprang into action to doze off the fire, they could not save the life of the five aforementioned contractual workers.

Fire department chief Prashant Ranpise said smoke was very thick and they used 42-metre long ladder to rescue the people inside the building.

However, they could rescue only six people. While the five labourers could not find an exit, so got stranded in one corner of the building and passed away due to suffocation.

SII is manufacturing the Covishield vaccine for COVID-19, developed by the Oxford University and AstraZeneca. It is one of the two vaccines that have been granted emergency approval in India.

Earlier, SII CEO Adar Poonawalla, in a tweet, reassured all governments and public that there would be no loss of Covishield production due to multiple production buildings that had been kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies.

Later in another tweet, he said, "We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation, we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed."

Also Read: Fire breaks out at Serum Institute of India's plant in Pune, Covishield production not hit

Also Read: Serum Institute releases advisory on COVID-19 vaccine; things to know before taking Covishield
California's state epidemiologist has said it could take until June to vaccinate all residents aged 65 and over, pushing back the timeline for everyone else to get the shot by at least four months.

Dr. Erica Pan said in a state vaccine advisory committee meeting Wednesday that, with the current rate of supply coming from the federal government, it will be up to five months before Californians in the current priority list are given the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Golden State is currently in Phase 1B Tier 1 of its rollout which includes: healthcare workers, long-term care residents, people aged 65 and older and workers at risk of exposure in education and childcare, emergency services, and food and agriculture.

It receives between 400,000 and 500,000 doses from the government each week.

But there are roughly 6.2 million residents aged 65 and over.

Pan said the state aims to vaccinate 70 percent or 4.34 million people in this age group with two doses - something that will not be possible for four to five months unless the number of doses sent from the government drastically increases.

California's state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan (above) has said it could take until June to vaccinate all residents aged 65 and over, pushing back the timeline for everyone else to get the shot by at least four months

Pan said she hoped the Biden administration will increase the supply of vaccines to the state so that the dire timescale can be accelerated.

'We don't know when that supply will be increasing, but that's about what we've been getting,' she said.

'I know we're estimating anywhere from 20 to 22 weeks for us to actually get through ages 65 and over,' she said, adding this is based on this group having both doses.

The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines each require two vaccinations for maximum protection from the virus, with the second doses administered 21 and 28 days from the first, respectively.

If a single-dose vaccine is approved, the state's timeline could change, said Pan.

'What we all need to get to collectively is as much vaccine in arms as possible,' Pan said.

Pan warned the perils of it taking this long to vaccinate the high-risk group, citing data that those aged 61 and over make up 65 percent of all ICU admissions and 83 percent of all deaths.

As well as posing a danger to this vulnerable group, the slow rollout will also push back the timescale for those not currently eligible getting their hands on a shot.

It would then be at least four months before anyone in the next phase is vaccinated, she said.

Farm worker Jorge Americano receives the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in his arm in Mecca, California, Thursday. The Golden State is currently in Phase 1B Tier 1 of its rollout

A mass COVID-19 vaccination site outside The Forum in Inglewood. Pan said in a state vaccine advisory committee meeting Wednesday that, with the current rate of supply coming from the federal government, it will be up to five months before Californians in the current priority list are given the COVID-19 vaccine

Pan also announced Wednesday the state can release a hold it had placed on around 330,000 doses at the weekend after a handful of people suffered allergic reactions in San Diego County.

'We had further discussions with the County of San Diego Department of Public Health, the FDA, CDC and manufacturer, and found no scientific basis to continue the pause,' Pan said.

'Providers that paused vaccine administration from Moderna Lot 41L20A can immediately resume.'

While the health official pushed the blame for the slow vaccine rollout onto the Trump administration's delays in distributing it, the state has also been slow getting shots in arms when it receives the doses.

Just 36.8 percent of the state's current supply has been administered to Californians, according to Bloomberg data.

A total of 4.2 million doses have been sent to the state but only 1.5 million have been administered, with a staggering 2.7 million doses sitting unused at a time when 500 people are dying every single day from the virus across the state.

Even with the doses held back at the weekend over the allergic reaction, there is still a stark difference between the numbers available and the numbers administered.

Just 36.8 percent of the state's current supply has been administered to Californians, according to Bloomberg data

There are vaccine rollout issues on both a federal and state level across the nation

It is not clear what is holding up the rollout on the ground or whether the state is holding back some of its supply for second doses.

Governor Gavin Newsom's office didn't return a request for comment from DailyMail.com.

With just 3.88 percent of people vaccinated more than a month on from the day vaccines began nationwide and Pan's warnings, it seems unlikely the state will achieve its goal to vaccinate most Californians in all 58 counties by summer 2021.

Several individual counties are also reporting similar supply issues to those cited by Pan.

In Los Angeles County, Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said in a news conference Wednesday the healthcare system has 200 healthcare providers able to roll out more doses but does not have the supply.

'Our ability to protect even more LA County residents in the coming weeks and months is entirely dependent and constrained by the amount of vaccine we receive each week, and often, we do not know from one week to the next how many doses will be allocated to LA County,' she said.

'We have a lot of potential in the system to really be able to push out lots of vaccines, but we don't have lots of vaccines to push out.'

The county is in need of more than 4 million doses to provide the two-dose vaccine protocol to the roughly 2 million people who are either healthcare workers or aged 65 and older.

The woeful vaccination program comes as 500 people have died on average every day in California over the last two weeks

More than 20,000 people are hospitalized and only 1,030 ICU beds are available across the state

But she said the county has only received 853,650 doses with another 143,900 doses expected next week.

Once the county rules out the 106,000 second doses from this supply, it will have just 37,900 for first doses, she said.

The woeful vaccination program comes as 500 people have died on average every day in California over the last two weeks.

Another 571 deaths were announced Thursday and 19,673 cases.

This takes the state total to 35,004 deaths and more than 3 million infections.

More than 20,000 people are hospitalized and only 1,030 ICU beds are available across the state.

Nationwide, the US recorded its second deadliest day of the pandemic on Wednesday with 4,229 fatalities after passing the grim milestone of 400,000 deaths this week.

The US vaccination program has failed to take off with issues evident at both national and state levels.

Like California, New York officials have also blamed the supply from the federal government.

Governor Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference Monday he had contacted Pfizer to ask if New York can buy vaccines directly from the drug manufacturer as a way to speed up the vaccination process by sidestepping the US government.

Cuomo said that the federal government has decreased its supply from 300,000 doses a week to 250,000 doses.

This came after the state last week expanded who is eligible to get the vaccine in the current rollout - phase 1B - adding people aged 65 and over and the immunocompromised.

This means 7 million people are currently eligible.

With the current rate of supply, Cuomo said it will take six months for all eligible New Yorkers to get shots.

On Thursday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he was forced to cancel thousands of appointments because the city has ran out of first doses.

However, the state has only administered just over half - 56.2 percent - of its supply from the federal government.

Around 1.2 million doses have been administered out of around 2.1 million distributed, meaning 900,000 doses are unused in the state.

President Joe Biden has vowed to ramp up the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccinate 100 million Americans in his first 100 days in office.

He signed a federal mask mandate within hours of being sworn in Wednesday meaning that masks are now compulsory on all federal property.

His plan will see 100 federal vaccination centers in large venues such as convention centers and stadiums and states reimbursed for setting up their own as well.

Some large cities are already setting up the centers, including in Miami, New York and Los Angeles, but 100 federal sites will spread the idea across the country.

And manufacturers will be ordered under the Defense Production Act to produce vaccine materials, from ingredients to needles, where there are shortages, as well as produce protective equipment such as N95 masks.
(Natural News) Following Facebook and Twitter banning both former President Donald Trump and other conservatives, many migrated to alternative social media app Parler. But in a supposed effort to prevent further incitements of violence, both Google and Apple removed Parler from their app stores while Amazon shut of the services web servers.

The big tech companies had deemed Parler dangerous with Google calling it an ongoing urgent public safety thread. Meanwhile, Apple quickly rejected as insufficient a plan by the company to moderate its content. On the other hand, Amazons employees has asked that the company deny Parler services until it removes posts inciting violence, including at the Presidential inauguration.

The restrictions on Parler demonstrate how much power big tech companies have over public conversation, even over apps operated by other companies. For years, these companies have avoided such debates by claiming to be content-neutral. But the events of the past few years leading up to last weeks breach of the U.S. Capitol and Trumps banning for supposedly inciting it, show that they and their software algorithms and content moderation have real-world impact.

Parler CEO says that it did not tolerate content that incited violence

Prior to the site being taken down, Parlet CEO John Matze said that it would not cave in to pressure from other tech companies.

We will not cave to pressure from anti-competitive actors! he wrote on a post on the site Friday. We WONT cave to politically motivated companies and those authoritarians who hate free speech!

But despite his objections, Matze did not have much choice but to simply watch his site be taken down. First by Google and Apple removing it from their stores, then eventually by Amazon refusing to host Parler on its cloud services.

In response, Matze has stated that the companies have misrepresented him and that inciting violence  the main reason all these companies have shut Parler down  was something that he did not encourage on the site. (Related: ADL and the fake news media are pressuring Parler to censor hate speech accounts.)

In an interview this week, some believe I gave the impression that I somehow did not care whether Parler is used to incite violence. I want to set the record straight: That interpretation could not be further from the truth, he said in a statement Sunday, Jan. 10, after the crackdown on the app.

We do not condone or accept violence on our platform and we never will, he added.

Matze reiterated that Parlers community guidelines expressly prohibit threats of violence or incitement. He also added that the company had been hard at work to enforce those rules before the service was shut down.

Parler is not a surveillance app, so we cant just write a few algorithms that will quickly locate 100% of objectionable content, especially during periods of rapid growth and the seemingly coordinated malicious attacks that accompany that growth, he explained. But that doesnt mean we havent been effective. Up until Friday afternoon, it seemed that Apple, Amazon, and Google agreed.

Big techs control over online discourse under scrutiny

Big techs monopoly-like powers have already gone under scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers with both Google and Facebook facing government antitrust lawsuits. Meanwhile, other leaders, including the former President Trump, have called for a review of Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act that protects these companies from liability from content their users posts.

But at the same time, others have criticized these companies for being too lax in their content moderation, saying that theyve been to permissive when it comes to incendiary speech that can lead to real-world violence or illegal activity.

While some critics and government officials have applauded the tech companies moves, some advocates are worried by the subjective nature of the latter.

It should concern everyone when companies like Facebook and Twitter wield the unchecked power to remove people from platforms that have become indispensable for the speech of billions  especially when political realities make those decisions easier, said Americal Civil Liberties Union senior legislative counsel Kate Ruane in a statement after Trump was banned on the platforms. It is our hope that these companies will apply their rules transparently to everyone.

Follow Censorship.news for more on how big tech is blocking conservative viewpoints.

Sources include:

Bloomberg.com

ThunderboltRadio.com
Chinas GDP expanded 2.3 percent and hit 101.5986 trillion yuan ($15.51 trillion) in 2020, exceeding the 100 trillion yuan mark for the first time, official data showed on Monday, January 18.

Facing the rare COVID-19 pandemic, the world economy plunged into the most severe recession since the end of the World War II over the last year. The Chinese economy also slipped 6.8 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, the first ever negative growth registered since the country started recording quarterly economic data.

At the critical moment, the Chinese government precisely assessed the situation, took decisive actions and coordinated epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development. Launching a battle against the epidemic by mobilizing all resources and blocking the spread of the virus, China pledged to increase its deficit by 1 trillion yuan over last year and issue 1 trillion yuan of government bonds for COVID-19 control. It also called on financial institutions to concede 1.5 trillion yuan worth of their profits to companies and increased tax and fee cuts by 2.5 trillion yuan.

Thanks to these efforts, China became the first country to control the pandemic and resumed work and production, being the first major economy to recover positive growth. The growths of the countrys economy in the four quarters last year were -6.8 percent, 3.2 percent, 4.9 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively, and China is predicted to be the only major economy that is able to secure positive growth. The countrys economic value now accounts for 17 percent of the total global economy, up from 16.3 percent in 2019, making a new historical record.

As the country steps onto a higher level economy-wise, great strides have also been made in its social, technological and ecological progress.

The last nine impoverished counties of the country, all in southwest Chinas Guizhou province, have eliminated absolute poverty, the province announced on Nov. 23, 2020. This meant that all 832 registered poor counties in China have shaken off poverty, indicating that the country has achieved the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule.

The countrys Change-5 probe returned the Earth after retrieving lunar samples, and its Mars mission Tianwen-1 was successfully launched. In addition, China announces the completion of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and started providing all Beidou services. Its quantum computer prototype Jiuzhang was also created.

Though impacted by COVID-19, Chinas innovation and development still step forward. The country unswervingly implemented its new vision for development and promoted high-quality development, which resulted in a steady rise in both the quality and benefits of its economic growth, said Ning Jizhe, head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). China has brought its social productive forces to a new level, he added.

Whats behind the 100 trillion yuan mark is the constant improvement in Chinas comprehensive national strength. Last year, Chinas total grain output hit a new record in history, exceeding 650 billion kilograms for six consecutive years and ranking the first in the world. Its added value of manufacturing industry is also expected to top the world for 11 years in a row. The total mileage of operational high-speed rails in China has hit 38,000 kilometers, and its expressways add up to over 155,000 kilometers, both ranking the first in the world. Besides, China is also a country that holds the most 5G users, with more than 200 million terminals connected to its 5G network.

Whats behind the 100 trillion yuan mark is prominent restructuring. Last year, the added value of Chinas service industry accounted for 54.5 percent of its GDP, 0.2 percentage point higher from a year ago. Final consumption contributed to 54.3 percent of China's GDP, 11.2 percentage points higher than the gross capital formation.

What's behind the 100 trillion yuan mark is also the country's endeavor to advance green development. In 2020, China witnessed decreased energy consumption per unit of GDP, and clean energy accounted one more percent in total energy consumption from a year ago. The PM2.5 concentration dropped 8.3 percent in 337 cities at and above prefectural level, and the proportion of high-quality water sections was up 8.5 percentage points.

While achieving its own progress, China is also injecting more positive energy into the global economic development. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement was signed on Nov. 15, 2020 after eight years of negotiation. The 15 participating countries of the RCEP account for around 30 percent of the global population, global gross domestic product and global trade, which means the world's biggest trade pact has officially come into effect.

When COVID-19 impeded the trend of economic globalization, China is not pursuing only its own development in a rat race, or closing its doors. On the contrary, it is accelerating the fostering of a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other to contribute more to the world.

In 2020, the China-Europe freight trains made 12,400 trips, up 50 percent against head winds, reaching 97 cities in 21 European countries. They helped maintain the production and daily supply in these places.

Lowering the investment threshold, China implemented a 2020 version of the negative lists for foreign investment, which opened wider its service, manufacturing and agricultural sectors. The national negative list has cut the number of restrictive measures by 17.5 percent, and the free trade zone negative list by 18.9 percent.

From the first-ever online China Import and Export Fair, to the China International Fair for Trade in Services on which 99 innovative results were first released, and to the China International Import Expo during which $72.6 billion worth of intended deals were signed, China has opened its door wider and wider.

When global trade faced tremendous contraction in 2020, Chinas foreign trade of goods hit a record high, up 1.9 percent from a year ago, injecting powerful impetus to the global economic recovery.
Scientists from an international collaboration have found evidence of alpha particles at the surface of neutron-rich heavy nuclei, providing new insights into the structure of neutron stars, as well as the process of alpha decay.

Neutron stars are amongst the most mysterious objects in our universe. They contain extremely dense matter that is radically different from the ordinary matter surrounding us--being composed almost entirely of neutrons rather than atoms. However, in the nucleus at the center of normal atoms, matter exists at similar densities.

"Understanding the nature of matter at such extremes is important for our understanding of neutron stars, as well as the beginning, workings, and final fate of the universe," says Junki Tanaka, one of the leaders of the study.

"Intriguingly, despite the vast difference in size and mass, the tiny atomic nuclei found on Earth and the enigmatic neutron star are actually governed by the same type of interactions," says Zaihong Yang, also a co-corresponding author of the paper. This connection has been well established by scientists through the nuclear equation of state (EOS) which describes the relation between the density and the pressure of nuclear matter.

In the current finding, published in Science, the research team led by scientists from the RIKEN Nishina Center for Accelerator-Based Science, TU Darmstadt, and the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP) examined tin nuclei, and found evidence of "alpha clusters"--groups of two protons and two neutrons--in heavy nuclei.

For the experiments, the group examined a series of neutron-rich isotopes of tin ranging from tin 112, which has only 62 neutrons, to tin 124, which has 74 neutrons and thus has a much thicker neutron-skin. They used a method to deliberately knock out alpha particles from the nuclei by bombarding them with protons at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics (RCNP) at Osaka University, and then examined how frequently they were able to observe alpha particles in progressively heavier isotopes.

They identified the clusters in the very surface region of neutron-rich tin atomic nuclei, implying that the so-called "neutron skin" is not purely neutron matter as its name implies, but also includes alpha clusters. Importantly, they also discovered that "the effective number of alpha clusters"--the probability of finding alpha clusters in nuclei--decreased gradually along with the number of neutrons, and theorized that this is due to the interplay between alpha cluster formation and the thickness of the "neutron skin" that surrounds the nucleus.

This finding has important implications for our understanding of nuclear EOS and neutron stars. In the near future, more and more accurate data on the bulk properties--mass and radius--of neutron stars will be available from electromagnetic and gravitational-wave observations.

The present work is also a key step towards a full understanding of alpha decay--a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus spontaneously emits an alpha particle. About 90 years ago, physicist George Gamow famously proposed that alpha decay takes place due to the quantum tunneling of preformed alpha particles or clusters. However, though the theory was generally accepted, it was never shown conclusively that such clusters actually existed in heavy atoms.

The finding of the current work that alpha clusters exist at the surface of heavy nuclei could provide an answer to the question about the origin of alpha particles in alpha decay. In the future, the group plans to work with high-energy accelerators such as the RI Beam Factory at RIKEN and GSI/FAIR, a new accelerator facility being built in Germany to do studies using alpha-radioactive isotopes.

###
Ahead of Republic Day, the Delhi traffic police has issued an advisory to facilitate the smooth conduct of rehearsals of the parade.

As per the advisory, no traffic will be allowed on Vijay Chowk from 6 PM on January 22 till parade is over on January 23.

Further, no cross traffic will be allowed on Rajpath intersections from 11 PM on January 22 at Rafi Marg, Janpath, Man Singh Road till parade is over.

'C'-Hexagon-India Gate will also be closed for traffic from 9:15 AM on January 23 tillthe entire parade and tableaux enter National Stadium.

The full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade will be held on January 23, Saturday. The parade rehearsals will start at 9:50 AM from Vijay Chowk and will proceed to National Stadium.





The route of the R-Day parade will be-- Vijay Chowk-Rajpath-Amar Jawan Jyoti-India Gate-R/A Princess Palace-T/L Tilak Marg Radial Roa-Turn right on 'C'-Hexagon-Turn left to enter National Stadium from Gate No.1.

Manish Agarwal, Joint Commissioner of Police, Traffic informed that traffic will not be allowed on Vijay Chowk, Rafi Marg, Janpath, Mansingh Road on January 23. Netaji Subhash Marg will also be closed from 4 am on January 26, he added.

He also informed that "On 23 January, the Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhavan metro station will be closed for boarding and deboarding from 5 am to 12 noon".

23            5    12            ,   @dtptrafficpic.twitter.com/mkL2PqI174  Prasar Bharati News Services .... (@PBNS_India) January 21, 2021

The Gautam Buddh Nagar traffic police also informed that route diversion will be in place on January 22-23 and January 25-26 for heavy goods carriers on roads leading from Noida to Delhi.

The diversions will be in place from 10 pm on January 22 till 1.30 pm the next day and then on January 25 till January 26 for the same time duration, the traffic police said in a statement.

Movement of heavy goods carriers towards Delhi will be completely banned from the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway, the Kalindi Kunj route, while the Chilla border will remain out of use due to the ongoing farmers' protest there, it stated.

Movement of heavy carriers will remain banned via the alternative New Ashok Nagar and Kondli routes too during this diversion period, the police said.

There will be no restriction on light vehicles, however, during this period, the police added.

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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
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Corteva, a spinoff that took over DuPonts agriculture division, will contest the charges against DuPont stemming from a 2014 poisonous gas leak that killed four workers at a Houston-area plant. A former DuPont employee has also been charged.

Four employees at the now-closed DuPont chemical plant in LaPorte, Texas, died in the release of methyl mercaptan, a chemical used in the manufacture of insecticide and fungicide.

The chemical began leaking from a valve around 4 a.m. on Nov. 15, 2014, in a unit at the plant in La Porte, about 20 miles (32.19 kilometers) east of Houston. Killed in the accident were Crystle Wise, Wade Baker and brothers Robert and Gilbert Tisnado. A fifth worker was injured.

A federal indictment issued earlier this month and made public on Jan. 19 accuses DuPont and Kenneth Sandel of knowingly failing to implement certain company safety procedures required by federal regulations.

Sandel, 49, ran the unit at the plant where the employees who died worked and was responsible for ensuring unit workers followed applicable federal safety regulations, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.

In a statement, Corteva said the company will never forget the colleagues we lost and will continue to honor their memory.

We strongly disagree with the basis of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas decision to bring criminal charges and will contest the charges vigorously, said Wilmington, Delaware-based Corteva.

In a statement, Amy Craig and Miles Ehrlich, Sandels attorneys, said their client did not cause this accident and he did nothing wrong. Charging him with a crime compounds the tragedy of this case. Ken Sandel is absolutely innocent and we are confident a jury will agree.

During a hearing before a federal magistrate judge, the company and Sandel pleaded not guilty to the charges. Jury selection in the case was set for March 29.

According to prosecutors and the indictment, Sandel and DuPont engineers allegedly devised a plan to divert a large volume of methyl mercaptan gas into a waste gas pipe system during the day before and night of the fatal incident. However, Sandel failed to implement necessary procedures to evaluate safety aspects of that plan, according to prosecutors.

The unit where the workers died did not having adequate ventilation or air monitoring to ensure employee safety, and procedures werent followed that would have restricted worker access into areas where ventilation fans werent working, according to an investigation by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.

In its final report on the deadly gas leak, the safety board concluded that various safety management system deficiencies, including problems with troubleshooting operations, safe work practices, toxic gas detection and emergency response, contributed to the severity of the incident.

In 2016, DuPont permanently shut down the insecticide production unit where the workers died.

Sandel and DuPont were each indicted on two counts of knowing violation of requirement to prevent accidental releases and one count of negligent release of extremely hazardous substance.

If convicted, Sandel faces up to six years in federal prison, while DuPont faces potential fines of $500,000 or twice the gross gain derived from the offense, whichever amount is larger.

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[January 21, 2021] SH Capital Ltd launches in Dubai to empower SMEs with global banking services

Fintech provider to reconnect businesses with international banking services, digital treasury management solutions, risk management and cash investment products DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new digital treasury services management provider SH Capital Ltd (SHC), launches in Dubai today with a mission to empower small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs and MMEs) by offering world class global banking services, asset management, FX hedging solutions, investment products and services. SH Capital is a subsidiary of parent company Stanhope Financial Group, which launched with $3.5m funding in November last year. In December, the group also announced the launch of its EU headquarters in Lithuania after obtaining its Electronic Money Institution licence. The independent fintech firm, which has received its in-principle approval Cat 3A regulatory licensing from the DFSA, Dubai, is set to begin trading as of end of Q2'20, with a mission to help companies meet their financial goals during the Covid-19 recovery. SHC will act as an intermediary for clients, helping them to access leading and global tier one cash investment products. The Stanhope team of leading industry experts will also advise on commercial paper, money market funds, futures, options, ETFs and FX hedging solutions. Additionally, SHC has already partnered with a number of global counterparties, exchanges and e-trading venues to provide liquidity in the equity, FX, fixed income and commodity markets for all clients. In spite of recent market volatilty due to Covid-19, SHC are also committed to providing bespoke financial strategies for companies as matched principle, designed to meet their risk tolerance and position them ahead of the curve for both short and long-term financial goals.



To do this, SHC leverages the latest RegTech and blockchain technology, which helps to significantly reduce CBR risk and service friction, whilst maintaining a fast, secure and transparent service. More specifically, AML, KYC, trade monitoring and a distributed ledger technology are just some of the technology utilised for an efficient and safe execution of service. Khalid Talukder, Managing Director, SH Capital Ltd, said:

"Dubai is quickly being recognised as a global hub of fintech and innovation, being home to some of the fastest growing, most exciting firms on the planet. With postponed Dubai Expo launching in the Autumn of 2021, we are perfectly placed to support these business to maximise this global showcasing opportunity. "Many of these businesses struggle to gain access to efficient and high quality digital asset management and investment products globally to support their treasury activities. We aim to provide a fully digital service offering via our platform allowing easy access to various cash asset management products, services and investment products that they need in order to thrive in an increasingly competitive global world. "SH Capital Ltd will change all that, reconnecting these fast-growing firms mid-market corporates which are the backbone of GCC commerce with the products offered by Tier 1 financial institutions, as well as offering treasury consultancy to take them to the next level. "With over 70 years combined experience in our team of financial professionals, shared with quantitative-driven data insight, regulatory technology and blockchain, we are confident we can provide a consistent treasury management service, free from delays, security issues and unfair charging, to all firms in need of assistance during this difficult Covid period and beyond." Kevin von Neuschatz, Group CEO, Stanhope Financial Group, said: "We're excited to have received our operating licence and formally launch SH Capital Ltd in Dubai. Our on-the-ground team of experts will begin trading immediately, providing ambitious businesses across the region with tier one banking and payments services to enable rapid growth during an incredibly challenging time. "This is the first of many expansion plans for the Stanhope Financial Group, with similar launches in Europe and other key regions in the first part of 2021." About SH Capital Ltd SHC is a leading quantitative-driven electronic market-maker partnering with counterparties, exchanges and e-trading venues globally to provide liquidity in the Equity, FX, Fixed Income and Commodity markets. Its leadership team has over 70 years of combined experience at Citibank, Deutsche Bank, Barclays, RBS, HSBC, UBS, and Wells Fargo. Said global expertise in capital markets, compliance, credit, law, product, risk, and technology is utilised to help firms, particularly SMEs and those in emerging markets, to move and manage money, from anywhere to everywhere.

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As cross-Channel freight volumes return to normal levels and forwarders, hauliers and exporters struggle with hugely changed systems, UK government modelling predicts an increase in truck tailbacks and shipment backlogs

As UK-EU cross-Channel freight volumes return to normal levels and forwarders, hauliers and exporters continue to struggle with hugely changed systems, UK government modelling predicts an increase in truck tailbacks and shipment backlogs in the coming days and weeks. And freight forwarding sources believe the problems will continue for weeks or month, as exporters and forwarders deal with complex changes.

Although the main UK-EU Channel ports may be relatively quiet currently, with little sign of previously forecast long lines of backlogged trucks, behind the scenes, drivers and shipments are being held up at warehouses and depots in the UK and Europe because they lack the right documents.

As highlighted in an article today published in Lloyds Loading List and the companys own website, Metro Shippings business development director Grant Liddell noted that exporters and freight forwarders have been dealing with significant changes that now make it arguably simpler to send something (from the UK) to Ghana than it is to send something to Germany.

He notes that the free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and UK was only agreed on 23 December ahead of the end of the Brexit transition period on 1 January, and even with retailers and manufacturers stockpiling  in anticipation of issues in the new year  the lower traffic has not stopped fallout. Citing problems with new border regulations and processes, a number of courier, pallet, and freight carriers are not accepting UK-bound consignments and the cost of moving full truckloads from France to the UK rose significantly above the third-quarter average last week.

After the initial lull, he noted that demand for transport with Europe increased last week to 78% of the average for the time of year, and there is a likelihood that rates will increase even further as a result of Brexit.

Sharp learning curve

As with any new processes, he acknowledged that the first few weeks are always going to be a sharp learning curve, and the new UK/EU requirements should soon become the norm; but we are dealing with complex changes and its arguably simpler to send something to Ghana than it is to send something to Germany.

He added: The new regulations add complexity and process, which increases time, resource needs, and costs. And its not just about ensuring compliance. Our objective is to find a way to support our customers, whilst keeping their customers happy and delivering as close to the level of service standards as pre-Brexit.

Under the new rules, shipments should be pre-cleared and rules of origin will be enforced, with EU officials on the lookout for third-country products and components  which is why it is critical that all commercial invoices carry an appropriate declaration of origin in the specified format that we have advised over recent months.

Despite the efforts made by freight forwarding and logistics companies to help inform their clients prior to the 1 January, Alan Williams, director of UK freight forwarder Davies Turner & Co said there were still a significant level of unpreparedness, especially among EU-based companies.

We have been surprised just how un-prepared both European (EU-based) hauliers and (EU-based) exporters are; we expected far more compliance regarding paperwork than we got. The time spent checking and getting the correct information is causing all deliveries to be delayed by at least four days. Export is running much better as we dont load or depart our trailers until paperwork is complete thus giving it clear route.

Sternest test ahead?

And the UK-EU border processes could be about to face their sternest test since the Brexit transition period ended on 31 December. UK government modelling indicates that cross-Channel freight will begin to return to normal in the coming days, raising the prospect of tailbacks at ports and other disruptions if lorry drivers continue to arrive without adequate paperwork or negative COVID-19 tests, The Times reports, quoting a source close to the Cabinet Office.

At the worst point in the past month, one in five lorries bound for the EU was turned back from the UK border because of incorrect paperwork or because the driver could not produce a negative COVID-19 test, the source added. But now that stockpiles have been depleted and cross-Channel trade is picking up, officials at the Cabinet Offices border and protocol delivery group have put logistics groups on high alert.

Stephen Bartlett, chairman of the Association of Freight Software Suppliers, said: Weve been lucky so far. Traffic volumes through ports have been quite low. But the next couple of weeks are going to be the main test.

There could be more disruption as trucks come through that arent prepared with paperwork or drivers who havent been tested for COVID. There will be more issues. Then we could see some of these lorry parks starting to fill up.

And a digital sumulation by technology firm Simul8 estimates that once post-Brexit volumes recover, trucks heading to the port of Dover could find themselves stuck for up to 20 days in a 70,000-long truck queue, unless new infrastructure is built, extra staff hired and considerable cargo volumes diverted to other ports, one freight trade publication has reported. That compares with the UK government Cabinet Offices own previous worst-case predictions of 7,000-long truck queues.

Shortage of trained staff

Liddell highlighted that logistics and freight sector associations have long been warning of a shortage of trained staff to fill out the extra expected 500 million customs declarations that are now required each year for goods moving between Britain and the EU.

He added: The shortfall in customs brokers is massive and has left many shippers unable to find the support they need. EU border authorities insist that trucks arriving from Britain have been almost totally non-compliant in terms of permits and paperwork and have been sending non-compliant trucks back to the UK, yet many exporters are struggling to acquire the required transit documents, because of a shortage of agents with the authority to issue them.

Transit documents, which allow goods to enter the European Union without delay require Customs authorisation and a financial guarantee, to cover any taxes or duties on the goods being moved  but they have almost all been committed and firms wanting to apply for a transit guarantee or increase the size of their existing one have struggled because of delays at HMRC.

Challenging situation

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) indicated that its members had highlighted significant problems, but it too early to draw firm conclusions.

Whilst there are clearly many issues, there is nothing substantive for BIFA to say at the moment on the current situation, which is still in a state of flux, and it will take some time before a realistic picture emerges, a spokesman commented. So, it is too soon for meaningful analysis. Anecdotal evidence from BIFA members suggest that it is pretty challenging but it has been clearly signalled by the government that there will be disruption to begin with as people get to grips with the changes.

Liddell said Metro was monitoring the cross-channel situation closely and continue to submit import and export customs transactions through our CuDoS system, to keep our customers European supply chains optimised and moving. Our platform is getting slicker as the experience builds and the rules of trade and transport become clearer on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, DB Schenker, which last week identified significant problems relating to the new customs formalities, today announced it was lifting the temporary hold on the acceptance of orders for land transport consignments to the UK.

Following a brief suspension of the system freight network, DB Schenker resumes collecting compliant land transport shipments from the European Union to the United Kingdom from January 21, 2021 onwards, it said in a statement.

Cyrille Bonjean, head of Land Transport Europe at DB Schenker commented: Resuming the service is made possible by working together closely with our commercial and industry partners on gathering end to end contact and customs information, which are essential for customs clearance.

DB Schenker underlined that shipments to the UK will only be accepted and collected if the necessary minimum exporter and importer documents have been received and are correct. To support its customers, DB Schenker is providing a comprehensive document describing the minimum required information which must accompany every shipment to the UK.

Cyrille Bonjean said that DB Schenker had opted to provide transparency by actively communicating the multiple customs paperwork challenges that European and British industry were facing, instead of just hoping for the best.

He added: By making the hard decision to suspend shipment collections for a short period, we were able to protect our transportation network from potential tailbacks affecting transshipment platforms in the whole of Europe.

However, significant difficulties are said to be continuing in processing the new paperwork related to the post-Brexit UK-EU trading regime and the customs clearance of goods, particularly for food, drinks, cosmetics and perfumes.

A spokesperson for DHL Express told Lloyds Loading List: Currently were seeing a high number of shipments requiring sanitary and phytosanitary checks being held by customs authorities in the EU. As a result, we are temporarily suspending shipments from Great Britain to consumer recipients in the EU, where special sanitary and phytosanitary control formalities are required.

This does not affect goods being shipped to businesses or Veterinary and Phytosanitary shipments that do not require control formalities (such as authorisations or licenses). We hope that the challenges associated with these types of shipments are resolved soon and we can resume carrying them on behalf of our customers as quickly as possible.

Image: Shutterstock.com
Inauguration Day 2021 began like no other. A ring of steel and tens of thousands of National Guard troops surround Washington DC for the swearing-in of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, following the insurrection at the US Capitol earlier this month by a pro-Trump mob.

The outgoing president broke with 150 years of tradition and refused to welcome his successor and be present for the peaceful transfer of power at noon. Instead, Mr Trump jetted off on Air Force One for his new life in Florida early Wednesday. Here, The Independent follows the day as it unfolds.

Nearly 200,000 American flags are seen in the early hours of Inauguration Day on the National Mall as part of a Field of Flags exhibition to represent those not able to attend due to the Covid-19 pandemic (AFP via Getty Images)

The Washington Monument was closed to members of the public for Joe Bidens inauguration amid security concerns following an attack on the Capitol by pro-Trump rioters on 6 January (REUTERS)

Donald Trump and Melania Trump depart the White House for the last time on the morning of Inauguration Day. The couple is eschewing the tradition of meeting the incoming first family and will not attend president-elect Bidens inauguration. Ms Trump has not given incoming first lady, Jill Biden, a tour of the private residence and has reportedly not been in touch with her at all (AFP via Getty Images)

Donald Trump and Melania Trump hold hands as they prepare to depart the White House on Marine One to Florida several hours ahead of the inauguration ceremony. Mr Trump is the first president in more than 150 years to refuse to attend their successor's inauguration (Getty Images)

Members of Donald Trumps family including senior advisors Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner stand on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland as they arrive for US President Donald Trump's departure ceremony (AFP via Getty Images)

Joe Biden and Jill Biden attend services at the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle ahead of the presidential inauguration ceremony. Once inaugurated, Mr Biden will be the second Catholic president in US history and the first since John F Kennedy (Getty Images)

US National Guardsmen stand on a closed street outside the Capitol Building. Some 25,000 National Guard troops have been brought in from across the country to ensure security on Inauguration Day, replacing the huge crowds of tourists that would usually gather in the nations capital to welcome a new president (Yegor Aleyev/TASS)

Security is set up along Pennsylvania Avenue before the 59th Presidential Inauguration. Security officials have assured that there will be extremely tight security around the entire capital region on Inauguration Day after pro-Trump rioters breached the Capitol on 6 January (AP)

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and her husband ahead of Joe Bidens arrival at the Capitol for the inauguration ceremony (EPA)

Former Vice President Dan Quayle arrives for the inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol (AP)

Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Jill Biden, and Doug Emhoff wave as they arrive on the East Front of the Capitol for the inauguration ceremony (Getty Images)

Former president Bill Clinton arrives with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol (Getty Images)

Former President George W Bush and his wife Laura Bush arrive for the inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol (REUTERS)

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama arrive at the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol (Getty Images)

Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence arrive at the inauguration of Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol. Mr Pence is attending the inauguration ceremony despite the absence of President Donald Trump, who left Washington before the ceremony began (AP)

Vice-president elect Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff wave as they make their entrance to the inaugural ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol (REUTERS)

President-elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden arrive at his inauguration ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol (Getty Images)

Donald Trump and Melania Trump arrive at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida after departing Washington before the inauguration ceremony of Joe Biden (REUTERS)

Senator Amy Klobuchar speaks at the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol (Getty Images)

Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem during the inauguration ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol. Ahead of the inauguration on 19 January, Gaga said she hoped the ceremony would be a day of peace for all Americans. (REUTERS)

Kamala Harris is sworn in as vice president, becoming the first woman to hold the office in the nations history, as well as the first Black woman and first woman of South Asian descent to hold the title. Spouse Doug Emhoff holds the bible and also makes history in becoming the first ever first gentleman (REUTERS)

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States as his wife Jill Biden holds the bible. The president welcomed a day of history and hope after taking Oath of Office saying: This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day of history and hope (REUTERS)

Joe Biden delivers a speech after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States during which he addressed the severity of the coronavirus pandemic across the US, the rise of political extremism, and outlined a path towards unity for the nation (REUTERS)

Amanda Gorman recites a poem during the inauguration of Joe Biden, referencing Biblical scripture and at times echoing the oratory of John F Kennedy and the Rev Martin Luther King Jr as she asked: Where can we find light/In this never-ending shade? (REUTERS)

Attendance at Joe Bidens inauguration was slashed to limited numbers in light of the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 400,000 Americans (Getty Images)

Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden watch a military pass in review ceremony on the East Front of the Capitol at the conclusion of the inauguration ceremonies (AP)

Joe Biden signs three documents including an inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations, and sub-cabinet nominations in the Presidents Room at the Capitol (AP)

Joe Biden received a historical presidential escort from 15th Street to the White House with representations from every branch of the military but no crowds or tourists due to the coronavirus pandemic and safety concerns (REUTERS)

President Joe Biden is driven through Washington with a military escort to Arlington Cemetery ahead of the wreath-laying ceremony as streets are lined with members of the military (Sky News)

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington National Cemetery following the inauguration ceremony (AP)
A new study shows that intense immunosuppression followed by a hematopoietic stem cell transplant may prevent disability associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) from getting worse in 71% of people with relapsing-remitting MS for up to 10 years after the treatment. The research is published in the January 20, 2021, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study also found that in some people their disability improved over 10 years after treatment. Additionally, more than half of the people with the secondary progressive form of MS experienced no worsening of their symptoms 10 years after a transplant.

While most people with MS are first diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, marked by symptom flare-ups followed by periods of remission, many people with relapsing-remitting MS eventually transition to secondary progressive MS, which does not have wide swings in symptoms but instead a slow, steady worsening of the disease.

The study involved autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplants, which use healthy blood stem cells from the participant's own body to replace diseased cells.

So far, conventional treatments have prevented people with MS from experiencing more attacks and worsening symptoms, but not in the long term. Previous research shows more than half of the people with MS who take medication for their disease still get worse over a 10-year period. Our results are exciting because they show hematopoietic stem cell transplants may prevent someone's MS disabilities from getting worse over the longer term." Matilde Inglese, M.D., Ph.D., Study Author, University of Genoa in Italy and Member of the American Academy of Neurology

The study looked at 210 people with MS who received stem cell transplants from 1997 to 2019. Their average age was 35. Of those people, 122 had relapsing-remitting MS and 86 had secondary progressive MS and two had primary progressive MS.

Researchers assessed participants at six months, five years and 10 years after their transplants.

Five years into the study, researchers found that 80% of the people experienced no worsening of their MS disability. At the 10-year mark, 66% still had not experienced a worsening of disability.

When looking at just the people with the most common form of MS, researchers found 86% of them experienced no worsening of their disability five years after their transplant. Ten years later, 71% still experienced no worsening of their disability.

Also, people with progressive MS benefited from stem cell transplants. Researchers found that 71% of the people with this type of MS experienced no worsening of their disability five years after their transplants. Ten years later, 57% experienced no worsening of their disability.

"Our study demonstrates that intense immunosuppression followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplants should be considered as a treatment for people with MS, especially those who don't respond to conventional therapy," Inglese said.

Limitations of the study include that it was retrospective, did not include a control group and the clinicians who helped measure participants' disability were aware that they had received stem cell transplants, so that could have led to bias. Inglese said these limitations will be addressed in future research.

The study was supported by the Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation and the Elena Pecci Research Fund.
Sen. Ted Cruz is drawing the ire of a lot of people on Twitter today, including actor Seth Rogen.

Rogen tweeted a short, "F*** off you fascist" in response to Cruz's tweet criticizing President Joe Biden's decision for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.

AFTER THE INAUGURATION: Texas GOP continues to allege election fraud in statement thanking former President Trump

(Cruz is also getting roasted for maybe believing the name of the Paris Climate Agreement has something to do with the citizens of Paris, and not because it was signed in Paris.)

"Charming, civil, educated response," Cruz tweeted with a screenshot of Rogen's initial shot at the senator. "If youre a rich, angry Hollywood celebrity, todays Dems are the party for you. If youre blue-collar, if youre a union member, if you work in energy or manufacturing...not so much."

To which Rogen responded: "Haha get f***** fascist. Go encourage a white supremacist insurrection again you f****** clown."

"If youre a white supremacist fascist who doesnt find it offensive when someone calls your wife ugly, Ted Cruz is the exact motherf***** for you," the actor added. "Also I'm in four unions."

Cruz has been widely criticized for supporting former President Donald Trump's baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. After a pro-Trump mob stormed and breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Cruz voted to object to Arizona and Pennsylvania's vote counts certifying the election of Biden.

Rogen also referenced when Trump called Cruz's wife ugly through a passive-aggressive retweet.

The exchange between Cruz and Rogen got enough attention that Rogen's name started trending on Twitter as others weighed in on the feud.

Cruz has yet to respond past his initial tweet.
A road traffic sign is in front of the Union Jack and the European Union flag hanging outside Europe House in Smith Square, London (Yui Mok/PA)

Boris Johnsons Government has become embroiled in a diplomatic spat with the European Union over the status of the blocs ambassador.

Joao Vale de Almeida has not been given the same status as ambassadors sent by national governments.

Senior Tories questioned the Governments approach, with one ex-minister warning it could set a bad precedent that nations with poor human rights records might follow in an attempt to silence EU diplomats.

Mr de Almeida is the EUs first ambassador in London after Brexit meant the UKs departure from the bloc.

Michel Barnier, who led the EUs negotiating team during Brexit talks, said the UK should be very careful about its approach.

I know the spin of the UK authorities, speaking about the EU like international organisations, but we are not an international organisation, said Mr Barnier, who is now an adviser to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

I hope that we will be able to find a clever and objective solution to the status of the EU in London.

It would be wise in my view to for the UK to find a clever solution.

This is simply petty.



Biden commits to strengthening alliances and we engage in silly spats which will not help strengthen security and trade cooperation.



We are better than this. pic.twitter.com/m9CwG7YZga  Tobias Ellwood MP (@Tobias_Ellwood) January 21, 2021

Senior Tory Tobias Ellwood described the row as a silly spat and insisted the UK should be better than this.

Mr Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said: This is simply petty.

(Joe) Biden commits to strengthening alliances and we engage in silly spats which will not help strengthen security and trade cooperation.

We are better than this.

Former Europe minister Sir David Lidington said he hoped the Foreign Office doesnt pick a fight on this, warning that non-recognition could set a bad precedent for regimes that hate EU ambassadors speaking up in support of human rights.

Tory peer Lord Barwell, who was Mrs Mays chief of staff, said the move was difficult to understand and the UK treating EU diplomats differently than every other independent sovereign state does suggests there is something different about our relationship with the EU.

Strange position for Brexiteers to take, he added.

The UK treating EU diplomats differently than every other independent sovereign state does suggests there is something different about our relationship with the EU. Strange position for Brexiteers to take https://t.co/BaOb70F11C  Gavin Barwell (@GavinBarwell) January 21, 2021

A Foreign Office spokesman said: The EU, its Delegation and staff will receive the privileges and immunities necessary to enable them to carry out their work in the UK effectively.

But Brussels said the EUs 143 delegations and staff in other parts of the world had been accorded a status equivalent to countries embassies under the Vienna Convention, which governs the rules of international diplomacy.

The Vienna Convention grants diplomats immunity from detention, criminal jurisdiction and taxation.

But Whitehall sources insisted that international organisations were offered very similar privileges and immunities to diplomatic missions sent by foreign governments.

The UK is continuing to negotiate with the EU over the long-term arrangements for the delegation.

The EUs status in external relations and its subsequent diplomatic status is amply recognised by countries and international organisations around the world, and we expect the United Kingdom to treat the EU Delegation accordingly and without delay European Commission spokesman Peter Stano

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said the UK, which, as a member of the EU, was a signature to the Lisbon Treaty which established the European External Action Service diplomatic network, was well aware of the EUs status in external relations.

Nothing has changed since the UKs exit from the European Union to justify any change in stance on the UKs part, he said.

The EUs status in external relations and its subsequent diplomatic status is amply recognised by countries and international organisations around the world, and we expect the United Kingdom to treat the EU Delegation accordingly and without delay.

He said granting reciprocal treatment based on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is standard practice between equal partners and we are confident that we can clear this issue with our friends in London in a satisfactory manner.

Mr Stano added: The European Union has 143 Delegations, equivalent to diplomatic missions, around the world.

Without exception, all host states have accepted to grant these delegations and their staff a status equivalent to that of diplomatic missions of states under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, and the UK is well aware of this fact.

The BBC reported that the EUs foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has written to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab directly to raise his concerns about the situation.

The dispute with Brussels came as the Foreign Office announced Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby would be the new head of the UKs mission to the EU, replacing Sir Tim Barrow as ambassador.
When we get to the other side of this pandemic, we may want to consider a memorial to those that have passed as a result of this pandemic, 7th Ward Ald. Marty Joycetold members of the City Council this month.
The appellate division of Kano State High Court on Thursday acquitted 13-year-old Omar Farouk of blasphemy and quashed the 10 years imprisonment passed on him by the states Upper Sharia Court on August 10, 2020.

The court also quashed the conviction but ordered a retrial of a 22-year-old musician, Yahaya Shariff-Aminu, who was sentenced to death for blasphemy by the Upper Sharia Court on the same day it convicted Farouk.

Their lawyer, Kola Alapinni, disclosed the developments to PREMIUM TIMES in text messages on Thursday.

Mr Alapinni said the High Court panel led by the Chief Judge of Kano State, Nuraddeen Umar, ruled that Mr Shariff-Aminus earlier trial was fraught with procedural irregularities warranting a retrial.

He stated, On Yahaya Aminu Sharif, the court quashed the conviction.

But the case has been remitted back to the sharia court for a retrial due to procedural irregularities.

He, however, stated concerning Farouq, who got a total acquittal , that the High Court ruled that the minor was wrongly convicted.

Mr Alapinni said the court set aside the sentence passed on the boy because the minor had no legal representation during the trial.

He stated, Omar Farouq Bashir is free! Sentence set aside for lack of legal representation.

The Sharia court judgment is a nullity. The minor was wrongfully convicted!

The lawyer, however, stated that the court holds that the Sharia Penal system is legal, adding that he might appeal against that aspect of judgment.

He said he might appeal against that aspect of the judgment.

Court order to be served on prison authorities

Asked when his clients would be released from detention, Mr Alapinni, said, We are working on it. We will try to get the court order as soon as possible to serve on the prison tomorrow (Friday).

The Upper Sharia Court had on August 10 sentenced Farouk, a resident of Sharada quarters of Kano metropolis, to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour for making derogatory statements concerning the Almighty Allah in a public argument.

His conviction and sentence was widely condemned particularly because he was a minor and had no legal representation at the trial.

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) had through its Country Representative in Nigeria, Peter Hawkins, said Farouks sentencing with menial job, was wrong and negated all core underlying principles of child rights and child justice that Nigeria  and by implication, Kano State  has signed to.

The body called on the Nigerian government and the Kano State Government to urgently review the case with a view to reversing the sentence.

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On his part, Mr Sharif-Aminu, a resident of Sharifai in Kano metropolis, was sentenced to death for committing blasphemy against the prophet of Islam in a song he circulated via WhatsApp in March 2020.

Protesters had , after the incident, burnt down the singers family home.
WASHINGTON - Construction crews building the steel wall along the U.S.-Mexico border were ordered to a halt Wednesday after President Joe Biden delivered on a campaign promise and hit "pause" on the Trump administration's signature infrastructure project.

Biden's presidential proclamation rescinded the national emergency declaration used by former president Donald Trump to divert about $10 billion from Defense Department accounts toward the barrier, one of the costliest federal infrastructure projects in U.S. history.

It directs private contractors to stop work "as soon as possible but in no case later than seven days," while launching a full assessment of the project to determine whether its funding sources are legal and whether they can be allocated elsewhere.

"It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall," Biden's proclamation states. "I am also directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall."

The proclamation also directs federal agencies to formulate a plan within 60 days to redirect border wall funds and "resume, modify, or terminate" segments of the structure that remain under construction.

The Trump administration completed 455 miles of new barriers along the Mexico boundary, an undertaking whose main achievement was the replacement of smaller, more permeable anti-vehicle barriers with imposing 30-foot-tall steel bars.

Many of the segments that remain unfinished are in South Texas, where much of the land on which the government seeks to build is privately held along the Rio Grande's winding course.

The funding appropriated by Congress since 2018 is enough to pay for 298 miles of barrier, about 71 miles of which have been completed, according to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection figures.

That would potentially oblige the Biden administration to complete up to 227 additional miles of border wall. In one indication that some of those projects may go forward, Biden's proclamation allows for "the expenditure of any funds that the Congress expressly appropriated for wall construction, consistent with their appropriated purpose."

Biden made a campaign pledge to not build "another foot" of barrier, but he could also opt to allow contractors to finish installing roadways, gates, sensors and other elements of the project.

The cost of keeping work crews idle while the pause is in effect was not immediately clear.

The stop-work order was celebrated by opponents of the project, including environmental activists, landowners and officials in border communities.

"The president's quick action on this executive order is an important step toward repairing the senseless destruction and xenophobia that have shattered the borderlands for four years," said Laiken Jordahl, an environmental activist with Arizona's Center for Biological Diversity who has led opposition to the project.

"Contracts must be canceled, and not another foot of wall should be built through these beautiful wild places," Jordahl said.

"It's a great beginning," said Elsa Hull, a landowner and activist in Zapata County, Tex. "But it's not canceling the contracts or dismantling the wall where it's been destructive."

In recent weeks, local newspapers have published court notices signaling that the federal government was moving forward with seizing people's property in neighboring Starr and Webb counties. Hull's property evaded the Trump administration's late construction push, but her neighbors downstream near Falcon Reservoir are now staring at steel.

Hull said the Biden administration should take steps to stop the litigation against landowners and repeal or amend the Real ID Act, which allowed the administration to bypass environmental rules.

"We have hope this will stop, but we can't let up," Hull said. "But we need to make sure they halt it permanently."

Alberto Cardenas Jr., an attorney for the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Poor, whose order runs an orphanage on 70 acres of riverfront property in Laredo, Texas, also welcomed Biden's directive.

The religious order joined dozens of other Laredo landowners poised to fight construction in court. The federal government sent requests to survey lands along the Rio Grande but had not yet begun the process of taking the land and offering compensation to property owners.

City officials there also had resisted and attempted to negotiate with the federal government to prevent installation of the steel bollards along its riverfront. The council passed resolutions in recent months refusing to let the Trump administration survey the lands.

Activists with the "No Border Wall" coalition in Laredo had long held that Trump's national emergency declaration was illegal and sued to have it overturned. They were particularly concerned about the way the administration waived environmental rules to hasten construction, and many of their questions remained unanswered.

"What is to be done with sections of the wall that are half or fully built?" said Laredo community organizer Gan Golan. "We want to make sure border communities have a say in the decisions that affect their lives."

Hundreds of miles east in Brownsville, Tex., Yvette Arroyo and her husband Salvador Castillo have watched since Election Day as workers ramped up construction to finish as much of the wall as they could before the new administration took control. The couple had vowed to fight in court long enough for Biden's inauguration, but the federal government went around them, winning rights to ranchland just beyond their property line.

Arroyo has watched the border wall slowly close in on her backyard from the east and the west, sealing off her family's view of and access to the river and ranchlands.

"It feels too late for us," Arroyo said in an interview. "The sun will be behind the steel bollards, and it's not beautiful."

- - -

Hernandez reported from Austin, Texas.
A FORMER Mayor of Limerick is calling for the drawing up of the new Limerick Development Plan to be paused and deferred because of Covid-19.

Cllr Stephen Keary has submitted a formal notice notice of motion ahead of next week's meeting of Limerick City and Council

He says the plan, if adopted, could have massive implications for people seeking to construct one-off houses in rural

County Limerick.

"The adoption of a County Development Plan is one of the most important functions of a councillor and together with agreeing a budget for the year, it is one of a number of legal functions that councillors have to perform. However, being able to do this is practically impossible at the moment and leads, I believe to uncharted legal uncertainty," he said citing the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Like most people we cant have face to face meetings at the moment, something I agree with given how many cases of the virus we are having across the County. And instead of that we are having online meetings and committee sessions. However, like most councillors Im finding it very frustrating to get into the detail needed while working remotely," he said in a statement.

Last month, the process to draft the first-ever Limerick Development Plan moved forward with the publication of the Chief Executives Report on the Pre  Draft Consultation on the proposed plan which will run from 2022 to 2028.

However, Cllr Keary says he has concerns about continuing the process given the pandemic.

"Looking at detailed maps and drawings, and having proper interaction is virtually impossible given that sometimes the signal breaks, Councillors or officials freeze and poor broadband for some of the participants involved makes the meetings almost impossible. We need to get this right, not only in terms of the policies that we are adopting for the people of Limerick city and county, but also as important if not more important, it has to be legally sound," added the Adare/Rathkeale councillor.

The former Mayor is calling on Minister Darragh OBrien needs to provide clarity and certainty to members of the local authority.

"We desperately need leadership on this issue now, and I know from speaking to councillor colleagues in other counties they feel the exact same. Similarly, the Councils Chief Executive needs to engage with the officials of the Department of Housing to make sure the adoption of this plan is deferred until the restrictions are lifted and the working environment for all concerned are deemed to be safe.

Cllr Keary's motion will be tabled at next Monday's full meeting of Limerick City and County Council.
In the popular Netflix series The Crown, Winston Churchill first appears at the 1947 wedding of Princess Elizabeth. Two years removed from leading Great Britain to victory in World War II, the former prime minister enters Westminster Abbey to the sound of a patriotic hymn by Cecil Spring Rice: I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, / Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love.

Tellingly, we dont hear the second verse, which turns from the United Kingdom to Gods kingdom: We may not count her armies, we may not see her King; / Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering. The Crowns way of introducing Churchill may be one of the many liberties that series takes with British history, but it seems appropriate for a politician who was more devoted to his countrys system of government than to the doctrines of the church that Elizabeth still heads.

If youre enough of a Churchill fan to have devoured Andrew Robertss magisterial 2018 biography and yet wanted to read more about religion than Robertss brief but trenchant discussion of that topic, you may want to pick up Gary Scott Smiths short study Duty and Destiny: The Life and Faith of Winston Churchill, part of the Library of Religious Biography series from Eerdmans. (My own entry in the series releases later this year.) The book portrays a statesman driven both by duty to country and empire (the service of my love) and by what Smith calls a profound sense of his own destiny. Yet the answer to who or what he believed determined his destinyGod or fateis ultimately unclear.

If not a groundbreaking work of original research, Duty and Destiny does manage, in Smiths words, to synthesize the many contradictory opinions expressed  by the army of Churchill biographers about a story of faith that was complex, colorful, and compelling.

Unconventional Faith

Alas, only the first of those three adjectives consistently describes Smiths book. While the writing is workmanlike, we can expect more eloquence and verve from a biography of such a master of the English language.

In addition, readers hoping for a conventional biographical structure may be frustrated that Smiths telling of Churchills life story doesnt start until chapter 3 or that so important a topic as Churchills marriage appears very late, in a chapter on his retirement years. But at least some of that scene setting is necessary, in part to orient American readers to the religious and political terrain of a country that Churchill believed to be a Christian nation, though not in the way many American evangelicals would understand that phrase. (Having previously published histories of religion in the American presidency, Smith does well at several points in Duty and Destiny to draw helpful contrasts between the unconventional faith of Churchill and that of his ally Franklin D. Roosevelt, a committed Episcopalian who was the subject of an earlier entry in Eerdmanss religious biography series.)

Far less devout than William Wilberforce, Margaret Thatcher, and the other Christian politicians sketched in chapter 2, Churchill nonetheless staunchly supported the establishment of churches whose doors he rarely darkened (save for occasions like royal weddings) and drew freely on the language of Christianity. Indeed, Smiths analysis is most complex and compelling when it turns to Churchills colorful use of religious rhetoric, a hallmark both of his locust years in the 1930s, when he cried out from his political wilderness like an Old Testament prophet, and during the Second World War, when speeches peppered with references to God  citations and allusions to Scripture, and images of spiritual warfare between good and evil and light and darkness sought to inspire, comfort, and assure beleaguered Britons of their eventual triumph. What such public communications say about Churchills private convictions is harder to determine, especially when he had little to gain politically from revealing what he truly believed.

Article continues below

Yet while Smith is surely right that we will never know definitively what anyone believes in his or her heart of hearts, readers can expect biographers to do more than catalogue the divergent opinions of previous authors. To his credit, Smith doesnt shy away from one conclusion that will disappoint some of his Christian readers: For all his invocations of Christian civilization and Christian ethics, Churchill did not believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ, a figure he mentioned just once, by Smiths count, in five million words worth of speeches. At most, the prime minister did precisely what his contemporary C. S. Lewis  insisted that people could not logically do: profess that Jesus was a great moral teacher while denying his claim to be God.

While Churchill seemed to hold shifting beliefs about the existence of God, the nature of the afterlife, and the veracity of Scripture, his views on Jesus may have been fixed as early as the late 1890s. During his military service in India, a 23-year-old Churchill read skeptics like Edward Gibbon and William Winwood Reade, debated theology and metaphysics with fellow officers, and scorned Christian missions. (That last critique, at least, didnt last long. Just over a decade later, as a rising young parliamentarian, Churchill praised missionaries like those who had made central Africans clothed, peaceful, law-abiding, [and] polite.)

If only Smith would have returned more often to India, whose control by Britain Churchill fervently defended long after that stance became a major political liability. He agrees that Churchills commitment to the Empire has rightly been criticized as retrogressive, racist, repressive, and repulsive and concedes that his imperialist values seem to clash with Christianitys emphasis on service, sacrifice, and racial and gender equality.

But Smith is too quick to exonerate his subject for his treatment of India. Im not sure Churchill deserves any credit for having correctly predicted the strife between Hindus and Muslims that attended the independence he opposed, given that he was one of those British imperialists who strove to create animosity between South Asias largest religious groups. Smith does note that Churchill decried [Mohandas K. Gandhi] as a seditious Hindu holy man, but that passing comment understates the British leaders animosity toward a man he called a malignant, subversive fanatic and falsely accused of faking a three-week fast in 1943.

An Imperial Creed

Of course, thats the same year that three million Indians starved to death under British rule. Smith quotes historian Arthur Hermans conclusion that the Bengal famine would have been far worse without the British aid that eventually arrived, but he overlooks Hermans more conflicted evaluation in Gandhi and Churchill: Confronted with the greatest humanitarian crisis the Raj had faced in more than half a century, Britains wartime leader proved callously indifferent and irrational. He was resolutely opposed to any food shipments at a time when ships were needed for military operations against the Axis powers. Disgusted that his boss seemed to view such humanitarian aid as an appeasement of Gandhis independence movement, Churchills handpicked viceroy, Archibald Wavell, had to threaten resignation to change the prime ministers mind.

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This is no tangential matter for a religious biography of Winston Churchill. Central to many key decisions of his life, wrote Andrew Roberts, was this belief that Britain and her Empire were not just political entities but also spiritual ones. Smith quotes this observation as part of his survey of writings on Churchill in chapter 1, but he doesnt adequately reckon with it. While hes surely right to hesitate in ascribing many traditional Christian beliefs to Churchill, Smith would have done well to wrestle more with Robertss conclusion that imperialism was in effect a substitute for religion.  In the absence of Christian faith, therefore, the British Empire became in a sense Churchills creed.

Christopher Gehrz is professor of history at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. His religious biography of Charles Lindbergh will be published by Eerdmans in August.
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Starboard Value LP (together with its affiliates, "Starboard"), one of the largest shareholders of Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) ("Corteva" or the "Company"), today announced that it has delivered a letter to Gregory Page, Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board").

The full text of Starboard's letter to the Chairman of the Board can be viewed at the following link:

https://www.starboardvalue.com/wp-content/uploads/Starboard_Value_LP_Letter_to_CTVA_Board_01.21.2021.pdf

About Starboard Value LP

Starboard Value LP is a New York-based investment adviser with a focused and differentiated fundamental approach to investing primarily in publicly traded U.S. companies. Starboard seeks to invest in deeply undervalued companies and actively engage with management teams and boards of directors to identify and execute on opportunities to unlock value for the benefit of all shareholders.

Investor contacts:

Gavin Molinelli, (212) 201-4828

Patrick Sullivan, (212) 845-7947



www.starboardvalue.com

CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PARTICIPANTS

Starboard Value LP, together with the other participants named herein (collectively, "Starboard"), intends to file a preliminary proxy statement and accompanying WHITE proxy card with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to be used to solicit votes for the election of its slate of highly-qualified director nominees at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders of Corteva, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

STARBOARD STRONGLY ADVISES ALL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER PROXY MATERIALS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. SUCH PROXY MATERIALS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE ON THE SEC'S WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV . IN ADDITION, THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS PROXY SOLICITATION WILL PROVIDE COPIES OF THE PROXY STATEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE, WHEN AVAILABLE, UPON REQUEST. REQUESTS FOR COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS' PROXY SOLICITOR.

The participants in the proxy solicitation are anticipated to be Starboard Value and Opportunity Master Fund Ltd ("Starboard V&O Fund"), Starboard Value and Opportunity S LLC ("Starboard S LLC"), Starboard Value and Opportunity C LP ("Starboard C LP"), Starboard Value and Opportunity Master Fund L LP ("Starboard L Master"), Starboard Value L LP ("Starboard L GP"), Starboard Value R LP ("Starboard R LP"), Starboard Value R GP LLC ("Starboard R GP"), Starboard Leaders Alpha II LLC ("Starboard Alpha II LLC"), Starboard Leaders Fund LP ("Starboard Leaders Fund"), Starboard Value A LP ("Starboard A LP"), Starboard Value A GP LLC ("Starboard A GP"), Starboard X Master Fund Ltd ("Starboard X Master"), Starboard G Fund, LP ("Starboard G LP"), Starboard Value G GP, LLC ("Starboard G GP"), Starboard Value LP, Starboard Value GP LLC ("Starboard Value GP"), Starboard Principal Co LP ("Principal Co"), Starboard Principal Co GP LLC ("Principal GP"), Jeffrey C. Smith, Peter A. Feld, Jacques Croisetiere, Lisa Crutchfield, David C. Everitt, James L. Gallogly, Janet P. Giesselman, Kerry J. Preete and Susan C. Schnabel.

As of the date hereof, Starboard V&O Fund beneficially owns directly 5,101,985 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). As of the date hereof, Starboard S LLC directly owns 922,820 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Starboard C LP directly owns 544,945 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Starboard L Master directly owns 448,758 shares of Common Stock. Starboard L GP, as the general partner of Starboard L Master, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 448,758 shares of Common Stock owned by Starboard L Master. Starboard R LP, as the general partner of Starboard C LP, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 544,945 shares of Common Stock owned by Starboard C LP. Starboard R GP, as the general partner of Starboard R LP and Starboard L GP, may be deemed the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 993,703 shares of Common Stock owned by Starboard C LP and Starboard L Master. As of the date hereof, Starboard Alpha II LLC directly owns 468,446 shares of Common Stock. Starboard Leaders Fund, as a member of Starboard Alpha II LLC, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 468,446 shares of Common Stock owned by Starboard Alpha II LLC. Starboard A LP, as the general partner of Starboard Leaders Fund and the managing member of Starboard Alpha II LLC, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 468,446 shares of Common Stock owned by Starboard Alpha II LLC. Starboard A GP, as the general partner of Starboard A LP, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 468,446 shares owned by Starboard Alpha II LLC. As of the date hereof, Starboard X Master directly owns 911,293 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Starboard G LP directly owns 4,476,617 shares of Common Stock. Starboard G GP, as the general partner of Starboard G LP, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 4,476,617 shares of Common Stock owned by Starboard G LP. As of the date hereof, 1,558,735 of Common Stock were held in an account managed by Starboard Value LP (the "Starboard Value LP Account"). Starboard Value LP, as the investment manager of each of Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard C LP, Starboard L Master, Starboard Alpha II LLC, Starboard X Master and Starboard G LP and the Starboard Value LP Account and the manager of Starboard S LLC, may be deemed the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 14,433,599 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard S LLC, Starboard C LP, Starboard L Master, Starboard Alpha II LLC, Starboard X Master, Starboard G LP and held in the Starboard Value LP Account. Each of Starboard Value GP, as the general partner of Starboard Value LP, Principal Co, as a member of Starboard Value GP, Principal GP, as the general partner of Principal Co and Messrs. Smith and Feld, as members of Principal GP and as members of each of the Management Committee of Starboard Value GP and the Management Committee of Principal GP, may be deemed the beneficial owner of 14,433,599 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard S LLC, Starboard C LP, Starboard L Master, Starboard Alpha II LLC, Starboard X Master, Starboard G LP and held in the Starboard Value LP Account. As of the date hereof, Mr. Croisetiere directly owns 641 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Ms. Crutchfield owns directly 418 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Mr. Everittdirectly owns 1,271 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Mr. Gallogly directly owns 850 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Ms. Giesselman directly owns 1,152 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Ms. Preete directly owns 2,500 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Ms. Schnabel directly owns 1,000 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Mr. Smith directly owns 128 shares of Common Stock.

SOURCE Starboard Value

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NEW YORK, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Juan Monteverde, founder and managing partner at Monteverde & Associates PC, a national securities firm rated Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report and headquartered at the Empire State Building in New York City, is investigating Oxford Immunotec Global PLC ("OXFD" or the "Company") (OXFD) relating to its proposed sale to PerkinElmer, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, OXFD shareholders will receive $22.00 in cash per share they own.

The investigation focuses on whether Oxford Immunotec Global PLC and its Board of Directors violated securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to the Company by 1) failing to conduct a fair process, and 2) whether and by how much this proposed transaction undervalues the Company.

Click here for more information: https://www.monteverdelaw.com/case/oxford-immunotec-global-plc. It is free and there is no cost or obligation to you.



About Monteverde & Associates PC

We are a national class action securities litigation law firm that has recovered millions of dollars and is committed to protecting shareholders from corporate wrongdoing. We were listed in the Top 50 in the 2018 and 2019 ISS Securities Class Action Services Report. Our lawyers have significant experience litigating Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities Class Actions. Mr. Monteverde is recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star in Securities Litigation in 2013, 2017-2019, an award given to less than 2.5% of attorneys in a particular field. He has also been selected by Martindale-Hubbell as a 2017-2019 Top Rated Lawyer. Our firm's recent successes include changing the law in a significant victory that lowered the standard of liability under Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act in the Ninth Circuit. Thereafter, our firm successfully preserved this victory by obtaining dismissal of a writ of certiorari as improvidently granted at the United States Supreme Court. Emulex Corp. v. Varjabedian, 139 S. Ct. 1407 (2019). Also, in 2019 we recovered or secured six cash common funds for shareholders in mergers & acquisitions class action cases.

If you own common stock in Oxford Immunotec Global PLC and wish to obtain additional information and protect your investments free of charge, please visit our website or contact Juan E. Monteverde, Esq. either via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at (212) 971-1341.

Contact:

Juan E. Monteverde, Esq.

MONTEVERDE & ASSOCIATES PC

The Empire State Building

350 Fifth Ave. Suite 4405

New York, NY 10118

United States of America

[email protected]

Tel: (212) 971-1341

Attorney Advertising. (C) 2021 Monteverde & Associates PC. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Monteverde & Associates PC ( www.monteverdelaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.

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Joe Biden was sworn into office as the 46th President of the United States on Jan. 20, 2021. One of the first things he did as President, aside from sign the 100-day mask mandate and the Paris Climate Deal, was follow Chrissy Teigen on Twitter.

Chrissy Teigen | Mark Makela/Getty Images

Chrissy Teigen rallied for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during their campaign

Like many other celebrities, Teigen made it clear she wasnt a fan of former President Donald Trump. It wasnt shocking when much of Hollywood, including Teigen, was outspoken about Trump and his policies during his run for reelection.

All I could muster was hi everyone! This mouth of mine and thats all I could do. An honor to be in Philly to support Kamala and Joe. pic.twitter.com/1OdX9U7Put  chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) November 4, 2020

RELATED: Jon Bon Jovis Net Worth and Why Hes Performing at Joe Bidens Inauguration

In addition to her support online, Teigen and her husband, John Legend, rallied in Pennsylvania in November 2020. She was excited and honored to support Biden and Harris in the city of Brotherly Love on election night. Legend also performed during Bidens television special Celebrating America on the night of the inauguration.

Former President Donald Trump blocked Chrissy Teigen on Twitter

Teigen was extremely outspoken about Trump throughout his presidency. It came as no surprise to the Lip Sync Battle commentator when Trump blocked her on Twitter.

After 9 years of hating Donald J Trump, telling him lol no one likes you was the straw, Teigen tweeted. She included a screenshot confirming @realDonaldTrump had blocked her. Trump later tweeted about her and Legend, calling him a boring musician and her his filthy-mouthed wife, for supporting the criminal justice reform he signed into law.

Donald, for some reason, thought that John was taking all the credit for [prison reform]  and me, Teigen explained to Ellen DeGeneres. I didnt even know he was filming this thing. Honestly, I didnt even know anything about it.

But now, nearly four years later, Teigen has redeemed her good standing online with the new President.

Joe Bidens official POTUS account follows Chrissy Teigen on Twitter

As of Thursday, Jan. 21, the @POTUS Twitter is following 12 accounts. Eleven of those are government officials, including Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Press Secretary Jen Psaki, and Deputy Chief of Staff Jen OMalley Dillon.

Then theres Teigen. The 35-year-old mother of two is the only celebrity followed by the current President of the United States.

Why doesnt President Joe Biden follow any other celebrities on Twitter?

Many people wonder why Teigen is the only celebrity the President is following at this time, especially considering how many stars performed at his inauguration. Why doesnt Biden follow Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, or even Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman on social media?

Probably because they didnt ask him to. During Bidens inauguration ceremony, Teigen straight up asked him for the follow.

Hello @joebiden I have been blocked by the president for four years can I get a follow plz, she inquired. With more than 629,000 likes, how could Biden say no?

President Biden may give more celebrities follows in the future, but for now, Teigen holds the title of Only Celebrity Followed by the President of the United States on Twitter. Shes honored to be followed by Biden.

OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!! https://t.co/BmBfkPZgEj  chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 21, 2021

My heart oh my god lmao I can finally see the presidents tweets and they probably wont be unhinged, Teigen added.
NSW has recorded a fourth consecutive day without a local coronavirus case, as the federal government reveals further details of the vaccine rollout.

There were five cases in returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the start of the pandemic to 4895.

Masks remain mandatory on public transport and in other settings in Greater Sydney as NSW records a fourth consecutive day without a coronavirus case. Credit:Louie Douvis

An IT error that excluded 6000 negative tests meant the state recorded only 12,213 tests during the reporting period after reporting 19,959 tests on Wednesday, NSW Health's Jeremy McAnulty said.

The additional tests will be included in Thursday's figures. The error did not affect people receiving their results on time, Dr McAnulty added.

Kohima:

Assam Rifles sources on Wednesday reported a gun battle took place between security forces and some militants in Mon district of Nagaland but no casualty was reported.

Based on input regarding movement of armed underground cadres in Shenga Tangten area near Aboi in Mon district, an operation was launched by security forces on Tuesday, said PRO of Inspector General Assam Rifles (North).

At around 9:30 pm, the security forces observed movement of few armed cadres approaching from Totak Chingnyu and on being challenged the armed militants fired upon the security forces, the PRO said.

Read more: NSCN-K leader Khaplang passes away in Myanmar's Kachin

The security forces also retaliated but the underground cadres reportedly fled into the jungle taking advantage of the darkness, the sources said, adding that no casualty was reported.

Search operations were conducted to trace the cadres but was called off this morning, the PRO added.

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The broad direction of the upcoming Union Budget will be critical in determining the medium-term outlook for the economy. Apart from the policy thrust, it would be vital to see how the government intends to manage its finances.

In this context, our lead editorial notes that it will be critical for the government to ensure that the quality of expenditure is not compromised in the consolidation process. Other opinion pieces for the day, among other things, talk about politics of religion and five years of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. The fire and fury over Tandav and ...
The first meeting of the Ukrainian-Saudi working group on trade and investment relations in agriculture took place in Kyiv.

The Ukrainian side was headed by Taras Vysotsky, Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine, and the Saudi side  by William England, Senior Vice President of the SALIC (Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company), the Government portal reports.

The working group was established within the framework of the memorandum between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on investment cooperation in agriculture (2017) and to implement the agreements reached following the online meeting of co-chairs of the Ukrainian-Saudi Joint Intergovernmental Commission (November 2020).

The purpose of this working group is to develop practical steps aimed at expanding the presence of Ukrainian agricultural products in the KSA market, attracting investments from KSA in agricultural development of Ukraine, using KSA logistics facilities to promote Ukrainian products to markets in other countries (Arab states of the Persian Gulf, MENA countries).

In January-November 2020, exports of Ukrainian agricultural products to the KSA amounted to USD 410.9 million (+11%).

Fresh efforts are under way to get the partial re-opening of schools back on track, after a day of recriminations over who was to blame for the failure to start the phased return of pupils with special needs from today.

As talks continue, the Government may offer to test all teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) in an attempt to reopen schools for children with special needs.

However, it is expected that antigen tests will be used rather than the more accurate PCR testing.

The move comes after union chiefs asked to have all children and staff in special schools tested for Covid-19 as a condition of returning to work.

The union Forsa, which represents SNAs, put forward the proposal during talks.

Compromise

While it had concerns over the accuracy of antigen tests, the union was open to using them.

However, it is understood the proposal was rejected by the Department of Education as it was believed the testing would be too invasive for children with special needs.

But testing for staff may offered as a compromise.

The department also continued to insist public health advice on Covid-19 says schools are safe environments for teachers and students when compared with other workplaces.

Education Minister Norma Foley yesterday met management bodies in the primary sector to get their views on re-opening.

Today her department is engaging with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) and Forsa.

Moves aimed at staggering the return of 23,000 pupils had ended in controversy on Tuesday night when Ms Foley abandoned the plan because of a lack of co-operation from the unions.

At the heart of union opposition is a fear among members of returning at a time of high levels of Covid-19 infection.

The collapse led to calls on Taoiseach Micheal Martin in the Dail to intervene, with claims that the ministers involved had "lost control" of the situation.

Meanwhile, families of children with special needs are seeking a meeting with Mr Martin to press for urgent supports to help them while schools remain closed to their children.

Four advocacy organisations said the issue was "moving of the realm of education" and they were "facing a welfare and wellbeing crisis for these children and their families".

AsIAm, Down Syndrome Ireland, Family Carers Ireland and Inclusion Ireland expressed deep disappointment at the failure to re-open schools for children with special needs.

"The latest news on the continued closure of schools for children with special educational needs is another cruel blow to families," they said. But while efforts to re-open schools continued, they said urgent additional supports were required for the children and families affected to avert a child wellbeing crisis.

Meanwhile, Ms Foley is facing pressure on another related front with a survey showing that four in five Leaving Cert students want a choice between calculated grades and sitting June exams this year.

The first preference of over half of the students - 55pc - is to have that flexibility and the figure rises to 81pc when second preferences are included.

Only 4pc of students - one in 25 - voted for the conventional exams as their top option in the Irish Second Level Students Union (ISSU) survey.

The appetite for change from tradition in 2021 has emerged in responses from more than 20,000 students in 480 post-primary schools, including more than 13,000 sixth years.

Leaving Cert candidates have already suffered severe disruption to their education as a result of Covid and there is no certainty about when they will return to school.
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[January 21, 2021] SeenThis Announces U.S. Executive Appointments

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SeenThis announced Rob DiGiovanni has joined the Streaming AdTech company as General Manager for its U.S. operations. With over 20 years of global experience in the Advertising and Media industry, DiGiovanni will be charged with building out the leadership team and scaling the SeenThis offering across the U.S. marketplace. Prior to joining SeenThis, he was the Chief Operating Officer of PHD Media U.S.

SeenThis streaming AdTech has transformed digital advertising and become the standard in the Nordics, said DiGiovanni. Based on our unique tech, and the proven performance of streaming, I am excited about how we can better serve brands and consumers here in the U.S. The initial response has been very encouraging. Were just getting started. Additionally, Ben Riley has been appointed the U.S. Head of AdTech and Publisher Partnerships for SeenThis. A digital marketing and AdTech veteran of 17 years, with industry mainstays such as Advertising.com, AOL, ValueClick, Rubicon Project and most recently OpenX, Riley will be responsible for establishing and cultivatig partnerships across the digital landscape.



Having spent my career at companies focused on how ads are targeted to consumers, Im excited to join SeenThis to enhance what those consumers are ultimately seeing, said Riley. With SeenThis adaptive streaming technology, advertisers and publishers can now deliver HD quality display ads that finally match the sophistication of the programmatic ecosystem. "We're thrilled to have Rob and Ben join the SeenThis family to take on the US market full on, said Jesper Benon, Co-Founder and President at SeenThis. With their energy and experience from the agency and AdTech markets, we are looking forward to great success in establishing and scaling up SeenThis in the US."

SeenThis is a leader in the streaming video AdTech space, serving billions of streams for over 700 brands worldwide. With SeenThis' adaptive streaming technology, advertisers have the ability to distribute high-quality video ads across the display advertising ecosystem, without worrying about traditional file size limitations that hamper marketing and media performance and user experience. Learn more at http://www.seenthis.co/ Emily Riley

Riley Strategic LLC

emily@rileystrategic.com

914-330-1128



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The JEE Advanced 2021 syllabus has been released on the official website- jeeadv.ac.in. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, the exam conducting body for this year, has released the JEE Advanced 2021 syllabus. Along with this, the links for students to practice mock tests have been activated. For a complete schedule, information bulletin and test details, candidates preparing for the JEE Advanced 2021 exam must refer to the official syllabus. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur will conduct JEE Advanced 2021 exam on July 3.

JEE Advanced exam 2021 will be held online as a computer-based test across various cities distributed over seven IIT Zones. Union Education Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank announced the JEE Advanced 2021 exam date and eligibility criteria during the live webinar on Twitter.

Considering the students request, the eligibility criteria of JEE Advanced 2021 has been kept the same as the previous year. The 75 per cent criteria in JEE Advanced 2021 has been relaxed. All the candidates have to pass Class 12 to appear for JEE Advanced 2021. However, it is to be noted that only those students who qualify JEE Main 2021 and are ranked in the top 25,0000 candidates in order of merit can appear for JEE Advanced 2021.

IIT Kharagpur will release the JEE Advanced 2021 application form in an online mode tentatively in June. As per the exam pattern, the JEE Advanced 2021 exam has two mandatory papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. The JEE Advanced 2021 test will be held in two shifts. The paper pattern is formulated from JEE Advanced 2021 syllabus which has now been released by the authorities.

JEE Advanced 2021 is a gateway to the Bachelors, Integrated Masters, and Dual Degree courses in 23 IITs of the country. Every year, JEE Advanced exam is jointly organised by the seven Zonal Coordinating IITs- IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, and IIT Roorkee.
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A teaching union has said staff at special schools must be prioritised for vaccination, after it emerged that back office healthcare staff are already eligible.

As reported on the BBCs Good Morning Ulster programme, the Department of Health confirmed that staff within business services including procurement, IT and accounts have been eligible for the vaccine since Monday.

They are now eligible alongside priority groups like the over 80s and frontline healthcare staff.

Justin McCamphill from the NASUWT teaching union told the Belfast Telegraph that tougher scrutiny was needed on the vaccine rollout.

This contrasts very much with staff in special schools who are working in close contact with children on a day-to-day basis with no protection in relation to PPE and who are extremely anxious that they are exposing themselves to risk.

He said education staff working in these conditions deserved to be treated in the same way as frontline health workers.

Read More

In relation to vaccines, we believe that all teachers should be prioritised but in particular those who currently are in schools providing supervision for vulnerable children and the children of key workers.

He said he did not dispute that many support workers in the health service needed protection.

There is a big crossover between health and education in the special school sector.

You have staff who work for the Department of Health in special schools who have received the vaccine, but not staff who work for the Department of Education.

Im not saying they do the same job, but theyre still in the same room.

So far, over 160,000 people in Northern Ireland have received their first dose of the vaccine.

In a statement to the BBC, the Department of Health said that back office staff were on the priority list to allow the protection of healthcare systems.

A department spokesperson said that the staff played a vital role in supporting the health service, including recruiting and training contact tracers, distributing PPE, paying staff, providing legal guidance and IT.

"Protecting business services staff via vaccination to continue to deliver this support is essential for the smooth and continued functioning of the HSC (Health and Social Care) during the pandemic and particularly at this time of extreme pressure on our health service," they said.

"If the back office is down, the front line can't operate effectively."
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Yahoo Finance, in conjunction with The Harris Poll, has been asking Americans about their outlook on the future since last summer.

Each time, we asked the following about 10 different issues: How much better or worse do you think each of the following will be three months from now?

In August, the results found Americans expecting things to get worse on a range of fronts. Then in October, Americans were even gloomier about about their prospects ahead of Election Day.

The latest round, which surveyed Americans on the eve of President Bidens inauguration, found that optimism has improved on every metric but still has a long ways to go.

On COVID-19, the percentage of Americans who see things getting either much or somewhat better over the next three months jumped 10 percentage points from October to 38%. The optimism as vaccines begin to roll out was tempered as more respondents  42%, down from 47% in the last survey  still expect the pandemic to get worse over the next three months. But its the most optimistic result on the issue yet.

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Optimism about the health care system jumped eight percentage points, from 20% to 28%, and optimism about the education system nearly doubled to 27%. The trend was the same across the seven other issues measured: public safety, tax rates, the U.S. economy, job prospects, the national debt, the environment, and equality.

The results, which roughly cover the closely-watched first 100 days of the Biden administration, suggest the new president might have some growing optimism to back him in the coming weeks. On Wednesday, he tried to rally Americans about the months ahead during his inaugural address, saying [w]e look ahead in our uniquely American way  restless, bold, optimistic  and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.

A moment of great pain

The poll  which surveyed more than 1,000 people over the weekend before Bidens inauguration  came after the riot at the U.S. Capitol and a second impeachment of President Trump. Americans mood about the current state of the country was evident in other polls and very negative. A Washington Post-ABC News Poll found that 51% of respondents said recent events in Washington, D.C., had made them less confident in the stability of democracy in the United States.

Story continues

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden (left) watched fireworks from the Blue Room Balcony at the White House on Wednesday evening. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)

Another poll from Reuters/Ipsos found that only 15% percent of Americans said the country was heading in the right direction. That was a decline of six percentage points from just one month prior.

Jeffrey Engel, founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University, explained in a Yahoo Finance interview how a dour outlook could co-exist with optimism.

We are in a moment of great pain because of the pandemic, because of the economic crisis," Engel said. But both of those things are likely to get better over the next year because of vaccines, and then once we get the vaccines going, the economy will pick up again.

In total, the Harris poll found Americans split, with a plurality of respondents still pessimistic about the coming months on some key issues. This was especially pronounced when it came to the countrys finances: 61% of respondents expect the national debt will be worse three months from now, while 50% say the same about the U.S. economy. Both figures are down slightly, two and three percentage points, respectively, from October.

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One area that saw mixed results was on the issue of tax rates: 44% of respondents expect tax rates to rise over the next three months, up 7 percentage points from October. Bidens tax plan  outlined in detail during the campaign  promised a series of tax increases on corporations and the richest Americans, but a closely divided Congress means its no sure thing.

There was an equal percentage point change (from 13% to 20%) in the number of Americans who said they expected tax rates to get much or somewhat better in the months ahead. The big drop  14 percentage points  was among those who foresaw no change.

Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC.

Read more:

How the economy Biden inherits compares to day 1 for Trump, Obama, and other presidents

This is the economic bill Bidens circle is focused on as the next big thing after more stimulus

Trumps businesses were already in a billion-dollar hole before the Capitol riot fallout

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

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One of Brazil's worst environmental disasters - a dam collapse that also killed more than 200 people - could have been foreseen with the right monitoring technology, according to a new study by the University of Nottingham and Durham University.

The high-profile catastrophe took place on 25 January 2019 at a tailings dam near the Corrego do Feijao iron ore mine, close to the town of Brumadinho, in Minas Gerais state, south-east Brazil.

When the dam collapsed, it caused a torrent of sludge to cover surrounding land; taking lives, destroying homes and livelihoods and polluting rivers with toxic material.

Owned by Vale, Brazil's largest mining company, the tailings dam was used for more than 40 years to hold waste from the mine. While it is not uncommon for such dams to move as more material is added and it compacts and shifts, accelerated movement shouldn't happen; it's a precursor that failure will occur. Brumadinho was the second Vale-owned mining dam to collapse in recent years and one of many widely-reported failures worldwide.

There are growing concerns about the stability of this particular type of dam and a significant number need enhanced monitoring says lead author Assistant Professor Stephen Grebby from the Nottingham Geospatial Institute at the University.

Dr Grebby, an expert at mapping the Earth's surface from space, said: "Most mining companies currently rely upon ground-based sensors to monitor the stability of dams. However, these typically offer an inadequate coverage of measurements over the whole of the dam, which can make it difficult to detect movement or other signs of distress."

Applying InSAR (satellite radar imaging) to check for small ground movements in and around dams is not current standard practice and this is something Dr Grebby would like to see change.

He collaborated with Durham University and University of Nottingham spin-out company Terra Motion Ltd on the study to identify whether failure at Brumadinho could have been foreseen.

They used an advanced InSAR technique called Intermittent Small Baseline Subset (ISBAS), developed by the University of Nottingham and Terra Motion, which can help overcome the limitations faced when using some of the more conventional InSAR techniques over vegetated terrain. Another benefit of this technology, over on-the-ground sensors, is it looks down from above and offers a more complete picture of ground movements with millimetre-level accuracy.

Dr Grebby adds: "Our ISBAS InSAR results revealed that different areas of the dam were moving at different rates and some of these were seen to accelerate suddenly during the two months preceding the collapse. Despite the dam being monitored by the mining company using standard techniques with no apparent warning raised, our analyses of the precursory movement indicate the timing of the collapse was foreseeable.

"If monitored routinely, using the ISBAS InSAR technique, the failure date could have been predicted to within a week of it happening. Crucially, this prediction would have been possible around 40 days prior to the collapse, allowing time for a warning to be raised that the dam was becoming unstable. This could have led to more in-depth monitoring or other mitigation measures to avert the loss of life and environmental disaster that tragically unfolded."

The full findings have just been published in the paper 'Advanced analysis of satellite data reveals ground deformation precursors to the Brumadinho Tailings Dam collapse' in the Nature journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Professor David Toll, Co-Director of the Institute for Hazard, Risk and Resilience at Durham University, said "Identifying an acceleration of ground movements during a period of wetting, just prior to the failure, helped to corroborate the anticipated failure mechanism. The collapse of the tailings dam can be explained by a reduction in suction in the tailings contributing to internal strains that could induce static liquefaction in the brittle materials."

Professor Jon Gluyas, Executive Director of Durham Energy Institute at Durham University said, "The novel use of InSAR satellite data to monitor the stability of dams is a real breakthrough as it means that you don't need to instrument the ground in and around the dam to monitor it. Monitoring is thus no longer solely in the hands of the operating company."

Dr Andrew Sowter, CTO of Terra Motion Limited and inventor of the ISBAS advanced InSAR technique said, "This work would not have been possible without the availability of free satellite data from the Sentinel-1 mission which has global reach and is sustainable for the foreseeable future. Along with the innovative approach described in this paper and our unique InSAR products, this means that a low-cost operational remote tailings monitoring system is within reach at local, regional and even national scales anywhere in the world."

The researchers are now looking to develop the technology as a software that could be offered to the mining industry, which is looking out for a reliable, early warning system to predict the risk of imminent collapse at tailing dams. Combined with on-the-ground sensors, Dr Grebby sees advanced InSAR techniques as a valuable addition to the monitoring tool box to evacuate and protect life.

###

More information is available from Dr Stephen Grebby, from the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham on 0115 951 3883 or stephen.grebby@nottingham.ac.uk or Emma Lowry, Media Relations Manager (Engineering) on 0115 84 67156 or emma.lowry@nottingham.ac.uk

Notes to editors

The University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham is a research-intensive university with a proud heritage, consistently ranked among the world's top 100. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement. We are ranked eighth for research power in the UK according to REF 2014. We have six beacons of research excellence helping to transform lives and change the world; we are also a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, a pioneering collaboration which brings together the combined strength and civic missions of Nottingham's two world-class universities and is working with local communities and partners to aid recovery and renewal following the Covid-19 pandemic.

About Durham University

Durham University is a globally outstanding centre of teaching and research based in historic Durham City in the UK. We are a collegiate university committed to inspiring our people to do outstanding things at Durham and in the world. We conduct boundary-breaking research that improves lives globally and we are ranked as a world top 100 university with an international reputation in research and education (QS World University Rankings 2021).

We are a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive UK universities and we are consistently ranked as a top 10 university in national league tables (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, Guardian University Guide and The Complete University Guide).

For more information about Durham University visit: http://www. durham. ac. uk/ about/

Durham Energy Institute (DEI) is the hub of energy research at Durham University.

We produce world class research for understanding energy decarbonisation and deliver integrated solutions for the climate emergency incorporating social, policy and technical insights. We believe that by looking at energy systems in a holistic and integrated way the most effective solutions to global energy challenges can be developed and implemented.

For more information about Durham Energy Institute visit: http://www. durham. ac. uk/ dei/

Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR)

First, the members of Congress needed to be tested for the coronavirus. They wore masks and sat socially distanced from each other. And they were outnumbered by the tens of thousands of National Guard troops ringing the Capitol grounds.

The 59th presidential inauguration was held in the middle of a pandemic and two weeks to the day after a mob stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn what President Donald Trump falsely claimed was a stolen election. Trump was impeached for his role in inciting the rioting.

It was ironic that here is the peaceful of transfer of power with an army around you, said Rep. Donald Norcross, D-1st Dist.

But the peaceful transfer of power did occur, despite the difficulties.

In superficial aspects, it was not like past inaugurations, said Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-7th Dist. But in every way that matters, it carried forward the miraculous tradition of our handover of power from one democratically elected leader to another.

As New Jerseys members of Congress watched Joe Biden sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, they noted that the ongoing pandemic and the riot by pro-Trump supporters remained foremost in their minds.

Youre looking at the podium, Capitol in the background, said Norcross, one of the House members quickly evacuated from the House chamber once the Capitol was breached. All I saw in my mind was the images of the Trump supporters coming from the Trump rally literally climbing over the walls breaking into the Capitol. I couldnt get that out of my mind.

Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., also said there was a keen recognition that these were not normal times.

Being there during these extraordinary circumstances of a pandemic gave me a real sense of purpose, Kim said. We really need to get through this. It was not necessarily a celebratory mood, it was a mood of purpose and clarity and resilience.

At one point during the ceremony, Norcross said he looked back at the almost 200,000 flags that filled part of the National Mall, which was closed to the public amid the pandemic and heightened security.

The people were just missing, he said. It made a difference. The crowd creates an energy.

There were no shortage of troops, though.

There is that initial shock, said Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., who visited National Guard troops from New Jersey with Gov. Phil Murphy the night before. I went into the Capitol to get COVID tested and there were troops all over. It was a jarring site.

Malinowski used a different word to describe the presence of so many troops.

It was disconcerting to think that we have to have thousands of troops in Washington, D.C., because elected leaders in our country organized a revolt against democracy, Malinowski said. Those troops were there because of what they tried to do.

At the same time, its important for us to remember that the revolt utterly failed, he said. We had a fair and free election election officials all around the country, Republicans and Democrats, played by the rules, did what they were supposed to do, and Joe Biden was sworn in today.

Still, lawmakers said, they could not stop thinking about the insurrection attempt on Jan. 6.

I was constantly thinking about it and I think everyone there was, said Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th Dist. It made us realize how fortunate we are to have a peaceful transition of power. Decisions to go back and to certify the election were crucial. It made it so those who assaulted the Capitol did not win.

On Jan. 6, after the Capitol was cleared of rioters, the House and Senate resumed their deliberations, but a majority of House Republicans, including Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., voted to reject the certified electoral votes in two battleground states.

It was also a reminder of how fragile democracy is. We cant allow them to win, Pallone added.

Following the inaugural address, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris went to the east front of the Capitol to participate in the traditional review of the Armed Forces.

As members of the House Armed Services Committee, Norcross and Sherrill watched as servicemen and women gave their first salutes to the new commander-in-chief. They carried sabers and lowered them as they passed Biden.

Its so subtle but its so meaningful that this is not a military dictatorship, Norcross said. It is so important to who we are as a nation that the military does not dictate what we do.

For Kim, the ceremony was special in another way. The first Asian-American representative from New Jersey was witness to see the swearing-in of the first Asian-American vice president, Kamala Harris.

When she got sworn in as vice president, I could literally hear people in the audience crying., said Kim, who was accompanied by his wife, Kammy Lai, who also is Asian American. When I got back home, that was the first question that my kids asked me, Did you see Kamala Harris?

Theres definitely this element of seeing someone who is coming from our background, an Asian American, rising to that office, he said.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant.

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As they struggled to make sense of the attempted insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, observers embraced two strands of history to help contextualize them: the deep and enduring history of racism in the United States and the alarming parallels to the rise of Nazism in Germany. But to understand white supremacy among the pro-Trump mob, we need to look at America's historical connections to global anti-Black racism.

As the shocking event unfolded, some media commentators and legislators noted that the United States looked like a "third-world country" or a "banana republic." The idea that such violence doesn't happen in the United States is premised by the assumption that the United States is the most advanced nation-state and the "leader of the free world." And that concept - like that of Trump supporters who celebrate the antiquated and exclusionary image of White America as the pinnacle of progress in which America's "greatness" means prosperity and political power for Whites - is steeped in racialized ideas of progress. This commonality reveals how white supremacy shapes thinking on both the right and the left.

Since the 1950s, the United States has been touted as the global superpower, while African nations are considered the least-developed countries. As critics of development have argued for decades, Western notions of social progress and wealth promote a racialized distinction between the "developed" and "underdeveloped." White supremacy, and anti-Black racism in particular, has been the driving feature of this idea of development, and it undergirds both conservative and liberal notions of progress.

Applauding American greatness perpetuates implicit racial hierarchies that emerged in Western thought during the era of the Enlightenment. Eighteenth-century European thinker Immanuel Kant celebrated the new scientific empiricism of the Enlightenment as a "maturity of thinking" that fundamentally reframed knowledge production in European societies. The foundation of progressive intellectual growth allowed European theorists to see themselves at the forefront of political, economic, social and scientific progress globally. Europeans perceived their civilizations as the yardsticks against which all other societies should be measured.

Throughout the 19th century, European distinctions between who was and who was not civilized became increasingly racialized. The Enlightenment, the global abolitionist movement and the emerging theory of evolution (e.g., Charles Darwin's 1859 "On the Origin of the Species") offered ideological, moral and scientific justifications for European efforts to "civilize" the rest of the world. Pseudoscientific studies of race and social evolutionary interpretations of Darwin placed racial difference at the heart of the civilizing mission. As the last continent to be conquered by Europe and the home of Black people, whom social Darwinists placed on the bottom rung in racial hierarchies, Africa became the primary target for intervention.

David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary who explored Africa in the mid-1800s, argued that Africans were in desperate need of "Christianity, commerce and [European] civilization" to end the slave trade and become integrated into the capitalist global economy. By the end of the 19th century, White people across Europe and North America perceived themselves as the "saviors" of Black people in Africa and beyond, as evidenced in Rudyard Kipling's poem "The White Man's Burden." These intellectual and institutional structures of racism explain Europeans' rush to colonize Africa at the end of the 19th century. They also reveal how anti-Black racism became foundational to ideas of progress in Europe and in nation-states formed out of White settlement from Europe, such as Australia, South Africa and the United States.

The 19th-century idea of progress became the 20th-century idea of development, complete with its deep association to European nations and descendants of White settlers. Since the 1940s, the United States has dominated Western discourses about development and race. In 1944, the United States was instrumental in establishing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the central institutions providing international development grants and loans. The United States was - and is - by far the largest funder of the World Bank and has the most voting power. After succeeding in their initial goal to help rebuild postwar Europe, these institutions turned their attention toward South America, Asia and Africa in the 1960s.

The idea of development that the IMF, the World Bank and other development institutions embody was grounded in the American economist Walt Rostow's five stages of economic growth. In 1959, Rostow categorized African societies as "traditional" and the lowest stage of development, while societies with "high mass-consumption" such as the United States represented the highest stage of development. The charting of nations from least to most developed looked nearly identical to the racial hierarchies of 19th-century social Darwinists, wherein race morphed into economic growth and Black citizens in Africa became labeled as the least developed in the world.

As African nations gained independence from European colonial rule from the 1950s onward, they became prime targets for U.S. political, economic and military intervention. President John F. Kennedy launched a U.S. "civilizing mission" through development aid and organizations such as the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps promoted good foreign relations by providing technical assistance to countries that might become important U.S. allies in the Cold War. Ghana, Tanganyika (now Tanzania) and Colombia were the first three countries in 1961 to receive Peace Corps volunteers.

While offering technical assistance, the Peace Corps also became an avenue for this racialized civilizing mission. More than 240,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps, the majority of whom have been young and White. American gifts of laptops, Monsanto seeds or English classes to African nations presume that Africans aspire to be like Americans. This "white gaze of development," Liberian political economist Robtel Neajai Pailey argues, has perpetuated the notion that non-White people cannot measure up to the living standards of White people.

It was therefore unsurprising that many Americans watching the attempted insurrection in Washington, D.C., described it as a scene from a "third-world country" or a "banana republic." America is part of the first world, where political violence and economic instability do not occur. These comments echo President Donald Trump's January 2018 reference to Haiti and some African nations as "s------- countries" where "no one" (meaning, no White person) wanted to live.

Whether making these comparisons through liberal or conservative perspectives, the conclusions are the same: Black nations are viewed as undeveloped and politically unstable, while White nations are deemed developed and democratic. The self-perceived superiority of White nations and their need to save Black countries - the "white-savior industrial complex" - have driven Americans on both sides of the political spectrum to think of Black-majority countries as inferior to the United States. While Americans look outside the country for people to help, they ignore the many ways underdevelopment shapes the United States. Political corruption, economic inequality and violence are organic features of American society, and they reflect the same legacies of racism that international development inherited from the Enlightenment.

Anti-Black racism is central to beliefs in American greatness. Whether one commits violence in an effort to "make America great again" or believes that such actions go against American liberal values, we need to examine carefully how we define progress and who we exclude from this definition at home and abroad.

- - -

Decker is an associate professor of history at the University of California, Davis. She is the author of "Mobilizing Zanzibari Women" and co-author of "The Idea of Development in Africa: A History."

McMahon is an associate professor of history at Tulane University. She is the author of "Slavery and Emancipation in Islamic East Africa" and co-author of "The Idea of Development in Africa: A History."

Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 20:54:08|Editor: huaxia

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BAKU -- The main factors behind Azerbaijan's choice of the Chinese CoronaVac vaccine are its reliability and safety, Seymur Mammadov, director of Eurasia-Azerbaijan, an international expert club, has said.

"On Jan. 18, a new and, perhaps, the most important stage in the fight against the global pandemic began in Azerbaijan, the mass vaccination against COVID-19," he told Xinhua in a recent interview in the capital city of Baku.

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LUSAKA -- Zambia should seek the technical expertise of China in the application of conventional herbal medicines and traditional medicines, an industry body said on Thursday.

"I have visited China and India and I have seen how they are utilizing traditional medicines in their health systems. They have schools where they are teaching these," Rodwell Vongo, president of the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ), said in an interview.

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CAIRO -- Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit on Thursday condemned in the strongest terms the twin suicide bombings at a crowded commercial area in Iraq's capital Baghdad.

"That terrorist attack is a heinous act that came at a very important time. It undoubtedly aimed to hinder Iraq's efforts to restore the country's security and stability and achieve the aspired economic reform," Aboul-Gheit said.

- - - -

TEHRAN -- Iran's UN envoy urged for "immediate" removal of U.S. sanctions against Syria, Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

"While the Syrians are seriously suffering from terrorist acts and also the COVID-19 pandemic, such inhumane sanctions are simply adding insult to injury, targeting the most vulnerable people," Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi said.

- - - -

GABORONE -- Botswana has called for urgent global solidarity to prioritize investment in safe COVID-19 vaccines following revelations that Africa will be the last to receive enough vaccine coverage.

"We therefore call for urgent solidarity to prioritize investment in affordable and safe COVID-19 vaccines and equitable allocation based on the principle of fairness for public health impact," said Lemogang Kwape, Botswana's minister of international affairs and cooperation.

- - - -

SANTIAGO -- The emergency approval of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech will boost Chile's mass vaccination campaign, Health Minister Enrique Paris said Wednesday.

"This is very important news ... millions of doses of this vaccine will allow us to vaccinate many people to try to control the virus," Paris said at a press conference held at government headquarters. Enditem
STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The search operations for the bodies of fallen servicemen and missing in action have resumed in the battle zones on January 21, official of the State Emergency Service of Artsakh Hunan Tadevosyan told Armenpress.

After yesterdays pause the search operations have resumed today in the directions of Hadrut, Drakhtik and Jrakan (Jabrayil).

So far, a total of 1247 bodies of fallen servicemen and civilians have been found as a result of the search operations, he said, adding that the parents of missing servicemen also participate in the search operations.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 00:01:29|Editor: huaxia

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SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- An Indian army trooper was killed Thursday in an exchange of fire with Pakistani troops on the Line of Control (LoC), dividing Kashmir, officials said.

The two sides exchanged fire, targeting each other's positions on LoC in frontier Poonch district, about 180 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Today Pakistani army resorted to unprovoked firing from across the LoC in Krishna Ghati sector. Our army responded strongly to enemy fire and in the exchange, a soldier was critically wounded who later succumbed to his wounds," an army official said.

The exchange of fire between the two sides continued for quite some time.

So for there were no reports of damage caused to the Pakistani side.

The troops of India and Pakistan intermittently exchange fire on LoC and International Border (IB) in Kashmir, despite an agreement in 2003 to observe a ceasefire. However, the cease-fire remains in effect.

New Delhi and Islamabad accuse each other of resorting to unprovoked firings and violating ceasefire agreements. And both sides maintain their troops gave a befitting reply to the other.

LoC is a de facto border that divides Kashmir into the India- and Pakistan-controlled parts. Enditem
Pres. Joe Biden sends Congress on Wednesday an Immigration Bill that proposes citizenship to over 11 million people living illegally in the country.

Pres. Biden sends Congress Immigration Bill

Pres. Joe Biden is sending the U.S. Congress a new immigration bill that will lead citizenship to over 11 million people living illegally in the country. He sent the bill after he was inaugurated as the 46th President in the country yesterday, Wednesday.

According to Newsmax, the proposed bill will overhaul the immigration policies set by the previous administration that limits processing immigration applications and bans some nations to get inside the country.

As the new administration enters the White House, Biden's transition team also announced that the new immigration bill will devise a new system "to responsibly manage and secure our border, keep our families and communities safe, and better manage migration across the Hemisphere."

In another report from NPR, the legislation will also try to address the main reason why people from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras leave their countries and seek asylum in the U.S. by providing $4 billion in aid.

Read also: COVID-19, Education: Top Priorities as Biden Outlines His 10-Day Executive Orders

How will the new bill helps illegal migrants?

In the proposed immigration bill, illegal immigrants in the country can apply for temporary legal status. This means that they could legally live and work in the country while processing their immigration application. Then, they could apply for a green card after five years.

The proposed legislation also made it clear that in order for an applicant to receive a green card, he or she must have a background ad criminal records check. Additionally, the applicants must also pay the taxes in the country to qualify in applying for a green card.

Meanwhile, immigrants who are already under the legal framework that protects them from deportation like the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA do not need to wait for five years to apply for a green card.

The new administration is under pressure from immigration groups and activists to address the issue quickly compared to Obama's administration. Biden and his administration are expected to bring more changes in the country most especially in immigration.

Read also: Joe Biden's Inauguration: Who Will Attend on Wednesday

Will this Immigration Bill Pass the Congress and Senate?

The Democratic Party, the party that Joe Biden represents, dominates both the U.S. Congress and Senate. This means that there is a big chance that this will pass the U.S. Congress and will have the support of the House of Senate.

Most especially since Democratic Sen Chuck Schumer is the new Senate Majority Leader.

According to The Hill, both the U.S Congress and Senate are now led by Democratic leaders.

Nancy Pelosi as the House Speaker and Chuck Schumer as the Senate Majority Leader. With this, Biden will have the full potential to pursue his immigration agenda and other plans in the country amid the pandemic.


Representative image

The recent Financial Stability Report (FSR) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came as a shock but, thankfully, did not do a lasting damage to banking and financial stocks. The Nifty Bank went on hit fresh record highs earlier in January 2021 after struggling to outperform on a year to date basis in the previous year.

According to the report released early in January, the central bank maintained a cautious stance on banks' asset quality, which has been a concern all along, and indicated that the gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) ratio for scheduled commercial banks could escalate to 13.5 percent under its baseline scenario.

If the situation worsens, the ratio could deteriorate to 14.8 percent in a severe stress scenario. The gross NPAs of banks stood at 7.5 percent in September 2020. This means NPA levels will nearly double even going by the base case scenario.

Also Read: Analysis | Financial Stability Report: How worrying is RBIs bad loan projection?

The RBIs warning of a spike in gross NPAs to 14.8 percent of total loans is a worst-case scenario that may not necessarily happen if the economy picks up, experts say.

What to buy?

The big question facing investors is what should they buy? Experts favour private-sector lenders as well as players who are retail-focused.

Most old private sector banks look attractive on a valuation basis as they trade at or below 1x on FY22E Book Value as compared to their ten averages of ~1.3-1.4x. However, earnings of these old private sector banks could be very volatile due to recognition of higher NPAs in the forthcoming quarters, Rusmik Oza, Executive Vice President, Head of Fundamental Research at Kotak Securities told Moneycontrol.

In terms of growth, we expect old private sector banks to report healthy 25-30 percent earnings growth in FY22E. The RoEs of old private sector banks would lag behind the larger private sector banks in FY22 but improve substantially in FY23E, he said.

Oza added that even after the run-up in most banking stocks, they were seeing more than 20 percent upside in two old private sector banksDCB Bank and Karur Vysya Bank.

Nitin Shahi, Executive Director, Findoc, too, said private banks should be accumulated on every dip. The bigger gets even bigger and be with the winners, he added.

Invest in brands like HDFC, Kotak, ICICI where leaders were always leaders and will be the leaders even after 10 years, he said.

Motilal Oswal is of the view that slippages are likely to increase over 2HFY21, particularly after the Supreme Court order gets lifted, many banks have already provided for this and carry an additional provisions buffer, which should limit the impact on profitability, even as credit cost remains elevated. Our top buys remain ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, SBI, and AU Small Finance Bank, it said in a report.

Opportunities amid potential risks

The Nifty Bank has rallied 69 percent, so far, in FY21 and nine stocks, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, RBL Bank, and IndusInd Bank, rallied 50-100 percent during the period.

However, on a year-to-date basis, the Nifty Bank closed lower by about 3 percent. The underperformer of 2020 could well turn out to be the outperformer of 2021, said experts. To be on the safe side, investors could increase their weightage in the private sector banks and reduce in the public sector holding or MSMEs.

The risk, if any, to the financial sector is potential NPAs that can prop up from loans under moratorium.

The risk of bad loans could be more from the MSME and retail side than the corporate side this time around. As per the RBIs report, the stress for NBFCs could move up 50-200 bps as compared to 600-750 bps for banks, says Oza of Kotak Securities.

From Dalal street perspective, most investors prefer to invest in private sector banks and NBFCs as compared to PSU banks. In the case of private sector banks, the larger ones have been aggressive in providing for NPAs in advance, which can be seen from the rise in provision coverage ratios of the last two quarters, he said.

Data suggests that few of the large banks have raised big capital and strengthened their balance sheets. Llarge private sector banks would be in a better position to handle any slippages and higher NPAs, experts said.

The banking sector is expected to trade in the range in the first half of 2021. Stock-picking is the idea which I am looking forward too, said Shahi of Findoc.

Banks with a focus on retail loans can outperform the sector and most importantly, avoid PSU banks even if you find them cheap on the valuation front, he said.

How are valuations looking?

Despite the recent rally seen, there are plenty of opportunities within the private sector banks, which are adequately provided and have sufficient capital adequacy, experts said.

Banks with a focus towards retail lending with exposure to growing segments with lower portfolio risks like gold loans and housing finance are likely to grow in the coming times, Vinit Bolinjkar, Head of Research, Ventura Securities, told Moneycontrol.

On the valuation front, the Bank Nifty, which was on P/Bv multiple of ~2.7X as on the start of March 2020 plunged to 1.58X as on March 23, 2020, jumped back to 2.67X as on January 11, 2021, he said.

Explaining the data, Bolinjkar said valuations had almost reached pre-COVID levels, whereas many sectors are still struggling with recovery. This shows that the banks have been overvalued amid the uncertainty around asset quality and restructuring

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Signage for the accident and emergency (AandE) department at Causeway Hospital in Northern Ireland (PA)

Military staff will support work at Northern Irelands regional Nightingale facility, a health trust chief has said.

Health Minister Robin Swann announced on Wednesday that more than 100 medically-trained military personnel will be deployed in the region.

It comes as hospitals contend with a surge of coronavirus patients.

Expand Close Health Minister Robin Swann during a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast (PressEye/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Health Minister Robin Swann during a press conference in Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast (PressEye/PA)

The Stormont Executive is meeting on Thursday to discuss the current lockdown restrictions.

It is understood ministers will discuss extending the restrictions to March 5.

The six-week lockdown announced in December is due to end on February 6.

Health Minister Robin Swann said he would bring a paper for ministers to consider around restrictions.

While he did not reveal his recommendations, he said that this is not the time to open any floodgates.

The rate of infections has slowed however hospitals remain under pressure.

On Wednesday, there were 832 Covid-positive patients in hospital, 67 of whom were in intensive care units.

Expand Close Health trust chiefs, Jennifer Welsh (Northern Trust), Shane Devlin (Southern Trust) and Dr Cathy Jack (Belfast) give evidence to the Stormont Health Committee. (NI Assembly/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Health trust chiefs, Jennifer Welsh (Northern Trust), Shane Devlin (Southern Trust) and Dr Cathy Jack (Belfast) give evidence to the Stormont Health Committee. (NI Assembly/PA)

While the use of the military has sparked rows in the Stormont Executive in the past, Sinn Fein said it would not rule out any measures that can help save lives.

Dr Cathy Jack, chief executive of the Belfast Health Trust, told a Stormont committee the military staff will work under trust management.

Throughout this pandemic, retirees, students and volunteers have all come in to help us and we have welcomed them, she told MLAs.

This is another group of highly trained individuals that will support my staff to support the patients and deliver the care they need and I welcome this.

They are band four equivalent staff, they are medically trained technicians able to take blood, and they will be working under our normal management structures.

For me in Belfast, they will be focusing on helping to support the regional Nightingale.

Following a request from Northern Ireland's Department of Health, 110 military medics will deploy to support Northern Ireland's health and social care staff in the fight against the #COVID19 pandemic. @healthdpt @NIOgov pic.twitter.com/JkCOkcOqIv  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) January 20, 2021

Dr Jack said Belfast Trust continues to operate under significant pressure.

She said staff absence is over 12% with many having to self isolate after being contacted by the track-and-trace team.

On Thursday she said there were 210 Covid positive inpatients within 14 days, and an additional 50 which have remained in hospital beyond 14 days due to more complex needs.

I have 30 Covid positive patients in ICU, she said.

I have a very small number of children who have been admitted with illnesses who also have Covid in the childrens hospital.

Also appearing at Stormonts health committee, Shane Devlin, chief executive of the Southern Health Trust, said the number of hospital inpatients in this third surge of the pandemic was even higher than they had expected.

Expand Close Infection Control nurse Colin Clarke looking out from a Covid-19 recovery ward at Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Infection Control nurse Colin Clarke looking out from a Covid-19 recovery ward at Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland (Niall Carson/PA)

He pointed out that districts in his area, Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon, Mid Ulster, Newry and Mourne and Down districts, had the highest infection rates in Northern Ireland.

Some of our postcodes were up to nearly 1,500 positive cases per 100,000 which resulted in having an enormous growth, he said.

Mr Devlin said at the height of the first surge of the pandemic they had 63 inpatients with Covid.

Last week they had 272 inpatients.

He said that number has been reduced to just over 200 thanks to support from other trusts.

Were managing a huge number of inpatients, way far over and above anything wed ever imagined wed do, and that has resulted in our beds being exceptionally busy and our ICU being close to full, we have 14 out of 16 today, he said.

We too are having considerable staff absence, today we have 759 staff not at work because of Covid, either Covid positive or self isolating.

Jennifer Welsh, chief executive of the Northern Health Trust said there was a second surge of the virus in October and November, before a third surge in recent weeks.

We went into a third surge already at a very high level of activity right across the health and social care system, she said.

Patricia Donnelly, head of the Covid-19 vaccine programme, also appeared at the committee on Thursday.

She said 160,000 doses of the vaccine have been administered to 138,000 people, describing progress as bang on target.

Asked about other groups, such as special educational needs teachers, receiving the vaccination, Ms Donnelly said this issue is being looked at the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

She added there has been very little vaccine wastage.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - StrikePoint Gold Inc. (TSXV: SKP) (OTCQB: STKXF) ("StrikePoint" or the "Company") is pleased to announce highly encouraging surface sampling results from the 2020 Exploration Program at the 100%-owned Porter silver property, located next to the community of Stewart in British Columbia's prolific Golden Triangle.

2020 Porter Sampling

Experienced geologists completed detailed 1:2,500 scale mapping and sampling in areas of steep terrain and extensive ice recession, adjacent the historic Silverado mine on the west side of the Property, and at the Prosperity-Porter Idaho Mines located on the east side. There are no records of mapping or sampling of veins in these newly sampled areas. This surface exploration program uncovered massive to semi-massive pyrite-galena-sphalerite-chalcopyrite polymetallic veins in shear zone at the Prosperity-Porter Idaho and Silverado area.Assay results of this sampling range from trace to 3,840 g/t Ag, trace to 12.45% Pb, and trace to 5.56 % Zn. A total of 19% of the samples assayed over 20 g/t Ag. Significantly, at the Silverado Mine, extensions to the #2 and #4 veins that were historically developed in the 1920s were discovered, returning 1,170 g/t Ag and 1,385 g/t Ag respectively, in addition to base metal values. New mineralized structures at Prosperity & Porter Idaho were also identified.

The company received assay results from 80 grab samples collected during 2020 at the Porter project. Surface sampling and mapping during this program were completed at the Prosperity-Porter Idaho and Silverado.

StrikePoint's CEO, Shawn Khunkhun, states, "Our exploration work on the Porter Property continues to progress, connecting the historic high-grade, direct shipping past producing mines at Prosperity/Porter Idaho on the east side of Mount Rainey with the Silverado Mines on the west side, located over two kilometers away. We are clearly looking at a high-grade silver vein system located within view of the mining town of Stewart, BC. With a strong treasury, we look forward to an aggressive drill program in 2021 with the objective of connecting these two famous operations. Additionally, results from our 2020 drill program at the high-grade Willoughby gold-silver Property will be released shortly."



Figure 1: Porter project 2020 surface sample location

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5044/72460_13618da174a91b71_002full.jpg

Notable geological highlights include:

Prosperity-Porter-Idaho

250-meter new mineralized trend, sample B0014310 240 g/t Ag. 1.52% Pb, 0.22% Zn and sample B0014341 112 g/t Ag, 0.11% Pb, 0.90% Zn , parallel to the past-producing Prosperity vein located 130-meter west of the historical adit. Further terrain along strike to the south and west of the newly discovered mineralized trend remains open and highly prospective for additional exploration work

and sample B0014341 , parallel to the past-producing Prosperity vein located 130-meter west of the historical adit. Further terrain along strike to the south and west of the newly discovered mineralized trend remains open and highly prospective for additional exploration work New prosperity vein surface expression outlined, sample B0014336 182 g/t Ag, 1.125% Pb, 1.81% Zn , thirty meters south of the historical portal for tunnel B & C, strengthening the structural understanding of the mineralization

sample B0014336 , thirty meters south of the historical portal for tunnel B & C, strengthening the structural understanding of the mineralization 200-meter extension of the D-vein mineralized trend to the north, sample B0014295 76 g/t Ag, 0.979% Pb, 0.58% Zn , narrows the mineralization gap between the past-producing Prosperity-Porter-Idaho and Silverado mines

, narrows the mineralization gap between the past-producing Prosperity-Porter-Idaho and Silverado mines Confirmation of historical grade for the Prosperity vein, sample B0014313 1525 g/t Ag, 12.45% Pb, 0.18% Zn and sample B0014345 3,840 g/t Ag, 2.37% Pb, 0.09% Zn, Wake vein, sample B0014323 1,275 g/t Ag, 0.23% Pb, 5.56% Zn

Silverado

Outlined new surface expression of vein #2 north of the historical adit, sample B0014350 1,170 g/t Ag, 0.86% Pb, 0.53% Zn

Outlined new surface expression of vein #4 north of the historical adit, sample B0014351 1,385 g/t Ag, 4.10% Pb, 0.43% Zn





Figure 2: Schematic relation between Porter-Prosperity-Idaho and Silverado historical mines long section with 2020 surface sample location

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5044/72460_13618da174a91b71_003full.jpg

Porter project

The Porter Project contains two shears-hosted silver-rich vein systems: the Silverado and Prosperity-Porter Idaho. The showings are 2km apart, located on opposite sides of Mt. Rainey, overlooking the town of Stewart. The Project is located strategically at the head of the Portland Canal, a deep-water port with year-round, ice-free access.

The initial discovery of silver mineralization on Mt. Rainey occurred in the early 1900s. Prosperity-Porter Idaho veins were the focus of the initial work. The mineralization is hosted in six parallel dipping shear zones, traced 200 meters on the surface and one kilometre down dip with widths between 2 and 13 meters. The vein system was mined between 1929 and 1931 and produced 27,123 tonnes with recovered grades of 2,542 g/t silver (73.8 oz/ton) and 1 g/t gold (yielding approximately 2.2 million ounces of silver). Direct shipping ore was shipped to the port at Stewart via aerial tramway.

QA/QC

Surface samples for the 2020 exploration program were labelled and shipped with a chain of custody controls to the laboratory. The company implements a rigorous Quality Control/Quality Assurance program, including the insertion of Standards, Blanks, and duplicate at regular intervals in the sample stream to monitor laboratory performance.

Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Laboratory. facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia, for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays, and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed, split into representative sub-sample using a riffle splitter, and subsequently, 250g is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 30g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.005 ppm and an upper limit of 10 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 10ppm are re-analyzed using a 30g fire assay fusion with a gravimetric finish. Analysis for silver is by 30g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish with a lower limit of 2ppm and an upper limit of 100ppm. Samples with silver assays higher than 100ppm are re-analyzed using a gravimetric silver concentrate method. All samples are also analyzed using a 33 multi-elemental geochemical package by 4-acid digestion (ICP-AES).

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person for this news release for National Instrument 43-101 is Marilyne Lacasse, P. Geo, Project Manager. She has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release.

About StrikePoint

StrikePoint Gold is a gold exploration company focused on building high-grade precious metals resources in Canada. The company controls two advanced stage exploration assets in BC's Golden Triangle. The past-producing high-grade silver Porter Project and the high-grade gold property Willoughby, adjacent to Red Mountain. The company also owns a portfolio of gold properties in the Yukon.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

STRIKEPOINT GOLD INC.

"Shawn Khunkhun"

Shawn Khunkhun

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Statements in this release that are forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, save and except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please contact

StrikePoint Gold Inc.

Shawn Khunkhun, CEO and Director

T: (604) 602-1440

E: sk@strikepointgold.com

W: www.strikepointgold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72460

CHEYENNE  The Wyoming Republican Party issued a statement highlighting an outpouring of opposition from its members in response to U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., voting to impeach President Donald Trump on Wednesday for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot that occurred a week earlier.

The party issued the statement late Wednesday night, a few hours after Cheney joined nine other Republican representatives in voting to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, making him the first president to be impeached twice.

The wind in Wyoming has been horrendous...
BAGHDAD - Rare twin suicide bombings struck a market Thursday in central Baghdad, killing at least 32 people and injuring 110 more, according to Iraq's Health Ministry.

The blasts came midmorning as people were shopping for secondhand clothes at a market in Tayaran Square. Video footage showed the second explosion ripping through the air as sirens blared and casualties were raced away in motorized rickshaws. Other images from the scene showed bodies strewn on the ground amid upturned tables and piles of unsold jackets.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, Reuters reported, citing Iraqi Civil Defense chief Maj. Gen. Kadhim Salman. In a statement posted on the group's Telegram communications channel early Friday, Islamic State claimed two of its men blew themselves up in Tayaran Square.

Although security forces continue to fight ragtag bands of Islamic State militants in Iraq's peripheral regions, major security incidents in the capital are rare. Thursday's attack was the deadliest to strike the capital in years. The last mass-casualty attack, striking the same square, took place in January 2018 and killed 27 people.

Khalid al-Mahna, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the suicide bomber detonated his explosives after attracting a crowd by feigning sickness in the middle of the market.

When shoppers came to help those injured by the first blast, he said, someone else detonated a second bomb.

Thursday's attack shattered a sense of relative security in the capital, raising questions about the Iraqi security forces' preparedness in the face of a militant threat that has been diminished but by no means erased. Army units and special forces continue to arrest alleged Islamic State members at their homes in urban centers and say that sleeper cells remain prepared to mount strikes.

In a statement, an Iraqi military spokesman, Yahya Rasool, said the bombers detonated their explosives as they were pursued by security forces. Rasool said his unit had received information suggesting that an attack was coming. No uniformed security forces appeared to be visible in the surveillance video footage that showed the first blast.

Although a security breach in the heart of Baghdad is rare, experts cautioned that Thursday's attack underscored the challenge of ending militant violence without far-reaching changes to how the country is governed.

"This is not to say that this is the beginning of extreme conflict in Iraq, or violence, but it is a reminder that there is yet to be a sustainable solution to govern the socio-economy and politics of Iraq," said Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Program. "As long as there's that incoherence, I think we expect, sadly, for these attacks to continue and increase in time because we're just looking back as to what happened before under a similar context."

The attack occurred at a time when life for ordinary Iraqis is becoming harder. The coronavirus pandemic has tanked global energy prices, plunging Iraq's oil-dependent economy into crisis and forcing a devaluation of the currency. Unemployment has increased. The price of basic goods is rising, too.

While street cleaners swept blood from scene, families combed the site for relatives last seen there. Ahmed Qassim, 32, showed street vendors a photograph of his 20-year-old cousin, Abdullah, who was last seen peddling T-shirts. They said he had been taken away in an ambulance.

An elderly man with gray hair and spectacles wandered confused and distraught along a street leading to the marketplace. "Where is my son?" he shouted. "He's just a kid who sells sunglasses and wants to live. Where is he?"

As he walked, young men were sifting through piles of clothes for body parts. For a moment, a teenager crouched to lay out candles for the dead. "We're still looking for bodies, man," a friend chided him. The teenager was stone-faced. "We got used to death," he replied, as he lit the wicks one by one.

Compounding Iraq's multiple crises, the country has also emerged again as a stage for geopolitical tensions, with Iran-backed Shiite militias launching rockets at U.S. diplomatic and military-linked targets and U.S. forces responding with airstrikes.

Three Americans and one Briton have been killed in those attacks. But for the most part, the dead and injured have been Iraqis caught in the crossfire.

After the Islamic State's battlefield defeat here in 2017, the United States is reducing its troop presence to 2,500, with most of those performing advisory functions as the Iraqi military takes the lead in what remains of the fight.

"ISIS will be trying to make this part of a campaign to disrupt daily life and show it is still relevant and able to carry out extreme violence despite its territorial defeat," said Sajad Jiyad, an Iraq-based fellow at the Century Foundation.

"Attacks hark back to painful memories when attacks on civilians were common. The government needs to restore confidence quickly and show it will not allow ISIS bombings to become a regular occurrence again."

As the winter sun set Thursday, the funerals began. In a narrow alleyway by Tayaran Square, shock and anger were palpable. Young men held coffins aloft. Among the dead was a 32-year-old named Maher al-Swerawi, who died in the first explosion. His friend Hani Sabri ran out to reach his body, friends said. Sabri, who was 30, was killed in the second blast.

As the crowd moved along, one voice rang out above the din. It was Sabri's mother.

"Hani, I told you not to go. Why did you go there?" she cried, her voice breaking.

"Why did you go?"
The Water and Power Consultancy Services Limited (WAPCOS), a Government of India undertaking, has called for applications in a prescribed format from qualified and experienced Indian nationals for filling Eleven (11) vacancies to the post of Engineer Trainee, Engineer and Sr. Engineer (Civil) in WAPCOS through direct recruitment to be posted at Kochi, Kerala in India on a fulltime basis. The offline application process towards the same started on January 15, 2021 and closes on February 5, 2021.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Engineer Trainee, Engineer and Sr. Engineer (Civil) in WAPCOS Organisation Water and Power Consultancy Services Limited (WAPCOS) Educational Qualification B.E/B.Tech in Civil Engineering discipline Experience Two years in a relevant domain Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Kochi Salary Scale In the range of Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,60,000 per month as per the post Industry Government of India Application Start Date January 15, 2021 Application End Date February 5, 2021

WAPCOS Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for WAPCOS Jobs 2021 through WAPCOS Recruitment 2021 must not have exceeded 30 years of age (40 years for Sr. Engineer) as on January 1, 2021 with relaxation (upper age limit) for SC/ST/OBC/PWB as per the Govt. of India guidelines as specified in the WAPCOS Recruitment Notification 2021.

Candidates must pay a prescribed amount of Rs. 1,000 (General/OBC) and Rs. 500 (SC/ST/PWBMD and female) respectively as application fee for WAPCOS Jobs 2021 through WAPCOS Recruitment 2021 in the form of Demand Draft (DD) drawn in favor of WAPCOS Ltd. payable at Gurugram as mentioned in the WAPCOS Recruitment Notification 2021 given at the end of the article.

Also Read: West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 For 1,088 Sub-Inspectors And Lady Sub-Inspectors, Apply Before February 20

WAPCOS Recruitment 2021 Vacancy 2020 Details

Engineer Trainee (Civil) - 05

Engineer (Civil) - 04

Sr. Engineer (Civil) - 02

Total - 11

WAPCOS Recruitment 2021: Education And Experience

Desirous candidates applying for WAPCOS Jobs 2021 through WAPCOS Recruitment 2021 must possess a B.E/B.Tech in Civil Engineering discipline from a recognised University/Institute with two years of experience in the concerned area as detailed in the WAPCOS Recruitment Notification 2021.

WAPCOS Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay

The selection of candidates to WAPCOS Jobs 2021 through WAPCOS Recruitment 2021 will be done through Shortlisting, Written Test/Interview and Document Verification as notified in the WAPCOS Recruitment Notification 2021.

Candidates selected to WAPCOS Jobs 2021 through WAPCOS Recruitment 2021 will be paid emolument in the range of Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 1,60,000 per month as per the post.

Also Read: KSP Recruitment 2021 For 545 Sub-Inspector (Civil) Posts, Register Online On KSP.Online.In. Check Details Here

WAPCOS Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for WAPCOS Jobs 2021 through WAPCOS Recruitment 2021 must filling the application form in a prescribed format post-download from the official WAPCOS website and send the same to the "Sh.G.Venkata Ramana, Regional Manager (Kerala), 4 th Floor, Issac Tower, Near Bread World, Jawahar Nagar, Kadavanthara, Kochi, Kerala-682020" on or before February 05, 2021.

Download WAPCOS Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Engineer Trainee, Engineer and Sr. Engineer (Civil) posts here
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The world's media has struck an optimistic tone in reaction to Joe Biden's inauguration with the overwhelming majority of newspaper front pages across the globe emblazoned with the 46th president's words: 'Democracy has prevailed'.

In the United States, the front pages of major outlets are today largely filled with Biden's call for unity in the wake of the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol at the hands of violent Trump-supporting rioters on January 6.

Biden's inauguration, however, stretched far beyond Washington DC and the rest of the US with photos from his inauguration splashed across newspaper front pages across the world.

The front pages focused on Biden's words that urged Americans to 'end this uncivil war' and his vow that 'we will get through this together' following a divisive election and four years under Donald Trump.

Newspapers were filled with images of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris taking their oath of office and the moment Biden signed a slew of executive orders in the Oval Office in the hours after.

TIME magazine's cover featured an illustration of Biden staring out of a window in the Oval Office that had been left in shambles with the phrase: Day One. In scenes reminiscent of the Capitol siege, the Oval Office can be seen littered with a megaphone and MAGA hat with a huge red 'T' scrawled across the wall

Some of the international front pages focused on the end of the Trump era with a handful taking jabs at the now former president, including one Australian outlet that read: 'Don't let the door hit you on the way out'.

In the United States, TIME magazine's cover featured an illustration of Biden staring out of a window in the Oval Office that had been left in shambles with the phrase: Day One.

In scenes reminiscent of the Capitol siege, the Oval Office can be seen littered with a megaphone and MAGA hat with a huge red 'T' scrawled across the wall. Stacks of folders and papers cover the floor and, in an apparent dig at Trump, McDonald's fries appear to be strewn out on the president's desk.

The front page coverage is in line with the messages from world leaders on Wednesday congratulating Biden.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those welcoming Biden's decision to rejoin the the Paris climate accord, reversing a key Trump policy in the first hours of his presidency Wednesday.

Here is a collection of front pages from the US and across the world:

UNITED KINGDOM

SWITZERLAND

NEW YORK

WASHINGTON

AUSTRALIA

CANADA

ARGENTINA

AUSTRALIA

UNITED KINGDOM

CHICAGO

MIAMI

LOS ANGELES

NEW YORK

SPAIN
Although San Francisco nightlife is very much on pause due to the pandemic, it's still possible to look ahead and see green shoots for the city's LGBTQ+ community.

Supervisor Matt Haney wants to create a nightlife recovery fund to ensure that independent venues survive, for one. There may yet be a more targeted federal stimulus. And San Francisco may establish a new city-sanctioned office: that of drag laureate.

As the Bay Area Reporter noted, the idea was one of many in S.F.s LGBTQ+ Cultural Heritage Strategy, a 2018 report that was revised in August amid nightlifes pandemic near-extinction. The idea of creating another high-profile city position to advocate for queer culture and nightlife seems logical enough, although it may have detractors among fiscal hawks. A formal cost-benefit analysis could probably yield more specific insights; drag performers are known for making magic happen with $10 and a roll of Scotch tape  meaning a negligible net fiscal impact for a city in the red.

However, the questions remain over who fills the role drag laureate of San Francisco and what their official duties might be. Instead of novelty oversized keys to the city, perhaps recipients could be presented with a bottle of VHS cleaner (which is to say, poppers) on a fine filigree chain. But would they be expected to hobnob with the likes of VC powerhouses and society-page doyennes, like Ron Conway or Dede Wilsey?

Some queens leapt at the idea no matter what.

The idea of San Francisco starting the tradition of naming a drag laureate sounds fabulous! Grace Towers says. What a truly San Francisco way to celebrate the many talented, outspoken, resourceful, and fierce drag artists that would continue to preserve and share the rich and valuable history of our communities.

I think it's wonderful because it will inevitably take some of the prestige away from the word laureate, says Peaches Christ.

Others were a bit more circumspect.

I like this idea as a stunt, but not as a solution to displacement and gentrification, says VivvyAnne ForeverMORE, a drag performer who is also a member of the collective that owns The Stud (a historic SoMa bar that vacated its longtime home amid the pandemic, but whose leadership plots a return). Who doesnt love a good stunt? Who doesnt love a good stunt queen?

Noting how much the television show "RuPauls Drag Race" mainstreamed drag, Vivvy is all for the position only as long as theres appropriate mayoral pageantry involved. Otherwise, she says, it would just be pinkwashing from City Hall.

Look, we support queers! We have a drag laureate! she says, ventriloquizing some hypothetical bureaucrat, adding, Yeah? Then how come our queer businesses are in great peril because of hypergentrification? Make sure the job comes with a tiara  and a stipend.

LOL McFiercen seconds the call for a stipend, specifying $30,000 per year as a base salary plus an additional $5,000 to present a project of their choosing that reflects their values and ideals.

Peter Unger/Getty Images

The concept of a drag laureate, while still new, is not original. Last fall, West Hollywood, a city with a large LGBTQ population, moved to create an official position of drag laureate. Greater Los Angeles is the new pioneer in this type of political representation, it seems: Last year, performer and nonbinary activist Maebe A. Girl successfully ran for Silver Lake Neighborhood Council, making her the first drag queen elected to public office in the United States.

But before its up and running, we have to contend with the fact that San Francisco already exists at the galactic center of a well-established drag network: the International Court System, whose founding Imperial Council of San Francisco has been crowning an annual Absolute Empress and Emperor amid a sea of sashes and cubic zirconia since the 1960s. Prizing realness and regalia, it feels a little out of step with a zeitgeist thats full of makeup influencers and TikTok genderfk.

Like pretty much everything else in the LGBTQ community, the Imperial Council has not been without controversy of its own. As co-curator of the GLBT Historical Societys exhibit Labor of Love: The Birth of San Francisco Pride 1970-80, Amy Sueyoshi, dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University, said she found that the Imperial Council often met with pushback from radical types who found its tart adoration of the trappings of monarchy to be, well, monarchical.

But the idea of creating an entirely new, elaborate system would almost certainly lead to a chorus of groans. (Not another pageant! Vivvy groused.) Still, LOL McFiercen says they think the title should be named for Jose Sarria, a North Beach performer who in 1962 became the first openly LGBTQ person to run for public office in the U.S.  and Sarria was also the founder of the Imperial Council, styling herself Empress in the manner of 19th century Emperor Norton.

In other words: Its complicated! So who should get it? There are several queens with extensive records of public service, including Juanita MORE! or Donna Sachet, plus consummate entertainers who own their own business, such as DArcy Drollinger of Oasis.

That is merely to limit the title to cisgender men, however  and drag culture has taken strides toward inclusivity. This season of "Drag Race," for instance, saw a modification to Rus tongue-in-cheek exhortation. Gentlemen, start your engines, and may the best woman win is now Racers, start your engines, and let the best drag queen win.

Honey Mahogany should be first, LOL McFiercen says by text, referring to the force of nature who is a "RuPauls Drag Race" competitor, a co-founder of the Transgender District, a co-owner of The Stud and Supervisor Haneys aide. Cuz 1) duh 2) we need to center prioritize QTBIPOC [queer and trans Black and indigenous people of color] 3) she has done and will continue to do so much for us.

Cabure Bonugli

Peaches Christ has a nomination of her own.

I think it should be Sister Roma, mostly because she never stops tweeting, she says. Her tweets are often inspiring and can sometimes be pornographic  maybe even both at the same time. This seems like a drag queen laureate achievement of importance.

Roma is, characteristically, not shy about agreeing.

My head is about to explode just thinking about the contributions so many of our outstanding drag icons have made to San Francisco for decades, the Most Photographed Nun in the World says. It's impossible to choose among these heroes  therefore I humbly nominate myself.

The laureate should be present not merely at every major event in the city, but also the globe, Roma says, to serve as a model of grace, poise and beauty.

I think an honorarium of free rent, front-of-the-line access to the vaccine, and an unlimited travel budget are appropriate, she adds. However, if these minor conditions cannot be guaranteed, I graciously decline the title.

It should be noted that the United States poet laureate earns $35,000  while Tongo Eisen-Martin, the newly appointed poet laureate of San Francisco, wont be getting a W-2 at all. An ambassador-at-large role that takes you to Berlin or to Sydney Mardi Gras would certainly be alluring. But its still a job that probably comes with an @sf.gov email address and the occasional fax. VivvyAnne ForeverMORE is pragmatic about the intersection of glamor and civics.

They should get a full-on photoshoot with the mayor, artistic-directed by the laureate. They should attend many, many black-tie fundraiser, elbow-rubbing political parties as possible  as the mayors date, Vivvy says. They should perform weddings at City Hall. They should have a street in the Marina named after them.

Peter-Astrid Kane (they/them) is the communications manager for San Francisco Pride and a former editor of SF Weekly.

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The observers report on the recently-concluded e-voting held by Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (FT MF) was submitted to the Supreme Court (SC). It said that the e-voting exercise was generally conducted according to the e-voting notices sent by FT MF. However, there were many grey areas in the procedure adopted, which raised doubts and apprehensions in the minds of investors, the report said.

The observer elaborated on a number of steps that the fund house could have taken to ensure a more robust exercise. For starters, it said that unitholders of the six schemes that are sought to be wound up, should have got one vote for each unit they held. The fund house had, on the other hand, allowed investors only as many votes as the number of folios they had. Just 38 percent of the unitholders that had investments in the six debt schemes participated in the voting process, according to the Observers report.

Also read: Franklin Templeton case: Unitholders vote in favour of winding up of six debt schemes

Under the directions of the SC, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had appointed T.S. Krishnamurthy, former chief election commissioner as the observer for the voting process. Moneycontrol has a copy of the observers report.

Shortcomings in the process

According to the Observer, FT MF had informed that the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, read with the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014, will be followed for the e-voting exercise. This was because SEBI regulations did not have any specific rules regarding e-voting or conducting meetings of unitholders through video-conferencing. The Observers report said that Companies Act specifies one vote per fully paid-up share of the concerned company. If this rule had been strictly applied, unitholders would have been entitled to exercise one vote per unit held on the cut-off date, the report said.

The report also said that were some significant variations in the e-voting process followed by FT MF vis-a-vis that prescribed under the Companies Act. This, the Observer pointed out was contrary to the fund houses claim that it had broadly followed the provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, read with the Companies (Management and Administration) Rules, 2014 for conducting the e-voting.

The observer also said that under the Act, directors, key managerial personnel and their relatives are required to provide a disclosure of interest. However, no such disclosure was given in FT MFs notice.

Also read: Franklin Templeton verdict: When will side-pocket unitholders get their money?

The report also pointed out that not all unitholders were provided the data to participate in the voting process. As many 6,754 unitholders  about 2 percent  were not provided the data as FT MF didnt have their e-mail IDs or mobile numbers. The observer said that in such cases, data could have been sent physically through post or courier. Emails sent to Franklin Templeton mutual funds remained unanswered at the time of publishing.

"The three-day voting period, along with a voting window during video conferencing, was adequate given that the mode of voting was digital. Clients gave the feedback that the process was smooth. Close to 40 percent turnout is actually a reasonable number, given that it was such an unprecedented event," says Amol Joshi, founder of Plan Rupee Investment Services.

Recommendation on the winding-up process

The observer suggests that if any fund house is considering winding-up of any scheme, advance intimation of the board meeting should be given to SEBI, unitholders and also advertised through newspapers and website. How practical this suggestion is, though, is another matter. If, as per the Observers note, this recommendation is followed for future winding up exercises, investors may rush for redemptions and cause fund houses to sell securities at throwaway prices, thereby negating an orderly winding-up.

To address the fears of unitholders, clear guidelines should be framed for the winding-up of the six schemes, including setting-up of an advisory board. This board should also have some representation from the unitholders side.

The observer also said that it is crucial for fund houses to have a trustees vote with unitholders before the e-voting takes place. Unitholders can get more clarity and take a well-informed decision, the report says. Given that such an event has happened for the first time, the observer noted that there were no clear guidelines, and even FT MF did not seem to have had a clear idea about the procedure to be followed.

For similar cases that might arise in the future, the observer recommends that the unitholders be given thirty days to cast their votes, and not just three days. The longer period, according to the observer, will give more time to unitholders to study the financial implications and take a considered view.Also, as there have been several complaints on the use of technology in e-voting, a thirty-day period would be in the best interests of the unitholders, according to the observer.
Fresh trouble continues to mount for Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut. The actor has been issued summons by Mumbai Police after Bollywood lyricist Javed Akhtar filed a complaint against her. She has to be present at the Juhu Police Station on January 22, 2020.

Akhtar had filed a complaint in November 2020 alleging that the 'Queen' actor had made baseless and defamatory comments against him in TV interviews while speaking about the Sushant Singh Rajput death probe. He also alleged that she made baseless remarks in her ongoing spat with Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan by dragging his name. His lawyer had then sought action against Kangana Ranaut under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

An Andheri magistrate court, meanwhile, had granted time to the Mumbai Police to file its reports after conducting due enquiry till February 1 2021. Hence as part of the inquiry, the actor's statement needs to be recorded, say sources from Mumbai Police
EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UniformMarket (UM), the leading SaaS eCommerce platform built exclusively for the uniform industry across North America, has announced today that it has expanded its operations into new international territories including Australia and New Zealand.

"After the immense growth that our business has achieved in the uniform industry for nearly two decades, expanding into the ANZ region of the world is the next logical step," CEO of SellersCommerce, Ashok Reddy, said. "We're beyond excited to be able to deliver the world's best SaaS eCommerce platform that's built exclusively for the uniform industry to our customers and partners in Australia and New Zealand  as that region will become a focal point of growth for us in 2021 and beyond."

This announcement follows the success the company has endured after working with more than 700+ retailers, 100+ distributors and manufacturers in North America in just the last 15 years alone. Now after securing business with the premier distributor of Australia's workwear brands across the world, it became clear to UniformMarket that the ANZ region is in dire need of a strong and capable SaaS solution provider like UniformMarket.

ANZ partners of UniformMarket will have immediate access to the popular B2B Program Manager and the new Distributor Portal that premiered recently to help solve the challenges of manufacturers who are unable to manage both B2C and B2B e-commerce accounts through a single administrative portal.

Apart of expanding operations in the ANZ region, UniformMarket has also been gaining traction in the Europe and the Middle East, as well, which has contributed to the company's larger efforts to go global by 2023.

About UniformMarket: Growing from the pages of MadeToMeasure Magazine, UniformMarket is the #1 B2C/B2B e-commerce platform that provides powerful, customized solutions for retailers, distributors, and manufacturers in order to help them run their uniform programs efficiently. They offer powerful tools to scale up uniform businesses in a variety of industries including public safety, medical, corporate, and others.

About SellersCommerce: SellersCommerce is the parent company of UniformMarket and is a leading eCommerce provider in the uniform, promotional products, and many other industry-specific fields. In addition to building customizable eCommerce solutions, they also build PIM systems and does platform integrations.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE SellersCommerce

Related Links

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As Joe Biden took up residence in his newly decorated Oval Office, observers were quick to point out that the new administration had once again removed a bust of Winston Churchill reinstated by Donald Trump.

The bust, loaned to the White House by the UK government in 2001, features a head and shoulders sculpture of Churchill.

Former President Barack Obama became the first president to remove the bust from the Oval Office upon his inauguration, which later prompted comments from then-Mayor of London Boris Johnson in 2016.

In an article for The Sun, Mr Johnson, who was at the time also spearheading the Vote Leave campaign for the UK in the EU referendum, said that the move was a snub to Britain.

Some said it was a symbol of the part-Kenyan Presidents ancestral dislike of the British empire  of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender, he wrote.

Mr Obama responded to the comments saying he had moved the head-and-shoulders statue to replace it with one of Martin Luther King and had instead put the Churchill bust outside the Treaty Room in his private quarters.

Mr Obama said it was appropriate that as the first African American president he would have a bust of Martin Luther King in his office in response to the dig from Mr Johnson.

The controversy came amid tensions with the Leave campaign over Mr Obamas expression that he would have preferred the UK remained in the bloc and his statement that a unilateral free-trade deal between the two countries would not be a priority.

In 2017, when Donald Trump took over the White House, he reinstated the bust back to the Oval Office.

On Wednesday, Mr Biden once again removed the bust from the office in line with his Democratic predecessors choice to do so.

The Oval Office under Mr Biden now contains statues of civil rights heroes King, Robert Kennedy, Rosa Parks and Cesar Chavez, as well as former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.

Mr Biden has also decorated the office with a large portrait of former President Franklin D Roosevelt and paintings of Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington.

In a starkly different response to his 2016 reaction, Mr Johnson, now prime minister, has said that it is up to the new US president whether he wishes to keep a bust of Sir Winston Churchill in the Oval Office.

The Oval Office is the presidents private office and it is up to the president to decorate it as he wishes, Mr Johnson said during a daily Westminster press briefing.

Both the US and the UK saw weeks of civil unrest following the death of George Flloyd in May 2020, prompting an outcry against racial injustice in both countries and a reexamination of cultural monuments.

During the protests, a statue of Sir Winston Churchill erected in Londons Parliament Square became a frequent target of vandalism.

Some criticised the mindless vandalism of the statue, calling it disgraceful. Critics of the statue said that the memorial reflected a glorification of British colonialism.

The uproar prompted authorities across both countries to re-examine and in some cases to remove controversial monuments of figures with links to colonialism or the slave trade.
 Flash

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the United States' stated re-engagement with the World Health Organization (WHO), said his spokesman.

Supporting the WHO is absolutely critical to the world's efforts for a better coordinated response against COVID-19. Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

With vaccines being a critical tool in the battle against COVID-19, the United States joining and supporting the WHO-led COVAX facility will give momentum to efforts to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all countries, said the statement.

New U.S. President Joe Biden, hours after taking the oath of office, signed executive orders to rejoin the Paris Agreement on climate change and reverse the U.S. process of withdrawing from the WHO. Biden's predecessor Donald Trump decided in May 2020 to withdraw from the WHO amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some years ago, a sudden influx of investors had descended on the island, but this enthusiastic rush soon eroded after plans for further development of the island were dropped. However, since early December 2020, land prices have begun to soar again after the National Assembly (NA) approved another plan to make Phu Quoc into Vietnams first island city. Many people are now left wondering if this is a sustainable development plan for the fragile environment on the island, and if it will lead to another rush for land buying, causing a second property bubble.

Land prices up again

During the early days of 2021, people across Phu Quoc island were hotly discussing the official decision of the National Assembly to turn their island into a city district. They see this event as a lucrative new beginning which will change their lives, when more and more domestic and international investors will pour in for land speculation. One of the strongest attractions for investors will be the real estate. The property market has remained quiet for several years since the first bubble occurred, but now the bustle and excitement has returned.

Mr. Binh, a senior estate broker in Duong Dong Town, said that large groups of property investors began flocking into Phu Quoc Island in late 2020. Brokerage firms say that property prices have been rising all across the island, with more and more transactions taking place. Land owners have also raised the price of their property by 10% to15% higher than they quoted in last months of 2020. Mr. Binh said that land owners dont seem to be in a hurry to do transactions while buyers are nervous as the high demand and low supply will cause property prices to escalate by the day.

One director of an estate brokerage company on the island said that investors mainly look for pieces of land worth between VND 500 mn and VND 4 bn, because these are mostly likely to be profitable and in future demand. Investors have found that recent successful transactions have been basically in three resettlement areas, namely, across 73 ha. of Suoi Lon Residential Area in Duong To Ward, 67.5 ha. area of Bac Duong Dong New Urban Area, and 10.2 ha. of the Neighborhood 10 Resettlement Area in Duong Dong Ward with land plots numbered and officially registered and provided with land use right certificates.

Land pieces in other parts of the island are offered for sale, but transactions are slow and buyers still hesitate about such transactions for fear that such pieces of land could be part of a planning scheme. Also, most of the land funds in good places on Phu Quoc Island have already been developed by large investors into resorts and accommodation for holidaymakers.

However, investors are still taking cautious steps because of the fall three or four years ago. At that time, property prices were driven up two to three times higher causing panic among investors. Additionally, division of land plots caused a lot of market interference as well. When the local government noticed property speculators were doing unauthorized acts of dividing large pieces of farmland into smaller plots to make profit, the Peoples Committee of Kien Giang Province asked competent agencies in Phu Quoc District to temporarily stop certifying such division of land pieces and change land use purpose. As a result, property prices declined across the island.

Investors need long-term vision

Phu Quoc island has several favorable conditions for infrastructure and services like a port, an airport and the title of a city to attract investors. However, to enjoy sustainable benefits, investors are advised to gather reliable information in order to have clear ideas about planning and legal procedures for each project and avoid tricksters and fraud deals.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Ha, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Real Estate Association, said that the title of a city will promote property development on the island and over time property prices will increase. Therefore, investments in the Phu Quoc market at present will have opportunity to earn profits later. However, Mr. Ha stressed the importance of making appropriate investment in the right place at the right time before such efforts result in long-term benefits. Investors may consider products of successful investors in locations with great potential for tourist attraction, stable inflow of visitors and constant growth over time. Investment products should be developed in the form of complete complexes and ecosystems that could ensure strong connection and optimum growth.

In addition, experts suggest that investors should have long-term vision. Previously, investors went to Phu Quoc island to grab opportunity, speculate on the market, which caused prices to surge. Now, property prices indicate true value and prices will go up in time to reach appropriate price around the island city of Phu Quoc. They will not be inflated prices. Instead, the property pieces will have more value added to them thanks to suitable planning and policies. Many believe that Phu Quoc will witness the growth of premium urban housing. This will be reason for more reliable planning of the island city for sustainable development. This will be one of the crucial factors that will contribute to the stable development of real estate as planned by city officials.

Mr. Phung Quoc Binh, Director of the Natural Resources and Environment Department of Kien Giang Province, said that competent provincial agencies and the Peoples Committee of Phu Quoc City will collaborate to control the real estate market, and also plan and construct to prevent any possible incident of inflated prices.

The property bubble is a threat not only to Phu Quoc but also the entire society and the economy. First, bad debts at banks will rise, causing drastic impact on banking and the whole economy, because investors and businesses will not be able to pay the debts. Second, credit risks will create a chain reaction, leading to negative effect on the economy, or even cause an economic recession.

Third, investors or businesses could go bankrupt after buying pieces of land and carrying out construction on the island, which means that their projects will be left incomplete or rendered useless. Evidence shows that several resorts or accommodation areas in Phu Quoc have been lying deserted for years after investors poured in billions of dong in such projects. Fourth, it is unclear what the Phu Quoc Administration will do with abandoned projects, as the choice of both maintaining them or demolishing them will face countless difficulties.

Bao Binh

This transcript appears in the January 22, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

The Marquis de Lafayette and the Challenge of the Sublime

[Print version of this transcript]

The following is an edited transcript of the presentation by Anastasia Battle to Panel 4, A Human Future for Youth: A Beethoven-Driven Renaissance of Classical Culture, of the Schiller Institutes December 12-13 conference, The World After the U.S. Election: Creating a World Based on Reason.

Schiller Institute Anastasia Battle

Id like to thank you for joining us today, and Id like to pick up where my friend David Shavin left off on the opera Fidelio, because the person I would like to talk about today is the one whom Beethoven was writing about, and that was the Marquis de Lafayette. I want to talk about him because were at a pretty pressing moment in history. Its actually quite amazing when you think about all of the potential. Here in the United States, as an American, I am very terrified of what will be the outcome if we dont succeed, but also very excited of what the outcome will be if we do.

I want to get at what the difference is, in the quality of mind which will be our success. Because your ability to self-consciously change and rise up to a higher level at a profound moment in history is the difference in how our actions are going to be in creating a successful change versus a tragedy. That quality is called the sublime.

There are many moments in history when the sublime idea, embodying the sublime quality, made the difference. And I want to talk about the Marquis de Lafayette, because he was blessed to be in both the American Revolution and the French Revolution, which were two different situations, two very different revolutions.

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Joseph-Desire Court The Marquis de Lafayette

Lafayette was a young man about 17 years old when he was first noticed by the Freemasons. In particular, Ben Franklin had people all over the world looking for these republican types, these young, thoughtful people, and wanted to recruit them to the American Revolution. Lafayette eventually bought his own boat, went against the Kings orders, went to the colonies, and not only once, but twice was turned away by the Congress. It wasnt until Ben Franklin personally wrote a letter to George Washington that the Marquis de Lafayette was allowed to enter the American Revolution.

After he joined, he really proved his valor. He was incredibly intelligent, was definitely recruited to the republican ideology. In battle after battle, he proved his bravery and eventually was able to lead portions of the military. He really became Washingtons right-hand man; more like his son, even, if you read some of the letters they had back and forth. He fought to the very end to make sure that the ideas of the Declaration of Independence would succeed. He helped recruit France to join to help defeat the British Empire.

So, when the Marquis returned home to France, after a while, it became more and more clear that a revolution was going to happen.

Im not going to go through every detail here, but the Marquisin 1789was part of the drafting of the Declaration of the Rights of Man. I want you to hear the difference between that Declaration of the Rights of Man and the American Declaration of Independence. I want you to read between the notes here. Really listen to hear what the difference is. So, heres the Declaration of the Rights of Man:

Nature has made men free and equal; the necessary distinctions in the social order are based only on general utility.

Every man is born with inalienable and imprescriptible rights; these are the freedom of his opinions, the care for his honor and his life, the right of property, the entire disposition of his person, his industry, and all his faculties, the communication of his thoughts by every possible means, the pursuit of well-being, and resistance to oppression.

Now, compare that to this:

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Natures God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

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John Ward Dunsmore, 1907

Did you hear the difference? When I read the Marquis de Lafayettes Declaration, it comes off as being incredibly practical. What are the rights hes describing? The right to your opinion, the right to your honor and life, the right to your property, to your disposition in industry and faculties. These are very practical rights. But when I read the beginning of the Declaration of Independence, it immediately starts from the principle. The right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. There have been many debates over happiness, but funny enough, this idea of happiness comes from Gottfried Leibniz. It comes from the idea of happiness that you get when you make a fundamental discovery of the universe, of God. When you try to understand how something works.

Andreas Scheitz Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz

The difference in the dynamic is pretty clear. At this time in the United States, you had a 90% literacy rate. This wasnt just the upper class, the people with lots of money; you had farmers and laborers who could read Latin and Greek, who were reading Plato. You had people who were able to actually discuss what kind of government you would create. This had been a process in the colonies going on for some time to generate this kind of educational system.

Now, look back into France. You had 22 million peasants at this time, out of 26 million people, most of whom were illiterate. They couldnt read or write. If they could, it was limited to what their professions were. This made it incredibly easy for the British to manipulate them. The British were buying up wheat, buying up food and hoarding it, and preventing the French peasantry from getting food, and generating a famine. They were spreading lies about Marie Antoinette, and created more and more ferment.

This is what the Marquis de Lafayette was in. He was a good person. France was the nation that nurtured Christiaan Huyghens; that nurtured Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz; that created the Ecole Polytechnique. Its what Gaspard Monge came out of. France was not a nation lacking these higher conceptions or republican ideas. If it didnt have them, it certainly would not have created someone like the Marquis de Lafayette.

But because within the general population you did not have a desire for the higher idea of what is mankind, that is what eventually led to the Marquis de Lafayettes capitulation to the King. He eventually gave in to a constitutional monarchy, and eventually lost a lot of trust within the population. He ended up having to flee France and was captured, and thats what the opera Fidelio is about, as was presented by David Shavin in this panel, and in his article published in EIR. [See EIR for January 15, 2021.] Its about Lafayette eventually being released.

My point is that its not good enough just to be good, and just as in Shakespeares King Learif you havent seen King Lear, I definitely recommend watching it or reading it. Its a lot of fun to do it with some friends. You can even do it with us; Im sure we can get a grouping of people together to read it. In the play, Cordelia, the daughter of King Lear, knows better; she knows better than to act the way she was, even though she was acting rightly. She was in the right, she knew that her sisters were wrong, but she gives in to her cultural tendencies and still stays within a tragic system. Which unfortunately is what happened to the Marquis de Lafayette when he returned to France.

I see something similar happening in the United States now. When I go to some of these rallies and I organize people, I have encountered people quoting from the movie Braveheart as if that idea is the idea of the American Revolution. This is ridiculous! You have a total romanticism of the American Revolution.

If we want to make a successful change in the United Statesand everywhere else for that matterwe really have to look at the principles of humanity. What are the highest ideals of mankind? We must not fall into the trap of ideologies, not fall into the trap of being committed to outlooks of the recent period, but commit ourselves to create something new. Because we know the principles of humanity.

I want to challenge everybody whos watching this conference right now, to really dig deep and ask yourself, are you just being a good person and doing the right thing? Or, are you trying to challenge yourself to rise to this higher idea of the sublime?
January 21, 2021The National EMS Academy has named Acadian Ambulance Operations Manager Taylor Richard as its new director. He will take the place of Kirk Lacour, who has moved into a full-time role within Acadians legal department.

Richard has been with Acadian for 10 years, having served as a paramedic field supervisor and operations coordinator in North Texas before assuming his most recent role as operations manager in Ouachita Parish.

He is a member of Leadership Ouachitas 32nd graduating class.

Richard holds an associate degree from SLCC and National EMS Academy, and is working toward his Bachelor of Science in Unified Public Safety Administration from Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

National EMS Academy offers entry-level, continuing education and refresher courses for a number of EMS career pathways, including EMTs and paramedics. They are a nationally accredited EMS training facility with locations in Louisiana and Texas, and are an authorized American Heart Association Training Center for CPR and ECC courses.
The Centre is looking to sell its 26.12 percent stake in Tata Communications (TCL) through offer of sale (OFS) to raise Rs 8,000 crore.

The Centre will sell a big part of its stock to majority stockholder  the Tatas and a smaller part through OFS to the stock market, a Finance Ministry official told, according to a report from The Economic Times.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

How much exactly will be sold through OFS has not been decided yet, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved selling up to 16 percent stake through OFS and the remaining to Tatas," the official said, adding that the OFS is expected to be completed before FY21-end.

The Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) has invited bids for the OFS from merchant banker (MB)-cum-selling brokers till February 3. Bidding will be opened on February 4 and the transaction completed on March 20, 2021, per bid documents, the report said.

The bid document further stated that the OFS will be structured in such a way that it does not trigger an open offer again, and the appointed MB would advise the government in this regard and also on any exemption required from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

The government holds stake in TCL through its investment in erstwhile Videsh Sanchar Nigam (VSNL) which was privatised in 2002 by divesting 25 percent stake and transfer of management control of Panatone Finvest. This stake was acquired by the Tata Group as strategic partners (SP) and renamed TCL.

The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Brazil's Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) announced on Jan. 17 that it has approved the emergency use of the CoronaVac vaccine, from the Chinese biotech firm Sinovac. The first batch of Brazilian vaccines were vaccinated on the same day.

This made Brazil the third country in the world to approve the emergency use of the CoronaVac vaccine, after Indonesia and Turkey. Chinese vaccines' overall safety and efficacy are widely being recognized in the world.

The CoronaVac vaccine started Phase I and II clinical trials in last April. After bring proved to be safe and effective, it was put into Phase III clinical trials in Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia and Chile. According to Turkey's interim data, the Chinese vaccine is 91.25 percent effective. It was also proved to have an efficacy rate of 65.3 percent by Indonesia's Phase III clinical trials. Brazil's Phase III clinical trials showed that the vaccine is 100 percent effective against severe symptoms and 78 percent for mild cases, which led to a general efficacy of 50.38 percent.

Yin Weidong, chairman of Sinovac, said on a Jan. 13 press conference that the Phase III clinical studies have already proved the safety and efficacy of the Chinese vaccine in the global context.

"We have a projected annual production capacity of more than 1 billion doses," Yin said, adding that the biotech firm has built a production line that is able to produce about 500 million doses of the CoronaVac vaccine solutions annually. "The production line for the second phase of our vaccine solutions will be put into operation in February this year," he continued.

It is reported that multiple countries, including Indonesia, Turkey, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines have signed deals with Sinovac for vaccine supply. The vaccine developed by the company was also injected to multiple state leaders, which demonstrated their trust to the Chinese vaccine.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan received his first dose of the CoronaVac vaccine in Ankara on Jan. 14, local time, a day after Turkey announced to approve Sinovac vaccines for emergency use. CoronaVac is the first COVID-19 vaccine approved by the country.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo received the first dose of CoronaVac on Jan. 13, live on television. Indonesia's food and drug authority BPOM issued an emergency use authorization to the vaccine on Jan. 11, explaining the vaccine has undergone a Phase III trial in Bandung, and its efficacy was higher than the 50 percent threshold stipulated by the World Health Organization.

Malaysian state-run pharmaceutical company Pharmaniaga on Jan. 12 reached a deal on COVID-19 vaccine cooperation with Sinovac. The Chinese firm will provide 14 million doses of ready-to-fill COVID-19 vaccines to Malaysia, and the Malaysian company will carry out a fill-and-finish process of the vaccine in Malaysia.

The Ukrainian Lekhim Group also partnered with Sinovac on the purchase of 5 million doses of CoronaVac vaccine. Besides, the Ukrainian firm is planning to produce locally multiple Sinovac vaccines, including the CoronaVac, from 2022.

Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said on Jan. 7 that Brazil has signed an agreement with the Butantan Institute of Sao Paulo to purchase 100 million doses of CoronaVac vaccine.

The Department of Health of the Philippines recently disclosed that the Philippine government has secured 25 million doses of Sinovac-developed CoronaVac vaccine. The country's Food and Drug Administration said it has received an application from the Chinese firm seeking an emergency use authorization for the CoronaVac vaccine. The vaccine is expected to be granted as early as this February.
A 29-year-old Houston man was arrested and charged this week in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, whose remains were found in October at a northwest Harris County park, officials said.

Javon Gilbert was charged Wednesday with murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of 29-year-old Emmishae Kirby, according to Harris County court records.

Kirby disappeared Sept. 18 and her body was found Oct. 3 near Bear Creek Pioneers Park following a weeks-long search. An autopsy determined Kirby's death was caused by homicidal violence.

The young woman was the life of the party and never met a stranger, according to a GoFundMe page created to assist search efforts. Kirby loved her family and had a bright future ahead of her, the fundraiser said.

The couple broke up in September after Gilbert allegedly sexually assaulted Kirby, prosecutors said during an early Thursday probable cause hearing.

But following the break-up, investigators said the ex-boyfriend showed up uninvited multiple times at Kirby's apartment, including one incident when he snuck in at night and stood over her bed with a knife, refusing to let her leave.

On Sept. 18, surveillance footage reviewed by investigators shows Gilbert getting into the passenger seat of Kirby's car. The pair was seen at a restaurant and a gas station before returning to the apartment, according to evidence presented at the hearing. That was the last night Kirby was seen or heard from.

In the early morning hours of Sept. 19, video shows Gilbert carrying a large, heavy item out of the apartment and putting it in the back of Kirby's car. He returned an hour later and parked the car in a different location. Gilbert returned to the apartment multiple times and removed other items, including a sofa he threw in a dumpster, prosecutors alleged.

Judge Brian Warren set bail at $250,000 for the murder charge and $50,000 for the tampering charge, court records show. Gilbert remained in custody as of Thursday morning and did not appear at the probable cause hearing due to mental health reasons, according to court records.

A preliminary court appearance was scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday.
A study to assess peoples views about the possible reintroduction of the lynx to the Highlands is being launched, despite warnings from farmers over potential impacts.

A new partnership of the charities SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, Trees for Life and Vincent Wildlife Trust will launch the year-long consultation this month.

It will 'impartially and accurately' assess public and stakeholder attitudes around the idea of lynx reintroduction, including in rural communities.

Sheep sector groups have frequently criticised proposals to reintroduce the Eurasian lynx, warning that the UK's natural life would not be prepared for its return.

The lynx, once native to Britain, was driven to extinction some 500-1,000 years ago through hunting and habitat loss.

Peter Cairns, Executive Director of SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, said, however, that the species would play a 'vital ecological role' in the Scottish Highlands.

With a global biodiversity crisis, we have a responsibility to have open and constructive conversations around restoring key native species to the Scottish landscape."

Jenny MacPherson, of the Vincent Wildlife Trust, which will lead the study, admitted that reintroducing lynx would 'inevitably bring challenges'.

"Lynx to Scotland will actively include stakeholders representing the full range of perspectives, in order to produce meaningful conclusions about the level of support or tolerance for lynx.

But the National Sheep Association (NSA) has repeatedly warned that releasing lynx would have 'many negative consequences', and not just for sheep.

NSA chief executive Phil Stockers said: "UK farming is not set up to deal with this kind of predator, and we feel very strongly that its reintroduction would be hugely damaging.

This doesnt just apply to livestock and the livelihoods of those who make their living on the land, but to all wildlife and ecosystems.

"The lynx has been extinct in the UK for more than 1,000 years and the UKs natural life would not be prepared for this level of new predator."

Sheep farmers often point to Norway as an example of the threat any reintroduction of predators would bring to their sector.

On a 2017 study trip, an NFU Scotland delegation heard that Norwegian authorities paid out compensation on 20,000 sheep lost to predators.

The union's vice president, Martin Kennedy explained: "Of the sheep killed in Norway, wolverine accounted for around 34% of losses with the lynx, bear and wolf accounting for 21%, 15% and 9% respectively."

He added: "Predation in Norway has reduced over the past decade - not because of fewer predators, but the fact that hill farmers have simply stopped keeping sheep."

Lynx to Scotland runs from January 2021 to February 2022, and is not associated with any other previous or current initiatives to restore lynx to Britain.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
PFAS investigation in Pellston completes second round of samples

Officials discovered polyfluoroalkyls in Pellston residential water sources in late 2019. The airport is believed to be the source of the substances.
Sudeeps upcoming film directed by Anup Bhandari has been creating a lot of buzz. And now as promised, two major announcements have been made by the makers. The film, earlier named Phantom, will now be called Vikrant Rona after Sudeep's character name in the movie. The other news is that the much-awaited title logo and sneak peek of the film will be screened on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai on January 31.

Sudeep shared a glimpse of whats awaiting to unveiled on 31st and wrote, Vikrant Rona on Burj Khalifa. Phantom is now #VikrantRona. World's first movie to reveal Title Logo+180secs sneak peek on Burj Khalifa Jan 31st #VikrantRonaOnBurjKhalifa Invenio Films Zakir Khan.

Speaking of the Burj Khalifa event, a source close to the development told TOI, "The team is set out to create new records to make it among many firsts in the world. It will be the first movie in the world to have a title logo launch on Burj Khalifa. Sudeep becomes the first actor to have a 2000 ft virtual cutout. It will be the first-ever movie to have a video of almost 180 screened at the Burj Khalifa. Sudeep will be the first actor to have the honour of celebrating the completion of 25 years at Burj Khalifa. The event will be live-streamed to India."

Director Anup Bhandari spoke with IANS and said, "As filmmakers, I think it is incumbent upon us to restore the confidence of the audiences in flocking back to the theatres. We have pieced Vikrant Rona together with a great amount of hard work and we've happily withstood all the odds of 2020 for it. I am glad that the reveal of its title logo and sneak peek is about to come along in such a big way."

Sudeep added, "It is incredible that the makers pulled off the colossal task of canvassing this film in a cinematically tasteful manner. I am very excited at the thought of witnessing an Indian film get such unprecedented visibility worldwide." Vikrant Rona has been bankrolled by Shalini Manjunath under the banner of Shaline Artss. It also stars Neetha Ashok and Siddu Moolimani among others.

ALSO READ: Sudeep Joins Upendra In R Chandrus Multilingual Period Film Kabza, Makers Unveil His First Look Poster

ALSO READ: Not Phantom, But Kichcha Sudeep Starrer Is Now Titled Vikranth Rona?
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a new and yet familiar obstacle as he tries to forge a special relationship with U.S. President Joe Biden: A bust of Britain's wartime leader, Winston Churchill.

According to The Washington Post, there is no sign of the sculpture in the Oval Office, where Biden's predecessor Donald Trump kept it close at hand.

If the symbolism is unfortunate, the history is worse. The British government first loaned the work by Jacob Epstein to then President George W. Bush, who displayed it throughout his two terms in office.

Barack Obama then removed it from his inner sanctum -- prompting a stinging attack from Johnson himself.

In a tabloid newspaper article in 2016, Johnson, who was mayor of London at the time, suggested Obama's decision may have been a "snub" to the U.K. that showed "the part-Kenyan President's ancestral dislike of the British Empire."

The outburst in print was part of Johnson's campaign to take the U.K. out of the European Union. But it's the kind of comment he will want to forget as he tries to build closer ties with Biden.

The new president was an opponent of Brexit at the time and has recently warned Johnson not to put peace on the island of Ireland at risk as a result of the U.K.'s split from the EU.

Johnson has been working to win over Biden since the Democrat won November's U.S. election. The premier was among the first world leaders to congratulate him in public and then in person by phone.

On Thursday, Johnson's spokesman said the choice of art on display in the White House is for the president to decide. "The Oval Office is the president's private office and it's up to the president to decorate as he wishes," Jamie Davies told reporters.

Johnson wants to work with Biden during 2021 on priorities including a U.K.-U.S. trade deal, and tackling climate change. In November, the U.K. hosts the United Nations COP26 global climate summit, and before that the Group of Seven summit in Cornwall, southwest England, in June.

"We obviously look forward to welcoming him to Cornwall as part of G-7," Davies said. "We have no doubt about the importance the president places on the U.S.-U.K. relationship."
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The Kilala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic, powered by TELUS Health, is a specially-equipped mobile van to provide primary healthcare and Indigenous Elder-led cultural care in Vancouver

Kilala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic

A photo of the Kilala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic powered by TELUS Health. Photo Credit: Karen Mackenrot, TELUS

A photo of the Kilala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic powered by TELUS Health. Photo Credit: Karen Mackenrot, TELUS

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, TELUS announced the expansion of its innovative mobile Health for Good clinic program with its community health partner, Kilala Lelum Health Centre . Enabled by technology and fueled with human compassion, the Kilala Lelum Mobile Health Clinic, powered by TELUS Health, is a specially-equipped clinic on wheels that will provide trauma-informed, culturally-sensitive primary medical treatments, Indigenous Elder-led cultural care, mental health services, and addiction support directly to the underserved citizens of Vancouvers Downtown Eastside.



At TELUS, we believe that everyone should have access to healthcare when and where they need it, regardless of their socio-economic status. Through our partnership with Kilala Lelum, we are removing many of the barriers facing underserved populations by providing Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents of the Downtown Eastside and surrounding areas with access to critical healthcare and social support, said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO, TELUS. As we continue to navigate the global pandemic, todays expansion of our Health for Good program will enable us to care for our citizens at a time when access to high-quality, compassionate healthcare, including vital support for mental wellness, has never been more important.

Many people living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside experience significant barriers to accessing effective primary health care, said Dr. David Tu, MD, CCFP, FCFP, Physician and Board member of Kilala Lelum. These barriers stem from poverty, homelessness, and experiences of exclusion and racism. Simultaneously, these same people often have the greatest healthcare needs and typically only present to care when there is an extreme health crisis. Through partnership and support from TELUS, we hope that this well-equipped and expertly staffed mobile health clinic will be able to meaningfully connect with people to provide timely, culturally safe and trauma informed care that can prevent health crisis from ever happening, and promote greater health, wellness, and social stability.

Story continues

Approximately 2,223 citizens experience homelessness in the city of Vancouver on any given night, and Indigenous peoples represent a disproportionate 39 per cent of the homeless population. The ongoing overdose crisis in Vancouver has been further magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic, and by facilitating better continuity of care, the program will help those who cannot easily access traditional medical care yet are in urgent need of support and resources.

Backed by a $10 million commitment from TELUS, Health for Good is already active from coast-to-coast with clinics operating in Victoria, Vancouver, Surrey, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Mississauga-Peel Region, Waterloo Region, Montreal, Halifax and Toronto. These state-of-the-art mobile health clinics operate in communities where frontline care is urgently needed and act as a vital link between the community and local health authority. Through a combination of drop-in primary care and individually targeted follow up visits, the mobile outreach team builds rapport and enables a continuity of care for people who have been underserved by the traditional clinical care model. In 2020, several mobile health clinics supported COVID-19 response efforts, operating as assessment and testing centres and offering support to people leaving isolation and recovering from COVID-19. Since the programs inception in 2014, TELUS Health Mobile Clinics have supported over 50,000 patient visits.

All mobile health clinics are equipped with TELUS Health electronic medical records (EMR) technology and TELUS LTE Wi-Fi service, enabling skilled practitioners to collect and store health data, examine results over time, and provide better continuity of care to patients who may have undocumented medical histories. The medical clinic is divided into two main areas: one for patient reception and mental health care, and a second private, but more spacious area with an examination table and a physician/nursing workstation. This design helps to improve patient privacy and allows the team to treat patients with the dignity and respect they deserve.

For more information about TELUS Health for Good, visit telus.com/healthforgood .

About TELUS Health for Good

Since 2014, TELUS Health for Good has been helping to remove many of the barriers Canadians living on the streets face in receiving medical care and reconnecting thousands of patients to the public healthcare system. Mobile Health Clinics, powered by TELUS, were originally inspired by the work being done by Doctors of The World . The Mobile Health Clinics provide essential primary medical care, including electronic medical records, generating over 50,000 patient visits since the programs inception. Today, through numerous partnerships, volunteers, and the power of technology, TELUS Health for Good is an efficient and innovative mobile healthcare delivery tool to reach communities in need by bringing healthcare directly to the people that need it most.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications and information technology company with $15 billion in annual revenue and 15.4 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video and security. At TELUS, we leverage our world-leading technologys potential to enable remarkable human outcomes. Our long-standing commitment to putting customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. TELUS Health is Canadas largest healthcare IT provider, and TELUS International delivers the most innovative business process solutions to some of the worlds most established brands.

Driven by our passionate social purpose to connect all Canadians for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired our team members and retirees to contribute $736 million and 1.4 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com , follow us @TELUSNews on Twitter and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.

About Kilala Lelum

Kilala Lelum is a non-profit Indigenous Health organization that has been operating in Vancouvers inner city since 2018. The Kilala Lelum Health Centre offers an inter-professional team based primary care home and is composed of family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, counselors, social workers, outreach works, nutritionists, peer community health workers, Indigenous Elders and Indigenous Cultural Workers. The mandate of Kilala Lelum is to provide culturally safe and effective care to patients of all nations. Specifically, the centre has the mandate to enact the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action in Health (Health Actions 19-23) and to specifically recognize, respect, and address the distinct health needs of the Metis, Inuit, First Nations, and off-reserve Indigenous peoples. For more information visit, https://kilalalelum.ca/ .

For media inquiries, please contact:

Lena Chen

TELUS Public Relations

lena.chen@telus.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/90371616-54d3-418d-be11-57eb6c887bef




PITTSBURGH, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to create a convenient way to cook several meal and dessert options within a Dutch oven while camping," said an inventor, from Taylorsville, Utah, "so I invented CAMP ACCESSORIES. My design also eliminates the need to clean trays or pans after cooking."

The patent-pending invention provides an effective way to cook multiple foods simultaneously in a Dutch oven. In doing so, it eliminates the hassle of cooking foods separately. As a result, it saves time and effort and it can be easily transported to a camping site. The invention features a lightweight design that is convenient and easy to use so it is ideal for camping enthusiasts. Additionally, it is producible in design variations.

The original design was submitted to the Salt Lake City sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 19-STU-2411, InventHelp, 217 Ninth Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or call (412) 288-1300 ext. 1368. Learn more about InventHelp's Invention Submission Services at http://www.InventHelp.com.

SOURCE InventHelp

Related Links

http://www.inventhelp.com


BRIDGEPORT  City detectives are investigating a Wednesday afternoon stabbing that injured one person, according to police.

Officers responded to Bridgeport Hospital shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a stab victim.

Police said hospital personnel told officers that an individual with a non-life-threatening stab wound to the arm had just showed up at the emergency department.

Officials said the victim is not cooperating with police.
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It was around midnight Tuesday when Syrita Steib, the leader of a womens re-entry program in New Orleans, heard the news from one of her lawyers. President Donald Trump was granting her a full pardon for a crime she committed at the age of 19.

Steib roused herself from sleep to double-check what she was hearing.

Wait, what? she said.

On Wednesday morning, the White House announced the news to the world. The criminal justice reform advocate, who has fought for years for formerly incarcerated people to receive a clean slate, finally had one of her own, along with dozens of others ranging from Steve Bannon to Lil Wayne.

With Steib having long since finished serving a 10-year prison term, the pardons main practical effect will be to relieve Steib from what the White House called "crushing" monthly restitution payments. In an interview Wednesday, she cast the pardon as a victory for everyone like her who has made amends for long-ago crimes.

Its a possibility that you can leave behind your mistakes and be completely transformed, she said.

+3 New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne granted last-minute pardon by President Donald Trump The shrewdest political maneuver of the 2020 election cycle may have been made by Lil Wayne.

The transformation was years in the making. In 2000, as a teenager serving in the U.S. Navy, she participated in the burglary and arson of an auto dealership in Tyler, Texas.

She pleaded guilty, received a 10-year sentence and was ordered to pay $1.9 million in restitution. Toward the end of the 9 years and 2 months she served behind bars, she began taking classes through a Florida community college and amassed 30 college credits.

Shes often recounted what happened when she came home to Louisiana. She applied to the University of New Orleans and ticked a box indicating that shed previously been convicted of a crime. The university denied her entry. Then she applied again, leaving off the prior conviction, and received conditional approval.

Steib later came clean to a professor who mentored her, and the university allowed her to stay, she has said. Next she went to LSUs Health Sciences Center, where she earned a degree in laboratory science.

Ban the box for college applications heads to governor's desk Public colleges and universities cant ask most applicants about their criminal past under legislation the Louisiana House gave final approval

She was considering going to medical school. But in 2016 she switched focus and founded Operation Restoration, the New Orleans areas first non-profit focused solely on helping formerly incarcerated women rejoin society.

In 2017, Steib used her own experience to help win passage of a Louisiana law that bans the box on state university and college applications, forbidding them from asking about criminal histories in most situations.

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Operation Restoration has grown rapidly to provide a wide variety of services, including advice on founding companies, GED instruction, social services, housing and support for basic needs like clothes, rent and utilities.

In 2018, the group caught the eye of Saints owner Gayle Benson, who made a surprise announcement at a criminal justice roundtable that she would offer the non-profit space in Benson Tower, free of charge.

Steib has continued her advocacy -- and taken it to the White House. She helped push for the passage of the First Step Act in 2018, which lowered mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes and eased federal habitual offender laws.

The work put her in touch with Trump confidants like his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, but she says she applied for a pardon like everyone else. Her supporters included Louisiana 4th Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Sandra Cabrina Jenkins, Sister Marjorie Hebert, the CEO of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, and former Saints tight end Benjamin Watson.

Watson got to know Steib after he advocated a change to Louisiana law that restored voting rights to people with felony convictions who have been out of prison for at least five years. Soon after, she approached Watson at an event and thanked him, noting that she was one of the laws beneficiaries.

From that point on, we developed a friendship. We traveled a couple times to the White House to talk to the administration about criminal justice reform, Watson said. Shes such a strong, resilient leader. Not only in the New Orleans community.

The congratulations have flooded in since the pardon was announced, Steib said.

Its been overwhelming. You dont even realize who is supporting you or who is paying attention until something happens, and then you see how many people are really happy for you, she said.

Bannon and others on the list of last-minute pardons have aroused controversy and accusations that Trump picked his cronies for relief over thousands of other more deserving people. But Steib said shes grateful for the other, lesser-known people who made the cut, like her friend and fellow advocate Amy Povah, the founder of the CAN-DO (Clemency for All Non-violent Drug Offenders) Foundation.

Moreover, Steib promised that her own pardon isnt the last one shell seek. In the long run, shed like to see grants of clemency become automatic so they dont depend on the whim of a president. In the short run, shell keep lobbying.

Im ready to see how many more pardons we can get with this new administration, she said.
According to a video released on Facebook, January 16, 2021, AW-159 Wildcat helicopter from the South Korean navy has recently conducted a live firing exercise with the launch of Spike NLOS missile against a surface target.

According to a video released on Facebook, January 16, 2021, AW-159 Wildcat helicopter from the South Korean navy has recently conducted a live firing exercise with the launch of Spike NLOS missile against a surface target.

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South Korean Navy conducts live firing of Spike NLOS missile from AW159 Wildcat naval helicopter. (Picture source South Korean TV)

The AW159 Wildcat is a naval helicopter manufactured by the company AgustaWestland and used to conduct search and rescue and anti-surface warfare missions. The AW159 is in service Philippines, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

In January 2013, the AW159 was selected as a naval helicopter for the' South Korean Navy. A total of eight helicopters were purchased by South Korea to perform search-and-rescue missions, anti-submarine warfare, and surveillance. In January 2014, DAPA (Defense Acquisition Program Administration) announced it will equip its Wildcat helicopters with Spike NLOS missiles to provide a stand-off attack capability for engaging targets such as ground artillery and small vessels.

The first four helicopters AW159 were delivered to the South Korean Navy in June 2016 and commissioned in February 2017. The helicopters operate from the Navy's Incheon-class guided missile/coastal defense frigates.



The SPIKE family is an advanced naval missile system utilizing a dual EO sensor, CCD/IIR, and an automatic tracker for day and night applications. It is capable of pinpoint accuracy for surface-to-surface and surface-to-shore target engagement at ranges up to 32 km.



The NLOS naval version of the Spike has a maximum firing range of 32 km and able to hit Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) targets with pinpoint accuracy. The missile enables real-time tactical intelligence gathering and the ability to switch between targets during missile flight, as well as control of aborting the mission. The NLOS systems enable the missile to effectively strike targets beyond the line of sight.

Effective in low-intensity asymmetric engagements, high-intensity anti-armor conflicts, and stand-off combat, the NLOS missile can be supplied with a variety of warheads including High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT), Penetration Blast Fragmentation (PBF) with warhead detonation control, and Fragmentation.

The NLOS missile is equipped with a passive dual-mode E-O seeker, an Imaging Infra-Red (IIR) camera, advanced image processing tracker, and Charge Coupled Device (CCD) which enable its day/night capabilities.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Three new senators were sworn into office Wednesday after President Joe Bidens inauguration, securing the majority for Democrats in the Senate and across a unified government to tackle the new presidents agenda at a time of unprecedented national challenges.

In a first vote, the Senate confirmed Bidens nominee for Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines. Senators worked into the evening and overcame some Republican opposition to approve his first Cabinet member, in whats traditionally a show of good faith on Inauguration Day to confirm at least some nominees for a new presidents administration.

Haines, a former CIA deputy director, will become a core member of Bidens security team, overseeing the 18 agencies that make up the nations intelligence community. She was confirmed 84-10.

The new Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged colleagues to turn the spirit of the new presidents call for unity into action.

President Biden, we heard you loud and clear, Schumer said in his first . We have a lengthy agenda. And we need to get it done together.

Vice President Kamala Harris drew applause as she entered the chamber to deliver the oath of office to the new Democratic senators  Jon Ossoff, Raphael Warnock and Alex Padilla  just hours after taking her own oath at the Capitol alongside Biden.

The three Democrats join a Senate narrowly split 50-50 between the parties, but giving Democrats the majority with Harris able to cast the tie-breaking vote.

Ossoff, a former congressional aide and investigative journalist, and Warnock, a pastor from the late Martin Luther King Jr.s church in Atlanta, won run-off elections in Georgia this month, defeating two Republicans. Padilla was tapped by Californias governor to finish the remainder of Harris term.

Today, America is turning over a new leaf. We are turning the page on the last four years, were going to reunite the country, defeat COVID-19, rush economic relief to the people, Ossoff told reporters earlier at the Capitol. Thats what they sent us here to do.

Taken together, their arrival gives Democrats for the first time in a decade control of the Senate, the House and the White House, as Biden faces the unparalleled challenges of the COVID-19 crisis and its economic fallout, and the nations painful political divisions from the deadly Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol by a mob loyal to Donald Trump.

Congress is being called on to consider Bidens proposed $1.9 trillion COVID recovery package, to distribute vaccines and shore up an economy as more than 400,000 Americans have died from the virus. At the same time, the Senate is about to launch an impeachment trial of Trump, charged by the House of inciting the insurrection at the Capitol as rioters tried to interrupt the Electoral College tally and overturn Bidens election. The Senate will need to confirm other Biden Cabinet nominees.

To restore the soul of the country, Biden said in his inaugural speech, requires unity.

Yet as Washington looks to turn the page from Trump to the Biden administration, Republican leader Mitch McConnell is not relinquishing power without a fight.

Haines nomination was temporarily blocked by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Okla., as he sought information about the CIAs enhanced interrogation program. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., is holding back the Homeland Security nominee Alejandro Mayorkas over Bidens proposed immigration changes.

And McConnell is refusing to enter a power-sharing agreement with Senate Democrats unless they meet his demands, chiefly to preserve the Senate filibuster  the procedural tool often used by the minority party to block bills under rules that require 60 votes to advance legislation.

Its an arcane fight McConnell has inserted into what has traditionally been a more routine organizing resolution over committee assignments and staffing resources, but a power play by the outgoing Republican leader grabbing at tools that can be used to block Bidens agenda.

Progressive and liberal Democrats are eager to do away with the filibuster to more quickly advance Bidens priorities, but not all rank-and-file Senate Democrats are on board. Schumer has not agreed to any changes but McConnell is taking no chances.

Talks have hit a stalemate, leaving Senate action uncertain.

McConnell, in his first speech as the minority party leader, said the election results with narrow Democratic control of the House and Senate showed that Americans intentionally entrusted both political parties with significant power.

The Republican leader said he looked forward working with the new president wherever possible.

Biden has said he wants Congress to press ahead on all fronts, confirming his nominees and considering his legislative priorities, but also holding the former president responsible during the impeachment trial.

Thats a tall order for a Senate under normal circumstances, but even more so now in the post-Trump era, with Republicans badly split between their loyalties to the defeated president and wealthy donors who are distancing themselves from Republicans who back Trump.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to soon transmit to the Senate the House-passed article of impeachment against Trump, charged with incitement of insurrection, a step that will launch the Senate impeachment trial.

It will take unanimous consent among senators to toggle between conducting votes on legislative business and serving as jurors in the impeachment trial. The House last week impeached Trump for having sent the mob to the Capitol to fight like hell during the tally of Electoral College votes to overturn Bidens election.

By Lisa Mascaro. Mary Clare Jalonick contributed.
Custody: Alexei Navalny addresses his supporters on YouTube from a police station in Khimki, outside Moscow, on Monday. Photo: Navalny Life / AP

Leading Kremlin adversary Alexei Navalny, detained after flying back to Russia for the first time since being poisoned with a Soviet-era nerve agent, is spending his days under strict control in a VIP cell inside one of Moscows most infamous jails.

The prison, called Matrosskaya Tishina or Sailors Silence, occupies a block in Moscows north-east and has housed high-ranking prisoners the authorities wanted to cut off from the outside world since the Soviet era.

Id read about it (the prison) in books and now Im here, Mr Navalny quipped in an Instagram post.

The Kremlin has again dismissed calls from the West to release Mr Navalny.

The condemnations of his arrest and renewed calls from abroad for his release have added to the existing tensions between Russia and the West. Some EU countries are suggesting more sanctions against Moscow.

Read More

But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that we cant and are not going to take these statements into account".

We are talking about a fact of noncompliance with the Russian law by a citizen of Russia, he said.

"This is an absolutely internal matter and we will not allow anyone to interfere in it and do not intend to listen to such statements.

Mr Navalny (44) was detained on Sunday evening at passport control at Moscows Sheremetyevo airport after arriving from Berlin, where he was treated following the poisoning in August.

On Monday, he was ordered to pre-trial detention for 30 days during a court hearing that was hastily set up in a police precinct where Mr Navalny was being held.

Russias prison service maintains that Mr Navalny, Russias most prominent opposition figure and anti-corruption campaigner, violated the probation terms of his suspended sentence on a 2014 money-laundering conviction, which was deemed arbitrary by the European Court of Human Rights.

Officials are seeking to send Mr Navalny to prison to serve the three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence.

He has interpreted the crackdown against him as a sign of Vladimir Putins fear. Mr Peskov dismissed suggestions that Mr Putin was afraid of Mr Navalny as nonsense and insisted that he had violated the law. The spokesman said the questions law enforcement had for Mr Navalny have nothing whatsoever to do with the Russian president.

Mr Navalny fell into a coma while aboard a domestic flight from Siberia to Moscow on August 20 and was flown to a Berlin hospital two days later.

Labs in Germany, France and Sweden, and tests by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, established that he was exposed to a Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent.

Russian authorities insisted the doctors who treated Mr Navalny in Siberia found no traces of poison and refused to start a criminal inquiry.

Last month, Mr Navalny released the recording of a phone call he said he made to a man who he alleged was a member of a group of officers of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) who purportedly poisoned him in August and then tried to cover it up. The FSB has dismissed the recording as fake.

After Mr Navalny was jailed on Monday, his allies announced preparations for nationwide protests this Saturday and released a video of Mr Navalny urging people to not be afraid and take to the streets.

The Kremlin said it did not fear mass protests.

Mr Navalnys Foundation for Fighting Corruption released a two-hour video investigation of what they called Putins palace  an estate on Russias Black Sea that they said cost $1.3bn (1.1bn) and was allegedly funded through an elaborate corruption scheme involving Mr Putins inner circle.
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Betterplace, Indias largest tech platform for blue-collar workforce management has appointed Pitchfork Partners as its public relations counsel following a multi-agency pitch. Pitchfork Partners will work closely with Betterplace to elevate the brands reputation and strengthen its position as an organization dedicated to the blue-collar employee space.

Betterplaces goal is to help enterprises grow faster and help the blue-collar workforce get the right opportunities. Betterplace has built a SaaS platform for enterprises to hire, manage and engage a highly distributed blue-collar workforce. More than 1000 enterprise customers are using the platform to manage their workforce at scale and speed. The platform also helps to bring the overall cost down by at least 20% by providing a ready resource pool to hire from, completely automated onboarding with inbuilt compliance, touchless attendance management with the smartest rostering and productivity tools like attrition forecasting, persona building and much more.

Pravin Agarwala, Co-founder, CEO, Betterplace, said, The blue-collar workforce is the backbone of every country. In India, many are part of the unorganized space and thus are not able to connect with potential employers. It is our endeavor to simplify this process and help organizations with end-to-end blue-collar workforce management through our data-driven technology platform. Pitchfork Partners shares our passion and beliefs. We are positive that its expertise will play a key role in the success of our communication agenda. We see a huge opportunity for sustained growth and Pitchfork has the credentials to assist us.

Pitchfork Partners is a strategy consultancy committed to taking care of clients reputation. This is especially important at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has permanently altered the business landscape, from consumer mobility to media consumption and supply chains. In such a scenario, a brands reputation is its strongest asset. To maintain it, therefore, there is an even greater need to ensure positive experiences for stakeholders. This is why Pitchfork Partners specializes in understanding business needs and aligning communication to business goals, championing reputation building, management and protection. The consultancy sees itself as a reputation warrior, offering bespoke solutions and a team comprising marketing and communication veterans.

Jaideep Shergill, Co-founder, Pitchfork Partners, said, We are happy to partner with an organization like Betterplace. The technology-driven platform addresses concern regarding blue-collar workforce management. Betterplace plays a pivotal role in connecting the enterprise and employees. It is a great opportunity to bridge the gap and help Betterplace achieve its vision through strategic and insights-driven communication.

About Betterplace

Betterplace, Indias largest tech platform for blue-collar workforce management founded in 2015 works with more than 1000 companies in India to meet the aspirations and needs of the blue-collar workforce, with the objective to organize the hiring, managing and engaging model coupled with the vision to improve their livelihood. Betterplace customers are present across blue-collar heavy industries such as Private Security, Logistics, Facility Management, IT/ITES, On-Demand Services, Retail, Construction and more.

Betterplace SaaS platform enables employers to manage the entire life-cycle of their blue-collar workforce by providing them services such as Hiring, Assessment of job seekers, Digital Onboarding, KYC, Training, Attendance Management, Payroll, Compliance and more, while helping blue-collar employees get trained and up-skilled, with access to financial and healthcare services. Since its inception, Betterplace has helped empower over 7.5 million people and aims to bring 150 million workers into the formal economy by 2022.
The company has received a new batch of assays from the ongoing 42-hole, multi-rig drilling campaign at the project.

Assays from the project continue to impress the companys technical team.

( ) (OTCMKTS:ARTTF) (FRA:ATY) has received strong gold, copper and cobalt assay results from ongoing drilling at its 100%-owned Carlow Castle Gold Copper Cobalt Project in the West Pilbara region of Western Australia.

The 10,000-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program is targeting new discovery zones and resource extensions and the company has received new batches of assays from the ongoing 42-hole, multi-rig drilling campaign.

At the New Northern Discovery Zone, shallow reconnaissance RC holes around 250 metres north of the main Carlow Castle resource area returned:

5 metres at 4.36 g/t gold, 2.67% copper and 0.49% cobalt from 32 metres including 2 metres at 9.26 g/t gold, 4.94% copper and 0.98% cobalt from 33 metres;

1-metre at 3.03 g/t gold, 3.30% copper and 0.30% cobalt from 52 metres; and

2 metres at 2.28 g/t gold, 0.57% copper and 0.51% cobalt from 86 metres.

Results from resource infill diamond drilling includes:

9 metres at 2.12 g/t gold, 1.63% copper, 0.39% cobalt from 74 metres, including 3 metres at 4.04 g/t gold, 0.97% copper, 0.75% cobalt from 75 metres;

9 metres at 1.79 g/t gold, 0.94% copper, 0.39% cobalt from 49 metres including, 4 metres at 3.14 g/t gold, 1.83% copper, 0.75% cobalt from 49 metres;

10 metres at 0.92 g/t gold, 1.14% copper from 101 metres;

21 metres at 1.05 g/t gold, 0.49% copper from 190 metres; and

6 metres at 3.42 g/t gold, 0.64% copper, 0.43% cobalt from 177 metres, including 2 metres at 7.17 g/t gold, 1.43% copper, 0.93% cobalt from 177 metres.

"Outstanding drill results"

Artemis executive director Alastair Clayton said: As evidenced by yet more outstanding drill results, the Carlow Castle Gold Copper Cobalt Project is on its way to delivering our stated aims under Project One Million.

Drilling for resource step-outs, the Northern Discovery Zone and resource infill programs are all delivering strong gold, copper and cobalt assay results.

Particularly noteworthy is the new Northern Discovery Zone located 250 metres to the north of the main resource zone, which appears to be coalescing into a significant source of new, high-grade and shallow mineralisation.

It is worth noting the exceptionally high-grade copper content in many of these shallow Northern Discovery Zone holes.

The copper and cobalt content of mineralisation at Carlow Castle should not be overlooked and copper may be particularly important to the company when intercepts with grades of between 1% to 4% copper that are coincident with high-grade gold are being routinely uncovered.

Carlow Castle current program interpretive drill section showing shallow RC hole intersections in the Northern Discovery zone.

Further assays pending

Clayton said: The current 10,000-metre RC drilling program is working to extend the Northern Discovery Zone to the NW and SW, with a number of holes already completed and samples received at the assay lab.

In addition, further assays from the three-hole, Carlow Deeps 'Feeder Zone' drilling program are expected shortly, as well as more diamond infill and extension holes, all of which were completed in Q4 2020.

The company has allotted a portion of its ongoing 10,000-metre RC drilling program to test new exploration targets generated from the IP survey that is in process.

Additionally, the 1,000-metre diamond program is due to start on Friday, January 22 (subject to regional weather events), after which consultants CSA Global will complete an updated structural model for the Carlow Castle deposit.

Clayton said: We are working towards a significant resource upgrade later in the first half of 2021, with a further resource upgrade likely before the end of 2021.
U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney is out of touch with Wyoming for her vote to impeach President Donald Trump, a Republican state senator said Wednesday in announcing he will run against her.

Sen. Anthony Bouchard of Cheyenne has a long time to become better known to voters before the August 2022 Republican primary. But he faces tough odds against the nationally known Cheney.

Along with a recent censure vote by the Carbon County Republican Party, it was the latest political fallout for Cheney for her Jan. 13 vote to impeach. Cheney was among 10 Republicans siding with Democrats in the 232-197 vote.

Liz Cheneys long-time opposition to President Trump and her most recent vote for impeachment shows just how out-of-touch she is with Wyoming, Bouchard said in a statement on his website.

Cheney didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

A gun-rights activist who along with his wife works in a family septic system cleaning business, Bouchard has served in the Senate since 2017. He is little known outside the Cheyenne area.

Cheney has quickly risen since her election to Congress in 2016 to the No. 3 GOP leadership position in the U.S. House. Her job as chairwoman of the House Republican Conference includes coordinating GOP messaging in the chamber.

Cheney has described her vote to impeach as one to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

In Saturdays unanimous vote to censure Cheney, Republicans in rural south-central Wyomings Carbon County accused her of violating the trust of those who voted for her.

While its not yet known if the Wyoming Republican Party central committee will consider censuring Cheney when it meets Feb. 5-6 in Rawlins, no other county Republican officials as of Wednesday had done so. Statewide elected officials including Wyomings Republican U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis stood by Cheney when asked about the censure vote.

Representative Cheney is a key part of our delegations stature, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon said in a statement Tuesday.

Trump won Wyoming in November by his widest margin of any state, claiming 70% of the vote. A daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney beat a little-known Democrat with 69%.

She raised almost $3 million in the election cycle and as of November had a more than $150,000 surplus in her campaign accounts, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Bouchard filed the paperwork Wednesday to run for Congress. Cheney filed in November to run for re-election.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A steady, heavy rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.
A woman has discovered her neighbour defecating in her back yard in broad daylight.

She moved into the New Farm property in trendy inner Brisbane just last month and said the incident was not the welcome she was expecting.

The woman, who was shocked at what she was witnessing, recorded the incident and shared it to a local community group.

'He saw me when he walked away but didn't seem phased by me,' she explained.

'I don't think this is his first public poop.'

The woman, who was shocked at what she was witnessing, recorded the incident and shared it to a local community group

She said she was certain it's not the first time the man has pooped in public, given how comfortable he was in the act and his preparedness.

The man had even come prepared with his own toilet paper.

'Seems he was prepared for this,' she explained. 'We've just moved to New Farm and thought it was a nice area  what is this.'

The man appeared to attempt to conceal himself, partially covered by a car and leaning up against a fence.

But she had a clear view of the entire incident from inside her home, and recognised him as she was drinking her morning coffee.

The man appeared to attempt to conceal himself, partially covered by a car and leaning up against a fence

The incident comes three years after the infamous 'poo jogger' was exposed in Brisbane after fed up neighbours exposed him for repeatedly defecating in the street.

The man, later identified as Andrew Macintosh, would poop in public while on late night or early morning runs throughout the southeastern suburb of Greenslopes.

Neighbours believe he'd pooped on their property up to 30 times before he was eventually caught.

Macintosh was charged with public nuisance after neighbours installed cameras to catch him in the act.
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Carolina study shows positive messages about togetherness and unity were more appealing than messages of fear or instructiveness

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Many organizations are looking at effective ways to communicate the importance of wearing a mask, especially as highly transmissible new strains of coronavirus threaten to cause a surge in infections.

Experts at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggest positive messages are critical to supporting the effort.

Their findings, described in a study published in December in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, give public health experts, leaders and communicators critical insight to craft messaging that could potentially increase mask usage during the pandemic.

"As science evolved during the pandemic, it became clear wearing masks was going to be a critical step," said Allison Lazard, associate professor at the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media. "But there just isn't much out there for evidence-based messaging, especially not for what might motivate people to wear face coverings."

Lazard led the study with Victoria Shelus, doctoral student in health behavior at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and the Carolina Population Center. Researchers conducted six virtual focus groups with residents in North Carolina to gain a better understanding of when and why they are using face coverings, as well as potential insights for messaging that might improve rates of usage.

Focus group diversity, perspectives on mask wearing

The six focus groups featured participants from many demographics, including Latinx (English- and Spanish-speaking); Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC); white and living in a rural area; and young adults aged 18-25.

Focus group participants reported that they wore face coverings frequently when in public, indoor settings - including grocery stores, health care facilities and religious services - but did not wear them when outside and able to practice physical distancing. Participants also reported forgoing masks while home alone or with household members, as well as in indoor office settings with co-workers.

Study participants were primarily motivated to wear masks to protect and respect the safety of fellow community members, especially family who are at higher risk of complications from infection. Focus groups commonly believed that masks were effective and that wearing one was a matter of personal responsibility. The authority of mask mandates and public health guidance also played a motivating role.

Conversely, participants did not use masks in situations where they did not feel their use was necessary, such as around family and trusted friends or colleagues. The study reported that "these interactions were not perceived as occurring in public. These perceptions are problematic, as cluster infections among family, friends and colleagues remain a common pattern for COVID-19 transmission."

Social challenges prevented some from wearing masks or asking others to wear them out of fear of causing offense. Some cited barriers related to physical challenges and low perception of susceptibility. In addition to confusion about whether masks protected the wearer or only others around them, some participants were confused by guidance at the beginning of the pandemic that called for masks to be reserved only for health care personnel. And while infrequent, myths and conspiracy theories surrounding facial coverings caused concern.

Issues related to identity - such as political affiliation, or the perception that masks were "uncool," "not masculine" or an infringement on individual rights - also created challenges. According to the study, "even participants who consistently wore face coverings disliked being told what to do."

Communications solutions

In discussion of potential communication strategies with the focus groups, concise and positive messages about togetherness and unity were more appealing than messages of fear or instructiveness. Stories that conveyed the personal effects of COVID-19 were particularly impactful, such as accounts from health care workers or those who had lost a loved one to the virus.

"As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in North Carolina and across the United States, there is an urgent need for effective messaging to encourage the use of face coverings," said Shelus. "Among our recommendations is a need for public health messaging to normalize the use of masks in social settings. We're seeing a rise in COVID-19 cases from unmasked indoor interactions with family and friends over the holidays, and this may continue over the winter months."

Following the focus groups, the study team launched a broader survey to ask more individuals in North Carolina about what might help to motivate them to wear a face mask.

The insights from this survey were similar to those gained in the study -- residents want to protect others and themselves, and they want positive messages to encourage them to do so.

"We are pleased to see our insights incorporated in the 'Whatever Your Reason' campaign that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has launched statewide to encourage everyone to 'get behind the mask,'" said Lazard.

###
The new dispensary brings expanded access for patients in the growing communities of Central Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company based in the United States, announced today the opening of a brand-new Florida dispensary, the Company's 77th nationwide. The new, 5,100 sq. ft. location marks the Company's first in Summerfield, expanding patient access to Florida's largest and broadest assortment of high-quality medical cannabis products.

The new dispensary supports Trulieve's goal of expanding and ensuring direct, reliable access to medical cannabis across its home state of Florida. It joins the Company's 71 other dispensaries statewide, including those in nearby Ocala and Lady Lake.

"It's exciting to see how far we've come since we first opening our Lady Lake location four years ago. It's been an honor to grow with the community of The Villages, and we look forward to celebrating the community for many years to come," said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers. "We've been fortunate to develop a passionate patient base and our continued growth is due in large part to those relationships. Whether someone is starting their journey towards relief or seeking a new treatment alternative, our well-trained staff is ready to assist patients at every step of the process. We encourage all patients to reach out to find out more."

In honor of the Company's brand-new dispensary, all patients  from those new to Trulieve to the dedicated Truliever community  will be eligible for a 25% in-store discount at the new Summerfield dispensary on Thursday, January 21st. In line with policies adopted statewide, all visitors are required to wear masks for the duration of their dispensary visit. Additionally, only patients and their state-approved caregivers will be allowed inside the waiting room and dispensary at this time.

ANNOUNCING: Trulieve Summerfield Grand Opening

WHERE: 17950 S US 441, Summerfield, FL 34491

WHEN: Thursday, January 21, 2021, at 9:00 a.m.

In stores and online, patients will find Florida's largest selection of THC and CBD products in a variety of delivery methods, including edibles, smokable cannabis, concentrates, tinctures, topical creams, vaporizers, and more. Trulieve also offers home delivery statewide for patients and convenient in-store pickup at each of its 72 dispensaries in Florida.

To assist patients with ordering, Trulieve has made our entire catalog of products available for online ordering, with in-store pickup and statewide home delivery options available. In addition, patients can schedule a complimentary 30-minute virtual consultation with a Trulieve certified consultant to help navigate questions on products, devices, or review their doctor's recommendation.

Furthermore, to assist with CDC recommendations for social distancing and in compliance with additional company-enforced safety guidelines, several measures have been taken to ensure the health and well-being of employees and patients, including modifications to the layout of all stores, installation of plexiglass partitions and HEPA air filtration scrubbers in every dispensary, increasing access to masks and sanitizer throughout the store for staff and visitors, utilizing visual aids to direct traffic throughout the store, and increasing the frequency of deep cleanings for all dispensaries.

Trulieve is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and will update store policies as needed to ensure the highest level of safety of our patients and staff. All updates will be shared directly on Trulieve's website as they are enacted.

The Office of Medical Marijuana Use recently announced the registry has surpassed 465,000 registered medical marijuana patients with an active ID card, with Trulieve consistently selling approximately half of the state's overall volume per the Florida Department of Health. To support the state's rapidly growing patient base, there are more than 2,700 registered ordering physicians in the State of Florida.

For more information, please visit www.Trulieve.com.

About Trulieve

Trulieve is primarily a vertically integrated "seed-to-sale" company in the U.S., and is the first and largest fully licensed medical cannabis company in the State of Florida. Trulieve cultivates and produces all of its products in-house and distributes those products to Trulieve-branded stores (dispensaries) throughout the State of Florida, as well as directly to patients via home delivery. Trulieve also has operations in California, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF.

To learn more about Trulieve, visit www.Trulieve.com.

SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.

Related Links

https://www.trulieve.com/


Two explosions rocked Baghdad on Thursday, killing and injuring dozens of people.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up while being chased by security forces in the Bab al-Sharqi commercial area of central Baghdad, Iraqi military spokesman Yehia Rasool said in a statement. As of late Thursday afternoon local time, 32 people had died and 110 were injured, the Ministry of Health reported.

The blasts took place in a crowded shopping area, footage released from the Iraqiya state media outlet showed.

Such bombings were common in Baghdad in the years following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. The security situation in the city has improved more recently. Baghdad was spared the war with the Islamic State (IS) that began in 2014. There are regular rocket attacks in the vicinity of the US Embassy, but these do not often lead to deaths.

IS later claimed credit for the attack. The terror group carried out a deadly attack in 2016 in Baghdad that killed around 300 people.
London: Four former senior aides of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are prepared to give evidence in court over whether she intended a letter she sent to her father to become public, London's High Court has been told.

Meghan, 39, the wife of Prince Harry, is suing publisher Associated Newspapers after its Mail on Sunday tabloid printed extracts of the handwritten letter she sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, in August 2018.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speaks during a school assembly in London, last year. Credit:AP

She has asked a judge to rule in her favour without need for a potentially embarrassing trial, with her lawyers telling the High Court that publishing the "intrinsically private, personal and sensitive letter" was a plain breach of her privacy to which there was no viable defence.

The paper argues that the duchess intended the letter's contents to become public and it was part of a media strategy, pointing out she had admitted in court papers discussing it with her communications secretary, Jason Knauf.
Other world leaders took the opportunity to congratulate, and press, the new administration for a return to diplomacy and civility, or simply to see their point of view. Pope Francis told Biden he was praying that God would guide his efforts to bring reconciliation in the US and among the nations of the world. Pope Francis is praying for Joe Biden. Credit:AP In a message sent shortly after the second Catholic US President was sworn in, Francis also said he hoped Biden would work towards a society marked by true justice, freedom and respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those with no voice. "Under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding," Francis said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wished Biden well, describing the relationship between Australia and the United States as the best of mates and best of allies. "We have been through everything together over a very long time," Morrison told reporters in regional Queensland. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video "And this is a relationship between Australia and the United States that has been stewarded by prime ministers and presidents of all political persuasions for a very long time and to the great benefit and the great success of both countries." He said the relationship was more important today than at any time since the end of World War II.

"I appreciate the sort of very warm sentiment that we're already getting back from the Biden administration [...] There is a lot of work for us to do, whether it is on climate, energy, international security and, importantly, regional security here in the Indo-Pacific. Loading He said he particularly warmly congratulated Vice-President Kamala Harris on her inauguration, describing her election as a historic moment and as a father of daughters, you can only celebrate. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Bidens message of unity resonated with New Zealanders and she wished him well. Of his commitment to climate and America's place in the world she said: "We have a common investment in the international rules-based order and I welcome President Bidens intentions for the US to re-join the Paris Agreement and halt its withdrawal from the World Health Organisation." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he looked forward to working with Biden "and with his new administration, strengthening the partnership between our countries and working on our shared priorities: from tackling climate change, building back better from the pandemic and strengthening our transatlantic security."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, said the neighbours would "continue this partnership as we fight the global COVID-19 pandemic and support a sustainable economic recovery that will build back better for everyone". "We will also work together to advance climate action and clean economic growth, promote inclusion and diversity, and create good middle class jobs and opportunities for our people while contributing to democracy, peace, and security at home and around the world." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted: "The United States is back. And Europe stands ready. To reconnect with an old and trusted partner, to breathe new life into our cherished alliance. I look forward to working together with @JoeBiden." Ursula von der Leyen: "The United States is back". Credit:Bloomberg German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said "Today is a good day for democracy [...] Despite the attempts to tear at Americas institutional fabric, election workers and governors, the judiciary and Congress, have proven strong. I am greatly relieved that, today, Joe Biden is being sworn in as president and will be moving into the White House. I know many people in Germany share this feeling."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Biden and Harris on their "historic inauguration". President Biden, you and I have had a warm personal friendship going back many decades. I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world, and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran." Loading Netanyahu's office released a separate statement on Trump: President Trump, thank you for all the great things you have done for Israel, especially your historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and bringing four peace agreements between Israel and the Arab world. Biden appears to see a return to the Iran deal as a prelude to wider talks on Irans nuclear work, its ballistic missiles and regional activities. But Tehran has ruled out halting its missile program or changing its regional policy.
Farmer leaders on Thursday rejected the government's offer to suspend the three farm laws for 12 to 16 months. At a full general body meeting of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, a complete repeal of three central farm laws and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for every farmer were again reiterated as the outstanding demands of the farmers movement.

"The Morcha pays homage to more than 140 farmers who have lost their lives in the agitation. These companions are separated from us while fighting this mass movement. Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repeal of these farm laws," said a statement released by the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha.

In the meeting held with police officials, the police requested the farmers not to take out the tractor parade in Delhi, while the farmers repeated their plan to do that on the Outer Ring Road of the Capital.

"This peaceful movement is becoming a nationwide people's movement. Farmers are uniting for Republic Day through vehicle rallies in many places in Karnataka. Tractor marches are taking place in many places in Kerala as well. Farmers of Bilaspur and Rampur in Uttarakhand are preparing for the farmers' parade in Delhi by organising tractor marches. Farmers in Chhattisgarh will march towards the Raj Bhavan on January 23 and a group of farmers will also leave for Delhi," Dr. Darshan Pal of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha told IANS.

"The Kisan Delhi Chalo Yatra of Navnirman Kisan Sangathan, which was started from Odisha, is being disturbed repeatedly by the Uttar Pradesh police. Police officials are disturbing public meetings also. We oppose this behaviour of the administration," the statement further said. "A big three-day protest will take place in Kolkata from January 20 to January 22. Thousands of people are likely to participate in this. The protest is expected to intensify in the coming days," added the statement.
Kamala Harris wore a regal purple outfit and black heels by black designers Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson for her historic inauguration.

The 56-year-old was sworn in as Vice President of the United States at the Capitol on Wednesday, making history as the first woman  as well as the first black and South Asian woman  to hold the position.

Harris thrust the rising American designers, who have both worked with Michelle Obama, into the spotlight when she stepped out in their respective pieces.

Inclusive style: Kamala Harris, 56, wore a purple outfit featuring pieces by two black designers and a Puerto Rican jeweler at the inauguration at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday

Role model: Harris, who was joined by her husband Doug Emhoff, has made history as the first woman, as well as the first black and South Asian woman, to become Vice President

Her elegant mid-length coat and shift dress were made by Rogers. The 27-year-old queer black designer is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and based in New York City.

Four years after founding his eponymous label, he was named the Council of Fashion Designers of Americas American Emerging Designer of the Year in 2020.

Hudson, who is from South Carolina, designed the Vice President's heels as well as the plum suit Mrs. Obama wore to the inauguration.

Stylish statement: Harris' purple midi coat and matching shift dress were by black, queer designer Christopher John Rogers

Classics: The Vice President's black heels were by black designer Sergio Hudson

American made: Rogers (left) is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and based in New York City, while Hudson (right) is from South Carolina

Both designers are used to dressing A-list celebrities: Rogers' designs have been worn by Rihanna, Cardi B, and Gabrielle Union-Wade, while Hudson has worked with Miley Cyrus, Kelly Osbourne, and Pharrell Williams.

Kamala's choice of purple was a strategic one. The color is traditionally recognized as a sign of bipartisanship as it's a mix of the political party colors, Republican red and Democrat blue, according to The Hill.

It's also one of the colors of the women's suffragette moment. The combination of purple, white, and gold was used by the National Women's Party in the U.S.

'Purple is the color of loyalty, constancy to purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause,' the organization wrote while describing the meaning of the colors in a newsletter published on December 6, 1913.

Added touched: Harris accessorized her outfit with a custom pearl necklace by Puerto Rican designer Wilfredo Rosado, a tribute to her sorority at Howard University

Special design: The jewelry designer paired the delicate pearls with metal to make the necklace

Goal: 'I wanted to keep the taste level high and respect the boundaries of whats expected of a D.C. political luminary, but still push the envelope,' Rosado said

Harris topped off her statement-making purple outfit with black leather gloves, sheer tights, and a custom pearl necklace by Puerto Rican designer Wilfredo Rosado.

The attorney's signature pearls represent her Howard University sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), the first African American Greek-letter sorority.

The founders of AKA are often referred to as the 'Twenty Pearls,' according to Town & Country, and Harris has worn a pearl necklace on important occasions in her life since graduating from the historically black university.

Rosado told the publication that when Harris' style asked him to submit designs for the then Vice Presidential candidate in September, he had no idea his piece would end up being worn by her on Inauguration Day.

Another win: Hudson also designed the plum suit Michelle Obama wore to the inauguration

Matching: Both Mrs. Obama (left and Hillary Clinton (right) wore shades of purple to the inauguration as a show of unity

'I always admired Kamala, especially when I watched her as a senator questioning the Supreme Court justice nominee Brett Kavanagh,' he said. 'I loved her sass, I loved her approach, and was she very relatable to me.'

Rosado, who, like Harris, is the child of immigrant parents, said he considered the juxtaposition between the politician's toughness and the femininity of pearls when he created her necklace.

'Kamala represents power and a tough woman, and pearls are so gentle, feminine, and precious,' he explained. 'When I think of hip-hop style, the artists are always wearing heavy chain links, and I decided to combine that with pearls.'

He added: 'I wanted to keep the taste level high and respect the boundaries of whats expected of a D.C. political luminary, but still push the envelope.'
Tiny devices use samples taken directly from patients to combine in vivo and in vitro testing.

WASHINGTON, January 21, 2021 -- Despite cancer being a leading cause of death worldwide, treatment options for many types of cancers remain limited. This is partly due to the in vitro tools used to model cancers, which cannot adequately predict the behavior of a cancer or its sensitivity to drugs.

Further, animal models, like mice, biologically differ from humans in ways that play a critical role in immunotherapy, and results from animal studies do not always translate well to human disease.

These shortcomings point to a clear need for a better, patient-specific model to improve the understanding of cancer cells and their impacts.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin and the University of California, San Francisco suggest bioengineered microscale organotypic models (BMOMs) can address this need. They discuss the advantages and capabilities of this technique, as well as its challenges, in the journal APL Bioengineering, from AIP Publishing.

Due to their very small size, BMOMs require only a tiny patient-derived biopsy sample to monitor biological processes. This reduces any concern about the translatability of findings, since all the associated models are developed directly from human material. In addition, BMOMs can be integrated with microscopes and miniaturized sensors to watch the response of the cell culture to test treatments in high resolution and real time.

"BMOMs attempt to merge the best of in vivo and in vitro models," said David Beebe, one of the authors. "These models place human cells in a more realistic environment context, where they are more likely to respond to treatment in a way more reflective of the patient response.

"The 3D and multicellular attributes of BMOMs capture more of the myriad and complex cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions that regulate treatment response."

Though promising, these devices have several limitations. They are difficult to fabricate in large quantities, and they require specialized training to use. Beyond these hurdles, BMOMs are also restricted in their capacity to consider human behavioral responses and fall short in modeling the interactions that occur between multiple organs in complex diseases.

With additional research and clinical trials, the authors are optimistic about the applications of BMOMs. Their use with primary cells taken directly from patient tissue can help with patient-specific cancer treatments and drug testing.

###

The article "Towards improved in vitro models of human cancer" is authored by Jose M. Ayuso, Keon-Young Park, Maria Virumbrales-Munoz, and David J. Beebe. The article appears in APL Bioengineering (DOI: 10.1063/5.0026857) and can be accessed at https:/ / aip. scitation. org/ doi/ full/ 10. 1063/ 5. 0026857 .

See also: Personalizing cancer care with improved tumor models at https:/ / publishing. aip. org/ publications/ latest-content/ personalizing-cancer-care-with-improved-tumor-models/

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Im not a hacker, data scientist Rebekah Jones told CNN in December after police executed a warrant to search her home for electronic devices, looking for evidence that she had accessed a Florida state emergency management system without authorization. Despite that protestation, this week Jones was arrested and charged with illegally accessing a Florida state computer. The charges suggest that while what shes accused of did not entail any sophisticated hacking or technical skills thanks to the states lackluster security practices, it may well still have involved illegal use of computers.

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Jones has had a fraught relationship with the Florida Department of Health, her former employer, for months. While she helped manage Floridas COVID-19 tracking dashboard, she publicly questioned the credibility of the states case numbers and data reporting and was subsequently fired in May 2020. Following her firing, Jones continued to vocally criticize the Florida case-tracking efforts and data in media outlets and also set up her own COVID-19 tracking dashboard.

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Then, on Nov. 10, someone accessed a Florida Department of Health system called ReadyOP, designed for incident and emergency planning, and sent out a text message to about 1,750 people saying, Its time to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. You know this is wrong. You dont have to be part of this. Be a hero. Speak out before its too late.

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The message was sent using credentials that belong to a group on the system called StateESF8.Planning, according to an affidavit cited in the search warrant for Jones home. ESF-8 is Floridas Emergency Support Function for Public Health and Medical, and all members of the group share the same username and password, which was used to log in and send the Nov. 10 message. Once they are no longer associated with ESF8 they are no longer authorized to access the multi-user group, the affidavit states, but thats a fairly weak protection against disgruntled ex-members continuing to use the shared credentials, which seems to be what the state believes Jones did in this case in order to send out the message. According to the affidavit, law enforcement was able to trace the message sender to a particular IPv6 address associated with Comcast, and Comcast was presumably then able to provider further evidence linking the address to Jones.

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Giving a group of users a shared credential that doesnt change when employees leave (or are fired) is clearly a poor security practiceeven worse, Kate Cox at Ars Technica points out that the username and password used to access the emergency response system were actually publicly available online. Cox reports that the username and password for logging in to the system were printed in a publicly accessible operations manual on the Florida Department of Healths website for ESF-8 logistics staff. No question, Florida couldand shouldhave done a much better job of securing those systems.

But that still leaves unresolved the question of whether Jones, if she did use a username and password that she had been given back when she was working for the state to send out the Nov. 10 message, actually committed a computer crime. Using credentials your employer gave you to do something after you were fired wouldnt meet most peoples definition of a hacker.

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But courts are divided on the issue of whether, in order to access a computer without authorization, a person has to actually do anything technical. The Florida Computer Crime Law that Jones was charged under is closely related to the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Actboth laws define illegal hacking using similar language of unauthorized access without clarifying what, specifically, determines whether access to a computer is authorized. Courts have interpreted that language in very different ways in cases centering on the CFAA and other state laws modeled on it. Some of those interpretations might work to Jones advantagefor instance, in 1998 the Court of Appeals of Maryland found that Terry Briggs had not committed an act of unauthorized access when he locked some files on his employers servers with a password shortly before quitting his job. More recently, in 2012, the 9th Circuit ruled in a CFAA case that employees had to circumvent some form of technical control put in place by their employernot just a written rulein order to commit an act of unauthorized access. Since the state of Florida had apparently implemented no technical safeguards to prevent Jones from accessing the emergency response system used to send the message, this interpretation of unauthorized access as a strictly technical activity could help her.

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Other rulings, however, suggest that Jones could still be held responsible for using her former credentials after leaving her job. For instance, in 2010, the 11th Circuit found that a former Social Security Administration employee, Roberto Rodriguez, who had used his work credentials to access personal information about people he knew in real life through his employers database, was guilty of unauthorized access, even though he had done nothing more sophisticated than log in to his work computer system and use it for personal purposes. The Supreme Court heard a CFAA case in November that should help resolve some of these disagreements, when its decided.

In the meantime, its certainly not impossible that a court could find Jones guilty of accessing a computer without authorization even though her former employer gave her the credentials to access that system and then failed to update the password after firing her. That determination probably hinges on how the court defines what it means to revoke access to a computer. In other words, was it enough for Florida to simply tell employees in a written policyas the affidavit doesthat they would lose their permission to access an online account when they lost their jobs? Or did Florida bear some responsibility for actively changing those credentials when Jones was fired?

Everyone is at fault in this storyFlorida for failing to do a better job of securing its emergency systems, and Jones, if indeed she did send the message, for misusing an application designed for emergency responseand no one is really a hacker, in any meaningful sense of the word. But that still doesnt mean Jones couldnt be found guilty of accessing the state computers without authorization.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Netajis birth anniversary: PM Modi to address Parakram Diwas in Kolkata on June 23

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata to address the 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations on 23rd January, 2021, to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary year of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Prime Minister will also visit Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar, Assam to distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas/allotment certificates.

PM in West Bengal:

Prime Minister will preside over the inaugural function of the 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. In order to honour and remember Netaji's indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation, Government of India has decided to celebrate his birthday on 23rd January every year as 'Parakram Diwas' to inspire people of the country, especially the youth, to act with fortitude in the face of adversity as Netaji did, and to infuse in them a spirit of patriotic fervour.

A permanent exhibition and a Projection Mapping Show on Netaji will be inaugurated on the occasion. A commemorative coin and postage stamp will also be released by the Prime Minister. A cultural programme "Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot", based on the theme of Netaji, will also be held.

Before this event, Prime Minister will visit the National Library, Kolkata, where an International Conference "Re-visiting the legacy of Netaji Subhas in the 21st century" and an Artists' Camp are being organized. Prime Minister will interact with the artists and conference participants.

Birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to be celebrated as 'Parakram Diwas every year

PM in Assam:

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister will distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas/allotment certificates in Sivasagar, Assam. Taking into account an urgent need to protect the land rights of indigenous people of the State, Government of Assam came out with a comprehensive new Land Policy with a renewed emphasis on protecting the land rights of the indigenous people.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

The issuance of patta/allotment certificates for indigenous people of Assam has been given highest priority in order to instil a sense of security amongst them. Assam had 5.75 lakh landless families in 2016. The present Government has distributed 2.28 lakhs land pattas/allotment certificates since May 2016. The ceremony on 23rd January marks the next step in this process.
Brussels: Climate-change leaders and campaigners worldwide welcomed US President Joe Bidens move to rejoin the 2015 Paris Agreement but said Washington must also cut emissions and use its influence to encourage other countries to do the same.

In one of his first acts as president, Biden issued an executive order on Wednesday to bring the United States, the worlds second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, back into the global treaty committing nearly 200 countries to halt rising temperatures quickly enough to avoid disastrous climate change.

Washington formally left the Paris accord last year but its role as a heavyweight in global climate negotiations had already stalled with the 2016 election of President Donald Trump.

Trump cast doubt on climate science and asserted that the accord was an economic burden. UN climate negotiations have stuttered since then, with multiple summits failing to deliver ambitious action.

I wouldnt be surprised if they get a standing ovation just by entering the room, former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres said, referring to a US return to global climate talks. That doesnt mean that they will have a standing ovation forever. They have to prove that they are really determined to make the changes that are necessary.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the U.S. return to the Paris accord but added: There is a very long way to go. The climate crisis continues to worsen and time is running out to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build more climate-resilient societies that help to protect the most vulnerable.

Climate diplomats said they want to see an ambitious U.S. commitment to cut emissions this decade and a diplomatic push to convince others to follow suit. Top of the list would be China, the worlds biggest polluter, which plans to become carbon neutral by 2060 but has yet to unveil a short-term plan to reduce emissions.

Climate agreements signed by China and the United States played a big role in securing a deal at the Paris climate talks in 2015. But during the Trump administration, climate became another source of friction between the worlds two biggest economies, and experts said it was unlikely that their relationship could immediately return to normal.

A lot has changed since the Obama years that will make the G2 climate relationship under Biden unpredictable, said Li Shuo, senior climate and energy policy officer for Greenpeace East Asia, referring to the United States and China as the G2.

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Li pointed to the rock-bottom U.S.-China relationship and divisive politics that create challenges for climate engagement. What remains unchanged is the need for the G2 to move towards the same direction ... Now the task is for the pair to switch to high gear, holding each others hand or not, Li said.

CARBON BORDER TAX?

Biden has said he wants to put the United States on track to net zero emissions by 2050 but has yet to detail what regulatory tools he intends to use to achieve that goal.

One of the core challenges for the administration is going to be reframing this as opportunity for green growth, for jobs - for the kind of things weve seen in Europe, which has managed to significantly grow its economy while reducing its carbon emissions, said Kelley Kizzier, a former European Union climate negotiator, now at the non-profit Environmental Defense Fund.

The EU is already eyeing areas for collaboration. In June, it will propose a carbon levy on imports of certain polluting goods to protect European industry from cheaper competitors in countries with weak climate policies. Biden pledged in his election campaign to do the same, through carbon adjustment fees or quotas at the US border.

Carbon border policies offer an opportunity to work together to set a global template for such measures, the EU said in a December memo on its priorities for the new EU relationship with the Biden administration.

Policy analysts say a joint US-EU carbon border measure could drive faster decarbonisation in countries with high-emitting export-oriented sectors - including China, the worlds largest steel producer. This is a very important tool in the hands of the EU and the U.S. administration to stimulate global climate action, said Simone Tagliapietra, research fellow at Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.

Frans Timmermans, the EU climate policy chief, said he would team up with John Kerry, Bidens international climate envoy, to convince ever more countries that ambitious climate action is in their best interest. But for vulnerable countries grappling with floods, heatwaves and droughts made more devastating by climate change, the priority is finance.

Former President Barack Obamas administration pledged to deliver $3 billion to the UN flagship fund to help vulnerable countries fight climate change. Washington has delivered only $1 billion so far.

President Biden should fulfil the remaining pledge, said Tanguy Gahouma-Bekale, chair of the African Group of Negotiators in global climate talks.
VACCINE SUPPLY DWINDLING: Awaiting new shipment; S.I. vaccine hubs to close for now. (Hot Zone) SHIPMENT DELAYED: Lack of vaccines prompt hub closures on SI and NYC; sites that are run by the citys Health + Hospitals agency will remain open; lowest coronavirus case rise since earlier this month; the 46th president of the United States, and more coronavirus updates. (Hot Zone) Posted by Staten Island Advance on Wednesday, January 20, 2021

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The coronavirus pandemic has turned our world upside-down. We need information like we never have before.

How many new cases were there on Staten Island today? How many deaths? How many people have been released from the hospital?

What did President Donald Trump say about the pandemic? What about Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio?

More importantly, when is this pandemic going to be over? When are we going to get back to normal, whatever normal is?

Its almost too much to keep up with.

So every day around 4 p.m., Mark Stein and I take to Facebook Live to give you all the Island information you need. You can then look for this written wrap-up on SILive.com at the end of the day.

Well give you the numbers and all the latest news. Well answer your questions. Well follow up on your news tips.

Well share the good news too, the way that the Staten Island community is coming together in this time of crisis. Or well just share this strange and unique pandemic moment with you, as fellow Staten Islanders.

On Wednesday, Mark and I discussed how states around the country were facing shortages in vaccines. The reasons for the shortage were not immediately clear, the Associated Press reported.

Newly inaugurated President Joe Biden, already facing calls from de Blasio and others to increase the vaccine supply, has said that he would like to see 100 million Americans vaccinated in his first 100 days in office.

In New York City, tens of thousands of vaccine appointments were postponed until next week in the face of the shortage. Fifteen vaccine hubs, including two on Staten Island, were shuttered for Thursday and Friday.

Cuomo at a press briefing said the state expected 250,00 doses of the vaccine to be delivered next week, less than the 300,000 New York had received this week. He said the state had 145,000 doses still on hand and that the state had already distributed 86 percent of the total doses it had been allocated.

Cuomo also said that it was only a matter of time until a more lethal strain of COVID emerges, and said that we have to anticipate that there will be strains that are more resistant to vaccines. He said its almost a matter of probability to see that happen given how viruses mutate.

Were all in this together. Well all get through this together.
Alireza Zali, the head of Tehrans anti-coronavirus task force, warned Thursday that the country was heading toward a fourth wave of the coronavirus. According to Zali, a number of alarming trends have occurred over the last week, including new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. Zali warned that if these trends continue, Iran would experience its fourth wave by early February.

Iran recently experienced a third wave that saw daily deaths rise into the mid 300s; that number has since dropped. In the last 24 hours, there have been 93 deaths. The total number of coronavirus deaths is now over 57,000, though officials have warned the actual numbers could be twice as high as this.

One of the more alarming statistics offered by Zali is that there has been a 4% increase in the number of deaths of children under the age of 10, with respect to last year. Zali did not go into detail to explain the reason.

Officials in charge of the anti-coronavirus task force have lobbied to continue the lockdowns, believing that coupled with the various health protocols they can reduce the number of infections and ultimately deaths. Iran has struggled with full enforcement of the health protocols. Head of Abadan Medical Sciences University Shorkollah Salmanzdeh, who also warned about a difficult February with respect to the coronavirus, said only around 30% of individuals who are outside in public spaces in Abadan province wear masks.

Iran has even talked about enforcing a mask policy and fining individuals who refused to wear one, but such measures eventually became stuck in committee over concerns about which agency would enforce the policy.

Given the dire economic situation in the country, which has been under crippling US sanctions since 2018, Irans only hope to address this pandemic is a vaccine. There have been various claims about when a vaccine would be ready and which countries Iran would work with. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected the idea of purchasing vaccines from Western countries, leaving Iran no options but to look to allies.

Health Minister Saeed Namaki said today that Iran is in the third phase of testing its own vaccine. He added that the plan is to begin mass production of the Iranian vaccine this spring, but he did not give a specific date. Namaki also said that Iran will begin vaccinating individuals with imported vaccines by Feb. 10. Headlines related to Namakis statements suggest there is cooperation with Cuba on the vaccines, but Namakis statements were not so clear.

Mahmoud Vaezi, chief of staff to President Hassan Rouhani, said that Iran is still in negotiations to import vaccines from reliable countries. He said that the countries Iran is currently in talks with to import the vaccine are Russia, China and India.
On Jan. 20, 2021, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Kamala Harris created history by becoming the first female, first African American and first Asian American vice president of the country. (Pictured above, Biden is sworn-in next to his wife Jill Biden, by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. (Image: Reuters)
Methane emissions from the global oil and gas industry fell by an estimated 10% in 2020 as producers slashed output in response to the historic shock of the Covid-19 crisis, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said.



It also warned that these emissions could rebound strongly without greater action by companies, policy makers and regulators.



Methane is a much more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide (CO2) and makes a major contribution to global warming. According to the IEAs 2021 update of its Methane Tracker, oil and gas operations worldwide emitted more than 70 million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere last year. This is broadly equivalent to the total energy-related CO2 emissions from the entire European Union.



The new IEA analysis indicates that a large part of the drop in methane emissions in 2020 occurred not because companies were taking more care to avoid methane leaks from their operations, but simply because they were producing less oil and gas. As such, there is clearly a risk that this downward trend will be reversed by an increase in production to fuel a rebound in global economic activity.



The immediate task now for the oil and gas industry is to make sure that there is no resurgence in methane emissions, even as the world economy recovers, and that 2019 becomes their historical peak. There is no good reason to allow these harmful leaks to continue, and there is every reason for responsible operators to ensure that they are addressed, said Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA Executive Director.



Alongside ambitious efforts to decarbonise our economies, early action on methane emissions will be critical for avoiding the worst effects of climate change. There has never been a greater sense of urgency about this issue than there is today, said Dr Birol. To help accelerate these efforts, the IEA is today releasing a how-to guide that governments and regulators can use to bring down methane emissions from oil and gas operations.



IEA analysis highlights that reducing methane emissions is very cost-effective for oil and gas companies. Unlike CO2, there is already a price for methane everywhere in the world  the price of natural gas. This means the costs of improving operations or making repairs to prevent leaks can often be paid for by the value of the additional gas that is brought to market.



We believe that industry must act, visibly and quickly, Dr Birol said. But there is also a strong role for government policies; to incentivise early action by companies, push for transparency and improvements in performance, and support innovation in getting results.



The new IEA report, Driving Down Methane Leaks from the Oil and Gas Industry: A Regulatory Roadmap and Toolkit, offers a step-by-step guide for anyone trying develop or to update regulation on methane. Its advice draws on analysis of how more than 50 countries, states or provinces  from the US to Nigeria, from Iraq to China and Russia  have tackled methane emissions from a regulatory perspective.



In this crucial year for climate action leading up to COP26 in Glasgow in November, this is the moment for governments to raise ambitions not only on CO2 but also on methane, Dr Birol said. One important avenue, especially for countries with large oil and gas sectors, will be to include commitments on methane in their new or updated pledges in advance of the COP meeting. This is also the moment for companies to put all their weight behind this effort.  TradeArabia News Service
LIMA, Ohio  An orthodox priest in western Ohio who has filled in at churches in the Cleveland area has been suspended and could be defrocked after he attended a rally for former President Trump in Washington on Jan. 6 that ended with an assault on the nations Capitol, according to reports.

A notice on the website for the Orthodox Church in America says Archpriest Mark Hodges was suspended on Jan. 12. The notice offers no other details.

According to the Dayton Daily News, Hodges most recently has been a supply priest in the Diocese of the Midwest and has filled in at parishes in Cleveland and Olmsted Falls. He is attached to the St. Paul the Apostle Parish was formerly a priest at a church in Lima.

The Lima News reports Hodges has been suspended for three months because of his involvement in the Jan. 6 rally. Hodges also could be defrocked, according to the News.

The reason (for the suspension) was that I went (to the rally) on (Jan. 6) and Archbishop Paul (Gassios), whom I love dearly and respect, said in his suspension letter (to me) that I was guilty by association, Hodges tells the News. And I disagree, you know, I think its an unjust suspension.

Hodges tells the Daily News that he attended the rally to express his extreme concern over allegations of voting fraud. He tells the Lima News he did not go inside the Capitol and that he was toward the back of the crowd. He said he does not condone the violence that occurred that resulted in the deaths of five people, including a Capitol police officer.

The Orthodox Church in Americas Diocese of the Midwest has 21 parishes in Ohio, including churches in Cleveland, Akron, Broadview Heights, Lakewood, Lorain, Maple Heights, Mentor and other parts of Northeast Ohio.

More than 100 people have been arrested in connection with the Capitol assault, according to USA Today, including several people in Ohio. Last week, Christine Priola, 49, a former occupational therapist for the Cleveland schools, was arrested in Willoughby. She is charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building, violent entry, and unlawful activities on Capitol grounds.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The first flyers were reported in New Dorp in late 2019  anti-Semitic posters that drew the ire of local politicians at the time.

It is sad and alarming that these type of vile anti-Semitic flyers have been found in our community, said Councilman Steve Matteo (R-Mid-Island) in October of 2019. But this is not who we are.

Over one year later, the New Jersey European Heritage Association (NJEHA), a collective labeled as a white supremacist organization by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), has been responsible for placing over 50 pieces of vitriolic propaganda on Staten Island in a steady escalation that has drawn fervent concern from community leaders and law enforcement on the borough.

Scott Richman, the director of the New York and New Jersey region for the ADL, said NJEHA is definitely growing on Staten Island because its a relatively new phenomena.

It was smaller in 2018, larger in 2019 and larger in 2020, said Richman, so it has definitely grown.

While Richman cautioned that the presence of flyers on the borough are more likely the work of a handful of individuals who have bought into the groups larger concept, he said that a small number of supporters begins to add up.

The group, whose message often proffers an unsubstantiated conspiracy that white people are facing extinction, urges its followers to reclaim your nation and reclaim your heritage. Its main form of exposure is through the distribution of flyers and stickers, which the group encourages followers to print out and place in their neighborhoods.

While the true extent of the group is unknown on Staten Island, a report by The Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), an independent third party whose mission is to track, expose, and combat misinformation, deception, manipulation, and hate across social media channels, listed NJEHA alongside other purported hate groups as having allegedly participated in the Capitol riots that occurred on Jan. 6.

Aryeh Tuchman, associate director for the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism, said NJEHA was present alongside the far-right extremist Proud Boys and other groups.

NJEHA did not respond to a request to comment on its alleged participation in the riots.

Rabbi Michael Howald, of Temple Israel Reform in Randall Manor, delivers a speech at a vigil earlier this month. (Staten Isalnd Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

Following the most recent discovery of anti-Semitic postings on the borough two weeks ago, Staten Island faith leaders said there was a direct link between the attempted insurrection at the Capitol building and the flyers found on Staten Island.

Anti-Semitism, racism, Islamaphobia  often, theyre combined, said Rabbi Michael Howald, of Temple Israel Reform in Randall Manor. Its all part of the same gordian knot.

Rabbi Howald, who was part of a group of Staten Island faith leaders who spoke at a vigil condemning the violence at the Capitol and the presence of the anti-Semitic postings on the borough, said at the gathering that the two outrages were part of one seamless phenomenon in our country with a common source in the same violent bigotry.

Rev. Karen Jackson, an inter-religious leader on the borough, echoed those sentiments, saying she felt the attempted insurrection and the flyers found on Staten Island were undoubtedly part of an ideology of white supremacy that is being emboldened  even when it is not new.

It is disturbing seeing it emboldened by people who represent us, said Rev. Jackson, and so we need to be the voice that says no to white supremacy and racism.

An ADL study showed that NJEHA, along with two other groups, were responsible for approximately 90% of the distribution of white supremacist propaganda in the United States two years ago.

While the ADL said NJEHA was responsible for approximately 9% of all white supremacist propaganda incidents in the United States in 2019, data tracked by the Advance/SILive.com indicates their influence is more pronounced locally.

Gab  a lightly-censored social media site the group primarily uses to promote its postings  revealed that flyers and other propaganda were placed at dozens of locations across the borough, from Tottenville to Mariners Harbor in 2019.

Sites such as Gab have seen increased user traffic after Parler, an app commonly cited as a haven for white supremacists, were taken off Google and Apples app stores.

In response to an inquiry regarding NJEHAs content present on gab, Andrew Torba, CEO of Gab, said, Being a racist is protected by the First Amendment. We will ban a group like this if we find that they are using our site for any unlawful purpose.

Though this groups views are morally repellent we feel that, on balance, exposing hateful viewpoints to public scrutiny will lead to better results for society than censoring them and driving them underground, Torba said in the emailed statement.

NJEHA is also present on Twitter, though it is far less active there. A link to the groups Gab and website are both present in its Twitter bio.

Twitter did not respond to an inquiry requesting comment for this story.

Sally Jones, a St. George resident, holds a sign during the vigil. (Staten Island Advance/Joseph Ostapiuk)

District Attorney Michael E. McMahon, who has previously spoken against the anti-Semitic postings on Staten Island and said his office was monitoring the incidents, was among a group of borough community leaders and the Islands entire bi-partisan delegation who condemned the flyers in a letter after the most recent discovery.

McMahon said the Island is undoubtedly witnessing a troubling rise in hate speech from white supremacist groups and individuals who are attempting to spread their message of intolerance, anti-Semitism and hate in our communities.

He said such messages pose a serious risk to both our democracy and public safety, adding that we must do all we can to stop it.

Referencing the attacks on the Capitol building, McMahon said, hateful rhetoric and unfounded conspiracy theories can and often do lead to violence and must not be tolerated.

Those who did it must be identified and prosecuted and those who incited the treasonous assault on our Cathedral of Democracy must also face the full weight of justice.

My office, the NYPD, and our partners in the Staten Island Hate Crimes Task Force are determined to prevent hate speech from taking root in our communities and we will continue working together to ensure all Staten Islanders can live their lives free from fear and hate.

-- Associated Press materials were used in this report.
THE elderly wife of a man sent home from hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 while receiving treatment for a fall has since contracted the virus.

Maura Renehans daughter has described the devastation of having two elderly parents sick with Covid-19 and told the Irish Independent her mothers infection could have been avoided if the couple had been given appropriate supports for her father, Oliver, to isolate after he was discharged.

The father-of-two is the main carer to his 80-year-old wife, who has Parkinsons disease and is confined to a wheelchair.

We are distraught at how this has turned out, said Anne Marie McCarthy, the couples daughter.

It was bad enough that Daddy got Covid while he was in hospital but now we have our mother, who is very at risk due to her underlying conditions, also Covid-positive. Its a nightmare.

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Mr Renehan, from Kilmacow, Co Waterford, slipped on ice on January 3 and was immediately rushed to University Hospital Waterford, where he received treatment for a fractured hip until January 13. He was put into Orthopaedic Ward 2  one of two wards that had a confirmed outbreak of Covid-19 on January 8.

He received a test for Covid-19 on admission, and at least one further test during his stay, and both were negative. On the day of discharge, January 13, Mr Renehan was told he had tested positive for Covid-19.

I felt sick when I heard, daughter Ms McCarthy said.

I thought the worst. Then my sister said, You havent heard the rest. They are sending him home in an ambulance.

Mr Renehan is the main carer for his wife Maura who is in the last stages of Parkinsons disease and is confined to a wheelchair. She also has osteoarthritis.

He basically does everything for her, said Ms McCarthy.

He looks after all her needs such as administering 15-20 tablets a day, plus she needs feeding, she needs to be given her drinks, all of that stuff. They left Daddy in a chair after he was brought home in the ambulance. My mothers carers were taken off her because Da had Covid.

"They then sorted emergency Covid care for Mum, but its only 45 minutes to an hour. In between them being there, Daddy is taking care of her. He was landed straight back in it since he came back from the hospital.

Ms McCarthy said the family made several calls to the hospital before Mr Renehan was sent home, asking for more time to make arrangements for him to safely isolate.

We were asking if they could keep Dad, she said.

But they couldnt do that so we were asking for them to give us a few hours to get back down to the house and bring a bed down to the sitting room so that Daddy could isolate downstairs away from Mummy.

"They said they would get back to us. And the next phone call that came was that Dad was on his way in the ambulance. We were told that he was deemed fit to be discharged.

The family were offered a position for Mrs Renehan in Waterford Residential Care Centre (formerly St Patricks) but turned it down as it was only respite (no overnight) and that hospital was already believed to be dealing with a large outbreak of Covid amongst staff and patients.

We had no options really, said Ms McCarthy.

From our point of view Daddy went into hospital for a hip injury and came out with Covid. I have asthma and I am worried about contracting Covid so we have been put in this horrible situation where we cant go in and look after them ourselves.

This week, when Mrs Renehans carers became concerned that she was displaying symptoms of Covid, the family arranged a test, which came back positive today.

We are absolutely devastated, said Ms McCarthy.

Its just terrible and anyone we have spoken to have advised us that this could be very dangerous now for Mummy.

"We are distraught and pretty much helpless.

"Daddy was supposed to come out of isolation this weekend but now he is a close contact of Mummy.

"We are just so upset and angry and they are exhausted and begging for us to come in and help. Its hard to believe this has happened.

A spokesperson for University Hospital Waterford said: "The hospital cannot comment on individual cases, however, patients are discharged only when deemed clinically fit for discharge by their Consultant."

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus gives a press conference at Geneva's WHO headquarters on Feb. 24, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

Lawmakers Respond to Bidens Decision to Have US Rejoin WHO

President Joe Bidens decision to halt the United States withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) has received mixed reactions from Congress.

Having the United States rejoin the World Health Organization without it undergoing serious reforms is foolish, stated Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), who is a ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, in a Jan. 20 press release.

Comer added: From the very start of the coronavirus pandemic, the WHO and Secretary-General Tedros have proven that their priority has been to abet the Chinese government at the expense of the American people and the rest of the world.

He also criticized the WHO for repeating the Chinese regimes propaganda. While China spread misinformation so it could hoard medical supplies, the WHO parroted Chinas lies denying human to human transmission of the virus and Tedros praised them for their transparency, he said.

Beijing did not publicly acknowledge that the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, was contagious until Jan. 20, 2020, several weeks after Taiwan had warned the WHO of the risk of human-to-human transmission in an email. The WHO has denied that the email contained an explicit warning about human-to-human transmission.

In early January, the WHO repeated Beijings claim, declaring that the virus was not contagious. The health body changed its stance with a statement on Jan. 22, 2020.

A report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last year concluded that China intentionally concealed the severity of the CCP virus in early January, while increasing imports of medical supplies.

A Chinese senior officials grandson, Jiang Penyong, who is based in South Korea, told The Epoch Times last year that he participated in a scheme to hoard medical supplies from foreign countries on behalf of corrupt officials in China.

An independent panel recently released an interim report, criticizing Beijing and WHO for their delayed responses to the COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Comer argued that unless the WHO undergoes reforms, American taxpayers should not subsidize an organization that has acted as Communist Chinas propaganda outlet at every turn.

Bidens decision to rejoin the WHO has been welcomed by some Democrat lawmakers, including Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).

Rejoining the World Health Organization will ensure all nations can beat this scourge, preventing untold suffering, stated DeLauro in a press release.

Former President Donald Trump announced that the United States would pull out of the WHO on May 29 last year, saying that the WHO had refused to act on reforms recommended by the United States. The withdrawal was set to take effect in July this year.

Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities, Trump said at that time.

The decision to halt U.S. withdrawal from the WHO was one of several executive orders that Biden signed on Jan. 20, his first day in office.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, issued a statement welcoming Bidens decision to re-engage with the WHO.

In response to Bidens decision, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) announced via a press release that he will introduce legislation to prevent U.S. taxpayers from funding the WHO.

[T]he American people should not be forced to fund organizations that propagate the lies of the Chinese Communist Party and silence our allies like Taiwan, who warned that COVID-19 could spread human to human, Roy stated.

He added: The United States is the largest government contributor to WHO and makes up about 22% of the organizations core budget. We need to hold WHO accountable for its lack of transparency and multiple failures related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Millions of people have watched a video released by Alexei Navalny in which he claims Russian President Vladimir Putin used illicit funds to build a billion-dollar palace on the Black Sea coast.

The video was released by Mr Navalnys team on Tuesday, two days after he was jailed for 30 days upon his return to Moscow.

Mr Navalny alleges in the footage that the estate cost 1 billion (US$1.35 billion) and was paid for with the largest bribe in history, which he said involves offshore companies and transfers within Mr Putins inner circle.

In less than 24 hours, the video gathered nearly 22 million views on YouTube. At the time of writing, it has been viewed more than 41 million times.

According to the video, the estate sprawls across 17,691 square metres and described it as the new Versailles, or the new Winter Palace - a truly royal palace.

A spokesperson for The Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed the allegations and described it as nonsense.

According to the Moscow Times, he said: These are all absolutely unfounded claims. This is pure nonsense.

Mr Peskov added that the palace has nothing to do with either the president or the Kremlin so we havent the slightest desire to be interested.

The Russian president declares his entire property and publishes it in [tax] declarations every year.

Russias leading opposition made the return to his home country from Germany, where he was flown for emergency medical treatment in August after he collapsed on an internal flight to Siberia.

It was later determined that he had been poisoned by a nerve agent of the Novichok class. Mr Navalny blames the attempt on his life on Mr Putin, but the Kremlin denies any involvement.

The video, which runs for more than an hour, calls on Russians to take to the streets and protest the arrest of Mr Navalny on Saturday, urging them not to stand aside.

For many years, Navalny has been fighting for our rights. Now its our time to fight for him. it says in the introduction.

Mr Navalny was sentenced to 30 days in prison, pending a trial. According to court documents, he was tried for allegedly missing parole registration after being evacuated for treatment in Germany.

The parole related to a suspended sentence handed down in the 2014 Yves Rocher case, which was dismissed as politically motivated by the European Court of Human Rights.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

Parler, the social network popular with Trump supporters and the alt-right, is trickling back to life.

The social network went offline last week after Amazon booted it from its computer servers for not consistently removing violent posts, an accusation that Parler denied. But after a week in which Parler executives sued Amazon and predicted that their site might never return, they are forecasting it will be back up and running by the month's end.

Parler has been removed from app stores and its website was temporarily down, but it's planning a comeback. Credit:Getty

That turnabout is thanks, in part, to a Russian company.

Parler has entered into business with DDoS-Guard, a Russian firm that routes internet traffic and protects websites from cyber-attacks. With its help, visitors to Parler.com now find a basic webpage with a promise from Parler's chief executive, John Matze, that "our return is inevitable."
The Detroit Regional Chambers political fundraising committee is reconsidering its support for Michigan politicians who propagated false information about the 2020 election.

Powerful business organizations are revaluating their relationship to Republicans after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to prevent electors from certifying President Joe Bidens victory. The Detroit Regional Chamber PAC joins companies like Ford, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Rocket Companies Inc., Consumers Energy and Dow Inc. that are reviewing their contributions to candidates, while other businesses cut ties with members of Congress who voted to reject the certification of the Electoral College votes.

In a Thursday press release, the Detroit Regional Chamber PAC said Fortune 500 firms based in Michigan are dismayed by the Capitol riots, which left five people dead and caused Congress to evacuate the building. The PAC expressed concern that elected leaders enabled the act of sedition by spreading the falsehood that the 2020 election was not valid or somehow stolen.

The Chamber respects leaders with different policy approaches, but expects all leaders not to traffic in falsehoods, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States, to respect the will of Michigan voters, to uphold enduring American fundamental values, and to support federalism; including the right of states to conduct and certify their elections, the release states. Therefore, while the Chamber remains committed to its long tradition of bipartisan political endorsements, going forward in our process, we will weigh heavily any candidates past or future actions that do not align with these principles.

The Detroit Chamber PAC declined to comment about specific politicians who were involved in spreading disinformation about the election. Michigan was at the center of a wide range of unproven claims about voter fraud and the subject of several failed lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign and allies.

The Capitol riot, which has come to be described as an attempted insurrection or domestic terror attack, spun out of a massive protest against the certification of Bidens victory. Former President Donald Trump and Republican activists promoted the Jan. 6 stop the steal rally for weeks.

Some companies have cut ties with politicians who helped promote the rally. Others decided to end support for members of Congress who voted against the lawful certification of state electoral college votes.

Three Michigan Republicans -- U.S. Reps. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet; Tim Walberg, R-Tipton; and Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township -- voted to reject the electoral votes of Arizona and Pennsylvania. The Detroit Chamber PAC endorsed all three candidates before the November 2020 election.

Bergman and Walberg issued a joint statement on Jan. 4 announcing their decision to object to the Electoral College certification process.

Poll challengers have raised valid concerns about election integrity across our Nation that brings into question the results of the 2020 election and puts faith in future elections in jeopardy, they said. While the easy answer is ignoring election irregularities  we will not stand idly by without taking every lawfully available option to ensure the outcomes of our elections can be trusted.

McClain said constituents voiced concerns about deep flaws in the voting process but did not provide specific details.

The PAC donated $500 to McClains campaign after giving $2,500 to her Republican primary opponent Doug Slocum. U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, was the only other Republican to receive a donation from the PAC.

Upton, the first House Republican from Michigan to acknowledge Biden as president-elect, received a $1,000 donation. Upton said there was no evidence of widespread fraud in Michigan and voted to impeach Trump for inciting an insurrection.

A majority of House Republicans supported a Texas lawsuit that sought to invalidate election results in swing states Biden won. The Supreme Court threw out the lawsuit.

Bergman and Walberg filed a friend of the court brief supporting the attempt to void election results in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin. The Texas lawsuit was also supported by U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, and John Moolenaar, R-Midland.

The Detroit Chamber PAC endorsed all four members of Congress.

The Texas lawsuit claimed Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson lacked authority to distribute absentee ballot applications. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said the lawsuit was without factual foundation and without a valid legal basis.

Bergman said Benson created a crisis of confidence in Michigan.

In a video explaining his decision posted on Facebook, Huizenga said he had questions about how the election was run, everything from the equipment to the process. Huizenga later said he hadnt seen evidence of election fraud in Michigan, but still believed Benson broke the law.

Twelve Michigan state representatives signed a motion asking the Supreme Court to prevent Biden from receiving the states 16 electoral votes until the Legislature conducts a post-election certification. Two of the representatives -- state Reps. Doug Wozniak, R-Shelby Township, and Jack OMalley, R-Lake Ann -- received the chambers endorsement.

Eleven Michigan state representatives, including Wozniak, signed a letter asking former Vice President Mike Pence to decertify the Nov. 3 election results. The letter also detailed unproven allegations of election fraud.

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Patriots in the Capitol building, wrote Michigan man now jailed for insurrection

Dow Chemical stops political donations to those who voted against certifying presidential election
Panasonic AI-driven cameras empower an expanding vision of new uses

Imagine a world where video cameras are not just watching and reporting for security, but have an even wider positive impact on our lives. Imagine that cameras control street and building lights, as people come and go, that traffic jams are predicted and vehicles are automatically rerouted, and more tills are opened, just before a queue starts to form. Cameras with AI capabilities Cameras in stores can show us how we might look in the latest outfit as we browse. Thats the vision from Panasonic about current and future uses for their cameras that provide artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities at the edge. Panasonic feels that these types of intelligent camera applications are also the basis for automation and introduction of Industry 4.0, in which processes are automated, monitored and controlled by AI-driven systems. 4K network security cameras The companys i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications Panasonics 4K network security cameras have built-in AI capabilities suitable for this next generation of intelligent applications in business and society. The companys i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications. The AI engine is directly embedded into the camera, thus reducing costs and Panasonics image quality ensures the accuracy of the analytics outcome. FacePRO facial recognition technology Panasonic began advancing AI technology on the server side with FacePRO, the in-house facial recognition application, which uses AI deep learning capabilities. Moving ahead, they transitioned their knowledge of AI from the server side to the edge, introducing i-PRO security cameras with built-in AI capabilities last summer, alongside their own in-house analytics. Moreover, in line with the Panasonic approach to focus more on collaboration with specialist AI software developers, a partnership with Italian software company, A.I. Tech followed in September, with a range of intelligent applications, partially based on deep learning. Additional collaborations are already in place with more than 10 other developers, across the European Union, working on more future applications. i-PRO AI-capable security cameras Open systems are an important part of Panasonics current approach. The companys i-PRO AI-capable cameras are an open platform and designed for third-party application development, therefore, applications can be built or tailored to the needs of an individual customer. Panasonic use to be a company that developed everything in-house, including all the analytics and applications. However, now we have turned around our strategy by making our i-PRO security cameras open to integrate applications and analytics from third-party companies, says Gerard Figols, Head of Security Solutions at Panasonic Business Europe. Flexible and adapting to specific customer needs This new approach allows the company to be more flexible and adaptable to customers needs. At the same time, we can be quicker and much more tailored to the market trend, said Gerard Figols. He adds, For example, in the retail space, enabling retailers to enhance the customer experience, in smart cities for traffic monitoring and smart parking, and by event organisers and transport hubs to monitor and ensure safety. Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems Edge-based analytics Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems. On one hand, there are monetary benefits - a cost reduction results from the decreased amount of more powerful hardware required on the server side to process the data, on top of reduction in the infrastructure costs, as not all the full video stream needs to be sent for analysis, we can work solely with the metadata. On the other hand, there are also advantages of flexibility, as well as reliability. Each camera can have its own individual analytic setup and in case of any issue on the communication or server side, the camera can keep running the analysis at the edge, thereby making sure the CCTV system is still fully operational. Most importantly, systems can keep the same high level of accuracy. Explosion of AI camera applications We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications" We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications, said Gerard Figols, adding However, it doesnt mean the hardware is not important anymore, as I believe its more important than ever. Working with poor picture quality or if the hardware is not reliable, and works 24/7, software cannot run or deliver the outcome it has been designed for. As hardware specialists, Figols believes that Panasonic seeks to focus on what they do best - Building long-lasting, open network cameras, which are capable of capturing the highest quality images that are required for the latest AI applications, while software developers can concentrate on bringing specialist applications to the market. Same as for smartphones, AI applications will proliferate based on market demand and succeed or fail, based on the value that they deliver. Facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line technologies Panasonic has been in the forefront in developing essential AI applications for CCTV, such as facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line. However, with the market developing so rapidly and the potential applications of AI-driven camera systems being so varied and widespread, Panasonic quickly realised that the future of their network cameras was going to be in open systems, which allow specialist developers and their customers to use their sector expertise to develop their own applications for specific vertical market applications, while using i-PRO hardware. Metadata for detection and recognition Regarding privacy, consider that the use of AI in cameras is about generating metadata for the detection and recognition of patterns, rather than identifying individual identities. However, there are legitimate privacy concerns, but I firmly believe that attitudes will change quickly when people see the incredible benefits that this technology can deliver, said Gerard Figols, adding I hope that we will be able to redefine our view of cameras and AI, not just as insurance, but as life advancing and enhancing. i-PRO AI Privacy Guard One of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard Seeking to understand and appreciate privacy concerns, one of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard that generates data without capturing individual identities, following European privacy regulations that are among the strictest in the world. Gerard Fogils said, The combination of artificial intelligence and the latest generation open camera technology will change the worlds perceptions from Big Brother to Big Benefits. New applications will emerge as the existing generation of cameras is updated to the new open and intelligent next generation devices, and the existing role of the security camera will also continue. Future scope of AI and cameras He adds, Not just relying on the security cameras for evidence when things have gone wrong, end users will increasingly be able to use AI and the cameras with much higher accuracy to prevent false alarms and in a proactive way to prevent incidents." Gerard Figols concludes, That could be monitoring and alerting when health and safety guidelines are being breached or spotting and flagging patterns of suspicious behaviour before incidents occur.
ANN ARBOR, MI  The arrival of a new administration in the White House was welcome news for many people in Ann Arbor on Wednesday, Jan. 20.

There were sighs of relief and tears of joy in this liberal college town as President Joe Biden called for civility and unity in his inauguration address and Kamala Harris became the first woman and person of color to be vice president.

Welcome President Biden & VP Harris, the Michigan Theater marquee lit up downtown. Democracy has prevailed.

For many locals, Wednesdays inauguration marked the end of four difficult years in which they watched Republican Donald Trump sow division and institute policies they viewed as immoral, such as his Muslim travel ban and separating immigrant families, culminating with his attempts to overturn Bidens election and the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

The prior administration governed with incompetence, authoritarianism, ego and malice, Mayor Christopher Taylor said. I feel, like so many of us, the weight has been lifted. You only had to listen to the words of Amanda Gorman, and to know that President Biden chose her to speak for him, to speak for us. It is a new day, and it is good.

Gorman was the young Black poet who recited a message of hope at Wednesdays inauguration.

Now that we have restored honor and integrity to the White House we must turn to urgent national priorities: covid relief, universal health care, and good jobs rebuilding our infrastructure and our green energy future, state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, tweeted Wednesday.

As Biden yard signs and flags were proudly displayed across Ann Arbor on Inauguration Day, some diehard local Trump supporters, a political minority here, said they dont blame him for the Capitol attack and they still think the election was stolen from him.

I think hes the greatest president weve ever had, said Ann Arbor resident Jean Holland, who echoes Trumps claims that Biden didnt legitimately win the election.

Shes convinced it was a coordinated and concerted effort by some very rich and powerful people to figure out exactly what cities they had to win in order to win the election and then they did what was necessary to make it happen.

While Trumps unsubstantiated claims of massive voter fraud have been repeatedly thrown out of courts, Joe Miriani, a retired autoworker in Ann Arbor, said he believes Trump.

Joe Miriani poses with a cardboard cutout of president Donald Trump next to his Pabst Blue Ribbon promotional van at Arborland Shopping Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020.

I think the fraud was very evident in this election and most Democrats are either ignoring it or just denying it outright, Miriani said after Wednesdays inauguration.

He thinks Biden should have called for a more thorough election inspection than the bipartisan efforts that were carried out to canvass, certify and audit vote results.

Washtenaw County vote results showing big win for Biden now officially certified

As an American, (Bidens) my president, but I dont accept his election, Miriani said, claiming Trump would have won if not for truckloads of illegitimate ballots, one of many unsubstantiated claims.

Holland and Miriani said the deadly attack on the Capitol was horrible and they condemn it, but they believe those who instigated it were not really Trump supporters.

My personal opinion is that, when all the chips are turned up, we will discover the original plot to attack the Capitol building had nothing to do with the normal, everyday, average MAGA person, Holland said, referring to Trumps Make America Great Again campaign slogan.

Like Trump said himself, anybody who caused that vandalism and chaos is not a true Trump supporter, Miriani said.

Michigan man accused of assaulting Capitol police officer with hockey stick in riot

Subscribing to an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory popular among Trump supporters, Miriani said he believes antifa and Black Lives Matter activists dressed up as Trump supporters and led the Capitol attack, and its a possibility some Trump supporters followed them.

Miriani said he attended the Trump rally in D.C. that day and was on the Capitol lawn as the mayhem unfolded, though he didnt realize the extent of it at the time.

All I heard was talk from other people that some guy was sitting on Nancy Pelosis desk, he said. I could see people they were lined up on the balconies and stuff, but then every so often youd see a green puff of smoke in the air and they were saying, Oh, thats tear gas. And there were some friends of mine that got caught up in that because they were really close to the building.

Miriani rode on one of about a dozen buses that transported Trump supporters from Michigan to D.C., with seats costing $125 to over $170 in some cases, he said, noting his bus was free because it was sponsored by a GOP group.

He had to catch the bus back to Michigan shortly after 3 p.m., so he missed a lot of the chaos, he said.

Theyre trying to say Trump tried to call for the violence. Thats crazy, he said.

I was there at the rally and he told us to march down to the Capitol and cheer them on. He didnt say go and breach the Capitol and raise all kinds of hell and havoc.

Behind enemy lines: What its like to be a Trump supporter in liberal Ann Arbor

Local officials, on the other hand, are glad to be rid of Trump, believing he has damaged America and its reputation.

Wednesdays inauguration marked the beginning of a mission to restore the heart and soul of America, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, said in a statement expressing hopes Biden can help heal a divided nation.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris illustrated their vision for a kinder, stronger country, she said.

But words alone will not drive out the darkness of recent years, they must be met with concrete actions to improve the lives of every single person who calls this nation home. Together, President Biden and Vice President Harris will listen to the pain and fear many of our fellow citizens feel today, they will have uncomfortable conversations and make difficult choices, and they will lead us all forward.

"Welcome President Biden & VP Harris," the Michigan Theater marquee read in downtown Ann Arbor on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2021. "Democracy has prevailed."Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News

One of Bidens first actions as president was to revoke Trumps Muslim travel ban, a move Dingell applauded.

By rejecting fear and bigotry, he recognized that this discriminatory policy didnt just cause pain for Muslims around the world, it hurt our fellow citizens, she said.

Lifting this ban as one of his first acts in office clearly demonstrates President Bidens commitment to uniting this nation and his ability to see the humanity and dignity in all Americans. The former presidents ban destroyed lives, caused untold damage to the security of the United States, and didnt protect Americans from terrorist attacks.

With tens of millions of Trump supporters still believing Bidens presidency is not legitimate, Holland and Miriani doubt Biden will be able to unite Americans. Theyre also unsure what the future holds for the Republican Party, which may splinter in the aftermath of Trumps presidency.

My personal opinion is we need to repair the Republican Party, Holland said. We need to clean house of people who dont believe in the Constitution, meaning Donald Trump represented a stricter view of the Constitution than the ones who turned against him.

As for reports Trump is talking about forming a new political party called the Patriot Party, Miriani said hed join and hed support Trump in a heartbeat if he runs again in 2024.

Id definitely be on board, because Ive just about had it with the Republicans, he said, expressing concerns about establishment Republicans who support Trumps impeachment and preventing him from running again.

No third party is going to really get anywhere unless Trump backs it up, Miriani said.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

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Ann Arbor moves forward with new sidewalk projects across city

Researchers map Ann Arbors racist history of housing discrimination

Ann Arbor presses water resources commissioner to send violation notice to polluter

Ann Arbor to resume ice skating programs at city parks with COVID-19 precautions
(L-R) Then-U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken greets Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Olive Hall before a meeting at the Foreign Ministry office in Beijing, on Feb. 11, 2015. (Andy Wong/Pool/Getty Images)

Can Biden Administration Continue Tougher Approach on China?

Commentary

President Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, agrees that former President Donald Trumps administration got communist China right.

During his Jan. 19 Senate confirmation hearing, Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: President Trump was right in taking a tougher approach to China. I disagree very much with the way that he went about it in a number of areas, but the basic principle was the right one. And I think that thats actually helpful to our foreign policy.

Blinken knows the Chinese Communist Party endangers America and the world.

But can the Biden administration continue the tougher approach with Hunter Bidens China investment scandal lurking in the diplomatic and criminal background?

The mainstream media and social media magnates who stifled preelection public examination of the Biden familys alleged involvement in what looks like and smells like a multimillion-dollar political payoff racket may have gotten Biden elected.

However, until the Biden-China scandal is fully vetted, we wont know if Beijing has inside information (blackmail leverage) that might soften Trumps tougher approach.

Knowing matters. Given Chinas documented record of pervasive spying, global intellectual property theft, a huge military expansion program, imperialist seizure of territory, bullying of neighbors, violations of treaty commitments, police-state terror, and genocide of Muslim Uyghurs, a softer approach at this moment in history ultimately puts American security at risk.

The CCPs use of bribery to influence and blackmail to coerce, both as tools for espionage, theft, and diplomacy, isnt a conspiracy theory or a sensationalist charge.

The CCP has pumped billions worldwide into research institutions, hi-tech corporations, universities, and media organizations as well as corrupt governments. But CCP cash always has a catch. The CCP demands access to the research results and new technology, and if it cant get them openly, it steals the data and designs, often relying on bribed or blackmailed human insiders to filch the data or help Chinese cyber-warriors hack proprietary information networks.

From subsidized universities and media organizations, the Chinese government expects a softer approachsuch as muting criticism of CCP police-state brutality and stifling criticism of supreme leader Xi Jinping.

Heres a telling example. In October 2020, a Washington Free Beacon investigative article detailed The Economist magazines years of sympathetic coverage of Chinas Huawei Technologies. The Free Beacon documented the magazines profitable business relationship with the Chinese corporate giant and noted The Economist failed to acknowledge that economic relationship for nearly a decade.

Huaweis deep financial and operational connections to the CCP are no secretbut Huaweis ability to influence The Economist coverage was hidden.

The World Health Organizations soft approach to China from late December 2019 through spring 2020 delayed the global response to COVID-19/the Wuhan virus. In June 2020, an Associated Press investigation revealed that while the WHO publicly praised China, behind the scenes, it was a much different story. China didnt provide the information the WHO needed to combat the pandemic. The Chinese government sat on releasing the genetic map of the virus. AP blamed tight controls on information and competition within the Chinese public health system. Tight controlsAP softens its punch.

China is a dictatorship that silences criticism of Chinas leaders and Chinas system. If muting criticism requires lying to the rest of the world about a deadly disease outbreak, no matter.

A number of commentators have speculated that China maintains a close relationship with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. China supported his appointment, even though Tedros isnt a medical doctor. In late January 2020, Tedros praised Chinas commitment to transparency. From 2012 to 2016, Tedros served as Ethiopias foreign minister. During that time frame, Ethiopia borrowed over $13 billion from China. In December 2020, Nobel Peace Prize nominee David Steinman accused Tedros of aiding genocide in Ethiopia while he served in the Ethiopian government. Tedros denies the accusation.

Circumstantial evidence and a sensational accusation dont make Tedros a criminal or a stooge, but at a critical moment, he treated Beijing oh-so-softly.

So its fair to ask what China knows about Tedros, and, for that matter, what it knows about the Biden familys Chinese financial arrangements.

The CCP bets planet Earth will eventually kowtow to its deep-pocket bribes and military threats.

Austin Bay is a colonel (ret.) in the U.S. Army Reserve, author, syndicated columnist, and teacher of strategy and strategic theory at the University of TexasAustin. His latest book is Cocktails from Hell: Five Wars Shaping the 21st Century.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Matt McManamon jumps the gun in 2021 with new single titled Jumpin' The Gun by Milka Cherkezova . Published Thu 21 Jan 2021 08:52, last updated: 21/01/21

Matt Mcmanamon, former frontsman of The Dead 60s launches his solo career with a new single Jumpin The Gun.



The song was released on the 15th January and it is the first track of a new album Scally Folk, expected later this year.



McManamon making his first steps on an intrepid new path, marking a distinct change in direction from the high energy ska-punk frisson of the band that broke his name.



He said:



Jumpin The Gun is a song for all the haters in life. The song is primarily about experiencing negative people & negative thoughts, and responding to them by doing something positive. Some years ago when I took a hiatus from doing music, Id find certain opinionated people, basically wrote me off, believing I was finished and would never do anything in music again. I always knew I would, I was just taking stock and biding my time and making sure I didnt jump the gun, so the song draws inspiration from turning other peoples negativity into a positive. For me it has a real we will win attitude about it, not too dissimilar to the kids book The Tortoise and the Hare.



With touches of power-pop, psychedelia and folk all evidenced in this comeback single, it lays out a nuanced palette of sounds that all play their part in his upcoming album, Scally Folk. Hued with that same unmistakable Merseyside accent that fired through the lyrics of Riot Radio back in 2005, McManamon uncovers a new dimension to his voice with material refracted through the places that have shaped him, most notably Liverpool and his current home in Wexford, Ireland.



Perhaps best described by the albums title itself, Scally Folk will see the artist exploring the sounds of his roots with new purpose and in doing so finding a closer kinship with the songwriting canons of Lee Mavers, Julian Cope or even Mike Scott. The album was produced in Ireland by Mick Cronin (Shane MacGowan, Kodaline, Noel Hogan of The Cranberries).



During Matt Mcnamanos time in The Dead 60s, they released their s/t debut in 2005, the band scored 5 UK top 40 hits and surpassed over 100k sales in the UK alone. During his tenure as frontman, McManamon toured with the likes of Morrissey, Kasabian, and Deltasonic label mates The Coral, appearing on stages from Glastonbury to Top of the Pops. Prior to launching his solo career, Matt also toured with The Specials as their live guitarist.





You can now listen to Jumpin The Gun on Spotify, Apple Music and in our video box.
SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Neumont College of Computer Science is currently accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) to offer baccalaureate programs specializing in computer science. In addition, Neumont seeks to become a candidate for accreditation with the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). As part of that candidacy process, the College has scheduled an accreditation visit to its campus in Salt Lake City, Utah on April 28-30, 2021.

Neumont College President and CEO Dr. Aaron Reed stated, "Neumont has a history of great relationships with accrediting agencies. We are optimistic about our ongoing relationship with ACCSC as well as the prospect of candidacy status with NWCCU. We are also confident that our affiliation with both organizations will have a lasting, positive impact on Neumont College and its constituents."

Remarks related to Neumont College's qualifications for candidacy must be received no later than March 26, 2021, and can be directed to:

NWCCU

8060 165th Avenue NE, Suite 200,

Redmond, WA 98052

SOURCE Neumont College of Computer Science

Related Links

http://www.neumont.edu


TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley Inc. is hailing Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's proposed 2021-22 state budget released this week as "another clear example of the administration's commitment to revitalize New York's dynamism."

"We applaud the governor's call to fully fund the second year of the $11.9 billion, two-year Department of Transportation capital plan through robust investments in our transportation and infrastructure facilities," said John Cooney, Jr., Executive Director of the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley, a leading business trade organization in the region.

"The construction industry has long served as a driver to reinvigorate employment and stimulate the economy. The Cuomo budget will put workers back on payrolls and make possible needed state and regional project work and improvements in mobility throughout the mid-Hudson region and its extensive networks highways, local roadways and bridges."

Cooney termed the Executive Budget proposal "both fiscally responsible and responsive to today's challenges," but cautioned "extra effort must be taken by our congressional delegation in Washington if we are to see a return to pre-pandemic prosperity following the protracted and widespread hardships inflicted by the Covid-19 crisis."

"Gov. Cuomo has amplified President Biden's 'Build Back Better' appeal to all America, and we as leaders of the region's contracting community will be joined by our partners in organized labor and other sectors in the fight to secure new federal relief aid and opportunities for all New Yorkers," Cooney said. "This is an all-hands-on-deck moment in our history, and we're inspired to see Gov. Cuomo has again done his part."

About CIC

The Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley Inc. is the core of construction and building in the mid-Hudson region of New York State. As the leading voice for transportation construction and environmental infrastructure, as well as utilities and commercial development, CIC represents the leading heavy construction general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and service professionals in the seven-county region of the lower Hudson Valley. CIC is aligned with the Building Contractors Association of Westchester & the Mid-Hudson Region, Inc., and more than 30 labor unions of the Building & Construction Trades Councils in the area. CIC and BCA-member companies play a vital role to sustain the region's quality of life and economic activity. For information, visit cicbca.org.

CONTACT: George Drapeau

914-631-6070

[email protected]

SOURCE Construction Industry Council of Westchester and Hudson Valley

Related Links

http://cicbca.org


Farmers' Protest: Deep Sidhu was not there when protests turned violent, says lawyer

Farmers reject govts offer to suspend farm laws for 18 months, demand repeal

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 21: Farmers unions rejected the proposal put forth by the government to suspend the farm laws for a mutually-agreed period.

In a press note, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha said,''In a full general body meeting of Samyukt Kisan Morcha today, the proposal put forth by the Govt yesterday, was rejected. A full repeal of 3 laws and enacting legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement.''

Punjab govt gives Rs 5 lakh each to families of 4 farmers who died during protest

"The SKM pays homage to the 143 farmers who have been martyred in this movement so far. These companions are separated from us while fighting this mass movement. Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repealing of these farm laws," the statement said.

A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement, it added.

Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar also expressed hope and said a solution is possible on January 22, the 11th round of meeting between the two parties.
Kim Kardashian did it again. She was able to contribute once more to her advocacy of prison reform.

After her said staunch efforts to advocate for a young man in prison,he became one of those names in the long list of people President Trump pardoned or granted clemency during his last day in office, as reported by NY POST.

Ex-President Donald Trump Commuted Chris Young

Chris Young was a young man whose freedom Kim Kardashian has been advocating for way back 2018. Before ex-President Donald Trump vacates his position, he decided to commute this young man, which means Kim Kardashian's efforts paid off.

Chris Young was only 22 when, because of the "three strikes" law, sentenced to life without parole for the non-violent offenses of marijuana and cocaine possession.

On Wednesday, Trump commuted the remaining years of the now 32-year-old Young's sentence.

"Mr. Young has made productive use of his time in prison by taking courses and learning coding skills," read a White House press release. "He also has maintained a spotless disciplinary record. Mr. Young's many supporters describe him as an intelligent, positive person who takes full responsibility for his actions and who lacked a meaningful first chance in life due to what another federal judge called an 'undeniably tragic childhood.'"

Kim Kardashian Prison Reform Successes

This is Kim Kardashian's second massive win in the name of prison reform.

She was able to successfully lobbied Trump to pardon Alice Johnson back in 2018. Johnson already spent 22 years in jail for the non-violent, first-time offense of her role in a large cocaine-dealing ring. After this win, Kardashian immediately looked for another prospect and deemed Young's freedom worth securing.

In September 2018, the reality star visited the Oval Office with former US District Judge Kevin Sharp, who personally requested that Trump reverse the life sentence.

Kardashian - who shared back in 2019 that she's studying to become a lawyer remained in contact with Young's legal team after that fateful Oval Office meeting, as reported by TMZ.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were inaugurated in January 20, 2021, with many critics claiming they made history in the US.

Included among the other well-known personalities that Donald Trump pardoned and commutated in the last minute were Snoop Dogg pal Michael "Harry O" Harris, former White House strategist Steve Bannon and many more.

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday granted bail to Kannada film actress Ragini Dwivedi in the drugs racket case.

A bench of justices R F Nariman, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph set aside the November 3 order of the Karnataka High Court refusing to grant bail to Dwivedi and others in the case registered under various provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

During the hearing conducted through video conferencing, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra appearing for Dwivedi said the 31-year-old actress is in jail while three other co-accused are on bail.

He said that on September 2 last year, acting on information allegedly received by the police, she was arrested but no recovery of contraband was made from her.

Luthra said it was alleged that she was involved in the financing of the drugs network but there was no evidence besides the accusations of consumption of banned ecstasy drugs.

He referred to various case laws and said, bail could be granted to her.

Luthra then referred to the FIR and said the statement of one Ravi Shankar was relied upon and that there was alleged recovery of small quantities of contraband and was accused of financing the drugs.

He said the high court rejected her bail while seizure memo showed that menthol free six cigarettes and few other objects were recovered from her.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the prosecuting agency, said that this is not a case of mere personal consumption, but she has been found organising these rave parties at various places and there she had supplied drugs.

He said there has also been tempering of the evidence, with the urine sample being replaced with water.

The bench said that at the highest it could be presumed that the petitioner might have consumed the drugs and the petitioner had also been arrested on conspiracy charges.

It noted that till date no charge sheet has been filed in the case and said that prima facie if at all any offence has been made out is the consumption under section 27 A entailing punishment of one year or six months imprisonment.

The bench said, "this is a case in which bail should have been granted and hence we will grant her bail and set aside the High Court order."

On November 3, the Karnataka High Court had declined to grant bail to Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani in the drugs case.

However, on December 11, Galrani was granted bail by the High Court in a drug case, over three months after her arrest.

Karnataka Police had arrested Dwivedi, Galrani and others in September last year in the case.
A group of Turkey-based Uyghurs have suspended daily protests in front of Chinas consulate in Istanbul after consular officials agreed to accept documentation of their family members held in internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) at the behest of the governor, group members said.

The group said in a statement last week that Yasar Aksanyar, assistant to Istanbul Governor Ali Yerlikaya, had acted as a mediator between the demonstrators and the consulate, which was ultimately forced to accept the some of the demonstrators documents. The statement, dated Jan. 13, said that the group had agreed to suspend gatherings at the consulate after 17 days of uninterrupted protests.

Demonstrators recently told RFAs Uyghur Service that they are working on revising the written materials they have prepared, which include testimonies and lists of demands. The governors office plans to compile the materials and deliver them to the Chinese consulate, they said, although a date has not yet been set to do so. It will be up to the consulate to decide how to respond.

Authorities in the XUAR are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a vast network of internment camps since early 2017. Chinese officials have said the camps are centers for vocational training, but reporting by RFA and other media outlets shows that detainees are mostly held against their will in cramped and unsanitary conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination.

Habibulla Kuseni, himself a relative of a camp detainee, spoke with RFA about the Istanbul governor offices intervention and mediation between the consulate and Uyghur activists.

The governors office called in some of our kinfolk and informed them that the Chinese consulate would be accepting their demands and that we could select two people from among [the demonstrators] to meet with them, said Kuseni, who has also spearheaded efforts to get Uyghur children into school in Turkey.

But [the people who met with them] said they were not going to submit only their own demands. They requested that they be able to submit a compilation of the requests of all the demonstrators who have relatives in the  camps.

Kuseni said he was pleased the governors office intervened in the situation and that he hopes the consulate accepts all of the documentation.

This is a sign that our 17 days of protests have resulted in something, he said.

In the next few days, all of us will fill out forms, which will be collected in one place and then ... be sent to the consulate through the governors office. If they agree to our demands, we will then discuss what to do next. If they do not agree, we will continue our activities.

Growing pressure

Jevlan Shirmemmet, a Uyghur youth in Istanbul, told RFA that protests in front of the consulate began on Aug. 14, 2020, with demonstrators specifically advocating for the Chinese government to account for the whereabouts of missing family members. However, the consulate had never indicated it would be willing to accept any materials from the group until daily gatherings began.

The governors office asked us to stop our demonstrations in the meantime, Shirmemmet said.

We couldnt say no to this, and so, because we also need time in order to collect materials from others, we decided to take a period of time off [from demonstrating]. But were stopping only temporarily.

Mirzahmet Ilyasoghli, another Uyghur youth demonstrator, said swelling support throughout Turkey and abroad is also likely to have helped to pressure the consulate to respond.

These demonstrations of ours, first of all, we can say that our fellow Uyghurs have been very active in ityoung people, older men and women, and elders  alike all took part in them, Ilyasoghli said.

These 17 days of activism spurred Turkey to action. This has put a lot of pressure on China, who hasnt yet been criticized sufficiently for this. We also think it has put pressure on the Turkish government, he added.

Around 100 people showed up [to protests] and we were able to achieve results like this. There are some 50,000 Uyghurs in Turkey. This is a clear sign that we could achieve great things if just 1,000 Uyghurs were to stand up.

Chinese officials did not respond to requests for comment on the activists and their protest.

Reported by Azigh for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Many immigrants living in Massachusetts who legally qualify for unemployment benefits have been improperly blocked from the aid, a legal advocacy group alleged as it called for immediate action from the Baker administration.

The Boston chapter of Lawyers for Civil Rights on Wednesday published a letter it sent last week to the state Department of Unemployment Assistance warning that it believes the department has demonstrated a pattern and practice of wrongfully denying claims or terminating benefits for Temporary Protected Status holders.

TPS recipients, many of whom hail from countries such as Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador, are legally permitted to work and receive unemployment benefits in the United States.

The Lawyers for Civil Rights group alleged, however, that the Baker administration has in hundreds of instances rejected claims improperly. The organization listed three examples in its letter of TPS holders who were denied benefits, but said they represent the tip of the iceberg.

State agencies need much more legal and technical expertise surrounding the complexities and nuances of immigration law, LCR Executive Director Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal said in a statement. Without strategic state coordination and oversight across agencies, we will continue to see textbook examples of discrimination and exclusion against immigrants. State agencies are leaving immigrant families in the lurch.

A spokesperson for the Department of Unemployment Assistance could not be reached for immediate comment.
Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have received Indias Covid-19 vaccines under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First policy.

India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines.

India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

On Thursday, Bangladesh and Nepal received Covid-19 vaccines from India.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the vaccine consignment to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli during a function at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar.

Also read: India's vaccine diplomacy in south Asia pushes back against China

Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi and senior government officials were also present on the occasion.

In the first phase, the vaccines will be administered to frontline health workers, employees and security personnel, according to Tripathi.

India also handed over 2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh under grant assistance.

The vaccines were provided to Bangladesh at a crucial time when the number of coronavirus cases in this country was rising.

"India had stood by Bangladesh during the (1971) Liberation War, and today, when the pandemic is rattling the world, India again came with gifts of vaccines," Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said.

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami handed over the vaccines formally to Momen at a formal function in Dhaka.

On Wednesday, Bhutan and the Maldives became the first two countries to receive the Covid-19 vaccines from India.

India sent 150,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared on Twitter photos of the consignments reaching the two countries.

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji thanked India for the "generous gift".

"Our profound gratitude to the GoI (Government of India) for the generous gift of 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines that Bhutan received today. Deeply grateful to GoI for its abiding friendship and unconditional support to Bhutan's fight against the Covid-19 pandemic," he said on Twitter.

Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in a tweet, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the vaccines.

"A short while ago, a flight from India with a 100,000 doses of the CoviShield vaccine arrived in the Maldives, renewing our hopes for a resolution to the Covid 19 crisis soon. Our heartfelt thanks to PM @narendramodi," he said.

It is learnt that a consignment containing 1.5 million doses of Covisheild vaccines will reach Myanmar on Friday.

In a major announcement, India on Tuesday said it will send Covid-19 vaccines under grant assistance to six countries -- Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances.

The Ministry of External Affairs said India will supply Covid-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner keeping in view the domestic requirements.

In a statement, the MEA said India has received several requests for the supply of Indian-manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries.
Sen. Ted Cruz is drawing the ire of a lot of people on Twitter today, including actor Seth Rogen.

Rogen tweeted a short, "F*** off you fascist" in response to Cruz's tweet criticizing President Joe Biden's decision for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.

AFTER THE INAUGURATION: Texas GOP continues to allege election fraud in statement thanking former President Trump

(Cruz is also getting roasted for maybe believing the name of the Paris Climate Agreement has something to do with the citizens of Paris, and not because it was signed in Paris.)

"Charming, civil, educated response," Cruz tweeted with a screenshot of Rogen's initial shot at the senator. "If youre a rich, angry Hollywood celebrity, todays Dems are the party for you. If youre blue-collar, if youre a union member, if you work in energy or manufacturing...not so much."

To which Rogen responded: "Haha get f***** fascist. Go encourage a white supremacist insurrection again you f****** clown."

"If youre a white supremacist fascist who doesnt find it offensive when someone calls your wife ugly, Ted Cruz is the exact motherf***** for you," the actor added. "Also I'm in four unions."

Cruz has been widely criticized for supporting former President Donald Trump's baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. After a pro-Trump mob stormed and breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Cruz voted to object to Arizona and Pennsylvania's vote counts certifying the election of Biden.

Rogen also referenced when Trump called Cruz's wife ugly through a passive-aggressive retweet.

The exchange between Cruz and Rogen got enough attention that Rogen's name started trending on Twitter as others weighed in on the feud.

Cruz has yet to respond past his initial tweet.
As President Joe Biden took the oath of office yesterday as the president of the United States, someone was silently kneeling by his late son Beaus grave.

A reporter for the Delaware News Journal stopped by St. Joseph on the Brandywine church in Greenville, Del., where Beau is buried.

Patricia Talorico told The Washington Post that she was out and about yesterday to observe how people in Delaware were celebrating the inauguration of Joe Biden.

Talorico told the Post about a chance encounter she had with Beau Biden in 2002 at a political event during which an act of kindness from him left her with a lasting impression. Talorico said she was stressed at the time over a deadline and a story she was to write. Apparently, Beau noticed and he asked if she was OK.

That memory prompted Talorico to stop by the cemetery where she said she saw a man kneeling at Beaus grave, head down and wearing a blue uniform. Talorico snapped a photo but said she did not approach to ask the mans name out of respect.

Poignant moment: While Joe Biden gave his inauguration speech, a lone man in a uniform knelt at the Delaware grave of his son Beau. pic.twitter.com/QkCuJRHzTz  Patricia Talorico (@PattyTalorico) January 20, 2021

Beau Biden, a Syracuse University College of Law graduate like his father, served as attorney general in Delaware. He died of cancer in 2015 at the age of 46.

FILE - In this July 4, 2009 file photo, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, right, talks with his son U.S. Army Capt. Joseph R. "Beau" Biden III at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq.AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed, Pool, File

Taloricos story and tweet have gone viral with thousands of shares, likes and comments such as, Crying all over again seeing this picture. Im so thankful for the good people in this country and America there is goodness here.

And this, Oh my goodness! Now Ive got goosebumps again, and yes, Im crying again! What a wonderful way to keep Beau in the loop on this historic day. If you havent read Joes book, called Promise Me Dad, I recommend you do, its wonderful, all about Beau.

Talorico posted a follow-up story about why she took the photo yesterday. Talorico wrote, The person in the uniform bowed their head and clasped their hands. The image brought tears to my eyes.

I couldnt bring myself to interrupt this poignant, solemn moment. I took some photos from a distance and pulled my car over to a nearby roadway. I listened to the end of Bidens speech and drove back to see if the person was still there. The person was. And the person was still kneeling, still had their head bowed.
Waiting Wednesday morning on the steps of the U.S. Capitol for Joe Biden to be sworn in as president, Rep. Brendan Boyle reflected on what happened in that exact spot two weeks ago.

The inauguration felt surreal to the Northeast Philadelphia Democrat because it shared a space that had been site to a violent insurrection that left members of Congress sheltering from a pro-Trump mob seeking to stop the certification of the 2020 election.

Literally, where I was sitting, two weeks ago is where hand-to-hand combat was taking place between those rioters and members of the U.S. Capitol Police, Boyle said. When you think of the last two weeks, but you also think of the last four years, it made this, I believe, the most emotional inaugural in my lifetime.

The vibe, Boyle said, was pride, joy, and relief.

There were a lot of people, especially on my side of the aisle, who were so nervous and afraid that this day wouldnt come, he said. The destruction and the ugliness of the last four years has done real damage to our country. That will take a while to dig out from the deep hole that weve been in. But today is the beginning of that.

 READ MORE: Biden fans celebrate in an eerie, locked down Washington: Were not going to be intimidated

Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat from Bidens childhood hometown of Scranton, acknowledged the political whiplash of a contested presidential election, followed by the insurrection and then another impeachment of Donald Trump.

The common denominator, the glue that strings together all those events and insults is the former president, Casey said. The good news today is we can start a brand-new chapter.

Casey said hearings on Bidens cabinet appointments, legislation to reinvigorate the economy, and efforts to stem the pandemic will run on parallel tracks with a Senate trial for Trump, who was impeached for inciting the Capitol insurrection.

I just think in terms of common sense and democracy, how do you allow someone to engage in that kind of conduct as the leader of the country and not have some accountability? Casey said. The accountability should not be extinguished because youve left office.

Casey said he also hopes the Senate and House act to censure members who supported overturning the election results based on false fraud claims, including eight of nine Republican House members from Pennsylvania.

Members of Congress went through extraordinary measures to reach their seats on the west side of the Capitol. They were required to take COVID-19 tests on Monday or Tuesday, present the results, and then undergo a health screening Wednesday before passing through metal detectors.

Rep. Madeleine Dean was in Washington but watched the ceremony on television as she prepared for the Senate trial. Dean, a Montgomery County Democrat, was appointed last week as an impeachment manager by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Dean found it to be a day of such joy as she focused on the task ahead. An impeachment conviction in the Senate would likely prompt a vote barring Trump from ever holding federal office again.

Sure, he seeks unity for our country. But he knows that we have to remember, Dean said of Biden. We dont have the luxury of saying lets just let bygones be bygones when Americans attacked Americans, when an American president incited that attack on his own government, on his own vice president.

Dean, whose mother-in-law died from COVID-19 in May, said Biden set the right tone on the pandemic.

That tells you everything you need to know about this man, Dean said. Theres a time to mourn and theres a time to dance. Theres a time to face the truth and then theres a time to unify.

 READ MORE: Welcome to the presidency, Joe Biden. Please solve all these crises.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Bucks County Republican, called it unfortunate that Trump flew to Florida rather than attend Bidens inauguration, a breach in long-standing tradition.

Fitzpatrick predicted the U.S. Supreme Court will have to rule on the open legal and constitutional question of whether a former president can be convicted in an impeachment proceeding.

Theres no question its unfortunate for President Biden, Fitzpatrick said. The first 100 days are by far the most important of any administration because it determines if there is going to be momentum or not. And you really want some positive, bipartisan momentum.

Fitzpatrick said he hopes infrastructure investment  an issue that became a running political joke during Trumps presidency  would reemerge as a bipartisan way to rebuild the nation while creating jobs.

Sen. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican, commended Biden in a statement for his call for national unity, and his assurance to those who did not support him that he will nevertheless be president for all Americans.

Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, a Delaware County Democrat, was impressed with Bidens call for unity because it didnt attempt to look past the insurrection that left the Capitol scarred, and five dead.

He didnt say let bygones be bygones, she said. He said we have to unite behind the truth. We have to unite behind shared American values.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Chester County Democrat, heard in Bidens address poetry and prayer, giving her hope that her party and Republicans can find a way to work together after a contentious four years.

I think of the resilience of this country, she said. We have gone through everything in the last four years, from a government that was shut down when I was sworn in, to a pandemic to social and racial unrest to a coup attempt.

Rep. Dwight Evans, a Philadelphia Democrat, said that Biden is as realistic about the challenges that we face as anybody.

But he has the eternal optimism that we can bear these issues if we work together, Evans said. Thats the key.
Qantas has forged ahead with plans to outsource 2000 baggage handling and cleaning jobs despite facing a court challenge over the redundancies, sparking swift condemnation from the Transport Workers Union.

The airline on Thursday announced it had finalised outsourcing contracts with seven specialist ground handling and aircraft cleaning companies, including SwissPort and dnata.

Around 13,500 Qantas staff have been stood down during the pandemic. Credit:

The announcement came amid a court case between the airline and the TWU over Qantas's outsourcing programs.

The TWU launched legal action in the Federal Court last year to stop the outsourcing, but the case will not be heard until April.

Interest in Riley Williams of Central Pa. spiked Monday after she was identified as the woman at the center of an investigation into Nancy Pelosis stolen laptop from the speakers office during the Capitol siege.

Riley June Williams, 22, who graduated from Mechanicsburg High School in 2017, was arrested and charged with knowingly breaking into the Capitol, violent entry, disorderly conduct, and theft.

Thats when the phone and social media networks of a different Riley Williams, who also graduated from Mechanicsburg High School, but in 2019, started blowing up.

The first message to Riley Larue Williams, 19, came from her mom. She sent a screenshot of a news article about the arrest and joked: Is there something you want to tell us?

Similar messages came from other relatives and friends whod heard of Central Pa.s big connection to the shocking incident at the Capitol.

Then strangers started seeking her out on social media, asking if she were the Riley Williams captured on video storming the Capitol, guiding others up the stairs toward Pelosis office and featured in a segment by the British network ITV news.

Riley Larue Williams (pictured here) graduated from Mechanicsburg high school in 2019. Riley June Williams who was arrested after the Capitol riot graduated from the same school in 2017.

Thats when Riley Larue Williams created a public post on her Facebook page with a screenshot of a news story featuring the other Riley Williams.

Since everybody and their mom has been texting me about this. This is not me, she wrote. I am not this Riley Williams. I am a raging liberal. This is absolutely not me.

Complicating matters, both Riley Williamses have similar long brown hair and wear glasses. In fact, Riley Larue Williams had glasses that were nearly identical to the pair worn in the first photo released by authorities of Riley June Williams.

Riley Larue Williams Facebook post immediately garnered some praise: Thank you for being the good Riley Williams, several people said.

Her grandmother posted: My granddaughter would know better.

It really looks like you though, a friend commented. Im pretty convinced thats you. Hahaha.

Riley replied: Thats what everyone has been saying!

Another friend chimed in: I saw this and immediately thought it was you!

And another said: I literally had to research the videos on YouTube to figure out this girl was not you.

Meanwhile, her father Calvin Williams, of Mechanicsburg, was getting a small stream of sympathetic phone calls and messages from well-meaning friends.

I know this must be a tough time, they said, without asking if it was indeed his daughter. Please let us know if you need anything.

A co-worker left him a voicemail saying, I just heard the disturbing news about your daughter Riley.

Calvin Williams hung up before finishing the message to dial the man and let him know that his daughter wasnt at the center of a federal investigation.

Calvins father, who lives in Camp Hill, got a mixed-up call as well.

Calvin said he posted the truth on Facebook and immediately started calling older relatives, who werent plugged in to social media to let them know that his Riley had not been arrested. After that, the messages and phone calls stopped, he said.

Riley Larue Williams close friends know her political views lean left and that her character is strong so they didnt think she would be caught up in a pro-Trump mob storming the Capitol to disrupt the election tally. But some of her fathers co-workers hadnt seen her in nearly a decade so they just knew a local woman with the same name had been arrested.

The university dean of Riley Larue Williams college called her too, not to ask whether she had been arrested, but rather to see if she would consent to allowing the school to provide reporters her middle name and age to differentiate her from the one who had been criminally charged.

I had him as a professor so he knew I wouldnt do that, she said. But he wanted to check with me in case the university got any requests.

The Riley Williams who was arrested is pictured at left. Riley Larue Williams, 19, who attends Messiah University, is pictured at right.

She created a video on the social media platform TikTok featuring screenshots of all the texts and messages she had received about her namesake and it quickly racked up nearly 200,000 views and 40,000 likes, not to mention a river of comments.

You can hide in my shed, someone commented.

But imagine all the people that only kinda knew you and were too scared to ask if it was you, another person commented. Now think youre in jail.

Its just so weird, Riley Larue Williams said. Ive never heard of anything like this. Im aware I have a common name but never thought this would happen.

Shes hoping it wont create confusion or problems in the long-run, especially when she starts applying for jobs in a few years. Shes currently majoring in public relations at Messiah University with dance as a minor.

Her father said he hopes she didnt have any trouble at airports boarding a plane or at the Department of Motor Vehicles from sharing a name, similar age and hometown, with a federal prisoner.

So far, all the confusion has been good natured, Riley Larue Williams said. She changed her name on some social media accounts to Not that Riley Williams.

She hasnt been harassed or received any negative messages, so she still thinks its just a funny coincidence.

I hope it stays that way, she said.

READ: Central Pa. woman at center of probe into Pelosis stolen laptop: Who she is, where shes from

READ: Capitol laptop theft suspect filed for protection from man who called FBI on her
One of Northern Ireland's most haunting and unsolved murders is relived in harrowing detail in a powerful new memoir by a friend of the victim.

Kerri ni Dochartaigh reveals how Jonathan Cairns (18) was killed less than an hour after she had said goodbye to him - and also tells of the enduring heartbreak his untimely loss brought to all who loved him.

The teenager was attacked in the early hours of April 25, 1999, while on his way home from a night out in Ballykelly. The next day his body was found in a shallow grave in nearby Loughermore Forest. A man was jailed for helping to dispose of Jonathan's body but no one has ever been convicted of his murder.

"Jonathan was a really beautiful person and one of the best people I have ever met," says ni Dochartaigh (37), whose critically acclaimed book, Thin Places, charts her emotional recovery from a turbulent upbringing in Londonderry as the child of a mixed marriage - her mother is Catholic, her father, Protestant.

The family suffered sectarian attacks, which left her feeling terrified and an outsider from each community. That violence also proved a harbinger for later tragedies that engulfed her, and she spent her twenties and early 30s consumed with self-hatred, suicidal and self-medicating with alcohol.

Ni Dochartaigh was just 16 and enjoying a rare period of stability in her young life when Jonathan was killed. They never dated but she writes how "he was my closest male friend, the only boy I'd slept beside in a bed, the first person to give me a Valentine's card. He was murdered, most likely less than an hour after I said goodbye to him...

"That night our friend had walked me up home from the village chip shop, and we chatted about life on the short, dark walk. He made me laugh, so very much; it took me years to find people that made me laugh the way he had."

Jonathan rejoined their friends for a while that night and the next day ni Dochartaigh says they tried to convince themselves he would turn up safe, having crashed out at one of the other's houses. They talked about "how much he'd laugh (what a contagious, living laugh) when he caught us all out looking for him like on some dodgy crime series on TV. How he'd secretly be really upset with himself for putting us all through the worry - especially his wee mam."

But later that day his clothes were found near his home and soon after, ni Dochartaigh writes, "the bloodied, battered, utterly broken shell of a body" belonging to "that blond-haired, joyful, cheeky young man, the funniest person I had ever met" was unearthed.

The fact that the man jailed for disposing of the body was a neighbour who has "never shared the details that we begged for, never admitted who murdered our friend, his neighbour" is galling.

"It broke something in us, that murder of one of the best people we knew. It broke something in me so huge that it has taken two decades to try to fix it, to forgive the world for taking such a beautiful thing and beating it back down into the soil," she writes. "To forgive humanity for allowing the neighbour of someone I loved to carry his broken body in a car - up to an ancient forest that I loved - and to bury him, without ever explaining what happened, who did it, or why."

Ni Dochartaigh was left devastated by Jonathan's murder but in truth her own young life had been splintering for years. At just six years old, ni Dochartaigh saw the shooting dead of a soldier and though she never glimpsed his face she dreamt about him for years, "always superimposing a face and trying to see him as human".

By the age of 13, her family had already twice fled their home in fear of their lives from sectarian thugs. Her parents were teenage sweethearts who had settled in a Protestant housing estate in Derry's Waterside. Despite witnessing the soldier's murder, ni Dochartaigh and her younger brother were otherwise largely oblivious to sectarian tensions but that changed when her mother and father split up.

"Until I was nine we were very protected," she tells me. "We were living in a Protestant housing estate and my dad was a Protestant and we went to a Protestant primary school. Religion was in the background - dad's family were religious and we occasionally went to Sunday School but it was never a fixed thing."

With her father gone, however, "we were not Protestant" but "we were not Catholic either... our mum had lost the right to that in the eyes of many after marrying a Protestant".

Ni Dochartaigh was 11 when three teenage thugs lobbed a homemade petrol bomb at their home, setting it on fire. The family cat, trying to wake her in the smoke-filled bedroom, left deep scratch marks on her cheek. She had vivid, recurring nightmares about their burning house for years afterwards.

The family was rehomed "on an equally sectarian housing estate, except this one was a Catholic housing estate" in Derry's Cityside. Their stay there also ended abruptly when the youth club leader at her granny's church turned up to collect her in a bus covered in blue writing that read "Clooney Hall Methodist Church Londonderry". Ni Dochartaigh writes: "This was the sign that said that we were - in the words of the lad in the house opposite from us - 'dirty Orange bastards that needed put the f*** out.'"

This time they moved out before being attacked, escaping to Ballykelly, near Limavady, a village with harmonious cross-community relations. For ni Dochartaigh, it provided a brief haven from the Troubles but after a few years her world imploded again, first when her stepfather started drinking and left home, and then with her friend Jonathan's shocking murder.

What follows in the book is an unflinching account of ni Dochartaigh slowly unravelling. New pressures pile on - "repeated invasive surgery" from cervical health scares, an abusive friendship, the struggle to make ends meet at university and an unhappy relationship. There are suicide attempts, anti-depressants, panic attacks and alcohol abuse.

Yet this is not a memoir of unrelenting misery - far from it. In wonderfully evocative, lyrical prose, ni Dochartaigh repeatedly heads into the countryside, to the river, to the shoreline, seeking solace in the natural beauty of the world around her. Whether in Ireland, Scotland or England, she finds comfort in the "thin places that make us feel larger than ourselves, as though we are held in a place between worlds".

Her astonishingly beautiful writing, always with her personal story at its centre, sweeps across politics, history, Brexit, identity and the beauty of the Irish language, in profoundly moving meditations.

Remarkably, through all her struggles, ni Dochartaigh was a high achiever. After graduating from Trinity College Dublin, she determinedly left Ireland, moving to Edinburgh, then Bristol, building a career as a Steiner teacher and making good friends.

Five years into her new life in Scotland, just when she thought she may be "through the worst of it", she suffered a breakdown. A fortnight after the death of her grandfather, a flatmate returned home to find her shaking uncontrollably, weeping and clutching her mobile phone.

She cried for days and realised she wasn't only mourning her grandfather, but also all the tragedies and sorrows that life had thrown at her. "I'd a good job, amazing friends, I loved it there, but I couldn't work out why I was so upset. The reality was I hadn't fixed things, I was still blaming myself for things that happened to me."

Again she ran away, hoping a new start in Bristol, would herald better times. It didn't - but a near-death experience and a dangerous encounter proved an epiphany.

Ni Dochartaigh was sitting on the doorstep, reading, when her mobile beeped indoors. She went inside to see who the text was from. Seconds later a rotted window frame fell from an upstairs flat being renovated, showering the spot where she'd been sitting in broken glass.

"That was the turning point of my life," says ni Dochartaigh, who realised in the moment that she could have been killed, how very much she wanted to live. "I found that section hard to write. I didn't want it to seem wishy washy or mystical. I wanted it to be very rooted... a visceral, literal sense that I am still here no matter what, and that now it is my desire to remain here. I felt like I had woken up or that I had been underwater and was back up."

Shortly afterwards, walking home alone from a bar late at night, she realises a man is following her and glimpses a knife in his hand. Suddenly a squealing sound pierces the darkness and her would-be assailant runs off. The noise was the cries of two foxes mating.

Just as the family cat had scratched her awake during the petrol bombing, ni Dochartaigh had "once again been saved by nature, quite literally". (The empathetic presence of animals is a recurring theme - her brother brings home " a beautiful warm water rat" to their bleak council estate; for two years after Jonathan's death, he comes to her in dreams as a white bird).

In 2015, ni Dochartaigh finally began to confront her past. She returned home to Derry and moved in with a partner, identified only as M and 22 years her senior. She would lash out at him, telling him that if she ever took her own life, it would be his fault, but his support never faltered.

A year of therapy helped enormously, as did quitting alcohol. "I wasn't one of those people who went out and got hammered but I did drink every day. I used it as a crutch.

"I hated myself and couldn't face thinking about things. Some people are better not drinking and I'm one of them.

"I prefer letting my emotions come to the surface and dealing with them. I blamed myself for everything that was wrong in my life since I was a child and it has taken me years to undo that. But I'm proof that you can move forward from self-hatred into a space of openness with yourself, to forgiveness and light and hope really."

Working on Thin Places helped too. "Writing about trauma encourages you to be gentle with yourself," she says.

She began the memoir seven years ago as a series of fragments but her editor encouraged her to give it a linear narrative and "to be more upfront with the reader" about personal details, something ni Dochartaigh initially shied away and, one senses, still doesn't feel entirely comfortable discussing in an interview.

Life is good. She lives with M "in a cottage in the heart of Ireland. It's a life I never imagined living. I'm very grateful." The teenager who grappled with a feeling of not belonging, now "views my identity as being of this land mass, rather than Northern Ireland or Southern Ireland". It's important though that people suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from living through the Troubles are able to talk about it, she says.

She still thinks about a young man on the cusp of life who walked her home one night more than 20 years ago.

"During the pandemic so many people have been getting in touch with teenage friends they lost touch with. If Jonathan hadn't died there is a chance we'd have lost touch too, but if that had happened and then we'd have got back in touch, I know he'd be just the same good person he was then. A lot of people change but Jonathan wouldn't have. He was one of the good guys."

Thin Places by Kerri ni Dochartaigh, published by Canongate, 14.99
Country star Reba McEntire has a history in acting, too. McEntire was even the star of her own show, Reba, which ran from 2001 to 2007. The show focused on McEntires fictional life after her divorce from husband Brock (Christopher Rich), who was cheating with a woman named Barbra-Jean (Melissa Peterman). But it turns out Reba wasnt even supposed to be the shows main character.

Reba McEntire (right) and Melissa Peterman in 2015 | Ethan Miller/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night

Reba followed Reba McEntires blissfully disorganized family

McEntire signed onto the show back in 2000, and the series followed Reba Harts family life now that her husband had left her for another woman. The show highlights the bizarre relationship between Reba and her ex-husbands new wife, Barbra Jean, as Barbra Jean considers Reba to be her best friend despite that she stole Rebas husband away.

Throughout the series, the family faces plenty of trials and tribulations, including when Cheyenne, Rebas high school-age daughter, announces shes pregnant in the shows first episode. Rebas middle child, Kyra (Scarlett Pomers), becomes somewhat of a rebel throughout the show, and Reba tries to balance raising her kids, dealing with her ex-husband and his new wife, and building a career for herself in real estate. Though the show was a hit for six seasons, Reba wasnt actually supposed to be the main character.

Christopher Rich, Reba McEntire, and Melissa Peterman | Kevin Winter/ImageDirect

RELATED: Why Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani Might Owe Their Relationship to Reba McEntire

The show was reportedly supposed to belong to Sally Field

Prior to Reba signing onto the show, producers had another idea for its concept: A show called Sally, which would subsequently star actress Sally Field. McEntire initially revealed the details of the former show on an episode of Live! With Regis and Kelly, according to IMDb.

Its unclear why Sally Field turned down the script, but when Reba was cast, the shows name of Sally was originally kept. However, according to McEntire, those plans changed when the show was first filmed in front of a live audience. At that point, producers decided they wanted McEntire to go by her own real name, and as a result, Reba was born.

Certain aspects of McEntires character mirrored her own life, such as her birth place in the show  McAlester, Oklahoma. The shows theme song, Im a Survivor, which McEntire recorded, ended up reaching no. 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs list in 2001.

JoAnna Garcia, Reba McEntire, and Melissa Peterman | Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Reba McEntire grew close to her Reba family through the years

Though Reba has been off the air for nearly 15 years, the cast has remained close. Those on the show had good relationships while filming, and McEntire and Christopher Rich had even previously appeared in a movie together.

McEntire and actress Melissa Peterman also grew extremely close during filming, and theyve said in recent years that theyve kept up that friendship. The two still spend time together when they can and chat all the time. But in 2017, McEntire revealed to Fox News that it would be impossible to do a Reba reboot because the cast is simply too busy with other projects and life events.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : Netaji Subhas Chandra Boses 125th birth anniversary will be celebrated with great fanfare on January 23.

Ahead othe special day, IANS spoke to Shakti Sinha, Director of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Policy Research and International Studies, MS University, Vadodara, who is also a distinguished fellow at India Foundation.

Sinha was the former Director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) and was part of the Indian Administrative Service from the 1979 batch. He had also served as a Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office in the past.

Excerpts from the interview: Q: Why is Netaji so important in BJP's scheme of things?

A: If you would have been brought up in the 60s and 70s, there existed a narrative that freedom was won under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi while Jawaharlal Nehru was the next big leader. As a result, many others who contributed to the freedom struggle went unmentioned.

I would say the list includes Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. During the freedom struggle, Netaji had to leave the Congress party. He was pushed out. We have to understand that apart from Gandhi, there were many big leaders who participated in the freedom struggle. It was because of Netaji that the British became very nervous about the Indian Army. So India got freedom not only because of civil disobedience, but also because of the threat to the British Raj from within. It is for this reason that Netaji is so relevant to the BJP.

Q: How do you see the preparations for the birth anniversary celebrations of Netaji? A: It is a broad-based committee (the high-level committee formed by the Centre to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Bose) and took people from every political ideology. Netaji was a broad-based person and was also influential in his own time. The idea is to let people judge Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

Q: Do you feel that Netaji is being consumed for electoral ends? In 2016, six months before state elections in West Bengal, the television was filled with Netaji stories...

A: Political parties will do these things. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the Netaji museum in New Delhi's Red Fort in 2018. The effort to understand Netaji and bring him to the public eye has been there for a long time. But I would say that it is not only about the elections.

Q: Do you think that Netaji can again become an issue in the coming West Bengal Assembly elections? A: I don't know why Netaji should be an issue. If people have forgotten him, then you cannot accuse someone of appropriating his legacy. BJP's inherent values and Netaji's eco system were pretty different, but if the BJP, despite the ideological issues, can appreciate a nationalist, then why not? It should not be an issue. Others can also own up to him. The point is why is our own leader being ignored and if someone is appropriating him, then it cannot be grudged.
New Delhi: The Income Tax Department carried out search and survey operations on Tuesday (January 19) in Jaipur on three groups, involving one jeweller and two real-estate colonizers and developers. The co-ordinated search operation was conducted at 20 premises and the survey was conducted at 11 premises.

One of the groups is a prominent builder, developer and colonizer in Jaipur. During the search, a plethora of incriminating documents and digital data in the form of unaccounted receipts, unexplained development expenses, unexplained assets, cash loans & advances, on-money receipts were found and seized. The highlight of the search was that the complete details of unaccounted transactions of the last 6-7 years of this group maintained in several registers, slip pads, day to day kacchi cash book, expense sheets and diaries hidden in the basement were unearthed and seized from the main business premises. Total unaccounted transactions amounting to Rs. 650 crore have been detected, so far in this group.

The second group is a multi-venture activity group engaged in the business of precious and semi-precious stones, jewellery, antiques, handicrafts, carpets, textiles etc. During the course of the search operation, a concealed cavity was detected by the concerted efforts of the team at the main business premises of the assessee. The entire detail of unaccounted manufacturing activity of gold and silver ornaments for the last 6 years was found from the said cavity. It is pertinent to note that this manufacturing activity has never been reported in any of the Returns of Income filed by the group. Documents relating to Benami property amounting to Rs. 15 crores were also found from the secret chamber.

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Though the assessee had denied maintenance of any stock register, the same was unearthed from the secret cavity. The alpha-numeric secret code mentioned on each item had the actual sale price embedded in it and the team is working on cracking the code. Two hard-disks and pen-drive were also found from the secret cavity containing details of various items in coded form, along with the photographs of the items. The concealed incriminating data maintained by the assessee in Jewels Prime Software has been retrieved by the search team. A perusal of these incriminating documents/data and the regular books of account revealed that the assessee had been suppressing the sales consideration ranging from 100% to 150% on the items sold to foreign tourists.

The Jeweller group had also advanced unaccounted cash loans to various persons amounting to Rs. 122.67 crore and is also earning unaccounted interest on the same. The group had also introduced its unaccounted cash income through the bank accounts of their employees and karigars. To sum up, total unaccounted transactions amounting to Rs. 525 crore have been detected, so far, in the group.

The third group is a renowned builder and developer of Jaipur engaged in the development of Commercial Centres, Farm Houses, Townships and Residential enclaves. The search operation has revealed that the assessee group had taken over a real-estate project at the Airport Plaza by showing an investment of Rs. 1 lakh only in the books of account whereas, the WIP pertaining to the project, reflected in the balance sheet was found to be about Rs. 133 crore. The search also revealed that substantial income from various affordable housing schemes run by the assessee had not been disclosed in the returns of income, the complete documents of which were seized from the searched premises. The group had also advanced unaccounted cash loans to various persons amounting to Rs. 19 crore and is also earning unaccounted interest on the same. Thus, total unaccounted transactions amounting to Rs.225 crore have been detected, so far.

In all, unaccounted & unrecorded transactions exceeding Rs. 1400 crore have been unearthed due to the search & seizure operation conducted on these 3 groups.

The search operations are still continuing and further investigations are under progress.
The incidence of Covid-19 in Ireland is now 10 times higher than it was when the Government eased public health restrictions in December, the chief medical officer has said.

Dr Tony Holohan said Ireland was making clear progress when it came to reducing the incidence rate but still has a very large burden of infection.

His comments come after Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that level 5 restrictions will likely continue well into February.

Expand Close Taoiseach Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook

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Speaking at the National Public Health Emergency Teams (Nphet) briefing on Thursday Dr Holohan said: On December 1, when we last eased restrictions, our five-day moving average was 261 cases per day, today it is almost 10 times that number at 2,430 cases per day.

It is evident that the population is working as one to reduce contacts and interrupt further transmission of the disease. However, we are witnessing the effects of high levels of community transmission through our hospital and ICU admissions and reported deaths.

We need to continue to work together to drive this infection down and bring the disease back under control.

It comes as the chief executive of the HSE said the Covid-19 situation in hospitals is at the highest level of concern that weve ever had.

Thursday saw a further 51 deaths due to Covid-19 and 2,608 new cases of Covid-19 recorded by the Department of Health.

Of the cases notified today:

a1,230 are men / 1,346 are women

a55% are under 45 years of age

aThe median age is 42 years old

a1,019 in Dublin, 204 in Cork, 135 in Donegal, 132 in Galway, 131 in Kildare, and the remaining 987 cases are spread across all other counties.  Department of Health (@roinnslainte) January 21, 2021

Of the new cases 1,019 were in Dublin, 204 in Cork, 135 in Donegal, 132 in Galway, 131 in Kildare, and the remaining 987 cases are spread across all other counties.

There were a total of 1,949 people in hospital with the virus on Thursday morning with a record 214 people with the disease in intensive care units.

The 14-day incidence rate of the disease now stands at 1,141 cases per 100,000 population.

The reproduction number has reduced to between 0.5 and 0.8.

It is simply a level of infection that's way too high Dr Tony Holohan

Asked how long Covid-19 restrictions may remain in place Dr Holohan said Nphet did not have any reason to disagree with the Taoiseach Micheal Martins expectations.

Dr Holohan said: We have a very significant burden of infection. Looking at infection levels two weeks ago: they were very high, clearly very high.

Weve now reduced substantially in relative terms since then but we have to look back to the beginning of December. Were still 10 times higher.

It is simply a level of infection thats way too high, he added.

We have further progress we have to make.

The Taoiseach told Virgin Medias Ireland AM on Thursday that transmission rates of the virus were still too high to ease restrictions.

The Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 is expected to meet on Monday to finalise plans to extend the current restrictions before Cabinet ministers approve the measures at a meeting on Tuesday.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn told the briefing that more than 500 people had died of Covid-19 in Ireland so far this month.

He warned that the trend was expected to continue over the coming days.

Sadly so far in the month of January there have been 532 deaths associated with Covid-19, he said. This compares with a total of 174 such deaths in the month of December and 164 such deaths in November.

It emerged on Thursday that the chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan had warned the Government last week that the death toll was likely to be up to 1,000 by the end of the month.

In a letter to the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on January 14, Dr Holohan said the latest modelling data suggested that there could be at least 25-30 deaths a day.


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With less than 24 hours left as president, Donald Trump appears eager as ever to take a sledgehammer to tradition and decorum on his way out the door.

Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are fleeing the executive residence on Wednesday morning for Mar-a-Lago, the presidents club in Florida, shortly before President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration proceedings commence.

It will be the first time since Andrew Johnson vacated the White House in 1869 that a president hasnt been there to welcome the incoming first family.

Traditionally, the outgoing president and first lady invite their successors into the White House for coffee ahead of the inauguration and travel to the ceremony together. The Bidens will instead be greeted by White House chief usher Timothy Harleth, who prior to that role was the director of rooms at the Trump International Hotel in Washington.

Ms Trump will not give her successor, Jill Biden, a tour of the White House  a tradition among outgoing and incoming first ladies that spans a century.

In a farewell video on Monday, Ms Trump urged Americans to focus on what unites us, to rise above what divides us, to always choose love over hatred, peace over violence, and others before yourself.

But the Trumps pettiness goes beyond matters of decorum. It has seeped into last-ditch attempts to influence national policy once the lame-duck president is out of office.

The Trump administration on Monday announced plans to roll back bans on travel from the UK, where Covid has been surging, as well as Europe and Brazil.

Mr Bidens incoming press secretary, Jen Psaki, quickly shot that proposal down, as it is not expected to take effect until 26 January, by which time the president-elect will have assumed command of the country.

With the pandemic worsening, and more contagious variants emerging around the world, this is not the time to be lifting restrictions on international travel, Ms Psaki said.

The Senate, meanwhile, returns today with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expected to receive the House-ratified article of impeachment from Speaker Nancy Pelosi sometime in the coming days  although no one knows for sure when Ms Pelosi will physically transmit the document.

But this weeks main focus in Washington is getting through Mr Bidens inauguration without another national security crisis like the insurrection at the Capitol on 6 January.

Armed militia groups have begun congregating at state capitols all over the country. In DC, as many as 25,000 members of the National Guard will be in town to watch over federal lawmakers, Biden administration officials, and other political dignitaries attending the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday.

Despite voting to block Mr Bidens presidency, several Republicans  from fiery House freshmen such as North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn to longtime Senate demagogues like Ted Cruz of Texas  are nevertheless attending the inauguration.

And as the clock on the Trump administration dwindles, the presidents detractors have gathered in Black Lives Matter Plaza in downtown Washington to deliver one final message.

The founder of the Belfast Multi-Cultural Association (BMCA) has said learning of a racist arson attack on the charity was like a "dagger to the heart".

Ali Khan revealed his devastation over the hate crime during an online meeting of the BMCA last night.

The building, a former Presbyterian church on Donegall Pass in south Belfast, was torched last Thursday.

The centre was badly damaged, but thankfully no one was in the building at the time.

The PSNI believes the fire was started deliberately and has appealed for witnesses.

Mr Khan, who is currently not in Northern Ireland, said he received the devastating news via a phone call.

"I was on the runway and my flight was about to take off and my phone started buzzing; Whatsapp messages, you name it, [saying] the BMCA is on fire," he said.

"My phone goes dead and the only thing coming to my mind is: 'Fire, fire, fire'. And I'm thinking: 'Has anybody been injured? Has anybody been killed?'"

He added: "In truth, I felt like a dagger had hit me in my heart. Something that had been a dream had just been shattered.

"When I saw pictures of the flames coming out of the roof, and I'm just thinking that I hope the volunteers weren't downstairs."

Mr Khan explained that earlier on the day of the fire the centre had been preparing food parcels to be distributed that evening.

The interior was badly damaged by water used by firefighters, and sections of the roof were destroyed.

Last September two vehicles parked outside the centre had their windows smashed in another hate crime.

Mr Khan said the building had been targeted on numerous occasions in the five years since the charity took it over.

"Our dream has been shattered... from day one, unfortunately, we've been having issues with the centre," he added.

But he added the generosity of the public in the aftermath of the blaze had overwhelmed him.

"It's absolutely unbelievable the response we have got. Yesterday a statement went out and there was thousands of people who were supporting us," said Mr Khan.

"So at least there was something right about what we were doing."

The fire was condemned by First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill.

"I thank everyone for supported us, and we're going to come back stronger," insisted Mr Khan.

"We already have plans to increase our intake of what we were doing in the centre."

Around 60,000 has been raised for the charity in an online crowd funding campaign after Amnesty International's Patrick Corrigan set up a JustGiving page with an initial target of 10,000.

Mr Khan also told the meeting that he hoped those responsible for the attack were caught.

"All I can say is that I would love for the people behind this to be brought to justice," he said.

"The firefighters did a tremendous job.

"They risked their lives to get the fire under control.

"We just don't understand why this was done, but our plans are to get the centre up and running as soon as possible again."
CACI's Jack London dead at 83

The government market has lost one of its giants.

Jack London, executive chairman and chairman of the board of CACI International, has died at age 83.

London joined CACI in 1972 as a program manager. CACI was just 10 years old at the time and he was the 35th employee. He rose quickly through the ranks, joining the companys board in 1981 and named president and CEO in 1984. In 1990, he became chairman.

He served as chairman, president and CEO for 23 years. In 2007, he gave up the role of president and CEO to become executive chairman, the role he retained until his death.

Michael Daniels, a member of CACIs board, has been elected chairman.

Londons career at CACI is nothing short of extraordinary and not just for its length but how he continually worked to keep the company ahead of the curve on technology and business models.

He launched a mergeacquisition strategy in 1992 that often created significant shifts at the company as it added capabilities that allowed it to expand the companys footprint in the market. Today, it stands as a $5.7 billion a year government contractor.

Through it all he also led with the principles that he learned at the U.S. Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1959. He also graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1967.

CACI hailed Londons leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship in its statement to announce London's death.

All of us at CACI are deeply saddened by Dr. Londons passing. It was our great privilege to know and work with him, and he leaves a legacy of outstanding success and accomplishments, said John Mengucci, CACI president and CEO. He was a true pioneer in the federal contracting industry, drawing from his military service to set the standard for leading with ethics and integrity. He set the bar high for business leaders across our industry, developing a successful business that continuously excelled and stayed strong through more than 50 years of changes in the federal landscape.

London wasnt shy when it came to things he thought were important. He wrote a book -- Character, The Ultimate Success Factor -- in which he talked about that simple straightforward concepts of honesty and integrity and how adhering to those highest standards can drive success.

Jack was an exceptional business leader of great and enduring vision, and an extraordinary individual in every way, CACI wrote in a message on its webpage. As a role model, mentor, and friend, he provided unsurpassed guidance and wisdom. As a patriot, he was unwavering in his devotion to our nation. And as a man of good character, he was a steadfast champion of the commitment to ethics and integrity that has driven our companys success and was a shining example to us all.
Human Rights and Democracy Activists to Hold Protest at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. Calling for President Biden to Stand for Human Rights and Democracy in China

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Christian Defense Coalition

Jan. 20, 2021



WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- The protest will be on Thursday, January 21, at 1:30 PM at the Chinese Embassy located at 3505 International Pl NW, Washington, DC 20008.



The group will be challenging China to end the brutal crushing of human rights against their own people, especially the genocide against Uyghurs and the persecution of Christians, other religious minorities, and the people of Hong Kong.



Participants will also be calling on President Biden, in the first days of his presidency, to have his administration publicly support the position that America will use all of our resources to ensure human rights for the Chinese people.



Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of the Stanton Public Policy Center, states;

"President Biden must be very clear and direct from the opening days of his administration, the United States will stand firm against China's tragic record of human rights violations against their own citizens.



"America cannot turn a deaf ear to the cries of the Chinese people as they desperately seek political and religious freedom."

Rev. Patrick Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, adds;

"The top foreign policy issue of the Biden Administration must be standing against the oppression, violence, and tyranny of the Chinese Communist government. President Biden must be abundantly firm and clear, the United States will not sit passively by while China crushes Hong Kong and commits genocide against Uyghurs.



"We will passionately stand with the Uyghurs, Hong Kong and all those being brutalized in China as we call upon President Biden to be a powerful advocate for freedom and democracy in China. We will never be silent or indifferent."

Rev. Mahoney has a 40 year history of fighting for human rights and justice in China and in 2019 was on the streets of Hong Kong working and praying with students in their struggle for freedom. (See picture above.)



Rev. Mahoney and Ms. Swindell were both arrested during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics for peaceful protests calling for human rights in China and threatened with six months in prison. They are currently both banned from mainland China.



For more information or interviews call:

Rev. Patrick Mahoney at 540.538.4741



SOURCE Christian Defense Coalition



CONTACT: Rev. Mahoney, 540-538-4741


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BJP President JP Nadda will be on a two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh starting from Thursday where the BJP chief will be meeting the members of UP cabinet in Lucknow.

Nadda will attend a series of meetings where he will formulate a strategy for the Panchayat Election and also the assembly polls in the state next year.

He will reach Lucknow Airport at 1.30 pm today where CM Yogi Adityanath, State President Swatantra Dev Singh and party workers will attend him. Nadda will hold meetings with state BJP officials and regional presidents at 2pm.

Nadda will also meet ministers of the BJP government and later attend a meeting of party's core committee in the state BJP office later in the evening. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will also be present in both the meetings.

On the second day of the visit, Nadda will hold a Mandal meeting of Chinhat Rural Lucknow and then he is scheduled to meet booth incharges of CMS Gomtinagar Extension Lucknow metropolis and district's booth president.

Nadda will hold a meeting with the regional officials and district heads of Awadh and Kanpur region in the state BJP office. The BJP chief will also meet with BJP MPs and MLAs from Awadh region at 3.00 pm in the state BJP office.

JP Nadda will also address the Prabuddh Varg Sammelan at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, Lucknow at 5.30 pm.

After taking over as the BJP president, JP Nadda had planned on visiting the state. He was supposed to come to Lucknow in December, but his program was postponed due to health issues. BJP state president Swatantra Dev Singh, national vice president and state in-charge Radha Mohan Singh, state general minister Govind Narayan Shukla and others took stock of the preparations ahead of Naddas visit.
Please register for the event here: https:/ / host. regform. com/ police-%20misconduct-qualified-immunity-reimagining-we-the-people/

Please join us on Thursday, February 4, 2021, from 9:00am-5:00pm, as Texas Southern University's Center for Justice Research, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, in partnership with The Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy, and the Thurgood Marshall Law Review co-present a virtual national conference, sponsored by the American Association for Justice Robert L. Habush Endowment, entitled, Police Misconduct & Qualified Immunity: Reimagining "We the People." This conference provides a timely, relevant, and much-needed discussion on the disproportionate use of force by police in interactions with black people and the disparate treatment of black protestors in the United States.

The conference keynote speaker will be Attorney Sherrilyn Ifill law professor, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. The day-long virtual conference will include special presentations, a virtual exhibition hall and a dynamic lineup of panel discussions exploring:

The Criminal Justice System: the "George Floyd Bill" & Qualified Immunity: The state of police accountability given qualified immunity, police unions and protections in policing contracts The Anatomy of 1983 Litigation: Best practices in successful civil rights litigation The Future of First Amendment Protests Protections: Examining the Use of Brutality on Those Fighting Against Violence: The future of First Amendment protection considering the disparate treatment given black protestors The U.S. Constitution: Reimagining "We the People" as an Inclusive Construct: The inclusiveness of the evolving constructs of the "We" in the Constitution's "We the People"

To complement the symposium, The Bridge: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Legal & Social Policy, will publish a special issue journal with articles on topics related to the issues raised in this conference. For information about submitting an article to the journal, contact Lucinda Daniels at Lucinda.daniels@tmslaw.tsu.edu.

###

About the Sponsors

-The Center for Justice Research at Texas Southern University is a research institute that provides culturally sensitive, data-supported solutions to complex systemic issues in policing and criminal justice. -The Thurgood Marshall School of Law is the premier law school of Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. The Earl Carl Institute for Legal & Social Policy is an institute of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, where scholars empower underserved and disenfranchised communities by addressing systemic social issues through legal representation, research, education and advocacy. -The American Association for Justice Robert L. Habush Endowment supports research grants to academic scholars whose research interests include the legal rights of service members, tax treatment of jury awards, implicit bias, and other interests that align with their advocacy efforts.
Partnership combines Ouster's high performance digital lidar sensors with Outsight's pre-processing software, making it possible for 3D perception technology to be seamlessly integrated into every industrial automation and smart infrastructure application

Ouster, a leading provider of high-performance digital lidar sensors, and Outsight announced today the first integrated solution in the lidar industry with embedded pre-processing software. This plug-and-play system is designed to deliver real-time, processed 3D data and designed to be integrated into any application within minutes. The solution combines Ouster's high-resolution digital lidar sensors with Outsight's perception software which detects, classifies, and tracks objects without relying on machine learning.

Ouster invented digital lidar technology in 2015 with a vision of making high-performance, ubiquitous, and affordable lidar-powered solutions across numerous industries. With a similar goal in mind, Outsight invented pre-processing software to make 3D lidar easier than ever to use. The combination of these two industry-leading products results in an end-to-end solution that delivers robust, usable data to customers while accelerating their time-to-market and decreasing product development costs.

"Ouster and Outsight's strategic partnership represents our shared vision for making 3D lidar-powered solutions that are useful, simple, and affordable for every customer in every industry," said Cyrille Jacquemet, general manager of Europe and the Middle East at Ouster. "We believe Ouster's high-resolution lidar and Outsight's unique pre-processing software will allow customers to fully leverage 3D lidar data in any application. Together, we are advancing safe, ubiquitous autonomy with this comprehensive solution."

"By teaming up with Ouster, we created the first one-stop-shop for a comprehensive perception solution," said Sebastien de la Bastie, Chief Business Officer at Outsight. "Our integrated kit has the right versatility for R&D experimentation and the right performance, robustness and scalability for large, real-world deployments. Together, we fill the gap between both worlds and dramatically accelerate customer's time-to-market."

All-in-one solution: 3D digital lidar sensors with real-time data processing software

Ouster brings advanced 3D vision to diverse applications where real-time 3D perception, reliability, and 360-degree monitoring are required. Designed to IP68 and IP9K standards, Ouster's sensors are built to withstand extreme weather conditions. This provides a new level of reliability for extended outdoor use through rain, snow, hail, dust, and fog. Ouster's sensors also have over 50 customization options that can be tailored for multiple applications and all physical installations from a narrow, dense point cloud to an extra-wide 90x360 field-of-view across factories, ports, cities, airports, and other locations.

Ouster's 3D lidar data is processed in real-time by Outsight's edge compute system, an ARM-based compute node that functions as an integrated lidar box. Customers can receive both the raw, high-resolution point cloud data and the pre-processed data, which ranges from individual object information (position, trajectory, velocity) to aggregated analytics (object counts, flow patterns).

Further, Outsight's proprietary pre-processing approach doesn't require any machine learning its AI-driven algorithms can accurately detect, track, and classify objects without any kind of training or data labeling. This not only reduces customers' applications power consumption and bandwidth requirements, but also allows customers to be up and running with the solution almost immediately and without any need for long data annotation processes.

This solution is already commercially available in Europe for industrial automation and smart city applications.

A digital lidar solution designed for industrial automation, smart cities, and more

From volume measurement in the industrial sector to safer intersections in smart cities, this integrated solution makes it possible for customers to easily leverage 3D lidar-based technology for both new and existing applications.

Industrial applications include using Ouster's sensors to measure large volumes of waste heaps that are partially located below ground in buried containers. Outsight's software then pre-processes this data in real-time to calculate the volume and dimensions of the heaps. The unparalleled resolution of an Ouster sensor enables customers to calculate the volume measurements at centimeter-level accuracy, a degree of precision that is not achievable today by traditional 2D methods. Accuracy and simplicity is critical, as this improves customers' benchmarking and reduces operational costs. A video of this application in action can be seen here.

For smart infrastructure customers, this combined technology can deliver object information, including vehicle and pedestrian position, classification, velocity, and predicted trajectory. Integrating this solution directly into intelligent traffic systems unlocks capabilities around automatic wrong-way detection, stop bar violation, pedestrian crossing, among others. Outsight also provides an additional applications layer that can be modified by customers and integrators to ensure that the solution fits their unique needs. A video of this application in action can be seen here.

Looking ahead: bringing 3D lidar-based technology to all industries

Together, Ouster and Outsight are accelerating safe, ubiquitous autonomy with plug-and-play solutions that are useful, reliable, and easy to integrate across all industries. This partnership is a part of an ongoing joint effort to bring 3D perception capabilities to every industrial robot, crane, traffic light, and any other moving and fixed objects. The companies plan to extend the partnership to collaborate on additional solutions in numerous industries, including robotics and industrial vehicles.

About Ouster

Ouster builds high-resolution lidar sensors for the industrial automation, smart infrastructure, robotics, and automotive industries. Using its unique digital lidar architecture, Ouster's sensors are high-resolution, reliable, compact, and affordable. Since its founding in 2015, Ouster has secured over 800 customers and $140 million in funding. Ouster is headquartered in San Francisco and led by CEO Angus Pacala and CTO Mark Frichtl. Ouster has previously announced a merger agreement with Colonnade Acquisition Corp (NYSE: CLA), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), that would result in Ouster becoming a publicly listed company. For more information, visit www.ouster.com, or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.

About Outsight

Outsight develops real-time 3D LiDAR perception solutions. Our mission is to make LiDAR-based spatial intelligence become plug-and-play, so it can be used by application specialists in any market. Using any LiDAR with our pre-processing capabilities allows smart machines and smart cities to achieve an unprecedented level of understanding of their environment. We believe that accelerating the adoption of LiDAR technology with easy-to-use and scalable pre-processing will highly contribute to create transformative solutions and products that will make a smarter and safer world. For more information, visit www.outsight.tech.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005579/en/

Contacts:

Ouster

Derek Frome

press@ouster.io

Outsight

Jean-Francois Kitten

+33 (0)6 11 29 30 28

jfk@outsight.tech

Ilinca Spita (EN)

+33 (0)6 64 75 12 98

i.spita@licencek.com
The 13th National Party Congress will mark a new milestone in the development process of Vietnam and its Party, as it will shape the countrys future and propel its international integration,

said Nicolas Dervaux, Representative of the Governments of the French-Speaking Community of Belgium and the Walloon Region in Vietnam.

45 years after the liberation of South Vietnam and national reunification, Ho Chi Minh City has grown fast and steadily (Photo: VNA)

The congress is scheduled to run from January 25 to February 2 in Hanoi.

In an inclusive interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Dervaux highlighted that a capable team of new leaders will be elected to steer the nation, while new strategies will be passed to accelerate growth in the next five years across all fields from politics, economy to culture.

Nicolas Dervaux, Representative of the Governments of the French-Speaking Community of Belgium and the Walloon Region in Vietnam

He also reviewed Vietnams important achievements during its 35 years of reform, saying the attainment of 2.91-percent growth in 2020, among the highest in the world, was a success amid COVID-19. The countrys international integration has been promoted through free trade agreements, while its politic, economic and defence situations have been kept stable.

Last year, Vietnam undertook the chairmanship roles of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA). It is also a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021.

The congress also plays an important role in defining future trends in East Asia, he noted.

Vietnam, as Chair of ASEAN 2020, succeeded in getting the 10-nation bloc to assert that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea should be the basis for rights and sovereign rights in the East Sea. Also under Vietnam's chairmanship, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was signed, creating the largest free trade agreement in the world.

Vietnam's international position has improved because its ruling party is capable of connecting with different poles and defending the nations sovereignty and economic interests, he affirmed, adding that the country maintains close and good relations with India, Russia, the European Union, the United States and China.

The countrys success in COVID-19 has also helped increase its position and prestige, he said.

The results Vietnam obtained in recent years in both socio-economic development and quality of life are appreciated by Vietnamese people, said Dervaux.

All were carried out under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, whose role is extremely important for the country in the years of war as well as during the renewal process, he said.

National and Party flags are hung on a street in Hanoi to welcome the 13th National Party Congress (Photo: VNA)

The 13th National Party Congress will review the implementation of the Resolution of the previous congress; 35 years of renovation; 30 years of implementing the 1991 Platform; and the realization of the socio-economic development strategy for 2011-2020. It will outline directions and tasks for the 2021-2026 tenure as well as identify goals and orientations toward 2030 and a national development vision to 2045.

The official said he was confident that with this Congress, Vietnam will set a right path for the next period in line with the countrys objectives and specificities, and global trends./. VNA
Phillips Carbon Black rose 1.66% to Rs 193.35 after the company's consolidated net profit jumped 79% to Rs 125.44 crore in Q3 FY21 from Rs 70.06 crore in Q3 FY20.

Net sales during the quarter remained flat at Rs 769.40 crore as compared to the same period last year.

Total expenditure fell by 10.4% to Rs 581.15 crore while interest expenses declined by 25.2% to Rs 7.96 crore in Q3 December 2020 over Q3 December 2019.

Profit before tax in Q3 FY21 stood at Rs 154.93 crore, up by 66.5% from Rs 93.06 crore in Q3 FY20. Current tax expense in the third quarter increased by 26.7% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 27.03 crore.

Offering business updates, the company said that the new specialty black Line in Palej Plant at Gujarat, having capacity of 12 KTPA, has since been put on trial. Commissioning of new specialty black line in Palej Plant, Gujarat having capacity of 20 KTPA is expected in February 2021.

The greenfield project of about 150 KTPA for manufacture of various grades of carbon black and 23 MW of cogeneration power over 60 acres of land in Tamil Nadu is progressing strategically and is expected to be commissioned by March 2023.

The 7 MW co-generation power plant in Kochi, Kerala is expected to be commissioned by end of 2021, it added.

Phillips Carbon Black (PCBL), a part of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, is India's largest carbon black manufacturer.

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Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
(@FahadShabbir)

Brussels, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) :EU leaders will grapple Thursday with the threat of new coronavirus variants as wary countries push for a closure of Europe's internal borders to stop the spread.

The chiefs will hold a summit -- by videolink to protect themselves from infection -- "to raise political awareness on the seriousness of the situation with the new variants," an EU official said.

Virus mutations that emerged in Britain, South Africa and Brazil have alarmed EU authorities because of their increased infectivity, prompting bans or restrictions on travellers from those countries.

But calls are increasing to shut the intra-EU borders in a coordinated manner and not to repeat the experience in March when several member states panicked and closed off their national borders unilaterally, triggering travel chaos.

That decision came to be seen as disastrous, disrupting the already stumbling European economy, and the leaders will work hard to find ways to thwart the variants while keeping factories and businesses running at capacity.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Tuesday that while she hoped leaders would find alternative ways to stop the variants, she could not rule out border checks.

Belgium -- wedged between Germany, France and the Netherlands -- said it would plead for a "temporary" closure for the February holiday, when millions of Europeans usually head for the ski slopes.

"Non-essential travel that we can now do without, like tourism, clearly we can no longer take that risk," Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told RTBF tv.

For now, the variants remain a tiny proportion of overall cases in the EU, ad health officials are in a race to execute vaccination jabs before the mutants dominate.

While there was no indication as yet the new variants were more deadly, there were concerns they could infect more people and overload hospital intensive care capacity.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc will soon expand vaccines beyond the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna ones currently authorised to inoculate 70 percent of adults in the EU before September.

"This is doable, it is ambitious, but we have to be ambitious -- people are waiting for that," she said Wednesday.

The vaccination roll-out across the European Union has been disappointingly slow compared with the United States, Israel and other countries, a problem compounded by delivery shortfalls of the BioNTech/Pfizer doses.

There is also a minority, particularly in countries such as France, who hesitate to be inoculated.

And, while many hope the jabs will soon put an end to limited travel, tests, nighttime curfews and home quarantines, EU officials and diplomats warn against Europe lowering its guard too early.

- Talk of vaccine certificates - The leaders are also expected to discuss the idea of using vaccine certificates as a form of travel passport in Europe, as championed by tourism-dependent Greece, but diplomats insisted this topic was at its early stages.

"There are still many, many, many questions to be answered. First of all, we don't know if people who have been infected can still be contagious and can still infect other people," a senior EU diplomat said.

One concern for EU officials is seeing Europe divided between a small minority able to travel and enjoy post-pandemic life while the others remained confined.

The summit was to also talk about moves to have antigen tests that are cheaper and less invasive -- but less reliable -- than the nose-scratching PCR swabs that are currently widespread.

In the meantime, the EU will have to ramp up genome analysis of virus samples to detect the spread of the new variants.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Career College (FCC) hosted a social media contest in December as part of the #FCCcares community campaign, challenging classes at all 11 FCC locations to see who could raise the most awareness for their local Boys and Girls Club. To win the contest, students in the class had to share a post on social media and generate the most likes and shares. Taking first place in the contest was the Medical Assistant Technician (MAT) class at the Jacksonville campus, taught by MAT instructor Sunshine Snipes. They presented the winning $1,000 donation going to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida.

Students from a medical assistant class at Florida Career College made a donation to the Boys & Girls Club

"I am proud of the class for their efforts to win this donation for our local Boys & Girls Club, which does such amazing work for youth in our community," Sunshine said.

Darby Stubberfield, Vice-President of Development at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, visited the class on campus where a check presentation was made and the students enjoyed a pizza party to celebrate.

"Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida is very appreciative of our generous community partners, such as Florida Career College," Darby said. "It is only through their investment in the lives of young people that we can continue to create their great futures and ensure they graduate on time with a plan for their future."

Jada, a teen Boys & Girls Club member in Jacksonville, recently shared how the Club helped her to stay in school and on-track. "When I was younger, I struggled with some family issues. I feel like my Boys & Girls Club helped me find a family. They encourage me to become the best I can be. They also encouraged me to finish my senior year strong and helped me get into college."

"FCC launched the Cares campaign last year as a way to give back to the local community while engaging students in the process. To date, we have contributed $5,500 to local nonprofits throughout the country, including the Boys & Girls Club. Congratulations to the MAT class in Jacksonville for winning this contest, and I look forward to the student enthusiasm for our next campaign," said Dr. Fardad Fateri, President and CEO.

About Florida Career College

Florida Career College (FCC) is an accredited, employee-owned post-secondary career education system with campuses locations in Florida and Texas. FCC offers programs in high-demand fields such as health care, business and skilled trades. Each program is designed to provide every student with the skills, knowledge, and training they need to be successful in their future careers. Students can train for entry-level careers and start building their future in as few as 10 months. For more information visit www.floridacareercollege.edu

Media contact:

Joseph Cockrell

[email protected]

(949) 812-7749

SOURCE Florida Career College
Mangrove UK adds Copenhagen's Empirical

Mangrove UK has joined forces with Empirical to distribute the Copenhagen-based distillerys spirits and RTDs.

Empiricals founders, Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen, have been creating spirits in their distillery since 2017. The duo said that flavour is everything and they are not afraid to experiment and innovate in their quest to find the perfect combinations. Their flavour inspiration comes from around the world. The two worked together at Noma, the two-Michelin star restaurant in Copenhagen, where Williams ran the test kitchen and Hermansen joined as concept manager, after completing his thesis on Nordic food at Oxford University.

James Goggin, Head of Sales at Empirical, said: The team at Empirical are very excited to partner with Mangrove in the UK, Nick Gillett and the team have built an excellent brand portfolio and we are delighted to be a part of it.

Time and time again the Mangrove team have shown that they are strong brand builders who value education, quality and flavour, this perfectly aligns with Empirical's values and was a defining factor on our decision to partner with them. London has become a home for us at Empirical and with Mangrove by our side in 2021 we are focusing on growing our reach across the entire UK.

Nick Gillett, managing director at Mangrove UK further said: 2021 will see the return of the hospitality industry in the UK. We believe that a bold and forward-thinking approach to the future, working with brand partners who embody the finest spirits flavours that industry has to offer, will enable us to emerge from this pandemic ready to offer consumers the best brands.

Empirical is a perfect fit for Mangrove  they are innovative and interesting; they champion local flavours with a global mind set. To me, they are flavour magicians who challenge the status quo and make our industry take notice with extreme flavour profiles that stage an assault on our senses. Already loved by chefs and more creative bar tenders, were looking forward to bringing their portfolio to a wider audience.

Adding Empirical to our portfolio highlights our credentials as the UKs leading premium spirits distributor, offering our partners in trade world-class products with a sense of purpose.

The key products in the Empirical portfolio include Ayuuk, which is made using smoky Pasilla Mixe chilli sourced directly from Mixe farmers in the mountains of Oaxaca in Mexico. This is macerated in a spirit made from Danish heritage purple wheat and Pilsner malt.

The Plum, I Suppose is made from the kernel include plum stones. The producer said that rather than tasting of stone fruit, the kernel lends a marzipan, bitter almond flavour. Distilled marigold kombucha brings another side of floral and tannic notes, reminiscent of plum skins.

Related articles:
The Biden administration has proposed to Russia a five-year extension of the New Start treaty limiting the number of US and Russian strategic nuclear weapons, a US official said.

The proposal was being communicated to Russian officials, said the official.

The treaty is set to expire in February and is the last remaining agreement constraining US and Russian nuclear weapons.

The proposal was reported first by The Washington Post.

President Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan planned to convey the extension proposal to Russias ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, on Thursday afternoon, an official said.

The treaty is set to expire on February 5 and is the last remaining agreement constraining US and Russian nuclear weapons. Signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, it limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads.

President Donald Trump had been highly critical of the deal, asserting that it put the United States at a disadvantage.

His administration waited until last year to engage Russia in substantive talks on the treatys future. Mr Trump insisted that China be added to the treaty, but Beijing rejected the idea out of hand.

President Biden, who indicated during the campaign that he favoured extending New Start, is not proposing any alterations, the US official said.

And it appears likely that Moscow would be amenable to an extension.
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The two officers were handed between four and seven years in prison and fined for their crimes.

Four villagers who were tortured by police in Cambodias Banteay Meanchey province and the widow of a fifth man who died of his injuries have demanded tougher punishments for two military police officers who were sentenced to between four and seven years in prison for torture and murder in detention.

On Jan. 13, the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court found Sar Bun Soeung, deputy commander of the provinces gendarmerie, and Chhoy Ratana of the provincial Anti-Drug Office guilty of intentional acts of violence with aggravating circumstance under Articles 218 and 223 of the Criminal Code.

Sar Bun Soeung was handed a four-year jail term and ordered to pay 20-30 million riel (U.S. $4,940-7,410) in compensation for injuring five detainees. Chhoy Ratana was sentenced to seven years in prison and ordered to pay 20-30 million riels to four of victims each in compensation, and 40 million riel (U.S. $9,875) to the family of the fifth villager, who later died of injuries sustained. The two officers were sent to Banteay Meanchey Provincial Prison.

Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service following the verdict, victims said they would not accept the punishments because they felt the court was too lenient.

One victim, 59-year-old An Ruon, said the two officers kicked and tortured him like an animal, causing him to dislocate his right rib and preventing him from working.

I cannot accept the sentenceit is very unfair for me because I have been disabled for life, he said.

I lost a lot of work. I am old and I cannot do anything. I took a lot of money from the bank to treat my injuries, but no doctor can cure me.

Another victim, Nouv Noeun, said that the court ordered compensation is not enough to treat the condition that resulted from his injury.

The law should help find justice for me and the dead, he said, noting that he was not given the opportunity to present his case during the hearing.

A military police handout shows the five villagers from Banteay Meanchey province who were detained and beaten on Dec. 29, 2019 after taking part in a land dispute protest, causing the death of Tuy Sros (top L) and serious injuries to the four others. Facebook Land dispute detentions

On Dec. 29, 2019, the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Gendarmerie arrested five villagers, detained them, and beat them after more than 100 people protested in front of the Provincial Hall demanding a solution to their land dispute in Svay Chek district. Four of the villagers suffered severe injuries and the fifthTuy Srosdied on Jan. 1, 2020.

Relevant authorities initially ignored calls for an investigation into the matter. However, the two officers were arrested on Jan. 18, 2020 after Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered a probe following complaints from victims and witnesses.

Soeng Senkaruna, a spokesman for the Cambodian rights group ADHOC, told RFA he feels that in a case involving an act of torture by the authorities, the court should have punished the perpetrators to the fullest extent of the law.

The sentences can have a negative impact in that officials wont be afraid to commit crimes or follow these bad examples, he said. The punishment does not fit the crime.

Appeal filed

On Tuesday, the victims filed an appeal of the lower courts decision.

An Ruon, told RFA on the day of the filing that he and the other victims will not be satisfied until the sentences are increased.

It is too light a punishment for people who killed someone and caused others to be disabled for the rest of their lives, he said.

I want the court to punish them severely. Money is not important; it is important to find justice for me.

Tuy Sross wife, Bui Kimlak, echoed An Ruons concerns. The 37-year-old woman said that since her husband's death, her life has become very difficult.

I'm in painnow Im with my mother and my children, but no one is taking care of me and I owe a lot of money to the bank, she said.

They made me lose my husband. It is very difficult for me to earn enough to eat. Every night, I put my children to sleep and cry.

The victims told RFA that if the Appeals Court does not provide them justice, they plan to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Human rights groups have long condemned a culture of impunity in Cambodia that allows authorities to escape consequences for serious abuses of civilians.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Irish Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said every citizen will be able to get the jab by September because the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine is a game-changer . (Niall Carson/PA)

Every person in the Republic will have received a Covid-19 vaccination by September, the Irish Minister for Health has told the Dail.

Minister Stephen Donnelly said Ireland would receive 3.3 million doses of the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine when approval for use is given by the European Medicines Agency, as expected on January 26.

He said Ireland was trying to get advance supplies of the vaccine before formal authorisation of use, as otherwise it would be mid-February .

But every citizen would then be able to receive the vaccine by September because the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine is a game-changer, he said.

It is more easily storable and usable, only requires one jab, and was produced on a not for profit basis. This country will receive 200,000 doses a month.

You dont have to be a citizen, its for anybody whos here, Mr Donnelly told TDs.

"We are on target (for vaccines). By Sunday we will have hit nearly half  70,000  of 150,000 frontline healthcare workers.

From Sunday, notwithstanding the outliers, the nursing homes will have been done, he said.

Meanwhile 40,000 doses a week of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab were being received and an initial shipment from Moderna of 4,000 to 6,000 doses had been received.
One worker trapped by a blast at a Chinese gold mine has died, while efforts to rescue others continue, Xinhua News reported.

The worker suffered a severe head injury in the explosion on Jan. 10 and had been unconscious for the past two days, Xinhua reported Wednesday, citing rescue headquarters. The person was one of 11 trapped in the same area and whom rescue workers had been able to contact. Of that group, eight are in relatively stable condition and two remain weak, according to Xinhua.
BEIJING, Jan. 21 -- The first video plenary meeting of 2021 session of the Conference on Disarmament was held in Geneva on January 19. Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song expounded on China's views and proposals on international arms control at the meeting. The full text of Ambassador Lis speech at the meeting is as follows:

Remarks by H. E. Amb. Li Song of China

at the first CD Plenary Meeting of 2021

(19 January 2021, Geneva)

Mr. President,

The Chinese delegation and I would like to congratulate you on your assumption of the first Presidency of the CD in its 2021 session, and warmly welcome the new Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Algeria, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Bulgaria and Cuba. We are also very pleased to be part of the P6+2 this year and are ready to make active contribution towards moving the work of the CD back on track. China believes that all UN member states have equal rights to participate in the work of multilateral arms control. We expect to see more countries to participate in the work of CD this year as observers, and support Your Excellencys efforts to maintain active consultations with parties concerned on the issue.

Before making my statement, however, I must voice my strongest opposition to and total rejection of the statement made by the United States just now, which contained some malicious accusations against China. We have responded on many occasions to such attacks over the past two years in many international fora, including the CD, with detailed elaboration of our relevant policies and propositions. The current US administration has gone to the extreme in telling lies and making damages in the field of international arms control. Their strange tales and absurd arguments will not overshadow the responsible nature of China's defense and arms control policy. Such tricks of "a thief crying catching the thief" can never fly. The world has been fed up with them. Starting from tomorrow, hopefully the CD will not have to listen to such noise again. I believe this is also the collective wish of the CD membership. May I ask the Secretariat to put what I have just said on record.

Mr. President,

2020 was an extraordinary year for all of us. The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic shook the world in every conceivable way. The international political and security environment that underpins our arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts had to face the direst challenge since the end of the Cold War. In these difficult times when both the COVID-19 and political virus are wreaking havoc, the international community has begun to take a hard look at issues related to the future and destiny of mankind, including the overall international situation, the relations among major powers, multilateralism, as well as competition and cooperation, security and development. Now, as winter draws to a close and spring is around the corner, we have reached an important juncture in this reflective process and are starting to look towards the future. With the dawning of 2021, we are all the more determined to completely defeat the COVID-19 pandemic through solidarity and cooperation among all countries. We are also looking forward with confidence and anticipation to a new chapter in multilateralism and multilateral arms control. Here I would like to share with you three points of my reflections.

First of all, arms control must be based on its original purpose, and on strong trust and commitments. The original aspiration of arms control is to improve the security of all countries through international dialogue and cooperation, leading to equitable, common and universal security for all. Moves of arms control and disarmament that only serve ones own security interests at the expense of others, and that free itself while regulating others, will never be accepted by other countries. Over the past century, along with changes in the international situation, the content and the mode of arms control and disarmament have undergone constant adjustment. However, its basis and objective always remain to be the maintenance of strategic balance and stability. While arms control needs to keep pace with the times, the course of history must not be reversed. As far as arms control in the new era is concerned, hegemonism, unilateralism, and exceptionalism are the most dangerous enemies. Cold War mentality, zero-sum game and power politics are the biggest obstacles. The existing international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation system, including the US-Russian bilateral disarmament treaty regime, constitutes an important part of the international security system, and should not be weakened or abandoned. It must instead be consolidated and enhanced. For that reason, the international community is placing high expectations on the United States to seize the last window to agree to extend the New Start Treaty with Russia, and continue to fulfil the special and primary responsibility on nuclear disarmament as set out in the Final Document of SSOD-I and in the outcome of previous NPT review conferences.

Secondly, enhancing mutual trust through more intensive dialogues is the top priority of the day. In recent years, the international arms control, disarmament and the non-proliferation regime has suffered more damages than any time since the end of the Cold War. The root cause lies in the United States which has chosen to violate the principles of strategic balance and stability by regarding other countries as strategic rivals and by bringing ideological conflict into multilateral arms control in an attempt to launch a new cold war and build a new iron curtain. The so-called Great Power competition threatens world peace and stability. It has met strong resistance from a broad majority of the international community and will be swept aside by the march of history. To replace the dark winter with a bright spring, major countries need to engage in dialogues with each other, with a view to bringing their relations back on the right track and rebuild mutual confidence. China is actively pushing for P5 mechanism of dialogue and cooperation. It should become a major platform for more intensive dialogues among them on a wide spectrum of issues relating to strategic security and stability, leading to a reduction of suspicions and enhanced confidence and cooperation. We are also ready to have bilateral dialogues with other P5 partners on strategic security and arms control with a positive and open-minded manner, since they will contribute to managing differences and broadening cooperation. Indeed, such dialogues should also be expanded internationally and be made a new spring fashion. In the video presentation of UNIDIRs 40th anniversary, we have heard the slogan dialogue matters in different languages. Dialogue matters. It also works.

Thirdly, the Conference on Disarmament is not an arena for big power confrontation or an instrument for big countries to fix and regulate smaller ones. It is rather a vehicle to promote common security. As we all know, the lack of progress in the CD last year was attributable to both the COVID-19 and the political virus. In fact, the latter has done greater and longer harm, since COVID-19 has only impacted on the scale and format of our meetings while the political virus by the United States to other member states is the principal cause for derailing our proceedings over recent years. The Conference on Disarmament is the only multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations with a historic mission given the SSOD-I. It should always reflect the fundamental principle of undiminished security for all. All the CD members are equal irrespective of their sizes and should respect each other. Each and every members legitimate security concerns and interests should be fully taken into account and addressed reasonably. Therefore, the work of the CD should progress on the basis of consensus and in a balanced and comprehensive manner. We will certainly extricate ourselves from the COVID-19. We also need to remove the political virus and draw lessons from the recent past in order to build consensus and confidence as we move forward.

Mr. President,

Because of the disruption caused by COVID-19 to our meeting schedule, this year we have in front of us an exceptionally heavy workload in the field of multilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The 10th NPT Review Conference will undoubtedly be our priority. Even though the pandemic may continue to constrain our work this year, the Chinese delegation believes that the Conference on Disarmament has the obligation and is in a good position to proceed with its business in an orderly fashion, paving the way for a successful 10th Review Conference. For our part, we are prepared to work on the basis of the draft package proposal presented by the P6 and engage in active consultations with other delegations view a view to reaching a comprehensive, balanced and commonly acceptable framework for the work of the CD, with corresponding calendar of meetings covering the establishment of subsidiary bodies to carry out substantive work on all important agenda items in preparation for future treaty negotiations. At the same time, all CD members should make the best use of its plenaries as a platform for in-depth discussions on new trends in the international political and security landscape, multilateral arms control and on the role of Conference itself as part of a collective search for a fresh common understanding compatible with the general security interests of its members. In addition, we also face a vital task of making the CD better respond to the needs of our times and the aspirations of the international community by looking at its methods of work, membership and key agenda items. The Chinese delegation is ready to join all others in carrying out serious discussions on those issues with an open and fresh mind.

Thank you, Mr. President.

(The full text of the Remarks by H. E. Amb. Li Song of China at the first CD Plenary Meeting of 2021 is from the official Sina Weibo account of the Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China)
The government has commenced discussions with some COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing companies, with the goal of ordering the suitable doses of vaccines for use in Ghana.



This followed the completion of work by the committee set up by the government to recommend the appropriate decision on a COVID-19 vaccine.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who made this known when he opened the 72nd annual New Year School and Conference in Accra yesterday, said details of the discussions with the manufacturing companies would be made public very soon.



He noted that through the advancement of science, some vaccines were already being administered in some countries to help control and eventually end the pandemic.



The annual New Year School and Conference is organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education of the College of Education of the University of Ghana, Legon.



This years two-day school is on the theme: Building Ghana in the face of global health crisis.



Upsurge



President Akufo-Addo said the recent upsurge in COVID-19 infections gave an indication that the virus was still alive in the country.



So we cannot afford to abandon the enhanced hygiene and safety protocols that will ensure that we are faring much better than many other countries, including some well-advanced countries, he said.



He added that if the COVID-19 protocols were not adhered to, all the work the government was undertaking to build the country in the face of the global health crisis would fail.



Economy



The President said prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, Ghanas economy, for three years running, had been one of the fastest growing in the world, with an average GDP growth rate of seven per cent.



The country was also the largest recipient of foreign direct investment and the biggest net exporter of food in West Africa, he said.



He further indicated that Ghana started adding value to its raw materials, coupled with the roll out of the free senior high school policy, and there was no question that the country had been put on the path of progress and prosperity.



All of a sudden, he said, the pandemic struck, derailing all the gains made.



Self-reliance



President Akufo-Addo explained that the lesson from the pandemic was for Ghana to be self-reliant and sufficient.



He gave an assurance that all crucial sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, health, education, trade and industry, remained productive and vibrant.



He said the combined shortfalls in revenue and additional expenditure estimated at GH25 billion had led to the revision of the fiscal balance for 2020 from a deficit of 4.7 per cent of GDP to 11. 4 per cent, and gave an assurance that the government was already working to reverse the figures and mitigate the impact of the pandemic.



The President mentioned the measures being taken to address the challenges to include the reduction of the monetary policy rate to 14.5 per cent, which would lead to lower lending rates to support credit extension, and a reduction of the cash reserve requirements from 10 to eight per cent for banks to make liquidity available to lend to critical sectors of the economy.



These and other measures, he said, were ensuring that the economy rebound at a much faster rate than originally anticipated.



He said grants and soft loans to the tune of GH600 million had been given to small and medium businesses, while a GH2 billion guarantee facility to support large and other businesses had been provided for private schools and pharmaceutical companies.



Education critical



He said the government recognised that for the country to move towards a developed country status, education was critical, and it was for that reason that the minimum education to be obtained by all schoolchildren was senior high school.



He said with the reopening of schools, the government was determined to ensure the safety of all children in the schools.



Opportunities



President Akufo-Addo emphasised that the COVID-19 had presented Ghana with the opportunity to resolve long-standing challenges in the health sector.



He said the country was able to produce personal protective equipment (PPE), which created business opportunities for the local textile and garment industry.



Furthermore, he said, the government was taking steps to address the deficit in health infrastructure once and for all with the Agenda 111  upgrading existing district health facilities and establishing new ones where they do not exist.



Importance



The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, said the New Year School and Conference had served as a barometer collecting public opinion for the promotion of good governance and the socio-economic development of the country.



Besides, the annual event had provided an avenue for the university to shed its Ivory Tower image and actively engage with the public, he said.



He recounted the roles various sections of the university  the School of Public Health, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, the University of Ghana Medical School, the West African Centre for Self-Biology of Infectious Pathogens, the School of Pharmacy, among others  had played in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.









Source: graphiconline.com









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New Delhi: A massive fire broke out at the Serum Institute of India in Pune, Maharashtra, on Thursday (January 21). At least 10 fire tenders have reached the spot so far.

The fire broke out at Terminal 1 gate of the Manjari facility where the Covishield vaccine is being made. The Covishield vaccine is being used in the national inoculation drive against coronavirus.

Covishield by Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin have received approval from DGCI recently.

The fire broke out at the fourth and fifth floors of SEZ3 building inside the Terminal Gate 1 of Serum Institute of India, Pune.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Namrata Patil told PTI the fire broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floor of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises. "As per the primary information, three people have been evacuated," she said. One team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has moved for the location.

#WATCH Maharashtra: 10 fire tenders present at Serum Institute of India in Pune, where a fire broke out at Terminal 1 gate. More details awaited. https://t.co/wria89t22t pic.twitter.com/u960KTR7JS  ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021

The Serum Institute of India (SII) was founded by Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966. SII is the world's biggest vaccine maker.

The fire will not affect the production of coronavirus vaccines, a source close to the firm told news agency Reuters. SII is manufacturing a vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca for India and many other low- and middle-income countries.

There was no immediate word on any casualties, nor on the cause of the fire. An SII representative did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment reported Reuters.

Thank you everyone for your concern and prayers. So far the most important thing is that there have been no lives lost or major injuries due to the fire, despite a few floors being destroyed.  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021

Thank you, everyone, for your concern & prayers. So far the most important thing is that there've been no lives lost or major injuries due to fire, despite a few floors being destroyed: Adar Poonawalla, CEO-Owner, Serum Institute of India on the incident of fire at SII's Manjri plant.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has stated that "as per the information we've received, the fire is under control. There have been no casualties so far. The fire had not broken out at the COVID vaccine unit."

"Fire at the Serum Institute of India building is under control, the cooling process is underway. No casualty reported, cause of the fire is still unknown" said Prashant Ranpise, Chief fire officer, Pune Municipal Corporation.
A beautician who was left nothing in a 300,000 'DIY will' found three days after her car dealer father's death while her 'disappointing' identical twin sister and other siblings shared his fortune has today won a landmark court battle that will see her pocket all of it.

Terri Tibbles, 40, was disinherited by William Tibbles but the High Court has reversed the decision because there was 'no evidence' the will written on paper 'torn from a notebook' was written, signed or demanded by Mr Tibbles.

Terri had been close to her car dealer father from Tilbury, Essex, expecting to inherit his entire estate when he died, aged 75, in February 2018, the court heard.

In a letter of wishes attached to his March 2017 will, he said Terri's twin Kelly and his other daughters Susan and Cindy had been a 'disappointment' to him, while his son Paul was already financially secure.

But just three days after his death, a second will was handed to his solicitors - written on a piece of paper 'torn from a notebook' - leaving everything to Kelly, Susan, Cindy and Paul - and disinheriting Terri completely.

But sitting at the High Court in London Judge Matthew Marsh said the mystery new will was invalid. He stopped short of saying it was faked, but admitted there was 'no evidence' Terri's late father had signed, dictated or demanded a new will before he died three years ago.

Handing the 300,000 to Terri, who brought the claim, he said of the February 2018 will: 'It's handwritten and not in Mr Tibbles' hand writing. It's written on a sheet of paper which appears to have been torn from a notebook.

'There's no evidence placed before me about who wrote the will and whether it was written at Mr Tibbles' dictation, who was present when that occurred and what his state of mind was at the time. There's no real explanation for his change of mind and no evidence about him signing it'.

Terri Tibbles had insisted that the 'DIY will' could have been signed by anybody - and not her father - while there was no reason for her dad to have so completely changed his mind about cutting out her siblings.

Terri Tibbles has fought and win a court battle with her siblings over the 300,000 will of her father William

During the trial, the court heard car dealer Mr Tibbles, from Tilbury, Essex, had five children, Terri (left) and Paul, and their sisters Susan, Cindy and Kelly (right with brother Paul), who is Terri's identical twin and works in fashion

In a letter of wishes attached to his March 2017 will, William said Terri's (left) twin Kelly (right) and his other daughters Susan and Cindy had been a 'disappointment' to him, while his son Paul was already financially secure

During the trial, the court heard car dealer Mr Tibbles had five children, Terri and Paul, and their sisters Susan, Cindy and Kelly, who is Terri's identical twin and works in fashion.

He was described as a 'colourful character' with a habit of leaving large amounts of cash around the house, sometimes stashed in a cornflakes packet, the judge was told.

William Tibbles, whose death in February 2018 sparked a family war over his will

In a letter attached to his first will, dated March 2017, he explained that 'his children other than Terri and Paul had been a source of disappointment to him' and, while he loved Paul, he did not need the money as much as Terri.

In the second will dated days before he died, Paul was named as his father's sole executor and declared that Mr Tibbles 'wished his estate to be shared equally between my son and my three daughters: Susan, Cindy and Kelly'.

Paul Tibbles, who lives in Ireland where he is manager at a logistics company, claimed his dad validly signed and executed his final will on February 6, 2018 - the day before he went into hospital for the last time and five days before he passed away.

But suing her brother as executor of the will, model and beautician Terri, who runs the Bella Mai beauty training school in Grays, Essex, dismissed it as a 'DIY will.'

'I don't accept this document constituted a valid will,' she told the judge.

'I don't accept that this document was ever signed by my dad. It would have been totally uncharacteristic for him to prepare a DIY will considering his long history of previous dealings with solicitors.'

'The document could just as well have been written and signed by anybody.'

Kelly (pictured) would have inherited a share of her father's wealth if the judge had ruled in favour of the 2018 will

Their brother Paul also went up against his sibling in the case but a judge agreed the will could have been written by anyone

But Paul Tibbles insisted his sisters Susan, Kelly and Cindy had cared for their father and tended his daily needs during his last months, and claimed his dad had been determined to change his will before he died.

He said the second will was valid and cancelled out the earlier one, but missed a deadline for filing documents for the case and so was unable to call evidence at the trial.

Giving judgment, Judge Marsh said of the February 2018 will: 'It's handwritten and not in Mr Tibbles' hand writing. It's written on a sheet of paper which appears to have been torn from a notebook.'

The opinion of a handwriting expert who said there was 'moderate to strong evidence to show that Mr Tibbles was not responsible for signing the 2018 will' was also 'powerful evidence against Paul's case.'

'It's plain that there is insufficient evidence to show due execution of the 2018 will,' he said.

The house in Dunlop Road, Tilbury, which William Tibbles left in his will

'There's no evidence placed before me about who wrote the will and whether it was written at Mr Tibbles' dictation, who was present when that occurred and what his state of mind was at the time.

'There's no real explanation for his change of mind and no evidence about him signing it.

'All the evidence and the background circumstances point heavily against the 2018 will being a valid document.'

Paul's counter-claim for the 2018 will was dismissed by the judge, who ruled in favour of Terri Tibbles and the earlier will, meaning she now walks away with everything.

Kelly, Cindy and Susan were not parties to the case, but would have each inherited a share of their father's wealth if the judge had ruled in favour of the 2018 will.

He made his ruling on the case at the High Court last year, but the will has only now been formally admitted to probate, allowing Terri, of Grays, Essex, to inherit her father's estate.
At least five workers were killed in the massive fire that broke out at a plant in Serum Institute of India, which is manufacturing the Covishield vaccine developed by the Oxford University and AstraZeneca. The blaze was reported at the Serum Institute's under-construction building in Pune on Thursday afternoon.

In his first reaction on the incident, Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of Serum Institute of India, says that he is currently only focused on rescuing people who might still be stuck inside the building.

"We are focusing on rescuing 1-2 people stuck in the building. I don't care about anything else at the moment. We are looking out to save our people first then we will assess the damage," he told India Today TV.

Also Read: Fire breaks out at Serum Institute of India's plant in Pune, Covishield production not hit

"Thank you, everyone, for your concern and prayers. So far the most important thing is that there have been no lives lost or major injuries due to the fire, despite a few floors being destroyed," he later tweeted.

"We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed," he said in his latest tweet.

Poonawalla reassured all governments and the public that there would be no loss of Covishield production due to multiple production buildings that had been kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies.

Also Read: Serum Institute releases advisory on COVID-19 vaccine; things to know before taking Covishield

The fire was reported at the Serum Institute's under-construction building in the Manjri area of the city. The SII plant is spread over 100 acres in Pune.

The Serum Institute of India is manufacturing the Covishield vaccine, which is one of the two COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted emergency use approval in India.
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[January 20, 2021] "popIn Discovery" Now the Largest Native Ad Platform in Thailand With 600 Million Monthly Page Views

TOKYO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- popIn Inc. has announced that its native ad platform "popIn Discovery" has reached a new milestone of 600 million monthly page views in Thailand, becoming the largest native ad platform in the country. popIn Discovery is the biggest native ad platform in Asia, and Thailand is the most recent Asian country in which the platform has cemented its place as the market leader, following South Korea in December 2020. popIn Discovery first entered Thailand in May 2019. Its page view growth rate increased sixfold from January 2020 to December 2020, due in large part to successful partnerships with a number of high-quality, local media sources. Sales have increased 28 times in the same time period. popIn Discovery's major partners in Thailand include: 1) LINE Thailand

2) Thairath

3) Kapook popIn endeavors to continually expand its high-quality native ad network by partnering with additional leading media sources, while at the same time providing new features to match users' needs. What is popIn Discovery?

popIn Discovery is a native ad network that offers ads in the form of recommended articles. Because these content-type advertisements closely match the subject matter of an article, they can be used to enhance brand recognition and to foster understanding for compnies and products. popIn Discovery offers one-stop native ad delivery throughout Asia including in Japan , South Korea , Malaysia , Hong Kong , Thailand , Singapore , Mainland China and Indonesia , by offering multilingual ad management services and settlement in Japanese yen. By partnering with local media sources in Asia , where diverse cultures coexist, popIn Discovery enables advertisers to secure high-quality placements and local ad creatives that match the cultural tastes of different audiences.



https://www.popin.cc/en/) Asia's largest native ad platform

Operational scope: Japan , Korea, Greater China , Malaysia , Thailand , Singapore and Indonesia .



largest native ad platform Operational scope: , Korea, , , , and . Payments

popIn accepts payments in Japanese yen for advertisements in Greater China , South Korea , Malaysia , Thailand , Singapore and Indonesia .

Advertising costs will be converted based on the current exchange rate.



popIn accepts payments in Japanese yen for advertisements in , , , , and . Advertising costs will be converted based on the current exchange rate. Support for multilingual account management

Currently, we support Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, English, Thai and Indonesian language services.



Currently, we support Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, English, Thai and Indonesian language services. Analysis index

In order to measure a user's satisfaction with the content of an article, it is necessary to understand the read status of the article (whether or not it has been read carefully). popIn's "READ"* algorithm determines whether or not the article content is viewable by a user, and measures the read status based on the elapsed read time and the amount of information in the article. This proprietary method offers a clear estimation of the amount of content that is actually being read as opposed to being skimmed past. *In August 2015, READ patents were granted in Japan, Korea, Greater China. Patent number: 5797871

Other information

popIn has offices in Japan , Greater China , South Korea , Thailand , Singapore , and Indonesia , and offers creative and distribution planning services tailored to the entire Asian market.

Translation of creatives is also available as a service. popIn Corporation Company Profile

Head office location: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 39th floor, 6-10-1, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

President: Tao Cheng

Established: July 2008

Company URL: https://www.popin.cc/ Main business mission and scope: With the mission of making information more intelligent, we have developed and commercialized "popIn Discovery," a content discovery platform that supports native advertisements, and the world's first projector ceiling light, "popIn Aladdin," as an IoT business starting in 2017. Currently, we are developing a new AI-powered image recognition service called "popIn Action." SOURCE popIn Inc.

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Penn State Health on Wednesday began providing initial COVID-19 vaccinations to patients, one day after the state expanded eligibility under its phase 1A vaccination plan.

The health system is directly reaching out to offer vaccinations to patients who meet the Pennsylvania Department of Healths (DOH) recently expanded criteria for phase 1A vaccination, according to a press release. This includes patients age 65-plus and those ages 16-64 with high-risk health conditions.

Penn State Health says it supports Gov. Tom Wolfs decision to expand COVID-19 vaccination eligibility. However, at present, Penn State Healths vaccine supply is significantly less than the 100,000 to 200,000 patients it has identified for vaccination under the expanded phase 1A eligibility, the release said.

We look forward to providing patients with this game-changing vaccine as soon as we receive sufficient vaccine doses, Dr. Peter Dillon, chief clinical officer of Penn State Health, said. As that happens, we will reach out directly to patients based on their age and medical history, inviting them to schedule their vaccination appointments online or by phone.

Selected patients began receiving vaccinations today at Penn State Healths Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill, St. Joseph Medical Center in Bern Township, Berks County, Lime Spring Outpatient Center in East Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, and Cocoa Outpatient Center in Hershey.

Penn State Health continues to follow guidelines and procedures put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the DOH for vaccine distribution. In December, the DOH began providing the health system with doses to vaccinate its health care personnel. Since Jan. 11, Penn State Health has been providing doses to several hundred community health care and emergency medical services providers in the region not affiliated with the health system, the release said.

Penn State Health will expand vaccinations to patients who are eligible under the states 1A vaccination plan to the extent made possible by additional vaccines provided by the state and federal governments and manufacturers, according to the release, which continued:

While it awaits additional quantities of vaccine for the expanded 1A group, Penn State Health has identified locations in several of its communities to establish mass vaccination sites. The health system will post updates on its vaccine page about these locations, along with who is eligible and how to schedule based on incoming vaccine supply.

We recognize that the vaccine supply is limited, but given the demand and guidance from the state, we felt it was vital to begin the long process of vaccinating our community with the vaccine we have available, Dillon said. Were asking for patience while we await the delivery of additional doses in the weeks and months ahead.


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Mining (CVE: HIGH) CEO Darwin Green joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share news the company has learned a tremendous amount from their 2020 drill season at their Johnson Tract Project in Alaska.

Green telling Proactive that data including info on how the deposit was formed has been used to plan the upcoming 2021 drill season.
Google and French newspapers said on Thursday that they had signed an agreement aimed at opening the way to digital copyright payments from the online giant after months of heated negotiations.

The accord signed with the APIG alliance of French dailies involves "neighbouring rights," which call for payment for showing news content with internet searches, a joint statement said.

It said the agreement sets a framework for Google to negotiate individual licence agreements with newspapers on the payments and will give papers access to its new News Showcase programme, which sees it pay publishers for a selection of enriched content.

Payments are to be calculated individually and will be based on criteria including internet viewing figures and the amount of information published.

The deal covers papers that carry "political and general news", the statement said.

APIG head Pierre Louette, who is also CEO of the Les Echos of the Le Parisien newspaper group, said the deal amounts to the "effective recognition of neighbouring rights for the press and the start of their remuneration by digital platforms for the use of their publications online".

Google France chief Sebastien Missoffe called the deal proof of a "commitment" that opens up "new perspectives."

The statement included no information about the monetary value involved, and both APIG and Google declined to give financial details when contacted by AFP.

News outlets struggling with dwindling print subscriptions have long seethed at Google's failure to give them a cut of the millions it makes from ads displayed alongside news search results.

The COVID-19 crisis has hurt sales even further.

'Delighted'

A Paris appeals court ruled in October that the US giant had to continue to negotiate with French news publishers over a new European law on neighbouring rights.

France was the first country in the EU to enact the law but Google initially refused to comply, saying media groups already benefited by receiving millions of visits to their websites.

Google also said at the time it had decided to lower the search engine visibility of papers that refused to make headlines, article extracts and thumbnails available in Google searches without remuneration.

In November, Google said it had reached individual agreements with a number of flagship publications, such as Le Monde, Le Figaro, Liberation and L'Express.

But other newspapers remained without an accord -- as did news agencies including Agence France-Presse (AFP) -- and negotiations continued.

"I am delighted that the recognition of neighbouring rights is becoming a reality for the first time in Europe and now that the first step -- always the most difficult one -- has been taken, we expect Google to keep up its momentum and extend this recognition to other eligible players, including news agencies," said AFP Chief Executive Fabrice Fries.

Talks between Google and the print magazine association SEPM, meanwhile, have stalled so far.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 17:11:00|Editor: huaxia

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MALE, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Health Protection Agency (HPA) of the Maldives has submitted guidelines on health and safety ahead of the local council elections scheduled for later this year, local media reported here Thursday.

The HPA submitted the guidelines to the Elections Commission of the Maldives (ECM) following parliamentary approval of an amendment that will allow elections to take place despite an ongoing state of public health emergency.

ECM President Ahmed Shareef was quoted by state-owned PSM News as saying that the guidelines will be discussed in a meeting of the electoral advisory meeting on Thursday.

A final decision on the date of elections, which were originally scheduled to be held in April 2020, is expected to be made soon, Shareef said. Enditem
Cooperhouse has attracted clutch of Asia food majors to BlueNalu's investor roster

BlueNalu, the cell-based seafood firm, has expressed its interest in testing its products in Asia within the next two years once US regulators give the green light to its domestic commercial launch.

The fledgling Californian company, which this week announced more fundraising, is aiming to launch its first products in the US later this year but is already eyeing markets outside its home turf.

Earlier this week, BlueNalu, which was set up in 2018, said it had raised US$60m in debt financing, based on convertible notes, with Thailand-based seafood giant Thai Union Group among its backers.

BlueNalu, which has raised more than $24m across seed and Series A financing, said the fresh investment would be used to help the company complete its pilot production facility and secure regulatory approval to launch its first product on a test basis in US foodservice establishments. The company is aiming to get a mahi mahi product on US menus later this year.

The firm's previous funding rounds have also included Japan-based Sumitomo, the owner of global fresh-produce supplier Fyffes, and the South Korean tofu maker Pulmuone Co.

In December, Singapore gave the all-clear for meat created in a laboratory to be sold in the market. The state's regulator, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), announced its approval for cultivated meat products made by US firm Eat Just.

Speaking to just-food, Lou Cooperhouse, the CEO and co-founder of BlueNalu, said his business was "very excited" by Singapore's decision. "We are obviously focusing on the United States initially, but we clearly will be targeting and have already started discussions  I'd rather not name names here  in various nations in Asia, on the regulatory side."

Cooperhouse described Asia as "the market of the greatest opportunity in the future", pointing to "per capita seafood consumption in Asia, the continually increasing GDP in Asia and the continual migration from red meat towards seafood, exacerbated by the issue that there's a global supply chain gap".

He said: "There's increasing familiarity and awareness of issues around seafood from a wholesomeness point of view, microplastics, mercury, environmental pollutants. In Asia, there's been some nuclear disaster issues that we know have happened historically. There's a lot more attention in Asia, particularly around the purity of seafood and the love for seafood. BlueNalu is positioned to really capitalise on that continual demand for seafood with a product that we think will be highly selected."

Asked when a test launch in Asia might happen, Cooperhouse added: "We haven't committed to any kind of test launch in Asia at this point. However, we are in very interested in exploring exporting product from America to Asia, as a rapid way to test the product name, so once we have FDA approval, we would be very welcome to doing a trial in Asia. It's a lot faster than trying to set up a facility in Asia [and] that's something we could do in a relatively short period of time, which would give all of us confidence in the market opportunities that would exist.

"We are very interested in talking to national regulatory agencies about introducing our product that was made in the United States. We think that might have some interesting cachet also. Yes, it's expensive to export it to Asia but it's certainly a way to get started, as early as, you know, the next 18 months. We could be in Asia in 18 months if we could possibly import it into the host country from the United States."
A 31-stone pig was rescued by firefighters after she lied down in the mud and got stuck.

Eight-year-old Dolly got into difficulty in her sty in Felsted near Braintree, Essex, on Wednesday.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service said three crews went to help the stricken swine, who was in distress.

Crew manager Lewis Black said: The pig had lied down in its sty but got stuck in the mud and could not get herself up.

Crews worked in difficult conditions using strops  specialist straps for lifting  glide sheets and a fair bit of brute force to get her upright.

It was the Animal Rescue Units first incident involving a pig and crews were delighted to able to help the owner and see Dolly back to herself.

A fire service spokesman said that they got Dolly back on her trotters then left her to hog the limelight.
Shabtai Shavit was the top man at Mossad, Israels spy agency, from 1989 to 1996, so he knows lots of state secrets. He shares many of them, to the extent he can, with readers in a memoir that is at times absolutely fascinating and at other times absolutely and maddeningly arcane and slow reading.

Shavits insights are revealing in the broader sense, as well as regarding current events. So, consider the recent assassination of Irans top nuclear scientist in a Tehran suburb. Does Shavit offer any clues, even though this book, in translation, went to press some months ago?

As expected, senior Iranian officials blame Israel, though they have offered no proof. Still, events such as this  killings of Iranian scientists and senior officials, such as Gen. Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. attack a year ago  remind everyone what an inflammatory region the Middle East is, particularly where Iran is concerned.

As we might imagine, Shavit regards Iran as the most prominent  indeed, the most direct  threat to peace in the region. And thats without it having the capability to launch nuclear weapons, presumably at Israel, its sworn enemy.

The author writes that Irans religious leaders have a strong and aggressive presence in neighboring Iraq and that if the United States removed all of its troops, as President Donald Trumps administration had vowed to do, Iran would fill any power vacuum in Iraq. Thats a perhaps disappointing development nearly two decades after the U.S.-led invasion to drive Saddam Hussein from tyrannical power.

Iran has effective control over military operations in Lebanon, which creates a direct threat to Israel, its immediate southern neighbor. Iran also has been allied with Qatar, although that may be weakening somewhat recently since Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Irans sworn enemy, have somewhat reconciled their differences. Yet Iran continues to back the Houthi rebels in Yemen, whom Saudi Arabia is fighting to defeat.

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In other words, the region remains in its usual turmoil, though mostly now because few are sure what the Iranians will do next, especially with the incoming administration of President Joe Biden interested in reviving the Iran nuclear agreement of President Barack Obamas administration that Trumps administration rejected.

Through all of this, Shavit reminds us that we must continue to keep our eye on the ball regarding Iran: What is the status of its decades-long march toward developing a deliverable nuclear weapon? And can the players in the Middle East  make that the world  count on Iranian leaders to be rational actors regarding the possibility of a nuclear exchange in which all would pay an extremely high price.

Heres the way Shavit poses the existential question:

The instinct of survival triumphs over every other instinct. But does it stand up to the Iranian ideological and theological test that sanctifies death if it achieves the ultimate goal of restoring the global Islamic caliphate?

He writes of two instances when Irans supreme leader acted rationally in the face of brutal facts that threatened Irans existence: when Iran decided to pull out of its brutal war with Iraq in 1988; and again after the United States invaded Iraq in 2003 and threatened Iran directly.

Shavit has cautionary words regarding Iran. For instance, acting defensively, as Israel did, when Iranian missiles were used to attack Sderot in southern Israel, is not sufficient to send an effective message to Tehran.

Another warning: A carrot will be perceived by the other side [Iran] as a weakness if it has not been preceded by a stick or a credible demonstration of power.

And this pertinent observation: Targeted assassinations of members of the leadership are, in my view, a very effective strategy in general, but not a sufficient one.

Does Iran understand that the steps it takes in the region  supporting armed units to undermine governments (Arab as well as Israeli)  may lead to an escalation of conflict that could threaten the ruling Iranian elite?

And, were Iran to develop a deliverable nuclear weapon, would it begin to abide by the customs and agreements that have keep nuclear powers from attacking each other since the end of World War II?

The bottom line, the author writes, is that the thought of a fanatical Shiite ayatollah with his finger on the nuclear trigger is terrifying.

Such is the meat of Shavits analysis of Irans goals and intentions.

As the reader can see, no easy answers exist. The situation regarding Iran has to be managed intelligently and strategically. In other words, Irans wary opponents  Israel, Saudi Arabia and others  have to discern whether Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons for purely defensive purposes or to threaten other states in the region. The temptation to do the latter would be strong if more ideological leaders were in charge in Tehran.

As one who has taught the Arab-Israeli conflict to college and graduate students for many years, I consider Shavits book a valuable resource for understanding the byzantine realty of todays Middle East.Its a reference book and definitely has earned a place in a well-stocked library. Though it is ponderous reading at times, thats a low price for the information and analysis it provides.

Repps Hudson is a freelance writer and university adjunct instructor in international affairs and journalism.
Jess Wright has admitted she is worried her skin condition could negatively impact her wedding day.

The TOWIE star, 35, is engaged to partner William Lee-Kemp and is worried that her psoriasis could stop the ceremony from being everything she hopes.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that is characterised by raised areas of skin that is typically red, dry, itchy and scaly.

Honest: Jess Wright has admitted she is worried her skin condition could negatively impact her wedding day

In an honest video uploaded to her Instagram Stories seen by The Mirror, Jess told how she experienced a flare up on her face and arms and is now having a 'light therapy' to help with it.

She said: 'It's prescribed through my doctor and you can get it on the NHS or you can do it privately. It's like a light therapy basically and you have to go for sessions every so often.

'If I get married this year, I don't want to be conscious of it all the time.'

Jess' wedding to Will has been booked for June 2021 in Majorca, with her brother Mark's wife Michelle Keegan expected to be one of her 15 bridesmaids.

Bride: The TOWIE star, 35, is engaged to partner William Lee-Kemp and is worried that her psoriasis could stop the ceremony from being everything she hopes

Speaking to Hello! magazine about the day, Jess said: 'I've been dreaming of a fairytale wedding since I was little when I used to dress up in my mum's net curtains.

'Now I can't wait for the moment I've been imagining for so long, walking up the aisle in a fabulous dress to marry Will.'

Will told the publication they chose Majorca for their wedding in part because he spent so much time there as a child.

He said: 'We've enjoyed some amazing holidays here and I practically grew up on the island because it's where my family has a second home.'

Skin: In an honest video uploaded to her Instagram Stories, Jess told how she experienced a flare up on her face and arms and is now having a 'light therapy' to help with it

It comes after Jess shared a heartfelt tribute to Will earlier this month to mark their second anniversary together.

The TV star shared a sweet snap of her and her beau enjoying a drink on a date night, with Jess happily laughing for the camera.

Alongside the photo, she wrote: 'For 2 & half years you've been making me laugh like this but today marks the official 2 year anniversary.

'My rock, my love & my best friend. It feels like 10 years in a good way. Love you William.'

Happy couple: Jess shared a touching tribute to her fiance to mark their second anniversary together as an official couple earlier this month

Jess confirmed that she and William were engaged in March 2020 with a sweet snap of the pair kissing in the French Alps, as she showed off her dazzling ring.

She captioned the post: 'A million times YES! I love you so much x.'

Speaking to Hello!, the star admitted that William's proposal took her completely by surprise.

Congrats: Many of Jess' celeb pals took to the comments to congratulate the couple on their anniversary

She said: 'I am absolutely overwhelmed with this amazing news. I never expected it for a second and he caught me totally off guard.

'We are so very happy and in love! We are back in a place that is very special to us and now it has been made even better with this news. We are over the moon!'

Jess and William only went public with their romance in summer 2019, but had been dating since January that year.
We havent changed our position that [Pashinians] resignation must happen without preconditions, said Mikael Melkumian of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK). The parliament must have a chance to elect a new prime minister who will stabilize the situation for some time, for up to one year  and we will hold the elections in that case.

Holding such elections in this situation one or two months later would be fraught with very serious dangers, Melkumian told a news conference.

The BHK is a key member of an alliance of 17 opposition parties that staged late last year street protests in a bid to force Pashinian to resign. They blame him for Armenias defeat in the autumn war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The Bright Armenia Party (LHK), the second parliamentary opposition force, is not part of the alliance called the Homeland Salvation Front. But the LHK too insists on Pashinians resignation, having nominated its leader Edmon Marukian as an interim prime minister.

Pashinian has rejected the opposition demands and offered to hold snap elections instead.

Under the Armenian constitution, such a vote can take place only if Pashinian resigns and the National Assembly twice fails to elect another prime minister. The ruling My Step bloc controls at least 82 seats in the 132-member parliament and should in theory be able to easily prevent the election of another premier.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian revealed on Wednesday, however, that My Step has offered the BHK and the LHK to sign a memorandum on snap polls that would commit the parliamentary opposition to not fielding prime-ministerial candidates in the event of Pashinians tactical resignation.

Marukian rejected the proposed deal. The LHK leader suggested that it was put forward because Pashinian and his entourage fear that pro-government lawmakers would break ranks and vote to elect him prime minister.

If they are not sure about [the loyalty of] their 82 deputies and think that I may get elected if I run, then its a different subject for discussion and lets discuss it, Marukian told reporters.

Five lawmakers have defected from the parliaments pro-government majority since a Russian-brokered ceasefire agreement stopped the war on November 10. One of them publicly demanded Pashinians resignation earlier this week.

Speaking in the parliament on Wednesday, Pashinian said vaguely that his political team will formulate an appropriate position if the opposition forces continue to reject its proposals to resolve the political crisis in the country. He did not elaborate.
By Federico Finchelstein and Jason Stanley





Federico Finchelstein Jason Stanley
Dr Anthony Fauci has returned to the White House under a new administration confronting the coronavirus emergency, serving as chief medical adviser as Joe Biden seeks to distribute 100 million vaccines amid a surging death toll.

Within hours after his inauguration, President Biden wrote to the World Health Organisation to retract Donald Trumps withdrawal from the agency, reversing course from the former presidents isolationist response to the global health crisis.

Dr Fauci, the nations leading infectious disease expert and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, addressed the WHO on Thursday  a year to the day the first case of Covid-19 was discovered in the US  to assure the agency that the US will honour its partnership and funding commitments.

After being sidelined or removed from the foreground of the federal response in the final months of the Trump administration, Dr Fauci returned to the White House on Thursday alongside the president and new administration officials. President Biden outlined a series of executive actions to combat the disease as the US braces for a death toll to reach 500,000 lives lost to the disease in the coming weeks.

It was very clear there were things that were said  that really were uncomfortable because they were not based in scientific fact, Dr Fauci said about the former president from behind the lectern inside the White House briefing room on Thursday.

I take no pleasure at all in being in a situation to contradict the president, he said. The idea you can get up here, and talk about what you know, what evidence there is, what the science is, and thats it  let the science speak  it is somewhat of a liberating feeling.

In a letter to WHO secretary-general Antonio Guterres on Wednesday, Mr Biden said that the agency plays a crucial role in the worlds fight against the deadly Covid-19 pandemic as well as countless other threats to global health and health security.

The United States will continue to be a full participant and a global leader in confronting such threats and advancing global health and health security, he said.

Youre going to hear a lot from Dr Fauci, Mr Biden said on Thursday as he introduced his Covid-19 response team. Not from the president, but from the real, genuine experts and scientists. Were going to make sure they work free from political interference, and they make decisions based on science and health alone.

Dr Fauci, who emerged from the coronavirus crisis under the Trump White House as a credible voice amid the administrations chaotic response, will remain with the new Biden administration as a chief medical adviser.

The former president frequently contradicted his chief disease expert, from the onset of the pandemic when Mr Trump falsely and repeatedly insisted the virus would disappear with warm weather, to clashes over unproven drug therapies, testing strategies and mask guidance, even as the nations infections and death toll accelerated.

In July, the White House issued a lengthy list of claims Dr Fauci made in the early weeks of the pandemic in an attempt to undermine his credibility; by then, the president had not been in contact with Dr Fauci in more than a month.

The presidents campaign attacked him in ads. Mr Trump called him a disaster. By October, Dr Fauci had not attended a White House coronavirus task force meeting for several months.

Mr Trump alarmed health officials when he announced his withdrawal from the United Nations health agency, from which the former president threatened to pull funds in the middle of the public health crisis, unless it agreed to make significant changes. The former president levelled numerous criticisms against the agency over its handling of the virus and its relationship with China.

The Trump administration also pulled the US and its substantial financial and logistical support from the Covax Facility, which has undercut the agencys goal of distributing millions of vaccines during the crisis.

Dr Fauci did not address those criticisms in his remarks to the WHO but said that the US will work constructively with partners to strengthen and importantly reform the WHO, to help lead the collective effort to strengthen the international Covid-19 response and address its secondary impacts on people, communities, and health systems around the world.

This is a good day for WHO and a good day for global health, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general, said. The role of the United States, its role, global role, is very, very crucial.
DuPage expects this week to first reach out to its highest risk senior patients, and hopes to begin vaccinating patients by Feb. 1, said Dr. Don Hoscheit, chief medical officer. He expects the medical group may be able to vaccinate as many as 15,000 people a week by mid-February. It will likely take about 10 to 12 weeks for the medical group to work through all of its patients in this next phase, he said.
DALLAS, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Brainvire integrated the Autoline ERP system with a tailor-made CRM for a prominent automobile giant based in the Middle East.

The innovative CRM integration with Autoline ERP aims to streamline the operations of the marketing, distribution, and service departments of the client. Brainvire's experts brainstormed on ideas and successfully implemented many functionalities to automate workflow processes.

Brainvire Infotech

The client is one of the largest automotive companies in the Middle East. With 300+ sales staff, they have 31+ showrooms, a growing marketing and support team.

Previously, the client used Salesforce to handle its sales operations. However, due to the limited automation capabilities of the previous system, a custom CRM solution with Autoline ERP integration was suggested by Brainvire experts. The custom-built CRM solution has many automated features and smooth integration with other applications. It has helped the client to increase their operational efficiency manifold.

The platform enables the client to provide both online and offline services, saving considerable time and effort. Customers may, for example, use a calendar to book test drives and apply their preferences for vehicles. They can also raise service tickets like extending their insurance policy, or other add-ons.

Invoicing was automated by Autoline integration with CRM. WhatsApp and SMS integration enabled constant communication with customers.

"The client was able to discover their true potential with Automated CRM with Autoline integration. The new software stack, features, and functionality streamlined their workflow and provided key insights to boost customer loyalty, company efficiency, and returns," said Mr. Chintan Shah, CEO of Brainvire.

This advanced tech stack enables the company to hit all sales touchpoints and simplify workflow. A 360-degree view into customer data provides greater insight into the life cycle of the customer, revenue, and future forecasts. Overall, Brainvire led the digital revitalization of the organizational workflows of the client and assisted them in achieving tangible results.

About Brainvire

Developing solutions with innovation, Brainvire is one of the top IT consulting firms. With 20+ years of experience, 800+ employees, and have delivered 1,500+ projects to its clientele, it has enjoyed a 95% customer retention rate. Brainvire offers exclusive IT consultancy services such as Business Intelligence, SEO Services, CRM for eCommerce etc.

It has earned many accolades, such as "Top IT Services Firm 2020", "Top Mobile App Developers 2020", and "Top E-commerce Developers 2020" from Clutch.

Contact:

Brainvire Infotech INC

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 631 897 7276

SOURCE Brainvire Infotech
Netflix buys Lord and Miller animated film "The Mitchells vs. The Machines" from Sony https://t.co/WX9CMq1PWg  Variety (@Variety) January 21, 2021

Today in "Finally, Good naming conventions return!" news, Sony Pictures Animation ("Peter Rabbit", something with a Spider-man) has sold it's long-gestating Lord and Miller movie "Connected" (Formerly known as "The Mitchells vs. The Machines") to Netflix (Who has changed the name back to "The Mitchells vs. The Machines", which is WAY BETTER AND I AM GLAD).

Sony had planned to release the film theatrically on March 12 before Netflix acquired worldwide rights.



Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has said they want to grow to challenge Disney in the animation department. They got a long way to go, but a Lord and Miller production will certainly help them out.

The Mitchells vs. The Machines is about an everyday familys struggle to relate while technology rises up around the world. The film centers on Katie (voiced by Abbi Jacobson), a creative type who gets accepted into her dream film school. Before she begins college, her dad (Danny McBride) decides that driving her to school is the perfect opportunity to bond as a family one last time. But as they unplug and hit the road, technology threatens their trip  and the Earth.

The trailer came out months ago, you can go find it (probably under 'Connected'). No word on when it'll actually release.



src
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 21 : K.V. Thomas, former union minister and senior Congress leader is likely to contest the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections as an LDF candidate from the Ernakulam seat, his traditional bastion.

Thomas was a former union minister of state (Independent charge) for Food and Civil supplies in the Manmohan Singh government. He has been a member of the Lok Sabha for six terms and was an MLA for two terms. He was also Minister for Tourism in the A.K. Antony government in Kerala.

The senior Congress leader who is a big force among the Latin Catholic community has been sulking since he was denied a seat in the last general elections.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President Mullappally Ramachandran, former Chief Minister Oomen Chandy and opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala have tried to console Thomas and promised him an apt post during the state unit's rejig. However, it was not fulfilled.

Instead was given the responsibilities of the party publications "Veekshanam News Paper " and Jaihind TV". Both the entities are in deep debts and Thomas did not accept the posting.

A senior leader close to Thomas, speaking to IANS on conditions of anonymity said: "Thomas has already met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and worked out the intricacies.

"He will contest from the Ernakulam seat which he had won earlier as a Congress candidate. Not just that the seat was not given to him by Congress but he was also insulted by several leaders in the party and he had to take this extreme step." CPI-M has already welcomed KV Thomas into its fold and party's Ernakulam District Secretary C.N. Mohanan told the media: "Let things turn out and once he announces his decision publicly we will discuss the matter in the party and support him. Let him first announce his decision." Thomas has excellent rapport with the CPI-M national leadership and party general secretary Sitaram Yechury and politburo member M.A. Baby had stayed at his place last year during a programme in Ernakulam.

If Thomas switches sides, then the Ernakulam assembly seat -- a Congress bastion -- may see go.

Ernakulam is the stronghold of the Latin Catholic community and there is no leader of the stature of KV Thomas in the party in Ernakulam and hence this will be a major shocker for the Congress.

Congress leader Chennithala told the media: "I don't think that KV Thomas will leave the party, he will continue".

Thomas will address the media on January 23 and is likely announce his decision.
Major Queensland hospitals are likely to serve as hubs for mass COVID-19 vaccinations, while authorities investigate whether to roll out the jabs at workplaces and mobile clinics.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the vaccine from pharmaceutical company Pfizer required extremely low storage temperatures, which meant it would initially be delivered from hubs, such as large hospitals.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says the Pfizer vaccine will likely be delivered at central hubs. Credit:Jono Searle/ Getty Images

"Once the AstraZeneca vaccine is approved, we'll be able to distribute it more widely throughout the community ... into the more remote regions," she said.

"All of those details are still being worked through but that is the gist of it."
Two leaders of Mirror Trading International (MTI), Clynton and Cheri Marks, have denied allegations that the companys leadership conspired to locate and kidnap its missing CEO, Johann Steynberg.

Mirror Trading International was a scheme that claimed to offer automated trading services  initially in forex, and later in cryptocurrency derivatives.

The scheme went through a few iterations, but its surge in growth came after it adopted a multilevel marketing referral system and switched away from more conventional copy trading to purportedly using an automated trading program, or bot.

MTI and its leadership claimed that this magical bot was powered by artificial intelligence and was yielding growth in members bitcoin of 0.5% to 1.5% per day.

Many people warned that the promised returns were too good to be true and that MTI was a scheme that would ultimately cost you money.

Several warnings were issued from official bodies, including the Texas State Securities Board, Canadas Autorite des Marches Financiers, and South Africas Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).

In its warning from August last year, the FSCA recommended that people withdraw their money from MTI as soon as possible.

MTI collapsed in late 2020, as warned, with the schemes leadership blaming Johann Steynberg, who allegedly disappeared in Brazil on 15 December.

A group of members acted quickly and instituted liquidation proceedings against MTI within days of the announcement that Steynberg had gone missing.

The Cape Town High Court granted a provisional liquidation on 29 December 2020 and provisional liquidators were appointed on 12 January 2021.

Leaked MTI leadership Zoom call

A video call involving several members of MTIs leadership and management was posted on YouTube and leaked on social media in January.

Based on the context of the discussion in the call, it appears to have taken place shortly before the MTI leadership issued a bizarre final statement on 22 December.

During the call, the chief operating officer of MTI informed the leadership that he was working on an extraction plan to bring Steynberg back to South Africa.

Steynberg had allegedly flown to Sao Paulo via Doha on 2 December. One version of events was that he had received an anonymous warning that his life was in danger and he fled South Africa.

The MTI leaderships plan to get Steynberg back involved tricking his wife into signing over control of their silver holdings worth R1.6 million. This would then be put towards paying an extraction team to locate and return Johann Steynberg to South Africa.

Crucially, the plan required that Steynbergs wife would not know what the silver was being used for.

The relevant clips from the leaked Zoom call are embedded below.

When Carte Blanche asked Clynton and Cheri Marks whether they had plotted together with the rest of the MTI leadership to kidnap Steynberg, they denied it.

Clynton Marks was the head of MTIs referral programme and members, and Cheri Marks was the head of communications and marketing.

These allegations are strenuously denied. Our clients, like all investors, are trying to find the whereabouts of Steynberg to answer the fallout of MTI, stated Henry Selzer of Selzer Law on behalf of the Marks.



Carte Blanche  Smoke and Mirror Trading International

Carte Blanche contacted the Marks to offer them a right of reply on a segment it aired about the rise and fall of MTI on 17 January 2021. The segment is embedded below.

MyBroadband was present for an interview with Brandon Topham, the head of investigations and enforcement at the FSCA.

During the interview, Topham stated that they have evidence which suggests that Steynberg may be in Panama and not Brazil.

Topham issued a grave warning to the perpetrators and victims of schemes like MTI  every member of who withdrew any money from the scheme will have to pay the money back to liquidators.

It has also emerged that the number of people who were scammed through MTI is far fewer than the schemes official membership figures may suggest.

This is because many people opened multiple accounts in MTI.

Advocate Vaughn Victor, who has helped lead the legal charge against MTI, stated that the number of individual members is between 48,000 and 60,000.

Contradictory responses to Carte Blanche

Carte Blanches questions to Clynton and Cheri Marks were wide-ranging, covering everything from the exclusive Founders Pool to directly asking whether they are serial scammers.

The following table summarises some of the statements made by the Marks alongside their apparent contradictions.

Carte Blanch interview in January 2021 What was previously said Clynton was not a director of the business Clynton Marks is listed as a director and credited as the co-founder of MTI in official documents (MTI StratCom Jul/Aug 2020, MTI Success Guide) [Clynton] truly believed [MTI] to be a regulated trading business MTI leadership repeatedly argued that no regulations apply to bitcoin trading and therefore the FSCA couldnt regulate MTI. MTI moved to a new, unregulated broker since we are in an unregulated space with Bitcoin. (MTI media response, 19 Aug 2020, Moneyweb) Clynton has traded outside of MTI for a number of years. He did make a good profit from trading in bitcoin especially because the bitcoin price had increased so considerably in the last few years. Other than that Clynton traded in various other cryptos in the last couple of years. Cheri Marks told MTI leaders that Clynton lacked the technical skill to perform a normal EFT. (leaked Zoom call, 18:50 mark) For the record any funds utilized by [Clynton and Cheri Marks] are proceeds from trading done outside of MTI. Cheri Marks thanked Clynton and MTI for her new Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in a Facebook post dated 30 May (screenshot) [Founder Pool members] were simply people that invested $10,000 worth of bitcoin with Steynberg with the start up of MTI. The MTILeaks showed that there were several Founder Pool members who were promoted to founder status long after the launch of MTI. Many founders also apparently invested less than $10,000. (New MTILeaks) 10% of the profit share that MTI made was proportionately divided between all [Founder Pool members]. Cheri Marks previously stated that the Founders Pool is an entirely separate pool of funds which has no bearing on members profits. Assuming it was actually a profit-share arrangement, it isnt clear where the extra 10% came from. More detail below. (YouTube, 09:00 mark) The members were all aware of [the Founders Pool] arrangement Several MTI members have said on public forums that they were not aware of the existence of the Founders Pool. [Steynberg] was meant to lay the charges [against Anonymous ZA] as he is the CEO of MTI Cheri Marks stated that she was part of the team that laid criminal charges. (Facebook) The only income stream affected by multiple accounts are referral bonuses and this does not affect MTI but rather the person that signed up the member. Leadership bonuses may also be affected by multiple accounts. More details below. Having more than one account meant more than one team to grow and support and that was mainly why it was not encouraged. MTIs T&Cs doesnt just discourage the use of multiple accounts to game the system, it prohibits them. More details below.

Founders Pool

In September, MyBroadband reported on a group calling itself Anonymous ZA which leaked an anonymised copy of MTIs entire database  including account names, e-mail addresses and bitcoin balances. They called it the MTILeaks.

The MTILeaks showed that as of 14 September 2020, MTI had received 22,984 bitcoin in deposits.

Before the surge in the price of bitcoin towards the end of 2020, this was worth around R6.4 billion. At current exchange rates this amount of bitcoin is worth around R13 billion.

One of the many problems exposed by the MTILeaks was the existence of a previously undisclosed Founders Pool.

The Marks feedback regarding the Founders Pool was included in the table above. However, one of their statements is worth expanding on.

They said: 10% of the profit share that MTI made was proportionately divided between all [Founder Pool members].

MTIs own promotional material stated that profits were split as follows:

Basic profit-share to all members: 40%

Binary tree / multilevel marketing team bonus: 20%

Leadership bonus part 1: 2.5%

Leadership bonus part 2: 2.5%

Traders fee: 25%

MTIs fee: 10%

No Founders Pool is ever mentioned in any of MTIs profit-share reports.

In addition to the above earnings structure, MTI also offered once-off referral bonuses where you could earn 10% on all capital deposited into the scheme by people you recruited (within certain restrictions).

MTI said that these referral bonuses were paid out of the 10% fee it collected on all the trading profits it generated.

It is not possible for the Founders Pool bonuses and once-off referral bonuses to be paid out of the same 10% fee.

AnonymousZA and the duplicate accounts of MTI

Another major concern exposed by the original MTILeaks was that many MTI members, including those on the management team and in the Founders Pool, had multiple accounts registered in their name and linked to the same email address.

MTIs terms and conditions state:

You will not promote, take part or assist any other person/s in any activity to destabilize the binary system or Bonus Plan or to obtain any undue financial gain through activities such as rolling deposits and/or other similar types of unethical financial behaviour.

And:

Bonus manipulations are forbidden including but not limited to rolling deposits. It is forbidden among others to sponsor new members, who actually does not perform business activity connected to MTI (so-called strawman), furthermore either open or hidden multiplied registrations. It is forbidden to use the name of spouses, relatives, business names, legal entities and third parties, in order to evade this provision.

Following the publication of the MTILeaks, Cheri Marks took to Facebook to defend herself and MTI stating (also see screenshot) that MTI does not allow multiple accounts.

Marks also said in a video on YouTube that a single email address being shared by multiple accounts is hardly evidence of wrongdoing.

According to Marks, MTI members can use their email address to open accounts for friends and family.

I have 4 accounts linked to my email. Two for my daughters and 1 for my best friend that has no interest in managing her account, Marks stated.

However, the MTILeaks told a different story. While they did show that Marks personal email address was linked to four accounts, they all appeared to be in her name.

There were also accounts in her daughters names linked to an entirely different email address. The MTILeaks suggest that the email address used to create these accounts is linked to several alternative profiles belonging to Clynton Marks.

When MyBroadband pointed out that the leaked data seemed at odds with Marks statements on Facebook, Marks said that MyBroadband was jumping to conclusions and questioned our intentions.

Lets hypothetically say people have multiple accounts in MTI Of what consequence is that you or the MTI members [sic]? Marks said.

You report on Founders bitcoin but you have no idea where it comes from and you have no intention to create an objective news story to properly and accurately report facts.

It should be noted that Clynton and Cheri Marks were hardly the only members, Founder Pool or otherwise, who had multiple accounts linked to their names and email addresses in the system.

According to Advocate Vaughn Victor the abuse of duplicate accounts was so rife in MTI that even though the scheme claimed to have over 200,000 members, the real figure is likely between 48,000 and 60,000.

How to scam the scam

Why would members create multiple accounts? To boost their earnings by gaming the MTI referral scheme and raking in substantial bonuses.

One of the main ways clued-in members could do this is by withdrawing funds from MTI, then reinvesting it downline of themselves, earning a once-off 10% referral bonus on the deposit.

You can then send the funds back to your main account in the MTI system using a peer-to-peer transfer.

This is the rolling deposit scam expressly prohibited by the MTI T&Cs. However, it appears as though a blind eye was turned when certain members did this.

Withdrawing your funds and depositing it into a new account has the additional benefit of helping you amass shares for the MTI Leadership Bonus  Part 1.

MTI introduced the Leadership Bonuses on 21 January 2020, which allocated 5% of its profits to members based on how many people they recruited into the scheme.

These leadership bonuses were divided into two parts (P1LB and P2LB), with 2.5% of MTIs profits going towards each part of the bonus.

You receive one share of P1LB for every person you recruit who deposits $200. The more people you recruit, the more P1LB shares you receive. Shares are valid for 8 weeks or 60 days.

The more shares you have, the greater the portion of the total P1LB bonus (2.5% of MTIs profits) you receive.

In its video explaining how the leadership bonus pools work, MTI stated: Fair warning: MTI reserves the right to permanently terminate a members P1LB qualification if such member deliberately creates multiple fake accounts to qualify for this bonus. Proof of individual account ownership will be asked in such cases.

To earn P2LB shares, your direct referrals in MTI must qualify for P1LB. Leadership Bonus  Part 2 shares do not expire like Part 1 shares.

Due to the structure of MTIs referral programme, it was therefore profitable for members to create many duplicate accounts.

Steven Twain is real

When MTI announced that Johann Steynberg had disappeared, the news immediately evoked comparisons to a scheme called BTC Global.

Much like MTI, BTC Global promised too-good-to-be-true returns on your investment. It also used a multilevel marketing scheme to rapidly recruit new members.

When the money finally dried up, BTC Globals alleged founder vanished and the failure of the scheme was blamed on him.

Another interesting similarity between the two schemes is the number of key people that were part of BTC Global and MTI, including Cheri and Clynton Marks.

However, the Marks told Carte Blanche that the two schemes were completely different.

Steven Twain is a real person and his disappearance was a shock, they said.

It was Cheris first crypto-related business and she was admittedly naive at the time. It is denied that Cheri was/is Steven Twain.

They contend that in January 2018, before BTC Global stopped operating, the bitcoin price fell dramatically and there was a well-documented market crash.

It is suspected that this led to its demise. Cheri was linked to BTC Global in the public domain and that destroyed her reputation in the industry. She decided to pursue a conventional business like MTI which had a visible and present CEO and where one could witness actual trades. BTC Global and MTI are thus erroneously being linked.

Nothing wrong with living in a friends [multi-million rand] house

Throughout their involvement with MTI, the Marks posted on Facebook about their financial success.

This included updates about new cars and a move from Johannesburg to Monteith Estate in Durban North.

Deeds office queries revealed that the Marks home in Durban North is registered to Uprobuzz (Pty) Ltd, a company which only has one director: Zimbabwean national Ngqabutho Don Nkomo.

Based on photos posted online Nkomo was a known associate of the Marks. In their recent statement to Carte Blanche, they refer to Nkomo as a friend.

There is nothing sinister in residing in a home owned by a friend, the Marks said, adding that they relocated to be close to their childrens public school.

Cheri owns a Jeep  hardly in line with the extravagant lifestyle, some social media posts would like people to believe. This is deliberately spread to manipulate angry and upset members to direct their grievances at someone other than Steynberg, they said.

The Marks said that they are being threatened daily by investors.

Although it is understandable why investors are upset, [we] are used as the scapegoats because [we] did not go into hiding.

MTIs meetings with the FSCA

In a video posted immediately after the MTILeaks were published, Marks stated that she saw Steynberg demonstrate live trading and that he showed MTIs bitcoin balance to the FSCA.

Asked what convinced her that she was witnessing Steynberg demonstrating live trades in MTIs meeting with the FSCA, Marks told Carte Blanche that she saw Steynberg log into his Trade300 account.

Trade300 is the unregulated broker that MTI claimed to be using. The FSCA revealed in December that Trade300 was actually set up by Steynberg under his alias, Joe Steyn.

He opened live trades while next to [me] and invited the lead investigator to verify the trade. The investigator called another FSCA representative to look at the trades too and then confirmed it was CFD trading, Marks stated.

The FSCAs Brandon Topham provided an alternate perspective to the story, saying that he spoke to Steynberg during the meeting and remarked that the demo made it look like MTI was trading derivatives  a regulated financial instrument

According to Topham, Steynberg then asked what a derivative was.

Marks told Carte Blanche that she did not have enough trading knowledge to confirm or deny whether the trades Steynberg demonstrated were valid.

She also said that she saw the correspondence between Steynberg and Trade300. This included answering the requests sent by the FSCA, trade statements, transaction ID codes, and balance confirmations.

Marks said that she had no reason to believe the trades were fictitious.

Criminal charges against AnonymousZA

In the same video posted after the publication of the MTILeaks, Marks stated: Anonymous ZA  we know who that is and we are pursuing criminal charges.

Asked about the identity of Anonymous ZA and the criminal charges, Marks said that she was sent information about Anonymous ZAs identity by Steynberg and that she acted on his instructions as an employee of MTI.

[Steynberg] was meant to lay the charges as he is the CEO of MTI, Marks stated.

This contradicted an earlier statement from Marks on Facebook where she said that she was part of the team that laid criminal charges.

We didnt know MTI was a scam

Throughout their response to Carte Blanche, Clynton and Cheri Marks denied knowing that MTI was a scam.

Steynberg developed the MTI model and systems. He controlled the bitcoin, broker interface and the servers. All employees and heads of department followed the procedures of the system developed by Steynberg, the Marks stated.

They also contend that the vast majority of bitcoin deposited into MTI  75%  came from Steynbergs efforts. They did not explain how they got to that figure.

He had full and uninterrupted control of MTI, he created the logos, first presentations and built the structure to place members for the referral program. It is denied that Clynton and Cheri masterminded MTI because it is simply not true and extremely defamatory.
WASHINGTON: The coronavirus pandemic and threats of violence made the inauguration of the 46th president one of the most unusual in American history.

Some 200,000 American, state and territorial flags were planted on the National Mall to represent people who could not attend because of COVID-19, which has killed 400,000 people in the United States. In the past, the Capitol was packed with thousands trying to witness history.

This year, VIPs were seated several feet apart, and they wore facial masks to prevent the spread of the virus. In 1961, the world could see every expression on President John F. Kennedys face. Bidens face was covered with a mask except for when he spoke.

The Capitol, the epicenter of democracy that was invaded by violent loyalists of former President Donald Trump just two weeks ago, was surrounded with multiple rings of heavy steel fencing, topped with razor wire. Streets and bridges were closed. Intersections were blocked with dump trucks.

Instead of throngs of waving Americans lining the streets, an estimated 25,000 armed National Guard members patrolled the eerily quiet city. The inaugural parade was abbreviated, most of it held virtually.

When Biden walked down Pennsylvania Avenue and into the White House, his mask hid his emotion, a stark comparison to the toothy smile former Jimmy Carter displayed when he arrived as president in 1977.

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
A Florida man who went by the nickname 'the Monkey Whisperer' has been charged in federal court with illegally transporting and selling primates, including a species considered endangered, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.

Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 57, of Parrish, was charged with conspiracy, trafficking and submitting a false record in violation of the Lacey Act, a federal law involving the illegal trade in wildlife, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.

Prosecutors said Hammonds owned and operated a wildlife breeding and sales business called The Monkey Whisperer, LLC, through which he tried to sell a capuchin monkey to a buyer in California, even though the buyer could not legally own the animal.

Jimmy Wayne Hammonds, 57, of Parrish, was charged with conspiracy, trafficking and submitting a false record in violation of the Lacey Act

Hammonds was accused of organizing the illegal transport of the monkey across the country, where authorities seized the animal from the buyer's California home, according to the Justice Department.

The person buying the monkey sent a deposit of $12,650 to Hammonds for 'all associated expenses, including delivery,' according to charging documents.

Hammonds is said to have falsified documents pertaining to the monkey - claiming that the monkey had been sold to a buyer in Nevada.

The indictment alleged he also sold endangered cotton-top tamarins to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin, then concealed the animal trafficking by submitting false records to authorities and attempting to persuade a witness to lie to law enforcement.

Prosecutors said Hammonds owned and operated a wildlife breeding and sales business called The Monkey Whisperer, LLC

Hammonds allegedly tried to sell a capuchin monkey to a buyer in California, even though the buyer could not legally own the animal. The indictment alleged he also sold endangered cotton-top tamarins to buyers in Alabama, South Carolina and Wisconsin

Hammonds regularly posts about the various monkeys in his care

If convicted, he could face more than 30 years in prison total on all of the counts

He also was charged with violations of the Endangered Species Act and witness tampering.

If convicted, he could face more than 30 years in prison total on all of the counts.

It was not immediately clear whether Hammonds had an attorney who could comment for him.
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - A Mason City man is facing a first-degree theft charge for allegedly stealing a pickup from a gas station.

Aaron Ryerson, 49, is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $10,000 bond.

Authorities said he a 2019 white Chevrolet 2500 truck was at the diesel pumps at Kwik Star East when it was stolen Wednesday just after 5 p.m.

The victim ran after the truck and gave a description of the driver.

The suspect was seen driving northbound on I-35 and was stopped after a short vehicle pursuit.

Ryerson is also facing charges of eluding and driving while barred.
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.
HPRA Safety monitoring data on the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that are being rolled out across the country is reassuring and support their continued use in the fight against Covid-19, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has said.

The agency, which regulates medicines and health products in Ireland, said the benefits of taking the Covid-19 vaccines outweighed any risks based on safety monitoring data it is gathering on an ongoing basis.

In a safety update issued on Thursday, the HPRA confirmed it had received 257 reports of suspected side-effects from the Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines by Monday this week, January 18.

The latest figures on the number of vaccine doses administered amounted to more than 77,000 as of January 13, it added.

The HPRA stressed the safety data did not mean the suspected side-effects were caused by either vaccine and it was also not possible to compare the number of reported suspected side-effects for the two different vaccines.

The suspected side-effects reported to date were in line with those typically experienced after vaccination or those identified by manufacturers, it said.

On the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine, the majority of side-effects reported were "mild or moderate" in intensity and resolved within a few days.

Common side-effects included dizziness, headache, numbness, tiredness, feeling unwell, chills, fever, itchiness, rash, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, joint pain, or muscle pain among others.

Read More Doubts cast on Health Minister's pledge to have everyone vaccinated by September

There was a relatively small number of reports of allergic reactions, although the regulator did not confirm any to be anaphylactic or severe allergic reactions.

There was also a small number of reports of facial paralysis or palsy in some individuals receiving the Pfizer vaccine, which was reported by the manufacturer as a possible rare side-effect. The authority said it was following up with each individual reporting palsy or weakness in the facial muscles.

In a safety update issued on Thursday, the HPRA confirmed it had received 257 reports of suspected side-effects from the Pfizer and Moderna Covid vaccines by Monday this week, January 18. Picture: Andy Gibson.

The regulator did not provide specific details on suspected side-effects for the Moderna vaccine, given the very small number of doses administered to date.

HPRA chief executive Lorraine Nolan said the regulator expected to receive thousands of reports of suspected side-effects from the large-scale vaccination programme being rolled out but that care was needed when considering the data.

Each individual report is not confirmation that the effect is due to the vaccine, she stressed.

Ms Nolan said the overall global picture was very positive, with over 20m doses of Covid vaccines administered to date.

No new safety concerns have been raised so far and thats very reassuring and is very good news, she added.

The HPRA encouraged members of the public to report any possible side-effects from the vaccines and will routinely publish safety updates on all Covid vaccines.

Suspected side-effects can be reported online via the HPRA website at www.hpra.ie/report and also by phone or by post.
(Natural News) People who refuse to be vaccinated against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) could be banned from pubs, restaurants and even their workplaces under a radical plan proposed by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Berejiklian said she is considering implementing regulations that would prohibit residents who have not been vaccinated from entering certain high-risk venues. Government-run facilities such as police and fire stations could also be included under the plan while non-government venues would be encouraged to join.

Clearly, opportunities to travel overseas or opportunities to enter certain workplaces or venues might be enhanced if you have the vaccine, she said in an interview with Australias Daily Telegraph.

Some of those decisions could be inspired by the government, (and) some of those decisions might be inspired by the organization themselves, she added.

The government will start rolling out the Pfizer jab next month and also has supply agreements in place for AstraZeneca and Novavax vaccines.

Regulations meant to encourage residents to get jabs

Vaccine rollout and policies in Australia are the domain of the federal and not the state government, but Berejiklian is actively encouraging residents across the state to be immunized.

According to Berejiklian, the proposed regulations in NSW are meant to encourage residents across the state to be immunized. Under the proposal, venues labeled as high risk would require proof of vaccination upon entry. Such places include hospitality businesses and government run-facilities like departmental buildings, police and fire stations and Service NSW shopfronts.

Some non-government organizations, including hospitality operators, may have a say in setting their own entry requirements.

Workplaces might say: if youre coming into work, this is our preference, or this is what you [need to] do,' Berejiklian suggested.

According to the premier, the government would have further discussions on the proposal in the coming weeks. She stated that while she doesnt want to force people to get vaccinated, there should be incentives for people to get the jab.

The more people that are vaccinated, the greater likelihood we can have a return to normality as we know it, Berejiklian said on Jan. 18.

I dont ever like to force people to do anything but there should be an incentive system.

The proposal comes after Berejiklian issued a plea on Sunday, Jan. 17, for NSW residents to lift testing numbers after the state recorded six new locally acquired infections from just 12,700 tests, down from 14,500 the day before.

The state government has previously suggested the possibility of easing restrictions in the Greater Sydney area. But one of the conditions for them to do so is high testing rates.

Australian federal government also considering mandatory immunizations

Berejiklian isnt the only Australian politician to suggest mandatory immunization regulations. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison raised the possibility that it could become a legal requirement for certain types of people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. (Related: Australia cancels COVID vaccine trial over unexpected false positives for HIV.)

Morrison refused to say whether such a directive would apply to health care workers and nursing home residents.

However, the office of Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt denied that jabs would become mandatory in Australia. A spokesperson for Hunt stated that vaccination in Australia will remain voluntary.

We expect that Australians will be fully vaccinated by the end of October, on the basis of its free, its universal and its entirely voluntary, Hunt told reporters in December.

Follow Pandemic.news for more on how governments abroad are dealing with the Wuhan coronavirus.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

DailyTelegraph.com.au

7News.com.au
Denying TMC's 'baseless' allegations, the Border Security Force said it is a professional border guarding force actively checking illegal infiltration and smuggling

Kolkata: Ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal on Thursday met the full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and alleged that the BSF is threatening people in the border areas of the state to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party.

The Border Security Force (BSF), however, denied the TMC's allegation as "baseless" and "far from the truth".

The full bench of the ECI, led by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, arrived in the state on Wednesday evening on a three-day visit ahead of the assembly polls, the dates of which are yet to be announced.

"We have informed the CEC and other ECI officials that the BSF is threatening voters in the border areas. We have received inputs that officers of the paramilitary force are visiting various villages and asking people to cast their votes in favour of a particular political party.

"This is a dangerous situation and the ECI must look into it," TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee told reporters after meeting the ECI delegation here.

Chatterjee also alleged that the BSF personnel were telling the villagers that "none but us will remain in the border areas throughout the year to look after you".

Denying the TMC's allegations, the BSF said it is a professional border guarding force actively checking illegal infiltration and smuggling.

"The statements given by West Bengal ministers Partha Chatterjee and Firhad Hakim, levelling allegations against the BSF, are without any basis and far from any truth. The BSF stands firmly committed to its motto 'duty unto death' at all times," a statement issued by the force's South Bengal Frontier said.

The BSF is deployed along West Bengal's 2,217-km border with Bangladesh.

Reacting to the controversy, BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh said that the BSF only protects the borders and no finger should be pointed at the force.

"Those levelling the allegations know better what prompted them to say such things," Ghosh said after meeting the ECI delegation.

He said the BJP urged the ECI for the deployment of central forces in each booth during the elections.

"The party also informed the ECI about the abnormal rise in the number of voters possibly due to the inclusion of infiltrators in the list and urged the poll panel to look into the matter," Ghosh said.

CPI (M) leader Rabin Deb said the Left party urged the ECI for the effective utilisation of the central forces.

"We urged the ECI to ensure a conducive atmosphere for holding free and fair elections," he said.

The ECI officials are meeting the representatives of various political parties and holding discussions with officials of central and state regulatory agencies during their three-day visit.

A review meeting will also be held with the divisional commissioners and district election officers, sources in the state poll panel said.
While Narendra Modi and Donald Trump shared a personal relationship, the prime minister also had a good rapport with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. As Joe Biden took over as the 46th President of the United State, little is expected to change in Indo-US ties.

Personal relationships do matter. But ultimately, it is the institutional relationship between the two countries, which is more important. And, it isn't just Trump with whom Modi had a personal equation. President Obama and Modi also shared a personal rapport. During Obama's time, Prime Minister Modi was invited to address the Congress, and Obama visited as the chief guest for Republic Day in India.

India-Us relationship has bipartisan support in the United States. And, therefore, it is more of the continuation of the previous partnership. On a few issues, there might be some differences, but they existed even during the Trump administration. As a whole, the Indo-US relationship is likely to continue in the same way even during the Biden Presidency

Also read: Biden Vows to Mend Alliances, Engage with World Again as 'Trusted' Partner for Peace and Security

Of course, we would like them to continue the strategic partnership with us as well as defence collaboration and their role in the Indo-pacific. We would also like their support in the freedom of navigation and accessibility to the latest technology. Apart from that, we look forward to collaborations on climate change, and several other humanitarian issues.

America's support through the fight against terrorism is very important for India, especially the cross-border terrorism which we are facing. We both can play a very constructive role in Afghanistan, and also in other neighbouring countries

On China too there is a lot to be done, together, so that China doesn't transgress the world order.

Much had been achieved by the US-India partnership. There has been technological exchanges between the two countries and India is confident that there will be progress in this regard even during the Biden administration.

Also read: 'Today is Good Day For Democracy': World Leaders Congratulate US President Joe Biden

So far, India has been lending international support and cooperation to neighbouring countries during the pandemic and helping them tackle the Covid-19 virus. India has already started the vaccine supply process to neighbours like Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles, and hopes that the Biden administration will also join in the international collaboration.

Vaccines are a tricky issue because both the vaccines developed in the United States - the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines - are not yet approved in India. Neither are those companies trying to get any approval or market in India. But, for the need of developing countries where vaccinations are immediately required, enormous international collaboration and support are necessary. A partnership between India and America will help to contain the pandemic and India's manufacturing capabilities can be leveraged in that respect too.

Also, it is a matter of pride and joy for all of us that Kamala Harris has become vice president of the United States. Of course, we are proud that she has Indian ancestry. She always talks about her mother and her childhood in Tamil Nadu with pride. So, we are quite positive about that development. It is an important moment for America as a country because for the first time ever in their history, they have a woman vice president.

Chauthaiwale is In-Charge of Foreign Affairs, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

As told to Simantini Dey




Soldiers and civilians staged joint rallies across North Korea, calling for nationwide cooperation to carry out new policies and decisions made during a recent rare party congress, state media reported Wednesday.







North Korea held the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party that ended last week, unveiling a new five-year economic development plan focusing on self-reliance in the face of the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and global sanctions on its regime.







"Joint rallies of soldiers and civilians were held on Tuesday in North Pyongan, North Hwanghae, Jagang and South Hamkyong provinces to perfectly realize the decisions made during the eighth party congress," the Korean Central News Agency said.







The participants, including heads of the ruling party's provincial committees, expressed their unwavering support for the decisions by the congress and had discussions on how to attain the objectives set forth during the gathering, the KCNA added.







They, in particular, pledged to carry out the five-year economic development scheme that leader Kim Jong-un unveiled during the party congress while admitting to shortcomings of his previous development plan.







North Korea's economy has faced multiple challenges, including the border closure due to the global pandemic and biting global sanctions. It was also hit hard by back-to-back summertime typhoons last year.







Despite the announcement of the five-year development plan with great fanfare, the North decided during a subsequent parliamentary meeting to increase its budget for economic projects this year by a mere 0.6 percent, which experts see as indicative of the predicament confronting the country. (Yonhap)


The government has no proof that curfews or travel restrictions will help slow the growth of Covid.

If they did have proof, only then could the government even remotely consider infringing on our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but that would still be quite a stretch.

The problem with government overriding our Charter rights would then be getting them to rescind those laws immediately after the crisis has passed. This would be an incredibly dangerous precedent. Taking away our freedoms is matter for the Supreme Court of Canada, not something to be decided by health or elected officials. Neither of those groups are experts on our Constitutional Rights.

What might the next crisis be that comes along where politicians feel the need to take away our rights?

I for one, am not willing to take a chance on letting John Horgan write more laws that restrict my freedom to move about the country, or travel freely about my city at night.

The provincial government has already granted themselves extraordinary powers to make such decisions as they see fit. There has been no debate in our legislature. Decisions being made by a few people whom we cannot hold accountable. We dont even know who they are.

Consider Dr. Peter Berman, a top disease official at UBC. Nobody knew his name until Dr. Berman ignored the same advise that he wants all of us to follow and went to Hawaii for a two week holiday at Christmas. His hypocrisy has brought him only small repercussions. He lost a small part of his prestige within his position and had his salary reduced from $410,000.00 per year to $400,000 per year. Not a lot of punishment going on there!

Sorry, senior bureaucrats, we are not all in this together! All of you continue to be paid your very generous wages and benefits, thousands of people have lost their jobs, and are asked to survive on the CERB of $2,000.00 per month. Dr. Berman makes that much every two days.

We should all be very alarmed that invading our rights is even being considered.

Dr. Bonnie is already doing a good job of managing the covid crisis. I can live with the restrictions that she has imposed to date. Hopefully, we will win the battle against covid this year.

I am not willing to accept any further restriction of my Freedom.

Gerry Epp, Vernon BC


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Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Eric Lis factory making glass lampshades for companies including Home Depot Inc. is being stretched to its limits with sales doubling their pre-pandemic level.But like many Chinese manufacturers, he doesnt plan to expand operations -- a reticence that could slow the pace of Chinas economic growth this year and prolong a shortage of goods being felt around the world as demand picks up.Surging prices of raw materials means margins are compressed, explains Li, owner of Huizhou Baizhan Glass Co. Ltd., in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, which makes about $30 million in annual revenue. With the global economic recovery still uneven, the future is very unclear, so there is not much push to expand capacity, he adds.The combination of higher input prices, uncertainty about export prospects and a weak recovery in domestic consumer demand meant Chinese manufacturing investment from January to April was 0.4% below the same period in 2019, according to official statistics (comparing to 2019 strips out the distortion of last years pandemic data).Due to the vast size of Chinas manufacturing sector, that poses a risk both to the nations growth -- which is currently predicted to reach 8.5% in 2021, according to a Bloomberg tally of economists estimates -- and to a global economy thats grappling with supply shortages and rising prices.Falling ProfitsWeaker-than-expected investment could have a sizable impact on GDP growth this year, said Citigroup Inc.s China economist, Li-gang Liu. Lower investment may dent imports of capital goods and equipment from developed economies like Japan and Germany, which in turn could drag their economic recovery and rebound as well, he added.AnHui HERO Electronic Sci & Tec Co. Ltd. is one of those companies feeling the squeeze. Based in the eastern province of Anhui, the company manufactures capacitors used to make electronic circuits, with sales mainly in the domestic market. Jing Yuan, the founder, says orders are up as much as 30% year-on-year, but profits are down 50% due to increasing materials costs that are not easily passed onto clients.The company is under huge cash pressure as it needs to pay half a month in advance of delivery in order to secure copper and other metals, which they previously paid for months after receiving, he said. The commodity issue has to be addressed by the government, he added.What Bloomberg Economics Says...Chinese industry is absorbing significant cost pressures from rising commodity prices -- damping the inflationary impact for the rest of the world. Will it last? Our analysis of gross margins suggests it could for a while longer: downstream industries -- where the cost crunch is most severe -- still have a small cushion.David Qu, China economistFor the full report, click here.Input shortages mean some manufacturers arent able to make use of their existing facilities, so expansion would be of little use. Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. suspended production at one of its factories last month, due to a shortage of microchips.Modern Casting Ltd., which makes iron and steel products in Guangdong, issued a note to clients this month saying it would not be able to meet its current orders due to high raw material costs. A member of staff who answered the phone at the companys office confirmed the note, but declined to give further details.Growth TransitionOn top of the higher input costs, Chinese companies face a bumpy transition toward domestic consumer spending to sustain its post-pandemic recovery.Exports, Chinas strong-suit last year, may begin to slow as vaccine roll-outs cause consumers in wealthy countries to shift spending back to services. Meanwhile, the growth rate of Chinese consumer spending has yet to fully recover.Investment sentiment among Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises is below levels seen even in 2018-9 when uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war were a brake on expansion plans, according to a regular survey of more than 500 Chinese companies by Standard Chartered Plc.Demand is still mainly underpinned by exports, so domestic companies are aware that this is not sustainable, said Standard Chartereds China economist, Lan Shen.While some export-oriented sectors have been pushed to their limits, large amounts of slack remain for manufacturers targeting Chinese consumers due to subdued domestic demand.Retail sales growth was 4.3% in April on a two-year average basis, which strips out base effects from the pandemic, less than half pre-pandemic growth rates. Overall capacity use at Chinas manufacturers fell to 77.6% in the first quarter from 78.4% in the previous three months, with the automotive sector hit hardest by overcapacity following three years of declining sales volumes.Even for electric vehicles whose sales are surging, most companies have already built their capacity and will now focus on incremental upgrades. The majority of the investment has been done, said Jochen Siebert of JSC Automotive Consulting.China ordered state-owned companies to expand last year, with their investment growth of 5.3% in 2020 from the prior year easily outstripping the 1% increase in private investment. But for a sustainable pick-up in investment, the market, not the state, needs to feel confident.Carsten Holz, an expert on Chinese investment statistics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, estimates that privately-owned companies have accounted for 87% of manufacturing investment in 2015, the most recent year of available data. They are more sensitive to input costs.There is a pandemic plus insecurity about future trade given a new U.S. administration, neither of which is conducive to investment that relies on long-term growth prospects, Holz said.Mixed PoliciesTransport bottlenecks are also a challenge for export-oriented manufacturers. Gordon Gao, who exports gardening products from China, said that he has had to reject 80% of orders this year due to port delays. In one case, an order placed before mid-February could only be shipped three months later when a client finally secured a container.Beijing has tried to improve conditions for private companies by ordering a crackdown on speculation to curb commodity prices and easing access to bank loans.Yet the government continues to gradually withdraw fiscal and monetary stimulus measures introduced amid the pandemic last year. It set a relatively unambitious target of above 6% growth for this year, and the Communist Partys Politburo signaled last month it would prioritize reforms to control house prices and debt growth.The policy stance has definitely shifted away from supporting growth and back toward de-risking the financial sector, said Adam Wolfe, an economist at London-based Absolute Strategy Research. The risks for economic growth seem tilted to the downside, especially for capital-intensive, construction-linked sectors.For manufacturers such as Li, a longer period of domestic growth and control over input prices will be needed before capacity expansion is on the cards. While his company of 200 workers took on new permanent staff before the pandemic, for now hed rather pass the risks of investment on to others.I wouldnt do that now, I would rather hire some temporary workers and outsource the rest, he said.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22)  The Philippine partner of the Serum Institute of India assured COVID-19 vaccine production would not be affected by the fire that engulfed one of the vaccine makers plants in Pune, India on Thursday.

SII, the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer, is the maker of the COVID-19 vaccine Covovax.

Dr. Luningning Villa, medical director of Faberco Life Sciences Inc., said the plant for the Rotavirus vaccine was the one affected by the blaze.

We would like to assure the public that the manufacturing sites for COVID-19 vaccines are safe and not affected. The plants are situated in another location and the production remains uninterrupted and unhampered, said Villa in a statement. COVID-19 vaccines are on target as scheduled.

Villa offered their prayers for the SII workers affected by the fire.

Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol said there were five fatalities in the incident. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

RELATED: Blaze at facility of world's biggest vaccine maker kills 5 people

The Philippine government signed a deal with SII last Jan. 10 to acquire 30 million doses of Covovax vaccine, which are expected to be available in the country by the third quarter of this year.

SII teamed up with United States-based biotechnology company Novavax in the development and commercialization of the Covovax vaccine.


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An economist of international renown, Montek Singh Ahluwalia has been a key figure in Indias economic reforms journey from the 1980s. As commerce secretary and then finance secretary when P.V. Narasimha Rao was prime minister, Ahluwalia was part of the team that liberalized Indias economy. Hed been an adviser to former prime minister V.P. Singh, and took on this position again in prime minister A.B. Vajpayees office. During the 10 years of the Manmohan Singh-led government, he was deputy chairman of erstwhile Planning Commission. Ahluwalia, the author of Backstage: The Story Behind Indias High Growth Years, tells Mint how a team of economists, politicians and bureaucrats worked together to bring the 1991 crisis under control, cracking open a political space to reverse the interventionist economic policies of the first four decades after Independence.

How did the 1991 reforms come about?

The reforms of 1991 are often seen as a response to the balance of payments (BOP) crisis of that year but in fact they were a response to two distinct challenges. One was an immediate crisis in the BOP and the other was the challenge of overcoming the persistent problem of slow growth in India compared with other countries in East Asia.

The BOP problems began to surface in the last years of the Rajiv Gandhi government when fiscal expansion led to a widening current account deficit. Since an election was due in 1989, it was felt that corrective action could be taken after the election. The coalition government headed by V.P. Singh that took over after the election was preoccupied with other issues, and no corrective action was taken.

The situation turned into a crisis when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in August 1990, sending crude oil prices through the roof. This happened at a time when V.P. Singh had announced reservations for OBCs (other backward classes), provoking student protests and causing a break with the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party). Markets lost confidence in the ability of the government to handle the situation. Foreign banks stopped extending new loans while insisting on repayment of old ones. NRI inflows turned negative. V.P. Singh resigned in November 1990. The next government under Chandrashekhar (started negotiating with) the IMF (International Monetary Fund). But the IMF lends only to countries willing to take the difficult decisions needed to bring the BOP into equilibrium. The Chandrashekhar government was too weak to commit to such action. It fell in March 1991 and a general election was called.

A Congress-led coalition under P.V. Narasimha Rao was sworn in and its first priority was to deal with the BOP crisis. Foreign exchange reserves were at rock bottom and there were fears India would default on its debt obligations. The new government, with Manmohan Singh as finance minister, continued negotiations with the IMF to get loans that would tide over the immediate problem. It took strong action, including devaluation and reducing the fiscal deficit, but did not limit itself to dealing with the BOP. It also took up the other challenge of slow growth.

This challenge had been discussed through the 1980s and a consensus had evolved that our system of control was too restrictive and was preventing India from becoming a competitive economy. The BOP crisis was used as an opportunity to undertake deeper structural reforms which would unleash the growth potential of the economy.

We were criticized at the time that all this was being done to satisfy the IMF. There is no doubt that the IMF would have insisted on action to restore equilibrium in the BOP, notably a reduction in the fiscal deficit and a devaluation. But what we did in 1991 was much more.

What were the structural reforms?

It began with a devaluation of the rupee in two stages, on 1 July and 3 July 1991. This was accompanied by a major liberalization of trade policy. We had one of the most restrictive import policies in the world... Consumer goods imports were banned. The new policy did not liberalize imports of consumer goods. However, almost all intermediate and capital goods, which earlier needed an import licence, were allowed to be freely imported against Exim scrips issued to exporters at 30-40% of export earnings. The Exim scrips were freely tradable and the premium on them was an additional incentive for exporters. This introduced a market mechanism for limiting imports to a sustainable level. In less than a year, the Exim scrip system was replaced by a dual exchange rate applicable to all foreign exchange earnings. By March 1993, we were able to unify the exchange rate.

An important feature was the coordination of reforms in different areas to ensure internal consistency and mutual supportiveness. Import liberalization was essential for industrial liberalization to be meaningful. However, we also needed a mechanism for situations where the demand for imports might exceed the foreign exchange available. The freely floating exchange rate provided such a mechanism since excess demand for imports would lead to a depreciation which would help equate demand for imports with available foreign exchange. Tax reforms covering both direct and indirect taxes laid out by the Chelliah committee were implemented over three years. Foreign capital inflows in the form of portfolio flows were liberalized in steps.

My main point is that the 1991 reforms aimed at much more than dealing with the BOP crisis. They have been criticized for being too gradual but gradualism had the advantage that the changes were accepted widely, and a consensus evolved in favour of change. This acceptance was reflected in the fact that subsequent governments of differing political hues, ranging from the United Front government, which included the Communist Party of India, to the BJP-led government under Vajpayee, all continued in the broad direction of the 1991 reforms.

Commentators argue that the burst of reforms in 1991 was unique. Was this because of personalities involved or the strategy itself?

Personalities are always important and in Manmohan Singh we had a finance minister who was respected and trusted across political parties. He understood the workings of the economy and the role of persuasion in making reforms politically saleable. He had the full backing of Rao. The strategy was also unique. There had been considerable discussion in the 1980s inside government of the need for change and many top civil servants were convinced we were falling behind other countries by not changing.

It was the multipronged action, focusing on policy change, that made the 1991 reforms unique. Most budget speeches identify objectives and announce new government programmes to achieve those objectives... Singhs 1991 speech was different because it talked mainly of policies.

True, we have not had a comparable burst of coordinated reforms since then. However, it must be admitted that the first burst of reforms was much easier to conceptualize because the Indian economy was so constrained that it had become a no-brainer that we needed to change. Subsequent stages of reforms are more difficult and require building of institutions which takes time.

We now see considerable disenchantment with the thinking that guided reforms since 1991. There is criticism about the system not delivering for all Indians and the growth of crony capitalism...

There is a lot of rethinking globally on various aspects of economic policy and the limits of market-oriented economies and we are no exception. One line of criticism is that the reforms and reformers have become excessively focused on GDP growth as the sole objective of economic policy, which ignores environmental impacts. These are relevant considerations, but it is wrong to say that we viewed growth as the sole objective of policy. In all our plan documents, we emphasized that GDP growth is only one measure of progress and there are others that are equally important such as poverty reduction, reduced regional differences, progress in child nutrition, educational achievements, health indicators...

It is important to recognize that we cannot assume that progress in each indicator can be achieved without rapid growth in GDP. India moved out of the category of low-income developing countries in 2010 but it only entered the bottom of the middle-income category. We need much higher levels of per-capita income to improve the living standards of the bulk of our people and for that we must aim at growth rates between 7% and 8 %, while also ensuring that the growth is as inclusive and sustainable as possible.

The growth of crony capitalism is indeed a serious problem, not just in India but in all developing countries. The solution lies not in rejecting freer markets or becoming suspicious of any large Indian company but in ensuring that all such companies operate in a genuinely competitive environment, and that government does not act to grant favours to preferred companies.

Some believe the thinking that led to trade reforms was flawed and, so, the reversal of trade policy by the current government is justified.

It is true that we have seen a series of increases in import duties in the past three years... This is sometimes presented as a consequence of the policy of Atmanirbhar Bharat. We need greater clarity on what is meant by atmanirbhar. The prime minister has said the government wants to integrate India into global supply chains. The message of integrating is the right approach but it is not clear that the specific actions we are taking will promote that objective. High tariffs, combined with a message that reducing imports is a virtue in itself, is not consistent with integrating into global supply chains. Such integration requires items to be imported from wherever they can be produced cheaply, worked on in the country for some part of the production process, and re-exported. High tariffs will make us unattractive for integration into global supply chains.

The import duty increases of the past three years have been implemented because segments of Indian industry have expressed concern that they cannot compete against imports. Industry does have genuine concerns about aspects of our policies that make Indian producers uncompetitive. These are low-quality infrastructure, our labour skills are not what they should be, our labour markets are not flexible enough, we score poorly on logistics and also on ease of doing business. However, the solution to these problems lies in redoubling our effort to close these gaps, not raising import duties.

Raising duties may make some producers more competitive against imports, but it does nothing to help exporters who suffer from the same disadvantages. In fact, it perpetuates our competitive disadvantage in world markets. These are not just my views. Arvind Panagariya, a distinguished trade economist, who was appointed the first vice-chairman of NITI Aayog, argued strongly that we should lower our tariffs and reduce disparities across categories. Unfortunately, policy has moved in the opposite direction.

Another unfortunate development is Indias decision to stay out of RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership). I think this is contrary to the Act East policy enunciated by the prime minister. I hope the government will reconsider.

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Since noon Tuesday, Chuck Krays pharmacy has been receiving 5-6 calls per minute regarding COVID-19. Thats when Pennsylvania officially expanded vaccine eligibility to include everyone over 65 and younger people with chronic illness.

The problem is theres not enough vaccine to meet the demand. Nor enough locations and people.

Theres no way the system can handle this. I can barely fill prescriptions right now, said Kray, the president of Hershey Pharmacy and HersheyCare in Dauphin County.

Kray, also the president of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, said he heard the same from colleagues, including one in Pittsburgh.

This is happening all over the state. There is not enough vaccine to open it up this wide so soon. Its just creating chaos, he said.

Kray and others said they werent prepared for the states announcement of expanded eligibility, which came in response to last weeks recommendation from the federal government, which in turn triggered pressure from the public.

The changes by the department of health really blindsided us, said Laurel Spagnolo, director of development and community engagement at Sadler Health Center in Carlisle, a federally-supported clinic that serves many people with lower incomes.

She said the announcement really opened the floodgates on demand. Sadler had previously been vaccinating mostly local health care workers who arent connected with a major health system, such as local dentists and EMS crews.

As of Wednesday morning, Sadler was putting newly-eligible people on a waiting list.

We dont know when well be able to vaccinate anyone else from the community, Spagnolo said, noting the vaccine supply is very limited.

Tuesdays move expanded the pool of Pennsylvanians eligible for vaccine to 3.5 million people. COVID-19 vaccine, which began arriving in the state right before Christmas, had previously been limited to front-line health care workers and nursing home residents.

Pennsylvania had received just under 1.1 million doses as of Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state still hasnt finished vaccinating its health care workers and long term care residents. Moreover, state officials have said the CDC often lists vaccine is being distributed before it actually arrives in the state.

It wasnt immediately clear on Wednesday morning how many available doses exist in Pennsylvania. A top state official, in announcing the expanded eligibility on Tuesday, had said the supply will be a problem.

A state health department map shows locations, including many local pharmacies, where people can call to set up a vaccination appointment. The map wasnt working at some points on Wednesday morning.

Moreover, some locations designated as having available vaccine are still restricting their supply to health care workers, according to people who called.

The health department didnt immediately respond to questions posed early Wednesday.

At Keystone Health Center in Chambersburg, another federally-supported clinic in Chambersburg, health care workers were still receiving top priority for available vaccine, said Dr. Raghavednra Tirupathi.

Many in the newly-expanded group are calling, but we dont have the vaccine or the bandwidth, he said, although he held out hope that will change quickly.

WellSpan Health as of late Tuesday began accepting requests for vaccines at about 20 locations.

We have received a high level of interest, and our plans and scheduling do rely on us getting ongoing and adequate supply from the state. Given the current supply constraints seen across the country and with schedules filling up fast, we may need to adjust those schedules accordingly if supply becomes an issue, spokesman Ryan Coyle said in an email on Wednesday morning.

Kray, the Hershey pharmacist and association president, said it was a mistake to expand the eligibility without having a stronger supply. Pennsylvania, like all the other states, is depending on the federal government for vaccines.

Kray said his pharmacy, which received about 2,000 vaccine requests on Tuesday, is expecting only 300 doses this week.

Incoming President Joe Biden has stated a goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans during his first 100 days in office  a goal some call overly optimistic given the available supply. However, vaccines from one or more additional manufacturers are expected to become available within the next month or so. Experts say roughly about 170-200 million Americans will need to be vaccinated to nullify the threat of COVID-19.

Biden has also said he might use the defense production act to speed up production.
COVID-19 testing information for west-central Illinois counties:

Morgan County

Jacksonville

Days and times: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Location: Drive-through testing site located at the intersection of Dunlap Court and Morgan Streets.

Details: No appointment necessary. Photo ID and insurance card requested but not required.



Brown County

Mount Sterling

Days and times: By appointment.

Location: Brown County Health Department, 120 E. Main St. 217-773-2714

Details: Testing eligibility determined by telephone screening.



Cass County

Beardstown

Days and times: Monday-Friday 9-11:20 a.m.

Location: Cass County Health Department, 8590 St. Lukes Drive. 217-323-2182

Virginia

Days and times: Monday-Friday 1-3 p.m.

Location: Cass County Health Department, 331 S. Main St. 217-452-3057

Details: Testing by appointment only and is limited to those who live or work in Cass County. Schedules subject to change.



Greene County

Carrollton

Days and times: By appointment. Open seven days a week.

Location: Boyd Rural Health Clinic, 800 School St. 217-942-3600

Details: Testing performed if medically indicated, pre-op with doctors order, or return to work. Must call and leave message with name and callback number.



Jersey County

Jerseyville

Days and times: By appointment.

Location: Jerseyville Community Hospital Walk-in Clinic, 903 S. State St. 618-498-2273

Details: Testing performed if medically indicated.



Macoupin County

Gillespie

Days and times: By appointment.

Location: Maple Street Clinic, 109 E. Maple St. 217-313-5078

Details: Drive-through free testing. Register by phone or online at mcphd.net.



Pike County

Pittsfield

Days and times: By appointment.

Location: Quincy Medical Group, 320 N. Madison St. 217-277-4001

Details: Testing performed if medically indicated.

.

Days and times: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Location: Illini Express Clinic, 101 E. Washington St. 217-277-3504

Details: Testing performed if medically indicated. Register upon arrival.



Scott County

Winchester:

Days and times: Mondays and Fridays 9-11 a.m.

Location: Scott County Health Department, 335 W. Cherry St.

Details: Schedule subject to change. See Facebook page for updates.
Last year, Collegedale along with the Hamilton County Industrial Development Board, entered into a PILOT agreement with McKee Foods that was effective Jan. 1, 2020. At the commission meeting on Tuesday night, Attorney Kurt Faires with the Chambliss, Bahner and Stophel law firm, requested approval from the city for an amendment to the agreement. He said this is the largest investment ever made in Hamilton County by a locally owned business. The investment by McKee will be one half billion - about $500 million, he said.

He said that since the PILOT is for a period of 15 years, it was hard to know exactly where all the money would be spent. Originally, it was for two facilities in Collegedale. That has now changed, and the company plans to spend it in four locations within the city.

Attorney Faires told the commissioners that everything relating to the PILOT is on target. The creation of jobs is exceeding the threshold, he said. The agreement specifies 482 jobs will be added with an average salary of $45,000. The only thing that is changing is the description that it now is for four facilities instead of the original two. There is no change to the investments or jobs.

The amendment to the PILOT was approved unanimously.

Collegedale used some of the money it received from the Cares Act, which was to be used for COVID-19 related expenses, to purchase computers so they will be available in case city hall has to close and work is needed to be done from home. At the commission meeting, City Manager Ted Rogers received approval for a policy to regulate employees working remotely. He said the standing policy is that no one works from home permanently. The policy covers temporary conditions and defines the parameters, he said. If a person is approved to work from home, they must sign the policy, which is to protect Collegedales equipment and information with the assurance of performing their responsibilities. The signed document will be put in their employee file. If an employee requests any additional expenditures, it would be submitted to their supervisor for approval before any spending is done.

In October, the commission gave approval to Collegedale Municipal Airport Director Chris Swain for a change order needed for building a culvert under a runway. The purpose of the culvert is for rehabilitating stormwater drainage. The project was paid for with a grant from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, with TDOT paying 95 percent and Collegedale being responsible for just five percent. The amount of the additional work that was needed came to $21,900 with Collegedales portion of the change being $1,095. Mr. Swain told the board that the citys portion has already been paid and the project has already been completed. The additional money was authorized.

The airport will also be getting a 24-hour fuel service kiosk. A grant is already in place, said Mr. Swain, and, because of the cost, the city is required to put the project out for bid. Just one bid was received for the amount of $24,500. He said this is another grant with a 95/5 percent split and the grant will pay up to $26,000. Collegedale will pay $1,300 of the split, which is included in this years budget.

Two properties in the city limits were given new zoning designations. Collegedale had previously approved annexing the property where the new Whistle Stop Cafe was built. With no person in opposition at a public hearing for the rezoning, the permanent zoning of Mixed Use Town Center (MUTC) was approved.

Property on Lee Highway and White Oak Valley Circle, consisting of 1.7 acres, was rezoned from MUBC to AG, Agricultural on the recommendation of the Collegedale Planning Commission.
Chubb announced that Philip Bancroft, executive vice president of Chubb Group and chief financial officer, plans to retire from the company on July 1 after 19 years of service.

Peter Enns, an investment banker who was most recently the Global Co-Head of Investment Banking Coverage in Hong Kong for HSBC, will join Chubb on or before April 1 as executive vice president, Finance, and will succeed Bancroft upon his retirement.

Enns has 30 years of finance and investment banking experience. He spent over 20 years with Goldman Sachs in various senior roles, including partner of the firms U.S. Financial Institutions Group based in New York, head of its Asia Financial Institutions Group based in Hong Kong, and chief executive of its business operations in Canada.

Enns will report to Evan G. Greenberg, chair and chief executive officer, and will become a member of Chubbs executive committee. Bancroft is expected to remain with the company in an advisory capacity for the balance of the year and be available to support Enns.

Bancroft started his career in insurance as a public accountant, leading the insurance practice of Coopers & Lybrand before joining ACE in 2002 as CFO

For nearly 20 years, Bancroft worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers. He served as partner-in-charge of the New York Regional Insurance Practice.

Enns is a chartered financial analyst who joined Goldman Sachs in 1996. Enns served as chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs Canada from 2014 to 2017; head of the Asia Financial Institutions Group from 2010 to 2014; and partner of the U.S. Financial Institutions Group from 2006 to 2010. He joined HSBC in 2018 as Global Head, Financial Institutions Group and subsequently served as Global Co-Head of Corporate Finance Coverage and, most recently, as Global Co-Head of Investment Banking Coverage.

Separately, last week, Chubb announced the appointments of Jeremiah Konz as chief reinsurance officer and Michael Kessler as division president of the companys global cyber risk insurance business.

Konz, executive vice president and reinsurance officer for Chubb Overseas General, the companys international general insurance business, is succeeding Kessler, who moved from the chief reinsurance officer role to lead the cyber division.

In his new role, Konz has management responsibility for the design and purchase of reinsurance programs for Chubb and its business units globally, managing the companys reinsurance recoverable asset and overseeing relationships with its reinsurers and reinsurance brokers. He will also serve as chairman of Chubbs Reinsurance Security Committee and as a member of its Global Credit Committee.

Kessler, in his new role, is overseeing all facets of the cyber risk insurance business including strategy, product and business development, underwriting and service operations, and overall profit and loss perf Konz is now reporting to John Keogh, president and chief operating officer of Chubb. Kessler reports to Paul Krump, vice chairman, Chubb Group, Global Underwriting and Claims.

Kessler began his career in insurance as a consulting actuary. Before joining Chubb, Konz worked as an executive for reinsurance brokerage firm Aon Benfield, providing analytic expertise to large commercial property reinsurance placements over a 13-year period.

Topics Chubb
The State Jewish Theater commemorates the 80th anniversary of the Bucharest Pogrom of January 21-23, 1941 and the Holocaust, through a series of online events, which will be broadcast on the theater's Facebook and YouTube pages from Thursday to January 27, informs a press release of the cultural institution sent to AGERPRES.

"Against the backdrop of the Legionary Rebellion - the open conflict between General Ion Antonescu and the Legionary Movement - this episode is one of the heyday of anti-Semitic practices in Romania. The actions began on the evening of January 20, 1941, and in the next two days, the Dudesti and Vacaresti districts of the Capital City were devastated and plundered, with more than 120 people left dead - most of the macabre murders committed in the Jilava forest, where there were found 90 people dead - as well as at the Slaughterhouse, near the Fundeni and Pantelimon roads," reads the same press release.

The programme of Thursday's events begins, at 10.00 am, with "Testamentul Meu" [My Testament] - a moment from the show "Luminile ghetoului" [Ghetto Lights], performed by actor Mihai Ciuca, followed, at 7.00 pm, by moments from the show "Bucuresti 41 tur-return" [Bucharest 41 round trip], and at 9.00 pm by a moment performed by actress Maia Morgenstern.

The series of online events will end, on January 27, with "Stiler, Stiler" [Shtiler, Shtiler] - a moment from the show "Luminile ghetoului", performed by actress Viorica (Bantas) Predica, at 10.00 am, followed, at 3, 00 pm, by a new moment from the show "Luminile ghetoului", "Spil je mir a lidele in idis" [Shpil je mir a lidele in Yiddish], and at 7.00 am, by a moment from the show "Janka" by Oscar K. Speace."
WASHINGTON  Quite a difference between two chilly Wednesdays in January: Under a crystalline Inauguration Day sky and a bunting-draped Capitol, the Marine Band welcomed the 46th president into office with a procession of fanfares  in the same spot that a mob answering the call of the 45th had ransacked the building two weeks earlier to try to stop this transfer of power.

There was no mention of Donald J. Trump, the departed and deplatformed commander in chief who flew out of town early in the morning as the first president in 152 years to refuse to attend the swearing-in of his successor.

Whether or not related to the former presidents absence, a bipartisan lightness seemed to prevail across the stage. Snow flurries gave way to sun and an aura distinctly serene. Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, and now former Vice President Mike Pence  both close allies of Mr. Trump who broke bitterly with him in his final days  were seen cracking grins, even chuckling with their counterparts in the opposing party.

Supreme Court justices greeted former presidents with elbow bumps and waved to masked members of Congress from several feet away, a literal separation of powers mandated by the pandemic. The rampage on Jan. 6 had brought on uniformed troops clustered in all directions across a Capitol complex otherwise abandoned by civilians. Still, the inauguration felt like a friendly gathering, a small step toward President Bidens elusive promise of national unity.

Libyan envoys at UN-backed talks to end nearly a decade of war voted Tuesday to pass the mechanism to choose an interim executive to govern until polls in December, the UN said.

The UN called it a "significant step forward".

Oil-rich Libya has been torn apart by civil war since the NATO-backed uprising that ousted long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with an array of militias filling the vacuum and civilian bodies struggling to impose their authority.

But talks held in the Swiss city of Geneva have brought together 75 delegates -- selected by the UN to represent a broad range of constituencies -- in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF).

"Following the agreement on a proposal for the selection mechanism of a unified executive authority... the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) conducted a one-day voting process," the UN said, with the vote running from Monday to Tuesday.

A total of 73 percent backed the proposal.

"Libyans have now a genuine opportunity to move past their differences and divisions, (and) select a temporary government to reunify their institutions through the long-awaited democratic national elections" on December 24, interim UN envoy Stephanie Williams said.

The UN was "finalising the nomination procedure" and an election timeline, she added.

- Fragile ceasefire -

Libya is currently dominated by a government in Tripoli called the Government of National Accord (GNA), and the eastern-based House of Representatives

Also on Tuesday, members of the commission drafting a future constitution met with delegations from the House of Representatives and the Tripoli-based High Council of State, which advises the GNA.

The meeting in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada was held to "discuss the constitutional arrangements necessary for the holding of elections on December 24," the UN said.

"If you fail to reach an agreement, this will have very negative repercussions on the other tracks including the security and economic situation," Williams told the delegates.

Both camps in Libya's complex war have received extensive backing from foreign powers.

A fragile ceasefire between the two sides, agreed in Geneva last October, has largely held.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed "tangible progress" made in recent months in Libya.

But Guterres also urged "regional and international actors to respect the provisions of the ceasefire agreement", with its three-month deadline to withdraw foreign forces from Libya expiring on January 23.

The UN estimates there are still some 20,000 foreign forces and mercenaries in Libya helping the warring factions.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

Short link:


Joe Bidens inauguration went according to plan and one of the expected 15 Executive Orders was to revoke the permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline. In addition the President has introduced a moratorium on oil & gas leasing in Alaska. The amount of stimulus is clearly going to be huge, already being compared with FDR who had the depression and the second world war to contend..

WTI $53.24 +26c, Brent $56.08 +18c, Diff -$2.84 -8c, NG $2.54 -1c, UKNG 55.51p -4.46p

Oil price

Joe Bidens inauguration went according to plan and one of the expected 15 Executive Orders was to revoke the permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline. In addition the President has introduced a moratorium on oil & gas leasing in Alaska.

The amount of stimulus is clearly going to be huge, already being compared with FDR who had the depression and the second world war to contend with which gives an idea of how the pandemic is now being treated as if 400,000 deaths were not enough.

Serica Energy

Today sees a corporate update from SQZ which has linked with a detailed Capital Markets Day this morning. BKR and Erskine production in 2020 averaged 23,800 boe/d significantly impacted by the 45 day shut down at Bruce in Q1, ex that it would have been c. 27,000 boe/d.

Operating costs were around $14/boe with the true trend remaining downwards despite the headline figure being the Bruce effect. Gas prices averaged 25p/Therm (in an amazing year of fluctuations) and oil was $43, combined $20/boe and pre-hedging income of 12.3m. It is worth noting that the gas price roofed it later last year and this year averages 60p/Therm having already nearly touched 80p. When 80% of your production is gas like Serica this is meaningful.

Serica has cash of 90m with no borrowings and limited decommissioning liabilities. The way the phasing from previous owners works, cash flow from BKR has risen from 40% in 2018 through to 100% by 1/1/2022. Serica has a very solid ESG agenda which ticks all the boxes and was a key part of todays presentations. Part of that is that gas has significant environmental advantages and is a key element of Energy Transition.

Elsewhere flaring has been key and since becoming operator of Bruce two years ago the company has eliminated some 62% of all flaring from the platform. Also preliminary figures indicate a 10% reduction in carbon emissions from the Bruce platform in 2020.

R3 problems have delayed operations and it is now expected to complete in March 2021. With regard to Columbus, a rig has been booked and it will drill the development well in March. Production is expected early in Q4 with gross production forecast of around 7/- boe/d of which 75% is gas.

Serica describe the outlook as follows, we have entered 2021 with considerably improved gas prices though with notable volatility so will continue to carry downside protection at an appropriate level, and we will continue to prioritise the health and safety of our workers whilst the COVID-19 threat remains and to work on our carbon reduction programmes and other ESG objectives.

We believe 2021 will bring new opportunities to grow through acquisition against a more confident industry backdrop, however, we will continue to screen all opportunities vigorously and prioritise delivering shareholder value over simple additions to scale.

On M&A there were a number of attempts by analysts to get something out of the CEO as to what might be in the sights and whether prices have risen as hydrocarbon prices rise. Indeed one suggested that SQZ may not be the hunter, more the hunted as with Harbor and PremierOn the serious point it is clear that whilst they are looking at potential acquisitions they will not be overpaying for anything but they would say that wouldnt they?

Mitch Flegg, Chief Executive of Serica Energy, commented:

The early renewal of the OFAC License for a period of two years is excellent news. We are grateful to the UK Government and regulatory authorities which have supported us in this process.

The License renewal comes on the back of a busy period during which Serica has continued to build on its firm foundations both operationally and financially whilst also working hard to position itself as a key contributor to the UKs net zero goals. Our activities within our ESG framework are having a material positive impact on our emissions across the portfolio and we remain highly focused on this hugely important aspect of our work. We will seek to drive additional value from the portfolio through our work programme this year and deliver an attractive combination of growth and returns for our investors.

These firm foundations and strong balance sheet allow us to continue to seek opportunities to grow our portfolio through investment and M&A activity. Serica will not overpay in order to quickly grow our portfolio. We are focused on identifying value rather than volume and will continue to look for the right opportunities where Serica can utilise its skills to add value to assets that no longer fit the objectives of the current owners.

Whilst they were on, the company announced that it has received a renewed License and secondary sanctions assurance from the US Office of Foreign Assets Control relating to the North Sea Rhum field, in which the company has a 50% interest. The License and assurance will allow certain U.S. and U.S.-owned or controlled entities and also non-U.S. entities to continue providing goods, services and support to Rhum beyond 28 February 2021; when the current License was due to expire. This will enable operations and production from the Rhum field to continue unaffected.

Overall this is another excellent set of results from Serica whos management continue to deliver the goods even when technical problems sometimes occur. It was no surprise that the ESG presentation was extensive and of high quality and Mike Killeen on operations showed how costs are being cut and efficiencies substantial. It is worth watching the ICE gas price and I now put that price at the top of every blog now because it is so important. SQZ is at the top of the Bucket list for all the above reasons, gas is the future, it knows what direction to go and the management is top quality all the way down. It ticks all the boxes for me

Trinity Exploration & Production

Trinity has provided the market with a Q4 2020 operations update this morning. Production levels remained strong during Q4 2020 with volumes averaging 3,206 bopd, yielding a full year 2020 average of 3,226 bopd (3,007) in line with market guidance.

This represents a 7% increase over the prior year despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 and no new drilling activity taking place during the year. This is the third consecutive year of delivering production growth and meeting stipulated production targets. Furthermore, the Groups unaudited FY 2020 operating break-even was $20.5/bbl, meeting the challenging target set in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and being the fifth consecutive year of maintaining a sub-$30/bbl operating break-even.

This robust operational performance ensured cash generation remained strong during the period, with the Groups unaudited cash balances at the year-end 2020 being $20.2 million ($13.8m).

Bruce Dingwall, CBE, Executive Chairman of Trinity, commented:

2020 has been a year of significant progress for Trinity in not only continuing to grow production and generate cash during unprecedented times but also in maturing a strategic framework to meaningfully scale the business. Given the number of growth initiatives now underway, 2021 will be a year of investment as we seek to advance current developments, identify new opportunities via the strategic partnerships we have recently entered into and pursue further low cost appraisal and exploration targets.

During Q4 the Company continued to build on the momentum that we have achieved, with growth in production despite not drilling any new wells during 2020. We have created a sustainable model that proved itself despite the wider COVID-19 related issues. We continue to work on ways of growing value from existing operations at the same time as maturing new projects to enhance our portfolio and create a differentiated company of scale for our shareholders. We are excited by the multitude of attractive growth opportunities available in Trinidad for companies of our scale, which have been further enhanced by the recent welcome changes to the SPT threshold.

I must again thank all our staff for their unstinting dedication and to the supply chain and their employees for supporting our operations throughout this period. We are well positioned and see exciting opportunities in front of us.

And finally

Last night in the Prem the Cottagers hosted the Red Devils who won 1-2 and went to the top of the table. Over in Manchester the Noisy Neighbours were hosting the Villa who held on until the 80th minute when City were awarded what seemed like an offside goal. Fortunately for them the operator was painting his nails at the time and the goal was given.

Tonight its Liverpool v Burnley ahead of FA Cup weekend. If Liverpool win they stay 4th and if the other games in hand unwind City would go top with Utd next then the Foxes, Liverpool and Spurs in 5th.

The second of two tests against Sri Lanka for the Moose Cup starts tomorrow at 0430 hours. Dormy one is ok but you rarely get a draw here so England really have to win this one. The only change is Anderson for Broad which is quite surprising


The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Join Recruiter.com, BioLargo and Phunware at the Proactive One2One Investor Forum on January 26

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I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366.

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A Missouri woman reportedly shot and killed a man she suspected to be her younger brother's killer.

Tityana Coppage, 21, was charged with the second-degree murder of Kieth Lars, 36, in Kansas City. Coppage believed that Lars was behind the Jan. 10 killing of her brother Jayson Ugwuh, 16.

Ugwuh was also fatally shot in Kansas City. The motive behind Ugwuh's killing was not immediately known, according to a Crime Online report.

It was known that he and two other teens were walking home from a BP gas station when the shooting happened.

Coppage was reported to shot Lars in a parking lot days after her brother's murder. Lar's brother drove him a distance away but he was pronounced dead before emergency crews arrived.

Witnesses said that they saw someone inside an SUV opened fire on two men, hitting Lars.

There were 23 shell casings that were found at the shooting site.

Police found on their investigation that Coppage texted her dead brother to let him know that he has already taken action to his death, according to a KCTV 5 report.

Related story: Woman Shot Dead in Possible Attempted Carjacking in Koreatown





Not the First Time

Coppage and Ugwuh experienced another tragedy in 201, when their younger brother and cousin, Jayden Ugwuh and Montell Ross, were shot and killed while they were sleeping in their home.

Someone had shot into the house, which killed the two boys, who were both eight and nine years old. Up to this day, the case remains unsolved.

Ugwuh was also home at the time and held his brother as he lay dying. Family members of the sibling said that this incident deeply affected Coppage and her brother.

Coppage admitted to having called the victim before the shooting, saying that she only did so in hopes to set their differences before they killed each other.

She also admitted to exchanging gun fires with the victim. Coppage described it as self-defense, saying that he shot her vehicle first before she returned fire.

Investigation is ongoing

A contact identified as Auntie was seen at Coopage's cellphone. She was asking the contact for .45-caliber bullets.

Bullets and forensic examination determined the gun recovered from Coppage was the same one used in the shooting, according to a probable cause affidavit as reported by KMOV 4.

Capt. Dave Jackson said that violent crime is a plague to Kansas City right now, adding that they have got to address this issue.

"I've been here for about 22 years, and this is not the first time tragic violence has happened within a family. We have seen this before. It's tragic. It's terrible," Jackson was quoted on a Fox 4 Kansas report.

Meanwhile, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas released a statement regarding Ugwuh's killing on Jan. 12.

Lucas said on a Facebook post that Jayson's death shows them they have to help families that are victims of violence.

Lucas said that they are not doing enough.

Lucas said in Coppage's arrest that more needs to be done to help those dealing with gun violence.

Related story: 4 People Die in Chaotic Capitol Riot, Including a Woman Fatally Shot by Police
The federal government is introducing regulations that it says will "ensure neutral, equitable, and consistent rules for social media platforms in how they manage harmful content." (Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images)

Free Speech Advocates Criticize Coming Social Media Regulations

Ottawa is proceeding with new legislation to regulate social media, but free speech advocates say attempts by the state to police the internet would be another blow against individual rights and a healthy democracy.

Theyre going to create a bureaucracy, a regulator, for hate speech on the internet, Joseph Hickey, executive director of the Ontario Civil Liberties Association, said in an interview.

It will be a ministry of truth. It will decide what tweets, photos, and videos are, quote-unquote, criminal, and have them scrubbed from existence.

Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeaults press secretary, Camille Gagne-Raynauld, says the coming legislation and regulations are intended to control harmful online content.

While some social media companies have been taking steps to combat this type of content, the effort has been inconsistent across the sector and illegal content still proliferates online, Gagne-Raynauld said in an email.

New regulations would ensure neutral, equitable, and consistent rules for social media platforms in how they manage harmful content, and how to improve the kinds of tools available to Canadian users who are confronted with this type of content on their platforms.

Guilbeaults office said in an emailed statement that the regulations would hold users accountable and require them to eliminate illegal content, including hate speech, terrorist propaganda, violent content, child sexual exploitation and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.

Its no secret that online platforms are increasingly central to communications between Canadians while providing them with an access to the world. However, we are extremely concerned that these platforms may be used to endanger the safety of individuals, the email said.

Criminal Code

Free speech advocate Lindsay Shepherd says there are already provisions in the Criminal Code to address hate speech, noting that the pending legislation will censor free speech online.

In July 2020, the Justice Department, which is working with Canadian Heritage on the legislation, issued a consultation paper on online hate to civil liberties groups suggesting three possible remedies. One is to reinstate Section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, or to implement an analogous provision in that act, to restore a complaints-based civil remedy mechanism to combat online hate. Another is to amend Section 319 of the Criminal Code to remove the requirement for attorney general consent before proceeding with a prosecution for wilful promotion of hatred. The third remedy is to add a peace bond to the Criminal Code to prevent anticipated future online activity that promotes hatred.

The consultation paper also referenced hearings held by Parliaments justice committee as part of the study, along with the resulting report titled Taking Action to End Online Hate released in 2019.

Shepherd had testified before the committee.

I argued that the federal government should not try to censor speech online, as we already have hate speech laws in the Criminal Code. I dont know how their plan to curb hurtful and offensive speech is even going to work, and they probably dont know either, she told The Epoch Times in an interview.

I understand Guilbeault is saying part of the legislation is to eliminate child pornography, and by all means crack down on this, of course. But do not rope controversial speech, controversial opinions about current societal issues into this.

Shepherd made international news when she was a graduate student and teaching assistant at Wilfred Laurier University in 2017. She had shown her communications class a TVOntario program featuring University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson in a debate arguing against being legally required under Bill C-16 to use unconventional gender pronouns. Following the class, she was called to a meeting with her superiors where she was upbraided for showing the program. She recorded the meeting and the recording led to a subsequent ruling by the university that she had done nothing wrong.

The justice committee invited Shepherd to speak about her temporary ban by Twitter in 2019 following an online dust-up with Jessica Yaniv, a transgendered woman. Yaniv made headlines beginning in 2018 for filing over a dozen complaints of discrimination with the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal due to repeated refusals by female aestheticians to wax her genitals. The tribunal denied that her rights had been violated.

After I was banned, a lot of people stuck up for me and tried to get Twitter to reinstate mepeople like Dave Rubin, Tim Pool, and even Donald Trump Jr. talked about it. I think because high-profile people stuck up for me, I was reinstated, said Shepherd, now a senior fellow at True North where she researches and writes about free speech issues.

Shepherd is critical of the recent ban of conservative figures from social media in the United States.

Trump should not have been banned from Twitter. It is truly disappointing to see people who are usually strongly in favour of free speech, like author Sam Harris and Professor Steven Pinker, say that Trumps ban is justified. Its not. Simple as that.

Clamping Down on Expression

In contrast to Canadas regulatory approach, countries like Poland have responded to the recent social media censorship by threatening monetary penalties for removing content uploaded by subscribers.

Cara Zwibel, director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Associations fundamental freedoms program, says misinformation on the internet is a problem, as is a diminished standard of discourse in the way some users express themselves online.

But is it enough to justify taking an approach that doesnt adequately protect freedom of expression? I would say, no, she said of the yet-to-be revealed legislation.

Certainly there are harms that can flow from offensive content, but I dont think there are regulatory mechanisms that will solve these by clamping down on expression. And I do think there is a benefit to knowing whats out there and knowing these views that some people hold.
[January 21, 2021] Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Slams Skadden Arps over Unreasonable and Objectionable Billing Practices

Today, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware slammed Chancery Court-appointed TransPerfect Custodian Robert Pincus and Skadden, Arps after an independent audit from billing expert David Paige, Esq. of Legal Fee Advisors revealed a widespread pattern of massive overbilling over the past 13 months, a small sample size in a Custodianship that has been ongoing for 6 years. Paige, a member of the Professional Responsibility Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, who has lectured extensively on the subject of legal fee billing found that Skadden routinely charged TransPerfect for expenses that are not commonly subject to reimbursement under legal and commercial standards including "Attorney work meals," "Word Processing Time," and "Overtime Meals." Stunningly, Skadden charged TransPerfect over $156,000 in such fees. As Paige highlights, "it is my assumption that the Firm compensates its professional staff sufficiently to allow them to feed themselves without subsidy from the firm's clients. Certainly, one would assume that such timekeepers would need nourishment regardless of whether they were working on this matter." According to Paige, Skadden charged excessive billing rates that were 3 times greater than average market rates and engaged in two disfavored billing practices commonly known as "block billing" and "pattern billing." Skadden charged on average $1426 per hour for their partners ($623.00 above market rate ) and $1066.00 for their associates ($602.07 above market rate) and charged TransPerfect nearly $168,000 in pattern billing (or "duplicative entries") which is the practice of using repetitive, virtually identical language (seemingly word processed) in billing entries so that the entry may not accurately represent the actual time spent or specific description of work completed on a given day. As Paige notes, legal authorities and commercial standards dismiss Pattern Billing as unreasonable. Skadden further charged a shocking $1,835,047.08 in blocked billing which represent task entries that are grouped together with other task entries without providing either time or cost for such tasks rendering objective analysis all but impossible.



In total, Skadden is now charging TransPerfect an additional $3 million in fees on top of the $15 million charged over the past 5 years, much of which, according to Paige's report, should be reduced due to billing improprieties. In the 13-month period analyzed by Paige, he recommended a whopping reduction of $1,804,125.74, or 56% of the total fees charged by Skadden during this period. This massive overbilling has meant millions of dollars has been diverted from everyday hardworking TransPerfect employees, cutting into their healthcare benefits and bonuses. Said Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager Chris Coffey, "Once again, Skadden has demonstrated their utter disregard for common commercial standards of ethics and reasonableness when it comes to the millions of dollars they've billed to TransPerfect. While this report only shows what's been happening for the past 13 months, one can only imagine the millions of dollars that Skadden had improperly deposited into their coffers from TransPerfect over the last 6 years. Notwithstanding that TransPerfect has tried to get these bills reduced over the years it is notable that Chancellor Bouchard, a former partner at Skadden has never once lowered, let alone questioned these obviously inflated bills. Once Skadden got their tentacles into TransPerfect, it was forced to cut healthcare benefits, stock options and bonuses for its employees while being forced to pay Pincus and Skadden millions of dollars. Charging $156,000 for meals and other non-billable expenses is disgraceful and unless these out-of-touch, elite lawyers are eating caviar every day, the numbers don't add up. This state-sanctioned heist must be investigated and rectified. Bad actors like Skadden Arps are a huge black eye for Delaware and can't be above the laws they purport to know so well."

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005683/en/

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Three US soldiers were killed Wednesday in a military helicopter crash in upstate New York, according to a statement by the state's Division of Military and Naval Affairs

ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) :Three US soldiers were killed Wednesday in a military helicopter crash in upstate New York, according to a statement by the state's Division of Military and Naval Affairs.

The soldiers, assigned to the New York Army National Guards 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry, were in a medical evacuation helicopter when it crashed near the town of Mendon, south of Rochester.

Staff Sgt. Joseph Dunn from Buffalo, Pvt. Haylee Seefeldt from Medina, and Cpl. Joseph Clement from Auburn, were assisting the New York State Police in securing the State Capitol for President-elect Joe Biden's Inauguration Day in case there were demonstrations in the New York state capital Albany.

The incident is under investigation, it added.

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said on Twitter the helicopter crashed on a farmer's field and there were no houses nearby. New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said in a separate statement he was "devastated by the news.""National Guard members are our citizen soldiers who voluntarily serve and protect both here and abroad," he said, and ordered flags on all state buildings to be lowered to half-staff on Thursday in honor of the soldiers.
 Flash

U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Hours after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, Biden signed in the Oval Office an executive order that returns his country back to the Paris Agreement on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision to abandon the deal.

"We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," he said before the signing.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the new U.S. administration's announcement to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change.

"I warmly welcome President (Joe) Biden's steps to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis," said Guterres in a statement.

Biden had promised that he would rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day of taking office.

"Today, the Trump Administration officially left the Paris Climate Agreement. And in exactly 77 days, a Biden Administration will rejoin it," Biden tweeted on Nov. 4 last year, the day the United States formally withdrew from the pact.

Trump announced the withdrawal soon after he took office in 2017, citing concerns about the pact's threat to the U.S. economy.

Biden picked former Secretary of State John Kerry to be his special envoy for climate, indicating the importance of this issue in his foreign policy.

The Paris Agreement of climate change, agreed on by almost every country in the world in 2015 after lengthy negotiations, aims to tackle climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and sets a global target of keeping the rise in the average temperature no higher than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Polyester fibres and products producer Teijin Limited has established a new research and development facility in the Netherlands, tasked with developing technologies for a more sustainable world.

As a research and development hub for Teijin's environmental-value solutions, the European Sustainable Technology Innovation Center (ESTIC) will facilitate collaboration among researchers across borders to strengthen development initiatives in Teijin's various business units.

The Arnhem-based hub will also undertake the challenge of developing all-new businesses that leverage the lifecycle capabilities of Teijin's core materials and the development of green materials to support the global circular economy. This includes efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and to stimulate the hydrogen economy.

In addition, the ESTIC will establish a satellite office at Brightlands Chemelot Campus, an international open-innovation community active in performance materials, sustainable processes and biomedical solutions in Sittard-Geleen, the Netherlands, to further activate communication with external innovation communities and research institutes.

Under Teijin's medium-term management plan to continuously create accurate business opportunities and accelerate market development, the company is prioritising initiatives to strengthen internal and external collaboration, further diversity and inclusion, and fast-track innovation, ultimately to support the company's development of innovative products and services.

Earlier this week, Teijin Limited showed its support for the Japan Climate Initiative (JCI)'s call on the country's government to upwardly revise its target renewable-energy ratio for fiscal 2030.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Santa Feans will have to wait a little longer for updates from their city government regarding the Midtown campus, the 64-acre property upon which city officials have placed their hopes for new opportunities in jobs, housing, education and the arts.

The city is looking to develop the property, which formerly housed the Santa Fe University of Art and Design and the College of Santa Fe.

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City officials were scheduled to hold a presentation on the campus financial status before the City Councils Finance Committee on Tuesday, which would have been the citys first official update on the property in months.

However, Councilor Roman Abeyta, who is also chairman of the Finance Committee, said after talking with Finance Director Mary McCoy it was decided that the presentation would be moved to a pre-scheduled executive session of the City Council on Thursday, where it would be discussed behind closed doors.

The staff felt more comfortable with all of the councilors getting the same information at the same time, Abeyta told the Journal.

The city has come under fire in the past for withholding details surrounding the project, including the process used in selecting a master developer for the property.

Abeyta said he had asked finance staff for a presentation on the operational costs, debt service and outstanding money owed on the Midtown property, which the city purchased in 2009 after the College of Santa Fe shut down.

New Mexico Foundation for Open Government Executive Director Melanie Majors said none of those matters would necessitate the item being talked about in an executive session, although discussions concerning selling and acquiring property would be exempt from open meeting laws.

In a Wednesday webcast, Mayor Alan Webber said the COVID-19 pandemic had altered plans concerning what would go on the campus.

A lot of factors are new and different, Webber said without being specific.

Finance Director McCoy was unavailable for comment Wednesday. A city spokesperson wrote its considered most efficient to bundle all (Midtown) discussions into the executive session.
Sheperd (Shep) Doeleman, an astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, has been named the recipient of the National Academy of Sciences' 2021 Henry Draper Medal. As founding director of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), Doeleman is widely known for his pivotal role in capturing the first image of a supermassive black hole in 2019.

This year's Henry Draper Medal recognizes Doeleman's vision and decades-long leadership in developing the instruments and global telescope arrays necessary to produce the world's first black hole image.

"It's an honor and quite humbling to receive the medal. To bring a black hole into focus has been the central theme of my career, and to capture the image was really a dream fulfilled," Doeleman says. "At the same time, the EHT could not have achieved its goals without the exceptionally hard work and dedication of the entire collaboration. It has been an absolute privilege and joy to work with teams at MIT, the CfA, and across the U.S. and world on this grand scientific adventure. When we saw the telltale 'shadow,' a ring of light bent in the immense gravity of black hole, we were all speechless."

Awarded every four years, the Henry Draper Medal is presented with a $25,000 cash prize. Doeleman will share the award with Heino Falcke of Radboud University.

"There is no more spectacular scientific result than the iconic image of the supermassive black hole in the center of galaxy M87," says Charles Alcock, director of the Center for Astrophysics. "I'd like to extend my sincere congratulations to both Doeleman and Falcke for their greatly deserved recognition with the Henry Draper Medal."

Doeleman's interest in black holes dates back to his graduate student days at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he served as a teaching assistant (TA) to physicist and Nobel laureate Rainer Weiss.

Weiss still recalls Doeleman's energy and enthusiasm as a TA.

"He was a superb teacher, full of knowledge and whimsy. The students were delighted with him," Weiss says. "If you had a free moment, he would tell you how interesting it might be to actually 'see' a black hole. At the time, he probably didn't realize how to do it, nor how difficult it would be. But he stuck with the idea."

It was at MIT that Doeleman focused on how to improve the bandwidth, sensitivity and magnification power of radio telescopes, which at the time were not powerful enough to image black holes, or even peer into the dark, energy-sucking cores of the galaxies where they live.

Looking back, Doeleman recalls that he was driven by curiosity of the great, mysterious objects, but there was never any assurance of success. "It was a time of great risk. Could we make this work? Could we imagine, design and build the systems and the instrumentation that we needed to do this?"

Spearheaded by Doeleman, the EHT project started as a small group of just 10 to 20 researchers in the 2000s. The hard work paid off in 2008 when Doeleman and his team used their new technology to measure the size of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole in the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Four years later, the team glimpsed a spinning black hole that powers a cosmic jet of material erupting from the heart of galaxy M87. The success confirmed that visualizing a black hole was both technically and scientifically possible, launching Doeleman on a voyage to capture the first image of one.

By 2017, the EHT had exploded into a massive border-hopping team of more than 300 people, each working at various facilities to build and synchronize a global array of radio dishes that formed a virtual, Earth-sized telescope. The final array was composed of eight observatories, including locations in Hawaii, Chile, Mexico, Arizona, the South Pole and Spain.

"No one knew if the black hole shadow would be observable," says France Cordova, physicist and 14th director of the National Science Foundation. "It took belief and courage on Shep's part to persist with this project and to aggregate a diverse and passionate team, all in the face of funding challenges and doubts on the part of some about whether the objectives could be accomplished."

In April 2019, however, Doeleman's vision finally became reality when his team unveiled the first direct, visual evidence of a supermassive black hole and its shadow. The image made the front page of hundreds of newspapers around the world and led to some of the world's most respected scientific awards, including the 2020 Breakthrough Prize in fundamental physics; the American Astronomical Society's 2020 Bruno Rossi Prize; the NSF's 2019 Diamond Achievement Award; and now, the Henry Draper Medal.

Doeleman and Falcke will be formally presented with the award at the annual meeting of the National Academy of Sciences in April 2021.

"Many people made important contributions to the Event Horizon Telescope," Cordova says. "At the same time, we should recognize the herculean efforts of the pioneer who took risks, both in career and in intellectual focus, to champion and launch a new, extremely technically challenging approach in observational astronomy -- with a result that simply astounded the world."

###

Shep Doeleman holds a B.A. from Reed College and a Ph.D. in astrophysics from MIT. Doeleman served as assistant director of the MIT Haystack Observatory prior to joining the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian in 2012, where he is founding director of the EHT. Doeleman is a 2012 Guggenheim Fellow and co-founder of the Harvard Black Hole Initiative -- the first center dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of black holes. Funded by a $12.7 million grant from the NSF, Doeleman is currently designing a next-generation Event Horizon Telescope to capture real-time videos of black holes.

About the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian is a collaboration between the Harvard and the Smithsonian designed to ask--and ultimately answer--humanity's greatest unresolved questions about the nature of the universe. The Center for Astrophysics is headquartered in Cambridge, MA.
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President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out issuing an official apology for abuses committed in Algeria, his office said Wednesday, as a major report called for a "truth commission" to shed light on France's colonial past

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out issuing an official apology for abuses committed in Algeria, his office said Wednesday, as a major report called for a "truth commission" to shed light on France's colonial past.

The French presidency said there was "no question of showing repentance" or of "presenting an apology" for the occupation of Algeria or the bloody eight-year war that ended 132 years of French rule.

Presidential aides said it was more important to end the culture of "denial and things left unsaid" surrounding France's past in Algeria and said that Macron would undertake "symbolic acts" of reconciliation.

Historian Benjamin Stora, commissioned by the president with assessing the progress made by France on confronting its past, in a report Wednesday described a "never-ending memory war" between the former colonial power and colony, locked in "competing (claims of) victimisation".

Stora made a number of proposals, including the creation of a mixed French-Algerian "memory and truth commission" that would hear testimony from people who suffered during the Algerian war and drive efforts at reconciliation.

The atrocities committed by both sides during the 1954-1962 Algerian war of independence continue to strain relations between the two countries six decades later.

Macron, the first president born after the colonial period, has gone further than any of his predecessors in recognising crimes committed by French forces.

But he has drawn the line at an official apology, vehemently opposed by many on the French right who view acts of national repentance as acts of betrayal.

Some of the "symbolic acts" planned by Macron include taking part in three days of commemorations next year marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Algerian war, said a presidential aide, who asked not to be named.

One of the days will mark the crackdown on a demonstration by Algerians in France in 1961. Another will commemorate the "Harkis" -- Algerians who fought alongside French forces in Algeria and who were forced to flee after the war.

The commemorations were among some of the proposals made by Stora, who said that acknowledging past wrongs is more important than offering apologies.

- Legacy of torture - No other event in France's colonial history had as deep an impact on the national psyche as the Algerian war.

More than one million French conscripts saw service in the conflict, which claimed hundreds of thousands of Algerian lives.

While campaigning for president in 2017 Macron riled right-wingers by declaring that the colonisation of Algeria was a "crime against humanity".

A year later, he acknowledged that France had instigated a system that facilitated torture during the Algerian war, a rare admission in a country where the colonisation of Algeria was long seen as benign.

"In French political culture, anti-colonialism has always been an extremely fringe movement," historian Sylvie Thenault told AFP.

"There is a profound conviction that the French Republic is a force for good that thwarts the possibility of criticising what is done in the name of the Republic," she added.

- 'Truth and reconciliation' - France's crackdown on the Algerian independence movement, including its liberal use of torture, left a deep well of bitterness and resentment that Macron has linked to the issue of radicalisation among second- and third-generation north African immigrants.

But there are longstanding grievances on other sides too.

After independence hundreds of thousands of European settlers fearing retribution fled to France, a wrenching exodus that sowed the seeds of the anti-Arab sentiment that fuelled the rise of the far right.

Many "Harkis" meanwhile were left to the mercy of lynch mobs after the war, while those who managed to escape to France found themselves interned in World War II camps.

Speaking to Jeune Afrique magazine in November, Macron described France as being "locked in a sort of pendulum between two stances: apologising and repentance on the one hand and denial and pride on the other.

"As for myself I would like truth and reconciliation," he said.

Some of Macron's predecessors had also taken steps to break the wall of silence surrounding France's past in Algeria.

Jacques Chirac acknowledged the massacre of civilians in the town of Setif in 1945 and in 2012 Francois Hollande recognised the "suffering" caused by the colonisation.

This photo released by local police shows ammunition for a grenade launcher that was recovered during a raid on a suspected hideout of a pro-Islamic State militant in Polomolok, Philippines, Jan. 21, 2021.

Five suspected members of an Islamic State-linked Filipino militant group, including a senior lieutenant to its leader, were killed during separate raids by government security forces in the southern Philippines on Thursday, police said.

One of the Ansar al-Khilafah Philippines (AKP) suspects, identified as Kamarudin Sante, 43, was killed in a shootout with police as he resisted arrest during an early morning operation in Polomolok, a town in South Cotabato province, authorities said.

Sante (also known as Abu), was a senior lieutenant of Mohammad Jaafar Maguid (alias Commander Tokboy), the founder and leader of the pro-Islamic State AKP who was killed in 2017.

We rushed him to the hospital but he was declared dead upon arrival due to multiple bullet wounds, said Capt. Randy Apostol, the deputy chief of police in Polomolok. A handgun, illegal drugs and ammunition were recovered from the suspect, he said.

Hours later, four members of a family allegedly working with AKP were killed in another operation in Tboli town  also in South Cotabato  the police said.

The targets have arrest warrants for murder, frustrated murder, and direct assault charges, said Maj. Irish Hezron Parangan, the local police chief. Parangan identified the other slain suspects as Saadin, Narjaid, Baharan, and Morn. Assorted weapons and ammunition were also recovered from them, authorities said. The state-run Philippine News Agency quoted Parangan as saying that a shootout ensued when the suspects fired at police officers and soldiers.

Authorities had blamed AKP militants for an attack on the Mindanao Island that left two civilians dead in August 2008, as well for as a series of robberies and other crimes in the region.

He was arrested in July 2008, but escaped from jail in March 2010. In November 2015, Maguid managed to escape again as Philippine Marines raided an AKP camp in the south.

In 2017, he died in a shootout with police who were tracking him down. The AKP group pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) before Maguids death, but it did not send any fighters to take part in a bloody siege of the southern Philippine city of Marawi by pro-IS militants in 2017.

That attack was led by Abu Sayyaf commander Isnilon Hapilon, then the chief of the Philippine IS branch. Hundreds of fighters from the Middle East and Southeast Asia backed up the citys takeover.

Hapilon was killed at the end of a five-month battle there with government forces. The siege marked the first time that IS-linked militants had taken over a city in Southeast Asia.

Richel V. Umel contributed to this report from Iligan City, Philippines.

JACKSON  The new, fast-spreading coronavirus variant first discovered in the United Kingdom has been detected in Teton County, and health officials are repeating their plea for people to only gather with household members.

Our community is in perhaps the most critical position we have faced yet in the course of this pandemic, Teton District Health Officer Travis Riddell said in a press release Saturday. With the identification of the COVID-19 variant along with cases of COVID-19 rapidly rising in our community, we are asking all residents to follow Recommendation No. 11 and gath...
New Delhi:

The government will consider introducing yoga in schools, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday.

Kejriwal was speaking on the sidelines of an event organised in Connaught Place here to observe the International Yoga Day.

It (introducing yoga in schools) will be a good idea. I will speak to Manish Sisodia about it, he said.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had recently said that yoga should not be made the issue of political debate or fetching votes.

When Kejriwal was quizzed about it, he said, Yoga is a good thing. Everyone should practise it.

As many as 10,000 people joined dignitaries, including NDAs presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu early this morning at Connaught Place in the common yoga event.

Also read: Video | International Yoga Day: Amit Shah joins Ramdev to perform yoga on a rainy day in Ahmedabad

Also read: International Yoga Day: Delhiites fight rains to perform asanas



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Zip Co co-founder Peter Gray has flagged more rapid growth in the massive United States market, saying Americans are still several years behind Australians in their awareness of buy now, pay later (BNPL) schemes as an alternative to credit cards.

Shares in Afterpay rival Zip on Thursday surged 22 per cent to $7.29 by late afternoon, taking its market capitalisation to about $4 billion, after notching up fast growth in transactions, customers and revenue in the December quarter.

Zip co-founders Peter Gray (left) and Larry Diamond. Credit:James Brickwood

Analysts said its fast expansion in the US was a standout of the trading update, with US revenue and transactions jumping by more than 200 per cent year-on-year.

Amid a global race between BNPL operators to sign up consumers and retailers, Mr Gray signalled Zip would be able to continue growing strongly in the US after revenue in that market also doubled on a quarterly basis.
CARS24, India's leading online transaction platform for pre-owned vehicles, has rolled out a new digital film on its social media platforms, to celebrate the first day of the loved Pongal festival, Bhogi. In line with the brand story, the festival brings people together with their families as they discard unwanted household articles and goods to pave the way for a brighter future.

The evocative campaign film shows people happily tapping their hands on the tune of a catchy and relatable/upbeat jingle. The hands are seen drumming on different types of cars, building synonymity with the brands feature of providing its customers with the option to sell a range of cars at CARS24.

The campaign takes viewers on a visual roller coaster ride of celebrating emotions and togetherness. Released with an aim to convey the change and transformation brought in through the festival, CARS24 supports and empowers its customers to sell their old cars at the tip of their fingers through the large-scale network the platform offers.

Nida Naushad, Head of Brand, CARS24, said, CARS24s presence expands across the length and breadth of the country and to foster the culture of inclusivity and build a brand relevant to its audience, we believe that it is very important for us to celebrate such festivals and ride the emotion of joy as our customers and their families. The film beautifully crafts the narrative with keeping the theme of Bhogi festival encouraging people to replace/upgrade their old cars. The storytelling and the creative treatment has been kept high on auditory sensations to build a festive joy and emotion

Commenting on the digital film, S.R. Aanand, Regional Head-South, CARS24, said, Bhogi in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh is celebrated with great pride and enthusiasm and we at CARS24 are proud to be a part of the same celebration through our digital film. This film, on account of Bhogi, perfectly fits the narrative of our brand & is our way of asking our consumers to join in the celebration. The outcome is there for everybody to see, listen and enjoy.

The film is being promoted on CARS24s social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

Credits:



Mind Your Language Team:

Creative Team

Deepan Ramachandran

Pandiyaraj M

Account Management

Maria Xavier Vinod

Aarthi Bakthavathsalam



Stock Noise Films Team

Director

Philip Gladstone

Cinematographer

Sakthivel

Music

LV Muthu Ganesh

CARS24 Marketing Team:



Nida Naushad, Head of Brand

Abhishek Mudgal, Brand Manager
Masks will no longer be mandatory in Brisbane, dancing will be back and people can have more visitors to their homes as restrictions are lifted from Friday.

It comes after Queensland recorded no new local coronavirus cases for the 10th day in the row.

Only one overseas-acquired case was recorded overnight, with an Emirates flight crew member testing positive in hotel quarantine, and the person has since left Queensland.

There were 7410 tests conducted in the past 24 hours, above the daily goal of 5000 tests.

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Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Heavy downpours are possible. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Thunder possible. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Korean Ambassador to U.S. Lee Soo-hyuck attends the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President Joe Biden, Thursday. / From Lee Soo-hyuck's Facebook



By Do Je-hae



U.S. President Joe Biden's inaugural speech Thursday carried a brief but noteworthy message for allies who were weary of his predecessor Donald Trump's precipitous "America first" policy and questioned the health of the country's global leadership.



"My message to those beyond our borders. America has been tested and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday's challenges, but today's and tomorrow's challenges. And we'll lead, not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example," Biden said.



The new U.S. leader also said that his country will be a "strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security."



Concerns were on the rise about the deteriorating Korea-U.S. alliance under the previous Trump administration over some major hurdles in bilateral relations, such as Trump's demands of huge increases in Korea's contribution to the cost of maintaining the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). The former U.S. leader also put some Koreans on edge by threatening to reduce the U.S. military presence in the country and actually taking steps to cut troops in Germany.



President Biden's attention to "repairing alliances" has raised hopes that things between the two countries will be different under the new U.S. leader, who has a wealth of experience in dealing with foreign affairs as vice president in the Barack Obama administration as well as his time as the chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.



Prospects are rising that undoing some of the harms of former U.S. President Trump, who as a businessman had little experience in diplomacy before his unexpected arrival at the White House, will be among the primary tasks of the new U.S. leader. These will include bilateral as well as multilateral issues, according to some experts.






Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  A lot of Filipino Americans are supportive of newly installed United States President Joe Bidens order for people to wear face masks on federal property for 100 days, saying they believed the action should have been taken much earlier, a Los Angeles-based journalist said on Thursday.

They believe this mandate should have been done a lot earlier and a lot sooner especially with the numbers coming out from Johns Hopkins University with 400,000 deaths because of COVID-19, Camille Requiestas told CNN Philippines Special Presentation, 'America United: The Inauguration of Joe Biden.

Los Angeles topped the list of US counties that have the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths with over 14,000, according to Johns Hopkins University tracker.

The number really is the motivating factor in why people say they are okay and they approve and support this 100-day mask mandate, Requiestas added, citing her interviews with members of the community.

She said the directive was seen as a responsibility and a simple duty to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in America.

Biden signed his first executive order, the "100 Days Masking Challenge," which marks a sharp turn from how his predecessor Donald Trump handled the pandemic. Trump repeatedly downplayed COVID-19 even as he himself got infected in October last year. While he was recovering, more than a dozen people in his circle were confirmed to have caught the disease, too, CNN has reported. Trumps doctor announced the former US president tested negative a little over a week after his diagnosis.
They never shy away from flaunting their sensational curves.

And Kim, 40, and Khloe Kardashian, 36, were sure to showcase the results of their hard efforts in the gym as they donned plunging crop tops on Thursday.

The reality star siblings had both opted for an early morning sweat session, with Kim sharing her surprise to find her sister already working out when she arrived at 6am.

Fancy seeing you here! Kim Kardashian looked sensational as she flaunted her toned midriff in a black crop top after she ran into sister Khloe in the gym on Thursday

Kim looked sensational in a pair of black leggings from her sister's Good American workout collection and a halterneck crop top which scooped over her cleavage.

The mother-of-four scraped her brunette locks back for the gym visit and kept her accessories to a minimum with a necklace.

She posed up a storm in the mirror as she snapped some selfies while Khloe worked out on the floor behind her.

Early riser: Khloe, 36, revealed she hit the gym just after 5am before being surprised by her sister's arrival

Kim captioned her snaps: 'Love running into @khloekardashian in the gym at 6am! And obsessed with my @goodamaerican new workout clothes'

Khloe also took to Instagram Stories to share a glimpse at her workout, revealing she hit the gym at 5.18am.

The beauty looked incredible as she rocked a plunging neon yellow crop top and leggings for a selfie before jumping onto a treadmill.

it comes amid reports that the Kim will reportedly discuss the end of her marriage on the last series of Keeping Up With The Kardashians much to the horror of Kanye West, a source told UsWeekly.

Working hard? Kim snapped some sizzling selfies in her skin-tight workout gear while her younger sister worked out on the floor behind her

Looking good: The mother-of-four worked all her angles for the camera

Getting to work: Kim lifted some weights inbetween filming her sister and pal at the gym

'He is less than thrilled,' a source said as West continues to stay in Wyoming on his ranch as Kim is with all four kids at their Hidden Hills, California mansion.

But Kim wants to keep her career going. 'She will continue to focus on her business empire. Kim has been in individual counselling and is at peace with where her life is headed.'

Kim and Kanye - who share North, seven, Saint, five, Chicago, two, and Psalm, 19 months, together - had been in marriage counselling as they 'tried to work through things.'

A source said of their counselling sessions: 'Divorce has been discussed, but Kim wants more than anything for their relationship to work.

'There wasn't anything specific that happened that led them to this point ... They are 100 percent aligned when it comes to the kids.'

Seeing results: Kim commented on her abs as she lifted some weights and celebrated her toned physique

Sister workout: Khloe appeared to be in the zone while her sibling snapped some pictures

However, another insider insists the couple are just dealing with 'regular relationship issues.'

They added of the couple's struggles: 'It's just regular relationship issues. There is no one else involved. Divorce talks have been on and off with them since the spring.'

But the site reported earlier they have stopped marriage counseling for now.

However, family has always been incredibly important to the rapper and he previously said that part of his goal in running for President of the United States is to bring a 'culture of family' to the world.

He explained: 'It's like, family is just the key to the world, period.

All to herself: Khloe spent some time on a treadmill before Kim turned up at the gym

'From our immediate family to our friends and family, our co-workers and family, our city and family, our state and family, our country and family, our world ... the culture of humanity needs to be family.

'A culture of family. But the design of our cities, the design of our schools, there's a lot of things designed to not promote family; they're designed to create separation ... At the beginning, middle and the end of the day, I'm a dad.'

Later PageSix added more information.

'The Kardashians intend to go out with a bang. Theyve filmed Kim discussing her marriage problems. But everybody involved is on a nondisclosure agreement, because the finale wont screen until later in 2021,' a source told the site.
Popular ABC comedy series Rosehaven has been renewed for a fifth season.

The eight-part season will begin filming in the coming weeks after it was halted due to Covid-19 restrictions, reports TV Tonight.

Actors Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola will once again be back on set in the Tasmanian regional town.

They're back! Popular ABC comedy series Rosehaven has been renewed for a fifth season. Pictured: actors Luke McGregor and Celia Pacquola

This season, Daniel (Luke) appears to regret splitting from the love of his life, and Emma (Celia) finally gets what shes always wanted: a Rosehaven nemesis.

'We cannot wait because we've been here for a couple of weeks and I just don't like lying to the good people of Tasmania, who on the street ask, "What are you doing here?"' Celia said.

When asked if they could share any spoilers, Luke told TV Tonight: 'To be honest, ideally, season five will be like season four.

'In that everythings back to normal, I guess. Even though we'll be filming with very Covid-safe protocols.'

Back on set: This season, Daniel (Luke) appears to regret splitting from the love of his life, and Emma (Celia) finally gets what shes always wanted: a Rosehaven nemesis

For those working behind the scenes, the Covid-19 pandemic has stalled the production process a fair bit.

'We were deciding on whether to write an episode about Covid, and whether we should acknowledge it in the show,' Luke said.

'But it was too hard and we didnt know what it would be like at that point in time. We hope the show is an escape for people.'



While casting is still under way, Celia and Luke, who co-wrote the series during the lockdown in Melbourne, said the majority of the actors will be Tasmanian.

In 2020, Rosehaven received four AACTA Award nominations

Season five of Rosehaven is expected to air on ABC later this year

[January 20, 2021] Vpon Escalates Asia Market Expansion: Joe Nguyen and Basil Chua Officially Join Vpon Big Data Group as Senior Consultants to Strengthen Southeast Asia Market Development

SINGAPORE, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vpon Big Data Group ("Vpon"), the leading Big Data company in Asia, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Joe Nguyen and Basil Chua as senior consultants to accelerate its Southeast Asia market development and Asia expansion. Both Joe and Basil are veterans in media, advertising, data, travel, and e-Commerce in the Asia Pacific. Driving Data Business Growth in the Asia Pacific Region Southeast Asia  home to 583 million people and 400 million Internet users in six countries  is becoming the economic powerhouse and digital economy growth engine. In post-COVID-19, Southeast Asia's e-Commerce is expected to hit USD 172 billion and online media USD 35 billion by 2025. Online travel will have the steepest growth of 33% CAGR[i]. Fresh off a Series C USD 40 million investment, Vpon plans to boost its presence in the region. Vpon's Founder and CEO, Mr. Victor Wu says, "I am excited to have Joe and Basil joining Vpon team. I am confident that Joe and Basil will bring significant value in expanding our Southeast Asia's business. With their diverse expertise from business development, to strategic partnerships and digital innovation, they will support us to establish our leading market position." "It has been exciting to watch Vpon growing in the past few years. They have excelled in big data marketing and advertising solutions, especially in the travel sector. Vpon has played a crucial role in helping the National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), including Japan's JNTO, use advanced data and analytics to formulate effective marketing and recovery strategies I am looking forward to bringing Vpon's proven solutions to the travel and tourism organizations in Southeast Asia," said Joe Nguyen.



"Data is the lifeblood of the digital media and advertising ecosystem. Vpon's high-quality audience data and mobile advertising inventory will provide improved accuracy in targeting. Further, Vpon's solution has proven to deliver vastly enhanced marketing performance by combining advanced data science and artificial intelligence. We will be engaging with partners, marketing agencies and brands in the coming weeks," said Basil Chua. In the past 12 years, Vpon has been determined in fostering data development in major Asian markets by providing highly effective and customizable data products and solutions for clients and partners. Late in 2020, Vpon has secured USD 40 million in Series C investment to accelerate the development in big data. The round was led by Cool Japan Fund with additional investments from Korea's STIC Investments, Hong Kong's TripLabs, and Japan's e-Commerce platform Beenos. The company will continue to focus and expand its data business in the Asia Pacific region to establish the global standard on a healthy and sustainable ecosystem.

About Vpon Vpon Big Data Group ("Vpon") is a leading big data company in Asia focused on big data analytics capability built with cutting-edge technology with the broadest set of mobile data across Asia in delivering effective mobile data-driven marketing solutions. Supported by the accumulation of massive data from 900 million mobile devices, and strategic partnerships with premium media resources across APAC, Vpon provides clients with customized data-centric marketing solutions, including data analytics, branding and cross-border marketing solutions. Headquartered in Taiwan, Vpon was established in 2008 and is currently operating in seven locations in Asia Pacific, including Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, Singapore, Bangkok, Tokyo and Osaka. If you wish to know more about Vpon, please do not hesitate to check www.vpon.com. About Joe Nguyen Joe Nguyen is presently the APAC board member of the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) and IAB Southeast Asia and India's ex-chair. Priorly, he led the team at comScore to build and expand the business as Senior Vice President, Asia Pacific for over ten years. Being an active consultant, advisor and speaker, Joe has over 20 years of senior management experience in media, measurement, analytics, travel, and e-Commerce. He has also worked for Millennium Copthorne Hotels Group as Director of Global E-Commerce. Joe is currently serving on the board of directors of online travel marketing firm, eMarketingEye. An engineering graduate from Princeton University recently received an executive education Management & Leadership Certificate from MIT Sloan covering Management Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, and Internet of Things. About Basil Chua Basil Chua is the Founder and Managing Director of Multiverse Partners. His professional experience spans over 25 years across international media and technology companies. Basil has worked at the world's largest media company to foster deep-rooted business relationships with media owners, brands, and agencies across the Asia Pacific. He has worked at Fox International Channels, National Geographic Channel, StarHub, Singtel and Pacific Internet. Basil graduated from La Trobe University in Business Administration (Marketing). Recently, he has received his executive education from Cambridge Judge Business School and Kellogg School of Management. He is presently an alumnus of the prestigious AXSI Digital Finance Leadership Programme 2020 by Singapore Management University, Institute of Systems Science, AMTD and Xiaomi. [i] "e-Conomy SEA 2020" - Google, Temasek, Bain & Company, November 2020. SOURCE Vpon Big Data Group

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The UK has banned arrivals from Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the latest bid to stop the 'more vaccine resistant' South African Covid strain taking hold in Britain.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tonight announced the ban on arrivals entering the country from the two African nations.

The rule, which comes into force from 4am on Friday, will not apply to returning British and Irish nationals and those with residency rights.

More countries have been added to the arrival ban list in a bid to prevent the South African Covid-19 variant from taking hold in the UK. Pictured: The arrivals area of Heathrow Airport

The decision comes after UK's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance warned this week that coronavirus variants were a 'real issue of concern'.

Scientists believe the vaccines currently being rolled out may be less effective against the South African variant, known as 501Y.V2.

Mr Shapps tweeted: 'To help to stop the spread of the Covid-19 variant identified in South Africa, we are banning all arrivals from Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo from 4am tomorrow.

'All passengers from these countries except British and Irish Nationals and third country nationals with residents rights will be denied entry.

'We are continuing to monitor Covid-19 rates and new strains of the virus across the globe, this alongside the suspension of travel corridors and pre-departure testing will help protect our borders.'

The two countries join several other nations in southern Africa to be slapped with an arrivals ban in the bid to prevent 501Y.V2 from spreading through the UK.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tonight announced the ban on arrivals entering the country from the two African nations

A similar travel ban was put into place for South Africa last month, and later neighbouring nations after scientists identified the variant.

Since December 23, entry has been banned for people arriving from South Africa, apart from British nationals or residents who have been subject to an isolation period.

On January 9, the same rules were applied to Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola, as well as Seychelles and Mauritius.

It comes after a recent study by researchers from South Africa, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, found that the SA variant  thought to be about 50 per cent more infectious  contains mutations that may be resistant to immunity from previous coronavirus infection.
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One of the cheapest and most effective ways to deal with terrorism and groups that support them are to use non-government volunteer organizations that have the ability to detect illegal activity that government agencies miss or have not got the resources to track. This use of private informants has long been done by police, intelligence agencies and groups seeking to build a case against criminal activity. Two recent examples of this are the several groups and many individuals who had Internet or language skills that enabled them to detect many hacking or Islamic terrorist efforts before government agencies could. A more current example are groups opposed to Iranian efforts to build nuclear weapons. The most effective of these, UANI (United Against Nuclear Iran) is a registered non-profit organization founded in 2008 by several former American diplomats to increase the monitoring of Iranian smuggling activities by using a growing network of volunteers and organizations able to spot and quickly identify suspicious activity by Iranian ships. With worldwide availability of smartphones and the Internet, groups like UANI can establish databases of suspicious and confirmed Iran shipping activity that are not only available to government agencies but are used by UANI to report to shipping companies that one of their ships is acting in a suspicious manner. That usually results in quick action before an illegal transaction takes place and the shipping company is held responsible for it. Many shipping companies simply arrange jobs for lots of ships they do not own and these ships are free to take other jobs and some of those involve smuggling. Without groups like UANI a lot more ships would be tempted to make some extra money participating in Iranian oil smuggling. This usually involves turning off your AIS (Automated Identification System) ship tracker long enough to rendezvous with an Iranian tanker at sea and take on Iranian oil for a customer willing to buy some cut-rate oil that cannot be traced to Iran. Groups like UANI provide the verifiable link. That has made it harder to Iran to smuggle oil. Iran can retaliate with threats of violence against the informants or even lawsuit by pro-Iran foreign groups. That has not worked against UANI because this group is a registered non-profit run by former American diplomats and other officials that are based in the United States. For groups like this the U.S. government will even intervene against those seeking to cripple UANI with lawsuits. This intervention works by claiming such legal actions threatens U.S. national security by potentially forcing defendants with access to classified data to testify about it. This sort of intervention does not happen often, and five times it has happened were not overturned on appeal. This made it more difficult to use lawfare against groups that annoy nations hostile to the United States. In 2019, Iran declared UANI a terrorist organization. This was an empty gesture and usually a sign that Iran had, for the moment, run out of ideas on how to shut down UANI.

Iran was back at the oil smuggling game in a big way after the U.S. revived economic sanctions in 2018 and banned the export of Iranian oil. Iran revived its earlier oil smuggling techniques and in early 2019 there was embarrassing evidence of it. In January 2019 a storm hit the Syrian coast and an Indian tanker (Tour 2) that had just delivered Iranian oil to Syria went to sea despite, or perhaps because of, the bad weather. As the ship was leaving the storm drove the tanker ashore. Tugs did not arrive until April to pull the tanker off the beach near the Syrian port of Latakia. It soon became clear what had happened here. During late December 2018, Tour 2 loaded its oil cargo in an Iranian port and after it exited the Suez Canal it turned off its AIS, which allows ship owners and their customers to track the progress of large ships. With the Indian shipping company exposed as illegally smuggling oil to Syria, the ensuring greater scrutiny of ships making deliveries to Syria there meant there have been no more illegal oil tanker visits to Syria this year and there is a very visible oil shortage in most of the country. Iran has resorted to smuggling oil in via truck from Iran to Syria but this is not sufficient to make up for the deliveries via seagoing tankers.

The primary technical deception these days is having ships carrying contraband turn off their AIS transponder. AIS was originally developed to make it easier to track ships at sea and was rapidly adopted by most large commercial vessels in the 1990s. AIS is essentially an automatic radio beacon (transponder) that, when it receives a signal from a nearby AIS equipped ship, responds with the ship's identity, course, and speed. This is meant to enable AIS ships to avoid collisions with each other. The original AIS only had a range of 20-35 kilometers but by 2006 space satellites were developed that could track AIS transmissions worldwide. Commercial ships have become very dependent on AIS, which has greatly reduced collisions, and crew anxiety, at sea. After 2000 international agreements mandated that ships larger than 300 tons, and all passenger ships, carry and use AIS at all times.

While this made it practical to track all high seas commercial traffic, it was also exploited by smugglers and pirates. Some ships traveled (in violation of international law) with AIS and other trackers turned off. Usually, only criminals turned these devices off, and this was often discovered when navies spotted one of these silent (AIS not broadcasting) ships at sea. It didnt take long for some intelligence agencies, especially those with ocean surveillance space satellites and lots of ships and subs at sea, to exploit the silent AIS ploy to create better ways to track smugglers by noting when some ships turn off their trackers and then turn them on again as they are about to enter a port (or some other area where AIS use is mandatory). Some nations, like Iran and North Korea, have tankers and cargo ships that are often found running dark. Naturally, intelligence agencies developed methods to take advantage of this and a growing number of smugglers, usually North Korean, are detected and tracked because of AIS manipulation. Iran had an easier time concealing arms smuggling because they could use smaller ships. Actually, for getting arms to Shia rebels in Yemen Iran used a lot of small ships that are not required to use AIS. These could be, and were, tracked by satellite but it was more difficult.

Oil smuggling is another matter as large ships (tankers) are used and they are easier to spot from orbital space (or by recon aircraft and UAVs). The problem the American intel agencies had was that even with radar and photo satellites and a lot of warships and maritime patrol aircraft at sea, there were a lot of areas that could not be monitored 24/7 and Iran learned to take advantage of that. Groups like UANI mobilize the efforts of many civilians willing to report suspicious activity and that has made a difference.

Intel agencies take publicly available AIS monitoring date and combine it an analysis of the thousands of satellite photos available each day from commercial satellites. Using software that can scan these digital photos and match ship position data with current AIS data made it easier to identify who is misbehaving and go after them. UANI data identifies a lot of ships the intel agency efforts missed and all this has been bad news for Iranian oil smuggling efforts. The Iranians keep coming up with countermeasures but not enough to increase their illegal oil exports substantially.

Before AIS came along most large ships carried (and still carry) INMARSAT, which enables shipping companies to keep track of their vessels, no matter where they are on the planet. INMARSAT became available in the 1980s and uses a system of satellites which transmit AIS-like signals to anywhere on the oceans. It only costs a few cents to send an INMARSAT signal to one of your ships, and a few cents more to receive a reply. The trackers and satellite-based navigation systems in general soon proved invaluable by preventing collisions or running into reefs, rocks, or (in bad weather) coastline.

The smugglers soon responded to intel agency tracking AIS activity with new tricks. Back in 2012, Iran was caught hacking AIS signals. Iran was sending false AIS signals to assist its smuggling operations. After 2012 security researchers found even more ways to hack AIS and called for changes in the AIS software to make more difficult to spoof. Iran keeps working on new spoofing methods and has the technical people and tools to do so.

Iran has been working for some time to come up with ways to confuse the international ship tracking system, mainly to support their arms smuggling activities. These maritime security technologies were developed as a safety feature and have proved valuable in other ways as well by providing the positions of ships caught in storms or taken by pirates. All ships now use GPS coordinates to record location and constantly report that back to the home office. Iran exploited this by having two of its ships trade INMARSAT IDs while they are near each other, leaving the U.S., or anyone else checking INMARSAT data, unable to track ships that have been switched. Well, for a while at least. Once the intel people caught onto this scam, they developed ways to counter it. This is very much a matter of move and counter-move when it comes to exploiting or creating AIS vulnerabilities.

Iranian abuse of the AIS system was not appreciated by the shipping companies and ship crews. The Iranians have been found moving tankers around the Persian Gulf with AIS turned off. The Iranians do this in other parts of the world where there is a lot of ship traffic. This puts ships of many nations at risk and despite Iranian denials, there are enough ships reporting encounters with Iranian ships running dark to confirm what Iran is doing. All this outlaw activity turned more and more former allies, or neutrals, against Iran. This sort of bad behavior turned a lot more people living near oil ports or with kin on ship crews to act on the UANI ability to accept tips sent via cellphones or the Internet. This expansion of the informants available has been a big problem for Islamic terrorists and criminal gangs worldwide because so many former or potential victims could anonymously report useful information.
A teacher gives a class online from an empty classroom at Yongsan Elementary School, Seoul, in this April 16, 2020 photo. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon



By Bahk Eun-ji



A study by the head of the nation's disease control authority has shown that school closures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 here were ineffective and had a negative impact in other areas.



Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong published a paper in the Journal of Pediatric Infection and Vaccine, Dec. 27, following research which she jointly conducted with a team from the Department of Social Medicine at Hallym University Medical School.



In the paper, the team surveyed 127 children aged three to 18 who were infected between May 1 and July 12 last year when in-person classes resumed at schools. Of them, only three, or 2.4 percent, contracted the virus from classmates or teachers.



Another 59 children (46.5 percent) were infected via family members or relatives; 18, (14.2 percent) were infected at private cram schools or from private tutors; and eight (6.3 percent) contracted the virus after using multi-use facilities such as karaoke or PC rooms, and churches.



During the research period, the country as a whole saw 13,417 infections with 7.2 percent of them among those aged under 19. The ratio was not much different from those during other periods when schools were closed.



"These results are similar to those of prior studies published in Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, which stated that schools are not high-risk places for coronavirus infection," the team said in the paper.



It said education at schools should be able to resume as long as infection prevention measures were implemented.



While schools were closed, other social problems emerged, such as a clear gap in learning depending on the financial status of parents, and students' lack of social skills.



However, it remains to be seen whether the research will impact the government's decision on whether to allow schools to open for the new semester in March, as the study was limited to the May-July period and the country is currently struggling to contain a third wave of the pandemic.



In regards to the research, Park Young-joon, head of the epidemiological investigation team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said in a briefing Thursday, "The study was conducted to trace the infection routes of COVID-19 among children to determine whether holding classes in schools is appropriate."



"There were not as many infections at schools as we initially expected. But the small number was possible because quarantine measures were carried out appropriately at schools."



Although the number of daily new cases has recently declined due to intensive social distancing measures since the end of last year, the government plans to make a decision on school operations after monitoring the ongoing COVID-19 situation.



The KDCA reported 401 more infections for Wednesday, including 380 local ones, raising the total caseload to 73,918.


ANN ARBOR, MI -- An initiative to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety is expected to relaunch this spring in Ann Arbor.

City council on Tuesday, Jan. 19 approved the Healthy Streets project, which launched as a pilot in July 2020 to promote social distancing and physical activity during the coronavirus pandemic. The initiative involved reconfiguring streets and parking lanes to accommodate pedestrians. Ann Arbor aims to include more neighborhood streets in the project and identify areas where the reconfigurations could be permanent, according to the resolution.

In a 9-2 vote, officials also supported funding the design with $40,000 from the citys general fund. However, Council Members Jeff Hayner and Ali Ramlawi opposed it. Ramlawi pointed out that last years launch increased from $20,000 to six figures and that city staff had taken pay cuts as reasons he opposed it.

What it ended up costing the taxpayers in the end was over $100,000. What we got was a disaster, in my characterization of it. With all due respect, it just was, Ramlawi said during the meeting. This $40,000 doesnt pay for everything. Before I spend a dollar, I want to know what the total cost is going be and what do we get for $40,000, and how much is going to be left after that work is done. How much more are we gonna be paying? We could be starting something here thats going to cost $200,000while were asking people not to take a raise this year. Were asking departments to take 5% cuts.

Transportation Manager Raymond Hess said they need to enter the design phase to have an idea of an idea of the cost estimate.

This is meant to be responsive to some of the concerns we heard from last deployment, Hess said. One of the criticisms we heard was the temporary feel of all the barrels and barricades and signage and preference for things such as plastic bollards.

Those come at a higher cost, Hess added.

Ramlawi suggested postponing approval to determine an estimate but council members voted it down.

I feel extremely uncomfortable initiating a project without knowing what the end goals and costs are going to be. I dont want to vote yes on something here, where if I find out its going to cost us way too much laterIve just wasted 40,000 of taxpayer dollars in a pandemic economy, Ramlawi said.

Mayor Christopher Taylor sees potential in bringing back the Healthy Streets initiative.

I am hopeful, as this moves forward, well take steps to realize the promise of the Healthy Streets program. We wanted it to work quite well last year. Taylor said. Im glad were getting a head start on it nowI think it has the promise to be excellent. I think well be able to utilize the streets for all users.

More than 70% of pedestrian and cyclist survey respondents used at least one of the newly-configured spaces and reported a greater sense of comfort and security, according to a city report. Bikeway and walkway reconfigurations were both in and out of the downtown area.

View more on the participants responses here.

Ann Arbor moves forward with new sidewalk projects across city

Ann Arbor YMCA to kick off 6-week reset health challenge

Local Eats: Try a taste of authentic Turkish cuisine at Ann Arbors Ayses Cafe
Members of Congress voted to grant Lloyd Austin a waiver to lead the Pentagon despite being out of uniform for less than the seven years required by law, setting the stage for him to be confirmed as defense secretary as early as Thursday night.

House members approved the move in a vote of 326 to 78 Thursday afternoon. Sixty-three Republicans voted against granting the waiver, along with 15 Democrats.

Senators approved the move soon after, approving the move in a vote of 69 to 27 to grant the waiver.

The Senate Armed Services Committee approved Austins waiver and his nomination earlier on Thursday. The full Senate is expected to confirm Austin to be the defense secretary following the waiver votes.

Read Next: Air Force to Allow Female Airmen to Wear Longer Braids, Ponytails

Prior to the House vote on Austins waiver, lawmakers debated whether Congress should grant another waiver to a recently retired military officer to serve as the civilian head of the military just four years after they did so for Jim Mattis. President Donald Trump nominated Mattis to be his defense secretary less than seven years after the general retired from the Marine Corps.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, a former Marine officer and Wisconsin Republican, was among several in his party who said he'd opt against a waiver for Austin, despite approving the move for Mattis. Austin retired from the Army in 2016 after overseeing all military operations in the Middle East as head of U.S. Central Command.

"If we change the law today, we will now have done so twice within four years, effectively destroying the historical precedent against such exemptions," Gallagher said. "... I can only say that four years from now, I hope we are not having the exact same debate because it will prove that we have learned nothing from this."

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, a Washington Democrat, acknowledged that he wasn't thrilled when President Joe Biden chose another recently retired military leader to be defense secretary. Still, Smith added, he felt the waiver should be approved swiftly and that Austin is the right person to lead the military at this time.

"It's clear that Mr. Austin is highly qualified to be secretary of defense," Smith said. "It's also clear that he has a full appreciation of the importance of civilian control of the military. And finally, it's clear that, unique to this moment, his experiences as an African American man coming up through the military put him in a unique position to address the problems of White supremacy and the lack of diversity across the military."

Rep. Anthony Brown, a retired Army colonel and Maryland Democrat, said Austin's nomination serves as more than a symbolic milestone at a time when the country is grappling with questions about systemtic racism and discrimination.

"It's a substantive answer to many of the challenges that the military faces," he said. "... Racial and ethnic groups make up more than 40% of the nation's military, but there's a significant lack of diversity in civilian and military leadership at the most senior levels, due in large part to systemic racial bias in promotion and assignment boards.

"This hurts the military, our readiness and our effectiveness."

Other Democrats who said they'd support the waiver pointed to Austin's strong working relationship with Biden and the retired general's experience drawing down tens of thousands of U.S. forces from Iraq as the Defense Department works to distribute millions of coronavirus vaccines across the country.

Austin met with members of the House Armed Services Committee ahead of the waiver vote to discuss the issue of civilian control of the military.

Experts have warned against issuing back-to-back waivers to Austin and Mattis. Newly retired officers risk relying on their uniformed networks, Lindsay Cohn, a professor at the Naval War College who studies civilian-military relations, told senators this month. The SecDef job is also inherently political, experts said, and newly retired service members aren't always comfortable standing up to their former uniformed colleagues.

Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Colorado Republican, said Austin "very eloquently" stated during Thursday's meeting that he's prepared to stand up to military leaders.

"He can tell them what's good for the civilian control of our country," Lamborn said. "I trust him. He's the right man for the job."

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., called on the House to revisit the number of years future defense secretaries are required to be out of uniform. What was supposed to be a once-in-a-generation vote on Mattis' waiver is now back up for debate four years later, he said, which means the topic must be revisited.

"Although General Austin is a very qualified individual, he still will have subordinates who he helped promote, he still will have people that he is extremely close to, and that creates a question of civilian leadership," Issa said.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: Biden Hits Back at Criticism Over Choosing Retired General for SecDef
Riverdale fans are rejoicing after the arrival of new film Sightless on Netflix in the UK.

The American psychological thriller film from writer and director Cooper Karl stars Madelaine Petsch as Ellen, a famous violinist who has been blinded in an anonymous attack.

After waking up in hospital, Ellen moves to a new assisted living apartment where she meets her new carer, Clayton, and begins to adjust to her new life.

As the story unfolds, however, she begins to grow suspicious about her surroundings and the circumstances of her attack.

It soon becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems, and she is forced to rely on her own instincts.

The movie was originally released digitally in the US last year, but has finally found its way to UK audiences.

Petsch is best-known for her starring role in The CWs hit series Riverdale, in which she stars as Cheryl Blossom.

Also starring in Sightless is Alexander Koch, as Clayton. He previously had a role across three episodes of Lucifer in season five, in 2020, as the boyfriend of lead character Ella Lopez.

Sightless is available to watch on Netflix now.



The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has decided to hold a massive protest event against the three Central farm laws on January30, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who's also the leader of the opposition in Bihar Assembly, said that the farmers of the country are agitating against the farm laws which have been supported by the state government. "If the NDA government is claiming that the laws are not against the farmers, then why are they protesting against them for months now? If the farmers believe that the laws are not beneficial for them, why the NDA government is not rolling them back? Over 60 farmers have secreficed their lives, but the NDA government is just not listening to them," Tejashwi said. "During our government, the farmers were getting price above the MSP. After the Nitish Kumar government came to power in 2005, it abolished this act in 2006. As a result, the farmers became labourers and now they have become beggars. The situation is such that the farmers are getting only Rs 700 to 800 for their agricultural produce though the MSP of crops like paddy is Rs 1,868 per 100 kg," Tejashwi added. "Our agitation will start at the block level from January 24 and our leaders and party workers will go to every doorstep to make people aware of the consequences of the three farm laws passed by the Parliament in September last year. On January 30, we will form human chains across the state with the participation of our alliance partners," he said.





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Celebrated filmmaker Prashanth Neel's KGF: Chapter 2 is undoubtedly one of the highly awaited films of the year. The team recently wrapped up the climax shoot of the action-entertainer in Hyderabad. Reportedly, in the upcoming months, the team will be focusing more on post-production as the Yash-starrer is heavy on VFX (Visual Effects).

Well, if reports are to be believed, the sequence featuring the Rocking Star, the protagonist and Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt is one of the highlighting sequences of the film. The sequence, which is said to be the heart of the film, will be reportedly shown towards the end of KGF: Chapter 2. According to reports, the makers have spent as much as Rs 12 crore, for just the power-packed climax sequence. With the rumour about the sequence going viral, zillions of fans and followers of Yash and Prashanth Neel are expecting a never-seen-before treat on screens.

On a related note, Sanjay Dutt is playing the antagonist in KGF: Chapter 2. The film's shoot resumed in August, 2020 after almost 6 months of break owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. Notably, KGF 2 was the second Kannada film after Kichcha Sudeep's Phantom to resume shoot post COVID-19 lockdown.

Well, the highly anticipated teaser of the film was released on January 7, 2020, a day before Yash's 35th birthday. Though the teaser was initially planned for January 8, the sudden leak of the video forced the makers to release it without delay. The 2-minute-16-seconds teaser that garnered huge love from the netizens, has now crossed 158+ million views and 7.7+ million likes.

The action-thriller backed by Vijay Kiragandur under Hombale Films banner, also features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Srinidhi Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Balakrishna, Anant Nag, Malavika Avinash, Prakash Raj, Saran Shakthi and Achyuth Kumar.

Also Read: Yash & Kichcha Sudeep Set The Dance Floor On Fire At Ramesh Aravind's Daughter Niharika's Wedding Reception

Also Read: Yash's KGF Chapter 2 In Trouble; Anti-Tobacco Cell Of Karnataka Objects To Smoking Visuals In The Teaser
New CEO Kristi Lafleur Takes Helm of Skyway Concesssion Company, LLC as of January 1, 2021 Together, we will continue to innovate and modernize the Skyway, focusing on our mission - providing the safest, fastest and most reliable road for our customers, said Lafleur

Kristi Lafleur has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Skyway Concession Company LLC, (SCC) the company that operates and maintains the historic Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge in partnership with the City of Chicago. Ms. Lafleur will also continue serving on the SCC Board of Directors a role she has held since November 2016. Fernando Redondo, the previous Chief Executive Officer, retired effective January 1, 2021, after sixteen years of leading the Skyway.

Lafleur most recently was a Senior Vice President of HNTB Corporations Chicago office. Prior to that, she was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascend Infrastructure, a Chicago-based transportation consulting firm. Lafleur also served for more than five years as Executive Director of the Illinois Tollway, overseeing the $14 billion Move Illinois program, the largest capital program in the agencys history.

I am truly honored to lead this extraordinary company, said Lafleur. I anticipate working closely with our exceptional senior leadership team, and our entire board of directors. Together, we will continue to innovate and modernize the Skyway, focusing on our mission -- providing the safest, fastest and most reliable road for our customers.

Kristi Lafleur is the right person to guide the Chicago Skyway into the future, given her strong command of our business and proven ability to drive results within the region, said Kirk Dillard, Board Chairman. Speaking on behalf of the Board, I am so pleased and proud that Kristi will lead our company, and excited to work with her and our senior leadership team to ensure a seamless transition. We are fully confident Kristi will continue Skyways strong focus on leading with innovation and commitment to our people and core values.

Lafleurs experience includes membership on transportation transition teams for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. She also oversaw transportation initiatives as Illinois Gov. Pat Quinns Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Development and Recovery.

Additionally, Lafleur is active with local industry and community groups, including the Women's Transportation Seminar, Kids Above All and Chicago Innovation, and has served on the boards of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Alliance for Toll Interoperability and the E-Z Pass Group.

About the Chicago Skyway: Built by the City of Chicago in 1958, the Chicago Skyway Toll Bridge is a 7.8-mile-long toll road that connects the Indiana Toll Road to the Dan Ryan Expressway on Chicago's South Side. The main feature of the Skyway is a 12-mile-long steel truss bridge, known as the "High Bridge." The bridge itself spans the Calumet River and Calumet Harbor, a major harbor for industrial ships  its main span extends 650 feet long and provides for 125 feet of vertical clearance.

The City of Chicago maintained and operated the Chicago Skyway until January 2005 when Skyway Concession Company assumed those responsibilities pursuant to a 99-year lease. The lease agreement between Skyway and the City of Chicago was the first privatization of an existing toll road in the United States. Visit us at http://www.chicagoskyway.org.

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EAST ALTON  Certified yoga instructor Heather Garrigus decided now was the time to open her first studio.

I told myself I had to be a little crazy to open a yoga studio in the middle of a pandemic, but I think its necessary, considering whats going on in the world, she said. If you can get away from the stress and do yoga for an hour, then the studio has served its purpose. Just to get out of the house for an hour is good, so many are working from home and kids are doing virtual learning.

Heathers Zen Den Yoga Studio, 95 Eastgate Plaza Shopping Center, in East Alton, will debut with an open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, with free yoga instruction all day. The opening is free to attend and open to the public. Heathers Zen Den Yoga Studio will hold a grand opening at the 1,500-square-foot studio next summer.

Other small businesses have helped out Garrigus, first-time owner of a small business, by donating open-house items for raffles, door prizes and giveaways.

Heathers Zen Den Yoga Studio will have yoga classes for chair; restorative, which is a comfortable format on the ground; gentle; beginners; yin; wall; Buti, which is more cardio intensive; and, rise-and-stretch class on Saturday mornings. Class times are to be announced. Garrigus specialties include beginners yoga, and yin yoga, which gets into deep muscle tissue and deep fascia with longer position holds and in which she recently became certified.

I want everyone to be comfortable. Typically with new clientele, I like to say, This is yoga class, its not that serious, and keep it upbeat, fun and lighthearted, said Garrigus, of Godfrey, who became a certified yoga instructor in 2016.

I basically fell in love with it as a student for approximately two years, and Ive been teaching ever since, she said. I wanted to share my love of yoga with the community, and teaching at different spaces, she recalled. I came across this place and it was the perfect location.

The interior studio design has an industrial twist with a polished concrete floor. Heathers Zen Den has mats, props and supplies available, but people can bring their own, too. The studio also has props, blankets, bolsters, blocks and straps, all of which help to stretch muscles.

Garrigus taught at River Bend Yoga for quite a while, then started teaching at Grafton Winery the Vineyards and the Historic Mineral Springs and Jacoby Arts Center, both in Alton.

I just wanted to have one place to teach, she said.

For more information visit Heathers Zen Den at Facebook.
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[January 21, 2021] 68 Percent of Professionals see learning as the key to landing better opportunities: Survey by Simplilearn

- More than 5,000 respondents participated in the survey - 67.5% of professionals see learning as the key to landing better opportunities and plan to start learning programs in 2021 BENGALURU, India, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, the world's number one Online Bootcamp for digital economy skills training, published the findings of its annual survey report titled 'IT Skills Training Trends: 2020 and 2021'. The survey was conducted to understand how 2020 has affected work environments and what are aspirants doing to prepare for the various eventualities that they foresee in 2021. More than 5,000 Simplilearn learners, comprising both individual and corporate learners, participated in the survey. 19.4% of survey respondents were freshers, 51.3% mid-level, and 29.2% senior-level professionals. A majority of the respondents were from the IT sector, followed by manufacturing, consulting and finance. 2020 saw the evolution of a changing business landscape. This in turn resulted in changes to job requirements which prompted both working professionals and job seekers to invest in new skills, and to ensure that they prepare not only for today but for an ever-changing future. The Simplilearn annual report focuses on the impact of the past year, expectations in the year 2021, and how job aspirants are adapting to the new ecosystem. How 2020 impacted career plans 14% respondents lost their jobs

41% of mid-career professionals felt stagnant in their careers.

In large organizations, 25% of professionals felt stuck

Professionals in Consulting, Finance, and Healthcare/Pharma were more likely than others to feel stuck

Professionals in Manufacturing and Finance were more likely to report job losses Outlook 2021 : Upskilling brings hope to many professionals Professionals are taking a proactive approach to career success in 2021 35% of respondents saw the pandemic as an opportunity to learn new skills; this number rose to 49.5% of employees in small and medium enterprises

67.5% of professionals see learning as the key to landing better opportunities and plan to start learning programs in 2021

4% of respondents feel keeping their jobs depends on learning new skills

66% of professionals are either enrolled in training programs or plan to start in 2021 What professionals expect from upskilling towards their careers in 2021 Technology professionals will be in demand in 2021, as much because of the pandemic as in spite of it. 54.3% of professionals expect uskilling to provide better opportunities in 2021 or lead to pay raises and promotions in their current jobs

20% expect upskilling to future-proof their careers

25.8% expect upskilling to unlock a new career path that lets them follow their passion



Krishna Kumar , Founder and CEO, Simplilearn said, "The work-from-home scenario which is a by-product of the effects of the pandemic and the new normal, has driven a clear trend to online learning. With individuals getting a little extra time for self-development, we saw a 60% jump in enrollments in the early days of lockdown itself. In fact, usage on the platform has doubled compared to pre-pandemic times. Another factor which contributed to this was career uncertainty and job losses which made it clear to many professionals that digital skills is key to career stability and growth." He further added,"Organisations also learned that online learning was not just part of employee skilling but played an important role in employee engagement in an ever growing virtual ecosystem. Over the last 6 months, Simplilearn has on boarded over 50,000 corporate learners across 12 countries, led by India, the USA, Thailand, and Oman. Additionally, several universities also partnered with us to offer their students skilling programs as an add-on to their academic courses. With universities globally shifting to the online model, online learning programs are an effective solution to support learning continuity."

Most effective way to start learning a new skill With its advantages of learning anytime from anywhere, along with diverse learning preferences, online learning is one of the most preferred modes of upskilling for professionals. 71% believe that the best way to start learning a skill today is to either via paid online programs or via self-learning with free online courses

72.8% percent of professionals are either exploring what they want to study in 2021 or have a definite plan to enroll in an online certification program

Programs in digital operations were most subscribed to, followed by Technology, and Data & AI.

Data Science and AI/ML programs were popular with mid-career (31-40 year old) learners, while Digital Business was popular with both young (under 25) and senior-level (over 50) learners.

Digital Operations programs were popular with early-career (30 year old and younger) learners, and Technology with early-career (30 year old and younger) learners.

Most learners used the mobile app for learning programs v/s a desktop Value-add from online learning programs A majority of the respondents prefer the Bootcamp learning model of applied learning aligned with industry requirements.

75% of professionals prefer programs that focused on applied learning, along with projects and practice labs coupled with industry partnerships and accreditations Online learning is increasingly in demand from both students and professionals, and employers and universities fully support this trend. Digital economy skills are vital to individuals as the foundation of a healthy career, and they are essential to employers as a critical resource for digital transformation and long-run competitiveness. Ultimately, upskilling and reskilling are the keys to a better career in 2021 and in years to come. About Simplilearn Simplilearn is the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital skills training, focused on helping people acquire the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. Simplilearn provides outcome-based online training across technologies and applications in Data Science, AI and Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Digital Marketing, DevOps, Project Management, and other critical digital disciplines. Through individual courses, comprehensive certification programs, and partnerships with world-renowned universities, Simplilearn provides millions of professionals and thousands of corporate training organizations with the work-ready skills they need to excel in their careers. Based in San Francisco, CA, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn has helped more than 1,000,000 professionals and 2,000 companies across 150 countries to get trained, acquire certifications, and reach their business and career goals. With over 1,000 live classes each month, real-world projects, and more, professionals learn by doing at Simplilearn. Ongoing industry recognition for the company includes the 2020 Aegis Graham Bell Award for Innovation in EdTech, 2020 Stevie Gold Award for Customer Service Success, and recognition by the prestigious Training Industry Inc. as one of the Top IT Training Companies for 2020. For more information, please visit www.simplilearn.com Media Contact :

Vidya Nadiminti

vidya.nadiminti@simplilearn.net

+91-9663883216

Sr PR an Communications

Simplilearn Solutions Pvt Ltd Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Normally, when Sandra Jones and her 92-year-old mother, Laura, step through the doors of New Hope Baptist Church, theyre ready to hear the word of God and worship alongside their friends and neighbors.

But on Thursday morning, there was a different purpose behind their visit to the Southwest Side church: a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Doing so, Jones said, would help protect her and her mother from the infectious respiratory disease that has killed more than 400,000 Americans and upended daily life worldwide.

If you are unfortunate to contract COVID, and survive it, the things that it can do to your body and organs as a result of the disease  I dont want her to go through that, Jones, 65, said in reference to her mother, who suffers from dementia.

I dont want her to have to go through that, and I dont want to go through something that would keep me from caring for her as best as I can and as well as God allows me to care for her.

Thursdays clinic was the first, small-scale community COVID-19 vaccination clinic hosted by Spectrum Health. Two-hundred-and-fifty doses of the vaccine were expected to be administered at the church, 130 Delaware St SW.

The idea behind the clinic is to reach people in a part of inner-city Grand Rapids that is home to a large number of low-income people, some of whom do not have access to transportation, said Valissa Armstead, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Spectrum.

The clinic also provides an opportunity to educate the community about the vaccine.

Both the church and a significant portion of the citys Black population reside within Grand Rapids 49507 zip code, and theres lingering hesitancy about vaccines within the African American community due in part to Tuskegee Study, Armstead said. The once-secret government led study, launched in 1932, consisted of about 600 Black men who were not treated for syphilis so researchers could examine the impact of the sexually transmitted disease. In 1972, the project was exposed and discontinued.

Things like that have actually caused Black communities to be hesitant with not only getting vaccinated, but going to a health system which is supposed to actually protect them but historically has done just the opposite, Armstead said.

Related: For Michiganders anxious to be vaccinated against COVID-19, demand far outstrips supply

James and Brenda Nixon have heard that hesitancy, among friends and acquaintances, first-hand.

The married couple took a dose of the vaccine Thursday morning because theyre eager to protect their health and feel safe seeing their children and grandchildren again. But they understand why theres some people who are taking a wait and see approach to the drug.

We havent received the best health care and health services over many, many, many years, said James Nixon, 76, a retired school principal. As a result of that, thats why the virus percentage is so high, the disease percentage is so high, because in the poor communities, in our Hispanic and Black communities, we dont receive those health services.

As of Thursday, Jan. 21, Spectrum has given 40,313 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of those, 34,157 were the first dose of the vaccine, and 6,156 were for the second dose.

The Grand Rapids-based health system has 29,575 COVID-19 vaccinations scheduled, and 46,320 doses on hand. Spectrum is providing the bulk of its vaccinations at a large-scale clinic on 60th street in Kentwood, where theres capacity to perform thousands of vaccinations per week.

Vaccines administered at Thursdays clinic, per government guidelines, were offered to people age 65 and older, as well as teachers, childcare workers, law enforcement and other essential frontline workers.

Armstead said she doesnt believe that Spectrum, systemwide, has been tracking what percentage of its vaccines have went to people of color. But she added that, What weve heard from the community that it has been an underrepresentation, and that goes back to the hesitation.

While the number of vaccines offered at the church is miniscule compared with whats provided at Spectrums large clinic on 60th Street, officials with the health system emphasized that Thursdays event was a trial run and more such clinics could be offered in the future. The success of Thursdays clinic and availability of the vaccine will be used in determining plans for future community clinics.

Rev. Howard Earle Jr., the pastor at New Hope Baptist Church, said providing the clinic fit into his churchs mission of serving our community.

While there is hesitancy among some about the vaccine, he said that overall the demand is really high for a dose of the drug. There were long wait times when people called Spectrum to schedule an appointment at the community clinic, and some residents were not able to get an appointment due to high-demand for the vaccine, he said.

I feel like this vaccine needs to be accessible, Earle said. We need to eliminate as many of the barriers as possible. This clinic is kind of a test run of how we can build on this model in the coming months.

Michigan loses estimated 60,000 leisure, hospitality jobs in December

Kalamazoo motel being transformed into apartments for those without homes

Fish sorting channel, park construction underway in Northern Michigan
Source: Adobe/ipopba

Luxembourg-based start-up ANote Music has created a marketplace that allows its users to purchase and sell music rights, using blockchain technology, raising EUR 505,000 (USD 612,000) last year from its first investment round, and attracting EUR 385,000 (USD 467,000) from investors. The firm is not ruling out issuing its own cryptoasset in the future, although no binding decisions have been made yet.

It is important to establish that relationship of trust with those who are going to use [our platform]. Blockchain has been playing an important role for us in this regard, Niels Hoorelbeke, Marketing and Business Development Strategist at ANote Music, told Cryptonews.com.

Early 2020 brought the start-up the announcement of the closing of our first investment round of EUR 505,000, he said. Following its July launch, the platform made three music catalogues available to investors at auctions, and a further two in late 2020.

All five catalogs successfully completed raising the auction target and are together good for a totality of over EUR 385,000 committed by investors, according to Hoorelbeke, who added that EUR 12,000 were distributed back to investors by the end of 2020.

Hoorelbeke says the team have seen an increase in people searching for alternative investment solutions, owing to which 2021 will be the year in which ANote Music will look to expand services and grow strong." They'll also "be looking to bringing more investment opportunities and music catalogues to our investor community.

Other initiatives in the future could be related to cryptoassets. Regarding ANote Musics potential use of its own native cryptoasset, Hoorelbeke said the way our system and services are designed, it was not per se necessary to tokenize our assets or develop an own crypto, so to make music investments easy accessible to everyone, we opted to work without an own native crypto asset," he said, and added:

"It's not an idea we exclude for the future, but currently not in our development plans.

The past months have brought an increased use of blockchain technology in music rights distribution. In a similar development, Utopia Genesis Foundation unveiled plans this month to bring more than USD 1 billion worth of tokenized music rights to a polkadot (DOT) parathread in 2021, moving away from ethereum (ETH). The move is designed to allow the entity to offer its ecosystem applications by using the full economic security of Polkadot's validator set, as they said.

ANote Music says investments through its platform can generate an average expected yield of 7.91%. A 4% distribution fee is withheld for shares acquired in the primary market, and 8% for shares traded on the secondary market. The distribution fee is capped at 0.5% of users initial invested amounts.
Dublin's Lord Mayor has said she was surprised to see a builder being granted planning permission for a co- living development on the site of Kiely's pub in Donnybrook, considering a ban on such developments has been signed into law.

Dublin City Council granted permission for the project subject to certain conditions, but Lord Mayor Hazel Chu, who had objected to the development, has said she would like to see the matter go before An Bord Pleanala.

The ban on co-living developments, where residents share some living space, was signed into law last Decem- ber 22.

Suitable

While developer Westridge applied for its planning permission before that date, Ms Chu said the development should not have been given the green light because construction had not yet started on it.

"The ban should mean that no co-living development should be built after that date, not just ones that are applied for after that date," Ms Chu said.

"If a decision has been made that such accommodation models are not suitable, then why should we allow any to be built if they have not already been started?

"We do have a lack of supply of housing, and we do need to build more homes, and that can include this site, but we need to build good-sized units for individuals and families, and I don't think the co-living model provides that.

"The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that such a model is not suitable in the future either."

Dublin City Council gave a scaled-back plan for 85 units by Westridge the green light despite more than 100 objections.

Westridge bought the landmark Kiely's pub for more than 5m in 2019.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Eric Lis factory making glass lampshades for companies including Home Depot Inc. is being stretched to its limits with sales doubling their pre-pandemic level.But like many Chinese manufacturers, he doesnt plan to expand operations -- a reticence that could slow the pace of Chinas economic growth this year and prolong a shortage of goods being felt around the world as demand picks up.Surging prices of raw materials means margins are compressed, explains Li, owner of Huizhou Baizhan Glass Co. Ltd., in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, which makes about $30 million in annual revenue. With the global economic recovery still uneven, the future is very unclear, so there is not much push to expand capacity, he adds.The combination of higher input prices, uncertainty about export prospects and a weak recovery in domestic consumer demand meant Chinese manufacturing investment from January to April was 0.4% below the same period in 2019, according to official statistics (comparing to 2019 strips out the distortion of last years pandemic data).Due to the vast size of Chinas manufacturing sector, that poses a risk both to the nations growth -- which is currently predicted to reach 8.5% in 2021, according to a Bloomberg tally of economists estimates -- and to a global economy thats grappling with supply shortages and rising prices.Falling ProfitsWeaker-than-expected investment could have a sizable impact on GDP growth this year, said Citigroup Inc.s China economist, Li-gang Liu. Lower investment may dent imports of capital goods and equipment from developed economies like Japan and Germany, which in turn could drag their economic recovery and rebound as well, he added.AnHui HERO Electronic Sci & Tec Co. Ltd. is one of those companies feeling the squeeze. Based in the eastern province of Anhui, the company manufactures capacitors used to make electronic circuits, with sales mainly in the domestic market. Jing Yuan, the founder, says orders are up as much as 30% year-on-year, but profits are down 50% due to increasing materials costs that are not easily passed onto clients.The company is under huge cash pressure as it needs to pay half a month in advance of delivery in order to secure copper and other metals, which they previously paid for months after receiving, he said. The commodity issue has to be addressed by the government, he added.What Bloomberg Economics Says...Chinese industry is absorbing significant cost pressures from rising commodity prices -- damping the inflationary impact for the rest of the world. Will it last? Our analysis of gross margins suggests it could for a while longer: downstream industries -- where the cost crunch is most severe -- still have a small cushion.David Qu, China economistFor the full report, click here.Input shortages mean some manufacturers arent able to make use of their existing facilities, so expansion would be of little use. Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. suspended production at one of its factories last month, due to a shortage of microchips.Modern Casting Ltd., which makes iron and steel products in Guangdong, issued a note to clients this month saying it would not be able to meet its current orders due to high raw material costs. A member of staff who answered the phone at the companys office confirmed the note, but declined to give further details.Growth TransitionOn top of the higher input costs, Chinese companies face a bumpy transition toward domestic consumer spending to sustain its post-pandemic recovery.Exports, Chinas strong-suit last year, may begin to slow as vaccine roll-outs cause consumers in wealthy countries to shift spending back to services. Meanwhile, the growth rate of Chinese consumer spending has yet to fully recover.Investment sentiment among Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises is below levels seen even in 2018-9 when uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war were a brake on expansion plans, according to a regular survey of more than 500 Chinese companies by Standard Chartered Plc.Demand is still mainly underpinned by exports, so domestic companies are aware that this is not sustainable, said Standard Chartereds China economist, Lan Shen.While some export-oriented sectors have been pushed to their limits, large amounts of slack remain for manufacturers targeting Chinese consumers due to subdued domestic demand.Retail sales growth was 4.3% in April on a two-year average basis, which strips out base effects from the pandemic, less than half pre-pandemic growth rates. Overall capacity use at Chinas manufacturers fell to 77.6% in the first quarter from 78.4% in the previous three months, with the automotive sector hit hardest by overcapacity following three years of declining sales volumes.Even for electric vehicles whose sales are surging, most companies have already built their capacity and will now focus on incremental upgrades. The majority of the investment has been done, said Jochen Siebert of JSC Automotive Consulting.China ordered state-owned companies to expand last year, with their investment growth of 5.3% in 2020 from the prior year easily outstripping the 1% increase in private investment. But for a sustainable pick-up in investment, the market, not the state, needs to feel confident.Carsten Holz, an expert on Chinese investment statistics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, estimates that privately-owned companies have accounted for 87% of manufacturing investment in 2015, the most recent year of available data. They are more sensitive to input costs.There is a pandemic plus insecurity about future trade given a new U.S. administration, neither of which is conducive to investment that relies on long-term growth prospects, Holz said.Mixed PoliciesTransport bottlenecks are also a challenge for export-oriented manufacturers. Gordon Gao, who exports gardening products from China, said that he has had to reject 80% of orders this year due to port delays. In one case, an order placed before mid-February could only be shipped three months later when a client finally secured a container.Beijing has tried to improve conditions for private companies by ordering a crackdown on speculation to curb commodity prices and easing access to bank loans.Yet the government continues to gradually withdraw fiscal and monetary stimulus measures introduced amid the pandemic last year. It set a relatively unambitious target of above 6% growth for this year, and the Communist Partys Politburo signaled last month it would prioritize reforms to control house prices and debt growth.The policy stance has definitely shifted away from supporting growth and back toward de-risking the financial sector, said Adam Wolfe, an economist at London-based Absolute Strategy Research. The risks for economic growth seem tilted to the downside, especially for capital-intensive, construction-linked sectors.For manufacturers such as Li, a longer period of domestic growth and control over input prices will be needed before capacity expansion is on the cards. While his company of 200 workers took on new permanent staff before the pandemic, for now hed rather pass the risks of investment on to others.I wouldnt do that now, I would rather hire some temporary workers and outsource the rest, he said.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Campaigner Vera Twomey has hailed today as a long time coming as people are granted access to medicinal cannabis in certain circumstances for the first time.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced funding for the Medicinal Cannabis Access Programme which was introduced into legislation in 2019.

The delivery of the programme will allow consultants prescribe medicinal cannabis for a number of medical conditions where conventional treatment has failed.

It will be available through a consultant for people suffering muscle spasms from MS, nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy or those who have severe epilepsy.

Cork mother Vera, who told Newstalk Breakfast this day has been a long time coming, has said the drug saved her daughter Avas life.

Ava was diagnosed as a baby with Dravet syndrome, a severe type of epilepsy characterised by prolonged seizures. It is a rare condition that affects one in 20,000 to 40,000 people worldwide.

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Medical marijuana has left her 95% seizure-free, happy, able to attend school and independent of heavy medications.

Prior to the pandemic, Ms Twomey had been travelling to Holland every 12 weeks to collect medicinal cannabis.

"I believed that this was always going to come eventually - I don't mean that to sound in anyway arrogant or anything like that, she said.

"Sometimes there are things that have to come to pass, and there has been resistance to all of us that have spoken up about getting access for medical cannabis for our families.

"But sometimes the opposition to what you're looking for is unreasonable, and the argument surrounding medical cannabis is one of those situations.

"There was determination and persistence necessary to be able to see it through.

She said credit is due to everyone involved, including Minister Donnelly.

But she added: "It's unfortunate that it wasn't funded from the word go when it was announced initially."

She said the change would mean that patients prescribed medical cannabis will now be able to afford it.

"These patients will now be able to take up that offer, because a lot of people were in a situation where they simply could not afford the outlay of the money necessary to pay for the medication".

Vera explained: "This will mean that if the medication is being refunded from the word go, that people will be able to afford it, to be able to move forward with a prescription.

"Otherwise you're in a situation where you have to pay for the medication and wait for a period of time for it to be refunded."

She said her daughter is doing well despite the ongoing pandemic.

"The Covid has been hard on everybody, especially for our kids with additional needs - missing school is very tough.

"You're worried about them regressing and everything, without the attention that they get in school and the support. But she is well".

On April 6 last year, the Department of Health arranged for the medicine to be delivered to their home instead.

Initially the delivery of the medication was only to continue while public health restrictions were in place but the Health Minister announced last December that patients would no longer need to travel abroad for their medication.

Speaking at the time, Mr Donnelly said: Many patients and their families have shared stories with both me and officials in my department about how this initiative has made a huge improvement to their lives.

"They spoke about the stress of having to travel regularly and the associated health risks with that, as well as their concerns that they would run out of their medication.

I am so pleased that these problems will now be a thing of the past for them. There will no longer be a need for them to travel abroad in order to collect their prescribed cannabis products. Instead, they can focus on their health and wellbeing.

"The welfare of patients and their families comes first and I am happy to reassure them that they will no longer have to personally source their prescriptions."
The fridge is a great place to stick that important Lotto ticket - just don't forget it's there.

A man in his 20s from Murray Bridge, in regional South Australia, stuck his X Lotto ticket on his fridge door and had completely forgotten to check the numbers.

But luckily his mum was more alert, discovering her forgetful son's $1,052,281.12 win.

'This is pretty good,' the man told the worker from The Lott on Thursday, who called to confirm the win five days after the draw.

'My mum checked the ticket online after hearing about a mystery winner on the radio, the ticket's just been sitting on the fridge.'

An unnamed man from Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide won $1,052,281.12 with a Lotto ticket he'd forgotten about. His mum discovered the win

Fluking the right numbers is no use if you forget you bought a ticket, but luckily one SA man's mum remembered

He was one of six division one winners and the last to come forward.

'I was so surprised when she showed me, but I think she was more excited than me. I just had to see if it was really true first,' he said.

Fittingly, he said he planned to help his mum pay off her mortgage.

'My first priority is to help my mum  help her pay off the mortgage. I want to invest the rest and set myself up for the future,' he explained.

He wants to travel too, as soon as Covid settles and the borders open.

'I'm definitely thinking about treating myself too  maybe a trip overseas when we can travel again,' he said.

The winning entry was purchased at Murray Bridge Newsagency & Gifts, Shop 6, 20 Bridge Street, Murray Bridge.

Murray Bridge newsagency owner Adrian Pergallini has sold four division one Lotto winners and keeps dreaming of his own lucky day

Murray Bridge Newsagency owner Adrian Pergallini told Daily Mail Australia he was delighted for the winner and joked that he wished it was him who had won.

'It's a bit annoying when you're the owner and the winning ticket passes through your hands four times!', he said.

Mr Pergallini claims to have sold four division one winners across the two newsagencies he's owned.

'But that's how it goes, easy come easy go,' he remarked.

'We get extra people coming in here because they think we're a lucky shop, plus the regulars might just buy an extra ticket.'

Mr Pergallini says he couldn't win off a ticket from his own shop anyway. 'We have to go through a different system to buy one. It'd look a bit dodgy if I won.'

'But I buy 'em like everyone else, basically from another shop. We all have to have our dreams.'

He said the winners all eventually come back to the shop to say thanks.

'They are all a bit gobsmacked, they're in zombieland basically. But they all come back,' he said.

The Ashton port in Union Island whose closure Dr. Friday (inset) said he was not informed about ahead of time.

The Government decision to close the Union Island seaport to pleasure vessels was not communicated to the leader of the Opposition, New Democratic Party (NDP), Godwin Friday or the Member of Parliament for Southern Grenadines, Terrance Ollivierre.





On Wednesday December 30th, the Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), took the decision to close the Union Island seaport to pleasure vessels.





The NDP has a strong grip on the Grenadines parliamentary seats, but Dr. Friday, when responding to a question by THE VINCENTIAN at a press conference on Wednesday 13, said that he was not informed as to why such actions was taken.





"I mean, I cant tell you why the government choose at that time to do it. They didnt communicate with me and I am sure they didnt communicate with the Honorable Terrance Ollivierre who is the representative for the Southern Grenadines regarding this action, said Dr. Friday.





"This is part of the difficulty we have. As you know we always said that we are open to provide . as a responsible political leader and opposition parliamentarians of a mass political party, to play our role, but the government has tended to not heed that, the Opposition Leader added.





Dr. Friday, born on the Grenadine island of Bequia, conceded that one of the challenges the country faced, was the monitoring of the yachts as they come through the islands, not least because SVG is a collective of many bays and islands, a lot of water in between the islands.





"It is a lot for the Coast Guard to police and so we have had a situation where people have raised a lot of concerns about the yachts coming and (persons) being unsure as to how they ( the yachters) have done there quarantine, and whether they are free to move about, said Friday.





He asserted, though, that the major problem was a lack of information from the authorities.





"I dont know how much information was given or how much explanation was provided to the community of Union Island, but I certainly will follow up with the honorable member there.





"The yachting business is very important to the country. Its very important to the Grenadines but we have to make sure that health comes first and that the people who come observe the guidelines, and that those persons who interact with them are safe because you cant have a situation where people are feeling insecure, the opposition leader said.
TWO criminals who assaulted and threatened a cash-in-transit employee outside a discount store in Annacotty mistakenly stole a bag of bird seek instead cash, garda sources have confirmed.

Gardai at Henry Street are appealing for information following the attempted robbery which occurred outside Mr Price last Friday.

The bizarre incident occurred shortly after 1.50pm when a car pulled up beside a cash-in-transit van which was parked outside the store.

A masked man exited the passengers seat of this car and came towards the van. This man proceeded to assault the cash-in-transit employee with an implement. The driver of the car, who was also a masked male, is alleged to have made threats to the employee during the assault, said a garda spokesperson.

A number of eyewitnesses told the Limerick Leader a firearm was produced by one of the culprits but this has not been confirmed by gardai.

The two bird-brained offenders quickly fled the location, in a blue BMW which was later found burned out in the Ballysimon area.

Investigating gardai have confirmed that no cash was taken during the incident with sources revealing that they believe the culprits took a bag of bird seed believing it was a bag of cash.

The cash-in-transit employee was not seriously injured.

Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and also to any road users with dash-cam footage to make it available to investigators, said a spokesperson.
In this Dec. 14, 2020, file photo, Sandra Lindsay, left, a nurse at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine by Dr. Michelle Chester, in the Queens borough of New York. New York officials are pushing for more COVID-19 vaccine doses as the effort to speed up inoculations collides with a lack of vaccine. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that the city will run out of first doses of COVID-19 vaccine sometime Thursday without fresh supplies. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, Pool, File)

As the U.S. enters "what may well be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus," President Joe Biden is putting forth a national COVID-19 strategy to ramp up vaccinations and testing, reopen schools and businesses and increase the use of masksincluding a requirement that they be worn for travel.

Biden also will address inequities in hard-hit minority communities as he signs 10 pandemic-related executive orders on Thursday, his second day in office.

"We need to ask average Americans to do their part," said Jeff Zients, the White House official directing the national response. "Defeating the virus requires a coordinated nationwide effort."

But Biden officials say they're hampered by lack of cooperation from the Trump administration during the transition. They say they don't have a complete understanding of their predecessors' actions on vaccine distribution.

They're also depending on Congress to provide $1.9 trillion for economic relief and COVID-19 response. And they face a litany of complaints from states that say they are not getting enough vaccine even as they are being asked to vaccinate more categories of people.

Biden acknowledged the urgency of the mission in his inaugural address. "We are entering what may well be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus," he said before asking Americans to join him in a moment of silence in memory of the more than renewed U.S. support for the World Health Organization after it faced blistering criticism from the Trump administration, laying out new commitments to tackle the coronavirus and other global health issues. Fauci said early Thursday that the U.S. will join the U.N. health agency's efforts to bring vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics to people in need, whether in rich or poor countries and will resume full funding and staffing support for WHO.

Howard Holland, 82, receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Wes Vaughn at the Dallas County mass vaccination site at Fair Park Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

The U.S. mask order for travel being implemented by Biden will apply to airports and planes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transportation. Travelers from abroad must furnish a negative COVID-19 test before departing for the U.S. and quarantine upon arrival. Biden has already mandated masks on federal property.

Although airlines, Amtrak and other transport providers now require masks, Biden's order makes it a federal mandate, leaving little wiggle room for passengers tempted to argue about their rights. It marks a sharp break with the culture of President Donald Trump's administration, under which masks were optional, and Trump made a point of going maskless and hosting big gatherings of like-minded supporters. Science has shown that masks, properly worn, cut down on coronavirus transmission.

Biden also is seeking to expand testing and vaccine availability, with the goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office. Zients called Biden's goal "ambitious and achievable."

The Democratic president has directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to begin setting up vaccination centers, aiming to have 100 up and running in a month. He's ordering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to begin a program to make vaccines available through local pharmacies starting next month. And he's mobilizing the Public Health Service to deploy to assist localities in vaccinations.

Some independent experts say the administration should be setting a higher bar for itself than 100 million shots. During flu season, the U.S. is able to vaccinate about 3 million people a day, said Dr. Christopher Murray of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation in Seattle. "Given the number of people dying from COVID, we could and should do morelike what we're able to do on seasonal flu," he said.

Zients said Biden will not follow through on a Trump administration plan to penalize states lagging in vaccination by shifting some of their allocation to more efficient states. "We are not looking to pit one state against another," he said.

President Joe Biden addresses the nation at the Celebrating America concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, after his inauguration.. (Joshua Roberts/Pool photo via AP)

Biden has set a goal of having most K-8 schools reopen in his first 100 days, and he's ordering the departments of Education and Health and Human Services to provide clear guidance for reopening schools safely.

Getting schools and child care going will help to ease the drag on the U.S. economy, making it easier for parents to return to their jobs and restaurants to find lunch-time customers.

But administration officials stressed that reopening schools safely depends on increased testing.

To ramp up supplies, Biden is giving government agencies a green light to use a Cold War-era law called the Defense Production Act to direct manufacturing.

"We do not have nearly enough testing capacity in this country," Zients said. "We need the money in order to really ramp up testing, which is so important to reopen schools and businesses."

This means that any efforts to reopen the economy will hinge on how quickly lawmakers act on the $1.9 trillion package proposed by Biden, which includes separate planks such as $1,400 in direct payments to people, a $15 minimum wage and aid to state and local governments that some Republican lawmakers see as unnecessary for addressing the medical emergency. The Biden plan estimates that a national vaccination strategy with expanded testing requires $160 billion, and he wants another $170 billion to aid the reopening of schools and universities.

President Joe Biden signs his first executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

As part of his COVID-19 strategy, Biden will order the establishment of a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to ensure that minority and underserved communities are not left out of the government's response. Blacks, Latinos and Native Americans have borne a heavy burden of death and disease from the virus. Surveys have shown vaccine hesitancy is high among African Americans, a problem the administration plans to address through an education campaign.

But Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, the top White House health adviser on minority communities, said she's not convinced that race should be a factor in vaccination. Disparities seem to have more to do with risky jobs and other life circumstances.

"It's not inherent to race," she said. "It's from the exposures."

There's also support for states in the package. Biden is ordering FEMA to reimburse states for the full cost of using their National Guards to set up vaccination centers. That includes the use of supplies and protective gear as well as personnel. States would also be able to tap FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund to help them get schools back open.

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Shortly after the inauguration, President Joe Biden has signed two executive orders which could put the U.S national security at risk, a report says.

The first is a cease order to the construction of the wall along the length of the U.S and Mexico border, Townhall reported. About 450 miles have already been covered and a pending 350 miles have been approved for building.

Mark Morgan, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, pointed out that the purpose of the wall initiated by the Trump administration is to stop drug smugglers and human traffickers from crossing the border. The Border Patrol does the necessary inspections.

The current administration calls the wall construction "unwarranted" and that it's a waste of taxpayers' money.

"Like every nation, the United States has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats. But building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution. It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security," states the proclamation released by the White House.

In retaliation, conservatives spoke out, one of which is Republican Senator Marco Rubio, Reuters reported. He said the order is "a blanket amnesty for people who are here unlawfully."

The second is a reversal order of the travel ban imposed on Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, Chad, and Venezuela. These countries were said to be "terrorist hotspots" and stricter measures on immigration have to be observed.

Starting 2017, governments from these countries were required to provide proper documentations for citizens traveling to the United States. The governments were asked to cooperate as part of the collective effort to combat terrorism.

"Following an extensive review by the Department of Homeland Security, we are taking action today to protect the safety and security of the American people by establishing a minimum security baseline for entry into the United States," said the former President Donald Trump during his term.

"We cannot afford to continue the failed policies of the past, which present an unacceptable danger to our country. My highest obligation is to ensure the safety and security of the American people, and in issuing this new travel order, I am fulfilling that sacred obligation," he added.

As for the incumbent President Joe Biden, he thinks that his predecessor was being discriminatory. His aides also believed that it was "rooted in xenophobia and religious animus."

"Those actions are a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all," Biden said per report of CBS News.

Without a close look at all the pressing issues faced by the United States, these accusations would definitely paint Mr. Trump in a bad light. But during his first presidential debate, then U.S President Trump has said,

"They were teaching people that our country is a horrible place, it's a racist place. And they were teaching people to hate our country. And I'm not gonna allow that to happen."

Other executive orders by the incumbent President Joe Biden address the ongoing pandemic via a mask mandate, climate change via rejoining the Paris Agreement, student loans and financial reliefs, government accountability, and equity to all regardless of race or gender identity.
BERLIN  World leaders breathed an audible sigh of relief that the United States under President Joe Biden is rejoining the global effort to curb climate change, a cause that his predecessor had shunned over the past four years.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those welcoming Bidens decision to rejoin the Paris climate accord, reversing a key Trump policy in the first hours of his presidency Wednesday.

Rejoining the Paris Agreement is hugely positive news, tweeted Johnson, whose country is hosting this years U.N. climate summit.

Macron said that with Biden, we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet.

The Paris accord, forged in the French capital in 2015, commits countries to put forward plans for reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which is released from burning fossil fuels.

Former President Donald Trump had questioned the scientific warnings about man-made global warming, at times accusing other countries of using the Paris accord as a club to hurt Washington. The U.S. formally left the pact in November.

The United States departure from it has definitely diminished our capacities to change things, concretely to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Now we are dealing with an administration that is conscious of what is at stake and that is very committed to use the voice of the United States, a voice that is very powerful on the international level, she said.

Biden put the fight against climate change at the center of his presidential campaign and on Wednesday immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts to bring Washington back in step with the rest of the world on the issue.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, Biden said in his inaugural address. A cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear now.

Experts say any international efforts to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally 1.5C (2.7F), as agreed in the Paris accord would struggle without the contribution of U.S., which is the worlds second-biggest carbon emitter.

Scientists say time is running out to reach that goal because the world has already warmed 1.2 C (2.2 F) since pre-industrial times.

Italy said the U.S. return to the Paris accord would help other countries reach their own climate commitments. Italy looks forward to working with the U.S. to build a sustainable planet and ensure a better future for the next generations, Premier Giuseppe Conte tweeted.

The Vatican, too, was clearly pleased given the decision aligns with Pope Francis environmental agenda and belief in multilateral diplomacy. In a front-page editorial in Wednesdays LOsservatore Romano, Vatican deputy editorial director Alessandro Gisotti noted that Bidens decision to rejoin Paris converges with Pope Francis commitment in favor of the custody of our common home.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was more muted in her reaction, noting on Thursday that her government would probably have a more similar opinion with Biden on issues such as the Paris climate accord, migration and the World Health Organization.

Youth activists who have been at the forefront of demanding leaders take the threat of global warming seriously said they now want to see concrete action from Washington.

Many countries signed the Paris Agreement and they are still part of the Paris Agreement, but they make very free interpretations of what that implies, said Juan Aguilera, one of the organizers of the Fridays for Future movement in Spain. In many cases, signing it has become a show, because at the end of the day the concrete measures that are being taken, at least in the short term, are not satisfactory.

Biden has appointed a large team to tackle climate change both on the domestic and international front. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, named as the presidents special climate envoy, on Thursday took part in a virtual event with Italian industry at which he touted the green economy as an engine for jobs and said the U.S. planned to make up for time lost over the past four years.

Organizers of a meeting Monday on adapting to climate change said they hoped Kerry would take part too, and Biden himself has talked about inviting world leaders to a summit on the issue within his first 100 days in office.

Over the coming months the U.S. allies and rivals will closely watch to see by how much the administration offers to cut its emissions in the coming decade. A firm number is expected to be announced before the U.N. climate summit taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

Veterans of such gatherings noted the formidable diplomatic clout that the U.S. has managed to bring to them in the past.

Farhana Yamin, a British lawyer who served as adviser to the Marshall Islands in the Paris negotiations, said she left the climate talks in 2018 feeling disillusioned not only by the U.S. withdrawal but also by how other countries, including her own, were failing to live up to the agreed goals.

I wish there were more progress here in the UK, she said, adding she hoped that the change in the White House would mean others would increase their ambition on climate, too. The U.S. always has massive influence on its allies.

___

Frank Jordans Of The Associated Press wrote this story. Karl Ritter and Nicole Winfield in Rome, Oleg Cetinic in Paris and Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs climate coverage at https://www.apnews.com/Climate
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Indian fishermen threaten to disrupt ships' movement at Mumbai port from Jan 21

by Sweety Adimulam

January 21,2021 | Source: FPJ

Project-affected families from the fishing community of Sheva village, near Mumbai, India, whose lands were acquired for the construction of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) 40 years ago, have now called for indefinite agitation threatening to block the movement of ships from January 21st. The strike warning was given over the failure of JNPT to rehabilitate the project affected families and no compensation given to them to date, claimed Ramesh Koli, one of the affected fishermen.



He claimed, "JNPT acquired our property for the port development and in exchange were supposed to rehabilitate us on 17 hectares of a land parcel but only 2 hectares of land was allotted. For the development of 17 hectares, JNPT was to give Rs 6.20 crore but no money is disbursed to date.



Annoyed with the false assurance given by the authority and failure of government, we will go on strike now."



According to the plan, over 125 traditional fishing boats will be pressed into action on January 21 to block the entry and exit of ships at JNPT. Meanwhile, Koli asserted that several meetings were held with the administration and JNPT. The matter was also taken to the Lokayukt. Moreover, Members of Parliament, legislators of our constituency, ministers were also involved but no solution has come out till today.



In all, 256 families have been displaced from Sheva village and now they have grown to about 600 families, Suresh Damodar Koli, head of the Village Reforms Committee said. "As per the agreement, JNPT is supposed to train the project-hit people and give them jobs but nothing was done. Moreover now, the fishing community is being denied of its legitimate, constitutionally guaranteed right to fish," he contended.



An email query and text messages sent seeking JNPT's comments on the issue did not receive a response.

 Free Press Journal

Theme(s): Communities and Organisations.
People wait to be inoculated with a COVID-19 vaccine at the Chaoyang Museum of Urban Planning in Beijing, on Jan. 15, 2021. (NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing City Detects UK Variant CCP Virus Patients, as More Regions Enact Lockdowns

Authorities in Beijing announced that the capital detected the countrys first outbreak of the new UK variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Earlier this month, several locales said they detected singular travelers from overseas who tested positive for B.1.1.7, the new UK-derived virus strain that is more contagious.

But the recent outbreak in Beijings Daxing district appeared to be the first cluster of infections. Due to the lack of transparent information from Chinese authorities, it is unclear whether there have been other outbreaks of the UK variant in the country, nor exactly how many people were detected with the mutated virus.

Meanwhile, several more regions in northern China went under lockdown in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Beijings Latest Outbreak

On Jan. 20, the Beijing government said all schools from daycare to high school level would be shut down beginning on Jan. 23.

Students who havent completed their terms will continue their classes online. The others will start their winter break earlier. Normally, Chinese schools start winter break one week before the Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 12 this year.

Residents line up outside a community center to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Beijing, China on Jan. 12, 2021. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

The capital has seen new cluster infections since at least Dec. 14 last yearwhen a 27-year-old man working in Hong Kong returned to Beijing and tested positive for COVID-19 after the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Authorities later said restaurant waitresses and guests who came into contact with him in Chaoyang district tested positive.

Then, in late December, a cluster outbreak occurred in Shunyi district.

The latest official announcement stated that nearly a dozen people contracted the disease through neighborhoods, colleagues, and relativesincluding a 63-year-old female and her 46-year-old male family member who live in Daxing district.

The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention said at a Wednesday press conference that the two had contracted the UK variant. They had no recent travel history. But officials did not explain how they could have contracted the new virus strain.

Also on Wednesday, authorities designated the Tiangongyuan community where they live as a high-risk region for contracting the virus, with no one allowed to leave the area. Meanwhile, all residents of Daxing district would be required to take nucleic acid tests.

Outbreaks in Other Regions

Wangkui county of Suihua city, Heilongjiang Province was designated as a high-risk region on Wednesday.

Nearby areas of Beilin district, Suiling county, Anda city, Hailun city, and Qinggang county said on Tuesday that they would ban their residents from leaving their homes. And on Monday, the provincial capital of Harbin stopped all public transportation in Hulan district.

A report by state-run media Health Times also hinted at severe outbreaks within hospitals in Hebei and Liaoning provinces.

It noted that a woman hired to take care of a patient at the Shijiazhuang Gaocheng Peoples Hospital began exhibiting COVID-like symptoms on Jan. 1. She took a test on Jan. 3, which came back positive the following day. The media report criticized the hospital for administering the test late, allowing the woman to spread the virus further.

The report also called out two other hospitals in Hebei, two in Shenyang city of Liaoning, and eight in Chaoyang city in Liaoning, for not taking protocols to contain the virus.
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- The webcasts will feature thought leaders from business and academia who will address the uncertainty facing the international trade environment as it emerges from the Covid-19 economic crisis.

AMSTERDAM, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the world strives to turn the page on the Covid-19 crisis, many businesses are facing new challenges arising from the uncertain and potentially long-term impacts of the pandemic on global supply chains. On top of this, businesses are having to deal with the continuous renegotiation of trade tariffs, the rebalancing of world trade relationships, and a growing trend towards trade digitalisation and de-globalisation.

To help businesses understand the main challenges and to find their way through this new landscape, the global credit insurer Atradius will be hosting a series of four virtual interactive events called "From crisis to opportunity: what is the future of trade?"

This series will provide businesses across the world with unique opportunities to gain insights from thought leaders, futurists and business experts, including risk specialists from Atradius. Each event is fully interactive so that, in addition to discussing the future of global trade and the evolving trade landscape, each panel of experts will invite questions from the business audience.

Atradius Chief Market Officer, Andreas Tesch, said: "The Covid-19 crisis has created a crucible where things are heating up for businesses throughout the world, leading to some major and even systemic changes. The question is, how will this affect business moving forward? As a leading enabler of global trade, these are subjects that our underwriters and economists at Atradius explore every day. In this time of heightened upheaval and turbulence, this series of webcasts gives us the opportunity to share our expertise and, in debate with our panel, to additionally share the insights of some of the world's best business minds. We are delighted and honoured to welcome our guest panellists and to host this series of important discussions."

The initial event will focus on how the pandemic has potentially changed the global trade landscape forever. Moderated by Daisy McAndrew (former Economics Editor and Chief Political Correspondent for ITV News), the first expert panel will feature Professor Ian Goldin (Professor of Globalisation and Development at the University of Oxford), Emma Marcegaglia (Chair and CEO of Marcegaglia Holding S.p.A.), Johan Melander (APAC & MEA Credit Director for Electrolux) and Edwin Kuhlman (Head of Risk for Atradius Global). Welcome speech and introduction to the debate will be made by Andreas Tesch, Chief Market Officer of Atradius.

Details of the event:

Date: Thursday, 4 February 2021

Time: 11am (Amsterdam) / 6pm (Hong Kong)

Duration: 45 minutes panel discussion, followed by 15 minutes live Q&A

To register for the event, please go to the Atradius Website at https://group.atradius.com/virtual-event-series/from-crisis-to-opportunity-event1.html or click here

A recording of each panel event and a white paper will be made available following broadcast.

About Atradius

Atradius is a global provider of credit insurance, bonding and surety, collections and information services, with a strategic presence in over 50 countries. The products offered by Atradius protect companies around the world against the default risks associated with selling goods and services on credit. Atradius is a member of Grupo Catalana Occidente (GCO.MC), one of the largest insurers in Spain and one of the largest credit insurers in the world. You can find more information online at https://group.atradius.com

For further information:

Head Office

Christine Gerryn

Director of Group Communication & Commercial Development

Phone.: +31-20-553-2047

E-mail: christine.gerryn@atradius.com

https://group.atradius.com

Connect with Atradius on Social Media

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https://twitter.com/atradius

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MOSCOW, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russia's sovereign wealth fund) announces the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) has authorized the use of Russian Sputnik V vaccine in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The vaccine was registered under the emergency use authorization procedure based on the results of the Russian Phase III clinical trials which included over 33,000 subjects. Moreover, local Phase III clinical trials of Sputnik V in the UAE are ongoing under the supervision of the MOHAP and Department of Health (DOH) of Abu Dhabi with 1,000 volunteers already enrolled into the study. Medical protocols are handled by the public health provider, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, SEHA.

As a precursor to the emergency authorization procedure, Sputnik V trials were conducted in the UAE and were facilitated through a partnership between RDIF and Abu Dhabi-based Aurugulf Health Investment and Pure Health  the marketing and distribution partner. Since the launch of the trials in December 2020, a total of 1000 volunteers received their first dose of the vaccine, a celebrated milestone which paved the way for registering the vaccine under the emergency use authorization.

Sputnik V had been registered under the same procedure earlier in Algeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Serbia, Palestine, Venezuela, Paraguay and Turkmenistan. The vaccine is also registered in Russia and Belarus.

Supplies of the vaccine to the UAE will be facilitated by RDIF's international partners in India, China, South Korea and other countries.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said:

"The UAE is one of Russia's key partners in the Middle East. RDIF appreciates the cooperation with health authorities of UAE and welcomes the regulatory approval of Sputnik V. We strive to help people of UAE to get access to a safe and effective Russian vaccine against coronavirus based on a proven and well-researched platform of human adenoviral vectors. The decision to include Sputnik V in UAE's national vaccine portfolio is an important step towards protecting the population with one of the best vaccines against coronavirus in the world."

Sputnik V has a number of key advantages:

Efficacy of Sputnik V is over 90%, with full protection against severe cases of COVID-19.

The Sputnik V vaccine is based on a proven and well-studied platform of human adenoviral vectors, which cause the common cold and have been around for thousands of years.

Sputnik V uses two different vectors for the two shots in a course of vaccination, providing immunity with a longer duration than vaccines using the same delivery mechanism for both shots.

The safety, efficacy and lack of negative long-term effects of adenoviral vaccines have been proven by more than 250 clinical studies over two decades.

Over 1.5mn people have already been vaccinated with Sputnik V.

The developers of the Sputnik V vaccine are working collaboratively with AstraZeneca on a joint clinical trial to improve the efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Sputnik V vaccine has been approved in Russia , Belarus , Serbia, Argentina , Bolivia , Algeria , Palestine, Venezuela , Paraguay and Turkmenistan ; the process to approve the vaccine in the EU has been initiated.

There are no strong allergies caused by Sputnik V.

The storage temperature of Sputnik V at +2+8 C means it can be stored in a conventional refrigerator without any need to invest in additional cold-chain infrastructure.

The price of Sputnik V is less than $10 per shot, making it affordable around the world.

Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) is Russia's sovereign wealth fund established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside reputable international financial and strategic investors. RDIF acts as a catalyst for direct investment in the Russian economy. RDIF's management company is based in Moscow. Currently, RDIF has experience of the successful joint implementation of more than 80 projects with foreign partners totaling more than RUB2 tn and covering 95% of the regions of the Russian Federation. RDIF portfolio companies employ more than 800,000 people and generate revenues which equate to more than 6% of Russia's GDP. RDIF has established joint strategic partnerships with leading international co-investors from more than 18 countries that total more than $40 bn. Further information can be found at www.rdif.ru

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SOURCE The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF)

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This accident would not affect the production of the coronavirus vaccine

A major fire has broken out on the fourth and fifth floor of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ 3) building in the Serum Institute plant at Manjri in Pune. Although the cause of the fire is not certain, the Manjri facility is apparently the one where Covishield vaccine is being made.

However, reports have revealed that this accident would not affect the production of the coronavirus vaccine as the fire broke out in a facility away from the place where the vaccines are manufactured.

We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed., tweeted Adar Poonawalla, Chief Executive Officer, Serum Institute of India, Pune, while expressing condolences after five people died due to the fire.

Back in 2019, the company had announced an investment of over Rs 3000 crore for the Manjri plant that operates with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for an enhanced production quantity.
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HERNDON, Va., Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quarantine Reflections across Two Worlds by Nora D. Clinton presents a captivating account about life in two strikingly different worlds, an ardent defense of freedom and a thought-provoking analysis of current events and ideologies.

Clinton shares her experiences growing up in Bulgaria, from her childhood under communism to watching the Berlin Wall fall in twelfth grade to ultimately arriving in America, which she now calls home. Throughout, she illustrates the dangers of utopian abstractions and the need for common sense and humanity. An eye-opening tale especially for high-school and middle-school students, her story is a must-read for anyone trying to fathom the current surreal reality including fascination with socialism, 2020 pandemic and protests and so much more.

I always wanted to share my memories of growing up under communism, then achieving the American Dream, said Clinton. I thought the pandemic was a good time to tell my story because so many of us are struggling, especially children and young people. That is why I am offering a frame of reference, a comparison of our lives in the United States with life behind the Iron Curtain. Having a historical perspective helps us cope with current reality and make sense out of troubling events. The wisdom of years past enables us to recognize what truly matters and unite over our shared respect for freedom and humanity.

Quarantine Reflections across Two Worlds has received numerous praises.

It is all about basic humanity, so often drowned these days by enthusiastic efforts to promote abstract values. The author reminds us that totalitarian mentality is essentially anti-humanistno matter whether it claims to be defending a communist or a Nazi state, a nature deprived of people, or the equality of sexes by imposing manufactured uniformity of their roles. Philip Dimitrov, PhD, former prime minister of Bulgaria, ambassador of Bulgaria to the USA and of the EU to Georgia, current constitutional justice and VP of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

Dr. Nora D. Clintons vivid booklet is part personal memoir of a childhood under communist tyranny and part impassioned tribute to political liberty. It is a product of noble independence of spirit and an ode to it. Andrew Bernstein, PhD, American philosopher and internationally acclaimed lecturer and author of fiction and academic books, including Heroes, Legends, Champions: Why Heroism Matters.

Quarantine Reflections across Two Worlds is a vivid and compelling account of childhood and youth in communist Bulgaria, which says, in a few words and through illustrative stories, a lot about the misery of living in a totalitarian state. Its talented author, Nora D. Clinton, possesses wide culture and knowledge, which enables her to offer interesting comments about the superiority of liberty and democracy and to address some cliches of the contemporary political discourse. Nassya Kralevska-Owens, journalist and author of numerous books, including Communism Versus DemocracyBulgaria 1944 to 1997.

Quarantine Reflections provides a better understanding of the times we live in by offering historical and philosophical context for current events and ideologies. Clinton writes from an honest and kind perspective and invites readers to join the conversation with an open mind.

Quarantine Reflections across Two Worlds

By Nora D. Clinton

ISBN: 9781480895980 (softcover); 9781480895997 (electronic)

Available at the Archway Publishing Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Nora D. Clinton was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. She received degrees from several universities in Europe and the United States, including a PhD in classics from Cornell University. She has taught Greek and Latin languages and has published extensively on the subject of ancient documents on stone. She works in the field of legal operations management and is a co-founder and pro bono co-president of a nonprofit organization dedicated to academic cooperation and American values. She currently lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and son. To learn more, please visit www.arcsofia.org.

Simon & Schuster, a company with nearly ninety years of publishing experience, has teamed up with Author Solutions, LLC, the worldwide leader in self-publishing, to create Archway Publishing. With unique resources to support books of all kind, Archway Publishing offers a specialized approach to help every author reach his or her desired audience. For more information, visit www.archwaypublishing.com or call 888-242-5904.

Attachment
The 26,000 National Guard troops stationed in Washington, D.C., were ready for anything, but Inauguration Day passed without them facing a single security problem.

"There were no security incidents reported involving the National Guard," according to a National Guard Bureau news release.

The scene at the U.S. Capitol, where Joe Biden took the oath of office to become the country's 46th president, was a stark contrast to the riot on Jan. 6.

Read Next: 3 Militia Members, Including Marine Vet, Charged with Plotting Capitol Breach

The Supreme Court did receive a bomb threat before the inauguration ceremony Wednesday, but the building was not evacuated because it was closed at the time, Business Insider reported.

"Our ability to move 26,000 Soldiers and Airmen to D.C. from every state and territory in less than two weeks would not have been possible without the support of our governors and their adjutants general," National Guard Bureau Chief Daniel Hokanson said in the release. "It speaks volumes about America's investment in the National Guard; and most importantly, the support our service members get from their family and their employers."

He said the next step will be to ensure that federal law enforcement's security needs are satisfied before troops begin to redeploy.

"We will continue to support federal law enforcement as requested," Hokanson said in the release. "Our Guard members will return home as soon as conditions permit."

The force could shrink rapidly, but at a minimum, the 6,200 Guard members mobilized Jan. 7 -- following the Capitol breach -- will remain in Washington through Feb. 7, he told reporters Tuesday. The rest were requested by federal law enforcement to support the inauguration.

Since arriving in D.C., Guard members have been welcomed throughout the city, Hokanson said. "The outpouring of support to our National Guard ... here in the District of Columbia is a story in itself. I want to particularly thank the citizens of the District of Columbia."

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: National Guard in DC Briefed on 'Use of Force, Self Defense' in Lead-Up to Inauguration
Pastors fatal heart attack at 32 points to chronic disease crisis among young black males

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Corey Hines wasnt ready to die.

On Saturday, Jan. 2 though, the 32-year-old Texas preacher, who survived two brutal heart attacks just months ago amid the coronavirus pandemic, died gasping for air in the garage of his home.

Im about to pass out, his sister, Chelsye Hines, said were his last words.

His sister-in-law had desperately tried to get him his emergency heart medication but Pastor Hines slipped away into the unknown before she was able to get it to him.

That was it. He pretty much fainted, Chelsye said. Some 30 minutes after an ambulance arrived, her brother was pronounced dead.

In hindsight, it seems all that day Pastor Hines had been inching toward death.

Chelsye recalled how he wasnt feeling well so he was just kind of taking it easy.

He traveled with his wife out of town to see his grandfather-in-law, whom they hadnt seen for a while. On their way back, he got himself a fresh haircut. He needed to look good for church the next morning.

While he was there getting his haircut, I guess the pain got worse, Chelsye said.

Pastor Hines didnt have his emergency heart medication with him at the barbershop so a family member had to rush it to him.

He took it and he was OK, explained Chelsye.

Later, when he got home, Pastor Hines would try to feel better by relaxing with his family.

They were just having family time and just having fun. He had the kids. They had music, and just talking, having fun. Then he said, I cant breathe. Im having trouble breathing, Chelsye said.

Pastor Hines emergency heart medication was still in his car from the barbershop episode. His sister-in-law ran to get it again. Pastor Hines followed behind her to save time.

As soon as she found it, she was walking up to him and he said, Im about to pass out, said Chelsye.

Church

On Monday, Jan. 4, Heavenly Gospel Church in Fort Worth, which Pastor Hines had led for the last five years, shared the tragic news on Facebook.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the transition of our amazing Senior Pastor Corey Hines. A man of faith, love, joy, leadership and a servants heart. Pastor Corey lived his life to love and serve his family, his church and community just like Jesus, the church said. Our lives will forever be impacted by his wisdom, generous love, sense of humor, his incomparable commitment, and his unquestionable loyalty to the Kingdom of God, his wife, his family, the community and to Heavenly Gospel Church.

But Hines wasnt ready to die.

This year was supposed to be the year of victory for the young preacher.

In his New Years Eve address to his congregants shared on Facebook, Pastor Hines talked about the health challenges he had faced as the coronavirus pandemic marched across the country, leaving more than 350,000 dead in its wake.

He presented a picture of hope and gratefulness to be alive in his touching testimony of how he had survived against all odds  thanks to God.

People were trying to characterize 2020 and all the bad things and throw the whole year away and things like that, but God, He did some amazing things in 2020 through Heavenly Gospel. Not only through Heavenly Gospel, He did some amazing things in my life, Hines said with an ethereal tone and a glint of hope in his eyes.

How do I know? Because your pastor is still here! Yall missed, yall shout, he insisted. I said your pastor is still here. Two heart attacks, two surgeries, one major surgery and triple bypass and Im still here, healthy. Im thriving and I feel better than ever.

And that is a point of praising God, right? Because you could thank God your pastor is still here but in a year where over 350,000 people have passed away due to COVID. If youre watching this, youve got to consider yourself blessed.

Yes. Hines still alive at 32 on New Years Eve was a blessing to his congregation.

What his congregants did not know though, is that the day the church shared his end of year address on Facebook, Hines wasnt thriving. He had to be rushed to his cardiologist as he fought to hold on to his blessing of life, his sister said.

He went to the doctor on New Years Eve because he was having chest issues again and all they did was change his medicine. I dont know protocol. I dont know if they could have just kept him. They could have given him a heart transplant. I dont know. I just feel like more could have been done, Chelsye lamented.

While Hines did not die as a direct result of the coronavirus pandemic, Chelsye believes it most definitely played a role in his death by complicating his access to healthcare. She also feels like perhaps if doctors had treated his care over the last few months with a bit more urgency, perhaps her brother could have lived longer than 32 years.

An emerging chronic disease crisis

As Chelsea struggles to make sense of her brothers death, recent but still limited research suggests Hines fatal heart attack may be a casualty of an emerging chronic disease crisis among young black American males.

In A Closer Look at African American Men and High Blood Pressure Control, a report first published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2010, researchers pointed to the burden of heart disease and stroke being the first and third leading causes of death and major causes of disability in the U.S. The report also highlights that black men, like Pastor Hines, disproportionately make up those numbers.

In the report Perspective: Cardiovascular Disease among Young African American Males,published in 2017, Marino Bruce, research associate professor of medicine, health and society at Vanderbilt University, along with his team, explained what they saw as the emerging chronic disease crisis.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of premature death among middle-aged African American males, who as youth have a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors leading to accelerated rate of disease progression, and a higher rate of age-related complications than other groups of males, they wrote. CVD can have long latency periods with some processes beginning in youth.

While noting that there was still limited data on the cardiovascular disease risk among black American males, Bruce and his team highlighted hypertension and obesity as prominent features in the health profiles of young black men.

Hypertension, a known risk factor for CVD, is a salient condition for young African American males as it has been found that college-aged African American males are twice as likely to have hypertension than their white peers, the researchers said.

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey also showed that black American adolescent males comprised the largest segment of extremely obese 12- to 19-year-old males.

It has been estimated that 75% of the incidence in hypertension can be directly attributed to obesity, and current evidence suggests that the poor health prospects of African American males are likely to worsen in the coming years, researchers noted.

Although black American adults are 40% more likely to have high blood pressure, they are less likely than their non-Hispanic white counterparts to have their blood pressure under control, according to the CDC. And in 2017, black Americans were 20% more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites.

John Henryism and other stressors

In recent preliminary studies, researchers suggested the disparity may have worsened during the pandemic for young black men as well.

One study highlighted in a report by ProPublica using data through July 2020 found that black people ages 35 to 44 were dying at nine times the rate of white people of the same age from the coronavirus. Harvard researcher Tamara Rushovich found that disparity was greatest in black men.

Tracing through the histories of nearly 24 young black men who died from the virus, ProPublicas research examined a hypothesis known as John Henryism and the catalytic role it could have also played among a host of stressors in their deaths during the pandemic. The theory was also presented as a factor in why black men, in general, have the shortest lifespan of any group of Americans.

John Henry, after whom the hypothesis is named, was reportedly a black American railroad worker from the 1800s who was pitted in a race against a steam-powered drill, which required much less toil and threatened workers livelihoods. Henry beat the machine against all odds but would later die from the stress of his effort.

Public health researcher and epidemiologist Sherman James, who is now at Duke University in North Carolina, coined the term John Henryism in the 1970s, which predicts that when people face prolonged adversity  against inequality, financial hardship and racial discrimination  the high-effort coping required to thrive will damage their health through stress, leading to a greater likelihood of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and other problems.

The John Henry of contemporary social theory is a man striving to get ahead in an unequal society. The effort of confronting that machine, day in and day out, compounded over a lifetime, leads to stress so corrosive that it physically changes bodies, causing Black men to age quicker, become sicker and die younger than nearly any other U.S. demographic group. COVID-19 is a new gear in an old machine, the Propublica report said.

Researchers at the CDC also acknowledge the theory as a driver in health outcomes for black Americans in A Closer Look at African American Men and High Blood Pressure Control.

John Henryism is described as behaviors used to deal with psychosocial and environmental stressors that are often exhibited by African Americans determined to succeed in the face of obstacles. Among African American workers of lower socioeconomic status, those with high John Henryism were found to have higher blood pressure levels than those with low John Henryism, the researchers said.

Several studies found an association between racism and higher blood pressure levels in African American men. Perceived racism contributes to stress and low self-esteem, which can ultimately negatively affect blood pressure levels, researchers explained.

Other factors such as socioeconomic status, lack of health insurance and cultural beliefs about hypertension were also found to be factors in health behaviors among black men.

Health insurance coverage can influence the successful control of hypertension. Based on 2006 Current Population Survey data, African American males were more likely to be uninsured than white males (23% compared to 17%) and less likely to have private insurance coverage (54% compared to 70%), CDC researchers said. Successful control of hypertension among African Americans is significantly related to health insurance coverage. Lack of prescription drug coverage and access to hypertensive drugs may play a role in this relationship.

Awareness, self-care and the black church

Chelsye Hines explained to The Christian Post that her brother had been involved in church leadership since he was about 18 and was groomed to eventually take the helm of the church at the age of 27.

She said when he began experiencing chest pains in the fall of 2019, he chalked it up to stress. She said, he kind of shook it off as an accepted way of life.

He thought it was stress because at the end of the day, he is a pastor, she explained. There is stress that comes with leadership, unfortunately, and he just thought, 'Well, maybe Im stressed and maybe I just need to figure out am I doing too much, am I not?

She said her brother tried different things to cope with his discomfort until around February 2020 when he tried to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist. A few weeks later, the coronavirus pandemic hit, making booking time with a heart specialist much more difficult.

I remember it was hard because the pandemic hit and places were shutting down and they couldnt see him and they werent taking new patients," Chelsye recalled. "I remember they kept pushing it (his appointment) off and he was getting frustrated because he couldnt get in."

The pastor eventually got to see a cardiologist in May and they began treating him for high cholesterol. His condition was not treated with any urgency, said his sister, until he had his first heart attack in June.

When he went to the specialist, I just remember them doing a stress test because he had sent me a picture of himself hooked up to all the little things.  Thats when they figured out he had high cholesterol and gave him medicine. But that was just about it. Nothing else came about until he had his first heart attack, Chelsye added.

By the second week in July, Pastor Hines underwent triple bypass surgery to remove blockages in three of his major arteries. Around the first week in September, Chelsye said her brother would suffer another mild heart attack that forced him back to the ER where doctors put a stent in one main artery.

Doctors also gave her brother nitrates and cholesterol medication to manage his condition and sent him home with some advice to change his lifestyle.

Pretty much he was transitioning to a vegan lifestyle. My mom was making him vegan dishes. He was transitioning to stop eating meat. So it wasnt like after this he went back to living how he was living. He was really making the changes, Chelsye said of her brothers outlook when he died.

Hines was so serious about getting better, she said, he had even started a major health campaign with his congregation that he planned to highlight in 2021.

My brother, he was telling our vision for the year and he kept saying wholeness and wellness. He really wanted us to focus on not just being spiritually healthy but physically healthy, mentally healthy as well. He started a challenge on his Facebook where he challenged everybody to walk three to five miles a day, she said.

He wanted to be more effective, bring more awareness because it is true  black men, especially young black men in church, because things arent really taught in the black church. We are taught to trust in the Lord with all our hearts but you know, we dont take care of it the way that we should sometimes, she said.

In August 2019, months before the pandemic hit, CP also highlighted research showing that black men who attend church services frequently were found to be nearly twice as likely to be obese than those who never attend services, which has serious implications for heart health.

The study, Investigating Denominational and Church Attendance Differences in Obesity and Diabetes in Black Christian Men and Women, from Dukes Samuel DuBois Cook Center for Social Equity, suggested that the development of obesity in black men highly engaged in church life could be influenced by their social networks.

Researchers argued that the findings needed to be factored into faith-based health promotions since obesity increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Months after that report, the Rev. Howard-John Wesley, senior pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, brought some attention to the need for self-care among black pastors when he announced that he needed to take a sabbatical to take care of his spiritual and physical health.

Yall, did you realize this is the only body we get? This aint a test run. You wear this one out, thats it. I want to bring my best self to God. Youd be surprised that the majority of black preachers are in horrible physical condition, Wesley said. Their A1C is high, their blood pressure is skyrocketing, their cholesterol is bad, theyre on more medications than they should be.

When asked if her brother would have probably benefited from a little more time off work, Chelsye said more time could have helped in his recovery but noted that he was not asked to do any major church work.

I think so, but at the same time, all he had to do was speak. Im his second. I run the operations in everything here at the church. All he had to do is just come and prepare the sermons, she explained. Maybe some people do think he should have taken more time off to rest but I just feel like the disease itself was more progressive than they (doctors) thought.

Remembering

Reacting to the young pastors death, The Potters House of Fort Worth, which is a campus of T.D. Jakes The Potters House megachurch, celebrated Hines as a pastor after Gods heart as news of his passing spread.

Our hearts are heavy with the news of the passing of Pastor Corey Hines. When God gives a people pastors after His heart they make an [indelible] impression upon our hearts. Pastor Corey was indeed a pastor after God's heart. May his soul find rest, the church said in a statement on Twitter.

Others who knew him described him as an inspiring figure who had a passion for helping children.

I remember the night you called me to see if we could take a 1 year old boy as an emergency. You had exhausted all other options before calling as you knew we had our hands full. Of course I immediately said yes. I remember you p[l]acing this young toddler in my arms at 1:00 am. We have now adopted him and he is thriving, recalled Angie Henry on the pastors condolence page at Mansfield Funeral Home.

You are responsible for placing so many children into living homes. You worked tirelessly for the foster care system, troubled teens and your own family. You touched so, so, many lives. You will be greatly missed here on Earth but I have no doubt God needed you more. He said well done my faithful servant. Come into Heavens gates. Prayers to his wonderful family for peace and understanding, she said.

Pastor Hines leaves behind his wife, Renee, and their children, Myriah, Myrisa, and Corey Jr. The family has launched a college fund for his children on GoFundMe.
The prospect of a Trump presidency was always unsettling to some Republicans who feared that his high self-regard and his nonchalance about the limits of political power were a recipe for disaster. But as his term wore on, this group came to include some surprising names like George Conway, whose wife, Kellyanne Conway, was one of the strategists who helped run Trumps first campaign and remained loyal to him until the end of his presidency.

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U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer made history yesterday, when he became the first Senate majority leader from the state of New York as well as the first Jewish person to hold the position.

Unfortunately for Schumer, the same day it was announced he would become majority leader, a mob of Trump supporters decided to rush the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to prevent President Joe Bidens election results from being certified.

While his big moment may have been rudely interrupted by insurrectionists hoping to dismantle the U.S. government, Schumer now holds one of the most important and powerful roles in the Senate. As majority leader, Schumer will have the power to speak on behalf of Senate Democrats as well as schedule debate on legislation.

The senators new position could also prove beneficial for New Yorks finances, as he could allocate more federal funding for his home state, as has been the tradition amongst Senate majority leaders in the past. While acting as Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell was able to deliver about $1 billion in federal aid to his home state of Kentucky in 2019 following his reelection.

New York could lose a predicted $59 billion in tax revenues through 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic, and it is in dire need of cash. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been hopeful that the states fiscal crisis could be solved, in part, with additional federal funding. Biden has already stated that he will be providing New York with $2 billion in federal aid that had been blocked by Trump.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is also facing financial hardships due to a significant dip in ridership during the pandemic, could also be helped by a Schumer-led Senate. The MTA is facing an anticipated deficit of $8 billion from 2022 through 2024. The authority has discussed cutting back its already reduced service, but with Schumer at the helm, it may be saved from doing so. Having him as leader of the chamber would be a benefit to the millions and millions of people in New York and across the country who rely on mass transportation, Patrick Foye, chair and CEO of the MTA, told The New York Times.

Getting personal

How it all began

Charles EllisSchumer, better known as Chuck these days, was born in Brooklyn, in 1950. His father had an extermination business, while his mother was a housewife.

Schumer was known for being the smartest kid in his high school and was even named valedictorian. While in high school, Schumer worked for Stanley Kaplan, who created the Kaplan Test Prep service, which helps prepare students for college entrance exams. He credited Kaplan for helping him achieve a perfect SAT score.

He attended Harvard University  where he caught the bug for politics after one of his peers asked him to help campaign for Eugene McCarthy  and Harvard Law School. Upon getting his law degree, he immediately jumped into the world of local politics before going national. Interestingly, Schumer has never lost a political race in his career since first running for an Assembly seat in 1974.

Schumer has also earned a reputation for being a workhorse, spending all of his time and energy on his job, whether hes making calls to his peers and constituents on his flip phone or making press appearances. I dont think anyone can outwork Chuck Schumer, Marty Russo, a former Democratic representative from Illinois, told The New Yorker in 2017.

Schumer married Iris Weinshall in 1980, and the pair have two children. Weinshall, who is the chief operating officer of the New York Public Library, has had her own storied career in New York, having previously worked as the commissioner of the citys Transportation Department under Mayor Rudy Giuliani and as a vice chancellor of the City University of New York. Chuck is also famously related to raunchy stand-up comedian Amy Schumer.

Career politician

A timeline of Schumers career

1974: Elected to the New York Assembly shortly after graduating from Harvard University Law School at the age of 23.

1980: Elected to Congress from New Yorks 16th Congressional District

1998: Elected to the U.S. Senate  at the start of his first term he announced that he would begin visiting all 62 of New Yorks counties each year.

2016: Schumer is named Senate minority leader, making him the first senator from New York to hold that position.

2021: Schumer becomes the first New Yorker to be named Senate majority leader.

Meet the Baileys

Schumers policies and political stances

While Schumers politics have begun to lean more to the left in recent years, hes known for most of his career as a moderate Democrat. His political strategy has for the most part been aimed at middle-class voters, since campaigning for a seat in the Senate in the late 1990s.

To gauge how these voters might react to a policy or political stance, he consults with Joe and Eileen Bailey. A made-up patriotic, church-going, Long Island couple who feels like the government spends too much time focusing either on the super poor or super rich. Schumer detailed how and why he invented this couple in his book Positively American, along with why he still looks to them as his political North Star. Today, wherever I go, they are always at my side, Schumer wrote in his book, arguing that Democrats should try to appeal more to the middle class.

The policies and legislative packages that Schumer has introduced over the years, including gun control measures, womens rights and consumer protections, have tended to appeal to more moderate Democrats. Schumer also helped secure federal aid for many after 9/11 and Superstorm Sandy. And in 2013, Schumer along with a group of powerful Republican and Democrat senators, who were given the moniker Gang of Eight, teamed up to create sweeping immigration reforms to help make citizenship more attainable to thousands of immigrants  but the package ultimately did not pass.

Moneymaker

Schumers fundraising superpower

Schumer is known for being one of the best fundraisers in the Senate  both for himself and for others. Critics on the left have criticized Schumers pool of donors, many of whom have hailed from the financial, real estate, banking and tobacco industries, for making him more deferential to them. In November of 2009, Politico reported that more than 15% of all Wall Streets political donations that year had ended up going to Schumer, which is why hes been called the senator from Wall Street.

Regardless, Schumer remains one of the most gifted and dogged fundraisers in politics, someone who feels that a no is the first step to yes. The senator even reaped thousands of dollars of donations from President Donald Trump and his family, but this was long before Trump became president. In 2019, the Senate Majority PAC, which is tied to Schumer, raised a record $61 million.

Schumer makes the rounds

Visiting every New York county

Since he was first elected to the Senate, Schumer has visited each of New Yorks 62 counties every year. Ive found that a lot of people in New York see the Senate as a faraway place that doesnt hear their concerns, Schumer said in a 1999 press release. I want to bring the Senate to New Yorkers, and take New Yorks concerns back to the Senate.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 the senator still managed to visit every one of the states counties for the 22nd straight year. However, due to health concerns, Schumer opted for smaller one-on-one meetings rather than meetings with larger groups.

Aside from visiting each county, Schumer is also known for being the man who invented the Sunday press conference" and holding oddly specific press briefings throughout the state on subjects like robocalls, canned wine and Greek yogurt.
Demi Sims was left stunned after someone interrupted her kissing new girlfriend Francesca Farago to tell the couple to 'get a room'.

The Only Way is Essex star, 24, and the Too Hot To Handle contestant, 27, couldn't keep their hands off each other as they packed on the PDA in a bar in Mexico.

While filming them on her phone, Demi asked Francesca: 'Baby, do you love me? How much? She loves me.'

Shock! Demi Sims was left stunned after someone interrupted her kissing new girlfriend Francesca Farago to tell the couple to 'get a room'

The couple then kissed on the lips and someone near them shouted: 'Get a room.'

Despite the jeer coming from one of their pals, Demi appeared shocked but soon recovered and replied: We will. We're gonna get a room, oh baby.'

It appeared the comment was made by Francesca's Too Hot To Handle co-star Hayley Cure, who she formed a close bond with on the show and even shared a kiss with at one point.

Loved-up! The Only Way is Essex star, 24, and the Too Hot To Handle contestant, 27, couldn't keep their hands off each other as they packed on the PDA in a bar in Mexico

Jeering: It appeared the comment was made by Francesca's Too Hot To Handle co-star Hayley Cure, who she formed a close bond with on the show and even shared a kiss with at one point

Hayley and some other pas joined the two women for dinner and a night out.

Demi and her Canadian girlfriend went public with their romance as they shared loved-up images to social media over the weekend.

Days later Demi shared the moment Francesca asked her to be her new girlfriend as she held a surprise dinner date on the beach during their trip to Tulum.

The couple couldn't get enough of each other as they exchanged kisses while enjoying a candle lit evening.

Cute: Demi and her Canadian girlfriend went public with their romance as they shared loved-up images to social media over the weekend

Putting on a romantic display, the influencer ensured the sandy shores of the country were decorated in rose petals, which read: 'Girlfriend?'

The pair treated themselves to sun-soaked strolls along the scenic hotspot earlier in the day.

After revealing their new status, TV star Demi received a sweet message from her ex-girlfriend Megan Barton Hanson as she wrote 'cuties' underneath her Instagram post.

How perfect: Days later Demi shared the moment Francesca asked her to be her new girlfriend as she held a surprise dinner date on the beach during their trip to Tulum

'Look what she did for me!' Putting on a romantic display, the influencer ensured the sandy shores of the country were decorated in rose petals, which read: 'Girlfriend?'

Romance is alive: The smitten couple couldn't keep their hands off each other as they ended their intimate outing with kisses

Just the two of us: The pair treated themselves to sun-soaked strolls along the hotspot earlier in the day

Francesca first received attention for her role in the Netflix original series Too Hot to Handle, which premiered last April.

Inspired by an episode of the hit sitcom Seinfeld, the show places 14 contestants together in a Mexican luxury resort, and in order to win $100,000, none of the cast members are allowed to have sex or engage in any other intimate contact.

The brunette beauty was one of the contestants that made it to the final episode, and forged a close relationship with co-star Harry Jowsey.

Wow-factor: They tucked into a quiet meal as they soaked up the stunning scenery

Smitten: They went public with their romance as they shared loved-up images to social media over the weekend

The two split up shortly after the show's finale, but reconciled and became engaged during the show's reunion special taped eight months later.

Francesca later announced that they broke off the relationship.

Demi has previously dated Leonie McSorley, with them last being seen out together in October, and having confirmed their romance in July.

Prior to this she publicly dated Love Island star Megan Barton Hanson.
EU leaders have assessed tougher movement restrictions and more intensive testing of new Covid-19 strains amid ongoing concerns about the crisis among all member governments.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin joined his 26 EU counterparts for an online leaders summit to discuss the continent-wide trend in high death tolls and ongoing rates of hospitalisations due to the virus.

Ahead of discussions Mr Martin said he supported more genome testing to pin down new virus strains which may be more contagious. He also said he will support every EU effort to increase the vaccine rollout.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Berlin that she was concerned about manifestations of the new Covid strain in UK, Ireland, Denmark and Netherlands.

Read More

Speaking after Germany renewed restrictions, invoked last October, until at least February 14, she said the big prize now was the suppression of the virus via vaccination.

But in the meantime there must be effective curbs on Covid 19 spreading  which may include some form of border controls including cross-border testing. Extensive border controls would be a last resort for us too and we will try to prevent that. But they also cant be ruled out if somebody has different ideas, the German Chancellor said.

The Taoiseachs spokesman said Ireland was prepared to consider all travel control measures. But he will insist that supply chains for food, medicines, and other vital supplies must be maintained at all costs.

On genome testing the EU Commission said the current rate of less than 1pc of samples was too low. This urgently needs to go to 5pc  and ideally 10pc of sample testing for genomes.

The EUs aim is to have 70pc of the entire population vaccinated by the summer  without specifying a month. Hopes received a boost on Thursday when Pfizer revealed that their delay on vaccine production, signalled last week, will be much shorter than expected.

Brussels officials said they hoped full scale production at a plant in Belgium could resume from next week with 100pc of the doses promised being output. EU leaders also noted a move by Greece for vaccination passports to help restore air travel.

A major problem here is that scientists still have to work out whether people who are vaccinated can pass on the virus to others.




Deputies were called to the Port Charlotte Publix parking lot after receiving calls that 47-year-old Shane Gillis had been threatening his former boss

A Florida man was detained in a Publix parking lot on Sunday after he repeatedly threatened his former boss over the phone before approaching authorities and his ex-employer with a Twisted Tea and a 28-inch metal pipe.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office shared in a Tuesday Facebook that deputies were called to the Port Charlotte scene after receiving calls that 47-year-old Shane Gillis had been threatening his former boss.

As deputies arrived to the parking lot located at 24051 Peachland Blvd, Gillis was overheard on the phone asserting that he 'had something' for his ex-employer, and was on his way back to Mr. Mobile RV Repair.

Gillis had been fired from his job there 'earlier this week,' authorities told the Charlotte Sun.

Deputies also said that during one call, Gillis reportedly told his ex-boss: 'I'm going to end you right now. I'm coming for you straight through the parking lot.

At the scene, deputies saw Gillis approaching them and the victim with his 'left hand behind his back in an attempt to conceal something, while holding a Twisted Tea can in the right.'

Gillis had been fired from his job at Mr. Mobile RV Repair 'earlier this week.' The company sits in the same parking lot

At the scene, authorities shared that Gillis approached them with a hand behind his back and a Twisted Tea in another

Deputies added that 'on the streets' the Twisted Tea is considered a 'deadly weapon.'

A company Facebook page for Mr. Mobile RV Repair names William John Davis as the owner of the business, but it is unclear whether he was the boss being threatened by Gillis

The statement comes after a viral video showed a man using a can of the tea to assault a racist.

Gillis is said to have complied with deputies who ordered him to raise both hands, also informing them that he had the metal pipe tucked in the back of his jeans.

But while being arrested, Gillis 'surprisingly' continued threatening the victim.

He has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, as a result.

A company Facebook page for Mr. Mobile RV Repair names William John Davis as the owner of the business, but it is unclear whether he was the boss being threatened by Gillis.
New Delhi: In a spectacular bust of the Myanmar-India gold smuggling network, the Delhi Zonal Unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 55.61 kg of foreign-origin gold valued at Rs. 28 crores from eight persons at two locations, i.e. Delhi and Lucknow on Thursday (January 21) 2021.

Specific information was developed by DRI regarding smuggling of huge quantity of foreign origin gold from Myanmar into India through the Indo-Myanmar border and sending it to different parts of India. The spurt of economic activity seen after the lifting of COVID related lockdowns throughout the country, combined with the pent-up demand for gold, coincided with a surge in such smuggling activities. The blocking of air routes through the lockdown period also saw a significant shift in the modus operandi of smugglers from the air routes to the land route through the Indo-Myanmar border.

Keeping constant vigil over these routes, and with a view to thwarting any large-scale smuggling efforts, the officers of DRI have made a string of spectacular gold seizures in the past six months. These include seizure of 51.33 kgs of smuggled gold in November 2020 by the DRI Guwahati Zonal Unit, seizure of 84Kgs and 66 kgs of smuggled gold in August and November 2020, respectively, by the DRI Zonal Unit, and the present seizure of 55.61 kgs of gold by the Delhi Zonal Unit, being the latest in the series.

Due to the intensive counter-smuggling efforts by DRI, the smugglers have been seen to shift their preferred modus from vehicle concealment to in-person concealment. However, in the latest operation, codenamed Golden Triangle, which was a coordinated effort by the officers of Delhi Zonal Unit and Lucknow Zonal Unit of DRI, the modus of human concealment has also been busted where the carriers were found to have been concealing the gold bars in belts worn around their waists. Five such passengers were intercepted by officers of DRI, Delhi Zonal Unit near Delhi and three passengers were intercepted by the officers of DRI, Lucknow Zonal Unit at Lucknow. The search of the persons resulted in recovery and seizure of 335 gold bars, weighing 55.61 kgs. The said 8 persons have been apprehended and further investigations are underway.

The Honble Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Sh. Anurag Singh Thakur visited the office of DRI, Delhi Zonal Unit to congratulate the officers of DRI for the successful seizure. Chairman CBIC and Pr. DG, DRI were also present. The Honble MOS appreciated the efforts made by the officers and encouraged them to effect even bigger seizures in the future.
New Round of Small Business Grants Rolls Out in Irvine

The City of Irvine received more than $722,000 from the County of Orange to help small businesses affected by COVID-19, city officials announced Jan. 19.

However, at least one councilmember said that even though the money will be helpful, its not enough.

The grant money is critical to our small businesses, especially our retail and restaurants, which have been deeply affected by the impacts of COVID, Vice Mayor Tammy Kim told The Epoch Times Jan. 20 via email. While this is a great start, it is really a drop in the bucket when you consider the sheer number of businesses that are hurting.

Up to $5,000 is available to eligible small businesses receiving the one-time grants. City officials said the money is for helping cover the costs of business interruption amid the COVID-19 pandemic and related stay-at-home orders.

We are thrilled to offer additional funding to Irvines small businesses located within the 3rd District, Mayor Farrah N. Khan said in a city press release. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we are grateful to have the opportunity to offer our business owners continued economic support.

Lucy Dunn of the Orange County Business Council recently said its the small businesses that have been disproportionately impacted financially by COVID-19.

And those businessesso many of them have already shuttered their doors, Dunn said. The little mom-and-pop karate studios. The little music education after school programstheyre gone. And yet, these are our entrepreneurs, these are our innovators. These are the businesses upon which bigger businesses grow and develop.

To qualify for the grant, businesses must be operating in the District 3 region of Irvine and employ 10 or fewer full-time employees. Additionally, businesses must not have received grant funding through the City of Irvine Small Business Support Program distributed last June.

An active City of Irvine Business License that has been valid since March 1, 2020, is also required.

Businesses that meet program requirements will be entered into a lottery after the application closing date on January 29, officials stated on release posted on the city website Lottery numbers are expected to be posted on the citys webpage by 5 p.m. February 3.

Most of Irvine lies within District 3, but some communities such as Turtle Ridge, Shady Canyon, Quail Hill, and Los Olivos are located in District 5. Irvine businesses in the fifth district are not eligible for the District 3 Small Business Grant, but can instead apply for the District 5 grant relief program expected to launch Feb. 1.

The city of Yorba Linda also announced this week the start of its Small Business Relief Program, which is back for a third round of grant funding assistance.

The program was unanimously approved by the city council at its Jan. 19 meeting.

This third round will quickly provide $640,000 of total funding to Yorba Linda businesses that submitted qualifying applications in Rounds I or II (including businesses that were not selected by the Round II lottery), Yorba Linda officials said.
The Police on Wednesday substituted and preferred fresh charges on two suspects allegedly involved in the murder of Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh, the law lecturer who was murdered in cold blood at his residence at Agyiriganor in Accra.



In the new charge sheet, Ebenezer Kwayisi aka Junior, a 25 year old mason apprentice has now been charged with murder.



Opambour Agya Badu Nkansah also known as Enoch and Kwayisi have been jointly held for conspiracy to commit to wit murder.



This was after the prime suspects James Nana Womba passed on while in Police custody.



The pleas of all the accused were not taken and they have been remanded into Police custody to reappear on February 4, 2021.



Counsel for the accused repeated their application for bail but the court refused on the grounds that it did not have the jurisdiction to grant it.



The Prosecution led by Inspector Ebenezer Teye  Okuffo told the court presided over by Ms. Ama Adomako Kwakye that, Akosua Benneh- Akuffo, complainant is the niece of the late Prof Emmanuel Yaw Benneh, the deceased in this case whilst James Nana Womba, a prime suspect, now deceased was a cleaner in the deceaseds house at Adjiringanor.



He said Wombas accomplices, Opambour Agya Badu Nkansah is unemployed and lives at Ashaiman, Accra and Ebenezer Kwayisi a mason apprentice also resides at Kasoa.



Prosecution said, on September 12, last year about 8am, the deceased was found lying dead in a pool of blood in a corridor leading to his bedroom, lying in prone position with his hands tied behind him with a white rope and his legs also tied with a green rope just below the knees.



He said examination on the body of the victim revealed multiple marks of assault on the face with a cloth partly inserted in his mouth.



Prosecution said the Police found on the scene a hand glove, a white rope with blood stains and blood stains on the walls.



Prosecution said, Police Crime Scene Management Team examined the scene and lifted a visible blood tainted thumb impression on the wall close to where the victims body laid.



The Prosecution said the body was deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.



Inspector Teye-Okuffo said on September 21, last year, the post mortem examination was conducted on the deceaseds body and the pathologist gave immediate cause of death as Asphyxiation, Strangulation and suspected Homicide.



He said on September 13, last year, James Nana Womba, now deceased was arrested for investigation and his finger prints was taken and sent to Finger Print Section of CID Headquarters for examination.



He said the result from the headquarters indicated the fingerprints captured at the crime scene was identical to that of the deceased, Womba.



The Prosecution told the court that Womba confessed to the crime during investigation and mentioned Nkansah and Kwayisi as his accomplices who were later arrested at their various hideouts for investigation.



Inspector Teye- Okuffo informed the court that investigation revealed that during the month of August last year, Womba contacted Opambour and hatched a plan to murder the victim in his house, so Womba assigned Opambour to recruit a gang to execute the plan.



He said two weeks later, the deceased, Womba had a change of mind and contacted Kwayisi to assist him execute the plan.



Prosecution told the court that Ebenezer Kwayisi agreed and visited Womba who both discussed in detail how the plan was going to be carried out and on September 10, last year, the accused went to the victims house and executed their plan by killing the professor.



The Prosecution said the accused in their investigation cautioned statements narrated how each of them conspired with Womba to kill the victim and that a duplicate case docket had been forwarded to Attorney Generals Department for advice.

Source: graphiconline.com









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It was 1921 when the Vatican Apostolic Library managed to acquire a very valuable copy of a letter written by Christopher Columbus back in 1493. In the letter, he was describing the Caribbean islands and his first impressions of them to the Spanish monarchy. About 90 years later, American officials contacted the library to say that they believed that real letter was actually stolen and replaced with an almost perfect fake. Fortunately, last week, the original letter was found in Atlanta, Georgia, and returned to its place in the Vatican library.

However, this doesnt mean that the mysterious case of this letters disappearance has been solved. The problem is that the authorities still dont have a clue regarding the date when the letter was stolen and who the thief was. Moreover, they are uncertain if this Vatican theft has anything to do with other similar cases which took place in other two libraries. The letter, which has eight pages, has been valued at $1.2 million. It is basically a copy of a message in Spanish which Columbus wrote to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. The letter was also translated into Latin and now, about 80 copies of it exist in the entire world.

The mysterious case of Christopher Columbus missing letter

Initially, the version that the Vatican has was printed in 1493, in Rome. Centuries later, collector Giovanni Francesco De Rossi gave it to the Apostolic Library. Back in 2011, a rare book and manuscript expert informed the United States Homeland Security Investigations about the possibility that the version in Vatican was a fake.

After a long investigation, the officials traced the real letter to a collector in Atlanta. The man had reportedly purchased it from a New York dealer for $875,000, in 2004. But who did it? Timothy Janz, director of the printed books department at the Vatican Library, thinks it was a binder. It seems that the library usually sends books out to be bound. A researcher who was reading in the reading room couldnt have possibly done it without being seen.

Image source: flickr
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  The pandemic has added another opportunity for fraudsters. Exploiting our human nature to help those in need, as well as our hopes to augment our income, scammers do not take a break in targeting vulnerable victims.

Charity fraud in-game streaming

The rise of video game streaming in the last several years has opened up a new avenue for philanthropy for victims of volcanic eruption, earthquakes, typhoons, and pandemic-related job losses in the country. But due to a lack of guidelines on these streaming platforms, fraudsters are now using charity-related tactics and schemes to trick you into giving digital currencies or cash.

Do background checks before supporting a game streamer's charity drive. Does the streamer publicly post the number of digital currencies or cash collected and provide proof that it will be donated to the victims or a legitimate organization? As a donor, you have the right to know what portion, if any, of their gifts will be going to third parties.

For suspicious online posts, report these incidents to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group through its website <link: www.pnpacg.ph>, Complaint Action Center / hotline Globe: +63 915 589 8506 / Smart: +63 961 829 8033.

You may also report suspicious online posts to the NBI Anti-Fraud Division at (02) 8525-4093 or e-mail at afad@nbi.gov.ph. Alternatively, you may also send a message through the NBIs website at www.nbi.gov.ph or their official Facebook account.

Webinars getting you into Ponzi schemes

Now that people are hesitant to go out and have coffee with friends, scammers have also used webinars using video call conferencing platforms to lure people into getting into get-rich-quick schemes like Ponzi or pyramid schemes. Still, whether the webinar has been insightful or deceptive, it is up to the person to jump into the business or investment. Always remember if the return of investment is too good to be true, it probably is. Check with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if the company is registered with them.

Report suspicious investment schemes to the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department of the SEC at epd@sec.gov.ph with telephone number 02) 8818-6047. Under the Securities Regulation Code, those who act as salesmen, brokers, dealers, or agents of fraudulent investment schemes may be held criminally liable and penalized with a maximum fine of 5 million or imprisonment of 21 years, or both. According to SEC, those who invite or recruit others to join or invest in such ventures may likewise incur criminal liability, or otherwise be sanctioned or penalized accordingly.

Republic Act No. 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, further penalizes those participating in cyber incidents that make use or take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to prey on the public through scams, phishing, fraudulent emails, or other similar acts with two-month imprisonment or a maximum fine of P1 million or both.

'Winning' an online raffle

If you receive an SMS, an online chat, or an e-mail claiming you won an online raffle, you're close to being scammed. Stay alert for unknown messages received via these channels claiming you're a winner of a raffle that you don't know of. To check, legitimate raffles carry government certifications (such as those coming from the Department of Trade and Industry), a company name, and a promo period.

Fake SMS and email

Consider it a red flag when the email or text message seems urgent and instructs you to click on a link that leads to a website where you are asked to verify your account and provide personal or financial details.

According to Metrobank, the latest and most widespread fraud activity nowadays is a legitimate-looking SMS text message or email from your bank. It asks you to give your personal and financial information to gain access to your bank account. This method is called Phishing for emails and SMiShing', which combines the terms 'SMS' and 'phishing', for SMS/text messages.

The intent is to trick you into disclosing sensitive information such as, user account information, passwords, One-Time Password (OTP) and card information.

The banks will never ask their customers personal and sensitive information via a text message, a phone call, or an e-mail message. To avoid phishing messages and sites, do not reply to the email, and never click on the link or button provided in the message.

If you think a scammer has your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) such as full name, Social Security number, driver's license number, bank account number, passport number, contact number and email address, go to National Privacy Commission (NPC) https://www.privacy.gov.ph/ website. There you will see the specific steps to take based on the information that may have been compromised.

Immediately report on the possible fraud incident to your bank

Report fraudulent activities to Metrobank Contact Center at (02) 88-700-700, 1-800-1888-5775, or email us at customercare@metrobank.com.ph using "Report on Possible Fraud" as the subject.

Join Metrobank in its fight against fraud. Visit https://metrobank.com.ph/fight-fraud or https://www.scamproof.ph/ for more fraud tips, news, and advisories.
Saudi Arabia released an Egyptian fishing boat it had seized after it illegally entered its territorial waters for fishing, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Thursday.



The boat, called Al-Shefaa, had 35 Egyptian fishermen on board when it was seized by Saudi authorities.

According to the Egyptian foreign ministry, the boat left Saudi waters on Tuesday after weather conditions stabilised.

Saudi authorities responded to requests by the Egyptian consulate and offered supplies and fuel for the return of the boat, the ministry said in a statement.



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The drama Identifying Features begins with a figure approaching from across a field, his appearance obscured by a heavy fog: perhaps hes a soldier, maybe a farmer. It becomes clear only when hes a few feet away that the man in the mist is really just a boy. As his face emerges, with smooth cheeks and cold eyes, the beauty, elusiveness and surprise of the film around him surfaces, too.

With calm conviction, this teenager, Jesus (Juan Jesus Varela), announces his plans to cross the border from Mexico to Arizona. Jesuss mother, Magdalena (Mercedes Hernandez), explains in a voice-over that this is one of her last memories of Jesus before he went missing on his journey to reach the United States.
On Wednesday, January 20, a little before noon, Joseph R Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States (POTUS) at the US Capitol in Washington DC amidst a heavy presence of armed security personnel. The fact that the presidential baton was handed over a few minutes before the constitutionally mandated time (12 noon on January 20) perhaps symbolised the urgency with which the USA wanted to drop the curtain on the turbulent and tainted Trump tenure.

There was a palpable sigh of relief both in the USA and the world at large that the transition of power in a bitterly contested White House election was peaceful and event free. This sense of relief was not misplaced, for it was only two weeks earlier  on January 6  that the same venue, where the swearing-in took place, was stormed by supporters of Donald Trump who were encouraged by their leader to go down the path of vandalism and violence.

This angry pro-Trump group with its vast support base across the USA had threatened to disrupt the January 20 swearing-in and hence the thin attendance at the Wednesday ceremony, where it was reported that more than 25,000 security personnel were deployed. The Covid pandemic also contributed to the constraints on the number of invitees  but the Biden swearing-in was also scarred by the graceless act of the outgoing POTUS, Donald Trump, refusing to be present at the ceremony.

A defiant Trump, without a protective Covid mask, boarding the helicopter to make his final exit from the White House, symbolised the reckless irresponsibility with which the US had been governed for the last four years. The post-Trump debris and toxicity that needs to be cleaned up is daunting and the Biden team will have its hands full from day one. But the healing process and a return to some degree of decorum, decency and normative democratic rhythms was evidenced in the Biden inaugural speech where he resolved to defeat white supremacy and domestic terrorism and called for an end to an uncivil war that had convulsed the USA in recent years.

Political history was also made when Senator Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first woman Vice President of the USA a little before the Biden assumption of office. The fact that she is also the first woman of African and Indian origin to be elevated to this high office in the United States is a case of many glass ceilings being broken and a victory for the celebration of racial diversity and gender that is integral to a robust democracy in the 21st century.

The Trump years were visibly insensitive to both race and gender and this is only part of his tainted legacy that the Biden-Harris team will have to redress. The spectrum of the governance challenges for the new team are complex and multi-layered, beginning with the domestic political polarisation that the Trump constituency had stoked.

The Obama years, when Biden was the Vice President, saw the beginning of a deep alienation and anger in one section of US society that felt marginalised and neglected against the backdrop of globalisation and domestic discontent. Some of the elements that exacerbated the socio-political mood were shrinking employment opportunities and the related rejection of the immigrant and the citizen of colour by a sullen and impoverished white majority.

This has grown to an impressive voter turnout of 74 million US citizens who did not vote for Joe Biden - many of whom do not support the January 6 desecration of the Capitol Hill. Biden, a consummate politician, became one of the youngest senators in US politics in December 1972 when he had just turned 30, and is considered to be the master of finding consensus in intense political discord.

This trait will be put to test as he leads a divided nation and his call to unity in his inaugural speech hit the right notes. Urging his fellow citizens to shed hatred and intolerance, Bidens words have a resonance for the democratic temperament globally. He noted: Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

Politics apart, public health is in disarray in the USA due to the Covid pandemic and the Trump oscillation about the gravity of the virus. On January 20, as the new President was assuming office, the USA had a Covid death toll of over 415,000 and the total number infected was set to cross the 25-million mark. Biden has promised 100 million vaccinations in the first 100 days of his presidency and this will become a critical metric of his leadership.

Economic, foreign policy, security and strategic challenges loom large and the estimated US $40 trillion deficit will constrain big-ticket Biden initiatives. China will remain an abiding challenge-cum-threat to US interests and the manner in which the Trump administration had packed the troubled bilateral relationship with policy tweaks in relation to Tibet and Taiwan in the last few weeks of its term will have to be astutely reviewed by team Biden.

But to his credit, President Biden brings considerable familiarity about the intricate subtext of the Beltway with him and his list of senior officials is encouraging. The White House will hopefully return to more familiar rhythms and there will be greater predictability in how the USA conducts itself and its engagement with many external interlocutors.

(The author is Director, Society for Policy Studies, New Delhi. Views expressed are personal.)
Animation lovers would be delighted to see this week the new collection of Pixar shorts, including the one that features the characters of the 2017 award-winning film Coco.

This collection of nine Pixar shorts, called Pixar Popcorn, would be making its debut on Disney Plus on Friday, Jan. 22.

The Pixar shorts will feature some fan-favorites in Pixar presentations like Hector and Mama Imelda from Coco.

The Coco short is called A Day in the Life of the Dead, to be streamed on Disney Plus, alongside new Ducky and Bunny stories from Toy Story 4 and Baby Jack-Jack and Dash of Incredibles 2, among many others.

Plots for the short films remain unknown. The title A Day in the Life of the Dead led Remezcla to believe that the Coco short film will revolve around the Land of the Dead.

Digital Spy also listed some of the upcoming titles: Dancing with the Cars, Unparalleled Parking, Soul of the City, Cookie Num Num, Chore Day: The Incredibles Way, Dory Finding, To Fitness and Beyond, and Fluffy Stuff with Ducky & Bunny.

Pixar Unlikely to Have More Releases on Streaming Service

In an article, Nerdist said it's unlikely for Pixar to premiere more features on its streaming service. This is despite Soul being released as Pixar's first film to debut on Disney Plus. That is, of course, excluding Pixar Popcorn that is going exclusively on the streaming service.

Pixar released its short collection's first trailer and poster show where characters from each bite-size presentation had the chance to shine. Apart from that, Pixar also has more plans down the line.

One of the things to look out for is Luca, a story about a boy who "experiences an unforgettable summer in a seaside town on the Italian Riviera," reported Games Radar. It is about a young boy and his pals posing as humans while on dry land.

Pixar has a strong relationship with short films, as their own shorts date back to the studio's founding years. When theaters were still open, people would often see these heart-melting pieces before the release of a feature film.

With its reputation in shorts, there's no doubt that Pixar can make some more that are worth watching. Hopefully, Pixar Popcorn can feed our inner child until theaters reopen.

What to Expect from Coco Short Feature?

As seen in the short features' trailer, A Day in the Life of the Dead features Hector and Mama Imelda, dancing in the Land of the Dead's streets.

There was also some screen time for the skeleton arrivals agents seen in the 2017 original film. This time, they also lose their jawbone while answering the phone and struggle to keep it in place with tape.

As Coco did in the past, you can see some references to Mexican cultures, like when the arrivals agent had a cortadillo or a Mexican pink cake on his desk.

Indeed, there will be more to unfold from the Pixar shorts, and fans will be excited to find out more.
Rio de Janeiro: Zelia de Carvalho Morley rolled up a sleeve and looked stoically to the side as a nurse slid in a COVID-19 shot. She was one of thousands in Brazil to be vaccinated on Thursday AEDT, but one of very few old enough to recall an earlier viral pandemic that swept her nation and the world a century ago.

Born in Rio de Janeiro in 1914, Morley was a girl when the so-called Spanish flu killed millions around the world in 1918-1920, when no vaccines were available.

Zelia de Carvalho Morley, 106, gestures before receiving a shot of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine at the retirement home where she lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Credit:AP

The whole of Brazil caught it. Too many people died, she said, wearing a pink daisy chain on her head. I dont forget anything!

I think this vaccine is going to be very good, Morley said, displaying a generous smile before placing her light blue mask back on her face. Its in the hands of God."
The third section would ensure that limits on campaign spending wouldn't affect the press's ability to report on campaigns and elections.

Katko, who has supported past efforts to overturn the Citizens United decision, believes the proposed constitutional amendment would eliminate the influence of big money in politics.

"The Supreme Court's disastrous ruling in Citizens United made clear that a constitutional amendment would be required to address the outsized role of money in politics," he said. "In Congress, I've been a champion of these commonsense reforms and will keep working to restore democratic power to the American people."

The amendment has been endorsed by several political reform groups, including End Citizens United and the Let America Vote Action Fund.

Tiffany Muller, who is president of End Citizens United and Let America Vote Action Fund, thinks the Supreme Court's 2010 decision has "polluted our democracy." She noted that there was nearly $3 billion in outside spending during the 2020 election.

"Americans are tired of a political system that too often works for the wealthy and well-connected at the expense of everyone else," Muller said.
According to the Nirmal district medical and health officer Dr Dhanraj, the man died of cardiac arrest and the death was not related to Covid-19 vaccination. He said details on the cause of death could be determined only after conducting a post-mortem examination of the body. (Representative Image: AFP)

Hyderabad/Nirmal: Telangana state recorded its first death from among the recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday. The government has said the was not caused by the vaccine.

A 42-year-old healthcare worker from Nirmal district, a 108 ambulance driver, died less than 18 hours after receiving the vaccine.

According to the state health department, the deceased was vaccinated at the Kuntala Primary Health Centre in Nirmal district on January 19 at about 11.30 am. "At about 2.30 am on 20.1.2021, he is said to have developed chest pain and was brought dead to the District Hospital, Nirmal, around 5.30 am," Director of Public Health Dr G. Srinivasa Rao said in a statement on the death.

Preliminary findings, he said, suggest that the death seems to be unrelated to vaccination.

According to the Nirmal district medical and health officer Dr Dhanraj, the man died of cardiac arrest and the death was not related to Covid-19 vaccination. He said details on the cause of death could be determined only after conducting a post-mortem examination of the body.

Dr Srinivasa Rao said that as per the guidelines, after the post-mortem examination, "the district Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) committee is examining the matter and will submit its report to the state committee. The state committee will in turn furnish its report to the central AEFI committee for taking a view.

This is the third such death so far following Covid-19 vaccinations in India since the drive to inoculate Indians against the disease was launched on January 16. The first two fatalities, one each in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, were declared as not related to the vaccination by the Union health ministry.

In Telangana, till Monday night, a total of 69,625 health care workers were vaccinated. Three persons who reported AEFIs were hospitalised and they are stable, the health department said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 20:07:48|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Khuzestan Bidboland Gas Refinery, one of the largest projects in the region, was opened by Iran's president via a video conference on Thursday.

"Bidboland refinery is a very important project," President Hassan Rouhani was quoted as saying by official IRNA news agency.

"Since the beginning of the (Iranian) year (in March 2020), 11 important petrochemical projects have been launched and we hope that six more projects will be be opened," Rouhani said.

"For the first time in the history of Iran, we are producing one billion cubic meters of gas," he said, adding that the world needs Iran's oil and gas.

Meanwhile, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, Iranian Petroleum Minister, said at the opening ceremony that the operation of the Bidboland project is a sign of the "failure of U.S. sanctions and the maximum pressure campaign against the Iranian people."

Earlier, Managing Director of the Bidboland Gas Refinery Company Mahmoud Aminnejad said that "more than 3.4 billion U.S. dollars have been invested in the construction of the large refinery. It is able to collect all the gases associated with oil extraction and turn them into useful gas."

Aminnejad said that its capacity of gas production, including the gases of methane, ethane, butane and propane, is 2 billion cubic feet per day.

"For the construction of the plant, more than 1,000 km of feed and transmission pipelines have been built," he noted.

With the inauguration of the project, more than 1,100 people will be employed at the refinery, Aminnejad added. Enditem
CT Audobon Society receives energy grant

The Connecticut Audubon Society is the recipient of about $2,650 Neighborhood Assistance Act Grant from Avangrid companies United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas to reduce energy costs.

Support was made available unde the states Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program. The funding will be used for sealing, weather proofing and repairing doors at the Center at Fairfield and Birdcraft Museum facilities to help lower energy costs and consumption.

The grants totaled nearly $442,000 and were presented to 59 organizations.

Ludlowe High School students artwork in exhibition

Fairfield Ludowe High School Senior Megan Yang, 17, is among the students displaying work in MoCA Westports high school student art exhibition titled Hindsight is 2020, which runs Jan. 23 to March 13.

Her piece, A Fire Lit, will be on view in the art museums physical gallery location at 19 Newtown Turnpike, and also in a digital gallery on the museums website, mocawestport.org.

Chamber to discusss 2021 economic outlook

The Fairfield Chamber of Commerce will host its 2021 Economic Outlook Virtual Meeting from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Zoom. The meeting is free and open to the public.

It is sponsored by Peoples United Bank and will feature two guest speakers: First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick and John Traynor, the chief economic strategist for Peoples United Bank, who also serves as its executive vice president and chief investment officer.

The guest speakers will share their unique perspective on the national, regional, state and local economy for 2021. This event, which is also an annual informational meeting, will also discuss key issues, policies and developments under President Joe Biden that may affect people personally and have an impact on the business community.

Call the Chamber of Comemrce office at 203-255-1011, by Jan. 26, to reserve a ticket, or visit the chamber s website at www.fairfieldctchamber.com to register for the event. A Zoom link will be emailed once people register.

Firefighters recognized for their service

Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda L. Kupchick and Fairfield Fire Chief Denis McCarthy recently recognized firefighters for their years of service.

Assistant Chief Roger Caisse, Lt. Erik McKeon and firefighter Larry Noga celebrated 25 year anniversaries.

Assistant Chief and Training Director Scott Bisson, Lt. Lee Corbo, Lt. Mark Harry, firefighter Hugh Dolan, firefighter Ron Petersen and Assistant Chief Schuyler Sherwood celebrated 30 year anniversaries.

Input sought for harbor management plan

The Fairfield Harbor Management Commission is seeking input from the public to help update the towns harbor management plan. The plan was adopted by the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting and the state in 1995. It guides the beneficial use of the Southport Harbor and the protection of its coastal resources. People can fill out the survey at www.surveymonkey.com/r/SouthportHarbor

2021 beach and transfer station stickers available

Residents can renew or buy beach and transfer station stickers in Fairfield. Stickers can be purchased online or by faxing 203-256-3145. Residents can also mail Fairfield Recreation, 75 Mill Plain Road, Fairfield, CT 06824, or go in-person to the Parks and Recreation Department, which is located at the above address.
Joey Bunch: "We must demand they do their jobs beyond suspicion  I'm not foolish enough to think the chances are good  because a little bit of trust and faith has been sorely missing from the public square for some time."
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Joe Biden began his presidency on Wednesday with the same animating philosophy that guided his campaign: The center can hold.

Thats a big wager. American society is more brittle now than it has been in years. It is unequal, unhealthy and politically radicalized. A pandemic is raging nearly unchecked. The economy is in tatters. The climate is in crisis. Residents of red and blue America cant even agree on the reality before their eyes, let alone demarcate the common ground they share.

Mr. Biden, now the 46th president, acknowledged all that in his Inaugural Address, calling for comity. Lets begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another, he said. Show respect to one another. Politics doesnt have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war, and we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

It was a sanguine message to deliver from the steps of the U.S. Capitol, two weeks to the day after the building was sacked by a mob trying to overturn the results of the election. Because of the continued threat of violence, tens of thousands of National Guard troops were on hand Wednesday to provide security for a crowd that was sparse because of the coronavirus contagion.
Manitobas five Catholic archbishops are asking provincial health officials to consult with faith leaders before implementing protocols that guide religious gatherings.

Manitobas five Catholic archbishops are asking provincial health officials to consult with faith leaders before implementing protocols that guide religious gatherings.

"I think the province sees the value of the churches and that they are part of the solution, not the problem," said Archbishop Richard Gagnon, of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Winnipeg, of their request for the province to consult with religious leaders.

In a Jan. 6 letter to Health Minister Heather Stefanson and chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin, they asked for flexibility in allowing faith-based gatherings. But on Tuesday, when the province released a proposed list of restrictions that might be loosened as of Saturday, in-person religious services were not included.

Half of the nearly 70,000 Manitobans who completed the online Engage MB survey said it was not important to them to attend in-person religious services; 29 per cent stated it was a priority. Those numbers may not mean much because people who dont attend services dont find them important, said Archbishop Albert LeGatt of St. Boniface.

"It hasnt anything to do with the pandemic," he said of the people who responded to the survey question on religious services.

"It wouldnt be important to them at any time."

All in-person religious gatherings were suspended last November but can continue virtually through recorded or livestreamed services.

The bishops asked Stefanson and Roussin to consider allowing religious groups to meet at a reduced capacity, following all pandemic protocols.

"Our church communities have shown themselves to be controlled environments where protocols are carefully followed and there is no socializing before or after services," states the letter, signed by the five Catholic archbishops.

"If we can begin with this in January, then we can build from there, especially with the advent of the vaccination program."

Gagnon said religious leaders participated in a telephone conference call with provincial officials in November after critical level restrictions were implemented and they asked to be consulted before public health guidelines were to change again.

"I thought it was a good conversation, except it was after the fact and maybe they should reach out before," said Gagnon, adding Catholic bishops have not been involved in any conversation about revised protocols that may take effect Saturday.

In addition to Gagnon and LeGatt, the signatories to the Jan. 6 letter include Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg, Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Keewatin-Le Pas and Archbishop Anthony Krotki of Churchill-Hudson Bay.

The conversations with religious leaders also need to extend to who is eligible for early COVID-19 vaccinations, said Rabbi Allan Finkel on behalf of the Winnipeg Council of Rabbis, which asked provincial officials on Wednesday to consider clergy as a priority group.

He says clergy of all faith groups offer prayers to sick and dying parishioners, counsel grieving families, and make other pastoral calls as part of their duties.

"We do this kind of work and its a question of getting us into the mind" of vaccination officials, said Finkel, rabbi at Temple Shalom.

Religious leaders welcomed the proposal to double the number of people attending funerals from five to 10, saying that small increase means family members dont have to choose among themselves who can participate. It allows Jews to meet their religious requirements of having 10 mourners at a funeral.

"To have 10 at a funeral service feels more like the way its supposed to be," said Finkel of the number needed to participate in the Kaddish prayer.

Although religious groups may be eager to meet again for worship, they are also experienced in taking the long view of lifes challenges, said Rev. Gerry Michalski of Soul Sanctuary, an evangelical Christian congregation which has not met in person since last March.

"To me, its patience," he said.

"I dont like it, but I have to live in patience."

brenda@suderman.com
Since the federal Coalition came to power in 2013 on a promise to cut Labors debt, one of its main targets has been foreign aid.

For its first seven years, the Coalition slashed foreign aid in every budget, with the total falling from about $5.5 billion a year to $4 billion. After inflation, the fall in the value of aid has been much greater.

Yet, according to the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University, the Morrison government has quietly shifted policy. This year it will increase foreign development aid by 9 per cent to $4.4 billion.

The increase this year is welcome but it is only a start. Australia has a moral obligation to do more during this COVID-19 pandemic. There is also a compelling case on national security grounds that boosting foreign aid in our region will help to counter Chinas growing influence.

The Coalition justified its previous cuts by arguing that our foreign aid was too generous, given Australias huge debt. It also said our aid was poorly targeted and ineffective.
The "Books Magazine Retailers in Europe" newsletter has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Books Magazine Retailers in Europe is a database that covers all major books magazine retailers in Europe.

The Books Magazine Retailers in Europe database is a practical source of information that displays clear rankings and profiles with all key data of national and international books and magazines retail chains.

The retailer profiles feature the name and headquarter address as well as contact details, management (CEO), data on turnover development, shop types, banners, number of stores, website and much other relevant information. Many profiles display store front pictures as well. Multinational retailer profiles feature the head office in each country as well as the local management of the subsidiaries. The retailer rankings per country provide a clear overview of the retailers based on recent turnover data.

The database focuses on European markets such as Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain etc. nevertheless many other countries are included as well.

Rankings and profiles are given in the same way for all retail companies, sectors, and countries. All data are updated frequently by our international research team. The total number of retailers in the database grows as new retailer profiles are added daily. The current number of retailers in the database can easily be seen via the search menu at Home Search.

Some of the Retailers covered include:

DBH Group

FNAC

Gardner's

Libro

Martin McCalls

Primera

Relay

Thalia

Waterstone's

Weltbild

For more information about this newsletter visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4j9my8

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005734/en/

Contacts:

ResearchAndMarkets.com

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Assistance: The FSU has asked Mairead McGuinness to help retain Ulster Bank. Photo: Delmi Alvarez/European Commission/Bloomberg

The Financial Services Union (FSU) has sought help from the European Commission to prevent NatWest from closing Ulster Bank.

In a meeting yesterday afternoon, FSU secretary general John OConnell pressed Commissioner for Financial Services Mairead McGuinness to intervene to make sure all stakeholders were involved in NatWests strategic review of Ulster Bank.

The FSU is fighting to keep the bank open and preserve the jobs of 2,800 staff, but NatWest has been making moves to potentially wind down the bank to extract its 4bn in core capital.

NatWest has appointed Goldman Sachs as strategic advisers and was reported by the Irish Times to be in discussions with private equity fund Cerberus to sell the Ulster Bank loan book.

We want to be included before any measures are decided, and we highlighted the divergence of engagement different banks have, Mr OConnell told the Irish Independent. The Commission has an obligation to encourage best practice.

He said the meeting had been both constructive and informative, but that the Commissioner was unlikely to get involved with an individual institution.

"While the European Commission does not have a role in the management decisions taken by any bank operating in the EU, it is important that all stakeholders are heard, especially at a time of change, said Daniel Sheridan Ferrie, European Commission spokesperson for financial services.

Mr OConnell met with Ulster Bank CEO Jane Howard last week for an update on NatWests strategic review.

He said Ms Howard was unable to provide a date or a timetable for when a decision about the bank would be made.

It is expected, however, that NatWest will make an announcement on or before February 19, when the UK state-backed bank announces 2020 results.

Mr OConnell also called for Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to go over the heads of NatWests board and deal directly with UK chancellor Rishi Sunak over the plan for Ulster Bank.

Following a meeting last week with Minister of State for Financial Services Sean Fleming, Mr OConnell said it was appropriate to engage at the government level because the UK government held a majority stake in NatWest.

A spokesperson for the Department of Finance said the idea was unlikely to go anywhere as it was entirely a commercial matter.
LONDON - When reporters toured the recently redecorated Oval Office on Wednesday, they took note of the symbolic changes in scenery that have come to stand in for an incoming U.S. president's view of America. President Joe Biden led in with a huge portrait of wartime President Franklin D. Roosevelt and a bust of civil rights hero Rosa Parks.

But as Biden began his first full day in office the following morning, many British outlets pounced on a notable absence: A bust of Winston Churchill, FDR's Second World War counterpart, on loan from the British government.

British tabloids did not hesitate to read between the supposed lines.

"CHURCHILL SNUB," read a headline in the Sun, a fiercely patriotic right-wing tabloid.

"Fury as Joe Biden REMOVES bust of Boris Johnson's hero Winston Churchill from the Oval Office," wrote the conservative Daily Mail, while the left-wing tabloid the Mirror reported that the bust was "nowhere in sight."

British officials have downplayed the possibility of any latent meaning in the change. "It's of course up to the President to decorate the Oval Office as he wishes," an unnamed British government spokesperson said in a statement emailed to reporters. "We're in no doubt about the importance President Biden places on the UK-US relationship."

The White House press team did not respond immediately to a question about the bust's removal.

The headlines about the bust bust-up came amid heightened scrutiny of the relationship between Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after Donald Trump's departure from the White House. Some British outlets have speculated that Biden, proud of his Irish American roots, is unlikely to form a rapport with Johnson, a sometimes jingoistic leader who supported Brexit and publicly praised President Trump.

Over recent years the placement of the Churchill bust has emerged as an object of media fascination in Britain. Some of the wildest speculation in years past has come from Johnson himself, who criticized a previous banishment of the bust during the Obama administration in a newspaper column.

Johnson, then the mayor of London, wrote in 2016 that the "part-Kenyan" Barack Obama may have removed the bust because he harbored an "ancestral dislike of the British Empire - of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender."

The bust of Churchill that once stood in the Oval Office has a convoluted history. Made by English sculptor Sir Jacob Epstein, it had traditionally been held at the British ambassador's residence in Washington, but was loaned to President George W. Bush in July 2001.

The bust was initially loaned because another bust of Churchill owned by the White House was being repaired. It was kept on in the Oval Office throughout Bush's two terms. The White House-owned bust, also designed by Epstein and near-identical to the British one, is generally held outside the residential area of the building.

The presence of the Churchill bust in the Oval Office received little noticed until it was removed during the Obama administration. The bust was returned to the British ambassador because there was not enough space for it, Obama said at the time.

"There are only so many tables where you can put busts - otherwise it starts looking a little cluttered," Obama said in 2016, who later clarified that the White House still displayed the other bust near his residence.

Trump had sought to bust back out the statue when he took office, telling reporters in 2017 that he was a fan of Churchills and that he had been a "real ally" to the U.S. in the past. Initially, he placed the White House-owned bust in the Oval Office, later replacing it with the bust on loan from the British government.

In an interview with British media on Wednesday, Britain's Ambassador to the United States said the embassy would be happy to loan goods for the Oval Office but it was up to Biden how he decorates.

"If there's anything that President Biden would like that we can provide we will be very happy to do so," Pierce said. "But we will be equally content if he just stamps his personal mark on it.

But many in Britain's right-wing media world felt differently. By Thursday afternoon local time, Churchill's name was one of the top trending topics on Twitter in Britain as many offered their thoughts and opinions on Biden's decision and the special relationship between both countries ahead of a Biden presidency.

Brexit-backer Nigel Farage said Thursday that if it was true the bust had been removed by Biden it would be "a slap in the face to the British and any prospects of good relations."

British Journalist Andrew Pierce, who writes for the Daily Mail, said it was "sad" that the new president had taken down Churchill's bust but added it was "very worrying" that he had replaced it "with the hard left failed socialist Cesar Chavez," an American labor leader and civil rights activist.

Churchill's legacy is a delicate and divisive issue in Britain, where a large statue of him outside the Palace of Westminster had to be placed in a protective wooden box last year to prevent further acts of vandalism after demonstrators graffitied it with the words "was a racist" during a Black Lives Matter anti-racism protest in June, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.

At the time, Johnson, who has compared himself to Churchill and wrote a laudatory biography of the wartime prime minister, took to Twitter to condemn the actions of those protesting, calling the defacing of the national monument "absurd and shameful," adding that it was impossible to try to change the past or the actions and thoughts of those who led the country decades ago.

"Yes, he sometimes expressed opinions that were and are unacceptable to us today, but he was a hero, and he fully deserves his memorial," Johnson tweeted as he urged people against toppling statues around the country. "To tear them down would be to lie about our history."
The United States has just sworn in its 46th president, Joseph R. Biden, and Kamala Harris, the first woman and first woman of color to be Vice President.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, the lone Democrat in South Carolinas Congressional delegation, tweeted Wednesday afternoon that Biden and Harris represent a new era of opportunity for unity, not just in the United States but across the globe.

That theme of unity was expressed throughout the ceremonies Wednesday, but, just two weeks prior, America watched as the Capitol was stormed by a mob of supporters of President Trump. A week later, lawmakers impeached Trump for a second time, this time for inciting an insurrection.

So, how did South Carolinas congressional delegation  which is largely made up of Republicans who backed President Trump during his years in office  respond?

On two key votes, a Republican member of Congress from South Carolina broke ranks from their GOP colleagues in the House of Representatives. This was done by two different people on two separate votes. In today's episode, we explain those votes.

First, we spoke with U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a freshman member of Congress who unseated Democrat Joe Cunningham in November to represent the Lowcountry, about her vote to uphold the results of the presidential election and her chaotic first days in Washington.

Then, we spoke with Post and Courier Myrtle Beach reporter Tyler Fleming about a vote on impeachment that shocked Republicans in South Carolina and beyond last week.

Listen now for more.

Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams.

How to listen:

Related reading:
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On Wednesday evening, White House press secretary Jen Psaki delivered her first press briefing of the Biden era. To sum up the social media response to Psakis performance, it was viewed widely as delightfully (p)sane.

we've had no insults yet. no meltdowns. no smears of the "fake news." pic.twitter.com/KfpwCgAwsA  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2021

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Im having some difficulty here. Im not sure which part to clip since no one is holding up paper or yelling at Acosta pic.twitter.com/M7Ak9GTIMX  Acyn Torabi (@Acyn) January 21, 2021

Jen Psaki is blowing me away.  Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) January 21, 2021

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Its so crazy watching a White House press briefing that is not just a bunch of journalists being grossed out by an extended presidential ego fluffing while OAN cheers  john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) January 21, 2021

New press briefing is harrowingly normal and not bizarre.  Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 21, 2021

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This is not not normal https://t.co/JC9buC90Kw  Chris Suellentrop (@suellentrop) January 21, 2021

Truly blinding level of professionalism and normalcy at this briefing  Amanda Katz (@katzish) January 21, 2021

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Watching this press conference really is the oddest thing after the last four years.  (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) January 21, 2021

Some noted how Psakis performance didnt even include insane lies about the size of the inauguration crowds that could be easily disproven by photographs, as Sean Spicer delivered in his second day on the job four years ago.

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The new press secretary briefs. Notably, the focus is not on the size of the presidents inauguration crowd. pic.twitter.com/rqWIfMndq2  Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) January 21, 2021

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Yeah @jrpsaki is definitely sober and has not lied in the first 2 minutes of her briefing. So way better than all the Rejected Racist Funko Pop Dolls that had the job under Trump.  john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) January 21, 2021

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The press conference was mostly generic getting to know you America platitudes about transparency and telling the truth that read as frantically refreshing following four years of deranged lunacy and constant falsehoods meant to placate the worlds biggest egomaniac and liar. But there was indeed also some substance.

Psaki promised a return to the normal schedule of daily press briefings and regular COVID-19 briefings. She said that Anthony Fauci would be representing the United States at a meeting on Thursday of the World Health Organization, a group from which Trump tried to withdraw the country.

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She maintained Bidens position thatindependent of his calls for national unity and healingit was entirely up to Congress how to handle an impeachment trial of Donald Trump for incitement of insurrection. She also maintained that they could work on his agenda while dealing with an impeachment, but Sen. John Cornyna top ally of Minority Leader Mitch McConnellimmediately poured cold water on that idea, which is something the press can ask her about at her next press conference on Thursday while expecting a rational and truthful response.

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Psaki also reiterated that the president was committed to trying to win over Republican support for his $1.9 trillion relief measure, while also saying that the matter was urgent and that he would not be removing the option of passing a quick bill through budget reconciliation.

His clear preference is to move forward with a bipartisan bill, there is no question about it. But we are also not going to take any tools off of the table for how the Senatethe House and Senate can get this urgent package done, Psaki said.

Psaki also indicated that the president would not be negotiating against himself to reduce the price tag of the relief bill to meet Republican demands. The package wasnt designed with the number 1.9 trillion as the starting point, it was designed with the components that were necessary to give people the relief that they needed, she said. So whats challenging is: What are you going to cut? Are you going to cut funding for vaccinations? Are you going to cut funding for unemployment insurance? Are you going to cut funding for reopening schools?

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As Psaki was making these remarks, it was reported that Sen. Mitt Romneyone of the moderate Republicans Biden would need to go along with any bipartisan packagethought the proposal was not well-timed. Opposition from the likes of Romney would seem to leave the possibility of wide bipartisan supportenough to break a filibuster in the Senateoff of the table going forward. This might force the Democratic majority to move quickly to reconciliation if it wants to pass the measure as urgently as Biden and Psaki indicate it is needed.

How the Biden administration decides to move forward with that bill given that Senate dynamic is something that members of the press can ask Psaki aboutand expect to receive sane, rational, truthful answers totomorrow.
(Natural News) Lawmakers in New York cried foul over a new piece of legislation that would allow state leaders to detain those identified as a case, contact or carrier of a contagious disease in the interest of protecting public health.

The legislation in question, Bill A416, was sponsored by State Assemblyman Noah Perry. Bill A416 would allow the governor or his or her delegates to detain a person who poses an imminent and significant threat to public health in a medical facility or some other facility designated by the governor. The bill did not actually mention COVID-19 nor cite specific criteria or locations for the detentions.

Critics pointed out that the bills vague provisions would allow unconstitutional and indefinite detainment. But Perry nevertheless defended the bill, arguing that it does not violate Americans constitutional rights.

In a statement, Perry told Fox News that he understands that the Constitution is sacred and that his bill has no intent to take away or violate any rights or liberties that Americans are entitled to. The bill will also uphold due process by requiring the governor or his or her delegates to first apply for a court order authorizing detention within three business days before actually detaining anyone.

Detention camp bill met with backlash

Critics wasted no time denouncing the bill. State Assemblyman John Salka said he was disappointed that some of his colleagues would seek to add to Cuomos already numerous emergency powers.

Moreover, the governor cannot have sole authority to detain anyone as it is simply unconstitutional, said Salka. Now is not the time to introduce a bill like this, giving the governor even more power over the people.

Assemblyman Stephen Hawley shared the sentiment, arguing that the bill forfeits constitutional liberty in such a way that cannot be allowed.

Meanwhile, State Sen. George Borello said the mere introduction of bills like Bill A416 ultimately harms efforts to get New York through the pandemic.

On the other hand, Elizabeth Joy, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in New York last year, called Perrys bill [straight-up] detention camp stuff. In a tweet, Joy said a bill that would give Cuomo or any designated leader full power to detain people if deemed contagious was horrifying. Wake up NY [and] Fight! wrote Joy.

Conservative podcast host Allie Stuckey was also just as, if not more pointed, in her recent tweet on the matter. She cautioned that the bill may one day be used to forcibly detain residents for any reason the state sees fit.

An adviser for Cuomo maintains that the governor did not know about the bill. It was referred to the New York State Assemblys Health Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 6, and is currently awaiting approval.

Cuomo to outlaw cutting in line for COVID-19 vaccine

Cuomo also found himself in hot waters this month when he proposed a law that would make it a crime for any health provider to administer COVID-19 vaccine shots to anyone who tries to get them ahead of schedule.

At a press briefing on Jan. 4, Cuomo said health providers could already lose their license if they engage in any fraudulent activities regarding the distribution or administration of vaccines. But having a law that would criminalize such acts would mean that health providers may be prosecuted and face criminal penalties.

The announcement came over a week after a New York clinic was accused of administering COVID-19 vaccines to members of the public, rather than to frontline healthcare workers, as per the states directive. (Related: New York healthcare network under investigation for fraudulently distributing COVID-19 vaccines.)

Read the latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

NaturalHealth365.com

FoxNews.com

RomeSentinel.com

WKBW.com

CNBC.com
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On Jan. 18, SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), a joint venture between General Motors and two Chinese automakers, took the wraps off the first Wuling-branded new model for the year 2020. Dubbed Zhengtu (meaning Journey), the new model is a pickup designed to meet diverse usage demands for young people's livelihood and entrepreneurship.

Wuling Journey pickup; photo credit: SGMW



Through the sketch posted on SGMW's WeChat account, we can see that the pickup features a red painted car body infused with virile attitude. The spiffy and stylish exterior is in tune with its position as a youth pickup.



The pickup measures 5,105mm long, 1,640mm wide and 1,810mm tall, and has a wheelbase spanning 3,160mm. The dimensions of the cargo bed are 2,000mm long, 1,520mm wide and 365mm tall. It also comes with two options for side pedals, which measure 1,700mm and 1,815mm respectively.



Wuling Journey pickup; photo credit: SGMW

Powering the vehicle would be a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine that pumps out 72.8kW, according to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The fuel consumption stands at 7 liter per 100km.

Wuling says it will build whatever people need. This is not only a slogan, but also the direction of SGMW's efforts. In June 2020, the joint venture launched on June 2 a new Rongguang microvan that can be converted into a mobile stall or booth when the concept stall economy went viral on the Internet.

In July last year, the Hongguang MINIEV, the first four-seater NEV model under Wuling brand, hit the market at the Chengdu Motor Show, targeting young drivers in Chinese cities. Offered in three trim levels, the mini-sized BEV starts at only 28,000 yuan ($4,315). Annual sales of the inexpensive model totaled 127,651 units.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (UroToday.com) - Dr. G.R. Dohle presented a snapshot of the EAU guidelines on testosterone supplementation and prostate cancer at the 2014 EAU meeting in Stockholm. Among middle-aged men, the incidence of hypogonadism is estimated at approximately 6%. Androgen deficiency increases with age at a rate of 0.4-2.0% per year. Testosterone replacement therapy is used to ameliorate symptoms in hypogonadal men, increase weight reduction, and improve diabetes control and bone mineralization. However there are a number of potential side effects of testosterone supplementation, the most worrisome of which is stimulation of prostate growth.

There is unequivocal evidence that testosterone can stimulate growth and aggravate symptoms in men with locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer (level 2/grade A). However there is no conclusive evidence that testosterone therapy increases the risk of developing prostate cancer (PCa) or that it can convert subclinical PCa to detectable disease (level 4/Grade C). While no direct association between testosterone and the risk for prostate cancer has been demonstrated, men with Klinefelter syndrome have a lower mortality risk for prostate cancer as compared to the general population. A meta-analysis of studies on testosterone replacement therapy revealed a non-statistically significant increase in the incidence of PCa.

Dr Dohle then went on to discuss the role of testosterone replacement therapy following radical prostatectomy. Current evidence reveals no increase in the risk of recurrence, but data are limited. Androgen receptor stimulation is already maximal just slightly above castration levels, and additional testosterone will not increase growth. The guidelines recommend an overall assessment of hematological, cardiovascular, and PCa risk prior to initiation of testosterone replacement therapy. Testosterone replacement should not be instituted for at least one year following radical prostatectomy. While no studies, to date, have shown an increased risk for PCa associated with testosterone replacement therapy, longer follow-up data and more studies are needed to definitively assess the risks associated with testosterone replacement.

Presented by G.R. Dohle at the 29th Annual European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress - April 11 - 15, 2014 - Stockholmsmassan - Stockholm, Sweden

Erasmus University, Rotterdam (NL)

Written by Jeffrey J. Tomaszewski, MD, medical writer for UroToday.com
When Fidel stepped down, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice endorsed peaceful, democratic change in Cuba, and suggested the international community work directly with the people. Earlier, President Dwight Eisenhower took this approach with the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War. Cultural and educational exchanges, and limited trade, followed.
Canada and Afghanistan are ready to continue close cooperation in the investigation of the UIA plane crash that occurred near Tehran on January 8, 2020.

This was discussed during a phone conversation between Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani on January 20, the Prime Ministers press service reported.

"The Prime Minister and the President underlined the strong relations between Canada and Afghanistan, and looked forward to continued cooperation. The leaders also agreed to continuing their close collaboration related to the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 tragedy, Trudeau said.

In addition, the leaders of the two countries discussed the intra-Afghan peace process. "The Prime Minister expressed concern about the increase in assassinations targeting journalists, prosecutors, government officials, civil and womens rights activists, and members of minority groups," the statement reads.

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK).

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

On December 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the flight PS752 crewmembers the titles of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star.

On January 5, 2021, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine had received from Iran a draft technical report on the circumstances of the crash of flight PS752.

ish

Atlanta, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Piedmont Office Realty Trust (NYSE: PDM) (Piedmont), a real estate investment trust (REIT), announced today the tax treatment of its 2020 common stock dividends as described below. Stockholders are encouraged to consult with their personal tax advisors as to their specific tax treatment of Piedmont dividends.





Record Date Paid Date Dividend per Share Ordinary Dividends Capital Gains Unrecaptured Section 1250 Qualified Dividend Section 199A Dividend Rate Nov 29, 2019 Jan 3, 2020 $0.21* N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Feb 28, 2020 Mar 20, 2020 $0.21 $0.021 - - $0.000015 $0.209985 May 29, 2020 Jun 19, 2020 $0.21 $0.200023 - - $0.000015 $0.200008 Aug 28, 2020 Sep 18, 2020 $0.21 $0.169042 - - $0.000015 $0.169027 Nov 27, 2020 Jan 4, 2021 $0.21** N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

*The $0.21 per share distribution paid on January 3, 2020 was taxable to stockholders in 2019.

** The $0.21 per share distribution paid on January 4, 2021 will be taxable to stockholders in 2021.





About Piedmont Office Realty Trust

Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: PDM) is an owner, manager, developer, redeveloper, and operator of high-quality, Class A office properties located primarily in select sub-markets within seven major Eastern U.S. office markets, with the majority of its revenue being generated from the Sunbelt. Its geographically-diversified, approximately $5 billion portfolio is currently comprised of approximately 17 million square feet. The Company is a fully-integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) with local management offices in each of its markets and is investment-grade rated by S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Moodys (Baa2). As of December 31, 2020, approximately 64% of the companys portfolio was ENERGY STAR certified and approximately 43% was LEED certified. For more information, see www.piedmontreit.com.

Shareholder Services/Transfer Agent Services Contact:

Computershare, Inc.

866-354-3485

investor.services@piedmontreit.com
Kamala Harris has become the first female Vice President in American history.

The former senator from California took the oath of office Wednesday. President Joe Biden was sworn in minutes later.

Harris not only became the first female vice president in the nations history. She is also the first Black person and the first Asian American to hold the office.

After taking the oath, the 56-year-old Harris hugged her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and then gave Biden a fist bump. She is taking over as vice president just four years after coming to Washington as a senator from California.

Harris used two Bibles to take the oath of office. One belonged to Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the late civil rights leader whom Harris has often said inspired her. The other belonged to Regina Shelton, who helped raise Harris during her childhood in the San Francisco area.

Harris entered the race for president in 2019 along with Biden and others, but later ended her campaign. Biden chose her as his vice presidential candidate.

Supporters say Harris path is especially meaningful because she takes office at a time of deep reflection for Americans about their past and future.

Demonstrations across the country aimed at directing attention to racial injustice and police violence marked 2020. The United States also is dealing with the coronavirus health crisis. Experts say the pandemic has affected Black and minority communities more than others.

Lateefah Simon is a civil rights activist and longtime friend of Harris. In many folks' lifetimes, we experienced a segregated United States," she told The Associated Press. You will now have a Black woman who will walk into the White House not as a guest but as a second in command of the free world."

Harris is the child of immigrants, a stepmother of two and the wife of a Jewish man. She carries an intersectional story of so many Americans who are never seen and heard," said Simon.

Biden, in his acceptance speech, commented on the 1913 march for women's suffrage the day before President Woodrow Wilson took office. He said some marchers were attacked. Today, we mark the swearing in of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris, he said. Don't tell me things can't change."

Harris roots in India

Harris mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a cancer researcher who came to America from India. Her father was an economist from Jamaica. The two met at the University of California, Berkeley and married in 1963. They split in 1971, when Kamala was seven.

Harris has often spoken about the deep relationship she had with her mother, whom she has described as her single biggest influence.

I was raised to not hear no, she recently told CBS News. Let me be clear about itit wasnt like, oh, the possibilities are immense. Whatever you want to do, you can do,'" Harris said. I was raised to understand many people will tell you, It is impossible, but dont listen," she added.

In India, people in the small village where Harris has family roots gathered to celebrate her taking the oath of office. A ceremony was held at a Hindu temple in Thulasendrapuram, where Harris' grandfather on her mothers side was born.

After completing religious activities inside the temple, villagers went outside to cheer and clap, while some held up pictures of Harris.

We are feeling very proud that an Indian is being elected as the Vice President of America, said Anukampa Madhavasimhan, a teacher.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

oath  n. a formal promise to tell the truth

descent  n. people who were your ancestors

fist bump  n. to lightly strike closed hands with someone as a greeting

inspire  v. to cause someone to want to do something or to take action

reflect  v. to think carefully about something

segregate  v. to separate groups because of race or for some other reason

intersectional adj. between groups or communities of certain areas

suffrage  n. the right to vote in an election

immense  adj. extremely large

Harbor porpoises have rebounded in a big way off California. Their populations have recovered dramatically since the end of state set-gillnet fisheries that years ago entangled and killed them in the nearshore waters they frequent. These coastal set-gillnet fisheries are distinct from federally-managed offshore drift-gillnet fisheries. They have been prohibited in inshore state waters for more than a decade. The new research indicates that the coastal set gillnets had taken a greater toll on harbor porpoise than previously realized.

The return of harbor porpoises reflects the first documented example of the species rebounding. It's a bright spot for marine wildlife, the scientists write in a new assessment published in Marine Mammal Science.

"This is very good evidence that if we can eliminate the deaths in fishing nets, marine mammal populations can come back in a big way," said Karin Forney, a research biologist with NOAA Fisheries' Southwest Fisheries Science Center who is based in Monterey Bay.

The State of California managed set-gillnet fisheries for white seabass and halibut in coastal waters off central California beginning in the 1930s. Before the 1980s, there was little solid information about the impacts of coastal set-gillnets on protected species such as marine mammals and seabirds. Harbor porpoises were vulnerable to this coastal fishery because they frequent shallow inshore waters where the nets were historically set.

The scientists estimated, based on a combination of data, that as many as 300 harbor porpoises per year may have been killed in California's coastal set-gillnet fisheries during the 1980s. One 1994 study confirmed the deaths of more than 50 harbor porpoises in Monterey Bay alone, with the authors speculating that the true number was far higher.

Rebound for Populations

In the late 1980s, fishery protections for seabirds and southern sea otters benefited harbor porpoises, too. Three of the four stocks of harbor porpoises off the California Coast rebounded as the coastal set-gillnets were largely phased out, the new study shows. These coastal gillnets have been prohibited north of the Sonoma-Mendocino County line (north of Santa Rosa) since the early 1900s. That safeguarded the fourth stock, the more remote Northern California/Southern Oregon population.

The Morro Bay population most clearly reflected the rebound. Biologists estimated the population numbered about 570 animals in 1991. Surveys in the last few years estimate the population at approximately 4,200 porpoises, a roughly seven-fold increase.

The rapid growth of the Morro Bay stock suggests that bycatch had depressed the population, especially before and during the 1980s. The population decreased more than researchers had recognized previously, the scientists reported in the new study. They concluded that it "is likely that unmonitored fisheries had a dramatic adverse impact on the Morro Bay population before monitoring of harbor porpoise began in 1986."

"We didn't really know how heavily the Morro Bay population had been impacted by the white seabass and halibut gillnets at the time," Forney said. "It is now clear that the toll was more severe than we thought."

She said the finding has significance for other marine mammals still threatened by gillnets. Unlawful gillnets in Mexico have pushed the critically endangered vaquita to the brink of extinction, for example. Repeated surveys have found that the number of surviving animals may now be in the single digits. The vaquita is the world's smallest porpoise that lives in the turbid waters of the Gulf of California, where those gillnets target a large and also endangered native fish that is prized in China as traditional medicine.

"The story in California tells us that these animals are capable of recovering if we eliminate the factors causing their decline, in this case, gillnet bycatch from coastal fisheries within the range of harbor porpoise," Forney said.

Surveys Track Porpoise Numbers

Aerial surveys for harbor porpoises off California began in 1986, collecting data that formed the foundation of the new population assessment. Scientists supplemented the surveys with additional porpoise sightings from surveys of endangered leatherback turtles. The consistency of the surveys that continued over decades make them valuable in detecting changes. California harbor porpoises were once considered a single population. Beginning in 2001 biologists recognized there were four genetically distinct stocks: Morro Bay, Monterey Bay, San Francisco/Russian River, and Northern California/Southern Oregon.

The new analysis shows that three of the four stocks increased in number since the days of coastal set gillnet fishing, and have recently begun to stabilize:

Morro Bay: Increased almost 10 percent a year after most coastal gillnetting ceased by 2001, now numbering about 4,200 porpoises.

Monterey Bay: Population grew faster after coastal gillnetting stopped in 2003, but not as fast as Morro Bay. Most recently estimated at about 3,760 porpoises.

San Francisco/Russian River: Numbers fell until coastal gillnetting was prohibited in 1987. Beginning about 2009, hundreds of harbor porpoises became regularly visible in San Francisco Bay, perhaps benefiting from improved water quality, and earlier changes such as the removal of an anti-submarine netting that blocked the Golden Gate. Now estimated at 7,777 individuals.

Northern California/Southern Oregon: Lesser known population that is California's largest at about 12,160 porpoises.

Drift gillnet separate fishery

A small federal drift-gillnet fishery for swordfish continues in deeper waters miles off California. This fishery operates too far offshore to affect harbor porpoises. The fishery adopted stringent bycatch reduction measures in the 1990s and early 2000s to protect marine mammals and sea turtles. To protect marine mammals, the top of the nets hang below the surface so marine mammals can pass overhead. Acoustic "pingers" warn marine mammals of the nets' presence. To protect leatherback sea turtles, federal fishery managers close a large area off California to drift gillnets each year when the turtles are present. The measures have dramatically reduced bycatch of marine mammals and sea turtles.

"We now know much more about how to protect these species from fishing impacts," Forney said, "and we are seeing the results."

###
A stretch of road in Andrews Ganj in south Delhi will soon be named after the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput as the area's civic body has cleared a proposal for it, officials said on Thursday.

Sushant, who would have turned 35 on Thursday, was found dead at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14 last year. His fans and admirers took to social media to remember the actor whose untimely demise was followed by a high-profile investigation.

SDMC's Congress councillor Abhishek Dutt in September 2020 had moved the proposal to name the road after the actor.

"It was cleared by the SDMC House in its meeting yesterday," a senior official said.

The Andrews Ganj councillor in the BJP-led South Delhi Municipal Corporation had sent the proposal to the civic body's road naming and renaming committee.

In the written proposal to the committee, Dutt had said that a large number of people living in the area abutting Road No 8 hail from Bihar, and had claimed "they have been demanding" to name the stretch from Andrews Ganj to Indira Camp as 'Sushant Singh Rajput Marg'.

So, it is proposed that Road No 8 be named after the actor in his memory, Dutt had said.

Also read: $35,000 scholarship fund to mark Sushant Singh Rajput's birthday
NORWALK  The coronavirus has ravaged communities across America, but people of color have seen especially high levels of devastation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black people account for 1.4 times as many coronavirus cases as white people, 3.7 times as many hospitalizations and 2.8 times as many deaths. Hispanic and Indigenous people are seeing similarly increased infection and death rates and four times as many hospitalizations as white people. Asians are seeing increased rates as well.

In an effort to mitigate this, Connecticut organizations are working to arm communities of color with information about COVID-19 and getting the vaccine. The hope is to help people make informed choices and lessen the impact of the pandemic on these communities.

Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of Connecticut Health Foundation, said a number of historical events made people of color distrustful of the health care system. Black men told they were receiving free health care instead were given syphilis as part of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. The government sterilized Puerto Rican women without their full consent between the 1930s and 1970s, and Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman, had her cells used for research without her consent.

Those are major events and issues that were familiar with, but theres so many others that show when people of color enter the health care system, theyre not treated equally, Donelson said. Theres a huge distrust of the health care system overall. You have a vaccine that seems like its created quickly and people are concerned. Theres a huge amount of hesitancy within the Black and brown community to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Connecticut Health Foundation is one of many groups working to address these concerns in a way thats perceived by people of color. Along with 4-CT, they launched a grant to bring community health workers to local health departments so people can learn about the virus from people they know and trust.

URU The Right To Be, Inc., a nonprofit content production company tackling social justice issues via arts-based initiatives, launched a campaign called Our Humanity to supply Black, Latino and Indigenous communities with accurate information and interventions against COVID-19.

URU is partnering with over 300 local and national organizations and taking a multipronged approach  incorporating training series for collaborators, virtual town halls with doctors who speak English and Spanish, workshops, newsletters, fliers and social media campaigns  to educate not just on the vaccine, but on the coronavirus as a whole.

Hartford-based organization, Health Equity Solutions, Inc., is in the process of executing a plan that helps faith-based and educational based networks to address vaccine hesitancy.

Our goal is not to force people to take the vaccine, said Executive Director Tekisha Everette. Our goal is to ensure people have knowledge...so they can make the right decisions for themselves and their family.

Similar efforts are being made at the state and local level. Communities like Norwalk and Danbury are including faith and community leaders as part of their vaccine outreach, understanding they are trusted voices for many people of color.

The state Department of Public Health is scaling up a large, inclusive community outreach program, per Maura Fitzgerald, who heads communications for the state DPH. This program will talk to faith-based leaders, nonprofit organizations and other community leaders to provide them with materials and support needed to reach their communities.

COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted communities of color here in Connecticut and across the country, Fitzgerald said. Outreach to those communities to discuss the COVID vaccine ... and encourage those community members to get the vaccine when they are eligible is a high priority for DPH. Its critical to our efforts to meet these communities where they are at and work in partnership with trusted community leaders to encourage community members to get the vaccine.
Saga Cruises says it will require all guests to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before sailing on its ships this year.

The new rule was announced this week, and applies to guests booked to cruise its Spirit of Discovery ship from April 2021, and its Spirit of Adventure from May to December of this year.

"This means that guests must have received their full two doses of the Covid19 vaccination at least 14 days before travelling with us", the line said in a statement.

Saga is a UK tour operator whose cruising arm offers "boutique" voyages to the over-50s on two ships, each with a capacity of 999 passengers.

"The majority of our guests fall into the at-risk age bracket and our priority is their safety and wellbeing," it says.

Guests "will be required to bring their vaccination document and/or evidence as proof at the time of boarding", it adds.

It comes as UK holiday companies have reported a surge in bookings, particularly among older people, as the coronavirus vaccine rollout gives hope that holidaymakers will soon be able to travel overseas again.

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Other safety measures on Saga's cruise ships include mandatory Covid-19 testing before boarding, reduced capacity (to 800 guests maximum), "subtle" social distancing measures, cleaning and air-con enhancements, full table service dining, a doubling of on-board medical staff and a face-covering requirement in all internal public areas for guests and staff.

It also includes coronavirus cancellation cover for all guests.

Other cruise lines have introduced similar health measures, but Saga is the first so far to insist on full vaccination for its customers.

In order to give guests time to adapt, the company will delay the restart of its cruises programme from April 3 to May 4, and says anyone unable to transfer their booking will be fully refunded.

The news comes as the Seychelles announced it has reopened to vaccinated travellers, who must also show negative Covid-19 test results.

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbean International announced that it would suspend sailings for its Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean brand and Azamara through April 30.
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Catholic hospitals can't be forced to perform gender transition surgeries, court rules

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A federal court in North Dakota has ruled that a group of Catholic hospitals and others should not be required by the Department of Health and Human Services to perform gender transition procedures, including those for minors.

U.S. District Court Judge Peter Welte in North Dakota issued a ruling Tuesday in the case of Sisters of Mercy, et al. v. Azar.

Welte, appointed to the federal judiciary by President Donald Trump in 2019, granted permanent injunctive relief to the plaintiffs and concluded that they are exempted from an HHS rule known as the Transgender Mandate. He cited the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The Catholic Plaintiffs have demonstrated an entitlement to permanent injunctive relief. An RFRA violation is comparable to the deprivation of a First Amendment right, wrote Welte.

Having weighed the pertinent factors, the Court will permanently enjoin the Defendants from enforcing the successfully challenged interpretations of federal law against the Catholic Plaintiffs.

The decision prevents HHS from implementing regulations thereto against the Catholic Plaintiffs in a manner that would require them to perform or provide insurance coverage for gender-transition procedures, including by denying federal financial assistance because of their failure to perform or provide insurance coverage for such procedures or by otherwise pursuing, charging, or assessing any penalties, fines, assessments, investigations, or other enforcement actions.

In 2016, the Obama administration implemented a new regulation through the Affordable Care Act commonly known as the Transgender Mandate.

The regulation required that healthcare providers perform gender transition procedures, even on minors, even if they hold religious objections to the controversial practice.

In response, a group of Catholic entities filed a lawsuit against HHS over the regulation. Those groups include an order called the Sisters of Mercy, two Sacred Heart Mercy Health Care Center clinics; SMP Health System and the North Dakota-based University of Mary.

The Catholic plaintiffs were represented by Becket Law, a legal nonprofit that specializes in religious liberty cases and has argued litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The courts decision recognizes our medical heroes right to practice medicine in line with their conscience and without politically motivated interference from government bureaucrats," Becket Senior Counsel Luke Goodrich said in a statement.

Under the Trump administration, HHS broadened the exemptions for the regulation in 2020. However, these changes were complicated by the Supreme Court decision Bostock v. Clayton County, which concluded that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to sexual orientation and gender identity even though neither category is specifically mentioned in federal discrimination law.

In his opinion, Welte decided that the Bostock ruling did not fully return HHS to the 2016 version of the rule, noting that in the Supreme Court separately expressed continued commitment to safeguarding employers religious convictions.

Welte is the second federal judge to rule against the HHS mandate.

In 2019, Judge Reed OConnor of Texas, an appointee of President George W. Bush, struck down the mandate after a lawsuit was filed on the behalf of healthcare providers in five states that are members of the Franciscan Alliance as well as the Christian Medical & Dental Associations and Specialty Physicians of Illinois.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
In his inaugural speech, incoming President Joe Biden got in a lot of shots at outgoing President Donald Trump. And he had a fair sampling of pop stars singing some classic songs.

But if he really wanted to get in a final dig at the Donald, he should have closed his speech with the song that Trump played to wrap up his campaign rallies.

Thats You Cant Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones.

I never quite understood what message Trump was trying to send with it. Didnt he ever listen to the lyrics?

Apparently not. As Trump said in one of his final days in office, he achieved quite a few of his goals as president. But history will remember him more for his last-ditch attempt to hold onto his seat long after it was lost.

Biden made that point when he said, here we stand just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever.

A tough shot, but a fair one. Trump was so desperate to hang onto power that he thought he could rally his supporters to intimidate his vice president into doing something that was clearly unconstitutional.

Its usually the Republicans who demand that politicians adhere to the plain text of the Constitution. But after Trumps effort to get Mike Pence to ignore that text, it was our new Democratic president who positioned himself as the defender of the Constitution. Without mentioning Trump by name, he assailed Lies told for power and for profit, and added Each of us has a duty and a responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Truth never was The Donalds strength. After his own inaugural four years ago, Trump made the claim that he had attracted a bigger crowd than Barack Obama did for his first inauguration. I attended both events. Despite 5-degree weather, Obama got a crowd so massive that it filled up all the nearby streets as well as the lawn of the National Mall. Trump had much better weather for his swearing-in, but the crowd didnt even fill up the lawn.

I suppose you could chalk that up to salesmanship rather than mendacity. One of my sources who tangled with Trump told me his real strength was as a marketer, not an executive. Trump seemed to think that by the sheer force of his salesmanship he could convince all concerned that he actually came out ahead in the handful of states that Biden won by small margins.

What he seems to have forgotten is that the reason he won in 2016 was that those small margins went to him rather than Hillary Clinton. If Clinton had been so inclined, she could have mounted the sort of last-ditch effort that Trump tried. But Clinton conceded with a phone call to Trump just hours after the polls closed.

That led The Donald to hold a victory rally in Hershey, Pa., on Dec. 16, 2020. I attended and shot a video of the crowd filing out to the strains of that classic Stones song. Among the many hand-made signs in the crowd was one that read, over a picture of a crying baby, He Won. Get Over It!

That was sage advice and Trump should have taken it in this cycle. Instead he tried to sell a scheme for having the Congress reverse the results. But that scheme could only have worked if the Democrats who control the House had awakened on Jan. 6 and suddenly decided they would prefer a Republican president.

Trumps exit was eerily similar to that of a similar presidential aspirant who had a great talent for whipping up a crowd, William Jennings Bryan. After several failed shots at the presidency, Bryan was a bitter old man when he took on the task of leading the case against the teaching of evolution in the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. He died just days after the trial. The great writer H.L. Mencken, who covered the trial, described the sad spectacle of Bryan in his declining days:

Thus he fought his last fight, thirsting savagely for blood. All sense departed from him. He bit right and left, like a dog with rabies. His one yearning was to keep his yokels hated up - to lead his forlorn mob of imbeciles against the foe.

As the song goes, if Trump had realized you cant always get what you want, he might have gotten what he needed.

A graceful exit from public life.

BELOW: THE VICTORY RALLY IN 2016:

You may not like Donald Trumps politics, but he sure has good taste in music:. Go to the 1:14 mark for the poster reading, He won. Get Over It.
The team behind the Oxford vaccine is preparing to design new versions of its jab in response to the different coronavirus variants that have emerged in the UK and elsewhere, The Independent understands.

Scientists at the university are currently assessing the ability of their vaccine to provide protection against the British and South African variants that were detected late last year, with the results of this analysis set to be released within the first half of next month.

However, the Oxford University team is adopting an at risk approach and intends to begin synthesising new versions of the vaccine without waiting to find out if they will be needed, with Professor Sarah Gilbert  one of the lead scientists  actively working on this.

This comes as the prime minister, Boris Johnson, told the House of Commons that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will be able to approve modified vaccines as quickly as required in the face of new and emerging coronavirus variants.

Scientists at Oxford are understood to be confident that their vaccine will not need to be adapted in response to the British variant, known as B117.

Data published by Pfizer and BioNTech on Wednesday also indicated that their vaccine is likely to provide protection against B117. Analysis is ongoing to determine whether it will be able to neutralise the South African and Brazilian variants.

If modifications to the Oxford vaccine are required, it will take one days worth of work to make the necessary adjustments before being grown in cell culture within a laboratory.

After that, Oxfords pharmaceutical partner, AstraZeneca, would be required to once again step in and begin producing new supplies of the modified vaccine before distributing it around the world  a process that would probably take months.

A spokesperson for Oxford University told The Independent: It is known that viruses constantly change through mutation, leading to the emergence of new variants, and we should expect many new variants to be identified during 2021.

These changes are being monitored closely by scientists, and its important we continue to remain vigilant for changes in the future.

The University of Oxford is carefully assessing the impact of new variants on vaccine immunity and evaluating the processes needed for rapid development of adjusted Covid-19 vaccines if these should be necessary.

The government has meanwhile said it is developing a new rapid pathway to allow the approval of modified vaccines that may be required in the near future.

Weve been talking about that with the scientists over the last days and weeks intensively, just in the last few hours, Mr Johnson said on Wednesday.

Were confident that the MHRA will be in a position to turn around new applications for new variants of vaccines, as may be required to deal with new variants of the virus.

The Independent also understands that additional findings on the vaccines efficacy among the elderly will be released next month, along with further data to support the MHRAs decision to delay the administration of a second dose as part of efforts to stretch current supplies.

After an intense run-up to the vaccines approval in December  and because of mounting concerns surrounding the coronavirus variants  Oxfords leading scientists have now returned to the laboratory and been given time away from media responsibilities.

Experts have warned that uncertainty surrounding the new variants and the prospect of reinfection reaffirms the need for more effective suppression of the virus, rather than relying solely on vaccination.

The South African variant, named 501Y.V2, has sparked particular concern among experts after research showed it may be able to evade parts of the immune response triggered by natural infection.

This is the argument for you cant just vaccinate your way out of the pandemic, Professor Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds, told The Independent.

You have to maintain suppression and everything else, or youll end up chasing the different variants with different vaccines  and the virus is always going to win that arms race, always.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 27 May 2021 White Pelicans in the sunshine in St James's Park, London PA UK news in pictures 26 May 2021 Boats are seen at Southsea Moorings in Portsmouth Reuters UK news in pictures 25 May 2021 York Glaziers Trust employees Kieran Muir (left) and Emily Price (right) remove a stained glass window panel at the start of a new five year, 5m project to conserve York Minsters South East Transept and its medieval St Cuthbert Window PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2021 Dark rain clouds above an oast house at Bewl Water reservoir near Lamberhurst in Kent during one of the rainiest Mays on record, with the UK seeing 131 per cent of the usual months rainfall already PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2021 The Premier League trophy with the Manchester City club colour ribbons on, at Etihad Stadium, prior to the last Premier League match of the season. City will finally pick up the trophy after they won the league on 11 May Getty UK news in pictures 22 May 2021 Gary Kenny lifts the Buildbase FA Vase Trophy after Warrington Rylands won the FA Vase Final against Binfield at Wembley Stadium Getty UK news in pictures 21 May 2021 A family buffeted by the wind whilst crossing the the Millennium Bridge in London, with wind and rain forecast to ravage the UK on the first Friday that people have been allowed to meet in large groups outside in England PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2021 Devon And Cornwall Police Demonstrate Their Skills For Policing The G7 Summit Getty Images UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. 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The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. 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In a recent study of 44 people who had been previously infected during South Africas first wave, scientists found that the variant was not recognised by antibodies present within the blood plasma of 21 cases.

In the other half of those individuals, however, there is some recognition that remains, said Professor Penny Moore, from South Africas National Institute for Communicable Diseases. I should add those are normally people who were incredibly ill, hospitalised and mounted a very robust response to the virus.

She said the research made it clear that we do have a problem, but she warned against jumping to conclusions without further analysis.

Alex Sigal, a virologist at the Africa Health Research Institute, said the virus has found a way to escape from previous antibodies.

The world has underestimated this virus, he added. This virus can evolve. It ... is adapting to us.

Although more analysis is required to determine how the Covid-19 vaccines will be affected by the South African variant, there is reason to believe that the British version may not pose such a threat.

After Pfizer established last week that its vaccine was capable of neutralising the concerning N501Y mutation in the UK variant, further analysis of blood taken from trial participants now suggests the jab can overcome a number of genetic changes present within the virus.

The latest study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, was conducted on a synthetic virus with 10 mutations that are characteristic of the spike protein seen in B117.

Blood samples drawn from 16 vaccinated participants in prior clinical trials were exposed to the so-called pseudo-virus, which was effectively neutralised as a result.

The Oxford vaccine targets the same spike protein, raising hopes that it too will be able to trigger an immune response that is similarly capable of neutralising the UK variants mutations.
Two groups of people clashed at the BJP's Purba Bardhaman district party office in West Bengal on Thursday when a meeting of the saffron camp was in progress, police said. Members of the two groups hurled stones at each other and torched vehicles which were parked near the premises, a senior officer said.

BJP leaders alleged that the TMC was behind the incident, while the ruling party in the state denied the charge and claimed it was a fallout of the bickering between the old and new members of the saffron camp. During the meeting, members of one group of the two came out of the office, which was recently inaugurated by BJP president J P Nadda virtually, and set two mini trucks on fire, the officer said.

A large contingent of police personnel chased away the troublemakers and brought the situation under control. BJP leaders who were present at the meeting alleged that the local Trinamool Congress activists orchestrated the clash.

Denying the allegation, TMC Purba Bardhaman district president Swapan Debnath said two factions of the BJP -old and new- were fighting against each other over the issue of getting prominence in the saffron party. Senior BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya in Kolkata said the party will inquire into the incident and not tolerate any indisciplined act.

"Those joining the party should understand that no act of indiscipline will be tolerated," he said.
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India hopes it could diversify its oil suppliers under the new U.S. Administration that could relax restrictions on oil exports from Iran and Venezuela, Indias Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told Bloomberg TV in an interview.

Some geopolitical changes are there, Pradhan told Bloomberg, referring to expected policies from U.S. President Joe Biden.

The Indian minister reiterated his remarks from last month when he said that the worlds third-largest oil importer would like to have more opportunities to work for diversifying its sources of crude, including by resuming oil imports from Venezuela and Iran under President Biden.

The Trump Administration had stepped up sanctions against Iran and Venezuela since 2018, looking to cut off oil sales from the two countries.

President Biden, however, has pledged to offer Tehran a path back to diplomacy and a return to the nuclear deal. That is, if Iran returns to full compliance with that agreement, hammered out while Biden was President Obamas vice president.

After the sanctions on Iran and Venezuelas oil exports were tightened in 2019 to include anyone dealing with crude from those two producers, India stopped importing oil from Iran in May 2019 and has significantly cut purchases from Venezuela.

Reliance Industries, the largest refinery owner in India and the world, stopped buying Venezuelan crude oil in June last year. Reliance Industries is not alone in shunning Venezuelan oil, fearing repercussions from Washington. Indias second-largest refiner, Nayara Energy, has also stopped buying Venezuelan crude, switching to Canadian, Kuwaiti, and Ecuadorian oil, according to Bloomberg shipping data.

Earlier this week, Indias Pradhan criticized OPEC and its de facto leader Saudi Arabia for looking to tighten the market, diminishing export volumes and driving prices for oil importers higher.

The surprise changes in the OPEC+ group policies make planning more difficult for oil-importing nations, Pradhan told Bloomberg.

India, for one, depends on imports for over 80 percent of its oil consumption.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
LISBON: Overwhelmed by record numbers of COVID-19 patients, Portuguese hospital doctors spoke on Thursday of exhaustion and despair, as the government sought to slow contagion rates by ordering all schools to close for 15 days from Friday.

Western Europes poorest country coped well in last years first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, but it has been swamped in recent weeks by a faster-spreading mutation, registering the worlds highest infection and death rates.

Lots of people are cracking, lots of people are burning out and it gets harder and harder," said intensive care doctor Gustavo Carona, 40, in Porto. Everyone is very tired."

Ambulances have been queuing outside hospitals, waiting for beds to become available. An elderly man died in one after waiting inside it for three hours on Tuesday in the town of Portalegre.

Guida da Ponte, deputy head of a doctors union near Lisbon - whose health authority has put out a call for retired doctors and nurses to help staff makeshift hospitals - said that while more intensive-care beds could be set up, there were just not enough medical professionals.

Doctors are desperate. The word really is despair," she said.

Citing a more contagious variant of the virus first detected in Britain, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said the government had a civic duty" to reinforce Portugals lockdown.

The mutation could reach 60% of new COVID-19 cases in coming weeks, up from about 20% now, he told a news conference, while announcing the school systems temporary closure.

Parents of schoolchildren would be allowed to miss work and would receive support, while courts would suspend non-urgent cases, Costa said.

The Catholic Church said earlier it was suspending all public masses from Saturday.

Ricardo Mexia, head of the association of public healthcare doctors, said authorities had failed to prepare for the new surge in infections after relaxing restrictions for the year-end holidays.

The decision to close schools is coming too late, but it is important to reduce contagion  I fear the numbers will get even worse," he said.

The government has acknowledged that holiday-time contagion played a role, but blamed the increase in cases mostly on the new variant.

It imposed a lockdown last week under which all non-essential services are shut and people urged to stay at home.

Portugals daily COVID deaths reached a record of 221 on Thursday, bringing the total toll to 9,686. Daily infections

fell to 13,544 from Wednesdays record of 14,647.

The country of 10 million people has the worlds highest rolling average of new cases, at 1,044 per million inhabitants, over the last seven days, according to data tracker ourworldindata.org.

For a global coronavirus tracker, open in a separate browser: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps

(Additional reporting by Sergio Goncalves and Victoria Waldersee, writing by Ingrid Melander and Andrei Khalip; Editing by Janet Lawrence and John Stonestreet)

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

The Biden inauguration had to balance a number of contradictions, including addressing history while looking to the future with the swearing in of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first female, Black and Asian American holder of the office and a major focus of the days commentary

Inauguration Day 2017 was notable, in part, for who wasnt there: There were vast empty spaces on the National Mall, which the Trump Administration would soon deny in the opening shot of its four-year war on truth.

The inauguration of President Joe Biden was also defined by absences. But this time they were intentional, and  for better or worse  they were the point.

Because of the pandemic, the inaugurals organisers asked the crowds to stay away, replacing them with symbols that stood in for the Americans who were staying at home, as well as the more than 400,000 COVID-19 victims who were no longer with us.

And because of the riot two weeks ago, by a mob the previous president incited, and the lingering threats from violent pro-Trump extremists, the ceremony made the Capitol steps feel like a fragile bubble of democracy, secured by a wide perimeter and thousands of troops.

Bidens inauguration, then, was even more than usual an event produced for television, our largest virtual space. Like so many public and personal events over the last year, it tried to re-create the emotional experience of being there, to voice the pain of separation and to point to a time when we might be together for real.

So it was at the same time defiantly normal  presenting normalcy as a statement and an ideal after four years on a Tilt-a-Whirl  and strikingly unusual.

The close-up shots might have come from any inaugural. A fife and drum corps marched in 18th-century finery. Bunting decked a Capitol entrance that most of us last saw being violated by a MAGA mob on live TV. Former presidents reunited. Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks and Jennifer Lopez sang in the new administration.

But in the long shots, you could see how much had changed. The National Mall was a wind-whipped field of American flags standing in for the usual crowd, a haunting abstract equivalent of the cardboard cutouts at pandemic ballgames. The Reflecting Pool was lined with ghostly lights, which Biden dedicated the evening before in a cathartic ceremony.

Wednesdays ceremony was a tense scene, however hopeful, in part because of what wed seen unfold two weeks ago on that exact site. Symbolically, as John Dickerson said on CBS, the setting suggested an effort to slowly reset the basic values and structures of American government. But it was an image of both resilience and fragility, not unlike holding a swearing-in at ground zero in September 2001.

Often, as in daily life now, the ordinary and unsettling mixed. The split screens on cable news showed lines of limos carrying dignitaries on one side, masses of troops in fatigues on the other.

It was also a day that challenged the dusty cliches of inauguration TV, especially the phrase peaceful transfer of power, a description that has not been true in any non-farcical sense since 6 January.

Some stuck with it. (Biden used it in his speech, maybe aspirationally.) Some qualified it, like Judy Woodruff on PBS: Weve just witnessed the peaceful transition of power that, weve been saying over and over again today, was challenged just two weeks ago. Still others were more blunt, like CNNs Abby Phillips: this was a transfer of power, though it was not peaceful.

The most notable absence was that of the outgoing President Donald Trump, though he refused to cede his last morning news cycle in office. So the news shows ended the Trump era as they began it: with wall-to-wall footage of the empty stage where he was going to throw himself a going-away rally.

Trumps words at Andrews Air Force Base were largely a reprise of the recorded speech he released the day before. But even on a historic civic morning, the Trump aesthetic was unchanged. No sooner did he close his speech  Have a good life, we will see you soon  than he was answered by the Village Peoples Y.M.C.A.: Young man!

This is the way a presidency ends: Not with a bang, but with a disco anthem.

Bidens speech, like Trumps, did not mention his election opponent by name. But the contrasts were clear enough.

On the one hand, he directly addressed the legacy of alternative facts that culminated in the effort to delegitimize his election: There is truth, he said, and there are lies. On the other, despite addressing several simultaneous crises, his tone was strikingly more optimistic than the American carnage rhetoric of four years ago.

Blunt but hopeful, calm but urgent. The Biden inauguration had to balance a number of contradictions, including addressing history  and installing the nations oldest president  while looking to the future with the swearing in of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first female, Black and Asian American holder of the office and a major focus of the days commentary.

But there were also gestures like inviting the 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman, whose spellbinding recitation called on listeners to compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and conditions of man.

Maybe the most optimistic, or fanciful, theme of Bidens speech, given all weve lived through recently, was his repeated invocation of unity. Still, if only for a day, cable news did dial the heat down a few clicks.

On Fox News  which recently added to its conservative-opinion lineup while purging news employees  the conservative commentator Ari Fleischer said he expected that were in for a calmer era with Biden, though he expected to hate the administrations policies. Boring is the new thrilling, said CNNs Van Jones.

But the day made clear that we were not yet so lucky as to live in boring times. The usual lengthy afternoon parade for the new president was replaced by a short (and nerve-wracking, given all the talk of threats) jaunt from the presidential limo to the White House.

Instead, we got Parade Across America, a special hosted by Tony Goldwyn, whom you might remember as President Fitzgerald Grant on ABCs Scandal. In four years, weve gone from a TV reality host becoming president to a TV president acting as proxy for the actual one.

Like Bidens virtual convention this summer, the video shifted attention from the pageantry of politics to everyday Americans, from Jason Campbell, the dancing TikTok doc, to Kaitlyn Saunders, a girl who made a viral video figure skating on roller blades at the Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C.

It was another pandemic experiment in making do, as Jon Stewart put it in the introduction, for the first time in our nations history and, God willing, the last time.

Someday soon, lets hope, we can rediscover the dullness of things like governmental parades for ourselves. Until then, the made-for-TV version will have to do.

James Poniewozik c.2021 The New York Times Company
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21) Senator Risa Hontiveros has expressed hope that Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana would accept the University of the Philippines offer for a dialogue on a scrapped agreement without any conditions, saying this may help "deescalate the situation" brought by the surprise abrogation of the 1989 accord.

As someone who spent many years in the peace movement here in the Philippines, alam ko na ang the best dialogues are those that are unconditional, kasi medyo fraught na nga 'yung sitwasyon sa ngayon, Hontiveros said in an interview with CNN Philippines The Source on Thursday.

Tingin ko Sec. Lorenzana can help deescalate or can help cool down the situation and lay the groundwork for a much more fruitful engagement with the UP community, kung tanggapin nila without conditions yung alok ng UP sa isang dayalogo, she added.

[Translation: I know the best dialogues are those that are unconditional, because the situation right now is fraught. I think Sec. Lorenzana can help deescalate or can help cool down the situation and lay the groundwork for a much more fruitful engagement with the UP community, if they accept UPs offer for dialogue without conditions.]

On Wednesday, Lorenzana said he is open to hold talks with the countrys premier state university, but on the condition that officials would explain about the presence of students in military encounters with rebel groups.

Hontiveros stressed it would be up to UP if it would accept such condition before entering into a dialogue with the agency.

The senator also responded to Lorenzanas earlier pronouncement questioning why UP was so special to have this kind of agreement, which bars the unauthorized entry of security forces into its campuses.

I know that UP has contributed so much to the intellectual life and the political, economic, cultural life of our country, Hontiveros said.

Kung ako nga na hindi alumna ng [If I, as a non-alumna of] UP can immediately share with you and with the good secretary what makes UP so special, the government should not fail to note that, she added.

The DND earlier cited the supposed "clandestine recruitment" of students in communist organizations in its decision to unilaterally abrogate the accord with UP. The state university, through its President Danilo Concepcion, urged Lorenzana to reconsider and revoke the move, and asked to meet to discuss the agencys concerns.

A bill was meanwhile filed in the Senate on Wednesday seeking to institutionalize the UP-DND accord by including it in Republic Act No. 9500, or the UP Charter of 2008. Hontiveros hopes the measure would fare well in the Senate, and that lawmakers can attend to it soonest.
Boris Johnson hit back last night at Theresa May's claim he has abandoned Britain's position of 'global moral leadership'.

The Prime Minister insisted his predecessor was wrong as he expressed pride at the 'leading' role he is playing on the world stage.

Writing in yesterday's Daily Mail, Mrs May suggested Mr Johnson has failed to honour British values by threatening to break international law in Brexit trade talks and tearing up the foreign aid target.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson was interrogated by MPs over the bombshell article that had become the talk of Westminster.

Boris Johnson (pictured during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday) hit back last night at Theresa May's claim he has abandoned Britain's position of 'global moral leadership'

But the PM firmly rejected the criticism, telling the Commons that 'when it comes to global leadership on the world stage, this country is embarking on a quite phenomenal year'.

He said: 'We have the G7 and Cop26, and we have already led the world with the Gavi summit for global vaccination, raising $8.8billion (6.5billion).'

Britain is 'working to promote global free trade, and of course we will work with President Biden to secure the transatlantic alliance and Nato', he added.

At a briefing afterwards, the PM's spokesman said he rejected Mrs May's characterisation of his leadership.

'The UK is and will continue to be an outward-looking nation, and will continue to be a leading voice on the international stage,' the spokesman said.

Asked if Mr Johnson's government is still providing moral leadership, the spokesman replied: 'Yes... we continue to spend substantial amounts of money on aid to support international development, and we will continue to do so this year despite the temporary cuts to the aid budget.

'We continue to provide more aid spending than almost any country in the world.'

The spokesman dodged questions about whether Mr Johnson welcomed the advice from his predecessor and declined to say when the pair last spoke.

Writing in yesterday's Daily Mail, Mrs May (pictured) suggested Mr Johnson has failed to honour British values by threatening to break international law in Brexit trade talks and tearing up the foreign aid target

Mrs May's office also refused to answer.

In her Mail article, to mark Joe Biden's inauguration yesterday as US President, Mrs May said it represented a 'golden opportunity' for Britain, with the return of a more normal style of presidency.

'Strong leadership knows when to compromise to achieve a greater good,' she said. 'We must reject a scene in which a few strongmen face off against each other and instead bring people together in a common cause.'

SIMON WALTERS: Bad blood that led scorned ex-PM to wield the stiletto

Theresa May is not the first Conservative leader to feel keenly the pain of being ousted from power, an agony made all the more bitter when the ousting is done not by the voters but by fellow Tories.

After he was ignominiously toppled by Margaret Thatcher in 1975, a truculent Sir Edward Heath was nicknamed The Incredible Sulk. By 1990, it was the Iron Lady's turn to be called a 'backseat driver' when she could not stop meddling in her successor John Major's administration.

Since Mr Johnson ruthlessly removed her from Downing Street 18 months ago, Mrs May has taken one or two pot shots at him in Parliament. Yesterday, she delivered a full-scale broadside against her successor in an article for the Daily Mail.

Her florid attack, in which she accused a serving Prime Minister of 'abandoning [Britain's] position of global moral leadership', dominated the airwaves yesterday and led to questions in Parliament.

Yesterday, Theresa May (right) delivered a full-scale broadside against her successor Boris Johnson (left) in an article for the Daily Mail

Her critique took aim at the 'moral' nature of Mr Johnson's policies. This was no coincidence. In 2018, Boris dramatically resigned from her government following a Cabinet Brexit summit at Chequers, the Prime Minister's country retreat.

Withdrawing his support was bad enough, but Boris went on to treat Mrs May with contempt. He told the then-prime minister to her face that trying to sell her Brexit deal to voters would be like 'polishing a turd', a vulgar remark that his apparatchiks gleefully leaked.

Two months later, Boris followed this with a devastating speech in the Commons.

He called the Brexit deal that Mrs May had spent two long years negotiating a 'moral and intellectual humiliation'. Her aides were outraged.

'The damned cheek of it!' one said to me. 'Him, of all people, lecturing her on morals.'

Not even Boris's staunchest defenders would try to claim that morality has always been his driving force, what with his extra-marital lovers and children by a number of women.

Such a lifestyle, of course, is nothing like Mrs May's. She has remained utterly devoted to her husband Philip since they met as students 45 years ago.

In her Mail article yesterday, Mrs May did not stop at questioning her successor's political morals.

'For too long,' she wrote, 'we have been sliding towards absolutism in international affairs: if you are not 100 per cent for me then you must be 100 per cent against me... Strong leadership knows when to compromise.'

This, of course, was an explicit dig at Donald Trump  but there is no doubt that Johnson was in her sights, too. But why now? What triggered Mrs May to sour relations so publicly this week? There were signs that trouble lay between the two political heavyweights two months ago, when Mrs May rose to speak in a Commons debate on Covid.

Referring to the violent handover between Trump and Mr Biden this week, Theresa May (pictured with Donald Trump in 2018) wrote: I know from experience that leaving power is not easy

Before she had completed her first sentence, the Prime Minister, sitting just a few feet away, walked out, in a flagrant breach of Parliamentary etiquette.

Mrs May was momentarily silenced and grimaced awkwardly, but then castigated Mr Johnson's handling of the pandemic, accusing him of 'picking data to suit his policy'.

But though the seeds were sown long ago, I believe that it was the tumultuous events across the Atlantic that finally prompted Mrs May into making her comments against the PM in yesterday's Mail.

Referring to the violent handover between Trump and Mr Biden this week, she wrote: 'I know from experience that leaving power is not easy.'

Quite so: we all remember how, at a farewell press conference during the closing moments of her premiership, Mrs May wept outside No 10's black door.

The truth, however, is that bad blood between May and Johnson has long been festering.

As far back as summer 2016, when they were both grappling for the Conservative leadership, Mrs May mocked Boris for having bungled the handling of London riots when he was the capital's mayor five years earlier.

'The last time Boris negotiated in Europe,' she remarked, 'he did a deal with the Germans and came back with three nearly-new water cannon.'

After Mr Johnson was crushed in that leadership contest, his ambitions seemingly destroyed for ever, she kept her enemy close by giving him the consolation prize of foreign secretary. But she also made it clear who was boss.

Four months after she became Prime Minister I nearly fell off my seat at an awards ceremony when she humiliated Mr Johnson, who was in the audience.

She seized on a remark he had made earlier at the event, comparing himself to an alsatian said to have been strangled by former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine. Looking at her foreign secretary, Mrs May quipped: 'Boris, the dog was put down when its master decided it wasn't needed any more.'

Mrs May still has a reputation for being a rather timid vicar's daughter. In fact, she knows how to wield a stiletto.

She once donned a high-visibility jacket and hard hat purely to mock former chancellor George Osborne, and on another occasion joked that she 'retched' when David Cameron had handed a knighthood to his former communications chief.

Though her feud with Boris does not yet run as deep as the enmity between Heath and Thatcher, there are some striking similarities. Heath loathed Mrs Thatcher, who had served as his education secretary, largely because she dumped him so unceremoniously after seizing the leadership.

But their personal relations were always icy, and pro-European Heath despised her hostility to Brussels. He was a Conservative moderate who believed in ruling by consensus, though all attempts to do so failed.

After years of drift, his party threw him out in favour of a charismatic Right-wing risk-taker who never shied from confrontation and who went on to win a landslide election and make history.

See any parallels today?

In the end, it was not until 1999, 24 years after Mrs Thatcher wrested the Tory leadership from Heath, that the pair finally buried the hatchet at a London banquet to honour the 20th anniversary of her first election win.

If it takes as long for Mrs May and Mr Johnson to kiss and make up, they will not break bread until 2043.

In the interests of the country, both should swallow their pride and do it now.
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed S2828, An Act Modernizing Credit Union Laws, into law on January 12th, making it possible for Massachusetts credit unions to help further improve the lives of their members. The bill has long been a priority for Massachusetts credit unions and is the most important and comprehensive enhancement to the MA credit union state charter in over 30 years.

Throughout the legislative process the importance of credit unions to the Commonwealth in providing vital services to their communities was emphasized. The new law will allow credit unions to adapt to a financial landscape that has shifted dramatically over the last three decades through a more logical and organized system that will better serve the residents of Massachusetts.

The majority of provisions within the bill modernize existing credit union authorities, and address such areas as governance, credit union member authority, transactions, deposits and loans, and technology enhancements. The new law strengthens credit unions' ability to enhance the financial stability of their members through streamlined personal loan authority, eliminating the 100-mile radius for real estate loans and increasing partner options for participation loans. It also modernizes a number of governance requirements for credit unions, including their annual meeting processes, electronic member voting, authorizes associate director positions, and streamlines committee composition.

Cooperative Credit Union Association President/CEO Ron McLean applauded the bill's passage, saying "The credit unions of Massachusetts appreciate their lawmakers' recognizing the importance of credit unions to their communities. This legislation enhances credit unions on many fronts and makes it possible for them to help even more Massachusetts families gain the financial stability needed to achieve their dreams. It is especially helpful in strengthening Massachusetts credit unions ability to further assist their members through the pandemic and beyond."

About the Cooperative Credit Union Association

The Cooperative Credit Union Association is a regional trade organization serving as the voice for nearly 180-member credit unions primarily located in the States of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. CCUA member credit unions hold combined assets in excess of $59 billion and serve a collective membership base of more than 4.5 million consumers. Together, CCUA credit unions provide over $413 million in direct financial benefits to their members annually. Last year, the credit unions contributed more than $21 million to support nearly 6,700 organizations in their communities. For more information, visit www.CCUA.org.

Contact

Carole Langiu

Communications Director

302-531-8278

[email protected]

SOURCE Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA)

Related Links

http://www.ccua.org


The crew of USS Pueblo at a press conference in North Korea in 1968. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP Images

In January 1968, US Navy spy ship USS Pueblo left Japan for a normal operation off the coast of North Korea, where it could eavesdrop on North Korean and Soviet communications.

Days later, however, the Pueblo's mission was interrupted by the North Korean navy, which seized the ship in a deadly attack.

More than 50 years later, Pueblo remains on display in Pyongyang, a symbol of the lasting enmity between the US and North Korea.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Every day, the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang proudly displays a number of war trophies taken from US and UN forces during the Korean War.

But one of the main attractions was seized 14 years after the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.

Moored on the Pothong River, the USS Pueblo features captured US Navy uniforms, flags, encryption machines, and written confessions by its crew, who were fired on in international waters and taken into custody by North Korea on January 23, 1968.

The incident shocked and embarrassed the US Navy, the National Security Agency, and the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

A routine mission in a tense hotspot

A North Korean sailor next to the USS Pueblo, August 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

Pueblo was a small spy ship fitted with electronic equipment designed to eavesdrop on North Korean and Soviet communications.

On January 11, 1968, Pueblo set out of Sasebo, Japan, for an intelligence-gathering mission off of North Korea's east coast. At the time, this type of operation was not viewed as particularly risky; almost every country conducted similar missions, and Pueblo was ordered to stay at least 12 miles to 13 miles off the coast in order to remain in international waters.

Pueblo also had no escort, as the US military was focused on Vietnam, where fighting and troop numbers had been steadily increasing since 1965.

But the Korean Peninsula was still extremely tense. North Korean soldiers mounted periodic infiltrations and killed a number of American and South Korean soldiers, and the violations of the armistice were increasing. The US and UN Command recorded 50 such violations in 1966. From the beginning of 1967 to the time of Pueblo's capture, that number skyrocketed to 610.

Story continues

The attacks were also growing more brazen. Two days before Pueblo's capture, 31 North Korean commandos unsuccessfully assaulted the South Korean president's official residence in Seoul, killing dozens of South Koreans and four Americans.

Assault on the Pueblo

US Navy signal intelligence gathering ship USS Pueblo off San Diego on October 19, 1967. US Navy

Pueblo arrived in its area of operation on January 12 and encountered no problems until January 20, when a North Korean submarine chaser spotted it. Two days later, two North Korean trawlers started following it.

The next day the North Koreans were more aggressive. The sub chaser returned, circled Pueblo, and questioned Pueblo's nationality. Pueblo, which had been flying the international signal flag for hydrographic operations, responded by hoisting an American flag.

Having figured out that Pueblo was an intelligence ship, the chaser signaled "heave to or I will open fire." It was then joined by four torpedo boats, who promptly surrounded the Pueblo. Two MiG-21s had also joined the operation and were circling overhead.

Pueblo's commanding officer, Lt. Cmdr. Lloyd Bucher, ordered the ship to sail farther out to sea. A chase ensued, but Bucher ordered his men not to man Pueblo's two .50-caliber machine guns, as he did not want to provoke the North Koreans. He believed that as he was in international waters, the North Koreans would not open fire, and that Pueblo could escape.

Pueblo's chief communications technician requested permission to destroy sensitive documents, which his superior denied. The technician ordered his unit to begin destruction anyway, but it was too late.

The North Koreans open fire

Lt. Cmdr. Lloyd Bucher and his crew in North Korea in 1968. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP Images)

At 1:32 p.m., two hours after initial contact, the sub chaser opened fire with its 57 mm cannons. Almost simultaneously, the four torpedo boats raked Pueblo with machine-gun fire, immediately wounding two of its crew, including Bucher, who finally ordered the destruction of sensitive material.

That destruction effort faced immediate problems. The crew had not been trained to destroy everything properly, and the ship had so many documents that the incinerator was overloaded. Pueblo radioed for help, but the Navy had no available ships, and the Air Force was unable to respond in time.

Under fire and with no aid coming, Bucher accepted the North Koreans' demand to follow them to the coast. He briefly stopped to buy time for the destruction process but was immediately fired on again by the North Koreans. Four crewmen were wounded, one of whom later died.

Out of options, Bucher radioed his intention to surrender. After following the North Korean escort for almost a half-hour, Pueblo was finally in North Korean waters and was boarded.

A massive propaganda victory

A North Korean military guide leads a tour of the USS Pueblo, January 24, 2018. AP Photo/Eric Talmadge

The capture of Pueblo and its 82 surviving crew was a massive propaganda victory for the North Koreans. Every four days a "confession" of wrongdoing by a crew member was aired on North Korean television, and pictures of surrendering Americans were displayed at every opportunity.

Some of the documents the North Koreans presented were clearly forged or altered; a visual contact log, for instance, showed that Pueblo had traveled 500 miles in 12 minutes, and listed coordinates that would have put it some 32 miles inside North Korea itself.

But the crew was unable to destroy the majority of the classified material they had aboard, making it one of the worst intelligence losses in history.

Crewmen from the USS Pueblo are escorted by MPs upon arrival at a US Army hospital near Seoul, December 23, 1968. AP Photo

For 11 months, the crew were subject to countless acts of torture, including beatings, sleep deprivation, and threats of execution. They initially resisted making confessions; in one show of defiance, they raised their middle fingers during photo sessions, telling their captors it was a Hawaiian symbol for peace.

The Johnson administration was thoroughly embarrassed. Military action was considered, but it would've endangered the crew and risked reigniting the Korean War. Moreover, just a week after Pueblo was taken, the Tet Offensive started in Vietnam, drawing US attention away.

Johnson did send additional aircraft carriers and aircraft to the Sea of Japan and South Korea, but the US ultimately agreed to admit wrongdoing in order to secure the crew's release nearly a year later.

Pueblo remains an important symbol for North Korea today. Pyongyang casts the ship as an example of North Korea standing up to the imperialist Goliath and winning without losses. Pueblo is the second oldest US Navy ship officially in service and the only one in the custody of an adversary.

Read the original article on Business Insider
It is sad, but perhaps inevitable that contemptuous, raw class-hatred for Trump voters would be featured so prominently in the National Review almost immediately after the swearing-in of Joe Biden yesterday. National Review, after all, produced the infamous "Against Trump" issue in January 2016, assembling conservatives from many publications in an effort to derail the nomination of the man who became our 45th president.

The chief complaints about Trump centered on style...and class. But graciousness in victory apparently is not an element of civility that appeals to Kevin Williamson, a talented wordsmith and star at what was once the flagship publication of the conservative movement. You may recall that roughly half a year before the February 15, 2016 "Against Trump" issue appeared, Williamson descended to vitriol with a June 16, 2015 column on Trump's announcement of his candidacy in the Trump Tower lobby titled, "Witless Ape Rides Escalator," explicitly dehumanizing him.

Yesterday, he bookended his Trump coverage by returning to an insult that, if he had applied it to Trump's predecessor, would have gotten him deplatformed and condemned to ignominy (ask Roseanne Barr). In "Witless Ape Rides Helicopter," Williamson broadened his contempt for Trump into an attack on the voters who dared to reject Williamson's views and voted Trump into office, and then added millions to their ranks and voted for his re-election. They are all morons, you see, toothless, rural semi-humans whom Williamson calls "Cletus," no doubt after a character on The Simpsons, described by Fandom as "a stereotypical redneck[.]"

Williamson begins his screed:

Well, that sucked. Memo to MAGA and all its myriad fellow-travelers: Maybe Death of a Salesman as presented by Leni Riefenstahl just wasn't the show Americans were dying to tune into this season. And, while we're at it, maybe turning your party over to Generalissimo Walter Mitty, his hideous scheming spawn, and the studio audience from Hee-Haw was not just absolutely aces as a political strategy. Think on it, Cletus. I know this whole thing still sounds like your idea of a good time  how's that working out for you?

Nazi, cornball-humor, country-music-loving idiots support Trump, you see, and they still haven't figured out how Hillary Clinton would have been a much better president.

Williamson likes the Cletus insult so much that he uses it twice:

You Trumpish Republicans sneered that Joe Biden was too corrupt and too senescent to win a presidential campaign, that he was one part mafioso and one part turnip. That turnip kicked your dumb asses from Delaware to D.C. So you rioted. Real smart move, Cletus.

It is almost as if Williamson is trying to satirize the elitism that has always been part of National Review's persona. Founded by William F. Buckley after he rocketed to cultural prominence after writing his book, God and Man at Yale, National Review sought to make conservatism respectable in the eyes of the cultural elite.

With his latest chapter of the Witless Ape saga, Williamson has inverted Buckley's original tactic of reaching up, using a large vocabulary and complex syntax as signs of intelligence, into kicking down, employing stereotypes, ungrammatical language ("Think on it..."; "Real smart move"), and vulgarity to demean Trump-supporters, who are the mainstream of conservatism now, whether or not National Review and the Williamsons of the world approve it.

Maybe Williamson is hoping to get his job at The Atlantic back. I'm not sure what future his National Review has.
Kanye West is not happy that his alleged divorce from Kim Kardashian West will be broadcasted on TV.

The 40-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star will reportedly discuss the end of her marriage on the last series of the family's E! reality show much to the horror of the Bound 2 rapper, a source told UsWeekly.

'He is less than thrilled,' a source said as West continues to stay in Wyoming on his ranch as Kim is with all four kids at their Hidden Hills, California mansion.

Please don't talk about me! Kanye West is not happy that his divorce from Kim Kardashian West will be broadcasted on TV; seen in early 2020

Sharing is caring: The 40-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star will reportedly discuss the end of her marriage on the last series of the family's E! reality show much to the horror of the Bound 2 rapper, a source told UsWeekly

But Kim wants to keep her career going. 'She will continue to focus on her business empire. Kim has been in individual counselling and is at peace with where her life is headed.'

Kim and Kanye - who share North, seven, Saint, five, Chicago, two, and Psalm, 19 months, together - had been in marriage counselling as they 'tried to work through things.'

A source said of their counselling sessions: 'Divorce has been discussed, but Kim wants more than anything for their relationship to work. There wasn't anything specific that happened that led them to this point ... They are 100 percent aligned when it comes to the kids.'

In the country: 'He is less than thrilled,' a source said as West continues to stay in Wyoming on his ranch as Kim is with all four kids in Hidden Hills, California

Selling SKIMS: But Kim wants to keep her career going. 'She will continue to focus on her business empire. Kim has been in individual counselling and is at peace with where her life is headed'

However, another insider insists the couple are just dealing with 'regular relationship issues.'

They added of the couple's struggles: 'It's just regular relationship issues. There is no one else involved. Divorce talks have been on and off with them since the spring.'

But the site reported earlier they have stopped marriage counseling for now.

However, family has always been incredibly important to the rapper and he previously said that part of his goal in running for President of the United States is to bring a 'culture of family' to the world.

They tried: Kim and Kanye - who share North, seven, Saint, five, Chicago, two, and Psalm, 19 months, together - had been in marriage counselling as they 'tried to work through things'

She has hope: A source said of their counselling sessions: 'Divorce has been discussed, but Kim wants more than anything for their relationship to work. There wasn't anything specific that happened that led them to this point ... They are 100 percent aligned when it comes to the kids.' Seen in March 2020 in Paris

He explained: 'It's like, family is just the key to the world, period.

'From our immediate family to our friends and family, our co-workers and family, our city and family, our state and family, our country and family, our world ... the culture of humanity needs to be family.

'A culture of family. But the design of our cities, the design of our schools, there's a lot of things designed to not promote family; they're designed to create separation ... At the beginning, middle and the end of the day, I'm a dad.'

Not sleeping in: Kim did not seen to be too bothered by the reported crumbling of her marriage to West as she was seen working out with sister Khloe at 6 am on Thursday. The star had on a black workout outfit in the gym. The makeup mogul said that she liked running into her sister so early and she was also wearing Khloe's brand, Good American

Later PageSix added more information.

'The Kardashians intend to go out with a bang. Theyve filmed Kim discussing her marriage problems. But everybody involved is on a nondisclosure agreement, because the finale wont screen until later in 2021,' a source told the site.

Kim did not seem to be too bothered by the reported crumbling of her marriage to West as she was seen working out with sister Khloe at 6 am on Thursday.

He is on the mend: Meanwhile, on Wednesday DailyMail.com exclusively reported that Kim's best friend Jonathan Cheban has been fighting COVID-19 in Miami. It has kept the FoodGod from filming scenes of Kim's show KUWTK; seen in 2019

The star had on a black workout outfit in the gym.

The makeup mogul said that she liked running into her sister so early and she was also wearing Khloe's brand, Good American.

Kim and Kanye have not been seen together since December.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday DailyMail.com exclusively reported that Kim's best friend Jonathan Cheban has been fighting COVID-19 in Miami.

It has kept the FoodGod from filming scenes of Kim's show KUWTK.
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Bharat Road Network on Thursday said it has signed an agreement with India Highway Concession Trust, an infrastructure investment trust set up by Canadian institutional investor Caisse de dpt et placement du Qubec (CDPQ), for the sale of a road project in Odisha.

The company has executed a securities purchase agreement with Indian Highway Concessions Trust acting through its investment manager, for sale of the entirety of the companys shareholding in Shree Jagannath Expressways Pvt Ltd, Bharat Road Network Ltd (BRNL) said in a regulatory filing.

Bharat Road Network said the equity value of the proposed transaction is subject to adjustments of debt and other capital and operational costs at closing date and hence net consideration receivable is not ascertainable at this stage.

BRNL is currently the largest shareholder, with 40 percent stake in this project.

The share purchase agreement provides for the complete transfer of ownership of Shree Jagannath Expressway Pvt Ltd, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) engaged in the development, operation and maintenance of a 67-kilometre toll road project from Bhubaneswar to Chandikhole, in Odisha, the company said.

Bajrang Kumar Choudhary, Managing Director, BRNL, said the transaction is in line with the companys strategic plan for stakeholder value creation through portfolio assets reallocation, while focusing on enhancing operational excellence and increasing financial efficiencies in existing assets.

"The transaction is expected to help BRNL in reducing its debts and will also provide the company with funds for reinvesting in its existing assets under construction, he added.

Emmanuel Jaclot, Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure, CDPQ, said: "It will be the first asset integrated into the new CDPQ-owned roads platform in India, which we set up and staffed in 2020. This reflects our long-term confidence and interest for the sector and more broadly the Indian infrastructure market."

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

 So, Joe Biden is now President. Cant you just feel the excitement?

 No, seriouslyhas there been a new president in the last 70 years entering office with less enthusiasm than Slow Joe? I caught a YouGov poll today reporting that Joe Bidens public approval rating is 52 percentamong the lowest for an incoming president since this polling question began decades ago. (Obama was at 69 percent on inauguration day.)

 Biden has one mandatenot to be Donald Trump. Biden wont be able to settle for that. The good news for Republicans is that recent Democratic presidents invariably overreach, and provoke a backlash among swing voters. And the Georgia Senate election and the capitol riot of January 6 have emboldened the left, putting more pressure on Biden to deliver. Biden has much less of a mandate (which is overrated in any case) than either Bill Clinton or Obama. He also has much less congressional support for his mistakes. He is Lyndon Johnson in 1965about to be made miserable by the far left of his own party.

 Biden says he wants to promote good-paying union jobs. And so, his first act in office is killing 20,000 good-paying union jobs connected to the Keystone pipeline. At this rate, well be back to 15% unemployment by April.

 The current mode of the Democratic Party is to double-down on disaggregating the American people into ever more exotic identity groups (I still have to look up BIPOC every time I hear the acronym, and I work at a university) and demonize white Americans as the source of every other groups difficulties. Cue Jon Lovitz: Yeah, thats the ticket. Democrats have no idea how unpopular this is, even among the very ethnic groups they claim to champion.

 You want to know how crazy it is that Joe Biden is President? For my sinsand, readers who know the reference, dont mock me for thisI made the mistake of binge-watching a very weird Netflix show on my many airplane trips a couple years ago, called The OA. As I say, if you saw it, dont mock me. If you didnt see itdont. Anyway, the main feature of the show is parallel universes (sort ofdid I say mention it is a weird show?). And in one of the parallel universes, the protagonist wakes up in a hospital after a psychotic break of some kind, and is asked, Whos the President of the United States? OA: Barack Obama. Nurse: Who? Then there rolls the TV news spot:

President Biden was even too unbelievable for a Hollywood fantasy movie. Either that, or weve slipped into a parallel universe. Anyone know Jason Isaacs whereabouts?

 Trumps detractors on the right said, Character is destiny. There is something to this, which showed up in Trumps less than stellar post-election performance. (More on this separately.) Will the Never-Trumpers apply the same standard to Biden? Well be watching.

 Biden is a political chameleon. That can work fine while youre a Senator. Im reminded of FDR talking about his pet chameleon: I put my chameleon on a plaid cloth. The chameleon died. Biden is now on the plaid cloth of the American presidency, needing to adjust to the spectrum of nationwide interests and conflicts. His color already looks bad. I give him five months before his public approval rating dips down toward 40%.

So cheer up everyoneweve got em right where we want em.
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MBABANE  Government has effected an immediate 30-day ban on alcohol sales.

This includes the brewing of traditional brew such as the now in season, buganu (marula) and all other homemade brews, like fokker 100. The announcement was made by the Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, at the Cabinet Offices yesterday afternoon, where he further announced the extended partial lockdown for 30 days. The extended partial lockdown is with effect from midnight today (Thursday January 21, 2021). Masuku said during the last 12 days since the new restrictions came into effect, the COVID-19 pandemic had not relented; there has been no let up. We have seen numbers of new infections rising by 2 468, averaging 205 a day. We have also experienced a new high in fatalities reaching 427, which is 124 more than what it was 12 days ago, Masuku said.

Deaths

He said this reflected an average of 10 deaths per day. Masuku said in order to save lives and allow the health system to breathe, Cabinet, under the counsel and guidance of Their Majesties, and exercising Regulation 52 of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Regulations, had taken the decision to extend the revised restrictions by another four weeks. The acting PM said this measure was meant to disrupt the galloping spread of the virus as the past weeks had clearly indicated the need to further strengthen the COVID-19 response efforts as a country.

We have an opportunity over the next four weeks to act responsibly as individuals and communities to save lives, he said. Meanwhile, on the immediate ban on alcohol Masuku said any retailer that went against the directive would face serious consequences, including the suspension of their trading licence as it had happened recently to others.

He said it was unfortunate that they had witnessed many imbibers ignoring the directive to only consume alcohol at home, thereby congregating in groups where they removed masks and shared their drinks. An intoxicated mind does not have the capacity to think rationally and this is dangerous at a time when every action has a consequence, said Masuku.

He said the ban on alcohol sales, was not, however, a ticket for the black market and illegal home-made booze sellers to immerge and thrive during this period. The acting premier said law enforcement officers, including community police working with regional task teams, would be very vigilant in monitoring this activity to ensure that it did not resurface. He urged all emaSwati to be responsible and report anyone found to be illegally selling alcohol during the next four weeks.
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On the final day of his presidency, Donald Trump issued 143 pardons amid a familiar noxious cloud of accusations of scandal and corruption. Leading up to the announcement of this final list of pardons, the New York Times described a lucrative market for pardons with lawyers collecting tens of thousands of dollars to lobby the president to pardon wealthy felons.

Apparently, this practice is not illegal, though it appears to be sordid and unseemly.

John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer convicted of illegally disclosing classified information, even claimed that an associate of Rudy Giuliani told him that Giuliani could help him secure a pardon for $2 million. (Giuliani denied the accusation.) Kiriakou turned down the offer, saying, Even if I had two million bucks, I wouldnt spend it to recover a $700,000 pension!

Trumps final list of pardons included Steve Bannon, indicted for fraud; fundraiser Elliott Broidy, convicted of foreign lobbying; Rick Renzi and Randall Duke Cunningham, two Congressmen convicted of bribery; Jared Kushners friend Ken Kurson, arrested on cyberstalking charges, and other cronies, political allies and friends of friends. Should a president be entirely free to pardon anyone he or she wishes, for any reason, no matter the magnitude of the crime?

Of course, this was not the first time in American history that scandal and controversy have followed pardons granted by presidents and governors. Bill Clintons pardon of fugitive financiers Marc Rich and Pincus Green in 2001 created an enormous uproar. Clinton was accused of having granted the pardons because Richs ex-wife Denise Rich had given $450,000 to the Clinton Foundation. James Comey, of all people, as incoming U.S. attorney in Manhattan, investigated the charges against Clinton. Ultimately the office declined to prosecute.

Who can forget the infamous case of Gov. Ray Blanton of Tennessee who served time in prison, not for his cash-for-clemency program exposed by Marie Ragghianti, head of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, but for mail fraud, conspiracy and selling liquor licenses. Among those Blanton pardoned were 20 convicted murderers. One got a job following release working in the state photographers office.

And then there was our own homegrown scandal involving a native-born demagogue much in the model of Donald Trump, James Pa Ferguson. Ferguson had the gift of oratory. His following of small farmers and day laborers adored him. Will Rogers joked that if Ferguson blew up the Capitol in Washington, his thousands of followers would say, Jim was right. The thing ought to have been blowed up years ago.

In 1917, Gov. Ferguson was impeached and removed from office by the Texas Legislature for corruption and because he had vetoed funding for the University of Texas in a fit of pique. In 1924, the Texas Supreme Court confirmed his impeachment and the corollary that he could no longer hold office in Texas. So Miriam Ma Ferguson, Pas wife, was enlisted to run for governor instead and became Texas first woman governor.

There was never a question in anyones mind as to who was really running things when Ma was governor. The Ferguson family used the office of governor to make money in a variety of ways. Ferguson twisted the arm of anyone who had business with the state, allegedly encouraging them to buy ads in his newspaper, the Ferguson Forum.

In 1925 and 1926 Ma issued 3,595 pardons. Nola Wood, the pardons secretary, swore in later interviews that she had seen wads of cash floating around the governors office, some wrapped in newspaper as a rudimentary disguise. The money was put in baskets marked Personal. Pa filled out the pardon forms in pencil, and Ma wrote over them in ink. Sometimes Pa double-dipped by also acting as the inmates lawyer, advocating for a pardon, which Ma always granted.

The alleged selling of pardons by the Fergusons was so well-known that it became part of Texas folklore. According to one story, a man went to see Pa Ferguson about getting a pardon for his son. Ferguson kept changing the subject to a certain swayback horse he wanted to sell the man for $150. Finally the man grew irate and demanded to know why Ferguson kept trying to talk him into buying a useless horse. Because, said Ferguson, your son could ride him home from the penitentiary.

According to another legend, a man accidentally stepped on Ma Fergusons foot in an elevator. Oh, madam, he said, I hope you will pardon me. Youll have to see my husband about that, replied Ma.

After Ma was defeated for re-election by Georgetown district attorney and anti-Klan crusader Dan Moody, Ma, out of pure spite, even issued a pardon to Murray Jackson, the first defendant Moody had convicted in the series of trials of klansmen that had made Moody famous throughout the U.S.

The Fergusons were never indicted for selling pardons because there wasnt enough irrefutable evidence. But no one forgot the pardon scandal. In 1936, under reform Gov. James Allred, an amendment to the Texas Constitution passed which established the Board of Pardons and Paroles and required that all new pardon applications had to be reviewed by this board first.

This same remedy should be applied at the federal level to end, once and for all, the presidents unfettered power to pardon and the scandals that have resulted. Something to add to Joe Biden and Congresss to-do list.

Bernstein is a Houston publicist, writer and historian, author of The First Waco Horror: The Lynching of Jesse Washington and the Rise of the NAACP and Ten Dollars to Hate: The Texas Man Who Fought the Klan.

An illustration shows the orbital transfer injection by Chang'e 5's orbiter-reentry capsule combination. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering on Tuesday jointly revealed the top 10 news stories of scientific and technological progress in China and in the world in 2020.

The top 10 news stories were voted by academicians of the two academies. The annual activity is in its 27th year.

China's top 10 scientific and technological progress news reports in 2020:

1. The Chang'e 5 lunar probe successfully returned to Earth carrying moon samples. Scientific research on moon samples was launched.

China launched the Chang'e 5 probe on Nov 24 as part of its moon missions. The probe successfully landed in a pre-selected zone on the moon on Dec 1. After sampling lunar soil, Chang'e 5's reentry capsule set off for Earth and landed in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Dec 17, marking the accomplishment of China's first return with samples from an extraterrestrial celestial body.

The samples, weighing 1,731 grams, were later transferred to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where they will be stored, processed and analyzed in the lunar laboratory at the National Astronomical Observatory, a CAS subsidiary.

Chang'e 5's mission is the most complex and technologically-advanced space project in China. It is of great significance to the country in upgrading space technology, improving the lunar exploration system and carrying out lunar scientific research, as well as organizing lunar and interplanetary exploration missions that will follow.

2. China launched the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, marking the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation system.

China successfully launched the 55th satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, the last of the BDS-3 system, by using a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

The satellites and the supporting launch vehicles were developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, both subsidiaries of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. A number of research institutes, including the CAS's Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, also participated in their development.

This also was the 336th flight of the Long March series of launch vehicles. With the strong support of measurement and control, ground operations and control, and inter-satellite management and application verification systems, all the previously launched satellites in orbit have been put into a constellation, with the deployment fully completed six months earlier than planned.

3. China's unmanned submersible and manned submersible both make new breakthroughs in deep diving.

Unmanned submersibleHaidou-1, developed by the Shenyang Institute of Automation of CAS, returned from sea trials aboard the scientific research vessel Exploration 1 on June 8. During this voyage,Haidou-1set a new record by submerging 10,907 meters under the Pacific Ocean's surface at the Mariana Trench, the deepest area in the world.

On Nov 28, the deep-sea manned submersibleFendouzhe,meaning "striver" in Chinese, returned with the research vessel Exploration 1. The submersible was jointly developed by the No 702 research institute of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation and CAS's Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering.

During this expedition,Fendouzheset a national diving record of 10,909 meters in the Mariana Trench, marking the fact China has achieved a leading position in the world in the field of manned deep diving. It also will help scientists understand the composition and evolution of organisms in the abyssal seabed, mineral deposits and seamount volcanic rocks, as well as the role of deep-sea trenches in monitoring the climate.

4. China was the first country in the world to extract flammable ice using a horizontal well-drilling technique.

Natural gas hydrate is commonly known as flammable ice. On March 26, the Ministry of Natural Resources announced that China had extracted a record amount of flammable ice during the second trial exploration in the South China Sea, with about 28,700 cubic meters collected per day and a total of 861,400 cubic meters extracted.

During the trial, researchers also independently developed a set of key technologies and an equipment system to industrialize gas hydrate extraction, created a unique environmental protection and monitoring system, and independently innovated an environmental risk prevention and control system.

The trial has overcome the core technology of drilling horizontal wells in shallow and soft strata in the deep sea, making China the first country in the world to adopt the horizontal well-drilling technique to trial mining gas hydrates in the sea.

5. Scientists found cure for wheat's "cancer".

Fusarium head blight is a fungal disease that devastates wheat production and is difficult to control worldwide,and is known as the "cancer" of wheat. Kong Lingrang, a professor from Shandong Agricultural University, led his team to clone for the first time the gene Fhb7 from a wheat relative. The gene was proved effective in resisting the disease and was successfully transferred into wheat varieties.

According to Science, many genetic loci in wheat affect the gene's resistance but most only have minor effects. Kong's results were the first time that a gene was proved having a stable effect in improving resistance in breeding and it also has a detoxification function.

Currently, more than 30 organizations have applied the results for wheat genetic improvement of resistance to the disease. They have conducted extensive trials in East China's Shandong, Jiangsu and Anhui, and Central China's Henan provinces and yielded positive results.

6. Scientists reached a milestone for quantum supremacy.

Pan Jianwei and Lu Chaoyang, professors at the University of Science and Technology of China in East China's Anhui province, in collaboration with researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Microsystems and Information Technology, CAS, have created a light-based quantum computer called Jiuzhang.

The machine enabled China to reach its first milestone in quantum computing research that can demonstrate quantum supremacy, or quantum advantage, meaning the device can solve a problem no traditional supercomputer can tackle in any feasible amount of time. The results were published online in Science on Dec 4.

7. Scientists recreated the history of over 300 million years of biodiversity change on Earth.

The origin and evolution of life is one of the world's greatest scientific puzzles. More than 99 percent of the organisms that once lived on Earth have become extinct, making recreating the history of the Earth's biodiversity through fossil records an important way to understand the current development of the Earth's biodiversity inhabited by humans today.

Fan Junxuan and Shen Shuzhong, a professor and an academician, respectively, at Nanjing University in East China's Jiangsu province, built their own database, developed artificial intelligence algorithms and used the Tianhe II supercomputer to make the breakthrough, producing the world's first high-precision curve demonstrating the change of marine biodiversity over the 300 million years of the Paleozoic Era, with a resolution 400 times higher than similar international studies.

The curve accurately portrays several major extinctions and their effects on environmental changes. The results were published in Science on Jan 17.

8. China's new generation of "artificial sun" completed.

The new generation of China's "artificial sun", known as HL-2M Tokamak, a nuclear fusion installation, realized its first plasma discharge on Dec 4 in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan province. It will help further development of humanity's quest for the future of energy.

The project was designed and built independently by the Southwest Institute of Physics of the Nuclear Industry of the China National Nuclear Corporation. Designed to replicate the natural reactions that occur in the sun using hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuels, the apparatus will provide clean energy through controlled nuclear fusion.It is the country's largest in scale and highest in parameters

With a more advanced structure and control method, it is able to generate plasma hotter than 150 million degrees Celsius and is expected to greatly enhance the research and development of key technologies in plasma physics research in China.

9. Scientists solve geometric puzzle that has been unresolved for over 20 years.

Chen Xiuxiong and Wang Bing, professors at the University of Science and Technology of China, have successfully proved the "Hamilton-Tianconjecture" and "partial--conjecture", which are two core conjectures that the international mathematics community had not been able to solve for the last two decades.

The results were published in November in the Journal of Differential Geometry, a top international mathematical journal. The length of the paper is more than 120 pages, and it took six years from submission to publishing.

10. Chinese and US team wins Gordon Bell Prize, the highest prize for high-performance computing applications in 2020, for machine learning method that achieves record molecular dynamics simulation.

On Nov 19, an application achievement jointly completed by Jia Weile, associate researcher of CAS's Institute of Computing Technology, CAS academician E Weinan, and Zhang Linfeng, a researcher at the Beijing Institute of Big Data, as well as other collaborators, won the Gordon Bell Prize presented by the Association for Computing Machinery.

The prize was given for their project, "Pushing the Limit of Molecular Dynamics with AB Initio Accuracy to 100 Million Atoms with Machine Learning".

Molecular Dynamics is a computer simulation methodology that analyzes the motion and interactions of atoms during a fixed period of time. For decades, researchers have used a simulation method called ab initio, meaning "from first principles" in Latin, for molecular dynamics because it has proven to be the most accurate. However, the calculations have long been limited by algorithms and computing power, even using the world's fastest supercomputers, which can only calculate on the scale of several thousand atomic systems.

This project uses high performance computing and machine learning to raise the limits of molecular dynamics by reaching the scale of hundreds of millions of atoms while still ensuring the high accuracy of ab initio calculations.

Media reports said molecular dynamics simulations based on deep learning bring accurate physical modelling to larger scale material simulations through the combination of high performance computing and machine learning, which is expected to play a greater role in solving practical problems in mechanics, chemistry, materials, biology, and even engineering in the future.
The Prince of Wales has spoken about his affection for 'inquisitive and delightful' red squirrels as he praised the volunteers helping to protect the animals.

Charles said he admires the creatures and he lets them roam around his Birkhall home on the Queen's Balmoral estate.

He even leaves his jackets outside with nuts left in the pockets for the squirrels to feast on.

The prince marked today's Squirrel Appreciation Day by writing a letter to thank the volunteers for their hard work.

The Prince of Wales has spoken about his affection for 'inquisitive and delightful' red squirrels as he praised the volunteers helping to protect the animals

Charles, who is patron of the Red Squirrel Survival Trust (RSST), previously revealed that his fondness for the native species started from watching them while growing up on the Sandringham estate.

In his letter, he heralded the thousands of RSST volunteers who form a network of more than 100 groups across the UK. They help feed the squirrels, look for signs of disease and set up squirrel ropes to allow them to safely cross above busy roads.

The prince wrote: 'I am so very grateful to all of you for the crucial role you play in this ongoing battle to protect and restore a precious part of our natural heritage.

Charles said he admires the creatures and he lets them roam around his Birkhall home on the Queen's Balmoral estate

'They are such inquisitive and delightful characters. I take enormous pleasure in having them around  and in!  the house when I am at home in Scotland.'

He added: 'They have even been known to hunt down a few of their favourite nuts left out in an unguarded jacket pocket!'

There are now fewer than 140,000 red squirrels in the UK and the RSST warned that they will become extinct within ten years without action to protect them.
Sonys FE 35mm F1.4 GM (model SEL35F14GM), the newest addition to its acclaimed G Master full-frame lens series, is now available for pre-order until February 26, 2021 with a net cash price of Php87,800. Score Php7,000 worth of freebies that includes FREE 64GB SD Card and a G Master Peak Design strap when you buy during the pre-order period.

Sonys FE 35mm F1.4GM delivers first-class image quality and beautiful bokeh for broad expressive capability in an extremely compact and lightweight design. It is a must-have for Sonys E-mount users, as in combination with Sonys camera bodies it boasts advanced focusing capabilities - perfect for a wide range of uses such as shooting landscapes, portraits and street photography, both stills and video.

It has a superlative resolution in a compact 35-mm prime for any situation made possible by two XA (extreme aspherical) elements effectively maintain superb resolution throughout the image area. The FE 35mm F1.4 GM is not only mobile and manageable, it performs admirably in difficult lighting. An ED (Extra-Low Dispersion) glass element and other optical refinements effectively suppress chromatic aberration and purple fringing for breathtaking results.

The FE 35mm F1.4 GM also delivers an almost circular aperture for a beautiful bokeh for broad expressive capability thanks to its 11-blade construction  a rare level of quality for a mobile lens.

The combination of F1.4 maximum aperture and the flexibility to choose the perfect shooting distance (minimum focusing distance of just 27cm with a maximum magnification of 0.23x in autofocus mode) allows for ultimate control and stunning bokeh when shooting both stills and video.

Pre-order the SEL35F14GM and get an exclusive bundle of a 64GB SD Card and G Master Peak Design Strap! Promo period is until February 26, 2021, so what are you waiting for? Head to the nearest Sony Authorized Camera Dealers now!

For full product details, visit here
Iran Tuesday imposed sanctions on former US President Donald Trump and his administration for human rights violation, American Adventurism and Terrorist Actions in the Region, The New Arab reports.

The sanctions were issued on Tuesday evening  hours before Trump leaves office on Wednesday and include a travel ban as well as a freeze on financial assets they may hold in Iran.

Issued under a 2017 law titled Combating Human Rights Violations, American Adventurism and Terrorist Actions in the Region, the sanctions target Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and former Pentagon chief Mark Esper, ex-CIA director Gina Haspel, Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton, as well as Brian Hook, once Washingtons administrations pointman on Iran policy, and his successor, Elliott Abrams.

It is unclear whether the targeted individuals own or plan to own assets in Iran.

Relations between Iran and the U.S though cut off since 1980, further compounded under Trump who withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world power.

The former US leader also tightened economic grip on the Islamic Republic in a move to force Teheran to re-negotiate the deal that Trump believes is full of flaws.
Allison Ross, Tampa Bay Times (TNS)

More than 40,000 people in Florida are overdue for their second shot of a coronavirus vaccine, according to state data.

Both of the coronavirus vaccines approved for use in the United States require two doses per person to be fully effective, with Pfizer-BioNTech recommending a second dose after three weeks and Moderna vaccine doses scheduled four weeks apart.

More than 1 million people in Florida have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to state data from Tuesday. Of those, 100,351 have come back for their second shots and another 44,470 were listed as overdue for second doses.

The number of people overdue for their booster shots has fluctuated, with the number growing or shrinking somewhat depending on the day.

Its not clear why tens of thousands of Floridians are listed as overdue. When asked last week, Florida Surgeon General Scott Rivkees said he could not speak to why it was happening but urged people who are scheduled for second doses to get them.

Mary Jo Trepka, an infectious disease epidemiologist and professor at Florida International University, said Floridians should be cautious about reading too much into the data without understanding why people are being listed as overdue. She noted that there has been some lag in data reporting, and added that its not clear to what extent the erratic vaccine supply and organizational issues with vaccine distribution have played.

The issue of people getting second doses in a timely manner is key to getting the most out of the vaccines, Trepka said. The state Department of Health considers it important enough that theyre listing it separately, she said. Theyre taking it seriously.

But Trepka noted that people who are overdue for second doses should still get their second shot and they do not need to repeat the first shot.

The recommended schedule for getting second doses is based on the vaccines clinical trials, she said, and the companies were trying to complete the trials quickly so the vaccines could be approved for emergency use.

Its possible the best intervals were times longer than one month, Trepka said. But our only data is from those trials.

The first shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines prime the bodys immune response and have effectiveness of roughly 50 percent, while the second doses amplify recognition and immune response and bring effectiveness to greater than 90 percent.

Experts have been concerned from the beginning about making sure people get both vaccine doses, said Michael Teng, an associate professor in the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida.

Those of us who have been talking about vaccines for a while have been trying to get people to understand that this is a two-dose vaccine, Teng said.

Public health officials and medical experts have seen that many people dont return for second doses for other vaccines that also require multiple doses, such as those for Hepatitis A or shingles. Teng and others said good communication and appointment reminders can help, as can offering vaccines in places that are convenient and comfortable for people.

Sonja Rasmussen, a professor at the University of Floridas College of Medicine and College of Public Health and Health Professions, said its likely that many of the Floridians getting access to vaccines this early in the process are motivated to want to get both doses, and that it may become more difficult later in the process to ensure people are coming back for round two.

So far, the only people in Florida eligible to get vaccinated are health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities and people ages 65 and older who sign up, as well as those deemed by hospital providers to be extremely vulnerable to the coronavirus.

Rasmussen said there have been some mixed messages about the importance of second doses right now. She pointed to news earlier this year that British health authorities plan to delay second doses of their approved vaccines in order to give out more first-round doses.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he is committed to Floridians getting both doses of the vaccines.

Rasmussen noted that the number of cases and deaths from the coronavirus are skyrocketing and that its important people understand that the vaccines are safe and that any side effects are better than getting the disease.

People need two doses of the vaccine, Rasmussen said, noting that shes gotten both doses. " If you havent gotten (your second shot), its time to get it.
India on Thursday handed over one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Nepal under grant assistance in sync with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the vaccine consignment to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli during a function at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar, officials said.

Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi and senior government officials were also present on the occasion.

In the first phase, the vaccines will be administered to frontline health workers, employees and security personnel, according to Tripathi.

Earlier in the morning, an Air India aircraft carrying the first consignment of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured in India landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport here.

Also read: India's vaccine diplomacy in south Asia pushes back against China

The vaccines were unloaded from the aircraft and later they were transported in refrigeration van to the Department of Health Services in Teku on the outskirts of Kathmandu, where health workers unloaded and stored them as per protocol.

Nepal last week gave a conditional approval to use Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.

The approval coincided with the sixth meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission in New Delhi which was attended by Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali.

During the meeting, Nepal congratulated India on the remarkable success in the production of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines and requested for early provision of vaccines to Nepal.

Tripathi on Wednesday thanked the government of India for the grant assistance and expressed hope that Nepal will get necessary help from the southern neighbour in purchasing more vaccines in the coming days to meet the countrys requirements.

Nepals coronavirus caseload has reached 268,310 while 1,975 people have died.

India on Tuesday said it will send Covid-19 vaccines under grant assistance to Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances.

On Wednesday, India sent 150,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives.

India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines.

India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

While Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and the Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

The Ministry of External Affairs has said it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.
Egypt is planning to establish an industrial zone in Sudan to facilitate the set up of joint projects. The strategy will be implemented by the private sector to boost the economic integration between the two sides, Egypts Minister of Trade and Industry Niveen Gamea said on Thursday.

Gamea made the announcement during an extended discussion in Khartoum with the Sudanese Minister of Trade and Industry Abbas Madany and a number of Sudanese officials, in the attendance of Egypts Ambassador to Sudan Hossam Eissa.

The session was held on the sidelines of Gameas visit to Sudan to represent Egypt in the 38th round of the Khartoum International Expo.

Egypt is the expos guest of honour in its current round.

Gamea called on Sudan to hold the joint trade committee in Cairo to discuss the technical aspects regarding the trade flow between the two countries, noting that trade exchange between Egypt and Sudan recorded $862 million in 2020.

She added that Egypts exports to Sudan amounted to $496 million, while Egypts imports from Sudan recorded $366 billion in 2020.

Chemicals, processed products, machines, foodstuffs, textiles, transport means, livestock, and agricultural products are the main traded goods between the two countries, according to Gamea.

The minister pointed out to the possibility of boosting industrial cooperation between the two sides in pharmaceutical industries and increasing Egyptian pharmaceutical exports to Sudan.

Egypt is willing to extend its economic support to brotherly Sudan in the ongoing transitional phase. Egypts business community is also keen on establishing partnerships with the country in line with Sudans agenda for industrial and infrastructure projects it targets to establish, said Gamea.

Gamea discussed with the Sudanese minister of transport and infrastructure the possibility of participating in the Sudanese capital triangle zone improvement project that includes establishing bridges, renewing sanitation networks and rerouting roads through partnering with Egypts private sector.

Madany said that Sudan is eager to enhance economic cooperation prospects with Egypt, especially in the industrial sector, as Sudan targets producing high value-added products by establishing private sector partnerships between the two countries.

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A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Vaccine COVID-19" sticker and a medical syringe in this illustration taken on April 10, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

Novavax CCP Virus Vaccine One Step Closer to Approval in Australia

The Novavax vaccine for the CCP virus is one step closer to being approved by Australias regulator for medications and vaccines, after it was announced that Biocelect, the vaccines sponsor, is now eligible to apply for provisional registration in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said on its website on Jan. 20: In making its decision to grant Biocelect (on behalf of Novavax) a provisional determination, the TGA considered all eligibility criteria, including factors such as the evidence of a plan to submit comprehensive clinical data and the seriousness of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision does not mean that an application has or will be made by Biocelect, or that the vaccine will be provisionally approved for inclusion in the ARTG.

The provisional pathway provides a formal and transparent mechanism for speeding up the registration of promising new medicines with preliminary clinical data, the TGA said. In order to apply for provisional registration, the sponsor must first apply for a provisional determination.

The federal government has signed up to buy 51 million doses of Novavax, which is expected to become available mid-year. Meanwhile, the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines are expected to be rolled out next month.

However, there have been increasing concerns over the safety of the Pfizer vaccine for pregnant women after the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued policy advice on Jan. 8 that explained they should not receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

FILE  This May 4, 2020, file photo provided by the University of Maryland School of Medicine, shows the first patient enrolled in Pfizers COVID-19 coronavirus vaccine clinical trial at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. (Courtesy of University of Maryland School of Medicine via AP, File)

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is safe and effective. Nevertheless, there are specific populations for whom vaccination is not recommended, either due to contraindications, lack of supply, or limited data, the WHO said. These populations currently include people with a history of severe allergies, most pregnant women, international travellers who are not part of a prioritized group, and children under 16.

Australias Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Michael Kidd, told 2GB on Jan. 20 that the new policy advice means Australians need to wait for the TGAs to finish its assessment of the safety and appropriateness of all the vaccine candidates.

Kidd said it was an important issue for Australia as a large proportion of health care workers are women who are of childbearing age.

Some of those women, of course, will be pregnant; some of those women will be breastfeeding, he said.

Kidd explained that TGA will be looking at the research which has come through at the moment on each of these vaccines and its effects on the populations which have received the vaccines in trials overseas.

And well be making recommendations about different groups of people, which includes children, it may include the elderly as well as women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, he said.

Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly during a press conference in the Prime Ministers Courtyard at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 24, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Kidds comments come as Australias health authorities are on alert following the deaths of 30 elderly people in Norway after they took the Pfizer vaccine.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly told reporters that the TGA has been in direct conversation with its counterparts in Norway and in the European Medicines Authority.

At the moment, they do point out, and this is publicly available information as well, that in Norway in a normal week, 400 people do pass away in their aged care facilities. And so that has to be put into the context of what has happened after people have received vaccines, he said.

Kelly said this incident wouldnt delay Australias progress in approving and rolling out the vaccine next month.
The orders ranged from rejoining the Paris agreement, halting US' withdrawal from WHO, and stopping construction of Mexico border wall

President Joe Biden signs his first executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (AP)

Washington: On day one in office, US President Joe Biden has signed 15 executive orders, reversing some of the key foreign policies and national security decisions of his predecessor Donald Trump.

The executive orders ranged from rejoining the Paris agreement on climate change, halting America's withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, revoking Muslim travel ban and stopping immediate construction of Mexico border wall.

"I'm proud of today's executive actions, and I'm going to start by keeping the promises I made to the American people. A long way to go. These are just executive actions. They are important, but we're going to need legislation for a lot of the things we're going to do," Biden told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House as he signed the first lot of executive orders on Wednesday.

The president said he will be signing a number of executive orders over the next several days of the week.

"And I'm going to start today on the compounding crisis of COVID, along with the economic crisis following that, and climate crisis, racial equity issues," he said.

His first executive order was launching his 100-day masking challenge, asking Americans to mask up for 100 days.

Biden is doing his part as well, issuing a mask mandate that will require anyone visiting a federal building or federal land or using certain modes of public transportation to wear a mask, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

Addressing her maiden news conference on Wednesday, Psaki said Biden has signed 15 executive orders and two other directives.

The president signed an executive order reversing Trump's decision to withdraw from the World Health Organisation, she said.

"This will strengthen our own efforts to get the (coronavirus) pandemic under control by improving global health, and tomorrow we are not wasting any time," she said.

Biden also officially appointed a COVID-19 response coordinator, a position and team that he had already previously announced but made it official today to create a unified national response to the pandemic. He re-established the national security team responsible for global health, security and bio-defence.

Noting that COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an almost unprecedented housing affordability crisis, Psaki said the president took immediate action to confront the crisis and asked relevant agencies to extend nationwide moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures.

The pandemic has also increased the hardships of millions of Americans who owe federal student loans. In response, the president asked the education department to extend the pause on student loan payments and interest, she said.

"He (Biden) rejoined the Paris climate agreement putting the United States back in a position to exercise global leadership in advancing the objectives of the ambitious agreement," Psaki said.

In a second broad executive order, Biden rolled back harmful regulatory reversals made by the previous administration to protect public health and the environment.

This order protects nation's treasures by reviewing the boundaries for several national monuments, places a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing in the Arctic national wildlife refuge and reestablishes the interagency working group on the social cost of greenhouse gases.

"He also launched a whole of government effort to advance racial equity and root out systemic racism from federal programs and institutions. He directed the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Attorney General to take all appropriate actions to preserve and fortify DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which provides temporary relief from deportation to dreamers, young people who were brought to this country as children," Psaki said.

"The president also put an end to the Muslim ban, a policy rooted in religious animus and xenophobia. He sent a proclamation effective immediately halting further funding construction of the previous administration's border wall and terminating the so-called national emergency use to wastefully divert billions for wall construction," she said.

Biden also sent an immigration bill (the US Citizenship Act of 2021) to Congress to modernise the immigration system, she said.

Biden told reporters that these are just all starting points.

"We are going to, in the process of rebuilding the economy, do what I said throughout the campaign and while running: rebuild the backbone of the country, the middle class. And so there's going to be a lot of focus on that. I think some of the things we're going to be doing are we're going to be are bold and vital, and there's no time to start like today," he said.
A video in which smoke can be seen coming out of a tigress' mouth has taken the internet by storm. The clip has been shared by an Indian Forest Service official named Praveen Kaswan.

In the short clip, one can see that the big cat is in a truck-like vehicle which is parked in a jungle. A couple of seconds later when the camera is zoomed in on the tigress, one can surely spot smoke coming out of the felines mouth.

Soon after she is seen running away in the wild.

The official also revealed that the video is from Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh. In subsequent tweets, he mentioned how the tigress was rescued from a well in which she had fallen. He also emphasised on the efforts that were made by the forest department and also lauded them for all the phenomenal work that they do already.

This videos showcases brilliant work done by Forest department staff. Look few are seen in video sitting above.This tigress was rescued safely from a well & then released in wild. Such work involves so many things.All for conservation & far from media spotlight. Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) January 19, 2021

The Indian Forest Service official shared snaps of the rescue process in which it can be seen how the big cat was pulled out of the well. In order to ensure the safety of the animal, a green net was used in the operation.

If you are wondering how she was rescued from a well. pic.twitter.com/3j4wYVymUa Parveen Kaswan, IFS (@ParveenKaswan) January 20, 2021

A veterinary doctor in the area, Dr Nitin Gupta, has also confirmed the rescue operation. He too confirmed that the incident is of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. Giving more details about the rescue he stated that the concerned team was informed by a local in Patour village that a tiger has been spotted inside the well. The team reported to the spot at the earliest and were able to rescue it in the darkness of the night and were able to release it by early morning on January 21. She has been lift in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve.

Yes it is from Bandhavgarh tiger reserve it was rescued on 15 Jan 2021 night .tigress fall in the well of a villager in village patour of BTR. Rescue team rescued from the well and early morning release it in core of patour range of BTR. pic.twitter.com/7YxMcgrCod Dr.Nitin Gupta (@NitinGu16237676) January 19, 2021

Many people in reply to the post have shared words of appreciation for the forest department. However, there were some apparent animal lovers, who asked Praveen to not reveal the location of the Tiger as it continues to be an endangered species.

Please dont write the location. We are fighting the extinction of a spices. Minisha (@desi_chutzpah) January 19, 2021

Sir isnt it imperative to leave the animal in isolation after migration? I saw this show on @AnimalPlanet where the Rhinos were left alone before they could open their eyes after successfully migrating. Its a very distressing moment for the animal to see ppl around after waking Pulkit Sharma (@pulkit77777) January 19, 2021

Some people have also commented about the smoke that is coming out of the tigress mouth. A bunch of people reacted to it by saying how majestic she looks in the moment while some have said that this has happened because of the cold weather.

Stunning, Majestic  Mayur (@mdgunner91) January 19, 2021

Her breath is so awesome.  Hemant Waghmare (@optimumtiger) January 19, 2021

Actually tigress entered when was smoking. righteousness (@righteounesskar) January 20, 2021

Cold weather effect roshan kumar (@roshanft2) January 19, 2021

For me it's a most beautiful animal. I love it very much. And it is one of the link of life circles of nature. Sule Makrand (@makrandsule1) January 19, 2021

A few users have also reacted to the post with GIF and emoji reactions along with appreciative adjectives:

Stunning, Majestic  Mayur (@mdgunner91) January 19, 2021

Few days back, in a rather unbelievable and scary incident, a tiger in Bengaluru was spotted pulling off a cars bumper. It seems the force which the animal applied was such that the car was moving backward when it was pulling hard. In the background of the video, people can be seen shouting, "its pulling it back." From the looks of the clip, it seems that people in another car have recorded the video.
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PITTSBURGH, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Workers at Kumho Tire in Macon, Ga., today welcomed a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision certifying their vote to join the United Steelworkers (USW).

The certification of election results by Lisa Y. Henderson, the NLRB's Region 10 acting director, requires Kumho to immediately sit down with the workers and negotiate a first contract.

"I want to congratulate these union members for staying the course when Kumho tried every reprehensible stunt possible to break their morale and thwart the organizing drive," said USW District 9 Director Daniel Flippo, who represents Steelworkers in seven southern states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "Instead of wasting money to fight workers' free choice to organize, Kumho could have used those funds to enhance workplace safety and provide a fair contract.

"Now, because of their persistence, these workers will have a voice in the workplace and the strength to fight for better wages and working conditions," Flippo added. "And they'll have the backing of the USW, the largest tire union in the United States."

After Kumho illegally interfered in a 2017 election, the NLRB found the company committed "numerous and egregious" unfair labor practices over the course of its anti-union campaign. Then, in a separate 2019 election, workers voted to join the USW. Kumho delayed the certification of election results by filing numerous frivolous objections, the last of which Henderson dismissed Wednesday.

"We encourage the company to recognize the workers' vote and the government's certification of the results," Flippo said. "It's time for Kumho to sit down and negotiate with its workers on the issues that face them during this most challenging time."

The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.

Contact: Joe Smydo, [email protected], 412-562-2281

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

Related Links

http://www.usw.org


After several FIRs were filed against the makers of Tandav all across India, they approached the Bombay High Court for transit anticipatory bail on Wednesday (January 20). According to reports, the move came after Uttar Pradesh police landed in Mumbai to investigate a case filed against them in Lucknow on January 18.

On Wednesday, Ali Abbas Zafar approached the single bench of Justice Prakash D Naik at around 4.30 pm. The director's advocate Abaad Ponda sought protection till the time of approaching the appropriate court in Uttar Pradesh.

Ponda sought transit anticipatory bail for eight weeks and argued that the content has already been deleted from the show. However, Ali was granted relief from immediate arrest for three weeks. A report in India Today revealed that apart from Ali, head of India Originals of Amazon Prime Video- Aparna Purohit, and producer Himanshu Mehra were also granted similar relief by the court.

Aparna Purohit in her plea stated that she has been wrongly implicated in the offences mentioned in the FIR, and that the allegations have not been made against her in her personal capacity. Meanwhile, Yogesh Nakhwa, additional public prosecutor, opposed the plea saying that the accused should appear before the Lucknow court and seek similar relief instead of approaching the Bombay High Court.

According to report, a UP Police team led by Inspector Anil Kumar Singh will be investigating the case with the help of Mumbai Police. The special team landed in Mumbai on Wednesday (January 20) and met the Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police.

Apart from the FIR filed in Lucknow, another FIR was filed in Mumbai after BJP Leader Ram Kadam's complaint. A new case was registered in Greater Nodia, followed by another in Jabalpur, a town in Madhya Pradesh on a complaint by a functionary of a Hindutva outfit.

ALSO READ: Tandav Controversy: Political Drama Faces Another FIR In Greater Noida

ALSO READ: Tandav Controversy: UP Police Team Reaches Mumbai To Investigate
Albania says it is expelling a Russian diplomat for allegedly violating lockdown rules aimed at stemming the spread of the coronavirus in the Adriatic country.

The Albanian government declared Aleksei Krivosheev persona non grata and required him to leave the country within 72 hours, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on January 21, citing "repeated" violations of pandemic restrictions by the diplomat since April 2020.

The ministry said senior representatives of the Foreign Ministry first addressed the matter with the Russia ambassador in Tirana, but the diplomat continued to break lockdown rules.

Repeated challenging of the protective rules and steps on the pandemic, and disregarding the concerns of Albanian state institutions related to that, cannot be justified and tolerated anymore, the statement said.

Albania has imposed an overnight curfew, mandatory use of masks both indoors and outdoors, as well as social distancing.

The Foreign Ministry did not give the diplomats position or provide details on the alleged violations, but said the expulsion was "necessary to ensure the health and safety of all citizens, Albanian or otherwise."



The government "wishes for friendly relations with the Russian Federation to be strengthened," it said.

There was no immediate comment from Russian officials.

In 2018, Albania expelled two Russian diplomats, saying their activities were not compliant with their diplomatic status.

Tirana resumed diplomatic relations with Moscow in 1991, 30 years after the country's then-communist regime severed previously close ties with the Soviet Union.

With reporting by AP
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Omar Ishrak, former executive chairman and CEO of Medtronic, has been elected to the Cargill Board of Directors.

"Omar's deep international experience and strength in technology and innovation helped Medtronic sustain long-term growth during his tenure as CEO. Under his leadership, Medtronic realized their mission and purpose, introducing products that improved the lives of patients around the world. Omar has a strong record of building diverse and inclusive workplace cultures, and driving partnerships in worldwide markets, most notably in Asia. This combination of proven people, operational and market leadership make him a valuable addition to our board," said David MacLennan, Cargill's chairman and CEO.

Dr. Ishrak joined Medtronic as their CEO in June 2011, retiring in April 2020 and staying on as executive chairman and chairman of the board until December 2020. Previously, he was president and CEO of GE Healthcare Systems and held positions at Diasonics/Vingmed and Philips Ultrasound.

In January 2020, Ishrak was named independent chairman of the board of the board of Intel. He also currently serves on the board of directors of the Cleveland Clinic. He is a member of the board of trustees of Minnesota Public Radio as well as the Asia Society, the leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States.

Ishrak grew up in Bangladesh. He earned a bachelor of science degree and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of London, King's College.

About Cargill

Cargill's 155,000 employees across 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive.

We combine 155 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center .

SOURCE Cargill, Inc.

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www.cargill.com


[January 21, 2021] Emma reports skyrocketing sales of EUR 405 million (USD 494.7 million), emerges as world's leading D2C sleep brand, and introduces world's most advanced smart mattress

FRANKFURT, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Emma  The Sleep Company reports a leap in sales for 2020: with a growth rate of 170 percent, the sleep brand turned over EUR 405 million (USD 494.7 million) last year compared to EUR 150 million (USD 168.2 million) in 2019. Not only did the company demonstrate its strength in growth, but it also expanded its profitability (EBIT). Moreover, with 1.5 million mattresses sold in 2020, Emma is the world's leading D2C sleep brand. It is an important milestone on Emma's journey to become the worldwide leading sleep brand overall. "I am excited, grateful and proud that we are progressing at light speed to make Emma the number one global sleep brand. A turnover of EUR 405 million in 2020 proves that our three levers to globally scale the business are well-chosen: growth in new markets, increasing market share in existing markets and expanding our omni-channel strategy," highlighted Dr. Dennis Schmoltzi, CEO and founder of Emma alongside Manuel Mueller. The driving force behind this massive growth is the team: It has grown to more than 500 people by hiring 200 new team members in 2020 and is spread across locations in Frankfurt, Manila, Lisbon, and the recently opened office in Shanghai. Introducing the ground-breaking 'Emma Motion' smart mattress In addition to the implementation strength of the Emma team, the creation of superior and innovative products is key to Emma's success. The Research and Development team is at the heart of this. "When we founded Emma, we set out to improve people's lives by changing the way they sleep. With the launch of our smart mattress Emma Motion, we are not only changing but revolutionizing the way people sleep," explained Manuel Mueller. Mueller has known the industry for decades. He started his entrepreneurial career with one of the most demanding types of mattresses: medical-therapeutical ones. The Emma Motion has been developed over two years by the Emma team. Its unique features include the 'Infinite AI Sensor', a mat that uses an Artificial Intelligence-based neural network to permanently detect the sleep position, and the 'Silent Move IQ' technology, which ensures that the mattress automatically, silently, and smoothly adapts to each change of sleep positions. "The Emma Motion ensures optimal spinal alignment throughout the entire night," emphasized Mueller, "which is one of the single most important drivers of sleep quality Emma Motion also comes with our proven Diamond Degree technology to control the temperature through millions of graphite particles in the top layer. In conjunction with the fully integrated design of Emma Motion, it is the world's most advanced smart mattress and is nothing short of a sleep revolution." Emma Motion will first launch in France and the Netherlands in January 2021 and will become available in more countries throughout the year.



Emma's further growth plans In the coming months, Emma will also launch more exciting Sleep Tech products, such as the Emma App. Also, Emma will continue extending its existing product lines with the introduction of a new customisable, upholstered bed line. The 'Emma Bed' comes with the same quality, service, and value that Emma customers have grown to love and will be launched in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Sweden, and Denmark.

Emma is not only expanding its product portfolio but also its global reach and channel penetration. For example, Emma already works with about 100 retailers worldwide and its products can be found in over 1,700 shops. The Japanese market is the latest addition to Emma's global presence. The sleep brand is now online in 10 of the 10 largest mattress markets globally, which together represent more than 80 per cent of global mattress consumption. In total, Emma operates in 26 countries via web shops, marketplaces, and retailers. Also, to best serve retail partners, Emma has curated a special assortment called 'Emma Select', the roll-out of which is already underway. About Emma  The Sleep Company (Emma Sleep GmbH): Emma  The Sleep Company is a founder-managed company and with 1.5 million mattresses sold in 2020, the world's leading D2C sleep brand. Founded in 2013 as Bettzeit GmbH by Dr. Dennis Schmoltzi and Manuel Mueller, the Sleep Tech company is based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and operates globally. In 2020, Emma  The Sleep Company achieved a record turnover of EUR 405 million (USD 494.7 million), a growth rate of 170% from the previous year. The company is made up of the brands Emma and Dunlopillo (Brand Rights: Germany and Austria). The flagship product is the Emma bed-in-a-box, which is currently available in 26 countries. The mattress is sold directly to consumers via an omni-channel customer experience that includes over 1,700 stores. The successful omni-channel strategy has been made possible by mutually beneficial partnerships with several retailers. The recently launched Emma Select portfolio and its customer-centric approach supports retail partners in-store. Emma  The Sleep Company is breaking ground in sleep technology. Their expert Research and Development team is taking advantage of what technology can do for rest by developing innovative products that make a positive impact on people's lives by enhancing their sleep. In doing so, Emma launched the world's most advanced smart mattress  Emma Motion. Its innovative smart technology adjusts to each individual sleep position automatically and ensures optimal spinal alignment throughout the night. To scale the business and innovate as fast as possible, Emma's 500+ team members are constantly creating and implementing new concepts to optimize everything from their global supply chains to marketing and sales. The company keeps its sharp competitive edge by staying agile, discovering pragmatic solutions to challenges, and maintaining a digital mindset. The team celebrates and encourages diversity in all areas: diversity of thought, character, ideas, and background. The company is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, with additional locations in Manila (Philippines), Lisbon (Portugal) and Shanghai (China). On July 1, 2020, Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH group acquired 50.1 percent of Emma  The Sleep Company. For more information visit https://team.emma-sleep.com/ Press Contact Lukas Schuez

HOSCHKE & CONSORTEN Public Relations GmbH

Phone: +49 40 36 90 50-32

E-mail: l.schuez@hoschke.de Simone Schuchert

Tel.: +49 160 674558

E-Mail: simi@emma-sleep.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1424471/Emma_founders.jpg

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Newly inaugurated US President Joe Biden has already begun reversing, by signing a series of executive orders on his first day in office, his predecessor Donald Trumps decisions that were made in the past four years, VOA reported.

In particular, the new head of the White House signed an executive order on the US rejoining the Paris Climate Accord, from which the country had withdrawn after Trumps coming to power.

In addition, Biden reversed Trump's decision to leave the World Health Organization and ban entry to the US from some predominantly Muslim countries.

Almost immediately after taking the oath of office at the US Capitol, aides said Biden would end the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, halt construction of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization.

Transition team officials also said Biden would order federal agencies to review policies that reinforce systemic racism, require the federal government not to discriminate on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation and revoke a Trump order to exclude non-citizens from the US Census.

Biden also plans to fulfill his campaign promise to help financially distressed Americans cope with effects of the coronavirus pandemic. He will extend a federal freeze on evictions and ask federal agencies to extend a suspension on foreclosures on federally guaranteed mortgages.

The new president will also provide relief to students with large education loans by continuing a suspension on federal student loan interest and principal payments for the next eight months.

Brampton, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. (CSE: SNA) (CSE: SNA.CN) ("Star" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the following Corporate update as of January 21, 2021. Star is diligently working and achieving major milestones towards the aggressive Action Plan 2021 in coordination with all the stakeholders on one page.

The Company is progressively working on 4 major priorities:

INCREASING STAR'S IMPACT IN BOTH THE DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS EXPANDING STAR'S REACH WORLDWIDE ENHANCING PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT INCREASING STAR'S ABILITY TO DELIVER STAR'S SOLUTIONS TIMELY AND COST EFFECTIVELY

Star is effectively raising the bars in all the major areas and departments.

Corporate Business Development - To strengthen the core management structure and to achieve the objectives, Star has hired the services of Nasir Azam, an Aviation Industry veteran as Chief Administrative Officer to explore and expand the STAR ADS system products and services worldwide.

Marketing & Sales South Korea - The Company is in negotiations to sign with a well-known Partner/Dealer who is already in business in the Aviation and Aerospace MRO industry for South Korea and Asia-Pacific region South America - Coordination and efforts are underway to market Star products with local customers directly. UAE/Middle East & North Africa - Star is aggressively marketing Star products with various airlines in UAE, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Al-Masria airlines is retrofitted on an Airbus A320 that helped the airlines to comply with the corrective action plan for EASA audit. South East Asia - Successfully signed the dealer agreement with a strong regional partner Gerry's International to market potential airlines within their footprint. The Company has submitted a bid for a tender to partner with a mainstream SatCom company holding a substantial market share. The Company is in a stage of finalizing an MoU with a European company that conducts operational and financial restructuring of airlines, leasing any type of aircraft in any form (ACMI, AMI, Operating or Finance Lease) and possesses a large inventory. The Company is extending it's proposals to add more aircraft with it's existing customers. Northern Ireland, UK, and Europe - Star has approached major airlines in the region and have demonstrated it's value proposition to address the upcoming regulators mandate for GADSS. Asia-Pacific - established a satellite office in Singapore to cover the entire region. The Company is preparing a marketing plan to attend major air show in 2021.



Manufacturing and Operations - to deliver timely solutions to Airlines and Air operators

Finance Various Business Models are now in place for different markets, accommodating COVID-19 crisis, and considering the Airlines/Air Operators downsizing of their flight operations. Financial Audits: a) Year 2019 financial audit is now complete. The financials will be posted on SEDAR soon. b) Year 2020 financial audit is in progress.



Human Resources - The Company is hiring aviation industry experts to support our expansion.

Web/Social media - Star has overhauled the Company website and have a larger social media presence.

Amir Bhatti, Chief Executive Officer stated, "Star is diligently reorganizing and restructuring the key areas of the Company to achieve its Corporate short and long-time objectives. The whole of management and staff is geared up and working hard to bring Star back to its deserved potential with their state-of-the-art technologies and services for the Airline/Aviation Industry in compliance with their regulatory prerequisites and requirements. We are accomplishing this without spending exorbitant capital on equipment or to carry on any retrofit of their equipment along with ICAO, EASA or other Airworthiness authentication for mandatory compliance. The Airline industry will still be profitable with what Star offers in terms of Engine Condition Monitoring, Flight Operations Quality Assurance [FOQA] analysis and Fuel Management savings."

Certain statements contained in this Release constitute forward-looking statements. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "expected", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Star or its management or board are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect Star's current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions.

The risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic are real and substantial but cannot be defined or measured in any meaningful way at this time. Mr. Viraf Kapadia's outstanding litigation and the process initiated by Mr. Kapadia under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act are risks to Star.

Many other factors could cause Star's actual performance or achievements to vary from those described herein.

Should one or more of these factors or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

Star does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this release.

Please visit www.star-navigation.com or contact

Mr. Amir Bhatti, CEO at 1-416-252-2889 #230 or amir.bhatti@star-navigation.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72536
On the day she is set to become the first lady, Dr Jill Biden has opted for an outfit designed by an up-and-coming American designer, while vice-president elect Kamala Harris chose Black American designers for her first appearance on Inauguration Day.

The future first lady, who began the day attending Mass alongside her husband, President-elect Joe Biden, wore a blue wool tweed coat and dress by New York City-based designer Alexandra ONeill of Markarian.

The dress features a chiffon bodice and scalloped skirt, according to InStyle, and is hand-embellished with Swarovski pearls and crystals.

According to the designer, the colour blue was chosen to signify trust, confidence and stability.

Dr Biden paired the outfit, which was "crafted by a small team in the heart of New York Citys Garment Center, with a mask by the designer in a complementary shade of blue.

Recommended Dr Jill Biden is quietly making history too

ONeill started the luxury womens fashion label in 2017, with each item thoughtfully made-to-order in an effort to reduce waste, according to Markarians website.

Since its inception, the brand has been popular with celebrities, including Constance Wu, Kate Hudson and Kerry Washington.

For Inauguration Day, Ms Harris, who will make history as the first female and first Black and South Asian vice president, wore an outfit by Black American designers Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson, according to CNN.

The future vice president opted for a bright purple coat and matching dress, which she paired with a black mask and her signature pearls.

Rogers, from Baton Rouge, is also based in New York City, where he creates clothing with a focus on effortful dressing, directed towards an individual with a strong sense of self, according to his website, while Hudson is based in South Carolina and has previously designed clothes worn by Michelle Obama.

The future president of the United States and Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, both opted for suits by American designer Ralph Lauren for Inauguration Day.

On social media, the display of support for American designers has been met with praise, with many applauding the sartorial choices.

I know, seems trivial, and yet ... it matters. American designers. One legend, one up-and-coming talent, reporter Susan Stumme tweeted in regards to the future president and first ladys outfits.

Another person wrote: Kamala Harris and Jill Biden are both wearing outfits designed by American designers! Thank you, its great to have America recognised again!

The outfits come in stark contrast to Melania Trump, who for her last day in the nations capital wore a $2,700 black dress by Dolce and Gabbana, a Chanel jacket and carried a black Hermes Birkin bag estimated to be worth $70,000, which has been deemed tone-deaf.

Melania carries $70,000 purse on last day in DC (Getty)

Melania left wearing Chanel and carrying a croc Birkin. Literally arrest these people, one person tweeted.
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The City of Madison could soon join Huntsville in having a committee that will act as conduit between its police department and its residents.

On Wednesday evening, the city council heard a proposal for the Madison Police Citizens Advisory Council (MPCAC).

David Little, one of the members of the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council (HPCAC) said he spoke with former Madison Police Chief David Jernigan about the initiative over the summer.

"I talked with Chief Jernigan back in the summer when they first started getting this ball rolling. Obviously COVID has slowed things down, but do know that it's on the agenda there for their city council is good to know," Little said.

The exact language of the ordinance that would create the MPCAC hasn't been released publicly, but it was submitted to the Madison City Council during Wednesday's work session. A first reading of the ordinance is expected during the council's February 8 meeting.

"I've talked with several other communities in the state over the last five, six years that are wanting to stand up their own advisory councils and I think it's a great thing. So, the fact that it's right down the road, literally in the same county is exciting," Little said.

Little said he shared Huntsville's ordinance with them and expected the language to be somewhat similar. But he said since things in the world have changed since 2010 when the HPCAC was formed, the MPCAC might be slightly different.

"I would assume there are some tweaks they are doing. And then in light of everything that's happened in the last year, there might be some additional language that has been added to their ordinance," Little said.

According to a synopsis of the MPCAC that was discussed on Wednesday, the council would be comprised of nine members: one representing each of the seven council members along with one from the mayor and one from the police chief.

Members have to be at least 18-years-old to participate and they have to be "willing to commit to attending training sessions, attending committee meetings and fielding questions from fellow residents," according to the presentation Wednesday night.

The council is designed to improve relations between Madison Police and the public through increased transparency. During the council meeting Major John Stringer also added that it's a way for the public to bring certain things to the attention of the Chief of Police and the mayor before they become larger issues.

The MPCAC is also designed to be able to offer advise to Madison Police when it comes to the need for "additional training in areas such as diversity, community policing procedural justice and crisis intervention training." Thanks to sunshine laws in the state, it's meetings would generally be open to the public.

A spokesperson for the City of Madison said the process by which those recommendations are created has not be established, but said that they can pass a resolution onto the city council, which would be taken into consideration.

As far as incidents like officer-involved shootings, the spokesperson said the MPCAC would likely not be involved since it doesn't have an investigatory role.

Little said at the end of the day, people like him get involved with councils like these because they want to play a role in fostering a better community relationship between the police and the rest of the community as well as highlight some of the positive changes made in the department.

"I think it's important to keep aware that this is a group of citizens that care about their community and care about their police department equally. They realize they're in the middle and they want to make the community better, they want to make the police department better. They want to bring that citizens' perspective to things that police department's doing to try and make themselves better," Little said.

"I know Huntsville is constantly evaluating how they do things, from a routine traffic stop to a major incident, and I would assume Madison is doing the same type of work, but they know they can always do better."

Major Stringer confirmed on Wednesday that members of the MPCAC won't be current or former members of the police department or city employees.

During the question and answer portion of the discussion on Wednesday, Council President Pro Tempore Maura Wroblewski proposed that immediate family members of police and city employees also be barred from seeking a position on the council to further prevent a conflict of interest.

Assuming the council wants to move forward with the initiative, after its introduction on February 8, the council would likely vote on it on February 22. After that applications would be taken through the city clerk's office and would be reviewed during March.

Members would then be appointed on March 22, followed by training and selection of general meeting times and topics.
(Newser)  Arnold Schwarzenegger became one of the first elderly residents of Los Angeles County to get his coronavirus vaccine on Wednesdayand he did so in typical Arnold fashion, per Politico. "Put the needle down!" he told the technician as she prepared to jab him at Dodger Stadium, referring to a classic line from Jingle All the Way. Once the former California governor had received his shot, he thanked the technician and added, "Come with me if you want to live," another of the actor's famed lines, this one from the Terminator series. All this played out on a video shared on Schwarzenegger's social media accounts.

story continues below

"I have never been happier to wait in a line," the 73-year-old wrote. "If you're eligible, join me and sign up to get your vaccine." Schwarzenegger, who underwent heart surgery late last year, had booked a vaccine appointment on Tuesday after learning residents aged 65 and older would be eligible for a vaccine beginning Thursday, his spokesperson tells Politico, adding that Schwarzenegger slipped in early because Wednesday appointments were open. Schwarzenegger tweeted that he was greeted by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who was checking in cars, per BuzzFeed. "What a crazy surprise," he wrote. (Schwarzenegger released another video about the Capitol riot.)
NEW MILFORD  A proposed affordable housing development is under review by town officials, but some residents have raised concerns over the propertys wetlands and effect on neighboring houses.

Nelson DaSilva Jr., who owns property on Crawford Road, has proposed building five multifamily buildings that include 27 housing units over his 10 acres. The housing would be developed in three phases, according to the proposal, which DaSilva is putting forward because he thinks the town needs more housing.

Rent is getting too expensive, I think affordable housing is going to help the community, DaSilva said.

DaSilva worked with engineer Jason Edwards from J. Edwards and Associates to develop the three-phased plan. The first and second phases aim to construct two buildings housing 12 townhouse units on the northern and eastern portions of the property in eight to 12 months per phase, the proposal said.

The third and final phase  estimated at lasting eight months  on the southwest section of the site would produce the fifth structure containing three single-floor units accessible to the handicapped. Each of the five buildings will have separate septic systems and driveways, according to the proposal.

The proposal is before the Inland Wetlands Commission, which has raised concerns about wetlands on the property and in the surrounding area. Additionally, several residents have also voiced concerns, writing letters to the commission about how the development might affect traffic, drainage, woodlands preservation and home values should the affordable housing plan move forward. A petition calling residents to say no to the construction has circulated on social media.

Tammy and Tom Reardon  homeowners across the street from the Crawford Road property has repeatedly had to reconstruct her driveway due to flooding in the area, they said. They fear the towns current drainage infrastructure cannot handle the increased water flow from the development and may make matters worse.

DaSilva, however, said the towns runoff is being dumped onto his property from Park Lane, running down the lower side of the site and often overflowing over the catch basin at the end of the road causing flooding. Edwards suggested constructing an underground pipe to manage the runoff and direct it to the basin while avoiding future flooding.

In a letter, the towns consultant, Ryan McEvoy, advised the commission of DaSilvas proposal needing revisions detailing further plans for drainage alternatives, groundwater control measures and the potential septic systems among other regulatory concerns.

DaSilva said he is working with engineers to address the commissions concerns and prevent flooding. The commission is scheduled to revisit the proposal on Feb. 11, DaSilva said.
Now Open

21 January 2021

Accor has opened the doors to Australia's first Movenpick hotel, Movenpick Hotel Hobart, which stands on one of Hobart's principal heritage streetscapes near the Hobart waterfront.

Welcoming its first guests today, the 221-room warm and contemporary hotel promises to delight guests with Tasmanian nature design-inspired boutique interiors, fine food and wine experiences at Tesoro Modern Italian restaurant, a daily Chocolate Hour, and an assortment of other Movenpick brand signature offerings.

The Jaws Architects-designed hotel exemplifies Tasmanian contemporary design with richly layered textures and a locally-inspired colour palette. Wall panelling, furniture, fabrics and colours were carefully curated to ensure they reflect the rhythm, patterns, movement and tonal qualities of the Tasmanian landscape.

All guestrooms are situated on floors 3 to 18, with many providing breathtaking panoramic views and connecting guests with Hobart's spectacular natural setting, while the common areas, designed by global design agency Greymatters, are located on the first two floors.

Guests are welcomed to the hotel in a beautifully appointed lobby on the ground floor, which flows into the hotel's Tesoro Modern Italian restaurant - positioned to be one of Hobart's finest food and wine experiences offering guests and visitors the very finest in modern Italian cuisine as well as locally inspired signature dishes.

A range of signature Movenpick brand experiences are also offered at Movenpick Hotel Hobart, including:

Chocolate Hour: With the brand's Swiss origins being famous for chocolate, Movenpick Hotel Hobart dedicates one hour each afternoon to the 'Chocolate Hour'. Between 4pm and 5pm daily, a complimentary sweet treat, such as an eclair, brownie or truffle, is served with any chocolate-inspired cocktail, mocktail or affogato purchase. The hotel also offers an indulgent assortment of chocolate tasting packages available at any time of the day.

With the brand's Swiss origins being famous for chocolate, Movenpick Hotel Hobart dedicates one hour each afternoon to the 'Chocolate Hour'. Between 4pm and 5pm daily, a complimentary sweet treat, such as an eclair, brownie or truffle, is served with any chocolate-inspired cocktail, mocktail or affogato purchase. The hotel also offers an indulgent assortment of chocolate tasting packages available at any time of the day. Healthy Shots: energy shots blended with juice or yoghurt and fresh fruit and vegetables will be offered to guests at breakfast as a kind gesture to start the day.

energy shots blended with juice or yoghurt and fresh fruit and vegetables will be offered to guests at breakfast as a kind gesture to start the day. Go Healthy: a range of tasty and nutritious dishes will be offered at breakfast, including grab and go small portions, helping guests make healthy choices.

a range of tasty and nutritious dishes will be offered at breakfast, including grab and go small portions, helping guests make healthy choices. Movenpick Products: as the only hotel brand with its own branded range of fine food and beverages, Movenpick Hotel Hobart guests will be able to experience Movenpick's culinary heritage first hand with Movenpick ice cream.

as the only hotel brand with its own branded range of fine food and beverages, Movenpick Hotel Hobart guests will be able to experience Movenpick's culinary heritage first hand with Movenpick ice cream. Wi-Fi Everywhere: free wireless high-speed internet will be offered, providing seamless connectivity in the hotel building and its surroundings.

free wireless high-speed internet will be offered, providing seamless connectivity in the hotel building and its surroundings. Web Check-In: a convenient online service for guests to avoid reception formalities.

Movenpick Hotel Hobart also boasts a flexible function space for up to 100 guests, which can also be divided into two smaller meeting rooms, along with a pre-event area and full bar, while both business and leisure travellers will enjoy the hotel's modern gym.

Hobart's rich historical and bustling waterfront precinct, along with its renowned culinary culture, is on the doorstep of Movenpick Hotel Hobart. In just a short stroll, guests can be transported back in time at the historical Salamanca precinct, which is home to one of Australia's best known art and craft markets. Within an easy drive, many more memorable moments await, such as experiencing the extraordinary world of MONA, enjoying freshly shucked oysters with award-winning wines, exploring the rich history of Tasmania's convict past or simply soaking up Hobart's spectacular scenery.
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ROME, JAN 21 - The supreme Court of Cassation on Thursday overturned a Palermo appeals court ruling awarding former spy Bruno Contrada 670,000 euros in damages for unjust detention over a mafia conviction. The appeals court was ordered to re-examine the damages suit brought by Contrada, 89, former number 2 at domestic intelligence service SISDE (now AISI), over a 10-year sentence for mafia association, all of which he did not serve because of an acquittal on appeal. Ex-palermo police chief Contrada was found guilty of tipping off Cosa Nostra bosses including the late Toto 'The Beast' Riina about police operations against them. In 2015, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Contrada was convicted for acts that at that time were not a crime, in violation of the principle of non-retroactivity of criminal law. The Palermo appeals court awarded him the 670,000 euros in April last year. (ANSA).
ROCHESTER, Minnesota -- A new multi-institution study led by Fergus Couch, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic pathologist, provides more accurate estimates of breast cancer risk for U.S. women who harbor inherited mutations in breast cancer predisposition genes. The findings of the CARRIERS Consortium study, which were published Wednesday, Jan. 20 in the New England Journal of Medicine, may allow health care providers to better assess the risk of breast cancer in women ? many of whom have no family history of breast cancer ? and provide more appropriate risk management strategies.

"Traditionally, genetic testing of inherited breast cancer genes has focused on women at high risk who have a strong family history of breast cancer or those who were diagnosed at an early age, such as under 45 years," says Dr. Couch. He says current estimates of breast cancer risk provided to women when they are found to have a breast cancer mutation are actually appropriate only for those who are at high risk and not for women from the general population.

In the CARRIERS Consortium study, researchers conducted hereditary cancer genetic testing of 12 established breast cancer genes in 32,247 women with breast cancer and 32,544 women of similar ages without breast cancer from several large U.S. population-based studies. By analyzing women from these population-based studies, researchers were able to better understand how frequent mutations were among the various breast cancer genes and more accurately estimate the risk of developing breast cancer for women in the general population with mutations in those genes.

"The risk of developing breast cancer is generally lower for women without a family history of the disease" says Dr. Couch. "When we looked at all women, we found that 30% of breast cancer mutations occurred in women who are not high-risk." Dr. Couch says that before this study, these women were not able to receive accurate estimates of their breast cancer risk. He also noted that these findings were similar for white, black and Hispanic women.

Dr. Couch anticipates that breast cancer clinics will use the new risk estimates to provide more accurate risk assessments for women who don't have a family history of breast cancer.

###

About the CARRIERS Consortium

The CARRIERS consortium is a group of 17 large epidemiology studies in the U.S. focused on women in the general population who develop breast cancer. CARRIERS aims to improve understanding of genetic and environmental risk factors for breast cancer using information from the participants in these studies. CARRIERS is supported by National Institutes of Health grants R01CA192393 and R35CA253187, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

About Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization committed to innovation in clinical practice, education and research, and providing compassion, expertise and answers to everyone who needs healing. Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for additional Mayo Clinic news and Mayo Clinic Facts for more information about Mayo.

Continued from January 20. To read part one, click here .

What the studies of school reopenings show

Proponents of school reopening have referenced many small studies or reports that attempt to give credence to their position that schools are safe. What characterizes many of these studies is the limited scope of their school data, the small interval of time to evaluate these issues and limiting their analysis to early fall when the incidence of COVID-19 cases was at its lowest point.

Among these, a more recent and often-cited nationwide report from Tulane bears discussion. The study attempts to discern the impact of school reopening on hospitalization rates, which is a critically important issue. The report concludes that in settings where viral transmission and hospitalizations were already low, the opening of schools for in-person or hybrid learning did not seem to impact health care systems. However, in regions where the infections were more pervasive, school openings seemed to make matters worse.

Elementary school students in Godley, Texas, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

There are limitations to the study that bear mentioning. The authors use a narrow two-to-five-week lag between exposure to infected individuals and potential hospitalizations. They write, We cannot even attempt to estimate effects for changes in opening status that occurred after September. Even if we had more recent data, any subsequent changes likely involve endogeneity [inherent contradictions] in the dynamics of school reopening that would be difficult to account for in any empirical analysis.

They also go on to state, Most schools that are offering in-person instruction are also giving families the option of remote instruction, and many families are taking advantage of this. This means that what we are actually estimating is the effect of the policy of sending all children back in-person, not the effect of actually having all students in school buildings as they were prior to the crisis. So, even if these results were taken literally, they do not mean that sending all children back to school in-person, even in low-baseline-hospitalization counties, would be safe.

The problem, as outlined above, is in many cases as few as one-third of children have returned to in-person education, so the full consequences of reopening the schools cannot yet be measured.

Data analyzed from June to August, as reported by NPR, found that people in their 20s accounted for the largest share of confirmed cases. Because of the asymptomatic nature of or mild symptoms among this group, they will be overlooked by public health departments and not significantly contribute to the use of health resources. Rising infections among this group precede increases in COVID-19 by at least four to 15 days among people over the age of 60, if not longer, depending on the social interactions and regional variation in demographics, making the Tulane study on school opening and hospitalizations challenging to interpret.

One recent study from Montreal, Quebec, evaluated the transmission of COVID among school-aged children from September to early January, a period of more than four months. The authors reported that the transmission of COVID among school-age children is not a consequence, but rather a determinant of the general level of infection in surrounding communities. In other words, children were the source of community spread. The data revealed that cases first began to increase among those age 10 to 19, with a subsequent rise among adults between 30 to 49. As the Montreal Gazette noted, the study found its children who passed the virus onto adults when schools reopened in the fall, feeding the alarming spread seen in Montreal during the pandemics second wave.

Recently, in Europe, the UK, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Denmark and the Netherlands have announced school closures over concerns with the new variant in the coronavirus that makes it more transmissible. According to Antoine Flahault, director of the University of Genevas Institute of Global Health, In the second wave, we acquired much more evidence that school children are almost equally, if not more infected by SARS-CoV-2 than others. Even Prime Minister Boris Johnson openly admitted after his abrupt reversal on keeping elementary schools open after the Christmas break, The problem is not that schools are unsafe for children. The problem is schools may nonetheless act as vectors for transmission causing the virus to spread between households.

Dr. Flahault explained that in a yet to be peer-reviewed study, random antibody tests conducted in Geneva in May and December found that children age 6 to 18 were becoming infected just as much as young adults. Swiss schools have been open since summer.

An Austrian nationwide survey found children under 10 had similar infection rates as older children. Additionally, these children were getting infected as often as their teachers, according to Michael Wagner, a microbiologist at the University of Vienna who supervised the study. Recent surveys before Christmas in the UK, when schools were still open, found the positivity rate among children was higher than in adults. In a Dutch village near Rotterdam, 30 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant were discovered at an elementary school.

Schools as vectors of infection

According to a recent report by ABC News from January 15, positivity rates at schools in Austin, Texas, are up to 20 percent in high schools, 27 percent at middle schools, and 19.8 percent in elementary schools. The WHO had recommended this rate remain under 5 percent for more than 14 days before districts consider opening.

Schools in Austin are at 70 to 90 percent occupancy. Dr. Mark Escott, the interim medical director and health authority for Austin Public Health, said, This is a recipe for disaster. Its a recipe for outbreaks in our schools. And in addition to the impact on our childrens health, on our teachers and school staff, so is the continuity of education. We are going to quickly see that we are going to run out of teachers in order to provide in-person education.

Returning to Miguel Cardonas bald assertions, the evidence indicates that school closures have played a critical part in mitigating the spread of the coronavirus. In a JAMA study published on July 29, the authors had found that statewide school closures in the first wave of the pandemic led to a decline in the incidence of COVID-19 of 62 percent per week. Similarly, mortality saw a 58 percent decrease per week. States that closed earlier saw the most significant relative change per week. In concrete numbers, if schools had remained open when the pandemic first surged in the US, by April 21, instead of 46,395 deaths, the study estimated there would have been 87,000 deaths.

In a more recent study published in Science , looking at various government interventions used against COVID-19, an international team of researchers affiliated with Oxford, Harvard, Cambridge and the Australian National University estimated the effects that seven non-pharmaceutical interventions had on COVID-19 transmission in 41 countries. The combination of the closure of schools and universities, limiting gatherings to 10 people or less, and closing most nonessential businesses reduced the reproductive number, R0, to under one. In other words, it led to an overall reduction in the number of infections in the community. Among the interventions listed, school closures and limiting gatherings to 10 people had the highest impact on mitigating the pandemic.

However, it is precisely these measures that protect the community that the ruling elites oppose, as it infringes on their ability to extract surplus value from the working class. It is why their policy positions are stipulated with so many contingencies, such as if funding is available, if pristine infectious control measures are maintained, and if all students always remain masked and six feet apart, and if there is sufficient staffing to implement additional responsibilities, in order to cajole educators back into the classroom with impossible promises. Where there is open opposition, as in Chicago, defiance on the part of teachers is being met with threats and coercion.

One other factor that is frequently overlooked in these discussions by the proponents of school reopening is that the infections are spread through aerosols. Recently, numerous elegant studies have been conducted that have demonstrated that the six-foot rule is meaningless in a poorly ventilated room. Masks are not a substitute for a comprehensive social distancing measure and were never intended to substitute for all other forms of mitigation. For instance, if an infected teacher conducted two hours of instruction without a mask in a poorly ventilated room, up to 12 students, irrespective of where they are sitting, would potentially become infected. With a mask, that would only drop to five students, but does not assure safety without the ability to conduct frequent air exchanges.

Onward transmission of COVID-19 occurs through superspreading events. It isnt that one infected person will infect one or two others, but that very few will infect many. James Collins, the Termeer Professor of Medical Engineering and Science (IMES) and Department of Biological Engineering at MIT, noted, superspreading events are likely more important than most of us had initially realized. Even though they are extreme events, they are probable and thus are likely occurring at a higher frequency than we thought.

This begs the question, how safe are schools in the US? According to a US Government Accountability Office report from June 2020, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus when inside schools, more than 41 percent of school districts need to update or replace their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems in at least half of their buildings. A recent report by Edsource indicated that some districts in California are finding the costs of upgrading their systems untenable. They write, few funding streams are guaranteed, and they may not be sufficient to cover the regular inspections and stringent filter replacements that HVAC systems require. Another question is how long will it take for these measures to be implemented and appropriate inspections conducted?

In a report published by the NEA in August of 2020, Kevin Enos, a science teacher from Franklin, Massachusetts, and a fellow member of Massachusetts Teachers Associations (MTA) Environmental Health and Safety Committee, noted that such investments would be unlikely propositions. He added, Older buildings make up the lions share in Massachusetts, as they do in many areas around the US, and schools just dont have the financial resources to fix them. Its not a question of the willingness of districts, its about the financial ability. The federal, state, and local governments are not putting in the money necessary, but I am sure they wouldnt want to go to work in a building with this kind of quality.

Jean Fay, a special education paraprofessional from Amherst, Massachusetts, and Enos colleague, continued, Its appalling what we expect students and staff to endure in terms of building quality, yet with schools so drastically underfunded year after year, HVAC systems are not at the top of the list for investment. However, for many school districts, the report found that improving security remains their highest priority (92 percent). Other deficits include the need for student access to technology (87 percent) and monitoring health hazards (78 percent).

The new variants of coronavirus

For nearly a month, much attention has been paid to the new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus found in numerous countries, with scientists and epidemiologists overly concerned. The most discussed variant, B.1.1.7, also known as the UK variant, has become the most common version of the virus in England, making the virus more transmissible, which means it spreads more easily by around 50 percent. Though the variants dont seem to be more lethal, it does mean that more stringent measures must be taken to bring its reproductive number, R0, down again. A more transmissible virus will lead to an explosion of new infections with already inundated hospital systems in the UK and Los Angeles County.

According to Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch, once it [the variant] becomes common, it will accelerate transmission considerably. With a 50 percent increase in infectiousness, in less than two weeks, you get twice the number of cases. And in a month or so, you have four, five times as many cases. But thats very approximate. It could be higher. A 50 percent more transmissible virus means we need to cut our contacts down by another third compared to the already strong restrictions [already in place] in order to get back to the same place where we were. That could mean closing businesses that have partially opened back up, closing down schools, and other such lockdown measures.

The US CDC recently stated that at least 76 people across 12 states have been infected with the B.1.1.7 variant and threatens to worsen the situation over the next few weeks by becoming the dominant strain by late March. The report warns, The increased transmissibility of this variant requires an even more rigorous combined implementation of vaccination and mitigation measures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. These measures will be more effective if they are instituted sooner rather than later to slow the initial spread of the B.1.17 variant. Efforts to prepare the health care system for further surges in cases are warranted. Increased transmissibility also means that higher than anticipated vaccination coverage must be attained to achieve the same level of disease control to protect the public compared with less transmissible variants.

It is critical that educators, parents, and the public fully appreciate the need to immediately close schools and nonessential workplaces while adhering strictly to limiting gatherings to bring the pandemic under control. The further spread will only provide the virus with more opportunities to mutate. Teachers must arm themselves with the pandemics science and not be coerced or compelled to acquiesce to the criminal demands to provide in-class instructions.

Concluded

In the face of an emerging crisis, swift and extraordina-ry action can be warranted.

This was certainly true last March, when Gov. Tom Wolf  confronting a deadly, mysterious virus  issued a disaster declaration that granted him emergency powers. There was little time to debate details and build consensus. Pennsylvanians required action.

But more than 300 days later, Wolf still wields powers far beyond the scope of any governor before him. There is no limit on the number of times Wolf can renew the initial disaster declaration. And he has renewed it three times despite the Legislature  with a bipartisan majority  voting to end the governors emergency powers.

Such a concentration of power in one branch of government flies in the face of Americas constitutional system of government. Amid worsening economic conditions  some of which are the result of the governors actions, its time to rethink the scope of emergency powers for him and all future executives.

The consequences of un-checked gubernatorial au-thority are stark: Nearly 1 in 3 Pennsylvania businesses have closed due to government mandates. Wolf, though, has continued to use emergency powers to control the private sector. Over the holiday season, he enacted restrictions that devastated restaurants and small businesses  despite pleas from job creators on the brink of disaster.

Pennsylvanians understand the dangers of COVID-19. Sadly, they also fear how Wolfs unilateral powers imperil their future. Thats why the state Legislature, whose members just heard from their constituents during last years elections, are making this constitutional crisis a top priority.

The state House Government Committee passed House Bill 55 on Jan. 13, which proposes a constitutional amendment to prevent any governor from extending a disaster emergency declaration beyond 21 days without legislative approval. In other words, the General Assembly would restore legislative oversight on a governors executive authority  a necessary reform when considering how Wolfs power has affected the livelihoods of Pennsylvanians.

This bill follows previous attempts by the Legislature to require accountability and transparency from Wolf. Last July, the governor vetoed a bill  supported by Republicans and Democrats  which would have terminated his emergency proclamation. That same month, after the state Supreme Court upheld a challenge to this veto, the House and Senate passed with bipartisan majorities Senate Bill 1166, a constitutional amendment which mirrors the bill advanced in the House this week.

Lawmakers objective is clear: A governor who invokes a disaster declaration must gain legislative approval before renewing it. This simple check on the gubernatorial authority will allow the peoples representatives to debate the merits of the disaster response and promote cooperation between the two branches of government.

If youre wondering what prevents the governor from simply vetoing this latest attempt to limit his authority, its this: A constitutional amendment does not require a governors signature. In-stead, an amendment re-quires a majority vote by both chambers in two consecutive legislative sessions. Then, the measure would go before voters on the next general election ballot. Pennsylvanians would have a chance to directly reassert their voice.

Lawmakers are using the same process to advance the Taxpayer Protection Act, which would limit state spending growth to protect state residents from burdensome tax hikes.

The emergency powers constitutional amendment is key when reviewing Wolfs pandemic track record, which included the closure of businesses in an often arbitrary and non-transparent manner. Business owners, who are willing and able to follow CDC guidelines to remain open, live in fear of the governors next announcement. And Wolf hasnt indicated any end to his abrupt, even punitive, approach either. Before the new year, for example, he warned of more restrictions for restaurants and bars ahead of the Super Bowl and Valentines Day  two crucial revenue sources during a traditionally slow time of year.

For now, local small-business owners and working families are desperate. This is why the General Assembly must act to restore Pennsylvanians economic stability, even under an unwilling governor.

The dangers of COVID-19 transcend partisan politics  as does an unchecked concentration of executive power. A yes-or-no referendum is the peoples defense against any governor, present or future, who erodes civil liberties. If lawmakers follow through on passing the emergency powers constitutional amendment, I believe theyll find Pennsylvanians support limiting the governors powers.

(Mitchell is president and CEO of the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvanias free-market think tank)
Back in April, in the early days of the Covid-19 crisis, I remember speaking by phone to two separate owners of small businesses on the same day.

One was delighted and said to me he had 12 staff and they are all working from home incredibly well. I think I will get rid of the office at the end of this, he said.

The other said he had six staff, all working from home and you know what, I dont think any of them is doing a tap.

Nearly a year into this crisis and many of us have got better at working from home, while others are facing another unbearable, depressing and unproductive few weeks ahead.

So, if the world of work is going to change forever after this pandemic, as Tanaiste Leo Varadkar suggested last week, it will be about providing choice.

The Tanaistes strategy document on remote working is timely and shows his ability to have his finger on the pulse when it comes to what people are talking about.

But it is only a strategy or discussion document. Working out the details is likely to be a long and fraught process.

Read More

At its core is the idea of employees having the right to request to work remotely. This would presumably place an onus on employers to show there were very good, tangible and assessable reasons as to why that person could be refused.

This opens up a complex legal process which would have to be reflected in a nuanced piece of legislation. That is why employers group Ibec  while welcoming the strategy  talked about balance.

Balance cuts both ways. If employers are happy to save money by having more staff work from home, there have to be protections to ensure people are not always on for emails and calls. Legislation on this is also promised and has to happen especially if some employers see remote working as a chance to simply drive down costs.

A survey conducted last October found that 94pc of people would like to work remotely after the crisis. That doesnt mean they want to work exclusively from home or a local office hub, but they might want a mix or a blended solution.

Blended solutions become very difficult for employers to deliver when it comes to the thorny issue of long-term commitments on office space. You only have to take a walk through some of the plush, relatively new, offices of accountancy firms, law firms or financial services providers in the heart of Dublin, to see the lavish space provided.

How could they justify retaining all or even most of that space, where there are fewer staff in the office at different times?

Aside from the nuance of drafting legislation around the right to request remote working, there are wider issues at play.

Remote working doesnt necessarily mean working from home, but could involve local hubs where employers could rent desks for employees much closer to home, thereby reducing road and public transport congestion.

This change comes at a time when employment itself is becoming more casualised through short-term contracts and self-employment. It could accelerate that change.

Remote working is potentially a huge game-changer for parts of rural Ireland. Lower housing costs, lower rents, no commute and the chance to return to your home town, are all enticing for people.

Yet, if remote working truly takes off, international firms currently investing in Ireland might ask why they are paying Irish wages at all. They might consider Irish corporate tax rates but staff or contractors working anywhere in the world.

Right now, the big international tech firms are still in high-growth phases where I doubt they seriously look at their cost base. That wont always be the case.

Rural remote working is a pipe dream unless you have access to good broadband. The Tanaistes strategy includes a reference to speeding up the rollout of the National Broadband Plan, which is a pre-requisite for rural Ireland availing of opportunities that may arise from this. It needs detail.

The strategy also flags the potential downside of mass remote working on cities. Already there are people questioning the ability of New York City to bounce back from all of this.

New York has seen something of an exodus as people move further out for more space and cheaper housing. Professionals working from home are now looking at moving somewhere else in the US in growing numbers.

Why not live in Denver, Colorado, in Austin, Texas or Butte, Montana, and retain your New York office job, but just hardly ever go there? Around 20pc of jobs in New York City were in retail, restaurants and culture, which have all been decimated by Covid.

Big financial service employers in Manhattan are having the same conversations about remote working, which could fundamentally alter the city.

Others argue that an exodus like that would lower housing costs which would attract younger people into the city, and begin a whole new process of rejuvenation.

Here, Dublin city centre has been devastated by Covid  yet apartment and house prices are not falling. Population growth is still driving demand for housing, which helps to keep prices up.

The Varadkar document is timely but is just the beginning  it will remain a pipe dream unless it is pursued after the crisis eases.

Gary Doer has always had an instinct for picking political winners. That instinct told him last summer that Joe Biden was eventually going to be the president of the United States.

Gary Doer has always had an instinct for picking political winners. That instinct told him last summer that Joe Biden was eventually going to be the president of the United States.

The former Manitoba premier and former Canadian ambassador to the U.S. wasn't just playing pin the tail on the presidential nominee. Over the years, Doer said he got to know Biden well at social events and across the negotiating table on a variety of Canada-U.S. issues.

Over that time, Doer said he came to understand that Biden was a pragmatist and a deal maker, a politician that was well liked on all sides of the aisle who could bridge sometimes disparate points of view. That combination of attributes seemed to make Biden the right candidate to rise above the venom being emitted by then U.S. president Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

"Of all the potential Democratic nominees, I thought he had the best chance," Doer said in an interview from his Winnipeg home. "He has a special connection to working people that I thought would help him take back states from Trump."

Doer's arrival in Washington in October 2009 coincided with the first tumultuous year of President Barack Obama's administration. Biden, Doer said, was an omnipresent force in Washington in those years, out making deals and winning support for the administration on a wide variety of issues.

Gary Doer's arrival in Washington in October 2009 coincided with the first tumultuous year of President Barack Obama's administration. (April Saul/Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

Doer said Biden was assigned the role of point man for the Recovery Act, the economic stimulus bill Obama used to combat the Great Recession. There were "Buy American" provisions in that act that had the potential to seriously harm Canadian businesses.

Negotiating directly with Biden, Canada eventually won a waiver for many of its goods and services. Doer said he believes the support Biden won in those negotiations from unions in key states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania translated into key victories in last fall's election.

Doer said he hopes Biden's legendary pragmatism will come into play for the $8-billion Keystone XL pipeline, which Western Canadian oil producers want to move product more cost-effectively to the U.S. Biden issued an executive order shortly after the inauguration stopping the project from going ahead.

Over his years in Washington D.C., former ambassador Gary Doer said he got to know now President Joe Biden well at social events and across the negotiating table on a variety of Canada-U.S. issues. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Doer, who lobbied hard for Keystone XL during his time in Washington, said he thinks the pipeline could still be saved if it is positioned within a broader climate change strategy. "In American politics, it's hard to fight something that's become a bumper-sticker issue, and that's what this has become," he said.

On a personal level, Doer said Biden was one of those rare politicians who seemed to be liked and respected by just about everyone.

"He was always tremendously friendly, very funny," Doer recalled of his many meetings with Biden. "He said to me at our first meeting, 'Why did you ever agree to come here?'" Doer said. "He told me that everyone knows that if you want (a diplomatic posting) where you can just kick back and drink wine, you go somewhere else other than Canada or the United States. He said, 'Now you're going to really have to work hard here.'"

Doer says Biden is a politician that was well liked on all sides of the aisle and could bridge sometimes disparate points of view. (Patrick Semansky/AFP via Getty Images)

Doer said he misses the celebrations that normally accompany presidential inaugurations and had, in fact, planned to visit Washington for Biden's swearing-in ceremony if the pandemic had allowed.

Doer said the Canadian embassy  located on the 500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, a spot that gives it a direct line of sight to the Capitol  played host to one of the most popular post-inauguration receptions for key power brokers from both the Democratic and Republican parties. Doer said he always preferred that reception more than the inaugural ball.

"By the way, the inaugural balls are totally overrated," Doer said. "I did go to some. Usually, you watch the president and first lady dance to a couple of songs and then it turns into a massive fundraising effort for the incoming president."

"(Biden) has a special connection to working people that I thought would help him take back states from Trump," former premier Gary Doer says. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Given his familiarity with the city, Doer said he was "horrified" at the images of the violent insurrection that quickly overwhelmed security at the Capitol. "I've been in that building many, many times and I just couldn't believe how easily people got in," he said.

Doer said he was also shocked at how quickly the rioters got to the office of Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives. Social media had images of rioters ransacking her office, ripping the name plate off her door and posing for pictures sitting at her desk. "I don't believe the rioters accidentally found their way to the speaker's office. To me, it seemed as if it was an inside job to some extent."

Doer said he was also horrified by Trump's speech just prior to the insurrection, in which he invited his supporters to go to the Capitol to protest the election result.

On a personal level, Doer says Biden was one of those rare politicians who seemed to be liked and respected by just about everyone. (Jonathan Ernst / Pool / Getty Images)

While watching the speech and ensuing violence, Doer recalled an infamous quote by Peter Navarro, a Trump trade adviser who attacked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following the 2018 G-7 summit from comments that criticized the bombastic U.S. president.

Navarro famously told Fox News there would be "a special place in hell" for the Canadian first minister.

"When I saw him incite that anti-democratic insurrection, I thought to myself, there is going to be a special place in hell for Donald Trump."

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
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KIMT NEWS 3 - A new President is making his home at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. A change in power means a change in policy.

Some of us with IRAs have seen exponential gains since November 3rd and wonder how new policies will impact our investments.

Sara Carlsson with Edward Jones said investors should be paying attention to policies set up by a new administration.

Not only that, corporate earnings should be watched by investors, which Carlsson thinks could start to rise in the second half of the year.

She thinks industrial and energy companies might benefit from the Biden administration. Technology will be another key industry to watch, with the pandemic continuing and people still working from home.

Another worry for investors could be rising taxes, but Carlsson says even that isn't a sure thing.

"We aren't expecting large, sweeping changes because although there is a Democratic majority, it's a slim one and so it's really tough to make changes without a supermajority, which Democrats don't have at this time," said Carlsson.

Carlsson also says with so much political division and the pandemic still raging on, investors can find some good opportunities out there to take advantage of.
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Weve seen the internet magnify the best and the worst of ourselves. Abdi Latif Dahir, who writes about East Africa for The New York Times, has covered the most extreme examples of both.

Governments in the region regularly shut down internet access or manipulate online conversations to control dissent  Uganda did both ahead of last weeks presidential vote. But citizens also use social media to expose election manipulation and spread feminist movements.

Our conversation highlighted an essential question: Can we have the wonderful aspects of connecting the world online without all of the downsides?

Shira: Why did Uganda cut off internet access?

Abdi: The government capitalized on Facebook and Twitter taking down phony accounts that promoted the government of President Yoweri Museveni. It was an excuse for an internet blackout that many people expected.
Press Release

January 21, 2021 BINAY BACKS CALL FOR TAX DEFERMENT FOR TOURISM STAKEHOLDERS Senator Nancy Binay today backed the appeal of tourism stakeholders for the deferment of the payment of local taxes this year due to massive losses brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. "Sana'y mapagbigyan ang ating mga tourism establishments sa hiling nilang deferment. Isa sa mga pinaka-naapektuhan ng pandemya ang tourism industry, kaya't sana kahit kaunting leeway mabigyan man lang sila," said Binay. The Tourism Congress of the Philippines recently sent a letter to Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Ano seeking help in getting local government units to defer the payment of business taxes. The TCP said it has received reports from its members that various LGUs have been issuing assessment fees for business taxes, with some assessments based on 2019 income. The senator said tourism establishments shouldn't be expected to be able to pay their taxes based on un-adjusted assessments, given that the sector had ground to a halt after the first quarter of 2020 after travel restrictions were imposed. The country's tourism receipts fell by 81 percent to PHP81.05 billion from January to November 2020, from PHP437.9 billion in the same period in 2019. "Naiintindihan naman natin ang side ng mga LGUs. After all, taxes are the lifeblood of public services. But these establishments are also part of their constituency and they provide jobs for our people. Baka tuluyan na silang magsara kung pipiliting magbayad nang hindi naman talaga kaya," Binay said. She also urged the government, particularly the DILG and LGUs to engage in dialogue with tourism stakeholders to determine a solution to the latter's request for concessions seen to aid the industry's recovery. Tourism stakeholders had earlier recommended the waiving of corporate and individual taxes for 2020 for accredited tourism stakeholders and the waiving of payments for licenses and permits for 2020 and 2021. "Sana'y magkaroon ng masinsinang paguusap para makahanap ng compromise, recognizing the need for both the national and local governments to raise funds for their own programs, and the survival of the industry," Binay said.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Devoted dog Boncuk looks for his owner, Cemal Senturk, at the entrance of a medical care facility in the Black Sea city of Trabzon, Turkey (DHA via AP)

A devoted dog spent days waiting outside a hospital in northern Turkey where her sick owner was receiving treatment.

The pet, called Boncuk, which means bead, followed the ambulance that transported her owner Cemal Senturk to hospital in the Black Sea city of Trabzon on January 14.

Expand Close Cemal Senturk with his dog Boncuk outside the medical care facility in Trabzon (DHA via AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Cemal Senturk with his dog Boncuk outside the medical care facility in Trabzon (DHA via AP)

She then made daily visits to the facility, private news agency DHA reported.

Mr Senturks daughter, Aynur Egeli, said she would take Boncuk home but the dog would repeatedly run off and return to the hospital.

Hospital security guard Muhammet Akdeniz told DHA: She comes every day around 9am and waits until nightfall. She doesnt go in.

When the door opens, she pokes her head inside, he said.

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On Wednesday, Boncuk was finally reunited with Mr Senturk when he was pushed outside in a wheelchair for a brief meeting with his dog.

Shes very used to me. And I miss her, too, constantly, he told DHA.

Mr Senturk was discharged from the hospital later on Wednesday and returned home with Boncuk.
For the first time ever, a team of scientists, led by the University of Bristol, have described in detail a dinosaur's cloacal or vent - the all-purpose opening used for defecation, urination and breeding.

Although most mammals may have different openings for these functions, most vertebrate animals possess a cloaca.

Although we know now much about dinosaurs and their appearance as feathered, scaly and horned creatures and even which colours they sported, we have not known anything about how the vent appears.

Dr Jakob Vinther from the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, along with colleagues Robert Nicholls, a palaeoartist, and Dr Diane Kelly, an expert on vertebrate penises and copulatory systems from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, have now described the first cloacal vent region from a small Labrador-sized dinosaur called Psittacosaurus, comparing it to vents across modern vertebrate animals living on land.

Dr Vinther said: "I noticed the cloaca several years ago after we had reconstructed the colour patterns of this dinosaur using a remarkable fossil on display at the Senckenberg Museum in Germany which clearly preserves its skin and colour patterns.

"It took a long while before we got around to finish it off because no one has ever cared about comparing the exterior of cloacal openings of living animals, so it was largely unchartered territory."

Dr Kelly added: "Indeed, they are pretty non-descript. We found the vent does look different in many different groups of tetrapods, but in most cases it doesn't tell you much about an animal's sex.

"Those distinguishing features are tucked inside the cloaca, and unfortunately, they're not preserved in this fossil."

The cloaca is unique in its appearance but exhibits features reminiscent to living crocodylians such as alligators and crocodiles, which are the closest living relatives to dinosaurs and other birds.

The researchers note that the outer margins of the cloaca are highly pigmented with melanin. They argue that this pigmentation provided the vent with a function in display and signalling, similar to living baboons and some breeding salamanders.

The authors also speculate that the large, pigmented lobes on either side of the opening could have harboured musky scent glands, as seen in living crocodylians.

Birds are one the few vertebrate groups that occasionally exhibit visual signalling with the cloaca, which the scientists now can extend back to the Mesozoic dinosaur ancestors.

Robert Nicholls said: "As a palaeoartist, it has been absolutely amazing to have an opportunity to reconstruct one of the last remaining features we didn't know anything about in dinosaurs.

"Knowing that at least some dinosaurs were signalling to each other gives palaeoartists exciting freedom to speculate on a whole variety of now plausible interactions during dinosaur courtship. It is a game changer!"

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Ninety-two countries have approached India for Covid-19 vaccines, bolstering New Delhis credentials as the vaccine hub of the world.

Highly placed sources said that scores of countries are approaching India, as the word spreads that Indian vaccines are showing negligible side-effects, since the immunization drive in the country began on Saturday.

India is sending its domestically developed vaccines to several neighbouring countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar.

In a letter to PM Modi on Tuesday, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Dominican Republic, has also requested for inoculation, signally that the demand for Indian jabs has acquired a transcontinental appeal. "As we enter 2021 and persevere in our fight against Covid-19, Dominica's population of 72,100 is in urgent need of enough doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. I, therefore, request, with great humility and respect, that you assist us by donating the doses we need to make our population safe (optimally 70,000 first and second doses)," wrote Skerrit.

In other parts of Latin America, Brazil, which has the second highest number of cases in the world next only to the United States, has sent a special plane to pick up Indian vaccines from Pune.

A Brazilian plane is expected to fly the first 2 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine purchased by the government's Fiocruz biomedical institute.

According to a Reuters report from Sao Paulo, Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said the documentation is ready for bringing the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine being produced at the Serum Institute of India.

Brazil's Anvisa has scheduled a meeting for next Sunday to decide on the emergency use of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford as well as one by developed by China's Sinovac Biotec.

Meanwhile the Bolivian government had also signed a contract with India's Serum Institute for the supply of 5 million doses of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine.

President Luis Arce said that combined with a recent deal to buy 5.2 million Sputnik V vaccine doses from Russia, Bolivia now expected to be able to inoculate all of its vaccinable population.

The sources said that in tune with Prime Minister Modi's message that India's vaccine approach are intended to heal humanity, India would not be averse to provide vaccines to Pakistan, as part of a drive to eliminate the virus globally.

And in the course of time if the Chinese vaccine does not work, India would not hesitate to supply jabs to Beijing as well. The sources pointed out that India's vaccine exports to China may go a long way in addressing India's adverse trade balance with the Middle Kingdom.

So far, China's vaccine has shown patchy results. For instance, after Thailand has discovered that the efficacy of the two million doses of the Chinese Sinovac Biotech Covid-19 vaccine, has dropped dramatically.

The Bangkok Post said that the Thai Ministry of Public Health has requested further information about the vaccine it has ordered from China following a report "it might not be as effective as first thought" even as it goes ahead with its plan to receive and administer the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech.

"We are asking for information directly from Sinovac, so we are waiting for their response to get all the facts," Supakit Sirilak, Thailand's Director-General of Medical Science Department, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Singapore too has confirmed that the vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech will have to go through regulatory scrutiny and authorisation by the country's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) before being rolled out for the public.

"We will go through the data carefully when it comes, rather than depending on reported numbers. It's better to rely on official data that we receive from Sinovac itself," said Singapore's Health Minister Gan Kim Yong according to a report in The Straits Times.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

--IANS

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(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.)


Aveva , a global leader in engineering and industrial software, announced its third Aveva World Digital (AWD) conference, themed Accelerate Your Digital Intelligence which will take place from January 26 to 28, 2021.

The online event will explore how leading companies are embracing innovation and applying intelligent software to reshape their industrial operations.

It will demonstrate how emerging technologies such as AI, Cloud, Digital Twin, Visualisation and data & analytics are supporting advancements in sustainability, and enabling organisations to make significant changes to improve the environment.

Technology is playing a vital role in achieving real-time optimisation, improving decision-making, and digitally enabling business operations, supported by an often-remote workforce to drive substantial cost reductions.

Furthermore, with Covid-19 exposing pressures on the industrial sector, sustainable business strategies have come to the forefront with CTOs now seeing sustainability as part of the transformation imperative.

As a result, organisations, are adopting real-time environmental monitoring to reduce the carbon emissions of heavy industries. Visualisation, Digital Twin, Machine Learning and AI are technologies that are helping to manage these priorities.

As part of AWDs sustainability driven agenda:

*Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman & CEO, Schneider Electric, will discuss how the quest for a more sustainable future is driving organisational innovation and opportunity in 2021;

*Lisa Johnston, CMO & CSO, Aveva, will focus on how forward-thinking organisations can accelerate their sustainability agendas; and

*Jan Shumate, Director, Eastman Chemical Company, will discuss how digital transformation at Eastman Chemical Company is driving sustainable innovation.

An Executive Sponsor Forum, led by Lisa Johnston, CMO & CSO, hosted by Lisa Wee, Sustainability Director, Aveva, will feature speakers from Microsoft, Accenture & Verdantix focusing on Partnerships for a Sustainable Future.

Craig Hayman CEO, Aveva commented: Digitalisation and sustainability are two sides of the same coin. Avevas industrial software solutions support sustainable outcomes by plumbing our broad and deep specialist capabilities into the scale and scope of the Cloud, enabling our customers to deliver diverse environmental benefits via optimised engineering, operations and performance.

As more of our customers demand it, we are working with them to innovate to drive sustainability. A clear digital strategy drives environmental outcomes, social improvements, and ethical governance, which ultimately enhances culture and improves long-term business sustainability.

With more than 50 training sessions as well as live networking, AWD attendees will receive in-depth insights into how to transform operations, level up digitalisation, and stay competitive.

An Interactive Virtual Expo will provide a forum for live chat with Aveva experts through 10 strategic demo success stories across Asset Performance, Unified Engineering, Value Chain Optimisation, Aveva Connect, Edge to Enterprise Operations, industrial AI, the connected worker, and more. -- Tradearabia News Service
Health officials in Maine said they have set aside 4,400 doses of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine because they were not kept in cold enough temperatures while they were being shipped to inoculation sites throughout the state.

In Michigan, nearly 12,000 doses needed to be discarded because the vials were transported in temperatures that were too low, according to health officials.

Dr. Nirav Shah, the director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the state was expecting to receive replacement doses on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This was not something that occurred on the Maine CDC side but rather something that occurred during the packaging and shipping of the vaccine, Shah told NBC Boston.

Shah said that the matter is currently being investigated by Operation Warp Speed and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Registered nurse Holly Burnham vaccinates a person at the Northern Light Homecare and Hospice COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Wednesday, January 13

Health officials in Maine said they have set aside 4,400 doses of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine because they were not kept in cold enough temperatures while they were being shipped to inoculation sites throughout the state

A graphic from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services shows the growth of COVID cases in the state over time

A chart illustrates the rise, fall and rise of positive test results in Maine

Moderna will evaluate the set-aside doses to see whether they are still safe to be administered, according to the Portland Press Herald.

The Moderna vaccine must be shipped and stored at -4 degree Fahrenheit for up to six months.

It can be preserved at regular refrigerated temperatures - between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit - for 30 days.

Once removed from refrigeration, the vaccines remain viable at room temperature for up to 12 hours.

Health officials in the state were disappointed that Maine residents who made appointments to get the vaccine needed to be turned away.

It's challenging, heartbreaking frankly because we had patients scheduled for those, said Crystal Landry, a registered nurse and CEO of Penobscot Valley Hospital.

The hospital was expecting to administer 200 doses of the Moderna vaccine.

We were just very, very happy we received the doses the following day as replacement. We had no delays, Landry said.

Shah said that the mistake was noticed by monitoring mechanisms used by the state.

Our goal among all of this is to make sure that vaccine that comes into the state is safe, effective and viable before it goes into any arms, Shah said.

This news is concerning but it's important to note this is how the system works.

In Michigan, nearly 12,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine were compromised after the distributor said that the vials were shipped in temperatures that were too cold, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The shipment, which went out on January 17, were handled by McKesson Corp., a health care distribution company contracted with the federal government to handle coronavirus vaccines.

'Recently we were made aware that a number of Moderna vaccines that were shipped to Michigan were not kept at the appropriate temperature and thus we couldn't use them,' Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on Tuesday.

'That frustrates me when I know we are in a race and every vaccine matters.

'But that's not something that I could control; it's not the state of Michigan's fault... I'm certain that people who had appointments scheduled at facilities that were supposed to get those particular shots were frustrated because they weren't able to get them.'

She added: 'That's part of the bumpy road that we are all experiencing nationwide.'

Michigan health officials said the company is investigating the mishap and working on sending a replacement shipment.

In the first five weeks of the vaccination program, Michigan has administered some 513,000 doses.

More than 586,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Michigan and 14,702 people have died in the state due to the virus since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 586,000 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Michigan and 14,702 people have died in the state due to the virus since the start of the coronavirus pandemic

In the first five weeks of the vaccination program, Michigan has administered some 513,000 doses

As of Wednesday, more than 80,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Maine.

The positivity rate in the state has started to trend up again after showing some signs of flattening.

The latest average positivity rate in Maine is 9.83 per cent.

State health departments are calculating positivity rate differently across the country, but for Maine the AP calculates the rate by dividing new cases by test specimens using data from The COVID Tracking Project.

The seven-day rolling average of the positivity rate in Maine has risen over the past two weeks from 8.65 per cent on January 4 to 9.83 per cent on January 18.

Public health authorities in Maine have reported more than 34,000 positive cases of the virus since the start of the pandemic.

Theyve also reported 519 deaths.

Maines health care providers have started scheduling COVID-19 vaccines for those 70 and older, despite a short supply of doses.

Governor Janet Mills office has published a list online showing where people in that category can schedule an appointment.

MaineHealth was flooded with more than 18,000 calls Monday, the first day people could request an appointment, John Porter, spokesperson for the health care network, told the Portland Press Herald.

That number is equal to Maines statewide weekly supply of vaccines.

Patient vaccinations are rolling out across the system this week, he said, while noting demand way exceeds the supply right now.

The rollout comes after Mills announced last week that those 70 and older and younger adults with high-risk health conditions would be moved closer to the front of the line for vaccinations.

Shah said scheduling for younger residents will take place in the future.
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A massive clean-up operation has commenced in Washington DC, with workers bringing down barricades and removing flags following Joe Biden's Inauguration on Wednesday.

While this year's ceremony was significantly scaled down amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and fears of a domestic terror attack, there was still no shortage of pomp and pageantry.

Billions around the world were watching as Biden was sworn-in on, and organizers were eager to put on a defiant display in spite of the country's crises.

Almost 200,0000 American flags were planted along the National Mall, while bunting bearing stars and stripes was hung from scaffolding at the Capitol.

But on Thursday, it was back to business as usual in Washington as Biden began work and city employees packed away the red, white and blue decorations.

A massive clean-up operation has commenced in Washington DC, with workers bringing down barricades and removing flags following Joe Biden's Inauguration on Wednesday

Almost 200,0000 American flags were planted along the National Mall, while bunting bearing stars and stripes was hung from scaffolding at the Capitol

OnThursday, it was back to business as usual in Washington as Biden began work and city employees packed away the red, white and blue decorations

Barricades and fences installed amid security fears were also brought down on Thursday

Workers clad in high-vis vests were seen ripping out the American flags which formed part of an 'art project' that was installed ahead of Inauguration Day.

Usually, hundreds of thousands of people pack the National Mall to watch the newly-elected President take the oath of office.

But the area was closed to the public this year, with the flags intended to represent the American people who were unable to attend the event.

Biden's inaugural committee told The New York Times that the art display signified a 'commitment to an inclusive and safe event that everyone can enjoy from their home.'

Usually, hundreds of thousands of people pack the National Mall to watch the newly-elected President take the oath of office. But the area was closed to the public this year, with the flags intended to represent the American people who were unable to attend the event

Biden's inaugural committee told The New York Times that the art display signified a 'commitment to an inclusive and safe event that everyone can enjoy from their home'

While this year's ceremony was significantly scaled down amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and fears of a domestic terror attack, there was still no shortage of pomp and pageantry

Brendan Bonner, National Park Service Chief Ranger at Prince William Forest Park in Virginia, pitches in to help begin removing a display of flags on the National Mall

Dozens of workers were called in to help remove the flags along the National Mall lawn

Billions around the world were watching as Biden was sworn-in on, and organizers were eager to put on a defiant display in spite of the country's crises

Biden is pictured being sworn in on a family bible held by his wife, First Lady Jill Biden

Meanwhile, there were fears of violence taking place at the inauguration, following the siege of the Capitol Building by angry Trump supporters on January 6.

A staggering 25,000 National Guard members were deployed to DC in the days leading up to Wednesday's swearing-in ceremony.

Security fences and barricades were installed prior to the event, but they were also pictured being brought down on Thursday after the day occurred without violence.

And while fears of a large-scale attack went unfounded, many National Guard troops still remain in the city.

On Thursday, some of the guardsman were seen driving a military tanker near the Capitol, while others stood at secure checkpoints nearby.

Thousands of National Guard troops will stay stationed in DC in the coming days out of an abundance of caution.

There were fears of violence taking place at the inauguration, following the siege of the Capitol Building by angry Trump supporters on January 6. Some fencing was taken down on Thuesday, but others remains in place for the time being

On Thursday, some of the guardsman were seen driving a military tanker near the Capitol, while others stood at secure checkpoints nearby
During the first lockdown, many of us grew impatient with our split ends and overgrown roots, with some bravely taking matters into our own hands.

This time around, were less tempted to try a hot pink dye job, mullet or buzzcut, but with salons unlikely to reopen until the end of March, theres still a long time to go before were back in the stylists chair.

If youre looking to equip yourself with an at-home hair kit, it can be tricky to know where to start  particularly if your own skills have yet to progress beyond the art of tying a ponytail. We asked the experts for their picks of the best hair tools for men and women.

Clippers

For men used to a regular six-week trim, that increasingly shaggy-looking shag may be becoming a hazard.

Obviously the recommendation is to avoid hair-cutting unless its absolutely necessary, warns Sean Taaffe, who runs the Sean Taaffe Salon Group in Kerry.

Yet as the months drag on, you might feel you have little choice but to take up the clippers  Sean recommends the range from Wahl, known as the brand trusted by professionals.

Theyre what Ive been using for 30 years, says Sean, noting that a premium corded model like the Elite Pro (74.99, Boots.ie) will give greater value for money than a similarly priced cordless version. Thats going to be a workhorse that will actually last.

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Corded clippers tend to be safer, too  with a cordless model, you run the risk of the batteries dying on you in the middle of a cut.

Hairdryers

The best recommendation I can give for men is a good hair dryer, says Graham Molloy, style director in Brown Sugar Blackrock. His top pick is the LanaiBLO (99.99, LanaiBLO.com), an Irish company that creates what Graham calls the most impressive hairdryer Ive used in years.

He likes that its light yet still powerful, and that it comes in a range of colours with an option to personalise so theres no confusion as to who owns it in the house.

In my opinion, everyone should have one. I wouldnt be without it, says Graham.

The LanaiBLO is also a favourite of Denise Walsh (@rustiqdenise), owner of Rustiq salons in Carlow and Kilkenny and an educator who runs courses through the Business of Hair.

Im a naturally curly-haired person, and I get a lot of questions on my Instagram on how to get the perfect curl without the frizz. My go-to 100pc is the LanaiBLO hairdryer and diffuser, she explains, adding that the dryer alone leaves hair silkier than any other hairdryer Ive ever used.

The extra-long lead comes in particularly handy if you dont have plug sockets around your vanity unit, and Denise is also a fan of how lightweight it is.

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Unfortunately, a lot of the cheaper brand hairdryers are really, really heavy. Youll end up getting really bad pains in your shoulder and your arm, and youll generally give up halfway through. The LanaiBLO is so light, you get to do the whole head without having a cramp in your arm.

The diffuser is sold separately (19.99, LanaiBLO.com), and can only be used with a LanaiBLO hairdryer.

Im hairdressing nearly 30 years now, and this diffuser is one of the best Ive ever used. It spreads out the heat evenly  sometimes, diffusers will let off cold air on one side and hot air on the other, and that doesnt work well for curly hair. Curly hair needs to be fused with equal heat, says Denise.

Heated brushes

Feeling daunted by the thought of wielding a styling wand? Ciaran Purcell, head of retail experience at Peter Mark, recommends trying out a heated brush instead.

With something like a GHD, people find it difficult to use  you have to keep twisting it a certain way, but with a heated brush, it works for everyone, he explains, naming the GHD Rise Volumising Hot Brush as the best all-rounder (172, PeterMark.ie).

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For use on dry hair, its a rounded barrel brush with cool-touch bristles to allow closer root contact without using a comb or dividing hair into sections.

If you wrap your hair around the brush, you get a very soft, tousled look. Its almost like a blow-dry effect, without needing a curler or straightener to create defined ringlets. Its a more natural, looser curl, says Ciaran, adding that its suitable for hair of any length.

A lot of electrical tools work really well on longer hair, but you can use this on shorter hair as well to give it volume, movement and texture.

For those with thick or frizz-prone hair, he suggests the GHD Glide (142, PeterMark.ie), a heated paddle brush designed to give a smoother finish.

He notes that it can take a few goes to get used to the technique, but its worth it for the time youll save.

Its so fast  it might take you five seconds to get from root to the end, says Ciaran, adding that its better suited to long bobs or longer cuts.

Its not going to be a professional blow-dry, but it will look close to it, like you spent an hour straightening your hair. I often hear from customers that they thought it would be a gimmick, but its a really good product.

Wands

According to Sean Taaffe, the GHD Original Styler is still the best straightener on the market (129, SeanTaaffe.com).

It is excellent. As a retailer, the original is the most reliable, the best value and something youre not going to have any issues with  I get more problems and more returns from the others, he says.

If you find GHDs too strong on your hair, consider an infrared styling tool, which uses gentler heat, penetrating the hair cuticle from the inside out without stripping it of moisture.

Ennis hairdresser Bridget Haren recommends Irish brand Voduzs Infrared Straightener, which has titanium plates to deliver heat quickly and evenly (149, BridgetHaren.com).

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It has a curved edge, so it allows you to either straighten your hair or have a wavy look, and the infrared technology behind it means its less damaging on your hair, she says.

Anyone from short bob-length down to really long hair can use that, but there is also a travel size that can be used for short hair.

She adds that when using any heat tool, its crucial to apply a heat protectant spray or lotion.

The last thing you want to be doing is overstyling your hair in lockdown  you need to be keeping your hair healthy.

Another stylist favourite is the LOreal Professionnel SteamPod 3.0 (256, Jules.ie), which promises straightening that is two times faster than a regular straightener, with 78pc less damage.

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To be honest, it trumps any other straightener or curling wand on the market, and its purely down to the fact it works off steam, so you dont get as much damage with it, says Graham Molloy, adding that it can be used to create glossy straight looks or light waves, with plenty of YouTube tutorials demonstrating how to do so.

This gives more of that blow-dry feel and that salon finish that you want.

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Tools by hair type

Best for short hair: GHD Rise (172, PeterMark.ie)

It can be difficult to find heat styling tools that work on shorter hair, but Ciaran Purcell of Peter Mark says this heated brush is brilliant for bobs as well as longer lengths.

Best for curly hair: LanaiBLO and diffuser (99.99 and 19.99, LanaiBLO.com)

A diffuser is a great way to create more defined curls, and Denise Walsh of Rustiq likes LanaiBLOs version because it distributes heat evenly to minimise frizz.

Best for dehydrated hair: LOreal Professionnel SteamPod 3.0 (256, Jules.ie)

If you find traditional straighteners harsh on your hair, Graham Molloy of Brown Sugar recommends this tools steam technology for a healthy-looking finish.
in treatment

The Making of In Treatments Luxe, Colorful Home Turned Office Everything was designed to say something about Brooke (Uzo Aduba), from the view out her windows to the clothing she wears on and off the clock.
The Democratic senators said the question for the Senate to determine is not whether Cruz and Hawley had the right to object, but whether the senators failed to put loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department. They also said the investigation should determine whether Cruz, of Texas, and Hawley, of Missouri, engaged in improper conduct reflecting on the Senate.
A 70-year-old woman from Queens, New York, was recently arrested after her husband caught her lacing his coffee with boric acid.

Robert Baron first noticed that the food his wife cooked for him tasted funny back in September 0f last year. He also started feeling sick after meals, and on some occasion he would get so tired that he slept for 15 hours at a time. Suspecting that something fishy was going on, the 63-year-old man installed a small surveillance camera in the kitchen, without telling his wife of 11 years, Suncha Tinevra. Thats how he caught his partner lacing his coffee with a chemical used to kill cockroaches.

Photo: John Smith Clark/Unsplash

Last week, upon checking the camera, Baron saw his wife dump some sort of powder into his coffee. After seeing the footage, Baron walked into the 111th Precinct and reported his wife to the police. Tinevra was arrested soon after, and the coffee pot and coffee from the couples home were seized for testing.

It turns out that the elderly woman had dumped boric acid into her husbands coffee, which she later admitted to, adding that it hadnt been the first time.

Ive done this two or three times, I dont remember when, just when Im angry, Suncha Tinevra told police. I just wanted to teach him a lesson.

Photo: rkit/Pixabay

The 70-year-old woman was released last Friday without bail, but with an order of protection forbidding her to go near her husband.

Boric acid is a white powder that is widely used in various fields. Its sometimes used as an antiseptic to treat light burns or cuts, but also as an insecticide against cockroaches, ants and other insects. According to an affidavit from a case similar to the one presented above, a tablespoon of boric acid is enough to kill a 150-pound man.

Law Offices of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Automobile Club of Southern California, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

The Los Angeles employment law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Automobile Club of Southern California alleging the company violated Labor Code. The lawsuit against Automobile Club of Southern California, is currently pending in the Orange County Superior Court, Case No. S-CV-0045899. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here.

The lawsuit filed against Automobile Club of Southern California alleges PLAINTIFF and other AGGRIEVED EMPLOYEES were from time to time unable to take thirty (30) minute off-duty meal breaks and were not fully relieved of duty for their meal periods. California labor laws require an employer to provide an employee required to perform work for more than five (5) hours during a shift with, a thirty (30) minute uninterrupted meal break prior to the end of the employee's fifth (5th) hour of work.

PAGA is a mechanism by which the State of California itself can enforce state labor laws through the employee suing under the PAGA who do so as the proxy or agent of the state's labor law enforcement agencies. An action to recover civil penalties under PAGA is fundamentally a law enforcement action designed to protect the public and not to benefit private parties. The purpose of PAGA is not to recover damages or restitution, but to create a means of "deputizing" citizens as private attorneys general to enforce the Labor Code.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Automobile Club of Southern California, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct.

***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT***
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. and GOETTINGEN, Germany, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sartorius Stedim Biotech, a leading international partner of the biopharmaceutical industry, has committed $1.5 million to Penn State University to create the Sartorius Cell Culture Facility. It is slated to open in the first quarter of 2021 on the University Park campus.

"This donation from Sartorius is a tremendous investment in biotechnology at Penn State and a huge step forward in our organizations' partnership," said Lora G. Weis, senior vice president for research at Penn State. "Across our University's $1 billion research enterprise, few areas have as much potential for widespread impact as biotechnology. Sartorius is helping to ensure that Penn State remains a leader in this field, not just by conducting groundbreaking research but also in preparing our graduates to become leaders themselves. We are deeply grateful to Sartorius for their generosity and vision."

Mary Lavin, President, Sartorius North America, added, "We believe Penn State will make the most of this donation and partnership to inspire the next generation of pharma-biotech employees with innovative tools and solutions. We are investing in this new laboratory and expanding our partnership with PSU to ensure that students are prepared to meet the needs of our customers and the industry to produce safe and affordable medicines."

Sartorius' donation expands the partnership with Penn State to advance multidisciplinary teaching and research in biotechnology. In 2018, the company made a commitment to provide the University with state-of-the-art fermentation technologies and named the Sartorius Fermentation Gallery, an integral part of the CSL Behring Fermentation Facility. This facility supports the mission of educating future leaders in biotechnology through hands-on experiences for undergraduate and graduate students and corporate employees, and exposure to research across numerous fields.

The Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology provides a focal point for Penn State's programs in the areas of biotechnology, and the Sartorius Cell Culture Facility adds an important new facet to the center. Cell culture is an important technique for studying the normal physiology and biochemistry of cells, the basic structural and functional unit of all living things.

"The Sartorius Cell Culture Facility will enable cutting-edge advancements in biotechnology, including the development of diagnostic tests and treatments," said Andrew Read, director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. "This is an opportunity. It is important for society, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic," said Mary Lavin. "We're enabling the great thinkers of tomorrow to help solve this global problem. We share a common mission to educate and to empower scientist and engineers and to accelerate developments in life science and bioprocessing. This facility will be a training and development hub for our employees and the industry to collaborate with PSU to leverage their resources to support customers and the industry in making scientific progress to improve patient outcomes. We are very excited to extend our partnership with PSU and continue to work together."

Read continued, "Our researchers have already generated a vast quantity of cells that have provided specific proteins for use in COVID-19 antibody research. In the new Sartorius Cell Culture Facility, we plan to expand that work and continue to play a key role in getting new solutions to market where they may directly influence patient care."

The Sartorius Cell Culture Facility will not only benefit researchers but also provide valuable new learning opportunities for Penn State students. "Right now, there is a shortage of people who are qualified to do this work," Read said. "Training students to operate the specialized equipment in the Sartorius Cell Culture Facility will give them a huge advantage as they enter the workforce, while making this expertise more widely available. In both key areas of focus  research and education  the donation from Sartorius is going to propel Penn State's biotechnology efforts forward in exciting ways."

This laboratory will serve as the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences' twelfth core facility and the third leg in the collaborative biotechnology ecosystem that includes the Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology and the CSL Behring Fermentation Facility. Core facilities are open to researchers from across Penn State, as well as other academic and corporate researchers. They make available equipment that, because of its sophistication and expense, cannot practically be obtained by smaller labs, while providing the expertise to operate the equipment.

"The types of equipment and the expertise that we have here in our core facilities is hard to come by anywhere in the country," Read added. "We are profoundly grateful for the partnership with Sartorius that will make it possible for our faculty and students to lead the way in fields that will impact all of us."

About Sartorius Stedim Biotech

Sartorius Stedim Biotech is a leading international partner of the biopharmaceutical industry. As a total solutions provider, the company helps its customers to manufacture biotech medications safely, rapidly and economically. Headquartered in Aubagne, France, Sartorius Stedim Biotech is quoted on the Eurolist of Euronext Paris. With its own manufacturing and R&D sites in Europe, North America and Asia and an international network of sales companies, Sartorius Stedim Biotech has a global reach. The Group has been annually growing by double digits on average and has been regularly expanding its portfolio by acquisitions of complementary technologies. In 2019, the company employed approx. 6,200 people, and earned sales revenue of 1,440.6 million euros. www.sartorius.com

About "A Greater Penn State"

Sartorius Stedim Biotech's donation advances "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State's position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of our corporate partners, alumni and friends, "A Greater Penn State" seeks to fulfil the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial well-being; and impacting the world by serving communities and fueling discovery, innovation and entrepreneurship. To learn more about "A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence," visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu.

Sartorius Stedim Biotech contact

Timo Lindemann

Spokesperson

+49 (0)551.308.4724

[email protected]

Penn State contact

Wendy Oakes

Associate Director, Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology

+1 650 766 7376

[email protected]

Follow Sartorius on Twitter @Sartorius_Group and on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Sartorius Stedim Biotech S.A.

Futuristic insulated sleep pods have been installed in a German city to shelter homeless people on cold winter nights.

The German city of Ulm, 75 miles west of Munich, introduced these small shelters, dubbed 'Ulmer Nest', on 8 January in parks and at other places where homeless people sleep, a city spokesman said.

The wood and steel cabins provide protection against the cold, wind and humidity, and they're equipped with thermal insulation. They guarantee fresh air circulation and can accommodate a maximum of two sleepers.

This futuristic-looking capsule is designed to save the lives of vulnerable homeless people during cold temperatures

The UlmerNest is an automated sleeping pod that provides shelter for homeless people in the winter to prevent them from freezing to death

The capsules have hi-tech features including internet connectivity to alert social workers to an occupant's presence

From the initiative's official Facebook page, they said they were delayed installling the structures this year, but that they were available to make them available 'just in time for the really cold nights.

'Likewise, their managers reported that the nests have received some improvements and a redesign to ensure long-term use.

'We hope with the Ulmer Nests to offer some protection and security to those who need it most in Ulm,' they wrote.

The capsules, which were first made available for rough sleepers two years ago, now offer improved interior thermal insulation that guarantees less humidity and more heat.

Like a taxi, a light on means the pod is free, while the thermally-insulated interior has room for luggage and even a dog companion

The UlmerNest is designed for homeless people who may not be able to utilise other options for overnight shelter

The developers explain: 'There are some other options and facilities for the homeless in almost every city in Germany, like train stations that will be opened as soon as the temperature falls below a certain point or specific hostels for the homeless but there is still some necessity for a low-threshold service like this'

In addition, the capsules now come equipped with solar panels and are connected to a radio network that allows their occupants to communicate without depending on mobile networks. The closing and locking mechanism has been improved and allows better ease of use.

Flaco Pross, the designer of the capsule, explained that users of the pod don't need to fill in any paperwork or registration to check-in.

The nest is equipped with a motion sensor that alerts a team of social workers when the access hatch opens and closes.

They add: 'It is very important to understand that the concept of the UlmerNest was created for those who won't or can't make us of these other options provided by cities because of their mental conditions or for other reasons

The Caritas Ulm-Alb-Donau charity association, or members of Ulmer Nest, are then notified that someone has stayed in the pod for the night. The following day, the cabin is visited by one of the organisations to ensure the cabin is empty and to invite the user to go to engage with the city's homelessness service.

There are no cameras inside the capsule, allowing the user to remain anonymous.

If the pods are damaged during the night, the Caritas foundation will repair or clean it in order for it to be used the following night.

Pross said the pods offer rough sleepers a temporary sanctuary, while also allowing charities to maintain and start contact with the city's homeless population and provide them help.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 09:55:25|Editor: huaxia

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Chile's Health Minister Enrique Paris addresses a press conference at government headquarters in Santiago, capital of Chile, Jan. 20, 2021. The Public Health Institute of Chile (ISP) on Wednesday approved the emergency use of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech. The emergency approval of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech will boost Chile's mass vaccination campaign, Health Minister Enrique Paris said Wednesday. (Xinhua)

SANTIAGO, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The emergency approval of a COVID-19 vaccine developed by Chinese firm Sinovac Biotech will boost Chile's mass vaccination campaign, Health Minister Enrique Paris said Wednesday.

"This is very important news ... millions of doses of this vaccine will allow us to vaccinate many people to try to control the virus," Paris said at a press conference held at government headquarters.

Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine is to arrive at the end of the month, he said, adding there will be "as many vaccines as possible in the first shipment."

Meanwhile, Paris urged those vaccinated to continue to abide by social distancing measures.

Chile's Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation Andres Couve, who accompanied Paris, said "CoronaVac is a vaccine that prevents serious clinical conditions that require medical assistance and hospitalizations, which is very encouraging."
(Natural News) Social media giant Facebook has said that it removing all content mentioning stop the steal as part of a raft of measures to supposedly stem misinformation and incitements of violence on its platform.

Facebook made this statement after confirming that it would uphold its decision last week to suspend former President Donald Trump from posting for at least two weeks. The companys CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that, at the time, the purported risks of the president using the service during this period were too great.

In addition, the company said on Monday, Jan. 11, that it would also continue to pause all U.S. ads about politics and elections, including those from Trump.

With continued attempts to organize events against the outcome of the U.S. presidential election that can lead to violence, and use of the [stop the steal] term by those involved in Wednesdays violence in DC, were taking this additional step in the lead up to the inauguration, Guy Rosen, the companys vice president of integrity and Monika Bickert, its vice president of global policy management wrote in a company blog post.

It may take some time to scale up our enforcement of this new step but we have already removed a significant number of posts, they added.

Facebook ban follows censorship moves from other tech companies

Facebook is just one of the many big tech companies that have taken steps in recent days to silence the presidents personal accounts or online communities devoted to him, citing rules prohibiting content that incites violence. Others include Twitter, Snap and Reddit.

These moves followed the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. These companies claim that the president and his allies urged those involved to march on Capitol Hill as lawmakers convened to certify the electoral college vote from the November elections.

In this moment, the risk to our democracy was too big that we felt we had to take the unprecedented step of what is an indefinite ban, and Im glad we did, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg told Reuters in an interview Monday.

This shows that the president is not above the policies we have, Sandberg said to Reuters Breakingviews columnist Gina Chon.

In addition, the company also claims that its doing so as part of protective efforts against violence and misinformation in the lead-up to the presidential inauguration following last weeks events on Capitol Hill.

We began preparing for Inauguration Day last year. But our planning took on new urgency after last weeks violence in Washington, D.C., and we are treating the next two weeks as a major civic event, Rosen and Bickert wrote.

Facebook started censoring after backlash, but now faces backlash from investors

Facebook has long taken a light touch to policing speech posted by politicians, especially compared to other social media services, such as Twitter.

The company started reversing course from that position and started applying labels to the presidents posts this summer. This was due to backlash that the company received, including an advertiser boycott when it declined to act against Trumps supposedly incendiary rhetoric around the Black Lives Matter protests that sprung up throughout the United States. (Related: Facebook smoking gun: Conservatives targeted for censorship because of their political beliefs Facebook rigging elections.)

But now the company is facing a different form of backlash. Facebooks stocks fell by as much as much as 4.5 percent on Monday. Many investors balked at the companys moves to ban Trump which were seen to raise concerns about future regulation.

Despite this, the company remains adamant with Sandberg stating that the company has no plans to lift the ban for now.

Follow Censorship.news for more on how social media companies are suppressing conservative voices.

Sources include:

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The IMA on Thursday announced a pan-India relay of starting February 1, in protest against a notification issued by the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) that authorises post-graduate practitioners in specified streams of Ayurveda to perform general surgical procedures, stating that it will lead to "mixopathy".

The (IMA) is giving immediate directives to all members across the country to launch the "Save Healthcare India Movement", the doctors' body said in a statement.

Under the campaign, the IMA will launch a massive awareness drive across the country as this is a clear threat to the safety of healthcare of people.

will take turns to sit on the 24x7 from February 1 and the IMA will release posters and banners to raise awareness on the issue across the country, the statement said.

"All IMA members shall update their Members of Parliament and MLAs regarding the true picture of the notification and the integration policy. The IMA will also give its representations to all state governments. Under this movement, all NGOs will be updated about the core issues," it added.

Besides, all IMA members will write and convey their feelings to the prime minister, the association said.

Representatives of the IMA shall visit various places across the country to raise awareness among the public and apprise various associations from different countries of this "unscientific" notification, it said, adding that the global voice of modern medicine shall echo the feelings of the and its members.

The IMA has condemned the notification issued by the CCIM, a statutory body under the AYUSH Ministry, authorising post-graduate practitioners in specified streams of Ayurveda to be trained to perform surgical procedures such as excisions of benign tumours, amputation of gangrene, nasal and cataract operations.

The doctors' body further said the recent policy tilt, as evidenced in the medical pluralism advocated by the Education Policy 2020 and the four committees of NITI AAYOG for officially integrating the systems of medicine in medical education, practice, public health and administration as well as research ostensibly for a "One Nation, One System" policy, will "ring the death knell of all systems of medicine as a whole".

"The IMA respects all streams of healthcare. We object mixing of the streams as it is unsafe and unscientific...one doctor cannot give all systems of medicine to one patient. Mixing the Pathies and providing substandard healthcare is definitely wrong.

"The IMA demands withdrawal of the CCIM order and dissolution of the NITI AAYOG committees for integration. The IMA appeals to the government to consider the sensitivity of the medical fraternity and take appropriate steps. The IMA will be constrained to intensify the agitation until the steps towards implementing mixopathy are abandoned," it said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington, 20 January 2021 (SPS) - The next US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday he would take a close look at the issue of Western Sahara, a territory proclaimed "Moroccan" by the outgoing president, Donald Trump, in violation of international law.



"This is a question that I would certainly like to examine more closely, President, before I give you a detailed answer," the future Pentagon chief said during his hearing in the Senate.



Lloyd Austin was questioned by Senator James Inhofe, chairman of the United States Senate Defense Committee, on his position regarding the holding of a self-determination referendum in this territory occupied by Morocco since 1975.



He claimed that the Western Sahara dossier will be "one of the issues he will examine," immediately after his confirmation as US defense secretary.



In his intervention Tuesday in the Senate, James Inhofe, fervent defender of the Sahrawi cause, recalled the opinion of the International Court of Justice rendered in 1975 which confirmed the absence of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and supported the need for the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination.



The Senator noted that the United States, the United Nations and the African Union have all supported the right of the Sahrawis to self-determination and to achieve independence.



We have supported a self-determination referendum. The United States has done so since the 1970s, the UN since the 1970s and also the African Union and most of the 52 countries in Africa all have declared that Western Sahara should hold a self-determination referendum, Inhofe recalled.



The Oklahoma senator expressed the wish that the new American administration preserves the consistency observed for three decades with regard to this matter. (SPS)



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There have been encouraging signs for Cayuga County over the last two weeks. The number of active cases dropped from a record of 1,095 on Jan. 7 to 404 on Jan. 18. The health department's latest update shows that active cases increased to 440 on Tuesday.

The county also has fewer people in mandatory quarantine than there were for most of December and January. There are now 2,406 people in quarantine, which is required when someone has contact with a positive case.

Despite the positive indicators, hospitalizations remain high for the county  there are 41 patients at Auburn Community Hospital, down from 46 one day ago  and there were two more deaths reported on Tuesday. Two nursing home residents, both of whom were women in their 80s, died after testing positive for the virus.

The health department admitted 117 new cases on Tuesday, including eight cases at local correctional facilities. It wasn't disclosed whether the cases are at either Auburn or Cayuga correctional facilities, but both prisons have been responding to outbreaks.

There are an additional 87 cases awaiting admission, which are individuals who have tested positive but haven't been placed into isolation. The cases awaiting admission aren't included in the county's active and confirmed case totals.

As of Tuesday, Cayuga County has 4,428 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. More than 80% of the cases have been reported in December and January. The county set a record with 2,204 cases in December. Through the first 19 days of January, there have been 1,536 cases.

Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding.

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Senator Bernie Sanders .. .and his handmade mittens. Credit:AFP History-making Harris: There was something truly stirring about Americas first black female vice-president being sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor  the first Latino woman to sit on the US Supreme Court  with her hand on a Bible that once belonged to civil rights icon Thurgood Marshall. Then again, Harris has long been a barrier-breaker, so it's little wonder her inauguration was peppered with plenty of symbolism. Accompanied by her husband, Doug Emhoff  the nations first "second gentleman"  Harris walked down the steps to the West Front of the US Capitol shortly after 11am. She wore a purple outfit created by two black designers, in a nod to Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the US Congress. The daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father is now officially the highest ranking woman in US office. Dont tell me things cant change, Biden said as he paid tribute to Harris in his inaugural speech. Kamala Harris is sworn in as the 49th US Vice-President. Credit:

Lady Gaga performing the national anthem: That voice. That outfit. That brooch. Lady Gagas powerful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner was one for the ages. The singer-songwriter has known Biden for a while  during the Obama administration the pair worked together on projects aimed at preventing sexual violence, and she made a few cameos during Bidens campaign last year  so it was only fitting that the superstar headlined todays entertainment. Equally fitting was the brooch she wore, a dove carrying an olive branch, given the events of recent weeks. My intention is to acknowledge our past, be healing for our present, and passionate for a future where we work together lovingly, she tweeted ahead of her performance. Gaga was followed by popstar J-Lo, who recited parts of the Pledge of Allegiance in Spanish, in between renditions of This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful. Lady Gaga performs at the inauguration. Credit:Greg Nash/The Hill//Bloomberg

Garth Brooks ignoring COVID: Also on the bill was country crooner Garth Brooks, who had earlier caused a stir among some conservatives by agreeing to appear at the event. "Boycott Garth Brooks!" tweeted Act for America founder Brigitte Gabriel. Brooks, however, seemed unperturbed as he performed an acapella rendition of Amazing Grace, donning a black cowboy hat, black shirt and black jacket. In fact, the superstar seemed so pumped by the moment that after his performance, he criss-crossed through the audience, maskless, to hug former presidents and first ladies in attendance. Among them was former Republican president George W. Bush and former Democratic president Bill Clinton. Both were wearing their masks, which was just as well given COVID-19 continues to ravage the US. Poet Amanda Gorman recites The Hill We Climb. Credit:AP A young poet makes a splash: Performing poetry after a newly minted president gives his inaugural address might be a daunting task for some, but 22-year-old Amanda Gorman nailed it.

The Youth Poet Laureate recited an original piece partly written in the aftermath of this months Capitol siege, titled The Hill We Climb. Hailing from Kamala Harris home state of California, Gormans work often focuses on race, marginalisation and feminism. Loading This piece paid tribute to democracy. "We've seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it, she read. Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. And this effort very nearly succeeded. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated. Gorman is now believed to be the youngest poet to read at a presidential inauguration. Snowflakes and sunshine: Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar delivered the introductory address at the inauguration. Shortly after her speech, it began to snow, a fleeting reminder of the grey day in February 2019 when she announced her Democratic bid for president in the middle of a blizzard.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 01:40:20|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to work with Laos to further intensify high-level contact, cement strategic communication and deepen experience exchanges on party and state governance.

Xi made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee.

On behalf of the CPC as well as the Chinese government and people, Xi congratulated Thongloun on election as general secretary of the LPRP Central Committee.

The successful convention of the 11th LPRP Congress, which put forward a series of new approaches to and new measures on party and state governance, is of great significance to continuously pushing forward the development of Laos' socialist cause, Xi said.

He said he is confident that under the leadership of the new LPRP Central Committee headed by Thongloun, all LPRP members and all Lao people will unite as one and strive to realize the goals set at the 11th congress.

China and Laos are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, Xi said, adding that upholding the leadership of the Communist party and adhering to the socialist orientation are the essential features of bilateral relations.

Noting that the China-Laos relationship is now at its historical best, Xi also pointed to the combined impact of profound changes unseen in a century in the world and the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The two sides, he suggested, should steadily advance the construction of such large projects as the China-Laos Economic Corridor and the China-Laos Railway, and push for more achievements in bilateral Belt and Road cooperation.

Xi also called for concerted efforts to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as culture, youth and tourism, and continuously enrich the cultural content of the China-Laos community with a shared future.

China, he said, will continue to support Laos' efforts to fight the pandemic, and stands ready to actively consider aiding Laos with a batch of COVID-19 vaccines.

China is willing to work with Laos to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and promote common development and prosperity, added the Chinese leader.

Xi also wished Thongloun new greater achievements in the new important post.

For his part, Thongloun expressed his deep gratitude to Xi for talking with him over the telephone shortly after the successful 11th LPRP Congress, saying that it fully demonstrates the great importance Xi attaches to Laos-China relations and the profound bond and traditional friendship between the two parties, two countries and two nations.

The 11th LPRP Congress achieved a series of important results, Thongloun said, adding that the party will adhere to the line of principled comprehensive reform, lead the Lao people to a succession of new victories, and lay a solid foundation for promoting socialist construction in Laos.

Laos sincerely appreciates the valuable support and assistance China has provided in various stages of Laos' development, including in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said the LPRP chief.

Laos, he added, will continue to push forward the implementation of the action plan on the Laos-China community with a shared future, strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as building the Belt and Road, and promote friendly exchanges at all levels.

He said Laos firmly believes that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at its core, the Chinese people will surely make new achievements in building a modern socialist country in an all-round way and realize the set goals as scheduled.

In the conversation, Xi and Thongloun jointly announced the official launch of the China-Laos Friendship Year program, which will feature a series of celebrations to further cement public support for the China-Laos friendship. Enditem


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Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis says it's 'painful' to rewatch his performances as Neville Longbottom in the wizardry anthology, because the character is so much like he is.

'I find it quite difficult when too much of me starts to come through in a character,' Lewis, 31, told The New York Times.

The British actor said that 'it's easier when [he] can play someone completely different,' than he is, 'like a police officer in London or someone who's wealthy.'

The latest: Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, 31, says it's 'painful' to rewatch his performances as Neville Longbottom in the wizardry anthology, because the character is so much like he is

He continued, 'At times it's painful how much of me there is in Neville. When I'm watching, I'm like, "That's not Neville; that's you."'

Lewis said that he remains grateful to be apart of the film franchise, based off the work of author J.K. Rowling.

'If there's something people remember you by, there are worse things than the Harry Potter franchise,' Lewis said. 'It opened so many doors for me when I otherwise wouldn't even have gotten in the room.'

Speaking with the newspaper, Harry Potter filmmaker David Yates said that Lewis's growth was parallel to his character's.

Lewis said that he remains grateful to be apart of the film franchise, based off the work of author J.K. Rowling. He was snapped in LA in 2018

Life-changing: Lewis said appearing in the Potter films 'opened so many doors for me when I otherwise wouldn't even have gotten in the room'

Art imitates life: Harry Potter filmmaker David Yates said that Lewis's growth was parallel to his character's

Yates, 57, said Lewis 'became more confident, more curious, more present as the films progressed. And more ambitious.'

The filmmaker said he penned a specific scene for 2011's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 with Lewis in mind that had not been in the literature, showcasing Neville torching a bridge that stunted the efforts of Lord Voldemort and his minions.

'It captured the charms of Neville and Matthew's everyman quality,' Neville said. 'He had a modesty and an honesty that was hard to ignore.'
PORT HURON, MI  Months after a mans body was found aboard a decommissioned U.S. Navy vessel docked in Port Huron, police have arrested a suspect in the killing.

The U.S. Marshals Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team on Tuesday, Jan. 19, located Reginal Cu-Nu Grasty, 43, in Detroit. The team arrested Grasty without incident.

Grasty on Wednesday, Jan. 20, appeared St. Clair County District Court for arraignment on single counts of open murder and disinterment-mutilation of a dead body. Open murder contains first- and second-degree murder, both of which are life offenses, though a conviction of first-degree murder comes with a mandatory sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

The charges stem from the death of 44-year-old William M. Orlow, whose body was found in the summer aboard the USNSCS Grayfox, the largest Sea Cadet training ship in the country.

At about 11:15 a.m. on June 23, Port Huron police officers responded the vessel at 60 Griswold St. regarding a deceased person. Officers found Orlow deceased on the ship, though he was not identified until July 1.

An autopsy performed on Orlows remains on June 25, the results of which indicated his manner of death was homicide and his cause of death was trauma-related, according to the Port Huron Police Department.

Police have not divulged additional details on how Orlow was killed or what accounts for Grastys mutilation-of-a-dead-body charge.

Authorities on Dec. 10 issued a warrant for Grastys arrest. At the time, Grasty was believed to be homeless in Detroit.

Police have said they believe Orlows killing was not random, but they have not elaborated or described the two mens connection. Grasty previously lived aboard the Grayfox and worked as a caretaker, keeping it from freezing in the winter and keeping strangers from wandering on to it, The Times Herald has reported.

Orlow, a Port Huron resident, is survived by a wife and three children, according to his obituary.

Grastys arraigning judge set his bond at $750,000 cash-surety. Gratsy is due back in court for a probable cause hearing before District Judge Mona Armstrong at 9 a.m. on Feb. 2.

Read more:

Murder, mutilation charges filed in mans death on former Navy ship in Port Huron

Police trying to ID homicide victim in Port Huron

Police ID man killed on former Navy ship in Port Huron
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Egypt signed five gold exploration deals on Thursday worth $13 million with leading local and Canadian gold companies following a global tender it held in 2020.

Egypt has launched several initiatives to lure investors to its attractive mining exploration opportunities.

The petroleum ministry said on Thursday three contracts worth a total of $9 million were signed with Canadian Lotus Gold for exploration in 11 blocs.

Another $3 million deal was signed with Egypts Mining and Manufacturing Company (MEDAF) for exploration in one bloc, and one with Ebdaa for Gold Mining for $1 million in another bloc.

Petroleum minister Tarek El-Molla said the signing of Thursdays agreements was an effective translation of amendments to Egypts mineral resources law, which grants investors more facilities and privileges.

The amendments have positively reflected on investments in the sector and placed Egypt on the global investment map in gold exploration by luring several local and global mining companies, he said.

Egypt passed a legislation last year to ease exploration rules and to attract investors to its gold sector as it sought to attract gold mining firms for its first major tender since 2017 in the Eastern Desert.



Seven international and four local companies, out of the 17 that applied for licences, have been awarded in November tenders for gold exploration in Egypts Eastern Desert.



The tender included 290 blocs spread over 250,000 square kilometres. The 11 companies won the bid to explore 82 blocs, or 28 percent of the total, equivalent to kilometres.





A second round of bidding is scheduled for March 2021 for the exploration of deposits of 10 minerals in 208 blocs spread over 38,000 square kilometres in the Eastern Desert.

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The Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) is only expecting positive and quick response from government, Mr.



Mathew Abeaba Abereniya, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions Industrial Relations Officer (IRO) of the Union has said.



He noted government though has acted timely in response to our strike action, we are looking forward to hear the swift action yields the expected outcome.



In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr. Abereniya commended the stakeholders for their immediate action that came out with a communique for positive way forward.



He explained Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, the acting Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, the Fare Wages and Salary Commission and other relevant stakeholders held an instant response meeting when the strike action began and hoped that move would meet the anticipation of the Union members.



The IRO said the Union started working on the improvement of their condition of services which include the issue of non-payment of basic allowances and other motivational packages due members at the public traditional universities since 2017.



Touching on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Mr. Abereniya implored Union members and the entire schools authorities to beef up preventive measures and protocols to avoid spread of the virus in the schools.



He said the government could endeavour to protect the students by supplying personal protective equipment, but enforcement to ensure compliance with directives and adherence to protocols in the schools rested on the shoulders of the teachers and schools authorities.

Source: GNA









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Once, Maria Kefalas naively assumed that raising her children on the Main Line, surrounded by beautiful homes and great schools, would keep tragedy and suffering at bay.

Now I could see the absurdity of such thinking, writes Kefalas, 53, a nationally renowned St. Josephs University sociologist in her new book released this week, Harnessing Grief: A Mothers Quest for Meaning and Miracles (Beacon Press, 2021).

Crushed by the knowledge that her daughter would someday die of a rare genetic disease, and laid low by her husbands blood-cancer diagnosis, Kefalass life was hijacked by misery and profound grief.

She grew to despise her neighbors for having healthy children and husbands. Kefalas derived thrilling power in weaponizing her tragedy, making people recoil as she described details of how her daughter, Calliope Joy, was going blind and becoming paralyzed at the same time that her husband, Patrick Carr, was fighting Stage IV multiple myeloma.

Why, she wondered, were parents whose kids had pediatric cancer complaining? Only 20% die, shed coldly think. Late at night, in deranged agony, shed stalk her Bala Cynwyd neighborhood, an overweight, unkempt madwoman cursing the perfect people sleeping in their perfect houses, blessedly ignorant of the 24-hour horror she lived.

Any book with so relentless a narrative would ultimately seem like an assault if not for Kefalas humanity and desire to find meaning among all the broken pieces.

 READ MORE: Bala Cynwyd woman accepts terminal diagnosis of daughter with grace

While Carr, a Rutgers University sociologist, died last year at age 53, Cal, as shes called, is now 11, having defied science by living years longer than anyone said she would.

And, finding a way to harness grief as a superpower, Kefalas has used a stunning breakthrough in the treatment of Cals disease, metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), to help other children. Shes also credited with being an inspiration for, and an investor in, a center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia that works with patients suffering genetic diseases.

The story is the resiliency Maria has shown through all these tragic events in her life, said Amy Waldman, a pediatric neurologist and medical director of CHOPs Leukodystrophy Center of Excellence. She literally changed CHOP, changed so many childrens lives, changed the world, really.

The most selfless thing you can do is save other childrens lives when you cant save your own childs. Instead of retreating, Maria is moving forward.

Calliope, poetic muse

The Grief book is Kefalas fourth. Shes also written about unwed mothers, the so-called rural brain drain, and working-class heroes in Chicago.

Born in Lexington, Mass., shes an expert on poverty, violence, marriage, and the American family. In 2009 at age 42, she had her third child, Calliope, named for the muse of epic poetry and eloquence in Greek mythology.

Kefalas jokes that after teen girls, the second-largest group of women with unplanned pregnancies is 40-year-old women. The same week she learned she was pregnant with Cal, she was scheduled to give a talk entitled, Unplanned Parenthood.

With Cal and their other two kids, PJ, now 16, and Camille, now 20, Kefalas and Carr were living a perfect life, Kefalas writes.

It changed quickly.

Kefalas and Carr saw that, starting at age 2, Cal was starting to regress; the disease began reversing every childhood milestone she had achieved  speaking, walking, feeding herself.

The doctors were blunt: Its fatal, and we have no treatment or cure.

In an interview, Kefalas said, Mothering a child who will never grow up is quite a learning experience. We got rid of her bike and all the toys shell never play with.

People born with MLD lack an enzyme in their blood called arylsulfatase. Without it, the development of the myelin sheath  the fatty covering that acts as an insulator around nerve fibers  is impaired. Lack of a sheath leads to a breakdown in communication between the nerves and the brain and brings on paralysis, blindness, and death.

Just 3,600 children a year are diagnosed throughout the world, Kefalas says in her book. No one with MLD has lived beyond 13.

Kefalas began writing blogs after the diagnosis. They were almost unreadable because of their sheer rawness.

Nevertheless, in 2013, she signed a contract to write the book, assuming the story would end with Cals death.

Im going to be OK

That idea would change after Kefalas met Liz Scott, the mother of Alexandra, founder of the Alexs Lemonade Stand Foundation, a now-famous pediatric cancer charity. Alex died at age 8 in Wynnewood in 2004 after raising more than $1 million for other suffering children.

The only way to save yourself from grief, Kefalas concluded after meeting Scott, is to help others. With that epiphany, Kefalas knew that her book wouldnt just be about herself and her pain anymore.

Kefalas and her family started the Calliope Joy Foundation and lit on the idea of raising funds by having children bake cupcakes that were judged by professional bakers. But where would the money go?

Reenter Waldman, whod read about a major breakthrough in Milan in which doctors appeared to be slowing the full manifestation of MLD  not in children already showing signs of the disease, but in their younger siblings who had the genetic predisposition to develop MLD, but hadnt yet displayed symptoms.

Thats what you should do with the money, Waldman told Kefalas. Pay peoples way to the clinical trials in Milan.

Kefalas did, and several children began receiving gene therapy that seems to be forestalling the advance of MLD. Children who should have been dead are living lives beyond doctors predictions.

We cannot save Cal, Kefalas writes, but we will get to see a different ending to other childrens stories.

Waldman and her colleagues were inspired by Cal and others to create the leukodystrophy center, which supports families dealing with genetic diseases. The Calliope Joy Foundation, which has sold 50,000 cupcakes and raised around $900,000, was one of the initial investors in the center, Waldman said.

The Milan therapy is quite promising, but its not a cure, and it doesnt reverse every symptom, she added. But these are life-altering therapies were seeing. So many have been influenced by the sheer generosity of Maria, whos suffered so much.

For her part, Kefalas said shes started to take care of herself. Ive lost weight and eat like a Main Line lady now  kale smoothies and turkey burgers.

And she said although she knows Cal will die young, she has promised friends and family that she will persevere after her daughter is gone.

Ive had my nervous breakdown, she said. Thats done. I told Pat before he died, no matter what, Im going to be OK.

Maria Kefalas will discuss her book at a virtual Free Library of Philadelphia event at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 16.

Single Mom and Army Vet Pays Off $87,000 in Debt With 3 Baby Steps, Thanks to Good Advice

The year of 2020 was a year of changes for many people. For one Army veteran and single mother, it was the year she accomplished her financial goals and paid off $87,000 in debt.

Nyajuok Tongyik Doluony knew she had to get her five-figure credit card bills and car payments under control. So, determined, she made it her goal for 2020.

I was desperate. I didnt want to get out of the Army with my debt, she told Good Morning America. I wanted to just focus on taking care of myself and taking care of my kids.

Fortunately for Doluony, there were resources available for people in her situation. She turned to the personal finance advice of radio host Dave Ramsey and adopted his recommended baby steps method to ensure her outcome.

These habits include: 1) naming a personal reason for your goal, 2) planning your spending ahead of time, and 3) being creative about finding new avenues of income.

Doluony told The Epoch Times that, for motivation, she kept reminding herself that the sacrifices she was making were temporary. Doluony also started earning extra money by taking on additional nursing shifts at the hospital.

Another habit she learned was to limit herself to $100 per month on personal expenses.

COVID made it easier since there werent many places to go anyway, she said. Surprisingly, I learned many things we buy are wants not needs. Several months into the journey, I found out that $100 was plenty of money for my personal expenses.

But the most challenging thing, said Doluony, was changing her mindset about spending.

I love the idea of mindset, she said. I had to reprogram my mind from what I thought I knew about money.  I had to go from a consumer mentality to adopting how wealthy people think.

She added that the law of attraction and the power of a vision board also helped her attain her goals.

I wrote down my goals and one of them was to be debt-free before I get out of the Army, Doluony explained. I posted these written goals on my refrigerator, in my bedroom, and as a screensaver on my phone. I looked at them often.

It wasnt all checklists and visualizations, though. The single mother was also struggling with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, which complicated her efforts.

I was struggling mentally during the entire time I was going through my debt-free journey, she shared. I was going through a divorce  I found out that my military was ending because of my illness.

But she says that anyone going through similar struggles can still achieve their goals if they stick to a plan. The only reason she could do all this was having intentional goals. She found that, then, everything aligns itself with my desires.

And her efforts paid off.

Now completely debt-free aside from the remaining balance on her mortgage, she feels a burden has been lifted. Her next big financial goal is to pay off her house within 15 months.

After retiring from the Army on June 29, 2020, she became debt-free on July 1, 2020, she said. Afterwards, she wrote another goal down: I want to share my debt-free journey with the world.

Doluony hopes that sharing her story will inspire others to reach their financial goals, too.

After I paid all of that off, I found a sense of relief, she said. It doesnt matter where they are or where they come from. I believe whatever you decide to do for your life, it will come to fulfillment.

We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us here: emg.inspired@epochtimes.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:53:05|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Some 357,450 South Sudanese refugees have returned home from regional countries since November 2017, the UN refugee agency said on Thursday.

According to UNHCR and South Sudan's Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) monthly update for December 2020, some 236,764 refugees out of the figure returned following signing of the revitalized peace agreement in October 2018.

The report says the majority (61 percent) of the spontaneous refugee returnees were from Sudan while 23 percent returned from Ethiopia.

The reasons for return and cross-border movements by the refugees according to the report include improved security in South Sudan, inflows and family visits during the festive season to attend traditional ceremonies and festivals.

The report says the refugees have also cited cases of extortion, arrest, and harassment by authorities at Nadapal, Nimule border points with Kenya and Uganda as the reasons for the return to South Sudan.

The report says the refugees have also expressed fear of the current unrest in Ethiopia and anticipated unrest during and post-elections in Uganda as the reasons for their return.

South Sudan is currently implementing the 2018 revitalized peace deal the former warring parties signed in Ethiopia to end more than six years of conflict, since the outbreak in December 2013. Enditem

Apart from the current delivery of vaccines, Bangladesh is also set to purchase 3 crore doses of India-made vaccine under a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with SII

India on Thursday officially handed over 20 lakh doses of COVID-19 vaccine as a gift to Bangladesh.

The vaccines were provided to Bangladesh at a crucial time when the number of coronavirus cases in this country was rising.

"India had stood by Bangladesh during the (1971) Liberation War, and today, when the pandemic is rattling the world, India again came with gifts of vaccines," Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said.

A chartered Air India plane, carrying the Covishield vaccine landed at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday. Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami handed over the vaccines formally to Momen at a formal function.

Momen said the vaccine supply is a gift of goodwill that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina have achieved through building strong partnership between the two neighbouring nations.

Health minister Zahid Maleque joined the function during which Momen termed the New Delhi initiative as a proof of true friendship between Bangladesh and India.

Doraiswami said that India, in line with the discussions held during the virtual summit between the two prime ministers on December 17, delivered the vaccines within a week of their rollout in the country.

Anti- Coronavirus vaccination began in India on 16 January.

He said as part of India's "Neighbourhood First" policy, his country accorded high priority to the India-Bangladesh relationship and the gift of 20 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine was in fact the biggest such dispatch by India to any of the neighbouring countries.

Bangladesh has so far recorded 7,966 COVID-19 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic in March last year while the total number of infections have surged to 530,271, according to authorities.

India's Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar had earlier tweeted on "VaccineMaitri", saying India "reaffirms the highest priority" to relations with Bangladesh.

Apart from the current delivery of vaccines, Bangladesh is also set to purchase 3 crore doses of India-made vaccine under a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on 5 November and a subsequent agreement on 13 December among Bangladesh government, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd (BPL) and the Serum Institute of India (SII).

India has also handed over 1 million similar vaccines to Nepal.

On Wednesday, India sent 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives.
Authorities have released the name of a young man killed during a shootout with Birmingham police.

The Jefferson County Coroners Office identified the slain man as Eusi Malik Kater Jr. He was 21.

The ordeal began about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday when South Precinct officers responded to the area of the 100 block of 5th Avenue Southwest on a ShotSpotter call. The Birmingham 911 Communications Division also received calls of a male firing a weapon at another person.

Officers flocked to the scene and attempted to make contact with the suspect, said Sgt. Rod Mauldin. The suspect  now identified as Kater  ran away and shots were fired. The suspect fled to a residence in the 600 block of Center Place Southwest and took a tactical position on the porch.

A 10-33  a plea for all available backup  was issued over the police radio.

Officers from around the city descended upon the Titusville community. The Birmingham Police Department deployed additional resources such as Jefferson Countys Star One helicopter and the Tactical Operations Division.

Mauldin said as officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, additional shots were fired at officers. Police returned fire and Kater was struck.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service, which was staged nearby, rushed Kater to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:42 p.m.

Mauldin said a handgun was recovered at the scene. The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation will lead the probe, which is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings.

Kater had just been released from prison within the past year after pleading guilty in 2018 to unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle.

At the age of 17, he was arrested in a carjacking in Center Point and, at the time of his arrest, was awaiting trial on robbery, assault, and vehicle burglary out of three other Jefferson County cities.

He pleaded guilty to the UBEV case and the other charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with three to serve.
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MGI, a subsidiary of BGI Group, announces today an official statement in response to the ruling of the Patents Court within the High Court of Justice for England & Wales on 20 January 2021 and calls for fair competition in the gene-sequencing market.

MGI concurs with the court's ruling that Illumina's European Patent (EP) 1 828 412 to methods of sequencing by synthesis using ascorbic acid is invalid for obviousness and that MGI's CoolMPS sequencing method does NOT infringe this patent, and also the finding that MGI's CoolMPS sequencing does NOT infringe the EP 2 021 415 to a linker and rhodamine dye combination.

"We welcome the decision of the Court to invalidate the '412 patent of Illumina," says the Legal head of MGI, "'412 patent discloses a method using ascorbic acid as a component of image buffer. Illumina also alleged this patent in Switzerland, Sweden and its equivalent in the US. We firmly assure that this ruling will bring positive impact on those litigations."

However, MGI is disappointed with the rulings on other mentioned patents. MGI continues to firmly believe that these patents are invalid and/or not infringed by MGI's proprietary CoolMPS and StandMPS technologies and will immediately seek permission to appeal the decision.



MGI advocates fair competition and an open environment for innovation and opposes the abuse of patent litigation to maintain market monopoly and suppress industry development.

"In particular at this critical moment in the worldwide efforts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, MGI will do our utmost to protect our rights and interests, as well as the interests of our customers, research collaborators and business partners." the Legal head of MGI further comments.

MGI has already initiated legal proceedings in other regions including the recent antitrust violation complaint towards Illumina in the United States. The complaint, filed recently in California Federal Court, pleads many instances of anticompetitive behaviour including asserting at least three patents against MGI companies in an unlawful and fraudulent manner.

"It should be noted that our advanced laboratory automation equipment is not affected by this lawsuit in any way," he says, "and will continue to be used to support the prevention and control of the epidemic in the United Kingdom and to assist relevant local organizations to improve the efficiency of COVID-19 nucleic acid testing."

About MGI

MGI Tech Co., Ltd. (MGI), a subsidiary of BGI Group, is committed to enabling effective and affordable healthcare solutions for all. Based on its proprietary technology, MGI produces sequencing devices, equipment, consumables and reagents to support life science research, medicine and healthcare. MGI's multi-omics platforms include genetic sequencing and medical imaging. Providing real-time, comprehensive, life-long solutions, its mission is to develop and promote advanced life science tools for future healthcare. For more information please visit https://en.mgi-tech.com. Or connect on social media: https://twitter.com/MGI_BGI or https://cn.linkedin.com/company/mgi-bgi.

SOURCE MGI

Related Links

https://en.mgi-tech.com


Eyeing to conduct the coming



assembly polls in West Bengal peacefully, the ECI is mulling the option of deploying around 25 per cent more security personnel than that used in holding the 2019 Lok Sabha election, an official of the Chief Electoral Officers office said on Thursday.

The full bench of the (ECI), which is currently in the state to review preparedness for the assembly polls due in April-May, is also thinking of deploying personnel of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) on a massive scale, he said.

"The number of polling booths has jumped from 77,247 to 1,01,733. There are indications that the Commission is thinking to deploy approximately 25 per cent more security personnel compared to what was used in the last Lok Sabha elections. This is also to ensure peaceful polling," he said.

Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajeev Kumar held detailed discussions with senior officials of paramilitary forces such as the BSF and the CRPF on the availability of personnel in the state during the polls.

Earlier in the day, the ECI held a meeting with the nodal officer of the state police, ADG (Law and Order) Gyanwant Singh, and expressed discontent with the execution of non-bailable warrants (NBWs) as well as the law and order situation.

"The full bench said that it is not at all satisfied with the law and order situation in the state as well as the execution of the NBWs. The ECI asked Singh of the state to follow its directives effectively," he said.

Singh informed the Commission that the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation caused by cyclone Amphan created hindrances in proper execution of NBWs.

However, the police executed nearly 12,000 of the pending 50,000 NBWs in the last four days.

"The Commission wanted it to be complete by the end of this month. The ECI also wanted Singh to contain the scale of violence before the announcement of the dates for the elections," the official said.

At the meeting, the IPS officer presented a list of criminals who can create trouble even from inside correctional homes.

The ECI full bench also met district magistrates and superintendents of police and asked them to identify those who had created disturbances during the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 and put them behind the bars, he said.

The official said that the Commission also directed them to keep air ambulances and helicopters ready in remote areas to address emergency cases during the pandemic.

On Friday, the ECI is scheduled to meet Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Home Secretary HK Dwivedi, DGP Virendra and other senior 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.)
TO THE EDITOR:

I read Fridays article on impeachment with interest and was shocked by the comments of Richard Schmidt, chairman of the Manistee County Republican Party.

Our nations capital has just been invaded and vandalized resulting in death for only the second time since the British invaded it in 1812. This desecration was well planned and organized with the one goal of overturning a legal election and imposing an illegitimate government on our citizenry. It has become clear that this shameful event was encouraged by former President Donald Trump. For his illegal behavior of calling on the assembled, armed mob to march on the Capital building and take it over by force, Trump has now been impeached.

Mr. Schmidts reaction to all this? They need to move on ... Weve got other issues more pressing than that, like whats happening in Iran ... in North Korea and China. Those are issues were going to have to get to, and we need to move on.

Really, Mr. Schmidt? These are the most important issues that we need to deal with? What about the pandemic? What about a collapsing economy? What about the deaths of 400,000 of our citizens caused by Trumps inaction? What about income inequality? We have more, very serious domestic issues to deal with than we can count!

I find it appalling and outrageous that Mr. Schmidt and the Republican Party continue to refuse to hold this president accountable for his actions. The events that we all witnessed in the past 10 days cannot be allowed to pass without accountability. Those who planned, coordinated and encouraged these unlawful events must be condemned and punished. To ignore them and just drop it and move on will only encourage a repeat of this shameful, treasonous uprising.

Our very republic and way of life is at stake as a result of these events. Armed militias around the country, including our neck of the woods in northwest Michigan must not be allowed to supplant the will of the people. It is our time to resist this fascist movement that seeks to destroy our government. We must speak up, contact representatives, write letters, demand change and not assume that things will simply return to normal if we just move on.

Eric Lampinen

Manistee
Farmers and environmentalists have been arguing for decades over proposals for a massive federal flood-control project in the south Mississippi Delta. The fight is continuing into a new presidential administration.

Four conservation groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency, with the ultimate goal of blocking construction of pumps in the Yazoo Backwater area north of Vicksburg.

The pump project moved closer to reality during Republican President Donald Trumps four years in office, propelled by lobbying from Mississippi elected officials.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Friday gave a green light to the project, but Congress has set aside only a portion of the money needed. The estimated price tag is at least $400 million.

Its unclear how the EPA will view the pumps once the agency gets a new leader as Democrat Joe Biden becomes president, or if the lawsuit by the conservation groups will block what the Corps of Engineers has done.

American Rivers, National Audubon Society, Sierra Club and Healthy Gulf sued the EPA on Jan. 12 in federal court in the District of Columbia. The lawsuit says the pumps would drain tens of thousands of acres of hemispherically significant wetlands in an ecologically rich and sparsely populated area.

The EPA vetoed a version of the proposed pump project in 2008, but the agencys administrator appointed by Trump, Andrew Wheeler, said in April that the EPA would reconsider that decision. An EPA regional administrator in Atlanta wrote Nov. 30 that the current version of the pump project is not subject to the agencys 2008 veto.

The conservation groups say in their lawsuit that the EPAs reversal of its own veto disregarded core principles of administrative law, including the obligation to seek public comment and provide a rational explanation for such an abrupt reversal.

The flatlands between the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers are dominated by agriculture and dotted with small communities. The area has flooded nine of the past 10 years, including a 2019 deluge that lasted several months.

The current proposal calls for pumps near Deer Creek north of Vicksburg, while a previous proposal would have put them a few miles away.

Opponents say pushing water out of the south Delta could cause worse flooding downstream along the Mississippi River, and that the main beneficiaries of the project would be agribusinesses.

The late Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona once called the Yazoo Backwater pumps one of the worst projects ever conceived by Congress.

The pumps have bipartisan support in Mississippi, including from Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, whose district includes the backwater area.

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves, Republican U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith and other politicians who support the pump project appeared in Vicksburg on Jan. 11 with Wheeler.

The pumps were originally proposed as part of a larger federal flood-control plan. Wicker said Yazoo Backwater flooding has been exacerbated by other structures that were built as part of that plan, according to the Vicksburg Post.

So we are going back with the other half of this project that has been authorized for some time and we havent been able to get done, Wicker said. This balances sound conservation and flood protection; it is based on sound science.

The Corps of Engineers said in 2020 that pumps would decrease the depth and duration of flooding in the Yazoo Backwater, and that rainfall would keep this part of the Delta from drying out.

The conservation groups say in their lawsuit that the pumps would damage environmentally sensitive areas, including globally significant habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl.

The Mississippi Levee Board said in a statement Friday that it will vigorously oppose the lawsuit. The board statement added: Our community knows better than outsiders how backwater floods can devastate lives, homes and our natural resources.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Flood Mississippi
The Times Union is providing free access to this developing coverage to provide critical information to our community. To support our journalists work, consider a digital subscription.

The chart shows daily new cases of COVID-19 in the eight counties of the Capital Region. Graphics by Cathleen F. Crowley and Bethany Bump/Times Union (About the data)

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Vaccinations : Track vaccine roll-out in New York. Plus, find vaccine locations near you.

After three consecutive days of new daily positive cases of COVID-19 hovering below 200, the number shot back up Thursday with 279 new cases in Albany County, officials said.

Of the new positive cases, 52 had close contact with other individuals who had the virus, 30 are health care workers or residents of congregate settings, two had traveled out of state and 195 didnt to have a clear source of infection.

The five-day average for new daily positives has since increased from 201.6 to 206, and there are 1,802 active cases in the county  up from 1,748.

The county also lost three more residents to the virus  a woman in her 60s, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 90s  bringing its death toll to 286.

Read more

The chart shows daily deaths related to COVID-19 in the eight counties of the Capital Region.

Source: Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 tracking project

Graphic by Cathleen F. Crowley/Times Union

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8:35 a.m.: Fourth COVID-19 death at Rensselaer County's nursing home

Rensselaer County announced Wednesday night the death of a 93-year-old woman at the county-operated Van Rensselaer Manor from coronavirus.

The death is the fourth at Van Rensselaer Manor from the virus. A new positive case was also confirmed in the manor Wednesday.

The Troy Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Troy also had a 85-year-old female resident die from coronavirus, the county said. The Troy Center had a COVID-19 outbreak late last summer that resulted in at least eight deaths.

Read more

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Wednesday: Capital Region surpasses 750 coronavirus deaths since March

The Capital Region has bypassed the 750 mark for deaths linked to coronavirus, as each of the region's four main counties reported multiple deaths each between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Rensselaer and Saratoga counties confirmed nine new deaths due to COVID-19 in their communities, according to updates published Tuesday night. Albany and Schenectady counties each reported four new deaths Wednesday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday also announced four additional cases of the U.K. coronavirus variant were found, one in Saratoga County, one in Warren County and two in Suffolk County. The new Saratoga and Warren county cases are tied to the first case linked to a Saratoga Springs jeweler earlier this month. To date, there are 22 known cases of the variant in New York.

Read more

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Wednesday: Cuomo: 'Matter of time' until more deadly or vaccine-resistant coronavirus arrives

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Wednesday that "it is just a matter of time" before a new strain of the coronavirus comes to the U.S. that is more lethal, and he said he believes we should expect a new strain that the currently available vaccines would not work on, as "a matter of probability."

As frightening as that sounds. The flu mutates every year. Theres a new flu vaccine every year. There could be a strain that requires a new vaccine, thats a possibility. And weve done so much vaccine work. Its also possible that we could come up with a quick new vaccine," Cuomo said.

He said the United States, by not having a policy of requiring negative tests for all international arrivals in the country, is "playing Russian Roulette with the virus." The United Kingdom variant of COVID-19 is rapidly spreading in the U.S., with Cuomo saying four new cases were found in New York and that the federal government expects it could be more widespread than the previous variant within months.

Read more

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Wednesday: Albany County coronavirus deaths, spiking hospitalizations continue

Four more county residents died of COVID-19 overnight, and hospitalizations continue to hit high levels as 21 people were admitted Tuesday and Wednesday, Albany County officials said.

The new deaths Wednesday included two men in their 50s, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 90s. The countys total death toll is now 283 since the pandemic hit the region.

New caseloads, however, continued to be below 200, with 173 new residents confirmed to have contracted the virus, officials said. Of the new COVID-19 cases in the county, 117 did not have a clear source of infection. Thirty-nine had close contact with other positive cases, 15 are health care workers or residents of congregate settings and two had traveled out of state.

Read more

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Wednesday: Albany County jail locked down after coronavirus spike

The Albany County jail will be on lockdown for the next 29 days after a recent outbreak of coronavirus among prisoners and jail staff, causing two inmates to be sent to the jails infirmary with more severe symptoms, said Sheriff Craig Apple.

Around 60 inmates and 25 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, and of the approximately 330 people currently incarcerated at the jail, about 270 of them are in quarantine, Apple said.

Read more

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Wednesday: Rensselaer, Saratoga report nine more COVID-19 deaths

Rensselaer and Saratoga counties have confirmed nine new deaths due to COVID-19 in their communities, according to updates published Tuesday night.

Saratoga County's COVID-19 data dashboard shows six more coronavirus deaths since Friday, raising the county's overall death toll from the virus to 82. That number has more than doubled since the start of the year, when the county was reporting just 31 deaths since last March. Some of the deaths occurred in private nursing homes, but were not immediately reported.

Read more

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Wednesday: Cuomo: New York's financial future depends on federal government's help

New York is facing a crossroads, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Tuesday, as he outlined his annual proposal for how to handle the state's finances for the next year.

In an unusual move, Cuomo presented two executive budget proposals instead of one. In the first, taxes would be hiked. proposed projects delayed and the state would need to borrow heavily, leaving future generations to foot the bill. In the second, the state could restore funds that were delayed last year, lower taxes on the middle class, build housing and help small businesses.

And it will all depend on how much aid New York receives from the federal government, Cuomo said, a point the governor has belabored repeatedly over the past 10 months, contending Washingtons negligence toward handling COVID-19 should leave them financially responsible for its ill effects on the Empire State.

Read more
[January 21, 2021] Reliatrace, Inc. Announces Patent for Self-Regulating Flexible Heating Device

Reliatrace, Inc. has announced the issuance of US Patent No. 10,856,365 for a Self-Regulating Flexible Heating Device. The patent was awarded to Mark Ester, President and CEO of Reliatrace, and gives the company sole rights to combine its proprietary Double-Sided Polymer Circuitry (D/SPC) with thermally conductive Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) ink printing for heaters and warming elements. This technology opens up a wide range of new options for design engineers and project managers working on products or parts where heat is required and needs to be held at a steady temperature. With this technology, the risk of overheating is greatly reduced compared with alternative heating methods using thermostats or other temperature controls. Compared to traditional heating elements that use copper flex circuitry, wires or coils, Reliaheat PTC heaters are screen printed, and the ink can be set to a desired temperature, eliminating the need for a temperature controller. These heaters are safer than alternatives because they will not overheat, burn or melt. Reliatrace has used the past three years to develop and refine the "Reliaheat" technology. The new patent provides the company with the exclusive ability to print PTC ink on the top side of a substrate, printing silver bus bars on the bottom side joining through vias in the substrate. This allows the heating elements to cover the entire top surface without any interruption from bus bars printed on the same surface as the heating print pattern. Other advantages include multi-zone heat capability, more consistent heat transfer in a smaller footprint, and a higher heat density when desired. Inaddition, these printed heating circuits are thin and flexible, creating the ability to conform to convex or concave surfaces, and they can easily be made weather and water resistant.



"Double-sided printed electronics have opened up new possibilities for innovation and combining this capability with PTC ink is a game changer, especially in industries where reliability is critical," Ester shared. "We have more than 28 years of experience working in the medical and commercial equipment industries. We could see other applications for this technology including warming parts of the body, in research lab settings and other medical applications, heating parts of airplanes or equipment that are subject to freezing, battery warming, or heating liquids that need to be applied in winter." This Self-Regulating Flexible Heating Device has already been used in the beauty industry. It was embedded in a 4-inch by 4-inch palette used to warm hair coloring during the application process for more consistent results. Another innovative use is warming the lenses of outdoor headlamps. Since bulbs are being replaced with LEDs which do not give off heat, this solution ensures they remain frost-free.

While Reliatrace primarily works with B2B clients, earlier this year the company launched its first direct-to-consumer product using its patented Self-Regulating Flexible Heating Device in a new tool for bakers. The Raisenne Dough Riser by Reliaheat is a .032" thick, 10.25-inch round disk that's placed under a container holding dough to create the ideal temperature for a perfect proof in less time. The technology allows for a reliable alternative to a traditional proofing box that is less expensive and less bulky to store. Raisenne is available online at www.raisenne.com. About Reliatrace Founded in 1992, Reliatrace (formerly Graphic Display Systems, Inc. [GDSI]) is a custom printed electronics design and manufacturing company located in Amery, Wisconsin. The company provides printed circuitry which leads the industry in performance and reliability with its double-sided polymer circuitry (D/SPC). It serves customers in the medical, agriculture, food service, automotive, industrial, white goods and consumer electronic markets. For more information visit www.reliatrace.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005652/en/

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The U.S. attitude to the Iran nuclear deal could be characterized as businesslike and pragmatic, as there are chances to move forward, Russias Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov said in a televised interview with Rossiya24 news channel.

"In principle, both my colleagues and I liked the American partners attitude. It is quite businesslike and pragmatic which means that there are chances of getting ahead," he said.

When asked about the potential timeframe of the U.S. return to the Iran nuclear deal, Ulyanov replied, "Id say that we all urgently need that the first signs of normalization will appear in February, since under the law recently passed by Irans Majlis, unless progress is made, as early as on February 21 Tehran is to terminate the appliance of the Additional Protocol and the Safeguards Agreement it signed with the IAEA, and that will dramatically reduce the chances of inspecting the state of affairs in Irans nuclear program."

Ulyanov recalled that Iran would hold the presidential election in June. Therefore, "the window of opportunity is very narrow," the Russian envoy to Vienna added.

Russias permanent envoy to the EU Vladimir Chizhov noted that the reinstatement of the United States participation in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program should not be coupled with any preconditions under the new administration of Joe Biden.

"[Antony] Blinken himself told the Senate hearings that Iran will first rejoin [the JCPOA] and then the U.S. will start the procedure of returning. This is not an option. Similarly, it is not an option [to put forward] preconditions from any side. Lets hope it will somehow work out," TASS cited him as saying.

On Tuesday, Blinken said that President Joe Biden would seek a "longer and stronger agreement" with Iran on the platform of the 2015 JCPOA, as well as a solution to Tehrans missile program. He emphasized that Washington would consult with Israel and the Gulf states before taking steps over the Iran nuclear deal.

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) plans to launch a new state-owned social media site to guarantee freedom of speech in the country.

AMLO Plans To Create National Social Media Network

AMLO, as Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is best known, floated the idea after it was reported that Twitter permanently banned former president Donald Trump's account in the social media platform for violating its policies.

According to a published article in We Are Mitu, AMLO intends to create a Mexican social network that will not be censored by Silicon Valley-based companies. AMLO is among those emerging Big Tech's vocal critics on the world stage.

AMLO already directed the National Council of Science and Technology and other government departments to look at the possibility of creating a national social media network, guaranteeing freedom of speech in Mexico.

Speaking at his daily news conference, the Mexican president said: "We care about freedom a lot, it's an issue that's going to be addressed by us."

He added that Twitter and Facebook have become "global institutions" of censorship.

Read also: AMLO Strictly Orders People to Practice Preventive Measures To Avoid COVID-19

AMLO Wants To Guarantee Freedom of Expression in Mexico

AMLO is promoting free speech and expression in the country, saying no one has the right to silence citizens even if their views are not popular. He said the suspension of Trump's accounts on Twitter and Facebook might happen to him as well.

Pres. Obrador, just like Trump, is an avid user of social media to connect with his people. He said: "Since they took these decisions [to suspend Trump], the Statue of Liberty has been turning green with anger because it doesn't want to become an empty symbol."

Read also: Mexico's President to Provide COVID-19 Vaccines to Undocumented Immigrants in the US

What Will Be the Name of Mexico's Social Media Network?

After the Mexican President announced his plan of creating a state-owned social media, many Mexicans suggested names for such a site. One Twitter user suggested that it should be named Facemex or Twitmex.

Meanwhile, the news outlet Milenio came up with three different logos and names. The news outlet suggested a Mexican version of Facebook called Facebookoatl, which is inspired by the Aztec feathered-serpent god Quetzalcoatl.

On the other hand, Twitter will be called Twitterlopochtli, a riff on the name of Aztec war, sun, and human deity Huitzilopochtli.

Instagram could become Instagratlan. The suffix "tlan," which in the Nahuatl language, means a place near an abundance of something - deer, for example, in the case of Mazatlan - is a common suffix in Mexican place names, according to Mexico News Daily.

Ramon Sanchez, a political consultant in the areas of technology and communication, said he doesn't have any doubt that Mexico can create its own social network.

Sanchez said Mexico could set an example for other countries and expressed concern about large social media companies' power to decide who should be silenced.

The plan to create a state-owned social media network has yet to be finalized, but one definite thing about it is that it will be regulated and controlled by the Mexican government.
If Pope Francis can avoid the complications of COVID-19 travel and get to Iraq in March, he will hear a lot about stolen property. Muqtada al-Sadr, a leading Shiite politician fiercely opposed to the US military presence, has told Christians he will do something about it.

The issue is not new.

As Iraqs pre-Gulf War Christian population of 1.25 million dwindled to about 250,000 today, opportunistic non-Christians laid claim to their unoccupied homes and lands. The city of Mosul, next to the traditionally Christian Nineveh Plainswhere Pope Francis is scheduled to visit located 220 miles north of Baghdad, provides telling examples of the problem.

In 2010, in the waning days of official US occupation, Ashur Eskryas father decided to sell his family home. Years of chaos had depleted the once 60,000-strong Christian population of Iraqs second-largest city, representing 10 percent of its total. Property values were plummeting. Especially in hindsight, Eskrya felt fortunate to get 25 percent of its market value.

Four years later, his neighbor got nothing.

ISIS invaded Mosul, putting its Christian population to flight. In 2015, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) surveyed 240 individuals displaced by the fighting throughout Iraq. Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) had their homes confiscated.

A 2014 study estimated that ISIS made more money from selling stolen real estate than it did from oil revenue.

After the liberation of Mosul, some Christians returned, including Eskryas neighbor. While 42 percent had lost their property documentation altogether, according to IOM, the neighbor was able to enter a lengthy legal process and eventually regain ownership of his home.

But uncomfortable with the security situation, he returned to Erbil, 55 miles east of Mosul in Iraqi Kurdistan, where thousands of displaced Christians still reside.

He lives there today with his children, which is more than a third family can say.

This neighbor benefited from Mosuls earlier oil boom, and lived in a home valued at $1.2 million in one of the plush city districts. But in 2006, his daughter was kidnapped and killed. In 2012, another daughter tried to emigrate through Syria, and was killed there.

The parents eventually moved to Australiawith the deed to their home. But last year, they were stunned to receive news from neighbors about new renovations. A company was redesigning the home, and presented a deed of ownership.

The case is now being adjudicated in court.

There are many cases like these, said Eskrya, president of Assyrian Aid SocietyIraq. False papers are sold by those connected to influential figures in the justice ministry, who oversee the real estate market.

Even prior to ISIS, the IOM study noted at least 600 confirmed cases of property seizure in Mosul, mostly from Christian owners residing in the diaspora. Justice Ministry issues began as early as 2006. The official Iraq Property Claim Commission has only been able to enforce 8 percent of its final rulings.

Both the church and the government have tried to rectify things, Eskrya said.

As a safeguard for Christian property, in 2010 a regulation was established requiring sales to be signed by either a church representative or Christian member of parliament.

And in 2017, after the defeat of ISIS, the government created a commission with official church representation that was able to resolve some cases.

The government is very busy with the elections, the problem of security and militias, as well as the pandemic and the economy, Raphael Sako, patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church based in Baghdad, told CT.

For them, this is something marginal, and we understand that.

Recognized as the second-most influential religious figure in Iraq through a study conducted by the US Institute of Peace, Sako consistently meets with national leaders to urge the application of citizenship and rule of law.

Last year, he canceled Christmas to object to the killing of nonsectarian protesters demonstrating against corruption. But this past Christmas, the government honored his longstanding petition, making the holiday a permanent national celebration.

Sadr, the Shiite cleric, sent a representative to offer congratulations, who presented Sako with a new initiative.

Head of the largest political alliance with 16 percent of the parliaments seats, Sadr also commands the allegiance of many Shiite militia groups. Following the US killing of Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, he led hundreds of thousands of demonstrators to peacefully call for Iraq to expel the American military.

Sadrs envoy provided Sako with details of how Christians can submit their ownership documents electronically, pledging to achieve justice for their claims. He emphasized this includes properties involving his aligned militias.

This is the job of the government, not Sadr or a political party, Sako said, while welcoming the initiative. But it is a good sign of solidarity.

Eskrya agreed.

Sadr alone is not enough, it has to be adopted by parliament and all the parties, he said. But we are happy with anyone who tries to help, and I hope that in the end it will show Christians that they still have a place in Iraq.

Prior to Christmas, Bashar Warda lamented the frustrating lack of progress.

There is no redress for those who have lost properties, homes, and businesses, stated the Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Erbil.

[Many] Christians have nothing to show for their lives work, in places where their families have lived, maybe, for thousands of years.

Given Sadrs connection to the militias, his initiative has been met with some skepticism. And the US State Departments International Religious Freedom Report noted another member of parliament who actively facilitated the relocation of Iraqi Sunnis and Shiites into Christian areas, through aligned militias.

But as early as 2016, Sadr was speaking out on behalf of Christian properties.

It may be that he can make a difference.

This committee shows he is serious, and gives a message to the other militias, Eskrya said. And while it has raised awareness of the issue, it is still a sort of gang system, and people suffer if they dont have good connections.

As a politician, Sadr has been wily. Often alternating his alliances and political stances, he first supported the nonsectarian protests against corruption, then sent his supporters to attack them. While this action contributed to the eventual petering out of the movement, the demonstrations still forced the resignation of the prime minister and early parliamentary elections.

Both Eskrya and Sako suspected the initiative may be part of Sadrs effort to position himself as a neutral figure, eyeing next years vote.

Sako told CT his lawyer is currently working with the government on about 1,250 cases of confiscated property. Only 50 have been solved so far, though other private initiatives have reported some success.

Several of these files were shared with Sadr.

They will try, said Sako. But we are expecting deeds, and not only words.

Meanwhile, the patriarch awaits the visit of Pope Francis.

The pontiff has now put his trip to Iraq in doubt, wary of COVID-19 transmission among the expected large crowds. But last week, the Vatican issued an official logo and motto for the visit: You are All Brothers, taken from Matthew 23.

Pope Francis will encourage Christians to persevere, to hope, and to trust their neighbors, said Sako. But he will also speak with political and religious authorities about harmonious coexistence.

They must take care of these Christian issuesas they should for all citizens.
The weekly cost of staying at a care home is 848 on average but varies dramatically across the country, new research reveals.

At the extremes, prices range from 1,488 a week in Islington in London to 621 in Blaenau Gwent in Wales, according to figures from insurer Legal & General.

The local cost breakdown comes as politicians urge the Government to launch a long-term plan to fund social care, and to integrate the system more closely with the NHS.

Reforms awaited: Government plans for social care have effectively been on hold since the 2017 election

The system is also under close scrutiny as many care home residents have died during the coronavirus pandemic, and the tragedy could deter many elderly people from using them in future.

Meanwhile, the Government has delayed announcing social care reform plans promised in the Conservative election manifesto, which offered a 'guarantee' that no one needing care will have to sell their home to pay for it.

More than 17,000 pensioners were forced to sell homes to pay for social care in 2019, research by This is Money's sister publication Money Mail recently revealed.

The L&G research shows that across Great Britain, London has the most costly residential care, with Islington followed by Westminster at 1,483 a week and Hammersmith & Fulham at 1,468.

How is care paid for at present? Under the current system someone's assets - including the family home - is depleted down to 23,250 if they need to go into a care home. If you need care in your own home, your assets must be depleted to a level set by your local council, which cannot be lower than 23,250, but your home is excluded from this means test.

Outside the capital, prices are highest at Windsor & Maidenhead at 1,203 a week, and Elmbridge in Surrey at 1,142 a week.

The cheapest prices after Blaenau Gwent are Merthyr Tydfil at 641 a week, Blackpool at 644 a week and Stoke-on-Trent at 646 a week.

L&G says that on average, there is a 229 difference between the cost of weekly residential care and council paid fees.

Its care cost calculator here allows you to input your postcode and find out the average weekly cost of a care home in your local authority area. See the table below for average costs in major cities.

L&G has also launched a 'concierge service' to help families find a care home and fund residential stays.

This includes a phone advice service and can involve liaison and price negotiation. It costs 60, 300 or 600 depending on what level of help you choose.

Former Tory health secretary Jeremy Hunt recently floated the idea of following the lead of Japan and Germany in introducing a small surcharge for over-40s, which rises as you grow older, to fund care costs.

MPs on the health and social care committee, which Hunt now chairs, have separately proposed a 46,000 cap on every individual's social care bill and an immediate 7billion injection of cash to address a funding crisis.

They endorsed an upper limit on what people should pay towards care, to protect them against 'catastrophic' costs, at the same level suggested in the influential, government-backed Dilnot report in 2011.

At the end of last year, Andy Burnham, a Labour predecessor as health secretary who is now Mayor of Greater Manchester, suggested placing social care within the NHS.

Residential care: Weekly average cost in major cities (Source: L&G and LaingBuisson)

Burham said the coronavirus has revealed how 'broken' the social care system is, and that it would be 'immoral' not to reform it.

But he warned it would be a 'waste of money' to introduce a new tax or levy to fund the system without fundamental changes to the way care is delivered.

Government plans for social care have effectively been on hold since the 2017 election, when former PM Theresa May's idea to introduce a 100,000 'floor' on personal contributions bombed so badly with voters that it was dropped mid-campaign.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'We are focused on ensuring all those adult social care continue to receive the very best care and support during the Covid-19 pandemic.

'We have provided billions of pounds of additional funding to the care sector, with further support being made available to respond to Covid-19, including regular testing of staff and residents, free PPE and prioritising staff and residents for vaccinations.

'We remain committed to sustainable improvement of the adult social care system and will bring forward proposals as soon as possible..

The DHSC said it had provided 2.5bn of extra funding to councils for social care in the current year, and it expected to provide a further 3billion to help manage the impact of Covid-19.

Dr Sam Roberts, managing director of health and care at L&G Retail Retirement, says of the firm's research on weekly care costs across the country: 'The reality is that there is no national system of long-term care.

'It is a complex process that can be very different for individuals based on a number of factors, such as their benefit entitlements or health needs.

'However, we are seeing some great innovations and initiatives in the market to improve the cost and quality of care.

'Even so, we know, from our conversations, that people can benefit from personal guidance to navigate a complicated system with a lot of considerations.'
Hulu will release the film version of Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself on January 22. The production ran for more than a year at the Daryl Roth Theatre during 2017 and 2018. In & Of Itself is an intimate and powerful exploration of what it means to be and be seen. The film chronicles DelGaudio's attempt to understand the illusory nature of identity. His personal journey expands to a collective experience that forces us to confront the boundaries of our own identities. To subscribe to Hulu and Disney Plus, click here. Read our critic's review here.

The LCT Spotlight Series  Lincoln Center Theater's free program of digital events which features LCT artists in performance, conversation and more  resumes on January 14 at 8pm with "Turning the Page: LCT" Artists Read Their Own Poetry and Prose. To be introduced by poet Honor Moore, author of the recently published memoir Our Revolution: A Mother and Daughter at Midcentury, the event will feature playwrights David Adjmi, Ayad Akhtar, and Sarah Ruhl; playwright and director James Lapine; director Jack O'Brien; and actor and writer Andrew Rannells reading from their own nontheatrical works. To register for the Zoom webinar, click here.

Vineyard Theatre's original cast benefit reading of Gloria, the Pulitzer Prize finalist play by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Evan Cabnet, will stream January 19-24, allowing for two additional days of viewing on demand. Proceeds from this reading will support the artists and programs in the nonprofit theater's 2020-21 season, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Dramatists Guild Foundation. For tickets and more information, click here.

Carrie Coon headlines Rajiv Joseph's new play Red Folder, presented as part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's virtual Steppenwolf Now initiative. It streams beginning January 27. Coon narrates the 10-minute work, which is described as an "illustrated short." The plot is described cryptically as follows: "The red folder belongs to a first grader. It is the source of all his woes. Years later, he seeks vengeance." For more information, watch the video above and click here.

MasterVoices is presented a new digital film series inspired by Adam Guettel's song cycle Myths and Hymns. Conceived by artistic director Ted Sperling, Myths and Hymns is divided into four chapters. The first edition of the digital series, titled "Flight," premieres January 13 at 6:30pm ET on the MasterVoices YouTube channel and will be available through June 30. It will include the songs "Prometheus," performed by Anderson & Roe; "Saturn Returns: The Flight," performed by Joshua Henry; "Icarus," performed by Mykal Kilgore and Norm Lewis; "Migratory V," performed by Julia Bullock, Renee Fleming, and Kelli O'Hara; "Pegasus," performed by Jose Llana, Capathia Jenkins, and Elizabeth Stanley; and "Jesus, the Mighty Conqueror," performed by Take 6. Watch the video above.

The 2021 Origin 1st Irish Festival, a three-week celebration of contemporary Irish culture, will take place virtually January 11-31. The festival presents work by theater companies from Ireland, Northern Ireland, and New York. Highlights of this year's festival include Under the Albert Clock, a collection of short plays by five of Northern Ireland's most inventive female playwrights, Transatlantic Tales, a series of eight original plays, and Irish Rep's production of Darren Murphy's The Gifts You Gave to the Dark, the story of a man in Belfast on his last call with his mother in Dublin. For festival calendar and tickets, click here.

Sleep Squad, a family-friendly, interactive, virtual theater experience, turns your home into a rocket ship to launch kids into their dreams. This on-demand production creates a new kind of bedtime ritual for kids age 4-12. Sleep Squad stars Tony Award nominee, Lilli Cooper (SpongeBob SquarePants,Tootsie) as the Dream Queen, who guides adventurers through three different enchanting audio experiences, adapted from stories written by real kids, including a visit to a desert island, a dinosaur's birthday party, and an intergalactic nightclub. Tickets are available January 6-February 21. To purchase, click here.

Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, and Matthew Morrison in The Light in the Piazza

( Joan Marcus)

Lincoln Center Theater will host a free online cast reunion of The Light in the Piazza on January 28 at 7pm ET. Stars Victoria Clark, Kelli O'Hara, and Matthew Morrison will take part in the event, which will be introduced by director Bartlett Sher and moderated by Ira Weitzman. The Adam Guettel-Craig Lucas musical premiered in 2005 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, and earned seven Tony Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Actress in a Musical for Clark. For tickets, click here.

Hershey Felder stars as Sholem Aleichem in Before Fiddler  Live From Florence, running for one night only on February 7. Before the beloved musical Fiddler on the Roof, there was Sholem Aleichem and his beloved character of "Tevye the Milkman." Before the beloved songs "Tradition," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Matchmaker," and more, there was music of the Old World ... a music that imitated talking, laughing, weeping, and singing, where musicians didn't just make music, they spoke to you in song  Klezmer. In Florence, Italy, one of the oldest artistic centers in the world, a group of such musicians have been, by day, virtuosos in Florence's world famous Maggio Musicale symphony orchestra; by night, they are the Klezmerata Forientina ... with their ancient European roots, and Hershey Felder as their storyteller, playing an array of characters and music from the "Old World," from a Tevyeh, to a Yenteh, to a Rabbi, to a newlywed daughter, to many many more ... Purchase includes the live stream and a week of ON DEMAND viewing access to the recording of the live stream (through 2/14). For tickets, click here.

John Lloyd Young's Vegas Valentine will stream live from the Space in Las Vegas on February 12 at 9pm ET. The pay-per-view concert is $30 and the concert with VIP virtual after-party is $100 beginning at 10:45pm ET. The concert will be available OnDemand for one week following the live performance. For tickets and more information, click here.

Josh Groban

( David Gordon)

Josh Groban's latest live-streamed concert will be a romantic one, taking place on Valentine's Day, February 14, at 8pm ET. On Instagram, Groban teased that the "rip roarin'" concert will feature "tons of songs I've rarely (or never!) done." The new show will air in multiple timezones, with on-demand playback for up to 48 hours from the start time. For tickets and more information, click here.

Michael Urie in Smithtown

(image provided by the production)

Michael Urie, Ann Harada, Colby Lewis, and Constance Shulman will star in a virtual production of the new play Smithtown, written by Drew Larimore and directed by Stephen Kitsakos. Smithtown follows four residents of a fictional Midwestern university town who unwittingly become victims of technology gone awry. The 65-minute play is presented by the Studios of Key West. The play will stream online February 13-27. For tickets, click here.

Sam Tutty, Emily Redpath, and Sir Derek Jacobi will star in a new film version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, shot under Covid-19 regulations and to be released online in time for Valentine's Day. It will stream February 13-20, with a portion of the proceeds going to Acting for Others. For tickets and more information, click here.
Daniel Andrews has urged Victorians not to take part in an anti-Australia Day protest taking place next Tuesday.

An 'Invasion Day' rally has been planned for the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on January 26.

The Victorian Premier warned the public not to throw away the state's hard work in beating the second wave of Covid.

'We've built something precious and unique ... Victorians have through their sacrifice and their commitment and their compassion for each other,' he told reporters on Thursday.

The Victorian Premier warned the public not to throw away the state's hard work in beating the second wave of Covid

An 'Invasion Day' demonstration has been planned for the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne on January 26. Pictured: Protesters are seen during the rally in Brisbane in 2020

Nearly 5000 people are set to turn out to the rally, which organisers are spruiking as a Covid-safe event. Protesters are seen during the Invasion Day rally in Melbourne on January 26, 2020

'We have to safeguard that. And the best way to do that is to follow the rules and to be absolutely vigilant. That's the most important thing.'

Nearly 5,000 people are set to turn out to the rally, which organisers are spruiking as a Covid-safe event.

'We invite you to stand with us to abolish Australia Day. Today is a day of mourning for our people and marks a day of resistance against the British invasion,' rally organisers posted online.

It comes after the Morrison government slammed a proposal to hold a minute's silence on Australia Day.

Independent MP Zali Steggall wanted the silence to recognise the suffering of Aboriginal communities during and after colonisation.

But new citizenship minister Alex Hawke said the idea will only increase divisions.

'It is disappointing to see an ill-considered proposal from the Member for Warringah that plays negative politics with our history and which can only perpetuate divisions between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians,' he said in a statement.

'The truth is Australia Day unifies us all, because of our shared history  the good and the bad.

'Regardless of the failings in our history, Australia has become one of the most free, egalitarian, safe and diverse societies today, and our shared commitment to continuing this journey together is what matters most.'

Pictured: Protestors are seen crossing the Victoria Bridge during the Invasion Day rally in Brisbane in 2020

Federal member for Warringah and Winter Olympian Zali Steggall has written to mayors in her Sydney electorate asking for a minute's silence

Ms Steggall - who was an Olympic skiier before turning to politics - wrote to mayors in her Sydney electorate asking they observe a minute's silence on January 26.

The day celebrates the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of British ships into Port Jackson in 1788.

'January 26 provokes a range of emotions for many within our community,' Ms Steggall said.

'While it marks the commencement of European colonisation of this land, it also represents the commencement of violence, disempowerment and displacement of our Indigenous communities that has created sorrow, discrimination and hardship that has lasted for generations.'

She said the gesture would be a powerful step towards healing.
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Samsung Display's Asan plant / Courtesy of Samsung Display

A local court on Thursday acquitted a former factory automation supplier of Samsung Display and nine people, including the supplier's former CEO, who were all indicted for leaking Samsung's cutting-edge smartphone panel technologies to China.



The Suwon District Court handed down the sentence of acquittal for Toptec, which previously supplied industrial automation equipment to the Samsung company; a Toptec affiliate; and nine people, including a former Toptec CEO aged 53 and company employees.



They were all indicted in November 2018 for selling Samsung's curved edge OLED display technologies, used for Samsung Electronics' Galaxy smartphones, to two Chinese companies in April of the same year through the Toptec affiliate.



The nine defendants were accused of having the Toptec affiliate build 24 sets of "3D lamination" equipment based on drawings from Samsung Display between May and August 2018 and selling 16 sets to a Chinese company. They were also suspected of receiving 15.5 billion won (US$14.1 million) from the Chinese companies via the affiliate in exchange for drawings and equipment allegedly related to Samsung Display.



But the court ruled that the defendants are not guilty of violating the Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology.



"The information specified as trade secrets in this case has been disclosed as a patent or known in the same industry. A large part of the technologies (sold to China) was developed and suggested by Toptec," the court said.



"Judging from the evidence submitted by the prosecution alone, it is difficult to say that Toptec violated the law even if the company manufactured and sold the equipment using the above-mentioned information," it said.



The court also said Samsung and Toptec signed a confidentiality agreement but that it is difficult to say that accusations of technology leaks can be applied to mutually developed technologies.



The 3D lamination technology in question is used in bending the edges of a smartphone display panel to create the so-called curved edge design. Samsung reportedly spent 150 billion won and mobilized 38 engineers for six years to develop the technology.



Toptec, a company listed on the tech-heavy Kosdaq market, produces automated equipment to make smartphone display panels. (Yonhap)


Despair, depression, and the inevitable rise of Trump 2.0:





Glenn Greenwald tells RT his Biden administration predictions



By Chris Hedges and Glenn Greenwald

January 20, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - - America, Joe Biden says, is back. Beyond the sloganeering, journalist Glenn Greenwald reckons that means militarism, imperialism, and corporatism, he told RTs Chris Hedges. Glenn Greenwald is a lawyer who turned to journalism in 2005 to protest the suppression of Americans civil liberties under the Bush-Cheney war on terror. Greenwald came to international fame by breaking the Edward Snowden NSA whistleblower story in 2013. He later co-founded the Intercept, but quit the outlet in October after saying editors there suppressed his coverage of Democrat presidential candidate Joe Biden. I dont think its particularly difficult... to know what to expect from the Biden administration, the acclaimed American journalist told Chris Hedges, host of RTs On Contact, on Sunday. Biden, Greenwald continued, has enjoyed a five-decade career in Washington and made his policy priorities well known over these years. Biden is somebody who has repeatedly supported militarism and imperialism and one of the crucial leading advocates of the invasion of Iraq, he said. On the domestic front, Biden is a loyal servant of the credit card and banking industry and the architect of the 1994 crime bill, the latter of which has been blamed for dramatically upping the incarceration rate of black men in the US.

That leftists involved in Black Lives Matter protests rallied around Biden, given his involvement in passing the crime bill (he was one of 61 senators who voted for it) is ironic, Greenwald told Hedges, but also serves as an example of how the Democratic Party operates.

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Democrats are very good at creating a brand that is radically different than the reality, but essentially the Democratic party serves militarism, imperialism, and corporatism, he said. Thats who funds them, thats what they believe in. Its why you see neocons migrating so comfortably back to the Democratic Party, why you see Bush and Cheney operatives cheering for Joe Biden, why Wall Street celebrated when he picked Kamala Harris.

Bidens campaign didnt only draw support from the left  who Biden then spurned by packing his cabinet with Obama administration alumni while giving progressives like Bernie Sanders the cold shoulder. The former vice president was also supported by Republican hawks like Bill Kristol and Max Boot, as well as the much-maligned Lincoln Project Republicans, who fundraised $67 million to shoot attack ads against Trump in the runup to Novembers election.

The rallying of the establishment  Democrat and Republican alike  behind Biden could have far-reaching consequences, Greenwald warned.

Its not a coincidence that after eight years of Obama and Biden, we got Donald Trump, he said. Obviously, if you go back and do exactly the same thing that the Obiden administration did for 8 years, which is what Bidens preparing to do, any rational person has to expect the same outcome

The American middle class, Greenwald predicted, will continue to be destroyed, while companies that have no allegiance to the US will continue to outsource jobs. Communities will continue to be ravaged with unemployment crises, drug addiction, suicide, depression, all the things that are dominating small American towns.

After what Hedges called a third term of the Obama administration, Greenwald warned that Biden could set the stage for a smarter, more stable version of Trump to take power.

Americans looking for in-depth coverage of the Biden administration will likely be short-changed. Four years of Donald Trump have birthed left-leaning journalists that cheer on the censorship of conservatives and deplatforming of dangerous voices, Greenwald believes.

The left, he said, shows little objection to Biden because they bought into the overarching narrative that there are only two choices  unite behind the Democratic Party and fight fascism and Hitler, or succumb to fascism.

Glenn Greenwald is a journalist, constitutional lawyer, and author of four New York Times bestselling books on politics and law. His most recent book, No Place to Hide, is about the U.S. surveillance state and his experiences reporting on the Snowden documents around the world. Prior to co-founding The Intercept, Greenwalds column was featured in The Guardian and Salon.

Glenn is one of the three co-founding editors of The Intercept. He left The Intercept in October 2020. https://greenwald.substack.com/ Suscribe to his newsletter
Panasonic AI-driven cameras empower an expanding vision of new uses

Imagine a world where video cameras are not just watching and reporting for security, but have an even wider positive impact on our lives. Imagine that cameras control street and building lights, as people come and go, that traffic jams are predicted and vehicles are automatically rerouted, and more tills are opened, just before a queue starts to form. Cameras with AI capabilities Cameras in stores can show us how we might look in the latest outfit as we browse. Thats the vision from Panasonic about current and future uses for their cameras that provide artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities at the edge. Panasonic feels that these types of intelligent camera applications are also the basis for automation and introduction of Industry 4.0, in which processes are automated, monitored and controlled by AI-driven systems. 4K network security cameras The companys i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications Panasonics 4K network security cameras have built-in AI capabilities suitable for this next generation of intelligent applications in business and society. The companys i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications. The AI engine is directly embedded into the camera, thus reducing costs and Panasonics image quality ensures the accuracy of the analytics outcome. FacePRO facial recognition technology Panasonic began advancing AI technology on the server side with FacePRO, the in-house facial recognition application, which uses AI deep learning capabilities. Moving ahead, they transitioned their knowledge of AI from the server side to the edge, introducing i-PRO security cameras with built-in AI capabilities last summer, alongside their own in-house analytics. Moreover, in line with the Panasonic approach to focus more on collaboration with specialist AI software developers, a partnership with Italian software company, A.I. Tech followed in September, with a range of intelligent applications, partially based on deep learning. Additional collaborations are already in place with more than 10 other developers, across the European Union, working on more future applications. i-PRO AI-capable security cameras Open systems are an important part of Panasonics current approach. The companys i-PRO AI-capable cameras are an open platform and designed for third-party application development, therefore, applications can be built or tailored to the needs of an individual customer. Panasonic use to be a company that developed everything in-house, including all the analytics and applications. However, now we have turned around our strategy by making our i-PRO security cameras open to integrate applications and analytics from third-party companies, says Gerard Figols, Head of Security Solutions at Panasonic Business Europe. Flexible and adapting to specific customer needs This new approach allows the company to be more flexible and adaptable to customers needs. At the same time, we can be quicker and much more tailored to the market trend, said Gerard Figols. He adds, For example, in the retail space, enabling retailers to enhance the customer experience, in smart cities for traffic monitoring and smart parking, and by event organisers and transport hubs to monitor and ensure safety. Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems Edge-based analytics Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems. On one hand, there are monetary benefits - a cost reduction results from the decreased amount of more powerful hardware required on the server side to process the data, on top of reduction in the infrastructure costs, as not all the full video stream needs to be sent for analysis, we can work solely with the metadata. On the other hand, there are also advantages of flexibility, as well as reliability. Each camera can have its own individual analytic setup and in case of any issue on the communication or server side, the camera can keep running the analysis at the edge, thereby making sure the CCTV system is still fully operational. Most importantly, systems can keep the same high level of accuracy. Explosion of AI camera applications We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications" We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications, said Gerard Figols, adding However, it doesnt mean the hardware is not important anymore, as I believe its more important than ever. Working with poor picture quality or if the hardware is not reliable, and works 24/7, software cannot run or deliver the outcome it has been designed for. As hardware specialists, Figols believes that Panasonic seeks to focus on what they do best - Building long-lasting, open network cameras, which are capable of capturing the highest quality images that are required for the latest AI applications, while software developers can concentrate on bringing specialist applications to the market. Same as for smartphones, AI applications will proliferate based on market demand and succeed or fail, based on the value that they deliver. Facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line technologies Panasonic has been in the forefront in developing essential AI applications for CCTV, such as facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line. However, with the market developing so rapidly and the potential applications of AI-driven camera systems being so varied and widespread, Panasonic quickly realised that the future of their network cameras was going to be in open systems, which allow specialist developers and their customers to use their sector expertise to develop their own applications for specific vertical market applications, while using i-PRO hardware. Metadata for detection and recognition Regarding privacy, consider that the use of AI in cameras is about generating metadata for the detection and recognition of patterns, rather than identifying individual identities. However, there are legitimate privacy concerns, but I firmly believe that attitudes will change quickly when people see the incredible benefits that this technology can deliver, said Gerard Figols, adding I hope that we will be able to redefine our view of cameras and AI, not just as insurance, but as life advancing and enhancing. i-PRO AI Privacy Guard One of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard Seeking to understand and appreciate privacy concerns, one of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard that generates data without capturing individual identities, following European privacy regulations that are among the strictest in the world. Gerard Fogils said, The combination of artificial intelligence and the latest generation open camera technology will change the worlds perceptions from Big Brother to Big Benefits. New applications will emerge as the existing generation of cameras is updated to the new open and intelligent next generation devices, and the existing role of the security camera will also continue. Future scope of AI and cameras He adds, Not just relying on the security cameras for evidence when things have gone wrong, end users will increasingly be able to use AI and the cameras with much higher accuracy to prevent false alarms and in a proactive way to prevent incidents." Gerard Figols concludes, That could be monitoring and alerting when health and safety guidelines are being breached or spotting and flagging patterns of suspicious behaviour before incidents occur.
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The Kranzberg Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, has awarded $71,000 in grants to 16 Jewish programs for children, teens and young adults in St. Louis.

The Foundation received requests totaling more than $187,000 this cycle.

Established through a commitment from Ken Kranzberg, the foundation provides funds to benefit the Jewish community of St. Louis, specifically focused on the outreach to and engagement of future generations and creation of a vibrant, embracing, local Jewish community that will help retain and be attractive to young adults and families with young children.

The 2021 Kranzberg grant recipients are:

BBYO  General Support, St. Louis Council

Chabad Jewish Center of St. Charles County  St. Charles Jewish Family Network

Chabad on Campus  Jewish Graduate Student Association / JGrads

Epstein Hebrew Academy  General Support for High School Division

Hillel at Maryville University  General Support

Hillel at Washington University in St. Louis  Jew It Yourself

Jewish Community Center  Nishmahs Girls and Young Womens Programming

Jewish Community Relations Council  Student to Student General Support

Jewish Federation of St. Louis  PJ Library

Jewish Rock Radio  JKids Radio

Jewish Student Union  General Support

Next Dor STL  General Support

Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School  Mirowitz MLK Event  Small Hands Big Difference

Shevet Keshet  Friends of Israel Scouts  Spring Camp & Jerusalem Themed Outreach Program

St Louis Kollel  Torah & Turf 2021

UMSL Hillel  General Support

The Foundation has been active since 2008 and, since its inception, has given over $824,000 to organizations in the St. Louis Jewish community.

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The Kranzberg Family Foundation is overseen by a board composed of members of the Kranzberg family as well as Jewish Federation representatives.

Applications are open to St. Louis areas 501c3 organizations and congregations that align with the foundations purpose.

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Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition.

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Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
A 79-year-old Metairie man shot by a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputy serving a search warrant at his home has been released from the hospital and taken to jail, according to authorities.

James Millet was booked Wednesday into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna where he faces 36 counts of sexual abuse of an animal, seven counts of possession of pornography involving juveniles, two counts of possession of distribution of pornography involving a victim younger than 13 and aggravated assault on an officer.

The animal abuse charges stem from allegations that Millet had pornography that involved sexual contact with animals, according to authorities.

Millet was shot in the shoulder Jan. 12 at his Senac Drive home. The Sheriff's Office was assisting agents from the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations as they executed a search warrant at Millet's house as part of the child pornography probe, authorities said.

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The Louisiana Attorney General's Office did not release any other details about that investigation.

On the morning of the shooting, Millet's wife walked out of the house after deputies knocked on the front door. But Millet stayed inside the residence, according to authorities.

Deputies found him in a bedroom, armed with a gun, the Sheriff's Office said. A deputy fired one shot when Millet allegedly pointed the gun at the officer.

Millet's bond was set at $212,500, court records said.
Police Find Large Cannabis Factory in City of London

A large cannabis factory was discovered for the first time in Londons financial district following reports of a strong smell, City of London police said on Thursday.

Police said it was the first-ever cannabis factory found in the City, and it likely initially went undetected as far fewer people are present in the area due to the pandemic lockdown measures.

Some 826 plants have since been destroyed and the equipment dismantled by the officers.

We have made two arrests and our enquiries continue, the lead investigator, temporary Detective Inspector Andy Spooner, said in a statement.

The factory is the first cannabis factory in the City, no doubt being set up in response to fewer people being out and about during the pandemic who might have noticed any unusual activity.

In normal times, the City of London, one of 33 local authority districts of London, is estimated to have nearly 1 million people working in its 1.12-square-mile area, and is usually bustling during office hours. However, during the pandemic, the streets in the City have been quiet and offices empty due to the lockdown measures to curtail the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

Spooner said that the raid last week demonstrates that City of London Police continues to actively police the Square Mile, bearing down on any crime committed here.

Police first discovered the cannabis farm on the afternoon of Wednesday, Jan. 13, following reports of a strong smell coming from a commercial building in the City. They obtained a warrant to gain entry into the building the next day.

Photos released by police show a cannabis-growing operation with lighting and ventilation equipment in place.

Several raids of cannabis farms in London have been reported in recent weeks. Police found cannabis plants worth 1 million ($1.37 million) following a morning raid on Dec. 30 at a warehouse in Charlton, southeast London, where five men were arrested, according to Sky News.

Around the same time, 1,000 cannabis plants were discovered at a home in West Hampstead, local media reported. Local residents reported a strong smell, which they believed to be a gas leak, but instead led to the police finding the large cannabis farm.

Cannabis is currently classified as a Class B drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the UK, which carries penalties for supply and production of up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. Police can issue a warning or an on-the-spot fine of 90 ($123) if people are found in possession of cannabis.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
In a paper published in NANO, researchers from Hubei, China discuss the top-down and bottom-up strategies for the synthesis of Graphene quantum dots (GQDs). The respective advantages and disadvantages of these methods are summarized. With regard to some important or novel ones, the mechanisms are proposed for reference. In addition, the application of GQDs in biosensors is highlighted in detail.

At present, various top-down methods, such as oxidative cutting, hydrothermal or solvothermal reactions, electrochemical oxidation, ultrasonic-assisted or microwave-assisted process, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) have been reported to produce GQDs. Meanwhile, the bottom-up methods have been developed rapidly, which mainly include carbonization methods and stepwise organic synthesis. Owing to excellent photoelectric properties, good biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity, GQDs are of great value in various domains. In particular, as a novel luminescent nanomaterial, GQDs have played a leading role in the development of biosensors.

The authors review the latest progresses on the synthesis of GQDs. Different methods are presented in order to study their characteristics and the influence on the final properties of the GQDs. The mechanisms of some novel methods are proposed for offering enlightenment in the synthesis. Furthermore, the potential application of GQDs in biosensors and their design solution are introduced. Finally, a brief outlook and further development for GQDs are discussed. This review not only provides a useful guide on the synthesis of GQDs, but also facilitates designing novel biosensor devices for researchers.

###

The authors acknowledge the support from National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers: 21805166), the 111 Project of Hubei Province (grant numbers: D20015), and Foundation of Science and Technology Bureau of Yichang City (grant number: A18-302-a07).

Corresponding author of the paper is Weifeng Chen (chenweifeng_2016@ctgu.edu.cn).

For more insight into the research described, readers are invited to access the paper on NANO.

IMAGE

Caption:

A schematic illustration of the synthesis of GQDs with different stratagies and their applications in the domain of biosensors.

NANO is an international peer-reviewed monthly journal for nanoscience and nanotechnology that presents forefront fundamental research and new emerging topics. It features timely scientific reports of new results and technical breakthroughs and publishes interesting review articles about recent hot issues.

About World Scientific Publishing Co.

World Scientific Publishing is a leading independent publisher of books and journals for the scholarly, research, professional and educational communities. The company publishes about 600 books annually and about 140 journals in various fields. World Scientific collaborates with prestigious organizations like the Nobel Foundation and US National Academies Press to bring high quality academic and professional content to researchers and academics worldwide. To find out more about World Scientific, please visit http://www. worldscientific. com .

For more information, contact Tay Yu Shan at ystay@wspc.com.
The death has occurred of Seamus (Tim) Houlihan

Brownstown, The Curragh, Kildare



HOULIHAN, Seamus (Tim), London & late of Curragh View, Brownstown, The Curragh, Co. Kildare. Died 7th January after a long illness. Deeply regretted by his brothers & sisters, Joe, Johnny, Michael, Nickie, Babby & Mary, brothers-in-law Christy (Rainbow) and Charlie (Spiteri), sister-in-law Joy (Houlihan), nephews and nieces, extended family, relatives and friends.

May Seamus Rest In Peace

A private family funeral will take place due to advice on public gatherings. Removal from Anderson & Leahy's Funeral Home, Newbridge to arrive at St. Brigid's Church, The Curragh at 7 o'clock on Wednesday evening (20th January). Funeral Mass at 2 o'clock on Thursday afternoon with burial afterwards in Carna cemetery, Suncroft. Maximum attendance at the church is currently 10 people.

For those who cannot attend due to the current restrictions, please leave a condolence message on RIP.ie or they watch the funeral on St. Brigid's Church Facebook page.

The family would like to thank you for your co-operation, understanding and support during this sensitive time.

The death has occurred of Rudolph Squires

Cill Dara Close, Celbridge, Kildare

Arrangements have changed.



SQUIRES, Rudolph (Bozer) (Cill Dara Close, Celbridge, and formerly of Ballyoulster, Celbridge, Co. Kildare) January 17th, 2021 (peacefully) in the loving care of the staff at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Beloved husband of the late Elizabeth (Lily) and dear father of Mary, Evelyn, Laura and the late James; Sadly missed by his loving daughters, his 8 grandchildren , his 6 great-grandchildren, son-in-law Pat, brother Patrick, sisters Elizabeth and Carmel, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

May He Rest in Peace

RUDOLPH'S FUNERAL WILL BE REARRANGED FOR A LATER DATE

The death has occurred of Desmond (Des) Broe

Campion Crescent, Kildare Town, Kildare



Ex Irish Army Magee barracks, Kildare Town and The Curragh Camp. Sadly missed by his loving wife Tracey, daughter Dawn, son Anthony, daughter-in-law Siobhan, mother Kitty, grandchild Colm, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends.

May Des Rest In Peace

Due to current government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please feel free to leave a message in the condolence page below. Removal on Friday morning to arrive at St. Brigid's Parish Church, Kildare Town, for Requiem Mass at 11am. Burial afterwards in St. Conleth's Cemetery, Kildare Town.

The death has occurred of Jo (Josephine) Cleary

Celbridge, Kildare / Claremorris, Mayo



Jo was wonderfully cared for during her illness by her colleagues and friends in the Mater Hospital. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sister Mary, brother Terry; sister-in-law Jenny; cousins, relatives and her legions of friends and colleagues.

Rest in Peace

Due to current Government restrictions and HSE guidelines, Jos funeral will remain private. Meanwhile, you are invited to leave a personal message in the Condolence section below for which the Cleary family will be extremely grateful. No Flowers Please. Donations, in lieu, to the Mater Foundation.https://www.materfoundation.ie/donate/

The Funeral service for Jo can be attended through web camera at 4pm on Thursday (January 21st) by selecting the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/153499

When circumstances allow, we look forward to celebrating Jos life with friends and extended family.

Enquiries to Fanagans Funeral Home, Lower Kimmage Rd- 014925959.

The death has occurred of Chris DONOGHUE

Celbridge, Kildare / Moylough, Galway



DONOGHUE, Chris (Celbridge, Co. Kildare and formerly of Cooloo, Moylough, Co. Galway) January 18th, 2021 peacefully at Ryevale Nursing Home, Leixlip. Beloved husband of Anne and much loved father of Joanne. Predeceased by his brother Bob, sister May and nephew Micheal. Sadly missed by his loving wife and daughter, brothers Fr. Eamon M.S.C., Tom and John, sister Nancy, brothers-in-law Kieran, Alan and Domhnall, sisters-in-law Gertie, Breda, Anne, Colette and Bernie, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

A private funeral will take place due to government advice regarding public gatherings. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral; but due to current restrictions cannot, may view Chris Funeral Mass online on Thursday, 21st January, at 11am by visiting this link  https://www.celstra.ie/live-feed/ followed by his committal service at approximately 12.40pm by following this link  https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/newslands-cross-cemetery-crematorium. Please leave your personal message by selecting Condolences below or alternatively leaving a message at www.cunninghamsfunerals.com.

No flowers please.

The death has occurred of Gerard (Gerry) Duffy

Kilteel, Kildare / Castletroy, Limerick



Gerry died peacefully in Milford Care Centre, Limerick. Retired Sergeant (Terenure, Dublin 6). Predeceased by his son Paul. Gerry will be sadly missed by his loving wife Patricia, his children Mark, Miriam, Gerard, Damian, Catherine, Ann, John, Robert and Patrick; grandchildren, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, sister, brothers, relatives and many friends.

Due to the Government restrictions on Covid 19 Gerry's Funeral will be private in Our Lady Help Of Christians, Milford, Castletroy, V94 X832 on Thursday, 21st of January, at 10:45am (please see link below to view Funeral Mass Live), followed by cremation in Shannon Crematorium. If you would like to express your condolences to Gerry's Family please do so in the condolence section below.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

The death has occurred of Sr. Kathleen Hendron

Kilcock, Kildare



Hendron (Shalom Nursing Home, Kilcock and formerly Portadown, Zambia, Carlow and Drogheda) January 18th 2021.

Peacefully in Shalom Nursing Home, Kilcock. Sr. Kathleen. R.I.P.

Deeply regretted by her sister Ita, brother Br. Joseph (Aidan) De La Salle Community, Hampshire, the Presentation Sisters, family circle and friends.

A private committal service will take place in Portadown with Requiem Mass being celebrated at a later date, details of which will be published here.

Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on her soul.

The death has occurred of James (Wedger) MAHER

Naas, Kildare / Oylegate, Wexford



Formerly of Oylegate, Co. Wexford. Peacefully, in his 84th year in the tender and loving care of the staff of Naas Hospital.

Beloved husband of Mary (Pat), caring and dedicated father of Noel, Edward, Declan, Julie and James Jnr. (grandson) who he reared with his wife and likewise the care and love was returned over the years. Deeply regretted by his loving family, sisters Buddy, Nellie, Nancy, Kay, Joe and Peggy, daughter-in-law Edel, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

"May He Rest In Peace"

Due to current Government guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place with Funeral Mass on Thursday morning at 10am in The Church of Our Lady and St. David, Naas. Those who would like to join the private funeral service remotely by webcam can do so by clicking on https://www.naasparish.ie/our-parish/naas-webcam or via the Naas Parish App on the webcam folder.

If you wish to leave a message of condolence for the family, you may do so in the Condolence Book below.

Family flowers only please.
A COVID-19 relief fund set up by the state of Oregon has run into legal challenges after it became known that the fund was reserved exclusively for African American residents. The states doling out of inadequate financial aid to troubled businesses on race-based criteria reveals the politically bankrupt and deeply reactionary nature of racialist politics.

The Oregon Cares Fund was arranged by state Democratic Party officials in July 2020 and reserved $62 million out of the $200 million that was set aside by the Oregon legislatures Emergency Board to provide relief to small businesses affected by the pandemic. The funds website declares it is intended for Black people, Black-owned businesses, and Black community based organizations and provides up to $3,000 per-family and $100,000 per-business. The relief funds were drawn from the $1.4 billion that the state of Oregon received from the federal CARES Act last spring.

Oregon State Capitol Building (source: Wikipedia)

According to the New York Times, the fund has paid out nearly $50 million. A remaining $8.8 million was held up by a federal court in December, in the face of legal challenges by non-black business owners alleging discrimination. The Times, in its noxious and typical fashion, calls the fund novel and bold for allocating funds on a racial basis. Democratic state senator Lew Frederick told the Times, It was finally being honest: This is who needs this support right now. The Democratic governor of Oregon, Kate Brown, has vowed to defend the discriminatory fund.

Walter Leja, the white owner of a small electrical company and a plaintiff in the lawsuits against the state, told the New York Times that he would be forced to lay off employees if he does not receive relief funds soon. Referring to the fund, he said, Its discriminatory. Its locking up a bunch of funds that can only be used by Black businesses when theres a ton of other businesses out there that need access to those funds. Its not a white or Black thing. Its an everybody thing.

Leja, alongside two other small business owners are suing based on the argument that the fund violates the 14th Amendments equal protection clause. Maria Garcia, the Mexican American owner of Revolucion Coffee House in Portland, claims her application for aid was denied because her shop does not meet the criteria because 0% of its owners identify as Black, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Oregons Democratic lawmakers claim that the racially exclusive legislation is required to make up for historical crimes committed against blacks. African Americans make up 2.2 percent of the Oregonian population, while Hispanics make up 13.4 percent, Asians 4.9 percent, and Native Americans 1.8 percent.

While there is no question African Americans have faced discrimination in the statefor instance, in 1844 the then territory passed a law barring African Americans from settling therein reality it is working class and lower-middle class people of all races who have been most severely affected by the pandemic. Meanwhile, the US government has pumped trillions of dollars into the financial markets to enrich corporate executives and investors, while allowing the virus to spread rampantly, workers to be laid off and forced into poverty, and small businesses to collapse in financial ruin.

Furthermore, a brief overview of Oregons history demonstrates that blacks were not the only ethnic group that suffered racist discrimination and capitalist exploitation.

Upon gaining statehood in 1857, the Oregon government adopted a number of anti-Chinese measures, such as forcing Chinese miners to pay a $50 tax each year and prohibiting them from voting. In 1882, alongside the nationwide Chinese Exclusion Act passed by Congress, the state of Oregon banned Chinese from public schools, restricted their housing opportunities, and prohibited them from entering professions.

The Native American population was also subject to brutal racism and violence at the hands of the federal and state governments. Their attempts to fight back culminated in the Rogue River Wars (1855-56), which turned into a one-sided campaign of extermination and terror against the Native population.

Among the most oppressed section of the American working class, the Oregon indigenous population faces high rates of extreme poverty, homelessness, addiction, suicide, police brutality and other manifestations of social inequality. A study by a research team at Portland State University in 2011 found that nearly half of Native children live in poverty.

During World War I, German Americans were pressured to swear their loyalty to the US and saw restrictions placed on the use of the German language, including an order by the State Council of Defense for Oregon which required the use of English during church services.

The history of racism and xenophobia in Oregon is inseparable from and flows out of the brutal exploitation of the working class that has characterized American capitalism. Oregons key industries were logging and mining, among the deadliest and most exploitative in American history.

The efforts of the racial communalists in and around the Democratic Party to center race as the fundamental division in American society is meant to obscure the brutal class divide that has been laid bare by the pandemic. Workers of all races and nationalities are getting sick and dying around the world because they are being forced back to work in dangerous conditions, and because hospitals do not have enough staff or beds to deal with the surge in patients.

None of this will be addressed by creating a racially exclusive fund for black business owners and others. It completely ignores the class character of the capitalist states response to the pandemic, which has placed the accumulation of profit over the lives of masses of workers of all races. It deliberately obscures the fact that it is not white people who have benefitted from the pandemic, but a ruthless financial oligarchy, which is indifferent to the lives and health of all poor and working class people.

Even before the pandemic, 13 percent of Oregonians lived below the federal poverty line. That encompasses more than 516,000 people, which includes 134,000 children, according to the Oregon Center for Public Policy. Of those in poverty, 4 in 10 lived in deep povertydefined as having an income less than half of the poverty guideline, in this case a family of 4 having to survive on $13,100 a year.

According to a report from Oregon State University, some 1 million Oregonians, or 1 in 4, experienced hunger in 2020. While official poverty statistics for the first year of the pandemic are still to be compiled, there can be no doubt that the level of hardship experienced by workers and the poor has risen sharply. In the context of the growing level of misery, the paltry aid provided by Oregons Democratic government to workers and small businesses assumes an insulting character.

Just one Oregon billionaire, Nike founder Phil Knight, has a personal fortune estimated at more than $48 billion. This is more than 240 times the amount of money the state allocated to relief for small businesses. It also dwarfs, many times over, the $1.4 billion in aid that the state received from Congress via the CARES Act, underscoring the obscene level of inequality that the pandemic has both exposed and exacerbated.

According to inequality.org, the wealth of the 651 billionaires in the US skyrocketed between March (the start of the pandemic) and December 2020 from $2.95 trillion to over $4 trillion. The top 10 billionaires alone control more than $1 trillion. To put that unfathomable number in perspective, $1 trillion in wealth held by just 10 people is more than it would have cost to send a $3,000 check to every one of the 330 million people in the US.

This is almost 4 times the $267 billion in stimulus checks that was given to 159 million people last year. It is also more than the $900 billion in COVID relief funds that was passed by Congress in December, which consisted mostly of corporate handouts while providing little more than crumbs for the jobless.

Rather than addressing these discrepancies, Oregons Democratic Party lawmakers have revived criteria similar to the one drop rule used to discriminate against minority groups in the past. In determining who was eligible to receive aid, a tutorial video on the funds website states a business must be at least 51 percent black owned, that is, 51 percent of the owners must identify as black.

This raises critical questions as to how these claims may be verified. Anyone can identify as black. If there are doubts on the part of the funds organizers as to the purity of the claimants race, how will these discrepancies be resolved? Perhaps the claimants should have to submit to a DNA test, or to a tracing of their ancestral line.

Revealingly, the racialist proponents of the fund offer not a word of protest against the miserly character of the relief that has been offered. The pittance left over for working people from the CARES Act, which was largely intended to satisfy Wall Street and big business, is accepted as given. Instead, they pit small business owners and workers against each other along racial lines in the scramble for aid, obscuring the common social and class interests which working people of all backgrounds share.

The right-wing efforts of the Democratic Party to sow racial divisions in the working class and sections of the middle class must be fiercely opposed. Socialists do not accept the framework that there is not enough money or resources for everyone who needs it, which encourages people down the dangerous path of racial communalism and nationalism.

Rather than encouraging a scramble for crumbs among the most desperate and hard-hit layers of society, a socialist movement must be built which unites workers of all races, ethnicities, nationalities and identities to demand the expropriation of the wealth of the rich and its distribution to provide full access to financial assistance, unemployment aid, food, housing, education and health care for poor and working class people not just across Oregon, but throughout the world.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces

The head of the U.S. Agency for Global Media stepped down Wednesday afternoon at the request of President Joe Biden shortly after Biden took office.

Michael Pack served for just over seven tumultuous months as the first chief executive of the agency under new legislation giving him expanded powers over the networks.

The former conservative documentary filmmakers tenure was marked with lawsuits, whistleblower complaints, a subpoena from Congress and court orders barring him from interfering with the operations of networks and grantees he oversaw, including Voice of America and the Open Technology Fund, which supports global internet freedom.

In a farewell statement to staff, Pack said he had been solely focused upon reorienting the agency toward its mission and to help the agency share Americas story with the world objectively and without bias. Pack added that he believes much needed reform was achieved under his leadership.

Many of his actions, however, were condemned by critics on Capitol Hill and among press freedom and whistleblower groups.

In a letter shared by supporters of Pack and said to be his formal resignation, Pack described the incoming Biden administrations request for his resignation as a partisan act. Pack added that his Senate confirmation had been for a three-year term so as to ensure the agency head was untethered to changes in administration.

A change in administrations typically has meant a mass turnover in political appointees or other high-ranking officials. Packs resignation came as many other appointees of former President Donald Trump resigned as the new administration took office.

Democrats delayed Michael Pack's confirmation as head of US Agency for Global Media. As a result, Pack has been in office eight months of a three-year term. The Biden administration fired him in the first hour today. Pack's resignation letter: pic.twitter.com/tB8yOHMpah  Byron York (@ByronYork) January 20, 2021

Late Wednesday, the White House announced VOA program director Kelu Chao as acting CEO. An agency veteran, Chao has more than 20 years of experience at VOA, including as a field reporter, Hong Kong bureau chief, Mandarin service chief and East Asia division director. Chao last year testified as part of a lawsuit about editorial interference by Pack and his aides.

Chao will inherit several ongoing cases. Those include an investigation into alleged mismanagement of the agency ordered in December by the Office of Special Counsel.

There is also the lawsuit on editorial interference at VOA and two lawsuits related to funding and management at the Open Technology Fund and proceedings seeking to cut off OTF from federal funding. There is also a controversy surrounding the non-renewal of J-1 visas for international journalists working at the broadcaster.

More than 30 journalists from VOAs language divisions lost their jobs and the right to remain in the U.S. over the last seven months because their specialized entry permits were not renewed under Pack.

Packs leadership at USAGM raised early alarms among the networks journalists and press freedom groups, who condemned his replacement of network heads and formerly bipartisan boards at the networks. Whistleblowers alleged numerous cases of gross mismanagement, retaliation and investigations into staff that had a debilitating effect.

On Packs last full day as CEO, a whistleblower protection nonprofit, the Government Accountability Project, sent a letter to lawmakers alleging that USAGM had spent at least $2 million in taxpayer money to pay a private law firm to investigate and compile dossiers on agency employees and the Open Technology Fund.

This waste of government resources is shocking, said David Seide, senior counsel at GAP, in a statement. We believe it likely that additional investigation will further reveal violations of law, rule and regulation, abuse of authority and gross mismanagement.

Packs actions also drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats in Congress. In September, the House Foreign Affairs Committee subpoenaed him after he canceled a scheduled appearance to testify.

Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Wednesday told VOA he hopes the agencys new chief executive will work to promote press freedom.

The U.S. Agency for Global Medias mission is to further press and internet freedom around the world, McCaul said. In conjunction with the Open Technology Fund, the agency has a track record of success in providing internet access and other vital support to those in China, Iran, Russia and other authoritarian countries.

McCaul added, I hope the next CEO will focus on expanding the agencys efforts around the world to promote a free and open press.

Trump nominated Pack to lead USAGM, but the Senate delayed the confirmation for two years, until June 2020. It finally acted after Trump began attacking VOAs coverage and demanded that Senate Republicans push the nomination through.

Democratic senators had raised concerns about the documentary filmmakers suitability for the role and about an investigation into alleged mismanagement at a nonprofit he founded.

The Washington, D.C., attorney general on Jan. 5 filed a lawsuit alleging Public Media Lab violated the Districts nonprofit corporation act and enriched Packs documentary company, Manifold Productions, by more than $4 million. The lawsuit calls for the court to order Pack to reimburse the funds and dissolve the nonprofit.

Manifold Productions did not respond to VOAs request for comment.

In interviews with conservative media and talk shows and a January 15 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal, Pack defended his actions, saying he was working to address long-standing security concerns at the agency and perceived liberal bias in VOA content. Pack also accused his predecessors of rubber stamping J-1 visas and said the agency was using the process as a pathway to citizenship.

In his interviews, Pack often pointed to an investigation by his aides of VOAs Urdu language service for airing a Biden campaign ad, as an example of that bias. In the Wall Street Journal op-ed, Pack said that as a Trump appointee he "would never have permitted a pro-Trump campaign ad to be broadcast on the VOA."

A whistleblower lawsuit alleging mismanagement and editorial interference says that around the same time as the Urdu investigation, VOAs Spanish-language division published a President Trump campaign ad on social media. But in that case, the lawsuit says, VOA management dealt with the issue, unlike in the Biden example, where USAGM circumvented normal procedures in order to investigate directly.

USAGM policy states that editorial issues should be investigated by the news networks rather than outside officials.

At a court hearing in the VOA case in November, Pack and his aides were barred from directly interfering in the editorial independence of the network until the lawsuit is settled.

In his op-ed last week, Pack said the networks have rebelled against his decisions, claiming its journalists used contacts in media and Congress that led to an unending flood of leaks, false press accounts, baseless lawsuits and inquiries from Capitol Hill.

The op-ed was published days after at least 48 current and former VOA journalists and directors wrote to Pack, demanding the resignation of recently appointed VOA Director Robert Reilly and his deputy after one of the networks White House correspondents was reassigned.

Pack received some outside support for his vision for the agency, including from two former employees. Ted Lipien, who until recently was editor of a blog frequently critical of the agencys past leadership, and Reilly both said Pack was taking action to address long-standing issues.

In December, Pack appointed Reilly to lead VOA and Lipien to RFE/RL, and on Jan. 19 announced new conservative members for the network boards, including Roger Simon, a contributor to The Epoch Times who falsely described Januarys deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as a false flag operation, and Christian Wheaton, who has defended Russias annexation of Crimea.

Pack was the first chief executive to enjoy expanded powers from Congress under 2017 legislation. More recently, lawmakers added more checks and balances to the role by inserting provisions into the National Defense Authorization Act.

The changes will prevent the CEO or federal employees from serving on any grantee board; and give the board power to advise the agency head to ensure they respect the integrity and independence of the networks, and to approve appointments or dismissals of network heads.

A massive spending bill passed in late December pauses these new limits for a period of 90 days, in effect giving Packs replacement or an acting CEO power to hire or fire network heads and make other changes within that time frame.
Washington, Jan 21 : US President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to revoke the existing presidential permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project, which would carry oil from Canada to the American Gulf Coast.

Oil industry groups and Republicans in the US opposed the move, arguing it would result in job losses and put energy security at risk, Xinhua news agency.

But environmental groups and Democrats praised Biden's decision, arguing the Keystone XL project would worsen climate change.

"President Biden hit the ground running on the strongest White House climate plan ever, with executive action to rejoin the landmark Paris climate agreement, reject the dirty tar sands pipeline," Mitchell Bernard, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a statement on Wednesday.

"It makes the US once more part of the global climate solution-not the problem. It makes clear that the country is moving away from dirty fossil fuels and toward cleaner, smarter ways to power our future," Bernard said.

TC Energy Corporation, a Canadian company behind the Keystone XL project, said earlier Wednesday that "advancement of the project will be suspended" in anticipation of Biden's order.

"TC Energy will review the decision, assess its implications, and consider its options," the company said in a statement, noting revoking the permit for the project would "directly lead to the layoff of thousands of union workers." Following the order, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that "we are disappointed but acknowledge the President's decision to fulfil his election campaign promise on Keystone XL".

"I look forward to working with President Biden to reduce pollution, combat climate change, fight Covid-19, create middle class jobs, and build back better by supporting a sustainable economic recovery for everyone," Trudeau said in a statement.

The Keystone XL project was rejected by former President Barack Obama in 2015.

Former President Donald Trump reversed the decision in 2017 and granted a presidential permit to build the pipeline.

Following his inauguration earlier on Wednesday, Biden signed 17 executive orders, which included US to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The first order Biden signed was for the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. It mandated the wearing of masks and observance of social distancing on federal government politics and on planes, trains and buses travelling between states.

Taking up immigration issues, Biden gave protection and work permits to those who came in as children and are in the country illegally. It would not help those who came in legally and stayed legal like the children of those on H1-B visas who can be deported when they become adults.

He issued another order ending the construction of the wall on the Mexican border that Trump had ordered to deter illegal immigration.

He was also sending to Congress an immigration bill that would give legal status to about 11 million people who are in the country legally and eventually citizenship.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday that the new administration should quickly fix the immigration status of Mexican nationals in the United States.

AMLO asks Biden to immediately work on immigration policy

Mexican Pres. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is asking the new U.S. federal government administration to immediately act on the immigration policy. Specifically, granting dual citizenship to Mexican nationals living in the U.S. for quite a long time.

During Biden's inauguration as the 46th President in the U.S., the Mexican President released a statement asking Biden to quickly fulfill his promises on the immigration plan. There are millions of illegal immigrants working in the U.S. just waiting for their applications to be processed and approved.

Meanwhile, changes in immigration policy have been the core of Biden's presidential campaign. It was also one of the keys which led to his victory in the presidential race. On the other hand, immigration is something that Trump rarely mentions in his campaigns.

Obrador said, "I hope that today or in the coming days he presents the migration plan. What it is going to consist of, how they are going to respect their right to be recognized, that they get dual nationality." Having dual citizenship is very important most especially for Mexicans who continue to work in the U.S. amid the threat of the global pandemic.

The Mexican President also said that such a move will help Central American nations and southern Mexico who send migrants of workers in the U.S., according to a report in Fox News,

Biden's immigration plan

Just hours after Pres. Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday, he sent legislation to the U.S. Congress that aims to overhaul the current immigration policy that will lead to the citizenship of 11 million illegal immigrants in the country, according to LA Times.

Biden's transition team also announced that the new immigration bill will devise a new system "to responsibly manage and secure our border, keep our families and communities safe, and better manage migration across the Hemisphere."

Read also: Pathway to Citizenship: Biden Sends Immigration Bill to Congress for 11 Million Illegal Migrants

How important are immigrants in the U.S.?

Immigrants are very important in the U.S. most especially in this time of the global pandemic. They are the working force of different sectors like in the field of agriculture, law enforcement agencies, frontline healthcare workers, household workers, and more.

Most of these workers have questionable immigration status or illegal immigrants. This status is also the reason why they did not receive financial support or any aid from the government.

This is despite the fact that they risk their health just to provide for the needs of Americans who follow the stay-at-home order.

Read also: Real Heroes: Mexican Farmers Work Hard To Supply Food Amid COVID-19

Amid the pandemic, most Mexican immigrants in the country are on the field and making sure that there is enough food or the food chain remains stable. However, they were not able to the different financial assistance like the stimulus checks of the government due to their immigration status.


Total of 489 million in grants and concessional finance raised to support EBRD work in 2020

European Union largest donor, providing almost two-thirds of total amount

Continued strong support from global climate funds as well as bilateral donors

The international donor community delivered indispensable support to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic with a contribution of almost half a billion euros to investments by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 2020.

Governments and bilateral and multinational donors joined forces by providing 489 million in grants and concessional finance to projects and activities by the Bank to build greener economies, boost small businesses, improve vital infrastructure and support its policy engagement and advisory services.

We are grateful for such strong trust among our donors as we jointly respond to both the crisis and early efforts to build back better, said Pierre Heilbronn, EBRD Vice President for Policy and Partnerships. It is testimony to our successful business model and our ability to provide financial support and policy advice swiftly. Both were needed more than ever against the background of economic upheaval caused by the global pandemic.

Donor funds are set to improve the everyday lives of millions of people in the Banks regions from Morocco to Mongolia and Albania to Uzbekistan. They include increased support for renewable sources of energy to mitigate the impact of climate change, strategic road links to connect people and provide new trade opportunities as well as innovative online training to boost small businesses.

The European Union was the largest donor to the EBRDs work in 2020 and also provided an unfunded guarantee worth 100 million to the Bank. Greece, Switzerland and Sweden were the largest bilateral donors. In addition, the EBRD mobilised 75 million in contributions for the European Western Balkans Joint Fund and the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) Fund. Both funds are managed by the Bank and are also available to various other development finance institutions.
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Digital Editor
The COVID-19 pandemic and school closures that have come as a result have pushed educators and policymakers to rethink the role of technology in public school districts across the country.As many districts grapple with how to implement remote and hybrid learning models, concerns about digital equity and cybersecurity have been pushed to the forefront, according to Keith Krueger, CEO of the Consortium for School Networking ( CoSN ), a professional association for education technology leaders across the nation.Krueger said the pandemic has catalyzed ongoing discussions about how to modernize public education.This is going to spur a lot of innovation. Its changed expectations of teachers, its changed expectations of parents and its changed expectations of students, Krueger said. Thats going to have implications for how learning happens.On Jan. 28, the consortium will release its Driving K-12 Innovation 2021 Hurdles and Accelerators report to provide a glimpse into the many challenges facing education technology. Expanding Internet access and strengthening digital security infrastructure are among the key goals moving forward.A 2019 Pew Research Center survey showed that approximately 63 percent of rural adults have a home broadband connection compared to 75 percent of urban and 79 percent of suburban adults. The Future Ready Schools initiative also reports that nearly 40 percent of Americans living in rural areas lack high-speed home Internet, while 14 percent do not have a computer at all.Krueger believes federal policymakers should consider additional emergency funding to connect more students and teachers through broadband. He said they should consider at least $6 billion in funding through the federal E-rate program to help address digital equity in 2021. Digital equity has been a concern of educators for some time now, but the topic was mainly examined in the context of traditional in-person learning.Since last March, theres no question that learning has been happening at home and that for both students and teachers, we need to make sure they have devices, Krueger said. But the real hurdle is broadband access. Thats particularly a problem for students in low-income families  disproportionately Black and Hispanic.In rural (districts), there simply may not be broadband to very remote and rural communities and homes.Jarret Cummings, senior adviser for policy and government relations at EDUCAUSE, said long-existing inequity in broadband access has been magnified during the pandemic.The closing of physical campuses during COVID-19 profoundly impacted access to learning and institutional services by students in unserved or underserved communities, which includes both rural and urban areas, he said. Expanding and upgrading the nations broadband infrastructure while ensuring affordable access to broadband service regardless of location remains essential to closing the digital divide, and closing the digital divide remains vitally important to providing effective, equitable access to post-secondary education moving forward.The Center for Education Reform (CER) advocates providing K-12 students with a virtual backpack, which would include a device, a hot spot, basic supplies, food and a ticket that gains them access to any public, private or charter school.CER Founder and CEO Jeanne Allen says equity isnt just about having a device and Internet access. Its also about how students are being taught.We have to make sure that access comes with a heavy dose of choice because what might work for a young man in the city of Philadelphia may not work for the young lady in rural North Carolina, she said. And it may be that neither of their traditional schools are equipped to provide a good digital education.Allen said this unprecedented era of virtual learning has forced educators and parents to examine other existing needs for equity in education. Those discussions will likely continue beyond the pandemic.The world has changed dramatically, and in many ways, obviously not for the better, but in some ways, the environment we find ourselves in, being so virtual and online all the time, opens up an incredible pathway to equitable access to knowledge in a wholly different way, she said.I dont think were going to be able to put it back in the bottle, she later continued. I think the changes from COVID have opened up the eyes of parents and people who had no idea the extent of the inequity and dysfunction that existed with traditional education, and its empowered them to think differently about how they educate their kids.But as the education world increasingly embraces virtual learning, concerns about cybersecurity will remain on digital learning platforms and video conferencing programs commonly used in schools.CoSN advocates further prioritizing cybersecurity in public schools, which the FBI has identified as the most-targeted public sector for ransomware attacks. The organization recommends more funding for cybersecurity initiatives.Further, CoSN recommends that lawmakers direct the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director to establish a Cybersecurity Clearinghouse to disseminate information, best practices and grant opportunities to improve cybersecurity and a Cybersecurity Registry to track incidents of cyberattacks on elementary and secondary schools.K-12 education is considered a soft target by cybercriminals because theyre very understaffed, Krueger said. Were extremely vulnerable there.While there are many challenges ahead, Krueger is optimistic about President Joe Bidens secretary of education nominee, Miguel Cardona. He said Cardonas experience as Connecticuts education commissioner and as a principal in Meriden Public Schools could serve him well in tackling these obstacles.That school district is very high tech, he said, adding that Connecticut is ahead of the curve in education technology.Allen said it could prove difficult for Cardona to have the same kind of impact on the federal level as he had on the state and local level, but he could use his position to advocate for a future stimulus package that includes resources like virtual backpacks.I think the good news is that he is very savvy and open to digital innovations, but being supportive and actually working to unleash innovation at the local level are two completely different things, she noted.Cummings noted that its too early to know how Cardonas experience will extend to higher education, having a background in K-12 education.Well have to see who the appointees are for the under secretary of education, the assistant secretary for postsecondary education and the director of the Office of Educational Technology posts before well have a better sense of how this administrations ed-tech views will extend to higher education, he said.
PUNE, India, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ProMobi Technologies is elated to announce that Scalefusion, its leading MDM solution, has been listed in the best mobile device management software (MDM) of 2020 by Digital.com, a leading independent review website for small business online tools, products, and services. Scalefusion was selected based on several core features and customer feedback.

The report was created by conducting a 40-hour assessment of over 50 firms across the web. Scalefusion and other firms were required to offer application management tools that enable businesses to deploy, blacklist, and whitelist apps. Scalefusion's Remote device access is also an essential feature that allows experts to resolve technical issues from any location which was a key deciding factor in the list.

The guide also examined the security features to streamline IT operations that can set custom policies on devices, control app access permission, track device location, and more. The final list highlights solutions with device diagnostics that enable users to view device performance and troubleshoot device issues.

To access the complete list of best MDM software companies, please visit https://digital.com/mdm-software/

About Scalefusion:

Ambitious companies around the world trust Scalefusion to secure and manage endpoints including smartphones, tablets, laptops, rugged devices, POS, and digital signages. Our mission is to make Device Management simple and effortless along with providing world-class customer support. Scalefusion currently has a global customer base of more than 6000 customers and its HQ is located in Pune, India. Scalefusion has offices across Hyderabad and Delhi in India, along with global offices in Mexico and Canada.

For more information, please visit: https://www.scalefusion.com.

Scalefusion on LinkedIn

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/.

Contact: Swapnil Shete , swapnil@scalefusion.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/846160/Scalefusion_Logo.jpg

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Assam on January 23, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has decided to launch a state-wide protest on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Ex-BJP chief and Home Minister Amit Shah will also make his second visit to the poll-bound state within a month's time, on January 24. AASU has said that it has planned a three-day protest and it will burn copies of the citizenship law, and hold torch rallies during their visit.

AASU President Dipanka Kumar Nath announced, "On January 22, all the district units of AASU will hold a torchlight rally. On January 23, we will wear black badges ahead of PM Modi's first visit to the state this year. During the visit of the Union Home Minister on January 24, we will hoist black flags and burn copies of CAA across the state." "The BJP-led government had promised to seal the porous Indo-Bangladesh border. However, that has not materialized. The government has failed to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord," he added.

The NRC exercise and the CAA have been opposed in Assam and AASU alleges that the Central government has violated the Clause 6 of Assam Accord - which guarantees constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards to protect, preserve and promote the culture, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

READ | 'BJP Committed To Implement CAA': Mukul Roy In Presence Of Matua Neta Shantanu Thakur

Assam Assembly Elections

In December, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam has kickstarted its election process for the upcoming Assembly polls with the formation of a 16-member State Election Committee - including CM Sarbananda Sonowal, Himanta Biswa Sarma and state chief Ranjeet Kumar Das. Home Minister Amit Shah sounded the poll bugle addressing state's two biggest problems were infiltration and floods. Asserting that only BJP government can stop infiltration, he added that infiltration affects our culture, arts, and snatches away opportunities from our youth.

The election to the 126-member Assam assembly is likely to be held in March-April 2021 where BJP eyes to retain the state. Assam witnessed massive protests against the CAA-NRC-NPR, as Assamese people fear a massive inrush of migrants which will threaten their indigenous culture - violating the Assam accords. The BJP is yet to convince the state subjects of the merits of CAA, after the disastrous NRC drive which resulted in the exclusion of 19 lakh citizens.

READ | Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA): One year since contentious law was passed by Parliament

BJP and its stance on CAA

On December 6, senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is likely to be implemented from January next year. Vijayvargiya added that the Centre is keen to grant citizenship to the large refugee population in the state. He also accused the ruling Trinamool Congress government of not being sympathetic to the cause of the refugees.

However, on December 20, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the rules of CAA are yet to be framed and the law will be acted upon after COVID vaccine inoculation is done. "Rules of CAA are yet to be framed. Due to Coronavirus, such a massive drive cannot be undertaken and hence after inoculation, we will think about it," said Shah. When asked about his 'understand the chronology' remark, Shah said, "Let the first part of the chronology be fulfilled".

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) seeks to grant citizenship to non-Muslim migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Christian, Jain and Parsi communities who came to the country from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan on or before December 31, 2014. The Parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Bill on December 11, 2019, and President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent to the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 on December 12.

READ | Amit Shah says 'CAA rules to be framed after COVID vaccination'; opines on Centre V Mamata

READ | On road to West Bengal polls, BJP's Vijayvargiya eyes 'CAA implementation from January'
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Alcoa Corp., Allegheny Technologies Inc., and Hangzhou King Titanium co. Ltd. will emerge as major titanium mill products market participants during 2021-2025

The titanium mill products market is expected to grow by 25.35 thousand MT during 2021-2025, according to Technavio. The report offers a detailed analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the titanium mill products market in optimistic, probable, and pessimistic forecast scenarios.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005777/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Titanium Mill Products Market 2021-2025 (Graphic: Business Wire)

Enterprises will go through the Response, Recovery, and Renew phases. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19

The titanium mill products market will witness a neutral impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase as compared to 2019.

With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renewal phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the next normal.

This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to:

Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in.

to move ahead once business stability kicks in. Build resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines.

making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations.

Download the Post-Pandemic Business Planning Structure. Click here

Key Considerations for Market Forecast:

Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior

Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds

Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates

Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates

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Related Report on Materials Industries:

Global Synthetic Diamonds Market- The synthetic diamonds market is segmented by type (rough synthetic diamonds and polished synthetic diamonds) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America). Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Global Vacuum Insulation Panels Market- The vacuum insulation panels market is segmented by material (Silica and Fiberglass and Others), geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA), and end-user (construction, logistics, cooling and freezing devices, and others). Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Major Three Titanium Mill Products Market Participants:

Alcoa Corp.

Alcoa Corp. operates the business through various segments such as Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminum. The company offers titanium pipes and sheets.

Allegheny Technologies Inc.

Allegheny Technologies Inc. operates the business through various segments such as High-Performance Materials and Components (HPMC), and Flat-Rolled Products (FRP). The company offers a titanium bar, billet, tubing, sheet metal, plate, and others.

Hangzhou King Titanium co. Ltd.

Hangzhou King Titanium co. Ltd. operates the business through the Unified segment. The company offers titanium bars and titanium sheets.

If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE! Get report snapshot here to get detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown: https://www.technavio.com/report/titanium-mill-products-market-industry-analysis

Titanium Mill Products Market 2021-2025: Segmentation

The titanium mill products market is segmented as below:

Product Sheets And Plates Billets And Bars Others

End-user Industrial Commercial Aerospace Defense

Geography North America APAC Europe MEA South America



The titanium mill products market is driven by the growth in the aerospace industry. In addition, other factors such as increasing the application of titanium are expected to trigger the titanium mill products market toward witnessing a CAGR of almost 4% during the forecast period.

Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of the titanium mill products market, Request Free Sample https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR46634

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Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005777/en/

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(Natural News) Conservatives learned a hard lesson following the 2020 presidential election. Its a lesson weve had to relearn over and over again, but like an abused spouse who just cant leave, many of us kept coming back for another beating. We basked in the good times of President Trump and an apparently unified Republican Party in Washington DC (Mitt Romney, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins notwithstanding) and thought wistfully that maybe the Republican Establishment finally understood us.

(Article by Durk Jerc republished from BasedUnderground.com)

They didnt. They pretended to be on our side until the moment it seemed safe to abandon the President and his base. Thats when many of us realized just how much Fox News, Mitch McConnell, military leaders (as opposed to actual soldiers), around half of the GOP in the House of Representatives, and a majority of Republicans in the United States Senate all hate us. If we believe in President Trumps America-First, Drain-The-Swamp vision, then we are only useful as donors and lesser of two evil voters.

This isnt new, of course. This is how they felt the whole time even when they were pretending to defend President Trump and his agenda. They rode his coattails and took seats on the Trump Train. But they made sure their seats were close to the exit so they could hop off as soon as the coast was clear.

We were suckers to think theyd learned the lesson that we do not want their neoconservative, business-as-usual brand of Swamp governance. We were fools to think they finally realized they work for us. They were biding their time for a Joe Biden to come along and save their from having to pretend they love this country. These people represent the worst part of America, even worse than the radical progressives rising to control the Democratic Party. At least with people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, we know what were getting. With people like Dan Crenshaw or Liz Cheney, we were caught flat-footed with our expectations that they were willing to do whats best for America.

Its long past time to cancel them. All of them. The Republican Establishment must be abolished completely. It has been useless since the formation of its current manifestation in the 1970s. Its only purpose has been to prevent constitutional conservatives from driving the narrative and agenda for the party. Theyve maintained control over the GOP, not because of their ideas but because theyre good at fundraising. Thats it. The only question that seems to be popping up is whether we should try to fix the party from within or abandon it for a new one.

Both options have major drawbacks. Fixing it from within has proven futile during past attempts. As exciting as the Tea Party was, its efficacy was limited. There were many more losses compared to the highly publicized handful of wins. Many of those wins have already been reversed through losses or conversions. How many people remember Tim Huelskamp or Dave Brat? If youre reading this youre probably among the more politically aware, but ask your neighbor or cousin if they remember these major Tea Party victors from just a few years ago.

The other way the Republican Establishment killed off Tea Party candidates was to engulf them into The Swamp. Lest we forget, Marco Rubio was arguably the most ballyhooed Tea Party win. Less than 18 months after being installed at Capitol Hill, he was the poster boy for John McCains Gang of 8 and began to systematically normalize his neoconservative values. Today, hes a so-called rebel within the GOP Establishment based solely on an occasional dissenting view from Mitch McConnell. Today, his votes line up more with Lindsey Graham than the promises he made when he was a Tea Party candidate.

The other option is to form a new party. This is difficult. Its easy to form a party. Its even relatively easy to raise enough money to put forth a valid candidate or two. But unless President Trump himself were to directly form his own party, I have major doubts that one will be able to achieve the velocity necessary to make a minor impact, let alone a serious one. Ive worked very closely with multiple third party attempts, including the Libertarian Party, Constitution Party, Federalist Party, and other smaller efforts. They all suffer from a lack of strong leadership. Unfortunately (or fortunately if it actually happens), the only person in America who could come close to mounting a serious third party launch would be President Trump.

Its important to note that I did not mention as a liability of a third party the notion that doing so would make it easier for Democrats to win. This is a common complaint against conservative third parties, and its a silly one. First, we can count on one hand the number of times a third party truly changed the results of a major election in the last century. Second, at this point theres very little difference between the Republican Establishment and Democrats. McConnell and his cronies are great at Kabuki Theater, bad at actually opposing the Democrats in a meaningful way.

The other argument against a conservative third party is valid. Most states require party registration in order to vote in a primary. If enough constitutional conservatives switch from Republican to Independent or a third party, it will become harder to nominate the good guys in the GOP. But heres the thing. If a third party is going to be successful, it has to be a commitment. That means those who embrace it go for victory from the start. In such a scenario, Republicans become just as important to oppose as Democrats. A third party would need to establish velocity early on, and that means not voting for Republicans at all in primaries. If constitutional conservatives run as Republicans in this third-party scenario, then theyll need to learn the hard way that they arent welcomed by the GOP.

If I had to endorse one of these ideas, Id push for a hard reform of the GOP. The Tea Party made so many fatal mistakes during its six years of prominence that it would take a few articles just to give an overview. The fact that they were only relevant for six years is the most obvious fatal flaw caused by all the others. In short, a revived Tea Party would and should fail miserably as the vehicle to reform the GOP. If enough strong personalities were to get behind a Tea Party 2.0 that is more than revised but completely revamped instead, it could work. Or, it could be different organization altogether. One thing it could not be is a bunch of smaller organizations going in slightly different directions. That was another fatal flaw of the Tea Party. It was actually several Tea Party factions who acted more like tribal fundraising warlords than a cohesive unit made up of like-minded patriots. Their leaders were simply too greedy, too shortsighted.

The Swamp on the GOP side will not go down without a fight. The damage theyll inflict will be major. This nation may see tougher times than now before it can possibly be made better, but we have to defeat the Establishment to have any hope of defeating the left.

Read more at: BasedUnderground.com and VoteRepublican.news.

The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / Silver Elephant Mining Corp. ("Silver Elephant" or "the Company") (TSX:ELEF)(OTCQX:SILEF)(Frankfurt:1P2N) has completed a 940 meter diamond drilling program at the Pero target within its Pulacayo Project in Bolivia.

Pero is located at the southeastern extension of the Pulacayo deposit which hosts an estimated NI43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate showing an Indicated resource of 70Moz Ag, 904Mlbs Zn, 386Mlbs Pb (see Company's press release dated October 13th, 2020).

Previous diamond drilling at the east extension of the Pulacayo deposit was directly along the main east-west trend of the main Tajo Vein system. The drill results showed increasingly erratic and narrowing mineralization along the eastward trend. However, geological mapping and surface sampling completed in late-2020 identified an area of silver bearing surface mineralization of up to 200 g/t silver several hundreds of meters south of the projected east-west Tajo Vein system trend, suggesting that the Tajo Vein system was offset southward in this portion of the system where strong alteration can be observed at surface covering 250 meters by 100 meters wide. This reinterpreted surface projection of the Tajo Vein system coincides with some historic Spanish workings in that area of property that date back to the 16th Century. Highlights of assay results from recent surface samples at Pero are tabulated below:

Sample ID Type Azimuth Width (m) Ag (g/t) Zn% Pb% 1313 Chip 210 3 200 0.1 0.1 1314 Chip 195 1.2 200 0.1 0.01 1295 Chip 340 3 164 0.0164 0.0164 1297 Chip 320 1.4 132 0.0132 0.0132 1315 Chip 200 2.9 100 0.01 0.01 1301 Chip 240 4 72 0.0072 0.0072 1303 Chip 200 6.4 67 0.0067 0.0067 1323 Chip 20 4 50 0.005 0.005 1304 Chip 150 3.7 46 0.0046 0.0046



The program of 4 holes totaling 940m at Pero commenced prior to the Christmas holidays, has just been completed. Drill assay results are expected shortly.

Visit www.silverelef.com for Pero maps.

Qualified Person

The technical contents of this news release have been prepared under the supervision of Danniel Oosterman, VP Exploration. Mr. Oosterman is not independent of the Company in that he is employed by it. Mr. Oosterman is a qualified person ("QP") as defined by the guidelines in NI 43-101.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

Silver Elephant adopts industry-recognized best practices in its implementation of QA/QC methods. Rock chip samples average between 4 and 6 kg. Samples are shipped to ALS Global Laboratories in Ururo, Bolivia for preparation and then shipped to ALS Global laboratories in Lima, Peru for analysis. Samples are analyzed using Intermediate Level Four Acid Digestion. Silver overlimits ("ore grade") are analyzed using fire assay with a gravimetric finish. The ALS Laboratories sample management system meets all the requirements of International Standards ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and ISO 9001:2015. All ALS geochemical hub laboratories are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for specific analytical procedures. A geochemical standard control samples are inserted into the sample stream. The laboratory also includes duplicates of samples, standards and blanks for additional QA/QC. Check assays are reviewed prior to the release of data. Assays are also reviewed for their geological context and checked against field descriptions.

About Silver Elephant

Silver Elephant Mining Corp. is a premier mining and exploration company of energy metals.

Further information on Silver Elephant can be found at www.silverelef.com.

SILVER ELEPHANT MINING CORP.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"John Lee"

Executive Chairman

For more information about Silver Elephant, please contact Investor Relations:

+1.604.569.3661 ext. 101

ir@silverelef.com www.silverelef.com

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release, including statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, and business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events, or results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law.

SOURCE: Silver Elephant Mining Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625126/Silver-Elephant-Completes-940m-Drilling-Program-at-the-Pero-Target-within-Pulacayo-Project-Assays-Pending
New Delhi: On the first birth anniversary of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, his fan army and family has been actively sharing photos and videos of him on social media. Sushant's sister Shweta Singh Kirti took to her Twitter handle and shared some unseen moments with brother.

Sushant Singh Rajput's sister wrote a heartwarming caption reading: Love you Bhai. You are part of me and will always remain so... #SushantDay

Love you Bhai You are part of me and will always remain so... #SushantDay pic.twitter.com/nDU8Zkeipp  Shweta Singh Kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) January 20, 2021

The actor was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14, 2020. His mysterious death left his fans, friends and family mourning. After SSR's sudden demise, the jolt of his death was struck so hard that everyone witnessed an ocean of his fan army growing each day.

His fans and followers are trending #SushantDay on Twitter, marking January 21 as the day dedicated to the 34-year-old shining star.

The death of a popular actor under mysterious circumstances made it a sensational case for months with premiere agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the case from various angles respectively.

SSR's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty came under the scanner after some of her personal messages came out in public domain and late actor's family accused her in the FIR.

Rhea, her brother Showik Chakraborty, some staff members of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput and a few others were arrested under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Rhea, Showik and some other accused were later granted bail.

Rest in Peace, Sushant Singh Rajput!
Turkey: Borrell tells Cavusoglu atmosphere improved recently 'Last year was complicated for our relations'

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 21 GEN - EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell received Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Brussels on Thursday, and said last year "was a complicated year in our relations".



"Recently we have seen, from both sides, an improvement in the general atmosphere and some important steps. And this meeting today is also an important step in the direction of searching for a reciprocal strategic interest, the development of a cooperative and reciprocal relationship anchored in common values and principles," Borrell said.



"Another good step is the announced resumption of direct exploratory talks between Turkey and Greece," Borrell said, calling for "continued efforts" and "translating announcements into action".



He said the EU "sincerely hopes for a de-escalation in the Eastern Mediterranean, but also in the broader region".(ANSAmed). (ANSA).




Education Minister Peter Weir hopes the Executive can update schools next week on whether or not they can reopen.

Northern Irelands schools are due to open their doors after the mid-term break in February, but that was thrown into doubt after First Minister Arlene Foster confirmed that the current lockdown regulations have been extended until March 5.

Speaking alongside deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill during Thursdays Covid-19 press conference in Dungannon, Mrs Foster explained that the regulations will be reviewed again on or before February 18.

Ms ONeill added that there may well need to be further restrictions after March 5.

Read More

Education Minister Mr Weir explained that the health paper that was discussed by the Executive on Thursday afternoon didnt directly mention schools.

Everything is a level of overall contribution and we saw the surge which took place particularly around the Christmas period, he told BBC Radio Ulsters Evening Extra. I dont think that was particularly linked in with schools.

What happens directly within schools has a limited amount of impact on the virus but what it does have is an element of behavioural aspects, particularly around freeing up adults to be in other places.

I think we do need to weight up all the factors. The overriding aim should ultimately be to have children directly in schools getting that face to face learning.

That is best for their future but that has got to be weighed up against the overall impact that is there in terms of contacts and how that impacts in on the wider public health considerations.

DUP leader Mrs Foster stated earlier that there was plenty of time to provide clarity for schools and parents.

It comes after another 21 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported here.

The Department of Health reports 16 died in the 24 hours up to 10am on Thursday. Another five died previously. The death toll has risen to 1,692.

Another 732 people have tested positive for the virus.

In the past seven days 5,563 people have tested positive. That is down on the 7,942 the previous week.

In total 98,351 people have been confirmed to have caught the disease since testing began following the outbreak in Northern Ireland.

Read More

There are 806 coronavirus patients in hospitals, down on the 987 a week ago. A total of 70 people are in intensive care.

Hospital are operating at 96% occupancy with four - the Royal, Ulster, Causeway and Antrim - operating beyond capacity.

There are 134 confirmed outbreaks of coronavirus in hospitals.

Read More

Meanwhile, the chief Executive of the Belfast Trust has made an emotional apology to the hundreds of cancer patients whose operations have been cancelled.

"We cannot treat everyone the way we would want to treat them, at the moment," she said.

None of this is easy, none of us wanted to be here ... there is moral distress amongst our staff, but that is nothing in comparison to the anguish and devastation those families are facing, particularly those who had a date for surgery which was then ripped out as we had to prepare for Covid, she said.

So, we are doing all we can."
WASHINGTON - It was America's first split-screen transfer of power.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump waved goodbye and boarded Air Force One on Wednesday, and successor Joe Biden, along with his wife, Jill Biden, emerged from Blair House, the presidential guest quarters across from the White House.

Television news cameras caught the dueling images as the Bidens headed to a morning church service and the Trumps flew to their new home at Mar-a-Lago in South Florida - bolting town without staying to welcome, or even acknowledge, the new occupants of the nation's most prominent address.

The scene captured the start of an extraordinary Inauguration Day that marked a historic break from some of the traditions that have long accompanied the nation's White House handoff.

Trump's bitter refusal to concede the election or participate in inaugural events meant there would be no customary tea service between the couples before Biden's swearing in. No outgoing president would observe the transfer of power during the inauguration at the Capitol; that duty was left to Vice President Mike Pence. And, finally, there was no gracious welcome for the new occupants of the White House, no handshakes and photographs taken on the portico of the two couples.

Other traditions, such as the presidential parade along Pennsylvania Avenue, were muted by the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns, with crowds kept far away. The presence of tens of thousands of police and National Guard troops, after the riot at the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob two weeks ago, created a feeling of oppressiveness during the otherwise celebratory occasion.

Yet change at the White House sped forward nonetheless, marked by milestones large and small as a team of government workers raced to complete the rapid and highly choreographed transition from one first family and staff to another.

Movers unloaded furniture and installed computers. Cleaning crews scrubbed the White House residence, the West Wing and the East Wing, giving them an extra-deep cleanse (at a reported costs of $500,000) after the departure of a Trump team that did not follow basic coronavirus safeguards. Workers hung framed photos on the West Wing walls, including a shot of Biden speaking at the New Castle, Del., airport on Tuesday - from a lectern bearing his late son Beau's name.

The anticipation among the new administration was palpable. Audio of Biden's inaugural festivities was piped through the White House press room's speaker system. One Biden aide, a veteran of the Obama White House, showed off to reporters where Biden's former West Wing desk used to sit.

"It's exciting, it's daunting, you feel the weight of responsibility," Cecilia Munoz, a former domestic policy adviser to President Barack Obama, recalled of moving into the building after his inauguration in 2009. "To be honest, you feel a little bit, 'Oh, my gosh, what if I'm not up to it?' "

Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took their respective oaths of office just before noon. By then, the Trumps had landed in Florida. Trump made no mention of Biden in his farewell remarks to a small group of family members and supporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews before departing Washington, and Biden did not mention Trump during his inaugural address.

It was not clear whether the Trumps did the customary goodbye for the nearly 100 permanent White House staffers who tend to the residence and other quarters. Kate Andersen Brower, author of several books about White House traditions, said the staff generally enjoyed working for the Trumps, who seldom entertained and did not have complicated tastes in food.

She predicted that the Bidens, who are acquainted with some of the staff from the Obama years, would also get along well with the White House staff.

Even without a pandemic, first families get new mattresses, and the floors, walls, shades, chandeliers and other fittings are scrubbed or steamed. Pictures are removed or rehung, personal artifacts - even toiletries and clothes - are moved in and at the ready when the new occupants arrive,

The White House chief usher had worked with Jill Biden's staff for weeks to organize the move of household belongings. Before Wednesday, a spokeswoman for the General Services Administration said the agency would clean and disinfect "all furniture, flooring, window treatments, handrails, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, elevator buttons, restroom fixtures and dispensers, door handles and push plates, and lighting fixtures."

The handover is called the "transfer of families" and usually takes about five hours.

"I call it organized chaos," said Gary Walters, who spent 21 years as White House chief usher.

And there were other abrupt changes taking place. At noon, Biden inherited the @Potus account on Twitter from Trump's team - though the 45th president, who was banned from Twitter for his role in inciting the Capitol attack, had far more frequently sent tweets from his personal account.

At about the same time, Trump's White House website was archived for history, frozen in place for historical reference as fresh pages were uploaded for the Biden team.

By late afternoon, Biden and his family members were on their way to the White House, making their way along the parade route from the Capitol. The procession stopped on the Pennsylvania Avenue promenade, and the Bidens emerged from a fleet of limousines and strolled along the street to greet reporters and public officials, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat.

The group walked through the towering security gates, then up the White House driveway. The first couple stopped outside the entrance, waved to reporters and, at 3:52 p.m., headed inside.

Awaiting Biden in a room adjacent to the Oval Office were two trays stacked with chocolate chip cookies, each one in plastic wrap with a gold presidential seal. Photographs of the earlier inaugural hours had already been framed and hung in the West Wing, including shots of tens of thousands of flags arranged on the National Mall.

Moving boxes were still being opened, with some marked "outer Oval." Aides and workers were trying to figure out who was who - many had mostly or entirely communicated through email during the pandemic. Adding to the challenge was that everyone in the building wore masks, reflecting pandemic guidelines from the new president.

In a small nod to tradition, Trump left a handwritten note for Biden, reportedly placed in the Resolute Desk by a military aide.

Shortly after 5 p.m., Biden entered the Oval Office and sat at his desk to sign executive actions reversing some of Trump's moves. Family photos in gold frames were displayed on a table behind him, where Trump had showcased a photo of his parents and a box of military challenge coins.

Asked about Trump's personal note, Biden called it "very generous" but said he would not disclose the contents "until I talk to him."

It was unclear whether or when that would happen.

- - -

The Washington Post's Bonnie Berkowitz contributed to this report.
Ideal Muslim subjectivity: W&M professor presents two views in new book

Two views: Faraz Sheikh, assistant professor of religious studies at William & Mary, has published a new book, Forging Ideal Muslim Subjects: Discursive Practices, Subject Formation, & Muslim Ethic. The work discusses two figures  9th century moral pedagogue al-Harith al-Muhasibi and 20th century Kurdish Quran scholar Said Nursi. Photo by Isa Sheikh Photo - of - Hide Caption

Faraz Sheikh, assistant professor of religious studies at William & Mary, has published a new book, Forging Ideal Muslim Subjects: Discursive Practices, Subject Formation, & Muslim Ethic, which discusses the forms a religiously-informed, ethical Muslim life can take.

The work discusses two figures  9th century moral pedagogue al-Harith al-Muhasibi and 20th century Kurdish Quran scholar Said Nursi  reconstructing their accounts of ideal Muslim consciousness and analyzing the discursive practices implicated in its formation and expression.

Building on his doctoral dissertation work on Muhasibis views, Sheikh continued to analyze the authors works in dense, classical Arabic. Sheikhs book is only the second monograph in English to focus on Muhasibis teachings and one of only a few to study Nursis teachings.

It gives English-speaking scholars of religious ethics access to previously inaccessible Muslim ethical thought and practice, Sheikh said. It opens avenues for further research into Muslim ethics and anthropology and is also a model for work in comparative religious ethics involving Muslim thought in relation to modern political and social ethics.

W&M News asked Sheikh to share more about the project.

What is new here?

My book is one of a handful of scholarly studies of what religious ethicists call subjectivity and practices of subject-formation. It is new in terms of its method  it focuses on different forms-of-life made possible by particular religious discourses  as well as its content. It gives an in-depth view of two important accounts of what it means to be an ideal or excellent Muslim, how a Muslim becomes such a person, what kinds of ideas and relations might impede the attainment of the ideal and how those impediments might be overcome.

In terms of method, scholars have typically read Muslim religious discourses in very flat ways  as repositories of antiquated debates and claims about God, human nature and the purpose of life. My book looks beneath mere appearances to uncover how these discourses are pedagogical and psychagogical tools and practical strategies for the formation and transformation of specific psychic, cultural and ethical dispositions and attitudes.

My book illustrates how discourses function as practices of self-formation and thus explains how what might otherwise seem to a modern eye as incoherent and irrational has a deep psychological appeal, moral efficacy and cultural relevance. In terms of substance, the book gives us a synoptic view of two important accounts of what it means to be an excellent Muslim person and how one becomes such a person.

We get Muhasibis and Nursis account of ideal Muslim subjectivity, and this allows us to see how their theoretical accounts compare and contrast with accounts of Muslim selfhood that anthropologists of Islam and Muslim societies are rapidly producing. My book then is also a work of social criticism  it can help us evaluate how particular Muslims and Muslim communities live up to, or fail to live up to, the ideals elaborated by important intellectuals of the tradition.

Why did you decide to study ideal Muslim consciousness?

I think consciousness, and also what some might call the sub-conscious and the unconscious, is one of the most abiding and interesting puzzles in both the natural sciences, as well as the humanities. Modern and post-modern philosophy and psychology have said much about it.

But what we call consciousness has been the subject of inquiry and curiosity for a very long time. I wanted to study how pre-modern religious thinkers thought about what we call consciousness, its nature, its formation and its role in the ethical life of Muslims.

Also, there is a lot of interest today in understanding what being Muslim is all about  what kinds of commitments and ideals are the authentic core of Muslim identity and which features are more contingent and peripheral. I was interested in providing English-speaking readers access to different influential accounts of what it has meant to be a good Muslim at the level of individual consciousness and self-other relations.

The study of consciousness is really a study of not only the inner life of a person but also the cultural life of a community. Individual psyche shapes culture and vice versa.

What can we learn from this?

What a reader learns from this book depends on what interests them most. One thing is we can learn that premodern religious discourses are not the flat, uninteresting, abstract discussions that many in the secular academy take them to be. Religious discourses, even at their most abstract, are actually pedagogies of everyday ethical living and self-understanding.

Our interest in religious discourses should not then just be historical and philosophical, but also ethical and contemporary  religious discourses are a rich source of culture just as culture is the source of authoritative discourses. We can learn how particular ideas manifest as lived states of the psyche and particular cultural attitudes and vice versa. This can help us better understand and critique contemporary Muslim self-understandings and culture in the traditions own terms.

What conclusions did you reach?

One important conclusion I reached was the discovery that Muslim thinkers I studied have been more keenly aware of the problems of self-righteousness and self-assuredness in matters of faith than many of their counterparts in other traditions and also other Muslim thinkers.

Their teachings offer us interesting insights into how one would simultaneously cultivate deep moral commitments while struggling against self-assuredness and closed-mindedness. The thinkers I studied realize the importance of both certainty and humility in matters of faith and offer strategies to balance them in ways that avoids the ethical pitfalls  for instance intolerance towards the religious other  of too much certainty in matters of faith.

I also found that there are indeed many ways of being Muslim in the world. And there are important conceptual and interpretive choices that Muslims can make, and these choices can then shape practical and ethical attitudes in very specific ways. It became clear to me that Muslim ethics cannot be studied without attention to Muslim moral psychology and Muslim conceptions of human nature and the nature of existence as a whole.
LAWRENCE -- The COVID-19 pandemic has created new perils and challenges for people experiencing substance use disorders and addictive behaviors. Social distancing and isolation can trigger loneliness, anxiety and depression. These circumstances have put some "recreational users" at risk for developing addictions and caused some in recovery from addictions to relapse.

At the same time, the pandemic has made it nearly impossible for mutual-help (e.g., AA, NA) recovery groups to gather in person, forcing a scramble to provide remote support through platforms like Zoom.

Now, researchers at the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment at the University of Kansas Life Span Institute have published their experience making SMART Recovery groups available via computer and telephone to the community in Douglas County. Their paper appears this month in the peer-reviewed Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

According to lead author Dr. Bruce Liese, professor of family medicine and psychiatry at the University of Kansas Medical Center and clinical director at the Cofrin Logan Center, his team established seven weekly in-person SMART Recovery group meetings at various community institutions prior to the pandemic. These meetings took place at the Lawrence Public Library, KU, the Douglas County jail, Mirror Inc. and the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

"It's a free mutual help group, somewhat like a 12-step program, where people support and help each other," Liese said. "The difference is that SMART Recovery is based on scientific principles and evidence - particularly evidence about addiction, treatment, what works and what doesn't work. It's based on Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and readiness-to-change research. I believed SMART Recovery would be perfect because, coming out of the university, our program had to be based on scientific evidence."

Growth of the in-person meetings was slow at first, but soon KU researchers tallied 229 different participants who attended these groups for help with chemical and behavioral addictions ranging from addictions to alcohol, methamphetamine, cannabis, opioids, nicotine and gambling.

But that all changed once the pandemic took hold in March last year.

"They had to close the library and other facilities where we were meeting," Liese said. "Thanks to the SMART Recovery central office, we returned online with funding for Zoom meetings from their office. And at first, we went through the same thing -- meetings with just one person. But over the past months we've had upwards of 20 people in online meetings. So, it has grown again. SMART Recovery was very generous in providing us with a Zoom account. Once again, we can have as many meetings as the community needs. We have two active meetings in the community now: on Wednesdays and Fridays from 5 to 6:30 pm."

As with in-person SMART Recovery meetings, the virtual meetings are led by volunteer facilitators drawn from the community and university, who receive online and live (Zoom) training.

"The SMART Recovery central office offers a facilitator training program online for people who are interested in facilitating these groups," Liese said. "The online training involves at least 20 hours of watching videos, reading and taking exams ... so it's a pretty massive endeavor. I took the online training right away and found it interesting and stimulating. It focuses on what works, what doesn't work, while emphasizing the importance of interpersonal relationship skills. The training teaches active listening so people know you're hearing what they're saying. It made sense to do this kind of training in the community. SMART's excellent online training enabled us to quickly develop these free groups as a safety net for those who need one."

Soon after starting online meetings, Liese was determined to make meetings available to people who didn't have the high-speed internet access needed for the Zoom platform. So, he extended the remote SMART Recovery meetings to the telephone as well, a service called SMARTline.

"I see up to 30 patients a week on Zoom as a faculty member and clinician in the Family Medicine Clinic at KU Medical Center," he said. "But I have some patients who have no computers or no computer capabilities. I offer telephone visits to them. I thought we could do this for SMART Recovery. So, we came up with SMARTline: a service for anyone with a phone who is struggling with addiction. SMARTline, also based on SMART Recovery principles, is offered every single day of the week from 4 to 8 p.m. If you dial 785-550-0764 you will get to talk to a SMARTline volunteer."

Liese's co-author and collaborator in establishing SMART Recovery groups in Douglas County is project coordinator Corey Monley, at the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction and Research Treatment.

"He is so vital to the process -- we've had so many logistical demands that could never have been met without his hard work," Liese said. "He's the project coordinator and a volunteer. He runs the group on Fridays. He is the brightest, hardest-working person I've ever had in a position like this. He graduated from KU a couple of years ago. He's applying to Ph.D. programs. This is his first publication, and his work in this area is very likely to be the foundation for the rest of his career."

Liese said he is grateful to the Douglas County Community Foundation and the Douglas County Commission, which provided funding for SMART Recovery facilitator training and supervision. He also appreciates Lawrence Public Library and describes it as "a wonderful community partner." The library has donated meeting space for training and group meetings and treated group participants as valued guests.

Liese said he's learned a lot from his experience running SMART Recovery groups during the pandemic. For example, he now fully understands that flexibility and ongoing communication with stakeholders, as well as people in recovery, are keys to sustaining a program during challenging times.

"We have learned that telehealth is effective for all kinds of psychological services," he said. "But we found it was difficult, with agencies closed, to let people know where to find us. Back when somebody could pick up an information card at the library and slip it into their pocket, it made it a lot easier. We've also learned the importance of establishing advanced plans, and being light on your feet, ready for what's needed instead of remaining stuck in what you're used to doing. Getting everyone involved -- stakeholders and the public -- is gigantic. And continuing to recruit volunteers has been especially important during COVID."

People seeking help with substance use disorders and other behaviors can contact SMART Recovery in Douglas county by dialing 785-550-0764. They can also reach out to Liese via email. A list of Zoom meetings can be found here.

###
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
HARTFORD  A city man faces up to eight years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty in court Thursday, admitting to assaulting a letter carrier in 2019, prosecutors said.

Demorse Kelley, 39, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport.

The charge stems from an incident on June 7, 2019.

A U.S. Postal Service letter carrier was sorting mail inside her postal delivery van, parked on Sigourney Street in Hartford, when Kelley approached the van from the sidewalk, authorities said.

When Kelley got to the van, he slid the door fully open and commented on the letter carriers appearance, asked her for a hug and for her phone number, according to prosecutors.

He then touched the letter carriers leg below her shorts, made sexual advances and obstructed the letter carriers ability to exit, according to a press release from the office of John Durham, the U.S. Attorney for Connecticut.

The letter carrier was able to get out of the van and called Hartford police. Officers arrested Kelley later that day.

Dooley scheduled sentencing for April 15. At that time, Kelley faces a maximum term of eight years in prison.

Kelley, who has been detained since his arrest, has unrelated state charges pending, federal authorities said.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Since Election Day, an American flag has occupied a space in the window of Kelsey Schnells Grand Rapids residence.

Schnell didnt buy the flag at a store. It was a parting gift, one briefly flown over the U.S. Capitol at the request of then-Sen. Joe Bidens office to commemorate the end of Schnells internship with the senator in 2007.

To Schnell, the flag in his window not only holds personal significance but represents unity among the 50 states, something his former boss, now president, stressed when he became the nations 46th commander and chief Wednesday, Jan. 20.

Hearing his speech today and most of his campaigning, I see that he is actively trying to unify people and that people are willing to be unified, Schnell said.

The line he said today that really struck me was that We will lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example. We do have to reach out and come together.

President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural message of unity and hope Wednesday at the Capitol, where just two weeks before supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building, breaching it and delaying certification of Bidens win.

Related: President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris sworn in: This is Americas day

Schnell, a 32-year-old Grand Rapids resident, worked in Bidens office as an intern from January to June in 2007 while attending school at Ferris State University. His internship ended just months before Biden was tapped as former President Barack Obamas vice running mate.

Kelsey Schnell (Courtesy)

Schnell is the founder and principal of Kwalla, a communications and marketing firm in Grand Rapids.

He recalls Biden as an extremely genuine and authentic person who would take time to personally call constituents and congratulate them on monumental birthdays, such as someones 100th, when he learned of them.

Hes not going through layers of disguises to try to please one side or another, he said. That came through in his speech today when he talked about unity and that if you dont agree to me, just hear me out. Thats been him to a T.

Looking ahead, Schnell said hes hopeful Biden will bring people back to the table together, whether its disagreeing families or politicians in Washington. He recalled a phrase he often heard Biden say of Lets get it done, a call to not simply wait by and hope for the best.

I think what hes trying to do and what he will do, what he can do, is remind people of the things that they love about each other, that this isnt just about how much in stimulus money did you get, how much in tax breaks did somebody get, he said.

Its about, do you have enough? Can we get you what you need? And both parties want to give people what they need. Hes going to facilitate conversations rather than issue orders.

While Schnell didnt interact much with the senior senator of nearly four decades during his time as an intern, he remembered a moment during a going away party where the office phone rang while Biden was giving a toast and none of the staffers moved to pick it up.

Hoping to stand out, Schnell answered the phone, taking a message from Bidens son, Hunter, who had called.

I set the phone down and those same dozen sets of eyes were looking at me like, Well it was nice knowing you. You really messed up. So, Im sweating through my J.C. Penney suit and totally terrified, Schnell said.

After the toast was finished, Biden came over to him.

Joe came over to get a glass of water and he said, Hey, thanks for grabbing the phone. Was that Hunt? I said, Yes, sir, it was. He said, Oh, good, thanks, Schnell recounted. He could not have been more human. He noticed in a room full of people while he was speaking that somebody grabbed the phone and that it was his son. Thats his leadership style. Its very human. Hes willing to acknowledge some of the unpredictable points that come across and roll with it when you do.

Schnell pointed out that the diversity in Bidens cabinet mirrors much of what he saw as an intern, where the staff was comprised of people from different religious backgrounds, races and genders.

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ALBANY  A 93-mile electric transmission line being built from Oneida to the town of New Scotland in Albany County has been given final approval by the state Public Service Commission.

The $854 million project, which is being financed by the New York Power Authority and a transmission line developer called LS Power, will replace an existing line by 2023. The Marcy to New Scotland Upgrade Project, as it is called, will enable more power produced at upstate wind farms to make its way to Albany and downstate.
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A woman is being treated for serious injuries after she fell down a cliff while hiking in the mountains of Southern Oregon, and was hoisted out after a 12-hour rescue effort.

According to a news release from the U.S. Coast Guard, the 42-year-old woman, whom they did not identify, was hiking with a companion near Grayback Mountain, a peak in the Siskiyou Mountains, west of Ashland. The Coast Guard responded to a call around 9 p.m. Monday after a report that the woman had fallen about 50 feet, and was seriously injured.

A helicopter crew from the Coast Guards North Bend sector arrived at the scene around 11 p.m., and lowered a rescue swimmer to give the woman immediate medical care. Because of challenging weather and difficult terrain, they waited several hours to hoist her out of the area.

The rescue swimmer stayed with the woman and cared for her overnight, until an Oregon Army National Guard helicopter arrived and hoisted the woman out shortly before noon the next day. The woman and another hiker, who was not injured, were taken to Medford so she could receive medical care. The Coast Guard did not provide an update on her condition as of Wednesday evening.

The Coast Guard advised people recreating in the Pacific Northwest to prepare for emergencies by wearing proper clothing and shoes, taking enough water and having a reliable way to reach first responders in case of an emergency.

-Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR
They understood free speech was at the heart of being an American. They warned about the excesses of the McCarthy era and the blacklists. They welcomed intellectual combat. And they knew that free speech protections in the First Amendment were critically important. They also knew that without a culture that supports a free exchange of ideas, our constitutional liberty would be lost. They revered liberty.
Ten years ago, she was celebrated as a heroine for helping to spark the 2011 uprising that unseated then-President Hosni Mubarak. But Asmaa Mahfouz, a political activist and one of the founders of the April 6 Youth Movement (credited with mobilizing the mass protests that ousted Mubarak), is today struggling to gain acceptance in her society. Ironically enough, she has been shunned and marginalized for the very reason she won acclaim as an icon of the Egyptian revolution a decade ago.

In a video published on YouTube on Jan. 18, 2011, Mahfouz had made an impassioned plea to fellow citizens to join her in protest in Tahrir Square to demand their rights.

I am making this video to give you one simple message: We want to go down to Tahrir Square on Jan. 25. If we still have honor and want to live in dignity on this land, we have to go down on Jan. 25. We'll go down and demand our rights  our fundamental human rights.

The video quickly went viral on Egyptian social media, inspiring others to post similar appeals. A week later, on Jan. 25, 2011, as Cairo was preparing to mark National Police Day, thousands of Egyptians marched to Tahrir Square, chanting the revolutionary slogan Bread, Freedom and Social Justice. They also called for an end to corruption and police brutality and the downfall of the regime.

Ten years on, Mahfouz, one of the recipients of the 2011 Sakharov Award for Courage, admits that the unprecedented turnout on Jan. 25, 2011, had astounded the young pro-democracy activists that led the movement for change. The protests would quickly gain momentum in the coming days, turning into a full-fledged revolution that 18 days later would force Mubarak to step down.

We were totally unprepared for the developments that followed Mubarak's ouster, Mahfouz recalled. That is my one regret.

Dramatic changes have taken place in Egypt since the uprising, but the one thing that has remained constant is the repression, which according to Human Rights Watch has escalated under the rule of military strongman Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who took power in 2014.

With many of her colleagues imprisoned, killed or living in exile, the once outspoken Mahfouz has, not surprisingly perhaps, been forced into silence.

The fear was always there, but in the past I was able to take a stand against injustice, she told Al-Monitor. If you are passionate about a cause, you speak out even if you know you may be harmed for expressing your grievances. Now a single mother of two, Mahfouz has had to reset her priorities, placing her children's safety and well-being above all else.

If you know that your hands are tied and there is nothing you can do to change a particular situation, you choose to remain silent, she said.

Unlike most other revolutionary activists who played a leading role in Mubarak's ouster, Mahfouz is lucky to have narrowly escaped the fate of imprisonment that befell many of her colleagues. Tens of thousands of opposition figures have reportedly been detained in a sweeping security crackdown that since 2014 has targeted dissenters of all stripes. While most of those languishing behind bars are members or sympathizers of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, many secular activists, journalists, researchers and artists have also been targeted.

In mid-August 2011, Mahfouz was interrogated by military prosecutors on the charge of inciting violence against the military. This, after she had lambasted the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, calling the interim government that oversaw the country's transition post-revolution a council of dogs in a Facebook post. Her prosecution coincided with a media defamation campaign, depicting her as a traitor and foreign agent. But a public outcry over subjecting civilians to military trials helped reverse the plan to have Mahfouz arrested. She was acquitted, and the charges against her were dropped.

While Mahfouz remains at large, she is not entirely free. She has been banned from leaving the country since 2014.

I have exhausted all possible channels to have the travel ban lifted, but to no avail, she lamented. She has also realized that it is futile to call for the release of her jailed colleagues, many of whom have either been re-arrested or have had their detention extended on new charges after their release. Shying away from politics, Mahfouz has instead resigned herself to the role of mother, raising her two children on her own since her divorce several years ago. "I tell them freedom comes at a price and teach them democratic values."

Mahfouz has not been able to get a job as "employers fear that hiring me would land them in trouble with the authorities."

Like Mahfouz, activist Samira Ibrahim continues to live in fear of arrest. Ibrahim rose to prominence during the 2011 uprising after accusing a military doctor of performing virginity checks on several female protesters (herself included) who had been briefly detained for setting up camp in Tahrir Square and refusing to leave until the demands of the revolution were met.

After the tests were allegedly conducted on the young women in the corridors of the Egyptian Museum on March 9, 2011, Ibrahim filed a lawsuit accusing the senior military generals running the country at the time of ordering the humiliating tests to be conducted in a bid to break the will of female activists.

Although the doctor was acquitted, a Cairo administrative court officially banned virginity tests in Egypt. Euphoric over the December 2011 milestone ruling, Ibrahim headed to Tahrir Square to celebrate her victory with a small group of secular activists.

Ten years on, Ibrahim's hopes for a civil, democratic state have all but been completely dashed and the revolution has become a distant, dreamlike memory.

The repression continues, and the revolutionary goals of freedom and a democratic, civil state have yet to be realized, she told Al-Monitor. The arrests of fellow revolutionary activists have left her feeling estranged in her own country. Refusing to concede defeat, Ibrahim contested legislative elections in 2015 and again in the fall of 2020, running as an independent in her constituency of al-Omrania el-Talebeya in the hope of serving my community. On both occasions, however, Ibrahim was defeated by rival candidates from pro-government parties.

The winning candidates in the latest parliamentary election were handpicked and appointed by the state to reward them for their loyalty, she claimed, clearly dismayed by her defeat at the ballot box.

Bahia Shehab, an artist and a professor of the practice of design at the American University in Cairo, also reminisced about the revolution, recalling a brief period during and right after the uprising when she could take her art to the streets of downtown Cairo to raise awareness about rights violations happening at the time.

Shehab's trademark No stencils in various calligraphy styles, spray-painted on the walls of Mohamed Mahmoud Street, never failed to spark interest among passersby. They would stop to gaze at them, contemplating the dramatic events that were unfolding, including recurring sexual assault incidents and military trials for civilians. But the restrictions on artistic freedom of expression (and other freedoms) in place since mid-2013 have spelled the end of the street art movement that flourished in the wake of the uprising.

The arrests of several street artists, mob assaults on some whose artwork was deemed offensive by government supporters, defamation of others like Ganzeer by pro-government talk show hosts and even the killing of at least one artist under mysterious circumstances have combined to stifle creativity and keep artists within the confines of their studios.

The revolutionary murals have been whitewashed in an apparent attempt by authorities to erase all traces of the revolution. Like many of the street artists who now live in exile, Shehab was left with no option but to take her street art overseas.

In 2013, when I found that Cairo was no longer accessible, I decided to take my street art elsewhere and started painting my messages in different cities around the world, she told Al-Monitor.

Shehab has also written several books on the Egyptian revolution. The title of her latest book, At the Corner of a Dream, was inspired by a poem of the same name written by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, advising people to dream and fight to attain their goals.

This is precisely what we need to do; we need to dream and to keep on fighting to realize our dreams, Shehab said. Books are a valuable medium to preserve memory unlike street art, which can be vandalized and can disappear.

Despite everything that has happened over the course of the last 10 years, Shehab remains optimistic for the future. A revolution is a process. It takes time; it needs patience, hard work, perspective and a long-term vision. Changing systems does not happen overnight. It wont happen if we shout on the streets or paint on the walls.

She hopes that her books and artwork will inspire the younger generation to continue the work started by pro-democracy activists in Tahrir Square.

Mahfouz, Ibrahim, and Shehab who all played leading roles in the 2011 revolution, agree on one thing: the struggle against oppression can take many forms; each of them is resisting in her own way.



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Washington: President Joe Biden returned the United States to the worldwide fight to slow global warming in one of his first official acts and immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts that would transform how Americans drive and get their power.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, Joe Biden said in his inaugural address on Wednesday. A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now. Biden signed an executive order rejoining the Paris climate accord within hours of taking the oath of office, fulfilling a campaign pledge.

United States continues to be one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases. We need to put in place policies and take steps here to address that as well: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki pic.twitter.com/9Wib2wfVJE  ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021

The move undoes the US withdrawal ordered by predecessor Donald Trump, who belittled the science behind climate efforts, loosened regulations on heat-trapping oil, gas and coal emissions, and spurred oil and gas leasing in pristine Arctic tundra and other wilderness.

The Paris accord commits 195 countries and other signatories to come up with a goal to reduce carbon pollution and monitor and report their fossil fuel emissions.

The United States is the world's number 2 carbon emitter after China.

Biden's move will solidify political will globally, former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday. Not a single country in this world, however powerful, however resourceful one may be, can do it alone, said Ban, speaking virtually at a briefing in the Netherlands for an upcoming Climate Adaptation Summit.

We have to put all our hands on the deck. That is the lesson, very difficult lesson, which we have learned during last year," as Trump made good on his pledge to pull out of the global accord.

The current UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, welcomed Biden's steps, saying the US re-entry to the climate agreement means countries producing two-thirds of carbon pollution have committed to carbon neutrality. Biden signed other directives to start undoing other Trump climate rollbacks.

He ordered a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in what had been virgin Arctic wilderness, directed federal agencies to start looking at tougher mileage standards and other emission limits again and began revoking Trump's approval for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.

Another first-day order directed agencies to consider the impact on climate, disadvantaged communities, and on future generations from any regulatory action that affects fossil fuel emissions, a new requirement.

Human-caused climate change has been linked to worsening natural disasters, including wildfires, droughts, flooding and hurricanes. However, there was no immediate word on when Biden would make good on another climate campaign pledge, one banning new oil and gas leasing on federal land.

After Biden notifies the UN by letter of his intention to rejoin the Paris accord, it would become effective in 30 days, UN spokesman Alex Saier said.

Rejoining the Paris accords could put the US on track to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 40 per cent to 50 per cent by 2030, experts said. There's a lot we can do because we've left so much on the table over the last four years," said Kate Larsen, former deputy director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality during the Obama administration.

Biden has promised that the needed transformations of the US transportation and power sectors, and other changes, will mean millions of jobs.

Opponents of the climate accord, including Republican lawmakers who supported Trump's withdrawal from it, have said it would mean higher gas prices and higher electricity prices even though wind and solar have become more affordable than coal, and competitive with natural gas, in generating electricity.

The Paris climate agreement is based on the backward idea that the United States is a culprit here when in reality the United States is the leading driver of climate solutions, said Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican.

Republican senators are expected to introduce legislation that would require Biden to submit the Paris plan to the Senate for ratification. It's not clear whether the narrowly divided Senate would have the two-thirds votes needed to ratify the agreement, which was never approved by Congress.

Supporters say congressional approval is not needed. Most of the pollution-reduction goals set by the agreement are voluntary. The climate deal is based on each nation setting a goal for cutting carbon pollution by 2030. Other countries submitted theirs by last month. The US did not.

Saier said America just needs to submit its goal sometime before November climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland. A long-time international goal, included in the Paris accord with an even more stringent target, is to keep warming below 2 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times. The world has already warmed 1.2 degrees since that time.

As of 2020, US emissions were 24 per cent below 2005 levels, but that reflected the extraordinary economic slowdown stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, said climate scientist Zeke Hausfather, energy and climate director for the Breakthrough Institute.

There are two big areas where climate policy deals with day-to-day American life. One is electricity generation, and the other is transportation. Market forces have made wind and solar cheaper than dirtier coal, fueling a quiet transformation toward cleaner fuels, and that's expected to continue so that eventually nearly all of the nation's power will be low or zero-carbon, Larsen and other experts say.

What happens to cars, trucks and buses will be far more noticeable. Several experts foresee the majority of new cars purchased in 2030 being electric.

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The House Oversight and Reform Committee has asked the FBI to investigate the role that Parler, a social media website and app popular with conservatives, played in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a New York Democrat who chairs the panel, cited press reports that detailed violent threats on Parler in her letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday.

Maloney noted that numerous Parler users have been arrested and charged with threatening violence against elected officials, or for their role in participating in the attack.

Her letter also cited reporting from DailyMail.com on Parler CEO John Matze's Russian wife Alina Mukhutdinova, and Maloney alleged that the company has suspicious 'connections to Russia'.

Earlier this month, DailyMail.com revealed that Matze met Mukhutdinova in Las Vegas while she was on a two-week vacation in the U.S., though no suggestion has been made that she has improper oversight at her husband's company.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney on Thursday requested an FBI investigation of Parler, citing DailyMail.com's reporting on Parler CEO John Matze's Russian wife Alina (above)

Parler's publicly disclosed investors include conservative commentator Dan Bongino (left) and hedge-fund investor Robert Mercer's daughter Rebekah (right)

The House Oversight and Reform Committee has asked the FBI to investigate the role that Parler played in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol

Parler's popularity skyrocketed after Twitter permanently banned Donald Trump following the Capitol attack, saying his tweets were encouraging violence.

But Parler was forced offline early last week after Amazon revoked web-hosting services. It has partially returned online with the help of a Russian-owned technology company.

Founded in 2018, Parler, operates much like Twitter, with profiles to follow and 'parleys' instead of tweets. In early days, its free-speech commitment drew hard-right and extremist voices, but more recently more traditional Republicans have signed up.

In her letter, Maloney suggested that the site could be used 'as a potential conduit for foreign governments who may be financing civil unrest in the United States.'

Maloney points to reports that Matze founded the company in 2018 soon after spending time in Russia with his wife, and claims that her family has 'reportedly has ties to the Russian government.'

This appears to refer to reports that Mukhutdinova's mother was a government functionary in the now-defunct Soviet Union.

In her letter, Rep. Maloney (above) suggested that Parler could be used 'as a potential conduit for foreign governments who may be financing civil unrest in the United States'

Maloney's letter to the FBI cited media reports, including from DailyMail.com

Mukhutdinova's Instagram pictures show the couple have at least one child. In one picture she hold rifles and wears a t-shirt which reads: 'Trust me, I'm a Russian spy.'

The couple appear to live a luxury lifestyle with numerous vacation pictures taken with their young child.

Parler is privately held, and little is known about its ownership structure, but the company's publicly disclosed investors include conservative commentator Dan Bongino and hedge-fund investor Robert Mercer's daughter Rebekah.

Both Bongino and Rebekah were born in the U.S. and are American citizens, and it was not clear what evidence if any tied Parler to foreign financing.

Rebekah has described herself as a co-founder of the site with Matze. She is also thought to have studied at the University of Denver, which Matze attended.

'John and I started Parler to provide a neutral platform for free speech, as our founders intended, and also to create a social media environment that would protect data privacy,' she wrote in a post on the site this fall.

'The ever increasing tyranny and hubris of our tech overlords demands that someone lead the fight against data mining, and for the protection of free speech online,' she added.

Alina's Instagram pictures show the couple have at least one child

The couple appear to live a luxury lifestyle with numerous vacation pictures taken with their young child

Matze replied to the post: 'Bekah is a great friend, an American patriot, and most importantly committed to the Parler vision of neutrality and data privacy. We are grateful for her support since 2018, and her early faith in the founders has enabled us to reach these heights. #transparency.'

After WSJ reported Rebekah's links to Parler she issued a statement saying that her multi-millionaire father Robert was not an investor in the site - while sources close to the clan claimed that the investment was a family affair.

Following the January 6 Capitol riot, Amazon pulled the plug on Parler's service, alleging its 'unwillingness and inability' to remove content 'inciting and planning the rape, torture, and assassination of named public officials and private citizens.'

It came after Google and Apple removed Parler from their app stores, effectively making it unavailable as a smartphone app.

Since then, Parler has worked with Russian technology company DDoS-Guard to resume service for its website.

DDos-Guard said earlier this week: 'At this time, Parler.com does not violate either our Acceptable Use Policy or the current US law to the best of our knowledge.'

Following the January 6 Capitol riot, Amazon pulled the plug on Parler's service

Parler's website currently displays this notification, as well as expressions of support from prominent conservatives

Mahoney's letter claims that DDos-Guard has 'ties to the Russian government' and cites reports alleging that other clients include 'far-right extremist groups', Hamas, and Russian government entities.

The congresswoman asks the FBI to investigate whether Parler was used to plan the January 6 riot, whether the site retains evidence related to the attack, and whether foreign governments are using it as a platform to destabilize the U.S.

Some Parler users have been charged with threatening violence against elected officials or for taking part in the attack, according to Maloney.

She gave the example of a Texas man criminally charged for posting on Parler that he would return to the US Capitol and 'hunt these cowards down like the traitors that each of them are.'

Maloney said the oversight committee is conducting its own investigation and requested a meeting with FBI officials on the matter.

Since Parler partially returned online, CEO Matze shared a statement saying: 'Our return is inevitable due to hard work, and persistence against all odds. Despite the threats and harassment not one Parler employee has quit. We are becoming closer and stronger as a team.'

'We will NEVER stop fighting. NEVER,' said Bongino, one of Parler's financial backers, who said on January 8 that he would never again post on Twitter.

'This fight is bigger than me, and it's bigger than Parler. If they're allowed to silence us, they can silence anyone. It stops now. Please stand with us in this fight for liberty, truth and freedom,' Bongino said.

Parler also posted messages of support from Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, and Fox News commentators Sean Hannity and Mark Levin.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  With mention of catering halls of yesteryear and indigenous, mysteries skunk cabbages, the food memory floodgates have opened. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and details of Staten Island restaurant history. Very much appreciated by fellow natives of our great borough as per the lovely feedback.

With talk of the Bill Francis Band, the comments certainly flowed. Said one reader, He played at my wedding 1984 at the Shalimar and another at her 1979 prom, yet another at a wedding at The Beachcomber. A fan noted, He played at my wedding in 90  fantastic show. Had a female vocalist that would bowl you over with her voice. And yet another remarked, I always remember my parents talking about the Billy Francis band. They loved him. If you are a native Islander from back in the day those were wonderful memories. Truly old Staten Island.

Al Deppe's on Arthur Kill Road and Richmond Avenue operated from 1921 until 1966. (Staten Island Advance File Photos)

We heard from Sue and Bob Natalicchio who wrote in an email: We were married back in 1986 at The Monte Bianco (formerly The Boulevard Hotel in Grant City.) I believe our wedding was the first in which his group played as our wedding song Youre the Inspiration by Chicago.

Kurt Schroder also enjoyed the nostalgic chat about the Ron and Bill Francis orchestras. He said, It brought back many fond memories of functions my wife and I attended where either band was playing. My other favorite band was the Jimmy Febb orchestra. I worked with Nicky Febb Fevolo at New York Telephone Co. He was the band trumpeter.

The spadix is seen inside the spathe of a sprouting skunk cabbage. (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer) Staten Island Advance

And the Staten Island skunk cabbage is very real, as pointed out by several readers. Diane C. said one known location for the stinky, winter-into-spring vegetation is at the corner of Maguire Avenue and Amboy road. She said, [The land] had been purchased by a bunch of people in the 60s with the hope of creating a pool club  were unable to get permission to build. We had two other names for it  Skunk Hollow or Skunks Misery (my favorite). No animals involved, just cabbage. Fun memory!

Al Deppe's Restaurant on Arthur Kill Road and Richmond Avenue Northeast Corner (Staten Island Historical Society)

That brings us to another oldie but goodie  Al Deppes, formerly at Richmond Avenue and Arthur Kill Road in Greenridge.

Al Deppes was mainly hot dogs and hamburgers, explained Bruce Mohlenhoff, a retired social studies teacher from St. Adalberts School and Travis native whose family owned Mohlenhoff farms, now the Greenbelt Native Plant Center owned by the Parks Department.

Farm equipment at Mohlenhoff family farm located at 3808 Victory Boulevard. It is now the Greenbelt Native Plant Center and still has the same set of structures on the property. (Staten Island Advance File Photo)

Mohlenhoff remembers the baked beans in a little, round jar at Deppes.

They had broasted chicken. Thats how it was written on the menu. And I think they had a live chicken in an arcade game inside. Nowadays that would be terrible, said Mohlenhoff. He further described a sit-down regular restaurant behind Deppes called Alfies, a favorite dining destination of his grandparents in the 1950s.

Alfie was Als nephew, the son of Als brother Fred.

Bill Sorensen and his family (Courtesy of the Sorensen's)

Bill Sorensen, 88, is a delivery driver who helps stock Staten Islands food pantries. He has rich memories of Deppes and life in the bucolic county as it went on in the late 40s and early 50s.

Al Deppe started out selling Cracker Jacks and popcorn on the corner many years ago, said Bill. Silent movie actress Pearl White lived where the Moose-Elks are now located.

She came down and gave Al hell for selling on her property, said Sorensen. He added, Al made a deal to rent or buy the corner. He also had a penny arcade with all sorts of games. Of course, World War II slowed things down.

Sorensen recalls that prior to and during World War I Al worked on Shooters Island, a small land mass just south of the Bayonne Bridge.

He worked for my grandfather. He wanted to make more money to court the daughter of the people who had the food concession so my grandfather taught him to be a hard hat diver, Sorensen said. The rest is history as he courted Elizabeth and they married. Sorensen said, Elizabeth was the defacto boss when I worked there during high school.

A view from the Bayonne Bridge looking north west. Shooter's Island can be seen in the center. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Jan Somma-Hammel

Bill said recent restaurant nostalgia in the Advance reminded him of his Great Grandmother Taylors expression, Things change in two ways  quickly and very quickly. She was the chore woman in the old courthouse in Stapleton Park, said Sorensen. But thats an Isle of Staaten story for another day.

Keep in touch.

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.

Tapping maple trees and channeling our native Lenape in winter  plus skunk cabbages on Staten Island
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JENNINGS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / JD Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX:JDVB) Dan L. Donald, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Directors of JD Bancshares, Inc., announced that at its regularly scheduled meeting on January 20, 2021, the Board voted to pay a cash dividend in the amount of $0.45 per share on February 5, 2021 to the shareholders of record on January 30, 2021.

The future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Laura, has created some uncertainty in what has typically been a very stable quarterly earnings pattern for JDVB. During these uncertain times, it becomes even more important that your Company ensure appropriate levels of capital are maintained. Therefore, we will review the timing and level of future quarterly cash dividend declarations.

About JD Bancshares, Inc.

JD Bancshares, Inc. is the bank holding company of JD Bank, a state chartered bank headquartered in Jennings, Louisiana. JD Bank has been serving the citizens of southwest Louisiana since 1947 and offers a variety of personal and commercial lending and deposit products through both physical and digital delivery channels. The Bank also offers both trust and investment services. JD Bank operates through 22 full service branch offices located along the Interstate 10 corridor from Lake Charles to Lafayette, Louisiana. JD Bancshares, Inc. may be accessed on its website at www.jdbank.com/investor relations.

JD Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: JDVB) trades on the OTCQX Best Market. Companies meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, demonstrate compliance with U.S. securities laws, and have a professional third-party sponsor introduction. Investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.

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JD Bancshares, Inc.

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Paul Brummett (CFO) (337-824-1422)

Website: www.jdbank.com

SOURCE: JD Bancshares, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625283/JD-Bancshares-Inc-Declares-Cash-Dividend
A police officer is to appear in court charged with sending an allegedly grossly offensive image of George Floyd's arrest, the police watchdog has said.

Sergeant Geraint Jones, 47, of Devon and Cornwall Police, is charged with sending the image by means of a public electronic communications network, contrary to the Communications Act 2003, on May 30 last year.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the charge followed an incident in which an altered image of George Floyd's arrest in the US was shared within a WhatsApp group that included a number of other police officers and staff.

Sergeant Geraint Jones, 47, of Devon and Cornwall Police (pictured), is accused of sending 'grossly offensive' image of George Floyd's arrest in US days after his death sparked protests

Sergeant Geraint Jones allegedly shared the altered image of George Floyd's arrest with colleagues in WhatsApp group (R). Pictured: George Floyd's arrest by Minneapolis officer (L)

Mr Floyd died after a white police officer held him down by pressing his knee into his neck for almost nine minutes on May 25.

An IOPC spokesman said: 'Our investigation began in June 2020 following a referral from the force.

'At its conclusion in October we sent our investigation report to the Crown Prosecution Service which has authorised the charge.'

The officer is due to appear before Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court on January 28, the IOPC said.
Starting Monday, the 9:30 p.m. curfew for table service at Massachusetts restaurants and other businesses will be lifted, the Baker administration announced Thursday citing a slight drop in the states COVID-19 positivity rate.

Vaccines are reaching residents, positive case rates have stabilized. Those trends are moving in the right direction, Gov. Charlie Baker told reporters Thursday afternoon, two months after he imposed the curfew. As a result, we believe its ok and its time to start gradually easing on the restrictions we put in place.

The stay at home advisory - which instructed all residents to stay home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. - will lift as well.

A maximum 25% capacity for these businesses remains in place until at least Feb. 8, Baker said.

MassLive first reported the governors plans to lift the curfew amid declining COVID-19 cases prior to the Thursday afternoon press conference. The businesses affected include restaurants, arcades, movie theaters, casinos, horsetrack simulcast facilities, driving and flight schools, nail salons, museums and gyms, among others, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said.

Baker introduced the curfew in early November as Massachusetts saw a second surge of COVID-19 cases. Restaurants have had to stop offering table service by 9:30 p.m. and get customers out by 10 p.m. They could only remain open past 9:30 p.m. for takeout and delivery.

Massachusetts continues to see thousands of new COVID-19 cases every day, in part due to holiday gatherings, though the number of hospitalizations has fallen slightly. On Wednesday, the state Department of Public Health reported 3,987 new cases and 78 deaths. The state now has 90,154 active cases.

Baker also announced new grants for Massachusetts businesses through the states COVID-19 recovery efforts. The state awarded 638 more grants to businesses, totaling another $37.5 million in support for business owners.

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"Once again, Subaru is working with Feeding America to help the millions of families struggling with hunger across the U.S.," said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. "As we continue to weather these unprecedented times together, we hope our contribution to Feeding America ensures the most vulnerable members of our communities are fed and cared for."

Right now, millions of Americans are out of work and unable to provide adequate nourishment for themselves and for their families. In fact, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, one in four children in this country may face hunger. The automaker is helping to contribute an additional 100 million meals to Feeding America, which will help the network of food banks secure the resources needed to serve people who are struggling during this time of uncertainty.

"The pandemic has posed unique challenges for food banks and the people we serve," said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. "We are tremendously grateful to Subaru of America, along with Subaru retailers and distributors, for their generous support and commitment to fighting against hunger in communities across the country."

The Subaru franchise, with its 633 retailers nationwide, will work with Feeding America to disburse the donation to the organization's 199 food banks across the U.S. To ensure that food banks with the highest need are served, Subaru will allocate 20% of the donation to national food programs and food banks with the highest food insecurity rates and child food insecurity rates. Furthermore, participating Subaru retailers nationwide have made supplemental donations to their local Feeding America member food banks, currently totaling an additional 5.7 million meals* to those in need, totaling 105 million meals donated from Subaru.

Subaru will launch a new creative campaign showcasing the impact of the donation and demonstrating the good that can happen when Love is put into action. The :30 and :15 second advertising spots will run on broadcast and digital platforms.

To join the effort, Subaru and its retailers invite consumers to make their own donation to Feeding America. Donations will be directed to the food bank that serves the donor's zip code, giving everyone an opportunity to help their communities. Please visit www.feedingamerica.org/subarulovestohelp to learn more.

The automaker's donation to Feeding America is a part of the Subaru Loves to Help pillar, the community-focused pillar of the Subaru Love Promise. To learn more about Subaru Loves to Help and the community work Subaru does, visit subaru.com/help.

To learn more about Feeding America, visit www.feedingamerica.org and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

* $1 helps to provide at least ten meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks

About Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company's vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $190 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Subaru Distributors Corp.

Established in 1975 and based in Orangeburg, NY, Subaru Distributors Corp. (SDC) is the independent distributor that franchises Subaru retailers throughout New York state and the northern eleven counties of New Jersey, selling and distributing Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories to its 67 retailer partners. SDC supports local and national charities and, with its Subaru retailers, enthusiastically embraces and supports the Subaru Love Promise and all that it stands for.

About Subaru of New England, Inc.

Established in 1971 and based out of Norwood, MA, Subaru of New England, Inc. (SNE) markets & distributes Subaru vehicles and parts to the 64 Subaru Retailers throughout the six New England states. Through its commitment to the Subaru Love Promise, SNE is dedicated to the causes and passions that matter most to its Subaru owners. Leading by example, SNE's office building is LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certified, featuring efficient, state-of-the-art technologies and renewable resources. In the past several years, SNE and its Retailers have donated millions to local charities.

To learn more about Subaru of New England, visit SubaruOfNewEngland.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.

Related Links

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Fullerton Council Postpones Retail Cannabis Discussion

Retail cannabis is coming to Fullerton, California, but the timeline has become increasingly unclear.

Certain details about the ordinance, which officially went into effect on Dec. 17, were scheduled for discussion at the Jan. 19 Fullerton City Council meeting. However, the council narrowly voted to reschedule the conversation for Feb. 16.

Mayor Pro Tem Nick Dunlap raised the issue of postponing the item so city officials could have a more robust discussion regarding fees, applications, and amendments to the approved ordinance.

This is something that the community has expressed a lot of concern with, Dunlap said at the meeting. Theyre going to want to come in and  make comments. And I think we have the time to wait and do this the right way.

Councilmember Ahmad Zahra, who voted against postponing the discussion, said he was a little hesitant on moving something that everybody came prepared to speak on.

I dont see why we cannot address this today, or at least have a brief discussion, said Zahra.

But Mayor Bruce Whitaker and Councilmember Fred Jung joined Dunlap to support the delay.

Tonight, I just see where were unprepared to have a constructive dialogue on this, Whitaker said.

The ordinance to allow the sale of cannabis in the city was adopted on Nov. 17with support at the time from Zahra, then-Mayor Pro Tem Jan Flory, and Councilmember Jesus Silvadespite adamant disapproval from then-Councilman Whitaker and former Mayor Jennifer Fitzgerald.

But since the Nov. 3 election, the composition of the Fullerton City Council has changed, with a majority now against support for the ordinance as writtendue mainly to outcry from residents.

Was the Policy Rushed?

The decision to postpone the discussion was prompted by pushback from both Fullerton City Council members and residents.

Its like theres this policy that were just kind of rushing to throw down, and I just dont think thats the way to enact a policy thats going to affect so many in the community, Dunlap said on Jan. 19.

He said hes received a number of phone calls and emails, both for and against the ordinance.

People really want  their voices heard, Dunlap said, adding he thinks its important to not cut them off, shut them out, or try to enact policies behind closed doors, so to speak.

However, Silva maintained that the council didnt rush anything. He said the issue has been debated since 2016.

Weve got a new council  and they should be caught up to speed, but in my eyes, there was nothing rushed through. Its been going on for four years now.

Floryno longer on the councilappeared via Zoom during the public comments portion of the meeting.

Im a little bit confused, she said. It feels like this is a motion for consideration of an ordinance that has already been through the first and second reading and is in effect.

She concurred with Silva, pointing out that the council had held numerous community meetings and three hotly contested hearings on the matter.

It seems to me that this was presented as an amendment to the ordinance to discuss buffer distances, and now its turned into something quite different, she said.

Citizens Weigh In

Several residents called in to the Jan. 19 meeting with public comments.

Lucia, a Fullerton resident for 65 years, supported a continuance. Many, many voices of the community in the south part of Fullerton want to be heard, she said.

Christy Sims, a 40-year resident, also supported postponing the discussionas long as rescinding the ordinance remained a possibility. The overwhelming number of Fullerton residents are against cannabis businesses in Fullerton, Sims said.

Another citizen, Connor J., expressed frustration with the postponement.

Every week you delay this issue, you are allowing the $10 billion illegal cannabis market to continue and endanger the children of the city youre supposed to represent. That is a criminal negligencenegligence of your duty, he said.

Katie V., a mother of three who said shes used medical cannabis for the past 15 years to treat chronic pain, reprimanded the council for delaying the process.

You guys are trying to take [away] an ordinance that went through all the various steps and multiple public comments to get to the point that were at, she said.

City Manager Ken Domer called attention to an effort by a group of citizens to establish their own version of a cannabis ordinance. He said the city received a signed Notice of Intent on Jan. 15 that largely mirrors the ordinance that was adopted, but has some changes to it.

If its voter-approved, it would supersede what the council would adopt, he added.

Discussion Postponed

Before the item was put to a vote, Jung said that delaying the conversation would allow the council to educate ourselves more.

The reason why we want to continue this matter for a meeting itself is to be able to take  the time to hear all the voices in the communitynot just the folks that are for it, but those who are against it as well, Jung said.

Zahra asked if the motion was to bring back the item for discussion, or to bring back the ordinance so it could potentially be rescinded altogether.

City Attorney Richard Jones said the motion was for both. He characterized the councils dialogue as a study session to prepare an agenda for future discussion and direction.

Whitaker noted that a great deal of time could have been saved if they had just postponed the discussion for another day.

Well have to go through it all again, he said.
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The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has given its approval for the investment of Rs.5281.94 crore for 850 MW Ratle Hydro Electric (HE) Project located on river Chenab, in Kishtwar district of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, by a new Joint Venture Company (JVC) to be incorporated between National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDC) with equity contribution of 51% and 49% respectively. The Government of India is also supporting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir by providing grant of Rs. 776.44 crore for Equity contribution of JKSPDC in the JVC to be set up for construction of Ratle HE Project (850 MW). NHPC shall invest its equity Rs.808.14 crore from its internal resources. The Ratle Hydro Electric Project shall be commissioned within a span of 60 months. The Power generated from the Project will help in providing balancing of Grid and will improve the power supply position.

Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, to make the Project viable, will extend exemption from levy of Water Usage Charges for 10 years after commissioning of the project, reimbursement of State's share of GST (i.e. SGST) and waiver of free power to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in a decremental manner, i.e., the free power to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir would be 1% in the 1st year after commissioning of the Project and rising @1% per year to 12% in the 12th year.

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Children and adolescents are less vulnerable to coronavirus infection but are more infectious than older individuals, according to a report published in the popular medical journal The Lancet this week. "Children and adolescents were less susceptible to infection but more infectious once infected, than individuals aged 20 years or older," the study said.

Besides, a team of Chinese and American researchers claimed that asymptomatic cases are also less infectious than symptomatic COVID-19 patients.

"Individuals aged 60 years or older were at a higher risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 than all other age groups. Infants aged 0-1 year were significantly more likely to be infected than children aged 2-5 years, and children aged 6-12 years. Children and adolescents younger than 20 years of age were more likely to infect others than were adults aged 60 years or older. Asymptomatic individuals were much less likely to infect others than were symptomatic cases. Symptomatic cases were more likely to infect others before symptom onset than after," according to the finding of the study quoted by The Lancet.

The high infectivity of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection highlights the need for careful planning of school reopening, the researchers suggested.

The latest Lancet study was conducted by studying 20,000 families from Wuhan. The study included the households of all lab-confirmed or clinically confirmed COVID-19 cases and lab-confirmed asymptomatic coronavirus infections identified by the Wuhan Centre for Disease Control and Prevention between December 2, 2019, and April 18, 2020.

Wuhan was the first epicentre of COVID-19, accounting for 80 per cent of cases in China during the first wave.

The study was aimed at understanding the household transmissibility of coronavirus and risk factors associated with infectivity and susceptibility to infection in Wuhan.

Also read: Tandav row: Shiv Sena condemns BJP on its stand; says 'never tolerated insult of Hindu gods'

Also read: Greta Thunberg fires parting shot at Donald Trump; Mary Trump says 'well played'
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro wrote a letter congratulating the US President Joe Biden on Wednesday. He said that Brazil-US relations are "long-lasting, solid and based on noble values" including defence and individual liberties. According to the copy of the letter shared by the Brazilian embassy in the United States, Bolsonaro also said that he is a "long-time admirer" of the US and noted that he had been rectifying the doings of the previous government since coming to power.

Following the historic inauguration of the 46th US President, Bolsonaro expressed his hope of both nations pursuing a broad free trade agreement under the Biden administration. Bolsonaros government was a close ally to former Republican US President Donald Trump and had even refused to accept Bidens election victory weeks after the November 3 presidential elections. He only accepted the Democrat leaders win after 42 days.

Brazil President wrote, I congratulate Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States of America. The relations between Brazil and the United States are long-lasting, solid and based on noble values, such as the defence of democracy and individual liberties. I remain committed and ready to work for the prosperity of our nations and the well-being of our citizens.

To mark this date, I addressed a letter to the President of the US, Joe Biden, congratulating him on taking office and presenting my vision for an excellent future for the Brazil-US partnership, he added.

pic.twitter.com/eJdNEMW54o  Embassy of Brazil in the USA  (@BrazilinUSA) January 20, 2021

Read - 'Hugely Positive News': World Leaders Hail Joe Biden's Decision To Rejoin Paris Agreement

Read - Biden's Inauguration: From Gaga's Outfit To Brooks Hugging, Here Are Some Lighter Moments

PM Modi congratulates Biden, Harris

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Joe Biden on being sworn-in and wished him a successful term. PM Modi also expressed his desire to work with Biden on elevating the India-US strategic partnership. Further PM Modi also congratulated Kamala Harris as she was sworn-in as the 49th Vice President of the United States by calling it a historic occasion. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that he is 'looking forward to interacting with her to make India-USA relations more robust'.

My best wishes for a successful term in leading USA as we stand united and resilient in addressing common challenges and advancing global peace and security.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021

Congratulations to @KamalaHarris on being sworn-in as @VP. It is a historic occasion. Looking forward to interacting with her to make India-USA relations more robust. The India-USA partnership is beneficial for our planet.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021

Read - China Hopes Biden Will Repair Sino-US Relations

Read - 'New Breakthrough': Taiwan Invited To US Inauguration For The First Time Since 1979
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

A steady rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. High 54F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 41F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.


The Maersk incident comes less than two months after the ONE Apus saw more than 1,900 containers lost or damaged during a trans-Pacific voyage, and has one analyst questioning whether the industry might have a structural problem with stowage on larger ships.
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San Antonio radio listeners are growing familiar with the voice of new Y100 host Joe Pesh, but if they want to put a face to the name they should not consult the state's file photo of him  they might end up confusing him for Humpty Dumpty.

His words, not ours.

Pesh moved from Indiana to Texas last May to host the country station's morning show with Beth Boehm. To make his Texas resident status official, he applied for his state drivers license. He was excited to finally be able to flash his pearly whites (Indiana doesn't allow smiling ID photos). He even grew out his beard for his big picture day with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The beard made a strong appearance in the final product. The rest of his face? Not so much. The DMV printer flubbed and produced a license that looks like it would belong to Humpty Dumpty if he could ever piece himself together and get behind the wheel.

"I said 'what the hell happened,'" Pesh said of his reaction when he pulled the drivers license out of the envelope this week.

He said his wife, Lindsey, was the first to make the nursery rhyme reference.

"I'm bummed I finally can smile in my drivers license picture and then this happens," he joked. "I was so excited that I've been growing out my beard to how it was going to be in my drivers license and then I had it all taken away from me."

Pesh said he's waiting on direction from the DMV on how to correct the issue.

"I want to keep it because it's so funny, but I'm worried I might have some issues with it being considered a fake. I think if (the DMV) says I need to get a new one, I will. If not, I'll keep the Humpty Dumpty picture."

The Beth and Big Joe Show airs on Y100 weekday mornings. For a better look at Pesh, follow him on Instagram.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye


Significant points:

Q3 sales slightly up on Q2 figures.

Upturn in Printing activity undermined by new restrictive measures imposed at the end of the year due to the health crisis.

Hardware activity penalised due to global wait-and-see attitude.

Order backlog on December 31, 2020 stands at 5.4 million (without Anthem Displays).

YTD consolidated turnover (April 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020)

April 1 - December 31, 2020 Q3: Oct 1 - Dec 31 Non audited 9 Months 9 Months 3 Months 3 Months In M 2020-2021 2019-2020 Var. M Var. % Q3 20/21 Q3 19/20 Var. M Var. % Printing 17.78 25.46 -7.67 -30.1% 6.70 8.39 -1.69 -20.2% Hardware 12.06 15.40 -3.34 -21.7% 4.23 6.41 -2.18 -33.9% Total 9 months 29.84 40.86 -11.02 -27.0% 10.93 14.80 -3.87 -26.1% Total sales at constant currencies 30.27 40.86 -10.59 -25.9% 11.15 14.80 -3.66 -24.7%

The foreign currency impact for the period is essentially due to fluctuations in the South African Rand, USD and CAD.

The above figures include Anthem Displays activity up to December 23, 2020, the date on which Prismaflex International transferred part of its holding in the firm, and which is therefore no longer fully consolidated (cf press release dated December 28, 2020)

In Q3 2020-21, Prismaflex International recorded total sales of 10.9 million, up slightly on the previous quarter, but down -26% (-24.7% on a constant currency basis) on Q3 2019-2020 sales. The Group continues to evolve in an unfavourable business environment due to the health crisis that is accentuating client wait-and-see attitude and postponing numerous projects.

Printing activity began the quarter well before activity was undermined by new restrictive measures including partial or total lockdown that hit clients in the events and retail sectors. Q3 sales do however confirm the progress made in Home Decor sales, (+20% at 1.1 million for the period, +10% at 3.4 million for the 9-month period). Printing activity for the 9-month period stands at 17.8 million, down 30.1%.

Hardware activity in Q3 differed from one region to another. In Europe, the activity did not benefit during the period from sizeable deliveries as it did during the same period the previous year, but benefitted from the development of sales to municipalities and the retail sector. In the United States, deliveries from the Anthem Displays subsidiary resumed in November, 1.2 million for the quarter, following on from very poor 6-month period results. Q3 Hardware sales at 4.2 million are in line with sales from the two previous quarters. Over the 9-month period, Hardware activity stands at 12.1 million (including 1.8 million from Anthem Displays), down -21.7%.

Outlook

On December 31, 2020, order backlog stands at 5.4 million, no longer including that of Anthem Displays, now consolidated on an equity basis. Any visibility concerning a return to normal business remains difficult due to the persistent uncertainty of how the pandemic will evolve.

The Group announces that S2 Printing activity should be up on S1 activity, led by Home Decor activity. Concerning Hardware, the activity no longer integrates Anthem Displays sales and continues to be impacted by the wait-and-see attitude of key clients going into Q4. Prismaflex International is currently focusing on the next financial year by preparing both national and international tenders.

In this uncertain context, Prismaflex continues to receive state-help and actively control operating costs and manage its cash-flow.





Next press release : 2020-2021 annual sales figures, May 11, 2021 after closure.



PRISMAFLEX INTERNATIONAL

OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS MANUFACTURER AND WIDE FORMAT DIGITAL PRINTING

ISIN: FR0004044600-ALPRI - Reuters: ALPRI.PA - Bloomberg: ALPRI.FP

EURONEXT GROWTHTM

www.prismaflex.com



Contacts :

Florence Therond - CFO - Phone: +33 (0)4 74 70 68 00 - finance@prismaflex.com

Guillaume Le Floch - Analysts/investors/press contacts - +33 (0)1 53 67 36 70 - glefloch@actus.fr

Marie-Claude Triquet - Press relations - Phone: +33 (0)4 72 18 04 93 - mctriquet@actus.fr

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Renowned interior design couple Syd and Shea McGee - better known as Studio McGee from Netflix's Dream Home Makeover - risked losing it all to pursue their dreams.

The Utah based entrepreneurs graced the cover of People magazine where they spoke about their rocky road to success - which involved quitting their respective jobs and using up their savings - in order to pursue their now booming design business.

'There wasn't a backup plan,' said Shea.

Risking it all: Dream Home Makeover's Shea and Syd McGee grace the cover of People where they talk about risking it all to pursue their careers in interior design

At the time she was pregnant with their now seven-year-old daughter Wren.

Shea left her PR job after taking night classes in interior design, launching the first business from their temporary home in Southern California.

Shortly thereafter Syd, 36, was growing disgruntled with his tech job and decided to quit, forcing Shea to support the pair on her then lowly design income, as she revealed 'we were stretching everything.'

Shea handled clients and Syd tried to manage the business side, but even their frugal efforts to curtail spending (no cable, no gym memberships, no eating out) were not enough to keep money in the bank.

'We were selling things to make ends meet. It just progressed to anything and everything that wasn't a necessity had to go,' she shared.

High risk: The pair quit their jobs in PR and tech respectively - all while Shea was pregnant - while trying to get their business off the ground as Shea said 'It was a hard time. There were a lot of tears'; September 2020

Life change: At their breaking point and nearly burning through all their savings, the pair made the decision to leave California and move back to Utah where they launched their first business in 2014; November 2020

The high stress situation also put a strain on their marriage - despite being college sweethearts - and they nearly hit their breaking point, forcing them to decide if they were going to throw in the towel on their dreams.

'Money problems can be enough to break two people, and throw a new baby into it.. it was a hard time. There were a lot of tears,' Shea said.

The pair made a big life change and moved back to Utah - where they met and went to college - as Shea said, 'We knew it was less expensive and we were already kind of at a place where there wasn't a backup plan.'

Leasing their first Salt Lake City office in 2014 they pulled themselves up by the bootstraps, as Syd shared, 'We worked 16- or 17-hour days...We didn't say no to anything.'

Big payoff: Following their dreams eventually landed them a Netflix show, a collaboration with Target, a furniture line and over 140 employees; pictured 2018

Despite what seemed like an uphill battle, the pair felt invigorated by the life change: 'It was wild, but we were just so excited to be going for something.'

They slowly started to solidify their brand and client roster, using their social media as a way to get exposure, which was instrumental in landing the now hit Netflix show after making their own content via YouTube.

Less than a decade after they started their journey, Studio McGee now has over 140 employees designing 17 homes cross country, a collaboration with Target and a furniture line, as Shea shares, 'Never in my wildest dreams did I think we would be here now.

'We hoped to provide for our family, have some clients, maybe sell some products. But to have people from all over the world reaching out to us and telling us that we've inspired them to pursue a new career, or a new path, or design their home, I mean, that's incredible.'

They are now pregnant with their third child and are expecting in July.

EdTech start-up WhiteHat Jrs students Manya, Agastya and Yuvraj recently interacted with celebrated actor R Madhavan to share their thoughts and motivation, which led them to create the apps PicKaboo, Pat a Pet and Med Maze, respectively. The actor spent time with the young creators to understand their inspiration, quizzing them about the development process and their experiences of learning to code. Madhavan, a technology enthusiast, was impressed by the sheer display of compassion & intellect, which went way beyond the kids age. These interactive sessions were released today by WhiteHat Jr in a three-part video series.

Since its launch in 2018, WhiteHat Jr has continually empowered children to view themselves as creators.

8-year-old Manya Singhal from Haryana has created the PicKaboo app. She loves to teach her little sister everything she knows. With the concepts she learnt with WhiteHat Jr, Manya has developed an application that would help kids of her sisters age group get information on their own in a fun way.

10-year-old Agastya Singh Yadav from Noida has created Pat a Pet, an app for pet owners to connect with foster families for their pets while they are away. Agastya tapped into his own real-life challenge of finding a loving and caring foster home for his pet when he had to be away from home during his vacations.

11-year-old Yuvraj Shah from Kolkata has created the Med Maze app to help people donate their unused but not expired medicine to people who need them but cannot afford them. Yuvraj hopes to be able to improve healthcare for the underprivileged by helping them access medicines easily.

Here is what R Madhavan has to say of his experience of engaging with these tech-whiz kids, Kids are our future and every time I connect with these bright, young minds, I am left even more awestruck than before. It is wonderful to see kids this young learning how to code and creating apps. Ive seen the apps that Manya, Agastya and Yuvraj have created and it takes a lot of skilled guidance and mentoring to be able to mold kids minds to think in such a manner. At a young age, the mind is more supple and receptive to new thoughts, ideas and learnings. There are also no inherent inhibitions to curb ones creativity. All they need is the correct guidance and I am glad to see that WhiteHat Jr is effectively empowering kids.

Talking about the students inspiring work featured in the latest videos, WhiteHat Jr, Founder and CEO, Karan Bajaj said, The holy grail of edtech is individualized outcomes for each child as each and every one of them is special. Our 1:1 live online learning aims to deliver on this promise. We are delighted to see that kids such as Manya, Agastya and Yuvraj and so many others look upon themselves as creators and not just passive consumers of technology.

The videos of Madhavan will be hosted on WhiteHat Jrs official YouTube channel. Viewers will be able to witness the fun exchange of ideas between Madhavan and the kids and learn more about the apps that Manya, Agastya and Yuvraj have created.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrains third relief and medical consignment have been delivered to the Republic of Serbia, following directives from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, to combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The initiative reflects His Majesty the Kings keenness to strengthen humanitarian relations and extend a helping hand to all peoples in the world.

HM the Kings Representative for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa conveyed greetings from HM the King and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

On behalf of HM the King and HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, he paid tribute to all front liners, hailing their relentless efforts to combat the pandemic.

We are honoured to deliver the third shipment of relief and medical supplies to Belgrade to help our dear friends in meeting the important needs in this disaster, he said, hailing efforts that stem from HM the Kings noble stances and Bahrains long-standing customs and traditions in addition to true Islamic teachings.

He expressed commitment to continuously support friendly countries to collectively combat the global pandemic, reiterating pride at extending a helping hand to the Serbian people.

He hailed strong bilateral relations bring the two friendly countries stressing the importance of bolstering international relations and cooperation between friends and allies.

Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad extended deepest thanks and gratitude to HM the King for his humanitarian drive to deliver aid to all people in the world, especially amid these exceptional circumstances resulting from the pandemic.
WASHINGTON - The Biden administration has suspended new leasing for fossil fuel production on federal lands and waters, as well as the issuance of new drilling permits, in what could be a major blow to Texas's oil industry.

Acting Interior Secretary Scott de la Vega signed an order Wednesday night, ordering department staff not to "issue any onshore or offshore fossil fuel authorization" for 60 days without clearance from Biden's appointees, who are awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

The move to cut off new oil and gas production, as well as coal mining, comes as President Joe Biden promises to move swiftly on climate change and get the United States on the path to net- zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Biden poised to decarbonize US economy

Wednesday's order is temporary, presumably to give the Senate time to confirm Biden's nominee for Interior secretary, Rep. Deb Haaland, D-N.M. But Biden, who pledged to halt new drilling within federal lands and waters during the campaign, appears likely to seek to extend the ban over the long-term or make it permanent, which, according to some legal opinions, could require congressional approval.

Were he to succeed, oil and gas companies in Houston and across Texas, many of which drill heavily in the Gulf of Mexico and on federal lands in the western United States, would be forced to look elsewhere.

While existing oil and gas wells can continue to operate, such a move would put oil companies on federal lands and in the Gulf of Mexico on a ticking clock and eventually reduce U.S. oil production and the investment in new projects that creates jobs.

American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers said Thursday that the move risked hundreds of thousands of jobs and would only increase U.S. reliance on oil from foreign nations with lower environmental standards.

For now, its temporary, but Biden said during the campaign that he wanted to cease development on federal lands, he said. We can only take him at his word.

On HoustonChronicle.com: With Biden in power, it's a Lone(lier) Star state in Washington

In September, oil production from federal lands and waters totaled 75 million barrels of crude - more than 20 percent of the nation's entire production. More than half of federal production came from the Gulf of Mexico.

Bidens promise to halt oil and gas leasing on federal lands and waters drew support from environmentalists who had questioned his support for climate change.

Since taking office Wednesday, he has shaken off those criticisms, rejoining the Paris climate accord and canceling the construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Pausing new fossil fuel decisions brings us closer to healthier communities, a healthier climate and healthier wild places," Dan Ritzman, campaign director at the Sierra Club, said in a statement. "Public lands can, and must, be part of the climate solution."

Leaders worldwide are moving to reduce fossil fuel production as scientists warn that the world needs to rapidly reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Anticipating Biden would carry through on his campaign pledge, oil and gas companies began stockpiling federal leases onshore and offshore even before November's election.

More: Read the latest oil and gas news from HoustonChronicle.com

In November, the last federal lease auction for the Gulf of Mexico under the Trump administration netted about $120 million, an improvement over the March auction of $93 million  despite the oil downturn driven by the coronavirus pandemic. At an investor conference in November, Lloyd W. "Billy"Helms Jr, chief operating officer of EOG Resources, said the Houston oil and gas company had enough federal leases to last four years.

Anne Bradbury, president of the trade group American Exploration and Production Council, said other companies also have stocked up on leases.

"We're exploring all our options, Bradbury said. We're really concerned about what this means. The federal government has contractual obligations under exiting leases.

Biden, meanwhile, faces a difficult path toward halting federal leasing for fossil fuels all together.

Under federal law, the Interior Department is required to hold regular mineral lease sales. While Biden might put a moratorium on those auctions during a review of the program, permanently halting them would likely require an act of Congress, said Josh Axelrod, a policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

"That's a big lift," he said. "In our view a moratorium is viable, and you could limit leasing quite a bit. But the law is pretty clear is you need to continue the leasing program."

james.osborne@chron.com

Twitter: @osborneja
Antony Blinken , president Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of state, has said that China presents the most significant challenge" to the US, while India has been a bipartisan success story" and the new US government may further deepen ties with New Delhi.

Blinken, a Biden aide who had served in the Barack Obama administration, made the comments at a US Senate foreign relations committee hearing. As we look at China, there is no doubt that it poses the most significant challenge of any nation-state to the US in terms of our interests, the interests of the American people," Blinken said overnight Wednesday. The US-China relationship includes rising adversarial aspects," some competitive and some cooperative, he said, adding that it is in the mutual interest of both countries to work together.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

Analysts have predicted that Biden and his team could be less confrontational vis a vis China compared to the outgoing administration.

However, Blinken said ties with New Delhi had widespread bipartisan support in Washington, across Republican and Democratic parties.

I think India has been very much a bipartisan success story over successive administrations. It started...toward the end of the Clinton administration, after the nuclear tests when relations were put back on a better footing," Blinken said. I think there are many ways in which we can deepen that cooperation to pursue the path that successive administrations have put us on."

Blinken recalled that as a senator Biden had led the efforts in the foreign relations committee to push through the India-US civil nuclear deal under then president George W. Bush. I think during the Obama administration, we deepened cooperation with India, particularly in the defence procurement area, also on information-sharing."

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UPDATE: Phone service fully restored at central Pa.s 911 dispatch centers

The outages barring many central Pennsylvanians from calling their countys emergency dispatch center remain a problem Thursday morning.

Cumberland, Franklin, Adams and Perry counties are still experiencing outages as of 6:30 a.m. Its unclear when the issue will be resolved.

Perry County 911 can receive 911 calls from the following exchanges: 834, 582, 444, 438, 536, 789, 567, 589, 957... Posted by Perry County EMA 911 on Wednesday, January 20, 2021

The outages keep residents of these counties from reaching their 911 dispatch center at their main phone numbers. A number of local fire departments or police stations on social media said residents should call them directly with any emergencies during the outages.

Cumberland County used its official Facebook page to get the message out, saying citizens should call any of the following numbers until further notice:

717-961-9815

717-961-9843

717-961-9845

717-961-9874

If you do not get any answer, please try one of the other numbers listed, Cumberland County said on its official Facebook page. If you cant get through using the numbers above, you can text to 911.

 911 OUTAGE  Cumberland County is currently experiencing a wide spread phone outage including our 911 AND ten-digit... Posted by Cumberland County, PA on Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Cumberland, Franklin and Perry County residents can text 911, but should only do so if theres an emergency, officials said.

Adams County cannot text 911, so residents in that area needing help should call local fire departments and police stations directly, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Pennsylvania State Police posted that their barracks in troops D, G and H are experiencing the outages.

Gettysburg Barracks: 717-334-8111

Carlisle Barracks: 717-249-2121

Chambersburg Barracks: 717-264-5161

Many police stations or fire departments are posting alternate numbers on social media. Residents should check these social media pages or call their local authorities directly for more contact information. However, many of the numbers can be found here.
Bernie Sanders mittens were internet-famous long before he struck the pose at the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday that would come to be known as grumpy chic.

The gloves  made from repurposed wool sweaters and lined with fleece made from recycled plastic bottles  first blew up when Sanders wore them a year ago, in January 2020, at the Seacoast Womens March in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

.@BernieSanders talks about his mittens and coat "You know in Vermont, we dress warm, we know something about the cold, and we're not so concerned about good fashion, we want to keep warm. And that's what I did today." pic.twitter.com/FiTCLpn95m  People for Bernie (@People4Bernie) January 20, 2021

The brown, black and cream beauties were created by Jen Ellis, a second-grade teacher from Essex Junction, Vermont, and a partner she designed the pattern with.

The Vermont alt-weekly Seven Days reported that Sanders daughter-in-law, Liza Driscoll, runs Ellis daughters daycare, Bright Futures. Ellis made mittens for her teacher friends one Christmas, Seven Days reported  and for Sanders.

I just put in a little note that was like, I believe in you, Ive always believed in you and I hope you run again, Ellis told the alt-weekly.

Ellis had been surprised to see the senator wearing her gloves on the campaign trail. But practical choices are hardly out of the ordinary for Sanders: Inauguration viewers on Wednesday morning were quick to point out his trusty Burton jacket. (Almost identical to the one from the I am once again asking meme.) Thats another global brand based in Vermont.

Ellis tweeted yesterday that she doesnt have any mittens for sale, directing people instead to Etsy, a site where crafters sell their products online. The BerniesMittens Twitter account similarly listed some suppliers.

Where to get our cousins & support small makers around the country! a 1/n #BerniesMittens  BerniesMittens (@BerniesMittens) January 21, 2021

If you can knit, you can make similar mittens using patterns found online, such as this free download from Ravelry.com.

On Inauguration Day, the internet turned Sanders pragmatic fashion statement into a Twitter moment. Viewers across the country fell for his brown Burton jacket, wool mittens, clear respect for social distancing measures and the inexplicable manila envelope he carried under his arm.

Bernie Sanders to-do list:

 joe's thing

[] Drop off mail at post office

[] Pick up dry cleaning

[] Drop off big mittens at dry cleaners pic.twitter.com/jWxRCaAXJV  Kameron Gillum  (@KameronGillum) January 20, 2021

I think the Bernie memes may be the best thing to have woken up to on social media this morning   



Here are a few of my favourites 



I want his mittens!! pic.twitter.com/ygtlUeagOJ  Rev Karen Sethuraman (@KarenSethuraman) January 21, 2021

The Internet has had a field day with #InaugurationDay. https://t.co/P7FP5NcPkj  hyperallergic (@hyperallergic) January 20, 2021

to everyone who made/posted memes of Bernie and his mittens yesterday: truly from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your service (ft. a few of my absolute faves) pic.twitter.com/uqpSMFGulZ  kenz (@kenzie_orr) January 21, 2021

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., wearing mittens, attends the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the U.S. and Harris became the first woman vice president. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool Photo via AP)AP

More:

Joe Biden sworn in as president, the second from Pennsylvania

Biden inauguration: Pa. officials offer praise and pledge to work together, when possible
In the month since Israel started its COVID-19 vaccination drive, it's achieved a per capita vaccination rate that's far ahead of the rest of the world.

As of Jan. 17, Israel had reached a vaccination rate of 28 percent, compared with a 6.3 percent rate in the U.K. and 3.7 percent in the U.S. (the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain rank two and three, respectively, behind Israel).

A combination of an efficient rollout with a continuous supply of vaccine doses from Pfizer, the world-leading vaccination rate is being touted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his re-election campaign ahead of a March 23 national vote.

Israel's government and Pfizer signed a deal earlier this month for the U.S. drugmaker to provide Israel with enough doses for the country to reach herd immunity from COVID-19 in return for Israel sharing epidemiological data from the rollout with Pfizer.

The purpose of the dealwhich has been criticized by privacy advocatesis to determine at what percentage Israel reaches herd immunity, thereby testing the "real-word" effectiveness of the vaccine and "helping end the global COVID-19 pandemic for the benefit of all."

The initial success of the vaccination campaign has highlighted Israel's single-payer, government-backed healthcare system, in which every citizen receives health services through one of four HMOs. The distribution effort's relative efficiency has been credited in Israel to a large degree on the infrastructure of those HMOs.

Beyond political leaders, one of the leading public health professionals at the centre of Israel's COVID-19's response has been Ran Balicer, the head of the innovation arm at Israel's largest HMO, Clalit Health Services.

Clalit Health Services Ran Balicer is chief innovation officer at Clalit Health Services.

A trained doctor with a Masters degree in public health and training in medical modelling, Balicer oversaw in 2007 an effort to draw up a national game plan for pandemic preparedness. Today he wears three hats: chair of the panel of professional advisors to Israel's cabinet on the pandemic, a public communicator and thought leader on the pandemic, and Clalit's director of research and digital innovation.

Alongside advising the Israeli prime minister, broadcast interviews, twitter threads, public service television spots and public outreach with community leaders, Balicer oversaw a recent study which demonstrated the initial effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine. A Clalit study covered 200,000 vaccine recipients aged 60 and overthe largest sample size to date. Preliminary results indicate that two weeks after vaccination, there was a 33 percent decline in the number of vaccine recipients testing positive for COVID-19.

Indeed, with its leading position in the vaccine rollout and its high quality of medical data, researchers are looking to Israel's vaccine track record to understand more about its effectiveness.

Given the international spotlight on Israel's vaccine rollout, CIO asked Balicer to discuss the effort and the technology behind the distribution.

First, can you tell me about your role at Clalit Health Services?

I head the innovation division and before the formation of the innovation division; I was the founding director of the Clalit Research Institute, a globally recognized centre excellence for using health data to drive the digital transformation and the restructuring of care processes based on data analytics. I've headed healthcare and clinical care processes to turn consumer data to be more predictive, more proactive, more preventative and more precise.

Israel is getting international attention for its efficient vaccine rollout and having the highest per capita vaccination rate in the world. What is the reason behind the success.

It's a combination of several things, some of which are structural, some of which are functional, some of which have to do with preparedness. The first one is that it's a relatively small and young country that's geographically condensed. The second is that we decided on a fairly simple allocation scheme for the first step of vaccination, which is age 60-plus and healthcare workers. We didn't go for anything sophisticated. The third thing, is that there's universal healthcare in Israel, where all citizens are members of four "kupot holim," [Hebrew for "patient funds," or HMOs], which are fairly large and logistically-centralized organizations. Having such a strong, centralized, integrated logistics capacity on a usual basis is a very good basis to run the national vaccination. The fourth thing is that we're very much focused on preventative medicine. So there's a lot of predictive medicine-driven outreach on campaigns. So, we know how to get to our patients. We know how to bring them in proactively to get preventive care, vaccination, early screening  it's advance prediction based intervention. This is something we do on a daily basis. We know how to reach patients

What role do Israel's electronic medical records play?

We have all the data about every person. We know who has all of the indications or counter-indications. When you need to bring people in or outreach, we have their full details and all to get to them by phone, by SMS, by their app, depending on their HMO.

And what type of systems do you use to do that proactive outreach?

It's a product of the Clalit Research Institute. It's based on multiple analytics on the digital medical records, all of the background ... lab test outcomes, demographics and prior illness, which is a really important measure. Then we have our computerized, predictive scores for the risk of severe COVID-19 for every patient. And we have been using [the system] for a while.

How do you track the people who get vaccinated, and when they need to come back for the second shot?

Nobody goes and gets the shots without a record of the vaccine being administered. And so it's pretty straightforward to go ahead and make sure that they're coming in and getting the vaccine.

How do you handle a situation when there are unused vaccines in a particular distribution centre?

There are very clear instructions that whenever you need to finish [your vaccine allocation], you vaccinate anyone: you cannot waste it. And so you can see that in different places at different times, there's leftovers -- and not a single dose will be wasted. Here comes where the Israeli spirit comes in: there's WhatsApp networks and calls by SMS that go out from the [vaccination] facility. And until now, there's less than 0.1% of the doses which have been wasted or destroyed.

Can you say why Israel is being seen abroad as a pilot case for the vaccine rollout?

Because we got the vaccines very early; we didn't waste any time. And an immense Herculean vaccination campaign took place that actually vaccinated over 20% of the population in less than two weeks. And the fact that all of the data is computerized and that the kupot (the HMOs)the Clalit Research Institute being one examplewill now have research centres that can perform elaborate real-world data analysis. We will be able to assess the real world impact of the efficacy and safety [of the vaccine]. So other people will see this type of data coming out of Israel as useful. And I guess, once we have those analytics, [the data] will be openly shared with the world.
A 60-year-old man was found Jan. 15 lying face down on the floor of [his jail] cell, unconscious and bleeding with injuries at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Northeast Philadelphia. He was pronounced dead minutes later, according to an internal incident report obtained by The Inquirer. The mans 22-year-old cellmate was removed in handcuffs, the report stated.

The death of Dale Curbeam, who had been in jail less than a week awaiting trial on a charge of aggravated assault, came as staff and prisoners have described escalating tension within the city jails. Pandemic-related lockdowns there had severely restricted prisoners time out of cell since March, and nearly eliminated it under a shelter-in-place order imposed in December.

An Inquirer analysis of prison data found assaults on staff were up 44% for the first six months of lockdown compared with the average number of incidents reported over the same period for the five previous years. Suicide attempts, meanwhile, roughly doubled compared with prior years.

Curbeam is at least the third person killed in the city jails in the past six months. That puts the homicide rate in the jails at 15 times higher than the national average of four per 100,000 jail inmates, per the most recent data reported by the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Naim Jones was fatally beaten in October 2020 at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center. A cellmate has been charged with murder.

Before that, another man, Frankie Diaz Jr., 30, was killed at the Philadelphia Detention Center in August 2020  then the first homicide in a Philadelphia jail in several years.

After his death, his mother, Eva Diaz, protested in her wheelchair outside the jail for a month demanding answers. She said it was only after she took her protest to the District Attorneys Office on Sept. 17 that she learned the death was ruled a homicide and that the cause, according to the medical examiner, was a blunt impact injury to the head. A cellmate, Adam Tann, was charged with third-degree murder. Tanns lawyer did not return a call for comment Tuesday.

Diaz said she was still angry at a system that allowed the killing to happen and then made it difficult to access information.

To me, theyre just as bad as the person that murdered my son, she said. If they would have been there doing their job, it would have been a different story, a different outcome. How it takes you a month to find that information, to notify the family? Bad enough we have to grieve the loss of my child  we [should not also] have to go out there and do protests to get an answer and move the case forward.

 READ MORE: A month after her son died in Philadelphia jail, a mother is still fighting to learn why

I feel so bad for that mom that now has to go through the same thing Im going through, she said.

A spokesperson for the medical examiner confirmed Curbeams death was ruled homicide by blunt impact head trauma. A spokesperson for the city said the death was under investigation by the Philadelphia police homicide unit, so the city could not comment. A Philadelphia police spokesperson said there was no releasable information at this time.

Reached by phone, Dale Curbeams sister said she was overwhelmed by the loss and could not immediately answer questions.

Staff and prisoners have attributed elevated tensions in the jails to short staffing and the mental health consequences of the strict lockdown. In recent court filings, the city said that the jails were adequately staffed and that lockdown conditions  limiting time out of cell to just 15 minutes a day for part of December and January  were necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19.

More than 1,250 prisoners have tested positive for the coronavirus, along with at least 350 staff, according to Eric Hill, business agent for the union representing city correctional officers. He said staff were in numerous cases not notified of coronavirus exposure, making it impossible to protect their families.

Hill laughed when asked if staffing was sufficient, and said there are very low number of staff who report to work each day. He said that and the shelter-in-place regimen had contributed to a climate of violence. Ten minutes a day [out of cell], thats what primarily led up to assaults on staff and other inmates. It was a constricted time period ... and many inmates felt it was not enough.

Last week, a federal judge ordered the city to increase out-of-cell time to 45 minutes.

 READ MORE: Federal judge: Philly jails must relax extreme COVID-19 lockdown measures for sake of mental health

In letters, prisoners lamented that even the promised 15 minutes a day was often beyond reach. One man, Quadree Walker, reported going seven days in a row without a chance to leave his four-man cell for a shower or a phone call. In that time, he could not get a clean uniform, sheets or towels, or access to cleaning supplies, he said. 168 hours of smelling each others gases and body odors! Walker wrote, adding that his complaints to staff were met with indifference. He provided 48 other inmates signatures backing his concerns.

I am stressed out of my mind, he said. I already tried to commit suicide twice. I cant take this too much longer. This is cruel and unusual punishment. Its starting to affect me physically and mentally.

Another prisoner, who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation, described the hardship of being locked in a cell 23 hours and 45 minutes a day, having to choose between showering or calling home. I know if you break the law you go to jail. But in jail you should still have rights. We really dont have a damn thing.
Credit: Dreamstime

More pollution in the air could be linked to higher rates of mental health service use, researchers at the Yale School of Public Health found in a new study.

The findings, which were recently published in the journal Environmental Research, stem from nearly six years of outpatient visits data collected at two major hospitals in Nanjing, Chinaa heavily polluted major city in China. After comparing the numbers with the amount of particulate matter found in the air every day, researchers discovered that visits were generally higher when the air quality was particularly poor.

More research is needed to fully understand whyand howair quality impacts the rate at which mental health services are used. But according to YSPH Assistant Professor Sarah Lowe, Ph.D., who was the first author of the study, the findings underscore the need for further investments in mental health services when air pollution gets worse.

"Here, we show that particulate matter is having these more general effects, not just on symptoms but also on service use," she said.

Air pollution is made up of many different components, from the carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles to the sulfur dioxide found around industrial plants. But Lowe and her collaborators decided to focus on particulate mattersmall bits of soil, organic compounds and liquidbecause it poses the biggest danger to human health. These micron-sized specks of dust can rip through lung tissue and even enter the bloodstream, through which they can influence mental health.

"These tiny particles not only have effects on the lungs, the heart and the brain," said YSPH Assistant Professor Kai Chen, Ph.D., who worked on the study as its senior author, "but they also have effects on other organs of your body."

And in Nanjing, the concentration of particulate matter exceeded China's air-quality standards for almost one-fifth of all days the researchers observed. Its impact on psychological disorders could be clearly reflected in a subsequent uptick of visits to the city's two hospitals, they found.

Notably, researchers found that this uptick was more pronounced for men and older populations. Lowe said this unequal distribution may be because of societal and behavioral differences across different parts of Chinese society, but more research is needed to truly find out why.

Still, this new study stands as one of the only articles dedicated to the link between particulate matter and the demand for specifically outpatient mental health services. Lowe and Chen hope their research spurs further investigation into the subjectand into the ways in which particulate matter impacts health.

"There could be other reasons that we simply couldn't explore with the data we had," Lowe explained.

For example, on a heavily polluted day, there might be fewer competing activities, such as outdoor social or sporting events, which may lead people to show up at their appointments. Or it could be that air pollution leads to increases in physical symptoms such as difficulty breathing, which could lead someone to seek out mental services for help.

"We don't know that level of detail, and I think that would be a really interesting direction for future research," she said.

Explore further Air pollution linked to higher rates of kidney disease

More information: Sarah R. Lowe et al. Particulate matter pollution and risk of outpatient visits for psychological diseases in Nanjing, China, Environmental Research (2020). Journal information: Environmental Research Sarah R. Lowe et al. Particulate matter pollution and risk of outpatient visits for psychological diseases in Nanjing, China,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110601



The leading Palestinian daily newspaper Al-Quds dedicated a red headline to its Jan. 16 issue, announcing the issuance of three election-related presidential decrees. But this breakthrough, which was welcomed by leading Palestinian, Arab and international players, were also met by skeptics.

A major worry about the holding of Palestinian general elections continues to be the internal conflict between the two biggest factions, Fatah and Hamas, as well as the deep divisions within the two organizations, especially Fatah.

Marwan Muasher, vice president of the Middle East program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a former deputy Jordanian prime minister, told Al-Monitor that Palestinians need to be unified before they can move ahead with a serious effort such as holding national elections. Muasher welcomed elections as a gateway for Palestinian legitimacy. National elections serve to renew Palestinian legitimacy, which has been significantly impacted.

But Muasher also warned that without national unity elections will fail, insisting that national unity is a necessary first step.

Palestinian analyst Hani al-Masri, director of the Ramallah-based Masarat think tank, said holding elections before national reconciliation is complete is a formula for trouble. Masri told Arab News, Issuing presidential decrees for elections before reconciliation is doing things in reverse order. To have elections, the land mines must be removed. If we dont address some of these problems, we are inviting trouble.

Palestinian factions, including the leaders of Hamas and Fatah, are expected to meet in Cairo next week to try to resolve logistical and other issues for elections.

However, discussions among Palestinians are surfacing that a possible joint Fatah-Hamas list based on a ratio of 70 Fatah to 60 Hamas candidates will be discussed in Cairo. Israeli media quoted Palestinian sources as saying that the discussion is that Jibril Rajoub would become the next speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) as part of this joint agreement.

The Palestinian Basic Law stipulates that if the president is unable to carry out his duties whether due to death or resignation, the speaker of the PLC becomes president for 60 days until presidential elections are held.

The joint Fatah-Hamas list would also overcome a major problem for Fatah, namely the fear that if it doesnt unite with the faction of Mohammed Dahlan, Fatah would not be able to win the coming elections.

But such A joint list was quickly opposed by Fatahs Central Committee member Nasser al-Qudwa. Qudwa issued a strongly worded statement opposing the idea, calling it undemocratic and smells of personal gains on the account of the people.

Qudwa, who was the PLOs envoy at the United Nations and is a nephew of former President Yasser Arafat, added in his statement that he would favor a left-wing list of PLO factions but not a list that is not feasible politically.

The idea of the joint list was also dismissed by leading Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki, who told Al-Monitor that the coming months will be critical as to who will win. If we look at recent polls, including our poll in mid-December, Fatah has consistently scored higher than Hamas and it is the more likely party to create a governing coalition. But the idea of the joint list will never see the light.

Shikaki, who is the director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, said predictions will depend on the situation in the coming months. If we look generally at the last five years, including the last poll we conducted in mid-December, Fatah has consistently received the highest percentage. In December it scored 38% while Hamas received 34%. In the past five years, Fatah has averaged 35%-40% while Hamas has averaged 30-34%. Secular parties from the left and third parties together can get 10%-25%.

The Palestinian pollster said that the new election law, which is based on a single national vote based on proportional voting, will favor Fatah in creating a coalition. Had we had this electoral system in 2006, Hamas wouldnt have been able to have an outright majority.

Shikaki said Hamas will not win outright this round, even though it has a more committed base, while Fatah is divided into three factions  the official one headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, the Dahlan faction and the faction of Marwan Barghouti. Shikaki said he believes that if the Dahlan faction joins the official Fatah list, the overall gain to Fatah will be less than if Barghouti joins the official Fatah list. If Barghouti joins Abbas, Fatah could get more than 40%, while if Dahlan joins, Fatah will drop to less than 35%. A pro-Dahlan list will not get more than 5%  mostly from Gaza.

Palestinian internal issues need to be resolved before the May 22 declared date for elections. Some skeptics say that the elections will not happen; but the local, regional and international support for elections and the momentum that has been gathering will make it difficult to postpone elections.
Washington: After a tumultuous four years, Americans may expect the incoming first lady, Jill Biden, to return the East Wing to a more traditional presence. But before she took office, Biden signalled that she would be bringing her own approach to the job.

Her second job, anyway.

Biden, who has a doctorate in educational leadership, will continue to teach writing at Northern Virginia Community College, where she taught full-time as second lady throughout Barack Obama's administration. As first lady, she will be the first to balance her career with public-facing duties, a development her team has downplayed to protect her privacy.

"Dr Biden will keep her teaching at Northern Virginia Community College separate from her public role," said her spokesman, Michael LaRosa. Biden has also matter-of-factly shrugged off questions about her decision, noting that she did not really think of it in "historic terms" because she had already taught as second lady.
Photo: The Canadian Press The RCMP logo is seen outside Royal Canadian Mounted Police "E" Division Headquarters, in Surrey, B.C., on Friday April 13, 2018. RCMP say a man wanted in connection with a kidnapping and assault investigation in Surrey, B.C., as well as a murder investigation in Winnipeg, Man., has been arrested after months on the run. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

RCMP say a man wanted in connection with a murder investigation in Winnipeg and a kidnapping and assault probe in Surrey, B.C., has been arrested after months on the run.

Mounties say Dyllan Petrin was picked up Tuesday after police learned he had been hiding out in Vancouver.

They say Petrin cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet last May while he was out on bail, and he was later identified as a suspect in a murder in July.

Police in Winnipeg say the B.C. man faces charges of first-degree murder in relation to the shooting incident.

Members of the Surrey RCMP strike force team, Lower Mainland integrated emergency response crew and Vancouver police assisted in the arrest.

Surrey RCMP Supt. Elija Rain says the arrest would not have been possible without strong collaboration among the various law enforcement agencies.

BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council on Wednesday convened a plenary meeting to discuss a draft government work report and the draft 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035.

The two documents will be deliberated at the top legislature's annual session in March.

The meeting, presided over by Premier Li Keqiang, decided to distribute the two draft documents to local governments and relevant departments of the central government to solicit opinion.

Li said despite multiple severe shocks such as the COVID-19 epidemic and global economic recession, China's economy posted growth in 2020. Its gross domestic product exceeded the 100-trillion-yuan (15.42 trillion U.S. dollars) threshold.

In addition to stabilizing its economy, China made historic achievements in the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, won a decisive victory in poverty eradication, and wrapped up the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020) successfully last year, Li noted.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period will be the first five years as China embarks on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country, said Li.

Li underlined the importance of understanding the new development stage, acting on the new development philosophy, and establishing the new development paradigm.

He called for greater progress in upgrading the economic structure, improving the quality of people's lives and promoting high-quality development.

Li urged maintaining the continuity, stability and sustainability of macro policies and the necessary support for economic recovery, ensuring the economy runs in an appropriate range, strengthening scientific and technological innovation, and stepping up reform and opening-up.

He also called for efforts to boost enterprises' confidence, address people's concerns, and guard against and defuse risks.

By soliciting opinion, Li said the government would learn about the concerns of people and businesses. Through this feedback, the government will make its policies and measures more realistic and targeted, better demonstrate the scientific and democratic decision-making process, and further stimulate the vitality of market entities and social creativity.

Vice Premiers Han Zheng, Sun Chunlan, Hu Chunhua and Liu He, and State Councilors Wang Yong, Xiao Jie and Zhao Kezhi attended the meeting.


BONN (dpa-AFX) - Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGY.PK) and Cellnex Telecom S.A. have agreed to merge their Dutch mobile communications infrastructure companies into Cellnex Netherlands BV. This combination of tower businesses of both companies will result in the largest independent cell mobile tower company in the Netherland.



The companies will also become anchor investors in a newly created Digital Infrastructure Vehicle (DIV), an investment fund focused on European digital infrastructure. DIV will be open to institutional investors. Deutsche Telekom intends to hold a limited partner stake of around 25 percent in the fund after third-party investments.



Deutsche Telekom will transfer T-Mobile Infra to the DIV. It will receive 250 million euros cash payment and a shareholding in DIV in exchange for the T-Mobile Infra business. This translates into a capital commitment of Deutsche Telekom of approximately 400 million euros to the fund. Cellnex has agreed to commit 200 million euros of capital to DIV. Later, DIV will contribute the received T-Mobile Infra business to Cellnex NL. DIV will receive approximately 38 percent economic interest in Cellnex NL. Cellnex holds remaining 62 percent.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

DEUTSCHE TELEKOM-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
Price-Gouging Laws Created Shortages of Critical Goods During Early Pandemic, Suggests New Research From Weber State

January 21, 2021

OGDEN, Utah  Laws banning price gouging aim to prevent exorbitant prices and increase access to critical goods during states of emergency, but newly published research from Weber State Universitys Goddard School of Business & Economics suggests that these laws likely cause shortages, undermining some of their own goals.

Published online early this week in the Journal of Private Enterprise, the research draws on publicly available internet search data from Google Trends. Titled Anti-Gouging Laws, Shortages, and COVID-19: Insights From Consumer Searches, the peer-reviewed article is co-authored by Gavin Roberts, assistant professor of economics at Weber State, and Rik Chakraborti, assistant professor of economics at Christopher Newport University in Virginia.

We knew this would be a rare opportunity to look at the effects of laws banning price gouging because emergencies rarely happen in so many different places at the same time, Roberts said. Usually, a disaster would affect only one region, like a hurricane hitting Louisiana and Texas, but its difficult to assess the impact of price-gouging laws in that situation because both states have similar laws.

In contrast, the COVID-19 pandemic led to shortages across the country of common consumer goods such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer, making it possible to compare shortages in states with and without laws banning price gouging, Roberts said. The majority of U.S. states have such laws, usually triggered by an official state of emergency, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This group includes Utah.

Roberts and Chakraborti used the number of Google searches for toilet paper and hand sanitizer as proxy measures for shortages of these critical goods, and they had plenty of data to work with. In its annual ranking of U.S. internet searches, Google Trends ranked toilet paper and hand sanitizer as the second and fifth most commonly searched terms coupled with the phrase where to buy in 2020.

The co-authors reason that a high number of searches for a product across a given geographic area represents a high likelihood of a shortage there.

When there are shortages, people search more online for goods that are in high demand, Roberts said. A states total number of internet searches for a product includes people who are searching for it for different reasons, like looking for lower prices in areas that arent experiencing shortages, Roberts said, but he and Chakraborti argue that the rates of these other searches would be similar across states regardless of a states price-gouging legislation, so any significant increases in online searches are most likely due to shortages.

The co-authors analyzed the number of online searches for toilet paper, hand sanitizer and lotion (a control variable), comparing the group of states that implemented bans on price gouging during the period from Feb. 15 to March 25 to the group of states that didnt. In 2020, searches for where to buy toilet paper peaked nationwide and in Utah during the week of March 15-21, while interest in hand sanitizer peaked the week prior.

The study controlled for other variables that might influence the results, including population density, average household size, population, racial demographics, and rates of intra-state travel, as measured by cell phone data, since some consumers may search for products in person rather than online.

Their analysis found robust evidence that consumer searches for hand sanitizer were significantly higher in states with price-gouging laws and some evidence of the same trend in searches for toilet paper, showing a positive association between laws banning price gouging and shortages. This research adds support to other findings that price-gouging laws drive shortages, Roberts said. The article cites a petition launched in March 2020 that has been signed by more than 150 economists asking state legislatures to repeal these laws.

If the prices of hand sanitizer and toilet paper were allowed to rise, then people would be less likely to hoard them, Roberts said. We always think about the businesses selling these products because they make a profit from price gouging, but we don't often realize that when you hold the price down, people will buy an aisles worth of toilet paper because it's super cheap.

Purchase limits attempt to maintain broad access to critical goods while holding down prices, but they are a symptom of shortages more than a solution, Roberts said. They are often ineffective because it is difficult for stores to stop consumers from evading these limits by visiting multiple stores, re-entering a store, or dropping by the same store daily to buy the maximum amount of a limited product.

In areas without price-gouging laws, abnormally high prices are temporary because they incentivize buyers and sellers to behave in ways that resolve shortages while also lowering prices.

Markets become especially beneficial when consumption and production patterns are changing quickly, and prices act as signals, relaying information to consumers and producers, Roberts said. A climbing price makes consumers think Hey, the price of toilet paper has doubled, maybe I should try to buy less and conserve, and it makes producers think Hey, the price of toilet paper has doubled, we should make more to sell or move more of our product to this location.

Knowing that prices will rise during times of emergency can also incentivize people to maintain their stores of critical goods, improving emergency preparedness, Roberts said.

As the pandemic continues, price gouging remains a high-profile issue. The Utah Legislatures Business and Labor Interim Committee voted on June 15 to study the topic and consider updating the states price-gouging law during the current legislative session.

More research is needed to determine the best course for states to take in amending or eliminating laws that ban price gouging, but in Roberts view, the existing evidence against them is enough to merit reconsidering this type of legislation.

For more news about Weber State University, visit weber.edu/wsutoday.
UK dramas Death in Paradise & Call the Midwife are back on ABC Saturdays in early February.

Death in Paradise returns with Season 9.

Saturday, 6 February at 7.30pm on ABC

Detective Inspector Jack Mooney may have settled into life on the glorious Caribbean island of Saint Marie, but the murders keep coming. From an apparent serial killer on the loose on New Years Eve to an artist found poisoned in her studio, the cases are more baffling than ever. And an unexpected romantic encounter prompts some soul-searching for Jack.

With the news that Jack is leaving, the team are in need of a new DI, who arrives in the form of one Detective Inspector Neville Parker from Manchester. Which is lucky, because Nevilles a brilliant puzzle-solving detective with an incomparable knowledge and intellect. The only problem is, Neville is allergic to anything and everything and refuses to live outside his comfort zone. Which means the Caribbean is basically a living nightmare for him. He can see how Saint Marie is wonderful for those who love it, but it really doesnt agree with him. For DI Neville Parker at least, paradise it is not

Neville cant complain for long though: he has some puzzling murders to solve. From a survival expert stabbed on a remote island to a woman killed behind two locked doors, Neville has his work cut out from the get-go. As do the rest of the team, as they try to make sense of their new boss

Call the Midwife also returns with Season 9.

Saturday 8:30pm February 6 on ABC.

The medics and midwives of Nonnatus House encounter new challenges as the population shifts, rules change, and old diseases return. Meanwhile, their own experiences are fuelled by love, loss, and doubt.

January 1965. As the nation mourns the death of Winston Churchill, tower blocks multiply, and a new East End rises from the ashes of the old. Society becomes more prosperous, but more complex.

The Nonnatus House team of medics and midwives face unexpected challenges as the population shifts, rules change, and old diseases come back to haunt them. Alongside the joy and optimism of birth, they must cope with cases including diphtheria, drug abuse, cancer, tuberculosis, and fistula.

As well as getting to grips with the real-world events unfolding around them  from serious political developments to the latest music, movies, and fashion. Meanwhile, the very future of Nonnatus House comes under threat.

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The West Bengal Police Department through the West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB), under Govt. of West Bengal, has called for applications in online as well as offline mode from eligible and interested candidates for filling Thousand Eighty-Eight (1,088) vacancies to the post of Sub-Inspectors/Lady Sub-Inspectors (Unarmed Branch) and Sub-Inspector of Police (Armed Branch) in the West Bengal Police through direct recruitment to be posted across West Bengal in India on a fulltime basis. The online-cum-offline application process towards the same starts on January 22, 2021 and closes on February 20, 2021 by 5:00 pm with February 23, 2021 as the last date for paying the application fee.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Sub-Inspectors/Lady Sub-Inspectors (Unarmed Branch) and Sub-Inspector of Police (Armed Branch) in the West Bengal Police Organisation West Bengal Police Recruitment Board (WBPRB) Educational Qualification Bachelors degree in any discipline Experience Freshers can apply Job Responsibilities null Skills Required Physical and Medical Fitness Job Location Across West Bengal Salary Scale As per the WBPRB Recruitment norms Industry West Bengal Police Department Application Start Date January 22, 2021 Application End Date February 20, 2021

West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for WBPRB Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment Board must have completed 20 years of age and not be more than 27 years as on January 01, 2021, with relaxation (upper age limit) up to 3 years (OBC) and 5 years (SC/ST) respectively as specified in the West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 Notification.

Candidates (Gen/UR/OBC) must pay a specified amount of Rs. 250 + Rs. 20 and Rs. 20 only (SC/ST- processing fee only) respectively as application + processing fee for WBPRB Sub-Inspector Jobs 2021 either through online (net-banking/credit/debit) mode or offline Challan mode as detailed in West Bengal Recruitment 2021 Notification.

Also Read: KSP Recruitment 2021 For 545 Sub-Inspector (Civil) Posts, Register Online On KSP.Online.In. Check Details Here

West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021: WBPRB Vacancy 2021 Details

Post Name No. Of Vacancies Sub-Inspectors (Unarmed Branch) 753 Lady Sub-Inspectors (Unarmed Branch) 150 Sub-Inspectors (Armed Branch) 185 Total 1,088

West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021: Education And Eligibility

Desirous candidates applying for WBPRB Sub-Inspector Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment Board must possess a Bachelor's degree in any discipline and meet the required Physical and Medical Fitness criteria as detailed in the West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 notification.

West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates to WBPRB Sub-Inspector Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 will be done through Preliminary Examination, Physical Measurement Test (PMT), Physical Efficiency Test (PET), Final Combined Competitive Examination and Personality Test as notified in the West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 notification.

Candidates selected as West Bengal Police Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment Board will be paid emolument as per the WBPRB Recruitment norms.

Also Read: BEL Recruitment 2021 For 52 Non-Executives, Engineering Assistants And Technicians. Apply Online Before Feb 3

West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for West Bengal Sub Inspector Jobs 2021 through West Bengal Police Recruitment Board must register online on the official WBPRB website from January 22, 2021 onwards and submit their applications on or before February 20, 2021 by 5:00 pm, Or

Can send their filled in applications to the "Chairman, West Bengal Police Recruitment Board, Araksha Bhaban, 5th Floor, 6 th Cross Road, Block - DJ, Sector - II, Salt Lake City, Kolkata - 700 091" superscribing on the envelope "Name of The Recruitment, Name of The Post and Application Sl. No" on or before February 20, 2021 by 5:00 pm as detailed in West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 notification.

Download Short West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Sub-Inspectors and Lady Sub-Inspectors posts

Download West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Sub-Inspectors and Lady Sub-Inspectors Online posts

Download West Bengal Police Recruitment 2021 Notification PDF for Sub-Inspectors and Lady Sub-Inspectors Offline posts

Battle: Eugene Bell (left), who is being treated in hospital for Covid-19, with his partner Paul McShane

The partner of a man diagnosed with coronavirus and admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital with his life in the balance has paid tribute to the intensive care staff who worked relentlessly to save his life.

Eugene Bell (52) is a non-smoker with no underlying health conditions - but within five days of testing positive for Covid-19, he was so unwell, his partner Paul McShane feared he would not survive.

Mr Bell was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital's high dependency unit where he remained seriously ill until earlier this week when he was transferred to the Covid ward.

Mr McShane said the couple will forever be thankful for the care given to Mr Bell.

He said: "Eugene was hit pretty hard by the virus and he has a long road ahead before he gets back to full health, if he gets back to full health.

"Eugene is a fit man, he doesn't smoke, he eats well, drinks just one night a week, goes to the gym and has no underlying health conditions at all, so on paper, he shouldn't have been so sick.

"I watched Eugene deteriorate over five days until I just knew I needed to do something fast.

"The doctors told me if we had waited another five hours, Eugene would have died so it was scary.

"He kept saying to me, 'Leave it until tomorrow'. But I told him he needed to be checked and thank God I did because they rushed him straight in."

While Mr Bell was in intensive care, Mr McShane relied on staff to keep him up to date with how his partner was doing.

He said: "Since Eugene was moved from the high dependency unit to the Covid ward we have been able to have video calls. He sounds awful and looks dreadful but he is a hell of a lot better than the day he was admitted.

"The days when Eugene was pretty seriously ill, the doctors rang me every day and told me what they were doing to treat Eugene and how he was reacting, and in the evening a nurse would ring me to explain how he was coping with everything they were doing.

"The doctors and the nurses were really, really good to him but they were so good to me too. I know the pressure they are working under and I am sure they had plenty of other things to do but they took time out to keep me in the picture - especially when Eugene was so ill - so we can't say enough good about them."

While hospitals continue to struggle to care for Covid patients, Mr McShane raged at people who promote an anti-mask, anti-vaccine message, saying: "I am fed up reading and hearing people saying coronavirus is a myth and there's no need to wear masks.

"It makes me so angry every time I see this nonsense. The lies they are spreading are dangerous because they are confusing people about what is the right thing to do and now they are going on about the vaccine and leaving people frightened about taking it.

"God forbid that any of these people or someone belonging to them ends up in intensive care, it would be interesting to see what they say then. They need to get their eyes opened but I wouldn't wish this on anyone because contrary to what they are saying, coronavirus is very real."
Hyundai also considered a halfway house of two buildings each 70 stories high, but that was ruled out because it would still have had to compensate the Air Force for standing in the way of its radar. Insiders say Hyundai was also spooked by an urban legend of a curse befalling big companies that build too high.

Instead, the carmaker hopes to build three smaller buildings that are 50 stories high. It plans to submit the plans to the Seoul Metropolitan Government for approval.

Hyundai has downscaled an epic project to build a 105-story skyscraper in Seoul as its new headquarters.

Since winning approval from the city in November 2019 to build the new headquarters, Hyundai has been bogged down in negotiations with the Defense Ministry, which claimed it needs a whole new radar if the Hyundai tower stands in the way.

At the time, the carmaker agreed to address the problem before the proposed 569-m, 105-story skyscraper was around half built. A 50-story building would not get in the way of existing military radars. The nearby World Trade Center Seoul is 54 stories tall. "The main reason for downsizing is to save hundreds of billions of dollars in costs for the military radar," an insider said.

The alleged curse of skyscrapers dates back to the 1930s, when completion of New York's 102-story Empire State Building, the highest structure in the world at the time, coincided with the Great Depression.

Completion of the 828 m Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2009 coincided with the global financial crisis. In Korea, Shindongah Group completed the 63 Building in Yeouido back in 1985 and promptly went bankrupt in the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Lotte became embroiled in a bitter family feud after completing its 123-story skyscraper in Jamsil in 2016, and the conglomerate has suffered blow after blow since then, especially in China.

Hyundai bought the land from power monopoly KEPCO back in 2014 for W10.55 trillion. That year marked a new milestone for Hyundai and affiliate Kia of a combined 8 million cars sold. But sales fell to 7.88 million cars in 2016 and to 7.25 million in 2017 amid China's unofficial boycott of Korean products (US$1=W1,102).

Last year their combined sales dropped to 6.35 million due to the coronavirus pandemic, leading to mounting accusations of waste and hubris in going ahead with building Korea's tallest skyscraper.

The change of plans will reduce construction costs from W3.7 trillion to around W1.5 trillion. "Hyundai needs to save as much money as possible right now due to massive investment in future businesses like electric and self-driving cars and robotics," an insider said. "Cutting construction costs will boost profitability and make it easier to attract investment for the new buildings."
Here was a presidential inauguration delivered within the teeth of a storm of American carnage, but bearing the promise that, this time, the storm might abate.

The 46th President, Joe Biden, stood on the steps of the Capitol, a building assaulted only two weeks before by a howling mob of insurrectionists, and listed the cascade of crises facing his nation: a pandemic that has taken as many American lives now as all those lost by the US in World War II; deep racial injustice; domestic terrorism; climate change; and yes, white supremacy.

He spoke of the fragility of democracy itself but declared that it had prevailed. He instructed his nation that it must unify and end its uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

And he called out the disease that has eaten away at public discourse over the past four years.
San Diego, CA, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Debts can be stressful, especially if they leave you financially disenfranchised to the extent that you can no longer meet your daily expenses. As the country continues to adjust to the realities of financial challenges due to COVID-19, many people are now faced with the option of filing for bankruptcy. Over 80 million Americans have loans that seem to be growing over time. For example, by the end of 2019, an average household owed approximately 6,200 dollars in credit card debt. When student loans, consumer loans, and mortgage loans are considered, the figure can be overwhelmingly large to manage.





If you are struggling with debt and do not know the exact strategy to employ to get a reprieve, you are not alone. Millions of Americans have this problem, and a good number of them do not see the possibility of paying up their loans in the near future. Since nobody ever feels comfortable having to deal with the annoying and repetitive calls from debt recovery agencies, here are a few keys on how to avoid too much debt.





Always Pay Your Installments On Time





Late or missed payments attract very high penalties and fees, which could go beyond $30 depending on the outstanding loan balances or type of credit card you carry. Missing any two payments back-to-back can lead to higher penalty rates and cause a significant rise in your finance charges.





Make Substantial Payments





Many people who've reported struggling with huge debts say it all started with paying an amount less than the expected monthly payment. However small it can be, starting a new month with a negative balance can trigger higher debts and increases the risks of getting into a difficult credit card debt. To avoid all these issues, you only need to be disciplined by spending according to your ability every single month.





Don't Let Your Taxes Put You on the Receiving End





According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), $1.76 trillion was collected as a tax on individual incomes while businesses helped net about $390 billion. Since unpaid taxes account for about 20 percent of debts, individuals are advised to prioritize making their tax payments whenever they fall due. If you think you have overdue payments or feel you cannot manage your tax bills, it is advisable to call the IRS and see whether you can qualify for partial payment or if you can ask for an extension.





Be Careful with Car and Home Loans





Everyone has a dream of owning a cool home and driving a sleek car at some point in his or her life, but nothing can cause debilitating debt than buying a car or home on loan. According to the Federal Reserve, the total auto loan debt crossed the $1 trillion mark in 2016, which meant that, on average, every household owed $28,948 in car loans, being a 9 percent increase compared to the previous year. On the other hand, home debt reached $8.5 trillion (an average of $177,000) during the same period. While owning assets such as these is a plus for anyone, buying them using loans has proven to be a risky move. The best way to consider buying a used car is to save up for it, so your debt doesn't exceed your earning capacity.

How Elite Document Management Solutions Is Helping People Remodel Their Finances





At Elite Document Management Solutions, there is a possibility of getting back on track despite the debt crisis you may be facing at the moment. Elite DMS prides itself on giving its customers an array of hope after a period of financial challenges through its tested and proven Debt Relief Programs. By leveraging the unparalleled experience of its financial experts in resolving varied debt challenges arising from different circumstances, Elite Document Management Solutions is perhaps one of the few entities that you can count on a time when you are pressed in the corner.



When you first get into contact with the experts, they carefully review your financial information accurately and with clarity of facts with a view of helping you comprehend your situation before recommending the best proprietary strategy that suits your individual needs. In addition, Elite DMS has a dedicated training program to help customers navigate the often challenging process to realize maximum success.
At least two people were killed on Wednesday when a huge explosion ripped through a building in Madrid, in what appeared to be caused by a gas leak, officials said

Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :At least two people were killed on Wednesday when a huge explosion ripped through a building in Madrid, in what appeared to be caused by a gas leak, officials said.

The emergency services tweeted that two people had died, while another person was seriously injured and six had suffered light injuries in the blast.

"It seems there was a gas explosion in the building," mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida told reporters at the scene, where hundreds of police and rescuers filled the streets.

The incident occurred in a building next door to an elderly care home, but no-one there was hurt, La Paloma residence said in a statement on its website.

Images from the scene showed the walls on the top four or five storeys had been blown out, with debris littered far and wide.

Nine fire crews and 11 ambulances were dispatched to the scene with hundreds of police and rescuers filling the street, which was completely closed off to traffic and pedestrians, AFP correspondents said.

"At least four floors have been affected by the explosion in the building in Calle Toledo," the emergency services tweeted.

Images broadcast on Spanish television showed cars destroyed by the blast and smoke billowing from the top floor of a building.

"The noise was very loud, very loud, really," Lorenzo Fomento, a 43-year-old Italian salesman who was working from home at a nearby apartment, told AFP by telephone.

"I never heard something as loud before," he added.

bur-ds/hmw/txw
Google has joined Apple by banning yet another social media app popular with far right users from its app store.

Wimkin, which describes itself as 100% uncensored social media, had risen in popularity in recent weeks following a crackdown by more mainstream platforms like Facebook and Twitter against far right users accused of spreading conspiracy theories and inciting violence.

A Google spokesperson said Wimkin was removed from the Play Store due to posts calling for violence against liberals.

We dont allow apps that depict or facilitate gratuitous violence or other dangerous activities, the spokesperson said.

It is the latest action from a Big Tech firm aimed at combating harmful content online in the wake of the violent insurrection at the US Capitol on 6 January, which left five people dead.

The event was planned on social media apps by pro-Trump supporters in the two months leading up to the riots, with Twitter users and groups on Facebook promoting false claims about the integrity of the US election.

The mass banning of Facebook and Twitter users who pushed misleading content, including Donald Trumps accounts, saw many people migrate to fringe apps like Parler and Wimkin.

Apple and Google both banned Parler earlier this month and have now taken action against the lesser-known Wimkin app, which has roughly 300,000 users according to The Wall Street Journal.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 21 May 2021 A dog that has been trained to sniff out the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), screens a sweat sample at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand REUTERS World news in pictures 20 May 2021 Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo, Monaco REUTERS World news in pictures 18 May 2021 Horse-drawn carriages drive through the mudflats near Cuxhaven, northern Germany dpa via AP World news in pictures 17 May 2021 Kanoya Onishi in action during the Cycling BMX Free Style of Tokyo 2020 Olympics test event at Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan EPA World news in pictures 16 May 2021 Rescuers carry Suzy Eshkuntana, 6, as they pull her from the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City Reuters World news in pictures 15 May 2021 A ball of fire erupts from the Jala Tower as it is destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 May 2021 Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers inside the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh AP World news in pictures 13 May 2021 Muslim girls ride on a mini train after attending the Eid Al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 12 May 2021 Israeli artillery fire as the escalation continues between Israeli army and Hamas at the Gaza Border EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2021 Maya Nakanishi competes in the womens long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 10 May 2021 A Palestinian man helps a wounded fellow protester amid clashes with Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound, ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israels takeover of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 May 2021 Falconer Giovanna Piccolo performs with her Eurasian eagle-owl at 'Roma World' theme park, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Rome Reuters World news in pictures 8 May 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is introduced as a starter against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena. USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 6 May 2021 Buddhist monks and believers attend a lantern parade in celebration of the upcoming birthday of Buddha at a temple in Seoul, South Korea Reuters World news in pictures 5 May 2021 Russian MiG-29 jet fighters of the Strizhi (Swifts) and Su-30SM jet fighters of the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) aerobatic teams fly in formation over the Cathedral Square of the Kremlin in Moscow during a flypast rehearsal for the WWII Victory Parade AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 May 2021 An elevated metro line collapsed in the Mexican capital on Monday, leaving at least 23 people dead and dozens injured as a train came plunging down, authorities said AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 May 2021 Lightning bolts strike buildings during a thunderstorm in Bangkok AFP/Getty World news in pictures 2 May 2021 Samaritan worshippers arrive to take part in a Passover ceremony on top of Mount Gerizim, near the northern West Bank city of Nablus AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 May 2021 A Gilet Jaune, or yellow vest, protestor stands in front of a burning barricade holding his hand up with an inscription calling for President Macron to resign as May Day Protest turn violent near Place de la Republique in Paris, France Getty World news in pictures 30 April 2021 A demonstrator from the Rio de Paz human rights activist group digs a symbolic grave in front of rows of bags symbolising bodybags on Copacabana beach, during a protest against the Brazilian governments handling of the coronavirus pandemic, in Rio de Janeiro AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 April 2021 An aerial picture shows dead carp fish flushed to the shores of al-Qaraoun reservoir in Lebanons Western Beqaa District in the countrys east. Tonnes of fish have washed up dead on the shoreline of the highly polluted artificial reservoir in eastern Lebanon in recent days AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 April 2021 Health workers wearing PPE attends to coronavirus patients inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a covid care centre in New Delhi AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 April 2021 The full moon, known as the Super Pink Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Reuters World news in pictures 26 April 2021 Balinese people lay wreaths with names of the crew on board the sunk Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala during a prayer at the sea near Labuhan Lalang, Bali, Indonesia EPA World news in pictures 25 April 2021 An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian worshipper walks around the Edicule, the place believed to be where Jesus Christ was buried, during Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 April 2021 Fans of Wuhan Three Towns FC cheer for their team during the 1st round match Wuhan Three Towns FC and Beijing Institute of Technology FC during Chinese Football League One in Wuhan, China Getty World news in pictures 23 April 2021 A girl prays in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalems Old City, on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions ease around the country, in Jerusalem Reuters World news in pictures 22 April 2021 People walk through the art work 'THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS' by Yayoi Kusama, during the press preview of a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist at the Martin Gropius Bau museum in Berlin, Germany AP World news in pictures 21 April 2021 Hungary's Sara Peter competes in the Women's floor qualifications during European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the St Jakobshalle, in Basel AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 April 2021 South Korea university students gets their heads shaved during a protest against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Seoul Reuters World news in pictures 19 April 2021 A spectator wearing a football jersey of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi attends the ATP Barcelona Open tennis tournament singles match between Japan's Kei Nishikori and Argentina's Guido Pella at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona AFP/Getty World news in pictures 18 April 2021 People raise their fist during a demonstration near the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty World news in pictures 17 April 2021 Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station during the 5th phase of West Bengal's state legislative assembly elections in Kolkata AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 April 2021 Palestinians take part in the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 April 2021 A firefighter inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 14 April 2021 This picture shows the 100 days countdown till the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games displayed on the illuminated Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo on April 14, 2021 AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 April 2021 This photo taken and received courtesy of an anonymous source shows Buddhist monks gesturing while taking part in a demonstration with protesters against the military coup in Mandalay during the Myanmar New Year festival of Thingyan AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 April 2021 An Indian holi man during the Kumbh Mela royal bath (Sacred Hindu Pilgrimage) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Thousands of pilgrims are gathering and taking holy dip in Kumbh Mela that is a mass Hindu pilgrimage which occurs after every twelve years and rotates among four locations EPA World news in pictures 11 April 2021 Nasa released images of of sand dunes on Mars captured using infrared reflections NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU World news in pictures 10 April 2021 People watch devotees pulling a chariot in Biska Jatra Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal AP World news in pictures 9 April 2021 Maintenance workers clean the monument of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Moscow on April 9, 2021. - Sixty years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, marking it a new chapter in the history of space exploration. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 8 April 2021 Protesters hold a banner and burning red flares during a demonstration of called by unions of healthcare and social workers in support of their sector and to demand a bonus in their pay in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 7 April 2021 Protesters laying on the street near the Election Commission office in Kolkata during a demonstration demanding the halt of the ongoing state legislative election and campaign rallies amidst the rising number of Covid-19 cases AFP/Getty World news in pictures 6 April 2021 Voters stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during third phase of West Bengal state elections in Baruipur, South 24 Pargana district, India AP World news in pictures 5 April 2021 The Statue of Christ appears behind clouds from the Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon as the Portuguese government eased coronavirus restrictions AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 April 2021 Christian worshippers light candles during an Easter service in Yerevan, the Armenian capital AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 April 2021 Anti-coup protesters hold improvised weapons during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmars military Junta continued a brutal crackdown on a nationwide civil disobedience movement in which thousands of people have turned out in continued defiance of live ammunition Getty World news in pictures 2 April 2021 A rescue works at the site after a train derailed in a tunnel north of Hualien, Taiwan Reuters World news in pictures 1 April 2021 Man flashes three-finger salute next to burning tires during a protest against the military c Reuters World news in pictures 31 March 2021 Mannequins wrapped in barrier tape stand in front of Berlins landmark Brandenburg Gate as part of German artist Dennis Josef Mesegs Corona Memorial called It is Like it is AFP via Getty

Wimkin, became a haven for adherents to the QAnon conspiracy theory, prompting one tech commentator to describe it as the next Parler.

A message on Wimkins website following the Google ban stated: We are working on getting back in both Apple Store and Google Play. Thank You.

According to the sites Terms and Conditions, users are requested to comply with acceptable use standards, but adds that moderation of the platform only takes place during normal business hours (9am-9pm EST).

These standards appear to be similar to Parlers, in that they forbid nudity and pornographic materials. Criminally harassing" contributions are also not allowed, though there appears to be no restrictions on content that is intended to mislead or incite violence.
Dozens of patients were evacuated from Leeds hospital into the freezing cold after a man wielding a screwdriver threatened staff and tried to burn the building down.

Police officers and fire crews rushed to Leeds General Infirmary just after 6pm on Thursday evening as patients and staff were ordered to leave.

A man was arrested at the scene after he was caught 'causing damage' and 'attempting to start a fire', police said.

Pictures and video showed patients in their beds being wheeled out of the hospital. Temperatures in the city were around 1C (34F) at the time.

Other dramatic footage filmed inside part of the hospital after the fire showed severe damage, with blackened walls visible and parts of the ceiling hanging down.

Dozens of patients were evacuated from Leeds hospital into the freezing cold after a fire broke out inside, with smoke reportedly filling the corridors

A man with former colleagues at the scene said smoke had filled the corridors in several areas. He said: 'I heard that the smoke was filling up the corridors from A and E up to ICU and Theatres (one level up).'

A police cordon was in place outside the building and fire crews were seen bagging evidence.

Buses are unable to go past the hospital, with First West Yorkhire tweeting: 'Service 5 towards Albion Street - Due to an obstruction on Clarendon Way the service is currently following the 5A route. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.'

Patients and staff were allowed back into the hospital after the blaze was extinguished quickly by fire crews.

A police spokesman said: 'Enquiries are ongoing this evening following an incident at a hospital in Leeds.

'Police were called to the Leeds General Infirmary at about 17.54 to a report of a man in possession of a screwdriver who was causing damage in a unit, had made threats, and was attempting to start a fire.

Dramatic footage filmed inside part of the hospital after the fire showed severe damage, with blackened walls visible and parts of the ceiling hanging down

Police officers and fire crews rushed to Leeds General Infirmary on Thursday evening as patients and staff were ordered to leave

A man was arrested at the scene after he was caught 'causing damage' and 'attempting to start a fire', police said

Police were pictured outside the hospital after it was briefly evacuated on Thursday

'The area was evacuated, and officers attended, located and arrested a man.

'West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service also attended the hospital and extinguished fire inside the affected area.

'No-one is believed to have been injured in the incident.

'Police remain on scene and the suspect remains in custody.'

Footage filmed inside the hospital showed the damage caused by the fire

Patients and staff were allowed back into the hospital after the blaze was extinguished quickly by fire crews

A spokesperson for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'We can confirm that there was a small fire at Leeds General Infirmary this evening. The fire was extinguished quickly and nobody was injured'

A spokesperson for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'We can confirm that there was a small fire at Leeds General Infirmary this evening.

'The fire was extinguished quickly and nobody was injured.

'Staff and patients were evacuated from the building for a short period and police investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

'We would like to thank our staff and the emergency services who responded quickly to the incident.'
Ruth Langsford has reached out to Dr Alex George with a moving message after he opened up about his grief and sadness following the tragic death of his brother.

The former Love Island star, 30, admitted that 'grief hit [him] like a brick' on Wednesday as he struggled with the loss of his younger sibling Llyr, who took his life at the age of 19 in July.

And seeing Alex's Instagram post, Ruth, 60, who lost her sister Julia to suicide in 2019, shared a caring message to the medic as she penned: 'Grief is the price we pay for love.'

Support: Ruth Langsford has reached out to Dr Alex George with a moving message after he opened up about his grief and sadness following the tragic death of his brother

Alex bravely spoke candidly about his mental health with fans, sharing a picture from his work at A&E on the NHS frontline.

In the caption of his photo, Dr Alex said: 'Grief hits you like a brick at times. Driving to work today it really hit me really hard.

'I feel so sad at times. I really miss my brother. I am sharing this because it's ok to feel sad. It's ok to cry. Miss you mate x'

Struggle: The former Love Island star, 30, admitted that 'grief hit [him] like a brick' on Wednesday as he struggled with the loss of his younger sibling Llyr, who took his life at the age of 19 in July

In the comments of his post, Ruth was quick to offer her own words of support as she wrote: 'Oh Alex....I know that feeling so well. Grief is the price we pay for love. Sending you a HUGE hug ,'

Seeing her kind words, Alex responded: 'Thank you Ruth x.'

The This Morning star's husband Eamonn Holmes, 61, also commented with a series of prayer hands emojis on Alex's post.

Shared grief: In the comments of his post, Ruth was quick to offer her own words of support as she wrote: 'Oh Alex....I know that feeling so well. Grief is the price we pay for love'

Grateful: Seeing her kind words, Alex responded: 'Thank you Ruth x'

Meanwhile, Alex's Love Island co-stars Jack Fincham and Alexandra Cane as well as This Morning's Dr Zoe Williams also shared messages of support.

In June 2019, Ruth's sister Julia Johnson, 62, who had battled depression for years, was found dead by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey in June 2019.

At the time, the ITV host told viewers her sister had died 'after a long illness', with an inquest later ruling she had died by suicide.

Well wishes: The This Morning star's husband Eamonn Holmes, 61, also commented with a series of prayer hands emojis on Alex's post

Kindness: Meanwhile, Alex's Love Island co-stars Jack Fincham and Alexandra Cane as well as This Morning's Dr Zoe Williams also shared messages of support

Dr Alex confirmed his brother's passing on social media in July, describing him as 'the kindest and most caring soul'.

The medic revealed that he had no idea that his youngest brother was struggling with his mental health before his tragic death.

Speaking about his 'bright, talented and funny' sibling, he explained that Llyr's sudden death left their family 'shattered and irrevocably changed'.

Much missed: In June 2019, Ruth's sister Julia Johnson, 62, who had battled depression for years, was found dead by her husband Paul at their home in Lingfield, Surrey in June 2019

Describing the moment his father told him about Llyr's death, Dr Alex wrote in The Sun: 'In that moment my world fell apart, it came down around me, it shattered.'

The A&E doctor explained that his brother had no diagnosed history of a mental health condition and never told him how he was feeling despite being 'very close'.

Urging people to remember that there is 'no type' when it comes to mental health, he said that Llyr did not share his struggles due to the stigma surrounding suicide mental health.

'Grief hits you like a brick at times': Alex bravely spoke candidly about his mental health with fans, sharing a picture from his work at A&E on the NHS frontline

Grief stricken: Dr Alex told his followers, 'I feel so sad at times. I really miss my brother. I am sharing this because it's ok to feel sad. It's ok to cry. Miss you mate x'

Loss: Alex's brother tragically took his own life in July, and Dr Alex confirmed his passing on social media at the time, describing him as 'the kindest and most caring soul'.

He continued: 'Not once did Llyr tell me how he was feeling, I'm a doctor, we were very close, he knew I was a mental health advocate and hugely passionate about it.'

Dr Alex, who has been a mental health advocate for years, went on to explain that his pain from Llyr's sudden death will no doubt be there for the rest of his life.

He added that his brother is always in his thoughts, as he shared his hope he will eventually be able to live alongside his grief.

'My world fell apart': The medic revealed that he had no idea that his youngest brother was suffering with his mental health before his tragic death in July last year

He explained: 'That pain will be there for the rest of my life but at some point I hope I'll learn to live alongside it.'

The doctor, who works in A&E at London's Lewisham Hospital, took to social media in December to urge Boris Johnson to meet with him.

He penned a candid letter to the Prime Minister on Instagram, urging him to give more value to 'support for emotional and mental wellbeing' in schools.

'Let's talk': The doctor, who works in A&E at London's Lewisham Hospital, took to social media in December to urge Boris Johnson to meet with him

He shared a snap of himself holding a handwritten banner reading 'Boris let's talk #mentalhealthmatters' alongside his lengthy caption.

The reality TV star said he has spent 'months' researching and speaking to charities and believes that mental wellbeing needs to be treated with the 'same importance as core subjects such as Maths and English'.

He explained that the issue has only become 'more important' due to the effects of the Covid-19 crisis, saying that each loss of life to suicide is 'potentially preventable'.

Dr Alex urged his 1.5million followers to share his call for action and tag Boris Johnson and Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, who he also requested to meet with.

His lengthy caption read: 'DEAR BORIS JOHNSON, Our children have a right to receive quality mental health education and support that adequately prepares them for the world in which we live.

Call for action: Dr Alex penned a letter to the Prime Minister on Instagram on Sunday, urging him to give more value to 'support for emotional and mental wellbeing' in schools

'I have spent the last few months speaking with mental health charities, teachers, parents and education leads and we all agree that things need to change.

'From my discussions and research, I believe there are clear areas that we can and must improve on.

'Education and support for emotional and mental wellbeing needs to be treated with the same importance as core subjects such as Maths and English.

'Happy and well supported children are much more likely to enjoy and engage in education and become well rounded adults and more able to cope with the pressures of modern life.

'This has never been more important, especially with the effects of the pandemic.

Mental health: The reality TV star said he spent 'months' researching and believes mental health needs to be given the 'same importance as core subjects such as Maths and English'

'This has never been more important': He said the issue has only become 'more important' due to the Covid-19 crisis, saying that each loss of life to suicide is 'potentially preventable'

'Too many lives are lost each year to suicide, each one of them a potentially preventable loss of life. How many more lives must we lose before we act?

'I would like to meet with yourself and Secretary of State for Education @gavinwilliamson.mp to discuss the changes which I propose. I look forward to hearing from you, Dr Alex George.

'Please tag @borisjohnsonuk and share to make this happen'

And the TV doctor did not stop there, as he also shared a flood of posts on his Instagram stories urging his followers to help him 'act'.

Speaking about his brother's death, he wrote: 'I might not be able to help my brother. But I can help other children and young adults, with your help. Together.'

Anger: Dr Alex also fumed in all caps that 'our children have a right to mental health education', arguing that 'they deserve better' as he vowed he would not give up

Support: The A&E doctor also shared driven reactions from his fans, including teachers and practitioners, who argued that 'not enough' was being done to 'protect mental health'

He added: 'I have been quiet until now. Gathering information. Speaking to experts. Understanding the issue. Now it's time to act. Please help me.'

Dr Alex also fumed in all caps that 'our children have a right to mental health education', arguing that 'they deserve better' as he vowed he would not give up.

He also shared driven reactions from his fans, including teachers and practitioners, who argued that 'not enough' was being done to 'protect mental health'.

The doctor also posted an array of messages continuing to thank his followers for all of their support; His comments come after he endured his first Christmas without his brother Llyr.

Grieving: Last month, Dr Alex returned for a new series of his podcast The Waiting Room, and opened with a tribute to Llyr, who died in July

Last month, Dr Alex returned for a new series of his podcast The Waiting Room, and opened with a tribute to Llyr.

'I've been going through the hardest time in my personal life after loosing my brother Llyr to mental health in July,' he told listeners. 'He was only 19 with a career in medicine ahead of him.

'I was so so proud of him. I miss him so much and he is always in my thoughts.'

Dr Alex also recalled what someone 'very very wise' told him after his brother passed away.

Famous medic: A&E doctor Alex - who shot to fame on Love Island 2018 - was debuting the fourth series of the podcast after a trying year

'Life throws us into the deep end at times but with the help of family and friends we overcome even the most seemingly surmountable of challenges. Just know you are never alone.'

Reflecting on the grieving process, he added: 'Grief is an ongoing process and I'll never get over losing Llyr, but i want to continue doing the things that are important to me.'

A&E doctor Alex - who shot to fame on Love Island 2018 - was debuting the fourth series of the podcast after a trying year.

He's been treating Covid-19 patients at Lewisham Hospital in London and sharing his experiences with the nation in his role as a TV medic.

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
Overdrive

Maruti Suzuki has dispatched the first batch of the India-made Suzuki Jimny SUV from the Mundra port. This lot of the three-door 4x4 consists of 184 units headed to South American markets like Columbia and Peru. The demand for the Suzuki Jimny has soared since its global debut in 2018, beyond the limits of Suzuki Japan's capacity. To meet this, Maruti Suzuki is being roped in to supplement production at the Jimny's Kosai manufacturing hub in Japan.

The Jimnys built by Maruti Suzuki have the same specifications as those from Japan and will be exported to Latin America, Middle East and African markets.

The export-spec Jimny is powered by the 1.5-litre K15B four-cylinder petrol. This is the same unit as seen on cars like the Ciaz, Vitara Brezza and Maruti Suzuki S-Cross and in the Jimny makes 102PS and 130 Nm. The two gearbox options are a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic.

The Jimny's legendary stature comes from its off-roading capability and that has remained intact with this generation too. This fourth-gen Jimny continues with a ladder frame construction, sat on live axles at both ends. There is the AllGrip Pro 4WD system with a low range transfer case as well as a brake-based limited-slip differential. A hill-hold and hill-descent function is also available. The Jimny has a 27-degree approach, 28-degree ramp breakover and 48-degree departure angle. Ground clearance is 210mm.

There is still no confirmation on whether the Maruti Suzuki Jimny will actually be sold in India, given that this is expected to be fairly niche offering by Maruti Suzuki's standards. Although with local production beginning in a similar spec to other Maruti Suzuki offering, the chances for an Indian launch for the Jimny look quite strong.
File image: Farmers participate in a tractor rally to protest against the three new farm reform bills at Singhu border near New Delhi on January 7, 2021. (Image: Reuters)

The second round of meeting between the police and farmer unions regarding the proposed January 26 tractor rally by them remained inconclusive on January 21 as the farmers stuck to their demand of taking out the rally on Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road.

Taking to reporters after the meeting, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav said the police wanted the farmer leaders to take out their tractor rally outside the national capital.

"We will do our parade peacefully inside Delhi. They wanted us to hold the tractor rally outside Delhi, which is not possible," Yadav, who is actively participating in the ongoing agitation against the Centre's new farm laws, said.

Sources said police officers tried to convince the protesting farm unions to hold their tractor rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway instead of the Outer Ring Road, but in vain.

A farmer leader, who attended the meeting with the police, said, "The government wants us to take out our rally outside Delhi, but we want to hold it inside Delhi. No decision was taken in today's meeting."

Follow LIVE updates of the farmers' protest here

Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) SS Yadav coordinated the meeting held at Mantram Resort near the Singhu border. The meeting was also attended by Special Commissioner (Law and Order-Western Zone) Sanjay Singh, Special Commissioner of Police (Intelligence) Dependra Pathak and other senior officers from Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police.

A similar meeting was held on January 20 between the union leaders and officers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana police at Vigyan Bhawan to discuss the route and arrangements of the proposed rally on January 26.

However, the farmer unions had rejected a suggestion by the police officers to hold the rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhi's busy Outer Ring Road, sources said.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at several Delhi border points against the Centre's new agriculture laws for nearly two months.

The unions representing the farmers have begun holding tractor rallies at villages in Punjab to mobilise people for the demonstration on Republic Day.

The farmers are vehemently opposing the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020.

Enacted in September 2020, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

However, the protesting farmers have expressed their apprehension that the new laws would pave the way for eliminating the safety cushion of MSP (minimum support price) and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates.
WASHINGTON - The chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Thursday asked the FBI to conduct a "robust examination" of the alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol siege of Parler, the now-disabled social media site that bristled with violent chatter before and after rioters stormed the Capitol in a rampage that left five people dead.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the chairwoman, said the request is a step toward opening a formal committee investigation into sites that may encourage violence, including Parler. It became prominent last year as a freewheeling alternative to Twitter, gaining popularity in particular among conservatives.

She said the committee will begin its own formal investigation of Parler and similar sites, and that it was a "top priority" for her to learn answers to a range of questions about Parler, including its alleged ties to Russia, as documented in news reports. Her letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray Thursday singled out Parler's use of a Russian-owned web services company, DDoS-Guard, that also has Russian government clients and may leave Parler vulnerable to data requests by Russian agencies.

"I am going to get to the bottom of who owns and funds social media platforms like Parler that condone and create violence," Maloney said in an interview with The Washington Post.

In response to Maloney's letter, Parler Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Wernick said in a statement to The Post, "Like other social-media platforms, we have been cooperating and will continue to cooperate with law-enforcement efforts to identify and prosecute those individuals responsible for organizing and carrying out the shameless Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Parler welcomes Rep. Maloney's call to have the Federal Bureau of Investigation conduct a robust examination of our policies and actions."

Parler previously has described its ownership and leadership as based in the United States, with conservative financier Rebekah Mercer and commentator Dan Bongino among its investors. It hired DDoS-Guard to protect it from cyberattacks after Amazon Web Services suspended Parler for having inadequate moderation policies, citing in a legal filing what it said was the site's "unwillingness and inability" to remove content "inciting and planning the rape, torture, and assassination of named public officials and private citizens."

The move knocked Parler offline, further clouding its future after Apple and Google also had removed it from their app stores for similar policy violations. It has struggled to get back online, but its officers have vowed to do so.

Parler's legal fight to force Amazon to restore its service suffered a setback on Thursday when a federal district judge in Seattle denied Parler's request for a preliminary injunction.

"Our return is inevitable due to hard work, and persistence against all odds. Despite the threats and harassment not one Parler employee has quit. We are becoming closer and stronger as a team," chief executive John Matze wrote in a post Monday. As the letter from Maloney noted, Matze is married to a Russian woman, a fact previously noted in numerous news reports that raised the issue without documenting improper influence over the company.

Conservative commentators Mark Levin and Sean Hannity, along with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ken., have posted words of support, but the site overall remained inoperative Thursday morning.

Maloney's letter called on the bureau to "conduct a robust examination of the role that the social media site Parler played in the assault, including as a potential facilitator of planning and incitement related to the violence."

The FBI national press office said in a statement to The Post: "We have received the letter and are reviewing."

DDoS-Guard did not respond immediately to a request for comment Thursday, but officials with the company said in a statement Tuesday, "At this time, Parler.com does not violate either our Acceptable Use Policy or the current US law to the best of our knowledge."

Congress has wide-ranging authority to inquire about private companies, but Parler and other social media sites also enjoy broad legal immunity for what others post on their platforms through Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. While there is ample evidence of hateful conversation ahead of the attack on the Capitol and calls for violence against members of Congress, those were made by Parler's users - many of them using pseudonyms - a fact limiting Parler's responsibility.

The company, based in Henderson, Nev., and founded in 2018, has engaged in limited moderation, using panels of users to review potentially problematic posts while portraying itself as a haven for free speech at a time of rising restrictions and enforcement on mainstream platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Parler refused to remove accounts affiliated with Russian influence operations documented in October by research firm Graphika, saying that no government authority had asked it do so.

Maloney wrote in her letter: "The company was founded by John Matze shortly after he traveled in Russia with his wife, who is Russian and whose family reportedly has ties to the Russian government. Concerns about the company's connections to Russia have grown since the company re-emerged on a Russian hosting service, DDoS-Guard."

She wrote the Russian company "has ties to the Russian government and hosts the websites of other far-right extremist groups, as well as the terrorist group Hamas."

DDoS-Guard stopped protecting the Hamas website in November, according to SITE Intelligence Group.

The new Congress is only just forming, but Maloney made it clear in her interview with The Post that studying Parler is a priority for the investigative oversight panel. Maloney has a long-standing interest in possible foreign support of U.S. companies. In December, legislation she has championed for years was passed into law requiring more disclosure for shell companies.

The new law will require shell companies to provide the names of their owners or face stiff penalties and jail sentences. The Corporate Transparency Act mandates that information about shell companies be stored in a confidential database accessible to federal law enforcement and shared with banks, which are often unwitting accomplices to international corruption and terrorism.
The newly sworn-in American President, Joe Biden, on Wednesday, submitted a letter renewing the United States commitment to funding the World Health Organisation (WHO) and honouring the countrys policies on climate change.

In a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, Mr Biden said the U.S. intended to remain a member of the international public health body.

This is against his predecessors plan to exit the World Health Organisation (WHO) by July 2021, based on allegations that the global body is covering up China over the coronavirus pandemic.

Following last years Climate Ambition Summit, countries producing half of global carbon pollution had committed to carbon neutrality, Mr Guterres said in reaction to the presidents decision.

Todays commitment by President Biden brings that figure to two-thirds, the UN chief added.

Also reacting to the development, Director-General of WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, in a tweet on Thursday morning, said the U.S. has played an important role in improving global health.

We are all glad that the United States of America is staying in the family.

Since @WHOs founding in 1948, the United States has played a vital role in global health & the American people have made enormous contributions to the health of the world people, Mr Ghebreyesus said.

We look forward to continuing our partnership, as I know all Member States do.

Long battle

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Donald Trump, in April 2020, ordered the suspension of funds to the WHO based on alleged mismanagement of the deadly pandemic by the health agency and the allegation it pandered to the whims of the Chinese government

Barely a month after, Mr Trump also announced that the United States would be cutting off its relationship with the international health agency.

READ ALSO: Biden accuses Trump of damaging critical security agencies

China has total control over the World Health Organisation, Mr Trump was quoted by the New York Post as saying. He was also quoted as saying the U.S. contributed $450 million to the WHO each year compared to Chinas $40 million.

We have detailed reforms that it must make and engaged with them directly, but they have refused to act, he continued.

Because they have failed to make the requested and greatly needed reforms, we will today be terminating our relationship with the World Health Organisation and redirecting those funds to other worldwide and deserving urgent global public health needs, Mr Trump added.

Then, Mr Ghebreyesus said then the decision would impact vulnerable people around the world.

We regret the decision of the President of the United States to order a hold in funding to the WHO, he had said. With the support of the people and government of the U.S., WHO works to improve the health of many of the worlds poorest and most vulnerable people.

Executive orders

The 15 executive actions, and two directives, signed by President Biden amount to an attempt to rewind the last four years of federal policies with striking speed.

Only two recent presidents signed executive actions on their first day in office  and each signed just one, according to a report on APnews.

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Theres no time to start like today, Mr Biden said, in his first comments to reporters as president.

Part of the executive order is the nullifying of a travel ban imposed on citizens of some Muslim-majority countries, including Nigeria.

Before his exit from White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump-led administration was notorious for its harsh policies against multilateralism and multi-national institutions, immigrants and asylum seekers, one of his many election campaign promises.

He tightened the policies amidst the coronavirus pandemic which rocked the globe, claiming his decision was to protect American populace.

Mr Trumps strict immigration policies have been condemned by leaders and civil groups in the past.

The American Civil Liberties Union, on Wednesday, lauded Mr Bidens decision berating his predecessors travel policy as a cruel Muslim ban that targeted Africans.
Stephani Bastian couldnt get in touch with her 81-year-old father, who lived alone in the Elk Apartments on Main Street in Klamath Falls. Although its not unusual for him to miss occasional calls from his daughter, who now lives in Roseburg, Bastian said she had a feeling that something was wrong.

Mike Smith delivers the Herald and News to subscribers, including to Bastians father, his downstairs neighbor in the Elk Apartments. He, too, felt like something was wrong on Dec. 23 when he delivered the paper to his door, like he does every publication day. Smith noticed the Navy veteran had several papers stacked up, so he went to get help.

After alerting the building maintenance manager, the two men discovered the elderly man had fallen in the bathtub and had been stuck there for several days. He couldnt reach his phone or his emergency alert necklace, and he had become confused and weakened.

After his rescuers got him out of the tub and into a chair, Smith and the building manager called 911. After a short stint at Sky Lakes Medical Center, he is now recovering from the fall and the rehab at Marquis Plum Ridge.

Bastian received a text the day after Christmas from her fathers best friend, notifying her that her father was in the hospital and that his doctor was trying to reach her. Bastian learned her father, still confused, had given the hospital her old phone number.

She rushed to Klamath Falls the next day. When she learned her dads newspaper carrier was the one to alert someone for help for her father, which may have saved his life, Bastian gave Smith a big hug to express her gratitude. They both burst into tears, Smith said.

Be thankful for your newspaper man because he might be the only one who knows somethings wrong, she said.

Although Bastian was quick to call Smith a hero, Smith said he feels he doesnt deserve the accolade. Still, he knows that if that was his loved one, hed feel the same way Bastian does.

Im ecstatic that I chose to break the mold and say we need to check on this guy, Smith said.

Smith knew something was wrong when he noticed the two untouched newspapers outside the door. Smith said his neighbor was regular as clockwork with his routine, which Smith recognized as a habit from the military. As a veteran with medical conditions himself, Smith said hes been cognizant of his health, and the health of others, during the pandemic.

Smith also lives above his neighbor and could hear the TV on below him for more than a day, which Smith said was unusual.

Bastians father doesnt know how long he had been in the bathtub before help arrived. He told the Herald and News he remembers reaching a paper cup from the sink and filling it up from the tub to drink from. He said he wasnt of sound mind for the entire stretch he spent stuck. He said he believes he was hallucinating because he recalls getting up out of the tub and walking around the apartment.

He sustained a bruised hip and shoulder as well as a laceration across his back. He has lived in Klamath Falls since 1979, when Bastian began attending Klamath Union High School and he took classes at Oregon Institute of Technology for a welding certificate. Her father later worked at Oregon Tech for over 18 years, Bastian said.

Bastians daughter, Kymberly, now attends Oregon Tech, but hasnt been in the area because shes been completing an externship in Tigard.

Bastian reminds people to check on the senior citizens in your life, especially those who live alone.

You never know, she said.

Smith likes to interact with is newspaper clients when he can. He recalled a subscriber on his route who is going through chemotherapy treatments for cancer. Although with COVID-19 he leaves most of the newspapers outside buildings on his routes, for her, he takes the paper inside to her door so that she doesnt have to climb the stairs.

If you dont care about what youre doing, then why do it? he said.

Smith hopes his act of kindness will encourage people to take better care of those around them.

We need to push through all of this and realize we are our brothers keeper, Smith said.
Using artificial intelligence, Raptor reads each offer letter, compares it with the student's financial circumstances, and provides an accurate report of net price and estimated debt at graduation.

So you or your child got accepted into multiple colleges? Great!

Except - as most quickly realize - the language in college financial aid offers is often complex and confusing. Each college structures its letters differently, which can make the process of comparing offers challenging.

College Raptors new Offer Letter Comparison Tool sorts through the clutter. Simply upload the letters, and College Raptor does all the hard work: highlighting the grants and scholarships, actual net price, loans, and out-of-pocket costs.

We founded College Raptor to create transparency around the true cost of college - a critically-important concern of students and parents, said Bill Staib, CEO and co-founder. Our Offer Letter Comparison Tool enables each family to get an accurate comparison before finalizing their college decision.

A college discovery site that utilizes next-generation artificial intelligence, College Raptor already helps millions of parents and students discover great college options. Raptor matches colleges to students goals and clarifies each schools actual net price - which is often significantly different from the sticker price.

Why is a Tool to Understand Offer Letters Important?

Understanding offer letters is essential because these documents detail the schools scholarships and grants and often give hints about the net price. Colleges vary in how they format their financial aid offer letters. It can be frustrating for families to try and decipher them all. Thats where Raptors new offer letter comparison tool comes in handy. The tool extracts vital information and displays it in a clear, easy to understand way.

Knowing each schools cost, the amount of scholarships and grants, and potential debt can greatly influence a students choice. The offer letter comparison details which schools are affordable to a student and which may be too pricey.

What Sets Raptors Tool Apart

Raptors Offer Letter Comparison tool is quick, convenient, and easy to use. Students can upload their offer letters from their phone, tablet, or desktop. They can even text their offer letter to us! says Staib. Using artificial intelligence, Raptor reads each offer letter, compares it with the student's financial circumstances, and provides an accurate report of net price and estimated debt at graduation. Our system also suggests whether a student's projected debt load is reasonable for the amount of salary they are likely to earn upon graduation.

Students can focus on the results rather than waste time finding data and trying to compare definitions across offer letters on their own. They also maintain control of their personal information and can easily redact any sensitive data.

Perhaps best of all, the tool is free to use.

Check it out at https://www.collegeraptor.com/compare-college-offer-letters/.

What are school counselors saying?

On the importance of comparing offer letters, Carla Choate, Counselor of Beebe High School in Beebe, Arkansas, had this perspective: I think understanding the college award letter is critical. So many of my students are first-generation college students, and hearing the word scholarship makes them think they have no cost to go. But, of course, that is hardly ever true, and when they realize that, it's often so far into the college decision-making process that it's too late. The more transparent a school can be in the amount of the scholarship, how and when it will be disbursed, and what they must do to meet renewal requirements, the better. The same goes for what the student's cost will be. I applaud College Raptor for making an easy-to-use solution to simplify and improve the college shopping experience.

Brett Karkosh, Counselor of Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, Iowa, says, College Raptors Offer Letter Comparison tool is a great way for students to compare price tags for colleges when narrowing down their decision for college. Many students face financial barriers that prevent them from going to college or fear college debt. As with any financial decision, it's important to compare the cost and make sure students weigh out their options before making a final choice. Awards letters give students the financial data to help make this decision and compare scholarships, grants, and financial aid.

About College Raptor, Inc.

College Raptor leverages artificial intelligence to empower students, parents, counselors, and colleges to make informed college planning and financing decisions. Raptor is the only college search platform that enables students and families to discover quality, affordable college options based on personalized financial aid estimates, academic match, and campus fit at every four-year college in the country. As a result, students and their families find cost-effective, academically-appropriate college options that prepare them for their lives and careers. For more information about College Raptor, visit CollegeRaptor.com.
What Happened On January 6, 2021

Be very clear. What happened on January 6, 2021 was an attempted coup detat that had an inside and outside dimension and strategy! It was an undemocratic effort by President Donald Trump and over 150 Republicans to reject the popular votes of the American people in the 2020 presidential election and replace them with their own Electoral College Votes. They rejected the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and tried to keep Donald Trump in office for a second term.

Inside, originally fourteen and in the end eight members of the U.S. Senate and over 130 members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were not the legitimate president-elect and vice president-elect because they were elected in a fraudulent and crooked election.

Outside, thousands in a violent mob breached the Capitol, ransacked it, looked for members of Congress to harm and threatened to kill Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. They did delay the official certification process of Congress until 4am of the next day.

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What caused all of this? It was the result of the big fat lie repeated over and over again in a truly fascistic manner perpetrated by President Trump, Republican U.S. Senators and U.S. House of Representatives that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were illegally and corruptly elected and that the election was stolen! Even now President Trump and a majority of congressional Republicans will not say that Biden and Harris were elected in a free, fair, open and legal election.

There has always been a racist, fascist and anti-democratic element in our politics. Between 1619 in America and 1964, long after the Democratic Party was officially established, it was mostly accommodated in the Democratic Party. But beginning in September 1964 when South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party and vowed to convert the former Dixiecrats to Republicans  i.e., get Jefferson Davis Democrats to switch  it now mostly resides in a large base of the Republican Party.

This element existed mostly underground until the election of Donald Trump, when he became the maypole around which anti-democratic, racist, anti-Semitic, anti-government and authoritarian forces surfaced and rallied around him.

Joe Bidens dominant message as the incoming president has been to unify the country and work across partisan lines. It has an appealing ring to many Americans because the country is divided. But theres a precedent for this cant we all just get along approach in a divided nation  the American Civil War.

Both President Lincoln and his successor Andrew Johnson after Lincoln was assassinated had, understandably, a preoccupation with reuniting the country. Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which freed him to enlist 180,000 colored troops in the Union cause that helped him and the North win the war. One can legitimately say that Black people saved Lincoln and the Union and as a result of Lincoln and the Norths military victory the slaves were freed.

The problem is that while the North defeated the South militarily, they didnt defeat the Souths ideology of white supremacy. Lincoln appointed Johnson Tennessees military governor during the war because he had remained loyal to the Union, but Johnson was not ideologically opposed to slavery. Lincoln rewarded him anyway by selecting him as his vice president in 1864.

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The effort in 1865 by Johnson and others after the Civil War to reunite the country, without the prerequisite of racial, economic, social and political justice, allowed the KKK to rise, Black Codes to emerge, Redeemer Democrats to regain control of southern state legislatures using violence and ultimately resulted in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, setting the nation on a course of 58 years of apartheid until the Brown decision of 1954.

Overcoming the legacy of legal segregation meant struggling against the resistance of the Goldwater campaign in opposition to civil rights in 1964, opposing Nixons 1968 southern strategy, defying Reagan kicking off his campaign in 1980 in Philadelphia, Mississippi in the name of states rights while being endorsed by the KKK in the county where Schwerner, Goodman and Cheney were murdered for registering black voters. Then came the authoritarian Donald Trump with his bullhorn of racism, anti-Semitism and undemocratic practices.

So the resistance and struggle to establish democracy and equal protection under the law for black people, people of color, and all Americans have continued ever since: Truman ended segregation of our military in 1948; the Brown decision of 1854; King fighting for the desegregation of public facilities in 1964 and the right to vote in 1965; passage of the 1968 Open Housing Act after his assassination; affirmative action; a War on Poverty; passage of Medicare and Medicaid legislation; Food Stamps; the Elementary and Secondary Education Act with Title I; School Breakfast and Lunch programs; WIC; and much more.

So, as they say, the struggle continues. Keep hope alive and your seatbelts on, your eyes on the prize and wide open, and your marching shoes at the ready as we enter the era of the Biden-Harris administration on January 20, 2021.

The Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, is one of Americas foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. Over the past forty years, he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice. On August 9, 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Reverend Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor.
NEW YORK (AP)  The country has a new president and a new literary star. In one of the inaugurations most talked about moments, poet Amanda Gorman summoned images dire and triumphant Wednesday as she called out to the world even as we grieved, we grew.

The 22-year-old Gorman referenced everything from Biblical scripture to Hamilton, and at times echoed the oratory of John F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. With urgency and assertion she began by asking Where can we find light/In this never-ending shade? and used her own poetry and life story as an answer. The poems very title, The Hill We Climb, suggested both labor and transcendence.

We did not feel prepared to be the heirs

Of such a terrifying hour.

But within it weve found the power

To author a new chapter,

To offer hope and laughter to ourselves.

It was an extraordinary task for Gorman, who soon after finishing her poem helped inspire  along with Vice President Kamala Harris  the Twitter hashtag #BlackGirlMagic and was being praised by former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama among others. Gorman is the youngest by far of the poets who have read at presidential inaugurations since Kennedy invited Robert Frost in 1961, with other predecessors including Maya Angelou and Elizabeth Alexander. Mindful of the past, Gorman wore earrings and a caged bird ring  a tribute to Angelous classic memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings  given to her by Oprah Winfrey, a close friend of the late writer.

I have never been prouder to see another young woman rise! Brava Brava, @TheAmandaGorman! Maya Angelou is cheeringand so am I, Winfrey tweeted. Gorman was also praised by Hamilton playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, who tweeted YES @TheAmandaGorman!!! Gorman, soon responded: Thx @Lin_Manuel! Did you catch the 2 @HamiltonMusical references in the inaugural poem? I couldnt help myself!

I have never been prouder to see another young woman rise! Brava Brava, @TheAmandaGorman! Maya Angelou is cheeringand so am I. pic.twitter.com/I5HLE0qbPs  Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) January 20, 2021

Among the Hamilton inspirations in her poem: History has its eyes on us, a variation of the Hamilton song History Has Its Eyes On You.

Gorman, a native and resident of Los Angeles and the countrys first National Youth Poet Laureate, told The Associated Press last week that she planned to combine a message of hope for President Joseph Bidens inaugural without ignoring the evidence of discord and division. She had completed a little more than half of The Hill We Climb before Jan. 6 and the siege of the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

That day gave me a second wave of energy to finish the poem, Gorman told the AP. She had said that she would not mention Jan. 6 specifically, but her reference was unmistakable:

Weve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it,

Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.

And this effort very nearly succeeded.

But while democracy can be periodically delayed,

It can never be permanently defeated.

24 Inauguration 2021: President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris sworn in

Frosts appearance at the Kennedy inaugural was a kind of valedictory  he was 86 and died two years later. Gormans career is just beginning. Penguin Young Readers announced Wednesday that The Hill We Climb will be published in a special edition this spring. Two other books come out in September  the illustrated Change Sings and a volume of her inaugural poem and other works. Ceremonial odes often are quickly forgotten, but Angelous On the Pulse Of the Morning, which she read at the 1993 inaugural of President Clinton, went on to sell more than 1 million copies as a book.

By late Wednesday afternoon, Change Sings (click here to buy the book) was No. 1 on Amazon.coms bestseller list, and her September poetry collection was No. 2. She had 206K Instagram followers and 121.3K Twitter followers at the end of the inauguration. Hours later, she had 1.3 million followers on Instagram and 738,000 on Twitter.

Invited to the inaugural late last month by first lady Jill Biden, Gorman has read at official occasions before  including a July 4 celebration when she was backed by the Boston Pops Orchestra  and has previously met Michelle Obama and former first lady Hillary Clinton among others. She has also made clear her desire to appear at a future inaugural, in a much greater capacity, an ambition she stated firmly in her poem.

National youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman arrives at the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 in Washington. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)AP

We, the successors of a country and a time,

Where a skinny black girl,

Descended from slaves and raised by a single mother,

Can dream of becoming president,

Only to find herself reciting for one.

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Here's a look at what was happening in the drinks industry on this day in ...

Here's what was making the drinks news on this day in recent years

Spirits producers in the US had plenty to worry about in 2019, and last year started with little sign of respite. just-drinks spoke to Chris Swonger, the CEO of trade association the Distilled Spirits Council of the US, who led us through the twists and turns of tariffs and trade talks in recent months.

Replacing plastic packaging with more environmentally-friendly alternatives will not solve the global plastic crisis, an international engineering firm warned two years ago.

Brown-Forman released a range of bitters, tinctures and syrups under its Old Forester Bourbon brand in early-2018, as the company looked to further align with the cocktail occasion in the US market.

Diageo labelled 2017 the year of home-consumption in a report four years ago that predicted a shake-up for socialising over the coming12 months.

With just seven weeks left until the start of 2016's ProWein, just-drinks sat down with lead organiser Michael Degan to ask what makes the wine and spirits show one of the biggest draws on the alcohol calendar. Along the way, Degan revealed why the show was unlikely to get much bigger, discussed the possibility of adding beer to the mix and why German rock bands know their Riesling from their Spatburgunder.

2015 - Lagunitas Brewing Co drops labelling lawsuit against Sierra Nevada

Lagunitas Brewing Co confirmed that it was dropping a lawsuit against fellow California craft brewer Sierra Nevada over a labelling dispute.

Suntory Holdings' corporate slogan is "Yatta Minahara", which roughly translates as "go for it", or "take a risk", according to the New York Times. That is exactly what the Japanese group did in 2014 after it agreed to pay US$16bn for Beam Inc.

A report from Silicon Valley Bank eight years ago forecast that M&A activity among US wineries would come at a "record pace", while bulk imports would continue to dominate the lower end of the market.

Master of Malt launched 100,000 Scovilles  Naga Chilli Vodka in 2012, a vodka that was infused with the world's hottest chilli, the Naga Jolokia.

Remy Cointreau had been reaping the rewards of China's galloping thirst for pricey Cognac in the run-up to 2011. Indeed, at the time, the group's fortunes appeared to be inextricably linked to those of the Asian powerhouse.

For further details on how to subscribe to just-drinks, click here
A giant three-metre-long shark has been spotted off the shore at a popular beach, with police urging swimmers to leave the water.

Police have issued an alert after a shark has been spotted off the shore at a popular beach in Australia.

A three-metre bronze whaler shark was spotted close to Moana Beach in South Australia.

The shark was last seen 50m from the shoreline at 1:45pm on January 21.

A three-metre bronze whaler (pictured stock image) was spotted off the shore of Moana Beach in South Australia

The shark was last seen 50m from the shore of the popular beach. Pictured: Moana Beach South Australia

Police have advised swimmers to leave the water immediately.

Shark Watch South Australia have also sent out a shark report on social media.

Bronze whalers also known as the copper or narrowtooth shark are considered as not aggressive are typically seen around the South Australian shoreline.

They can grow up to a length of 3.5m and weigh 300kg.

The discovery comes as just last month, a local surfer was mauled by a great white shark at the tourist hotspot, Kangaroo Island in South Australia.

The 29-year-old man was able to fight off the shark and sustained non-life threatening injuries.

South Australia has not had a fatality since 2014.

Police have issued an alert to swimmers to get out of the water. Pictured: Shark Watch South Australia shark report on Twitter
A ruffled Boris Johnson squirmed when asked about whether Joe Biden is 'woke' and insisted there is 'nothing wrong' with being right-on as he prepares to speak to the new US President on Zoom as early as today.

The Prime Minister was visibly uncomfortable and dodged the question about America's left-wing successor to Donald Trump hours after his inauguration in Washington yesterday.

Sky News reporter Sam Coates asked whether he considered Mr Biden to be 'woke'  a US term originally used to describe those concerned about social and racial injustice but now also increasingly aligned with political correctness.

The flustered PM replied there was 'nothing wrong with being woke'  but said he would always stand up to those wanting to tear down statues of historical figures like Churchill.

He said: 'What I know is that he's a firm believer in the transatlantic alliance and that's a great thing.

'There's nothing wrong with being woke but what I can tell you is that I think it's very, very important for everybody to ... I certainly put myself in the category of people who believe that it's important to stick up for your history, your traditions and your values, the things you believe in.'

Mr Biden, who has previously described the PM as a 'clone' of Donald Trump, is expected to speak to Mr Johnson in the coming hours.

Boris Johnson looked uncomfortable when asked about whether Joe Biden was 'woke' but insisted that there was 'nothing wrong with it'

US President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, after his inauguration as the 46th President and is expected to speak to world leaders including Boris Johnson from today onwards

Boris Johnson's first meeting with Joe Biden could take place in a Zoom video call. Pictured: The PM watching yesterday's inauguration on television

Gavin Williamson says parents will get TWO WEEKS' notice on whether schools will reopen after February half-term Gavin Williamson today vowed parents will get two weeks' notice of schools reopening as he insisted children will get priority in easing lockdown. The Education Secretary said he wanted to get classrooms fully up and running in England at 'the earliest possible opportunity'. He said he intended to give families and teachers a 'clear two-week notice period', saying they would be the 'first' thing to be released from the draconian coronavirus curbs. And the under-fire Cabinet minister also played down fears over the risk within schools, stressing that they were 'safe'. The comments, in a round of interviews, come amid fears of disrupted educations and millions of parents struggling to cope with home schooling since most children were barred from class during the third national lockdown. He brushed off calls by the opposition to resign following a series of policy U-turns. 'My real focus is making sure that children get back into school at the earliest possible opportunity,' he told Sky News. 'Schools were the last to close and schools will very much be the first to reopen.' Advertisement

Mr Johnson's TV wobble came after Labour's foreign affairs spokesman Lisa Nandy said the election of Mr Biden was a lesson for her party that it was possible for a 'woke' politician to win a major election.

She said the President was a 'woke guy' who had 'stood up for the Black Lives Matter protesters'.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson stressed the common ground between the Biden administration and his own.

He said the UK was the first country to set a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050s, adding: 'We hope that president Biden will join us. We will work with President Biden to secure the transatlantic alliance and Nato.' The issue of Northern Ireland and Brexit has been a source of tensions between the Government and Mr Biden, whose ancestors were Irish Catholics. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis plans to fly out to the US to meet the Biden team for a post-inauguration visit, sources said.

Government officials are also exploring options for better engagement on Northern Ireland in Washington DC. They have had talks about seconding an official from the Northern Ireland Office to the UK embassy in Washington.

Mr Johnson's first meeting with Joe Biden could take place in a Zoom video call.

The PM has never met the President and may not see him in person until the summer because of the global pandemic.

The UK was represented at yesterday's inauguration by Dame Karen Pierce, Britain's US ambassador.

She said the UK was waiting to hear whether the new administration wanted a face-to-face meeting or a virtual one ahead of the G7 summit in June, when world leaders will gather in Cornwall.

The ambassador told Radio 4's Today programme: 'We know they want to increase the protections [from Covid-19] so we [will] wait to hear from them in the coming days as to whether that will encompass face-to-face meetings. If it does, we are very practiced by now in having Zoom meetings, virtual meetings, so I'm sure those will take place between the Prime Minister and President Biden. But we wait to hear.'

Joe and Jill Biden are seen huddling together on the Truman Balcony as the Celebrating America show came to a stunning close

A flurry of fireworks are seen lighting up the skies above the White House during Wednesday night's event

Biden speaks at Lincoln's feet during Wednesday's festivities, as the inauguration passed off with no security threats

Travellers arriving in the UK may have to PAY for their own two-week stay in quarantine hotels under Australia-style plans in the pipeline Travellers to the UK could be forced to pay for their own two-week stay in quarantine hotels as part an Australian-style border system - which would see arrivals ordered to remain in their rooms for up to a fortnight. Government officials have reportedly launched talks with hotel groups over the possibility of hosting incoming travellers following their arrival in the UK. The move is said to be part of the Government's effort to prevent the spread of mutant Covid strains in Britain - with officials fearing the variants could be resistant to the current vaccines. Under such a scheme, arrivals could be forced to stay in designated hotels for up to 14 days. Food would be provided by the hotel or ordered in via a local takeaway service. Similar systems have been used in Australia, which recorded just 204 new Covid cases in the last 14 days, and New Zealand, which recorded just 81 cases in the last fortnight. If the UK does follow in the footsteps of Australia, it could be the traveller who foots the bill for the hotel stay. The Australian Government initially covered the quarantine hotel costs at the start of the pandemic. But those entering Australia since July have been forced to pay up to 1,500 for the two-week quarantine stay in some parts of the country. Advertisement

Choosing her words carefully, she said the diplomatic community was 'very pleased to see American democracy come out on top' and looking forward to a 'period of co-operation'.

The lack of an early invitation to Washington will be seen by some as a snub, particularly if other Western leaders travel to the US to congratulate Mr Biden in the next few weeks.

It will also raise fears about the strength of the so-called special relationship under Mr Biden, who has previously described the PM as a 'clone' of Donald Trump.

Following the inauguration of a new US president, world leaders usually race to be the first to secure an invitation to the White House.

In 2017, the race was won by Theresa May, who immediately returned the favour by granting President Trump the honour of a full state visit.

Despite Mr Biden's long career in frontline politics, and Mr Johnson's stint as foreign secretary under Mrs May, the two men have never met, and had not even spoken until the Democrat leader beat Mr Trump in November.

Ministers had feared a diplomatic snub from Mr Biden's team. In 2019, Mr Biden, a strong opponent of Brexit, described Mr Johnson as a 'physical and emotional clone' of Donald Trump. But he moved swiftly to build bridges last year.

Mr Johnson was the first European leader called by Mr Biden following his victory over Mr Trump in November. Ministers hope the UK's hosting of the G7 summit and Cop26 climate conference this year will provide an opportunity for the two leaders to form a bond over their shared commitment to tackling climate change.

Diplomats at the Foreign Office were rejoicing at the departure of Donald Trump, who has caused shockwaves in the department on countless occasions. One diplomat said: 'Many will not be shedding a tear.'

The feeling was shared on both sides of the Atlantic, with a US source saying: 'The sigh of relief is not necessarily about policy but more the character of the man leaving the White House.'

Defending his close relationship with Mr Trump, Mr Johnson said: 'I think it is very important the Prime Minister of the UK has the best possible relationship with the President of the United States. That is part of the job description.'
Mumbai: A team of Uttar Pradesh police on Thursday visited the Mumbai residence of Ali Abbas Zafar, the director of controversial web series Tandav, and served a notice to him, asking him to appear before the investigating officer in Lucknow on January 27, an official said. The UP police team is in city to conduct a probe into the case registered in Lucknow against the makers and cast of the web series, the official said.

Zafar was not available at his residence when the police team went there and the door of his house was locked.Therefore, they pasted a notice in the premises," the police official said.

As per the notice, Zafar has been asked to appear before the UP police in Lucknow to record his statement at 10 am on January 27," he added. A video and photos of the UP police team visiting Zafars residence made rounds on social media.

According to officials, the police team from the northern state is also likely to visit other cast of the web series to record their statements in the case, the officials said. At least three FIRs have been registered in Uttar Pradesh against the makes and actors of Tandav for alleged inappropriate depiction of UP Police personnel, Hindu deities, and adverse portrayal of a character playing the prime minister in the political drama.

Tandav, which features actors Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Gauhar Khan and Kritika Kamra, premiered on the streaming platform last Friday.
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[January 21, 2021] Canada Wins Two-Year Term on International Renewable Energy Agency Council

OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 21, 2021 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada remains committed to building a clean energy future to strengthen the economy, create good, middle-class jobs and support the natural resource sectors. This commitment will be more important than ever as we build back better and recover from the COVID-19 crisis. The Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr., Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today announced that Canada has been voted in as an official Member of Council for the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Announced at the 11th session of the IRENA Assembly, Canada will serve a two-year term on the Council, helping to ensure cooperation and facilitating discussions on the global clean energy future among the 163 member countries. Reflecting this year's Assembly theme, COVID-19  Energy Transition, Minister O'Regan underlined the importance of a net-zero carbon economy as the world recovers from the pandemic. He noted that a clean energy transition will help us meet an urgent climate crisis, as well as help grow our global economy while creating sustainable jobs for generations to come. Minister O'Regan also highlighted that renewables are a cornerstone in the government's plan to meet Canada's climate change commitments. This echoes Canada's new $15-billion strengthened climate plan that includes an ambitious agenda to support renewable energy sources like wind, tidal and solar. The plan includes additional investments of $964 million over four years to advance smart renewable energy and grid modernization projects, as well as an additional $300 million to transition rural, remote and ndigenous communities that currently rely on diesel to clean, reliable energy.



During the four-day Assembly, Minister O'Regan also announced that Canada and IRENA are joining forces to help transition remote communities to renewable energy sources. Canada will share lessons learned and feedback from Indigenous communities from our domestic Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program for the development of a new initiative. As underlined in Canada's strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, Canada is a willing and active partner on the international stage and remains committed to working with global partners to transition to an inclusive, net-zero future.

Quick Facts IRENA is a near-universal gathering that brings together Heads of State, ministers, energy decision-makers and others to discuss the energy transition as an investment in our collective future. Canada formally joined in 2019, and this is the first year that a Canadian minister has attended the Assembly.





formally joined in 2019, and this is the first year that a Canadian minister has attended the Assembly. The eleventh session of the Assembly of the IRENA started on January 18 , which was designated "World Energy Transition Day." Quotes "The Government of Canada is committed to a fair and inclusive clean-energy transition. Our mission remains aligned with IRENA's: a global economy that continues to grow, net-zero emissions by 2050 and an energy future that leaves no one behind." Seamus O'Regan Jr.

Canada's Minister of Natural Resources "The energy transformation is a catalyst for inclusive growth that creates jobs, builds economic resilience and supports more equitable outcomes for people and communities all over the world. Canada shares this vision. We welcome its close engagement in IRENA's governing bodies, commitment to a net-zero future and support for initiatives that ensure a sustainable and just future for all." Francesco La Camera

Director-General of IRENA Related Information International Renewable Energy Agency

Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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The Midland County Public Library Centennial branchs new exhibit Wicked Plants takes viewers through a decrepit Victorian-era home.

The exhibit has learning opportunities about botany, health care and wellness and demonstrates the actual biochemical, physical and neurological processes between human bodies and plants. Library Program and Education coordinator Hannah Johnson said the exhibit is for children ages 12 years or older. She said it is more suited for older children because there is a lot more about reading up on plants and has interactive problem-solving parts.

It hits all varieties of plants, Johnson said. People can learn about common plants like potatoes that we eat and that have toxic properties. They will learn about plants and their psychedelic properties. Just simple things even in the dining room people will learn about how rhubarb can be toxic.

The exhibit is inspired by Amy Stewarts best-selling book, Wicked Plants: The Weed that Killed Lincolns Mother and other Botanical Atrocities. The library will have an author talk with Stewart via Zoom sometime during the exhibit. The date and time is to be announced.

Not every plant is toxic; some plants are considered deadly, such as vines that arent toxic but might choke out other plant species, she said. The exhibit is sanitized and fogged throughout the day and week to keep interactive surfaces clean. Viewers can walk through a graveyard, dining room -- with a last supper interactive exhibit featuring mundane foods that can be poisonous under certain circumstances -- and in the bathroom viewers can smell the most unappealing plants.

Johnsons favorite fact is that rhubarb leaves are toxic to humans, but the stalks dont contain the oxalic acid which is harmful. Social Impact and Community Engagement Coordinator Megan Buck said eggplants used to be considered poisonous and contain more nicotine than any other edible plant.

This exhibit contains a lot of facts that people dont expect to learn from a classroom or in a textbook, Buck said. It makes it interesting for older elementary kids and teenagers.

Starting in February, the library will be offering field trips and group tours for groups of 10 people at a time, Buck said. To schedule a tour call Kim Patrick at 742-7435. The educational exhibit is great for science classes as supplemental classroom teaching, Johnson said. The exhibit is on display until May 8.

The traveling exhibit is from the North Carolina Arboretum and made possible by the FMH Foundation and Carnegie Circle through Midland County Public Library Foundation. The Centennial branch is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.

Also on display

Midland College is featuring a collection of printmaking work of Juana Estrada Hernandez in her exhibit Ni de Aqui, Ni de Alla. The exhibit will be on view through Feb. 12 in the Allison Fine Arts McCormick Gallery from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday at Midland College.

In her artist statement Hernandez states that her artwork deals with social and political problems surrounding the DACA community along with the inherent negative identity stigma of undocumented immigrants.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is an administrative relief from deportation along with providing work permits for those who arrived illegally as minors. I believe that anti-immigration sentiments prevail in many parts of the country due to lack of insight on the realities of being labeled an illegal immigrant. I immigrated to the United States at the age of seven with my family from Zacatecas, Mexico. My early childhood experiences growing up in the United States as a young undocumented immigrant served as inspiration for this current work.

Hernandez earned her bachelor of fine arts in printmaking at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in printmaking at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

BOSSIER CITY, La., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Another Broken Egg Cafe debuts in Bossier City, LA at 3107 Airline Drive, Suite 300 on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. The rapidly growing national daytime cafe offers award-winning southern breakfast, brunch and lunch, a full bar and signature hand-crafted cocktails.

This is the restaurant's second location opening in North Louisiana by local owners Ray Pynes and Lacy Galligan, after the June 2010 Shreveport opening. Nationwide, nearly two dozen locations are in the process of opening throughout 2021.

"We're gratified to have grown our operations and bring this exciting concept and job opportunities to Bossier City," said Galligan. "We look forward to serving our guests and community for years to come."

Guests are invited to participate in a "Friends & Family" weekend benefitting local charity partners Shreveport-Bossier Rescue Mission, serving area homeless men, women and children, and Every Warrior, which supports the military community. The weekend events will be hosted at Another Broken Egg Cafe Friday, Feb. 5 from 8am-Noon and Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9am-2pm. Guests who have made reservations at http://bit.ly/ABE-reserve for these events can donate to these charities in lieu of paying a bill to make a meaningful impact on the community while sampling the restaurant's entree and cocktail offerings.

About Another Broken Egg Cafe

Another Broken Egg of America Franchising, LLC is an upscale breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant that specializes in award-winning, Southern-inspired menu options with innovative twists and signature cocktails. Another Broken Egg Cafe is one of the fastest-growing daytime-only franchised concepts in the country, with more than 70 locations in 13 states and dozens more in development. With over 24-years' experience in the daytime cafe category, the company was honored by FSR magazine as its Breakout Franchise Brand of the Year for 2020, one of the most challenging years ever for the restaurant industry. In 2019 FSR magazine ranked Another Broken Egg Cafe among its 10 Best Full-Serve Restaurant Franchise Deals. The brand is well-positioned for expanded growth in 2021 with a new prototype, re-engineered menu and bar of the future initiatives designed to drive incremental sales and profits for the individual cafes. For more information about franchising opportunities, please visit https://anotherbrokeneggfranchise.com

SOURCE Another Broken Egg Cafe

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https://anotherbrokeneggfranchise.com


New Braunfels, TX (78130)

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Thunderstorms likely this morning. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms this afternoon. High 86F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

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One of the last remaining female Bletchley Park code-breakers who helped crack Nazi intelligence to secure the success of the D-Day landings has died aged 94.

Margaret Kelly was only 18 when in 1944 she was posted to the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, during the Second World War.

She joined a top secret Nazi code-breaking mission and became one of a team of women known as Wrens.

The Wrens operated Colossus - the world's first computer - and toiled around the clock operating the code-cracking devices that helped to shorten World War II.

The invaluable work deciphering coded messages between Hitler and his high command saved thousands of lives and contributed to the Allies' victory.

The grandmother-of-33 died peacefully at her family farm in Wales at the weekend. Her family said she died from natural causes.

Margaret Kelly, one of the last remaining women code-breakers at Bletchley Park, has died aged 94

The grandmother-of-33 died peacefully of natural causes at her family farm in Wales at the weekend

The Wrens operated Colossus - the world's first computer - and toiled around the clock operating the code-cracking devices that helped to shorten World War II. Pictured: Margaret with the Colossus computer

Margaret was part of a team that cracked the German Lorenz code, which provided 'critical information' in the lead-up to D-Day.

What was the Colossus machine? The Colossus machine was an invention of Britain's Bletchley Park codebreakers which helped to win World War II. It was used to break the Lorenz code, a German cipher used by Hitler and his high command to send top level, strategic messages. The code was even more secure than the more famous Enigma system. Colossus was created by British engineer Tommy Flowers, a General Post Office worker sent to Bletchley Park to work on the war effort. Flowers, a General Post Office engineer from East Ham, London, was nicknamed the 'Crafty Cockney' during his work at Bletchley Park. GCHQ today describes him as a 'visionary' who built the 'forerunner of the modern computer'. His creation, Colossus, measured 16 feet long, 10 feet deep and eight feet high, and was assembled from telephone exchange parts. It was capable of processing some 5,000 letters and characters per second to decipher the code. Advertisement

Britain's Colossus machine decipered messages showing how Hitler was taken in by Allied feints which suggested the invasion would come near Calais instead of in Normandy.

Although less celebrated than the efforts to read the Enigma code, their efforts saved thousands of lives.

In her memoirs, Margaret wrote: 'I was trained to operate the Colossus computer, which had been built to break intercepted messages enciphered on the Germans' Lorenz machine used exclusively for communications between Hitler and his generals.

'We all just did our own job in our section and never knew what anyone else was up to.

'We had all signed the Official Secrets Act and by that late stage of the war we were well used to not asking questions of anyone involved in the war effort.

'My job was to put a message tape on one Colossus and using an algebraic formula try to find the settings the Germans had used to encode it.

'If we were successful in getting a result the taped message was immediately raced off to a different machine to be further processed and translated.

'We knew that some of the messages gave the Allies vital information of Hitler's battle plans.

'Churchill said the Wrens were 'chickens who didn't cackle' and that Bletchley was 'the goose that laid the golden egg'.'

Margaret was manager of a hotel in Malta after the war - then on as an estate agent in Sydney, Australia.

In 1963 she moved to the Bahamas and took a job working for the Kingdom of Bhutan.

She then spent two years working in the Cooke Islands before returning to Britain and marrying Peter Kelly, a widower with eight children, in 1972.

Margaret, whose husband died in 1993, helped to run the 140-acre family stock-farm in Monmouth, South Wales.

Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire was the headquarters of the Allied cryptopgraphers during WWII and where the German 'Enigma' and 'Lorenz' codes, both considered unbreakable, were deciphered

Margaret Kelly, (pictured right aged 87) from Monmouth, Wales, joined the Wrens aged 18

The Wrens were a team of code-breaking women whose work saved thousands of lives and helped shorten the war by months

How the Wrens' cracking of the German's Lorenz code helped the Allies at D-Day and contributed to their victory in the war The Wrens work helped Allied military leaders establish that Hitler and his troops had fallen for their propaganda campaign. Just before D-Day they revealed that Hitler had believed the deception campaign to convince him that the invasion force would land in the Pas de Calais. Nicknamed Operation Fortitude, the Allied plan used dummy and inflatable tanks to confuse German forces. Even once the invasion had begun they kept the Germans guessing about whether another landing would follow elsewhere. As a result Hitler kept vital forces in the Pas-de-Calais - well to the north of the Normandy beaches - until the Allies were already overrunning his troops. Another message showed how Allied air raids were successfully hindering the German war effort.

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It was here she happily recounted her times in Bletchley Park to her 33 grand-children.

She said: 'I can still remember the time the results from one of the tapes came out in German. I whizzed it off to be translated and was beyond excited.

'I enjoyed the work as I knew it was important but it was quite demanding as we had to be very accurate.'

It was on 5 February 1944 that Colossus Mk I tackled its first Lorenz-encrypted message, the highly sophisticated cipher used in communications between Hitler and his generals during World War II.

Colossus - not to be confused with the computers used to crack the Enigma code - was unlike modern computers.

It was enormous, measuring 7ft high by 17ft wide and 11ft deep, weighing a tonne and using 8kW of power.

But it was so successful it reduced the time to break Lorenz messages from weeks to hours.

Just before D-Day it revealed that Hitler had believed the deception campaign to convince him that the invasion force would land in the Pas de Calais.

By the end of the war there were ten functioning Colossus machines and in total they had decrypted 63 million characters of high grade German messages.

But for secrecy reasons Winston Churchill ordered the destruction of all the machines in 1945 following the Allied victory.

Margaret was among the ecstatic crowd outside Buckingham Palace on VE night.

She recalled: 'We could easily get to London to visit family and friends and go to the theatre and restaurants - chancing our luck with the V1 doodlebug bombs and V2 rockets which targeted London and once shook me out of bed on to the floor.'

Margaret also enjoyed being one of the honoured guests at Bletchley reunions as one of the handful of surviving code-breakers.


Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

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Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

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Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

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NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

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Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

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Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

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Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives have received India's COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance in sync with its Neighbourhood First policy.

India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines.

India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

On Thursday, Bangladesh and Nepal received COVID-19 vaccines from India.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed over the vaccine consignment to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli during a function at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar.

Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi and senior government officials were also present on the occasion.

In the first phase, the vaccines will be administered to frontline health workers, employees and security personnel, according to Tripathi.

India also handed over 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Bangladesh under grant assistance.

The vaccines were provided to Bangladesh at a crucial time when the number of coronavirus cases in this country was rising.

"India had stood by Bangladesh during the (1971) Liberation War, and today, when the pandemic is rattling the world, India again came with gifts of vaccines," Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said.

Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami handed over the vaccines formally to Momen at a formal function in Dhaka.

On Wednesday, Bhutan and the Maldives became the first two countries to receive the COVID-19 vaccines from India.

India sent 150,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared on Twitter photos of the consignments reaching the two countries.

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji thanked India for the "generous gift".

"Our profound gratitude to the GoI (Government of India) for the generous gift of 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines that Bhutan received today. Deeply grateful to GoI for its abiding friendship and unconditional support to Bhutan's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," he said on Twitter.

Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, in a tweet, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the vaccines.

"A short while ago, a flight from India with a 100,000 doses of the CoviShield vaccine arrived in the Maldives, renewing our hopes for a resolution to the Covid 19 crisis soon. Our heartfelt thanks to PM @narendramodi," he said.

It is learnt that a consignment containing 1.5 million doses of Covisheild vaccines will reach Myanmar on Friday.

In a major announcement, India on Tuesday said it will send COVID-19 vaccines under grant assistance to six countries -- Bhutan, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday and supplies to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Mauritius will commence after confirmation of necessary regulatory clearances.

The Ministry of External Affairs said India will supply COVID-19 vaccines to partner countries over the coming weeks and months in a phased manner keeping in view the domestic requirements.

In a statement, the MEA said India has received several requests for the supply of Indian-manufactured vaccines from neighbouring and key partner countries.

Also read: Republic Day: Traffic police issues advisory; check road diversions in Delhi, Noida

Also read: COVID-19 positive children more likely to transfer infection than adults: Lancet
A man has died in a workplace incident involving heavy machinery in Brisbane.

Emergency services were called to Main Beach Road at Pinkenba to an industrial premises at 2.30am on Friday.

The man, who was an employee, died at the scene.

Police would not say more about the incident but it was being treated as non-suspicious.

Detectives have been on the scene all morning continuing investigations.
Champaign, IL (61820)

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Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 58F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

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Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Nearly a year into the pandemic, economists believe its abundantly clear that COVID-19 has psychologically and materially transformed Canadas consumer behaviour.

Nearly a year into the pandemic, economists believe its abundantly clear that COVID-19 has psychologically and materially transformed Canadas consumer behaviour.

But with lockdowns and restrictions still in effect across much of the country, business experts say the dust has yet to settle around these "tectonic shifts" in the state of commerce. That means for retailers  big and small; local or national  preparing a pathway to adapt beyond the pandemic remains a muddy prospect.

A new report by fintech firm PayBright released this week suggests the key to navigating future strategies for businesses is to use concrete data about where potential customers and clients stand in 2021.

Surveying over 2,500 people from coast to coast, the 24-page study points to statistics that show how Canadians are approaching, and not approaching, their future shopping habits. Trends indicate significant changes have been seen in the "5 Ps" of consumer behaviour: products, payments, planning, place and psychology.

"If 2020 was a year of disruption and uncertainty for Canadians, this will certainly be the year of building safety, security, and long-term solutions," said Wayne Pommen, senior vice-president of Affirm Holdings Inc., which owns PayBright on Wednesday. "This is especially crucial as Canadians gain access to vaccines and look ahead to living in a post-pandemic world."

Findings in the report show shoppers are becoming increasingly discerning about where and how they spend their money.

Around 55 per cent said they now read several product reviews before making a purchase, and 38 per cent said they prefer to spend more money to purchase premium brands or products to avoid lower-quality items that do not last. Around 52 per cent also said they are likely to avoid doing business with a brand that does not align with their ethics and values.

On top of that, the pandemic has caused people to hold back on their overall spending.

While 49 per cent anticipated no significant change to their planned 2021 budget, 36 per cent predicted a decrease and only 3 per cent said they would increase their spending. From an age perspective, those most likely to experience a decrease in their 2021 budget are those in the 18-24 and 35-44 age ranges.

In terms of clothing and basics (such as groceries or pharmaceuticals), only about 10 per cent of respondents said they would spend more in those categories. But 43 per cent said theyll be spending less on clothing versus only 22 per cent for basics.

Authors of the report believe retailers with basics in their catalogue should emphasize essential products both in-store and online, citing a rise in earnings for supermarket chains that have done this such as Loblaw. They also said stores should ramp up on their reviews because fewer of them could mean less likelihood of making a sale. Deals and sales, however, will continue to be significant drivers behind consumer purchases in 2021, they added, noting personal protection is almost just as important when it comes to in-store purchases.

"Frankly though, no matter what time period you compare this to, we havent seen trends like this ever before," said Sylvain Charlebois, a leading supply chain expert whos a professor at Dalhousie University. "COVIDs legacy is concerning because its pretty much changed everything."

From skyrocketing e-commerce as businesses quickly moved online, to the lasting trends predicted for in-store shopping such as sanitization stations and social-distancing measures, Charlebois explained how none of those changes would have ever happened without the pandemic.

"Even if everyone does get vaccinated, people are just generally very risk-averse now," he said. "Thats a massive psychological shift which translates to the fact that businesses will also not be taking risks by eliminating these measures anytime soon."

Dan Pontefract, a strategist who consults for large companies like Salesforce and TD Bank, said businesses will need to get creative and unique with their solutions. "And it has to happen fast," he said, "or they probably wont survive."

Pontefract said those ideas could range from pairing up to compete with larger chains to creating ads "that have chutzpah and can actually make fun of the big guys." He also said creating the "perfect COVID shopping experience is incredibly important," whereby customers can seamlessly be moved from shopping in-person to shopping online.

"Ultimately, its all about the consumer," said Pontefract. "And for better for worse, what we do know is that theyre the ones making these trends go all over the place  so theyre the ones you should follow."

temur.durrani@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @temurdur
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. The leader of the Bright Armenia (LHK) opposition party of the Armenian parliament Edmon Marukyan has called on the international community to ramp up pressure on Azerbaijan to release the Artsakh War PoWs that are held in captivity months after the war ended.

Marukyan says that France and the United States should join the efforts of their OSCE Minsk Group partner Russia, as well as Armenia, in achieving the repatriation of the captives  one of the terms of the Nagorno Karabakh armistice.

The opposition leader says the entire international community should be consolidated in order to increase pressure on Baku, even achieve sanctions so that Azerbaijan returns the Armenian captives.

In terms of humanitarian law they are wrong, they are wrong in terms of wartime rules of engagement, they are wrong even in terms of the rules by which the ceasefire was signed  Azerbaijan is wrong under all rules, Marukyan said.

I believe that the United States and France  as two Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group  should join the efforts of Russia and Armenia, and on top of that the EU and other countries should also join. The civilized world must unite around this issue and pressure Azerbaijan into returning the Artsakh prisoners of war and civilian captives to Armenia, he said.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan

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Joseph Biggs, a self-styled organiser for the 'Proud Boys', was arrested in central Florida and is facing charges of obstructing an official proceeding before Congress, entering a restricted area on the grounds of the Capitol and disorderly conduct

Orlando: Two Florida men, including a self-described organizer for the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, were arrested Wednesday on charges of taking part in the siege of the US Capitol earlier this month, authorities said.

Joseph Biggs, 37, was arrested in central Florida and is facing charges of obstructing an official proceeding before Congress, entering a restricted area on the grounds of the US Capitol and disorderly conduct.

According to an arrest affidavit, Biggs was part of a crowd on Jan. 6 that overwhelmed Capitol Police officers who were manning a metal barrier on the steps of the Capitol. The mob entered the building as lawmakers were certifying President Joe Bidens election win.

Biggs appeared to be wearing a walkie-talkie during the storming of the Capitol, but he told FBI agents that he had no knowledge about the planning of the destructive riot and didnt know who organized it, the affidavit said.

Ahead of the riot, Biggs told followers of his on the social media app Parler to dress in black to resemble the far-left Antifa movement, according to the affidavit.

Biggs had organized a 2019 rally in Portland, Oregon, in which more than 1,000 far-right protesters and anti-fascist counter-demonstrators faced off.

The Proud Boys are a neofascist group known for engaging in violent clashes at political rallies. During a September presidential debate, Trump had urged them to stand back and stand by when asked to condemn them by a moderator.

An online court docket did not indicate whether Biggs has an attorney who could comment.

Jesus Rivera, 37, also was arrested Wednesday in Pensacola. He faces charges of knowingly entering a restricted building, intent to impede government business, disorderly conduct and demonstrating in the Capitol buildings.

Rivera uploaded a video to Facebook showing himself in the US Capitol crypt, authorities said. The five-minute video ends with Rivera starting to climb out a window at the Capitol, according to an arrest affidavit.

An online court docket also did not list an attorney for Rivera.

The cases are being handled by federal prosecutors in the District of Columbia. More than a half-dozen other Floridians have been charged in relation to the Capitol assault.
President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday declared that Nigeria will strengthen its position as regional leader in the oil and gas industry, even as his administration will spare no effort in ensuring maximum benefit from the nations huge natural resources.

Speaking at the virtual inauguration of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre (NOGEC) at the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) headquarters, Lagos, President Buhari pledged that the Federal government will continue to leverage oil and gas for development and pursue economic diversification across all sectors.

You would recall that at the beginning of this administration, we set a clear roadmap for the oil and gas sector in order to increase value from the nations huge resource potentials and create opportunities for investors, both local and foreign, when I declared that: Nigeria is Open for Business!, he said.

I am delighted that since then, we have witnessed major Final Investment Decisions in the sector such as the AKK Pipeline project, the NLNG Train-7 project, and the completion of the 5,000 barrels per day Waltersmith Modular refinery.

Our renewed drive for economic diversification using the oil and gas industry as a pivot remains on track as we expand government revenues and deploy it to grow our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), generate employment and contribute to eliminating poverty in Nigeria.

This National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre will serve as an integrated resource complex to drive safety, value and cost efficiency in the industry. It is therefore another milestone in the development of oil and gas sector and the realisation of greater value for the country, he said.

Underscoring the importance of the Integrated Centre in enhancing the contribution of the oil and gas sector to the nations GDP as well as strengthening Nigerias position as regional leader in the industry, the President noted that the Centre has opened a new set of opportunities for the Nigerian Petroleum Industry in terms of investments, cost reduction, safety in operations and capacity development.

The establishment of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre aligns with our administrations commitment to foster stability, growth and sustainability of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry consistent with the economic development and sustainability agenda articulated in the National Petroleum Policy 2017, National Gas Policy 2017, Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and the Economic Sustainability Plan, 2020, he said.

President Buhari therefore urged all industry practitioners to support the task of nation building to realise the abundant opportunities in the country.

The President commended the Honourable Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, the Director/ CEO of DPR, Sarki Auwalu, and the entire staff of DPR on the actualization of the project.

On the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nations economy, President Buhari noted that in 2020, global economies were faced with unprecedented challenges and severe shocks in the wake of the pandemic and attendant consequences.

The President said Nigeria was not spared from the impact of the COVID-19, oil price crash and OPEC production cuts with direct impact on government revenue projections and national economy.

However, we are emerging more resilient in 2021 owing, in part, to efforts of the agencies of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources who work under my leadership and the direct supervision of the Honourable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, to keep oil & gas production levels stable, optimise government revenues, and ensure domestic energy security.

The creation of the National Oil and Gas Excellence Centre at this time is further demonstration that the Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry has come of age, even against the odds.

The Centre will serve as oil & gas industry cost-reduction centre and hub for industry best practices, technical support and competence.

It will also act as the oil and gas techno-economic bureau to support the Government and its entities in policy development and implementation efforts, he said.

In his remarks, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, explained that the integrated Centre encompasses five units, designed to comprehensively cover key areas of the industry while enhancing safety, value and cost efficiency.

The units are: Search, Rescue and Surveillance, Command and Control Centre (SERAS) ; National Improved Oil Recovery Centre; Oil and Gas Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre; Oil and Gas Competence Development Centre and Integrated Data Mining and Analytics Centre.

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On SERAS, the Minister further explained that it is a flagship programme of the centre designed to enhance safety management, emergency preparedness and response, and routine transportation for bed-space management.

SERAS will therefore drive cost reduction and improve operational efficiency across the industry. Conservatively, it is projected that upon full implementation of SERAS the annual industry expenditure for offshore and remote locations, flight logistics and emergency response will reduce by 50 per cent, he said.

Increased access

Meanwhile, the government says it will increase access to cooking gas for rural dwellers.

The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, said this during a virtual meeting by Atlantic Councils Global Energy Forum on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPRA) said Nigerias domestic consumption of LPG exceeded one million Metric Tonnes (MT) in 2020.

Nigeria is currently witnessing increased domestic gas demand in the industrial and power sectors, leading to increased production and reduced gas flaring, Mr Kyari said.

Nigeria has also witnessed increased household access to gas networks and LPG the main cities. There are deliberate plans to expand that access to rural areas.
London, January 21, 2021



The Iveco Defence Vehicles manufacturing facility in Sete Lagoas, Brazil and the New Holland Agriculture plant in Croix, France have both attained Bronze status in the World Class Manufacturing (WCM) program. This represents a significant achievement for Iveco Defence Vehicles and New Holland Agriculture, global brands of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI / MI: CNHI). It is further testament to the success of the Company wide program aimed at achieving production process excellence through the combined efforts of its multifaceted workforce.

Inaugurated in 2013, the Sete Lagoas plant in Minas Gerais State, Brazil occupies 30,000 square meters and was the first facility outside of Europe to manufacture Iveco Defence Vehicles products. The plant produces the Armored Personnel Transport Vehicle (VBTP-MR), better known as the Guarani, the result of the brand's successful partnership with the Brazilian Army. More than 450 units have been delivered to the military so far for use in peacekeeping missions and in operations to combat organized crime in the country's border regions. The Sete Lagoas plant is structured around a complex manual production process which benefits from a highly trained and dedicated workforce.

The New Holland Agriculture plant in Croix, northern France manufactures tractor cab frames for all CNH Industrial agricultural brands, exporting them to their respective European assembly facilities. It also produces fully trimmed cabs for New Holland combine harvesters and foragers. It occupies 61,000 square meters, of which around 29,000 square meters are covered, and has a workforce of some 250 people.

World Class Manufacturing is one of the global manufacturing industry's highest standards for the integrated management of manufacturing plants and processes. It is a pillar-structured system based on continuous improvement, designed to eliminate waste and loss from the production process by identifying objectives such as zero injuries, zero defects, zero breakdowns and zero waste. To certify improvements, a system of periodic third-party audits evaluates all WCM pillars, forming an overall score for each plant that is the basis for three achievement levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The WCM audits in both Sete Lagoas and Croix noted progress and consistency across a variety of both manufacturing and managerial areas including Allocation of Highly Qualified People and Time and Budget leading to their Bronze Level designation.

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Tucked alongside promotional events on Costco's website for men's suits, mattresses and Vitamix blenders is MyPillow, the embattled pillow company.

Costco, in contrast to Bed, Bath and Beyond, Wayfair and other retailers that announced an eventual stoppage of MyPillow sales, shows no signs of ending its "special events" despite MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's seeming support of President Donald Trump invoking martial law during the final days of his presidency.

The beloved wholesale retailer features "special events" showcasing MyPillow's Giza cotton sheets, pillows and mattress toppers scheduled nationwide through the end of February.

A Costco representative told SFGATE: "We have contractual commitments to MyPillow that we intend to honor, as we seek to do with all of our suppliers."

Lindell, the founder of the as-seen-on-TV pillow brand that once claimed to cure insomnia and fibromyalgia, was captured by Washington Post photographer Jabin Botsford holding a note before a meeting with Trump last week that included the phrase "martial law if necessary." It also allegedly invoked the Insurrection Act.

He has faced scorn for his strident support of Trump's policies and other extremist-right falsehoods  which included sponsoring the Jan. 6 rally, per Mother Jones, that led up to the riots and Capitol invasion later that day, repeatedly citing false claims of voter fraud and touting an unproven cure to COVID-19 early in the pandemic endorsed by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

He's also been linked to right-wing media, advertising heavily on Fox News commentators' primetime shows despite other brands calling out for various reasons, including attacks on Black Lives Matter protests.

Dominion, the voting machine company that emerged as a key figure in conspiracy theories about the election, also threatened to sue Lindell for perpetuating "misinformation." (Lindell said he'd welcome the challenge, CBS News reported.)

The other brands that will phase out MyPillow, according to the Seattle Times, cited reduced sales instead of Lindell's slew of controversies.

Tony Evans, 67, couldnt stop laughing and crying.

As Evans, a longtime political activist, watched Vice President Kamala Harris being sworn in Wednesday morning, he wiped away tears as she became the first Black and South Asian woman to ever take the position.

Evans, his daughter Amber Evans and his 15-year-old granddaughter Dymond Roberts sat on the couch of Amber Evans East Oakland home, feeling the historic moment deeply.

Watching Kamala Harris being sworn in and to see somebody who looks like me or looks like my mom or my grandmother  wow, this is amazing, Amber Evans said. Who would have ever thought wed actually have a Black vice president.

Beyond the joy, the three felt relief as President Biden took the stage and called for every American to join him in unity.

When President Biden said, With unity, we can do great things, important things, Evans and his daughter nodded emphatically.

Evans  a furloughed bartender at the Oakland Coliseum and Chase Center  became politically involved starting in 2007 when he volunteered for Barack Obamas presidential campaign in Virginia. The experience thrust him into a political sphere where he soon found himself at events with politicians, including bartending at a birthday party for Rep. Barbara Lees son.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

He recalled the first time he met Harris. It was at a labor event at the Oakland Convention Center when she was running for senator.

Evans said he knew where shed get out of the car, so he stood outside, waiting patiently in hopes of getting a photo. When she finally arrived, Evans, smiling, said he told her, Sen. Harris, Ive been waiting two hours to get a picture with you.

Well I guess we better get this picture, she responded, before adding that she wasnt yet the senator.

You will be, Evans recalled telling her, smiling at the memory.

Evans showed the photo with Harris still saved on his cell phone before pulling up a photo of Obama from a 2007 campaign event in Virginia. Evans said he elbowed his way past thousands of people and stuck his phone out before the Secret Service told him to stand back.

You can see how close I am, he said showing the photo to his granddaughter.

He talks about it a lot, Dymond said as Evans laughed. He really wants me and my mom and all of us to be really politically involved.

Evans spent a week knocking on doors in Reno to encourage people to vote before the presidential election. On Dec. 2, he canvassed Georgia with other union workers to encourage people to vote in the two critical Senate elections that Democratic candidates ultimately won.

Evans felt immense pride when both Senate candidates prevailed, and he felt the same pride when Vice President Harris was sworn in.

We made this happen, Evans said. Were the people in the background.

Now Playing: Video: Manjula Varghese, Caron Creighton

Amber Evans said her father often makes her family watch the History Channel together. His influence has affected her daughter, who watches CNN on her own.

Growing up, I never wouldve thought my dad, this guy working at the bar, is shaking hands with presidents and senators, Amber Evans said. Hes taking on a whole new career as a political activist.

When the cameras zoomed in on Harris and her husband, Dymond paused, confused.

Thats the first-ever second gentleman? she asked her mother.

When her mother nodded, Dymond smiled before turning her attention back to the TV.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
"Doxing" is defined as publishing on the internet private or identifying information about people with malicious intent. People who are doxed have their lives destroyed. Some are attacked so viciously that they go into hiding. It's therefore a dangerous incitement to violence that Don Winslow, a Russiagate conspiracy theorist, has released a video urging people to root out every single Trump-supporter in America and target them for destruction. Yet Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have allowed the video to remain, with the Twitter version having over 4 million views and getting retweeted over 28 thousand times.

The video (which I won't link, but you can find it here) shows footage of Trump rallies and explains that all of the attendees are "domestic terrorists." These domestic terrorists, he says, are hiding in plain sight:

They are hidden among us, disguised behind regular jobs. They are your children's teachers. They work at supermarkets, malls, doctor's offices, and many are police officers and soldiers.

That being the case, Winslow intones, "We have to fight back." The army for this fight is every leftist with a computer:

In this new war, the battlefield has changed. Computers can be more valuable than guns. And this is what we need now more than ever: an army of citizen detectives. I'm proposing we form a citizen army. Our weapons will be computers and cellphones. We, who are monitoring extremists on the internet and reporting our findings to authorities. Remember, before the Navy Seals killed Osama Bin Laden, he had to be found. He was found by a CIA analyst working on a computer thousands of miles away. It's up to you.

ZeroHedge explains how mellow the tech companies are being about this direct incitement to violence and destruction:

The video, which one would think clearly violates Silicon Valley's arbitrary rules against incitement and hate speech, continues to be viewable on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Would big tech allow a conservative video claiming Biden voters are left-wing terrorists who need to be watched to remain on their platforms? Winslow's video appears to be designed to stoke maximum division between Americans (which, as we were told for four years during 'Russiagate' and have known for decades, is straight out of the Kremlin's playbook).

The video is part of a whole parcel of initiatives to terrorize Trump-supporters. A representative example is John Brennan's statement that Biden team members "are now moving in laser light fashion" to uncover domestic insurgency.

Brennan makes clear that this does not include violence from the left in the form of BLM riots and attacks. Instead, it's all about people responding to "the demagogue of rhetoric of people that's just departed government but also those who continue in the halls of Congress." And no, those are not typos. But even his gibberish makes clear that this is about purging Trump-supporters. As he says of Trump-supporters:

Where they germinate in different parts of the country and they gain strength, and it brings together an unholy alliance frequently of religious extremists, authoritarians, fascists, bigots, racists, nativists, even libertarians.

More than half those words could describe the Biden coalition:

Religious extremists: The climate change crowd that has substituted earth worship for God or the Muslims who prefer sharia law to the Constitution.

Authoritarians: The essence of the modern Democrat party is socialism. Socialism is statism. And statism is the opposite of individual liberty. All of that equals "authoritarianism." The left will control how you live, as you saw in 2020.

Fascists: Fascism is a branch of socialism that allows capitalism to continue provided that corporations are subordinate to the state. It's the Chinese system, and it's what America's left-leaning corporations, from the tech titans to Bed, Bath & Beyond, have agreed to voluntarily.

Bigots and racists: Do I even need to link to examples of the left's anti-white racism?

Nativists: That's the nasty word for people who love their country and their Constitution. It's one of only two words that Brennan uses that actually applies to conservatives.

Libertarians: People who want the smallest government possible and maximum individual liberty. This is the other word that targets conservatives.

Please keep in mind, too, that both Winslow and Brennan are attacking as wild-eyed extremists people who are advancing American values that have existed for 245 years  except with the virtue of having shed the racism that tainted America for too many of those years. Just 20 years ago, these conservative values were still entirely centrist.

In his inaugural speech, Biden kept talking about unity, kindness, and Oprah-esque love and respect. However, if the Winslow video, and the tech tyrants' willingness to promote it, and John Brennan's hunt-them-down rhetoric are examples of how Biden's party acts on his words, 75 million people are going to be on the receiving end of political terrorism, and that's just not going to end well.

Image: John Brennan. YouTube screen grab.
A research team from INRS has joined forces with French researchers from ICPEES to pave the way towards the production of green hydrogen

A research team from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) has joined forces with French researchers from the Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health (ICPEES), a CNRS-University of Strasbourg joint research lab, to pave the way towards the production of green hydrogen. This international team has developed new sunlight-photosensitive-nanostructured electrodes. The results of their research were published in the November 2020 issue of the journal of Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells.

An Energy Transition Vector

Hydrogen is being considered by several countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a key player in the transition towards decarbonized industries and sectors. According to the INRS Professor My Ali El Khakani, Quebec could strategically position itself in this energy sector of the future. "Thanks to high-performance nanomaterials, we can improve the efficiency of water dissociation to produce hydrogen. This "clean" fuel is becoming increasingly important for the decarbonisation of the heavy-duty trucking and public transportation. For example, buses using hydrogen as a fuel are already in operation in several European countries and in China. These buses emit water instead of greenhouse gases," added the physicist and nanomaterials specialist.

Splitting water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen has long been done by electrolysis. However, industrial electrolyzers are very energy-intensive and require large investments. The INRS and ICPEES researchers were rather inspired by a natural mechanism: photosynthesis. Indeed, they have developed specially engineered and structured electrodes that split water molecules under the sun's light. This is a process known as photocatalysis.

Challenges in the Design and Fabrication of the Nanostructured Electrodes

For maximum use of solar energy, the research teams have selected a very abundant and chemically stable material: titanium dioxide (TiO2). TiO2 is a semiconductor known for being photosensitive to UV-light, which accounts only for 5% of the solar irradiance. Researchers have used their expertise in the field to first change the atomic composition of TiO2 and extend its photosensitivity to visible light. They were able to produce electrodes that can absorb up to 50% of the light emitted by the sun. A significant gain right from the start!

The researchers have then proceeded with the nanostructuration of the electrode to form a network of TiO2 nanotubes that resembles a beehive-like structure. This method multiplied the effective surface area of the electrode by a factor of 100,000 or more. "Nanostructuring maximizes the ratio between surface and volume of a material. For example, TiO2 nanostructures can offer a surface area of up to 50 m2 per gram. That's the surface area of a mid-size flat!", Professor El Khakani enthusiastically pointed out.

The final step of the electrode elaboration is their "nanodecoration". This process consists of depositing catalyst nanoparticles on the otherwise infinite network of TiO2 nanotubes to increase their efficiency of hydrogen production. To achieve this nanodecoration step, the researchers used the laser ablation deposition technique, a field where Professor El Khakani has developed a unique expertise over the last 25 years. The challenge was not only to control the size, dispersion and anchorage of catalyst nanoparticles on the TiO2 nanotube matrix, but also to find alternatives to the costly iridium and platinum classical catalysts.

This research identified cobalt oxide (CoO), a material that is quite available in Quebec's underground, as effective co-catalysts for splitting water molecules. A comparison of the two materials showed that CoO nanoparticles enabled a tenfold increase the photocatalytic efficiency of these new nanodecorated electrodes under visible light compared to bare nanotubes.

###

About the study

The article "Comparative study of the photocatalytic effects of pulsed laser deposited CoO and NiO nanoparticles onto TiO2 nanotubes for the photoelectrochemical water splitting", by Thomas Favet, Thomas Cottineau, Valerie Keller and My Ali El Khakani, was published in the November 2020 issue of the journal of Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. Researchers received financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Fonds de recherche du Quebec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT). The project was also partially funded, in France, by the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR).

About INRS

INRS is a university dedicated exclusively to graduate level research and training. Since its creation in 1969, INRS has played an active role in Quebec's economic, social, and cultural development and is ranked first for research intensity in Quebec and in Canada. INRS is made up of four interdisciplinary research and training centres in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval, and Varennes, with expertise in strategic sectors: Eau Terre Environnement, Energie Materiaux Telecommunications, Urbanisation Culture Societe, and Armand-Frappier Sante Biotechnologie. The INRS community includes more than 1,400 students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and staff.

Source :

Audrey-Maude Vezina

Service des communications de l'INRS

418 254-2156

audrey-maude.vezina@inrs.ca
A Republican lawmaker wants a Florida highway to be named after former Pres. Donald Trump while the National Archive launched a website for Trump's Presidential library.

Florida Highway To Be Named After Trump

Former Pres. Donald Trump has achieved a lot for the country. He served for four years as the 45th President in the United States. Despite the challenges that his administration encountered most especially during the pandemic, Trump deserves to be recognized for his effort for the country.

According to ABC7 WJLA, a Republican lawmaker Anthony Sabatini wants a Florida highway to be named after Donald Trump. To be specific, the lawmaker wants to designate U.S. 27 as President Donald J. Trump Highway.

This highway runs from Miami, north through Central Florida, through Tallahassee and the Florida-Georgia border, according to a published report. The Republican lawmaker added that it will be in honor of one of the greatest presidents in American history.

Meanwhile, Trump flew into West Palm Beach Wednesday morning just before Joe Biden took the oath of office as the nation's 46th president. He did not also attend Biden's inauguration but made and released a speech before leaving the White House.

Read also: Trump Prepares to Pardon More Than 100 People in His Final Hours in Office

Trump Presidential Library

The National Archives launches a website for Trump Presidential Library just like what they did to the previous Presidents. The newly released Trump Presidential Library website will house the White House websites and social media accounts, according to a report in POLITICO.

The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library that the National Archives and Records Administration was launched on Wednesday shortly after President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris took their oath.

The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library features a compilation of archives such as websites that the White House and Trump administration used. This includes some of the already deleted Twitter accounts like @POTUS. The @FLOTUS that Twitter handles is also included in the archive.

The National Archives released a statement and said, "Presidential libraries promote understanding of the Presidency and the American experience. They preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire."

The first presidential library was opened in 1941 and was established by former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its purpose was to preserve presidential records, such as photos, memorabilia, speeches, and letters, for public access and research use.

Since that time, every President has established an accompanying museum opened to the public and is administered by the National Archives. the only President who did not have this was former President Barrack Obama who chose another approach.

Meanwhile, a top fundraiser on Trump's campaign said on Saturday that Trump has been floating the idea of raising $2 billion for a presidential library most likely in Florida, according to a report in The Washington Post. However, Trump did not yet make any public announcements about a physical space.


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When it comes to far-out skyscraper designs, this one takes some beating.

Eye-popping renderings have been unveiled for a 210m (688ft) sci-fi-style New York skyscraper that almost looks like it has been fashioned from Play-Doh, with twisting tube-like structures coiled inside a towering frame.

The organic design has been dreamt-up by Turkish architecture firm Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio, which described the structure as 'amorphous' and having a 'transparent, ghostly stance in the city skyline'.

Eye-popping renderings have been unveiled for a 210m (688ft) sci-fi-style New York skyscraper that almost looks like it has been fashioned from Play-Doh

The organic design has been dreamt-up by Turkish architecture firm Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio, which described the structure as 'amorphous' and having a 'transparent, ghostly stance in the city skyline'

Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio hasn't disclosed what it thinks it would cost to build the skyscraper

Designers Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio has made jaw-dropping designs a speciality

The studio hasn't disclosed what it thinks it would cost to build, but it's safe to say that it would be in the region of 'a lot'.

The Turkish design house has made jaw-dropping designs a speciality.

MailOnline reported in 2019 on its breathtaking concept for a gravity-defying hotel that hangs off the 1,982-foot-high Preikestolen cliff edge in Norway.

Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio's gravity-defying Norwegian hotel concept, which has a cantilevered glass-bottomed swimming pool

The design's stand-out feature is a nerve-shredding cantilevered glass-bottomed swimming pool that would jut out over the stunning Lysefjorden.

The studio's wacky New York design follows several other extreme skyscraper proposals for the city.

In 2017, a concept was unveiled for 'The Big Bend', a slender U-shaped tower that would transform Manhattan's skyline.

Described as the 'longest building in the world' and stretching 4,000ft in length, the project's concept drawings reveal a skyscraper reaching an apex then curving back down.

The concept, designed by Oiio and planned to straddle Billionaire's Row on 57th Street, features an elevator system that could travel in curves, horizontally and in loops.

In 2017, a concept was unveiled for ' The Big Bend', a slender tower that would transform Manhattan's skyline. The project's concept renderings reveal a skyscraper reaching an apex then curving back down

The 91-story, 1,420-foot-high 111 West 57th Street skyscraper, which reaches around a quarter of a mile into the sky and is due to open later this year

Meanwhile, another extreme design that is actually coming to fruition - due to open this year - is the 91-story, 1,420-foot-high 111 West 57th Street skyscraper, which reaches around a quarter of a mile into the sky.

It is the second-tallest residential skyscraper in the western hemisphere, with the nearby Central Park Tower being number one at 1,548ft tall.

Prices for the 60-odd condominiums inside 11 West 57th Street start at $15.5million (11.3million), with the penthouse listed for $59million (43million). It was designed by New York-based Shop Architects.

China said on Wednesday it wanted to cooperate with President Joe Biden's new administration, while announcing sanctions against 'lying and cheating' outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other top officials under Donald Trump.

The move was a sign of China's anger, especially at an accusation Pompeo made on his final full day in office that China had committed genocide against its Uighur Muslims.

The assessment is shared by Biden's choice to succeed Pompeo, Anthony Blinken.

In a striking repudiation of its relationship with Washington under Trump, the Chinese foreign ministry announced the sanctions in a statement that appeared on its website around the time that Biden was taking the presidential oath.

Mike Pompeo angered China by accusing the country of genocide of the Uighur Muslims

Pompeo, pictured in October 2018 with State Councillor Yang Jiechi in Beijing, was sanctioned on Wednesday by China and accused of having 'seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations'

John Bolton, Trump's former National Security Advisor, was another of the 28 individuals

Donald Trump and China's leader, Xi Jinping, pictured in June 2019, had a tricky relationship

Pompeo and the others had 'planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves, gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests, offended the Chinese people, and seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations,' it said.

The other outgoing and former Trump officials sanctioned included trade chief Peter Navarro, National Security Advisers Robert O'Brien and John Bolton, Health Secretary Alex Azar, U.N. ambassador Kelly Craft and former top Trump aide Steve Bannon.

The 28 ex-officials and immediate family members would be banned from entering mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao, and companies and institutions associated with them restricted from doing business with China.

Pompeo and others sanctioned did not respond to requests for comment.

The U.S. State Department also did not respond.

Brian O'Toole, a sanctions expert at the Atlantic Council think tank, saw China's move as retaliatory and 'political statements more than anything else.'

'I suspect they will default to more of a case-by-case application than a well-defined restriction,' he said.

Peter Navarro, former White House trade advisor, took a particularly hard line on China

Steve Bannon, pictured leaving court in August having been charged with defrauding donors to a crowdfunding effort to build the U.S.-Mexico border wall, was also sanctioned

China has imposed sanctions on U.S. lawmakers in the past year, but targeting former and outgoing U.S. officials was an unusual expression of disdain.

Pompeo, who unleashed a barrage of measures against China in his final weeks in office, declared on Tuesday that China had committed 'genocide and crimes against humanity' against Uighur Muslims.

Blinken said on Tuesday he agreed with the assessment.

'The forcing of men, women and children into concentration camps; trying to, in effect, re-educate them to be adherents to the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party, all of that speaks to an effort to commit genocide,' Blinken said.

China has repeatedly rejected accusations of abuse in its Xinjiang region, where a United Nations panel has said at least one million Uighurs and other Muslims had been detained in camps.

Responding to the Xinjiang allegations, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a media briefing: 'Pompeo has made so many lies in recent years, and this is just another bold-faced lie.'

She added: 'This U.S. politician is notorious for lying and cheating, is making himself a laughing stock and a clown.'

Hua said China hoped 'the new administration will work together with China in the spirit of mutual respect, properly handle differences and conduct more win-win cooperation in more sectors.

'We hope the new U.S. administration can have their own reasonable and cool-minded judgment on Xinjiang issues, among other issues.'
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
White House press secretary Jen Psaki clarified on Thursday that President Joe Biden has confidence in FBI directory Chris Wray and will keep him on the job.

Psaki took to Twitter to clear up the administration's position on Wray after she caused doubt about it when she refused to say the president had confidence in the director during her first press briefing.

Her mea culpa was notable considering her predecessors in the role under former President Donald Trump had an antagonistic relationship with most of the White House press corps, often attacking reporters from their spot at the podium.

'I caused an unintentional ripple yesterday so wanted to state very clearly President Biden intends to keep FBI Director Wray on in his role and he has confidence in the job he is doing,' Psaki tweeted on Thursday.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki clarified that President Joe Biden has confidence in FBI directory Chris Wray - taking to twitter to clean up a 'ripple' she caused at her first press briefing

Doubts about Wray's standing with Biden came after Wednesday's briefing when she was asked if Biden had confidence in the director and Psaki gave a noncommittal response, saying she'd check with the president.

'I have not spoken with him about specifically FBI Director Wray in recent days,' Psaki said.

Wray was named as FBI director 2017 by former President Trump, who tapped him to the top job after he fired James Comey.

Biden had hinted he would keep Wray on but questions had reemerged about whether he would stay on after the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol.

The FBI's role - and that of other law enforcement agencies - in the matter is under scrutiny in the MAGA attack that left hundreds injured, five dead and a wake of destruction throughout the Capitol.

The Justice Department inspector general and other watchdog offices are now investigating.

Wray didn't appear in public for more than a week after it happened. There were reports he was laying low in the final days of Trump's terms as there were rumors the then-president planned to fire Wray as he did his predecessor.

President Joe Biden had hinted he would keep Chris Wray as FBI director

FBI director Chris Wray has six years left in his 10-year term as FBI director

Wray said last week the FBI has already made 100 arrests of MAGA rioters and they have 100 more suspects identified.

Despite a strong start to his relationship with Trump, Wray later became a frequent target of his attacks. He publicly broke with Trump on issues such as antifa, voter fraud and Russian election interference.

FBI directors are given 10-year terms, meaning leadership of the bureau is generally unaffected by changes in presidential administrations. The director's term was designed that way to keep the job nonpolitical.

Wray has six years left in his term.

GENEVA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- As the global death toll from COVID-19 has soared past the two-million mark and the number of confirmed cases worldwide is approaching 100 million, criticism about "vaccine nationalism" and the lack of fair distribution of doses is mounting.

Therese Hesketh, a professor of global health at the University College London (UCL) and the director of the Center for Global Health at Zhejiang University, urged countries and manufacturers to spread the vaccines more fairly around the world.

"We can get the vaccines now. It's about getting the vaccines in place in all countries, getting the vaccines lined up, the supply chains organized, organizing the people. It's not difficult. It's not rocket science. It's simply organization," she told Xinhua in a recent interview.

It comes as COVAX, an international initiative aimed at ensuring equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines, plans to start distributing inoculations next month and have 2 billion vaccine doses available by the end of 2021.

On Monday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the world is on the brink of "catastrophic moral failure" in sharing COVID-19 vaccines.

Speaking during the WHO's annual Executive Board meeting, Tedros said that while more than 39 million doses of vaccine had been administered in 49 higher-income countries, just 25 doses had been given in one lowest-income country. "Not 25 million; not 25 thousand; just 25," he said.

Data from Johns Hopkins University showed that the grim milestone of 2 million global COVID-19-related deaths was reached on Jan. 15.

On Wednesday, the number of confirmed infection cases topped 96 million worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, the UCL's Hesketh urged governments to maintain their public health measures and to strengthen them where it is necessary.

"The key things are to enforce all the measures of social distancing, of closing borders where necessary to prevent the spread of (coronavirus), particularly the new variants, and also to encourage people and to organize the distribution of vaccines."

"We now know that there is light at the end of the tunnel if we can get the vaccines out to as many people as possible," she said.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 237 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 64 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to information released by WHO on Jan. 15.
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AS we start 2021, it is a critical time for Winnipeg. Once the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine increases and restrictions lessen, our local companies and sectors may still face more changes and challenges.

Opinion

AS we start 2021, it is a critical time for Winnipeg. Once the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine increases and restrictions lessen, our local companies and sectors may still face more changes and challenges.

On the positive side, just over the precipice of change lie more opportunities. The bold moves we all make now will ensure our comeback is strong and sustainable. Here are five insights to think about as we start 2021 and embark on our path to recovery:

The office is not dead; it is getting flexible

The office is not dead, and the same is true for our downtown. Research from commercial real-estate experts bear this out. Colliers International shows 54 per cent of businesses expect all employees to return to their offices once a vaccine is fully available. Using office spaces differently in the future may happen, but its an opportunity for flexibility, not demise.

Meanwhile, Cushman & Wakefield notes, "The office is more than just a building  its a place where people come together to build connections, collaborate and innovate." We know companies and employees still crave personal connections  look no further than SkipTheDishes, which will move into a 95,000-square-foot office in True North Square this year, alongside residential units and exciting amenities, including Bell MTS Place and Hargrave Street Market.

Wawanesa is pressing ahead with its new North American headquarters, and will bring 1,100 Winnipeg employees under one roof in the same area.

Digital mainstreet

Helping businesses move from a storefront model to the digital mainstreet is more important than ever. Winnipegs aptly named Bold Commerce helped businesses refine their e-commerce game in 2020, leading to big rewards that will carry on in 2021. Bolds tech tools and advice elevated 66-year-old menswear retailer Harry Rosens online shopping experience. It boosted online sales by seven per cent in four months using artificial intelligence and text conversations to virtually curate selections for customers.

Smaller businesses such as Lennard Taylor, Across the Board and Enigma Escapes also created immersive e-commerce experiences, allowing them to grow their customer base locally and abroad. Even as the pandemic subsides and storefronts can open again, the digital mainstreet will remain and only grow.

Innovation will reignite our economy

The innovations weve seen throughout the pandemic from such Winnipeg companies as Price Industries, PCL Construction, Precision ADM, NFI Group and others have created new opportunities to fire up other parts of our economy. The Winnipeg Jets are using PCLs isolation pods as testing pods so the team can run thousands of rapid tests a week.

We are thinking about how we apply these kinds of innovations to other areas where we want to bring people together safely, such as festivals, business events and public gatherings. We need to explore how to apply innovation to reignite our economy.

Strong data and science to reopen our economy safely

Strong data are paramount when it comes to getting us through this pandemic and beyond. We need to be guided by data and science as we make decisions. The most successful companies are the ones that harness science and understand the data to drive decision-making and direction.

In the years ahead, cities, government and organizations such as ours will continue to use it to tell us in what sectors Winnipeg truly shines and where to focus our efforts when attracting new businesses, investment and talent to this city.

Act on access to capital

To grow, we need access to capital funding for businesses. Expanding existing or creating new capital programs could help smaller struggling businesses with cash-flow issues and drive more equity investment into local medium to large companies. Weve waited, weve debated and now its time to act. We can no longer just get through this pandemic; we need to get better as we come out on the other side.

Im excited to see how, as a community, we come together to reopen and revive our economy. Survival is no longer enough. Now is the time to lay a foundation for companies to grow and succeed in a post-pandemic economy.

Dayna Spiring is president & CEO of Economic Development Winnipeg.
US President Joe Biden and family members attend the "Celebrating America" inaugural program at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2021, after being sworn in at the US Capitol earlier in the day.(JOSHUA ROBERTS / POOL / AFP)

Standing on the steps of a US Capitol that was ransacked exactly two weeks earlier by pro-Trump mobs seeking to overturn his victory, Biden swore the presidential oath on a bulging century-old family Bible moments after Kamala Harris officially became America's first woman vice president.

"Democracy is precious, democracy is fragile and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said before a National Mall that was virtually empty due to the ultra-tight security and a raging Covid-19 pandemic that he vowed to confront swiftly.

"We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts, if we show a little tolerance and humility and we're willing to stand in the other person's shoes," he said.

"Together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear, of unity, not division, of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing and goodness."

But Trump, who falsely said that he was cheated out of a second term and egged on his supporters before their deadly rampage at the Capitol, broke 152 years of tradition by refusing to attend his successor's inauguration.

Biden pushed through a flurry of orders the moment he entered the White House, starting with rejoining the 2015 Paris climate accord, from which the US withdrew under Trump, an ally of the fossil fuel industry.

"We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," the new US leader said in the Oval Office as he signed papers on the Paris deal, which was negotiated by Barack Obama when Biden was his vice president.

Biden's spokeswoman Jen Psaki said his first call to a foreign leader would be on Friday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau -- after Biden blocked the Keystone XL pipeline fiercely opposed by environmentalists but backed by Ottawa.

Biden also halted the US exit from the World Health Organization, stopped construction of Trump's cherished wall on the Mexican border and rescinded a ban on visitors from several Muslim-majority nations.

"As a nation built on religious freedom and tolerance, we welcome people of all faiths and those of no faith at all. It is who we are," said the new State Department spokesman, Ned Price.

- 'President for all Americans' -

In his inaugural address, Biden appealed to supporters of Trump, who shattered political norms by ruthlessly belittling rivals, denouncing entire ethnic groups and trying to cast doubt on basic facts.

"I will be a president for all Americans," the veteran Democrat said.

But Biden confronted head-on the rise of domestic extremism, as evidenced during Trump's presidency by the Capitol assault, deadly attacks on synagogues and immigrants, and a violent march by neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The United States faces "a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront, and we will defeat," Biden said.

"Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear and demonization have long torn us apart."

At 78, Biden is the oldest-ever US president, a job he first sought in 1987, and is only the second Roman Catholic president after John F Kennedy.

Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, became the highest-ranking woman in US history, and the first Black person and first person of Asian heritage as the nation's number two.

She and her husband Doug Emhoff -- America's first-ever "second gentleman" -- were escorted to the inauguration by Eugene Goodman, a Black police officer at the Capitol who became a hero by luring away the mostly white mob away from the Senate chambers.

Thanks to the new vice president's tie-breaking vote, the Democratic Party regained control of the Senate, which confirmed the first of Biden's nominees, national intelligence chief Avril Haines.

- Empty Washington -

Washington took on the dystopian look of an armed camp, protected by some 25,000 National Guard troops who sealed off the city center.

With the public essentially barred from attending the proceedings, Biden's audience instead was 200,000 flags planted to represent the crowds absent from the National Mall.

Biden, who has vowed a major escalation in the nation's Covid vaccination drive, warned that the "toughest and deadliest period" was still ahead.

So far, more than 400,000 people have died of Covid in the United States, more than in any other country.

"We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation," he said, striking a new tone after Trump's mockery of mask-wearing and business closings meant to halt the virus.

While the public crowds were gone, Biden brought in celebrity power -- absent four years ago with Trump.

Lady Gaga, in a dress with a black bodice and a billowing red skirt, sang the national anthem and Jennifer Lopez gave a pop rendition of "This Land is Your Land," ending by exclaiming the final words of the pledge of allegiance -- "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" -- in Spanish.

The new first lady, Jill Biden, invited a 22-year-old poet, Amanda Gorman, who became a star of the day with verse on how democracy "can never be permanently defeated."

In lieu of inaugural balls, Biden joined a prime-time television broadcast from the Lincoln Memorial that featured Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, a number of Broadway stars and Justin Timberlake -- some live at the monument, but many of them appearing from remote locations.

Biden and Harris started their administration by jointly paying respects to fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery followed by an inaugural parade -- without spectators -- that featured both an Army fife and drum corps in the red coats of George Washington's time, and a drumline and dancers from Howard University, the historically Black institution that counts the new vice president as a graduate.

- Trump vows to be back -

Trump left Washington hours before the inauguration, walking on a red carpet on the White House lawn with his wife Melania into the Marine One presidential helicopter, which flew near the inauguration-ready Capitol before heading to Andrews Air Force Base.

"This has been an incredible four years," Trump told several hundred cheering supporters at a campaign-style event with cannons before leaving for his Florida resort in his last trip on Air Force One.

"We will be back in some form," vowed Trump, who retains a hold on much of the Republican Party despite being the first president to be impeached twice.

In a first hint of graciousness, Trump wished the next administration "great luck and great success" -- without saying Biden's name.

Biden said that Trump left him a traditional letter that was "very generous" but declined to reveal the contents.

In the middle of his last night at the White House, Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of 73 people including close allies and lifted a ban on his administration's officials serving as lobbyists -- an order he had issued at the start of his presidency as he vowed to "drain the swamp" of Washington.
Construction on a tunnel under Adelaide Street for the $1.2 billion Brisbane Metro is expected to begin in late 2021.

The tunnel will allow the metro's electric vehicles travel along Adelaide Street, through to King George Square bus station, while avoiding above-ground buses, pedestrians and general traffic.

Its entry point at North Quay will allow buses and metro vehicles to cross the Victoria Bridge and enter Adelaide Street without meeting general traffic, after the bridge is closed permanently to private vehicles on January 24.

Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner also released new design images of the Adelaide Street boulevard, with cosmetic work slated to upgrade the street as tunnelling is underway.



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Antifa rioters smashed windows at Portland's Democratic Party headquarters, burned US flags in Denver and vandalized store fronts in Seattle just hours after President Joe Biden was sworn in.

While some right-wing extremist groups had vowed to disrupt Biden's inauguration following the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol, only scattered protests and violence emerged on Wednesday.

Federal police were forced to deploy tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters who threw rocks and eggs at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon, late on Wednesday night.

They also burned American flags and spray-painted graffiti onto storefronts in Denver and Seattle, marched in Columbus, Ohio, and wielded shields and clubs while protesting in Sacramento.

In Portland, a crowd of up to 200 people gathered outside the ICE building in the South Waterfront section of the city where Federal Protective Services officers issued warnings on loudspeakers telling the demonstrators not to trespass on federal property, KGW-TV reported.

OREGON: Federal police deployed tear gas in an attempt to disperse protesters who threw rocks and eggs at the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon, late on Wednesday night, according to authorities

OREGON: A group of protesters shield themselves from chemical irritants fired by police during protests in Portland, Oregon

COLORADO: Members of the Communist Party USA and other anti-fascist groups burn an American flag on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Wednesday

OREGON: Police officers respond to protesters rallying against the new Biden-Harris administration and to call upon them to abolish ICE in Portland, Oregon overnight

OREGON: Antifa members dressed in black are seen smashing windows of the Democratic Party of Oregon headquarters in Portland

CALIFORNIA: A little after noon a small group of antifa demonstrators marched from a nearby park to the Capitol complex in Sacramento

The ICE building has been the site of several violent clashes between demonstrators and federal police over the past year, particularly after the May 25 police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The clashes late on Wednesday escalated to the point where authorities needed to block off streets leading to the building.

Video posted to social media show flash bangs exploding as federal authorities attempted to quell the unrest.

The demonstrators have long demanded that ICE, the agency that has drawn the ire of pro-immigrant advocates for its aggressive enforcement of immigration laws, be abolished.

Protests in Portland erupted on Wednesday just hours after Biden's inauguration.

Earlier on Wednesday, antifa demonstrators smashed the windows of the Democratic Party headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

A group of protesters carrying anti-Biden and anti-police signs were marching Wednesday in Portland streets and damaged the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon, police said.

One of the signs read 'We don't want Biden, we want revenge!' in response to 'police murders' and 'imperialist wars.'

OREGON: Protesters were fired with tear gas during a rally outside the ICE building in Portland, Oregon after Biden's inauguration

OREGON: Police armed with riot gear fired tear gas into the crowds of protesters in Portland overnight

OREGON: Antifa members spray-painted anti-Biden graffiti while vandalizing the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Oregon in Portland on Wednesday

OREGON: Police in Portland made several arrests just hours after Biden was inaugurated as the 46th president on Wednesday

OREGON: One of the signs read 'We don't want Biden, we want revenge!' in response to 'police murders' and 'imperialist wars'

OREGON: Federal authorities use tear gas and flash bangs in an attempt to disperse rioters outside the ICE building in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday

OREGON: An estimated 200 people protested in Portland late on Wednesday - hours after President Joe Biden's inauguration

OREGON: Federal law enforcement officers guard an ICE facility during a rally to abolish ICE after Biden's inauguration

The group in Portland smashed windows and spray-painted anarchist symbols at the political party building. It was one of at least four groups planning to gather in the city on Inauguration Day, police said.

At its peak, the group numbered around 200 people.

Police said on Twitter that officers on bicycles had entered the crowd to contact someone with a weapon and to remove poles affixed to a banner that they thought could be used as a weapon.

Police said the crowd swarmed the officers and threw objects at the officers, who used a smoke canister to get away.

The group was one of at least four planning to gather in the city on Inauguration Day, police said.

A car caravan in the city celebrated the transition of presidential power and urged policy change, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Another group of about 150 people was gathering around 5pm in Northeast Portland with speakers talking about police brutality.

The demonstrators chanted in support of Black Lives Matter while urging more progressive policies.

'This is such a monumental day,' one of the speakers told the crowd. 'Because today is the day we dump Trump. But we need to embrace resistance too. The fight is just beginning.'

COLORADO: An Anti-Fascist Collation member lights up a cigarette using the flames from a burning American flag in Denver

COLORADO: Members of the Communist Party USA and other anti-fascist groups burn an American flag on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol

COLORADO: Colorado State Police officers extinguish an American flag that was set on fire by members of the Communist Party USA and other anti-fascist groups

A block away from the demonstration, a car flipped over, though it was unclear how.

Protesters rushed to the scene and pulled a little girl and her mother out of the overturned vehicle, according to witnesses. There were no serious injuries.

Portland has been the site of frequent protests, many involving violent clashes between officers and demonstrators, ever since the George Floyd death in Minneapolis in May.

Over the summer, there were demonstrations for more than 100 straight days.

Mayor Ted Wheeler recently decried what he described as a segment of violent agitators who detract from the message of police accountability and should be subject to more severe punishment.

Elsewhere across the country, some 100 far-left demonstrators and Black Lives Matter supporters took to the streets of Denver and demonstrated near the Colorado State Capitol to protest the incoming president.

Others carrying communist and anti-fascist banners denounced Biden and the now-former President Donald Trump.

Seattle police posted images of shattered glass at the US federal courthouse in downtown on Wednesday

Police said that Antifa members vandalized several storefronts and businesses in downtown Seattle on Wednesday

The Pacific Northwest city was also the site of fierce clashes between police and protesters in the aftermath of Floyd's death in Minneapolis last spring. The above image shows damage to a building in Seattle on Wednesday

At least two people were arrested on weapons charges as communist and anti-fascist demonstrators set fire to an American flag, according to KMGH-TV.

The demonstrations were staged by a small anti-fascist group that marched from Denver's Cheesman Park to the Colorado Capitol. The protesters denounced both Democrats and Republicans while criticizing police violence and racial injustice.

Later on Wednesday, supporters of Black Lives Matter took part in an 'Inauguration March'. The event was promoted as a peaceful event to promote black, indigenous, and Latino communities.

Antifa demonstrators also marched and set fire to American flags in Seattle on Wednesday.

The group did not appear to be a large one. Several people were arrested for property damage and assault, according to KIRO-TV.

Seattle police said they were monitoring the group as it continues to march through the city streets.

Police tweeted a photo of smashed windows at the federal William Kenzo Nakamura Courthouse at 6th Ave and Spring Street.

OREGON: A protester is seen above during demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, just hours after Biden was sworn in as president

OREGON: A protester puts out a police smoke grenade during demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, on Wednesday

COLORADO: A participant wears a mask during a gathering outside the State Capitol to mark the inauguration of President Joe Biden

COLORADO: Antifa and Communist Party members hold up anti-Biden signs during a demonstration in Denver on Wednesday

COLORADO: A member of the anti-capitalist Brown Berets is seen above outside the Colorado State Capitol on Wednesday

COLORADO: Colorado State Patrol troopers keep watch from the balcony outside the House of Representatives chambers during a gathering outside the State Capitol to mark the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday

Meanwhile in Sacramento, dozens of Antifa members, some of them wielding clubs and shields, were seen marching through the streets of California's state capital on Wednesday, according to reports.

Many of them chanted slogans denouncing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A few carried a large banner that read 'Abolish ICE.'

'No prisons, no walls - no USA at all,' they chanted.

Other chants included 'No kids in cages' and 'All cops are bastards.'

'The fact that one figurehead is being traded for another on the 20th does not matter to us,' according to a message posted on the Antifa Sacramento web site.

'This does nothing to combat the white supremacy that the US was built on, and does nothing to stop its current white supremacist project.

'While we do not care about the damage done to the Capitol building in DC on January 6th, we recognize it as an outgrowth of the racist rage that has been building and organizing for years.'

Most of the demonstrators were dressed in black while some were carrying Black Lives Matter signs and banners, according to KOVR-TV.

Sacramento police say demonstrators toppled over the fencing at the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.

One person who confronted the demonstrators from their car was cited for illegal possession of pepper spray.

CALIFORNIA: A small group of Antifa demonstrators are seen above near the California State Capitol in Sacramento on Wednesday
President Joe Bidens nominee for national intelligence director has pledged to release a US report on who was responsible for the murder of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi, a decision that could embarrass the kingdoms crown prince and strain its relationship with its key ally.

Avril Haines, who would be the nations first woman to oversee US intelligence agencies, made the promise at her confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Congress required the national intelligence director to release an unclassified report to legislators on the killing, but the Trump administration didnt follow through.

Mr Khashoggi, a Saudi-insider-turned critic who was living in the US, was killed and dismembered by Saudi agents in the kingdoms consulate in Istanbul in 2018, causing a global outcry. Saudi officials denied the prince played any role, saying the murder was carried out by rogue agents whove been prosecuted.

US President Donald Trump, citing national interests such as arms deals that he said superseded the killing, expressed support for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias de facto ruler. But the case became a persistent pressure point in Congress and Mr Biden has said he would treat Saudi Arabia as a pariah.

The report, if critical of the prince, could further strain relations with the US and will be released at a time when he is facing domestic challenges including a faltering economy and discontent within the royal family. Releasing the report would be an effort by the Biden administration to bring back human rights issues long neglected by Trump into the pillars of US foreign policy, said Ayham Kamel, head of Middle East and North Africa at the Eurasia Group consultancy. I dont see this as a direct effort to sabotage the US-Saudi relationship but it will certainly create some challenges.

The prince is also facing two lawsuits in the US that could potentially cause embarrassment, including one related to his alleged role in Mr Khashoggis killing.

The outrage sparked by the murder initially threatened to derail the princes economic transformation plan to diversify away from oil, spooking foreign investors and damaging the kingdoms reputation abroad. But the furor gradually faded, and many businessmen who cancelled appearances in Saudi Arabia at the time have since returned.

While much will depend on the details of the report, the prince would be sensitive to any reopening of the Khashoggi files, which shifts the focus away from his modernisation plans, Kamel said.
As Joe Biden becomes the 46th POTUS, he has already taken a few major decisions. Biden's administration gives India hope, as the government awaits opportunities to strengthen the Indo-US ties.

Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday at a historic inaugural ceremony at the US Capitol. Kamala Harris was also sworn in as Americas 49th Vice President. She is also the first woman, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, first Black person, and first Asian-American to serve in the position.

In his first speech, Biden said, Here we stand days after a riotous mob thought they could silence the will of the people. It will not happen, not today, not tomorrow, not ever. He pledged to be honest with the country as it continues to confront difficulties, saying leaders had an obligation to defend the truth and defeat the lies. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve, he said. Soon after his swearing in, Mr. Biden got to work and promised to repair our alliances and engage with the world once again,. For the Indian government in New Delhi, along with Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who was attending the inaugural, the work before them is cut out.

Also read: China announces sanctions on high-ranking Trump administration officials as Joe Biden takes office

External Affairs minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, all are banking on their significant experience of dealing with Washington DCs Beltway politics. Officials said that Sandhus experience during the Clinton and Obama administrations will help him navigate the new administration. The Indian Government is looking at five baskets of engagement: Strategic, environment, energy and climate change, digital and IT, education and health care.

Bidens intention to rejoin the WHO and Paris Climate accord is welcomed by India, and it will look towards cooperation in the LNG, renewable and solar energy sectors. Biden has also ended the Muslim travel ban, which blocked travel to the United States from several predominantly Muslim and African countries. Mexico also welcomed Bidens decision of the end of the construction of the wall, the immigration initiative in favor of DACA and a path to dual citizenship.

Also read: Countdown for Joe Bidens swearing-in ceremony begins: Take a peak at Bidens cabinet picks
The federal government's gas-fired recovery plan won't deliver the cheaper gas manufacturers need to remain viable, industry warns, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison inks a new deal with liquefied natural gas exporters.

Mr Morrison sealed a deal with Queensland LNG exporters to offer any uncontracted gas to customers in the domestic market at a "reasonable price" that excludes international shipping costs before it is exported.

The Morrison government has renewed its deal with LNG exporters to ensure local buyers are offered first opportunity to buy uncontracted gas production. Credit:Michele Mossop

The deal effectively renews an agreement the Turnbull government secured in 2017 and inserted a new requirement for LNG exporters to give first offer to the domestic market at all times, and not just in the event of a shortfall.

It comes nearly three years after Australian LNG producers gained access to the more expensive international market. In that time gas contract prices rose from $4 to $5 a gigajoule to $8 to $10 a gigajoule.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Abnormally hyperactive areas in the brain may help better predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease, according to findings of a research team led by Universite de Montreal psychology professor Sylvie Belleville, scientific Director of the Institut universitaire de geriatrie de Montreal research centre.

Hyperactivation could be an early biomarker of Alzheimer's disease, the researchers say in their study published today in Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring, co-authored by Belleville and Nick Corriveau-Lecavalier, a doctoral student she supervises.

Worried about their memory

In their research, the team found hyperactivation in certain brain areas in people not yet diagnosed with Alzheimer's but who were worried about their memory and who exhibited risk factors for the disease.

The study marks an important milestone in this research area, as the hyperactivation of regions susceptible to the Alzheimer's as shown by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was observed in people with no clinical symptoms and before the onset of cognitive impairments detected with standardized tests.

"This study indicates that abnormal activation in these areas may be observed many years before diagnosis," said Belleville.

This finding is crucial to the advancement of knowledge about the disease, she continued.

"Alzheimer's disease is progressive and may emerge in the brain 20 to 30 years before diagnosis. It is therefore very important to pinpoint biomarkersthat is, physical and detectable signs of the diseaseand to better understand the initial effects on the brain. Hyperactivation could therefore represent one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease."

An inverse U-shape

The team observed that, as the disease progresses, neuronal activation follows an inverse U-shape trajectory. Indeed, activation in certain areas of the brain in the early stages of Alzheimer's may significantly increase before the neuronal loss that is caused by the disease leads to a clear decrease in activation.

"This form may characterize the underlying pathological process and help doctors determine the stage of the disease," explained Corriveau-Lecavalier, the study's first author. "When combined with other indicators such as blood work and cognitive tests, this type of neuroimaging investigation could help with possible earlier detection."

For their study, the team used data from the Consortium for the Early Identification of Alzheimer's Disease to study brain activation in groups of individuals at a high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease who had performed a memory task while being scanned with fMRI. One group consisted of 28 individuals who were concerned about their memory but who did not show cognitive impairments on traditional clinical tests. The other group included 26 individuals with mild cognitive impairments.

The researchers found that the individuals in the first group, or those with memory complaints but who did not show objective cognitive impairments, had abnormally high levels of activation in multiple key regions of the brain affected by Alzheimer's disease. Individuals with mild cognitive impairments, who are considered to be at a more advanced stage of the disease, tended to show decreased activation in these brain regions.

Explore further Memory may be preserved in condition with brain changes similar to Alzheimer's disease

More information: Nick CorriveauLecavalier et al, A quadratic function of activation in individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease, Alzheimer's & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring (2021). Nick CorriveauLecavalier et al, A quadratic function of activation in individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12139

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A residential building site in Corks Rochestown, billed as best in class in term of location, has been bought for 4.75m.

It has sold for 20% over the price guide, and will be developed as a nursing home facility by purchaser Aperee, part of the rapidly expanding Blackbee Healthcare Fund.

Aperee has been confirmed as the buyers of a greenfield site of 7.2 acres, with an existing 2,500sq ft 1970s dwelling on a section, on Clarkes Hill. It's an increasingly dense residential development location, with sources saying most competitive interest in it came from the increasingly dominant nursing home sector and not, as was widely expected, from house builders.

It's likely Aperee will have surplus land once the new purpose-built facility is delivered and may opt to use it for retirement/care homes.

The prime Rochestown site near Mount Oval Village went to market in October 2019 guiding at 3.85m with Peter OMeara and James ODonovan of Savills, with a detailed outline suggesting its suitability for a high-end house development, or on more traditional lines of 60-70 units.

The sale to Aperee is due to close out in coming months, reflecting a high purchase price of 660,000 per acre, and one of the strongest Cork development land sales in a generally flat 2020.

At least two Munster-based nursing home operators gave chase, with a Dublin agent also bidding for a Leinster operator, all indicative of the demand for prime opportunities in this lucrative grey euro sector.

Savills' Mr O'Meara said all parties were pleased with the deal and said home builders had dropped out of the frame by the time the bidding surpassed the 3.85m guide price.

As further evidence, agents CBRE this week confirmed the sale of a portfolio of seven existing nursing homes and one new-build facility totalling 615 beds for Trinity Care Group to Spanish investors DomusVi, for an undisclosed price.

Cormac Megannety, director and head of the healthcare division in CBRE, said that transaction was "yet another indication of the continuing consolidation of the nursing and care home sector across Europe and demonstrates just how much healthcare assets are of interest to investors.

Aperees acquisition of the Rochestown site is now added to its expanding portfolio of Munster homes. It is working towards a fund of 250m, largely from institutional investors, for acquisitions and new developments, typically paying 5m to 8m for existing homes of about 65 beds.

By late 2020, Aperee had acquired homes with 560 beds, employing 700 staff, said Aperee chief executive Paul Kingston.

Work starts early this year on a 12m investment with 100 beds at a former Church of Ireland rectory in Glanmire on 5.8 acres to include a Montessori.

In a pre-Christmas interview with Irish Examiner, Mr Kingston had said they were sale agreed on a number of Cork, Limerick, and large regional towns sites which we are looking at closing out by the end of the year or early next year.
Vaccines are considered the best weapon against a disease that has now killed more than 400,000 Americans. But a little more than a month into the distribution of shots, demand for vaccines has far outstripped the existing supply.

Thats meant that thousands of San Antonians who are eligible for the shots are still dealing with busy phone lines, online appointments that fill up in minutes and frustrations when trying to secure shots. On the first morning the city began taking appointments for its mass vaccination center at the Alamodome, for example, the city received 187,000 calls for 9,000 available appointments.

We interviewed Dr. Joanne Turner, a scientist who serves as Texas Biomedical Research Institutes vice president for research, to learn more about how vaccines are developed and why communities are still struggling to secure supplies. Turner usually studies bacterial infections and how they affect older adults, but amid the pandemic, her focus has shifted to COVID-19.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The push to protect Americans against COVID-19 is the largest mass vaccination effort since the campaign to combat polio that started in the mid-1950s. How do mass vaccination efforts of the past help shed light on whats happening with the vaccine rollout now?

Let me back up way back in history - because when youre talking about the past, a lot of those vaccines that were given to people existed before U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and review. They were tested rigorously in animal models, and then they were tested in small cohorts of individuals, but they didnt necessary have those oversight committees that really made sure they were absolutely safe to use.

We now have those safety procedures in place because there were adverse effects from some of those vaccines and therapies. If you develop a vaccine now, you have to follow very specific procedures. Usually it starts with fundamental research. We often work on government grants to develop a vaccine.

Once we think its working, which means weve tested it in an animal model, it has to then get rolled out in clinical trials. The animal studies have to be very supportive of putting it into people; those have to be reviewed very carefully. And then we have that long process of clinical trials that weve all been hearing about - phase 1, phase 2 and so on - that really looks at how individuals respond to a vaccine. Is it safe? Thats followed by rolling it out to a bigger population to gather data from a large number of people and understand the statistical likelihood of something going wrong.

All of that documentation is filed with the FDA in the U.S. - other countries have their own regulatory agencies - and they look at all that data and they have an independent agency evaluate it to make sure its safe. Normally, that takes years to do.

William Luther /Staff photographer

Why were scientists able to develop a vaccine so fast?

Weve sped it up because of the urgency. A lot of people would ask, why weve been able to do this so quickly? Have we cut corners? The answer is no. Theres no interest in putting something into a person that hasnt been validated. We just did it quicker because there was an emergency during the pandemic.

Funding was given to scientists to develop things faster, and money drives everything. Research is a very expensive endeavor, so the more money that comes into your lab, the more you can do.

What theyve also done in parallel to that is to start working on the manufacturing process, which in itself is very well regulated to make sure you can only put the thing that you want to in the vial - that its controlled in every process. Theyve got the vials, the rubber stoppers, the labels all in place to package everything safely. All of that was ramping up at the same time, so when we had the yes from the FDA, it was already in production so it could rolled out to people sooner.

We keep hearing that medical providers would want to administer more vaccines  but we dont have the supply. How complicated is the supply chain?

I think what were seeing is No. 1, it takes time to make the vaccine. We have a processing delay. Theyre ramping up as fast as they can; every company that can make the vaccine is probably making the vaccine to the detriment of making other things that we need as a society.

But then its getting it out to the people who need the vaccines. Its a communication issue. Theyre working at a state level for the most part, and every state is trying to get vaccines for themselves, instead of it being a national initiative. Once it gets to states and cities, youve got to have people trained to give vaccines. And, you have to have people documenting whos got it, whos coming back in three or four weeks for a vaccine and then get the word out to those individuals.

This is the first time our country has dealt with a pandemic in the online era. Instead of going door to door or setting up vaccination hubs in community centers, residents are having to make appointments online and rely on technology to find out about availability. Is that making it harder to get the vaccines to some of the people who need them?

Getting vaccines to elderly people in nursing homes is moderately easy because we know where they are  you can go to them with the vaccine. But when youre talking about individuals in the community who are 65 and older, they have to find a way now to get the vaccine for themselves. Were not always reaching out to them. We have the Alamodome - its wonderful that theyre doing that on such a large scale - but not everyone is savvy on the internet or has the time to get on the phone to call or go online to sign up for appointments.

Weve really started to see that breakdown a little bit locally. Technology is supposed to make things easier, but it doesnt always, especially for certain subsets of the population. And, the challenge with these vaccines is they have to be kept very, very cold. Its really hard to go out and vaccinate people in the community because they dont have the ability to store the vaccine. Otherwise, you could go to a school, or a community center where everyone could come in and get vaccinated.

We also have challenges with the availability of trained personnel. Every state has had budget cuts. They dont always have the personnel there to administer all the vaccines and do all of that community outreach anymore.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

Many public health experts had expected that the federal government would oversee a nationwide vaccine rollout in the event of a pandemic. What happened?

Theres been a change in how the country has thought about science and health care over the last few years. The fact that we didnt have somebody to respond to a pandemic in the (Trump administration) slowed that down. They funded science less, and were now seeing the repercussions of that. Had we had more money in science and health care, perhaps we couldve done this a little better, and a little quicker.

Five or six years ago, we had people in the government who knew how to respond to a pandemic. This wasnt a surprise. We always knew it was inevitable... and we did have people in place who knew what they were doing.

What weve seen is decentralization to the states so every state is responsible for coming up with their own plan. There hasnt been a national mandate. I think that will change this year, and it will be more structured. But it really is a consequence of not having that national centralization and management of health care in that way.

We have a pandemic about every 100 years - we dont know if its year 100, or if its year 90, or 110. So you can imagine if youre really looking to think about how youre using your money, you might think about putting it into some other process. It just happened that the money got prioritized elsewhere.

What have been some of the biggest challenges to getting the vaccines into Americans arms?

Were really looking at vaccines that people developed in an emergency, and they're not always going to be the most easy to deliver. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are out, and theyre maybe not ideal because you need to keep them cold and give them twice.

It does make the logistics much more challenging. Just tracking people, making sure they're scheduled for the second appointment and making sure they come back for the appointment - all of those layer on complexity. In an ideal world, wed have a vaccine that could be stored at room temperature, and it could just be carried out in the community and one dose only. But its actually quite hard to get really good protection that way. We have vaccines that do it, but theyve had a lot of research. We just need to wait for the research to catch up so we have ones that are easier to deliver.

Courtesy photo

President Joe Biden has pledged to ramp up production of vaccines and push a nationwide strategy to administer 100 million shots during his first 100 days in office. What do you think the next few months will hold?

We should expect to be optimistic, and we should also expect to see some control of the pandemic. Well also probably see companies like Pfizer and Moderna modify their vaccines, because Im sure theyd like to give a single dose. Theyll be modifying those and testing them - maybe the time between the first vaccine and the second vaccine dose can be extended? We just dont know because they havent tested it or have it reviewed.

We should also see four or more vaccines coming online this year. We should see manufacturing go up and better management of how we get vaccines out to individuals. The hope is in the next three to six months, that well see the majority of the population vaccinated  as long as they come out to get vaccinated. I think people are seeing why its so important to do. They want to go back into normal life. Toward the end of the year, I think youll see states start to loosen restrictions.

What about the new variant thats been reported in Texas? Will the vaccines protect us?

The only way well know for sure is to test it experimentally, but I think theres optimism that the vaccines will work against them just based on what the mutations are. Its normal for viruses to mutate - I think thats key for people to know. The mutations were seeing are making them more infectious - so more people will catch them, but they wont necessarily get sicker. It seems like the vaccines will work against these mutants, but the best thing we can do is to shut down spread in the community so that we dont have any.

Is there any indication that we might need annual boosters, like with the flu shot?

Its too early to tell, but we can make some predictions of possibilities. One prediction is that if every single person got a vaccine, and the vaccines are very effective, you could essentially come close to eradication  like we have eradicated small pox. Thats a possible outcome.

Another is that the vaccine just isnt very effective in the long term. We might need seasonal boosters, like those for the flu. It might be that the virus might mutate so we might need a slightly different vaccine for that reason.

But we should be optimistic. Its possible to control this virus and really shut down the pandemic. We can do that with a lot of infections, and the reason why we dont see something like measles disappear is because we dont have complete vaccination around the globe. But the more people get vaccinated, the better chance we have of reducing the infection to such a low level that its not a worry. The more people get vaccinated, the better were going to be - the quicker were going to get back to normal life.

marina.riker@express-news.net
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A new study suggests coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines might need to be redesigned in 2021 to protect against a new variant of the virus reportedly spreading rapidly in South Africa.

The study, conducted by South African government scientists, also suggests that people who already have contracted the virus might not be protected against reinfection by one of two mutations of the variant, the Guardian reported.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

The mutations  501Y.v2 or B1351 have proven resistant to antibodies in blood plasma donated by COVID patients, meaning the current vaccines could be less effective, the study suggests.

An expert in immunology and virus evolution at Washington University told the Guardian that If the results of the study are confirmed widely by scientists, a potential strain update could be needed in the fall.
On the FactCheck page, The Associated Press tracks down some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals that were shared widely on social media. The AP takes those untrue stories, checks them out and sets the records straight in this weekly series of news articles.


Kamala Harris, the US' first female Vice President, wore a dress designed by two Black designers for her historic inauguration. In opting to wear the dress designed by Christopher John Rogers and Sergio Hudson, Harris has sent her own message to the country that Black designers have arrived on the scene. Rogers is a young Black designer, from Baton Rouge, and lives in New York City. Hudson is a Black designer from South Carolina. Rogers has sold made-to-order designs from his Brooklyn studio since 2016, according to Forbes. Photo: Reuters
Mission HCA to bring PPE production to Asheville

Through a new joint venture between HCA Healthcare and A Plus International Inc., and support from the HCA Healthcare Mission Innovation Fund, production of personal protective equipment will be brought to North Carolina through a new manufacturing center.



The joint venture will produce PPE Level 1 and Level 3 masks meeting American Society for Testing and Materials standards for quality and safety starting in early 2021 from a manufacturing center located in Asheville. The joint venture will be co-managed by A Plus and HealthTrust, a global leader in purchasing aggregation and performance improvement for healthcare.

Early on in the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw the vulnerabilities in the global supply chain for critical PPE, said Greg Lowe, president of HCA Healthcare North Carolina. While HCA Healthcare has been able to secure the PPE needed for its 187 hospitals and more than 2,000 sites of care, this new PPE manufacturing center in Asheville will help ensure access to quality masks made domestically. Should there be a surge in demand similar to what was experienced in the first half of 2020, we will take comfort knowing that we will have the flexibility to ramp up production capacity to meet growing demand.

Onshoring the manufacture of these critical PPE products will benefit both the economy and long term public health of our region, noted Clark Duncan, executive director of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County. Were grateful for the work and leadership of HCA Healthcare in locating the joint venture here in Buncombe County.

This new business not only benefits our local area with new jobs for skilled workers and decreases our dependence on overseas supplies, but it will further our support of caregivers on the front lines in the battle against COVID-19, said Lowe.
Can the Biden administration chart a new course for American security policy given the unprecedented level of polarisation and social unrest in the United States? Can the US lead internationally and build a new transatlantic partnership while tackling the layered political, economic and health crises it faces at home? This article examines the Biden administration's security priorities, tracing elements of change and continuity in US foreign and security policy, and the challenges it faces as it tries to reassert US power and leadership, reassure allies and rebuild partnerships.

This paper argues that President Biden's foreign and security policy should build on democratic security by offering the prospect and promise of a fresh democratic future, not merely a fixed version of the past, while avoiding the pitfalls of democratic exceptionalism. This is a daunting task, though there is no incompatibility between international leadership and rebuilding democracy, the economy and resilience internally. By emphasising the internal-external security nexus inherent in democratic security, the US could aspire again to lead through the example of its democracy's resilience and ability to self-correct. This involves rethinking how the US exercises power and leadership in the context of an unprecedented level of fragility in the American political system and significant economic challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The article proceeds in three sections. First, it outlines the Biden administration's short- and long-term security priorities and highlights the elements of change and continuity compared to the administrations of his two predecessors, Donald Trump and Barrack Obama. The second part examines the changing US view of strategic partnerships and reflects on the pivotal role of the transatlantic partnership, including the strategic US-EU relationship, in US foreign and security policy. The final part of the paper highlights the domestic and international challenges the US will face in implementing President Biden's democracy agenda in foreign and security policy.

Biden's security priorities and democratic security

The task before the Biden administration is monumental. The credibility, reliability and legitimacy of the US as a world leader, as well as its ties to Europe, its closest ally and partner, have been eroded by a toxic Trump presidency. Meanwhile, President Biden and his team inherit both a world and a country that are decidedly more polarised, unsettled, rapidly changing and fraught with uncertainty and complex security problems competing for their attention, and they will have less resources and less time to address them.

Joe Biden first outlined his foreign and security policy vision in a 2020 Foreign Affairs article: rebuild the foundations of American power (economy, socio-economic equality, innovation, democracy), restore American democracy and revitalise international partnerships (Biden, 2020a) through a combination of democratic security, reformed multilateralism, new liberal institutionalism and multi-stakeholder engagement on issues that cut across the internal-external security nexus. This vision, which Biden called 'a foreign policy for the middle class', acknowledges the connections between economic displacement and pressures at home and the US role in the world. It articulates a multilateralist approach to managing the shifting global balance of power, emerging technologies and globalisation ' or a new liberal internationalism (Blinken, 2016). And it attempts to reconcile domestic democratic, economic and societal security with due considerations to security at the individual, national and international levels ' which international relations literature calls democratic security (Steuer, 2019). In short, to rebuild democracy at home, the US has to strengthen democracy abroad (Wright, 2021).

President Biden's vision, though, goes further and touts a return of American democratic exceptionalism and a self-perception of the US as the 'beacon' of democracy and the indispensable leader of the international system. In President Biden's words: 'It falls to the United States to lead the way. No other nation has that capacity. No other nation is built on that [democratic] idea' (Biden, 2020a). Opinion polls (see Figure 1) and experts challenge this reaffirmation of American exceptionalism: 'the question for the incoming Biden administration is whether the rhetoric of American exceptionalism has purchase in a world where (') the 'city on a hill' story does not shine as it once did' for domestic and international audiences (van Engen, 2021). Others argue Biden's international security agenda is disconnected from American domestic realities of unprecedented political unrest and disregard for the rule of law, and they question whether the US has the legitimacy, resources and strategic attention necessary to lead internationally while confronting domestic challenges (Ashford, 2021). Following four years of Trump's disengagement from the multilateral international system and assault on rule of law (Hill, 2021), Biden's vision for America's 'foreign policy for the middle class' (Biden, 2020a) approximates democratic security, but for domestic reasons risks coming too close to an exercise in democratic exceptionalism.

Figure 1

Americans divided on US foreign and security challenges (2018-2020) % who say it should be a top foreign policy priority

Sources: PEW Research Center, 2018-2020; Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Biden's approach to geopolitics and globalisation

The challenges to US national security posed by China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as well as international terrorism will remain top concerns under the Biden administration. This is a strong element of continuity with the Trump administration's 2017 shift to great power competition. However, the Biden administration is expected to adopt a less unilaterally confrontational tone in relations with China, while being more hawkish in its relations with Russia. In 2020, answering New York Times' questions about his foreign policy priorities, candidate Biden pledged to re-emphasise a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but considered the return of the US embassy to Tel Aviv unnecessary (Goldberg, 2020). Much like the Obama-Biden administration, the Biden-Harris administration is expected to champion multilateral efforts at nuclear non-proliferation. Iran and North Korea will take priority, albeit under a different approach: candidate Biden confirmed that he intends to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) should Tehran remain in compliance (Biden, 2020b), and despite Iranian provocations (Rassmussen and Norman, 2021), his administration might still pursue this goal. Summit diplomacy with North Korea will likely be replaced by a return to a multilateral diplomatic effort at denuclearisation. Like his two predecessors, the Biden-Harris administration has committed to ending the 'forever wars' of the Middle East and replacing them with a small military footprint for counterterrorism purposes (Biden, 2020a).

In addition to these elements of geopolitical continuity, the administration will also emphasise a set of transnational, globalised security challenges, including tackling the global health crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, socio-economic inequality, reforming the international trade system, the governance of emerging technologies consistent with liberal values and curbing irregular migration. In addition to the challenges of negotiating common positions with allies and partners, the historical American partisan divide (Figure 1) on these foreign policy priorities is already a significant challenge to the success of Biden's security policy (Walt, 2019).

A flagship initiative for the Biden administration in its first year in office will be the Summit for Democracy, an initiative meant 'to put strengthening democracy back on the global agenda' (Biden, 2020a) and build resilience against the relentless assault from authoritarianism, nationalism, populism and corruption. It is less clear how the new administration will bring this new platform to bear in relation to other strategic priorities, particularly trade, technology and defence, but the effort to integrate these four dimensions into a new strategic approach to multilateral and bilateral partnerships is evident in Washington.

More broadly, Biden's team will emphasise human rights and democratic principles and shift from a transactional to a more traditionally conditional US pressure on partners. This could take the form of leveraging US strategic relations with challenging allies like Poland, Hungary and Turkey to achieve concessions on respect for the rule of law and human rights (Harvard-DGAP, 2020, 4). However, following the 6 January 2021 storming of the US Capitol by pro-Trump rioters, experts argue: 'The power of America's example will be dimmer than it once was; American arguments will be harder to hear' (Applebaum, 2021). Some have called on President Biden to abandon the idea of an international Summit for Democracy and instead focus inwards on American democratic renewal e.g. (Goldgeier and Jentlesen, 2021).

The first short-term step for the Biden administration is to re-engage the US in the international system and to reaffirm the strength of enduring US alliances and partnerships eroded or undermined by President Trump's foreign policy through symbolic diplomatic gestures. These will be a priority for the administration in the first three to six months in office, depending on the evolution of the COVID-19 epidemic in the US. American officials recognise this should include high-level visits to major European capitals, to the EU and NATO, rejoining the Paris climate accord, the JCPOA and the World Health Organization, joining the COVAX initiative and extending the New START agreement with Russia. Other Biden security priorities will take longer and will be far more challenging to realise. Building an international democratic agreement on a coordinated policy towards China, negotiating a plan to reform the World Trade Organization to reflect a fair and level playing field, agreeing on a common democratic approach to global governance and regulatory and standardisation issues in emerging technologies will take time and require a significant multilateral effort.

Biden's layered approach: What role does the transatlantic partnership play?

President Biden and his team are strong supporters of the transatlantic partnership, but the new administration will espouse a new and more strategic approach to partnerships and alliances, including in relation to NATO and the EU. Three pillars will structure American efforts in the next four years.

Pillar I: NATO adaptation

The first pillar is to regain trust and reaffirm the unbreakable security and defence ties within NATO. The reason behind this is strategic ' the Biden administration correctly regards the North Atlantic alliance as a key tool in confronting and containing aggressive Russian behaviour and Chinese influence. The Alliance is already undergoing a detailed self-reflection process, i.e. NATO 2030, after which Secretary General Stoltenberg will propose that allies develop a new NATO Strategic Concept in early 2021. This represents an opportunity for the US to exercise more prominent NATO leadership right from the start of the new administration. The upcoming 2021 NATO Summit will open diplomatic doors to allow for symbolic gestures of reaffirmation of the American commitment to European security. It will equally be a useful framework for substantive discussions about the future direction of the Alliance on emerging technologies, climate change, China, critical infrastructure protection as well as how to deal with difficult allies that transgress on democratic principles. In this context, the Biden administration could drive a new stage of NATO adaptation beginning in 2021: 'As president, I will do more than just restore our historic partnerships; I will lead the effort to reimagine them for the world we face today' (Biden, 2020a).

The NATO 2021 Summit will also offer an excellent opportunity for the Biden administration to lay out a new approach to transatlantic burden-sharing. The Biden administration's qualitative and quantitative understanding of European contributions to transatlantic burden-sharing is expected to be more flexible and more encompassing than that of the Trump administration but continued American pressure on European investment in defense will remain a US policy staple. According to NATO, since 2014 Europeans have added over '100 billion to defence spending, though experts warn the COVID-19 economic recession could lead to defence budget cuts. While this administration will likely reverse some announced US troop withdrawals from Europe (Deni, 2020, 38), the overall shift in American forward military presence on the continent and towards the Eastern flank (especially the Baltic and Black Seas) is expected to continue. In addition, the US drive towards the accelerated adoption of emerging technologies in defence applications could mean American pressure on European allies to invest in defence innovation efforts unilaterally or collectively and to progress rapidly on military information and data sharing (Soare, 2020a).

Pillar II: Enhanced US-EU cooperation

The Biden administration's understanding of transatlantic burden-sharing could feature a re-evaluation of the role of and relations with the EU. Not all members of the Biden administration are uniform in their view of European strategic autonomy and there is still a healthy dose of scepticism about European relations with China, EU defence initiatives, digital taxation and more. The Biden administration will be less confrontational and will cautiously encourage European security efforts, while maintaining the strict conditionality policy around NATO-EU cooperation (Soare, 2020b, 51). Challenging transatlantic differences, like taxation, trade and digital content regulation will entail hard conversations between Washington, Brussels and European capitals before American concerns for fair trade and taxation practices and European aspirations for technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy can be accommodated. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that members of the administration contend that the US needs to change course and engage with the EU in light of its regulatory powers on priority files like trade, technology, industrial policy, security and climate (Soare, 2020b, 53; Bergmann, 2021).

Remarkably, the European Commission and the EU's High Representative Josep Borrell have been proactive in shaping a New Transatlantic Agenda that underlines the interest in working closer on trade, labour, climate, science and technology, regulatory matters (digital and carbon taxes, digital services and platforms) and more. Several cooperation mechanisms are under discussion, including the creation of an EU-US Trade and Technology Council, a high-level dialogue on China, a Dedicated Dialogue on Security and Defence, a transatlantic artificial intelligence agreement (European Commission, 2020). While further clarifications are needed, there is great commonality between Biden's 'foreign policy for the middle class' and similar EU interests, potentially providing a basis for a much broader cooperation on security-relevant, albeit not defence specific, areas (CSIS, 2021). Democracy is a common concern and the European Commission endorsed Biden's Summit of Democracies proposal, but Europeans are still apprehensive about entering a full-fledged ideological competition with China and Russia.

Overlapping security concerns and Biden's change of course away from unpopular Trump policies (Figure 2) create the prospects of closer EU-US cooperation. A proposed EU-US Summit in the first half of 2021, along with a number of expected high-level US visits to main European capitals will provide ample opportunities for the new US administration to lay out its vision of relations with the EU and articulate differences of opinion on key issues such as China, digital policies, taxation and trade. European capitals will expect the Biden White House to accommodate a sense of shared US-EU leadership in managing global issues like climate, trade, taxation and technologies. Early American commitment to embedding the transatlantic partnership at the core of this global effort to manage the forces of international change (Soare, 2020, 5) would be most welcome in Europe.

Figure 2

European disapproval rate of approval/disapproval, 2017-2019, % Notes: Europeans strongly disapprove of the way the US has handled the COVID-19 crisis (85%), of American withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change (75%) and of the imposition of US tariffs on Europe (69%). European majorities also disagree with American policies on immigration and the border wall as well as with the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. Sources: PEW Research Center, 2019, 2020; Dalia Research, 2020.

Pillar III: European and Asian partnerships in US security policy

A third aspect of President Biden's view of international partnerships is the effort to bring together European and Indo-Pacific partners, like-minded democratic countries that share a concern for the rise of authoritarianism. This effort goes beyond the Summit for Democracy or the US effort to steer NATO towards confronting the Chinese challenge ' in Europe ' and developing closer cooperation with global partners, including in the Indo-Pacific (Burton, 2020).

The US has encouraged the EU and European states to increase engagement with Asian partners such as Japan, South Korea and Australia, and Europeans are currently developing their common approach to the Indo-Pacific. Given that Washington has long preferred a limited European role in Indo-Pacific strategic affairs (Bacon, 2020, 94-95), it remains unclear whether the Biden administration will change course and, if so, to what degree European involvement in Indo-Pacific security is possible.

Other differences among the European and American views on how to embed transatlantic relations at the centre of broader multilateral efforts focus on challenging interdependencies closer to home. One such difference is the European view that the EU-US relationship should be a second transatlantic pillar, in addition to NATO (Biscop, 2020), whereas US experts have expressed an interest in a broader format that brings together the US, the EU, Canada, the UK (Harvard-DGAP, 2020) and, possibly, Indo-Pacific partners. The details of such cooperative frameworks are still unclear, though the new US administration will be keen to encourage closer UK cooperation with the EU and European partners in the aftermath of Brexit. At the same time, there are worries that Washington could leverage the common views among Ottawa, London and Washington regarding EU defence, strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty in future negotiations.

Biden's challenges

It is too early to determine President Biden's chances of success as many security issues will require far more than a four-year presidential term to solve. In many ways, and perhaps unfairly, this administration's success will be defined not just by the policies it adopts, but by how it is able to sustainably restore American credibility, decisively re-engage the US in the multilateral rules-based international order and firmly set US foreign and security policy on a new course for the foreseeable future.

This is easier said than done under the current domestic and international circumstances. The president and his team have the advantage of Democratic control of the White House and Congress for at least the next two years. This widens the president's freedom of manoeuver ' at least temporarily. On the other hand, both the Biden administration and the Democratic Party will be hard pressed to take effective measures to ensure Trumpism does not return in the next two to four years ' a significant concern of European and Asian partners.

President Biden has called on Congress to focus on social and economic recovery measures rather than the historical second impeachment of President Trump. The challenges of managing the COVID-19 epidemic in the US, where the death rate on 14 January reached an eye-widening 42,000 deaths in one day, and putting the US economy back on track, even with the implementation of the new $1.9 trillion 'American Rescue Plan' (Smialek, 2021), are huge and will likely command this administration's strategic attention for the better part of 2021.

Political polarisation in the US has reached worrying levels and culminated in the storming of the US Capitol by a group of rioters who attempted to halt the congressional confirmation of the election of Joe Biden as the next US president (Baker, 2021). The intensity and frequency of the domestic challenges to the American rule of law and democratic institutions are unprecedented in the last half a century or more ' a cause for concern in Europe (Schemm et al., 2021). Several sources warn this social unrest is just the beginning and that more violent protests driven by social and political polarisation may follow (Sargent, 2021). Convincing the American middle class of the virtues of international liberal institutionalism poses significant challenges (Ahmet et al, 2020). Moreover, it will be equally challenging for Biden to accommodate the progressive wing of the Democratic Party's strong preferences on domestic, foreign and security policy.

The events of 6 January in Washington drew considerable internal and international criticism over the legitimacy of the US to promote a democratic security agenda seeing as its own house was not in order. 'America has to be a functioning democracy before it can be an exemplary one' (Goldberg, 2020) and 'ambitious foreign-policy goals are completely out of step with the realities of the country's domestic political and economic dysfunction' (Ashford, 2021), the argument goes. American experts are not wrong in saying that American democracy is tested at home, but democracy is now tested everywhere. If the age of American leadership based on the power of its democratic example is over, then Washington needs to adapt and rethink its leadership in a world of post-US dominance. There is just as much merit in America leading through the example of its democracy's resilience and ability to self-correct, regardless of how messy it is now. The power of this American example ' and the US opportunity to still lead the world towards democratic security and resilience ' should not be squandered when virtually every democracy in the international system is facing similarly strong illiberal forces. However, steering US security policy firmly towards democratic security and away from democratic exceptionalism will be essential to President Biden's success, particularly in relation to Europe.

* The author writes in a personal capacity. The ideas reflected in this article do not reflect the views or policies of the EUISS or the EU more broadly.

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BERLIN  Germany's Gruner Knopf (Green Button) government-run sustainability scheme has responded to criticisms from NGOs that it is failing to meet its promises on ensuring brands address social and environmental concerns.

Two NGOs, the Swiss organisation Public Eye and FEMNET which promotes women's development in Africa, recently produced a report highlighting what they saw as "deficiencies" in the initiative's standard and testing process.

The German Ministry of Development (BMZ), which set up the Green Button project two years ago, rejects the accusations, insisting that the programme "delivers what it promises".

In a statement, the BMZ said: "The fundamental criticism of the Green Button in the report concerns aspects that in many ways go beyond what the Green Button itself claims to do."

The Green Button was still in its introductory phase and the BMZ was aware it needed to develop.

"That is why, even under the Green Button 1.0, numerous adjustments have been undertaken and why intensive efforts are being made to establish an even more ambitious standard for the Green Button 2.0," continued the statement.

Public Eye and FEMNET analysed the annual reports of 31 fashion companies whose products had been approved by the Green Button verification system.

They said that only eight addressed human rights risks in their supply chain and that just two reported on the extent and severity of the risk of non-living wages for garment workers.

"In view of these findings, the BMZ must quickly take countermeasures and thus prevent its label from being subjected to a superficial due diligence and thus greenwashing," the NGOs said.

BMZ said the NGOs had focused on what companies said about their corporate due diligence in their public reports rather than the findings of independent auditors which addressed any gaps in those reports.

However, it had passed on the NGOs' report to its Green Button Secretariat to follow up on any valid points and this had led to one company being challenged over its lack of a policy statement.

BMZ also rejected the criticism that the Green Button was a voluntary initiative, pointing out that the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights called for both voluntary and binding measures.

"Even after a due diligence law has been put in place, the Green Button will remain as a voluntary label that the German government will award to sustainability pioneers who go beyond the minimum standards required by law," it said.

It also challenged the NGOs' claims that the Green Button required no evidence of compliance for products manufactured in the European Union (EU)

"Regardless of whether the textiles in question have been produced in Germany, the EU or elsewhere, the due diligence requirements of the Green Button apply for all companies involved," it insisted.

And it also defended itself on criticisms from the NGOs that it did not cover the entire garment production process.

"The Green Button delivers what it promises: from the very start, it has been communicated publicly and transparently that, in its introductory phase, the Green Button will initially cover the key production stages of 'cutting and sewing' and 'bleaching and dyeing'," said the statement.

"As already stated at its launch, the Green Button will cover further production stages in the future. Right now, we are looking into the possibilities for extending the label to cover fibre production."
Nine out of 10 Australian jobs lost during the coronavirus pandemic had been recovered ahead of Christmas but economists and trade unions warn the end of government support such as JobKeeper will challenge the recovery.

The national unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage points to 6.6 per cent in December after 50,000 jobs were added in the month, Bureau of Statistics figures show.

Most Australian jobs lost during the pandemic were recovered before Christmas, but NSW bucked the positive trend. Credit:Andrew de La Rue

However, NSW bucked the positive trend, shedding 17,100 jobs in December with womens employment accounting for more than two-thirds of the decline.

The NSW unemployment rate has fallen from a peak of 7.2 per cent in July to 6.4 per cent in December but the total number of jobs in the state is still 51,000 lower than before the onset of the pandemic.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Existing Covid-19 financial supports are too restrictive and need to be expanded in the coming months.

Thats according to Chambers Ireland who have called on the Government to substantially rethink and refresh the range of COVID-19 supports available to businesses over the coming months.

Speaking this morning, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot said: Wage supports and grant payments are helping qualifying businesses, but too few businesses qualify.

Chambers Ireland said the Covid-19 Restriction Support Scheme (CRSS), for example, is limited to businesses that are 'public-facing,' thus excluding many businesses that have been directed to shut in the latest wave of restrictions.

Non-essential retailers may receive assistance because of the closures meanwhile their suppliers do not.

Chambers Ireland said it raised these issues with the Department of Finance while the Finance Bill was being drafted in the Autumn.

If CRSS itself cannot be revised immediately, then new payments that support businesses that have been forced to close are needed.

Without this intervention, the growing debt burden experienced by businesses will likely trigger a wave of insolvencies and job losses that will permanently scar local economies throughout the country.

In addition, Chambers Ireland warned there cannot be a cliff edge to the supports available.

Wage supports must be tapered off over a reasonable period of time, re-opening grants must be made available, and existing supports such a debt-warehousing and VAT reductions must continue.
Central Water Commission (CWC) on Wednesday said any attempt by China to set up a hydropower station on the Brahmaputra river will act as an encroachment on the entitled rights of lower riparian states like India and Bangladesh.

The issue was discussed during a review meeting of CWC by Rattan Lal Kataria, Minister of State in the Jal Shakti Ministry.The officials of CWC were referring to the alleged plan of China to set up a super hydropower station in the Brahmaputra at Medong in Tibet.

There are official platforms like the Expert Level Mechanism set up between India and China in the year 2006 to discuss various issues related to trans-border rivers. The CWC said such diversion will adversely affect the availability of water in the Brahmaputra basin during the lean season. Flood forecasting and management were also discussed in the meeting. Issues pertaining to flooding caused by the Brahmaputra river were also discussed. The CWC officials apprised about the need for setting up a project at Upper Siang which shall be highly beneficial for Assam.

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Galveston is, in part, a living monument to its heyday as one of the most important cities on the Gulf Coast. The hurricane of 1900 and opening of the Houston Ship Channel combined to shift heavy commerce and settlement away from the island but left behind a foundation that even today helps lend historical heft to the citys tourist-driven modern economy.

Thanks largely to the decadeslong efforts of the Galveston Historical Foundation, numerous examples of all types of buildings  residences, churches, commercial structures  remain, most of them located downtown or in the adjacent East End Historic District. Some, including the 1892 Bishops Palace, Moody Mansion (now the Galveston Childrens Museum) and The Grand 1894 Opera House, are quite popular.

Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Still, its hard to spend much time in Galveston and not reflect on what the city must have looked like when streetcars zipped across town and horse-drawn carriages clopped along The Strand. About a decade ago, Brian M. Davis was working as GHFs director of preservation services when he found himself wondering the same thing.

I would see photographs of buildings that obviously were no longer there, recalls Davis, now the executive director for the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation. That got me to thinking, Where were they, what were they, and what happened to them?

Inspired, Davis began combing the archives of the Galveston County Historical Museum and other places, turning his findings into the 2010 book Lost Galveston. The book remains available through the GHFs website and its retail shops, including the Bishops Palace, while Davis detailed some of its more interesting locations in a Facebook Live lecture in September. The lecture can be viewed on the organizations Facebook page.

Hadley Chittum, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Lost Galveston features dozens of photos that testify to the islands colorful past. A random sampling might include the first YMCA in Texas; the Buccaneer Hotel, a 12-story structure next to infamous gambling parlor the Balinese Room; and Montoyas Bar, which hosted Depression-era canine celebrity Bozo the Wonder Dog. Copious warehouses, railroad depots and mills point to its bygone industrial might. Galveston Countys first jail was fashioned around the brig of a ship that washed ashore in 1837, two years before the citys founding.

Other remnants of the Lost Galveston era are almost hiding in plain sight. Standing behind the Hendley Building on The Strand  Galvestons oldest remaining commercial building  is a smokestack that was once part of the Galveston Ice and Cold Storage Building, torn down in 1978. A pair of three-story wings added to the original Ball High School in 1924 were incorporated into the headquarters of the American Indemnity Insurance Company when that building was built in 1955. The rest was demolished.

Landrys

Some of the true architectural jewels in Davis book are the work of Nicholas Clayton, an Irish immigrant who moved to Texas in the early 1870s to design the First Presbyterian Church. Over the next 30 years, Clayton designed dozens of Galvestons most prominent buildings and became renowned for the intricacy of his buildings, particularly his ornamental brick and iron work. (He also designed the main building of Austins St. Edwards University and consulted on the construction of the Capitol of Texas.)

Galveston at a glance Here are just some of Galveston's architectural treasures: Hendley Building, 2010 Strand 1892 Bishop's Palace, 1402 Broadway Ave. J Garten Verein, 2704 Ave. O Galveston Children's Museum, 2618 Broadway Ave. J The Grand 1894 Opera House, 2020 Postoffice See More Collapse

You could just definitely tell looking at a building that it was a Clayton, Davis says.

Not all of Claytons buildings have been lost to history: the Bishops Palace is his, as is the Garten Verein in Kempner Park  one of Texas oldest dance halls, now operated by GHF as a venue for weddings and other events. But his masterpiece was arguably the Ursuline Academy, the all-girls Catholic school on Avenue N. Completed in 1895, largely of brick and stone, the Venetian Gothic-style building was admired for its masonry and majestic stained-glass windows.

The Academy sheltered roughly 1,000 people during the 1900 storm but was demolished after sustaining relatively minor damage from Hurricane Carla in 1961  a decision Davis believes was horribly shortsighted.

I think today, if we were looking at that same damage, wed definitely say, This is an easy fix and would have fought to the death on trying to save it, he says, but at that time, it was advised (by) an architect that was doing contracts for the schools and for the county, that it was just too far gone (and) just needed to be torn down and replaced by a new design off his drafting table.

Lance Childers

Weather has at times affected Galvestons cityscape as much as the wrecking ball. Carla and the tornadoes it spawned also claimed the Fraternal Order of Eagles meeting hall on Postoffice Street, the 1899 Galveston County Courthouse and the Historic Pleasure Pier, an amusement park built during World War II. In 2008, Hurricane Ike took out the Balinese Room and the USS Flagship Hotel, which was built in 1965 on the site of the Pleasure Pier. Tillman Ferttitas Landrys empire bought the property and opened a new Pleasure Pier in 2012.

Carla also administered the coup de grace to a building between The Strand and Market designed by Alfred Mueller, another leading Galveston architect. The structure, which later served as a firehouse, opened in 1888 as a combination marketplace/seat of government; it stretched for two full blocks with a narrow lane on each side, and featured an imposingly tall clock tower. Meat, produce, and fish were sold on the ground level, with city offices and a police station above them and the chamber of commerce on the top floor.

When I show that slide to others around the country, theres kind of a gasp and trying to figure out What is this building? laughs Davis, who says he tries to visit Galveston several times a year. It was pretty amazing.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

All that remains of Muellers magnificent City Hall today is a listless patch of road. Many other buildings in Lost Galveston met with similarly ignominious fates: gas stations, rental houses, condominiums. But Davis estimates that around 75 percent of Galvestons Victorian-era structures are still standing  a remarkable figure considering, for example, Houstons spotty record with its own historic buildings.

Anxiety over a vanishing past is not exactly a recent phenomenon, either.

In the introduction to Lost Galveston, Davis notes a September 1887 article from the Galveston Daily News mourning the market house that would soon make way for Muellers City Hall.

Surroundings in this vicinity naturally bear a strange aspect in the absence of the familiar old structure, which could many a tale unfold were its timbers possessed of tongues, the anonymous author wrote. But all of its reminiscences will be lost to memory when the site is covered by a new and improved structure.

Chris Gray is a Galveston-based writer.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
WASHINGTON - The new White House press secretary dodged a question Wednesday about whether President Joe Biden has confidence in FBI Director Christopher Wray - a sign that the new administration was not willing to publicly commit on its first day to keeping him at the agency's helm.

"I have not spoken with him about specifically FBI Director Wray in recent days," Jen Psaki said in response to a question posed at the Biden administration's first White House press briefing.

Psaki gave similar replies to a number of unrelated questions, appearing to want to avoid making significant news outside of her prepared remarks about the series of executive actions Biden had taken moments earlier. She promised that there would be regular media briefings and that she would follow up with reporters on questions she could not answer.

Separately, a government official said Wednesday evening that the new administration has sent no signals that it had concerns about Wray, who was a frequent target of criticism from President Donald Trump. A lawyer and former Justice Department official, Wray began as FBI director in 2017 after Trump fired his predecessor, James Comey, who had served less than four years of what is typically a 10-year appointment.

Wray's job was in jeopardy for much of the last year, and Trump and his senior aides repeatedly discussed firing him after November's election.

The relationship between the White House and the FBI was hostile for much of the previous administration; Trump repeatedly criticized FBI leaders for investigating his 2016 campaign and accused them of trying to sabotage his presidency. Trump's removal of Comey set off a chain of events that gave rise to Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation and threatened to undo his tenure as president.

Biden's approach to the FBI will be scrutinized for any signs that he is dissatisfied with Wray. The bureau is overseeing a sprawling investigation into the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, a case that involves hundreds of suspects.

The Biden administration also begins without a timetable for the arrival of its attorney general candidate, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Merrick Garland, who is still awaiting a confirmation hearing in the Senate.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 58F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Rain, heavy at times early, diminishing to a few showers this afternoon. High 51F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 42F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) :China will provide 0.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the government of Pakistan by January 31, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Thursday.

"As goodwill gesture, China has pledged to handover the batch of vaccine free of cost," the Foreign Minister told media here, following his telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi this afternoon.

Qureshi said the Chinese Foreign Minister informed him that Pakistan could send the cargo aircraft to airlift the batch of vaccine.

Terming it a "welcoming development" amid coronavirus situation, he said, "This is a very good news that we have received from our friend China," he said.

Qureshi said as Pakistan would be needing another 1.1 million doses for its frontline population, for which Chinese FM Wang Yi today agreed to handover the required vaccine by the end of February.

"In view of the strong strategic relations, China has considered Pakistan as the first country to be supplied with the COVID-19 vaccine," he said.

The Foreign Minister said Pakistan had successfully fought the challenges of coronavirus and lauded the performance of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) in this regard.

He mentioned that the trials of COVID-19 were effectively being carried out in the country, with an objective to launch production at later stages.
Hanjin Transportation Vice President Emily Lee Cho, left, and HYK Partners CEO Hahn Woo-jae



Activist fund considers lawsuit against Hanjin Transportation



By Park Jae-hyuk



HYK Partners, the activist fund that is Hanjin Transportation's second-largest shareholder with a 9.79 percent stake, has publicly condemned the logistics company's recent decision to appoint Hanjin Group heiress Emily Lee Cho as the subsidiary's vice president.



The private equity firm (PEF) also disclosed the full text of a shareholder proposal it sent Wednesday to Hanjin Transportation's board of directors.



This was the first time for HYK to unveil details about its requests. When the PEF sent its first proposal to the logistics firm last December to call for the reform of its governance structure and an increase in shareholder value, both sides declined to disclose the specifics.



In a statement uploaded on its website, HYK said Cho's recent promotion can be interpreted as the owner family's attempts to intervene in the management of the firm.



"We do not want Hanjin Group owner family members to hit the headlines anymore for their misdeeds committed while they were meddling with the management of the group's affiliates," the PEF said.



The heiress, who is the younger sister of Korean Air owner Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae, faced severe criticism for allegedly throwing water in the face of a manager of Korean Air's advertising agency in 2018 and temporarily left the group. She returned in June 2019.



Market observers expect she will make an attempt to join Hanjin Transportation's board of directors during the regular general meeting of shareholders scheduled for March to tighten her control over the company.



HYK named three people  KDI School of Public Policy and Management professor Park Jin, Kim & Chang lawyer Lee Je-ho and HYK CEO Han Woo-jae  and asked Hanjin Transportation to give them board seats to prevent the owner family from making arbitrary decisions.



If the Hanjin Transportation board declines to send a reply to the proposal by Feb. 2, HYK will take legal action against the company.



A Hanjin Transportation spokesman said Thursday the company is reviewing the proposal.



Instead of making a public announcement on its response to its second-largest shareholder, the logistics firm said in its press release that it will invest 213.5 billion won ($194 million) in the automation of its logistics centers this year to increase its market share.



HYK is also attempting to entice domestic and foreign shareholders to defeat Hanjin Transportation's largest shareholder, Hanjin KAL, the group's holding company having a 24.16 percent stake.



Some of Hanjin Transportation's minority shareholders have already entrusted their voting rights to HYK, saying they will support the entity to raise the value of their shares. If HYK wins support from the National Pension Service (NPS) which owns a 6.2 percent stake and more minority shareholders, it may be able to force the owner family to hand over the board seats.



This means a larger influence over Hanjin Transportation for textile company Kyungbang, the virtual owner of HYK which invested 70 billion won in the PEF when it was established earlier last year. Kyungbang is seen as the de facto second-largest shareholder of Hanjin Transportation because its entire stake in the logistics firm was sold to HYK in October.



President Joe Biden on his first day in office sent Congress an extensive immigration proposal that could have big implications for California, which is home to the largest undocumented immigrant population in the nation.

The plan, known as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, would provide a pathway to citizenship to the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States. About 2 million of them live in California.

Biden's proposal would have the biggest repercussions for recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and temporary protected status (TPS) holders, said Kevin R. Johnson, dean of the UC Davis School of Law.

"This is the state with the largest number of immigrants in the United States, the largest number of undocumented immigrants in the United States," Johnson said. "It's going to have the biggest impact in California."

Does it protect undocumented workers?

The bill would allow undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status. After five years, those immigrants could apply for green cards under Biden's proposal. To apply, applicants must be physically present in the United State before January 2, 2021.

Since the acquisition was completed in November, the company has received more than $850,000 worth of purchase orders.

Model Manager is now released and being demonstrated to major mining houses globally

K2fly Ltd's ( ) acquisition of SATEVA mine geology applications is exceeding expectations and is tracking ahead of target moving into 2021.

In the less than three months since the acquisition was completed, K2fly has received more than $850,000 of new purchase orders from major mining houses in the iron ore sector - compared to total SATEVA revenue of $1.4 million in FY20.

The SATEVA acquisition and its associated intellectual property brings the company a suite of mine geology applications for mining companies around orebody knowledge and control which is relevant to K2flys existing global client base and can be integrated with existing mineral inventory solutions for deeper technical assurance.

Opportunities to service iron ore producers

SATEVAs customers are predominantly in iron ore (FMG, Rio Tinto and Roy Hill) and are currently enjoying particularly buoyant prices for that commodity.

K2fly chief commercial officer Nic Pollock said: We couldnt be happier with the timing of the SATEVA acquisition and the opportunities it presents for us to better service the global iron ore producers, particularly here in our home patch of Western Australia.

The strategy behind the acquisition was to maintain and develop the SATEVA consulting business and its customers and to convert IP from consulting work into repeatable software solutions and recurring revenue streams.

Pollock said: With the purchase orders already received we are clearly over-performing on the first element. We are also very pleased at the response of our customers to the new product offerings which are incredibly timely for the iron ore industry, as well as other bulk open pit mining operations like gold and copper.

SATEVA suite

The suite of products includes Model Manager, a high-performance storage and analytics solution which provides improved block model management, and a direct line of sight and governance from the block model to the annual inventory report and integrates directly with the companys RCubed Mineral Inventory solution.

Model Manager has been launched and K2fly is sharing this with existing clients and prospects of its mineral inventory solution.

Automated ore blocker trial

The Maximum Return Mine Geology System (in production at Roy Hill) has now been recommended for use in a tier-1 iron ore mining company.

Automated Ore Blocker is an automated ore block-out solution integrated into SATEVA Maximum Return and this has just passed trials at a major iron ore producer and will go into production this quarter.

The results from this trial will be able to be shared with the companys global mining customers from February onwards and although no contracts have been signed, K2fly is in negotiation with two major mining companies and expect the list of clients to grow rapidly.
OKLAHOMA CITY  One name missing in President Donald Trumps flurry of pardons was Tiger King Joe Exotic.

His team was so confident in a pardon that they had readied a celebratory limousine and a hair and wardrobe team to whisk away the zookeeper-turned-reality-TV-star, who is serving a 22-year federal prison sentence in Texas. But he wasnt on the list announced Wednesday morning.

Joe Exotic, whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage, was sentenced in January 2020 to 22 years in federal prison for violating federal wildlife laws and for his role in a failed murder-for-hire plot targeting his chief rival, Carole Baskin, who runs a rescue sanctuary for big cats in Florida. Baskin was not harmed.

Maldonado-Passage, who has maintained his innocence, was also sentenced for killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records. A jury convicted him in April 2019.

In his pardon application filed in September, Maldonado-Passages attorneys argued that he was railroaded and betrayed by others. Maldonado-Passage, 57, is scheduled to be released from custody in 2037, but his attorneys said in the application that he will likely die in prison because of health concerns.

Maldonado-Passages backers, who referred to themselves as Team Tiger, said in a statement Wednesday that 140 million Joe Exotic fans had a hard time getting out of bed this morning.

We are as disappointed that the president did not sign Joes pardon, as we were confident yesterday that he would, the statement said.

The blond mullet-wearing zookeeper, known for his expletive-laden rants on YouTube and a failed 2018 Oklahoma gubernatorial campaign, was prominently featured in the popular Netflix documentary Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.
London: Emirates will resume flights to Australia after working out how to meet tougher testing and quarantine requirements for foreign air crews, giving hope to thousands of citizens still stranded in Europe nearly a year after the Morrison government closed Australia's borders.

The United Arab Emirates carrier blamed "the dynamic restrictions and requirements implemented by the different state authorities" for its decision last Friday to immediately suspend all flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Emirates is one of the few airlines still flying to Australia under the strict limits on the number of arrivals allowed in while the coronavirus pandemic rages abroad.

Some states recently slashed the maximum intake by 50 per cent over fears of new, more transmissible strains circulating in the United Kingdom and South Africa. New South Wales and Victoria also imposed new restrictions on foreign air crews.
The EU Commission has agreed to an extension of the state aid approval for Irelands National Forestry Programme for 2021, it has been confirmed.

In a statement acknowledging the importance of the extension, Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Pippa Hackett said the development will provide assurance to those who wish to apply for grants under the current forestry programme - which has been gripped by a licencing crisis that has brought the sector to a standstill and left thousands of rural-based jobs at risk.

The extension was necessary as there were delays in issuing new EU guidelines for state aid in the agriculture and forestry sector, but this gives legal certainty for the continuation of the programme.

This extended period gives us a much needed opportunity to look afresh at forestry in Ireland. We know we need to build and improve on the existing model to provide ecosystem services, income, jobs and recreational opportunities as well as contributing to our challenging environmental goals.

"I want to oversee the design of that model and am fully committed to the consultation with all stakeholders which will help inform a new Forest Strategy and deliver a sustainable forestry programme.

Clearly we still have some way to go to meet the ambition we have set ourselves but I intend to build on the momentum we have created, so that we not only increase the number of licences issued to land and forest owners in the months ahead, but we also design a model of woodland creation which works for all, the minister said.

Licence logjam update

In terms of the current position on forestry planting and licencing, the Department provided the following update.

While 1,045 new licences have been issued since the crisis escalated significantly in October, 2020; a backlog of 4,453 licences remain in the system for processing when new applications received since are included.

The applications held up in the system include: 2,760 felling applications; 1,009 afforestation licences; and 684 road licences.

The total number of licences issued in 2020 was 2,593. As such, just 2,433ha were planted in 2020 - a far cry from the Governments 8,000ha target.


Project Assistant, Podgorica, Montenegro

Organization: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

Country: Montenegro

City: Podgorica, Montenegro

Office: OSCE Podgorica, Montenegro

Closing date: Sunday, 31 January 2021

Issued by: OSCE Mission to Montenegro

Vacancy number: VNMNGG00200

Vacancy type: Local Contracted

Field of expertise: Media Affairs

Grade: G5

Number of posts: 1

Duty station: Podgorica

Date of issue: 7 December 2020

Deadline for application: 31 January 2021 - 23: 59 Central European Time (CET/CEST)

Date of entry on duty: 1 February 2021

Background

The OSCE Mission to Montenegro is seeking for highly qualified, motivated and experienced national candidates for the short-term position of Project Assistant (G5) at the Media Programme.

Under the guidance of the Media Programme Manager the short-term incumbent will assist in the development and implementation of projects and activities, and provide administrative support to the Media Programme. The short-term appointment is requested for the maximum period of 5 months and 29 days. The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization, and seeks for candidates who meet the core values and competences of the organization.

Tasks and Responsibilities

The short-term Project Assistant (G5) under the direct supervision of the Media Programme Manager will assist the staff of the Media Programme in the implementation of the Programmes day-to-day activities as well as operation of the projects. The work will include the following tasks:

Participates in concept and design of project activities, develops and implements team projects, taking overall responsibility for those activities assigned to him/her by Media Programme Manager; Ensures that the activities are successfully implemented in accordance with its objectives thought the project cycle, including designing action plans, budget estimates, implementation plans, final reports and evaluation; Engages actively (meets, communicates) with the target groups / beneficiaries/ interlocutors in order to build key support for the team activities; translates all communication upon request to the team. Prepares spot and analytical reports after important event related to the work of the Programme; Establishes working relations and contacts with international partners, donor organisations, and maintains professional relationships with the Montenegrin media; Liaises with other locally based media, including non-majority media, developing organisations and keep regular contacts with the Public Broadcaster, Media Council for Self-Regulation and journalists associations; In co-ordination with Fund Administration Unit (FAU), collects proper documentations (receipts, participant lists etc.) to clear advances, prepares necessary Requests for Goods for supplies or purchases; Assists in the preparation of final reports and follow-up documentation for projects implemented; Arranges transport for team members or participants of team activities as requested; Prepares hand-outs and presentations for meetings, workshops, conferences with media representatives, media advocates and researchers; Provides logistic support for organization of meetings, conferences, seminars, round table meetings etc. (such as booking premises, hotel rooms, transport etc.) whenever required, as well as participates and prepares minutes and follow-up reports; Provides accurate interpretation and translation during the meetings, as well as translation of correspondence and documents produced for the senior management; Maintains and updates hard and electronic archive of the Programme, including contact lists, files, reports, correspondence and other relevant material; Provides general clerical duties, such as drafting letters and the required correspondence of the Media Programme, collecting, reviewing and sorting incoming mail, providing background files and information as needed; Performs other relevant work as required.

Necessary Qualifications

Secondary education supplemented by formal trainings in administration, project management, social science and/or media and public information;

Minimum 4 years of relevant work experience with media organisations, international agencies including experience with international media structures;

Project management experience including administrative/financial skills;

Demonstrated analytical, organisational, planning and problem-solving skills;

Tags gender perspective oral communication project management trainings translation

Ability to conduct research and collect information from a variety of sources;

Computer literate with practical experience in Microsoft packages;

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English and Local language;

Ability to work with people of different nationalities, religious and cultural backgrounds;

Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;

Holding valid driving licence.

Remuneration Package

Monthly remuneration, subject to social security deductions is 1,284.33 euro/month. Social benefits will include participation in the Cigna health insurance scheme.

The assignment is requested to start on February 1, 2021, for the duration of maximum 5 months and 29 days up to July 29, 2021.

How To Apply

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCEs online application link found under //www.osce.org/employment">http: //www.osce.org/employment.

This position is open to citizens and permanent residents of Montenegro only.

All qualified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online, using the OSCE online application link.

Please note that applications received after the deadline, submitted in different formats than the OSCE Application Form or in other languages than the English language will not be considered.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment, or to offer an appointment with modified Terms of Reference or for a different duration.

The OSCE is committed to achieving a better balance of women and men within the Organization.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.
Evan Byrne, Ambassador and son of Stacey Byrne - Co Founder Ever since becoming a #LuckyFew mum over six years ago, Ive had a vision for an all-encompassing platform about Down syndrome

Charity Making Chromosomes Count is extremely proud to launch the first issue of their much-anticipated magazine. An independent, forward-thinking and non-partisan publication that goes way beyond educating and raising awareness about Down syndrome. Living up to the charitys mission statement, To showcase to the world the fascinating kaleidoscope that is Down syndrome and its community, it provides a genuine and non-judgmental hub of information from a wide spectrum of contributors: medical professionals, Down syndrome-related organisations and also from the community itself by featuring ground-breaking stories highlighting campaigns, achievements and challenges of individuals with the condition, be it in the educational, health or even arts and leisure spheres.



Its aim is to reach and update not only families-to-be, new families and seasoned families but also all bodies that intrinsically influence, one way or the other, the perceptions of the condition upon the population at large: health care professionals, educators, public sector workers and even Members of Parliament. Complimentary copies of the magazine will be distributed to select hospitals/NHS Trusts/support groups/ schools and will be available for purchase and subscription on the charitys website: makingchromosomescount.co.uk. "Ever since becoming a #LuckyFew mum over six years ago, Ive had a vision for an all-encompassing platform about Down syndrome, where parents and relevant professionals could easily find whatever resources they were after, whatever the age group of their child, whatever the topic, and especially where their voice would be echoed," said Stacey Byrne.



A labour of love put together by an eclectic group of women from around the world, directly or indirectly impacted by Down syndrome, all on a volunteer basis and all passionate about bringing the community together and presenting it to the mainstream population warts and all.

Notes to editor: The charity came to life a year ago after Stacey Byrne, the driving force and mother of four, found sourcing and navigating through all the information about Down syndrome extremely time-consuming, daunting, and confusing. She dreamed up a platform where most information could be readily available at a press of a button. She teamed up with the creative force, American-based graphic designer, and a huge fan of people with Down syndrome, Sandy Nasonte, to create and found Making Chromosomes Count. Within just 11 months, their partnership started with a simple four-page newsletter, the concept of which immediately garnered the support of the community, evolved to become a successful and professionally run website, expanded with a popular presence on all social media platforms, and grew to become a 10-member strong international team who published the first issue of their glossy magazine and are currently working on the second. There is no stopping them!

Media, hard copy of the Magazine sent on request. Each magazine will cost 3.50 each plus postage. A yearly subscription (3 issues) will be 10 plus postage. For bulk orders or to qualify for complimentary copies please go to MCCGrabYours@gmail.com and request more information. You can purchase YOURS HERE. Making Chromosomes Count are non profit and rely solely on donations, to donate: paypal.me/MCCNews MCC website article: http://makingchromosomescount.co.uk/launching-first-of-its-kind-magazine-about-down-syndrome-nationwide/

Stacey Byrne, Co-founder, MakingCCNews@gmail.com 07375 502571

Denise Humberstone, Editor-in-Chief, MakingCCNews@gmail.com 07515631632

Sarah Mayes, Social Media Management,

MakingCCNews@gmail.com07799675822

Facebook: @MakingChromosomesCount

Twitter: @ChromosomesNews

Instagram: @mcc.news
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Divorce: My abusive husband took away almost all my savings and even got me into a large debt

I married more than a decade ago and my partner has been physically, verbally and financially abusive to me.

He took away almost all my savings and got me into a large debt.

He has been taking money from me on and off all the time but it's been much more extreme in the past few years and he repaid very little.

For example, he made me take out a loan for tens of thousands of pounds in September last year and has paid the EMI [equated monthly instalment] for a few months and stopped.

We are now parting ways and he is refusing to return the money he owes.

I lost count of the amount he took from me now but it has all been through bank transfer.

I am in a situation where I am worried if I will be able to fight my divorce case in the court because mediation could not be done owing to his nature.

We own a property jointly and he made us move out in May last year and made me agree to rent it out. There's a mortgage on the property and he has always kept whatever is left of the rent after paying the mortgage.

He has forced me to pay towards the rent of the property we have been living in, even when the rental lease is solely in his name. He has now moved out.

What can I do to get my money back? I genuinely wanted to help him and haven't been able to see how the man has been manipulating me, all because I cared for him.

Now I am in a desperate situation because I am a single mother, looking after my daughter all the time, providing for her while he is not even making any maintenance payments despite me approaching Child Maintenance Services.

Can something be done? Kindly advise as I am desperately in need of help.

Tanya Jefferies, of This is Money, replies: Your heartbreaking story is sadly not an unusual one, as many abusers use money to control their partners and make escape from them harder.

You are already in the process of divorce, and you understandably want to protect and provide for yourself and your daughter.

Want to divorce but can't afford a lawyer? Here's 12 ways to reduce, defer or pay your legal fees if you have little or no money... read more here.

We asked a divorce lawyer how someone who has experienced abuse can approach this as safely as possible, and with the best prospect of emerging in a decent financial position.

She offers a lot of practical advice on the divorce process, and how to get through it when you have little cash to spare.

The good news is that you might be eligible for legal aid, depending on your financial situation.

Regarding your husband's financial abuse, we also asked a specialist in this area to explain how you might extricate yourself from the loans and other burdens he has put you under.

She reiterates that you might be able to get legal aid for your divorce, and offers plenty of details of organisations that will help you during this very difficult period, so you won't have to struggle on through this alone.

We wish you all the best, and hope you and your daughter soon achieve a free and much brighter future.

Fiona Wood, partner at McAlister Family Law, replies: I am sorry to hear how badly you have been treated by your husband. There is no excuse for domestic abuse.

If this is continuing you need to consider getting a domestic violence injunction, which a solicitor can help you with.

A domestic violence injunction is a civil remedy. However, it usually has a power of arrest attached to it, which means that if your husband breaches the injunction he can be arrested.

It is very important that you and your daughter feel safe.

With regard to the difficult financial position that you find yourself in, the best way to resolve this is through the financial claims that you can make within divorce proceedings.

You will first need to issue divorce proceedings. You can do this yourself through the Government website here or a solicitor can help you.

Fiona Wood: Legal aid is still available where there has been domestic abuse, if you qualify for it from a financial perspective

Given your husband's behaviour towards you I think that you are likely to need to issue court proceedings regarding the financial aspects of your divorce, as he seems unlikely to engage in sensible negotiations through solicitors.

Whilst mediation can be a very good forum for divorcing couples to reach a financial settlement, it is not suitable where there has been domestic abuse and victims of domestic abuse are exempt from attending mediation before issuing court proceedings.

You should be aware that legal aid may be available to you to deal with the financial court proceedings, as it is still available where there has been domestic abuse, if you qualify for it from a financial perspective.

Within the court process you will both have to provide full details of your financial circumstances and documentation evidencing this.

The judge will take into account all the assets and liabilities that you both have, including the debts that you have as a result of your husband's behaviour and any savings and other assets that he has.

Once all this information is provided, if you cannot reach a financial agreement, a judge will have to decide what a fair financial settlement is, taking into account both your and your husband's financial needs.

Need is usually having somewhere to live and money to live on.

The fact that you are the main carer of your daughter means that your housing needs will be considered the most important by the judge.

The debts that you have will have to be taken into account within the settlement. You should be aware that the court can order the sale of your house and decide how much of the net proceeds of sale you each receive.

The tenant will have to be given notice in this scenario.

Whilst the judge is unlikely to undertake a calculation of all the money that you have spent or given to your husband whilst you have been together, it may be possible for you to raise the issue of your husband's financial conduct as a specific legal issue within the court proceedings.

If you are successful in raising this, you may receive a greater financial settlement. This is something that you will have to take expert legal advice upon.

Dealing with the finances through the court is not a quick process, but there are things that you can do to alleviate your current financial position.

How do you find a lawyer? The Law Society has a search tool which allows you to find solicitors specialising in family and divorce issues, writes This is Money. There is a filter that allows you to narrow your search to firms that take cases funded by legal aid. The domestic abuse and other organisations linked to below might also help you find a suitable lawyer.

With regard to your house, as this is a jointly owned property, you are entitled to half of the rent.

The mortgage will need to be paid, but you should receive half of what is left over after it has been paid. If there is a letting agent you should speak to them about this.

If there is not you can speak to the tenant as you are one of the landlords.

You do not give any details of your husband's financial circumstances. You say that you have approached the Child Maintenance Service, but he is not paying anything.

I assume that your husband has income (he is receiving the rent at least), or you would not have applied to the Child Maintenance Service.

If he has been assessed to pay child maintenance, but is refusing to pay, the Child Maintenance Service has various powers to enforce payment, so you must persist with them.

If your husband has income but is presenting a lower income than his true position, it may be worth making an application for interim maintenance, within the financial court proceedings, which is asking for maintenance for you until a financial settlement is reached.

Whether such an application will be successful is only likely to become clear once he has provided his financial information. You must also make sure that you claim all benefits that you are entitled to.

It is important that you take advice from an expert family law solicitor upon the likely outcome of making an application to court regarding finances.

If you are able to provide them with details of your circumstances, they should be able to give you a reasonable idea of the likely settlement you will receive.

They should also be able to discuss with you what options are available to you regarding funding your legal fees, including whether you qualify for legal aid.

Dr Nicola Sharp-Jeffs OBE, founder and chief executive of the charity Surviving Economic Abuse, replies: We're very sorry to hear of your situation.

Nicola Sharp-Jeffs: One in five UK adults have experienced economic abuse from a current or former partner

One in five UK adults have experienced economic abuse from a current or former partner but there is help available.

To address the coerced debt, we recommend contacting the Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse, which is run in partnership by Surviving Economic Abuse and Money Advice Plus (01323 635 987. MonFri, 9am1pm & 2pm5pm) to explore if it can be reduced or written off.

Additionally, SEA have extensive 'self-help' resources to learn more about coerced debt and how to challenge it. These can be found here.

Ultimately, it will be a case of approaching the lender to let them know that this loan was not your choice and exploring options.

You mention that your ex-partner took money from you via bank transfers. Again, you can speak to the lender about how you were coerced into making these transfers.

In 2018, a large number of bank and building societies signed up to the UK Finance Code of Practice on Financial Abuse, which sets out how lenders should respond to victim-survivors of financial abuse.

It sounds like your ex-partner is still paying the mortgage, and keeping the profit from renting the property out.

As the property is jointly owned, the divorce and financial proceedings will determine what happens to the property, for example how the equity will be split.

If your ex-partner did stop paying, you would be liable to pay for the mortgage.

Dealing with marital assets is a family law issue so it would be advisable to contact a family law firm for advice.

Divorce and financial arrangements are 'within scope' of legal aid when there is domestic abuse.

Because you have an interest in a property, it isn't clear whether or not you will be eligible for legal aid based on the means test, but you can contact a local family law firm that has been awarded a legal aid contract who can assess your eligibility.

A service like Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors could help with that.

In terms of your current property, you suggest you're living in a property which is leased under your ex-partner's name.

In this instance, we recommend you should seek specialist housing advice from Shelter around managing this situation.

Furthermore, as you are living in a property you have no legal control of and he will have legal access to, we recommend contacting a domestic abuse charity to discuss your and your daughter's safety, especially if you are about to take action.

Both Refuge and Women's Aid can provide help.

Being left to pay off coerced debt or having economic resources restricted, sabotaged or exploited by a partner after leaving is post-separation abuse, utilised by an abuser to create economic instability and prevent a survivor from rebuilding their life safely and independently.

SEA has called for an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill to recognise this. As it stands, the Serious Crime Act 2015 offers no protection for women in this position.

Instead, the current offence of controlling or coercive behaviour only covers situations where people are either a) in an intimate relationship with each other or b) living together and are either family members or have previously been in an intimate relationship with each other.

We are working to ensure all victim-survivors of economic abuse receive the support and protection they deserve.

If you think you might be experiencing economic abuse, phone the police in the first instance. You can also contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline for support on 0808 2000 247.

Find more information and resources to support someone experiencing economic abuse here.
Lima: Peruvian doctors have begun a hunger strike as a protest against the substandard working conditions that medical workers say they have faced in fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

The protest in Peru's capital Lima by at least four doctors, is the latest action by healthcare workers asking the government to improve their work environment. Medical personnel have been protesting for a week just as a second wave of coronavirus cases is hitting the country.

We are concerned about the abandonment of our doctors, the lack of good working conditions, said Dr Teodoro Quinones, who is secretary-general of the union representing public hospital doctors.

There is still a lack of oxygen. There is still a lack of medicines. The economic commitments that the government had offered have not been fulfilled, and nothing happens here."
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Netajis birth anniversary: PM Modi to address Parakram Diwas in Kolkata on June 23

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata to address the 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations on 23rd January, 2021, to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary year of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Prime Minister will also visit Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar, Assam to distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas/allotment certificates.

PM in West Bengal:

Prime Minister will preside over the inaugural function of the 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. In order to honour and remember Netaji's indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation, Government of India has decided to celebrate his birthday on 23rd January every year as 'Parakram Diwas' to inspire people of the country, especially the youth, to act with fortitude in the face of adversity as Netaji did, and to infuse in them a spirit of patriotic fervour.

A permanent exhibition and a Projection Mapping Show on Netaji will be inaugurated on the occasion. A commemorative coin and postage stamp will also be released by the Prime Minister. A cultural programme "Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot", based on the theme of Netaji, will also be held.

Before this event, Prime Minister will visit the National Library, Kolkata, where an International Conference "Re-visiting the legacy of Netaji Subhas in the 21st century" and an Artists' Camp are being organized. Prime Minister will interact with the artists and conference participants.

Birthday of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose to be celebrated as 'Parakram Diwas every year

PM in Assam:

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister will distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas/allotment certificates in Sivasagar, Assam. Taking into account an urgent need to protect the land rights of indigenous people of the State, Government of Assam came out with a comprehensive new Land Policy with a renewed emphasis on protecting the land rights of the indigenous people.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

The issuance of patta/allotment certificates for indigenous people of Assam has been given highest priority in order to instil a sense of security amongst them. Assam had 5.75 lakh landless families in 2016. The present Government has distributed 2.28 lakhs land pattas/allotment certificates since May 2016. The ceremony on 23rd January marks the next step in this process.
Source: Reuters

OPEC+ compliance with oil production cuts in December reached 99 percent, two sources from the producer group told Reuters on Thursday.

The figure is slightly below November's 101 percent.

Technical and ministerial committee meetings of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia are scheduled to take place in early February.

The final compliance figure could change slightly before then, one of the sources said.


In his inaugural speech Wednesday, President Joe Biden noted the various factions at odds with one another in America, including a rural and urban divide.

Lawmakers and residents in rural America know one of the widest divisions is digital, and calls to fix slow or nonexistent internet service there have almost universal support among elected officials.

The pandemic has graphically exposed the shortcomings of high-speed internet in rural Pennsylvania, said State Sen. Gene Yaw, chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. The issue is not controversial, nonpartisan, and needed.

Pennsylvania State University researchers found certain areas of the state have internet speeds far below the Federal Communications Commissions 25 megabits-per-second benchmark for high speed. Wyoming and Sullivan Counties are among the worst in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Romania has better connectivity than we do and they had no connectivity 20 years ago, said Sascha Meinrath, the Palmer Chair in Telecommunications at Penn State.

Meinrath consulted with Bidens team about the issue, as he did for former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Theres no honeymoon on this, he said. Well know in 30 to 60 days whether the Biden team will take action. The ideas are all there. They just need to be put into action.

Bidens plan for rural America, according to his election website, calls for bringing 5G wireless coverage to every American and investing $20 billion in rural broadband infrastructure.

Rural Americans are over 10 times more likely than urban residents to lack quality broadband access, Bidens site said.

Meinrath said the first step for the Biden administration should be an accurate assessment of internet speeds nationwide. He and others believe FCC estimations of speed are inaccurate and skew higher than they really are.

 READ MORE: Internet speeds were awful, so these rural Pennsylvanians put up their own wireless tower

Gigi Sohn, a distinguished fellow at Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy, said the FCC has given out billions of dollars to service providers over the years that claim they will supply high-speed internet to rural areas. Those claims, Sohn said, often fall flat, and she believes the government must require results.

Its a problem that can be solved with money, yes, but it will also take coordination and oversight, Sohn said.

In some parts of the country, including central Pennsylvania, some residents have grown sick of waiting and built their own wireless network.

Nothing highlighted the need for broadband quite like the COVID-19 pandemic, which kept workers and students at home, and businesses shuttered. Donna Iannone, a commissioner in Sullivan County, said many children there are unable to take part in virtual learning. The same goes for patients, she said, who have been urged to use telemedicine.

The pandemic has finally shown that internet is infrastructure, Iannone said. Its as important as electricity or telephones. Well have to wait and see if they finally treat it that way.
Local News, Business & Finance

By Long Island Published: January 21 2021

The following is an op-ed from Nassau County Legislator Arnold W. Drucker (D  Plainview) related to Syossets proposed last-mile warehouse facility in Syosset

Amazons proposal to build a last-mile delivery warehouse in Syosset has generated much concern from residents. Although there are quality-of-life concerns associated with this project, such as noise and traffic, I must acknowledge their preliminary efforts to mitigate community impacts in ways previous applicants have not.

However, I cannot at this time support their application to receive Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) from the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency for this project  tax breaks for a trillion-dollar corporation that would ultimately be funded by Nassau taxpayers amidst an economic downturn and the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a lifelong resident of this community, I have witnessed firsthand that Syosset Park Lots 251 and 252 (305 Robbins Lane, Syosset) have remained blighted and vacant for decades. To be clear, I fully support the redevelopment of this site. Accordingly, I expect that any plans to develop the site must include a comprehensive environmental analysis and appropriate plan for remediating threats to land, water, and air quality. The health and safety of our residents remains my top priority and must remain the top priority of all who possess the authority to render such decisions affecting the future of this site.

However, as a Nassau County Legislator, it is also my fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of the residents who have placed their confidence in me. Granting a tax break to a company that reported an income of $11.59 billion in 2019 and whose CEO and founder, Jeff Bezos, has been identified in published reports as one of the worlds wealthiest people, with a net worth of $182 billion, is simply unfathomable. To do so while hardworking Nassau County residents and small business owners struggle to pay property taxes, sales taxes, and mortgages amid an economically devastating pandemic is unconscionable.

Perhaps more startling is the impact of Amazon facilities on local wages. As reported by Bloomberg, where Amazon sets up shop, warehouses wages tend to fall. In 68 counties where Amazon has opened one of its largest facilities, average industry compensation slips by more than six percent during the facilitys first two years, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and wages take five years to receiver to pre-Amazon levels. This trend that will have harmful, long-term consequences for Nassau County families because it will make it implausible for Amazons Syosset employees to become Nassau County homeowners, driving property tax revenues elsewhere.

Furthermore, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli recently announced that the NYS Common Retirement Fund is seeking an independent audit to review and examine the impact of these and other company practices upon civil rights, equity, and inclusion. Concerns regarding COVID-19 protocols and allegations of discrimination abound at many Amazon facilities.

There is no question that development is a critical component of much-needed growth and is vital to stimulating our local economy. However, we must be discerning in its use of taxpayer dollars when seeking to cultivate development, and I do not believe Amazons application to build a warehouse in our community rises to the level of deserving financial incentives funded by Nassau County taxpayers.

Arnold W. Drucker, of Plainview, was first elected to the Nassau County Legislature in 2016. He represents the 16th Legislative District in the Nassau County Legislature.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  In recent years, spending the money allocated by New Mexico lawmakers for infrastructure projects around the state has proved to be a vexing challenge.

In what would be a change, a key legislative budget panel is backing the idea of imposing spending deadlines on so-called capital outlay projects  at least for those projects funded by general fund dollars.

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The spending requirements would be only for future years  so they would not affect already-approved projects  and would be included as language within the annual capital outlay bill.

Rep. Patricia Lundstrom, D-Gallup, chairwoman of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, said she supports the change and expressed concern over the large amounts of unspent capital outlay dollars.

I think we have to get these projects moved  its ridiculous, Lundstrom told an LFC meeting this week. Theres no excuse for those projects that are 5 years old.

As of November, about $1.4 billion in funding for 2,644 different New Mexico capital outlay projects remained unspent, with 85% of those funds having been appropriated in the 2019 or 2020 legislative sessions, according to the Legislative Finance Committee.

But theres also unspent infrastructure dollars from previous years, including $19.7 million from the 2016 session.

In all, general fund dollars make up roughly 47% of the unspent funds, with bonds backed by future severance tax revenue making up most of the remainder.

Among the projects flagged by the LFC for having large unspent balances are remediation of a Carlsbad brine well and construction of a new museum of contemporary art in Santa Fe.

LFC Deputy Director Charles Sallee described the spending requirements that would mandate that at least 50% of approved funding be obligated within two years of being appropriated  and a smaller amount after the first year  as a use it or lose it approach.

The approach could place more of an onus on local governments to get projects moving  and on lawmakers to fund realistic projects.

It doesnt do the economy any good for it to be sitting in the treasury, Sallee said.

He also said a big state revenue surplus in recent years generated largely by a boom in oil production allowed for more general fund dollars to be targeted at infrastructure projects.

However, some lawmakers expressed concern the proposed spending deadlines could be problematic for lawmakers in rural areas that tend to spread out their annual infrastructure funding over multiple projects.

Its going to end up hurting rural New Mexico more than urban New Mexico, said Rep. Harry Garcia, D-Grants.

Other lawmakers pointed out that some of the delays in spending capital outlay funds could occur at the state level, where infrastructure projects are overseen, and not just at the local government level.

In addition to inefficiency concerns, New Mexicos capital outlay system for funding improvements to roads, bridges, dams and water systems has also come under scrutiny in recent years for its secrecy.

But attempts to overhaul the system, which allows each lawmaker to appropriate a designated amount of money for infrastructure projects, have been unsuccessful at the Roundhouse.

A capital outlay bill for the 60-day session that began Tuesday has not been filed. The annual infrastructure bills are typically not approved until the sessions final days.
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Canadian Prime Minister will be the first foreign leader to receive a call from newly sworn-in US President Joe Biden, announced the White House on Wednesday (local time).

The call will likely take place on Friday to establish a rapport and discuss the Biden administration's plans to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would transport fuel from Canada's oil sands to Nebraska, informed White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki while holding the Biden administration's first press briefing.

"His first foreign leader call would be on Friday with I expect they will certainly discuss the important relationship with Canada and his decision of Keystone XL pipeline," she said.

"His early calls will be with partners and allies," Psaki said.

President and Vice President Kamala Harris have an all-female White House senior communications team.

Psaki was also a State Department spokesperson during the Obama administration and previously served as deputy White House communications director and deputy White House press secretary.

Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that revokes a key permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, hours after taking office as the 46th commander-in-chief.

Canadian Prime Minister said he is "disappointed" to see Biden sign an executive order revoking the Keystone XL oil pipeline's permit.

"Earlier today, was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States of America. While we welcome the President's commitment to fight climate change, we are disappointed but acknowledge the President's decision to fulfill his election campaign promise on Keystone XL," Trudeau said in a statement.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Alexis Velasquez, a former member of the Latin Kings, pleaded guilty to racketeering charges on Wednesday in a Boston federal court.

Court records and federal authorities said Velasquez tried to kill a rival gang member using poisoned narcotics in 2019 and attacked a rival gang member in prison in 2010.

U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lellings office stated the 32-year-old Velasquez, also known as, King Booboo, is a former member of the Boston-based Morton Street Bricks (MSB) Chapter of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation. Named after the Morton Street housing project in Boston, the MSB Chapter of the Latin Kings included approximately about six members.

Velasquez pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy.

The MSB Chapter reports to the Massachusetts State Leadership of the Latin Kings, providing information, structure, funds and other resources to further the Latin Kings goals and directives in the state.

Velasquez is one of the 47 people in Massachusetts arrested on Dec. 5, 2019, after a federal grand jury issued indictments alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against members and associates of the gang. Across the Northeast, a total of 62 members were arrested, according to Department of Justice officials.

Under the code name Operation Throne Down, the 2019 arrests in the northeast was through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF is a partnership between federal, state and municipal law enforcement agencies. Investigators seized a submachine gun, a sawed-off shotgun, an AR-15 rifle and a hot pink bolt action rifle in the case. Law enforcement officers also seized $38,000 in cash, six cars, six motorcycles, three jet skis, an ATV and various drugs.

U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2021.

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It is collaborating with Hippo Technologies, whose product solutions include hands-free, voice-activated Vuzix Smart Glasses and other head-worn devices

( ) (FRA:V7XN) announced Thursday it is collaborating with virtual-care company Hippo Technologies Inc to connect global surgeons and healthcare providers with vital medical networks and virtual care services with the Vuzix M400 and M4000 Smart Glasses.

Vuzix said Hippo Virtual Care is an interoperable platform connecting enterprise systems, databases, Internet of Things (IOT) devices, wearables and technologies together to bridge the gap between physical care and virtual care.

Its product solutions include hands-free, voice-activated Vuzix Smart Glasses and other head-worn devices along with HIPAA and GDPR-compliant software that allows clinicians to communicate and video-conference in real-time. Remote colleagues and students can search medical records, and automatically access files and imaging during patient examinations, procedures, consultations, and rounding.

"Hippo Virtual Care unlocks a new paradigm of mobile computing  using hands-free and voice-centric smart glasses offerings that fit the evolution taking place in healthcare and deliver on the promise of virtual care regardless of distance, time and training," Brian Hamilton, president and co-founder of Hippo Technologies, said in a statement. "We look forward to the continued collaboration and partnership with Vuzix."

Vuzix CEO Paul Travers added: "We are very pleased to expand our partner's healthcare solutions portfolio and welcome Hippo Technologies Inc, as a Vuzix Smart Glasses platform partner to support their network of healthcare professionals to deliver medical and surgical services through the use of Vuzix Smart Glasses.

New York-based Vuziz noted that Hippo Technologies was featured recently in a Forbes article entitled, 'Doctors Use Smart Glass Technology to Reach Refugee Camps at Jordan-Syria Border Amid Pandemic'.

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Former President George W. Bush, visiting Washington to attend President Bidens inauguration on Wednesday, privately told Representative James E. Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina, that the congressman was the savior for helping Mr. Biden secure the Democratic nomination and defeat President Donald J. Trump.

George Bush said to me today, he said, You know, youre the savior, because if you had not nominated Joe Biden, we would not be having this transfer of power today, Mr. Clyburn told reporters on a call after the swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday. Mr. Clyburns endorsement of Mr. Biden in the Democratic primary in South Carolina in February was credited with rescuing a campaign that had faltered badly in Iowa and New Hampshire.

He said to me that Joe Biden was the only one who could have defeated the incumbent president, said Mr. Clyburn, who chatted with Mr. Bush on the inaugural platform before the ceremony and took a selfie with the former president.

Mr. Bushs office did not dispute the comment but characterized it more as simple political analysis, not a statement of gratitude to Mr. Clyburn for saving the country from another term of Mr. Trump in the White House.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) :Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday launched the online system for issuance of letters of administration and succession certificates within 15-day period, saying the step would greatly facilitate the local citizens and overseas Pakistanis.

Addressing the launch ceremony here, the prime minister said the main objective of digitalization of inheritance system was to facilitate the general public and provide them justice without any inordinate delay.

The letters of administration and succession certificates, which earlier took around two to seven years to issue, will now take two weeks.

Imran Khan said the government considered the law reforms crucial in ensuring justice through people-friendly legislation.

He regretted that delay in matters relating to inheritance of property caused utmost grievances to the heirs, particularly among the families dispersed abroad.

Imran Khan said the overall system that denied the spirit of facilitation for general public in fact encouraged criminal activities in shape of bribery or illegal occupation of property.

"When crime pays, crime multiplies." Besides reforms in the Civil Procedure Courts, he said, the government would bring improvement in the Criminal Justice System as well.

For the purpose, all the stakeholders, including judiciary and lawyers would be taken on board, he addded.

The prime minister said the main goal of his government was to emulate the welfare State of Madina, where revenues and wealth were diverted towards uplift and facilitation of the underprivileged.

He lauded Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Farogh Nasim and his team for materializing the difficult task meant to facilitate the common man.

Dr Farogh Nasim said the Law Ministry had devised a mechanism to establish Succession Facilitation Units in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for the issuance of Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates.

He said the certificates would be issued within 15 days of initiation of application by the legal heirs of the deceased.
Deadline: Recruitment firm Indeed told staff they had be back working in Ireland by January 1. Photo: Google StreetView

Staff at some of the countrys biggest technology employers have been ordered back to Ireland and told working from home must be within the country.

Some staff say its left them under pressure to travel and find accommodation during one of the worst periods of the pandemic and even fearing for their jobs.

One big Dublin employer, global jobs platform Indeed, confirmed it told Irish based employees they needed to return here by January 1, but said it will be flexible where a return is delayed as a result of the pandemic or health concerns.

The dramatic increase in jobs that can be done remotely since the start of the pandemic has kicked off a surge in so-called digital nomads  tech workers relocating from expensive cities like Dublin, London or San Francisco to cheaper places often with lifestyle benefits.

Read More

Traditionally peripheral countries like Greece and Barbados have even offered incentives in an effort to boost their tax bases by bringing in high-paid workers. In many cases, overseas workers returned to their home country for some or all of the duration of the crisis.

However, while self-employed or contract workers can work from anywhere, global tax planning means that is not the reality for many employees.

If a company was to have staff permanently based in different countries that could trigger it being found to have a taxable presence in each.

Economist Seamus Coffey of UCC says corporate tax rules mean multinationals have little choice but to keep employees within the jurisdiction where the profits from their work is taxed.

There is no doubt tax is a significant factor. Companies pay tax on the basis of where they have operations. If a company was to have staff permanently based in different countries that could trigger it being found to have a taxable presence in each, he said.

That is especially true if it involved staff who close big deals or create valuable intellectual property. In theory, firms could be forced to make tax returns in any place employees were working, including calculating the relevant profits to assign each worker.

In February last year, Indeeds Dublin offices with more than 1,000 staff became the first big employer here to tell all of its staff to work from home to prevent a possible Covid-19 outbreak, setting a template that was followed within weeks by millions of workers.

Its Irish-based employees come from dozens of countries and some had returned home or gone elsewhere for some of the last 11 months.

The company confirmed to the Irish Independent that all staff continue to work remotely, but should be doing so within Ireland unless explicitly cleared to move abroad.

Employees are able to live anywhere within their country of hire. Employees who wish to move to another country will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In relation to employees who returned to their home country during the Covid crisis, they were asked to return to their country of hire by January 1, the company said.

Where that hasn't been possible due to the public health situation, we are working with those employees on a case-by-case basis.

Google, another technology giant and a near neighbour of Indeed in Dublins usually buzzing Grand Canal Docks area, has told employees that they can continue to work from home until September 2021, but that should be within Ireland for employees of its Irish arm.

Google is understood to see some scope for flexibility in light of the exceptional nature of the current crisis and the need of some Google staff to get back to their home country to be with partners, family or for other practical reasons.
Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701)

Today

Cloudy skies with periods of rain this afternoon. High 66F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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Rain likely. Low 48F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch.
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Being a young boy during the presidency of John F. Kennedy, I remember reading his book Profiles in Courage, about eight senators who defied the opinions of their party and constituents to do what they felt was right even knowing they would suffer severe criticism and popularity because of their actions.

Today, more than ever, we need 17 Republican U.S. senators who have the courage to do the same thing.

I find it amazing that the person who occupied the highest political office in the land, former President Donald Trump, after ordering followers to storm the Capitol to deny the democratic election of Joe Biden, may never be held accountable by members of his party in the Senate. The chaos resulted in the death of five people, including Capital Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

Statements such as that convicting the impeached Trump will divide our country further or move on from here are heard from a number of Republican senators. If a Democratic Party president did what Trump did, would they have the same attitude? Of course, the answer is no.

If we are to truly move on and try to unite our country, we must hold people accountable for breaking the law and trying to destroy democratic norms and values. The only way to truly heal this country is to do stand up for American democracy and vote to convict the man who ordered the attack on our capital.

Perhaps my grandchild will soon be able to read a book called Profiles in Courage, 2021.

Dennis C. Miller, Rockaway

Joe Biden will not be my president

As Joe Bidens presidency begins, he has asked us to unite. I will follow a variation of the golden rule: Do unto others as they have done unto you.

The past four years saw a Russian collusion investigation partly based on unsubstantiated information in a dossier paid for by Hillary Clintons campaign, and a partisan impeachment of Donald Trump.

Democrats and the media denied and condemned Trump for all actions taken on behalf of American workers, including tax cuts, low unemployment in all demographics and protecting our national security.

Democrats politicized the COVID-19 virus, denying Trumps accomplishments including ventilators, hydroxychloroquine, remdesivir and a creation of a vaccine in record time.

Democrats and the media refused to acknowledge Trumps accomplishments toward Middle East peace, his transfer of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, and the removal of ISIS in some areas. Meanwhile, Trump was twice nominated for the Nobel peace prize.

One does not unite with the enemy. We defeat the enemy. Joe Biden is not my president!

David DiBello, Lakewood

School evacuation over a plate a concern

The New Jersey Health Physics Society is composed of radiation protection professionals who work in diverse areas, such as medicine, industry, academia and government.

Our members read with interest the recent article about a student who brought a piece of Fiestaware dinnerware (also known as uranium glass) to Haddon Township High School for a school project.

Fiestaware is well known in the health physics community for its radioactive properties. It is used as a teaching tool for students, medical residents and even Scouts working on a Nuclear Science Merit Badge. We were concerned to read that the school was evacuated due to a potential biohazard.

While caution is certainly a by-word of our times, the public should remember that there are radiation protection specialists who can provide advice in such circumstances.

Ira Garelick, President, N.J. Health Physics Society, Livingston

Photo ID to tour, but not to vote?

So, under the Joe Biden regime, visitors to the Capitol will have to be vetted. Youll need photo ID to prove your identity. But, you still wont need photo ID to vote in most places.

Anyone see anything wrong with this picture?

Walter Goldeski, East Brunswick

Wrong is wrong, every time

I love America and all its people. I am saddened and heartbroken by the violence Ive seen in our country.

One side tries to justify their actions and tell us the other side is wrong. There is no justification for violence or breaking the law. Wrong is wrong every time, all the time.

If we as Americans dont see this, were finished as a country. America is only as good or as bad as the people we are.

James J. Keene, Newark

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SEATTLE  Amazon is offering its colossal operations network and advanced technologies to assist President Joe Biden in his vow to get 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations to Americans in his first 100 days in office.

We are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist your administrations vaccination efforts, wrote the CEO of Amazons Worldwide Consumer division, Dave Clark, in a letter to Biden. Our scale allows us to make a meaningful impact immediately in the fight against COVID-19, and we stand ready to assist you in this effort.

Amazon said that it has already arranged a licensed third-party occupational health care provider to give vaccines on-site at its facilities for its employees when they become available.

Amazon has more than 800,000 employees in the United States, Clark wrote, most of whom essential workers who cannot work from home and should be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Biden will sign 10 pandemic-related executive orders on Thursday, his second day in office, but the administration says efforts to supercharge the rollout of vaccines have been hampered by lack of cooperation from the Trump administration during the transition. They say they dont have a complete understanding of the previous administrations actions on vaccine distribution.

Biden is also depending on Congress to provide $1.9 trillion for economic relief and COVID-19 response. There are a litany of complaints from states that say they are not getting enough vaccine even as they are being asked to vaccinate a broader swath of Americans.

According to data through January 20 from Johns Hopkins University, the seven-day rolling average for daily new deaths in the U.S. rose over the past two weeks from 2,677.3 on January 6 to 3,054.1 on Wednesday. More than 400,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19.

 READ MORE: Biden issuing pandemic plan that aims to expand access to testing and vaccines, reopen schools
Scott Morrison Declares HomeBuilder Stimulus Package a Success

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared the success of the federal governments stimulus package to kick start the building industry which ground to a halt after Australia implemented measures against the spread of the CCP virus last year.

It comes after the latest Treasury figures show that demand for the HomeBuilder program has exceeded estimations.

HomeBuilder invites Australians to apply for grants to support them to build a house or renovating an existing home. It has received over 30,000 more applications than the original 27,000 forecasted by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

This program has been really effective, Morrison told 2GB on Wednesday. This has more than doubled our expectations for that program, and its set residential building up for the next two years.

Hailed by the federal government as a key driver for Australias economic recovery, the figures released by Treasury on Wednesday show that as of the end of 2020, over 75,000 households had applied for the $25,000 HomeBuilder cash grant with 80 percent of applications being for new home builds.

A builder works on a house under construction amongst an established suburb August 2, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

Housing Minister Michael Sukkar told Sky News on Wednesday that the government was pleasantly surprised by the quick uptake.

This is a demand-driven program, and we always were hoping that it could be as big as possible because new homes that are being built just means new jobs, from pouring the slab all the way up, Sukkar said. So, we were always very hopeful that it would be as big as possible.

The minister said the programs effects were being felt not just in the construction sector, but also had a flow-on effect to the manufacturing industry who make household fittingsike glass, bricks, tileand the timber industry which supplies the frames and the trusses.

It has also boosted the level of first home buyers to its highest peak in over a decade.

Its a win-win, its supporting jobs, its helping people get into their new homes, and the fact that the scheme has ended up being so big just means that those benefits have been spread much more far and wide than we originally thought, Sukkar said.

Originally scheduled to finish in December last year, the Morrison government extended the program to March 31 due to increasing interest but the cash grant was reduced to $15,000.

The government also raised the cap on new builds in New South Wales and Victoria to $950,000 and $850,000, respectively. Simultaneously, the construction commencement deadline was extended from three months to six months for all eligible contracts signed on or after June 4, 2020.
Lower House Deputy Speaker, Liberal Laurentiu Leoreanu, states today in a press release that the authorities are currently faced with two major challenges: the anti-vaccination fake news campaign and the Romanians' distrust in the government's ability to manage the vaccination process.

"From the interaction with the people in my constituency and from the comments read on social networks, I noticed that there is still a significant number of Romanians who don't want to be vaccinated. We are in an atypical context and therefore I think that the entire political class must close ranks in pursuit of a single goal: put the political battle aside and work to convince every Romanian that vaccination is the only solution for us to return to a normal life and to revive the economy. In the immediate future we want to curb the spread of the virus so that students and preschoolers can resume activities in classrooms," the Neamt County deputy declared.

Leoreanu adds that it is essential that the HoReCa sector recovers and indoor activities resume.

"Studies have already proven that the Pfizer vaccine stops the transmission of the virus. I am convinced that increasingly more Romanians who may still have reservations will be able to learn from friends or acquaintances who received the jab that vaccination is safe and will protect them from contracting the virus," Leoreanu said.

"Romania has already contracted 12.8 million doses of Pfizer vaccine and 3.4 million doses of Moderna vaccine. Prime Minister Citu has requested from the European Commission an additional 8 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine," Laurentiu Leoreanu said.

"The demand is currently much higher than the amount received from the European Union. That is why many cannot yet be listed for an appointment. As soon as the vaccines from the European Union arrive, they will be delivered and the number of vaccination centers will increase concomitantly so that more vaccines can be administered," explained the Lower House Deputy Speaker.

Laurentiu Leoreanu also said that by the end of September 10.4 million Romanians - ie 70 percent of the 15 million who need to be vaccinated - will be fully immunized with both doses of vaccine.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, January 20th, 2021, the Central Police dispatch received a call from a resident living alongside the Simpson-Bay Lagoon on the Airport Road about a safe that was found in the Lagoon.

Due to the difficult location of the safe in the Lagoon, the Coast Guard was notified to assist police in retrieving it. After some struggle, the police patrol and one of the neighbors managed to get the safe out of the water.

On closer inspection, the police patrol noticed that the back of the safe had been cut open with a grinder and the contents removed.

The police hereby request persons from whom this safe may have been stolen to contact the police station or file a complaint at the Detective Department.

The Detective Department can be reached by calling +1 721 542 22 22 ext. 204 or 205. Persons can also use the anonymous tip-line by dialing 9300 or send a message to our Facebook page (Police Force of Sint Maarten - Korps Politie Sint Maarten).

KPSM Press Release.
The research ended this weekend with an emergency meeting of the data safety and monitoring board, an independent group monitoring the incoming results. The data were strong and convincing enough to call a halt to the placebos.

My jaw dropped when I saw the table of outcomes, said Dr. Myron Cohen, a professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a principal investigator who helped design and implement the study.

Although the study has ended, Dr. Daniel Skovronsky, Eli Lillys chief scientific officer, said the company would continue to rush to nursing homes in its study network when an outbreak is detected. Everyone will get the drug, he said.

Experts who were not part of the study were enthusiastic, but emphasized that they had not yet seen complete data. I see only positives here, said Dr. Ofer Levy, director of the precision vaccine program at Boston Childrens Hospital. This is a win.

Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, also was encouraged.

The mortality effect is remarkable, she said, adding that the drug should be used more widely to prevent and treat Covid-19, particularly in populations such as nursing home residents, who have high mortality and may have suboptimal responses to vaccines.

Vaccines, of course, also protect people from infection with the virus, and nursing home staff and residents were among the first group prioritized for the shots. But supplies are inadequate, and many nursing home workers, afraid of the vaccines, have declined to get them.
This is the moment a drug dealer attempted to flee a prosecutor's office while his arrest was being processed, before falling from a third floor stairway and landing on a security guard's desk.

The suspect, whose name was withheld by Medellin authorities, had been apprehended on January 11 for allegedly violating the terms of his house arrest in relations to a previous arrest for drug dealing, according to Colombian newspaper El Colombiano.

Arresting officers had just removed the handcuffs from the individual and were waiting to take his fingerprints when he made a dash for the exit of the Medellin prosecutor's office bunker, surveillance video shows.

The surveillance camera at a prosecutor's office in Medellin, Colombia, shows a drug dealer awaiting to have his fingerprints taken before he decided to try to escape on January 11. The suspect, who had been arrested for violating the terms of his home confinement, attempted to run out the facility but somehow tripped on a step in the third floor and fell from the stairway, crashing into a desk and nearly colliding with a security guard

As he ran, the man tripped and went flying through the open stairway guard rail, landing on his butt on top of a desk, destroying a laptop and narrowly avoiding a potential deadly collision with a security agent stationed at the desk.

The shocked worker was knocked off the chair and fell on top of the fleeing suspect.

Still image of the surveillance video that shows the moment a drug dealer crashes into a desk after he fell from a third floor stairway in a failed attempt to escape from the prosecutor's office in Medellin, Colombia, on January 11

A security guard and cops tend to the drug dealers moments after he came crashing down after following from a third floor stairway at a prosecutor's office in Medellin. The man remains in custody

Authorities chase after the drug dealers moments as he tried to escape from the Medellin, Colombia, prosecutor's office before he tripped on a step and fell from a third floor stairway

Video shows the security officer checking the suspect's wellbeing as other officers rush over.

Colonel Daniel Mazo, of the Valle de Aburra Metropolitan Police, said the suspect was rushed to a local hospital and received medical attention. Mazo did not report the extent of the man's injuries.

The suspect, who remains in custody, has three prior charges for theft and was also charged for attempting to escape from the authorities.
HALIFAX, NS / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / Silver Tiger Metals Inc. (TSXV:SLVR)(OTCQX:SLVTF) ("Silver Tiger" or the "Corporation") has made a new discovery of high-grade silver and gold mineralization including 3.0 meters of 1,310 g/t AgEq on the newly discovered Benjamin Vein approximately 900 meters north of the historic El Tigre mine workings.

Silver Tiger is pleased to provide drill results for its first three drill holes on Section 6125N testing the newly discovered Benjamin Vein (see attached Plan Map of El Tigre Veins and Drill Holes). Highlights from these three holes are listed below:

? Hole ET-20-193: 3.0 meters grading 1,310.1 g/t AgEq from 116.5 meters to 119.5 meters, consisting of 1,303.2 g/t Ag and 0.09 g/t Au, within 5.5 meters grading 732 g/t AgEq, consisting of 726.1 g/t Ag and 0.08 g/t Au

? Hole ET-20-195: 0.5 meters grading 634.0 g/t AgEq from 170.5 meters to 171.0 meters consisting of 625.0 g/t Ag and 0.12 g/t Au

? Hole ET-20-189: 0.5 meters grading 483.9 g/t AgEq from 77.5 meters to 78.0 meters consisting of 474.0 g/t Ag and 0.13 g/t Au

See attached El Tigre Cross Section 6125N.

The silver equivalent ratios are based on a silver to gold price ratio of 75:1 (Ag:Au).

Glenn Jessome, President and CEO of Silver Tiger remarked "Our drilling program last fall was focused on testing the northern extensions of the rich silver and gold veins that produced over 100 million silver equivalent ounces at an average grade of over 2 kilograms silver equivalent per ton between 1908 and 1930 (Craig 2012) from the historic El Tigre Mine. Intersecting this wide zone of high-grade precious metals in the newly discovered Benjamin Vein with the first 3 holes ever drilled in it is very encouraging. We will be aggressively following up on this discovery as we resumed drilling last week post-Christmas shutdown. I am confident this will be the first of many new discoveries in the Historic El Tigre District."

Drill Results Table

Hole ID Section Comment From To Length(1) Au Ag AuEq75(2) AgEq75(2) m m m g/t g/t g/t g/t ET-20-189 6125N Benjamin Vein 73.0 78.0 5.0 0.12 140.9 2.00 150.1 including 77.5 78.0 0.5 0.13 474.0 6.45 483.9 and 108.5 110.0 1.5 0.05 50.6 0.73 54.4 and 127.7 128.2 0.5 0.02 91.4 1.24 92.8 ET-20-193 6125N Benjamin Vein 114.0 119.5 5.5 0.08 726.1 9.76 732.2 Including 116.5 119.5 3.0 0.09 1,303.2 17.47 1,310.1 Including 117.5 118.8 1.3 0.11 1,967.7 26.34 1,975.8 ET-20-195 6125N Benjamin Vein 122.0 123.0 1.0 1.02 241.6 4.24 318.4 and 131.0 144.7 13.7 0.05 25.6 0.39 29.3 including 142.7 143.4 0.7 0.11 107.5 1.54 115.4 Benjamin Vein 170.0 171.5 1.5 0.11 326.3 4.46 334.6 including 170.5 171.0 0.5 0.12 625.0 8.45 634.0

Notes: 1. Not true width.

2. Gold Equivalent ("EqAu75") ratios and Silver Equivalent ("EqAg75) ratios are based on silver to gold price

ratio of 75:1 (Au:Ag).

See attached El Tigre Cross Section 6125.

Drill Hole Location Table

Drill Hole Easting Northing Elevation Az Dip Depth ET-20-189 670392 3386121 1936 90.0 -39 195.2 ET-20-193 670392 3386121 1936 90.0 -50 186.1 ET-20-195 670392 3386121 1936 90.0 -60 213.5

El Tigre Cross Section 6125N

Plan Map of El Tigre Veins and Drill Holes

El Tigre Resource Estimate

After acquiring El Tigre, Silver Tiger drilled 12,500 meters to define the wide halo of near surface gold mineralization around the mined high-grade veins of the historic El Tigre Mine. This allowed Silver Tiger to deliver a maiden resource estimate for the El Tigre Property to a depth of 150 meters containing indicated resources of 661,000 gold equivalent ounces at 0.77 g/t (21 g/t silver and 0.51 g/t gold) and inferred resources of 341,000 gold equivalent ounces at 1.59 g/t (88 g/t silver and 0.52 g/t gold). The National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate on the El Tigre Project, Sonora, Mexico" effective as of September 7, 2017 and dated October 26, 2017 prepared by David Burga, P.Geo., Yungang Wu, P.Geo., Fred Brown, P.Geo., Jarita Barry, P.Geo., Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., FEC, CET, Alfred Hayden, P.Eng. and Richard H. Sutcliffe, Ph.D., P.Geo. of P&E Mining Consultants Inc. is available on the Corporation's website at www.silvertigermetals.com and on www.sedar.com under the Corporation's profile.

About the El Tigre Historic Mine District

The El Tigre historic mine district is located in Sonora, Mexico and lies at the northern end of the Sierra Madre silver and gold belt which hosts many epithermal silver and gold deposits, including Dolores, Santa Elena and Las Chispas at the northern end. In 1896, gold was first discovered on the property in the Gold Hill area and mining started with the Brown Shaft in 1903. The focus soon changed to mining high-grade silver veins in the area with much of the production coming from the El Tigre vein. Underground mining on the El Tigre vein extended 1,450 meters along strike and was mined on 14 levels to a depth of 450 meters. By the time the mine closed in 1938, it is reported to have produced a total of 353,000 ounces of gold and 67.4 million ounces of silver from 1.87 million tons (Craig, 2012). The average grade mined during this period was over 2 kilograms silver equivalent per ton.

Silver Tiger's district scale El Tigre concessions are approximately 35 kilometers long and comprise 28,414 hectares, including 25 kilometers of the prolific Sierra Madre trend. The El Tigre silver and gold deposit is related to a series of high-grade epithermal veins controlled by a north-south trending structure cutting across the andesitic and rhyolitic tuffs of the Sierra Madre Volcanic Complex within a broad silver and gold mineralized prophylitic alteration zone developed in the El Tigre Formation that can be up to 150 meters wide. The veins dip steeply to the west and are typically 0.5 meter wide but locally can be up to 5 meters in width. The veins, structures and mineralized zones outcrop on surface and have been traced for 5.3 kilometers along strike in our brownfield exploration area. Historical mining and exploration activities focused on a 1.5 kilometer portion of the southern end of the deposits, principally on the El Tigre, Seitz Kelly and Sooy veins. The unexplored Caleigh, the Protectora and the Fundadora exposed veins continue north for more than 3 kilometers and are the target of Silver Tiger's current exploration.

Silver Tiger's limited drilling in these vein extensions located north of the historic El Tigre Mine intersected similar-style silver-gold mineralization in the El Tigre formation including a new discovery in the Caleigh Vein. Drill hole ET-17-144 returned 0.85 meters of the Caleigh Vein grading 10,128.9 g/t silver equivalent consisting of 7,338.9 g/t silver, 37.2 g/t gold (75:1 Ag:Au). Drill hole 144 was a step-out hole located approximately 1.7 kilometers to the north of the historic El Tigre Mine. The mineralized zone consists of several vuggy quartz veins and veinlets carrying galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, stromeyerite and pyrite within a strongly silicified and kaolinized alteration zone. As well, drill holes ET-17-145 and ET-17-148, which were drilled by Silver Tiger in its previous drill program, intersected similar-style silver-gold mineralization.

The Silver Tiger exploration team is fully funded for and is currently diamond drilling 20,000 meters of HQ core with three drill rigs targeting the 3 kilometers of vein extensions north of the historic El Tigre Mine. The drilling program is focused on the Caleigh, the Protectora and the Fundadora veins, all of which outcrop on surface and are exposed in exploration drifts in the three kilometers north of the historic El Tigre Mine.

VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation - Silver Tiger's El Tigre Project

VRIFY is a platform being used by companies to communicate with investors using 360 virtual tours of remote mining assets, 3D models and interactive presentations. VRIFY can be accessed by website and with the VRIFY iOS and Android apps.

Access the Silver Tiger Metals Inc. Company Profile on VRIFY at: https://vrify.com

The VRIFY Slide Deck and 3D Presentation for Silver Tiger Metals Inc. can be viewed at: https://vrify.com/explore/decks/492 and on the Company's website at: www.silvertigermetals.com.

Procedure, Quality Assurance / Quality Control and Data Verification

The diamond drill core (HQ size) is geologically logged, photographed and marked for sampling. When the sample lengths are determined, the full core is sawn with a diamond blade core saw with one half of the core being bagged and tagged for assay. The remaining half portion is returned to the core trays for storage and/or for metallurgical test work.

The sealed and tagged sample bags are transported to the Bureau Veritas facility in Hermosillo, Mexico. Bureau Veritas crushes the samples (Code PRP70-250) and prepares 200-300 gram pulp samples with ninety percent passing Tyler 200 mesh (Code PUL85). The pulps are assayed for gold using a 30-gram charge by fire assay (Code FA630) and over limits greater than 10 grams per tonne are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530). Silver and multi-element analysis is completed using total digestion (Code MA200 Total Digestion ICP). Over limits greater than 100 grams per tonne silver are re-assayed using a gravimetric finish (Code FA530).

Quality assurance and quality control ("QA/QC") procedures monitor the chain-of-custody of the samples and includes the systematic insertion and monitoring of appropriate reference materials (certified standards, blanks and duplicates) into the sample strings. The results of the assaying of the QA/QC material included in each batch are tracked to ensure the integrity of the assay data. All results stated in this announcement have passed Silver Tiger's QA/QC protocols.

Qualified Person

David R. Duncan, P. Geo., V.P. Exploration of the Corporation, is the Qualified Person for Silver Tiger as defined under National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Duncan has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

For further information, please contact:

Glenn Jessome

President and CEO

902 492 0298

jessome@silvertigermetals.com

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT:

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements". All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization, resources and reserves, the ability to convert inferred resources to indicated resources, the ability to complete future drilling programs and infill sampling, the ability to extend resource blocks, the similarity of mineralization at El Tigre to Delores, Santa Elena and Chispas, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of Silver Tiger, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "may", "is expected to", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans", "projection", "could", "vision", "goals", "objective" and "outlook" and other similar words. Although Silver Tiger believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Silver Tiger's expectations include risks and uncertainties related to exploration, development, operations, commodity prices and global financial volatility, risk and uncertainties of operating in a foreign jurisdiction as well as additional risks described from time to time in the filings made by Silver Tiger with securities regulators.

SOURCE: Silver Tiger Metals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625178/Silver-Tiger-Makes-New-Discovery-of-the-Benjamin-Vein-Intersecting-1310-gt-AgEq-Over-30-Meters-Within-55-Meters-Grading-732-gt-AgEq
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The Nelson Mandela Foundation on Wednesday confirmed that it was investigating allegations against its own senior managers.

The foundation, which seeks to promote the legacy of the world statesman who died in 2013, has been left red-faced after an anonymous complaint from staff members accused Chief Executive Officer, Sello Hatang, and Chief Operations Officer, Limpho Monyamane, of graft.

These allegedly include procurement impropriety and the misuse of the foundations credit cards.

Foundation chairman Njabulo Ndebele, said the investigation was initiated in December and it took the allegations seriously and was committed to ensuring a fair and proper outcome.

READ ALSO: UN chief pays glowing tribute as world remembers Mandela

The foundation said it was committed to transparency and the outcome of the investigation would be made public once a report had been considered by the board.

The foundation was established in 1999 when Mandela stepped down as the President of South Africa.

It seeks to contribute to making a just society by mobilising his legacy, providing public access to information on his life and times, and to convene dialogue on critical social issues.

(PANA/NAN)
Here are some of the stocks in the news today.

L&T Technology Services | The company reported a profit of Rs 186.1 crore in Q3 FY21 against Rs 165.5 crore in Q2 FY21, revenue rose to Rs 1,400.7 crore from Rs 1,313.8 crore QoQ. (Image: Youtube)

Axis Bank | Competition Commission of India approved the acquisition of a stake in Max Life Insurance by Axis Bank, Axis Capital and Axis Securities.

Aditya Birla Fashion | Competition Commission of India approved Flipkart's 7.8 percent stake purchase in Aditya Birla Fashion.

Havells India | The company reported profit of Rs 350.1 crore in Q3 FY21 against Rs 200.6 crore in Q3 FY20, revenue jumped to Rs 3,175.2 crore from Rs 2,273.3 crore YoY.

GMM Pfaudler | The company reported a consolidated profit of Rs 23.2 crore in Q3 FY21 against Rs 21 crore in Q3 FY20, revenue increased to Rs 201.8 crore from Rs 156 crore YoY.

Phillips Carbon Black | The company reported consolidated profit of Rs 125.44 crore in Q3 FY21 against Rs 70.06 crore in the year-ago. Revenue stood at Rs 769.4 crore against Rs 768.65 crore.

Bajaj Finance | The company reported a consolidated profit of Rs 1,146 crore in Q3 FY21 against Rs 1,614 crore, revenue fell to Rs 4,296 crore from Rs 4,535 crore.

Kirloskar Oil Engines | SBI Mutual Fund acquired 52,23,094 equity shares in the company at Rs 125 per share on the NSE. However, Nalanda India Fund sold 60 lakh shares at the same price.

Laurus Labs | The company has completed the acquisition of 72.55 percent stake in Richcore Lifesciences, a biotechnology company.

Zodiac Clothing | Pari Washington India Master Fund reduced stake in the company to 2.3 percent from 4.36 percent earlier, via open market sale.

VST Industries | The company reported profit of Rs 73.7 crore in Q3 FY21 against Rs 81.48 crore in Q3 FY20, revenue rose to Rs 380.4 crore from Rs 368.46 crore.

HDFC AMC | The company reported profit of Rs 369.26 crore in Q3 FY21 against Rs 352.55 crore in Q3 FY20, revenue fell to Rs 481.86 crore from Rs 524.73 crore.

Everest Industries | The company reported a profit of Rs 5.38 crore in Q3 FY21 against a loss of Rs 1.23 crore in Q3 FY20, revenue rose to Rs 279.91 crore from Rs 276.56 crore.

Indo Rama Synthetics | The company reported profit of Rs 76.17 crore in Q3 FY21 against a loss of Rs 192.3 crore in Q3FY20, revenue rose to Rs 619.82 crore from Rs 541.5 crore.

Syngene Q3 | Consolidated net profit up 11 percent at Rs 102 crore against Rs 92 crore (YoY). Consolidated revenue was up 13 percent at Rs 585 crore against Rs 519 crore (YoY). Consolidated EBITDA gained 11 percent at Rs 193 crore against Rs 173 crore (YoY). Consolidated EBITDA margin was flat at 33 percent YoY.

Sun Pharma | The company to consider declaring interim dividend along with Q3 results on January 29.

UltraTech Cement | The company will consider the proposal for raising funds in its board meeting on January 23.
An Australian lawyer who has boasted of a client list that included senior Papua New Guinea government figures has been arrested in Port Moresby on fraud charges.

Former Queensland prosecutor Greg Sheppard has practised in the island nation for more than three decades.

Port Moresby-based Australian lawyer Greg Sheppard has been arrested.

According to a statement released by the office of PNGs Commissioner of Police, Mr Sheppard was arrested on Wednesday over allegations relating to dealings with a 268 million kina ($97 million AUD) public trust set up to benefit villagers affected by mining operations.

According to a local media report, the funds are held in an account with ANZ bank.
Volunteers seek advice from medical staff before registering for the first phase of the human trials of Covivac vaccine, Hanoi, January 21, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Chi Le.

10 university students signed up Thursday to be vaccinated with Covivac in its first stage of human trials in February.

Covivac, produced by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, is the second Vietnamese-made vaccine to be tested on humans after receiving approval from the Health Ministry. The first was Nanocovax of Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC that had entered trials last month.

On Thursday morning, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi and Hanoi Medical University officially began recruiting for the first stage of trials that would require 120 volunteers aged 18-59 and without underlying health conditions, infectious diseases or allergies.

The first volunteers are students from the university who registered for participation after consultation with medical staff.

Hien, 27, a resident, decided to enroll in the human trial after learning about the procedure and potential risks of being vaccinated.

"So far, the side effects of Covid-19 vaccines are usually mild and not dangerous, so I don't feel worried. Besides, I am a medic, at high risk of being infected with the coronavirus. If I undergo the vaccine trial, I will develop antibodies against the virus," she said.

Duong, 19, a second-year student, feels a little sad since she has flu and may not be eligible for the trial. But she did her research very carefully, considering applying for a second phase of the clinical trial.

The volunteers will be divided into four groups, with each receiving four different vaccine dosages, while another group is injected with a placebo.

Each group would receive two intramuscular injections of the vaccine, with an interval of 28 days.

Nguyen Ngo Quang, deputy head of the Administration of Science, Technology and Training under the health ministry, thanked volunteers for registering for the human clinical trials, which play an important part in the research and development of Covid-19 vaccines.

Trials for Nanocovax began with 60 volunteers split into three groups to be given two doses of 25 micrograms, 50 micrograms and 75 micrograms almost a month apart.

Some have received the second shot, which has proven safe and immunogenic and produces an immune response four to five times higher than the first, Vietnam Military Medical University stated.

Two other vaccines are under development by Vaccine and Biological Production Company No. 1 and the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals.

The ministry is in talks with British Covid-19 vaccine developers AstraZeneca and Oxford University to buy 30 million doses of their product. It is also seeking to buy from the U.S. (Pfizer), Russia (Sputnik V) and China.
Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has directed officials to ensure integrating efforts to safeguard the environment, in line with the states general strategy for good governance of environmental systems and natural resources, mainly with regard to expanding the use of clean energy from natural gas.

President El-Sisi also ordered the completion of a system for dealing with solid waste, and expansion in projects to produce biofuels from wastes.

The president made the remarks at a meeting held on Thursday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Planning Minister Hala el Saeed, Petroleum Minister Tarq El-Molla, Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, Tourism Minister Khaled El-Anani, Culture Minister Enas Abdel Dayem and Environment Minister Yassmin Fouad.

The meeting touched on efforts to develop the environment sector nationwide, according to presidential spokesman Bassam Rady.

The environment minister reviewed her ministrys efforts to reduce pollution, preserve natural resources, address the impact of climate changes and integrate the environmental dimension into various sectors via coordination and cooperation with all ministries.

Joint efforts between various ministries have helped improve the air quality in Cairo and the Nile Delta through developing the National Network for Monitoring Industrial Emissions and eradicating the black cloud as well as upgrading infrastructure for natural reserves, she noted.

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A 47-year-old man has been charged with terrorism offences including possessing explosives.

Asad Bhatti was arrested after officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) raided a property in Redhill, Surrey, on January 8.

The suspect has now been charged with two counts of possessing an article for the purpose of terrorism, contrary to Section 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and three counts of making or possessing an explosive under suspicious circumstances contrary to Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.

A 47-year-old terrorist suspect was arrested at address in Redhill, Surrey, on January 8. He has since been charged with terror offences (stock image)

A CTPSE spokesman said: 'It's in connection with a search which took place on Friday 8 January at a property in Redhill.'

Bhatti, of Holland Close, Redhill, has been remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday.
Natural rubber prices in India have come down from the six-year peak seen in November and are ruling stable, though a little lower than global rates.

According to the Rubber Board of India, the price of ribbed smoked sheet (RSS) four grade rubber, used by tyre manufacturers, is Rs 153 a kg against the nearly Rs 170 a kg in November.

In the global markets, prices for RSS-3, considered at par with Indias RSS-4, quoted at Rs 160.28 in Bangkok.

Indian prices had moved up in tandem with global prices during October-November last year. They have stabilised now. During the last five years, global prices were invariably lower than domestic prices, said Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) Director-General Rajiv Buddraja.

Tyre-manufacturing companies account for 68 percent of the total rubber consumption in India. They have, of late, turned towards using technically specified rubber (TSR) grade ISNR-20 than RSS4.

Natural rubber prices have been moving sideways after rising to Rs 180-levels in November. Currently, global prices are averaging around Rs 161, said United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI) Vice-Chairman MP Cherian.

Rubber prices had run up as the Chinese economy recovered quicker than anticipated and production was disrupted in major producing countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected rubber production as tappers in South-East Asia went back to their homes in Myanmar and Indonesia. In addition, floods in the region too affected production, said rubber dealer N Radhakrishnan, who is also a former Cochin Rubber Merchants Association president.

ATMAs Buddhraja said COVID-19 resulted in higher demand for latex for use in the medical industry by almost all countries. It led to a rise in consumption, though overall global consumption declined 7.9 percent.

Rubber-producing nations like Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia wanted to produce more automobiles and tyres. It led to more self-consumption and leaving a lower exportable surplus, he said.

According to the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries, global production of natural rubber declined 8.3 percent year-on-year to 11.376 million tonnes during the first 11 months of 2020 (Jan-Nov).

The Rubber Board of India data showed that production picked up in November, thanks to the price uptrend, though it was down in the first seven months of the current fiscal.

Natural rubber production declined seven percent to 4.18 lakh tonnes during April-November this fiscal against 4.51 lakh tonnes during the year-ago period.

A 14 percent lower consumption kept the prices on a leash. During April-November, natural rubber consumption in the country dropped to 6.45 lakh tonnes against 7.53 lakh tonnes during the same period the previous year.

Imports, too, were lower by 24 percent at 2.51 lakh tonnes as tyre manufacturers and other rubber consuming industries had to shut or operate at low capacity due to COVID-19.

The ANPRC said in a statement that production might recover from this month.

The association said the development of vaccines to thwart coronavirus pandemic would be a game-changer and help the economy recover.

Rubber dealer Radhakrishnan said he did not expect prices to move up now.

Cherian concurred with the view. Though going forward, the market looks bullish, there are two factors that are proving to be temporary hiccups now. The recurrence of the pandemic could dampen the economy, while the Chinese New Year will also slow demand, he said.

New US President Joe Bidens $1.9-trillion coronavirus relief plan could be a stimulus and good for everybody, including natural rubber, the UPASI official said.

On the other hand, the Chinese economy has been slowed by rising bad debts and big companies being hurt.

Radhakrishnan said the price guarantee scheme announced by the Kerala government that fixed the production cost of natural rubber at Rs 170 a kg would help the growers.

On the other hand, growers in the Northeast whose production cost was lower were very happy with the price of Rs 150 a kg. They were earlier happy when prices ruled at Rs 130-140 range, Radhakrishnan said.

The northeastern parts, mainly Tripura and Assam, produce nearly one lakh tonnes of rubber annually.

Recently, ATMA and the commerce ministry embarked on an ambitious Rs 1,100-crore project to grow rubber on two lakh hectares in the Northeast.

(Subramani Ra Mancombu is a Chennai-based journalist who writes on commodities and agriculture)
Trump Cheered by Supporters Upon Landing in Florida

President Donald Trump was greeted by a crowd of supporters in Florida on Wednesday.

Trump flew to West Palm Beach from Washington via Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

Video footage showed scores of Trump supporters lining the streets as Trumps motorcade traveled from the airport to his Mar-a-Lago resort.

We just wanted to show him how much we appreciate him, Anita Bargas, who traveled from Texas, told WLPG.

For the most part, its just a somber but at the same time celebratory moment for us to welcome him back home, Trump supporter Iam Hedendal added.

We want to show him hes not alone, Daniel Rakus, a 65-year-old Palm Beach resident, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He did a great job. We support him.

President Trump knows we had his back from the very beginning, and he proved that he had our back.

Lisa Beche, 53, a Boca Raton resident, added, He is one of the best. She gave high marks to his presidency. For four years, we were listened to. We were heard.

Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump waves after landing at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Jan. 20, 2021. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)

Thomas Burgess, 35, told the Sun-Sentinel that Trumps presidency affected him personally. He said that because of Trumps First Step Act, he was released from prison in 2019 after serving eight years for selling crack cocaine.

Roger Stone, the former Trump adviser who received a pardon while the president was still in office, joined the crowd.

Trump waved to people as the procession of vehicles moved slowly by the crowd. The pro-Trump crowd stretched a couple of miles before the bridge onto Palm Beach Island. It was two or three deep in places.

Signs held by supporters included Praying 4 Trump and Trump 4 ever my president. One sign congratulated Tiffany Trump on her recent engagement. Signs from protesters included Youre Fired and Firefighters for Biden.

Trump was joined on the Air Force One flight from Maryland to Florida by his wife Melania Trump and his children Ivanka, Donald Jr., Eric, Tiffany, and Barron. Trump administration officials Dan Scavino and Jason Miller were also on board. The flight touched down at Palm Beach International Airport at 10:54 a.m.

Miller tweeted pictures of Trump supporters lining the road and later teased a 2024 run for Trump. Scavino shared video footage of supporters as seen from a vehicle in the motorcade.

Trump left Washington on Wednesday morning, skipping inauguration ceremonies for President Joe Biden, who was sworn in around noon. Every president in the past 100 years had attended his successors inauguration, according to the White House Historical Association.

Trump left a letter to Biden, which Biden described later as very generous.

Trump told supporters in Maryland that we will be back in some form. Advisers have suggested hell get involved in the 2022 midterm races and could run for president again in 2024.

The Democratic-controlled Senate, though, is looking to convict Trump after the House impeached him earlier this month. If they manage to convince 17 Republicans to join them, the Senate could then vote to disqualify Trump from ever holding office again.

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Wednesday was a historic day for the US.

Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Biden, 78, became the oldest President the US has ever had and his running mate Kamala Harris, 56, became the first woman and person of colour to become US Vice President.

Meanwhile, Amanda Gorman rewrote history as the 22-year-old became the youngest poet to recite at a presidential inauguration.

As the series of events were unfolding during the Inauguration Day, the memers of the world united on Twitter to give us a quick rundown of the historic event through memes. Yep, there were memes, a lot of them at that and Senator Bernie Sanders led the way.

Also Read: Kamala Harris' Inauguration Dress Representing Suffragette Was Created By Two Black Designers

Bernie Sanders Sitting

Bernie Sanders wearing a grey jacket, hand-warming mittens, and sitting on a chair cross-legged became the meme for the ages.

"I am once again asking for a space heater." https://t.co/2PmfOWFGYE  Daisy Razor-in-candy (@daisy_razor) January 20, 2021

tired of being caught in the tangle of my government pic.twitter.com/a9E4T2wxD9  JP (@jpbrammer) January 20, 2021

NYC Instagram is so quick pic.twitter.com/Br6TarGXXb  Rania Said (@rania_tn) January 20, 2021

when Im early for a movie but didnt bring a book pic.twitter.com/FCrFnxE3gS  Marc (@MarcSnetiker) January 20, 2021

Joe Biden and the Bible

Continuing with the tradition, Biden swore on in an heirloom Bible, a five-inch thick Bible Biden's family has been using since 1893.

Joe Bidens Bible must be the directors cut. pic.twitter.com/4ZgS34B2ja  Woody Whitehurst - Thumb Gangster (@woodywhitehurst) January 20, 2021

Also Read: Joe Biden's Bible at Inauguration Caught Everyone's Attention. It's a Family Heirloom Since 1893

first edition signed by jesus looking bible https://t.co/sKIGrZnrEW  hasanabi (@hasanthehun) January 20, 2021

Joe Biden got his Bible from King James himself. pic.twitter.com/XB0vZpYOhA  Kevin (@KevOnStage) January 20, 2021

Where is Barron Trump?

14-year-old Barron Trump was nowhere to be seen during his father and ex-US President's farewell speech. Barron, the only child of Trump and former first lady Melania, managed to intrigue the internet despite his absence from the big day. Many were reminded of Home Alone, thanks to Barron.

barron trump standing at the foot of the bidens bed tonight asking if theyre his parents now pic.twitter.com/H6MiW4Hv3x  juls (@julleeg) January 20, 2021

Ummmmm......did they leave Barron behind for Biden to raise? pic.twitter.com/10USBTqgpa  Steve Thmas (@Steve_E_Thomas) January 20, 2021

barron trump when he realizes his family forgot him at the white house and now he gets to live with the bidens pic.twitter.com/KFHJ20du5J  denise  (@C0NNEX1ON) January 20, 2021

[Biden finds left behind Barron Trump wandering the White House halls] Hey man  Brendan O'Hare (@brendohare) January 20, 2021

*cut to Melania on Air Force One* BARRON! pic.twitter.com/7k9bGiQYlQ  Ryan Love (@RyanJL) January 20, 2021

Barron trump this morning pic.twitter.com/KeOqXboSzI  Patrick (@PrayForPatrick) January 20, 2021

Barron walking downstairs for breakfast pic.twitter.com/FLXQoKK6GV  yum maga tears (@BringOutTheDead) January 20, 2021

ARE YOU BARRON WE HAVE TO GO pic.twitter.com/0ZjPdePqvM  Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) January 21, 2021

Trump's "leaked" note to Biden

"The President wrote a very generous letter," Joe Biden told reporters. "Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him, but it was generous."

The contents of the note handed by Trump to his successor were obviously unknown to the world so Twitter came up with their versions.

The note Trump left on Bidens desk pic.twitter.com/nvjZgONnRJ  Sarah Wainschel (@Swainsch) January 20, 2021

Breaking: We found the hand-written note that Trump left for Biden. pic.twitter.com/KFH9EAygCy  Chuck Groundhog (@only_si_chuck) January 18, 2021

Leaks of President Trump's note to Joe Biden. "Dear Joe...." pic.twitter.com/6yUtg0pPFb  Brock Lobster (@ssmith2452) January 20, 2021

Trumps note to President Biden just leaked. pic.twitter.com/gzxGnNg34K  The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) January 20, 2021

Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, and Jennifer Lopez

Last but not the least, the Internet turned up the volume during the iconic performances by Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, and Jennifer Lopez at the Inauguration Day.

Lady Gaga went from Star Wars to Hunger Games real quick. pic.twitter.com/VD1BWfAyAT   (@PopeChromaticus) January 20, 2021

My cat when JLo broke into Lets get Loud pic.twitter.com/HemrhcnFGU  Sarah Kaplan (@sarahkaplan48) January 20, 2021

"this land is your land, this land is my land from Brazil, Morocco, London to Ibiza, straight to LA, New York, Vegas to Africa" pic.twitter.com/48FQiZn5If  The $2000 (@ericschmerick) January 20, 2021

j lo fighting the urge to break into the extended 11:11 hex hector vocal remix version of waiting for tonight  Desus Nice (@desusnice) January 20, 2021

jennifer lopez in me in her fifties my twenties pic.twitter.com/TDgQ8OqEub  niti rt!! (@NITIWASTAKEN) January 20, 2021

Garth Brooks singing Amazing Grace pic.twitter.com/8yWOKT3nWR  Sean Yoo (@SeanYoo) January 20, 2021

I live for the pic.twitter.com/10AvmpnNhD  Rose Dommu (@rosedommu) January 20, 2021

Garth Brooks running through the aisles and hugging every former president pic.twitter.com/LPSwi18x8K  TLER (@typhillips) January 20, 2021

and then it goes: rain. on. ME. then we jump on cue, got it? pic.twitter.com/f3mLrYpA0n  jackson davies (@actualjack) January 20, 2021

Garth Brooks, Jennifer Lopez, and Lady Gaga backstage rn pic.twitter.com/T6aVNEAuKv  Tashdeed Faruk (@TKFaruk8) January 20, 2021

Also Read: Lady Gaga Sang a Powerful Rendition of US Anthem at Biden Inaugural, Nobody Could Keep a 'Pokerface'
The details of the reconciliation agreement between Qatar and its neighbours, signed at Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit two weeks ago, still havent been made public. But Riyadh is fast-tracking the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Doha.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan announced this week that the Saudi Embassy in Doha will soon be reopened. At a press conference with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, in Riyadh, Bin Farhan told journalists that the issue was just a matter of logistics. He added that his country will restore full diplomatic relations with Qatar. Bin Farhan confirmed: Our embassy will be reopened in Doha within days of completing the necessary procedures.



That step follows on the heels of the end of a boycott by three of its Gulf neighbours, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain as well as Egypt (making up a kind of Quartet) during a summit in Saudi Al-Ula on 5 January.

After the summit, Saudi Arabia opened its land border  the only land corridor for Qatar - and allowed Qatari flights in its airspace. All these steps were followed by the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. It is not clear yet when the rest of the Quartet will follow Saudi Arabia in establishing full diplomatic relations with Doha.



In June 2017, the four countries severed all relations with Qatar, accusing the tiny, rich state of interference in their internal affairs, supporting and financing terror groups including the Muslim Brotherhood, and maintaining close ties with Iran. Doha vehemently denied the allegations, saying the boycott undermined its sovereignty.

Kuwait, which has been mediating between Qatar and the Quartet over the last three year, is upbeat about the rapid healing of the rift, despite the fact that none of the demands of the boycotting countries appears to have been followed, except for putting a stop to media campaigns.

A Kuwaiti analyst told Al- Ahram Weekly that full diplomatic relations between Qatar and the four countries will be restored soon. Trade and investment between Gulf neighbours will kick off in full swing, for the good of the people of the whole region, he said. As for the demands by the Quartet, he said that principles were agreed and details are being finalised through bilateral discussions.



For its part Qatar stressed that the reconciliation is not going to affect its relations with Iran or Turkey.



Another Gulf commentator was sceptical about the rift healing too soon, noting that ordinary people were fed a lot of negative propaganda for three years. He stressed that the fissures went deep to popular levels: social media played a nasty role with trolls on all sides going far in spreading accusations and insults using the foulest words sometimes against leaders or elders and their families.

Deep mistrust will not go away so soon, especially for those vehemently opposing political Islam like the UAE and sympathisers with Muslim Brotherhood like Qatar. As a Western analyst puts it, Saudi Arabia is used to shifts towards the Brotherhood and other Islamists. He notes that Riyadh knew that the Brotherhood Yemen representative (Islah) was being supported by Qatar to sabotage Saudi efforts to rein in the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

But, to shore up the legitimate government which lacks popular support, Riyadh included the Brotherhood-affiliated Islah in the government. He also referred to the time when Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf countries were supporting Islamist groups in Syria during the heyday of Gulf-Turkey relations.



A Dubai-based source downplayed the popular rift that deepened during the boycott and suggested that trade and economic relations will help overcome this. He also noted that the tribal nature of Gulf societies means that many families spread in many countries, and opening borders will mean these families will come together again and bury previous tensions.

On trade, a Gulf source confirmed that Saudi goods never stopped completely going to Qatar during the boycott  in many cases through re-export via Turkey. He claims that even with the popular Gulf boycott of Turkey in recent months, economic relations have not been dented.

Turkey is in fact the main party cautiously hopeful that the acceleration in normalising Saudi-Qatari relations will mean an opening for Turkey to come back to the Gulf, ending its isolation.

But Ankara is still waiting for any overture, especially from the UAE and Egypt. Both countries are not at ease with Turkeys interference in the region and its support of terrorist groups.



Though the main conclusion is that Saudi Arabia is trying to form a wide necessity alliance to deal with the Joe Biden administration  especially on the issue of Iran  that alliance might not be solid enough and may end up replaying the previous accommodation of fringe groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, which resulted in failed policy choices, as the Western analyst suggested.

With leaks implying that the Biden team have already started secret contacts with Iran, Qatar might be more informed about the anticipated agreement between Washington and Teheran than the Saudis. That in itself will complicate a speedy reconciliation between Riyadh and Doha.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

Short link:


A quarter of a million accounts linked to child sex abuse are banned from WhatsApp every month, it was revealed last night.

And the true number is expected to be significantly higher, as only the most brazen offenders can be spotted due to the messaging app's secretive policies.

WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, has become a hotbed for criminality as texts sent on its platform are encrypted.

This means police are unable to see the content inside, leaving them blind to the scale of child abuse images being shared.

A quarter of a million accounts linked to child sex abuse are banned from WhatsApp every month, it was revealed last night

The Commons home affairs committee heard the true number is masked by the use of encryption, as most people sharing such images do not display them on the public part of the app.

But 250,000 users worldwide are banned each month, just by the explicit names and profile pictures they use to identify themselves on unencrypted sections on the app.

Committee chairman Yvette Cooper asked 'how many examples of child exploitation must be happening' where the content is kept private.

WhatsApp said it could not give a figure on the number of such cases, but said it sends hundreds of thousands of referrals to police every year.

Niamh Sweeney, WhatsApp's European Director of Public Policy, said: 'We actually ban about 250,000 accounts every month for participating in groups which are sharing child exploitation imagery.

'We are fully end-to-end encrypted - as is the industry standard now in private messaging - but we do have what we refer to as 'unencrypted surfaces'.

'They include things like your profile photo, a group photo, a group name and a group description.'

She went on to explain how the app uses technology to identify photos, names and keywords which are linked to child abuse.

The federal government expects the coronavirus vaccine program to start next month, as planned, despite concerns overseas about procuring enough doses.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had been told doses of the Pfizer vaccine, to be used in the first stage of the nation's five-stage rollout, should arrive in February despite concerns in Europe and North America over shortages and delays.

A health worker carries out a COVID-19 test at the Merrylands drive-through clinic in Sydney. Credit:Getty

"The latest advice that we have, and I spoke with Pfizer only yesterday [Wednesday], is that we are still on track for the first vaccines to be received in February but the final date hasn't been confirmed," Mr Hunt said.

NSW Health has been advised by the federal government that the rollout may commence on February 15, subject to Therapeutic Goods Administration approval and the delivery of the vaccine.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 22:57:28|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member carries a box of COVID-19 vaccines at a packaging plant of Sinovac Research and Development Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech Ltd. is ramping up the production of CoronaVac, an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, to ensure global supply, according to Yin Weidong, chairman and CEO of the company.

"Sinovac has received vaccine orders from Brazil, Indonesia, Turkey, Chile and other countries and regions, and we are making every effort to expand the production capacity," said Yin in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. "We hope the vaccine will protect more people around the world."

The Sinovac vaccine has been approved for emergency use in several countries, including China, Indonesia, Brazil and Chile, according to Yin.

Yin added that the company has constructed a second production line, which will start operation in February, increasing its annual production capacity to 1 billion doses.

Sinovac will export semi-finished jabs to some countries, and help build local filling and packaging lines in importing countries to improve the production capacity and efficiency, Yin said.

"On the basis of an annual output of 1 billion doses, we will continue to expand production capacity. We are facing uncertainties related to the coronavirus pandemic and demand for vaccines, which shall not be responded to with the usual demand-supply business model alone. Vaccines are public goods and we should shoulder social responsibilities," Yin said.

The phase-3 clinical trials of the Sinovac vaccine are being mainly conducted in Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey.

According to Yin, clinical trial results in Turkey showed that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 91.25 percent, and results in Indonesia showed an efficacy rate of 65.3 percent. Clinical studies in Brazil suggested that the vaccine was 100 percent effective in preventing severe cases, 78 percent effective in preventing mild cases requiring medical treatment, and has a general efficacy rate of 50.38 percent.

"It's normal to get varying results in different countries, and the clinical trials are influenced by multiple factors," Yin said, adding that all the participants in the phase-3 clinical trials in Brazil are medical workers in high-risk environments who might be attacked by the virus many times.

"The vaccine is expected to provide better protection for the general population," Yin said.

"Combining the data from clinical trials in the three countries, we have stronger confidence in the safety and efficacy of the vaccine," Yin said.

The inactivated vaccine also offers broad-spectrum protection against different coronavirus strains, according to Yin.

"In collaboration with the Institute of Laboratory Animal Sciences under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, we found that the serum of volunteers who received the Sinovac vaccine can neutralize the variant strain found in Britain. We are also studying the protection offered by the vaccine against the variant strain found in South Africa and will share the results in a timely manner," Yin said.

On Dec. 15, 2020, China officially launched the COVID-19 vaccination program for key groups of people aged between 18 and 59 who have a high risk of infection. Over 15 million doses have been administered in China, according to the country's health authorities.

With more well-rounded clinical trial data and increasing vaccine supply, China will gradually include those aged above 60 to the vaccination program, according to the National Health Commission.

"We have already conducted research on people aged over 60 in the phase-2 clinical trials, and several hundreds of participants aged over 60 have been involved in the phase-3 clinical trials in Brazil. The results showed that the vaccine also has a protective effect on this population," Yin said.

Many foreign leaders have been inoculated with China's COVID-19 vaccines, including Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who both received the Sinovac vaccine.

This shows international confidence in Chinese-made vaccines, Yin said, adding that it is a sign of recognition for their cooperation with China in phase-3 clinical trials.

"I was also touched by a photo showing indigenous people in Brazil dressed in traditional costumes receiving a Sinovac vaccine shot. The indigenous population in Brazil is suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. China pledges that COVID-19 vaccines should be public goods, and we hope that they are used to protect all groups of people," Yin said. 
AVOW to host virtual event to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2021

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 21st, 2021

The Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) has announced it will commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 virtually this year.

Following the successful event last year, AVOW push ahead to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day 2021 and explore this years theme Be the Light in the Darkness virtually, via Zoom.

The event, on Friday 22nd January, will feature key members of the community discussing themes of diversity and how to be a leading light in the community as we tackle discrimination in our area.

Key speakers on the day will talk on a variety of topics such as how to be the light in the face of discrimination and the reality of living in an unequal society.





Key speakers will include Bishop of Wrexham, RT Revd Peter M. Brignal, Lesley Griffiths AM and Wanjiku Mbugua, AVOW Trustee.

Later, in the commemorative event there will be a showing of the poetry workshop held during the year by children from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveler community in Wrexham County Borough.

The event will last one hour on zoom and you can register for the free event at: https://bit.ly/2KiJSLl
By Radu-Sorin Marinas, Jan Lopatka and Tsvetelia Tsolova BUCHAREST/PRAGUE/SOFIA (Reuters) - Pfizer has slashed in half the volume of COVID-19 vaccines it will deliver to some EU countries this week, government officials said on Thursday, as frustration over the U.S. drugmaker's unexpected cut in supplies grows. Romania will get 50% of its planned volume this week and supplies will only improve gradually, with deliveries not returning to normal until the end of March, Deputy Health Minister Andrei Baciu told Reuters. It was a similar situation in Poland which on Monday ...
Jack Ma resurfaced on Wednesday after months of absence from public view and Twitterati unleashed a meme fest. The Chinese billionaire, founder of Alibaba, spoke to hundreds of teachers at a virtual conference, for the first time since October 2020. State-affiliated media Global Times' reporter shared a video of Ma addressing the teachers, and said, "Jack Ma not disappear, here we go: Ma just had a video conference with 100 village teachers on Wednesday morning, saying: after COVID19, we'll meet each other again."

Ma's disappearance had spurred speculations about his whereabouts. Quoting Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily, Hong Kong-based The Asia Times had stated that Jack Ma was 'embracing supervision'. This had led netizens from across the globe to voice concerns about Jack Ma's wellbeing.

But now that he has resurfaced, netizens heaved a sigh of relief and went on their daily business of making memes. Some are still questioning whether Ma made that address voluntarily.

#JackMa makes his 1st appearence after 3 months

Meanwhile Chinese govt. pic.twitter.com/m27vLRwuWN  Memekaar Edits (@memekaar_edits) January 20, 2021

#JackMa

Jack Ma appeared after three months since October.....



Meanwhile people :- pic.twitter.com/iOe7aaUOVM  Rohit D. Kotrunge (@Nyctophile_14) January 20, 2021

People after seeing him after missing for months #JackMapic.twitter.com/klXC3frfWN  funn-knee (@karthik_natekar) January 20, 2021

#JackMa after seeing everyone making memes about his death - pic.twitter.com/QPODu049TL  Anjali (@___Anjali____) January 20, 2021

#JackMa

Meanwhile chinese people 



FilePic !     pic.twitter.com/NrGe4RsVjS  S g #UCC  (@twiiit_sam) January 20, 2021

After missing from months #JackMa

Make public appearance.

China government- pic.twitter.com/ORfp6DbBR4  ajay (@AjayPanwar3242) January 20, 2021

Meanwhile, Beijing that had launched an anti-monopoly probe against Ant Group and Alibaba Group continues to investigate the companies. Ant Group's IPO launch, biggest in the world and worth $37 billion, was also torpedoed by the Chinese government due to the investigation.

All hell broke loose for Ma and his empire when the billionaire criticised China's regulatory system in October last year for its 'pawnshop mentality'. He called for reforms and said that companies like AliPay were unsuitable for a financial regulatory structure like that of the country's.

Also read: Jack Ma not 'missing'; makes first public appearance since October in online meet

Also read: Jack Ma missing since October? Here's what we know so far
Ramallah, Jan 21 : A senior Palestinian official has called on the newly sworn in US President Joe Biden to adopt a fair path towards resolving the Palestinian cause under international resolutions.

Nabil Shaath, an aide to President Mahmoud Abbas, told Xinhua news agency on Wednesday that the Palestinian side is willing to reconsider resuming ties with the US if it changes its policies towards the Palestinians.

"We have to wait for the new American decision in the Biden era, but we should not be overly optimistic because there is an American policy and strategy that will not change much regarding the support for Israel," Shaath said.

Shaath said the Palestinian position is clear, which demands international sponsorship for any peace negotiations with Israel and rejects the unilateral American sponsorship of the Middle East peace process.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
This article will be updated throughout the week with coronavirus case counts and other need-to-know information about the pandemic in San Antonio.

San Antonio officials reported 16 new deaths from COVID-19 over the past two weeks as the coronavirus maintained its grip on the region. Officials also disclosed Sunday that the virus had been confirmed as the cause of 59 additional deaths between Dec. 4 and Jan. 6. Since it began in March, the pandemic has claimed the lives of 1,967 people in Bexar County.

January 23

COVID-19 updates: The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District reported 1,684 new coronavirus cases Saturday  563 fewer than reported the day before. The seven-day rolling average stood at 1,806 Saturday, decreasing by 165.

But the health authority also reported 18 new deaths Saturday, after two days of 17 deaths each. In one week, 176 people have died with COVID-19.

January 22

COVID-19 updates: The coronavirus continues to pose a serious threat to San Antonio as local officials reported 2,247 new cases and 17 more deaths Friday. For now, the citys risk level is classified as severe. Thats right below the worst possible level of critical.

January 21

COVID-19 updates: On Thursday, officials reported 2,507 new infections, pushing the seven-day average for daily new cases to 2,063.

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 17 more people in San Antonio, adding to the growing death toll from the latest coronavirus surge. Thousands more are still actively ill with the virus.

January 20

COVID-19 updates: For the first time this year, new COVID-19 cases in San Antonio have fallen to fewer than 1,000. Officials reported 850 new cases on Wednesday  a precipitous decline from the 2,395 cases recorded on Tuesday.

The relentless pandemic continued to exact a grim toll in Bexar County, killing 18 more residents over the last two weeks.

January 19

COVID-19 updates: San Antonio surpassed 150,000 coronavirus cases Tuesday as the winter surge of COVID-19 kills more residents and threatens to cripple area hospitals.

Officials reported 2,395 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, pushing the total since the pandemic began in March to 152,231. Ten more people have died of COVID-19, officials reported Tuesday. The youngest was a white man in his 30s.

January 18

1,281 new cases Monday, three deaths: At the start of January, hospitals were caring for 1,100 patients, 328 of whom needed intensive care and 178 relied on ventilators to breathe. Those figures have soared since then: Hospitals on Monday were caring for 437 patients who needed intensive care and 260 relying on ventilators to breathe.

Patients with COVID-19 now make up nearly 38 percent of all those hospitalized in San Antonio  more than double the 15-percent threshold that triggers the business occupancy restrictions and bar closures.

Area hospitals were caring for 1,520 patients with COVID-19 on Monday  253 more than the record set this summer, when state leaders shut down bars and mandated masks to stave off the virus.
A Northern Irish farmer who was shot dead by the Army in 1974 was an 'innocent' man whose killing was 'unjustified', a coroner has said.

Paddy McElhone, 24, died near his home in Limehill, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone after he was shot in the back.

A soldier from the First Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Wales, had pulled the trigger, the inquest heard.

Paddy McElhone, who was shot dead by the Army in 1974, was an 'innocent' man whose killing was 'unjustified', a coroner has said

Relatives of the late farmer including his sister Mary McCourt (front left) and his brother Michael McElhone (front right) stand outside Omagh courthouse

The hearing into his death was the first in a series of coroners' probes into deaths associated with Northern Ireland's 30-year conflict.

It was held in Omagh courthouse in Co Tyrone.

Presiding coroner Judge Siobhan Keegan said: 'On any version of events the shooting was unjustified.'

She added: 'Paddy McElhone was an innocent man shot in cold blood without warning when he was no threat to anyone.'

An emotional Michael McElhone reacts to the coroner's ruling that his brother's death was 'unjustified'

He was not on any list as associated with the IRA and was an innocent man from a humble background, evidence before the inquest showed.

There is no dispute that he was shot by a soldier and that the person who shot him was Lance Corporal Roy Alun Jones, the coroner said.

The victim had been working in the fields and had just returned home for his dinner when he was asked to go outside with members of an Army patrol.

He was taken to a meadow and shot once, penetrating his chest and killing him instantly.

The hearing into his death was the first in a series of coroners' probes into deaths associated with Northern Ireland's 30-year conflict

L/Cpl Jones was charged with murder on August 9 1974 and acquitted of that charge the following year by a judge who sat without a jury.

Ms Keegan said the soldier had intended to shoot the victim and that there was no evidence he was running away.

She added he was not acting in a threatening fashion or any way that justified shooting him.

'This shooting has not been justified by the State.'

She criticised the Army's reaction at the time.

The farmer was not on any list as associated with the IRA and was an innocent man from a humble background

'Military witnesses wanted to support their colleagues so information was not readily volunteered.'

She praised members of the victim's family for their dignity.

'Patrick McElhone was a son and brother who tragically lost his life for no valid reason.'

This inquest, the second into Mr McElhone's death, was directed by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland in December 2018 as a result of an application to him by Mr McElhone's family.

The coroner said he lived at home with his parents and was a quiet young man with a social life.

Ms Keegan said the soldier had intended to shoot the victim and that there was no evidence he was running away

She said the regiment was in the area to look for 'anything or anyone' suspicious as part of general operations.

Military witnesses' evidence suggested a soldier wanted to question him and a cement lorry driver, who had just pulled up, together so sent his more junior colleague to get Mr McElhone back when the shooting happened.

There was no evidence the victim's name was on any list of those associated with the IRA.

He and his family were described by contemporaneous police accounts as law abiding.

The coroner said she could find no valid reason why the soldier who shot him once and the unarmed victim were in the field

Another member of the Army patrol who saw Mr McElhone earlier in the day in a field said he was a 'pleasant young man' who did not arise suspicions.

The coroner said she could find no valid reason why the soldier who shot him once and the unarmed victim were in the field.

She added he was not acting in accordance with 'yellow card' rules which governed the Army's engagements.

She made no finding on whether foul language and cheering was displayed by soldiers after the incident, which had previously been alleged.
To give Manchin his due, a more high-minded fear  shared by others in his caucus  is that we have just come through a long, ugly period of partisan norm-breaking. Surely the answer to Trumps relentless assaults on decorum, to Mitch McConnells rewriting of Senate rules, is a return to the comity they cast off, to the traditions theyve violated, to the bipartisanship they abandoned. A version of this may appeal to Biden, too: Trump stretched the boundaries of executive authority, so perhaps he should retreat, offering more deference to Congress and resisting opportunities to go it alone, even when stymied by Republicans. But if this is what he means by unity, it will just empower the merchants of division.

In their book, Howell and Moe write that this is a common, but dangerously counterproductive, response to populist challengers. Defenders of the political system, eager to show that normalcy has returned, often embrace the very defects and dysfunctions that gave rise to the populist leader in the first place. The nightmare scenario is that Trump is defeated, driven from office, and that augurs in an era when even less appears to get done, as Biden submits to congressional paralysis while embracing a calmer communications strategy. If Democrats permit that to happen, they will pave the road for the next Trump-like politician, one who will be yet more disciplined and dangerous than Trump.

Democrats for Democracy

Democracy is precious, Biden said at his inauguration. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

Its a stirring sentiment, but wrong. Democracy barely survived. If America actually abided by normal democratic principles, Trump would have lost in 2016, after receiving almost three million fewer votes than Hillary Clinton. The American people did not want this presidency, but they got it anyway, and the result was carnage. In 2020, Trump lost by about seven million votes, but if about 40,000 votes had switched in key states, he would have won anyway. The Senate is split 50-50, but the 50 Democrats represent more than 41 million more Americans than the 50 Republicans. This is not a good system.

Democracy is designed as a feedback loop. Voters choose leaders. Leaders govern. Voters judge the results, and they either return the leaders to power, or give their opponents a chance. That feedback loop is broken in American politics. It is broken because of gerrymandering, because of the Senate, because of the filibuster, because of the Electoral College, because we have declared money to be speech and allowed those with wealth to speak much more loudly than those without.

It is also broken because we directly disenfranchise millions of Americans. In the nations capital, 700,000 residents have no vote in the House or Senate at all. The same is true in Puerto Rico, which, with 3.2 million residents, is larger than 20 existing states. For decades, Democrats promised to offer statehood to residents of both territories, but have never followed through. It is no accident that these are parts of the country largely populated by Black and Hispanic voters. If Democrats believe anything they have said over the past year about combating structural racism and building a multiethnic democracy, then it is obvious where they must start.

It would be a devastating civil rights failure if we didnt achieve statehood now, Stasha Rhodes, the campaign director of 51 for 51, which advocates D.C. statehood, told me. It would also be a sign that Democrats are not interested in restoring and strengthening American democracy. We can no longer say Republicans are anti-democracy when we now have a chance to restore and create the democracy we say is important, and then we dont do it.
Logan, WV (25601)

Today

Thunderstorms - a few could contain very heavy rain, especially this afternoon. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High around 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.

A hunter who ran an illegal venison supply plant discovered just how deer his crime would cost him after being fined a staggering 6,000 (6,775).

And despite a judge remarking how the dodgy enterprise was making a substantial sum of money it emerged he was doing it all while claiming benefits!

Last year we revealed Co Tyrone man, Trevor Gannon was under investigation for failing to comply with food safety and traceability regulations.

He had also been facing made a charge of making false statement for the purpose of procuring the granting or variation of any firearms licence but that charge has since been withdrawn.

Gannon was brought to court by Derry City and Strabane District Council who called in the Environmental health team after police raided his property and found 12 deer carcasses.

The 45-year-old from Ashleigh Court, Castlederg admitted the offences at Strabane Magistrates Court.

The court heard police conducted a search on 16 January 2020, in the course of an investigation around firearms, poaching and money laundering.

In the course of this, officers discovered a walk-in cold-room containing the carcasses.

They contacted the councils Environmental Health team who confirmed no food processing business was registered at the address.

They attended and decided the operation went beyond personal use, after which the carcasses were seized.

Gannon, whos Facebook account is littered with him posing with dead deer, was written to and asked where the deer were shot and by whom, and other matters around storage cleanliness and temperature records.

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He failed to respond.

A second letter was sent advising of a hearing date and inviting Gannon to attend, but he again failed to respond.

Meanwhile records from a company called Edgewater Game Foods were examined which contained 27 pages detailing deer carcasses, indicating weight and species, from September 2018 to December 2019.

A total of 363 carcasses were logged and Gannon was named in connection with them all.

A prosecuting lawyer explained: On each and every page, the defendant is listed as the hunter / supplier.

On 12 June 2020 Gannon was interviewed by police on these and other matters, during which he denied shooting all the deer.

Asked directly who shot them, he replied I cant explain.

He admitted the deer had, passed through his commercial-style fridge.

The prosecutor stated: Evidence showed the business was being conducted on a large scale over 14 months and considering the premium, indicated a significant amount of money was involved

He described the operation as: Clearly clandestine and deliberately hidden from authorities. There was not a hint of legitimacy to the business  no advertising, business address, no revenue declared for tax purposes and no record at Companies House.

It was pointed out Gannon: Did not allow himself to be pinned down, refusing to disclose when or where the deer were shot. It was his intention to keep such information secret in an attempt to hide much wider criminality.

The defence contended his client is an accomplished hunter facing court on food production regulations breaches, although conceded other matters are with the PPS as a result of the police raid.

It seems he has been culling deer and selling it on without carrying out the necessary paperwork, the requirements of which are quite onerous.

District Judge Mark McGarrity remarked: With good reason, otherwise people like the defendant might just decide to commence their own enterprises.

This wasnt just someone hunting on a recreational basis, it was clearly a business with the means to store large quantities of deer and making substantial sums of money.

The defence said: That aspect is disputed. He says various other individuals were doing the same as him on a small scale. His place was being used by the supplier.

However, it was accepted the 12 carcases seized during the search belonged to Gannon.

Judge McGarrity imposed fines totalling 6000 (6,775) along with costs of 146 (164).
M. VARVITSIOTIS: The only thing we are discussing with Turkey is the delimitation of maritime zones

In an interview on THEMA 104.6 radio with journalist Giannis Pretenteris, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis discussed the upcoming exploratory talks between Greece and Turkey.

Mr. Varvitsiotis highlighted that it is vital for the climate that opened the way to the exploratory talks to be sustained. In other words, for there not to be an ongoing threat from Turkey. Asked about the potential for expansion of the agenda for the Greek-Turkish talks beyond the issue of maritime zones, he ruled this out categorically, stressing that We are absolutely clear on this. The only thing we are discussing with Turkey is the delimitation of maritime zones.

Regarding Cavusoglus visit to Brussels, the Alternate Minister underscored that Turkey has launched a charm offensive over the past month and a half. And this, he explained, is due to the decisions taken at the latest meeting of the European Council and the report to be presented by the Commission and Mr. Borrell at the European Council meeting of March 25. This report, he said, contains negative indications regarding Turkey in the sectors of human rights, the rule of law, good neighbourliness, free-market economy and combating corruption.
Jan. 27 update:

The Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office has identified 20-year-old Ruben Soto and 28-year-old Matthew Lopez as the two men found dead on an East Side street last week. Officials initially believed the young men to be in their teens.

Both men died from multiple gunshot wounds and the medical examiner listed their manner of death as homicide.

Original story:

An officer patrolling the East Side on Thursday discovered two dead teens lying in the middle of a street, San Antonio police said.

The officer found the bodies just after 2 a.m. in the 3oo block of Fredonia Street. According to police, the two individuals appeared to have been shot.

Police have not identified the two, but believe they are between the ages of 16 and 20.

Police have not released additional information pending the ongoing investigation but a sergeant at the scene said officers are treating the incident as suspicious deaths of a violent nature.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
The key to the incredible speed of a quantum computer lies in its ability to fabricate and manipulate quantum bits, or qubits, typically artificial particles such as ions, superconducting oscillators or protons. Quantum properties allow qubits to form entanglement, a phenomenon that provides far more processing power than the binary bits that drive today's classical computers. Specially designed quantum algorithms, which are lists of operations -- analogous to a cooking recipe -- that tell a computer to do something can further speed up calculations to accelerate scientific advances.

Unfortunately, quantum machines have a significant drawback: they are more error-prone than classical computers. Qubits are extremely fragile and difficult to control, and the slightest environmental disturbance, referred to as "noise," such as a vibration or change in temperature, results in persistent and relatively high error rates when executing an algorithm. As a result, today's quantum computing devices and those of the foreseeable future are referred to as Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) computers, because the noise inherent in the systems frequently produces incorrect results.

Yufei Ding, an assistant professor in UC Santa Barbara's Computer Science Department, has developed a plan to improve the efficiency and accuracy of quantum applications in the next generation of quantum devices. Her project, "A Top-Down Compilation Infrastructure for Optimization and Debugging in the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) Era," has now garnered a prestigious Early CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, which comes with $500,000 over five years to support her research.

"I am so excited to have the opportunity to deepen and widen my research on quantum computing with the NSF Early CAREER Award support," said Ding, who joined UCSB in 2017 after completing her Ph.D. at North Carolina State. "My interest and passion in quantum computing date back to the first quantum mechanics course I had as a physics undergraduate. Its fundamental beauty and how it reveals the operating mechanism behind the physics world around us just intrigue me. It is my deep belief that quantum computing will revolutionize the way we solve problems and being a part of that revolution is a dream coming true."

"We are extremely proud of Professor Yufei Ding for this tremendous recognition," said Rod Alferness, dean of UCSB's College of Engineering. "Professor Ding is a shining example of the high-quality junior faculty we have in the College of Engineering. Her work to address the existing challenges in programming and optimization will expand the frontiers of quantum research and impact future quantum computing applications."

In her project, Ding seeks to design state-of-the-art architecture to improve the stability of quantum computing by focusing on compilation and optimization. Compilation is the process by which a computer program takes a source code, written in one programming language, and translates it into a second language to create an executable file or outcome. Presently, the longer a quantum algorithm runs or compiles, the more its performance degrades because of noise in quantum devices. As a result, minimizing runtime and maximizing efficiency are critical.

"Our approach is to focus on the optimization of high-level algorithms and low-level hardware, which are two key components in the quantum compilation process," said Ding, who previously received an Early Career Researchers Award from the IEEE Computer Society's Technical Consortium on High Performance Computing. "We believe that a compilation infrastructure is the key to bridging those two components, forming a full-stack NISQ system that moves devices closer to attaining quantum supremacy."

Ding plans to create a new high-level programming language to optimize algorithms. A programming language provides a set of rules and principles to convert an algorithm's mathematical description into an action that is executable on a physical computer. Most programmers prefer high-level languages because they are closer to the spoken and written language of humans and easier to understand, write in and debug than low-level machine code, which is a series of binary numbers that tell a computer what to do. Ding intends for her language to also allow for autotuning, automatically selecting the best and most efficient implementation of a computation during the compilation process.

High-level languages allow programmers to operate quantum computers; however, the actual device-level control is performed via analog pulses, which stimulate the qubits to manipulate their state. Any operation that changes the state of a qubit to 0 and/or 1 is referred to as a quantum gate. In the second component of Ding's project, she and colleagues will focus on controlling pulses through low-level optimizations in order to improve efficiency and mitigate errors.

"We will leverage the fact that there are different pulse-level choices for implementing any particular gate and use them to improve their overall performance and mitigate errors," Ding explained.

The final thread of her research plan will develop advanced testing and debug support by creating runtime assertions and invariants. Assertions in programming language are conditions that must be true for a program to run correctly. If an assertion is false, then the code that follows will fail or result in an error to indicate the source of the defect. Invariants are conditions that must be true during the execution of a program, ensuring that a program is always in an expected state.

"The systematic projection-based runtime assertion and invariant generation will pave the way for automated quantum program analysis and bug detection at a much larger scale and benefit all quantum computing users and developers," said Ding, who added that the compilation stack created by this project could significantly impact the efficiency and accuracy of near-term quantum devices.

"Our work has the potential to benefit major quantum computing applications, such as quantum chemistry, and to expand to materials, finance and stochastic/numerical mathematics," said Ding. "The success of our agenda will enable a more complete and efficient software stack and support quantum applications on near-term devices."

###
A 15-year-old boy has been shot dead by a gang of youths in Birmingham sparking a massive police manhunt.

Gunshots reverberated through the Handsworth area of the city in broad daylight on Thursday afternoon before the suspects fled in a Ford hatchback.

Police said the teenager, who has not been named, was rushed to hospital but later died.

The suspects, who were also wielding knives, were forced to flee on foot after crashing their car into a house on a nearby road.

Police forensics examine the scene where the crashed getaway car was abandoned in Wheeler Street, Handsworth, Birmingham, on Thursday night

Police at the scene of the shooting on Linwood Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, tonight

An officer stands at the police cordon on Linwood Road in Handsworth tonight where the suspects crashed their getaway car

Officers raced to Linwood Road in the Handsworth area of the city shortly after 3.30pm.

Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas, from West Midlands Police, said: 'This level of violence in broad daylight on a residential street is inconceivable, let alone the fact that the target was a 15-year-old boy.

'We are leaving no stone unturned in our search for those responsible and I ask anyone who knows who they are to contact us.

'The family of the boy has had the worst shock imaginable today and we have specialist officers with them in their time of grief.'

The suspects fled in a white car, a Ford C-Max, which crashed into a house a short distance away in Wheeler Street.

No arrests have been made.

Paramedics treated the victim at the scene before taking him to hospital.

Forensics officers were tonight seen combing for clues as police officers conducted house-to-house enquiries.

West Midlands Police cordoned off Linwood Road in the Handsworth area following the shooting

Officers cordoned off a house on Wheeler Street in the Lozells area of Birmingham where a car crashed into a house

A police van on the scene in Birmingham tonight

The abandoned getaway car was also being examined.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'We received a number of calls to Linwood Road in Handsworth, at 3.39pm this afternoon.

'Three ambulances, a paramedic officer, a critical care paramedic and a emergency doctor attended and arrived on scene to find a male requiring emergency treatment.

'Ambulance crews provided advanced trauma care on scene before conveying him to hospital on blue lights.'

Anyone who saw what happened can contact police on 101.
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BROOKLYN, Ohio -- The sky is apparently the limit for Skyworks in Northeast Ohio. The Buffalo, N.Y.-based company last month opened its first area location, at 8650 Brookpark Road in Brooklyn.

Weve been looking at that area for a few years, Skyworks Marketing Manager Jeff Orlowski said. It has a lot to do with that general area being high with Takeuchi purchases.

The new Brooklyn store, a 17,000-square-foot building located on 2.5 acres with 15 employees, is the only authorized Takeuchi dealership in Northeast Ohio. The company sells and rents construction equipment.

Strategically, the location of the property fits within our business model, Orlowski said. Its highly visible and located on a busy retail street that sees over 20,000 vehicles per day.

Its also located near I-480, which not only allows Skyworks the ability to quickly and efficiently dispatch service techs and equipment, but also provides our customers with the same convenience.

Headquartered in Buffalo, Skyworks -- one of the largest national independent rental companies -- specializes in the sale, service and rental of commercial, industrial and residential construction equipment.

Skyworks is located at 8650 Brookpark Road in Brooklyn. (John Benson/cleveland.com)

Its service offering ranges from repairing and rebuilding equipment to onsite repairs, inspections and preventative-maintenance services.

The Brooklyn location is specifically a Takeuchi dealership, which really differs from our other locations, Orlowski said. Its dedicated for Takeuchi equipment -- along with general rental equipment.

Orlowski said also appealing is the Brooklyn branchs proximity to its Upstate New York headquarters, as well as the Pennsylvania border, offering to service the oil and gas industries.

Skyworks is in the process of opening four other Buckeye State stores.

We appreciate that Skyworks found value in the building and chose Brooklyn for its location in Greater Cleveland, Brooklyn Economic Development and Planning Director Jeremy Rowan said.

The building didnt remain empty for very long after Peterbilt relocated to a nearby location, he said. Brookpark Road continues to be a great location for a variety of industries and businesses due to its proximity to I-480 and position within Cuyahoga County.

Read more news from the Parma Sun Post.
Photo: The Canadian Press In this Dec. 18, 2020 photo, pipes to be used for the Keystone XL pipeline are stored in a field near Dorchester, Neb. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Chris Machian /Omaha World-Herald via AP

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is calling for the federal government to impose economic sanctions against the United States in response to newly inaugurated U.S. President Joe Biden's "gut punch" decision to tear up the permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline expansion.

"As friends and allies of the United States, we are deeply disturbed that one of President Biden's first actions in office has been to rescind the presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline border crossing. This is a gut punch for the Canadian and Alberta economies," Kenney said at a news conference late Wednesday.

"Sadly, it is an insult directed at the United States' most important ally and trading partner on Day 1 of a new administration."

Kenney said he was upset the U.S. wouldn't consult with Canada first before acting but saved his strongest criticisms for federal Liberals, whose statements in response to Biden's actions Kenny characterized as too accepting.

"If the U.S. government refuses to open the door to a constructive and respectful dialogue about these issues, then it is clear that the government of Canada must impose meaningful trade and economic sanctions in response to defend our country's economic interests," he said.

The lack of a strong response sets a precedent that could allow other members of Biden's government to call for other "retroactive" permit revocations for existing pipelines, Kenney said. Part of Keystone XL has been built but it is not complete, nor is it operating.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed disappointment at the news on Wednesday.

"While we welcome the president's commitment to fight climate change, we are disappointed but acknowledge the presidents decision to fulfil his election campaign promise on Keystone XL," he said in a brief statement that outlined previous efforts to make a case for the project to the incoming administration.

Biden's first phone call with a foreign leader will be with Trudeau, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday, noting that she expected the Keystone decision would be among matters under discussion.

Earlier in the day, TC Energy said Biden's action overturns extensive regulatory reviews that found the pipeline would transport needed energy in an environmentally responsible way and bolster North American energy security.

The Calgary-based company also warned the move would lead to the layoffs of thousands of union workers and comes despite the company's commitments to use renewable energy to power the pipeline and forge equity partnerships with Indigenous communities.

The Biden decision was condemned by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

"This action is killing thousands of Canadian and American jobs at a time when both economies badly need private investment," said CEO Tim McMillan in a statement.

Meanwhile, environmental groups applauded Biden's move.

"Killing the Keystone XL pipeline once and for all is a clear indication that climate action is a priority for the White House," said Dale Marshall, national climate program manager for Canada's Environmental Defence.

"We should take heed when the biggest customer for Canadas oil kills a pipeline that is already under construction. The Keystone XL pipeline never made sense for either the U.S. or Canada."

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said it's "incredibly troubling" that TC Energy has suspended work on Keystone XL. Federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole called the cancellation of the permit "devastating."

"We need to get as many people back to work, in every part of Canada, in every sector, as quickly as possible. The loss of this important project only makes that harder," O'Toole said.

The Business Council of Canada and the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada said in news releases they are disappointed.

Pulling the plug on a major project, hours after taking office, is a rocky starting point for resetting Canada/U.S. relations, said PCAC president Paul de Jong.

The association, whose member companies employ thousands of Alberta and B.C. construction workers, said the pipeline would have generated as many as 60,000 direct and indirect jobs in Canada and the United States.

"Canadian oil will be an important source of North American energy for decades to come, and will play a critical role as Canada and the United States work together to transition to a low-carbon economy," said Goldy Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada.

TC Energy approved spending US$8 billion in the spring of 2020 to complete Keystone XL after the Alberta government agreed to invest about US$1.1 billion (C$1.5 billion) as equity and guarantee a US$4.2-billion project loan.

Kenney has said the province has about $1 billion at risk if the project is killed.

The 1,947-kilometre pipeline is designed to carry 830,000 barrels a day of crude oil from Hardisty, Alta., to Steele City, Neb. From there it would connect with the company's existing facilities to reach the U.S. Gulf Coast  one of the world's biggest oil refining hubs.

TC Energy announced a plan Sunday for the Keystone XL project to achieve net-zero emissions by spurring an investment of over US$1.7 billion in communities along the Keystone XL footprint to create about 1.6 gigawatts of renewable electric capacity.

The Calgary-based company has also struck a deal with four labour unions to build the pipeline and has an agreement in place with five Indigenous tribes to take an ownership stake.

Some 200 kilometres of pipe have already been installed for the expansion, including across the Canada-U.S. border, and construction has begun on pump stations in Alberta and several U.S. states.

TC Energy said it will stop capitalizing costs, including interest during construction, effective Wednesday, and will evaluate the carrying value of its investment in the pipeline, net of project recoveries.

It says this will likely result in "substantive" mostly non-cash writedowns in its first-quarter financial results.

The company remains committed to growing earnings and dividends through its investments in critical energy infrastructure even without Keystone XL, said Francois Poirier, who took over as TC Energy CEO at the beginning of the year.

Our base business continues to perform very well and, aside from Keystone XL, we are advancing $25 billion of secured capital projects along with a robust portfolio of other similarly high-quality opportunities under development, Poirier said in a statement.

Biden was vice-president in 2015 when Barack Obama rejected Keystone XL for fear it would worsen climate change.

Then-U.S. president Trump approved it again in March 2019.
South Africa will pay $5.25 per dose for 1.5 million shots of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine from the Serum Institute of India (SII), a senior official said on Thursday, more than some wealthier countries are paying. Health department Deputy Director-General Anban Pillay told Reuters that SII's price was based on South Africa's status as an upper-middle-income country under a World Bank classification. The price is higher than the $3 a dose that South Africa and other countries on the continent are due to pay for the same vaccine under an African Union (AU) ...

The media almost unanimously fawned over Joe Biden and the events of inauguration day with some crying over it, calling it America's 'happy ending' and gushing over new press secretary Jen Psaki who was given a remarkably warm welcome on her first day after years of hostility between the media gaggle and the person at the briefing room podium.

Since Biden was inaugurated on Wednesday and even before then, some media outlets have relaxed their impartiality to welcome him and his administration with open arms.

Unsurprisingly, many belong to the organizations that President Trump made enemies of throughout his presidency.

But there was a huge amount of gushing over Biden on Wednesday, the likes of which Trump's team - specifically his combative press secretaries - could only have dreamed of.

The outpouring will do nothing to restore any kind of trust in the media among Republican voters who have become turned off by the relentlessly anti-Trump coverage of the last four years.

Politico columnist Jack Shafer on Thursday called for 'a little sobriety' from his colleagues in the media.

'CNN glowed almost as brightly about the event as a state media would have.

'MSNBC worked from the same script, going gaga for not just Lady Gaga but the whole schmear.

'Everyone can all appreciate that the coverage was minted at the honeymoon pressworks journalists fire up for most new presidents, so in that sense the outbursts came as no surprise.

'But this doesnt excuse the rhetorical overkill that the press flung so profligately,' he wrote.

WEEPING ON AIR AND MAKING FUN OF TRUMP STAFFERS

News anchors barely kept it together throughout the day.

Rachel Maddow, a well known Trump critic, confessed on her show that she worked through half a box of Kleenex while watching the day's events.

'I'm a faucet that can't turn off!' she said.

ABC News Byron Pitts drew criticism for calling Biden the nation's 'papa in chief' after listening to his inaugural address.

Rachel Maddow told Joy Reid she was like a 'faucet' who couldn't stop crying and had worked through half a box of Kleenex

CNN's David Challian said on Tuesday night that the long stretches of lights at the Lincoln Memorial to honor COVID-19 were like 'almost extensions of Joe Bidens arms embracing America'

Al Roker first bumps President Biden as he makes his way towards the White House on Wednesday

'I thought from Joe Biden today, certainly he was commander in chief, but he was also papa in chief. He gave a speech to comfort the nation,' he said.

Joy Reid added: 'I have to tell you, I was a bit worried about this inaugural having a feeling about just being the resistance to what we saw on 1/6, just an answer to that.

'But what the organizers of this event managed to do is they gave us that but they gave us joy.

'They gave us fashion. They gave us celebrity. They gave us hope.'

CNN's David Challian said on Tuesday night that the long stretches of lights at the Lincoln Memorial to honor COVID-19 were like 'almost extensions of Joe Bidens arms embracing America.'

He gushed: 'It was a moment where the new president came to town, and sort of convened the country in this moment of remembrance, outstretching his arms.'

ABC News Byron Pitts drew criticism for calling Biden the nation's 'papa in chief' after listening to his inaugural address

Joe Scarborough on Morning Joe laughed with the Press Secretary Jen Psaki. They made fun of Sean Spicer by Scarborough saying: 'I must say we were all disappointed that there were not overhead photos of crowd sizes'

CBS's John Dickerson called the election result 'America's happy ending'.

Even Fox - which was notoriously pro-Trump - hosted thoroughly starry-eyed contributors.

Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen said: 'We're a country has that been wounded by rancor and division. He was like a soothing balm.'

Jake Tapper said while Biden visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: 'I cannot imagine that President Biden was not thinking of his favorite soldier, Beau Biden, his son, who died of cancer, who was a major in the Army Reserve, and for whom he mourns greatly,' he said.

Al Roker fist bumped Biden as he walked past him on the Mall.

'SOFTBALL' QUESTIONS FOR NEW PRESS SECRETARY WHO USED TO WORK AT CNN

Jen Psaki, the new White House Press Secretary, who used to work at CNN and who has been embraced with open arms by the press after vowing to work collaboratively with them at her first briefing

New White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki started on the job by promising not to attack the media - as Trump's reps did - and by charming them at the end of the briefing, saying at the end of her press conference, 'let's do this again tomorrow.'

It was a far cry from the unpredictable press schedule the Trump administration worked off of and the media ate it up.

Psaki worked at CNN for three years as a political commentator.

On Wednesday, her first question was from The Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller.

'Do you see yourself--your primary role as promoting the interest of the president, or are you there to provide us the unvarnished truth so that we can share that with the American people?' he asked.

American trust in the media hits an all-time low with just 18% Trust in the media is at an all time low, with less than half of all Americans and just 18 percent of Republicans saying they trust traditional media outlets. The new data from Edelman's 2021 Trust Barometer was shared with Axios, and found that trust in social media has also hit an all-time low of just 27 percent. 'This is the era of information bankruptcy,' said Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman, in a statement. 'We've been lied to by those in charge, and media sources are seen as politicized and bias[ed]. The result is a lack of quality information and increased divisiveness,' he said. The poll found that 56 percent of Americans agree with the statement that 'Journalists and reporters are purposely trying to mislead people by saying things they know are false or gross exaggerations.' Nearly the same share, 58 percent, think that 'most news organizations are more concerned with supporting an ideology or political position than with informing the public.' These figures are close to the average across 27 countries included in the Edelman survey, indicating that fading trust in the media is not an American phenomenon. Republican trust in traditional media plunged following the 2020 election, when Donald Trump pressed claims of election theft that were not borne out by facts, and were rejected by traditional media outlets. Advertisement

Spicer did not take questions at his first press conference in January 2017 but he complained about the coverage of the inauguration and the fact the media said the crowd size was small.

When he did take questions for the first time three days later, his feet were held to the fire.

Other questions Psaki was asked included;

'Could you just give us some color about what it was like for him going into the Oval Office?

'He's been waiting for this for so long. What was his reaction?'

'How does President Biden plan to recover the United States' image around the world, and what is his priority globally?'

There were other questions about COVID-19, the death penalty and what Biden's relationship with the Senate will be like.

At Spicer's first briefing - three days after Trump took office - he was asked first if he would tell the truth, then;

'Of all the policy actions that the president could have taken, [he] chose to reinstate the Mexico City policy [banning U.S. funding for groups that provide abortions overseas].

'What message is he sending here? Does he see the elimination or reduction of abortions as American value?'

'On government spending, there have been reports that you might be looking at $10 trillion over the course of 10 years? Is that accurate?

'And would you be willing to wrap up entitlements to get there?'

'Theres some discrepancy between what the Russians are saying and what the Pentagon is saying in terms of some potential joint action? Can you clarify that?

'And generally, is the president open to joint action in Syria with the Russians?'

On Thursday morning, Psaki went on Morning Joe on MSNBC where Joe Scarborough made fun of Sean Spicer and his first briefing - where he complained about the coverage of the crowd size.

'I must say, we were all disappointed that there were not overhead photos of crowd sizes,' Scarborough said, which won a laugh from Psaki.

SOCIAL MEDIA FAWNING OVER 'INSPIRING FIREWORKS' AND THE REST

Journalists gushed on their social media accounts about the occasion.

CNNs head of communications Matt Dornic went as far as to call the fireworks from the inauguration something that will 'inspire our friends and shake our foes'.

CNNs head of communications Matt Dornic went as far as to call the fireworks from the inauguration something that will 'inspire our friends and shake our foes'

He was ridiculed for the dramatic remark.

CNN's Jim Acosta posted a throwback photo to Sean Spicer's aforementioned briefing where he refused to take questions and said: 'Exactly four years ago...people tend to remember only Spicer's obvious lie that Trump had the biggest inaugural crowd size.

'But it was also the day the Trump admin began attacking members of the press from the WH briefing room.'
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ALBANY, N.Y, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A rise in the number of minimally invasive procedures along with surgical procedures is foreseen to trigger expansion of the global ligation devices market over the timeframe of analysis, from 2020 to 2028. There has been increasing cases of cardiac, urological, gynecological, and gastrointestinal surgery procedures requiring ligation devices for treatment and diagnosis. In addition, there has been considerable prevalence in aging related diseases, which is likely to open up avenues of growth for the global ligation devices market over the analysis timeframe, from 2020 to 2028. Rising demand for endoscopic procedures is anticipated to be another growth factor for the market.

Ligation device is usually utilized in tying a blood vessel or duct in a bid to avert bleeding during a medical or surgical process. These devices are made in such a fashion that it offers optimum surgical experience to patients. Ligation devices find use in urological, gynecological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and abdominal surgeries. Assisting healthcare practitioners attain good grip of tissue during the process of minimally invasive placement of ligation devices and surgeries is emerging as an important focus area of market participants. As such, players in the global ligation devices market are tweaking their technical and engineering expertise to better medical outcomes.

Request for Analysis of COVID-19 Impact on Ligation Devices Market  https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/covid19.php

The global ligation devices market is estimated to be considerably influenced by its increasing use in endoscopic procedures. The market is estimated to expand at a growth rate of ~6% CAGR over the forecast period, from 2020 to2028.

Key Findings of Ligation Devices Market Study

Increased Demand for Use in Treatment Procedures to Accelerate Market Growth

In addition to use of ligation devices in urological and gynecological surgeries, companies in the global ligation devices market are making use of the demand generated by the treatment procedure of varicose veins. Such treatments are creating new streams of revenue generation by bettering the capabilities of production and come up with self-ligating orthodontic brackets. Besides, growing popularity of precision ablation utilizing vessel ligation devices is likely to emerge as another growth factor for the global ligation devices market over the forecast timeline, from 2020 to 2028.

Request Brochure of Ligation Devices Market Report - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/brochure.php

Increased Government Support for Elective Surgeries to Bolster Demand

Many countries, especially in Europe, support elective surgeries as these surgeries are chosen by patients. Governments are making considerable investment to offer hassle-free access to patients for availing these surgeries. Rise in incidences of chronic diseases together with an increasing number of patients opting for surgeries has caused much of a technical and financial burden on the global healthcare systems. In addition, shortage of hospital beds, doctors and other resources have further augmented the problem. As such, government agencies are taking initiatives and providing grants, funds to hospital, and other medical organizations to better access to elective surgeries. These initiatives are meant to lessen healthcare cost and waiting times. All these factors are likely to play important role in fostering growth of the global ligation devices market in the forthcoming years.

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High Cost of Ligation Devices to Restrain Growth of the Market

The price of ligation devices and various other surgical devices are quite high, which exerts considerable financial burden on both the healthcare system and the patient. Besides, government programs and insurance companies cover a part of the expenses but not the entire cost. This factor is estimated to restrain growth of the global ligation devices market in the near future.

Ligation Devices Market: Key Driving Factors

Long procedure of FDA approval and strict regulatory requirements discourage makers of litigation devices in the U.S. and they explore options in other regions to introduce their products.

Ligation devices find extensive use in minimal invasive surgeries in various fields, such as laparoscopic procedures, gynecology, flexible endoscopic procedures, vascular disease, and others

Ligation Devices Market: Key Market Participants

Some of the prominent industry players in the global ligation devices market are Teleflex Incorporated, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Stryker Corporation, Genicon, Inc., Olympus Corporation, and Medtronic Plc.

Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Healthcare Industry:

Gynecological Devices Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/gynecological-devices-market.html

Surgical Sutures Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/surgical-sutures-market.html

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LogRhythm, the company powering todays security operations centers (SOCs), announced it has been honored on Built Ins 2021 list of the 100 Best Places To Work in Colorado. The annual awards recognize companies of all sizes, from startups to the enterprise, in the eight largest technology markets and nationally.

Employee engagement has always been important to LogRhythm. Given the challenges in 2020, we doubled down on efforts to support our employees as much as possible, said Melissa Garza, vice president of human resources at LogRhythm. Transparent communication from leadership and initiatives focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion  as well as healthy minds  took priority. No matter what the future holds, these employee-centric programs will remain a priority.

Technology professionals rely on Built Ins Best Places to Work lists to discover employers that align with their preferences, passions and values. Built In develops the lists based on an algorithm, using company data about compensation, benefits and cultural programs. To reflect the attributes candidates are searching for on Built In today, this years program weighted certain criteria more heavily, like remote opportunities and programs for diversity, equity and inclusion.

These companies raise the bar for cultural excellence and the ability to adapt to meet changing needs of employees," says Sheridan Orr, Chief Marketing Officer, Built In. The 2021 winners show a commitment not just to creating meaningful cultures but to delivering talent needs as they change in a dynamic landscape. Were thrilled to extend our congratulations to the winners.

LogRhythm is currently hiring for positions in several departments, including product, sales, finance and operations, all of which can be found on the companys Built In Colorado page. To learn more about LogRhythm, please visit the website.

About Built In

Built In, a revolution in tech recruitment, serves more than 1,800 innovative companies of all sizes, from startups to the enterprise, delivering content and digital recruitment solutions that work. The platform amplifies companies brands as national, local or remote employers of choice, as well as leaders in DEI. Monthly, 2.5 million tech professionals rely on Built In to stay up on trends, grow in their roles and discover companies with missions they want to join. The platform publishes stories about companies tech, culture and people. This activates sought-after professionals to apply to customers open roles. https://www.builtin.com

About Built Ins Best Places To Work

Built Ins esteemed Best Places to Work awards, now in its third year, honor companies across numerous categories: 100 Best Places to Work, 50 Best Small Places to Work, 100 Best Midsize Places to Work, 50 Companies with the Best Benefits and 50 Best Paying Companies. Two new national categories reflect what candidates are searching for, including 100 Best Large Companies to Work For and 50 Best Remote-First Places to Work.

Best Places To Work: Methodology

Built In ranks companies algorithmically based on compensation information, benefits and culture programs. This year, based on data showing tech professionals needs, the Best Places to Work algorithm added weight to companies commitment to DEI and remote culture. Rank is determined by combining a companys score in each of these categories.

About LogRhythm

LogRhythms award-winning NextGen SIEM Platform delivers comprehensive security analytics; user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA); network detection and response (NDR); and security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) within a single, integrated platform for rapid detection, response, and neutralization of threats. Built by security professionals for security professionals, LogRhythm enables security professionals at leading organizations NASA, Xcel Energy and Temple University to promote visibility for their cybersecurity program and reduce risk to their organization each and every day. LogRhythm is the highest-ranked provider for customer satisfaction in G2 Researchs grid report for SIEM. To learn more, please visit logrhythm.com.


This is the founding statement of the Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee. We call on all Chicago educators, parents and students to join our committee at wsws.org/edsafety. Attend and help build for our next meeting this Saturday, January 23, at 12 p.m. Central Time.

For months, the Democratic Party, which controls all the levers of political power in Chicago and Illinois, has been on a collision course with teachers, parents and the broader working class across the city and the state. Despite the uncontrolled spread of the novel coronavirus and countless national and international studies pointing to the dangers of opening schools, Governor J.B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot are resuming in-person instruction.

Chicago teachers march during 2019 strike. (Image credit: wsws.org)

This week saw the cumulative COVID-19 death toll in the US reach 400,000. Schools in Europe are closing as additional evidence emerges of the obvious: the reopening of schools is rapidly spreading infections as new, more contagious forms of the illness emerge.

Whats taking place in Chicago is a frontal assault on the working class, and part of the bipartisan effort to stampede children back into schools and parents back into workplaces in New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and other cities, so that businesses can return to producing profits. We need to get the schools open, so that parents, and particularly women, Bidens top economic advisor Brian Deese said last week, can get back to work.

With a citywide testing positivity rate close to 10 percent, and closer to 20 percent in many working class neighborhoods, Chicago Public Schools officials have ordered all pre-K through eighth grade teachers without district-approved medical exceptions back into buildings this month, regardless of their familys health conditions. The district is pressing for more than 70,000 K-8 students to return February 1.

Educators who have refused to return to school buildings have had their pay docked and been locked out of their CPS Google accounts so they cannot teach their students remotely. In order to silence dissent, CPS is disciplining teachers who speak to parents about disease risk and the poor quality of CPS hybrid learning with third and fourth step disciplinary procedures, reserved for the most serious forms of misconduct, which could lead to suspension or termination.

In the face of this campaign of intimidation, the Chicago Teachers Union has done nothing to defend educators, or students and communities.

That the CTU finally held a vote in the House of Delegates on a possible strike is a response to the widespread anger over the provocative reopening plan. There is mass sentiment for a fight among Chicago educators and in the wider working class, including parents, but the CTU has no intention of leading any real fight. We dont need endless rhetoric, we need collective action to protect lives.

Educators are taking action to save lives!

That is why we have formed the Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee and why we urge all Illinois educators to do the same. The purpose of our committee is to unite Chicago educators with manufacturing, transportation, health care and other workers to prepare collective action to stop the murderous policy of reopening schools in the midst of a pandemic.

This includes the preparation of a general strike to shut schools and non-essential industries and demand full compensation for all workers and the resources needed to vaccinate the population, address the critical social needs of students and parents and provide high-quality remote learning until the pandemic is under control.

The Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee rejects the lie that there is no money for these life-saving necessities. From the beginning of the pandemic, the concern of the political establishment, from Trump and the US Congress, to state and local officials from both parties, has been to shore up the stock market and the private fortunes of the corporate and financial oligarchy that runs America.

The Democrats and Republicans found trillions to bail out Wall Street, the big hospital chains, airlines and other giant corporations while providing a pittance to workers and their families facing the worst social and economic catastrophe since the Great Depression. Since March, Americas billionaires have seen their net worth rise by more than $1 trillion, due to the rise in the stock markets fueled by the bailout cash given to corporations. Illinois billionaires who saw their wealth increase include Ken Griffin; Thomas, Penny and J.B. Pritzker; Sam Zell; Mark Walter; Joseph Grendys; Steven Sarowitz; and Joe Mansueto. Over the same period, more than 400,000 have died, understaffed hospitals were overwhelmed and 50 million Americans, including 17 million children, went hungry.

Society can no longer afford the rich! The private fortunes of these pandemic profiteers should be used for social benefit of the population as a whole.

In addition to schools and nursing homes, factories and other industrial locations are the biggest spreaders of the deadly virus, according to state contact tracing data that only came to light through an accidental leak to a journalist. Hundreds, if not thousands, of workers have been infected at Amazon, UPS, Chicago Transit Authority, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, JBS, Tyson and other companies.

Workers at Fords Chicago Assembly Plant have already established their own rank-and-file safety committee, independent of the United Auto Workers union, which has kept workers in infected factories despite the COVID-19 deaths of dozens of workers. The committee is part of a growing national and international network of committees among autoworkers, Amazon, health care, transit workers and educators in New York City, Michigan, Texas, California, Alabama and other areas.

Our committees are democratically controlled by workers ourselves, not corrupt union officials who falsely claim to represent us while imposing the dictates of management.

CTU: fact vs. myth

It has been ten years since the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) took over the CTU. It is time to evaluate its record. For all the empty rhetoric about social justice, promotion of identity politics and backing from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the CTU has accepted the reopening of the schools and the victimization of militant teachers. This is after years of accepting school closures, mass layoffs and the expansion of charter schools.

At the same time, CTU President Jesse Sharkey and Vice President Stacy Davis Gates promote Biden as a savior when Chicago teachers have had ample, bitter experience with Obamas and Bidens education team in Arne Duncan and Rahm Emanuel.

Our committee is completely independent of both corporate-controlled parties. The January 6 storming of the US Capitol, a fascist attempt to overthrow the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, is the outcome of months of agitation by Trump to mobilize right-wing forces against school and business closures and other basic public health measures that conflict with the profit interests of big business.

Far from calling on workers to mobilize against this fascist danger, Biden is calling for bipartisan unity with Trumps Republican co-conspirators. Biden and the Democrats defend corporate America and fear nothing more than a well-informed and determined movement of workers and young people fighting to defend our democratic and social rights.

But this is exactly what is needed. Educators, students, parents, and all workers across Chicago, Illinois and northwest Indiana should join us now and take up the following demands:

 Immediately close all schools and all truly non-essential workplaces with no loss of income for workers! The science is clear: closing schools and non-essential workplaces saves lives. They must remain closed until the threat to public health is over and rank-and-file safety committees, working in conjunction with trusted scientists and public health experts, can ensure the safety of children, teachers and all workers.

 Free Rebekah Jones and defend all those who speak out against or refuse to work in unsafe conditions! There is massive opposition everywhere, but many fear speaking up. Teachers know they will be targeted for discipline and abuse and they know the unions will do nothing to defend them. Florida whistleblower Rebekah Jones, the founder of The COVID Monitor, has been framed up and jailed for exposing outbreaks. Now she is sick with COVID-19. All educators, students, or workers who reveal, speak out against or refuse to work under unsafe conditionswhether in schools, factories, warehouses, hospitals or officesmust be defended against any victimization by employers or state officials. Hands off Rebekah Jones and all workers. Those who have been victimized must be rehired with back pay.

 Fully fund high-quality online public education, including free high-speed Internet access for all! The state of virtual learning is a disgrace. High quality public education for all is a social right! Computer hardware, software, broadband internet access, and adequate training and support must be provided to all teachers, students and parents for free. Class sizes must be reduced. Thousands of educators, staff and tech workers across the region must be hired to make this a reality.

 Full income protection for parents who choose to stay home! Educators are not oblivious to the needs of parents, the corporate-controlled politicians are! Full income must be provided to those who cannot work because they choose to stay home with children. Unemployment benefits and additional forms of assistance must be increased to protect families, and a permanent moratorium put in place to stop all evictions and home foreclosures.

 Publish all existing information about the spread of COVID-19 in schools and workplaces in the most comprehensive and accessible form possible! We now know that behind the scenes, Illinois and other states are carefully tracking COVID-19 outbreaks. But the information, when it is published at all, is only partially reported, part of a conscious attempt to conceal and downplay the danger. COVID-19 outbreaks are never limited to one school, one household or one workplace. The opposite is true: all outbreaks are connected in one continuous process of transmission. To protect ourselves and our families, we require a complete and precise picture of the spread of COVID-19 in and across all locations, easily accessible to everyone.

 Hire and train nurses and expand hospital capacity to meet demand! Patients must not be allowed to die in hallways awaiting treatment, and nurses and doctors must not be subjected to the psychological trauma. The resources hoarded by the rich must be used to hire and train medical professionals, build emergency facilities to meet medical needs and fully vaccinate the population.

Get involved!

The catastrophe can be stopped! Through rational and scientific action on the part of the working class, infection rates can be slowed. Every measure must be taken to immediately contain the virus and save as many lives as possible until the vaccine becomes widely available.

We call on all educators and support staff, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, nurses, secretaries, classroom aides, janitors, cooks, school psychologists, social workers, and workers from all industries, to join our network and build rank-and-file safety committees in your school or workplace.

Fill out the Join form at wsws.org/edsafety. Whether you are a teacher or other school worker, an autoworker, health care worker, or you work in another industry, we will put you in touch with a committee in your industry or help you establish a new one.
A popular restaurant chain in Australia has been forced to close an inner-city store in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

Liquidators from Chifley Advisory Australia were sent in last month after Saffron Felix Joop Investments, which formerly traded as Din Tai Fung and ran a restaurant in Central Park, Chippendale, went into administration, The Australian reported.

Din Tai Fung took a major hit like all Australian hospitality business earlier this year, when restaurants were ordered to close in March in a bid by government to slow the spread of the Covid pandemic.

A popular restaurant chain in Australia has steamed its last dumpling with Din Tai Fung going bust in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Pictured: Din Tai Fung Greenwood Plaza

The worldwide restaurant business which started in Taiwan in 1956, has eateries throughout Asian, the US and the UK.

In Australia Din Tai Fung has nine restaurants across Sydney and one in Melbourne, all of which are trading as usual.

The coronavirus crisis had a major impact on trade in Australia and at its stores across the globe, but the pandemic wasn't the only factor in the demise of the dumpling chain Down Under.

Earlier reports suggested another popular dumpling chain, Lotus, had gone into administration, but it has since clarified only a defunct holding company is being liquidated.

'The seven restaurants are trading as usual and are busy preparing for Lunar New Year events over the coming weeks,' Lotus told Daily Mail Australia.

Former Subway store on Wrexham High Street set to be Moroccan bar and restaurant

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Jan 21st, 2021

Plans have been submitted to Wrexham Council to convert the old Subway store on High Street in Wrexham town centre into a new restaurant.

Developers explain, We intend to change the use of this unit from what was a Subway fast food establishment to a Moroccan theme/style authentic bar and restaurant

The creation of a roof terrace is mentioned in the brief planning application, with extra work detailed, Construction of further iron railings in compliance with current safety standards around the glazed skylight and any exposed or unsafe areas surrounding the roof space

The 665 square foot unit has been derelict since Subway left, and appears to have recently been successfully marketed by estate agents Legat Owen.





Councillors will consider the proposals at a Planning Committee at a future date.

Top pic: The empty unit on the right of the image.
Bengaluru, Jan 21 : Elated over the Karnataka High Court's observation on the ban on cow slaughter is 'constitutionally valid', Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has said the court's observation has come as a 'major boost' to the BJP government.

"The development in the High Court on Wednesday clears hurdles for the government to effectively implement the cow slaughter ordinance," Yediyurappa said in a statement on Wednesday.

On January 5, the state government promulgated the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Ordinance, which bans slaughter of cows, proposes hefty fine and punishment for slaughtering, smuggling cattle and offers protection to those 'acting in good faith' to save them.

According to Yediyurappa, the Court, after hearing the advocate general, observed that the issue relating to ban on cow slaughter was affirmed by the Supreme Court in Mirzapur's case as being constitutionally-valid.

"The state government contended before the court that the ordinance was in consonance with the directive principles of state policy in the Constitution," he said.

"And as per the 2019 census, 2,38,296 cattle are being slaughtered annually and on an average, it works out to 652 cattle per day," the CM claimed.

He also added that the state government is working on ear-tagging cattle under the Centre's Information Network for Animal Productivity and Health (INAPH) scheme.

"Ear-tagging of cattle is undertaken using Radio-frequency identification (RFID) conforming to Bureau of India Standards, and out of total cattle population of 1,15,53,564, about 96,00,000 cattle are ear-tagged and the work is in progress," he said.

The Chief Minister further said that the government also submitted to the High Court that there were 4,212 veterinary institutions throughout the state headed by veterinary officers and inspectors available on call, with 176 mobile clinics.

The court, however, observed that the government must ensure that no coercive action is taken against farmers who transport animals for animal husbandry, agriculture, and other bona fide purposes until the rules are framed under the provisions of the ordinance, Yediyurappa said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Biden became the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday, declaring that democracy has prevailed. He swore the oath of office to take the helm of a deeply divided nation and inheriting a confluence of crises arguably greater than any faced by his predecessors.

Bidens inauguration came at a time of national tumult and uncertainty, a ceremony of resilience as the hallowed American democratic rite unfurled at a U.S. Capitol battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks ago. On a chilly Washington day dotted with snow flurries, a bipartisan trio of ex-presidents along with the elite of nations government gathered, ensuring the quadrennial ceremony persevered, even though it was encircled by security forces evocative of a war zone and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed, Biden said. This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.

And then he pivoted to challenges ahead, acknowledging the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States. Biden looked out over a capital city dotted with empty storefronts that attest to the pandemics deep economic toll and where summer protests laid bare the nations renewed reckoning on racial injustice.

And he was not applauded by his predecessor.

Flouting tradition, Donald Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning ahead of the inauguration rather than accompany his successor to the Capitol. Though three other former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama  gathered to watch the ceremonial transfer of power, Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, instead flew to Florida after stoking grievance among his supporters with the lie that Bidens win was illegitimate.

Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. On his first day, Biden will take a series of executive actions  on the pandemic, climate, immigration and more  to undo the heart of Trumps agenda at a moment with the bonds of the republic strained.

Biden will face a series of urgent, burning crises like we have not seen before, and they all have to be solved at once. It is very hard to find a parallel in history, said presidential historian Michael Beschloss. I think we have been through a near-death experience as a democracy. Americans who will watch the new president be sworn in are now acutely aware of how fragile our democracy is and how much it needs to be protected.

Biden will come to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in Washington. At age 78, he was the oldest president inaugurated.

More history was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.

The two will be sworn in during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels in history.

Tens of thousands of troops are on the streets to provide security precisely two weeks after a violent mob of Trump supporters, incited by the Republican president, stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of Bidens victory.

The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Lincoln, who was secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil War, or Roosevelts inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure ceremony at the White House in the waning months of World War II.

The day began with a reach across the aisle after four years of bitter partisan battles under Trump. At Bidens invitation, congressional leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer in the socially distanced service just a few blocks from the White House.

Once at the Capitol, Biden will be administered the oath by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris will be sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike Pence, standing in for Trump, was sitting nearby as Lady Gaga, holding a gold microphone, sang the National Anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.

The theme of Bidens approximately 30-minute speech will be America United, and aides said it would be a call to set aside differences during a moment of national trial.

Biden will then oversee a Pass in Review, a military tradition that honors the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander in chief. Then, Biden, Harris and their spouses will be joined by that bipartisan trio of former presidents to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony.

Later, Biden will join the end of a slimmed-down inaugural parade as he moves into the White House. Because of the pandemic, much of this years parade will be a virtual affair featuring performances from around the nation.

In the evening, in lieu of the traditional glitzy balls that welcome a new president to Washington, Biden will take part in a televised concert that also marks the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

I protested 45s inauguration, and I wanted to be here when he left, said Raelyn Maxwell of Park City, Utah. And I wanted to celebrate the new president. She brought a bouquet of roses she hoped to toss to Harris and some champagne to toast the occasion.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. Trump is en route to his Mar-a-Lago Florida Resort. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)AP

Trump is the first president in more than a century to skip the inauguration of his successor. In a cold wind, Marine One took off from the White House and soared above a deserted capital city to his own farewell celebration at nearby Joint Base Andrews. There, he boarded Air Force One for the final time as president for the flight to his Florida estate.

I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening and I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better, said Trump, who wished the incoming administration well but once again declined to mention Bidens name.

The symbolism was striking: The very moment Trump disappeared into the doorway of Air Force One, Biden stepped out of the Blair House, the traditional guest lodging for presidents-in-waiting, and into his motorcade for the short ride to church.

Trump did adhere to one tradition and left a note for Biden in the Oval Office, according to the White House, which did not release its contents. And Trump, in his farewell remarks, hinted at a political return, saying we will be back in some form.

And he, without question, will shadow Bidens first days in office.

Trumps second impeachment trial could start as early as this week. That could test the ability of the Senate, poised to come under Democratic control, to balance impeachment proceedings with confirmation hearings and votes on Bidens Cabinet choices.

Biden was eager to go big early, with an ambitious first 100 days that includes a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion virus relief package. On Day One, hell also send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally.

He also planned a 10-day blitz of executive orders on matters that dont require congressional approval  a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to unwind the Trump years. Among the planned steps: rescinding travel restrictions on people from several predominantly Muslim countries; rejoining the Paris climate accord; issuing a mask mandate for those on federal property; and ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from their families after crossing the border.

Tracking positive global cues, the Indian market hit a fresh high on January 21 but D-Street failed to keep the momentum going as investors preferred to book profits at higher levels.

The S&P BSE Sensex closed in the red after hitting 50,184, the first time it hit 50,000. The index ended 167 points lower at 49,624, while the Nifty50 was down 54 points at 14,590.

Sectorally, the action was seen in consumer durables, capital goods, while profit booking was visible in telecom, metals, realty, public sector and oil & gas.

Investors should not mistake the dip with a top because there is plenty of upside, considering the fact that the economy is on a strong recovery path.

Sensex@50,000 is great news not only for the market and investors but for the economy also. Markets are barometers of the economy with the potential to discount the future. If this is true, the Indian economy is on a strong recovery path, Dr VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services told Moneycontrol.

If the recovery in growth and corporate earnings, currently underway in India, gathers momentum, the markets may surprise on the upside but it is important to appreciate that the market is overvalued from the short-term perspective, he said.

Vijayakumar further added that at high levels, the market is vulnerable to a correction. Investors can use the euphoria to get rid of low-grade stocks from the portfolio.

Here is what experts think that investors should do on January 22:

Ashis Biswas, Head of Technical Research at CapitalVia Global Research Limited

The market manages to hold above 14,600 (the Nifty level). Sustaining above 14,600 is the key and should attract further liquidity into the market to propel the ongoing long-term positive trend.

The market should gain momentum and extend the rally till 14,800-14,930. We observed that volatility expanded in todays trading session but market breadth will stay positive, strengthening the view of a short-term bullish outlook

Rahul Sharma, Head  Technical & Derivatives Research, JM Financial Services

What a day for Sensex to hit 50k on the 21st Day of the 21st Year, of the 21st Century. We believe this is more of a psychological milestone though an important one.

Since booking profit is better than looking at the profit, we advise to take some profits around Nifty at 14,800-15,000 and keep portfolios hedged with the Nifty Put Options of February Expiry.

As a budget strategy for traders, it is best to buy the expectation and sell the realisation. Maintain a trailing stop loss of 14,440 for positional longs in the Nifty.

Chandan Taparia, Vice President | Analyst-Derivatives at Motilal Oswal Financial Services Limited

The Nifty formed an Out Side Bar on a daily scale, which indicates a volatile swing in the market that could continue in the run-up to the budget.

Now, the index has to continue to hold above 14,500 zones to extend its move towards 14,750 then 15,000 zones, while on the downside, immediate support exists at 14,450 and 14350 levels.

Manish Hathiramani, proprietary index trader and technical analyst, Deen Dayal Investments

We witnessed nervousness around the 14,750 and the Nifty erased all its gains to close in the red. However, the trend continues to remain positive and we still have a pending target of 14,800-14,900.

Since the support of 14,300 continues to hold, a favourable risk to reward trade can be initiated with a target of 14,800 and a stop for a close below 14,300.

: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
A look at some of the major movers in London on Monday

PLC ( ) shares rocketed 71% to 26.5p, prompting the board to put out a statement about the share price move.

The sharp movement was not triggered by any news flow and One Heritages board said it knew of no specific reason for this significant increase.

"We reiterate what we have said before that we continue to experience strong demand for our properties, especially from overseas buyers. We have seen no sign of demand slowing in 2021 and expect to have a strong year for property sales and reservations, said Jason Upton, the chief executive officer of One Heritage.

1.55pm: Xtract Resources soars after latest Bushranger Project drilling update

( ) was Londons top riser in the afternoon, soaring 85% to 7.4p after its latest drilling update.

Drilling of the first of three holes on the Phase One Drilling Programme at the Racecourse Mineral Resource on the Bushranger Project has now progressed to a depth of 975 metres (m) in drill hole BRDD-20-001, Xtract told investors.

The hole has been mineralised continuously to the current depth of 975m, 160m past the originally planned finishing depth.

1.00pm: higher after completing its largest acquisition

Group PLC ( ) hardened 8.5% to 106.5p after it completed its largest acquisition to date.

The business recovery, financial advisory and property services consultancy, has completed the acquisition of CVR Global for 20.8mln.

CVR is a leading independent firm of insolvency practitioners, forensic accountants and experts in other related complementary disciplines. The firm's specialisms include restructuring, financial distress, fraud and asset recovery, business disputes, and pension covenant reviews.

12.05pm: Faron firmer after funding news

Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy ( ) surged 19% to 329p after it noted the US Department of Defense (DoD) is the surprise backer of one of the companys drugs trials.

The DoD is a source of funding for a trial being carried out by researchers from the company, which is developing a drug to treat people hospitalised with coronavirus (COVID-19).

The DoD has selected the phase II/III HIBISCUS study in the States to receive US$6.1mln under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act.

11.10am: Warpaint scrubs up well after raising guidance

Warpaint PLC ( ), up 7.1% at 90p, scrubbed up well in its full-year trading update.

The cosmetics maker said it had a storming second half to the year and results are expected to be ahead of previously stated guidance.

The board now expects sales for 2020 to be not less than 40mln, versus previous guidance of at least 37mln.

MrC's Smallcap Sweep. Warpaint shines

FCH,ICON,EQN,CPP,AUG,IQG,W7L,DVO,VLS,FARN,SBI

Full text at:https://t.co/vJfZFxCJCH



Funding Circle (FCH) H2 total income of 121m and adj EBITDA at least 15m, well ahead of previous expectations (whose?). "As a result  pic.twitter.com/EIIvB1zsJJ  MrContrarian (@MrContrarian) January 18, 2021

10.10am: Mosman up by a fifth after completing sales of its stake in the Welch Project

Mosman Oil and Gas Limited ( ) jumped 20% to 0.21p after completed the sale of a stake in the Welch Project, in Texas, for US$420,000.

The company, in a brief statement, noted that the sale was completed with full settlement of the deal consideration in cash.

In early January, Mosman announced it had agreed to a new transaction with Steadfast Energy Partners LLC and Silver Dollar Energy Investments to exit Welch.

9.10am: CPPGroup higher after raising guidance

PLC ( ) was up by around a fifth on Monday morning at 392p after it said trading in India  the groups key growth market  has recovered strongly.

As a result, the board of the financial services provider said it expects revenue for 2020 will be around 140mln when the final numbers are added up, compared to the current market consensus forecast of 133mln.

Underlying earnings (EBITDA) are now expected to be in the range of 7.1mln to 7.3mln, compared to the consensus forecast of 6.4mln.

PLC ( ), up 15% at 7.875p, achieved a top-five position on Londons stock market risers chart after its latest acquisition.

The digital music rights acquirer has acquired the producer royalties of a selection of tracks by Take That, one of Britains most successful pop acts.

One Media has acquired for a modest consideration the producer royalties of 'A Million Love Songs', 'Could It Be Magic' and 'I Found Heaven', all from Take That's 1992 debut studio album, 'Take That & Party'. The company has also acquired the producer royalties of two other recorded Take That tracks that have never been released.

Proactive news headlines:

( ) has updated investors on the current work programmes on its West African projects during the first quarter of 2021. In Senegal, IAMGOLD has completed its 10,000-metre air core drilling programme at the Senala project as scheduled. As per previous guidance, it is anticipated that these results will be available during the first quarter of this year. The drilling is intended to define the geochemical footprint of the gold mineralisation at the Fare prospect, where historical drilling has returned best results of 20 metres grading 31.13 grammes per tonne gold. In Cameroon, Oriole anticipates first results from its maiden diamond drilling programme at the Bibemi project later this quarter and into the second quarter. The total planned programme now stands at 28 holes for 3,080 metres.

Faron Pharmaceuticals Oy ( ) (First North:FARON) has noted that the US Department of Defense (DoD) is the surprise source of funding for a trial being carried out by researchers from the company, which is developing a drug to treat people hospitalised with coronavirus (COVID-19). The DoD has selected the phase II/III HIBISCUS study in the States to receive US$6.1mln under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES Act. Faron will be working directly with the 59th Medical Wing of the US Air Force.

PLC ( ), the digital music rights acquirer, has acquired the producer royalties of a selection of tracks by Take That. The rights have been acquired from Ian Levine, a British songwriter, producer and DJ. Take That, possibly the most successful British boy band of all time, had 28 top 40 singles in the UK, 12 of which reached number one. In a separate announcement, the group announced that its non-executive chairman, Claire Blunt, has been appointed as chief advertising officer and chief executive officer international at the Guardian Media Group, which she will fulfil alongside her current role at One Media.

( ) has said it expects to report significantly reduced full-year losses following what it said was good growth in its key metrics and a considerable improvement in its margins. In a trading update for the year ended December 31, 2020, the geospatial software group said revenues are expected to be no less than 9mln, up from 7.8mln in the prior year, while its adjusted (EBITDA) loss is forecast to narrow to 2.5mln from 4.8mln. IQGeo highlighted predicted growth of 30% for its own product revenues, adding that product orders have expanded 42% and that its strategy of converting the business to a recurring revenue model is continuing to show positive momentum with 35% of revenues now recurring compared to 21% in 2019.

Mosman Oil and Gas Limited ( ) has completed the sale of a stake in the Welch Project, in Texas, for US$420,000. The company, in a brief statement, noted that the sale was completed with full settlement of the deal consideration in cash. In early January, Mosman announced it had agreed to a new transaction with Steadfast Energy Partners LLC and Silver Dollar Energy Investments to exit Welch.

( ) has reported multiple high-grade drill intersections and the confirmation of new gold targets at the Zaranou project in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa. The license borders Ghana and is along strike from significant operating gold mines including Chirano, Bibiani and Ahafo. Particularly strong results were returned from the Ehuasso target and new Coffee Bean, Mbasso and Yakasse targets.

's ( ) ( ) ( ) (FRA:W1D) Lake Way Project near Wiluna in Western Australia is nearing completion, with the process plant 88% complete and the overall project, including all on-lake infrastructure 81% complete. Process plant commissioning is expected to begin in February, with the introduction of first feed salts to the plant in March. The projects capital budget remains unchanged at A$264 million.

Inc. ( ) ( ), an independent gold company with a portfolio of gold licences in Greenland, has announced an operational update on the development of the Nalunaq property in South Greenland. The corporation said it remains on target and continues to make significant progress on the development of the Nalunaq Project, with the award of key procurement packages.

( ) has told investors 2020 results will be in line with expectations and said the current year had started strongly with the award of a surge capacity contract for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing worth up to 7.6mln. The group said its revenues for the 12 months ended December 31, 2020, were 50.7mln, up from 21.2mln in 2019, while underlying earnings (EBITDA) were up almost five-fold at 14mln (previously 3mln). It's cash position, meanwhile, was a better-than-expected 8.4mln, while almost 96mln of debt has been wiped out  it was helped in this regard with the proceeds from Octobers stock market listing.

( ) has issued an update on the production of an antiviral face mask by its subsidiary Pharm2Farm as well as announcing the appointment of a new executive director. The AIM-listed firm said a mask manufacturing machine arrived as expected and has been installed in a cleanroom in Nottinghams BioCity, with work to begin this week to commission the device and commence production. Remote Monitored said the last element prior to full-scale production of its 4-ply mask is its certification to EN14683 standard, for which the product has now passed four of five tests. Meanwhile, the company said it has appointed Alex Vergopoulos as an executive director with an initial responsibility to oversee the production and sales of the viricidal surgical masks.

( ) has agreed to buy a further 15% stake in the Biscathorpe project in the Humber basin, to increase its holding in the PEDL253 licence to 45%. The transaction is with associate Humber Oil & Gas and the transaction sees Union Jack Oil pay 500,000 in cash, plus 500,000 of contingent consideration payable when planning permission is received for a programme that aims to establish long-term production. "We are pleased to have taken this opportunity to increase our interest to 45% in Biscathorpe, that Union Jack's technical team believe represents a material and commercially viable hydrocarbon resource that remains un-tested, said David Bramhill, Union Jack executive chairman in a statement.

( ), the technical and creative services provider to the video games industry, has appointed Sonia Lashand Sedler as the group's chief operating officer. The groups said she will work closely with fellow board directors, Andrew Day, the chief executive officer, and Jon Hauck, the chief financial officer, taking responsibility for the day to day operational running of the business. Keywords noted that Lashand Sedler has 20 years of experience in scaling up businesses internationally through senior roles, most recently as global head of Managed Services and Banking Strategy at Diebold Nixdorf, a global retail and banking technology and services organisation, where she was responsible for its managed services business.

Westmount Energy Limited ( ) has agreed to increase its exposure to high impact exploration drilling presently underway offshore Guyana. It is increasing its stake in privately owned JHI Associates which owns a 17.5% interest in the ExxonMobil operated Canje block, where the Bulletwood-1 well is being drilled. Westmount is buying some 287,000 JHI shares for C$718,750. It increases Westmounts stake in JHI to 7.7%, from 7.2% previously.

( ) has said its Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe knocked out a record amount of gold in 2020. Production in 2020 of 57,899 ounces was at the top end of the companys guidance range. Around 15,012 ounces of gold were produced in the final quarter of the year. Caledonia said gold production for 2021 is expected to fall between 61,000 and 67,000 ounces.

( ) has commenced drilling at the Toral lead, zinc and silver project in the region of Castilla y Leon, north-west Spain. This latest drilling campaign forms part of Europas pre-feasibility study. The first phase of the drill programme will target areas above the 600-metre level, concentrating on increasing Europa Metals' understanding of the initial four years of potential future production at Toral and building on the results of the preliminary economic study announced in November 2020.

said that, as part of the Li4UK project funded by the Faraday Battery Challenge, the group has produced its first lithium carbonate from the Trelavour project in Cornwall, as part of a study into the wider development of a sustainable lithium industry. The project consortium comprises , Wardell Armstrong International Limited, and The Natural History Museum. Lithium carbonate was also produced from one other site in Scotland.

( ) told investors that gross operated production at its 25%-owned Tawke field in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq averaged 110,300 barrels of oil per day (bodp). The production volumes were split evenly between the Tawke and Peshkabir fields, it added. The group highlighted that this is the sixth consecutive year that Tawke has exceeded 100,000 bopd.

( ) said it has raised 22.4mln through a private placement with certain institutional investors, part of which will be used to expand its cryptocurrency mining capacity. The company said that under the placing it will issue 28mln shares at a purchase price of 80p each, a 25% discount to its closing price last Friday, to certain institutional investors that have already subscribed. Argo said the proceeds will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes, including the expansion of its mining capacity in the first and second quarters of 2021 through a hardware purchase from two leading manufacturers.

( ) has issued a response to the content of a press release issued last Friday from OTT Holdings Limited which it said makes various allegations against the company and its board of directors. The AIM-listed firm said it does not accept the allegations and assertions made in the press release, which it wholly denied. Iconic also highlighted several points, saying it has not received a valid requisition notice to convene a general meeting, nor has it called a general meeting of shareholders and no meeting is scheduled to take place.

( ), the biotech-focused venture capital group, has said that managing director Jonathan Tobin is leaving the group on March 1, 2021, to pursue another opportunity. Naseem Amin, Arixs executive chairman, thanked Tobin for his contribution to the companys development and said he departs with its very best wishes. Our portfolio companies, particularly where he was the investment director, benefited greatly from his counsel and contribution to their progress, Amin said in a statement. He added that following the success of several portfolio companies in 2020, Arix would be expanding its investment team in both the US and London.

( ) ( ) (OTCQB:NQMIY), the base and precious metals producer from its 100% owned flagship Hellyer and the 100% owner of the Beaconsfield Gold Mine, both in northern Tasmania, Australia, has said it will issue 94,752,062 ordinary shares of 0.1p each. A total of 14,752,062 shares will be issued to two precious metals streaming companies to settle streaming payments due for the Hellyer production for November and December 2020. An additional 80,000,000 shares will be issued to a new trust that has been established to service potential future precious metal streaming obligations from Hellyer's ongoing production that may arise from time-to-time, provide a mechanism to potentially buy out existing royalty and streaming holders by allocating shares, and provide the board of NQ with a pool of shares that may be allocated to individuals in the future to attract the right technical and commercial talent to drive the company forward.

( ), the specialist drug discovery and development company, has announced that Ewa Flynn, the company's financial controller, was appointed as company secretary on January 15, 2021.

( ) has announced the appointment of Alvarium Securities Limited as its joint corporate broker alongside J.P. Morgan Securities PLC (which conducts its UK investment banking activities as J.P. Morgan Cazenove), with immediate effect.

( ), one of the UK's leading investors in modern primary healthcare facilities, has said it will announce its preliminary results for the year ended December 31, 2020, on Thursday, February 18, 2021. A remote presentation for analysts will be held on the day at 9.30am and will be accessible via live audio webcast and a live conference call facility. Following the presentation, there will be a managed Q&A session. To access the briefing, please log on or dial in shortly before 09.30am via the details below: UK Toll-free: 0800 358 9473; International dial-in numbers: https://event.sharefile.com/d-s7bae1d9235d495a8; Participant PIN code: 59260771#; Webcast: https://webcasting.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/5ffed6e536bc5f2c49e14d10. A recording of the webcast will be made available from around 12.00pm on February 18, 2021, on the PHP website: https://www.phpgroup.co.uk/

genedrive PLC ( ), the near-patient molecular diagnostics company, has announced that it will release its interim results for the six months ended December 31, 2020, on Thursday, March 25, 2021.
TAIPEI, Taiwan - China fired a parting shot at the Trump administration by announcing sanctions against outgoing cabinet officials and advisers, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security aides Robert O'Brien and Matthew Pottinger.

The sanctions, disclosed early Thursday in China as the transition of power was completed in Washington with the inauguration of President Joe Biden, prohibit 28 people and their families from traveling to China - including Hong Kong and Macao - or conducting business with the country.

Those listed include Peter Navarro, the economic adviser who advocated for Trump's trade war, as well as three former senior officials who expressed support for Taiwan over the past eight months: Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar; Keith Krach, an undersecretary of state; and the ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft. Azar and Krach flew to Taiwan on official visits; Craft was scheduled to visit but her flight turned around midair and she conducted meetings by videoconference instead.

The Chinese foreign ministry said 28 people, the highest-ranking Americans to face Chinese sanctions in recent memory, "planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves which have gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, offended the Chinese people and seriously disrupted U.S.-China relations."

Former President Donald Trump and his family members were not named in the ministry's statement.

The effects of the Chinese sanctions are not immediately clear and likely not as far-reaching as those levied by Washington against Chinese or Beijing-backed officials during the past two tumultuous years in bilateral relations, which were marked by tit-for-tat sanctions over Chinese actions in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

After Trump officials imposed sanctions on Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam for her role in the national security crackdown in the financial hub, Lam said in November she was keeping "piles of cash" at home because banks, practically all of which are connected to the U.S. financial system, would not do business with her.

Still, Beijing's announcement could impose real costs on former administration officials who return to the business world, and they present travel hurdles if any returned to government service.

Former national security adviser John Bolton, who left the White House amid acrimony in 2019, and White House strategist Stephen Bannon, who was pardoned by Trump this week after being charged with defrauding political donors, were also named in the Chinese sanctions.

Before leaving office this month, Pompeo announced further sanctions against Chinese and Hong Kong security officials and lifted State Department restrictions that prevented meetings between U.S. and Taiwanese diplomats.

Pompeo, an avowed China hawk who is frequently attacked by Chinese state media, last traveled to Beijing as secretary of state in 2018 and held talks with his counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Chinese foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi. Bannon made headlines in 2017 when he unexpectedly traveled as a private individual to Beijing to meet Wang Qishan, the powerful vice president who frequently meets U.S. business executives.

While the sanctions targeted Trump officials, the move was viewed by Biden's team as an unnecessarily provocative step.

"Imposing these sanctions on Inauguration Day is seemingly an attempt to play to partisan divides," Biden's National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement to Reuters. "Americans of both parties should criticize this unproductive and cynical move. President Biden looks forward to working with leaders in both parties to position America to out-compete China."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-20 23:00:59|Editor: huaxia

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The BYD e5 electric vehicles are seen at the launch of a plan to encourage transition from fossil-fuel taxis to electric-powered ones, in Santiago, Chile, Jan. 19, 2021. (Chile's Ministry of Energy and Mining/Handout via Xinhua)

The electric vehicle to be offered in the program is the BYD e5, the most autonomous electric vehicle currently available on the Chilean market.

SANTIAGO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Chilean government on Tuesday unveiled a plan to encourage transition from fossil-fuel taxis to electric-powered ones, with the participation of Chinese company BYD.

"Today, taxi drivers face major hurdles in accessing electric vehicles, mainly it comes down to the initial investment, familiarity with the technology and charging," Chile's Minister of Energy and Mining Juan Carlos Jobet said during the plan's launch.

The program will offer subsidies to transition from conventional to electric taxis, as well as sell and install residential electric chargers, and provide a one-year follow-up of the electric vehicles.

According to the ministry, electric vehicle makers were invited to participate in the selection process to elect the single supplier for the program and China's BYD was the winner.

The electric vehicle to be offered in the program is the BYD e5, the most autonomous electric vehicle currently available on the Chilean market, according to a statement from the company.

Its battery provides up to 400 km of travel on a single charge, and charging takes between 1.5 and 2 hours. In addition, the BYD e5 has regenerative brake technology, which allows it to recover battery life during braking and deceleration.

Tamara Barrios, manager of BYD Chile, said the company hopes that the plan "will show drivers that in addition to being sustainable, these vehicles generate great savings in operation and maintenance."

Chile's transportation sector accounts for 36 percent of the country's energy consumption, with costly imported fossil fuels that pollute the environment, according to data from the Ministry of Energy. 
A rare twin suicide bombing killed 32 people and wounded 110 at a crowded market in central Baghdad on Thursday, Iraq's government said, the city's deadliest attack in three years.

The first attacker drew a crowd at the bustling market in the capital's Tayaran Square by claiming to feel sick, then detonated his explosives belt, the interior ministry said.

As more people then flocked to the scene to help the victims, a second suicide bomber set off his explosives.

The open-air market, where second-hand clothes are sold at stalls, had been teeming with people after the lifting of nearly a year of Covid-19 restrictions across the country.

An AFP photographer at the scene said security forces had cordoned off the area, where blood-soaked clothes were strewn across the muddy streets and paramedics were rushing to take away the casualties.

The health ministry said those who lost their lives had died on the scene of the attack, and that most of the wounded had been treated and released from hospital.

The attack was the bloodiest in Baghdad since January 2018, when a suicide bomber killed more than 30 people in the same square.

The attack was not immediately claimed but suicide bombings have been used by jihadist groups, most recently the Islamic State group.

They were commonplace in Baghdad during the sectarian bloodletting that followed the US-led invasion of 2003 and later on as the IS swept across much of Iraq and also targeted the capital.

But with the group's territorial defeat in late 2017, suicide bombings in the city became rare. Baghdad's notorious concrete blast walls were dismantled and checkpoints across the city removed.

'Senseless and Barbaric'

President Barham Saleh led political figures in condemning Thursday's attack, saying the government would "stand firmly against these rogue attempts to destabilise our country".

Pope Francis, who hopes to visit Iraq in March, deplored the "senseless act of brutality".

The United Nations and the European Union strongly condemned the attack.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued an appeal "to the people of Iraq to reject any attempts to spread fear and violence aimed at undermining peace, stability and unity."

The EU called the attack "senseless and barbaric" and reiterated its "full support to the Iraqi authorities in the fight against extremism and terrorism."

The UN's Iraq mission offered condolences to the victims and said: "Such a despicable act will not weaken Iraq's march towards stability and prosperity."

Iran also denounced the attack, with foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh saying his government was ready to assist Iraq "in the struggle against terrorism and extremism".

The attack, he said, was meant "to disrupt the peace and stability of Iraq and to provide a pretext for foreigners to maintain their presence there".

Elections Looming

The attack comes as Iraqis prepare for an election, events often preceded by bombings and assassinations.

The 2018 attack took place just a few months before Iraq's last round of parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi had originally set this year's general election for June, nearly a year ahead of schedule, in response to widespread protests in 2019.

But authorities are in talks over rescheduling them to October, to give electoral authorities more time to register voters and new parties.

The IS seized a third of Iraq in 2014 and was dangerously close to the capital, but a ferocious three-year fight by Iraqi troops pushed them back.

Still, the group's sleeper cells have continued to operate in desert and mountain areas, typically targeting security forces or state infrastructure with low casualty attacks.

Still, the US-led coalition that had been supporting Iraq's campaign against IS has significantly drawn down its troop levels over the past year, citing the increased capabilities of Iraqi troops.

The United States, which provides the bulk of the force, has 2,500 troops left in Iraq -- down from 5,200 a year ago.

They are mainly in charge of training, providing drone surveillance and carrying out air strikes while Iraqi security forces handle security in urban areas.

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President Biden has recommitted the United States to the Paris climate agreement, the international accord designed to avert catastrophic global warming.

The move by Mr. Biden fulfills a campaign promise to return to the pact on day one of his presidency. A letter to the United Nations signed by the president on Wednesday formally started the 30-day process of bringing the United States back into the accord.

What does the decision mean? We have extensive coverage here at The New York Times, but it is a complex issue and you may be wondering where to start.
The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
As the United States struggles to control record-breaking increases in COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, the roll-out of two approved vaccines offers tremendous hope for saving lives and curbing the pandemic. To achieve success, however, experts estimate that at least 70 to 90 percent of the population must be inoculated to achieve herd immunity, but how can we ensure folks will voluntarily receive a vaccine?

Both vaccines require two injections. Pfizer-BioNTech's second dose must be given 21 days after the first and Moderna's second dose must be administered 28 days after the first. While public health and infectious disease experts have discussed strategies to enhance adherence, including the potential use of financial incentives, an examination of the scientific evidence on incentivizing vaccine adherence has not been discussed.

A new Commentary in Preventive Medicine by a team led by Stephen Higgins, Ph.D., director of the Vermont Center on Behavior and Health (VCBH) and professor of psychiatry at the University of Vermont's (UVM) Larner College of Medicine, addresses that gap.

In their paper, Higgins and his VCBH research colleagues Elias Klemperer, Ph.D., and Sulamunn Coleman, Ph.D., describe results from several controlled trials that support the efficacy of incentivizing vaccine adherence. A strong example from their literature review focused on the impact of using incentive strategies to increase hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine adherence among injection drug users (IDUs). Individuals dependent on illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin often face barriers ranging from co-occurring medical conditions to socioeconomic instability, which can make adhering to preventive medical regimens highly challenging. The HBV vaccine entails a three-dose regimen (typically at 0, 1, and 6 months) which has created adherence challenges among IDUs.

Their systemic literature reviews found strong support for the use of incentives, including a 2019 meta-analysis of the literature showing that modest financial incentives resulted in a 7-fold increase in adherence compared to no incentives.

Higgins and his coauthors conclude "that financial incentives could be helpful in promoting the high levels of adherence to COVID-19 vaccines that experts project will be necessary for herd immunity."

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On Thursday, January 28, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host press conference entitled "Ways and Tools for Solving Constitutional Crisis in Ukraine." A Center for Constitutional Modeling was created in Ukraine, which should provide tools for overcoming the constitutional crisis and prepare amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine. Participants include co-founder and chairman of the board of the Center for Constitutional Modeling Hennadiy Druzenko; co-founder and board member of the Center for Constitutional Modeling Volodymyr Kozlenko; co-founder and board member of the Center for Constitutional Modeling Oleksandr Komarov (8/5a Reitarska Street). The press conference will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Media accreditation requires registration on the spot.

Parents voiced their fury at the Education Secretary today as he suggested their children face an extra six weeks at home.

Gavin Williamson offered only 'hope' that schools will restart face-to-face lessons for millions of pupils before Easter.

The Education Secretary said he wanted to get classrooms fully up and running in England at 'the earliest possible opportunity'.

But despite an initial aim for schools to restart after the February half-term, he today gave no guarantee they would be back before April.

The Education Secretary also announced that parents and teachers will get a 'clear two-week notice period' of schools reopening.

The comments, in a round of interviews, come amid fears of disrupted educations and millions of parents struggling to cope with home schooling since most children were barred from class during the third national lockdown.

Parents took to social media to criticise the minister after his media round this morning from teachers who want schools reopened as soon as possible.

And Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Williamson merited an F grade for his performance as Education Secretary.

Sir Keir told reporters that he 'certainly' hoped schools could open before Easter and 'the sooner the better', and Mr Williamson's promise to give schools two weeks' notice before reopening was 'good news, coming from an Education Secretary that normally gives them about 24 hours' notice'.

Only the children of key workers have been able to go into schools since the third lockdown was imposed

Gavin Williamson today vowed parents will get two weeks' notice of schools reopening as he insisted children will get priority in easing lockdown

Mr Williamson's comments and performance did little to calm unhappy parents and teachers after she appeared on television and radio today

The Prime Minister's official spokesman today said: 'If we can open them up before Easter we obviously will do. But that is determined by the latest scientific evidence and data.'

The Children's Commissioner for England said she is pleased that the Government has adopted a 'last to close, first to open' approach to schools, but said they need help with reopening.

'Schools don't just open by themselves magically when infection rates get to a certain level,' Anne Longfield told Sky News.

'We need to make sure schools have all the measures in place to make sure they are safe to reopen and my hope is that certainly primary schools will be able to open after half-term when we believe the risks to children ... and adults are much lower.'

Ms Longfield added that she wants politicians to 'take poverty out of that too difficult box' and commit to plans to 'turn around the life chances for much of the population'.

Mr Williamson said he intended to give families and teachers , saying they would be the 'first' thing to be released from the draconian coronavirus curbs.

And the under-fire Cabinet minister also played down fears over the risk within schools, stressing that they were 'safe'.

'I would certainly hope that that would be certainly before Easter,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'Any decision to open schools to all children is based on the best health advice and the best scientific advice.

'The reason that we were placed in the position to close schools to all but the children of critical workers and vulnerable children was down to the mounting pressure on the NHS.'

Dr Mary Bousted, the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: 'After the chaos and confusion that government incompetence over school opening and closure has created it is good that we now have an assurance from Gavin Williamson that school staff will be given two weeks' notice before reopening.

'The last thing that parents and children need, now, is a stop-start approach. We all want schools to be open, but they must be opened when it is safe to do so, and when the conditions are right to keep schools open sustainably.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Williamson merited an F grade for his performance as Education Secretary.

The Children's Commissioner for England Anne Longfield said she is pleased that the Government has adopted a 'last to close, first to open' approach to schools, but said they need help with reopening

Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education said: 'Schools are a refuge and a place of safety and security for many children.

'They should have the same status as hospitals during the current pandemic. Schools must open as soon as possible and stay open across the Easter and summer holidays in order that some of the lost schooling can be clawed back.'

The government is due to review the plans at the start of February half-term - although it is far from clear that they will loosen the rules.

Mr Williamson said one of the 'key criteria' for reopening schools would be whether the pressure on the NHS was lifting.

He brushed off calls by the opposition to resign following a series of policy U-turns.

'My real focus is making sure that children get back into school at the earliest possible opportunity,' he told Sky News.

'Schools were the last to close and schools will very much be the first to reopen.'

Mr Williamson said a further 1.3million electronic devices would be distributed to help with remote learning as schools stayed shut.

He told Times Radio that provision of laptops, tablets and routers were 'the ultimate safety net' for disadvantaged pupils.

'In terms of laptop and tablet provision, there's already an existing stock within the school system of 2.9million laptops and tablets,' he said.

Millions of parents have been struggling to cope with home schooling since most children were barred from class during the third national lockdown

'We're obviously topping that up, another 750,000 have already been dispatched over the last couple of weeks (and) another 50,000 this week.

'We're going to be taking that up to 1.3 million.'

Mr Williamson added that he had 'made it clear to schools' what was the 'absolute minimum' on remote education and had shared the details with parents.

'We're making sure there's that ultimate safety net because there are youngsters that may have a laptop but actually due to the area they live in, due to poor internet connection, aren't able to access the level of services or aren't in a situation where they are able to have that type of access.'
Joe Biden has signed a series of executive orders from the Oval Office hours after his inauguration as the 46th president of the United States.

Mr Biden, wearing a face mask, said there was no time to start like today while seated behind the Resolute Desk with a pile of executive orders.

The first of 17 orders Mr Biden signed was related to the coronavirus pandemic. He also signed an order re-entering the US into the Paris climate accord.

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While his predecessor Donald Trump broke long-standing practice by skipping Mr Bidens inauguration, he did follow through on one tradition and left behind a letter for the new president.

Mr Biden said Mr Trump wrote a very generous letter but added that he would not reveal its contents until he had a chance to speak with his predecessor.

Earlier, Mr Biden declared that democracy has prevailed after he was sworn in as president.

Mr Biden took the oath of office at a US Capitol that had been battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks earlier. On a cold Washington morning dotted with snow flurries, the quadrennial ceremony unfolded amid tight security and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, Mr Biden gazed out over 200,000 US flags planted on the National Mall to symbolise those who could not attend in person.

Mr Biden said: The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile.

At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.

History was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman to be vice president. The former US senator from California is also the first black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency and the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the US government.

Mr Biden never mentioned his predecessor, who defied tradition and left town ahead of the ceremony, but his speech was an implicit rebuke of Mr Trump. The new president denounced lies told for power and for profit and was blunt about the challenges ahead.

Central among them is the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the United States, as well as economic strains and a national reckoning over race.

Biden said: We have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain. Few people in our nations history have been more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time were in now.

Mr Biden was eager to get a lot done early, with an ambitious first 100 days including a push to speed up the distribution of Covid-19 vaccinations to anxious Americans and pass a 1.9 trillion dollar (1.4 trillion) economic relief package.

On his first day, as part of a push to roll back Trump administration initiatives, he signed a series of executive actions, including to mandate mask wearing on federal property.

The absence of Mr Bidens predecessor from the inaugural ceremony underscored the national rift to be healed.

But a bipartisan trio of former presidents  Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama  were there to witness the ceremonial transfer of power. Mr Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, was at his Florida resort by the time the swearing-in took place.
BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese cities of Shijiazhuang and Tonghua, as well as Daxing District of the national capital Beijing, started a new round of mass nucleic acid testing on Wednesday in an effort to contain the latest COVID-19 resurgence.

The mass testing was launched in the wake of a recent emergence of COVID-19 cases in these areas. On Tuesday, the city of Tonghua in the northeastern Jilin Province reported a total of 36 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, while Shijiazhuang in north China's Hebei Province and Beijing's Daxing District recorded 13 and six cases, respectively.

The Chinese mainland reported a total of 88 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases on Tuesday -- 46 in Jilin, 19 in Hebei, 16 in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province and seven in Beijing. Authorities in the affected areas have been making all-out efforts to stem the spread of the virus.

A total of 3,470 medical workers from across China were dispatched recently to Shijiazhuang to assist in the city's fight against COVID-19. They have been working in fields including epidemiological investigation, nucleic acid sampling and testing, and the transportation and treatment of patients.

The city of Tonghua has suspended railway services, flights, long-distance buses and taxis, starting from 1 a.m. Wednesday, while private cars have been banned from entering or leaving the city.

Beijing's Daxing District issued a notification on Wednesday banning all people in the district from leaving the capital.

Those who need to travel outside the city should obtain approval from local authorities and obtain a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result taken within three days prior to the departure, according to the leading group on epidemic prevention and control work in Daxing.

The district will enforce stringent lockdown management in five residential compounds in the Tiangongyuan sub-district, where the new cases were detected.

Over 24,000 residents of the compounds are now required to self-quarantine in their homes.

Health authorities in Beijing said on Wednesday that they had identified the novel coronavirus behind the recent COVID-19 cases in Daxing as the mutant strain first found in Britain.

Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of the Beijing municipal center for disease control and prevention, said the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reviewed the findings and concluded it was the same mutant strain spreading in Britain.

It is now believed that the strain arrived from overseas, Pang added.

In Heilongjiang Province, all 16 confirmed cases reported on Tuesday have been sent to designated medical institutions. Their close contacts and secondary close contacts have been put under medical isolation, and the places they visited have been disinfected.

More than 2,500 nursing homes across the province have been put under closed-off management to contain the COVID-19 resurgence.

Wangkui County in the city of Suihua has been classified as a high-risk area for COVID-19 since 7 a.m. Wednesday.

China's National Health Commission said on Wednesday that more than 15 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in China since the country launched its vaccination program in December last year.

After vaccinating key population groups, including medical personnel, transportation workers and workers at border ports, China will progress mass vaccination at a steady pace, according to Wang Bin, an official with the commission.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 21:33:04|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Japan's exports in 2020 tumbled 11.1 percent from a year earlier, marking the largest fall in 11 years as the COVID-19 pandemic hurt demand for the country's products, particularly automobiles, the government said in a report on Thursday.

According to the Finance Ministry, exports in the recording period stood at 68.41 trillion yen (662 billion U.S. dollars), the lowest level since 63.75 trillion yen logged in 2012.

The yearly decline marked the steepest since a 33.1-percent dive booked for 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, the ministry's preliminary figures showed.

Japan's key exports of automobiles and related parts slumped 20.0 and 19.1 percent respectively from 2019, according to the ministry's data.

Overall imports dropped 13.8 percent to 67.73 trillion yen, owing to the falling price of crude oil among other energy resources, with the figure marking the lowest since 66.04 trillion yen was booked for 2016.

Japan goods trade surplus for 2020 stood at 674.73 billion yen, the ministry said.

With the United States, Japan's goods trade surplus in 2020 fell 21.6 percent to 5.19 trillion yen.

Exports to the United States tumbled 17.3 percent to 12.61 trillion yen, with exports of cars slipping 19.2 percent.

Imports to the world's largest economy, meanwhile, dropped 4.0 percent to 7.43 trillion yen, said the ministry.

Exports to China, Japan's largest trading partner, rose 2.7 percent to 15.08 trillion yen, while imports fell 5.3 percent to 17.48 trillion yen, leading to a trade deficit of 2.39 trillion yen, the ministry said.

Japan's trade deficit with the European Union declined 1.5 percent to 1.33 trillion yen, with exports down 14.6 percent to 6.46 trillion yen, while imports declined 12.6 percent to 7.79 trillion yen.

In December 2020, however, exports increased for the first time year-on-year in 25 months, expanding 2.0 percent from a year earlier to 6.71 trillion yen, the ministry's data showed.

Imports in December 2020 were down 11.6 percent to 5.96 trillion yen, dropping for a 20th straight month and leading to goods trade surplus of 751.01 billion yen, the sixth straight month of surplus logged, the ministry said. (1 U.S. dollar equals 103.41 yen) Enditem

Californias New Master Plan for Aging Keeps an Eye on Equity

After more than a year in development, the Newsom Administration released Californias new Master Plan for Aging on Jan. 6.

The plan includes goals and initiatives that state and local governments will undertake to make the state more age-and-disability friendly. The state says it is preparing for an expected growth spurt in Californias 60-and-over population to about 10.8 million people  an increase of more than four million  by the year 2030.

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This Master Plan on Aging advances bold, innovative, uniquely Californian solutions for issues that we will all confront within our own families and communities, if we have not already  and does so with a sustained focus on equity that we need to lift up everyone, Gov. Gavin Newsom said when he announced the plan.

The Plan reflects more than a year of hard work, research and sustained engagement to drive the partnerships that will improve lives for the older Californians of today and tomorrow, he continued.

The Master Plan for Aging includes five overall goals to reach by 2030, as well as 23 strategies for government, business and community leaders to use to make communities more friendly to aging adults in the state. It also includes more than 100 initiatives that have already been adopted by state agencies and others that are ready to undertake.

The five goals are: building new housing, improving access to health services, providing opportunities for seniors to live and work without fear of abuse and neglect, strengthening the caregiving workforce by increasing jobs and ensuring economic security for older Californians.

In 2019, the state announced the creation of an advisory committee comprised of Californians from various backgrounds who have some expertise on aging, including former Assemblymember Cheryl Brown.

Creating the Master Plan for Aging was an amazing, 18-month collaborative process. It is a blueprint that looks at the next 10 years with funding Gov. Newsom proposed, said Brown, who represented the 47th District, which covers an area in the Inland Empire that includes San Bernardino, Rialto and Fontana. Brown was chair of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care during her tenure in the legislature.

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It is the first time that older Californians can feel truly included under the slogan California For All, which calls for equity in everything the State does, Brown continued. I was happy to represent the California Commission on Aging. The area I focused on was Equity. It was included in every one of the Plans 5 goals. Baked in, not sprinkled on, as Dr. Manuel Pasture would say. With all stakeholders, administration officials, staff, philanthropic organizations, we are building an age-friendly, disability-friendly California.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly says the Master Plan for Aging was intentionally designed as a living document that can be updated and revised as needed.

Just as California pivoted during COVID-19 to ensure the safety and well-being of older adults in new and different ways, the Master Plan will also be nimble and responsive to shifting social and economic realities, Ghaly said. The important thing is to have an eye to the future, and a strategy for getting there. We are committed to seeing this through to create a California for All.

In a Jan. 6 press conference, led by Secretary Ghaly and California Department of Aging (CDA) Director Kim McCoy Wade, state officials and lawmakers presented the goals of the plan. During the meeting, they highlighted how much the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the necessity of many of the plans initiatives.

During this pandemic, we saw that Californias 65-year-old-plus population, which makes up 10 % of the states population, contribute to 75 % of the states death. And these disparities have been exacerbated within the minority communities even further. Thats why its critically important that we take these steps in not only addressing the long term needs of our seniors, but also in making sure that we implement plans that ensure that we never have to deal with frailties such as we did in our systems during this pandemic, said Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian (D-North Hollywood).

State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, spoke about the importance of making sure that older Californians can get the help they need.

Sadly, we know that many older Californians dont utilize or have access to the wide array of public programs and services that are designed to help them. As chair of the Senate Human Services Committee, Im particularly interested in lifting and improving the programs that feed and provide services and support to older Californians and their caregivers. These programs must be person-centered and integrated in a way that makes them easy to access and simple to navigate, said Hurtado.

McCoy Wade recounted how her agency worked to get resources to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic. She reported that since the pandemic started, tens of thousands of seniors received meals and called the agencys helplines. She also mentioned the states ongoing Check-In Campaign, which calls on Californians to check in with the older adults in their lives during the pandemic.

We hope all of those resources are helping us get through this moment together, but as our secretary says, we are going to get through this moment, and come out of this stronger and more resolved to transform aging in California. We will absolutely address the suffering, and the gaps and the inequities that have come through so strongly during this period, and we absolutely do this work in memory of all the lives that have been lost, said McCoy Wade.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 20:10:54|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- China believes that Antonio Guterres is the right person for the next United Nations Secretary-General, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday.

China is willing to work together with the international community to continue supporting the United Nations and the work of Guterres as UN Secretary-General, spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press conference.

She made the remarks in response to media reports that Guterres has written formally to the rotating president of the UN Security Council and the president of the UN General Assembly, expressing his willingness for re-election.

Hua said that the world is undergoing massive changes unseen in a century, and COVID-19 pandemic is still raging globally. Hua said as the international system with the UN as the core faces severe impact, the international community should firmly uphold multilateralism, safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and support the UN in playing a central role in international affairs.

Hua said since he took office as UN Secretary-General, Guterres has led the UN to play a positive role in safeguarding world peace and security, promoting sustainable development, and promoting international cooperation in fighting the pandemic. "China highly appreciates this," Hua said.

China believes that Guterres is the right person for the next UN Secretary-General, Hua said.

China is willing to work together with the international community to continue supporting the UN and the work of Guterres as the UN Secretary-General, and jointly promote the world peace and development and advance the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, Hua said. Enditem

US President Joe Biden signs his first executive order in the Oval Office of the White House. (Image: AP)

Joe Biden took charge as the 46th president of the United States on January 20 and immediately began unwinding his predecessor Donald Trumps policies on immigration, climate change, racial equity, COVID-19 pandemic response, work on a border wall with Mexico, travel ban, and other issues.

The moment Biden entered the White House, he signed 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations from the Oval Office, reported The New York Times.

Among the steps that President Biden took on his first day in office were orders to rejoin the Paris climate accord and end Trumps travel ban on predominantly Muslim and African countries, said the report.

Six of Biden's 17 orders, memorandums, and proclamations deal with immigration.

He ordered efforts to preserve Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program known as DACA that has shielded hundreds of thousands of people who came to the US as children from deportation since it was introduced in 2012. He also extended temporary legal status to Liberians who fled civil war and the Ebola outbreak to June 2022.

Bidens actions targeted at what the president views as specific, egregious abuses by Trump during four tumultuous years, it said.

The orders, of the newly-elected president, were intended to be a hefty and visible down payment on his goal to reverse the gravest damages done to the country by Trump, the report said.

In his inaugural address, Biden said, Well press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities.

Much to repair. Much to restore. Much to heal. Much to build, and much to gain, Biden added.

Biden announced America's return to the international Paris Agreement to fight climate change in one of his first official acts and immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts.

The announcements also included a sweeping order to review all of Trump's actions weakening climate change protections, the revocation of a vital permit for TC Energy's Keystone XL oil pipeline project from Canada, and a moratorium on oil and gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that Trump's administration had recently opened to development.

Biden's spokeswoman Jen Psaki said his first call to a foreign leader would be on January 22 to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau -- after Biden blocked the Keystone XL pipeline fiercely opposed by environmentalists but backed by Ottawa.

(With inputs from agencies)
(Newser)  Maybe Baghdad residents would have been more wary a few years ago. Authorities say a suicide bomber drew a crowd around him at a busy marketplace Thursday morning by pretending to be ill, then detonated his explosives, reports CNN. Soon after, a second suicide bomber struck nearby. The AP puts the immediate death toll at 32, with more than 100 wounded. While suicide attacks were once common in the Iraqi capital's commercial center, this is the first one in three years, reports Reuters. No group has claimed responsibility, but authorities are blaming a sleeper cell of the Islamic State. The group was uprooted from much of the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria in 2019, notes the Wall Street Journal, but it remains a presence.

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The attacker was standing in the middle of a crowd and pretended to be sick, and then blew himself up and tore people to pieces, a street vendor tells Reuters. The second blast went off as people gathered in the area, according to most accounts. A military spokesperson says security forces received a tip and were actually chasing the bombers through the marketplace at some point before the explosions. The US announced a major drawdown of forces in Iraq in the final days of the Trump administration, and the Journal notes that the twin blasts underscore the challenges Iraq is facing in the near future. "This is yet another instance of terrorists killing fellow Iraqis & harms those who seek peace," tweeted Col. Wayne Marotto, spokesman for the US-led coalition against the Islamic State.

(Read more Iraq stories.)
She embarked on a fitness journey after her weight crept up to 12 stone and 13 pounds after 'hitting rock bottom' in lockdown last year.

And Frankie Essex showcased her incredible figure following her weight loss as she took to Instagram on Thursday.

The former TOWIE star, 33, who is in Mexico with her cousin Chloe Sims on a 'work trip', put on a busty display in a plunging swimsuit.

Looking good: Frankie Essex showed off her weight loss in a plunging swimsuit in an Instagram post on Thursday as she vowed to keep up exercise regime during Mexico 'work trip'

Frankie flaunted her ample cleavage in the revealing number which plunged down the naval.

She teamed the look with white light-weight shorts and blue tinted sunglasses.

Frankie addressed why she flew to Mexico in a previous post, amid the recent backlash from reality stars who have jetted abroad while the nation is in lockdown.

Working up a sweat: The television personality also shared a snap of herself at the gym of her hotel and captioned it: 'Still on it mate!'

Working hard? Frankie's cousin Chloe Sims (pictured) has also jetted to Mexico for a 'work opportunity she couldn't turn down'

The star wrote: 'Tulum Im really excited for the opportunity to be with my cousin @chloe_simsstarship on a work related trip. Feeling very grateful.

'All UK guidelines were covered for my trip and will be for my return.'

The television personality also shared a snap of herself at the gym of her hotel and captioned it: 'Still on it mate!'.

Earlier this month, Frankie displayed her slender frame in a selfie after confirming she has begun a new fitness regime.

The television personality admitted she was 'feeling good' as she prioritised her health during the UK's third nationwide lockdown.

Frankie addressed why she flew to Mexico in a previous post, amid the recent backlash from reality stars who have jetted abroad while the nation is in lockdown

She captioned the upload: 'PROGRESS! Officially 4 weeks into my @mfgoalgettersuk plan now & im feeling good. My clothes are already feeling looser & my body so much lighter.

'Yes Ive still got a long way to go but Im proud of how far Ive come already...especially after overindulging over the Christmas & New Year - Its definitely going to be harder now with another Lockdown & staying indoors but Im determined not to let it get the best of me like last time...' (sic)

Feeling motivated: Earlier this month, Frankie displayed her slender frame in a selfie after confirming she has begun a new fitness regime

In a separate Instagram Story, Frankie videoed her progress and confessed to being 'really happy' with her current results.

It comes after Frankie revealed that she gained weight after 'hitting rock bottom' in 2020.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the former TOWIE star admitted she 'felt like s***' when she discovered her weight in November after 'swerving those scales' during the coronavirus pandemic.

The beautician said she aimed to lose up to one and a half stone in eight weeks, and she would also embark on an exercise regime set up by her personal trainer beau, Luke.

'I make so many excuses', the media personality told us. 'I got on the scales about two weeks ago at the night time - which you shouldn't really do - and I was 12st 13lbs. I just thought, ''Oh my God!''

'I kept making excuses until I hit rock bottom and got on the scales. I didn't even tell Luke at first, but I'm only hurting myself at the end of the day. It's not really about the dress size for me, as if I lose weight, I'd still be able to fit into a lot of my clothes.'
The Manitoba government has refused to reveal who is leading its COVID-19 vaccine rollout, even as other provinces have publicly named the senior bureaucrats at the helm of one of the most crucial government projects in decades.

The Manitoba government has refused to reveal who is leading its COVID-19 vaccine rollout, even as other provinces have publicly named the senior bureaucrats at the helm of one of the most crucial government projects in decades.

"Most governments boast about the strong appointments they have made by releasing the names, educational qualifications and work experience of those individuals," said Paul Thomas, a University of Manitoba professor emeritus.

"This would reassure the public that real professionals are in charge."

The Pallister government said Monday it had hired a COVID-19 immunization director, a position it advertised two weeks ago. That person reports to the executive director of vaccine operations, whom the province put in place last summer, and also wouldn't name.

"The provincial immunization director is a public servant and is responsible for the staffing of immunization clinics, with the support of regional managers," a spokeswoman wrote.

Manitoba has also refused to reveal the members of its vaccine task force, other than those who appear in media briefings or have been selected by First Nations leaders.

"It has not been the normal practice of the Manitoba government to publicly identify specific names of individual public servants working on various projects," wrote the spokeswoman, who herself asked not be named, a standard practice in Manitoba that is rarely used by other provincial governments.

Thomas, an expert in the civil service, said Canadian bureaucrats used to work in obscurity, but have gradually become more prominent.

"There is still a need to avoid dragging public servants into partisan disputes, or making them scapegoats when something goes wrong. It is the premier, cabinet and individual ministers who make the final decisions," Thomas said.

He said theres more of a risk of politicians blaming their officials "as partisanship has become more intense and winning favourable media coverage has become a daily obsession."

Last fall, Quebec and British Columbia publicly named their vaccine czars. Both provinces did so again this month, when they named replacements. None of the four gave interviews, but media were able to profile the four civil servants for their work in logistics, public safety and complex medical planning.

Making the names public allows the public to see whether officials meet with industry groups.

For example, Manitobas lobbying registry shows the Health Department's top bureaucrat met with a representative of drug giant Sanofi Pasteur about vaccines last week. A month ago, two lobbyists for Purolator registered to conduct meetings with the premier and health minister about helping with distributing vaccines within the province; the premier's office says these meetings never occurred.

Without knowing names, its impossible to find out whether senior vaccine officials are being lobbied by pharmacy chains or logistics companies.

"Transparency has to be the order of the day when it comes to everything in the pandemic response," said NDP Leader Wab Kinew, who argued the government only releases information when its politically beneficial.

"The public has to have the utmost confidence that all the decisions that are being made on this vaccine rollout are being made on the basis of what's going to make the biggest difference in keeping Manitobans safe and healthy," Kinew said.

"Releasing this information publicly is just one step towards inspiring that confidence among Manitobans."

He noted that Manitoba releases far less information about its COVID-19 response than other provinces.

Manitoba has never disclosed how many personal care home inspections occur through video calls, or what it spends on out-of-province contact tracers.

The provinces epidemiological updates do not specify how many contacts were reported to nurses by infected Winnipeggers.

Manitobans can only learn how many COVID-19 infections have been traced to workplaces through freedom-of-information requests, a figure that other provinces have published regularly since the pandemic began.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
First, full disclosure: Arlan P. Cohn, the subject of this obituary, was my beloved older brother, mentor and protector for all of my 81 years, so please dont expect this story to be fully objective.

It will contain the facts but will be interwoven with some personal memories of my big brother, who was nine years older than me. Here goes.

Dr. Arlan P. Cohn, a retired physician and author of several popular humorous books based on his medical practice as well as a St. Louis native who moved to San Francisco area, died Friday, Jan. 15 at an assisted living facility in Oakland, Calif. He was 90 and had been in frail health in recent months, according to his son, Ted Cohn. His death was peaceful and painless, family members said. He just closed his eyes and passed away in his sleep, said his daughter, Jenny Cohn.

Arlan Price Cohn was born Sept. 14, 1930, the eldest of two sons of Harold and Lillian DeWoskin Cohn, at a time marked by the Great Depression, the rise of Adolf Hitlers Nazi Party to power in Germany and the election of the forward-looking Franklin D. Roosevelt as President of the United States. FDRs soaring rhetoric and Hitlers chilling rants formed the soundtrack of Arlans formative years.

After living for a time on Fountain Avenue in North St. Louis near Page and Easton, now Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, the family moved to University City where they joined Congregation Shaare Emeth where spiritual leader, Rabbi Julius Gordon, gave sermons in a distinctive voice that inspired the entire community. Arlan was proud to be a member of the Confirmation Class of 1945. He could also do a spot-on imitation of the rabbi  funny but respectful  which he recorded on a vinyl disk.

Also at Shaare Emeth Arlan was a member of the legendary Boy Scout Troop 90, where he became an Eagle Scout.

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Arlan enjoyed his days in the University City School District at Delmar-Harvard Elementary, Luther T. Ward Junior High and University City High School. He was elected student body president and graduated in 1948.

He was a 1952 pre-med graduate of Washington University.

In 1955, he married Joan Treiman, who assisted him in his office and edited several of his books. She preceded him in death in March 2008.

Arlan started his medical education at the University of Missouri Medical School when it was a two-year school. He went on to earn his doctor of medicine degree from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1956. Arlan served as an army captain in Okinawa, Japan. After he completed his medical service, he and Joan moved to El Cerrito, Calif. in the Bay Area of San Francisco. Arlan practiced medicine as an internist in Berkeley, Calif. for over 50 years.

In addition to his passion for medicine, Arlan loved to write, especially humorous pieces.

At Washington University, where he was mentored by founding Hillel Director Rabbi Robert P. Jacobs, Arlan was editor of the Hillel Hello publication.

He was fond of snappy clever headlines like, Rabbi to speak on sects at parties. I enjoyed being with Arlan as he toiled over the Hillel paper where he taught me how to proofread and planted the seed of my own interest in the splendid agony of journalism.

While in medical school, he wrote several humorous articles for the national Journal of the American Medical Student, including Snow White and the Seven Pituitary Dwarfs and Footloose and Fancy Fee.

In San Francisco he became a regular contributor to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Arlan was the author of several humorous books on his medical practice, published by the prestigious Ten Speed Press, including Kill as Few Patients as Possible, which is still in print. Other books, which he wrote under the pseudonym Oscar London, include Take One as Needed and Dr. Generic Will See You Now. Among the nuggets of wit and wisdom in these books are: If you think youre indispensable, check your appointment book a week after you die and Death is very still, so keep moving. He also advises, Stay away from restaurants with skinny chefs.

Arlan and Joan had two children, a son, Ted Cohn (Diane) and daughter, Jenny Cohn (Mike Dicke) and four grandchildren.

Following his retirement Arlan moved to an assisted living facility in Oakland, Calif., where he met Rohilah Guy, whom he married in 2019.

I was blessed to be Arlans little brother Bobby. I was like his mini-me and he took me everywhere with him. To this day his friends ask me, Are you that little kid Arlan used to schlep everywhere? Yes I am that kid who was blessed with an amazing big brother.

A private service is planned.

Contributions in Arlan Cohns memory may be made to Congregation Shaare Emeth, the St. Louis Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, the Anti-Defamation League or the charity of the donors choice.

When the old mayor was fired by President Medvedev and the new mayor installed was Putins right hand man in the Russian government. I said then that the new mayor, Sergey Sobyanin is an up coming future presidential prospective candidate

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has suggested that Mayor Sergey Sobyanin lead the ruling United Russias branch in Moscow. As far as I know the leader of United Russias Moscow organization has not yet been elected, said the premier, who heads the party. (Link)

It reminds me of something George Orwell said, He who controls the past commands the future. He who commands the future conquers the past.

Makes sense to me

Windows to Russia!
For decades, across administrations of Republicans and Democrats, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has faced criticism from safety advocates who accuse it of routinely falling short of its mission.

Among their complaints: That the agency fails to promptly detect and act on deadly safety problems, such as a faulty ignition switch in General Motors cars that could turn off an airbag in a crash. That it fails to promptly carry out congressional safety mandates, keep track of the adequacy of recalls, strongly regulate autonomous vehicles and update safety standards. And that on occasion its too deferential to the automakers.

NHTSA has occasionally conceded failures. But typically it has defended its performance, saying it faces a huge task and has done a good job. Fifty-three million vehicles were recalled in 2019, up from 35 million the previous year. Its actions last year included investigating and penalizing Hyundai and Kia for failing to recall vehicles promptly.

With the Biden administration just underway, a coalition of six automotive safety groups is urging it to do what critics say no administration has done: provide motorists with the protection they deserve by correcting chronic weaknesses in funding, transparency, staffing and leadership at the agency. Such critics have included members of Congress, the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Transportations Office of the Inspector General. Indeed, the agencys performance is again being audited, according to a report from August.
The Court of Appeal (CoA) has ruled the High Court should rehear part of a case which started 25 years ago over the system of valuing used imported cars for the purpose of calculating vehicle registration tax (VRT).

Used Car Importers of Ireland (UCII) Ltd, Centre Park Road, Cork, had sued the Minister of Finance, Revenue and the State claiming the VRT system discriminated in favour of the domestic car trade and against importers by imposing artificially high values on imported used cars.

Last November, in the latest stage of its 25-year battle, the CoA ruled UCII was not entitled to succeed in relation to certain claims including for return of taxes paid, damages and losses which UCII had put at 130m.

However, the CoA's Mr Justice Brian Murray also ruled UCII was entitled to a declaration that there was a failure by Revenue to provide details of how the open market selling price for used vehicles was determined for the purpose of calculating VRT.

That failure meant, he said, that UCII could not find out whether the Revenue's system of valuing imported vehicles would, as a general rule, be very close to their actual value and thereby affecting the VRT calculation.

Following submissions from the parties on how the consequences of that issue should be dealt with, Mr Justice Murray ruled that High Court should re-hear this issue alone. Nearly nine years ago, the High Court dismissed UCII's case in its entirety, leading to the subsequent appeal by UCII.

The defendants opposed re-trial, saying that even if UCII succeeded in the High Court this time, it would only be entitled to a declaration which would address "entirely historic" issues relating to events between 1993 and 2010. It would be unfair and contrary to the interests of justice to expect Revenue to prove at this stage that its valuations were not too high, it was also claimed.

UCII argued, among other things, there was an important public interest in ensuring that the system of taxation in the State was levied in accordance with EU law and that member states' taxpayers have the opportunity to challenge any system of valuation put in place by national authorities.

Mr Justice Murray said the issue which should be sent back to the High Court for determination related to whether the methodology used by Revenue for the determination of the open market selling price of imported cars from other EU States, during the relevant period, produced valuations which were as a general rule close to their actual value as required by the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and EU case law.

However, he said, there was nothing to preclude the defendants applying to the High Court to dismiss this claim or to reduce the time period to which it should relate, or otherwise.
The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) wishes to advise the general public about a scam that is currently being perpetuated via Whatsapp, purportedly on the behalf of Samsung.





Some users of WhatsApp, a multi-messaging platform, have received messages from one Sarah Davis using cellular phone number 880 1629-845652. Ms. Davis purports to be a "Samsung promo active online agent.





The content of the messages states that the Samsung Company is currently running a promotional programme for WhatsApp members worldwide and participants were selected through random selection in Samsungs computerized System, a database of over 80,000,000 users.





According to Sarah Davis "Whatsapp users from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, Middle East, the Bahamas, New Zealand, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Haiti, Turks and Caicos were selected through random selection in Samsungs computerized System, a database of over 80,000,000 users.





The message further informed recipients that they were among the lucky winners with a grand prize of $100,000 USD and that they needed to make a claim to receive their prize.





A claim form with a fake Samsung letterhead was also provided by Ms. Davis. The form requests the following information from persons:-





FULL NAME, PHONE NUMBER, HOME ADDRESS, EMAIL ADDRESS, DATE OF BIRTH, NATIONALITY, OCCUPATION NEXT OF KIN, COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE.





The RSVGPF advises the public not to share any information or cooperate in any way with Ms. Sarah Davis. This proposition is a scam. (Source: RSVGPF)




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Opinion Myanmar Needs Major Powers Cooperation, Not Competition

Villagers take shelter at a Buddhist monastery in northern Shan State after fleeing their homes at late June 2020 due to fighting between government troops and the Restoration Council of Shan State. / Htet Wai / Irrawaddy

Myanmar has recently received high-level delegations from major powers and will continue to do so. Major powers, such as Japan, China, India, Russia and the US, are vying to engage with Myanmar.

On January 19, a new US ambassador to Myanmar, Thomas Vajda, presented his credentials to President U Win Myint. He will be the key diplomat advancing US interests in the next five years. The US sent a delegation led by Adam Boehler, chief executive officer of the US International Development Finance Corporation, to Myanmar in October 2020 to meet State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

China also closely monitors Myanmars political dynamics by constantly sending high-level representatives. On January 11, Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, paid a two-day visit, meeting U Win Myint, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the commander-in-chief. Likewise, on September 2, Yang Jiechi of the political bureau of the Chinese Communist Party visited Myanmars leaders.

Japan is also vying to play in Myanmars politics. On January 19, Hideo Watanabe, chairman of the Japan-Myanmar Friendship Association and a former parliamentarian, met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Sen Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

After the November 8 general election, Tokyo sent Yohei Sasakawa, Japans special envoy for national reconciliation, to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Sen Gen Min Aung Hlaing and visit conflict-torn Rakhine State. The envoy attempted to facilitate talks between the Tatmadaw (military) and Arakan Army after years of fighting.

In August 2020, Tokyo sent its foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, to meet Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Sen Gen Min Aung Hlaing to discuss deeper bilateral relationships.

As other powers are vying to play in its backyard, on October 5 India sent a high-level delegation, comprising General Manoj Mukund Naravane and Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla, to strengthen bilateral ties, meeting Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Sen Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Amid deeper military ties, Russia pushes for a foothold in Myanmar in pursuit of its interests. Since the European Union and US imposed heavy sanctions on Russia after it invaded eastern Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014, its economic growth has been hovering around 2 percent. It has since partly been attempting to avoid economic stagnation by exporting weapons. Myanmar is no exception. When its defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, visited in January 2018, Moscow sold six Su-30 fighters. He is scheduled to return in the next few days to further boost military ties.

All these foreign powers are vying to engage with Myanmar in pursuit of their primary interests, rather than offering the support the country needs. Russia and China diplomatically shield Myanmar from scrutiny and punishment over its actions in Rakhine State at the United Nations Security Council to maintain their relationships with the Tatmadaw.

Foreign democracies appear to be largely interested in advancing their interests.

India is less interested in Myanmars democratic transition and instead looks to boost military ties by offering training and weapons, including its lightweight torpedoes.

Japan is also more interested in its economic investments in Myanmar than helping the country to foster democracy. It also vowed to strengthen military relations during Hideos visit.

The US, under Donald Trump, avoided full engagement with Myanmar, only sending Rex Tillerson, a former secretary of state, to visit the country.

But Myanmar needs international cooperation at this critical moment, amid grave challenges such as COVID-19, endless civil wars, the festering peace process and huge numbers of internally displaced people. These issues may be opportunities for the major powers to cooperate. Persisting competition from major powers may lead Myanmar to be torn apart.

Joe Kumbun is the pseudonym of an analyst based in Kachin State

You may also like these stories:

Chinas Belt and Road Initiative Continues to Make Inroads in Myanmar

Myanmar Still Lacks a Meaningful Definition of Political Prisoner

Venue Squabbles Complicate NLDs Outreach Efforts to Myanmars Ethnic Parties
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Poco India has announced that the company managed to sell over 1 million Poco C3 smartphone units in the country since its launch in October 2020 till January 2021. Notably, the budget smartphone from the Chinese brand was among its best selling products in November 2020. The surge in Poco C3's (alongside Poco M2 Pro) sales in India in November had also catapulted Poco's position as the third best-selling online smartphone brand in the country. Currently, the budget smartphone is available with a discount as a part of the ongoing Flipkart Big Savings Day sale.

Customers in India can purchase the Poco C3 at a discounted price of Rs 6,299 for the base 3GB + 32GB variant, while the 4GB + 64GB storage model is retailing at 7,199 INR for (with bank offers included) until January 24 on Flipkart. Customers can avail other sale deals such as a cashback offer with Flipkart Axis Bank credit card, free shipping, and more with the smartphone.

POCO C3 is now the choice of more than a million users. Thrilled to announce that we have sold 1,000,000+ #POCOC3! Currently selling at a discounted price (as low as 6299 INR) during the #BigSavingDays sale over at @Flipkart. pic.twitter.com/ysmMb43eeZ  POCO India (@IndiaPOCO) January 21, 2021

In terms of features, the smartphone comes with a 6.53-inch HD+ LCD display along with a waterdrop notch and a 20:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, it packs the octa-core MediaTek Helio G35 SoC, paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, as mentioned above. The Poco C3 also gets a dedicated microSD card slot for expandable storage of up to 512GB and a dual-SIM card tray. Its rear camera module comes in a square design.

The rear camera setup on the Poco C3 includes a 13-megapixel primary shooter with an f/2.2 aperture, a 2-megapixel macro lens with an f/2.4 aperture, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor with f/2.4 aperture. The selfie camera on the Poco C3 is a 5-megapixel shooter. The smartphone also has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W fast charging support. Further, the phone comes with Android 10-based MIUI 12 out of the box.
AlphaSense expands Wall Street Insights with addition of Credit Suisse Research, ranked amongst the top firms globally Tweet this

An award-winning research institution, Credit Suisse has 250 global analysts providing fundamental research on 2,800 companies under coverage around the world. With the power of AlphaSense's AI technology, users can extract relevant insights to inform critical business decisions more rapidly and reliably than ever before.

"We're excited to expand our relationship with AlphaSense to offer Aftermarket Research through their platform," said Stan Lantsman, Director, Head of Correspondent Research at Credit Suisse. "The demand for top quality equity research continues to grow within the corporate space. Our global analysts will provide AlphaSense clients access to deep industry-level expertise on the sectors they operate in."

Today, AlphaSense powers data-driven decision making for more than 1,000 leading organizations, including Google, Microsoft, and most of the Fortune 50. In times of market uncertainty, Corporate Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Corporate Development and Investor Relations teams, among others, are increasingly looking to external research to guide their strategy.

"We're thrilled to welcome Credit Suisse to our Wall Street Insights collection," says Jack Kokko, CEO of AlphaSense. "This is an important step on our path to expand our offering as the go-to research destination for any knowledge professional. We believe that access to equity research will change the way decisions are made and have a profound impact on the market long-term."

Founded in 2011, AlphaSense has been developing market-leading AI and search technology for nearly a decade. The company is backed by $100M in venture funding and has offices in the U.S., U.K., Finland, and India.

About AlphaSense

AlphaSense is a search engine for market intelligence that transforms how decisions are made by the world's leading corporations and financial institutions. Leveraging AI and NLP technology, AlphaSense enables knowledge professionals to extract insights in seconds from thousands of previously disparate business data sources, including company filings, event transcripts, news and trade journals, and equity research. Founded in 2011 and backed by investors including Innovation Endeavors and Soros Fund Management, AlphaSense is on a mission to empower organizations to make data-driven decisions with confidence.

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SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hytera, a leading global provider of innovative Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communications solutions, has received the January 8 order cutting down the total award to Motorola Solutions by $221 million in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The jury verdict, including the original damage award, was made on February 14th, 2020; and the Court entered judgment on March 5th, 2020.

The Court also denied Motorola Solutions' request for supplemental damages, while granted the request for interest on the monetary award. Earlier in December 2020, the Court denied Motorola's request to block Hytera from selling the DMR radios at issue in the case and granted Motorola's alternative request of a reasonable royalty in an amount to be determined.

Meanwhile, on January 11, Hytera won the appeal against Motorola over the freezing order in the UK court proceedings. The England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) set aside orders made at the High Court of Justice of England and Wales (Commercial Court) in April 2020 and completely dismissed the freezing order applied by Motorola against Hytera and its subsidiary in the UK. The appellate court refused Motorola's application for permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. Motorola also has been ordered to pay Hytera's costs of the appeal and the remainder of the proceedings, as well as other costs specified by the appellate court order. English law also allows Hytera to pursue compensation from Motorola for the damages caused by the now set-aside freezing order.

Since March 2020, Hytera has presented substantive post-trial motions to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois over the merits of Motorola's claims and evidentiary and legal errors at the trial. Hytera has faith that the American justice system will provide a fair outcome for this trade secret and copyright dispute; and Hytera has been prepared to appeal the February 2020 verdict at the appeal court.

We may have put 2020 behind us, but that doesnt mean this year is any less difficult  especially winter time.

On top of anxiety associated with the coronavirus pandemic, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is very common during the colder months. Millions of American adults may suffer from the condition, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

The NIH says research suggests that serotonin levels decrease in the winter due to the lack of sunlight, which results in seasonal affective disorder.

To help you combat the winter blues and stress for the new year, we confided in some experts and sources on what works best.

Aromatherapy

(Photo courtesy of Amazon and Yankee Candle)Amazon and Yankee Candle

While freshening up your home, specific scents can impact your well-being and mood.

Im a big believer in eucalyptus and lavender for stress reduction, and citrus for mood augmentation, Dr. Sudeepta Varma, a board-certified psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, told NJ Advance Media.

Eucalyptus, lavender and citrus scented products:

--Village Candle Eucalyptus Mint for $20

--Necessaire The Body Wash in Eucalyptus for $25

--Jergens Eucalyptus Mint Body Butter Moisturizer for $6, instead of $7.49

--Yankee Candle Lemon Lavender (Large Jar) for $26.50

--LOccitane Lavender Exfoliating Body Soap for $10

--SheaMoisture Lavender & Wild Orchid Body Oil for $18.18

--Dr. Teals Vitamin C & Citrus Foaming Bath for $4.87

--Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Lemon Verbena Scented Soy Candle for $9.68

--Yankee Candle Honey Clementine Concentrated Room Spray for $8

If youre a fan of essential oils, there are also plenty of oil diffusers to choose from.

Oil diffusers to consider:

--Ultimate Aromatherapy Diffuser & Essential Oil Set for $32, instead of $40

--Essential Oil Diffuser Bracelet for $12, instead of $14

--2-in-1 Himalayan Salt Lamp & Ultrasonic Essential Oil Diffuser for $60

--InnoGear Essential Oil Diffuser for $16

--Essential Oils Set for $15

CBD

(Photo courtesy of Lord Jones)Lord Jones

Cannabidiol, more commonly referred to as CBD, has become an increasingly popular market in the U.S. and is projected to reach $20 billion per year by 2024, according to a report by Scientific American.

CBD interacts with a wide variety of receptors, but its not entirely known how it exerts its anti-anxiety effects, Peter Grinspoon, M.D., a primary care physician, instructor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and medical cannabis consultant, told NJ Advance Media. It helps with sleep, pain and anxiety  I have a ton of patients who swear by it.

CBD products:

--Tribe Tokes CBD Gummy Bears starting at $45 (receive 15% off sitewide when you use promo code WAKEANDBAKE15 at checkout.)

--Tribe Tokes CBD Pain Relief Cream starting at $15

--Lord Jones Wild Berry Hemp-Derived CBD Gum Drops for $45

--Best Buds CBD Drops starting at $5

--Lord Jones CBD Drops starting at $50

--Lord Jones Hemp-Derived CBD Dark Chocolate Espresso Chews for $30

--Best Buds Hemp-CBD Capsules starting at $5

--Lord Jones High CBD Formula Bath Salts for $65

Light therapy

(Photo courtesy of Amazon)Amazon

Using a 10,000-lux light for about 15 minutes once a day can help alleviate seasonal affective disorder, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Therapy lights to consider:

--Verilux HappyLight 10,000-Lux LED Bright White Light for $50

--Miroco UV-Free 10,000-Lux Light Therapy Lamp for $38, instead of $60

--Brookstone 10,000-Lux Therapy Light for $35, instead of $80

--Wooden Miroco UV-Free 10,000-Lux Light Therapy Lamp for $38

Melatonin

(Photo courtesy of Walmart)Walmart

Melatonin, which is a hormone the human body naturally produces, helps promote sleep  but some people dont produce enough. Melatonin supplements, specifically one to three milligrams, can help insomnia if taken two hours before bedtime, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

I like melatonin for sleep, which many folks are having issues with during COVID-19, Varma says.

Melatonin products and other sleep aids:

--OLLY Sleep Gummy Vitamins with Melatonin (50-Count) for $12.42

--Zarbees Naturals Childrens Sleep Gummies with Melatonin (34-Count) for $10

--Natures Bounty Melatonin Sleep Aid Tablets (240-Count) for $7.74

--Hatch Restore Sound Machine, Smart Light and Clock for $130

--Dr. Teals Foaming Sleep Bath with Melatonin & Essential Oils for $4.87

--Deep Sleep Pillow Spray for $29

Exercise

(Photo courtesy of Lululemon)Lululemon

If you need to let out some steam, exercise is a great outlet.

Exercise bands and weights all help reduce anxiety through weight training, Varma says. She also recommends practicing yoga  specially Free Yoga by Adrian YouTube videos.

Exercise equipment to consider:

--SPRI Resistance Stretch Band Kit (3-Pack) for $10

--Yoga mats; prices vary

--CAP Barbell Cast Iron Hex Dumbbells starting at $5.74

--Sivan Health and Fitness Yoga Set for $43

--3-Piece Kettlebell Set with Storage Rack for $60, instead of $90

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Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips
If the pandemic wasnt enough reason for you to have picked up a laptop for yourself, let this years deals commemorating the Republic Day. Amazon India is offering price drops across a vast variety of laptops, be it thin and light, gaming or just regular ol machines to get the basics out of the way. Here are a few deals on laptops that we feel you should definitely consider.

Acer Aspire 3

The Acer Aspire 3 in question is powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and comes with a full-HD display. The slick all-black finish makes it rather cool looking as well. The storage is taken care of courtesy a 1TB HDD, which should be plenty of space for most average users. Whats cool is that the laptop has seen a major price reduction during the sale, coming in at a discount of almost Rs 13,000. You can pick up the Acer Aspire 3 at its notably reduced price here.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i

Lenovo has been making some very impressive machines for the last few years, maintaining their build quality and excellent specification set. The IdeaPad Slim 3i is an extremely versatile machine, coming in with a number of hardware choices. The one were recommending here comes powered by Intels 10th generation Core i5 processors along with 8GB of RAM which is upgradeable to 12GB. The strong point in favour of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is the 512GB SSD onboard, which alleviates the bottle-neck on most modern-day systems in this price range which tends to have hard drives instead. To buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, just head over to this link.

HP Pavilion x360

The convertible form-factor isnt dead, and is in fact, favourited by a fairly large population of users. HPs Pavilion x360 has been a staple presence in the 2-in-1 segment, bringing a lot of the features from the more expensive Spectre x360 into a more affordable form-factor. Well, the affordable form-factor is now seeing a decent price drop as part of Amazons Republic Day celebration. The particular SKU we recommend is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and a fast 512GB SSD. The form-factor doesnt compromise on any ports either, as you get the full gamut of them, along with a fingerprint reader as well. If youd like to pick up a 2-in-1 laptop, the HP Pavilion x360 would be a good choice, and heres the link to buy it.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i

Our last recommendation is a laptop thats designed for power users, offering a feature set catering to more demanding needs. Its got an Intel Core i5 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, but making this laptop a little more special is the presence of the Nvidia MX350 with 2GB VRAM. While this doesnt make the Lenovo a gaming laptop by any means, it does mean that you should be able to play some light titles like CS:Go at reasonable graphics settings. This, all on top of the fact that the laptop is fairly slim and light. If all this excites you, then you can buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i here.
Susanna Reid poked fun at criticism she received for wearing a low-cut dress on Wednesday's edition of Good Morning Britain.

The broadcaster, 50, joked about 'being in a more appropriate' outfit for Thursday's show as she wore a structured blue frock with a slightly higher neckline.

'I'm fully covered up!', the presenter quipped, before her co-host Piers Morgan insisted he 'didn't notice her cleavage' in the plunging green ensemble.

'I'm covered up!' Susanna Reid (L on Thursday's show) poked fun at criticism she received for wearing a low-cut dress on Wednesday's edition of Good Morning Britain (R)

Journalist Piers, 55, pointed out that her recent appearance made headlines as he said: 'Yesterday, this huge historic day But it was nothing to do with the [US] inauguration.

'It was Susanna Reid's cleavage, which appears to have made a huge, huge impact on the nation.'

The media personality went on to read a newspaper article as he explained: 'Susanna heats up breakfast - I hadn't really noticed, because obviously I don't objectify you in the workplace so I hadn't noticed.'

The piece also referred to when Susanna came under fire for sporting a similar dress during an interview with Hugh Grant on BBC 11 years ago.

Playful: The broadcaster, 50, joked about 'being in a more appropriate' outfit for Thursday's show as she wore a structured blue frock with a slightly higher neckline

Switching things up: 'I'm fully covered up!', the presenter quipped, before her co-host Piers Morgan insisted he 'didn't notice her cleavage' in the plunging green ensemble

'Yesterday, this huge historic day, but it was nothing to do with the [US] inauguration!' Journalist Piers, 55, pointed out that her recent appearance made headlines

Backlash: The media personality came under fire for sporting a similar dress during an interview with Hugh Grant 11 years ago (pictured)

The TV star playfully responded to the backlash as she said: 'Women shouldn't have boobs at breakfast - they're for later on... shocker, women have boobs!', before her fellow anchor added: 'Well here they are, 11 years later...

'And they are still complaining about your cleavage! I'm very relieved on behalf of the nation that you have decided to put them away today because we can't cope. We can't cope with that kind of heat at 6.43am in the morning.'

Later into the programme, the mother-of-three, who shares Sam, 19, Finn, 17, and Jack, 16, with ex-partner Dominic Cotton, highlighted the controversial dress Lorraine Kelly wore on Wednesday, which featured zebras 'having a good time'.

As she detailed her upcoming show, Susanna said: 'Youre in a much more appropriate dress today, as am I', before Lorraine, 61, defended: 'I thought Susannas dress was beautiful'.

A cheeky Piers encouraged his close pal to appear in another bold look for next week's shows as he joked: 'We need those back, they're good for ratings!'

'As long as you don't show something, Piers', the Scottish interviewer teased, with former BBC Breakfast star Susanna jumping in: 'Apparently he has phenomenal abs!'

The ex-Britain's Got Talent judge claimed: 'Not my words', to which Lorraine demanded: 'Keep that to yourself!'

Susanna has caught the eye as she slipped into her satin green dress, which caused viewers to joke they were 'distracted' by her appearance.

Oops: Later into the programme, the mother-of-three highlighted the controversial dress Lorraine Kelly wore on Wednesday, which appeared to feature zebras 'having a good time'

Despite discussing hard-hitting topics, including the government's response to coronavirus and Maro Itoje's digital divide campaign, fans claimed they were fixated on her stunning outfit, insisting: 'She's stolen the show!'

They wrote on Twitter: 'Epic dress Susanna that has taken away all the doom and gloom for a while. Love the dress on you Susanna, your looking great good stuff... @susannareid100 looking amazing #Susanna #GMB.

'Love the dress on you Susanna, your looking great good stuff.... you are looking particularly lovely today, beautiful colourful dress.' (sic)

Others claimed they 'didn't know where to look' as they added: 'I suggest @susannareid100 wears a shapeless hoodie in future, this dress seems to be addling brains!

Commanding attention: The mother-of-three caught the eye as she slipped into her plunging satin green dress on Wednesday's show

Focused: Despite discussing hard-hitting topics, viewers claimed they were fixated on her stunning outfit

'Anyone don't know where to look today?. As Susanna's dress is very tight for this morning...Not only piers..but Susannah was on fire today..And not just the dress.

'Looks to me like @susannareid100 has stolen the show in her emerald green dress this morning Dress. Step up your game @piersmorgan @GMB.' (sic)

One angered social media user hit back at a few fans who claimed the neckline of the dress was 'too low'.

They penned: 'Woke up and took a scroll thru Twitter. Saw @susannareid100 was trending. Saw it was because of her dress. FFS.

'If you lot don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all!! She looks great! I actually wana know where it's from because I want it....' (sic)

'She looks amazing!' Social media users flooded Twitter with praise for the TV host
One of the smallest health districts in the state inoculated more than 300 teachers and school staff Wednesday, even as the state is trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine out to residents 75 and older first.

The plan to vaccinate teachers in the Pomperaug Health District, which was put into motion more than a week ago, comes just days after Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner Deidre Gifford issued a stinging memo warning vaccinators to adhere to the governors priorities and vaccinate the elderly first.

Gov. Ned Lamont reinforced the vaccine priority at a news conference earlier this week, making it clear that, with vaccine doses at a premium, he wants people 75 and older to be vaccinated first as the state rolls out Phase 1B.

Pomperaug Health District Director Neal Lustig said he had already filled the vaccination slots for Wednesday and had more teachers and staff scheduled for Thursday, but after hearing the states warnings, he restricted Thursdays clinic to those 75 and older and will vaccinate 450 seniors from Oxford, Southbury and Woodbury, the three towns in the district.

We had been working with our school districts for a couple of months, preparing and when the categories came out and teachers were in it we scheduled a clinic that filled up quickly, Lustig said. As we got more information from the state and it was made clear that they wanted seniors to go first, I contacted state health officials and was told to proceed.

Lustig said he is running a third clinic Saturday that will be for residents 75 and older. The 90 spots for that clinic were booked within hours after the health district announced it.

DPH spokeswoman Maura Fitzgerald issued a statement Wednesday that said state officials were aware of the clinic and did allow it to proceed.

Some clinics were inadvertently [scheduled] for groups who were not yet prioritized for vaccination. With the understanding of the logistical challenges of taking down already scheduled clinics, coupled with our directive that no vaccines go to waste, we have allowed clinics and appointments scheduled for today and tomorrow to proceed, Fitzgerald said Wednesday.

However, we expect that all vaccinators with clinics or individual appointments for anyone who is not 75 and over or eligible under Phase 1a, scheduled beyond Thursday, have canceled those and are now focused on vaccinating our vulnerable 75 and over population.

The clinics highlight the challenges of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to state residents in the order that state officials wish. There are reports that teachers in other towns also jumped the line, and others who werent supposed to be in Phase 1A got inoculated anyway.

The state moved into Phase 1B for vaccinations this week, a category that contains well over a million people  from the elderly to teachers to grocery store workers and prison inmates. During the first round of vaccinations  Phase 1A  nursing home residents and staff were vaccinated directly by CVS and Walgreens through a contract with the federal government; hospitals, for the most part, vaccinated their own staffs.

But now, during Phase 1B, the Department of Public Health is distributing the vaccines to the states regional health districts and health centers. Some of those doses have gone to others who werent supposed to receive them yet, including teachers in some districts that entered all of their employees into the VAMS system  the federal governments online vaccine scheduling system  when they were supposed to enter only school nurses. As a result, some teachers got vaccinated.

The issue of people jumping the line came to a head over the weekend, when Gifford sent the two-page memo to all vaccinators, warning them to stick to the states plans.

It has come to our attention that some providers have inappropriately contacted individuals affiliated with their organizations and offered them vaccinations out of turn, Gifford wrote in the Jan. 17 memo obtained by the Connecticut Mirror.

We have no indication that these vaccines were actually administered, but we want to be sure that this practice is discontinued. Any intentional violation in the allocation of this scarce resource risks damaging the credibility of the entire program and will not be tolerated by DPH.

At Gov. Ned Lamonts news conference on Tuesday, state officials made it clear that they want the elderly to get vaccinated first and went as far as announcing that if teachers have vaccine appointments scheduled starting Friday, they should cancel them.

The states Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe downplayed the teacher issue Tuesday, saying that it was only about a dozen school districts that had skipped the line out of more than 500 in the state, including private schools.

But Giffords memo makes it clear the state sees the problem as much larger than just a few teachers.

Please ensure that only members of these groups are being scheduled for appointments going forward until further notice from DPH about opening appointments to other groups, Gifford wrote. We understand that in an endeavor this complex there will be misunderstandings, and some others in group 1b may have inadvertently or prematurely been scheduled for vaccination. Despite isolated incidences of these scheduling errors, please do not open your schedules to anyone beyond those described above.

There have been issues with getting the older population properly signed up, which Gifford also addressed in her memo.

There are many individuals 75 years and older across the state who have not yet been able to secure an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Gifford said. It is our collective role as a healthcare system at this moment to conduct active outreach and create access for this population, she said, before warning, Conducting outreach and scheduling for individuals younger than 75+ and the Phase 1a population is at direct odds with this goal of ensuring access for individuals 75 years and older.

State officials have not announced any penalties for people who skip the line or how they would deal with a hospital or health department that skirted the priorities. Lamont has said he expects most people to follow the rules, but as the state rolls out more mass vaccination sites, such as the one at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, tracking who is actually getting vaccinated will not be easy.

Gifford said it is up to the vaccinators to keep order.

The Governor has directed DPH to implement an allocation strategy that focuses on the risk of severe disease and death, with an emphasis on health equity and health disparities, Gifford said. We know that you share those priorities with us, and we need your further cooperation to ensure a continued smooth vaccine program, and public confidence in the effort.

Lamont said earlier this week he is prioritizing those 75 and older because they have been the most affected by COVID.

The governor said while that age group makes up only 8 percent of the states population, it has accounted for 70 percent of the states COVID deaths. Many of those people have been in long-term care facilities, which have been devastated by the virus.

State officials are hoping the death toll from the virus will slow significantly as more people are vaccinated.

At a press briefing Wednesday, officials with the Yale New Haven Health system said they had vaccinated 65 percent to 75 percent of their staff  more than 22,000 employees received their first dose and 3,000 had gotten a second dose  and have begun inoculating people 75 and older.

Tom Balcezak, the chief clinical officer, estimated that a few hundred seniors 75 and older had been vaccinated. With the supply on hand, the health system expects to have immunized 6,000 seniors by Sunday. He said they have followed the governors orders while downplaying whether some people have been skipping the line.

As a society, I think we should try to adhere as best we can to the spirit of what the regulations are. But lets not waste time in chasing down every single time this may not have gone right, Balcezak said. Instead, we really need to focus on the goal of getting everyone vaccinated as fast as possible. And if one or two went out of order, then so be it.

CT Mirror staff reporter Jenna Carlesso contributed to this report.
Firefighters rescued and revived two people from a Katy home that went up in flames Wednesday night, officials said

The Cy-Fair Fire Department responded around 9:50 p.m. to a reported residential fire on the 21500 block of Wellsford Glen Drive, said Capt. Daniel Arizpe, the department's spokesman.

A woman sitting outside the home in a wheelchair told officials that her husband helped evacuate her from their home, but went back inside for their adult daughter and both remained trapped inside, Arizpe said.

Now Playing: Video: OnScene TV, Laura Duclos

Firefighters entered the burning home and located the father and daughter. Neither had a pulse or were breathing when they were found, Arizpe said, but first responders resuscitated them with CPR on the front lawn. The patients, who both suffered smoke inhalation, were transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital in critical condition.

There was no update Thursday morning regarding their conditions.

The rescue mission was "extremely dangerous," Arizpe said.

"A couple breaths of that super heated gas or that smoke can be deadly for any human being," he said.

Meanwhile, crews worked to extinguish the fire, which reportedly began in the garage and spread to the home. Arizpe said he believes the home was severely damaged from the fire, smoke and water.

The American Red Cross will provide immediate assistance to the family.

The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office will conduct an investigation into the cause and origin of the fire.
ROMA - Severe clashes between migrants and police in Bosnia-Herzegovina broke out Wednesday evening at the Blazuj camp, not far from Sarajevo.



Regional media said at least two police officers and a worker with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) were injured.



Some police cars were seriously damaged and overturned, and windows were broken.



Media said the clashes broke out when IOM workers tried to transfer one of the migrants, who they maintained was responsible for having provoked other incidents, to another camp.



That migrant is believed to be the leader of a group of migrants staying at the Blazuj camp.



The migrants tried to use force to impede his transfer, and clashes broke out.
[January 20, 2021] Panacea Announces Effectiveness of Registration Statement for Proposed Business Combination with Nuvation Bio

Panacea Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") (NYSE: PANA.U, PANA, PANA WS), announced today that its registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-250036) (as amended, the "Registration Statement"), relating to the previously announced business combination (the "Business Combination") with Nuvation Bio Inc. ("Nuvation Bio"), has been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") and that it has commenced mailing the definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the Special Meeting (the "Special Meeting") of the Company's stockholders to be held on February 9, 2021 in connection with the Business Combination. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus is being mailed to the Company's stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 29, 2020. In connection with the Special Meeting, the Company's stockholders that wish to exercise their redemption rights must do so no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on February 5, 2021 by following the procedures specified in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus for the Special Meeting. Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are sometimes accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding timing of the special meeting for the proposed Business Combination. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the respective management teams of Nuvation Bio and the Company and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Nuvation Bio and the Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the potential product candidates that Nuvation Bio develops may not progress through clinical development or receive required regulatory approvals within expected timelines or at all; the risk that clinical trials may not confirm any safety, potency or other product characteristics described or assumed in this press release; the risk that Nuvation Bio will be unable to successfully market or gain market acceptance of its product candidates; the risk that Nuvation Bio's product candidates may not be beneficial to patients or successfully commercialized; the risk that Nuvation Bio has overestimated the size of the target patient population, their willingness to try ne therapies and the willingness of physicians to prescribe these therapies; the effects of competition on Nuvation Bio's business; the risk that third parties on which we depend for laboratory, clinical development, manufacturing and other critical services will fail to perform satisfactorily; the risk that Nuvation Bio's business, operations, clinical development plans and timelines, and supply chain could be adversely affected by the effects of health epidemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; the risk that we will be unable to obtain and maintain sufficient intellectual property protection for our investigational products or will infringe the intellectual property protection of others; the potential inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed Business Combination, including the risk that the approval of the stockholders of the Company or Nuvation Bio is not obtained; the risk of failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; the amount of redemption requests made by the Company's stockholders, and those factors discussed in the Company's final prospectus dated June 30, 2020 under the heading "Risk Factors," and other documents the Company has filed, or will file, with the SEC, including the Registration Statement. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither the Company nor Nuvation Bio presently know, or that the Company or Nuvation Bio currently believe are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect the Company's and Nuvation Bio's expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. The Company and Nuvation Bio anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company's and Nuvation Bio's assessments to change. However, while the Company and Nuvation Bio may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company and Nuvation Bio specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's and Nuvation Bio's assessments of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements.



Additional Information and Where to Find It: This press release relates to a proposed transaction between Nuvation Bio and the Company. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. In connection with the transaction described herein, the Company has filed and intends to file relevant materials with the SEC, including the Registration Statement which was originally filed with the SEC on November 12, 2020, as amended most recently on January 19, 2021, and declared effective by the SEC on January 20, 2021. The Company has mailed the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and a proxy card to stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting relating to the transaction. Investors and security holders of the Company are urged to read these materials (including any amendments or supplements thereto) and any other relevant documents in connection with the transaction that the Company has filed or will file with the SEC when they become available because they will contain important information about the Company, Nuvation Bio and the transaction. The preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement and other relevant materials in connection with the transaction, and any other documents filed by the Company with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). The documents filed by the Company with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at the Company's website at panacea.ecor1cap.com or upon written request to 357 Tehama Street, Floor 3, San Francisco, CA (News - Alert) 94103.

Participants in Solicitation: The Company, Nuvation Bio and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company's shareholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Information about the Company's directors and executive officers and their ownership of the Company's securities is set forth in the Registration Statement. Additional information regarding the interests of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed transaction may be obtained by reading the definitive proxy statement/prospectus in the Registration Statement regarding the proposed transaction. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described in the preceding paragraph. Non Solicitation: This press release is not a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the potential transaction and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities of the Company, the combined company or Nuvation Bio, nor shall there be any sale of any such securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. Source (News - Alert) : Panacea Acquisition Corp. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005764/en/

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Trump reflects on his presidential record in farewell speech, extends best wishes to Biden

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In a farewell video released Tuesday, outgoing President Donald Trump reflected on his four years in office and assured his supporters that while his administration is coming to a close, the movement he started will continue for the foreseeable future.

Four years ago, we launched a great national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit and to restore the allegiance of this government to its citizens, he recalled. We did what we came here to do and so much more.

As I prepare to hand power over to a new administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that the movement we started is only just beginning, Trump said. Theres never been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve its citizens will not dwindle but instead, only grow stronger by the day. As long as the American people hold in their hearts deep and devoted love of country, then there is nothing that this nation cannot achieve.

While the president did not mention his successor, President-elect Joe Biden, by name, he did extend well wishes to the incoming 46th president. This week, we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes and we also want them to have luck.

Giving special thanks to his family, Vice President Mike Pence and his family, his cabinet, the Secret Service, the White House Military Office, the United States Armed Forces as well as state and local law enforcement, Trump thanked the American people for the opportunity to serve as president: To serve as your president has been an honor beyond description. Thank you for this extraordinary privilege.

We must never forget that while Americans will always have our disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent, faithful and peace-loving citizens who all want our country to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good. We are a truly magnificent nation, he added.

The president also condemned the assault on the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago, describing political violence as an attack on everything we cherish as Americans, adding, It can never be tolerated. He urged the American people to unify around our shared values and rise above the partisan rancor and forge our common destiny.

After summarizing his achievements in the White House  passing "the largest package of tax cuts and reforms in American history," record economic growth, replacing NAFTA with the USMCA, achieving record-low unemployment for African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women, wage growth, setting stock market records, expanding the child tax credit, rebuilding manufacturing, criminal justice reform, developing two COVID-19 vaccines, lowering prescription drug prices, allowing veterans to see doctors outside of the VA system, giving terminal patients the right to try unapproved treatments, filling three U.S. Supreme Court vacancies and appointing nearly 300 federal judges, building more than 452 miles of the border wall, creating the Space Force, negotiating Abraham Accords and not starting any new wars  Trump warned that the greatest danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss of confidence in our national greatness.

He added, A nation is only as strong as its spirit, we are only as dynamic as our pride, we are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of our people. No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its own values, history and heroes.

These are the very sources of our unity and our vitality. What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and its unique purpose in history. We must never lose this conviction, we must never forsake our belief in America.

Contending that the key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling our shared national identity, Trump stressed the importance of focusing on what we have in common, the heritage that we all share. He referred to a robust belief in free expression, free speech and open debate as the center of our heritage.

Only if we forget who we are and how we got here could we ever allow political censorship and blacklisting to take place in America, the president asserted. Shutting down free and open debate violates our core values and most enduring traditions. In America, we dont insist on absolute conformity or enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes.

Trump rejected the notion that the U.S. was a timid nation of tame souls who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom we disagree. Additionally, he described the U.S. as a republic of proud citizens who are united by our common conviction that America is the greatest nation in all of history.

As his speech concluded, Trump remarked that I go from this majestic place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our children, the best is yet to come.

The speech came weeks after the social media app Parler, a platform that many Trump supporters and conservatives had begun using in addition to Twitter, was taken down by Amazon, Apple and Google following the Jan 6. riot at the Capitol. These big tech companies accused Parler of allowing those who were at the rally to communicate on its platform. The riot broke out at the Capital as Trump was delivering his speech at the Save America March held at the Ellipse near the White House, over a mile away from the Capitol, that was peacefully attended by hundreds of thousands of his supporters.

After his speech, thousands walked to the Capitol where a separate planned rally was to be held that afternoon. That event, however, never took place because the riot had already ensued.

Those who died at the Capitol include an unarmed woman who was shot by Capitol police as she attempted to climb through a smashed door pane into the House chamber, a woman who was trampled on by the crowds, and Capitol police officer Brian D. Sicknick who died on Jan. 7 after he suffered injuries while responding to the breach. Another Capitol police officer who responded to the riot died by suicide. Its unknown whether the riot and aftermath contributed to his decision to take his own life.

Trump's social media accounts were also suspended on Facebook and Twitter indefinitely following the riot, which his critics argued was spurred by his speech. Similarly, Twitter also removed statements Trump posted on the @POTUS account.
Willowton Group donates R1.5m towards HFNO machines in fight against Covid-19

Left to right: Pictured at the handover from Ismat Mahomed, CSR manager from Willowton Group and Dr Imtiaz Sooliman from The Gift of the Givers.

About Willowton Group

Willowton Group, a leader within South Africas FMCG sector and Africas leading edible oil processor, presented international charity organisation, Gift of the Givers, with a R1.5m donation to assist in the fight against the second wave of Covid-19 in South Africa.Speaking at the presentation today at the Pietermaritzburg head office of the Gift of the Givers, Willowton Group CSR manager, Ismat Mahomed, explained that the donation would be used to purchase urgently needed HFNO machines.These oxygen delivery systems are life savers for many Covid-19 patients and are the most sought out device for critical intervention. They have the capacity to deliver between 60l to 100l oxygen per minute in emergency settings equipped with bulk oxygen tanks. The Willowton Group has come forward once again in funding Gift of the Givers to purchase 20 of these machines with consumables for urgent placement in hospitals overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of critically ill Covid-19 patients pouring into their casualty departments, he explained.Dr Imtiaz Sooliman from The Gift of the Givers thanked the Willowton Group for its support during the Covid pandemic. This donation follows the donation of critically needed PPE for volunteers working in the Eastern Cape in December.Mahomed praised the Gift of the Givers for the work that the organisation had done and would continue to do to help manage the pandemic so far, noting that they played a critical role in helping South Africans as the second wave of infections challenged healthcare workers and hospitals across the country.It is one of the best charitable organisations in the world. They identify a need, find the equipment and go without invitation, he pointed out.Willowton Group CEO, Zubeir Moosa, added that the company was proud to be able to reach out whenever there was a need during the pandemic. During the pandemic, we have offered financial assistance to businesses through the Giving For Hope Foundation (GFHF). Muslims for Humanity was created to help the poor with food parcels during this difficult time and a significant amount of soap bars were donated to schools around South Africa in partnership with Pick n Pay. This fits in with our philosophy of reaching out to those in need. We dont restrict ourselves to places/areas. Instead, we are invested in the well- being of South Africa and will do all that we can to assist our fellow South Africans, he said.Willowton Group has been in operation since 1970 and has grown to become one of Africas leading edible oil processors, as well as one of the leading competitors in the South African FMCG market.The group operates across South Africa with manufacturing facilities in Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Willowton Group has recently completed expanding its manufacturing operations into Zambia and Zimbabwe, with aspirations to further extend its reach to customers throughout Africa.A wide range of products encompasses edible oils, rice, sugar, margarine and spreads, beauty, toilet and laundry soaps, candles, baking and industrial fats, often distributed through its subsidiary Willowton Logistics. The Group has recently entered the milling industry with the launch of Dlite Super Maize meal within Southern Africa. Well-known brands include, among others, Sunfoil, Sunshine D, Dlite, Daily, Sona, Eve, Crown, WoodenSpoon, and Allsome rice.By combining flexibility and vision with a sound business approach, the company is set to strengthen its position in the FMCG market even further, now and into the future.

Australia says a new United Nations nuclear treaty signed by more than 80 countries will be ineffective in eliminating nuclear weapons from the world.

The Morrison government has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which comes into effect on Friday.

North Korea fired two suspected short-range missiles towards the sea in May 2019. Credit:KCNA/AP

The treaty, signed by 86 countries, bans signatories from testing, developing, producing, stockpiling or threatening to use nuclear weapons.

The Australian government decided not to sign the treaty on the basis that it failed to recognise the realities of the current international security environment.
A model who suffered an 18-month campaign of harassment from her ex-boyfriend has said she has considered changing her looks to escape him after he warned: 'I have your life in my hands now'.

Dagmara Kita, 25, from Manchester, was bombarded with threatening messages, had her bank account hacked and saw her car vandalised twice after leaving Nicholas Doyle over his erratic behaviour in 2019.

The jilted ex called Miss Kita up to 61 times in the space of just an hour, while also keeping tabs on her diary and movement.

On one occasion hacked into her bank account and spent enough money to send Miss Kita into her overdraft.

In a statement to police, Miss Kita said: 'I cannot have a normal life as he is trying to scare me. I have lost weight and wanted to change my appearance to avoid being recognised.'

Doyle, from Rochdale, was eventually arrested and this week jailed for two years after admitting to a charge of harassment.

Dagmara Kita was bombared with threatening message, had her bank account drained and saw her car windscreen smashed twice, all at the hands of her former partner, Nicholas Doyle

His arrest came after 18-months of abuse that ended when he sent a string of messages warning: 'I am going to do s*** to your house and car as you keep ignoring me.

'I will blast the f****** lot of it - do not f****** block me. Answer your phone, this is going to keep happening, you are making the situation worse.. There is going to be more drama and you'll have to change your car, house and job'.

In her statement to police, Miss Kita added: 'I have felt like moving away from the area and have never felt more scared or controlled before.

'I am worried about what he is going to do to me.

'He has put threats into action when he damaged my car. I am scared it will be my house next and then possibly my life.

Doyle, who has a new partner, has been jailed for two years after admitting to an 18-month campaign of harassment that forced his victim to move house - only for him to arrive at her new flat in Manchester and continue to make threats

Miss Kita told police she thought her life was in danger as Doyle continued to bombard her with calls and use fake accounts to try and follow her on social media

'I am really scared and have had to change my daily routine as I have been scared of him turning up again.

'His behaviour has changed my life, which I believe was in danger.

'I am not in a stable enough financial position to move away and every time I get a message or phone call I start shaking as it brings everything back to me.'

Manchester Crown Court heard the pair had begun a relationship in 2015 but split in 2019.

Prosecutor Simon Blakeborough said: 'She said his behaviour was aggressive, erratic and angry. From May 2019 onwards he began her making various threats. He said she would have "trouble coming her way if she tried to shut him out".

On two occasions he smashed Miss Kita's windscreen, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage each time.

After fleeing her home for her down safety, Doyle tracked her down to a new address.

Doyle's campaign of harassment saw him call his victim hundreds of times in a matter of hours, while also trying to add her on social media using fake names.

Judge Elizabeth Nicholls told Doyle: 'There is no doubt that your conduct has had a profound impact on her, as she genuinely believed that her life was threatened and was in constant fear'

Doyle turned up to his victim's workplace in Manchester city centre and threatened to 'ruin her life,' a court has heard

He also turned up at Miss Kita's workplace in Manchester city centre threatening to 'ruin her life,' Mr Blakeborough told the court.

Police let Doyle off with a caution after he arrived at her new flat and started screaming through the walls.

She also received a message while away from her flat that read: 'What a shock you weren't at home. Do not leave your windows open next time.'

Mr Blakeborough added: 'She received further calls from the defendant saying he had tapped her IP address and would access logins to her bank account, Snapchat and Instagram.

'He threatened to ruin her credit score and said "I will drain your bank account".

Doyle has been banned from contacting Miss Kita for life under a restraining order

'When she woke up from a nap an alert on her phone told her she had gone into her overdraft and when she checked her bank account, she found transactions she did not recognise which were obviously made by the defendant.

Doyle was arrested on September last year but after being bailed, he emailed Miss Kita saying 'I have your life at my hands now'.

He later insisted she had not been threatened and that she had 'misinterpreted' the messages.

In mitigation for Doyle, who has a new girlfriend, defence lawyer Adam Watkins said: 'His remorse is genuine and heartfelt. He says he took the end of the relationship badly and turned to drugs.'

But sentencing Judge Elizabeth Nicholls told Doyle: 'There is no doubt that your conduct has had a profound impact on her, as she genuinely believed that her life was threatened and was in constant fear.'

Doyle will be barred from contacting Miss Kita for life under the terms of a restraining order.
Homes in East Didsbury were evacuated overnight due to the risk of flooding (Peter Byrne/PA)

Hundreds of people were told to leave their homes overnight as Storm Christoph caused widespread flooding across the UK.

Some 2,000 properties in the East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden areas of Greater Manchester were due to be evacuated on Wednesday night because of rising water levels, the city council said.

People were also asked to leave their homes in parts of Ruthin and Bangor on Dee in North Wales, and Maghull in Merseyside.

It comes as heavy rain and snow continued to fall across England and Wales, with many rivers at dangerously high levels, the Environment Agency said.

Four severe flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, were issued by the agency for the River Mersey at Didsbury and Northenden, and in Maghull.

A fifth was issued by Natural Resources Wales for Bangor on Dee.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier urged people to heed the flood warnings and evacuate their properties when told to do so.

Expand Close People cross a bridge over the River Mersey as snow falls in East Didsbury (Peter Byrne/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp People cross a bridge over the River Mersey as snow falls in East Didsbury (Peter Byrne/PA)

Lib Dem councillor Richard Kilpatrick said he was among those who had to evacuate overnight after police came knocking on doors in The Beeches in Didsbury, with the local mosque opening its doors.

He told Manchester Evening News: The atmosphere has been a mixture of anxiety and disbelief I think. I helped door knocking to inform residents.

We are fine and spirits are high. We just dont expect it to happen here, the defences have always been enough.

Severe flood risk: Emergency services are asking residents of Bangor on Dee to evacuate properties and proceed to Ysgol Sant Dunawd immediately.



DO NOT try to leave the area yourself. 4x4 vehicles will be utilised by emergency services to evacuate residents from the school. pic.twitter.com/1DBTGm1JIZ  North Wales Police #KeepWalesSafe  (@NWPolice) January 21, 2021

North Wales Police said its officers were helping the fire service to evacuate homes in Ruthin, Denbighshire, and urged people to avoid the area.

The force tweeted: Officers have been called to assist @DenbighshireCC and @NWFRS in #Ruthin, where some homes are being evacuated.

Regrettably, people who do not live locally are driving to the area to see the floods. Please do not stretch our resources by adding to the problem.

The force also urged residents of Bangor on Dee to head to Ysgol Sant Dunawd for shelter after the severe flood warning was issued for the area.

Wrexham Council said it was working with partners to address any need for temporary rest centres for residents likely to be affected.

River Irwell in Manchester city centre at the back of my building  and itas snowing #StormChristoph pic.twitter.com/h6MQstYB5l  Jack Horsefield (@horsefield_jack) January 20, 2021

Meanwhile, residents in Maghull were advised to leave their properties as soon as possible after a severe flood warning was issued, Sefton Council said.

A council spokesman said heavy rain had led to raised water levels and flooding from the River Alt which was set to increase.

Water levels at Dover Brook, near the River Alt, reached 2.5m today, which is unprecedented for that area, modelling from the Environment Agency, including anticipated overnight rainfall, will take that level to 3.5m, the spokesman said.

Downing Street said Covid-secure facilities would be available for any people forced to evacuate as a result of the weather.

#StormChristoph has produced some very heavy #rain across parts of the UK, with further rain to come in places



Here are the latest rainfall totals since midnight on Tuesday  pic.twitter.com/7qYyDj1qiU  Met Office (@metoffice) January 20, 2021

Mr Johnson said steps were being taken to ensure the transport and energy networks were prepared so that electricity outages would not be severe and that there were sufficient supplies of sandbags.

He told reporters: There are some times where I have been to scenes where, alas, people have decided not to obey the advice and not evacuated.

It is their right not to do so if they choose  its always peoples right to stay wherever they are.

But it really is advisable  follow the advice. If you are told to leave your home then you should do so.

The Environment Agency has issued a further 191 flood warnings across England, with 228 less severe flood alerts, mainly across the Midlands and north of the country.

In Wales, 48 flood warnings and 57 flood alerts are in place, while six flood alerts are in force in Scotland.

Almost the whole of England, Wales and Northern Ireland are subject to yellow weather warnings for rain until Thursday morning, with a more serious amber warning stretching from the East Midlands to the Lake District.

The amber alert warns of the risk of flooding and deep floodwaters which could pose a risk to life, and there are further warnings for snow and ice in Scotland.

An amber warning for snow in parts of southern Scotland warned around 30cm could fall in areas above 400m, with up to 10cm likely to accumulate in lower regions until 8am on Thursday.

Met forecaster John Griffiths said Aberllefenni in Wales had seen the UKs highest amount of rainfall from Storm Christoph, with 187.8mm dumped over the last 56 hours.

He added Bolton in Greater Manchester recorded the highest rainfall in England at 150.4mm over the same amount of time  more than the regions average for the entire month of January.

Mr Griffiths said although flooding was going to be an ongoing issue for the UK over the next few days, it was generally an improving picture.
Berger said when he read the findings of the first probe, "it was pretty clear to me we needed to do a follow-on...
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
According to the Wall Street Journal, Donald Trump has discussed starting his own political party. At a recent rally, Trump declared that, even as he leaves office, his movement is only just beginning. His politically ambitious son, Don Junior, had previously claimed that the Republican Party was now Donald Trumps party, as if a piece of real estate. If that were ever true  and there is no mistaking the personal loyalty of many in the base  the events of 6 January and afterwards have created an atmosphere of a mutual hostility between Trump and much of the Republican Party. It seems his mind is now turning to a vehicle for his own ambitions, a permanent and reliable platform for interventions over the course of the Biden administration, and one that he himself really does own and control. It even has a working title  the Patriot Party.

Will it work? Recent Trump fundraising, amounting to some $250m (180m) since election day, suggests money would not be a problem, even if Trump didnt use any of his own fortune. It is possible that he could attract defectors from the Republicans at all levels  state legislators and officials, federal representatives senators, advisers, ex staffers and so on. He certainly does have a constituency, and he might well marry his new movement to a social media presence of his own, and ally to a sympathetic broadcast news outfit such as OANN (One America News Network).
Farmers, most of them from Punjab and Haryana, want the new agri farm laws scrapped.

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha at its general body meeting on January 21 rejected the government's proposal to suspend the implementation of recently passed agri reforms for 18 months, and demanded complete repeal of the laws.

"A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement in the meeting," said the joint body of farmer unions in a statement.

The union also paid homage to 143 farmers who have lost their lives during the protests. "These companions are separated from us while fighting this mass movement. Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repealing of these farm laws," the statement read.

The body reiterated its plan to carry out parade on the outer ring road of Delhi on the Republic Day despite the Delhi Police's request to not conduct the parade.

Farmers from various states like Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh are planning a farmers parade on tractors on January 26.

The farmers will hold the next meeting with the Centre on January 22.

The tenth round of talks between the Centre and the representatives of farmers' unions on January 20 had concluded with the government offering to suspend the implementation of farm laws for one to one-and-half years.

Thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points for nearly two months, demanding the repeal of the laws, and a legal guarantee on minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops.

The government agreed to submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court citing suspension of farm laws implementation for a year or more. The top court has already a hold on the implementation of these laws until further orders.The top court had on January 12 ordered a stay on the implementation of the three farm laws until further orders besides setting up a committee of experts that will talk to both sides and suggest changes where ever needed in the enactments as opposed by the farmers. The farmers refused to appear before the committee. They alleged that all the four members of the SC-appointed committee were pro-laws.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 16:48:44|Editor: huaxia

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BAGHDAD, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and 10 others wounded on Thursday morning in a suicide bomb attack and a bomb explosion at a marketplace in downtown Baghdad, an Iraqi Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

A suicide bomber blew an explosive belt in Bab al-Sharji area, and a bomb explosion followed a few minutes later, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Ambulances and civilian cars have evacuated the wounded to nearby hospitals and medical centers, the source added. Enditem
COLUMBIA  Nearly all of South Carolina's 750 long-term care facilities will be visited by pharmacists by month's end to offer COVID-19 vaccine shots to residents most vulnerable to dying of the disease, health officials said Wednesday.

Meanwhile, hospitals are stepping up their efforts to vaccinate everyone else eligible in the first phase  which newly includes several thousand parents of medically fragile children  even as appointments for doses continue to exceed statewide supply.

Gov. Henry McMaster has warned repeatedly this week that if hospitals don't get doses in arms faster, he'll suspend their money-making elective surgeries so they can focus their efforts on vaccine distribution. As of Tuesday, major hospitals had more than 50,000 doses left on hand to administer.

Even if hospitals use up their supply, the state has nowhere remotely close to enough vaccines for the nearly 1 million South Carolinians eligible for a shot, who include a long list of health care employees in every medical field.

Dr. Brannon Traxler, the state's public health director, said misunderstandings by hospitals, including some holding back doses for the necessary second shot, have been corrected, so that "every vial, and every dose in every vial" arriving in South Carolina should be getting in an eligible arm as quickly as possible.

"We're now seeing every dose get rapidly taken up," she told reporters Wednesday. "I'm confident that the vaccine utilization has really taken off."

As of Tuesday, nearly three-fourths of the 200,075 Pfizer doses sent to South Carolina since mid-December  available only at hospitals until this week  had been administered. But the distribution rate among hospitals ranged from 39 percent given to completely gone, with large hospitals posting the lower rates, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.

What is still in stock is largely already reserved. More than 235,000 additional appointments had been made by Wednesday for health care workers, first responders and residents 70 and older, who were added to the eligibility list last week.

The state had additionally received nearly 118,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, but those are reserved for residents and staff of long-term care facilities, who get their shots through a federal contract with Walgreens and CVS pharmacies.

About half of the state's 750 facilities  including 157 nursing homes and 214 assisted-living centers  have been visited by pharmacy employees giving a first shot. The rest should hold clinics offering initial shots by month's end, with the exception of a handful of facilities where pharmacies have been unable to reach administrators, Traxler said.

She disputed reports that South Carolina ranks dead-last in the country in federal vaccine allocations by population. The state is getting its share by population  roughly 63,000 first-doses weekly  but appears to fall short because South Carolina, unlike other states, has already allocated every shot needed to give all 86,400 long-term care residents and workers their first and second shots. The federal numbers don't reflect those promised, but not yet shipped, doses, Traxler said.

The state expects to continue to receive 63,000 doses weekly for the foreseeable future, meaning it will be a while before everyone who wants a shot in the first eligibility phase, including health care workers, can get one. Hospitals should not hold back second doses, which should be given several weeks later for the best shot at immunity, because those are handled through a separate order to the federal government, and the state expects to receive every second dose ordered, she said.

But the continued limited availability is why DHEC's vaccine advisory group, made up of the state's health care providers, advised Wednesday against making 65- to 69-year-olds and people with medical conditions eligible in this initial phase, as the federal government has suggested.

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It doesn't make sense to add another big group of people, despite wanting to, when the state remains weeks, perhaps months, away from vaccinating the state's estimated 630,000 residents 70 and older, said Dr. Jane Kelly, an assistant state epidemiologist.

DHEC did, however, add a small group to the Phase 1A eligibility list.

Parents who care for "medically fragile children" at home became eligible Wednesday, with the thinking that the state shouldn't risk subjecting children with severe disabilities to the potential loss of their caregiver.

That does not refer to parents of children with chronic ailments like asthma or diabetes, or with a sensory impairment, such as hearing loss. The estimated 3,000 eligible parents will need to show a signed statement from a doctor when they arrive at their appointment, Bell said.

DHEC advised providers to give vaccine shots by appointment only.

"This avoids long lines and crowds that can contribute to disease spread," Traxler said. "There isn't enough vaccine available to accommodate unscheduled walk-ins everywhere. We've already seen this create confusion and frustration."

She was referring to DHEC's own pilot drive-thru mass-vaccination site last Friday at the state fairgrounds. About 600 people received a shot in what was supposed to be an appointment-only event for eligible first responders, who have faced difficulties getting an appointment at a hospital, since they're not direct employees.

But word spread, and some seniors got in line who didn't have an appointment. They weren't turned away, and no one left without a shot, but the additional people queuing up did lead to long waits. DHEC isn't aware of anyone getting a shot who wasn't eligible, Traxler said.

Asked about people who have made appointments weeks away complaining that others got one first, Traxler responded, "We hear you. We learned and are making improvements on our logistics."

Less than an hour after she publicly called for appointment-only clinics, the state's largest health care system, Prisma, announced its two drive-thru vaccination sites for people 70 and older  one in Columbia and the other in Greenville  will set aside a portion of its daily vaccine allocations for people on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prisma hopes to vaccinate up to 10,000 people daily in the coming weeks. It reached 6,600 on Tuesday, said Dr. Rick Scott, chief clinical officer for Prisma in the Midlands.

The same-day assistance is a recognition that many in the 70-and-older population don't have access to the internet to schedule an appointment or, even if they do, may not be able to navigate the cumbersome online sign-up system, Scott said.
The junior explorer and aspiring gold producer said follow-up work, which will include detailed surface mapping, surface geochemical sampling, additional geophysical surveys, will identify the highest potential targets.

OAR Resources Limited ( ) (FRA:F1S) buoyed by detailed geological and structural interpretation of reprocessed geophysical and radiometric data over its Crown Project which has highlighted 20 priority target areas where Southern Geoscience consultants (SGS) recommend follow-up work.

With the independent targeting exercise proving a success, OAR is keen to get physical exploration underway at the project, which sits only 7 kilometres from Chalice Minings ( ) market igniting Julimar nickel-copper-PGE discovery, as soon as possible.

Follow-up work, which will include detailed surface mapping, surface geochemical sampling, additional geophysical surveys, will identify the highest potential targets and help determine if Crown sits in the same geological host rocks as Julimar

Significant potential

OAR Resources general manager of exploration Tony Greenaway said: We are very pleased with the outcome of the independent interpretation and targeting exercise over the Crown Project.

The identification of 20 separate priority target areas, supports our belief the Crown project has significant potential given nearby discoveries of multi-mineral complexes that include gold, nickel, palladium and copper.

With the tenement application due to complete its Native Title notification period in the near future, we are looking forward to working with our local landholders to get boots on the ground this quarter and taking this exciting project to the next stage.

Gold and other known minerals

As part of a methodical exploration strategy, the study by SGS has focused on identifying interrelationships of key structural features, differentiation of lithological units, potential zones of alteration and layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions, based on observations from airborne magnetic and radiometric data.

A regional TMI-RTP magnetic image of the Crown project in relation to Julimar.

Several potential alteration zones (demagnetised and magnetite addition)  possibly related to deeper intrusions  and structural elements have been identified within the Crown Project tenure, particularly in the southern portion of the tenement where the interpreted mafic lithologies have undergone significant faulting and folding.

Hence, these more structurally complex areas form a secondary basis for targeting mineralisation such as gold and other known minerals in the area, which is conveniently located only an hours drive from Perth.

Next stages of work

The next stages of work proposed for the Crown Project include:

Detailed reconnaissance mapping and ground truthing to support the geological interpretation;

Systematic surface geochemical sampling over the priority target areas;

Physical property test-work of any identified mineralisation; and

Additional geophysical surveys to better define drilling targets (gravity, IP, etc).

Native Title Heritage agreement

Discussions with local private landholders in the region are ongoing, along with engagement with representatives of the local Whadjak and Yued People to finalise a Native Title Heritage Agreement.

OAR Resources is not aware of any registered Aboriginal Sites, or Avoidance Areas registered with the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage within the tenement area.
For the past four years, Vanessa and Enrique Velasco feared they would be deported and separated from their three U.S.-born children.

The Velascos, who emigrated from El Salvador more than 20 years ago, have Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, which grants deportation relief and work authorization to people whose home countries have been devastated by natural disasters or other tumultuous conditions, making it unsafe to return.

The Trump administration ended the program for thousands of immigrants, and the Velascos feared they would also lose protection. But when Vanessa Velasco learned of the ambitious immigration bill that President Biden unveiled Wednesday  which includes immediate relief for TPS holders like her  she felt a sense of relief.

Today was different, Velasco told The Chronicle on Wednesday after Bidens inauguration. I was crying, but out of joy. Theres a lot of work to do for the bill to become law. But at least they know who we are, and they know what is at stake.

Immigrant families and organizers in the Bay Area applauded Bidens proposed immigration reform bill as unprecedented legislation that will give many people a chance to permanently remain in the country and build a future without fear of deportation.

The bill counters the stringent and historic policies that came to define the Trump administration, which included restricting asylum, slashing refugee resettlement, doubling down on deportations and constructing a border wall.

Biden signed several executive actions Wednesday to dismantle some of Trumps key immigration policies, including repealing the travel ban, stopping construction of the border wall, limiting ICE arrests and calling on Congress to grant permanent status and a pathway to citizenship for beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, also known as Dreamers.

His immigration bill includes immediate plans for green cards for TPS holders, farm workers and Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children. Nearly 200,000 DACA beneficiaries, and nearly 75,000 TPS recipients, live in California, the California Attorney Generals office said in 2019.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Bidens plan would also provide a road map to citizenship for the countrys roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants, which includes an estimated 2.6 million in the state, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Those living in the country without legal status as of Jan. 1 would get temporary status for five years and then receive a green card, so long as they meet requirements like paying taxes and passing a background check. They would be eligible for U.S. citizenship after an additional three years.

Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform in Washington, said the plan will encourage mass amnesty.

Amnesty is not justified in any event, he said. It doesnt solve the problem. It just creates a new cycle of illegal immigration.

The number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. has remained roughly around 11 million for the past several years, after peaking at 12 million around 2007, according to Pew Research. By comparison, the U.S. had an estimated 8.6 million undocumented immigrants in 2000 and 3.5 million in 1990.

The bill could be life-changing for Vanessa Mejia, a DACA recipient whose aunt brought her to the U.S. from El Salvador at age 8 to join Mejias parents, Julio and Connie Mejia, as well as her family.

The Mejias also have TPS. Their youngest sons are U.S. citizens.

It was really difficult to think that they could be deported back to our country anytime, Vanessa Mejia said of her parents. This brings back hope that we can stay together.

Im keeping my faith strong that he will deliver for every immigrant thats present in the U.S. and families who have been separated, she continued.

But Luis Moreno, an undocumented organizer from San Jose, said the bill is dead on arrival and prioritizes immediate relief for some immigrants while delaying legalization for many others.

This new plan is dividing the community, he said. It does not include domestic workers, construction workers or single mothers who work for their children.

Moreno and a coalition of immigrant rights groups planned to lead a caravan to San Jose City Hall on Wednesday afternoon to denounce Bidens plan.

The bill would also grant immediate legal status to eligible farm workers, who would have to pass criminal background checks and show they have worked in agriculture at least 100 days in four of the previous five years.

The National Immigration Law Center in Los Angeles said it was encouraged by the Biden administrations commitment to improving the lives of immigrants, which was demonstrated today with decisive actions on his first day in office.

Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez
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A Co Antrim teenager accused of stabbing a friend to death was today ordered to stand trial accused of his murder.

With the family of Jason Lee Martin watching proceedings at Ballymena Magistrates Court, sitting in Antrim by videolink, 18-year-old Jordan McClintock confirmed that he was aware of the single charge against him and that he had no objection to the Preliminary Enquiry, the legal step necessary to elevate any case to the more senior Crown Court.

McClintock, from Orkney Drive in Ballymena, is accused of Mr Martins murder on June 27 last year.

Previous courts have heard how the 31-year-old Liverpool fan was stabbed to death at a house on Orkney Drive and that the alleged killer told police it was an unbelievable and unreal situation.

In court today, defence solicitor Denis Moloney said he was very conscious the Martins family were watching on and that both he and the defendant would again be sensitive to the loss that they have sustained.

While none of the alleged facts surrounding Mr Martins tragic death were opened in court today, a prosecuting lawyer submitted that on the basis of the papers theres a case to answer.

Mr Moloney agreed that the papers had been served on McClintock his legal team and everything is in order.

The solicitor also revealed that additional papers were due to be delivered today and that a senior barrister has been instructed for the defence.

The court clerk told McClintock that although not obliged to, he had the right to comment on the charges or to call evidence to the PE on his behalf but he declined the opportunity.

Remanding McClintock back into custody, District Judge Nigel Broderick returned the case to Antrim Crown Court and ordered the defendant to appear before the higher court for his arraignment on February 22.
Herreid Legion to remember 400 Campbell County area veterans Monday

The Herreid American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion work together to recognize veterans on Memorial Day.
Miles of pipe ready to become part of the Keystone Pipeline are stacked in a field near Ripley, Okla., on Feb. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

GOP Reps Condemn Keystone Cancellation as Dems Stay Silent

President Joe Bidens cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline construction permit approved by his predecessor is drawing heavy fire from congressional Republicans.

President Bidens decision to rescind an essential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline puts thousands of present and future union jobs at risk and undermines the trust of our friends and allies in Canada who have invested billions of dollars into the completion of this vital pipeline, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) said in a joint statement with Reps. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.).

Mullin and Duncan are co-chairmen of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT), a GOP caucus that also includes House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Mullin and Duncan are also members of the House Energy and Environment Committee.

American energy security will also be undermined because this Canadian energy, destined for refineries along the Gulf Coast, will now be replaced by imports from unreliable OPEC countries, the HEAT statement said.

One of Bidens first acts within hours of being sworn in on Jan. 20 as the nations 46th president was withdrawing the permit that President Donald Trump issued in 2017.

Trumps action broke a decade-long logjam of congressional debate, bureaucratic inaction, and court litigation that delayed construction of the pipeline designed to bring oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Illinois and Texas, as well as a massive tank farm and oil pipeline distribution center in Oklahoma.

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) criticized Bidens action in a statement in which he described the economic impact of the pipeline project:

The Keystone XL pipeline would support over 10,000 union construction jobs in the U.S. and wages are expected to exceed $2.2 billion. The Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with four North American unions would ensure the project is built with well-paying union jobs.

In addition to the creation of direct American union jobs, roughly $1.6 billion in construction contracts were recently awarded to companies in Wisconsin, Montana, and Texas. In total, project expenditures are occurring with businesses in 29 states.

Keystone XL has executed a Memorandum of Understanding with North Americas Building Trades Unions to construct the projects renewable power infrastructure. The project would provide $10 million in renewable energy job training for union workers and invest a total of $1.7 billion in renewable energy infrastructure.

The Keystone XL pipeline would generate over $100 million in annual property taxes for rural American communities to fund schools, infrastructure, and local services. Keystone XL has committed over $500 million for indigenous suppliers and employment opportunities for tribal communities.

Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), a member of the House panel, said: We must stop playing politics with Americas energy future. The House of Representatives has repeatedly approved legislation to build the Keystone XL Pipeline because boosting our economy, creating jobs, and ensuring safety and reliability is common sense.

Another GOP member of the House panel, Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia, told The Epoch Times on Jan. 21: Crushing the progress made over the last four years will kill Americans jobs and further divide our nation. Stopping the Keystone XL pipeline alone will threaten 11,000 jobs and over $1.6 billion in wages. Its very disappointing to see this president go after hardworking Americans right out of the gate.

A third GOP member of the House panel, Rep. Bill Johnson of Ohio, told The Epoch Times: It takes a tremendous, special arrogance to make killing off thousands of good-paying American jobs one of your first acts as president. Is this just the start of an anti-energy agenda that will target more jobs, increase the cost of living, and limit opportunities for the American people? Unfortunately, probably yes. It is, after all, what President Joe Biden promised to do.

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), whose state would reap multiple benefits from the project, said: Biden bemoaned the loss of millions of jobs and promised to put people back to work, but now hes taking action to eliminate thousands more. This is an early mistake by the president and a nod to far-left environmental extremists. I urge him to reconsider his approach.

Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the House panel were somewhat quiet about Bidens decision.

None of the nine Democrats on the Senate panel released statements on Bidens Keystone decision, although one of them, Sen. Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, praised the new presidents decision to rejoin the Paris climate accord that Trump withdrew the United States from in 2017.

A spokesman for Heinrich didnt immediately respond to an Epoch Times email asking if the absence of the Keystone issue from the Paris accord statement reflected the New Mexico lawmakers reservations or opposition to Bidens action.

Similarly, a spokesman for Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), the House panels chairman, didnt immediately respond when asked by The Epoch Times about the issue.

The silence among Democrats may reflect concerns that the cancellation of Keystone will cost thousands of union construction workers high-paying jobs.

Conservative think tanks were also critical of Bidens action, with Heartland Institute President James Taylor saying: Joe Bidens decision to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline will destroy jobs in America, destroy jobs in Canada, create jobs in hostile foreign nations, have no impact on carbon dioxide emissions, and create political tension with Canada.

Canceling Keystone XL will not reduce American oil useand thats a good thing. To the extent Biden is successful in reducing American utilization of fossil fuels, it will force us to become dependent on Chinese rare earth minerals and Chinese wind and solar equipment. That would be a very dangerous development for American energy security.

Jason Isaac, director of the Texas Public Policy Foundations Life: Powered project, told The Epoch Times: This is just another cancellation pandering to the self-righteous left that jeopardizes American energy independence. Rather than goods being produced in Americaa global leader in environmental protectionnow production will be shifted overseas to unstable countries that pollute with abandon. China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia are cheering loudly as President Biden boosts their economies with the stroke of a pen.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.com
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered a fossil of the earliest starfish-like animal, which helps us understand the origins of the nimble-armed creature.

The prototype starfish, which has features in common with both sea lilies and modern-day starfish, is a missing link for scientists trying to piece together its early evolutionary history.

The exceptionally preserved fossil, named Cantabrigiaster fezouataensis, was discovered in Morroco's Anti-Atlas mountain range. Its intricate design - with feathery arms akin to a lacework - has been frozen in time for roughly 480 million years.

The new species is unusual because it doesn't have many of the key features of its contemporary relatives, lacking roughly 60% of a modern starfish's body plan.

The fossil's features are instead a hybrid between those of a starfish and a sea lily or crinoid - not a plant but a wavy-armed filter feeder which fixes itself to the seabed via a cylindrical 'stem'.

The discovery, reported in Biology Letters, captures the early evolutionary steps of the animal at a time in Earth's history when life suddenly expanded, a period known as the Ordovician Biodiversification Event.

The find also means scientists can now use the new find as a template to work out how it evolved from this more basic form to the complexity of their contemporaries.

"Finding this missing link to their ancestors is incredibly exciting. If you went back in time and put your head under the sea in the Ordovician then you wouldn't recognize any of the marine organisms - except the starfish, they are one of the first modern animals," said lead author Dr Aaron Hunter, a visiting postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Earth Sciences.

Modern starfish and brittle stars are part of a family of spiny-skinned animals called the echinoderms which, although they don't have a backbone, are one of the closest group of animals to vertebrates. Crinoids, and otherworldly creatures like the sea urchins and sea cucumbers are all echinoderms.

The origin of starfish has eluded scientists for decades. But the new species is so well preserved that its body can finally be mapped in detail and its evolution understood. "The level of detail in the fossil is amazing - its structure is so complex that it took us a while to unravel its significance," said Hunter.

It was Hunter's work on both living and fossil echinoderms that helped him spot its hybrid features. "I was looking at a modern crinoid in one of the collections at the Western Australian Museum and I realised the arms looked really familiar, they reminded me of this unusual fossil that I had found years earlier in Morocco but had found difficult to work with," he said.

Fezouata in Morocco is something of a holy grail for palaeontologists - the new fossil is just one of the many remarkably well preserved soft-bodied animals uncovered from the site.

Hunter and co-author Dr Javier Ortega-Hernandez, who was previously based at Cambridge's Department of Zoology and is now based at Harvard University, named the species Cantabrigiaster in honour of the long history of echinoderm research at their respective institutions.

Hunter and Ortega-Hernandez examined their new species alongside a catalogue of hundreds starfish-like animals. They indexed all of their body structures and features, building a road map of the echinoderm skeleton which they could use to assess how Cantabrigiaster was related to other family members.

Modern echinoderms come in many shapes and sizes, so it can be difficult to work out how they are related to one another. The new analysis, which uses extra-axial theory - a biology model usually only applied to living species - meant that Hunter and Ortega-Hernandez could identify similarities and differences between the body plan of modern echinoderms and then figure out how each family member was linked to their Cambrian ancestors.

They found that only the key or axial part of the body, the food groove - which funnels food along each of the starfish's arms - was present in Cantabrigiaster. Everything outside this, the extra-axial body parts, were added later.

The authors plan to expand their work in search of early echinoderms. "One thing we hope to answer in the future is why starfish developed their five arms," said Hunter. "It seems to be a stable shape for them to adopt - but we don't yet know why. We still need to keep searching for the fossil that gives us that particular connection, but by going right back to the early ancestors like Cantabrigiaster we are getting closer to that answer."

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The founder of the Synagogue Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), Temitope Joshua, has appealed to Nigerians to accept the approved COVID-19 vaccines as a way of ending the pandemic.

Mr Joshua, in a video made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, said he has received thousands of emails concerning the safety of the vaccines expected in the country by the end of January.

Concerning the ongoing situation in the world, I have received thousands of emails on the COVID-19 vaccine, Mr Joshua said in the message broadcast on his Christian channel on Emmanuel TV.

The video and its content was sent to PREMIUM TIMES by a freelance journalist, Ihechukwu Njoku.

Mr Joshua noted that many conspiracy theories are surrounding the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines.

He, however, said federal authorities are only making efforts to put an end to the pandemic which has claimed millions of lives worldwide.

No doubt, there are many conspiracy theories surrounding this vaccine. However, my belief is that our governments are only trying to look for a way out of this very challenging situation, although there may be bad faith in certain quarters, he said.

Many people have complained of some negative reactions but this is always the case with vaccines of this nature. I remember I used to have such reactions whenever I took chloroquine, he continued, citing his personal experiences.

That does not mean chloroquine is bad. It works positively for many. At this time, our governments need our support and our cooperation  because the world is in a dilemma, he said.

Vaccines and controversy

The Nigerian government said it is expecting at least 100,000 doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech approved COVID-19 vaccines by the end of January through the COVAX co-financing public-private facility.

Evidence on ground at the countrys vaccine facility showed that there are three Ultra-cold freezers needed to store the vaccines when they finally arrive the country.

But health authorities have expressed fears over growing vaccines hesitancy caused by misinformation which leads to doubt of the efficacy of the vaccine.

One of such was recently demonstrated by a Nigerian governor discouraging people from taking the vaccines.

They want to use the (COVID-19) vaccines to introduce the disease that will kill you and us. God forbid! Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State said in a video circulating on social media.

Aso Rock officials said both President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will take the COVID-19 vaccines live on TV to allay the growing vaccine hesitancy among Nigerians.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who addressed journalists in Abuja after meeting with President Buhari recently said he and his colleagues will also take the vaccines on live television. We too will like to demonstrate to our citizens that we believe that vaccines would work, he said.

Dont forget, we have a lot of experience on this. Governors Forum managed the polio vaccines administration in the country and we have garnered a lot of experience, said Mr Fayemi, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum
[January 21, 2021] TradeStation Group Subsidiaries Rated "#1 Platform Technology" for the Ninth Consecutive Year and Inaugural "#1 Crypto Technology" in StockBrokers.com's 2021 Online Broker Review

PLANTATION, Fla., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TradeStation Group, Inc. ("TradeStation"), a Monex Group company, today announced two #1 rankings for its subsidiaries in StockBrokers.com's 2021 Online Broker Review. TradeStation Crypto, Inc. ("TradeStation Crypto"), which offers a cryptocurrency brokerage platform, was the inaugural winner of "#1 Crypto Technology." TradeStation Securities, Inc. ("TradeStation Securities"), an award-winning* broker-dealer and futures commission merchant and TradeStation Group's principal operating subsidiary, was awarded the title of ""#1 Platform Technology" for the ninth year in a row, all while achieving "Best in Class" accolades in five categories. TradeStation Securities' 2021 Best in Class Distinctions: Active Trading (eleven years running)

(eleven years running) Platform & Tools (ten years running)

(ten years running) Options Trading (nine years running)

(nine years running) Commissions & Fees (two years running)

(two years running) Futures Trading (two years running) "The market movements and momentum that inspired investors to trade the volatility last year was truly remarkable and we believe our technology platforms having performed at such a high level to meet their trading needs warranted our rankings in StockBrokers.com's 11th annual Broker Review," said John Bartleman, President of TradeStation. "As market volatility continues in 2021, the price of Bitcoin reached all-time highs and the cryptocurrency market value broke past $1 trillion, these #1 accolades make it clear that TradeStation Crypto has the infrastructure in place for our customers to fulfill their trading objectives with ease and without interruption." StockBrokers.com's 11th annual Broker Review reviewed 11 brokerage firms on a total of 2,816 data points that were collected over three months and were assessed within eight main categories: Commissions & Fees, Research, Platforms & Tools, Mobile Trading, Offering of Investments, Education, Ease of Use and Overall. More information about he methodology can be found here.



"In our testing, we found that TradeStation has one of the most robust desktop platforms we've ever seen. As a leader in trader technology, it earned the top award for Platform Technology in 2021. No question, TradeStation is a winner for Futures Trading, Options Trading, Mobile Trading, alongside specialties such as Day Trading and Professional Trading," wrote StockBrokers.com. "TradeStation offers great tools through a platform suite that includes desktop, web-based, and mobile variations. All three are terrific. Top that off with $0 trading through TS Select and TS Go accounts, and there is a lot to like." "Since we launched TradeStation Crypto in 2019, we have focused on making buying cryptocurrency as easy as buying stocks is today, so this is truly a fantastic recognition for our team," said James Putra, Sr. Director of TradeStation Crypto. "Winning the award for #1 Crypto Technology on Stockbrokers.com helps to show the increasing excitement around cryptocurrency with traditional market traders like stocks, options and futures, and demonstrates how TradeStation Crypto is providing a natural pathway into cryptocurrency markets under a trusted and familiar brand."

To speak with an account executive to learn more about TradeStation or to open an account, call 1.800.808.9336 or visit TradeStation.com. About TradeStation Group, Inc.

For more than 30 years, the TradeStation Group companies have been pioneering leaders in the online trading industry, committed to delivering the best trading technology, brokerage services, trading education and support to individual and institutional traders. TradeStation's award-winning trading and analysis platforms offer access to stocks, ETFs, options and futures trading at the major U.S. stocks, ETFs and options exchanges and market centers, as well as the major futures exchanges. TradeStation's clients have access to the powerful tools needed to design, test, optimize, monitor and automate custom trading strategies, and its mobile and web trading apps allow clients to take the power of the TradeStation trading experience on the go. TradeStation also provides a vast array of educational offerings to help beginning and advanced clients learn online trading and investing skills to help them meet their trading and investment objectives. About TradeStation Crypto, Inc.

TradeStation Crypto is a subsidiary of TradeStation Group, Inc. that offers cryptocurrency brokerage services for self-directed online traders. For more information about the benefits and features of TradeStation Crypto, please visit TradeStation.com/Crypto. About TradeStation Securities, Inc.

TradeStation Securities, Inc. (Member NYSE, FINRA, SIPC, NSCC, DTC, OCC & CME) is a licensed securities broker-dealer and a registered futures commission merchant (FCM), and a member of major equities and futures exchanges in the United States. The company's technology subsidiary, TradeStation Technologies, Inc., develops and offers strategy trading software tools and subscription services, and hosts the TradingApp Store. *Visit TradeStation.com/Awards for more information. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tradestation-group-subsidiaries-rated-1-platform-technology-for-the-ninth-consecutive-year-and-inaugural-1-crypto-technology-in-stockbrokerscoms-2021-online-broker-review-301212085.html SOURCE TradeStation Group, Inc.

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Rex deputy chairman John Sharp was probably right this week when he said there had never been a better time to set up a new domestic carrier. That, however, doesnt guarantee success for the latest challenger to the traditional domestic aviation duopoly.

Sharp, writing in The Australian Financial Review, took exception to Qantas boss Alan Joyces recent comment that it was unlikely that both Virgin Australia and Rex would both survive a post-pandemic three-cornered contest in the domestic market.

Sharp cited Rexs profitable history, its low cost base, existing infrastructure and regional operations and the impact of the pandemic as the reasons for his confidence that Rex could transform itself into a highly competitive and viable domestic competitor to Qantas an Virgin.

Rex plans to launch its services on the golden triangle of domestic aviation  the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane routes that are among the worlds busiest and most profitable  on March 1.
Press Release

January 21, 2021 Gatchalian: Extend 'no disconnection' policy for low-income consumers' unpaid electricity bill Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) and distribution utilities (DUs), such as Meralco, to heed the call of the public to further extend the 'no disconnection' policy for low-income consumers at least until the end of the government-imposed General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Meralco's "no disconnection" policy was originally set to end last December 31 but was extended only until January 31, 2021. The policy, which covers households consuming 200 kilowatt hour (kWh) per month and below, benefits over three million of its customers. "Except for a few, who are offering essential goods and services, the majority of businesses are not operating in their full capacity and unemployment remains to be a problem. Everyone is still struggling financially," said Gatchalian. The November 2020 nationwide survey on COVID-19 and its impact on the Filipinos conducted by Pulse Asia Research Inc. showed that 58 percent of the 2,400 surveyed either lost their job or source of income. Hardest-hit are those belonging to the Class D and E as 58 percent and 64 percent of them respectively ended up having no means of livelihood. More than half of the respondents from Mindanao or 57 percent experienced a reduction in salary or income while 53 percent of those from Class A, B and C nationwide also experienced losing a job or source of income last year. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that as of October last year, unemployed Filipinos reached 3.8 million compared to the previous year's 2.1 million. "Habang hindi pa humuhupa ang pandemya, patuloy pa rin sana ang pagiging maluwag ng distribution utilities (DUs) tulad ng Meralco pagdating sa pagbabayad ng kuryente. Humanitarian consideration sana ang pinaiiral upang mas matugunan ang pangangailangan ng marami," Gatchalian said, reacting to the disconnection of power lines of Meralco customers due to unsettled bills. "Hindi pa napapanahon para ipatupad ang nakagawiang paniningil sa due date ng bill ng kuryente lalo na sa mga low-income consumers. Kakatapos lang ng pasko at marami ang pinilit na ipagdiwang ito sa abot ng kanilang makakaya. Mas makabubuting palawigin pa ang 'no disconnection' policy hanggang sa matapos ang quarantine," Gatchalian said. # # # Palawigin pa ang 'no disconnection' policy sa mahihirap na pamilyang hindi makabayad ng kuryente - Gatchalian Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) at mga distribution utilities (DUs), tulad ng Meralco, na dinggin ang panawagan ng publiko na palawigin pa ang "no disconnection" policy sa mga pamilyang tinaguriang "low-income consumers" habang umiiral ang General Community Quarantine o GCQ. Una nang inanunsiyo ng Meralco na hanggang Disyembre 31, 2020 na lang ang "no disconnection policy" para sa mga kumukunsuno ng kuryente kada buwan ng 200 kilowatt-hour (kWh) o mas mababa pa, ngunit pinahaba pa ng Meralco ang deadline hanggang katapusan ng buwang kasalukuyan. Nasa higit tatlong milyon ang nakikinabang dito. "Maliban sa iilan na may negosyong tinatawag nating essential goods and services, karamihan sa mga negosyo ay hindi pa rin normal ang operasyon kaya marami pa rin ang walang trabaho o kaya ay hindi regular ang trabaho. Halos lahat ay nagsisikap na mapunan ang mga pang araw-araw na gastusin," ayon kay Gatchalian. Ayon sa survey na isinagawa ng Pulse Asia Research Inc. noong Nobyembre 2020, umabot sa 58 porsyento sa 2,400 na na-survey ang nagsabing nawalan sila ng trabaho o pinagkukunan ng kita kasunod ng pandemya. Ang pinakaapektado ay ang mga nasa Class D at E. Nasa 58 porsyento sa Class D at na nasa 64 porsyento naman sa Class E ang nagsabing nakaranas sila na mawalan ng trabaho o pinagkakakitaan. Higit sa kalahati o 57 porsyento ng mga taga Mindanao ang nagsabing nabawasan ang kanilang sweldo o kita samantalang 53 porsyento ng mga nasa Class A, B at C ay nagsabing nawalan din sila ng trabaho o pinagkakakitaan. Sa datos naman ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), umabot sa 3.8 milyon ang mga nawalan ng trabaho noong Oktubre ng nakaraang taon kung ikukumpara sa datos ng parehong buwan ng 2019 na 2.1 milyon. "Habang hindi pa humuhupa ang pandemya, patuloy pa rin sana ang pagiging maluwag ng distribution utilities (DUs) tulad ng Meralco pagdating sa pagbabayad ng kuryente. Humanitarian consideration sana ang pinaiiral upang mas matugunan ang pangangailangan ng marami," ayon kay Gatchalian, na ang panawagan ay kasunod ng pagpuputol ng Meralco ng kuryente sa mga hindi pa nakakapagabayd ng kanilang bill. "Hindi pa napapanahon para ipatupad ang nakagawiang paniningil sa due date ng bill ng kuryente lalo na sa mga low-income consumers. Kakatapos lang ng pasko at marami ang pinilit na ipagdiwang ito sa abot ng kanilang makakaya. Mas makabubuting palawigin pa ang 'no disconnection' policy hanggang sa matapos ang quarantine," ayon kay Gatchalian.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 19:13:16|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Egypt signed on Thursday five contracts for gold exploration with an investment of 13 million U.S. dollars, the Ministry of Petroleum, Mining, and Mineral Resources said in a statement.

The contracts resulted from Egypt's first international bidding for gold exploration held in 2020, involving Canada's Lotus Gold and Egyptian-Kuwaiti Mining and Mabufacturing Company (MEDAF), according to the ministry statement.

The companies will work in 13 areas in the Eastern Desert, the statement said.

"The move is a translation of the amendments in the mining investment regulations and legislation which have positively reflected on the investment climate and helped put Egypt on the world map of gold mining," it explained.

In November 2020, Egyptian Minister of Petroleum Tarek el-Molla announced that 11 companies including seven international ones won the exploration bids for gold in the Eastern Desert, with a minimum investment of 60 million dollars for the first stage of exploration.

He said more international bidding would take place in March 2021 for mining iron, phosphate, white sand, zink, and potassium salt in an area near Lake Nasser in southern Egypt. Enditem
Indianapolis, IN (46208)

Today

Showers and thundershowers this morning giving way to steady, occasionally heavy rain this afternoon. Thunder possible. High 67F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Jim Stamas announced several staff changes for the 101st Legislature on Thursday.

New roles and additions to Stamas staff include Patty Hertrich as chief of staff, Brian Shoaf as senior budget advisor, and Bryce Webster as legislative director.

Cherryl Khoury is continuing in her role as scheduler and constituent relations director and Stacey Gomoll is continuing as Stamas office assistant and constituent aide.

I am proud to have Patty and Bryce join our team as we continue to tackle the tough issues affecting the people of Michigan and the 36th Senate District every day, said Stamas, R-Midland. Brian has been with me from my start in the Legislature, and I am happy to see him take on a new role focusing on meeting our budget challenges. I also want to thank Cherryl and Stacey for continuing to help us provide the best constituent services possible.

Hertrich most recently served as chief of staff for Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter MacGregor and previously worked for Reps. Joe Haveman and Chuck Moss when they chaired the House Appropriations Committee.



Shoaf is currently Stamas chief of staff and previously worked for Stamas in the House, former Rep. John Moolenaar and former Sen. Bill Schuette.

Webster previously worked for former Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Americans For Prosperity, and Reps. Lynn Afendoulis and Ken Borton.

Residents can contact Stamas office toll-free at 1-855-347-8036 or via email at SenJStamas@senate.michigan.gov. Residents may also visit Stamas Senate website at www.SenatorJimStamas.com or send a letter via U.S. Mail. The mailing address is Senator Jim Stamas, P. O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48909.
Four in five companies say that large-scale remote working during Covid-19 has created additional data protection risks.

This is according to research from legal company McCann FitzGerald and international audit, tax and advisory firm, Mazars.

The pandemic has forced thousands of people across the country to work from home under restrictions to limit the spread of the disease.

Despite this, only 55pc of those surveyed said they have implemented new procedures or policies to manage data risks.

Just over half (51pc) of firms have stopped their employees using free communications tools that do not provide adequate data protection, according to the report.

Compliance by firms with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) seems to be improving, with 80pc of organisations saying they are materially or fully compliant with the regulation, a 4pc improvement on last year.

Companies attitudes towards the GDPR are also warming, with three-quarters of organisations now believing compliance has benefits for their relations with employees, customers and other stakeholders  up significantly from 58pc in 2019.

Less than half of respondents (46pc) were concerned about the prospect of being fined for GDPR non-compliance. One in ten of the firms surveyed said they still do not log personal data breaches, while one-fifth (21pc) say they do not conduct reviews of records of data processing activity.

Only half of organisations reported conducting third-party risk assessments when it comes to GDPR.

Large-scale remote working poses data protection challenges for organisations, and it is unsurprising to find widespread concern on this issue, said Paul Lavery, partner and head of technology & innovation at McCann FitzGerald.

Remote working policies, including those dealing with confidentiality and IT security, as well as the software used by employees when working from home, should be urgently reviewed to ensure they are fit for purpose and support adequate security.

Around 80 firms took part in the report. Respondents had an average of 236 employees in Ireland and were based across the financial services, public, technology, and other sectors.

When it comes to Brexit, the Irish companies were prepared from a privacy perspective for a no-deal Brexit scenario with only 15pc saying they had not taken any steps to address transfers of personal data to the UK on the transition periods expiry date.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Lynne Tracy met with a group of the think tank experts to discuss the commitment of the USA (as OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair country) for the sustainable and comprehensive settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Facebook page of the Embassy.

Ambassador Tracy also underscored the importance of the safe return of remaining detainees.
A woman attacked her husband and punched her daughter in the face several times, with her family blaming conspiracy theory videos for causing her to 'act out'.

Businesswoman Carol pleaded guilty to two counts of domestic-related common assault in Narooma Local Court, on the NSW South Coast, last week.

The 59-year-old had her charges downgraded by police, with Magistrate Doug Dick telling the court she was 'lucky' that happened as the two assaults caused actual bodily harm, the South Coast News reported.

Carol was given a two-year community release order when her case was heard before Narooma Local Court (pictured)

The court was told Carol and her husband got into an argument at their home on December 18, 2020, after he startled her.

He went to take a shower, with Carol throwing a pot plant at her husband's head, causing it to shatter in the bathroom.

The argument continued outside, where the husband was left with a large cut to his left arm after Carol smashed a plaque on the ground, sending shrapnel flying.

She then put him in a headlock and punched him in the stomach and pelvis, before he took hold of her arm and pulled her to the ground.

Carol called police, claiming her husband had assaulted her but she later turned herself in, telling officers she had no recollection of the incident.

Her husband said her obsession with watching conspiracy theory videos online had caused her to 'act out', according to court documents.

On January 10, she told her daughter, who has a small flat on her parents property, she had to move out as she was getting a divorce.

Carol punched her daughter in the face multiple times, grabbed her around the throat, pulled her hair and kneed her in the face.

Magistrate Dick handed Carol a two-year community release order with supervision by Community Corrections.

Carol was also given two apprehended violence orders of two years for each victim.
A man from Shivamogga area of Karnataka was the second recipient to die after taking Covid-19 vaccine. The health ministry confirmed the death of the recipient but said it's not related to vaccination.

The Union Health Ministry in a statement said the death of a person from Shivamogga in Karnataka is not related to vaccination, and that it's a case of myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack.

According to reports, the deceased has been identified as a 58-year-old male doctor, who was working with a private medical college. "As confirmed by a cardiologist, his death was due to a heart attack. He was a known cardiac and diabetic patient," district health officer Nagraj told The Indian Express.

He was administered the vaccine on Monday. The person complained about breathing problems on Wednesday. He was rushed to the hospital and died before he could reach there. Doctors declared him dead.

Before this, a recipient named Nagaraju, 43, who was a Group D employee from Ballari district had died a day after he was administered Covishield vaccine. However, health officials said he died due to other complications, not the vaccine.

He reported no adverse effects until 24 hours of vaccination but developed chest pain a day later. He was admitted to hospital for myocardial infarction but doctors could not save him.

Besides, a 46-year-old healthcare worker named Mahipal Singh had died on last Sunday evening, 24 hours after being administered the Covishield coronavirus vaccine shot. Moradabad Chief Medical Officer (CMO) said the death is unrelated to COVID-19 immunisation.

He complained of breathlessness and chest congestion a day after vaccination. Authorities concerned have gotten a post mortem done. Moradabad CMO said this isn't related to the vaccine as the healthcare worker did night duty after receiving the shot and had no problems.

Also read: 46-year old healthcare worker dies day after receiving COVID-19 vaccine; govt says death not related to jab
While watching Vice President Kamala Harris being sworn in, Itzel Hernandez was reminded of what she calls the most American story. The first-generation daughter of immigrants is breaking barriers as the highest-ranking woman of color in federal government.

Theres this side of me that, despite some of the things we saw in the last year and last few weeks, Im an endless optimist over what America is. I feel like we can breathe a little easier today, said Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant and DACA recipient.

After four years of feeling on edge under the Trump administrations immigration tactics, the undocumented community is celebrating President Joe Bidens inauguration, while also knowing theres a long fight ahead for the path for citizenship and end to detentions.

But the battles may not be as hard as the what felt like wars fought under Trump, who championed his border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, ordered mass deportations, instituted a ban on immigration from largely Muslim countries and separated families at the border.

Hours after his inauguration, Biden made good on his promise to present a plan to overhaul the immigration system, and urged Congress to pass legislation granting a path to citizenship for the countrys 11 million unauthorized residents.

The fact that Biden introduced immigration plans on day one  thats never happened before. We made that happen, said Bruna Bouhid, an undocumented immigrant who arrived to America from Brazil when she was seven years old. Im hopeful because if you look at the fact sheet of the bill, theres a lot of great things on there that helps people without hurting anyone.

The bill would give some undocumented immigrants temporary legal status and make them eligible to apply for a green card after five years. After three years, they could apply for citizenship. Residents protected under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Status and immigrant farmworkers could be immediately eligible for a green card, and could apply for citizenship after three years.

Thats a huge deal for someone like me, Ive lived here for 20 years, Bouhid said excitedly. But its just the beginning of the work we need to do to make this bill a reality.

There are more than 16,350 DACA recipients in New Jersey, and 650,000 nationwide. Many more youth of the states 400,000 undocumented immigrants would be eligible to apply if the program is reinstated.

Theres so many people on the cusp who didnt qualify to be in the DACA program, and theres so many immigrants who have lived here for countless years and not had run-ins with the law, said Adriana Gonzalez, a 27-year-old DACA recipient.

A middle school teacher, Gonzalez felt hope watching the inauguration with her students on Wednesday morning. As an undocumented immigrant who moved from Mexico when she was 2, she said the day restored some of her faith in the country after watching the violent mob attacks that prompted tight security over the last two weeks.

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This is a really exciting time, but I want to make sure we really push forward. This is the time to fight even harder, she said. Were often made promises and told X, Y, Z, will happen, and then were left with uncertainty. Unless theres action and legislation, Im not guaranteed safety and neither are my family members. Im hopeful but theres work to be done.

And while there needs to be major reforms to DACA, which advocates say is being kept on life support through court case after court case, Hernandez said shes pleased that Biden is prioritizing immigrants without status who have no protections.

The fact that he saw theres 11 million other people, and not just DACA and TPS recipients, thats exciting that things might change, she said. My parents have been in this country over 17 years ... and its as crucial that theyre as much a part of the community as we all are.

Its bittersweet being DACA and having some of these rights given to us, but not to everybody else in a household. Its important that this is as expansive as possible, and gives us what weve been fighting for for so long, added Gonzalez.

She knows it wont happen overnight, she said, which will give Congress time to push the best bill possible, but shes still wary of it falling to the side due to so many other major initiatives, primarily a coronavirus relief package.

While the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 is a bold vision and first step, more work can immediately be done, said Amy Torres, executive director of the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice.

The group is calling for Biden to restore asylum at the border, end ICE arrests and detentions, and rescind regulatory changes like the increased visa and DACA renewal application fees.

For Bouhid, a moratorium on deportations should be a top priority to the Biden administration while Congress debates the proposed immigration bill. The Biden White House said more information would be shared in the coming days, after 90 labor, immigrant and racial justice groups sent a letter urging the moratorium, according to Politico.

My parents are not protected in any way. I wake up every day for the last four years wondering if my parents are going to be safe, and I still wake up with that fear because thats very much what we live with every day, said Bouhid, whose parents are living in Florida.

The community will be holding Biden accountable to making real change, said Hernandez. Shes looking forward to the change of tone, she said, and going back to a level playing field to have these debates.

Biden didnt come out and immediately call million of people rapists, thats already a big difference, said Hernandez. Were back to having rational, thorough conversations and just disagreeing on on policy. Im glad about that.

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A sensor network powered by an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm developed by scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) can accurately detect, in real-time, gas leaks and unwanted water seepage into gas pipeline networks.

Successful in field trials conducted on Singapore's gas pipeline networks, the algorithm has been patented and spun off into a start-up named Vigti, which is now commercialising the technology. It has recently raised early start-up funding from Artesian Capital and Brinc, Hong Kong.

The NTU start-up is incubated by the University's EcoLabs Centre of Innovation for Energy, a national centre launched in April 2019 to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups innovate, grow and thrive in the energy sector.

A smart warning system that can detect gas leaks and broken gas pipes in real-time has been a long-term goal for the public utility industry, as the current industry best practice for inspecting pipes is for workers to undertake manual surveillance at regular intervals.

While big leaks can be easily detected via conventional sensors as the gas volume and pressure differences will fluctuate sharply in the pipe networks, small leaks are much harder to detect.

In 2014, the Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA) awarded a grant to NTU researchers led by Dr Justin Dauwels, then an associate professor at the School of Electrical & Electronic Engineering, to develop an anomaly identification software for low-pressure pipeline networks.

Over a four-year period starting from 2015, the NTU researchers developed, deployed and tested their AI solution on certain segments of the local city gas network in Singapore over six months, which was shown to be successful in detecting all tested types of anomalies.

"We have designed novel AI algorithms, trained on a massive amount of field data, to identify anomalies such as leaks, bursts and water ingress, which can aid energy companies to better manage their pipe networks," added Dr Dauwels, who is now the AI Advisor of Vigti.

The EMA funded project concluded in 2019 after the successful field trials and Vigti was then formed to continue developing the innovation and bring it to the global market.

Chief Executive Officer of Vigti, Mr Ishaan Gupta, said: "We aim to reduce the methane emissions in the global gas supply chain to a minimum, with our early detection system, helping companies to save costs while protecting lives. Our mission is to create a safe, smart and a sustainable world, one pipeline at a time."

Professor Subodh Mhaisalkar, Executive Director of the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERIAN) and a Governing Board Member of EcoLabs, said Vigti's technology is a prime example of an NTU innovation going from lab to market.

"With ageing infrastructure and rising gas leaks around the world, Vigti's solution is well-positioned to solve a global problem, mitigating gas emissions and leaks that impact climate change and pose a potential threat to the well-being of communities. At NTU EcoLabs, we have pooled together expertise and the funding for Vigti, which enabled the pilot-scale testing of the technology, paving the way for actual market adoption."

Conventional sensors vs AI-based algorithm

While within a typical gas network there are sensors installed at regulator points which can detect major fluctuation in the network and calculate the Unaccounted-for-Gas (UFG) loss, small leaks and cracks can escape notice and thus must be manually detected.

With the conventional threshold-based approach, leaks can only be detected if the pressure drop due to the leak is higher than the pressure variation of the network during normal operation. If it is lower than the pressure variation, the leaks will be very hard to detect unless the pipes are inspected manually.

The cumulative loss of all the small leaks for major companies across the world is estimated between 1.5 to 3 per cent of total gas consumption.

Total natural gas consumption worldwide is estimated to be 3.9 trillion cubic metres as of 2019, thus even a 1 per cent loss would mean some 39 billion cubic metres globally (10 times the total consumption of natural gas of Singapore in 2017).

Leveraging machine learning and AI

To tackle these issues, the NTU team performed various computational simulations to understand the leak and water ingress phenomena in the city's natural gas distribution networks.

A variety of sensors that can measure pressure, flow, temperature and vibration, were deployed and the resulting signals associated with the anomalies in the network's pipes were analysed. This process established unique 'signatures' within the sensor data for each anomaly.

Using machine learning and AI, the team then developed a software algorithm that is extremely sensitive in detecting anomalies by matching these unique signatures within the sensor data that is routinely monitored.

During the field trial, a total of 16 pressure sensors and 4 flow sensors of various types were deployed at the riser, service line and main line, across three different locations. Data was then analysed at each location and leak and water ingress tests were also performed at these sites.

At the end of the project, a test was done to establish the effectiveness of NTU's AI comprising 13 different anomaly tests. All 13 were successfully identified by the algorithm as leaks, along with the nearest sensor location and the time duration of these leaks.

###

Media contact:

Lester Kok

Assistant Director

Corporate Communications Office

Nanyang Technological University

Email: lesterkok@ntu.edu.sg

About Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and Graduate colleges. It also has a medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, established jointly with Imperial College London.

NTU is also home to world-renowned autonomous institutes - the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering - and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N).

Ranked amongst the world's top universities by QS, NTU has also been named the world's top young university for the past seven years. The University's main campus is frequently listed among the Top 15 most beautiful university campuses in the world and it has 57 Green Mark-certified (equivalent to LEED-certified) building projects, of which 95% are certified Green Mark Platinum. Apart from its main campus, NTU also has a campus in Singapore's healthcare district.

Under the NTU Smart Campus vision, the University harnesses the power of digital technology and tech-enabled solutions to support better learning and living experiences, the discovery of new knowledge, and the sustainability of resources.

For more information, visit http://www. ntu. edu. sg

Vigti

Vigti, is an NTU Singapore spin-off company comprising of a multi-disciplinary team.

Its CEO Mr Ishaan Gupta, is an experienced entrepreneur and an expert in Internet-of-Things (IOT) and data analytics; Dr Sugunakar Reddy, Chief Technology Officer, is an expert in signal processing, finite element method and Machine Learning; Prof Abhishek Ukil, the Chief Information Officer, is a serial inventor with multiple patents to his name and has rich industry experience from his time working at ABB; Dr Justin Dauwels is their AI Advisor, having deep expertise in the domain of machine vision and AI.

Vigti is now looking to acquire pilot projects globally and to raise their seed round of investment. In the US, Vigti is registered as Vigti Inc and has graduated from US CleanTech Open.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
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A decision is due this week on a planning application for 94 dwellings and a creche for 25 children in Prosperous.

The application by Bernard Moran to Kildare County Council on November 20 last has attracted a lot of attention in the locality with over ten submissions, which were due by Christmas Eve last, made involving a number of issues.

The proposal is to have an entrance off Emerson Court access road and residents in that estate have made a number of submissions.

A linear park is also included.

The land is sandwiched between the River Slate and Emerson Court/The Downings.

Cllr Aidan Farrelly said that the proposed entrance would be on a bend and the entrance to Emerson Court is not wide enough.

He wants a separate entrance serving the development and a possible orbital route to be opened to the Ballinafagh road.

Clarity has been sought from Irish Water on the network issues.

Another submission, from Sean Byrne, objected to the design and layout, stating there was no objection to housing per se.

Concerns were raised about overlooking from the proposed development into houses No 12-27 Emerson Court.

Flooding analysis was missing, according to one submission.

Another described the applicants move as a land grab of green amenity from Emerson Court avenue. They said residents have maintained the area for the last 15 years.

The estate is not taken in charge by the council.

Another submission said that the combined population increase of Prosperous, if a number of recent permissions were completed, would be 34% bringing it to 3,013.

The planners were also told that schools in Clane and Prosperous are under pressure and that commuting to Dublin is unsustainable due to the erratic nature of public transport.

At the time of going to press, there had been no request for further information from the council, according to the file. A decision is due by January 23.
Bengaluru, Jan 21 : The Bengaluru police busted an interstate drug peddling racket by arresting two persons and recovering 9310 LSD strips valued about Rs 1.39 crore and cash Rs 27.50 lakh from them on Thursday.

The arrests were made by the Kumaraswamy Layout police of the Bengaluru South sub-division in the city.

According to the police, the arrested, identified as Rahul Tulsiram, 28 years, resident of Pune, Maharashtra, and Balaji, 48 years, resident of Savaipet, Tamil Nadu, used to run a well- oiled drug peddling racket in the city.

Deputy commissioner of police (South), Harish Pande told reporters that the Kumaraswamy Layout Police acted on tip off and arrested Rahul near the premises of a reputed medical college.

"After thorough investigations, Rahul spilled the beans about Balaji who was on and off operating his racket from Tamil Nadu. Then we caught him in Bengaluru and recovered such a huge quantity of LSD strips," the DCP explained while participating in a recovery parade organised by the Kumaraswamy Layout police at the police station.

He added that these peddlers ran their trade using social media platforms mainly message platforms like Whatsapp, Facebook Messengers and various other means of messaging sites.

"Most of the trade used to take place on the platforms. The Cyber police in Kumaraswamy Layout had identified a few chat groups operating clandestinely and kept watch on these groups. In one of the group, we came across Rahul trying to cut a deal with prospective customers, mainly youngsters working professionals," he explained.

He clarified that so far all synthetic drugs are procured from the dark web and this case too is no different, but the police are on the lookout for the person who operates this cartel.

The police have registered a case and investigating further.
MARYVILLE  State Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, is encouraging K-12 students to create and submit artwork for the annual art contest sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Illinois State Board of Education. This years theme is Art Surrounds Us.

Creating art is a great way for students to express themselves, Crowe said. The Metro East has many talented artists, and I hope students of all ages choose to participate in this statewide art contest.
Egypts Administrative Court overturned on Thursday a 2016 decision by Cairo governorate to close El-Nadeem Centre for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture.

The court said it based its ruling on recommendations stated in a report by the State Commissioners Authority.

According to the report, Cairo governorate had not informed the prominent human rights NGO that it had committed violations that should be resolved within a certain timeframe.

The report also said that the governorate did not specify which licensing terms and conditions El-Nadeem had violated, which is not in line with the law and makes the governorates decision null and void.

Founded in 1993, El-Nadeem centre provides services including psychological support for victims of violence and torture and periodically issues reports on torture in Egypt.

In November 2016, renowned Egyptian activist and co-founder of the Nadeem centre Aida Seif El-Dawla was banned from travelling.

In 2018, the German branch of renowned human rights organisation Amnesty Human Rights NGO gave its annual award to El-Nadeem centre.

In 2019, France and Germany awarded the 2019 Franco-German Human Rights and the Rule of Law Prize to El-Nadeem Centre and other defenders of human rights around the globe.

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Here are top stories this Thursday morning:

PM Modi Congratulates Kamala Harris On 'historic Occasion'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Kamala Harris as she was sworn-in as the 49th Vice President of the United States by calling it a historic occasion. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that he is 'looking forward to interacting with her to make India-USA relations more robust'. "The India-USA partnership is beneficial for our planet," PM Modi added.

Read full story here

Delhi conducts over 1 cr COVID-19 tests

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday informed that the national capital has created a new record as it has successfully conducted over 1 crore COVID-19 tests. Taking to Twitter, the Chief Minister said that the Coronavirus tests done till date in Delhi is equivalent to 50 per cent of Delhi's population. "With a focus on increased testing and treatment, Delhi has successfully contained the scale and spread of COVID-19 infection, " Arvind Kejriwal added.

Read full story here

Health Minister says 'no vial of COVID-19 vaccine...'

Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday clarified that no vial of COVID-19 vaccine or a session is wasted if pre-registered beneficiaries do not turn up for the inoculation. In that case, the jabs are allotted to another beneficiary, he said. Taking to Twitter, Vardhan cleared misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccination drive. Responding to questions raised over vials being wasted with people not turning up for inoculation, Vardhan said no vial of the vaccine or session is wasted and are being allotted to another beneficiary in case of absenteeism.

Read full story here

All Assam Students' Union to protest against CAA

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Assam on January 23, the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) has decided to launch a state-wide protest on the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Ex-BJP chief and Home Minister Amit Shah will also make his second visit to the poll-bound state within a month's time, on January 24. AASU has said that it has planned a three-day protest and it will burn copies of the citizenship law, and hold torch rallies during their visit.

AASU President Dipanka Kumar Nath announced, "On January 22, all the district units of AASU will hold a torchlight rally. On January 23, we will wear black badges ahead of PM Modi's first visit to the state this year. During the visit of the Union Home Minister on January 24, we will hoist black flags and burn copies of CAA across the state." "The BJP-led government had promised to seal the porous Indo-Bangladesh border. However, that has not materialized. The government has failed to implement Clause 6 of the Assam Accord," he added.

Read full story here

Biden announce US will re-enter Paris climate accord

The new United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that the US plans to re-enter the Paris climate accord hours after swearing-in. The accord was a landmark international agreement which was signed in 2015 to limit global warming, Under the Donald Trump administration, the US had left the agreement in 2020. However, the new President Joe Biden signed an executive order to rejoin into the Paris climate agreement on Wednesday, as per reports. "We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," he said in his inaugural speech.

Read full story here
WASHINGTON - The chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Thursday asked the FBI to conduct a "robust examination" of the alleged role in the Jan. 6 Capitol siege of Parler, the now-disabled social media site that bristled with violent chatter before and after rioters stormed the Capitol in a rampage that left five people dead.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the chairwoman, said the request is a step toward opening a formal committee investigation into sites that may encourage violence, including Parler. It became prominent last year as a freewheeling alternative to Twitter, gaining popularity in particular among conservatives.

She said the committee will begin its own formal investigation of Parler and similar sites, and that it was a "top priority" for her to learn answers to a range of questions about Parler, including its alleged ties to Russia, as documented in news reports. Her letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray Thursday singled out Parler's use of a Russian-owned web services company, DDoS-Guard, that also has Russian government clients and may leave Parler vulnerable to data requests by Russian agencies.

"I am going to get to the bottom of who owns and funds social media platforms like Parler that condone and create violence," Maloney said in an interview with The Washington Post.

In response to Maloney's letter, Parler Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Wernick said in a statement to The Post, "Like other social-media platforms, we have been cooperating and will continue to cooperate with law-enforcement efforts to identify and prosecute those individuals responsible for organizing and carrying out the shameless Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Parler welcomes Rep. Maloney's call to have the Federal Bureau of Investigation conduct a robust examination of our policies and actions."

Parler previously has described its ownership and leadership as based in the United States, with conservative financier Rebekah Mercer and commentator Dan Bongino among its investors. It hired DDoS-Guard to protect it from cyberattacks after Amazon Web Services suspended Parler for having inadequate moderation policies, citing in a legal filing what it said was the site's "unwillingness and inability" to remove content "inciting and planning the rape, torture, and assassination of named public officials and private citizens."

The move knocked Parler offline, further clouding its future after Apple and Google also had removed it from their app stores for similar policy violations. It has struggled to get back online, but its officers have vowed to do so.

Parler's legal fight to force Amazon to restore its service suffered a setback on Thursday when a federal district judge in Seattle denied Parler's request for a preliminary injunction.

"Our return is inevitable due to hard work, and persistence against all odds. Despite the threats and harassment not one Parler employee has quit. We are becoming closer and stronger as a team," chief executive John Matze wrote in a post Monday. As the letter from Maloney noted, Matze is married to a Russian woman, a fact previously noted in numerous news reports that raised the issue without documenting improper influence over the company.

Conservative commentators Mark Levin and Sean Hannity, along with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ken., have posted words of support, but the site overall remained inoperative Thursday morning.

Maloney's letter called on the bureau to "conduct a robust examination of the role that the social media site Parler played in the assault, including as a potential facilitator of planning and incitement related to the violence."

The FBI national press office said in a statement to The Post: "We have received the letter and are reviewing."

DDoS-Guard did not respond immediately to a request for comment Thursday, but officials with the company said in a statement Tuesday, "At this time, Parler.com does not violate either our Acceptable Use Policy or the current US law to the best of our knowledge."

Congress has wide-ranging authority to inquire about private companies, but Parler and other social media sites also enjoy broad legal immunity for what others post on their platforms through Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. While there is ample evidence of hateful conversation ahead of the attack on the Capitol and calls for violence against members of Congress, those were made by Parler's users - many of them using pseudonyms - a fact limiting Parler's responsibility.

The company, based in Henderson, Nev., and founded in 2018, has engaged in limited moderation, using panels of users to review potentially problematic posts while portraying itself as a haven for free speech at a time of rising restrictions and enforcement on mainstream platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Parler refused to remove accounts affiliated with Russian influence operations documented in October by research firm Graphika, saying that no government authority had asked it do so.

Maloney wrote in her letter: "The company was founded by John Matze shortly after he traveled in Russia with his wife, who is Russian and whose family reportedly has ties to the Russian government. Concerns about the company's connections to Russia have grown since the company re-emerged on a Russian hosting service, DDoS-Guard."

She wrote the Russian company "has ties to the Russian government and hosts the websites of other far-right extremist groups, as well as the terrorist group Hamas."

DDoS-Guard stopped protecting the Hamas website in November, according to SITE Intelligence Group.

The new Congress is only just forming, but Maloney made it clear in her interview with The Post that studying Parler is a priority for the investigative oversight panel. Maloney has a long-standing interest in possible foreign support of U.S. companies. In December, legislation she has championed for years was passed into law requiring more disclosure for shell companies.

The new law will require shell companies to provide the names of their owners or face stiff penalties and jail sentences. The Corporate Transparency Act mandates that information about shell companies be stored in a confidential database accessible to federal law enforcement and shared with banks, which are often unwitting accomplices to international corruption and terrorism.
The Reserve Bank of India signalled recently it wont relent on dollar purchases that pushed the currency to the bottom of Asias currency rankings in 2020. Analysts had forecast for the rupee to rise for the first time in four years on hopes the RBI may slow its foreign-currency accumulation after the stockpile rose to a record.

The RBIs comments suggest the large FX intervention that the central bank undertook in 2020 totalling almost $120 billion will continue in 2021," said Khoon Goh, head of research at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. in Singapore. Persistent FX intervention will see INR underperforming regional currencies," he said.

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said on Saturday that emerging markets need to build reserves as buffers against external shocks even at the risk of being added to the US watchlist for currency manipulation. India rejoined the list in December due to RBIs sustained forex purchases and a large goods trade surplus with the US.

View Full Image Asia's currency laggard (Graphic: Bloomberg)

Indias central bank officials are usually reticent about commenting on the nations foreign exchange policy. This marks a departure from the RBIs fifteen-year plus stance of intervening only to contain volatility, Indranil Sen Gupta and Aastha Gudwani, economists at Bank of America wrote in a note.

Das comments also put the spotlight on bullish rupee trades from banks including Nomura Holdings Inc., which said in a report last week that the Indian currency may outperform the Indonesian rupiah as the RBI may allow it to appreciate in a positive inflow backdrop. Deutsche Bank AG also recommended buying the rupee against the Philippine peso.

Pressure to rise

The median estimate of a Bloomberg survey shows the rupee may strengthen rise to 72.40 to a dollar by year-end. Its risen 0.1% so far in 2021 to 72.9775 after three straight years of declines. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. sees it appreciating to 70 by March 2022.

The rupee is under pressure to rise on heavy foreign inflows. However, that prompts the central bank to mop up excess dollars with the aim of keeping the local exchange rate stable. Deutsche Bank expects inflows to reach $82 billion by the end of the fiscal year ending March, before continuing at a similar pace in the following 12 months.

The RBI bought net $10.3 billion of foreign exchange in the spot market in November while its intervention in the forwards market saw its long-dollar position rise to $28.3 billion at end-November versus $13.6 billion in the previous month, central bank data released Thursday showed.

Silver Lining

Indias forex reserves consequently rose to a record $586 billion, catching up with Russia, which has the worlds fourth-largest stockpile. Mizuho Bank Ltd. sees this having a positive implications for the rupee when the greenback strengthens.

This prudential FX reserve building means that on episodes of sudden USD strength, rupee resilience will be greater," said Vishnu Varathan, the Singapore-based head of economics and strategy at the bank. In a stronger-dollar scenario, and barring a surge in oil prices the rupee could fare better than peers such as the Indonesian rupiah and Philippine peso, he said.

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In one of his first official acts, President Joe Biden was yesterday returning the United States to the worldwide fight to slow global warming and launching a series of climate-friendly efforts that could transform how Americans drive and get their power.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, Mr Biden said in his inaugural address. A cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear now.

Mr Biden was signing an executive order rejoining the Paris climate accord within hours of taking the oath of office, fulfilling a campaign pledge.

The move undoes the US withdrawal ordered by predecessor Donald Trump, who belittled the science behind climate efforts, loosened regulations on heat-trapping oil, gas and coal emissions, and spurred oil and gas leasing in pristine Arctic tundra and other wilderness.

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The Paris accord commits 195 countries and other signatories to come up with a goal to reduce carbon pollution and monitor and report their fossil fuel emissions. The United States is the worlds second biggest carbon emitter after China. Mr Bidens move will solidify political will globally, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday.

Mr Biden also will use executive orders to start undoing other Trump climate rollbacks. He will order a temporary moratorium on new oil and gas leasing in what had been virgin Arctic wilderness, direct federal agencies to start looking at tougher mileage standards and other emission limits again, and revoke Mr Trumps approval for the Keystone XL oil and gas pipeline.

After Mr Biden notifies the UN by letter of his intention to rejoin the Paris accord, it would become effective in 30 days, UN spokesman Alex Saier said. Rejoining the Paris accord could put the US on track to cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 40pc to 50pc by 2030, experts said.

Also within hours of being sworn in, Mr Biden sent an immigration bill to lawmakers that would open a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the United States unlawfully, a sharp contrast to the policies of former Mr Trump.

Mr Biden was signing 15 executive actions last night, at least six of those dealing with immigration, making the issue a major focus of the Democratic presidents first day in office.

The actions included immediately lifting a travel ban on more than a dozen mostly Muslim-majority and African countries, halting construction of the US-Mexico border wall and reversing a Trump order preventing migrants who are in the United States illegally from being counted when US congressional voting districts are next redrawn.

Mr Biden will also sign a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security and the US attorney general to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, which protects migrants who entered country as children from deportation, and reverse Mr Trumps executive order calling for stricter interior immigration enforcement.

The new president is also expected to end a Trump programme called the Migrant Protection Protocols. The programme has left tens of thousands of asylum seekers waiting in Mexico for US court hearings, with many stuck for months in squalid tent camps near the U.S. border.

Taken together, the actions show Mr Biden is beginning his presidency with a sharp focus on immigration, just as Mr Trump kept the issue at the centre of his policy agenda until the last days of his administration.
State-owned Forestry Corporation says last summer's record bushfires scorched half of the native forest estate and a quarter of its softwood plantations, setting the agency on track for a sharp drop in revenue in coming years.

The corporation's latest annual report for 2019-20 showed revenue from hard and softwood operations was slightly higher than previous years but mostly because of urgent operations to salvage timber from burnt forests.

Logs pile up near the Lower Bucca State Forest, where harvesting continues despite devastating fires nearby. Credit:Kate Geraghty

Forestry Corp noted the window for salvaging charred trees is about a year before fire-affected timber begins to deteriorate. Such operations ensured it could meet contracts but coming years will see both output and revenue drop.

While fiscal years 2020 and 2021 still had "fire-salvage volumes, revenue is set to decline by $100 million or 25 per cent [from about $425.2 million] from fiscal year 2022 onwards," it said in its Statement of Corporate Intent.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- New Light Technologies Inc. (NLT), Spatial Focus LLC, and rGa Associates have announced a strategic partnership to provide customers a complete lifecycle of street addressing services and data.

Since 1998, Spatial Focus, in concert with rGa Associates, has led the development of address data standards and innovative systems for address data management and Central Address Repositories (CARs) in and outside of the United States. These tools allow easy, rapid, accurate, and reliable development and maintenance of address data.

NLT is a leading provider of geospatial, scientific, and data-centric consulting services, serving Federal, State, and Local governments since 2001. NLT provides GIS services and analytics for agencies such as the U.S. Census Bureau of Statistics, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as for additional clients such as the World Bank Group.

Through a strategic partnership, NLT, Spatial Focus, and rGa will design and provide local governments scalable technological solutions for efficient management of enterprise addressing repositories, including tailored tools for address data management that ensure accuracy, validity and compliance with regulations. This partnership will extend the reach of these tools and capabilities also through the development of secured cloud and web-based applications.

Dr. Ran Goldblatt, the Chief Scientist of NLT, notes that this partnership will allow local governments to leverage the long expertise of Spatial Focus and rGa in the field of address data management and implementation of address data repositories, and NLT`s expertise in the field of geospatial data management and development and integration of cloud and web-based capabilities. Goldblatt notes that the team is planning to deploy a first-in-a-kind secured web-map tool for easy and reliable management of address databases, allowing localities to manage their own addresses and street segments repositories within a unified scalable database.

According to Spatial Focus founders, Martha Wells and Sara Yurman, the lack of accurate and reliable address databases and infrastructure significantly restricts opportunities for citizens and economic development, especially in the context of developing countries. Wells and Yurman note that the design, creation, assignment and maintenance of street addressing are critical for ensuring effective economics and efficient governments and could eventually save lives.

For many governments, address data are incomplete, scattered among different agencies and not regularly consolidated, compared or reviewed for accuracy. As climate change engenders more disasters, a reliable address street repository is essential for first responders, relief workers, and citizens to take action more rapidly, and to deliver assistance more economically and effectively. Addresses also provide a civic identity to citizens and a reliable means to locate and serve all residents within a jurisdiction.

The tools developed by Spatial Focus and rGa have been successful across continents and cultures, including in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Governor Albert J. Bryan of the U.S. Virgin Islands in his 2020 State of the Territory Address expressed the importance of addressing: "the Street Addressing Initiative currently underway, ... will rebuild the confidence of our residents that first responders will quickly get to them in their most desperate times of need. The Street Addressing Initiative may be the most important infrastructure project in modern Virgin Islands history. Ensuring that every street in this Territory has an address is going to be life-changing for the members of this Virgin Islands community."

This unique strategic partnership will make tools for address data management more accessible and cost-effective to clients. According to Spatial Focus Principal Matthew Yurman, "this collaboration will make each community better tomorrow because of what we are doing today."

To learn more about our services and solutions we provide, please contact us at [email protected] or at [email protected].

About New Light Technologies

New Light Technologies Inc. (NLT), a small business based in Washington DC, is a leading provider of integrated cloud, cybersecurity, software development, data analytics, geospatial, and scientific consulting services. NLT offers distinctive capabilities in the development, implementation, and management of cloud-native platforms that enable the collection, integration, modeling, privacy protection, quality assurance, and control, and public release of federal data products and web-based decision support tools. For more information about NLT visit www.newlighttechnologies.com . Media Contact: Tim Kuhn, 202-568-6300, [email protected]

About Spatial Focus

Spatial Focus LLC, founded in 1998, is the leading developer of centralized, enterprise street address repositories for all levels of government. These repositories support and enhance the capabilities of agencies in both emergency and regular operations while reducing costs and increasing efficiencies. Using GIS and database tools for standardization, quality control and management of address data, Spatial Focus supports improvement of workflows. Spatial Focus additionally documents address accuracy and completeness, and enables integration of business systems throughout their clients' organization, reducing duplication and increasing coordination and productivity. Spatial Focus led efforts to develop national standards for address data. It also creates documentation to support addressing processes in government operations. For more information about Spatial Focus please visit www.spatialfocus.com .

About rGa & Associates

rGa & Associates Inc. (rGa), based in metro Atlanta GA, has been a geospatial software development firm for over 30 years. rGa has primarily focused on the Public Works, Rail and Addressing industries. The Public Works products were originally developed on Intergraph mainframes, ported to Bentley MicroStation and eventually to ESRI Desktop as extensions. The company has proficiencies in various technologies, programming languages and industry leading database backends. Over the last 12 years the company has focused on the Rail and Addressing Industries. rGa partnered with Spatial Focus LLC the world leader in Addressing to develop software products for managing and maintaining addresses and street data. rGa was the GIS architect and spatial backend developer for the Positive Train Control (PTC) for Norfolk Southern Railroad using linear referencing leveraging Oracle Spatial and ESRI technologies. rGa takes pride in staying abreast of new technologies, accuracy, repeatability and quality customer support and satisfaction. For more information about rGa please visit www.rgageo.com .

SOURCE New Light Technologies Inc. (NLT); Spatial Focus LLC; rGa Assoc.

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http://www.rgageo.com


The presidency of Donald Trump is finally over. The now former president left the White House onboard Marine One with former first lady Melania Trump yesterday morning, and in true Trump style, it was done with one final snub to an establishment that he battled so hard against during his controversial four-years in office.



In contrast to previous transfers-of-power, Trump decided there would be no invite for the new president Joe Biden and his First Lady to the White House, no ride with the new President to the United States Capital, and no attendance at the new President's inauguration.

They were the final unconventional acts of the most unconventional president, who's eccentric and avant-garde attitude to standards expected of elected officials infuriated opponents and enthralled supporters in equal measures.

With his departure now confirmed many will hope that a more conventional and orderly form of politics and diplomacy will return to the U.S., one led through consultation and building relationships, rather than the use of megaphones or social media.

Biden hits the ground running

And it seems Biden is already acting quickly to highlight the striking difference between his, and his predecessor's presidency, with a blitz of executive orders signed just hours after his inauguration and more expected over the next ten-days.

Already, orders have been signed on some of Trump's most controversial policies, including reinstating the U.S. into the Paris Agreement, halting the U.S. exit from the World Health Organisation, and reversing a controversial travel ban placed on several majority-Muslim countries. Speaking prior to Biden's first day, Ron Klain, Biden's new Chief of Staff said the signing of these orders were "not just to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration  but also to start moving our country forward."

Missing from the lengthy list of executive orders however was any mention of one of the most damaging and destabilising acts of Trump's administration; his policies against China.

Despite dominating international relations for the past four-years, Biden's first flurry of executive orders and future reversals planned over the coming days appear unlikely to produce any action on improving relations with China. This includes nothing on reversing the 25 percent tariffs placed on nearly $300 billion worth of Chinese goods that have rocked American jobs and its economy, nor any rollback on other executive orders such as investment in Chinese companies and the blacklisting of other Chinese enterprises that have tarnished the U.S. reputation of a free and open market.

Change in administration, change in tone?

Their absence is a worry for those who assumed a Biden presidency would automatically reinstate positive relations between China and the U.S.

Many expected the Biden administration's likely move to install a more civil tone  in contrast to the vilifying and at times racist comments made by Trump, Vice-President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and economic and trade advisor Peter Navarro  to coincide with an upturn in relations between the two.

The new administration's likely pivot away from China's domestic issues towards global issues where both sides could see room for collaboration such as climate change, were also expected to provide spill-overs that could improve their overall relationship.

And the nomination of retired general Lloyd Austin over Michele Flournoy, former undersecretary of defence for policy who once famously floated the idea of sinking the entire Chinese navy in 72 hours, was given as further evidence that Biden's administration would end the fierce rhetoric that had built-up during Trump's administration, and begin the start of more cordial relations.

Continuation with 'hard-line'

In reality it seems, at least for the beginning of his presidency, Biden is content to only deviate from the method rather than the spirit of Trump's policy on China.

This in part reflects the growing bi-partisan support across American politics for stronger measures against China, a movement which began during Biden's time as Vice-President to Barack Obama.

While the tone of diplomacy may become more friendly, Robert Hormats, managing director of wealth management group Tiedemann Advisors and a former adviser to the administrations of five U.S. presidents, believes this bi-partisan support is likely to influence Biden to take a "harder line" on China, rather than returning to a softer period of relations.

Speaking to Bloomberg, Hormats said: "I do think that Biden and both Republicans and Democrats in the business community in general want a tougher line on China  So, I think he's going to not revert back to the softer period of the past, but will take a harder line. I don't expect an immediate withdrawal of some of the tariffs and I don't expect another grand realm of trade negotiations or so-called round two."

Biden has himself admitted a reluctance to withdraw anything until a proper review has been conducted into the previous administration's China policy, telling the New York Times on December 2: "I'm not going to make any immediate moves, and the same applies to the tariffs".

But it seems he is already preparing his administration to continue Trump's hard-line, with his cabinet nominations increasingly being shaped by advisors who helped manufacture the U.S. first policy pivot towards Asia, and the beginning of its strategy to contain China's rise during the Obama administration.

Most notably they include Kurt M. Campbell, a former secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to the newly created position of "Indo-Pacific Coordinator", and former Obama advisor Laura Rosenberger to the role of the senior director for China at the National Security Council. Rosenberger in particular has been increasingly critical of the Chinese government, accusing it of meddling in US elections and hindering the release of important information during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has also been the nomination of long time China critic Katherine Tai to the role of the U.S. top trade representative, a role that became increasingly important as the two sides negotiated a complicated first-phase trade deal in December 2019. Like Rosenberger, Tai has been outspoken on China, previously stating China should be addressed forcefully and strategically, and who previously was responsible for litigating Washington's disputes against Beijing at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Changes needed if things are to get better

Rome was of course not built in a day, and Biden's China policy should not be judged by his first 10-days in office.

But a mention of China, an executive ordering demanding an end to damaging tariffs, or the reversal of bans against Chinese companies during this period could have signalled a clean break from the previous Trump-administration, and provided a positive platform in which to build future China-U.S. relations.

Chinese officials have increasingly voiced hopes of a reset in relations, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi calling for Beijing and Washington to reset ties, while Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent letter to Howard Schultz, former chairman of global coffee giant Starbucks, has been interpreted as a sign of China being open to engaging with the U.S. business community.

Instead, Biden's inaction leaves the lingering feeling of a missed opportunity, and highlights the difficulties in returning China-U.S. relations to a stable footing.

For now, at least, it seems despite Biden's keenness to perpetuate a definite split from his predecessor, Trump's policy on China is proving a hard habit to break for the new president.
Thanks to the policy of the new administration, locals will soon confront many opportunities to make new friends.



To wit and because TKC is a "pocho" Latino who is somewhat proficient in the language of the oppressor . . .

KANSAS CITY PREPS FOR AN EPIC WAVE OF IMMIGRANTS HOPING TO BENEFIT FROM THE UPCOMING BIDEN AMNESTY!!!



For perspective, let's not forget that former Prez Ronald Reagan was the first modern-era icon to grant an immigration amnesty and longtime residents still remember the local impact.

Here's the word from a friend of the blog . . .

"In Kansas City, the Reagan amnesty quadrupled the number of Latinos in Kansas City in less than 10 years. There's still an effect from the legislation and that's why the Latino community has been the largest growing ethnic minority in the metro for at least 30 years. Leading up to Reagan's plan, KC was packed with migrant workers, tourists and family friends who hoped to qualify. From the Westside to Northeast there were literally people sleeping on the street just because they wanted the amnesty so desperately. In fact, there was a great deal of intercultural conflict between community leaders and the new arrivals; part of that history is what ultimately led to the Westside CAN Center and police working with 'illegals' instead of reporting them to immigration authorities."

And that leads us to a very quick change in language that's also on the horizon . . .



Fox News: Biden immigration bill changes 'alien' to 'noncitizen' as part of overhaul

For what it's worth, this was always a sticking point with activist, Prez Trump supporter and toy gun enthusiast Kris Kobach . . .

Despite vehement objections, Mr. Kobach was legally correct when he referenced "illegal aliens" and balked at terms like "dreamers" given that he was citing U.S. law . . . But laws change.

Now the term "alien" isn't just out of favor but soon might not be part of the American vernacular from a legal standpoint.

But I digress . . . Back to the topic of new friends & guests . . .

Right now social service agencies and local leaders active in Kansas City's Latino community are prepping their requests for both non-profit and government funding given the influx in population that they will likely meet in the very near future.



On a more ominous note . . .

Kansas City is no stranger to South of the border guests given that some of the most brutal Mexican drug lords have regularly visited this cowtown and law enforcement recently confirmed that drug cartels have set up shop throughout the metro.

Nevertheless . . .

With a Democratic Party controlled White House, Senate and Congress it's unlikely that the Biden Amnesty plan will meet with anything but ritual ranting given that we're a long way from midterm elections and this is just the FIRST part of an agenda that will shape the future of the nation and Kansas City.



Check the links . . .



AP: Biden bets big on immigration changes in opening move

Progressive Pulse: Biden immigration overhaul would open a door to citizenship for 11 million people

Vox: Biden will pause deportations for 100 days

VOA: Undocumented Immigrants Cheering Possible Citizenship Path Under Biden

12 News: Ted Cruz says Biden immigration plans put illegal immigrants ahead of American workers

The Verge: Tech rallies behind Bidens immigration plans

New York Post: Migrant caravan stopped near Guatemala border on their way to the US

Politico: Biden's plan to outdo Obama, undo Trump's immigration legacy has begun

Developing . . .
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Chinnappampatti : , Jan 21 (IANS) Around 5,000 people turned up to receive one of India's latest bowling sensation, T. Natarajan, and took him in a horse-drawn tastefully-decorated chariot for two kilometres in his native village Chinnappampatti in Salem district on Thursday.

Left-arm pacer Natarajan made his India debut in all three formats during the recent tour of Australia, and played a role in India's three-wicket win in the fourth and final Test in Brisbane on his debut.

Natarajan, who picked three wickets for 78 runs in the first innings to help India win the match -- and the series 2-1 -- was taken on a horse-drawn chariot for about two kilometres.

"Close to 5,000 people were present. The entire village had turned up to wish him. He reached his house in the evening and saw his daughter for the first time," an official told IANS.

"The who's who of the village came to wish him. All the local government officials also went to meet him," said the official.

Natarajan had landed in Bangalore before travelling home to Chinnappampatti which is about 30 km from Salem and comes in the Salem district.

Natarajan's daughter was born while he was on duty with SunRisers Hyderabad at the Indian Premier League (IPL), played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to Covid-19 restrictions in India. Natarajan was picked as one of the net bowlers for the Australian tour, and he left with the Indian team straiht from the UAE, and could not visit his home to see his daughter.
Why cats are crazy for catnip Science.

How management by metrics leads us astray Jakob Greenfield

J.D. Greears Church Announces Investigation Into Allegations Bryan Loritts Covered Up Sex Crimes The Roys Report. And we wonder why theres a decline in trust.

#COVID19

With six months to go, cancellation fears cloud Tokyo Olympics Agence France Presse

China?

Taiwan Invited To US Inauguration For First Time Since 1979 Agence France Presse

A Better U.S. Strategy For East Asia The American Conservative (original).

Trade Can Drive a Revived U.S. Strategy in Asia Foreign Policy

India

Brexit

UK/EU

Imperial Collapse Watch

The Can-Do Power Samantha Power, Foreign Affairs

New Cold War

Russia Sees Lowest Foreign Investment Since 1994 Moscow Times

What a sham! On fakery and the Russian avant-garde Apollo

Syraqistan

Joe Biden Will Have to Address the War in AfghanistanAgain The New Yorker. Drives me nuts. As if the entire political class didnt fight tooth and nail to keep the troops there, and still is: just read all the comments from The Blob in the article.

Cuba aims to immunise its population this year with its own coronavirus vaccine Euronews

Biden Transition

Trump Transition

Capitol Seizure

Trump supporters threatened state Capitols but failed to show on Inauguration Day NBC

Our Famously Free Press

Class Warfare

Back from the Afterlife The Baffler

The wisdom of surrender Aeon. On Samuel Beckett.

Antidote du jour (via):

See Yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
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Tom Reel /Staff file photo

Wondering which H-E-B pharmacy locations will have the COVID-19 vaccine? There is now a new website that will tell you.

H-E-B launched a website dedicated to COVID-19 vaccine distribution information. You can visit the website at https://vaccine.heb.com/



As of Thursday morning, its website states that H-E-B has received limited supply of Moderna vaccine for Wharton, Texas.
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The coronavirus, with its spike proteins shown in red. Many vaccines are targeting parts of the virus specifically. Credit: US CDC/Wikimedia Commons

When the efficacy of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine was announced in late 2020, there was some confusion. The overall efficacy of the vaccine at stopping people developing symptomatic COVID-19, two weeks after the second dose, was 70%. But this wasn't the whole picture.

This figure was based on averaging the results from two groups. In one group, which was given two full doses, the vaccine was 62% effective at stopping people developing symptoms. But in the second group, a dosing error meant that volunteers received a half dose followed by a full one. This ended up being 90% protective against developing COVID-19.

This was intriguing. Why would giving people less of the vaccine lead to a more effective immune response? The answer to this may lie in the design of the vaccine, and could mean that there are ways to make this vaccineand others that use the same designmore effective.

How the Oxford vaccine works

Vaccines work by exposing the immune system to recognisable partsor "antigens"of pathogens that cause disease, such as bacteria or viruses. The immune system then mounts a response. Immune cells called B cells make antibodies to destroy the pathogen. Sometimes T cells can also be called into action, which eliminate our own cells that have been infected with the pathogen.

Some B and T cells then remember the antigens for the future. At some future point, if the person is exposed to the pathogen, these long-lasting memory cells can quickly order more antibodies to be made to destroy the pathogen and attack infected cells.

In effect, the principle of vaccination is to "mimic" an infection, but in a controlled way so that immunity is generated without causing illness. After a few weeks, once T cells and B cells have been generated, the person vaccinated will be protected. For certain vaccines, this requires two doses, as in some people the first dose alone won't generate complete immunity. The booster dose ensures as many people as possible acquire protection.

In the case of the coronavirus vaccines, a number of methods are used to present the virus's antigens to the immune system. Some, such as the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines in China, simply present the body with a whole, inactivated version of the coronavirus. But others instead instruct the vaccinated person's own cells to produce a specific part of the coronavirus: the spike protein on its outer surface, which is a particularly recognisable antigen.

These vaccines do this by delivering the part of the coronavirus's genetic code that encodes the spike protein into the cells of the body, which then read the code and start making the protein. Some, such as the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, deliver the code in the form of messenger RNA (mRNA). Others use a harmless virus to get the genetic code inside cells; the Oxford vaccine uses chimpanzee adenovirus, genetically altered so that it's unable to reproduce, called ChAdOx1. These are known as viral-vector vaccines.

How design could affect efficacy

It's not yet known why the reduced-dose regimen of the Oxford vaccine showed better efficacy in trials, but it could be down to the viral vector.

When a person is given a viral-vector vaccine, as well as generating an immune response against the coronavirus's spike protein, the immune system will also mount a response against the viral vector itself. This immune response may then destroy some of the booster dose when it is subsequently delivered, before it can have an effect. This has long been recognised as a problem.

However, a lower first dose might not allow for a strong anti-vector immune response to develop, which could leave the booster dose unscathed and lead to greater overall efficacy. If it turns out that this is the case, then future work will need to establish the optimum dosing regimen for generating the strongest immune response.

The Russian Sputnik V vaccine acknowledges that immunity to the viral vector could be a problem, but comes up with a different solution. It uses two different human adenovirusesAd26 and Ad5 (out of the 50 that affect humans)  for its two vaccine doses. This heterologous (or hybrid) vaccine, with different vectors for prime and booster vaccinations, is less likely to have one jab generate an immune response against the viral vector that then interferes with the other. The vaccine is therefore less likely to have a reduced efficacy.

The Gamaleya Center, the lab that made Sputnik V, said that after two doses the efficacy of the vaccine is over 90% (though it has yet to publish full results demonstrating this). This has now led to AstraZeneca testing a new hybrid vaccine schedule, comprising one dose of its vaccine and one of the Ad26-vector Sputnik V, to see if this makes the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine more effective.

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

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Two teenagers accused of planning a terror attack on a school have been arrested in Russia.

The teenagers' plot was reportedly uncovered by investigators through correspondence online.

The two suspects are from the city of Lyubertsy in Moscow Oblast.

Two teenagers accused of planning a terror attack on a school have been arrested in Russia. Above, a file image of a police officer outside a kindergarten in St Petersburg

The arrests were confirmed by a source in the emergency services, according to a report by state-owned news agency RIA Novosti.

An interrogation of the two suspects is now underway, the news agency reported.

It comes after a teenager, 18, from Tula was detained by officers in December 2020 after allegedly planning an attack on a school.

'The Federal Security Service apprehended a Tula resident, born in 2002, who was preparing an armed attack on an educational facility,' the security service said, as quoted by TASS.

During the arrest late last year, officers seized a sawed-off shotgun and communication devices containing material about similar crimes.
Brother of Christian imprisoned in Pakistan on blasphemy charge pleads for Biden to help

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A United States citizen whose brother is facing the possibility of being sentenced to death in Pakistan on trumped-up blasphemy charges is asking the Biden administration to put pressure on Pakistan to release his brother.

In three months, 47-year-old Pakistani Christian man Nadeem Samson will go before Pakistans Lahore High Court as he petitions against blasphemy charges that stem from and were cemented by a false accusation, corrupt police, and his own confession under torture, his brother, Shakeel Anjum, told The Christian Post.

On Nov. 24, 2017, a man named Abdul Haq told Pakistani police that Samson had opened a fake Facebook account where he allegedly posted blasphemous material. He asked for an immediate police raid on Samsons home to catch him in the act.

Police captured Samson and a police report claims that he admitted to the crime.

But according to his Anjum, it was all a setup.

Anjum explained that Samson leased his home from Haq and was planning to move away. But Haq wanted to keep Samsons $4,000 deposit for the lease. Anjum believes that Haq created the Facebook account using Samsons phone number.

Then, Haq bribed the police, he said.

Police beat Samson for three days until he admitted to the crime, the brother recalled. When Samson appeared in open court in 2018, people physically attacked him, he said. Now, Samson attends his court hearings online from within prison.

Ive been fighting for my brother, Anjum said. After one year of the lease, the owner had to pay him $4,000. But the owner chose not to do that and instead invent this conspiracy. He paid the police and he made it a cybercrime.

Anjum has lived in the U.S. since 2012. He entered the U.S. as a permanent resident after marrying an American and later became a U.S. citizen.

He told CP that police dont allow him to speak with his imprisoned brother by phone, so he depends on a network of Pakistani friends who visit Samson in Lahores District Jail.

Anjum said he has worked with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to publicize his brothers case. Other human rights groups usually dont visit people imprisoned for blasphemy, he said. He has appealed to the Biden administration to put pressure on Pakistan to release his brother.

We are not free to pray. We do not say anything and we are charged for blasphemy, said Anjum of Christians in Pakistan. This is a question of genocide of Christians in Pakistan. They just destroyed three years in trial. They are destroying the lives of blasphemy victims.

Irregularities in a police report prove Haq bribed police, Anjum said, noting that the report on his brother should have been signed by the Lahore chief of police but it wasn't.

Instead, the report was signed by a lower-ranking inspector who did not have the authority to log the report. Anjum said police never investigated this signature.

Three years after the case was filed, Haq produced three more police witnesses against Samson, Anjum said.

There were eight witnesses against my brother. They were all paid-off police officers. This year, after three years, they are adding three more police officers as witnesses, Anjum added. In any case when you add more witnesses after three years, your previous accusation has to be false, its not correct.

Samson has officially been charged under section 295-C of Pakistanis criminal code.

The death threats and extremist pressure that often exist during a blasphemy trial in Pakistan mean that Samson will be convicted by the lower courts because judges fear they will be killed unjustly by Islamist radicals if they dont give Samson the death penalty, Anjum believes.

Pakistan ranks as the fifth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. Pakistan has imprisoned as many as 200 people on blasphemy charges, Pakistani rights activist Shaan Taseer said during the U.S. State Departments 2019 Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom.

Samson will petition Pakistans High Court, where the judges have bodyguards and might make a fair decision, said Anjum. The High Court system has ordered lower courts to finish Samsons case in three months.

On Dec. 12, Samsons lawyer, Asad Jamal, was supposed to petition the High Court for bail. Instead, he withdrew the request for bail. Three weeks later, Anjum said Jamal told him the court had rejected the request for bail. Its unclear why he didnt request bail for Samson.

He didnt tell us. He didnt tell the victim. The attorney never visited in the jail, Anjum explained. They never told me what was going on.

Samson and Anjum are both Catholic, and Pakistans Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace is funding his legal defense. However, the CCJP did not respond to Anjums calls about legal issues or tell him his lawyer withdrew the bail request, he said.

The CCJP didnt tell me whats been wrong. I was calling the CCJP. Im responsible for everything concerning the case and fighting for my brother. Please, you have to give me evidence, I said. They are not returning my calls, they are not returning my emails, said Anjum.

A source with knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity told CP that Jamal is a great lawyer and one of the few Muslim lawyers willing and capable of working on blasphemy cases. The source also said that CCJP has also done great work and thinks withdrawing bail is likely part of a legal strategy being employed by Jamal.

In Pakistan, accusations of blasphemy need not be proven to tear through someones life. Many radicals in the country consider the crime so horrible that they attack anyone accused.

[Samson] says he is not free, said Anjum. My brother is unmarried. He has no kids, no wife. [Because of the accusation,] he cannot start his career, he cannot start his own business. [People accused of blasphemy] have no career. They have no life. They have to leave their country to start a new life.

Samson has already spent three years in a prison that does not have a dedicated medical facility, he said. Even if the court declares him not guilty, the process might take three more years.

Before he was thrown in jail, Samson sold herbal medicine. If he gets out, he will almost certainly have to flee Pakistan, much like fellow blasphemy victim Asia Bibi did after she was acquitted by the Pakistan Supreme Court after spending over a decade in prison.

Pakistan is recognized by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern, designating it as a country that tolerates or engages in egregious violations of religious freedom.

During the 2019 State Department Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, a U.S. National Security Council official said that there are more people imprisoned for blasphemy in Pakistan than in all the other countries in the world combined.

Under the Trump administration, the State Department issued statements of concern blasting countries that maintain laws criminalizing blasphemy, apostasy or language that might insult religious sentiments.

We see governments using such laws to wrongfully imprison and punish individuals whose views on matters of religion or belief may differ from official narratives or the views of majority populations, a 2019 statement of concern reads.

Anjum and Samson have a younger brother named Michael who also lives in Pakistan. Hes currently dodging death threats by moving from place to place, Anjum detailed. He depends on Anjum to provide for his needs.

Michael got threats and he got penalized [after the blasphemy accusation], said Anjum. Hes in hiding. I have to save his life and his childrens lives.
In California, the use of a large batch of the Moderna COVID vaccine has been suspended following multiple claims of allergic reactions. But Connecticut health authorities said they havent seen a glut of adverse reactions to the vaccine and say its full steam ahead.

Im not overly concerned at this point, said Keith Grant, senior system director of infection prevention at Hartford Healthcare. We have a very good process in place for monitoring reactions to the vaccine.

On Sunday, Californias state epidemiologist Erica S. Pan issued a statement, recommending that health care providers suspend the use of lot 41L20A of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine due to possible allergic reactions. According to Pan, fewer than 10 individuals required medical attention over the span of 24 hours for the possible reactions, which are under investigation.

Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory and pause the administration of vaccines from Moderna Lot 041L20A until the investigation by the CDC, FDA, Moderna and the state is complete, Pan said in the statement.

Pan said more than 330,000 doses from the batch were distributed to 287 providers across California. The shipments arrived between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12. The reactions were all linked to shots given at the same vaccination clinic. The state has not been notified of any other cluster or individual events related to this batch.

In its own statement, Moderna confirmed that a total of 1,272,200 doses were produced in the affected lot, with nearly 1 million doses (964,900) already distributed to approximately 1,700 vaccination sites in 37 states. Moderna didnt list the states that had received the doses, but it doesnt appear that Connecticut received any of the affected lot, said state Department of Public Health spokeswoman Maura Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasnt notified DPH that Connecticut received any doses from the lot. To her knowledge, Fitzgerald said there have been no serious reactions in Connecticut to either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna vaccines.

We have not seen that problem here in Connecticut and are full steam ahead with getting all doses received administered within seven days of delivery, she said in an email this week. It sounds like it was one problematic batch in California.

Dr. Zane Saul, chief of infectious disease at Bridgeport Hospital, said hes also not aware of anyone having serious reactions to the vaccine. He said vaccine protocol has included asking recipients to sit for 15 minutes after getting the shot to make sure they are not having an immediate reaction. He said that has been effective.

Saul said hes received two doses of the Moderna vaccine and had only mild side effects.

At first, I had a little malaise and achiness, but today I woke up and felt fine, he said.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) The Dutch parliament supported on Thursday the proposal of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte to introduce a curfew due to the spread of the coronavirus, media reported.

The NOS tv channel reported that the majority in the Dutch parliament supported the idea of introducing a curfew, but decided it should be introduced half an hour later, at 9 p.

m. (20:00 GMT), rather than at 08:30 p.m., as Rutte proposed. The curfew will end at 4:30 a.m.

The Netherlands extended until February 9 the lockdown introduced on December 15. Restaurants, cafes, museums, theaters and other public institutions are closed.
ROCHESTER, Minn.  The investigation into a pedestrian/vehicle collision Wednesday is expected to cause traffic backups and delays on southbound Highway 52 in Rochester.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation says traffic will be restricted to one lane south of 6th Street SW to allow State Patrol investigators to work. This lane closure is expected to begin between 1 and 1:30 pm Thursday and could last several hours. Drivers are encouraged to plan for traffic delays or seek alternate routes and avoid using southbound Hwy 52 between Second Street Southwest and Apache Mall.

The Minnesota State Patrol said Joseph William Hoeft, 27 of Grand Meadow, was crossing the southbound lanes of traffic just after 5:30 pm Wednesday when he was struck by the car driven by Iziah Antonio Grendahl, 22 of Rochester.
The worlds biggest shipping company demanded a more effective military response to surging pirate attacks and record kidnappings off the coast of West Africa.

The number of attacks on vessels globally jumped 20% last year to 195, with 135 crew kidnapped, the International Maritime Bureaus Piracy Reporting Centre said in a Jan. 13 report. The Gulf of Guinea accounted for 95% of hostages taken in 22 separate instances, and all three of the hijackings that occurred, the agency said.

The attacks have pushed up insurance and other costs for shippers operating off West Africa, with some resorting to hiring escort vessels manned by armed navy personnel. A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, which transports about 15% of the globes seaborne freight, said decisive action needs to be taken.

It is unacceptable in this day and age that seafarers cannot perform their jobs of ensuring a vital supply chain for this region without having to worry about the risk of piracy, said Aslak Ross, head of marine standards at Copenhagen-based Maersk. The risk has reached a level where effective military capacity needs to be deployed.

The Gulf of Guinea encompasses a vast tract of the Atlantic Ocean thats traversed by more than 20,000 vessels a year, making it difficult for under-resourced governments to police. Fringed by an almost 4,000-mile-long shoreline that stretches from Senegal to Angola, it serves as the main thoroughfare for crude oil exports and imports of refined fuel and other goods.

Twenty-five African governments, including all those bordering on the gulf, signed the Yaounde Code of Conduct in 2013 to tackle piracy. It aims to facilitate information sharing and established five maritime zones to be jointly patrolled, but has been only partially implemented and most navies remain focused on safeguarding their own waters.

Bertrand Monnet, a professor of criminal risk management at Frances EDHEC Business School who has studied piracy in Nigerias oil-producing Niger Delta region for 15 years, estimates that a maximum of 15 bands operate offshore West Africa, each comprising 20 to 50 members.

The Delta both provides the launch area for the pirates but is also where they go back to when they have their kidnapped crew to negotiate ransoms, said Max Williams, security firm Africa Risk Compliances London-based chief operating officer.

Suspects Arrested

Nigeria, the regional powerhouse, has taken the lead in preventing attacks and its navy says it has arrested more than 100 suspects who are facing trial under a new anti-piracy law  the first of its kind in the region. The government plans to commission nearly $200 million of new equipment this year, including helicopters, drones and high-speed boats, to boost the navys capabilities.

Nigeria is committed to ensuring that this menace of piracy is gotten rid of in our waters, so that those with legitimate business in shipping, fishing, and oil and gas can go about their business without fear, Rear-Admiral Oladele Daji, commander of the Nigerian Navys western fleet, said in an interview.

Many shipowners favor a more muscular international effort modeled on the military response to hijackings offshore Somalia, which was the global epicenter of piracy from about 2001 to 2012. Armed guards and warships dispatched by the European Union, NATO and a U.S.-led task force to protect vessels traveling through the Suez Canal, one of the worlds busiest trade routes linking Europe to Asia, helped bring the problem under control.

If national governments focus on their territorial waters - the 12 nautical miles (14 miles) from their shores - major naval powers could reduce piracy further afield in the gulf by deploying two or three frigates equipped with helicopters, said Jakob Larsen, head of maritime security at the Baltic and International Maritime Council, a Copenhagen-based shipowners group. He considers such support unlikely because the sea routes arent as strategically important as those off Africas east coast.

There is little international appetite for getting involved in Nigerias security problems, he said.

The Liberian Shipowners Council urged the Nigerian authorities to disrupt the pirates onshore criminal activities. Improving employment prospects for impoverished coastal communities would reduce the threat of piracy in the longer term, but wont address the immediate problem, said Kierstin Del Valle Lachtman, the councils secretary general.

Attacks Spread

While the west African attacks were initially concentrated offshore Nigeria, theyve since spread to waters off Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Togo and Cameroon, according to Kamal-Deen Ali, executive director of the Accra-based Centre for Maritime Law and Security Africa and a former Ghanaian naval officer.

The number of violent attacks in the Gulf of Guinea has remained fairly consistent over the past decade, but abductions of more than 10 people have become increasingly commonplace, said Dirk Siebels, senior analyst at Denmark-based Risk Intelligence.

The pirates are increasingly operating deeper out to sea, with kidnappings on average taking place 60 nautical miles offshore in 2020, according to the IMB. The furthest out took place in mid-July, when eight machine-gun wielding pirates boarded a chemical tanker off Nigerias coast and seized 13 crew members before fleeing. Only unqualified seamen remained on the Curacao Trader, which was left adrift 195 nautical miles from the coast. The crew were freed the following month.

The perpetrators of such incidents are perfectly aware there is almost no risk of being caught, said Munro Anderson, a partner at London-based maritime security firm Dryad Global. That is precisely the kind of incident an international naval coalition could mitigate.

With assistance from Gina Turner.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.
Rapid Growth at Cinnamon Shore Fuels Interest in Luxury Coastal Lifestyle, With Great Investment Potential as The Community Expands



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - January 21st, 2021 - Port Aransas, Texas, January 21, 2021  The first, New Urban neighborhood on the Texas Coast, established in 2007, has become the standard for coastal, luxury development in the Lone Star State. And 2020s performance at Cinnamon Shore, located in Port Aransas, Texas, shows why.

With a 54% increase in total vacation bookings and a 75% increase rental revenue in 2020 over 20219, its apparent that word has spread about Cinnamon Shore. Furthermore, Cinnamon Shore North and its expansion, Cinnamon Shore South, together added almost 120 new homeowning families to the neighborhood, primarily from Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas-Ft. Worthall driving distance.

While 2020 was an anomaly, due to flexible work and school schedules during the pandemic, Texas vacationers and homebuyers were clearly attracted to Cinnamon Shore in record numbers, and we expect more of the same for 2021, says Jeff Lamkin, developer of Cinnamon Shore. Were offering a quality, master-planned resort community that, until recently, was only available in far-away Florida.

With 136 total properties sold in 2020 and an 85% increase in total sales volume closed in 2020 over 2019, Cinnamon Shore Realty also had its best annual results. People recognize the investment opportunity, says Jodi Peters, managing broker at Cinnamon Shore Realty. Theyre investing in real estate, but also in their family legacy.

Great Potential for Rental Income

Homeowners at Cinnamon Shore often join the Vacation Rental pool, and theyre seeing typical rental income potential that ranges between $50,000 and 300,000 annually, depending on property type and location. The numbers tell the story, and they can be a real incentive, Lamkin says.

For instance, in 2020, a three-bedroom beach home at Cinnamon Shore generated an average rental revenue of $82,000, with the top producer garnering $119,000 in rental income. A three-bedroom condo earned an average $78,000 in rental revenue. Several, upscale beach homes generated $200,000-plus in rental revenue, with the top producer exceeding $300,000. And these figures include owner usage.

With on-site property management and an active Community Owners Association, guests and homeowners enjoy amenities such as resort-style pools, a fitness center, family-friendly activities, and holiday events. Whether relaxing under signature, coral-and-white umbrellas or warming by beach bonfires, vacationers find the resort alluring year-round.

The Need for Growth

With the original community fully built, Cinnamon Shore South broke ground in 2018, and its grown quickly, with the most recent phase selling out in almost three days last fall. With only a handful of home sites currently available at South, a new phase will open in May.

The developer also has announced new acquisitions on the bay side of Mustang Island, along with a new Gulf-side tractboth set to be developed over the next decade and beyond. Well take our time and do it right, Lamkin says, noting that the bay site has deep-water access and the potential for new amenities.

Selected as the location for show homes by magazines such as Southern Living and Coastal Living and chosen by Port Aransas as the partner and as the location for the citys new hotel and conference center, Cinnamon Shore has already made its mark on the Texas Coast. Its set to continue raising the standard.

About Cinnamon Shore

Cinnamon Shore is a pedestrian-friendly planned community nestled behind the protective dunes on Mustang Island along the Texas Gulf Coast. It is the first new urbanism development for Sea Oats Group, which is fulfilling its vision of a traditional seaside village with a wide array of amenities and recreational facilities intertwined with beach cottages, luxury villas and vibrant town centers. Now comprised of two communities  the original, Cinnamon Shore North, and its new, 150-acre, Gulf-side expansion, Cinnamon Shore South  every detail of the master plan for both is designed to embrace the natural ambience of Mustang Island and the slow-paced charm of a walkable neighborhood. For more information, visit http://www.CinnamonShore.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@CinnamonShore).

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

The Buzz PR LLC

Salinas, CA

(831) 747-7455

http://www.CinnamonShore.com

###
[January 21, 2021] smartTrade Reports Successful 2020, Looks Forward to Strong Growth In 2021

smartTrade Technologies, a provider of multi-asset electronic trading solutions headquartered in Aix-en-Provence, France, today reports on a successful 2020, propelled by strong investor confidence and the proven resilience of its sector-leading technology. In the first half of 2020, Hg, Europe's leading software investor, acquired a significant stake in smartTrade. This investment has allowed smartTrade to continue to innovate and to strengthen its R&D activities despite the many challenges faced in 2020 by the financial markets and the wider community. Notable developments in 2020 were the enhancement of smartTrade's open and API-enabled technology, as well as increased functionality in FX Options, Money Markets, AlgoBox and PostTrade for LiquidityFX, the firm's FX trading platform. Robust and resilient systems coupled with a solid infrastructure also contributed heavily to smartTrade's success in 2020 with the firm's customers able to trade without interruption throughout the COVID-19 crisis. smartTrade's trading engine allowed for rapid responses to changing market conditions and coped exceptionally well with periods of increased market volatility and the need for lower latency. In 2020 smartTrade continued to increase its customer base, with the onboarding of nw customers in several countries including the USA, Israel, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan. A number of new customers of smartTrade's end-to-end Fixed Income and FX trading platforms (smartFI and LiquidityFX), were successfully rolled out in spite of restrictions on global travel. This is a testament to the efficiency of smartTrade's remote implementation process. smartTrade also expanded its support and operations teams in 2020 in order to better service its many customers throughout the world.



Building on market recognition previously achieved, in 2020 smartTrade received industry awards for Best Trading Solution for FX Markets, Best FX Aggregator and Best Buy (News - Alert) -Side EMS. David Vincent, CEO of smartTrade Technologies said, "Hg's investment in smartTrade in 2020 was a vote of confidence in both our achievements to date and our potential for growth. We look forward to drawing on Hg's expertise and capabilities further, as part of our commitment to future innovation and to enhancing our reputation as providers of best-in-breed technology. We are extremely proud of the service which we were able to offer our customers through the challenging market conditions of 2020 and in 2021 we will continue to put the needs of our customers at the forefront of our plans."

To learn more about smartTrade's products and its plans for 2021

please contact us at https://www.smart-trade.net/contact/ About smartTrade Technologies: smartTrade Technologies, pioneer of multi-asset electronic trading solutions, offers innovative technology allowing you to focus on your trading and grow your business while quickly adapting to changing market requirements. smartTrade provides agile end-to-end trading solutions supporting Foreign Exchange, Fixed Income, Equities, Derivatives (including Options), Cryptocurrencies and Money Markets. Our solutions offer connectivity to over 130 liquidity providers, aggregation, smart order routing, order management, pricing, distribution, risk management and fully customizable HTML5 user interface. smartTrade works with a variety of clients ranging from banks, brokers and asset managers to corporate firms. LiquidityFX for Foreign Exchange and smartFI for Fixed Income are provided as a fully managed and hosted service, colocated in all the main marketplaces globally. smartAnalytics, our multi-asset Big Data analysis solution, allows the creation of historical or real time dashboards and reports to interact more effectively with markets and end customers. For more information, visit www.smart-trade.net View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005030/en/

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Earlier this week, reports that the bill would provide an eight-year path to citizenship to millions without legal status raised the hopes of immigrants who had lived the last four years trying to survive a Donald Trump presidency centered on anti-immigrant rhetoric. In Chicago, although theres some optimism about the legislations prospects, community leaders and immigration advocates are urging people to remain skeptical and continue mobilizing to ensure that Bidens promise of sweeping immigration change is kept.
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A Christian Orthodox priest in Ohio has been suspended from his duties for three months for attending the 'Save America' rally just before dozens of rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6.

According to the website of the Orthodox Church in Americas Diocese of the Midwest, archpriest Mark Hodges was 'suspended from all priestly functions'.

The suspension for Hodges, who is affiliated with St Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church in Greene Countys Sugarcreek Twp, Ohio, took effect on January 12.

Orthodox archpriest, Mark Hodges (left, and right at the 'Save America' rally), has been suspended from his duties for three months for attending the rally just before dozens of rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6

His suspension came after it was revealed that he had attended the rally to 'stop the steal' of the election and prevent Joe Biden from becoming the 46th president of the US.

Hodges, a married father-of-eight, told the Journal News that he disagrees with the three-month suspension.

'I think its an unjust suspension,' Hodges said.

Hodges said while his bishop questioned 'the wisdom of a priest attending,' he personally viewed the rally as an expression of 'extreme concern over voter fraud allegations in the 2020 election'.

According to Hodges, Archbishop Paul Gassios, who leads the Diocese of the Midwest that includes 21 parishes in Ohio, could lift the suspension, extend it after the three-month period or remove him from the priesthood altogether.

Gassios reportedly told Hodges that he was 'guilty by association' for attending the rally, according to Lima News.

Before the January 6 insurrection, Hodges (pictured) had previously urged others on Facebook to join him at the 'mega MAGA rally' in DC

'Whatever happens on that historic day, it will be an event to remember,' Hodges wrote (above) on December 31, 2020

Hodges said he did not enter the Capitol building. Dozens of people have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot (pictured) that saw several MAGA supporters unlawfully enter the building and launch violent assaults on law enforcement

Hodges also claimed that he never entered the Capitol and wasn't apart of the violent siege that took place on January 6.

'I heard the young men cursing and taunting the police. When I finally realized these guys were intending to violently antagonize the police, I went up to the police, shushed one of the yellers and thanked the police for protecting the people of Washington, DC and for showing restraint and I apologized for the handful of screaming young men not showing restraint or self-control. Then I began to leave,' Hodges told Lima News.

Hodges also said that the media coverage of the riot angered him because 'Trump incited no violence'.

'To me its not about Trump vs. Biden, or Left vs Right, but is about free and fair elections. I honestly believe we have lost our democratic republic,' he said.

Before the January 6 insurrection, Hodges had previously urged others on Facebook to join him at the 'mega MAGA rally' in DC.

'Whatever happens on that historic day, it will be an event to remember,' Hodges wrote on December 31, 2020.

'You can tell your grandchildren that you were on the front lines in the Second American Revolution, where you fought to save the Republic.'

Hodges was suspended after he was spotted by a church member in a video that was shared on social media. The church member alerted the bishop to Hodges, who was wearing an Orthodox cassock during the rally.

Dozens of people have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot that saw several MAGA supporters unlawfully enter the building and launch violent assaults on law enforcement.
After taking the oath of office and a brief dash to shake some hands, Joe Biden made it safely to the White House in a barricaded city guarded by more than 25,000 troops and devoid of the hundreds of thousands of spectators who normally throng to the quadrennial ritual. The unprecedented precautions ensured the new US president and Vice President Kamala Harris took office free of incident in a ceremony outside the US Capitol, two weeks to the day after a mob attacked the building in a failed attempt to keep Congress from certifying their victory. After being driven from the ...
The state of Alabama is partnering with Walmart to allow for COVID-19 vaccinations at its stores, health officials announced.

State Health Officer Scott Harris said details on the partnership are forthcoming and a timeline for the program has not been set but added it would be soon. The state is also close to a deal with a major drug store chain, to provide vaccinations, Harris said.

Harris said the state will use part of its allocation to go directly to chain pharmacies to facilitate speedier delivery to the public. Alabama has seen a slow rollout of its vaccine program and has currently given about 45% of its allocated doses.

ADPH employees have been redirected from current duties to speed up the vaccination process. Healthcare workers, residents and employees of long-term care facilities, law enforcement officers and firefighters, as well as people who are over age 75, are currently eligible to receive the vaccine.

Walmart, the nations largest retailer, announced in December it was preparing to administer the COVID vaccine at 5,000 Walmart and Sams Club pharmacies nationwide. The chain put freezers and dry ice in all locations to accommodate vaccine storage.

Walmart stores in New Mexico have already begun assisting that state with vaccinations.
Posted Thursday, January 21, 2021 5:07 am

Washington restaurant owners and industry groups are calling on the Legislature to allow them to reopen their doors, but if they were hoping for fast action, they're going to be disappointed.

A couple of Vancouver restaurateurs joined more than a thousand people who signed up to testify in support of Washington Senate Bill 5114, which if enacted would allow businesses statewide to move to Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery Plan.

The Senate State Government and Elections Committee held a public hearing Wednesday morning to consider it, but the committee adjourned without taking any action.

The bill has been a recurring topic of discussion in recent weeks at the Restaurant Roundtable, a recurring virtual meeting of dozens of Clark County business owners. The majority who testified during the roughly one-hour hearing Wednesday were restaurant owners or representatives from other heavily impacted industries, such as fitness studios and bowling centers.

Gov. Jay Inslee instituted a statewide ban on indoor dining in November in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases, and Phase 1 of the roadmap plan maintains that moratorium. All regions of the state are currently still in Phase 1.

The bill was introduced Jan. 7, one day after Inslee announced the Health Washington plan and outlined the restrictions for the first two phases. Sponsors included Sens. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, and Ann Rivers, R-La Center.

It's unclear whether the bill has any chance of passing in the long run. In response to an email earlier this month from Mark Matthias, owner of Beaches Restaurant in Vancouver, Rivers mentioned the bill but noted that it would need support from Democrats to pass.

During testimony at Wednesday's hearing, Matthias argued that since indoor dining was already shut down during the latest wave of COVID-19 cases, the restaurant industry is being unfairly blamed for the spike. Matthias and most of the other industry representatives stressed that they intended to follow established safety guidelines for operation.

"Only a few industries are held accountable for a spike that we didn't create," he said.

Mychal Dynes, co-owner of Little Conejo in Vancouver, also testified in support of the bill and spoke about the economic difficulties caused by the ongoing closure. Little Conejo had to lay off some of its staff after its first Paycheck Protection Program loan ran out, he said, and the business didn't qualify for a second one.

Not all of the public testimony was in favor of the bill. Several health care workers testified in opposition, arguing that medical staff are already overtaxed and hospitals are nearing full bed capacity. Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary of health for the state's COVID-19 response, said the state was not ready to go to Phase 2.

"If we open the state too early, it will open the floodgates to my hospital and further overwhelm me and the caregivers I work with," said Kat Wood, a health care worker at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma.

Neeru Kaur, a respiratory therapist at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, stated that communities of color have already been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, and reopening the hospitality industry would cause further disproportionate damage because of the number of community members who are employed in the industry.

The committee cut off public testimony and adjourned at 10 a.m. without a vote or any other action on the bill. As of Wednesday, the bill remains before the State Government & Elections Committee.

___

(c)2021 The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.)

Visit The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.) at www.columbian.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Cancer June 22-July 22 Venus in your relationship sector is encouraging you to be spontaneous. Surprising your partner with unexpected romantic gestures will work wonders! While youre flying by the seat of your pants, do something impulsive at home from dramatically changing your lounge rooms colour scheme to digging a fish pond. Revelling in domesticity will bring deep satisfaction. Leo July 23-August 22

Its not what you say, but how you say it, Leo. Try using a little tact, especially around sensitive personalities, and you'll get what you want. Regarding love, the stars bring passion, romance and just the right amount of drama but try not to overreact if things don't go according to plan. Forget dynamic workouts, opt for gentle exercise. Virgo August 23-September 22 Your health sector is receiving an annual blast of energy encouraging you to improve your lifestyle. Eating consciously and implementing a regular fitness routine will be a tonic for your mind and body. Its also time to tweak your finances by augmenting what you already have, perhaps with professional advice. Try not to spread yourself too thin. Libra

September 23-October 22 Librans dislike confrontation, however a situation is forcing your hand. The thought of establishing firm boundaries will be unnerving but once done youll feel empowered, not to mention relieved! Meanwhile, ruler Venus is encouraging you to beautify your surroundings as well as foster unity within household dynamics. If you need support dont hesitate, ask! Scorpio October 23  November 22 Family life takes centre stage prompting you to arrange dinners with loved ones, picnics with extended kin and take on all manner of matriarchal or patriarchal duties. Youll also feel pressured to perform but its you squeezing the vice! Stop with the invisible deadlines and cut yourself some slack. Creative pursuits will be therapeutic and satisfying.

Sagittarius November 23-December 20

You may need to navigate a delicate situation with a strong or obnoxious personality. With the stars enhancing your diplomatic and assertive qualities you can effectively pour on the charm and kill them with kindness. Meanwhile, luxury-loving Venus is giving you the means and urge to splurge but try not to go overboard. New information may challenge your belief systems. Capricorn December 21-January 19

Its not like you put too much stock into what people think but today you'll be acutely aware of how youre perceived, particularly regarding your career and status. With Venus visiting your sign you're sure to make a great impression but just be yourself - your quirks will work for, not against you. Aquarius January 20-February 18 Over the next few weeks youll be particularly contemplative as your values on both a material and moral level come into sharp focus. Ponder your haves instead of worrying about your have-nots and redefine what success means to you. Also make an effort to slow down, be present and enjoy living in the moment. Pisces
On January 4, political news site Iowa Starting Line announced it was going on hiatus until further notice. Good journalism should hold the powerful accountable, but it should do so in reality, not just theory, Pat Rynard, founder and managing editor, wrote. And if voters arent listening to it, then what are we doing here?

Rynard launched Iowa Starting Line in 2015 as a left-leaning news blog for political insidersa way to bring some balance to the online political conversation in Iowa, he says. Over the years, the publication evolved into a full-fledged news outlet with a large staff. One year ago, in the lead-up to a chaotic primary election, the New York Times called Iowa Starting Line a success story in the ailing world of local news. This January, Rynard is in the process of reevaluating the publications role.



CJR spoke to Rynard about the influence of local political reporting, its limits, and the challenges it faces. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.



CJR: Who does Iowa Starting Line write for? Whos your audience?



Pat Rynard: Its a mix. In terms of pure numbers, its politically engaged people in Iowa, who just want to have a fuller sense of whats happening in politics. Over the years, I was very intentional in writing things that would be interesting for other reporters, so that our stories wouldnt just stay on one little online news site that has a limited reach, but could end up in a lot of other places. I built up a lot of good relationships with national reporters who were here for the Iowa caucus, offering us up as a resource for a behind-the scenes look at what was happening in Iowa politics.

CJR: In your recent post, you said that good journalism should hold the powerful accountable in reality, not just in theory. Why?

PR: I dont see that conversation happening as much. Its all about How do we keep this stuff surviving? and not so much Is it having its full impact? Its been very disheartening to see so much stellar journalismuncovering massive failures of how the state government was handling the pandemic in Iowaand feeling like it did not have a real impact. When theres a huge expose about some agency failing terribly, there just arent many changes. And thats whats been frustrating to me and why Im trying to figure out either Do I want to keep doing this? or, if I am going to, Whats the way to get the news in front of more people? When I started, my pitch to a lot of people was that it would be impactful journalism: for me, at that point, getting stories picked up in larger news outlets so that a whole lot more Iowans and voters would see it. But now my concern is, if voters arent even reading it or watching those things, then youve got to figure out something different.

How do you get a good, factual news story in front of the twenty-six-year-old guy who works at the Caseys gas station in Knoxville, Iowa? Because those are the kind of folks who dont have a lot of time, or who definitely dont follow all the news, who dont have subscriptions to the Des Moines Register or New York Times, probably dont even watch the local news at night. Most of the news pops up in their news feed. So how do you figure out a way to pop up in front of him? Because otherwise, its too easy to get swamped with misinformation.

CJR: Do you think national outlets have jumped into the lets save local news conversation without evaluating the ways in which local news outlets have degraded or have never really met the needs of their audience in the way that they should?

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PR: I think paywalls are single-handedly eroding our democracy. Even when you get good news out there, its locked behind a paywall. That journalism has a limited impact. Obviously, newspaper paywalls are often essential in keeping reporters employed. But these local news outlets need to find a different business model to move away from that. Weve seen that its not working. When you have a big breaking news story, and a couple of ten thousand people can actually read it in a state, how much impact or influence is it gonna have? Not everybody subscribes to their newspaper anymore. Theres been a very clear trend of politicians trying to sow doubt in the credibility of mainstream news. People are just finding their news wherever they can find it for free.

CJR: Weve seen how misinformation and disinformation can contribute to large numbers of American citizens believing a fair election was fraudulent. Weve also seen disinformation playing a role in prompting a violent mob at the Capitol. How have you seen these trends in disinformation playing out locally?

PR: Even when you have these massively shocking moments, like at the Capitol, that you would think would pierce through some of the fogand I think it does for some peoplethere are too many Americans that get presented a different reality. And I think the misinformation, unfortunately, makes local politics more national. Its not like there are lots of conspiracy theories going around about [Iowa governor] Kim Reynolds. Whats been frustrating about a lot of these more recent elections is that it just feels like the local issues dont matter, because people get whipped up by this misinformation thats related to national politics. Theres a lot of stuff floating around on social media, and its not about your local city council meeting. And local politicians arent held as accountable as they should be.

CJR: Ive held out some hope for the possibility that local news outlets, speaking in a common vernacular, and understanding local concerns, might have some sort of power to build trust with local audiences that national outlets cant. Do you think that theres any hope for that?

PR: I think its a possibility. The issue is justwhat kind of business models are those local, trusted news sources going to transition to, going forward? Or are they all just gonna kind of hang on to this sort of slow decline? And I also know a lot of the problem is with a bunch of these newspapers being part of huge national corporations. I dont know what the answer is.

CJR: In your post, you wrote about the sacrifices youve made. Do you think theres a future where local news can survive and without journalists having to go on this sort of moral campaign to their own detriment?

PR: My situation has been pretty unique. But I do observe that people write for a local outlet for five to eight yearstheyll get outbecause the pay is just so bad. Even though they love the work, at some point, youve got to focus on your family and your own long-term financial stability. And those issues are just getting harder by the year as we keep making more and more cuts. You lose institutional knowledge, and a lot of things.

CJR: In a perfect, miraculous world, how do we get more eyeballs on good journalism?



PR: I dont know yet. I think partially its figuring out ways to write stories a little more colloquially, finding stories that are a little more engaging on social media that arent clickbait. Find a way to get people to click on factual-but-interesting. I think its very salvageable. We just need a lot of new and more imaginative thinking. It kind of goes hand in hand with my frustration with Democratic campaigns in Iowa. Democrats keep getting beat year after year after year, and then you see them run the exact same type of campaigns, year after year after year, without introspection or reflection. Like with all the challenges of the journalism industry, it just requires a lot more reflection and introspection and coming up with creative, more imaginative ways of how to fund news outlets and get their stories in front of people.

The Journalism Crisis Project aims to train our focus on the present crisis, tallying lost jobs and outlets and fostering a conversation about what comes next. We hope youll join us (click to subscribe).



EXPLORE THE TOW CENTERS COVID-19 CUTBACK TRACKER: Over the past nine months, researchers at the Tow Center have collected reports of a wide range of cutbacks amid the pandemic. Now theres an interactive map and searchable database. You can find it here.

CONTRIBUTE TO OUR DATABASE: If youre aware of a newsroom experiencing layoffs, cutbacks, furloughs, print reductions, or any fundamental change as a result of covid-19, let us know by submitting information here. (Personal information will be kept secure by the Tow Center and will not be shared.)

Below, more on recent media trends and changes in newsrooms across the world:

JOURNALISM JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES: MediaGazer has been maintaining a list of media companies that are currently hiring. You can find it here. The Deez Links newsletter, in partnership with Study Hall, offers media classifieds for both job seekers and job providers. The Successful Pitches database offers resources for freelancers. The International Journalists Network lists international job opportunities alongside opportunities for funding and further education. And an organization of fifty writers called the Periplus Collective recently announced a mentorship program to serve early-career writers who are Black, Indigenous, or people of color.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Lauren Harris is a freelance journalist. She writes CJR's weekly newsletter for the Journalism Crisis Project. Follow her on Twitter @LHarrisWrites.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 01:44:14|Editor: huaxia

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Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao (3rd R, Front) and Iraqi Interior Ministry's Senior Deputy Minister Hussein al-Awadi (2nd R, Front) inspect the donated ambulances in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 21, 2021. The Chinese Embassy in Iraq on Thursday delivered donation to Iraq, helping the Iraqi government confront the COVID-19 pandemic and improve the livelihood of Iraqi people. (Xinhua)

BAGHDAD, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Iraq on Thursday delivered donation to Iraq, helping the Iraqi government confront the COVID-19 pandemic and improve the livelihood of Iraqi people.

Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao and Iraqi Interior Ministry's Senior Deputy Minister Hussein al-Awadi signed the handover of the Chinese donation in the presence of representatives from foreign and finance ministries.

The Chinese donation includes 56 ambulances with their spare parts, 266 generators, and motorcycles, computers, laptops, printers, etc.

"We hope that ambulances will help the Iraqi people in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic and that the generators will contribute to improving the lives of the Iraqi people," Zhang told Xinhua.

"For China, the year 2021 has special significance, as it marks the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, and China will assume the task of building a prosperous society and will enter a new phase of building a modern socialist country," Zhang added.

"As for Iraq, this year is also important, as it will witness early elections, and we will continue friendly and good cooperation between the two countries and will make joint efforts to achieve the benefit of the two countries in a way that serves the interest of the peoples and the two countries," he said.

The Chinese ambassador also highlighted that he is looking forward to deepening the Sino-Iraqi strategic partnership.

For his part, al-Awadi expressed gratitude and appreciation for this donation made by the Chinese government.

"We appreciate the support of the Chinese government to the Iraqi government for this donation, part of which is a humanitarian aid, and it is also a logistical support provided by the Chinese government because Iraq suffers from some shortages," al-Awadi told Xinhua.

He stressed that the Chinese government is serious about cooperating with the Iraqi government in various fields, especially the oil field. The Chinese donation will enhance the efforts of the Ministry of Interior on the humanitarian side as well as its efforts to serve the Iraqi citizen, al-Awadi said.

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
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MARFAU.S. Customs and Border Protection reported Wednesday a significant increase in apprehensions across the Big Bend Sector in the last two days with smugglers pushing large groups through the Valentine, Texas area.

Border Patrol Agents arrested over 100 illegal immigrants in the Valentine area in the past 48 hours. CBP agents apprehended the largest group of nearly 50 people Wednesday morning, according to a press release. Five smugglers were arrested and turned over to authorities.
In his opinion, the Donbas issue could be resolved only politically and diplomatically.

Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Donbas Leonid Kravchuk has said Ukraine is not ready to liberate Russia-occupied Donbas by military means.

"I am not raising the issue of returning territories by military means. At least in the near future," he told the RBC Ukraine news agency.

Read alsoEP condemns Russia's ongoing aggression against UkraineIn his opinion, the Donbas issue could be resolved only politically and diplomatically.

Kravchuk also noted sanctions were another effective way of leverage.

"The sanctions will be expanded and become more diverse so that Russia could feel that not everything is forgiven to the aggressor. The aggressor must be held accountable," he added.

Latest developments to bring peace to Donbas

On January 12, Berlin hosted the latest round of talks of political advisers to the Normandy Four leaders. Ukraine was represented by Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, while Deputy Head of Putin's Administration Dmitry Kozak acted on behalf of Russia.

On January 18, this year's first video conference of the TCG's political and humanitarian subgroups took place. The next TCG meeting is scheduled for January 21.

Reporting by UNIAN
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
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A Kentucky pastor has received a number of death threats on social media for attending the "Save America Rally" in Washington, D.C. and over a photo taken with a man last year in Arizona.

Pastor Brian Gibson, a lead pastor of HIS Church in Owensboro, revealed that he has received death threats and being accused of involvement in the violence that took place in the Capitol. Thus, the pastor had to move to an undisclosed location and is currently receiving round-the-clock security protection, CBN News reported.

He denied the allegation and said that he did go to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5 but only to share the gospel beforehand at a prayer rally - a day before the Capitol riot.

"We prayed for our nation, we prayed for our President and we prayed for the Capitol, Congress. You name it; we were there to lift up the country with prayer. I am also an evangelist at heart and so I had the opportunity out at Freedom Plaza...there was probably 8-10,000 people in attendance on Jan. 5th and I preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ to that crowd," he said.

Gibson said nearly half of the crowd accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior. He described the event as like a revival.

He said that he also attended the Jan. 6 rally but noted that the event was peaceful and that President Trump said nothing that could incite violence.

"I never saw the president call for violence. I never saw the president call for a storming of the Capitol. "I condemn every violent act that day and so did the president," he added.

But the peaceful event quickly turned violent. The pastor said that he was already in his hotel room when someone called that the rioters breached the Capitol.

"I put on my shoes and I took off to see what was happening and I could not believe what had happened. When they broke through those doors it was unreal. You can't win doing stuff like that...and I am praying for restoration for America," the pastor narrated.

After these events, his photo taken last year with a man who breached the capitol has emerged online. The man has since been arrested but Gibson has been accused of taking part in the violence. This accusation has resulted him and his family receiving a number of death threats.

The pastor has revealed that the photo with a man identified as the 32-year old Jake Angeli, was taken during the Trump pro-life rally in Arizona in 2020. He said that he only took the photo with the man thinking that the latter had a "cool outfit".

NTD quoted Gibson saying, "People took that picture. And then they took the picture of him inside the Capitol and began to accuse me of masterminding the Capitol siege, which is insanity. I take thousands of pictures, selfies, I'm a public figure. So from that point, on Twitter, on Facebook, on all these social media platforms, people started finding my information, publishing it, saying let's make this man famous, and thousands of calls, death threats started pouring in."

CBN added that the pastor is trusting God despite the death threats and said, "We are watching ourselves, but ultimately we know that God protects us. God has not given me a spirit of fear, but love, power and a sound mind."
The major fire that broke out at the Pune-based Serum Institute of India's building Thursday afternoon led to the death of five people while the rescue team evacuated four, Pune Mayor said.

"Four people were evacuated from the building but when it came under control, five bodies were found by our jawans," said Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol, according to news agency ANI.

The five people who died, were perhaps the workers at the under-construction building. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but it is being speculated that welding, that was going on at the building, caused the fire, Mohol added.

However, state health minister Rajesh Tope later added that the plant caught fire due to "some ongoing welding work. "Insulation material, which is inflammable, was kept near the work site. So far, 5 deaths have been reported," Tope told news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, Serum chief Adar Poonawalla also expressed condolences for the loss of lives.

"We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation, we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed," tweeted Poonawalla.

We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed.  Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 21, 2021

The Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer, is involved in manufacturing Covid-19 vaccine Covishield  developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca  which has been given emergency use authorisation in India recently and is being used for inoculation in the country's mega vaccination drive.

Previously, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackray held a press briefing following the mishap where he said that six people have been rescued from the affected building.

"Six people have been rescued (from fire). Prima facie it seems that the fire was caused by an electric fault. The COVID vaccine is safe. I have not spoken to Adar Poonawalla till now," Uddhav said.

Earlier, Chief fire officer of Pune Municipal Corporation had informed that fire at the Serum Institute building is under control and cooling process is underway.

The Manjari facility is where the Covishield vaccine used in the nationwide inoculation drive against the pandemic is made. The building where the fire broke out is part of the under-construction site of the Serum facility and is one km from the Covishield manufacturing unit, PTI sources said.

However, Poonawalla informed that there would be no loss of Covishield production due to the fire.

The fire, which broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floors of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises, was brought under control in two hours, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Namrata Patil told PTI that nine people were evacuated from the spot after the fire broke out.

Viral visuals from the site showed smoke billowing out from the Serum Institute facility.

A fire brigade official said cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was rushed to the spot, an official said.

Fifteen water tankers were pressed into action and the fire was brought under control around 4.30 pm, he said.

"The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Furniture, wiring, cabins were gutted. No major machinery or instruments were stored on the floors where the fire broke out," he said.

"I have taken information from the Pune Municipal Corporation about the incident and an instruction has been given to carry out a detailed probe into the incident," Ajit Pawar said.

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Biden is the oldest president to be elected into office. And there are times when he looks all of 78, whatever that means. There are moments when I can envision him like I do most others who are around that age, with all that implies. The crucial difference is that Biden is in the position of power like no other man in the world.

Flight Centre's boss has declared international travel could be up-and-running for Australians in 2021 - despite the nation's medical chief declaring the borders would likely stay shut all year.

Graham Turner said the UK rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, along with Israel's plan to inoculate its population by March, would mean Australians would have a good idea of the vaccine's effectiveness by Easter.

'We then need widespread vaccination to happen in Australia and that could be by late July. There should be no reason why international travel cannot resume once Australian travellers are widely vaccinated,' he said on Wednesday.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has also called on the federal government to reconsider the long-term ban on international travel.

The government has revealed there is a review in place for travel to Pacific Island nations and discussions are underway to open travel to New Zealand

International border were shut to Australians on March 10 last year (pictured: A woman at Sydney Airport (pictured) in December)

Australians returning from overseas are required to hotel quarantine at their own expense for 14 days (pictured: a man on the way to hotel quarantine in Sydney on January 8)

'There is no reason why we shouldn't aim to travel to New Zealand or some of the Pacific Islands well within the next 12 months,' Ms Berejiklian told SMH on Wednesday.

Australia's international borders were closed on March 20 last year in an effort to halt the spread of coronavirus.

A quarantine system was introduced for returning travellers requiring them to spend 14 days in isolation in an major city hotel at their own expense before being allowed back into the community.

The system has been successful in preventing overseas cases of Covid spreading in Australia, however, huge delays have also been caused for Australians overseas who want to return home - with thousands still stranded.

The NSW premier wants to see a travel bubble between Australia and Pacific nations this year

The government is already in discussion with New Zealand (pictured is Queenstown) about allowing travel between the countries

Mr Turner and Ms Berejiklian's bold claims have been tempered by others who have claimed international travel would not resume until at least 2022.

Australia's chief medical officer Paul Kelly said on Tuesday international travel would be one of the last restrictions to be lifted.

He warned Australia would need to be very cautious about resuming international travel given our island continent's 'envious position' compared to many other countries.

He did add, however, that there was a review in place for Pacific travel and 'close discussions' on travel were being held with New Zealand.

Currently Australia has a one-way travel bubble with New Zealand - allowing those across the Tasman to travel to our shores.

There has also been a travel exemption granted for some Pacific Island nations for citizens to work on farms in the country.

Fiji (pictured) could be open for travel to Australians this year once a vaccine is rolled out

The population also does not seem to be confident of international border rules being eased soon.

The number of passports issued to Australians in 2020 plunged by more than 50 per cent from the previous year from 2.2million in 2019 to just 882,622.

Australian National University Medical School Professor Peter Collignon said the vaccine was not a 'silver-bullet'.

'We are not really in a position to relax what we do until most the world is vaccinated and, realistically, that is not going to happen for another year or even two or three years.' he said.

Health Department Secretary Brendan Murphy also said on Monday that Australia's international borders will probably remain closed for most of this year,

The professor said 'substantial border restrictions' will continue throughout 2021 and quarantine of returning Australians will be in place for 'some time'.

Australia has been one of few countries in the world to ban its citizens from going overseas since March.

Australia's borders will probably remain closed for most of the year, Health Secretary Brendan Murphy said on Monday. Pictured: A domestic flight from Sydney to Adelaide in September 2020

Domestic passengers wait in line to check in at Sydney's Kingsford Smith domestic airport in December

Asked if the borders would re-open this year, Professor Murphy told the ABC: 'It is a big open question. I think the answer is probably no.

'We will go most of this year with still-substantial border restrictions, even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus and it is likely that quarantine will continue for some time.'

Professor Murphy said there was still too much uncertainty to accurately predict when it would be safe to open the country to overseas arrivals.

'One of the things about this virus is that the rule book has been made up as we go. I was very careful early on, I remember saying this to the Prime Minister, I don't want to predict more than two or three months ahead,' he said.

'The world is changing so at the moment we have this light at the end of the tunnel, the vaccine, so we will go as safely and as fast as we can to get the population vaccinated and we will look at what happens then.'

Australia is due to start vaccinating the population next month. The vaccines available are proved to reduced illness and death but were not proven to stop the virus spreading.

Prime Minster Scott Morrison has said he wants to open Australia to 'green-lane' countries where virus levels are low - but so far only New Zealand has met the very high standard.

Outgoing travel is forbidden until at least March 17, 2021 and the ban is likely to be extended.

Passengers waiting to check in for their flight in the departures area of the Sydney International Airport

Transport Minister Michael McCormack said last month: 'International borders will be opened when international arrivals do not pose a risk to Australians.'

The government's vaccine policy paper says proof of vaccination may be required to leave or enter the country.

In the October budget papers, the government said inbound and outbound international travel is 'expected to remain low through the latter part of 2021, after which a gradual recovery in international tourism is also assumed to occur.'

Mr Morrison has previously flagged the possibility that people entering from lower risk countries may be able to isolate at home instead of in hotels.

'Home quarantine can play a role in the future,' he said in September.

Last week Professor Peter Collignon of the Australian National University said 'some form' of quarantine could be required even after Australia's population has been vaccinated.

This is because the vaccines are 70 to 95 per cent effective, meaning millions of Aussies will still be at risk of catching the deadly disease.

Professor Collignon said it would not be safe for Australia to simply remove quarantine requirements once the vaccine is rolled out around the world.

'If you look at people coming into Australia it's one or two per cent of returned travellers who have the virus when they land,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'And if you have a vaccine that is 90 per cent effective it means that instead of one or two in 100 we'll have one or two in a thousand - but that's still a very high risk of virus. That's as much as Melbourne was exposed to at the height of the winter outbreak.

'Until numbers come down around the world to really low levels - and on the basis that we want to keep numbers really low in Australia - I can't see how we're not going to have some sort of quarantine, whether at home or in a hotel, for a couple of weeks after you get back.'

Asked when it would be safe to re-introduce quarantine-free travel from the UK and other high-risk countries, Professor Collignon said: 'My best guess is half way through the middle of next year.'
The Chinese government has targeted Australia at the UN Human Rights Council, making five recommendations to improve its record on war crimes, racial discrimination, immigration detention and Indigenous Australians.

The formal submission follows 40 other countries scrutinising Australia's treatment of refugees at the UN body and more than a dozen others raising concerns about the treatment of Indigenous Australians and lowering the age of criminal responsibility.

Lijian Zhao, his tweet and Scott Morrison. Credit:AP, Twitter, Alex Ellinghausen

China's recommendations, which specifically highlight the war crimes allegations against Australian special forces officers in Afghanistan, make good on the Chinese Communist Party's threats to pursue Australia in multilateral forums after a year of often bitter diplomatic division between the two countries.

China's repression of a million Uighurs in Xinjiang was on Wednesday formally designated as a genocide by the Trump and Biden administrations in the US. The Chinese Communist Party has also been accused of trampling democracy in Hong Kong, curtailing civil rights by instituting state backed surveillance systems across the mainland and imprisoning political opponents on spurious charges.
New Delhi: Seychelles and Myanmar will be getting made-in-India vaccines on Friday. Seychelles will get 50,000 doses of vaccines on Friday at around 1pm local time while, Myanmar will get 1.5 million doses of the vaccine being sent by India.

The amount is significant since the population of the country is 97,000. Seychelles will be the second island nation from the Indian Ocean, after the Maldives, to get the gift of Indian vaccines.

India has announced that it will gift indigenous COVID-19 vaccines to six countries namely; Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, and Seychelles.

On Thursday, Nepal got 1 million and Bangladesh 20 lakh vaccine doses, respectively.

While, Bhutan and Maldives were the first two countries to get the gift of Indian vaccines on Wednesday, after India gave a go-ahead to the export. Bhutan got 150,000 doses while the Maldives got 100,000 doses.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India 'Covishield' is being sent.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, India was able to reaffirm its position as the pharma capital of the world.

As part of its neighborhood first policy, New Delhi had assured that it will give priority to its neighboring countries. It has got requests for vaccines from ASEAN nations to Latin American countries.

Last year, it sent HCQ, Paracetamol to 150 countries around the world to deal with the pandemic.

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ROME, JAN 21 - European Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said Thursday that Italy must give more details about the time frames of its projects linked to the EU Recovery Fund and about its reform plans. "I think the Italian authorities are aware of the need to reinforce the proposal presented so far," Gentiloni told an event organized by Reuters Breaking Views. "Two things are needed especially: a clear message on the reforms lined to the EU's 2019 recommendations and details of the time frames and objects of the projects". Italy is set to be the biggest beneficiary of the Recovery Fund, as it is in line to get over 200 billion euros in grants and low-interest loans. (ANSA).
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A steady, heavy rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.
Detectives are asking for the public's help in solving a fatal drive-by shooting that occurred more than 10 years ago in the Southeast Side.

On Dec. 19, 2009 at 1:20 a.m., Paul Deleon was in the front passenger seat of a car his brother was driving at Fair Avenue and South New Braunfels Avenue, San Antonio police said.
Sinn Feins leader in Northern Ireland said she was not aware of a comment by a party MLA that military staff may get in the way of medical professionals.

More than 100 medically-trained military personnel are set to support the under pressure health service in the region as it contends with the pandemic.

Pat Sheehan told the Stormont health committee that he did not wish to start a row about military assistance, which has proven divisive in the past between Stormont parties.

He told MLAs: My only concern is that they dont get in the way of the real professionals who are doing the work to save lives.

Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill (Brian Lawless/PA)

Michelle ONeill said having been in an Executive meeting all day, she had not heard the comment.

She said the priority of her party has always been to save lives and would never rule out anything that actually supports the health service.

Theres no doubt we are probably in the worst week in terms of the health service pressures to date, and very much mindful of the pressure that all of those staff are under and have been under for the best part of a year, she said.

In terms of disruption to service, thats the job of the health minister, chief nursing officer and also the job of the trusts to make sure there is continuity of support and services in our hospitals.

First Minister Arlene Foster said there was a necessity for Health Minister Robin Swann to call on the additional resource.

These people will be as professional as the next medical person, and I think its wrong to try and impugn that they wont have that professionalism, she said.

Other members of the health committee earlier criticised Mr Sheehans comment.

Deputy committee chair Pam Cameron (DUP) said she was astounded.

I cant believe he has just said this, talked about military getting in the way of real professions, is he trying to say that medical professionals from the military are not real professionals? Its astounding Im flabbergasted, she said.

Ulster Unionist MLA Alan Chambers said Mr Sheehans comments were utterly pathetic.

Our health service is under severe pressure and we are about to receive support from highly trained, highly skilled medical professionals who will be able to provide relief to exhausted staff, he said.

Whether they are military or not, is neither here nor there. This is life-saving work.

We are talking about extra help for those lying in ICU beds fighting for their lives. The Minister of Health asked for help and the MOD was able to provide it. We will be all the better for it.

On Wednesday, Mr Swann said he hoped the decision would not be viewed as divisive, adding the Armed Forces have medical expertise and it would have been an abdication of responsibility on my part if we didnt avail of that.
Love them, hate them ignore them at national peril, is the babu guarantee and Dilips belief. Share significant babu escapades dilipcherian@hotmail.com

The love jihad law legislated by the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has triggered a letter war between former bureaucrats

Perhaps service rules stopped them from airing their views but after retirement bureaucrats are not bound anymore and can voice their thoughts freely. This has led to the formation of pro-and anti-government groups among retired babus who jump into the fray at the behest of their conscience (or political leaning).

In the most recent instance, the love jihad law legislated by the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has triggered a letter war between former bureaucrats, those who criticise the law and those who have rallied behind the state government. The ranks of the ex-babus have been joined by retired Army officers, members of the judiciary and others.

Earlier, a group of 104 retired bureaucrats wrote to Yogi Adityanath, expressing deep disapproval and concern at the use of the love jihad law. Noted signatories included retired bureaucrats like former NSA Shiv Shankar Menon, former chief of R&AW A.S. Dulat, former Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, former principal secretary in PMO, T.K.A. Nair and former Union health secretary K. Sujatha Rao among other notables.

Now, a Forum of Concerned Citizens, comprising of over 250 retired officers has written to the chief minister endorsing the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 and the motive behind it. In their letter, the group of former babus and ex-Army officers said that the legislation rightly provides that marriages done for sole purpose of unlawful conversion can be declared unlawful by family courts. They termed the letter by anti-love jihad babus a politically motivated pressure group and said that they dont represent thousands of civil servants who believe in New India emerging as the greatest democracies of the world.

One may be tempted to believe that this is an instance of political battles being fought by proxy!

Cadre merger

More than a year after the Centre abrogated Jammu & Kashmirs special status under Article 370 and bifurcated the state into Union territories, the J&K cadre of IAS, IPS and IFoS has been merged with the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. This allows officers posted in these states and UTs to work in J&K and vice-versa.

Necessary modifications may be made in the corresponding cadre allocation rules by the Centre. The notification issued by the government states that officers allocated to AGMUT cadre shall function following the rules framed by the Centre.

Observers see in the move a message of total integration of J&K with the Centre. It also solves the Centres problem of the reluctance of J&K cadre officers to serve in Ladakh, as it now creates a larger pool of UT cadre officers. Ladakh, they say, suffers from a paucity of officers. Due to its harsh climate, officers are reluctant to serve there. But with the Chinese threat looming, the Centre wishes to focus on Ladakhs development. So, clearly, it is as much a political move as an administrative one.

Mamatas big promotion push in Bengal

Political or administrative compulsion? West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has promoted 31 IAS officers as secretary and additional secretary in one big push to bolster the state governments administration ahead of the Assembly elections.

With the BJP making a determined effort to breach her stronghold, the Trinamul leader is taking steps to strengthen the administrative machinery, which has come under fire from various quarters. Among the 19 officers promoted as secretaries are additional secretaries Smita Pandey, Vijay Bharti, Shubhanjan Das, Samir Kumar Bhattacharya, C.C. Guha, Rajat Bose, Kaushik Halder, N.C. Sarar and T.K. Rudra.

The new additional secretaries include V. Lalithalakshmi, Sourav Pahari, Mukta Arya, Devi Prasad Karanam, Shakeel Ahmed, Uttam Patra, Santanu Saha, Nirmalya Ghosh, Anindya Narayan Biswas and Dipankar Chowdhury.

But this is early in the poll campaigning and chances of further changes in the state administration cannot be ruled out as the CM seeks to stave off the BJPs onslaught to dislodge her party from power.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

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A mix of clouds and sun. High 49F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

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Mumbai, Jan 21 : The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on HDFC Bank for invocation of client securities pledged by stock broking firm BRH Wealth Kreators in violation of an interim order by the regulator.

A SEBI probe found that the lender had unilaterally invoked securities pledged by BRH to the extent of Rs 158.68 crore and the capital market regulator has thereby directed the bank to deposit an equivalent amount, along with interest from October 14, 2019 till date at the rate of 7 per cent per annum, in a separate interest bearing escrow account, till the issue of settlement of clients' securities is reconciled.

The regulator had issued an interim order cum show cause notice against BRH Wealth Kreators Ltd (formerly BMA Wealth Creators Ltd) and certain other entities on October 7, 2019 restraining the noticees from accessing the securities market and buying or selling in securities, either directly or indirectly.

The interim order had directed the noticees not to dispose of or alienate any assets, whether movable or immovable, or to create or invoke or release any interest or charge in any of such assets except with the prior permission of National Stock Exchange of India Ltd (NSE) and the BSE.

BRH, along with the other noticees, were also directed to provide a full inventory of all their assets, whether movable or immovable, or any interest or investment or charge in any of such assets, including details of all their bank accounts, demat accounts and mutual fund investments immediately to NSE and BSE but not later than five working days from the date of receipt of the order.

HDFC Bank had granted credit facilities to BRH (Rs 191.16 crore) and BRH Commodities (Rs 26.61 crore) as loan against securities (LAS) out of which an amount of Rs 87.75 crore was granted as LAS.

On October 14, 2019, HDFC Bank allegedly had invoked securities pledged by BRH to the extent of Rs 158.68 crore. The aforementioned invocation of pledge of client securities available in the aforementioned two demat accounts of BRH, by HDFC Bank, was allegedly not in conformity with the directions contained in the interim order.

"Having regard to the facts and circumstances in the instant proceedings, including the fact that the noticee (HDFC Bank) had consciously proceeded to defeat the directions in the Interim Order, I am of the considered view that in terms of Section 15HB of the SEBI Act, a penalty of Rs 1 crore be imposed on the Noticee for non-compliance with the Interim Order," said the SEBI order.

The intent of the interim order was to protect the interest of the investors or clients of BRH through an immediate freeze of the "assets of the noticees", and also for ensuring that BRH ceases and desists from undertaking any activity in the securities market.

It added that the interim order was not an ultimate determination of the rights of recovery of the noticee but rather intended to ensure a freeze on the assets of BRH until completion of the investigation or forensic audit and that the investors' interests are not compromised in any manner whatsoever.

"The noticee (HDFC Bank) cannot now contend that the directions contained in the interim order, including restraining BRH from disposing of its assets for any purpose other than payment of client funds and securities, were not binding on it," it said.

With the pandemic forcing millions of people around the world to work from home, many employers have shifted their daily operations online, using apps like Teams, Slack, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 to coordinate work and meetings. However, even the best internet connections can sometimes go down, taking your daily agenda offline with it.

However, your calendar doesnt have to be synced to an app on your computer or laptop if you want to access it offline - Google announced that it has enabled offline support for their web-based Google Calendar.

In a blog post detailing the new functionality, Google says that you can now look at all your existing events even when you lose connectivity, similar to its other services like Google Docs, Sheets and Slides that also include basic offline support. The company says that after you turn on offline mode for Google Calendar, you can view your events up to four weeks before and after and choose from weekly, daily and monthly views.

Also read: Goodbye, G Suite. Hello, Google Workspace

However, not all users will have access to the feature which is now rolling out to some users - it only works on Workspace accounts for now, but if you do have one, you can head over Calendars settings and choose the new Offline tab on the left and check the Turn on offline calendar box, to turn on the feature.

You can head over Calendars settings and choose the new Offline tab on the left and check the Turn on offline calendar box, to turn on the feature. (Google)

The companys blog states that the feature will be available for Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers.

Google cautions that the feature also has its limitations - while youre offline, you can only see your existing events up to the point that your computer was last online. You still wont be able to create any new events or even edit an existing entry. This is understandable, as the calendar events themselves are hosted on Googles servers and the lack of internet connectivity would make editing them nearly impossible.
The Biden administration and GovCon's leadership opportunity

Even if you are a Trump supporter, you have to acknowledge the change in tone that the Biden administration represents is significant.

When I think of the major themes President Biden struck around unity and cooperation, I also thought of the government contracting industry.

While generally seen as a moderate-to-conservative industry, GovCon is in a position to set an example for a way forward out of the rampant divisiveness that has plagued the country since even before President Trump turbocharged the partisanship.

One of the remarkable things about the GovCon industry is the whole concept of co-opetition or "competimates." With one breath, you fiercely compete against each other and in another you form close alliances. Often these seemingly contradictory positions are going on simultaneously.

Im not naive and know companies' decisions to compete or partner are driven by a desire to drive revenue and increase profits. Thats OK and how it should be.

But I also believe that regardless of the competitive juices that may flow, the GovCon industry has an overarching belief in the mission of government. There is a true sense of duty and of service that flows through the industry.

That is a model they can show the entire country.

To paraphrase President Bidens speech, GovCons opportunity is to lead -- not merely by the example of your power and capabilities but by the power of your example.

It starts with leadership and we saw that after the murder of George Floyd, when executives opened lines of communication across their companies to have difficult and painful conversations and recognize how close to home the work is to address race and social justice issues.

We saw it again in the aftermath of the riots on Capitol Hill when numerous chief executives forcefully condemned the violence as an attack on our nations guiding principles.

Those kinds of actions should continue. Its not Blue or Red. Those are areas where we should all agree, but sometimes we just need to be reminded why we should agree.

Thats the tone and message company leaders need to keep sending their employees as well because many GovCon employees voted for President Trump and Im sure more than a few CEOs did as well.

But the message and the example is that the mission of government is non-partisan. Emphasis and priorities might change but the heart of the mission doesnt.

One CEO told me a long time ago that he uses the Presidential Oath as the lens through which he decides whether his company is doing the right thing:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

There are other words from the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence that can be guiding principles as well. A lot is right there with the preamble of the Constitution: Form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.

GovCon firms have navigated transitions before and done so successfully because of the emphasis on mission ahead of partisanship. They will again.

Of course, it is smart business. But there also is the larger opportunity to show the world that our national principles prevail. To steal a theme from the poet Amanda Gorman -- GovCon leaders can be brave enough to see the light and be the light.
A Border Patrol agent is posted in front of the U.S.-Mexico border barrier in Imperial County in Calexico, Calif., on July 24, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Biden Administration Suspends Remain in Mexico Program for Asylum Seekers

The Biden administration has announced that beginning Jan. 21, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will no longer enroll asylum seekers newly arriving on the southern border in a Trump program known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).

The DHS said in a statement Wednesday that effective Thursday, the department will cease adding individuals into the program. The DHS urged those currently in the program to remain where they are, pending further official information from U.S. government officials.

The release also advised that migrants currently on their way to the United States will not be eligible for a path to citizenship under an immigration reform proposal known as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, that was sent by President Joe Biden to Congress hours earlier.

The legalization provisions in that bill apply only to people already living in the United States, the agency said.

The MPP program was launched in January 2019 to help stem the flow of meritless asylum claims that were clogging up the system by the hundreds of thousands. The MPP program forces asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their asylum case is adjudicated. Prior to its implementation, thousands of illegal immigrants were released into the United States to await their cases, most failing to appear in court.

Biden in January had promised on day one of a Biden presidency to eliminate President Trumps decision to limit asylum and end the program that sees asylum seekers remain in Mexico while waiting for the claims to be adjudicated.

Bidens campaign website states he will take urgent action to undo Trumps damage and reclaim Americas values, including reasserting Americas commitment to asylum-seekers and refugees. It says he would end Trumps asylum policies, including the protocols.

Mark Morgan, acting chief of Customs and Border Protection, warned in a statement on Dec. 29 that rescinding humanitarian agreements that help protect Americas southern border would likely lead to waves of illegal immigrants attempting to cross the border.

More than 67,000 migrants were apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border in November 2020, compared to the 33,500 apprehended in November 2019.

Separately, the agency said Wednesday that for 100 days starting Jan. 22, the Biden administration is pausing deportations for some illegal immigrants for 100 days.

The DHS will pause removals for certain noncitizens ordered deported to ensure we have a fair and effective immigration enforcement system focused on protecting national security, border security, and public safety.

The pause will allow DHS to ensure that its resources are dedicated to responding to the most pressing challenges that the United States faces, including immediate operational challenges at the southwest border in the midst of the most serious global public health crisis in a century, the statement reads. Throughout this interim period DHS will continue to enforce our immigration laws.

Charlotte Cuthbertson contributed to this report.
Move over, Texas: Ohio is coming in hot. The state is looking to attract the next generation of military families, entrepreneurs and veterans ready to join the civilian workforce. In a series of moves that decentralize economic aid and community support, JobsOhio wants veterans to come back to the heart of it all.

In 2011, Ohio privatized its economic development department into a nonprofit corporation: JobsOhio. Using the power of capitalism, it has since spurred job creation and business development in nine sectors.

JobsOhio was privatized by then-Governor John Kasich in 2011. (Photo by Gage Skidmore)

The organization is now ready to begin attracting employers and talent in a 10th sector: military installations and the federal government. Unlike other sectors of the Ohio economy, such as transportation, agribusiness and manufacturing, it's not an area as well-known to Ohioans.

"Installations like Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in the Dayton region are significant parts of the economy," says JobsOhio CEO JP Nauseef, a former Air Force officer. "Many people aren't sure what Wright-Patt does, but they know a lot of people work there."

A lot of people do work at the base -- more than 27,000 military members and civilians at last count. It's the headquarters of Air Force Materiel Command and the largest of a handful of military and other government installations in the state.

With an estimated 93,000 people employed in the federal and military sector, JobsOhio is investing in programs to position the state for military missions, military members and military families. One of the initiative's goals is to set Ohio apart in terms of policies and laws that support spouses, veterans and retirees.

It starts with creating six regions of development throughout the state that can respond to the needs of businesses and individuals with what it calls a "local touch." This model, Nauseef said, gives the initiative a competitive advantage. Another advantage: the communities of military support that have been created over the years.

"Our communities have already developed varying levels of supportive infrastructure," Nauseef said. "We are augmenting that support with a focused set of priorities and a congressional delegation that supports military installations. And we're going to leverage that support."

Part of that underpinning includes a cadre of veterans, business leaders and longtime government employees. These high-level advisers are all close to the leaders and decision-makers in its newest sector, including the Department of the Air Force, NASA and the Ohio governor's office.

JobsOhio isn't an out-of-touch government program, Nauseef said. It's a nonprofit corporation that doesn't use taxpayer money or other public funds; it actually runs a business in Ohio. It's a 501(c)4 that has a contract with the State of Ohio to run the day-to-day operation of the Division of Liquor Control.

In running that division, it knows the challenges faced by businesses throughout the state's six regions. It takes profits and losses like any other business and operates solely on revenues from the sale of spirits in the state. It also gauges the needs and concerns of Ohio communities through a series of town halls throughout its communities.

Despite the pandemic that slowed the entire country to a crawl in 2020, the program has seen successes already, including an updated intel center for the Space Force. The National Air and Space Intelligence Center broke ground at Wright-Patterson in 2020 -- a $182 million project.

"It's been a wonderful 2020, which I know you don't really hear a lot," says Elaine Bryant, JobsOhio's managing director. "It's been slow, but we've been building foundations across the state. Recapitalizing aircraft, modernizing aircraft. ... We're excited to host NASA and the Space Force because they know the workforce we have across Ohio is second to none."

Another aspect of the initiative is awareness and communication about what Ohio has to offer.

"We've got technology drivers here. We've got new innovations. Healthy lifestyles, a reasonable cost of living and interesting value propositions in a diverse economy with a lot of different sectors," Nauseef said. "But the credit for the success goes to those people that are doing the work. We are their advocates, you know. We're cheerleaders for them, based on where we come from and Ohio's culture and value system. It's just part of who we are."

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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LONDON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global technology brand HONOR today announced the global availability of the HONOR MagicBook Pro, following the successful sales performance of the HONOR MagicBook series in 2020. The HONOR MagicBook Pro is the latest offering from the HONOR MagicBook Series, adopting the 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U processor with NVIDIA GeForce MX350 discrete graphics. These enable powerful multitasking, enhanced power efficiency and faster speeds, even when dealing with demanding tasks.

HONOR MagicBook Pro awarded as among 'Best of CES' goes global

Featuring a 16.1-inch FullView Display, the HONOR MagicBook Pro has a 90% screen-to-body ratio and achieves 100% sRGB, all in a compact body. Weighing just 1.7kg and featuring ultra-slim bezels that are only 4.9mm thin on three sides, the HONOR MagicBook Pro is both slim and stylish, suitable for those who work or study on-the-go. With a powerful CPU and a discrete GPU, the HONOR MagicBook Pro is perfect for creative productivity work and casual gaming. It is available in Mystic Silver with a frosted matte finish; a fashionable accessory for every occasion.

The new HONOR MagicBook Pro is a pro-grade level laptop offering great performance, a stunning viewing experience and a super-lightweight and fashionable design, without the premium price tag. The newly launched HONOR MagicBook Pro will go on pre-sale for 949.99 on HIHONOR United Kingdom from 21st January and arrive in other markets in Q1 2021.

The latest HONOR MagicBook Pro equipped with 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U processor and the innovative HONOR Band 6, which redefines the category with its 1.47-inch colorful AMOLED display, have been well-recognized and received 16 "Best of CES 2021" awards from top tech media, including Android Authority, Android Headlines, Newsweek, PocketNow, Phandroid, Ubergizmo, Tech Advisor, and Tech Radar, etc.

Exclusive Discounts during Winter Sale at HIHONOR: Up to 69% off HONOR products

HONOR has announced the HONOR Winter Sales 2021 promotion with enticing offers and bundles for wearables and smartphones, available to registered users at the HIHONOR Store. From 18th January to 29th January, users can enjoy up to up to 60% off deals on HIHONOR Italy, HIHONOR Germany, and HIHONOR United Kingdom.

The HONOR Winter Sale UK features the include the HONOR Watch GS Pro bundle (179.99), which comes with the HONOR EasyFit 22mm strap and HONOR Classic Earphones, giving total savings of 70. The HONOR Watch Magic (Moonlight Silver) bundle is just 74.99 after a 105 discount, and comes with the HONOR Scale 2 and HONOR Classic Earphones.

In Germany, the HONOR Watch GS Pro is available at 169.9 after 80 discount, while Italy is offering the HONOR 9A smartphone for 119.9 after 30 off and HONOR 9X Lite at 159.9 after 40 off.

HIHONOR France has offers with up to 69% off, from 20th January to 16th February. HONOR Watch Magic (Meteorite Black) is bundled with HONOR Classic Earphones and HONOR Watch Magic Strap at a low price of 79.9 after 120 off on HONOR Winter Sale France.

In addition, between 20:00 pm and 02:00 am the next morning till 29th January, HIHONOR Spain will conduct flash sales, providing deals including an offer for HONOR Watch Magic at just 69.9, and up to 69% off other deals.
A 'frail' 60-year-old woman remains in a critical condition after she was allegedly bashed by her son in front of horrified work colleagues who armed themselves with mops and a squeegee.

Luke Henry, 26, allegedly punched and kicked his mother Adelle Henry, before slamming her head on concrete, at a Mt Druitt Disability workshop, in Sydney's western suburbs, on Wednesday afternoon.

Henry, who has been charged with domestic violence related offences over the alleged attack, told a court he had been released from a mental health facility just hours earlier.

The 26-year-old, who is yet to enter a plea, appeared in Mr Druitt Local Court on Thursday, where his bail application to be released into a mental health facility was denied.

Henry chose to represent himself after refusing a legal aid lawyer - and begged to be locked away for life, saying he thought his mum was an 'evil demon'.

Adelle Henry was treated for head injuries by paramedics on Wednesday afternoon before she was taken to Westmead Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition

Luke Henry, 26, allegedly punched and kicked his mother, before slamming her head on concrete, at a Mt Druitt Disability workshop on Wednesday afternoon

'I just want to do my jail time,' he said via audio visual link from custody, according to The Australian.

'I honestly don't care if you give me life.'

Henry claimed he was suicidal and hearing voices after his arrest and applied for bail to receive treatment in a mental health facility.

'I thought she was an evil demon I walked away from the situation after I realised what I had done,' Henry told the court.

But Magistrate James Gibson questioned the claims and instead ordered Henry be examined by a mental health practitioner while locked up in jail.

Magistrate Gibson also noted Henry's history of violent offending and a strong case put forward by police.

Henry claimed he was suicidal and hearing voices after the arrest and applied for bail to receive treatment in a mental health facility. 'I thought she was an evil demon I walked away from the situation after I realised what I had done,' Henry said

Henry allegedly assaulted his mother on Wednesday afternoon at her Kurrajong Avenue workplace after accusing her of stealing money from him.

Mount Druitt Police Area Command Detective Chief Inspector Paul Tickner said the alleged attack was witnessed by a number of people who suffer varying degrees of disability.

Ms Henry's colleagues were allegedly assaulted when they attempted to intervene, arming themselves with cleaning equipment in a desperate attempt to protect her.

Pictured: Adelle Henry, who remains in a critical condition

'A couple of them [her colleagues] did arm themselves with some mops and a squeegee to confront the male but the male unfortunately armed himself with a fire extinguisher and they retreated back to the premises,' Mr Tickner said, 7news.com.au reported.

'It's a violent attack on a frail 60-year-old lady ... so [her colleagues] are fairly traumatised by it.'

Ms Henry was treated for head injuries by paramedics before she was taken to Westmead Hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.

It's understood she suffered significant head injuries, including fractures to the face and and a bleed on the brain.

Henry, who is from Parramatta in Sydney's west, allegedly fled the scene before being arrested nearby.

He was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where he was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to person with intent (domestic violence) and destroying or damaging property (domestic violence).

Henry will be back in court in March.
[January 21, 2021] GZ6G Controlled Subsidiary, Green Zebra Media Corp. Taps BRAND for Strategic Partnership

Team to Market Monetized WIFI Broadcast Networks for Smart Cities and Venues

Las Vegas, NV, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- GZ6G Technologies Corp. (OTCMarkets: GZIC) controlled subsidiary, Green Zebra Media Corp., an emerging leader in integrated IT wireless networking, IoT software and digital marketing solutions, announces a strategic partnership with the full-service marketing, branding and PR firm BRAND Ltd., based in Las Vegas. Continuing to focus on 2021 growth initiatives, Green Zebra is planning to market its proprietary closed-loop WIFI broadcast network solution to stadiums and venues, airports, campuses, and cities. BRAND will provide robust digital and traditional marketing and PR strategies that monetize these free WIFI networks for venues and their sponsors. The partnership will enable both companies to rapidly scale operations and prepare for significant growth opportunities as the COVID crisis subsides and the economy recovers. Green Zebra expects its market to reopen throughout 2021, and several smart venue implementations are already under development. Our solutions combine IT wireless infrastructure, software tools and digital mobile marketing to deliver hyper-targeted information and offers to captive audiences in stadiums, airports and other venues, said GZ6G Technologies CEO Coleman Smith. BRAND will develop marketing strategies and tactics to secure venue clients and attract major brands and sponsors that want to reach our audiences. The internet ad spend in the United States is expected to increase to 153 Billion U.S. Dollars by 2024, up from 125 billion in 2019. (1) The Green Zebra proprietary closed-loop WIFI broadcast network solution has been designed specifically to secure a share of this market spend. Virginia Martino, Founder and CEO of Brand Ltd., sees Green Zebras solutions as the future of the sponsorship industry. Any brand would love to engage with thousands of individual consumers at the point of purchase, said Virginia Martino. Any venue needs to create new revenue streams from its free WIFI service. The ability to engage with and market directly to your target audience on a dedicated network in a closed environment drives the potential for conversions and RO sky high, she said. And the data from all of these interactions and transactions is so reliable and actionable that we can continuously optimize strategies and messages  almost in real time.



This partnership aligns BRANDs digital marketing, branding and public relations expertise with Green Zebras game-changing WIFI broadcast solution, Martino added. It puts us on the leading edge of a completely new marketing channel that has tremendous potential for sponsors, venues and consumers. I first met Virginia and the BRAND team about two years ago, and I knew we had to work together some day, Smith said. Now, we have an opportunity to build something unique and extraordinary. Its an exciting time for both companies and for the IoT marketplace. Were both looking forward to many successful and profitable years ahead.

(1) https://www.statista.com/statistics/183523/online-advertisement-spending-in-the-us/ About Green Zebra Green Zebra is a provider of wireless hardware gateways, communications, marketing and sponsorship, data analytics platforms and CRM technology. Our products are used for stadiums, cities, airports, universities and hospitality markets. The focus of Green Zebra for fiscal 2021 will be contracts which can most efficiently, and cost effectively, bring revenue generating operations through partnerships with venues and industries that must adapt to the new 5G and WiFi6 environment. About GZ6G Technologies Corp. GZ6G Technologies Corp. (OTC: GZIC), a wireless Internet of Things (IoT) technology holdings company, is focused on acquiring, developing and overseeing innovative wireless IoT technology companies for the emerging 5G and WIFI 6 marketplaces, including target markets such as stadiums, airports, universities, and smart city projects. About BRAND Ltd. For more than 20 years, BRAND has delivered comprehensive, integrated strategic branding, marketing, advertising, creative and communications services that empower its clients to dominate their markets. BRAND prepares and positions brands, products and services for market leadership by creating and executing strategies and tactics that continuously capture market share. The firm focuses on building enduring customer relationships based on trust and loyalty that yield a measurable and meaningful return on their clients investments. Safe Harbor Statement In addition to historical information, this press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the intent, belief, or expectations of the company and members of its management team with respect to the company's future business operations and the assumptions upon which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, failure to complete anticipated sales under negotiations, lack of revenue growth, client discontinuances, failure to realize improvements in performance, efficiency and profitability, and adverse developments with respect to litigation or increased litigation costs, the operation or performance of the Company's business units or the market price of its common stock. Additional factors that would cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated within this press release can also be found on the company's website. The company denies any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements. To be added to our distribution list, please email, customersupport@greenzebra.net. For more information, visit us at www.GZ6G.com, www.twitter.com/GZ6tech Contact Information: Coleman Smith | Green Zebra | cole@greenzebra.net Virginia Martino | Brand | 702-257-23454 SOURCE: GZ6G Technology Corp. (formerly Green Zebra International Corp.)



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NEW DELHI : There will be tremendous increase in defence exports from India in the next four to five years, chairman of the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) G Satheesh Reddy said on Thursday.

"Within next 4-5 years, this country will have a lot of indigenous content in the Indian armed forces and we will be seeing tremendous amount of increase in exports," he said at a webinar organised by industry body CII.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

Reddy enlisted a number of measures the government and the DRDO have taken to boost the participation of private defence industry.

"In each project of ours, we have invited development and production partner from the industry. Even critical systems like missiles have been opened to the private industry," he said.

Recently, the government has approved the export of Akash missiles to various countries, he mentioned.

On December 30, 2020, the government had approved the export of indigenously-developed surface-to-air Akash missile system and set up a panel to ensure faster approvals for acquisition proposals by various countries.

Reddy said a country is "real Atmanirbhar (self-reliant)" when the design, development and production of state-of-the-art systems that are required by the armed forces are done within the country.

India is one the largest importers of arms globally. According to estimates, the Indian armed forces are projected to spend around $130 billion in capital procurement in the next five years.

However, the government now wants to reduce dependence on imported military platforms and decided to support the domestic defence manufacturing.

The defence ministry has already set a goal of a turnover of 1.75 lakh crore ($25 billion) in defence manufacturing in the next five years that included an export target of 35,000 crore ($5 billion) worth of military hardware.

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Farmers, most of them from Punjab and Haryana, want the new agri farm laws scrapped.

The farmer's agitation on Delhi borders has caused a business loss of about Rs 50 thousand crores, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), countrys apex traders body said on January 21.

The body suggested that farmers should now call off the protest after the fresh proposal of putting the farm laws implementation in abeyance for nearly 18 months by the Centre.

The farmer's agitation in Delhi-NCR for more than 55 days has caused a loss of Rs 50 thousand crores. This is quite alarming at a time when post-COVID, the business activities were picking up, CAIT said in a statement.

Thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November 26, demanding the repeal of the laws, and a legal guarantee on minimum support prices (MSP) for their crops.

Follow updates on Farmer's Protest in our Live Blog Here

The fresh proposal of the Government to keep farm laws in abeyance for one-and-a-half-year and constituting a joint committee with farmer leaders is quite justified and reasonable which indicate the willingness of the government to resolve the crisis. Therefore, now the farmers should accept this proposal in the larger interest of the farming community and a large number of others sections engaged in Agri trade and call off their agitation, CAIT National President BC Bhartia said in a statement.

Read | Farm bills have potential to represent significant step forward for agricultural reforms in India: IMF

If still farmers do not accept the proposal of the Government, it will be construed that they are not interested in solution but certain divisive forces are more willing to create problems, CAIT Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said.

On January 20, the farm union leaders said they will consider the Centre's proposal to suspend the implementation of the laws for the next 18 months while a committee is formed to look into their demands. Unions are studying the proposal and return for talks on January 22.

The farm laws are not connected with farmers alone. About 1.25 crore traders across the country are working in Mandis and these traders facilitate farmers for not only in selling their crops but also help them in many ways at the time of their need. These traders provide direct employment to more than 4 crore people. The farm laws talk about removing this important component of the supply chain. What will happen to the livelihood of these large number of people? Will they be out from their livelihood merely at one stroke? Therefore, interests of these people also need to be protected, CAIT said.

The body urged the Centre that traders should also be given representation in the proposed joint committee.
Today a new U.S. administration will come in. On foreign policy issues it will be just as disappointing as the leaving one. U.S. foreign policy is dictated by ingrained interests. The mechanisms of policy making in Washington DC guarantee that it is always a continuity and that any changes to it are slow and will only be minor.

Donald Trump and his administration were hated by the woke 'libruls' and the media for their style, not for what they were or were not doing. While Joe Biden, who has been warmongering in the Senate for decades, is now being sold as fresh bread, he is bringing no change to the menu. His foreign policy marketing team will only change the package color of the same old product the Trump team has sold.

The confirmation hearing of Biden's incoming Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and of the incoming Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines give some hints towards these 'new' policies.

The Iranian parliament has ordered the government to end some IAEA inspections and to increase the enrichment level of Uranium starting in mid February unless the Biden administration immediately removes the sanctions on Iran and returns to the nuclear deal.

The Biden administration is likely to ignore this opportunity:

President-elect Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, pledged to consult with Israel, Gulf allies and Congress when seeking "a longer and stronger" agreement to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions. During his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Blinken said the incoming administration would engage on the takeoff, not just the landing with allies and partners before taking steps to rejoin the landmark nuclear agreement.

"President-elect Biden is committed to the proposition that Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon, Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Iran with a nuclear weapon or the threshold capacity to build one is an Iran that would act with potentially greater impunity than it already is.

If Iran returns to strict compliance under the nuclear pact, Biden has said he will reenter the multilateral pact as a starting point for follow-on negotiations to tighten and lengthen Irans nuclear constraints and address Iran's missile program. Blinken said Tuesday that we are a long way from there," adding that the administration would need to first ensure Iran is making good on its obligations.

Iran does not want nuclear weapons. It wants its rights and respect. It is the U.S. which has broken the deal. Iran has responded to that by expanding its capabilities beyond some of the limits of the deal. This is reversible but only if the U.S. acts first and at a reasonable speed. Lengthy talks with allies and Congress will prevent that from happening.

The incoming DNI Haines seems to share that analysis:

Republicans questioned Haines on her views about China and Iran, including the Obama administration's Iran nuclear deal that Trump pulled back from. Haines said that while the incoming Biden administration has indicated that it would come back to the table with Iran if Tehran came back into compliance, she noted that "frankly, we're a long ways from that."

This summer the people of Iran will elect a new government, likely a conservative one. It will be even less willing to make additional concessions to the U.S. than the current Rouhani government. The conflict will thus fester.

There will also be no policy changes towards Tehran's allies. The Biden administration will not rescind but only 'review' the terrorist designation of the Houthi in Yemen even as it is causing a famine:

Blinkens testimony came the same day controversial terrorism designations against the Houthi movement in Yemen took effect. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations have warned that the rebels blacklisting, which was first announced by outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week, could hamper much-needed aid operations in the war-ravaged country. Blinken said he is concerned that the labeling wont bring the Houthis to the negotiating table as intended, adding that the Biden administration will review the terrorism designation immediately upon taking office.

While Trump tried but failed to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan the Biden administration is likely to end his peace deal with the Taliban and to reengage in the futile attempt to keep the 'western' aligned proxy government in Kabul in office. This will require more U.S. troops and a further extension of that war.

On Syria, Turkey and Iraq Joe Biden's policy will continue to be regime change and is likely to intensify. Biden has hired Brett McGurk who had left the Trump administration in protest when Trump ordered the withdrawal of troops from Syria:

US President-elect Joe Biden nominated Brett McGurk, an outspoken advocate of American military presence in Syria and staunch detractor of the Turkish government, as Middle East coordinator on the National Security Council. McGurk, a veteran of the national security establishment who served in various capacities under successive Democratic and Republican administrations, has frequently criticised the Turkish government over its role in Syria and broader regional policies. McGurk quit his role as the US envoy to the international coalition to combat the Islamic State (IS) group late in 2018 over President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from northern Syria.

There will be absolutely no change in policy towards Israel:

The incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden will keep the US embassy in Israel in Jerusalem, his nominee for secretary of state affirmed at his Senate confirmation hearing. Do you agree that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and do you commit that the United States will keep our embassy in Jerusalem? asked Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Yes and Yes, said Antony Blinken in testimony on Tuesday.

...

The only way to ensure Israels future as a Jewish, democratic state and to give the Palestinians a state to which they are entitled is through the so-called two-state solution, Blinken said. I think realistically, its hard to see near-term prospects for moving forward on that. What would be important is to make sure that neither party takes steps that make the already difficult process even more challenging, he added.

U.S policy towards Europe will also not change. The Biden administration will press for more weapon sales to NATO members in Europe. While it may return to the NewStart treaty with Russia it will otherwise uphold the hostility against that country. It will also continue the pressure against German energy policies:

The administration of US President-elect Joe Biden will use every persuasive tool to stop the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and will work to convince European partners not to move forward with it, Secretary of State Nominee Antony Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that held a confirmation hearing on Tuesday. He said Joe Bidens strong conviction was that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is a "bad idea" and that the administration would use "every persuasive tool" to convince partners, including Germany, to discard the project.

Hostility against China will likewise persist:

Mr. Blinken gave the Trump administration credit for several pillars of its foreign policy, including taking a more aggressive approach to China, which he agreed had misled the world on the spread of the coronavirus and committed genocide against Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities.

...

China is a challenge to our security, to our prosperity, to our values across a range of issues and I do support an aggressive stance, Ms. Haines said. That is the place we are now and one that is more assertive than where we had been in the Obama-Biden administration.

Biden will double down on Trump's failed Venezuela policy:

President-elect Joe Bidens administration will continue to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the South American countrys president, Anthony Blinken, Bidens nominee for secretary of state, said on Tuesday. Blinken told members of the U.S. Senate that Biden would seek to more effectively target sanctions on the country, which aim to oust President Nicolas Maduro - who retains control of the country. Blinken said the new administration would look at more humanitarian assistance to the country.

The policies towards other 'bad' states, Cuba, Bolivia and North Korea, will also continue to be hostile.

The anti-Trump media will sell the foreign policies of the Biden administration as outlined above as fresh and rational approaches even when the do not differ at all from the foreign policies the Trump administration has persued.

While Trump had continued the wars the U.S. waged when he came into office he did not start any new ones. Since Joe Biden first entered the Senate 47 years ago he has cheered on every war the U.S. has since waged. It would be astonishing to find four years from now that he did not start any new ones.
Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd's ( ) Arthur Millholland talks Proactive London through the inked a term sheet for US$65mln of debt financing that will facilitate its acquisition of US onshore producer Atomic Oil and Gas LLC.

The arrangement, for a senior credit facility, is with a US-based global investment firm. It will have a four-year duration and COPL described the terms as competitive whilst noting that it is subject to typical lending conditions.
Currently, there is no information on the whereabouts of illegally imprisoned Ukrainian citizens, whose transfer was unilaterally declared earlier in the occupied Donbas, and their number is constantly changing.

"The information about the unilateral transfer of illegally imprisoned Ukrainian citizens, who are held in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, to the government-controlled territory of Ukraine is constantly changing... The number of citizens planned to be transferred to the government-controlled territory of Ukraine varies. In addition, the whereabouts of our fellow citizens are unknown at this time, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova posted on Facebook.

According to the Commissioner, two routes along which the transfer can take place  through the Mayorske border crossing point and along the Rostov-on-Don-Minsk-Kyiv route  have been confirmed so far.

Denisova added that further information will be updated.

Earlier, the Eastern Human Rights Group reported that two routes for the transfer of these individuals were being considered.

According to human rights activists, "mobile communication between relatives and pardoned persons has been interrupted since yesterday; relatives have been informed that their family members are already pardoned and are at large."

Previously the media reported that a group of captured Ukrainian citizens would be handed over to Ukraine from the occupied Donbas. The release was allegedly agreed upon by a Ukrainian MP without warning the official Ukrainian side.

Commissioner Denisova declared her readiness to facilitate the return of illegally detained Ukrainian citizens to government-controlled territory.

Spokesman for Ukrainian delegation to the TCG, Oleksiy Arestovych, said that the Ukrainian Security Service would inspect the transferred persons.

On January 20, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova stated that the representatives of the occupied Donbas would unilaterally transfer nine people to Ukraine.

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Alfa Romeo looks set to stick with Ferrari power for 2022.

That is despite the fact that, in the pages of Corriere della Sera, correspondent Daniele Sparisci claims the Swiss team was approached by Renault.

Ferrari's engines struggled markedly in 2020, and team boss Frederic Vasseur recently sounded puzzled as to why the Maranello team didn't place Mick Schumacher at Alfa Romeo for his debut.

As for Alfa Romeo's 2022 engine partner, Vasseur insisted: "It's like a marriage - there's no guarantee that you will stay with the same woman forever."

Sparisci wrote in the Italian newspaper: "Sauber has in fact received advances from Renault and is said to be carefully evaluating.

"The F1 expansion of Renault led by Luca de Meo involves having a customer team again, which serves them financially, politically and as an outlet for young drivers.

"There is pressure, but at Maranello they are sure about extending the alliance with the Swiss team for the new cycle of regulations. However, relations with Vasseur are lukewarm, while there is a great harmony with Gunther Steiner of Haas."

A report by Germany's RTL claims Alfa Romeo will indeed sign a new four-year deal with Ferrari through 2025.

(GMM)
DINARDO Weve had a maximum of 12 people auditioning in a room that could, pre-Covid, fit well over 60. Its a little different than were used to, with all the protocols, but Im excited. Its a snapshot into our immediate future.

Months after they recovered, some of the Covid survivors are worried about lingering effects.

CLAYTON Every once in a while, like at bedtime, I feel like I have a 25-pound dumbbell on my chest.

GARCIA-LEE I dont think I have my full capacity back. Ive started dancing again, and it just feels like something is off in my chest.

OLIVO I have yet to go to the doctor to check out what my lungs look like, but I know Im going to have to have someone look. I sang a song for a benefit, and when I went to get it on tape, I was struggling.

HURDER Im terrified, because my show is so physically demanding. I am concerned about what thats going to be like when I go back. I guess were going to find out.

The shows advance sales, once hefty, are now zero. The lead producer says she expects to spend at least $3 million to restart the show on Broadway. But hope is increasingly replacing despair.

SONYA TAYEH (choreographer) Thats all we have now, is dreaming.

SAVAGE Im so hopeful of Broadways return that Ive not gone to pick up my things from the theater. Its all just sitting there.
The Emergency Situations Committee of Bucharest could be convened in a meeting at the end of this week and could propose the adoption of a decision to relax the sanitary measures in the Capital, taking into account the decrease in the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 cases, according to AGERPRES.

"It is gladdening that today we had an incidence rate of 2.96 per thousand. In the next 48 hours we will monitor the incidence rate, the degree of infection and in the fortunate situation, which we also want - tomorrow and the day after tomorrow the incidence will be below 3 per thousand - the day after tomorrow we will convene the Municipal Committee for Emergency Situations and we will propose the adoption of a decision by which to relax some of the measures in force at this time, as far as legal regulations allow us," the Prefect of Bucharest, Traian Berbeceanu, said on Wednesday evening in a telephone intervention at Digi 24 private television broadcaster.

According to him, it would be about allowing the functioning with a maximum capacity of 30% of institutions / theaters, theaters and cinemas, reopening of indoor activities of restaurants, bars, cafes, etc., up to a maximum of 30% of the space, as well as the permission of the activities with the public, up to the limit of 30% of the destined space, of the economic operators licensed in the field of gambling.

"Fortunately, through a joint effort of the citizens of Bucharest, first of all, but also of the authorities, the incidence of COVID-19 infection has decreased to 2.96 / per thousand inhabitants. This pieces of news that can only make us happy! (...) We call for the strict observance of the measures in force, so that, soon, the relaxation measures can be even more generous," the prefect wrote on his Facebook page.

Herreid Legion to remember 400 Campbell County area veterans Monday

The Herreid American Legion and the Sons of the American Legion work together to recognize veterans on Memorial Day.
If we believe the Creation account, we would have to conclude that along with the physical things God created, He also created the laws and principles by which our world and the entire universe operate. This would include mathematics, in its simplest forms as well as its most complex. When Albert Einstein was working out his elaborate formulas, including E = mc2, he was using calculations based on what the Lord originally configured eons ago.

But heres a question: If you were to imagine which of the mathematical functions God favors the most, what would you guess it is? Perhaps Im going out on a bit of a theological limb, but I think it would be multiplication.

Why do I say that? For starters, in the Bibles first book, the Lord introduces the concept of multiplication. In the opening chapter, after imagining and forming the creatures that inhabit the seas and other waters, along with the birds, And God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth (Genesis 1:21-22).

Then, after creating living creatures that would move on the ground, including humankind, God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it (Genesis 1:24-28). Sadly, this didnt proceed without problems, prompting the Lord to take a do over.

Following the global flood, in which God spared only Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives, along with representatives of every living creature, the waters subsided and Noah and his family prepared to leave the ark. Among the Lords instructions during the exit interview, He told them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. As for you, be fruitful and multiply; populate the earth abundantly and multiply in it (Genesis 9:1,7).

God wasnt talking about learning multiplication tables, like 3 times 3, or 5 times 9. He wanted them to exponentially repopulate the earth, in particular with humans created in His image.

This theme continues throughout the Scriptures. In Jeremiah 23:3, speaking about restoring the people of Israel who had been exiled into other lands, God told the prophet, Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fruitful and multiply.

Underscoring the Lords faithfulness, never failing to keep His promises with His chosen people, Hebrews 6:14 recalled, For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.

Perhaps the most important passage of all on Gods emphasis on multiplication concerns Jesus Christs final instructions, which we know as His Great Commission. Just prior to His ascension to heaven, He directed His followers, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nationsteaching to observe all the things I have commanded you (Matthew 28:19-20).

No, this passage does not include the specific word multiply, but clearly refers to spiritual multiplication, the making of disciples  followers, learners, reproducers  who will make other disciples, who in turn will make other disciples.

In todays Church culture, particularly in America, the focus seems primarily directed toward addition  seeing people convert to Christian belief, encouraging them to turn from their former ways of living apart from God. However, to convert  to turn  doesnt necessarily mean an individual will immediately start moving forward in a new direction. Much like newly born human babies, spiritual babes need to be nurtured, fed, loved, cared for, taught and eventually, disciplined.

Once a disciplemaker has helped a new believer toward spiritual maturity, assisting him or her to become a true follower of Jesus, then both the disciplemaker and disciple can start investing in others. The two of them become four, and the process of spiritual multiplication is underway. Four can become eight, then 16, then 32, and so on.

Long term, what does this look like? We find a good description in Isaiah 60:22, which declares, A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time. Imagine, one person, completely sold out to Jesus Christ, whose life is devoted to helping others along in their journey with the Lord. Incredibly, over time, that one can become a thousand, and even more!

Gods desire and goal, not just in the United States but also around the world, is to greatly multiply genuine, devoted, strong and unwavering followers of Christ who will have an eternal impact on family members, friends, their communities, their cities, and their nations.

Many believe the solutions to our worlds problems are through politics, or ideology, or even education. There is value in each of those, but God is affirming that the ultimate answers are found only in Jesus Christ, helping more and more people to know Him, follow Him, and serve as His ambassadors. And the way to bring that about is through a simple mathematical process: multiplication.



* * *

Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Eric Lis factory making glass lampshades for companies including Home Depot Inc. is being stretched to its limits with sales doubling their pre-pandemic level.But like many Chinese manufacturers, he doesnt plan to expand operations -- a reticence that could slow the pace of Chinas economic growth this year and prolong a shortage of goods being felt around the world as demand picks up.Surging prices of raw materials means margins are compressed, explains Li, owner of Huizhou Baizhan Glass Co. Ltd., in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, which makes about $30 million in annual revenue. With the global economic recovery still uneven, the future is very unclear, so there is not much push to expand capacity, he adds.The combination of higher input prices, uncertainty about export prospects and a weak recovery in domestic consumer demand meant Chinese manufacturing investment from January to April was 0.4% below the same period in 2019, according to official statistics (comparing to 2019 strips out the distortion of last years pandemic data).Due to the vast size of Chinas manufacturing sector, that poses a risk both to the nations growth -- which is currently predicted to reach 8.5% in 2021, according to a Bloomberg tally of economists estimates -- and to a global economy thats grappling with supply shortages and rising prices.Falling ProfitsWeaker-than-expected investment could have a sizable impact on GDP growth this year, said Citigroup Inc.s China economist, Li-gang Liu. Lower investment may dent imports of capital goods and equipment from developed economies like Japan and Germany, which in turn could drag their economic recovery and rebound as well, he added.AnHui HERO Electronic Sci & Tec Co. Ltd. is one of those companies feeling the squeeze. Based in the eastern province of Anhui, the company manufactures capacitors used to make electronic circuits, with sales mainly in the domestic market. Jing Yuan, the founder, says orders are up as much as 30% year-on-year, but profits are down 50% due to increasing materials costs that are not easily passed onto clients.The company is under huge cash pressure as it needs to pay half a month in advance of delivery in order to secure copper and other metals, which they previously paid for months after receiving, he said. The commodity issue has to be addressed by the government, he added.What Bloomberg Economics Says...Chinese industry is absorbing significant cost pressures from rising commodity prices -- damping the inflationary impact for the rest of the world. Will it last? Our analysis of gross margins suggests it could for a while longer: downstream industries -- where the cost crunch is most severe -- still have a small cushion.David Qu, China economistFor the full report, click here.Input shortages mean some manufacturers arent able to make use of their existing facilities, so expansion would be of little use. Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. suspended production at one of its factories last month, due to a shortage of microchips.Modern Casting Ltd., which makes iron and steel products in Guangdong, issued a note to clients this month saying it would not be able to meet its current orders due to high raw material costs. A member of staff who answered the phone at the companys office confirmed the note, but declined to give further details.Growth TransitionOn top of the higher input costs, Chinese companies face a bumpy transition toward domestic consumer spending to sustain its post-pandemic recovery.Exports, Chinas strong-suit last year, may begin to slow as vaccine roll-outs cause consumers in wealthy countries to shift spending back to services. Meanwhile, the growth rate of Chinese consumer spending has yet to fully recover.Investment sentiment among Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises is below levels seen even in 2018-9 when uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war were a brake on expansion plans, according to a regular survey of more than 500 Chinese companies by Standard Chartered Plc.Demand is still mainly underpinned by exports, so domestic companies are aware that this is not sustainable, said Standard Chartereds China economist, Lan Shen.While some export-oriented sectors have been pushed to their limits, large amounts of slack remain for manufacturers targeting Chinese consumers due to subdued domestic demand.Retail sales growth was 4.3% in April on a two-year average basis, which strips out base effects from the pandemic, less than half pre-pandemic growth rates. Overall capacity use at Chinas manufacturers fell to 77.6% in the first quarter from 78.4% in the previous three months, with the automotive sector hit hardest by overcapacity following three years of declining sales volumes.Even for electric vehicles whose sales are surging, most companies have already built their capacity and will now focus on incremental upgrades. The majority of the investment has been done, said Jochen Siebert of JSC Automotive Consulting.China ordered state-owned companies to expand last year, with their investment growth of 5.3% in 2020 from the prior year easily outstripping the 1% increase in private investment. But for a sustainable pick-up in investment, the market, not the state, needs to feel confident.Carsten Holz, an expert on Chinese investment statistics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, estimates that privately-owned companies have accounted for 87% of manufacturing investment in 2015, the most recent year of available data. They are more sensitive to input costs.There is a pandemic plus insecurity about future trade given a new U.S. administration, neither of which is conducive to investment that relies on long-term growth prospects, Holz said.Mixed PoliciesTransport bottlenecks are also a challenge for export-oriented manufacturers. Gordon Gao, who exports gardening products from China, said that he has had to reject 80% of orders this year due to port delays. In one case, an order placed before mid-February could only be shipped three months later when a client finally secured a container.Beijing has tried to improve conditions for private companies by ordering a crackdown on speculation to curb commodity prices and easing access to bank loans.Yet the government continues to gradually withdraw fiscal and monetary stimulus measures introduced amid the pandemic last year. It set a relatively unambitious target of above 6% growth for this year, and the Communist Partys Politburo signaled last month it would prioritize reforms to control house prices and debt growth.The policy stance has definitely shifted away from supporting growth and back toward de-risking the financial sector, said Adam Wolfe, an economist at London-based Absolute Strategy Research. The risks for economic growth seem tilted to the downside, especially for capital-intensive, construction-linked sectors.For manufacturers such as Li, a longer period of domestic growth and control over input prices will be needed before capacity expansion is on the cards. While his company of 200 workers took on new permanent staff before the pandemic, for now hed rather pass the risks of investment on to others.I wouldnt do that now, I would rather hire some temporary workers and outsource the rest, he said.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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She declared Vice President Kamala Harris' swearing-in as a 'huge moment for women of all ages, but especially for young people' in a heartfelt Instagram post.

And Kaia Gerber was clearly still reeling from the historic inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, while grabbing Starbucks to-go in Malibu with a friend.

The supermodel, 19, also brought along her beloved rescue pup Milo, who trotted beside her as they strolled around the outdoor shopping mall.

Glowing: Kaia Gerber was clearly still reeling from the historic inauguration ceremony on Wednesday, while grabbing Starbucks to-go in Malibu with a friend

Kaia showcased her toned midriff in a pair of flare denim pants and a charcoal toned tank top.

She kept accessories to a minimum by wearing just a single necklace with a stone pendant around her neck.

To complete her casual chic ensemble, Kaia slipped her feet into a pair of bright white sneakers.

Gerber's shoulder-length strands were parted down the middle and she rocked a pair of blue tinted shades over her eyes.

Partner in crime: The supermodel, 19, also brought along her beloved rescue pup Milo, who trotted beside her as they strolled around the outdoor shopping mall

The daughter of Cindy Crawford held onto her coffee cup and cellphone in one hand, while tucking the rest of her items away in a brown leather purse under her arm.

After collecting their coffee orders, Kaia and her friend ventured from store-to-store before heading home for the evening.

Earlier in the day, Gerber was overwhelmed with pride as she tuned into Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony on Wednesday morning.

She was especially overcome with emotion regarding Harris' status as the first woman and person of color to become Vice President of the United States.

Inspiration: Earlier in the day, Gerber was overwhelmed with pride as she tuned into Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony on Wednesday morning

'This morning we watched @kamalaharris being sworn in. such a huge moment for women of all ages, but especially for young people,' began the runway maven, who included a throwback photo of Harris for her followers to see.

She also was in awe over the multi-talented Amanda Gorman, who became the 'youngest inaugural poet in history' during Wednesday's ceremony.

Kaia said that choosing Gorman as poet was the incoming administration's way of 'celebrating the young voices that changed this election and will change the world.'

Dog mom: At the height of lockdown, Gerber decided to adopt her dog Milo, which she found via the Labelle Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) Animal Rescue in the Los Angeles area; Kaia and Milo pictured on January 13

Perfect for her: As she introduced Milo to her followers, Kaia thanked the rescue for 'finding her the perfect forever cuddle buddy & the best friend a girl could ask for'

'[I am ] excited to see this country turning around... im so proud to be part of a generation that not only tells women, but really shows them, that they can do anything. thank you kamala & amanda for being that change,' concluded Gerber, who boasts 6million followers.

Kaia, like many, has been doing her best to quarantine as the coronavirus continues to run rampant in Los Angeles.

And at the height of lockdown, Gerber decided to adopt her dog Milo, which she found via the Labelle Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) Animal Rescue in the Los Angeles area.

As she introduced Milo to her followers, Kaia thanked the rescue for 'finding her the perfect forever cuddle buddy & the best friend a girl could ask for.'

Two peas: Since then, Milo has been featured in many of Gerber's posts, including a sweet snapshot last week where she described their bond as 'two peas [in a pod]'

Since then, Milo has been featured in many of Gerber's posts, including a sweet snapshot last week where she described their bond as 'two peas [in a pod].'

When she is not cuddling in bed with Milo or communicating with her impressive Instagram following, Kaia is spending quality time with her actor boyfriend Jacob Elordi.

The pair confirmed their romance in October, by posting photos of themselves sharing a kiss in their Halloween costumes to their respective Instagram pages.

The 23-year-old Australian actor is known for his roles in HBO's Euphoria and the popular Netflix film series The Kissing Booth.
The crisis engulfing two influential countries in the Horn of Africa is in danger of turning into an avalanche, threatening an already fragile security situation in the region.

Somalia and Kenya have been engaging in a row for almost two years now since differences between the two countries peaked when they both claimed ownership of huge offshore gas deposits in disputed territories of the Indian Ocean.

As early as 2019, Somalia presented a map of the area at an international conference in London with a view to exploring for oil and gas fields off its coast and identifying blocks for future bidders. The step enraged Kenya, which recalled its ambassador from Mogadishu, Somalias restive capital.

While things later seemed on the cusp of getting back to normal, beneath the surface they were not, and Somalia expelled the Kenyan ambassador in Mogadishu last November and recalled its ambassador from the Kenyan capital Nairobi. It also levelled charges against Kenya, claiming that it had been undermining Somalias sovereignty through interfering with the electoral process in Jubbaland, an autonomous region that borders Kenya and that contains the port of Kismayo, once administered by the Al-Shabab terrorist group.

In March this year, Kenya announced that it would open a consulate in Somaliland, a self-declared nation that controls both Hargeisa, a significant trading hub in the region, and the port of Berbera, which is now getting off the ground and represents a challenge and a competitor to another Horn of Africa country, Djibouti.

Somalia sees Kenyas support for these break-away regions as infringements of its sovereignty, particularly as these two regions, and mainly Somaliland, are aspiring for a more influential regional role that could undermine that of Somalia itself.

Al-Shabab, though still active in Somalia, has lost much of its influence in the country, thanks mainly to an early Kenyan military intervention within the framework of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) that managed to recapture Kismayo some eight years ago.

The current row is as old as Kenyas refusal to withdraw its troops from Somalia after peace was relatively restored in the country in 2015, citing issues of national security and the threats posed by Al-Shabab against Kenyan military outposts. Kenyan officials said they needed to maintain a heavy presence in Somalia even after AMISOM had finished its job, which in turn was seen by Somali officials as a sort of occupation of the area.

In October 2020, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta refused to set a deadline for the withdrawal of his troops from Somalia. Al-Shabab is still attacking Kenyan military and civilian targets, banking on the support of Somali recruits based in Kenya. Kenya is home to some quarter of a million Somali refugees in the Dadaab Refugee Camp, one of the largest in the world, and Eastleigh, known as Little Somalia, in Nairobi.

Al-Shabab, for many years in control of Somalia, along with other extremist groups have struck a chord among some Somalis, who have come to believe that troops affiliated with the African Union (AU) mission were in effect crusaders in the region. This narrative has stonewalled African efforts to deracinate terrorist and extremist groups in the country, particularly as millions of Somalis have, unfortunately, embraced radical views as part of their version of the Islamic faith.

Lacking essential teachings by moderate Muslim institutions, particularly Al-Azhar in Cairo, some Somalis have embraced a strict version of Islam that has been seen by many as one reason behind the slowing down of progress in the battle against extremists in the country. Al-Shababs capability to recruit militants has exploited such support among the Somali public, and some Somali girls aged seven or younger have been seen wearing the Islamic headscarf or hijab even though it should not be worn at that age even among girls who choose to do so.

The terrorist group has also succeeded in getting some Somali teenagers to carry guns, instilling in their minds that they are the real champions of Islam.

The Kenya-Somalia dispute is a major threat to stability in the Horn of Africa, particularly as both countries control major ports crucial to the movement of goods and peoples among many landlocked countries in the region. Kenya is East Africas biggest economy, and it has sustained huge losses as a result of its military intervention to restore order in its eastern neighbour. The latter has almost ceased to be a real nation since the US military intervention there in the 1990s, seen at the time by some as a means of enforcing American-style democracy and an indecent style of life and regrettably leading to the rise of extremist groups that saw each and every foreign intervention as a means of washing away Islamic faith in the region.

Meanwhile, the AU looks unable to provide African solutions for African problems, the catchy slogan usually included in its press statements, while other crises across Africa, including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia and the rising terrorist influence in Mozambique, have made many Africans distrust the organisations ability to deal firmly with them.

There is thus a crying need for the AU under the upcoming presidency of the Democratic Republic of Congo to change its tune and to engage key regional powers such as Egypt in finding ways to restore normal ties between Somalia and Kenya, particularly as Somalia is a member of the Cairo-headquartered Arab League and Kenyas military presence in Somalia will be instrumental in quelling any attempt at a comeback by Al-Shabab and its affiliates.

In effect, with the departure of US troops from Somalia after outgoing US president Donald Trump ordered them out of the country, this serious threat should be met with appropriate responses from the region.

The possible comeback of Al-Shabab and other terrorist groups is a direct threat to countries in the region. No one should ignore the fact that acts of piracy by such groups off the coast of Somalia have disrupted trade and severely afflicted businesses not only in Africa but also in the wider world, including trade going through Egypts Suez Canal. Stability in the region should not be jeopardised as a result of tension between Kenya and Somalia. Should the AU, thus far ineffective under South Africas chairmanship, be unable to contain the differences between the two countries, other African powers need to step in and take the initiative in order to find a made-in-Africa solution to the crisis.

The cost of the African countries failure to find homegrown solutions to the crises they are experiencing means that other non-African powers, with Turkey as an example because of its rising leverage in Somalia, will likely take such disputes to another level. In the case of the Horn of Africa crisis, this could see a military escalation in which the peoples of the region would be the losers.

The writer is a former press and information officer in Ethiopia and an expert on African affairs.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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The police in Edo State have rescued eight health workers, while they were being taken by their abductors to a hideout in the riverine area in Benin City.

The health workers, from Oredo Local Government Area of the state, were returning from Umegbe village where they went for immunisation exercise before they were abducted, Wednesday, along Umegbe Road, near a river in the Iyekogba area of Benin City, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

A 32-year-old suspect, identified as Julius Apay, has been arrested by the anti-kidnapping operatives.

The suspect is said to belong to a kidnapping syndicate terrorising Iyekogba, Airport Road, and environs.

A police officer in the anti-kidnapping unit, who did not want his name mentioned since he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told PREMIUM TIMES, Thursday, the suspect has confessed to the crime of kidnapping.

The officer said during police interrogation, the suspect said, I was asked by my friends to join in the kidnapping operation. We came to the river bank by boat and we planned to take all our victims to the creek for ransom.

The gang was overpowered by the police during a gun battle.

The officer said the suspect and his gang members stormed Umegbe Road near the river in Iyekogba area of Benin City where they positioned themselves to kidnap anyone in sight.

He said, A group of health workers from Oredo local government area of Edo state was returning from Umegbe village where they went for immunisation exercise. The bus conveying the health workers was intercepted by the daredevil and heavily armed kidnappers.

The health workers were then led into the river when a decoy vehicle which had some policemen spotted them forcing their victims into the river while a boat was on standby. Upon sighting the police, the hoodlums opened fire.

The suspect now in police custody, Apay Julius, was arrested at the scene of the crime. Their victims are usually ferried to an unknown destination through Ogba River near Benin City.

The officer said some of the kidnapers escaped into the river with bullet wounds.

The police spokesperson in the state, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the suspect would be arraigned soon.

Kidnapping for ransom is rampant in Edo and many other states in Nigeria.
Teachers encourage students as they enter an exam site at No 1 Middle School in Baokang County, Xiangyang, Hubei Province, on July 7, 2020. [Xinhua/Yang Tao]

People who use fake information or steal others identities to gain college enrollment will face severe punishments, according to a draft amendment of the Education Law.

The penalties include disqualification from college, and being banned from taking the gaokao college entrance exam for one to three years, according to the amendment submitted by the Ministry of Education to the National People's Congress Standing Committee on January 20 for review.

Other punishments for breaches include revocation of graduates' degrees and the dismissal of public servants found to have cheated, the draft said.

It added that employees of colleges and education departments found to have been involved in abuse of power, malpractice, bribery and falsifying official documents will also be punished and those who commit serious breaches will be held criminally liable.

Draft legislation usually becomes law after being reviewed by the top legislature three times.

Tian Xuejun, vice-minister of education, said the changes proposed in the draft are in response to people's concerns about the protection of education equality.

Identity theft for college enrollment and education equality have been in the spotlight since two cases in Shandong Province were exposed in June.

In 1996 and 2004 two women students lost the opportunity to attend college after their identities were stolen.

Dozens of people involved in the cases received punishments such as dismissal from their jobs, having their position downgraded or receiving an official warning.

In late December, a Criminal Law revision stipulated that stealing others' identities for the purpose of seeking college enrollment, employment or other benefits, would be punished by up to three years' prison and fines.

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)
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Share price of Reliance Industries (RIL) rose nearly 2 percent in the early trade on January 21 after the company got the approval of the Securities and Exchange Board (SEBI) for its deal with Kishore Biyani-led Future Group.

In August 2020, Biyani had entered into a Rs 24,713 crore agreement with Reliance Retail, an arm of the Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), to sell its retail, wholesale, logistics and warehouse businesses to Reliance Retail Retail Ventures (RRVL). The market regulator gave the nod to the deal on January 20.

Also Read: Future Group-Reliance Industries deal gets SEBI approval

"The company shall ensure that the shares of the transferee entity issued in lieu of the locked-in shares of the transferor entities are subjected to lock-in for the remaining period post scheme," the SEBI said.

"For the last couple of months, Reliance Industries had been trading within a narrow consolidation range on the daily timeframe. On January 18, the stock finally witnessed a consolidation breakout, trading above its trendline support. In this recent price spurt, the stock has given a breakout about its 21 and 50-day moving averages on a daily timeframe, which is extremely positive for the counter," said Rohan Patil, Technical Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio.

Momentum oscillator RSI (14) has given a horizontal trendline breakout, placed near 50 levels, and is currently reading above 55 levels with a bullish crossover on the daily scale, he said. "Buy the stock with a target price of Rs 2,175 and stop loss of Rs 1,990," Patil added.

At 0924 hours, Reliance Industries was quoting at Rs 2,080.50, up Rs 25.80, or 1.26 percent, on the BSE.

The share touched its 52-week high Rs 2,368.80 and 52-week low Rs 867.45 on 16 September, 2020 and 23 March, 2020, respectively.

It is trading 12.17 percent below its 52-week high and 139.84 percent above its 52-week low.

: Reliance Industries (RIL), which is the parent company of Reliance Retail, JioMart and Reliance Market, is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust that controls Network18 Media & Investments which publishes Moneycontrol.
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The Perspective

Atlanta, Georgia

January 20, 2021

The Bidens and the Harrises

Sitting meekly before a television set on Americas East Coast, as we listened religiously to the proceedings of the inauguration of Americas 46th President, Joseph R. Biden, and Vice President, Kamala Harris at the U.S. Capitol. Our attention was drawn keenly by the wordings in the National Anthem and Pledge/Allegiance. Agreed, our forebears sought to remodel the systems in a newfound nation after the United States; for heavens sake  where was some iota of creativity? Such is our history, a deliberate intent to refuse to think out of the box although we have been around for 173 years.

Our history has and will continue to arguably remain an intrinsic and indisputable part of our unbridled heritage that defines us as it were. We thank the Americans  who despite the chaotic antecedents of the last two weeks, rose to the occasion to save their cherished democracy. History will remain kind to those who stood on the side of the greater good while those who try to wreck the civility of their civilization will be consigned to the dustbin of history. President Joe Biden has renewed to the world that America is back to take its rightful place and for good.

Amid the ecstasy, emotion, and sobriety of Wednesday, January 20, 2021, while stumbling over Americas 46th President, Joseph R. Bidens somber but empathetic inaugural message to the American people, our sense of Liberian-ness was invigorated. In our word-smith-ness, we set out to research Bidens clarion vow for his compatriots to end the uncivil war in a deeply divided country reeling from a battered economy and raging pandemic.

On July 10, 2018, departing U.S. Associate Justice, Anthony Kennedy interpreted thus: What defines this uncivil war is a lack of definition or even a desire to define. It thrives on a great dissatisfaction at nothing specific, but rather everything in general. However, at the center of this uncivil war is a distorted vision of liberty that was ironically articulated by the departing Justice Anthony Kennedy.

In our passionate note of caution to the good people of Liberia; let the word go forth that we cannot be Americans and it would be foolhardy to imagine so. Our forebears made historical mistakes! Today we face the harsh realities of the consequences of their actions and inactions. Agreed, such is our history. In 133 years, we stomach divisiveness and unequal distribution of the national cake! Then came 1980, when the inevitable happened! It was a period for reckoning, soul-searching, and renewal. Sadly, amid distorted hiccups, coupled with unkempt political chicanery, we failed to strategically seize the moment.

Deep-seated divisions occasioned us when the unprecedented change of April 12, 1980, enraged the toppled ruling oligarchy, forced some into exile, and saw the rest tamed into unsuspecting dormancy. An attempt to return the country to civilian rule that would see the junta leaders back in the barracks was truncated. That truncation translated into a senseless war that even all its actors cum proponents have shamelessly denounced. So why did we go to war in the first place? It is for all to ponder.

Liberias 14 years of conflict produced a divided country  many today carry bitter scars of such hopeless miscalculation. Doe was right but ignored in light of his famous quote: Town trap is not for rat alone. We all felt the terrible impact. The Truth and Reconciliation efforts meant to initiate the healing of an emotionally devastated nation amid the huge resources pumped into the process ended quite problematically given division within its own ranks.

Retiring honorably, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said: She regretted her administration did not do enough on the reconciliation front. That was an honest admission of a leader hitting the exit. Whatever the attacks by her critics will not solve anything  however, the onus is on Liberians to meet  the debate and chart a way forward. Thanks to the resilience of collaborating forces calling for the scrupulous implementation of the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Beyond the administration of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is the leadership of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government. The CDC assumed power in January 2018 owing to a mandate bestowed by the Liberian people. Weah made campaign promises and was elected on account of those critical issues. Those compelling concerns that informed massive votes for George Weah across 14 counties - were reconciliation, roads, security, health education, and national unity.

Weah and CDC offered to put themselves forward in 2005, 2011 and as grace would have allowed in 2017  they did not present their perspectives from the position of weakness. They said they were prepared to set upon themselves the crucial task of nation-building. The trappings of national unity in our dear country are unimaginably illusive! The ball is in President Weahs court as the expectations are unquestionably high. Managing such expectations and the ability to weigh-in from a national healing foundation must not be ignored.

President Weah and the ruling Coalition for Democratic (CDC) must take a cue from President Joseph R. Bidens baton of leadership and resilience by vowing to uncivil war a divided America. Weah must take charge of the compelling need for national healing, genuine reconciliation that will ensure victims dont continue to weep perpetually and embark on economic revival, job creation as well as focus on improved health and education for our people.


Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season.

CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15.

GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season.

BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career.

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will host a roundtable discussion about law enforcement on Thursday.

During the roundtable, Abbott is expected to outline his legislative priorities regarding public safety. The discussion is set to begin at 12:15 p.m. at the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin.

Participants will include Steve McCraw, executive director of DPS, Jennifer Tharp, the criminal district attorney in Comal County, and several police union leaders.

READ ALSO: Are you trying to get COVID-19 shot but cant? This scientist explains why vaccine distribution is so difficult

Abbott has criticized Austin City Council's August vote to cut its police department budget by $150 million and reallocate funds to areas like violence prevention and permanent housing services.

In December, the governor said he was considering putting the state in charge of policing the city's downtown, the Texas Capitol and the University of Texas at Austin.

A livestream of Abbott's roundtable will be available on this page when it begins.
Appointment

21 January 2021

Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski is pleased to announce the appointment of Brice Pean as the new general manager as of 12 January 2021. A hotelier with a wealth of experience championing hotel preopenings and managing landmark properties, Pean has over 30 years of experience in the luxury hospitality field, including senior management roles with Hilton Hotels in Vienna, Cairo, Adelaide, Fiji and Shanghai.

Pean joined, in 1986, the Hotel Meridien, Paris Etoile, in the Front Office Department . Later, in 1991, he took over an assistant front office manager role at the iconic Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris.

Pean's first general manager appointment was in 2007, at the Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, managed by Hilton Hotels. In 2010, he moved to Hilton Shanghai Hongqiao, being in charge of the preopening of the hotel. Pean joined Kempinski in 2012, as General Manager at Kempinski Hotel Qingdao.

Most recently, Pean was General Manager of Sunrise Kempinski Hotel Beijing and Yanqi Island from 2013, overseeing 14 properties, including Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Yanqi Hotel and 12 boutique hotels, staying for five years, and later in 2018, he was Managing Director at the renowned Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Centre. Throughout the subsequent years, Pean gained exposure in various locations, such as Dublin, London, Vienna, Cairo and even the Fiji Islands, steadily growing through the ranks.

A native of France, Pean has a bachelor's degree from Fremdenverkehrskolleg Innsbruck University in Austria and speaks fluent English and German in addition to his mother tongue.

With his remarkable career in the hospitality industry, extensive knowledge and experience of luxury brands, the hotel's team is excitingly welcoming him in his new role at the Palace, ensuring commitment to service excellence and beautiful performances.
Indian-American lawmakers hailed the leadership of US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, expressing confidence that the two leaders will heal the country, courageously face challenges and build back the bruised economy.

During the Presidential Inaugural Committees official Asian American inaugural ball, hosted virtually by the leading Indian-American advocacy organisation IMPACT, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi from Illinois said he is extremely happy that both Biden and Harris are finally able to take over leadership.

Congressman Ro Khanna, who represents Californias 17th Congressional District, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, said he cannot stress what an amazing moment this is for our community and for the multi-racial democracy in America.

Congressman Ami Bera, representing Californias 7th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives, said Biden and Harris are humble people who get the importance of this moment in time to heal this country, to bring the nation together and face with courage the challenges that are ahead of us.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal said at the AAPI Inaugural Ball: Breaking Barriers that she is proud and excited to call Harris the next US Vice President  the first woman, first South-Asian American and the first Black American to ever be elected to this position of public trust.

Today we prove that our democracy still works and that the power always belongs to the people through the power of our vote, she said at the virtual inaugural ball held on Tuesday, and added that she cannot wait to see the brighter world that we will build together.

Indian-American Neera Tanden, nominated by Biden as the Director of Office of Management and Budget at the White House, said she is honored to be part of the Biden-Harris administration.

I know for many in our community there is so much to be proud of. Not only can we celebrate an incredibly diverse cabinet, but we can also celebrate the fact that we have the first vice president who is of an Asian descent.

Following the swearing-in of Harris, IMPACT Executive Director Neil Makhija said generations of immigrants came to the US for a better life for their children.

"Today, the daughter of an Indian immigrant, who made dosas on the campaign trail, and spoke to her 'chithis' in her nomination speech, took her oath of office as Vice-President of the United States. Following the swearing-in of Harris," IMPACT Executive Director Neil Makhija said generations of immigrants came to the US for a better life for their children.

And as Kamala Harris takes her place in the American story, the hearts of her countrymen and women are swelling with pride and hope for the future, he said, adding that the inauguration of Harris is not only the culmination of an American dream, but marks the launching of millions of new dreams.

Beginning today, a generation of American children will grow up knowing only an Indian-American and Black woman as vice-president of the United States.

As Harris has said, she may be the first, but she wont be the last.

And, with her as an inspiration, we look forward to helping the next generation prove her right, Makhija added.

National, grassroots organisation South Asians for Bidens National Director Neha Dewan said Biden and Harris are the "right leaders for this moment when we are experiencing multiple, converging crises, and their leadership gives us all hope that we can emerge from this as a stronger country.

She said the organisation is heartened by the fact that the South Asian community played a critical role in the 2020 election, and looks forward to deepening the communitys engagement in government and politics in the months and years ahead.

With Harris breaking barriers as the first Black and South Asian woman elected to national office, Dewan said for South Asians who wondered whether this moment could ever be possible, today affirms that America at its best is a land of limitless opportunities.

Biden has announced a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package to tackle the economic fallout from the pandemic, including direct financial aid to average Americans, support to businesses and to provide a boost to the national vaccination programme.

The US is the worst affected country from the pandemic with over 24,998,975 people hit with the coronavirus.

Some 18 million Americans are still relying on unemployment insurance and some 400,000 small businesses have permanently closed their doors.
A few weeks ago I reread The Emigrants, W.G. Sebalds sublime 1992 requiem of four men driven, in the face of totalitarianism, from Central Europe to England and America. In its last and most moving chapter we meet the refugee Max Ferber, a painter whom the narrator watches in a dusty Manchester studio, working and reworking a series of portraits with almost obsessive repetition.

He applied the paint thickly, and then repeatedly scratched it off the canvas as his work proceeded, Sebalds narrator observes. He watches the artist paint and scrape, draw and erase  and then marvels that somehow Ferber, with the few lines and shadows that had escaped annihilation, had created a portrait of great vividness.

When Sebald first published the novel in German, Max Ferber was called Max Aurach  and he is based in large part on Frank Auerbach, the British artist of oily, encrusted paintings that teeter between durability and disintegration. Auerbach, who turns 90 in April, is the last surviving member of a pathfinding generation of postwar British figurative painters, and 25 of his industrious paintings and drawings, made across four decades, each the hard-won product of months or even years of labor, are on view at the Manhattan gallery Luhring Augustine.
The European Union could ban travellers from Britain to stop the spread of a new coronavirus variant, under proposals put to a summit on Thursday night.

The EU's 27 leaders are holding a video conference on coronavirus, with the question of how they can collectively prevent the spread of new, more virulent variants of Covid-19 high up the agenda.

Under a German proposal sent to the 27 member states earlier this week, member states could impose "temporary bans on entry and on transporting passengers entering from third countries with virus variant areas".

The bloc's internal border could also be tightened, with the creation of new testing centres also on the cards.

EU leaders want to take coordinated action because they are keen to avoid repeating scenes from the start of the pandemic, when individual member states shut their borders.

The approached disrupted supply chains and caused vast tailbacks of lorries.

The paper circulated by German officials warns that protecting the health of EU citizens while ensuring freedom of movement within the EU and travel without border checks within the Schengen area make it necessary for member states to take coordinated action to contain the spread of new variants of concern of the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

It adds: The variants known so far are B117 (British mutation) and 501V2 (the South African mutation); there is the fear that further mutations will emerge.

Only if member states take joint and coordinated action can the virus be contained effectively. For this reason, we see an urgent need to act in order to prevent, or at least slow down, the spread of worrying virus variants to and within the EU+ area (EU member states plus Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland).

The EU imposed a ban on non-essential travel at the start of the pandemic but the UK was not included, as it was still in the Brexit transition period and thus single market.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff Helge Braun told public broadcaster ARD on Thursday that without an EU-wide agreement, Germany would have to start closing its borders to other member states.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 23 May 2021 Cyclists at the start of the 15th stage of the Giro dItalia, a 147km race between Grado and Gorizia AFP/Getty World news in pictures 22 May 2021 Swiss Guards take their position prior to the arrival of the European Commission President at San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican for a private audience with the Pope AFP/Getty World news in pictures 21 May 2021 A dog that has been trained to sniff out the coronavirus disease, screens a sweat sample at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters World news in pictures 20 May 2021 Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr in action during a F1 practice session at the Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo Reuters World news in pictures 18 May 2021 Horse-drawn carriages drive through the mudflats near Cuxhaven, northern Germany dpa via AP World news in pictures 17 May 2021 Kanoya Onishi in action during the Cycling BMX Free Style of Tokyo 2020 Olympics test event at Ariake Urban Sports Park in Japan EPA World news in pictures 16 May 2021 Rescuers carry Suzy Eshkuntana, 6, as they pull her from the rubble of a building at the site of Israeli air strikes, in Gaza City Reuters World news in pictures 15 May 2021 A ball of fire erupts from the Jala Tower as it is destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city AFP/Getty World news in pictures 14 May 2021 Muslims offer Eid al-Fitr prayers inside the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh AP World news in pictures 13 May 2021 Muslim girls ride on a mini train after attending the Eid Al-Fitr prayer that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, Kenya AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 May 2021 Israeli artillery fire as the escalation continues between Israeli army and Hamas at the Gaza Border EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2021 Maya Nakanishi competes in the womens long jump - T64 category during a para-athletics test event for the 2020 Olympics at the National Stadium in Tokyo AFP/Getty World news in pictures 10 May 2021 A Palestinian man helps a wounded fellow protester amid clashes with Israeli security forces at Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound, ahead of a planned march to commemorate Israels takeover of Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 May 2021 Falconer Giovanna Piccolo performs with her Eurasian eagle-owl at 'Roma World' theme park, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Rome Reuters World news in pictures 8 May 2021 Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) is introduced as a starter against the St. Louis Blues at T-Mobile Arena. 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Tonnes of fish have washed up dead on the shoreline of the highly polluted artificial reservoir in eastern Lebanon in recent days AFP/Getty World news in pictures 28 April 2021 Health workers wearing PPE attends to coronavirus patients inside a banquet hall temporarily converted into a covid care centre in New Delhi AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 April 2021 The full moon, known as the Super Pink Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty in New York City, Reuters World news in pictures 26 April 2021 Balinese people lay wreaths with names of the crew on board the sunk Indonesian Navy submarine KRI Nanggala during a prayer at the sea near Labuhan Lalang, Bali, Indonesia EPA World news in pictures 25 April 2021 An Ethiopian Orthodox Christian worshipper walks around the Edicule, the place believed to be where Jesus Christ was buried, during Palm Sunday celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem AFP/Getty World news in pictures 24 April 2021 Fans of Wuhan Three Towns FC cheer for their team during the 1st round match Wuhan Three Towns FC and Beijing Institute of Technology FC during Chinese Football League One in Wuhan, China Getty World news in pictures 23 April 2021 A girl prays in front of the Dome of the Rock, in the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalems Old City, on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, as coronavirus restrictions ease around the country, in Jerusalem Reuters World news in pictures 22 April 2021 People walk through the art work 'THE SPIRITS OF THE PUMPKINS DESCENDED INTO THE HEAVENS' by Yayoi Kusama, during the press preview of a retrospective exhibition of the Japanese artist at the Martin Gropius Bau museum in Berlin, Germany AP World news in pictures 21 April 2021 Hungary's Sara Peter competes in the Women's floor qualifications during European Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the St Jakobshalle, in Basel AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 April 2021 South Korea university students gets their heads shaved during a protest against Japan's decision to release contaminated water from its Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, in front of the Japanese embassy, in Seoul Reuters World news in pictures 19 April 2021 A spectator wearing a football jersey of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi attends the ATP Barcelona Open tennis tournament singles match between Japan's Kei Nishikori and Argentina's Guido Pella at the Real Club de Tenis in Barcelona AFP/Getty World news in pictures 18 April 2021 People raise their fist during a demonstration near the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis, Minnesota AFP/Getty World news in pictures 17 April 2021 Security personnel stand guard outside a polling station during the 5th phase of West Bengal's state legislative assembly elections in Kolkata AFP/Getty World news in pictures 16 April 2021 Palestinians take part in the first Friday prayers of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City AFP/Getty World news in pictures 15 April 2021 A firefighter inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 14 April 2021 This picture shows the 100 days countdown till the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games displayed on the illuminated Tokyo Skytree in Tokyo on April 14, 2021 AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 April 2021 This photo taken and received courtesy of an anonymous source shows Buddhist monks gesturing while taking part in a demonstration with protesters against the military coup in Mandalay during the Myanmar New Year festival of Thingyan AFP/Getty World news in pictures 12 April 2021 An Indian holi man during the Kumbh Mela royal bath (Sacred Hindu Pilgrimage) in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India. Thousands of pilgrims are gathering and taking holy dip in Kumbh Mela that is a mass Hindu pilgrimage which occurs after every twelve years and rotates among four locations EPA World news in pictures 11 April 2021 Nasa released images of of sand dunes on Mars captured using infrared reflections NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU World news in pictures 10 April 2021 People watch devotees pulling a chariot in Biska Jatra Festival in Bhaktapur, Nepal AP World news in pictures 9 April 2021 Maintenance workers clean the monument of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in Moscow on April 9, 2021. - Sixty years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space, marking it a new chapter in the history of space exploration. AFP/Getty World news in pictures 8 April 2021 Protesters hold a banner and burning red flares during a demonstration of called by unions of healthcare and social workers in support of their sector and to demand a bonus in their pay in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 7 April 2021 Protesters laying on the street near the Election Commission office in Kolkata during a demonstration demanding the halt of the ongoing state legislative election and campaign rallies amidst the rising number of Covid-19 cases AFP/Getty World news in pictures 6 April 2021 Voters stand in queue to cast their votes at a polling booth during third phase of West Bengal state elections in Baruipur, South 24 Pargana district, India AP World news in pictures 5 April 2021 The Statue of Christ appears behind clouds from the Sao Jorge Castle in Lisbon as the Portuguese government eased coronavirus restrictions AFP/Getty World news in pictures 4 April 2021 Christian worshippers light candles during an Easter service in Yerevan, the Armenian capital AFP/Getty World news in pictures 3 April 2021 Anti-coup protesters hold improvised weapons during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar. Myanmars military Junta continued a brutal crackdown on a nationwide civil disobedience movement in which thousands of people have turned out in continued defiance of live ammunition Getty World news in pictures 2 April 2021 A rescue works at the site after a train derailed in a tunnel north of Hualien, Taiwan Reuters

"The danger is that when the infections in a country go up, this mutation becomes a quasi-majority variant and then the infection can no longer be controlled," he said.

"Therefore, even stricter entry rules at our borders are unavoidable, and since everyone does not want that, it is important that we act together now."

Some member states individually banned travel from the UK around the New Year to stop the spread of the new variant, but these were largely not renewed.
Volunteers man a checkpoint at the entrance to a village in Changshan Town, Zouping, Shandong province on Jan. 17.

Chinas government has urged officials to step up disease controls in the countryside, as the nation battles significant Covid-19 outbreaks just weeks before the Lunar New Year holiday.

The State Council, Chinas cabinet, issued a notice Wednesday ordering local authorities to view epidemic prevention and management in rural areas as a matter of the utmost importance and keep track of people returning to their hometowns ahead of the countrys biggest annual festival.

The notice came after the National Health Commission (NHC) circulated an action plan mandating rural officials to ensure that returnees have recently tested negative for the coronavirus, which causes Covid-19, and to self-isolate at home on arrival.

The policies aim to further dampen interest among non-local residents in traveling across the country and gathering in groups during the weeklong holiday, which begins Feb. 11. New Covid-19 cases have continued to rise in China in recent weeks despite lockdowns and other control measures affecting tens of millions of people.

The State Council edict (link in Chinese) commands local governments to pay particular attention to disease controls around airports, along the urban fringe and in rural areas with many returnee migrant workers.

It also orders localities to conduct centralized management of waste created at airports where goods are imported from abroad, undertake necessary preventative sterilization, and strictly monitor workers exposed to cold chain products, which have been blamed for harboring viruses.

While the State Council diktat tells local authorities to register returnees on arrival, monitor their daily health and encourage them to stay home and take precautions against Covid-19, the NHC plan (link in Chinese) goes further, saying that all returnees must present a negative coronavirus test on arrival and quarantine at home for 14 days, and may not gather with other people during that time.

The rules will take effect from Jan. 28 to March 8 and apply to people returning to rural areas from other provinces or from medium- or high-risk areas within the same province, as well as to those working in the cold chain, at ports, on quarantine sites and in transportation, the agency wrote in an explanatory article (link in Chinese) published Wednesday on its website.

Disease control capacity in rural areas is weak, and controlling the epidemic is difficult, especially as the number of people returning home during the Lunar New Year rush markedly increases  and further increases the risk of transmission, the article says. In order to strictly implement the strategy of preventing an internal (Covid-19) rebound, it is entirely necessary to strengthen the disease control and management of returnees.

Demand for domestic air and train travel has slumped amid Chinas virus resurgence, with the countrys three biggest airlines reporting declines in passenger numbers and ticketing platforms seeing sluggish interest in journeys along major rail routes in the run-up to the Lunar New Year.

China confirmed 144 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, 41 more than the previous day (links in Chinese), according to the NHC. Of those, 126 infections were locally transmitted, 38 more than Wednesday.

Clusters continue to grow in the northern and northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Hebei, the last of which surrounds Beijing. The capital logged two new local infections on Thursday, down from seven the day before.

Tens of millions of people, including residents of the Hebei provincial capital Shijiazhuang and the major commuter city of Langfang, remain under lockdown as part of official efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

At a press conference Wednesday, Feng Zijian, the deputy head of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a subsidiary of the NHC, said (link in Chinese) that the daily case numbers in Hebei indicated that the growth of its outbreak has been visibly curbed.

Hebei recorded 20 new locally transmitted Covid-19 cases on Thursday, one more than the previous day. The northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin respectively added 68 and 33 such cases.

The Chinese mainland has now recorded 88,701 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 4,635 deaths, according to the NHC.

Contact reporter Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)

Download our app to receive breaking news alerts and read the news on the go.
42% are in favor of the project, which will boost Maine's economy and drive down carbon emissions, 35% are opposed and the rest are undecided.

MONTREAL, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - A state-wide poll conducted during the second week of January 2021 shows that there is clear support for the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project in Maine. Our poll of 500 Maine voters found a plurality of Mainers support the corridor. Forty-two percent (42%) support the project, while just 35% are opposed.

Hydro-Quebec has been hearing positive feedback from Mainers across the state who are enthusiastic about the project. This January 2021 poll was conducted to verify support for the NECEC. It shows that claims of widespread opposition to the New England Clean Energy Connect project in Maine are wrong.

Hydro-Quebec values fact-based information and will continue to inform Mainers about the project and its benefits.

Mainers concerned about oil & gas companies funding opposition to the powerline

The survey also reveals that most Mainers are concerned about the fact that opposition to the Clean Energy Corridor is funded by the fossil fuel industry. A majority (55%) of Maine voters say they are concerned that NECEC opponents get funding from out-of-state oil and gas companies. An even stronger majority (62%) say they do not trust these companies to help determine Maine's energy future  just 14% say they do trust them.

About the NECEC

The NECEC will deliver 1,200 MW of Quebec hydropower to the New England electricity grid through Lewiston, Maine. This key piece of clean energy infrastructure will help reduce air pollution while ensuring homes and businesses a competitive, reliable and renewable supply of electricity.

Polling questions

1. As you may know, the Clean Energy Corridor would be a transmission line in Maine that would bring hydropower from Quebec to Maine and New England. It has received all the necessary permits and clearances from federal and state authorities so far. Generally speaking, would you say you support building the transmission line?

Yes 42%

No 35%

Don't know 23%

2. The opposition to the Clean Energy Corridor gets funding from out of state energy companies, including oil and gas companies who want to keep selling fossil fuel for energy generation in Maine. How concerned are you that it is being funded by these companies?

Very or somewhat concerned 55%

Not too concerned or not at all concerned 36%

Don't Know 9%

3. Would you say you trust or do not trust out-of-state oil and gas companies to help determine Maine's energy future?

Trust 14%

Don't Trust 62%

Don't Know 24%

FTP Insights conducted this poll among 500 Maine voters between January 11- 16 2021. The margin of error for the survey is +/- 5.0% at a 95% confidence interval.

SOURCE Hydro-Quebec

Related Links

www.hydroquebec.com


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Although the Democratic Party regards China's rise as a major challenge to America's position as a global leader, which is no different from the Republicans, the two parties still hold different principles. The new Democratic administration has different opinions about how to handle the challenge posed by China. Based on populism, Trump was never able to consider Sino-U.S. relations rationally. After Biden's inauguration, it is expected that the relationship will see some improvements. The two countries could pool efforts in responding to such issues as climate change and the pandemic, thereby breaking the ice for a new period of China-U.S. relations. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who was named as a special presidential envoy for climate, has stated that the U.S. and China may resume cooperation in tackling climate change.

Of course, Joe Biden's inauguration doesn't necessarily mean a positive future for China-U.S. relations. Biden has appointed Kurt Campbell, a veteran in Asian affairs, as his senior official for Asia Policy. Campbell, who will serve as "Indo-Pacific coordinator," has been tasked with helping America "tackle a range of challenges from China." The move suggests the importance that the new administration has placed on Sino-U.S. relations. However, in a recently published article, Campbell said that there's a "need for an allied and partner coalition to address China's challenge." It's reasonable to believe that during Biden's presidency, China and the United States will compete and cooperate with each other in different areas. Meanwhile in some areas, competition and cooperation will coexist.

The Trump administration has damaged the support of the people, which will take time to restore. Within the U.S. government, voices calling for cooperation with China are not rare. Insightful ones from business leaders, academics and former government officials oppose the two countries' "decoupling." Many states in the U.S. also want to resume interactions with China, and their desire to strengthen trade and economic ties are strong. It is likely that the two governments will negotiate with each other over disagreements, thus establishing necessary rules for managing and controlling potential issues.

China has sent clear messages, expressing its wish for the new U.S. government to adopt a rational attitude; and for the two countries to focus on dialogue and cooperation, to help relations get back on track. This is the only choice that will benefit the two countries and beyond.

China Mosaic

http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

Seize the opportunity to reshape China-US relations

http://www.china.org.cn/video/2021-01/21/content_77140247.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn
LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BenefitEda joint venture between Ameritas and Nelnetis offering Tuition Reimbursement program administration to companies of all sizes as part of their comprehensive suite of educational benefits programs to help employers recruit and retain employees.

Many employers offer Tuition Reimbursement benefits to help employees pay for continuing their education. BenefitEd will make this benefit even easier for employers by acting as a third-party administrator to support the program, freeing up more time for staff to spend elsewhere. "As a provider of tuition assistance and student loan benefits, we will be able to assist employers with all Sec 127 tax-preference benefits," said Michael Riordan, CEO of BenefitEd.

BenefitEd's Tuition Reimbursement program is built to save employers time and money. This program is customizable to meet each employer's needs, and works seamlessly with the rest of BenefitEd's suite of products. Employers will have an assigned account manager and support team to help at every step of the way, as well as a user-friendly administrative platform that easily tracks program participation and outcomes. Riordan added, "BenefitEd will serve clients of all sizes in all industries. There is a perception that third-party administration of tuition benefits is only for certain sized employers. BenefitEd can bring value to all employers."

This program will help employees by allowing them to further their education without taking out loans and encouraging them to reach their educational and financial goals. Employers can choose their own criteria to determine which employees are eligible.

BenefitEd will work with employers to identify which employees are eligible and help customize the right benefits package. They will also help onboard employees, educating them on how reimbursements will be made, and provide monthly reports to help employers keep track of program activity and employee retention impact.

Employers interested in this Tuition Reimbursement program should contact BenefitEd for additional information.

About BenefitEd

BenefitEd offers customized student loan repayment and college savings programs that help progressive employers engage, attract, and retain a more productive workforce. As a joint venture between Ameritas and Nelnet, BenefitEd leverages a deep understanding of employee benefits programs and expertise in education payment processing. For more information, visit youbenefited.com.

About Ameritas

Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; retirement plans; investments; asset management and public finance. Securities offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Company LLC., member FINRA/SIPC and investment advisory services offered through the business name of Ameritas Advisory Services. For more information, visit Ameritas.com.

About Nelnet

Nelnet (NYSE: NNI) is a diversified and innovative company focused on offering educational services, technology solutions, telecommunications, and asset management. Nelnet helps students and families plan and pay for their education and makes the administrative processes for schools more efficient with student loan servicing, tuition payment processing, school administration software, and college planning resources. Through its investment in Allo Communications, Nelnet offers fiber-optic services directly to homes and businesses for ultra-fast internet and superior telephone and television services. The company also makes investments in real estate developments and new ventures. For more information, visit nelnetinc.com.

SOURCE BenefitEd

Related Links

http://youbenefited.com


Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
LUXEMBOURG, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlisle Management Company SCA ("Carlisle"), a leading, multi-award-winning life settlements investment manager and trusted client partner based in Luxembourg, today announced that it has successfully raised $290 million for its new closed-end fund, Luxembourg Life Fund: Absolute Return Fund II FCP RAIF, surpassing its $250 million target. The Fund has attracted a diverse base of institutional investors across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the U.S.

Carlisle and its seasoned team of executives have been active investors in low correlation assets for more than two decades. Since its inception, Carlisle has been focused on building a robust independent sourcing model, which has enabled it to have access to unique opportunities in rather niche and underserved tertiary market segments. The firm's Absolute Return Fund II ("ARF II" or "The Fund") will uphold Carlisle's highest global standards of ethics, independence, and professionalism and will further capitalize on Carlisle's sourcing advantage.

"We are extremely proud to have closed our Absolute Return Fund II above target, particularly during a period of significant global economic distress," said Oleksandra Polishchuk, Carlisle's Chief Marketing Officer. "This achievement is not only a testament to investors' confidence in Carlisle and its diligence processes, but also the fundamental importance and advantages of the life settlements industry, which is driven by an isolated mortality variable and thus has limited correlation to the state of traditional financial markets."

The Fund offers a number of advantages to investors, including i) limited liquidity risks due to its closed-end structure and ii) no cash flow disruptions to the Fund's valuation and performance, given that assets are valued at cost and income is only recognized when it is realized. Carlisle expects that both its Absolute Return Fund I and new Absolute Return Fund II will continue to perform with near-zero correlation to financial markets and will provide liquidity back to investors as originally projected.

"Today's milestone builds upon decades of Carlisle's industry experience and complete access to the life settlement markets," said Jose Garcia, CEO of Carlisle. "Smart institutional capital is recognizing the benefit of entering the market now, which has been demonstrated through ARF II's robust capital raise. We expect the current temporary lack of liquidity to soften the tertiary markets, creating sourcing opportunities. Further, we believe that closed-end life settlement funds represent a solid hedge, particularly within the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

Deployment of the Fund, which includes several hundred life insurance policies, commenced last year and is diversified across multiple parameters. These parameters include face value, insurance carrier, age, mortality profile, carrier rating, and gender, among others, sourced at predicted return levels in line with Carlisle's expectations. Due to the fact that temporary capital dislocations create opportunities to source policies at higher discounts, Carlisle believes that gross expected returns at purchase have the potential to exceed its original return targets.

About Carlisle Management Company

Established in 2008, Carlisle is a leading, highly diversified global investment management firm. Our state-of-the-art facilities and statistical modeling systems incorporate knowledge gained from 60+ years of combined investment experience within the alternative asset sector. Supervised by the Luxembourg regulator and being subject to reputable audit firms' controls at both management company and fund level, we operate independently, which allows us to focus solely on investors' call for transparency and performance. Our regulated framework provides accurate management of the risks involved while maximizing investment returns.

SOURCE Carlisle Management Company
Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennons concerns about non-residents receiving the COVID-19 vaccine before Alabama residents is resonating among the snowbirds who visit the states coastal area each year.

Kenn Krouse, president of the Wisconsin Snowbird Club, said Thursday that he can understand the frustration of local residents waiting for a coronavirus vaccine. He said that there are not vaccination clinics set up in the coastal area, and that residents in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, along with the winter visitors who are of retirement age, must drive approximately one-hour away to a vaccine clinic that has been set up at the Daphne Civic Center.

For a Baldwin County resident, that can be almost an hour drive, said Krouse, 75, who is a resident of Gulf Shores from October to May, before returning to Wisconsin during the summer. You cant get a shot.

Kennon said in-state residents should be prioritized ahead of the out-of-state visitors for the limited number of shots provided to Baldwin County.

The thought they are allowing out-of-state visitors to get vaccinated before our residents really hacks me off, said Kennon, who directed his blame at state officials during Mondays Orange Beach City Council meeting. Im disappointed in Alabamas response. Its been disorganized. Were three months out  a year out (since the beginning of the pandemic) and we still don have plan? I hope Montgomery is watching. Im hacked off.

State rules are laxed toward residency requirements for the COVID-19 vaccines. Arizona and Florida, two popular spots for winter visitors who tend to be retirees over age 65, had not been restricting out-of-state visitors from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine in recent weeks.

But on Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that anyone who does not own property in Florida will not be able to receive a vaccine while visiting the state. According to news accounts, anyone with an out-of-state ID was being asked to also provide a proof of residency or semi-permanent residency whether it was a utility bill or a lease agreement. Before DeSantis announcement, anyone over age 65 was eligible to get vaccinated.

Florida has distributed 1.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with 5 percent of its population receiving at least one shot. That is good enough for 10th best in the U.S.

Alabama, at 2.5 percent, ranks dead last in the percentage of residents who have received at least one dose of vaccine. The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines require a second shot approximately 28 days after the first dose is administered.

Kennon said he would be willing to help in administering the shots if asked.

I dont know what is wrong with us in Alabama, he said. Weve lost or minds.

Dr. Karen Landers, assistant state health officer with the Alabama Department of Public Health, said the agencys priority is to make sure Alabamians receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

She added, ADPH cannot promise that people from other states may not get a vaccine appointment, if the are in an eligible population, but our goal is to reach Alabamians first.

At the Daphne Civic Center, where a second a of COVID-19 vaccines were being distributed on Thursday, people only had to show an ID to prove they are eligible for a shot. Alabama is giving shots only to healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and people over age 75 years old. There is no residency requirement.

In Alabama, the winter snowbirds  many of whom come from Midwestern states from early January to mid-March  drive tourism during an otherwise soft period in coastal Alabama. Though the coronavirus pandemic and damage to condos from Hurricane Sally are keeping a lot of them away, the snowbirds typically generate strong business for restaurants and retailers along the Gulf Coast.

Lee Sentell, the states tourism director, declined to comment. Beth Gender, the chief operating officer with Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism deferred her comments to the Alabama Department of Public Health since they determine the protocols for COVID-19 vaccination in Alabama.

Related story: Where are the snowbirds? Coronavirus, hurricane make difficult winter season for Alabama beaches

Krouse, who owns his property in Gulf Shores, said he is not sure how state officials can crackdown on residency requirements since the COVID-19 distribution is coordinated through the federal government. He also said that the snowbirds who visit the region come down here and throw their money around, which is a good thing. But he can understand the angsts among local residents who pay taxes to the state but cannot get vaccinated by the Alabama Department of Public Health because out-of-state visitors are also getting in line.

Its a double edge sword, said Krouse, a longtime visitor to the Alabama Gulf Coast and who heads up a club that has over 800 members, and who has been unable to get a shot yet. Its not good.

This story was updated at 2:29 p.m. on January 21, to include a comment from Dr. Karen Landers from the Alabama Department of Public Health

This story was updated at 12:15 p.m. on January 21, to include comments from tourism officials.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Punxsutawney Phil will not let a pandemic take away his spotlight.

Phil will make his annual Groundhog Day prognostication from Gobblers Knob in Pennsylvania virtually this year with no live audience.

According to a release on the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club official website, a special committee was formed to monitor the pandemic and come up with options for Groundhog Day on Feb. 2.

Since it has been deemed unsafe to have spectators this year, the festivities will be live-streamed. Those who wish to view his prediction can visit groundhog.org for more information.

The Staten Island Zoo announced Thursday that its annual Groundhog Day festivities will also be streamed virtually. The Zoo, located in West Brighton, will stream its Groundhog Day event on Facebook Live beginning at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2. Chuck will officially emerge from his burrow at 8 a.m.

The prediction will made remotely and announced by a representative of Investors Bank, which is the events annual sponsor. To view the live event, check out the Staten Island Zoos Facebook page.

HOW IT BEGAN

The Groundhog Day tradition can be traced to Candlemas, an early Christian holiday where candles were blessed and distributed. Those who celebrated Candlemas decided that clear skies on the holiday meant a longer winter.

The Germans eventually began to believe that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, a hedgehog would cast a shadow  predicting six more weeks of harsh winter weather. And it was the Germans who brought this belief to the United States.

When German immigrants arrived in Pennsylvania, they found a large number of groundhogs. And they tasked the groundhog, which resembles the European hedgehog, with the job of predicting the weather.

The holiday started with the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, founded in Punxsutawney, Pa., in 1887. The editor of the Punxsutawney newspaper was a member of the club, and he claimed that Punxsutawney Phil was the only true weather-predicting groundhog.

Today, tens of thousands travel to Gobblers Knob annually for Phils prediction. A smaller  but still passionate  crowd typically attends Staten Island Chucks event at the Staten Island Zoo.

Chuck has been making his prediction for more than three decades  and some years have been more eventful than others. In 2009, Chuck bit then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg. And, in 2014, Chuck was dropped by Mayor Bill de Blasio. That groundhog, which was actually a female stand-in named Charlotte, died several days later.
Two London buses have been converted into ambulances to help ease the strain on the NHS in the hard-hit capital as Covid deaths continue to soar.

The single-decker buses can carry four patients each and have been kitted out with all vital equipment including infusion pumps, oxygen masks and monitors.

Bus firm Go-Ahead converted the buses in the hope the NHS could use them to transport patients to the newly-reopened Nightingale hospital at London's ExCeL centre.

NHS hospitals in London have been under enormous pressure since the emergence of a highly-infectious mutant Covid strain which spread rapidly across the country.

Medics have reported having to 'triage' patients to decide who should get critical care - with many fearing the situation could worsen.

It is hoped that the buses will help take away some of the strain, but they are not accredited to the NHS.

Two London buses (one pictured) have been converted into ambulances to help ease the strain on the NHS in the hard-hit capital as Covid deaths continue to soar

Seats have been removed to maximize space in the electric vehicles, which the firm hopes will be fully-staffed by PPE-clad NHS doctors and nurses and St John Ambulance first-aid volunteers who have all had a Covid vaccine.

The onboard equipment is charged through the buses' batteries, The Guardian reports.

All medics will be from the Specialist Retrieval and Intensive Care Transfer Service (Sprint).

The service was set up at the start of the pandemic to transport seriously-ill patients from one intensive care unit to another to ensure none were overwhelmed.

They will initially transport patients to the newly reopened Nightingale hospital at London's ExCeL arena (pictured) to get supportive and rehabilitative care prior to being discharged

They will initially transport patients to the newly reopened Nightingale hospital at London's ExCeL arena to get supportive and rehabilitative care prior to being discharged. Pictured: A London bus which has not been converted

The ExCeL centre in Newham, East London, has been set up as a giant mass vaccination centre and facility for patients recovering from coronavirus.

An NHS London spokesperson said: 'These buses have not been commissioned by the NHS.'

The UK today recorded another 1,290 deaths, up 3.4 per cent on the same day last week.

Random swabbing of 142,000 people between January 6 to 15 found 'no evidence' of a decline in infection levels  despite an array of promising data showing exactly the opposite. The graph shows the test positivity rate for every day of the study

The Imperial College London study found that 1.58 per cent of people in England were infected with coronavirus in that 10-day spell  the equivalent of almost 900,000 people. The graph shows the general trend across each time period the study has been carried out for, with the red line pointing upwards in the most recent week

Despite the country's ever-growing death toll, Department of Health statistics also showed the UK's second wave is continuing to fade away as a result of the lockdown.

Officials recorded a further 37,892 infections today, down more than a fifth on last Thursday.

And Cambridge University researchers had estimated that the R rate - the average number of people each infected person passes the disease onto - may have dipped to 0.6 in London and the South East.

But last week the Cambridge team said R in London and the South East was as low as around 0.6. In a report the university's Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit estimated it had fallen to 0.61 in London and 0.64 in the South East

The Imperial College London team also revealed how test positivity rates varied across each region of England over the study period, with rates falling in the East and South West and plateauing in London

It found that mobility data suggested people were moving around more since the start of January, meaning even tougher restrictions may be necessary

But this appears to contradict a mass-testing survey which found that infection numbers appeared to plateau and even rise at the start of January.

England's third national lockdown started on January 5 and is expected to last at least until the end of February while the NHS scrambles to vaccinate 13.9million of the nation's most vulnerable people against Covid-19.

Imperial College London's REACT-1 study, which swab-tested 142,000 people across England for coronavirus between January 6 and 15  the first 10 days of the lockdown  found that 1.6 per cent of them were positive.

The experts also estimated that the national R rate is 1.04, meaning the epidemic is still increasing in size and the number of people in hospitals would continue to rise until transmission could be brought under control.

One of the scientists running the study, Professor Steven Riley, said yesterday: 'There's no evidence that infection prevalence is decreasing at present, even 10 days into lockdown. The main health implication of this is that we can't expect levels of daily deaths to drop and we can't expect the number of Covid inpatients to drop.'

The Imperial College London experts showed that cases were still highest in London between January 5 and 15, followed by the West Midlands, South East and East of England

Experts behind the REACT-1 study also revealed how test positivity rates varied between age groups for each region, over the last three rounds of testing

Earlier this month, doctors in London said that a critical shortage of beds meant some hospitals were implementing emergency guidelines to prioritise treatment for patients with the best survival chances.

This means younger patients who are more-likely to survive will be offered critical care over the elderly, who are less likely to survive.

And intensive care medics on Britain's Covid frontline are 'extremely worried' that case totals will keep increasing until the NHS 'simply won't be able to cope with it' as Britons keep flouting lockdown.

Dr Katharina Hauck, from the faculty of medicine at Imperial College London, said: 'Hospitals in London are overwhelmed, which is a dangerous situation for all patients requiring urgent care ... Sadly, some hospitals are now forced to follow ... emergency triage of all patients requiring critical care.

'Applying this guidance effectively means that patients under the age of 65 who are not frail will be prioritised over elderly and frailer patients for critical care.

And the team also offered a heat map showing where outbreaks have grown or shrunk between the last two recent rounds of testing

'Frail patients would be cared for in general wards with less intensive care.'

Data shows just 30 per cent of people exhibiting Covid symptoms are actually staying at home, claiming work, caring responsibilities or the need to buy supplies force them out the house.

Intensive care consultant Professor Rupert Pearse - who works at the Royal London Hospital in the hard-hit capital - said Britons are not following the rules like they were 'in the first wave' putting enormous pressure on the already-overwhelmed health service.

Professor Pearse told Radio 4's Today Programme: 'I'm very worried that we've reached the peak and we're really not seeing the kind of behaviour that we saw in the first wave.

'And I, and many of my colleagues in medicine, are extremely worried that this third wave is going to carry on rising and rising and that we'll reach a point that the NHS simply won't be able to cope with it.'

He earlier tweeted: 'Normally we have three intensive care consultants (senior doctors) working on our intensive care unit at any one time. Today we have ten, each leading an entire ICU team.

'The response is inspirational but the need is just awful. So please, hands, face, space. Help us help you.'
[January 21, 2021] Adverty continues rapid expansion with appointment of Chief Financial Officer

STOCKHOLM, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading in-game advertising platform, Adverty, has announced the appointment of Anders Rossel as Chief Financial Officer. Anders has been tasked to help manage the innovative technology company's growth, following the launch of new offices and a raft of senior hires in 2020. Adverty's mission is to deliver seamless advertising which connects brands and audiences through its revolutionary technology, built specifically for gaming. Anders will be responsible for the company's financials, whilst providing strategic counsel to the CEO and the members of the Board. Prior to joining Adverty, Anders was CFO at Howden Insurance Brokers Sweden, where he drove a Finance Transformation Project, whilst also being responsible for IT and HR. He was also Head of Business Control at Cherry, a holding company which invests in gaming companies and which was subsequently acquired by a British private equity fund. He started off his career as a management trainee at high-profile media company MTG after which he held a variety of executive roles in several multinational companies. Anders comments: "I am excited to get stuck into my new role in such an innovative and fast-growing media company. Adverty provides unique ad formats, and its potential is huge - despite a challenging trading environment as we start the new year. Adverty is genuinely setting a new standard for generating revenue and we anticipate many high-value deals and strategic long-term partnerships in the pipeline, both in the short and the long term." Niklas Bakos, CEO and founder of Adverty adds: "We are delighted to welcome Anders to the team. He is a well-respected leader with business experience which is both deep and incredibly diverse, thanks to a wide range of finance and development roles across many industries and geographies. His skills set stands us in great stead as we look forward to future success." The expansion of Adverty's business follows ever-increasing numbers of advertisers looking for unobtrusive in-game advertising at scale, in a largely untapped but hugely exciting media frontier which is slowly moving into the mainstream consciousness. For further information, please contact: Niklas Bakos, CEO

Phone: +46-733-28-1110

E-mail: nb@adverty.com This information is information that Adverty AB (publ) is obliged to disclose under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was provided, through the contact of the above contact person, for publication on the 21st of January 2021. Corpura Fondkommission AB, phone +46 (0)722 52 34 51, act as certified advisor/mentor for the company at NGM Nordic SME. About Adverty Adverty, the leading in-game platform, delivers seamless advertising to connect brands and people through its revolutionary display advertising technology built for games. The platform offers true in-game ad inventory at scale and allows content creators to monetise the complete experience with unobtrusive, easy-to-integrate, immersive ads. Founded in 2016, Adverty has offices in Stockholm, London, New York and Lviv and works with advertisers, agencies and developers to unlock audiences and gaming revenue streams. More information at www.adverty.com. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/adverty-ab/r/adverty-continues-rapid-expansion-with-appointment-of-chief-financial-officer,c3271439 The following files are available for download:







https://mb.cision.com/Main/17527/3271439/1361656.pdf Release

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A British Columbia health agency (BC) is promptly telling the public not to buy COVID-19 vaccines sold online or advertised from unauthorized sources, stating they may pose health risks, are counterfeit, and are ineffective at shielding people from the COVID-19 virus.

Fake COVID-19 Vaccines

ImmunizeBC, financially supported by the BC Ministry of Health to provide vaccination information and tools for BC residents, posted the scam warning on social media on Tuesday. They remarked they have heard about emails and websites selling the alleged fake vaccines.

According to ImmunizeBC, there have been several reports vowing to provide novel coronavirus vaccines for money. However, the products do not work and could elicit harm towards people who use them.

BC wrote on Twitter, "These scams take advantage of genuine fears and worries, targeting those who are most vulnerable in our communities," reported World News Era.

The organization stated the only way to access safe and potent doses of the coronavirus vaccine is through clinics regulated or endorsed by local public health authorities.

Any information on the selling or advertising of counterfeit COVID-19 vaccines should be submitted to Health Canada, reported Castanet.

The COVID-19 inoculation program will involve developing vaccines available to all people in the province who the vaccine is recommended for and who would prefer to be immunized.

BC aims to have vaccines accessible for all people who choose to be inoculated by the end of 2021.

If you are anxiously waiting to be vaccinated against COVID-19, it is advised not to resort to purchasing a product online to get the process over with.

To date, 92,369 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been disseminated in the province. Also, in the previous week, health officials declared that they anticipate 3.4 million doses of the novel coronavirus vaccine to be distributed in BC by June.

In December, Health Canada released a similar advisory, cautioning Canadians about the supposed vaccines sold on the internet.

According to the agency in the notice, "Health Canada evaluates the safety, efficacy and quality of any drug or vaccine before it can be legally sold in Canada and all vaccines require specific storage conditions in order to maintain their quality. COVID-19 vaccines have a tightly-controlled supply chain, and will only be provided through clinics organized or endorsed by your local public health authority," reported The Epoch Times.

It would take a certain amount of time before there are adequate vaccines for all.

Notwithstanding the fact that some people will be able to be administered a COVID-19 vaccine soon, it is still very essential to wash your hands, follow public health orders, wear a face mask, physical distance, and stay indoors when sick.

Additional 20 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 were purchased by Canada previously this January. It also does not include vaccines that are yet to be approved by Health Canada, including the Johnson&Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Ottawa declared on January 15 that the shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine would be delayed because the company needs to upgrade its European production facility.

Related Article: WHO Chief: 'Not Right' to Vaccinate Younger Adults in Rich Countries Before Elderly in Poorer Countries

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
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These raths will cover all the 294 Assembly constituencies of the state

On completing one year in office, Nadda thanked the party's cadre for their dedication and hard work during the Covid-19 lockdown and assisting people in hostile situations, including in Opposition-ruled states like West Bengal and Kerala. (Photo:PTI)

New Delhi: BJP president J.P. Nadda is likely to launch a rath yatra in poll-bound West Bengal on February 5. Mr Nadda, who completed one year as the BJP president on Wednesday, is likely to launch this yatra from North Bengal. The BJP is expected to launch five such raths (chariots) from different regions of the state, with Union home minister Amit Shah scheduled to launch a similar parivartan rath yatra on February 10.

These raths will cover all the 294 Assembly constituencies of the state.

Crucial Assembly polls in the TMC-ruled state are scheduled in April and the BJP has been promising Asol Poribortan (real change) in the state while highlighting mis-governance under Mamata Banerjee and how development indicators in the state are on a downward spiral.

Nadda also held a meeting of the partys general secretaries at the BJP headquarters to review various issues, including West Bengal polls. Meanwhile, exodus from the TMC continued with its leader and Santipur MLA Arindam Bhattacharya joining the BJP fold at the party headquarters Wednesday.

Bhattacharya joined the BJP in the presence of the partys state in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya who had last week claimed that at least 41 TMC MLAs want to join the BJP.

On completing one year in office, Nadda thanked the party's cadre for their dedication and hard work during the Covid-19 lockdown and assisting people in hostile situations, including in Opposition-ruled states like West Bengal and Kerala.

Paying homage to 300 party workers and cadres who lost their lives allegedly to political killings in West Bengal, Nadda said Lotus will bloom in the state and urged the party cadres to work to make the BJP win in Tamil Nadu and Kerala as well.
[January 21, 2021] Ask Kodiak and Vertafore Announce Partnership

BOSTON, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ask Kodiak , an API platform providing real-time appetite and eligibility for commercial lines insurance companies, managing general agencies (MGAs), wholesalers, and agents, is pleased to announce a partnership with InsurTech leader Vertafore to embed carrier-managed appetite and eligibility information within Vertafores insurance software solutions.

Available immediately, Ask Kodiaks integration with Vertafores ReferenceConnect makes carrier-managed appetite, eligibility, and marketing information available to the ReferenceConnect user community in real time. ReferenceConnect helps agents and brokers grow new and existing business by providing information from over 40 trusted insurance sources, and now, that list of sources includes Ask Kodiak for commercial appetite. This new offering for ReferenceConnect uses Ask Kodiaks new industry standard for high-definition classification of commercial insurance risks based on the latest edition of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS HD). The partnership gives carriers the ability to precision target content to agents and brokers based on all levels of the NAICS hierarchy, including governing class, geography, business characteristics, coverage amounts, or any combination thereof for a prospective insured. Were excited to launch this integration for commercial appetite with Ask Kodiak, said James Thom, chief product officer at Vertafore. Utilizing Ask Kodiaks APIs, we can easily display their real-time appetite and eligibility for numerous carriers and MGAs in ReferenceConnect. This functionality is easily extensible to other widely-used Vertafore solutions as well  something were excited to do more of with the Ask Kodiak team.



Ask Kodiak delivers a new level of transparency into commercial lines appetite and eligibility which translates into expanded opportunities for collaborating agents, brokers, and carriers. Before Ask Kodiak, most carriers lacked a viable digital mechanism for sharing appetite, and lack of real-time insight into carrier appetite often results in no quote situations and lost business for distribution partners. As competition in the commercial lines market continues to tighten, insight into which carriers have the appetite and the best prices for needed coverages mean speed-to-market and a better overall customer experience. With Ask Kodiaks unique, customized user interface in ReferenceConnect, Vertafores carrier customers can now store, update, and share appetite and eligibility information with any distribution partner via APIs for maximum efficiency, underwriting accuracy, quote-to-bind speed, and conversion rates.

For our customers making their appetite and eligibility available to the Vertafore user community is now as simple as checking a box, said Michael Albert, co-founder of Ask Kodiak. The same information theyre already using to improve user experience on their own websites and portals, share with their traditional independent agents on Ask Kodiak, and integrate with their digital partners via the Ask Kodiak API snaps right into Vertafore with a single click. About Ask Kodiak

Ask Kodiak helps insurance carriers organize commercial insurance. The API-based technology platform that helps agents make product selections based on appetite and eligibility provided by insurance carriers wherever its needed. For more details, visit www.askkodiak.com.

About Vertafore

As North Americas InsurTech leader for more than 50 years, Vertafore is modernizing and simplifying insurance distribution so that our customers can focus on what matters most: people. Vertafores solutions provide end-to-end connectivity, improve the client and agent experience, unlock the power of data, and streamline essential workflows to drive efficiency, productivity, and profitability for independent agencies and carriers. For more information about Vertafore, visit www.vertafore.com. Media Contact:

Jennifer Overhulse

St. Nick Media Services

(859) 803-6597

jen@stnickmedia.com



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Executive Director for the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Commissioner of Police Frank Adu-Poku (Rtd), has made a shocking revelation about one of the doctors apprehended by the outfit in connection with baby harvesting and human trafficking at some health centres in Accra.



A joint operation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Ghana Medical and Dental Council has led to the arrest of 11 people suspected to be involved in the harvesting of babies and human trafficking in some health facilities in the Greater Accra Region.



Those arrested comprised two medical doctors, four nurses, two mothers, two social welfare officers and a traditional birth attendant.



Speaking on Adom FM Thursday, Mr Adu-Poku revealed that their investigations led them to unravel many shocking things.



He said the first doctor who was arrested for instance, revealed to them that he had already sold about 12 children.



He, however, did not state the time period within which the doctor sold the babies.



During our investigations and during the process, one of the doctors told us that he has sold about 12 babies. This tells us what is happening in our hospitals, he said. Women should be vigilant when they are about to deliver because the moment you refuse to pay attention or a family member stops paying attention, it may become problematic, he added. Detailing the arrest of the suspects, Mr Adu-Poku said they were arrested in a joint operation by EOCO and the Ghana Medical and Dental Council in December 2020 at the Ridge Hospital and the Tema General Hospital.



The two baby boys were both sold for a combined price of GHS 58,000 with one being sold for GH 30,000.00 and the other GH 28,000.00.



Mr Adu-Poku further stated that the suspects have currently been granted bail pending further investigations.



As a result of these investigations, two medical doctors, two social workers, four nurses, two mothers and one traditional birth attendant have been arrested so far and are on bail pending further investigations. We currently have in our possession the two baby boys who were bought as a result of the operation, he stated.







Source: adomonline.com









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

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Washington: President Joe Biden has launched a new era in US politics, moving to rapidly dismantle some of his predecessor Donald Trump's signature policies while calling for Americans to end their "uncivil war" and rediscover a sense of common purpose.

On his first day in office on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), Biden promptly signed 15 executive orders and proclamations - many of which focused on reversing measures implemented by Trump.

Among his most significant decisions was rejoining the Paris climate accord, the global pact to reduce carbon emissions that Trump withdrew from in his first year in office.

US President Joe Biden signs a flurry of executive orders in the Oval Office on his first day. Credit:AP

Biden also cancelled Trump's emergency declaration which provided funding for the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico and rescinded an executive order banning travel to the US from several Muslim-majority countries.
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Community foundation awards $57K to 18 local organizations

Somerset County organizations received $57,749 in grants for environmental efforts, art and music programs, feeding programs and other projects.
GLADSTONE, MI -- A 38-year-old Iron Mountain man was charged in connection with a break-in at the Bark River-Harris School in Gladstone on Jan. 11. According to WLUC-6, Michael Raymond Racicot was arraigned and released on bond for his role in the alleged break-in.

Racicot allegedly broke into the school by smashing a window to get into the main office of the school. Once he got inside, Racicot went through a desk where he found a small amount of money. He then took that money to a nearby casino and gambled with it.

Michigan State Police did not indicate when Racicot is due back in court.

READ MORE:

Patriots in the Capitol building, wrote Michigan man now jailed for insurrection

Kwame Kilpatricks sentence commuted; Trump-appointed prosecutor calls him unrepentant criminal who only served quarter of sentence

12-year-old girl, father killed in crash with commercial truck, another child injured
Two new animal ordinances that took effect Jan. 1 pertain to cats and dogs. One addresses puppy and kitten sales, the other the feeding of feral cats.

This past year, city leaders approved an ordinance that requires pet stores to only sell rescued dogs and cats, not dogs and cats from breeders. The ordinance does not ban retailers from selling pets, but it requires those dogs and cats to come from a city or county animal shelter, an animal control agency, or an animal rescue organization licensed by the department, according to the ordinance.

Petco and PetSmart have been doing this for years. While shelters and rescue groups may have some rescued purebred pets available for adoption, if someone wants a specific breed of dog or cat, they will need to go to a local breeder.

Local breeders can still operate within the city limits provided they obtain litter permits and care for their animals in accordance with city ordinances. The goal is to get puppy and kitten mills out of the equation.

The second ordinance puts restrictions on how people feed feral cats because of growing problems with overfeeders and with feeding on private property without permission. It sounds controversial, but it seems to be in line with current San Antonio Feral Cat Coalition, or SAFCC, best practices.

Sherry Derdak, president of SAFCC, said they always advise people to get permission from the business or property owner before feeding cats on private property. As for overfeeding cats, she says there are people who dump large amounts of pet food and just leave it, which causes complaints to Animal Care Services about feral cats.

Dumping pet food also attracts wildlife. Raccoons can be very destructive, but its the feral cats who get blamed, Derdak said.

The proper ways to feed a feral cat are outlined in San Antonios Chapter 5 animal ordinances, which can be read at sanantonio.gov/Animal-Care/Laws-Fees/Ordinances-Laws. First, they should only be fed cat food. Second, food should only be offered in nondisposable dishes. Paper plates can fly away, and disposable containers are often left behind, causing trash build-up.

Third, they shouldnt be overfed. Most caretakers watch their felines eat before picking up leftover food and containers. And finally, feeders need to get permission from property owners before setting out food.

This is not a ban on feeding feral cats, so please dont stop if you are doing it. It is simply new requirements on how to feed them. Also, if you are feeding feral cats, please get them fixed.

If you need more information or training on how to care for feral cats, contact SAFCCs helpline at 210-877-9067.

Send your pet questions, tips, and stories to cathy@petpundit.com. You can read the Animals Matter blog at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/animals and follow her at @cathymrosenthal.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

According to IMARC Group's latest report, titled Automotive Position Sensor Market Trends: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2020-2025, the global automotive position sensor market to continue its strong growth during the next five years.

Automotive Position sensor stands for a device which detects and converts the movement of an object from its reference position into signals. In automobiles, these sensors enable the engine control modules (ECM) to identify the position of a component and act respective to the sensor signals. Automotive position sensors offer numerous benefits in automobiles, such as precision stage positioning of equipment, machine tool monitoring, low power consumption, high feature integration, etc.

Request to get the sample report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/automotive-position-sensor-market/requestsample

Market Trends

The expanding automobile sector, coupled with the rising adoption of automotive position sensors for steering wheel positioning, automatic gear selection, throttle controlling, and managing vehicle stability, is primarily augmenting the market growth. Additionally, the growing replacement of reed and mechanical switches with these sensors in automotive shift selectors, seat positioning systems, seat belt buckle switches, etc., is also propelling the market on a global level. Apart from this, the rapid integration of position sensors with GPS-, AI-, and Internet-of-Things (IoT) -based automotive components has led to various product innovations that will continue to drive the market growth in the coming years.

Key Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each sub-segment of the global automotive position sensor market report, along with forecasts for growth at the global, regional and country level from 2020-2025. Our report has categorized the market based on region, type, vehicle type, sales channel and application.

Browse full report with detailed TOC and list of figures and tables:

https://www.imarcgroup.com/automotive-position-sensor-market

Breakup by Type:

Multi-Axis Angular Linear Others

Breakup by Vehicle Type:

Passenger Cars Light Commercial Vehicles Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Breakup by Sales Channel:

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) Aftermarket

Breakup by Application:

Clutch, Brake and Accelerator Pedals Engine Transmission and Suspension Gear Shifters Chassis Others

Breakup by Region:

North America Asia Pacific Europe Latin America Middle East and Africa

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined with some of the key players being Aptiv PLC, Continental AG, CTS Corporation, Delphi Automotive, Denso Corporation, HELLA GmbH & Co. KGaA, Infineon Technologies AG, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, NXP Semiconductors NV , OMRON Corporation, Robert Bosch GmbH, TE Connectivity Inc., Texas Instruments Incorporated and Vishay Intertechnolog

Contact US:

IMARC Group

30 N Gould St, Ste R

Sheridan, WY 82801, USA

Website: https://www.imarcgroup.com/

Email: sales@imarcgroup.com

USA: + 1-631-791-1145

Follow us on twitter: @imarcglobal

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/imarc-group
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 03:13:06|Editor: huaxia

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U.S. President Joe Biden (C) attends the inauguration ceremony of the 46th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. At an unusual inauguration closed to public due to the still raging coronavirus pandemic, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday at the West Front of the Capitol, which was breached two weeks ago by violent protesters trying to overturn his election victory. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- At an unusual inauguration closed to public due to the still raging coronavirus pandemic, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday at the West Front of the Capitol, which was breached two weeks ago by violent protesters trying to overturn his election victory.

Under the gaze of National Guard troops standing beneath the Capitol steps facing the reflection pool to guard the security for the ceremony, Biden took his oath of office administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, putting his hand on the 127-year-old family Bible.

Biden said in his inauguration speech that his "whole soul is in" unifying a nation torn apart by the many challenges that need to be overcome, urging the American people to come together at a "historic moment of crisis."

"This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward," Biden said, referencing a "once-in-a-century virus" pandemic that took over 400,000 lives, as well as the existence of a "cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making."

"To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America requires so much more than words and requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity," said Biden, who, at 78, is the oldest man to be sworn in as U.S. president.

Moments before Biden's swearing-in, Kamala Harris was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the 49th vice president of the United States, becoming the first female and woman of color to hold the nation's second-highest office.

While Biden was still speaking, Harris tweeted out her first message as vice president, saying: "Ready to serve."

The president in his speech didn't mention his predecessor, Donald Trump, from whom he didn't receive applause on the platform since the outgoing president had arrived at his private residence in Florida as Biden spoke. Yet, Biden has vowed to undo many of Trump's policies and is expected to do so by signing a flurry of executive orders later in the day.

"Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path," Biden said. "Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured," he said in what appeared to be a veiled reference to the unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud and other conspiracy theories that led to the takeover by the pro-Trump mob of the very building he was standing before.

"My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. America has to be better than this," Biden said in plea to the American people, promising them that he "will be a president for all Americans" and "will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did."

In the wake of the deadly violence on Capitol Hill, Washington was under partial lockdown as Biden and Harris took their oaths of office, with the Capitol building surrounded by barbed wire fencing, and the National Mall emptied and filled with some 200,000 flags to represent those who were disallowed to attend the inauguration due to the pandemic and security concerns.

Up to 25,000 National Guard members were deployed in the city -- where a public emergency declaration is in effect -- patrolling the streets to prevent the insurrection from happening again.

Among those soldiers, 12 were removed from duty Tuesday over various threats they were perceived to pose. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters that "there's enough information for us to determine to remove them from the Capitol."

Biden sent out his first tweet as president shortly after the inauguration ceremony concluded.

"There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face. That's why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families," he said. Enditem
COVID-19 Variant Found at Barrie Long-Term Care Home

Testing continues to confirm exact variant strain

A COVID-19 variant has been detected by health authorities at a Barrie long-term care home which is currently experiencing the virus outbreak. Testing continues to determine the exact variant strain.

Preliminary laboratory testing has identified a COVID-19 variant in six swabs at Roberta Place, a long-term care home in Barrie, Ontario, according to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU).

The variant strain testing is a two part test, and at this time, the first test which looks for a particular 501 mutation is positive and indicates a very high probability that they are of a variant strain of concern, SMDHU said in a news release on Wednesday.

The second part of the test is a whole genome sequencing test to determine the exact COVID-19 strain.

The results are expected in the next three to four days, the health unit said.

The SMDHU issued the emergency order under the Health Promotion and Protection Act (HPPA) for Public Health on Jan. 8 after a resident at the home tested positive for COVID-19, the disease the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus causes.

Since the outbreak, the virus has infected over 100 people at the home, according to Stephanie Barber, community relations coordinator at Jarlette Health Services, which owns Roberta Place.

The impact of this outbreak on the facility has been tragic and these interim results of a variant are extremely concerning for everyone, SMDHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Charles Gardner said.

On Jan. 16, Gardner issued an order under HPPA to authorise Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital to temporarily manage the home to bring the outbreak under control. Other community partners have been called in to assist in the situation.

The health unit, Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital, and Roberta Place, as well as our partners including the Red Cross, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre, community physicians are all working together to contain the spread of the virus and protect residents and staff, said Gardner.

A mobile vaccine clinic was also at the long-term care home on the weekend and provided vaccines to all those who were able and willing to be vaccinated, the SMDHU said.

David Jarlette, president of Jarlette Health Services said the COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to the long-term care home.

We recognize that COVID-19 represents a new set of health and safety challenges and we cannot always guarantee a favourable outcome; however, we are exercising every measure possible to protect our residents and team members, while containing and overcoming this outbreak, Jarlette said.

On behalf of everyone at Roberta Place Long-Term Care Home and Jarlette Health Services at large, we extend our thoughts to all those who have been affected by the unprecedented events at the Home.
The new "first family" of the United States pose in front of a statue of Abraham Lincoln while wearing face masks following Joe Biden's inauguration

New US President Joe Biden warned the worst of the pandemic is still to come, as the number of American coronavirus deaths surpassed the country's troop fatalities in World War II.

Coronavirus cases have surged past 96 million worldwide, fuelled by the emergence of new variants including one that was first detected in Britain and has now spread to more than 60 nations, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.

The United States remains the worst-hit country, with around a fifth of the two million global COVID-19 deaths, and Biden has made the fight against the pandemic his administration's top priority.

"We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus," Biden said at his inauguration, where those in attendance wore face masks and social distancing was enforced.

A Johns Hopkins University tracker on Wednesday showed that 405,400 people have died from the disease, more than the 405,399 total US combat and non-combat deaths in WWII.

Among the Biden administration's targets is to inoculate 100 million Americans in 100 days, hoping to revive a vaccine rollout that had floundered in the last weeks of the Trump presidency.

Graphic highlighting the countries with the largest number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the past week.

E-commerce titan Amazon on Wednesday offered its vast logistics infrastructure to help with that effort.

Biden's point-man for fighting the pandemic, Jeff Zients, said the US would also rejoin the WHO, reversing his predecessor's decision.

He added that top US expert Anthony Fauci would lead a delegation to the WHO executive board meeting on Thursday.

'A war zone'

The announcement came as the WHO confirmed that the virus variant first detected in Britain had spread to more than 60 countries, while one that emerged in South Africa has made it to 23.

The South African variant is more contagious than earlier ones, experts have warned.

Both have tempered optimism that mass vaccination will help to end the unpopular restrictions such as shutdowns that have wrecked economies around the world.

There was some good news, however, with early results from two studies on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine showing it is effective against the British variant, which is fuelling a surge that has overwhelmed UK hospitals.

Paramedics take a man showing symptoms of COVID-19 to hospital near Pretoria in South Africa. A new strain of the virus that emerged in the country is already spreading around the world

"When you go into a hospital... in some cases it looks like a war zone," the British government's chief scientist, Patrick Vallance, told Sky News.

Britain is mounting a massive vaccination drive, that has involved the repurposing of all kinds of large buildingsincluding Salisbury Cathedral, where thousands of elderly people are receiving shots.

Two musicians worked in shifts throughout the day on its 19th-century organ, playing soothing pieces by composers including Bach and Dvorak.

"It's quite a scary thing to be going throughthe thought of the disease and what it can do to families and people," said Jeanie Grant, who had brought her 98-year-old father to the cathedral for his shot.

"(So) to actually come to a building that has seen so much history and is still serving a beautiful purpose for the community, I think it's very special."

A temporary vaccination centre has been set up inside Salisbury Cathedral in southwest England, with musicians playing the 19th-century organ to soothe the nerves of those waiting for their shots

People in masks maintain social distancing as they queue to buy groceries in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Himalayan kingdom says it will only start vaccinating citizens on an "auspicious" date

'No one needs to panic'

There are concerns, however, that rich nations are hogging dosesof the 50 nations that have started vaccination campaigns, 40 are high-income, according to WHO assistant director-general Mariangela Simao.

But Simao said efforts were underway to ensure access for all.

"No one needs to panic, because you're going to get a vaccine," she said.

The WHO co-led Covax facility, a globally-pooled vaccine procurement and distribution effort, has struck agreements with five manufacturers for two billion vaccine doses.

The urgency to be vaccinated wasn't being felt everywhere, however.

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan plans to vaccinate its entire population, but not until after March 13 because the period before has been deemed "inauspicious".

The shots will start after that, the prime minister's office said, adding that it was "important we roll out the nationwide vaccination on an auspicious date."

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

 2021 AFP
In one of his first actions as president, Joe Biden on Wednesday extended the freeze on student loan payments until the end of September, hoping to forestall new pressure on borrowers amid the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic.

Biden signed an executive order shortly after his inauguration, pushing back the moratorium until Sept. 30.

College graduates nationally are carrying $1.6 trillion in student loans, the largest amount of consumer debt carried by Americans except for mortgages. The average debt is $33,000.

 READ MORE: Joe Biden becomes president with a plea that politics doesnt have to be a raging fire

Without an extension, an estimated 22 million borrowers were facing a resumption of payments on federal loans in February. When COVID-19 hit last year, then-President Donald Trump and Congress suspended all loan payments, stopped collecting on borrowers who had defaulted, and decreed that interest would stop accruing. The freeze has been continually extended but was to expire at the end of this month.

Biden campaigned on a platform of striking $10,000 from the debt of every federal loan borrower.

In another major change, he has proposed overhauling the underutilized program that grants loan forgiveness to people who take on public service jobs, such as teaching or nursing. His proposal would give $10,000 in student loan forgiveness a year for up to five years to borrowers in the qualifying positions.

This would replace the current program that nominally wiped out all debt after 10 years, but has assisted only a relative handful of debtors due to bureaucratic obstacles.

His proposals could meet with opposition from both the left and right. Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Chuck Schumer of New York have urged a reduction of $50,000 in student debt per borrower  five times Bidens figure. And Republicans have said Bidens program was already far too costly.

Biden would also restore the ability of borrowers to get free of their loans by filing for bankruptcy. President George W. Bush and Congress explicitly forbade this in 2005.

Bankruptcy discharge is among the least expensive of the Biden proposals, according to Mark Kantrowitz, an expert on college financial issues.

Congress would have to repeal the section of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that provides the exception to discharge for federal and private student loans. The cost of bankruptcy discharge totals $30 billion over 10 years, he estimated.

 READ MORE: Biden fans celebrate in an eerie, locked-down Washington: Were not going to be intimidated

Thomas Gokey, an organizer with the Debt Collective, which has lobbied for debt strikes among college graduates, said Biden should wipe out all debt.

We have always been told that the sky would fall if people stopped paying their student loans. Now we know that is not true. Joe Biden should use this moratorium to cancel all federal student debt using the authority Congress had already granted him to do this, Gokey said.

Biden, however, has said he found it pretty questionable that presidents have the power to cancel debt without the consent of Congress. Id be unlikely to do that, he said, referring to taking such unilateral action.
In his last act, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Tuesday that the U.S. determined that China had committed so-called "genocide and crimes against humanity" by repressing Uygur Muslims in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Officials in Xinjiang vehemently protested the accusations late Wednesday during a press briefing in the region's capital city Urumqi.

Xu Guixiang, deputy head at the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee, called Pompeo's determinations "a pack of lies."

"The so-called determination is just a piece of scrap paper," said Xu, adding it grossly interferes in China's internal affairs and tramples on international law and norms governing international relations.

"Xinjiang and its people of all ethnic groups strongly denounce and oppose it," Xu said.

According to statistics from the press briefing, the population of ethnic minorities including the Uygur minority had grown consistently from 2010 to 2018. The Uygur population grew by more than two million to 12.7 million in the region, at a growth rate of more than 25 percent. The overall population in Xinjiang grew from 21.81 million to 24.86 million, at a growth rate of close to 14 percent.

"Uygur population is growing faster than that of the general population in Xinjiang, also faster than that of the population of other ethnic minorities, and is significantly faster than that of the Han Chinese population," said Elijan Anayit, spokesperson of the information office of Xinjiang's regional government, adding the figures show how Pompeo's determination was grossly wrong.

"Is there any place around the world where there are increases on population after so-called genocide? Pompeo must have rocks in his head," the spokesperson said.

It's not the first rebuke leveled at the U.S. politician.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also called Pompeo "a doomsday clown" when questioned about the latter's declaration of so-called genocide, at a regular press briefing on Wednesday.

The foreign ministry also announced on Thursday sanctions that bar Pompeo and others of the Trump administration from entering or doing business with China.
Afghanistans government has been fighting the Taliban militarily for many years, but Kabul is increasingly waging an ideological battle with the Islamist group.

On the battlefield, government forces and Taliban militants are fighting a grinding war for control of the country. Off the battlefield, the foes are fighting a war for religious legitimacy in the predominantly Islamic country.

That latter struggle has intensified as the adversaries hold peace talks aimed at ending the 19-year war.

Among the most contentious issues under negotiation is the role of Islam in a future power-sharing government and whose version of Islam should shape postwar Afghanistan.

The Taliban, a militant Islamist group, upholds a radical interpretation of Islam. It considers the internationally recognized government in Kabul a foreign puppet that has adopted Western values and trampled on Islamic ones.

The Talibans stated goal is to establish what it calls a pure Islamic state in Afghanistan.

The Afghan government considers the current political system -- an Islamic republic that is modeled on Western-style democracy -- sufficiently Islamic. Kabul maintains that the Taliban is waging an illegitimate jihad, or holy war, and contravening Islamic beliefs by employing terror tactics.

To push back against the Talibans narrative, the Afghan government has attempted to demonstrate its religious credentials.

Observers say the governments goal is to broaden its own appeal while undermining the Talibans claim to Islamic authority.

In recent months, Kabul has proposed a raft of conservative policies, including changes to the education system and family law. But critics say in pursuing a Taliban-style agenda, the government could roll back progress made in the country since the Taliban regime's ouster in 2001.

This is an intentional and calculated move by the government to redefine the nature of the state further toward Islam, says Omar Sadr, a Kabul-based political analyst.

Powerful Islamic Identity

In December, the Education Ministry announced a plan under which children would study in mosques for the first three years of school, an unprecedented move that critics said would promote the Talibanization of society.

The ministry said the aim is to provide schoolchildren with a "powerful Islamic identity" and give Islam a more central role in education.

But critics said the move was reminiscent of the Taliban regime in the 1990s, when madrasahs -- or Islamic schools -- were common.

After a public outcry, the government shelved the proposal.

In June, the Afghan government approved changes to the media law, including a provision that would force media outlets to reveal their sources without a court order.

After condemnation by the press, the government backtracked and called off the changes.

Afghanistans flourishing media scene has been hailed as one of the biggest achievements of the past 19 years, coming after the Taliban had banned an independent press.

The government has also proposed changes to family law, which is governed by the Civil Code of 1976. It was adopted by the secular government of President Daoud Khan.

A presidential spokesman said in August that a new family law was needed to reflect the new realities of Afghanistan and ensure that the rights of women and children are upheld while also ensuring convergence with our Islamic principles.

Under the proposed changes, underage marriage would be permissible with the consent of a male relative and the approval of a court. Meanwhile, a woman would forfeit her right to maintenance -- basic necessities needed to live -- if she refused sexual intercourse or left home without her husbands permission.

Introducing these random conservative policies will only reinforce the Talibans narrative that the government lacks an Islamic identity, says Ali Adili, a researcher at the Afghanistan Analysts Network, an independent think tank in Kabul. It will also bring chaos to the governance system.

Our System Is Islamic

In recent months, President Ashraf Ghani has been campaigning to assert his governments religious legitimacy.

Our main problem is that we are unaware of the deep roots of our culture, civilization, and religion, Ghani said at a gathering in October marking the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. The nature of our system is Islamic and the security and defense forces share Islamic beliefs.

During the same address, Ghani stressed that the Koran and Islamic Sharia law should be the basis of the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Taliban.

Since the talks began, the government has insisted on referring to itself by its official name -- the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. That is seen as a way to contrast itself with the Taliban, which refers to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the formal name of its brutal regime that ruled from 1996-2001.

Ghani has also announced plans to build and renovate hundreds of mosques across Afghanistan.

We build mosques, but the Taliban destroy them, he claimed recently, a reference to government accusations that the militant group attacks mosques.

In recent years, Ghani has also sought the support of Islamic councils throughout the Muslim world to declare the Talibans insurgency illegitimate.

In 2018, some 70 Muslim clerics gathered in Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim nation. The clerics issued a fatwa, or Islamic decree, at the conference, declaring that the Talibans violence against civilians and suicide attacks are against the holy principles of Islam.

The Taliban has rejected the fatwa and urged clerics to boycott events organized by the government.

Religion's Supreme Role

Observers say the government faces a major test to balance the need to reach a peace settlement with the Taliban while also safeguarding the gains of the past 19 years.

Kabul is seeking to preserve as much of the current constitutional order as possible, including key democratic tenets like womens rights, free speech, and competitive elections.

The Taliban, meanwhile, is seeking to transform the Afghan state into a theocracy. It envisions playing a central role in a future power-sharing government.

The intra-Afghan peace talks are a key part of the U.S.-Taliban agreement signed in February 2020 that is aimed at ending the war.

That deal calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces in Afghanistan by May in return for counterterrorism guarantees from the Taliban, which is to negotiate a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing arrangement with the government.

Fragile and deeply divided, the Afghan government has come to the peace negotiations that started on September 12 in the Gulf state of Qatar in relative weakness.

With roughly half of the country controlled or contested by the Taliban, Kabul lacks the military advantage to drive a hard bargain, especially as U.S. forces continue to withdraw.

As a result, some observers say, the Afghan government will likely have to accept significant constitutional changes and alterations to the current political system to achieve peace.

Common Ground

There is some common ground in the legal and governance systems of the Afghan government and the Taliban.

Both the Talibans political vision and the Afghan political system rely heavily on the centralization of power and the supreme role of Islam.

Afghanistans 2004 constitution prescribes that "no law can be contrary to the beliefs and provisions of the sacred religion of Islam" and sometimes appears contradictory with more liberal and democratic elements within it.

Power resides in a heavily centralized government.

According to the Talibans views on governance, power should be centralized in an "Amir ul-Momineen," or leader of the faithful. This supreme leader is the head of state and has ultimate authority.

The Taliban, too, regards Sharia as the supreme law.

But the warring parties have staunchly different interpretations of Sharia law and the role of Islam.
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She began dating Mauricio Umansky in 1994, tying the knot two years later in 1996.

And on Wednesday, Kyle Richards shared adorable throwback snaps of her and Mauricio when they were dating as well as from the day they tied the knot - in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary.

The 52-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills also shared current snaps with her husband, 50, and their daughters.

Too cute for words: She began dating Mauricio Umansky in 1994, tying the knot two years later in 1996. And on Wednesday, Kyle Richards shared adorable throwback snaps of her and Mauricio when they were dating as well as from the day they tied the knot - in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary

In the first slideshow, Kyle shared various snaps of the lovebirds on their wedding day - January 20, 1996.

Her daughter Farrah was in one of the images, sharing a sweet smooch with her mom Kyle; Farrah is Kyle's daughter from her first marriage to Guraish Aldjufrie.

Kyle and Guraish married in 1990 when she was 18 and split two years later.

Farrah (now 32) was seven years old when mom Kyle married her now stepdad Maurico.

Family is everything: The 52-year-old Real Housewives of Beverly Hills also shared current snaps with her husband, 50, and their daughters

Happiness: In the first slideshow, Kyle shared various snaps of the lovebirds on their wedding day - January 20, 1996

Mother daughter: Her daughter Farrah was in one of the images, sharing a sweet smooch with her mom Kyle; Farrah is Kyle's daughter from her first marriage to Guraish Aldjufrie

Kiss the bride: Another image showed them smooching as they dug into their wedding cake

Kyle and Maurcio are parents to daughters Alexia, 24, Sophia, 21, and Portia, 13.

Kyle also posted adorable images of her and Mauricio when they were dating and traveling the world.

She captioned it: '25 years ago today we said "I do" We have built a life together that I am so proud of. Our family is my greatest accomplishment. I still get happy when I hear your car pull in the driveway and still get sad if we have to spend a night apart.'

Adding: 'How is that even possible?? May we continue to grow, learn, explore, experience & create incredible memories side by side. I love you forever #25 years #silveranniversary.'

Throwback: Kyle also posted adorable images of her and Mauricio when they were dating and traveling the world

Another one: Kyle shared a snap of herself sitting on top of Mauricio's lap

Snowy fun: The duo pictured during a ski trip together

Beaming: The lovebirds seen on a warmer holiday

She also shared a snap from when they first started dating in 1994 and to now, to which she captioned: 'How it started (1994) How's its going... #silveranniversary.'

Kyle and Mauricio and their kids rang in Christmas and New Years in Aspen, Colorado.

The reality star posted an adorable image of her and her daughters in a ski gondola, adding caption 'Squad' with the hashtag #lovemygirls' and a heart emoji.

Good looking family: Maurcio and Kyle pictured with their daughters (from L to R) Alexia, Portia, Mauricio, Kyle, Farrah and Sophia
Tension is rising between European authorities and Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE after officials said the companies had unexpectedly cut their deliveries of Covid-19 vaccines and put their immunization schedules at risk.

The Italian government asked the countrys attorney general to study whether it can take legal action after Pfizer cut deliveries of its vaccine for this week by 29% as it retools its Belgium factory, a government spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Separately, the German state of Hamburg said Pfizer had delivered fewer vials of vaccine to the city than expected this week.

In Europe, Pfizer and BioNTech initially shipped vials of five-vaccine doses, but because of a precautionary practice known as overfilling, the vials contained enough extra liquid for a sixth dose. After the European Unions drugs agency ruled on Jan. 8 that six doses could be obtained from a vial, the companies cut the number of vials delivered, arguing that their contract was for a certain amount of doses, not vials. The companies have said they were on schedule to deliver the number of doses they had promised.

A Hamburg government spokeswoman said the state has struggled to extract the sixth dose as special syringes are required and authorities havent been able to purchase them in sufficient quantities. This has left their mobile vaccination teams that inoculate care homes unable to use the full amount of vaccine, she said.

Hamburg authorities said their vaccination plans relied on obtaining 10% more doses than the state will be able to extract from the vials because of the relabeling of five-dose vials into six-dose vials.

Six vials used to be delivered for 30 vaccine doses until now, but now there are only five," said Hamburg State Health Minister Melanie Leonhard in an emailed statement. The amounts [of vaccine] that were supposed to be delivered have been reduced."

Pfizer in a statement didnt specifically address the situations in Hamburg or Italy, but said it planned to fulfill its supply vaccine to countries in line with its agreements with governments and as permitted by regulatory authorities.

The company said its agreements were always based on delivery of doses, not vials. Pfizer and BioNTech raised their manufacturing target for this year to two billion doses in part because of the revised six-dose-per-vial label, the company said.

A spokeswoman for BioNTech declined to comment on the Italian governments allegations and said vaccine sales contracts were for doses, not vials.

Pfizer said last week that Europe would suffer a temporary shortfall in deliveries that would be offset later because of production upgrades at its Belgian factory.

The Italian government said that Pfizer first informed it of a drop in deliveries on Friday and that the company then told the government on Tuesday that there would be an additional cut next week.

The government is worried and alarmed," the government spokeswoman said. It deplores the companys behavior."

Pfizer unilaterally decided to cut the deliveries to some Italian regions more than others, according to Italian authorities, prompting many local administrations to complain that they were struggling to secure enough doses for the second injection, which is needed for the best immunity against the virus.

The regions that suffered smaller cuts are donating some of their doses to the most affected regions so that they can complete the second round of inoculations, the government spokeswoman said.

Other EU countries are also affected by the cuts, but none have so far said they would take legal action. A spokesman for Germanys Health Ministry said there was no legal remedy against reduced deliveries. Health Minister Jens Spahn said Wednesday that he was frustrated at Pfizers sudden announcement last week about disruptions at its European plant.

The problem is above all how short-notice Pfizers announcement has been, and that is annoying," Mr. Spahn told journalists. I understand the reasons, they have to scale upit is good that they are expanding their capacities but it is very, very displeasing that they announced it overnight."

Separately, a German government spokesman said some states besides Hamburg were also missing the special syringes needed to extract the sixth dose from the relabeled vials. But he added that there was no legal recourse against the companies as the EU itself had declared that a vial now contains six doses.

Pfizer markets the vaccine together with their German partner, BioNTech SE. The EU has so far ordered 300 million doses from Pfizer and BioNTech, and negotiations are continuing for another 200 million shots.

Jared Hopkins contributed to this article.

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Health officials want Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey to extend a state mask order that is set to expire Friday as limited national supply hinders the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations.

Ivey is expected to announce whether she will extend the order during a Thursday news conference. The statewide mask order has been in place since July. Dr. Don Williamson, the former state health officer who now heads the Alabama Hospital Association, said the group is among those recommending an extension.

While there has been some improvement in the hospital situation, there are still many more people in hospital than at the height of the surge in July. The continued significant levels of hospitalization, coupled with the emergence of more infectious variations, make mask-wearing even more urgent, Williamson said.

Dr. Sarah Nafziger, vice president of Clinical Support Services at UAB Medicine, told reporters Tuesday that she hopes Ivey extends the order.

The masks are still very, very important, Nafziger said. How long will we need to do that? I dont know. It depends how quickly we get those vaccine doses and how quickly we can get them administered.

Alabama this week began making vaccines available to people 75 and older in addition to health care workers and first-responders. Thousands of people flocked to health departments and hospitals after receiving vaccination appointments. A state appointment line was overwhelmed with calls taking more than 1 million calls the first day in operation and people expressed frustration at not being able to get through.

State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said the biggest obstacle to vaccination is the available supply.

The state of nearly 5 million people has received 446,150 of its 640,150 allocated doses and 184,618 vaccinations have been given so far, according to state numbers.

Every person who receives a COVID-19 shot is deserving of one and will receive it, as we are determined to make sure that no vaccine is sitting unused on the shelf. We are making every effort to get shots into arms as quickly as possible, Harris said.

We are attempting to manage expectations, because the timeline for receipt of vaccine has not changed and we cannot give people a resource we dont have yet, Harris said.

The Alabama Department of Public Health said it has been distributing its full federal allotment to providers in Alabama. Vaccine allocations are based on state population per capita and not on the amount of vaccine on hand.

More than 6,100 people have died of COVID-19 in Alabama, and more than 424,000 people have tested positive for the virus.
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TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- Construction began this week on a project to restore the ecosystem - positively impacting at least 30 species - of a Northern Michigan river and upgrade a public park.

The most significant part of Traverse Citys Union Dam FishPass Project is an adaptive fish sorting channel that will allow desirable fish to move up- and downstream while holding invasive species at bay, according to a news release from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Officials say the project will positively impact at least 30 key species important to the Boardman/Ottaway River and Grand Traverse Bay ecology.

The project, which is four years in the making, will reconnect the Boardman River to Lake Michigan and is the final piece of the river ecosystem restoration project. It is expected to be completed in spring 2023.

This could have regional, national, and global implications as the innovative technology used could be applied to reconnect lakes and rivers around the world, thereby restoring ecosystems.

However, the project isnt just for the fish. The Union Street Dam Park will be upgraded with new green spaces, a foot bridge overlooking the river, docks, a kayak launch, an amphitheater and steps to the water.

Spence Brothers Construction began site preparation this week, including installing fencing and removing trees. In October 2020, the company won the $19.3 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract to construct the selective fish passage facility on the Boardman River at the Union Street Dam site. The new facility will include a fixed crest labyrinth weir and an adaptive fish sorting channel.

The project will leverage the knowledge of fish biologists from around the world. They will evaluate different fish sorting technologies to combat invasive species, such as the sea lamprey, from moving upstream while allowing native species to pass.

This final phase of the river restoration initiative is primarily funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and led by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission in partnership with Traverse City, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

This milestone represents years of hard work from many dedicated partners, said Traverse City Manager Marty Colburn. We ask the community to be patient with our construction partners as this exciting project advances. Soon, there will be dedicated viewing sites set up for the public to watch FishPass take shape.

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Marc Raibert, founder and chair of Boston Dynamics stands beside one of the company's Atlas robots during an interview and demonstration, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at their facilities in Waltham, Mass. The company engineered the robot to be able to dance in a fluid manner that is almost human. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

The man who designed some of the world's most advanced dynamic robots was on a daunting mission: programming his creations to dance to the beat with a mix of fluid, explosive and expressive motions that are almost human.

The results? Almost a year and half of choreography, simulation, programming and upgrades that were capped by two days of filming to produce a video running at less than 3 minutes. The clip, showing robots dancing to the 1962 hit "Do You Love Me?" by The Contours, was an instant hit on social media, attracting more than 23 million views during the first week.

It shows two of Boston Dynamics' humanoid Atlas research robots doing the twist, the mashed potato and other classic moves, joined by Spot, a doglike robot, and Handle, a wheeled robot designed for lifting and moving boxes in a warehouse or truck.

Boston Dynamics founder and chairperson Marc Raibert says what the robot maker learned was far more valuable.

"It turned out that we needed to upgrade the robot in the middle of development in order for it to be strong enough and to have enough energy to do the whole performance without stopping. So that was a real benefit to the design," Raibert says.

The difficult challenge of teaching robots to dance also pushed Boston Dynamics engineers to develop better motion-programming tools that let robots reconcile balance, bouncing and doing a performance simultaneously.

A Boston Dynamics Atlas robot performs a movement during a demonstration, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at the company's facilities in Waltham, Mass. The company engineered the robot to be able to dance in a fluid manner that is almost human. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

"So we went from having very crude tools for doing that to having very effective rapid-generation tools so that by the time we were done, we could generate new dance steps very quickly and integrate them into the performance," Raibert says.

The quality of the robots' dancing was so good that some viewers online said they couldn't believe their eyes. Some applauded the robots' moves and the technology powering them. Others appeared to be freaked out by some of their expressive routines.

Others added that what they were seeing was probably computer-generated imagery, or CGI.

Not so, Raibert says.

What was on display was a results of long, hard work fueled by a determination to program the robot to dance to the beat, he says.

"We didn't want a robot doing robotlike dancing. We wanted it to do human dancing and, you know, when a human dances, the music has a beat and their whole body moves to ittheir hands, their body, their head," he says. "And we tried to get all of those things involved and coordinated so that it, you know, it was ... it looked like the robot was having fun and really moved with the music. And I think that had a lot to do with the result of the production."

A Boston Dynamics Atlas robot performs a jump during a demonstration, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at the company's facilities in Waltham, Mass. The company engineered the robot to be able to dance in a fluid manner that is almost human. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Teaching robots to dance with fluid and expressive motions was a new challenge for a company that spent years building robots that have functional abilities like walking, navigating in rough terrain, pick things up with their hands and use attached advanced sensors to monitor and sense many things, Raibert says.

"You know, our job is to try and stretch the boundaries of what robots can do, both in terms of the outer research boundary, but also in terms of practical applications. And I think when people see the new things that robots can do, it excites them," he says.

The advanced Atlas robot relies on a wide array of sensors to execute the dance moves, including 28 actuatorsdevices that serve as muscles by converting electronic or physical signal into movementas well as a gyroscope that helps it to balance, and three quad-core onboard computers, including one that processes perception signals and two that control movement.

Marc Raibert, left rear, founder and chair of Boston Dynamics watches one of the company's Spot robots during a demonstration, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at their facilities in Waltham, Mass.(AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

A Boston Dynamics Atlas robot performs a movement during a demonstration, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at the company's facilities in Waltham, Mass. The company engineered the robot to be able to dance in a fluid manner that is almost human. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

A Boston Dynamics Atlas robot performs a movement during a demonstration, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, at the company's facilities in Waltham, Mass. The company engineered the robot to be able to dance in a fluid manner that is almost human. (AP Photo/Josh Reynolds)

Still, the fact that video of the dancing robots has fired up the public imagination and inspired a sense of awe was gratifying, Raibert says.

"We hoped ... that people would enjoy it and they seem to. We've gotten calls from all around the world," Raibert says. "We got a call from one of the sound engineers who had recorded the original Contours performance back in the '60s. And he said that his whole crew of Motown friends had been passing it around and been excited by it."

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Mayo Clinic is moving forward with its COVID-19 vaccination process and is completing priority groups one and two this month before moving on to priority group 3.

Groups one and two consisted of front line health care workers and long-term care facilities while group 3 includes remaining personal that cant work remotely such as dentists, optometrists and hospice workers among others.

As of today Mayo Clinic does not have approval from the state to vaccinate patients. However, a pilot program through the state will allow Minnesotans 65 and older to sign up for a limited number of vaccines.

Those eligible can register through the Minnesota Department of Health website every Tuesday at noon.

While Mayo wont be vaccinating the community right now it will work collaboratively with Olmsted County Public Health and OMC to ensure vaccination availability.

Dr. Melanie Swift explained, It's a massive and complex undertaking, it really is, and so these plans evolve over time. We pivot as we get information for the state and, as you know, the state has had to pivot pretty quickly in response to changes in regards to federal guidance as well.

If you are 65 or older and register through the MDH patient portal Mayo Clinic does say to be aware of anyone that offers to give you a better spot in line since Dr. Swift says nobody can do that.

She added, Don't fall for it. Please if you do hear anything like that please report it to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Mayo Clinic also says it will be taking a thousand Pfizer doses allocated for its employees to vaccinate community on-site health care partners like dentists and optometrists starting next week.
U.K. Africa Investment Conference: Africa is the worlds next business frontier, says AfDB's Akinwumi Adesina
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DeWitt, N.Y.  A storage building at a truck and trailer repair company near East Syracuse collapsed after it became engulfed in flames early this morning.

Police and firefighters were called to Upstate ThermoKing, located at 6408 Collamer Road, around 1:02 a.m.

Police officers were first on the scene and when they arrived, they saw flames shooting through the roof of the large garage, said East Syracuse Fire Chief Chris Shields.

The storage building was engulfed in flames. The roof collapsed and part of the building was razed to the ground.

Several trucks inside and outside of the building were damaged, as was a trailer parked outside.

Shields said the fire started in the front right side of the building, but cause remains under investigation.

It took firefighters around one hour to get the fire under control, but crews were out extinguishing hot spots until around 4:30 a.m., Shields said.

Police and firefighters were briefly called back to the scene shortly after 7:30 a.m. for a possible rekindling of the fire, but left soon after.

A storage building at Upstate Thermo King in DeWitt collapsed after a fire. Jan. 21, 2021.Jacob Pucci

No one was inside the building at the time and no injuries were reported.

Upstate ThermoKing is next door to Bull & Bear Roadhouse, which would typically be open at 1 a.m., but currently, due to the coronavirus pandemic, all bars and restaurants in New York have to close by 10 p.m. The fire appeared to have been burning for several minutes before it was reported, causing Shields to wonder if the fire wouldve been reported sooner and the damage minimized had the bar been open.

Firefighters from East Syracuse, DeWitt, Mattydale, Liverpool, Minoa, Manlius, Lyncourt and Solvay responded to the scene. North Syracuse, Clay and Cicero fire departments provided backup while the other crews were battling the fire.

Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci.
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has proposed to Russia a five-year extension of a nuclear arms treaty that is otherwise set to expire in February, the White House said Thursday.

President Joe Biden, accompanied by first lady Jill Biden, places his hand over his heart during a performance of the national anthem, during a virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has proposed to Russia a five-year extension of a nuclear arms treaty that is otherwise set to expire in February, the White House said Thursday.

Biden proposed the extension even as he asked the intelligence community to look closely into Russia's cyberattacks, its alleged interference in the 2020 election and other actions, press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

Russia has said for some time that it would welcome an extension of the New START treaty, which limits the number of U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons. The Trump administration made a late bid to extend the treaty, but its conditions were rejected by Russia.

U.S. allies, particularly in Europe, are sure to applaud Bidens proposal, which also provides an early signal of his intent to pursue arms control,

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting via video conference at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Psaki noted that a five-year extension is permitted by the treaty and it makes even more sense when the relationship with Russia is adversarial as it is at this time.

She called the treaty, which is the last remaining arms control pact between Washington and Moscow since the Trump administration withdrew from two others, an anchor of strategic stability between our two countries.

Despite the extension proposal, Psaki said Biden was committed to holding Russia to account for its reckless and adversarial actions, such as its alleged involvement in the Solar Winds hacking event, 2020 election interference, the chemical poisoning of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the widely reported allegations that Russia may have offered bounties to the Taliban to kill American soldiers in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon's chief spokesman, John Kirby, said allowing the treaty to lapse would have weakened U.S. understanding of Russia's nuclear forces.

Extending the treatys limitations on stockpiles of strategic nuclear weapons until 2026 allows time and space for our two nations to explore new verifiable arms control arrangements that could further reduce risks to Americans, he said. And the department stands ready to support our colleagues in the State Department as they effect this extension and explore those new arrangements.

President Joe Biden speaks about the coronavirus in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan was to convey the extension proposal to Russias ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, on Thursday afternoon, according to one official familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic conversations.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg earlier Thursday called on the United States and Russia to extend the treaty and to later broaden it.

We should not end up in a situation with no limitation on nuclear warheads, and New START will expire within days, Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels. The treaty expires on Feb. 5.

Stoltenberg underlined that an extension of the New START is not the end, its the beginning of our efforts to further strengthen arms control.

The treaty, signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads.

Obama won Senate ratification of the treaty with a commitment to move ahead with a vast and enormously expensive recapitalization of the U.S. nuclear force. That program, which some Democrats in Congress call excessive, is likely to be further scrutinized by the Biden administration. At a projected cost exceeding $1 trillion over the next several decades, the plan is to replace each of the three legs of the U.S. nuclear triad  ballistic missile submarines, nuclear-capable bomber aircraft and land-based nuclear missiles.

President Donald Trump had been highly critical of New START, asserting that it put the United States at a disadvantage. His administration waited until last year to engage Russia in substantive talks on the treaty's future. Trump insisted that China be added to the treaty, but Beijing rejected the idea out of hand.

Trump's lead negotiator on New START discussions with the Russians, Marshall S. Billingslea, wrote on Twitter on Thursday that Biden would be making a mistake by quickly agreeing to a five-year extension.

Hope this is not true, he wrote, referring to news reports of Thursday's proposal. If so, shows stunning lack of negotiating skill. Took just 24 hours for Biden team to squander most significant leverage we have over Russia.

Robert Soofer, who was the Trump administration's top nuclear policy official at the Pentagon, said in an interview that he sees the Biden decision to accept a five-year extension as a lost opportunity.

The Russians are likely to pocket this extension and walk away from the table, Soofer said, rather than accede to a longstanding U.S. request that they negotiate limits on other categories of nuclear weapons, such as tactical weapons.

Some U.S. officials have been leery of renewing New START without getting a Russian commitment to negotiate limits on new types of strategic weapons, including Moscow's nuclear-capable Avangard hypersonic long-range missile.

Biden, who indicated during the campaign that he favoured extending New START, is not proposing any alterations, the U.S. official said. Thus it appeared likely that Moscow would be amenable to an extension.

The proposal was reported first by The Washington Post.
I am paying close attention to the current impassioned debate regarding the impact of the vigils on the current Covid-19 spike, as asserted by the Prime Minister.

In seeking to examine this myself, from an almost scientific perspective, I have had to check my emotions at the front door, as this is a subject which stirs passions.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) along with their French counterparts commenced the first major international military exercise involving their respective Rafale fighter jets in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on Wednesday.

As part of the first edition of the joint 'Exercise Desert Knight-21', four French Rafale fighters landed in Jodhpur after flying directly from the Djibouti airbase using their A-330 multirole tanker transport aircraft.

Four Rafale combat jets, two Atlas A400M military transport aircraft, and a Phenix A330 multirole tanker transport aircraft manned by approximately 175 personnel French aviators are taking part in joint drills with the IAF deployment, which includes the newly-inducted Rafales, as well as Mirage 2000s, Su-30 MKI, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft.

READ | Rafale Jets Set To Feature In Republic Day Parade, Will Culminate The Flypast

Indo-French air exercise #DesertKnight21 underway at Air Force Station Jodhpur, 20-24 January 2021.



For the first time @IAF_MCC  & @Armee_de_lair  have deployed #Rafale jets together - a powerful symbol of soaring #InFra dosti.https://t.co/BpxboUnMHR  Emmanuel Lenain (@FranceinIndia) January 20, 2021

#IndoFrenchEx

French Air and Space Force is participating with 1*MRTT Tanker, 2*A-400M Tactical aircraft & 4* Rafale fighters in #DesertKnight21.



The full complement of IAF & French teams are at Jodhpur, ready to exercise jointly to enhance interoperability.



Together we can! pic.twitter.com/Xkrm0yxN1S  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) January 21, 2021

READ | India's UNSC Term Critical; Focus On Indo-Pacific, Terror Threats: French Prez' Advisor

Exercise Desert Knight-21 is being held at Jodhpur Air Force Station from January 20 to 24 this year. The joint drills mark a significant milestone in the series of engagements between the two air forces.

As part of Indo-French defense cooperation, the Indian Air Force and the French Air and Space Force held six editions of military exercises named "Garuda" at Air Force Base Mont-de-Marsan in France. The two forces have been using opportunities to conduct "hop-exercises" in order to further the existing cooperation.

India had hosted the French Air Force deployment at the air force stations in Agra and Gwalior for exercise while ferrying to Australia for Ex Pitchblack in 2018

The French forces for Ex Desert Knight-21 are deployed in Asia as part of their "Skyros Deployment" and have ferried in forces to Air Force Station Jodhpur.

READ | Indian, French Air Forces To Conduct 5-day Joint Military Drill Around Jodhpur From Wednesday

India inducts Rafale Fighters

In a boost to its strike capability, the IAF received the first batch of five Rafale jets in July last year, nearly four years after the government inked an agreement with France to procure 36 of the aircraft at a cost of Rs 59,000 crore. The second batch of three Rafale fighter jets joined the IAF in November.

The Rafale jets, manufactured by French aerospace major Dassault Aviation, are India's first major acquisition of fighter planes in 23 years after the Sukhoi jets were imported from Russia. The newly inducted fleet has been carrying out sorties in eastern Ladakh.

READ | With Aim To Boost Air Power, Third Batch Of 3 Rafale Fighter Jets To Reach India In Jan

(With inputs from agency)
[January 21, 2021] ETC Announces Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Environmental Tectonics Corporation (OTC Pink: ETCC) (ETC or the Company) today reported its financial results for the thirteen week period ended May 29, 2020 (the 2021 first quarter).

Robert L. Laurent, Jr., ETCs Chief Executive Officer and President stated, Fiscal 2020 was a challenging year as future projects were delayed and that challenge was compounded in the 2021 first quarter due to COVID-19 global pandemic related lock downs, which delayed orders and our ability to deliver. Fiscal 2021 First Quarter Results of Operations Net Loss Attributable to ETC Net loss attributable to ETC was $1.6 million, or $0.11 diluted loss per share, in the 2021 first quarter, compared to $0.5 million during the 2020 first quarter, equating to $0.04 diluted loss per share. The $1.1 million variance is due to the combined effect of a $2.0 million decrease in gross profit, offset, in part, by a $0.6 million decrease in operating expenses, a $0.2 million decrease in other expense, net, a $22 thousand decrease in interest expense, net, and a $28 thousand increase in loss attributable to non-controlling interest. Net Sales Net sales in the 2021 first quarter were $4.9 million, a decrease of $5.9 million, or 54.6%, compared to 2020 first quarter net sales of $10.8 million. The decrease reflects lower International sales, especially within Aeromedical Training Solutions, lower Domestic sales, especially within Simulation, lower overall Sterilizers sales, and lower monoplace chambers sales as a result of the asset sale on November 27, 2019, offset, in part, by an increase in U.S. Government sales within Aeromedical Training Solutions in conjunction with the U.S. Air Forces final acceptance of the RAC Contract. Gross Profit Gross profit for the 2021 first quarter was $0.5 million compared to $2.5 million in the 2020 first quarter, a decrease of $2.0 million, or 79.0%. The decrease in gross profit was due to lower net sales not being able to support fixed overhead expenses. Lower net sales were generated due to the combination of a lower backlog entering fiscal 2021 compounded with the effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which not only impacted the Companys ability to generate bookings, especially internationally, but also forced the closure of our corporate headquarters and main production plant for about one-third of the 2021 first quarter in accordance with Pennsylvania state mandates. Gross profit margin as a percentage of net sales decreased to 10.6% for the 2021 first quarter compared to 22.9% for the 2020 first quarter. Operating Expenses Operating expenses, including sales and marketing, general and administrative, and research and development, for the 2021 first quarter were $2.0 million, a decrease of $0.6 million, or 22.9%, compared to $2.6 million for the 2020 first quarter. The decrease in operating expenses was due primarily to lower selling and marketing expenses, which included a decrease in commission expense based on a lower concentration of International sales related to ATS products, a reduction in headcount, and a decrease in travel caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Other (Income) Expense, Net Other income, net for the 2021 first quarter was $17 thousand compared to other expense, net of $150 thousand for the 2020 first quarter, a variance of $0.2 million due primarily to lower letter of credit fees and realized exchange gains on foreign currency. Cash Flows from Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities During the 2021 first quarter, due primarily from the net loss incurred, the increase in contract assets, and the decrease in accounts payable, offset, in part by the decrease in accounts receivable, the Company used $2.6 million of cash for operating activities compared to $6.7 million during the 2020 first quarter. Under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606, these accounts represent the timing differences of spending on production activities versus the billing and collecting of customer payments. Cash used for investing activities primarily relates to funds used for capital expenditures of equipment and software development. The Companys investing activities used $14 thousand during the 2021 first quarter compared to $0.1 million during the 2020 first quarter. The Companys financing activities provided $3.4 million of cash during the 2021 first quarter with proceeds from the Payroll Protection Program loan and borrowings under the Companys credit facility compared to $5.6 million during the 2020 first quarter exclusively from borrowings under the Companys credit facility. About ETC ETC was incorporated in 1969 in Pennsylvania. For over five decades, we have provided our customers with products, services, and support. Innovation, continuous technological improvement and enhancement, and product quality are core values that are critical to our success. We are a significant supplier and innovator in the following areas: (i) software driven products and services used to create and monitor the physiological effects of flight, including high performance jet tactical flight simulation, fixed and rotary wing upset prevention and recovery and spatial disorientation, and both suborbital and orbital commercial human spaceflight, collectively, Aircrew Training Systems (ATS); (ii) altitude (hypobaric) chambers; (iii) hyperbaric chambers for multiple persons (multiplace chambers); (iv) Advanced Disaster Management Simulators (ADMS); (v) steam and gas (ethylene oxide) sterilizers; (vi) environmental testing and simulation systems (ETSS); and (vii) hyperbaric (100% oxygen) chambers for one person (monoplace chambers). On November 27, 2019, the Company entered into an asset purchase agreement to sell substantially all of its rights, title, and interest in and to the assets related to monoplace chambers. We operate in two primary business segments, Aerospace Solutions (Aerospace) and Commercial/ Industrial Systems (CIS). Aerospace encompasses the design, manufacture, and sale of: (i) ATS products; (ii) altitude (hypobaric) chambers; (iii) hyperbaric chambers for multiple persons (multiplace chambers); and (iv) ADMS, as well as integrated logistics support (ILS) for customers who purchase these products or similar products manufactured by other parties. These products and services provide customers with an offering of comprehensive solutions for improved readiness and reduced operational costs. Sales of our Aerospace products are made principally to U.S. and foreign government agencies and to civil aviation organizations. CIS encompasses the design, manufacture, and sale of: (i) steam and gas (ethylene oxide) sterilizers; (ii) ETSS; and (iii) hyperbaric (100% oxygen) chambers for one person (monoplace chambers), as well as parts and service support for customers who purchase these products or similar products manufactured by other parties. Sales of our CIS products are made principally to the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and automotive industries. ETC-PZL Aerospace Industries Sp. z o.o. (ETC-PZL), our 95%-owned subsidiary in Warsaw, Poland, is currently our only operating subsidiary. ETC-PZL manufactures certain simulators and provides software to support products manufactured domestically within our Aerospace segment. The majority of our net sales are generated from long-term contracts with U.S. and foreign government agencies (including foreign military sales (FMS) contracted through the U.S. Government) for the research, design, development, manufacture, integration, and sustainment of ATS products, including altitude (hypobaric) and multiplace chambers (Chambers), and the simulators manufactured and sold through ETC-PZL, collectively, Aeromedical Training Solutions. The Company also enters into long-term contracts with domestic customers for the sale of sterilizers and ETSS. Net sales of ADMS and monoplace chambers are generally much shorter term in nature and vary between domestic and international customers. We generally provide our products and services under fixed-price contracts. ETCs unique ability to offer complete systems, designed and produced to high technical standards, sets it apart from its competition. ETC is headquartered in Southampton, PA. For more information about ETC, visit http://www.etcusa.com/ . Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements, which are based on managements expectations and are subject to uncertainties and changes in circumstances. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, and these statements may include words such as may, will, should, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, future, predict, potential, intend, or continue, and similar expressions. We base our forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events or future financial performance. Our forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions about ETC and its subsidiaries that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Contact: Mark Prudenti, CFO Phone: (215) 355-9100 x1531 E-mail: mprudenti@etcusa.com - Financial Tables Follow - Table A ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORPORATION

SUMMARY TABLE OF RESULTS

(in thousands, except per share information) Thirteen

weeks ended

Fourteen

weeks ended

Variance 29-May-20 31-May-19 $ % Net sales $ 4,914 $ 10,816 $ (5,902) -54.6 Cost of goods sold 4,393 8,336 (3,943) -47.3 Gross profit 521 2,480 (1,959) -79.0 Gross profit margin % 10.6% 22.9% -12.3% -53.7% Operating expenses 1,993 2,586 (593) -22.9 Operating loss (1,472) (106) (1,366) 1288.7 Operating margin % -30.0% -1.0% -29.0% 2900.0% Interest expense, net 156 178 (22) -12.4 Other (income) expense, net (17) 150 (167) Loss before income taxes (1,611) (434) (1,177) 271.2 Pre-tax margin % -32.8% -4.0% -28.8% 720.0% Income tax provision 20 20 - 0.0 Net loss (1,631) (454) (1,177) 259.3 Loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interest 2 (26) 28 Net loss attributable to ETC (1,629) (480) (1,149) 239.4 Preferred Stock dividends (121) (130) 9 -6.9 Loss attributable to common and





participating shareholders $ (1,750) $ (610) $ (1,140) 186.9 Per share information: Basic earnings (loss) per common and participating share: Distributed earnings per share: Common $ - $ - $ - Preferred $ 0.02 $ 0.02 - 0.0 Undistributed loss per share: Common $ (0.11) $ (0.04) $ (0.07) 175.0 Preferred $ (0.11) $ (0.04) $ (0.07) 175.0 Diluted loss per share $ (0.11) $ (0.04) $ (0.07) 175.0 Total basic weighted average common and

participating shares 15,569 15,569 Total diluted weighted average shares 15,569 15,584

Table B ENVIRONMENTAL TECTONICS CORPORATION

OTHER SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

(amounts in thousands)

Thirteen

weeks ended

29-May-20 Fourteen

weeks ended

31-May-19 EBITDA * $ (1,148) $ 39 As of 29-May-20 28-Feb-20 Working capital $ 20,197 $ 17,979 Total shareholders equity $ 6,520 $ 8,023 * In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP), we also disclose Earnings Before Income Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA). The presentation of a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure such as EBITDA is intended to enhance the usefulness of financial information by providing a measure that management uses internally to evaluate our expenses and operating performance and factors into several of our financial covenant calculations.

A reader may find this item important in evaluating our performance. Management compensates for the limitations of using non-U.S. GAAP financial measures by using them only to supplement our U.S. GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business.



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Noni B and Rivers owner Mosaic Brands has unveiled a massive recovery in its earnings for the first half of the financial year thanks to an influx of online sales and significant JobKeeper receipts.

Shares in the retailing collective rocketed over 35 per cent on Thursday morning after the company updated shareholders on its expected half-yearly figures, saying its profits for the past six months would "materially exceeded" analyst expectations.

Mosaic Brands has reported a far better than expected result for the first half of the financial year.

Mosaic's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for the six months ending December 31 will land between $40 million and $45 million, a 22 to 38 per cent increase on the prior corresponding half.

This marks a big recovery from the retailers full-year results in August, where it posted an EBITDA loss of $45.8 million and comes despite the business' comparable sales falling 15 per cent for the half.
NEWARK, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bear Flag Robotics today announced a $7.9 million seed extension funding round led by True Ventures. The Silicon Valley-based agtech company is developing autonomous technology for farm tractors, which enables growers to increase productivity and improve safety on their farms. True Ventures led the round with participation from Graphene Ventures, AgFunder, D20 and Green Cow VC. Including this round of funding, the company has raised $12.5 million total since Bear Flag Co-Founders Igino Cafiero and Aubrey Donnellan founded the company in 2017.

Today's growers are faced with the difficult proposition of increasing productivity with continuously rising costs and limited resources. The farm labor pool is disappearing and increasing in cost, 10 percent year over year . Climate change is forcing growers to consolidate operations into shorter weather windows . Safety is also a pressing concern; tractor overturns and transportation incidents are the leading cause of death on U.S. farms. Bear Flag Robotics is helping growers overcome these challenges rapidly and increase reliability and uptime on their farms.

"I absolutely love this team and their mission, but when their customers told us how much they loved their Bear Flag tractors, and how farmers from the region would see it in the field and come pay a visit, we knew that this was a special company." said AgFunder partner, Rob Leclerc, "Bear Flag has the potential to be one of the most important companies in agriculture over the next decade."

Bear Flag Robotics' mission is to increase global food production and reduce the cost of growing food through machine automation. The company provides the technology, services and support to enable autonomous tractor operations, helping growers produce more food with less resources. While the tractors run autonomously, human supervisors use Bear Flag's software to monitor and command their fleet from a remote mission control room or personal device. The software plans optimal field patterns based on growers' implements, and provides predictive and post-run analytics that enable growers to farm better each season.

"When we first invested in Igino and Aubrey, we saw an innovative, passionate team bringing automation to farms," said Rohit Sharma, partner at True Ventures. "The impact of what Bear Flag Robotics delivers is meaningful every single day for farm operations, growers and consumers."

Bear Flag Robotics is currently working with the largest produce and commodity growers in California and Arizona. The company's direct-to-growers sales model allows the company to partner with its customers. This ensures a high quality standard while continuously releasing software capabilities that drive the most impact on the ground. By linking seasonal data, Bear Flag can improve efficiency and lower costs through the entire growing season.

About Bear Flag Robotics

Bear Flag Robotics' mission is to increase global food production, while decreasing the cost of growing food through machine automation. The company makes autonomous technology for agricultural tractors, increasing safety, reliability and profitability on farms. For more on Bear Flag Robotics, follow along on Instagram @Bear_Flag_Robotics or Twitter @BFRobotics .

About True Ventures

Founded in 2005, True Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in early stage technology startups. With more than $2.8 billion under management, True provides seed and Series A financing to entrepreneurs in today's fastest growing markets. To date the firm has helped more than 300 companies launch and scale their businesses, creating over 25,000 jobs worldwide. To learn more, visit www.trueventures.com .

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Russell T Davies has said that he will 'happily defend' his call to stop casting straight actors in gay roles.

Earlier this month, the critically-acclaimed screenwriter, 57, said every gay character in his upcoming Channel 4 drama It's A Sin will be played by gay actors, because it is the only way to ensure an authentic portrayal.

Davies insisted at the time that he was 'not being woke about this' and said the idea of 'acting gay' is just a 'bunch of codes for a performance'.

Speaking out: Russell T Davies has said that he will 'happily defend' his call to stop casting straight actors in gay roles

Several stars have since shared their thoughts on the matter, with Christopher Biggins saying it's 'ridiculous' and Neil Patrick Harris, who stars in Davies' It's A Sin, claiming it is better to hire the 'best actor' for the role regardless of sexuality.

Discussing his comments on Thursday's Loose Women, Davies admitted that they had caused a 'bit of a stir' and he insisted that he never meant to upstage straight actors, adding: 'It's the system I was looking at.'

He said: 'A bit of a stir. I would happily defend that position.

'I'm sorry but I do think this programme is about HIV and aids and there are experts on the field of HIV and Aids who would die to be on Loose Women in a slot like this. I'm sorry if that upstaged it slightly.

Pictured: Earlier this month, the critically-acclaimed screenwriter, 57, said every gay character in his upcoming Channel 4 drama It's A Sin will be played by gay actors, because it is the only way to ensure an authentic portrayal (the cast in show still)

Thoughts: Several stars have since shared their thoughts on the matter, with Neil Patrick Harris, who stars in Davies' It's A Sin (pictured), claiming it is better to hire the 'best actor' for the role regardless of sexuality

'Also, genuinely never meant to upstage straight actors, it's the system I was looking at, this is the way I've run this show, and it's my job to look at something new and look at things in a new way and to try and find a new way to do things.

'I'm very, I would really say come along, look at this show, I think it has an energy, a uniqueness, maybe it works, maybe not. I might be wrong.'

Davies' new Channel 4 drama It's A Sin follows the stories of three gay 18-year-olds who arrive in London in 1981, at the beginning of the HIV epidemic, and its star-studded cast includes Olly Alexander, Neil Patrick Harris, and Stephen Fry.

Talking about the new series, he said: 'It took me this long I think, some people did it straight away in 1983.

'Bit of a stir': Discussing his comments on Thursday's Loose Women, Davies admitted that they had caused a 'bit of a stir' and he insisted that he never meant to upstage straight actors, adding: 'It's the system I was looking at.'

'I think I was maybe in its shadow, it was the only upbringing I had where young men around me would drop down dead. I am glad I did it later in life.'

Davies admitted that he would have gone to his deathbed with regrets if he hadn't of created It's A Sin and that the first episode took six months to write as he was distraught thinking about the people he has lost to HIV/AIDS.

He said: 'It was something I had to do I would have gone to my deathbed with regrets if I hadn't told this story that celebrated these men's lives.'

Talking about how emotional he found writing the series, Davies continued: 'I'm quite a fast writer I tend to sit it and bash things out, that first episode had to be dragged out to me over about six months.

He said: 'A bit of a stir. I would happily defend that position,' adding: 'Also, genuinely never meant to upstage straight actors, it's the system I was looking at, this is the way I've run this show.' (pictured in 2019)

'I normally take two weeks but it took me six months, there were blocks because where I sat here crying thinking about these people, and also I had to rebuild it.

'I thought I don't want to make a series where everyone cries, I don't want to drive viewers away, I want to make this as fun and lively and entertaining as those boys' lives were.

'So I had to deconstruct myself and build myself back up but that cast, you've seen them, they're absolutely beautiful.'

On putting parts of himself into the show, he added: 'Oh you kind of do that with whatever you're writing, when Rose Tyler flew around in the TARDIS that was like me as a child flying around.

Way back when: Queer as Folk - about the lives of three men in Manchester - was Davies' first gay TV drama - and he cast straight actors in the roles. From left: Charlie Hannun, Aidan Gillen and Craig Kelly in the hit show

'To get a chance to write this series is an honour, I have put my life into it, I've put my friends into it, I think every line in this series you can take a line and go back through my life and find the friend who said it... those boys I knew, great times.'

Davies said his latest project It's A Sin - which began filming in October 2019 - is loosely influenced by his own life.

The writer, who is gay, was just 18 when the HIV crisis began in 1981, but he did not contract the disease.

Earlier this month, Davies, who was behind Doctor Who's 2005 revival, said that directors must cast gay men to play gay male roles because you 'wouldn't black someone up' in the modern day.

Previous projects: Davies' 2018 miniseries A Very English Scandal featured Hugh Grant, who is straight, playing Liberal politician Jeremy Thorpe

The screenwriter insisted he was 'not being woke about this' and said the idea of 'acting gay' is just a 'bunch of codes for a performance' and is not authentic.

Davies also said all the gay characters in his upcoming Channel 4 drama It's A Sin are played by gay actors because it is the only way to ensure an authentic portrayal.

He told Radio Times: 'I'm not being woke about this but I feel strongly that if I cast someone in a story, I am casting them to act as a lover, or an enemy, or someone on drugs or a criminal or a saint.

'They are not there to "act gay" because "acting gay" is a bunch of codes for a performance.'

Critics: Straight actors portraying gay roles have been blasted by critics for years with James Corden most recently in the firing line for his role as gay Broadway star Barry Glickman in Netflix's The Prom (pictured alongside co-star Meryl Streep)

He added: 'You wouldn't cast someone able-bodied and put them in a wheelchair, you wouldn't black someone up.'

Queer as Folk - about the lives of three men in Manchester - was Davies' first gay TV drama - and he cast straight actors in the role.

Actor Alan Davies starred as a gay teacher in Davies' hit 2001 show Bob & Rose, while his 2018 miniseries A Very English Scandal featured Hugh Grant, who is straight, playing Liberal politician Jeremy Thorpe.

Davies' 2015 series Cucumber - and its companion show Banana - also saw straight actors Freddie Fox and Vincent Franklin in gay roles.

Previous roles: Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger played gay characters in Brokeback Mountain (pictured)

Davies has previously cast gay actors in roles where they played gay characters - including Russel Tovey in Years and Years, and John Barrowman in Torchwood.

MailOnline contacted Mr Davies' agent about his decision at the time.

Gay actors who have won critical acclaim for portrayal of straight characters Andrew Scott: Gay actors have won critical acclaim for their portrayal of heterosexual characters - most notably Andrew Scott for his turn as the 'Hot Priest' in Phoebe Waller Bridge's hit show, Fleabag. After he played Waller Bridge's love interest in the second season of her show, the phrase, 'Can you have sex with a Catholic priest?' became one of the most googled terms of 2019. Luke Evans: The Welsh actor Luke Evans, who recently split with his boyfriend, won 'Best Villain' at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards for his portrayal of the Lothario Gaston in the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast. Ben Whishaw: The revered stage and film actor has been nominated for, and won, dozens of awards for his depiction of characters including Hamlet, Richard II and Q in James Bond. He also played Keith Richards in the Rolling Stones biopic, Stoned. Jim Parsons: The actor came out publicly in 2012 in a New York Times profile. He won several awards for playing Sheldon Cooper on the CBS show, The Big Bang Theory. The role saw Parsons become one of the highest paid actors in the world, earning $1million per episode. In the series, Sheldon marries fellow scientist Amy. Zachary Quinto: The actor came out in 2011. He is perhaps best know for his turn as Spock in the Star Trek films. Advertisement

Straight actors portraying gay roles have been blasted by critics for years - with several accused of using harmful stereotypes.

The actor most recently in the firing line was James Corden in his role as gay Broadway star Barry Glickman in Netflix's The Prom

Other films criticised for actors playing gay roles include Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain, Cate Blanchett in Carol, Sean Penn in Milk and Tom Hanks in Philadelphia.

Call Me By Your Name - which received an Oscar in 2018 - featured Armie Hammer as a gay character. Timothee Chalamet plays his young love interest.

Yet several stars have defended the use of straight actors for gay characters and only recently Christopher Biggins said it's 'ridiculous'.

Filming on Good Morning Britain earlier this month, Biggins, 72, appeared with journalist Benjamin Butterworth to debate the issue, saying that the point of acting is 'taking on a character'.

Viewers agreed with the actor, who has been in a civil partnership with his partner Neil Sinclair since 2006, arguing such divisive statements could cause 'more harm than good' in terms of equality, and that great actors can make 'any role believable'.

Responding to the critics, Biggins said: 'Ridiculous, acting is acting acting, its taking on a character and becoming that character. I don't understand why?'

He added: 'Acting is about taking on a character and becoming a character, it doesn't matter what sexuality you are. That doesn't mean anything.'

While Neil Patrick Harris claimed on Wednesday that it's better to focus on hiring the 'best actor' for a role than choose a person based on their sexuality.

The actor, 47, stars as Henry Coltrane in Davies' It's A Sin, and weighed in on the debate that gay actors should play gay characters, a topic the showrunner has been vocal about.

Speaking to The Times' Times2, Neil claimed: 'I think there's something sexy about casting a straight actor to play a gay role, if they're willing to invest a lot into it.'

Neil said that he didn't like to 'jump on to labelling' but felt it was important for a gay actor to be 'a visible option' for all types of roles.

Debate: Christopher Biggins recently said it's 'ridiculous' to claim only gay actors should play gay characters in film and television on Good Morning Britain

He also said of Davies' remarks: 'In our world that we live in you can't really as a director demand that [an actor be gay or straight]. Who's to determine how gay someone is?'

Referring to his stint as lovable Lothario Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother, he added: 'I played a character for nine years who was nothing like me. I would definitely want to hire the best actor.'

The A Series Of Unfortunate Events star did however stipulate that he didn't think Davies was being militant about his decision to cast gay actors, as Neil felt he was just concerned about being 'authentic.'

Neil also heaped praise on Davies' iconic show Queer As Folk and claimed it was a 'turning point' in the industry, saying it showed him that gay characters could be more than the comic sidekick on screen.

It's A Sin starts on Friday 22 January at 9pm on Channel 4 while Loose Women continues on weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV.
Biden Administration Took Several Big Steps in Wrong Direction on First Day: McConnell

President Joe Bidens administration took steps in the wrong direction on Bidens first day in office, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday.

The president re-entered the failed Paris climate agreementa terrible bargain that would set us up to self-inflict major economic pain on working American families with no assurance that China or Russia would honor their commitments. In fact, the U.S. has already been reducing carbon emissions while China and other nations in the agreement have kept increasing theirs. Rejoining will just set us up to kill American jobs while our competitors continue to roar on by, McConnell said on the Senate floor in Washington.

The president also unilaterally cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline. The day-one priority was to kill thousands of American jobs including union jobs, disappoint our strong ally Canada, and reverse some of our progress toward energy security. This is a project that the liberal Canadian government and Prime Minister Trudeau support. An investment in North American energy. Even the Obama State Department concluded it would not harm the climate. But because canceling a pipeline project just feels like the green thing to do, the new administration killed these jobs.

McConnell also criticized the release of a proposal for amnesty for illegal immigrants and the firing of the National Labor Relations Boards independent general counsel.

This was not the day one that American workers deserved, he said, adding: Its still early. There is plenty of time for President Biden to remember that he does not owe his election to the far left. The president can and should refocus his administration on creating good-paying American jobs, not sacrificing our peoples livelihoods to liberal symbolism. Senate Republicans will be ready, willing, and eager to help make that happen.

President Joe Biden waits to sign his first executive order in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

McConnell was speaking as the first time during the new Congress as minority leader, after Democrats flipped the Senate thanks to winning both Georgia Senate runoff elections earlier this month.

Biden, after taking office on Wednesday, signed a flurry of executive orders, unraveling some of former President Donald Trumps achievements.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaking before McConnell, praised Bidens mandates.

Even as the festivities were in full swing, our new president and this new Senate commenced the work of rebuilding our country and healing its wounds. With the stroke of a pen, President Biden started the process of rejoining the United States to the Paris accords. He extended the pause on student loan payments. Put an end to the Muslim travel ban, reinstalled safeguards for our nations dreamers, and put a halt on the ineffective border wall, Schumer said.

Crucially, President Biden signed a number of orders to refocus the federal governments efforts on fighting the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. has rejoined the World Health Organization. A mask mandate has been issued for all federal property. And president Biden has named a new coronavirus response coordinator to manage vaccine distribution, which is so desperately needed and was such a failure under the Trump administration.
REGGIO CALABRIA, JAN 18 - Italian police on Monday arrested 49 people including a mayor in an operation against the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta mafia. The sweep took place at Messina, Vibo Valentia, Salerno, Matera, Brindisi, Taranto, and the two northern cities of Alessandria and Pavia. Those arrested are accused of a range of mafia crimes including drug trafficking, attempted murder, usury, illegal weapons possession and vote buying. The mayor of the Calabrian city of Rosarno, Giuseppe Ida, was placed under house arrest. Police said he was elected in 2016 with the backing of the local Pisano clan. A Rosarno town councillor, Domenico Scriva, was also placed under house arrest. The officials are accused of mafia vote buying. The biggest ever trial against 'Ndrangheta, Italy's richest and most powerful mafia, opened last week in Vibo Valentia. Some 350 local mobsters and their alleged white-collar accomplices face over 400 charges in the largest Mob trial since the 1986-92 maxi-trial of Cosa Nostra in Sicily. 'Ndrangheta, which controls the European cocaine trade, has taken over from its Sicilian cousins as top Italian mafia outfit. The other main mafia is the Camorra, in Campania around Naples. (ANSA).
New Delhi: The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the world and is the catastrophe of the century. The SARS-like virus that was named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has claimed at least 1.9 million lives worldwide, disrupted trade and economic flows, and fundamentally altered the lives of millions of people. While some countries are still battling the negative effects of the pandemic, others have gotten over their initial shock and now wish to find out how the disease started and how to prevent one in the future.

The COVID-19 virus first appeared in the Wuhan province of China in late December 2019. Throughout 2020, and even now, China has justifiably been on the receiving end of a lot of criticism from across the globe due to its inadequate handling of the COVID-19 outbreak as well as misinformation during the initial stage of the outbreak.

Chinas poor handling of the outbreak, as well as failure to timely dissemination of information on the virus to the world, is considered to be one of the foremost reasons that the deadly SARS-like virus was able to rapidly spread to other parts of the world and catch dozens of nations off-guard. China is severely criticized for trying to suppress information about the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan and silencing those who tried to speak out.

Since the pandemic began, there has been speculation as to how the virus originated and who was exactly responsible for it. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo back in May 2020 had stated that there was significant evidence that pointed towards the COVID-19 virus having started in a Chinese laboratory. However, the matter remained subdued as the world got more involved in finding a solution to the catastrophe of the century rather than digging into the reasons.

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As the world is moving toward recovery from the pandemic, the question regarding the origin of the virus is resurfacing. A paper published on Zenodo by Steven Quay, MD, PhD, head of two COVID-19 therapeutic programs at Atossa Therapeutics Inc has revealed that the COVID-19 virus began at the General Hospital of Central Theatre Command of People's Liberation Army in Wuhan, China.

According to the paper titled First COVID-19 Genomic Patient Cluster was at PLA Hospital in Wuhan, China, the PLA was creating COVID patient data as early as 10 December 2019, weeks before the Chinese government informed the WHO or the world about a possible threat to the people across countries. The German database that Dr Quay used for his research indicated that four of the first people that were infected with COVID-19 were from a PLA controlled hospital.

Interestingly, the PLA Hospital is just 3 km away from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), a Chinese high-security biosafety laboratory that houses the China Centre for Virus Culture Collection. As per the institute's website, the WIV is the largest virus bank in Asia and there are 1,500 virus strains preserved there. The WIV is the Chinese laboratory that is referred to by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as the cause of the virus.

Pompeo has also stated that China has repeatedly prevented the worlds scientists from going into the WIV. The Washington Post and Fox News have also quoted anonymous sources who said that they were concerned that COVID-19 came from the WIV. The Washington Post report has claimed that the researchers at the WIV do not follow safety procedures while Fox News claimed that patient zero of the virus was infected by a strain of bat virus being studied at the facility.

The most prominent theory, even partially accepted by Chinese authorities is the Zoonotic Origin theory which states that the virus started in the Hunan seafood market in Wuhan, the extremely unhygienic illegal wet market and therefore a breeding ground for diseases.

Taking these facts into account, in line with the new Chinese Biosecurity Law, which has now prohibited the entry of lab animals into the open market, are seemingly connecting the dots. Prohibition of lab animals to enter the market under the new law indicates that they were finding their way to the market earlier and this somehow led to the outbreak of the pandemic. Thus, a high degree of possibility emerges that the lab animals from WIV, carrying the strains of the synthesized novel virus, found their way into the Hunan seafood market and subsequently infected the livestock loving Chinese people.

The way the Chinese handled the virus during the initial outbreak, reveals another layer to its origin. While samples from the first four patients at the PLA Hospital claimed to be obtained towards the end-December 2020, the hospital had files on them as early as 10 December. This implies that the Chinese government and PLA knew beforehand that specimens were going to be coming or the specimens were collected sometime in November. Both cases point towards the fact that the Chinese government knew about the COVID-19 virus as early as 10 December and did not share information about it with the rest of the world.

The four COVID-19 patients from the PLA hospital also include a patient whose coronavirus strain was the closest match to a strain of a bat virus from the WIV that scientists call "the closest relative of 2019-nCoV."

The US Department of State recently released a Fact Sheet: Activity at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Within the fact sheet, the US government has made some startling revelations. As per the facts sheet the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for months had deliberately stalled any attempts as a thorough investigation of the COVID-19 virus. The fact sheet added that instead of trying to discover the origins of the virus, the CCP has devoted enormous resources to deceit and disinformation. As per the fact sheet, the CCPs obsession with secrecy has come at the expense of the health and safety of the people around the world.

The Department of State claims that the pandemic first began at the WIV and that several researchers at the WIV became sick in Autumn of 2019 with symptoms resembling COVID-19. The fact sheet also revealed that accidental infections have occurred in the past in the WIV, like the 2004 SARS outbreak. The CCP has repeatedly prevented foreign media and investigators from interviewing researchers from WIV. As part of an official inquiry, the US Department of State has said that China must provide access to WIV records on the COVID-19 strains and other coronaviruses before its outbreak.

The US fact sheet also spoke about secret military activities that took place at WIV. The US has determined that even though the WIV claims to be a civilian institution, it has on many occasions worked with the Chinese military on secret projects. The WIV has also engaged in classified research for the PLA since 2017.

The fact that China launched its COVID-19 vaccine development programme as early as mid-January 2020 and gave a go-ahead for the inculcation of PLA personnel in June 2020 without the official approval of the vaccine, also raises doubts that whether China had been aware of the spread of the novel coronavirus beforehand and had been it vaccine before the outbreak.

In the face of the constant backlash and criticism, its government and the CCP have repeatedly tried to change the narrative surrounding COVID-19. The CCP has invested enormous resources into spreading propaganda and false information about COVID-19 to deflect blame away from themselves. The CCP's obsession with secrecy also led them to silence, harass and punish those that have in the past tried to go against the CCP narrative and reveal the truth about the virus.

Dr Li Wenliang tried to warn his colleagues and the world about a deadly SARS-like pathogen in early January. Instead of heeding to his warning, the CCP accused him of spreading rumours and reprimanded him. Dr Li, unfortunately, succumbed to COVID-19 in early February 2019. In another case of the Chinese government trying to silence those that have spoken about the virus, China sentenced citizen journalist Zhang Zhan for four years for documenting the effects of the virus in Wuhan.

As per the UK Conservative Member of Parliament, the WHO has been somewhat complicit in China's attempts to hide the truth about the COVID-19 virus origins. MP Duncan states that the WHO investigation team that is currently in Wuhan is sitting in isolation in lockdown in China and has not even asked to inspect the WIV. As per a report in the SUN, Sir Duncan has stated that the Chinese government intentionally delayed announcing information about the deadly coronavirus to avert the cancellation of the phase one trade deal, slated for January 2020.

The CCP and China were under severe US sanctions which would have cost China a trillion US dollars in economic losses. If word had spread that China was the root cause of an upcoming global pandemic, the deal would have been scrapped.

In the months leading up to the new year, the CCP and China have shown themselves to be a deceitful and brutal regime. Its apparent attempts to hide the origins of the COVID-19 virus are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the horrendous actions of the Chinese government. It broke the Sino-British treaty governing Hong Kong bypassing the controversial national security law there and jailed hundreds of peaceful, pro-democracy activists; it persecuted and detained ethnic minorities like Uighur Muslims in occupied East Turkistan (Xinjiang in China); launched unprovoked attacks on its neighbours like India; and taken aggressive and hostile actions in the South China Sea.

These unilateral, unethical, and unacceptable acts were seemingly taken to divert the world's attention amid mounting evidence against China for causing the world to suffer a catastrophe of the century.
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For the first time this year, new COVID-19 cases in San Antonio have fallen to fewer than 1,000.

Officials reported 850 new cases on Wednesday  a precipitous decline from the 2,395 cases recorded on Tuesday. Cases began spiking in November and have risen to record highs in recent days, a surge still apparent in the regions seven-day average of 1,966 cases.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg warned at the daily briefing that it was far too early to consider the sudden decline in cases a definite trend.

There may be some labs that didnt report today, Nirenberg said. The more important number is the seven-day rolling average.

Rita Espinoza, chief of epidemiology for the citys Metropolitan Health District, echoed the mayors note of caution.

It is just one point, so we really cant say its a trend, she said.

The number of patients hospitalized also fell, albeit more modestly, from 1,507 to 1,466. Of those, 452 were in intensive care and 247 were on ventilators.

Overall, there were 174 new admissions to hospitals  a figure that Nirenberg called troubling and very high.

The relentless pandemic continued to exact a grim toll in Bexar County, killing 18 more residents over the last two weeks.

The victims included a man in his 40s; a man in his 50s; a woman in her 70s; and a man in his 80s.

Also reported dead: a Hispanic man in his 80s; a Hispanic woman in her 70s; two Hispanic men in their 50s; a white woman in her 80s; two Hispanic women in their 60s; two white men in their 80s; a white woman in her 90s; a Hispanic woman in her 90s; and a white man in his 90s.

Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff warned that the vast majority of San Antonians  about 92 percent  who knew where they were infected by the deadly coronavirus said they came into contact with an infected person in their home.

So its the larger gatherings where people get together and let their guard down, Wolff said.

Wolff, who received his second dose of vaccine on Wednesday, said University Health will soon expand its capacity to administer vaccines, which remain scarce across the country.

By Feb. 8, the public hospital system will have the capacity to administer 5,000 doses a day at the Wonderland of the Americas mall near Loop 410 and Interstate 10 on the North Side.

University Health is currently administering about 1,500 doses a day there.

Thats a significant increase, Wolff said. But of course we need the vaccine to do it.

Providers typically learn the size of their weekly shipments one day before receiving them, Wolff said.

Here we are Wednesday night, and we dont know what were going to get next week, he said. We will be ready February 8 to do 5,000 every day  if we get it.

On the day of President Joe Bidens inauguration, Nirenberg said he was hopeful that the change in administration would presage the manufacturing of more vaccine, as well as direct allocations to local communities that bypass the state.

Were not alone. Every city in the country wants more vaccine, Nirenberg said.

The mayor added, I would just say that it is refreshing that at this point, we do have at least the words that are being said is that getting this pandemic under control is going to be this administrations number one priority. We have not heard that before, and so hopefully theyll put their money where their mouth is.
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Trish Giordano sprang into action Tuesday after Pennsylvania announced everyone over 65 is eligible for COVID-19 vaccine.

The 72-year-old Dauphin County resident, along with her circle of friends, spent the evening calling or going online to places that supposedly had vaccine.

They found lots of dead ends and little short-term hope of getting vaccinated. Giordano also found herself annoyed with state and federal officials for creating demand that obviously dwarfed the vaccine supply and the ability of providers to handle the requests.

You have to have your ducks in a row. You have to have things organized  then you make your announcement, she said.

Giordano was among countless Pennsylvanians who began seeking vaccine this week and instead found an overwhelmed system. A Pennsylvania Department of Health map of vaccine locations received 12 million hits  nearly equal to the states population  on Tuesday, a spokesman said. Giordano said she called a health department hotline Wednesday morning and was put in a queue of 125.

The upshot is that, for now, the supply of vaccine is well short of demand. Its unknown when the state will have enough.

RELATED: Pa. reports one of its highest daily COVID-19 death tolls

RELATED: Requests for COVID-19 vaccine trigger chaos in Pa.

As of early Thursday, Pennsylvania had received about 1.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine in the six weeks since the federal government began shipping it. Prior to Tuesday, the supply had been reserved for frontline health care workers and nursing home residents.

Expanding eligibility to everyone over 65, along with people 16-64 with chronic medical conditions, increased Pennsylvanias eligible pool to 3.5 million people.

The state is presently receiving about 140,000 doses per week, although it has asked federal officials to ship the highest possible amount, according to the spokesman.

When might Pennsylvania have enough vaccine for the presently eligible population?

Thats the million-dollar question, said Dr. Donald Yealy, the senior medical director for UPMC.

Yealy is among 11 western Pennsylvania health system leaders who signed a letter addressing the situation.

The leaders noted they agree with the expanded eligibility. But they wrote, we simply do not have adequate vaccine supplies or clear notification of when and how much is coming to be able to meet this new, much larger group who can benefit.

As a result, their health care systems continue giving doses to people at highest risk rather than the whole group that is now eligible.

That means many requests for vaccination will not be met in the next days to weeks, and this is not from a lack of desire, they wrote, also stressing the need to help the public understand the situation.

In central Pennsylvania, Penn State Health began vaccinating selected members of the newly eligible population. But it said its vaccine supply is significantly less than its 100,000-200,000 patients who became eligible for vaccine on Tuesday. Despite the shortage, it was vital to begin vaccinating more people, Penn State Health said.

Were asking for patience while we await the delivery of additional doses in the weeks and months ahead, said Dr. Peter Dillon, the chief clinical officer.

If theres a bright spot, its that the rush on vaccine shows many people want it  there has been worry too few Americans want or trust the vaccine, which has been proven safe and highly-effective, with mild side effects comparable to those from regular flu shots.

But Yealy worries this weeks frustration and disappointment will undermine the effort.

The last thing we want is for people to think they can get the vaccine and then its not available  That could degrade enthusiasm for vaccination, he said.

On a hopeful note, Yealy said UPMC and other health systems have proven they can quickly gear up to vaccinate large numbers. He said UPMC has administered 64,000 doses, with 45,000 appointments scheduled, with those appointments mostly involving UPMC health care workers, including second doses for some.

That makes him confident that, as vaccine becomes available, capacity will exist to quickly get it into peoples arms. He also expects more vaccines  only two are being manufactured now  will become available within a month or so. Moreover, one or more of the new vaccines will be easier to store and administer than the first two, further speeding the process.

The key, he said, is to increase the supply and give health providers more clarity about when it will arrive. Thus far, state officials and health care providers have complained that doses often arrive with little advance notice, making it hard to schedule clinics.

Giordano, the Dauphin County resident, said she and her circle of friends didnt give up, despite what she called the chaos.

Everybody I know is scared  you want to get the shot, she said.

As of Wednesday afternoon, several of her friends had been able to make an appointment through York-based WellSpan, she said. Giordano said she was able to register online with a Cumberland County-based pharmacy and received an email telling her shell be notified of an appointment.

Giordano believes it was a mistake last week for Alex Azar, the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to advise states to begin vaccinating everyone over 65 and those with chronic illnesses. He first should have spoken with all the states to make sure everyone was on the same page.

I think they need old people to run this, like me, she joked.
After a boat carrying West African migrants capsized off Libya's coast on Tuesday, 43 individuals drowned. In contrast, ten others were rescued based on the IOM's statement or the International Organization for Migrant and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

According to Reuters, the UNHCR stated that this is the first migrant shipwreck of 2021.

Based on some reports, the capsized boat reportedly left Zawya, a northwestern Libyan city, on early Tuesday. Just hours after their departure, the migrants faced terrible sea conditions, causing their engine to stop.

The UNHCR also mentioned that the individuals who died were all men who came from West African countries.

The United Nations Agency also shared that the survivors were mainly from Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Gambia, and Ghana. Those who perished were all men coming from several West African countries.

The statement also mentioned that hundreds of individuals lost their lives last year after attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, where the number of deaths along a single migration journey worldwide happened.

It also added that the UNHCR and the IOM fear that because of the limited ability in monitoring the routes, the actual number of individuals who perished in the Central Mediterranean during 2020, could have been much higher.

Migration

The European Union in recent years has partnered with the coast guard of Libya and other local groups to stem such dangerous seas crossings.

Based on the rights groups, they mentioned that the policies have left the migrants at the mercy of armed groups or confined in squalid detention centers rife with abuses.

The IOM also shared that the coastal security forces in the western town of Zuwara in Libya rescued ten migrants from the shipwreck Tuesday and brought them to shore.

Based on the survivors, the dead men were all nations from West Africa.

Since 2011 when Libya's longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was killed after being ousted, the country has emerged as the dominant transit point for migrants fleeing war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, The Arab News reported.

Moreover, smugglers often pack desperate families into ill-equipped rubber boats that stall and founder along the perilous Central Mediterranean route.

The IOM also mentioned that the Libyan coast guard intercepted on Wednesday not less than 48 immigrants, including 11 children, and returned them to shore.

The UNHCR or the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees called for an urgent and measurable shift in the approach regarding the Mediterranean situation, which includes an end to migrant returns to unsafe ports, CNN reported.

They mentioned in a statement on Wednesday that the arbitrary arrests and arbitrary detention in the direst of conditions continue in Libya.

Also added in a statement on Wednesday is that the many are victimized and exploited by traffickers and smugglers, who held for ransom, tortured, and abused.

Moreover, in November, the IOM shared that some 500 migrants have died trying to cross the central Mediterranean. Still, the actual number of individuals who lost their lives could be much higher because of limitations on the ability of monitoring the routes.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

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Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

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By William Schwartz | Published on 2021/01/20

On January 20th an interview with Jang Yoon-ju was released in anticipation of "Three Sisters" which will be released in South Korean theaters on January 27th. "Three Sisters" stars Jang Yoon-ju alongside Moon So-ri and Kim Sun-young as the three titular sisters grappling with the force of their collective memories. The film is the latest from director Lee Seung-won-I, and his first with a mainstream cast.

Jang Yoon-ju plays the youngest sister of the three. This is her first major role since appearing in the movie "Veteran" back in 2015. The role is an attempt to adjust her image toward more serious acting as opposed to the modeling work she's better known for. The character she plays, Mi-ok, is a chronic alcoholic. Though frequently depicted in a negative physical state, Jang Yoon-ju still portrays the character with charm that makes her difficult to hate.

According to Jang Yoon-ju, while she started modeling at the age of seventeen she has long had an interest in acting. Purportedly she appeared in student films back when she was a student at the Seoul Institute of the Arts. Jang Yoon-ju also said she had prior interest in directing but gave it up after a year due to an apparent lack of talent. Jang Yoon-ju claims to have received many film offers over the years, meeting with directors, most never coming to anything due to her international modeling schedule.

Despite her focus on fashion, Jang Yoon-ju claims to be friends with many actresses and directors who are puzzled as to her apparent lack of interest in acting. Jang Yoon-ju namedropped Son Ye-jin, Han Hye-jin, Jung Woo, Kim Jong-kwan, and Park Sang-hyun-III as persons having made such statements to her. Nevertheless, Jang Yoon-ju has long been shy about appearing in serious projects. She claims to have had doubts even when it came to appearing in "Veteran" due to nuances of the performance.

Jang Yoon-ju said she was encouraged to join "Three Sisters" in part because of her elder co-stars Moon So-ri and and Kim Sun-young. Jang Yoon-ju respects both of them greatly. Jang Yoon-ju also said she was inspired by the script reading. "Three Sisters" won't be the last movie for Jang Yoon-ju. The experience encouraged her enough to also take roles in "One Win" and "Citizen Deok-hee" which are also expected to come out some time this year.

Written by William Schwartz
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The TD leaders including state party chief Atchannaidu and Narasimha Yadav however planned to take out a huge bike and car rally with 300 odd party activists.

TIRUPATI: Defending the Tirupati urban polices withdrawal of permission to the Telugu Desam for holding the Dharma Parirakshana Yatra from here, SP Avula Ramesh Reddy said on Thursday that these leaders were stirring up religious hatred among people in the pilgrim city.

People from all religions have the right to live in this society with equal rights. The TD leaders are polluting the atmosphere and creating a sense of insecurity among the people. This doesnt make sense. We will not spare anyone coming from outside to pollute the religious harmony in this temple city, the SP said.

Explaining to the media the spate of incidents here during the launch of the Yatra, the SP said the TD leaders obtained permission only for the Yatra in the form of a peaceful walkathon from Alipiri to Town club circle, but they attempted a huge bike and car rally and a public meeting with heavy-sound speakers.

On the 19th of this month, TDs Tirupati parliamentary in-charge G. Narasimha Yadav requested us for permission for the Dharma Parirakshana Yatra on the 21st and for use of a mike-set during the walkathon. The urban police granted permission only for the foot-march with certain conditions. We denied permission for mike-sets as they didnt follow the necessary procedure for this. They were asked to hold the foot rally peacefully with less than 100 participants due to the Covid-19 restrictions and without raising slogans. They were also asked not to disturb the traffic, he explained.

The TD leaders including state party chief Atchannaidu and Narasimha Yadav however planned to take out a huge bike and car rally with 300 odd party activists. They also arranged heavy sound systems and mike sets. As these would disturb the pilgrim movement here, we have withdrawn the permission for the Yatra, he said.

The SP also said TD activists obstructed the meeting of the parliamentary committee held in a private hotel here. Leaders including Atchannaidu, Narasimha Yadav, D. Bhaskar, Munikrishna Yadav, Anand Babu, Rama Naidu, B. Sudhakar Reddy, Pulivarthi Nani and 36 others were arrested under 151 CrPc for rule violations.


One of the smallest health districts in the state inoculated more than 300 teachers and school staff Wednesday, even as the state is trying to get the COVID-19 vaccine out to residents 75 and older first.

The plan to vaccinate teachers in the Pomperaug Health District, which was put into motion more than a week ago, comes just days after Department of Public Health Acting Commissioner Deidre Gifford issued a stinging memo warning vaccinators to adhere to the governors priorities and vaccinate the elderly first.

Gov. Ned Lamont reinforced the vaccine priority at a news conference earlier this week, making it clear that, with vaccine doses at a premium, he wants people 75 and older to be vaccinated first as the state rolls out Phase 1B.

Pomperaug Health District Director Neal Lustig said he had already filled the vaccination slots for Wednesday and had more teachers and staff scheduled for Thursday, but after hearing the states warnings, he restricted Thursdays clinic to those 75 and older and will vaccinate 450 seniors from Oxford, Southbury and Woodbury, the three towns in the district.

We had been working with our school districts for a couple of months, preparing and when the categories came out and teachers were in it we scheduled a clinic that filled up quickly, Lustig said. As we got more information from the state and it was made clear that they wanted seniors to go first, I contacted state health officials and was told to proceed.

Lustig said he is running a third clinic Saturday that will be for residents 75 and older. The 90 spots for that clinic were booked within hours after the health district announced it.

DPH spokeswoman Maura Fitzgerald issued a statement Wednesday that said state officials were aware of the clinic and did allow it to proceed.

Some clinics were inadvertently [scheduled] for groups who were not yet prioritized for vaccination. With the understanding of the logistical challenges of taking down already scheduled clinics, coupled with our directive that no vaccines go to waste, we have allowed clinics and appointments scheduled for today and tomorrow to proceed, Fitzgerald said Wednesday.

However, we expect that all vaccinators with clinics or individual appointments for anyone who is not 75 and over or eligible under Phase 1a, scheduled beyond Thursday, have canceled those and are now focused on vaccinating our vulnerable 75 and over population.

The clinics highlight the challenges of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to state residents in the order that state officials wish. There are reports that teachers in other towns also jumped the line, and others who werent supposed to be in Phase 1A got inoculated anyway.

The state moved into Phase 1B for vaccinations this week, a category that contains well over a million people  from the elderly to teachers to grocery store workers and prison inmates. During the first round of vaccinations  Phase 1A  nursing home residents and staff were vaccinated directly by CVS and Walgreens through a contract with the federal government; hospitals, for the most part, vaccinated their own staffs.

But now, during Phase 1B, the Department of Public Health is distributing the vaccines to the states regional health districts and health centers. Some of those doses have gone to others who werent supposed to receive them yet, including teachers in some districts that entered all of their employees into the VAMS system  the federal governments online vaccine scheduling system  when they were supposed to enter only school nurses. As a result, some teachers got vaccinated.

The issue of people jumping the line came to a head over the weekend, when Gifford sent the two-page memo to all vaccinators, warning them to stick to the states plans.

It has come to our attention that some providers have inappropriately contacted individuals affiliated with their organizations and offered them vaccinations out of turn, Gifford wrote in the Jan. 17 memo obtained by the Connecticut Mirror.

We have no indication that these vaccines were actually administered, but we want to be sure that this practice is discontinued. Any intentional violation in the allocation of this scarce resource risks damaging the credibility of the entire program and will not be tolerated by DPH.

At Gov. Ned Lamonts news conference on Tuesday, state officials made it clear that they want the elderly to get vaccinated first and went as far as announcing that if teachers have vaccine appointments scheduled starting Friday, they should cancel them.

The states Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe downplayed the teacher issue Tuesday, saying that it was only about a dozen school districts that had skipped the line out of more than 500 in the state, including private schools.

But Giffords memo makes it clear the state sees the problem as much larger than just a few teachers.

Please ensure that only members of these groups are being scheduled for appointments going forward until further notice from DPH about opening appointments to other groups, Gifford wrote. We understand that in an endeavor this complex there will be misunderstandings, and some others in group 1b may have inadvertently or prematurely been scheduled for vaccination. Despite isolated incidences of these scheduling errors, please do not open your schedules to anyone beyond those described above.

There have been issues with getting the older population properly signed up, which Gifford also addressed in her memo.

There are many individuals 75 years and older across the state who have not yet been able to secure an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Gifford said. It is our collective role as a healthcare system at this moment to conduct active outreach and create access for this population, she said, before warning, Conducting outreach and scheduling for individuals younger than 75+ and the Phase 1a population is at direct odds with this goal of ensuring access for individuals 75 years and older.

State officials have not announced any penalties for people who skip the line or how they would deal with a hospital or health department that skirted the priorities. Lamont has said he expects most people to follow the rules, but as the state rolls out more mass vaccination sites, such as the one at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, tracking who is actually getting vaccinated will not be easy.

Gifford said it is up to the vaccinators to keep order.

The Governor has directed DPH to implement an allocation strategy that focuses on the risk of severe disease and death, with an emphasis on health equity and health disparities, Gifford said. We know that you share those priorities with us, and we need your further cooperation to ensure a continued smooth vaccine program, and public confidence in the effort.

Lamont said earlier this week he is prioritizing those 75 and older because they have been the most affected by COVID.

The governor said while that age group makes up only 8 percent of the states population, it has accounted for 70 percent of the states COVID deaths. Many of those people have been in long-term care facilities, which have been devastated by the virus.

State officials are hoping the death toll from the virus will slow significantly as more people are vaccinated.

At a press briefing Wednesday, officials with the Yale New Haven Health system said they had vaccinated 65 percent to 75 percent of their staff  more than 22,000 employees received their first dose and 3,000 had gotten a second dose  and have begun inoculating people 75 and older.

Tom Balcezak, the chief clinical officer, estimated that a few hundred seniors 75 and older had been vaccinated. With the supply on hand, the health system expects to have immunized 6,000 seniors by Sunday. He said they have followed the governors orders while downplaying whether some people have been skipping the line.

As a society, I think we should try to adhere as best we can to the spirit of what the regulations are. But lets not waste time in chasing down every single time this may not have gone right, Balcezak said. Instead, we really need to focus on the goal of getting everyone vaccinated as fast as possible. And if one or two went out of order, then so be it.

CT Mirror staff reporter Jenna Carlesso contributed to this report.
Lebanese Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh answered questions from Lebanon's public prosecutor on Thursday, based on a request from Swiss judicial authorities.

Salameh said he had told Public Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat he stood "ready to answer any questions" and that no financial transfers had been made from central bank accounts.

A senior judicial source told Reuters Salameh had been questioned, but not as a suspect, and had decided to accept the option to respond to further questions directly to Swiss authorities.

The Swiss attorney general's office said this week it had requested legal assistance from Lebanon in the context of a probe into "aggravated money laundering" and possible embezzlement tied to the Lebanese central bank.

The office did not say whether Salameh was a suspect. On Thursday, it was not immediately available for comment.

A Lebanese government official told Reuters that Swiss authorities were investigating money transfers by Salameh and also looking into his brother and assistant. Salameh said that any allegations about such transfers were "fabrications".

Salameh has led Lebanon's central bank since 1993. His role came under scrutiny in Lebanon after the financial system collapsed in an unprecedented crisis that prompted a crash in the Lebanese pound and a sovereign default.

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[January 21, 2021] Bespoke's Chat Service 'Bebot' to Assist in COVID-19 Traveler Safety at Tampa International Airport

TOKYO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa International Airport and Bespoke recently launched the Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot service Bebot to address COVID-19 related traveler inquiries and provide a higher level of customer satisfaction for all guests. Fast becoming an essential travel partner for emergency communication to ensure travelers' safety worldwide, Bebot is already available at airports worldwide including Tokyo and Vienna. Travelers at Tampa International Airport (TPA) - recently voted the best mid-size airport in the U.S. - have instant access to the Bebot chatbot via the official airport website www.tampaairport.com or on the airport's Wi-Fi splash page as soon as travelers connect to it. No additional downloads or account registrations are necessary to use the service. Bebot's AI technology has been specifically developed to assist in the era of COVID-19 and provides real-time answers to traveler questions, and the latest travel information right in the user's hands. The chat service shares up-to-date information about COVID-19 at Tampa International Airport such as local ordinances on gatherings, international and domestic travel bans, quarantine requirements in Florida specific to arrivals from each destination, new measures the airport is taking to ensure traveler safety, and offerings at the airport such as where to find free face masks. Travelers and potential travelers can receive answers to questions such as, "Do I need to get tested before flying?" "Can I walk my son to the gate?" "Do I need to wear a face mask in the terminal?" and "I want to bring hand sanitizer on board, is it possible?" Travelers can also find out whom to contact and where to go if they show COVD symptoms, travel restrictions and country-specific quarantine procedures, permissions for non-flyers to enter the terminal, all to ensure that travelers have the most essential information at their fingertips.



"Tampa International Airport was searching for another way to engage and inform guests about COVID-19 and its impacts on the travel experience beyond the usual avenues," said Jon Vaden, TPA's Director of Marketing. "The Bebot chatbot allows us to provide timely COVID-19 information on our official website in an engaging format. We have already answered more than 18,000 questions and answers with a 90% accuracy rate. Because Bespoke makes ongoing real-time adjustments to the tool, the accuracy rate has increased continuously since launching." Bebot, known as Japan's first travel chatbot, has been developed using AI built in-house by Bespoke Inc. First released in Japan in April 2016, Bebot is a customizable chatbot that allows businesses and establishments to provide real-time solutions and engagement with users and partners that can assist in a wide range of issues, from crisis management to driving in-market spend, as well as ensuring users have all the correct information in their hands.

With the success of Bebot in airports and governments across Japan, Bespoke is well-positioned to bring their AI technology across the globe. About Tampa International Airport Tampa International Airport (TPA) is the premier gateway to the West Coast of Florida with a market area of 7.3 million people living within a two-hour drive. The airport annually serves more than 22 million passengers with 90 domestic and international destinations. Travel & Leisure magazine and industry benchmark ASQ routinely rank TPA among the top airports in the U.S. The Hillsborough County Aviation is responsible for the management and development of Tampa International Airport, Peter O. Knight Airport, Tampa Executive Airport and the Plant City Airport. About Bespoke Inc. Headquartered in Tokyo, Bespoke is a global leader in providing AI-powered chatbots that help customer support organizations answer questions more quickly, accurately, and efficiently than traditional call centers. Working with major airports, cities and transport authorities, Bespoke's solution aids in congestion management, emergency communication and driving in-market spend. Bespoke's partners include the Narita International Airport, Vienna International Airport, Tokyo Metro, Niseko, and Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). As of January 2021, over 12 million travelers interact with Bespoke's Chatbot annually. For more information, please visit Bespoke on the web at https://www.be-spoke.io or email info@be-spoke.io. Related Images bebot-x-tampa-international-airport.png

Bebot x Tampa International Airport

Bebot provides real-time answers to user questions regarding COVID-19, as well as facility information at Tampa International Airport. Related Links Bebot x TPA Demo Video View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bespokes-chat-service-bebot-to-assist-in-covid-19-traveler-safety-at-tampa-international-airport-301212340.html SOURCE Bespoke Inc.

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A liberated Dr. Anthony Fauci made it clear Thursday he's happy to be working for President Joe Biden, taking a few pot shots at what it was like operating under Donald Trump.

Fauci appeared in the White House press briefing room for the first time since this spring and revealed his true feelings on Trump.

He didn't mention the former president by name but he was clear about the differences of work life in the Biden administration versus that under Trump's.

'One of the new things in this administration is: if you don't know the answer, don't guess. Just say you don't know the answer,' he said, comparing his 24 hours working for Biden to his months of counseling Trump on the coronavirus pandemic.

'One of the things that was very clear as recently as about 15 minutes ago, when I was with the president, is that one of the things that we're going to do is to be completely transparent open and honest if things go wrong.

'Not point fingers but to correct them and to make everything we do be based on science and evidence. I mean that was literally a conversation I had 15 minutes ago with the president, and he has said that multiple times,' he noted.

Given his new, free-speaking style, he was asked if there was anything he wanted to clarify or amend that he said during the Trump administration.

'No, I mean I always said everything,' Fauci said. 'That's why I got trouble sometimes.'

Dr. Anthony Fauci made it clear he's happy to be working for President Joe Biden

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, let loose in his first appearance in the White House briefing room in months

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases made it clear he was not joking.

'I was very serious about it, I wasn't joking,' said Fauci, who also serves as Chief Medical Adviser to Biden, when asked about his comments.

Fauci had a contentious relationship with Trump in the president's final months in office. Trump wanted to focus on reopening the economy as Fauci and other medical experts wanted to keep stronger restrictions in place to keep the COVID virus from spreading.

And there was the famous face-palm moment. In March, as Fauci stood behind Trump at the podium in the briefing room, the doctor appeared to chuckle to himself before covering his face with his palm as Trump railed against 'the Deep State Department.'

Fauci was sidelined by the Trump White House, rarely appearing in press briefings and kept from doing interviews with major news outlets. He spread his message about COVID through local news interviews and podcasts. After Trump lost thje election

Trump made his displeasure with Fauci known. He called him a Democrat and publicly mulled firing him although that would have been difficult as Fauci is a career federal employee. Fauci had to have a security detail due to death threats made to him and his family.

In reflecting on his relationship with President Trump, Fauci noted on Thursday he took no joy in contradicting the former commander in chief.

'It was very clear that they were things that were said, regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things like that. That really was an uncomfortable because they were not based on scientific fact, I can tell you I take no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the president,' he said.

Trump took a dose of hydroxy in an effort to ward off the coronavirus - a practice many experts expressed doubt about. Trump ultimately got the virus and recovered.

Dr. Anthony Fauci made his first appearance at President Joe Biden's side on Thursday at an event on new executive orders tied to the coronavirus pandemic

Fauci talked about the strain he felt giving briefings under President Trump such as this briefing in April, 2020

Fauci's face palm moment in March went viral

Fauci noted the strain he felt talking about the pandemic, which has killed more than 400,000 Americans, while working under Trump.

'You didn't feel like you could say something and there wouldn't be repercussions,' he said.

Of the new administration's stance toward him, Fauci said: 'It is somewhat of a liberating feeling.'

'The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the evidence -- what the science is, and know that's it, let the science speak, it is somewhat of a liberating feeling,' Fauci noted.

But he did reject a claim that the Biden administration were 'starting from scratch' with vaccine distribution which had been reported earlier Thursday by CNN.

'No, I mean we're coming in with fresh ideas, but also some ideas with the, with the previous administration, you can't say it was absolutely not usable at all,' he said.

'So, we are continuing but you're going to see a real ramping up of it.'

Fauci made his first appearance at Biden's side on Thursday, when the president called for the nation to summon a 'full scale war-time effort' to beat back the coronavirus.

Biden also signed new executive orders to speed vaccine delivery and called wearing a mask a patriotic duty.

Fauci also revealed he'd gotten his second dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

'I did. I had it on the 19th,' he told reporters ahead of the president's event in the State Dining Room.

'I was hoping that I wouldn't get too knocked out. I did for about 24 hours. Now I'm fine,' he said. 'Fatigued. A little achy. You know. Chilly. Not sick.'
South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens at the press conference at the Stag Hotel on December 01, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Kelly Barnes/Getty Images)

SA Police Commissioner: Use the QR Codes on Every Occasion

Despite COVID-19 restrictions easing across South Australia as cases continue to decline, South Australias police commissioner has warned against complacency in the fight against CCP virus, urging people not to skip checking in at venues with QR codes.

Commissioner Grant Stevens said he had received substantial feedback from police suggesting people were coming into venues without scanning the code.

In South Australia, things are almost normal, and that carries some risk, and that makes people less vigilant, Stevens told radio FiveAA on Jan. 20.

He said checking in is not a condition of entry into a business, but there is an obligation to check in at some point whilst theyre visiting that business.

The government has said that the data is stored in a government database and used where an outbreak occurs. Police will not have access to the data and that information gathered will be deleted in 28 days.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall demonstrates checking in via QR code to help with contact tracing at the Stag Hotel in Adelaide, Australia on December 01, 2020. (Kelly Barnes/Getty Images)

Since QR codes began on Dec. 14, 2020, police have issued 1,070 fines and 2,168 cautions to individuals and businesses such as for not following QR codes requirements, COVIDSafe plans, or marshal requirements.

Stevens also reminded South Australia that gyms and hospitality venues such as pubs, clubs, restaurants, and cafes need a COVID-19 Safe Hygiene Marshal as part of their safety plan.

It is important to remind the community and business owners that they are required to actively use the QR codes on every occasion, Stevens said in a statement on Wednesday.

Compliance officers routinely check the square meterage of business venues, and in some cases have found the measurements documented on their COVID Safe Plans to be inflated thereby increasing the capacity of customers allowed in.

South Australia reported one new COVID-19 case on Wednesday, in a man in his 30s who recently returned from overseas. He is one of six active infections in the state, all in hotel quarantine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Kamala Harris on assumption of office as Vice President of the United States of America.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said: "Congratulations to Kamala Harris on being sworn-in as Vice President. It is a historic occasion. Looking forward to interacting with her to make India-USA relations more robust. The India-USA partnership is beneficial for our planet."

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

Congratulations to @KamalaHarris on being sworn-in as @VP. It is a historic occasion. Looking forward to interacting with her to make India-USA relations more robust. The India-USA partnership is beneficial for our planet.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021

Harris, 56, made history on Wednesday when she was sworn in as the first female, first black and first Asian-American US vice-president. The former senator was sworn in just before Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th US President.

In her first remarks to the nation as US Vice President, Harris has highlighted "American aspiration" and underlined that President Joe Biden has summoned the people to look beyond crisis and aspire to unite.

Even in dark times we not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be," she said in brief remarks outside the Lincoln Memorial. We are bold, fearless and ambitious. We are undaunted in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up."

Her rise is historic in any context, another moment when a stubborn boundary falls away, expanding the idea of what's possible in American politics. But it's particularly meaningful because Harris takes office at a moment when Americans are grappling over institutional racism and confronting a pandemic that has disproportionately devastated Black and brown communities.

In many folks' lifetimes, we experienced a segregated United States," said Lateefah Simon, a civil rights advocate and longtime Harris friend and mentee. You will now have a Black woman who will walk into the White House not as a guest but as a second in command of the free world."

Harris  the child of immigrants, a stepmother of two and the wife of a Jewish man  carries an intersectional story of so many Americans who are never seen and heard."

Later during the procession to the vice presidential office building, she was led by her alma mater Howard University's marching band and walked while holding the hand of her grandniece and alongside her husband, stepchildren, sister, brother-in-law and nieces.

She then quickly got to work, presiding as Senate president for the first time to swear in three new Democratic senators: Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Alex Padilla of California, Harris' replacement.

Wednesday evening, she urged Americans to join Biden's call for the courage to see beyond crisis, to do what is hard, to do what is good."

Harris's ancestral village in Tamil Nadu celebrates her win

Harris's ancestral village in Tamil Nadu celebrated with loud cheers, claps and firecrackers as she took oath during a historic inauguration at the West Front of the Capitol.

Locals in Thulasendrapuram, the remote Tamil Nadu village where Harris' maternal grandparents belong, celebrated with full fervour and zeal as she took oath as the vice-president of the US.

The ceremony in Thulasendrapuram, where Harris's maternal grandfather was born about 350 kilometers (215 miles) from the southern coastal city of Chennai, saw the idol of Hindu deity Ayyanar, a form of Lord Shiva, washed with milk and decked with flowers by the priest.

Shortly after, the village reverberated with a boom of firecrackers as people held up posters of Harris and clapped their hands.





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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

PORTLAND, Ore. and SEATTLE, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the marketing ecosystem changes rapidly, connecting high-level education, insight and inspiration matter more than ever. Additionally, sharing best practices has the power to lift entire markets, industries and regions. The Pacific Northwest is in a unique position to take advantage of its forward-thinking and optimism, which makes the founding of ThinkNW a vital way forward together.

ThinkNW (www.thinknw.org) is a best-in-class organization dedicated to the marketing community in Seattle, Portland and across the Pacific Northwest. Members include some of the world's most important and iconic brands, creative firms, technology companies, startups and media organizations.

"There's no question that Seattle is one of the most influential markets in the world," said Marc Moran, ThinkNW president. "One only needs to look at brands like Amazon, Microsoft, Starbucks and others to realize its impact. But marketing changes by the day. Having the collective power and influence of Seattle, Portland, Boise and Vancouver B.C. signals that this region's talent and leadership is ready to take a more prominent role in shepherding success for marketers around the world."

The name, ThinkNW, was decided upon after approval from ThinkLA, the industry's leading trade body in Southern California, which was founded over a decade ago. In its first month, ThinkNW will add new board members from across the region.

"We're proud to support the transition to ThinkNW. Seeing this concept model come to fruition is really exciting, and we're looking forward to watching it thrive and grow," said Lee McKnight from leading marketing consultancy RSW/US.

At its core, ThinkNW's mission is anchored in being a consistently forward-looking and highly inclusive organization, with a heavy focus on three key areas:

Bringing attention to the work and success of the Pacific Northwest brand, agency, technology and marketing communities.

Providing high-level, practical and relevant professional development and networking at all levels of marketing, from seasoned professionals to those embarking on their careers.

Developing best-in-class DEI programming, education and inspiration focused on building pathways for BIPOC talent to thrive more meaningfully in marketing. DEI + Talent

Leading ThinkNW's diversity initiatives is Bimma Williams, DEI chair. A former Saucony global business unit manager and marketer at Nike and Adidas, he is the founder of storytelling platform Claima Stories, featuring some of the most influential and diverse marketing talent. ThinkNW's goal is to create unique and collaborative career discovery experiencesthrough events, education and workshops always accessible to BIPOC talent, offering a variety of possibilities.

"BIPOC creatives can be found in marketing focus groups and ad campaigns around the world, but they're missing from the agencies that produce this work," said Williams. "As we move into a new era with ThinkNW, we're committed to setting up new systems to diversify our creative industry."

ThinkNW will continuously work with its partners and members to connect brands and diverse talent across all aspects of the marketing spectrum. "Creative is a great foundation from which to work," said Moran, noting PAF's prior emphasis on craft. "But there are so many places that talent can thrive, whether that's in client service, finance, operations or other leadership roles."

Partnerships with ThinkLA and SFBig

As mentioned, the ThinkNW moniker results from a relationship with ThinkLA, which approved the Pacific Northwest group's naming. To that end, ThinkNW will continue to collaborate with ThinkLA and the Bay Area's trade body, SFBig.

"The legacy of service which ThinkLA shares with PAF and SFBig is now even more evident with this name change," said Don Lupo, Executive Director, ThinkLA. "Our organizations exist to serve our communities and the West Coast in general to bring education, connection, and economic development to the region. We are glad to collaborate in the service of our industry and our members."

Each organization plans to offer select events, educational programs and other opportunities to each other either free or at discounted rates. Over time, the collaboration between the three will expand, further deepening the collective power, scope and opportunities on the West Coast.

Contact:

Marc Moran

[email protected]

SOURCE ThinkNW

Related Links

https://www.thinknw.org


BEDFORD, Ohio  Magna Wine Boutique, which opened last year in Bedford, has launched its own wine brand, the Magna Wine Collection.

The boutique wine shops own wines and their tasting notes:

Chardonnay Select: Toasted hazelnut and mandarin, bright acidity and minerality, with aromas of lychee, stone fruit, citrus, golden apple and peach. The finish has notes of lemon zest and caramelized sugar, $24.99.

Gateway Red: Fruit-forward blend of Zinfandel and Carmenere with aromas of bing cherry, strawberry and roasted fig. Raspberry, blackberry and pomegranate cross the palate, $26.99.

The Final Course: The wine  100% Concord  has a long, fruity finish and pairs with dessert, $21.99.

The grapes are from Lodi, California, and the wines are available for shipping or pickup at the store.

Magna is a family-owned, Black-owned, HBCU graduate-owned small business that opened in May 2020 in Bedford. Owners Brittany and Dre Wiley aim to demystify wine to their customers.

Magna is at 692 Broadway Ave., Bedford. Its second location is slated to open soon at 2115 Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls.

Other wine shops have launched a line in their name. Karla Walters, who co-founded 750ml with her husband Jim, launched One Three, a Sauvignon Blanc, in 2014. She collaborated with winemaker Jay Buoncristiani on the wine, a 2012 vintage from Napa Valley, California.

Related coverage: Magna Wine Boutique in Bedford rooted in love and passion of wine

I am on cleveland.coms life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for Beer with Bona and Much, Much More with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.

Get a jumpstart on the weekend and sign up for Cleveland.coms weekly In the CLE email newsletter, your essential guide to the top things to in Greater Cleveland. It will arrive in your inbox on Friday mornings - an exclusive to-do list, focusing on the best of the weekend fun. Restaurants, music, movies, performing arts, family fun and more. Just click here to subscribe. All cleveland.com newsletters are free.

Shape strategic responses through the phases of industry recovery

Archer Daniels Midland Co., Ashland Global Holdings Inc., and Cargill Inc. will emerge as major alcohol ingredients market participants during 2021-2025

The alcohol ingredients market is expected to grow by USD 1.04 billion during 2021-2025, according to Technavio. The report offers a detailed analysis of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the alcohol ingredients market in optimistic, probable, and pessimistic forecast scenarios.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005632/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Alcohol Ingredients Market 2021-2025 (Graphic: Business Wire).

Enterprises will go through the Response, Recovery, and Renew phases. Download a Free Sample Report on COVID-19

The alcohol ingredients market will witness a positive impact during the forecast period owing to the widespread growth of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per Technavio's pandemic-focused market research, market growth is likely to increase as compared to 2019.

With the continuing spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic, organizations across the globe are gradually flattening their recessionary curve by leveraging technology. Many businesses will go through response, recovery, and renewal phases. Building business resilience and enabling agility will aid organizations to move forward in their journey out of the COVID-19 crisis towards the Next Normal.

This post-pandemic business planning research will aid clients to:

Adjust their strategic planning to move ahead once business stability kicks in.

to move ahead once business stability kicks in. Build Resilience by making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines.

making effective resource and investment choices for individual business units, products, and service lines. Conceptualize scenario-based planning to mitigate future crisis situations.

Download the Post-Pandemic Business Planning Structure. Click here

Key Considerations for Market Forecast:

Impact of lockdowns, supply chain disruptions, demand destruction, and change in customer behavior

Optimistic, probable, and pessimistic scenarios for all markets as the impact of pandemic unfolds

Pre- as well as post-COVID-19 market estimates

Quarterly impact analysis and updates on market estimates

Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports by using

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Related Reports on Consumer Staples Include:

Global Specialty Food Ingredients Market Global specialty food ingredients market is segmented by application (bakery and confectionery, beverages, sauces and condiments, and others), geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA), and product (nutraceutical ingredients, flavors, specialty starches, acidulants, and others). Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Global Whey Protein Ingredients Market Global whey protein ingredients market is segmented by product (whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, hydrolyzed whey protein, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA). Click Here to Get an Exclusive Free Sample Report

Major Three Alcohol Ingredients Market Participants:

Archer Daniels Midland Co.

Archer Daniels Midland Co. operates its business through segments such as Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. The company offers products such as 190 and 192 proof Grain Neutral Spirits for use in alcoholic beverages and flavor formulations and 190 and 200 proof Ethanol for making vinegar and in the manufacturing of flavor ingredients and industrial chemicals.

Ashland Global Holdings Inc.

Ashland Global Holdings Inc. operates its business through segments such as Specialty Ingredients and Intermediates and Solvents. The company offers stabilizers to keep blends and brews clear and stable, regardless of the size of the brewery or winery. Some of the key products include Polyclar 10 single-use beer stabilizer, Polyclar Brewbrite stabilizer, Polyclar Granules stabilizers, and Polyclar Plus 730 stabilizer.

Cargill Inc.

Cargill Inc. operates its business through segments such as Agriculture, Animal nutrition, Beauty, Bioindustrial, Food Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Industrial, Meat poultry, and Others. The company offers alcohol natural ingredients for food uses by fermentation of sugars and starches. This alcohol is used by many European spirits producers in their leading brands, including vodkas, gins, jenevers, liquors, pastis, and cream liquors.

If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extract FREE! Get report snapshot here to get detailed market share analysis of market participants during COVID-19 lockdown: https://www.technavio.com/report/alcohol-ingredients-market-industry-analysis

Alcohol Ingredients Market 2021-2025: Segmentation

Alcohol ingredients market is segmented as below:

Product Beer Spirits Wine

Application Flavors And Salts Colorants Others

Geography Europe North America APAC South America MEA



The alcohol ingredients market is driven by the growing popularity of flavored alcohol products. In addition, other factors such as the rising popularity of alcohol made from plant-based ingredients are expected to trigger the alcohol ingredients market toward witnessing a CAGR of about 10% during the forecast period.

Get more insights about the global trends impacting the future of the alcohol ingredients market, Request Free Sample https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR46601

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About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005632/en/

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PFAS investigation in Pellston completes second round of samples

Officials discovered polyfluoroalkyls in Pellston residential water sources in late 2019. The airport is believed to be the source of the substances.
The government has approved the construction of over 1.68 lakh (168,000) houses in urban areas under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, taking the total number of houses sanctioned so far to 1.1 crore (11 million), according to a statement on Thursday.

The Union and Urban Affairs Ministry said that the decision was taken at a meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) where officials from 14 states and union territories participated on Wednesday.

The statement said that the houses sanctioned by the CSMC are proposed to be constructed in verticals like beneficiary-led construction, affordable in partnership and in-situ slum redevelopment under the (Urban).

"The states also put in their proposals for revision of projects due to various issues such as, of land, topographical hazards, inter-city migration and change of preferences of verticals among others," the ministry said.

Under PMAY-U, 41 lakh houses have been completed so far while construction is in various stages in more than 70 lakh houses.

"Construction of 1,68,606 new houses have been approved in the meeting of the Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) under the (Urban)," the ministry said.

The PMAY(U), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015, aims to ensure " for all by 2022". The government has set a target of 1.12 crore houses to be constructed in urban areas in the country over a period of seven years from 2015 to 2022.

"The progress under the Mission (PMAY-U) has been steady. We have to move towards completion of houses with all the basic physical and social infrastructure," Ministry Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra was quoted as saying in a statement.

Mishra said, "The states/UTs will focus on completion and delivery of houses to beneficiaries."



The secretary urged states and union territories to expedite the implementation of the Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHCs) scheme.

"All the states/UTs may also learn from the six Light House Projects (LHPs) initiated in six cities , namely, Agartala (Tripura), Ranchi (Jharkhand), Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Rajkot (Gujarat) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). The technology can be replicated and scaled across the country for mass housing," he said.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has concluded that Russia committed rights violations -- including torture and preventing people from returning to their homes -- after a five-day war with Georgia in 2008, a ruling the Caucasus nation immediately hailed as a victory.



In its verdict made on January 21, the ECHR said that about 160 Georgian civilians captured by Russian troops faced "humiliating acts which had caused them suffering and had to be regarded as inhuman and degrading treatment", adding that Georgian prisoners had been subjected to "arbitrary detention."



The conflict erupted in August 2008 and ended after less than a week with Russian soldiers remaining in Georgia's regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Moscow then declared were independent states.



Georgia filed a lawsuit against Russia saying it violated the European Convention on Human Rights during the war and after it.



Russia has said it had to intervene to protect its citizens and peacekeepers from extermination by launching an operation against Georgia to bring about peace.



According to the ruling, "there had been an administrative practice...as regards the acts of torture of which the Georgian prisoners of war had been victims."



The court also ruled that Russia was responsible for many Georgian nationals being prevented from returning to South Ossetia or Abkhazia after the war, and ordered Russia "to carry out an adequate and effective investigation" into such cases.



The ECHR stated that the events during the active phase of hostilities in the war had not fallen within Russia's jurisdiction and declared this part of Georgias application inadmissible, as no side enjoyed effective control over the war-affected territories.



Despite part of the ruling going against Georgia, President Salome Zurabishvili hailed the court decision as a "victory for the whole of Georgia."



"The (Georgian) state is recognized as a victim of this war and it is a great achievement for our country, our society, our history and for the future," she said.



"It is the basis on which we must build our future and unity," she added.



Just a small handful of other countries have followed Russias lead in recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia's independence, while Tbilisi and other countries consider the two breakaway regions to be Georgian.

With reporting by AFP
Extremely well-crafted piece of work. Hollywood Reporter praises Slovak film about holocaust

The film is a Slovak candidate for the Oscars.

To find a novel approach to the Holocaust is definitely a challenge, and yet director Peter Bebjak has told an unfamiliar but revealing story in The Auschwitz Report, Slovakias submission for the best international film of 2020.

This is praise indeed from the Hollywood Reporter magazine found in a review of a Slovak film about Alfred Wetzler and Rudolf Vrba, two Slovak Jews who escaped from Auschwitz in 1944 and wrote a report about the mass slaughter that was ongoing there.

video //www.youtube.com/embed/D4RHGPF2VMg

Like the Oscar-winning Son of Saul and some other graphic Holocaust movies, The Auschwitz Report can be difficult to watch, Hollywood Reporter wrote. But there is no question that it is an extremely well-crafted piece of work.

Slovak candidates for Oscars

The website describes that we see enough of the rituals of the camp and the brutality of the commanders to understand the nightmare, but the film mostly means to honour the determination of these two prisoners who persisted in order to tell their story.

Read an interview with the director: People have forgotten what Nazism resulted in Read more

This harrowing but well-made film reminds us of the importance of giving testimony to atrocity and injustice, a theme that retains its relevance in our troubling new century marked by a rise in authoritarian regimes around the world, Hollywood Reporter summed up.

Slovakia has sent The Report to the Oscars, where it will compete for a best foreign language film nomination. The film will be screened throughout the United States.

I think that we must create more films that remind us that, as humanity and a community, we have absolutely failed and have allowed people to deny basic human rights and persecute their citizens, whether for their religion, sexual orientation or free expression of their opinions, said director Peter Bebjak in an interview with Sme daily.

21. Jan 2021 at 17:49 | Compiled by Spectator staff


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With the continuing pandemic further short-circuiting the global economy, businesses and consumers are finding more convenient ways of paying their dwindling financial resources. The pandemic jump-started a shift to online buying. That, in turn, helped to accelerate the adoption of digital, contactless, and invisible payments.

This new cashless concept and the related back-end changes by banks to adopt real-time payments (RTP) are becoming increasingly popular; and have set into motion the potential for a ripple effect throughout the e-commerce ecosystem.

While it was already underway prior to the pandemic, the worldwide shift to digital payments has been accelerated by the crisis. The global digital payments market grew by nearly 24 percent in 2020 to US$4.9 trillion, according to the research data analyzed and published by Finnish financial website Sijoitusrahastot.

That report shows the global digital payments market grew by 21 percent YoY in transaction value last year. It projects that the market's total transaction value will grow by 23.7 percent to reach $4.93 trillion. The number of users is also set to increase by 10.1 percent to reach $3.47 billion.

As a result of the growing digital payment infrastructure brought on by COVID-19, payments will continue to clear and settle fast in 2021 and become more embedded in businesses. This will make the process of initiating payments faster and easier for end customers, predicted Scott Johnson, head of product at Western Union Business Solutions.

"In the not-so-distant future, everyday Internet of Things (IoT) devices will become the new payment portal, making it possible for smart appliances and wearables to complete purchases. As technology becomes more sophisticated, and society continues to bring smart devices into their homes, these 'invisible payments' will become more mainstream, while physical payment methods become relics of the past," according to Igal Rotem, CEO of smart payments provider Credorax.

Money Revolution

During the last year, consumers have had to adjust from paying with e-wallets in stores to making automatic payments through apps. Now consumers can add the experience of other payment infrastructures positioned to set a new standard, noted Vince Graziani, Boston-based CEO of IDEX Biometrics.

The growing use of contactless payments is morphing with other forms of digital payments to contribute to a radical move to a cashless economy. Another aspect to consider is the role that real-time payments bring to the overall approach to the developing digital money system.

Contactless payment refers to the backroom realities banks engage within the money payment system. It provides a secure method for consumers to purchase products or services using a debit, credit, smartcard, or another payment device. The exchange corridor involves using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and near-field communication (NFC).

Consumers pay by tapping a payment card or other device near a point-of-sale terminal that runs contactless payment technology. This payment method is also called "tap and go."

A related technology is working its way into the money payment fray. The impetus for this is that it's even more hidden than the contactless payment method. The credit for this goes to the ubiquitous use of IoT devices that can become a shopper's primary payment portal, requiring little interaction with vendors.

"Ultimately, contactless or invisible payments will culminate in the consolidation of players within the digital payments industry. This will include the decline of smaller players," Graziani told the E-Commerce Times.

Before COVID-19 struck, nearly half of U.S. consumers were unaware of the term contactless payments. But now, the vast majority of American shoppers expect and demand touch-free payment options for a safe and secure experience, he noted.

Technology Underway

A big part of the consumer adoption process for these new payment methods are shoppers' familiarity with biometric fingerprint technology, according to Graziani.

IDEX Biometrics fingerprint sensors and biometric solutions are used in touch-free smart cards and devices.

"Most people understand the concept of biometric fingerprint payment technology because they are used to unlocking their phones and authenticating payment apps. The technology is available now and is already embedded in our everyday lives for identity verification," he explained.

Fingerprint biometrics will be integral to the future of digital identity. It is already priced for a mass market, he added.

The U.S. was largely viewed as lagging behind in digital payment technology. A silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that overall contactless usage in the U.S. has grown 150 percent YoY as of May 2020, according to Visa. The World Health Organization encouraged societies to go cashless. So contactless and emerging technologies are garnering rapid adoption -- especially in North America, noted Graziani.

According to Forbes, the U.S. mobile payment market -- currently only sixth in the world -- has increased 41 percent and is worth more than $98 billion.

Payment Nirvana

Some in the digital payments industry see these new biometric payment options as an all-in-one money consolidation system. This includes gadgets connected to the IoT network, which makes it possible for smart appliances and wearables to complete purchases as well.

Transactions are handled by third-party or branded mobile apps that conceal bank details. All it takes to pay is the press of a finger on a button in an app.

This process resembles a one-click purchase transaction. The difference is it happens in a physical environment where the phone becomes a one-stop checkout counter.

The driver of the adoption of this technology is directly tied to the chain of trust to expand fingerprint biometrics. This approach works for things like payments in mass transit, entrance to events like stadiums, health care records, voter identification, or access to IoT devices, Graziani explained.

He sees biometric fingerprint technology as essential for the new cashless payment industry. It is hygienic, secure, and protects individual privacy. Security is another built-in benefit.

The data for biometric fingerprints is only stored on the consumer's payment card or app. This avoids potential abuses from cloud security holes, making it potentially hack proof.

"Eventually, I envision that biometric fingerprint technology will drive the convergence of digital identity and authentication with applications in healthcare, IT, and myriad of other industries that are dependent on digital technology," said Graziani.

Why Banks Back RTP

The back end that runs the way banks handle the actual transfer of funds to cover digital payments is being upgraded. One solution for real-time payments seems to have the edge and is ready to go mainstream this year, according to Dimitri Dadiomov, cofounder & CEO of Modern Treasury.

"The Federal Reserve's competing real-time payment railway, FedNow, will not deploy until 2023 or 2024. When it does, companies will have two real-time, bank-connected, choices -- which should lead to increased service and competitive costs," he told the E-Commerce Times.

This diagram illustrates a completed payment over the FedNow Service in its simplest form. The process is designed to take place within seconds.

Dadiomov sees five reasons RTP will go mainstream this year. Perhaps the most pressing reason as far as banks are concerned is it will fend off efforts by Mastercard and Visa to enable their own non-card faster payments system.

Another key reason is the pandemic has hastened the adoption of many things digital, including payments. This has created an increased expectation of immediacy.

A third reason is a need for vendors and businesses to have speedy payments to meet the pace of transactions and keep a close watch on cash. This is especially critical given pandemic pressures on many SMBs, he noted.

Fourth, real-time payments include details about the transaction along with the transaction, so books can be immediately reconciled. This process can help take the cost and hassles out of accounting.

The fifth reason for banks to support RTP is to gain the benefits of upgrading technology. Companies want to cut cost and time out of all business processes.

"The current ACH system was designed in the 1970s and is ripe for updating," said Dadiomov.

Digital Payment Adoption

Security remains a primary concern by both vendors and consumers, noted Graziani. The onus is on financial services providers and retailers to protect consumers during the payment transaction process.

"Even small mom and pop [establishments] like ice cream stands in rural areas have moved away from cash-only businesses and have embraced digital payment options like Square," he said.

Payment systems that require biometric authentication will eliminate existing fraud by signatures being forged, PINs being cracked, or online accounts being hacked. Fingerprints are virtually impossible to replicate.

"I fully expect that the U.S. will become a mostly cashless society within a year due to COVID, as opposed to the three-to-five-year timeline before the pandemic," predicted Graziani.

How Biometric Security Works

Biometric fingerprint payment cards provide end-to-end encryption. This process secures the user's card and data, according to Graziani.

A fingerprint biometric card allows users to authenticate their ID by touching their finger to the card's sensor while holding it over the contactless card machine. Shoppers only have to hold their own cards over the PoS system.

The entire transaction process is free of public PIN pads or checkout counters. This makes it no different from how consumers currently use contactless payments cards.

"This touch-free payment technology provides the consumer with the convenience of contactless, or a mobile payment, but with far greater security, as the card is personally tied to the owner," he explained.

Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open-source technologies. He is an esteemed reviewer of Linux distros and other open-source software. In addition, Jack extensively covers business technology and privacy issues, as well as developments in e-commerce and consumer electronics. Email Jack.


Muller says 95 workers are currently self-isolating

Muller, the Germany-headquartered dairy giant, has confirmed a slew of Covid-19 infections at one of its UK plants, along with the death of an employee.

The facility in the town of North Petherton in Somerset, south-west England, has seen 47 staff test positive for the virus out of 95 who are self-isolating, a company spokesperson for Muller Milk & Ingredients said in a statement sent to just-food.

"Sadly, we can also confirm that a colleague has passed away after being admitted to hospital with Covid-19. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased at this time.

"With support from Public Health England and the local council we are ensuring that the entire workforce at Bridgwater is being tested for the presence of Covid-19."

As a precaution, Muller has reduced production at the site, with other dairies stepping in to support manufacturing needs, although the company stressed "fresh milk processing is highly-automated, ensuring no risk to products".

Muller said it had taken a number of measures across its network to protect employees during the pandemic prior to the cases at North Petherton.

"Standard measures in place include the use of facemasks, distancing, enhanced deep cleaning and hygiene, underpinned by a programme of e-learning, information and audits to ensure compliance and awareness of the measures," the statement read.
SEATTLE, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Born to two parents who never graduated from high school, University of Richmond President Ronald A. Crutcher has spent a lifetime navigating between worlds. First as a Black classical cellist; then as a thinker and academic who grew up to shape the futures of thousands of young people.

In I Had No Idea You Were Black, Dr. Crutcher takes readers on his journey, which unfolded against the backdrop of America's Civil Rights Movement. As a child musician, he met with Coretta Scott King. As an educator, he sat at Maya Angelou's holiday table. But it is Dr. Crutcher's success as a Black intellectual navigating highly charged social issues that makes his story both timely and unforgettable.

"During a time of intense social and political friction, we hope Dr. Crutcher's surprising memoir can help communities and institutions navigate cultural divides and offer essential lessons," said Claudia Rowe, editor-in-chief for Clyde Hill Publishing.

As a bookish, overweight boy, Ron Crutcher learned the formative power of mentorship through a chance meeting at a music competition that opened him to the possibilities contained within every life. I Had No Idea You Were Black chronicles this awakening and how it led to his own mission to improve access, affordability and inclusivity on liberal arts campuses.

Graced with a foreword by journalist and Civil Rights pioneer Charlayne Hunter-Gault, I Had No Idea You Were Black tells of Dr. Crutcher's sometimes bumpy moments navigating cancel culture at the University of Richmond. It describes his encounters with the limitations of Northeast liberalism. And it presents his views about the true meaning of functional diversity. Echoing throughout is Dr. Crutcher's unwavering belief in the value of inquiry, and the necessity for American citizens to rededicate ourselves to the practice of actively listening to one another.

"In this compelling and courageous book, Ron Crutcher describes his remarkable journey as a musician, educator, and human being. The details of this journey make for an inspiring story, and they also reveal key lessons that allowed him to become one of the most admired leaders in American higher education. Readers will appreciate his engaging approach and also the enlightening insights he provides into the complexities of race and racism in our society."

-Freeman Hrabowski, president of University of Maryland, Baltimore County and author of Holding Fast to Dreams

I thought I knew Ron well, but this book has been a revelation: a compelling, page-turner about his exceptional life and the many people along the way who lifted him up as well as a few who tried to hold him back. It highlights the complexities of race in America and in the rarified world of elite musicians, offering practical lessons about how to lead with grace and dignity in a time of division and intolerance.

-Roger Brown, Berklee College of Music

About Ronald A. Crutcher

A national leader in higher education and a distinguished classical musician, Ronald Crutcher became President and Professor of Music at the University of Richmond in 2015. Previously, he served for ten years as President of Wheaton College in Massachusetts. At both institutions, Dr. Crutcher has promoted access, affordability, and inclusive excellence. He writes and speaks widely on the democratic purposes and civic mission of higher education. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Miami University in Ohio, Dr. Crutcher earned his master's and doctoral degrees at Yale University. He is a former member of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and sits on the board of the Richmond Symphony. He currently performs in the U.S. and Europe as a longtime member of The Klemperer Trio.

About Clyde Hill Publishing

Clyde Hill Publishing is an independent, small press focusing on books by, for and about founders, innovators, thinkers and tinkerers. Find them on Twitter @ClydeHillPub. Contact: [email protected].

SOURCE Clyde Hill Publishing

Related Links

http://www.clydehillpublishing.com


CHICAGO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- newtrul, a world-class freight aggregation platform, has partnered with MercuryGate, the largest and rapidly growing independent SaaS transportation management system (TMS) provider, to integrate the newtrul platform within the TMS to enable efficient freight matching for users. Following demands for a faster, lower-cost solution to truck procurement, newtrul and MercuryGate have answered the call for meaningful digital transformation.

The integration, which requires zero operational changes for MercuryGate users, allows brokers and shippers to tap into underutilized carrier capacity hidden within their existing carrier networks. MercuryGate customers retain ownership of their proprietary data and they are encouraged to maintain relationships with their carrier partners.

Brokers and shippers control which carriers are granted access to their available shipments, but they are not limited to their pre-approved networks. MercuryGate clients also benefit from a Referral Tool, which shares available shipments with more than 53,000 newtrul carriers, contributing to the billions of dollars of available freight in the platform. By blending outreach to both new and existing partners, shippers, brokers, and carriers are more likely to find and book relevant loads.

MercuryGate users access the newtrul workflow via API which allows for seamless implementation and onboarding in weeks. The technology empowers users to leverage automation and digital matching capabilities to increase efficiency and reduce costs. As a low-risk solution, users only pay transactional fees if and when a booking occurs.

"newtrul is committed to reducing the operational touch points associated with bookings, effectively lowering the cost to serve for all market participants," said newtrul CEO, Ed Stockman. "Instead of spending hours searching for carriers through traditional, manual processes, brokers using MercuyGate get set up with more meaningful carriers and book shipments without ever picking up the phone. The integration allows MercuryGate users to search for, review and execute loads faster without leaving the MercuryGate platform, saving significant time and costs on bookings."

Jeffrey Varon, Chief Strategy Officer at MercuryGate International, commented on the newtrul partnership:

"Our collaboration with newtrul provides MercuryGate customers with a technology enabled solution that helps them realize additional cost savings while improving productivity and gaining operational efficiencies. Helping brokers find capacity and execute loads for their customers, at competitive rates, is paramount in today's digital transportation marketplace.

"newtrul and MercuryGate provide an accessible procurement solution without the operational disruptions often associated with other platforms. The balance between robust technology and simplicity ensures far reaching benefits for brokers, shippers, and carriers alike."

About newtrul

newtrul is a leading freight aggregation platform for truckload shipping in North America. Through integrations, newtrul aggregates shipment data and provides a metasearch engine for carriers to search, bid and book loads. newtrul is no-cost to carriers and is funded by successfully booked transactions. For more information, visit https://www.newtrul.com/ or submit your inquiries to [email protected].

About MercuryGate

MercuryGate provides powerful transportation management solutions proven to be a competitive advantage for today's most successful shippers, 3PLs, freight forwarders, brokers, and carriers. MercuryGate's solutions are unique in their native support of all transportation modes on a single platform including Parcel, LTL, Truckload, Air, Ocean, Rail, and Intermodal. Through the continued release of innovative, results-driven technology and a commitment to making customers successful, MercuryGate delivers exceptional value for TMS users through improved productivity and operational efficiency. MercuryGate offers business intelligence to improve transportation processes, increase customer satisfaction, and reduce costs. Find out why MercuryGate has set the industry standard for the most adaptable, comprehensive transportation solutions suite in the industry at www.mercurygate.com or on Twitter at @MercuryGate .

SOURCE newtrul, inc

Related Links

https://www.newtrul.com


A 29-year-old Houston man was arrested and charged this week in the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, whose remains were found in October at a northwest Harris County park, officials said.

Javon Gilbert was charged Wednesday with murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of 29-year-old Emmishae Kirby, according to Harris County court records.

Kirby disappeared Sept. 18 and her body was found Oct. 3 near Bear Creek Pioneers Park following a weeks-long search. An autopsy determined Kirby's death was caused by homicidal violence.

The young woman was the life of the party and never met a stranger, according to a GoFundMe page created to assist search efforts. Kirby loved her family and had a bright future ahead of her, the fundraiser said.

The couple broke up in September after Gilbert allegedly sexually assaulted Kirby, prosecutors said during an early Thursday probable cause hearing.

But following the break-up, investigators said the ex-boyfriend showed up uninvited multiple times at Kirby's apartment, including one incident when he snuck in at night and stood over her bed with a knife, refusing to let her leave.

On Sept. 18, surveillance footage reviewed by investigators shows Gilbert getting into the passenger seat of Kirby's car. The pair was seen at a restaurant and a gas station before returning to the apartment, according to evidence presented at the hearing. That was the last night Kirby was seen or heard from.

In the early morning hours of Sept. 19, video shows Gilbert carrying a large, heavy item out of the apartment and putting it in the back of Kirby's car. He returned an hour later and parked the car in a different location. Gilbert returned to the apartment multiple times and removed other items, including a sofa he threw in a dumpster, prosecutors alleged.

Judge Brian Warren set bail at $250,000 for the murder charge and $50,000 for the tampering charge, court records show. Gilbert remained in custody as of Thursday morning and did not appear at the probable cause hearing due to mental health reasons, according to court records.

A preliminary court appearance was scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 08:09:34|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

PARIS -- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France hit a two-month high at 26,784, health authorities said on Wednesday.

A higher daily tally, at 28,393, was registered on Nov. 18, 2020, according to official data.

- - - -

SANTIAGO -- The Chilean Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported 3,583 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, for a total of 680,740, amid a surge in infections in the middle of summer.

Health authorities also reported 21 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll in the South American country to 17,594.

- - - -

TUNIS -- Tunisian Health Ministry on Wednesday night reported 3,890 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections to 188,373.

The death toll from the virus rose by 77 to 5,921 in the North African country, the ministry said in a statement.

- - - -

QUITO -- Ecuador registered 1,747 COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours, for a total of 234,315 cases, the Ministry of Public Health reported Wednesday.

In its daily report, the ministry also reported 35 deaths from the virus in the same period, bringing the death toll to 9,810, in addition to 4,627 "probable deaths" from the virus.

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- Israel's Ministry of Health reported 9,089 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number in the country to 574,718.

The death toll from COVID-19 in Israel reached 4,174 after 94 new fatalities were added, while the number of patients in serious condition increased from 1,147 to 1,163, out of 1,880 hospitalized patients.

- - - -

RAMALLAH -- Palestinian Health Minister Mai al-Kaila on Wednesday announced that Palestine recorded 10 new deaths and 497 new COVID-19 cases in the Palestinian territories, bringing the total infections to 172,896 and the death toll to 1,918.

Meanwhile, Director of Hospitals in the Palestinian Ministry of Health Najja Nazzal told Xinhua that there is a big decrease in the occupancy rate in hospitals and medical centers that treat coronavirus patients.

- - - -

RABAT -- Morocco's COVID-19 tally rose to 462,542 on Wednesday as 1,152 new cases were registered during the past 24 hours.

According to a statement by the Ministry of Health, the death toll mounted to 8,043 as 32 COVID-19 patients died in the last 24 hours. Enditem
Complaints against the pipeline to transport gas from Russia to Germany and other European states now have to be backed by convincing arguments.

Germany's federal maritime regulator BSH says the construction work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline could be stopped for an indefinite period in German waters but opponents still need to give detailed reasons to justify the halt.

Two environmental groups this week filed complaints with BSH against a move to expand the period during which construction work could theoretically take place, effectively preventing further work on the pipeline for the time being, Reuters wrote on January 21.

Read alsoFund created in Germany to support Nord Stream 2 completionComplaints against the pipeline to transport gas from Russia to Germany and other European states now have to be backed by convincing arguments but there is no fixed deadline to file these, BSH President Karin Kammann-Klippstein told a news conference.

"It's not in our hands," she told journalists, saying BSH would assess any reasons swiftly once they were submitted.

The United States, a fierce opponent of Nord Stream 2, this week imposed sanctions on a ship involved in building the pipeline to take Russian natural gas to Europe.

Meanwhile, European Union lawmakers are expected to back a resolution on Thursday calling for the bloc to stop the completion of the pipeline in response to the arrest of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Nord Stream 2: Background

The Nord Stream 2 project envisages the construction and operation of two gas pipeline branches with a total throughput capacity of 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year from the coast of Russia through the Baltic Sea to Germany. It should connect Russia's Ust-Lug and Germany's Greifswald. This new pipeline bypassing Ukraine is to be built next to the existing Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

The construction of the pipeline was expected to be completed before the end of 2019.

The pipeline will be 1,220 km long. The project is being implemented by Russia's Gazprom in alliance with European companies  ENGIE, OMV, Royal Dutch Shell, Uniper, and Wintershall. Ukraine stands against the construction of Nord Stream 2 as it will most likely lose its status of a gas transit country, while its potential revenue losses are estimated at US$3 billion annually. The project is also highly criticized by the U.S., Poland, and the Baltic States.

According to media reports, U.S. President-elect Joe Biden intends to do his best to prevent the construction of Nord Stream 2.

On November 4, 2020, the media reported that U.S. Congress wanted to expand sanctions against Nord Stream 2 and TurkStream.

On December 4, 2020, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he doubted that the U.S. position on Nord Stream 2 would change after Joe Biden's inauguration.

On December 6, 2020, United States Charge d'Affaires to Germany Robin Quinville called on the EU and Germany to declare a moratorium on the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

On December 9, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with expanded restrictions against the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

On December 11, 2020, the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline resumed.

On December 29, 2020, it became known that the House of Representatives overcame Trump's veto on the NDAA containing sanctions against Nord Stream 2.

The United States is calling on European allies and private companies to halt work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, and is preparing broader sanctions against the Russian project in the coming weeks.

The U.S. Senate approved the 2021 NDAA, which provides for new sanctions against Russia's Nord Stream 2.

On January 7, 2021, the Mecklenburg-West Pomerania government approved the creation of the Mecklenburg Climate Protection Fund whose main objective is to help complete the Russian Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline by bypassing U.S. sanctions.

On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Department of State told European companies which it suspects are helping to build Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that they face the risk of seeing new sanctions.

On January 18, 2021, the United States warned allies in Europe about its intention to impose sanctions on the Russian ship Fortuna, which is participating in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The curbs on the Fortuna are expected to become effective as of January 19, 2021.

Reporting by UNIAN
She has jetted to the Maldives for 'work purposes' with friend Joanna Chimonides.

And Georgia Steel proved she was hard at work on Thursday as she took to Instagram to share behind-the-scenes snaps from her beach photoshoot.

The former Love Island star, 22, posted a video of herself posing up a storm in a tiny blue bikini at luxury hotel Velassaru Maldives.

Work it: Georgia Steel proved she was hard at work on Thursday as she took to Instagram to share behind-the-scenes snaps from her beach photoshoot in the Maldives

Georgia made a nod at her 'daily grind' as she added the GIF 'it's grind time babe' for the sizzling footage.

While she also posted a slew of pictures with friend and fellow Love Island star Joanna, 24, as they wore matching tiny blue bikinis.

Georgia also treated herself to an afternoon of tanning after her work duties as she shared another sultry swimwear snap.

'Work done, now time to tan!': The former Love Island star, 22, posted a video of herself posing up a storm in a tiny blue bikini before spending the afternoon tanning after her work duties

Cheeky! While she also posted a slew of pictures with friend and fellow Love Island star Joanna, 24, as they wore matching tiny blue bikinis

'it's grind time, babe': Georgia made a nod at her 'daily grind' as she added the GIF 'it's grind time babe' for the sizzling footage

The reality star showcased her toned figure in an orange strapless bikini top with striped high-rise thong bottoms.

Posing up a storm in her luxury accommodation's mirror, the former Love Island star captioned the photo with: 'Work done now time to tannnn.'

Georgia, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, has been documenting her sun-soaked Maldives getaway in detail for her 1.6million Instagram followers, which she has said is for 'work purposes'.

Busy bee: Georgia, who appeared on Love Island in 2018, has been documenting her sun-soaked Maldives getaway in detail for her 1.6million Instagram followers, which she has said is for 'work purposes'

'Work': Despite the UK being in national lockdown, Georgia and her friend Joanna Chimonides flew from Dubai to the Maldives, for 'work'

Despite the UK being in national lockdown, Georgia and her friend Joanna Chimonides flew from Dubai to the Maldives, for 'work'.

Georgia previously told her Instagram followers the 'work' trip had been planned for a long time and she was thankful it could go ahead despite the pandemic.

She captioned one snap: 'I feel so lucky to be able to travel with my job at the moment.

'I'm so grateful that I've been given the opportunity to work with @velassarumaldives for the next week and make memories that are going to last me a lifetime. I thank the universe every day.'

Thankful: Georgia previously told her Instagram followers the 'work' trip had been planned for a long time and she was thankful it could go ahead despite the pandemic

However, their fun-filled getaway might be overshadowed on their return as travellers returning to the UK need to present proof of a negative Covid test result.

New arrivals who flout the rules will face a minimum 500 fine, while the operator who transported them will also be fined.

Passengers will still have to quarantine for 10 days regardless of their test results, transport minister Robert Courts said in a statement.
She's busy filming the Hollywood adaptation of the opera Carmen in Australia.

But Elsa Pataky took a day off on Thursday and enjoyed some bonding time with her eight-year-old daughter, India Rose, in Sydney.

The Spanish actress, 44, looked chic in a black T-shirt and beige shorts as she took India to the Australian Museum in Darlinghurst.

Family day out! Actress Elsa Pataky took a day off from filming her latest project on Thursday and enjoyed some bonding time with her eight-year-old daughter, India Rose, in Sydney

Elsa teamed her outfit with a pair of cream sneakers, and slung an oversized bag over her shoulder.

The Byron Bay resident drew attention to her natural beauty by wearing minimal makeup for the occasion.

She styled her blonde hair loosely and looked cheerful as she spent time with her daughter, whom she shares with her husband, Chris Hemsworth.

Stunner: The Spanish actress, 44, looked chic in a black T-shirt and beige shorts as she took India to the Australian Museum in Darlinghurst

Gorgeous: She styled her blonde hair loosely and looked cheerful as she spent time with her daughter, whom she shares with her husband, Chris Hemsworth

Looking every bit as fashionable as her mum, India donned a black T-shirt and camo-print shorts for the fun-filled day out.

Their outing comes days after Elsa was spotted filming Benjamin Millepied's new movie, Carmen, at Sydney's Maroubra Beach.

Elsa's role hasn't been confirmed yet, but she took part in a lively scene in which a male co-star chased her across the beach.

Sweet: Looking every bit as fashionable as her mum, India donned a black T-shirt and camo-print shorts for the fun-filled outing

New project: Their outing comes days after Elsa was spotted filming Benjamin Millepied's new movie, Carmen, at Sydney's Maroubra Beach

Carmen, based on the opera of the same name, tells the story of a soldier who falls in love with an irresistible woman by the name of Carmen.

While the original was set in Spain, this adaptation will follow a Mexican woman's search for freedom in Los Angeles.

The production, which was originally slated to take place in Mexico and LA, relocated to Australia due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Half Moon Bay, CA (94019)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 57F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
The Instagram account of a teenager, 17, thought to be the love child of Vladimir Putin has been unearthed for the first time by the president's rival, Alexei Navalny.

Images show Elizaveta  known as Luiza - donning a Chanel face covering and living a life of luxury with a passion for designer brands including YSL, Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu, Tom Ford and Dolce & Gabbana.

Her mother Svetlana Krivonogikh, 45, is a housekeeper-turned-millionaire who began an affair with Putin in the late Nineties, while she was a cleaner and he was the married head of the FSB, before splitting up sometime in the early 2000s, after Yelizaveta was born, according to a report in Russian investigative site Proekt.

Krivonogikh is thought to have come into ownership of valuable stock options, including a majority stake in the Igora Ski Resort, 70 miles north of St Petersburg, which is a favourite haunt of Putin's, and another majority stake in the Leningrad Center performance venue.

It comes as Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny accused Vladimir Putin of using state cash to fund his secret mistresses in a new video issued after his arrest in Moscow.

17-year-old Elizaveta donned a Gucci facemask on her Instagram page

Elizaveta  known as Luiza  is said to be the love child of President Putin and former cleaner Svetlana Krivonogikh

Her daughter Luiza's Instagram was reportedly unearthed by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny

Miss Krivonogikh is said to have worked as a cleaner in a shop as a teenager before going to university.

She would accompany Putin on journeys in the late 1990s when she was in her 20s. The economics graduate is now said to have 8million of shares in Bank Rossiya, having suddenly come into money in 2000.

Her daughter Luiza's Instagram account was unearthed by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, according to a report in The Sun.

17-year-old Elizaveta  known as Luiza  is said to be the love child of President Putin and former cleaner Svetlana Krivonogikh

Posts on her account show taste in luxurious brands including YSL, Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu, Tom Ford, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana

Images show Luiza living a life of luxury amid the coronavirus pandemic

Posts on her account show taste in luxurious brands including YSL, Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu, Tom Ford, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Other images taken by Luiza show a tray of champagne and cocktails as she enjoys a life of luxury amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It comes as Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny accused Vladimir Putin of using state cash to fund his secret mistresses.

The Russian leader is said to have had an affair with Svetlana Krivonogikh and fathered Elizaveta, 17, during his first term as president

Navalny, 44, claimed that the Russian leader - who he labels the world's richest man - uses a 'slush fund' to cover the expenses of his other women and their families including his 17-year-old love child.

He has also claimed that Putin has a 1billion palace on the Black Sea with a red velvet pole-dancing boudoir and a casino.

The opposition leader - who was allegedly poisoned by a chemical nerve agent planted by an FSB hit squad - makes the allegations in a new video issued after his arrest in Moscow.

Navalny, 44, claimed that the Russian leader Vladimir Putin (pictured) - who he labels the world's richest man - uses a 'slush fund' to cover the expenses of his other women and their families including his 17-year-old love child

This comprises alleged partner Alina Kabaeva, a former gold-medal winning Olympic gymnast, and ex-mistress Svetlana Krivonogikh, who is reportedly the mother of his love child, Elizaveta now aged 17, he alleged.

The lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner claimed: 'Putin - as befits a person who imagines himself a monarch - has a rich and eventful personal life.'

'The needs of our humble president are not at all limited to the Black Sea palace,' said Navalny in a video report prepared before he flew back to Moscow and faced immediate arrest on Sunday.

'What about the relatives?

'You do not expect that they, like some ordinary people, will live on a salary? Everyone needs a place to live. Everyone needs a plane. Everyone needs a yacht.

'All this must be paid for. This means that we need a financial scheme and people who will fill this scheme with money.

Kremlin foe Alexei Navalny has accused Vladimir Putin of using state cash to fund his secret mistresses, including alleged partner Alina Kabaeva, a former gold-medal winning Olympic gymnast (pictured in a file photo in Moscow on September 16, 2016)

'This slush fund.is used by Putin in order to cover the expenses of family members.'

Former cleaner Krivonogikh, 45, 'was just a pretty young girl, but now she has turned into an incredibly rich woman, a shareholder of Rossiya Bank.

'No-one can understand how such happiness fell on Krivonogikh, who once worked as a cleaner.

'Here's the answer.

'Krivonogikh met Putin in the late 1990s, and in 2003, according to Proekt (media), she gave birth to his daughter Elizaveta.'

She then received a number of luxury apartments via oligarch friends of Putin, said Navalny.

'After Krivonogikh gave birth to Putin's child, a bunch of assets - including a 3 per cent stake in Rossiya Bank - were registered for her' - as was a yacht, the 118-ft yacht Aldoga.

'There can be no random women in this scheme,' he alleged.

As a scholar of Latin American politics at the University of Sydney, I have sometimes struggled to explain to my Australian students the phenomenon of populism.

How do you get intelligent young people, who have grown up in a country where politics is basically reasonable, to understand the appeal of a leader who claimed that Martian civilisation was destroyed by capitalism (Hugo Chavez, former president of Venezuela), who recorded a campaign jingle about himself called The Chinese Man who Dances (Alberto Fujimori, former president of Peru), or who first rose to fame for his participation in a military dictatorship and called his philosophy "Justice-ism" (Juan Peron, former president of Argentina)?

Juan Peron, former president of Argentina, and his wife Evita, in 1950. Credit:AP

It is no longer difficult. Thanks to Donald Trump, populism has ceased to be a mysterious phenomenon confined to less familiar parts of the world. For the past four years, it has been embodied by the man who, as the 45th president of the United States, had the proverbial nuclear codes at his fingertips.

Like all populists, Trump's rise was rooted in a rhetorical division of the world into the people versus the elites. Presenting himself as the champion of the former, he promised to use any means necessary to take on the "traitors" and "enemies of the people".
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Calgary's TC Energy Corp. is planning to eliminate more than 1,000 construction jobs related to its decision to halt work on its Keystone XL pipeline expansion project.

The company suspended work on the project Wednesday as U.S. President Joe Biden cancelled a key presidential permit for the pipeline border crossing.

TC Energy had earlier warned that blocking the project would lead to the layoffs of thousands of union workers building the pipeline.

The 1,947-kilometre pipeline is designed to carry 830,000 barrels a day of crude oil from Hardisty, Alta., to Steele City, Neb.

Some 200 kilometres of pipe have already been installed for the expansion, including across the Canada-U.S. border, and construction has begun on pump stations in Alberta and several U.S. states.

TC Energy announced a plan Sunday to eliminate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from Keystone XL's operations, even as its future appeared in doubt.
The Russian Federation and MP of Ukraine Viktor Medvedchuk are jointly trying to use the prisoners in their political interests, for which they plan to bring nine people from Russia to Ukraine through Belarus from Russia, who were held in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, which will be given an appropriate assessment, the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) said.

"Who are these persons, whether they were verified in the lists for release, which were discussed within the Trilateral Contact Group, the state of these persons is still unknown," the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG said in a statement, published on its Facebook page on Wednesday night.

The delegation said such activity of the Russian Federation, its attempts to use Medvedchuk, are a demonstrative step that suspends the procedures and practices implemented in the framework of the Trilateral Contact Group.

"The leadership of the Russian Federation thus neglects the agreements reached at the highest level in the Normandy format, in fact, humiliating the significance of the respective efforts of Germany, France and the OSCE," the delegation said.

The Ukrainian delegation said it is previously known that these nine people were "taken out" from the occupied territory of Ukraine, transported to Rostov, and kept there, preparing to "hand over" Medvedchuk.

According to Ukrainian state procedures, these persons, when crossing the Ukrainian border, will have to be placed on observation and carried out through a full check by special services, in fact, the Kremlin and Medvedchuk put these people under an additional burden, trying to take them out bypassing the official procedure for release through the TCG site.

"A deeply immoral attempt to use the fate of people who were held in the occupied territory for political and image purposes once again demonstrates to everyone that Medvedchuk is an inadequate person to the title of a Ukrainian citizen, and the Russian Federation is not capable of performing at this stage elementary procedures and practices, for which took responsibility. The leadership of the state and the Ukrainian special services will give these attempts an appropriate assessment. We are also waiting for a response from international partners," the Ukrainian delegation of TCG said.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
The basic schools in the Sunyani Municipality have recorded high attendance of pupils and students since re-opening after governments closure of schools for close to a year because of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.



A daily visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to some of the schools since Monday indicated pupils-students attendance had been more than 90 per cent.



At the Boahenkorkor Presbyterian Junior High School (JHS) 'B', classes were fully in session as at 0900 hours when the GNA visited the school on Tuesday.



Reverend Enestina Baah, the Headmistress told GNA in an interview that the school started preparation towards re-opening from Friday and major ground works, especially cleaning of the classrooms and the compound were done before Monday.



She said the stage was therefore set for immediate start of teaching and learning, adding the school had enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for both staff and students.



The GNA observed veronica buckets filled to the brim with water, hand sanitizers, bottles of liquid soaps and tissue papers had been placed at vantage points and the students were wearing their nose masks.



Mr. Kwasi Boanu, the acting Headmaster for the Boahenkorkor Presbyterian JHS 'A' in a related interview, urged parents to encourage their wards to strictly adapt wearing of the nose masks and observe the other health and safety protocols from home.



Ms. Joyce Manu, the acting Headmistresses at the Sunyani Presbyterian Primary A1, A2, said parents were cooperating with the schools management in combating the pandemic and commended them for their enthusiasm.

She explained the parents were coming to the school with their kids fully-armed with PPE from home.



The situation were not different from the Penkwase High Street JHS, Barhamiya Islamic Basic School and Wise Educational Complex, a private basic school.

GNA

Source: GNA









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China said on Wednesday it wanted to cooperate with President Joe Bidens new U.S. administration, while announcing sanctions against lying and cheating" outgoing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and 27 other top officials under Donald Trump.

The move was a sign of Chinas anger, especially at an accusation Pompeo made on his final full day in office that China had committed genocide against its Uighur Muslims, an assessment that Bidens choice to succeed Pompeo, Anthony Blinken, said he shared.

In a striking repudiation of its relationship with Washington under Trump, the Chinese foreign ministry announced the sanctions in a statement that appeared on its website around the time that Biden was taking the presidential oath.

Pompeo and the others had planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves, gravely interfered in Chinas internal affairs, undermined Chinas interests, offended the Chinese people, and seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations," it said.

The other outgoing and former Trump officials sanctioned included trade chief Peter Navarro, National Security Advisers Robert OBrien and John Bolton, Health Secretary Alex Azar, U.N. ambassador Kelly Craft and former top Trump aide Steve Bannon.

The 28 ex-officials and immediate family members would be banned from entering mainland China, Hong Kong or Macao, and companies and institutions associated with them restricted from doing business with China.

Pompeo and others sanctioned did not respond to requests for comment. The U.S. State Department also did not respond.

Brian OToole, a sanctions expert at the Atlantic Council think tank, saw Chinas move as retaliatory and political statements more than anything else."

I suspect they will default to more of a case-by-case application than a well-defined restriction," he said.

China has imposed sanctions on U.S. lawmakers in the past year, but targeting former and outgoing U.S. officials was an unusual expression of disdain.

Pompeo, who unleashed a barrage of measures against China in his final weeks in office, declared on Tuesday that China had committed genocide and crimes against humanity against Uighur Muslims.

Blinken said on Tuesday he agreed with the assessment.

The forcing of men, women and children into concentration camps; trying to, in effect, re-educate them to be adherents to the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party, all of that speaks to an effort to commit genocide," Blinken said.

China has repeatedly rejected accusations of abuse in its Xinjiang region, where a United Nations panel has said at least 1 million Uighurs and other Muslims had been detained in camps.

Responding to the Xinjiang allegations, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a media briefing: Pompeo has made so many lies in recent years, and this is just another bold-faced lie."

This U.S. politician is notorious for lying and cheating, is making himself a laughing stock and a clown."

Hua said China hoped the new administration will work together with China in the spirit of mutual respect, properly handle differences and conduct more win-win cooperation in more sectors."

We hope the new U.S. administration can have their own reasonable and cool-minded judgment on Xinjiang issues, among other issues."
By Kim Hyun-bin



Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon is aiming to utilize the latest IT technologies to enhance the corporation's competitiveness and to better prepare for times beyond COVID-19.



Cho stressed the importance of using accumulated data to strengthen the company's value and crisis management resolution capabilities.



"The future is about how well a company utilizes accumulated data to strengthen its competitiveness and crisis recovery opportunities," Cho said during this year's New Year message to employees.





Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-joon
A meteorite that fell in northern Germany in 2019 contains carbonates which are among the oldest in the solar system; it also evidences the earliest presence of liquid water on a minor planet. The high-resolution Ion Probe - a research instrument at the Institute of Earth Sciences at Heidelberg University - provided the measurements. The investigation by the Cosmochemistry Research Group led by Prof. Dr Mario Trieloff was part of a consortium study coordinated by the University of Munster with participating scientists from Europe, Australia and the USA.

Carbonates are ubiquitous rocks on Earth. They can be found in the mountain ranges of the Dolomites, the chalk cliffs on the island of Rugen, and in the coral reefs of the oceans. They remove large amounts of the greenhouse gas CO2 from the atmosphere, making them relevant for the climate. Unlike the Earth of today, there were no carbonate rocks during the formation of primordial earth, when our planet was blazing hot.

The meteorite that fell to Earth in September 2019, dubbed the Flensburg meteorite for where it was found, is classified as a carbonaceous chondrite, a very unusual and rare form of meteorite. According to Prof. Dr Addi Bischoff and Dr Markus Patzek from the University of Munster, the find is quite unique: "In the early Solar System, the rock was extensively exposed to a watery fluid and thus formed water-bearing silicates and carbonates." The researchers from the Institute for Planetology view the meteorite as a possible building block that may have delivered water to the planet Earth early on.

The Flensburg meteorite was dated at Heidelberg University using the ion probe. "Such measurements are extraordinarily difficult and challenging, because the carbonate grains in the rock are extremely small. Further, the isotopic measurements must be very precise, taken within a very tight range of just a few micrometres in diameter - thinner than a human hair," explains Thomas Ludwig of the Institute of Earth Sciences. The dating method is based on the rates of decay of a naturally occurring isotope - the decay of the short-lived radionuclide 53Mn, which was still active in the early Solar System.

"Using this method, the most precise age determinations thus far indicated that the parent asteroid of the Flensburg meteorite and the carbonates formed only three million years after the formation of the first solid bodies in the Solar System," explains Prof. Trieloff. The carbonates are therefore more than a million years older than comparable carbonates in other types of carbonaceous chondrites. Besides the age determinations based on the radionuclide 53Mn, the tiny carbonate grains were also examined for their carbon and oxygen isotope composition with the aid of the Heidelberg Ion Probe. The carbonates apparently precipitated out of a relatively hot fluid shortly after the formation and heating of the parent asteroid. "They therefore evidence the earliest known presence of liquid water on a planetary body in the early Solar System," states the cosmochemist.

###

In all, 41 researchers from 21 institutions in Germany, France, Switzerland, Hungary, Great Britain, the USA and Australia contributed to the study, which was published in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Work at the University of Munster was carried out under the auspices of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre "Late Accretion Onto Terrestrial Planets" (CRC TRR 170). The research at Heidelberg University was funded by the Klaus Tschira Foundation. Ruperto Carola acquired the ion probe with funding from the German Research Foundation.

[January 21, 2021] Digital Locations to Benefit from FCC Rule Update that Will Ease Deployment of 5G Small Cell Towers

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Locations, Inc. ( DLOC ), a developer of cell tower sites for the 5G revolution, today announced that it is likely to benefit from the recent change to the OTARD rules that will reduce barriers in the buildout of 5G and fixed-wireless networks throughout America.

Currently there are large groups of Americans throughout the country who cannot benefit from 5G and enhanced wireless technology due to legacy rules and regulations regarding locations of 5G antennas, said Bill Beifuss, President of Digital Locations. This recent rule change by the FCC will make it easier for companies like ours to install the necessary 5G equipment within the last square mile of coverage which will enable true high speed 5G service. Without antennas spaced every few hundred feet, 5G killer apps such as holographic gaming, remote surgery and self-driving cars are simply not possible. These exciting 5G killer applications being marketed by wireless providers are only possible with high speed and low latency wireless data transmission. 5G wireless technology can provide that and 5G small cell networks are essential parts of the high speed, low latency solution. The FCC expects up to 80% of new cell site deployments will be small cells. That is because small cells are the only way for operators to deploy 5G in the super high-speed millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum. Transmissions in mmWave spectrum can only travel a few hundred feet, due to the propagation characteristics of that band. Small cells overcome this limitation simply becaus they can be as small as a pizza box and are often installed on building roof tops, store fronts and so-called "street furniture" like light poles or streetlights.



At this time, there is no indication that the large wireless operators, such as Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile Sprint, plan to invest heavily in building small cells networks throughout the country. Instead, they are seeking partners to facilitate the buildout of these networks. Digital Locations is highly focused on this opportunity. Mr. Beifuss concluded, Historically, local regulation often prohibited the buildout of necessary wireless infrastructure even when property owners and wireless providers might have been willing to provide the services. With these changes to the OTARD rules, Digital Locations is well positioned to help make 5G a reality for businesses and consumers throughout the country.

About Digital Locations, Inc. Digital Locations, Inc., is a developer of cell tower sites for the 5G revolution. 5G wireless networks are expected to be 100 times faster than current 4G LTE networks. This will enable global scale killer applications such as self-driving cars, the Internet of things (IOT), mobile streaming of 4K videos, real-time hologram-based collaboration, and lag-free high definition gaming. To realize this vision, many new 5G antennas are needed because high frequency 5G signals cannot travel farther than 100 meters. It is estimated that more than 1 million new 5G cell towers must be added in the United States alone. To rapidly enter the market, Digital Locations plans to partner or co-develop a portfolio of cell tower sites to help meet the demands of 5G networks. Our goal is to become a landlord of tomorrows wireless communications assets. To learn more about Digital Locations please visit www.digitallocations.com Safe Harbor Statement Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein, and while expected, there is no guarantee that we will attain the aforementioned anticipated developmental milestones. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectations of the Company and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting the Company and its operations, markets, product, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently; and other factors detailed in reports filed by the Company.

Press Contact: communications@digitallocations.com (805) 456-7000

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It is time for the winter break and that means that drivers and teams can enjoy a well-deserved holiday. In the F1 Social Stint of GPblog.com you will find out what drivers and teams are doing in preparation for the Formula 1 season of 2021.

Aston Martin teasers

In preparation for the new Formula One season, it is natural for drivers to visit the factory, especially if you have switched teams. One of the most high-profile switches announced last year was of course that of Sebastian Vettel. He has left Ferrari behind to take his place alongside Lance Stroll at Aston Martin F1 Team. That team is now sharing teasers via Twitter that Vettel has arrived at the factory. More soon, no doubt.

We don't think you're ready for this. #IAMF1 pic.twitter.com/rmLYjMctBy  Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) January 26, 2021

Verstappen trains hard for a 'Full Send' in 2021

Max Verstappen is still training hard to be completely ready for the 2021 Formula 1 season. The Dutchman enjoyed a nice holiday, but is now back to work. On Twitter, the Dutchman posts a video of running in Monaco.

Leclerc very lucky to test in 'The Beast'

Charles Leclerc is very happy to be driving the 2018 Ferrari. The Monegasque made his debut at Ferrari in 2019, so he never drove the car with which Sebastian Vettel was seriously competing for the world title for a long time. It is Leclerc's first day back on the track after testing positive for the corona virus this winter.

Raikkonen and Giovinazzi have a race to load cars

Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi see competition in almost everything. Even when it comes to loading their cars for a holiday or a big move. Although Raikkonen doesn't seem to be too keen this time around.

Big move coming up? Call Kimi and Antonio @alfa_romeo pic.twitter.com/G86meIMYes  Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN (@alfaromeoracing) January 25, 2021

Giuliano Alesi follows in his father's footsteps

Giuliano Alesi today followed in the footsteps of his father Jean Alesi. Alesi sr. sat in a Ferrari F1 car for the first time in 1990. More than thirty years later it is the turn of son Giuliano. Alesi drove today during the Ferrari test at Maranello. Nice detail is that he drove with number 28 on his car, the number his father drove with during his Ferrari years. Jean Alesi drove for the Italian team from 1991 to 1995.

First images from Ferrari's test day at Fiorano

Ferrari will be at the Fiorano circuit this week, working with old cars to make some metres in 2021. Carlos Sainz gets the chance to step into the red car for the first time, but on Monday it is the turn of young talents first. Today Giuliano Alesi, Marcus Armstrong and Robert Shwartzman will step into the Ferrari ui 2018.

Ricciardo gets a warm welcome from McLaren fans

Daniel Ricciardo will be McLaren's new driver in 2021, after two years with Renault. The fans of the team from Woking are looking forward to the arrival of the Australian and let them know in a new video from McLaren. If this does not make you feel special as a driver, then what does?

No welcome to this team is complete without a word from our fans. Take it away, team...#FansLikeNoOther @DanielRicciardo pic.twitter.com/4AhNMyWUkL  McLaren (@McLarenF1) January 21, 2021

Hamilton speaks of historic day for America

Lewis Hamilton has made it clear on Twitter that he is delighted with the inauguration of Joe Biden as America's new president. According to Hamilton, it is a historic day, which will hopefully lead to a brighter future and more room for diversity. Hamilton wishes Biden and Kamala Harris the best of luck in their new roles.

A historic day in America. Today brings so much hope for the future, an example of diversity in leadership that I hope to see mirrored across industries and governments. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris, best of luck. pic.twitter.com/FX6t4PfpCu  Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) January 20, 2021

Mclaren reveals colours and new name of 2021 car

McLaren is just busy with the marketing team to hype up the new 2021 car as much as possible. In a new message on Twitter, we clearly see the colours orange and blue returning, but we also see the new name of the car. In big letters it says MCL35M. This suggests that the 2020 MCL35 will only be updated in name with the Mercedes engine, which is why the 'M' has been added to the car's name.

Alonso in the snow, Gasly in the gym

Now that there are no races, the drivers have a bit more free time than usual. Nevertheless, the new Formula 1 season is slowly approaching and that means that the training sessions are becoming more important again. Both Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly are working on that, but both in their own way. Alonso is braving the snow-covered mountains in Spain, while Pierre Gasly chooses the old familiar gym. Clearly in a slightly warmer capacity, in Dubai.

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram Een bericht gedeeld door Fernando Alonso (@fernandoalo_oficial)

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram Een bericht gedeeld door PIERRE GASLY (@pierregasly)

McLaren hopes Australian fans will be patient a little longer

The Australian fans will have to wait a little longer to see their hero, Daniel Ricciardo, in action in his own country. At McLaren, they have also thought about that and so a letter went out to the fans in Australia. Be patient and ask yourself one important question: How is the weather in November?

Bottas to rally in Lapland with unique helmet design

In the time that Valtteri Bottas is not in a Formula 1 car, he enjoys driving rallies. Because the Finn does this purely for fun and has no sponsor obligations, he can go to such rallies with unique helmets. For the Arctic Lapland Rally he will therefore be wearing a special helmet designed by his partner Tiffany Cromwell.

Grosjean is not yet allowed to go out into the cold, so he's going to cook

Romain Grosjean is getting better and better, but is not yet allowed to do everything. On Instagram, he tells us that his wife and children are out for a walk, but Romain's hands still can't cope with the cold. So he goes to work in the kitchen baking a chocolate cake.

Dit bericht bekijken op Instagram Een bericht gedeeld door Romain Grosjean (@grosjeanromain)
[January 21, 2021] Redefine Meat Teams Up with Israeli Meat Distributor Best Meister to Pull off World's Largest Carnivore-targeted Blind Tasting of Alternative Meat

- "There's a new meat in town" food truck attracted over 600 visitors who bought almost 1,000 meat dishes containing Alt-Meat products by Redefine Meat, including Alt-SteaksTM  selling out in just 5 hours - Blind taste-test surpassed expectations as unassuming meat-eaters from the general public found Redefine Meat's Alt-Meat indistinguishable from animal meat, with over 90% acceptance rate - Following pilot-test success, Redefine Meat announces a strategic partnership with premium-quality Israeli meat distributor, Best Meister, to commercialize Redefine Meat's products in Israel in H1/21 REHOVOT, Israel, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Israeli Alt-Meat innovator, Redefine Meat, today reveals the unprecedented success of the largest-scale public blind-tasting of Alt-Meat products targeting meat-eaters. Conducted recently with high-quality Israeli meat distributor, Best Meister, the companies launched a food truck concept named "There's a new meat in town" (see video). Following an overwhelming response from the public, Redefine Meat has formed a strategic partnership with Best Meister, who will distribute the company's Alt-Meat products commercially to Israeli restaurants and high-end butchers in the first half of 2021. First-of-its-kind large-scale blind test puts Alt-Meat truly to the test The two companies set up a carnivore-branded food truck in a small suburb of Tel-Aviv (Kidron, Israel), targeting up to 200 tastings in two days. The truck boasted staple Mediterranean meat foods, cooked to order, which were in fact Alt-Meat provided by Redefine Meat. Putting the meat experience truly to the test, the meat was served with little to no condiments or extras  focusing consumer senses entirely on the Alt-Meat's appearance, flavor and texture. Driven purely by cusomer satisfaction and word of mouth, over 600 visitors attended the food truck and purchased close to 1000 servings of meat  selling out in less than five hours. Upon revelation that the meat products were plant-based, consumer feedback demonstrated overwhelmingly that the Alt-Meat products were comparable to animal meat on key metrics such as taste, texture, and mouthfeel  with over 90% acceptance rate. All revenue from the event was donated to support local restaurants badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.



Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, CEO and Co-Founder of Redefine Meat comments: "We believe Alt-Meat should taste as good as animal meat  simple as that. Redefine Meat has achieved that with every product it has put to the test, transitioning the Alt-Meat conversation from health and sustainability and the view that 'this is really close' to 'wow this meat is super delicious'. The incredible results of the food truck exemplify this. We initially only expected 100 visitors a day, as the event was held in a small village due to COVID-19 restrictions. But through word of mouth, we ended up receiving over 600 customers in one day  with queues as long as 50 minutes. What this has shown is that meat lovers can enjoy our alternative meat because it tastes and feels like meat  not solely because it is better for the environment or animals." Strategic partnership to bring Alt-Meat products to masses in Israel

The success of the pilot test marks a historic moment for Redefine Meat, playing a pivotal role in the formation of a strategic partnership with Best Meister. Renowned for high-quality meat products, Best Meister will provide Redefine Meat the go-to-market infrastructure and reach to launch in the Israeli culinary sector. Best Meister will start commercially distributing Redefine Meat's Alt-Meat products to restaurants and high-end butcher shops within H1/21. Ori Zaguri, Best Meister CEO, comments: "We've been excited by Redefine Meat's unique alternative meat offering for a while, but the food truck event cemented it for us. Not only was consumer feedback overwhelmingly positive but Redefine Meat's technology will also provide us the scale to create a wide-variety of quality meat cuts for our customers on-demand from one single source. We believe the mass meat-eater market is ready for alternative meat of this quality and we are excited to be the first to deliver it to them." Ben-Shitrit adds: "We're honoured to be partnering with Best Meister, whose deep market expertise and reach will enable us to successfully launch our alternative meat in Israel. We have spent almost 3 years perfecting our products to ensure meat lovers never have to compromise on the experience they enjoy and love. Today, we take one step closer to making that a commercial reality." In July 2019, Redefine Meat unveiled the world's first Alt-Steak products using industrial digital manufacturing of plant-based ingredients. Created using the company's novel and patented technology, Redefine Meat products have the texture, flavor and appearance of beef, and can be produced in the volume and cost required for large-scale commercial markets. For more information on the event and Redefine Meat, please visit www.redefinemeat.com. About Redefine Meat Redefine Meat is leading a technological revolution in the food industry by creating craveable animal-free meat using proprietary industrial 3D printers. Founded in 2018, Redefine Meat has developed patent-pending technology that replicates the texture, flavor, and eating experience of beef and other high-value meat products. The company uses plant-based ingredients and technology as opposed to animals, allowing for a dramatically more efficient, sustainable, and moral way to produce meat without compromising on the experience. Redefine Meat's alt-meat is 95% more sustainable, significantly healthier and costs less than beef. www.redefinemeat.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423636/Redefine_Meat_Best_Meisters_food_truck.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423637/3D_Printed_Steak.jpg

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / (CSE:JNC)(OTC PINK:JNCCF)(Frankfurt:5VH) - JNC Resources Inc. ("JNC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that management have approved a Share Split on the basis of three (3) new common shares for every one (1) common share currently held by shareholders of the Company.

The Record Date for the Split will be Wednesday January 27, 2021 with the Company's shares commencing trading on the CSE (and the OTC) post-Split on Tuesday January 26, 2021 (settlement on January 27, 2021). There are currently 20,162,000 issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company and after the Split, unless there are issuances in the interim, there will be 60,486,000 issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company. The Split will be carried out by way of the "push out" method requiring no action on the part of shareholders.

JNC CEO Michael Mulberry states, "We are extremely excited to effect the Split and view this corporate development as a positive event for the company. With the Split complete we are able to focus on exploration of our portfolio of properties. I also look forward to future updates on our previously announced LOI with SPML and their portfolio of Australian properties"

About JNC Resources Inc.

JNC is a North American-based junior venture mineral exploration company with a goal to develop under-explored properties and benefit from deal flow generated by strategic partnerships and growth opportunities. Currently the Company is developing its 100% optioned Triple 9 Project in South Central British Columbia. The Triple 9 Project is a gold property with a new discovery of high levels of base metals, located 20 km from the town of Sicamous. JNC also has an option agreement with Great Basin Resources to acquire 100% control and interest in the Imperial Project in Nevada. The Imperial Property is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, which has been a prolific mining area in the state. The Property is in close proximity to the town of Goldfields, where gold production occurred in the early part of the 20th century. JNC also just optioned the Malebo and Solomon claims in the province of NSW Australia, which we are excited to explore in 2021.

For further information please contact:

Michael Mulberry

T: 778-855-5001

info@jncresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur.

Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in applicable forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in such statements.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

SOURCE: JNC Resources Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625097/JNC-Resources-Announces-31-Share-Split
Researchers from the University Hospitals in Zurich and Basel, ETH Zurich, University of Zurich and the pharmaceutical company Roche have set out to improve cancer diagnostics by developing a platform of state-of-the-art molecular biology methods. The "Tumor Profiler" project aims to derive the comprehensive molecular profile of tumours in cancer patients, which has the potential to predict the efficacy of a host of new cancer medications. It will therefore make it possible to offer treating physicians personalised and improved therapy recommendations.

Three years ago, the researchers began a large-scale clinical study involving 240 patients suffering from metastatic skin cancer (melanoma), metastatic ovarian cancer, or acute myeloid leukaemia. The thorough investigation of these patients' tumours provides the researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the cellular composition and biology of each tumour. The researchers recently published details of their study design in an article in the journal Cancer Cell.

Investigating at the single-cell level

What's new about the "Tumor profiler" study is that it harnesses a suite of advanced tumour-testing methods to gain new insights by exploring how these can be combined in a clinically meaningful way. The study ventures far beyond the current use of molecular biology methods practised in leading hospitals. "We've brought together all the cutting-edge technology available at ETH Zurich and the project partners. Working with physicians from Zurich and Basel, we've developed an advancement in oncology, one that serves the patients," says Mitch Levesque, professor at the University Hospital Zurich and one of the article's corresponding authors.

The scope of testing includes the cancer cells' DNA, RNA and proteins. Single-cell level data provides the researchers an understanding of each tumour's cellular diversity, which includes not only cancer cells, but also immune cells. "We examine the entire tumour and its microenvironment," says Andreas Wicki, senior physician at the University Hospital Zurich. Part of the analysis also includes functional tests, in which biopsies of the tumour are treated with drugs in the laboratory to see if the drugs work. Information from medical imaging and other patient data is also taken into account.

Informing treatment decisions

"We end up with vast amounts of data for each patient, which we prepare and analyse using data science methods," says Gunnar Ratsch, professor at ETH Zurich and another corresponding author of the publication. The Tumor Profiler findings are then made available to the treating physicians, who discuss them at the interdisciplinary tumour board sessions. Since in science, detailed molecular tests are referred to with terms with the suffix -omics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics), this approach which encompasses very many "omics areas" is called a multi-omics approach.

"We want the Tumor Profiler study to show that the widespread use of advanced profiling methods in oncology is not only possible but offers specific clinical benefits," says Viola Heinzelmann, Head of Gynecological Oncology at the University Hospital Basel, and a senior author of the study. This is why the study also focuses on whether and how molecular analyses may have influenced a physicians' treatment decisions.

In the long-term, the Tumor Profiler approach aims to expand treatment options for patients in terms of personalised medicine. This involves addressing the question of whether certain patients would benefit from medications that do not belong to the standard range of oncological treatments but are approved for other types of cancer.

Data collection for the Tumor Profiler study will end in two months' time, after which the research team will analyze the data and present the results.

###

This study was funded partly by Roche and partly by the participating universities and university hospitals-
A new Open Access journal from Cambridge University Press will provide a home for interdisciplinary research in the fast-growing field of quantitative and computational imaging in the life sciences.

The Press has launched Biological Imaging in recognition of the way computer science, machine learning and ever more sophisticated imaging technology are pushing the boundaries of knowledge about the tiny, hidden worlds of living cells and tissues.

With advances being made across a large number of disciplines, the journal is designed to provide a single, Open Access forum for new research, discoveries, methods and tools, to encourage and promote collaboration and idea-sharing.

Its scope includes microscopy, image acquisition and processing, data mining and analysis, mathematical modelling and machine learning, applied to bioimaging research.

Editor-in-Chief of the new journal is Professor Jean-Christophe Olivo-Marin from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. He said: "Studying the biology of natural systems increasingly relies on imaging to visualize, measure and, eventually, to uncover their inner workings. This is done through combining technology, methods and algorithms developed in many inter-connected fields.

"Despite this, the increasingly vital role of bioimaging in making new advances is not fully recognised. That and the large number of disciplines involved means there are only a few journals that cater for bioimaging, and none that cover the central contributions of image processing and analysis, data mining and analysis, mathematical modelling and machine learning, topics that are currently scattered across a range of journals."

He added: "We have the vision that Biological Imaging, through the quality of the papers and its fast and Open Access publication policy, will drive cross fertilization across the spectrum of research and applications and inspire further innovative and groundbreaking work."

Caroline Black, Publishing Director of STM Journals at Cambridge University Press said: "We're delighted to be working with Professor Olivo-Marin, who is one of the leaders in the bioimaging field.

"Prof Olivo-Marin and his editorial team saw a pressing need to support research and collaboration in the field and have seized the opportunity to unite the physical, computer and mathematical sciences with the life sciences. Scientists will be able to use advances in hardware, devices, image processing and data analysis that they find in our exciting new journal, to visualise and measure samples in ways that weren't possible before."

Submissions to the new journal are welcomed and authors should visit Cambridge Core for more information.

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President should keep campaign pledge to keep 30 percent share



President Moon Jae-in's reshuffle of three Cabinet members Wednesday sharply lowered the share of female ministers in his administration. The chief executive replaced Foreign Affairs Minister Kang Kyung-wha and SMEs and Startups Minister Park Young-sun with male nominees. The number of female ministers fell from five to three or from 27.7 percent to 16.6 percent of the total 18. We want to believe that the partial reshuffle resulted from applying fair and objective criteria to maximize accomplishments toward the Moon administration's final year in office.



Still, it was regrettable the President failed to find the outgoing ministers' successors from among qualified women, respecting various values such as gender equality, minority rights and social diversity. It showed the nation has a long way to go before becoming an inclusive and advanced society. As a candidate, Moon vowed to keep the share of female Cabinet ministers at 30 percent. He held the promise upon inauguration by appointing five female ministers, compared with one to three female Cabinet members in previous administrations. We hope the latest fall in the proportion of female ministers is a temporary phenomenon. President Moon ought to recruit more women if and when he carries out another ministerial shakeup.



One can hardly overemphasize the importance of greater female participation in politics and women's expanded presence in officialdom. Women's advances in major countries are dazzling, indeed. For instance, Finnish people elected a 34-year-old woman, Sanna Marin, as their prime minister in 2019, the country's third and youngest female leader. Twelve out of 19 Cabinet ministers are women in the North European country. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has governed for 15 years, playing a pivotal role in the European Union.



The U.S. has also elected its first female vice president, Kamala Harris. President Joe Biden filled 12 out of 26 Cabinet portfolios with women and formed an all-women White House public communications team. Social unity has emerged as a pressing issue in Korea, too. Genuine unity comes from seeking the coexistence of diverse members of society. Maintaining female Cabinet ministers' share at 30 percent should be the first step.


An ongoing slump in shoppers, tourism and city office workers is undermining the value of Australia's shopping malls, prompting Vicinity Centres to report a $570 million hit to its portfolio.

The country's second-largest landlord owns and manages 60 malls nationwide including a half share of Australia's largest shopping centre Chadstone and Sydneys prestigious The Strand Arcade.

Shoppers at Chadstone on Boxing Day. Despite a bounce back in shoppers over the festive period, volumes are still done. Credit:Getty Images

Vicinity said on Thursday the value of its pandemic-hit properties had slumped 4 per cent over six months to December last year. The continued decline follows a precipitous 11.4 per cent drop in values over the first half of 2020 as the full force of the pandemic disrupted retailers across the country.

Chief executive and managing director Grant Kelley blamed the fall on the economic impact of COVID-19, saying the ill effects of the pandemic continue to be felt this year.
Researchers in South Africa have conducted a study showing that the novel 501Y.V2 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has emerged in the country is able to escape the neutralizing antibodies that are elicited by previously circulating strains of the virus.

SARS-CoV-2 is the agent responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that is currently sweeping the globe, devastating public health and the global economy.

The study found that the 501Y.V2 lineage also conferred complete escape from three classes of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

Penny Moore from the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) in Johannesburg and colleagues say the findings highlight the possibility of re-infection among people presumed to have acquired some degree of immunity due to previously having had SARS-CoV-2.

The findings also have important implications regarding the effectiveness of certain vaccines and therapeutic strategies that are undergoing development.

A pre-print version of the research paper is available on the bioRxiv* server, while the article undergoes peer review.

Two immunodominant spike regions are usually targeted by neutralization

The novel 501Y.V2 lineage contains multiple mutations within two immunodominant regions of the viral spike protein  the main structure SARS-CoV-2 uses to bind to and infect host cells.

One of these regions  the receptor-binding domain (RBD)  is the primary target of antibody neutralization during infection.

Neutralizing antibodies are considered the primary correlate of protection against re-infection for most vaccines and are being actively pursued as therapeutics, writes the team. The overwhelming majority of monoclonal neutralizing antibodies isolated thus far from infected individuals, immunoglobulin libraries, or immunized animal models, target this region.

The next most immunodominant region is the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the spike protein.

This domain is also frequently targeted by neutralizing antibodies and several potent monoclonal antibodies that target this region are currently being considered for clinical development, says Moore and colleagues.

The 501Y.V2 lineage has nine mutations across these regions

The 501Y.V2 lineage of SARS-CoV-2 that has recently emerged in South Africa contains nine mutations in the spike protein. One cluster is seen in the NTD and includes four substitutions and one deletion (L18F, D80A, D215G, 242-244, and R246I). Another cluster is found in the RBD and consists of three substitutions (K417N, E484K, and N501Y).

Although the 501Y change has been associated with increased transmissibility, rather than immune pressure, the accumulation of mutations specifically within these two immunodominant regions of spike is highly suggestive of escape from neutralization, write the researchers. Indeed, mutations at 484 have been shown to reduce neutralization sensitivity, they add.

In addition, mutations in the RBD and NTD of spike have also been described in a novel variant that has recently emerged in Brazil. Furthermore, variants in the UK and United States have also been described, suggesting that new SARS-CoV-2 variants are emerging globally.

What did the researchers do?

The team showed that spike mutations in the 501Y.V2 lineage exhibited complete neutralization escape from three classes of SARS-CoV-2-directed monoclonal antibodies.

Furthermore, this variant showed substantial or complete escape from neutralizing antibodies in plasma taken from individuals who had recovered from COVID-19.

Importantly, the team showed that the K417N mutation played a crucial role in the viral escape. This mutation effectively abrogated neutralization by a well-defined, multi-donor class of antibodies that make up some of the most common and potent neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

Crucially, it is from these same public antibody responses that many therapeutic strategies currently under development have been derived, writes Moore and the team. The overwhelming majority of monoclonal antibodies already on the path to licensure target residues K417 or E484 and will therefore be ineffective against 501Y.V2.

The researchers also defined an important role for a small three-amino-acid deletion in a relatively large region in NTD that completely disrupted a dominant antibody response to a site called the N5-loop or supersite loop.

This deletion predominates among 501Y.V2 variants and occurs either alone or with an R246I substitution that has also been shown to abrogate neutralization by several NTD-directed neutralizing antibodies, says the team.

The researchers also point out that a next generation of potent neutralizing antibodies targeting this NTD N5-loop supersite has been suggested for clinical development, but these are unlikely to be effective against 501Y.V2.

SARS-CoV-2 501Y.V2 is resistant to monoclonal antibodies to both RBD and NTD a. A structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RBD is shown in yellow cartoon view, modeled in complex with a representative neutralizing antibody from class 1 (CV30) and class 2 (C104). The VH domains of the representative class 1 antibody are shown in translucent green surface view, while those of the class 2 antibody are shown in translucent purple. The side chains of residues K417, E484, and N501 are indicated with arrows. b. A plot showing the percentage of accessible surface area for the RBD K417 side chain (x-axis) that is buried in the paratopes of several class 1 neutralizing antibodies (listed on the y-axis). VH3-53/66 antibodies are separated below the horizontal line. c. ELISA binding curves for antibodies CA1, LyCoV016, and CC12.1 to the original RBD (black) or the 501Y.V2 RBD (red). d. Neutralization curves for the same antibodies shown in c, against the original virus (black), 501Y.V2 (red), or a chimeric construct that includes only the RBD mutations K417N, E484K, and N501Y (maroon). e. Percentage of accessible surface area for the RBD E484 side chain (x-axis) that is buried within the paratopes of several class 2 neutralizing antibodies (listed on the y-axis). VH1-2 (top) or VH-diverse (middle) antibodies and nanobodies (bottom) are separated with the horizontal lines. f. ELISA binding curves for antibodies BD23, C119, and P2B-2F6 to the original RBD (black) or the 501Y.V2 RBD (red). g. Neutralization curves for the same antibodies shown in (f), against the original virus (black), 501Y.V2 (red), or the chimeric RBD construct (maroon). h. A structure of the SARS-CoV-2 NTD is shown in cyan cartoon view, modeled in complex with a VH1-24 neutralizing antibody 4A8 (shown in translucent maroon). The N5-loop supersite and side chains of residues R246 and D253 are indicated with arrows. i. The relative percent contribution of NTD loops N1, N3, and N5 to the 4A8 epitope were calculated, and contributions for additional NTD-directed neutralizing antibodies are shown. j. Modelling of the 501Y.V2 242-244 deletion (lime green cartoon view), in the context of the 4A8 epitope. NTD loops N1, N3, and N5 are shown and the position of R246 in the original NTD or 501Y.V2 NTD is labeled with black or pink, respectively. The minimum displacement for 501Y.V2 loop N5, and the accompanying clash with R102 are indicated with the pink arrows. k. ELISA binding curves for 4A8 to the original NTD (black) or the 501Y.V2 NTD (red).

What do the researchers conclude?

The team says the findings suggest that while many people worldwide have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2 globally and are presumed to have accumulated some level of immunity, new variants such as 501Y.V2 pose a significant risk of re-infection.

The findings also raise important questions about the effectiveness of current spike-based therapeutic strategies and vaccines.

Altogether, these data highlight the need for increased, ongoing surveillance and sequencing during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, writes Moore and colleagues. The speed and scope of 501Y.V2 mediated immune escape from pre-existing neutralizing antibodies highlight the urgent requirement for rapidly adaptable vaccine design platforms, and the need to identify less mutable viral targets for incorporation into future immunogens, concludes the team.

*Important Notice

bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.

The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

Amaravati, Jan 21 : Andhra Pradesh High Court's green signal to conduct the rural local bodies elections drew an immediate response from the government employees associations, who highlighted that their lives are more important than the elections amid the Coronavirus pandemic on Thursday.

"Whatever be the judgment, it is our lives. The Governor should use his discretionary powers to temporarily postpone the elections. We have already said that there will be many judgments but the lives are ours," exhorted an employee.

Employees are demanding that they should all first receive the Covid vaccine than have elections.

"We also would like to tell the state election commissioner and the state government to sit together and discuss to be on the same page. Please wait until we get the vaccine, after that you can conduct the elections," he said.

He reminded that this is not the time for the government and the SEC to file cases against each other as employees are the ones who actually go into the field amid the pandemic to conduct the elections.

As these are panchayat elections, employees are reasoning that a whole host of departments have to work together, right from the village revenue assistant onwards, requiring a lot of back and forth on ballot papers, which could pose a risk to all the people involved in the process.

"These are unlike the Parliamentary elections. Every voter has to be touched. Political parties contact all their voters, striving for 100 per cent voting. Please note, how much inconvenience people will be subjected to? Can panchayat elections be conducted wearing PPE kits?" observed the employee, hinting at the pandemic conditions.

He reminded that many government employees are already busy in distributing and vaccinating the frontline warriors.

"Should we stop the vaccination. Even the Court said cooperation is needed. Please postpone the elections, we request the government to work towards it. We request the chief secretary, SEC and the governor as well," he said.

Likewise, another employee, representing the deputy collectors across the state demanded that the elections should be conducted only after vaccinating them.

"We heard that the judgment said both vaccination as well as conducting the elections is important. We are not against the elections. Since our lives are important to us, please give us vaccination first after that we are ready for the elections," said the employee.

He made it clear to the government that without vaccination they will not participate in election duties.

Incidentally, on Wednesday, representatives from the deputy collector employees association met with Governor Biswa Bhushan Harichandan over this issue to request him to use his discretionary powers.

He said that the SEC is unnecessarily going ahead with the elections, risking their lives.

Similarly, another employee representing the VRAs association clarified that no VRA is ready to take up election duties amid the pandemic.

"In a village, starting from protocol duty, all the work burden will be on VRAs. During panchayat elections, there will be cases of old people being brought to the polling booth by us," he said.

He said the government and the SEC have to rethink and postpone the elections.

Conduct of the rural local bodies' elections has emerged as a major bone of contention between the government and the State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar.

These elections were originally supposed to have been held in 2018 when the tenure of the local bodies expired back then but were not held.

However, Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy thought of going to the polls in March 2020 but Kumar did not give the green signal, citing the Coronavirus pandemic, leading to a major standoff between the two.

Reddy accused Kumar of acting at the behest of opposition leader Nara Chandrababu Naidu and even tried to replace him, which backfired as the SEC has Constitutional protection equal to a Supreme Court judge.

With just two more months left as the SEC, Kumar is keen on conducting the polls which the state government is opposing, citing the Coronavirus pandemic and the gigantic vaccination drive.

It remains to be seen what new developments will transpire as some stakeholders have already given feelers that the apex court will be approached to halt the elections. Eom/716 words


Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon has lifted the lid on her sexual predilections in an eye-opening online confession.

The former finance broker, who now works as an OnlyFans model, took to Instagram on Thursday with an essay about the importance of passion in the bedroom.

'Orgasms are encouraged, and hair pulling, dare I say it, animalistic sex, is applauded,' the 33-year-old bodybuilder declared.

'Orgasms are encouraged!' Married At First Sight's Hayley Vernon, 33, shared her passion for 'animalistic sex' and 'hair pulling' in an explicit Instagram confession on Thursday

'It took me a while to figure out I'm in charge of my orgasms, but f**k me. See what I did there? [hysterical laughing emoji].

'Once I did, there was really no going back,' Hayley added.

She continued her raunchy confession in a subsequent post, this time telling fans that 'boring sex' is not acceptable.

Loud and proud: 'Orgasms are encouraged, and hair pulling, dare I say it, animalistic sex, is applauded,' the bodybuilder declared

'F**k boring sex, sex where you're thinking about if the washing's done': Hayley boldly told her fans that 'boring sex' is not acceptable

'F**k boring sex, sex where you're thinking about if the washing's done,' she proclaimed, adding: 'We have all been there, and if you say you haven't, ladies, you're lying [Pinocchio nose emoji].'

'And if you're a man, take note. Jackhammer sex is never an option, just like the old starfish shouldn't be your ace, ladies.'

Hayley's eyebrow-raising posts come weeks after she sensationally hit back at a troll who questioned whether she worked as a 'call girl'.

Lashing out: Hayley's eyebrow-raising posts come weeks after she sensationally hit back at a troll who questioned whether she worked as a 'call girl'

'If I was would that make your day?' Hayley raged on Instagram.

'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,' she bragged.

Hayley rose to fame on this year's season of Channel Nine's Married At First Sight where she was paired with David Cannon.

Not impressed: 'If I was would that make your day?' Hayley penned after being questioned about the nature of her profession

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.

Rise to fame: Hayley rose to fame on this year's season of Channel Nine's Married At First Sight where she was paired with David Cannon
EV

SUV

ICE

Not just any Porsche, mind you, but the best-selling model in the German automakers lineup. In the early days of development for Mach-E, many of the anticipated competitive EVs had not launched, declared Mark Kaufman. Speaking to Muscle Cars & Trucks , the head ofdevelopment confessed that we had to be more creative with the benchmarking.The Macan was chosen over its similar footprint to the Mach-E and the sporting heritage of the brand, and I wholly agree with both points. Even the 3.0-liter turbo diesel is hugely impressive in the corners, although it weighs an idea more than the gasoline-fed V6. Whats even more impressive is how Porschesfeels so different from the Audi Q5 on which its based.Not long now, the Stuttgart-based automaker will bring the fight back to Ford because the Macan will switch to an electric drivetrain. To be offered alongside themodel, the all-new EV will ride on the Premium Platform Electric developed by Porsche in collaboration with Audi for low- and high-floor applications. A dual-motor option will be available with Taycan Turbo S-rivaling performance, so look forward to amazing output figures.The Mustang Mach-E, by comparison, cant do better than the GT Performance Edition. To be honest, 634 pound-feet (860 Nm) of torque from two electric motors isnt too shabby for an SUV of this size and weight, more so if you remember that zero to 60 mph (96 kph) takes 3.5 seconds.If youre on a tighter budget, fret not because the Mach-E is available from $42,895, excluding the federal tax credit. In other words, the base spec will set you back $35,395, excluding the destination charge. Select is how Ford calls the entry-level version, which offers 230 miles (370 kilometers) of driving range as opposed to 235 miles (378 kilometers) for the GT Performance Edition.
Mallory Greene, CEO, Eirene.ca Canadians need a dramatically different service to support them in their loved ones passing.

Eirene.ca, an online cremation and end-of-life technology platform, today announced it is expanding its services across the province of Ontario. Eirene, which launched in November of last year in the Greater Toronto Area, is quickly growing to provide more Canadians with its simple, affordable and convenient cremation arrangement services. The service is now available across southern Ontario including the Kingston, Niagara, Simcoe and London-area regions.

We built Eirene with a conviction that Canadians need a trusted partner and seamless online service to manage cremation arrangements for their loved-ones passing, said Mallory Greene, CEO, Eirene. In the few months since making our platform available, we served more families than anticipated, demonstrating Canadians need a dramatically different service to support them in their loved ones passing.

The most recent Auditor Generals report highlighted a critical need for transparency in pricing and a standardization of how services are offered to consumers, particularly within the context of the COVID19 pandemic. Eirene, which is licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO), is the first platform of its kind in Canada to address these industry issues. Eirene offers a path forward through transparent service offerings and flat fee pricing.

Eirene clients use the platform to arrange cremation services at the time of passing. The simple, online experience eliminates the back-and-forth paperwork and time-consuming process traditionally associated with the funeral industry. Once confirmed online, Eirene works with local crematorium and transfer partners across Ontario to ensure the deceased are safely transported from their place of passing, cremated, and the ashes returned to their families. An Eirene cremation service is available for a one-time fee of $2,500 CAD. The platform also offers a complimentary estate administration tool for families to close accounts and notify the government along with unlimited proof of death certificates.

Consumers are ready for the funeral industry to move forward digitally, said Faisal Abid, CTO, Eirene. Eirene makes it easy to speak to our Funeral Directors and make the appropriate arrangements online. Through the simplicity of the platform, combined with our expertise and care, we offer our clients peace of mind and let them focus on their family.

About Eirene

Founded in 2019, Eirene is Canadas first direct cremation technology platform making cremation easier and more affordable for clients. Eirene provides end-to-end services from pick-up to cremation to delivery of the ashes. Eirene is currently serving the Greater Toronto Area and is expanding across Canada. For more information, please visit eirene.ca
Over the past day, Russian-occupation forces in Donbas violated the ceasefire two times, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded, the press center of the Joint Force Operation (JFO) headquarters said.

"Over the past day, on January 20, in the area of the Joint Force Operation, two ceasefire violations were recorded. Thus, not far from the settlement of Starohnativka, the armed formations of the Russian Federation opened fire towards our positions from a large-caliber machine gun and sniper weapons. A member of the Joint Forces was wounded as a result of enemy shots. The soldier was promptly taken to a medical institution, where he received the necessary medical assistance," the JFO headquarters said on Facebook on Thursday morning.

The OSCE representatives were notified of the facts of ceasefire violation through the Ukrainian side in the JCCC.

"Since the beginning of this day, on January 21, no violations of the ceasefire regime have been recorded along the entire contact line," the Joint Force Operations headquarters said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the announcement of the new US administration to re-enter the on climate change.

"I warmly welcome President (Joe) Biden's steps to re-enter the on climate change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis," said Guterres in a statement on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Following last year's Climate Ambition Summit, countries producing half of global carbon pollution had committed to carbon neutrality. Wednesday's commitment by President Biden brings that figure to two-thirds, he noted.

But there is a very long way to go. The climate crisis continues to worsen and time is running out to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build more climate-resilient societies that help to protect the most vulnerable, he said.

"We look forward to the leadership of the United States in accelerating global efforts towards net-zero (emissions), including by bringing forward a new nationally determined contribution with ambitious 2030 targets and climate finance in advance of COP26 in Glasgow later this year. I am committed to working closely with President Biden and other leaders to overcome the climate emergency, and recover better from COVID-19."

Hours after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision of withdrawal from the global pact.

--IANS

int/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The document is expected to include the best proposals and approaches elaborated by political advisers.

Head of the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Donbas Leonid Kravchuk has suggested that the OSCE representatives develop a single document of proposals for Donbas settlement for its further adoption by the Normandy Four (Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia) leaders.

A regular meeting of the TCG at the level of the heads of delegations was held via videoconference on January 21, the Ukrainian delegation wrote on Facebook.

"A real desire for peace on the part of the Russian Federation will give a powerful impetus to the work of the TCG," Kravchuk said.

Read alsoRussia deliberately trying to block Donbas talks  KravchukAt the same time, he suggested to OSCE coordinators in TCG subgroup Pierre Morel "that a single document, which will include the best proposals and approaches elaborated by political advisers, be developed and presented."

In this regard, "the development of a single document, which will be backed by the Normandy Four leaders, is the main guideline for the TCG's further work," the Ukrainian delegation said.

According to Kravchuk, "if the consultation process is approached from this position, the TCG will have every chance to move on to more constructive steps to implement the decisions adopted within the set of agreements, starting from 2014."

Ukraine's Plan for Donbas: Five key points

On November 5, the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG outlined five key points of the new action plan for Donbas:

Withdrawal of foreign troops, illegal armed groups, and mercenaries from the territory of Ukraine in early 2021;

Cancellation by Russian authorities of a number of decisions and documents that are direct interference in the life of the occupied parts of Donbas, for example, on the streamlined naturalization procedure for local residents;

Restoration of control over the corresponding section of the Russian-Ukrainian border with the help of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission; and

Fourfold increase in the size of the OSCE SMM mission (by 1,500 persons).

Only if the first four conditions are met, comes the fifth point:

- Preparation and holding of local elections in the occupied districts of Donetsk and Luhansk region (with the OSCE assistance).

Russia blocking talks on Donbas settlement action plan

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Oleksiy Reznikov says Russia continues blocking the Minsk talks regarding a joint action plan on Donbas settlement, put forward by Ukraine within the Trilateral Contact Group.

"Russia has no political will to move forward so far. They're dragging negotiations in every way possible. The Russian side has not yet formally submitted any plans that would be signed by [Russia's envoy to the TCG Boris] Gryzlov. Verbally, they say they'll be supporting the proposals submitted by representatives of the occupied 'ORDLO' [Russia-occupied parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Donbas]."

Reporting by UNIAN
The Delhi High Court on Thursday took a strong stand against irresponsible municipal officials and political leaders from the central government whose power tactics were inconveniencing hundreds of employees and pensioners.

The high court stated that the problem of shortage of funds and non-payment of salaries has arisen as the Delhi government has been sandwiched between the MCDs and the central government, which belonged to the opposite political party. Tell your political leaders they have to mature and rise above all this. If things don't change and go on like this, we will not be surprised if the political leaders and people who indulge in this are lynched by the public at large, the bench observed orally.

The high court has now directed the Delhi government to transfer back within two weeks to the municipal corporations and local bodies the amount recovered or adjusted from them against their outstanding loans.

In our view, the deduction of loan made by the Delhi government in these circumstances is not called for, particularly when the recovery of loan by the MCDs had been in consideration for the last over three years, the bench of Justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli said.

Justice Sanghi said, I can't tell how disgusted we are with all of you (Delhi government and municipal corporations). You have no concern for employees. You are behaving completely irresponsibly and do not care about the poor employees and retired pensioners at all.

The bench was hearing various petitions relating to non-payment of salaries of employees and pensioners of different cadres by the three municipal corporations of Delhi -- North, East and South.

The list of petitioners includes doctors, nurses, paramedic staff, safai karamcharis, teachers, class-IV employees, teachers and retired staff like teachers and engineers. During the hearing, the bench questioned the Delhi government for having money to give huge advertisements in newspapers regularly during the Covid-19 pandemic and warned it of ordering an inquiry and audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

How much you have sent on advertisements during the pandemic, we want to know. We will order an inquiry and order by the CAG. You were giving a daily half page and full page in every other newspaper. You have money for these advertisements, it said. The bench said it's these safai karamcharis who clean others houses daily and they are not paid by the authorities.

We will tell them not to come to work from tomorrow if they are not paid. Let us see how your houses and hospitals are cleaned then. We are ashamed of you and your leaders, the way you are behaving, the judges said, adding that the MCDs and Delhi government were fighting with each other like cats and dogs. During the hearing, Delhi government counsel Satyakam informed the court that a sanction order was passed to release Rs 337 crore to five local bodies including three MCDs for January to March 2021 without making any deduction towards the loan.

He also said the revenue of Delhi government has taken a serious hit due to the pandemic in the financial year 2020-21. The bench, while dictating its order, said It is clear to us that there is no real sense of concern or sympathy for municipal employees in political establishments, whether it is the Delhi government or municipal corporations.

It also asked the Delhi government to file an affidavit on the amount, which according to it is liable to be paid to the MCDs as far as budget and revised estimate is concerned. It also directed the corporations to file respective affidavits disclosing their expenditures since April 2020 and made it clear that if they fail to do so, their chairpersons shall be present in the hearing on February 22.

We further direct that the amounts which the MCDs and local bodies have received or will receive shall not be disbursed for any other purpose except releasing salaries and pensions and they have to first clear the arrears, the bench said. It also asked the authorities to ensure that they shall first clear the outstanding salaries and pensions for October 2020 and thereafter, the remaining corpus shall be used in an equitable manner.

The bench had earlier expressed its disapproval over Delhi government's decision to deduct from the amounts transferred to the corporations the loans given to them, saying even the Reserve Bank of India had imposed a moratorium on recall of loans and declaration of accounts as NPA by banks and financial institutions. It had earlier said that it was intended to stop all non-essential, discretionary expenses of the three municipal corporations, including the perks of councillors and senior officers "living like lords", so that salaries and pensions of COVID-19 front line workers -- doctors, nurses and sanitation staff -- can be paid.

The corporations had told the court that they were unable to pay salaries or pensions due to paucity of funds and if the loan amounts are not deducted from the basic tax assignment (BTA) by the Delhi government, they can meet the salaries of their employees. The coffers of the MCDs are filled partly by revenue generated by the corporations by raising taxes and fees permissible under the Delhi Municipal Corporations Act and partly by contributions made by the Delhi government.
As women's safety becomes a major concern in Uttar Pradesh with NCW taking up the matter, the state police has swung into action. One of the methods they've stumbled upon to know that a woman is under threat is through "facial expressions".

According to a Times of India report, a change in facial expressions of a girl subjected to stalking, threat or eve-teasing will be enough to send an alert to police control room to nab the culprit. The Lucknow police is set to equip public places with AI-enabled cameras that will click pictures of women in distress on the basis of facial expressions and alert the nearest police station.

"After collecting feedback, we have identified 200 hotspots where the movement of girls is maximum and from where most of the complaints are received. We will set up five AI-based cameras which will be capable of sending an alert to nearest police station. These cameras will become active as soon as the expressions of a woman in distress change. Before she takes out the phone and dials 100 or UP 112 for help, an alert will be reach the police," Lucknow police commissioner DK Thakur was quoted as saying.

Earlier on Wednesday, National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma met Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police HC Awasthy and discussed issues related to women safety in the state, including the status of pending complaints. Sharma also highlighted the issue of pending complaints on which the commission has not received any report from the police.

The commission said the DGP apprised Sharma about the initiatives of the Uttar Pradesh Police for security of women, including ''112'' emergency helpline number, Mission Shakti and the state police's 'Safe City' Project. On timely filing of action taken reports, the DGP assured the NCW chairperson that the commission will receive these reports on time.

In October last year, in the wake of Hathras rape incident, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had alleged that 13 horrific incidents of crimes against women took place in the state in one week.

She highlighted a chart of various incidents of crimes against women in Uttar Pradesh from October 9 to 15 and alleged that the BJP is giving protection to the criminals and this has made women unsafe in the state.

"In the last one week, 13 horrific incidents of crime against women have occurred in UP. As per reports, victims have been killed or the victims committed suicide in four such incidents," she said in a tweet in Hindi.

"This poor condition of women safety is disturbing. The chief minister has no time to convene a 'special session' but his photo session is on," she also said while taking a swipe at the chief minister.

However, UP minister Sidharth Nath Singh, in an opinion piece in Indian Express, explained why the opposition was wrong to target the Yogi Adityanath government over crime against women.

The report quoted the National Crime Records Bureau's report in 2019: "The rate of rape cases in UP was 2.8 per one lakh whereas in 2016 and 2017 the rate was around 4.6 to 4.0. In 2019, UP ranked 26th among the total of 36 states and union territories in rape cases."

"This data is a vindication of the fact that UP is ahead of other states in terms of controlling rape cases," Singh wrote.
Responding to the fundraising calls of the UN and WHO, China donated US$50 million to the WHO, and announced a US$50 million contribution to the UN COVID-19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan. It also earmarked US$10 million in its Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund to support the Asian Development Banks efforts to help member countries address the COVID-19 challenge, and donated US$2 million worth of materials to the International Atomic Energy Agency to support its anti-epidemic effort. The Chinese government is also working with the UN to set up a global humanitarian response depot and hub in China.

(Source: Xinhua, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and White Paper of "China's International Development Cooperation in the New Era")

[ Editor: Liu Jiaming ]
The 20th Macao City Fringe Festival was inaugurated Wednesday featuring dozens of programs and outreach activities in the special administrative region until the end of this month.

Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the festival adopts the concept of "All around the city, our stages, our patrons, our artists."

The participatory exhibition "Art Exhibition for All," in line with the theme of this year's festival "Everyone is an artist," also opened, providing a platform for the public to display their creative works.

Highlights of the first week include programs of the series "Creme de la Fringe: On Site" which use body language as the domain, allowing audiences to appreciate contemporary dance art from city spaces to a theater, and the series "Creme de la Fringe: Todos Fest!" which brings programs by local dancers, elderly people and people with physical and mental disabilities.

This year's Fringe Festival also features outreach activities, including online meeting "Webinar: Connect with the Festivals' Representatives" hosted by renowned curators of the Fringe Festival and an art review magazine founder.

All participants are required to wear face masks, undergo body temperature checks and present a "Macao Health Code" of the day.

Founded in 1999, the festival has developed into one of the major cultural events of Macao.
Company debt adviser firm Baker Tilly is expecting a wave of examinerships in 2021 as Government supports for Covid-19 are phased out and the full impact of Brexit is felt in the economy.

Baker Tillys annual Examinership Index recorded a sharp drop in companies seeking restructuring in the second half of 2020 despite the economic shock of the pandemic.

Just nine businesses successfully exited examinership last year, including aircraft lessor Cityjet, compared to 19 in 2019 - a year of economic growth when insolvencies should be less common.

The scarcity of companies seeking to restructure indicates many businesses are surviving the pandemic on life support, according to Baker Tilly managing partner Neil Hughes.

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"Todays Index points towards the fact that the economic impact of Covid-19 has not yet been fully realised," he said. "Companies are being kept on life support with the help of the Irish Government, the warehousing of Revenue debt and the forbearance of creditors. Many businesses will need to restructure to enable them to operate and succeed into the future.

Mr Hughes said the number of businesses inquiring about examinership or restructuring peaked in the second quarter of 2020 at the highest level in three decades. However, few companies were forced into the process as State subsidies, bank forbearance and rent abatements kept them afloat.

Baker Tilly is now expecting those firms to run into trouble in the second half of 2021 as the pandemic recedes and, with it, the extraordinary levels of external liquidity support. Mr Hughes expected a year similar to 2012, when 5,000 jobs were saved through restructuring.

"It's not about surviving the recession of 2020, it's about surviving the recovery of 2021," Mr Hughes said. "Every creditor is going to be putting their hand out."

Just 2pc of Irish companies that become insolvent go into examinership, according to Baker Tilly, compared to one-quarter of insolvent American firms that seek Chapter 11 protection.

"Are 98pc of those companies doomed? I refuse to accept that," said Mr Hughes. "It's unnecessary economic destruction.

Read More




New emails that have come to light suggest the infamous 'Jet Pack Guy' in Los Angeles may not have been a person at all.

John Greenewald of The Black Vault filed Freedom Of Information Act requests to the Federal Aviation Administration in regards to the investigation into the first jet pack sighting at LAX on August 30. Airline crew from planes flying into LAX had reported seeing a jet pack flying near them at 3,000ft.

According to The Drive, the FAA's first notice about the sighting read, 'MULTIPLE AIRCRAFT REPORTED MAN IN JET PACK MANEUVERING AT 3,000 FEET ON 10 MILE FINAL RUNWAY 25R. NO IMPACT TO OPERATIONS OR EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. LAPD AIR SUPPORT NOTIFIED.'

While multiple aircraft reported the man flying in a jet pack at 3,000ft, none of the air traffic controllers caught the incident on their radar.

Pictured: A video from Sling Pilot Academy appeared to capture 'Jet Pack Guy' in December

The sighting came almost four months after a 'Jet Pack Guy' was seen flying around LAX

On September 2, Aviation Safety Manager at the Van Nuys Flight Standards District Office Victor Goodell sent an email about the incident that touched upon a vital discussion he had.

'I spoke with David Mayman, Chief Test Pilot, Jetpack Aviation, out of Van Nuys, last night,' Goodell's email read. 'He confirmed that they have not flown for months. He stated that he does not believe there are any 'Jetpack' operators who could get to 3000 and sustain it.'

That email doesn't dispute the possibility of there being a man in a jet pack flying around LAX, but it casts serious doubt on it.

An email the next day from Los Angeles Flight Standards District Office Aviation Safety Manager John Blanco is in a similar vein.

Pictured: A 'Jet Pack Man,' but likely not the same one, flies in a 2018 competition in Cannes

While none of the sightings have confirmed the presence of a man at LAX in August, the possibility still exists it was a person flying through the air instead of a drone

'Mike Bumberger, our LEAP Agent, shared that the FBI interviewed the American Airlines pilot that made the jetpack sighting. The pilot said what he saw was exactly like the drone in the Youtube video below,' Blanco said.

The YouTube video he referenced, posted by RC Media World in 2019, demonstrates the operation of an RC drone that looks exactly like someone in military fatigues wearing a jet pack, meaning the person reportedly seen may have just been a drone.

In mid-October, a China Airlines flight crew also claimed to see a man with a jet pack at 6,000ft.

A video shot by someone at Sling Pilot Academy during a training flight in December appeared to show the 'Jet Pack Man' again, this time 10 miles away from LAX over Palos Verdes.

The clip is about 30 seconds long and could be a man with a jet pack, but could just as easily be a drone in the distance.

Pictured: A prototype of what Jetpack Aviation is trying to create for users

Mayman, who is the founder of Jetpack Aviation, previously told CBS that he didn't think the initial LAX sighting could be a jet pack.

'It's very, very unlikely with the existing technology,' Mayman said. 'They'd run out of fuel, they use fuel too quickly.'

Last February, Jetmen In Dubai conducted a test where they were able to send someone with a jet pack 5,905ft in the air.

Jetpack Aviation, meanwhile, is working on being able to get someone with a jet pack 15,000ft in the air.

Meanwhile, there has been no confirmation either way about what was seen at LAX back at the end of August.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says there is still no timeframe for a potential South Pacific travel bubble after the NSW Premier suggested the measure be implemented this year.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there was no reason why travel bubbles couldnt be opened between the Pacific and New Zealand well within the next 12 months, but Mr Hunt said some countries being considered were currently still considered a moderate-risk level.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian addresses a national cabinet meeting in December. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Our goal is, if the Pacific countries are able to be shown to be at the lowest risk level, and they are doing extraordinarily well, and that we're able to put in the appropriate protections, then we could well expand that bubble, Mr Hunt said on Thursday.

"The South Pacific is right at the front of the next phase of the international travel bubble. There's not a timeframe."
A senior law lecturer and anti-gay rights convener, Moses Foh-Amoaning has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to strongly stand his grounds against any attempt by the international community to re-ignite the issue of homosexuality in the Ghanaian space.



He was emphatic that Americans President-elect, Mr Joe Biden and his vice may seek to impose the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, And Transgender (LGBT) agenda on African leaders to promote the act.



Biden has taken over the White House and you know their position on the LGBT. They will impose it on Africans to push the LGBT agenda, he warned said in an interview with NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie.



Lawyer Moses Foh-Amoaning believes President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo must be straight forward to them in his stance.



I know my president and he is the man who loves the Lord and I know his stance on this issue. But his ministers, do we know their stance? The NPP government must be strict to kick against this LGBT issue.



What the Americans are bringing will be tough but we must be strong enough to tell them no, he added.





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Police in Brazil made an arrest in a convenience store robbery.

Earlier this month, the Casey's General Store on National Avenue was robbed.

Brazil's police chief says they arrested 18-year-old Shane Dentler of Vigo County for the robbery.

Investigators learned Dentler had been arrested and jailed in Montgomery County on similar charges.

He has been formally charged in Clay County with robbery, theft, and possession of a handgun without a license.

SIT has no jurisdiction to entertain any petition in a private civil dispute, the advocate contended.  DC Image

VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday stalled inquiry by the Special Investigation Team into the prestigious Waltair Club.

Advocates N. Ashwini Kumar and D. V. Sitharam Murthy, who filed a writ petition, contended that the club was allotted the Settlement Patta way back in 1964. Various revenue authorities had also pointed out that the property of Waltair Club was purely private in nature and government has no claim over the same.

The advocates pointed out that in 2013, an attempt was made by the then state government to take over the Waltair Club land. But the High Court in W. P. No. 13227 of 2013 vide an order dated April 13, 2013 stayed it. After that, till date, no AP government filed any counter affidavit setting out its claim.

Ashwani Kumar, supplementing submissions of his senior Sitharam Murthy, submitted that the term of SIT had ended. Moreover, the SIT lacked jurisdiction to enquire into properties of Waltair Club. This is because the alleged original lessees  the Perla family  claim to have filed a civil suit for resumption of the land. As such, SIT has no jurisdiction to entertain any petition in a private civil dispute, the advocate contended.

Thus, the whole process of SIT undertaking an enquiry is unlawful, without jurisdiction, and without power. It is thus liable to be interdicted by the High Court, the advocates maintained.

Additional advocate general P. Sudhakar Reddy, appearing for SIT, argued that the Special Investigation Team is within its term and has the power to examine any dispute.

The High Court, however, expressed displeasure with these submissions. It passed an order that the High Court is prima facie satisfied that interests of petitioner Waltair Club are to be protected. It thus granted a stay on all further proceedings before SIT. The court further directed SIT not to interfere with the title, possession, occupation and affairs of Waltair Club.

Earlier, taking up suo-moto cognisance of a complaint filed by a third party, the Special Investigation Team formed to probe alleged land scams in Vizag, also took up the Waltair Club case. It called on officials of Waltair Club to prove the authenticity of their documents pertaining to ownership of 15 acres of land on which the club has been located.

One Perla Chetty family leased the land on a perpetual basis in 1900. On this, the SIT claimed that the lease has not been renewed in 1999.
A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is seen in a file photo. (Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images)

3 National Guard Members Killed in NY Helicopter Crash

Three members of the National Guard were killed Wednesday when their helicopter crashed during a routine training flight in western New York.

The three soldiers were in a New York Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter when it crashed in a farmers field in the town of Mendon, the state military affairs division said.

The names of the killed soldiers werent immediately released.

Images of the helicopter crash scene posted by local news media showed the aircraft wreckage burning on a snow-covered field in the town that is located some 13 miles south of Rochester.

Image shows the aircraft wreckage burning in Mendon, some 13 miles south of Rochester, New York. (Courtesy of Emily Fasel)

The helicopter flew out of the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport, and was assigned to C Company of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion, according to Eric Durr, public affairs director of the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a statement shortly after the incident saying that he was devastated by the news and was ordering flags to be lowered to half-staff Thursday in honor of and in tribute to these New Yorkers who dedicated their service to nation and state.

National Guard members are our citizen-soldiers who voluntarily serve and protect both here and abroad, and I extend prayers and condolences from all New Yorkers to the family, loved ones and fellow soldiers of these honorable heroes who we will never forget, Cuomo said in a statement.

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter at a press briefing called the three national guard members great Americans.

He said there were no survivors of the crash, and that witnesses who called emergency services reported hearing the sounds of an engine sputtering and said the aircraft was flying very low.

This is a heavy, heavy burden on all of us, Baxter said. Were waiting for the National Guard for confirmation of who was on board and identification of our great soldiers.

Keep them in your minds and your prayers, he added.

The state military affairs division said the crash is under investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration said it would take part.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
"Titles last for certain period of time, but relationships are forever" Francisco Angulo

Francisco Angulo, Realogy - Vice President Global Development, has been accepted into Forbes Real Estate Council, an invitation-only community for executives in the real estate industry.

Francisco Angulo was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors.

We are honored to welcome Francisco Angulo into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Real Estate Business Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world.

As an accepted member of the Council, Francisco has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Francisco will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts.

Finally, Francisco will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team.

Francisco says, it is with great pleasure to learn that I was accepted into the Forbes Real Estate Council and to be part of this outstanding community of leaders and be able to connect, share, discuss, with like-minded real estate leaders. Thank you for acknowledging my efforts to make a difference in the real estate industry by giving the opportunity to share ways to create a business that places value on its purpose. My commitment to be better every day has no limits and that the good I have harvested in my life will manifest to others to follow.

ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS

Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/francisco.angulo.547 / LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscokikoangulo/

For more information about Forbes Real Estate Business Council, visit forbesrealestatecouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
After the Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., some historians have noted a connection between current political events and a piece of Schuylkill County history.

Pam Delenick, retired history and AP government teacher at Pottsville Area High School, said current scenes of troops in Washington, D.C., made her think of the Pennsylvania First Defenders, the first soldiers to arrive in Washington during the Civil War. Many of those soldiers were from Schuylkill County.

When the president made the call to war, the guys from Pottsville went and registered, hopped on a train, and they were the first to arrive in Washington, D.C., to defend the nations Capitol, Delenick said. All these guys slept there for days and nights waiting. That was considered an insurrection of sorts, as well.

Delenick said when she was a teacher, she focused a lot on local history and taught her students about the Schuylkill County First Defenders. Pottsville Area seniors would take a field trip to D.C. every year to visit the Capitol and looked forward to seeing the local connection.

Theres a plaque inside the Capitol, a bronze plaque to the men of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Delenick said. It was off the main hall. None of the tour guides ever knew where it was, but we did.

Jake Wynn, director of interpretation at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Fredrick, Maryland, and Williamstown native, said that plaque can be seen in a recent photo of National Guard soldiers sleeping in the Capitol at the base of an Abraham Lincoln bust.

I think of all of these things as a historian, especially focusing on the Civil War era, how remarkable some of the comparisons are to what was happening in 1861, Wynn said. It was such a crazy parallel that you have these soldiers sleeping beneath these monuments to an event that happened 160 years ago, and yet here we are again.

Wynn said as a historian who focuses on the Civil War and studies local history of Schuylkill County, the parallels between those events and now were striking.

It was absolutely gut-wrenching to see some of the first images that came out of the Capitol were of people carrying Confederate battle flags, Wynn said. Those soldiers 160 years ago made a stand and protected the Capitol from that flag ever getting anywhere close to it.

Wynn has lived in Washington, D.C., for more than two years. He said on Jan. 6, he watched the chaos and listened to the sirens, helicopters and emergency alerts throughout the day and into the night. The next day, he said, they began putting up fences around the Capitol.

As we get close to the inauguration, more and more soldiers arrive, many of them from Pennsylvania, Wynn said. Theyre patrolling our neighborhood. Its a surreal experience being here and seeing this response.

In his neighborhood, Wynn said there had been violence and property destruction beginning in December during a Proud Boys protest, including vandalism of two churches, one being historically Black. Although he knew something was going to happen in the days leading up to Jan. 6, he was still shocked.

Never in a million years did I think they would ever make it into the United States Capitol building, Wynn said. Weve entered a new era of American history. While we may avoid it on Jan. 20 and hope theres a peaceful transition of power, I think were going to see more of this political violence.
Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/20/2021 -- The report "Dimethyl Carbonate Market by Application (Polycarbonate Synthesis, Battery Electrolyte, Solvents, Reagents), End-Use Industry (Plastics, Paints & Coatings, Pharmaceuticals), Grade (Industry, Pharmaceutical, Battery), Region - Global Forecast to 2024", is projected to grow from USD 895 million in 2019 to USD 1,207 million by 2024, at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2019 to 2024. The increasing demand for polycarbonates and lithium-ion batteries is expected to drive the global dimethyl carbonate market.



Browse 193 market data Tables and 37 Figures spread through 190 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Dimethyl Carbonate Market - Global Forecast to 2024"



View detailed Table of Content here - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/dimethyl-carbonate-market-24544228.html



The polycarbonate synthesis segment estimated to account for the largest share of the dimethyl carbonate market in 2019.

By application, the polycarbonate synthesis segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the dimethyl carbonate market in 2019. Dimethyl carbonate is used to manufacture polycarbonate by the well-established and rapidly expanding non-phosgene melt process. Polycarbonate is used across industries such as automotive and electrical & electronics due to its superior physical properties such as heat resistance, impact resistance, structural stability, and optical transparency. The growing demand from polycarbonate from the automotive and electrical & electronics industries is driving the market for dimethyl carbonate across the globe.



The plastics segment estimated to account for the largest share of the dimethyl carbonate market in 2019.

By end-use industry, the plastics segment accounted for the largest share of the dimethyl carbonate market in 2019. Dimethyl carbonate is used as an intermediate in polycarbonate synthesis. PC has become an important environment-friendly and recyclable form of commercial polymer with numerous uses in different industries such as automotive, electrical & electronics. The growing demand for plastic products specially the polycarbonate is expected the drive the demand of dimethyl carbonate across the globe.



Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=24544228



Asia Pacific estimated to account for the largest share of the global dimethyl carbonate market in 2019

The Asia Pacific region accounted for the largest share of the dimethyl carbonate market in 2019. China, India, Japan, and South Korea are major countries contributing to the increased demand for dimethyl carbonate in this region. In China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan, dimethyl carbonate is mainly used in the production of polycarbonates, while in India, it is primarily consumed by the pharmaceutical, paints & coatings, and agrochemical industries to manufacture different products such as medicines, paints, and pesticides.



Ube Industries Ltd. (Japan), Merck KGaA (Germany), Kowa Company Ltd. (Japan), Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd. (Japan), Lotte Chemical (Korea), Shandong Shida Shenghua Chemical Group Co., Ltd. (China), Guangzhou Tinci Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (China), Haike Chemical Group (China), Arrow Chemical Group Corp. (China), and Panax Etec (Korea) are some of the leading players operating in the dimethyl carbonate market.



Recent Developments :

- In July 2019, Ube Industries announced that it will increase its production of basic chemical dimethyl carbonate to its derivative by opening a new plant in the US. The production facility would approximately produce 50,000 tons of DMC as well as it will produce 20,000-30,000 tons of purified DMC annually.

- In March 2016, Ube Industries announced a joint venture with CNSG Anhui Hong Sifang Co., Ltd. (China) to license its technology to manufacture dimethyl carbonate. CNSG Anhui Hong Sifang Co., Ltd. will construct a manufacturing facility in Hefei, China, to produce DMC that will have an annual production capacity of about 100,000 tons. Additionally, it will establish a joint-venture to manufacture and market high purity DMC with an annual production capacity of 10,000 tons of DMC. The joint venture will receive a share of DMC from CNSG Anhui Hong Sifang and produce high-purity DMC. The joint venture will help Ube Industries market its products to manufacturers of electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in the Chinese market. Some products will be supplied to AET Electrolyte Technologies (Zhangjiagang) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Ube Industries Group with electrolyte manufacturing operations in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China.



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GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that three COVID-19 vaccines were in the late stages of review for possible emergency use listing, in addition to the one made by Pfizer and BioNTech already approved.

An internal WHO document seen by Reuters gives timelines for the agencys possible vaccine approvals, indicating that shots from Moderna, AstraZeneca and Chinas Sinopharm and Sinovac could win emergency go-ahead in coming weeks or months.

We have one vaccine so far listed. We have 3 more in final phase to be assessed for listing, we have 2 more still submittingIn total we have 13," Mariangela Simao, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.

The WHO was not aware of any deaths linked to the Pfizer vaccine, nor any other vaccine, she added.

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
Scott Peterson's sister described him as a sociopath on Thursday as he had his retrial for killing his pregnant wife delayed until April.

Peterson, 48, was convicted of murdering his wife Laci and and their unborn child in 2004 and was sentenced to death.

Prosecutors said he wanted to escape married life and did not want the responsibility of becoming a father, so allegedly killed the pair and tossed them off his boat in the San Francisco Bay.

In November, the California Supreme Court unanimously overturned his death sentence, saying the judge in the case improperly dismissed and selected jurors.

Now, the sentencing phrase of his trial will be held again and his attorneys are pushing for a whole new retrial to exonerate him.

On Thursday, he appeared briefly at a Zoom hearing. The case has now been postponed until April.

Peterson's sister Anne Bird told Dr. Oz on Thursday that her brother is a 'sociopath'

Peterson has been appearing via Zoom for his court appearances. The retrial has been postponed

Peterson's 27-year-old, pregnant wife Laci vanished on Christmas Eve 2002. Her mutilated body was found later in the San Francisco Bay

Peterson's sister Anne Bird told Dr. Oz on Thursday that her brother is a 'sociopath'.

'I don't know why he did this. Laci was the sweetest, kindest person, so I just don't understand it.

'We miss her all the time. We've been robbed of her presence.

'His upbringing... I don't know if it had something to do with it. I'm not a doctor but I believe in sociopathy and I believe he's a sociopath,' she said.

Prosecutors say Peterson didn't want the responsibility of fatherhood

Peterson has always denied killing his wife and their unborn son, who they planned to call Connor.

Laci disappeared aged 27 on Christmas Eve in 2002. She was eight months pregnant with the couple's son and they had been married for five years.

Days after she vanished, her mutilated body washed up on the shore of the San Francisco Bay.

Prosecutors claimed that Scott killed her in their home then dumped her body - and that of the baby she was carrying - in the water.

He has always maintained his innocence. Some of his relatives, like his brother's wife, support him.

One said in November when his sentence was overturned: 'We still need justice for Laci, Connor and Scott.

'We don't have justice for Laci with Scott on death row, because Scott is innocent.'
In June 2019, lawmakers, investigators and members of the public expressed concern that Flint water crisis officials, including former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, might escape criminal prosecution due to the statute of limitations.

Most felonies and misdemeanors carry a six-year deadline for filing charges in Michigan.

The deadly decision to switch Flints water source from the Detroit River to the Flint River occurred on April 25, 2014. Some speculated that if charges didnt come before April 25, 2020, it would be too late.

April 25, 2014, is a significant date in the history of the Flint water crisis. However, we want to correct the misconception that April 25, 2020 is the deadline to bring charges against those who may be criminally liable, said Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, who are leading the Flint water investigation, in an April 2020 joint statement. Criminal statutes of limitations vary depending on the offense and the date of the alleged criminal act.

What the public didnt know at the time was that a one-man grand jury had already convened and issued indictments for felony charges of misconduct in office against Flints former emergency managers, Darnell Earley and Gerald Ambrose.

Worthy last week in a press conference during which the indictments were announced said the charges by law couldnt be revealed until they were unsealed and the defendants arrested, but the grand jury proceedings actually began a year ago.

In January of 2020, the team filed a grand jury petition with the chief judge of the Seventh Circuit Court for Genesee County, Worthy said. That petition was granted ... the grand jury issued indictments after listening and evaluating all of the evidence presented.

A grand jury provides a broad range of investigative tools. The greatest benefit to our use of a grand jury was it clearly provided the ability to conduct this investigation expeditiously and efficiently ... but we were also bound by the statutory secrecy provisions ... Therefore any statement or suggestion that the Attorney Generals Office wrongfully withheld information is disingenuous and inconsistent with the law.

The switch to a local water source without proper implementation of appropriate treatment measures has been linked to fatal cases of Legionnaires disease as well as lead exposure with potentially devastating effects on childhood development.

Related: Flint kids health improving, but more to do after water crisis, panel says

Earley, a 69-year-old public administrator appointed as Flints emergency manager by Snyder in September 2013, faces three counts of misconduct in office, each punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The charges were issued in two separate indictments, one signed March 16, 2020, and the other on Sept. 1, 2020. Ambrose, who succeeded Earley as emergency manager, faces four counts of misconduct in office, also issued through two separate indictments on the same dates as Earley.

The majority of the remaining 42 criminal charges that were announced Jan. 14 stem from grand jury indictments dated Jan. 8 and include crimes ranging from involuntary manslaughter to extortion and perjury against nine public officials, including Snyder, who faces two misdemeanor counts of willful neglect of duty.

Involuntary manslaughter charges carry a 10-year-statute of limitations in Michigan.

Related: A list of Flint water defendants, their roles and charges

The indictments were issued by Genesee County Seventh Circuit Judge David J. Newblatt, who served as the one-judge grand jury and heard testimony throughout 2020. State law requires grand jury indictments in felony matters to remain sealed and away from public view until the suspects arrest.

Prior fears that the statute of limitations might prohibit prosecution led State Rep. John Cherry, D-Flint, to introduce a bill that would extend the statute of limitation on misconduct in office charges, but the bill never made it out of committee for a vote.

I dont think well ever know if there were additional misconduct in office crimes that occurred but were never charged due to the statute of limitations running out, Cherry said last week.

Representatives of the investigative team, including members of Attorney General Dana Nessels office, have been reluctant to discuss the charging decisions or the case in general.

That wasnt always the situation during the prosecution initiated by former Flint water crisis lead investigator Todd Flood, whom Nessels predecessor Attorney General Bill Schuette appointed to the role, Cherry said. Nessel removed Flood, dismissed all pending criminal charges and renewed the investigation with Worthy and Hammoud at the helm in early 2019.

This prosecutorial team has been very concerted in proceeding without leaks, Rep. Cherry said. And ultimately I think that is a more professional and well-managed investigation, particularly when youre talking about charging public and elected officials.

If you are leaking every few weeks, what youre doing is creating a political frenzy and opportunity for grandstanding.

Cherry said he supports the decision to hold a secret grand jury out of the public eye. Typically, felony criminal cases include a preliminary examination during which the prosecution lays out much of its evidence. A district court judge then determines if there is adequate evidence to support the case moving forward for jury or bench trial in the circuit court.

In the case of a special grand jury, all evidence and witness testimony is provided in secret and participants, including lawyers, defendants and witnesses, are barred from sharing information outside the hearings.

Grand juries are rarely utilized in Michigan, but can come into play in sensitive cases when witnesses are reluctant to testify, potentially out of fear of retribution, or when evidence could unfairly taint a later trial due to a high level of public scrutiny.

Some folks have criticized the use of a grand jury, but I think ultimately, in this particular circumstance its beneficial, Cherry said, because now these cases are going to go straight to circuit court for trial, as opposed to having to go through all the (lower court) hearings out in front of everybody, which in high-profile cases like this is just an opportunity for political gamesmanship.

One trade off is the possibility that the public could be left in the dark regarding key details if grand jury testimony remains sealed and defendants reach plea deals with prosecutors before their cases go to trial.

The Flint water crisis investigation resulted in charges alleged to have been committed between Oct. 2013 and December 2019, based on date ranges listed in the indictments.

The investigation included two areas of focus, one on possible crimes involving the decision to have Flint build its own water pipeline in order to sever dependence on Detroit water, a move that was projected to save the city $200 million over 25 years; and the other being the government response, damage control and potential coverup by officials after the water source became tainted.

Below is a full list of the defendants with their charges and summary of their crimes as included in formal indictments.

Rick Snyder, former governor of Michigan

 Two counts of willful neglect of duty, each a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine.

The court docket lists the date of the offense as April 25, 2014, while the indictment, signed Jan. 8, lists a date range for the crimes between April 25, 2014 and Dec. 31, 2018.

The misdemeanor charges have a six-year window, which means the crimes would have been committed after mid-January 2015.

Nick Lyon, former director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

 Nine counts of involuntary manslaughter, each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine; and one count of willful neglect of duty, a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine.

The court docket lists the date of the offenses as Jan. 28 2015, while the indictment, signed Jan. 8, lists a date range between Jan. 28, 2015 and Jan. 13, 2016. The nine victims for whom the involuntary manslaughter charges are associated died between June and August of 2015. All manslaughter charges have a 10-year statute of limitations.

Eden Wells, former chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

 Nine counts of involuntary manslaughter, each a 15-year felony and/or $7,500 fine; two counts of misconduct in office, each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine; and one count of willful neglect of duty, a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine.

The court docket lists the date of the offenses as Jan. 1 2015, while the indictment, signed Jan. 8, lists a date range between Jan. 1, 2015 and March 3, 2017. The nine victims for whom the involuntary manslaughter charges are associated died between June and August of 2015. All manslaughter charges have a 10-year statute of limitations.

Darnell Earley, former Flint emergency manager

 Three counts of misconduct in office, each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.

The court docket lists the date of the offenses as Jan. 1 2015. There are two separate indictments. An indictment signed March 16, 2020 lists one count of misconduct in office stemming from an undated violation of the Home Rule City Act, which sets rules for how a city governs itself, including organization, taxation and borrowing. The offense occurred between Oct. 1, 2013 and March 20, 2014, according to the indictment.

The other indictment, signed on Sept. 9, 2020, lists the two other misconduct in office charges and accuses Earley of disseminating misleading information to the public about the safety of drinking water on Jan. 9, 2015 and refusing to switch the water source back to Detroit, despite ongoing quality issues.

Gerald Ambrose, former Flint emergency manager

 Four counts of misconduct in office, each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.

The charges are listed in the court docket as two separate cases. The first, for one count, lists the date of the offense as Oct. 1, 2013. The second lists the date of the remaining three offenses as Jan. 1 2015.

Likewise, there are two separate indictments. The first for one count, signed March 16, 2020, cites violation of the Home Rule City Act between Oct. 1, 2013 and March 20, 2014. The second indictment for the remaining charges was signed Sept. 1, 2020 and lists a date range for the allegations between Jan. 1, 2013 and April 30, 2015, when Ambrose left his position as emergency manager.

The charging statements claim that during Ambroses short tenure, he rejected opportunities to switch the water source, despite knowledge of ongoing quality issues; directed a privately contracted consulting firm inspecting water quality not to recommend switching the water source back to Detroit; and just prior to his resignation committed Flint to a $7 million loan that hindered the citys ability to switch back to the Detroit water source.

Jarrod Agen, former director of communications and former chief of staff under Snyder

 One count of perjury, a 15-year felony.

The date of offense for the charge is listed as Jan. 1, 2015, while the date range listed in the Jan. 8-signed indictment is listed between Jan. 1, 2015 and Jan. 1, 2018. The Indictment accuses Agen of lying under oath during an investigative interview on Feb. 11, 2017.

Richard Baird, former transformation manager and senior adviser to Snyder

 One count of perjury, a 15-year felony; a count of official misconduct in office, a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine; one count of obstruction of justice, a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fine; and one count of extortion, a 20-year felony and/or $10,000 fine.

The date of the offenses listed in the court docket is Dec. 1, 2015. The date range in the Jan. 8-signed indictment is between Dec. 1, 2015 and Jan. 1, 2019. He is accused of committing perjury by lying to an assistant prosecutor under oath during an interview on March 1, 2017; misconduct in office for undated offenses involving misuse of state personnel and resources while part of Snyders executive team; obstructing justice on an unspecified date by attempting to interfere with or influence legal proceedings; and extorting a member of the Flint Area Community Health and Environmental Partnership on unspecified dates as it was studying a possible link between the water crisis and Legionnaires disease outbreaks.

Nancy Peeler, the Early Childhood Health Section manager at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, who is currently suspended without pay.

 Two counts of misconduct in office, each a five-year felony and/or $10,000 fines; and one count of willful neglect of duty, a one-year misdemeanor and/or $1,000 fine

The date of the offenses listed in the court docket is July 23, 2015. The date range in the Nov. 24, 2020-signed indictment is between July 23, 2015 and Oct. 2, 2015. The indictment accuses Peeler of misconduct in office for concealing the results of an epidemiological analysis concerning elevated blood lead levels of children in the city of Flint on July 28, 2015. A second count of misconduct in office claims Peeler misrepresented findings related to elevated lead levels in children on Sept. 23, 2015. Shes also accused of willful neglect of duty for failing to take action between July and September of 2015 in response to information she had about high lead levels detected in children.

More on MLive:

Former Gov. Snyder, 8 others criminally charged, accused of trampling trust of Flint people

Snyder prosecution in Flint case relies on rare procedure in Michigan

Flint water crisis legal bills have cost taxpayers nearly $35 million so far

Former Gov. Rick Snyder shows up at Genesee County Jail ahead of court appearance on water crisis charges

Former Flint DPW director charged with two counts of neglect of duty in water crisis probe
This is an opinion column.

We may breathe again, America. Finally.

Breathe sighs of relief. Sighs of joy. Sighs of peace. Sighs of positive possibilities.

Finally.

Not everyone will, of course, and thats okay. Thats Americaan America, you just recall, where we may hold disparate ideas and ideals yet share them with respect. Where we debate without denouncing or dividing. Where we rassle without rancor or retaliation. (Then go get a beer.)

An America that is a far more perfect union than the traumatized disunion we dearly hope to leave behind, than the ugly cries for an uncivil war we pray fade into deaf ears.

Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States. Kamala Harris is Vice President of the United States, the first woman and woman of color to hold the second-highest office in the land.

Finally.

They took the oath of office Wednesday beneath a chilled mid-day sky outside the U.S. Capitol74 excruciating days since we learned Georgia and Arizona had flipped blue, thus resolving perhaps the most democratic presidential election in the history of our democracy. (So, most of us thought).

Seventy-four days of wondering if wed get ever here. With our right minds. With our democracy.

Ive watched 18 presidential inaugurations in this life (Dwight D. Eisenhowers second one 1957 doesnt count; I wasnt yet even a year old). I watched some with the deepest pride. Some with indifference. A few under a childs protest (during the paleolithic era of television in my youth when homes had only channels, all of them carried it.)

I watched one inauguration (ahem) simply wondering: How the hell did this happen?

This one I watched and just breathed.

Finally.

Peace Peloton executive director Doc Wilson, left, bumps fists with Ben Rainbow as others cheer behind while viewing the inauguration of President Joe Biden on a nearby video screen before a bicycle ride by the group Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)AP

Now, we can begin the most vital work that must be done, more vital than any policy or program from the new administration, more vital than any bill or bold swipe of a pen on an executive order.

While its easily the most overused word in the last 24 hours, we must, nonetheless, begin to heal.

We have much to repair, Biden said during his inauguration address, much to restore, much to heal.

So much. So much that it will not happen easily or swiftly. Perhaps not even in one administration.

So much that even those who want to heal may have trouble doing so.

They may strain at these sudden calls for healing (and unity, the second most overused word in our zeitgeist) after four years of being diminished, degraded and all-but disenfranchised.

Of dismissing our calls for healing, for addressing injustice and systemic racism.

Of crying fraud! at our vote. Of petulantly refusing to certify the Electoral College tally, even in the aftermath of a historic attack of insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, and of having the audacity to attend an inauguration they tried to stop.

Vice President Kamala Harris waves after being sworn in during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)AP

After four years of a man who stilleven as he boarded a plane Wednesday morning bound for ignominious obliviononly acknowledges votes cast for him.

Their painour paincant be wished away. Our healing wont come easily. Or quickly.

Not without accountability and sincere contrition from those leaders who spewed the painful and dangerous rhetoric.

Not without more of the kind of gesture made by 18 freshmen lawmakers, including two from Alabama (one of whom, Rep. Barry Moore, supported the insipid Electoral College challenge), who collectively reached out to the Biden administration with congratulations and expressed a desire to work together on issues,

I reached out to Crystal Mullen-Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Strive Counseling Services in Birmingham. What if, I asked, your ailing client was the United States of America.

A man reacts at Manuel's Tavern in Atlanta as he watches Joe Biden get sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)AP

Oh, wow, she began.

Healing starts with acknowledging the pain and how it came about. We re-experienced much of the trauma of our history, she said. Label it social injustice, discrimination, fear, so many of those things.

Understanding the effects of the pain, and how its being handled, is vital, too.

Is the client having difficulty managing emotions, she asked. Did they develop bad habits, like substance abuse and other self-destructive behavior?

Yes, on all countsexacerbated by a global pandemic that killed more than 400,000 Americans, cost thousands of jobs, and inexorably changed our lives.

Then, help them understand they are not alone, that others are experiencing the same trauma, she said. And instill hope. Offer new skills to help manage negative thoughts and behaviors before they surface.

In other words, breathe.

President Joe Biden signs three documents including an inauguration declaration, cabinet nominations and sub-cabinet nominations in the President's Room at the US Capitol after the inauguration ceremony, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris watches at right. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool Photo via AP)AP

On Wednesday morning, I received an uplifting email from a reader:

A wonderful and totally unexpected thing happened to me shopping in Pensacola on Monday: So many strangers smiled or spoke to me and showed kindness, which I happily reciprocated. Maybe something big is happening at the grounds-root level, which is where it starts. And, yes, although I am Caucasian, most were not I sense a coming together, and I am hopeful for the future of our country - for the first time in quite a while.

Seems like she breathed, toofor the first time in quite a while.

Manuel's Tavern employee Dave Baldwin, wearing a protective face emblazoned with the word "FINALLY," watches the 59th U.S. Presidential Inauguration ceremony, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021 in Atlanta. Joe Biden became the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Branden Camp)AP

Unafraid to start uncomfortable conversations, Roy is a voice for whats right and wrong in Birmingham, Alabama (and beyond). His column appears in The Birmingham News and AL.com, as well as in the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register. Reach him at rjohnson@al.com and follow him at twitter.com/roysj
The Income Tax Department has detected undisclosed transactions of more than Rs 1,400 crore after raiding a jewellery firm and two real-estate developers based in Jaipur, the CBDT said on Thursday.

The search and survey operation was carried out on January 21 at a total of 31 premises of these entities.

Describing the alleged tax evasion modus operandi deployed by one of the raided entity, a developer and coloniser in Rajasthan's capital Jaipur, the CBDT said "complete details" of unaccounted transactions of this group for the last 6-7 years were "hidden" in the basement of the main business premise.

"During the search, a plethora of incriminating documents and digital data in the form of unaccounted receipts, unexplained development expenses, unexplained assets, cash loans and advances, on-money receipts were found and seized."



"Total unaccounted transactions amounting to Rs 650 crore have been detected, so far in this group," it said in a statement.

The other real estate group is involved in the development of commercial centres, farm houses, townships and residential enclaves.

"It was found that the assessee group had taken over a real-estate project at the airport plaza by showing an investment of Rs 1 lakh only in the books of account whereas the WIP (closing stock) pertaining to the project reflected in the balance sheet was found to be about Rs 133 crore," the statement alleged.

It said "substantial income" from various affordable housing schemes run by the assessee had not been disclosed in the returns of income, the complete documents of which were seized from the searched premises.

"The group had also advanced unaccounted cash loans to various persons amounting to Rs 19 crore and is also earning unaccounted interest on the same. Total unaccounted transactions amounting to Rs 225 crore have been detected so far," the CBDT said.

In the case of the group involved in the business of precious and semi-precious stones, jewellery, antiques, handicrafts, carpets and textiles, the "entire detail of unaccounted manufacturing activity of gold and silver ornaments for the last 6 years" was recovered from a concealed cavity created in the showroom.

"It is pertinent to note that this manufacturing activity has never been reported in any of the income tax returns (ITRs) filed by the group."



"Documents relating to benami property of Rs 15 crore were also found from the secret chamber," it said.

The statement said tax sleuths are working to crack the alpha-numeric secret codes mentioned on each item to find the actual sale price embedded on them.

"The concealed incriminating data maintained by the assessee in a software called Jewels Prime has been retrieved by the search team."



"A perusal of these incriminating documents, data and the regular books of account revealed that the assessee had been suppressing the sales ranging from 100 per cent-150 per cent on the items sold to foreign tourists," it said.

The jeweller group had also advanced unaccounted cash loans to various persons amounting to Rs 122.67 crore and is also earning unaccounted interest on the same, it said.

"The group introduced its unaccounted cash income through the bank accounts of their employees and workers. Total unaccounted transactions amounting to Rs 525 crore have been detected so far," the CBDT 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.)
Mr. Biden has promised to deliver 100 million vaccines into the arms of Americans in his first 100 days in office. But in his inaugural address, he acknowledged the difficult road facing the country.

My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, were going to need each other, Mr. Biden said. We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter. Were entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.

The new leaders of the pandemic response

The task of translating Mr. Bidens virus plans into action on the ground in the coming 100 days will fall to a new team of administrators, scientists and health experts. Heres a look at some of the new faces who will be leading the effort.

Jeffrey Zients. He is Mr. Bidens coronavirus czar, tasked with overseeing the federal response to the pandemic. He was the head of the National Economic Council in the Obama administration and led the rescue of HealthCare.gov. While hes known as Mr. Fix-It for his ability to save failing government projects, progressives are wary of his close ties to business.

Dr. David Kessler, a former head of the Food and Drug Administration, will oversee the effort to accelerate the development, manufacturing and distribution of coronavirus vaccines (known under the Trump Administration as Operation Warp Speed.) Dr. Kessler worked closely with Dr. Fauci in the 1990s to speed the development and approval of drugs that changed the course of the AIDS epidemic.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, chief of the infectious diseases division at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School, is Mr. Bidens pick to be director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a column for The New York Times Opinion section, she said she would work to restore public trust in the C.D.C. through honesty and transparency.
Patrick, 20

Im charged overdraft fees all the time. Im a broke college student who sometimes forgets how much money I have in my account, I shouldnt be charged $40 for it. Its so frustrating. Im trying my best to save and manage my money but I feel like all my bank wants to do is take it away from me.

Hannah, 22

My bank doesnt support depositing money from PayPal or squares cash app into your account. I have like $500 in PayPal that I will need to deposit into my boyfriends bank account so he can withdraw it and give it to me. If theres an easier way to handle it, I dont know about it. Im going to have to find a new bank that supports online payments.

Matthew, 21

When I got my credit card it was really difficult to set up autopay. I spent hours trying to set it up  the website was so confusing. I eventually figured it out from a Reddit post. I didnt expect to have this problem with such a big bank. It shouldnt be this hard.

Tayshia, 20

My bank doesnt have a lot of resources. I want to invest with them because their savings account pays almost 0% interest, but their only options are for me to do it myself or pay someone a ton of money for guided investing. I decided I dont want to pay for it, but now I feel like Im completely on my own when investing. I would like more support. I even called them to ask for help and the guy just described the plan options. He basically just read off what was already on the website. It was so not helpful.

Seth, 19

Im only at my bank because my parents are at the same bank. I didnt really get to choose my bank, my parents opened an account for me there and Im just not very impressed. I might switch banks, but I dont really know what Im looking for.

Were not a research institute or some market intelligence company. Were a group of twenty-somethings who believe in the credit union movement  we know that credit unions can serve our generation better than traditional banks. We believe that credit unions can win over GenZ in the next decade by:

Emphasizing the lower fee, higher rate, and the social responsibility of CUs Providing intuitive technology Offering accessible and engaging financial education resources Convincing members who are parents to sign up their kids

To help credit unions earn the trust of Gen Z, we built Zogo  a gamified financial literacy app that helps CUs connect with Gen Z authentically. Since launching in November 2019, our app has garnered 100,000+ young users who have completed over 2,000,000 modules, some of which teach GenZ the credit union difference. Just one year after our launch, over 70 credit unions in more than 35 states trust Zogo as the way to educate, engage and attract younger members, and their parents.

As Gen Zers ourselves, we know how to engage this demographic. Sign up for our webinar here to hear us speak directly with five college students and recent graduates on January 28th to discuss the issues that they have with their financial institutions and the changes they want to see in the future.
"I have a passion for helping my patients achieve their very best vision  whether their best vision is achieved through the very best pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses or through LASIK or cataract surgery. I love teaching my patients about their eyes and guiding them towards their best possible vision," says Dr. MacDonald . "I believe it's important for my patients to understand their eyes and their options so we can work together to make the best choices for a lifetime of their best vision."

Dr. MacDonald is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University School of Optometry and she attended Florida Atlantic University for her undergraduate studies. Dr. MacDonald is a specialist in the diagnosis and management of ocular diseases, contact lens evaluation and management, refractive eye surgery consultation and care, with certification to prescribe therapeutic and oral medications. Elizabeth was born in Connecticut and grew up in South Florida. She now lives in Maitland with her husband, three children, Lilly, Violet and Allen, and her two dogs Nikki and Posie. She enjoys spending time with her family at New Smyrna beach and nearby theme parks. She can often be seen cheering on the sidelines at her kids' sporting events.



"We are excited to bring Dr. MacDonald on board, expanding the optometry services we offer at Hunter Vision," says Dr. Joel Hunter, MD., Orlando LASIK Surgeon and Founder of Hunter Vision. "Dr. MacDonald offers a wealth of experience, warmth, and expertise to our patient care experience. Plus, she's just the best. What a wonderful person!"

From their office in Orlando, Florida, Dr. MacDonald will perform vision exams, glasses and contact lens prescriptions, consultations for LASIK and lens replacement surgery as well as other related optometry services. Her goal is to ensure our patients have high-quality vision, know their options, and also get personalized information about early signs of conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, corneal ulcers, diabetic eye disease, keratoconus and macular degeneration. Dr. MacDonald will see patients of all ages, including performing pediatric eye exams.

"I look forward to meeting many new patients in the Central Florida community," adds Dr. MacDonald. "Hunter Vision is a leading eye care and vision correction practice. Their commitment to outstanding eye care is right in line with my focus as an optometry practitioner and specialist."

About Hunter Vision

Founded in 2010, Hunter Vision ( https://www.huntervision.com /) is a leading LASIK and vision correction practice serving Orange and Seminole County, Florida with their ophthalmology, optometry and optical headquarters located in Orlando at the Maitland Regus building located at 555 Winderley Place, Suite 300, Maitland, FL 32751. Hunter Vision offers patients' state of the art technology and highly experienced Doctors they can trust. The practice is committed to excellence, quality of care and delivering an exceptional patient experience by providing the very best eye care available to patients throughout Central Florida. In addition to routine vision care such as eye exams, and glasses and contact lens fittings for patients from 5 to 105, the doctors at the practice specialize in advanced eye procedures including LASIK, cataract eye surgery, lens replacement and much more for our patients from 18 to 108 years of age. The ultimate goal of each member on our team is to provide the best care and most pleasant patient experience. Hunter Vision accepts most major medical and vision insurance plans including Medicare, AETNA, Florida Blue, CIGNA, VSP, and Humana. Call 407-385-1620 to speak with a Hunter Vision team member or schedule your free virtual consultation today!

Media Contact:

Grace Anderson

[email protected]

(407) 844-7266

SOURCE Hunter Vision

Related Links

https://www.huntervision.com


Nimish Sawant

India began its COVID-19 vaccination drive on 16 January and so far, over 631,000 vaccine doses have been administered according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The doses delivered per day have seen a daily rise, with 165,714 people vaccinated on 16 Jan and around 177,368 people vaccinated on 19 Jan. It is being touted as the worlds largest COVID-19 vaccination drive. But this drive could have been even faster, had it not been for the glitches that have been observed in the CoWIN app (COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network), which is one of the critical links in the COVID-19 vaccination drive. The government attributes these glitches to teething troubles.

CoWIN app: What does it do?

The CoWIN app is used to register and acknowledge vaccination beneficiaries, to allocate vaccination centres and aids in monitoring recipients. It is also needed for health authorities to monitor the COVID-19 vaccines in real-time. It has been developed by the Ministry for Health and Family Welfare and uses the same platform on which the Pulse Polio and other immunisation programs in the country are based. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeITY) and the National Informatics Centre are handling the backend tech infrastructure for the app.

The CoWIN app has many modules such as the Administrator Module for admins and technical supervisors responsible for managing vaccination sessions; a Beneficiary Registration Module for self and individual registration; a Vaccination Module to verify beneficiary details and updates on vaccination status; a Beneficiary Acknowledgement and Status Updation Module for SMS alerts, issuing electronic vaccination certificates and a Report module to create reports to analyse the status of the vaccination drive.

The CoWIN app is essentially a variant of the eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network) app which was developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the MoHFW. The eVIN app was launched in August 2020 to let health workers and those handling the cold chain update information on vaccine stocks after every immunisation session, and allow health officials to monitor vaccine stocks, flows and storage temperatures.

CoWIN glitches galore

Since day one, there have been many reports about software shortcomings in the CoWIN app. This has been a cause for concern for a lot of governments across the country.

SMSes cant be sent

The Maharashtra government had suspended the vaccination drive in the Mumbai till 18 January due to technical issues with the CoWIN app. A statement from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation acknowledged the glitches and that registrations had to be done offline, which were manually updated in the system later.

While the Central government had allowed offline registration today due to a technical problem, they have directed that all further entries be made through the app. In view of this, COVID-19 vaccinations have been postponed for two days in Mumbai on Sunday 17 January 2021 and Monday 18 January 2021, said a BMC notice.

According to the BMC healthcare officer, Dr Mangala Gomare, the glitch prevented the authorities from sending SMSes to the healthcare workers through the CoWIN app and they had to be contacted through war rooms, which were set up last year to decentralise allocation of beds for COVID-19 patients. As a result, only 1923 or the planned 4000 healthcare workers could be vaccinated on day one.

In Chattisgarh as well, the glitches resulted in only 36 percent of the total number of beneficiaries being vaccinated. According to the Chattisgarh health minister, TS Singh Deo, the issue prevented beneficiaries from receiving text messages which would allocate vaccination centres to them. Similar issues were faced in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand as well.

CoWIN portal facing too much traffic, cant handle load

The other issue that is causing concern is the slow loading of data at the vaccination centres. After a beneficiary enters a vaccination centre, their credentials must be verified, which requires access to data on the CoWIN app and cross-referencing it with Aadhaar. Jharkhand health minister, Banna Gupta, to The Economic Times said that slow loading speeds are not due to network issues, but because of increased load on the CoWIN portal.

Absentee beneficiaries not taken into account

Another issue that was brought up by a lot of state governments was not factoring-in absentee beneficiaries. There have been many reported instances of beneficiaries who registered for the vaccination, but never showed up on the said day. On-the-spot registration for alternate health workers in such a scenario wasnt available, causing more delays.

The provision to allow an alternate beneficiary to register on the spot has now been added.

Government sources claim that the CoWIN glitches are minor software issues, which any app faces during initial rollout. Unfamiliarity with the app functionality and data-entry errors are also being cited as reasons for the slowdown.

Prasanth Sugathan, legal director at Software Freedom Law Centre, said these kind of glitches are a common trend in government applications. Several government services like the Public Grievance Portal, NSDL (the National Pension Scheme Portal) etc. suffer from a similar problem. However, we would not say that this is a general trend for new apps.

According to officials monitoring the app in real-time, the app is optimised to handle up to 50 lakh beneficiaries per day, and can even work on 2G connections. But given the issues reported by various states, these claims dont stand. There is no way for privacy experts to study the app, as the code isnt open to the public.

We checked OpenForge and GitHub, but could not locate the source code of the app. It is clearly not open source, and therefore, is not in compliance with Government's Policy on Open Source, said Sugathan.

Fake CoWIN apps

Apart from the glitches that are causing a slowdown in the vaccination drive, there are a lot of fake CoWIN apps that are showing up on app stores. The official, government-approved CoWIN app hasnt been released for the general public, and is available only for frontline healthcare workers and beneficiaries so far.

Advocate and cybersecurity expert, Prashant Mali has come across cases where fake CoWIN app makers are defrauding people. These apps get launched with various names and are on the app stores until they are taken down. In many cases, once the victim is compromised via social engineering via the phone, an APK file named Cowin is sent to them. Details such as Aadhaar card, driving license details, PAN number and bank passbook are requested on these fake apps, which are then used to commit fraud. Once the victim falls for the scam, PIN number is also requested, said Mali.

At the time of writing, there were two apps on the Google Play Store which have the name Cowin, but they are not related in any way to the government-approved CoWIN app.

The official CoWIN app will have the national symbol and you should cross-check that app on the MyGov.in website, or with your local doctors. There is no official app yet. If anyone comes across fake apps, they should call on 1075 which is a 24x7 call centre for vaccination and CoWIN software queries, said Mali.

Sugathan notes that fake CoWIN apps are definitely a cause for concern and recommends the utmost caution against them.

We had seen this with Aarogya Setu as well. Those fake apps were able to make phone calls, record videos and calls. They can also be spyware in disguise, said Sugathan.

So far, there have been no reports of the CoWIN glitches causing anything other than a slowdown in the COVID-19 vaccination process. The Maharashtra government resumed its vaccination drive from 19 Jan and authorities claim that the issues they had raised seem to be resolved for now. Even in Haryana, while minor issues were observed, vaccination carried on.

Until the source code of the CoWIN app is open to the public, it will be difficult to ascertain the causes behind these issues. As long as the vaccination drive doesnt come to a grinding halt, it looks like these glitches will have to be dealt with as they come along.
New Jersey health officials on Thursday reported another 4,095 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 98 additional deaths as hospitalizations dropped to a new six-week week low, potentially signaling that the post-holiday spike in cases is continuing to recede.

New Jerseys hospitals reported 3,395 patients as of Wednesday night, the lowest since Dec. 6. and down 12% from a recent high of 3,873 on Dec. 22. The state remains well below the peak in hospitalizations at more than 8,000 patients in the spring.

In addition, the seven-day average for new confirmed cases declined Thursday to 4,482, down 20% from a week ago, though still up 2% from a month ago.

Gov. Phil Murphy provided the latest update on the outbreak on social media. His next scheduled briefing is Friday in Trenton.

The state of 9 million residents has now lost 20,760 residents in the COVID-19 pandemic  18,639 confirmed deaths and 2,121 deaths considered probable, according to state data. The probable deaths, which are revised weekly, increased Wednesday by 30 fatalities. The state has reported 1,650 newly-confirmed deaths in January with eight days of 100 or more.

New Jersey has reported 580,688 total confirmed cases out of 8.9 million tests administered since officials announced the states first case March 4. There have also been 65,501 positive rapid antigen tests, which the state began reporting publicly earlier this month, though officials have cautioned that they could overlap with the confirmed PCR tests.

The positivity rate for tests conducted on Saturday, the most recent day available, was 12.64% based on 24,553 tests. Fewer tests are typically administered on weekend days.

The statewide rate of transmission dropped slightly to 1.07, from 1.08 the day before. Any number over 1 indicates the outbreak is expanding, but when the rate is declining, it means the expansion is slowing.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

VACCINATIONS

At least 455,965 doses of the vaccine had been administered in New Jersey as of Thursday, according to the states COVID-19 dashboard. Of those, 398,862 were the first of two doses people will receive, while 56,821 were the second.

New Jersey has received nearly 900,000 doses from the federal government, according to a running tally from the CDC.

The state hit a high of 29,114 doses administered in a single day Jan. 14, based on the most current data.

That was the first day New Jersey expanded vaccine eligibility to those 65 and over, residents with certain health conditions, and smokers, creating a backlog for appointments when vaccines promised by the federal government did not materialize.

Four of the six coronavirus vaccine mega-sites have opened throughout New Jersey to serve as vaccination hubs.

New Jersey has faced criticism for having a slower rollout than dozens of other states as it continues to deal with a second wave of the pandemic, according to data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The state has been doling out doses in phases. And even though officials last week greatly expanded vaccine eligibility, demand remains greater than supply, and residents are scrambling for scarce appointments. More than 4 million New Jersey residents are now eligible.

Officials stress that the state is depending on the federal government for its supply and is receiving only 100,000 doses a week, though New Jersey has the capacity for 470,000 a day.

Murphy on Saturday said the federal government has not provided additional doses that were promised.

VACCINE DOSES BY COUNTY

ATLANTIC COUNTY - 14,542 doses

BERGEN COUNTY - 50,474 doses

BURLINGTON COUNTY - 22,251 doses

CAMDEN COUNTY - 26,519 doses

CAPE MAY COUNTY - 6,803 doses

CUMBERLAND COUNTY - 6,916 doses

ESSEX COUNTY - 36,283 doses

GLOUCESTER COUNTY - 16,395 doses

HUDSON COUNTY - 19,664 doses

HUNTERDON COUNTY - 6,980 doses

MERCER COUNTY - 11,013 doses

MIDDLESEX COUNTY - 34,392 doses

MONMOUTH COUNTY - 34,484 doses

MORRIS COUNTY - 32,272 doses

OCEAN COUNTY - 27,105 doses

PASSAIC COUNTY - 20,395 doses

SALEM COUNTY - 2,263 doses

SOMERSET COUNTY - 18,452 doses

SUSSEX COUNTY - 7,322 doses

UNION COUNTY - 22,477 doses

WARREN COUNTY - 4,619 doses

OUT OF STATE - 20,153 doses

UNKNOWN COUNTY - 14,191 doses

COUNTY-BY-COUNTY CASES (sorted by most new)

Bergen County: 56,223 confirmed cases (459 new), 2,159 confirmed deaths (268 probable)

Middlesex County: 55,293 confirmed cases (415 new), 1,629 confirmed deaths (217 probable)

Hudson County: 52,976 confirmed cases (352 new), 1,644 confirmed deaths (172 probable)

Ocean County: 41,034 confirmed cases (333 new), 1,482 confirmed deaths (90 probable)

Essex County: 55,898 confirmed cases (329 new), 2,237 confirmed deaths (260 probable)

Passaic County: 44,986 confirmed cases (320 new), 1,398 confirmed deaths (160 probable)

Monmouth County: 40,995 confirmed cases (302 new), 1,093 confirmed deaths (104 probable)

Morris County: 25,260 confirmed cases (222 new), 831 confirmed deaths (202 probable)

Union County: 42,428 confirmed cases (209 new), 1,446 confirmed deaths (189 probable)

Camden County: 34,360 confirmed cases (204 new), 886 confirmed deaths (67 probable)

Gloucester County: 17,814 confirmed cases (189 new), 442 confirmed deaths (22 probable)

Burlington County: 26,274 confirmed cases (147 new), 623 confirmed deaths (51 probable)

Mercer County: 22,251 confirmed cases (130 new), 746 confirmed deaths (39 probable)

Atlantic County: 15,771 confirmed cases (102 new), 416 confirmed deaths (23 probable)

Somerset County: 15,279 confirmed cases (102 new), 622 confirmed deaths (93 probable)

Sussex County: 6,260 confirmed cases (68 new), 194 confirmed deaths (53 probable)

Cumberland County: 9,838 confirmed cases (62 new), 270 confirmed deaths (13 probable)

Salem County: 3,641 confirmed cases (41 new), 120 confirmed deaths (9 probable)

Warren County: 5,016 confirmed cases (38 new), 176 confirmed deaths (15 probable)

Hunterdon County: 4,924 confirmed cases (36 new), 91 confirmed deaths (54 probable)

Cape May County: 2,968 confirmed cases (17 new), 134 confirmed deaths (20 probable)

HOSPITALIZATIONS

The 3,395 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases across New Jerseys hospitals as of Wednesday night included 626 in critical or intensive care (nine fewer than the previous night), with 427 on ventilators (five fewer).

There were 152 fewer people hospitalized Wednesday compared to the previous night.

There were 444 COVID-19 patients discharged Wednesday, according to the states COVID-19 dashboard.

The governor has said any hospitalizations over 5,000 patients would likely trigger new rounds of restrictions.

But state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Monday that officials arent concerned at the moment about an upcoming surge in the number of people needing to be hospitalized.

The interesting thing is: Our cases are increasing and our mortalities are increasing, but our hospitalizations are not, Persichilli told reporters before a public event in Old Bridge.

Hospitalizations are staying pretty stable, she said. I think its still affecting older individuals. Almost 60% of our deaths are older individuals, so it may be that its more transmissible, more asymptomatic. Its over 50% now are asymptomatic transmissions. Asymptomatic transmitters are perhaps affecting older, vulnerable adults, and thats who is ending up in the hospitals, and the mortality is significant.

SCHOOL CASES

At least 597 students and staff in 121 school districts in New Jersey have caught COVID-19 through in-school outbreaks, according to the latest update from state health officials.

Thats an increase of 10 districts and 40 cases from the previous weekly report. There are now confirmed in-school outbreaks in all 21 counties, though the state does not identify the individual school districts.

Bergen county has the most outbreaks (26) and cases (115). The county also has the most confirmed cases overall with 55,349 as of Wednesday.

Those numbers do not include students or staff believed to have been infected outside school or cases that cant be confirmed as in-school outbreaks. Though the numbers keep rising every week, Murphy has said the school outbreak statistics remain below what state officials were expecting when schools reopened for in-person classes.

New Jersey defines school outbreaks as cases where contact tracers determined two or more students or school staff caught or transmitted COVID-19 in the classroom or during academic activities at school.

AGE BREAKDOWN

Broken down by age, those 30 to 49 years old make up the largest percentage of New Jersey residents who have caught the virus (31.2%), followed by those 50-64 (23.7%), 18-29 (19.3%), 65-79 (11.1%), 5-17 (7.5%), 80 and older (5.4%), and 0-4 (1.6%).

On average, the virus has been more deadly for older residents, especially those with preexisting conditions. Nearly half the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents 80 and older (47%), followed by those 65-79 (33%), 50-64 (15.6%), 30-49 (4%), 18-29 (0.4%), 5-17 (0%), and 0-4 (0%).

At least 7,668 of the states COVID-19 deaths have been among residents and staff members at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. That number has been rising again at a steeper rate in recent months, with deaths at the states nursing homes nearly tripling in December.

There are currently active outbreaks at 431 facilities, resulting in 7,054 active cases among residents and 7,619 among staffers.

GLOBAL NUMBERS

As of Thursday morning, there were more than 97.1 million positive COVID-19 tests across the world, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. More than 2.08 million people have died from coronavirus-related complications.

The U.S. has reported the most cases, at 24.5 million, and the most deaths, at more than 407,000.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.
ALEPPO, Syria  The opposition factions in Idlib confronted Jan. 14 a ground attack launched by the Syrian regime forces on al-Ankawi axis in al-Ghab Plain in northwest Hama that lies south of the strategic M4 highway.

There have been repeated infiltration attempts recently on the part of regime forces on opposition sites. The heaviest attack took place on Jan. 11, causing the death of 11 fighters from the Jaysh al-Nasr faction of the National Liberation Front (NLF).

The regime forces have recently intensified their violations of the cease-fire announced by Russia and Turkey in March 2020 in northwest Syria, as their artillery and missile strikes killed civilians in the villages of Jabal al-Zawiya as well as other areas near the contact lines in the south and east of Idlib and in al-Ghab Plain. The opposition factions have responded by shelling regime positions around Idlib.

Idlib is seemingly headed toward further military escalation between the regime and the opposition, raising concerns among the popular opposition circles over the return of military operations between the two sides.

Also, the flow of Turkish army reinforcements toward Idlib is fueling such concerns and suggesting that a battle could be imminent.

The evacuation of the Turkish army observation points in the regime-controlled areas around Idlib might also be among the most important factors indicating that Idlib has entered a new phase. In this context, the question arises as to whether the cease-fire will hold, whether the relative calm will continue and whether a new round of battles is set to start.

The evacuation process of the Turkish military points in the regime-controlled areas, which the Turkish army started on Oct. 20, 2020, has come to an end. The Turkish observation point stationed on the M5 international highway near the Dweir Junction north of Saraqeb completed its withdrawal on Jan. 12 toward the opposition-controlled areas in south Idlib. The overall evacuation and withdrawal operations included 14 Turkish observation points in the countryside of Aleppo, Hama and Idlib. These points were located in areas under the control of the regime between May 2019, when the regime military operations started in Idlib, and early March 2020, when the fighting stopped after the announcement of the cease-fire.

The rapid field developments in Idlib seem to have also worried the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, which issued a statement on Jan. 15 denouncing the attacks of the regime forces on Idlib. The statement said, The attacks of the regime and its allies on Idlib are systematic war crimes, as the constant air and missile strikes, the repeated infiltration attempts and the hovering of reconnaissance aircraft are part of an organized campaign of escalation aimed at restoring the climate of killing, displacement and massacres.

Majed Abdalnoor, a journalist who lives in the Idlib countryside, told Al-Monitor, The current escalation in Idlib is a natural beginning of a new phase after the Turkish evacuation operations from the regimes areas. Each side is trying to feel the military pulse of the other, and I do not expect the matter to escalate to a large military operation, as the regime is busy fighting the Islamic State, whose strength is growing in the Syrian desert.

Mahmood Talha, a journalist who works with the opposition Thiqa News Agency in the countryside of Aleppo, told Al-Monitor, The Turkish army evacuation from 14 observation points took place as a large number of [other] Turkish military points were deployed in Jabal al-Zawiya and al-Ghab Plain south of the Aleppo-Latakia (M4) road. This infers that the Turkish forces that withdrew from the points inside the regime-held areas did not return to the Turkish territory but were used to form a defensive wall in south Idlib, thus making it difficult for the regime forces and their allies to launch a new battle.

A large number of military points have been established by the Turkish army in the south and east of Idlib over the past two months, which strengthened the Turkish military presence in the region. On Jan. 16, the Turkish army established a new post near the opposition-held village of Afes, located near the regime-held Idlib city of Saraqeb. On Jan. 11, the Turkish army established a new post in the western countryside of Aleppo near the 46th regiment controlled by the regime forces, among other points in Jabal al-Zawiya, a military point in Kansafra, a point in al-Marqab hill in Jabal al-Zawiya, and another one in al-Ghab Plain.

Abdulslam Abdulrzaq, a military analyst, told Al-Monitor, The Turkish army has recently established an important defensive line opposite the fronts with the regime forces, and the new Turkish points appeared to be more widespread in the Jabal al-Zawiya region due to their strategic importance.

Regarding the distribution of the Turkish points in Jabal al-Zawiya, Mohamad Rasheed, a journalist who works with the Hama Media Office, told Al-Monitor, The most important [Turkish observation] point is the Tal al-Nabi Ayyub point, which sits on the highest peak of the southern countryside of Idlib overlooking large areas under the control of the regime forces. There are also two points in the vicinity of the town of Shnan and two points near the village of Sarjah, while the rest of the points are spread across Ahsem, Balyun, Deir Sunbul, Farkia, Tal Maarata, Qoqfin, Turan, Marzaf, Nahleh, al-Bara, Deir Sunbul and Ar-Ruwaihah, and the Turkish army is deployed in several points near the international M4 road south of Idlib. Chief among these are the points of Maataram and al-Qiyasat as well as the schools of Basanqul and Mohambel.

Mohamad al-Bukaie, a political science lecturer who works in opposition universities in northwest Syria, told Al-Monitor, The Syrian regime wants to embark on a new round of battles in Idlib in an attempt to escape from the crises it is facing, namely the economic crisis, the Israeli bombing and the proliferation of Iranian militias. However, the regime is unable to bear the costs of any military operation that it may launch in Idlib. The Turkish military deployment in Idlib is enormous. There are more than 20,000 Turkish soldiers equipped with advanced weapons that can tip the balance of power in favor of the opposition should the regime go so far as to wage war.

Hyderabad, Jan 21 : The Telangana government has decided to implement 10 per cent reservation to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in the state, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao announced on Thursday.

He said a high-level review meeting will be held in the next two to three days on the matter and appropriate orders will be issued.

"There is a need to implement 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education to those economically weaker classes. We have decided to implement 10 per cent reservations to the EWS while continuing the reservations to those who are already enjoying the benefit as it is," he said.

"As on date in the state, 50 per cent reservations are being implemented to the weaker sections. With 10 per cent reservations to the EWS, the reservation percentage will be 60 per cent," he added.

It was in 2019 that the Centre had announced 10 per cent quota for EWS but the Telangana government had not taken a decision to implement it in the state.

The Narendra Modi government had told the Supreme Court early this month that the decision to implement the 10 per cent quota for the economically weak sections in states lie with the state governments.

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment stated this in response to a petition seeking the implementation of the quota in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Telangana legislature in 2017 had already passed a bill enhancing Reservation for Muslims from four per cent to 12 per cent and for Scheduled Tribes (STs) from six per cent to 10 per cent.

The state had requested the Centre to amend the Constitution to relax 50 per cent upper limit for quota to all sections as prescribed by the Supreme Court. Despite repeated demands by the Chief Minister, the Centre did not agree to the proposal.
Eclipse Foundation Puts Down Formal Roots in Belgium

The Eclipse Foundation's move to Europe continues apace with the formal establishment last week of the Eclipse Foundation AIBL, its new international non-profit association in Brussels, Belgium. The new European entity launches with the support of founding members Bosch, Daimler TSS, IBM, and SAP, the Foundation said in an announcement.

The Eclipse Foundation is one of the world's leading open-source software foundations, steward of the Eclipse IDE, enterprise Java, and the Eclipse MicroProfile, and the heart of a global ecosystem of developers, companies, and public sector entities. By moving its legal residence from the United States to Belgium, the Foundation has created "a global institution that builds on its existing membership base, active developer community, and strong institutional relationships to enable collaboration and the free flow of open source software innovation throughout the entire world," the announcement reads.

I talked with the Foundation's executive director, Mike Milinkovich, who has led the organization since its founding nearly 17 years ago, about the move last year. This seemed like another milestone moment to catch up, and he reminded me that "this is a proh-sess, not an event." (Canadians.)

"This is going to end up being a couple of years from the time we started to the time we're done" he said, "before we can say that we've fully completed the transition and emerged on the other side with our organization as it's going to be in the long term."

When Milinkovich talks about "the transition," he's not talking about shipping office furniture, of course. The move of the Eclipse.org Foundation, Inc., from a Delaware-based 501 C (6) non-profit organization to a Belgium-based 501 C (6) non-profit (also recognized by U.S. laws) involves some heavy lifting on the software side, and a couple of moving vans worth of membership agreements; working group documentation; intellectual property, trust policy, and trademark guidelines; and now, with Jakarta EE, platform specifications. Nevermind remapping of the Foundation's bylaws from the U.S. to a different legal framework.

"It's going to end up being a couple of years from the time we started to the time we come out on the other side, fully completed," he said.

The story of how the Eclipse Foundation got here stems from the organization's discovery of an already large European footprint.

"It started in October 2019, when, during a Foundation strategy session held in conjunction with the EclipseCon Europe event just outside Stuttgart, Germany," Milinkovich explained. "We were doing strategy setting for the following year, and one our European based directors said that we seemed to be doing really well in Europe, and wondered if we could do an analysis of where we were Europe. And so we started crunching some numbers and we found out that 70% of our paying members and 70% of our developers were based in Europe. We had, gradually over time, become a very Euro-centric organization; in terms of the number of employees, projects, and developers we had over there, we actually already were the largest open-source foundation in Europe. Seeing the numbers in black-and-white really brought it all home."

"And if we didn't do something," he added, "someone else would."

The move has been "remarkably smooth so far," Milinkovich said. To keep track of the Foundation's progress, be sure to subscribe to the organization's blog.

And while you're at it, keep reading this one.
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
The Osun State government has imposed a 10 p.m. till 5 a.m., daily dusk to dawn curfew on residents.

The government also restated its guidelines to curb the spread of coronavirus in the state in the wake of a spike in the number of infected people.

There will be a dusk to dawn curfew every day from 10 p.m. till 5 a.m., a statement signed by Wole Oyebamiji, secretary to the state government, on Wednesday, said.

He said enforcement teams have been set up in every local government and area office across the state, to ensure strict compliance.

Guidelines

The statement also said no social events can hold forthwith without the approval from the government.

The official made two telephone numbers (08135081156 and 08187187678) available to the public to seek the consent of the government before holding social events.

No social gathering (having obtained approval) can have more than 50 participants. All applications for social events must show a commitment that the organisers will strictly adhere to the new guidelines.

No religious gatherings should exceed two hours per time of gathering, vigils and crusades are banned till further notice and religious organisations should operate at only 30 per cent capacity of their space.

Mr Oyebamiji also encouraged school children to comply with the safety protocols.

Children must also be cautioned against unsafe practices such as shaking hands, hugging, sharing of materials and personal effects, visiting crowded spaces while school Owners, Head Teachers and Principals will be held responsible for any infraction.

No motorcycle can carry more than two people, including the rider. No mini-bus (korope) can carry more than five people, including the driver.

Only civil servants from Level 12 and above are expected to report physically at their offices. Officers below Level 12 are expected to work from home with effect from Monday, January 25th, till further notice.

Teachers, health workers and other workers on essential services, irrespective of grade, are exempted. No face mask, no entry policy must be enforced in all government offices.

Mr Oyebamiji explained that while the government is not interested in shutting down businesses, eateries, restaurants, joints and bars, these should operate at 50 per cent capacity and ensure adequate physical distancing of customers.

The official said any hotel, event centre, mall, joint or business that is found flouting the safety directives will be sealed, and will only be reopened upon the payment of a fine of N 250,000.

Churches and mosques found flouting the safety directives will be sealed, and will only be reopened upon the payment of a fine of N 50,000. With immediate effect, the state is increasing its testing capacity across all local government areas. Citizens are enjoined not to be presumptuous in this matter, but to ascertain their status by taking a COVID-19 test. It is free!.

Rattled

The latest decision emerged after two cabinet members of Governor Gboyega Oyetola tested positive for the virus.

The cabinet members are a commissioner and a special adviser.

ADVERTISEMENT

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the status of the duo had forced Mr Oyetola to mandate all his cabinet members to take a compulsory COVID-19 test.

All drivers in his convoy, domestic staff and aides attached to senior government officials have also been mandated to do the same.
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Guwahati/Itanagar, Jan 21 : The staff of a private gas and oil drilling company have appealed to the Chief Ministers of Assam and Bihar to secure the release from captivity of two employees of the firm who were kidnapped by militants in Arunachal Pradesh a month ago, police officials said on Thursday.

Arunachal Pradesh Police chief R.P. Upadhyaya told IANS over phone from Itanagar that the militants had earlier demanded Rs 20 crore to release the two employees of the company. The security forces of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are searching for the hostages who were abducted by the United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) on December 21 from the company's drilling site at Diyun in southern Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district, bordering Myanmar and Assam.

Pranab Kumar Gogoi, a drilling superintendent and Ram Kumar, a radio operator of Delhi-based Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited, were kidnapped at gunpoint by insurgents of ULFA-I, which is currently headed by Paresh Barua.

Gogoi is a resident of Sivasagar district in Assam while Kumar hails from Khagaria district in Bihar.

According to the police, in a video reportedly released by the ULFA-I on Wednesday, Gogoi and Ram Kumar are heard saying that they are now in the captivity of the ULFA-I and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and they urged Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to get them released.

Quippo Oil and Gas Infrastructure Limited, which is working in oil and gas drilling in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, also reportedly urged the authorities to rescue their employees. The ULFA-I, which was banned by the government in 1990, has been demanding an independent state of Assam while the NSCN (IM) has held several rounds of negotiations with the central government and even outside India after signing a ceasefire pact in August 1997.

[January 21, 2021] Ehave Revolutionizes Patient Medical Records for Psychedelic Mental Health

Medical records platform for psychedelic mental health to be available February 1 as a Plugin to the Ehave Dashboard.

MIAMI, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ehave, Inc. (OTC Pink: EHVVF) (the Company), a provider of digital therapeutics for the psychedelic and mental health sectors, announced today the availability of a breakthrough comprehensive solution for medical record exchange as the first plugin to its Ehave Dashboard. The medical record exchange plugin will allow patients to own their own healthcare records and work more closely with medical professionals and psychedelic researchers to target conditions that are poorly addressed by the healthcare system today, such as chronic diseases, treatment-resistant depression, and neurological disorders. According to Global Market Insights "the Electronic Health Record market size was valued at over USD 25.5 billion in 2018 and is expected to witness growth of over 5.5% CAGR from 2019 to 2025."1 A study from March 2016 by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, the National Cancer Institute, and the Departments of Family Medicine and Biomedical Informatics at The Ohio State University suggested that 75 percent of adults would use a PHR by 2020.2 As PHR implementation accelerates, it is essential that individuals understand their advantages and risks. The medical record exchange plugin on Ehave's Dashboard could provide patients and medical professionals with the ability to easily transfer medical records, while allowing patients to own their own data and do what they want with it. The medical record exchange plugin on Ehave's Dashboard could also potentially be of interest to pharmaceutical companies by changing the way they develop or market products. Since major pharmaceutical companies dont develop drugs for them, the Ehave Dashboard could potentially aggregate data from this patient population and provide that data to drug developers for clinical trials. This data could also help insurers route patients to the treatment providers who can help them the most. Collecting real-world evidence in support of patient outcomes and economic value has long been a challenge for those seeking market access for their products. The medical record exchange plugin on Ehave's Dashboard could offer insights into how medicine is consumed and real-time data on its impact. Companion sensors could notify a drug company how patients react to their medication, which could influence R&D, or indicate when a relatively low-grade therapy is not working. "There are 11 million Americans who are resistant to most mental health therapies. These individuals can cost the healthcare system as much as $250 billion. Our proprietary platform can provide better outcomes for many of these individuals by allowing them to take control of their physical and mental health by giving them the ability to carry their medical records with them wherever they go, said Ehave CEO Ben Kaplan. "Ehave would like to extend an offer to our shareholders to test drive our revolutionary new platfor. On February 1, 2021 we will have a link on our website www.ehave.com with information for a complimentary one-year trial of our medical record exchange plugin to the first 100 people who sign up."



Additional Ehave Inc. Information We are truly grateful for the support of EHVVF shareholders! Please join the conversation on our Ehave supporters telegram group at https://t.me/EhaveInc .

The company posts important information and updates through weekly videos from the official company YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnyW1mgMd0qmYkEMq3O6FWA . Please follow Ehave on Twitter @Ehaveinc1 About Ehave, Inc. Ehave, Inc. (EHVVF) is a leader of digital therapeutics delivering evidence-based therapeutic interventions to patients. Our primary focus is on improving the standard care in therapeutics to prevent or treat brain disorders or diseases through the use of digital therapeutics, independently or together, with medications, devices, and other therapies to optimize patient care and health outcomes. Our main product is the Ehave Telemetry Portal, which is a mental health informatics platform that allows clinicians to make objective and intelligent decisions through data insights. The Ehave Infinity Portal offers a powerful machine learning and artificial intelligence platform with a growing set of advanced tools and applications developed by Ehave and its leading partners. This empowers patients, healthcare providers, and payers to address a wide range of conditions through high quality, safe, and effective data-driven involvement with intelligent and accessible tools. Additional information on Ehave can be found on the Companys website at: www.ehave.com . Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words intends, may, will, plans, expects, anticipates, projects, predicts, estimates, aims, believes, hopes, potential or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Companys research, manufacturing and other development efforts; (ii) the Companys ability to advance its products to successfully complete development and commercialization; (iii) the manufacturing, development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Companys products; (iv) the lack of sufficient funding to finance the product development and business operations; (v) competitive companies and technologies within the Companys industry and introduction of competing products; (vi) the Companys ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vii) loss of key management personnel; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its products and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) potential failure to comply with applicable health information privacy and security laws and other state and federal privacy and security laws; and (x) the difficulty of predicting actions of the USA FDA and its regulations. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement unless required by law. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is contained under the heading "Risk Factors" in Ehave, Inc.s Registration Statement on Form F-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on September 24, 2015, as amended, which is available on the SEC's website, http://www.sec.gov. Contact: Ehave Inc Media Inquiries: Gabe Rodriguez Gabe@Ehave.com Investor Relations: Email: Ir@Ehave.com Phone: (623) 261-9046 ________________________________

1 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/electronic-health-record-market#:~:text=Electronic%20Health%20Record%20Market%20size%20was%20valued%20at%20over%20USD,CAGR%20from%202019%20to%202025.&text=Increasing%20healthcare%20expenditure%20will%20stimulate,growth%20in%20the%20forecast%20years.

2 https://www.jmir.org/2016/3/e73/



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Winston Watusi

Music Plus

Fifty years is a long time to do anything  if you want to spend that length of time on something you need to start young.

Luckily, Shona Laing did. Now a new exhibition in Waihi is celebrating her 50 year career in music.

Back in the early seventies New Zealanders watched television in black and white. The full switch to colour didn't come till 1975. And everyone watched the same thing. There was only one channel until 1974.

When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon in 1969, an estimated 1.5 million New Zealanders watched on television, and that was back when the entire population of the country was less than 3 million. So when the sole channel ran a musical variety competition called New Faces, you can bet your life that a significant percentage of the country was watching.

The programme mainly introduced novelty acts and brass bands. Judges included Howard Morrison, Nick Karavias and Phil Warren, and they could go the full Simon Cowell on occasion. They harboured much suspicion about modern music, to the point where their catch-cry of no lurex became a national mantra.

From the show emerged Split Enz (1973) and Space Waltz (1974), the latter certainly being well-acquainted with lurex, but the biggest memory people still have of the programme is of its earlier days, in 1972, when they watched in black and white as a 17 year old Shona Laing sang her original song 1905.

SECOND

Shona came second. I have been unable to find out who beat her, but it's pretty certain that they didn't leave as big a mark on New Zealand music as Shona did and has. And it started right there with a fresh-faced schoolgirl and a song that still holds up today as it did then. The original TV footage has long gone but there is a short clip on-line of Shona singing it at the Christchurch Town Hall that year. It is stunning, pure and true. You could believe it was written and sung yesterday it's still that fresh.

It was a song that many people heard and were changed by. It changed how they viewed Kiwi music. Here was something complex and mature and mysterious and at the same time moving and accessible and every bit as good as Joni Mitchell and all those other overseas songwriters. After 1905 people saw New Zealand music through new eyes.

And that was just the beginning: in 1973, after signing to Phonogram, she won two Rata awards, Best New Artist and Recording Artist Of The Year, just the start of what is now 50 years in music. So many songs followed: Masquerade, I Love My Feet, Show Your Love... You could argue that she again altered the course of New Zealand music with her 1980's embrace of synthesizers and programmed drums on the hit songs (Glad I'm) Not A Kennedy and Soviet Snow.

AWARDS

In the past few years Shona has been receiving some of the acclaim she deserves: the New Zealand Music Awards gave her the Herald Legacy Award and inducted her into the NZ Music Hall of Fame. Last year she received the Independent Music NZ Classic Record Award at the Taite Music Prize awards for her brilliant 1987 album South.

Best of all, Shona has been making new music. Her album of last year, Hindsight, collected unreleased and rare recordings with alternative mixes and two superb new songs, The Mahatmas Army and Vagrant Heart, both up with her very best.

All of this is being commemorated in an exhibition at the Waihi Arts Centre and Museum, Shona Laing  A Pictorial Journey through a Life of Music. It kicks off January 30 and runs till February 7.

The exhibition includes record covers, magazine articles, sheet music, awards, tour posters and books, many previously unseen photographs, and even some of Shona's original paintings, along with hanging banners to set the scene, materials of her own as well as from her mother and sister.

It will be a treasure trove of Shona memorabilia, a record of an extraordinary life in music. The exhibition will be open daily from 12  3pm, with entry by koha.

President Joseph Bidens inaugural address yesterday was significant above all for its banality. Amidst an unprecedented political, social and economic crisis of the entire capitalist order, Biden delivered remarks filled with cliches, incoherent non sequiturs and the emptiest of abstractions.

One would not, of course, expect Biden to deliver a socialist speech. He is a capitalist politician assuming the position of commander-in-chief of the most powerful imperialist country. However, in the tradition of American politics, the inaugural address of the incoming president used to be an occasion for speaking in some form to the political situation and the policy of the incoming administration.

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, as their children Ashley and Hunter watch.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)

Over the past half century, the content of the ritual has been increasingly hollowed out. Biden yesterday took this tendency to a new levelor, rather, to new depths.

Let us consider some passages, in sequential order:

Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded. We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends: Democracy has prevailed! So now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitol's very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.

Here, Biden acknowledged, in the most oblique way possible, that the entire political system in the United States came close to being overthrown two weeks ago. Trump, whom Biden did not name once in the entire speech, had been engaged in a systematic campaign to repudiate the results of the election and overthrow the Constitution. This culminated in the storming of the US Capitol building by a mob of fascists, incited by the president, aimed at blocking the certification of Bidens Electoral College victory.

Who was responsible for this insurrection, what were its aims, and what lessons must be drawn? Biden did not pose, let alone answer, these questions.

Biden transformed the attempted coup into the abstract operation of disembodied violence. It was, according to Biden, violence that stormed the Capitol. But violence did not storm the Capitol, people did, and they had the political backing and support of other people.

Indeed, many of those who came together in the inauguration ceremony itself, including Senator Mitch McConnell, who was Senate majority leader under Trump, and other top leaders of the Republican Party provided the political justification for the attempted coup by promoting the lie that the outcome of the election was in doubt, even rigged. These individuals, Bidens Republican colleagues, were included among his honored guests.

Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. Once-in-a-century virus that silently stalks the country. It's taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost, hundreds of thousands of businesses closed

Similarly, Biden presents the pandemic entirely in terms of a virus that is silently stalking the country. How is it, however, that the United States has been so catastrophically incapable of stopping its spread and saving lives? What are the policies that prevented the containment of the disease, and who is responsible for implementing them? Rather than attempting to address these questions, Biden offered nothing more than what seemed to be a hastily improvised moment of silence.

Biden did not even suggest that the previous administration, let alone broader social forces, bore any responsibility for the disaster. He did not note that the principal demand of the fascists mobilized to overturn the election was a rejection of any restraints on the spread of the disease. He did not call attention to the fact that these same forces, financed and encouraged by factions of the financial oligarchy, sought to kidnap and execute the Democratic governors of Michigan and other states for imposing limited lockdown measures.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity. Unity. In another January, on New Year's Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. When he put pen to paper, the president said, and I quote, "If my name ever goes down into history, it'll be for this act, and my whole soul is in it."

Now we arrive at the central empty abstraction of Bidens entire speech, unity. Who is being united? And on what basis and policy? To overcome these challenges, including the pandemic, would logically require implementing a policy different from what has been implemented over the past year. This would require not unity, but conflict. Those responsible for implementing the policy would have to be opposed and defeated.

As for the reference to Lincoln, it is nonsensical. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation as part of a monumental struggle to vanquish the power of the Southern slavocracy through force of arms. The abolition of slavery was achieved not through unity, but through a bloody civil war.

Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause. Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness.

As in the case of violence storming the Capitol, Biden here reduces all problems to concepts devoid of social content. Everything is jumbled togetherhatred, which is a subjective emotion, with joblessness, a socio-economic condition, and disease, a specific biological phenomenon. None of these foes are connected to any individuals or socio-economic entities and interests. Where does extremism come from? Why are people angry? Who and what is responsible for joblessness?

Everything supposedly takes place in the realm of the spirit, the movement of disembodied forces. Because no one is responsible, because the foes have no social content, it is possible for everyone to unite in a struggle against them. Since the problems are abstract and without content, the solution requires no change in policy. All that is required is unity.

History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other, not as adversaries, but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.

In his drive to find the way of unity, Biden even manages to form a union out of two contradictory approaches to the world, faith and reason. The former is based on unquestioned acceptance of dogma, and the latter on scientific investigation. Nevertheless, with their assistance, along with history, everyone will be able to live in peace and harmony, the billionaires and the poor, Wall Street speculators and the unemployed.

There is currently a strike underway in New York City, pitting 1,400 Hunts Point warehouse workers against a company that has rejected their demand for a $1 per hour increase in wages, as they continue to work amidst the raging pandemic. How does this factor into Bidens way of unity?

What emerges from this and other passages in the speech is that Bidens remarks are not addressed to the American people. He is speaking to those who were with him at the ceremony, in particular, the Republican Party and its leaders. The fifty-year veteran of the Senate lives in this universe. The unity he wants is a unity of the state, of the representatives of the ruling class as it confronts a series of catastrophic problems, above all, the growth of social anger and opposition from below.

Finally, Biden concludes his remarks:

My fellow Americans, I close the day where I began, with a sacred oath before God and all of you. I give you my word, I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. I'll defend our democracy. I'll defend America. And I'll give all, all of you, keep everything I do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal injuries but the public good. And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness.

The conclusion of the speech brings together in a grand finale all of Bidens empty abstractions, which are placed in conflict in a Manichean religious struggle. Through hope, light and, above all unity, evil will be vanquished and goodness and love will triumph.

The poverty of Bidens remarks is not just an intellectual failure. He knows full well that any hint at a significant shift in policy would spark a sell-off on the markets. As it was, the markets rose during his speech. In the minds of the political establishment and the media, this is the main factor in concluding that the speech was a great success. They were all somewhat richer at its conclusion than at its beginning.

Moreover, the political representatives of the ruling class, and particularly the Democratic Party, are acutely aware of the fact that any serious examination of realityincluding the political and social forces behind the rise of fascism in America and the bipartisan policies that have produced the catastrophic spread of the pandemicrisks a social and political explosion that will threaten the entire capitalist order.

Bidens appeal to unity is, ultimately, a desperate effort to cover over a massive social chasm. This chasm does not separate the Democrats from the Republicans, who, whatever their differences, both represent the same oligarchy. It is the unbridgeable division between the capitalist ruling elite, on the one hand, and the working class, on the other. It is the fear of the open eruption of this conflict that drives Biden to his abstractions.
LONDON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wirex, in partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation, has today unveiled brand new primary research into cryptocurrency. The findings identify real-world use cases for cryptocurrency, and highlight consumer needs and pain points, allowing businesses to develop more relevant crypto products that everyday users demand. With Bitcoin having recently reached its all-time high and a series of industry players such as PayPal and Facebook showing support, this analysis could not come at a more pivotal point.

The research is rooted in Wirex and Stellar's parallel goals to encourage the mass adoption of the digital economy. Over the past 6 months, these leading players have undertaken surveys into their userbases to understand individual's spending habits, attitudes towards crypto, and use of the currency. Following in-depth analysis, they have produced a hugely insightful and easy-to-understand 20-page report that reveals never-before-seen information about the digital economy.

The report provides brand new insights into cryptocurrency usage across different age groups, genders and countries. According to the findings, 74% of respondents view crypto payments as a viable alternative to traditional money transfer services, whilst only 25% of people have heard of the term 'stablecoin' before. Nevertheless, the report also challenged some common held beliefs, suggesting that age and security is no barrier to adopting blockchain technology, with 57% of respondents being aged 45 and over, and 86% of people suggesting that they felt safe using crypto.

Wirex CEO and Co-Founder, Pavel Matveev, discussed the significance of this research: "It's clear that crypto is a considerably under-researched area, and it's vital that we better understand it to be able to produce products that rival the traditional economy and address users' concerns. At Wirex, we have always believed that the benefits of crypto can offer a viable alternative for payments in the future, and the findings of this report definitely underpin this."

The Stellar Development Foundation's CEO and Executive Director, Denelle Dixon, explained that "to foster greater participation in the global financial system, it is important that people understand how to access services and what options are available to them to spend and save money. Traditional cross-border payments are costly and take time to settle, but it doesn't have to be this way. Our research will help us get a glimpse into the pain points people experience with international transactions and highlight opportunities where blockchain and crypto can be part of the solution."

Wirex and Stellar have worked closely since early 2019, when Stellar Lumens (XLM) launched on the Wirex platform. Over the coming months, they will release a series of new articles on the Wirex blog, featuring insights, thoughts and commentary about the report's findings from key stakeholders around their businesses. They also plan to undertake more extensive research into other audiences, further complementing and developing on topics covered in their first report.

To read a full-version of Wirex and Stellar's 'The Future of Money' report, visit: https://wirexapp.com/blog/post/2021-the-year-of-crypto-0250

About Wirex

Wirex is a worldwide digital payment platform and regulated institution that has forged new rules in the digital payments space. In 2015, the firm developed the world's first crypto-enabled payment card that gives users the ability to seamlessly spend crypto and traditional currencies in real life.

Wirex was created in 2014 by CEOs and co-founders Pavel Matveev and Dmitry Lazarichev, who identified the need to open up the esoteric world of cryptocurrencies and make digital money accessible for everyone. With the core aim of making it as easy as possible to use digital assets in everyday life, Wirex provides a trusted and cost-effective service for crypto and traditional currency transactions by incorporating the next generation of payments infrastructure integrated with cryptocurrency blockchains.

With over three million customers across 130 countries, the company offers secure accounts that allow customers to easily store, buy and exchange multiple currencies instantly at the best live rates on one centralised mobile app. Quick and simple money transfer options are available, as well as the freedom to spend 150+ traditional and cryptocurrencies in more than 61 million locations around the world using the Wirex card.

Wirex continues to develop the product in line with market developments, whilst adhering to regional regulations and securing appropriate licensing where it exists. A proven industry pioneer, Wirex introduced the world's first bitcoin reward programme, Cryptoback, which earns cardholders up to 1.5% back in bitcoin for every in-store transaction they make, as well as launching their own native utility token, WXT.

Wirex is based in London, with offices in Singapore, Kyiv, Tokyo, Toronto, Dallas, Dublin and Atlanta. With over $4bn worth of transactions processed already and rapid expansion into new territories, including the US and Japan, Wirex is uniquely placed to support and promote the mass adoption of a cashless society through creative solutions.
Tackling the problem of underserved businesses who are at risk of not receiving funds

Tempe, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Business Warrior Corporation (OTC Pink: BZWR), the source for small businesses in America to get more customers, released a streamlined and easy way for small businesses to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds. The Company, through their partnership with Elev8 Advisors and Hownd, are focused on underserved business owners who are at risk of not receiving funds due to banks prioritizing larger businesses and their customers first.

Connecting PPP funds to TRUE small businesses

Congress has passed a second round of stimulus funds, and Business Warrior is determined to make sure the second round of funding doesn't go like the first. It is widely documented that the majority of funds in the first round of PPP funds went to multi-million-dollar organizations with plenty of cash reserves, while true small local businesses suffered. Banks and other organizations involved benefited financially from these "loans" and they focused on the larger deals that benefited their own organizations the most. This resulted in the small business not successfully securing their share before funds ran out.

Solving the Problem

BZWR is focused on ensuring all eligible small business owners receive their maximum qualified loan amounts. The Company will help small business owners navigate the PPP process through its partnerships and application process that is 100 percent online, with applications taking less than 5 minutes to complete. The application is available today and will begin processing the week of January 25th, 2021. Additionally, Business Warrior's newest software offering, Scout, will be bundled with each PPP loan.

This offer to all small businesses applies to those who didn't get the first round of PPP loans, and there is no designated bank requirement. The application portal may be found here.

"BZWR fights for small businesses as our core value and many businesses and their employees will be left out of PPP again if we don't act to provide an easy and simple way for them to get the money they deserve," says Jonathan Brooks, President of Business Warrior.

A Unified Front To Helping Underserved Businesses

The Company is combining its PPP efforts with Hownd as both have identified a major gap in the current PPP process for many small business owners. Most banks are requiring PPP loan applicants to be a current banking customer as of December of 2020. This gap leaves many small business owners exposed to not receiving funding. Business Warrior's recent survey of 500 small business owners showed 66% of potentially qualified applicants did not receive a PPP loan last year.

"We're in agreement on the need to make sure small businesses get the loan amounts they're entitled to and we're eager to help," says Brandon Willey, Founder & CEO of Hownd. "To align with Business Warrior and supplement the extra value they're providing by helping qualifying brick & mortar merchants generate more customers and revenue, we're waiving the first 90 days of our standard zero-risk Pay-Per-Visit fees up to $100 for qualifying brick & mortar retail merchants."

Both BZWR and Hownd are leveraging Elev8 Advisors Group technology for loan fulfillment. With 20 years of banking experience, Elev8 will help ensure the application process is simple, reliable and open to all eligible businesses.

"Elev8 Advisors knows the complexity of the PPP process and we have simplified it so all business owners know with confidence the status of their money. Through our technology platform, blueacorn, businesses of all sizes and types, especially 1099 owners, have access to what they deserve," says Adam Spencer, Managing Partner of Elev8 Advisors Group.





BZWR - Small Business Ownership survey

To view an enhanced version of this image, please visit:

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About Business Warrior

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President Joe Biden speaks during the 59th inaugural ceremony on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/Pool/Getty Images)

Biden Signs Proclamation in US Capitol as His First Presidential Act

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation in the Capitol in his first act as president, coming hours after he was sworn into office on Wednesday.

The signings included the Inauguration Day Proclamation, nominations to his cabinet, and nominations to his sub-cabinet positions in his administration.

Biden is also expected to issue a flurry of executive orders rescinding some of former President Donald Trumps initiatives.

In all, the president is slated to sign approximately 17 executive actions, including placing a halt on Trumps border wall construction, ending travel bans on certain nations, among others.

President Joe Biden is joined his wife Jill Biden as they celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on Inauguration Day in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity, Biden, a Democrat, said moments after he took the oath of office Wednesday.

He took the presidential oath as it was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

He added: We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do thisif we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.

I pledge this to you: I will be a president for all Americans, he said. And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.
YEREVAN.  You say that the government has exhausted itself; very well, we have exhausted ourselves. And we say, let's go for snap [parliamentary] elections, see who has exhausted. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this during Wednesdays question and answer session with the government in the National Assembly of Armenia, responding to opposition Prosperous Armenia Party MP Iveta Tonoyans question as to whether the PM and the team he leads were going to step down because they have exhausted themselves.

"Is it you who is going to decide whether we have or have havent exhausted ourselves? We say, you do not decide, we do not decide either; let the people decide. (). I say, let's agree on what timeframes, so that you do not say later that the ruling faction decided by itself. (). You say resignation, and we say, very well, resignation, so snap [parliamentary] elections. (). Let's sign a paper that we are holding elections within this timeframe, under this Electoral Code. What other conditions do you want? Let's discuss," Pashinyan added in particular.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said that learning lessons from the 9 January incident, the state government will carry out a health audit of all the district hospitals in the state in the next 15 days

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has suspended the Bhandara civil surgeon and two others and terminated the services of three staffers for "dereliction of duty" in connection with the January 9 district hospital fire that killed 10 infants, minister Rajesh Tope said on Thursday. The government also transferred the additional civil surgeon in this connection, he said.

Addressing reporters in Mumbai, the state health minister said that the action was taken after a committee set up by the government following the fire incident submitted its report late on Wednesday evening. "The action has been taken due to dereliction of duty on the part of the officials/staffers concerned," Tope said.

The Maharashtra government had on 9 January announced the formation of a six-member team headed by the director of the health department to probe the incident. Nagpur divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar led the investigation.

Tope said the government has suspended Bhandara district Civil Surgeon Dr Pramod Khandate and transferred Additional Civil Surgeon Dr Sunila Bade. Dr Archana Meshram, medical officer who was on-duty when the incident happened, and Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) in-charge nurse Jyoti Bharaskar have also been suspended for dereliction of duty, he said.

The services of SNCU pediatrician Sushil Ambade and contractual staff nurses Smita Sanjay Ambilduke and Shubhangi Sathavane have been terminated, the minister said.

"So, the services of two staff nurses and a paediatrician have been terminated. In-charge sister has been suspended. A medical officer has been suspended. The additional civil surgeon has been transferred and the civil surgeon has been suspended," Tope said.

The minister said his department has discussed the committee's report with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. He said that according to the report, there was a spark in the control panel of the radiant baby warmer at the hospital between 1 am and 1.30 am on 9 January.

"Due to that spark, the fire erupted... There was inflammable material (like cotton) near the warmer," Tope said.

"Some babies were on oxygen support. So, due to all these reasons, the fire spread. The (SNCU) room was closed. But the fire got extinguished since plastic material was there, leading to smoke which spread in a big way," he added.

The minister said that as per the forensic laboratory report three of the babies died due to burns and seven others due to suffocation caused by the smoke, he added.

Tope said that there could be two-three reasons which led to the spark. Voltage fluctuation in the control panel of the radiant baby warmer could be one of them. The minister noted that construction of the SNCU building was completed in 2015, that is, during the previous BJP-led regime in the state.

"...There was a need to check the fire safety measures before taking possession of the building. Its possession was taken and the building was inaugurated in a hurried manner," he alleged.

Tope said that learning lessons from the 9 January incident, the state government will carry out a health audit of all the district hospitals in the state in the next 15 days.

"A committee has been formed under Health Commissioner Dr Ramaswami for this purpose. Action plan will be worked out once that committee submits its report," the minister added.

Tope said letters have been sent to guardian ministers requesting them to make available funds through district development and planning council health institutes.
BEIJING, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- China calls on the international community to work together to contribute to the equitable distribution and use of COVID-19 vaccines around the world and help defeat the pandemic, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to a question about China's expectations of promoting international cooperation on COVID-19 vaccines.

"We have always maintained that the virus knows no borders and humanity shares a common destiny. Solidarity and cooperation are the most powerful weapon to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also the common consensus of the international community," Hua said at a press briefing.

China is at the forefront of vaccine research and development globally, with one vaccine for conditional marketing and several others being in clinical trials at different stages, Hua said, adding that this has provided significant support for China's fight against the pandemic and its participation in international cooperation on vaccines.

Currently, China has started the vaccination of key groups, and the domestic demand for vaccines is huge, Hua said, adding that while meeting domestic demand, China has overcome difficulties and made every effort to carry out international cooperation on vaccines with other countries, especially developing countries, in different ways, and provided support and assistance within China's capabilities according to their needs.

Chinese enterprises are conducting joint vaccine research and development with partners in more than 10 countries, including clinical trials and production. As part of the cooperation, Chinese enterprises have provided vaccines to partner countries, Hua said.

Chinese companies have started to export to countries that urgently need vaccines, have approved Chinese vaccines, and have authorized the emergency use of Chinese vaccines in their countries. "Most of them are developing countries," she added.

China has joined the WHO-led COVAX initiative to support the G20 in promoting international cooperation on vaccines and multilateral cooperation to promote the equitable global distribution of vaccines, the spokesperson said.

According to incomplete statistics, more than 40 countries have requested to import vaccines from China so far. "We believe that with the continuous expansion of production capacity, China will gradually increase the supply of vaccines to countries in need," she said.

China's move to promote international cooperation on vaccines has been recognized and welcomed by the international community, Hua said. She added that many countries believe that China has made real efforts to live up to its promise that vaccines are public goods.

At present, Chinese companies are actively discussing cooperation with COVAX, Hua said. "China is willing to contribute to the realization of vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries through COVAX."

At present, the virus is still ravaging the world, and the prevention and control of the pandemic remains a long and arduous task, Hua said. She continued to say that the international community needs to work together to meet the vaccine needs of all countries, especially developing countries.

"We expect all parties to take concrete actions to provide more vaccines to developing countries, promote the fair distribution and use of vaccines around the world, and help defeat the pandemic at an early date," she added.
Facebook is allowing its left-leaning 'supreme court' oversight board to decide whether Donald Trump should be permanently banned from the social media platform in what will be a major test for the recently formed panel.

Trump had his Facebook and Instagram accounts suspended in the wake of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol at the hands of MAGA mob rioters.

The social media giant said on Thursday that it stands by its decision to suspend Trump's accounts but will defer to the seemingly-independent oversight board, which is known informally as the Facebook 'supreme court', to determine if it should be upheld permanently.

The board was created last year to rule on thorny content issues, such as when posts constitute hate speech, or - in this case - if the major decision to ban a world leader was the right one. Facebook was criticized at the time over it's left-leaning makeup.

Its ruling on Trump, which is its biggest case to date, will be binding and can't be overturned by CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

The decision to ban Trump from Facebook has ranged from criticism that the now-former president should have been booted long ago to outrage that his online voice is being muted.

Those critical of the decision have accused the social media giant of censorship and have warned they have drawn a dangerous line that will have 'serious free speech consequences' going forward.

Facebook is allowing its 'supreme court' oversight board to decide whether Donald Trump should be permanently banned from the social media platform. The ruling on Trump will be binding and can't be overturned by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The pair are pictured together in September 2019

Twitter, which also removed Trump's accounts after the riots, has already said he is permanently banned from its platform.

The decision on whether to let Trump back on Facebook will fall to a five-member panel.

The oversight board is made up of 20 members in total and is co-chaired by former prime minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmidt and the former editor-in-chief of the Guardian newspaper Alan Rusbridger. Other members include legal scholars, human rights experts and journalists.

It is not yet clear which of the five members will decide Trump's online fate.

The board was created last year with the first four members chosen directly by Facebook. Those initial members then worked with the social media giant to select the others. Facebook pays the salaries of the oversight board members.

The social media giant was criticized when the makeup of its board was first announced last year with critics saying the so-called 'politically neutral' panel was swamped with left-wing luminaries like Thorning-Schmidt and Rusbridger.

The board, which has since also been criticized for its delayed start and limited remit, has not yet ruled on any of its first batch of six cases that range from hate speech to graphic images.

Trump's accounts will remain suspended until its decision is handed down.

Trump had his Facebook and Instagram accounts suspended in the wake of the deadly January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol at the hands of MAGA mob rioters (above)

The board was created last year to rule on thorny content issues, such as when posts constitute hate speech, or - in this case - if the major decision to ban a world leader was the right one. Its ruling on Trump will be binding and can't be overturned by CEO Mark Zuckerberg

THE SIX CASES THE BOARD IS YET TO RULE ON - A screenshot of tweets by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad which said Muslims had a right to perpetrate violence against French people 'for the massacres of the past.' - A post with a photo of a deceased child that included commentary on China's treatment of Uighur Muslims. - A post that purported to show historical photos of churches in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a caption that Facebook said indicated 'disdain' for Azerbaijani people and support for Armenia. - Instagram photos showing female nipples that the user in Brazil said aimed to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms. - An alleged quote from Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. - The one chosen case that was submitted by Facebook, rather than a user, was a post in a group claiming certain drugs could cure COVID-19, which criticized the French government's response to the pandemic. Advertisement

Facebook did not ask for an expedited review so the board will have a maximum of 90 days to make a ruling and for Facebook to act on it.

The administrators of Trump's accounts will be able to submit a written statement challenging Facebook's decision that the panel will consider.

The board was created by Facebook last year in response to criticism of its handling of problematic content.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the board co-chair, said on Thursday: 'That's why we're here, to not leave these decisions to the leadership of Facebook but actually use the Oversight Board to look at this in a principled way.'

Facebook vice president of global affairs Nick Clegg, who is a former deputy British prime minister, said in a statement that he believes the decision to ban Trump was 'necessary and right'.

'We hope, given the clear justification for our actions on January 7, that (the board) will uphold the choices we made,' Clegg said.

'We have taken the view that in open democracies people have a right to hear what their politicians are saying - the good, the bad and the ugly - so that they can be held to account... But it has never meant that politicians can say whatever they like.'

In an interview with Reuters, Clegg said he felt there was a 'crystal-clear link' between the words of Trump and the actions of people at the Capitol.

'Whilst it was a controversial decision because he was the president of the United States, it actually wasn't a particularly complicated one to take,' he said.

'I'm very confident that any reasonable person looking at the circumstances in which we took that decision and looking at our existing policies will agree.'

The oversight board is made up of 20 members in total. It is co-chaired by left-leaning former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and former Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger

US judge denies Parler's bid to have web services immediately restored by Amazon A federal judge on Thursday rejected Parler's demand that Amazon immediately restore web hosting services for the social media platform, which Amazon had cut off following the January 6 storming of the US Capitol. US District Judge Barbara Rothstein in Seattle said she wasn't dismissing Parler's 'substantive underlying claims' against Amazon, but said it had fallen short in demonstrating the need for an injunction forcing it back online through Amazon's web services. This means that while she didn't rule for Amazon to restore Parler's website immediately, the case still is making its way through the court and eventually could be ruled on in Parler's favor - or not. The decision also said Parler had 'failed to demonstrate that it is likely to prevail on the merits' of any of the three claims it had presented to the court. Amazon Web Services (AWS) suspended Parler on January 10. It came after Google and Apple removed Parler from their app stores, effectively making it unavailable as a smartphone app. AWS has said Parler violated its contract by ignoring repeated warnings to effectively address steady growth in violent content, including calls to assassinate prominent Democratic politicians, leading business executives and the media. Parler CEO John Matze asserted in a court filing that Parler's abrupt shutdown was motivated at least partly by 'a desire to deny President Trump a platform on any large social-media service'. Advertisement

Facebook and other social media companies have come under fire for the proliferation of violent rhetoric and election misinformation on their platforms.

That criticism only increased around the unrest at the Capitol, which was also incited and organized on social platforms.

Asked if Facebook bears partial responsibility for the actions that led the storming of the Capitol, Clegg said: 'I accept there will always be people who say we knew this was going to happen. Dare I say it, I think it's never quite as straightforward as that.'

He said he did not expect other major policy changes as a consequence of recent events.

'I'm... keen not to raise expectations that because of one event we will therefore make very significant course corrections which then have to apply, because we're a global company with global standards, to the rest of the world as well,' he said.

The board announced last month that it had picked up the first six cases where it could overrule the social media company's decisions to remove certain pieces of content from its platforms.

The board said it had received 20,000 cases since it opened its doors to public submissions last October.

The six chosen cases are:

A screenshot of tweets by former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad which said Muslims had a right to perpetrate violence against French people 'for the massacres of the past.'

A post with a photo of a deceased child that included commentary on China's treatment of Uighur Muslims.

A post that purported to show historical photos of churches in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a caption that Facebook said indicated 'disdain' for Azerbaijani people and support for Armenia.

Instagram photos showing female nipples that the user in Brazil said aimed to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms.

An alleged quote from Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.

The one chosen case that was submitted by Facebook, rather than a user, was a post in a group claiming certain drugs could cure COVID-19, which criticized the French government's response to the pandemic.

Three of the six cases involved content that Facebook removed for breaking hate-speech rules. An Oversight Board spokesman said hate-speech cases had been the most significant proportion of appeals received.
Former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro loves Jonathan Vas Ness as much as we do.

Castro chatted with the "Queer Eye" star about politics, HIV social safety and more in a recently released episode of his podcast "Our America with Julian Castro." At the beginning of the episode, Van Ness spoke about how he felt when diagnosed with HIV at 25.

"I think I really struggled with my diagnosis for the first year," the 33-year-old said. "I was still struggling with self-destructing behavior after that, but I learned very quickly that the HIV social safety net in Missouri was not one that was going to be good for me."

Van Ness gave details on the hoops he went through to receive medication and information on HIV and its treatment. He said he felt very "un-welcomed" and "very judged" at that time in Missouri, which prompted him to pack his bags and head to California. He also chimed in about the Affordable Care Act.

READ ALSO: Seth Rogen tells Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to 'get f**ked' in Twitter feud

"I probably could have learned Mandarin almost as easily as I could have signed up for the Affordable Care Act," Van Ness said. "The sites were incredibly user un-friendly. It was incredibly bureaucratic. It was incredibly frustrating. It was a nightmare ... It should not be that hard."

However, after signing up for many programs for funding, Van Ness received antiretroviral therapy and became undetectable (U=U) within three weeks of him moving to Los Angeles. U=U is a global consensus meaning someone's viral load is suppressed to undetectable levels and it is impossible to transmit HIV to sexual partners.

Van Ness said his hope for the new administration is for HIV positive patients to automatically receive federal funding to pay for antiretroviral therapy to help them become undetectable.

"It should be covered across the board," he said. "If you find out you have it, you're on meds. Period."

Towards the end of the 35-minute episode, Castro asked Van Ness about his time on "Queer Eye" and the success its had. The cast member said he's so grateful and blessed about what the show has led him to, but he added he wants that for others as well.

"I want everyone to have it too. I want everyone else to get their healing. I got my healing," Van Ness said. "Not that it's perfect and I don't struggle with things still, but I want that for everyone else so bad, and I kind of feel like I have this low level of guilt like I hate that there are still people suffering, and I want to help people not suffer as much."

You can hear the entire episode on Apple Podcasts or by clicking here.

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

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Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

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Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

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France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

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Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

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NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

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Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

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California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

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Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

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Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

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Armenia acting FM resigns

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China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

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Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

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UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

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Dollar gains value in Armenia

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His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

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ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

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Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

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Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

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Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

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Pope Francis said that he is praying that God would guide U.S. President Joe Biden's efforts to bring reconciliation in the United States, as the United States Bishops condemn Biden's pro-choice stance on abortion.

Officials from the Vatican initially held back a statement from the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, containing a caution to Catholics that the incoming Biden administration has an extreme anti-Catholic policy agenda.

The Bishops' statement has now been released after Pope Francis came out with his own message for Biden, according to The Federalist report.

Conference President Archbishop Jose Gomez discussed the church's position on abortion, gender, and religious liberty. The statement also warned that the Biden administration's policies would cause moral evils on several fronts.

Sources in the Vatican Secretariat of State and sources among the U.S. Bishops confirmed that the statement was being held hours before it was due to be released on Wednesday morning.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey was among those who objected to the release, including Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago.

Related story: Pro-Life Group Criticize US Bishops Who Congratulated Biden: 'The Catholic Bishops Have Erred'





Pope Francis' Message

Meanwhile, Pope Francis' message includes hope for Biden that he would work towards a society marked by justice, freedom, as well as respect for the rights and dignity of every person, according to a Reuters report.

"Under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding," Francis was quoted on a report.

Pope Francis said in a message that he also asks God to guide his efforts to foster understanding, reconciliation, and peace within the United States.

Biden's Stance

Biden is the second United States Catholic president after John F. Kennedy.

The U.S. Bishops' said they planned to engage the administration on issues including abortion, religious freedom, racism, and poverty, according to Catholic News Agency report.

Cupich was said to disapprove of the language referring to abortion as a problem with the Biden administration.

The president has vowed to support taxpayer-funded abortion, among other pro-abortion policies.

In the U.S. Bishops' statement, Gomez said abortion is not a private matter but an issue of social justice. He added that it is impossible to ignore the truth that abortion rates are much higher among the poor and minorities.

Gomez also noted that the procedure is regularly used to abort children who would be born with disabilities.

Gomez also added that one of their concerns is abolishing the death penalty and seeking a health care system and economy that benefits a person.

During the USCCB's annual general assembly last fall, Gomez also criticized Biden's opinion on abortion and religious liberty, according to a National Review report.

Gomez further said that Biden's administration policies would likely challenge their priority to eliminate abortion.

Biden earlier said that reproductive rights are a constitutional right.

"And, in fact, every woman should have that right," Biden was quoted on a Harper's Bazaar report.

Biden also said that he wants to build on the progress made by the Affordable Care Act, which will cover preventive care and contraceptives.

Related story: Latino Voters Exposed to Misleading Abortion Campaigns on Facebook




The permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is initiating a debate next week on Russia's human rights violations in the occupied Crimea.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, PACE Secretary-General Wojciech Sawicki announced this when presenting the draft agenda of the winter plenary session of the Assembly, due to take place in Strasbourg on January 25-29.

"The Ukrainian delegation initiated a current affairs debate on human rights violations in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol," Sawicki said.

The format of a current affairs debate does not provide for the adoption of a resolution.

In addition, Azerbaijan requested a debate on the detention of prisoners of war following the end of the armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Among other possible issues on the agenda of the PACE winter session, debates and resolutions on the arrest and detention of Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and on the deteriorating situation in Belarus may take place under the urgent procedure (in case of final approval).

In addition, the Russian delegation initiated the consideration of the "prohibition of Russian and other national minorities languages in Ukraine."

The PACE winter session will take place on January 25-29 in a "hybrid" format. Delegates can be physically present in Strasbourg or take part in the work remotely.

op


Quarterly Activities Report

Sydney, Jan 21, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - During the Quarter, Empire Energy Group Limited ( ASX:EEG ) ( OTCMKTS:EEGUF ) drilled its first Beetaloo Sub-basin well, Carpentaria-1. The results materially exceeded expectations and have established a platform for further growth throughout 2021.Highlights of Q4 2020:- Empire's Carpentaria-1 well, in its wholly owned and operated EP187, intersected thick sequences of liquids rich gas across the Velkerri Shale Formation- Preliminary test results from wireline logging, DFITs and sidewall cores in Carpentaria-1 demonstrate the world-class potential of the Beetaloo Basin's Velkerri Shale- W.D Von Gonten & Co laboratory analysis of sidewall core samples commenced during the Quarter, with final results expected soon- Preparation for the recommencement of Empire's field work program in EP187 at the onset of the 2021 drilling season, including fracture stimulation and flow testing of Carpentara-1, is well advanced- The Australian Government has released its Beetaloo Strategic Basin Plan as part of the Gas-fired Economic Recovery committing $220m to the Beetaloo, including $50m to support exploration and appraisal drilling by Beetaloo operators- The Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission has handed down its final report, which was endorsed by the NT Chief Minister, reinforcing his Government's positive stance for the priority development of the Beetaloo Basin and the NT's onshore gas resources- Global energy prices, particularly LNG delivered into North Asia, have recovered strongly underscoring the importance of oil and gas to the global economy- The Company ended the Quarter with US$11.1m in cashComments from Managing Director Alex Underwood: Empire has had another successful Quarter building the value of our Northern Territory properties. We are continuing that momentum in the new year as we prepare for another busy drilling season, focused on appraisal of the Velkerri Shale stacked pay resource in EP187. With over US$11 million cash at bank at Quarter end, we are well funded to carry out appraisal activities and flow testing on Carpentaria-1. Australian investors have had limited exposure to the technical concepts driving shale gas exploration and production. Recognising this, our team has made special efforts to build shale gas awareness and knowledge and we appreciate that our messages are also reaching the halls of government. In upcoming releases, we will put the microscope over the rock property results from our geotech lab and the implications for future development activities. Government recognition of the Beetaloo and the Greater McArthur Basin matters to Australia in many ways. Their potential may rival the North West Shelf and deliver long-awaited economic rewards for the Northern Territory economy and Australian energy security. The Beetaloo Strategic Basin Plan announced last week by the Federal Government aims for large scale gas production by 2025 through drilling incentives, infrastructure delivery, studies and more. We are also working on earlier production scenarios for 'ramp-up' gas utilising the McArthur River pipeline only a few kilometres from Carpentaria-1. The Empire team continues to work hard for shareholders as we prepare for a busy year ahead.To view the quarterly report, please visit:About Empire Energy Group Ltd

Empire Energy (ASX:EEG) (OTCMKTS:EEGUF) holds over 14.5 million acres of highly prospective exploration tenements in the McArthur and Beetaloo Basins, Northern Territory. Work undertaken by the Company since 2010 demonstrates that the Eastern depositional Trough of the McArthur Basin, of which the Company holds 80% has very considerable conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon potential. The Beetaloo sub-Basin, in which Empire holds a substantial position, has independently assessed world class hydrocarbon volumes in place with a major ramp up in industry activity underway to appraise substantial discoveries already made by major Australian oil and gas operators.

Empire Energy is an experienced conventional oil and gas producer with operations in the Appalachia region (New York and Pennsylvania). Empire has been successfully developing and producing oil and gas since 2006.
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), a non-profit committed to ensuring that ALL students leave high school with the financial skills needed to thrive in the future, is pleased to recognize the National Grand Prize and Honorable Mention award recipients in their 4th annual PAYBACK Challenge Scholarship Contest.

Congratulations to the National Grand Prize winners who each will receive a $2,500 scholarship from NGPF to be used for educational purposes:

Alexandra Hovdestad of Lenape High School ( Medford, NJ )

of Lenape High School ( ) Andrew Tomlinson of Mora High School ( Mora, MN )

In addition to these two National Grand Prize scholarship winners, 45 students were recognized as Honorable Mention Award recipients with each receiving a $1,000 scholarship for educational pursuits. Click here to learn more about these scholarship winners.

Each student participating in the NGPF Payback Challenge, played PAYBACK , an award-winning college simulation game, and then chose between writing an essay or creating a video in response to the following prompt:

After playing PAYBACK, you have a better idea of what to expect in college. But, COVID-19 has changed the way college looks and feels. How will your college decision-making change because of the pandemic? Refer to relevant excerpts from the PAYBACK game to enhance your key points.

Nearly 1,000 teachers nominated the best student essay from their classes. Submissions were evaluated based on creativity, clarity, and demonstration of an understanding of key concepts learned from playing PAYBACK.

"During the contest period, over 210,000 students played PAYBACK." noted NGPF Co-Founder, Tim Ranzetta. "It was incredible to see such creativity from students and to see the impact this game has had on their attitudes and actions as they decide on their educational path after high school. Our gratitude goes out to the educators who brought PAYBACK to their students during remote learning this year and facilitated amazing discussions that followed. With covid-19 disrupting the plans of so many students, these conversations have never been more crucial!"

--------------------------

Excerpts from each of the National Winners:

"The halls are vacant

The parties are over

The classes are empty

Lest we risk exposure

The economy is in a rough patch

And unemployment is high

This must be taken into consideration

When choosing where to apply

The price of college is not just tuition

As I learned from the PAYBACK game

And even though many colleges are virtual

The prices are still the same"

Alexandra Hovdestad of Lenape High School (Medford, NJ)

"So obviously after a few playthroughs, I should be able to make nothing but smart decisions about college now, right? WRONG! We're still forgetting about one little problem if you just want to take a look over here COVID-19! With covid in mind, obviously a few new things must be taken into consideration when going to college. For starters I think going to community college is a better idea as one, it's already cheaper and two, there's no dorm rooms and obviously moving in with random strangers is a bad idea right now."

Andrew Tomlinson of Mora High School (Mora, MN)

--------------------------

PAYBACK has received Webby Awards for best Social Impact game and best Educational Game and has also been featured in the New York Times. It is a free game and one of eight games available in the NGPF Arcade .

About Next Gen Personal Finance

Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF), has become the "one-stop shop" for more than 42,000 educators looking for high-quality, engaging personal finance curriculum to equip students with the skills to thrive in the future. NGPF curriculum has a broad reach, with more than 7 out of 10 U.S. high school students attending schools where a teacher utilizes NGPF resources. NGPF supports educators with the most comprehensive suite of PD: 7,000+ teachers participated in more than 120,000 hours of NGPF professional development in 2020. The non-profit has been recognized by Common Sense Education as a " Top Website for Teachers to Find Lesson Plans " and " Best Business and Finance Games "

Media Contact: Christine Yoo, [email protected]

SOURCE Next Gen Personal Finance

Related Links

ngpf.org


Christian immigration advocacy groups praise Biden's plans as 'glimpse of hope'

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Several faith-based immigration advocacy and humanitarian organizations have voiced support for the immigration proposal President Joe Biden sent to Congress on his first day in office Wednesday and the immigration-related executive orders he signed.

However, some conservatives have voiced opposition to the legislative proposal, saying that it opens the door to mass amnesty.

The first day in the White House was a busy one for the Democrat as he signed more than a dozen executive orders to rescind many of the Trump administration's policies. But one of the first acts the new president did was send a sweeping immigration reform legislative proposal, known as the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, to the Democrat-controlled Congress.

News of the proposal came as faith leaders, including Hispanic evangelical leader the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, urged in the days before the inauguration for Biden to enact comprehensive immigration reform within the first 100 days.

The text of the bill has not yet been released. But according to reports, Bidens proposal would provide an eight-year path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S., and would provide expedited citizenship for Dreamers, those who were children when they were brought to the U.S. illegally and are now 39 years old or younger.

The bill would also reportedly provide immediate green cards for recipients of Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals and Temporary Protected Status. According to a factsheet produced by the transition team before the inauguration, the bill would also eliminate the word "alien" from immigration laws and replace it with the term "noncitizen."

Among the executive orders Biden signed, one calls on the federal government to preserve the DACA program, an Obama-era initiative that deferred deportations for immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as young children. The Trump administration tried to halt the program in 2017 in an attempt to push Congress to come up with a legislative fix, but the U.S. Supreme Court prevented the administration from ending the program.

Biden also halted other controversial Trump administration immigration policies, including the repeal of travel bans preventing entry to immigrants from several countries that the Trump administration deemed to be exporters of terrorism. Another order ended the national emergency declared by Trump to fund the construction of the border wall.

World Relief, an evangelical refugee resettlement agency and humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals, applauded the Biden administration for following through on a promise to prioritize immigration reform and for working to provide an earned legalization process for undocumented immigrants. The organization announced in a statement Wednesday that it's encouraged by the broad thrust of Bidens proposal.

These day-one actions are worth celebrating, and we hope they will be a down payment on further necessary immigration and refugee policy changes, World Relief President Scott Arbeiter said in a statement shared with The Christian Post.



Reports have suggested that Bidens legislative proposal could provide a pathway to citizenship for as many as 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally. However, activists who favor reducing illegal immigration in the U.S. contend that there are likely more than 14 million undocumented people in the U.S.

While we urge President Biden to do what he can administratively, ultimately Congress must cooperate on a bipartisan basis if we are to see the long overdue reforms needed to repair our broken immigration system," Arbeiter added. "World Relief, along with our many partner churches and supporters, is eager to help garner bipartisan support in the coming months for a bill that would provide an earned legalization process for undocumented immigrants and meet other priorities.

World Relief also called on Biden to raise the annual U.S. refugee resettlement ceiling that was drastically reduced during the Trump years. In November, Biden vowed to raise the ceiling to 125,000 refugees that can be resettled in the U.S. during the fiscal year. Under Trump, the ceiling was set at 15,000 for the fiscal year 2021.

Immigration advocates on both sides of the political aisle have for years called on Congress to enact sweeping immigration reform.

Despite the optimism for Bidens immigration bill among immigration advocates, the legislation reportedly could face a tough battle in a divided Senate and will face opposition from Republicans who object to providing a pathway to citizenship to immigrants lacking legal status.

Among opponents is Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who formerly chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee. He believes Bidens immigration proposal is tantamount to mass amnesty. In a statement shared by Roll Call, Grassley said the bill is far more radical than past failed congressional efforts for immigration reform.

Ive previously supported immigration proposals that would provide certainty for DACA-eligible individuals and lead to greater border security and more robust enforcement of our immigration laws, he said. But a mass amnesty with no safeguards and no strings attached is a nonstarter. As weve seen before, that approach only encourages further violations of our immigration laws.

Tom Lin, president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, said the campus ministry with chapters at education institutions nationwide is pleased to see the Biden administration consider immigration reform.

Many of the young people we serve are international and immigrant students, and their navigation of a tedious immigration system can be very stressful, unfair, and disheartening, Lin said in a statement. We strongly believe in the biblical value to not mistreat the foreigner (Lev. 19:33) and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Lev. 19:34, Matt. 22:39). Public safety and a fair immigration system are not mutually exclusive; as a nation, America can and must do both.

The Rev. John L. McCullough, president and CEO of Church World Service, another refugee resettlement agency, said in a statement that Wednesday marked the new beginning for compassionate policy.

It is now the duty of Congress to pass this bill and deliver it to President Bidens desk for his signature, McCullough said.

Melissa Stek, who works as a justice mobilization specialist with the Christian Reformed Church in North America, praised the move to restore the DACA program, saying that Dreamers have endured relentless trauma for years.

We praise God for this proposal that will provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients and Dreamers, finally providing them some long-awaited peace and security, she said. We will hold Congress accountable to moving forward with this compassionate and hopeful legislation.

Stephen Reeves, the associate coordinator for advocacy with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, said in a statement that Dreamers now see a glimpse of hope into their future.

[W]e rejoice with them, he said. We have been a part of their sorrow, their struggles, and their suffering. We are committed to working to end the anguish, the doubt, and uncertainty they experience every day under the DACA program.

Others who've called for the protection of Dreamers in the past include Russell Moore, the president of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, as well as Rodriguez, the head of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

In addition to Grassley, other conservatives in the Senate have spoken out against Bidens proposals. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas argued that the proposal puts the interests of people in the U.S. illegally before those of American workers.

"It is deeply troubling that most of Joe Biden's first acts as president were to protect illegal immigrants and encourage illegal immigration at the expense of American jobs and workers, Cruz stated.

Not only has he chosen to halt construction of a wall on America's southern border and to continue Barack Obama's illegal executive amnesty by preserving the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but he is promoting open-borders legislation that would gift citizenship to over 11 million illegal immigrants, roll back immigration enforcement, and promote and increase foreign labor at a time when many Americans desperately need work.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Golden Independence Mining Corp. (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 6NN) (the "Company") is pleased to announce initial drill results from its recently completed 2020 resource expansion drill program at the Independence project, south of Battle Mountain, Nevada. Results from the first 3 reverse circulation (RC) holes drilled include:

0.45 g/t gold and 3.3 g/t silver over 110 feet (33.5 metres) including 1.11 g/t gold and 7.8 g/t silver over 20 feet (6.1 metres)

0.57 g/t gold and 3.1 g/t silver over 55 feet (16.8 metres)

0.42 g/t gold and 6.8 g/t silver over 80 feet (24.4 metres)

"The initial assay results fall in range with Company expectations and historic results," commented Golden Independence President Tim Henneberry. "Longer intervals of + 0.5 g/t gold, containing sub-intervals of + 1 g/t gold meet the objective of expanding the mineralized footprint at Independence to increase the historic oxide resource," he continued.

"These initial assay results support our belief that we will be able to significantly expand the historic oxide resource at the Independence project in the near term," remarked Golden Independence CEO Christos Doulis. "During Q1 2021, we anticipate receiving assay results from an additional 20 RC holes recently drilled at the Independence project culminating in an NI 43-101 complaint resource for the Independence project at the end of the quarter."





Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7273/72421_ccd38b3814358b78_001full.jpg

or

Click here for a full-size map





Table 1. 2020 Reverse Circulation Drill Results

Hole ft from ft to ft length m length g/t gold g/t silver AGEI-13 360 440 80 24.4 0.42 6.8 AGEI-14 450 650 200 61.0 0.28 2.8 including 455 510 55 16.8 0.57 3.1 AGEI-15 5 20 15 4.6 0.41 3.2 AGEI-15 250 360 110 33.5 0.45 3.3 including 335 355 20 6.1 1.11 7.8



All assay results are drill widths not true widths, which is undetermined at this time.





Figure 2

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7273/72421_ccd38b3814358b78_002full.jpg

or

Click here for a full-size map





Quality assurance

All samples were shipped to the ALS Minerals prep lab in Elko, Nevada with analyses completed at the ALS Minerals Lab in Reno, Nevada. Both facilities are ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified. All samples are analyzed utilizing ALS ME-ICP41 procedure, an aqua regia digestion with ICP-AES finish, with gold determined by the Au-AA23 procedure, a 30-gram fire assay with AAS finish. ALS Minerals is independent from Golden Independence. Golden Independence institutes a rigorous QA/QC program of duplicate samples, blanks and standards. Based on a review of the QA/QC data is not aware of any other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein.

R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), President and Director of Golden Independence Mining Corp., is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the company.

About Golden Independence Mining Corp.

Golden Independence Mining Corp. is an exploration company currently focused on exploring the advanced-stage Independence Gold Property located in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend, Nevada and the Champ precious metal property near Castlegar, British Columbia. The Independence Gold Property benefits from over US$25 million in past exploration, including over 200 holes drilled, and is located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mines' Phoenix-Fortitude mining operations in the Battle Mountain-Cortez trend of Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Christos Doulis, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 1.647.924.1083 Email: christos@goldenindependence.co

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72421
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A tropical low currently looming of the North West coast is unlikely to develop into a cyclone, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

People in Western Australias Kimberley and Pilbara regions on Thursday had been urged to prepare for a cyclone reaching up to category two strength and bringing gusts of up to 140 km/h.

But the bureau announced on Friday the low had gradually shifted its track east and was running out of time to develop into a cyclone over favourable ocean conditions. There was still the possibility it could develop into a category one system before it crossed the coast on Friday night.

While Port Hedland may get some rain and possibly even a thunderstorm on Friday, the roughest weather would hit further east, with 80 Mile Beach already experiencing squally winds and heavy rain ahead of the tropical low crossing the coast.

A cyclone blue alert is in place for communities between Bidyadanga and De Grey in the Kimberley and Pilbara, and the main impacts forecast by the bureau for the region included heavy rain and possibly damaging winds.
More than 1,600 workers battling the pandemic braced for more upheaval after the Manitoba government said it would forge ahead with the second wave of health-care restructuring.

More than 1,600 workers battling the pandemic braced for more upheaval after the Manitoba government said it would forge ahead with the second wave of health-care restructuring.

Health Minister Heather Stefanson and Mental Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced the plan on Wednesday.

"Key information management and public health roles (will be) consolidated within Manitoba Health and Seniors Care, while an integrated mental health and addictions service (will be) established within Shared Health, Health and Seniors Care."

"By establishing a solid foundation within Shared Health, we will be able to adopt new and improved ways of delivering care provincially, in ways that improve access to these vital services closer to home for many Manitobans," Gordon said in a news release.

Responsibility will be given to Shared Health, or another entity to be established by government, for Cadham Provincial Laboratory, Selkirk Mental Health Centre, the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba; as well as some employees who currently work in the Department of Health and Seniors Care, the Department of Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery; and the Department of Central Services.

The changes were identified by the 2018 health system transformation blueprint, the province said, and the transfer won't take place before May 20.

The reorganization represents yet another stressful challenge for health-care and front-line workers, who are coping with the challenges of COVID-19, says the head of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union.

"It is very concerning that this government would trigger such large-scale disruption for health-care staff and operations in the middle of the ongoing pandemic," union president Michelle Gawronsky said in an email.

"Many of the impacted members are focused on processing COVID-19 tests. Others are providing mental health and addictions treatment at a time when we know the need for these services has never been greater," Gawronsky said. Health workers are busy keeping the system going while it is under tremendous strain, she said.

"It is simply unconscionable that the government would add the disruption, anxiety, and risk associated with implementing large-scale restructuring on our health-care system," Gawronsky said.

Critics said the timing of the announcement and the restructuring  on a day when the news media is focused on the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden and during a pandemic  is telling.

"The government shouldn't be using the pandemic as cover to try and sneak through significant changes to the health-care system they had planned long before COVID-19," said NDP Leader Wab Kinew.

He's especially concerned about "turning the management of Cadham lab upside down during the pandemic."

"I don't think they should be making these huge changes to the very office that is doing the testing for COVID," said Kinew. "It's an opportunity for more mistakes to creep into our pandemic response."

Pushing ahead with "transformation" while COVID-19 is raging is "absolutely irresponsible and reckless," Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said. The timing of the announcement, he said, suggests the Tories don't want much publicity.

"It's inauguration day in the United States. It's pretty clear what's going to be the lead story tomorrow... It's not going to be the fact that the Pallister government, in the middle of a pandemic, is still pursuing more upheaval and more changes to the health-care system," Lamont said.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Sinn Fein has raised fresh questions over the leaking of a confidential GP contract by Leo Varadkar while he was taoiseach.

Donegal TD Pearse Doherty said records released under the Freedom of Information act have shown that then-health minister Simon Harris was unable to obtain a copy of the contract himself.

The records also contained warnings from Department of Health officials that publication of the proposed contract for GPs in the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) would represent a serious breach of trust.

Expand Close Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty says Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has fresh questions to answer over the IMO contract leak (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook

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In addition, there are no written records of a request from Mr Varadkar to the department asking for a copy of the contract, Mr Doherty said.

Mr Varadkar has previously admitted to giving a copy of the contract to his friend Dr Maitiu O Tuathail, who at the time was president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), a rival of the IMO, in April 2019.

Mr Doherty told the Dail: It is a scandal that goes far deeper than what we once thought.

They show in the documents that at the same time you leaked this document, that the line minister responsible for the negotiations, Simon Harris was unable to obtain a contract from his officials.

This is despite Simon Harris telling the Dail in November that he never requested a copy of the contract.

He must explain for his actions, and he must correct the record of the Dail.

Within the documents I received there are repeated warnings from the Department officials reiterating the confidentiality of the document and that it was still subject to negotiations with the IMO.

He added: On the 25th of April, a Department official noted unilateral publication of the agreement, in the absence of confirmation from the IMO that it is satisfied with the final text, would represent a serious breach of trust.

By that stage, you had already leaked the document to the president of the NAGP, your friend.

My motivation was to demonstrate to the president of the NAGP that this was a deal that they shouldn't oppose, to mollify their opposition Leo Varadkar

Mr Varadkar responded that he had already apologised for his actions in the Dail last November, and accused Sinn Fein of trying to reheat an old political controversy.

He said there were no written records related to his request for the document at the department because he had requested it verbally.

He added: My motivation, as I explained back in November, was to demonstrate to the president of the NAGP that this was a deal that they shouldnt oppose, to mollify their opposition.

Unbelievable. Leo Varadkar changes his story once again. His defence of his leak of confidential documents to his friend now lay in tatters.



He's raised more questions than answers in the DAil today. This is stroke politics pure & simple. a @PearseDoherty #LeoTheLeak pic.twitter.com/rrLbE1JszX  Sinn FAin (@sinnfeinireland) January 21, 2021

Mr Varadkar previously told the Dail that he had been provided with a copy of the draft contract agreement by Simon Harris on April 4 or 5 2019.

He then requested a second copy, which was provided by one of his advisers, on April 10.

Mr Harris then sought an updated copy of the final contract on April 15, ahead of a Dail debate.

He was provided with a copy on April 17.

Mr Doherty said the FOI records included explanations from officials at the Department of Health why Minister Harris had been refused a copy of the document prior to then.

He then told Mr Varadkar: Your argument simply doesnt hold up.

The contract was confidential, negotiations were ongoing.

But despite all of this, you leaked this document in full knowledge of the consequences.
LONDON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 'Design for Sustainable Cities' is an international student competition held by BE OPEN and Cumulus in support of SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Its objective is to recognize and promote top design projects developed by the younger creative generation that are able to tackle the tasks set by the United Nations' SDG Programme.

The competition is open to students and graduates of all art, design, architecture and media disciplines of universities and colleges worldwide. Their top ideas, be it in an individual or a team submission can win the prizes ranging from 5,000 to 2,000 from BE OPEN, and enter the list of 50 honorary mentions to be featured in the competition's online gallery.

The honorary list and the winning submissions will be selected by an international jury panel that features designers, architects, academics and experts in the relevant fields whose work has a particular focus on researching non-conventional design approaches to the problems of humanity.

On behalf of BE OPEN, Founder Elena Baturina welcomes the jury members: "We are thrilled to have assembled such an extraordinary and diverse panel, and are deeply grateful for the time and expertise the jury are willing to share in the course of the competition. There is an exciting period ahead of us once the submission window is closed, full of hard work and amazing discoveries. I can't wait to see the top selection of the submissions our jury will decide upon".

BE OPEN and Cumulus are proud and happy to announce the jury members in the Design for Sustainable City competition:

Luisa Collina , Chair of the Jury. PhD, Full Professor of Design, Dean of the School of Design at Politecnico di Milano and Rector's delegate for external relations of the University. Previously President of Cumulus, a member of the Scientific and Artistic Advisory Board (SAAB) of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture of Aalto University ( Helsinki ), Luisa coordinated several projects for the 150th anniversary of Politecnico di Milano and for the Universal Expo 2015, and was a member of the Scientific Committee for the XXI Triennale Internazionale held in Milan in 2016.

PhD, Full Professor of Design, Dean of the School of Design at Politecnico di and Rector's delegate for external relations of the University. Previously President of Cumulus, a member of the Scientific and Artistic Advisory Board (SAAB) of the School of Arts, Design and Architecture of Aalto University ( ), Luisa coordinated several projects for the 150th anniversary of Politecnico di and for the Universal Expo 2015, and was a member of the Scientific Committee for the XXI Triennale Internazionale held in in 2016. Regitze Marianne Hess , Architect MAA, Professor of Practice in Urbanism. Regitze is an educator, writer, editor, and facilitator of knowledge exchange for various international fora on cities and the built environment, urban governance and design.

, Architect MAA, Professor of Practice in Urbanism. Regitze is an educator, writer, editor, and facilitator of knowledge exchange for various international fora on cities and the built environment, urban governance and design. Jose Allard , PhD, is a practicing Chilean designer, Associate Professor at Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile , where he served as Director of the School of Design.

, PhD, is a practicing Chilean designer, Associate Professor at Pontifica Universidad Catolica de , where he served as Director of the School of Design. Francisca Astaburuaga is Architect UC at London School of Economics ; Director of the Centre of Innovation in Cities at Universidad del Desarrollo, chair of the Cities and Infrastructure Committee at the Council of Infrastructure Policies of Chile .

is Architect UC at ; Director of the Centre of Innovation in Cities at Universidad del Desarrollo, chair of the Cities and Infrastructure Committee at the Council of Infrastructure Policies of . Karl Stocker , Ph.D., Head of the Institute of Design & Communication at the FH Joanneum, University of Applied Sciences in Graz, Austria . Karl's most recent project is Designing Sustainable Cities. Manageable Approaches to Make Urban Spaces Better.

, Ph.D., Head of the Institute of Design & Communication at the FH Joanneum, in . Karl's most recent project is Designing Sustainable Cities. Manageable Approaches to Make Urban Spaces Better. Teresa Franqueira , Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, Portugal . Teresa is Director and Scientific Coordinator of the Design Factory Aveiro at the Creative Science Park with focus on social innovation, circular economy and alternative scenarios towards more sustainable economic and social models.

, Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro, . Teresa is Director and Scientific Coordinator of the Design Factory Aveiro at the Creative Science Park with focus on social innovation, circular economy and alternative scenarios towards more sustainable economic and social models. Praveen Nahar is Director of National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad. With over 23 years of experience in design teaching, consultancy, and research, Nahar serves on the institute's Senate and Policy Planning Committee.

is Director of National Institute of Design (NID) Ahmedabad. With over 23 years of experience in design teaching, consultancy, and research, Nahar serves on the institute's Senate and Policy Planning Committee. Vrouyr Joubanian is a designer and design researcher, Head of Experimentation at the UNDP Lebanon's Accelerator Lab. Vrouyr works on context specific and socially conscious products and processes.

is a designer and design researcher, Head of Experimentation at the UNDP Lebanon's Accelerator Lab. Vrouyr works on context specific and socially conscious products and processes. Zhiyong Fu , Associate Professor of Information Art and Design Department, Academy of Arts and Design; Associate Dean of China-Italy Design Innovation Hub, Tsinghua University, China . Focuses his research on smart city, public service, urban regeneration and community construction.

, Associate Professor of Information Art and Design Department, Academy of Arts and Design; Associate Dean of China-Italy Design Innovation Hub, Tsinghua University, . Focuses his research on smart city, public service, urban regeneration and community construction. Robin Turner is a Johannesburg -based graphic and multimedia designer with a passion for digital solutions. Robin teaches at and heads the Graphic and Multimedia Design department at the Greenside Design Center. Robin specialises in physical computing.

is a -based graphic and multimedia designer with a passion for digital solutions. Robin teaches at and heads the Graphic and Multimedia Design department at the Greenside Design Center. Robin specialises in physical computing. Thais Russomano , Prof. MD MSc PhD. Doctor Russomano has a Master's Degree in Aerospace Medicine; and a PhD in Space Physiology. Thais is an Elected Academician of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine (IAASM), and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

, Prof. MD MSc PhD. Doctor Russomano has a Master's Degree in Aerospace Medicine; and a PhD in Space Physiology. Thais is an Elected Academician of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine (IAASM), and the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). Michael Demeyere, PhD, is head of the Design Team in the New Business Development department at AGC Glass Europe, a manufacturer of flat glass for the building and automotive industries. His work is focused on human-centric design, he is a member of a global project within AGC called "Smart and Sustainable Cities".

All the stakeholders in this international competition programme are positive that creativity, or design-thinking, is integral in the shift to sustainable existence.
Agree with the new administration or not, it probably benefits this cowtown that the mayor is getting pretty close to the stage.



Here's a glimpse at the periphery of American history . . . Take a look:
Detectives say a 20-year-old Palmer Lake woman was fatally shot last Thursday by her ex-boyfriend, who reportedly stalked her outside her workplace hours before and threatened to kill her a week earlier, according to court documents released Wednesday.

After a 24-hour manhunt, local authorities arrested 35-year-old Jose Alfredo Romero on suspicion of killing 20-year-old Keyry Estefania Hernandez-Marroquin, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office and El Paso County Coroners Office.

Romero allegedly shot Hernandez-Marroquin through her car window, after he sped in front of her car, cutting her off late afternoon Jan. 14 in the parking lot of a mobile trailer home park at 702 Highway 105, according to court documents.

A witness who lived nearby told a detective he saw a man get out of his black SUV and start to yell at the driver's side of the womans car, documents stated. The witness said he heard gunshots and ran toward the woman, who appeared to have been shot in her abdomen and shoulder. Then, he said he saw the man drive away, court papers said.

Hernandez-Marroquin's brother said he saw Romero drive through the trailer park and got a sinking feeling that he had done something to his sister, according to the documents.

Another witness told detectives he saw Hernandez-Marroquin roll down her car window before he heard four gunshots, documents stated. The witness called 911 as his father tried to help the woman, he said.

One of the womans relatives told detectives that Hernandez-Marroquin and Romero had dated for about six months and the three had lived together, before Hernandez-Marroquin ended the relationship and moved out due to Romero reportedly physically and verbally abusing her, court documents stated. She said Hernandez-Marroquin didnt report the abuse to police, documents stated.

Romero and Hernandez-Marroquins families had known each other for a long time after both moved from El Salvador to live in the United States, the relative told detectives.

Hours before she was killed, Hernandez-Marroquin called her relative and told her that she had seen Romero outside her workplace, watching her, and that it wasnt the first time he had stalked her, according to Romeros arrest affidavit.

A week prior to the woman's death, the relative said Romero threatened to kill Hernandez-Marroquin, noting that Romero was jealous of her new boyfriend, documents stated.

Hernandez-Marroquins death marks the first homicide in El Paso County this year.
Sri Lanka reopened its airports to foreign arrivals on Thursday for the first time in 10 months amid a surge in new coronavirus cases, including that of a minister photographed drinking a shamans tonic that some in the island nation believe protects against the disease.

Thousands of people defied Covid-19 restrictions in central Sri Lanka for a shot of the tonic touted by the holy man Dhammika Bandara as lifelong protection against the virus.

Mr. Bandara said the recipe for the tonic, which includes honey and nutmeg, came to him in a trance from the Hindu goddess Kali. TV networks that support the government of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa have given Mr. Bandara airtime to promote the tonic.

Sri Lankas health ministry is conducting clinical trials into its potential benefits, according to Chatura Kumaratunga, the commissioner of Ayurveda, an ancient form of alternative medicine rooted in the Indian subcontinent.
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata to address Parakram Diwas celebrations on January 23 to commemorate 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

This was confirmed by the Prime Ministers Office. The PM will also visit Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar, Assam to distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas/allotment certificates, the PMO said.

PM Narendra Modi will visit Kolkata to address Parakram Diwas celebrations on Jan 23 to commemorate 125th birth anniversary year of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. PM will also visit Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar, Assam to distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas/allotment certificates: PMO pic.twitter.com/6C62Wm9ir1  ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021

The state unit of the BJP had earlier requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a public meeting in Kolkata on January 23. Sources said that the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) has now prepared a schedule accordingly.

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre had recently declared that Netaji Subhas Chandra's birthday will be celebrated as 'Parakram Diwas' every year on January 23. The announcement was made by the Union Ministry of Culture, which said, To honour and remember Netajis indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation. The GoI has decided to dedicate his birthday (January 23) every year as 'Parakram Diwas'."

"The people of India fondly remember Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's unparalleled contribution to this great nation in his 125th birth anniversary. The Government of India has decided to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary year of Netaji beginning from January 2021 in a befitting manner at the national and international level," the Ministry said.

"Now, in order to honour and remember Netaji's indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation, Government of India has decided to celebrate his birthday on the day of January every year as 'PARAKRAM DIWAS" to inspire people of this country, especially the youth, to act with fortitude in the face of adversity as Netaji did, and to infuse in them a spirit of patriotic fervour," the government stated in its release.

A museum has also been set up on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at Delhi's Red Fort which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on January 23, 2019.

A day ahead of that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the 18th Convocation of Tezpur University in Assam on January 22 at 10.30 AM through video conferencing. A PMO release said Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi, Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal `Nishank` and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will also be present on the occasion.

It said 1,218 students who passed out in 2020 will be conferred degrees and diplomas. Forty-eight toppers of various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will be awarded gold medals. The convocation will be held in a blended mode and COVID-19 protocols will be observed.

The release said only PhD scholars and gold medalists will receive their degrees and gold medals in person and the rest of the recipients will be awarded degrees and diplomas virtually.

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Paxton, IL (60957)

Today

Showers this morning, becoming a steady rain during the afternoon hours. Thunder possible. High 54F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional light rain...mainly this evening. Low 42F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
China in Focus (Jan. 20): Beijing Celebrates Departure of President Trump

The Chinese Communist Party is celebrating the departure of Donald Trump as president.

Beijing authorities impose sanctions on 28 Trump administration officials.

President Bidens nominee for Secretary of State proposes a new approach to countering Chinese influence. We look into the differences between the new approach, and his predecessors.

Founder Jack Ma of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has resurfaced. Its the moguls first appearance since October, after he offended the communist regime.

And 10 years ago, Chinas former dictator Mao Zedongs grandson wished the CCP a long life of 100 years. This year, his comment is going viral as the Party marks its 100th anniversary.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
This is the shocking moment police raid an illegal party in a marquee with 50 revellers inside.

Bodycam footage shows police officers storming in and breaking up the New Year's Eve gathering in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

Bedfordshire Police has handed the organiser a 10,000 fine after giving them a warning following a tip-off, but still returning to find dozens of party-goers.

The event featured a dance floor, disco lights, four speakers, tables and chairs.

Body cam footage shows police officers storming in and breaking up the illegal party in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, on New Year's Eve

In the video, a police officer can be heard shouting 'get out of the marquee now' while a female responds: 'I live here.'

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said: 'People are being warned of the consequences of attending large gatherings during lockdown after the organiser of a New Year's Eve party attended by dozens of people was issued with a 10,000 fine.

'We have published an open letter to anyone looking to attend large gatherings such as parties, protests or funerals which breach the existing regulations, warning that officers will take enforcement action to disperse large groups of people.

'The fresh call comes after action was taken against the organiser of a party at a location near Leighton Buzzard.

'On 31 December officers called to the site had found a marquee with a number of tables and chairs, a small dance floor and four speakers.

'The organiser was spoken to and given words of advice, but when officers returned later they found around 50 people in attendance.

'Police were able to bring the event to a close and disperse the attendees. After reviewing the evidence, officers have now issued a 10,000 fine to main organiser for breaching Covid-19 regulations.'

Chief Superintendent John Murphy, who is leading the force's Covid response, said: 'Throughout the pandemic, we have been working with our partners to urge and remind members of the public to adhere to the Government guidance so we can all play our part in stopping the spread of the virus, so it is astonishing to see people brazenly and blatantly ignoring these rules.

Police officers wearing face coverings pictured approaching the revellers as they disband the illegal New Year's Eve party in Bedfordshire

A police officer seen inside the marquee. The event featured a dance floor, disco lights, tinsel, balloons, four speakers and numerous tables and chairs

In the video, a police officer can be heard shouting 'get out of the marquee now' while a female responds: 'I live here'. Police had earlier given a warning following a tip-off

'This party was not only a huge breach, but also showed a total lack of respect to those people who haven't been able to attend the funeral of a loved one, or spend Christmas and New Year with their friends and family, which is why we have not taken this lightly and have taken firm action.

'We understand the past 10 months have been difficult for everyone and we are grateful to those who have been following the guidelines, but the pressure on the NHS is still immense and we all need to everything we can to keep ourselves and others safe.'

The force added that it has issued 103 fixed penalty notices for Covid-19 regulation breaches over the past week, with 399 incidents reported over the same period.

There were similar raves across the country, as Greater Manchester Police issued 105 fines, compared to 66 in Brighton and Hove.

The maximum fine for breaking coronavirus restrictions is 10,000 for the most egregious breaches.

A top police officer previously slammed New Year's Eve revellers who ignored Covid lockdown rules and 'decided partying was more important than protecting other people'.

Bottles of what appears to be alcohol pictured at the event in Bedfordshire. The organiser was handed a 10,000 fine after police found dozens of party-goers, despite giving a warning

Bedfordshire Police officers inside the marquee as they break up the party. The force has issued 103 fixed penalty notices for Covid-19 regulation breaches over the past week

Revellers pictured at the illegal gathering. Bedfordshire Police said: 'The organiser was spoken to and given words of advice, but when officers returned later they found around 50 people'

A woman who organised an event in Sewardstonebury involving a fire dancer and an entertainer was fined 10,000.

Elsewhere in the county officers broke up an illegal rave at an abandoned church in East Horndon and another at a warehouse in Brentwood.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Prophet criticised those who 'decided to blatantly flout the coronavirus rules and regulations and, ultimately, they decided that partying was more important than protecting other people'.

Met Police issued 217 people with fixed penalty fines and five people could receive 10,000 fines for organising large gatherings across London.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier confirmed people would only be allowed to celebrate indoors on December 31 with people in their own household, saying the Government would 'not be bringing in a special set of rules' for New Year.

There are some exemptions that apply to gatherings, such as those that are necessary for work purposes, escaping the risk of harm and providing emergency assistance.
BarcelonaThere will be an election on February 14 - at least for now. Catalonia' High Court has decided this Thursday to keep this election date as a precautionary measure and to suspend the Government's decree that postpones the elections to May 30. It has done so after hearing the allegations of the Generalitat and the Public Prosecutor's Office, as the court states in a note. Tomorrow, Friday, it will share its ruling with the reasons that have led it to its decision.
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.
While little was resolved with finality at the hearing, Smolletts defense offered a clearer view of their theory of the case: The two brothers who told police Smollett paid them to participate in the phony attack in fact attacked Smollett outright, along with at least one other collaborator, they said. They were then pressured to make up a story that would get them out of custody and out of trouble, the defense alleged.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday morning dismissed Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Vitaliy Nemilostivy, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

"The behavior that Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Vitaliy Nemilostivy allowed himself is unacceptable. Everyone should be equal before the law. Therefore, we promptly considered the issue of dismissing the deputy minister. A position in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is not a privilege, it is, first of all, responsibility before the people and the country," Shmyhal said in the Telegram channel.

As reported by the Obozrevatel Internet edition, Nemilostivy was stopped by the patrol police, who suspected him of driving while intoxicated. Judging by the video recorded by the policeman's chest camera, the detainee refused to draw up the protocol, tried to leave the scene of the incident and even started a fight with the patrolmen. Deputy Prime Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine Oleh Urusky on Thursday morning called the behavior of Nemilostivy "unacceptable and undermining the authority of a representative of the executive branch in the eyes of the Ukrainian people."

"I believe that such irresponsible behavior on the part of Vitaliy Nemilostivy makes it impossible for him to continue to serve as deputy minister. Therefore, in the near future, the government and I will make all the necessary personnel decisions," Urusky said.
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NEWTOWN  You can ask Brendan Smialowski how he feels about his poignant photograph of Sen. Bernie Sanders in big mittens becoming the top photoshopped meme across the internet on Thursday.

You also might be able to guess that its a tricky question for the Newtown High School graduate, who has traveled with President George W. Bush to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with President Barack Obama to Nelson Mandelas funeral, and with President Donald Trump to his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the Demilitarized Zone.

I am not crazy about (my photojournalism) becoming memes but I am glad to have eyes on my work, said the 40-year-old father of one, who works for the wire service Agence France-Presse.

Were journalists, and we dont get to pick and choose how people react to things, he continued during an interview Thursday from his home in Washington, D.C. Its okay for people to take a break from the heavy journalism and find lighthearted moments.

Smialowskis image of Sanders sitting cross-legged in a comfortable winter coat and oversized Vermont mittens before Wednesdays inauguration quickly became the top trending topic on Twitter.

The speed and ease-of-access with which the internet works means you may have awoken Thursday to see Sanders photoshopped any number of strange places  from a New York City subway car to the table at The Last Supper.

Its hard to say why something becomes a meme  theres no logic to it, Smialowski said. When you look at them in hindsight they sort of make sense.

The random dynamics of the meme contrast with the conscientious approach Smialowski takes to his assignments.

I try to make thoughtful and layered images, Smialowski said. I try to shoot everything as a story.

That was Smialowskis mindset on Wednesday with his camera following lawmakers and dignitaries arriving in style at the Capitol for the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

There was Sanders, the Independent with the tussled hair, sitting in a folding chair, portraying his own style of power politics.

Hes a powerhouse with a brand of politics that is very popular, Smialowski said, explaining his thinking as he composed the shot. I was trying to document history  you dont want it to be remembered because people are making fun of it.

Anyone whos worked with Smialowski, such as his former photo editor at The News-Times, knows that Smialowski doesnt have an attitude.

Still attending Newtown High School, Smialowski shot freelance for the weekly Newtown Bee. He moved on to shoot assignments while an intern with The News-Times.

He was very creative and insightful and hard-working, said veteran photographer Carol Kaliff, a former photo editor at The News-Times. A lot of young photographers think they know everything and there was none of that in him  he was years ahead of his age in his ability and the way he conducted himself.

Smialowski, who said he has covered four presidents, two wars, and more than a few major disasters, said this is not his first viral meme.

In early 2017, his picture of then-senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway sitting on her knees looking at her cellphone in an Oval Office crowded with people sent Twitter into a tizzy, according to Vanity Fair.

Honestly, I am one of those guys who is very lucky, Smialowski said. I have a job that I not only enjoy but believe in.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
Democrats officially control the U.S. Senate, with the swearing in of three new Democratic senators, but negotiations with Republicans have yet to yield a deal on power sharing.

Vice President Kamala Harris administered the oath of office on Wednesday to newly elected Democratic Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia and to her own successor, Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

Both the Democratic and Republican Senate caucuses now have 50 members, and Ms. Harris will cast any tie-breaking vote.

Messrs. Warnock and Ossoff are Georgias first Black and first Jewish senators, respectively. And Mr. Padilla is the first Latino senator from California.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) now becomes the Senate majority leader. But talks on an organizing resolution for the new Senate have stalled, complicating the timing of confirmation votes for President Bidens cabinet nominees, as well as the prospects for new legislation.

But the parties did come together Wednesday night to confirm Avril Haines, Mr. Bidens pick to lead the U.S. intelligence community, 84-10. The broadly bipartisan vote made Ms. Haines the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence and delivered the newly inaugurated president his first Senate-confirmed Cabinet secretary.

Power-sharing negotiations between Mr. Schumer and top Republican Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.)now the minority leaderran into trouble this week over the fate of the legislative filibuster, a longstanding rule that empowers the minority party to block most bills.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, didnt say what the holdup was on reaching an agreement with Republicans on the organizing resolution, or when he expected a deal to get done. The first meeting was not as productive as we hoped," he told reporters.

In his first speech as majority leader, Mr. Schumer addressed his GOP colleagues, saying the Senate works best when we work together." He added, We have no choice but to try to work together every day to reward the faith the American people have placed in us. So let us begin."

Mr. McConnell, in his own speech, congratulated Mr. Biden and pledged to work with him wherever possible."

Mr. McConnell said both parties should strive for common ground. Noting the narrow Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, he said voters intentionally entrusted both political parties with significant power to shape our nations direction."

Democrats also havent set a schedule for holding the Senate impeachment trial for President Donald Trump. He was impeached a second time by the House earlier this month, and the trial must kick off immediately once House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) sends the article to the Senate, barring a bipartisan agreement on timing. Mrs. Pelosi hasnt said when she intends to send the article across the Capitol.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Sources: State and local health agencies (cases, deaths); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (hospitalizations, test positivity); Centers for Disease Control (vaccinations). Risk calculated with 14-day averages. Cases and deaths charts show 7-day averages. Test positivity chart shows 14-day averages. Hospitalization data is a weekly average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Stevens County. County-level testing data from Maine and Ohio may underestimate the total number of tests. The calculated test positivity may be unreliable in some counties in these states. No vaccination data was available for Hawaii and some other places. Counties in some other states were excluded because more than a quarter of vaccination data is missing.

About this data Sources: State and local health agencies (cases, deaths); U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (hospitalizations, test positivity); Centers for Disease Control (vaccinations). Risk calculated with 14-day averages. Cases and deaths charts show 7-day averages. Test positivity chart shows 14-day averages. Hospitalization data is a weekly average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Stevens County. County-level testing data from Maine and Ohio may underestimate the total number of tests. The calculated test positivity may be unreliable in some counties in these states. No vaccination data was available for Hawaii and some other places. Counties in some other states were excluded because more than a quarter of vaccination data is missing.

The risk for unvaccinated people is based on cases per capita and test positivity.

Because of very high Covid-19 transmission in Stevens County, unvaccinated people are at a. Vaccinated people are at minimal risk.

Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are still high. The numbers of hospitalized Covid patients and deaths in the Stevens County area have also remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Stevens County is high, suggesting that cases may be undercounted.

It can be more difficult to determine Covid-19 risk in counties with low populations because less data is available. Consider looking at the risk in neighboring counties to better understand the risk in Stevens County.

How to protect yourself and others Based on the very high Covid-19 transmission in Stevens County right now, heres how to lower your personal risk of getting Covid-19 and protect your community, according to public health experts. We developed this advice with experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies. If you or someone in your household is older or has other risk factors for severe Covid-19, you may need to take extra precautions. If youre fully vaccinated Individuals are fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their final vaccine dose. If you are fully vaccinated, you may choose to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations for fully vaccinated people since your risk of getting sick is much lower. Indoor activities are lower risk. Its low-risk to have indoor visits, such as inviting another household over for dinner without masks and without social distancing, as long as the size of these gatherings is limited to a few households. You can travel more freely. Fully vaccinated people can resume domestic travel and dont need to get tested or self-quarantine after traveling. International travel may be riskier than domestic travel. Check the C.D.C.s country-specific Covid-19 risk and international travel requirements before traveling to a different country. Keep in mind that receiving medical care, even for unrelated conditions, may become difficult if hospitals at your travel destination are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients. Its still recommended to wear a mask in a few places. If youre fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask in most settings. The C.D.C. still recommends wearing a mask in settings where Covid-19 may spread more easily, including healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, transportation hubs and on all forms of public transportation. This helps protect people who may be particularly vulnerable to the virus and also to prevent spread. If youre not fully vaccinated Heres how you can reduce the risk of getting Covid-19 if you havent yet completed your vaccination series. Indoor activities are very dangerous right now. Avoid indoor dining, bars, gyms, movie theaters and nonessential shopping, as well as having friends over to your home, and indoor personal care services like haircuts and manicures. Given the severity of the outbreak in Stevens County, spending time inside with people from other households puts you at risk for getting the coronavirus or spreading it to others. You can lower your risk while grocery shopping and during other essential trips by keeping your visits as short as possible, but consider using delivery or curbside pickup instead. Avoid nonessential travel. Avoid all nonessential travel. If you must take a taxi, open the windows and sit far away from others in the vehicle. If you need to take public transit, try to avoid rush hours and crowds so you can keep your distance from others. If you fly, choose less crowded flights or airlines that keep middle seats empty. Avoid events with more than a handful of people. Weddings, funerals, concerts, sporting events and other gatherings that bring multiple households together are places where Covid can spread easily. Consider postponing. Religious services are safest when conducted outdoors and without singing. Outdoor activities can be a good substitute. Meeting a handful of friends outdoors - all wearing masks - or going to an uncrowded beach can be good options. Because of the very high risk of exposure to Covid in Stevens County, you should avoid outdoor bars. Outdoor dining is safest if those at your table are from your household, the space is not enclosed on the sides, and there is at least six feet of distance between your party and other parties. Consider postponing nonessential personal care appointments. Walking, cycling, running and other outdoor individual workouts are the safest kinds of exercise. Low-contact outdoor sports like singles tennis, skateboarding and golf may be enjoyed safely. Contact sports like basketball and soccer should be avoided. Protect yourself at work and school. Work remotely when possible and avoid in-person meetings. In the workplace, less crowded hours are the safest to be on the job. Children tend to have less-severe symptoms but can still spread the coronavirus, so consider the health risks of everyone in your household when making decisions about your childs activities. Learning environments where students stay in small groups at all times make it safer for younger students to go to school. Older students should choose online instruction if possible. Avoid play dates and extracurricular activities. Get medical care if you need it. Do not skip or delay medical care, including mental health care. Talk to your doctors about postponing any nonessential appointments. If you have an appointment, call before your visit to find out if you need to take special precautions, and ask if telehealth is a good option for you. Take these important precautions all the time. You should stay at least six feet away from people who live in other households. Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are outside your home and whenever you are around people who do not live with you, including any visitors to your home. If you feel sick or have been exposed to someone with Covid, you should stay home and get tested. If someone in your household feels sick or has been diagnosed with Covid-19, everyone should wear a mask, wash their hands often and stay at least six feet apart from one another, even inside your home. Avoid crowds, and limit the number of people you meet and the amount of time you spend with them. Avoid indoor spaces with poor airflow. Wash your hands often, especially after visiting a public place or blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are still high. New reported cases by day 20 40 cases Jun. 2020 Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. 2021 Feb. 2021 Mar. Apr. May New cases 7day average 0 These are days with a reporting anomaly. Read more here. About this data Note: The 7-day average is the average of a day and the previous 6 days of data. An average of less than one case per day was reported in Stevens County in the last week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 11 residents have been infected, a total of 923 reported cases. November 2020 was the worst month for cases in Stevens County. Average cases per capita Fewer More Jan. 2020 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Feb. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Mar. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Apr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jun. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Jul. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Aug. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Sept. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Oct. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Nov. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Dec. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan. 2021 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Feb. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Mar. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Apr. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 May 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

The numbers of hospitalized Covid patients and deaths in the Stevens County area have also remained at about the same level. The map below shows the average I.C.U. occupancy at nearby hospitals. Share of I.C.U. beds occupied 75% 85% 95% No data loading... (please enable JavaScript to use this feature) Hospitalized Covid-19 patients in the Stevens County area 5 10 hospitalized Nov. 2020 Dec. Jan. 2021 Feb. Mar. Apr. May 0 About this data Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hospitalization data is a weekly average of Covid-19 patients in hospital service areas that intersect with Stevens County. The trend in deaths tends to lag weeks behind the trend in reported cases. New reported deaths by day in Stevens County 5 10 deaths Jun. 2020 Jul. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. 2021 Feb. 2021 Mar. Apr. May 0 These are days with a reporting anomaly. Read more here.

The Covid-19 risk for unvaccinated people is lower in some nearby counties. Cases have decreased recently in Pope County. See the full national map of county-level risk assessments. Covid-19 risk for unvaccinated people low moderate high very high extremely high loading... (please enable JavaScript to use this feature)
In a message to the industry on Thursday (Jan. 21), Ontario Racing stated that the organization is continuing to work with government and industry partners during the lockdown and suspension of harness racing in the province.

The release is as follows:

Ontario Racing is continuing to work closely with industry partners, government officials and others, in an effort to provide equine-related support payments (subject to regulatory approvals) to Ontario Standardbred and Thoroughbred horsepeople.

In response to the temporary pause of live racing across the province due to COVID-19, Ontario Racing, together with its board of directors, the Ontario Racing-formed Standardbred Task Force, the Ontario Racing-formed Thoroughbred Task Force, and key industry partners, continues to engage in discussions with the Ontario Government, emphasizing the need and urgency to redirect undistributed purse monies to horsepeople for the care and well-being of their horses.

Once specific details are confirmed, Ontario Racing will communicate them to horsepeople.

As the voice of the Ontario Racing horse racing industry, we remain dedicated to serving the best interests of the many hard-working people and equine athletes that comprise our Standardbred and Thoroughbred industries, said John Hayes, Chair, Ontario Racing. We are in constant dialogue with the Ontario Government, and continue to reiterate the importance of support payments for horsepeople who have been impacted by the stoppage of live racing.

(Ontario Racing)
Gogglebox Australia is returning to screens for it's 13th season!

According to a statement released by Foxtel, the nation's favourite households will head back onto the couch sooner rather than later.

The reality show is expected to air first on Foxtel's LifeStyle Channel on Wednesdays at 7.30pm from February 17 and Thursdays at 8.30pm on Channel 10.

Coming soon! Gogglebox Australia will be back on screen in February

Gogglebox Australia has released the first teaser, ahead of the show's new season.

In it, we see happy-go-lucky siblings Tim and Leanne, old married couples Mick and Di, and Lee and Keith.

Meanwhile, all three lovable families The Daltons, The Elias' and The Delpechitras will return with their hilarious one-liners.

This year we will see the return of much-loved grandmother, Emmie Silbery who was absent from last season due to Coronavirus restrictions.

Nana's back! This year we will see the return of much-loved grandmother, Emmie Silbery who was absent from last season due to Coronavirus restrictions

Nana Silbery will reunite with daughter Kerry and granddaughter Isabelle - however, they'll be seated on a new couch as Isabelles moved to her new home. Best friends and housemates Kaday and Chantal have also relocated to a new residence.

Surf-loving friends Milo and Nick make an appearance, too - as are loud and proud besties Anastasia and Faye.

Series favourites, Matty and Sarah Marie Fahd will also head back for more adventures alongside their son baby Malik, and mate Jad Nehmetallah.

TV favourites: Series favourites, Matty (right) and Sarah Marie Fahd(centre) will also return to Gogglebox alongside their son baby Malik, and mate Jad Nehmetallah (left)

Speaking to Daily Mail, Matty revealed the show - which has won four TV Week Logie awards - is a huge success, because the thought of everyday people appeals to the masses.

'Reality TV includes a whole realm of programs, but Gogglebox is different as a show, because it's authentic.

He is also humbled by the attention his wife, Sarah and his firstborn have received during the past two seasons - which ran within the peak of Coronavirus lockdowns around the nation.

Keeping it real: Gogglebox star Matty Fahd told Daily Mail, the show is so popular because 'People are refreshed to see two people in love, not the bulls*** you see on TV. Whether it's Malik's smile or just some genuine love and normality between Sarah and I.'

'I think the world gone a bit mad, people are refreshed to see two people in love, not the bulls*** you see on TV. Whether it's Malik's smile or just some genuine love and normality between Sarah and I.'

'The success of the past twelve seasons of Gogglebox comes down to the simple fact that we are all craving an authentic connection with people we can relate to,' Group General Manager of LifeStyle Wendy Moore said in a statement.

'Our Gogglebox families are such a great reflection of all of us and watching them share our own experiences has become part of our collective survival kit in the past twelve months!'

Lovable family, The Daltons are set to return this season. Pictured: (left) Holly, Matt (centre), and Millie (right. As are best friends Anastasia Katselas and Faye Kontos

Gogglebox returns on Foxtel's LifeStyle Channel on Wednesdays at 7.30pm from February 17 and Thursdays at 8.30pm on Channel 10.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
German discount grocer Lidl announced an initiative Wednesday aimed at encouraging its employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The company will pay its employees an extra $200 to get the vaccine, with the extra money meant to help offset the costs associated with vaccine administration, including travel costs and childcare, according to a release from Lidl. Employees schedules will also be accommodated so they can make an appointment.

We are proud to provide our employees the resources they need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine free of any obstacles, said Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl US. From the outset of the pandemic, we have worked hard to put the health and safety of our employees first. From offering free COVID-19 healthcare to our entire workforce, to installing hospital-grade air filtration in our stores and warehouses to assure cleaner and healthier air, Lidl has made it a priority to adapt our policies to work better for our people during this pandemic.

Nearly eight out of ten Lidl employees said in an internal survey that they planned to get the vaccine as soon as it becomes available, the company said.

Grocery store workers are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine but likely will be in the coming weeks as they are considered to be frontline workers by the state.

Lidl has 14 stores in New Jersey and plans to open more by the end of 2021.

The company operates around 11,200 stores which employ more than 310,000 employees globally.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
MBABANE  Premier Eswatini is reportedly retrenching some of its employees.

The affected employees have since been served with letters informing them that their relationship with the company would come to an end on February 21, 2021. Through the Swaziland Manufacturing and Allied Workers Union (SMAWU), the affected workers have filed an urgent application in the Industrial Court. They are seeking an order setting aside the notices of retrenchment issued by the company. The exact number of employees who will be affected has not been disclosed in the papers filed in court, but it is alleged there are about 16 of them.

Meeting

In the retrenchment notices, the companys Human Resources Manager, Bridgette Magongo, alleged that they held a consultative meeting with the union representing the workers and shop stewards wherein it was relayed that Premier Eswatini was embarking on a process to rationalise its business process and operation structure. In the same meeting, it was put to the parties that at this stage, in line with The Code of Good Practice Section 13 under Section 109 of the Industrial Relations Act as amended; reason behind Premier having to engage in this process is a combination of the need for the organisation to review its structure and industry conditions within which we have to operate in order to remain competitive and relevant, reads part of one of the retrenchment notice.

The human resources manager further claimed that it was agreed in terms of the Recognition Agreement that should a retrenchment be necessary, same had to follow a recognised retrenchment criteria namely LIFO ( Last in, First Out) as well the requirements as per the re-engineering process in a transparent and objective manner. In one of the letters the human resources manager stated: It is with regret that you are one of those who will be affected by the imminent retrenchment. In light of the aforesaid, we hereby communicate our formal notice effective January 15, 2021 and the effective day for cessation of your employment will be February 15, 2021. Magongo went on to inform each of the affected employees that upon termination of their services, they would be paid the following monies as their retrenchment package; notice pay, additional notice pay, severance allowance and outstanding leave pay where applicable.
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A meeting Friday at the Sweetwater County Courthouse represented the first in-person meeting the county commissioners hosted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wyoming last year.

This was courtesy of a massive renovation to the commissioners; meeting room that allows for more space between the commissioners themselves, as well as better access to technology and up-to-date-services.

Theres no better way to have a good meeting than being present in person, Sweetwater County Commissioner Randy Wendling said.

Prior to that, the commissioners would host virtual meetings as a me...
Ukrainian Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov urged politicians not to speculate on the price of vaccines against coronavirus (COVID-19) and on the subject of vaccination.

"It is very important that all politicians and public figures are aware of the responsibility of their actions and statements and understand the likelihood of consequences, primarily for the image of the state. It is a shame when people undertake to comment on a topic that, to put it mildly, they have a superficial knowledge of that," he told Interfax-Ukraine, commenting on the statement of MP Oleksandra Ustynova about the overstatement of the purchase price of the Chinese vaccine against COVID-19 from the Sinovac company.

The minister said that $3 is the cost of COVID-19 vaccine produced by the Serum Institute Indian company for purchases under the COVAX mechanism, and this price is not used for commercial purchases.

"The Serum Institute is one of the largest manufacturing platforms in India, which, among other things, is contracted by global manufacturers for the manufacture of their vaccines. As for the cost of vaccines, $3 is the price at which the COVAX mechanism, the global fund for access to COVID-19 vaccines, buys the vaccine. All vaccine manufacturers who have joined this mechanism sell them the vaccine at minimal or even prime cost. Therefore, in my opinion, it is simply pointless to compare this cost with the commercial price," he said.

Stepanov said the price at which Ukraine buys vaccines from the Sinovac company is the same for most countries of the world.

At the same time, he noted a significant spread in prices for vaccines against COVID-19 in the world market.

"Let us take two top global manufacturers of vaccines against coronavirus disease. Real numbers are as follows: one manufacturer has a price for a COVID-19 vaccine of about $6 per dose, another has about $30. Price offers are different. One manufacturer has a fixed price of $9, the other the price depends on the number of doses ordered, from $12 to $40. This is a market in which the conditions are dictated by the manufacturer. All countries of the world and more than 7 billion people are queuing up for the vaccine," he said.
The most powerful moment of Joe Bidens inaugural address was one when he fell silent.

In what he called his first act as president, Biden asked for a silent prayer on behalf of the more than 400,000 Americans who have died of COVID-19.

At a time of deep national division, Biden knew it was one of the few acts that could touch every American  and provide a small measure of unity going forward.

We will honor them, Biden said, by becoming the people and nation that we know we can and should be.

It was one of many calls for unity in Bidens 21-minute speech, a prologue to what will be a long effort to move the country beyond Donald Trumps four divisive years.

The silence was Bidens acknowledgment that his first and most important job as president will be to end the pandemic that has crippled the nation, in large part because of the federal governments bungled response under Trump.

Bidens use of silence is extremely important, said Norma Mendoza-Denton, a professor of linguistics anthropology at UCLA. President Trump never mentioned the death toll. He was never one to dwell on anything negative, whether it was the economy or the unrest.

Its like saying theres a big elephant in the room, said Mendoza-Denton, co-editor of the book Language in the Trump Era: Scandals and Emergencies. The value of acknowledging the elephant is that you can then make a plan to get it out of the room.

Recognizing the human impact of the pandemic was a central theme of the inauguration. On Tuesday, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at a ceremony where 400 lights around the Lincoln Memorials reflecting pool were illuminated to honor Americas COVID victims.

Now Playing: Video: SFGATE

The moment of silence was another way for the loss to be recognized in a way that was deeply personal, said Jennifer Victor, a George Mason University political science professor who attended the inauguration.

Who knows what every person in the country was thinking about at that moment? Victor said. And that in itself created a moment of unity. It was quite clever, actually.

The silence was also a sign that Biden will assume a role that Trump shunned: to be the mourner in chief, said Terri Bimes, an expert on the presidency who teaches at UC Berkeley.

I dont think Donald Trump ever got that, Bimes said. He never was comfortable with mourning. Donald Trump said that he didnt want to go to (military) cemeteries because they were filled with losers who died, a comment reported in the Atlantic magazine that Trump denied making.

The unification theme also ran through Bidens campaign, when he promised to heal the soul of the nation. But to unify and heal, Biden must first create an empathetic bond with Americans, including the 74 million who voted for Trump.

That starts with acknowledging whats going wrong.

Biden said theres a cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making. ... The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. He said theres a cry for survival that comes from the planet itself, a cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear. And now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words, Biden said. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity, unity.

He added, And this is certain, I promise you: We will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era.

Biden acknowledged the nations problems in a way where he was calling all Americans to rise with him and exhorting them that if they wanted to see change, they had to be the change, said Andra Gillespie, a political scientist at Emory University in Atlanta.

For unity to occur, Biden said, the uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal, must end.

We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if were willing to stand in the other persons shoes, as my mom would say  just for a moment, stand in their shoes, Biden said.

Because heres the thing about life, he added. Theres no accounting for what fate will deal you.

Few of the nations political leaders have felt the wrath of fate like Biden, whose wife and daughter were killed in a car crash shortly after he was elected to the Senate in 1972. Nearly four decades later, when he was vice president, his son, Beau, died of cancer. Although Biden didnt mention these tragedies in his speech, they have imbued his life and politics with a deep sense of empathy.

Biden also didnt mention Trump in his speech, at least not by name. But Biden did refer to Trumps insistent lies that the election was stolen and chided the Republicans who didnt push back on the falsehoods until after a pro-Trump mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson, Biden said. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Bimes, the presidential scholar, said Biden needed to call out Trumps congressional enablers as well as the mob.

Many people who have lived through the Trump administration are shell-shocked, so it may be easy to say, Lets move on, Bimes said. By saying were not going to tolerate white supremacists and calling them domestic terrorists, he was taking a stand. Thats important, because there needs to be justice for those acts that were taken.

But amid his calls for unity, Biden was realistic that not everyone will join him. In the past, during the Depression and the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, Biden said, enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward.

George Masons Victor said, That was a little bit of a recognition that you cant unify the whole country. You just need enough people.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
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She is known for her incredible style.

Yet Ashley Roberts surpassed her sensational self ahead of her day at work at Heart FM on Thursday as she strutted ahead in an phenomenal ensemble.

The pop star and radio host, 39, went for a 90s-inspired look with PVC trousers and a made-to-order cardigan with a fluffy trim.

Wow: Ashley Roberts surpassed her sensational self ahead of her day at work at Heart FM on Thursday as she strutted ahead in an phenomenal ensemble

Ashley was making a statement in the cardigan, made one-off by Maddie Sellers, which featured a fluffy trim and baby blue hue.

She added an edgy touch with her black PVC trousers which added further to the retro feel, as well as her white cat eye sunglasses.

Ashley wore her hair in straight lengths with a centre parting - perfecting her Clueless-inspired ensemble even more.

Her latest outing comes as it was reported that The Pussycat Dolls are reportedly close to signing a new management deal.

Stunner: The pop star and radio host, 39, went for a 90s-inspired look with PVC trousers and a made-to-order cardigan with a fluffy trim

Wow! Ashley was making a statement in the cardigan, made one-off by Maddie Sellers, which featured a fluffy trim and baby blue hue

The girl group - consisting of Ashley, Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberly Wyatt, Carmit Bachar and Jessica Sutta - impressed music executives with the success of their comeback hit React and are speaking to several American firms, reports The Sun.

Although announcing their launch back onto the music scene in 2019, the band have had to reschedule their reunion tour twice amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It has now been claimed that the girl-band have peaked the interest of Madonna and Britney Spears' management company, Maverick, as well as being in discussing with other big firms.

WOW! She seemed inspired by 1995 movie Clueless

Simple: She wore a white tee underneath the look

Baby in blue: Her latest outing comes as it was reported that The Pussycat Dolls are reportedly close to signing a new management deal

A source said: 'The pandemic has hampered plans for The Pussycat Dolls but as far as they are concerned, they're all raring to get going as soon as it's safe to do so.

'This new team is great news for them and they've got a handful of songs which they are plotting to release when they can all safely get together again.

'With half of the group in the UK and half in the US, it is tricky, but they are determined to release some singles in 2021.'

Legs eleven: She looked stunning in the black
The 38 applicants in five cases are Ukrainian nationals and one applicant is an Armenian citizen.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled on five lawsuits against the state of Ukraine, which concern numerous abuses of rights during Maidan protests.

The 38 applicants in these five cases are Ukrainian nationals and one applicant is an Armenian national. All of them were present at or played a role in the Maidan protests, according to the ECHR's press release of January 21, 2021.

In particular, the judges considered the cases of Shmorgunov and Others v. Ukraine (applications no. 15367/14 and 13 others), Lutsenko and Verbytskyy v. Ukraine (12482/14 and 39800/14), Kadura and Smaliy v. Ukraine (42753/14 and 43860/14), Dubovtsev and Others v. Ukraine (21429/14 and 9 others), and Vorontsov and Others v. Ukraine (58925/14 and 4 others).

Cases against Ukraine

The cases concerned events around the Maidan protests in Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine, including the dispersal of protestors, their detention, the kidnapping of activists and their ill-treatment, and the related proceedings.

Read alsoECHR rules Ukraine's claim against Russia "partially admissible"In particular, the cases relate to multiple violations of Article 3 (prohibition of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment) of the European Convention on Human Rights, multiple violations of Article 5 Paragraphs 1 and 3 (right to liberty and security), multiple violations of Article 11 (freedom of assembly and association), a violation of Article 2 (right to life), and a violation of Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life).

The applicants had encounters with the police or non-state agents under police control (titushky).

They alleged, among other things, police brutality, a denial of their right to protest, unjustified detention, and even a death in one case.

Court ruling

"The Court found in particular that the authorities had used ill-treatment deliberately, and that the State had been responsible for the murder of one protester. It noted that many of the detention orders had been arbitrary. It considered that the authorities had deliberately tried to disrupt initially peaceful protests, using excessive violence and unlawful detention to achieve that," reads the report.

Overall, it noted that the abuses found appeared to have been a strategy on the part of the authorities. It also found that the investigations into the events had in many instances been ineffective.

"The Court held that Ukraine was to pay some of the applicants the awards in respect of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage and costs and expenses set out in the relevant judgments," the document says.

The Court observed that it had found multiple violations of several Articles as a result of how the authorities had conducted themselves during the Maidan protests and the absence to date of an independent and effective mechanism within Ukraine for the investigation of crimes committed by law-enforcement officers and non-State agents. These judgments pointed to a deliberate strategy on the part of the authorities to hinder and put an end to a protest, the conduct of which was initially peaceful, with rapid recourse to excessive force which resulted in, if not contributed to, an escalation of violence, it said.

Crimes of Yanukovych regime amid Maidan protests

On February 20, 2014, a mass shooting of protesters took place at the Maidan Square in Kyiv.

According to the Health Ministry, on February 18-20, a total of 82 people died (71 Maidan activists and 11 law enforcers), and more than 600 people were injured. According to the UN mission, 98 people died in those days (84 protesters, 13 security officials, and a random person).

Activists of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes project say the death toll stood at 107.

On February 21, 2014, Euromaidan activists Yuriy Verbytskyy and Ihor Lutsenko were abducted. Verbytskyy was killed after being tortured.

Reporting by UNIAN
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Teachers in the Rio Rancho Public Schools, Bernalillo Public Schools and charter schools in those districts will be able to get a vaccination for COVID-19 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

RRPS spokeswoman Melissa Perez said Wednesday that the school district was partnering with the Sandoval Regional Medical Center and Sandoval County to host the drive-thru shot clinic at Cleveland High School, 4800 Cleveland Heights Road NE, in Rio Rancho.

The New Mexico Department of Health has set up a tiered, phased-in shot schedule to get the vaccines to those in the highest risk groups first. Teachers are among those in the current 1B phase for frontline essential workers who are unable to work remotely.

Perez said the group also includes all school district administrators, educational assistants, cafeteria workers and other staff.

There are about 2,500 eligible employees in Rio Rancho Public Schools alone, Perez said.

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Not everyone is going to opt to get a vaccination, and its not mandatory within RRPS to get one, but we encourage our staff to take advantage of the opportunity, Perez said. Its an individual choice.

Shots will be available by appointment only. People in the 1B qualifying group should go to the New Mexico Department of Healths online vaccination registration site at CV.NMHealth.org.

People who do not have internet access can call the Coronavirus Hotline at 1-855-600-3453, and then press option 0 for vaccine questions, and option 4 for technical support.
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
(Alliance News) - Ireland's current lockdown will continue "well into February", a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party has heard.

Deputy leader Simon Coveney told the meeting on Wednesday that the government's current health restrictions will remain in place "for future weeks".

The Foreign Affairs Minister also said the issue would be discussed at Cabinet next week and that the vast majority of restrictions would be maintained well into next month.

Coveney's warning comes as 61 further Covid-19 deaths and an additional 2,488 new cases of the virus were confirmed by the Department of Health on Wednesday.

There were 1,923 patients with the virus in hospital, of whom 210 were in intensive care units.

But he said that the current restrictions were working and that the rapid increase in Covid-19 in communities had stopped.

TDs, senators and MEPs also heard that if the AstraZeneca PLC vaccine is approved by the European Medicines Agency on January 29 as expected, it will change the pace of the roll out of the vaccine in Ireland.

The government is due to review the strict Level 5 public health restrictions that were imposed at the end of December.

Schools and non-essential retail were closed. Restaurants and cafes were forced to shut except for takeaways and travel restrictions were also imposed.

The public has been urged to stay at home except for essential work reasons and only exercise within five kilometres of their home.

The Cabinet sub committee on Covid-19 is expected to meet on Monday to finalise plans to extend the current restrictions before Cabinet ministers approve the measures at a meeting on Tuesday.

It is expected the situation will be reviewed again in February but with the number of people with the virus in hospital and ICU still reaching almost 2,000 it is not believed the Government will make the decision to reopen the economy substantially before the end of March or early April.

The hospitality sector is bracing itself that it may be longer than that before it is allowed to reopen fully.

It is not yet known when schools may reopen.

The parliamentary party meeting heard that it had been a "difficult week" and that the Department of Education was doing "everything it can" to facilitate the reopening of schools for special needs pupils.

The government had to abandon plans on Tuesday to resume classes for children with special educational needs after unions rejected plans to open on Thursday.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has refused calls to intervene in the row over, and has backed under-fire Education Minister Norma Foley.

Minister Foley and her junior minister Josepha Madigan were criticised by the opposition for being critical of teachers' unions.

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to approve several Covid-19 vaccines from Western and Chinese manufacturers in coming weeks and months, a document published on Wednesday shows, as it aims for rapid rollouts in poorer countries. COVAX, a global scheme co-led by the WHO, wants to deliver at least 2 billion Covid-19 doses across the world this year, with at least 1.3 billion going to poorer countries. But it has so far struggled to secure enough shots due to a shortage of funds, while wealthy nations have booked large volumes of vaccines for themselves. In ...
Sunbury-based Weis Markets announced it will begin administering COVID-19 vaccinations in 55 of its in-store pharmacies throughout Pennsylvania, including in West Hazleton, beginning Thursday.

Weis pharmacy staff will prioritize individuals 65 and older for COVID-19 immunizations, per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Pennsylvania Health Department guidance, the company said in a news release issued Wednesday.

Weis pharmacies will also prioritize COVID-19 immunizations for people aged 16-64 with high-risk conditions including cancer, chronic kidney disease, smoking, COPD, heart conditions, Down Syndrome, obesity and diabetes.

To receive the vaccine, customers must schedule an appointment with a Weis certified immunizer at www

.weismarkets.com/pharma

cy-services. Appointment sign-ups are available one day prior to the immunization, and a face covering is required. To ensure the effectiveness of the vaccine, Weis pharmacies will schedule customers for a second immunization four weeks after their first shot.

Our pharmacies have received a limited quantity of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and will begin immunizing on Thursday, Rick Seipp, vice president of pharmacy, was quoted in the release.

Weis list of stores in the region that will offer the vaccine includes:

OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A man was hospitalized Wednesday, Jan. 20, after he escaped a fire at a two-family home in Holland.

He was found unconscious in the back yard.

The fire was reported about 2 p.m. at 414 Maple Avenue. While Holland firefighters were on the way, they were told that residents in the second-floor apartment were believed to be trapped inside.

Firefighters, on scene in four minutes, found fire and heavy smoke coming from the structure. Firefighters were using a ladder to search for trapped victims on the second floor when they found the injured man in the back yard. Believing someone was still trapped, firefighters searched the upper level  finding no one  with fire burning below on the lower level.

Firefighters determined that the injured man was the only one in the home. He was taken by ambulance for treatment of smoke inhalation and injuries sustained as he escaped the fire.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Damage estimates were not available but firefighters said the house sustained significant damage.

Firefighters from Holland and Park townships assisted. Firefighters were on the scene until 5:15 p.m.

Read more:

Patriots in the Capitol building, wrote Michigan man now jailed for insurrection

Parents to adopt own biological babies in surrogate controversy

Where is Michigans Best Outdoor Dining?
Behind the scenes, drivers and shipments are being held up because they lack the right documents, with exporters and forwarders dealing with complex changes that make it arguably simpler to send something from the UK to Ghana now than it is to send something to Germany, says Metro Shippings Grant Liddell

The Channel ports may be quiet, but behind the scenes, drivers are being held up for hours and even days because they lack the right documents. European carriers are suspending UK services and European located businesses have stopped serving UK markets.

The end of the Brexit transition period came into effect on the 1st January, but the FTA between the EU and UK was only agreed on the 23rd December and even with retailers and manufacturers stockpiling  in anticipation of issues in the new year  the lower traffic has not stopped fallout.

Citing problems with new border regulations and processes, a number of courier, pallet, and freight carriers are not accepting UK-bound consignments and the cost of moving full truckloads from France to the UK rose significantly above the third-quarter average last week.

After the initial lull, demand for transport with Europe increased last week to 78% of the average for the time of year, and there is a likelihood that rates will increase even further as a result of Brexit.

As with any new processes, the first few weeks are always going to be a sharp learning curve, and the new UK/EU requirements should soon become the norm; but we are dealing with complex changes and its arguably simpler to send something to Ghana than it is to send something to Germany.

The new regulations add complexity and process, which increases time, resource needs, and costs. And its not just about ensuring compliance. Our objective is to find a way to support our customers, whilst keeping their customers happy and delivering as close to the level of service standards as pre-Brexit.

We do currently have a much more complicated supply chain system for Europe than we do for going anywhere else and we will work hard to simplify processes for, and guide our customers through, these complexities, so their European supply chains are protected.

Under the new rules, shipments should be pre-cleared and rules of origin will be enforced, with EU officials on the lookout for third-country products and components  which is why it is critical that all commercial invoices carry an appropriate declaration of origin in the specified format that we have advised over recent months.

The logistics and freight sector associations have long been warning of a shortage of trained staff to fill out the extra expected 500 million customs declarations that are now required each year for goods moving between Britain and the EU. The shortfall in customs brokers is massive and has left many shippers unable to find the support they need.

EU border authorities insist that trucks arriving from Britain have been almost totally non-compliant in terms of permits and paperwork and have been sending non-compliant trucks back to the UK, yet many exporters are struggling to acquire the required transit documents, because of a shortage of agents with the authority to issue them.

Transit documents, which allow goods to enter the European Union without delay require Customs authorisation and a financial guarantee, to cover any taxes or duties on the goods being moved  but they have almost all been committed and firms wanting to apply for a transit guarantee or increase the size of their existing one have struggled because of delays at HMRC.

Metro are monitoring the cross-channel situation closely and continue to submit import and export customs transactions through our CuDoS system, to keep our customers European supply chains optimised and moving. Our platform is getting slicker as the experience builds and the rules of trade and transport become clearer on a daily basis.

Please contact Andrew White, leading our customs and brokerage business unit, for further information.

Grant Liddell is Business Development Director at Metro Shipping

www.metroshipping.co.uk
Your morning meal with a side of murder? Perhaps. A successful bed-and-breakfast with a violent past is on the market.

The residence that now operates as the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast in Fall River, MA, is the spot where two of the countrys most notorious unsolved murders took place.

On Aug. 4, 1892, Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby Borden, were brutally murdered in this home. Andrew's daughter, Lizzie, was accused of committing the heinous crime with an ax, but was acquitted of the murders at a trial in 1893.

For a buyer who is not afraid of the stigma attached to homes where murders have occurred, it's an opportunity to purchase an infamous house with a worldwide reputation.

This is actually the house where the murders occurred. Andrew was killed in the sitting room, and her stepmother, Abby, was killed upstairs in the guest room, explains the listing agent, Suzanne St. John, who also happens to be a tour guide at the home.

The $2 million asking price also includes everything a buyer would need to keep the business humming.

[The sale] includes the house and the barn, where there are two more bathrooms and an upstairs owner suite, St. John says. And the gift shop, the online gift shop, all the intellectual property, all the trademarks, all the websites.

The bed-and-breakfast has been in operation since the late 1990s. The current owners have owned the Borden home since 2004 and are ready to retire.

Sitting room of home in Fall River, MA Josh Chopy

Gift shop Josh Chopy

Interior Josh Chopy

Entry Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

The suite where Andrew was murdered is on the second floor. It has a private bathroom and is the most requested room at the inndespite the reports of ghosts and other unexplained phenomena that have caused guests jump out of their beds during the night.

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Watch: Historic NY Home for Sale Has a Fascinating Pastbut Is It Haunted?

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I will not sleep in there, St. John says with a chuckle. Its exciting. Its great to be in there. People love it.

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

The other suite is the one that Lizzie and her sister, Emma, shared. It's also on the second floor and shares a bathroom with another room.

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bathroom Josh Chopy

Three other guest rooms are on the third floor and share another bathroom.

Serving guests scones isn't the only revenue stream available for an entrepreneurial buyer. Tours of the housewhich St. John sometimes leadsare also popular.

In 2019, we had done over 18,000 daytime tours that year, and that's not counting overnight guests. It's a tourist destination. It's one of the top destinations in New England, St. John says.

The home known as Maplecroft, where Lizzie lived after she spent time in jail and up until she died, is still on the market for $890,000.

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

Bedroom Josh Chopy

The legend of the double ax murders attracts visitors from all over the world.

It's one of the greatest unsolved murders, and I think it was because she was a woman of society, a woman of wealth. Her father and stepmother were murdered brutally, and there was no suspect and there was no direct evidence leading to the murderer. So it's just one of the greatest unsolved mysteries, St. John says.

The interest isn't limited just to American shores. The agent added that a visiting lawyer from the Middle East told her that he had studied the case when he was in law school.

It just really attracts all types of people from all over the world that are interested for different reasons, she says. Some people are interested in the history. Some people are interested in the gore, so it's got a little something for everybody.

Kitchen Josh Chopy

Sitting room Josh Chopy

Dining room Josh Chopy

St. John says the ideal buyer for the property is a people person interested in owning a successful business.

After somebody has experienced the event of a lifetime staying here, then you're able to sit down with the guests in the morning and just talk about their experiences as they're eating an amazing breakfast.

Dining room Josh Chopy

Kitchen Josh Chopy

The post Lizzie Borden Murder House Is Listed at $2MAx Not Included appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore.  Some Springfield Public Schools students will start returning to hybrid learning next month.

In an email to families, the district said they plan to bring younger students back starting in February on a staggered schedule.

On Feb. 4, kindergarten through first grade will return. Then, on Feb. 8, second-grade students will return and third-graders will return Feb. 11.

The schedule is expected to be Monday through Friday except Wednesday.

Students in grades four through 12 will be incrementally phased in to hybrid learning.

The announcement comes as the Oregon Department of Education recently released updated guidance for school reopening.

Families should contact their building administrators if they have concerns about their child returning to in-person learning to explore other options.

For information about the districts safety plan, click here.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined with U.S celebrities on Wednesday to lampoon Senator Ted Cruz for suggesting that the Paris Climate Accord is of more interest in the French capital than Pittsburgh.

Cruz claimed in a tweet that Joe Biden's day-one executive order reversing Donald Trump's decision to exit the treaty was a sign that the new president is 'more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris'.

The Texas Senator also claimed the deal will not affect climate change but would greatly harm American jobs.

By rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, President Biden indicates hes more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh, Cruz wrote on Wednesday evening.

This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans.

The accord was named the Paris agreement because it was negotiated by 196 nations during a summit in the city in 2016.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured right) on Wednesday mocked Senator Ted Cruz (pictured left) after he claimed that by rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, President Joe Biden cared more for people in the French capital than in Pittsburgh

Senator Ted Cruz claimed that Biden cared more about people in Paris than in Pittsburgh

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez hit back at Cruz's tweet

AOC was one of many who angrily responded to Cruz on social media, pointing out that the agreement is not about the people of Paris but has been signed by 194 states and the European Union as of November 2020.

She also called out his hypocrisy in making the comparison with a city in Pennsylvania after the senator spent weeks backing Trumps claims of election fraud and questioned the vote count in the commonwealth despite no evidence to back up the allegations.

The allegations had targeted votes in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in particular.

Nice tweet Sen. Cruz! Quick question: do you also believe the Geneva Convention was about the views of the citizens of Geneva? the New York Congresswoman fired back.

Asking for everyone who believes US Senators should be competent and not undermine our elections to incite insurrection against the United States, she added, referencing the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 by a pro-Trump mob attempting to overthrow the election result.

US President Joe Biden sits in the Oval Office on Wednesday evening as he signed a series of orders to launch his administration, including a decision to rejoin the Paris climate accord

Celebrities also issued scathing rebukes of Cruz's comment.

Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville joked that of course 197 nations are "citizens of Paris", which is in Romeshire, while media executive Jason Hirschhorn quipped that by Cruz's standards by eating French fries you don't care about U.S. potatoes.

Holy, I know more about the Paris Climate Agreement than you do, and you're a senator and I wrote MINIONS, responded movie writer Brian Lynch.

Others called out Cruz for not placing enough emphasis on the need for climate change policy.

Interesting. Some of us feel responsible for the world we leave our children, and their children, said actress Patricia Arquette.

Americans are plenty capable of tackling green tech and once again become LEADERS in the world.

As someone that claims to be an advocate for national security its a shame you fail to recognize the greatest for at least the next 100 years is climate change, added gun control activist David Hogg.

Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville mocked Cruz over the tweet

'By eating French fries you don't care about U.S. potatoes,' quipped Jason Hirschhorn

Minions writer Brian Lynch questioned why Cruz didn't know more about the agreement

Actress Patricia Arquette criticized Cruz for not doing more for climate change

And some also blasted Cruz for hypocrisy over his support of the unfounded election fraud claims.

And this from a man who wanted to throw out the VOTES of the citizens of Pittsburgh, said actor George Takei.

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean claimed: You need to be expelled from the Senate for insurrection.

Cruz had fought against Bidens election, leading a pack of GOP lawmakers who challenged the result months after he had been declared the President-elect and trying to prevent him from being inaugurated.

He and Senator Josh Hawley joined the House GOP effort to challenge Electoral College votes during the January 6 session that was interrupted by the violent MAGA riot.

They contested votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania, delaying the certification for hours - and giving now ex-President Donald Trump's untrue election fraud claims more weight.

Actor George Takei blasted Cruz for hypocrisy after he backed claims of voter fraud

Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean claimed Cruz should be expelled from the Senate

Senator Ted Cruz pictured before Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th US President

Yet he attended Bidens inauguration on Wednesday, before returning to social media after the ceremony to tear into the new presidents first-day executive orders.

While Cruz - whose home state Texas made more than $16billion in state and local taxes from the oil and natural gas industry in 2019 - was focused initially on the climate agreement, he also took a hit at Bidens executive orders on immigration.

These included reversing Trumps travel ban targeting largely Muslim countries and halting funding for the border wall.

President Bidens immigration EOs illustrate that todays Democrat Party puts people here illegally  or attempting to come here illegally  before American workers, Cruz tweeted.

I will continue to fight to secure our border, reform our legal immigration system, and uphold the rule of law.

Cruz also went after Biden's executive orders in immigration after attending the inauguration

Teenage climate change activist Great Thunberg shared her delight the U.S. has rejoined

Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, then U.S. President Barack Obama, right, and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during a joint ratification of the Paris climate change in 2016

Cruz was not alone among GOP senators in pushing back on the return to the Paris agreement, which Trump quit the U.S. from in August 2017.

Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn also claimed: The decision for @POTUS to re-join the Paris Climate Agreement will cost American jobs and force households and small business to pay higher utility bills.

Despite the GOP criticism, the move was welcomed by others, including teenage climate change activist Great Thunberg.

Thunberg, who had a Twitter rivalry with Trump before his account was banned from the platform earlier this month, tweeted: So happy that USA has finally rejoined the Pittsburgh Agreement. Welcome back!
Georgia Harrison has opened up about how she is 'struggling to cope' in the wake of Stephen Bear's arrest over alleged revenge-porn claims.

The reality personality, 26, revealed she was suffering from anxiety and felt full of 'pain and anger', after accusing Bear of posting a sex video of her online.

Georgia took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday to detail the ordeal she was going through after the intimate video of her began circulating on the internet.

Tearful: Georgia Harrison has opened up about how she is 'struggling to cope' in the wake of Stephen Bear's arrest over alleged revenge-porn claims (pictured last week)

The former Love Island contestant, wrote: 'I'm actually struggling to cope with this. I never fully understood the true meaning of the word anxiety until now.

'I've not just been exposed to a few people I've been spread internationally to hundreds of thousands of people. Now I'm being used my multiple people for press attention and money.

'All this stems back from a time where I couldn't help myself but fall in love. I am so full of pain, anger and regret that I don't recognise myself at times.'

Another post read: 'I just don't understand why?'

Anger: The reality personality, 26, revealed she was suffering from anxiety and felt full of 'pain and anger', after accusing Bear (pictured) of posting a sex video of her online

Georgia, who said she is legally bound not to comment at the moment, went onto say: 'It's taking everything I've got to keep quiet during this time. I'm just so hurt, everyday it's just one thing after another of mockery's and lies and my heart honestly just burns.

'Anyone associating themselves with this s**t should be ashamed.'

Police apprehended Bear after he returned from Dubai for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia without her knowledge and sharing the explicit content online.

The former Love Island contestant, wrote: 'I'm actually struggling to cope with this. I never fully understood the true meaning of the word anxiety until now'

Georgia, who said she is legally bound not to comment at the moment, went onto say: 'It's taking everything I've got to keep quiet during this time. I'm just so hurt, everyday it's just one thing after another of mockery's and lies and my heart honestly just burns'

Essex police have since announced a formal charge is yet to be made while the investigation continues, with the TV personality remaining on bail until February 10.

In statement to MailOnline on Wednesday, a spokesperson confirmed: 'A 31-year-old man from Loughton, who was arrested on suspicion of disclosing private sexual images or film without consent with intent to cause distress, voyeurism, harassment and obstructing a police officer, has been released on bail until 10 February.'

Georgia believes Stephen showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being widely shared on WhatsApp.

She also alleges he shared screenshots of the video to followers on his OnlyFans account, but Bear has denied it was her in the video.

The former Love Island star has since thanked her fans and 'everyone that has reached out' following Bear's arrest.

Distress: Georgia believes Stephen (pictured) showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being widely shared on WhatsApp

In a statement given to The Sun, she said: 'I am passionate about supporting victims of revenge porn and hopefully by coming forward it will give others the courage to do the same.

'I have a fantastic team around me including friends, family and colleagues who are just some of the many reasons I have be able to stay positive right now.'

The closure of Dubai's travel corridor means those arriving from the UAE are required to quarantine for 10-days upon their arrival in the UK, although the coronavirus test and release option halves the isolation period to just five days.

'No one asks if I'm OK... I nearly attempted to take my own life': Stephen complained about losing all his friends amid Georgia Harrison's revenge porn allegations in a bizarre new video

While Bear may well have chosen to be tested following his return, the TV personality appeared to show a complete disregard for current guidelines by venturing out to buy takeaway coffee shortly after his release.

He was accompanied by on-off lover Tia McAlister, 18, who is 13-years his junior, as he left his Essex home for refreshments.

He defended his actions in a video, saying: 'I'm sure you are allowed to go out for an hour a day or to get some food.

'What am I meant to do? Starve? If I stayed in and starved, people would call me thick and say why didn't he go out and get some food.'

Guidelines state people can get food if there is no one else who can get it for them.

While talking to his father, who was joining him in the car on the way to the police station, when he was looking for his face mask, Bear told him to hurry up and 'f*** the mask.'

Elsewhere in video, Stephen claimed he had lost his friends, discussed feeling suicidal and vowed to clear his name, after showing a clip of himself touching his manhood.

The reality star said on the 18 minute video, called Life Of Bear, episode 2: 'Since things have been said about me, a lot of people have changed.

In custody: Police apprehended Bear following his return to Heathrow for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia without her knowledge

'I had no one. The only people who stuck by me are my family and one of my other mates who is over in Spain

'Apart from that, people who I thought were mates are clearly not. No one has really messaged asking if I'm OK. It's quite a lonely road.

'It's funny because when I go out or I am round people, I always think, I am the nice guy, the funny guy, you wanna be round me. I buy everything.

'I treat them, I am nice to them. I always thought they would be like, "Ah Bear's a nice guy. He's cool. But I'm the one getting slagged off and it's quite sad actually if you really think about it.

'When s*** hits the fan, there is no one really. apart my family.'
When the state took over the Camden school system in 2013 after years of poor student performance, the district enrolled more than 11,000 students in more than two dozen buildings.

Today, the district, once the largest in South Jersey, has lost about half of those students. The educational landscape has changed as thousands of students fled to other school options in the city.

In the latest proposed game-changer for Camden, state-appointed Superintendent Katrina McCombs wants to close several schools and reconfigure grades. Her plan would bring back middle schools  which were eliminated several years ago after performing poorly.

The changes would affect hundreds of students and teachers and change the academic structure by separating elementary and middle-school students. One proposal would leave North Camden without a traditional public school.

McCombs, the third chief to lead the struggling district since the takeover, says the moves would help close budget deficits that have ranged annually from $22 million to $44 million, and boost academics.

We have to make some changes, McCombs said. We just cant continue to do the same thing.

The plan has drawn fierce opposition from some parents, community members, and union leaders, who have appealed to the state Department of Education to intervene. And it has stirred new questions about Camdens status as a model for the changing landscape for urban public education.

The district turned five of its troubled schools over to Renaissance schools, which are publicly funded but privately operated.

Critics have charged that the district has focused too much on Renaissance and charter schools and not enough on how to transform the traditional public schools and boost enrollment.

The consequences are catastrophic, said Camden Education Association president Keith Benson. The idea that the district has to close these schools is a lie.

Currently, there are 19 district schools  more than the system needs or can afford for 6,347 students, McCombs said. Some are more than a century old and operating at 80% capacity, she said.

 READ MORE: Camden activists on a mission to Trenton to seek more funding for citys schools

A planning committee that met for five months developed two school closure proposals that McCombs is weighing. She expects to announce a decision at a Jan. 26 school board advisory meeting.

The latest plan, released earlier this month, would close two schools, Sharp Elementary and Wiggins College Preparatory Lab School. Coopers Poynt Family School and Davis Elementary along with Creative Arts High School would be converted into middle schools.

An earlier proposal calls for closing Coopers Poynt and Sharp Schools. Creative Arts High, Davis Elementary, and Wiggins Elementary Schools would enroll middle-school students.

Parent Ronsha Dickerson, who served on the planning committee, said the district should not close schools during a pandemic.

I stand against both plans, said Dickerson, a mother of six.

Felix Moulier said his only child, a daughter, Zaina, 5, a kindergartner, loves attending Sharp School in the citys Cramer Hill neighborhood. She would be sent to Veterans Memorial, about 1.4 miles away.

Its a major issue, said Moulier, 35.

Another planning committee member, Sean Brown, said he supports closing schools because too many district schools need facility upgrades and have performed poorly academically. We need a smaller district that provides a better education, he said.

Both plans call for reconfiguring grade levels in schools from the current K-through-8 and 9-to-12 model to K through 5; 6 to 8; and 9 to 12. McCombs said the change would reduce teacher vacancies and help the district better compete.

The citys eight charter schools enroll 4,188 students, while 12 Renaissance schools have 5,449 students.

Camden is the only district in the state that has all three types of public schools.

Benson believes the closings would move more students from traditional public schools. In some cases, students not eligible for courtesy busing would have to travel 1.8 miles each way to their new schools, he said.

The likelihood is that theyre going to lose hundreds of students, Benson said. Theyre not going to go through all of that.

In 2019, Benson helped lead a charge that blocked McCombs from implementing parts of a sweeping plan to close two schools and consolidate another, and lay off employees. He says McCombs reneged on a deal to avoid school closures; she says there was no agreement.

On Friday, members of the Camden City Principals and Administrators Association are planning a sit-in to protest the proposed closings, said president Davida Coe-Brockington.

The state, under then-Gov. Chris Christie, took over the district in 2013 after years of poor test scores, a low graduation rate, and a high dropout rate. Christie tapped an outsider, Paymon Rouhanifard, to run the district.

 READ MORE: Katrina McCombs appointed new Camden schools chief amid fiscal troubles

McCombs said she understands that school closings generate high emotions, but contends she has little choice. The state has advised the district it would not receive additional funding and must tackle its deficits, she said.

There are no perfect answers, McCombs said. This is not something I wished for in my wildest dreams.
Former president Donald Trump has skipped President Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday and headed to South Florida, where he plans to reside.

Trump was greeted by supporters wearing Trump gear and waving Trump flags while holding up other signs in West Palm Beach, according to a WTSP News report.

One supporter, Anita Bargas, said they just wanted to show Trump how much they appreciate him. Bargas came from Texas to show her support.

Trump waved back to the crowd as his motorcade slowly drove by on the way to his Mar-a-Lago resort after the Air Force One touched down in Florida that voted in his favor both in 2016 and 2020.

"For the most part, it's just a somber but at the same time celebratory moment for us to welcome him back home," supporter Iam Hedendal said in a Fox News report.

Trump earlier told another crowd of family members and White House staffers at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland that they have accomplished a lot and that what they have done was remarkable by any standard.

Trump broke the tradition by leaving Washington D.C. before a successor was sworn in. However, he wished the Biden administration great luck and great success.

Former Vice President Mike Pence attended Biden's inauguration but did not participate in Trump's send-off.

Related story: Trump Plans His Inauguration Exit as Pence Finally Concedes To Kamala Over a Friendly Call

Trump Leaving a Letter for Biden

On Wednesday, Biden told reporters that Trump had left him a very generous letter, keeping with a long-standing tradition.

Trump spokesperson Judd Deere confirmed that Trump had written a letter to Biden and left it for him in the Oval Office's Resolute Desk.

Biden said that Trump wrote a "very generous" letter.

"Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him, but it was generous," Biden noted in an NDTV News report.

A senior Trump aide said that the letter was a personal note that prays for the country's success and the new administration to care for the country.

The aide added that writing a letter to Biden was one of the many items on Trump's list at the time. One person said that Trump did not show the letter he left to Biden to many of his aides, CNN reported.

According to an ABC News report, new White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a press briefing the night of the inauguration that there are no immediate plans for Biden to give Trump a call.

Psaki said she was with Biden when he read the letter in the Oval Office before signing several executive actions. The press secretary noted that Biden deemed the letter as a private matter.

Melania Trump surprised many by not reaching out to Jill Biden for a White House tour, which was also part of the tradition since the 1920s.

Read also: Pelosi Calls for Trump Impeachment in Fear He'll Pardon Capitol Rioters
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H. Gordon Brooks, the first dean of the College of the Arts at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, is retiring.

Michael McClure, the colleges associate dean since 2013 and a professor in the School of Architecture and Design since 2001, will be interim dean until Brooks successor is named.

Brooks 27-year tenure makes him the longest serving head of any of UL Lafayettes eight academic colleges. Hes also the longest serving arts dean in the nation.

Brooks became dean when the School of Art and Architecture merged with the School of Music to establish the College of the Arts in 1994. He was director of the School of Art and Architecture, a role he assumed when he first came to the University in 1990.

Gordon has served the University and its students faithfully and well for more than three decades, said Dr. Jaimie Hebert, UL Lafayette provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. Our College of the Arts is a cultural and aesthetic force in this community and beyond  and thats because of the leadership Gordon has provided since its earliest days.

As dean, Brooks oversaw the creation of new academic programs, including bachelors degrees in industrial design and music business, and helped implement the Universitys first distance learning program. He also initiated the annual Beaux Arts Ball and ArTech Fusion as opportunities to showcase student and faculty work being done within the college.

In a letter to faculty and staff announcing his retirement, Brooks noted that the College of the Arts has grown in course offerings, faculty expertise and student enrollment during his three-decade tenure.

While that is significant, I am most proud of maintaining our quality all along. We have added several programs, achieved accreditations, and have created institutes within the college  all of which have had significant impacts, Brooks wrote.

Brooks departure has resulted in several leadership changes within the college.

In addition to McClures new role as interim dean, Dr. Jonathan Kulp, director of the School of Music and Performing Arts, has been named interim associate dean. Sara Birk, associate professor of theater, will serve as Kulps interim successor.

Kulp joined UL Lafayettes music faculty in 2001 and became director of the School of Music and Performing Arts in 2016. Birk has taught theater at UL Lafayette since 2009 and was coordinator of theater for the past four years.

In addition, Kari Smith has been named director of the School of Architecture and Design after serving as its interim director since 2019. A professor of architecture, she joined UL Lafayettes faculty in 2007.
United Nations, Jan 21 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the announcement of the new US administration to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change.

"I warmly welcome President (Joe) Biden's steps to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis," said Guterres in a statement on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Following last year's Climate Ambition Summit, countries producing half of global carbon pollution had committed to carbon neutrality. Wednesday's commitment by President Biden brings that figure to two-thirds, he noted.

But there is a very long way to go. The climate crisis continues to worsen and time is running out to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build more climate-resilient societies that help to protect the most vulnerable, he said.

"We look forward to the leadership of the United States in accelerating global efforts towards net-zero (emissions), including by bringing forward a new nationally determined contribution with ambitious 2030 targets and climate finance in advance of COP26 in Glasgow later this year. I am committed to working closely with President Biden and other leaders to overcome the climate emergency, and recover better from COVID-19." Hours after being sworn in as the 46th president of the United States, Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision of withdrawal from the global pact.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. During today's inauguration ceremony Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. AFP-Yonhap



World leaders said they were looking forward to working with Joe Biden, the Democrat sworn in as US president on Wednesday after four turbulent years under Donald Trump.



European Union



Charles Michel, president of the European Council, tweeted congratulations to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, adding: "It's time to bring back conviction common sense and rejuvenate our EU-US relationship."



European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Europe is ready for a fresh start."



Iran



President Hassan Rouhani hailed the departure of "tyrant" Trump, Tehran having repeatedly called on Washington to lift sanctions imposed over its nuclear drive.



"We expect (the Biden administration) to return to law and to commitments, and try in the next four years, if they can, to remove the stains of the past four years," said Rouhani.



Biden's administration wants the United States back in the landmark Iran nuclear accord, from which Trump withdrew, provided Tehran returns to strict compliance.



Israel



Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Biden to strengthen the long-standing alliance between the two countries."I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the US-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran," Netanyahu said in a video.



NATO



"The bond between North America and Europe is the bedrock of our security, and a strong NATO is good for both North America and Europe," said NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg.



"NATO Allies need to stand together to address the security consequences of the rise of China, the threat of terrorism, including in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a more assertive Russia."



The Vatican



Pope Francis urged Biden to promote "reconciliation and peace" around the world.



"At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for far-sighted and united responses, I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom," the pope said.



Russia



Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would seek "good relations with the United States", while a foreign ministry statement said they expected a "more constructive" approach to upcoming arms control talks.



The US and Russia are to discuss extending the landmark 2010 New START nuclear weapons accord shortly after Biden's swearing in.



Germany






The group expected Trump to champion the mob, according to their social media messages. Instead, Trump released a video on 8 January denouncing the Capitol violence

After the presidential election last year, the Proud Boys, a Far Right group, declared its undying loyalty to President Donald Trump.

In an 8 November post in a private channel of the messaging app Telegram, the group urged its followers to attend protests against an election that it said had been fraudulently stolen from Trump. Hail Emperor Trump, the Proud Boys wrote.

But by this week, the groups attitude toward Trump had changed. Trump will go down as a total failure, the Proud Boys said in the same Telegram channel Monday.

As Trump departed the White House on Wednesday, the Proud Boys, once among his staunchest supporters, have also started leaving his side. In dozens of conversations on social media sites like Gab and Telegram, members of the group have begun calling Trump a shill and extraordinarily weak, according to messages reviewed by The New York Times. They have also urged supporters to stop attending rallies and protests held for Trump or the Republican Party.

The comments are a startling turn for the Proud Boys, which for years backed Trump and promoted political violence. Led by Enrique Tarrio, many of its thousands of members were such die-hard fans of Trump that they offered to serve as his private militia and celebrated after he told them in a presidential debate last year to stand back and stand by. On 6 January, some Proud Boys members stormed the US Capitol.

But since then, discontent with Trump, who later condemned the violence, has boiled over. On social media, Proud Boys participants have complained about his willingness to leave office and said his disavowal of the Capitol rampage was an act of betrayal. And Trump, cut off on Facebook and Twitter, has been unable to talk directly to them to soothe their concerns or issue new rallying cries.

When Trump told them that if he left office, America would fall into an abyss, they believed him, Arieh Kovler, a political consultant and independent researcher in Israel who studies the far right, said of the Proud Boys. Now that he has left office, they believe he has both surrendered and failed to do his patriotic duty.

The shift raises questions about the strength of the support for Trump and suggests that pockets of his fan base are starting to fracture. Many of Trumps fans still falsely believe he was deprived of office, but other far-right groups such as the Oath Keepers, America First and the Three Percenters have also started criticising him in private Telegram channels, according to a review of messages.

Last week, Nicholas Fuentes, the leader of America First, wrote in his Telegram channel that Trumps response to the Capitol rampage was very weak and flaccid and added, Not the same guy that ran in 2015.

On Wednesday, the Proud Boys Telegram group welcomed President Joe Biden to office. At least the incoming administration is honest about their intentions, the group wrote.

Kovler said the activity showed that groups that had coalesced around Trump were now trying to figure out their future direction. By losing his ability to post on Twitter and Facebook, Trump had also become less useful to the Far Right groups, who counted on him to raise their profile on a national stage, Kovler said.

Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, could not be reached for comment. A spokesperson for Trump did not respond to a request for comment.

The Proud Boys were founded in 2016 by Gavin McInnes, who also was a founder of the online publication Vice, as a club for men. It soon attracted people who appeared eager to engage in violence and who frequently espoused anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic views. The group had supported Trump since he assumed office.

The change in that support happened slowly. After Novembers election, the groups private Telegram channels, Gab pages and posts on the alternative social networking site Parler were filled with calls to keep the faith with Trump. Many Proud Boys, echoing Trumps falsehoods, said the election had been rigged, according to a review of messages.

The Proud Boys urged their members to attend Stop the Steal rallies. One 23 November message on a Proud Boys Telegram page read, No Trump, no peace. The message linked to information about a rally in front of the governors home in Georgia.

As Trumps legal team battled the election result with lawsuits, the Proud Boys closely followed the court cases and appeals in different states, posting frequent links in their Telegram channels to news reports.

But when Trumps legal efforts failed, the Proud Boys called for him on social media to use his presidential powers to stay in office. Some urged him to declare martial law or take control by force. In the last two weeks of December, they pushed Trump in their protests and on social media to Cross the Rubicon.

They wanted to arm themselves and start a second civil war and take down the government on Trumps behalf, said Marc-Andre Argentino, a researcher who studies the Far Right and a doctoral candidate at Concordia University. But ultimately, he couldnt be the authoritarian they wanted him to be.

Then came the week of the Capitol storming. On 4 Januray, Tarrio was arrested by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of burning a Black Lives Matter banner torn from a Black church in Washington. Two days later, other Proud Boys members were part of the mob that breached the Capitol. Some posted dozens of videos of the rioters on social media, celebrating them as a show of collective strength.

The group expected Trump to champion the mob, according to their social media messages. Instead, Trump released a video on 8 January denouncing the violence.

The disappointment was immediately palpable. One Proud Boys Telegram channel posted: It really is important for us all to see how much Trump betrayed his supporters this week. We are nationalists 1st and always. Trump was just a man and as it turns out an extraordinarily weak one at the end.

Since then, at least five men who identified as members of the Proud Boys have been arrested in connection to the Capitol riots.

Some Proud Boys became furious that Trump did not appear interested in issuing presidential pardons for their members who were arrested. In a Telegram post Friday, they accused Trump of instigating the events at the Capitol, adding that he then washed his hands of it.

They thought they had his support and that, ultimately, Trump would come through for them, including with a pardon if they should need it, said Jared Holt, a visiting research fellow at the Atlantic Councils DFR Lab. Now they realise they went too far in the riots.

Some Proud Boys now say in online posts that the group should go dark and retreat from political life by cutting its affiliation to any political party. They are encouraging one another to focus their energies on secessionist movements and local protests.

To all demoralised Trump supporters: There is hope, read one message in a Proud Boys Telegram channel on Wednesday. There is an alternative. Abandon the GOP and the Dems.

Sheera Frenkel c.2021 The New York Times Company
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Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Eric Lis factory making glass lampshades for companies including Home Depot Inc. is being stretched to its limits with sales doubling their pre-pandemic level.But like many Chinese manufacturers, he doesnt plan to expand operations -- a reticence that could slow the pace of Chinas economic growth this year and prolong a shortage of goods being felt around the world as demand picks up.Surging prices of raw materials means margins are compressed, explains Li, owner of Huizhou Baizhan Glass Co. Ltd., in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, which makes about $30 million in annual revenue. With the global economic recovery still uneven, the future is very unclear, so there is not much push to expand capacity, he adds.The combination of higher input prices, uncertainty about export prospects and a weak recovery in domestic consumer demand meant Chinese manufacturing investment from January to April was 0.4% below the same period in 2019, according to official statistics (comparing to 2019 strips out the distortion of last years pandemic data).Due to the vast size of Chinas manufacturing sector, that poses a risk both to the nations growth -- which is currently predicted to reach 8.5% in 2021, according to a Bloomberg tally of economists estimates -- and to a global economy thats grappling with supply shortages and rising prices.Falling ProfitsWeaker-than-expected investment could have a sizable impact on GDP growth this year, said Citigroup Inc.s China economist, Li-gang Liu. Lower investment may dent imports of capital goods and equipment from developed economies like Japan and Germany, which in turn could drag their economic recovery and rebound as well, he added.AnHui HERO Electronic Sci & Tec Co. Ltd. is one of those companies feeling the squeeze. Based in the eastern province of Anhui, the company manufactures capacitors used to make electronic circuits, with sales mainly in the domestic market. Jing Yuan, the founder, says orders are up as much as 30% year-on-year, but profits are down 50% due to increasing materials costs that are not easily passed onto clients.The company is under huge cash pressure as it needs to pay half a month in advance of delivery in order to secure copper and other metals, which they previously paid for months after receiving, he said. The commodity issue has to be addressed by the government, he added.What Bloomberg Economics Says...Chinese industry is absorbing significant cost pressures from rising commodity prices -- damping the inflationary impact for the rest of the world. Will it last? Our analysis of gross margins suggests it could for a while longer: downstream industries -- where the cost crunch is most severe -- still have a small cushion.David Qu, China economistFor the full report, click here.Input shortages mean some manufacturers arent able to make use of their existing facilities, so expansion would be of little use. Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. suspended production at one of its factories last month, due to a shortage of microchips.Modern Casting Ltd., which makes iron and steel products in Guangdong, issued a note to clients this month saying it would not be able to meet its current orders due to high raw material costs. A member of staff who answered the phone at the companys office confirmed the note, but declined to give further details.Growth TransitionOn top of the higher input costs, Chinese companies face a bumpy transition toward domestic consumer spending to sustain its post-pandemic recovery.Exports, Chinas strong-suit last year, may begin to slow as vaccine roll-outs cause consumers in wealthy countries to shift spending back to services. Meanwhile, the growth rate of Chinese consumer spending has yet to fully recover.Investment sentiment among Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises is below levels seen even in 2018-9 when uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war were a brake on expansion plans, according to a regular survey of more than 500 Chinese companies by Standard Chartered Plc.Demand is still mainly underpinned by exports, so domestic companies are aware that this is not sustainable, said Standard Chartereds China economist, Lan Shen.While some export-oriented sectors have been pushed to their limits, large amounts of slack remain for manufacturers targeting Chinese consumers due to subdued domestic demand.Retail sales growth was 4.3% in April on a two-year average basis, which strips out base effects from the pandemic, less than half pre-pandemic growth rates. Overall capacity use at Chinas manufacturers fell to 77.6% in the first quarter from 78.4% in the previous three months, with the automotive sector hit hardest by overcapacity following three years of declining sales volumes.Even for electric vehicles whose sales are surging, most companies have already built their capacity and will now focus on incremental upgrades. The majority of the investment has been done, said Jochen Siebert of JSC Automotive Consulting.China ordered state-owned companies to expand last year, with their investment growth of 5.3% in 2020 from the prior year easily outstripping the 1% increase in private investment. But for a sustainable pick-up in investment, the market, not the state, needs to feel confident.Carsten Holz, an expert on Chinese investment statistics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, estimates that privately-owned companies have accounted for 87% of manufacturing investment in 2015, the most recent year of available data. They are more sensitive to input costs.There is a pandemic plus insecurity about future trade given a new U.S. administration, neither of which is conducive to investment that relies on long-term growth prospects, Holz said.Mixed PoliciesTransport bottlenecks are also a challenge for export-oriented manufacturers. Gordon Gao, who exports gardening products from China, said that he has had to reject 80% of orders this year due to port delays. In one case, an order placed before mid-February could only be shipped three months later when a client finally secured a container.Beijing has tried to improve conditions for private companies by ordering a crackdown on speculation to curb commodity prices and easing access to bank loans.Yet the government continues to gradually withdraw fiscal and monetary stimulus measures introduced amid the pandemic last year. It set a relatively unambitious target of above 6% growth for this year, and the Communist Partys Politburo signaled last month it would prioritize reforms to control house prices and debt growth.The policy stance has definitely shifted away from supporting growth and back toward de-risking the financial sector, said Adam Wolfe, an economist at London-based Absolute Strategy Research. The risks for economic growth seem tilted to the downside, especially for capital-intensive, construction-linked sectors.For manufacturers such as Li, a longer period of domestic growth and control over input prices will be needed before capacity expansion is on the cards. While his company of 200 workers took on new permanent staff before the pandemic, for now hed rather pass the risks of investment on to others.I wouldnt do that now, I would rather hire some temporary workers and outsource the rest, he said.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.




Haiti - Politic : Jovenel Moise hands over the keys of a fleet of vehicles to the PNH





On Wednesday January 20, President Jovenel Moise accompanied in particular by Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe handed over the keys of a fleet of vehicles to the Commander-in-Chief of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) Leon Charles.



This fleet of 15 pickups, 3 buses and 112 motorcycles is part of the measures taken by the Head of State aimed at strengthening the operational capacities of the police institution.



Leon Charles praised the efforts of the President of the Republic and the Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) who have equipped the national police with these brand new vehicles, which will allow the institution to meet its obligations as guardian order, peace and public security and given the guarantee that this new equipment will be used effectively in the fight against banditry and organized crime.



In his speech Jovenel Moise declared, "I handed over the keys of several vehicles to the police institution. These rolling stock will help strengthen the operational capacity of the PNH. I salute the brave police officers for their efforts to achieve results, in terms of protecting lives and property."



For his part, Prime Minister Jouthe declared "I accompanied the President of the Republic to the ceremony for handing over the keys of 130 rolling stock to the PNH with a view to strengthening its operational capacity and the conduct of its mission : public security and the fight against banditry and delinquency."



HL/ HaitiLibre


















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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

Analysis of the metallurgical test results and incorporation of these findings into the final design has resulted in several changes to the DFS process design which will improve commissioning and Neodymium Praseodymium oxide recovery.

Arafura Resources Limited ( ) has completed all metallurgical test-work and associated analysis from an extensive four-year metallurgical pilot program for the Nolans Neodymium-Praseodymium (NdPr) Project in the Northern Territory.

Analysis of the results and incorporation of the findings into the final metallurgical design has also been completed, resulting in several changes to the DFS process design which will improve commissioning, NdPr oxide recovery and reduce risk allowing for shorter commissioning and production ramp-up.

Offtake and project funding activities continue to advance and the process design improvements provide significant risk mitigation outcomes that are strongly aligned with the potential project finance partners objectives.

Extensive test program

Arafura managing director Gavin Lockyer said: I am very pleased to announce the completion of our extensive test program which commenced in 2015.

Our patented 'Ore to separated NdPr Oxide' process, which started with 12 tonnes of Nolan's material from central Australia and concluded with the product being qualified by global customers with a focus on E-mobility and renewable sectors has now been demonstrated at scale.

The extensive piloting program clearly differentiates Nolans and together with all permitting being in place is a key factor in it being the only Australian NdPr focused project that is shovel ready.

These factors are significant positives in the companys engagement with offtake and project funding partners.

Pilot program complete

The completion of the final stages of metallurgical testing in 2020 included the piloting of the separation of the rare earth elements from the cerium depleted rare earth chloride and precipitation and calcining of rare earth oxide products.

These separated rare earth oxides where then validated with potential customers and demonstrated the required product purity.

In addition to this separation and product precipitation piloting, a program aimed at the purification of the cerium hydroxide product produced in the previous piloting was undertaken to recover any lost NdPr in the cerium hydroxide product.

All the results of the metallurgical test-work have now been incorporated into the process model and metallurgical basis of the design ready for the commencement of front-end engineering and design (FEED).

Stages of the Nolans pilot program.

Patent applications

Provisional patent applications to protect novel and inventive processes used in the Nolans flowsheet for rare earth sulphate precipitation and rare earth sulphate processing to produce a cerium hydroxide product and purified rare earth chloride were lodged some time ago.

Recently the national patent process was completed with applications lodged in numerous jurisdictions in Australia, Europe, South Africa, North America, China and other Asia-based locations.

Process flowsheet finalisation

Following on from the completion of the analysis of metallurgical test-work the technology team at Arafura has worked to finalise the process flowsheet for the Nolans Project ahead of commencing FEED.

This has incorporated various changes since the DFS aimed at optimising the performance as well as reducing the commissioning, ramp-up and operational risks.

Lockyer said: The DFS, together with the changes made in the process flowsheet provide further confidence in the commissioning and execution risk of the project and combined with a targeted faster ramp-up to full production, will add to the overall financial viability.
President Joe Biden is moving swiftly to dismantle Donald Trump's legacy on his first day in office, signing a series of executive actions that reverse course on immigration, climate change, racial equity and the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new president signed the orders just hours after taking the oath of office at the Capitol, pivoting quickly from his pared-down inauguration ceremony to enacting his agenda. With the stroke of a pen, Biden ordered a halt to the construction of Trumps U.S.-Mexico border wall, ended the ban on travel from some Muslim-majority countries, declared his intent to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization and revoked the approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

Here's what's on President Joe Biden diary

President Joe Biden's to call Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

President Joe Biden's first call to a foreign leader will be to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday -- with the fate of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline on the agenda.

"His first foreign leader call will be on Friday with Prime Minister Trudeau," Psaki told reporters at her first White House briefing.

She said they would discuss their "important relationship," and the Biden administration's decision to halt further construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline between Canada and the United States.

Trudeau said he was "disappointed" by the move, which came shortly after

All the things the President did today

Biden ends Trump's Muslim travel ban, Mexico wall construction

In a sharp departure from his Republican predecessor, Biden just hours after being sworn in also sent an immigration bill to Congress that proposes opening a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the United States unlawfully.

The executive actions, signed at a ceremony at the White House, included immediately lifting a travel ban on 13 mostly Muslim-majority and African countries, halting construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and reversing a Trump order preventing migrants who are in the United States illegally from being counted for congressional districts.

Biden also signed a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. attorney general to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects migrants who came to the country as children from deportation, and reversed Trump's executive order calling for stricter immigration enforcement away from the country's international borders.

Immediately after the actions were announced, DHS said it would end all enrollments in a controversial Trump program - known as the Migrant Protection Protocols - that forced more than 65,000 asylum seekers back to Mexico to wait for U.S. court hearings. The release did not clarify what will happen to migrants currently in the program, many of whom have been stuck for months in squalid tent camps near the southwest border.

Biden issues orders requiring masks in federal buildings

President Joe Biden signed an order on Wednesday requiring masks and physical distancing in all federal buildings and the development of a testing program for federal employees for COVID-19, in a first step to combat a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 400,000 Americans.

Biden's order, the first one he signed at the White House hours after taking office, says federal employees, contractors and others in federal buildings or on federal lands should "wear masks, maintain physical distance, and adhere to other public health measures, as provided in (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines."

Biden will leave mechanics of Trump impeachment trial

Biden will leave the mechanics of how to proceed with former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial to the U.S. Senate, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Wednesday.

"We are confident that ... the Senate ... can do their constitutional duty while continuing to conduct the business of the American people," Psaki told reporters at a White House briefing.

"He's going to leave the mechanics, the timing and the specifics of how Congress moves forward on impeachment to them."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has yet to send the article of impeachment to the Senate. According to Senate rules, the Republican former president's trial would start the day after the charge is sent over.

Biden to remake US role in climate crisis

Biden committed the United States to rejoining the Paris climate accord, blocked an oil pipeline project and froze Arctic drilling in a raft of executive orders signed hours after taking office Wednesday.

Biden's administration announced plans for a temporary moratorium on oil and gas leasing in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge after the Trump administration issued leases in a part of the refuge considered sacred by the Indigenous Gwich'in.

But for the Democrat who has pledged to roll back four years of environmental harm done by his predecessor Donald Trump, that's just the start.

Experts say that Biden will have to rebuild the credibility the US lost in the eyes of the international community, by setting concrete goals for emissions reductions on the path to net zero by 2050.

Next, he'll need to realize his $2 trillion climate plan, which would place green action at the heart of the economy and its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, while ensuring a long term shift that can't be rapidly undone under a future Republican president.

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Baton Rouge, La.  Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain, D.V.M., announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published the final rule regulating the production of industrial hemp in the United States.

The final rule establishes how states should proceed with regulations for the hemp industry. The modifications to the interim rule were made following public comments regarding lessons learned during the 2020 growing season.

The final rule will impact Louisiana hemp growers. However, it will require changes in the law and regulations at the state level, which takes time. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will work with the legislature during the 2021 legislative session to align Louisiana's hemp law with the final rule. said Strain.

Some of the changes Louisiana hemp growers can expect include:

Licensing requirements

The deadline to harvest hemp once the official THC sample is collected and analyzed extended from 15 to 30 days

Procedures for sampling the THC concentration levels for hemp

Procedures for disposal and remediation of non-compliant plants

Compliance provisions

Procedures for handling violations

Currently, Louisiana has 95 industrial hemp licensees. The final rule is available for viewing in the Federal Register and will be effective on March 22, 2021.
By Ivan Ssenabulya

The European Union has asked the Government of Uganda to respect freedom of expression and the right to peaceful and safe assembly, including the free movement of all political actors and their supporters.

This follows the just concluded general poll which was won by the incumbent Yoweri Museveni.

The Union notes they are gravely concerned by the continued harassment of political actors and infringement of their rights.

In a statement, they have also condemned the internet shutdown which disrupted freedom of expression, access to information, affecting the regular economic and social activities.

They have however commended Uganda for the peaceful process since no major violent incidents were reported on Election Day, much as pre-election violence and murders were reported.

Their call comes at a time the former NUP presidential candidate continues to be under house arrest.
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Respiratory viruses are easily transmissible and can spread rapidly, posing a major threat to public health. Thus, improved methods for viral detection are needed to prevent future outbreaks of diseases. Credit: Arek Socha from Pixabay

Viral respiratory diseases are easily transmissible and can spread rapidly across the globe, causing significant damage. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a testament to this. In the past too, other viruses have caused massive respiratory disease outbreaks: for example, a subtype of the influenza virus, the type A H1N1 virus, was responsible for the Spanish flu and the Swine flu outbreaks. Thus, to prevent such health crises in the future, timely and accurate diagnosis of these viruses is crucial. This is exactly what researchers from Korea have attempted to work toward, in their brand-new study.

For several decades now, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays have been the gold standard for detecting influenza viruses. And while these assays are highly sensitive, they can require expensive reagents and complicated protocols. A potentially better alternative can be "surface-enhanced Raman scattering" (SERS). SERS-based assays work by depositing a liquid sample onto a substrate material with a nanostructured noble metal surface. Viral particles from the samples are detected when they hybridize with substrate-bound "aptamers," molecules that can bind to specific target molecules. This binding is visually detected as a change in "signal intensity," which decreases as viral load increases due to conformational changes on the substrate. However, a major drawback of these assays is the poor reproducibility of signals from heterogeneous hot junctions (electron-dense regions that contribute to signals).

In an attempt to overcome this challenge, the aforementioned researchers from Chung-Ang University and Korea Institute of Materials Science, led by Professor Jaebum Choo, designed a novel 3-D "nano-popcorn" plasmonic substrate. Speaking of the significance of their study published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Prof Choo says, "Infectious disease, caused by respiratory influenza, SARS, MERS, and SARS-2 viruses, can spread periodically and are a threat to global health. Our SERS-based aptasensor approach provides a new diagnostic platform for respiratory infectious diseases in the future."

In their design, the scientists coated two layers of gold particles on a polymer substrate using thermal evaporation sequentially. The two coats were separated by treatment with a compound called "perfluorodecanethiol: (PFDT). The energy difference between PFDT and gold layer was what caused the gold ions to diffuse to the surface, forming nanoparticles that appear as uniformly spaced "popcorns." This arrangement collectively strengthened the signal intensity that was produced, by generating multiple "hotspots" on the substrate.

The scientists then assessed the performance of the assay using different concentrations of the H1N1 virus. They successfully detected different viral loads in merely 20 minutes and from a minute volume of 3 L (3 microliters: a 1000th part of 3 ml). Moreover, the system could also classify different strains of influenza viruses accurately and detected H1N1 viruses at a sensitivity three-fold higher than that of the routinely used ELISA tests. Not just this, the assay was found to be highly reproducible. Pleased with the results, Prof. Choo states, "Our assay system enabled the ultrasensitive and reliable analysis of the influenza virus. Such a method would enable early-stage diagnosis, facilitate antiviral treatment initiation, and provide infection surveillance, particularly for those at high risk for virus-related complications."

In fact, the team is confident that their findings can, someday, be used to fight the current pandemic. Prof. Choo says, "We are currently developing a SERS-based aptasensor for the rapid diagnosis of the coronavirus from human respiratory samples. We are also developing a new diagnostic approach to differentiate between influenza A viruses and coronaviruses."

Hopefully, the new "nano-popcorn" assay can help to fight many major health crises in the future.

Explore further Studying viral outbreaks in single cells could reveal new ways to defeat them

More information: Hao Chen et al, SERS imaging-based aptasensor for ultrasensitive and reproducible detection of influenza virus A, Biosensors and Bioelectronics (2020). Journal information: Biosensors and Bioelectronics Hao Chen et al, SERS imaging-based aptasensor for ultrasensitive and reproducible detection of influenza virus A,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112496

Provided by Chung Ang University
sIPV development is part of Intravacc's contribution to the eradication of polio

LG Chem is the first to receive WHO prequalification for the sIPV vaccine

LG Chem signed an $80 million contract with UNICEF to supply polio vaccine starting early 2021

BILTHOVEN, the Netherlands, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Intravacc, a world leader in translational research and development of vaccines, today announces the WHO prequalification for the Sabin-IPV (sIPV) vaccine Eupolio, developed by Intravacc and out-licensed to South Korean LG Chem in 2014. The vaccine was developed by Intravacc for technology transfer to manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries in the context of the global polio eradication initiative.

Eupolio received the prequalification status from the World Health Organization (WHO) by the end of December. LG Chem signed a contract with UNICEF to supply $80 million worth of polio vaccine Eupolio from 2021 to 2022. The company will supply the vaccine to 70 countries in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia starting in January 2021. Intravacc will receive milestones and low single digit royalties for its considerable role in the development of this vaccine.

In a phase III study completed in 2019 with Eupolio high neutralizing antibody titres were obtained against both wild-type and Sabin polioviruses, which will also protect against circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV) that make up the majority of polio cases in recent years. WHO prequalification of Eupolio is a major milestone in ongoing efforts towards global polio eradication, as it will help close the gap between demand and supply of safe and effective Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) for millions of infants in need of immunization against poliovirus.

To reduce the use of the virulent vaccine derived polioviruses, a switch to inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) was desired. Because of the limited supply and relatively high-cost price world-wide of IPV, Intravacc in collaboration with the WHO, initiated the development of a cost-effective manufacturing process for an inactivated poliovirus vaccine using attenuated (Sabin) poliovirus strains (sIPV) to be transferred to local manufacturers. LG Chem is the first manufacturer to bring the sIPV vaccine to the market.

Dr. Jan Groen, Intravacc's CEO, said:

"This is a great example project in which Intravacc's innovation and knowledge has been the basis of the development of an affordable vaccine that contribute to the reduction of infectious disease burden at a global level. We are confident that this joint effort with several of our license partners will significantly contribute to the polio eradication program."

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus and is transmitted through the oral fecal route. There are 3 serotypes of the virus that cause poliomyelitis in humans. While most infections are asymptomatic, in few cases the virus moves from the gut to the central nervous system and cause flaccid paralysis. Currently there is no treatment for polio, however vaccination has proved to be successful. Since the start of poliovirus vaccination in the 1950s, cases world-wide dropped tremendously and now there are only a few hundred cases per year. Most of these cases are vaccine derived after vaccination with oral poliovirus vaccines, where the attenuated poliovirus becomes virulent again due to mutations in the virus. This happens in under vaccinated areas and takes a long time to develop. The use of the inactivated vaccine developed by Intravacc alleviates this problem.

About Eupolio

Eupolio is the first Sabin-IPV to obtain WHO prequalification. The main advantage of using attenuated Sabin poliovirus strains in the production of IPV is that there is a lower biosafety risk compared to wild-type polioviruses used to manufacture conventional IPVs, which has the potential to pose a biosafety hazard in case they escape from the manufacturing facility. Eupolio contains all three virulent polio strains.

About Intravacc's Vero cell platform

Intravacc's viral vaccine production process is based on a cGMP-grade, regulatory approved, Vero cell line. This proprietary platform is being used for routine large-scale commercial vaccine manufacturing by Intravacc's customers world-wide. In addition, virus seed lots and clinical batches have regularly been produced and validated on the Vero cells, for example Poliovirus, Enterovirus (EV71), and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

About Intravacc

Intravacc, located at Utrecht Science Park Bilthoven in the Netherlands, is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization of innovative vaccines against infectious diseases. As an established independent CDMO with over 100 years of experience in the development and optimization of vaccines and vaccine technologies, Intravacc has transferred its technology related to polio vaccines, measles vaccines, DPT vaccines, Hib vaccines and influenza vaccines around the world. Around 40% of childhood disease vaccines are based on Intravacc's proprietary technology. Intravacc offers a wide range of expertise for independent vaccine development, from concept to Phase I/II clinical studies for partners around the world, including universities, public health organizations (WHO, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), biotech and pharmaceutical companies. For more information, please visit www.intravacc.nl.

Contact info

Intravacc

Dr. Jan Groen, CEO

P: +31 30 7920 454

Mirjam Hartman, Media relations

P: +31 6 115 969 94

E: press.office@intravacc.nl

LifeSpring Life Sciences Communication, Amsterdam

Leon Melens

P: +31 6 538 16427

E: lmelens@lifespring.nll

SOURCE Intravacc, Innovating Vaccines
Video: Facts Matter (Jan. 20): Why Does Bill Gates Own More Farmland in America Than Anyone Else?

Bill Gates is now the largest owner of farmland in America.

Newly released data from the FBI shows that gun sales skyrocketed in 2020, reaching an all-time high.

Over in Florida, a man who described himself as a hardcore leftist was arrested for plotting to violently disrupt a protest of Trump supporters at the state Capitol.

And Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has officially designated the Chinese Communist Partys actions in Xinjiang as a genocide.

Facts Matter is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube.

Follow Roman on Instagram: @epoch.times.roman
WASHINGTON  President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Wednesday recommitted the United States to the Paris climate agreement, the international accord designed to avert catastrophic global warming, and ordered federal agencies to start reviewing and reinstating more than 100 environmental regulations that were weakened or rolled back by former President Donald J. Trump.

The moves represent a first step in healing one of the deepest rifts between the United States and the rest of the world after Mr. Trump defiantly rejected the Paris pact and seemed to relish his administrations push to weaken or undo major domestic climate policies.

Mr. Biden has elevated tackling the climate crisis among his highest priorities. In addition to curbing global warming, he has vowed that ending the coronavirus pandemic, restoring the economy and addressing racial injustice will be the central causes of his administration.

Were going to combat climate change in a way we have not before, Mr. Biden said in the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, just before signing the executive orders. Even so, he cautioned: They are just executive actions. They are important but were going to need legislation for a lot of the things were going to do.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Kerry Karaffa is the first MU Counseling Center psychologist to be embedded specifically within the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, where he provides tailored counseling services for professional students training to become veterinarians. He is also aware that veterinarians are at increased risk for mental health concerns and suicidality compared to the general public due to the stressful demands of the job.

To help universities better serve students dealing with high levels of stress and anxiety, Karaffa conducted a research study in which he developed and distributed a survey to other counselors specifically embedded in veterinary medical programs at universities throughout the country. He hoped to better understand the benefits they provide to their students and create a blueprint for practicing counselors and college administrators considering embedded counseling services in specific programs or colleges on campus. He concluded that embedded counseling services offer a convenient way to increase accessibility to mental health services for students with demanding schedules and made several suggestions for developing and sustaining these services.

"The benefit of being embedded specifically within the MU College of Veterinary Medicine is that I have a greater understanding of the challenges veterinary medical students have, and I am better prepared to tailor services to meet the needs of the students I work with," Karaffa said. "Veterinary medical students may work very long hours in their courses and clinical training, so the fact that my office is located just down the hall from them means they don't have to go all the way across campus to the Counseling Center if their schedule doesn't allow that flexibility."

Karaffa added that as more universities start to consider embedding counselors in specific programs or colleges on campus, several factors should be considered. These include logistical factors such as office space and information technology resources, ethical and practice challenges, as well as the need to hire licensed, well-qualified counselors. In addition, providing the embedded counselors with mentorship and professional development support can ensure a smoother transition.

"While this particular study focuses on counselors embedded within colleges of veterinary medicine, I also want to help counseling center directors and university administrators who are truly just trying their best to serve their students in a variety of ways," Karaffa said. "Medical schools and law schools are other areas where graduate and professional students are often under a lot of stress, so those could be areas where embedded counseling services could offer tremendous benefits to students going forward."

In addition to improving mental health on college campuses, Karaffa believes improving accessibility to counseling services will benefit students even after they graduate from school and enter their various professions in society.

"People who are psychologically healthy tend to be happier with their jobs and do better work," Karaffa said. "They also tend to have happier relationships, so early intervention and prevention work is always better than waiting until a small problem turns into a big one."

###

"Embedded student counseling services: Insights from veterinary mental health practitioners" was recently published in the Journal of College Counseling.
Posted by Jay on at 11:01 AM CST

Marvel has sent out solicitations for their April 2021 titles, including 5comics!CAVAN SCOTT (W)  ARIO ANINDITO (A)  Cover by PHIL NOTOVariant Cover by LEINIL FRANCIS YUVariant Cover by Natacha BustosTHE JEDI TURNED AGAINST EACH OTHER?! AVAR KRISS and her band of brave JEDI helpless in the clutches of a traitor in their midst.STARLIGHT BEACON under attack from an insidious foe. Danger from an age-old enemy. Who is really pulling the strings on the distant planet of SEDRI? Plus: The secret history of the terrifying DRENGIR revealed.32 PGS./Rated T $3.99ETHAN SACKS (W)  PAOLO VILLANELLI (A)Cover by MATTIA DE IULISEmpire Strikes Back Variant COVER by CHRIS SPROUSETHE GREAT HUNT OF MALASTARE! BOSSK awakens to find himself as the hunted instead of the hunter on the forest planet of MALASTARE. But who is the mysterious figure behind the hunting party stalking the infamous TRANDOSHAN? A special solo adventure starring the most savage bounty hunter of all!32 PGS./Rated T $3.99ALYSSA WONG (W)  MINKYU JUNG(A)Cover by JOSHUA SWAY SWABYVariant Cover by RAY-ANTHONY HEIGHTLOST TECH! CRIME SYNDICATES! ASSASSINS! DOCTOR APHRA and SANA STARROS search for the NIHIL HYPERDRIVE gets deadlier as GENERAL VUKORAH and THE UNBROKEN CLAN enter the race for possession! What powerful secrets of the HIGH REPUBLIC era could the lost technology hide? Meanwhile, JUST LUCKY and an old flame are forced to work together  and walk straight into an ambush!32 PGS./Rated T $3.99GREG PAK (W)  RAFFAELE IENCO (A)Cover by AARON KUDEREMPIRE STRIKES BACK VARIANT COVER BY CHRIS SPROUSEEXEGOL UNLEASHED! As punishment for his rebellion, DARTH VADER was broken by THE EMPEROR, his limbs shattered, forbidden to use THE FORCE. But after surviving OCHI OF BESTOON, THE EYE OF WEBBISH BOGG and the horrors of THE RED NEBULA, Vader stands on the verge of uncovering the Emperors greatest secrets. But will the revelations on EXEGOL empower Vader  or his master? And what new doom awaits LUKE SKYWALKER as a result?32 PGS./Rated T $3.99Penciled by CHRIS SPROUSECovers by CHRIS SPROUSE & NORIYOSHI OHARIYouve never seen Empire quite like this! To celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the all-time great cinematic sequels, Marvel asked enthusiastic artist Chris Sprouse (BLACK PANTHER, THORS) to retell The Empire Strikes Back in a stunning series of variant covers! Month by month, across multiple Star Wars series, the films unforgettable moments played out through Sprouses exquisite artwork. Now the whole story of the resurgent Empire targeting the Rebel Alliances icy base on Hoth  and every momentous event that follows  is collected in a single celebratory issue! Bounty hunters target Han Solo! Luke Skywalker seeks out Jedi Master Yoda! Feelings run high between Han and Leia! And as the battle begins for Skywalkers soul, will his fear lead to anger, hate and the Dark Side?56 PGS./Rated T $5.99STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY COVERS BY CHRIS SPROUSE #1 MOVIE POSTER VARIANT56 PGS./Rated T $5.99
New Delhi, Jan 21 : In yet another data breach involving an Indian firm, sensitive data of nearly 3.25 lakh users of Delhi-NCR based global cryptocurrency exchange and wallet, BuyUcoin, has been exposed on the Dark Web.

The data leaked include names, e-mails, mobile numbers, encrypted passwords, user wallet details, order details, bank details, KYC details (PAN number, passport numbers) and deposit history.

According to independent cyber security researcher Rajshekhar Rajaharia, the 6GB file on MongoDB database contains three backup files containing BuyUcoin data.

"This is a serious hack as key financial, banking and KYC details have been leaked on the Dark Web," Rajaharia told IANS and shared some screenshots of the leaked data.

Researchers at cyber security firm Kela Research and Strategy Ltd first discovered the stolen data, linked on the same forum, from Wongnai Media Co Ltd, Tuned Global Pvt Ltd, BuyUcoin, Wappalyzer, Teespring Inc and Bonobos.com, which looks the handiwork of infamous hacking group ShinyHunters.

"Over this past summer, ShinyHunters was seen publishing leaked data for free, exposing millions of personal records from all over the world," Victoria Kivilevich, threat intelligence analyst at Kela Research, told SiliconANGLE.

"We have seen collaborators of Shiny Hunters selling and leaking other dumps in the recent months." BuyUcoin was yet to react to the report.

Founded in July 2016, BuyUcoin is a crypto wallet and exchange platform where merchants and consumers can transact with digital assets like Bitcoin, ethereum, ripple etc.

Based out of Delhi-NCR, the company claims it has over 3.5 lakh customers and has helped them trade in over $500 million to date.

We are on a mission "to bring cryptocurrencies in a million Indian pockets," the company says on its website.

ShinyHunters has also leaked 1.9 million user records stolen from free online photo editing application Pixlr.

According to Rajaharia, the hacker is the same who earlier leaked BigBasket and JusPay data in India.

In November last year, one of India's popular online grocery stores BigBasket found that its data of over 20 million users had been hacked and were on sale on the dark web for over $40,000.

"Now, the same hacker group is asking about $10,000 in Bitcoin for the BigBasket database and is also selling the three companies' databases," Rajaharia said.

"There is a strong connection between all these recent data leaks, including BigBasket," he added.

Earlier this month, Bengaluru-based digital payments gateway JusPay said that about 3.5 crore records with masked card data and card fingerprint were compromised by the hacker.

Rajaharia also disclosed that three Indian companies -- e-marketplace ClickIndia, fintech startup for small business owners ChqBook and wedding planning website WedMeGood -- were also hacked possibly by the same hacker.

"Nearly 80 lakh users of ClickIndia (name, email, mobile and other personal details), 10 lakh users of ChqBook (name, email, mobile, full address and other personal details) and 13 lakh users of WedMeGood (name, email, hashed password, other sensitive personal information)," Rajaharia had revealed.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  Health officials are investigating how the mother of the country's first UK variant case was infected with COVID-19 when the patient did not set foot in their home in Quezon City.

Dr. Rolly Cruz, head of the Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, noted that the 29-year-old patient who traveled from Dubai was immediately brought to a quarantine facility after testing positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Manila. The patient's girlfriend, whom he traveled with, was quarantined alone before testing positive for COVID-19. Authorities are clueless how the mother was infected.

We are already investigating how the mother of our UK variant case got infected with COVID-19, since the index case never set foot at home or in the community and did not have any interaction with her after arriving in the Philippines from Dubai on January 7, he said in a statement on Wednesday.

At least 13 people who had contact with the 29-year-old male patient detected with the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant have been confirmed to have COVID-19. One healthcare worker at the isolation facility in Quezon City housing the patient also tested positive, but authorities are checking if the result is due to remnants of the virus, since that person got infected in December.

RELATED: 13 contacts of Filipino with UK variant test positive for COVID-19

The samples of the 13 people have been sent to the Philippine Genome Center to check if they are carrying the new and more transmissible COVID-19 variants. The results are expected to be released this week.

The 29-year-old patient with the UK variant is nearing the end of his mandatory 14-day quarantine. Cruz said they are waiting for the Health Department's guidance if he needs to extend his quarantine period to ensure he will no longer be infectious.
Joe Biden has ordered a halt on the construction of the wall on the US-Mexico border, a key project of the Trump administration, fulfilling one of the most prominent promises made by the Democrat during his presidential campaign.

The 46th president, while terminating the order that declared a national emergency concerning the southern border of the US, said it was unwarranted and that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall.

I am also directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall, said Mr Biden in his order, which was among the series of executive orders that he signed on the first day in office after the inauguration.

The president said the US has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats, but building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution.

It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security. My administration is committed to ensuring that the US has a comprehensive and humane immigration system that operates consistently with our nations values, said the order.

It remains unclear whether the halt to construction of the wall can be permanent without passing legislation through Congress, which had approved the funds for it.

Mr Bidens order directed a pause of work on each construction project on the southern border wall, to the extent permitted by law, as soon as possible but in no case later than seven days from the date of this proclamation.

It also called for an assessment of the legality of the funding and contracting methods used to construct the wall along with analysing the administrative and contractual consequences of ceasing each wall construction project.

The president also asked top officials of his administration, including the defence secretary, to develop a plan (within 60 days) for the redirection of funds concerning the southern border wall which would include a consideration of terminating or repurposing contracts with private contractors engaged in wall construction.
Trade disruption is a consequence of Brexit and cant be helped, Michel Barnier has said. The lead negotiator on the EUs withdrawal and trade deals with the UK told an event on Thursday that it cant be business as usual for hauliers, retailers or fisheries. The changes are linked mechanically, automatically to the Brexit and the fact that the UK decided unilaterally to leave the Union, Mr Barnier told a virtual awards ceremony hosted by European Movement Ireland (EMI). Brexit means Brexit. Northern Irish and Irish hauliers have asked for a temporary opt-out on EU customs declarations and physical checks while they get used to the new systems.

Read More

While the main problem is a failure of UK exporters to fill in paperwork properly, hauliers say delays at Irish ports are making their business unprofitable.



Dublin Port said this week it was stopping around 20pc of consignments for physical checks, which hauliers say is too high to keep supermarket shelves fully stocked.



The point is not about any kind of derogations vis-a-vis EU rules, Mr Barnier said. We have to implement carefully, precisely, objectively these two treaties.



Mr Barnier was awarded EMIs European of the Year award, the first time in 30 years that it has been awarded to a non-Irish person.



Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Mr Barnier had come to represent, for so many of us here in Ireland, all that is best about the EU.



Irelands attitude to Mr Barnier contrasts starkly with his treatment in the UK.



The Daily Express newspaper this week accused the EU of Brexit persecution after European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen appointed him as a special adviser on the trade and exit deals.



It comes on the heels of a diplomatic row over the status of the EUs ambassador to London, who will not be offered the same privileges as national envoys.



Mr Barnier said he hopes the EU and UK can find a clever solution to the spat.



I know the spin  and sometimes more than the spin  of UK authorities, speaking about about the EU like international organisations, Mr Barnier said. But we are not an international organisation as the others. We are the Union and the UK took part in this union for, more or less, 47, 48 years.

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Disbands Special Committee and Expands Role of Audit Committee

MIAMI, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Cansortium Inc. (CSE: TIUM.U) (OTCQB: CNTMF) ("Cansortium" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated cannabis company with operations in Florida, Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania, today announced that Chief Executive Officer Robert Beasley has been appointed to the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Beasley, who was named Chief Executive Officer of the Company in September 2020, joins Executive Chairman Neal Hochberg and Directors David Abrams, John McKimm and Roger Daher.

In connection with the addition of Mr. Beasley to the Board, the Company announces the termination of the Special Committee and its disbandment. The Special Committee, comprised of Messrs. Hochberg, Abrams and McKimm, was initially formed in October 2019 to work closely with senior management to ensure the Company's ability to capitalize on its available market opportunities and to improve the balance sheet. Along the way, the Special Committee oversaw the implementation of cost saving initiatives resulting in more than $4.5 million of aggregate annualized savings, the restructuring of approximately $35.0 million of Company liabilities, and helped secure a $4.6 million equity private placement. In addition, during the Special Committee's term, the Company disposed of non-core assets in Canada and Puerto Rico and expanded its operations in Florida with a new cultivation facility and 8 new Florida dispensaries.

"Bringing Robert aboard, first as Chief Executive Officer and now member of the Board, serves as a natural conclusion to the duties of the Special Committee," said Mr. Hochberg. "I am proud of our accomplishments over the last 14 months and believe the Company is well-positioned for success with Robert leading the way."

"I am honored to accept the role of director and to continue to work with the Board to grow revenue and profitability in our existing markets," said Mr. Beasley.

The Company also expanded the Audit Committee to the Audit and Finance Committee and added directors Messrs. Abrams and Daher as members.

About Cansortium Inc.

Headquartered in Miami, Florida, and operating under the Fluent brand, Cansortium is focused on being the highest quality cannabis company in the State of Florida driven by unrelenting commitment to operational excellence from seed to sale. Cansortium has developed strong proficiencies in each of cultivation, processing, retail, and distribution activities, the result of successfully operating in the highly regulated cannabis industry. In addition to Florida, Cansortium is seeking to create significant shareholder value in the attractive markets of Texas, Michigan and Pennsylvania, where the Company has secured licenses and established operations.

Cansortium Inc.'s common shares and warrants trade on the CSE under the symbol "TIUM.U" and "TIUM.WT.U", respectively, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol (OTCQB: CNTMF). Investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the Company on www.otcmarkets.com.

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release, may constitute forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

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BEIJING, Jan. 21 -- The first video plenary meeting of 2021 session of the Conference on Disarmament was held in Geneva on January 19. Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song expounded on China's views and proposals on international arms control at the meeting. The full text of Ambassador Lis speech at the meeting is as follows:

Remarks by H. E. Amb. Li Song of China

at the first CD Plenary Meeting of 2021

(19 January 2021, Geneva)

Mr. President,

The Chinese delegation and I would like to congratulate you on your assumption of the first Presidency of the CD in its 2021 session, and warmly welcome the new Ambassadors of Bangladesh, Algeria, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Bulgaria and Cuba. We are also very pleased to be part of the P6+2 this year and are ready to make active contribution towards moving the work of the CD back on track. China believes that all UN member states have equal rights to participate in the work of multilateral arms control. We expect to see more countries to participate in the work of CD this year as observers, and support Your Excellencys efforts to maintain active consultations with parties concerned on the issue.

Before making my statement, however, I must voice my strongest opposition to and total rejection of the statement made by the United States just now, which contained some malicious accusations against China. We have responded on many occasions to such attacks over the past two years in many international fora, including the CD, with detailed elaboration of our relevant policies and propositions. The current US administration has gone to the extreme in telling lies and making damages in the field of international arms control. Their strange tales and absurd arguments will not overshadow the responsible nature of China's defense and arms control policy. Such tricks of "a thief crying catching the thief" can never fly. The world has been fed up with them. Starting from tomorrow, hopefully the CD will not have to listen to such noise again. I believe this is also the collective wish of the CD membership. May I ask the Secretariat to put what I have just said on record.

Mr. President,

2020 was an extraordinary year for all of us. The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic shook the world in every conceivable way. The international political and security environment that underpins our arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts had to face the direst challenge since the end of the Cold War. In these difficult times when both the COVID-19 and political virus are wreaking havoc, the international community has begun to take a hard look at issues related to the future and destiny of mankind, including the overall international situation, the relations among major powers, multilateralism, as well as competition and cooperation, security and development. Now, as winter draws to a close and spring is around the corner, we have reached an important juncture in this reflective process and are starting to look towards the future. With the dawning of 2021, we are all the more determined to completely defeat the COVID-19 pandemic through solidarity and cooperation among all countries. We are also looking forward with confidence and anticipation to a new chapter in multilateralism and multilateral arms control. Here I would like to share with you three points of my reflections.

First of all, arms control must be based on its original purpose, and on strong trust and commitments. The original aspiration of arms control is to improve the security of all countries through international dialogue and cooperation, leading to equitable, common and universal security for all. Moves of arms control and disarmament that only serve ones own security interests at the expense of others, and that free itself while regulating others, will never be accepted by other countries. Over the past century, along with changes in the international situation, the content and the mode of arms control and disarmament have undergone constant adjustment. However, its basis and objective always remain to be the maintenance of strategic balance and stability. While arms control needs to keep pace with the times, the course of history must not be reversed. As far as arms control in the new era is concerned, hegemonism, unilateralism, and exceptionalism are the most dangerous enemies. Cold War mentality, zero-sum game and power politics are the biggest obstacles. The existing international arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation system, including the US-Russian bilateral disarmament treaty regime, constitutes an important part of the international security system, and should not be weakened or abandoned. It must instead be consolidated and enhanced. For that reason, the international community is placing high expectations on the United States to seize the last window to agree to extend the New Start Treaty with Russia, and continue to fulfil the special and primary responsibility on nuclear disarmament as set out in the Final Document of SSOD-I and in the outcome of previous NPT review conferences.

Secondly, enhancing mutual trust through more intensive dialogues is the top priority of the day. In recent years, the international arms control, disarmament and the non-proliferation regime has suffered more damages than any time since the end of the Cold War. The root cause lies in the United States which has chosen to violate the principles of strategic balance and stability by regarding other countries as strategic rivals and by bringing ideological conflict into multilateral arms control in an attempt to launch a new cold war and build a new iron curtain. The so-called Great Power competition threatens world peace and stability. It has met strong resistance from a broad majority of the international community and will be swept aside by the march of history. To replace the dark winter with a bright spring, major countries need to engage in dialogues with each other, with a view to bringing their relations back on the right track and rebuild mutual confidence. China is actively pushing for P5 mechanism of dialogue and cooperation. It should become a major platform for more intensive dialogues among them on a wide spectrum of issues relating to strategic security and stability, leading to a reduction of suspicions and enhanced confidence and cooperation. We are also ready to have bilateral dialogues with other P5 partners on strategic security and arms control with a positive and open-minded manner, since they will contribute to managing differences and broadening cooperation. Indeed, such dialogues should also be expanded internationally and be made a new spring fashion. In the video presentation of UNIDIRs 40th anniversary, we have heard the slogan dialogue matters in different languages. Dialogue matters. It also works.

Thirdly, the Conference on Disarmament is not an arena for big power confrontation or an instrument for big countries to fix and regulate smaller ones. It is rather a vehicle to promote common security. As we all know, the lack of progress in the CD last year was attributable to both the COVID-19 and the political virus. In fact, the latter has done greater and longer harm, since COVID-19 has only impacted on the scale and format of our meetings while the political virus by the United States to other member states is the principal cause for derailing our proceedings over recent years. The Conference on Disarmament is the only multilateral forum for disarmament negotiations with a historic mission given the SSOD-I. It should always reflect the fundamental principle of undiminished security for all. All the CD members are equal irrespective of their sizes and should respect each other. Each and every members legitimate security concerns and interests should be fully taken into account and addressed reasonably. Therefore, the work of the CD should progress on the basis of consensus and in a balanced and comprehensive manner. We will certainly extricate ourselves from the COVID-19. We also need to remove the political virus and draw lessons from the recent past in order to build consensus and confidence as we move forward.

Mr. President,

Because of the disruption caused by COVID-19 to our meeting schedule, this year we have in front of us an exceptionally heavy workload in the field of multilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation. The 10th NPT Review Conference will undoubtedly be our priority. Even though the pandemic may continue to constrain our work this year, the Chinese delegation believes that the Conference on Disarmament has the obligation and is in a good position to proceed with its business in an orderly fashion, paving the way for a successful 10th Review Conference. For our part, we are prepared to work on the basis of the draft package proposal presented by the P6 and engage in active consultations with other delegations view a view to reaching a comprehensive, balanced and commonly acceptable framework for the work of the CD, with corresponding calendar of meetings covering the establishment of subsidiary bodies to carry out substantive work on all important agenda items in preparation for future treaty negotiations. At the same time, all CD members should make the best use of its plenaries as a platform for in-depth discussions on new trends in the international political and security landscape, multilateral arms control and on the role of Conference itself as part of a collective search for a fresh common understanding compatible with the general security interests of its members. In addition, we also face a vital task of making the CD better respond to the needs of our times and the aspirations of the international community by looking at its methods of work, membership and key agenda items. The Chinese delegation is ready to join all others in carrying out serious discussions on those issues with an open and fresh mind.

Thank you, Mr. President.

(The full text of the Remarks by H. E. Amb. Li Song of China at the first CD Plenary Meeting of 2021 is from the official Sina Weibo account of the Department of Arms Control, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China)
Several more countries have indicated that they are to adopt vaccination passports, meaning anyone crossing their borders will need to be able to prove they have been inoculated against coronavirus.

It is being reported that the South African government is working on implementing an entire Covid-19 vaccine ID system, which will not only encompass the so called passports, but will also include management and surveillance of the Covid-19 vaccine, as well as an integrated track-and-trace system, and a dashboard system to capture the reasons given for vaccine refusal.

The countrys COVID battle has come under scrutiny in recent weeks with a purported super mutation of the virus being discovered there.

The South African Department of Health has announced that all citizens who are vaccinated will be placed on a national register and provided with a vaccination card.

Meanwhile, in Europe, another country has indicated it will adopt the vaccination passport scheme with Ukrainian health officials announcing that all vaccinated people will be entered into an electronic health care database.

When mandatory vaccination passports are introduced at the international level, Ukrainian doctors will be able to promptly issue a certificate of vaccinations, said chief sanitary doctor of Ukraine Viktor Liashko.

Another country said to be mulling the introduction of COVID passports is Russia. The New York Times reported that The Russian government is considering issuing coronavirus health certificates that could ease travel and commerce for people who have been vaccinated.

The Times quoted the head of the Russian Parliaments committee on public health, Dmitri Morozov, who said that a Covid passport was very important and needed.

This is great, this is the new world, Morozov reportedly stated.

The Times also noted that A regional governor in Russia, Radi Khabirov, proposed on Monday that Covid passport holders receive discounts at stores, as an incentive for people to obtain the certificate.

The report also noted that President Vladimir V. Putins spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said on Tuesday that the government is considering issuing Covid passports.

After the Times report was published, Russian state media denied that a COVID passport scheme to limit travel had been discussed by Peskov or the Kremlin.

We are far from a unified point of view on this subject right now, there are no consistent approaches or a consensus on this subject, Peskov said, but added that this subject is circulating, its being worked out.

Interestingly, while the likes of the New York Times has reported on other countries adopting the COVID passports, in its coverage of Russia potentially doing the same, it paints a much darker picture, stating that Opponents fear a dystopic system that would limit the rights of people who have been careful to avoid infection and are unable or unwilling to be vaccinated.

Russia has a grim history rooted in the Soviet era of controlling citizens movements, through a residency permit system that was never fully abolished, the Times report continues.

So when Russia do it, its bad, but when other countries do it, its part of restoring open society. Hmmmm.

COVID lockdown rulebreakers in Germany will be arrested and detained in refugee camps located across the country, it has been revealed.

While scores of countries are now slowly moving toward the implementation of vaccination passports, airlines appear to have fully embraced the idea and essentially already have them in place.

Emirates airlines has announced that it will be trialling the IATA Travel Pass digital passport which shows passengers proof of Covid-19 tests and other entry requirements when flying.

Adel Al Redha, Emirates Chief Operating Officer said that While international travel remains as safe as ever, there are new protocols and travel requirements with the current global pandemic.

We have worked with IATA on this innovative solution to simplify and digitally transmit the information that is required by countries and governments into our airline systems, in a secure and efficient manner,Al Redha continued, adding We are proud to be one of the first airlines in the world to pilot this initiative, which will provide an enhanced customer experience and conveniently facilitate our customers travel needs.

As we reported last November, the IATA, the worlds largest air transport lobby group, expects its COVID travel pass app to be fully rolled out in the first months of 2021.

Other airlines, including United Airlines and Cathay Pacific have already trialled the IATAs scheme.

Meanwhile, American Airlines has reportedly partnered with biometric authentication provider VeriFLY to develop its own COVID passport app, which will be rolled out within days.

We support the implementation of a global program to require COVID-19 testing for travelers to the United States, and we want to do everything we can to make travel a seamless experience for customers, Julie Rath, the vice president of customer experience at American Airlines, said in a statement.

Virgin Atlantic owner Richard Branson has also thrown his weight behind the vaccination passport idea, telling CNBC he hopes that soon there will be a proof-of-vaccination piece of paper that people can use to be able to get on a plane without having to be tested or without having to quarantine.

Vaccination is everything. Once vulnerable people, in particular, have been vaccinated, I think all kinds of businesses can start opening up again: restaurants, travel companies, cruise companies, Branson declared.

The narrative of adopting vaccination passports is now so ubiquitous that it would be surprising not to see them adopted world-wide, despite the fact that even the World Health Organisation has warned that such schemes should absolutely not be implemented while there is no proof that vaccinations can provide immunity to coronavirus.

Being vaccinated should not exempt international travellers from complying with other travel risk reduction measures, the WHO committee stressed during its meeting held on January 14.

Others have warned that the adoption of vaccination passports will inevitably lead to a two-tier society, and must be prevented.

The immunity passport could become a passport for privilege, accentuating the divide between those who already have a comfortable position in society and those on the margins, warns Dr Israel Butler, Head of Advocacy, at the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, Liberties.
Paul E. Collins, a writer who was an English teacher for thirty-three years, has completed his new book Enoch Crosby: The Shoemaker Spy: a fascinating read set in 1776 that revolves around the rising rebellion in America and a shoemaker who has more than what it takes.

Collins writes, It was the summer of 1776. In New York City George Washingtons army faced an overwhelming frontal attack by the British army and navy. Tories in the adjacent counties north of the city were forming companies to assist the British by attacking Washingtons rear guard and preventing the patriots escape. As Enoch Crosby traveled alone plying his trade, he fell in with a band of these Tories. Crosby might have spent his days as an itinerant shoemaker, but colonial America was spiraling into a maddening rebellion. The decision he made that night would change his life forever.

Published by Page Publishing, Paul E. Collins captivating history takes readers back in time to 1776 America when the British are forcing their way into the country. Here, a traveler by the name of Enoch Crosby was pulled into the chaos.

Readers who wish to experience this enthralling work can purchase Enoch Crosby: The Shoemaker Spy at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
Australian taxpayers forked out more than $17,000 on repairs for Scott Morrison's VIP jet 'Shark One' in the last year.

The Qantas A330 plane cost $250million to convert into an Air Force One-style sky base and is named after Mr Morrison's beloved NRL team the Cronulla Sharks.

Shark One accumulated more than $17,600 of damage to furniture and fittings in its cabin from September 2019 to December 2020, according to Department of Defence documents obtained by The Australian.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison sits in the conference room of his VIP plane 'Shark One' on his way back from Japan in November last year. Shark One accumulated more than $17,600 of damage to furniture and fittings in its cabin from September 2019 to December 2020

The plane's wood-panelled sideboard was scratched and scuffed by suitcases and needed to be buffed out at the cost of $12,538.80.

'Leather repairs on Ceiling Panel and re-dye 2 leather seats' came with a $2,076.90 pricetag while seat and cover refurbishments cost $1,918.58.

Taxpayers also forked out another $1114.09 for 'pen removal and recolour' on several of the plane's 102 seats.

Fortunately, two faulty coffee makers did not cost anything to replace since they were still under warranty.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Department of Defence for comment and the Prime Minister's Office for comment.

The plane was rarely used in the last year due to international travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Morrison and wife Jenny arrive in the US after Shark One's maiden voyage in September 2019. The plane's wood-panelled sideboard was scratched and scuffed by suitcases and needed to be buffed out at the cost of $12,538.80 to taxpayers

Mr Morrison and Jenny are welcomed during their 2019 trip to the US. The plane was rarely used in the last year due to international travel restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic

Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Defence Minister Linda Reynold flew to Washington in July last year.

The PM's office reportedly forbid the Liberal senators from using Mr Morrison's VIP office, which includes a bed, on the 24-hour flight.

Mr Morrison later made a 50-hour trip to Japan to sign a trade deal with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in November.

He made his maiden voyage in Shark One with a trip to the US in September 2019.

The plane is a previous Qantas and Jetstar commercial A330, which was bought in 2015 by Airbus and modified into a KC-30A freighter and air-to-air refueller.

Mr Morrison's plane was originally a Qantas and Jetstar commercial A330, which was bought in 2015 by Airbus and modified into a KC-30A tanker. Pictured: Another KC-30A tanker in Brisbane in 2013

The KC-30A tanker can travel from Australia to Russia in a single trip without stopping to refuel.

Shark One has a customised interior, and can comfortably carry 102 passengers in a lie-flat configuration.

The Prime Minister's previous aircraft was a single-aisle Boeing 737-700 that had been used since John Howard's leadership, and would be used for both domestic and international flights.

The plane had the capacity for only 18 passengers, including two AFP Protection officers and three Air Force staff, leaving other ministers, journalists and officials to chase the PM's aircraft around the world using commercial airlines.

Now the press party can travel in style, with the aircraft capable of completing one-way flights from Canberra to Tel Aviv and Moscow.
The series premiere of Walker, a reimagining of the long-running series Walker, Texas Ranger stars Jared Padalecki and airs on The CW tonight, Jan. 21, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. You can also stream the show on FuboTV (free trial).

Padalecki plays Cordell Walker, a widower and a father of two. Hes been out on his own for a year, living by his own moral code in Austin, Texas. Its time he went back to his kids. But Walker will discover there are bigger things that need fixing back at home.

While away, his brother Liam, an assistant district attorney in New York, and stepped in to run the family, which will make it hard for Walker to find a role when he returns. He also will try to reconnect with his son, August, and his daughter, Stella.

At work things have turned upside-down as well, as Walkers former colleague Larry James is now his Ranger Captain, and they both need time to adjust. He also meets Micki Ramirez, one of the first women in Texas Rangers history. If all that wasnt enough, Walker will grow increasingly suspicious about the circumstances surrounding his wifes death.

What channel is The CW on?

You can find which channel The CW is on by using one of the channel finders here: Verizon Fios, AT&T U-verse, Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice, DIRECTV and Dish.

How do I watch Walker without cable?

You can stream it on fuboTV (7-day free trial and then $64.99/month) or AT&T Now (From $69.99/month). The CW is only available in certain regional markets, so make sure to check that CW is available in your region on both streaming sites.
Cyclone Yaas: How mangrove forest in Odisha acted as protective barrier against Nature's fury yet again?

Will not allow forcible eviction of refugees from central govt-owned land: Mamata Banerjee

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Kolkata, Jan 21: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asserted that she would not allow "forcible displacement" of any refugee from land owned by central government organisations, amid reports that eviction notices have been put up at several such places.

She said that her government would hand over pattas (land certificates) to all such refugees.

"We have got information that at some places in Bankura and Habra, central government organisations have put up eviction notices. But our government would not allow any such thing. We will give them (refugees) dalil (official document) in accordance with their merit," Banerjee said at the state secretariat, following a cabinet meeting.

The chief minister said that her dispensation has regularised 213 refugee colonies over the last two years, and issued a total of 2,79,000 pattas.

"We are clearly stating that such evictions will not be allowed. Refugees who have been staying on those estates for several years will receive the pattas. Matuas (Bangladeshi refugees) have already been given pattas, and those who have not received them so far, will get them soon," she said.

She stated that her cabinet has also given its nod to grant freehold rights to the unauthorised inhabitants of Kolkata Municipal Corporation''s ward number 109.

"Not a single colony will be left out. We are doing it for everyone, be it those living on state government land, on private property or on land belonging to central government organisations, like the railways," the TMC supremo underlined.

All refugee colonies in the state, including those in the city''s Jadavpur, Behala, Dhakuria, Sonarpur, Ballygunge, and Beleghata areas, will get such rights, she said.

The cabinet, overwhelmed by the response to the ruling dispensation''s flagship programme ''Duare Sarkar'' (government at doorsteps), has agreed to extend its timeline for another phase to ensure that more and more people get to avail the benefits of state-run schemes, Banerjee said.

The drive, which has touched lives of at least two crore people so far, will be renewed for its fifth phase for 14 days, starting January 27.

The fourth phase is scheduled to end on January 25.

"With so many people taking interest in the programme, and considering the fact that some have come to know about the initiative only later, we have decided to extend it for phase-5, which will start from January 27 and continue till February 8," Banerjee explained.

The cabinet also sanctioned old age and widow pension for at least 15 lakh people, who had applied for it, she said, adding that the disbursement process will start from Friday.

The CM, following the cabinet meeting, inaugurated an initiative, under which her government will transfer Rs 10,000 to bank accounts of the nine lakh students of Class 12 in government schools and madrasas for purchasing smartphones, computers or tablets.

"The money would be transferred to designated bank accounts in seven days. Students can purchase tablet computers or smartphones of their choice and continue their online education," she said after interacting with some of them over a virtual platform.

Every student receiving the assistance will also get a letter undersigned by her, Banerjee said.

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World leaders breathed an audible sigh of relief that the United States under President Joe Biden is rejoining the global effort to curb climate change, a cause that his predecessor had shunned over the past four years.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those welcoming Biden's decision to rejoin the the Paris climate accord, reversing a key Trump policy in the first hours of his presidency Wednesday.

``Rejoining the Paris Agreement is hugely positive news,'' tweeted Johnson, whose country is hosting this year's UN climate summit.

Macron said that with Biden, ``we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet.''

The Paris accord, forged in the French capital in 2015, commits countries to put forward plans for reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which is released from burning fossil fuels.

Former President Donald Trump had questioned the scientific warnings about man-made global warming, at times accusing other countries of using the Paris accord as a club to hurt Washington. The US formally left the pact in November.

``The United States departure from it has definitely diminished our capacities to change things, concretely to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions,'' said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

``Now we are dealing with an administration that is conscious of what is at stake and that is very committed to use the voice of the United States, a voice that is very powerful on the international level,'' she said.

Biden put the fight against climate change at the center of his presidential campaign and on Wednesday immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts to bring Washington back in step with the rest of the world on the issue.

``A cry for survival comes from the planet itself,'' Biden said in his inaugural address. ``A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now.''

Experts say any international efforts to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally 1.5C (2.7F), as agreed in the Paris accord would struggle without the contribution of US, which is the world's second biggest carbon emitter.

Scientists say time is running out to reach that goal because the world has already warmed 1.2 C (2.2 F) since pre-industrial times.

Italy said the US return to the Paris accord would help other countries reach their own climate commitments. ``Italy looks forward to working with the US to build a sustainable planet and ensure a better future for the next generations,'' Premier Giuseppe Conte tweeted.

The Vatican, too, was clearly pleased given the decision aligns with Pope Francis' environmental agenda and belief in multilateral diplomacy. In a front-page editorial in Wednesday's L'Osservatore Romano, Vatican deputy editorial director Alessandro Gisotti noted that Biden's decision to rejoin Paris ``converges with Pope Francis' commitment in favor of the custody of our common home.''

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was more muted in her reaction, noting on Thursday that her government would ``probably have a more similar opinion'' with Biden on issues such as the Paris climate accord, migration and the World Health Organization.

Youth activists who have been at the forefront of demanding leaders take the threat of global warming seriously said they now want to see concrete action from Washington.

``Many countries signed the Paris Agreement and they are still part of the Paris Agreement, but they make very free interpretations of what that implies,`` said Juan Aguilera, one of the organizers of the Fridays for Future movement in Spain.

``In many cases, signing it has become a show, because at the end of the day the concrete measures that are being taken, at least in the short term, are not satisfactory.''

Biden has appointed a large team to tackle climate change both on the domestic and international front. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, named as the president's special climate envoy, on Thursday took part in a virtual event with Italian industry at which he touted the `green economy' as an engine for jobs and said the US planned to make up for time lost over the past four years.

Organizers of a meeting Monday on adapting to climate change said they hoped Kerry would take part too, and Biden himself has talked about inviting world leaders to a summit on the issue within his first 100 days in office.

Over the coming months the US allies and rivals will closely watch to see by how much the administration offers to cut its emissions in the coming decade. A firm number is expected to be announced before the UN climate summit taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

Veterans of such gatherings noted the formidable diplomatic clout that the US has managed to bring to them in the past.

Farhana Yamin, a British lawyer who served as adviser to the Marshall Islands in the Paris negotiations, said she left the climate talks in 2018 feeling ``disillusioned'' not only by the US withdrawal but also by how other countries, including her own, were failing to live up to the agreed goals.

``I wish there were more progress here in the UK,'' she said, adding she hoped that the change in the White House would mean others would increase their ambition on climate, too.

``The US always has massive influence on its allies.''

Short link:


The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Good news for tens of thousands of volunteers in the COVID-19 vaccine trials: Many of those who received a placebo are now being offered a vaccinein some cases, earlier than they would otherwise have been eligible.

Participants in Pfizer's vaccine studysome of whom had mounted a noisy campaign on social mediahave been advised that anyone who wants one can receive the first of two shots by March 1. Participants in Moderna's vaccine trial are already getting immunized.

That wasn't always the plan, and some experts fear "unblinding" volunteersthat is, letting them know whether they got the vaccine or a placebocould make it difficult to collect good, long-term data on the experimental vaccines, including how safe they are and when their immunity starts to wear off. But others argue it would be unfair to leave trial participants unprotected from a raging pandemic when an effective vaccine is available.

"Who brought you here?" asked Dr. Larry Corey, a virologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and co-leader of the vaccine testing program for the U.S. government's Operation Warp Speed. "Social justice says you should vaccinate all the placebo recipients as quickly as you can."

He noted that vaccine lots manufactured and labeled for clinical trials are earmarked exclusively for research: "These vials of vaccine can't be given to anyone else."

When they registered for clinical trials, volunteers signed consent forms agreeing to be randomly assigned to receive shots of an experimental vaccine or a placebosalt waterand to be followed for two years. Nothing was mentioned on those forms about placebo recipients getting the real vaccine if and when it was approved.

But the trials, nearly all supported by Operation Warp Speed, have reportedly been spectacularly successful. In a matter of months, two vaccinesthose developed by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTechcollected enough evidence of safety and efficacy to receive approval for emergency use from the federal Food and Drug Administration, and at least one moreJanssen'sis believed to be close behind.

An unknown number of volunteers have been offered vaccine shots through their work or their local health department and have dropped out of the trials. The threat of losing study participants to follow-up may have sped up the unblinding process.

"It's critical, no matter what they got, that we continue to observe these folks, particularly for evidence of waning immunity," said Dr. Steven Goodman, professor of epidemiology at Stanford School of Medicine. "If too many people feel they're disadvantaged by being in the trial, you could lose a lot of people to follow-up."

Michael Tovar of Los Angeles, who owns a postproduction film company with his husband, Brian Levin, is a volunteer in the Pfizer trial. He doesn't know whether he received a vaccine or placebo and was sorely disappointed when he was told he'd have to wait until his fourth clinic visitApril 6to find out.

"We all stepped up, and we should be rewarded," he said. "I started to tweet at Pfizer daily, and so did a ton of others.

"I want all developersonce they get the EUA (emergency use authorization)to vaccinate the placebo group as soon as possible. They should have people vaccinating 24/7."

Nevertheless, Tovar said he's "somewhat OK" with the updated news that he'll be called back no later than March 1.

Levin, who is in the ongoing Janssen trial, has heard nothing yet. Janssen stopped enrolling new volunteers on Dec. 17 and is expected to release data for its single-dose COVID-19 vaccine later this month.

Dr. Habib Ahsan, leader of the Janssen trial and director of the Institute for Precision and Population Health at UChicago Medicine, said "any participant who will become eligible to receive an approved vaccine should be allowed to decide if they want to be unblinded" and get immunized outside the trial. But, "as of now, only 1a's are eligiblefront-line health care workers and nursing home staff and residents."

Volunteers who received Janssen's experimental vaccine (an adenovirus-based vaccine) will be told there is no data about the safety of receiving a different type of vaccine (Pfizer and Moderna are both mRNA vaccines), so they should probably wait at least two weeks (as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). But for those in the placebo arm, "there are no safety concerns."

Importantly, Janssen trial volunteers who choose to get a different vaccine can remain in the trial and continue to be followed.

"Those persons will still be valuable to the trial," Ahsan said.

Levin, 37, said he expected that, if the experimental vaccine turned out to be safe and effective, the trials would follow a protocol known as blinded crossover, endorsed by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, among other experts, in which all volunteers come back for a second round of shots. Those who got the placebo get the vaccine, and those who got the vaccine get the saline solutionbut everyone remains blinded.

That is considered the gold standard for clinical trials, but it was not part of the original protocols. Pfizer and Moderna told the FDA it would be too cumbersome to impose now.

Goodman, the Stanford epidemiologist, said unblinding volunteers as they become eligible for an approved vaccineand as those approved vaccines become availableis a good compromise. "The blinded crossover would have afforded more scientific validity," he said, "but if they're getting at least five or six months of data for most participants, that may be as good as they can getand it might keep people in the trial who would otherwise leave."

Dr. Jesse Goodman (no relation to Dr. Steven Goodman), professor of medicine and infectious diseases at Georgetown University School of Medicine and a former FDA chief scientist, agreed that volunteers who are eligible "shouldn't be penalized because they're in a trial." But he questioned the Moderna approach, which might let trial participants "go to the front of the line: Does that then become the expectation of everyone in every trial?"

He also pointed out that "as exciting as these vaccines are, they're not yet approved. We have very strong data, but only a few months' worth. We need high-quality clinical follow-up and observation. You don't want them disappearing."

Tovar said he plans to stay in the Pfizer trial but added wistfully: "My trial site is across the street from my apartment. Vaccines are sitting there. All I'd have to do is walk across the street to get it."

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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.



Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Hungary on Thursday became the first European Union member to grant preliminary approval for Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus jab, also licensing the AstraZeneca vaccine while blasting the bloc's "exceptionally slow" vaccination tempo.

"The Hungarian pharmaceutical authority has granted a temporary licence for the vaccines produced by AstraZeneca and Sputnik," Gergely Gulyas, Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet chief, told a press briefing.

According to regulations from the EU's Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency (EMA), a national regulator may grant a temporary licence for a vaccine in an emergency situation.

Gulyas said the approval by Hungarian doctors who had been in Moscow for weeks inspecting Sputnik V clears the path for Budapest to finalise an order, with Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto travelling to Moscow on Thursday.

The Sputnik doses still need a final sign-off from a Hungarian public health authority, so it is unknown when the first jabs would actually be administered.

Gulyas said Hungary, with a population of 9.8 million, had received around 330,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna drugs since December.

"The EMA is unfortunately exceptionally slow," said Gulyas, defending Budapest's latest go-it-alone stance against the EU.

"The UK approved (AstraZeneca) earlier and are already vaccinating with it, but we can't use AstraZeneca yet as the EMA has not yet approved it," he said.

AstraZeneca and Oxford University have applied for authorisation for their coronavirus vaccine in the EU with a decision possible by January 29, the EMA said last week.

The jab would be the third available for the 27-nation EU after the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna drugs, as the bloc struggles to speed up the rollout.

Russia in August registered Sputnik Vnamed after the Soviet-era satellitemonths ahead of Western competitors but before the start of large-scale clinical trials, which left some experts wary.

Its developers have since said that the jab is more than 90 percent effective and Russia launched its mass vaccination campaign using the shot this week.

According to Russian authorities Sputnik has already been registered in a number of countries including Serbia, Belarus, Venezuela, Bolivia and Algeria.

"The government wants to purchase only such vaccines which have already been administered to millions of people, andnaturallyonly the vaccines which have been officially vetted and authorised as safe and effective can be used for inoculation in Hungary," Gulyas said.

Hungary has also "effectively agreed to receive one million vaccines immediately" of the Chinese-made Sinopharm jab, pending approval by Hungarian inspectors currently in Beijing, Gulyas said.

"We hope that vaccines will be available in Hungary from as many places and in as large quantities as possible," he said.

On Thursday, Hungary reported 98 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the country's overall death toll to over 11,700.

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A New York Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter on a routine training mission crashed in a rural area south of Rochester on Wednesday evening, leaving three Guard members dead, the authorities said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the aircraft, a UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter, to crash. Sheriff Todd K. Baxter of Monroe County said at a news conference on Wednesday night that people had called 911 and reported seeing a helicopter flying very low and hearing sounds of a sputtering engine.

The National Guard said in a statement that the helicopter was part of the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport, and was assigned to C Company of the First Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion.

The National Guard said it was investigating and did not immediately answer further questions about the crash or the victims.

A sudden spurt in sale of illicit liquor and deaths related to it have created ripples in the political sphere in Madhya Pradesh as the Congress has slammed the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led for its proposal to increase the number of liquor shops to boost supplies.

With close to 50 deaths due to spurious liquor in the last nine months in Madhya Pradesh, the Shivraj government is in a spot of bother, unable to regulate the liquor policy to keep revenues intact and also check sale of illicit alcohol.

A couple of days ago, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra came up with a contentious plan to check the growth of illicit liquor by proposing that authorised liquor shops be increased in MP. The minister based his proposal on the fact that in states like Maharashtra, there are 21 shops per lakh population but in MP, the average is a mere four.

To boost supplies, the state government is discussing a plan to supply liquor online. Interestingly, both the proposals originally were mooted by the Kamal Nath government and, incidentally, the BJP then in opposition had created great hue and cry over the same.

The BJP had even alleged that Kamal Nath was out trying to convert Madhya Pradesh into Madira Pradesh (Liquor state). However, a kind of role reversal is taking place in the state now.

Mishra on Thursday reiterated that MP has fewer numbers of liquor shops as compared to neighbouring states and at times this discrepancy leads to supply of illicit liquor, which is why he was backing increased numbers of liquor shops in the state.

Already critical of the deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor, MPCC chief Kamal Nath has slammed the move saying its a shameful decision by the Shivraj government.

Notably, not only the BJP-Congress are deviating from their stances on liquor policy but their partymen are also voicing different views than the organisation.

Former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti on Thursday denied toeing the party line on liquor policy while suggesting the closing down of liquor shops instead of increasing them. "Its laudable statement from CM Shivraj that no decision has been taken on increasing liquor shops in MP," tweeted Bharti. She claimed that BJP victory in Bihar has vindicated that liquor ban ensured landslide win for Nitish Kumar.

Revenue loss due to liquor ban could be made up from other sources but liquor driven rapes, murders, accidents and so on are a blot on the Indian society, claimed Bharti calling for liquor ban in the state.

Congress camp too faced deviation from party line. Party MLA and brother of Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh, Lakshman Singh backed BJP move to increase the numbers of liquor shops. He supported the home ministers idea of opening liquor shops in far flung areas saying it will boost agro industries, which will boost farmers income and job opportunities. If demand is high, what is wrong in opening new shops, said Singh.

Kamal Nath on Wednesday tweeted that Congress will pose massive opposition to any increase in liquor shops alleging the BJP government was pushing the state into a web of addiction. On the pretext of spurious liquor issue, the BJP government is planning to hike liquor shops, Nath had claimed.

Meanwhile, the death toll in Morena hooch tragedy rose to 28 with three more deaths in the last few days.

In Madhya Pradesh, tax collection from liquor sale is key component of the state's revenue sources. As in the year 2019-20, the state earned Rs 8,521 cr while the same has surged to Rs 10,318 cr in the current fiscal.

The excise department is also recording huge losses as production and sale of spurious liquor has surged in recent past especially in lockdown period when liquor shops were closed.

Besides, to cool down rising liquor prices in MP, the Shivraj government is pondering over handing liquor contracts to smaller groups of three shops each. During the Kamal Nath government, liquor trade had slipped into monopoly of two-three major groups which led to cartelisation and steep price hike.

There were 2,221 liquor shops in the state in year 2003-04 which rose to 2770 in the year 2010-11. By the financial year 2020-21, there are 2,544 shops of Indian Made Foreign Liquor while there are 1,061 desi liquor shops.
Former Haryana Chief Minister on Thursday said the government must accept the agitating farmers' demands in the next round of talks.

He said the farmers have already spent almost two months on roads while protesting against the farm laws.

The leader of opposition in the state assembly also said the farmers have made it clear to the government that they would not settle for anything less than a withdrawal of the farm laws.

But the government is pretending as if it is unaware of the farmers' demands when the entire country knows from day one that they have been demanding the withdrawal of the three agricultural laws and a law that guarantees MSP, he said in a statement.

Despite this, the government has been going round and round the same issue. Sometimes it talks of amending the laws, sometimes suggests forming a committee and sometimes postponing the laws, said Hooda.

It seems the government does not want to end the movement. The demands of the farmers should be accepted by the government in the next round of talks to be held tomorrow, Hooda stated.

Over 100 farmers have died during their ongoing agitation, he said referring to several deaths of farmers, protesting under the open sky in cold weather for several weeks. Some of the farmers have also committed suicide.

On Thursday, Hooda also offered condolences to the family of a farmer Jai Bhagwan, 42, after visiting his home in Pakasma village here.

The farmer had allegedly committed suicide by consuming some poisonous tablets at the farmers' protest site at Delhi's Tikri border on Tuesday, police had said.

The families of the martyred farmers should not feel alone. We are all with them in this hour of grief, he said later.

Hooda has demanded from the government to give martyr status to farmers who have lost their lives during the anti-farm laws agitation and financial assistance to their families besides a government job to one of the family members.

The senior Congress leader claimed the government is constantly testing the farmers' patience.

This neglect of the government is proving fatal for them as a large number of farmers have lost their lives due to heart attack, cold and accidents, he said.

Many farmers have committed suicide due to despair. Around 150 farmers have lost their lives during the agitation for different reasons, said.

Despite this, the government is not ready to bow down to the will of the people. Instead of accepting farmers' demands, the government is using every trick to end the movement, he alleged.

The government must find a solution in tomorrow's meeting, he demanded.

The Centre had on Wednesday proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for up to one and half years and set up a joint committee to find an amicable solution in the interest of the farming community.

During their tenth round of negotiations with three central ministers, the two sides decided to meet again on Friday after the union leaders hold their internal consultations on Thursday to decide on the government's new proposal.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab and Haryana, have been protesting at several Delhi border points against the Centre's new agriculture laws for nearly two months.

(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.)

[January 21, 2021] Shareholder Alert: Robbins LLP Announces That Decision Diagnostics Corp. (DECN) is Being Sued for Misleading Shareholders

Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP announces that a purchaser of Decision Diagnostics Corp. (OTC: DECN) filed a class action complaint against the Company and its officers and directors for alleged violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 between March 3, 2020 and December 17, 2020. Decision Diagnostics offers prescription and non-prescription diagnostics and homes testing products. If you suffered a loss due to Decision Diagnostics Corp.'s misconduct, click here. Decision Diagnostics Corp. (DECN) Misled Shareholders Regarding the Availability of its Blood Test to Detect COVID-19 According to the complaint, throughout the relevant period, defendants claimed that the Company had developed a finger-prick blood test that could detect COVID-19 in less than one minute. Defendants also made reresentations regarding the Company's progress towards achieving U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") emergency use authorization ("EUA") for the test. The truth, however, was that Decision Diagnostics had not developed a viable COVID-19 test, the Company could not meet the FDA's EUA testing requirements for its purported COVID-19 test, and as a result, misrepresented the timeline within which it would come to market. On December 17, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") filed a complaint against defendants, alleging that they had issued a series of misleading statements that falsely claimed the Company had developed a finger-prick blood test that could detect COVID-19 in less than a minute. The complaint further alleges that these statements created the misleading impression that Decision Diagnostics would soon introduce the COVID-19 test to market, which led to surges in the price and trading volume of the Company's stock. Following the filing of the SEC's complaint, Decision Diagnostics' share price fell 60%, to close at $0.04 per share on December 18, 2020.



If you purchased shares of Decision Diagnostics Corp. (DECN) between March 3, 2020 and December 17, 2020, you have until March 16, 2021, to ask the court to appoint you lead plaintiff for the class. Contact us to learn more:

Lauren Levi

(800) 350-6003

llevi@robbinsllp.com

Shareholder Information Form

Robbins LLP is a nationally recognized leader in shareholder rights law. To be notified if a class action against Decision Diagnostics Corp. settles or to receive free alerts about companies engaged in wrongdoing, sign up for Stock Watch today. Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005860/en/

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Overnight reports from Jacksonville police:

 Devon D. Hickman, 42, of 1129 E. Reservoir St., Springfield, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 5:03 a.m. Thursday on charges of obstructing justice and resisting a peace officer and on an out-of-county warrant accusing him of contempt of court.

 Robert L. Edwards, 66, of Chicago was booked into the Morgan County jail at 12:06 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of a fraudulent identification card and obstructing identification.

 A Jacksonville boy was arrested at 9:39 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.
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Workers of Plateau State University (PLASU) have given the state government seven days to improve funding of the institution or face an indefinite strike.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the institution gave the ultimatum in a notice of strike that they addressed to the vice-chancellor.

The notice of strike, jointly signed by the Chairman of NASU, Rwang Pam, and Chairman of SSANU, Rimdap Timnan, said the decision was taken at the JAC meeting held on Monday.

Kindly recall our letter to you dated December 14, 2020 and our letters to the Plateau State Head of Service dated November 25 and December 14, 2020 that you were copied.

In the letters among many other issues, we expressed our deep concern over the abject underfunding of the university by the Government of Plateau.

The poor funding has prevented the university from fulfilling its welfare obligations to members of staff.

Congress, therefore, resolved that a seven-day ultimatum be issued to further give Plateau Government the opportunity to do the needful.

Accordingly, JAC should not be held responsible for breakdown of industrial harmony if the government fails to increase the subvention of the university within seven days, the document said.

The unions listed issues to be addressed to include implementation of the new national minimum wage and payment of arrears as well as payment of Earned Allowances owed NASU and SSANU members.

(NAN)
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The China National Space Administration (CNSA) rolled out on Monday regulations on the management of lunar samples brought back to Earth by the country's Chang'e-5 moon probe, which is an important manifestation of China's efforts to carry out practical international cooperation and exchanges on studying the samples.

The CNSA, together with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), held the Access to Chinas Lunar Exploration Program activity on Jan. 18, during which officials from foreign embassies in China and international organizations were invited to visit the lunar sample storage and processing facilities in the National Astronomical Observatories of China under the CAS, the overall unit for the ground application system of the Chang'e-5 mission.

The regulations on lunar sample management were introduced to participants in the activity, which were attended by representatives from France, Russia, the European Union (EU), the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) and other countries and international organizations.

Drafted by the CNSA, the document on moon sample management covers general provisions concerning the preservation, management, and usage of lunar samples, as well as detailed rules for information release, borrowing, distribution, use and return of moon samples.

According to basic uses, lunar samples are divided into four types in principle: permanently stored samples, permanently stored backup samples, research samples, and samples for public beneficial activities, of which permanently stored samples and permanently stored backup samples are sealed and maintained in a pristine state as original samples, research samples are used for scientific investigation and analysis, and the samples for public beneficial activities are used for activities such as exhibition, public outreach, and education, the document said.

The CNSA's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center (LESEC) has been entrusted by the administration to carry out the management of lunar samples, according to the document.

The lunar samples are stored at the CNSA and its designated curatorial agencies. The main curatorial agency is the National Astronomical Observatories of the CAS, and a backup curatorial agency is also established.

The document stipulated that the main curatorial agency shall keep the lunar samples for a period of not more than six months after receiving them, and conduct preliminary sample handling to form relevant information according to different basic uses.

After the end of the above (initial) sample handling period, LESEC will publish lunar sample information to the public through data information platform, and update the sample information dynamically according to the status of sample requests, the document said.

In terms of international cooperation, the document stated that the management and use of lunar samples shall comply with relevant international conventions that the People's Republic of China has established or adopted, and that the CNSA encourages lunar sample-based joint international research, and supports the international sharing of science results.

At the Monday event, the CNSA also awarded commemorative plates to international cooperators including the European Space Agency, Argentine National Space Activities Commission, Namibia Ministry of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, and Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, to thank them for their collaboration with China during the Chang'e-5 mission.

Based on the principle of equality and mutual benefit, peaceful utilization and win-win cooperation, the CNSA has actively carried out international cooperation in lunar exploration, Mars exploration, satellite projects and launch services to promote the common progress and long-term sustainable development of the space industry in recent years.

The Chang'e-5 lunar probe was launched on Nov. 24, 2020. The return capsule of the probe landed in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region 23 days later, bringing back the country's first samples collected from the moon.

On Dec. 19, the lunar mission moved from the project implementation stage to a new stage featuring scientific research.

In the near future, China is expected to solicit cooperation proposals extensively and encourage researchers from home and abroad to carry out joint scientific research on the lunar samples to achieve more scientific results.
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A French national has been deported from Australia after he allegedly organised an illegal rave on New Year's Eve in Queensland, according to Border Force.

The 29-year-old man was deported on Tuesday after local police officers found the illegal rave at an address on Kandanga Creek Road in Imbil, near Gympie, about 110 kilometres north of Brisbane.

The man was deported after he allegedly organised an illegal rave on New Year's Eve in Queensland. Credit:Australian Border Force

An Australian Border Force spokesman said the man's working holiday visa was cancelled because under the Migration Act 1958, if a visa holder is a risk to the health, safety or good order of the Australian community, their visa can be liable for cancellation and they may be removed.

COVID-19 gathering restrictions in Queensland on New Year's Eve allowed up to 50 people to gather in homes and public spaces, and up to 1500 for outdoor events, provided they had a COVID Safe Checklist, and there was a one-person-per-two-square-metre rule for indoor venues.
A shocking new video shows a man crawling out of a Canadian hospital after the staff dismissed his pleas for treatment for worsening leg pain.

David Pontone, 45, complained of terrible pain in his legs when he went to Humber River Hospital in Toronto in April 2018.

When he arrived, he told medical staff that he suffered from bipolar disorder, but that medication had helped him remain stable for around seven years.

Because of that disclosure, however, Pontone believes the staff didn't take his concerns seriously, and had him meet with a psychiatrist before quickly getting discharged after an MRI didn't reveal much.

In footage obtained by the CBC almost three years after the incident, Pontone can be seen in hospital surveillance footage in a red winter coat, jeans, and sandals hanging on to a rail near the entrance when he collapses to the ground.

A woman in black, identified by the CBC as a nurse, appears to nudge him in the foot before guiding Pontone outside as he's crawling on the ground by his hands and knees.

She crouches down multiple times to talk to Pontone, but there's no audio in the video.

Pontone said, 'The nurse kept saying, 'You're a big boy! You're strong! Come on, big boy, stand up!''

Pictured: Humber River Hospital in Toronto, Canada, where the incident took place

Some people in the footage pass by the two - one man even seems to try to intervene - but after hearing something from the nurse, continues on his way.

'I've always been a gentleman, but I was angry. I felt totally helpless,' Pontone said.

He alleges that it took 20 minutes to reach the exit of the hospital before a security guard helped him into a taxi.

He was still in pain, though, and days later he ended up at Toronto Western Hospital, where he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, where the body's immune system attacks nerves.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Guillain-Barre Syndrome is very rare and can cause paralysis if it's not treated quickly. It has a mortality rate of 4 to 7 percent.

After four months of rehabilitation, Pontone regained the ability to walk normally.

'I was mistreated. Misjudged. It should never be repeated, with any person,' Pontone said.

The family met with the hospital to discuss the incident and saw the video, but the hospital avoided handing over the footage for years due to privacy concerns.

Eventually, Ontario's Privacy Commissioner ruled that once faces were blurred, the Pontone family could have the video.

They're now looking to make sure nobody can go through the same ordeal they did.

'I want the hospital to change the way they look at mental health,' Pontone's mother said to the CBC. 'So that this doesn't happen again.'

Meanwhile, the nurse who was seen guiding Pontone out of the hospital was fired, though it's unclear if anyone else was disciplined for the incident.
CCP Virus Restrictions to Lift from Brisbane Overnight

The Queensland government is lifting its CCP virus restrictions in the greater Brisbane region from 1 a.m. on Friday as there were no new locally-transmitted cases in the last 14 days, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Thursday morning.

Of course yesterday we said we were 100 percent on track to have our restrictions lifted at 1 a.m. tomorrow morning, and I can confirm that is exactly what is going to happen at 1 a.m. tomorrow morning, Palaszczuk told reporters.

She said people would no longer have to wear masks in public indoor areas, but masks were still required at airports and on planes as a condition set down by national cabinet.

The premier encouraged those who may feel uncomfortable going into crowded areas where they cant control their social distancing, such as on public transport or in shopping centres, to wear a mask voluntarily. Thats entirely up to you, she said.

Social distancing will return to one person per two square metres and dancing will be allowed indoors and outdoors at weddings again with up to 200 guests. Funerals can also have 200 people in attendance.

I think that there would be a lot of other places around the world that would be very envious of the lifestyle that we have here in Queensland, Palaszczuk said. I want to preserve that lifestyle for many years to come.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young at a press conference in Brisbane, Australia on Oct. 30, 2020. (Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the government had conducted an enormous amount of testing throughout Greater Brisbane in the last 14 days since the cluster of the UK variant emerged, but health officials had not seen any signs the CCP virus had spread further.

She urged people who develop any symptoms in the next 14 days to come forward for testing.

Queensland police said the source of the cluster at a Brisbane quarantine hotel that initially led to the restrictions being imposed might never be known.

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said an interim report would instead offer different possible scenarios about how the UK variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, spread between four guests and a hotel cleaner at the Grand Chancellor earlier this month.

The cleaner unknowingly spread the virus to her partner, and the couple were in the community while infectious, which resulted in a snap three-day lockdown of 3.5 million people in Greater Brisbane.
Alibaba-backed community group buying platform gets fined for uncompetitive practices; U.S. and China trade officials hold their first phone call under the Biden presidency; and the yuan surges to a three-year high against the dollar

May 28, 2021 05:54 PM
Amazon.com Inc on Wednesday offered to help with the United States' efforts involving the Covid-19 vaccine, according to a letter addressed to President Joe Biden, seen by Reuters. The world's largest online retailer has an agreement with a healthcare provider to administer vaccines at its facilities, Dave Clark, chief executive of Amazon's worldwide consumer business, said in the letter. He added, "We are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist your administration's vaccination ...

Vaccines are considered the best weapon against a disease that has now killed more than 400,000 Americans. But a little more than a month into the distribution of shots, demand for vaccines has far outstripped the existing supply.

Thats meant that thousands of San Antonians who are eligible for the shots are still dealing with busy phone lines, online appointments that fill up in minutes and frustrations when trying to secure shots. On the first morning the city began taking appointments for its mass vaccination center at the Alamodome, for example, the city received 187,000 calls for 9,000 available appointments.

We interviewed Dr. Joanne Turner, a scientist who serves as Texas Biomedical Research Institutes vice president for research, to learn more about how vaccines are developed and why communities are still struggling to secure supplies. Turner usually studies bacterial infections and how they affect older adults, but amid the pandemic, her focus has shifted to COVID-19.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The push to protect Americans against COVID-19 is the largest mass vaccination effort since the campaign to combat polio that started in the mid-1950s. How do mass vaccination efforts of the past help shed light on whats happening with the vaccine rollout now?

Let me back up way back in history - because when youre talking about the past, a lot of those vaccines that were given to people existed before U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and review. They were tested rigorously in animal models, and then they were tested in small cohorts of individuals, but they didnt necessary have those oversight committees that really made sure they were absolutely safe to use.

We now have those safety procedures in place because there were adverse effects from some of those vaccines and therapies. If you develop a vaccine now, you have to follow very specific procedures. Usually it starts with fundamental research. We often work on government grants to develop a vaccine.

Once we think its working, which means weve tested it in an animal model, it has to then get rolled out in clinical trials. The animal studies have to be very supportive of putting it into people; those have to be reviewed very carefully. And then we have that long process of clinical trials that weve all been hearing about - phase 1, phase 2 and so on - that really looks at how individuals respond to a vaccine. Is it safe? Thats followed by rolling it out to a bigger population to gather data from a large number of people and understand the statistical likelihood of something going wrong.

All of that documentation is filed with the FDA in the U.S. - other countries have their own regulatory agencies - and they look at all that data and they have an independent agency evaluate it to make sure its safe. Normally, that takes years to do.

William Luther /Staff photographer

Why were scientists able to develop a vaccine so fast?

Weve sped it up because of the urgency. A lot of people would ask, why weve been able to do this so quickly? Have we cut corners? The answer is no. Theres no interest in putting something into a person that hasnt been validated. We just did it quicker because there was an emergency during the pandemic.

Funding was given to scientists to develop things faster, and money drives everything. Research is a very expensive endeavor, so the more money that comes into your lab, the more you can do.

What theyve also done in parallel to that is to start working on the manufacturing process, which in itself is very well regulated to make sure you can only put the thing that you want to in the vial - that its controlled in every process. Theyve got the vials, the rubber stoppers, the labels all in place to package everything safely. All of that was ramping up at the same time, so when we had the yes from the FDA, it was already in production so it could rolled out to people sooner.

We keep hearing that medical providers would want to administer more vaccines  but we dont have the supply. How complicated is the supply chain?

I think what were seeing is No. 1, it takes time to make the vaccine. We have a processing delay. Theyre ramping up as fast as they can; every company that can make the vaccine is probably making the vaccine to the detriment of making other things that we need as a society.

But then its getting it out to the people who need the vaccines. Its a communication issue. Theyre working at a state level for the most part, and every state is trying to get vaccines for themselves, instead of it being a national initiative. Once it gets to states and cities, youve got to have people trained to give vaccines. And, you have to have people documenting whos got it, whos coming back in three or four weeks for a vaccine and then get the word out to those individuals.

This is the first time our country has dealt with a pandemic in the online era. Instead of going door to door or setting up vaccination hubs in community centers, residents are having to make appointments online and rely on technology to find out about availability. Is that making it harder to get the vaccines to some of the people who need them?

Getting vaccines to elderly people in nursing homes is moderately easy because we know where they are  you can go to them with the vaccine. But when youre talking about individuals in the community who are 65 and older, they have to find a way now to get the vaccine for themselves. Were not always reaching out to them. We have the Alamodome - its wonderful that theyre doing that on such a large scale - but not everyone is savvy on the internet or has the time to get on the phone to call or go online to sign up for appointments.

Weve really started to see that breakdown a little bit locally. Technology is supposed to make things easier, but it doesnt always, especially for certain subsets of the population. And, the challenge with these vaccines is they have to be kept very, very cold. Its really hard to go out and vaccinate people in the community because they dont have the ability to store the vaccine. Otherwise, you could go to a school, or a community center where everyone could come in and get vaccinated.

We also have challenges with the availability of trained personnel. Every state has had budget cuts. They dont always have the personnel there to administer all the vaccines and do all of that community outreach anymore.

Billy Calzada /Staff photographer

Many public health experts had expected that the federal government would oversee a nationwide vaccine rollout in the event of a pandemic. What happened?

Theres been a change in how the country has thought about science and health care over the last few years. The fact that we didnt have somebody to respond to a pandemic in the (Trump administration) slowed that down. They funded science less, and were now seeing the repercussions of that. Had we had more money in science and health care, perhaps we couldve done this a little better, and a little quicker.

Five or six years ago, we had people in the government who knew how to respond to a pandemic. This wasnt a surprise. We always knew it was inevitable... and we did have people in place who knew what they were doing.

What weve seen is decentralization to the states so every state is responsible for coming up with their own plan. There hasnt been a national mandate. I think that will change this year, and it will be more structured. But it really is a consequence of not having that national centralization and management of health care in that way.

We have a pandemic about every 100 years - we dont know if its year 100, or if its year 90, or 110. So you can imagine if youre really looking to think about how youre using your money, you might think about putting it into some other process. It just happened that the money got prioritized elsewhere.

What have been some of the biggest challenges to getting the vaccines into Americans arms?

Were really looking at vaccines that people developed in an emergency, and they're not always going to be the most easy to deliver. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are out, and theyre maybe not ideal because you need to keep them cold and give them twice.

It does make the logistics much more challenging. Just tracking people, making sure they're scheduled for the second appointment and making sure they come back for the appointment - all of those layer on complexity. In an ideal world, wed have a vaccine that could be stored at room temperature, and it could just be carried out in the community and one dose only. But its actually quite hard to get really good protection that way. We have vaccines that do it, but theyve had a lot of research. We just need to wait for the research to catch up so we have ones that are easier to deliver.

Courtesy photo

President Joe Biden has pledged to ramp up production of vaccines and push a nationwide strategy to administer 100 million shots during his first 100 days in office. What do you think the next few months will hold?

We should expect to be optimistic, and we should also expect to see some control of the pandemic. Well also probably see companies like Pfizer and Moderna modify their vaccines, because Im sure theyd like to give a single dose. Theyll be modifying those and testing them - maybe the time between the first vaccine and the second vaccine dose can be extended? We just dont know because they havent tested it or have it reviewed.

We should also see four or more vaccines coming online this year. We should see manufacturing go up and better management of how we get vaccines out to individuals. The hope is in the next three to six months, that well see the majority of the population vaccinated  as long as they come out to get vaccinated. I think people are seeing why its so important to do. They want to go back into normal life. Toward the end of the year, I think youll see states start to loosen restrictions.

What about the new variant thats been reported in Texas? Will the vaccines protect us?

The only way well know for sure is to test it experimentally, but I think theres optimism that the vaccines will work against them just based on what the mutations are. Its normal for viruses to mutate - I think thats key for people to know. The mutations were seeing are making them more infectious - so more people will catch them, but they wont necessarily get sicker. It seems like the vaccines will work against these mutants, but the best thing we can do is to shut down spread in the community so that we dont have any.

Is there any indication that we might need annual boosters, like with the flu shot?

Its too early to tell, but we can make some predictions of possibilities. One prediction is that if every single person got a vaccine, and the vaccines are very effective, you could essentially come close to eradication  like we have eradicated small pox. Thats a possible outcome.

Another is that the vaccine just isnt very effective in the long term. We might need seasonal boosters, like those for the flu. It might be that the virus might mutate so we might need a slightly different vaccine for that reason.

But we should be optimistic. Its possible to control this virus and really shut down the pandemic. We can do that with a lot of infections, and the reason why we dont see something like measles disappear is because we dont have complete vaccination around the globe. But the more people get vaccinated, the better chance we have of reducing the infection to such a low level that its not a worry. The more people get vaccinated, the better were going to be - the quicker were going to get back to normal life.

marina.riker@express-news.net
Ramallah, Jan 21 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas congratulated Joe Biden for his inauguration as the new President of the US and Kamala Harris as the Vice President.

On Wednesday, Abbas expressed his "deep wishes for President Biden and Vice President Harris to succeed in confronting the big challenges", Xinhua news agency quoted state media reports as saying.

"We look forward to working together for peace and stability in the region and the world," the President said, adding that he expressed his readiness for launching a just and comprehensive peace process.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Hamas movement said that Biden must correct the historical path of the wrong and unfair policies towards the Palestinian people.

The movement's spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum said in a press statement that the new administration of Biden "must establish the principles of security and stability in the region".
Teton County Reporter

Previously the Scene editor, Billy Arnold made the switch to the county beat where he's interested in exploring Teton County as a model for the rest of the West. When he can, he still writes about art, music and whatever else suits his fancy.
Volunteers from Blue Sky Rescue team in protective suits disinfect the Yuegezhuang wholesale market, following new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections in Beijing, China, on June 16, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

Lies Abound at Beijings Pandemic Press Conference

Commentary

Chinas State Council and National Health Commission held a press conference on Jan. 13 to share information on the countrys recent pandemic control measures. It turned out to be another round of lies and deception from so-called medical experts.

Journalists from Chinese and Hong Kong-based media participated in the deception by asking the public health officials canned questions.

Lets take a look at some of the biggest fabrications during the press conference.

There Wont Be Large-Scale Resurgence

According to a transcript published on the National Health Commission website, a reporter from state-run media Xinhua asked: There are currently one high-risk and 73 medium-risk areas across the country  Will there be a resurgence?

Feng Zijian, deputy director of Chinas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), replied, Multiple localized and sporadic outbreaks have occurred. We have issued guidance on pandemic prevention and control measures, so that the outbreaks can be detected and controlled as soon as they emerge. The measures we deploy can guarantee that there wont be any large-scale resurgence.

Several Chinese cities are currently experiencing a large-scale resurgence of cases. As a matter of fact, many countries around the world are in the midst of a more serious winter outbreak. Yet, the Chinese authorities claim that there wont be any significant resurgence.

The situation is similar to the lie they told last year: There is no evidence showing that the novel coronavirus can spread from person to person.

The lesson we learned last year is profound.

Bizarre Vaccine Efficacy Data

A reporter from the Hong Kong Economic Herald asked: My question is about CoronaVac developed by Chinas Sinovac. How are the clinical trials going? Do the safety and effectiveness meet requirements?

Yin Weidong, chairman of the Beijing-based state-run drug company, was also at the presser. He replied, Phase III clinical studies have been conducted in Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, and Chile  The main research data has now come out one after another  In Turkey, the efficacy rate reached 91.25 percent. In Indonesia, it is 65.3 percent. In Brazil, the efficacy rate against severe illness and hospitalization is 100 percent. For the group who must be hospitalized for treatment, the efficacy rate is 78 percent. For [frontline] medical staff, who are classified as high-risk, the overall efficacy rate reached 50.3 percent.

According to data reported by Brazils health regulatory agency on Jan. 12, in a phase III clinical trial involving 12,508 volunteers, the efficacy rate of CoronaVac was only 50.4 percent. Yins statement reconfirmed that the efficacy rate for medical staff was 50.3 percent. What use is it if only half of the medical professionals are protected from infection while the other half are still at risk?

Apparently, Yin knew that this efficacy rate is too low, so he came up with bizarre statistics100 percent protection against severe illness and hospitalization; 78 percent for people who must go to the hospital for treatment.

It is difficult to know where this data came from. The vaccine has an efficacy rate of 50.3 percent for medical staff. Then how could the efficacy rate for severe illness and hospitalization reach 100 percent? And how is it that the efficacy rate for hospitalized patients reached 78 percent?

There are only two possible explanations: either the chairman fabricated data, or there is no sensible conclusion from the clinical trials.

The different efficacy data from different countries91.25 percent from Turkey, 65.3 percent from Indonesia, and 50.38 percent from Brazil, also tell the simple truth that either there is a big problem with the vaccine, or there is a big problem with the trials. In either case, the trial data is meaningless.

High Percentage of False Negatives

When replying to a question about the latest outbreaks in Shijiazhuang city, Hebei Province, Feng from Chinas CDC said, During the first round of nucleic acid testing, we failed to identify infected patients because there is a window period for those newly infected people. They were diagnosed in the follow-up testing.

This answer at least indicates that Chinas testing kits still have serious accuracy problems. Some Chinese-made test kits were recalled by foreign countries last year due to high error rates. But the testing kits are still being used on Chinese people for mass testing. It is not surprising that there are many false negative results.

However, to cover up the low accuracy rate, Chinese experts began using the term window period. If there really is a window period, what use is it to organize mass testing before the virus is detectable? How dangerous is it to have people crowd together while waiting to get tested? The mass testing could well be a political show, and most likely there are huge financial interests behind the faulty testing kits.

Moreover, during that supposed window period, those virus carriers can go around undetected. Isnt it a big lie for the Chinese authorities to tell the public that the pandemic is controllable?

As a matter of fact, their new lies reveal that their previous assertions were also lies.

Feng claimed that all cluster outbreaks in China during the second half of last year were put to an end within two or three weeks. This is unheard of in any other country. Fengs statement violates the very basic knowledge of how infectious diseases spread. When the deputy director of Chinas CDC talks such nonsense, it is obvious where China stands in its epidemic control.

Asymptomatic Person Less Likely to Spread the Virus?

While addressing a question from state broadcaster CCTV on the risk of asymptomatic carriers, Feng said, They are able to spread the virus. However, compared with normal patients who display symptoms, their transmissibility risk is one-quarter to one-third that of normal patients, which is relatively low.

Last year, a research paper published in the scientific journal Nature showed that people who were asymptomatic or presymptomatic accounted for nearly 76 percent of total transmission. The ability of this type of person to spread the virus does not seem to be less than that of other patients. As a result, this group could trigger a new wave of major outbreaks.

In addition, a study on COVID-19 epidemiology in Ningbo city, Zhejiang Province, published in the Chinese Journal of Epidemiology last year, concluded that based on a comparative study of close contacts of asymptomatic virus carriers and close contacts of patients with symptoms, asymptomatic carriers showed no difference in their ability to spread the virus than normal patients.

So where did the deputy director of CDC get his data, which blatantly contradicts scientific research studies?

Shifting Blame

When a reporter expressed concern about a recent incident of a superspreader passing the virus to 33 people, Feng said it is difficult to explain why some patients are superspreaders. In addition, he said the recent outbreaks in rural areas appear to be very different and more challenging than before, and at present he does not have a clear explanation for them.

Although he failed to answer questions that require professional knowledge, he still acted as a propaganda official. Chinas propaganda department has repeatedly blamed other countries for bringing the virus to China, despite no evidence to back up their claims.

As you all know, several outbreaks were caused by frozen food and non-frozen food imported from other countries, Feng said. These foods were contaminated with the virus before they arrived in China. In cold weather, the virus survives longer on surfaces and objectsthat explains why the outbreak in winter is more serious. Secondly, the pandemic is currently very serious in other countries, so there are more chances that the virus is brought here either by travelers or imported goods. That is why we recently have more outbreaks than before.

The U.S. CDC has said there is no evidence that frozen food can transmit the virus that causes COVID-19.

The pandemic press conference was actually a mishmash of lies. Chinese people have to learn from past lessons and stay vigilant. The same is true for people and state leaders all over the world.

Zhong Yuan is a researcher focused on Chinas political system, the countrys democratization process, human rights situation, and Chinese citizens livelihood.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
(Photo : Screenshot From Volkswagen News YouTube) Volkswagen Boss Takes a Public Jab at Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Twitter: Knocking Tesla Out of Europe

The Volkswagen Group boss known as Herbert Diess has recently joined Twitter on Wednesday and his very first tweet was a seemingly light trolling of the popular Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The Tweet was directed to Elon Musk and even tagged him in a Twitter post.

Who is Herbert Diess

According to the article by TheVerge, Diess had written his tweet starting by giving a shoutout to Twitter then saying that he is there to make an impact with the VW Group especially when it comes to political issues. Diess then stated that he is also there to get a chunk out of "your market shares" while tagging Elon Musk.

Diess then continued saying that their ID.3 as well as the e-tron have both won the very first markets over in Europe. He then ended that he is looking forward to future productive discussions. This strong move directed to Elon Musk is quite timely as VW Group and Tesla go head to head over in China according to an article by Bloomberg.

Diess has previously had to settle criminal charges as of last year that were related to his own role in the said Dieselgate emissions scandal according to France24. This was referencing how the very first mass-market EVs of its own VW and Audi brands both performed well in Europe (mostly in Germany) during their debut year. This had cost Tesla a chunk of its market share within the continent.

As of the moment, Tesla even dropped its prices over on the Model 3 over in Europe according to an article by Electrek.co. Most of the automotives as well as the other big-brand CEOs that use Twitter use it in a certain obligatory manner. They usually just issue statements or comments regarding new products or maybe even initiatives but are pretty much absent from their daily churn.

Read Also: Meet Lyubomir Vladimirov, the Game Developer Who Pestered Elon Musk for 154 days to Make a SpaceX Video Game

VW Herbert Dies vs Tesla Elon Musk

It's quite hard to imagine how Diess, who had previously praised Musk some time in the past according to a story by CNBC, doing much else besides just playfully jabbing Elon Musk on Twitter just this Wednesday. Well, Diess has just barely made it out alive from a major power struggle that supposedly played out within the Volkswagen Group according to an article by WSJ.

Diess currently remains the top boss but he was stripped of his previous title of CEO of the VW brand. This is majorly a part of the major software problems that the previous ID 3 had when it first rolled out. There are also stranger things that have reportedly happened to Diess but the main idea that he would have to make his executives all attend a certain syntegration workshop makes things even more interesting.

Musk, on the other hand, has supposedly spent about two years of possibly violating a certain court order which stated that he is supposed to have a lawyer pre-screen certain tweets he makes about Tesla.

Related article: VW ID.4 in China Released With Way Cheaper Prices Than Tesla!

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

LONDON  As a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus pounds Britains overstretched National Health Service, health care workers say the governments failure to anticipate a wintertime crush of infections has left them resorting to ever more desperate measures.

Hundreds of soldiers have been dispatched to move patients and equipment around London hospitals. Organ transplant centers have stopped performing urgent operations. Doctors have trimmed back the level of oxygen being given to patients to save overloaded pipes.

And nurses, frantic to make space for more beds, have had to cart critically ill people to newly converted Covid-19 wards in the middle of the night, despite having barely enough staff members to treat existing patients.

Most vexing to doctors and nurses is that Britains government and state health system, hammered by the virus last spring, failed to heed a cascade of warnings in the following months about needing to plan for a wintertime wave of infections, leaving hospitals unprepared as patients began arriving.

A former state prison guard in Sacramento pleaded guilty Tuesday to lying about the actions of another guard who fatally injured an inmate by pulling the mans legs out from under him and sending him sprawling to the floor on his head, federal prosecutors said.

Ashley Marie Aurich, 32, of Sacramento, admitted a felony charge of falsifying records in a federal investigation. She is scheduled to be sentenced April 12.

Prosecutors said Aurich and another guard, Arturo Pacheco, went to the cell of a 65-year-old inmate at California State Prison-Sacramento in September 2016 to transfer the man to another cell. According to charging documents, when they reached the building where the new cell was located, the inmate, who was handcuffed, stopped walking, and Pacheco then yanked his legs from behind, sending him onto the concrete floor on his head and upper torso.

The inmate died in a hospital two days later. Prosecutors have not identified him. The prison fired both guards in 2018.

In describing the incident later that day, prosecutors said, Aurich filed a state prison report saying the inmate had escaped Pachecos grasp by spinning to his left and lunging forward, and that Pacheco used force only to overcome resistance and regain custody. She said Pacheco used his weight and the inmates momentum to send him to the floor, where she saw the man land on his stomach face down, according to a grand jury indictment.

Prosecutors said those statements were all false.

Aurichs lawyer was not immediately available for comment.

Pacheco, 38, is awaiting trial on separate charges. He is not accused of homicide, but has been charged with violating the inmates right to be free of cruel and unusual punishment, and with filing a false report on the incident.

He is also charged with pepper-spraying a 54-year-old inmate in the face in May 2016, while the man was standing peacefully in his cell, and with filing a report falsely claiming he did it to prevent the inmate from harming himself.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko

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She has been living it up in Dubai with a slew of her Love Island pals.

And Ellie Brown turned up the heat as she slipped into a hot pink lingerie set for a sizzling Instagram snap on Wednesday.

The reality star, 22, posed with a single rose in her hotel room for the sultry shot.

Wow factor: Ellie Brown turned up the heat as she slipped into a hot pink lingerie set for a sizzling Instagram snap on Wednesday

Ellie showed off her bronzed tan and ample cleavage in the lacy thong two-piece.

She wore her blonde locks in an up do and amped up the glamour with a full face of make-up.

Ellie later took to her Insta stories to share a slew of snaps to celebrate her Love Island pal's Kaz Crossley's 27th birthday.

Happy Birthday! Ellie later took to her Insta stories to share a slew of snaps to celebrate her Love Island pal's Kaz Crossley's 27th birthday

Making memories: The television personality shared snaps of the duo, who are both in Dubai, in black minidress on a night out, hungover in a taxi and out on sand dunes

The television personality shared snaps of the duo, who are both in Dubai, in black minidress on a night out, hungover in a taxi and out on sand dunes.

Dozens of influencers who found fame on reality shows such as Geordie Shore and Love Island have spent the previous weeks soaking up the sun in Dubai while Brits back at home are in a nationwide lockdown.

Many have travelled abroad under the ruse that their trips are 'for work,' sparking backlash from fans who have been holed up in lockdown amid the pandemic.

Among those who have shared glimpses of their trips to Instagram are Love Island's Laura Anderson, Francesca Allen, Arabella Chi and twins Jess and Eve Gale.

Geordie Shore's Chloe Ferry is also in Dubai for 'work' while TOWIE's Yazmin Oukhellou and her beau James Lock have also been there for some time on 'business'.

Many stars have insisted their trips are for 'work' as the government currently asks UK residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

Although at first not facing restrictions upon their return, it was recently announced that the country has been removed from the UK travel corridor amid the pandemic.
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Patna, Jan 21 : Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday claimed that bureaucrats not listening to the common people in Bihar, was proven once again on Wednesday night when the Patna District Magistrate behaved rudely with him.

Tejashwi went to Eco Park to meet TET qualified job aspirants on Wednesday night.

"As we all knew that these job aspirants had faced a brutal lathicharge on Tuesday evening in Patna, we went to meet them at Eco Park. When we spoke to Patna DM Chandrasekhar Singh, he behaved rudely until I disclosed my identity," Tejashwi said on Thursday.

"This is an example of how bureaucrats are behaving with the common people of Bihar. We have time and again raised the issue of the arrogant behaviour of bureaucrats. They do not even listen to public representatives. This has been proven again with the arrogant reply of the Patna DM," Tejashwi said.

"A team of Patna police manhandled our security personnel on Thursday. What is the security threat they are looking for? We have been living here for years. People not satisfied with this government, generally come here to meet us. It is our duty to meet them and address their grievances according to our capacity. Are they trying to prevent them from coming here to meet us?" he asked.

"Has Bihar police cracked the Rupesh Singh murder case with 9 days gone by? Are the people of Bihar feeling secure now. Why is the Bihar police sending all patrol teams to 10, Circular Road (his mother former CM Rabri Devi's residence) and not patrolling anywhere else?" Tejashwi asked.
Local developer Weston Urban recently acquired two properties between the historic Milam high-rise and the San Antonio River Walk as part of its plan to make over western downtown.

The firm bought the properties at 123 and 127 E. Travis Street  a building thats been subdivided into two parts  on Jan. 14 from the estate of Phillip S. Sfair and a local partnership, Bexar County deed records show.

The building was once home to the legendary Navy Club, an after-hours drinking establishment Sfair owned that was frequented by attorneys, politicians and even stars such as Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller.

The private club sold alcoholic drinks when liquor by the drink was prohibited in Texas, and it claimed to be exempt from closing at midnight.

Part of the structure also was used as offices for the late Judge Solomon Casseb Jr.s firm, said James Pearl, a retired lawyer and one of the partners in the ownership group.

And theres a tunnel underneath the building, said Chris Negem, a long-time friend of Sfair and the administrator of his estate.

Ive had a lot of offers on that building, he said. It generated a lot of interest.

The vacant properties sit next to the 21-story Milam building, which Weston Urban acquired in 2016 with plans to renovate, and were attractive because of the river access.

Itll enable us to incorporate the San Antonio River into that redevelopment in a really special way, president Randy Smith said of the new acquisitions. I dont know what that looks like yet.

On ExpressNews.com: With San Pedro Creeks restoration underway, San Antonio developers are snapping up property around it

He declined to disclose the purchase prices, but the properties were assessed at a combined $2.2 million last year, according to Bexar Appraisal District records.

The Milam building is across the street from a parking lot at 305 Soledad St. where Weston Urban plans to build a 32-story tower with 351 apartments, about 7,250 square feet of retail and parking. Its also near the Frost Tower, which the firm finished in 2019.

One option thats not in the works: more office space.

Thats primarily because the Milam buildings design is not consistent with what companies want in offices, Smith said. He compared it with the Rand building at 110 E. Houston St., which the firm turned into space for co-working venture Geekdom and other businesses.

Its really about the layout of the (Milam) building, and it lays out so well for other uses, Smith said.

The Milam building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. When it was constructed in 1928, it was the tallest reinforced-concrete office building and the first air-conditioned high rise in the U.S.

The office levels in the building are vacant, Smith said. Weston Urban has made some infrastructure upgrades but is still planning the sites redevelopment.

On ExpressNews.com: Weston Urban plans 32-story downtown tower with apartments, retail

The firm will likely seek state and federal tax credits for the project.

Its really too early to say what, if anything, we would pursue on the local level, Smith said. On the other hand, to do right by that building we need a lot of help.

Weston Urbans latest purchases add to its growing presence downtown, where it has amassed more than 20 acres.

Its holdings include the Weston Centre offices; the Savoy building at 116 E. Houston St., which houses private equity firm Scaleworks; and a building across from City Hall that it recently refurbished for retail and an office tenant.

The firm also plans to turn historic buildings and a parking lot between West Commerce and Dolorosa streets into a mixed-use development geared toward students at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, and my distinguished guests, my fellow Americans, this is America's day. This is democracy's day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested anew. And America has risen to the challenge. Today we celebrate the triumph, not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded.

We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

So now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the Capitol's very foundation, we come together as one nation under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries. As we look ahead in our uniquely American way, restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.

I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And I know, and I know the resilience of our constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation, as does President Carter who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime in service.

I've just taken the sacred oath each of those patriots have taken. The oath first sworn by George Washington. But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people, who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we've come so far, but we still have far to go.

We'll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain. Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now.

Once in a century virus that silently stalks the country. It's taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II. Millions of jobs have been lost, hundreds of thousands of

businesses closed, a cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

A cry for survival comes from planet itself. A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear, and now a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy, unity. Unity. In another January, on New Year's Day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation. When he put pen to paper, the president said, and I quote, 'if my name ever goes down into history, it'll be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.'

'My whole soul is in it.' Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Uniting to fight the foes we face, anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things.

We can right wrongs. We can put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly virus. We can reward -- reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and we can make America once again the leading force for good in the world.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know that the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal, and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart.

The battle is perennial, and victory is never assured. Through civil war, the great depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifices, and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us -- enough of us -- have come together to carry all of us forward, and we can do that now.

History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other, not as adversaries, but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.

No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America. If we do that, I guarantee you, we will not fail. We have never, ever, ever, ever failed in America when we've acted together.

And so today, at this time, in this place, let's start afresh, all of us. Let's begin to listen to one another again.

Hear one another. See one another. Show respect to one another. Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. And we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated, and even manufactured.

My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this. America has to be better than this, and I believe America is so much better than this. Just look around. Here we stand, in the shadow of the Capitol dome, as it was mentioned earlier, completed amid the civil war, when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. Yet, we endured. We prevailed.

Here we stand, looking out on the great mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand where, 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. And today, we mark the swearing of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Don't tell me things can't change!

Here we stand, across the Potomac, from Arlington Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion, rest in eternal peace. And here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever.

To all those who supported our campaign, I'm humbled by the faith you've placed in us. To all of those who did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart.

If you still disagree, so be it. That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent peaceably. Within the guardrails of our republic, it's perhaps this nation's greatest strength. Yet hear me clearly, disagreement must not lead to disunion. And I pledge this to you, I will be a president for all Americans, all Americans.

And I promise you, I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Many centuries ago, St. Augustine, a saint in my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. Defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans?

I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect, honor and, yes, the truth. The recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for power and for profit.

And each of us has a duty and a responsibility as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Look, I understand that many of my fellow Americans view the future with fear and trepidation. I understand they worry about their jobs. I understand like my dad, they lay in bed wondering, can I keep my health care, can I pay my mortgage. Thinking about their families, about what comes next. I promise you, I get it.

But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don't look like -- look like you or worship the way you do or don't get their news from the same source as you do. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus -- rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.

If we show a little tolerance and humility, and if we are willing to stand in the other person's shoes -- as my mom would say -- just for a moment, stand in their shoes. Because here's the thing about life: there's no accounting for what fate will deal you.

Some days, when you need a hand. There are other days when we're called to lend a hand. That's how it has to be. That's what we do for one another.

And if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we can still disagree. My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we're going to need each other. We need all our strength to preserve -- to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus.

We must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation, one nation. And I promise you this. As the Bible says, 'weep, ye may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.' We will get through this together. Together. Look, folks, all my colleagues that I served with in the house and the senate up here, we all understand, the world is watching, watching all of us today. So here's my message to those beyond our borders.

America has been tested, and we've come out stronger for it. We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. Not to meet yesterday's challenges, but today's and tomorrow's challenges.

And we'll lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security.

Look, you all know, we've been through so much in this nation. In my first act as president, I'd like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those who we lost in this past year to the pandemic, those 400,000 fellow Americans -- moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. We'll honor them by becoming the people and the nation we know we can and should be.

So, I ask you, let's say a silent prayer for those who have lost their lives and those left behind and for our country.

Amen. Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on our democracy and on truth. A raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis. America's role in the world. Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is, we face them all at once. Presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we've had. Now we're going to be tested.

Are we going to step up, all of us? It's time for boldness, for there is so much to do. And this is certain. I promise you, we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era. We will rise to the occasion, is the question. Will we master this rare and difficult hour?

Will we meet our obligations, and pass along a new and better world to our children? I believe we must. I'm sure you do as well. I believe we will. And when we do, we'll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America, the American story, a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me. It's called 'American Anthem.' And there's one verse that stands out, at least for me.

And it goes like this: 'The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall be our legacy? What will our children say? Let me know in my heart when my days are through. America, America, I gave my best to you.' Let's add. Let's, us, add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation.

If we do this, then when our days are through, our children and our children's children will say of us, they gave their best, they did their duty, they healed a broken land. My fellow Americans, I close the day where I began, with a sacred oath before God and all of you. I give you my word, I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. I'll defend our democracy. I'll defend America.

And I'll give all, all of you, keep everything you -- I do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal injuries but the public good. And together we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness.

May this be the story that guides us, the story that inspires us, and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history, we met the moment. Democracy and hope, truth and justice, did not die on our watch, but thrived, that America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forebears, one another, and generations to follow.

So, with purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasked of our time, sustained by faith, driven by conviction, and devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts. May God bless America and may God protect our troops. Thank you, America.
Trumps last-day order clamps down on foreign access to US-based IaaS

On the final night of his presidency, Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at forcing cloud providers to capture more complete records about foreign customers who lease cloud infrastructure and resell it to cyber attackers. The EO directly targets foreigners use of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) products, which makes it difficult for U.S. officials to track and obtain information and allows malicious actors to evade detection, according to a letter Trump wrote to Congress that was publicly released in the evening of Jan. 19.

To address those threats, the EO states, the government will move to require IaaS providers to keep more complete records of foreign entities that they sell to  including verifying the identity and payment records of those obtaining an IaaS account and any foreign person acting as a lessee of these products or services -- and potentially require companies to limit access for "certain foreign actors."

The secretaries of commerce, state, treasury, defense, homeland security, the attorney general and the director of national intelligence have discretion on which foreign entities could be barred through the executive order.

Crowdstrike founder and former CTO Dmitri Alperovitch said on Twitter that the policy outlined in the order could have helped the government gather more information in the wake of the SolarWinds Orion breach. In that breach, Alperovitch said, hackers "exclusively used US cloud infrastructure to make it difficult for US intelligence community to track them." He added that "requirements like this one can go a long way to move these actors offshore and make it easier for [the government] to track them. One potential downside -- the requirements can be quite onerous/expensive for smaller providers and may lose them foreign business."

It is not clear whether President Joe Biden's administration will enforce the executive order. Ahead of the inauguration, Biden's transition team published a list of executive orders he'd immediately sign to undo certain Trump administration policies.

The Trump order has a six-month comment period.

This article was first posted to FCW, a sibling site to GCN.
WASHINGTON  Local lawmakers on Wednesday welcomed the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Weve learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is fragile, Biden said. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. This is Americas day. This is democracys day. A day in history and hope, of renewal and resolve.

He acknowledged the challenges ahead, specifically COVID-19 which has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the U.S. and where summer protests brought a renewed reckoning on racial injustice.

We have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities: much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain, Biden said. Few people in our nations history have more challenged, or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time were in now.

Illinois federal lawmakers picked up on Bidens theme of rebuilding. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said he could not be more excited about Bidens inauguration.

Today is a great day for the United States, its citizens and our democracy, Durbin said. Joe Biden will be a president for every American and I cannot wait to get started on the work building back this country.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., also said the day marked the time to build back better, together. She added Bidens inauguration marked a new era of healing, leadership and hope.

U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Murphysboro, said Bidens inauguration marked one of our most time-honored traditions: the peaceful transfer of power between two administrations.

I wish Gods blessing for President Biden and Vice President Harris on this historic day, Bost said. While I stand ready to work together on shared priorities that help Southern Illinoisans, I will never fail to fight for our conservative principles.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, said he and his family will be praying for Biden and Harris.

I wish them success, for when they succeed, our nation succeeds, Davis said. It was an honor to be able to witness the peaceful transition of power for the second time of my tenure in Congress.

Davis, a Republican, said he is ready to work with Biden and Harris, Democrats, to find bipartisan agreement on solutions to the critical issues facing American families.

At the same time, I wont hesitate to oppose President Biden, his administration, and the Democratic-controlled Congress and hold them accountable for their partys liberal impulses, Davis said.

Our nation faces many problems, he said. Now is the time for all of us to come together and govern in a bipartisan way. That is how we will begin to heal our divisions and move our country forward.

Wednesdays event also featured a musical composition Fanfare Politeia by Dr. Kimberly K. Archer, a professor of Music Composition at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The work was performed by The Presidents Own United States Marine Band.
Melbourne:

A 37-year-old Indian-origin taxi driver has been arrested and charged in Australia with dangerous driving for causing a fatal crash that left an elderly woman dead and 12 persons injured.



Shepparton Magistrate court charged Jatinder Panesar with one count causing death on Monday after he appeared in the court. Panesar was released on bail but forced to surrender his passport.



He will be facing court again on October 24 this year and is not allowed to drive or leave Victoria. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), police said the incident took place as the driver rammed his vehicle into a mini-bus which rolled at the intersection of Pyke and Turnbull roads at Ardmona in North Victoria.

ALSO READ: Indian-origin teenager in Malaysia beaten to death by bullies



The mini-bus was carrying 12 adult passengers while the taxi was carrying two passengers. The collision injured 12 persons while a woman from the bus died on the spot.



"The taxi driver stopped at the scene and is assisting police with inquiries," police said. Nine of the mini-bus passengers were residents at Mercy Place Shepparton, one was a staff member and two were volunteers.



Following the incident, Mercy Health group chief executive Stephen Cornelissen said in a memo to the staff that the group were returning from an outing to a local bakery.



"Tonight and tomorrow we focus our thoughts and prayers on the families of the deceased and those injured, and of course on our colleagues," the memo read.



"I ask you to think of them so they may feel our care and solidarity now and in the difficult days ahead," it said.

ALSO READ | US: Indian-American lawyer killed in train accident in California

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Tony Evans, 67, couldnt stop laughing and crying.

As Evans, a longtime political activist, watched Vice President Kamala Harris being sworn in Wednesday morning, he wiped away tears as she became the first Black and South Asian woman to ever take the position.

Evans, his daughter Amber Evans and his 15-year-old granddaughter Dymond Roberts sat on the couch of Amber Evans East Oakland home, feeling the historic moment deeply.

Watching Kamala Harris being sworn in and to see somebody who looks like me or looks like my mom or my grandmother  wow, this is amazing, Amber Evans said. Who would have ever thought wed actually have a Black vice president.

Beyond the joy, the three felt relief as President Biden took the stage and called for every American to join him in unity.

When President Biden said, With unity, we can do great things, important things, Evans and his daughter nodded emphatically.

Evans  a furloughed bartender at the Oakland Coliseum and Chase Center  became politically involved starting in 2007 when he volunteered for Barack Obamas presidential campaign in Virginia. The experience thrust him into a political sphere where he soon found himself at events with politicians, including bartending at a birthday party for Rep. Barbara Lees son.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

He recalled the first time he met Harris. It was at a labor event at the Oakland Convention Center when she was running for senator.

Evans said he knew where shed get out of the car, so he stood outside, waiting patiently in hopes of getting a photo. When she finally arrived, Evans, smiling, said he told her, Sen. Harris, Ive been waiting two hours to get a picture with you.

Well I guess we better get this picture, she responded, before adding that she wasnt yet the senator.

You will be, Evans recalled telling her, smiling at the memory.

Evans showed the photo with Harris still saved on his cell phone before pulling up a photo of Obama from a 2007 campaign event in Virginia. Evans said he elbowed his way past thousands of people and stuck his phone out before the Secret Service told him to stand back.

You can see how close I am, he said showing the photo to his granddaughter.

He talks about it a lot, Dymond said as Evans laughed. He really wants me and my mom and all of us to be really politically involved.

Evans spent a week knocking on doors in Reno to encourage people to vote before the presidential election. On Dec. 2, he canvassed Georgia with other union workers to encourage people to vote in the two critical Senate elections that Democratic candidates ultimately won.

Evans felt immense pride when both Senate candidates prevailed, and he felt the same pride when Vice President Harris was sworn in.

We made this happen, Evans said. Were the people in the background.

Amber Evans said her father often makes her family watch the History Channel together. His influence has affected her daughter, who watches CNN on her own.

Growing up, I never wouldve thought my dad, this guy working at the bar, is shaking hands with presidents and senators, Amber Evans said. Hes taking on a whole new career as a political activist.

When the cameras zoomed in on Harris and her husband, Dymond paused, confused.

Thats the first-ever second gentleman? she asked her mother.

When her mother nodded, Dymond smiled before turning her attention back to the TV.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks to media at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Pelosi: House Will Move Immediately on Pandemic Relief

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said the House of Representatives will move immediately on passing a pandemic spending package.

In a news conference on Thursday, the California Democrat said her party will immediately move on a several-trillion-dollar CCP virus deal.

Were getting ready for a COVID relief package. Well be working on that as we go, she told reporters, referring to the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that emerged in China in 2019. Well be doing our  committee work all next week so that we are completely ready to go to the floor when we come back.

Pelosis comments suggest that the stimulus bill could be passed into law in early February. Another House session starts on the week of Feb. 1.

Last week, President Joe Biden unveiled a nearly $2 trillion spending measure including $1,400 stimulus payments, vaccine development programs, raise unemployment benefits, and others.

The legislation needs to clear the narrowly divided Senate before it reaches Bidens desk for him to sign into law. Democrats on Wednesday secured a slim 50-50 majority in the upper chamber, with Vice President Kamala Harris being the tie-breaker.

Some GOP senators, including Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), expressed skepticism about whether such a bill could be passed.

We just passed a program with over $900 billion in it. Im not looking for a new program in the immediate future, he told reporters Wednesday.

Pelosi, in the news conference, did not say when the House will transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate.

She rejected calls from Republicans that impeachment would be a divisive move: I dont think its very unifying to say, oh, lets just forget it and move on. Thats not how you unify.
NBU highly assesses chances of first review of Stand-By Arrangement by IMF mission  NBU head

The National Bank highly assesses the chances of the first review of the Stand-By Arrangement by the mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Governor of the NBU Kyrylo Shevchenko has stated.

"We assess the chances of reviewing the program as high. Negotiations are underway at the moment, there is certainly progress," Shevchenko said during a press briefing.

As reported, the IMF mission on the first review of the Stand-By Arrangement for Ukraine has been working in Ukraine since January 11.
New Delhi: Bangladesh's Minister of State (MoS) for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam has reaffirmed close ties with India, dismissing concerns of the Chinese trying to influence Dhaka that could impact ties with Delhi.

Speaking at Vivekananda foundation virtually, Alam said, "(China) they know the depth and breadth of our relationship with India. The historic bondage. It is the bondage that delivered and the very creation and Independence of Bangladesh when the blood of soldiers of both the countries was shed that is inseparable and is not comparable with any relation, what so ever."

In 2021, Bangladesh is celebrating 50th year of its independence and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Dhaka in March to take part in celebrations. Both sides have increased closeness, and working in a major way on the connectivity front, reviving pre-1965 rail and road links.

On ties with China and the belt and road initiative, he said, "Our relationship with Beijing is a matter of huge interest to India and everyone else...We see that (BRI) as an economic cooperation initiative and we have not committed to any defence or military initiatives and we haven't found any yet. We see many countries other countries in Europe even and neighbourhood have joined."

He explained, engagement with Beijing has paid "some dividends" in recent times in times in "terms of infrastructure, building facilities that are helping our economic progressions" but "We are under no risk of a debt trap. Our economic fundamentals are strong...We know exactly what we do."

China has been trying to increase its influence in South Asia. Pakistan has been key to China's BRI project in south Asia, with mega China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) being heavily invested on by Beijing.
Grocery-delivery service Instacart is laying off 1,877 employees who do in-store shopping, including its only unionized workers, in a move that their union called ruthless.

Instacart said the layoffs are because some grocery stores it partners with want their own employees to handle the in-store shopping, with Instacart providing technology for curbside pickup services. It said it would try to help the laid-off workers find jobs with Instacart or at the grocery stores where they were based.

The layoffs are in the Midwest and on the East Coast, with none in California, Instacart said. The California Employment Development Department said that Instacart had not filed any WARN notices, which are required for large employers doing mass layoffs.

Instacart is best known for having gig workers shop and deliver groceries. With the pandemic causing a surge in demand from people who want their groceries delivered, that gig workforce has swelled to about 500,000 contractors.

But Instacart also has thousands of employees stationed in stores to handle shopping, with the gig workers then doing deliveries. Instacart said it still has thousands of employee in-store shoppers after the layoffs.

In 2019, Instacart notified state officials it would lay off 162 shoppers and shift leads at 13 Bay Area Whole Foods stores after the grocers parent company, Amazon, took deliveries in-house.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union decried the new layoffs, noting that seniors rely on home deliveries during the pandemic.

With COVID-19 outbreaks spiraling out of control, it is outrageous that Instacart would fire these courageous and hard-working men and women keeping our food supply secure, UFCW International President Marc Perrone said in a statement.

Layoffs include the nations only unionized Instacart workers, employed at a Marianos store in Skokie, Ill. They voted 10-4 to join UFCW Local 1546 in February, a rare instance of gig workers joining a union.

Instacart said it now has about 10 unionized employees at that store, and their organized-labor status was not part of the decision to lay them off. Kroger, which owns Marianos, is one of the supermarkets that is switching to using its own employees, it said.

Instacart, along with Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and Postmates, just spent $220 million to persuade California voters to pass Proposition 22, which keeps their workers as independent contractors, rather than having to be reclassified as employees, which is more expensive. The company said the layoffs are not related to Prop. 22, since they are not in California.

Id make the assumption that Instacart is trying to cut labor costs as much as possible because it plans an initial public offering, said Jim Araby, head of UFCW Local 5 in the Bay Area.

Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available.

Earlier this month Safeway parent Albertsons said it would discontinue most of its own grocery delivery operations nationwide in favor of using gig companies like DoorDash. That move did not affect its unionized home-delivery drivers, including 250 Bay Area drivers who voted to join UFCW Local 5.

However, home-delivery drivers elsewhere in California, as well as in other states, were affected. Albertsons said in a statement that it would offer the drivers other positions in its stores.

Matt Bell with UFCW Local 3224 in Southern California said home-delivery drivers there were offered store jobs that paid less than theyd been making.

Some observers saw the Albertsons move as related to Prop. 22, citing it as an example of a company jettisoning employees in favor of cheaper gig workers.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid
[January 21, 2021] Avicanna Initiates Pre-Clinical and Behavioural Studies on its RHO Phyto Formulary with University of Guelph and Provides Research and Management Team Updates

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avicanna Inc. (Avicanna or the Company) (TSX: AVCN) (OTCQX: AVCNF) (FSE: 0NN), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products has updated and amended its collaboration with Dr. Jibran Khokhar, Assistant Professor at the University of Guelph, and initiated prioritized pre-clinical studies on the RHO Phyto formulations that are commercialized in Canada and Colombia. Additionally, the Company provides an update on research projects with the University of Toronto and Thompson Rivers University as well as a change to its management team.

Initiation of pre-clinical studies on RHO Phyto in collaboration with University of Guelph Further to Avicannas previous announcement regarding Dr. Khokhars research team at the University of Guelph being awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance grant focused on the neurobiological underpinnings of cannabis toxicosis with the aim to evaluate Avicannas formulations in the treatment of cannabis-induced toxicosis, the project is now being expanded. The expansion of the project includes pharmacokinetic and behavioural testing of Avicannas RHO Phyto formulations as well as studying their efficacy in alleviating neuropathic pain and addiction. The data generated from the research will help guide Avicannas clinical development, including the pharmaceutical and real-world evidence studies related to the RHO Phyto formulations, and will provide additional information to health care practitioners who are recommending and prescribing the products in several markets. COVID-19 drug candidate project update The research collaboration with the University of Toronto on the development of a drug candidate to treat lung inflammation caused by COVID-19, with funding support from an NSERC Alliance grant and a MITACS Alliance grant, is complete. The peer-reviewed grants were focused on the development of a cannabinoid formulation to be used for further research on COVID-19. The physical and chemical characterization of the optimized cannabinoid formulation is complete, which included its stability and drug release properties in relevant conditions. COVID-19 and anti-inflammatory related research collaboration with TRU with non-dilutive funding In partnership with Avicanna, Dr. Kingsley Donkor and collaborators from Thompson Rivers University ("TRU), will be evaluating naturally derived cannabinoids and candidate formulations for their efficacy to modulate the receiving receptor of COVID-19 (angiotensin-converting ACE2 gene expression). This project will focus on elucidating the mechanism of action of novel prophylactic nasal and oral cannabinoid products for humans that target ACE2 viral gateways. Candidate formulations, once identified, will be evaluated for anti-inflammatory effects in human-derived lung tissue models. The research with TRU is supported by an NSERC grant and a MITACS Internship. Management change Avicanna further announces the resignation of Dr. Amza Ali from his role of Chief Medical Officer so that he may focus more on his medical, academic, and other research pursuits and to dedicate more time to his family. Dr. Alis resignation will be effective January 28, 2021. Dr. Ali will continue to advise on the Companys neurology-related projects including the recently announced epilepsy collaboration with UHN. Avicannas extensive medical and R&D team continues advancing the Companys clinical projects and will maintain its scientific leadershp position within the cannabinoid industry.



Aras Azadian, CEO of Avicanna, commented: I want to thank Dr. Ali for his contributions during his tenure with Avicanna. He has been instrumental in establishing our medical guidelines and enhancing our clinical plans and we look forward to continuing to build on the medical and scientific platforms and best practices we have established. We also look forward to his continuous guidance on our neurological projects, including the very important epilepsy research we have recently embarked on. About Avicanna Inc.

Avicanna is a diversified and vertically integrated Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development, and commercialization of plant-derived cannabinoid-based products for the global consumer, medical, and pharmaceutical market segments. Avicanna is an established leader in cannabinoid research and development, which it primarily conducts at its R&D headquarters in the Johnson & Johnson Innovation Centre, JLABS @ Toronto, Canada and in collaboration with leading Canadian academic and medical institutions. In addition to its developing pharmaceutical pipeline, Avicannas team of experts have developed and commercialized several industry leading product lines, including: Pura Earth or Pura H&W: an advanced and clinically tested line of CBD consumer derma-cosmetic products; and,

RHO Phyto: an advanced line of medical cannabis products containing varying ratios of CBD and THC currently available nation-wide across Canada in partnership with Medical Cannabis by Shoppers, a subsidiary of Shoppers Drug Mart. RHO Phyto is the first strictly medical formulary of advanced Cannabis 2.0 products, containing oils, sprays, capsules, creams, and gels, all 2 developed with scientific rigour, manufactured under GMP standards and supported by pre-clinical data. With ongoing clinical trials on its derma-cosmetic (branded as Pura Earth or Pura H&W), medical cannabis (branded as RHO Phyto) and a pipeline of pharmaceutical products, Avicannas dedication to researching the important role that cannabinoids play in an increasingly wider scope of products has been at the core of the Companys vision since its inception. Furthermore, Avicannas commitment to education is demonstrated through its annual medical symposium, the Avicanna Academy educational platform, and the My Cannabis Clinic patient program through its subsidiary company. Avicanna manages its own supply chain including cultivation and extraction through its two majority-owned subsidiaries, Sativa Nativa S.A.S. and Santa Marta Golden Hemp S.A.S., both located in Santa Marta, Colombia. Through these sustainable, economical, and industrial scale subsidiaries, Avicanna cultivates, processes, and commercializes a range of cannabis and hemp cultivars dominant in CBD, CBG, THC, and other cannabinoids for use as active pharmaceutical ingredients. Avicannas Avesta Genetica program specializes in the development and optimization of rare cultivars for commercial production along with feminized seeds for global export. In June 2020, Avicanna made history with a shipment of hemp seeds to the United States of America by completing the first ever export of hemp seeds from Colombia. SOURCE Avicanna Inc. Stay Connected For more information about Avicanna, visit www.avicanna.com, call 1-647-243-5283, or contact Setu Purohit, President, by email at info@avicanna.com. The company posts updates through videos from the official company YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5yBclNIsNf7VrE34iwt8OA. Please join the conversation on our Avicanna supporters telegram group at https://t.me/Avicannainc. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as, "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "expect", "anticipate", "believe, "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook" and other similar expressions, and includes statements with respect to the Companys ability to complete the various studies, the Companys and the research institutions abilities to maintain any and all required licenses or authorizations to perform the studies, and the Companys ability to market and/or publish any data resulting from the studies. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment; and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to current and future market conditions, including the market price of the common shares of the Company, and the risk factors set out in the Company's annual information form dated April 15, 2020 and final short form prospectus dated November 27, 2020, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.



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Pastor Dwight McKissic says hes leaving SBTC, possibly SBC over critical race theory dispute

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When leaders in the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention rebuked him for supporting missionaries praying and praising in tongues in 2006, prominent Southern Baptist Pastor Dwight McKissic said he almost quit.

After the recent adoption by SBTC leaders of a strongly worded, anti-CRT policy that denounces all aspects of critical race theory last November, McKissic declared in a statement Friday that he is now ending his relationshipwith the SBTC 15 years later.

And if leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention rescind Resolution 9 on critical race theory that messengers passed in 2019, McKissic said he's ready to cut ties with them too.

I remained a member from then until today, simply to not break fellowship over a tertiary issue. I DECIDED TO STAY ON THE BUS FROM 2006 UNTIL JANUARY 2021. But, today, I have decided it is time to get off the bus. I no longer want to ride, and I certainly do not want to drive! said McKissic, who founded and currently leads Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas.

The get off the bus phrase comes from a statement McKissic said the recently retired SBTC Executive Director Jim Richards made in 2006 when he spearheaded a policy preventing missionaries from praying and praising in tongues.

If you have a private prayer language, you may ride on the bus at SBTC, but you will not be able to drive the bus, McKissic recalled Richards saying. I found that statement incredibly offensive as an African American and as one who has been spiritually gifted to pray, praise, intercede and give thanks in tongues, under the inspiration and influence of the Holy Spirit, as is taught in I Corinthians 14.

The policy was reversed in 2015, under David Platt, then president of the IMB.

McKissics announcement comes amid an ongoing exodus of prominent black SBC pastors, such as Ralph West and Charlie Dates, over a decision by the denominations Council of Seminary Presidents to denounce critical race theory and intersectionality as incompatible with their beliefs at their 2020 annual session.

The Council of Seminary Presidents, which is comprised of six seminaries, voted to reject CRT as incompatible with their faith while condemning racism in any form.

Critical race theory, as explained by Purdue University, is a theoretical and interpretive mode that examines the appearance of race and racism across dominant cultural modes of expression. Through this framework, scholars seek to understand how victims of systemic racism are affected by cultural perceptions of race and how they are able to represent themselves to counter prejudice. Scholarship on the theory traces racism in America through the legacy of slavery, the civil rights movement and recent events. Intersectionality is the study of how different personal characteristics overlap and inform ones experience.

The SBC is openly rejecting the collective wisdom of men like Fred Luter, Tony Evans, Marshal Ausberry, The National African American Fellowship of the SBC, hundreds of African American pastors, and her own African American professors by dismissing our claims that there are beneficial aspects to CRT, McKissic said. For these reasons, we are pulling out of SBTC; and if the CSP/SBC policy is ratified in June, we are discontinuing our affiliation with the SBC also. We are getting off the bus!

Danny Akin of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Jason K. Allen of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Jamie Dew of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Adam W. Greenway of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Jeff Iorg of Gateway Theological Seminary, and Albert Mohler of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary are all members of the council.

Last month, Greenway defended the groups statement on critical race theory and intersectionality and dismissed much of the criticism around it as emotional misunderstandings.

I want to make this point as charitably but honestly as I can: misconstruing the CSP statements rejection of CRT/I as being synonymous with or code for the SBC seminary presidents denying systemic racism is bearing false witness, Greenway said. Furthermore, when feelings become all-consuming and paramount in determining courses of action irrespective of the facts contained in plain language, we commit the fallacy of eisegesis, or reading into texts meanings we feel or interpretations we want to impose.

McKissic argued, however, that the dispute with the SBC over the policy isnt just about feelings.

If this CSP statement is adopted in the June 2021 SBC Annual Session, in any form or fashion, thereafter when one addresses the subject of CRT or race from a seminary class, local church pulpit, or Sunday School class, it could be interpreted by the SBC/CSP policy as violating the SBC/CSP statement/policy on CRT, which could make any professor, pastor, preacher, or Sunday School teacher that is judged by this SBC/CSP policy, incompatible with Baptist Faith and Message (BFM), he argued. This could be used as grounds to dis-fellowship that church from the SBC or dismiss professors from their teaching assignments.

He further noted that ratifying the policy would be giving too much power to the seminary presidents.

I am not willing to concede that type of power to the SBC/CSP based on an academic policy that originated with six Anglo seminary presidents, he said. I am not willing to allow them to dictate what the belief systems, definitions and authoritative binding, academic and ecclesiastical decisions regarding how race is to be communicated in the local church or be subject to SBC interrogations and investigations for having spoken outside of the CSP-SBC CRT policy.

We are not willing to sign-off on SBC seminaries and affiliated entities to be able to indoctrinate African American congregations and seminary students regarding CRT. Why? (A) Because this policy was developed without consulting with at least one African American in its origination; and (B) this policy fails to acknowledge that there are beneficial aspects to CRT. To affirm this policy is to affirm a dishonest approach to CRT, he said.
For years, Forrest Peralta traveled so often for work that he almost never slept at his rental in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where he paid $1,400 a month for his half of a two-bedroom.

Last spring, as Covid-19 overtook the city, his roommate moved back home to Westchester. I am trying to move to the next chapter of life, said Mr. Peralta, 29, a project manager for a consulting firm near Grand Central Terminal. I felt like I was throwing money away renting.

As the pandemic progressed, he said, I wanted something secure. I travel a lot, so being rooted somewhere is important to me.

Mr. Peralta, who grew up in northern New Jersey and went to college in Boston, was hoping to spend around $300,000 on a co-op or condominium unit. I had accumulated enough for a down payment, but I wanted to be frugal, he said. I am definitely cost-conscious.

[Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

He began his hunt last spring in Manhattan, looking for a place with views and sunshine, to see what his budget would buy. One rectangular studio on a high floor in a Midtown co-op  for $285,000, with monthly maintenance of around $1,000  was in estate condition, needing a gut renovation.

That was one of the cheapest apartments in Manhattan, and it felt like I would have been living in a tenement, Mr. Peralta said. And he didnt relish the idea of renovating during a pandemic.

So he contacted a high school friend, Dana Stephenson, an associate broker at the Hoboken office of Brown Harris Stevens, telling her that he didnt think he would find the right place in the city. He wanted easy access to Manhattan, but also a place with a less intense pace of life.

The Hudson River waterfront in New Jersey, with its spectacular views, seemed just right.

His home search was not an extensive process, Ms. Stephenson said, because he was coming to the end of his lease and was in a hurry.

Among his options:
Consumer giant Unilever has said it will refuse to do business with any firms that do not pay their staff a 'living wage' from 2030 onwards.

The company made the pledge as part of a raft of committments to improve conditions in its supply chain after they announced social inequality has worsened during the pandemic.

Company bosses said social disprity was one of the 'biggest threats' currently facing the globe, alongside climate change.

The Ben & Jerry's and Marmite manufacturer is one of the first large-scale companies to make such a commitment.

The change will affect millions of their supply chain workers around the world.

The consumer good giant is to enforce a raft of social commitments in recognition of widening social inequality as a result of the pandemic. Pictured: A Unilever worker in Lagos, Nigeria

Alan Jope, chief executive officer at Unilever, called social inequality one of the 'biggest threats' currently facing the globe, alongside climate change (pictured, file photo)

The group has invested billions of pounds into addressing sustainability and environmental concerns in recent years but it has now turned more of its attention towards social inequality.

Their pledge will affect workers around the globe, including employees in some of the 190 countries Unilever operates in.

This includes Vietnam, America, Nigeria, France, the Netherlands and India.

Announcing the change, Alan Jope, chief executive officer at Unilever, said: 'The two biggest threats that the world currently faces are climate change and social inequality.

'The past year has undoubtedly widened the social divide, and decisive and collective action is needed to build a society that helps to improve livelihoods, embraces diversity, nurtures talent, and offers opportunities for everyone.

'We believe the actions we are committing to will make Unilever a better, stronger business; ready for the huge societal changes we are experiencing today  changes that will only accelerate.'

The Marmite manufacturer is one of the first large-scale companies to make such a commitment and the change will affect millions of workers around the world. Pictured: Employees prepare boxes of ice cream at the Miko Carte d'Or, part of the Unilever group, factory in Saint-Dizier, France

The company said it will ensure everyone who directly provides or delivers goods and services for Unilever will earn at least a living wage or income by 2030.

They defined a 'living wage' as an income that covers basic needs including food, water, housing, education, healthcare, transport and clothing.

A living wage also includes a provision for unexpected events, Unilever said.

Unilever is not only one of the largest companies in the UK, it operates in 190 countries and has more than 60,000 direct suppliers worldwide.

From Simple to Cif: The top brands from Unilever's global portfolio Unilever is a major producer of many much loved products. The group sells more than 400 brands in 190 countries, covering home care, beauty and personal care, and foodstuffs. Here are some of their most popular brands: Ben and Jerry's ice cream

Dove beauty product range

Marmite spread

Hellmann's mayonnaise and sauces

Lynx and Impulse deodrants

Walls ice cream

TRESemme haircare brand

Cif cleaning products

Magnum ice cream

Domestos bleach

Lipton, famous for its ice tea

Omo global laundry brand, which produces Persil, Skip, Breeze, and Surf, among others

Radox personal care products

Simple skincare brand

Sure deodrant

Vaseline

Cornetto ice cream brand Advertisement

These range in size from smallholder farmers to major companies, with their supply chains encompassing millions of workers.

Leena Nair, Unilever's chief people officer, called social inequality a 'systemic issue' and said it sees it biggest challenges in its supply chain in Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil and India.

The group also said there are specific issues regarding social inequality in the production of tea and cocoa which it hopes it can help address.

'It has been really sad to see that social divides have grown globally this year we felt this action was pressing,' Ms Nair said.

'It is a systemic issue and will need the support of Government and NGOs (non-government organisations) but we are positive about the change that can take place here.'

Other commitments as part of their drive for social change by 2030 include equipping 10 million young people with 'essential job skills'.

In the UK, Unilever also said it is improving flexibility for employees and within its supply chain.

The company, which was formed in 1930 through a merger between Dutch margarine producer Margarine Unie and UK soap-maker Lever Brothers, is understood to employ more than 7,000 people in the UK and around 3,000 more in the Netherlands.

It said the group has now expanded its U-Work programme to employ people who do not solely work for Unilever with monthly retainers as well as benefits such as pensions, healthcare, sick pay and holiday pay.

The group launched the scheme in a pilot in late 2019 and now has 220 employees on the programme after the expansion last year.

Globally, Unilever has also committed to spending two billion dollars (1.46 billion) with suppliers owned and managed by people from under-represented groups by 2025 in a bid to improve diversity.

Gabriela Bucher, executive director at Oxfam International, said: 'Unilever's plan shows the kind of responsible action needed from the private sector that can have a great impact on tackling inequality, and help to build a world in which everyone has the power to thrive, not just survive.

'We welcome Unilever's commitments for living wages and farmer incomes in the global supply chain, an important step in the right direction, and are proud to have been a partner of Unilever as it formed this ambitious new plan.'

The move was also applauded by the Living Wage Foundation, a campaigning organisation which accredits living wage employers.

The Foundation's director Laura Gardiner said: 'Unilever's commitment to paying the Living Wage throughout its entire supply chain by 2030 shows how accredited Living Wage Employers are leading the way in spreading the Living Wage through both their business networks, and across their global operations.

'We are actively working with organisations around the world to help establish living wages in other countries, and look forward to working with employers advancing sustainable development agendas.'

Stephen Miller, senior adviser to the president, attends a joint press conference with President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in the East Room of the White House in Washington on Sept. 20, 2019. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Adviser Stephen Miller: Trump Term One of Most Consequential in US History

President Donald Trumps four years in office included achievements that would have been unthinkable and marks the term as one of the most consequential in U.S. history, top adviser Stephen Miller said this week.

This is this the most consequential four-year term of any president in American history, Miller, an immigration hawk who was a Trump adviser for all four years, told the Washington Examiner late Tuesday.

What we achieved in the last four years would have been unthinkable in the span of even multiple presidencies, he added.

Miller, a onetime aide to former Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), pointed to Trump extending the border wall and implementing several major immigration policies, including the Remain in Mexico policy that forced asylum seekers to wait outside the United States while their claims were adjudicated.

We are leaving our successor with the most secure border and most secure immigration system in U.S. history, Miller said. Before Biden, every president has come into office with an unsecure border trying to figure out how to fix it. Joe Biden is the first president in American history who can be correctly told, The border, sir, is already secure.'

Trump sounded a similar theme while speaking to supporters in Maryland before flying to Florida on Wednesday morning.

I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think theyll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular, he said.

Bidens flurry of executive orders later Wednesday undid some of Trumps policies, including reversing Trumps decision to exclude illegal aliens from the Census, pausing the building of the border wall, and suspending the Remain in Mexico program.

Trumps Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last week that he believes history will reflect the good work the Trump administration did.

Those books will be written about the changes that we have made in the world, the recognition that we have taken about reality, sovereignty, respect for basic dignity and human rights, a return to the founding principles in a way that previous administrations had not done, he said.

Ill let others write it, but I think that those actionsthe actual things that happenedwill be reflected in a way that shows there was good work done on behalf of the American people.
The Biden administration is proposing to Russia a five-year extension of the New START treaty limiting the number of U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear weapons, U.S. officials said Thursday.

The proposal was being communicated to Russian officials, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter not yet publicly announced by the administration.

The treaty is set to expire Feb. 5 and is the last remaining agreement constraining U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons.

Signed in 2010 by President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, it limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. It permits sweeping on-site inspections to verify compliance.

Diplomatic move: Biden is offering a five-year extension to the only remaining nuclear arms control treaty. He and Jill Biden, along with Kamala Harris and members of the Biden family, took part in a virtual prayer service from National Cathedral Thursday

Will he take offer? Vladimir Putin's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has suggested Russia is open to a five-year extension

Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan planned to convey the extension proposal to Russia's ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, on Thursday afternoon, the official said.

A second U.S. official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the proposal but offered no details.

The proposal was reported first by The Washington Post.

President Donald Trump had been highly critical of the deal, asserting that it put the United States at a disadvantage.

His administration waited until last year to engage Russia in substantive talks on the treaty's future. Trump insisted that China be added to the treaty, but Beijing rejected the idea out of hand.

Biden, who indicated during the campaign that he favored extending New START, is not proposing any alterations, the U.S. official said. Thus it appeared likely that Moscow would be amenable to an extension.

Cold war legacy: The New START treaty is the final control on the vast nuclear arsenals first built by the United States and the then Soviet Union and now inherited by Russia

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had called Thursday on the United States and Russia to extend the New START and to later broaden the pact to include more weapons and China.

'We should not end up in a situation with no limitation on nuclear warheads, and New START will expire within days,' Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signaled on Monday that Moscow is ready to move quickly to keep the pact alive.

But Stoltenberg also underlined that 'an extension of the New START is not the end, it's the beginning of our efforts to further strengthen arms control.'

'We need to look at ways to include more weapons systems, systems not covered by the New START, but also to include China because China is now heavily modernizing their nuclear weapons, and not only modernizing but expanding their nuclear capabilities,' he said.

Arms control advocates warn that the treatys expiry would remove checks on U.S. and Russian nuclear forces, striking a blow to global stability. Canada and European allies in NATO are also concerned about the slow demise of non-proliferation agreements.

In 2019, the U.S. and Russia both withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which was signed in 1987 and banned land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 310 to 3,410 miles.

Last week, Russia also declared that it would follow the U.S. lead and pull out of the Open Skies Treaty that allows surveillance flights over military facilities to help build trust and transparency between Russia and the West.
Swarajya

The Delhi Police in its chargesheet has claimed that violent farmer protesters had hatched a conspiracy to try and capture the Red Fort and turn it into their new protest site, India Today has reported. The chargesheet claims that the attack on the Red Fort was part of a well-planned conspiracy to make it the new site for farmer protests against the farm reforms. The cops have claimed that Republic Day was chosen as the day of the protests to embarrass the centre.
"John is an outstanding leader with a proven track record," Caster said. "He brings a wealth of experience we can leverage to focus on big opportunities. We're thrilled to have John joining us, and I know he'll bring continued success to our organization."

With over 20 years of experience in the mortgage industry, Owens has served in many roles, from developing sales channels within wholesale to overseeing national business development. Most recently, he successfully led national recruiting at Academy Mortgage for the last five years.

Now, Owens will lead Nations Lending on its path to becoming a Top 10 Independent Mortgage Bank. Fostering the company's diverse and welcoming culture is an essential part of that goal, he said.

"Nations Lending has a stellar culture that's all about family, purpose and transparency," Owens said. "Our task will be to keep what we have and then build upon it with likeminded, top-flight talent to ensure our culture remains intact. We'll share our story across the country so more people can experience what Nations Lending has to offer."

About Nations Lending

Nations Lending Corporation is one of the fastest-growing mortgage lenders in the U.S. Headquartered in the Cleveland, Ohio area, it is licensed to lend in all 50 states and employs more than 1,000, combined, at corporate headquarters in the Cleveland, Ohio area and throughout more than 90 branches across the U.S. The company makes its mission of "home loans. made human." an integral part of its mortgage experience, offering tailored customer service and a variety of programs to suit any home buyer's needs: FHA, VA, Conventional, Jumbo, USDA, etc. Nations is an agency-direct lender with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae and retains mortgage servicing rights on 96 percent of the loans it originates. Inc. 5000 recognized Nations Lending as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the country in 2018, and the company was named a top-100 lender by National Mortgage Professional Magazine and Scotsman Guide in 2019. For more information, visit www.NationsLending.com.

For more information contact:

Nations Lending Corporation

Cheryl Lieber

216-503-6828

[email protected]

SOURCE Nations Lending Corporation

Related Links

https://nationslending.com/


Dover Area School District officials have hoisted the white flag of surrender after the state Supreme Court refused Wednesday to halt a plan for Washington Township to secede and join Northern York School District.

About 220 students in all grade levels will be involved in the shift. It could occur as early as this fall, district officials said.

The shift became a given when the states highest court refused to hear the Dover districts appeal of a Commonwealth Court order that sanctioned the transfer.

In a statement, Dover administrators said they are committed to working with (Northern York) on a transition plan that is executed within the parameters of the Courts decision and is in the best interest of the residents and students in both districts. The Dover Area School District is committed to work extremely hard to do what is in the best interest of all of the DASD families and students.

This was a bitterly fought battle.

The Washington Township Education Coalition began lobbying for the split nine years ago. That group argued that Dover is an underperforming district and that the townships students will have more educational opportunities in Northern York.

The state Board of Education twice rejected the secession, claiming it would be disastrous for the remains of the Dover district, which will lose an estimated $2.3 million in tax revenue annually. Dover administrators were joined in opposition to the split by a parents group, Keep Us In Dover Schools.

Holly Feeser, a member of that group, called the Commonwealth Courts approval of the split last June devastating.

In the Commonwealth Court ruling, Judge P. Kevin Brobson found the shift is justified and that neither district will suffer a crippling financial or other impact. He noted that 1,409 of the townships 1,929 taxpayers signed a petition supporting the transfer.

The Dover split isnt the only school district secession proposal on the table in central Pennsylvania.

Also pending before the Supreme Court is an appeal of a plan for Highspire to secede from the Steelton-Highspire School District and join Middletown Area School District.

Commonwealth Court moved that proposal forward in March by creating an independent school district for Highspire and its 276 students. The Highspire Education Coalition has been pursuing secession for six years.

In September, the Supreme Court agreed to hear appeals filed by the Steel-High and Middletown district opposing the secession.
A Worcester couple has been arrested by federal authorities, accused of falsely applying for loans under the CARES Act and making money transfers to individuals residing in Ghana, officials said Thursday.

Lucy Oworae, 56, and her husband, Richard Oworae, 59, have been charged with wire fraud and making false statements. They are expected to make an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy Thursday afternoon, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling.

Between late July and late August, federal authorities say the couple schemed to defraud the Small Business Administration, submitting fraudulent applications for at least three Economic Injury Disaster Loans totaling about $194,700, Lellings office said in a statement.

The Oworaes created fictitious companies for the loan applications, the statement said, and spent the money they received on unauthorized personal expenses and to make money transfers through a money-remitter business based in Tanzania to numerous individuals residing in Ghana.

Both husband and wife are permanent residents from Ghana, according to federal court documents. Lucy Oworae been employed by United States Postal Service since at least November 2019 and is currently assigned to the Central Massachusetts Processing and Distribution Center in Shrewsbury. Richard Oworae is listed as the resident agent for Gimp Management & Tax Consult (GMTC), a limited liability company formed in Massachusetts on or about August 26, according to records from the Massachusetts Secretary of State Corporations Division.

Around August 28, Richard Oworae electronically signed a loan agreement identifying himself as the Owner/Officer of GMTC.

As previously noted, according to records maintained by the Massachusetts Secretary of State Corporations Division, GMTC was incorporated on or about August 26, 2020  sixteen days after the GMTC EIDL loan application was submitted and two days before RICHARD electronically signed the loan agreement, federal documents read.

Federal authorities allege Gimp Management Consultants appears to be a false business using a variation on the GMTC name, which the Oworaes used to submit applications on the SBA loan application website.

The IP address for the device Richard Oworae used to electronically sign the GMC loan is the same address for the Oworaes residence on Maxwell Street in Worcester, according to court documents.

From Aug. 5 until Oct. 26, at least $16,500.32 of the proceeds of the fraudulent GMC loan was transferred, to individuals living in Ghana, documents indicate.

Around Sept. 28, a USPS employee working at the Central Massachusetts Processing & Distribution Center in Shrewsbury received a loan document from the SBA addressed to the U.S. Postal Services P&DC, according to documents. The issue was reported to a postal service supervisor, who alerted investigators.

SBA records indicated that the U.S. Postal Services, P&DC application identified Lucy Oworae as the owner of the business and used the Maxwell Street address.

A LinkedIn profile that appears to belong to Richard Oworae indicates he is a founding partner and CEO of GIMP Management and Tax Consultancy.

The EIDL funds are available to eligible individuals and businesses pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, available to assist business owners negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Loan proceeds are only allowed to be used on expenses like payment of fixed business debts, payroll, accounts payable and other business-related expenses that could have been paid had the COVID-19 disaster not occurred.
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Wednesday called a divided nation to meet the cascading crises of our era with unity, purpose and love for American ideals.

Bidens appeal for unity was not gauzy or naive. He confronted head-on the crisis of democracy represented by the insurrection that occurred two weeks earlier at the U.S. Capitol, in the very spot where he stood to take the oath of office as the nations 46th president.

Weve learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed, said Biden, the former vice president and longtime Democratic senator from Delaware by way of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Syracuse.

To preserve it for future generations, the president called on Americans to put aside scorched-earth politics and listen to one another.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal, he said. We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.

Biden took pains to say that unity doesnt mean the end of disagreement. He asked Americans who didnt vote for him to hear him out. If you still disagree so be it. Thats democracy. Thats America, he said. Yet hear me clearly: disagreement must not lead to disunion.

Biden sought to project optimism and resolve as the nation confronts many severe challenges at once: political division, racial injustice, a raging pandemic, a wounded economy and a warming planet.  we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain, the president said. He called on leaders to defend the truth and defeat the lies that poison public discourse.

The atmosphere of the inauguration reflected our perilous times. Instead of large crowds, there was a small audience wearing masks and seated at a distance to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Armed and camouflaged National Guard troops stood watch to keep the peace.

The subdued atmosphere could not take the shine off a truly historic moment. Former California Sen. Kamala D. Harris became the first woman to be vice president, and the first vice president who is Black and of Indian descent. Her achievement, a century after women gained the right to vote, shatters a glass ceiling that stood for more than two centuries.

Near the end of his speech, Biden asked for a moment of silence for the 400,000 Americans who have died of the coronavirus  a public expression of national grief we have not seen up to now. His presidency will rise or fall on his handling of the pandemic. Bidens pledge to manage the hell out of the federal response to the virus, and the team he has put in place to execute it, inspire confidence.

Biden is the man for this moment: a steady, experienced hand who knows how to deal with a crisis, knows how to legislate, who can lower the temperature of partisan politics, and who can empathize with Americans suffering loss because he has lived it. We wish him strength and success.

About Syracuse.com editorials

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A suspect in an October burglary at a residence near Lake Chickamauga has been booked.

In October, police responded to a burglary at Arbor Place Lane, and spoke to the victim. He said he had been away from the residence all day, and came back to a ransacked house. The victim told police his PlayStation and around $7,000 worth of Jordan and designer shoes were gone. He said he believed a couple he knew were behind it.

Police made contact with a few construction workers who were renovating a nearby house on Teakwood Drive. One worker said he was in the upstairs portion when he heard loud music. He went to the window and saw a gold Chevy with a Baby on Board sticker on the drivers side rear window.



The witness told police four or five males were in the car. He said he watched them drive away with duffel bags. He said they came back and took another bag as they cut across the yard of 3973 Teakwood Dr. The witness said he noticed a Tennessee tag, but could not read the full tag.



A few days later, police called EZ Pawn after the victims brother said he had gotten info the property was taken to the Lee Highway EZ Pawn. The brother said the victims shoes were at the pawn shop. When police spoke to staff, they said three people came into the store and pawned off shoes.

Staff located the shoes, and identified who had brought them in. EZ pawn said there was also a woman who pawned one pair of shoes under the name of Mr. Rugleoge. A few days after this, Ruben Rutledge and two others were named as suspects.

Ruben Rutledge was booked by the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office on Wednesday.
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Google and French publishers have agreed on common criteria for remuneration, bringing to an end a long-running copyright dispute, the two parties said on Thursday.

The change will affect the way Google in future remunerates publishers for reproducing excerpts from their content.

Google will in future use the newly agreed guidelines as a basis for individual contracts with publishers, according to a statement by Google and publishers association LAlliance de la Presse dInformation General.

Remuneration should depend, for example, on the daily volume of content published and a publications number of monthly unique visitors.

Publishing association head, Pierre Louette, spoke of an important step, while Frances Google boss Sebastien Missoffe said the agreement would open new perspectives for the media partners.

News agencies and media from the magazine press union are not included in the agreement, according to French news agency AFP.

The background to the dispute is an EU amendment passed in 2019 aimed at updating the blocs outdated copyright law for the digital age and ensuring authors receive better remuneration for content published online.

Google initially refused to pay for republished content, but suffered a defeat at the Paris Court of Appeal in October.

(dpa/NAN)
(TNS)  San Antonio's disinfecting robot manufacturer, Xenex, kicked off 2021 by expanding both its facilities and its business.With sales soaring 600 percent in 2020, due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic, the privately held firm outgrew its old space. But it found a new home in a business park two miles away, near Wurzbach Parkway and San Antonio International Airport."We've gone from 30,000 square feet spread across three different offices in the same complex to about 40,000 square feet, all under one roof," CEO Morris Miller said. "That includes production, engineering, science, management, sales, marketing, accounting  everybody's together."While some employees are working from home, others are working in the new space. The smell of fresh paint and new carpet permeated the air Tuesday. Many of the walls are a deep purple."Somehow we arrived at the robot having a purple color  it just kind of resonated," Miller said. "When you think about ultraviolet light, that happens to be purple, and because we're the leader in the ultraviolet space, I thought that makes sense."As the company settles into its new digs, it continues to sell LightStrike Robots to hospitals, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, sporting venues and schools around the world.Last week, the company announced two robots are now helping the San Antonio Spurs sanitize the AT&T center.And when the 87th Texas State Legislature opened Jan. 12, the Texas Capitol building deployed 12 of the barrel-sized machines that use broad-spectrum, high-intensity ultraviolet light to help protect lawmakers and visitors from pathogens."The State Preservation Board employs a full spectrum of cleaning and disinfecting efforts to counter the spread of COVID-19 at the Texas State Capitol," said spokesperson Chris Currens in an e-mail. "The cleaning robots are one element of that effort, along with other innovative products."The Capitol building is the first statehouse to use LightStrikes, but they are in numerous federal buildings, including 110 military and Veterans Affairs facilities, around the country, according to Miller.One key to the robot's effectiveness is the company's proprietary technology that allows the machines to deliver ultraviolet light that's 4,300 times more intense than traditional methods, he said. A University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center study found Xenex robots kill 22 times more germs than manual housekeeping alone."It's just a huge differential in power, and it's that power that ends up destroying the pathogen," he said. "Our light is on so quickly that it doesn't damage surfaces or materials."While the machines cost more than $100,000 each, operators can sanitize up to 7,000 square feet an hour, according to Miller. And, they're not intended to replace housekeeping staffs  they're meant to augment people, he said."It's called cobotics ... the combination of robots and people cooperating to get things done," he said. "A person can put (a robot) in place, disinfect, put it in another place, disinfect  every two minutes moving it around."That cooperation, that cobotics  it makes it fast, makes it work."
By Prossy Kisakye

Buganda Premier Charles Peter Mayiga has encouraged Ugandans to fully participate in the on-going local government council elections.

This followed the low voter turn-out in yesterdays city mayors, councillors and district chairpersons elections.

Mayiga says local government council elections are very essential since these leaders are very close to the peoples challenges, urging Ugandans not to ignore them.

According to the Electoral Commisison official roadmap, next week on Monday, Ugandans will be voting for Municipal/ City division chairpersons and councillors.
FLINT, MI - U.S. District Court Judith E. Levys opinion and order granting preliminary approval to a partial, $641 million settlement of Flint water crisis lawsuits is a 72-page document issued Thursday, Jan. 21. Here are 11 important pieces of it.

What has been decided?

Levy found the $641 million proposed settlement filed on behalf of those harmed by Flint water and four defendants - the state of Michigan, city of Flint, McLaren Regional Medical Center and Rowe Professional Services - meets the minimum requirements of being fair, adequate and reasonable. Her ruling sets in motion a 60-day registration window for those willing to drop their legal claims and file for a portion of the settlement against the four entities.

In more than 100 lawsuits filed in state and federal courts, residents have alleged that the state and others caused, prolonged, concealed, ignored, or downplayed the risks of (their) exposure to the citys water, which injured (them) and damaged their property and commercial interests, according to the judges opinion and order.

Whos covered?

The settlement provides the opportunity for monetary awards for every person exposed while a minor child; every adult exposed with a resultant injury; every residential property owner, renter, or person responsible for paying Flint water bills; and certain business owners impacted during the relevant time period.

Participation is not required, and residents can continue to litigate their claims in court by not participating in the deal.

How do I make a claim?

The U.S. District Court has established a web page that includes documents related to Flint water litigation, including the settlement agreement, and forms for registering to make a claim The site is at https://www.mied.uscourts.gov/index.cfm?pageFunction=CasesOfInterest.

The deadline for registering is March 29.

How much will claims payments amount to?

After attorney fees, the remainder of the settlement funds will be divided among various categories of those making claims with children who were younger than 18 when they were first exposed to Flint River water set to receive 80 percent of the available funds.

The river was used as Flints source of drinking water in parts of 2014 and 2015 and contained elevated levels of lead, bacteria and chlorination byproducts.

The deadline for attorneys to file a motion for fees and expenses is due to the court by Feb. 26.

The compensation process and timeline are the same for every person -- and the amount of money that a claimant will receive is based on objective factors such as age, exposure to the water, test results, specific identified injuries, property ownership or lease, payment of water bills, and commercial losses. Significantly, the compensation will be the same for similarly situated individuals and entitiesregardless of whether they are represented, unrepresented ..., Levys opinion and order says.

Payments to minors

For those who were minors at the time they were first exposed to Flint water in 2014 or 2015, there are 21 possible settlement categories they may fit into. While there are different allocations for recovery in each of the 21 categories, a grid in one court document provides a breakdown.

The categories are laid out in this exhibit starting on page 379.

The grid provides for different settlement values based on objective factors such as the age of the child at first exposure, the evidence of lead exposure, and the evidence of cognitive impairment related to lead exposure.

The settlement proposes three options for minors and legally incapacitated individuals to receive distribution of their monetary award, if the award exceeds $5,000: A special needs trust, a settlement preservation trust, or a structured settlement.

A portion of the settlement -- $35 million -- is proposed to be set aside for minors who do not file their claims immediately or who do not finalize their claims. This means that individuals less than (18) years of age on the date they first ingested Flint water (if ingested between April 25, 2014 and November 16, 2020), who failed to register or did not receive (a claims payment), can still participate in the settlement later on, before they turn (19) subject to available funds.

Payments to adults

Those who were at least 18 years old when they were first exposed to Flint River water and who are not already represented by counsel are members of the proposed settlement class.

Those adults, along with adults who are represented by a lawyer, are eligible to register to participate in the proposed settlement and seek a monetary award if they owned or lived in a residence that received water from Flint or were legally liable for payment of bills for that water between the dates of April 25, 2014 and November 16, 2020. They can also make a claim if they owned or operated a business that received Flint water or were legally liable for the payment of bills for Flint water during those same dates.

Adults who ingested or came into contact with water received from the Flint water treatment plant for at least 21 days during any 30-day period during those dates can also make a claim as can adults who were exposed to Flint water and were diagnosed with Legionnaires Disease.

Legionnaires claims

Recovery for legionella death cases ranges from $300,000 to $1.5 million - no matter how many claims are made in this category.

What happens to the lawsuits?

Among those sued by Flint residents and who chose not to settle are Veolia Water North America Operating Services, LLC and associated companies; S.A.; Lockwood Andrews & Newnam, P.C. and associated companies; the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the federal government. Accordingly, even if the proposed settlement receives final approval, the litigation against these Defendants continues, the judges opinion and order says.

What about concerns of the Flint City Council?

The Flint City Council submitted five concerns regarding the settlement agreement to the court. They are: that the state is contributing insufficient funds; that the proof of injury requirements may be unduly burdensome on some residents; that the proposed settlement should more explicitly cover payment of past water bills by residents; that the proposed agreement should allocate funds to cover claims for payment of water bills in an amount not less than 2 percent of the settlement pool; and that additional time be granted to the council to consider and deliberate regarding the proposed settlement.

Levys opinion and order says the court cannot order the State of Michigan, the City of Flint, or any other Settling Defendant to contribute more funds to a settlement that was negotiated between the parties. The Court does not have the power or authority to impose additional terms, additional monetary amounts, or a different allocation to an agreement reached between parties.

What about other concerns that the settlement isnt fair?

Levy wrote that she has heard from some Flint residents who have expressed frustration with aspects of this settlement.

Although she ruled that the allocation of the settlement is fair in her opinion and order Thursday, she said she would revisit this determination at the final approval stage should there be evidence submitted to challenge the current allocation of settlement funds.

Though the Courts role in responding to these concerns is limited, these impacted individuals may join the settlement and still continue in the political process to seek the justice they have told the Court this settlement does not provide, the opinion and order says. Those affected will have to decide whether the risks of litigation -- and there are many -- outweigh the benefit of a certain resolution with the Settling Defendants.

The Court is sympathetic to the complexity of these decisions. Indeed, there may be no amount of money that would fully recognize the harm the residents of Flint have experienced, including their anxiety, fear, distrust, and anger over the events of last seven years. Litigation has its benefits, but also its limitations, and the preliminary approval of this settlement does not affect or preclude other avenues of redress. This litigation -- however it concludes -- need not be the final chapter of this remarkable story.

How was the settlement reached?

In August, attorneys for Flint residents and the state of Michigan announced they had reached an agreement to settle their claims for $600 million. In October of 2020, attorneys for the residents and the city of Flint agreed to a $20-million settlement, which required approval from the Flint City Council on or before Dec. 31, 2020. The City Council voted to join the settlement on Dec. 21. McLaren also agreed to settle for $20 million, and Rowe agreed to settle for $1.25 million.

The settlement was negotiated through mediation between the state and residents attorneys that was facilitated by former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and former Wayne County Chief Judge Pro Tem Pamela Harwood.

Read more:

Judge gives preliminary OK to $641 million Flint water crisis settlement

Youngest Flint water crisis victims to get 80 percent of historic $600 million settlement

Proposed Flint $641M water crisis settlement includes 30 claim process categories
Nana Ama Ampomah, the Ashanti Regional Women's Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on Ghanaians to support the underprivileged in society to create equal opportunities for them to develop.



She said such people deserved love and protection and must not be left behind because of their circumstances, which could change with a little support and care.



Nana Ama Ampomah was speaking after donating assorted food items to the All Nations Charity Home at Ayigya in Kumasi to commemorate her birthday.



The Womens Organiser also presented solar lamps, street lights and toiletries to the Home after which she dined with the kids.



Accompanied by some NPP activists in the Kumasi Metropolis, Nana Ampomah had fun with the children who could not hide their joy as they danced to contemporary music.



"I am happy to see this day and to share the same with these kids because they deserve the love I have enjoyed from my parents, she stated.



She encouraged others to pay regular visits to orphanages to give them hope and contribute to their upkeep, saying that it was a collective responsibility of the citizenry.



Reverend Philip Kwasi Nyamekye, Head of the Home, applauded her for extending a helping hand to the children and asked for God's guidance and protection in all her endeavours.



He particularly thanked the NPP Women Organiser for the street lights which he said would improve visibility in and around the Home at night.

Source: GNA









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PHILADELPHIA, PA and CAMBRIDGE, MA - January 19, 2021 -- Three grants for research that could transform cancer therapies have been awarded by the AACR-MPM Oncology Charitable Foundation Transformative Cancer Research Grants Program, an innovative partnership between the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and the UBS Oncology Impact Fund (OIF) managed by MPM Capital.

The Transformative Cancer Research Grants Program provides generous funds to investigators so they can pursue innovative research which has the potential to help guide and advance cancer treatment and make a significant impact for cancer patients. These grants are part of OIF's impact program, which provides support for next-generation basic science research as well as patient access to oncology drugs through the UBS Optimus Foundation. OIF donates a percentage of the fund manager's profits to the impact program, as well as royalties on approved drugs from OIF startup portfolio companies. To date, OIF's impact program has provided $6.8 million in philanthropic donations.

"In these challenging times, the need for high-impact, transformative research that will markedly reduce cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality is more important than ever," said Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc), chief executive officer of the AACR. "The AACR is honored to continue its partnership with MPM Capital and the OIF to support early-career and mid-career scientists whose creative research approaches hold promise for catalyzing paradigm-shifting advances that will result in breakthroughs against cancer."

"Through these grants, we continue to fund extremely innovative approaches to basic science and beyond," said Christiana Bardon, MD, MBA, managing director of OIF and trustee of the AACR Foundation. "This year's grant recipients are each working on bold and exciting science that could transform how we understand and treat cancer."

These grants were selected through a highly competitive review process including an expert review panel chaired by Nobel Laureate H. Robert Horvitz, PhD, an advisor to MPM Capital and OIF.

"Last year saw the emergence of an international health crisis that has refocused our attention firmly on the importance of scientific progress," said Tom Naratil, president of UBS Americas and co-president of UBS Global Wealth Management. "While COVID-19 continues to demand our attention and medical resources, we should not forget that cancer remains one of the leading threats to our health. We are thankful that by working with MPM Capital and the AACR, our UBS Oncology Impact Fund can now for the second time fund groundbreaking research projects that could lead to new therapies against cancer."

The three grants are:

"Bivalent DUB recruiters for targeted protein stabilization"

Sara Buhrlage, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, proposes to develop a novel class of agents, bivalent deubiquitinase (DUB) proximity inducing molecules, that can selectively stabilize targeted proteins. This new drug development paradigm is enabled by her recent success in development of selective DUB ligands for several members of the enzyme family. The successful completion of this proposal has the potential to transform cancer clinical care by delivering a completely new strategy for one of the most prolific undruggable oncology classes, tumor suppressors.

"I'd like to sincerely thank the AACR and MPM for the opportunity to pursue this research project," said Buhrlage. "As an early-career investigator, the chance to pursue this type of project could propel my career. We will pursue the research aggressively and are optimistic we'll credential a new cancer treatment paradigm."

"Targeting the ionic checkpoint on T-cell antitumor function"

Robert Eil, MD, of Oregon Health & Science University, will test the hypothesis that cancer cell death suppresses T-cell function through potassium (K+)-sensitive signal transduction. The study will help to determine the functional significance of cancer cell death byproducts for inflammasome and T-cell activation in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, define the mechanism underlying K+ control of T-cell function, and assess the impact of interventions to reprogram T-cell K+ transport as cancer immunotherapeutics.

"Receipt of this AACR-MPM Oncology Charitable Foundation Transformative Cancer Research Grant represents a critical milestone in my development as an independent scientist," said Eil. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue this exciting line of investigation with the potential to apply groundbreaking immune-based treatments to patients with treatment-resistant cancers."

"Discovering and targeting cancer-engineered pathways of metastasis"

Hani Goodarzi, PhD, of University of California, San Francisco, will study a class of previously unknown regulatory RNA molecules that appear specifically in cancer cells and can serve as building blocks for cancer-engineered regulatory pathways. The discovery of orphan non-coding RNAs as a cancer-specific class of small RNAs with regulatory potential provides an opportunity for a systematic search for functional neo-regulators of gene expression in cancer cells. In addition to providing insight into tumor evolution, this research will also attempt to discover novel targets that are solely active in cancer cells and develop potential therapies using a new generation of antisense molecules.

"This grant provides a unique opportunity for my team to tackle a high-risk, high-reward project," said Goodarzi. "In addition to providing support and resources, this represents a vote of confidence in our approach from the leaders in the field."

Each project will receive $400,000 over a two-year period. In this program, proposed research must represent a highly innovative approach to a major problem or challenge in cancer research that may not be funded through conventional channels. The funded projects are expected to catalyze important advances in cancer research and should have a potentially transformative impact on future clinical practice. The projects can be focused on any area of basic, translational, or clinical research.

###

For AACR: Julia Gunther, julia.gunther@aacr.org

For MPM Capital: Matt Burke, mattdavidburke@gmail.com

For UBS: Fabian Gmuender, fabian.gmuender@ubs.com

About the American Association for Cancer Research

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes 47,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and patient advocates residing in 127 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 30 conferences and educational workshops--the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting, with more than 100,000 attendees for the 2020 virtual meetings and more than 22,500 attendees for past in-person meetings. In addition, the AACR publishes nine prestigious, peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual investigator grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and other policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit http://www. AACR. org .

About MPM Capital

MPM Capital is a healthcare investment firm with over two decades of experience founding and investing in life-sciences companies that seek to translate scientific innovations into cures for major diseases. With its experienced and dedicated team of investment professionals, entrepreneurs, and advisors, MPM strives to power novel medical breakthroughs that transform patients' lives. For more information visit http://www. mpmcapital. com .

About UBS

UBS provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as private clients in Switzerland. UBS's strategy is centered on our leading global wealth management business and our premier universal bank in Switzerland, enhanced by Asset Management and the Investment Bank. The bank focuses on businesses that have a strong competitive position in their targeted markets, are capital efficient, and have an attractive long-term structural growth or profitability outlook.
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Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday paid tributes to Army soldier Havaldar Nirmal Singh who was killed in Pakistani firing along the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Poonch district.

He said the nation was eternally indebted to the soldier for his supreme sacrifice. The Lt Governor prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family.

Singh was killed when Pakistan violated the ceasefire and resorted to firing on forward positions along the LoC in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch on Thursday, officials said.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
About halfway through his inauguration speech, President Joe Biden said something very important about the work of Washington -- and how he envisions his presidency.

"Politics doesn't have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path," Biden insisted. "Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war."

If you blinked, you might have missed it. But that line -- and the sentiment behind it -- functions not only as a rejection of the political worldview of his predecessor in office but also as the core belief that underpins Biden's entire theory of the presidential case.

Now, Biden didn't mention Donald Trump, either in that moment or at any other time in his inaugural address.

But he didn't need to. Because everyone remembers the way that the now ex-president of the United States talked about those -- Democrats and Republicans -- who disagreed with him.

"It was a disgraceful situation brought about by people that are evil," Trump said of the politicians who opposed the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Following his impeachment (and acquittal) in 2019 over charges he behaved inappropriately toward Ukraine, Trump denounced the "evil" and "crooked" politicians who had allegedly persecuted him.

In accepting the Republican nomination at the party's national convention in August, Trump warned: "This election will decide whether we SAVE the American Dream, or whether we allow a socialist agenda to DEMOLISH our cherished destiny."

And when he addressed a mob of his supporters on January 6, Trump told them: "We fight. We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."

Trump spoke in those apocalyptic terms because, well, it worked for him. It made his base wild. And he never had any real concern about what his words meant -- or what they might occasion. Like, say, the storming of the US Capitol to back up his ridiculous claims of a stolen election.

It wasn't just Trump, however. Not only has he spawned an entire wing of the Republican Party (Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, among many others) whose only salient political position appears to be trolling Democrats and the media, but he also used that Manichean view of politics to tide roughshod over everyone else in the GOP, too. Because Republican elected officials lived in fear of a Trump tweet calling them out for some apostasy or other, they found themselves lining up behind his weaponizing of partisanship for pure political gain.

Trump was, to borrow Biden's line, the "raging fire destroying everything in its path." And his fellow Republicans, rather than trying to put that fire out, decided to either stand aside or throw on some lighter fluid of their own -- because that was the easier path to take, politically speaking.

Biden's reminder that politics doesn't have to be an all-out war between two sides set only on destroying the other then functions as a rejection of the Trump worldview.

But it's more than that too. It's a hope in the unseen. That adages like "reasonable people can disagree" and "you can disagree without being disagreeable" aren't punchlines to be met with guffaws and eyerolls by the political professional class. That unity is actually more than a word, it's a real possibility.

"I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days," Biden said at one point, a tacit acknowledgment that lots and lots of people -- Democrats and Republicans -- are deeply skeptical that his vision for a coming-together of the country and an end to the "raging fire" approach to politics are anything more than a quaint pipe dream.

And yet, time and time again, Biden returned to that theme of unity -- and his belief that we are better than these last four years would suggest.

"This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. And unity is the path forward," said Biden. "We must meet this moment as the United States of America."

It's a noble idea, to be sure. And there's no question that a significant chunk of the country is ready for a different kind of politics in the wake of four years of unending partisanship by a president who seemed only to consider his base when making decisions for the country.

Biden's speech on Wednesday is rightly understood as a metaphorical reaching of his hand across the partisan aisle. ("In the work ahead, we are going to need each other," he said near the end of the address.) The real question is whether anyone on the Republican side will reach their hand out to meet his.
Mr. Trump acted as though he were the first person in history to lose a presidential election. But of course every presidential election has a loser. Until Wednesday, outgoing presidents had handed over the reins of power with grace and public spirit. The few who declined to attend their successors inauguration, like Andrew Johnson (who was also impeached), did not spread lies about the legitimacy of their opponents victory. Many presidents knew they were ceding the office to someone who would take the country in a different direction. They did it anyway, not because it was easy, but precisely because it was hard  because they valued the American ideal more than their own ego.

Mr. Trump instead pawned off the job on his vice president, Mike Pence, whose presence on the stage was all the more notable given that he had debased himself faithfully at his bosss foot for four years, only to be rewarded with a mob, egged on by that boss, calling for his execution.

Mr. Trump leaves office as the most disgraced, and most disgraceful, president in history. He divided and exhausted the country. He abused his office to the final possible moment, rescinding his own 2017 order barring lobbying by former White House employees. (Surprise: He never intended to drain the swamp.) And he doled out last-minute pardons to friends and allies like Steve Bannon, his former campaign manager, who faced federal fraud charges for bilking Mr. Trumps own supporters out of cash that he claimed was going to help build the long-promised border wall.

Mr. Trump holds another distinction: the first president to be impeached twice. This time, he might even be convicted by the Senate. Either way, Congress must ensure that he can never hold office again. Once he has faced political accountability, he must face the other types of accountability he has avoided throughout his life  financial, social and, potentially, criminal.

Even though Mr. Trump is gone from office, the trauma he inflicted on the nation remains. So do at least 74 million people who voted for him, and who arent going anywhere. Living under Mr. Trumps malfeasance and mismanagement for four years was made all the more upsetting with the knowledge that so many Americans watched it all happen and decided they wanted even more.

There will be time to figure out how a nation so deeply divided against itself can come together and heal. However that may happen, it wont be by forgetting Mr. Trumps abuses, or who was complicit in them. Nor will it happen by ignoring the profound problems  from economic inequality to systemic racism to social-media disinformation peddlers  that brought us to this wretched place.

Mr. Biden cannot solve these problems by himself, but he is well aware of the gravity of the situation, and of the hurdles that await. He enters office with the barest possible Senate majority and a thin margin in the House. His legislative agenda will run up against a Supreme Court that Republicans have stolen and stacked with the most hard-line conservatives in a century  justices who are out of step with the majority of Americans, but who will have the final word on interpreting the nations Constitution and laws for decades to come.
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The anniversary cake created for the American Culinary Federations 90th annual meeting was stunning in every way. With nine edible tiers, it stood taller than the average convention attendee. It was detailed with silkscreened pictures of past meeting sites and names of each of the professional groups 170 chapters.

But Kimberly Brock Brown was most interested in the tier labeled Past National Presidents, featuring trading card-style likenesses of the chefs whove led the organization since its founding by the top European toques in New York City.

There wasnt a woman or Black person among them.

Now I knew that, but you look at it and its in your face, Brown recalls of the moment that crystallized her determination to diversify the groups leadership.

Brown, a Summerville pastry chef, is now running for the role of ACF board president. Her campaign slogan is "Race to the Cake."

Im such an introvert, but Ive got to get out there, says Brown, whos using social media to encourage more of ACFs 14,000 members to vote in the upcoming election. If you see something, do something.

Although Brown admits shes not a fiend for prestige, much less unpaid work, ACF rules stipulate that only members who have served on the organizations executive board are eligible for its presidency. According to Brown, the men who have long run the organization strategize around that qualification. Guys plot and plan that career move, checking off the criteria to be met, she said.

Yet Brown wasnt aware of it in 2017 when she won a board seat, becoming the first Black woman ever to serve on the ACF board.

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My objective was never to be national president, she says of her first campaign. I was just tired of seeing the White guys doing it, and it wasnt just me who was sick and tired of it.

And now that shes the only person other than White guys whos eligible for the presidency, she feels compelled to challenge ACF secretary Mark G. Wright for the role, even though ACF elections are typically uncontested.

If I wasnt running, I would probably vote for Mark, Brown says of the Buffalo, N.Y., culinary school instructor. But I am a firm believer that representation matters."

For instance, when Brown judged a certification exam for employees of a cruise line, she ran into a young woman who hadnt sat for the test. When Brown asked the working chef why she hadnt registered, the woman said she didnt feel like her boss expected her to compete at that level.

She told Brown that she had never seen a female with patches on her jacket.

While Brown suspects her presence alone helps women and people of color feel like they belong in the organization, which she joined in 1981, shes also a proponent of formal mentoring. Part of her campaign platform involves requiring every executive board member to mentor a chef just out of culinary school.

Another plank of her platform concerns pastry. Even though ACF members are capable of creating the kind of towering cakes that inspired Browns run, no pastry chef has ever advanced to the presidential role. Brown says the groups pastry programs have lagged as a result.

ACF will hold its board elections this spring. The organization did not return a message seeking comment.
Charleston, WV (25301)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning becoming more widespread this afternoon. Heavy downpours are possible. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 78F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Thunder possible. Low 56F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Thiruvananthapuram:

A man from Kerala, who was suspected to have joined terror outfit Islamic State (IS), has reportedly been killed in Afghanistan,

A photograph of the body of Shajeer M Abdulla was received on WhatsApp by B C Abdul Rehman, a social activist in Kasaragod district, on Monday.

Rehman said the picture, along with a message, was forwarded to him by another man from Kasaragod, who too was believed to have joined the IS.

"I do not know any other details of Shajeer M Abdulla, who is said to have been killed," he told PTI.

But the exact date or cause of the death was not mentioned in the message, he said.

When contacted, police in Kozhikode, from where Abdulla hails, said they do not have any official information about the development.

"Shajeer hails from Moozhikkal under Chevayur police station limit in Kozhikode. He completed his engineering studies and went to the Middle East for a job. This is the information we have. Nothing more," a police officer told PTI.

The probe on all matters connected with these issues is being handled by the National Investigating Agency (NIA), the officer, who did not wish to be named, said.

NIA has been probing cases of the missing of at least 21 men who had left the state under mysterious circumstances over a period of time and are suspected to have joined the IS.

Among them, 17 were from Kasaragod and four from Palakkad. They include four women and three children.

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The Orleans Parish Coroners Office this week released the names of five people killed in recent slayings.

Austin Nguyen, 20, was found shot to death outside an abandoned home in the 2700 block of Marigny Street in St. Roch about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Ilia Henderson, 40, and Santiago Rubio, 30, were fatally shot in the 3000 block of Bienville Street in Mid-City about 5:25 p.m. Tuesday. A third person was wounded in the shooting. Hendersons mother told WWL-TV that the slain woman worked as a personal care assistant and was sitting on a porch with a patient who uses a wheelchair when she was killed.

Gerald Robicheaux, 50, was strangled inside of a home in the 3100 block of North Claiborne Avenue in the St. Claude neighborhood on Jan. 12. Police later booked 33-year-old Laura Collins, described as Robicheauxs fiance, with murder in connection with Robicheauxs death.

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Sidney Moses, 57, was shot to death in the 1500 block of South Liberty Street in Central City on Jan. 9.

As of Thursday afternoon, there had been at least seven murders in New Orleans so far this year, according to unofficial statistics maintained by the City Council.

The coroner's office released Nguyen, Henderson and Rubio's names on Thursday. The office released the names of Robicheaux and Moses on Wednesday.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha has signed a decision announcing the top 10 events of the sector last year. Below are the selected events.

Lawmakers approve the revised Law on Environmental Protection (Photo: VNA)

1. The 14th National Assembly approved the revised Law on Environmental Protection.

With 16 chapters and 171 articles, the revised law marks the first time a resident community has been defined as a subject in environmental protection. It also regulates environmental audits, the management and handling of waste to develop a circular economy, climate change response, the development of a domestic carbon market, and the conservation of natural heritages in line with international law, among others. The law will take effect from January 1, 2022.

2. Unusual and extreme natural disasters took place across three regions.

Hail and thunderstorms rained down violently on many northern provinces from the outset of the Lunar New Year 2020. The dry season saw a serious water shortage in the Mekong Delta, with early and deep saline intrusion for several days, exceeding the record set in 2016.

Flood in Thanh An commune, Cam Lo district, Quang Tri province (Photo: VNA)

In the wet season, central provinces suffered from a series of consecutive and intense natural disasters. Within 42 days, they bore the brunt of six storms and one tropical depression, including a storm considered one of the two most intense in the last two decades. Meanwhile, rain-induced storms, floods, and landslides cost the region serious human and asset damage, with millions of local residents severely affected.

3. The sector integrated and operated its e-government system.

The user interface of the ministry's portal for supporting information access (Photo: VNA)

The sector surpassed target set for the provision of tier-4 online public services. It also connected to the national public service portal as well as to the information centres of the Government and Prime Minister, among others.

4. Vietnam completed updating of National Determined Contribution (NDC).

Despite COVID-19 and a scarcity of resources, the country was among only a few to complete this task, making a commitment to increasing its contributions to climate change response.

5. Vietnam established a national steering committee to implement its strategy for sustainable maritime economic development by 2030 with a vision towards 2045.

Quy Nhon beach (Photo: VNA)

The committee is an interdisciplinary agency that advises the Prime Minister on studying, directing, and resolving important and interdisciplinary tasks related to the sustainable development of Vietnams marine economy.

6. The Dak Nong Geopark in the Central Highlands province of the same name became a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, while the Thai Thuy and Tam Giang - Cau Hai wetland nature reserves were established in the northern province of Thai Binh and the central province of Thua Thien Hue, respectively.

The Dak Nong Geopark covers more than 4,760 sq.km of land in six of the eight district-level localities in Dak Nong province. It is home to 118 heritage and geomorphological sites and nearly 50 caves with a total length of over 10,000 metres.

The Dak Nong Geopark (Source: VNA)

The establishment of the two wetland nature reserves was in line with the law on biodiversity, affirming Vietnams commitment to international treaties on the matter.

7. A pact was signed to launch the Vietnam National Plastic Action Partnership and a programme on mitigating marine plastic debris in Vietnam.

Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

Signatories to the pact were the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the World Economic Forum.

8. Vietnamese and Cambodian officials exchanged topographic border maps at 1:25,000 scale. The map shows the results of border delimitation and marker planting with 2,047 border markers installed.

Both sides held a ceremony to exchange a document approving the validity of the supplementary treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty, and the Vietnam-Cambodia land border demarcation protocol.

9. The first phase of a governmental programme on searching for underground water resources to supply mountainous areas and regions facing shortages of water was completed.

Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)

The phase built 454 facilities and prepared conditions for the construction of 189 water supply stations in 36 cities and provinces. In the 2020 dry season, it handed over 13 facilities offering free clean water in nine provinces in the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands regions.

10. The national science and technology programme on climate change response and the management of natural resources and environment for 2016-2020 saw significant results.

Several works were registered for intellectual property protection under the programme, while 233 articles, including 77 with an ISI or Scopus index, were published. It also helped improve the capacity of the sectors human resources via the provision of training to turn out 1,844 masters, 980 doctorate holders, 186 associate professors, and 38 professors./.

10 prominent medical events in Vietnam in 2020 Amid the turbulence caused by the new strain of coronavirus, Vietnam has once again proven its ability to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Priti Patel has refused to rule out fining 'morally reprehensible' people who try to jump the queue for coronavirus vaccines on the NHS.

The Home Secretary said No10 was keeping 'all measures under review' amid reports of young and healthy Britons bypassing the priority list using IT loopholes.

Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS London' medical director who joined Ms Patel at tonight's Downing Street briefing, said he was 'horrified' by the reports.

It emerged yesterday that an IT gltich in the booking system allowed anyone of any age to secure an appointment ahead of the elderly and vulnerable. Links to the Swiftqueue website which exploited the system were widely shared on social media and Whatsapp.

Dr Diwakar said: 'People are being called in priority order so we can vaccinate those most at risk of serious illness first.

'And that is why I was horrified to hear some unscrupulous people are using links shared with them to try falsely book a vaccination appointment.

'To seek to do this is denying some of the most vulnerable in our community a life-saving vaccine. Let me be clear about this, it is morally reprehensible to try to jump the queue. And anybody who books to get the vaccine fraudulently will be turned away.'

Asked whether the Government was considering bringing in fines for those looking to secure a jab before they are called for one, Ms Patel said: 'With regards to the queue jumping, as you put it, around the vaccine, I completely echo the words of Dr Diwakar.

'Quite frankly it is morally reprehensible because these individuals are putting the lives of vulnerable people at risk  the most vulnerable who have been prioritised by the Government to receive the vaccine because they are vulnerable in that they are susceptible not only to contracting the virus but could die from this deadly, deadly virus.

'As I've always said, as we say as a Government as well, all our measures are under review.'

At least three councils in England and Wales have also been caught offering vaccinations to school, nursery and office staff ahead of the over-70s, going against the priority list for the jab.

Priti Patel (left) has refused to rule out fining 'morally reprehensible' people who try to jump the queue for coronavirus vaccines on the NHS . Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS London' medical director, said he was 'horrified' by the reports

Britain dishes out a record 366,919 Covid vaccines as NHS figures reveal postcode lottery on rollout Britain yesterday dished out a record 366,919 coronavirus vaccine doses, putting the Government on track to hit its target of inoculating 13.9million people by mid-February. The UK's huge vaccination drive, which has rallied after a slowdown over the weekend, has now given first doses to almost 5million people. Britain must reach at least 350,000 people every day for the next month to hit the goal of immunising the most vulnerable people in the country by February 15, when Boris Johnson plans to review lockdown rules  although it remains unlikely they will be loosened before March even if that target is achieved. NHS chiefs today published the most detailed breakdown so far of local vaccination rates, revealing a postcode lottery favouring rural areas. Medics in Cumbria and the North East have handed out 10 times more vaccines than those in Shropshire. An impressive 10 per cent of the population in Gloucestershire have had a jab already, compared to just 3.6 per cent of East Londoners. Herefordshire and Worcestershire also managed to immunise one in 10 of their residents by January 17. Coverage appears to be higher in more rural areas and lower in cities, with the lowest vaccination rates in London and the East Midlands. The 10 areas most advanced in their rollout have managed to immunise 71 per cent of their over-80s already, with Gloucestershire the highest at 85 per cent. For comparison, the worst-performing areas, mostly in London, had managed fewer than half by January 17. Rural areas tend to have higher average ages among their residents and more elderly people, which may give them access to more vaccine doses to distribute, while inner cities will have to wait until younger people become eligible. Boris Johnson has warned achieving the February target will be 'very hard' but it has emerged today that No10 is only aiming to 'offer' the jabs to that number of people and it won't declare failure if they aren't all delivered on time. Government sources admit not everyone will take up the invitation, with polls indicating that a fifth of the population might refuse. In echoes of when the Department of Health posted thousands of tests so it could claim it had done 100,000 in a day, the technicality raises the prospect that the target could be technically hit well before 13.9million doses have been administered  although it's still possible the jabs will actually be given. However, MPs warned that 'under-delivering' and then claiming to have achieved the goal 'won't wash'. Even if everyone does take it up, scientists say, the country still won't reach herd immunity strong enough to stamp out the virus completely. Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that the efficacy of current vaccines, combined with the emergence of more infectious variants of the virus, mean keeping the R below one without lockdown restrictions could become impossible Advertisement

Yesterday it emerged links to the Swiftqueue website that are meant to allow the over 70s and NHS and care workers to book an appointment were circulating on social media.

People who used them were not asked for proof of eligibility when making appointments.

The Labour MP Toby Perkins was one of those who was able to get an appointment through one of the Swiftqueue links - which he immediately cancelled.

'The first I heard about it was Monday night when I got a text saying there was a URL link going around that gets you a Covid vaccine and people are getting it who aren't entitled,' the Chesterfield MP told the Evening Standard.

'So I went onto this link and booked on myself and it gave me an appointment as a 50-year-old  it didn't ask me if I was a key worker. It allowed me to book on without my NHS number and it just gave me an appointment go down tomorrow at 10.10am.'

The Telegraph reported nursery workers have been offered jabs, and the two authorities secured vaccinations for children's services staff in secondary schools.

But the two Conservative-controlled councils, in a joint statement on Wednesday, said they have since 'clarified to schools and early years settings... that at this stage, the eligibility for the vaccine will only include staff who provide personal care and support'.

In the joint statement, Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council said: 'Our top priority is to ensure the vaccine is offered to those who are most vulnerable.

'In line with JCVI national priorities, this includes residents of care homes, the over-80s and those providing frontline health and social care.

'By offering to these groups, we are following the national guidelines and Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council and the local NHS are working hard to ensure these groups receive their jabs and not a drop of vaccine is wasted.

'As part of this work, other groups on the national priority list levels three and four are beginning to be invited to come forward for vaccinations.

'Today (Wednesday), we have clarified to schools and early years settings across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough that at this stage, the eligibility for the vaccine will only include staff who provide personal care and support.

'But we have also started to collect data from schools and other priority groups to be ready should the national guidelines allow us to provide wider vaccination at a later stage to people in these settings.

'We will continue to prioritise people for vaccines following JCVI guidelines.'

Meanwhile, office council staff jumped ahead of frontline workers for a coronavirus vaccine - in an email blunder.

The email invite was sent to the council's health and social care staff to give them priority to book their jabs.

But it was then shared with other county hall staff in Denbighshire Council, based in Ruthin, North Wales.

It allowed staff to book the vaccine even though they were not in the priority groups.Council bosses say they are now carrying out internal checks to make sure the system is not abused.

Anyone who accepts an invite when they are not eligible could now face disciplinary action.

A council spokesman said: 'Frontline health and social care staff have received an invite from the Covid-19 testing email address to arrange a vaccination in the first wave of vaccines.

'A small number of these invites were passed to staff who are not eligible yet, although the invite clearly stated it should not be shared.

'The health board has been provided with a list of eligible frontline health and social care staff from the council and non-eligible staff will not be given the vaccine at this time.

'We have contacted staff to explain the seriousness of this matter and to inform them again that invites should not be shared.

'We are also introducing internal checks to ensure the system is monitored and not abused.'

Other areas where the links are alleged to have been used are East London and Nottinghamshire.

The priority list has been decided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) - an independent expert advisory committee.

The top four priority groups are now eligible to get their coronavirus vaccine in England, meaning people who work in health and social care, as well as everyone over the age of 70, care home residents and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable can now be contacted for an appointment.

The top priority groups are the over-80s, care home residents, and NHS and social care staff, and the Government said it will remain the priority to vaccinate them.

A spokesman for the East London NHS Foundation Trust said: 'People attending appointments at the Westfield Vaccination Centre will be asked for proof that they have personally been invited for a vaccination and belong to one of these priority cohorts, to ensure that no one who is currently ineligible for the vaccine receives it as a result of making a false online declaration.'
MOSCOW -- A mischievous smirk plays on Lanfranco Cirillo's lips as he fields a question about his relationship to the man whose portraits -- two, to be precise -- gaze from the walls of his airy, third-floor office in central Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Like all Russians, I know there is a president," Cirillo told RFE/RL recently in his fluent, if often grammatically flawed, Russian. "He is a very good man. We as citizens all respect him very much."

Cirillo, however, is no ordinary Russian citizen.

The 56-year-old Italian received a Russian passport thanks to Putin. He has moved inside the rarefied world of the gilded class seen as part of Putin's circle -- a secretive milieu known for patron-client networks and a deep-rooted suspicion of foreigners. And he's the designer of a palatial mansion purportedly built for the Russian president -- a job that has earned him the moniker "Putin's Architect."

He now dreams of winning the rights to design a sprawling new parliament building in Moscow, joining the pantheon of Italian architects who have designed landmark Russian seats of power over the centuries -- including Moscow's iconic Kremlin and the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

And yet Cirillo was virtually unknown, even in Russia's architectural community, until he was outed nearly five years ago as the designer of what has been dubbed "Putin's Palace," a lavish estate built in utmost secrecy in the Black Sea town of Gelendzhik.

For Russia's political opposition, the property has become a brazen symbol of rampant state corruption running straight to the top.

Precisely how this foreigner's improbable odyssey led to a deal to design what may be Russia's most controversial piece of real estate -- while working with men closely associated with Putin -- remains unclear to many.

Cirillo, for his part, positions himself as a modest man who likes to keep a low profile and who is the product of a post-Soviet version of the American Dream -- a tale of hard work, merit, and good fortune.

Sporting a white shirt with open cuffs and a yellow, patterned necktie, he comes across as jovial and relaxed during a recent interview at his Moscow office. He declines to answer questions about "Putin's Palace," which the Kremlin adamantly denies has any connection to the Russian president, but confirms that he designed the mansion.

Cirillo says there is nothing untoward about his remarkable rise in Russia. "There is nothing strange here," he tells RFE/RL. "I just came to earn money and made a good company. What -- is that bad?"

'Strange Times'

It was through LUKoil, now Russia's second-largest oil company, that Cirillo embarked on his journey into the world of post-Soviet Russia's emerging moneyed class, according to the account he gives to RFE/RL.

A native of Brescia in Italy's northern Lombardy region, Cirillo says he earned his diploma from the Ca'Foscari University of Venice and proceeded to travel before working in "Arab countries" for two or three years.

In 1991, he says, a friend in Milan asked him for help dealing with a client in Russia who had "three words of German and two words of English," but wanted a foreign architect to build him a dacha. He decided to take the job.

As anyone who lives in Russia knows, rich people do not like publicity."

Cirillo says this man, whom he did not name, put him in touch with Vagit Alekperov, who has been president of LUKoil since 1993.

"The times were strange," Cirillo says. "I started out doing homes. Then I met LUKoil through this man. I worked for LUKoil until 2002-03. I started building for Alekperov and for the deputies of LUKoil. I built on [Moscow's] Sretensky Bulvar -- interiors, offices, then dachas, offices, apartments."

Cirillo says he opened a studio in 1995 in a small apartment on the New Arbat, a Moscow thoroughfare flanked by Soviet tower blocks that lies on the route to the Kremlin from the gated communities west of the city where the rich and powerful -- such as Putin -- reside.

Eventually, Cirillo says, he landed jobs with state-owned energy giant Gazprom and Novatek, Russia's second-largest gas producer, which is currently co-owned by close Putin ally Gennady Timchenko.

Cirillo claims to have designed and built opulent homes and offices for 43 Russian billionaires since arriving in Russia in the wake of the 1991 Soviet collapse. "I always say with pride that, if there are 120 billionaires in Russia, then 43 of them have been my clients. I'm proud of this. This is a close circle. It's very difficult to get into such a small circle in Russia," he says.

Cirillo's company does not have a website, and he says it has never advertised its services.

He laughs as he remembers some of the more eccentric orders he has received from Russia's rich over the years. "I've seen some mind-blowing things," he says, but he adds that a priest does not reveal what he hears in a confession. "I won't either," he says.

"As anyone who lives in Russia knows, rich people do not like publicity," Cirillo says, but he does share some details.

I drew it for a client who asked me to draw it. I drew it and I received money for this project.... I don't think there's anything bad for an architect to earn money."

One female oil executive, he says, asked him to build a swimming pool in her living room surrounded with one-way glass so that she could entertain guests, but simultaneously swim naked and not be seen.

"I've worked everywhere -- from Baikal and the Urals, to the south, Sochi, Gelendzhik," he says. "Wherever we get an order and take an interest, we work. There are lots of orders and tasks, but we don't always have time to do them all. As we only do quality work, of course we can't take just any assignment."

Despite his description of his portfolio, Cirillo is a mystery to many in the country's architectural community, several prominent Russian architects tell RFE/RL. "He is absolutely unknown in the circle of Moscow architects," says Yevgeny Ass, the rector of the MARCH School of Architecture. "We find out about his existence only from scandalous political publications."

Cirillo suggests his low profile is not an issue. "I live really well when no one knows me, so why do I need people to know me?" he says.

'Poor Italian Architect'

It's possible that Cirillo's name would have remained far from the spotlight if not for the revelations of businessman Sergei Kolesnikov, a onetime Putin associate who in 2010 published an open letter to then-President Dmitry Medvedev about the huge mansion on a majestic Black Sea promontory in Gelendzhik that he claimed was built specially for Putin.

Kolesnikov was a previous co-owner of a business called Petromed, a company founded in the 1990s by the external relations committee that Putin oversaw in the St. Petersburg mayor's office. The firm has been awarded numerous government contracts to provide medical equipment to health-care facilities.

According to Kolesnikov, tens of millions of dollars from these contracts was siphoned off and routed through a Belize-registered firm controlled by businessmen Nikolai Shamalov and Dmitry Gorelov, both associates of the Russian president.

That firm, called Lanaval, transferred at least $48 million to Medea Investment, a Washington, D.C.-based company controlled by Cirillo, to supply building materials for "Putin's Palace," according to Kolesnikov and documents reviewed by Reuters in an investigation of the property last year.

Cirillo confirmed in a statement to Reuters that a Russian company "assigned the work" on the project to him because he is "specialized and focused in the creation of high standing objects in many countries of the world," though he did not go into detail.

He tells RFE/RL that he "didn't design it for the president."

"I drew it for a client who asked me to draw it. I drew it and I received money for this project.... I don't think there's anything bad for an architect to earn money," Cirillo says.

The Gelendzhik palace was later reportedly purchased by Russian tycoon Aleksandr Ponomarenko. Kolesnikov told RFE/RL last year that the property was owned by a Cyprus-based firm that, in turn, was owned by a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. "No one really knows who the ultimate beneficiary [owner] of that palace is," he said.

A source with knowledge of the Gelendzhik project told RFE/RL that Cirillo landed the contract because he had considerable experience designing similar properties for Gazprom and Stroigazconsulting, which was a key company handling the design of the Gelendzhik property.

"The style that he proposed I would call Italian palazzo," the source said. "This is the style...of the Winter Palace -- this Italian palace style, which is reminiscent of the palaces of St. Petersburg and is a little reminiscent of Peterhof, the tsarist palaces. Naturally, the contractors really liked him, and that's why he got a chance to work on the palace in Gelendzhik."

The source also pointed out likenesses between the gates of the Gelendzhik palace and the gates of the Winter Palace, the ornate imperial-era residence of the Russian tsars in St. Petersburg.

'I Like The Sea'

While Cirillo declines to field questions about the Black Sea mansion, he confirms some aspects of the source's account tangentially as he speaks, including that he worked with Stroigazconsulting seven or eight years ago.

He also confirms assertions, published by Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, that he himself now owns property near the Gelendzhik estate. Cirillo says he bought the right to rent the land from Roman Zolotov, the son of Viktor Zolotov, who served for 13 years as Putin's security chief before becoming head of the Interior Ministry troops in 2013.

"I built it and I bought it. There is nothing secret about this. I have the right. The house is good: 800 square meters on the sea. I think a person who has worked for 23 years in Russia has the right to build a house for his family," Cirillo says. "I like the sea."

"I have a school for young sailors. I help the youth of the whole Krasnodar Territory," he adds, referring to the Russian region that includes Gelendzhik.

According to Navalny, Cirillo's neighbor in Gelendzhik is Tatyana Kuznetsova, the wife of Oleg Kuznetsov. Russian media investigations have published documents showing that Kuznetsov was involved in the construction of the "Putin's Palace" property while he served as an official in the Kremlin's Federal Protection Service (FSO).

Russian and Western media have published partial transcripts of an audio recording of a purported conversation about the Gelendzhik mansion between Cirillo, Kuznetsov, Gorelov, a former majority shareholder in Bank Rossia  which the U.S. Treasury Department has called the "personal bank of senior officials of the Russian Federation" -- and Shamalov, a co-founder of a dacha cooperative with Putin who has been hit with European Union sanctions over Russia's interference in Ukraine.

In the recording, the man believed to be Cirillo is referred to by the others as "Lanfranco." At one point he asks if paying "with black money to an American company" would present difficulties, though it is unclear what is meant by "black money," according to the investigation by Reuters, which reviewed the recording.

In the transcript published by the opposition-minded Russian magazine The New Times, Cirillo describes himself as "poor" -- an adjective he uses in a nickname he's crafted for himself.

Cirillo's Italian diploma is not legally recognized in Russia, and he says he does not sign off on his own architectural projects. Early in his career in Russia, Cirillo began signing the initials BIA after his name. He says many people took it to indicate an aristocratic lineage, although he later revealed -- much to his own amusement to this day -- that it is actually a Russian acronym for "poor Italian architect."

Letters To The Kremlin

Cirillo is anything but poor. He says he does not need to work anymore but continues to do so primarily for the sake of his employees. Cirillo says he currently has 200 employees and another 600 subcontractors, as well as architects who work in the construction wing of a company he owns called Stroigazkomplekt.

There is nothing extravagant about the three-story brick building that houses Cirillo's studio in a prestigious residential neighborhood upriver from the Kremlin. Past a security guard and up a staircase lined with wood tiling samples, Cirillo's top-floor office is flanked by a small personal gym where he trains every day for his hobby, speed sailing.

Explaining a religious painting depicting saints on his wall, Cirillo describes himself as a Catholic, but a man who also has a great love of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On the second floor, several young architects toil away on computers and state-of-the-art architecture hardware. Sketches line the wall in the main hall, and the centerpiece of the office is a model of their vision of a new Russian parliament complex.

This summer, Stroigazkomplekt reached the final round of a tender for the contract to design a sprawling new Parliament Center in Moscow that would house Russia's two legislative chambers, the State Duma and the Federation Council. Preliminary costs for the building were estimated at $1.5 billion. Cirillo's vision for the project features an expansive building with classical porticoes, columns, and atria.

"The State Duma is a dream," Cirillo says.

The nomination process was eventually canceled in July, and a new tender is slated to be held later this year. The initial tender had come under fire from architects and activists for lack of transparency.

"It seems to me a completely closed and semilegal affair that is known about only in the State Duma and some state structures," says Ass, the architecture school rector.

Cirillo sees the parliament project as an opportunity to emboss his name on the history of Russian architecture alongside other Italians. "Fioravanti built the Kremlin, Rastrelli built the Winter Palace, and so on. Of course, I dream of continuing this historical Italian culture that Italian architects have built. I think it is every architect's dream," he says.

He says he decided to bid for the parliament project after he "read about it in a magazine" and "sent a letter to the presidential administration."

"They sent me information about the tender," he tells RFE/RL.

Sending letters to top Russian officials has worked for Cirillo in the past, according to his own account.

In a decree dated August 16, 2014, and published on the Russian government's website, Putin conferred Russian citizenship on the Italian with his signature.

Cirillo says he long ago wrote both the Federal Migration Service and the Kremlin asking for Russian citizenship, but had almost given up hope.

"I wrote to the presidential administration, saying that I dream of living here. That I have a home, money, and that I don't want to live like a 'gastarbeiter,'" he says, referring to "guest workers" who are the target of scorn for some Russians. "But I love this country with my heart. I consider this country to be a great country with great possibilities for the future."
Syracuse, N.Y.  Towns and villages across New York face losing 20% of the state aid they get each year under the proposed state budget from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The proposal would mean some towns and villages in Onondaga County would lose tens of thousands of dollars this year in state money.

Statewide, Cuomo said this week, the cuts in aid to municipalities would be about 5%.

Yet thats just the overall average.

When looking at individual towns, villages and cities, the numbers shake out a bit differently.

Towns and villages would take a 20% hit. That means Clay would lose about $83,000, Salina $58,000 and Cicero $37,000 as part of the proposed $193 billion budget.

The proposed cuts to city money for places like Syracuse are different. With cities, Cuomo is proposing graduated cuts, so that places that rely most heavily on the state dollars receive the smallest reduction.

Syracuse would face a 2.5% cut, which works out to $1.8 million less coming from Albany. (Syracuse.com previously reported Syracuses proposed cut would be $3.6 million.)

Many other towns and villages would see cuts of a few thousand dollars.

Still, every dollar counts, especially in a year where municipalities have spent extra money on masks, gowns, extra staffing and other equipment to keep delivering services through the coronavirus pandemic.

Weve already made cuts, said Fayetteville Mayor Mark Olson, who also heads a county association of mayors. Were on a budget freeze, been on it since March. Were doing our part.

Fayetteville would lose about $7,500. Thats money that pays for village-wide celebrations through the parks department, Olson said. Its also enough to fund the villages tree trimming and planting program, he said.

Cuomos budget relies on an extra $6 billion coming from Washington as part of President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

But the governor is asking Washington to send a total of $15 billion. If that happens, then the governor would roll back cuts likes these to local governments.

(Cuomo)s complaining about the federal government not doing enough, the mayor said. Hes doing the same thing to the villages and towns.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
On Jan. 13, with the nation's attention riveted on the vote to impeach President Donald Trump again, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a new rule severely limiting its own ability to regulate heat-trapping gases. A little over a week earlier, as would-be insurrectionists were gathering in Washington, D.C., the outgoing administration finalized a rule rendering the vast majority of public health data off limits to policymakers.

Eleventh-hour executive actions are a hallmark of presidential transitions, and experts see little in the way of lasting impact as President Joe Biden moves from his inauguration on Wednesday into an expected flurry of policy moves from the new White House. Late environmental rules that conflict with Biden's ambitious climate agenda can mostly be reversed, some just as hastily as they were implemented.

"The last-minute regulations were meant to gum up the works for Biden," said David Doniger, senior strategic director for climate and clean energy at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group that filed numerous lawsuits aiming to block the Trump administration's agenda. "But they were slow, incompetent, and did things that were illegal. They are already getting their comeuppance in the courts."

Eliminating or weakening regulation was a top priority from the start of the Trump presidency, but the mission took on an urgent focus after Biden's win. In its last days the Trump administration took aim at major provisions ranging from fuel-efficiency standards in appliances to the rules for cost-benefit analysis under the Clean Air Act.

The reversals started almost immediately after Biden took office Wednesday, with the signing a slew of executive orders on climate issues. These included a recommitment to the Paris climate agreement and a request that federal agencies review any and all Trump policies "that were harmful to public health, damaging to the environment, unsupported by the best available science or otherwise not in the national interest."

While the Paris pact can be re-entered with the stroke of a pen and take effect just 30 days later, other Trump regulations will take substantially longer to unwind.

There are three main pathways to undoing the regulatory accomplishments of a previous administration. The quickest is the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to nullify a rule within 60 legislative working days of its passage. Once a rule has been nullified, however, the law prohibits any future regulation that is "substantially the same." What falls into that category has yet to be tested in the courts, and Democrats in particular have been loath to use congressional review for this reason.

"The CRA is bad law. It is a bad way to make public policy," said Andrew Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "You could be shooting yourself in the foot."

The other two ways of overturning Trump's climate policies may be more palatable, even if they also take longer. Anyone with standing can use the courts to block regulations on the grounds that they lack scientific justification or are "arbitrary and capricious." Andrew deLaski of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy said his group has already sued to block a last-minute regulation intended to weaken efficiency standards for dishwashers, and that they're likely targeting at least one more on water heaters.

"The hope is the new administration decides not to defend and settles," said deLaski, who runs the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. "If a court agrees, it could put the rules on a fast track for reversal."

Even a positive court decision could set the Biden administration back. A Jan. 19 ruling, for instance, that overturned an attempt by Trump's EPA to curtail its own ability to regulate greenhouse gases produced by power plants also left the Biden administration without a policy to govern energy emissions. On the one hand, said Kevin Minoli, a former EPA lawyer, this means the incoming administration can make a fresh start. "But it also forces the administration to start over again at square one," he told Bloomberg Law. "That will leave a regulatory gap as the Biden administration sets out on its plan to address climate change."

The rule-making process itself is the third and final tool the incoming Biden administration will have at its disposal. While it's possible to simultaneously repeal and replace rules at the same time, the process is notoriously cumbersome and full of delays. It's not unusual for the whole thing to take years.

Doniger of the NRDC argues that new rules would have been unavoidable given Biden's climate policy aspirations, even compared to Obama's. "Imagine the Trump administration had done nothing," he said. "It would still be time to revise and strengthen what had been done before."

Even after rules become finalized, there's one more gauntlet to run. Deregulation advocates argue that rule-making at federal agencies routinely oversteps constitutional and statutory authority to make new laws. A 1984 Supreme Court decision gives deference to agencies when laws are unclear and scientific expertise is required to meet their mandates. More conservative members of the court, including recently seated Justice Amy Coney Barrett, have strongly hinted an openness to overturning this precedent.

"At the end of the day the Trump administration's attacks on environmental law are unlikely to endure," said Cara Horowitz, co-executive director of the Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. "But it is not going to be that easy to replace them with something better."

The real enduring legacy of the Trump administration on the environment, she said, will be the 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court. "They are going to look really skeptically at new levels of regulatory authority," she said.

"The Biden administration is packing its agencies with very smart lawyers and administrators who will be crafting the rules with this court in mind," Horowitz added, "so it will be an interesting game of cat and mouse."
Ouangolodougou, along with the Korhogo Nord permit now constitute the Korhogo Project, which collectively cover 296 square kilometres over 17 kilometres of faulted greenstone granite contact.

The Ouangolodougou permit is valid for four years from the date of granting

( ) has increased its footprint in Cote dlvoire after a decree from the countrys Ministry of Mines granting the Ouangolodougou Permit, which covers 111 square kilometres of prospective tenure within 15 kilometres of Barrick Gold Corps ( ) ( ) (FRA:ABR) 4.9-million-ounce Tongon Gold Mine.

Ouangolodougou and the Korhogo Nord permit now constitute the Korhogo Project, which collectively covers 296 square kilometres over 17 kilometres of faulted greenstone granite contact, with both permits 100%-owned by Mako.

The Ouangolodougou permit is valid for four years from the date of granting and can be renewed twice for a period of three years each.

Maiden exploration program

Mako managing director Peter Ledwidge said: We are pleased to have secured a further 111 square kilometres of prospective tenure in Cote dIvoire, within the same Birimian greenstone belt as Barricks 4.9-million-ounce Tongon Gold Mine.

To our knowledge, no previous exploration has been conducted on the Ouangolodougou permit, so we are excited to be launching a maiden exploration program on the permit shortly.

Our primary focus remains the Napie Project, where we currently have two drills operating around the clock.

Ouangolodougou

Korhogo is in the same greenstone belt of Barrick Golds Tongon mine and Montage Gold Corps (CVE:MAU) 1.2 million ounces Kone gold deposit, both in Cote dIvoire, as well as s ( ) (OTCMKTS:TGCDF) (FRA:0TGA) 2.7 million ounces Wahgnion gold mine across the border in Burkina Faso.

The proximity to Barricks Tongon processing and mine infrastructure has the potential to create accretive development and processing synergies should Mako be successful in discovering a gold deposit on the Korhogo Project.

Ouangolodougou, as well as Korhogo Nord, were selected by Mako as they cover significant greenstone-granite contact along a regional fault.

The company believes that the strategic location of the permits presents excellent targets for high-grade orogenic shear-hosted gold deposits.

Ouangolodougou has 10 kilometres of faulted greenstone/granite contact, while Korhogo Nord has 7 kilometres of contact.

Mako is planning a methodical exploration program on the Korhogo Project, which will commence shortly with a soil sampling program.

A maiden drilling program is planned at Korhogo once the soil sampling results are received.

Tchaga East, Tchaga and Gogbala update

The planned 1,500 metres reverse circulation (RC) drill program on the Tchaga East Prospect is now complete and the rig has returned to the Tchaga Prospect to resume resource definition drilling.

A total of 1,679 metres was drilled in 16 holes at Tchaga East.

Samples will be shipped to the lab shortly, with assay results anticipated in mid to late February.

Also, four holes of the 5,200-metre RC drill program on the Gogbala Prospect have been completed.
Mr Kanagalingam said he had already been rejected from the resettlement program set up with the US, and was not sure whether there were other pathways available. "Being free from the camps is what was in our mind all these times, we are out now. We will work out where we can go from here," he said. "I want a life with some sort of certainty and whoever is willing to give that I want to go there." Tamil refugee Ramsiyar Sabanayagam said receiving the six-month bridging visa felt "like flying" after being detained for eight years by Australia, first on Christmas Island and then Manus Island before he was medically evacuated to Melbourne.

The first thing he wanted to do was thank the people who supported him and then have something spicy to eat. "First of all, I want to say thank you for everyone, because lots of supporters day by night they are supporting us ... Thank you is not enough. But, really, I can't explain the feeling," the 29-year-old refugee said. Tamil refugee Ramsiyar Sabanayagam, 29, was released on Thursday. Credit:Ramsiyar Sabanayagam Forty-five refugees were suddenly handed six-month bridging visas on Wednesday and released from the Park Hotel and the Melbourne Immigration and Transit Accommodation centre, with work rights and access to Medicare. The federal government said none of the refugees would be settled permanently in Australia, and the bridging visas were a temporary solution until the men were settled elsewhere.



"If they're demonstrated not to be a threat, or that's the assessment that's been made by the experts, then it is cheaper for people to go out into the community until they can depart," Mr Dutton told Sydney radio station 2GB on Thursday. The group was transferred to Australia under the now-repealed medevac laws that were intended to evacuate refugees with serious medical conditions to the mainland for treatment from offshore detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Mr Dutton said some of the group had never received medical treatment in Australia, and it was difficult for the government to return the group back to offshore detention. Mostafa "Moz" Azimitabar was among those released. He took to social media from the bus to celebrate "the most beautiful moment of my life", and called on Australians to speak up for refugees still in detention.

In live-streamed footage, he could be seen waving at his cheering supporters as he was escorted onto a bus after 11.30am on Thursday. Mostafa "Moz" Azimitabar (right) makes a heart symbol as he is taken by bus away from the Park Hotel. Credit:Chris Hopkins Dozens of police circled the hotel as advocates came to show their support. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe was one of those who watched Mr Azimitabar walk out the door of the Park Hotel and onto the bus. "I walked around to the side of the bus. I put my fist up and he gave me the love-heart symbol and I just shook my head, 'This is it, yes, you are free.' "

Senator Thorpe said she felt a strange mix of emotions: happiness, anger and a sick feeling in her stomach because 14 people remained at the hotel, according to documents seen by The Age. "How do you celebrate, when there's still innocent people being tortured by the government?" she said. Lidia Thorpe outside the Park Hotel in Carlton on Thursday. Credit:Chris Hopkins Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said one of the 14 men left behind had been deemed a self-harm risk on Thursday and taken to the MITA detention facility. He said those remaining in detention were distressed and had been given no answers about what their futures hold.

Loading "They were told, 'the minister [Mr Dutton] has not signed off on your visas', and thats all they were told," he said. Mr Rintoul said some of those in the group remaining at Park Hotel had pending applications for the US resettlement program. "One of the guys will be leaving for the US next week, but others are much more tenuous. They've either written to or are waiting to hear about US resettlement." Mr Sabanayagam said a six-month bridging visa was not a permanent solution, but after eight years in detention it was "better than nothing".

"One year and one month we don't have sunlight and fresh air [while detained at Preston's Mantra hotel]." Mr Sabanayagam said everyone at the Park Hotel had a "big smile" and couldn't sleep on Wednesday night. When asked whether he had thought about what he will eat when he can finally choose for himself, he said: "Yes, I need spicy food. The taste of the tongue is truly gone." The men have been told they will be given two weeks' accommodation in a hotel. "There is two weeks for us, after that we have to find rooms, but I don't know, maybe our friends will help us. There are lots of supporters outside, they are helping us," Mr Sabanayagam said.

Mr Azimitabar walks out of the hotel on Thursday. Credit:Chris Hopkins Human Rights for All lawyer Alison Battisson, who represents some of the men, said there would be an adjustment period for them. "Many of the men were brought here for mental health reasons and that hasn't been addressed," Ms Battisson said. "Now they're being released into the community after almost a decade and it's going to be full on." Ms Battisson said everyone brought to Australia from Manus Island and Nauru under the now-repealed medevac legislation should be released into the community.

She said that the federal government was adding to anxiety for the detainees without providing a clear, long-term plan. In a statement on Wednesday, a Border Force spokesperson said none of the refugees would ever permanently settle in Australia. A Bangladeshi refugee signals 'joy' to protestors outside a Carlton hotel. Credit:Chris Hopkins "They are encouraged to finalise their medical treatment so they can continue on their resettlement pathway to the United States, return to Nauru or PNG, or return to their home country," the statement reads. "A final departure bridging visa allows individuals to temporarily reside in the Australian community while they finalise their arrangements to leave Australia."

Loading The men suffer from a range of health conditions, most commonly depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Their advocates said many of them had never properly received treatment. Chris Breen from the Refugee Action Collective was hopeful the remaining medevac detainees in Melbourne and Brisbane would eventually be released. "We still have a way to go, but it's a historic day," Mr Breen said from the Park Hotel.
Late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's key aide V.K. Sasikala, who is on the verge of finishing her jail term for corruption, tested Covid positive on Thursday night.

The Victoria Hospital's second bulletin said that the second RT-PCR test carried out on Thursday confirmed that she is Covid positive.

According to the first bulletin that was released in the evening, she had developed a "severe chest infection and very high sugar levels".

The imprisoned Tamil Nadu leader was referred from Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital with a diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, urinary tract infection (UTI) and suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).

The Victoria Hospital said in its bulletin that she had been treated with antibiotics, insulin, heparin and other supportive measures and was admitted.

"She is maintaining oxygen saturation on 10 litres of oxygen through a Non-rebreather mask (NRBM)," the hospital had said.

Earlier, the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital Dean and Director, H. V. Manoj Kumar, had said that Sasikala can be discharged in two or three days.

"She was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of fever, cough, and breathlessness but now she is stable. She was diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) but her RT-PCR report has come out negative," he said.

He had added that Sasikala was referred to the Victoria Hospital for CT scan. "Sasikala's fever has come down and her oxygen saturation is normal. She was walking around and had her breakfast in the morning. We don't think there is any problem now. Since she has SARI symptoms, we have referred her for a CT scan," he said.

The doctor said she was sent to the Victoria Hospital for the CT scan this afternoon. Before that, she had undergone Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR tests which showed her Covid-19 reports negative, Dr Kumar said.

Sasikala's nephew and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who rushed to Bengaluru on learning about her illness, told reporters she was stable.

"I got reliable information that her health is stable. Doctors are looking after her very well. Good care is given. They are monitoring her," Dhinakaran said.

He added that their lawyer got the information from the prison authorities Wednesday evening.

"He (Lawyer) was told she (Sasikala) was having a fever for a couple of days. The authorities had taken her to the healthcare centre inside the prison and checked her oxygen level and it was below the normal level and hence immediately they shifted her to this hospital. People need not get panicked. Because of the infection, she needs oxygen support," he said.

Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in a disproportionate assets case.

Her illness comes at a time when she is just six days away from her release from prison on January 27.

The case of Sasikala pertains to the amassment of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during Jayalalithaa's tenure as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1991-1996.

In September 2013, a special court convicted Jayalalithaa to simple imprisonment of four years. She was slapped with a Rs 100-crore fine and forced to step down as the Chief Minister.

Along with her, three co-accused - Sasikala, V. N. Sudhakaran, and J. Ilavarasi were also convicted. They were also fined Rs 10 crore each.

Jayalalithaa had challenged the conviction in the Karnataka High Court, which acquitted her of all charges. However, in 2017, the Supreme Court upheld the special court verdict convicting all four of them. Charges against Jayalalithaa were dropped in view of her death on December 5, 2016.
CHITA, Russia -- A military court in Siberia has sentenced Private Ramil Shamsutdinov to 24 1/2 years in prison for killing eight fellow servicemen in a rampage he says was brought on by his hazing in the army.

The Second Eastern Military District Court, which announced its decision on January 21, closely followed the prosecutor's call for a prison sentence of 25 years and set aside a jury's call for a more lenient punishment.

Shamsutdinov's lawyer, Ruslan Nagiyev, told RFE/RL that the sentence will be appealed.

Shamsutdinov's defense team has said their client went on a shooting spree in October 2019, killing eight fellow soldiers -- including two high-ranking officers -- in the town of Gorny in the Zabaikalye region after he was tortured and beaten by other soldiers and officers during his induction into the service.

On December 28, a jury found Shamsutdinov guilty of murder and attempted murder, but also said he deserved leniency, which according to Russian law meant his sentence shouldn't exceed 13 years and four months in prison.

The case shocked many in Russia and attracted the attention of rights activists after Shamsutdinov claimed that he committed the act while suffering a nervous breakdown caused by what he had endured.

The Defense Ministry accepted at the time that Shamsutdinov "had a conflict" with one of the officers he killed. In March, Private Ruslan Mukhatov was found guilty of bullying Shamsutdinov and was handed a suspended two-year prison term.

Deadly shootings among Russian military units as the result of widespread hazing have been a focus of human rights organizations for years.

In November, a soldier at a military air base in the western region of Voronezh shot an officer and two soldiers dead.

In recent years, photos and video footage have been posted online by members of the Russian military that show the severe bullying of young recruits as they are inducted into the army.
Eleven End the Lockdown protesters were arrested outside the Four Courts in Dublin yesterday for alleged breaches of Covid restrictions and public order offences.

The protest coincided with the appearance at the Court of Appeal of Gemma ODoherty and John Waters who were seeking to overturn a High Court refusal to permit them to challenge the constitutionality of laws introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A decision on the appeal was reserved.

But while the matter was being heard in court, gardai allege that a number of people gathered on Inns Quay in the vicinity of the Four Courts at around 9:45am.

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"Garda members engaged with the gathered protesters over a period of time, the Garda Press Office said in a statement this evening.

Following persistent lack of compliance with public health regulations and directions from An Garda Siochana, gardai deployed public order personnel to support uniform gardai who proceeded to make lawful demands for names and addresses from a number of protestors.

During the incident, six men and five women were arrested at various locations along the quays for allegedly failing or refusing to provide their names and addresses in accordance with The Health Act 1947.

They were taken to the Bridewell, Pearse Street, Kevin Street and Store Street garda stations.

One man was subsequently charged with failing to provide a name and address and appeared before the District Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice and has been remanded in custody to appear before Cloverhill District Court this morning.

Three other men and one woman were charged with various offences and released on station bail while four women were issued with Fixed Payment Notices.

Another man was released and a file is to be prepared for the DPP.

Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal (CoA) Mr Justice George Birmingham said the three-judge court hoped to give its decision as soon as they can in what was a complex matter.

In judicial review proceedings against the State and the Minister for Health, with the Dail, Seanad and Ceann Comhairle as notice parties, the appellants had sought to have various legislative measures declared unconstitutional and flawed.

Ms ODoherty, and Mr Waters claimed the High Court's decision refusing them permission to bring their challenge against the laws was wrong and that they didn't get a fair hearing before the lower courts.

They also expressed their unhappiness that "concerned members of the public" were not allowed to attend the hearings.

It meant the hearing was "in camera" and not in public, said Ms ODoherty.

Earlier, Ms O'Doherty said the restrictions introduced to counter a virus she described as the "common cold" were "barbaric".

She said the Irish people and the economy were suffering as a result of draconian and unconstitutional measures brought in over an "alleged pandemic".

She added that she was not happy to be asked, by Mr Justice Birmingham at outset of the hearing, to wear a mask in the courtroom.

Ms O'Doherty said masks did more harm than good, adding they were a health risk .

She also questioned the use of methods such as social distancing, the accuracy of Covid-19 testing and the safety of Covid-19 vaccines, and if asymptomatic people with Covid-19 present a risk to others.

Ms O'Doherty also questioned the accuracy of the official number of deaths attributed to Covid-19 claiming that a person who died after "falling off a roof" was classified as a death from the virus.

Mr Waters said the CoA should set aside a High Court judgment that was "deeply tainted".

He compared the restrictions imposed over the last nine months to those introduced after a national emergency was declared by the Irish Government in 1939 after WW2 broke out.

Michael Collins SC, with Patrick McCann SC, for the Minister and the State, said the applicants' appeal should be dismissed.

Counsel added that the applicants believe the pandemic was "a conspiracy" involving the state, the HSE and the HSE-funded media for monetary purposes, and that the state was controlled by the Chinese Communist Party.

There was no evidence to support those assertions either, counsel.

Francis Kieran Bl for the notice parties said the appeal should be dismissed. Some of their submissions were "Bermuda Triangle stuff".

Last May, the High Courts Mr Justice Charles Meenan refused to grant them leave and said their claims were not arguable.

While the applicants are physically in the courtroom the three judges and lawyers for the State respondents attended via video link.
No speculation is needed. Those who wield power are demanding it. The only question is how much opposition they will encounter.

The last two weeks have ushered in a wave of new domestic police powers and rhetoric in the name of fighting terrorism that are carbon copies of many of the worst excesses of the first War on Terror that began nearly twenty years ago. This trend shows no sign of receding as we move farther from the January 6 Capitol riot. The opposite is true: it is intensifying.

We have witnessed an orgy of censorship from Silicon Valley monopolies with calls for far more aggressive speech policing, a visibly militarized Washington, D.C. featuring a non-ironically named Green Zone, vows from the incoming president and his key allies for a new anti-domestic terrorism bill, and frequent accusations of sedition, treason, and terrorism against members of Congress and citizens. This is all driven by a radical expansion of the meaning of incitement to violence. It is accompanied by viral-on-social-media pleas that one work with the FBI to turn in ones fellow citizens (See Something, Say Something!) and demands for a new system of domestic surveillance.

Underlying all of this are immediate insinuations that anyone questioning any of this must, by virtue of these doubts, harbor sympathy for the Terrorists and their neo-Nazi, white supremacist ideology. Liberals have spent so many years now in a tight alliance with neocons and the CIA that they are making the 2002 version of John Ashcroft look like the President of the (old-school) ACLU.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security website, touting a trademarked phrase licensed to it in 2010 by the City of New York, urging citizens to report suspicious activity to the FBI and other security state agencies

The more honest proponents of this new domestic War on Terror are explicitly admitting that they want to model it on the first one. A New York Times reporter noted on Monday that a former intelligence official on PBS NewsHour said that the US should think about a 9/11 Commission for domestic extremism and consider applying some of the lessons from the fight against Al Qaeda here at home. More amazingly, Gen. Stanley McChrystal  for years head of Joint Special Operations Command in Iraq and the commander of the war in Afghanistan  explicitly compared that war to this new one, speaking to Yahoo News:

I did see a similar dynamic in the evolution of al-Qaida in Iraq, where a whole generation of angry Arab youth with very poor prospects followed a powerful leader who promised to take them back in time to a better place, and he led them to embrace an ideology that justified their violence. This is now happening in America.I think were much further along in this radicalization process, and facing a much deeper problem as a country, than most Americans realize.

Anyone who, despite all this, still harbors lingering doubts that the Capitol riot is and will be the neoliberal 9/11, and that a new War on Terror is being implemented in its name, need only watch the two short video clips below, which will clear their doubts for good. It is like being catapulted by an unholy time machine back to Paul Wolfowitzs 2002 messaging lab.

The first video, flagged by Tom Elliott, is from Monday mornings Morning Joe program on MSNBC (the show that arguably did more to help Donald Trump become the GOP nominee than any other). It features Jeremy Bash  one of the seemingly countless employees of TV news networks who previously worked in Obamas CIA and Pentagon  demanding that, in response to the Capitol riot, we reset our entire intelligence approach, including look[ing] at greater surveillance of them, adding: the FBI is going to have to run confidential sources. See if you detect any differences between what CIA operatives and neocons were saying in 2002 when demanding the Patriot Act and greater FBI and NSA surveillance and what this CIA-official-turned-NBC-News-analyst is saying here:

The second video features the amazing declaration from former Facebook security official Alex Stamos, talking to the very concerned CNN host Brian Stelter, about the need for social media companies to use the same tactics against U.S. citizens that they used to remove ISIS from the internet  in collaboration with law enforcement  and that those tactics should be directly aimed at what he calls extremist conservative influencers.

Press freedoms are being abused by these actors, the former Facebook executive proclaimed. Stamos noted how generous he and his comrades have been up until now: We have given a lot of leeway  both in the traditional media and in social media  to people with a very broad range of views. But no more. Now is the time to get us all back in the same consensual reality.
[January 21, 2021] Divurgent Hires Chris Brownlee, EHR Implementation Expert, as Principal

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Divurgent, an international IT consulting company, announced today that it hired Chris Brownlee as Principal. Chris joins Divurgent with nearly 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, leading teams through large-scale EHR implementations, including a significant and successful 21-year tenure at Cerner Corporation, leaving the organization as an Engagement Executive. Chris joins the Divurgent principal team, leading the firm's successful EHR implementation and support practice, where he plans to bring further innovations to clients undergoing strategic planning, technology transitions, or looking to optimize their systems through deploying process improvement strategies, implementing proven project management methodologies, and driving organizational change management efforts. Recently, Divurgent received straight A's* acoss the board on all Customer Experience Pillars, including loyalty, operations, services, relationship, and value, in KLAS Research's 2020 Implementation Leadership Report. The strategic hire of Chris further positions the firm to continue to meet and exceed high customer expectations in a high-performing competitive market.



"Chris was one of the first principals I brought on when I joined Divurgent," said Dr. Sam Hanna, Executive Vice President, Consulting and Innovation, and Chief Strategy Officer. "He brings a rich background in client-first approaches and has proven his ability to develop and deliver solutions to a wide variety of healthcare organizations." Brownlee's experience working with some of the nation's most prominent health systems and implementing technology-enabled process improvements builds upon the already successful Implementation and Support Practice at Divurgent. Since his hire, he has taken the reigns on several major projects, working with other key members of the delivery and executive teams.

About Divurgent Divurgent is a solutions provider focused on what matters most to our client partners. We disrupt the typical value equation by using data-infused, flexible, and scalable solutions that demonstrate and quantify value for our partners. We are committed to IT evolution, deploying tailored solutions that help our client partners achieve improved operational effectiveness, financial performance, and quality of customer experience. Throughout Divurgent's 13-year history, we have experienced year-over-year growth measured in both revenue and employee headcount.www.divurgent.com Press Contact:

Brittany Williams, Director, Marketing & Communications

804.712.1524 | 289542@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/divurgent-hires-chris-brownlee-ehr-implementation-expert-as-principal-301211836.html SOURCE Divurgent

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Kim C. Hammond Justice Center

Andrea Totten

Terence R. Perkins

Florida Supreme Court

Judge Perkins

Judge Perkins

(TNS)  During normal business hours, theis bustling with activity. Anxious people line the halls, waiting to go before the judge or heading in to do business with the Clerk of Court.These days, the halls of justice are almost too quiet, as judges like Flagler Countys newest county judge,, communicate with plaintiffs and defendants via Zoom from the bench in an empty courtroom.Appointed to the Seventh Judicial Circuit a little over a year ago in 2019, the former Assistant Attorney General and Assistant State Attorney oversees the civil end of things  presiding over cases related to small claims, probate and adult guardianship and enjoying the opportunity to settle into the position.Its vast  it takes a long time getting accustomed to being the judge and being in that role, said Totten. When youre the judge everyone thinks you have the answers to everything  whether its law related or not.A people person who enjoys the interaction of a live courtroom and a well-argued motion, she said the pandemic has been an adjustment for everyone, noting how quickly, under the guidance of Judge, the Flagler team adapted to technology and kept the wheels of justice turning.Even when I wasnt having court  and I only had about a month where I really didnt have any court, other than first appearances, which never stopped, we do those every day of the year  once we got our Zoom accounts, we immediately got back to work, Totten said. As a new judge in a pandemic, its been an ever-changing situation. I was never entirely stopped, particularly on my probate docket because most of the probate work happens through paperwork. In fact, the clerks office has reported that probate filings are up 30 percent in the last few months.Since her appointment Totten has spent countless hours studying case law and conferring with peers as she deepens her experience on the bench. For each case, she comes well-prepared.As far as the law goes, theres an assumption that the minute you are appointed judge you now know everything about everything in all of juris prudence and of course thats not literally the case, she said. I spend a ton of time researching and learning  this is true, I know judges who have been judges for years that say the body of law is so vast you never stop learning. My goal, and this has always been the case, is trying to be the most prepared person in the room.Following broad guidelines set by thethat include remote proceedings, judges work diligently to maintain the decorum of the courtroom and navigate in-person proceedings when necessary.One struggle you have when folks are appearing from their car, bedroom or standing outside a workplace, they dont feel the same formality they would if they were standing in a courtroom with the judge right there, the weight of it, she said. Judge Distler andoftentimes have mixed proceedings where theyve got some people that are live in the courtroom and some more people who are on Zoom and kind of managing all of that at once.Theres even a pilot program allowing for Zoom Remote Trials for circuit civil cases.Thanks to the efforts of, Flagler County was chosen to participate in that, said Totten. Hes done one and Ive heard it was pretty difficult. I can imagine, because when I do my small claims pretrials Ill often have 50 or so people on Zoom on a meeting at once.In spite of the challenges, Totten is complimentary of the work being done to serve the community.Im proud of what were continuing to get done in these unprecedented times and how weve kept up, she said, constantly adjusting and reassessing and doing whatever we can to move the ball forward and administer justice efficiently.
FP Trending

Audio device manufacturer Ambrane has released two TWS earbuds, namely the NeoBuds 11 and NeoBuds 22 in India. Both the earbuds have been priced at Rs 2,499 and the products can be bought from the brands official website along with retail stores across the country. As per a press release by Ambrane, NeoBuds 11 is part of the extended series of NeoBuds is configured with the latest Bluetooth version 5.0 for better connectivity.

The earbuds offer up to four hours of music playback time and up to 12 hours of battery life with the charging case. The company boasts of a quick 1.5 hours of charging time. Also, the charging case comes with an LED Digital Display. This display will allow users to see the battery level of both the case and the earphones in numbers.

These earbuds are IPX4 sweat resistant hence quite suitable for long drawn sweaty workout sessions. It features Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology which eliminates loud ambient noise, thereby not only letting users enjoy clear music but also connect over crystal clear conversations. Users can control the earbuds using the touchpad control and would not have to go back to their phones in order to do simple tasks. The earphones come with support for Google Assistant and Siri for following voice commands.

On the other hand, the NeoBuds 22 includes support for the latest 5.0 Bluetooth connectivity. It also has a multi-functional button and voice assistance for both Android and iOS users. The firm has marketed the products for those who are always on-the-move as the earbuds offer music playback time up to four hours which extends to 14 hours when packed with the charging case.

Like its sister product, the NeoBuds 22 also comes with a charging time of just 1.5 hours. The earbuds offer a transmission range of 10 meters to make it super convenient for users to control music or calls without reaching for the phones.
Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Johnnie Sharp Jr., and Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray on Thursday announced rewards totaling $18,000 for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for the vandalizations of the Etz Chayim Synagogue on April 9, 2020, and the Chabad of Huntsville on April 10, 2020.

The FBI is providing a $15,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible.

Huntsville Area Crime Stoppers is offering a separate reward of $1,000, and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is offering a separate reward of $2,000. These two rewards are subject to their individual rules and are not administered by the FBI.

In addition, this reward campaign will include digital billboards that will be displayed across north Alabama and southern Tennessee.

The FBI would like to express its thanks to Lamar Advertising for their contribution to the digital billboard campaign.

In the early morning hours of April 9, 2020, the Etz Chayim Synagogue, located at 7707 Baily Cove Road in Huntsville, was vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti.

The following day, in the early morning hours of April 10, 2020, the Chabad of Huntsville, located at 1908 Parkhill Road SE, Huntsville, Alabama was vandalized with similar anti-Semitic graffiti.

Surveillance camera footage indicated that the vandalisms were perpetrated by the same individual.

The individual walked with a pronounced, distinct limp and appeared to have a prosthetic left leg.

The individual may have been driving an early model Toyota Prius, light in color.

Prior to the vandalizations, on April 4, 2020, the individual was seen walking on residential streets near the Chabad of Huntsville in the Blossomwood neighborhood.

Investigators are asking that anyone with information regarding the possible identity of this individual or these incidents, please contact the FBIs Birmingham Division, Huntsville Resident Agency at 256-539-1711 or the Huntsville Police Department at 256-427-7009. Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov.

Watch it here.
Weve all heard how overly complex accounting systems at the Pentagon led to $400 hammers and $7,000 coffee makers. Well, Texas has something akin to that: charter schools.

Under the current charter school funding scheme in Texas, charter schools receive on average $1,150 more per student compared with the traditional school district in which the charter school is located. Thats right: The state pays charter schools more to do the same job as your local school district.

There were 296,127 students  or 5 percent of all students  enrolled in charter schools, according to a 2018 report from the Texas Education Agency. That means the state paid more than $340 million for something traditional public schools are already doing. Those funds would go a long way toward providing enhanced education services at traditional public schools.

Each and every charter school resides in a fully operating traditional school district. Those traditional school districts already do the same job as charter schools. They educate our children. The state hasnt set up a separate state-supported firefighting system to compete with existing firefighting departments. That would be absurd  and so is setting up duplicative school systems.

Our traditional school districts do a remarkable job educating our children. Each time the state has raised the bar in its accountability system, traditional public schools have met the challenge  and then some. In addition, traditional school districts have led the way in adapting to the new environment brought about by COVID-19. They have reinvented everything from how children interact with their teachers, to providing food for our children, to helping ensure internet connectivity for students. Our traditional public schools are leading the way, and they deserve our respect and thanks.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

Recently, two out-of-state companies were approved to run charter schools in Texas: Learn4Life charter school has ties to California, and Doral Charter School has ties to Florida. Once those charter schools are operational, they will receive taxpayer dollars from Texas. Learn4Life will send 15 percent of its revenue to California. Doral will send $750 per student to Florida.

Exporting your tax dollars to another state removes those funds from the Texas economy, enriching other states at the expense of our own. Thats something we should be reluctant to do at any time, much less in the middle of a global pandemic, historic unemployment and an economic recession. But this is nothing new. These are simply the most recent charter companies with out-of-state ties to be approved to operate in Texas.

Building and investing tax dollars in a duplicative education system is concerning, even in the best of times. Given the economic environment and grim budget situation the state faces, it threatens both the education system that our kids need to learn in the post-COVID-19 world and the education our kids need for the future.

State Rep. Mary E. Gonzalez is a member of the House Public Education Committee, the House Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Budget Board. Michael Lee is the executive director of the Texas Association of Rural Schools.
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The image shows variation in seed head architecture of the different sorghum races, including (from left to right) bicolor, guinea, caudatum, kafir and durra. Credit: Nadia Shakoor/Provided

When humans first domesticated maize some 9,000 years ago, those early breeding efforts led to an increase in harmful mutations to the crop's genome compared to their wild relatives, which more recent modern breeding has helped to correct.

A new comparative study investigates whether the same patterns found in maize occurred in sorghum, a gluten-free grain grown for both livestock and human consumption. The researchers were surprised to find the opposite is true: Harmful mutations in sorghum landraces (early domesticated crops) actually decreased compared to their wild relatives.

The study, "Comparative Evolutionary Genetics of Deleterious Load in Sorghum and Maize," published Jan. 15 in Nature Plants. The senior author is Michael Gore, professor of molecular breeding and genetics in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).

The research may inform future breeding efforts in both sorghum and maize.

"We assumed that maize and sorghum would have complementary patterns of deleterious mutations, because all the work that has been done in crops up to this point has shown an increase in deleterious burden in domesticates compared to wild relatives from which crops originate," Gore said. "But sorghum does not follow this pattern and it's very surprising."

These "deleterious mutations," which potentially have a negative effect on the fitness of an organism, result from random genetic errors that occur every generation, and from ancient mutations that may be linked to beneficial genetic variants selected during crop domestication and improvement.

In the study, the researchers ran population genetics simulations to help explain why sorghum failed to follow the same pattern found in maize.

One major difference between maize and sorghum is that maize (wild and domesticated) is an "outcrosser," meaning its female flowers (ear shoots) are predominantly pollinated by other maize plants; domesticated sorghum is a "selfer," meaning the flowers of its panicles (heads) are mostly fertilized by each plant's own pollen.

It turns out that sorghum's wild relatives have more open seed heads that facilitate outcrossing. But in the process of sorghum domestication, the panicles that hold these clusters of flowers became more compact, which increased "selfing" rates.

"We posit that the alteration of panicle morphology impacted deleterious mutation patterns in sorghum," Gore said. "The resultant increase in selfing likely contributed to the purging of deleterious mutations after domestication."

By understanding the historical patterns of harmful mutations, breeders may use that knowledge to better purge deleterious mutations from sorghum crops. "What we're learning in sorghum could also be applied to maize and vice versa," Gore said.

Explore further Beer and fodder crop has been deteriorating for 6,000 years

More information: Roberto Lozano et al, Comparative evolutionary genetics of deleterious load in sorghum and maize, Nature Plants (2021). Journal information: Nature Plants Roberto Lozano et al, Comparative evolutionary genetics of deleterious load in sorghum and maize,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41477-020-00834-5
Five people died when a fire broke out on Thursday inside the sprawling complex of the (SII), the worlds biggest vaccine maker, in Pune.

The dead were pulled out of a building under construction after first reports that were no casualties. "Four people were evacuated from the building but when it came under control, five bodies were found by our jawans, said Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol, referring to rescue workers. Nine people were evacuated from the building.

Videos and pictures from showed black smoke billowing out of a grey building. "We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed," said Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told reporters it appeared an electrical fault caused the fire. "As per initial information, the fire did not erupt at the unit where the COVID-19 vaccine is being produced, but in the unit where the BCG vaccine is produced," he said.

Manjari, the complex where the fire broke out, is a few minutes' drive from the facility where the Covid vaccines are produced, sources said. It is believed to be part of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ). About eight or nine buildings are being constructed at the Manjari complex to deal with future pandemics and these are aimed at enhancing the SII's manufacturing capability, reported NDTV.

Serum Institute has licensed the shot developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, and was also planning to start stockpiling up to 50 million doses a month of a vaccine candidate developed by Novavax Inc from around April.

Many low- and middle-income countries, from Bangladesh to Brazil, are depending on SII delivering the AstraZeneca vaccine, branded COVISHIELD by the Indian company.

I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies, Poonawalla said.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said his government has ordered a probe of the fire.

(With inputs from Reuters and ANI)
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs Eastern Province Municipality has invited expressions of interest (EOIs) for the development of Phase One of Pulse of Al-Khobar, an integrated cultural centre in the heart of Al Khobar region in the Eastern Province.

The scope of work for Pulse of Khobar Project includes development of a souq within the Al Olaya neighbourhood located in the heart of Al Khobar district. The project is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture.

Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan said the project seeks to develop and activate the old market place of Al Khobar and turn it into a permanent platform for cultural activities in various sectors."

"It aims to establish a cultural incubator for talented people in cultural sectors such as theatre and performing arts, music, visual arts, and culinary arts," said Prince Badr.

On the choice of the project site, the minister said Al Olaya neighbourhood was selected for its strategic location as it has the potential to become a future hub for tourism, culture and arts in Al Khobar, in addition to diversifying investment opportunities, creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises, and increasing investment opportunities therein.

The project, which will benefit from the old market buildings, will include markets and spaces for sports, exhibitions for plastic arts, places dedicated for free crafts, areas dedicated to teaching arts for children and amateur artists, in addition to studios for artists, art cafes, a specialised area for musical instruments and their maintenance and other periodical musical performances, he explained.

The project also includes area to develop childrens vocal performance capabilities and music education, public squares that include an open theatre, and facility for visual arts in addition to areas for selling new and second hand books, area for displaying archaeological copies, an interactive area for teaching book production and binding, and a library area.

The Pulse of Khobar will also be home to a mini farmers market in addition to a library specialised in culinary arts, restaurants, cafes, places to eat and drink, in addition to an area for organic products.

Acting Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Majed Al Hoqail said: "Through this project we aim to turn this place into the beating heart of culture and arts of the city with the support of cultural bodies and in economic and operational partnership with stakeholders in the government sector, including secretariats and municipalities."

The project aims to raise the quality of life in the Eastern Province, by building an artistic and heritage destination open to various cultural activities that will have a positive impact on the Al Khobar residents lifestyle and visitors to the eastern region, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
WEST TENNESSEE  Tennessee has launched the first of its kind program in the country that teaches computer coding skills to justice involved men and women and their children.

The Tennessee Department of Correction, in partnership with Persevere, a local non-profit organization, is offering software programming training to justice involved individuals giving them marketable job skills on their path to successful reentry. In conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) and its nationally recognized Two Generation (2Gen) approach, TDOC and Persevere developed the Pathway to Persevere program which now allows the children of those individuals to receive coding training as well.

The program originally started with incarcerated individuals at three prisons in West Tennessee before expanding to those on community supervision and their families. To date, 28 people have graduated from the adult Persevere program and are currently working in the technology field. Youth participants of the program will be provided laptops and transportation, according to Persevere Program Manager Stacey Books. Wrap around services such as case management, onsite licensed clinical social workers, and employment specialists will also be offered to families. Our biggest goal is to not only make sure they learn to code software, but to make sure they receive any additional resources needed to assist with issues such as mental health. We want to make sure that the entire household has the resources they need because we want them to be successful, Books said.

TDOC Commissioner Tony Parker called the partnership a complete package that helps to move people toward success. A lot of children emulate the actions of their parents. For these families to not only see their loved ones learning a marketable skill, but to also be able to participate with them, sets the entire family up for success, Parker said. Participants are learning a trade that the public demands, today and in the future, all while receiving pro-social support and the ability to earn a meaningful wage. This partnership speaks to TDOCS mission of preparing offenders to return home and preventing new victims.

Pathway to Persevere is funded in part under a 2Gen Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee. TDHS launched the 2Gen grant program in 2014 as part of its Two-Generation approach to addressing the needs of parents and children at the same time. The department has since awarded grants to fund programs with more than 60 organizations and educational entities across the state.

Pathway to Persevere is an example of how our Two Generation approach can help families grow beyond the vulnerabilities they face during the reentry process, said TDHS Commissioner Clarence H. Carter. This program is providing valuable skills parents need to get good jobs in the tech industry and build a strong stable life with their children.

Demarcus Williams, a Jr. Software Developer, was previously incarcerated at the Mark Luttrell Transition Center and has been in the program for two years. I am taking what I have learned and putting it into action. Im getting paid to do what I love, Williams said. Once I got out of prison, Persevere hired me, treated me like family, and taught me even more. I am grateful.

To be eligible for the Pathway to Persevere program, children of justice involved individuals must be between 11 and 17 years old. Eligible adults must be currently incarcerated with a minimum of 12-24 months remaining on their sentences or under TDOC community supervision. They must live in Shelby or the surrounding counties.

Watch our video at the link below for more information about our partnership with Persevere:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MXyhSWvA4U&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=TennesseeDepartmentofCorrection

If media partners would like to schedule interviews in regards to this story, please contact Tylee Tracer at 629-215-0284 or by email.


Top U.S. and United Kingdom defense officials signed an agreement this week to merge some military forces in 2021 to form a combined carrier strike group.

Marine Corps F-35B Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and the Navy destroyer The Sullivans will deploy as part of the strike group, former Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announced Monday. The U.K.-U.S. combined strike group will be led by the U.K. aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth.

The agreement was signed by Miller and U.K. Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace. The strike group is scheduled to sail out of Portsmouth, U.K., later this year.

Read Next: New Acting SecDef, Service Secretaries Named as Biden Takes Office

"This deployment underscores the strength of our bilateral ties and demonstrates U.S.-U.K. interoperability, both of which are key tenets of the U.S. National Defense Strategy," the Pentagon's announcement on the agreement states.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in November that the task force will operate in the Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean and East Asia.

"Next year, HMS Queen Elizabeth will lead a British and allied task group on our most ambitious deployment for two decades," he said. "... We shall forward-deploy more of our naval assets in the world's most important regions, protecting the shipping lanes that supply our nation."

Ten Marine F-35B Lightning II fighter jets embarked on the Queen Elizabeth in September as part of a training deployment. The embark was in preparation for this year's full-length deployment, Marine officials said last year.

Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, the former head of Marine Corps aviation, said in 2019 that the F-35 embark would serve as a "new norm" for how the U.S. will conduct operations with maritime partners.

Wallace said the deployment embodies the strength of bilateral ties between the U.S. and U.K., and reflects the depth of the vital defense and security partnership.

"I am delighted that the U.K. now possesses a 21st-century carrier strike capability, which has been greatly assisted by the unswerving support and cooperation of the United States at all levels over the past decade," he said.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: As Marines Plans Historic Joint F-35 Ops with UK, Air Force Looks for Ways to Follow Suit
Every year, Republic Day is celebrated all over India on 26th January with grandeur. Spectacular parades take place at Janpath, New Delhi, encompassing Indian National Army and the national flag hoisting across the country. This year, India will celebrate its 72nd Republic Day.

Republic day is observed with incredible energy and great enthusiasm all across the country. India was under British rule for over 200 years. After a very long freedom struggle, India became independent from British Raj on August 14, 1947. After that, the Constitution came into effect on January 26th, 1950.

Why Is The Republic Day Celebrated On January 26?

January 26th was chosen as the date because on this day the Constitution of India came into effect in 1950. The Indian National Congress announced Purna Swaraj, the declaration of India's freedom from colonial rule. The nation got independence from British rule and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who was chairman of the constitution drafting committee drafted a new constitution.

The new constitution gave citizens the power to chose their own government and enjoy all the rights. After that, history was made as Dr. Rajendra Prasad got elected as the first President of India. He took oath Government house at the Durbar Hall, and unfurled the national flag. Ever since 26th January is celebrated with festivities and patriotism across the country.

Also Read: Republic day 2021: Essay ideas for students

How The Republic Day Is Celebrated?

On the Indian Republic Day, great parades of the Indian Armed Forces, flag hoisting ceremonies take place at great scale in Rajpath situated in New Delhi by the Government of India.

The parade is organised by the Ministry of Defence and conducted by the Indian President. It showcases the country's rich culture and heritage by forming beautiful structures and also its military prowess during the parade. One of the main events of the Republic Day Parade is to pay tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation. The parade ends with the daring motorcycle rider's stunts and flypast inducted by Indian Air Force fighter jets over Rajpath.

The Indian Constitution gives all the citizens the right to equality on the grounds of caste, creed, religion, gender, etc. On Independence Day, the Prime Minister hoists the tricolour, while on the Republic day the task is fulfilled by the President of India.

Since 1950, every year government of India hosts a head of state of government of another country as the chief guest for the Republic Day event. This year, United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Boris Johnson was approached for the event he had to cancel his visit to India due to uncertain Covid-19 situations in the UK and all over the world.

Also Read: National Youth Day: Why Do We Celebrate On January 12?
MEDFORD, Ore.  Black Southern Oregonians came together to create a Black agenda and held their roll-out meeting to address the goals of the agenda on January 20, 2021 over Zoom.

After a week of recognizing Black leaders in American history including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the swearing in of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Southern Oregon Black Leaders, Activists, and Community Coalition started to make history locally.

The Black Agenda was a collaborative effort among Black community members to decide what changes they wanted to see in the community. The roll-out meeting was the opportunity for non-Black community members to learn what changes would be coming to the Rogue Valley.

SO BLACC says it aims to be, a political home for Black people in Southern Oregon and envisions a Southern Oregon that is a joyful, prosperous, and welcoming place for Black people to live, work and play. Its values are centered around justice, inclusion, collective responsibility, accountability, and courage.

Priorities of the Black Agenda include Black community building, education for Black brilliance, Black political power for a representative Southern Oregon, developing Black business and economics, celebrating Black art and culture, and focusing on radical opposition to anti-Blackness for Black liberation.

Now that the agenda has been announced to community members, SO BLACC will be collaborating on plans to execute its goals in efforts to change the Southern Oregon as locals know it.
Stocks to watch today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Thursday's trading session based on latest developments. Investors are also awaiting December quarter earnings that are scheduled to be released today. Companies set to announce their Q3 earnings are Asian Paints, Bajaj Auto, AAVAS Financiers, MCX India, SBI Cards and Payment Services, Bajaj Holdings & Investment, Bandhan Bank, Biocon, Cyient.

L&T Technology Services: The company's net profit in Q3FY21 rose 12.4% to Rs 186.1 crore from Rs 165.5 crore while revenue increased 6.6% QoQ to Rs 1,400.7 crore from Rs 1,313.8 crore.

Bajaj Finance: The company's Q3FY21 consolidated net profit declined to Rs 1,146 crore from Rs 1,614 crore, while revenue fell to Rs 4,296 crore from Rs 4,535 crore, YoY.

Axis Bank: Competition Commission of India (CCI) has approved the acquisition of stake in Max Life Insurance by Axis Bank, Axis Capital and Axis Securities.

HDFC Asset Management Company: The company's Q3FY21 net profit rose 5 percent to Rs 369.26 crore from Rs 352.55 crore, YoY. Total income grew to Rs 594.91 crore from Rs 591.99 crore.

Aditya Birla Fashion: Competition Commission of India approved Flipkart's 7.8 percent stake buy in Aditya Birla Fashion.

Sun Pharma: The company to consider declaring interim dividend along with Q3 results on January 29.

Havells India: The company reported higher profit at Rs 350.1 crore in Q3FY21 against Rs 200.6 crore in Q3FY20, while its revenue jumped to Rs 3,175.2 crore from Rs 2,273.3 crore, YoY.

Phillips Carbon Black: The company's net profit in Q3FY21 rose to Rs 125.44 crore from Rs 70.06 crore, while revenue grew marginally to Rs 769.4 crore from Rs 768.65 crore, YoY.

Siemens: Ola has partnered with Siemens to build its upcoming electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu.

UltraTech Cement: The company will consider the proposal for raising funds in its board meeting on January 23.

Results today: Asian Paints, Bajaj Auto, AAVAS Financiers, MCX India, SBI Cards and Payment Services, Bajaj Holdings & Investment, Bandhan Bank, Biocon, Cyient, Genus Power Infrastructures, Indo Count Industries, Indian Energy Exchange, IIFL Securities, JBF Industries, Jindal Steel & Power, JK Tyre & Industries, Kajaria Ceramics, Kirloskar Pneumatic, Man Industries, Mphasis, Music Broadcast, Reliance Power, Saregama India, South Indian Bank, SRF, Supreme Petrochem, Westlife Development, Zensar Technologies and Zicom Electronic Security Systems are among others will announce Q3 earnings today.

Share Market News Live: Sensex breaches 50,000, Nifty hits new lifetime high; RIL, Bajaj Auto top gainers

IRFC vs Indigo Paints IPO: How the two public issues fare against each other
Governor Gavin Newsom And Former President Donald Trump View Photo

Sacramento, CA  With the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Gavin Newsom says there will be a new working relationship between the state and the federal government.

Back and forth lawsuits between the Newsom and Trump administrations have been a common trend over the past four years as both sides have tried to use the legal system to slow the actions of the other. The federal government has challenged Californias efforts on things like greenhouse gas restrictions, and the state has tried to resist federal policies related to things like immigration.

Newsom states, Weve been involved in over 100 lawsuits with the Trump Administration. Clean air, clean water, clean cars, issues related to health, and immigrationnow, all of those headwinds are going to be tailwinds.

Californias Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, decided to file nine new lawsuits against the Trump Administration during the Presidents final full day in office on Tuesday. They were related to things like the Endangered Species Act and greenhouse gas emissions.

Newsom says the state will likely be forging new partnerships with the federal government over the coming four years related to several issues.
Caverion Corporation Investor News 21 January 2021 at 10.00 a.m. EET

HELSINKI, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Caverion Corporation's Financial Statement Release for 2020 will be published on Thursday, 11 February 2021, at approximately 8:00 a.m. (Finnish Time, EET). The stock exchange release and presentation materials in Finnish and in English will be published at that time on the company's website at www.caverion.com/investors.

Webcast news conference for investors and media

Caverion will hold a news conference on the Financial Statement Release as a live webcast at www.caverion.com/investors on Thursday, 11 February 2021, at 10.00 a.m. Finnish time (EET). Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the news conference cannot be attended in person.

The presenters at the event are President and CEO Ari Lehtoranta and Chief Financial Officer Martti Ala-Harkonen. A recording of the webcast will be available at the same address at approximately 12.00 noon (EET).

Conference call

It is also possible to participate in the event through a conference call. Participants are requested to call one of the assigned numbers at least five minutes before the conference call begins, at 9.55 a.m. (EET) at the latest:

+44 (0)330 336 9105

+46 (0)8 5033 6574

Participant code for the conference call is "1772267 / Caverion". During the webcast and conference call, all questions should be presented in English.

Schedule in different time zones



Financial Statement Release published The news conference, conference call and live webcast Recorded webcast

available EET (Helsinki) 08.00 10.00 12.00 CET (Paris, Stockholm) 07.00 09.00 11.00 GMT (London) 06.00 08.00 10.00 EST (New York) 01.00 03.00 05.00

For additional information, please contact: Milena Hggstrom, Head of Investor Relations and External Communications, tel. +358 40 5581 328, milena.haeggstrom@caverion.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/caverion/r/publishing-of-caverion-corporation-s-financial-statement-release-for-2020-on-11-february-2021,c3271049
President Biden says unity is 'the path forward' in inaugural address

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President Joe Biden delivered his inaugural address Wednesday before a small crowd of elected officials, supporters and celebrities gathered on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol.

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Biden, who held the office of vice president during the Obama administration and now serves as the 46th president. Biden, a Democrat, attempted to focus on unity during his speech at a time when the nation remains divided about the results of the 2020 presidential election and differing ideas about how to best address the cultural and economic problems facing the country.

Biden described unity as the path forward, adding, We must meet this moment as the United States of America. We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors, we can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature, for without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.

The new president expressed a desire to start afresh and urged the American people to begin to listen to one another again, hear one another, see one another (and) show respect to one another. He asserted that politics doesnt have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path.

With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs, we can put people to work in good jobs, we can teach our children in safe schools, we can overcome the deadly virus, he promised.

In addition to thanking his supporters, Biden urged those who did not vote for him to hear me out as we move forward, take a measure of me and my heart and if you still disagree so be it. He held up the right to dissent peaceably as a hallmark of American democracy and assured that he would be a president for all Americans. Additionally, the president pledged to fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Invoking St. Augustine, who defined a people as a multitude defined by the common objects of their love, Biden asked, What are the common objects we as Americans love, that define us as Americans? He cited opportunity, security, liberty, dignity, respect (and) honor as some of the common objects of love that define the American people.

He called on the American people to end this uncivil war that pits red against blue  rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal by opening our souls instead of hardening our hearts and showing tolerance and humility.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear (and) demonization have long torn us apart.

Describing the aforementioned battle as perennial, the president contended that throughout American history, our better angels have always prevailed. Acknowledging that we have come so far, the president maintained that we still have far to go. He vowed to press forward with speed and urgency, adding, We have much to do.

The president listed some of the difficulties the nation faces, including a once-in-a-century virus that silently stalks the country and a cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making. He vowed that the dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer and cited the rise of political extremism, white supremacy (and) domestic terrorism as well as growing inequity and a climate in crisis as issues of pressing concern.

Regarding the coronavirus pandemic, the president remained optimistic that We will get through this together. He asked the crowd to join him in a moment of silent prayer in honor of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have succumbed to the pandemic.

Biden began the speech by proclaiming This is Americas Day, this is democracys day, a day of history and hope, of renewal and resolve. According to the president, Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, the cause of democracy.  The will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded.

Democracy has prevailed, he proclaimed as the crowd applauded. Biden acknowledged his predecessors of both parties gathered in the audience: former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Additionally, the president recognized 96-year-old former president Jimmy Carter, who did not attend the ceremony.

The American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the people who seek a more perfect Union, he stressed. This is a great nation, we are good people.

Invoking the words of the revered President Abraham Lincoln, Biden announced that My whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation. The president also addressed the other countries of the world, vowing that we will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again and lead, not by the example of our power but by the power of our example.

Toward the end of his speech, Biden vowed I will always level with you, I will defend the Constitution, Ill defend our democracy, Ill defend America. He emphasized the importance of hope not fear, of unity not division (and) of light not darkness, expressing hope that future generations will look back at his administration as a time when America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world.

With purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our time sustained by faith, driven by conviction and devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts, he concluded. After calling on God to bless America and the troops, Biden thanked the country for giving him the opportunity to serve as the 46th president as his address drew to a close.
Woodside chief executive Peter Coleman has declared momentum is returning for plans to green-light the $16 billion Scarborough gas field project in Western Australia as Chinese buyers resume talks, commodity prices recover and rival projects are shelved or abandoned.

After the COVID-driven oil and gas crash forced Woodside and joint-venture partner BHP to delay giving the go-ahead to the massive Scarborough project, a freezing cold snap across the northern hemisphere has helped drive a stunning rally in prices for one-off cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) this month prompting producers to increase their forecasts.

A freezing winter in north Asia has driven LNG prices to all-time highs. Credit:Robert Shakespeare

Mr Coleman on Thursday said Woodside was seeing "a lot of positive signs" that LNG demand was strengthening across Asia and globally. "Chinese buyers are now coming back into the market, they've approached us again recently to re-engage on negotiations," Mr Coleman told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

"We think everything is starting to line up and gather momentum again."
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"We started Lendica, a novel fintech credit platform, to help businesses across all high growth industries reach scale faster with short-duration capital," said Jared Shulman, CEO of Lendica. "We are thrilled to partner with High Purity Natural Products and believe their growing customer base can leverage our financing program to instantly achieve greater margins and a faster cash conversion."

Solutions for customers in a challenging growth market.

Bill Gildea, CEO of Future Farm Technologies, noted: "We recognized that the most successful brands and retailers are the ones that have rapid access to capital. When our customers can scale their orders through short term funding, they significantly improve their margins. With limited financing options available to the hemp industry, we are delighted to secure a partner like Lendica. They will be a tremendous benefit to all parties involved."

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High Purity offers contract manufacturing for numerous CBD products, including USDA Certified Organic CBD, tinctures, vegan gummies, CBD dip pouches, lotions, balms, skin-care serums, vapes, and more. They also provide bulk products to the CBD industry, such as isolate, distillate, and cutting-edge water-soluble CBG.

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Future Farm Technologies is a publicly-traded Canadian company that empowers high-quality natural and organic health and wellness brands globally. Future Farm's seasoned management team brings a deep understanding of operations with the financial and regulatory expertise needed to become an industry leader in the rapidly growing market for health and wellness products made from hemp and other plants.

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Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

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People have been asked to place a candle in their window at the time shooting began on Bloody Sunday.

The Covid lockdown means that Bloody Sunday families cannot hold the usual minutes silence at the memorial on Rossville Street.

This year the families and Bloody Sunday Trust have asked the public to put a candle in their windows at 4.10pm on Saturday, January 30, to mark the time when the first shots were fired in 1972.

On Sunday, January 31, the Museum of Free Derry will release a video at the time the normal memorial service is held.

Bloody Sunday families will remember their loved ones at home in line with the current restrictions.

Speaking to the Derry News this week, John Kelly said he will mark his brother Michaels anniversary with the same reverence but it will be done at home.

Normally we go to Mass, then we go to the morning service and hold a minutes silence.

But obviously due to the restrictions this year, physically we cant do that so what Ill be doing along with my family is remembering what happened that day.

Even though it was 49 years ago the memory is still embedded so as a family well certainly be thinking of Michael and all those who died that day and all those who were injured.

Its just a pity that we cant do what we normally do but we have to think of the health of people.

Johns brother Michael would have been 66 years-old earlier this month.

Michael was just 17 years-old and the seventh child in a family of thirteen when murdered on Bloody Sunday.

He had spent his weeks in Belfast training to be an electrical engineer, returning home to Derry at the weekends.

Michael had no interest in politics and the anti-internment march on 30 January 1972 was the first march he had ever attended.

The 17-year-old was shot and murdered at the rubble barricade on Rossville Street, alongside John Young, Michael McDaid and William Nash.

Covid has stopped John from working in the Museum of Free Derry, a job he loves and one that brings him comfort.

Ive missed it, its a big part of my life and has been for many years.

As one of the people who was involved from day one as the Education Officer Ive seen thousands upon thousands of people over the years - I certainly miss it.

And the sooner we get back the better.

John feels it is incumbent on him to relay the truth of what happened on that day to visitors.

He described next years 50th anniversary as a massive commemoration and one that is being considered already.

The next now is in March when committal proceedings of Soldier F will begin.

But papers went in to the High Court just before Christmas on the PPS decision not to prosecute the rest of the soldiers, so were looking to see the outcome of that as well.

There is a lot of work to do, this year is going to be very, very busy.
Hoping that conflict in will end completely, sooner than later, India on Wednesday said that it is ready to play a "constructive and meaningful" role in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) towards achieving that objective.

During a briefing on Syria, TS Tirumurti, Indian Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said it is "disheartening" to note that the ongoing crisis in still has no end in sight and called on the international community to provide assistance to for rebuilding its infrastructure.

New Delhi asserted that terrorism emanating from Syria has spread far even reaching parts of Africa and the humanitarian situation has worsened in the country.

"As we begin our new Council term eight years later, it is indeed disheartening to note that the ongoing crisis in Syria still has no end in sight and the political process is yet to take off. The conflict has become even more complex with the involvement of regional players," Tirumurti said.

"Terrorism emanating from Syria has spread far, even reaching parts of Africa. Foreign fighters involved in the Syrian conflict have also moved to other places as mercenaries. The humanitarian situation has worsened, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic," he added.

Tirumurti said the fact that the conflict has been so long-drawn and intractable, points to the inevitability of a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process, preserving the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria.

Syria's civil war began during the Arab Spring in 2011 as a peaceful uprising against the country's president, Bashar al-Assad. It has since escalated -- shattering the lives of Syrians, destroying cities, straining global politics, and spurring diplomatic efforts that are constantly questioned as the world is witnessing the horrors of ongoing warfare.

"We hope that the conflict in Syria will end completely, sooner than later, and the reconstruction of Syria will begin so that Syria reclaims its place in the comity of nations as well as its historic role in the Arab world. Towards this objective, India is ready to play a constructive and meaningful role in the Council," the envoy said.

The envoy expressed concern that hostilities in other parts of the country have continued unabated, adding that the prices of fuel and bread have doubled, the Syrian pound has devalued in the last two months.

"The presence of foreign terrorist fighters, along with continued terror activities, has worsened the situation on the ground. It is imperative that all parties must adhere to their international obligations to fight terrorism and terrorist organisations in Syria, as designated," he said.

"We call on the international community to provide assistance to Syria in rebuilding its infrastructure, safeguarding people's livelihoods and fighting COVID-19. In this situation, compounded by both economic and humanitarian crises, we should be sensitive to the debilitating impact that sanctions continue to have on the lives of the common people of Syria," he added.

India, Tirumurti said, supports the UN continuing its humanitarian relief operations through all possible channels, with the cooperation of the Syrian Government.

"In this regard, it is important to delink humanitarian assistance from progress on the political track. We believe that the noble and necessary cause of humanitarian assistance should always be bereft of politics," he added.

Since the conflict broke out in 2011, India has provided USD12 million as humanitarian assistance to the Syrian government through bilateral and multilateral channels, Tirumurti apprised the council.

Furthermore, India has set up a biotech park and an IT Centre and extended USD 265 million in lines of credit for projects in the steel and power sectors.

In July 2020, in order to help Syria fight the COVID-19 pandemic, New Delhi sent a gift of 10 metric tonnes of medicines to Damascus.

"We also organised an artificial limb fitment camp in Damascus during December 2019 - January 2020, which benefited over 500 Syrians. We have also provided 1000 scholarships for Syrian students to study in India. As Syria's reliable and long-lasting friend, India stands ready to continue to render all possible help and support to the Syrian people," the envoy 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.)

It is six years since the Strawbridges found Chateau de la Motte Husson - a 45-room, five-storey chateau. Dilapidated after years of neglect, they decided to bring it back to life. The story of their adventure, Escape to the Chateau, is one of Channel 4s top rated shows, averaging about 2.5 million viewers weekly. It has sold to 42 territories, from Australia to Angola, Canada to China.The commissioning deal comprises: two new eight-part series of Escape to the Chateau, the international hit series hosted by the Strawbridges; a recommission of Escape to the Chateau: Make Do and Mend; and a further series featuring Dick and Angel which is currently in development. all3media International will be the international partner on each of the series.Two Rivers and Chateau TVs first programming collaboration was Escape to the Chateau: Make Do and Mend (4 x 60). In this primetime series for Channel 4, filmed by the Strawbridge family on location at the Chateau in France, the couple aim to solve the nations make-do and mend dilemmas.The new announcement follows the seventh series of Escape to the Chateau which was its best-performing series, reaching 3.1 million, a 13.1% share. Escape to the Chateau: Make Do and Mend, which broadcast in summer 2020, was Channel 4s most successful brand new series launch in its 20:00 slot.We are extremely proud to be making these series for Channel 4, said Lizi Wootton, head of popular factual at Two Rivers . Our strategic partnership with Chateau TV is important for us as a growing indie with ambitions to make programming which is both creatively strong and internationally successful. Working with Dick and Angel, some of the most popular talent on-screen today, is extremely exciting and am personally delighted to be building on our long-standing relationship. There is a huge opportunity to grow the success of the Chateau brand on-screen and we are thrilled to be playing such a key role in its programming future.
Rating: 3.5 /5 Star Cast: Richa Chadha, Manav Kaul, Akshay Oberoi, Saurabh Shukla, Subhrajyoti Bharat Director: Subhash Kapoor

In one of the scenes, Richa Chadha as Tara addresses the crowd while campaigning for the elections and says, "Main Kunwari Hoon, Tez Kataari Hun Lekin Tumari Hun." The sheer frolic and command she depicts almost makes one root for her along with the roaring crowd in the scene. While in another scene, she rides a bike back home after facing an unexpected betrayal from a loved one, wherein the depth in her act is at its intense best.

What's Yay: Richa Chadha's performance complimented by that of Saurabh Shukla, Subhrajyoti Barat and Akshay Oberoi, the dialogues and the cinematography

What's Nay: A little more detailing on the struggle of Richa's character

Story

Madam Chief Minister revolves around a feisty Tara (Richa Chadha) and her journey from a jilted and humiliated lover of a shrewd politician to securing the seat of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. After facing a devastating insult from her lover Indu Tripathi (Akshay Oberoi), Tara vows for revenge and attains the support of the determined and respected Masterji (Saurabh Shukla). Masterji's political party is dedicated towards the upliftment of the backward class, and Tara finds herself more and more dedicated to aid him achieve his goal. The film traces her extraordinary journey to become the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh only to face constant resistance and betrayal from the ruthless politician Arvind (Subhrajyoti Barat) and Indu. However, she finds solace in Danish Khan (Manav Kaul), her advisor and later husband. But will Tara be able to grapple the incessant betrayals, treacheries and disloyalties in every path of her political career?

Direction

Subhash Kapoor hits the right chord with this gripping political drama. From weaving the complexities and dark web of politics to bringing out the subtle nuances in each and every character as well as their actions, form the high points of the movie. The script of Madam Chief Minister wins big as it brings out different layers and refinements in Tara's journey, as she gets more and more entangled in the not-so-clean game of politics. Some of the dialogues are one of the plus points of the movie. Kapoor successfully enables the audience to form a strong connect with the characters and the situations at every point in the film. However, the film fails to make Tara's struggle bloom in a more refined manner. It would have been convincing if one had got to witness how she sharpened herself to battle out the various humdrum of power and politics.

Performances

Needless to say, Richa Chadha is the prime guiding anchor in this ruthless political drama. Her effortless performance as Tara makes her appear raw, transparent, real and impeccably powerful at the same time. Be it her endearing scenes with Shukla's character or her giving it back to her arch-rivals, Richa sinks into the teeth of her character in the most convincing manner. Saurabh Shukla as Masterji is the most amiable to look at. The interplay between his and Richa's character is one of the high notes of Madam Chief Minister. However, it is Subhrajyoti Barat and Akshay Oberoi who look menacing and intense in their roles of the main antagonists. Manav Kaul has had delivered better performances than this one, but nevertheless he was convincing in his act.

Technical Aspects

The cinematography by Jayesh Nair hits the right chord. Some of the shots of Tara battling a life-threatening attack or addressing an anticipated crowd after becoming the Chief Minister, are most convincing to witness. Talking about the editing, it could have been more refined but does not affect the pace of the film.

Music

The background score and music by Mangesh Dhakde act as a fine catalyst for the film. The tracks showcase Tara's journey in her riveting political career. The song, 'Chidi Chidi' crooned by Swanand Kirkire is the one to look out for.

Verdict

Lastly, Madam Chief Minister narrates the extraordinary journey of a woman struggling to survive the very manifestations of politics. This one curates the various intricacies in politics and power game. Richa Chadha wins big with her powerful and riveting act. We give Madam Chief Minister 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Madam Chief Minister Trailer: Richa Chadha Stands Tall In Subhash Kapoor's Political Drama

Richa Chadha Honoured With Bharat Ratna Dr Ambedkar Award; 'This Reiterates My Faith In My Dreams'
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Coronavirus infections fell in every region and age group last week, Public Health England data revealed today after a huge surveillance study controversially claimed the outbreak didn't shrink during the first ten days of lockdown.

Covid hotspot London saw the sharpest drop in infection rate, plummeting by a quarter. The capital was followed by the East of England and the South East. All three regions were the first to be put in Tier Four before Christmas to contain the rapid spread of a highly-infectious new variant.

In another promising sign that the worst of England's second wave is over, infection rates dropped by 20 per cent in over-60s  who are most at risk of hospitalisation and death if they catch the virus.

The statistics from PHE's weekly surveillance report come amid a growing body of evidence that Britain's Covid outbreak has shrunk during lockdown.

NHS Test and Trace data today also showed a 15 per cent decline in the number of people testing positive for the virus across the UK in the week ending January 13. There were 330,871 positive swabs over that seven-day spell, compared to 389,191 in the first week of 2021. But the drop was not down to fewer tests being carried out because 400,000 extra swabs were processed in the most recent week.

It is the first week-on-week fall in the data since the start of December, when cases dipped as England emerged from its second national lockdown. It can take up to a week for the effect of any restrictions to be reflected in the statistics, meaning the drop in cases may have also been fuelled by the original tiered measures.

The figures came after a shocking study sparked fears England's third lockdown was failing to curb cases. Imperial College London's REACT-1 mass-testing project estimated 1.58 per cent of England's population had coronavirus in the first 10 days of lockdown and that the rate did not drop over the same time-frame.

But scientists dismissed concerns that even tighter measures were needed, claiming the Imperial study does not prove infections are rising because it missed out on a drop from the second wave's likely peak in late December.

Researchers behind the study did not carry out the survey over this period, which is when official data suggests coronavirus cases reached their high point before beginning to drop.

Other studies tracking the Covid outbreak suggest more optimistic trends. Even Department of Health statistics show daily infections have plunged since the start of the lockdown, from an average of almost 60,000 to 40,000.

Cambridge University estimates show that the R rate of the virus is likely below one, while Public Health England last week claimed cases dropped in all age groups. King's College researchers also say cases have fallen 'steadily' since the New Year.

It comes after Britain recorded another 1,290 Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, a 3.4 per cent rise on Thursday last week. But cases declined by 22 per cent after an additional 37,892 were announced by health bosses. Deaths lag weeks behind cases because of how long it can take for infected patients to fall severely ill.

Official statistics from Public Health England show coronavirus infections dropped in every region of England in the week to January 17. Above is the graph showing the sharpest drop in London

And infections are also thought to have declined in every group except toddlers, the latest PHE data suggests

Random swabbing of 142,000 people between January 6 to 15 found 'no evidence' of a decline in infection levels  despite an array of promising data showing exactly the opposite. The graph shows the test positivity rate for every day of the study

Mass-testing study that claims lockdown 3.0 isn't working 'does NOT prove coronavirus infections are rising' A shocking study that suggested England's third lockdown isn't working does not prove that infections are rising because it missed out a drop from the second wave's likely peak in December, scientists say. Imperial College London's REACT-1 mass-testing study, which estimated 1.58 per cent of England's population had coronavirus in the first 10 days of lockdown, triggered fears that the current restrictions aren't tough enough. But the team didn't test anyone between December 3 and January 6, leaving a month-long gap in their picture of how the epidemic changed during what is widely considered the worst period since March 2020, perhaps ever. During that time a new fast-spreading variant took hold in the south, Tier 4 was introduced for millions of people, household mixing was allowed for the first time in months for millions of others on Christmas Day, hospital patient numbers surged to record high levels, and the third lockdown was triggered. The REACT study then re-emerged on January 6, finding that the proportion of people infected with the virus had doubled since it last checked at the start of December, and wasn't showing sure signs of decline. The researchers behind it admit they missed the peak and so did not record a downturn in the infection rate, and say they hoped further testing in January would show infection numbers come down as the effects of lockdown properly set in. Experts have suggested the third lockdown may be slower to act because the virus has become able to spread faster and people are becoming weary of rules and not following them as strictly. Advertisement

Public Health England's weekly surveillance report shows Covid-19 infections dipped in the capital from 864 to 629 cases per 100,000 people in the week ending January 17, a 27 per cent decline.

But the capital still had the highest proportion of its population infected in England.

The second highest drop was in the East of England, where the infection rate per 100,000 fell to 489 after declining by 24 per cent.

And the third highest was in the South East, where the infection rate fell by 22 per cent to 456 per 100,000.

London and swathes of the other two regions were the first to be plunged into gruelling Tier Four restrictions just days before Christmas, amid mounting concern over the more-infectious mutant variant of the virus.

But the latest data suggests the curbs were enough to block the spread of the new strain, first identified in Kent, in the country.

Yorkshire and the Humber saw its infection rate decline by 17 per cent, from 297 to 247 per 100,000.

In the South West it dipped by 14 per cent, from 362 to 313 per 100,000, and in the North West by 10 per cent, from 582 to 488 per 100,000.

In the East Midlands and North East it fell by nine per cent, from 426 to 386 and from 356 to 324 per 100,000 respectively, and by five per cent in the West Midlands from 579 to 552 per 100,000.

The figures are considered reliable because they are based on all positive swabs in each region of England, which provide a broad-view of the changing infection situation in each region.

Experts behind the Imperial surveillance study said the numbers appeared to plateau between January 5 and 16. One of the researchers said it 'doesn't support the conclusion that lockdown is working'.

However, other scientists today insisted the findings do not prove that infections are rising because it missed out a drop from the second wave's likely peak in December.

Imperial's team didn't test anyone between December 3 and January 6, leaving a huge gap in their picture of how England's outbreak changed during the worst of the second wave.

During that time a new fast-spreading variant took hold in the south, Tier 4 was introduced for millions of people, household mixing was allowed for the first time in months for millions of others on Christmas Day, hospital patient numbers surged to record high levels, and the third lockdown was triggered.

The REACT study then re-emerged on January 6, finding that the proportion of people infected with the virus had doubled since it last checked at the start of December, and wasn't showing sure signs of decline.

The researchers behind it admit they missed the peak and so did not record a downturn in the infection rate, and say they hoped further testing in January would show infection numbers come down as the effects of lockdown properly set in.

Experts have suggested the third lockdown may be slower to act because the virus has become able to spread faster and people are becoming weary of rules and not following them as strictly.

Other scientists say the study  which is considered one of the most accurate measures of the spread of Covid because it tests asymptomatic people  doesn't have enough data to draw firm conclusions about whether lockdown was working in the first 10 days.

And Education Secretary Gavin Williamson today said other statistics given to the Government show lockdown 'has been having an impact in terms of relieving some of that pressure on the NHS'.

Professor Tim Spector, a King's College London epidemiologist who is running his own Covid Symptom Study using constantly updating data from a mobile app, told MailOnline the Imperial researchers 'can't really judge the effects of lockdown with their survey'.

Professor Kevin McConway, a statistician at the Open University, added that there is 'certainly quite a strong possibility that the REACT-1 estimates are not very accurate'.

Other studies looking at the effects of Covid-19 across the country suggest more optimistic trends.

The Imperial College London study missed out a long period of testing during December. By the start of the lockdown in January it found that 1.58 per cent of people in England were infected with coronavirus  the equivalent of almost 900,000 people. The graph shows the general trend across each time period the study has been carried out for, with the red line pointing upwards in the most recent week. The large area of red shading around the line, which peaks on both sides, shows that scientists are very uncertain about what the data means and it could actually be going down, flat, or going up

It found that mobility data suggested people were moving around more since the start of January, meaning even tougher restrictions may be necessary

The Imperial College London team also revealed how test positivity rates varied across each region of England over the study period, with rates falling in the East and South West and plateauing in London

And the team also offered a heat map showing where outbreaks have grown or shrunk between the last two recent rounds of testing

Experts behind the REACT-1 study also revealed how test positivity rates varied between age groups for each region, over the last three rounds of testing

Above is the case rates by age groups in the UK. The highest levels are in the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups, data from the ZOE Covid-19 study shows

Cambridge University estimates last week showed that the R rate of the virus is likely below one and could be as low as 0.6 in London.

Public Health England revealed weekly coronavirus cases had fallen in all age groups except the over-80s.

And Department of Health figures showed that dozens of boroughs had experienced a drop in infection rates.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock seized on the Imperial findings to hammer home the lockdown message and said they show 'why we must not let down our guard over the weeks to come'.

He added: 'Infections across England are at very high levels and this will keep having a knock-on effect on the already significant pressures faced by our NHS and hospitals.

'It is absolutely paramount that everyone plays their part to bring down infections.'

But experts aren't sure that the data is comprehensive enough to give any accurate idea of trends in how the virus is spreading.

Professor Tim Spector, who has been monitoring the coronavirus outbreak since the pandemic began, said there were 'problems' with REACT's figures because it 'did not collect any data for a month from December 5 to January 6'.

'So, it's very hard for them to tell what the trends are,' Professor Spector told MailOnline.

President Akufo-Addo is expected to release his list of ministerial appointments for his next goverment today (21 January) exactly two weeks after he was sworn-in for a second term.



Asaase News sources at the Jubilee House say the Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya in the Greater Accra Region who served as the Minister of State responsible for Procurement in the first term administration of President Akufo-Addo, will be appointed as the substantive Minister-Designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection.



Asaase News also gathers that the former deputy Chief of Staff and Member of Parliament for Bantama in the Ashanti Region, Francis Asenso Boakye, will be appointed as the Minister-Designate for Works and Housing.



According to our sources, President Akufo-Addo, intends to make the issue of housing a top priority of his second term and would therefore need trusted hands for the portfolio.



To this end, President Akufo-Addo has also penciled the Member of Parliament for Tano North in the Ahafo Region and former deputy minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Freda Prempeh, as the Deputy Minister-Designate for Works and Housing to assist Asenso Boakye.



Joseph Cudjoe, the former Deputy Minister for Energy, will be responsible for Public Enterprises, who will be operating directly under the ambit of the Presidency.



President Akufo-Addos yet to be released list of Ministers, our sources say, will be less than 85.



It will be recalled that during the Presidents first term, his ministers were one hundred and 126 compared to that of his predecessor, John Dramani Mahama, who appointed 88 ministers during his term of office (7 January 2013 to 7 January 2017).



The move is expected to silence those who have critised the president of having an elephant-size government during his first term.





Source: asaaseradio









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EG, a market-leading supplier of data, news and analytics products and services for the commercial real estate market, has announced the findings of its latest EG Propertylink Occupier Sentiment Report 'Bucking the trend: How 2020 could predict behaviour in 2021'.

Enquiry data gathered from EG Propertylink shows that while the first lockdown of 2020 dramatically impacted enquiries for commercial property it was searches for leisure and retail space which saw the biggest increase once restrictions started to lift.

Key findings from the report include:

Between the first and second lockdown (June to October) enquiries for property in the leisure sector rose by 64%. This was closely followed by retail and office enquiries which grew by 62% and 56% respectively.

Enquiry data for 3 out of 4 key London commuter towns examined in the report shows that enquiries for retail property as a proportion of total property searches increased in November compared to January.

Brighton saw the biggest increase with retail property searches making up 68% of the total enquiries in November compared to 46% in January. In Reading the figure was 38% vs 21% and St Albans 41% vs 30%.

The report also compares search data for all commercial property sectors within London, Cardiff and Edinburgh who all took different approaches to restrictions after the first lockdown, but which saw the biggest increase in enquiries between the first and second lockdown.

Oxford and Cambridge were among the universities to come under the spotlight in the race to develop a vaccine, however similarities in searches for commercial space diverged and it was a case of town vs county.

David Salisbury, Propertylink Group Head, said: 'Once the initial lockdown measures were eased, we experienced extraordinary levels of interest in commercial property last year. With the increasing reliance on online shopping, the demand for distribution centres and warehouses was expected but the speed with which interest in retail and leisure premises surged was a huge surprise. Searches for space in these sectors and the increased demand for more space away from city centres help to paint a picture of where demand is headed in 2021.'

To discover which capitals came out on top and how home counties differed in performance, download the report.

About EG

EG is a market-leading provider of data, news and analytics products and services to the commercial real estate market. EG products and services address the challenges and the data demands of all sectors and industries within UK commercial real estate. We deliver industry-leading events and weekly magazine content, and market leading data products including EG Radius, the only contributory data sharing platform for the UK commercial property market.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005516/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Name: Michelle McCann

Tel: +44 (0)79 12847655

Email: michelle.mccann@egi.co.uk
PIGGS PEAK  We cant stop now because if we do, we will miss out on this once-in-a year opportunity to make money.

These were sentiments made by rural folk who said despite the alcohol ban effected by government yesterday, they were hoping to cash in on brewing buganu. Since it is the buganu season, many residents in areas such as Emvembili, Ndlalambi, Buhleni and some parts of Mhlangatane, are already cashing in. The brew is fermented using the marula fruit, whose trees are common in the Hhohho Region. The buganu brew, which is sold cheaper, is readily available at various homesteads. Yesterday, government banned the sale and production of alcohol to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Children

*Musa, from Emvembili, said even children were now brewing buganu since they were not in school. He said children were able to walk long distances to fetch the marula fruit, which they used to brew the alcoholic beverage. He said a one-litre container was being sold for E10 while a 25-litre fetched about E200 or more. Even South Africans are crossing into the country to buy it, he said. Musa said though South Africa had marula trees, the people there did not know how to brew buganu the way it was brewed in Eswatini. He said for that reason, many South Africans were crossing into the country to buy the buganu for re-selling, especially since the sale of alcohol in that country was also banned. He said the authorities in rural areas were not the same as in the urban areas. Here, we are not worried about police officers, he said. He said there were community police but added that many of them also enjoyed the brew.

Lockdown

Musa further said umcombotsi was also a popular brew in the area and that many people wouldnt stop consuming it even if the country was to introduce strict lockdown rules.

This is like food, he said. He said because it was made from malt, many people drank umcombotsi the same way they consumed mahewu, which was a lightly fermented drink made from millet or maize meal.
The United States Ambassador to India, Ken Juster bid farewell to the country in his final tweet. This is my final tweet as the US Ambassador to India. My tweets from this account will now be archived. However, please continue to follow this account and @USAndIndiafor more on the US-India relationship. Farewell India, until we meet again!, wrote Ken in his tweet. His tweet came just ahead of the swearing-in of the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden.

This is my final tweet as the U.S. Ambassador to India. My tweets from this account will now be archived. However, please continue to follow this account and @USAndIndia for more on the U.S.-India relationship. Farewell India, until we meet again!  U.S. Ambassador to India (@USAmbIndia) January 20, 2021

'Strategic opportunity'

Recently, the outgoing envoy opined that India has a strategic opportunity to become an alternative manufacturing destination in the Indo-Pacific region as the focus has shifted to the Indo-Pacific with the rise of China and also due to several countries including the US finding it increasingly difficult to operate in China. Speaking at his farewell address on the US-India partnership, Juster said, "The region (Indo Pacific) is rich in natural resources and it is fast becoming the centre of gravity of the evolving international system. Indeed, the tectonic plates of that system have shifted, marked especially by the rise of China and more recently by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which has devastated health, and economy in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere".

Read: Maldives Thanks India As 1 Lakh Doses Of Covishield Reach Male, Says 'Most Generous Gift'

Juster's statements come in the context of the world economy taking a massive blow owing to the deadly Coronavirus pandemic, and thousands of foreign companies mulling to move their manufacturing bases from China to other countries. Ken Juster also noted that outgoing US President Donald Trump in 2017 had described Americas vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific enabling the independent and sovereign nations with diverse cultures to prosper together side by side and thrive in both freedom as well as in peace. In the farewell policy address, Juster elaborated on the ambition and the milestones achieved in the US-India partnership throughout the last four years of Trump administration.

Read: Akhilesh Yadav Makes Odd Vow To Recognise 'Tennis Ball Cricket' As India Beats Australia

"US government is dedicated to not just bilateral relationships but to supporting India's rise on the world stage. US National Security Strategy put it down on paper in 2017, welcoming India's emergence as a leading power and a stronger strategic and defence partner. The Indo Pacific is particularly significant for India and US relationship because it recognises the reality that India and Indian ocean are inextricably tied to the East Asia and Pacific. India's expanding economy is likely to become an important driver for growth in the region", said Ken.

Read: Rahul Gandhi Lauds China's 'strategic Vision' Amid LAC Faceoff, Warns 'India Will Suffer'

Also Read: Outgoing US Envoy Juster Backs India As Alternative Mfg Hub; Cites Difficulty With China

(Photo Credit: Twitter/USAmbIndia)
The who's who of corporate world will come together at the Business Today MindRush 2021 on 22-23 January to discuss the state of economy, global pandemic and the way ahead.

Former Niti Aayog Vice-Chairman and economist Arvind Panagariya will speak on how to kickstart the economy disrupted by the pandemic, while Hindustan Unilever CMD will give his views on navigating the business through chaos and confusion.

Bharat Biotech's CMD Krishna Ella will discuss the future of healthcare post-COVID with Thyrocare MD A Velumani and Public Health Foundation of India President Srinath Reddy.

The new-age entrepreneurs - Zerodha's Nikhil Kamath, Wow! Momo's Sagar Daryani and Cars 24's Vikram Chopra - will discuss the pandemic challenge.

Telecom regulator TRAI Chairman P.D. Vaghela, Reliance Jio President Shyam Mardikar and Bharti Enterprises Vice-Chairman Akhil Gupta will come together to discuss the 5G technology.

The second day of the event will see HR managers of top companies speak on managing the work force amid the new normal of "work-from-home".

IIFL Chairman Nirmal Jain will discuss the bullishness in stock markets, while Nestle CMD Suresh Narayanan, Vodafone Idea MD and CEO Ravinder Takkar and Lemon Tree Hotels CMD Patu Keswani will give their view on how to rebuild business.

The two-day event will see many other interesting sessions and will conclude with the Best CEOs on BT Awards.

Among the many complications that have emerged from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), cardiovascular events have become prominent.

An illuminating new study by scientists at Harvard Medical School, USA, describes the correlation of such conditions with the ABO blood group. The team's findings may help assess the risk of COVID-19 patients for such complications, promoting early diagnosis and underscoring potential needs for preventive and therapeutic care where possible.

Study: Association of ABO blood group type with cardiovascular events in COVID-19 . Image Credit: Bart Sadowski / Shutterstock

The researchers recently published their findings in the Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis.

Study details

The study took a retrospective observational cohort design. It included over 400 subjects enrolled in the COVID-19 Registry to Assess Frequency, Management, and Outcomes of Arterial and Venous Thromboembolic Complications (CORONA-VTE).

All data came from electronic health records from hospitals in the Massachusetts General Brigham healthcare network. The subjects were followed up for 30 days, and the patient outcomes were assessed by a three-person panel.

The outcomes examined were the conventional cardiovascular events; namely, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), major arterial and venous thrombosis, and all-cause mortality. MACE was a composite score including venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, systemic embolism, major adverse limb events, heart failure hospitalization, new atrial fibrillation, and myocarditis.

Several variables were assessed for their potential effect on clinical outcomes. These included age, race, sex, smoking status, body mass index, rhesus (Rh) status, pre-existing atherosclerosis, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, history of chronic anticoagulant or antiplatelet use, and statin therapy.

Blood group association with outcomes

When classified by blood group, about half had blood group O, while about 30%, 15% and 6% had blood type A, B and AB, respectively. People who had a history of cerebrovascular events, who were non-Hispanic whites, or smokers, had a greater chance of having blood group A than O. Hypertensive patients were less likely to have blood group B than O.

Blood groups A and AB were associated with the highest incidence of all three major outcomes. However, when other variables were adjusted for, the odds of MACE were 2.5 times more common in blood group A than blood group O. A strong trend was observed for an increased risk of major thromboses in blood group A as well, at twice the frequency of blood group O, but this did not reach statistical significance. Again, mortality from all causes failed to show any relationship with the blood group.

a 30-day unadjusted incidence proportions of major adverse cardiovascular events, major thrombotic events and all-cause mortality per ABO blood group type (N represents absolute number of events). b Forest plot of multivariable association of ABO blood group type with thirty-day major adverse cardiovascular events, major thrombotic events and all-cause mortality. The multivariable model is adjusted for age, race, sex, cigarette smoking status, body mass index, rhesus antigen status, established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, chronic therapeutic anticoagulation, chronic antiplatelet therapy and statin therapy.

Compared with all other blood groups, blood group A showed over twofold higher odds of MACE, and blood group O had only half the odds. Thus, blood group A had twice the odds of MACE. This adds to the findings of an earlier genome-wide association study that showed an association between the ABO locus and a higher chance of respiratory failure in COVID-19. In that recent study, it was shown that blood group A has a higher risk of respiratory failure in this infection, and blood group O a reduced risk.

What are the implications?

The current study indicates that the ABO gene locus is associated with cardiovascular complications in patients with COVID-19. Some studies show that natural antibodies to glycan ABO antigens inhibit the SARS-CoVs entry into the host cell, via the interaction between the viral spike glycoprotein and the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor.

Blood groups other than O have also been found to associate with higher frequency of both arterial and venous clots, perhaps because they have higher levels of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII  both potent clotting factors.

The researchers point out that this association cannot be taken to prove a causal role for the ABO blood group types in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular complications in COVID-19, and that further study is required.

They call for larger and more long-term studies to confirm these associations. At the current level of knowledge, these findings may help identify patients who are possibly at greater risk for these adverse outcomes, in order to provide optimal management and care.
After a crazy response for its teaser, KGF: Chapter 2 has yet again made it to the headlines for an amazing reason. As per reports, the makers of the action-entertainer have quoted a whopping Rs 60 crore for its Telugu theatrical rights. Reportedly, the producer of the film Vijay Kiragandur has quoted Rs 5 crore just for Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district.

Well, if you are not surprised as much as we are, let us tell you that the first instalment of the film, i.e. KGF: Chapter 1's Telugu state rights (theatrical) was sold for Rs 5 crore. This means that the makers of KGF: Chapter 2 are quoting an amount more than ten times than what they had quoted for the first instalment. Notably, the closing share of the film in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana was Rs 12 crore+. Well, with the business talks of KGF: Chapter 2 going viral on social media, fans and followers are expecting a never-seen-before treat on screens.

Directed by Prashanth Neel, the action-entertainer is backed by Vijay Kiragandur under his production banner Hombale Films. The shoot of the film was recently wrapped up in Hyderabad. As per reports, a high-octane action sequence was shot at Ramoji Film City. Reportedly, the makers have spent as much as Rs 12 crore for the highly-anticipated climax sequence featuring Yash and Sanjay Dutt.

Starring Yash as the lead protagonist, the film also features an ensemble cast including Srinidhi Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Balakrishna, Anant Nag, Malavika Avinash, Prakash Raj, Saran Shakthi and Achyuth Kumar. Made on a budget of Rs 100 crore, KGF: Chapter 2 has music scored by Ravi Basrur and camera cranked by Bhuvan Gowda. The editing of the film is carried out by Srikanth Gowda.

Also Read: KGF Chapter 2: Cost Of The Yash Starrer's Climax Sequence Will Make You Go WOW!

Also Read: Yash & Kichcha Sudeep Set The Dance Floor On Fire At Ramesh Aravind's Daughter Niharika's Wedding Reception
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21) Some senators said they would still push for further details, including the exact cost, of China's Sinovac vaccine when the chamber resumes its inquiry on Friday.

In an interview with CNN Philippines on Thursday, Senator Risa Hontiveros questioned why the Philippines could not disclose the actual pricing of the Sinovac vaccine, when other countries using and considering the product for procurement were able to do so.

"It shouldn't be this major production. Simpleng tanong, simpleng sagot," Hontiveros told The Source. "We buy an ordinary product from day-to-day, or we pay for a service in our homes. We ask and we are answered Magkano? Kasi bahagi 'yun ng desisyon natin as consumers."

"Wag tayong magtatago sa likod ng confidentiality disclosure agreement. Let's have the transparency that will enable accountability," she added, stressing the public needs a "clear answer."

[Translation: It shouldn't be this major production. A simple question, simple answer. We buy an ordinary product from day-to-day, or we pay for a service in our homes. We ask and we are answered how much is it? Because that's part of our decision as consumers. Let's not hide behind the confidentiality disclosure agreement.]

Galvez, upon instructions from President Rodrigo Duterte, met Wednesday with Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto to share vaccine procurement details and hopefully clear issues for transparency. The meeting was also attended by Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, according to Sotto.

Sotto confirmed there were nondisclosure agreements mandated by the pharmaceutical companies, and said he will be immediately informing his colleagues regarding the essential facts of these documents. He said that Galvez assured there will be no room for overpricing in the product procurements.

Meanwhile, Lacson said he and his colleagues advised Galvez to explain in Friday's hearing issues and concerns regarding the vaccines "without violating the terms of the agreement" of suppliers.

"His briefing clarified a lot of issues and concerns raised by the senators that have remained unresolved until last night," Lacson said in a message to reporters. "We advised him to explain in tomorrow's hearing the same way that he did last night without violating the terms of the agreement with the vaccine suppliers."

Asked about his meeting with the senators, Galvez said he explained the process of negotiations with vaccine manufacturers. "Nagbigay ako ng indicative prices. Nakita nila na ang potential gains natin ay umabot ng $1 billion. Nakita nila ang ginagawa natin ay may due diligence at prudence," the appointed vaccine czar said during the Laging Handa briefing.

[Translation: I gave them indicative prices. They saw that our potential gains reached about $1 billion. They saw that what we are doing have due diligence and prudence.]

Concerns over the Sinovac vaccine were earlier raised after officials refused to reveal its exact cost, citing a nondisclosure agreement with the drug maker. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque later said that each dose of the product is priced near 650 and won't exceed 700.

RELATED: Galvez, Duque should 'reaffirm' Sinovac vaccine price to boost public trust Drilon

'No walk out'

Galvez, meanwhile, assured that he will not walk out from the session when the Senate hearing resumes. This comes in light of President Rodrigo Duterte's advice for Galvez to leave the probe if senators become verbally abusive.

"Mali ang balita na magwo-walk out po ako," Galvez said. "Nirerespeto natin ang oversight function ng Senate. Naiintindihan namin na (it is) to give clarity kung ano ang implementation at transparency sa aming ginagawa na negotiation."

[Translation: The report that I would walk out is wrong. We respect the oversight function of the Senate. We understand that it is to give clarity over the implementation and transparency of our ongoing negotiations.]
The record daily death toll from Covid-19 is appalling, Boris Johnson has admitted  while warning there is more to come.

The prime minister blamed the 1,820 deaths on the new variant that we saw just before Christmas, despite criticism of him for allowing families to meet in the festive period.

In gloomy comments, Mr Johnson said: It looks as though the rates of infection in the country overall may now be peaking or flattening, but they're not flattening very fast.

And he added: I must stress we have tough weeks to come now as we roll out the vaccine. The light will only really begin to dawn as we get those vaccinations out.

The prime minister was interviewed after Patrick Vallance, his chief scientific adviser, warned the parts of the NHS were like a war zone.

Meanwhile, the inauguration of Joe Biden was hailed as a step forward after what Mr Johnson called the bumpy period of the end of the disgraced Trump presidency.

When you look at the issues that unite me and Joe Biden, the UK and the United States right now, there's a fantastic joint common agenda, he argued.

Mr Johnson ducked a question about whether he believed the new US President is woke, as Labours Lisa Nandy has argued.

And, in an eyebrow-raising comment, he claimed: There's nothing wrong with being woke.

I put myself in the category of people who believe that it's important to stick up for your history, your traditions and your values, the things you believe in.

The prime minister also warned of the threat from Storm Christoph, as it threatens to wreak havoc and flooding on parts of the North.

We have got a situation potentially developing there. We are looking at a pattern of rainfall, possibly not so bad this week but worse possibly next week, he told reporters.

The 1,820 further deaths within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 reported on Wednesday marked the second successive day that a new high was recorded.

The daily average over the last seven days stands at 1,218, with a total of 93,290 deaths from Covid-19 since the pandemic began on that measure.

Meanwhile, official figures also showed that 12 January saw the highest number of deaths on a single day  the 1,110 fatalities eclipsing the previous peak of 1,073 on 8 April last year.

Mr Johnson said: These figures are appalling and, of course, we think of the suffering that each one of those deaths represents to their families and to their friends.

"I've got to tell you... there will be more to come because what we're seeing is the result of the wave of the new variant that we saw just before Christmas on 18 December, or thereabouts.

"It really has been a very big peak of infection. It's spread very quickly  not just in London and the South East where it began  but now in virtually in all parts of the country.

Books have been the saviour of many peoples sanity during the last year. However, for every bibliophile who has decided lockdown is the perfect time to finally tackle Finnegans Wake or A la Recherche du Temps Perdu, there are many others looking for something with a little less intellectual heft.

The pandemic has played havoc with our moods and attention spans with the result that many readers are seeking gentler, lighter, more uplifting books. The trend isnt a new one. The term up-lit has been in circulation in publishing circles for a few years now, with many pointing to the phenomenally successful novel Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman  about the travails of a lonely and eccentric young woman  as the spark that lit the flame. Up-lit followed on the heels of grip-lit, encompassing thrillers such as Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

Whatever label we give it, it is clear that many people are looking for books that offer comfort and hope, whether that is a well-thumbed favourite or one where all loose ends are tied up in a neat and happy bow. The trend can be seen in publishers schedules, with eagerly awaited new titles from English author Beth OLeary, author of bestselling novel The Flatshare who has been described as the queen of up-lit and on home soil, from tried and trusted writers such as Cathy Kelly and Sheila OFlanagan.

As presenter of The Book Show on RTE Radio 1, and custodian of numerous books-oriented endeavours, including Irelands largest book club, with over 32,000 members, its fair to say Rick OShea has his finger on the pulse of Irish readers. He describes up-lit as a convenient label for publishers to use with certain books.

I dont think it constitutes a specific genre in and of itself, not like, say, anything like science fiction or griplit, which have specific tropes and are written in specific ways  you have a rough idea of what those books are, but up-lit is very amorphous, theyre not necessarily books that you can put all in one box.

OShea has been in contact with numerous authors and readers over the various lockdowns and says people are definitely seeking escapist reads, whatever they may be.

Since March of last year, a lot of festivals fell by the wayside, so I did a series with authors online, Shelf Analysis. From asking authors, people I know, and those in the Book Club, the one thing I have seen is that many people have fallen into comfort reading, whether those are genres theyd normally like, or rereading books they love. I suppose its about finding the familiar in whats an increasingly unfamiliar landscape every day.

One of OSheas favourite books of the last two years is Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession, a heartwarming tale of everyday kindness and friendship which also happens to meet the criteria many people are seeking in books right now.

There arent many books out there which just allow you into the lives of really nice people who dont do terrible things to other people  Leonard and Hungry Paul is one of those books.

It is for anyone looking for a read that will allow them to sink into the world of two fantastic people in which theres no serious drama, nobody murders anybody else, theres no crisis in peoples lives beyond small ones, theyre lovely warm human beings. I know a lot of people who read the book and found it the perfect antidote to 2020.

Perhaps Dublin City Libraries had this in mind when it recently chose Leonard and Hungry Paul as the title for its One City, One Book initiative, which encourages people to read their nominated book during the month of April. While Hession's book has been described by some as up-lit, it is not a tag he would use himself.

What I understand by up-lit is a form of writing that seeks to focus on the positive  though often in a set-up where that positivity can involve someone turning their life around, he says. While I can understand the appeal of that, especially at the current time, if it only works as a distraction, then the big, bad world is still waiting for you afterwards. However, if a book can help you to look at the world differently and more clearly, then that type of insight can be meaningful for the reader. At times of crisis, people tend to focus on what is changing and lose sight of what is not changing. By allowing space to reflect on those aspects of human nature that have perennial value, I hope that Leonard and Hungry Paul helps to restore some perspective.

With more books than ever vying for shelf space  almost 600 books were released in Britain and Ireland on one day alone last year, September 3  the reality for publishers is that defining them by a genre or label can make them an easier sell, in the short-term at least. Limerick author Roisin Meaney has many titles under her belt, and her work is often described as up-lit or feelgood.

Roisin Meaney

People often describe my books as like sitting down with a friend for a chat over a cup of tea, that kind of thing. They are easy reads, ones that you would throw in the suitcase for a beach holiday, back in the day when we did that kind of thing. Im happy to have them described as such. They are simple stories, but having said that, up to last year, I would have tried to get different aspects of life into a book, because I wanted them to mimic real life, with all its ups and downs. I would have topics in there that would have been considered dark, for example, I had child sexual abuse in one and drink-driving in another. But this last year, I have been very conscious that I want the books to be a happy read, less of the darkness, more of the cheerful, heart-warming things that would make a reader smile.

Meaney says there has been a recurring theme in the feedback she has received from readers since the onset of the pandemic.

The comments I get often include phrases like I really needed this at this time and thanks for cheering me up because things have been so tough.

Meaney, who had a book out for Christmas, Its That Time of Year, and releases a book in June, The Book Club, says there was one topic she was certain to avoid in both titles.

I deliberately steered well clear of Covid, especially in the book that came out at Christmas. I had people hugging one another, no masks, nobody with even the flu in it. I thought the last thing people will want, the last thing I would want, is to read a book with the pandemic in it. Having said that, I am reading Emma Donoghues The Pull of the Stars, which is about the Spanish Flu pandemic. I am reading it for a book club. It has awful resonance for the times we are living in now, I am shuddering it as I read. Maybe I would have chosen to leave it a while until I read it but I am enjoying it because she is a great writer.

One thing is clear, no matter what kind of books we read, the opportunity to escape into another world through our imagination is something not to be taken for granted.

At the moment its wonderful for anybody who can find the opportunity to disappear into books, if they have the ability to do, says Rick OShea.

There are people whove found that very hard, and who havent gotten their reading mojo back  I know writers who havent gotten their writing mojo back  so anything that people can find their solace in, whether its rereading old things or new things, no matter what the genre is, thats amazing.

Ricks picks for 2021:
Over a week after expanding his 17-month-old Cabinet, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday effected a minor reshuffle and also allocated portfolios to seven new Ministers.

Yediyurappa divested JC Madhuswamy of Law, Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation and Minor Irrigation and allocated him Medical Education, Kannada, and Culture Departments.

Health Minister K Sudhakar was relieved of Medical Education in just three months, who was given Health portfolio by taking it away from incumbent Social Welfare Minister B Sreeramulu.

Madhuswamy is a key member of the Yediyurappa camp, who put up strong defence of the state government in the state legislature.

Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation Department has been given to Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai as additional charge.

The Forest Department has been taken back from S Anand Singh, who has been given Tourism Department in addition to Environment and Ecology.

CC Patil, earlier incharge of Mines and Geology, has now been given Small Scale Industries and Information and Public Relations Departments.

Leader of the House in Legislative Council, Kota Srinivas Poojari, has been relieved of Fisheries, Ports and Inland Transport Department and given Muzrai and Backward Classes Welfare Department.

Haj and Wakf Department has been taken back from Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan, while Labour Minister A Shivaram Hebbar has been divested of the Sugar Department.

K Gopalaiah has been divested of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs Department and made incharge of Horticulture and Sugar Departments.

KC Narayana Gowda has been given Youth Empowerment, Sports, Haj and Wakf Departments, but divested of Municipal Administration, Horticulture and Sericulture Departments.

The Chief Minister has kept the Departments of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Cabinet Affairs, Finance, Bangalore Development, Energy, Intelligence, Planning, Programme Monitoring Statistics, Infrastructure Development and all unallocated portfolios with himself.

Among the new Ministers, Umesh Katti gets Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and S Angara Fisheries, Ports and Inland Transport.

R Murugesh Nirani will be Mines and Geology Minister and Arvind Limbavali Forest Minister, said a gazette notification issued with the consent of Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala.

R Shankar gets Municipal Administration and Sericulture, MTB Nagaraj Excise, and CP Yogeshwar Minor Irrigation Department.

Yediyurappa has thus sent out a loud and clear message to all MLAs airing serious reservations about his decision to expand his Cabinet that he is firmly in control.

Earlier, his close aide MP Rennukacharya spearheaded the campaign against ministerial berths to MLCs. Besides, several disgruntled legislators had also alleged they were not considered despite the fact that most Ministers were from Bengaluru and Belagavi districts.

The Cabinet strength now is 34, including the Chief Minister and 33 Ministers.

Yediyurappa had inducted seven new Ministers on January 13 to expand his Cabinet but dropped H Nagesh, who held the Excise portfolio.

--IANS

nbh/tsb

(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.)
Pompeo and the others had 'planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves and seriously disrupted China-US relations,' said the Chinese foreign ministry

Beijing: China said Wednesday it was sanctioning more than two dozen members and ex-officials in former president Donald Trump's government, including his secretary of state Mike Pompeo, for violating the country's "sovereignty" by making "crazy" policy moves.

The move came as US President Joe Biden took the oath of office in Washington, ushering in a new administration that is expected to remain tough on China but commit to international cooperation after Trump's divisive "America First" approach.

"Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the United States, out of their selfish political interests, prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people, have planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves," China's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Those actions, it added, have "gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests, offended the Chinese people and seriously disrupted China-US relations."

"China has decided to sanction 28 persons who have seriously violated China's sovereignty and who have been mainly responsible for such US moves on China-related issues," the foreign ministry said.

Apart from Pompeo, those sanctioned include Trump trade advisor Peter Navarro, national security advisor Robert O'Brien, assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs David Stilwell, health secretary Alex Azar and UN envoy Kelly Craft, among others.

Beijing also sanctioned former Trump national security advisor John Bolton and former senior advisor Steve Bannon.

The officials and their family members will be prohibited from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, the foreign ministry said.

"They and companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China," it added.

Prestigious recognition

Bolton, a hawkish veteran diplomat who has been a frequent critic of Trump since leaving the administration in September 2019, wrote on Twitter that he was proud to have prompted Beijing's wrath.

"I've been sanctioned by the Communist Chinese government for 'nasty behavior,'" he posted. "Great news for an inauguration day! I accept this prestigious recognition of my unrelenting efforts to defend American freedom."

Throughout his last days in office, Trump butted heads with China over trade, security, technology, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rights of people from Hong Kong to Xinjiang, home to the country's Uighur minority.

On Tuesday, the administration's last full day in office, Pompeo said Beijing's sweeping incarceration of mostly Muslim minorities in the far western Xinjiang region amounted to genocide and crimes against humanity.

The Chinese foreign ministry hit back, accusing Pompeo of fabricating "sensational false propositions" throughout his term in office.

Pompeo's vociferous criticism of Beijing has been a hallmark of his tenure, although he had earlier danced around directly alleging genocide.

Biden's pick for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said Tuesday that he agreed with Pompeo's assessment.

Blinken and Biden's Treasury pick Janet Yellen both signalled they will not let up on Washington's efforts to combat China's trade abuses, an area of common ground with Trump, who over the past four years unleashed a trade war that imposed billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese goods.

But Beijing pushed back, stating that "the Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend China's national sovereignty, security and development interests."

Blinken and Yellen have indicated the new administration's commitment to promoting investments to make American firms and workers more competitive against Beijing.

However, the Biden administration overall is expected to be more measured in tone and to knit back together tattered alliances on the global stage.
Evan Peters' version of Quicksilver has been rumored to be making a return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe through "WandaVision." That is if a recent tweet is to be believed.

As Movie Web reported, the talks about Peters' return to Marvel as Quicksilver started when Spanish actor Rodri Martin tweeted that he will reprise his role in the new Disney+ Series. For those not in the know, Martin served as the voice actor to dub Peters in the translated version of his "X-Men" movies.

While Martin has since deleted the post and made his account private, several news outlets and Marvel fans have saved receipt of his tweet. His action also made more people believe that the reappearance of the "X-Men: Dark Phoenix" actor is true, with Marvel and Disney perhaps just intervening to stop further leakage.

VUELVE QUICKSILVER 



Evan Peters habia sido confirmado el ano pasado para aparecer en #WandaVision, aunque no se conocia en que rol seria.



Finalmente gracias a un error inmenso por parte de un actor de doblaje espanol, se confirma que efectivamente volvera como Pietro. pic.twitter.com/ObRRHIFK1d  La Friki Cueva (@LaFrikiCueva2) January 18, 2021

There are no further details about the extent of Peters' role and when he will appear. However, it is worth noting that "WandaVision" has been making headlines recently for its surprising departure to the normal Marvel movies.

'WandaVision' Cast, Story Line and Episodes

'WandaVision' debuted on Disney+ last Friday, January 15, with two episodes. Of couse, it stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany as Vision--in human form.

If Evan Peters indeed joins the cast of the series, he would also join the likes of Kathryn Hahn (Agnes), Teyonah Parris (Monica Rambeau), Randall Park (Jimmy Woo) and Kat Dennings (Darcy Lewis) to name a few.

The first season of the series is given nine episodes, though there have been reports that it could be given a second season.

"WandaVision" follows the story of Wanda and Vision as they try to live a normal life, hiding their powers, in a city called WestView. It came after the events of "Avengers: Endgame" when Tony Stark defeated Thanos to restore the universe.

However, as what has been seen in its trailer before its launch, Wanda and Vision will find a normal life more challenging with their powers. It also remains to be seen what's going on with their lives, as the trailer suggested they are living in what seemed to be an alternate reality.

READ MORE: 'Riverdale' Season 5 Spoiler: 'Archie' Actor KJ Apa Reveals What To Expect After Shocking Time Jump

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clean Energy Technologies (OTCQB: CETY), a clean energy company focusing on products and solutions in the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability market, today announced that its CEO, Kam Mahdi, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on February 4th.

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time.

Recent Topics and Announcements to be Discussed.

The bill passed by Congress just before the holidays offering vital tax credit eligibility for waste heat to power. What this means for the industry and CETY.

CETY's completion of the setup of a wholly owned subsidiary in Hainan island, China .

island, . CETY securing additional sales in Europe , confirming planned, steady growth in European clean energy market.

, confirming planned, steady growth in European clean energy market. CETY and ENEX enter into a manufacturing and sales agreement to design, build, and operate renewable energy and waste recovery facilities.

DATE: February 4th, 2021

TIME: 2:30 Easter Standard Time

LINK: https://bit.ly/3brvZ8w

If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

About Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (CETY)

Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, Clean Energy Technologies (CETY) delivers power from heat and biomass with zero emission and low cost. CETY designs, produces and markets clean energy products & solutions focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Company's principal product is the Clean Cycle magnetic bearing heat recovery generator, offered by CETY's subsidiary Clean Energy HRS, or Heat Recovery Solutions.

The Clean Cycle system captures waste heat from a variety of sources and turns it into electricity that can be used or sold back to the grid. CETY's proven, reliable technology allows municipal, commercial, and industrial users with heat sources, such as from biomass, industrial processes or energy production, to boost their overall energy efficiency with no additional fuel, no pollutants, and little ongoing maintenance. CETY's common stock is currently traded on the OTC Market under the symbol CETY.

For more information, visit www.cetyinc.com or www.heatrecoverysolutions.com.

A better cleaner and environmentally sustainable future

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly-traded companies to meet and present directly with investors.

A real-time solution for investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences is part of OTC Market Group's suite of investor relations services specifically designed for more efficient Investor Access. Replicating the look and feel of on-site investor conferences, Virtual Investor Conferences combine leading-edge conferencing and investor communications capabilities with a comprehensive global investor audience network.

CONTACTS:

Clean Energy Technologies, Inc.

Kam Mahdi, CEO

949-273-4990 x814

[email protected]

Virtual Investor Conferences

John M. Viglotti

SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access

OTC Markets Group

(212) 220-2221

[email protected]

SOURCE Clean Energy Technologies, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.cetyinc.com


[January 21, 2021] Cerevel Therapeutics Announces the Appointments of Deval Patrick and Deborah Baron to its Board of Directors

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerevel Therapeutics, a company dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the brain to treat neuroscience diseases, announced today that it has appointed the Honorable Deval Patrick and Deborah Baron to serve as independent members of its Board of Directors.

Mr. Patrick, a former two-term governor of Massachusetts, is an experienced business and government leader with a deep understanding of the life sciences ecosystem. He currently serves as a director at Global Blood Therapeutics, Amwell, Twilio, and Environmental Impact Acquisition Corp. He is also the founder and chairperson of the TogetherFund, a political action committee that supports progressive politics and grassroots groups working to drive turnout and engagement among disenfranchised and marginalized voters. Mr. Patrick was previously a managing director at Bain Capital. Ms. Baron is senior vice president, Worldwide Business Development for Pfizer Inc., where she leads all business development activities including prioritizing opportunities, managing evaluations, and executing transactions. Deval and Deborah are each exceptional leaders in the life sciences community, and they will bring a diverse set of experiences and perspectives to Cerevel, said Tony Coles, M.D., chief executive officer and chairperson of Cerevel Therapeutics. I look forward to adding their voices, their wisdom and their experience to our board as we continue our aspiration to build the premier neuroscience company. Cerevel exemplifies the innovative spirit of the life sciences industry in Massachusetts, as it seeks to bring new treatment options to patients facing Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and other devastating conditions, said Mr. Patrick. I am excited to join the Cerevel board and support the companys mission to change what is possible in neuroscience. I am proud to continue Pfizers participation on the Cerevel board, as Cerevel applies its expertise in neurocircuitry and receptor selectivity to advance an innovative pipeline of medicines, said Ms. Baron. Cerevel has been purpose-built with an experienced team of drug developers and the capabilities to advance new treatment options for neuroscience diseases. About Deval Patrick

Originally from the South Side of Chicago, Mr. Patrick has had a career as a business and civil rights attorney and business executive, becoming a partner at two Boston law firms and a senior executive at Texaco and Coca-Cola. In 1994, President Clinton appointed Mr. Patrick to the nations top civil rights post, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. In 2006, in his first bid for public office, he became Massachusetts first African-American governor. In his two terms as Governor, Mr. Patrick oversaw the expansion of affordable health care to more than 98 percent of state residents, launched initiatives stmulating clean energy and biotechnology, won a national Race to the Top grant, and steered the state out of recession to a 25-year high in employment.



From April 2015 to December 2019, he served as a managing director of Bain Capital LLC, where he focused on investments that deliver both a competitive financial return and significant positive social impact. Mr. Patrick is a Rockefeller Fellow, a Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute, and the author of two books, A Reason to Believe: Lessons from an Improbable Life and Faith in the Dream: A Call to the Nation to Reclaim American Values. Mr. Patrick received a B.A. in English and American literature from Harvard College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

About Deborah Baron

Deborah Baron is senior vice president, Worldwide Business Development for Pfizer Inc. In this role, Ms. Baron leads all Pfizer business development activities including prioritizing opportunities, managing evaluations, and executing transactions. Ms. Barons team covers a wide range of transaction types including venture investments, collaborations, license agreements, mergers and acquisitions, and divestitures. Prior to this role, Ms. Baron held positions of increasing responsibility at Pfizer, including leading business development activities in Pfizers Primary Care and Emerging Markets businesses. Before joining Pfizer in 2002, Ms. Baron was an associate principal in the New York office of McKinsey and Company, a management consulting firm, and previously she worked as a manufacturing engineer at The Stanley Works in New Britain, Connecticut. Ms. Baron earned her M.B.A. from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from MIT. About Cerevel Therapeutics Cerevel Therapeutics is dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of the brain to treat neuroscience diseases. The company is tackling neuroscience diseases with a differentiated approach that combines expertise in neurocircuitry with a focus on receptor selectivity. Cerevel Therapeutics has a diversified pipeline comprising five clinical-stage investigational therapies and several pre-clinical compounds with the potential to treat a range of neuroscience diseases, including Parkinsons, epilepsy, schizophrenia and substance use disorder. Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., Cerevel Therapeutics is advancing its current research and development programs while exploring new modalities through internal research efforts, external collaborations or potential acquisitions. For more information, visit www.cerevel.com. Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on managements beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: may, will, could, would, should, expect, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, project, potential, continue, ongoing or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about our potential to become a premier neuroscience company and the intended results of our strategy. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if the forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not regard these statements as a representation or warranty by us or any other person that we will achieve our objectives and plans in any specified time frame, or at all. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Media Contact:

Kate Contreras

W2O

kcontreras@w2ogroup.com Investor Contact:

Matthew Calistri

Cerevel Therapeutics

matthew.calistri@cerevel.com





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Stephen Colbert shed plenty of tears on Wednesday, he confessed to viewers of "The Late Show," as he always does when he feels happy. But he had little to relish while watching outgoing president Donald Trump depart the White House that morning.

"It was extremely emotional, and not entirely in the way that I expected," Colbert said during a special live monologue. "I have zero gloat in me. There is no end zone dance here. What I feel is enormous relief."

That long-awaited release, though, did not mean the punchlines were over just yet.

After four-plus years of relentlessly bashing Trump, Colbert and his fellow late-night hosts used their shows Wednesday to roast the outgoing president's exit with one last round of jokes, homing in on his flurry of last-minute pardons and unapologetic departing words, as they also celebrated President Joe Biden's ascent to the White House.

"Well, you did it," Colbert told viewers, putting his tongue to his cheek. "You survived the last four years and your reward? A shiny, new, old president."

On "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," the ABC comic opened with footage of people around the world excitedly counting down the new year, passing it off as tape of them watching Trump climb into Air Force One, ready to depart Washington.

"I have to imagine this is what it feels like when the oncologist calls and tells you the tumor is benign," Kimmel quipped. "Today, this country showed the world that there is no MyPillow large enough to smother our democracy."

Trevor Noah, too, mentioned that something felt different in the air on Wednesday, even if he was still inside the same home TV studio he has occupied since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and McDonald's share price in Florida just went way up," he said, laying into Trump's well-known love of fast-food, "because America just got a brand new dad."

But before Biden could be sworn in, Noah noted, Trump had to spend one last day in the White House attending to business. Besides "whining and stealing silverware," the departing president "made sure to hand out some very nice parting gifts to all his friends" - more than 140 pardons to longtime allies like Stephen Bannon and celebrities like Lil Wayne.

Despite some speculation that Trump might extend a pre-emptive pardon to himself following the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, White House advisers eventually convinced him such a move would amount to an unnecessary admission of guilt.

Noah, however, saw it differently. "Even President Trump looked at Donald Trump's record and decided, 'Man, I can't let this guy off that easy,'" he said.

Like the "The Daily Show" host, a number of other TV comics also roasted Trump for the final words of his departure speech Wednesday morning at Joint Base Andrews: "So, have a good life," Trump said. "We will see you soon."

"Have a good life? That's not a presidential farewell," Seth Meyers told his viewers. "That's what your high school crush writes in your yearbook as a final twist of the knife."

After Trump's one-way flight to Mar-a-Lago gave way to Biden's star-studded inauguration on the Capitol steps, Kimmel turned to some of the event's celebrity guests. As he noted, the site of the ceremony had been host to a very different scene earlier this month.

"Two weeks ago, a bunch of dangerous imbeciles with Donald Trump flags tried to overthrow the government. Today, on that very same spot, we had the national anthem, sung by Lady Gaga," he observed. "To paraphrase Michelle Obama, 'When they go low, we go J-Lo.'"

Or, as Colbert put it: "In just two short weeks, that dais has gone from alt-right to all right."

Inevitably, many comics seem to mine Wednesday's events for humor by comparing Trump to his far less farcical successor.

Colbert, who noted Biden declaring that his "whole soul is in it," joked: "It was so nice to have a president with a soul again. ... The previous one sold his to the devil and didn't even get Georgia out of the deal."

As many television critics have argued, Trump did not prove to be the boon for liberal comics that some expected. TV writers have admitted that the former president irreparably altered the genre of late-night comedy, with antics so absurd or troublesome that they surpassed the point of mockery.

Sensing that reality, perhaps, Colbert ended his opening monologue on a more serious note as he addressed the divided state of affairs Trump left behind.

"However we fix this country, it's not the new administration's work alone," Colbert said. "It's up to all of us, as it always is, in whatever way we can. President Biden, Vice President Harris, you have our prayers, our best wishes, and our every confidence."
The Chinese Communist government immediately sanctioned 28 officials under the Trump administration after Joe Biden was sworn in.

Michael R. Pompeo, former Secretary of State, was among the 28 officials sanctioned for reasons that he "planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves which have gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests, offended the Chinese people and seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations," says the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"Over the past few years, some anti-China politicians in the United States, out of their selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people, have planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves which have gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests, offended the Chinese people, and seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations."

The ministry also sanctioned Peter Navarro who was the trade adviser of former President Trump as well as Robert O'Brien and John Bolton who both served as national security advisers to the President.

Others listed in China's sanction were Robert C. O'Brien, David R. Stilwell, Matthew Pottinger, Alex M. Azar II, Keith J. Krach, Kelly D. K. Craft, and Stephen K. Bannon.

Additionally, the ministry said that immediate family members and business associates of the said officials are also banned from entering mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, says Bloomberg report.

"The Chinese government is firmly resolved to defend China's national sovereignty, security and development interests," the ministry further stated.

Relationship between China and the U.S turned sour after President Trump approved to impose export controls such as additional tariffs and on all goods from China. One huge basis for this move was the plight of the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang region and reports of human rights violations against political protesters in Hong Kong.

On June 17,2020, then President Trump signed the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020 as an official law. He also signed the "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act."

Both laws state that the President is authorized to impose sanctions on Chinese government officials and individuals who have been complicit in abuses and human rights violations against the Uyghur minorities and demonstrators in Hong Kong. Sanctions include blocking their assets, withholding visas, and non-entry to the U.S.

Now that Mr. Trump has left office, China's government is determined to weed out their enemies.
South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in 400s for the second consecutive day Thursday as health authorities try to further slow down infections with an enhanced social distancing scheme. Yonhap



South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases stayed in 400s for the second consecutive day Thursday as health authorities try to further slow down infections with an enhanced social distancing scheme.



The country added 401 more COVID-19 cases, including 380 domestic infections, raising the total caseload to 73,918, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).



Thursday's figure was slightly down from 404 cases reported the previous day.



The third wave of COVID-19 here reached its peak on Dec. 25, with the daily tally reaching 1,240, but has been showing signs of a slowdown since.



The daily figure was in the 500s last week, but it dropped to 389 on Monday and 386 on Tuesday.






PM Modi extends best wishes to people on statehood days of Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Jan 21: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted the people of Manipur, Tripura and Meghalaya on their statehood days and offered his best wishes to them.

Tripura, Meghalaya, Manipur mark statehood day | PM greets | Oneindia News

"Statehood day greetings to the people of Manipur, India is proud of its contribution to national development," he tweeted, adding that the state is a powerhouse of innovation and sporting talent.

Voters excluded from NRC can vote in Assam: CEC Sunil Arora

PM Modi wished the state the very best in its journey towards progress. "Best wishes to the people of Tripura on the special occasion of their Statehood Day.

The culture and warm-hearted nature of the people of Tripura is admired across India. The state has achieved outstanding progress in various fields. May the same spirit continue," he said in another tweet.

BJP chief JP Nadda on two-day visit to Uttar Pradesh from today

Extending his greetings to people of Meghalaya, the prime minister said the state is known for its remarkable kindness and spirit of brotherhood. "Youngsters from Meghalaya are creative and enterprising. May the state keep scaling new heights of progress in the times to come," he added.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 9:13 [IST]
U.S. President Joe Biden used his first day in office to issue a raft of executive orders undoing some of former President Donald Trumps marquee policies on climate change and immigration.

Among the 17 executive orders and presidential actions Biden signed on Wednesday were moves to rejoin the Paris climate accord, end a travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries, and halt Trumps withdrawal from the World Health Organisation.

Theres no time to waste, Biden said before signing executive orders in the White House.

These are just all starting points, he added.

Biden made rejoining the climate agreement a key point of his presidential campaign, vowing to undo former Trumps policy.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the U.S. presidents move.

Following last years Climate Ambition Summit, countries producing half of global carbon pollution had committed to carbon neutrality, Guterres said.

Todays commitment by President Biden brings that figure to two-thirds, the UN chief added.

Trump, who long railed against the global agreement signed by almost every country, notified the UN of his intent to exit the deal in 2019 and the U.S. formally left in November 2020.

The move also led to a sharp decrease in U.S. contributions to a fund to help poorer nations cope with climate change.

Biden also ended the entry ban on citizens from over a dozen countries, including Eritrea, Yemen, Nigeria, and Sudan.

The American Civil Liberties Union, a non-profit civil rights organisation, applauded the move calling the travel policy a cruel Muslim ban that targeted Africans.

Critics had called the policy  one of the first moves by Donald Trump when he became president in 2017  a Muslim ban.

However, the ban was changed, in part due to legal challenges, and included some non majority-Muslim nations.

Biden has described the policy as discriminatory and an affront to the countrys values.

The president also submitted a letter to UN chief Guterres saying the U.S. intended to stay in the WHO, halting Trumps withdrawal, which was scheduled for July of this year.

The U.S. will be a full participant and a global leader in confronting the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) and other public health threats, Biden said in a letter to UN chief Guterres that rescinded U.Ss. withdrawal from WHO.

Biden issued an executive order halting construction of a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, dealing a blow to one of Trumps signature policy goals meant to keep South American immigrants out of the US.

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The president also signed an executive order mandating that people wear masks in all federal buildings and on federal lands in an effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

Wearing masks isnt a partisan issue  its a patriotic act that can save countless lives.

Its time to mask up, America, Biden wrote on the official presidential Twitter account.

Trump had long downplayed the need to wear masks and avoided wearing masks in public even as COVID-19 pandemic killed over 400,000 people during his tenure as president.

As part of his executive order, Biden asked everyone in the U.S. to wear a mask when in public for at least the next 100 days.

Bidens transition team said earlier that the executive orders were meant to reverse the gravest damages of the Trump administration.

The Democrat made the policies cornerstones of his presidential election campaign, seeking to reverse tougher immigration rules, a lax attitude on public health and an aversion to international cooperation on climate change seen under his predecessor.

The president has also sent a bill to Congress to overhaul the countrys immigration system, his team said earlier.

The legislation aims to provide pathways to U.S. citizenship for undocumented people, address the root causes of migration and speed up the reunification of families after children were separated from parents at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Biden has already made it clear he aims to push for another 1.9 trillion dollars in relief and stimulus to help the economy through the coming months of the pandemic.

This will involve working with Congress, where he is likely to meet some resistance to more spending, after the U.S. government has already pumped trillions into the economy since March.

However, job loss data is worrisome and businesses are suffering. (dpa/NAN)
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[January 21, 2021] GigCapital2 Secures $285 Million from Institutional Investors in Connection with its Business Combination with UpHealth Holdings

UpHealth Holdings Inc. ("UpHealth"), an integrated global platform serving four large digital health markets, today announced that, in connection with its previously announced business combination with GigCapital2, Inc. ("GigCapital2") (NYSE: GIX), GigCapital2 raised $285 million from institutional investors, in a mix of equity and convertible debt. This private placement includes an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of GigCapital2 common stock at $10.00 per share and $255,000,000 of 5-year unsecured convertible notes which shall bear interest at a rate of 6.25% per annum, and are convertible into common shares of the combined company, UpHealth, Inc., at a conversion price of $11.50. In November, 2020, UpHealth and Cloudbreak Health, LLC signed business combination agreements with GigCapital 2. The combined company will be named "UpHealth, Inc." and will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "UPH". UpHealth operates in four fast growing digital healthcare markets, and curates a system of care that enables personalized care delivery via integrated care management that oversees the entire patient experience to deliver better outcomes. UpHealth is a company that has significant geographic reach, scale and profitability with 2020 estimated revenues of $115mm and EBITDA of over $13mm. "We are honored to receive this strong show of support from the institutional investors," stated Chirinjeev Kathuria, MD, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of UpHealth. "This capital will allow us to accelerate our domestic growth in the 1,800 healthcare systems we currently serve and will facilitate our continued expansion across global markets." "This private placement of $285 million is the foundation for the integration and advancement of UpHealth. Our collective vision is centered around delivering personalized care by integrated care management to drive better outcomes has been our collective vision," said Mariya Pylypiv, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Vice-Chairwoman of UpHealth. "Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, patient-centric, one-stop solution for individual care needs. We look forward to expanding our footprint globally to serve all those needing real healthcare solutions" Al Gatmaitan, DSc, FACHE, Co-Chief Executive Officer of UpHealth added. About UpHealth: UpHealth (www.uphealthinc.com) is a global comprehensive digital health technology and tech-enabled services platform (the "Platform") that empowers providers, health systems and payors globally to manage care for people with complex medical, behavioral and social needs, while dramatically improving access to primary care. UpHealth owns Thrasys and BHS and almost half of Glocal, with its acquisition of all or almost all of the remaining half pending Indian regulatory approval expected prior to the closing of the combination with GigCapital2. Following the combination, including with Cloudbreak, UpHealth will be comprised of four service lines that have been strategically selected to deliver patient and provider-centric digital health technologies across the continuum of care and provide a full complement of services for managing the most challenging chronic conditions. The Platform improves patient access to timely and personalized digital care by delivering a complete set of care management tools, remote monitoring applications, full-service ePharmacy delivery, behavioral health solutions, and tech-enabled primary care. UpHealth is building its services to provide a digital marketplace of healthcare services. Following the combination, UpHealth will have offices in Delray Beach, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Columbus, and Kolkata About Cloudbreak: Cloudbreak (www.cloudbreak.us) revolutionized patient and provider communication with the introduction of video remote interpreting (VRI), establishing Cloudbreak as a pioneer in telehealth technology. Cloudbreak continues to innovate with Cloudbreak Telehealth Solutions, including telepsychiatry, telestroke, tele-quarantine, remote patient monitoring and other specialties. Committed to overcoming healthcare disparities and bringing language access to the point of care, Cloudbreak seamlessly integrates their language access solution, Martti, into a host of platforms, including Epic, Zoom, and Caregility. Performing more than 1.6 million minutes of telemedicine consultation each month in 2020 on over 14,000 video endpoints at 1,800+ healthcare locations natinwide, Cloudbreak Telehealth simplifies how providers care for patients, putting a full care continuum at their fingertips 24/7.



About GigCapital Global and GigCapital2, Inc. GigCapital Global (www.gigcapitalglobal.com) is a Private-to-Public Equity (PPE) investment group, sponsoring and operating Special Purpose Acquisition Companies ("SPAC", also known as Blank-Check companies). Founded in 2017 by Dr. Avi Katz, the GigCapital Group and its sponsored SPACs are led by an affiliated team of technology industry experts, deploying a unique Mentor-Investors methodology to partner with exceptional privately-held and U.S. and non-U.S. public technology companies led by dedicated, innovative entrepreneurs. The GigCapital Group companies offer financial, operational and executive mentoring to U.S. and global private, and non-U.S. public companies, in order to accelerate their path from inception and as a privately-held entity into the growth-stage as a publicly traded company in the U.S. The partnership of the GigCapital Group with these companies continues through an organic and roll-up strategy growth post the transition to a public company. For more information, visit www.gigcapitalglobal.com.

GigCapital2, Inc. (NYSE: GIX, GIX.U, GIX.RT, and GIX.WS) (www.gigcapital2.com), and GigCapital3, Inc. (NYSE: GIK, GIK.U and GIK.WS) (www.gigcapital3.com), are part of the GigCapital Group portfolio of Private-to-Public Equity (PPE) companies. "Private-to-Public Equity (PPE)" and "Mentor-Investor" are trademarks of GigFounders, LLC, used pursuant to agreement. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding our or our management team's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, plans, prospects or strategies regarding the future, including possible business combinations, revenue growth and financial performance, product expansion and services. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and beliefs made by the management of GigCapital2, UpHealth and/or Cloudbreak in light of their respective experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and their potential effects on UpHealth , Cloudbreak and GigCapital2 as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting UpHealth, Cloudbreak or GigCapital2 will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the parties) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including that the GigCapital2 stockholders will approve the transaction, regulatory approvals, the ability of the post-combination company to meet the NYSE listing standards, product and service acceptance, and that UpHealth will have sufficient capital upon the approval of the transaction to operate as anticipated. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and in other sections of GigCapital2's filings with the SEC (News - Alert) , and in GigCapital2's current and periodic reports filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to GigCapital2, UpHealth and/or Cloudbreak as of the date hereof, and GigCapital2, UpHealth and/or Cloudbreak assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed business combinations, GigCapital2 intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a preliminary proxy statement and a preliminary prospectus of GigCapital2, and after the registration statement is declared effective, GigCapital2 will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combinations to its stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combinations and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the business combinations. Additional information about the proposed business combinations and related transactions will be described in GigCapital2's Current Report on Form 8-K and combined proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combinations and the respective businesses of GigCapital2 and UpHealth and Cloudbreak, which GigCapital2 will file with the SEC. The proposed business combinations and related transactions will be submitted to stockholders of GigCapital2 for their consideration. GigCapital2's stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with GigCapital2's solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combinations and related transactions, because these materials will contain important information about UpHealth , Cloudbreak, GigCapital2 and the proposed business combinations and related transactions. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed business combinations will be mailed to stockholders of GigCapital2 as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combinations and related transactions. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement/prospectus, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC by GigCapital2, without charge, at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Brad Weightman, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, GigCapital2, Inc., 1731 Embarcadero Rd., Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA (News - Alert) 94303, or by telephone at (650) 276-7040. Participants in the Solicitation UpHealth, Cloudbreak, GigCapital2 and their respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from GigCapital2's stockholders in respect of the proposed business combinations and related transactions. Information regarding GigCapital2's directors and executive officers is available in its Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be contained in the preliminary and definitive proxy statements/prospectus related to the proposed business combinations and related transactions when it becomes available, and which can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. No Offer or Solicitation This communication shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005976/en/

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Outgoing U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai said potential Chinese espionage and threats to U.S. telecommunications networks and internet freedom are the biggest national security issue that regulators will face in the next four years.

Ajit Pai told Reuters in an interview there is a "wide array" of activity from China that was of concern, including of surveillance, economic espionage and potential "injection of malware into networks here in the United States or around the world. There are a number of bad things that can happen when insecure equipment is used to handle sensitive information."

Pai was named chairman in January 2017 by former President Donald Trump and stepped down on Wednesday. During his tenure, the FCC cracked down on Chinese network manufacturers like Huawei and ZTE.

Last month, the FCC began the process of revoking China Telecom's authorization to operate in the United States. China Telecom is the largest Chinese telecommunications company.

"The Chinese Communist Party has a very determined world view. They want to dominate this space and exert their will -- even beyond their own borders," Pai said Tuesday. "That is a serious threat not just to internet freedom but to national security for us and for many of our allies."

The Chinese foreign ministry said in December U.S. claims about risks to national security was false.

The FCC first warned in April might terminate U.S. operations of three state-controlled Chinese telecommunications companies including China Telecom.

In 2019, the FCC voted to deny state-owned China Mobile the right to provide U.S. telecommunications services, citing risks the Chinese government could use the approval to conduct espionage.

Under Pai, the FCC formally designated China's Huawei and ZTE Corp as national security threats, barring U.S. firms from tapping an $8.3 billion government fund to purchase equipment from the companies. Congress approved $1.9 billion in December to pay for replacement of Chinese-made equipment in U.S. networks.

In April, the FCC approved Alphabet unit Google's request to use part of an U.S.-Asia undersea telecommunications cable, but not to Hong Kong, after U.S. agencies raised national security concerns.

Also Read:Amazon offers to help with COVID-19 vaccine efforts in letter to Joe Biden
SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the tenth consecutive year, Utah School Choice Week has been officially proclaimed by the state's governor. This year, Governor Spencer Cox's proclamation of the Week recognizes that every child in Utah deserves access to an effective education, and it is important for parents to explore and identify the best learning option for their child.

Gov. Cox is the 19th governor to issue a proclamation about School Choice Week 2021, with more expected to join in the next few days. Hundreds of city and county leaders have issued similar proclamations.

Around Utah, parents, schools, and other organizers will be celebrating with 244 events and activities. These events may be as large as a virtual open house or as simple as a family decorating placards about why they are grateful for choice. All these events aim to spark conversations about how different educational opportunities meet families' unique needs and help kids succeed.

Nationwide, more than 33,000 virtual or socially-distanced events have been independently planned for the week. Schools of every type  traditional public, public magnet, public charter, private, online, and homeschool  will be joining the celebration with virtual rallies, drive-in movie nights, virtual school fairs, social media contests, and more.

"We are thrilled that so many Utah families are celebrating National School Choice Week and discussing what educational choices work well for their children and what learning opportunities they hope for in the future," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "We are grateful to Gov. Cox for recognizing the tremendous impact that school choice has on families."

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation.

For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/utah .

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com


Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Beauce Gold Fields (TSXV: BGF) (Champs D'Or en Beauce), ("BGF"), is pleased to announce that it has acquired, from a Private Collector, a trove of never before published exploration data by the Beauce Placer Mining company that operated from 1957 to 1965 on the company's Beauce Gold property located in Saint-Simon-les-Mines, Quebec.

Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO of Beauce Gold Fields said, "This effectively triples the overburden drilling data that will give us an unprecedented overview of the placer channel." Mr. Levasseur added: "The data will have a profound impact in orientating our future rock drilling program to uncover the source of the gold placers."

Figure 1: Drill Hole Map 1958, St-Gustave Road and Drill Operator

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6198/72519_6047194d34d5c989_001full.jpg

Active from 1957 to 1965, the Beauce Placer Company was the largest placer gold mining operation in eastern North America. Yet, there was very little documentation available of the work completed during that period. Historical reports found on the Government of Quebec's geology and mining data registry are but brief summaries and observations. Missing were drill hole logs and subsequent results, geophysics data, field surveys, compilation maps and for that matter, all aspects pertaining to the dredge mining operation itself. These have now been found.

According to the Collector, the documents originated from a field office the Beauce Placer Mining Company occupied in Beauceville, Quebec. The office was abandoned in the 1970s leaving behind filing cabinets full of documents. The documents were given to the Collector, a businessman from St-Simon-les-Mine. Being an avid antiques collector, he recognized the importance of preserving historical documentation pertaining to his town's heritage.

Document Highlights

- Total 344 drill logs from 7-inch wide overburden drill holes down to bedrock:

Gilbert River (St-Simon-les-Mine) - 252 holes

Famine River - 40 holes

Chaudiere River - 36 holes

Riviere Du Loup - 12 holes

Ruisseau Des Meule - 4 holes

- Geophysics

- Claims and property agreements

- Land surveys

- Documentation regarding the operation of the dragline and the Yuba dredge

- Daily back office operation

- Gold receipts from the mint

The exploration information will be integrated will all other historical data described in the company's Beauce July 4th 2018 43-101 report to create a comprehensive overview for analysis. For example, BGF reported 97 historical overburden drill holes (78 RC drill holes by Coniagas and Macamic plus 19 sonic drill holes by Geological Survey of Canada, and Uragold) along the St-Simon-les-Mine placer gold channel. By adding the 252 Beauce Placer Mining Company overburden drill holes, it will result in 349 holes of overburden drilling for an unprecedented overview of the placer channel. The company has commenced tabulation of the results and will compare these to other data collected to determine any priorities for bedrock source drilling.

Reference to the historical placer gold deposit does not comply with the CIM reporting standards National Instrument 43-101 for mineral resources or reserves and should not be relied upon. While the Company considers historical estimates to be relevant to investors as it may indicate the presence of mineralization, the Company is not treating these historical estimates as a current mineral resource.

About Beauce Gold Fields

Beauce Gold Fields is a gold exploration company focused on placer to hard rock exploration in the Beauce region of Southern Quebec. The Company's flagship property is the St-Simon-les-Mines Gold project site of Canada's first gold rush that pre-dates the Yukon Klondike. The Beauce region hosted some of the largest historical placer gold mines in Eastern North America that were active from 1860s to the 1960s It produced the largest gold nuggets in Canadian mining history (50oz to 71oz). The intent of Beauce Gold Fields is to trace the workings back to the bedrock source and uncover economic gold mineralization.

Comprising 152 contiguous claims and 7 real estate lots, the project area contains a six kilometer long placer channel consisting of an unconsolidated gold-bearing auriferous units of a lower saprolite and an upper brown diamictite. The Company has calculated a theoretical Gold Exploration Target for the entire historical placer channel ranges between 61,000 ounces (2,200,000 m3 @ 0.87g Au/m3) and 366,000 ounces* (2,200,000 m3 @ 5.22 g Au/m3).

*Source: Beauce July 4th 2018[43-101 Report.

The Company has identified a major Fault Line that coincides with an interpreted fault structure across the property. Evidence suggests the erosion of the Fault Line as a probable source of the historical placer gold channel, and has conducted bedrock sampling and geophysics outside the expression of the placer gold channel. The company will focus on the remote sensing surveys and compilation of the new information to prioritize its future programs.

Beauce Gold Fields website www.beaucegold.com

Disclaimers:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "may", "plan", "will", "estimate", "continue", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "in the process" and other similar expressions which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectation and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding mineral exploration. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company's on-going filings with the securities regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact

Patrick Levasseur, President and CEO Tel: (514) 262-9239

Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman and COO Tel (514) 907-1011

www.beaucegold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72519
It was a secret well-kept by a select few, including Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and President Joe Biden.

On the night of Sept. 12, 2019, Biden and nine other presidential hopefuls wrapped up a Democrat primary debate at Houston's Texas Southern University. It was one of several debates before Biden became the eventual Democrat nominee and president.

REACTIONS: Houstonians react to Biden, Harris inauguration

As the candidates were escorted from debate hall, police officers were pursuing men who had allegedly threatened a priest in an armed robbery about a mile away.

Officer Taylor Roccaforte was attempting to arrest one of the men when they began to struggle, police said then. The man grabbed Roccaforte's gun and shot the officer in the gut.

A backup officer then shot the armed man dead.

Roccaforte was rushed to the hospital and survived his injuries. There were charges for the other men who were arrested.

For most reporters covering the story (including me), that was the end.

But after Biden was inaugurated as president Wednesday, Acevedo shared a detail of the story that no one had reported before.

Days after the shooting, Biden called Acevedo and asked to meet Roccaforte in the hospital.

If you think it would be helpful to his spirit and recovery, I would like to visit him at the hospital," Biden said, Acevedo recalled. "No media, I am simply want to lift his spirits.

After some logistic puzzle solving, the two met inside Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Corroborated by those photos, Acevedo said there were smiles all around as Biden offered good will.

He touted Biden for keeping the visit quiet, despite the political opportunity.

"I share this today to illustrate the decency of the man who we now call Mr. President, although he prefers to be called Joe," Acevedo tweeted.
They recently confirmed their budding romance by posting a photo locking lips.

And Demi Sims and her new girlfriend Francesca Farago looked more loved-up than ever in a series of romantic snaps from their trip to Tulum, Mexico.

The TOWIE star, 24, and the Too Hot To Handle Contestant, 27, looked on cloud nine as they wrapped their arms around each other and shared a kiss.

Couple: Demi Sims and her new girlfriend Francesca Farago looked more loved-up than ever in a series of romantic snaps from their trip to Tulum, Mexico

Demi looked incredible in the snaps as she donned a multi-coloured patterned min-dress from PrettyLittleThing while posing on a balcony with her girlfriend.

The reality star carried a white handbag and wore her locks in a poker straight style as she cosied up to her other half.

Francesca opted for a multi-coloured sleeveless top which she paired with white sheer leggings.

The Too Hot To Handle beauty styled her blonde tresses into loose waves and also sported a pair of gold hoop earrings.

Loved-up: The TOWIE star, 24, and the Too Hot To Handle Contestant, 27, looked on cloud nine as they wrapped their arms around each other and shared a kiss

Alongside the photos, Demi wrote: 'My heart is so full of you, I can hardly call it my own'.

Later, Francesca also shared a sizzling clip of herself donning a white floral bikini as she showcased her jaw-dropping figure in the mirror.

It comes after Demi was left stunned after someone recently interrupted her kissing Francesca to tell the couple to 'get a room'.

The couple couldn't keep their hands off each other as they packed on the PDA in a bar in Mexico.

While filming them on her phone, Demi asked Francesca: 'Baby, do you love me? How much? She loves me.'

Romance: Demi looked incredible in the snaps as she donned a multi-coloured patterned min-dress fromPrettyLittleThing while posing on a balcony with her girlfriend

'Heart': Alongside the photos, Demi wrote: 'My heart is so full of you, I can hardly call it my own'

Wow: Francesca also shared a sizzling clip of herself donning a white floral bikini

Sizzling: The TV star showcased her incredible physique as she posed in the mirror

The couple then kissed on the lips and someone near them shouted: 'Get a room.'

Despite the jeer coming from one of their pals, Demi appeared shocked but soon recovered and replied: 'We will. We're gonna get a room, oh baby.'

It appeared the comment was made by Francesca's Too Hot To Handle co-star Hayley Cure, who she formed a close bond with on the show and even shared a kiss with at one point.

Demi and her Canadian girlfriend went public with their romance as they shared loved-up images to social media over the weekend.

Shock: It comes after Demi was left stunned after someone interrupted her kissing Francesca to tell the couple to 'get a room'

Days later Demi shared the moment Francesca asked her to be her new girlfriend as she held a surprise dinner date on the beach during their trip to Tulum.

The couple couldn't get enough of each other as they exchanged kisses while enjoying a candle lit evening.

Putting on a romantic display, the influencer ensured the sandy shores of the country were decorated in rose petals, which read: 'Girlfriend?'

The pair treated themselves to sun-soaked strolls along the scenic hotspot earlier in the day.

Cute: Demi and her Canadian girlfriend went public with their romance as they shared loved-up images to social media over the weekend

After revealing their new status, TV star Demi received a sweet message from her ex-girlfriend Megan Barton Hanson as she wrote 'cuties' underneath her Instagram post.

Francesca first received attention for her role in the Netflix original series Too Hot to Handle, which premiered last April.

Inspired by an episode of the hit sitcom Seinfeld, the show places 14 contestants together in a Mexican luxury resort, and in order to win $100,000, none of the cast members are allowed to have sex or engage in any other intimate contact.

The brunette beauty was one of the contestants that made it to the final episode, and forged a close relationship with co-star Harry Jowsey.

How perfect: Days later Demi shared the moment Francesca asked her to be her new girlfriend as she held a surprise dinner date on the beach during their trip to Tulum

The two split up shortly after the show's finale, but reconciled and became engaged during the show's reunion special taped eight months later.

Francesca later announced that they broke off the relationship.

Demi has previously dated Leonie McSorley, with them last being seen out together in October, and having confirmed their romance in July.

Prior to this she publicly dated Love Island star Megan Barton Hanson.
Punjab govt gives Rs 5 lakh each to families of 4 farmers who died during protest

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Ludhiana, Jan 21: A compensation of Rs 5 lakh each has been given to the families of four farmers from Ludhiana who lost their lives while participating in the ongoing protest against the Centre's agricultural reforms, a senior officer said on Thursday.

Braving cold weather conditions and rain, thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three farm laws.

India believes in the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, says Rajnath Singh

Several farmers participating in the agitation have died due to different reasons including heart attack and road accidents. On the directions of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Rs 5 lakh compensation is being provided to the families of farmers who unfortunately lost their lives during the protest against the Centre's farm laws, said Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma.

Till date, he said, five farmers from Ludhiana district have lost their lives while participating in the agitation. While Rs 5 lakh compensation has already been provided to families of four farmers from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, the case of the fifth farmer is under process, he added.

Explained: How US President Joe Biden's era impact India?

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

Farmer groups have alleged the three farm laws will end the minimum support price (MSP) and mandi procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced. The farmers have refused to end their agitation till these laws are repealed.

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Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 14:14 [IST]
JLL

Mulhern

JLL announced the recent appointment of its John Paul Mulhern to lead the brokerage's new lead industrial investment advisory sales team for our region. He was previously with JLL's international capital group, also based here in Seattle. The firm's Tom Wilson said in a statement, Given the growth of the industrial sector that we've seen throughout the pandemic, we felt it was important to build out our suite of services to include an industrial expert who will serve our industrial clients in Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest. In his new role, Mulhern will work closely with Mark Detmer in the firm's Los Angeles office.




Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 01:03:09|Editor: huaxia

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers a speech during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, on Jan. 20, 2021. Top officials of the European Union (EU) rejoiced on Wednesday over the inauguration of the new administration of the United States, expressing their readiness to mend the broken partnership and laying out expectations for renewed transatlantic cooperation. (European Union/Handout via Xinhua)

BRUSSELS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Top officials of the European Union (EU) rejoiced on Wednesday over the inauguration of the new administration of the United States, expressing their readiness to mend the broken partnership and laying out expectations for renewed transatlantic cooperation.

"Today is a very special day. I am ready to present to President Joe Biden our proposals for a new transatlantic agenda," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter.

She posted a video, in which she addressed the European Parliament early on Wednesday, saying that "there is no greater need for global cooperation in the short term than in tackling the pandemic, which has been so devastating on both sides of the Atlantic."

Von der Leyen said she was delighted to know that "on day one, as they announced, the new American administration, the United States, will rejoin the Paris Agreement" on climate change.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, appeared along with von der Leyen at the European Parliament's plenary. He said: "Today is the opportunity to rejuvenate our transatlantic relationship, which has greatly suffered in the last four years."

Michel called on the two sides to work on five priorities, which are boosting multilateral cooperation, combating COVID-19, tackling climate change, rebuilding economies while promoting a digital transformation; and joining forces on security and peace.

He invited Biden to participate in an extraordinary European Council session in Brussels. Without giving the exact schedule, he suggested it could take place in parallel with a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in November 2020 that he would invite Biden to attend the next NATO summit set for 2021. Enditem

Newly inaugurated President Joe Biden is moving forward with his Clean Energy Agenda. At the heart of the proposed energy transition plans is the assumption that wind and solar offer cleaner and greener energy than fossil fuels, thus saving the world from a potential climate disaster.

Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, tweeted on January 20, 2021, "The Senate Democratic majority will take up bold legislation to defeat the climate crisis by investing in clean infrastructure and manufacturing. It will create millions of good jobs for Americans, regardless of zip code."

Biden announced earlier this month that he is planning to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline permit on his first day in office. Welcoming the move, Bernie Sanders tweeted, "I'm delighted that Joe Biden will cancel the Keystone permit[.] ... With all of the [sic] major crises facing America, we must never lose sight of the most existential threat facing our planet: climate change."

So the general idea is that fossil fuels are driving climate change and big oil projects like the Keystone pipeline must be abandoned. They expect renewables to substitute for fossil fuel and call them "clean and green."

But is that the reality?

There is a dark secret that neither the Biden administration nor the mainstream media are willing to discuss or acknowledge. That is the fact that renewable power generating technologies like wind and solar depend on fossil fuels.

Grid Reality: Renewables Useless without Fossil Fuels

Solar panels cannot produce power at night or under significant cloud cover. Likewise, wind turbines cannot produce power when there is no wind, and even those in the wind hotspots (where there is higher potential to generate energy because of optimum wind speed) are efficient only during certain seasons.

The wind and solar industries plan to compensate for these drawbacks by using backup power. But the currently available backup solutions  including batteries, open-cycle natural gas (or diesel) turbines, hydroelectric units  are incapable of supporting wind and solar in a large-scale grid network. So fossil fuel plants  and nuclear plants  remain the only reliable backup solutions to maintain grid supply when large wind and solar networks fail to generate electricity.

A classic example of this renewable inefficiency and unreliability was observed earlier this month in Germany, where the 110 gigawatts of installed capacity of renewables completely failed to meet energy demand.

Besides being unable to meet demand, the generation was highly intermittent, and unpredictably so, thus exerting excess pressure on fossil fuel plants to meet demand.

When neither wind nor solar is operational, the impact of volatility in power generation will be passed on to customers, resulting in blackouts and increased cost of power.

We Do Not Need a Repeat of California

Such was the case during the recent California fires when Governor Gavin Newsom acknowledged that renewable energy was responsible for the blackouts in the state.

"We cannot sacrifice reliability as we move on," he said. "We failed to predict and plan these shortages. And that's simply unacceptable."

The equation is quite simple in California: 36% of California's power comes from renewables, and when they fail  during fires, heat waves, and every night  the state switches on the natural gas (fossil fuel) plants to meet the demand.

But even natural gas plants are being closed, and the state ends up importing electricity from neighbors that rely on fossil fuels to provide it.

As of now, the states that are called "leaders in renewable tech" depend on fossil fuel to save them from blackouts.

But if the entire country follows California's example, shutting down fossil fuel plants, there will be unprecedented blackouts when wind and solar fail, because there will be no neighbors from whom to import the electricity.

Renewables simply cannot deliver the power needed at an affordable price. But blind faith that they can has proved disastrous in California and Germany, both of which are paying the price for their ardent embrace of renewables.

Biden's Clean Energy Plan and his administration's talk of "saving the planet" and developing "clean tech" to generate jobs may sound morally appealing. It's really just pie-in-the-sky nonsense.

Vijay Jayaraj (M.Sc., Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, England), is a research contributor for the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation.

Image: Pixabay.
Many of Donald Trumps most notorious appointees, including his Cabinet secretaries, resigned shortly before Joe Biden took office. But myriad officials whom Trump installed in the executive branch remained in spite of their antagonism toward the new presidents agenda. Hours into his presidency, Biden has already ousted three of his predecessors most unqualified and corrupt appointees. This clean break sends a clear message that Biden will not tolerate hostile Trump holdovers in his administration, including those with time remaining in their terms.

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First, Biden terminated Michael Pack, who was confirmed to head the U.S. Agency for Global Media in June. Pack sought to transform the agency, which oversees the international broadcaster Voice of America, into a propaganda outlet for Trumpdespite a statutory mandate that prohibits such political interference. He purged the staff of VOA and its sister networks, replaced them with Trump loyalists, demanded pro-Trump coverage, and unconstitutionally punished remaining journalists who did actual reporting on the administration. In a perverse move, he refused to renew visas for foreign reporters who covered their home countries, subjecting them to retribution by authoritarian regimes. Pack also illegally fired the board of the Open Technology Fund, which promotes international internet freedom, and replaced them with Republican activists.

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Following whistleblower complaints, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel found a substantial likelihood that Pack had violated federal law and engaged in gross mismanagement. He was eight months into his three-year term when Biden demanded his resignation shortly after taking the oath of office. In his resignation letter, Pack complained that his termination will long be viewed as a partisan act without any apparent sense of irony.

Second, Biden sacked Kathleen Kraninger, who was confirmed as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 2018. Kraninger, who had no previous experience in consumer protection, immediately tried to undermine the agencys role as a watchdog for the financial sector. She scrapped a landmark rule that restricted predatory payday lending, pressuring staff to downplay the resulting harm to consumers. And she refused to enforce a federal law that protected military personnel against a broad range of predatory lending. Her decision yanked federal support from military families who were defrauded by lenders. In the midst of the pandemic, Kraninger also approved a rule that allows debt collectors to harass Americans with limitless texts and emails demanding repayment.

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Through the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress gave the CFPBs director significant independence by barring the president from firing her over political disagreements. In 2020, though, the Supreme Court found this protection unconstitutional. Kraninger supported that decision, which paved the way for her termination on Wednesday. Had the court upheld the agencys independence, Kraninger could have remained in office through the end of 2023.

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Third, Biden demanded the resignation of Peter Robb, who was confirmed as the National Labor Relations Boards general counsel in 2017. The NLRB was created to enforce federal laws that guarantee workers the right to form a union and bargain collectively. Yet Robb is vehemently anti-union; during his tenure, he tried to limit employees free speech, give managers more leeway to engage in wage theft, hobble unions ability to collect dues, and prevent employers from helping workers organize. He also tried to seize near-total control of the agency by demoting every regional director and consolidating power in his office. If successful, this gambit wouldve given him unprecedented authority to bust existing unions and prevent new ones from forming.

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Robbs term is set to end in November, but Biden has authority to fire him before then. On Wednesday evening, Robb announced that he would not step down voluntarily, stating that his resignation would set an unfortunate precedent. (In reality, the precedent has already been set: President Harry Truman demanded the resignation of NLRB general counsel Robert N. Denham in 1950 over political disputes.) Biden fired him shortly thereafter.

Pack, Kraninger, and Robb are the tip of the iceberg: Trump spent his presidency packing the federal government with Republicans eager to undermine the missions of the agencies they led. But Bidens aggressive action upon taking office should be encouraging for progressives, since it indicates that the new president will move swiftly to fire Trump allies with high positions in the executive branch. Moreover, Biden should not have much trouble replacing these holdovers with Democrats in control of the Senate. (Republicans cannot filibuster nominees to the executive branch.) The new president undoubtedly faces legislative challenges ahead. But in the meantime, he can rapidly erase the legacy of the Trump administration by simply replacing Trumps lackeys with qualified civil servants eager to do the job right.

Update, Jan. 20, 2021: This article has been updated to note that Peter Robb refused to step down.

For decades, Rabbi Zamir Isayev has prayed on Shabbat mornings for the government of his native Azerbaijan, a Muslim-majority nation situated northwest of Iran, Jewish Telepgraph Agency writes in the article In Azerbaijan, patriotic Jewish soldiers are poster children of the war with Armenia. Amid the recent deadly fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over disputed territory, he has added a special prayer for the well-being of Azerbaijans soldiers, which he follows up with his regular prayer for Israeli troops. Israel is my country as a Jew. Azerbaijan is my country as an Azeri, Isayev, 40, told the Jewish Telegraphic agency. He was born in Baku, the Azerbaijani capital, but grew up in Israel and served in its army.

Isayevs patriotism is typical of Azeri Jews, one of the worlds oldest Jewish communities, whose synagogues often feature Azeri and Israeli flags as well as pictures of community members who gave their lives fighting for Azerbaijan and before that the Soviet Union. Isayev has additional reasons for praying for the soldiers. Dozens of members from his minority of about 8,000 people are serving in Azerbaijans army. One of the Jewish troops who took part in the fighting is 26-year-old David Sadiyev, a graduate of the Jewish high school in Baku. Isayev taught him to sing the Torah segment of his bar mitzvah.

Of course Im worried for them, Isayev said about his former students and congregants serving in the army. But Im also incredibly proud of them. This is a country where anti-Semitism is simply not an issue, he said. That sentiment seems to be the consensus among leaders and members of Azerbaijans Jewish minority. Azerbaijan has a lot of minorities: Russians, Christians, Iranians, even Armenians, Isayev said, but the Jews are seen here as especially loyal and cherished allies. Were not just another ethnic minority here.

Its an aspect of Azeri society that is grounded in history, according to Zeev Levin, an expert on Central Asias Jewish communities and a research fellow at the Truman Institute. Jews have lived in Azerbaijan for so long that they predate much of the other populations there, he said. Thats in stark difference to places like Ukraine, where they arrived as outsiders and are still seen as such by many. Even when Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union, Jews were allowed to keep practicing their faith, making it an exception among Soviet republics. Radical Islam has little public presence in Azerbaijan, whose capital features a prominent statue of a woman removing her veil. The Statue of a Liberated Woman was built in the 1960s under communism, Isayev said, but the fact that it stayed, and has never attracted any acts of vandalism, tells you a lot.

In Azerbaijan, Mountain Jews, or Juhuro, are the largest of three Jewish communities, followed by Ashkenazim and ethnic Georgians. With lineage dating to the Jews of ancient Persia, the Juhuro are believed to have settled in the region 1,000 years ago. They speak Juhuri, a mix of Farsi and ancient Hebrew. In Azerbaijan, many Mountain Jews either have homes or live in Krasnaiya Sloboda, a town in the countrys north where hundreds of Mountain Jews come from the rest of the country and beyond convene to visit the graves of their ancestors each year on Tisha bAv, a day of mourning in Judaism for the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem. But the center of Jewish life in Azerbaijan is Baku, a bustling metropolis reminiscent of Jerusalem for its mix of modern architecture, ancient Old City neighborhood  once a major stop on the Silk Road  and the light-colored stone facades of many of its buildings. Baku has six synagogues, a kosher restaurant, two Jewish schools and a Jewish kindergarten among other communal institutions.

Azerbaijan is also one of the only Muslim-majority countries in the world where the Holocaust is taught at schools as part of the mandatory curriculum. Teachers draw parallels between the Jewish genocide and the Khojaly massacre of several hundred Azeris by Armenians in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War of 1992. Israelis are often treated with friendliness, especially by army personnel and veterans inquiring about the visitors military service. Israel also plays a prominent role in arming and training the Azeri army  a convenient ally on the doorstep of main enemy Iran. That fact is well-known there and prompts expressions of gratitude and admiration by locals toward Israelis. But Isayev said the friendship between Israel and Azerbaijan is based on more than merely shared interests. Jews have long been in the fabric of the people of Azerbaijan, he said. But beyond the shared history, The Jewish people and the Azeri people share a secret weapon that is more powerful than technology: diversity and open-mindedness.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

The city has narrowed its choice to be the next chief of the Albuquerque Police Department to three candidates, including interim chief Harold Medina.

The other two are Clinton Nichols, chief of police in Commerce City, Colorado, and Joseph Sullivan, a retired deputy commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department, according to a city spokeswoman.

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City leaders, with consultant Herb Crosby, have conducted 40 meetings with community groups and collected nearly 2,300 responses to an online survey in order to get a sense for what characteristics they should look for in hiring the next chief. As of late December, 39 people had applied for the position, at least 25 of whom were determined to be qualified.

Nichols is the chief of police in Commerce City, a northern suburb of Denver. He began his time there in 2015 as a commander and worked his way up to chief of the 142-employee department in 2017, according to his resume.

In 2016, before Nichols took over as chief, the Department of Justices Office of Community Oriented Policing Services launched a review of the Commerce City Police Department at the request of city officials. The review, known as Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance, was in response to serious internal challenges and concerns pertaining to officer misconduct, according to a DOJ news release.

In his resume, Nichols said he helped develop a five-year strategic plan in anticipation of the reform effort and established a recruiting plan designed to attract diverse applicants.

Before he went to Colorado, Nichols worked for the Las Vegas Police Department in Nevada from 1992 to 2015. His last position there was police commander and he oversaw the Violent Crimes Section, the Career Criminal Section and the Robbery Section.

Sullivan spent 38 years with the Philadelphia Police Department and retired in February 2020 as the deputy commissioner of patrol operations. He left the department as a new chief was coming in, according to news reports.

As the deputy commissioner, Sullivan oversaw a force of 4,698 sworn and civilian personnel, led data-driven crime fighting strategies and revamped a poorly performing Community Relations Unit, according to his resume.

Sullivan was appointed as the departments liaison to the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation and was the first official liaison to the LGBTQ community. Thats when he helped craft a nationally recognized model policy governing police interactions with trans-citizens and established a dedicated page on the Philadelphia Police website to assist the LGBTQ community in accessing police and city services.

Sullivan authorized the police departments first customized LGBTQ police vehicle to march in the Philly Pride Parade.

Medina has been serving as interim APD chief since his predecessor, Michael Geier, was told to retire in September.

He began his time with APD in 1995 and worked his way up to commander before leaving in 2014 to join the Laguna Pueblo Police Department.

He became chief of police in Laguna but returned to APD as a deputy chief of field services in 2017 when Mayor Tim Keller took office.

He delivered a heartfelt eulogy for a segregationist he worked closely with. He has advocated cuts to Social Security programmes. He has championed laws that sought to push mass incarceration. No, were not talking about a Republican. This is Joe Biden.

Now the President of a country deeply divided, the Democrat has projected himself as the logical solution to the chaotic term of Donald Trump. But as always, the truth is complicated.

He was not progressives first choice. But as the US continued to fall on hard, and harder times, a moderate option seemed a safer pick than socialist Bernie Sanders, or Elizabeth Warren. After Sanders backed out of the presidential race, most Democrats seemed to tie themselves together in a united front against defeating Trump.

Bidens campaign received support from a new generation of voters who came to the fore after the powerful Black Lives Matter movements.

Justin Blake, uncle of Joseph Blake, a black man who was shot by a US police officer seven times in the back in front of his children wrote in The Guardian that Biden was far from perfect for black voters.

Democrats often invoked loyalty as the quality they hoped to inspire in their voters. But loyalty is a two-way street: party leaders shouldnt expect it if they cant deliver for the voters who put them in office. And on this front, particularly with Black voters, Biden is far from perfect. He spearheaded the 1994 crime bill, for instance, which expanded mass incarceration and hurt Black communities across the country, he said.

ALSO READ| Not Your Average Joe: The Biden Presidency Brings Hope with Daunting Challenges

The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act aka the 1994 crime law was led by Biden and other Democrats looking to address the problem of rising crime in the US. The move was political in nature too  to wrest the popular issue from the Republicans at the time. A Vox report on the law suggests that while the law was meant to increase mass incarceration  which has been said to disproportionately affect blacks  the real effect was subdued.

Despite that, his record with other drug laws linked to increasing racial disparity sounds an alarm. The President has promised a variety of criminal justice reforms, as the anti-racism movement gains centre stage after the death of George Floyd.

But it remains to be seen if Biden will stay on the course or step back, if crime rates were to rise again.

A Moderate institutionalist?

As the pandemic exposed gaping holes in Americas healthcare system, Biden, during his Democratic primary fight, opposed Sanders Medicare for All plan, citing its price. While Sanders said the programme would cost between $30 trillion and $40 trillion over a 10-year period, he argued it would also reduce overall health expenditures through increased efficiencies.

A Yale University study has also said the single-payer health-care would save $450 billion annually. But the structurally transformative plan has found very few takers, and even Bidens Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion is set to face challenges in the Congress.

ACA, however, is more expensive than Medicaid coverage. A recent study by the Journal of American Medical Association says ACA plans leave patients with 10 times more out-of-pocket spending.

Bidens proposal has also sought to create a new cap for mid-level health plans  8.5 per cent of an individual or familys income on premium contributions. But reports say the ACA option is not availed by many Americanswhile it allows people to choose, the health insurance options are limited and expensive accompanied by nightmarish deductibles.

ALSO READ| Trump Left a Letter to Joe Biden at White House and Twitter Hilariously 'Revealed' What's in it

At least two major health insurers, Anthem and Centene donated to Bidens inaugural committee. Both of them offer plans in the US marketplace exchanges. For his presidential campaign, Centenes CEO bundled contributions, and Independence Blue Crosss CEO headlined Bidens first big campaign fundraiser.

Some would argue that Biden has always been a moderate institutionalist. But the political scene in America has changed, reflected in more ways than one, in the last year. When Biden, during a Democratic primary debate, espoused the civility of an earlier time, invoking two Southern segregationist senators by name, he was slammed by Kamala Harris among other Democratic presidential contenders.

Harris also criticised Bidens past opposition to busing. To diversify the racial make-up of schools, race-integration busing was a practice that involved transporting both black and white students to schools, within or outside their local school districts. While the Biden campaign has attributed his opposition to reasons other than racial segregation, it cannot be denied that his record with busing as a young Senator has hints of political opportunism.

Award-winning journalist Richard Ben Cramer in his book What it Takes says about Biden: Joe Biden shared his life  or his version of it  continuously. He confided it, displayed it, spread it profligately, even expanded it to connect it with your life. He would settle for nothing less. His claims of participating in civil rights marches vary in his own versions  and have also been disputed.

Kamala Harris Chequered Past

Even his vice-presidential pick, Kamala Harris, celebrated by the media for being the first female black, and Indian-origin Veep, has a contradicting record.

Kamala Harris own record with busing is unclear. Clearer is her support for an ICE policy as then district attorney in San Francisco  a programme that required police to notify ICE about undocumented youth arrested for felonies, in some cases for minor crimes. A HuffPost report states the juveniles were handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement even before guilt or innocence was proved.

Harris criminal justice record has been a balancing act, according to a Vox report. While many reforms and liberal stands (that also cost her key political allies) do embellish her career as a progressive prosecutor, there are others, such as her anti-truancy programme, which question her leanings.

ALSO READ| Biden Vows to Mend Alliances, Engage with World Again as 'Trusted' Partner for Peace and Security

Her handling of appeals for release of innocent people is also fraught with such moves. In one such case, her office argued against the release of Daniel Larsen, who was proven innocent in the court of law. Why was this? Harris office claimed he filed his petition for release far too late after a legal deadline. The court disagreed, allowing Larsens release in 2013.

Lara Bazelon in The New York Times argued that amid Harris shifting stances on key policies, such as marijuana legalisation and her offices wrongful convictions, she needed to radically break with her past if she wanted people who cared about dismantling mass incarceration and correcting miscarriages of justice to vote for her.
Colorado officials on Wednesday marked the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, with Democrats offering messages of congratulations and conveying determination to tackle the work ahead, while Republicans cautioned the new administration against lurching too far to the left.

Several Republicans praised President Biden's calls for unity during his inaugural address on Wednesday and pledged to work together for the benefit of the American people.

Why it matters: The Democrats only have a slim majority in the Senate and Biden will likely need to work with the GOP to pass his legislative agenda.

What they're saying:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who attended Biden's swearing-in ceremony, tweeted his congratulations to the new president and Vice President Kamala Harris.

"I look forward to working together everywhere we can and differing respectfully when we must," he said.

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) noted in a Twitter post that Biden had taken the oath of office "during a health crisis and significant political strife."

"I commend President Biden for his call for national unity, and his assurance to those who did not support him that he will nevertheless be president for all Americans, " Toomey said.

"I urge the president to follow through on this commitment by working with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to pursue policies that will lead to peace and prosperity for all Americans."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in a statement: "Biden's message to the country was filled with hope for a more unified nation and a commitment to work for all Americans."

She added they must redouble efforts to work through differences and seek common ground "to put the divisiveness and turmoil of the last few months behind us, and move forward with respect, optimism, and hope."

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told reporters that Biden "struck the right themes by calling for unity, for reminding us that we're all Americans, that we can work together, and that if we do so, we can solve the problems facing our nation."

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) told reporters he thought Biden's speech was "very strong and very much needed."

"We as a nation come together if we are told the truth," he added. "And if we have leaders who stand for enduring American principles."

Of note: 17 freshmen House Republicans, some of whom rejected to the Electoral College certification of Biden's win, congratulated the president in a letter, pledging to work with him on policy.

A tweet previously embedded here has been deleted or was tweeted from an account that has been suspended or deleted.

For the record: Other Republicans expressed skepticism over Biden's executive actions, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who said on ABC News: "The rhetoric was very forward looking ... but every executive action he took was about reversing what had happened before."
Egypt's Ministry of Social Solidarity signed an agreement with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Supporting Response to Covid-19."

The project is allocated 6 million euros over a period of three years, said the ministry on Thursday.

The partnership between Egypt, the EU, and UNDP aims to limit the repercussions of the coronavirus on the neediest people through a two-pronged plan.

The first is boosting prevention mechanisms to limit the spike in infection rates among the families most affected by the crisis.

The ministry said it is already working on securing social safety nets for the groups severely affected by the pandemic crisis, especially the irregular and seasonal workers, and the elderly in social care institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Social Solidarity.

The second is alleviating the social and economic impact of the crisis by launching projects that offer job opportunities for the most affected groups.

The partnership also targets the completion of infrastructure development and related institutional capacities to adopt digital solutions for people with disabilities, the elderly and other vulnerable groups to provide support to handle the effects of the pandemic.

Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Kabbaj said the ministry is focusing on expanding the coverage of safety nets and social protection for the neediest.

She lauded the efforts of civil society organisations that contribute to supporting more people to survive the economic repercussions of the coronavirus.

In April, the EU launched the Team Europe initiative in collaboration with European financial institutions to cooperate with partner countries and help them confront the dire consequences of the pandemic and its impact on their societies and economies, said Ambassador Christian Berger, the head of the EU Delegation to Egypt who attended the agreements signing ceremony.

Berger explained that the close consultations with the Egyptian government focused on the best ways to move forward in jointly combating the pandemic.

He dubbed the deal as "solidarity and close cooperation in difficult times."

Dina Safwat, assistant minister of international cooperation for UN organisations' affairs, said that the pandemic has defied development efforts globally.

However, she commended the responsive attitude of Egypts development partners, including the EU and UNDP that backed the country to continue on development schemes and limit the repercussions of the pandemic.

Last year, the World Bank granted Egypt $500 million to strengthen the social protection network that led to increasing the number of beneficiaries of the Takaful and Karama (Solidarity and Dignity) social protection programmes, which are meant to help the needy and poor citizens, in addition to an amount of $477 million that were allocated for healthcare projects.

Randa Abul-Hassan, resident representative for the UNDP, hailed the wise choice of activating digital transformation amid the coronavirus crisis as an immediate solution to combat the social and economic impacts of Covid-19, confirming that digital transformation was adopted by many countries worldwide to protect their economies and peoples during the pandemic.

The agreement's signing ceremony was attended by Ambassador Raouf Saad, head of the National Office for the Implementation of the Egyptian-European Partnership Agreement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Lamia Mukhaimer, assistant minister of foreign affairs for international cooperation.

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The jury in the trial of a butcher accused of raping and murdering a 21-year-old student has heard a witness describe hearing screams of 'desperation' lasting up to seven minutes on the night she disappeared.

The prosecution alleges that the Hull resident woke up and saw out of his window the defendant Pawel Relowicz, 26, 'moving with purpose' away from the scene.

The Polish-born father of-two, from Raglan Street, Hull, denies murdering and raping 21-year-old philosophy student Libby Squire, who went missing following a night out in February 2019.

Sheffield Crown Court was told witness Sam Alford, whose home overlooks Oak Road playing fields, recalled being woken shortly after midnight. A couple of minutes after waking, he heard screams, the jury was told.

The court was also given a toxicology report, which showed Libby had 198mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, while the legal driving limit is 80mg.

A witness has told Sheffield Crown Court hearing screams of 'desperation' on the night Libby Squire, 21, disappeared. Pawel Relowicz, 26, has been charged with her rape and murder

Pathologist Dr Matt Lyall also told the court sperm cells were recovered from Ms Squire's body which matched Relowicz's DNA profile.

He said the cause of death was 'unascertained' as a clear determination was impossible after her body had been in water for seven weeks.

Dr Lyall said hypothermia, drowning, strangulation or asphyxia were all possible, in his conclusion.

Witness Mr Alford said he often heard noise from the park because it was a student area with young people gathering there, so he ignored the first screams.

But the noise was intermittent and he heard more screaming coming from the playing fields.

Mr Alford said: 'I could tell they were human, I could tell it was a female scream. The screams were enough to make me think 'what could that be?'

'It was not constant, it was intermittent, that's what stood out to me.'

The Polish-born father of-two, from Raglan Street, Hull, denies murdering and raping 21-year-old philosophy student Libby Squire, who went missing following a night out in the city in February 2019

Richard Wright QC, prosecuting, asked what the screams conveyed to him. Mr Alford replied: 'Like, desperation.'

He said the screaming went on for an estimated four to seven minutes. After going to the toilet briefly, he looked out of his window, on to a skate park, but could not see anything initially.

Mr Alford said there was a full moon and snow, so the visibility was good, and after a few minutes he saw a man crossing the park.

He told the jury: 'There was an urgency about the way he was moving. He was moving with a purpose, he didn't look back once.'

Ms Squire - who was a student at the University of Hull but originally from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire - had been refused entry to a nightclub because she was drunk, and had been given offers of help by people on the night she went missing

The man was wearing tightly-fitted joggers or jeans, Mr Alford said, and a bomber jacket, and did not look appropriately dressed for the weather that night.

The prosecution allege that Relowicz took Ms Squire to the secluded playing fields after picking her up in his car and that he raped and murdered her there.

Ms Squire - who was a student at the University of Hull but originally from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire - had been refused entry to a nightclub because she was drunk, and had been given offers of help by people on the night she went missing.

The prosecution allege the defendant was 'prowling around the student area' looking for an opportunity to commit a sexual offence against a vulnerable young woman.

Yesterday the court was shown CCTV of what the prosecution say is the moment Relowicz first spotted Ms Squire as she sat on a wall alone on Beverley Road.

He then walked in the shadows in an attempt to avoid raising her suspicions, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

The prosecution say Relowicz 'stalked' Ms Squire from the opposite side of the street before 'darting' over to intercept her.

He then drove Ms Squire to the Oak Road playing fields where he raped and murdered her, the court heard.

The prosecution said he put Ms Squire's body in the River Hull. She was found weeks later in the Humber estuary.

The trial continues.
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pause while speaking to supporters at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One for his last time as President on January 20, 2021 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trump, the first president in more than 150 years to refuse to attend his successor's inauguration, is expected to spend the final minutes of his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. (Photo by Pete Marovich - Pool/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump departed Washington for the final time yesterday morning with a melancholy farewell  and a vow to return to the political arena  though he still did not directly acknowledge that voters had turned him out.

Though Mr Trump had imagined a showy military send-off that more resembled authoritarian pageantry than the placid rituals of American electoral democracy, those dreams were dashed as only a modest crowd of a few hundred aides and other loyalists showed up at Joint Base Andrews to see him off.

This is a great, great country. It is my greatest honour and privilege to have been your president, Mr Trump said, as his audience chanted, Thank you, Trump!

I will always fight for you, Mr Trump said. I will be watching. I will be listening. And I will tell you that the future of this country has never been better. I wish the new administration great luck and great success. I think theyll have great success. They have the foundation to do something really spectacular.

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As Mr Trump concluded his remarks, he vowed, We will be back in some form, and he told his supporters, Have a good life.

Mr Trump and first lady Melania Trump boarded Air Force One shortly before 9am for their final flight on the presidential aircraft, en route to West Palm Beach, Florida. They will take up residence in Palm Beach at Mr Trumps private Mar-a-Lago club.

Mr Trump modelled his send-off event on the martial-themed arrival and departure ceremonies for foreign dignitaries. With a stiff wind whipping the American flags behind him, the outgoing president spoke from a stage lined with campaign-style bunting, with Air Force One in the background.

But for all Mr Trumps love of a spectacle, the event had more of a feel of a county fair than a big-budget extravaganza. In a Trumpian twist, the music that played as he ended his remarks was the Village Peoples YMCA, a sing-along staple from his boisterous political rallies. Then, as Air Force One began to roll on the tarmac, Frank Sinatras I Did It My Way blared from the loudspeakers.

Guests included outgoing White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, former White House physician and now Representative Ronny Jackson, and other current and former aides including former press secretary Sean Spicer. The Trumps were also joined by members of his family, including daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, both senior White House advisers.

Noticeably absent from Mr Trumps send-off were the three elected Republicans who had worked most closely with him  Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. All three instead attended Joe Bidens inauguration, which Mr Trump decided not to attend, bucking the traditional transfer of power.

On a chilly winter morning, Mr Trump and first lady Melania Trump walked out of the White House residence for the final time. The president told reporters that serving had been the honour of a lifetime, and as he said goodbye he noted that it hopefully would not be a long goodbye.

The Trumps then boarded Marine One, which lifted off the South Lawn at 8:17am and carried the departing couple into the brilliant morning sky and flew over a fortified city that looked like a war zone amid threats of another insurrection by Trump supporters.

Mr Trump released a farewell video on Tuesday in which he noted the arrival of a new administration and wished it luck, but did not mention Mr Biden by name, nor did he concede or directly address his own defeat.

Instead, Mr Trump touted his record as president and declared that the movement we started is only just beginning.

We did what we came here to do  and so much more, he said.

The message, which was recorded at the White House on Monday, was released at roughly the same time that Mr Biden, his wife Jill Biden and other family members arrived by plane at Andrews from Delaware, Mr Bidens home state.

On the same tarmac yesterday morning, Mr Trump was celebrated by an ad hoc gathering of supporters and a red-carpet ceremony. A military band was on hand to play Hail to the Chief, while a booming sound system played pop music and selections from the Trump campaign rally playlist, including Billie Jean and Saturday Nights Alright.

Mr Trump leaves as the nation reached the grim milestone of 400,000 dead, with tens of thousands more deaths expected before the grinding coronavirus pandemic subsides.

A crowd of a few hundred supporters mostly filed in ahead of Mr Trumps arrival, standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the stage despite public health recommendations against close contact with others, even outdoors. Most in the crowd wore face masks, a change from Trump campaign events and some high-profile gatherings at the White House dubbed super-spreader events.

In one of his final acts as president, Mr Trump granted pardons early yesterday morning to 143 people, including former White House strategist Stephen Bannon and other well-connected celebrities, as well as non-violent drug offenders. But despite his interest in doing so, Mr Trump ultimately did not pre-emptively pardon himself or members of his immediate family.

On the eve of Mr Trumps departure, Mr McConnell pointedly accused Mr Trump of having provoked the violent mob that stormed the US Capitol on January 6.

Nonetheless, in his taped farewell address, Mr Trump attempted to cast his presidency as one marked by a bipartisan spirit.

He condemned the violence but did not address his own role in urging his supporters to march on the seat of the national legislature in his name. He also did not retract his false claim that the November 3 election was rigged and stolen from him.

Mr Trump had announced earlier this month that he would not attend Mr Bidens swearing-in. Mr Biden said the decision was one of the few things he and Mr Trump agreed on.
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WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has filled the Oval Office with images of American leaders and icons, focusing the room around a massive portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt that hangs across from the Resolute Desk. It is a clear nod to a president who helped the country through significant crises, a challenge Biden now also faces.

The Oval Office is synonymous with the power and majesty of the American presidency. Every president changes the decor of largely symbolic room to offer a sense of his personality and the type of presidency he hopes to have. Bidens is notable for the sheer number of portraits and busts of well-known American historical figures.

Some are paired, with paintings of President Thomas Jefferson and former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton hung near each other - the two men frequently disagreed and were placed together to illustrate the benefits that come from differing views. Bidens office said the paintings were twinned as hallmarks of how differences of opinion, expressed within the guardrails of the Republic, are essential to democracy.

This Oval is an Oval for Day One, said Ashley Williams, the deputy director of Oval Office Operations, as she gave The Washington Post an exclusive 20-minute tour of the office before Biden set foot in the room.

It was important for President Biden to walk into an Oval that looked like America and started to show the landscape of who he is going to be as president, she said.

Busts of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy flank a fireplace in the office. Biden often refers to the impact that both men made on the country as part of the Civil Rights movement.

Biden is also giving a nod to segments of the Democratic Partys base via historic references. Behind the Resolute desk is a bust of Cesar Chavez. The office also includes busts of Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and sculpture by Allan Houser of the Chiricahua Apache tribe that once belonged to the late Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, the first Japanese-American elected to both houses of Congress.

A painting of Benjamin Franklin is intended to represent Bidens interest in following science. The painting is stationed near a moon rock set on a bookshelf that is intended to remind Americans of the ambition and accompaniments of earlier generations.

President Donald Trumps light gold drapes have been replaced with a different, darker shade of gold that hung in President Bill Clintons Oval Office. The dark blue rug was also in the office during the Clinton administration.

The furniture was switched out on Inauguration Day, an aide said. During a tour a reporter was asked to avoid stepping on the freshly vacuumed rug so that it would be in pristine condition when Biden arrives. Seeing a fleck of dirt on the rug, one aide stooped down to remove it.

Gone are the flags of branches of the military that Trump displayed behind the Resolute Desk. Biden has installed an American flag and another with a presidential seal.

Also removed was the portrait of former President Andrew Jackson that Trump hung in his office. Trump and Jackson both ran as populists, and Jackson was the first president to be directly elected and he proposed ending the electoral college.

But for many the decision reinforced some of the allegations of racism coming from the White House, Jackson kept enslaved people and signed the Indian Removal Act, which led to thousands of Native American deaths as tens of thousands were forced to relocate to make room for White settlers.

The act helped lead to the Trail of Tears, in which an estimated 4,000 Cherokee died during the harsh conditions of a long march during a forced relocation in 1838 and 1839. The Cherokees called Jackson Indian killer; the Creek called him Sharp Knife.

The portrait drew ire particular during a November 2017 Oval Office event when the Jackson portrait served as a backdrop for Trump as he was honoring Native American code talkers.

Trump also reinstalled a bust of Winston Churchill in the Oval Office. It had originally been loaned to George W. Bush by the British and then returned as Obama took office. A nearly identical bust stood just outside the office in Obamas private residence.

When asked about the bust in 2016, Obama cited aesthetics. There are only so many tables where you can put busts - otherwise it starts looking a little cluttered, Obama said.

Obama did have a bust of Martin Luther King Jr. in the Oval Office, which Trump kept, though he moved it to a different part of the office.

The piece de resistance in Obamas Oval Office was the Emancipation Proclamation, the document signed by Abraham Lincoln that freed all enslaved people in the Confederate states.

One aspect of the office that hasnt changed: the Resolute desk, used by Trump and several previous presidents. An aide said that it had not been touched since Trump left on Wednesday morning.
Advocate-General B.S. Prasad told the court that the government had forwarded names of some retired judges to the Registry of the HC on January 8 for its approval.  DC Image

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the state government to expedite the process of appointments of chairpersons to the State Security Commission (SSC) and the Police Complaint Authority (PCA) that deals with the grievances of the public on abuse of power by police personnel.

These bodies are to be constituted as per guidelines framed by the Supreme Court in 2007 vide the Prakash Singh`s case. However, even after one decade, the directions have not been implemented. The High Court took a serious note of this.

Recently, the government had set up the authorities but the chairpersons had not been appointed on the ground that the court should recommend the names of retired judges as SSC chairperson who would look into the grievances of the public at the state level.

Retired district judges are eligible to hold the post of chairperson of PCAs at every district headquarter.

Advocate-General B.S. Prasad told the court that the government had forwarded names of some retired judges to the Registry of the HC on January 8 for its approval and recommendations. The court directed the government to appoint the chairpersons within four weeks after it got a communication from the HC.

The Telangana High Court pulled up the AP government for delaying the establishment of SSC and PCAs. As this matter now stood with the Telangana high court, it directed AP to complete the process within four weeks.
Ciara and Andrea McKevitt take to a Harley-Davidson in celebration of Joe Bidens inauguration yesterday. Photo: Ciara Wilkinson

The Stars and Stripes were flying across Co Louth yesterday to mark the inauguration of Cousin Joe as the 46th president of the United States.

Its really huge for our family, we are so proud and have a real sense of pride that one of our own, whose ancestors hail from the Wee County, is in the biggest office in the world, said Andrea McKevitt who is believed to be a distant cousin.

It was an all-American affair too with cheeseburgers, hot dogs and French fries on the menu and Bruce Springsteen and Garth Brooks on in the background.

With parents Veronica and Martin, and sister Ciara, Andrea watched the inauguration from her home on the Cooley Peninsula in north Co Louth.

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Covid-19 restrictions did not kill off the party atmosphere, and Andrea said: There is a euphoria of excitement in the air.

"We will be Zooming to the rest of the clan and bursting with pride watching Cousin Joe being sworn into office.

She said his election has brought excitement and joy to our area and it has been truly wonderful in what can only be described as a dark time not just for our locality but Ireland as a whole.

Andrea, a member of Louth County Council, said: I fully believe that Joe will be a president who will reunite a politically and socially divided United States, a country which hasn't seen unrest like this since the Vietnam War.

He will be a president for all US citizens, not just those who voted for him, and I believe this is a welcome change on the world stage in terms of leaders at the top table.

Joe has a strong affinity to Ireland and I think that was clear in his commitment to our country through the Brexit talks and his dedication to the Good Friday Agreement.

The question on everyones lips is when will he be back in Cooley?

Andrea said: There is no word on a visit just yet but we're hopeful that 2021 will see the return of Cousin Joe to the peninsula and there is no doubt that we will all be ready and waiting for him whenever he wishes to make a return visit.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden has an open invitation to visit his ancestral home near Carlingford.

The building is very close to Lily Finnegans pub which Mr Biden visited twice  in 2016 as vice president and then during a private visit in 2017 with his brother and other members of his family.

Mr Bidens great-great grandfather is understood to be Owen Finnegan, who was baptised in the Cooley parish in 1814 and emigrated to the United States in1849.

The single-storey stone building is owned by Robbie Coan and his wife Aoife Curran. Robbie said he and Aoife bought the house in 1994, and one of the previous owners was a Finnegan.

We both are thrilled that Biden is now the new president of the USA, he said. We would be delighted to welcome Joe and his family back to Whitestown and show him around the remains of his ancestral home.

Robbie said they had no idea that either the old farmhouse and barn, which were on the land with their bungalow, had any connection to Mr Biden when they bought it.

However, they have become used to interest from the media. We had a Spanish journalist call to us at Christmas time looking for information on it, Robbie said.

Speaking about the prospect of a visit from Mr Biden, Robbie added: We would absolutely welcome him back with open arms.
Emergency teams protect vaccine supplies from flooding

Emergency teams were called out to protect supplies of the Oxford University and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine following flooding at a manufacturing site in Wales.

Excess water surrounded buildings at Wockhardt's pharmaceutical manufacturing facility on Wrexham Industrial Estate during heavy rainfall caused by Storm Christoph.

The leader of Wrexham County Borough said that authorities worked "through the night" to ensure that the site was not overwhelmed by flood water.

Mark Pritchard said on Thursday morning that resources such as gullies had been put in place to protect the vaccine storage facility on the industrial estate.

"I'm sure you are aware that the Oxford vaccine is manufactured there and we had to work with the company logistically with their storage facility, that was under possibility of flooding," he told Sky News.

"So we worked through the night with that and that was a success. This could have had an impact not just in Wrexham, Wales, but across the whole country with the vaccination supplies."

He added: "They were under pressure, they had serious concerns that their warehouse logistically could be flooded.

India has handed over 2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Bangladesh under grant assistance, a senior minister said on Thursday.

The vaccines were given to Bangladesh at a crucial time when the number of coronavirus cases in the nation continues to rise and has reached 529,687 till Thursday.

"India had stood by Bangladesh during the (1971) Liberation War, and today, when the pandemic is rattling the world, India again came with gifts of vaccines," Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said as Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami handed him over the vaccines.

Health minister Zahid Maleque joined the function during which Momen termed the New Delhi initiative as a proof of true friendship between Bangladesh and India.

Also Read | India's vaccine diplomacy in south Asia pushes back against China

Doraiswami said that India, in line with the discussions held during the virtual summit between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, delivered the vaccines within a week of their rollout in India.

Anti-coronavirus vaccination began in India on January 16.

He said as part of India's "Neighbourhood First" policy, his country accorded high priority to the India-Bangladesh relationship and the gift of 20 lakh doses of Covishield vaccine was in fact the biggest such dispatch by India to any of the neighbouring countries.

India has also handed over 1 million similar vaccines to Nepal.

On Wednesday, India sent 150,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives.

Also Read | Bharat Biotech seeks trials for Covaxin in Bangladesh

India is one of the world's biggest drugmakers, and an increasing number of countries have already approached it for procuring the coronavirus vaccines.

India has already rolled out a massive coronavirus vaccination drive under which two vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, are being administered to frontline health workers across the country.

While Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and the Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it will be ensured that domestic manufacturers will have adequate stocks to meet domestic requirements while supplying abroad.

India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries to help them deal with the pandemic.
Student Services

Western Technical College Uses Workforce Efficiency Software to Support Students

To serve students both online and on-campus, Western Technical College in Texas has rolled out Conext.me, a cloud-based communication, e-sign and workflow platform designed for career, traditional and community colleges.

Conext offers bi-direction text-based communications, e-signatures, no-download video chat and more. AI-enhanced workflows help reduce repetitive actions and nudge students to complete tasks. Completed documents can be stored within the software or automatically uploaded to a school's student information system. In addition, Conext's career services features allow administrators to manage job postings, create job alerts, and build resumes and career websites for students and graduates.

"We make a promise to every student. Conext helps us fulfill that promise regardless of where the student is physically," commented Brad Kuykendall, CEO of Western Technical College, in a statement. "Conext enables us to communicate with students virtually via text, e-mail and video. We can continue delivering our programs to students online, as a online-offline hybrid or on our campuses."
Franklin Graham asks Christians to pray for peace during inauguration

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Franklin Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, has urged Christians to pray for peace and calm during the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday.

Today as our country inaugurates a new president, there are concerns that there could be violence in Washington, DC, and in state capitals across the nation. I encourage Christians to make this a day of prayerfor peace and calm, and praying for our new leaders, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Graham, who also leads Samaritans Purse, said in a statement on Facebook.

Grahams call for calm comes in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol building by pro-Trump supporters and others in Washington, D.C., that left five people dead. The protesters sought to prevent the confirmation of Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election by Congress.

Citing Graham's previous remarks in support of Trump's argument that the election was stolen, progressive Christian group Faithful America launched a petition last Friday, accusing Graham of sedition and calling on directors of Samaritan's Purse and BGEA to fire him.

As long as Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association stand by Franklin Graham, it must be said that these once-vaunted organizations have forgotten their original Christian missions, abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and are complicit in the spread of dishonest, discredited election conspiracy theories and the deadly, unpatriotic, white-nationalist terrorism at the U.S. Capitol incited by those lies, said a message, which Faithful America said was sent to board members of the two Christian organizations led by Graham.

Our faith in Jesus Christ demands that we do better than this. Your fellow Christians from across the country call on you to fire Franklin Graham, or to resign from the Board in individual protest.

The petition has garnered more than 20,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning.

Faithful America, which was founded in 2004, describes itself as the largest online community of Christians putting faith into action for social justice.

Our members are sick of sitting by quietly while Jesus' message of good news is hijacked by the religious right to serve a hateful political agenda. We're organizing the faithful to challenge such extremism and renew the church's prophetic role in building a more free and just society, the group explains on its website.

The group is led by Rev. Nathan Empsall, an Episcopal priest and veteran digital organizer, and has organized numerous petitions, including ones against former President Donald Trump, World Vision and Family Research Council.

Trump left the White House for the last time Wednesday morning to make way for the Biden administration.

You are amazing people. This is a great, great country. It is my greatest honor and privilege to have been your president, Trump told his supporters.

He further wished the incoming administration "great luck," before ending: "Have a good life, we will see you soon."
Chris Fevry, an applicant and advocate for cannabis delivery in Massachusetts, feels a lawsuit filed against the Cannabis Control Commission over its new delivery regulations is a direct attack on equity.

Im at a loss for words, Fevry said. Its just an attack on equity. Theres not really any other way to perceive it.

The Commonwealth Dispensary Association has filed a civil lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court, arguing that new regulations from the state Cannabis Control Commission allowing for the home delivery of cannabis, limited to equity applicants for three years, violate state laws.

Earlier this month, regulations became official, including a delivery operator license that allows for the wholesale purchase of cannabis to be warehoused and then sold and delivered. Theres also a courier license, which allows equity applicants to partner with retailers to deliver directly to consumers. Couriers can charge fees but cannot sell, process, store or repackage goods.

Both license types are exclusive to members of the states social equity or economic empowerment programs for the first three years. The courier license application has been available since last year and the delivery operator application is still in the works.

The CDA argues that allowing home delivery of cannabis products to only equity applicants for the first three years violates the commissions statute, G.L. c. 94G, which mandates that retailers will be allowed to deliver.

Because the Commissions new delivery regulations are in direct contravention of the Commissions enabling statute in allowing delivery but not by licensed Marijuana Retailers under their existing retail licenses, they cannot stand, the lawsuit reads.

Fevry, the president of the Massachusetts Cannabis Association for Delivery and co-founder of delivery applicant Your Green Package, said he now questions the values of dispensaries that are part of the CDA.

You cant reasonably say I want delivery companies to be sharecroppers to retailers, said Fevry, whos business partner and fiancee, Dharry Pauyo, has social equity status. Delivery companies should have the opportunity to create their own successful business. The whole business model doesnt rely on the retailers.

The lawsuit also argues that the new regulations should not have been promulgated. The CDA contended that the law requires three lawfully seated commissioners and noted that Shaleen Title was serving on the commission as a holdover. Her seat had expired and a new commissioner had not yet been appointed. A seat held by former commissioner Kay Doyle had not been filled. Former commissioner Britte McBride was still in her seat but had already announced her plans to step down.

The CDA is seeking a declaration that the delivery regulations are unlawful and void because they conflict with Chapter 94G; a declaration that the delivery regulations are unlawful and void because they were not validly promulgated; an award of the CDAs costs, expenses and reasonable attorneys fees and other relief.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Association for Delivery said it believes the CDA lawsuit misconstrues the statutory authority and intent of Chapter 94G.

MCAD calls on the CDA to drop this suit and to cease enabling industry players who aim to use their capital advantage to exploit and exclude social equity applicants, and prevent the CCC from fulfilling the social justice component of the ballot initiative which the residents of the Commonwealth passed in 2016, read a statement from the group.

Kobie Evans, the co-owner of Pure Oasis, a retailer in Boston and the first economic empowerment applicant to open in the state, said he put a focus on supporting the push for delivery even though Pure Oasis does not intend to deliver.

As the states first economic empowerment applicant to get a license, I think we were more concerned about doing everything we could to help delivery, where delivery was kind of the first frontier of opportunity for equity applicants, Evans said.

Pure Oasis had been a member of the CDA. Evans said the company left the association in late October.

Talking to other equity applicants, and they were looking for guidance, and they wanted support around the CCC to make sure that voices were being heard, Evans said, it was just a matter of not having a lot of time to be an activist and realizing that our time needed to be spent supporting delivery.

Evans said it was disheartening to hear about the lawsuit.

We live in a world where theres room for everyone, he said. Theres room for equity applicants, big businesses and local entrepreneurs and theres enough to go around.

Massachusetts was the first state to introduce a social equity program. Despite the program, equity applicants still struggle to obtain the funding to get their businesses started.

I dont think the CDA as a whole is anti-equity, Evans said. I think the momentum of the organization is shifting one way and kind of just pulled everyone with it.

The CDA said in a statement that the CCC overstepped its authority and disregarded state law. The organization said it supports social equity and economic empowerment applicants and their participation in the industry, including a period of exclusivity for the courier license.

The CDA and its members are proud of the organizations track record in meaningfully supporting a more equitable industry from co-founding the first-in-the-nation jail-to-jobs higher education program to supporting its members in launching accelerator and entrepreneurship programs for SE and EE businesses across the Commonwealth, read a statement.

Evans said he thinks this is a teachable moment and that there is opportunity to coalesce around equity.

The landscape of cannabis in Massachusetts will change and there will be more minority operators like Pure Oasis, Evans said, there will be opportunities for organizations like the CDA to represent a larger part of the industry and with that, there will probably more diversity and more opportunities to create policy that has a direct impact on equity applicants.

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ROME  A Vatican court on Thursday convicted a former senior official at the Vatican bank and his lawyer of embezzlement and money laundering, sending a strong signal that the church was determined to get its financial house in order.

The defendants  Angelo Caloia, the president of the Vatican bank for two decades, and his onetime lawyer Gabriele Liuzzo  had been accused of embezzling millions of euros through shady real estate deals between 2002 and 2007.

Sentenced to eight years and 11 months in prison apiece, the defendants were ordered to pay the Vatican bank damages of more than 20 million, or $24 million.

The court also ordered the confiscation of sums totaling approximately 38 million euros from the defendants, the Vatican said in a statement accompanying the sentence, which the press office of the Holy See released shortly after the court ruling. The two were fined 12,500 each as well.
WASHINGTON - The White House says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will speak with newly inaugurated U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday.

President-elect Joe Biden congratulates Vice President Kamala Harris after she was sworn in during the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Carolyn Kaster

WASHINGTON - The White House says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will speak with newly inaugurated U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday.

Press secretary Jen Psaki says Trudeau will be the first foreign leader to speak with Biden since his inauguration.

The two have a lot to talk about: hours after his inauguration, Biden signed an executive order effectively cancelling the US$8-billion Keystone XL pipeline expansion.

In a statement, Trudeau says he's disappointed in the decision, but appreciates Biden's commitment to climate change  a sign Ottawa isn't going to push hard on trying to reverse the decision.

He says workers in Alberta, Saskatchewan and across Canada will always have the federal government's support.

Trudeau cheered some of Biden's other Day 1 decisions, including rejoining the Paris climate accord, blocking oil and gas drilling in the Arctic and renewing ties with the World Health Organization.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 20, 2021.
David Pasulka, 61, was arrested this week and charged with eight new felony counts

A prominent Chicago family law attorney who was charged last summer with sexually assaulting a colleague has been accused of doing the same thing to two other women.

David Pasulka, 61, was arrested this week and charged with eight felony counts including aggravated sexual assault and sexual abuse after the two new women came forward, cops said.

A spokesperson for the department told DailyMail.com that a total of six women have now come forward with allegations against Pasulka.

Four women had previously accused him of sex crimes from incidents between April 2012 and October 2017.

The new charges stem from the alleged assaults of the two new women at his law firm from early 2017 until as late as 2019.

On Wednesday, Pasulka appeared before Judge Susana Ortiz who set his new bail amount at $100,000. He was already out on bond in the initial case and was released from custody after posting the new amount, according to the Cook County Jail.

Some of Pasulka's new charges stem from when he allegedly threatened one of the women, a 48-year-old client, with losing custody of her children if she didn't have sex with him.

Prosecutors said that the client visited with Pasulka in three appointments at his Pasulka & Associates firm, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Pasulka reportedly kept bragging about his power and influence to the alleged victim as he fondled her, according to the outlet.

The lawyer allegedly told the woman to 'be smart' and if she 'does the right things she'll get full custody.'

Prosecutors said Pasulka later went to the woman's home and touched her under her clothes while in her daughter's bedroom.

The woman said 'no,' prosecutors said, and was told 'not to be so uptight' as she tried to get away from Pasulka.

He then gave her his business card and said he would write his custody recommendation for her case in her favor if she changed her mind.

She received the report recommending custody go to her ex-husband days later, the Tribune reported.

David Pasulka, 61, was arrested this week and charged with eight new felony counts

The woman ultimately did lose custody of her kids but Pasulka then allegedly claimed she could regain partial custody if she had sex with him.

The woman visited Pasulka's office to prepare for her trial and was sexually abused by him while alone in a conference room in May 2017, prosecutors said.

Pasulka allegedly assaulted her several other times between 2016 and 2017 but prosecutors said instances fell outside of the statute of limitations, WFLD reported.

Some of the new charges Pasulka faces relate to a 31-year-old paralegal who worked at Pasulka's law firm, prosecutors said.

The paralegal alleges that her boss 'continuously sexually abused and assaulted and threatened to destroy her reputation in the legal community,' prosecutors said.

She said Pasulka would grope her butt and breasts and force her hand to touch him inappropriately during conference calls with clients, according to the Tribune.

The woman claims she was pinned against a couch and raped around Thanksgiving in 2017 when Pasulka sent everyone home early for the holidays -- except for her, WFLD reported.

Prosecutors said that the woman was later directed to monitor Pasulka's emails as a function of her employment and she saw an email that apparently revealed another victim  not the 48-year-old, the Tribune reported.

Pasulka had also allegedly threatened that unknown victim with losing custody of her children during her divorce, according to the outlet.

The paralegal quit her job and reported the alleged abuse to police, according to prosecutors.

Last year, Pasulka was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an associate at least five times in the law firms offices, the Tribune reported, marking the first victim to come forward.

He also was accused of inappropriately touching a second associate more than 60 times over the course of several years and sexually abusing a client.

He doesn't have a listed home phone number and a call to his office was not immediately returned.

According to court records, Pasulka was barred from practicing law after the first charges were filed, pending disciplinary action by the state's Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.

Pasulka's website says he 'has earned a reputation as a premier litigator throughout Illinois.'

'David uses his reputation to settle matters favorably for his clients. David has been a mediator of divorce matters for his entire career.'

He received the North Suburban Bar Association's President's Award in 2017, according to his website, and has been published in legal journals including the Illinois Bar Journal.
President Joe Biden prepares to sign a series of executive orders at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office in Washington, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Halted After Biden Revokes Permit

The long-disputed Keystone XL pipelines construction was halted Wednesday after President Joe Biden revoked the construction projects permit.

Keystone XL President Richard Prior said over 1,000 jobs will be eliminated in the coming weeks.

We will begin a safe and orderly shut-down of construction, he said in a statement to The Associated Press.

According to the Association of Oil Pipe Liness CEO Andy Black, the move is tantamount to killing 10,000 jobs and taking $2.2 billion in payroll out of workers pockets [and] is not what Americans need or want right now.

The pipeline was first proposed in 2008 but reached a snag under the Obama administration. President Donald Trump revived the project and has been a strong proponent of the measurewith the support of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

We are disappointed but acknowledge the presidents decision to fulfill his election campaign promise on Keystone XL, Trudeau said in a statement on Wednesday. Trudeau said he spoke with Biden in November over the phone, saying the pipeline is a key priority meant to expand oil exports in Canada, which has the third-highest oil reserves in the world, to the United States.

Despite President Bidens decision on the project, we would like to welcome other executive orders made today, including the decisions to rejoin the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization, Trudeau added, referring to several of Bidens day one executive orders.

Workers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and across Canada will always have our support. Canada is the single-largest supplier of energy to the United States, contributing to U.S. energy security and economic competitiveness, and supporting thousands of jobs on both sides of the border, Trudeau said. He did not say whether the Canadian government will try to engage with the United States to restart construction of the project.

Pipes destined for the Keystone XL pipeline are stacked in Gascoyne, North Dakota, on April 22, 2015. (The Canadian Press/Alex Panetta)

Alberta, Canada, Premier Jason Kenney said the cancellation of Keystone XLs construction isnt how you treat a friend [and] an ally.

It is an insult directed at the United States most important ally and trading partner on day one of a new administration, Kenney said in a statement. The leader of our closest ally retroactively vetoed approval for a pipeline that exists and which is co-owned by Canadian government, directly attacking by far the largest part of the Canada-U.S. trade relationship, which is our energy industry and exports.

Bidens move was praised by environmental groups.

President Bidens decision to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline on his first day turns the page on a 12-year fight over the energy future of our country, said Anthony Swift, director of NRDCs Canada project, earlier this month. It sets the stage for a more prosperous future powered by clean energy.
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Boris Johnson today refused to rule out the brutal lockdown lasting until the summer amid claims he is willing to keep curbs longer to ensure it is the last national squeeze.

The PM insisted it is 'too early to say' whether the restrictions will stay in place for months longer - despite cases falling by more than a fifth on last week and hopes rising that the most vulnerable groups will be vaccinated by mid-February, with a record 366,919 jabs administered in 24 hours.

Mr Johnson also delivered a stark message that the new coronavirus strain is 'much more contagious', repeating his plea for people to stay at home and obey the rules.

The intervention came as scientists delivered a grim warning that even mass vaccinations will not be enough to stop the disease spreading, suggesting that measures will need to remain longer.

There are claims from the PM's circle that he is ready to risk the wrath of Tory MPs - who are clamouring for confirmation of an easing starting March 8 - by persisting with the curbs.

The UK recorded another 37,892 infections today, but that was down more than a fifth on last Thursday.

There were another 1,290 deaths but that was up just 3.4 per cent on the same day last week, suggesting that the rate might be slowing.

In other major moves in the coronavirus crisis:

Home Secretary Priti Patel has threatened tougher enforcement as she announced new 800 fines for people who attend house parties, with the penalty doubling to a maximum of 6,400 for repeat offenders;

The UK has set a new record for daily doses of vaccines at 366,919, with 4,973,248 people now having received jabs;

Medics in Cumbria and the North East of England have handed out 10 times more Covid vaccines than those in Shropshire, NHS data reveals today;

Ministers could achieve the target for vaccinating the top four priority groups with far fewer than 13.9million doses as they are only committing to 'offer' the jabs;

Emergency services fought to protect a vaccine factory in Wrexham from dramatic flooding overnight;

Gavin Williamson faced the fury of parents after he said he can only 'hope' that schools will restart face-to-face lessons for millions of pupils before Easter;

An investigation has been launched into reports that some of the laptops handed out to vulnerable children for homeschooling are infected with malware;

Northern Ireland has extended its lockdown until March 5 with First Minister Arlene Foster warning the NHS is still under serious pressure.

On a visit to see flooding in Greater Manchester today, Boris Johnson warned it was 'too early to say' whether lockdown will need to stay until the summer

Pictured, the impact on R rate for various vaccination scenarios, herd immunity is only achieved if R is kept below 1. The green line shows the Pfizer vaccine, and the blue line shows the effectiveness of Oxford's vaccine according to the 70.4% effectiveness claimed in data sent to MHRA. The red line shows data from phase 3 clinical trials for two standards dose jabs of the Oxford jab against both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection

UK 'won't get herd immunity even if every Briton is vaccinated' The UK won't achieve herd immunity with the current coronavirus vaccines even if every single Briton is injected, a study claimed today. It came as Boris Johnson refused to rule out keeping the lockdown in place until the summer and SAGE scientists warned draconian restrictions will be needed until May. Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that the efficacy of current vaccines, combined with the emergence of more infectious variants of the virus, meant keeping the R below one without lockdown restrictions could become impossible. UEA researchers say that even if every man, woman and child in the UK gets both doses of the Oxford jab it would only bring the R  the average number of people each patient infects  down to 1.3. But, because this vaccine is approved for over-18s only, the R would remain at about two when curbs are lifted completely. The study found Pfizer's jab  which is more effective at blocking coronavirus than the Oxford one  is capable of bringing the R below one and achieving herd immunity but it would require inoculating teenagers. Currently the jab is only approved for over-16s. Researchers warned it would 'likely be impossible' to hit the 82 per cent target needed because 'people will refuse the vaccine'. Scientists have always known eradicating Covid was an impossible task and the goal of the vaccine programme is not to prevent all transmission from occurring. Herd immunity occurs when enough of the population is immune to an infectious disease, stopping it from spreading. Advertisement

One source told the FT: 'Boris wants this to be the last lockdown, even if it has to go on longer.

'There has to be a sense of finality to these measures so he appears to be on side with the scientists.'

On a visit to see flooding in Greater Manchester today, Mr Johnson was asked whether lockdown could stay until the summer.

'I think it's too early to say when we'll be able to lift some of the restrictions,' he said.

'We'll look then (February 15) at how we're doing but I think what we're seeing in the ONS data, in the React survey, we're seeing the contagiousness of the new variant that we saw arrive just before Christmas  there's no doubt it does spread very fast indeed.

'It's not more deadly but it is much more contagious and the numbers are very great.'

He said it is 'absolutely crucial' to obey the current restrictions 'in what is unquestionably going to be a tough few weeks ahead'.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'We will continue to keep all of the scientific evidence and data under review.

'It remains our position that we want to ease restrictions as soon as it is safe to do so, but in order for us to do that we need to see the transmission rates of the virus come down and we need to see the pressure on the NHS reduce.'

The spokesman added: 'It is our intention and our hope that this will be the last national lockdown.'

While lockdown-sceptic Tory MPs continue to press for guarantees on an early easing, other senior figures want to make the rules even tougher.

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said quarantine hotels should also be introduced for international arrivals to combat 'massively more dangerous' new strains.

He said that all mixing between households should be ended, and higher grade masks should be mandated.

The senior Conservative MP joined Labour on Friday in calling for the Government to increase border protections over fears vaccines may be less effective on novel variants.

Ministers are considering forcing new arrivals to the UK to complete their isolation periods in hotels but it is understood no decision to approve the proposal has been made.

Mr Hunt, the chairman of the Health Select Committee, told the Commons: 'If we're going to bring down the horrific death rates that we're now seeing, should we not be securing our borders with quarantine hotels, ending household mixing outside bubbles and following Germany in mandating FFP2 masks in shops and on public transport to give better protection to wearers?'

Record 366,919 vaccine doses in one day A one-day record of 366,919 Covid vaccine doses were administered across the UK yesterday, putting the Government on track to hit its target of 13.9million people by the middle of February. Medics in Cumbria and the North East of England have handed out 10 times more Covid vaccines than those in Shropshire, NHS data reveals today. The most detailed breakdown of local vaccination rates released so far has laid bare the postcode lottery showing 10 per cent of the population in Gloucestershire have had a jab already, compared to just 3.6 per cent of East Londoners. Herefordshire and Worcestershire had also managed to immunise one in 10 of their residents by January 17, the figures show. Coverage appears to be higher in more rural areas and lower in cities, with the lowest vaccination rates in London and the East Midlands. Rural areas tend to have higher average age of their residents and more elderly people, which may give them access to more vaccine doses to distribute. It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said that Britain has successfully given more than 5million Covid vaccine doses to 4.6million people. The programme has sped up after a brief slowdown over the weekend, and is now reaching more than 300,000 people per day as it hurtles towards the target of immunising the country's 13.9million most vulnerable people by February 15. Boris Johnson has warned that achieving this target will be 'very hard' but it has emerged today that, officially, the Government is only aiming to 'offer' the jabs to that number of people and it won't declare failure if they aren't all delivered on time. Government sources admit not everyone will take up the invitation, with polls indicating that a fifth of the population might refuse. However, MPs warned that 'under-delivering' and then claiming to have achieved the goal 'won't wash'. Advertisement

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he had been advised that the current guidelines on protective equipment were 'right and appropriate' and said 'very significant measures' were in place for international travel.

Taking a Downing Street briefing tonight, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that individuals attending house parties will be fined a minimum of 800 from next week.

She told the No10 press conference: 'Next week we will be introducing a new 800 fine for those attending house parties, which will double for each repeat offence to a maximum level of 6,400.

'These fines will apply to those who attend illegal gatherings of more than 15 people in homes.

'The science is clear: such irresponsible behaviour poses a significant threat to public health.

'Not only to those in attendance but to our wonderful police officers who attend these events to shut them down.'

A one-day record of 366,919 Covid vaccine doses were administered across the UK yesterday.

But fears of a postcode lottery have been fueled as NHS figures showed medics in Cumbria and the North East of England have handed out 10 times more Covid vaccines than those in Shropshire.

The most detailed breakdown of local vaccination rates released so far has laid bare the postcode lottery showing 10 per cent of the population in Gloucestershire have had a jab already, compared to just 3.6 per cent of East Londoners.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire had also managed to immunise one in 10 of their residents by January 17, the figures show.

Coverage appears to be higher in more rural areas and lower in cities, with the lowest vaccination rates in London and the East Midlands.

Rural areas tend to have higher average age of their residents and more elderly people, which may give them access to more vaccine doses to distribute.

It comes as Mr Hancock today said that Britain has successfully given more than 5million Covid vaccine doses to 4.6million people.

The programme has sped up after a brief slowdown over the weekend, and is now reaching more than 300,000 people per day as it hurtles towards the target of immunising the country's 13.9million most vulnerable people by February 15.

Mr Johnson has warned that achieving this target will be 'very hard' but it has emerged that officially the Government is only aiming to 'offer' the jabs to that number of people and it won't declare failure if they aren't all delivered on time.

Government sources admit not everyone will take up the invitation, with polls indicating that a fifth of the population might refuse.

In echoes of when the Department of Health posted out thousands of swab tests so it could claim it had done 100,000 in a day, the technicality raises the prospect that the target could be technically hit well before 13.9million doses have been administered  although it's still possible the jabs will actually be given.

However, MPs warned that 'under-delivering' and then claiming to have achieved the goal 'won't wash'.

Meanwhile, a study has warned the UK will not achieve herd immunity with the current wave of coronavirus vaccines even if every single Briton is injected.

Pictured, the Al Abbas Mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a covid vaccination centre. The research from Professor Paul hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted

A mosque in Birmingham has today begun offering coronavirus vaccinations, amid fears take up is too low among BAME groups

Lifting lockdown completely before spring could lead to up to 6,000 daily Covid deaths, depending on how good the vaccines are at stopping transmission, something scientists won't know for months when more studies are completed. But the SAGE scientists who did the modelling stressed these were imperfect models based on lots of variables and should not be interpreted as predictions

They claimed an extremely gradual approach that keeps some lockdown measures in place until later this year or even 2022 was the best way to keep deaths low and hospitals protected

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found the highly-virulent B.1.1.7 strain which evolved in Kent in September has made it impossible to ever achieve herd immunity with the current effectiveness of vaccines. Pictuured, Basil Henry, 84, is one of the first people to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the opening of the first Pharmacy2U Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Odeon Cinema in Aylesbury

Probe into malware on laptops for vulnerable schoolchildren An investigation has been launched into reports that some of the laptops handed out to vulnerable children for homeschooling are infected with malware. According to an online forum, teachers from a school in Bradford noticed the issue and believe it contacts Russian servers. 'Upon unboxing and preparing them it was discovered that a number of the laptops are infected with a self-propagating network worm (Gamarue.I),' the forum message says. Gamarue.I, identified by Microsoft in 2012, is a worm capable of downloading files onto a PC. According to the tech firm, it can be installed when a spam email attachment is opened and can also copy itself to any USB flash drives connected to the computer. The Department for Education (DfE) said it is looking into the problem as a matter of urgency but does not think it is widespread. 'We are aware of an issue with a small number of devices,' a spokesman said. Advertisement

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that the efficacy of current vaccines, combined with the emergence of new more infectious strains of the virus, meant keeping the R below one when restrictions are eventually lifted will be impossible.

UEA researchers say that even if every man, woman and child in the UK gets the Oxford jab it would only bring the R - the average number of people each patient infects - down to 1.3. But, because this vaccine is approved for over-18s only, the R would remain at about two when curbs are lifted.

The study found Pfizer's jab  which is more effective at blocking Covid than the Oxford one  is capable of bringing the R below one and achieving herd immunity but it would require inoculating young teenagers. Currently the jab is only approved for over-16s.

Scientists have always known that eradicating Covid was an impossible tasks and the goal of the vaccine programme is not to prevent all transmission from occurring.

The scheme is aimed at preventing the most vulnerable from dying or falling sick and piling pressure on the NHS. It's hoped that once all vulnerable groups are immunised, the disease will become more manageable and lockdown can be lifted.

But scientists on the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned today the strict shutdown will need to remain in place until at least May because of the current pace of the vaccine rollout. Boris Johnson has promised to consider easing restrictions gradually in mid-February once the 14million most vulnerable Brits have been given their first dose of the jabs.

But SAGE scientists who have modelled the rollout say easing restrictions next month has the 'potential' to cause a bigger epidemic than the one now because the single dose will only provide weak protection.

They warned today that with huge community transmission and an NHS on the brink of being overwhelmed, loosening lockdown even slightly next month would lead to an 'unsustainable' situation.

Hunt demands TOUGHER curbs with 'quarantine hotels' and better masks Jeremy Hunt said quarantine hotels should also be introduced for international arrivals to combat 'massively more dangerous' new strains. He said that all mixing between households should be ended, and higher grade masks should be mandated. The senior Conservative MP joined Labour on Friday in calling for the Government to increase border protections over fears vaccines may be less effective on novel variants. Ministers are considering forcing new arrivals to the UK to complete their isolation periods in hotels but it is understood no decision to approve the proposal has been made. Mr Hunt, the chairman of the Health Select Committee, told the Commons: 'If we're going to bring down the horrific death rates that we're now seeing, should we not be securing our borders with quarantine hotels, ending household mixing outside bubbles and following Germany in mandating FFP2 masks in shops and on public transport to give better protection to wearers?' Advertisement

Professor Matt Keeling, an epidemiologist from the University of Warwick, said: 'I certainly don't want individuals going to bars and restaurants on the 16th [of February].

'If we've given people their first dose by February 15, that's not going to give that much protection.' He warned the most 'optimistic' outcome would be for 'some' restrictions to be lifted in May.

Dr Marc Baguelin, an infectious disease expert at Imperial College London who was also involved in the modelling, claimed that easing lockdown before then would cause a spike 'that is really bad'.

In a sign that all the UK nations are bracing for a long haul, Northern Ireland's coronavirus lockdown restrictions are being extended to March 5.

Stormont health minister Robin Swann proposed the step to help drive down case numbers.

Ministerial colleagues at the Executive in Belfast agreed the move and there are suggestions the curbs could ultimately continue until Easter.

An extended lockdown closing non-essential retailers, keeping schools shut to most pupils and encouraging employees to work from home began after Christmas.

Family gatherings are prohibited and police enforcement has been stepped up.

Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster said: 'The Executive today has reviewed the current restrictions and agreed that they remain an appropriate and necessary response to the serious and imminent threat posed by Covid-19.

'Following a detailed outline from health highlighting continuing pressures on hospitals and intensive care units and the emergence of highly-transmissible variants the Executive has agreed that the restrictions will be extended for four weeks until March 5 2021.'

The rocketing tally of new case numbers have began to ease off.

Struggling hospitals are expected to face even greater pressures by this weekend due to the lag between infection and serious illness developing.

NI lockdown is extended to March 5 Northern Ireland's coronavirus lockdown restrictions are being extended to March 5. An squeeze closing non-essential retailers, keeping schools shut to most pupils and encouraging employees to work from home began after Christmas. Family gatherings are prohibited and police enforcement has been stepped up. Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster said: 'The Executive today has reviewed the current restrictions and agreed that they remain an appropriate and necessary response to the serious and imminent threat posed by Covid-19. 'Following a detailed outline from health highlighting continuing pressures on hospitals and intensive care units and the emergence of highly-transmissible variants the Executive has agreed that the restrictions will be extended for four weeks until March 5 2021.' The rocketing tally of new case numbers have began to ease off. Struggling hospitals are expected to face even greater pressures by this weekend due to the lag between infection and serious illness developing. Advertisement

A further 21 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland have died.

Another 732 new cases of the virus have been detected, according to the Department of Health on Thursday.

There are 806 Covid-positive patients in hospitals, with 70 in intensive care.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill said it was a difficult decision to prolong the curbs, which will be reviewed next month.

'It has been a long and hard road for all.

'There is no doubt that there are better days ahead but we need to keep working together right now to save lives and protect the health service.'

As the crisis rages on a number of fronts, an investigation has been launched into reports that some of the laptops handed out to vulnerable children for homeschooling are infected with malware.

According to an online forum, teachers from a school in Bradford noticed the issue and believe it contacts Russian servers.

'Upon unboxing and preparing them it was discovered that a number of the laptops are infected with a self-propagating network worm (Gamarue.I),' the forum message says.

Gamarue.I, identified by Microsoft in 2012, is a worm capable of downloading files onto a PC.

According to the tech firm, it can be installed when a spam email attachment is opened and can also copy itself to any USB flash drives connected to the computer.

The Department for Education (DfE) said it is looking into the problem as a matter of urgency but does not think it is widespread.

'We are aware of an issue with a small number of devices,' a spokesman said.

A cinema in Aylesbury has also started handing out jabs to the most vulnerable, as Britain races to meet its target of 14million first doses by mid-February
Though substantially weakened, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will remain in power, and there will be no early elections. These were the results of the vote of confidence in the Italian parliament, which Conte won in both chambers.

In the House of Representatives, where the majority is clearer due to electoral law than in the Senate, a majority of 321 of the 630 deputies voted for Conte on Monday. By contrast, after a 12-hour debate Tuesday, only a minority of 156 out of the 321 senators backed him.

Matteo Renzi (Source: the European Parliament)

Contes survival was thanks to the very party that initially triggered the crisis by leaving the government. Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi along with 13 other representatives of his party Italia Viva abstained in the vote. Had they voted no, the government would have fallen on Tuesday. One-hundred and forty senators from the opposition parties voted against Conte. He will now head a minority government that will have to seek majorities in parliament as and when required.

Under conditions of the deepest social and economic crisis in the post-war era, the government crisis cannot simply be traced to the personal rivalry between Conte and Renzi, as many media outlets claim. Rather, it would be much more accurate to see it as an expression of the decline of the system of bourgeois parliamentarianism. Opposition to the government is growing in the working class. Its policies have made Italy one of the epicentres of the pandemic in Europe, with 83,000 deaths and more than 2.4 million infections, while the ruling class is turning increasingly to far-right and fascistic forces.

If elections were to be held now, 24 percent of the vote would go to the right-wing extremist Lega under Matteo Salvini, and 17 percent to the fascist Fratelli dItalia. Together with Silvio Berlusconis Forza Italia (8 percent), the right-wing parties would have a clear majority. The two main governing parties, by contrast, enjoy the support of just 20 percent (Democrats) and 14 percent (Five Star Movement). Renzis split-off from the Democrats, Italia Viva, currently has 3 percent.

The rise of the right-wing extremists is thanks, in the first place, to support from influential business and intellectual circles. Seventy-five years after his assassination by partisans, the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini is once again a socially acceptable figure. Secondly, they also profit from the policies of the so-called centre-left parties, which have played the leading role in imposing social spending cuts over the past three decades, and have always enjoyed the support of the trade unions and pseudo-left parties, like Rifondazione Comunista.

The mass opposition among the working class finds no political expression in the existing political setup. Strikes and protests repeatedly erupt, but they are suffocated by the trade unions and subordinated to the Democrats.

The right-wing extremists benefit from this by winning support from dissatisfied sections of the middle class and even among some impoverished workers. The spectacle of the governing parties, who squabble like vultures over money and influence, plays directly into the hands of the fascist demagogues.

The government crisis was triggered by a dispute over the 209 billion Italy is supposed to receive from the European Unions (EUs) coronavirus fund. Renzi, who during his first term as prime minister from 2014 to 2016 gutted labour regulations and decimated pensions, saw this as a chance to renew his project of modernising Italy.

In a public campaign against Conte, Renzi claimed that the funds should be made available to the major corporations, rather than the small businesses and self-employed that make up the clientele of the Five Star Movement, with whom Conte is aligned.

One doesnt need to be a Keynesian to understand that the only way to growth is through public and private investment, wrote Renzi in an open letter to the prime minister published in Corriere della Sera on December 17. He appealed for a coherent industrial policy, from steel to the roads. The 209 billion is the last chance we have, he warned, referring to the long-serving head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi.

Renzi also demanded that Italy borrow a further 36 billion from the European Stability Mechanism, which ties its loans to strict austerity measures. For the Five Star Movement, this amounted to waving a red rag to a bull. One of the reasons for its electoral victory in 2018 was a campaign against the EU, and it is therefore now seeking to symbolically distance itself from the EU, as its practical cooperation with it continues to deepen.

On foreign policy, Renzi advocated the aggressive pursuit of imperialist interests in alliance with the EU and the new world of Bidens America. Italy must position itself in light of the great challenges of the Asian century, go to Africa, and play a role in the Mediterranean region, where our presence has noticeably declined over recent years and the influence of Russia and Turkey has increased.

When Conte only partially responded to Renzis demands, Renzi withdrew his ministers from the government and provoked the latest crisis. He probably only wanted to intensify the pressure on Conte, but he accepted new elections and the prospect of the victory of the right as a price worth paying.

However, the support Renzi had hoped for from Berlin and Brussels did not materialise. The Italian, German, and European press expressed horror that he had triggered a government crisis in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, when all European governments have their backs to the wall. They feared that the visible collapse of state authority could provoke an intervention by the working class, which would call capitalist rule as a whole into question.

The decay of Italian democracy will continue under the Conte government, an unstable alliance of the Five Star Movement and Democrats. This will in turn increase the speed with which the bourgeoisie is turning to an authoritarian, fascist solution.

The only way out of this crisis is the independent intervention of the Italian and international working class. The struggle against fascism, mass death in the pandemic, poverty, and war is possible only on the basis of a socialist programmeby expropriating the super-rich, the corporations, and banks, and the construction of a socialist society.
Fans of 1990s alternative rock got a special treat to celebrate President Joe Biden's inauguration on Wednesday when the one-hit wonders New Radicals reunited for a virtual performance.

The group, led by frontman and songwriter Gregg Alexander, 50, performed its enduring anthem You Get What You Give in a virtual performance for viewers across the nation.

The special performance marked the first time the group has reunited since calling it quits at the height of their acclaim 22 years ago.

Reunited and it feels so good: Gregg Alexander, 50, reunited his one-hit wonder band New Radicals on Wednesday for a virtual performance of You Get What You Give for Joe Biden's inauguration

Alexander, who wrote the song along with Rick Nowels, filmed a short introduction before the performance began.

'The band ended over 20 years ago, before our second single was even released,' he began.

'So when we heard You Get What You Give was a Biden family anthem, we pledged if Joe won we'd get together and play our little song, both in memory and in honor of our new president's patriot son Beau, and also with the prayer of Joe being able to bring our country together again.'

'Joe, Kamala, this one's for you,' he concluded as the performance kicked in.

Unlike many of the other inauguration speakers and performers, Alexander was dressed ultra casually in a slick black jacket with olive cargo pants and a matching bucket hat, which appeared to be identical to the hat he wore in the original music video.

New leader: Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on Wednesday in a ceremony that was scaled down due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Throwback: Alexander was dressed similar to how he appeared in the 1999 music video with what looked like an identical bucket hat; still from You Get What You Give

Gone too soon: The special performance marked the first time the group has reunited since calling it quits at the height of their acclaim 22 years ago

As Alexander referenced in his introduction, You Get What You Give has been an important song for both the Biden family and his presidential campaign.

In Biden's 2017 autobiography Promise Me, Dad, he recounted how the single became the 'theme song' for his son Beau Biden as the Attorney General of Delaware battled a brain tumor before his death on May 30, 2015.

'During breakfast, Beau would often make me listen to what I thought was his theme song, You Get What You Give by the New Radicals,' Biden wrote.

'Even though Beau never stopped fighting and his will to live was stronger than most  I think he knew that this day might come. The words to the song are: "This whole damn world can fall apart. Youll be ok, follow your heart."'

You Get What You Give found new life in the 2020 Biden/Harris campaign, as Vice President Kamala Harris' husband Doug Emhoff picked the song to be his walk-on music at public events.

Small output: The group disband in 1999 before even releasing their second single, and they only recorded a sole album

Modern classic: You Get What You Give was a top 40 hit in the US and a top 5 hit in the UK; still from the You Get What You Give music video

Sentimental meaning: In a short introduction, Alexander mentioned that You Get What You Give had been a favorite of Joe Biden's late son Beau; Beau Biden seen in 2008 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver

Memories: Beau, the Attorney General of Delaware, died of a brain tumor in 2015; seen in 2008 hugging his father Joe

In a statement, Alexander hoped that the song could be a 'beacon of light' as the country enters a new administration.

'If theres one thing on Earth that would possibly make us get the band together, if only for a day, it is the hope that our song could be even the tiniest beacon of light in such a dark time,' he wrote.

'America knows in its heart that things will get bright again with a new administration and a real plan for vaccines on the way. Thats the message of the song this world is gonna pull through.'

During Alexander's performance to cap off the virtual inauguration parade, Americans throughout the country were seen holding signs wishing Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris well, while also mentioning issues including gender equality and climate change.

Alexander performed in Philadelphia, where he lives, but some band members weren't able to travel their due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, so new musicians filled in for the song.

Revived: You Get What You Give found new life in the 2020 Biden/Harris campaign, as Vice President Kamala Harris' husband Doug Emhoff picked the song to be his walk-on music at public events

On his own: The performance was missing multiple band members, as they couldn't join Alexander in Philadelphia, where he lives, due to the ongoing pandemic; New Radicals seen in 1999

You Get What You Give features a bridge section with then-topical lyrics referencing political issues and popular musicians from the late 1990s, but Alexander opted to cut that section entirely in order to keep the runtime down.

'For the inauguration and only four minutes to play, I couldnt get to the rap part anyway,' he told Rolling Stone.

Fans of the groups shouldn't expect more music, as the reunion appears to be a one-time performance.
TEL AVIV, Israel, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Swapp, an AI-powered construction planning company, announced today that it raised $7 million in Seed funding, led by Point72 Ventures and Entree Capital with the participation of existing investors. The investment will support Swapp's continued market expansion for its construction-planning platform and expand its AI capabilities.

By streamlining the conception, architectural design, and engineering processes, Swapp's AI platform helps real estate developers and construction companies maximize their property investments and realize the full potential of their sites and projects by enabling them to directly control every phase of their project planning process.

In addition to generating, optimizing, and iterating design options, Swapp's platform also supports construction coordination of structural, architectural, engineering, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) plans and produces detailed construction drawings and design models according to customers' needs and requirements.

"We believe Swapp has the ability to reinvent architecture by automating the entire construction planning process," said Daniel Gwak, partner at Point72 Ventures. "Swapp's AI-powered platform is designed to help modernize real estate development by simplifying the slow and fragmented planning process, allowing developers to create a full set of architectural plans within weeks. We are pleased to support their continued growth."

"Investing in Swapp was an easy decision once we heard the CEO, Eitan Tsarfati, speaking about his vision and saw the team he gathered to execute it," said Eran Bielski, General Partner at Entree Capital. "Our investment in Swapp reflects our belief that using AI to streamline and optimize operations will increase efficiencies for developers and general contractors in the industry."

"Swapp's AI solution is a game-changer in the field of real estate development and construction-planning," said Eitan Tsarfati, Co-founder and CEO of Swapp and former General Manager of Autodesk Israel. As an experienced Harvard graduate architect and a serial entrepreneur, Tsarfati looks to reinvent the role of architecture with Swapp's AI-based platform. "For the first time in the history of construction, real estate developers and construction companies can use a single platform to build their entire construction planning project and begin work within weeks instead of 9-12 months. We are already working with some of the biggest names in the construction industry to replace the slow, tedious, and inflexible construction planning process with our smart, efficient, and flexible, planning solution. This investment will help us grow our customer base and expand our AI capabilities to advance the future of construction planning."

About Swapp

Swapp is an AI-driven planning company that developed a single-platform for real-estate developers and construction companies to create their entire construction planning, from feasibility assessments to detailed construction documents plans and begin work within weeks. With the use of their one-stop-shop platform, Swapp is redefining the pre-construction planning process and introduces smart, efficient, and flexible construction planning. Using their platform, real estate developers and construction companies can control every phase of their project planning process and readily adjust them to their budget and needs.

For more information, please visit: https://www.swapp.net/

About Point72 Ventures

Point72 Ventures is a global venture capital firm led by a diverse set of domain experts with the capital to lead rounds through all stages of a company's growth. The firm invests primarily in Fintech, AI/ML, Enterprise and Healthcare technologies. As an independent arm of Point72, the global asset management firm led by Steven A. Cohen, Point72 Ventures offers well-informed insights into the global economy. Point72 Ventures has offices in New York City, Palo Alto, California, and Stamford, Connecticut. For more information, visit their website at www.p72.vc

About Entree Capital

Entree Capital, with offices in Israel, UK, and the US, was founded in 2010 and provides multi-stage funding to innovative seed, early, and growth-stage companies all over the world. Entree Capital manages over $500m across six funds and has invested in startups such as monday.com, Snap, Stripe, Deliveroo, PostMates, Riskified, FundBox, Toka Cyber, Kuda Bank, Stash, PillPack, Gusto, Cazoo, Coupang, Glovo, and over 80 other companies. Entree Capital has over the past nine years realized 23 exits and IPO's and its portfolio has 13 unicorns. For more information visit www.entreecapital.vc

SOURCE Swapp

Related Links

https://www.swapp.net/


In a rather odd turn of events, Samsung might be bringing a 4G variant of its recently released Galaxy S21 5G after all. All three S21 models introduced last week come with 5G connectivity exclusively (mmWave or sub-6Ghz depending on region) but a new Bluetooth SIG certification suggests were in for a regular old 4G model too.



Galaxy S21 4G Bluetooth SIG listing

The listing specifies two model numbers (SM-G990F and SM-G990F_DS) which do not match the current SM-G991X model numbers on the S21 5G. These could very well be the 4G variants of the S21 5G meant for markets where 5G infrastructure is still not established. It remains to be seen if and when Samsung will launch 4G variants of its Galaxy S21 series but we will make sure to update you once more info emerges.

Source | Via (in Dutch)
Cairo, Egypt (PANA) - The Constitutional Committee formed by Libyan House of Representatives and the High Council of State have agreed to hold a referendum on the constitutional proposal drafted by the Constitutional Drafting Assembly (CDA)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Big Ridge Gold Corp. (TSXV: BRAU) ("Big Ridge" or "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Bill Williams to its Board of Directors.

"We are very pleased that Dr. Williams has agreed to join the Big Ridge Gold Board," said Mike Bandrowski, President & CEO, Big Ridge, "Bill brings permitting, exploration and operational experience that will significantly add to the depth of the Big Ridge team.

Bill is a geologist and mining executive who holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Arizona and has more than 30 years of experience in the mining industry. He has been involved in all aspects of mining from project generation through operations and Bill is a Certified Professional Geologist.

Most recently, he was the Interim CEO and Director of Detour Gold Corp. and was directly involved with the restructuring that led to the $4.9 billion takeover by Kirkland Lake Gold. Previously he was President, CEO & Director of Orvana Minerals Corp. where he converted two operating mines into cash-flow generators and permitted the Copperwood project in Michigan, USA. and was a Vice President at Phelps Dodge Exploration. Bill is also a Director of Western Copper & Gold Corp.

The company also announced that Jeremy Bond has resigned from the Board to pursue other endeavours. The company thanks Jeremy for his efforts in bringing Big Ridge Gold and Empress Royalties to fruition.

Big Ridge Gold Corp. has agreed, subject to regulatory approval, to grant incentive stock options to Mr. Williams on 200,000 common shares at an exercise price of $0.20 per share for a period of three years from the date of grant.

About Big Ridge Gold Corp.

Big Ridge Gold Corp. is an exploration and development company with a portfolio of 100% owned Canadian gold properties. The Company is focused on the highly prospective Oxford Gold Project located in Manitoba, it is active in the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt in Quebec on the Destiny gold property and is exploring in the Beardmore-Geraldton gold belt in Ontario.

For more details regarding the Company's projects, please visit our website at www.bigridgegold.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact:

Mike Bandrowski,

President & CEO

BIG RIDGE GOLD CORP.

1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801

Toronto, ON.

M5E 1W7

Tel: 416-540-5480

Email: Mike@bigridgegold.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72446
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The City of Winnipeg has shut down most of its gyms after being accused of unfairly keeping them open for weeks while pandemic restrictions forced other fitness facilities to close.

The City of Winnipeg has shut down most of its gyms after being accused of unfairly keeping them open for weeks while pandemic restrictions forced other fitness facilities to close.

Mayor Brian Bowman blamed provincial public health advice.

"We should be able to rely on provincial officials to provide complete guidance and its unfortunate (that didnt occur)," said Bowman.

The mayor said the city reached out to the province months ago for clarity on whether its gyms could remain open to city staff. He said the province said that could happen and even inspected the sites in question.

"This just underscores the challenges that, I think, many folks are having in this province of getting clarity from the provincial government when they need it," said Bowman.

The mayor credited city staff for quickly closing five gyms "within hours" of learning the province had allowed them to be open only because municipal governments are exempt from a public health order.

Five of the six facilities offered to general city staff closed Tuesday evening, said city spokesman David Driedger.

"We closed (nearly) all employee fitness facilities with the exception of those located in Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service stations or Winnipeg Police Service stations because mandatory fitness standards are a requirement of first responders jobs," wrote Driedger, in an email.

In addition to WFPS and WPS station facilities, a gym at 457 Main St. will remain open to first responders only, he said.

The owner of a private fitness facility, which has been forced to close since November, cried foul.

"I think its ridiculous and unfair. There is a total double standard here. We have government or politicians telling us, as small business owners that we cant open and then they are opening their own private gym for employees at city hall," said Craig Larkins, owner of Riot Cycle.

Larkins said he understands the requirement for firefighters and police to remain fit, but questions why other city employees were still able to exercise at workplace gyms.

"Its really unfortunate that was going on at the same time all of the citys gyms were struggling to keep afloat," said Larkins.

In a written statement, Manitobas chief public health officer said a public health inspector did provide the city with information "that was incomplete and lacked context" on the use of the gyms. Dr. Brent Roussin also stated he believes municipal gym access should be limited to emergency responders only.

"While it is understandable that firefighters, paramedics and police may need access to such equipment at their workplace to meet the fitness requirements of their duties, a private gym at city hall or other city facilities, for use by elected officials or other city staff, does not fall into that description and should not remain open under (the) spirit and intent of Manitobas public health orders," the statement said.

Jason Shaw, Winnipegs assistant chief of emergency management, said the city did attempt to closely follow provincial health orders and will be more careful in the future.

"There was no intent to try and not follow the public health orders either in spirit or the law and well do better now," said Shaw.

Bowman said he understands the frustration of business owners who were forced to close.

"With what we learned (Tuesday) from provincial public health officials, I can appreciate how they felt," he said.

The mayor vowed to more closely scrutinize provincial advice.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga
Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press

WASHINGTON  Alex Padilla was sworn in as Californias newest senator Wednesday, becoming the first Latino to represent the state in the upper chamber of Congress.

Padilla, 47, and two other new Democratic senators, the Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia, were sworn in by new Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Padilla replaced. The former California secretary of state used his mothers Bible in taking the oath.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the eighth time in the past nine years, the last week of January has been officially recognized as Wyoming School Choice Week by the state's governor.

Gov. Mark Gordon joined more than a dozen other governors, as well as hundreds of county, city, and town leaders, who have officially recognized the Week. Nationally, more than 33,000 events have been planned for the Week, which is taking place virtually this year due to COVID-19.

Of those events, Wyoming community members have planned 47 virtual activities to raise awareness about opportunity in K-12 education and encourage families to play an active role in their children's education. Wyoming School Choice Week will feature a virtual education fair representing all school types, daily school spirit activities on social media, at-home family celebrations, and more.

"We are grateful for Gov. Gordon's recognition of the Week and all that it means to families," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "School choice has a transformative impact on families, empowering them to find a fit where their child is both academically challenged and personally inspired. This is a Week to celebrate school choice and to work for increased learning opportunities for all students."

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation.

For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/wyoming .

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com


CHICAGO  Accused sexual abuser Eddie Johnson wants Chicagoans to believe him when he says that his extra-marital encounters before he got fired as police superintendent were never forced on the female police officer assigned as his chauffeur.

The disgraced former top cop handpicked ABC 7's consumer-affairs reporter and a Sun-Times columnist for a pair of "exclusive" interviews to refute graphic details in a lawsuit that alleges for three years Johnson forced a female police officer to perform sex acts against her will in his office and while traveling on city business, among other places.

Johnson didn't ask for my help magnifying his apology tour, but I'm here to help.

And spreading the word about Eddie's sympathy play to people who might have missed it, well, that's the right thing to do, I figure.

Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell got the first sit down with Johnson to talk about what she called the "infamous night that put his marriage through the ringer and his career down the tubes."

That's certainly one way to describe the 24-hour period Johnson drove a police vehicle after a boozy night, got a free pass from officers who found him unconscious behind the wheel and lied to the public about the details, including the phony claim that he launched an investigation into himself.

Then again, maybe that's why Johnson told his story to Mitchell who ended an interview with him in 2019 by touching his knee and saying, "How are you feeling? Because you're looking great."

Mitchell didn't mention the cops under Johnson's command jammed up on misconduct charges for letting their boss drive home without giving him a sobriety test. She also didn't go into specifics about the pile of circumstantial evidence  video and a city inspector general investigation  that seems like it could warrant drunken driving and, maybe, official misconduct charges.



No, the focus of Mitchell's column remained on Johnson's assertion that the extramarital affair he had with police officer Cynthia Donald was "wholly consensual and mutually sustained." Also, that Johnson is "sorry," "human" and previously had an "unblemished" police career.

Story continues

Mitchell even sympathetically opined that the interview was difficult for Johnson for "obvious reasons," and admitted she struggled while talking to Johnson because "too often, Black leaders are unfairly maligned." She suggested Johnson might find "redemption" by helping someone else avoid "similar mistakes."

Johnson must have loved that. A few days later, Johnson sat down for his first TV interview with Channel 7's Samantha Chatman, a consumer affairs reporter.

Maybe he thought he'd get the same treatment. He mostly didn't. I hope Cook County prosecutors and the lawyers representing Johnson's accuser were watching.

They probably learned a lot from Chatman's interview. I know I did.

Johnson admitted to an "inappropriate relationship" with the woman who says he sexually abused her.

He confessed to drinking before cops found him passed out behind the wheel of his police vehicle.

The former top cop said he didn't lie to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who fired him for doing just that. He told ABC7 he was just following lessons learned during a long career in a police department with a reputation for covering up misconduct.

"I knew there was an investigation, but she was also my boss, so I was trying to tell her what happened without going into a lot of detail," Johnson said exclusively to ABC7. "I know from my training, you don't go into a whole lot of detail before you talk to the investigators."

Then, Johnson cast himself as a victim, saying he's "hurt and disappointed," that a woman who he supervised would "lie" about being forced to have sex with him, her married boss.

"I think that's the million-dollar question," he told Chatman.

He couldn't be more wrong about that.

Here's a better one: Will Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx take the former top cop's media confessions and the Chicago inspector general's investigation findings and press criminal charges against Johnson for driving a cop car under the influence before the statute of limitations expires in April?

So, I called to ask.

Foxx's spokeswoman sent a note: "We dont have any updates at this time."

Stay tuned.





Mark Konkol, recipient of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting, wrote and produced the Peabody Award-winning series, "Time: The Kalief Browder Story." He was a producer, writer and narrator for the "Chicagoland" docu-series on CNN, and a consulting producer on the Showtime documentary, "16 Shots."

More from Mark Konkol:





This article originally appeared on the Chicago Patch
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

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Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

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Club FM, Keralas No. 1 FM station, with the largest coverage, on 18th January, embarked on a new journey; a new brand identity and a new way in which the RJs will be interacting with and engaging the listeners; all with the limitless possibilities on the focus of U; the audience who have made club FM Keralas most favourite FM brand, during the last 13 years of its journey. True to brands positioning, (tonnes of fun) in addition to the type of music the audience will get enthralled in, fully interactive and live between 7 am and 1 am (next day) Club FM will also attempt to keep the audience fully informed about all the happenings around them, through a style of presentation that will still live up to its positioning.

The launch began with a teaser on 17th evening when Club FMs brand ambassador and famous Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas, changed his social media profile picture to the U in the brands new logo which made his fans go crazy trying to figure out what this was about. The entire media community picked up the conversation too, some even contemplated about his next movie. The suspense continued till next morning when Tovino explained the change. This was followed by a first of its kind initiative when the RJs from 3 of the Club FM stations, Trivandrum, Kochi and Calicut, covering South, Central and North Kerala, joined the anchor on Mathrubhumi News Wake up Kerala and went live on Radio connecting with their listeners, explaining to them about the change. Mathrubhumi daily carried the launch ad with many of the brands loyal advertisers also releasing ads on the same day, wishing club FM the very best. Conversations trended on social media. The advertising campaign and many other activities will continue for the next 60 days in various engaging ways.

Speaking about the change, Mayura Shreyams Kumar, Director, Digital Business, Mathrubhumi Group Said This was a much deliberated attempt internally. Club FM reached break-even in its second year of operation, perhaps unheard of in the Radio business. The 13 long years have been nothing less than an absolutely amazing journey. The question was why one would want to disrupt something thats already doing well and staying in the No.1 position. We didnt have to go too far for the answers. What we have been experiencing in the last one year has been unpresented. Theres no status-quo any longer. Our teams have been interpreting various signals on the music preference of our listeners, including their media consumption patterns and we decided to change ourselves proactively before those signals become a trend and we are forced to change. As a company we have embarked on various transformation projects in the last few months with the view to be relevant to the 3 generations of readers, viewers and listeners we are connected with. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and wish the entire Club FM team the very best and also express my gratitude to all our advertisers

US President Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris have been invited to Australia - and offered free 'crocodile insurance'.

Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner fired off the invite to the pair - and First Lady Jill Biden - on day one of Biden's presidency.

'Every President who visits the Northern Territory receives complimentary crocodile insurance,' he wrote in a letter, cited by the NT News.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted his congratulations to Biden, but didn't publicly invite Biden and Harris.

New US President Joe Biden (left) and Vice President Kamala Harris (right) have been invited to the Northern Territory with the offer of free crocodile insurance. They wouldn't have to mask-up, but they would have to quarantine

The Bidens and Kamala Harris could not get close to a crocodile (pictured) for a bet or a dare because that could void the crocodile insurance

Gunner's pitch cited the Territory's important strategic role in US-Australia relations and the 'security of the Asia-Pacific region' via the 'annual joint-training exercise Marine Rotational Force Darwin'.

He also promised locals would show the Bidens and Harris a 'bloody good time'.

The Chief Minister's invite wasn't unconditionally generous though - the trio and their entourage would still have to go into quarantine, even though there is no Covid in the NT.

'Obviously it would be better to wait until the COVID situation is better, because rules are rules and the safety of Territorians comes first,' Mr Gunner wrote.

'Any overseas arrival to the Territory has to quarantine, even the leader of the free world.'

Crocodile insurance is a real thing in the Northern Territory, offered by the territory Insurance Office for as little as $10, though that only pays out $50,000 and as usual, features some important exclusions.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner (pictured) says Territorians would show the Bidens and Harris 'a bloody good time'

A meal fit for a President. A saltwater crocodile is fed on the Adelaide River in the Northern Territory

For instance, if Biden or Harris were taken after mixing it up with crocs for a dare, or a bet, the TIO would not pay out.

They also wouldn't be covered if they became a snack for a Saltie in Queensland, or more than 3km from shore.

The policy terms and conditions also make it clear only the only acceptable killer would be: 'Class Reptilia, Order Crocodilian, classified as Genus Crocodylus, species Porosus (commonly known as a Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile) or species Johnstoni (commonly known as the Australian Freshwater or Johnstons River Crocodile).'

And the president would need a different policy for a shark attack; Taiipan, Brown or Death Adder snake bite, Redback spider bite, or a box jellyfish sting.
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ONEONTA, Ala. (AP)  The son of an Alabama couple has been sentenced to prison for killing his parents and burying their bodies in a shallow grave.

AL.com reports 20-year-old Leo Santiago Chavez was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences plus 10 years in prison Wednesday.

He was convicted of murder in March for the deaths of Adalberta Chavez Ruiz and Ricardo Santiago Gonzales.

They were reported missing by family members on Dec. 16, 2017, and their remains were recovered in Oneonta several weeks later.

At the sentencing hearing, a prosecutor indicated Chavez apologized to the couple's family members.
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
Britain's foreign secretary was in the Sudanese capital Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and tensions along the border with Ethiopia, Sudan's state news agency reported Thursday.

Dominic Raab, who arrived in Khartoum late Wednesday, was expected to meet with Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of Sudan's ruling sovereign council, Sudan's prime minister, and acting Foreign Minister Omar Qamar al-Din, said SUNA.

SUNA quoted a statement by the United Kingdom's embassy in Sudan saying Raab was set to discuss the situation along the Sudan-Ethiopia border, where violent clashes between Sudanese forces and Ethiopian militias have taken place, leading to concerns of a potential military conflict between the neighboring countries.

Raab was also expected to discuss with Sudanese officials the ongoing water dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. The dispute concerns Ethiopia's construction of a controversial dam on the Blue Nile River, the main tributary of the Nile.

Raab also planned to meet with several civil society leaders, SUNA said.

A popular uprising led to the ouster of longtime autocratic Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, after nearly three decades of rule. A military-civilian government is now in power.

``Sudan is passing through a critical juncture in its transition to democracy,'' Raab was quoted by SUNA as saying. ``The U.K. takes pride in standing by the side of the Sudanese people.``

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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Disneyland Resort / Christian Thompson

When Disneyland announced that the company would be canceling its Annual Pass Program, the outcry from hundreds of thousands of passholders rang out across every social media platform, from first-timers to those whove held passes so long they were grandfathered into low rates and perks like free parking.

Ive been an annual passholder since 2001, with a few dark years mixed in there  but as a current local signature annual passholder, nothing feels as dark as this, Disney writer and podcaster Kristen Carr told SFGATE.
By Angus Kress Gillespie

As the spring semester at Rutgers begins, it gives me a chance to think about remote teaching. I teach American Studies, and the past few months have been challenging, to say the least. Like many of my colleagues, I am often tempted to say that I hate remote teaching. I miss the day-to-day contact with my students. I dislike the extra work.

And yet, to be honest, it is not all bad. The shut-down of in-person teaching has forced me to take a fresh look at all that I do.

Last year, in the spring of 2019, everything began as usual. I had two in-person classes that each met twice a week. I made it a point to arrive a bit early so that I could take attendance as the students arrived. This gave me a chance to get to know each of the students  associating a name with a face so that I could call on them by name and hopefully promote meaningful discussions.

Then, in mid-March, everything suddenly changed. The Rutgers administration announced that the rest of the semester would be taught remotely. In one of my classes, I complained out loud about the change. One of my outspoken students admonished me that the change was a public health necessity. I realized that she was correct. I spent the next 10 days of spring break re-writing the syllabi for my two courses for the rest of the semester. Many things had to be changed.

For example, one of my courses dealt with a national defense strategy, and I had carefully planned a mock National Security Council session. It dealt with a fictional emergency in which I assigned students various roles ranging from president of the United States to the secretary of defense. Ordinarily, this exercise works very well. It is a break from the professor lecturing, and the students taking notes. Instead, it was role play with discussion and arguments and different points of view. It would have been lively and engaging but it just wouldnt work remotely and it had to be scrapped.

In adapting my courses to remote teaching, I had two items in my toolbox that proved very useful.

First, I had already learned one of the Rutgers-approved learning management systems. This is a software application that aids in the delivery of educational courses. It allows a professor to send out announcements to the whole class and it enables a professor to post all kinds of resources  including both essays and videos.

Second, I had already been using PowerPoint, a computer software created by Microsoft that enabled me to create slides with narrations. Yes, I was proud of myself for having already mastered these two tools but I must not say that the rollout went smoothly; unexpected problems kept cropping up. For example, students began to complain that they couldnt make out the narration that accompanied my slides, so I had to quickly upgrade my computer microphone. Somehow, I got through the spring semester of 2019.

That summer I took a number of workshops and seminars on remote teaching. I also spoke with colleagues and a few friends who themselves had taken online courses. I came away with two conclusions.

First, it would be a good idea to schedule weekly quizzes. This would encourage students to read the textbook and to listen to the recorded lectures. Second, it would be a good idea to schedule weekly required discussion postings. This would provide an incentive for students to review the material, think about it, and commit some of those thoughts to writing. These two requirements were not particularly difficult, but they tended to keep students focused on the task at hand. For those who kept up, these tools provided some immediate feedback and satisfaction.

So what have I learned? I would say that remote teaching is difficult, but I take pride in having adapted. It has forced me to learn some new tools. I may even continue to use some of them once we return to the in-person classroom.

Angus Kress Gillespie, Ph.D., is a professor in the American Studies Department at Rutgers University.

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Ronald Ng, Global Chief Creative Officer, MRM, said, "Harsh is a world-class talent with a passion for harnessing technology and innovation to help businesses make a difference in people's lives. Not too many creatives get letters of recognition from Michelle Obama, and Harsh's consistent streak of great work across markets like India, Australia, the UK and U.S. makes him a unique talent for clients."

Ng was referencing Kapadia's work for Drink Up, Kapadia's award-generating campaign to convince Americans to drink more water as part of a healthier lifestyle. Kapadia joined VML New York in 2012, and within two years was instrumental in the agency storming the stage at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity to bring home multiple Cannes Lions. He also worked on and helped win several pitches for the agency, including New Balance, LEGOLAND, Walgreens, Baileys and the United Nations. Kapadia was promoted rapidly at VML, and served the agency in creative leadership roles in New York and London.

Kapadia's career began as an Art Director at JWT Mumbai, followed by a move to JWT Melbourne, where he began to work on global brands and helping to bring in new business. His pitch-winning and award-winning work in Melbourne led Kapadia to a larger role at JWT New York, working on larger consumer brands such as Kleenex, Smirnoff, Rolex and Nestle. Additionally, through his career, Kapadia has served on the juries of Cannes Lions Mobile, D&AD Impact, ADC Awards and New York Festivals.

In interviews, Kapadia always mentions that he fell in love with advertising at the age of five. Since then, he continues to go by the philosophy that the mix of cultures and curiosity to learn more always leads to great ideas  and that a big idea can make far more than a great ad or an experience.

"It has been an amazing journey at VMLY&R," said Kapadia. "Now, I'm thrilled to join MRM at a time when the industry is going through a real shift. The pandemic has fast tracked the importance for brands to create a more meaningful relationships and experiences. MRM's philosophy to do that really excites me. I'm looking forward to partnering with the team to bring a vision and magic to brands across the MRM network."

Krull joins MRM Princeton after launching Let's Make Stuff LLC, a creative marketing services consultancy based in New Jersey. He previously served as ECD for Atmosphere BBDO New York for 13 years, guiding initiatives spanning brand to demand to service design for Citi, Emirates, Hewlett-Packard, Visa and other global brands. Prior to Atmosphere, Krull held leadership roles at Ogilvy New York and DDB New York, and has received recognition from every major awards show, most recently the New York Festivals and International ECHO Awards.

"A design-thinking enthusiast, Stewart brings an audience-centric approach to the table, along with three decades of expertise across virtually every product category and advertising channel. His digital-first method of problem solving is second to none and we can't wait to write the next chapter of creative excellence for our Princeton office," said Ng.

ABOUT MRM

MRM is a leading marketing agency. Through a strong foundation in strategy, data science, technology and creativity, MRM helps transform businesses by helping brands grow meaningful relationships with people. The agency was named a "Best Workplaces for Innovators" by Fast Company, B2B Agency of the Year from the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), a four-years-and-counting run as Gartner "Leader" in Global Marketing Agencies Magic Quadrant from 2017-2020, Ad Age's 2018 B-to-B Agency of the Year, and, for the first time, WARC's global Effective 100 ranking placed five MRM agencies in its top 40 effective digital agencies listing for 2020. MRM is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) and a top agency in the McCann Worldgroup network, with 35-plus offices across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit www.mrm.com.

SOURCE MRM

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BENZIE AND LEELANU COUNTY - The Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department COVID-19 reports three new cases of COVID-19 in Benzie County and six new cases of COVID-19 in Leelanau County.

One Leelanau case was transferred to another countys judication due to an address change.

Health department clinics are offered each week, by appointment only according to the amount of vaccine we receive. Individuals eligible for vaccination, as determined by MDHHS, are asked to complete the COVID-19 online pre-registration form on the health departments website or call the senior hotline at (231) 715-5557 if they are unable to access the form or have any other barriers to receiving the vaccination.

For those calling the hotline number to get on the health department list, know this hotline is experiencing an extremely high volume of calls. They recommend if you are unable to get through the first time to try again in a few hours.

There are several items the health department would like to speak to in response to multiple questions from community members.

 When appointments and vaccine are available, a scheduling link will be sent from the health department with a bldhd.org email address. After somebody is scheduled for a clinic, they will receive a confirmation email from acuityscheduling.org. Check the email inbox frequently, including junk mail and spam.

 The health department is currently scheduling according to the date the survey was submitted. When somebody has completed the survey, the department received the survey response with a date and time stamp automatically recorded. There is an extremely high demand for this vaccine, and the department understands people are eager to get the vaccine. The health department will continue to strive for equity and efficiency in it's vaccine scheduling process.

 Filling out the COVID-19 pre-registration survey more than once causes further delays and takes staff time to organize the information.

 The department is currently overwhelmed by the number of emails and calls we are receiving from residents and asks for residents to not call or email to check where they on the list. The department is working on a mechanism of regular communication with those on the list.

 Each Friday the department is notified about how much vaccine will be shipped for the following week, and then can then open appointments based on vaccine supply for that week. the health department sends scheduling information out to those who have pre-registered in the order that their registration was received. Individuals who registered by phone through the senior hotline are incorporated into a waiting list and will be provided assistance with scheduling.

The estimated number of doses needed to fully vaccinate all those in Phase 1a and Phase 1b in the Benzie-Leelanau Health jurisdiction is approximately 30,000 doses, here is where the department is currently (not including Jan. 21 clinic information):

 Number of vaccine doses available this week: 428 doses

 Total number of vaccine doses received: 1,533 doses

 Total number of vaccine doses administered: 1,105 doses

It is clear that many people in our communities are excited about receiving the vaccine," said Lisa Peacock, health officer. "This is a welcome sentiment however, currently a source of frustration is that supply cannot keep up with demand. By the end of this week, we will have administered just over 1,000 doses in the Benzie-Leelanau District. We continue to ask residents to have patience as we continue to work hard vaccinating our residents.

As of 4 p.m. the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department is reporting:

 Total COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Benzie 798, Leelanau 794

 Active COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Benzie 156, Leelanau 183

 Recovered COVID-19 cases in the following counties: Benzie 614, Leelanau 600

 Confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the following counties: Benzie  28, Leelanau 11

 Hospitalized: 113 total; 13 current Leelanau

The State of Michigan has reported 544,311 cases and 14,053 deaths

Visit the COVID-19 Data Dashboard at www.bldhd.org/coronavirus-covid-19 for the latest local information including recovered data and contact tracing.

Additional and updated information can be found at www.bldhd.org and Facebook or by calling (231) 882-2197. People with COVID-19 related questions can fill out a quick survey and email questions to hotline@bldhd.org.
YPSILANTI, MI  The U.S. Director for Combating Antisemitism for the American Jewish Committee will address the Eastern Michigan University community next Tuesday.

Holly Huffnagles Jan. 26 lecture, After Auschwitz: Antisemitism in America, falls on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and is being hosted by EMUs Center for Jewish Studies. Huffnagle will offer insights from her efforts to spearhead her organizations response to anti-Semitism in the U.S. and its efforts to better protect the Jewish community, a university news release states.

The 7 p.m. virtual event is free, but registration is required.

Holly Huffnagle stakes out transformative territory in her insistence that the study of anti-Semitism is as important for non-Jews as it is for Jews. I am excited that our students and our community will have an opportunity to hear her speak, said Martin Shichtman, a professor in the Department of English Language and Literature and director of the Center for Jewish Studies at EMU.

Huffnagle previously served as policy adviser to the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. Department of State and as a researcher in the Mandel Center of Advanced Holocaust Studies at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

She also served as a scholar-in-residence at Oxford University with the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy.

READ MORE:

Testing, telehealth, teamwork: How Eastern Michigan University kept COVID-19 cases low

Rich Baird resigns from Eastern Michigan University post after Flint water charges

15,000 LEGO bricks become Martin Luther King Jr. mosaic from Eastern Michigan University professor
Egypt is further decreasing the price of fuel for the aviation sector starting Thursday as part of efforts to boost travel and tourism as the pandemic continues to take its heavy toll on the vital sectors.

The petroleum ministry said on Thursday fuel will be sold to the aviation sector for 15 cents per gallon.

The discounted price is effective until the end of the year.

The discounts were first introduced during a meeting held earlier this month between petroleum minister Tarek El-Molla, tourism and antiquities minister Khaled El-Anany and civil aviation minister Mohamed Manar Enaba to mull over means to support the tourism sector and boost aviation.

El-Molla said the discounts will back tourism, stimulate travel, and contribute to overcoming challenges imposed by the pandemic on the sectors.

The discounts will contribute to increasing tourist influx to the country through encouraging global airlines to increase their trips to Egypt, El-Anany said.

Egypt has been exerting efforts to save the tourism sector from the repercussions of the coronavirus through luring travellers to its hotspot destinations as the majority of tourism-receiving countries continue to place strict pandemic measures due to a surge in cases.

Egypt hopes recent archaeological discoveries and a postponed opening of the mega Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), located near the Giza Pyramids, to this year will help it recover its key source of foreign currency.

The country's tourism revenues fell by approximately 70 percent to $4 billion due to the pandemic in 2020, with the number of tourists falling down to 3.5 million from 13.1 million in 2019, El-Anany told Reuters earlier this month.

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Doctors have issued a warning to ministers and health officials over second doses of coronavirus vaccine.

They say patients given their first dose have not received an assurance that all will get a second jab of the same vaccine after 12 weeks and that it is completely unacceptable to ignore the need for one.

Scientists advising the Government decided that first jabs should be prioritised, to provide protection to greater numbers, and that patients should wait up to 12 weeks for their second dose instead of three.

Doctors have warned the government over the proposed 12-week waiting time for the second dose of the vaccine

The Doctors Association UK, which represents front-line doctors, said a key concern is the lack of assurance that all patients will receive a second dose at 12 weeks, the same type [of vaccine] as the first.

They added: We must be clear that it is completely unacceptable to ignore the need for a second vaccination.

'All studies confirm the need for this to provide reliable and lasting immunity.

The associations issued its warning in a letter to officials including Health Secretary Matt Hancock and NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens.

Dr Kaveri Jalundhwala, a GP trainee and association committee member, said: We, in particular, were concerned about the possibility of insufficient supply in the future meaning that some people might not get their second dose, or that it might be of a different vaccine leading to an unproven mixing of vaccines.

'This, in our view, is immoral, unevidenced and unacceptable. We must not compromise our route out of the pandemic.

The growing controversy over the timing of second doses follows reports from Israel that the first jab of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine may offer relatively low levels of protection.

The Clalit Health Fund recorded only a 33 per cent fall in the percentage testing positive from 14 days after their first dose, compared with unvaccinated people. It is not clear how that figure was worked out.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'Our number one priority is getting vaccines rapidly rolled out to as many older and clinically vulnerable people, as well as our frontline health and social care heroes.

'The decision by the MHRA to change vaccine dosage intervals followed a thorough review of the data and was in line with the recommendations of the UKs four Chief Medical Officers.

'Both vaccines provide a high degree of immunity after the first dose, and the Government has closely followed the guidance of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which was clear that we should give as many people as possible some level of immunity initially.'

200 Jabs Every Minute

By Kate Pickles and Eleanor Hayward

The UK has reached two million vaccines in a week as the rollout reaches a rate of 200 jabs a minute  despite many GPs warning of shortages.

Figures released last night showed that a record 363,508 people received the first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday  with more than five million doses given to 4.9million people in total.

It means some 2,054,996 people have been given their first jab over the last seven days, in line with the government target to offer the jab to the 15million most at risk by the middle of February.

Yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the public should take comfort from the programme rolling out 200 vaccinations every minute and that the UK is making good progress towards its target for protecting the most vulnerable.

Some 2,054,996 people have been given their first jab over the last seven days with a a record 363,508 people received the first dose of the vaccine on Wednesday

As of yesterday, 63 per cent of elderly care home residents had received the jab, he said, insisting that they will all be inoculated by the end of the month.

Mr Hancock said the rate-limiting step was the supply of the vaccines from AstraZeneca and Pfizer.

He added: Everyone is working as fast as they can  the NHS is chomping at the bit to have more supply in order to deliver it. But Mr Hancock also warned that the country was in the midst of one of the toughest periods of this pandemic.

He told the Commons: As we endure these dark days and the restrictions we must all follow to save lives, we know that we have a way out, which is our vaccination programme and thanks to the hard work of so many people we now have an immense infrastructure in place that day by day is protecting the most vulnerable and giving hope to us all.

Speaking before the latest figures were released, he added: Im glad to report to the House we now have given over five million doses of vaccine across the UK to 4.6million people, making good progress towards our goal of offering everyone in priority groups one to four their first dose by February 15.

Despite the success of the vaccine roll out so far, people have expressed concerns the progress could stall

There are fears the progress made this week could stall, with vaccine supplies diverted to those areas which have fallen behind.

The decision to start offering vaccines to over-70s in areas with high uptake has already caused concern for many of those over-80s still waiting to hear, and triggered accusations of a postcode lottery.

Selaine Saxby, the Tory MP for North Devon, told Mr Hancock, who was appearing virtually: My inbox is overflowing with elderly residents desperately worried that despite being over 80, 90 and even 100, they have still heard nothing from their GP. With other parts of the UK currently vaccinating those significantly younger, what reassurance can you give to my constituents?

Mr Hancock insisted in response: We will get there, and reiterated the goal to offer a vaccine to all priority groups by mid-February.

It also emerged last night that officials are looking to halve supplies to GPs in the North East and Yorkshire next week to send them elsewhere.

The suggested reduction in deliveries to the region indicates national supply from manufacturers will remain constrained next week.

Sources suggested it is one of seven English NHS regions that will see doses cut to about 100,000 next week for its centres run by GPs, down from about 200,000 this week, the Health Service Journal reported.

The report was met with frustration because many GPs are warning they are still not getting the supplies they need to keep up with demand and capacity.

Helen Salisbury, who runs a GP practice in Oxford, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: What Im hearing more and more is were ready, we just dont have the vaccine. It is a problem with supply.

Its not that we order and we get what we ask for  we get what were given. Theres lots of practices ready to go, but we dont have the supply.

An NHS England spokesman said: Vaccine allocations have prioritised areas for supply depending on the number of unvaccinated people in priority cohorts.

This ensures we reach those most at risk across the country as far as possible, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.


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JSC Ukrtransgaz is concerned about the attempts of JSC Mahistralni Gazoprovody Ukrainy (MGU) to revise the terms of the agreement on purchase of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (GTSOU) LLC, the company wrote on Facebook.

The company said that the explanations of the MGU Supervisory Board about the lack of funds to fulfill the terms of the contract are groundless, since over the nine months of 2020, GTSOU received a net profit of UAH 24.7 billion.

"However, the political component is no less important. Attempts to revise the agreement, under which the unbundling was carried out, cast doubt on one of the most successful state reforms since Ukraine's independence. Potentially, this opens the way for Gazprom to a possible revision of the terms of the transit agreement, and may also become an obstacle to further European integration of the European gas market," the message said.

Acting Head of Ukrtransgaz and First Deputy Chairman of the board of Naftogaz Ukrainy Serhiy Pereloma on his Facebook page also wrote that, having separated GTSOU a year ago, the company significantly reduced its income.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Supervisory Board of JSC Mahistralni Gazoprovody Ukrainy appealed to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with a proposal to start negotiations on amendments to the agreement on the purchase of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine LLC from NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy.
WHO Trusts China?

An international team of scientists led by the World Health Organization arrived in Wuhan to research the origins of the coronavirus amid widespread suspicions that China is withholding or distorting evidence related to the initial outbreak of the global pandemic.
IPO-bound kitchen appliances brand Stove Kraft is looking to increase local production facility to ensure all its products are manufactured locally. The company currently has two manufacturing plants in Bengaluru and Baddi.

In an interaction with Moneycontrol just days before the IPO opens on January 25, Rajendra Gandhi, Chairman and Managing Director said, Stove Kraft currently manufactures 80 percent of its products while the rest is imported.

Stove Kraft sells kitchen products under the Pigeon and Gilma brands. It also has the licence to sell the US-based Black+Decker brand products in India. It also sells lighting solutions under Pigeon LED.

There is enough opportunity to grow in our Bengaluru plant. So, we will be adding additional manufacturing lines in this facility in the near future, said Gandhi.

The Bengaluru facility is spread across 46 acres with 30 acres available for future expansion. Stove Kraft has set up manufacturing lines for products like floor maps and vegetable chopper in the Bengaluru facility.

He said almost the entire Black+Decker range is currently imported and the idea is to manufacturer locally to get a competitive advantage.

Stove Kraft that began operations in 1999 has grown from a single-brand small LPG stove manufacturer to a large manufacturer of kitchen appliances.

The company had a network of over 45,475 retail outlets and over 651 distributors as of September 30, 2020.

The IPO

Stove Kraft will be launching its initial public offering (IPO) for subscription on January 25. The price band for the issue, which will close on January 28, has been fixed at Rs 384-385 per share.

The public issue comprises a fresh issue of Rs 95 crore and an offer for sale of 82.50 lakh shares by promoters and investors.

The offer for sale consists a 6,90,700 equity shares by promoter Rajendra Gandhi, 59,300 equity shares by promoter Sunita Rajendra Gandhi, 14,92,080 shares by Sequoia Capital India Growth Investment Holdings I, and 60,07,920 shares by SCI Growth Investments II.

As part of the IPO, promoters and private equity firm Sequoia Capital will be paring down their stake. Currently, promoters hold 61.3 percent stake while Sequoia and related entities hold 38.4 percent. Post the IPO, the promoter stake will come down to 54.5 percent, while Sequoia will hold 12.5 percent.

Gandhi said the IPO proceeds will be used to repay debt and for expanding its business. Currently, the total debt stands at Rs 114 crore and he said the company will become debt-free after the listing.

Expansion plans

Gandhi said while Pigeon continues to be the biggest brand for the company, the idea is to expand the revenue base of Gilma and Black+Decker which fall under the premium category.

For the company, 90 percent of the revenue comes from the domestic market while 10 percent is from exports.

As of H1FY21, Stove Kraft's revenue stood at Rs 329.5 crore compared to Rs 317.4 crore a year ago. EBITDA stood at Rs 45.1 crore and EBITDA margin was 13.7 percent in H1.

Around 70 percent of the revenue comes from offline distribution while 30 percent is from online channels.

Under the Pigeon brand, the company sells kitchen appliances like cookers, cookware sets, gas stove and mixer grinders, juicers. Under Gilma brand, it sells chimneys, hobs and cooktops.

Black+Decker products like blenders, juicers, toaster/grill, iron among others are sold as part of an agreement by Stove Kraft where the latter also provides after-sales service. In December 2017, US-based Black+Decker had tied-up with Stove Kraft.

Gandhi said the company is looking to expand the presence of its brands in India and abroad. Gilma which is currently a brand focussed in southern India will also be expanded across India, he added.

Stove Kraft is present in 14 countries like UAE, Kuwait, Tanzania, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ghana, USA, Mexico and Saudi Arabia among others.

The kitchen appliances market in India is estimated to be Rs 20,700 crore. Industry analysts estimate it would grow to Rs 35,000 crore by 2025.

While Stove Kraft's exact market share in this space was not disclosed, the company said it has 12.4 percent market share by volume in non-stick cookware segment.

Coronavirus impact

India was under nationwide lockdown from March 25 to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Gandhi said while the lockdown affected the import of products in the initial few weeks, the situation improved from June onwards.

In its prospectus filed with the regulator, Stove Kraft said its manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru and Baddi were closed for 42 and 34 days, respectively, which resulted in the ceasing of manufacturing and sales activities during that period.

The manufacturing activities at our Baddi facility resumed on April 26, 2020, and the manufacturing activities at the Bengaluru facility resumed on May 4, 2020.
A driver who just couldn't wait for a truck to pass has had the front corner of his car ripped apart after trying to squeeze through a tiny gap.

In footage shared online, a white Hyundai is seen stuck on a curb while a truck carrying a tractor attempts to drive through a narrow street in Adelaide.

As the truck continues to make its way along the road, the Hyundai, which was stuck between the heavy vehicle and a parking sign, decides not to wait and drive forward instead.

But the truck started accelerating at the same time, taking out the entire front right corner of the Hyundai as it dragged the car backwards down the road.

A white Hyundai was seen stuck up on a curb in between a truck and a parking sign in Adelaide

As the driver attempted to squeeze past the other vehicle, the truck began to accelerate and ripped apart the Hyundai's right side

The white car was left with an enormous hole on the right side as the frustrated driver threw his hands up and sped off.

The video was shared to the Instagram page, S**t Adelaide and garnered more than 53,000 views while being flooded with comments from many criticising the 'impatient' Hyundai driver.

'Someone gonna learn patience today,' one commented.

'I don't want to drive anywhere anymore,' said another.

'That should buff out,' someone joked.

'That's why you shouldn't play with trucks, give them space,' commented another.

In 2019, a city environmental plans examiner emailed then-state Rep. Roland Gutierrez to inform him he had violated San Antonios tree preservation ordinance by chopping down a large heritage oak without a permit on a lot he was developing.

There will be a work without permit penalty of $2,000 assessed to your project, Robin Loyd wrote to Gutierrez, D-San Antonio.

The fine didnt stick.

Upset by the penalty, the state lawmaker called Michael Shannon, director of the citys Development Services Department, to protest. Shannon then instructed staff to waive the fine.

Shannons decision caused an immediate rift inside the department. But the bending of tree rules already was business as usual at the city, where developers often ask staff for exceptions to the tree ordinance  and almost always are successful, an investigation by the San Antonio Express-News found.

In the last two years, even as population growth continued to explode in San Antonio  the city ranked second in the nation after adding more than 17,000 people between July 2018 and July 2019  developers asked for 206 exceptions to the tree ordinance.

All were granted.

In theory, the citys tree ordinance is designed to protect all heritage trees  large, old-growth trees of 24 inches in diameter or greater  and 35 percent of significant trees on a property. Developers who remove more than that must mitigate the loss by paying fees or planting new trees that eventually would provide tree cover of at least 38 percent on the property.

A 2010 revision to the ordinance reduced the amount of trees that developers can remove and mitigate on a property from 90 to 80 percent. But the citys development code allows them to request exceptions to this rule.

In floodplains or environmentally sensitive areas, where the ordinance requires the preservation of 80 percent of all trees, variances must be approved by the citys Planning Commission. Otherwise, city staff can grant the exceptions.

Shannon, who was appointed director of Development Services in 2017, said all requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Any exceptions must be justified by hardships facing the developer, he said.

No matter how many codes we write, theres always going to be circumstances with some hardships where alternatives or variances are warranted, Shannon said. The whole goal is even if you dont meet the black and white letter of the code, you meet the intent of the code. The intent of the code is what we have to protect at all costs.

In some cases, staff approved exceptions simply because developers found it difficult to develop a site without removing more trees, the newspapers review of city records found.

Some variances allowed the removal of only a few trees and required more eventual tree cover. But others led to the removal of hundreds of trees, contributing to the citys ongoing loss of overall canopy in the last decade.

Debbie Reid, a former city arborist, said the Development Services Departments routine approval of exceptions  and, in some cases, outright disregard of tree violations  was one reason she left her position in 2009.

Because they have that ability, the development community knows they can apply that pressure, and it doesnt give city staff much recourse, Reid said. It builds incestuous relationships between city staff and the development community that theyre supposed to be regulating. Theres just incredible pressure on city staff to do this.  Why have the rules?

She added, Before I left, I had cases that were totally dropped on tree violations. They just went away. Staff was directed to not follow up.

Shannons decision to waive Gutierrezs penalty for violating the tree ordinance was not an official variance. But it reflected a culture of leniency in the department that encourages developers to seek exceptions to the rules, Reid said.

It moves us toward arbitrary implementation of the code, said Reid, now a technical adviser for the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, and once you set a precedent, everybodys going to want to do it.

She added, Theres the additional pressure on staff because (Gutierrez) is in the state Legislature.

Power and clout

The towering oak rooted in the vacant residential lot had warded off developers for years. By 2018, it was one of the last undeveloped properties in the near North Side gated community of Pallatium Villas.

I was not interested in buying it because of that tree, recalled developer Alex Arredondo. Im not in favor of when youre building a subdivision to take a tree down.

Gutierrez was not deterred.

His construction firm, South Texas Demo-Contractors, purchased the residential lot in October 2018. Around that time, Gutierrez showed up at the Development Services Department office near downtown, searching for a way around the tree ordinance, said Armando Cortez, a former environmental plans examiner for the city.

I remember him coming in. He even came to me, recalled Cortez, who left the city this year. He said, Hey can you help me out? Im a new developer. I didnt know any better. I bought this lot  Can you not penalize me for removing (the tree)? I said, Roland, youre going to have to pay.

Hes not the only one who does that, Cortez added. There are other developers who do that. They feel they have more privilege than others.

Billy Calzada /Billy Calzada

Gutierrez, who was elected to the Texas Senate in November, declined to comment for this article.

In December 2018, Gutierrez caught a break: The city had recognized the propertys vested rights.

A state law grants property owners exemption from city codes if development plans for the site were filed before the codes were enacted, a so-called vested right. Construction can begin years, even decades later, but the project will fall under the codes in effect at the time of the original filing.

The Texas statute allows vesting to transfer between landowners. New owners can dig up plans filed decades ago by past owners to claim exemptions from current rules.

For the lot in Pallatium Villas, a previous landowner had filed a plat to develop the property in 1995  two years before the city enacted its first tree ordinance in 1997, and decades before Gutierrez purchased the still-vacant lot in 2018.

Gutierrez was required to obtain a tree permit before removing the tree, however  part of a process to confirm his vested rights. He failed to do so before cutting down the oak.

In January 2019, someone emailed city staff a photo of the towering oak stripped of its branches.

I wish to report a builder cutting down a very large Heritage Oak, wrote Chuck Lathum, chairman of the Pallatium Villas architectural control committee. I am requesting information re compliance in regard to removing this tree? As you know, we have always strived to protect these trees and comply with the City Regulations in our subdivision.

The complaint triggered an inspection of Gutierrezs property. Loyd, the plans examiner, assessed Gutierrez a $2,000 penalty. But the state lawmaker chafed at the fine.

Gutierrez called Shannon to complain, emails obtained by the San Antonio Express-News show. The director then emailed others in the department, instructing them to waive the state lawmakers penalty.

He stated he now understands that even with a (vested rights permit), hell need to get a separate tree (permit) in the future per our codes/process, Shannon wrote in March 2019. Please waive this $2,000 penalty on this project.

Less than an hour later, an assistant city arborist, Jacob Sanchez, fired off an email to Shannon.

It should be noted that this is not Roland Gutierrezs first project in San Antonio, Sanchez wrote. I strongly feel this would initiate an unwelcomed precedence that we are not prepared for in regards to tree removal without permits and penalty fees being waived once they speak with you or upper management.

Now because he asked, I have to follow up with Chuck Lathum, Sanchez continued, and explain why this political figure/builder is allowed to remove Heritage trees and not follow the same standards.

In an interview, Shannon said Gutierrezs political stature played no role in his decision.

Again, I look at the project and the set of circumstances and the rules that are being applied or not applied, he said. Thats what we look at when we look at the case-by-case, not who it is or who its for.

Given Gutierrezs vested rights, the missing tree permit was just a piece of paper, Shannon added.

The tree ordinance, in his mind, didnt apply, he said. He would have been granted all the rights to chop down the tree on his lot, which he did. Again, (the penalty) didnt make sense, and that isnt the point of that $2,000 penalty.

But consistent application of the tree ordinance matters, Cortez said.

That was just a real burn on what were trying to do every day there, the former plans examiner said. When you give somebody who has the power and clout that (Gutierrez) does these kind of privileges, it shows that they can just go around us. Thats the last thing you want to happen when youre trying to implement something so important in our city.

A shrinking canopy

In 2009, American Forests, a Washington-based consultant, found San Antonio had lost 3.4 percent of its tree canopy between 2001 and 2006, leaving the city with a 38 percent overall canopy.

The study warned that continued loss of tree cover would bring ecological consequences, including a drop in air and water quality. It recommended San Antonio increase its canopy at least to 40 percent, which meant adding more than 450,000 trees.

William Luther /Staff

The analysis helped to fuel a revision to the citys tree ordinance in 2010. In addition to doubling the cost for developers to mitigate tree removal  funds that the city would use to plant more trees  the new ordinance reduced the amount of trees that could be removed and mitigated without a variance from 90 to 80 percent.

Ten years later  despite the updated ordinance and 105,157 new trees planted using the citys mitigation fund  the citys tree canopy is still moving in the wrong direction.

Using 2017 data inside city limits and 2012 data for unincorporated land within five miles of the citys boundaries, the Texas A&M Forest Service found that San Antonios tree canopy had fallen to about 35 percent. The agency plans to release a more current analysis next month.

Reid, the former city arborist, was not surprised by the citys shrinking tree cover.

Theres no doubt that its decreased, especially with the increase in density in the inner urban areas, she said. Urban sprawl is probably the greatest impact. Still, were not doing a good job of preserving the trees in the inner city, which are environmentally the most important because of the heat island we create.

The liberal approval of variances by staff is one more nail in the coffin, Reid added.

And thats a pretty important nail.

Hardship

Shannon said the development staff grants exceptions to the tree ordinance to expedite requests; otherwise, developers would be forced to wait for approval from a board or commission, and thats a lengthy process.

I think thats the balance our tree code has, he said. Its important to have that so we can make these decisions and keep these projects moving.

Developers pay $350 to request a variance. The city follows a set of criteria, Shannon said, to ensure that each exception is warranted.

There has to be some sort of hardship. We have to make sure that we meet the spirit and intent of the code, he said. It cant just be anything, like, I dont want to do it, its too expensive. There has to be some technical reason for it.

In the past two years, staff approvals have ranged from allowing the removal of an ash tree on an East Side residential lot for construction of a carport to much more expansive authorizations. In many cases, examiners used the same language, citing existing site conditions and design and layout constraints, to justify granting an exception.

Billy Calzada /Billy Calzada

That was the reason, in January 2020, an assistant city arborist, an engineer and an assistant director at Development Services allowed the developers of a 233-unit apartment complex on the Northeast Side called Kitty Hawk Flats to remove all 745 caliper inches of trees  a reference to the diameter of a trees trunk  on the site.

The project manager explained the hardship in a letter to city staff: All existing trees located on the interior of the site require removal based on their locations and relationship to the proposed type of development, as well as the substantial grading/earthwork required throughout the entirety of the site.

The developers agreed to plant 145 trees to mitigate the loss.

And it was why the same assistant city arborist, engineer and assistant director in July 2020 signed off on another administrative exception allowing Lennar Homes to remove thousands of caliper inches of trees to develop a 68-acre subdivision known as Marbach Village on the far West Side.

The developer cut down more than 2,100 inches of significant trees  preserving just 1 percent of the protected trees  and all 377 inches of heritage trees to develop and grade the site for residential development, a city analysis stated.

Lennar Homes agreed to mitigate the loss by planting new trees. That never happened. An amended plan later required the developer to plant 144 trees on the property.

Only 17 trees were planted, according to city records.

The homeowners have been non-responsive about letting the developer/homebuilder come in and plant trees on the properties since construction occurred, a letter requesting another variance stated.

To make up for the lost trees, the developer paid the city $50,800.

Beauty of it is gone

Esther Sell remembers when hundreds of acres of land across the road from her home in Helotes was densely wooded. It was only a few years ago.

It was nice and quiet, she said. There was lots of wildlife  birds and deer and hogs and all kinds of critters. And it was quiet and very natural.

Then the clear-cutting began.

PulteGroup was building a subdivision of more than 1,000 residential lots on 243 acres known as Davis Ranch in San Antonios extraterritorial jurisdiction, which extends development controls 5 miles outside the city limits. To clear the hills, the company obtained five exceptions to the citys 2010 tree ordinance: two of them approved by the Planning Commission and three granted by staff.

For one 32-acre section of the development, an agent for PulteGroup cited extremely steep existing topography requiring the removal of a large amount of excess material  to balance the site.

Billy Calzada /Billy Calzada

In March 2019, city staff approved the preservation of just 9 percent of significant trees on the site, allowing the developer to remove more than 6,600 caliper inches. To make up for the loss, the company agreed to plant four 3-inch trees on each of the sites 156 lots.

Overall, PulteGroup paid $379,800 to the citys tree mitigation fund, city officials said.

On a recent morning, Robert Kwiatkowski, a tree and landscape inspector for the city, tramped across the sprawling development with a tape measure in hand to verify that builders were adhering to agreements.

This unit is supposed to have four 4-inch trees planted, he said. I just took a quick trip, and theres going to be a lot of fails on this.

Walking past new homes with up-close views of tree-studded hills, Kwiatkowski recalled a rapid transformation of the area from forest to streetscape.

Ive been here for two years, and this was my first big job, he said. Were talking from the end of this drainage ditch, just solid cedars.

In an expansion to the north, PulteGroup is in the early stages of developing another massive subdivision on more than 580 acres of land known as the McCrary Tract.

The vast property, bordered to the north and west by the Government Canyon State Natural Area, was densely forested before the cutting began early last year to clear land for a nearly 2,000 lots. According to the city, the developer removed 80 percent of significant trees and about 76 percent of heritage trees  just enough to avoid requesting any variances.

The company will likely spend about $9 million mitigating the removal of so many trees, according to Sean Miller, director of land acquisition for PulteGroup, and Chris Dice, executive vice president of Cude Engineers.

Well spend several million dollars on tree mitigation to the city on that project, Miller said.

The developer has also agreed to plant five trees on 381 of the lots, as well as 65 streetscape trees. In recent weeks, bulldozers were at work throughout the sprawling tract.

To Esther Sell, the trees that are now gone were priceless.

Everything was there and then it wasnt, she said. And now, just like so many areas around the developments, all you see is rooftops. You dont see the trees. Its going to take years for them to grow up to where we wont be able to see rooftops.

Just the beauty of it is gone.
NANJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's first solar probe, Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S), is scheduled to be launched into space in the first half of 2022, marking the country's first-ever mission to "touch" the sun.

The satellite will operate in a sun-synchronous orbit 720 km above Earth to keep a close tab on the sun 24 hours a day. Measuring about 1,000 kg in total mass, the satellite is expected to orbit the sun for at least four years, according to the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a research institute based in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province.

The main scientific objectives of the probe include observing the sun's magnetic field and two major eruptive phenomena, or bursts on the star, that are solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). It will deploy three payloads, including Full disk Vector MagnetoGraph, Hard X-ray Imager, and Lyman-alpha Solar Telescope.

Hitherto the sun is the only fixed star that can be studied in detail by humans. The vast majority of its radiation is blocked by Earth's atmosphere. Only by sending probes into space can a complete picture of the sun be presented for further studies.

As the sun's temper varies on an 11-year cycle and the star enters Solar Cycle 25, it is estimated to reach its peak radiation around 2025. The solar probe can help obtain detailed records of solar activity during its rise to the peak years, said Gan Weiqun, a researcher with the institute.

The satellite will also realize its potential in space weather forecasting. The CMEs can be detected at least 40 hours ahead of their arrival by the observatory, which is expected to further facilitate early warnings of damage to Earth's electromagnetic environment.

Since the 1960s, more than 70 satellites related to solar observation have been launched globally. The ASO-S is expected to plug China's gap in the field, according to Gan.
Non-banking finance companies expect the government to provide continued liquidity support by encouraging banks to lend more to the sector, setting up a permanent refinance window and relaxing external commercial borrowing norms in the upcoming Budget. The government will present the Budget for fiscal 2021-22 on February 1, 2021.

To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on NBFC sector, the government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have announced various schemes such as the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme (PCGS), Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTRO) and Special Liquidity Scheme (SLS).

"This budget is important because it will be the first budget after the pandemic, which dragged the economy into contraction mode and has taken more than 1.5 lakh lives so far in India. "The government and RBI took calculated measures which aided economic recovery. We expect similar policy momentum to prevail in the Union Budget FY22," IndoStar Capital's CEO and executive vice-chairman R Sridhar said.

In its pre-budget memorandum submitted to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month, Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) said bank funding of small and medium NBFCs has been a challenge due to various reasons, especially during the last two years.

"The tepid response to the TLTRO 2.0, which mandated banks to invest at least 50 per cent of the stipulated amount in small and medium NBFCs, was a clear example of this. The need, therefore, is to reduce the over-reliance on banks and have a dedicated refinancing body," FIDC, a representative body of assets and loan financing NBFCs, had said in the memorandum.

It suggested allocating a fund dedicated to funding small and medium NBFCs to SIDBI and Nabard. "The arrangement of treating bank lending to NBFCs for on-lending to priority sector to be treated as priority sector lending (PSL) for banks should be made permanent and the limit needs to be increased to at least 10 per cent of total PSL by banks," FIDC had said.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas partner L Viswanathan said in the recent years, NBFCs that are important intermediaries of credit have faced concerns of liquidity, governance and solvency and it is hoped that the Budget will ease some of the pressures. The budget coincides with some announcements by the RBI regarding overhauling regulations for systemically important NBFCs to mitigate any risks of regulatory arbitrage, he said.

"The regulatory certainty, as well as the additional weight of these regulations, could be balanced through liquidity and credit measures announced in the budget for this sector," Viswanathan said. He suggested that the RBI directed funding for the sector, including TLTRO windows, maybe widened to cover more NBFCs and should continue for a longer period.

Viswanathan said he expects announcement of a more permanent refinance window and easing of external commercial borrowing (ECBs) into the sector in the Budget. Moneyboxx Finance Ltd co-founder Mayur Modi said the NBFC sector has the potential to play an extremely important role in shaping the revival of the economy but is confronted by liquidity issues due to lack of funding from the banking sector.

"This needs to be addressed at the earliest. As public sector banks (PSBs) have surplus liquidity in the system, the government must encourage them to lend to the NBFC sector," he said. Also, in the upcoming Budget, the government should look at setting up a special window at the RBI for NBFCs, especially for small and those focused on rural areas, so that their cost of the fund comes down, which will ultimately benefit the economy, Modi said.

In its memorandum, FIDC had requested to exempt NBFCs registered with RBI and classified by the central bank as deposit-taking NBFC (NBFCs-D) and non-deposit taking systemically important NBFC (NBFCs-ND-SI) from the provisions of TDS (tax deducted at source) on interest income.

Tourism Finance Corporation of India's MD and CEO Anirban Chakraborty said the travel and tourism sector has been one of the most impacted sectors during the course of the pandemic. "Few sector-specific sops may be considered by the government to help the hospitality sector emerge out of this situation," he said.

Steps like reduction in GST slabs, waiver/normalisation of various license fees, sector-specific stimulus package (viz interest support by government, additional funding by lenders, etc) may be considered, Chakraborty added. "Government should continue to encourage domestic tourism by extending and increasing the threshold LTA benefits for expenses incurred for domestic travels/stays," he noted.

Microfinance institution Satin Creditcare Network's chairman and MD HP Singh said during the outbreak of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, the government and RBI took several pragmatic measures to restore liquidity and bring immediate relief to the stressed sector through partial credit restructuring, moratorium benefits, TLTRO operations among other measures.

These initiatives have helped in improving the quantum of liquidity, disbursements and collections during these unprecedented times, he said. "Through the Budget, the government can continue supporting economic activities until a complete recovery is achieved, which will result in growth in the coming fiscal," Singh said.

Also read: Budget Chatter: Here's what Twitterati expects from Nirmala Sitharaman's third Budget speech

Also read: HDFC Bank submits plan to stop repeated glitches after RBI action
Warm temperatures. High winds. Wildfires.

In January.

Many Bay Area residents were caught off-guard this week by the unexpected chain of weather events that left them patching up fences and clearing wind-whipped debris.

The week started out feeling more like late summer fire season than a midwinter day. A combination of unseasonal heat, low humidity, lack of rainfall and predicted offshore winds created the perfect recipe for a wildfire, triggering a rare red flag warning late Monday morning.

Then the winds came howling early Tuesday. Soon, reports emerged of several small blazes igniting in the Santa Cruz Mountains, prompting evacuations. (See our California Fire Map tracking the blazes.)

Many Bay Area residents were puzzled and concerned, but fire officials were not surprised. What theyve been warning of for some time is taking shape around us: Fire season is now a year-round reality for California.

This is something that Cal Fire  is preparing for when we talk about what we used to refer to as fire season, said Isaac Sanchez, battalion chief of communications for Cal Fire. Now it is the fire year. We see the drier conditions extending into the winter months when rain finally comes and ends sooner in the spring than ever before.

A widening window

Sanchez said the window for wildfires to break out and impact communities, and potentially become large, destructive fires, is widening. In just the first few weeks of 2021, Cal Fire reported 143 fires that have burned 861 acres so far. Last year during the same time frame, 48 fires resulted in 15 acres burned. The five-year average for the same interval is 62 fires and 44 acres burned.

Stephen Leach, a fire weather meteorologist for the Bureau of Land Management, said this weeks weather pattern was rare. Nicknamed the inside slider, it occurs when a low pressure area slides down inland to the east, bringing in strong north and northeast winds to the Bay Area.

This is our windy, dry weather pattern that we get in Northern California that causes so many of our big, bad fire events, he said. Those include the Wine Country fires in 2017, 2018s Camp Fire, and the Glass and Zogg fires this past year.

Leach said the very powerful winds were certainly atypical for any time of year.

The offshore wind event Monday and Tuesday was a very strong one, which also makes it quite rare, he said. Im guessing we see one that strong every 5 to 10 years.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

For the Bay Area to experience this volatile combination is especially stressful now, after a 2020 wildfire season that was the worst on record and only recently ended. According to the National Weather Service, San Francisco has received only 26% of normal precipitation based on the 30-year average. The North Bay is at 36% of normal rainfall, and the South Bay is at 18%.

Howling, nonstop winds attacked the Bay Area on Monday night, continuing well into Tuesday as many were starting the work week after a national holiday. Experts say strong winds are not necessarily unusual for winter months, but the intensity of this event was surprising, with gusts reaching hurricane force in some places.

Wind speeds throughout the Bay Area clocked in from the mid-40s to low-60s mph range into Monday morning. A weather station in Sonoma County showed a peak wind speed of 97 mph, while the Mount Diablo station in Contra Costa County topped out at 84 mph.

By comparison, light to moderate breezes range from 4 to 18 mph, according to the National Weather Service, while gale force winds range from 39 to 63 mph. Hurricane force winds are 75 mph and more.

A really potent situation

The overall consensus here is that this particular wind event does stand out, said Gerry Diaz, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Its a really potent situation, and one of those wind events that well look back on historically.

Diaz said this combination of weather events is normally expected in the fall season, when there is a strong pressure gradient difference between the Great Basin, which spans Nevada, and the California coast.

Over the weekend, there was lower pressure in the Bay Area and higher pressure in the Great Basin, so the wind flowed in our direction.

The red flag warning for the Santa Lucia range, Los Padres National Forest, and the mountains of interior Monterey and San Benito counties was in place until late Tuesday afternoon. The most recent previous red flag warning was in January 2014.

https://twitter.com/NWSBayArea/status/1351228779683848194/photo/1

We had an abnormally dry winter set up with very dry conditions, and had no rain at all during the winter season, Diaz said. It was a lot worse off compared to this time around, but these winds were a lot stronger in terms of the general area with gusts at higher elevations peaking at 70 to 80 mph.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Experts said climate change cant be cited as the direct cause of a single weather pattern such as the one seen this week. Rather, they said, its better to look at human-caused climate change as a part of every weather event, as the climate has already gone through significant changes, and weather is a product of the climate.

That is how Californias warming, drier climate has set up the state for fire season weather to happen at any time of year.

The role of climate change

The way I think about both the wind event and the fires of 2020 is that both are entirely consistent with what we expect in a changing climate, said Chris Field, director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. Basically, a warmer climate leads to longer, more intense wildfire seasons and to a greater risk of fires outside the traditional fire season.

Cal Fire is still investigating the cause of the fires Monday and Tuesday in the Santa Cruz Mountains. A handful occurred in the footprint of last summers CZU Lighting Complex, and Cal Fire CZU spokesperson Cecile Juliette said its possible that strong winds rekindled some CZU embers buried below the duff, or layers of decomposing organic material under fresh fallen leaves and twigs.

Some of the other fires could be human-caused.

This falls right in line with the question, What should people be doing, or not doing, during weather like this? Leach said. It is an issue of situational awareness. Before people ignite they should know exactly what the current and upcoming conditions are and how likely the fire will spread.

Leach said most winters can have dry patterns, which are especially concerning when they last two or more weeks and high winds develop.

Luckily, the fuel conditions are nothing like we see during the mid- to late summer and early fall when the fire season is at its peak, he said. If this offshore wind event had occurred in September or early October, we could have seen some very extreme spread rates and fire behavior.

Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

Officials urge vigilance

In the winter months, particularly after a rainfall, its easy for people to let their guards down and believe there is little or no wildfire threat, so they may not be as careful as during the height of wildfire season. But Sanchez said vigilance is important year-round.

Generally speaking what we want is to see the public be careful in their daily activity, he said. The vast majority of fires are started by human activity.

The weather should soon feel more like winter, Diaz said: By the end of this week, another low pressure system is expected to move in from the west and pick up a lot of moisture over the ocean, bringing with it isolated showers.

Leach said he thinks this weeks weather event, while unusual, was isolated and probably wont have a major effect by itself on the upcoming wildfire season. The big wild card is how much more rainfall comes.

Once the pattern expected to start on Sunday begins, it will bring a significant decline in fire activity, he said. Well-placed rain or snow can keep things quiet.

Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang
EDWARDSVILLE  Felony criminal charges recently filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Shane M. McBride, 27, of Granite City, was charged Jan. 20 with home invasion, a Class X felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 18 McBride entered a home in the 2500 block of Washington Avenue and struck one of the occupants. Bail was set at $150,000.

 Damon T.M. Starks, 26, of Granite City, was charged Jan. 20 with unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, offenses relating to motor vehicles, unlawful possession of a stolen license plate, all Class 2 felonies; and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, On Jan. 19 Starks was found to be in possession of a black 2012 Volkswagon Passat, a license plate stolen from another vehicle, and a stolen Taurus 9 mm handgun. He also attempted to flee officers, reaching speeds of more than 21 miles over the speed limit. Bail was set at $150,000.

 Roddrick A. Lewis Sr., 30, of Granite City, was charged Jan. 20 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents,on Jan. 19 Lewis was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Austin J. Killian, 32, of Pontoon Beach, was charged Jan. 20 with aggravated battery, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 17 Killian hit a 9-year-old boy in the face and body with his fists, causing abrasions and bruising. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Lindsey J. Dollins, 25, of Charleston, Missouri, was charged Jan. 20 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 16 Dollins was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Brandi K. Bolhofner 29, of Troy, was charged Jan. 20 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 19 Holhofner was found to be in possession of less than 10 grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $1,500.

 Adam L. Long, 33, of St. Louis, was charged Jan. 20 with aggravated domestic battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 17 Long intentionally strangles a family or household member. Bail was set at $75,000.

EDWARDSVILLE  Felony criminal charges recently filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Lashona L. Whittenburg, 24, of Alton, was charged Jan. 19 with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony. The charge was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 19 Whittenburg kicked an Alton police officer in the chest. Bail was set at $40,000.

 Elena L. Pedrero, 25, of Alton, was charged Jan. 19 with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 18 Pedrero chest bumped a security officer at St. Anthonys Health Center. Bail was set at $40,000.

 Jamiel E. Johnson, 37, of Cottage Hills, was charged Jan. 19 with domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents on Jan. 15 Johnson struck a family member in the face and body. It was noted that Johnson has a prior conviction for domestic battery. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Jonathan M. Cox, 40, of Alton, was charged Jan. 19 with burglary, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Dec. 23 Cox entered a neighbors detached garage to commit theft. Bail was set at $40,000.

 Kevin M. Beasley, 43, listed as homeless out of Alton, was charged Jan. 19 with disorderly conduct/false fire alarm, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 15 Beasley pulled a fire alarm at the Social Security Office in Alton. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Michael D. Bass, 34, of Alton, was charged Jan. 19 with offenses relating to motor vehicle, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 18 Bass was found to be in possession of a stolen 2014 Nissan Versa. Bail was set at $60,000.

 Joey N. Farias, 42, of Granite City, was charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 16 Farias, who has a prior conviction for unlawful delivery of a controlled substance, was found to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun. Bail was set at $75,000.

 Richard M. Seitz Jr., 30, of DeKalb, Illinois, was charged Jan. 19 with disorderly conduct, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, Seitz made a false 911 call to the sheriffs department. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Bryan D. Watkins, 35, listed as homeless out of Kansas City, Missouri, was charged Jan. 19 with attempt residential burglary, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court document, on Jan. 16 Watkins entered a residence in the 100 block of Windsor Drive, Troy, to commit theft. Bail was set at $35,000.

 Patrick A. Greenwell, 38, of Alton, was charged Jan. 19 with retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 15 Greenwell attempted to take various merchandise valued at less than $300 from the Godfrey Walmart., and has a conviction for theft in Florida. Bail waw set at $15,000.

 Paul W. McFadden Jr., 35, of Pontoon Beach, was charged Jan. 19 with aggravated unlawful restraint, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Pontoon Beach Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 16 McFadden, while armed with a 9 mm handgun, would not allow a woman to leave the apartment. Bail was set at $80,000.

 Amanda M. Pope, 28, of Granite City, was charged Jan. 19 with aggravated battery, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 18 Pope kicked a Granite City police officer in the leg. Bail was set at $25,000.

 Amy S. Ray, 25, of Granite City, was charged Jan. 19 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 18 Ray was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Deonta G. Woods, 21, of OFallon, Illinois, was charged Jan. 19 with armed violence, a Class X felony; unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, a Class 2 felony; and unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, and unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 15 Woods was found to be in possession of more than 30 grams of cannabis, Lorazepam, and a stolen Sig P226 handgun. Bail was set at $70,000.

 Kurt T. Rippee, 35, of Granite City, was charged Jan. 19 with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 18 Rippee was found to be in possession of less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Anthony M. Allen, 40, of Caseyville, was charged Jan. 19 with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. According to court documents, on Jan. 15 Allen, who has prior conviction for car theft, was found to be in possession of a Smith & Wesson .22 revolver. Bail was set at $50,000.
A woman who recruited brides to take part in sham marriages so immigrants could remain in the UK will be deported herself  after losing an appeal to Priti Patel and the Home Office.

Justyna Sobieraj, 40, masterminded multiple fake weddings to ensure non-EU nationals could stay after their visas had expired, will be returned to Poland.

It brings to an end a three year legal battle between her and as many different Home Secretaries.

She was jailed in 2017 for seven years after her recruitment for the bogus brides were rumbled in plots in Southampton, Hants, and Winchester.

Sobnieraj, who admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration, had first been told she could be deported when Amber Rudd was Home Secretary back in April 2018.

Then under Sajid Javids reign she was told in May 2019 she would be sent back to country of birth Poland over her offences and the possibility she could reoffend.

Justyna Sobieraj recruited brides for sham marriages so immigrants could stay in the UK

Home Secretary Priti Patel succeeded in the deportation battle after three years of legal bids

Both former Home Secretaries Savid Javid and Amber Rudd had been involved in the case

By November 2019, by which time Priti Patel had taken over, she had submitted papers for an appeal which was heard last year.

Today it emerged it had been unsuccessful with Upper Tribunal Judge Jackson ruling she did not have the right to stay despite family ties and length of time in the UK.

The judge told her: That must be balanced her criminal offending over a significant period of time between 2009 and 2016 and that she has been in prison since November 2017 which undermines her level of integration here.

I find that the respondent has established that there are grounds of public policy and security to justify the appellant's deportation from the United Kingdom; which is a proportionate decision having taken into account the genuine and present risk she poses to the fundamental interests of society and to her own family; even taking into account her length of residence and family in the United Kingdom, including the best interests of her daughter. I dismiss the appeal.

Sobierajs appeal had heard how she had been attempting to rebuild her life in prison.

She was said to have completed a number of courses behind bars including level 2 beauty, business enterprise level 2 and has started an Open University course in criminology and psychology.

Justyna Sobieraj pictured at Southampton Crown Court during her case back in 2017

She had also claimed she had been accepted for a job for City of London as a social worker, although the hearing had no evidence to back this.

In evidence from her partner, an argument between them was revealed to have happened in November 2016 when she had stabbed him.

He described it as 'a turning point in the relationship' and they decided to change and stay together.

Sobieraj was said to have not realised she had stabbed him.

Her criminal case at Southampton Crown Court had seen her sentenced alongside Kamila Grzymala - one of the brides whose marriage ceremonies she organised.

A third defendant Eric Asante, 47 and from London, who helped Sobieraj arrange the string of sham marriages, was sentenced to eight years in his absence when he failed to attend the hearing.

Part of the hearing related to a separate three-week trial, at which Asante and Sobieraj were convicted of assisting unlawful immigration.

Judge Gary Burrell QC said Sobieraj had been 'seduced' by the prospect of financial gain.

Turning to Grzymala, he added: 'You have been extremely stupid.'

Speaking after the case, immigration officer Nick Jupp said: 'These marriages were a way for Sobieraj and the 'brides' to line their own pockets.'

The Home Office has repeatedly pledged to remove serious foreign offenders from the country.

A spokesman has said: Our priority is to keep the British public safe and we are doing everything possible to reduce legal challenges and increase the numbers of foreign national offenders and those with no right to remain in the UK being removed.'
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U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address after he was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face," Biden said in his first tweet as president.



WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hours after being sworn in as the 46th U.S. president on Wednesday, Joe Biden signed a series of executive actions that reversed some of his predecessor Donald Trump's signature policies.

The 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations mainly fell within the four categories of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic fallout, immigration and diversity issues, and the environment and climate change.

"There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face," Biden said in his first tweet as president.

The Manhattan skyline is seen behind Calvary Cemetery in New York, the United States, on Jan. 18, 2021. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)

Among the president's executive actions were a mask-wearing mandate on federal property, the start of a process to bring the United States back to the 2015 Paris Climate Accord the country exited under Trump, as well as a sweeping immigration overhaul to end the Muslim travel ban, the construction of the border wall, and the suspension of the DACA legislation that protected immigrants who came to the United States illegally during childhood.

Honduran migrant Tania, carrying her son Erick in her arms, wanders around the border wall between Mexico and the United States in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, June 18, 2020. (Photo by David Peinado/Xinhua)

Notably, Biden reversed the U.S. process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage," Biden tweeted in July when the former administration notified the United Nations (UN) of the United States' withdrawal from the WHO.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the United States' stated re-engagement with the WHO, said his spokesman.

Supporting the WHO is absolutely critical to the world's efforts for a better coordinated response against COVID-19, and now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

U.S. President Joe Biden (L, Front) hugs his wife Jill Biden after he was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Following Biden's moves, The New York Times reported that "his first actions in office were aimed not at compromise and cooperation with his adversaries, but instead suggested a determination to quickly erase much of the Trump agenda."

Yet, as most of the topics Biden covered are highly controversial in the country, such actions could leave the United States more divided, analysts said.

For instance, Biden signed an executive order to revoke the existing presidential permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project, which would carry oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast.

Oil industry groups and Republicans in the United States opposed the move, arguing it would result in job losses and put energy security at risk. But environmental groups and Democrats praised Biden's decision, arguing the Keystone XL project would worsen climate change.

Meanwhile, "these actions are divisive and destructive -- and there's far more to come," Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action, a grassroots conservative organization, said when responding to Biden's first executive actions after his inauguration.

"As the Biden administration begins today, conservatives are prepared to fight back against the destructive policies of the far Left," Anderson said. 
They were found dead inside the two-story residence in the 500 block of North Lawler Avenue, according to the Chicago Fire Department. One man also broke his leg when he jumped from the second-floor of the home and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.

Jonathan Van-Tam said he is 'delighted' that his mother received the Covid-19 vaccine at her local GP surgery and has 'some protection against this deadly virus'.

Elizabeth, who turned 79 this month, had her jab at a GP surgery in Whittlesey, six miles east of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire at 11am on Thursday.

Her son Professor Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer, has previously spoken about encouraging her to be ready to have the jab when she got the call, and she confirmed that he had sent her 'lots of reminders'.

Elizabeth said: 'I was really happy to get my Covid-19 vaccine.

Elizabeth Van-Tam, 79, the mother of Jonathan Van-Tam, England's deputy chief medical officer, pictured receiving her Covid vaccine at the Jenner Health Centre in Whittlesey

Prof Van-Tam, pictured during a press conference on December 30 last year, has previously spoken about encouraging his mother to be ready to have the jab when she got the call

England's deputy chief medical officer, who helps to lead the national Covid-19 response, pictured donning scrubs earlier this month to help provide vaccinations in Nottingham

'While I've had lots of reminders from Jonathan, I needed no encouragement when I received my phone call.

'The jab didn't hurt at all and the NHS staff were excellent. I would encourage everyone to take up the offer when it comes.'

Prof Van-Tam, who said his mother calls him 'Jonny', added: 'I'm delighted my mum has received her Covid vaccination and to know she will have some protection against this deadly virus.

'Like everyone else, it's important that she also has her second dose when called for this. Vaccines are the way out of this pandemic and I urge everyone to take up the offer as soon as they are called forward.

'It is essential that everyone continues to stay at home if possible whether they have had the vaccine or not to protect the NHS and save lives.'

Professor Van-Tam previously told how he had urged his mother to get the vaccine when her opportunity came because she is 'so at risk'.

Elizabeth arriving at her GP surgery to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. She said: 'While I've had lots of reminders from Jonathan, I needed no encouragement when I received my phone call'

Elizabeth, pictured left, arriving at her local GP surgery with her son-in-law Nick Hayes today. Prof Van-Tam said: 'I'm delighted my mum has received her Covid vaccination'

Elizabeth pictured preparing to receive the Covid-19 vaccine this morning in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire. The 79-year-old said she was 'really happy' to get the jab

Speaking in December, he said: 'I genuinely have said: "Mum, you must have this vaccine, or any of the vaccines that the MHRA (The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) approves as soon as they are available.

'"This is really important, because you are so at risk".'

THE UK'S VACCINE PRIORITY GROUP LIST 1. Residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults 2. All those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers 3. All those 75 years of age and over 4. All those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals (not including pregnant women and those under 16 years of age) 5. All those 65 years of age and over 6. Adults aged 16 to 64 years with an underlying health condition that puts them at a higher risk of serious disease and mortality 7. All those 60 years of age and over 8. All those 55 years of age and over 9. All those 50 years of age and over Advertisement

England's deputy chief medical officer, who helps to lead the national Covid-19 response, was pictured donning scrubs earlier this month to help provide coronavirus vaccinations.

He was seen in protective clothing and a facemask at the Richard Herrod Centre in Nottingham, with Nottinghamshire's Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) tweeting that he was supporting the vaccine rollout as a volunteer in his spare time.

Speaking when the pictures emerged, Prof Van-Tam also told LBC that the current coronavirus vaccines should remain effective against mutations.

He added that his 'hunch' is that they will not be 'outwitted' by new variants for many months.

Meanwhile, he admitted last week that some lockdown rules would probably be in place until late spring but believed Britain was in the 'last few furlongs' of the race.

Prof Van-Tam said: 'We are probably in the last few furlongs of this race - like in the Grand National, we just have a couple more fences.

'We have just got to stick with it.'

Matt Hancock today boasted that Britain has given more than 5million doses to 4.6million people  around one in every 14 people.

Around 2million vaccines were dished out last week  and one in ten inoculated Brits have received their second dose.

The Health Secretary tweeted: 'Weve now given over 5 million COVID vaccine doses across the UK, to 4.6 million people.

'Were vaccinating at a greater daily rate than any other country in Europe & at over double the rate of France, Spain & Germany.'

Boris Johnson has insisted the UK is still on schedule to inoculate 14million vulnerable people by mid-February.

But the Prime Minister  who was grilled by MPs about the operation  warned 'constraints on supply' were making the situation harder.

Fears that the NHS scheme had stagnated were sparked yesterday after data revealed the number of doses dished out had fallen for three days in a row.

But fresh statistics show 343,163 people got their first Covid vaccines yesterday, meaning 4.5million Britons have now had their first dose. One government insider told MailOnline they hoped it meant that the rollout was 'back on track'.

In order to meet the lockdown-easing target, the Government must average more than 350,000 doses a day from now until February 15, with the previous bullish tone from officials getting toned down in recent days.
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These are the first pictures of the parishioner father-of-four and priest who died after a suspected gas blast yesterday ripped through a Catholic Church-owned building in Madrid.

Local churchgoer David Munoz Santos, 35, was killed instantly when the 3pm explosion destroyed the upper floors of the building where he was working to fix a faulty boiler and left the area looking like a war zone.

David, an electrician, had volunteered to help out when he learned from friends the boiler was causing problems, was one of three people whose lives the explosion initially claimed.

But in the early hours of this morning the death toll rose to four as it emerged a priest who had been helping David, and was the most seriously injured of the 11 people hurt, had passed away in hospital.

He has been named as Ruben Perez Ayala. He died just before 1.45am this morning in Madrid's Virgen de la Paz Hospital as a result of the internal injuries he had suffered in the blast.

This is the first picture of parishioner father-of-four, 35-year-old David Munos Santos, who died in a suspected gas blast yesterday at a Catholic Church-owned building in Madrid after volunteering to fix a faulty boiler

Roman Catholic priest, 36-year-old Ruben Perez Ayala, passed away this morning after sustaining serious injuries in the blast, bringing the death toll from the explosion in Madrid to four

Santos had been on the upper floors of the Catholic-owned building (pictured) fixing a boiler when the tank erupted, killing him and leaving Ayala with serious internal injuries, which he later died from

The 36-year-old had been ordained as a priest by Carlos Osorio, the Archbishop of Madrid, last June.

He is understood to have suffered several broken bones including a shattered pelvis and medics were trying to stabilise him ahead of an operation.

He had initially been described as missing, but managed to get out of the blast building.

Another priest living on one of its upper floors, who is thought to have been helping the two dead men with the boiler, cheated death by leaving them moments before the explosion. He was trapped on the fifth floor before being rescued.

Three people, including David, died yesterday immediately after the blast. Ruben suffered serious injuries and died this morning at a Madrid hospital

Fire-fighters carry a body next to a damaged building at Toledo Street following an explosion in downtown Madrid

A building belonging to the Catholic Church burns after a deadly explosion in Madrid, as firefighters fight the blaze

The other two people killed are two passers-by, one a woman aged 85 and another a 53-year-old man.

Photos of David with his family yesterday as friends and acquaintances described him as someone who was 'always smiling.'

The Madrid Metro maintenance worker was well known in the Madrid neighbourhood of La Latina where the explosion occurred, at number 98 in Toledo Street.

The city centre street connects La Latina with with the Puerta de Toledo which is a famous free-standing 19th century gate in Madrid comprising three archways.

Debris fills the street and the neighbouring rooftops after the blast as flames continue to spew from the block in Mardid

The inside of the building after it was blown apart by the explosion, left, and firefighters ascend to the rooftop on a cherry picker last night as they assessed the damage, right

Firefighters continued to battle the blaze in the building belonging to the Catholic Church after a deadly explosion in Madrid on Wednesday afternoon. Initial investigations suggested that the blast in Calle Toledo, a street leading out from the city centre, had been caused by a gas leak, Madrid's Mayor said yesterday

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid confirmed before news of Ruben Perez Ayala's death in hospital emerged: 'A priest is serious and the dead include David Santos Munoz, a 35-year-old electrician, father of four and parishioner who had gone to help with the boiler.'

A friend who asked not to be named was quoted as saying: 'David was a lovely bloke. He was always smiling.'

Wellwishers offered their condolences on social media.

Eugenia Pardo Martin said: 'My sincere condolences to his wife, children, other loved ones and friends. Rest in peace.'

Pictured: An injured man is taken away by paramedics on a stretcher from the scene of an explosion in Madrid on Wednesday. Four people have been confirmed dead, with seven people said to be injured

A loud explosion has partially destroyed a small building flanked by a school and a nursing home in the center of Spain's capital, on Toledo street. Pictured: An injured person is transferred from the scene of the explosion

Lydia Mendez added: 'How sad for those poor little children who have lost their father, such a young man.'

The devastation the explosion caused was laid bare in a police video shot from a helicopter.

The upper floors of the five-storey building, next to a school and OAP home and opposite a hotel, are due to be demolished with controlled explosions today to avert the risk of its collapse.

Madrid's mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida said it was a 'miracle' the casualty toll hadn't been higher.

Pupils at the school adjoining the blast building were not in the playground at the time of the explosion because of the snow and ice still covering it after devastating Storm Filomena which caused chaos in Spain earlier this month.

The guts of the building were laid bare by the colossal blast which killed four people

Mr Martinez-Almeida, speaking from the scene before a planned entry into the blast building by police with sniffer dogs, said before the injury toll rose from seven to 11: 'We thought this year couldn't get any worse and then this happened.

'Three people are dead, seven injured and one is missing.

'We can't rule out more deaths. But it could have been far worse, because the building is right next to a school and a retirement home.'

Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez tweeted: 'Unfortunately we have to regret the death of several people.

'I have just spoken to Madrid's mayor to express my support and solidarity.

'Our condolences and affection to the families of those who have died and been injured.'
A federal judge has approved a consent decree between the Maryland city of Annapolis and dozens of public housing residents.

The Capital Gazette reported Tuesday that the decree will mandate that the city pay a $900,000 settlement in a discrimination lawsuit and issue various housing policy reforms.

U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake approved the agreement last week. City representatives and the plaintiffs attorneys, The Donahue Law Firm, had accepted the terms last year. The City Council approved the consent decree in September.

The city will pay the $900,000 out of its self-insurance fund. A portion will be paid to 52 public housing residents named as plaintiffs.

The lawsuit was originally filed on behalf of more than two dozen residents who had alleged decades of racial discrimination. They claimed the housing authority and city failed to provide safe, adequate housing for its majority-Black residents.

The decree requires the city to continue inspecting and licensing housing authority properties like any other private rental property. It has been doing so since late 2019. It also calls on the City Council to pass more affordable and workforce housing legislation.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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India's government has cleared commercial exports of Covid-19 vaccines, with the first consignments to be shipped to Brazil and Morocco on Friday, the Indian foreign secretary told Reuters.

The shots developed by UK-based drugmaker AstraZeneca and Oxford University are being manufactured at the Serum Institute of India, the world's biggest producer of vaccines, which has received orders from countries across the world.

The Indian government had held off exporting doses until it began its own domestic immunisation programme last weekend. Earlier this week, it sent free supplies to neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said commercial supplies of the vaccine would begin from Friday in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment that India's production capacities would be used for all of humanity to fight the pandemic.

"In keeping with this vision, we have responded positively to requests for supply of Indian manufactured vaccines from countries across the globe, starting with our neighbours," he said, referring to the free supplies. "Supply of commercially contracted quantities will also commence from tomorrow, starting with Brazil and Morocco, followed by South Africa and Saudi Arabia," he added.

Brazil, which has world's second-highest Covid-19 death toll after the United States, has been urging India to send the AstraZeneca vaccine. It has agreed to take 2 million doses from Serum and was ready to send a plane last week to pick them up.

Morocco, South Africa and Saudi Arabia have also secured supplies from Serum, officials said.
[January 21, 2021] AKVIS Updates 25 Image Editing Programs

PERM, Russia, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AKVIS offers an impressive range of the image processing software products. The field of application of the programs is varied. AKVIS provides users with photo retouching and enhancement tools, special effects, art filters, etc. The new versions provide many improvements. The artistic programs like AirBrush 7.5, ArtWork 12.5, Draw 8.5, Charcoal 5.5, OilPaint 9.5, Pastel 5.5, Points 5.5, Sketch 24.0, and Watercolor 5.5, offer new Decoration options. Now users can easily and harmoniously combine the Passe-Partout effect with the Classic Frame and decorate their works of art in the most winning way. All these programs, as well as HDRFactory 7.5 and MakeUp 7.7, include the color option for the Vignette effect that allows users to apply a smooth color frame and add a vintage look to images. Sketch 24.0 also presents the enhanced photo-to-sketch processing in the Maestro style. Charcoal 5.5 contains new powerful and versatile presets which make it easier to apply the charcoal and chalk effect. ArtSuite 18.5 includes new templates for the Hand Painted Frame. All products, including above-mentioned and Chameleon 11.1, Coloriage 12.6, Decorator 8.1, Enhancer 17.1, Explosion 1.6, LightShop 7.2, Magnifier AI 10.1, NatureArt 11.2, Neon 5.1, Noise Buster11.1, Refocus 10.1, Retoucher 11.1, and SmartMask 11.1, offer some usability improvements, support for more RAW files, and other changes. The detailed list of changes is presented on each program's page.



The recent versions are available for download at akvis.com. The AKVIS programs run on Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and on Mac OS X 10.10-10.11, macOS 10.12-11.0. The products can be used as standalone applications and as plugin filters for AliveColors by AKVIS, Adobe Photoshop, Corel PaintShop Pro, Affinity Photo, and other popular image processing programs.

Customers who bought or upgraded their licenses during the last 12 months can update to the new versions for free. Users whose licenses are older and are not valid for the latest versions can update each program for $14.95 or all the products for $39.95. These 25 AKVIS programs can be purchased as separate products or all together in the AKVIS Alchemy Bundle with a discount of 60%. The products come in Home, Home Deluxe, and Business versions, with differing levels of functionality. AKVIS (akvis.com) specializes in the development of photo & video processing software. Since the company's launch in 2004, it has released a wide selection of successful products for Windows and Mac. The company always keeps up with the times and updates its products with cutting-edge technologies. Contact:

Kat Kharina

83422121661

289603@email4pr.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akvis-updates-25-image-editing-programs-301211765.html SOURCE AKVIS Lab

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(Bloomberg) -- Eric Lis factory making glass lampshades for companies including Home Depot Inc. is being stretched to its limits with sales doubling their pre-pandemic level.But like many Chinese manufacturers, he doesnt plan to expand operations -- a reticence that could slow the pace of Chinas economic growth this year and prolong a shortage of goods being felt around the world as demand picks up.Surging prices of raw materials means margins are compressed, explains Li, owner of Huizhou Baizhan Glass Co. Ltd., in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, which makes about $30 million in annual revenue. With the global economic recovery still uneven, the future is very unclear, so there is not much push to expand capacity, he adds.The combination of higher input prices, uncertainty about export prospects and a weak recovery in domestic consumer demand meant Chinese manufacturing investment from January to April was 0.4% below the same period in 2019, according to official statistics (comparing to 2019 strips out the distortion of last years pandemic data).Due to the vast size of Chinas manufacturing sector, that poses a risk both to the nations growth -- which is currently predicted to reach 8.5% in 2021, according to a Bloomberg tally of economists estimates -- and to a global economy thats grappling with supply shortages and rising prices.Falling ProfitsWeaker-than-expected investment could have a sizable impact on GDP growth this year, said Citigroup Inc.s China economist, Li-gang Liu. Lower investment may dent imports of capital goods and equipment from developed economies like Japan and Germany, which in turn could drag their economic recovery and rebound as well, he added.AnHui HERO Electronic Sci & Tec Co. Ltd. is one of those companies feeling the squeeze. Based in the eastern province of Anhui, the company manufactures capacitors used to make electronic circuits, with sales mainly in the domestic market. Jing Yuan, the founder, says orders are up as much as 30% year-on-year, but profits are down 50% due to increasing materials costs that are not easily passed onto clients.The company is under huge cash pressure as it needs to pay half a month in advance of delivery in order to secure copper and other metals, which they previously paid for months after receiving, he said. The commodity issue has to be addressed by the government, he added.What Bloomberg Economics Says...Chinese industry is absorbing significant cost pressures from rising commodity prices -- damping the inflationary impact for the rest of the world. Will it last? Our analysis of gross margins suggests it could for a while longer: downstream industries -- where the cost crunch is most severe -- still have a small cushion.David Qu, China economistFor the full report, click here.Input shortages mean some manufacturers arent able to make use of their existing facilities, so expansion would be of little use. Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. suspended production at one of its factories last month, due to a shortage of microchips.Modern Casting Ltd., which makes iron and steel products in Guangdong, issued a note to clients this month saying it would not be able to meet its current orders due to high raw material costs. A member of staff who answered the phone at the companys office confirmed the note, but declined to give further details.Growth TransitionOn top of the higher input costs, Chinese companies face a bumpy transition toward domestic consumer spending to sustain its post-pandemic recovery.Exports, Chinas strong-suit last year, may begin to slow as vaccine roll-outs cause consumers in wealthy countries to shift spending back to services. Meanwhile, the growth rate of Chinese consumer spending has yet to fully recover.Investment sentiment among Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises is below levels seen even in 2018-9 when uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war were a brake on expansion plans, according to a regular survey of more than 500 Chinese companies by Standard Chartered Plc.Demand is still mainly underpinned by exports, so domestic companies are aware that this is not sustainable, said Standard Chartereds China economist, Lan Shen.While some export-oriented sectors have been pushed to their limits, large amounts of slack remain for manufacturers targeting Chinese consumers due to subdued domestic demand.Retail sales growth was 4.3% in April on a two-year average basis, which strips out base effects from the pandemic, less than half pre-pandemic growth rates. Overall capacity use at Chinas manufacturers fell to 77.6% in the first quarter from 78.4% in the previous three months, with the automotive sector hit hardest by overcapacity following three years of declining sales volumes.Even for electric vehicles whose sales are surging, most companies have already built their capacity and will now focus on incremental upgrades. The majority of the investment has been done, said Jochen Siebert of JSC Automotive Consulting.China ordered state-owned companies to expand last year, with their investment growth of 5.3% in 2020 from the prior year easily outstripping the 1% increase in private investment. But for a sustainable pick-up in investment, the market, not the state, needs to feel confident.Carsten Holz, an expert on Chinese investment statistics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, estimates that privately-owned companies have accounted for 87% of manufacturing investment in 2015, the most recent year of available data. They are more sensitive to input costs.There is a pandemic plus insecurity about future trade given a new U.S. administration, neither of which is conducive to investment that relies on long-term growth prospects, Holz said.Mixed PoliciesTransport bottlenecks are also a challenge for export-oriented manufacturers. Gordon Gao, who exports gardening products from China, said that he has had to reject 80% of orders this year due to port delays. In one case, an order placed before mid-February could only be shipped three months later when a client finally secured a container.Beijing has tried to improve conditions for private companies by ordering a crackdown on speculation to curb commodity prices and easing access to bank loans.Yet the government continues to gradually withdraw fiscal and monetary stimulus measures introduced amid the pandemic last year. It set a relatively unambitious target of above 6% growth for this year, and the Communist Partys Politburo signaled last month it would prioritize reforms to control house prices and debt growth.The policy stance has definitely shifted away from supporting growth and back toward de-risking the financial sector, said Adam Wolfe, an economist at London-based Absolute Strategy Research. The risks for economic growth seem tilted to the downside, especially for capital-intensive, construction-linked sectors.For manufacturers such as Li, a longer period of domestic growth and control over input prices will be needed before capacity expansion is on the cards. While his company of 200 workers took on new permanent staff before the pandemic, for now hed rather pass the risks of investment on to others.I wouldnt do that now, I would rather hire some temporary workers and outsource the rest, he said.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
New U.S. President Joe Biden wasted no time on making known his intentions regarding climate change on his first day in office, saying he was signing an executive order to undo a number of the Donald Trumps environmental policies.

Bidens pledge to rejoin the international Paris, reversing Trumps withdrawal from the landmark agreement, also includes instructing federal agencies to review more than 100 policies, such as fuel economy standards for cars, NPR reported this week.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear, Biden said in his inaugural address Wednesday.

The Biden administration will also instruct the federal government to consider the long-term economic impacts of climate change when making new regulations, NPR reported.

The Associated Press reported that world leaders breathed an audible sigh of relief that Biden is rejoining the global effort to curb climate change, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron among those welcoming his decision to rejoin the Paris accord.

Japan

Japans Financial Services Agency will urge banks and companies to accelerate decarbonization, the news site Nikkei Asia is reporting.

The agency is adding climate change measures to bank guidance policies, while favoring companies that want to invest in renewable energy. The financial watchdog will also request companies to disclose information related to climate change.

The agency today was set to convene the first meeting of its Expert Panel on Sustainable Finance to discuss investments that promote sustainable growth and address climate change.

The panel includes experts on economics, banking, insurance and academics. The group plans to compile a set of proposals possibly by this summer.

Japans government has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.

The agency will also encourage corporate disclosure of climate change-related information through such programs as the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures.

The TCFD, which in 2017 published a voluntary set of disclosures to help inform investors, has said that more than 1,500 organizations worldwide had expressed support for TCFD-aligned disclosures to help cut carbon emissions, up 85% since last years update

Hurricanes

By 2050, climate change-related weather events will have a meaningful impact on future hurricane losses, increasing them by 20% or more and in some cases doubling them, even without any increase in the concentration of property exposure along the coast, new research estimates, it was reported in an Insurance Journal article this week.

Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide released a report exploring how climate change may affect hurricane risk in the U.S. by 2050, specifically related to financial losses to residential and commercial properties.

The report explores future hurricane-generated storm surge losses for selected study areas around New York, Houston, and Miami, as indicators of the additional risk created by rising sea levels, the article states. The results of the analysis show that increased event frequency and sea level rise will have a meaningful impact on future damage. The growth in the number of stronger storms, and landfalling storms overall, increases modeled losses by approximately 20%, with slightly larger changes in areas such as the Gulf and Southeast coasts where major landfalls are already more likely today. The loss increases extend to inland areas as well, as stronger storms may penetrate farther from the coast.

The report suggests that by 2050 sea level rise may increase storm surge losses by anywhere from one-third to a factor of almost two, with larger impacts possible when combined with increases in the number of major storms.

Researchers believe climate change may affect hurricanes in multiple ways, but the report highlights aspects, such as an increase in the frequency of the strongest storms, and additional storm surge flooding due to sea level rise.

Rain

Climate change will cause a regionally uneven shifting of the tropical rain belt, researchers at the University of California, Irvine and other institutions say.

The tropical rain belt is a narrow band of heavy precipitation near the equator.

This development may threaten food security for billions of people, according to a report covered by Climate Wise.

The report, outlined fully in a study published in Nature Climate Change, says a northward shift of the tropical rain belt over the eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean will result in future increases of drought stress in southeastern Africa and Madagascar, while southward shift of the rain belt over the eastern Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean will cause greater drought stress in Central America.

Our work shows that climate change will cause the position of Earths tropical rain belt to move in opposite directions in two longitudinal sectors that cover almost two thirds of the globe, a process that will have cascading effects on water availability and food production around the world, said lead author Antonios Mamalakis, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University.

Past columns:

Topics Leadership
New Delhi, Jan 21 : Electrician Sheikh Nur Rehman had meticulously planned a perfect burglary -- or at least he thought so -- in his employer's jewellery showroom in Kalkaji and seemed headed for a 'glittering' future with over Rs 20-crore booty. But within hours, as ill-luck would have it, he was in police cross-hairs and cooling his heels behind bars.

When Rehman, 25, took leave on January 10 to visit his native place in West Bengal, no one suspected anything amiss.

On January 20, the jewellery showroom owner reported to Kalkaji police that a man wearing a PPE kit who broke into his premises in PPE kit had fled with jewellery valued at more than Rs 20 crore. Though the burglar was caught on CCTV, no one knew his identity.

When Kalkaji police station SHO and his team visited the spot after report of burglary on the ground floor of the showroom, they found that most ornaments had been taken from the show window on the ground floor and drawers. The burglar had entered through a fibre sheet on the building's roof, and then down the stairs to the main shop on the ground floor. A lock on the iron grill on the 3rd floor was also found broken.

Police teams scrutinised the CCTV footage from the showroom, neighbouring buildings and adjoining areas and also carried out verification of the antecedents of present and former staff, including security guards. Even tenants living in adjoining buildings were questioned.

SHO Sandeep Ghai and Sub-Inspector Vinod Kumar under the supervision of Kalkaji ACP Govind Sharma zeroed in on the suspect after coming to know that he had gone on leave earlier his month on the pretext of visiting his native village Dighneshwar in Hooghly district.

Police finally traced Rehman to a densely populated area of Karol Bagh within a record time and recovered all stolen jewellery articles and cash. He was working at the showroom for around a year.

"During questioning, the accused confessed to the burglary as he wanted to avenge his humiliation and harassment by his colleagues at the showroom. Being a technical hand, he learnt to operate tools like pressure and gas cutters etc for housebreaking," said RP Meena, DCP, South-East Delhi.

Rehman told police that before proceeding on leave, he had meticulously planned the crime by doing a recce of the area to select the spot to break-in into the showroom. He identified one of the adjoining buildings with uninhabited flats to climb up to reach the showroom roof. He also prepared a list of articles and equipment he would need to break in.

Police seized jewellery, Rs 23,000 in cash, pressure iron cutter, screwdriver, torch, rope, and PPE kit he was wearing at the time of crime from his possession.
Liquid Telecom is undergoing major changes  including a rebranding and a revised strategy for the next financial year.

Last year, the company announced a rebranding to Liquid Intelligent Technologies, as well as restructuring which saw it retrench a number of employees.

Its new strategy is to reposition its product set and move away from only providing core connectivity to its enterprise customers, instead offering a suite of managed and cloud services.

The company also got a new CEO this year  Deon Geyser  who sat down with MyBroadband to explain the major changes at the company.

Geyser said he was excited for the businesss growth potential this year, following the implementation of its revised strategy.

Liquid Telecom South Africa in the second half of last year embarked on a restructure and a transformation journey, which is moving Liquid from a connectivity player to more of an intelligent technology solution-oriented business, Geyser said.

That, of course, was the start of the transformation plan which included a restructure locally in South Africa, which ended at the end of November last year.

A formidable player

Geyser cleared up the issue of the companys rebranding, which currently remains unchanged, stating that this was a step it would take in Q2 of 2021 at the outset of its next financial year.

Our financial year starts first of March so part of our new financial year planning is the rebranding exercise, he said. We expect that to happen, I would imagine, in quarter two of 2021.

He noted that Liquid Telecoms existing infrastructure and skill base make it a formidable player in the South African market, and he is confident the company will be able to succeed in the solutions space.

There is a gap in the market for a B2B-focused company which can do connectivity plus solutions on top of that, Geyser said.

If you look at our asset base of infrastructure, spectrum, customer base, our strong employee base, the skill base that we have  I think it makes us a formidable player in the market.

He noted that the growth the company saw in its solutions business after the advent of COVID-19 was exceptional, and he expects this to continue growing.

As the market shifted with the start of COVID-19, it just brought digitisation forward five years, so the way we looked at the market changed.

We are addressing the work-from-home environment for our enterprise customers with a product that we launched in Q3 last year, and we have our first orders that have come in, Geyser said.

This does not mean Liquid Telecom will halt its connectivity business, however. It plans to reduce expenditure on rolling out infrastructure according to its previous strategy and instead focus on the connectivity needed to deliver its new solutions.

Fibre business and spectrum

Liquid Telecom is a major telecommunications player in South Africa, with significant resources in terms of fibre infrastructure and radiofrequency spectrum.

We will not say no to developing infrastructure more to areas that still need to be connected, Geyser said, but he added that the company has significant coverage already.

With the NLD routes we have built over the last 11 or 12 years as Liquid connecting the major CBDs, we have covered a big part of the major routes already.

In the next financial year, we dont see a major new massive network expansion from where we are because we believe that weve covered a major part of that, he said.

Liquid Telecom still plans to expand its network, but it will be more focused on where it derives value when doing so.

It is not killing our connectivity business at all, it is strengthening what we have, Geyser said.

When asked about the spectrum ITA and Liquid Telecoms application for high-demand spectrum, Geyser said that acquiring this resource remains a part of its strategy.

We are participating in the ITA process, it is part of our strategic view of the future and we support governments initiative to auction high-demand spectrum, he said.

When asked what Liquid Telecom planned to do if it was awarded spectrum in the auction, Geyser said he was unable to publicly comment.

Betting on the new normal

A major component of Liquid Telecoms revised business model is to build on the growth in solutions sales it saw last year when many businesses relied on it to enable work-from-home setups.

The company, therefore, believes that the COVID-19 pandemic has irreversibly changed the way businesses work in South Africa, and it is betting on the future demand for these types of cloud services.

Last year, we saw a five-fold increase in our cloud business as people decided to move home and businesses did not have the right product set to manage that, we were there to support them, Geyser said.

He said that Liquid Telecom had commissioned a working-from-home study in October last year to gauge the outlook of businesses post-COVID-19, and he said the initial results were aligned with Liquid Telecoms strategy.

The initial results are showing that a lot of people working from home do not have the required connectivity in place, which leads to a very interesting opportunity for providing that connectivity, he said.

Now read: MTN loses appeal over paying dealer R11 million in damages
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on January 21, 2021

2021/01/21

CCTV: United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres officially announced his bid for reelection in a letter to the rotating president of the UN Security Council and the president of the UN General Assembly. Does China support his reelection?

Hua Chunying: As the most universal, representative and authoritative inter-governmental organization, the UN has made important contributions and played an irreplaceable role over the past 70 years and more in upholding world peace and development. As the world undergoes unprecedented changes, the pandemic still wreaks havoc worldwide, and the UN-centered international system comes under severe impact, the international community should uphold more than ever multilateralism, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the core role of the UN in international affairs.

Mr. Guterres, since assuming the role of Secretary General, has been working actively in leading the UN to protect world peace and security, promote sustainable development, and unite all countries in the global fight against the pandemic. China speaks highly of this and believes he is the right person for the job going forward. Together with the international community, we stand ready to continue to offer our support to the UN and Secretary General Guterres for the common cause of world peace and development and the building of a community with a shared future for all mankind.

HRTN: More than 400,000 Americans have died of COVID-19. A memorial was held in Washington, D.C. on the night of January 19. As we noticed, President Biden said in his inauguration speech that the United States is "entering what may be the darkest and deadliest period of the virus," and that "we need all our strength to...persevere through this dark winter." Do you have any comment on this?

Hua Chunying: We note the reports. We also grieve for the lives lost to the pandemic.

The pandemic is a common challenge to all humankind. As President Xi Jinping pointed out on various occasions, solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon to defeat COVID-19. Besides preventing and containing the virus at home, we have launched the largest global humanitarian campaign since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, cooperating with all parties to enhance international anti-epidemic efforts. We have also been supporting and helping the American people as much as we can. According to preliminary statistics from Chinese authorities, from March 1, 2020 to January 10, 2021, through exports, donations and other means, China provided the United States with more than 42.02 billion masks, over 900 million pairs of surgical gloves, 780 million protective suits, 50.66 million pairs of goggles, 15,648 non-invasive ventilators and 257 invasive ones. Chinese provinces, cities, friendly groups, non-governmental organizations and companies also donated lots of medical supplies to the U.S. side.

The pandemic is still spreading across the world, and we noticed the severe situation in the United States. The victory of the global fight against COVID-19 cannot be achieved until the virus is eliminated in the last country. China will continue strengthening anti-epidemic cooperation with the international community including the United States, and supporting the United States in its fight to the best of our capability.

Bloomberg: The U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman called China's sanctions on Trump officials "unproductive". She said that President Biden is looking forward to working with leaders in both parties to position America to out-compete China. What is the foreign ministry's comment?

Hua Chunying: China's decision to impose sanctions on these U.S. individuals is a legitimate and necessary response to their erroneous behaviors that severely violated China's sovereignty, security and development interests on China-related issues. It fully demonstrates the Chinese government's determination to safeguard national interests.

I must stress that in the past few years, out of selfish political agenda and bias and hatred against China, some anti-China politicians in the United States planned, worked on and made a lot of crazy moves that severely interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests, hurt the Chinese people's sentiments, and damaged China-U.S. relations. China has pointed out multiple times that these anti-China politicians will pay for their crazy acts.

We hope the new U.S. administration will view China and China-U.S. relations in an objective and rational manner, take into account the well-being of Chinese and American people, meet China halfway, uphold the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage differences, and bring China-U.S. relations back onto the track of sound and stable development.

Phoenix TV: As President Biden takes office, three Chinese telecom companies submitted written requests demanding a review of NYSE's decision to delist them. Do you have a comment?

Hua Chunying: Relevant regulatory authorities on the Chinese side already responded to the NYSE's delisting decision. The three Chinese companies have been issuing ADR and trading on the NYSE for nearly or over 20 years. They've been complying with the rules and regulatory requirements of the US securities market, earning recognition from investors worldwide. The NYSE initiating delisting procedures on these companies is a direct result of the Trump administration's executive order on what it called companies with links to the Chinese military. Such a politically-motivated executive order shows no regard for the real situations regarding the relevant companies and legitimate rights and interests of investors worldwide and seriously undermines normal market rules and order. The Chinese side supports the three companies in protecting their rights and interests in accordance with law.

Shenzhen TV: At the UN Third Cycle of Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights on Australia, China's representative submitted five recommendations. Can you confirm it? What prompted China to raise these recommendations?

Hua Chunying: Representatives from various countries including China made criticism or recommendations at the deliberation of the UPR Working Group of the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Australia. China's representative proposed that Australia should take actions to combat racial discrimination, hate speech and violence and protect the rights of ethnic minorities; protect the rights of migrants and close offshore detention centers for migrants; carry out a thorough investigation into alleged war crimes by Australian special forces operating overseas, bring perpetrators to justice, end impunity and prevent recurrence of these crimes; eliminate systemic discrimination and violent actions against indigenous Australians; and stop using disinformation and making politically-motivated and groundless accusations against other countries. We hope that Australia will take the opinions of the international community seriously, face its human rights issues squarely, and take concrete measures to improve its human rights situation and contribute to the sound development of the global human rights cause.

Reuters: Was the Chinese ambassador invited to President Biden's inauguration ceremony? "Taiwan's representative to the United States" attended the ceremony. I wonder what's your comment?

Hua Chunying: The Chinese embassy has received invitation to attend President Biden's inauguration ceremony. The Chinese side has extended congratulations to President Biden.

China's position is very clear and consistent. We are firmly against official interactions between the United States and the Taiwan region. We urge the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, prudently and properly handle issues relating to Taiwan and avoid undermining bilateral relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

CRI: The Constitutional Court of the Central African Republic announced the official result of the presidential election. Candidate of the ruling United Hearts Movement (MCU) and incumbent President Faustin-Archange Touadera won the election with 53.16 percent of the vote. What is China's comment?

Hua Chunying: The Chinese side has noted the recently-announced official result of the general election in CAR. We congratulates President Touadera on his re-election and believe that under his leadership, the CAR government and people will score new achievements on its path of peaceful rebuilding and national development.

CAR is China's good friend, good partner and good brother in Africa. China stands ready to work with CAR to further consolidate friendship and mutual trust, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and elevate bilateral relations to a higher level.

Reuters: Twitter has reportedly banned the account of the Chinese Embassy in the United States for violating its policy on dehumanization in relation to a tweet where the embassy said that in the process of eradicating extremism, the minds of Uyghur women in Xinjiang were emancipated and they are no longer baby-making machines. What's the ministry's position on this policy move by Twitter?

Hua Chunying: We noted the restriction Twitter has placed on the account of the Chinese embassy in the US. Its regulatory rules has come under much public attention. We also have concerns over this.

I'm sure you've all noticed how the United States is suffering under the severe impact of swarming conspiracy theories and disinformation on social media. China is also a major victim. As there is so much ugly disinformation on China's Xinjiang, the Chinese embassy in the US naturally has the responsibility and obligation to clarify things and present the truth.

We find Twitter's restriction on the embassy account baffling and hope it will uphold the principle of objectivity and impartiality instead of applying double standard. Greater efforts should be made to distinguish between disinformation, rumors and lies from facts and truth.

Lianhe Zaobao: China has announced sanctions on 28 persons on the U.S. side, but your press release only listed 10 names, so I wonder if you tell us the other names?

Hua Chunying: We have announced sanctions on U.S. persons who have seriously violated China's sovereignty and who have been mainly responsible for such U.S. moves on China-related issues. Those who are guilty know it only too well.

NHK: US President Joe Biden was sworn in today. What is China's expectation for the development of China-US relations? President Biden has also signed a number of executive orders, including on the US return to the Paris Agreement and World Health Organization (WHO). What is China's comment on this?

Hua Chunying: We congratulate President Biden on taking office. I've noticed that the American media say this turns a new page in American history. This morning, as I watched the fireworks display and heard the crowd cheering at the inauguration party, I did feel somewhat emotional. Indeed, it has been a very rough patch. After going though the trying days, the people of China and the United States deserve a better future, and we wish President Biden every success in state governance.

I noticed that President Biden has repeatedly stressed the term "unity" in his inaugural address, which is precisely what's needed in current China-US relations. Because over the past four years, a small number of anti-China politicians in the United States have lied too much out of their own political interests and incited too much hatred and division, and the people of both countries have all suffered because of it. Many people of insight from China, the United States, and the international community, all hope China-US relations will get back to the right track at an early date, and the two sides can work together to meet the major pressing challenges facing the world today.

Due to differences in social system, stage of development, history and culture, it is normal for China and the United States to have some differences. But as President Biden said in his inaugural address, democracy allows disagreement and "Disagreement must not lead to disunion". I think this should also be reflected in international relations. Countries with different social systems, cultural backgrounds and ideologies should and are fully able to coexist in harmony, engage in dialogue and cooperation, and jointly work for world peace, stability and development.

President Biden also mentioned that the United States "has too much to heal, much to restore". The same is true of China-US relations. In the past few years, the Trump administration, especially Pompeo, has laid too many mines, burned too many bridges and destroyed too many roads in China-US relations, which are waiting to be cleared, rebuilt and repaired. I think both China and the United States need to show courage and wisdom, truly hear, see and show respect to one another. This is what we should do as two major powers. This is also what the international community wishes to see. "We believe anything's possible if we set our mind to it." I believe that with the joint efforts of both sides, the "better angels" in China-US relations can overcome forces for evil.

China welcomes the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement, and we look forward to its positive contributions to combating climate change. The Paris Agreement is a result of multilateralism, which brings together countries around the world, strengthens the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and is an important legal instrument to guide post-2020 international cooperation on climate change. China is willing to work with the US side and the international community to meet common challenges, jointly promote the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, work together to build a win-win, fair and reasonable climate governance system, and contribute to the global low-carbon transformation and green post-pandemic recovery.

With regard to the retraction of the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, we all know that WHO is a specialized institution in the field of international health and plays an important leading and coordinating role in international anti-epidemic cooperation. China always maintains that all countries should actively support WHO's work and jointly safeguard international public health security. In particular, against the grim situation of the raging COVID-19 pandemic, we welcome the return of the United States to WHO, and we are willing to strengthen cooperation with the United States and other countries.

Reuters: That was a very positive summary of China-U.S. relationship, though it's impossible to ignore that on Biden's first day in office, his administration did several things that are potential warnings in the relationship. You've mentioned Taiwanese attendance at his inauguration as well as condemnation of the sanctions. Is there anything that the Chinese side is concerned about in the upcoming administration?

Hua Chunying: The importance of China-U.S. relations is self-evident. In the past few years, as you witnessed, some extremely anti-China and anti-Communist politicians of the Trump administration, represented by Pompeo, caused severe difficulties in China-U.S. relations by meddling in China's internal affairs and undermining China's sovereignty, security and development interests. It doesn't serve the interests and or meet the aspirations of Chinese and American people at all. In fact, many countries don't want to see that either. They hope China and the United States, the two largest economies and UNSC permanent members, can cooperate and contribute to world peace and development, which will be great news for many. I think this point is shared by all.

China's position on China-U.S. relations is consistent and clear. We have been stressing that China would like to strengthen dialogue and cooperation and properly manage differences following the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. China hopes the United States will meet us halfway. There's boundless potential in China-U.S. relations as long as we both demonstrate good faith and wisdom, truly hear what each other says, respect facts, and manage differences properly. That said, it is also our clear position that China will take firm reactions to all moves undermining our sovereignty, security and development interests.

Kyodo News: According to NDTV, satellite photos show China has constructed a new village in Arunachal Pradesh at the China-India border area. Is this true? Some analysts say this area has been under China's actual control for a long time. Can you tell us something about this?

Hua Chunying: First, I'd like to tell you that China's position on the east sector of the China-India boundary, or Zangnan (the southern part of China's Tibet), is consistent and clear. We have never recognized the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh" illegally established on the Chinese territory.

China's normal construction on its own territory is entirely a matter of sovereignty.

Bloomberg: We're wondering if China plans to send a delegation to the US to meet with the Biden administration? Thank you.

Hua Chunying: I have no information to offer at this moment.
NEW DELHI : Army Chief Gen MM Naravane on Thursday said India will face increasingly higher security challenges in tune with its rising stature and it must enhance indigenous defence capabilities to maintain strategic influence and freedom of action as external dependence for weapons creates vulnerabilities in times of crisis.

In an address at a seminar on Army-industry partnership, Gen Naravane talked about twin challenges of COVID-19 pandemic and the "belligerence" on the northern borders that his force faced in 2020, and said the government's focus on self-reliance will boost the country's overall strategic objectives.

He also said the unresolved borders and wars in the past with "our adversaries" challenge the myth of 'no conventional war', adding proxy war, 'Left wing extremism' and insurgencies are likely to keep the Army occupied.

"India is now a rising regional global power in Asia, more particularly in South Asia. As we rise in our stature and influence, we will face increasingly higher security challenges," he said at the seminar organised by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM).

Referring to increasing security challenges along India's unresolved Northern borders, he said a continuous and concerted capability building of the Army through modernisation to address these security challenges is a national imperative.

Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a tense standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months.

The Chief of Army Staff said India was lagging behind slightly considering the quick pace of defence modernisation being undertaken by its adversaries, and called upon the indigenous industry to invest in research and development to boost the country's overall military capabilities.

"The continuous and heavy dependence of the armed forces on equipment of foreign origin needs to be addressed in the right earnest through indigenous capability development and towards meeting the modern day defence requirements," he said.

"The defence industry is a big enabler for self reliance and capability building and it is a prerequisite to maintain our strategic influence and freedom of action," Gen Naravane said.

He further said: "We are committed to procuring indigenous equipment and weapon systems as nothing is more motivating for any army then to fight and win its wars with indigenous technologies and weapons."

Encouraging the private industry to take advantage of the government's reform measures to boost domestic defence production, he said the Army was strongly committed to support them.

"Our external dependence for weapons and ammunition creates vulnerabilities during times of crisis. However, in the past few years, we have tried to reverse this trend by boosting indigenisation and focusing on dual purpose high-end technology." he added.

"It may be noted that 75% of our priority one projects in the 13th Army plan, costing over 1,50,000 crore are supporting efforts towards the Make in India programme," Gen Naravane said.

At the seminar, an MoU was signed between the Indian Army and the SIDM that will provide for further impetus to indigenisation under the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative. This MoU was signed on the occasion of 25 years of Army-industry partnership with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) officials said.

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Johannes Vermeer's 'Girl with the Pearl Earring' is one of the most famous paintings in the world

Johannes Vermeer's 'Girl with the Pearl Earring' is one of the most famous paintings in the world for the use of light and captivate look on the woman's face, but a new project depicts the 'Mona Lisa of the North' in an entirely new way.

Microscope maker Hirox used a powerful 3D device to create the first 10 billion pixel that lets art lovers zoom and explore every detail, crack and secret that Vermeer may have hidden in the piece.

The team used an electronic microscope that magnifies the surface up to 700 times and took more than 9,000 photos of the painting, allowing them to see its true colors and different elevations created by the paint.

Zooming in on the pearl earring reveals the white paint stands out like a mound surrounded surrounding by cracks, while the white in her eye reveals the realistic shading technique.

The 3D scans also revealed Vermeer painted eyelashes on the woman, which was not previously known, and identified pigments used.

'Girl with the Pearl Earring' is an oil painting on canvas that was done by the Dutch artist in 1665.

It depicts a young woman wearing an exotic dress, head scarf and a very large pearl earring.

The painting is on display at the Muritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands where people from around the world travel to feast their eyes on the wondrous masterpiece.

Hirox's Emilien Leonhardt and Vincent Sabatier wanted to take a deeper look at the painting, not only to see more details, but to better understand Vermeer's style and work, according to Petapixel.

The microscope automatically focuses itself and snaps images of the painting, along with stitching the images together to create a panorama  a totally of 9,100 pictures.

 Slide me  The team used an electronic microscope that magnifies the surface up to 700 times and took more than 9,000 photos of the painting, allowing them to see its true colors and different elevations created by the paint. The scans show details of the pearl earing (pictured)

 Slide me  The 3D scans also revealed Vermeer painted eyelashes on the woman, which was not previously known, and identified pigments used. White led was found on the painting the originated in Northern England. Pictured is part of the woman's captivated eyes

 Slide me  There are two small yellow dots on the upper shoulder area and up-close shows the dots are much lighter than the dress and appear to have been intricately placed

The device is capable of magnifying specific areas of the painting up to 700 times.

The team placed the artwork on a table and let the microscope go to work.

It is designed with a motor that allows it to smoothly move back and forth to capture every inch of the painting.

'The Hirox software is automatically moving the lens up and down with very high precision, capturing a series of images at different focus [points] and combining them in one fully-focused image,' said Leonhardt.

'The motorized X/Y stage is then moving to the next position, creating a high-resolution panorama.'

Leonhardt and Sabatier targeted 10 areas of the painting to capture in super-high resolution that represented a 1.1 micron of the entire painting.

These images were used to create 3D stitched images of the surface that highlights the topography throughout painting  blue shows lower levels, while red represents the highest.

Using the 3D mode on the website created by Hirox, the white dot in the pupil grows into a mound surrounded by cracks and darker hues.

These images were used to create 3D stitched images of the surface that highlights the topography throughout painting  blue shows lower levels, while red represents the highest

Users can also see the detail of the iconic pearl earring and exotic dress worn by the woman.

There are two small yellow dots on the upper shoulder area and up-close shows the dots are much lighter than the dress and appear to have been intricately placed.

The 3D scans also revealed Vermeer painted eyelashes on the woman, which was not previously known, and identified pigments used.

Leonhardt and Sabatier were able to identify white lead that originated from Northern England, lapis lazuli ultra marine blue from Afghanistan, and cochineal red made from bugs in mexico.

Although the scan provides an incredible look at 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,' the project also allows historians to see the preservation of a painting and uncover any restorations.

One QAnon channel on Telegram with 40,000 subscribers noted that the last sentence of Eric Trump's farewell tweet - " . . . the best is yet to come!" - was also a common slogan for QAnon adherents, failing to mention that the phrase is a commonly used cliche. Another QAnon channel with 35,000 Telegram subscribers, devoted to the "Great Awakening," highlighted Trump's final remarks as president: "We will be back in some form - Have a good life. We will see you soon." "It simply doesn't make sense that we all got played," one QAnon channel on Telegram said. Some of the most notable figures in QAnon's online universe said they were having a change of heart. After Biden's inauguration, Ron Watkins  the longtime 8kun who critics have suspected may have helped write Q's posts himself, a charge he denies  said on Telegram that it was time to move on. "We need to keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able," said Watkins, who in recent months had become one of the loudest backers of conspiracy theories suggesting Biden's win was a fraud. "We have a new president sworn in and it is our responsibility as citizens to respect the Constitution regardless of whether or not we agree with the specifics," Watkins added. "As we enter into the next administration please remember all the friends and happy memories we made together over the past few years."

Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video In the mass deletion on "Qresearch", the anonymous moderator seemed to criticise Ron Watkins and his father, 8kun's owner, Jim Watkins, as well as a group of QAnon-supporting users, saying, "Q made you do NOTHING . . . he just kept you calm and sedated . . . what have you done as of late, beside waiting for things to get better?" Much of the forum was restored by the site's leaders shortly after. But it still potentially marked another end of an era, said Travis View, a researcher and co-host of the podcast "QAnon Anonymous," who called it another "sign that QAnon as we know it is collapsing." Neither Ron nor Jim Watkins responded to requests for comment. Graham Brookie, director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, which tracks misinformation, said QAnon followers are making increasingly illogical leaps as they struggle to make sense of developments. "It's something that has long been true of conspiracy theories: When they don't come to fruition, they shift their delusions to the next thing," he said. He noted how some comments posted below Trump's farewell video suggested that "it wasn't quite time for the Great Awakening, but it's coming soon and this is how."

Researchers said some QAnon supporters appear to be rethinking their commitment due to a range of factors, including Q's relative silence since the election, Trump's anticlimactic White House exit, and the Capitol insurrection, which resulted in more than 100 arrests and delayed the certification of Biden's victory by only several hours. But several feared that the rising intensity of those still committed to QAnon could create problems for years to come if a die-hard, militarised core persists in their belief that the US government is controlled by evil pedophiles who successfully subverted the Constitution. "What we're seeing is a trend in increasingly bunker-down, apocalyptic language," said Joel Finkelstein, co-founder of the Network Contagion Research Institute, a research group that studies online disinformation. "It's gone from (talk of) a revolution to a civilisation-ending kind of collapse." He and other researchers have also chronicled an increasingly global QAnon movement that could outlast its potential weakening in the United States as events and an aggressive crackdown by social media platforms limit the ideology's reach among Americans. The QAnon followings in Germany and Japan are particularly strong and growing, said Finkelstein, whose research group tracked a surge in QAnon terms the morning of the January 6 Capitol attack, including one that said "qarmyjapanflynn." "They're going to re-emerge at some point because they've internationalised," he said. "There's a metastasisation of QAnon from a national story to a global revolution."

QAnon adherents had long anticipated Trump's military strike against his foes, which they believed would play out like an action movie; the fact that Tuesday was "National Popcorn Day" on mainstream calendars seemed too perfect to be coincidence. Followers in recent days have seen coded messages everywhere: first lady Melania Trump's black-and-gray coat, worn in her final address, was said to resemble the TV static that would signal the media blackout of Trump's military takeover. Loading But on Wednesday, some promoters recognised that believers being confronted with the reality of QAnon's baselessness were in need of encouragement. One forum offered doubters a "FAT DOSE OF HOPIUM"  their jargon, meaning reasons for hope  and urged readers to "GET IN HERE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LOW." The thread used a nine-month-old Q post to suggest that Trump had coordinated another subtly brilliant move in his final hours in office: "He is metaphorically walking away in slow motion while the explosions go off behind him." One of the forum's moderators, "God_Bless_America1," posted a thread counselling that "POTUS has NOT let us down or failed, he has done all he could within his power and it is now going to be handing it to the military to take from here exactly as Q drop forecast." Uncertainty, the moderator added, would not be tolerated: "ANY dooming or negative comments clogging up the site pertaining to current situation will result in removal and ban if repeated." View said Inauguration Day had been seen as "a very special day in the QAnon community," but that the responses to real-world events have been mixed.

Believers, he said, appear to be splitting between those who see Biden's ascent to the White House as a sign that the Q's prophecies were wrong and those who think they were right but need to be recast for a Biden administration in which Trump remains secretly powerful and able to control events unfolding in Washington. "A minority are facing reality that Biden's going to be president," View said. "Others are coming to believe that the storm they were expecting is still going to happen but sometime during the Biden administration." The day also highlighted the deepening division between QAnon adherents and other far-right extremists, who have voiced growing doubts about Trump. A post in a channel for the Proud Boys said Trump had thrown Capitol rioters "under the bus" and called QAnon "a bolshevik lie." QAnon, as with most online creations, probably will not disappear soon. The night before Biden's inauguration, a small crowd of picketers rallied with signs urging "Repent or Perish" outside Comet Ping Pong, the DC pizzeria at the centre of Pizzagate  the 2016 conspiracy theory from which QAnon was born. View predicted that the QAnon community may shrink in the coming months but also become more fervent in their commitment to its ideas.
"Riverdale" Season 5 remains unstoppable despite the worsening coronavirus pandemic. In fact, KJ Apa already offered spoilers about the upcoming season.

In the previous seasons, Archie Andrews (Apa's character) and his pals successfully faced the biggest conflicts and powerful opponents.

As the story continued to get more exciting, the team had to halt for a moment and experience the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the ongoing health crisis, "Riverdale" continued to put the pieces together for its new instalment.

Even when there are already new protocols and COVID-19 testings which affect the whole production, Apa shared a sneak peek of what would happen in the show after the time jump.

"Riverdale" Spoilers: What "Riverdale" Season 5 Has To Offer

In a phone interview with ET Canada, the 23-year-old actor described the new set of the drama series as something "crazy."

"I had just got off a movie ['Songbird'], which was one of the first movies shooting since COVID, so I kind of knew what it was going to be like," he said.

Although he saw a different vibe now, he revealed that they are following strict rules to prevent the filming from getting shut down again.

He then further assured that there will be more to expect with the existence of time jump.

Instead of seeing Apa, Cole Sprouse, and Camila Mendes continue their teen lives, "Riverdale" creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa decided to get the show to jump seven years into the future.

According to Apa, his character Archie returns to the military during the time jump. The group then finds out that Riverdale has become a ghost town because of Hiram Lodge. Upon seeing their hometown, Archie decided to come back to put everything back into the right places.

"That's the one thing he has left, is Riverdale. He's hated to see it burn to the ground, so he wants to revive the town," Apa said of his character.

"Riverdale" Season 5 will also see a major shift in his character. This time, Archie matured a lot. The way he deals with everything is more of a man.

Elsewhere in the interview, he opened up about feeling lucky to be still working on the show. For five years, Apa has been reprising his role, and he is expected to continue in the next seasons.

The time jump will finally allow the actors and actresses to play at their own ages while still being able to stay in "Riverdale."

Season 5 of the hit series will arrive on January 20.

READ MORE: Drew Brees' Wife, Brittany, Reveals Husband's 11 Broken Ribs, More Injuries Throughout 2020

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Egypts economy is expected to robustly bounce back in 2022 driven by the projected increase of the real GDP to five percent, the diversity of the Egyptian economy sector, and the success of the current structural reforms, said Moodys.

Moodys projections were published in its Egyptian banks' macro profile report issued on Wednesday.

It also predicted Egypts economy to grow by 2.4 percent in the current FY2020/2021.

Moodys said that Egypt's macro profile reflects its large and diversified economy, reform track record, structural impediments that inhibit investments, and challenging credit conditions.

Moodys highlighted the inclusive procedures that Egypts government has been taking to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated economic repercussions, adding that these procedures have contributed to its positive outlook for the Egyptian economy.

Moodys also gave a stable outlook rate for the Egyptian banks based on their solid situation built on their finances and cash liquidity as well as the countrys economic reform programme that has benefited them.

It also gave Egypts sovereign credit a stable outlook, adding that it is expected to support banks performance.

Moodys stressed that Egypts expansion in its financial inclusion policy and the increase in Egyptian expats' remittances support the finance and monetary base of the Egyptian banking sector.

It added that borrowing on the part of the private sector is expected to rise by seven or nine percent during in FY 2020/21.

In the same vein, Moodys expected Egyptian banks equities to be stable thanks to the decrease in profit distribution that will contribute to alleviating the impacts of the decline in banks profits caused by the COVID-19 crisis.

Moreover, Moodys praised the decision of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) to loans instalment moratorium for six months, saying that it contributed to curbing the increase of stalled loans.

The decision was among the precautionary procedures package that the CBE has been taking to contain the impact of COVID-19 on the Egyptian economy since the onset of the pandemic in February 2020.

Egyptian banks cash liquidity is expected to remain solid, benefiting from deposit inflows that accounted for about 73 percent of the total assets of the banking sector through July 2020 and the balances exchange between banks, according to Moodys.

Since 11 May 2020, Moodys has kept Egypts long-term rating at B2 with a stable outlook.





Short link:


The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that a number of Georgias claims against Russia in connection with the August 2008 events in South Ossetia and Abkhazia were unfounded, the Russian Justice Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

"After a nearly 12-year consideration of the case, the ECHR came to a conclusion that the Russian Federation cannot be held accountable under the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms for incidents, which occurred when the Russian servicemen were repelling attacks of the Georgian army against a peacekeeping contingent and the local civilian population on August 8-12, 2008," the Justice Ministry said.

The ECHR did not back the Georgian authorities claims on alleged Russias incursion into South Ossetia on August 7, 2008, that is to say before the Georgian forces attack on Tskhinval, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry dismissed some conclusions of the ECHR, including on holding Russia accountable for incidents that occurred in South Ossetia and Abkhazia after August 12, 2008, highlighting that there was no direct evidence of Russian troops involvement in them.

"Such evaluation of circumstances of the Russian Federations participation in protecting the civilian population and preventing escalation of the armed conflict stems from the ECHRs extraterritorial jurisdictions concept, which runs counter to the position of the UN International Court and generally recognized rules of international law," TASS cited the ministryas saying.

The ECHRs ruling in the case "Georgia vs Russia (II)" does not demand any compensation.

According to Russian Representative in the ECHR and Deputy Justice Minister Mikhail Galperin, "the Georgian side in this case tried to prove, but without success, that the European Convention on Human Rights is applied not only in peaceful time but also during combat actions, effectively undermining the basis of the international humanitarian law." "We managed to convince European judges that the legal assessment of actions by the Russian Armed Forces in South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 8-12, 2008 is beyond their jurisdiction. Also, the ECHR did not confirm any single case of violation by the Russian servicemen of the civilian populations rights during the events of August 2008," he said.

The ministry provided evidence that Georgias claims were unfounded, including during the 2011, 2016 and 2018 public hearings and the questioning of witnesses and participants of events.
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0312gmat wrote:

Hello All,



I desperately need experts' advice.



I applied for Oxford Said & Cambridge Judge MBA in R1 and got accepted to both. Chose Oxford and paid deposit of 8900.

And applied to INSEAD in R2 and also got an offer today.



Oxford has been always my top choice (just because it is Oxford..), but now I am not sure.....



1) Brand Recognition - Oxford is well known to everyone, while INSEAD is well known to MBA people yet.

2) Deposit Paid - 8900 is a quite big amount of cash for me... that if I give up on Oxford, it goes into the bin.. any suggestion?

3) But INSEAD has a higher ranking & better career service/alumni pool.

4) International Visa - Not sure how it works for INSEAD graduates, but since 2020, UK school graduates can get 2 year working permit..



I am in a Tech field.

Please help! What shall I do?

Hi there,Happy to chime in here because I was in nearly the exact same position as you about 2 years ago. The only difference was that I got offers to all the schools you mentioned (INSEAD, Oxford and Cambridge) as an international applicant and received scholarships for all three in round 1.The points that you have raised there are all valid and should be considered. In the end it's all a very very personal choice and depends on what you want to get out of the MBA in the end. You decision will be and should be heavily impacted by- Your post MBA career goal- Your post MBA location- The Alumni you wish to connect withWith regards to your point1. Brand recognition - correct. INSEAD is very well known among the MBA/ business community but I would argue that outside of that circle, Oxford and Cambridge will carry a better name. Depends on where in the world you work afterwards an Oxford / Cambridge masters could carry more weight than INSEAD.2. You deposit - That is a large sum, but definitely take BB's advice and ask for a scholarship. It's very much doable if you structure the email well and ask in an appropriate manner. I was able to negotiate an extra 10k scholarship on one of my offers.3. INSEAD has better careers and alumni pool - Agreed. INSEAD just has the sheer strength in numbers of Alumni so it would serve you well in the future. What a lot of applicants miss however, is that that exposure Cambridge and Oxford opens you up to Alumni in the broader university and not just the MBA. For the careers service, it depends on what you want to get into afterwards and where. If you want to get into consulting pick INSEAD, if you are not sure and willing to open yourself up to new ideas and new fields then all 3 schools are quite similar.4. Work VISA - Great that you mentioned this because this is a very important point. If you want to work in the UK then Oxford and Cambridge is a good bet because of this new 2 year Visa situation (which my cohort missed out on). It makes a massive difference with UK work opportunities if your employer doesn't need to sponsor you for 2 years. I'm not sure of the situation in France or Singapore (depending which campus you pick for INSEAD) but the 2 year VISA is a big plus if you wish to stay in the UK.I picked Cambridge over INSEAD in the end because1. Financial - Cambridge gave me the most generous scholarship (The delta in  between INSEAD and Cambridge was substantial)2. Cambridge had a further reaching brand name3. I knew I had to fight for a job either way so I didn't see INSEAD giving me the extra boost that I needed in terms of recruitment.With those points said, it's a very personal point and your gut would be the best indicator of which choice to make to minimise your regret. 8K deposit is a large sum of money but to put it in perspective, it's 2 months of your working salary after you finish your MBA. Consider the type of friends you wish to have in the future, where you want to work and who you like to spend time with as the school will impact a lot of these factors.I hope that helps but feel free to DM me if you have further questions-D
Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2021 4:36 pm

Cascade Community Healthcare, formally known as Cascade Mental Healthcare, has opened a primary care medical clinic in Centralia to provide its patients with not just mental health care but physical care as well, all at one location.

Dr. Richard Stride, CEO of Cascade Community Healthcare, said that having both mental health services and a clinic to treat physical ailments will increase the ease of care for patients and providers.

Offering holistic health will be a first for Lewis County, and it will definitely be a benefit to our patients, Stride said. Providers can collaborate and deliver the best care because services are under one roof.

In the spring of 2020, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell announced that Cascade Community Healthcare would be receiving a nearly $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fund Cascade Primary Care Medical Clinic.

We knew it was a long shot to apply, and we are thrilled with the news. It fits with our long-term strategic plan, and its a win not only for our behavioral health agency but a win for Lewis County as well, Stride said last spring.

Nearly $6 million in grants went to behavioral clinics in Washington state. They were funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Senator Cantwell has worked with her colleagues to ensure clinics in Washington state are eligible for funding and has worked with clinics throughout the state to help them apply and get funding through the program, stated a press release from the Cantwells office.

The new clinic is in the building of the former Valley View Health Center walk-in clinic. It is staffed by four employees  a receptionist, two medical assistants and an advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP).

Lisa Archer, the clinics ARNP, and other clinic employees practiced medicine at the current clinic location with Valley View Health Center before Cascade took over, making the transition process pretty seamless.

Stride said he sees the combination of Cascades mental health services and the clinics services having a positive effect on the overall health of the community. If Cascade can offer well-rounded, full care to patients and those suffering from substance abuse, then the overall health of the community is expected to improve over time, he said.

(Opening the clinic) is something that Ive been wanting to do since I came to Cascade back in late 2013  to offer holistic health in a community thats many times not able to have it because its rural, Stride said.

Cascade Community Healthcare hopes to hold a ribbon-cutting and an open house to celebrate the opening of the clinic, but with the ongoing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stride said they are holding off at least until the spring.

Cascade Community Healthcare has been providing mental health care to the community since 1966. More information about the new clinic can be found by calling 360-330-9044 or on Cascade Community Healthcares website, https://cascadecommunityhealthcare.org/primary-care-program/.
She shot to fame on Too Hot To Handle last year.

And reality star Nicole O'Brien proved she is very much still as hot as she hit the beach in Dubai on Wednesday while sporting a tiny bikini.

The Irish beauty, 25, looked phenomenal in the sizzling two-piece which showcased her flat stomach and perky assets for all to see.

Sizzling: Nicole O'Brien proved she is very much still as hot as she hit the beach in Dubai on Wednesday while sporting a tiny bikini

Nicole looked incredible in the black two-piece which was adorned with writing while she kept things trendy with small black sunglasses.

Clearly having no intention of heading into the waters, her hair and make-up were preened to perfection as she made her way along the shore.

Nicole appeared on the Netflix dating show Too Hot To Handle, where a string of attractive contestants learned they'd win $100,000 if they had no sexual contact for four weeks. Each infraction took money off the total prize fund.

While she did not find love on the show, she went on to date her co-star Bryce Hirschberg after the show wrapped, making their relationship public in April.

Strutting her stuff: The Irish beauty, 25, looked phenomenal in the sizzling two-piece which showcased her flat stomach and perky assets for all to see

Hot stuff: Nicole looked incredible in the black two-piece which was adorned with writing while she kept things trendy with small black sunglasses

They called it quits later in the year due to the travel restrictions posed by COVID-19, as Hirschberg lives in Marina Del Rey, California, and O'Brien calls the UK home.

A representative for Hirschberg, 30, told People: 'I can confirm that Bryce and Nicole decided mutually to split early last week after months of trying to make a long-distance relationship work.'

Hirschberg also made a statement: 'After the many failed attempts to reunite due to quarantine and border restrictions, we decided that moving on and remaining friends would be our best option for the time being.

'Nicole is so lovely and if under less unusual circumstances Im sure that we couldve had an amazing relationship! I wish her the best because she deserves it.'

Calling quits: While she did not find love on the show, she went on to date her co-star Bryce Hirschberg after the show wrapped, making their relationship public in April

WOW! Clearly having no intention of heading into the waters, her hair and make-up were preened to perfection as she made her way along the shore

O'Brien told: 'He wasn't really my cuppa tea at the start. But getting to know him more and more, we formed a proper bond and connection.'

'Looking forward to (hopefully) seeing you soon,' she captioned a photo of them, to which he responded, 'One day.'

She recently put on a cozy display with fellow co-star David Birtwistle as they enjoyed a day at the park.

Another source told People that Hirschberg 'was spotted flirting with other women at his recent 30th birthday party last week in Los Angeles.'

For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
By John J. Metzler





Global migration which has surged in recent years has dropped dramatically since the COVID-19 virus closed national borders and restricted air travel. A recently released U.N. study estimates that the pandemic may have slowed the growth of international migrants by around two million by mid-2020, which is 27 percent less than the growth expected since mid-2019. Lockdowns and closed national borders in the United States and Western Europe have ebbed what was a rising tide in both legal and illegal migration.



Nonetheless, in a development clearly at odds with the pandemic, a caravan of 8,000 Honduran migrants is heading for the southern U.S. border in a bid to attempt to enter the U.S. under presumably looser restrictions from the Biden administration.



The report "International Migration 2020 Highlights," released by the U.N.'s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, provides estimates on the number of international migrants by country of destination.



The survey found that "two thirds of all international migrants live in just 20 countries. The U.S. remained the largest destination, hosting 51 million international migrants in 2020, equal to 18 percent of the world's total. Germany hosted the second largest number of migrants worldwide, at around 16 million."



"In 2019, the U.S. had the largest foreign-born population in the world, while Canada had the eighth largest," the report states. The document adds, "The U.S. hosted over 1 million refugees and asylum seekers in 2018, the majority, over 700,000, were asylum seekers. The U.S. also remained the largest recipient of new asylum claims in the world in 2018."



Interestingly India led the list of countries with the biggest diasporas in 2020 with 18 million going outside the country  many moving to the Arab Gulf states such as Kuwait and the Emirates as well as to the U.K. and U.S. Other major countries include Mexico and Russia with 11 million each.



Chinese migrants were the third largest foreign-born population in the world after Indians and Mexicans, with nearly 11 million Chinese migrants living outside of mainland China.



Approximately 281 million people were living outside their country of origin in 2020; two-thirds being labor migrants, especially motivated by better work opportunities. "The overwhelming majority of people migrate internationally for reasons related to work, family and study," the report adds. Most such labor movements are legal, regulated and mutually beneficial.



This certainly applies to Europe; Germany had the largest foreign-born population of any country in Europe; the number of immigrants rose by nearly 3 million between 2015 and 2019. The largest groups came from Poland, Turkey, Russia, and Syria. Germany equally hosts the largest numbers of refugees and asylum seekers within Europe.



Not surprisingly nearly two thirds of all international migrants live in high income countries, in contrast with 31 percent in middle income countries.



Yet, 80 percent of the world's refugees lives in low and middle income countries. Case and point, Kenya accommodates a huge refugee camp for Somalis, Turkey hosts four million Syrians, tiny Lebanon holds refugees of many regional conflicts comprising a third of its population, and Pakistan provides shelter for millions of Afghans.



The report states that refugees comprise around 3?percent of all international migrants in high-income countries. Yet refugees who flee their homelands due to a substantiated fear of political, religious, social persecution account for only 12 percent of all international migrants. Nonetheless between 2000 and 2020, people fleeing conflict, persecution and human rights violations doubled from 17 million to 34 million people.



In 2011 the so-called Arab Spring saw a series of political uprisings against entrenched largely authoritarian regimes throughout the Middle East. Governments in countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya fell to the rising tide of revolution which would soon turn full circle back to dictatorships but not after terrible socio/political disruption. Only Tunisia emerged a better place.



Syria remains in the midst of a gruesome civil war, and became the origin of 6.7 million refugees. Libya became the conduit for millions of illegal migrants fleeing into southern Europe, usually directed by brutal and organized human trafficking networks.



In Latin America, nearly 3 million Venezuelans had fled their country by mid-2019. Socialist Venezuela became the largest source country of asylum seekers, mostly fleeing into neighboring Colombia.



Cleary richer countries such as the U.S., Canada and European states serve as a magnet to migration, legal and otherwise. Creating a safe, secure, legal and mutually beneficial system remains a ongoing challenge for all.





John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism  The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China."



KYODO NEWS - Jan 21, 2021 - 20:12 | All, Japan

A Japanese high court on Thursday ordered the operator of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to pay damages to evacuated residents, but it overturned a lower court ruling that had also acknowledged the central government's responsibility over the 2011 nuclear crisis.

Among around 30 such lawsuits across the country, the decision of the Tokyo High Court was the first high court ruling absolving the state of responsibility, contradicting an earlier decision of the Sendai High Court in September that ordered both the state and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. to pay damages.

The government's failure to instruct Tepco to take measures against tsunami "is not found to be significantly unreasonable," Presiding Judge Akira Adachi said in handing down the ruling.

The lawsuit focused on the reliability of an official long-term quake assessment made in 2002, which has been used in previous rulings to determine the liability of the state and Tepco for their failure to prevent the nuclear disaster.

Adachi noted the assessment had caused a debate since its release, and that the government was unable to predict a huge tsunami.

Implementing measures such as constructing seawalls would not have prevented the tide from entering the nuclear plant, he added.

Thursday's ruling instead ordered Tepco to pay a total 119.72 million yen ($1.1 million) to 90 plaintiffs, more than triple the amount awarded in the lower court ruling.

In March 2017, the Maebashi District Court awarded a total of 38.55 million yen ($373,000) to 62 plaintiffs who evacuated from Fukushima Prefecture, including those who voluntarily left, acknowledging the government and the utility were negligent in preparing for a tsunami like the one that struck the facility.

The court said the disaster was caused by a failure to cool nuclear fuel as water entered turbine buildings through air supply openings in the wake of the tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake, crippling emergency switchboards.

The lawsuit was filed by a total of 137 plaintiffs relocated to Gunma Prefecture, eastern Japan, and elsewhere. They sought a combined 1.5 billion yen -- 11 million yen each -- in damages for emotional distress.

They were forced to leave their hometowns as three reactors suffered meltdowns at the plant after the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami hit northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011.

The plaintiffs said they had lost their livelihoods and faced inconvenience for an extensive period, and the amount they received under the current state compensation guidelines was not enough.

Related coverage:

Only 30% of Fukushima residents happy with disaster recovery progress

Melted fuel removal from crippled Fukushima reactor to be delayed

IAEA ready to send monitor team for Fukushima water release
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McGuigans appointment and new VP role comes at an unprecedented time of growth within the commercial development plans for VanadiumCorps green technologies to recover vanadium supply sustainably from many global sources

McGuigan is a Professional Geoscientist registered with the Association of Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia with 45 years of international experience

VanadiumCorp Resource Inc ( ) (OTCBB:APAFF) announced Thursday that geoscientist Paul McGuigan has joined its board of directors and its management team as vice president of business development.

The company noted that McGuigans board appointment and new VP role comes at an unprecedented time of growth within the commercial development plans for VanadiumCorps green technologies to recover vanadium supply sustainably from many global sources.

McGuigan is a professional geoscientist registered with the Association of Engineers and Geoscientists of the Province of British Columbia with 45 years of international experience in mineral exploration, deposit evaluation, mine operations, and corporate governance.

As a geochemical researcher, he developed mineral separation techniques commonly employed in exploration and heavy mineral sands mapping. First employed by Resource Associates of Alaska, Pechiney Ugine Kuhlmann, and Esso Minerals Canada, he operated in Canada and the US. For the last 34 years, McGuigan has managed the Cambria group of consulting companies in North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Southwest Pacific.

In civic service, he has served as a member of the Consulting Practice and the Geoscience Committees of the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia as a director of the BC Neurological Centre, and, lately, as past-president/director of the BC Centre for Ability Foundation.

I am pleased to join the team of VanadiumCorp during this exceptional period of technical discovery. The companys environmentally responsible, patented, hydrometallurgical processes for upgrading vanadiferous titanomagnetite and ilmenite concentrates promise to produce high-quality vanadium and titanium feedstocks, said McGuigan in a statement.

A reliable vanadium supply will anchor the production of electrolytes for the companys proprietary designs of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries. I look forward to contributing to the commercial development of the processes.

VanadiumCorp CEO Adriaan Bakker added: Pauls addition to our team is invaluable and very well timed as we commercialize our 100% owned, and green vanadium recovery process in Canada and select global jurisdictions. The market demand is growing rapidly for vanadium in energy storage and high-purity applications. Pauls resource development and technical expertise is critical to our vertically integrated strategy to commercially develop our clean technologies to align with the growing global demand for vanadium and environmentally friendly technologies in mining and energy.

Contact the author: patrick@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @PatrickMGraham
Fashion at the 59th Inauguration Day was highlighted by a former presidential candidate sporting a beige parka and knit patterned mittens - and its already a bobblehead.

While womens fashion gave nods to womens suffrage, Shirley Chisholm - the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first Black major-party candidate to run for U.S. president - the days viral fashion moment went to the practically dressed U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vermont, the Associated Press reports.

An image of Sanders wearing comfy, warm attire while watching the outdoor inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, Jan. 20, has become a pop culture moment with memes littering the internet.

Within 24 hours, the viral fashion moment was commemorated with a bobblehead. Its on online pre-sale for $25 from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum.

#TBT - Sharing a deleted scene from #ShawshankRedemption with Bernie (Bernie Sanders) , Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding. Posted by Morgan Freeman on Thursday, January 21, 2021

Okay one last Bernie Sanders meme, I promise. pic.twitter.com/hnW2ElnlJE  KD  (@notkdk3) January 21, 2021

Picked up a new Foo yesterday! #feelthebern @foofighters @berniesanders Posted by Chris Shiflett on Thursday, January 21, 2021

BERNIE SANDERS GHOST HUNTER Posted by Adam Berry on Thursday, January 21, 2021

A rare* photograph of Senator Bernie Sanders and military surgeons during his April 1865 visit to the Army of the James.



(Library of Congress)



*Rare as in photoshopped. He just fit into this image too perfectly. pic.twitter.com/knHJ0uDheD  National Museum of Civil War Medicine (@CivilWarMed) January 21, 2021

Harris gave a nod to womens suffrage, Shirley Chisholm and her college sorority in pearls and purple, The AP reports. Former first ladies Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush also donned hues of purple. A social media campaign encouraged wearing pearls on Inauguration Day to support Harris, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, the first African American Greek-letter sorority; its founders are referred to as the Twenty Pearls. Every new member receives a badge adorned with 20 pearls.

READ MORE:

From Zingermans to the movies: Viral Bernie Sanders mitten meme hits Ann Arbor

Fish sorting channel, park construction underway in Northern Michigan

Northern Michigan official holds rifle during public comment about gun violence concerns

Michigan congressman backs bill to track domestic terrorism, stop neo-Nazis from infiltrating police
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21) - Following the unilateral abrogation of the 1989 University of the Philippines-Department of National Defense Accord, a bill was filed at the lower chamber that seeks to institutionalize state universities as freedom spaces.

Quezon City Rep. Christopher Belmonte filed House Bill No. 8443 or the "Academic Freedom Act of 2021."

"The bill aims to declare schools and state universities and colleges as freedom spaces where academic freedom is guaranteed. The bill also recognizes that SUCs can exercise their full acts of ownership over their property," the bill stated.

The measure would only allow uniformed personnel to enter campuses in cases of hot pursuit and similar occasions of emergency. They are not allowed to conduct operations inside without coordination with school administration.

The bill also requires prior notification of SUC official before search warrants or warrants of arrest are served on any student, faculty, employee, or invited participant in any school activity.

"In case of prior notification, the party serving the warrants shall coordinate closely with members of the SUC police or security force who shall accompany and assist them in the service of warrants," the bill read.

"No warrant shall be served without the presence of at least two faculty members designated by the appropriate SUC official," it added.

Moreover, the arrest or detention of any student, faculty, or employee the SUC anywhere in the country shall be reported immediately to the responsible head of the uniformed personnel enforcing the arrest or detention to the appropriate SUC official, who shall take the necessary action.

The measure also provides that uniformed personnel shall not interfere with any peaceful protests within SUC premises.

"No permit, written, or otherwise, shall be required by the national or local government for any person or persons to organize and hold a public assembly in SUCs," the bill stated.

The UP-DND Accord is an agreement that prohibits the military and other law enforcement officers from entering UP campuses without justification and prior notification.

READ: The 1989 UP-DND Accord: Content and context

The DND recently terminated the three-decade-old agreement with UP, citing the need to protect students from alleged recruitment by communist organizations.

Several senators recently filed a bill that seeks to institutionalize the accord by including it in the Republic Act No. 9500, which is an act "to strengthen the University of the Philippines as the national university."
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The expectations of President Joe Biden are enormous. They would be daunting for someone half his age. Some would say that for a 78-year-old, the oldest president ever to be inaugurated, they are simply unrealistic.

In short order Biden will be expected to heal the nations divisions, get Covid-19 under control, repair the economy, and restore Americas global leadership  to mend the damage done by four years of Donald Trump.

Theres the first problem. Trump has made clear that he is not going to fade away. Whether or not he runs again for the presidency in 2024, he will be the most influential Republican of them all  the 800-pound political gorilla, a constant menace and distraction to Bidens presidency. It could not be otherwise. Seventy-four million Americans voted for him, the highest ever for a Republican. The polls tell us that at least half of them do not condemn him for the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January.

Of course, his impeachment trial in the US Senate may find him guilty of inciting the riot and ban him from future public office. But for many, possibly most, of his supporters that would crown him with the martyrs halo, only adding to the charismatic attraction of the Trumpist cult.

In other words Biden will have his work cut out to heal Americas divisions. The Senate impeachment trial (and any other legal investigation of Trump) will not only emphasise how deep these divisions go, but will distract Senators from putting in place the building blocks of a new administration, such as approving the appointment of Bidens cabinet.

Put all this together  healing America, tackling the pandemic, reinvigorating a battered economy  and you can see why Biden in at least his first year will have to concentrate overwhelmingly on domestic issues. He is not going to have that much time for abroad.

That said, we know already the broad thrust of a Biden foreign policy: to restore ties with friends and allies; to return to multilateral diplomacy and the international institutions which Trump so despised, such as the Paris Agreement, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO); to stand up in the name of democracy to China, Russia and other dictatorships and tyrannies. And we know well the team that will implement this challenging policy. Tony Blinken, the new secretary of state, and Jake Sullivan, the new national security adviser, are old friends of the British embassy in Washington.

This is an agenda with which we in Britain can work because it reflects our priorities too. Of course there are potholes in the road. The new administration does not like Brexit. But so long as it does no harm to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement  which it certainly wont from the UK side  the essential pragmatism of US diplomacy will soon get used to our leaving the EU.

There is a view in parts of the Democratic Party establishment that Boris Johnson is a mini-Trump. That is another pothole to be filled. Though each may have said nice things about the other, when the rubber hit the road on climate change, the Iran nuclear deal and the WHO/WTO, Johnson made plain our fundamental disagreement with Trumps policies. For all Trumps verbal support, it proved impossible to conclude a trade agreement during his presidency.

Back in 2000, when the presidency was about to pass from Bill Clinton to George W Bush, I asked a senior White House adviser if Tony Blairs close friendship with Clinton would be a problem for the new president. By your works shall ye be known, came the typically Texan, biblical reply.

President Biden visits Britain in June for the G7 summit and again in November for the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. He will see for himself that our works are the basis for a close and mutually beneficial alliance.

Sir Christopher Meyer is a former British ambassador to the United States and a senior adviser at Pagefield Communications
FCC Asks Supreme Court to Roll Back Media Ownership Restrictions

The Federal Communications Commission urged the Supreme Court to relax rules limiting ownership of local media outlets, arguing that the restrictions are obsolete and unneeded.

Telephonic oral argument in FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project and National Association of Broadcasters v. Prometheus Radio Project, which were consolidated and heard together, lasted 81 minutes, exceeding the scheduled 60 minutes.

The hearing took place on Jan. 19, the Trump administrations last full day in office.

Republicans lost majority control of the FCC on Jan. 20, when Chairman Ajit Pai stepped down with the inauguration of President Joe Biden. Democrats are expected to have a 32 majority when a replacement is appointed.

Its been the position of the Republican-controlled FCC that as local media outlets face growing competition from the internet, current ownership restrictions are obsolete, especially the ban on owning a newspaper and broadcast outlet in the same market. Democrats tend to favor stronger restrictions to reduce concentrated ownership of media properties, but want rules that favor women and minorities.

The National Association of Broadcasters argued in a brief that the broadcast and newspaper industries continue to struggle under the dead weight of ownership restrictions.

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals prevented the FCC from loosening ownership rules, directing the regulator to study the potential effects of the changes on female and minority ownership in the media sector.

Pai had justified the challenged rule change, which permitted broadcasters to combine with a newspaper in the same market and own two of the top four stations in a city.

The media ownership regulations of 2017 should match the media marketplace of 2017, he said at the time, according to Variety, adding that the FCC was dragging the broadcast rules into the digital age.

Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm L. Stewart advanced the same line of reasoning during oral arguments.

Section 202(h) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 reflects Congresss conclusion that in light of intervening competitive developments, broadcast cross-ownership restrictions adopted in an earlier era may no longer be warranted, Stewart said.

To ensure that such restrictions do not remain in force simply through inertia, Congress required the FCC to reexamine those rules every four years and to repeal or modify any rules that no longer serve the public interest, he said, adding that in 2017, the FCC determined that some of its media ownership rules should be repealed and that its local television rules should be relaxed.

The profusion of new media outlets, particularly through cable and the internet, alleviated  viewpoint diversity concerns that had originally justified the restrictions. It further found that the rules disserved the public interest by preventing economically efficient combinations that would provide consumers better broadcast service.

In response to a question from Justice Clarence Thomas, Stewart said tougher regulation of broadcast media has been urged by some because the broadcast spectrum is scarce, not as many people can broadcast on the frequencies as would like to, and, therefore, its necessary to have a federal agency that allocates the spectrum and decides how it can best be used to serve the public interest.

But such enhanced regulation of cable and the internet isnt needed because one persons voice doesnt crowd out anothers, Stewart said.

National Association of Broadcasters attorney Helgi Walker said concerns about concentrated media ownership are overblown.

Amazon gets to own the Washington Post today. No one thinks thats the end of democracy. Its certainly not the end of democracy if a local broadcaster can buy a local newspaper and keep it alive, Walker told Justice Samuel Alito.

Justices Sonya Sotomayor and Elena Kagan challenged Stewart.

Im a bit confused. It seems to me that the FCC for decades has been saying that minority and women ownership  consideration of it is in the public interest, Sotomayor said.

Kagan said, Were you saying we dont think the changes in the rules will affect female and minority ownership or we dont have evidence of this?

We were saying the evidence is fragmentary, Stewart replied, but based on the evidence we have, our best assessment is there will not be a substantial effect. And the mere possibility that there could be such an effect is not a sufficient basis for foregoing regulatory changes that we would otherwise deem to be very desirable.

Speaking for the respondent advocacy groups, lawyer Ruthanne Mary Deutsch said the FCC had not engaged in reasoned decision-making.

Based on zero information about female ownership and a nonsensical analysis of badly flawed data on minority ownership, the agency repeatedly assured the public that consolidation would do no harm to either, she said.

The government now asks for deference. It says that the uncertainty was acknowledged, prediction is hard, and it argues essentially that because no harm was shown, there was nothing to be waived. But because the no-harm findings here were wholly arbitrary, to defer on this record would only encourage agencies to do sloppy work to avoid making tough choices.

Hyderabad, Jan 21 : The Covid vaccine acceptance rate among targeted beneficiaries in Telangana slumped to 57 per cent on Thursday, the fourth day of vaccination in the state.

Out of 48,447 public healthcare workers who were planned to be vaccinated on Thursday, only 27,682 were vaccinated.

This is the lowest acceptance rate recorded in the state so far. It was 92 per cent on the first day, which came down to 80 per cent the next day. According to officials, 71 per cent of targeted beneficiaries had taken the vaccine on January 18.

With Thursday's figure, the total number of public healthcare workers vaccinated so far in the state rose to 97,307.

Director of public health and family welfare Dr G. Srinivasa Rao said the cumulative percentage of beneficiaries received vaccine so far stands at 68 per cent.

The vaccination resumed on Thursday after a day's gap. The number of centres was brought down to 726 from 886 on January 19. No reason was given for this.

The authorities had given the vaccine at 140 centres on the first and increased the number to 335 the next day.

The director said no case of serious/severe AEFI (adverse effects following immunization) were reported on Thursday. Six minor AEFI were reported and all are stable, he added.

Vaccination was conducted in all 33 districts for the healthcare workers serving in central and state government institutions.

In all 83 beneficiaries developed reactions so far but all of them said to be minor reactions associated with all vaccines.

A 42-year-old male healthcare worker, who had taken the jab on Tuesday, died the next day in Nirmal district. The officials, however, said it was not related to vaccination.
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President Joe Biden signed a host of executive orders on Wednesday, his first day in office, targeting the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration, the economy and climate change.

Several orders aim to reshape or revoke policies set in motion by former President Donald Trump, who rolled back Obama-era environmental protections including vehicle fuel efficiency standards and greenhouse gas emissions requirements.

Bidens efforts to revisit Trump regulations could provide a boost to Massachusettss green economy, creating jobs while cutting pollution.

Heres how some of the climate proposals could impact Massachusetts.

Rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement

One of the Inauguration Day moves fulfills a Biden campaign pledge: to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement, the landmark accord of nearly 200 countries to address carbon emissions and ramp up production of low carbon and renewable energy.

Trump, who touted U.S. production of oil and gas and mocked multiple forms of renewable energy throughout his term, pulled out of the agreement last year.

The U.S. had committed to cutting overall greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels within the next five years. While many states including Massachusetts have passed legislation targeting lower emissions and ramping up renewable energy goals, the Paris Agreement called on the U.S. to implement state-by-state programs to decarbonize the power sector and improve fuel economy standards. The transportation industry accounts for 40% of New Englands emissions, according to state and federal officials.

Rejoining the Paris accord and Bidens climate and energy plan  which calls for ramped up production of offshore wind energy, electric vehicles and other green infrastructure  could boost jobs in the Bay State.

Support for the offshore wind industry would be welcome news for Massachusetts-based Vineyard Wind, developers of the nations first large scale wind farm in federal waters. The company says the wind farm, which has been delayed during reviews by the Trump administration, will power up to 400,000 homes and businesses statewide, while cutting carbon emissions by at least 1.6 million tons annually.

Whether ratepayers see energy bills increase or decrease as a result of Bidens overall climate plans remains to be seen. But solar and wind energy costs have fallen over the last several years and lawmakers say long term renewable energy production could create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs while blunting climate change and improving public health.

As of September 2020, the cost of electricity for Massachusetts residents was 21.5 cents per kilowatt hour, compared to the national average of 13.5 cents, according to the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The Paris agreement is a day one priority because it is a first, critical step in the right direction  we have much more to gain and still more to do in fighting the climate crisis, Sen. Ed Markey said in a statement Wednesday. We must commit to ambitious, necessary action to ensure the U.S. leads the way in creating a net-zero global economy by 2050 and create the long-overdue justice for frontline communities that have borne the worst burdens of our addiction to fossil fuels. We can deliver jobs and justice for Americans and make the Green New Deal a reality.

Fuel economy standards and oil drilling

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey and a host of others state attorneys general have taken the Trump administration to court multiple times over proposed rollbacks to energy and fuel efficiency standards.

Trump reversed a host of Obama-era environmental rules, pollution protections and restrictions on oil and gas drilling. In 2019, Trump also moved to block California from setting its own fuel economy standards in motor vehicles.

Massachusetts was already one of several states adopting Californias aggressive greenhouse gas emissions standards. Environmental groups and lawmakers like Markey noted that automobile makers were on track to improve average fuel efficiency quicker than what Trump called for.

Biden on Wednesday ordered federal agencies to review the Trump administrations new rules while theyre being challenged in court.

According to the Associated Press, Biden will require agencies to consider the impact of climate change on disadvantaged communities and on future generations when taking any regulatory action impacting fossil fuel emissions.

These moves could lead to even better gas mileage and fewer emissions from vehicles in Massachusetts and across the country, along with a heightened focus on environmental impacts seen in frontline communities and communities of color that are disproportionately affected by climate change and pollution.

The Massachusetts Senate and House on Monday passed a bill to make the state reduce its carbon emissions by at least 85% below 1990 levels by 2050, sending it to the governors desk Monday night. Lawmakers say the end goal is to get the state to 100% below 1990 levels or net zero over the next three decades.

State officials also hope to begin phasing out gas-powered cars and trucks, retrofit at least 1 million homes for energy efficiency and cut down on commuter miles traveled by 15%.

Boston city officials last year unveiled a Zero-Emission Vehicle Roadmap to pave the way for more charging stations in city neighborhoods, boosting sales of zero-carbon vehicles and electrifying and decarbonizing most of the municipal fleet over the next few decades.

Biden also called on the Department of Interior to review the boundaries of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which covers about 5,000 square miles roughly 150 miles southeast of Cape Cod. President Barack Obama banned mining, oil and gas drilling and commercial fishing in the area, though he included a seven-year extension for the lobster and red crab industries. But Trump shrunk the protected area, prompting the review from Bidens team.

Related Content:
As San Antonio City Council elections start to ramp up, one District 2 candidate has vastly out-raised all his opponents so far, including incumbent Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan.

Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, 25, raised almost $17,600 from 423 donors in 31 states during the Sept. 8-Dec. 31 reporting period. Andrews-Sullivan, his former boss, reported just three contributions for a total of $1,040. Other candidates reported less than $2,000 or no money raised at all.

McKee-Rodriguezs report showed 161 San Antonians contributed a total of $7,951. The rest of the contributions came from all four corners of the continental United States plus Hawaii.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio mayors race off to slow start as campaign dollars trickle in amid coronavirus pandemic

McKee-Rodriguez, who grew up in a military family, said hes receiving donations from people he came to know while moving around the country with his parents. Contributions also came from people he met while studying at the University of Texas at San Antonio but who have since moved away, he said.

Young people in San Antonio, we want to get them to stay, but theyre choosing to go other places, McKee-Rodriguez said. Those people are choosing to invest in me and invest in the campaign that were building to say we want to make District 2 a place for young people who want to choose to stay.

McKee-Rodriguez has lived in Texas for seven years and in District 2 for three years. He worked for Andrews-Sullivan as her director of communications from June 2019 through December 2019.

Currently, hes a math teacher at James Madison High School.

Andrews-Sullivan, who is running for a second term, received $500  the maximum allowed for council district races  from the San Antonio Professional Fire Fighters PAC and $500 from Martin & Drought, a San Antonio-based law firm. The other $40 came from developer Mitch Meyer.

Andrews-Sullivan was unavailable for comment Wednesday due to a family emergency.

On ExpressNews.com: Black Lives Matter organizer announces run for San Antonio City Council seat

So far, there are seven candidates running for the District 2 seat, which mainly encompasses the East Side. Deadline to file for office is Feb. 12

Dori Brown, 52, had $1,530 in monetary contributions and $377 in-kind contributions. Brown is a tax preparer and former aide to the late Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon.

Nneka Cleaver, 46, has raised about $1,336, while Carl Booker has raised $800 in monetary contributions and $500 in-kind contributions.

Cleaver, a community activist, co-owns Black Business SA, which provides resources for Black-owned businesses. Booker is chairman of Blackbook Studios and owner of Black Video News and Avista Products, an advertising agency.

Kristi Garza Villanueva, 48, president of the West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, just announced in January that she was running and thus didnt file a finance report.

Pharaoh Clark, 33, a Black Lives Matter organizer, also didnt have any contributions or expenses during the reporting period because he didnt start fundraising until this year but he filed a report anyway to ensure transparency.

A lot of people were struggling, Clark said, citing financial hardships caused by the pandemic. I wanted to kind of wait a little bit before I just started hitting and requesting funds from people until we were just a little bit more stable.

Clark is a personal chef and caretaker for senior citizens.

All 10 City Council seats, as well as the mayors position, are up for election on the May 1 ballot.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Crowell & Moring is expanding its Litigation and White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement groups in San Francisco with the addition of Warrington Parker, a former federal prosecutor and first-chair trial lawyer with more than two decades of experience representing clients in high-stakes civil and criminal litigation and investigations.

Parker has tried over 20 cases to verdict, including matters related to securities fraud, money laundering, employment discrimination, racial discrimination, wrongful termination, copyright, trade secrets, violations of California bond measures statutes, product liability, product defect, and breach of contract. He has extensive experience in commercial and technology litigation, as well as False Claims Act investigations.

Parker previously served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California's Criminal Division.

"Warrington is a seasoned trial attorney with a track record of guiding clients successfully through complex litigation, both criminal and civil, as well as helping clients navigate significant white-collar matters," said Philip T. Inglima , chair of Crowell & Moring. "His addition bolsters our strong litigation, regulatory enforcement, and investigations teams in California, and we are most pleased to welcome him to the firm."

Parker has conducted internal investigations on behalf of companies and boards of directors, both nationally and internationally, including FCPA and financial irregularity investigations in China, Japan, and India. His clients include eBay, Instacart, and StubHub. American Lawyer's Litigation Daily named Parker and a team of lawyers from his previous firm as "Litigator of the Week" for securing a win for Oracle in a major case brought by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. A U.S. Department of Labor administrative law judge ruled that there was no evidence of systemic workplace discrimination at the company.

"Warrington is a proven white collar defense lawyer and former federal prosecutor who will strengthen our growing white collar practice in California. He has a stellar reputation for successfully handling high stakes matters where clients face reputational risk and existential threat," said Daniel Zelenko , chair of the firm's White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group.

"Warrington is a veteran litigator who knows his way around a court room and the board room. He will help expand our commercial litigation capabilities, particularly in the technology community in the Bay area," said Jennifer Romano, co-chair of the firm's Litigation Group.

Parker joins the firm from Orrick, where he was co-chair of its diversity committee. Prior to that role, he served as co-chair of Heller Ehrman's Appellate Group and head of its diversity committee.

"Crowell's collaborative and entrepreneurial culture will benefit my clients and practice," Parker said. "I am thrilled to work with the firm's talented lawyers, many of whom I have known and respected for years."

Parker received his bachelor's degree from Princeton University and his law degree from Harvard School of Law, where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. He currently serves as co-chair of the American Bar Association's Criminal Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

About Crowell & Moring LLP

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 550 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory and policy, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity, equity, and inclusion. The firm has offices in Brussels, Doha, London, Los Angeles, New York, Orange County, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C.

Media Contact:

An Pham

Senior Communications Manager

+1 202.508.8740

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Crowell & Moring LLP

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Vice president sales and strategic alliances Aaron Archibald told investors that Lanphears appointment will allow the company to focus on increasing opportunities to partner with marketing partners in the region

Lanphear has 23 years of experience as a regional sales manager for the greenhouse, shade, shelter and playground industries

( ) ( ) has appointed Darla Lanphear as its head of sales for Canada, Mexico and the US, it announced Thursday.

Lanphear has 23 years of experience as a regional sales manager for the greenhouse, shade, shelter and playground industries, most previously responsible for East Coast territory sales at Paul Boers Manufacturing.

CO2 Gros vice president sales and strategic alliances Aaron Archibald told investors that Lanphears appointment will allow the Toronto-based company to focus on increasing opportunities to partner with marketing partners in the region.

"The significant interest and associated sales activity in CO2 Delivery Solutions now requires a dedicated greenhouse sales and marketing professional with long term experience in the covered grow industry to capitalize on the increasing business development opportunities in the MCA region, Archibald said in a statement.

Darla brings 23 years of sales and marketing experience in the MAC greenhouse industry as well as extensive industry contacts. We are delighted to welcome Darla to our management team and look forward to working with her to further develop the business and enhance shareholder value."

CO2 Gro's CO2 Delivery Solutions helps all greenhouses achieve up to 30% more plant yield consistently throughout the year. The companys 2021 target market is the 50 billion square feet of greenhouses and covered cultivation facilities globally  80% of which cannot use CO2 gassing due to heat venting, porosity or CO2 usage cost.

Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Design and Remodeling Show, that has been delivering South Florida's most recognized expos to the local market for over 40 years, is expanding its interior design and home improvement show to Palm Beach County.

Leading the way in home design innovation, the Home Design and Remodeling Show is the perfect one-stop shop destination for all home products and services like interior design, flooring, home automation, security, kitchen remodeling, custom closet design, home decor, impact windows, solar, landscaping, patio furniture, hot tubs and pools; the list goes on and on.

The Home Design and Remodeling show is not only for homeowners to meet experts and become inspired. Industry professionals attend to discover businesses to source from for new projects, while exhibiting businesses have access to the ultimate marketing platform, providing the opportunity to connect with thousands of qualified attendees when exhibiting at the show. Recognized as the largest home improvement and design marketplace in Florida, Home Show Management Corporation proudly serves to boost not only sales and leads for participating businesses from its Shows, but also exposure and brand recognition from its long-standing local reputation.

Karen Johnson, President of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie Realtors, has been seeing an all-time high real estate market with a massive amount of growth and relocation to Palm Beach County.

"With the influx of closed sales and an increase need for home improvement, we're proud to be a sponsor of the Palm Beach Home Design and Remodeling Show," said Johnson. "Attendees will be inspired by the thousands of home design products to choose from and will experience these wonderful home services and vendors all in one place"

With so much of the growth and families relocating to Palm Beach, it is an exciting time to connect and encourage new local homeowners, interior designers, architects and industry professionals to get ideas, insights with experts and meet the companies located in their market to make their home, their own. Especially at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the Home Design and Remodeling Show to postpone all in-person events. It will safely return back and better than ever for its Palm Beach launch, from May 28th through the 31st, now with new online resources for the latest tips, trends, information and inspiration.

About the Home Show Management Corporation :

For more than 40 years, Home Show Management Corp. has been bringing together industry-leading professionals from the entire spectrum of home renovation products and services in South Florida. With home renovation shows in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach every year, the Home Show always features the latest trends and brands in the home improvement industry. Due to its regular interactions with the local market, Home Show Management Corp has established strong relationships with many of the best companies in the area to allow home improvement events to consistently meet impressive standards in terms of quality and size. Learn more at https://homeshows.net/.

Contact :

Adam Kayce

President

Home Shows Management Corp.

[email protected]

SOURCE Miami Home Design and Remodeling Show

Related Links

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Guatemalan officials on January 16 estimated that at least 9,000 Honduran migrants entered Guatemala in hopes to reach the United States border. According to Associated Press, the migrants pushed past about 2,000 police and soldiers posted at the border and they entered without showing the negative coronavirus test that the country requires. The migrants are seeking to escape poverty, unemployment, gang and drug violence and the aftermath of two devastating hurricanes. Most of the migrants travelled on foot, planned to head first to Mexico and then on to the US.

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei issued a statement calling on Honduran authorities to contain the mass exit of its inhabitants. The President said that the government regrets the violation of national sovereignty and calls on the government of Central America to take measures to avoid putting their inhabitants at risk amid the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. The police officials, on the other hand, said that the migrants were allowed to cross into Guatemala because there were many families with children.

According to reports, two groups of 3,000 Honduran migrants had pushed their way into the Central America country without registering. A third group had also entered Guatemala on Saturday. They had set out from San Pedro Sula and some of the migrants had caught rides while other walked along the highway escorted by police.

READ: UN: Pandemic Reduced Migrants By 2 Million By Mid-2020

READ: Stuck In Bosnia, Migrants Sleeping Rough Face Up To Winter

New humanitarian challenges

As the migrants moved northwards, workers with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees provided some with assistance. In a statement, Red Cross said that the combination of COVID-19, social exclusion, violence and climate-related disasters that occur at the same time with a magnitude seldom seen before in Central America raises new humanitarian challenges. It is worth noting that the Honduran migrants are seeking a better life in America under Joe Bidens administration after years of tough anti-migrants policies under outgoing US President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, earlier this week, the 11-nation Regional Conference on Migration expressed concern over the exposure of irregular migrants to situations of high risk to their health and their lives, primarily during the health emergency. Mexican officials have also said that they had discussed migration with Bidens pick for national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, and raised the possibility of implementing a cooperation program for the development of northern Central America and southern Mexico, in response to the crisis caused by the pandemic and the recent hurricanes.

READ: Thousands Of Honduran Migrants Marching North

READ: Migrants In Bosnia Face Hardship As Temperatures Drop

Washington, D.C.  In the digital age, many assets must change hands during a presidential transition.

Just moments after President Joe Biden took his oath of office to become the nations 46th president, a flipping of the switch occurred for online communications.

Action News Now Morning Anchor Julia Yarbough tracked the digital transition.

Shortly before 9 oclock Wednesday, January 20, 2021; a visit to the website, White House.Gov displayed the staff, policies and press release updates from former President Donald Trump.

Throughout the website one could find information and images depicting a national team representing little diversity matching that of the nation. Those leaders included members in charge of national departments and those making policy decisions impacting millions.

White House.Gov offered a clear picture of Mr. Trumps vision for the United States, including a tough stance on immigration, outlining policy and images of Mr. Trumps signature border wall.

Then moments later a transition took place offering web visitors a stark difference as President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris took their oaths of office.

White House.Gov now outlines the vision for President Biden and his policy goals. A scroll through the site leads one to find a large focus on fighting covid-19, proposals to boost the economy, a detailed focus on the environment and mention of a vision to address racial inequities throughout government and societal platforms.

Images also show history unfolding, with the first female and first woman of color to serve as Vice President; Kamala Harris.



President Bidens nominated cabinet team is also touted as the most diverse in presidential history. If all are confirmed, the administrations team will include the first Native American, the first openly gay man, and African American men would lead the Pentagon and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Another visible and notable difference between how the two administrations might govern differently is in language offerings.

The Biden White House.GOV includes a Spanish language section. That had been removed during Mr. Trumps time in office.

The Spanish language portion went dark in 2017. At that time, the White House Press Secretary said it would be restored, but that never happened.

An item that remains unchanged, is the ability of the public to sign up to receive information and updates from the White House to their email in-boxes.
(Newser)  In Hawaii, she was known among her colleagues as "interpreter royalty." To the Aloha State's deaf community, Patty Sakal was simply the one who kept them in the know on all the news of the day. Now, sad news from our westernmost state: Sakal has died of COVID. Her sister, Lorna Mouton Riff, tells the New York Times the 62-year-old died on Jan. 15 in San Diego, where she'd gone in December to see one of her daughters. Sakal was a Honolulu native who was born to deaf parentsher mom was a well-known activist for the deaf community, and her dad was the first deaf instructor at the Hawaii School of the Deaf and Blindand so gained firsthand experience in American Sign Language. "Sometimes in life, your career finds you ... and that was so much so for Patty," Riff tells Hawaii News Now. "She was trusted by the deaf community because she grew up in it."

story continues below

During the pandemic, the mother of three and grandmother of two became a familiar face at press conferences, for both Kirk Caldwell (Honolulu's former mayor) and Gov. David Ige. What made Sakal even more in demand than other interpreters: She not only knew ASL, but also HSLHawaiian Sign Language, an Indigenous variant that takes local vernacular into account, with a dwindling number of people who use and understand it. Riff tells the Star-Advertiser that her sister had been "extremely nervous" to travel to San Diego, but that she really wanted to see her daughter, a US Navy service member, before she deployed. Riff adds that one of Sakal's other daughters is a respiratory nurse in Texas, and that Sakal took every safety precaution possible while traveling. "She did not have a nonchalant attitude about this virus," Riff says. "This should have never happened. This is heartbreaking." (Read more coronavirus stories.)
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi will be given the Covid-19 vaccine shot in the second stage of the ongoing mass vaccination drive in the country. Sources said that the Prime Minister all other chief ministers will be administered the COVID-19 vaccine dose after the first phase of mass vaccination ends.

It has also been reported that along with PM Modi, other leaders, bureaucrats, government officials aged over 50 years will also be vaccinated in the second phase of the vaccination. As per the plan, the COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to people above 50 and those with comorbidities in the second phase of vaccination.

The move will instil confidence among the general public amid concerns over the efficacy and safety of the two Covid-19 vaccines approved by the Drugs Controller General of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on January 16 launched Indias vaccination drive against the coronavirus. Terming it as the worlds largest vaccination programme" covering the entire length and breadth of the country, the government said that a total of 3,006 session sites across all states and Union territories were virtually connected during the launch.

PM Narendra Modi had urged citizens not to ignore the second dose of the vaccine and told them to ignore rumours about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Prime Minister said that there are only three countriesIndia, the US and Chinathat have a population of more than 30 crore people. In the first round itself, 3 crore people, which is more than the population of at least 100 countries of the world, are being vaccinated. This needs to be taken up to 30 crore in the second round when the elderly and people with serious co-morbidities will be vaccinated," PM Modi said.

The Union Health Ministry said that 1,91,181 people were vaccinated across India on the first day of the drive. The Prime Minister asked citizens not to ignore the second dose of the vaccine and said that 30 crore people would be inoculated by the second phase of vaccination.

The Centre also issued guidelines to states and Union Territories. It said vaccination is allowed only for those who are above the age of 18 years. Women who are pregnant or not sure of their pregnancy and lactating mothers should not receive the jibe.

India registered 15,158 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the overall count to 1,05,42,841. The countrys toll rose by 175 to 1,52,093. Indias active cases stood at 2,11,033, while the number of recoveries reached 1,01,79,715.

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We will surround the m-----f------ White House and we will kill any m-----f------ Democrat that steps on the m-----f------ lawn, a man alleged to be Capriotti could be heard saying in a distinctly south suburban Chicago accent. If they think that Joe Biden is going to put his hand on the Bible and walk into that f------ White House on January 20th, theyre sadly f------ mistaken.
Search interest for terms like 'Third Party' and 'Patriot Party' rose, with 1,31,000 mentions of the new outfit across social media, other media and online sites between 19 and 20 January

As he boarded the Air Force One on the last day of his tenure as President, Donald Trump on Wednesday told a crowd we will be back in some form. Shortly after, Wall Street Journal reported that he had discussed the possibility of setting up a new political outfit Patriot Party'.

The development came after several Republican leaders criticised Trumps role in the 6 January US Capitol riots that resulted in five deaths.

In his strongest public rebuke of Trump yet, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday said rioters who attacked the Capitol were fed lies and provoked by the president and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence in an attempt to stop and overturn the certification by Congress of Democrat Joe Bidens 3 November election victory.

Search interest for terms like Third Party, New Party, or Patriot Party rose, with 1,31,000 mentions of the new outfit across social media, broadcast, traditional media and online sites between 19 and 20 January, according to a Forbes report.

Trumps third front may dent the traditional GOP vote. Wall Street Journals Andrew Restuccia noted, "The president has a large base of supporters, some of whom were not deeply involved in Republican politics prior to Trump's 2016 campaign."

Despite his baseless claims about a fraudulent election outcome and a second impeachment process, several Republicans seemed to have remained loyal to Trump, making the threat for the Grand Old Party graver if the former president floats the Patriot Party. Apart from the support for him being evident in the significant number of votes in the 2020 polls, a Morning Consult-Politico survey published last week found 42 percent of Republicans say they would support Trump if he ran in 2024, a decrease of 13 percentage points from November but still significant.

In the history of US Presidential elections, third party runs have often run into failure. Through third party candidates played a role in posing some challenge to Trump and his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, former Republican president Teddy Roosevelts run as a member of the Bull Moose party in 1912 ended in failure. His presidential pursuit led to the splitting of votes with GOP candidate William Howard Taft, resulting in the victory of Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

The most recent third party candidate to win more than 5 percent of the vote in a presidential election was Ross Perot, a tech entrepreneur who ran as an independent and as standard-bearer of the Reform Party in 1992 and 1996, winning 18.9 percent and 8.4 percent of the vote respectively.
New Delhi: Farmer union leaders will meet on Thursday to decide on Centres latest offer to suspend the three controversial farm laws for over a year to end the ongoing protest in the national capital, which has now entered its 57th day.

Notably, the Centre had on Wednesday proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one and half years during which a solution "can be reached with mutual dialogue" to end the stalemate.

However, farmer leaders did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will revert after their internal consultations. Yielding some ground to end the nearly two-month-long protest by thousands of farmers on the national capital borders, the government also proposed to set up a joint committee to find an amicable solution in the interest of the farming community.

During their tenth round of negotiations with three central ministers, the two sides decided to meet again on Friday after the union leaders hold their own internal consultations on Thursday to decide on the government's new proposal.

Briefing media after a nearly five-hour-long meeting that included two breaks, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government has proposed to suspend implementation of the three laws for 1-1.5 years, during which period a joint committee of representatives from the government and farmers' sides can continue their talks and those protesting on Delhi borders in extremely cold weather return to their homes.

The three laws have already been stayed by the Supreme Court till further orders and a committee of experts has been formed to resolve the deadlock. The panel has been asked by the apex court to submit its report within two months after consulting all stakeholders. The committee held its first meeting on Tuesday and will begin its consultations with farmer groups and others from Thursday.

After the meeting, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ugrahan) president Joginder Singh Ugrahan said, "The government proposed to suspend the farm laws for one and a half years. We rejected the proposal but since it has come from the government, we will meet on Thursday and deliberate over it."

Another farmer leader Kavitha Kuruganti said the government also proposed to submit an affidavit in the Supreme Court for suspending the three farm laws for a mutually-agreed period and set up a committee. Kulwant Singh Sandhu of Jamuri Kisan Sabha said, "The government is on backfoot and it has started yielding ground to us."

Earlier during the meeting, the government also again offered to amend the three laws but farmer leaders stuck to their demand for a complete repeal and alleged that the Centre was avoiding discussion on a legal guarantee for MSP.

Farmer leaders said there was no breakthrough in the first two sessions as both sides were stuck on their stated positions vis-a-vis the three farm laws and it was clear from the very beginning that there was little hope of any outcome other than fixing the date for the 11th round. Tomar, however, said the government was keen to reach a final decision in today's meeting on the auspicious day of Gurupurab and therefore it started with greetings for the occasion.

"The government was ready to discuss provisions of the laws with an open mind and a big heart," he said. The minister said the talks were held in a cordial atmosphere despite some 'naram-garam' moments (softening and hardening of the stand) and farmers remained adamant on their demand for the repeal of the laws. He, however, asserted that some headway was made towards reaching a solution in the next meeting to end the agitation.

"It will be a victory for Indian democracy the day farmers' agitation ends and they return to their homes," he said in reply to a question whether it would be a victory for the farmers or the government. Asked whether the January 22 meeting at 12 pm could be the last one, Tomar said he is hopeful of reaching an amicable solution in the next round of talks.

The minister said the new proposal has been made to allay farmers' apprehensions and instill confidence that the government is ready for discussion with an open heart.

"The Supreme Court has stayed the agri-reform laws for a short duration. Their implementation will not happen for some time. But, we have been telling the unions that it will require more time to consider the laws and to discuss other aspects related to the agitation. The required time maybe six months, one year or one and half years," he said.

"Therefore, we told the unions that the government is ready to put on hold the implementation of the laws for 1-1.5 years. I am happy that the farmer unions took this proposal seriously on the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh," he said.

Asked whether the proposed committee will continue alongside the SC-appointed expert panel, Tomar said, "The government is committed to the Supreme Court and will remain so. The committee appointed by the apex court is doing its job, but the government also has direct accountability towards farmers and the situation arising out of the protest. Therefore, we are taking forward this discussion while discharging our responsibility."

The modalities of the proposed panel, including the number of members, can be finalised after the two sides reach an in-principle agreement on this proposal, the minister said. At the meeting, farmer leaders also raised the issue of NIA notices being served to some farmers, alleging it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, to which the government representatives said they will look into the matter.

The meeting began at around 2.45 pm with the three ministers greeting farmer leaders on the occasion of Gurupurab and the two sides took a lunch break after around one hour of discussions when farmer leaders had langar food.

The meeting resumed at around 5.15 pm after the lunch break, but the two sides took another break at around 6 pm during which the farmer leaders discussed the government proposal for suspending the laws for a fixed period of time.

Kuruganti said the meeting began with the NIA issue, followed by unions' demand for a repeal of the laws. The farmer leaders presented multiple Parliament replies given by the agriculture minister where he had stated that agriculture is a state subject, while one reply mentioned even agri-marketing as a state subject.

"The government offered to carry out some amendments, but farmer leaders maintained they do not want anything less than a complete repeal of the laws," union leader Rakesh Tikait said.

Tomar was accompanied by Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, at the talks with 41 representatives of farmer unions at Vigyan Bhawan here. Before the meeting, the three ministers also met senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The tenth round of talks was initially scheduled on January 19, but later got postponed to Wednesday. In the last round of talks, the government had asked protesting farmers to prepare a concrete proposal about their objections and suggestions on the three farm laws for further discussion at their next meeting to end the long-running protest.

But, unions stuck to their main demand of a complete repeal of the three Acts. Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws.

Farmer groups have alleged these laws will end the mandi and MSP procurement systems and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporates, even as the government has rejected these apprehensions as misplaced. Earlier in the day, a group of farm union leaders met top officials of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police to discuss the route and arrangements for their tractor rally on January 26 to protest against the three farm laws.

But the unions rejected a suggestion by police officers to hold their rally on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway instead of Delhi's Outer Ring Road, sources said.

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[January 21, 2021] AlphaSense Expands Wall Street Insights with Addition of Credit Suisse Research

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AlphaSense, the search engine for market intelligence, today announced that equity research from Credit Suisse, ranked amongst the top research firms globally, will now be offered through the AlphaSense platform on an expanded basis, adding aftermarket distribution. AlphaSense expands Wall Street Insights with addition of Credit Suisse Research, ranked amongst the top firms globally The expansion represents the most recent addition to Wall Street Insights, a collection that AlphaSense launched in May of this year to provide corporations unprecedented access to a deep pool of research from thousands of expert analysts. Credit Suisse will join Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Barclays, and dozens of other top-tier brokers that are distributing research through AlphaSense to better serve the corporate market. An award-winning research institution, Credit Suisse has 250 global analysts providing fundamental research on 2,800 companies under coverage around the world. With the power of AlphaSense's AI technology, users can extract relevant insights to inform critical business decisions more rapidly and reliably than ever before. "Were excited to expand our relationship with AlphaSense to offer Aftermarket Research through their platform," said Stan Lantsman, Director, Head of Correspondent Research at Credit Suisse. "The demand for top quality equity research continues to grow within the corporate space. Our global analysts will provide AlphaSense clients access to deep industry-level expertise on the sectors they operate in."



Today, AlphaSense powers data-driven decision making for more than 1,000 leading organizations, including Google, Microsoft, and most of the Fortune 50. In times of market uncertainty, Corporate Strategy, Competitive Intelligence, Corporate Development and Investor Relations teams, among others, are increasingly looking to external research to guide their strategy. "We're thrilled to welcome Credit Suisse to our Wall Street Insights collection," says Jack Kokko, CEO of AlphaSense. "This is an important step on our path to expand our offering as the go-to research destination for any knowledge professional. We believe that access to equity research will change the way decisions are made and have a profound impact on the market long-term."

Founded in 2011, AlphaSense has been developing market-leading AI and search technology for nearly a decade. The company is backed by $100M in venture funding and has offices in the U.S., U.K., Finland, and India. About AlphaSense AlphaSense is a search engine for market intelligence that transforms how decisions are made by the world's leading corporations and financial institutions. Leveraging AI and NLP technology, AlphaSense enables knowledge professionals to extract insights in seconds from thousands of previously disparate business data sources, including company filings, event transcripts, news and trade journals, and equity research. Founded in 2011 and backed by investors including Innovation Endeavors and Soros Fund Management, AlphaSense is on a mission to empower organizations to make data-driven decisions with confidence. Contact:

Christine Magee

818-281-6314

cmagee@alpha-sense.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alphasense-expands-wall-street-insights-with-addition-of-credit-suisse-research-301211983.html SOURCE AlphaSense

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Believe it or not, the 1965 Cortina GT on sale at The Market for a current bid of 7,600 (thats about $10k, but the reserve hasnt been met) first hit the road in an era when the Beatles were calling for Help! and Tom Jones didnt oblige as he was preoccupied to find out Whats New Pussycat?Anyone taking a look at the pristine body can easily imagine it was preserved in a time capsule, given the very low mileage of less than 1,700 miles (2,736 km) and its mint condition.According to the description, we are dealing here with a first-generation Cortina GT, which travelled in 2018 from South Africa all the way back to the original home market of UK.Apparently, the Blue Oval first delivered the 65 Cortina GT in CKD (Completely Knocked Down kit, a common production practice designed to avoid import taxes) from the assembly facility it owned in Rhodesia (todays Zimbabwe). It doesnt really say what happened to it once it left the factory and until the current vendor brought it back from South Africa, though.Anyways, it probably didnt spend much time cruising around, as indicated by the odometer and the overall condition. As far as we can tell, the exterior and exterior look impeccable, the former sporting a creamy white shade, lots of chrome for such an affordable vehicle in the era, as well as cool-looking Minilite alloy wheels.Moving inside, the Cortina GT brings a touch of premium sportiness with the Momo wood-rimmed steering wheel, matching-paint dashboard, and black vinyl seating that looks untouched by the passing of time.Its a thing of beauty, for sure, but dont expect it to compete with a 65 Mustang in the dynamics department any time soon, given the low 78-hp power of the small engine dwelling under the hood.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) said Thursday it has entered into a new joint venture business with A Plus International Inc., a manufacturer of healthcare products, to expand access to personal protective equipment or PPE by manufacturing surgical and procedure masks in the United States. The new business entity is part of HCA Healthcare's continued effort to support healthcare workers and address the global demand for PPE. Under the joint venture, HCA Healthcare expects production of Level 1 and Level 3 masks that meet American Society for Testing and Materials or ASTM standards for quality and safety to begin in early 2021 from a manufacturing center in Asheville, North Carolina. The investment in the new business entity will initially be funded equally by HCA Healthcare Mission Fund, LLC, an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, and A Plus. HCA Healthcare noted that its 2020 spending for PPE increased by more than $196 million from 2019. Supporting the supply chain of hospitals and non-acute providers, HealthTrust, a leader in purchasing aggregation and performance improvement for healthcare, will co-manage the joint venture with A Plus. HealthTrust's wholly owned subsidiary, Resource Optimization & Innovation or ROi, will serve as the distribution partner for the business. Roi will provide access to PPE inventories to HealthTrust member organizations in the U.S. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Due to the ongoing health emergency in the District of Columbia and around the world, the 2021 Washington, D.C. Auto Show will be unable to open during the previously-scheduled March 26 through April 4 timeframe. Show organizers are working closely with the District government and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to find dates later in the spring to host the event.

"Nothing is more important to us than the safety and health of our loyal attendees, our participating exhibitors, and all those who work so hard to make the show a success every year," said Washington, D.C. Auto Show CEO John O'Donnell. "With that in mind, we are doing everything we can to host a show in 2021 that meets the high standards our visitors are used to, while ensuring that our region stays safe and finally defeats this terrible pandemic."

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show is the District of Columbia's largest annual indoor event, and has been held every year since the end of World War II. The 2020 show, which commenced before the COVID-19 pandemic, was one of the best-attended shows in the event's history, and featured more than 600 new vehicles from nearly three-dozen auto manufacturers.

Further details about the auto show's programming, including updates on scheduling, participating manufacturers, media and industry-related events, and much more, will be announced in the coming months.

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show's organizers have also developed a robust health and safety plan that will prioritize consumer and staff safety and cleanliness, while reflecting the best practices and guidelines that remain in effect at the time the show is able to commence.

For more information on The Washington, D.C. Auto Show, please visit www.washingtonautoshow.com.

About The Washington, D.C. Auto Show

The Washington, D.C. Auto Show, held each year at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, is the largest annual indoor public event in the District of Columbia.

SOURCE Washington Auto Show

Related Links

https://www.washingtonautoshow.com


[January 21, 2021] GigCapital Global Sponsored SPAC GigCapital2 Raises $285 Million in Conjunction with its Planned Business Combinations with UpHealth Holdings, Inc. and Cloudbreak Health, LLC

GigCapital Global, an investment group focused on Private-to-Public Equity (PPE) transactions to enable excellent late-stage growth private companies, primarily in the Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) sectors, to become public, today announced that GigCapital2, Inc. ("GigCapital2") (NYSE: GIX) raised $285 million in connection with its previously announced business combinations with UpHealth Holdings, Inc. ("UpHealth") and Cloudbreak Health, LLC ("Cloudbreak"). This private placement with certain institutional investors includes an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of GigCapital2 common stock at $10.00 per share and $255,000,000 of 5-year unsecured convertible notes, which shall bear interest at a rate of 6.25% per annum, and will be convertible into common shares of the combined company, UpHealth, Inc., at a conversion price of $11.50. "This oversubscribed, differentiated, unique funding construct, a mix of equity and convertible debt, will provide the combined UpHealth businesses with the capital needed to continue to execute on its strategy while limiting dilution and maximizing value for all shareholders. While business fundamentals are core, the pride of our team is the focus on purpose, mentoring, and support we offer to the exceptional executive team of UpHealth as they begin a new adventure in the public market," said Dr. Avi Katz, Founding Managing Partner of GigCapital Global and Executive Chairman of GigCapital2. "The GigCapital team understands what it takes to successfully bring together businesses to accelerate growth," said Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria, MD, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of UpHealth. "Completing this financing is a key step in bringing together the complementary suite of solutions that will allow UpHealth to power healthcare's digital transformation." "This oversubscribed capital raise is symbolic of the market's belief in UpHealth's future," added Jamey Edwards, CEO & Co-Founder of Cloudbreak Health. "With the support of GigCapital and this expanded investor base, we will be able to rapidly scale our mission to reshape healthcare globally and resolve health disparities, continuing our digital health leadership across the care continuum," added Mr. Edwards. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. acted as exclusive placement agent on the common stock and convertible note financings for GigCapital2. About GigCapital Global and GigCapital2, Inc.: GigCapital Global (www.gigcapitalglobal.com) is a Private-to-Public Equity (PPE) investment group, sponsoring and operating Special Purpose Acquisition Companies ("SPAC", also known as Blank-Check companies). Founded in 2017 by Dr. Avi Katz, the GigCapital Group and its sponsored SPACs are led by an affiliated team of technology industry experts, deploying a unique Mentor-Investors methodology to partner with exceptional privately-held and U.S. and non-U.S. public technology companies led by dedicated, innovative entrepreneurs. The GigCapital Group companies offer financial, operational and executive mentoring to U.S. and global private, and non-U.S. public companies, in order to accelerate their path from inception and as a privately-held entity into the growth-stage as a publicly traded company in the U.S. The partnership of the GigCapital Group with these companies continues through an organic and roll-up strategy growth post the transition to a public company. For more information, visit www.gigcapitalglobal.com. GigCapital2, Inc. (NYSE: GIX, GIX.U, GIX.RT, and GIX.WS) (www.gigcapital2.com), and GigCapital3, Inc. (NYSE: GIK, GIK.U and GIK.WS) (www.gigcapital3.com), are part of the GigCapital Group portfolio of Private-to-Public Equity (PPE) companies. "Private-to-Public Equity (PPE)" and "Mentor-Investor" are trademarks of GigFounders, LLC, used pursuant to agreement. About Cloudbreak: Cloudbreak (www.cloudbreak.us) revolutionized patient and provider communication with the introduction of video remote interpreting (VRI), establishing Cloudbreak as a pioneer in telehealth technology. Cloudbreak continues to innovate with Cloudbreak Telehealth Solutions, including telepsychiatry, telestroke, tele-quarantine, remote patient monitoring and other specialties. Committed to overcoming healthcare disparities and bringing language access to the point of care, Cloudbreak seamlessly integrates their language access solution, Martti, into a host of platforms, including Epic, Zoom, and Caregility. Performing more than 1.6 million minutes of telemedicine consultation each month in 2020 on over 14,000 video endpoints at 1,800+ healthcare locations nationwide, Cloudbreak Telehealth simplifies how providers care for patients, putting a full care continuum at their fingertips 24/7.



About UpHealth: UpHealth (www.uphealthinc.com) is a global comprehensive digital health technology and tech-enabled services platform (the "Platform") that empowers providers, health systems and payors globally to manage care for people with complex medical, behavioral and social needs, while dramatically improving access to primary care. UpHealth owns Thrasys and BHS and almost half of Glocal, with its acquisition of all or almost all of the remaining half pending Indian regulatory approval expected prior to the closing of the combination with GigCapital2. Following the combination, including with Cloudbreak, UpHealth will be comprised of four service lines that have been strategically selected to deliver patient and provider-centric digital health technologies across the continuum of care and provide a full complement of services for managing the most challenging chronic conditions. The Platform improves patient access to timely and personalized digital care by delivering a complete set of care management tools, remote monitoring applications, full-service ePharmacy delivery, behavioral health solutions, and tech-enabled primary care. UpHealth is building its services to provide a digital marketplace of healthcare services. Following the combination, UpHealth will have offices in Delray Beach, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Columbus, and Kolkata.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding our or our management team's expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, plans, prospects or strategies regarding the future, including possible business combinations, revenue growth and financial performance, product expansion and services. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and beliefs made by the management of GigCapital2, UpHealth and/or Cloudbreak in light of their respective experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and their potential effects on UpHealth , Cloudbreak and GigCapital2 as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting UpHealth, Cloudbreak or GigCapital2 will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the parties) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including that the GigCapital2 stockholders will approve the transaction, regulatory approvals, the ability of the post-combination company to meet the NYSE listing standards, product and service acceptance, and that UpHealth will have sufficient capital upon the approval of the transaction to operate as anticipated. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ are discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" and in other sections of GigCapital2's filings with the SEC (News - Alert) , and in GigCapital2's current and periodic reports filed or furnished from time to time with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, based on information available to GigCapital2, UpHealth and/or Cloudbreak as of the date hereof, and GigCapital2, UpHealth and/or Cloudbreak assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed business combinations, GigCapital2 intends to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a preliminary proxy statement and a preliminary prospectus of GigCapital2, and after the registration statement is declared effective, GigCapital2 will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combinations to its stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the proposed business combinations and is not intended to form the basis of any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the business combinations. Additional information about the proposed business combinations and related transactions will be described in GigCapital2's Current Report on Form 8-K and combined proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed business combinations and the respective businesses of GigCapital2 and UpHealth and Cloudbreak, which GigCapital2 will file with the SEC. The proposed business combinations and related transactions will be submitted to stockholders of GigCapital2 for their consideration. GigCapital2's stockholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus and the amendments thereto and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with GigCapital2's solicitation of proxies for its special meeting of stockholders to be held to approve, among other things, the proposed business combinations and related transactions, because these materials will contain important information about UpHealth , Cloudbreak, GigCapital2 and the proposed business combinations and related transactions. When available, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials for the proposed business combinations will be mailed to stockholders of GigCapital2 as of a record date to be established for voting on the proposed business combinations and related transactions. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the preliminary or definitive proxy statement/prospectus, once available, as well as other documents filed with the SEC by GigCapital2, without charge, at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to Brad Weightman, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, GigCapital2, Inc., 1731 Embarcadero Rd., Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA (News - Alert) 94303, or by telephone at (650) 276-7040. Participants in the Solicitation UpHealth, Cloudbreak, GigCapital2 and their respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from GigCapital2's stockholders in respect of the proposed business combinations and related transactions. Information regarding GigCapital2's directors and executive officers is available in its Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2020. Additional information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests will be contained in the preliminary and definitive proxy statements/prospectus related to the proposed business combinations and related transactions when it becomes available, and which can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. No Offer or Solicitation This communication shall neither constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005961/en/

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It's cool to be small. Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have miniaturized the optical components required to cool atoms down to a few thousandths of a degree above absolute zero, the first step in employing them on microchips to drive a new generation of super-accurate atomic clocks, enable navigation without GPS, and simulate quantum systems.

Cooling atoms is equivalent to slowing them down, which makes them a lot easier to study. At room temperature, atoms whiz through the air at nearly the speed of sound, some 343 meters per second. The rapid, randomly moving atoms have only fleeting interactions with other particles, and their motion can make it difficult to measure transitions between atomic energy levels. When atoms slow to a crawl -- about 0.1 meters per second -- researchers can measure the particles' energy transitions and other quantum properties accurately enough to use as reference standards in a myriad of navigation and other devices.

For more than two decades, scientists have cooled atoms by bombarding them with laser light, a feat for which NIST physicist Bill Phillips shared the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics. Although laser light would ordinarily energize atoms, causing them to move faster, if the frequency and other properties of the light are chosen carefully, the opposite happens. Upon striking the atoms, the laser photons reduce the atoms' momentum until they are moving slowly enough to be trapped by a magnetic field.

But to prepare the laser light so that it has the properties to cool atoms typically requires an optical assembly as big as a dining-room table. That's a problem because it limits the use of these ultracold atoms outside the laboratory, where they could become a key element of highly accurate navigation sensors, magnetometers and quantum simulations.

Now NIST researcher William McGehee and his colleagues have devised a compact optical platform, only about 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) long, that cools and traps gaseous atoms in a 1-centimeter-wide region. Although other miniature cooling systems have been built, this is the first one that relies solely on flat, or planar, optics, which are easy to mass produce.

"This is important as it demonstrates a pathway for making real devices and not just small versions of laboratory experiments," said McGehee. The new optical system, while still about 10 times too big to fit on a microchip, is a key step toward employing ultracold atoms in a host of compact, chip-based navigation and quantum devices outside a laboratory setting. Researchers from the Joint Quantum Institute, a collaboration between NIST and the University of Maryland in College Park, along with scientists from the University of Maryland's Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, also contributed to the study.

The apparatus, described online in the New Journal of Physics, consists of three optical elements. First, light is launched from an optical integrated circuit using a device called an extreme mode converter. The converter enlarges the narrow laser beam, initially about 500 nanometers (nm) in diameter (about five thousandths the thickness of a human hair), to 280 times that width. The enlarged beam then strikes a carefully engineered, ultrathin film known as a "metasurface" that's studded with tiny pillars, about 600 nm in length and 100 nm wide.

The nanopillars act to further widen the laser beam by another factor of 100. The dramatic widening is necessary for the beam to efficiently interact with and cool a large collection of atoms. Moreover, by accomplishing that feat within a small region of space, the metasurface miniaturizes the cooling process.

The metasurface reshapes the light in two other important ways, simultaneously altering the intensity and polarization (direction of vibration) of the light waves. Ordinarily, the intensity follows a bell-shaped curve, in which the light is brightest at the center of the beam, with a gradual falloff on either side. The NIST researchers designed the nanopillars so that the tiny structures modify the intensity, creating a beam that has a uniform brightness across its entire width. The uniform brightness allows more efficient use of the available light. Polarization of the light is also critical for laser cooling.

The expanding, reshaped beam then strikes a diffraction grating that splits the single beam into three pairs of equal and oppositely directed beams. Combined with an applied magnetic field, the four beams, pushing on the atoms in opposing directions, serve to trap the cooled atoms.

Each component of the optical system -- the converter, the metasurface and the grating -- had been developed at NIST but was in operation at separate laboratories on the two NIST campuses, in Gaithersburg, Maryland and Boulder, Colorado. McGehee and his team brought the disparate components together to build the new system.

"That's the fun part of this story," he said. "I knew all the NIST scientists who had independently worked on these different components, and I realized the elements could be put together to create a miniaturized laser cooling system."

Although the optical system will have to be 10 times smaller to laser-cool atoms on a chip, the experiment "is proof of principle that it can be done," McGehee added.

"Ultimately, making the light preparation smaller and less complicated will enable laser-cooling based technologies to exist outside of laboratories," he said.

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Not even a global pandemic or backlash can stop Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner from going on a luxurious getaway.

"The Keeping Up With The Kardashians" sisters recently updated their millions of fans with jaw-dropping photos during their dreamy tropical vacation in Mexico.

Taking some time off from the California lockdown, the duo jetted off to Latin America, alongside their pals Anastasia Karanikolaou, Victoria and Sofia Villarroel, Hannah Logan and Carter Gregory.

Kendall shared a series of photos flaunting her tiny bikini and toned body.

The first snap showed an impressive creative shot of her lying on a yellow daybed while lounging near the poolside.

"A new day! a good day!" Kendall Jenner's Instagram caption read, in reference to Joe Biden's inauguration tweet.

Over the comment section, her older sister, Khloe Kardashian, teased her by saying, "You are paradise! No matter where you go paradise follows."

Meanwhile, the Kardashian matriarch, Kris Jenner, noticed the enormous orange hat and wrote, "Cute hat!"

As for the Kylie Cosmetics founder, the beauty mogul shared a series of risque photos, sporting a skimpy black two-piece swimsuit with a large pearl detail strap while she took a dip at the massive infinity pool, overlooking a majestic view.

In another Kylie Jenner Instagram post, the mother-of-one showed off her famous curves, wearing an orange bandeau top and a high cut bikini, relaxing at the stunning villa, alongside a caption that reads "Dreamy."

According to the Daily Mail, the famous sisters were spotted boarding a private get in Los Angeles together with their pals.

Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenners Spark Criticism Amid COVID-19 Outbreak

Kardashian vacations would not be complete without backlash, though.

In one post, as obtained by News.com.au, one fan blasted the duo for showing off their luxurious lifestyle despite the crisis.

"Very happy for you to be able to live such a lavish lifestyle and show off to your followers while the rest of the world struggles ... top shelf right here ... unfollowing."

A second critic sarcastically commented, "Wow, travelling during a pandemic."

Meanwhile, another individual echoed the same thought and criticized their countless travels despite the health threats: "Kendall and Kylie Jenner are on their 100th vacation this pandemic."

The Kardashian sister's Mexico getaway just came weeks after their family's holiday trip in Aspen.

Multiple reports cited that they rented a massive mansion with a 60-foot indoor pool and a bowling alley for a whopping $75 million.

READ MORE: Arnold Schwarzenegger Delivers Iconic 'Terminator' Line After Getting COVID-19 Vaccine [VIDEO]

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles

While the federal government continues to pause the collection of defaulted student loans during the coronavirus pandemic, private companies that initially followed suit are back in court.

Private education lenders and creditors have resumed filing new lawsuits and continuing existing cases to recover past-due debts, according to court records. Many companies had vowed to halt collections litigation as Americans faced layoffs and wage reductions in the beginning of the health crisis.

But despite tens of thousands of people still losing their jobs, student loan companies are again seeking payment. Attorneys for some of the largest private education debt creditors have filed dozens of lawsuits in several states since at least the summer.

Private companies don't have the power of the federal government to seize tax refunds, wages and Social Security benefits to repay defaulted debt. Instead, they must file a lawsuit and get a court judgment. Lenders and creditors, if successful in court, can then garnish a person's wages or seize their assets.

In mid-March, Navient stopped taking legal action against private student loan borrowers in light of the pandemic. But by August, default judgment and wage garnishment orders emerged in a handful of cases that remained on the docket.

Navient spokesman Paul Hartwick said those orders were filed before the pandemic and recently approved by judges. The company, he said, has not filed any actions to seek enforcement and is not planning to in the near-term.

"A small number of pre-existing cases may have remained on dockets after March 25, but we have not filed any new suits or actions since then and are not currently doing so," Hartwick said.

One of the nation's largest holders of private education debt, National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts, has been active in the courts since the summer. Transworld Systems, which oversees debt collection for the trusts, told The Washington Post in April that it would be pulling lawsuits in the pipeline and would stop entering default judgments against borrowers for at least two months.

Lawyers for the trusts have recently filed dozens of cases against borrowers in New Jersey, California, Maryland and New York. In Maryland alone, the trusts have brought at least 67 new cases since July, according to court records and a recent report from the Student Borrower Protection Center. The advocacy group found most of those cases were brought against people in majority-minority communities in Prince George's and Baltimore counties.

Transworld did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

National Collegiate has run afoul of state and federal authorities for flooding the courts with lawsuits that relied on false or misleading legal documents. Consumer attorneys say the trusts and other creditors are still engaging in the same behavior during the pandemic.

"What we are seeing is a slew of lawsuits that are ridden with untruths," Kathleen Hyland, a consumer attorney, told a Maryland General Assembly committee Wednesday. "They are taking very little evidence, creating false affidavits . . . ignoring all of the collections attempts that have happened for the past six to eight years."

Hyland testified Wednesday in support of legislation sponsored by state Del. Lesley J. Lopez, D-Montgomery, requiring private student loan firms to produce credible documents in court proving the debt is valid. Similar bills have been introduced in New York, New Jersey, Colorado and Maine.

"Borrowers only take out private student loans as a last resort when their federal options are gone," Lopez said at the hearing. "They are among the most economically vulnerable students in higher education and have very few protections."
EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season.

CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15.

GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season.

BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career.

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The demand for vaccine currently exceeds the supply available to us which means it will take time to fully vaccinate those in DuPage County, DuPage Health Department Executive Director Karen Ayala said. We ask for everyone to understand that we can only administer the vaccine that is available to us each week through both the Health Department and our network of partner providers in the community.
Senate Democrats File Complaint Against Hawley, Cruz Following Capitol Violence

Senate Democrats have filed an ethics complaint against Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) following the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Seven Democrats, in a letter, urged the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate their conduct to fully understand their role and added that the actions of which we know demand an investigation and a determination whether disciplinary action is warranted.

Until then, a cloud of uncertainty will hang over them and over this body, the senators wrote.

Their views, however, are not shared by all Democrats in the upper chamber. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), one of the longest-serving Democratic members, defended Cruz and Hawley for lodging objections during the Electoral College read-out.

I think the Senate is a place of freedom, Feinstein told reporters at the Capitol this week, saying it was part of a dialogue. And people come here to speak their piece, and they do, and they provide a kind of leadership. In some cases, its positive, in some cases, maybe not. A lot of that depends on whos looking and what party they are. But its an important place to have this kind of dialogue. Its probably the highest-level dialogue that you get in an electoral body.

Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) filed the ethics complaint against Cruz and Hawley.

They want the Ethics Committee to determine whether the two senators actions failed to [p]ut loyalty to the highest moral principles and to country above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department or if they engaged in improper conduct reflecting on the Senate.

Both Hawley and Cruz denounced the riots at the Capitol but said they had the right to challenge the electoral results in Pennsylvania and Arizona. The two had planned to challenge the results during the Joint Session of Congress on Jan. 6.

Cruz, meanwhile, responded to footage of Capitol breachers who appeared to go through his paperwork on the Senate floor on Jan. 6.

One of the individuals in the video is heard saying that Cruz would want us to do this, so I think were good.

But Cruz appeared to disagree.

I think it was a terrorist attack on the Capitol, and it was despicable, and anyone who committed acts of violence should be fully prosecuted and should go jail for a long time, Cruz told the Washington Examiner this week.

The Epoch Times reached out to Cruzs and Hawleys offices for comment.
People like me have been rejected from coming to the United States, when we are a country thats made up of so many ethnicities and religions, said Sahloul. Weve lost opportunities to bring in bright people who can help us grow our country, help us serve, people who will give back, who pay taxes, who are supportive, people who are inspired by the American Dream.
Posted Thursday, January 21, 2021 5:04 am

Even with fewer new home listings than at any point in the last five years, home shoppers in Western Washington closed on more houses in 2020 than in the previous year. Meanwhile, a relative glut of condos was listed for sale.

Across about two dozen counties in Central and Western Washington, the median price for single-family homes was $490,000, up 12.6% from 2019, according to newly released data from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS).

In Puget Sound, some of the most affordable areas saw the steepest price hikes.

In Pierce County last year, the median single-family home sold for $420,000, up 13.5% over 2019. Kitsap homes went for a median of $418,717, an 11% jump from 2019. In Snohomish County, the median home sold for $550,000, 10.5% more than a year earlier.

King County saw smaller growth, with a 7.4% increase to a median of $724,950.

Of all the 23 counties, Kittitas saw the biggest year-over-year jump: 21% to $424,925.

The number of sales rose in most NWMLS counties. The listing service described San Juan and Chelan counties as "Zoom towns" drawing buyers who can telecommute.

Near Seattle, work-from-home policies are likely driving demand outside the city, brokers say. But the trends also underscore affordability challenges that predated the pandemic

Home sales followed a similar pattern in 2019, with prices down slightly in King County while they were up elsewhere. A flood of buyers into areas like Tacoma and Spanaway has fueled concerns there about gentrification and affordability.

The same pattern played out within King County. Median single-family home prices increased last year in Southwest King County and Southeast King County by 11.6% and 10.4% to $489,900 and $530,000, respectively.

In Seattle, the $799,950 median was 6% higher than in 2019. On the Eastside, the most expensive area in King County, the median home price reached $1 million. That's a 7.5% increase from 2019.

The pandemic did upend the region's real estate market, however briefly.

The typical spring spikes showed up in summer and fall instead, with new sales of single-family homes dropping in April before peaking in August, compared to the May peak in 2019.

Rachelle Willhite, owner of Tukwila-based Best Choice Realty, laid off her entire staff in March. By July and August, she brought them all back. "Our top producers ... had their best year ever," she said.

The pandemic continues to affect day-to-day practices as sellers are hesitant to have dozens of home shoppers traipsing through their homes. Instead, 3D tours and videos are more common. "I can't employ enough videographers," Willhite said.

Buyers competed for fewer homes and had to take more shortcuts in 2020, brokers say.

The total number of new listings across the 23 NWMLS counties was at the lowest point in five years.

More single-family homes sold last year than in 2018 or 2019, but still fewer than the 2017 peak. While the number of closed sales was up about 5% in King and Snohomish counties, the number fell in Pierce County by 0.6%, compared to 2019.

King County saw 26,428 closed sales. Buyers closed on 14,644 sales in Pierce County and 12,367 in Snohomish County.

By some measures, speculation about buyers fleeing Seattle failed to materialize. The number of closed single-family home sales in the city in 2020 was up 11% from 2019.

High demand and low inventory heated the market to levels reminiscent of the frenzy in 2017 and early 2018, said Christy Kinnaird, founder of the brokerage Seattle Living Spaces.

Buyers are "scared, and rightfully so," Kinnaird said.

Willhite said about half of the buyers she works with are waiving their inspection, something she and many other agents advise against. Buyers feel they have to because "they're competing against people with cash," Willhite said.

Sellers could count on moving their home quickly last year.

One measure of how long it would take to sell every home at current demand, known as months of inventory, was lower in all 23 counties last year than a year earlier. In Snohomish County, it would have taken about three weeks in 2020 compared to a six weeks in 2019.

The condo market was a little less hostile to buyers, as some selling points like nightlife temporarily vanished.

New condo listings in King County increased by 13.2%, compared to 1% for single-family homes.

Throughout 2020, selling all of the condos on the market at current demand would have taken almost two months in King County, a slightly quicker timeframe than in 2019 but almost twice as long as for single-family homes.

"The city life those condos provide is not what people were looking for in 2020," Kinnaird said.

Still, Seattle condo prices went up nearly as much as single-family home prices in the city, 5% compared to 6%. The median condo in Seattle sold for $494,950.

On the Eastside, the median condo sold for $525,000, an 11.9% increase from 2019.

___

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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The field of flags - 200,000 of them planted across the National Mall which was silent and otherwise empty - was as uplifting as it was sobering. In the silence and the cold, they blew in the breeze as the 46th president was sworn in and the 49th vice president made history.

The words of "The Star-Spangled Banner," belted out by a pop star with enthusiasm and heart, were gut-wrenching. The tiny flags pinned on so many politician's lapels seemed less perfunctory and more like an act of faith. American flags welcomed president Joe Biden and the new first lady to the White House when the outgoing administration did not.

The American flag on this Inauguration Day wasn't a sign of victory as much as it was an emblem of stubborn endurance. Democracy survived for yet another day. And a generation of Americans must reckon with the uncomfortable realization that a democratic tomorrow is not assured.

"We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile," said Biden in his inaugural address. "At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed."

It was a close call for this country and one we won't soon forget. The civic unrest of 2020, ignited by calls for racial justice, mutated into mobs storming the U. S. Capitol only two weeks ago fueled by a desire to subvert the Constitution. They broke out windows and vandalized historic rooms all while cowering behind the American flag. And while the glass can be replaced, the vandalism scrubbed away, the country's citizens bear the scars of anger and fear, suspicion and cynicism.

Our volatile history of racial injustice has never been resolved. Instead, we've tiptoed around it, whispering and hanging back instead of getting on with the difficult work of defusing it. Over countless generations we've been putting out stubborn fires, professing shock when white supremacy flared up and willfully misunderstanding the difference between grievance and justice. We must contend with these threats.

But on January 20, the American flag flew over the U.S. Capitol and despite the recent assault on it - regardless of the civic unrest and the political division - it represented the best of us. Its promised meaning resonated more deeply than ever. Once again, the country moved forward.

We began by taking a step back.

More than 400,000 souls have been lost to covid-19 and the nation finally grieved them on the night before Biden took the oath of office. Their memory was honored by pillars of light shining in the darkness alongside the Reflecting Pool - with Biden noting that the painful act of remembering sets the foundation for a community to collectively engage in recovery.

On Tuesday morning, the flags on the National Mall reminded us of the many citizens who didn't survive the coronavirus pandemic to see this day. They stood in for the rest of us kept away by unprecedented security. The flags reminded us how much our national pride has been wounded as so many are hungry and unhoused. But the flags also reassured us that because democracy held up, there's hope.

When Lady Gaga sang "The Star-Spangled Banner," she lingered on the phrase, "Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there." Our national anthem is a complicated song if only because our history is so freighted. It rallies the country around the aftermath of a battle; it was written by an enslaver. But in these times, the words speak to a nation that has been through a different kind of battle, one that was not brought to our shores but one that was ignited from within. We have been at war with our own democracy. So far, we've failed to topple our own moral code. We've failed to annihilate ourselves and for this we can be thankful. Our flag is still there.

Gaga personalized the anthem but still sang it simply, without a circus of musical tricks. She stood on the inaugural platform dressed in a navy cashmere jacket and a buoyant red silk skirt made for her by Schiaparelli, a Paris-based fashion house helmed by Daniel Roseberry. "As an American living in Paris, this ensemble is a love letter to the country I miss so dearly," Roseberry said in a statement. His sweet missive was a reminder that we are intertwined with the world. We can't wall ourselves in and we can't wall others out no matter how hard we try. A gilded dove brooch - a sign of peace - was affixed to the bodice of Gaga's jacket. It was a plea to calm the national waters.

It's exhausting, after all, to hold on through the kind of turbulence of late. Anger is exhausting. Rage is disorienting. Everything about this inauguration seemed an effort to soothe a nation, from Garth Brook's simple rendition of "Amazing Grace," to the young poet laureate Amanda Gorman who spoke of the need to step into our history before we can move beyond it. We're a country in need of grace and mercy and no small amount of understanding. That was the message in every speech and every song, every scrap of fabric, every simple gesture.

Fashion played its role as it spoke to the occasion, the history that unfolded and the way in which the administration sees the country moving forward. It celebrated America in its diversity and complexity. President Biden wore a navy suit and overcoat created for him by Ralph Lauren - an iconic American brand that interprets this country's past and its present through rose-colored lenses that can sometimes seem out of touch and removed from the realities of our daily lives. And yet today, its version of starry-eyed optimism and familiar tradition was an acknowledgment of the way in which we imagine ourselves to be. It reminds us of the things that we once believed to be immutable and universal: the American Dream. We now know that we all dream differently but perhaps somehow we can still find common ground.

The first lady chose a dress and coat by the New York-based label Markarian, which was founded by Alexandra O'Neill in 2017. The 34-year-old designer who grew up in Colorado created the ocean blue tweed coat adorned with crystals paired with a matching dress in her New York workroom. The color, O'Neill said, expresses a sense of calm and stability, The chance to create the ensemble at all feels like a jolt to an entire industry. "I think Dr. Biden recognizes the impact her fashion choices have on American designers, on emerging designers - especially in these trying times," O'Neill said.

Who will the Biden administration push into the light? Who do all those flags represent? The flag belongs to us all and yet it has been weaponized against so many. It's been used to elevate one man's patriotism over another's, to declare some parts of the country more authentically American than others, to belittle some people's hurt while carefully nursing others through their pain.

So it meant something to hear Jennifer Lopez, with her Puerto Rican roots, sing "This Land is Your Land" and savor the words: "This land was made for you and me." It was monumental to watch Kamala Harris take the vice-presidential oath of office becoming a long list of firsts to step into such high office: woman, Black woman, Asian-American woman. She stood on the Capitol where a mostly White mob had tried to declare it theirs and theirs alone. She stood dressed in a purple overcoat and dress by a Black designer Christopher John Rogers.

Harris carried the multitudes with her as she made history. She allowed them to stand under the flag in all of its beautiful, frayed glory.

The flag represents our democracy, of course - the way in which we govern this country. But it also symbolizes the way in which we conduct our lives, relate to our neighbors and define ourselves. And for at least one more day, it was a reminder that we have the capacity to live under the flag with grace and calm.
Tony Blair has called for 600,000 vaccinations to be carried out each day to enable almost all Covid restrictions to be lifted by mid-May, four months earlier than currently planned.

The former prime minister said an accelerated rollout, as vaccine production is stepped up, could see the country move back to Tier Three restrictions in late February and Tier One as soon as early April.

Most remaining restrictions could be lifted as soon as around 70 per cent of adults have been vaccinated  mid-May under Mr Blair's plans.

Tony Blair has called for 600,000 vaccinations to be carried out each day to enable almost all Covid restrictions to be lifted by mid-May

The accelerated rollout could also save 3,000 extra lives and around 50billion in lost economic activity, says a report by the Tony Blair Institute.

The intervention comes amid growing concern that Britain's vaccine roll-out is slowing down and that the pledge to vaccinate the most vulnerable by mid-February is under threat.

The report by the Tony Blair Institute said that with rates of manufacture set to grow rapidly in coming weeks, new modelling shows just how much there is to gain if the UK can be ready for accelerated rollout.

It lays out plans for an accelerated rollout plan which would grow to average 600,000 vaccines per day in March.

The plans include working with manufacturers to speed up production as well as opening more vaccine centres.

In the foreword, Mr Blair said: 'The UK government is ramping up vaccination, and this is excellent news. There is acceptance that the only constraint should be the supply of vaccines.

The intervention comes amid growing concern that Britain's vaccine roll-out is slowing down

'This paper shows what the path back to normality might look like and the difference that accelerating the vaccination programme would make.

'It is this which is imposing huge urgency and a scramble for vaccines worldwide. The faster we vaccinate, the sooner we end lockdown and prevent further mutations.'

The Institute said it would be possible to manufacture 600,000 doses within weeks.

And it said that on distribution, Israel has shown what is possible, vaccinating 1 per cent of its population every day since the start of 2021 - equivalent to almost 700,000 per day for the UK.

The author of the report, TBI UK Policy Director Ian Mulheirn said: 'The current pace of rollout is an impressive operational achievement by the NHS. But the economic, social and health damage being done by the restrictions required to keep the new strain of the virus under control is severe.

'This paper maps out paths back to normality under both current and accelerated vaccine rollout plans. We show that life could be largely back to normal by mid-May if the accelerated rollout is achieved - four months faster than current plans would allow.

'Our analysis is not intended as criticism of the programme to date, but an illustration of the prize if we succeed in speeding up that distribution. If rates of supply allow, we should do everything possible to speed up the vaccination rollout. If the government can find ways to accelerate supply, it will pay dividends in lives saved and economic growth.'
[January 21, 2021] Poll Finds Support for Public Education Jumped During Pandemic

Texans' support for public schools grew in 2020, even as educators scrambled to deal with the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, according to the second annual statewide poll on attitudes toward public education commissioned by the Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation. The findings were released today in a report titled, "Perceptions in a Pandemic: Texans' Support for Public Schools Grows." The poll found 56 percent of Texans gave their community's public schools an A or B grade, an 8-point jump from just one year ago. An overwhelming 92 percent of Texans report the same or even more appreciation for their schools because of their response to the pandemic. "We've seen how hard schools have had to work to educate students over the last year and the lengths they have gone in support of their communities. What is clear from this poll is that Texans have also seen this and appreciate the efforts of educators and staff to support Texas families," Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation President Shari Albright said. Though Texas parents acknowledged the coronavirus as the top challenge facing schools, with 25 percent saying it was a problem in open-ended responses, in another question, 78 percent rated their school's learning model as "very" or "somewhat" effective. The findngs revealed parent perceptions were influenced by their student's learning model. Eighty-seven percent of parents whose children were in an in-person or using a hybrid model rated the model as "very" or "somewhat" effective" compared to 70 percent of parents whose children were in a fully remote setting. Only 19 percent said remote learning is "very" effective.



When asked specifically about pandemic-related problems facing their children, 72 percent of public school parents identified missing social interactions at school or with friends as the top concern. About 7 in 10 Texans, including majorities across demographic and partisan political affiliation, believe schools need help addressing learning loss resulting from remote learning challenges. Eighty-three percent of Texans support state-provided broadband internet access for Texas public school students whose families cannot afford it on their own. On equity issues, Texans believe students face learning barriers based on income, race, and ethnicity. Attitudes are informed by Texans' own racial and ethnic identities and experiences, as evidenced by Hispanic and Black Texans identifying certain barriers 7 to 30 percent more than White Texans. These barriers include students not consistently being placed with experienced or well-trained teachers and ineffective or biased disciplinary practices.

"All, not just some Texas public school students, deserve a high-quality and equitable education. These results confirm we still have work to do," said Albright. "I am confident that the collective efforts of all of us working in education -- in classrooms, at the Capitol, in our communities, and in higher education -- can remove these equity barriers and improve the educational experience for all students." Texans are also concerned about possible funding cuts to public schools and what that would do to the quality of education. More than eight in ten poll respondents say they are very or somewhat concerned that funding cuts would negatively impact the quality of education in Texas public schools. Most Texans say public schools need more funding to address COVID-related challenges and would support potential revenue sources, including a tobacco tax increase and a new tax on vaping devices; legalizing and taxing casino gambling; and legalizing and taxing marijuana. The second annual Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation survey was produced for Raise Your Hand Texas by Langer Research Associates. It was conducted October 9-11 in English and Spanish among a random sample of 1,034 Texas adults via the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, a probability-based online survey panel. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.9 percentage points for the full sample; error margins are larger for subgroups. The 2021 poll media kit, with downloadable graphics, a video, and more, can be found here: https://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/2021poll/2021-media-kit/. ABOUT THE RAISE YOUR HAND TEXAS FOUNDATION The Raise Your Hand Texas Foundation develops and strengthens school leaders and teachers, engages families in the educational experience, and advances classroom learning with innovative instructional practices to benefit all students. For more information, visit RYHTFoundation.org. Connect with us on Facebook (News - Alert) : /RaiseYourHandTexas Connect with us on Twitter (News - Alert) : @RYHTexas Connect with us on Instagram: /RaiseYourHandTexas View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005548/en/

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Portland Public Schools improved its graduation rate by 3 percentage points in 2020, according to figures made public Thursday by the Oregon Department of Education.

Nearly 84% of the districts seniors graduated within four years. Statewide, that figure was about 83%, despite higher child poverty rates outside the states largest district.

Portlands Black and Latino students posted the highest gains, with four-year rates growing to 77% each.

The unprecedented upheaval that Oregon schools experienced last spring, as the pandemic closed them with little warning and educators were ordered to abandon normal grading practices, calls into question whether the upticks were primarily the result of high schools improving their performance or relaxing their standards.

Oregon schools chief Colt Gill told The Oregonian/OregonLive the improved graduation rates reflect schools greater success helping students in the class of 2020 succeed during the first 3 3/4 years of high school, not a pandemic-imposed change in grading expectations in the final three months.

Students who were on track to graduate in their senior year were already primed to do so, he said.

Still, Portland Public Schools saw a decrease in the percentages of Black, Indigenous and other students of color graduating on-time at some of its schools.

Portland Public Schools graduation rates, 2016-2020

In Northeast Portlands Madison High School, for instance, about 76% of Latino students graduated on time. Latinos at Jefferson High posted a striking drop, from 76% to 62%.

Students who were still learning English as a second language after they entered high school posted declines of 30 percentage points and 15 percentage points at Jefferson and Cleveland high schools.

Dani Ledezma, the districts director of racial equity and social justice, said there was no one reason for the drops in various schools.

Were really taking a student-specific approach and assessing those unique needs, she said.

Korrina Wolfe, director of the districts Multiple Pathways to Graduation program, added that in most cases, students who dont graduate on time are facing intense pressures outside of school. For example, some have to split their time between work and school to help their families pay the bills.

Sometimes students have had to prioritize things outside of school, she said. Weve always had students who took care of their families. That increased due to the pandemic.

Portland Public Schools leaders credit the efforts of educators and partner organizations such as Latino Network and Self Enhancement, Inc., which provides academic support for the districts Latino and Black students, for helping some of the most vulnerable student populations stay afloat.

While the pandemic obviously threw us a huge curve ball, we were able to leverage the relationships we already had in place, Wolfe said.

Those partner organizations helped track down and assist students with myriad issues during the pivot to distance learning. Some made home visits to deliver internet hotspots for families who couldnt afford access. Others did so to check in with students who needed a shoulder to lean on, figuratively speaking.

Weve really worked to meet students where theyre at in all the settings theyre in, Wolfe said.

Portland Public Schools graduation rates, 2016-2020

Educators at Alliance, an alternative school with headquarters at Benson High and a campus in Northeast Portlands Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood, have long used similar tactics to engage their students.

About 61% of Alliances 146 seniors graduated on-time, a 26 - percentage point increase over the previous year. Wolfe credits the programs emphasis on career technical skills for its astounding one-year uptick in on-time graduation rates, after a previous more gradual two-year climb.

Alliance posted gains of 5 percentage points in 2018 and 6 more in 2019. Students are urged to pick coursework that aligns with their interests outside of school, often emphasizing classes like auto shop and drafting that build skills theyll use once they enter the workforce.

Many students who transfer to Alliance after struggling at traditional Portland high schools must recover a hefty number of credits, so teachers are used to checking with them regularly and strongly urging them to complete coursework.

Having that wrap-around team is part of their success, said Elissa Schorr, the districts senior director of high schools.

Even though most student groups saw an overall uptick in their four-year completion rate, Asians and Native Americans posted year-over-year drops.

Roughly 88% of Asian students graduated on time in 2020 compared to 91% in 2019.

The key to helping those students, Ledezma said, will be to adopt strategies employed by teams at Alliance and the districts partner organizations such as Latino Network and SEI.

The thing we need to remain committed to is remaining responsive to students individual needs, she said.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook

Eder is The Oregonians education reporter. Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email ecampuzano@oregonian.com.
President Harry Truman didn't get to pick the previous presidential car he rode in, but now it was his turn. Legend has it that during the 1948 presidential race, General Motors would not give use of their cars, and because of this he held a grudge against them. When he was to choose the automotive manufacturer to make the new car, he chose Lincoln over Ford because of this.<br />During this time, it was becoming more common for presidential cars to be modified, and one of the more curious changes was to add extra headroom to the car to accommodate tall silk hats, a popular fashion accessory at the time. A more practical customisation in order to defend the president from attack was the armour-plated bodywork. In 1954, the famous "bubble-top" was added by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after he realised that when it rained, no one could see him in the car when the roof was up during a parade. (Image Credit: Vanarama)
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 49F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.
Editors note: This part of a series of profiles on cannabis brokers, in which Insurance Journal explores why and how these folks got into the business, the ups and downs of insuring cannabis, as well as a few tips for those interested in a little professional development.

Erich Schutz is a broker, underwriter, and risk manager at NIF Group|Jencap, who focuses on the needs of the hemp and marijuana industry nationwide.

Schutz specializes in hard-to-place multi-state cannabis insurance programs, and has more than a decade of experience providing solutions to the excess and surplus lines insurance industry.

He gave it a great deal of thought before he took the leap into cannabis insurance several years ago. But theres little if any doubt now about his enthusiasm for the industry.

Schutz, whose LinkedIn profile proudly boasts Cannabis Insurance Ninja as part of his title, says getting into insuring cannabis was hands down the smartest career decision hes ever made.

Schutz spoke with Insurance Journal about his experience as a cannabis broker.

Insurance Journal: Why did you get in the cannabis and insurance space?

Schutz: For starters Im passionate about cannabis and I truly love my job as a E&S Broker. I saw a major gap in the market and knew I could bring my customer service centric approach, insurance experience, market knowledge and expertise to a greatly underserved industry segment.

I came from a small regional wholesale brokerage and quickly realized all of the (so called) heavy hitters in the New England E&S brokerage space had little idea what they were doing in the cannabis insurance space nor did the majority of them have any interest in learning a new hard to place industry class in a very soft market.

At the time, Massachusetts, where I live had gone recreational with dispensaries slated to open at year end and it seemed like the Agriculture Improvement Act (2018 Farm Bill) was likely to pass, legalizing hemp on a federal level. My perception was that 90%-plus of the cannabis insurance expertise was sitting in small handful of largely Western states. The table was set and no one around me seemed hungry or willing to take a seat, so I strapped on my Red Lobster bib and starting eating that cannabis insurance elephant one policy form at a time.

IJ: Has this been a good financial decision so far?

Schutz: The grass is always greener as they say, but yes this was hands down the smartest career decision Ive made and have zero regrets. It wasnt something I took lightly and discussed at lengths with my family and friends before going all in. At the end of the day, the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the finances of it all but thats not what this is about for me.

Our team is building a brand that takes pride in doing what is best for the cannabis client regardless of who gets the commission check  although we all have bills to pay and bosses to answer to. That said, it is my loyalty to the cannabis plant that gives me a unique perspective and value proposition in the space.

IJ: Whats the hardest thing about the cannabis industry to deal with?

Schutz: As an industry, thats an easy question to answer  traditional commercial banking and lending facilities. I dont know a leaf-touching operation that doesnt constantly struggle with the dichotomy between federal prohibitions and state legalization. I think someone should write a book and call it: Cash? Where to get it & how to store it. A Cannabusiness Tale.

On the insurance side, high TIV property is the hardest thing to deal with for most agents and brokers. I would say for those dabbling in the space it is unsurmountable challenge and is generating a lot of unnecessary churn in the marketplace, whether it be at renewal or midterm.

Thats why at JenCap our holistic approach starts with understanding your clients growth strategy long before we pick an insurance suitor or suitors. I cant think of a bigger embarrassment than running out of TIV/capacity midterm due to a planned expansion, yet we rescue midterm deals all the time because of it. Plan. Prepare. Prevent.

IJ: What insurance product is the most difficult to obtain for your cannabis industry clients? Why?

Schutz: High TIV property, bar none. Yes workers compensation, D&O, and cyber have only a few markets, and if you dont have access to all of them, its hard to be a one-stop cannabis brokerage, but those placements are really about expectation management and access over grit and creativity. Those qualities  plus a hard stomach  are needed to successfully weather the 2021 cannabis property renewal season.

While COVID may have lowered some operations sales and growth perspectives, we are not seeing any renewals coming in looking for a lower TIV than expiring. It is actually the exact opposite. Last year wed consider a larger cannabis property placement to be north of $20 million in TIV, and now I would consider $75 million to be the benchmark for what is considered large.

Last year there were markets putting out $20 million per location or subject risk. This year those markets still exist, but they need to play nice together to get us to over the $75 million hump instead of going punch-for-punch all the way to the bottom. I think two major cannabis property buzz words youll hear over and over again this year will be spread of risk and excess property.

IJ: What two or three tips do you have for brokers entering the business of insuring cannabis?

Schutz: Ask questions, dont be shy, and find a mentor. We are still in early growth stages and available trade education specific to cannabis insurance is sparse.

I think the almost non-existent 2020 convention season also stymied education opportunities for various types of insurance professionals. We had numerus classes, presentations, and panels that our guys were participating in and most all have been permanently cancelled.

I know these networking and educational opportunities were crucial in my personal development and still are today. Find these events and go talk to the speakers, they are eager to help and share the knowledge that theyve picked up along the way. Afterall, we were all new at some point too.

Topics Agencies Cannabis
This week: Pitkin Countys front line workers are eligible for the COVID19 vaccine, but can your employer require you to get vaccinated? Also a look at the two back-to-back worldwide ski events Aspen is hosting beginning March 10. Host Alycin Bektesh is joined by Madeleine Osberger, Erica 
Big companies know a branding problem when they see one. So some of the largest corporations in the nation have suspended campaign donations to members of the Sedition Caucus in Congress  including Republican U.S. Reps. Dan Meuser and Fred Keller of Northeast Pennsylvania  who helped to create the conditions that led to the bloody Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

There is no upside to being tied to the effort to negate the votes of millions of U.S. citizens, including 6.8 million Pennsylvanians. So far, a dozen senators and 147 House members who peddled lies about the elections integrity have been cut off from 20 of their 30 largest sources of campaign cash.

Many of those companies also have cut off contributions to state legislators who supported the congressional Sedition Caucus efforts, including some in Pennsylvania.

Thats particularly good news in Pennsylvania, which has some of the nations worst state-level campaign finance laws. There are no contribution limits, and an array of procedural loopholes allows candidates to delay and obscure disclosures. Now, responsible state legislators should use revulsion over the Jan. 6 attack on democracy as a catalyst to reform campaign finance laws.

Sen. Jay Costa, the state Senate minority leader from Allegheny County, has introduced a bill that would require corporate campaign giving, which was authorized by the U.S. Supreme Courts ill-considered Citizens United decision in 2010, to be treated like political action committee contributions for reporting purposes.

The bill also would require any corporate contribution of more than $10,000 to be approved by shareholders.

And in response to news reports last year that uncovered some politicians use of campaign funds for dubious purposes, the bill would require detailed reporting of every expenditure and preclude the use of credit cards to obscure the expenditures.

Some Republican Pennsylvania legislators felt emboldened to attack the results of the states own election because they felt secure within their gerrymandered districts and assured of lavish corporate giving.

It makes sense to increase accountability for politicians and donors so that voters know just who finances such outrageous conduct.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Bird Song of the Day

Somehow, I never expected flamingoes to honk like geese.

#COVID19

At reader request, Ive added this daily chart from 91-DIVOC. The data is the Johns Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site.

Lambert here: If these declines continue through the end of the week, Im gonna have to conclude were looking at a genuine fall in the numbers  not the current narrative, I might add  and that we are not looking at a reporting effect from the long weekend. We are also not seeing an explosion from travel over the holidays, now well in the rear-view mirror. We might get a spike in ten days or so, if people were partying on MLK day, but with luck it will be small. Of course, there are those worrisome variants, so a mood of sunny optimism is not warranted. I feel Im engaging in a macabre form of tape-watching. (A reader asked the source of the data: Johns Hopkins CSSE. DIVOC-91 does allow other data sets to be used, like Our World in Data and The Atlantic, and where they provide visualizations similar to those below, a cursory comparison shows that the shape of the curves is the same.)

Vaccination by region:

The South stumbles. Supply problems?

At reader request, vaccination in the South (as the US Census defines the region: AL, AR, DE, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, and WV):

(I dont have the option of adjusting for population. Its interesting the way the curves bunch, with FL and TX tracking each other. Perhaps a planning process? Clout?)

Case count by United States region:

Big states (New York, Florida, Texas, California):

Test positivity:

Nowhere near 3%, anywhere.

Hospitalization:

Hospitalization is discretionary; they may also be reducing their admissions rate  relative to cases we cannot see in this data!  to preserve future capacity; or because hospitals have figured out how to send people home.

Case fatality rate (plus deaths):

Politics

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51

They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune

They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord

Inaugural

Bernie Sanders Inauguration Day Bobblehead Unveiled [National Bobblehead Hall of Fame]. he bobblehead commemorates todays viral moment when Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was pictured watching the Inauguration ceremony to swear in Joe Biden as the nations 46th President. The bobblehead features Sanders with his face mask, mittens and winter coat sitting in a folding chair on the white podium base.  Thrown over the transom to Yves: A new product in a single news cycle! Im not sure what to make of this. The bitter and cynical part of me thinks that people are having fun and being nice because Sanders is a spent force. The more hopeful side of me thinks that he still has a part to play, because of the evident joy people took in making the memes: pic.twitter.com/C8FGFy1lNk  Vanessa Lamers, MESc, MPH (@vlamers) January 21, 2021 There are times when Twitter really is carefee and fun, and  at least this morning when I collected these  the Sanders-and-his-mitte memage was one of those times. (Hilariously, the Reuter Twitter event, supposedly about fashion, featured Sanders mittens in the header photograph. Does this guy know how to steal the show, or what?) Amanda Gormans nods to Hamilton won a Brava from Lin-Manuel Miranda. [New York Times].  Hamilton. Of course. (Have we put on a special Hamilton Covid relief performance for essential workers yet? No?) Chaser, shot: We really wish you well and love the old-timey Chinese fireworks, can we interest you in something ahha little more current? https://t.co/vwbglYeVfa pic.twitter.com/sY2HxIBNL8  Naomi Wu  (@RealSexyCyborg) January 21, 2021 (Wu being a 3D-printing Internet celebrity.) Shake our foes. Maybe I should have filed this under Imperial Collapse Watch? Bidens Huge Inaugural Donations Would be Banned Under Democrats Ethics Bill [Sludge]. For companies seeking to curry favor with the new administration, the potential federal government contracts are immense. During the Trump administration, Biden inaugural donors Amazon and Microsoft were locked in a battle for a $10 billion, 10-year JEDI contract to be awarded by the Department of Defense, one that went to Microsoft in October 2019 only to be mired in legal challenges by Amazon and complaints by Oracle. Amazon argued in a December 2019 complaint that Trump personally nixed their bid out of animus toward founder Jeff Bezos, who is also owner of the Washington Post.

Capitol Seizure

All quiet on the West Wing front: In all of New York and California, a single protester showed up at the state capital to protest. So terrifying. pic.twitter.com/cwiQRx2dqF  Lee Fang (@lhfang) January 20, 2021

Transition to Biden

Shots fired: Sen. Bernie Sanders says Senate should use 51-vote reconciliation threshold to pass $2,000 checks, $600 unemployment benefits, state and local funding, 12 weeks of paid leave, universal pre-K, tuition-free college, cancel student debt and $15 minimum wage.https://t.co/nHAwourqZ6  Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) January 21, 2021 Metaphorically, of course. UPDATE Rahm Emmanuels mini-me, Mayo Pete. A thread: Pete Buttigieg testifies today on his nomination to run the Dept. of Transportation. I spent almost a year covering Buttigieg. He refused to speak with me, so Im going to thread some of the things senators could ask him about today.  Jonathan Larsen (@jtlarsen) January 21, 2021 This slippery little scut is gonna be Harriss Vice Presidential candidate, I can just see it.

2020

Bush to Clyburn: Without Biden endorsement, we would not be having this transfer of power' [Politico].  One big happy!

Democrats en deshabille

DNC up to its usual tricks. A thread: I've been a bit underwater due to a death in my immediate family. But I first found out who was running for #DNCElections via twitter one week ago, Jan. 14. The election is today. https://t.co/457Shh2RTd  RL Miller (@RL_Miller) January 21, 2021 Theres a letter from reformers here. As Nomiki Konst pointed out at the laughingly named Unity Reform Commission in 2016: Under the DNC Bylaws, the DNC budget is not public information; in fact, the meetings and votes of the DNC Budget and Finance Committee are specifically excluded from the DNC Charter section requiring open meetings.  Fundamentally, nothing will change.

Realignment and Legitimacy

I like the concept that the (so-called) center is extreme: David Graeber on the Extreme 'Centre' pic.twitter.com/xdHsX7PKf8  Double Down News (@DoubleDownNews) October 12, 2020 You cant say jejunity without saying unity: It is so surreal how half assed this unity thing is. No message behind it. No attempt to persuade you or even understand the nature of the rift itself. Just someone walking in on an apocalyptic disaster and saying cmon man stop this in a hoarse voice https://t.co/CvzmWhttgu  Tarence Ray (@tarenceray) January 21, 2021 .@AOC working the bullhorn on the picket line for 1,400 striking Hunts grocery workers in the Bronx https://t.co/IdJ3UqHwfQ  Mike Elk (@MikeElk) January 21, 2021 https://thebaffler.com/latest/consequences-for-thee-not-for-me-de-la-hoz

Stats Watch

At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats.

Employment Situation: 16 January 2021 Initial Unemployment Claims Rolling Average Again Worsens [Econintersect]. Market expectations for weekly initial unemployment claims (from Econoday) were 868 K to 990 K (consensus 890 K), and the Department of Labor reported 900,000 new claims. The more important (because of the volatility in the weekly reported claims and seasonality errors in adjusting the data) 4 week moving average moved from 824,500 (reported last week as 834,250) to 848,000.

Manufacturing: January 2021 Philly Fed Manufacturing Survey Index Improves [Econintersect]. The Philly Fed Business Outlook Survey improved and remains in expansion. Overall, this report was better than last month as key elements improved. This is a very noisy index which readers should be reminded of is sentiment-based. The Philly Fed historically is one of the more negative of all the Fed manufacturing surveys but has been more positive than the others recently.

Construction: December 2020 Residential Building Growth Improves [Econintersect]. Headline residential building permits improved and construction completions also improved. The rolling averages improved for permits but worsened for construction completions. We seem to be seeing and bad month, followed by a good month, and then another bad month. The backward revisions this month were small. It is always difficult to understand the trends as the backward revisions sometimes reverse trends month-to-month. The nature of this industry normally has large variations from month-to-month (mostly due to weather) so the rolling averages are the best way to view this series. The rolling averages say this sector is growing but rollercoastering.

* * *

Shipping: Inside Californias colossal container-ship traffic jam [Freight Waves]. The pileup of ships offshore in San Pedro Bay and congestion onshore at the terminals have reached epic proportions. And the situation could become even more maddening in the weeks ahead.  [Kip Louttit, executive director of the Marine Exchange of Southern California[ confirmed that ships have effectively filled all of the usable anchorages off Los Angeles and Long Beach. Ships have also taken six of the 10 contingency anchorages off Huntington, the next town south. If all the anchorages and contingency anchorages fill up, ships will be placed in so-called drift boxes in deeper water. These are actually circles not boxes. Unlike ships at anchorages in shallower water, ships in drift boxes would not anchor, theyd drift. When you drift out of the circle, which has a radius of 2 miles, you start your engine and go back to the middle of the circle, explained Louttit.  I left the part about drift boxes in because its so cool.

Shipping: FedEx Shipping Damage Creates Fractured Artworks [Kottke.org]. Neat:
It was my job to make sure they felt safe and supported as they worked to address the hate. This year, I wanted to make sure they felt hopeful as they looked toward a future and viewed the results of their own advocacy, civic action and engagement in our democracy, she said. My goal is to encourage them to be involved in making the changes they hope to see, to dream big and to hold on to hope, always.
Commissioners chair calls for legislation to 'move with the times'

Government is being urged to update legislation surrounding local authorities and move with the times.

Its after emergency laws, which allowed decisions to be made remotely, expired in December before the Island entered a second lockdown.

Rates must be set by the end of the month, however, current rules mean decisions can only be ratified in person.

Port St Mary chair Dr Michelle Haywood says the Covid-19 pandemic has hit home the need for change.



The Local Government Act 2006 requires all local authorities to set rates by 31 January, but the inability to hold physical meetings has caused problems.

Dr Haywood claims that, despite discussions having been ongoing for some time, the legislation as it stands is flawed.

She believes the events of the last ten months is proof the laws need modernising; and could lead to more public engagement in local politics.

Theres an option here that you could actually move to having online meetings that would encourage people to get involved.

Trekking out, especially if its a really wet and horrible, dark night, to the local commissioners office to go and watch the public session of the meeting is probably something thats not going to happen.

But actually having cameras in that meeting and having it that you could log-on online and you could watch it, I dont see why we exclude local authorities from that access to technology and to try and increase inclusion and influence in local politics while were allowing Tynwald to do it.

Her comments come following the first Tynwald sitting of 2021, which was held virtually.

Rob Mercer MLC, who sits in the upper chamber, supported the idea of a permanent change to the laws on social media.

He suggested a permanent change to allow for remote meetings would be useful and embraces what has rapidly become an established way of working.

Former chairman of the Liberal Vannin party Michael Josem was hesitant to offer his backing to any law change, though, claiming poor online access could see some people excluded.

However, Dr Haywood feels the current set-up cannot continue.

She added: The legislation is not allowing us to do virtual meetings so it does need to move, we do need to move with the times.

If there were changes like that that would allow greater input into local government, that would be amazing.

Dr Michelle Haywood spoke to Local Democracy Reporter Chris Cave:



Media

Dr Michelle Haywood
Editor: The Jan. 6 attack at our Capitol was utterly and historically horrible.

While we have an obligation to condemn those events, we must admit that what happened was not inconceivable. He told us who he was. He showed us what he was willing to do. He made his capabilities clear many times. His rhetoric warned us, repeatedly, that he believed his self-interest to be more important than the American people.

He never gave us reason to doubt that he would put his ego on a higher shelf than human life. Thats what he did, over and over. From his vilification of immigrants to his inability to denounce white supremacy, from his dealings with Ukraine to his handling of the pandemic, and from his habitual lying to his inflammatory bragging and constant deflecting of well-earned criticism, we knew who he was and what he was capable of.

We knew our president was a danger to this nation and to our people. So, while many believe that former President Donald Trump crossed a line when he called for an insurrection against the U.S. government, the truth is that there was no line to cross. He had trampled it long before that grotesque day and he continuously was given the chance to cause more harm. That puts the blame on members of the government who condoned him, the people who supported them and anyone who stayed silent. Until we hold him accountable, we are the ones at fault. We must hold him accountable.

JENNIFER SKEREL

CLARKS SUMMIT

Editor: Who knew that former President Donald Trump was capable of such sentimental affection when he publicly told his American patriots that he loves them and that they are special people?

Couldnt you see him cordially inviting them to Mar-a-Lago for cocktails and dinner, then brandy and cigars, and politely discussing the French Enlightenment and Montesquieus The Spirit of the Laws, with its focus on what became the bedrock of American democracy: the separation of powers?

DOMINIC SAADI

SCRANTON

Editor: I and others of like sensibility have maintained that the former president would throw each and every supporter of his under the bus to serve his selfish needs.

After finally seeing his sycophantic followers in the Cabinet and Congress desert the sinking ship, he realized he needed to try to do something to save his own skin. How best to do it but by calling for the same people he knowingly sent to attack the Capitol to make his supporters in Congress pay for their crimes? That illustrates hypocrisy on steroids.

I hope that reasonable Trump supporters see him for what he really is: the mad king has been dethroned. Lets heal ourselves, America.

ALAN BOYLES

BROWNDALE, WAYNE COUNTY

Editor: The United States is a democracy. We have free and fair elections, which reflect the will of the people.

It seems we lived in an alternate universe after former President Trump moved into the White House. Discussing political issues with someone from the opposition party ends in an argument because his lies have been reinforced by Fox and his followers believe, no questions asked.

The Medal of Freedom was given to the likes of commentator Rush Limbaugh and Rep. Jim Jordan. It should be revoked. They were loyal puppets. They represent the epitome of what is wrong with our country. Jordan and his cronies sabotage every congressional hearing, making a mockery of a democratic process.

While the country faces one of the worst pandemics in history with 400,00 dead, Trump tried to overturn an honest and fair election, cheering on protestors urging them to invade the Capitol. These hallowed halls where the caskets of JFK, John Lewis, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and John McCain have been on public display was invaded and desecrated.

A true leader would never precipitate such criminal action, but we know Trump is no leader. He is spiteful, vindictive and very dangerous.

MARIA VARECKA

LAKE ARIEL

PAULA ROOS

HONESDALE
Graphic novelist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim poses after an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe on Ganghwa Island, Jan. 15. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Kwak Yeon-soo



GANGHWA ISLAND  In 2020, cartoonist Keum Suk Gendry-Kim's graphic novel "Grass" won the prestigious Harvey Award for best international comic book. She was the first Korean cartoonist to win the prize, becoming a trailblazer in showing how subtle and serious the graphic narrative can be.



"Grass," which has been translated into 14 languages, depicts the life of a "comfort woman," a victim of Japan's wartime sexual slavery. Based on the testimony of the now elderly survivor of wartime sex slavery, Lee Ok-sun, Gendry-Kim addresses issues related to women and social class.



In addition to the Harvey Award, the book also earned the Slate Cartoonist Studio Prize, Krause Essay Prize, and nominations for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Eisner Awards, Believer Book Award, Ringo Award, YALSA Alex Award and YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens list.



Gendry-Kim's latest book "The Waiting," inspired by her mother's personal experience, revolves around Gwija, who was separated from her husband and son during the Korean War.



It tells the story of a family's heartbreak following the country's division into North and South. "The Waiting" is currently being translated into six languages. The French edition of the book will hit the shelves in May and the English edition will be available in September this year.





The book cover of the award-winning graphic novel "Grass," which depicts the life of a wartime sex slave / Courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly



A big focus of the cartoonist's work is women. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, Gendry-Kim said she feels the need to write stories about Korea's tragic history and characters who are marginalized.



"Because I'm a woman and I've grown up watching my mother and sisters face gender discrimination in patriarchal society, I feel determined to tell stories that center on women," she said.



Although she has a myriad of stories to tell through comics, being a cartoonist wasn't her childhood dream. Having majored in painting and sculpture, she aspired to be an artist.



"In Korea, I majored in Western painting at Sejong University. Then I moved France to learn sculpting because I had passion for the arts. I chose to go to France because the tuition was almost free and Paris is the city of art. I also admire the works of French Impressionist painters," she said.



After graduating from L'Ecole Superieure des Arts Decoratifs de Strasbourg, Gendry-Kim applied to numerous galleries in Paris. Despite her efforts, she was unsuccessful.



"I realized that gaining recognition in school and debuting as a professional artist are two different worlds. Since sculpture is an installation art, I couldn't make money out of it. So I began to translate Korean cartoons, like the works of Lee Hee-jae and Oh Se-ho, into French for a living," she said.



That's when she became interested in print cartoons and comics. "You only need paper and a pencil to draw cartoons in contrast to sculpture, which requires a large space and other materials. The way of expressing my artistic vision changed, but my desire to get involved in the creative process hasn't," she said.





A page view of "Grass" / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



Gendry-Kim insists on working with "meok" (traditional Korean ink) and tools such as brushes, twigs, sponges and rocks to produce hand-drawn art. The cartoonist's technical skill in drawing landscapes blends well with her heavy black outlines for cartoon faces.



"Webcomics are popular these days, but speed and technique are important factors when it comes to publishing them on a weekly basis. I feel more comfortable with print comics that come out as a finished product at once," she said.



Gendry-Kim said she first became interested in the "comfort women" issue in 1993. But it was in 2013 when she worked on a short comic book project titled "Secret" based on the testimony of victims that she decided to write a graphic novel that spotlights the plight of wartime sex slaves.



"While working on Secret, I wasn't sure how I should depict extreme violence in my drawings. I realized that the comfort women issue is far more complicated than I acknowledged," she said.



The author added that she wanted to highlight the lived experiences of these victims, and show how poorly they were treated after returning to their home country.



By the end of the story, Gendry-Kim includes the illustrated faces of former Korean President Park Geun-hye, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se.



Asked if she meant to hold them accountable, the cartoonist said, "That was part of my intention. I wanted readers to remember that the comfort women issue is a living history and it still remains an unresolved issue. The elderly sex slavery victims should rest at home, but they still go out to participate in rallies and demand compensation from the Japanese government."





The book cover of "The Waiting," which revolves around Gwija who was separated from her husband and son during the Korean War. / Courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly
This time, its a problem affecting the way users listen to radio stations in their cars when the phone is connected to the head unit, and Android Auto is running on the screen.More specifically, some users claim Android Auto always takes over the audio, disconnecting it and reverting to whatever media app is installed on the phone.I have the same problem recently. Google will not allow me to listen to over the air radio for more than a couple of minutes, and then shuts it off (the car radio, whether satellite or terrestrial) and then insists that any audio I hear comes exclusively via Internet, through and controlled by and monitored by the Google Android Auto app, one user explained in December; several others confirmed the same behavior in their cars too.For the time being, its not clear whats happening and how users could bring things back to normal, especially because the problem doesnt seem to be caused by a specific Android Auto update.Some say the behavior was introduced in mid-December, and everything worked just fine in the past.If youre certain a new Android Auto version is causing the whole thing, one thing worth trying is a downgrade to a previous release of the app. This can be done by removing the Android Auto version installed on your device and then downloading a stand-alone APK installer for the build you want to try out.Google is yet to acknowledge the problem, so for the time being, its still not known if the problem is under investigation and a fix is at least planned.
PUNE, India (AP) - At least five people were killed in a fire that broke out Thursday at a building under construction at Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer, officials said. The company said the blaze would not affect production of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Murlidhar Mohol, mayor of Pune city in southern Maharashtra state, said five bodies were found in the rubble after the flames were extinguished by firefighters.

Mahol said the victims were probably construction workers. He said the cause of the fire had not been determined and the extent of damage was not immediately clear.

Serum Institue of India's CEO, Adar Poonwala, said he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life.

He said there would be no reduction in vaccine manufacturing because the company has other available facilities.

The company said the fire was restricted to a new facility it is constructing to increase the production of COVID-19 vaccines and ensure it is better prepared for future pandemics.

Smoke rises from the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine for the coronavirus, in Pune, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

It said the fire did not affect existing facilities making COVID-19 vaccines or a stockpile of around 50 million doses.

Images showed huge plumes of smoke billowing from the building and dozens of company workers in lab suits leaving the compound as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

Serum Institute of India is the worlds largest maker of vaccines and has been contracted to manufacture a billion doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine.

Poonawalla said in an interview with The Associated Press last month that it hopes to increase production capacity from 1.5 billion doses to 2.5 billion doses per year by the end of 2021. The new facility is part of the expansion.

Of the more than 12 billion coronavirus vaccine doses expected to be produced this year, rich countries have already bought about 9 billion, and many have options to buy even more. As a result, Serum Institute is likely to make most of the vaccines that will be used by developing nations.

Smoke rises from the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine for the coronavirus, in Pune, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Employees leave as smoke rises from a fire at Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine for the coronavirus, in Pune, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Employees leave as smoke rises from a fire at Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine for the coronavirus, in Pune, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Firemen try to douse a fire at Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker that is manufacturing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine for the coronavirus, in Pune, India, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Politician-In-Charge Planning To Push Americans To EV's No Matter What







SEE ALSO: The Auto Channel Electric Vehicle News and Opinion Archive

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SEE ALSO: Covid Bio Weapon Supports China EV Domination Helped By US Politicians And Their Snotty "Know Nothing" Staff- Updated

Deloitte research expects that by 2030 China will hold 49% of the global EV market, Europe will account for 27%, and the US will hold 14%.

By Alex Kreetzer

Auto Futures

We have already seen what a no nothing Trump reign looks like for the domestic auto industry, following his election in 2016, which saw his own take on restoring the countrys automotive presence, in part by threatening automakers not to build factories anywhere other than the US and creating friction among some of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world.

Now officially sworn in, Auto Futures looks at what a Biden Presidency means for the country and its turbulent automotive industry.

A key focus for the 46th U.S. President is, of course, a drastic change in the countrys environmental policy, explicitly labelling climate change as an existential threat. Ultimately, he wants to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord, after Trumps decision to withdraw from the agreement, and cut greenhouse gases up to 28% by 2025, based on 2005 levels.

In addition to this, he is proposing a $1.7 trillion federal investment over the next 10 years in green technologies research, to help the US reach net zero emissions by 2050. This investment will of course affect the automotive industry, which is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.

Many within the industry hope that a Biden Presidency will be enough to help the U.S. catch up with other regions around the world and help achieve the overall 2030 goals through clean energy and transport.

Supporting the EV Revolution Bidens plan includes a much more stringent fuel economy standard; something that was initially put in place by former President Barack Obama in 2012 before being removed during the Trump campaign.

The initial rule was that automakers had to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.5% annually from 2017 to 2021 and 5% per year from 2022 to 2025. However, Trump lowered reductions to 1.5% year-over-year to 2026. In addition, he also removed Californias waiver to set the states own stricter zero-emissions standards which caused problems between automakers operating in the US.

Despite Trumps actions saving some companies over $1 billion in annual compliance costs, it created a toxic environment for automakers within the country.

With a Biden Presidency, the automotive industry within the US looks to be shifting its focus back to the environmental goals on the world stage, with EVs spearheading this change. In fact, even Trump showed some support for EVs in recent debates.

With a promise that $400 billion will be invested into clean energy, including battery technology and general R&D, EVs should see a sharp increase due to getting more efficient, cheaper and, most importantly, more accessible due to governmental support.

With infrastructure playing a colossal role in EV adoption rates, Biden will help states build approximately half a million new charging stations by the end of 2030, an astonishing improvement over the countrys current offering of under 90,000 charging stations.

Getting Americans in EVs Biden hopes that through this approach, the US can catch up with regions such as Europe, which is far ahead currently with much better support and EV offerings. To put this into context, Europe currently has over 200,000 charging stations, eclipsing the current number in the US.

Quite simply, the US needs to follow suit, introducing new incentives that will get consumers in EVs and catch up with other continents for both future environmental and business benefits.

Biden will introduce new tax credits, creating more attractively priced EVs through a new $7,500 subsidy for the first 200,000 vehicles sold by a manufacturer. Similar to countries like the UK and France, this will help support electrification during the transitional phrase, bridging the gap until we see the mass roll-out of EVs in the US.

Another difference to Europe is that the US needs more EV offerings, from both traditional automakers and new startups ready to shake up the market. Tesla has done a lot for EVs on the world stage, but more companies need to be assisted to create an exciting market for consumers.

That is not to say that there is a lack of exciting new automotive brands in the US; you have the likes of Rivian, Lucid Motors, Karma Automotive, Nikola, among others. The problem is that they were not being supported by policy changes, which has stagnated the adoption of these EVs.

This should all change with a Biden Presidency, with trade shares looking healthy again for these startups and highly-attractive benefits for battery makers such as LG Chem and Panasonic which dominate the global EV market. Many analysts believe that lithium and battery stocks hold the potential for impressive gains for investors once these policies are officially announced.

One thing is for certain, a Biden Presidency is favourable for all involved in the modern automotive industry. Experts predict that US EV sales will surpass four million by 2030, with hundreds of new models and billions in R&D investment.

Deloitte expects that by 2030 China will hold 49% of the global EV market, Europe will account for 27%, and the US will hold 14%. Despite still someway behind at this point, it shows that the region is going in the left direction. Looking beyond 2030, the Biden campaign could prove to be the key springboard to future transport opportunities for businesses and consumers within the US. There is a lot to do, but its a start.
Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno attends the signing of the first phase of the trade agreement between the United States and Ecuador, at the Carondelet Palace, in Quito, on Dec. 8, 2020. (CRISTINA VEGA RHOR/AFP via Getty Images)

US Saves Ecuador From Chinas Debt Trap

WASHINGTONThe United States struck a deal with Ecuador to refinance its China debt, as part of an effort to counter Beijings growing influence in Latin America.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) signed a framework agreement with the government of Ecuador on Jan. 14 to refinance its preexisting debt to China and support the countrys development projects in the future.

DFC is a federal government agency formed in December 2019 to advance U.S. foreign policy interests and finance infrastructure projects in developing countries to compete with China.

The agreement is for the delivery of up to $3.5 billion to prepay expensive debt and reactivate the productive sector, President Lenin Moreno of Ecuador said during a virtual press conference after the signing of the agreement.

As part of the deal, Ecuador agreed to join the Clean Network to remove Chinese companies from its telecommunications infrastructure.

Last year, the State Department launched a campaign called Clean Network to boot Huawei and other Chinese telcos from fifth-generation (5G) wireless networks around the world. So far, about 60 countries, representing more than two-thirds of the worlds economy, and 200 telecom companies have joined the alliance.

This framework agreement allows DFC to streamline support for projects that refinance predatory Chinese debt and help Ecuador improve the value of its strategic assets, DFCs CEO Adam Boehler said in a statement on Jan. 14.

We are proud to collaborate with Ecuador to advance this critical and strategic project with an important ally of the United States in the Western Hemisphere.

There has been a dramatic growth in trade and investment relations between China and Latin America in the past decade.

After the 2008 global financial crisis, China approached many Latin American governments with offers to build and finance infrastructure projects in exchange for breaking with the United States. Many countries agreed, and are now saddled with high-interest Chinese loans.

In recent years, Chinese technology giants have also increased their footprint in the region.

Chinese companies such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Alibaba, and BYD are rapidly expanding in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Chinese giant Tencent is becoming an emerging source of finance for local startups, a report by Council on Foreign Relations stated on Jan. 19.

Beijing is also trying to increase its influence over public opinion by cooperating with local media outlets that insert Beijings narrative organically into their content, the report stated.

Ecuador was scrambling to pay back its loans worth $19 billion from China for the construction of a controversial dam as well as for bridges, highways, irrigation, and other projects, The New York Times reported in 2018.

Despite perilous amounts of debt, Ecuador also joined Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in December 2018. The country immediately borrowed another $900 million from China and received more than $69 million for reconstruction and $30 million in nonrefundable assistance.

In recent years, China has lured many countries into a debt trap through the BRI, which is one of the worlds most ambitious and controversial development programs. Since its launch in 2013, the BRI has poured billions of dollars into emerging countries to help build massive infrastructure projects. So far, 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have joined the BRI.

Beijing plans to double bilateral trade with South American countries to $500 billion by 2025 and to increase BRI investments into the region to $250 billion.

Last year, Washington criticized Beijing for exploiting the pandemic to further expand its geopolitical influence through predatory lending practices.

Most of the BRI projects are financed through Chinese state-controlled lenders with a lack of transparency, leaving borrowing nations distressed by massive debt burdens. In recent years, Beijing has come under fire for setting a debt trap to seize control of strategic assets in emerging countries.

Boehler described the deal as a novel model to remove China from South American countries.

Under the agreement, the DFC will partner with other private financial institutions to help create a special purchase vehicle that will acquire oil and infrastructure assets from the Ecuadorian government. With the proceeds, the government will pay off the debt to China earlier than previously agreed, according to Financial Times.

DFC announced that it would consider financing future development projects in Ecuador after an extensive review process and due diligence.

Under the framework, up to $2.8 billion is available for projects, DFC stated.

In her testimony before the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission in February 2020, Cynthia Watson, dean of faculty and academic affairs at the National War College, attributed Chinas interests in the Latin American region as guaranteeing long-term access to energy, natural resources, and food, as well as increasing diplomatic links to support Chinas emergent role as a global leader.

Beijing also wants to eradicate remaining diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in the region and to further Chinas ambition to replace the United States as the dominant external country for long-term relations, she said.


BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Tate & Lyle Plc (TATE.L, TATYY.PK) announced the appointment of Vivid Sehgal to the position of Chief Financial Officer with effect from 1 May 2021. He will join the Group as Chief Financial Officer Designate, and be appointed to the Board, from 1 March 2021. Imran Nawaz, the current Chief Financial Officer, will leave Tate & Lyle to take up the position of CFO of Tesco plc.



Vivid Sehgal is a former Chief Financial Officer of Delphi Technologies PLC, a global provider of automotive propulsion technologies, having served from 2017 to 2020 when it was acquired by BorgWarner Inc.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

TATE & LYLE-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
European Wax Center Ranked #1 In Category In Entrepreneur's Highly Competitive 42nd Annual Franchise 500

PLANO, Texas, Jan. 19, 2021 // PRNewswire // - European Wax Center (EWC) recently ranked #1 in category in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500. Recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the Franchise 500 ranks European Wax Center as no. 49 for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power.

"2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but it was also a year of unusual opportunity," says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief. "Franchises were able to be nimble and innovative, serving the needs of franchisees and customers in ways that will resonate for many years to come. We believe that, when we eventually look back on this time, we'll see it as a moment when many brands defined themselves for the future."

Despite global pandemic circumstances, European Wax Center continued to grow and open new doors. With a total of 42 new center openings in 2020, including the celebration of their 800th center this past October, EWC is showing no signs of slowing down.

In 2020, European Wax Center committed to franchisees and guests to not only be the leader in waxing, but also the leader in clean. EWC's rigorous sanitation and cleaning measures have always served to create a safe experience for guests. In light of COVID-19, European Wax Center amplified these measures by creating "Team Scrub," a task force charged with ensuring the top safety and sanitation in all centers, every day.

"It's an honor to receive the acknowledgment of being ranked as the lead wax franchise in this highly competitive category and no. 49 overall, especially after a year where a global pandemic has greatly impacted everyone. This recognition is a testament to the measures we take every day to grow as a franchise brand and ensure we continue to provide a safe experience our guests can trust," said David Berg, Chief Executive Officer of EWC.

SOURCE European Wax Center

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Jaipur, Jan 21 : After Chittorgarh and Jhunjhunu, Alwar will be the third district in Rajasthan to have Sainik School in its vicinity as chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday allotted free of cost land for the project in Haldina village of Malakheda tehsil here.

It needs to be mentioned here that in the year 2013 in October, the state government, along with ministry of defence, signed an agreement letter for setting up a sainik school in Alwar under Sainik School Society, New Delhi.

In 2015, the district collector identified a 23.59 hectare of land in Haldina village.

The CM has allotted a sanction letter to for allotting the land whose cost is around 8.41 crore.

Students near Alwar shall get decent education and can then serve the nation by getting into armed forces, said the press note issued by the CM's office.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The ESOP Association looks forward to working with President Joe Biden and his incoming Administration to make employee ownership available to the vast majority of privately employed Americans. The ESOP Association believes that employee ownership strengthens our free enterprise economy, increases productivity through greater employee participation and satisfaction, and maximizes human potential by enhancing self-worth, dignity, and the well-being of working Americans.

"I am thrilled to see that many of President Biden's highest-ranking nominees arrive knowing that ESOPs can help close the wealth and income inequality gap, improve business performance, and bolster our nation's economy," said James Bonham, President and CEO of The ESOP Association. "With our nation facing significant issues borne from growing income and wealth gaps, the need has never been greater for all parties to work together in search of solutions. ESOPswith their long list of benefits for American workers, businesses, and local economieshave always engendered bipartisan support, gaining the backing of leaders with policy agendas as varied as Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). We look forward to continuing that tradition with our new President and the leadership of the 117th Congress."

President Biden has nominated several top officials who have previously voiced support for ESOPs and employee ownership, including:

Isabel Guzman , nominated to lead the Small Business Administration, supports creating more ESOPs and encourages educating retiring business owners about the advantages of these plans.

, nominated to lead the Small Business Administration, supports creating more ESOPs and encourages educating retiring business owners about the advantages of these plans. Jared Bernstein , named to the Administration's Council of Economic Advisors, recently released his second study detailing the advantages of ESOPs and endorsing efforts to increase awareness of these plans.

, named to the Administration's Council of Economic Advisors, recently released his second study detailing the advantages of ESOPs and endorsing efforts to increase awareness of these plans. Marty Walsh , nominated to be the Secretary of Labor, has personally visited ESOP companies and his agenda as Mayor of Boston aligns with the benefits ESOPs provide in narrowing the wealth inequality gap.

"There are currently more than 10 million employee owners working at ESOP companies, but there should be more," added Bonham. "Turning employees into owners so they can share in the wealth they help create is an invaluable component to a free-enterprise economy. It is also an approach all sides can agree on. We look forward to working with the incoming administration and the 117th Congress to pursue our common goals of keeping businesses running strong and keeping employee owners on the job, engaged in moving their companies toward an ever-brighter future."

The ESOP Association

The ESOP Association (TEA) represents the interests of ESOP companies in the United States, including small and large employee owned companies in every sector and in all 50 states. In total, ESOP companies employ more than 10.6 million people and contribute $1.377 trillion to the U.S. economy annually. The ESOP Association is the powerful voice of the ESOP community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps employee owned companies compete, grows employee ownership here and abroad, and creates jobs across the United States. For more information about TEA or to follow us on social media, please visit www.esopassociation.org.

Employee Stock Ownership Plans

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a tax-qualified retirement plan authorized and encouraged by federal tax and pension laws. ESOPs are similar toand governed by some of the same laws and regulations as401(k) plans. In other ways, however, ESOPs are quite different from 401(k)s. When companies launch an ESOP, they form a trust that purchases some or all the company's shares and holds these shares in retirement accounts for employees. When the stock value increases or decreases, so does the value of employees' accounts. Unlike 401(k)s, most ESOPs require no out-of-pocket contribution from employees. For employees who feel hard pressed to make an out-of-pocket contribution to a 401(k), an ESOP might be the only plan in which they can afford to participate.

SOURCE The ESOP Association

Related Links

http://www.esopassociation.org


Jammu and Kashmir: The great highland fishes of Kashmir, gone forever in the abyss of human depredation

by Naveed Ahmad Najar

January 21,2021 | Source: Kashmir Reader

Found only in the crystal-clear, cold mountain waters of Kashmir, central Asia, south and western China, a genus of fishes called Schizothorax comprises such famous species as are known in Kashmir as Snow Trout, Niger, Chush, Khront, Churu, and many others. Most of these, tragically, have lost their habitat in Kashmir due to water pollution, extraction of minerals from rivers, use of pesticides and fertilisers for agricultural purposes that drain along with water in lakes and rivers, and other such human activities. These fishes are very sensitive and the pervasive water pollution has poisoned them. Many of the native fishes of Kashmir have already become extinct.



Raja Begum, a Kashmiri fisherwoman who sells fish on the banks of Dal Lake, told Kashmir Reader, I have been selling fishes for the past 28 years and Kashmiri people as well as outsiders love to eat Kashmiri fishes (Schizothorax fishes). These fishes had heavy demand in the market in the past and fish sellers would earn their livelihood easily, but now its very hard due to lack of Kashmiri fishes. She added, Eight years ago I saw a dead Kashmiri trout floating on Dal Lake and I realized that its not possible now to see these fishes again. People as well as the authorities are responsible for the extinction of these Kashmiri fishes. Use of machines and chemicals for cleansing the Dal has resulted in these fishes dying and disappearing. These fishes lay eggs in weeds and the machines remove the weeds from the lake along with the eggs. Many Schizothorax fishes are, or were, native to Kashmir and attracted anglers from around the world. Kashmiri fishermen would export them to other countries as part of a once flourishing trade.



Jameela Begum, 65 years old and a resident of Srinagar, says she loves to eat Kashir gaad (Kashmiri fishes). Besides, her doctor says that these fishes are very healthy and loaded with many vitamins. She rues that the fishes now do not taste as they once did. Its hard to find Kashmiri fishes these days in the market. You will find only Punjabi fishes,she says. In the past every Kashmiri during summers would dry the Kashmiri fish and in winter the most famous dish was haggard (dried fish) which Kashmiris loved to eat. But now everything has changed. Abdul Salaam, another resident of Srinagar, said, In the past when you cooked a Kashmiri fish, the smell would spread to the entire village. The fishes now do not have that fragrance. Nowadays the taste of fish is very different from what it was. I miss that taste which was to be found in the fish we cooked in our homes.



Experts have been consistently warning about the rising pollution in water bodies, emphasising that the local fish species are most sensitive to pollutants. Their larvae or juveniles are poisoned by the water pollution and most fishes die at a young age. Manzoor Ahmad, who works in the Fisheries department, told Kashmir Reader that the high level of pollution in the Dal Lake has caused a sharp decline in the presence of Schizothorax fishes. The machines which are used to clean weeds in the lake are another reason for the extinction of these types of fishes, he said.



The machines remove the weed which also contains the eggs of native fishes, due to which many fish species in the lake have gone forever, he said, adding, Now some of the Schizothorax fishes are found in the upper reaches of the tributaries, which are the breeding ground for these native fish. Assistant Director at the Fisheries department, Abdul Ahad Mir, said that Schizothorax fish were to be found in good numbers in the Dal Lake, but due to the present situation of the lake, they are almost fully extinct. There are many other reasons for the extinction of these fishes, but the main reason is the pollution of the water, as they can only survive in fresh, clear water, Mir said.



Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Director of the Fisheries department, told Kashmir Reader that lakes and rivers in Kashmir valley have all become too polluted for Schizothorax fishes to survive. Irrigation schemes, PHE schemes, etc, which are all picking through the natural water bodies, have put too much stress on aquatic life. The extraction of minerals in rivers where these fishes feed and breed is another reason for the extinction of many fish species. He added, Many researchers are trying their best to save these fishes, but till now they have not achieved much success. They cannot even find the feed formula for breeding these fishes artificially.
Ukraine's GDP will rise by 4.2% and will continue to grow rapidly at around 4% in 20222023, the regulator believes.

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) says the country's economy contracted much less than expected in 2020, and it will grow at the rate of around 4% in 2021 and the following years, after the coronavirus crisis.

"The NBU estimates real GDP to decline by 4.4% in 2020, which is less than expected in the previous forecast (6%)," the regulator's press service said on its website on January 21.

Read alsoNBU keeps key policy rate unchanged at historic low"The Ukrainian economy recovered rather quickly in [the second half of the year] H2. After the strict lockdown ended, the decline in GDP slowed to 3.5% [year-over-year] y-o-y in [the third quarter] Q3 and continued to decelerate in Q4. The tightening of quarantine restrictions in November had a minor impact on business activity," the report said.

The rapid economic recovery was mainly driven by growth in domestic consumption. Increased household incomes and budget spending are keeping consumption high. Retail trade continued to grow rapidly in Q4. GDP dynamics were also improved by higher current budget expenditures on infrastructure, especially on road repairs, and on healthcare. On the other hand, companies' investment activity remained sluggish.

In 2021, the economy will almost recover from the losses inflicted by the coronavirus crisis: Ukraine's GDP will rise by 4.2% and will continue to grow rapidly at around 4% in 20222023, according to the NBU.

"Strong domestic demand will remain the main economic growth driver, underpinned by further increases in real household income. Lower uncertainty about the course of the pandemic will favor a recovery in investment activity," the press service said.

"The surplus of Ukraine's current account is expected to hit one of its record-high levels, reaching 4.8% of GDP. In 20212023, however, the current account will return to deficit," it added.

Ukraine's GDP

Ukraine's gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2020 declined by 3.5% y-o-y, according to the State Statistics Service.

Based on the results of 11 months of 2020, the Ministry for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture estimated the GDP decline at 4.7%, which was generally in line with the projected trend.

On December 29, 2020, the ministry projected a 4.6% increase in the country's GDP in 2021.

On December 18, 2020, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the domestic economy might decline by no more than 5% of GDP in 2020.

The decline in Ukraine's GDP in 10 months of 2020 slowed to 5.2%, from 5.5% reported in January-September 2020.

On January 11, 2021, the Ministry for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture said Ukraine's growth domestic product might drop by 3% in the first quarter of 2021.

Reporting by UNIAN
First Minister Arlene Foster, right,and Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill during a media briefing in County Tyrone (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA)

Northern Irelands coronavirus lockdown is to be extended for a further four weeks to March 5.

Transmission rates are decreasing slowly and new, more contagious variants are causing Stormont ministers concern.

An extended shutdown closing non-essential retailers, keeping schools closed to most pupils and encouraging employees to work from home began after Christmas and had been scheduled to end next month.

Curbs may not ultimately be lifted until Easter.

Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster said: I appreciate that this will be disappointing to many people listening to us this evening.

I think particularly of those who are feeling the pain of separation from loved family members and friends, for workers and employers worried about their livelihoods and indeed parents who are juggling the education of their children with work and other responsibilities.

The rocketing tally of new case numbers has begun to ease off.

But struggling hospitals are expected to face even greater pressures by this weekend due to the lag between infection and serious illness developing.

Around 100 military personnel have been brought in to support nurses and many will work at the Nightingale surge facility at the City Hospital in Belfast.

The Department of Health #COVID19 dashboard has been updated.



732 individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Sadly, a further 21 deaths have been reported (5 outside the 24 hour period).https://t.co/YN16dmGzhv pic.twitter.com/xARF1hWTzQ  Department of Health (@healthdpt) January 21, 2021

Mrs Foster added: The Executive today has reviewed the current restrictions and agreed that they remain an appropriate and necessary response to the serious and imminent threat posed by Covid-19.

Following a detailed outline from health highlighting continuing pressures on hospitals and intensive care units and the emergence of highly transmissible variants, the Executive has agreed that the restrictions will be extended for four weeks until March 5 2021.

Stormont health minister Robin Swann proposed the step to help drive down case numbers and ministers agreed on Thursday.

There was none of the rancour and division which has surrounded some previous decisions by the powersharing administration during the crisis.

The outlook for schools is yet to be decided.

During a press conference in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, the First Minister said the reproductive number  referring to the number of people that an infected person will pass the virus on to  was now down to between 0.6 and 0.8, a halving of the rate of cases in two weeks, but that transmission rates were falling slowly.

There is no doubt that there are better days ahead but we need to keep working together right now to save lives and protect the health service Deputy First Minster Michelle O'Neill

She added: This is undoubtedly the most difficult of times and we know the sacrifice that youre all making to save lives and as an Executive we are committed to taking every possible step to move us forward out of this pandemic.

Deputy First Minster Michelle ONeill said it was a difficult decision and the position would be reviewed next month.

It has been a long and hard road for all, she said.

There is no doubt that there are better days ahead but we need to keep working together right now to save lives and protect the health service.

She acknowledged that people were worrying about what the lengthy restrictions would mean for their businesses and families.

We know that we are asking a lot of everyone, we will do everything we can to make sure you are supported during this time.

"News that the Northern Ireland-wide lockdown will be extended is understandable given the worryingly high prevalence of the virus. While this comes as little surprise to business, the economic damage cannot be underestimated." @angela_mcgowan  pic.twitter.com/KzOwLCiJTK  CBI Northern Ireland (@CBI_NI) January 21, 2021

A further 21 people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died.

And 732 new cases of the virus have been detected, according to the Department of Health on Thursday.

There were 806 Covid-positive patients in hospitals, with 70 in intensive care.

Angela McGowan, CBI Northern Ireland director, said the economic damage could not be underestimated.

She said: The Northern Ireland Executive must now redouble efforts to get business support to the firms that need it as quickly as possible.

A total of 166,538 vaccines have been administered.

Shaun Wallace has told how his father's tragic death is the reason behind his motivation to stay physically and mentally fit.

The Chase star's father Linford died from motor neurone disease in 2014, with the quiz expert, 60, left distraught at seeing his dad physically deteriorate.

And in scenes from spin-off show, The Chaser's Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles, Shaun revealed he does 2,000 sit-ups a day as he heartbreakingly admits he 'can't delay the inevitable.'

Heartbreaking: Shaun Wallace has told how his father's tragic death is the reason behind his motivation to stay physically and mentally fit

Viewers of The Chase will see a completely different side to the Chasers as Shaun, Anne Hegerty and Mark Labbett travel across the world to embark on an intellectual journey, where they question if humans are as intelligent as then believe themselves to be.

But despite being away on holiday, Shaun never fails to complete his rigorous daily morning routine of exercise, which includes the mammoth number of sit-ups.

Explaining his reasoning behind the brutal workout, Shaun noted how seeing his mum, who suffers from dementia, and his dad (who died seven years ago) decline physically spurs him on to keep himself in as best shape as possible.

'Every morning when I wake up I do 2,000 sit ups because my mum suffers from dementia', Shaun explained.

Motivation: In scenes from spin-off show, The Chaser's Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles, Shaun revealed he does 2,000 sit-ups a day as he heartbreakingly admits he 'can't delay the inevitable'

'My dad sadly died from motor neurone disease and it really saddened me to see them physically degenerate.'

The show sees the star reciting the names of the Kings and Queens of England while pushing himself during his rigorous routine, while he also partakes in a spot of yoga on the beach.

He added of his own health: 'Whilst I know I cant delay the inevitable I know I can postpone it by keeping myself physically and mentally sharp.'

Shaun, aka The Dark Destroyer, has previously discussed his parent's sacrifice and eventual pride after he became a lawyer.

So sad: The Chase star's father Linford died from motor neurone disease in 2014, with the quiz expert, 60, left distraught at seeing his dad physically deteriorate

Candid: Shaun noted how seeing his mum, who suffers from dementia, and his dad (who died seven years ago) decline physically spurs him on to keep himself in as best shape as possible

He told The Express in 2018: 'My parents were there for me when I wanted to be a lawyer and made a lot of sacrifices for that dream. I was so proud to see my fathers face when I was called to the Bar.

'When I won Mastermind, he was beside himself. He watched it in Willseden at the Learie Constantine Centre, which hosts West Indian events. They gave him a standing ovation when I became the first black person to win it.'

After learning his father was dying while recording an episode of The Chase, Shaun rushed to the hospice, where he managed to see his father for the last 10 minutes of his life.

He added: 'I said my piece, I kissed him and I said my goodbyes. So on Fathers Day I lay flowers, say a few words and remember the things he has done for me.'

Determination: He added of his own health: 'Whilst I know I cant delay the inevitable I know I can postpone it by keeping myself physically and mentally sharp'

Fitness: 'Every morning when I wake up I do 2,000 sit ups because my mum suffers from dementia. My dad sadly died from motor neurone disease and it really saddened me to see them physically degenerate'

Meanwhile, the first episode of The Chaser's Road Trip will see the trio journey to America to test themselves against Kanzi, a Bonobo ape who is able to communicate with humans.

Kanzi uses a series of pictures and symbols on a Lexigram, and is also thought to be one of the first Apes to show an understanding of spoken English.

Anne, Mark and Shaun also meet a chimpanzee memory genius, a 25-year-old gamer orangutan called Katie and the genius of the ocean, the dolphin.

Loving son: 'My parents were there for me when I wanted to be a lawyer and made a lot of sacrifices for that dream. I was so proud to see my fathers face when I was called to the Bar'

Looking good: Shaun, Anne Hegerty and Mark Labbett travel across the world to embark on an intellectual journey, where they question if humans are as intelligent as then believe themselves to be

New pal: Anne, Mark and Shaun meet a chimpanzee memory genius, a 25-year-old gamer orangutan called Katie and the genius of the ocean, the dolphin

In between the escapades, fans will have their jaws dropping when they see Mark, who revealed last year that he had shed five stone in lockdown, emerging from the ocean in tiny trunks in a scene many fans will recall.

In the same scene, Shaun is seen practicing yoga on the beach, during which he was flaunting his amazingly buff body which hit headlines last week.

Anne meanwhile - who first stripped off on TV in the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here jungle in 2019 - was seen getting into a bikini alongside Mark and Shaun to help learn from the tricks of a dolphin.

The Chaser's Road Trip: Trains, Brains and Automobiles airs on Thursday 21st January 2021 at 9pm on ITV.
Names of former US president Donald Trump and Germany's dictator Adolf Hitler have often hit the headlines for their policies. But this time, they've turned into 'babas'. These new-age seers can be spotted at Prayagraj's Magh Mela.

According to a report in Times of India, 'Hitler Baba' is otherwise Mahamandaleshwar Madhav Das of Digambar Ani Akhara. But, his disciples love calling him 'Hitler' due to his 'strict' behaviour. A native of Saidabad, Prayagraj, he was so named by his guru Raghuvar Das because of his headstrong approach.

"I have always done which I think is right and it has been proved correct later. It was my decision to take sanyas, and since I was adamant for it, my Guru named me Hitler Baba," Das was quoted as saying.

Recalling some of his decisions, Das said, "At times, when my guru told me not to start my journey because Disha Shool is considered inauspicious for starting a journey, I would still go saying if my guru is with me, everything is auspicious." He admits some people meet him reluctantly because of his unusual nickname, but he continues his own style of austerity and living.

Likewise, Mahant Kanchan Das, an MCom, of Saket Dhaam ashram became an ardent follower of Donald Trump after he became US President, the report stated. Owing to his fluency in English, his Guru, Vinayaka Baba, named him 'Trump Baba'. Soon, he became famous for his unique name. Trump Baba decides what would be cooked at the bhandara.

Similarly, Maruti Baba of Khak Chowk and Dhundhkari Baba are also camping in the Mela ground. The tradition of having a unique nickname is not new. Gurus gave nicknames according to quality and behaviour of follower seers and it continues even now. Such names increase the curiosity of devotees, said Mahant Narendra Giri, president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad.

LONDON (dpa-AFX) - IG Group Holdings plc (IGG.L) reported that its first half profit before tax increased 129% to 231.3 million pounds from 101.2 million pounds, prior year. Earnings per share was 50.3 pence compared to 22.2 pence. First half net trading revenue rose 67% to 416.9 million pounds from 249.9 million pounds, a year ago. Active clients rose 55% to 238,600. The Board intends to recommend an interim dividend of 12.96 pence per share. The dividend will be paid on 25 February 2021 to those shareholders on the register at the close of business on 29 January 2021. The Board of IG Group also announced the proposed acquisition of tastytrade, Inc., a US online brokerage and trading education platform. Total consideration of $1.0 billion is comprised of: cash consideration of $300 million; and the issuance to tastytrade shareholders of 61.0 million new shares in IG valued at $700 million. The Group expects the acquisition to be low single digit accretive to adjusted earnings per share in the first full year post completion. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Migrants who arrived in caravan from Honduras on their way to the US are blocked by security forces in Guatemala (AFP or licensors)

The latest caravan of migrants originating in Honduras, is facing a markedly different response from the authorities of neighboring Guatemala and Mexico.

By James Blears

A confrontation on a road near the traversed border from Honduras across to Guatemala, in which hundreds of migrants were held back by anti riot personnel clad in olive green uniforms wielding batons and then firing tear gas, was a portrait etched in sheer desperation. The Police ranks which were six deep, held off the attempted break through as the more desperate elements surged forward but the majority backed off. Starting off from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, numbering three thousand, the caravan has now increased to more than ten thousand people. Its members are encouraged by Joe Biden, who`ll be elected US President tomorrow (Wednesday) promising a path to citizenship for more than eleven million undocumented people already in the United States. But they`re ignoring advice that an exodus from their countries to the US border isn`t a fast track solution. The Guatemalan Government is urging its counterparts in Honduras to stop mass exits, and the Mexican Foreign Ministry is supporting this stance.

However, that doesn`t take into to account the situation in Honduras which has worsened from desperate to critical. People who have fled their homes, have done so because of acute poverty, no job prospects, the constant menace of organized crime and two hurricanes which hit the country in November, plus the ravages of the pandemic. Their plight, has caused their flight.

This isn`t a problem which is going to go away overnight, especially as projections for economic recovery are likely to extend to years. The incoming Administration in Washington has to realize that they will have to deal with a major crisis in Central America. A viable solution to stem this exit strategy is urgently needed.
Representative Image

Sensex is up 344.49 points or 0.69 percent at 50136.61, and the Nifty added 95.20 points or 0.65 percent at 14739.90. The S&P BSE Sensex climbed Mount 50K while the Nifty50 also hit a fresh high above 14,600 for the first time.

The auto sector added almost 2 percent intraday on January 21 and is trading at over 2-year high on hopes of strong Q3 earnings growth.

As per the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), the auto retail sector saw growth for the first time in FY 2020-21 in the month of December.

Vehicle registrations in December registered a rise of 11 percent year-on-year (YoY), which is a significant improvement from last month that had witnessed a slump of over 19 percent YoY.

The top performers included Tata Motors which jumped over 7 percent. The stock surged over 51 percent in the last 15 days. CLSA has retained buy on the stock with target at Rs 290 per share. It is of the view that building confidence of a turnaround could lead to a valuation re-rating.

Global wholesales of all passenger vehicles in Q3FY21 were at 1,88,550, higher by 4% as compared to Q3FY20.

Tata Motors said it has received 98 patents last year under its accelerated drive for engineering excellence and innovation. These patents predominantly relate to the megatrend of CESS (connected, electrified, sustainable and safe) automobiles, the company said in a statement.

Ruchit Jain, Senior Analyst - Technical and Derivatives, Angel Broking suggests holding the stock. It has caught everyones attention due to its sharp run-up in the last few weeks. The recent price up move has been backed by increasing volumes which is a good sign, he said.

He also recommends holding Bajaj Auto. Nifty Auto has been forming a Higher Top Higher Bottom structure and is in an uptrend for the last few months. The two-wheeler space has witnessed a good buying interest and Bajaj Auto has seen good momentum over the last few months, he said.

On the daily charts, the intermediate corrections have been bought and as the stock approaches its 20-Days EMA, we again see a resumption of the uptrend, he added.

Share price of Bajaj Auto gained over 2 percent ahead of its Q3 results. The company is likely to register more than 16 percent year-on-year growth in standalone profit, revenue and operating profit for the quarter ended December 2020 led by festive demand.

Profit is expected to be supported by revenue and operating performance, while higher volumes and average selling price (ASPs) could boost topline during the quarter.

The other gainers included Eicher Motors, Bharat Forge and Ashok Leyland which added 1-2 percent each.

Tata Motors was the most active stock on NSE in terms of volumes with 14,32,95,643 shares being traded. The auto names which hit new 52-week high apart from Tata Motors included Bajaj Auto, MRF and Balkrishna Industries.

Including Tata Motors, ICICIdirect said its coverage universe topline growth is seen 8 percent YoY to Rs 1.65 lakh crore with corresponding margins at 11.6 percent (down 140 bps QoQ) and PAT de-growth of 10.7 percent YoY to Rs 6,679 crore.

: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Then-White House National Trade Council Director Peter Navarro is seen outside the White House on Oct. 8, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Navarro: If Trump Impeachment Moves Forward, Biden Can Forget About Unity

If the push to convict President Donald Trump after he was impeached isnt stopped by President Joe Biden, then Biden can forget about trying to unify the country, a former Trump adviser said Jan. 20.

If Biden is not able to keep Democratic congressional leaders from backing down from trying to gut Donald J. Trump, forget about unity, former White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on War Room.

Thats gone, thats off the table. This will be a 5050 country. The gap between us will be a chasm. There will be nothing but friction.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump earlier this month on a charge of incitement of insurrection, alleging he was at fault for the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

The House has not yet submitted the impeachment resolution to the Senate. Typically, trials take place in the upper chamber following an impeachment. At the conclusion of a trial, senators vote to acquit or convict a president. A two-thirds supermajority is required to convict.

No president has been tried after he left office. Trump left office on Jan. 20.

Donald J. Trump got on this plane today and went home to Florida, Navarro said, gesturing to a picture of Air Force One behind him. And if youre going to hound him any further, youre just going to make him more of an issue and a bigger issue, and you will regret it. So lets see what happens in the next 48 hours.

Steve Bannon, the War Room host and former Trump strategist who was pardoned earlier this week, said hed rather have a trial take place. Call their bluff, he said.

Navarro clarified that he also wants a trial to happen.

Im just saying thats what they should do, if they had any sense, he said.

Bannon said Trumps team would present compelling evidence of election fraud if a trial were to take place.

Democrats took control of the Senate on Jan. 20 with the swearing-in of three senators, including Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff from Georgia. The start date of a trial remains unclear.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked on Jan. 20 whether Biden believes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) should drop the impeachment push in light of his statements about trying to unify America.

Hes going to leave the mechanics, the timing, and the specifics of how Congress moves forward on impeachment to them, she said.
The main focus of our digital communication tools is to provide quality, up-to-date, and relevant technical content," commented Marissa Davis, Marketing Manager.

G2 Integrated Solutions (G2-IS), a provider of end-to-end asset performance and lifecycle solutions for the energy and utilities industry, is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website at https://g2-is.com/. The new site features a streamlined and modern design, improved navigation, and easy access to essential information to help operators address their critical infrastructure challenges.

Clean and easy navigation gives visitors the latest and most relevant product and services information and includes access to valuable content from G2-ISs webinars, blogs, and video channels.

Our goal was to make the site easier to navigate and allow users better access to the valuable technical content we have created. Our comprehensive portfolio of services and technology solutions is quickly accessible for our clients, and deeper exploration of our experience and expertise is simple to locate, said Shawn Altizer, CEO of G2-IS.

The main focus of our digital communication tools is to provide quality, up-to-date, and relevant technical content. This is accomplished through our blogs, case studies, webinars, and videos for the benefit of operators in the industries we serve, as they address their safety, regulatory and asset performance challenges, commented Marissa Davis, Marketing Manager at G2-IS.

G2-IS new website will be updated on a regular basis to keep up with regulatory changes, best practices, and industry trends. Visitors are encouraged to explore the website and subscribe to G2-ISs newsletter.

About G2 Integrated Solutions

G2 Integrated Solutions (G2-IS) delivers expertise to pipeline operators, utility companies and other energy stakeholders in six specialized service disciplines  Asset Integrity, Engineering, GIS Services, Regulatory Compliance, Field Services, and Software & Technology. We provide end-to-end solutions that help manage risk, assure compliance and optimize performance.

G2-IS implements innovative, value-driven solutions for clients across North America. G2-IS has offices located in Houston, Texas (Corporate Headquarters), Angleton, Texas, Phoenix, Arizona, Las Vegas, Nevada, Walnut Creek, California, and Bangalore, India.

For more details on the spectrum of services G2-IS offers, please visit our website at http://www.g2-is.com.


 Flash

Based on its long-term experience in foreign assistance and South-South cooperation, China is transforming its international development cooperation. On January 10, the State Council Information Office issued a white paper to indicate the change and the future direction in the new era.

It is the first time that a white paper was issued on "international development cooperation" instead of "foreign assistance," Xu Xiuli, dean of the College of International Development and Global Agriculture at China Agricultural University, told Global Times.

The transformation includes new models, partnerships and platforms and better coordination. China will continue to cooperate on international development as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global prosperity and a defender of the international order.

The background

Xu attributes the change to several considerations. While the future of all countries is even more closely connected in today's world, common challenges, from financial crises to public health emergencies, have become more frequent and severe in recent years.

Also, the global supply of public goods is in shortage, especially in areas such as peaceful development and national governance, and the gap between different regions, nationalities and cultures is becoming harder to bridge.

China is therefore expanding its international development cooperation and diversifying its forms. For example, it has introduced new mechanisms such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and established the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund.

From 2013 to 2018, China allocated $41.4 billion for international development cooperation in three categoriesgrants, interest-free loans and concessional loans, with the least developed countries in Asia and Africa being the main recipients.

In recent years, the Belt and Road Initiative has been synergizing with national development strategies such as Pakistan's Vision 2025, the Philippines' massive infrastructure projects under its Build, Build, Build program, and the Bright Road initiative of Kazakhstan. It also supports regional plans including Agenda 2063, the development vision of the African Union.

In addition to undertaking engineering projects, providing goods and materials, and conducting technical cooperation, there are other forms of assistance. From 2012 to 2018, emergency humanitarian assistance was extended to 60 countries and debts worth $645 million were canceled, Chinese medical workers have served in over 70 countries and regions while young volunteers and volunteer Chinese-language teachers went to work in over 80 countries.

Rommel Banlaoi, President of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, called China's approach a vision that can be shared in the developing world, particularly by neighbors.

Supporting 2030 Agenda

China has also been helping other countries pursue the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, working in fields such as reducing poverty, ensuring food security and supporting healthcare and quality education, as well as promoting gender equality and eco-environmental protection.

It launched pilot projects to promote its experience in village-by-village poverty reduction in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. In Mongolia, Ecuador and Libya, training programs on healthcare policies and rehabilitation services for special groups were organized. In Samoa, a training center has been set up for the differently abled, providing them with basic education and skills.

Since 2013, over 60 capacity-building and technical training programs have been launched for women in particular. To expand women's participation in political and economic activities, part-time degree and non-degrees programs on women's leadership and social development have been created.

At the General Debate of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly in September 2020, President Xi Jinping announced an additional $50 million for the UN Food and Agriculture Organization-China South-South Cooperation Program to continue supporting agricultural and rural development projects in countries including in Africa.

Besides the funding, Chinese experts and technicians have been sent to a dozen other developing nations to share knowledge and technology with local farmers and help improve their agricultural production.

Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, said China has been involved in the global cause of poverty alleviation through bilateral and multilateral cooperation, giving strong support to developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Last year, in the face of the novel coronavirus disease pandemic, China launched its most intensive and largest emergency humanitarian assistance mission since 1949 for more than 150 countries and international organizations.

Bridging inequality

Shi Zhiqin, a professor of international politics at Tsinghua University, considers it a priority to address the unbalanced development between developed and developing countries. With the rise of protectionism and anti-globalization, the gap between them is widening still.

China's development cooperation provides developing countries a platform of mutual assistance. William Jones, Washington Bureau chief of the Executive Intelligence Review magazine, said China has been exploring a new model of development which can be used by other developing countries to work their way out of the vicious cycle of crises which has characterized Western development policies since the 1970s.

Regarding the allegation that China's assistance is pushing recipient countries into so-called "financial crisis," he said, "The real threat of a 'debt trap' does not come from China, which concentrates almost solely on physical infrastructure, but rather from the Western banks whose doings are always of a rather speculative character." While some politicians and organizations still try to portray China's policies as influence-peddling, the reality is that its approach of promoting development works, he added.

The key principles for China's international development cooperation are respecting each other as equals, providing the means for independent economic growth, and ensuring delivery and sustainability of projects.

In the future, cooperation will be increased for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island and heavily indebted poor countries. China will seek to reinforce the South, which is a weak link in the global governance system, and push for the integration of more developing countries into the international specification of labor and cooperation.
A UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter belonging to the New York National Guard crashed Wednesday night south of Rochester, officials confirmed to Military.com.

There were three soldiers aboard; none survived the crash.

A spokesman with the Guard told Military.com that the helicopter went down around 6:30 p.m. in the town of Mendon, New York while on a routine training mission. The aircraft was based at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport, and was assigned to Charlie Company, 1-171st General Support Aviation Battalion out of Rochester.

The deadly crash is still in the early stages of investigation. Local reports indicate the UH-60 was observed flying low before it crashed, and response efforts blocked off at least one road in the vicinity.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo released a statement Wednesday night ordering flags on state buildings to half-mast in light of the tragedy.

"I am devastated by the news tonight of a New York Army National Guard helicopter crash in the Town of Mendon that killed three of New York's bravest during a training mission," he said in the statement. "National Guard members are our citizen soldiers who voluntarily serve and protect both here and abroad, and I extend prayers and condolences from all New Yorkers to the family, loved ones and fellow soldiers of these honorable heroes who we will never forget."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
[January 21, 2021] CPhI & P-MEC China gives a glimpse of the success returning pharma events will deliver in 2021

SHANGHAI, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The recently hosted CPhI & P-MEC China 2020 -- organized by Informa Markets and CCCMHPIE and co-organized by Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co., Ltd. -- attracted a remarkable 46,157 visits of professional pharma visitors, including 5,105 international attendees taking part online. The hybrid event has helped stimulate renewed growth and partnerships across the pharma supply chain, with the pharma industry looking well positioned for 2021. It also provided a welcome glimpse of how returning international pharma events will encourage a boom for the global industry in 2021. With 2020 seeing the majority of global pharma events postponed, there was a huge interest in exhibiting, learning and connecting at large scale event providing covid-secure standards. The ingredients, machinery and manufacturing sectors reported particularly robust attendance - with full implementation of the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) system, coupled with priority review pathways from the NMPA (National Medical Products Administration) driving much new demand. In fact, 2,958 companies from the pharma supply chain attended - including Pfizer, Sanofi, Capsugel, DuPont,Merck, BASF, Fosun Pharma, Hengrui Medicine, Yangtze River Pharmaceutical and Fette - as well as more than 90 providers of medical supplies for pandemic prevention at the newly launched MSE (Medical Supplies Expo) China.



Another key goal of the event was to enhance industry learning, and CPhI & P-MEC China hosted more than 80 professional conferences, Innovation Galleries and Tours, and even factory visits. Empowering new partnering, the 10th Buyers Sourcing Event attracted more than 100 buyers, delivering hundreds of meetings.

Finally, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of CPhI China, the organizing committee awarded a "CPhI China 20th Anniversary Founding Exhibitor Award" and "P-MEC China 15th Anniversary Founding Exhibitor Award" on the opening day at the CPhI China 20th anniversary reception. For international online attendees, the event teamed up with PharmaSources.com to launch the Virtual Expo Connect (VEC), which ran for a full month in December and connected pharma in China with overseas customers. The VEC provided access to eight features including the Digital Showroom, Online Matchmaking, Hosted Buyer Video Meeting, Exhibitors' Talk, Conference Webcasts, Guided Tours, VR Show, and Onsite Digital Center. Emphasising the global interest in China, especially in a period of restricted international travel, 5,105 registered users took part. These included 529 buyers from Europe, America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, who attended a total of 575 trade meetings online. "It was a tremendously successful event for pharma and an encouraging piece of news to start the year with, providing a window into what the post-pandemic exhibition environment can return to. 2021 promises to be a celebration of the pharma industry with vaccine distribution now underway and we look forward to helping the industry meet both online and in person so it can continue its work in discovering and delivering vital therapies to patients," commented Laura Murina, Brand Manager, Informa. CPhI & P-MEC China 2021 will return to SNIEC (from Dec. 16 to 18, 2021) with a comprehensive online and offline offering -- providing access to vital connections in person and through enhanced digital pharma platforms. Media contact:

Ms. Yingqi Shi

T: +86 21 33392421

E: Yingqi.Shi@imsinoexpo.com SOURCE CPhI & P-MEC China

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The consignments of Serum Institute of India's Covid 19 vaccines Covishield that contains 10 lakh dosages to be dispatched to Kathmandu and 20 lakh dosages to Dhaka, arrived at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in the wee hours of Thursday.

From Mumbai Airport, the flight for Kathmandu is scheduled to take off at 6:40 am while the flight for Dhaka is scheduled for 8 am.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

India's Ministry of External Affairs had announced a vaccine rollout for Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday which comes in line with its Neighbourhood First Policy.

Nepal and Bangladesh will receive the doses today. First consignments already sent to Bhutan and Maldives.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared on Twitter photos of the consignments reaching the two countries.

India fulfils commitment to give vaccines to humanity. Supplies to our neighbours will start on 20th January.



The Pharmacy of the World will deliver to overcome the COVID challenge.#VaccineMaitri https://t.co/0pEW52ARe5  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 19, 2021





Nepal will get 1 mn doses under grant assistance

India will provide one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Nepal under grant assistance, the Minister for Health and Population Hridayesh Tripathi said. The first installment of the vaccines will be shipped on Thursday.

Apart from the latest round of vaccines to Nepal, India earlier had provided Nepal with medical equipment, medicines and other logistical support to fight the pandemic. The Nepal Government plans to inoculate 72 percent of its citizens, a country that has a population of nearly 30 million.

In the first phase, the vaccines will be administered to frontline health workers, employees and security personnel, according to the minister.

Bangladesh will get 2 million doses as a gift

Bangladesh will receive 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' as a gift from India on January 20.

Citing the letter by the Indian High Commission written to the Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka Tribune reported that a special flight from India carrying the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines, locally manufactured by Serum Institute of India, would land at Shahjalal International Airport on January 20.

On January 8, Bangladesh had approved the procurement of 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' from India. Meanwhile, India will send 2 million doses as a gift to the country.

Bhutan has received Covishield doses

An Indian Air Force aircraft delivered the first consignment of 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines to Bhutan, making it the first country to receive the gift from India, which was received by Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering.

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji thanked India for the "generous gift".

"Our profound gratitude to the GoI for the generous gift of 150,000 doses of Covishield vaccines that Bhutan received today. Deeply grateful to GoI for its abiding friendship and unconditional support to Bhutan's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," he said on Twitter.

Former Bhutan Prime Minister and People's Democratic Party President Tshering Tobgay on Wednesday expressed "profound gratitude" to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for gifting COVID-19 vaccines to the country.

"My profound gratitude to PM Narendra Modi and people of India for gifting COVID-19 vaccines despite their own pressing needs. This comes at a critical time in our fight against the COVID pandemic, and bears testimony to the strong friendship between our two countries and peoples," Tshering Tobgay wrote in a tweet.

Maldives was one of the first two countries to receive Covishied

Maldives became the first of the two countries to receive COVID-19 vaccines from India under grants assistance in sync with its 'neighbourhood first' policy.

On Wednesday, India sent 150,000 doses of Covisheild vaccines to Bhutan and 100,000 doses to the Maldives.

In a tweet, Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the vaccines.

"A short while ago, a flight from India with a 100,000 doses of the CoviShield vaccine arrived in the Maldives, renewing our hopes for a resolution to the Covid 19 crisis soon. Our heartfelt thanks to PM @narendramodi," he said.





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It is worth pausing for a moment on Joe Biden the man, and his journey to the highest office. Son of a used-car salesman, he was raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a former coal mining and railway town which, though now somewhat revitalised, once epitomised industrial decline.

A mediocre student but a natural politician, he won a seat in the US Senate aged just 29. His 35-year Senate career was defined by pragmatism: stubbornly centrist, he consistently built bridges to Republicans to get things done. This was his third run for the presidency, after failures in 1988, when he plagiarised Neil Kinnock, and 2008, when he never left the launchpad. And he has suffered more than his share of personal tragedy: his first wife and infant daughter killed in a car crash in 1972, his son, Beau Biden, dying of brain cancer in 2015.

Much is expected of a new presidents first 100 days. Biden intends to start with the pandemic: more masks, more tests, accelerated vaccination programmes, $1,400 (1,150) stimulus payments to the hard-up. He has also promised to invest in job creation, renew Americas decrepit infrastructure, reverse Trumps tax cuts for corporations and wealthy Americans, revive Obamacare, rebuild relations with allies, and rejoin the Paris climate change agreement.
This is one more step in Google's constant push to make its algorithm more intelligent and intuitive, I expect they'll continue this into 2021 and beyond.

Terry Cane, COO of SEOHost.net has weighed in on a recent algorithm update released by Google, emphasizing that, although it won't change much about search engine optimization (SEO), it's still something that webmasters need to understand.

In a blog post published on Oct. 15, 2020, Prabhakar Raghavan, Google's Senior Vice President of Search & Assistant, Geo, Ads, Commerce, Payments & NBU explained several updates to its ranking algorithm Stemming Google's research into artificial intelligence (AI), these were largely internal. By better understanding search queries, the algorithm is now capable of indexing specific passages rather than entire pages.

According to Raghavan, this will improve approximately seven percent of all search queries as it is rolled out. It will also address video semantics, spelling mistakes, and subtopics that are relevant to a query.

"Passage-based indexing isn't going to require any new tactics, nor will it necessitate an SEO overhaul for most websites," said Cane. "As long as your content is well-written, organized, and relevant, don't expect your rankings to change much. That said, according to Google's Martin Splitt, sites with a large volume of long-form content might potentially see an uptick in traffic."

"This is one more step in Google's constant push to make its algorithm more intelligent and intuitive," she said. "I expect they'll continue this into 2021 and beyond. They've certainly made no secret of the fact that user intent and content quality are now the be-all and end-all of ranking  that knowing your audience and delivering value are now more important than the technical side."

Cane said that even if you're not concerned about the algorithm update, it's important to at least be aware of it.

"There's little doubt in my mind that we're going to see snake oil salespeople flooding the web with claims about 'passage ranking,'" said Cane. "Understanding how the algorithm interacts with your content means you're less likely to fall prey to it. In addition, it's one more indicator that you should strive for better organization in your content, as well as an indicator of future changes."

"Divide content into easily-digestible chunks with subheads and ensure that the division between a piece's core topic and subtopics remains clear," Cane said. "And above all, remember that you aren't creating for search engines. You're doing it for your audience."

####

About SEOHost.net:

Located in Orlando, Florida with locations all around the world, SEOHost.Net provides a wide range of services in both the U.S. and the E.U., including domain registration, SSL Hosting for SEO, as well as VPS, dedicated, and A Class IP hosting. The company offers exceptional service with a strong service level agreement, multiple geographic locations, and free migration. For more information, visit https://www.seohost.net.


COLUMBUS, Ohio  Gov. Mike DeWine and his team have identified 100 sites in Ohio where the federal government can open mass clinics under President Joe Bidens plan to vaccinate 100 million people in his first 100 days in office.

Our biggest problem is really simple, DeWine said during his coronavirus briefing Thursday. Its lack of vaccine. I know every other state has the same problem.

Biden has said his first priority as president has been assisting Americans during the pandemic. He asked state governors to offer suggestions to his administration, and DeWine stressed that the supply of vaccine is the most important issue.

DeWine said he was on the phone Thursday morning with the Biden administration.

Weve had a lot of contact with them both before taking office and today, he said. So, you know, we look forward to that relationship. We look forward to working with them.

Bidens approach to the pandemic is different from former President Donald Trumps. The Trump administration was hands-on with setting up Operation Warp Speed for the development of vaccines, but has left distribution of shots to the states.

Another part of Bidens plan is invoking the Defense Production Act for private-sector manufacturers to make syringes, tubing and other medical supplies. DeWine said he didnt know whether any Ohio companies had been tapped yet, and he may not be notified at first.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said there are 753 providers  such as retail pharmacies, hospitals and medical clinics  that are currently providing vaccines in Ohio.

We have almost 2,000 that have signed up who are willing to provide services, Husted said.

Many current vaccine providers, such as hospital CEOs, have told DeWine they can ramp up the number of shots they give in a day, if they are given more doses, the governor said.

We can move up significantly with creating more mass vaccination sites, DeWine said.

More coverage:

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GREEN BAY, Wis., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) ("Associated") today announced that president and chief executive officer Philip B. Flynn has informed the Company's Board of Directors of his plans to retire from the company at the end of 2021.

The Board has commenced a search for a permanent successor, under the oversight of the Succession Planning Committee of the Board and with the assistance of Diversified Search Group, which will consider internal as well as external candidates. Mr. Flynn will continue as president and CEO until a successor is in place, at which time he will step down from both roles and from the board of directors. Mr. Flynn will then be available to the new CEO in an advisory capacity and as an ambassador for the bank.

Jay Williams, chairman of Associated's Board of Directors, said, "On behalf of Associated Bank's Board and colleagues, we thank Phil for his leadership and many contributions to this company during the last 11 years. Under his watch, Associated Bank instituted a strong customer-focused strategy that has delivered consistent profitability and positions the company for long-term, sustainable success. Phil will continue to lead the company until a successor is in place and will remain with the company until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition. We are grateful for his commitment to Associated and its continued success. The Board looks forward to selecting a successor who will continue the Bank's profitable growth trajectory."

Mr. Flynn said, "It has been an honor to serve as the CEO of Associated for the last 11 years. During that time, our company recovered from the Great Recession and focused relentlessly on providing our customers with outstanding service. Our bank proved itself again last year, through the incredible efforts of our more than four thousand colleagues. We have made great strides in achieving our goal of becoming one of the Midwest's premier financial services companies."

Flynn, 63, joined Associated Bank in 2009 as its president and chief executive officer, after a 30-year career at Union Bank in California. Flynn serves on the boards of the Green Bay Packers, the Medical College of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Art Museum, St. Norbert College and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. He is also the current Chair of the Midsize Bank Coalition of America.

ABOUT ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP

Associated Banc-Corp (NYSE: ASB) has total assets of $33 billion and is one of the top 50 publicly traded U.S. bank holding companies. Headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Associated is a leading Midwest banking franchise, offering a full range of financial products and services from over 220 banking locations serving more than 120 communities throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, and commercial financial services in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Texas. Associated Bank, N.A. is an Equal Housing Lender, Equal Opportunity Lender and Member FDIC. More information about Associated Banc-Corp is available at www.associatedbank.com.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements made in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes any statements regarding management's plans, objectives, or goals for future operations, products or services, and forecasts of its revenues, earnings, or other measures of performance. Such forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "should", "will", "intend", "outlook", "target", or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current management expectations and, by their nature, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements include those identified in Associated's most recent Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings. Such factors are incorporated herein by reference.

Media Contact: Jennifer Kaminski

Vice President | Public Relations Senior Manager

920-491-7576 | [email protected]

Investor Contact: Ben McCarville

Vice President | Director of Investor Relations

920-491-7059 | [email protected]

SOURCE Associated Banc-Corp

Related Links

https://www.associatedbank.com


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The exchange will be led by Michael Darling, who announced his departure this week as chief curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.

Museums are going through a period of change thats really only just beginning, Darling said. We want to help museums develop a broader picture of what contemporary art looks like by having access to different parts of the country.

Museum acquisition budgets have rarely been large enough to allow institutions to compete on the open market against wealthy collectors. This disparity has only grown in recent years with escalating prices for high profile contemporary art and has even been made worse by the pandemic. So relationships with donors are particularly important. Yet donors, though often motivated by the tax deductions that come with museum gifts, have been upset to see their gifts sometimes shunted aside  so upset, in fact, that some owners of the most prized collections have been able to get museums to sign agreements committing to exhibit the donated art.

Foster said he had identified a contemporary drawing in the catalog that he hopes will be heading to his museum in Austin.

Under the exchange process, curators interested in a work have to write a pitch describing the nature of their institution and how the work fits. Collectors gets to see who is interested in their works before deciding where it will go.

Cathleen Chaffee, chief curator at the Albright-Knox, said the site could help build relationships with potential patrons beyond their local region. We hope this is an opportunity to meet like-minded collectors, she said. Collectors not only can bring philanthropy. They are bringing their own community and expertise.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Will Sasikalas release change TNs political spectrum: Wait and see says TTV

VK Sasikala to be discharged from hospital on Sunday

Sasikala to return on Feb 7, Dhinakaran sees changes in TN ahead of arrival

AIADMK goes to police again against Sasikala, alleges conspiracy to unleash violence in TN

Sasikala tests positive for Covid-19, shifted to intensive care unit

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Bengaluru, Jan 21: Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala has tested positive for the coronavirus and has been shifted to the COVID-19 intensive care unit, according to reports.

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide, who is serving her jail term at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, had complained of fever and breathlessness on Wednesday, a week before her release.

"Sasikala was referred from Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, UTI and suspected SARI and treated with antibiotics, insulin, heparin and other supportive measures and was admitted here today," said Victoria Hospital.

"Her sugar levels are very high, there is severe chest infection. She is maintaining oxygen saturation on 10 litres of oxygen through NRBM (Non-rebreather mask)," the hospital said.

She was shifted from the prison and admitted earlier to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, also known as Bowring Hospital.

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021: EPS rules out truce with Sasikala

Sasikala's oxygen saturation level was 80 (against the normal of 95 and above) on Wednesday evening when she was admitted to the hospital. She was also sent to Victoria Hospital for the CT scan on Thursday afternoon.

Prior to it, she had undergone Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR tests which showed her COVID-19 reports negative, Kumar said.

Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case.

Her illness comes at a time when she is just six days away to walk free from the prison on January 27.
While skipping the traditional Inauguration Day transfer of power ceremonies and following another tradition, on Wednesday, President Donald Trump ended office with a note for his successor President-elect Joe Biden in the Oval Office.

According to The Post, a source that is familiar with the matter, on Wednesday at around 8 a.m., despite not entering the Oval Office, Trump ended his office with a note for his then-rival and now successor Joe Biden, as an aide left the note on the Resolute desk before departing the executive residence at around 8 a.m.

The tradition why Trump ended his office with a note left for Biden, started in 1989 when at that time outgoing President Reagan, left a message on the famous desk for that time President-elect George H.W. Bush telling him that he was praying for his success, NY Post reported.

After the said act by Reagan, in 1992, when it is Bush's time to end his office, he did the same for Bill Clinton, famously scrawling, 'I am rooting hard for you.'

As of the moment, it is still not clear whether what wishes did the outgoing President left for Biden, but it will be the only handover between the two commanders-in-chief on Wednesday, as he decided not to attend the swearing-in of Joe Biden, and he ended his office with only a note for the president-elect.

Trump was the first president in 152 years not to attend the inauguration of his successor, the fourth example of a president who did attend the swearing-in of his successor amid a contested presidential election or polarized political climate, which he followed Presidents John Adams, who is the second president of the United States of America; the sixth president, John Quincy Adams; and the first to be impeached and 17th president, Andrew Johnson.

Read also: Declassifying Crossfire Hurricane Documents, Trump Orders Their Release Before Leaving Office

All of the mentioned presidents only served for one term.

Instead of attending the swearing, Trump opted for a departure ceremony at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, wherein he gave a speech, summarizing his achievements and promising that he will be seeing the people of America soon.

Meanwhile, along with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Biden has attended church services at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, D.C., which is also joined by their families and senior congressional leaders.

According to the Miami Herald, other figures departing the White House also left notes for their successors.

Kayleigh McEnany, the outgoing press secretary has tweeted a photo of envelopes addressed to her successor Jen Psaki together with communications team members of Biden, Kate Bedingfield, Symons Sanders, and Marine Jean-Pierre.

In the tweet, McEnany wrote that she wishes all the best to President Joe Biden and the incoming press and communications team, and also mentioned that with the notes left for them, she is sending her prayers as they begin their service to the people of America, Fox News reported.

Moreover, the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden has been modified due to the recent Capitol siege wherein the seat of Democracy has been breached as even the laptop of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been stolen when the rioters stormed the Capitol.



Related article: Biden Delivers Emotional Message to Delaware, Cries over Late Son on Eve of Inauguration

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2021 4:14 pm

WASHINGTON  Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States Wednesday, just hours after his predecessor left the White House, clearing the way for a beleaguered nation to turn the page on one of the most divisive chapters in its political history.

Before taking his oath on the Capitols West Front, Biden stood witness to the shattering of a historic barrier as Kamala Harris, formerly a senator from California, was sworn in as the first woman, person of color and South Asian American to become vice president. Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court justice, administered Harris oath.

Then, with his inaugural address, Biden began his call for the country to unite in the face of multiple crises.

We have learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile and at this hour democracy has prevailed, Biden said.

The lingering damage from the post-election campaign by his predecessor to stay in power, which tested the foundations of democracy, was literally evident in places throughout the Capitol violently invaded just 15 days before by the former presidents supporters.

President Donald Trump flew off to Florida, making one last trip from Joint Base Andrews on Air Force One to West Palm Beach after a small farewell rally at the airport, and breaking one last norm  dispensing with the 152-year-old rituals of a peaceful transfer of power by declining to greet his successor at the White House and then attend the inauguration.

Hed left the White House shortly after 8 a.m., departing on Marine One for the brief ride to the air base. There, before boarding the iconic plane, he told a smaller-than-expected crowd of family members, aides and supporters, This has been an incredible four years. Weve accomplished so much together.

We will be back in some form, Trump said in closing, seeming to hint as he has before of perhaps seeking the presidency again in 2024. Then, at 8:59 a.m., Air Force One lifted off as speakers at the military base blared Frank Sinatra singing My Way. Trump did adhere to one tradition: He left a note for his successor at the White House. Its contents were not immediately disclosed.

Just moments after Trump waved and disappeared into the plane to depart, Biden and his wife emerged from Blair House, the government mansion across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, to go to the nearby Cathedral of St. Matthews for morning Mass, reminding Americans that for only the second time in history the nation has a Catholic president.

The church service allowed Biden to start his day with the show of bipartisanship that Trump denied him. Joining him at Mass were Congress four leaders  two Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York, and two Republicans, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California. The Republicans had declined to attend Trumps sendoff and thereby underscored his isolation in the final days of his presidency.

Among the Republicans who attended the inauguration ceremony was former House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who had often been at odds with Trump but who rarely spoke up to criticize him.

Our institutions were tested this year and our institutions passed the test. Im here out of respect for the peaceful transfer of power and for the institutions, Ryan said, adding, Joe Biden is the legitimately elected president of the United States and Im here to honor this process.

Rarely has a new president had less need for an orientation to the White House: Biden, at 78 the oldest man to become president, brings to the job 50 years of governing experience as senator and vice president. He has run for president three times in the past 33 years. Now he takes on the job of his dreams, but at a nightmarish time of health, economic and societal crises.

In his inaugural address, Biden will claim a daunting mandate to end a worsening pandemic, repair an economy ravaged by it and issue a call for national unity in the face of sometimes violent divisions, advisers say. He is also expected to sound a note of optimism to a country that has been on the ropes since COVID-19 hit 10 months ago, and to a Capitol still reeling from the attempted insurrection by Trump supporters who ransacked the building just two weeks ago while lawmakers were ratifying Bidens election.

He took the oath with his hand on a family Bible that he used for swearing-in ceremonies as vice president and senator over half a century, an heirloom that has been in his family since 1893.

He already has set a markedly different tone than four years ago, when Trump in his inaugural address evoked a dark vision of American carnage, a country racked by poverty, industrial decline, drugs and crime.

Biden will immediately reverse some of Trumps most controversial federal policies by issuing a raft of executive orders on the environment, immigration and other areas. The new president would have the United States rejoin the Paris climate agreement, and would rescind Trumps order for the deportation of Dreamers. He will immediately reenter the United States into the World Health Organization, overhaul Trumps restrictionist immigration policy and cancel his approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Biden took the oath of office at the traditional venue, the West Front of the Capitol, which on Jan. 6 was teeming with rioters trying to break into the building. While now repaired, the setting has otherwise been transformed by the political, health and security threats rattling the country as the Trump era ends.

Bidens view from the Capitol, looking across the National Mall to the Washington Monument, was devoid of the hundreds of thousands typically in attendance. His audience was limited to perhaps 1,000 socially distanced Americans, a precaution against spreading the COVID-19 virus that has killed more than 400,000 and ravaged the U.S. economy, and a protection against continued threats of violence by pro-Trump domestic terrorists.

An unprecedented deployment of military and law enforcement personnel stood guard, turning the area around the ceremonial site and the city beyond into an armed encampment.

Matt Hood, a 38-year-old visitor from Baltimore, was reassured by all the security he saw at the Capitols perimeter fence as he arrived before dawn to document the inauguration. They might try, but they wont get through, Hood said.

Some, however, suggested that the fortifications were excessive.

I like to think its an overabundance of caution because no one likes the picture of fortress Washington being required for the orderly transfer of power, said Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss. So its  its a bit disturbing and a picture that could have been avoided.

For the first time in history, the incoming president will be joined on the inaugural platform with a vice president who is not a white man, a pivotal moment for a nation still struggling to end the racial disparities in politics, the economy and society. It is especially poignant for Black women who have been an important if underappreciated part of the Democratic Party.

Rep. Barbara Lee, a California Democrat and longtime friend of Harris, said having her in the White House was just a remarkable historic moment for me.

Black women have fought so hard to elect other people, to be part of this Democratic Party, to get people out to vote, Lee said. We never would be here had it not been for the work and the struggle and the fights that Black women oftentimes have led with Black men. Shes the right woman for the right time.

Bidens expected focus in his inaugural address on bringing people together would echo the message that he delivered from the very beginning of his presidential campaign: the need for national unity, to repair the racial divisions opened and exploited by Trump, to restore the soul of America.

Early in the campaign, before the pandemic hit, Bidens message seemed to some a bit corny. As a septuagenarian white man in a younger, diverse field of presidential rivals, he seemed like a political anachronism.

But Biden proved remarkably prescient about what the American people would want and need after Trump. Many Democrats believe, in retrospect, that he might have been the only candidate who could have beaten Trump, and especially now seems uniquely equipped to meet the moment.

This is what Joe Bidens campaign for president was all about, which was a turning the page, ending a chaotic and divisive presidency, moving us forward, said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), who holds the Senate seat Biden long had, on CNN.

For many Americans, his vast government experience is reassuring as he leaps into multiple colliding crises. His signature ability to show empathy makes him uniquely suited to leading a country grieving 400,000 deaths to COVID-19.

Bidens first stop arriving in Washington on Tuesday evening was a visit to the Lincoln Memorial to honor those dead, an emotional gesture that Trump never made. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights into the darkness ... and remember all who we lost, Biden said.
'It was for the police to take a call on allowing or not allowing the rally', Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde

The court also turned down a plea by the attorney-general and solicitor-general to keep the application pending and consider it on January 25 depending on the situation. (Photo:PTI)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain the Centres plea seeking to restrain the agitating farmers from taking out a kisan tractor rally on Republic Day in Delhi and regretted that the reputation of the four members of the expert committee set up by it to end the deadlock was being torn to shreds.

However, it issued notice on the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lokshakti) plea for reconstitution of the expert committee formed to hear all parties to the dispute and submit a report with its recommendations.

Telling attorney-general K.K. Venugopal and solicitor-general Tushar Mehta it was for the police to take a call on allowing or not allowing the rally, Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde, heading a three-judge bench that included Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, asked them to withdraw the application the seeking restraint order, which they did.

The court also turned down a plea by the attorney-general and solicitor-general to keep the application pending and consider it on January 25 depending on the situation.

No, no. This is not a matter for the court to decide. You have the powers under the law, CJI Bobde said, reiterating: We have told you it is for the police to decide. We won't pass orders. We will allow you to withdraw this application. You are the authority. You decide.

The court lamented the criticism of four members of the expert panel it set up on January 12 to find ways to break the deadlock. The presence of Bhupinder Singh Mann, Parmod Kumar Joshi, Ashok Gulati and Anil Ghanwat on the panel was questioned as all four have voiced support for the three farm laws whose repeal is sought by the agitating farmers. Mann, president of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, had subsequently recused himself from the panel, saying he cant go against the agitating farmers.

As senior counsel Dushyant Dave and Prashant Bhushan, representing eight of the 40 farmers unions, said they dont want to engage with any committee as they are seeking repeal of the three laws, CJI Bobde said: If you dont want to appear before the committee, we cant compel you. But you cannot malign people like this and cast aspersions on them, and also the court. If you dont want to appear, dont appear. Why do you need to brand people like this?

EAST ST. LOUIS (AP)  Some residents are concerned that toxic chemicals may be polluting their air. Black people make up half the confirmed COVID-19 cases in St. Clair County, but are only about 30% of the population. And citizens of East St. Louis have to travel out of the city for hospital care.

As JD Dixon drives along State Street and sees piles of trash, he thinks about how all of these issues are connected to systemic racism.

Its why Dixon and his organization, Empire 13, hosted a cleanup in East St. Louis to bring attention to environmental systemic racism.

The cleanup is about more than just cleaning up the community, said Dixon, a Belleville-area activist. Its a part of our strategy to raise awareness to the environmental systemic racism that the residents of East St. Louis, which is about 98% Black, have faced that have directly contributed to East St. Louis becoming the most distressed small city in America, which says a whole lot, because East St. Louis started off as one of the most vibrant up and coming cities in the area.

The cleanup is part of Empire 13s Boots to the Streets Campaign, which addresses racial and social issues related to discrimination in Black communities. Empire 13, which Dixon formed, is a grassroots organization of Black workers from Empire Comfort Systems in Belleville who want to end racism in the workplace and beyond. Dixon is a machine operator at Empire.

The Boots to the Streets campaign started last summer, in the wake of George Floyds killing by Minneapolis police, as employees organized protests to create awareness of what they said was racism by some white co-workers and supervisors. Empire Comfort Systems has said it is working to address issues raised by its employees.

From that, we started taking up other causes because we took the initiative to not just fight for whats going on with us because we know just from the wake of 2020 and everything thats been going on, systemic racism has been a problem for everyone, Dixon, 33, said.

Danny Fenton, whos a part of Empire 13, attended the first cleanup. He said he was proud of seeing people, especially young people, come together to fix the community.

On State Street, we mowed out grass and cleaned trash and all of that, Fenton, 59, said.  Its a big area over there, but we want to take action and do something more than just talking. East St. Louis has run down buildings and overgrown weeds and so much trash that its sad.

People came out and helped us and supported and appreciated what we were doing, so hopefully were a spark thatll build a fire.

But the latest effort didnt solely involve the cleanup. Dixon wanted to spark legislative change through the groups actions. He started a petition demanding federal help to end environmental racism in Illinois Black communities, including East St. Louis.

In 2019, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, urged the Centers for Disease Control to investigate whether heavy metal is emitted from the Veolia Environmental Services waste incinerator in nearby Sauget. The investigation is ongoing.

Veolia officials have defended the companys environmental record, citing zero emissions violations, and said they would cooperate with regulatory agencies and the CDC.

Empire 13s petition, which can be viewed online, includes 10 sections that directly address providing more resources to Black communities to ensure theyre clean.

Theres no demonstration without legislation, said Dixon, whos a write-in candidate for mayor of Belleville. What were doing is using the demonstration of cleaning up the community, which is literally cleaning it up to beautify the community, but the main goal is to raise awareness to get the legislation passed to where we get regular cleaning crews, regular road work crews in East St. Louis and the surrounding Black communities.
EDWARDSVILLE  A professional services agreement with Thouvenot, Wade and Moerchen, (TWM) Inc. for $41,376 to help build the first phase of the Plum Street Trail between Magnolia Street and Terra Verde Drive passed the Edwardsville City Council meeting Tuesday.

However, the item wasnt approved unanimously, passing by a vote of 6-1. Ward 1 Alderman Chris Farrar dissented. Farrar said he wanted the funds to be spent within his ward instead. Farrars argument is that theres already a trail on the east side of 159 in this section. The new trail will be located in Ward 4.

Im not going to support this project, Farrar said Tuesday. He said he understands the concept of using state and county funds to stretch local infrastructure funds. However, he is not in favor of paving over existing green space with these extra funds, especially when an alternative pathway exists - the trail that connects to the Nickel Plate Trail. However, there is no crosswalk at Terra Verde.

If were worried about crossing Plum Street, then we should look at speed reduction and crosswalk safety measures like we have downtown, he said.

Hed rather use these funds on existing infrastructure, such as repairing crumbling sidewalks in his ward, for example.

Ward 4 Alderman SJ Morrison replied that there is no safe place to cross 159 due to there being no stop condition present for drivers. The nearest crosswalk is at Magnolia Street.

Alderman William Krause noted that a couple of years ago, residents were concerned about traffic backups on 159 due to people turning into Terra Verde. Public works officials said getting a crosswalk installed without a stop condition on a state highway is less than slim to none.

City public works officials applied for the grant in March 2019 and received it in August 2019. The department didnt budget for it in fiscal year 2019-2020, so they held off design until they budgeted for it in 2020-2021s fiscal year. The city received a 50/50 Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant of $150,000 to build the 1,100-foot-long, 10-feet-wide shared-use path.

We are looking at construction starting in the summer, said City Engineer Ryan Zwijack earlier this month. It should [take] about a month for construction. The overall cost will be $300,000 with the IDNR grant covering 50 percent. So, the city will be funding $150,000 out of our capital improvement program (CIP).

This second link will permit access between Peel Wood Fired Pizza, Mike Shannons and the Goddard School and the Splash Pad in Leon Corlew Park, the citys public safety building and further north, to the citys downtown business district.

Public works officials have already applied for a second phase of the trail, which will continue it further south to the Goshen Trail. From there, pedestrians and cyclists can use a tunnel under 159 without ever having to make an at-grade crossing at Plum Street, said Zwijack.

In other action, the aldermen unanimously approved the following items:

 An annual Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) resolution for maintenance under the states highway code in the amount of $1.2 million. These funds will go toward repairing and maintaining city streets and alleys. It ensures the Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds are available for the upcoming fiscal year

 Approval of a professional services agreement with Crawford, Murphy and Tilly (CMT) Inc. for $136,161 to reconstruct South Charles Street between Florida Street and St. Louis Street

The next city council meeting is Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at city hall, 118 Hillsboro Ave. or via virtual Zoom.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735

The Mitchelstown plant will convert slurry and other waste into natural gas to be fed back into the national network

CONSTRUCTION work is due to start in the middle of this year on a facility near Mitchelstown that will inject renewable gas, produced locally from food and farm-animal waste, into the national network.

An Bord Pleanala recently upheld a ruling last May by Cork County Council planners to grant Gas Networks Ireland permission for the plant at Corracunna/Garryleagh near Mitchelstown.

It makes provision for the demolition of agricultural structures on the 1.8-hectare site and the construction of a Central Gas Injection (CGI) facility and associated works. Permission is valid for a 10-year period.

The site has been selected by Gas Networks Ireland as the key location for their innovative GRAZE (Green Renewable Agricultural & Zero Emissions) gas project, which the company has said would be the latest step in "de-carbonising Ireland's gas network".

Mitchelstown is suited for this element of the project due to both the large number of cattle in the surrounding areas and its close proximity to Ireland's gas network.

An Taisce had objected to the development on a number of grounds, including that the applicant had failed to consider what they described as the "considerable environmental impacts" of biomethane production.

The appeal also claimed that the Environmental Report submitted with the application did not "evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the feed source, digestion process, transport, outputs and fugitive emissions" associated with the proposed plant.

However, in their order, the appeals board considered that, subject to conditions, the development would be in accordance with EU, national, regional and local policy.

The board further ruled the development would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety, would not have an unacceptable impact on the amenities of the area and would, therefore "be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".

The list of conditions imposed, which can be viewed at www.pleanala.ie, dealt with issues under various headings including public health and safety, the protection of local ecology and environmental protection.

The Mitchelstown facility, which will cost in the region of 28million to build, will be the second facility of its kind in the country and will also involve the placement of a series of more than 20 agri-anaerobic digestion biomethane units within a 60km radius of the proposed central-injection facility.

These will convert the farm and food waste into renewable gas that will be collected by a fleet of purpose-built trailers and fed into the network through the Central Gas Injection facility.

Once operational, the Mitchelstown facility will inject enough renewable gas to supply green energy to approximately 64,000 homes.

It is estimated that, at maximum capacity, the Mitchelstown operation alone will reduce Ireland's annual harmful CO2 emissions by up to 170,000 tonnes per annum, 27,000 tonnes of which will be made up from agricultural emissions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several other ministers over 50 years of age are likely to be vaccinated for covid-19 in the next phase of the immunization drive starting around May, a senior health ministry official said.

Modi said he will interact with beneficiaries and vaccinators in Varanasi on Friday to hear their first-hand account of the vaccination drive.

The interaction follows continuous dialogue and discussion by the Prime Minister with scientists, political leaders, officials and other stakeholders to proactively ensure smooth conduct of the worlds largest vaccination drive, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement.

According to the operational guidelines for vaccination issued by the health ministry, the vaccine will be offered sequentially to healthcare and frontline workers, people over 50 years, and then those younger than 50 years but with co-morbidities. Finally the remaining population will be vaccinated based on the disease epidemiology and vaccine availability.

The total number of vaccinations reached nearly one million on Thursday.

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 Close Government considering closing UK borders to prevent Covid spread

UK retailers are considering abandoning goods returned by EU customers, with some even thinking of burning them due to the cost and trouble of bringing them back into the country.

After the post-Brexit introduction of new paperwork and charges for goods crossing over the border, fashion industry boss Adam Mansell said it was cheaper for retailers to write off the cost of the goods than dealing with it all, adding the process includes at least four new charges and documents.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of online shoppers have been faced with additional customs and delivery charges costing up to one-third of the price of items ordered from the EU. One shopper was asked to pay 77 in tax on 245 of clothes bought from a French website, The Times reports.
We spoke with a Calhoun Community College professor about what's next after Joe Biden's Presidential Inauguration.

He says we can expect quick executive orders and quick pushes for legislation that will affect plenty of people in our area.

"They like to get a lot of legislation done as quickly as possible because that honeymoon period runs out," said Professor Waymon Burke.

As President Joe Biden was sworn in, Professor Waymon Burke at Calhoun Community College says the administration's honeymoon period began. He predicts Biden's first 100 days will be packed full of changes for the country, including a stimulus plan, changes to the vaccine rollout, legislation focused on the border wall and immigration reform.

Just in the hours following the ceremony, Biden signed an executive order that requires that masks are worn in federal buildings. He challenged all Americans to wear a mask for 100 days. He also asked the education department to extend the pause on student loan payments through Sept. 30.

Earlier Wednesday, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine stepped down. Over the weekend, we asked Deputy Administrator James Morhard if NASA expects support from the new administration.

"Honestly, I know Joe Biden and he's a good guy. This will work out. They will see the need as we have. This is about, honestly, who leads in space will lead the world," explained Morhard.

What about Space Command? Last week, the Secretary of the Air Force announced that Redstone Arsenal was selected as the preferred location for the Space Command HQ.

"A number of Congresspersons and Senators were, seemed to be sympathetic to President Trump and so forth. Could that hurt us? I'm very fearful of that," explained Professor Burke on Space Command.
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A Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson on Thursday said that China had never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and dismissed the Indian objection over development and construction activities in the Chinese territory

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jan, 2021 ) ::A Chinese foreign ministry's spokesperson on Thursday said that China had never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and dismissed the Indian objection over development and construction activities in the Chinese territory.

"China's position on Zangnan region (South Tibet) is consistent and clear. We never recognised the so-called Arunachal Pradesh," Hua Chunying said during her regular briefing in response to a question about building of new villages in South Tibet.

The spokesperson remarked that China's development and construction activities within its own territory are normal and added, "This is beyond reproach as it is in our territory." India NDTV reported this week that China built a village in the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh," which China calls South Tibet or Zangnan. Using satellite images, it claimed that the village is located on the banks of the River Tsari Chu, which lies in the "disputed area". India claims this area is its territory, but the Chinese government has never recognized the so-called "Arunachal Pradesh." Meanwhile, Zhang Yongpan, a research fellow of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies of the Chinese academy of Social Sciences (CASS) said that the Indian media reports were a blatant attempt to stir up troubles on the China-India border.

 He said that the report distorts facts, which jeopardizes the two countries' efforts to maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas.

So-called "Arunachal Pradesh" was founded illegally in the last century and occupies about 90,000 square kilometers of Chinese territory. The area has never been recognized by the Chinese government and Chinese ethnic minority groups such as the Moinba, the Lhoba and Tibetan people live in the area.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times that he suspects it is another move by Indian media to hype anti-China sentiment.

"China and India haven't demarcated the border line of this area yet. So they cannot accuse China of building a village on the Indian side," he added.

Echoing Qian, CASS research fellow Zhang stressed the McMahon Line in the eastern section was even more without legal basis.

The Chinese government has never recognized this line, Zhang said. "It's absurd for the Indian government to use this line to determine the territory administered by China and India. Indian media should not bring about the issue when the country is still plagued by the serious situation of a COVID-19 pandemic."

Both the local and national economies are likely to get a short-term boost if President Joe Biden passes his $1.9 trillion package to provide economic relief and bring the coronavirus pandemic under control, but climate and other environmental policies could present a long-term challenge to the regions energy industry and the growth that it drives.

Bidens plan, unveiled last week, includes money to accelerate vaccine deployment, help state and local governments bridge budget shortfalls, bolster unemployment benefits and provide direct stimulus payments to Americans, among other forms of aid.

That would provide immediate relief to workers in Texas  service workers in particular  and further stabilize the housing market, said Bob Stein, a political science professor at Rice University.

Here in Houston, Stein said, it would enable renters to avoid eviction, homeowners to make mortgage payments and encourage developers to continue building rental and owner-occupied housing in anticipation of the pandemic ending, Stein said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: 5 things to know about the $900 billion COVID stimulus relief package

The specifics of Bidens proposal need to be negotiated with Congress, but Stein said he expects some type of economic relief to pass, putting money into the pockets of people who need it, and get them spending.

In addition to the short-term stimulus, the Biden administration also has proposed spending $2 trillion on infrastructure, including $50 billion on road and bridge repairs in the first year of his term.

When you build roads, you hire people, Stein said, and you reduce the cost of getting products to consumers.

Bidens polices on climate change, which bans on new drilling in federal lands and waters and other measures to wean the nation from fossil fuels, could present challenges to the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry generates significant business activity and state revenues.

Among the presidents first actions Wednesday were issuing executive orders to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and cancel the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

It could be problematic, Stein said of Bidens energy policies. We are an oil dependent state, and we havent transitioned very well.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Biden poised to decarbonize U.S. economy

On the other hand, changes in the restrictive immigration policies put in place by former President Donald Trump could contribute to economic growth in Houston and Texas, analysts said. On Wednesday, Biden also signed executive orders repealing Trumps restrictions on travel from several Muslim-majority countries and stopping construction of the Southern border wall.

Responsible immigration policy can be critical to providing the workers that the state and local economies need to grow, said Ray Perryman, CEO of the Perryman Group, an economic consulting firm in Waco.

Immigration has been key to Houstons growth in recent years, although it has slowed in recent years because of a weaker job market, in part due to recent oil busts, said Patrick Jankowski, an economist at the Greater Houston Partnership, a business-financed economic development group.

Houston ranks fifth in foreign-born population, behind metro New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago. Foreign-born Houstonians made up 23 percent of the population in 2019, according to a report from the Greater Houston Partnership.

Over the past four years, it wasnt uncommon for the former president to make policy changes with a tweet, but the Biden administration offers what economists consider another positive for the economy: predictability.

Businesses hate uncertainty and there was so much uncertainty in the last four years. Things will change but they will change in a predictable manner, Jankowski said. Any changes in policy we will be telegraphed well in advance and businesses will be prepared.

becca.carballo@chron.com
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At the initial stage, Turkish companies plan to invest $50 million in the construction of textile factories in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, chairman of the Board of TUMKIAD Ilham Ozturk, who is on a visit to Baku, said.

He noted that the structure he leads functions in many areas, but initially, is planned to invest in the textile sector.

Ozturk added that after discussions in Azerbaijan, it will be determined what work will be carried out in other sectors.

A meeting between the Turkish delegation led by Ozturk, and representatives of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) of Azerbaijan was held in Baku on Jan. 21.

In the course of the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to reconstruction work in Azerbaijan's liberated lands, providing employment for people who will live there.

At the end of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed between TUMKIAD and the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) of Azerbaijan.
OSLO, Norway, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nel ASA (Nel, OSE: NEL) today hosts the Nel Capital Markets Day 2021, outlining the target of producing green hydrogen at USD 1.5 per kilo* by 2025, to outcompete fossil alternatives. Cost reductions through scale-up of production to multi-GW scale, growing the organization to add capacities and capabilities, and investing in technology for the near- and long-term are crucial components in ensuring that Nel continues to be the global leader in the hydrogen industry.

"Green renewable hydrogen is set to outcompete fossil alternatives, and Nel is placed in the centre of this transition. We're today launching our target which should enable our customers in certain markets to produce green renewable hydrogen from a large-scale Nel facility at 1.5 USD/kg from low cost renewable power, already within 2025. Achieving this would allow green hydrogen to start to reach fossil parity, representing one of the most significant achievement for zero-emission solutions and a carbon neutral planet," says Jon Andre Lkke, Chief Executive Officer of Nel.

Nel's Capital Markets Day 2021 (CMD) outlines the strategy and ambitions towards 2025, addressing the current hydrogen market of 70 million tons, which, by the Hydrogen Council, is expected to grow by 8-times by 2050, largely based on green hydrogen.

"The hydrogen market is already large, but with only a fraction served by electrolysis, there are significant opportunities to turn the existing market green. In addition, we see a regulatory landslide across the globe, with the EU and the US pledging hundreds of billions of dollars into their zero-emission programs where hydrogen serves a vital part as the energy carrier of choice. The growth will not only come from industrial applications, but also from transforming the current diesel-based heavy-duty transportation to run on zero-emission and cost-efficient green hydrogen. These developments require low-cost electrolysis and ultra-fast fueling, both areas where Nel is the global leader," Lkke adds.

Taking electrolysis to GW-scale

Nel is expanding the electrolysis production to accommodate large-scale projects by constructing a fully automated manufacturing facility at Herya, Norway. Test production of the first 500 MW production line will commence in the second quarter of 2021 with start of commercial ramp-up in the third quarter 2021. Based on the secured facility at Herya, Nel today outlines the potential to expand the production capacity at this facility beyond 2 GW annually.

"Herya represents the first industrial-scale production of the most efficient electrolysers on the market, at a game-changing low cost. The Nel team is continuously working to drive down the cost of hydrogen, where scale-up is key, and will continue to assess the exact timing for the next expansion step. A 2 GW production capacity of electrolysers would represent a potential of four-to-five million tons of CO 2 reductions for our customers, or ten percent of the annual CO 2 emissions in Norway," says Jon Andre Lkke, and continues:

"Nel uniquely covers both PEM and alkaline technologies, each with their respective advantages, and we will continue give them our full support and equal priority. The technology roadmap highlights our priority on large-scale products, continuous improvements, and lowest total cost of ownership for our customers. The hydrogen industry will become increasingly competitive and Nel therefore needs to continue to invest in organization, technology, and equipment to remain in the forefront of the industry."

Price and ultra-fast fueling is key to outcompete diesel

Nel has delivered more than 110 hydrogen fueling stations (HRS), H2Stations, in 13 different countries. The global HRS market is expected to grow by 30 percent annually towards 2030, with 11,000 installed fueling stations, in addition to solutions for fueling of private trailer parks, trains, ferries, etc.

"The only way to transform heavy-duty transportation is to beat diesel at the pump. In addition to green hydrogen reaching fossil parity at production, we have to enable fast fueling of hydrogen in a reliable and cost-efficient manner to be able to beat fossil alternatives. Nel has a technology roadmap enabling fueling in 10-15 minutes of a heavy duty truck to achieve a range of 1,000 km, and we are in a good position to continue to lead the hydrogen fueling industry," Jon Andre Lkke says.

Reiterates strong market outlook

Nel reiterates the confidence in the long-term potential for the industry, supported by the "green recovery" outlined by various governmental initiatives. The company aims to capitalize on the opportunities by leveraging on the position as a technology front-runner, continued high focus on safety, global presence, scalability, cost leadership, strong financing, and preferred-partner status for industry participants.

"Large opportunities also represent major challenges for Nel going forward, as maintaining a leadership position requires large investments, rapid expansion of the organization, and execution of large-scale projects across the globe in an increasingly competitive environment. In 2021 alone, we will add more than 100 new colleagues, deploy over 25% of the capital raised in 2020 in plant, equipment, and technology development projects, and add more capacity as required by the market. The Capital Markets Day will unveil how Nel will address these challenges, as an emission-free future depends on green hydrogen," Lkke concludes.

Event information for Nel Capital Markets Day 2021

Time: 08:00 - around 11:15 CET

Date: 21 January 2021Streaming details: https://channel.royalcast.com/hegnarmedia/#!/hegnarmedia/20210121_3, or www.nelhydrogen.com/CMD

Programme and speakers:

Jon Andre Lkke, CEO, The global market leader

Erik Lkke-vre, VP Operations Alkaline, Taking electrolysis to GW-scale

Filip Smeets , SVP Electrolyser, Nel electrolyser activities

, SVP Electrolyser, Nel electrolyser activities Mikael Norlander , SVP Vattenfall/Hybrit

, SVP Vattenfall/Hybrit Jrn Rosenlund, SVP Fueling, Nel fueling station activities

Joseph S. Cappello , CEO Iwatani Corporation of America

, CEO Iwatani Corporation of America Anders Sreng, CTO, Next generation technologies

Kjell Christian Bjrnsen, CFO, Financials and ESG

Jon Andre Lkke, CEO, Summary and outlook

The presentation for the CMD is enclosed and the event will be concluded with a Q&A session. Questions can be submitted throughout the CMD.

For further information, please contact:

Jon Andre Lkke, CEO, +47 907 44 949

Kjell Christian Bjrnsen, CFO, +47 917 02 097

About Nel ASA | www.nelhydrogen.com

Nel is a global, dedicated hydrogen company, delivering optimal solutions to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen from renewable energy. We serve industries, energy, and gas companies with leading hydrogen technology. Our roots date back to 1927, and since then, we have had a proud history of development and continuous improvement of hydrogen technologies. Today, our solutions cover the entire value chain: from hydrogen production technologies to hydrogen fueling stations, enabling industries to transition to green hydrogen, and providing fuel cell electric vehicles with the same fast fueling and long range as fossil-fueled vehicles - without the emissions.

*Assumptions: Nel analysis based on electricity of 20 $/MWh, >8% cost of capital, cost of land, civil works, installation, commissioning, building water etc., lifetime 20 years incl. O&M cost, at 30 bar.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/nel-asa/r/nel-cmd-2021--launches-1-5-usd-kg-target-for-green-renewable-hydrogen-to-outcompete-fossil-alternati,c3271384

The following files are available for download:

SOURCE NEL ASA
Hyderabad: Joe Bidens speech director Cholleti Vinay Reddy has his roots in a remote village in the Karimnagar district in Telangana and has brought much joy to the residents.

Villagers of Pothireddypeta were elated when Vinay Reddy was chosen as the Speech Director of the White House for the 46th President of the United States. Miles away from Washington DC, villagers stand proud of this international recognition.

Reddys uncle Cholleti Kishan Reddy said,  We are very happy and feeling proud of it. Our 'Cholleti' dynasty is internationally recognised now."

Also read: 15 Indian-Americans Nominated for The Joe Biden-Kamala Harris Administration You Need to Know

Vinay Reddy's father Narayana Reddy hails from the Pothireddypeta village of Huzurabad Mandal of Karimnagar District. A doctor by profession, he moved to the United States in 1970. Vinay Reddy is one of Narayana Reddys three children and was raised in Dayton, Ohio.

A view of Vinay Reddy's village in Telangana.

His grandfather Tirupati Reddy served as the sarpanch of the village for 30 years.

Narayana Reddy still owns property in the village in the form of a home and four acres of agricultural land. The residents of the village said that he visits frequently and has provided financial assistance towards various developmental projects in the village. Villagers said that Narayana Reddy would often bring along with him when he visited India and distribute it to the poor, and even give medical advice.

A farmer from the village said, I am taking care of their agricultural lands. I am cultivating it but they will not expect anything in return."

Youngsters in the village have found inspiration in Vinay Reddy. "We have not seen him. He did not come to our village. Even then he is a real inspiration to us. Hats off to him," said Srinivas, a resident of the village who is an engineering graduate.

Tastytrade has 105,000 active accounts trading options, futures and equities, plus a highly popular video streaming channel

Holdings PLC ( ) has reported record interim results and unveiled the US$1bn (0.7bn) acquisition of Tastytrade, a US retail-focused online brokerage platform.

Headquartered in Chicago, Tastytrade has 105,000 active accounts trading mostly options but also futures and equities, and another 800,000 that watch its live online streaming of market commentary and trading strategies on its own website, YouTube, iTunes, Apple TV and elsewhere.

Paying US$300mln in cash, helped by a new 150m debt facility, and issuing Tastytrades owner-management 61mln shares, or a 5.7% stake in the enlarged group, the FTSE 250 company said the acquisition is expected to be low single-digit accretive to its adjusted earnings per share in the first full year after completion.

In the year to December 2020, Tastytrade generated revenues of US$116mln and adjusted EBITDA of US$54mln, with revenues growing at a compound annual rate of 49% over the past three years.

In a statement, IG chief executive June Felix said: This acquisition will materially expand and scale our business in the US and see us further diversify into the exciting high growth market of US retail options and futures, a market which is adjacent to IG's core retail trading skill set.

Felix also hailed the outstanding performance of the existing IG business over the first six months of its financial year to end-November, with profit before tax soaring 129% to 231.3mln on trading revenue up 67% to 416.9mln.

An interim dividend has been declared of 12.96p per share, in line with a year ago.

With active client numbers rising 55% to 238,600, and 64,000 new clients taken on during the period amid highly elevated financial market activity that has boosted its rivals too, Felix said: As we enter the second half of the year I believe that we are better positioned than ever before to deliver sustainable value.

Shares in the company dropped 4% to 863.5p by Thursday lunchtime, where they are up 25% over the past 12 months.

Broker Peel Hunt said the profits were "comfortably ahead of our forecast" and that it was a "significant acquisition" of a company that seems to lead with content which is similar to IG.

"We are currently forecasting PBT/EPS of 298m/65.1p, which compares to consensus of 287m, and we estimate our numbers like should move at least 10% higher on an underlying basis, before the inclusion of Tasytrade. IG was trading on 11x before any changes to numbers, yielding over 5%."

--Adds shares and broker comment--
Concerns over the administration of Covid-19 vaccines at Sligo University Hospital were expressed in Leinster House today, by Sinn Fein justice spokesman and TD for Sligo, Leitrim, North Roscommon and South Donegal.

Deputy Kenny said: I have written to the Chief Officer of the HSE in the area today, following reports that have come to my attention about how the Covid vaccine is being administered at Sligo University Hospital.

According to health workers who have spoken to me, there are people who are on leave from work at the hospital, so not in contact with patients or staff at present, who are being called in to receive the first dose of vaccine. Meanwhile, some frontline staff: health workers, care assistants, security, catering and cleaning staff, are still waiting for their first dose. There are also reports of administration staff and senior management receiving vaccination while frontline staff are waiting.

If this is the case it is not only inefficient in terms of controlling the virus, it is also causing tension and stress amongst hospital staff and working against the positive message that we are all in this together.

I have asked the chief officer of the HSE in this area to assure me that this situation will be investigated and rectified if necessary. It is in the interests of us all that this vicious virus is controlled and beaten. Working together with common sense and compassion is the only way to do that.
Ekoenergetyka-Polska, a Polish manufacturer, has won a contract to deliver 274 chargers for electric buses with a total capacity of 24.5 MW to Regie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP) in France.



Ekoenergetyka-Polska will deliver 274 devices of 90 kW each to the Seine. The Polish manufacturer runs a tailor-made project, as specified by RATP. Charging stations for two Parisian depots - Center Bus de Lilas and Pleyel - will be available in three configurations.



The first of them, standard, plug-in type, is equipped with a CCS Combo 2 connector. The second is a charger with a satellite to charge buses parked in the parts of the depot with limited space. The third one is equipped with a dedicated cable reel that allows to lower the cable from the ceiling to the bus socket.



One of the greatest advantages of the solutions designed by Ekoenergetyka is their customization. We adapt our charging stations to specific customer requirements, both technically and visually. We are preparing a modern charging infrastructure for electric buses, which will be located in Paris, in accordance with the requirements of RATP, said Maciej Wojenski, Vice-President of the Management Board, Ekoenergetyka-Polska.



This is the second contract of the French operator for the Polish leader of the emobility market. Already in 2018, both entities signed a contract for the supply of charging stations to the most populous region of the country, Ile-de-France. Ekoenergetyka has delivered 96 charging stations with a capacity of 60 and 100 kW to Paris.



Ekoenergetykas contract is part of the ambitious plan of the regional transport authority Ile-de-France Mobilites (IDFM) to eliminate all diesel buses. The French operator declared in 2014 a technological and environmental change that will eliminate diesel buses from the fleet and replace them with zero emission vehicles by 2025. These measures aim to reduce the emissions generated by the RATP fleet by 50%.  TradeArabia News Service


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Boris Johnson was choppered out of Downing Street amid coronavirus lockdown today to view devastation from flooding.

The PM and his security detail, all wearing helmets and masks, boarded a military helicopter by Horse Guards Parade near No10 this morning.

It is understood they are going to see the impact of Storm Christoph, which has been lashing the country - with more problems predicted over the next week.

Some 2,000 homes in Greater Manchester were evacuated last night due to flooding.

Police and firefighters worked with Manchester City Council to evacuate homes in East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden, while people have also been asked to leave their homes in parts of Ruthin, North Wales, and Maghull in Merseyside due to rising floodwaters.

The Environment Agency issued a further 130 flood warnings across England, with 225 less severe flood alerts, as torrential downpours cause rivers in Greater Manchester, Northumberland and Yorkshire to overflow.

The PM and his security detail, all wearing helmets and masks, boarded a military helicopter by Horse Guards Parade near No10 this morning

Mr Johnson is understood to be heading to see the impact of Storm Christoph

The RAF helicopter departed from Westminster amid the coronavirus lockdown

CARMARTHEN: The river Towy in Carmarthen in south Wales burst its banks last night

Councils were left scrambling to evacuate people and shore up flood defences, made all the trickier by the need to keep confirmed cases of Covid-19 away from other people fleeing their homes.

Four 'severe' flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, were issued by the agency for the River Mersey at Didsbury and Northenden, and in Maghull. Amber and yellow weather warnings are in force until later today for the storm, which is also threatening to bring up to 30cm of snow to northern areas.

The Met Office has warned that there is a risk of further snow later in the week as Storm Christoph makes its way east, with accumulations expected in Scotland, northern England and parts of Northern Ireland.

The PM, who chaired a meeting of the Government's Cobra civil contingencies committee last night, said steps were being taken to ensure the transport and energy networks were prepared so that electricity outages would not be 'severe', and that there were sufficient supplies of sandbags.

He also urged people to heed the warnings if they are advised to evacuate, adding: 'There are some times where I have been to scenes where, alas, people have decided not to obey the advice and not evacuated.

'It is their right not to do so if they choose - it's always people's right to stay wherever they are. 'But it really is advisable - follow the advice. If you are told to leave your home then you should do so.'

It comes as more than 120mm of rain has already fallen in parts of the country, with 123.42mm at Capel Curig in North Wales in the 24 hours up to 2pm on Wednesday. Crai Reservoir in South Wales saw the second highest total, with 115.6mm, and areas in Glamorgan and Cumbria also topped 100mm over the same period.

MANCHESTER: People cross a bridge over the River Mersey as snow falls in East Didsbury, Manchester, where homes are being evacuated due to risk of flooding

DIDSBURY: A floodgate off the River Mersey in Didsbury moves water to the Sale Water Basin
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and congressional Democrats are not backtracking from their promise to move forward with a Senate impeachment trial of Donald Trump, even if doing so risks alienating Republican voters and draping a wet cloth over what newly sworn-in President Joe Biden can do in his first few weeks in office.

The fact is, the president of the United States committed an act of incitement of insurrection, Ms Pelosi said at her weekly press conference at the Capitol on Thursday.

I don't think it's very unifying to say, 'Oh, let's just forget it and move on.' That's not how you unify, the speaker said.

She added: Joe Biden said it beautifully  if we're going to unite, you must remember. And we must [remember].

House Democrats, along with 10 Republicans, impeached Mr Trump for inciting the mob that stormed the US Capitol on 6 January, interrupting Congress certification of Mr Bidens electoral victory for several hours by sending lawmakers fleeing for their lives from the House and Senate chambers.

The former president spent hours before the press during his final year in office casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election even before it happened, saying mail-in voting would lead to rampant voter fraud. After the election, Mr Trump, his campaign team, and dozens of congressional Republicans spent weeks challenging Mr Bidens victory citing disproven conspiracy theories that were summarily dismissed in court for having no supporting evidence.

Throughout December, Mr Trump egged on rallygoers chanting stop the steal and falsely proclaimed himself the real winner of the 2020 contest.

On 6 January, the day Congress was set to certify Mr Bidens victory in the Electoral College, Mr Trump told throngs of his supporters in Washington that if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore.

He then exhorted them to march on Capitol Hill, where they overran police, ran roughshod through the Capitol, and, in some cases, tried to hunt down public officials, including Mr Trumps own vice president, Mike Pence.

Such reckless behaviour  which has politically radicalised millions of Americans and threatened to topple American democracy on 6 January  simply could not go unpunished, Ms Pelosi told reporters on Thursday.

Just because he's now gone  thank god  you don't say to a president, 'Do whatever you want in the last month of your administration  you're going to get a get-out-of-jail-free card, Ms Pelosi said of her decision to move forward with the impeachment process.

I don't see that at all. I think that would be harmful to unity, she said.

The House has not yet transmitted its ratified article of impeachment over to the Senate, which would trigger an immediate trial that could last weeks.

Such a move is likely to stall the confirmation of many of Mr Bidens administrative appointments and halt momentum on key pieces of legislation he is eager to sign into law, such as another massive Covid aid package worth nearly $2trn.

Ms Pelosi refused to provide reporters with a timeline on when she would execute that transmission, although she did indicate it would follow the respective party leaders in the Senate agreeing on rules for the upcoming trial.

Its up to them [the Senate] to decide how we go forward. When we go forward. It will be soon. I don't think it will be long, but we must do it, she said.

While several Senate Republicans, including their Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have left open the possibility of voting to convict Mr Trump of inciting the insurrection, the GOP is far from unified on the matter.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California, who voted against the impeachment article resolution last Wednesday, appeared to soften this week on how responsible he holds Mr Trump for the events of 6 January.

I dont believe he provoked [the riot], if you listen to what he said at the rally, Mr McCarthy told reporters on Thursday.

Last week on the House floor, Mr McCarthy admitted Mr Trump should have done more in the moment to put an end to the insurrection  that the then-president had failed to act.

The president bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters, Mr McCarthy said. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding. These facts require immediate action by President Trump.
Some of the masks distributed to hospitals and aged care homes at the height of the pandemic as part of the federal government's national medical stockpile have been judged defective by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Laboratory testing by Australias medical regulator identified a range of issues with some disposable surgical masks branded Softmed and imported by M House.

The issues include quality control, lack of proper labelling, and inconsistent fluid resistance between batches. Fluid resistance is vital for medical masks, as fluid droplets generated by coughing and sneezing have been found to spread COVID-19.

A Kirby Institute study, published in November, estimated Australian healthcare workers were nearly three times more likely to become infected with coronavirus than other Australians. More than 3560 healthcare workers have been infected with COVID-19 in Victoria. Nearly three-quarters of them caught the virus at work.

At the peak of the state's second wave of infections in early August, so many staff were off sick or isolating from the Royal Melbourne Hospital that the facility was forced to temporarily close four of its wards.
The return to state regulation of the price on the gas market is a huge step back in the process of reforming this market, Head of the European Energy Community Secretariat Janez Kopac has said.

The gas market has become a success story in 2018, as well as in 2020 with the abolition of public special obligations (PSO) for households. Now, this has changed and means a huge step back, Kopac said at the Energy Club discussion on the topic "Will Ukraine continue the reform of the gas market?" held on Thursday.

He said that in general he is unhappy with this retreat and hopes everyone will forget about it very soon, Kopac said.

According to him, many positive things were done last year, as well as measures were taken to allow consumers to change their gas supplier, but now this process has been rather aggressively interrupted by the decision of the government.

Expressing his understanding of the government's concern about the increase in gas prices, the head of the Secretariat said that the extension of restrictions after March 31 would have a negative impact on the market and would threaten market reforms in Ukraine.

If this measure lasts until the end of March, the market will somehow survive, but if it takes longer, then if it does not kill the market, it will additionally threaten the existence of market reforms in Ukraine, he said.

He expressed the opinion that the measures taken by the government to regulate the gas price should be combined with other measures that would improve the competitive environment, pointing out, in particular, the need to ensure equal access for all market participants to Ukrainian gas, which the Secretariat has repeatedly emphasized.

If cheaper Ukrainian gas from Ukrgazvydobuvannia were available on equal terms to different market players, perhaps, to begin with, not all of its amount, but at least a quarter or a third of it would be available to everyone, the head of the Secretariat said.

Kopac called the abolition of the gas price cap at the end of March, the introduction of a mandatory program for access to gas produced domestically, and further refinement of measures to change suppliers the most important next steps expected from Ukraine.

At the same time, he drew attention to the fact that, according to the experience of European countries, the process of changing them takes some time.

Each market needs time to develop. In every EU country where change of suppliers became possible, little happened in the first year, but then an information campaign came on the scene, and similar things, and consumers began to actively change suppliers, he explained.

Kopac also dwelled on the need to ensure equal access to the consumer base for all market players.

There is one more point, and this is also a long-standing request of Naftogaz, to have transparent access to data on consumers and their specific codes, which will allow other suppliers to promote their proposals for supplies, the EU official said.

In addition, the head of the Energy Community Secretariat called on the government to clearly define the concept of a vulnerable consumer, stressing that Energy Minister Yuriy Vitrenko touched upon this topic, but did not disclose it.

At the same time, he expressed the opinion that it was precisely such consumers that actually needed to be protected. At the same time, he said, the lack of a correct definition of the category of vulnerable consumer also led to price reductions for all consumers, which Kopac called a populist measure.

It was more for the media and not for improving the market environment, Kopac said.
MUMBAI, India, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A clinical trial was conducted in India to monitor outcome of combination natural treatment for COVID. An Ayurvedic Remedy called 'Immunofree' by Corival Life Sciences, and supplement called 'Reginmune' by Biogetica is found to work better in a comparative clinical trial than Standard of Care.

From the start of pandemic, medical professionals from across globe have been searching for a cure for Covid-19. China, stopped corona by mandating use of traditional Chinese medicine formulas for COVID. Madagascar & other countries took similar remedies showing mortality rate under 1%.

Half the participants in the clinical trial for 'Immunforee' & 'Reginmune' were given the 2 remedies, and other half were given the government SOP(depending on patient condition and hospital norms, which included but not limited to Paracetamol (SOS) B-complex (OD) Vitamin-C (TID), Azithromycin (OD),Favipiravir and Pantocid (OD).

This herbal combination group had 88% of patients test negative on day 5, in comparison to SOP with only 72% negative on day 5. 100% of patients on immunofree and reginmune tested negative on day 10 and only 88% on SOP tested negative. Hence this study suggests that natural medicine from Ayurveda is outperforming pharmaceuticals currently being used. The groundbreaking results have been submitted to the Indian government in the hope that they will expedite approval of Immunofree and Reginmune for COVID treatment.

Dr Vijaykumar Kamat, Medical Director, Biogetica said, "It seems to us that too much expectation and emphasis is being placed on a vaccine even though the virus is rapidly mutating. The flu vaccines have been around for 70 years and it hasn't stopped the flu. Hence, one cannot expect corona to end with a vaccine alone. A safe and effective treatment is needed. This is essentially because immunofree hasn't been repurposed for COVID. It was designed based on the multifaceted presentation of this particular virus and it addresses the virus with a unique patented 10 prong approach.

Dr Huzaifa Khorakiwala, CEO, Wockhardt Foundation said, "It is great to see natural medicine set a precedent like this. We will work closely with states of India and governments around the world to make Immunofree and Reginmune the gold standard in Coronavirus treatment."

Apurve Mehra, Founder, Biogetica said, "Immunofree and Reginmune have now shown a result no medicine from any tradition has globally. With the entire world watching, we have shown how nature is essential in medicine for this virus. That nature has the answer when all else fails."

About Company: Immunofree

SOURCE Corival Life Sciences
[January 21, 2021] Four Advisors Move to Ameriprise for Digital Financial Planning Capabilities to Enhance Their Client Experience

Ameriprise Financial, LLC (NYSE: AMP) recently added three advisor practices to its Ameriprise Advisor Group with $379 million in combined client assets. David Moss and Jay Campbell joined from Merrill Lynch with $190 million in client assets in Houston, Texas. Separately, financial advisor and branch manager Larry Padron joined from Stifel with $121 million in client assets in Southlake, Texas. Lastly, Troy Malbon joined from UBS with $68 million in client assets in Portland, Maine. Ameriprise culture of financial planning attracts advisors to the firm

Financial planning is at the core of how David Moss and Jay Campbell serve their clients. They moved to Ameriprise to take advantage of the firm's integrated suite of technology capabilities designed around the way clients live and work. "We treat our clients like extended members of our family, and we strive to deliver exceptional service and solutions. Ameriprise helps us accomplish this through their financial tools and breadth of resources," said Moss, who has served clients for 25 years. "Ameriprise fit our team culture. We like where they are and where they are going in the financial planning space," said Campbell, who has five years of experience in the industry. "The technology we now have access to has eased our transition and we are excited about how it will help us stay connected with our clients." Firm's 'technical prowess' brings Larry Padron to Ameriprise to lead Southlake office

Padron's clientele includes many professionals and families focused on preserving wealth and generating retirement income. "I was intrigued by Ameriprise's technical prowess, and the more I investgated the firm the more I was convinced moving here was the right decision for my clients," said Padron.



Padron, who has almost two decades of management experience, will lead eight advisors and three staff members in Ameriprise's Southlake branch. In this role, he is responsible for supporting advisors in creating a referable, efficient, scalable business and recruiting new advisors to the branch. "I'm excited to tell my fellow advisors about the value of serving their clients at Ameriprise," Padron said. "I've recruited many advisors in my career and I've never seen such wide-reaching, customizable support with a transition as I have at Ameriprise."

Technology attracts UBS Advisor to Ameriprise

The Ameriprise Client Experience and goals-based advice led Troy Malbon to Ameriprise. "Top on my list was joining a firm fully committed to the advisor-client experience. I found that in Ameriprise. Their tools allow my clients and I to view goals and progress on any device, any time, and in a way that brings the experience to life." His branch manager Ben Henchel said, "The level of attentiveness Troy provides to his clients reflects how deeply he cares about them and their success, and we're excited to have him on board. He has been pleased with the level of preparation and high-touch support we provided to quickly transition his practice and likes the decisions the firm is making to continually improve both the client and the advisor experience." More than 4,300 financial advisors have joined Ameriprise since 2008.1 To find out why experienced financial advisors are joining Ameriprise, visit ameriprise.com/why. About Ameriprise Financial

At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With extensive advisory, asset management and insurance capabilities and a nationwide network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of individual and institutional investors' financial needs. For more information, or to find an Ameriprise financial advisor, visit ameriprise.com. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC. Member FINRA and SIPC.  2021 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Company data as of Q2 2020. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005668/en/

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Delhi High Court ruled not a single reason was shown to approach the court less than 24 hours before release of the film.

Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to stay release of film The White Tiger Friday on OTT platform Netflix on a plea by Hollywood producer John Hart Jr alleging copyright violation.

In an urgent hearing conducted late evening, Justice C Hari Shankar dismissed the stay application by the producer, saying not a single reason was shown to approach the court less than 24 hours before release of the film.

The court, which heard the matter for over two hours, issued summons to the producer of the film, Mukul Deora, and Netflix, where it will be released on Friday.

The film features Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajkummar Rao, and newcomer Adarsh Gourav. Priyanka is also attached to the project as an Executive Producer through Purple Pebble Pictures, the production house owned by her and mother Madhu Chopra.

Priyanka was recently seen in another Netflix film We Can Be Heroes in a supporting part. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, the American superhero flick will also see a sequel, as announced by Priyanka earlier in January. Rao was also seen in another Netflix Original film Ludo, a dark comedy anthology directed by Anurag Basu, that released last Diwali on 12 November.

The White Tiger is based on the book of the same name, authored by Aravinda Adiga, which was released in March 2008. The film adaptation is directed by American filmmaker Ramin Bahrani, best known for films like Man Push Cart (2005), Chop Shop (2007), Goodbye Solo (2008), Plastic Bag (2009), At Any Price (2013), 99 Homes (2015), and Fahrenheit 451 (2018).

Two years ago, Netflix faced copyright infringement for its documentary Bikram: Yogi, Guru, Predator. Kolkata's Ghosh Yoga College claimed the makers of the Bikram documentary used footage despite being told "explicitly they would need permission."

With inputs from Press Trust of India.

(Also read  The White Tiger review round-up: Critics call the film an immersive plunge with magnetic performances)
Doctors proposed that a milder relative of the poliovirus must be at fault. But perhaps because no such virus could be identified, a rival explanation gained currency. In 1970, two British doctors reviewed records from 15 outbreaks and dismissed the idea of an infectious cause. Instead, they concluded that either mass hysteria on the part of the patients or altered medical perception of the community could explain the phenomenon. To support the hysteria claim, they cited the fact that most patients were women. The resulting shift in how doctors thought about the disease would, some have since argued, inflict tremendous harm on patients suffering from a very real, if ill-defined, disease.

In 1985, after another apparent outbreak in Incline Village, Nev., near Lake Tahoe, the media piled on, derisively calling the condition the yuppie flu  or as Newsweek described it in 1990, a fashionable form of hypochondria. About this same time, scientists who were studying the condition settled on chronic fatigue syndrome to describe it. The term still rankles many who see it as greatly understating the severity of their condition. As the author Laura Hillenbrand, who has the illness, once told The Times, it is condescending and so grossly misleading. Fatigue is what we experience, but it is what a match is to an atomic bomb.

After pursuing what seemed like promising leads, the quest to identify a single infectious cause of these persistent illnesses  the proverbial chronic fatigue virus  ultimately turned up little, and in 1992, a group of scientists, including Anthony Komaroff, advanced a more complicated if less satisfying explanation. We think that this is probably a heterogeneous illness that can be triggered by multiple different genetic and environmental factors, they wrote, including stress, toxins and exogenous infectious agents. In other words, the disease emerged from an interaction between each patients unique makeup and any number of stressors in the environment  including, possibly, an infection.

In the 2000s, researchers in rural Australia tried to confirm through direct observation the proposed link with infection. Previously, scientists studying the syndrome were always playing catch-up, trying to figure out what had happened to patients who showed up at their offices already ill. But in the township of Dubbo, scientists collaborated with local doctors to follow 253 patients who contracted infections more serious than the common cold  those viruses werent linked with ME/CFS  in order to see who might develop fatigue and other symptoms over the following year.

The scientists found that Dubbo residents could develop chronic fatigue after several illnesses, among them Q fever, which is caused by bacteria carried by livestock; Ross River fever, spread by mosquitoes; and Epstein-Barr infection, transmitted via human saliva. About 11 percent of the patients who contracted one of these infections still had symptoms six months later, at which time they met the criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome. Nine percent had persistent symptoms a year later. No social or psychological factors foretold who developed long-term fatigue and other symptoms. But one factor was broadly predictive: how sick patients became during the initial phase of their illness. The sicker they got, the more likely they were, after the infection itself had cleared up, to develop fatigue, pain and problems with memory and concentration.

From the Russian Influenza to Covid-19, these have been the abiding questions: Where in the body is the dysfunction that drives these chronic symptoms? And what distinguishes those who develop these long-term syndromes from those who dont? A study conducted several years ago by Alice Russell and Carmine Pariante at Kings College London suggests that the answer may lie in the different ways individual immune systems respond to the same challenge.

Russell and Pariante decided to follow 55 subjects being treated for hepatitis C, a chronic viral infection of the liver. They wanted to see if any of them developed persistent problems not from the hepatitis virus itself but from the therapy meant to cure it. At the time, treatment included injections of interferon-alpha, a protein also made by our own bodies, which activates the bodys antiviral defenses. By giving patients interferon, doctors essentially rev up their immune systems in much the same way an actual viral infection does. For years, scientists have known that interferon treatment can also lead to fatigue and depression in some patients. The therapy for these patients thus provided a way to simulate infection and then study its long-term consequences without using an actual infectious agent.

Ford chairman Bill Ford has welcomed the US re-joining the Paris Agreement on climate change.

It was one of the first acts of new US president Joe Biden, who was inaugurated as 46th US president at a ceremony in Washington yesterday. It reverses the country's withdrawal from the agreement under the previous administration.

Ford chairman Bill Ford issued a statement headed, "From Detroit to Paris, it is time for climate progress".

The statement said the decision is critical to reestablishing the United States' role as a world leader.

"As a global company, and one whose manufacturing and products contribute to carbon emissions, Ford's commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement matters and our position has never wavered," the statement said.

The statement went on:

"Climate change is everyone's problem. It is already affecting every person on the planet, whether they realize it or not. Therefore, we all need to help change the course of history, and manufacturers like Ford have a particular responsibility.

"That is why Ford was the only full-line American automaker to stand with the Paris Agreement, and the only one to support California and adopt its strongest-in-the-nation greenhouse gas standards. While we cannot eliminate all the carbon producing manufacturing and automobiles overnight, we can choose a path that will eventually take us to a zero-emissions future.

"We believe that real and lasting change will only come from our will and a commitment to our values on a global scale to do better for our children and grandchildren. And, what we do to change our practices and products will have an exponential impact on the future.

"I started working at Ford in 1979 and looking back on my early days at the company now, I imagine my colleagues were not terribly excited by my arrival. I was raising concerns about the environment and the impact our industry was having on it. But even when it was a lonely position in our industry, I knew we had an important role to play.

"While we were not the first company to produce electric vehicles, we are committed to building the best electric vehicles. We are committed to sourcing 100% renewable energy for all our operating sites by 2035, and to be fully carbon neutral worldwide by 2050.

"Our work is nowhere near done, but President Biden's action today is an important step. We are pleased and proud to support the United States re-entry to the Paris Climate Agreement, and we hope that everyone shares our optimism that this is a fresh start for a common cause.

"In a world that grows more fragile and connected every day, we need to work together to bring real change that is good for our planet, our customers and our company."

Huntington, WV (25701)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 73F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 53F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
Fifty weeks of run was the dream of every movie producer and actor till OTT platforms took over. A golden wedding anniversary confirms how successful a marriage has been and so on. Similarly, Sensex touching 50,000 was not a question of whether  but when? Just about 10 months back on March 23 we were staring at 25,000 and nobodys wildest projections would have indicated 50,000 so soon as indicated in my earlier article ...

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Digital Editor

Better grades thanks to your fellow students? A study conducted by the University of Zurich's Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics has revealed that not only the grade point average, gender and nationality peers can influence your own academic achievement, but so can their personalities. Intensive contact and interaction with persistent fellow students improve your own performance, and this effect even endures in subsequent semesters.

Personality traits influence many significant outcomes in life, such as one's educational attainment, income, career achievements or health. Assistant Professor Ulf Zolitz of the University of Zurich's Department of Economics and Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development has investigated how one's own personality affects fellow students.

The study he co-authored followed business students at a Dutch university. At the start of their university studies, all first-semester students were asked by the researchers to complete a survey on four personality traits: self-confidence, emotional stability, risk attitude and persistence. Afterwards, the students were randomly split into study groups in which they spent several months learning together. In the end, all of the students were required to take the same written final exam.

Enduring beneficial effect

"The results of the study reveal that those students who were randomly assigned to a group with more persistent fellow students scored better on the final exam," Prof. Zolitz explains. Peers' self-confidence and emotional stability however did not have a significant impact. Those who interacted with fellow students more willing to engage in risky behavior performed worse on the final exam. The observed personality peer effects could not be explained by differences in cognitive abilities, gender or nationality, factors that also correlate with personality.

But why does the personality of fellow students improve academic achievement? Do persistent peer students induce the rest of the group to spend more time studying? Do they inspire other students to strive for better grades? Or does their presence in the classroom elicit more productive group dynamics? The data collected do not unequivocally corroborate any of the above hypotheses. The study showed, however, that academic performance turned out better not just in the examined course, but also in subsequent courses. "This suggests that it isn't a transfer of course-specific knowledge that leads to an improvement in academic performance, but that it's rather a transfer of skills from peers that benefits students in current and future settings," Prof. Zolitz says. The positive influence that more persistent peers exert on others' academic performance has a lasting effect and is still observable in subsequent courses in which those more persistent fellow students are no longer present.

###
While Early Medieval Europe is often viewed as a time of cultural stagnation, a new study claims that this may not be the case after all.

Researchers have revealed that new ideas spread rapidly through early Medieval Europe, creating a surprisingly unified culture.

In particular, the team found that the practice of burying the dead without grave goods spread through Western Europe faster than previously believed.

The findings suggest that Europe has been 'global' for over a millennium.

The practice of burying the dead without grave goods spread through Western Europe faster than previously believed. Pictured is one of the grave goods from the famous Sutton Hoo ship burial in Suffolk, England

WHAT ARE 'GRAVE GOODS'? Grave goods were objects placed with the dead at the time of burial and left with the body in the grave. The objects tended to be personal possessions of the deceased, deposited for use in afterlife. In a 2020 study, researchers from the University of Cambridge explained: 'Not all grave goods were the possessions of the deceased during life; some may have been gifts from the living to the dead. 'Gift-giving was an important aspect of the funeral, as it helped mark the deceased's new role and change in social status.' Advertisement

In the study, researchers from the University of Cambridge examined how burial practices in Western Europe changed from the 6th to the 8th century AD.

In the 6th century, almost all burials included regionally-specific grave goods.

Grave goods were objects placed with the dead at the time of burial and left with the body in the grave.

The objects tended to be personal possessions of the deceased, deposited for use in afterlife.

However, by the 8th century, this practice had all but disappeared.

Dr Emma Brownlee, who led the study, said: 'Almost everyone from the eighth century onwards is buried very simply in a plain grave, with no accompanying objects, and this is a change that has been observed right across western Europe.'

The team examined more than 33,000 graves from this period, using statistical analysis to create a 'heat map' of burial practices, tracking how they changed over time.

The results reveal that changes in grave good use began to decline from the mid-sixth century in England, France, Germany and the Low Countries, and had been abandoned entirely by the early eighth century.

The team examined more than 33,000 graves from this period, using statistical analysis to create a 'heat map' of burial practices. The heat maps revealed that changes in grave good use began to decline from the mid-sixth century in England, France, Germany and the Low Countries, and had been abandoned entirely by the early eighth century

By the 8th century, the practice of burying the dead alongside grave goods had all but disappeared

Dr Brownlee explained: 'The most important finding is that the change from burial with grave goods to burial without them was contemporary across western Europe.

'Although we knew this was a widespread change before, no one has previously been able to show just how closely aligned the change was in areas that are geographically very far apart.'

The findings suggest that early Medieval Europe was a well-connected place, with regular contact and exchange of ideas across vast areas.

The researchers studied burials across England, France, Germany and the Low Countries

Previous research has found evidence of increasing long-distance trade around this period, which may have been how connections were facilitated, according to the team.

'The change in burial practice will have further reinforced those connections; with everyone burying their dead in the same manner, a medieval traveller could have gone anywhere in Europe and seen practices they were familiar with, Dr Brownlee added.

Overall, the findings suggest that Europe has been interconnected for much longer than previously thought.

The researchers added: 'In reality, Europe has been "global" for over a millennium.'
The brothers who have bought Asda for 6.8billion have appointed retail veteran Lord Rose as chairman of their petrol station empire.

Zuber and Mohsin Issa hired the former Marks & Spencer boss amidst concerns over governance at EG Group, fuelling speculation the pair are preparing the ground for a multibillion-pound stock market listing.

The Issas, who are from Blackburn, built the firm from a single forecourt in Bury to a giant with 6,000 sites and 44,000 staff on three continents.

Safe hands: Zuber and Mohsin Issa, the brothers who bought Asda for 6.8bn, have appointed former Marks & Spencer boss Lord Rose (pictured) as chairman of their petrol station empire

But they have been scrabbling to win back confidence after auditor Deloitte resigned in October.

There are also concerns over the eye-watering 7billion debt mountain used to fund its rapid expansion overseas.

Rose, a Conservative life peer, is due to retire as chairman of online supermarket Ocado in May.

The 71-year-old said: The Issa brothers are great British entrepreneurs of enormous drive, vision and ambition. EGs board has asked me to develop appropriate governance structures for a business of this scale.

Rose is expected to be handsomely paid for the role, adding to the fortune he has built over a glittering 40-year career on the High Street.

EG, which has previously said it could consider a listing, said nothing had been decided yet, but the groups co-owner, TDR Group, said Roses recruitment was a clear signal of our ambition for EG Group.

The group reported sales in excess of 17.6billion for the year to December 2019. The Issas bought Asda in October.

The deal is being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority, which could ask EG to sell some petrol stations, but it is expected to complete this year.
Former US President Donald Trump bid goodbye to Washington after his four-year term ended on Jan. 20, 2021. He became the first president in modern history to boycott his successor's inauguration. By the time Joe Biden was sworn in, Trump was alredy in Florida. (Image: Reuters)
She's undergone a plethora of cosmetic treatments since finding fame, including Botox, dermal fillers, porcelain veneers and lasers.

But Married At First Sight 'villain' Ines Basic believes she looks anything but fake, describing her appearance as 'effortless' in an interview with The Sun.

'I've watched UK shows and they all seem to be crazy blonde girls with fake nails and my look is more effortless,' the 30-year-old said on Wednesday.

Nothing basic about her! Married At First Sight's Ines Basic, 30, has bragged about her 'effortless' look after spending $44,000 on cosmetic procedures. Pictured left on Married At First Sight in 2019, and right in November

Ines, who infamously cheated on her TV 'husband' Bronson Norrish with tradesman Sam Ball, said she'd spent a staggering $44,000 to achieve her glamorous look.

Perhaps one of Ines' most noticeable procedures was her porcelain veneers, which she had done in May 2019.

'It changed the alignment and it was sort of like having a jaw reconstruction too,' she told The Sun.

'It was sort of like having a jaw reconstruction': Perhaps one of Ines' most noticeable procedures was her new porcelain veneers, which she received in May 2019 (pictured)

What a change! Speaking about her dental transformation in 2019, the Bosnian explained: 'The teeth I was born with were really small, plus I had low enamel so they were always discoloured'

Speaking to Now To Love about her dental transformation in 2019, the Bosnian refugee explained: 'The teeth I was born with were really small, plus I had low enamel so they were always discoloured.

'When I turned 21, I got veneers. [Eventually] I realised they weren't functional. Now the tooth length suits my face and my jaw no longer swings to the right.'

Ines has always been open about her decision to undergo cosmetic procedures.

Unashamed: Ines has always been open about her decision to undergo cosmetic procedures, including Botox, fillers and skin treatments

Plump: In September, Ines showed off her extreme lip filler in an interview on her YouTube channel (left). Her pout was significantly plumper than when she appeared on TV two years ago (right)

Her list of procedures include Botox to her forehead, crow's feet, frown lines and jaw muscles; filler in her jaw and lips; and an array of expensive skincare treatments.

Ines was branded a 'villain' during the 2019 season of Married At First Sight for her affair with Sam Ball, who was partnered with fan favourite Elizabeth Sobinoff.

Despite keeping a fairly low profile since taking part in Nine's social experiment, Ines has forged a successful career as an Instagram influencer.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Once regarded as merely cast-off waste products of cellular life, bacterial membrane vesicles (MVs) have since become an exciting new avenue of research, due to the wealth of biological information they carry to other bacteria as well as other cell types.

These tiny particles, produced by most bacteria, can bud off from outer cellular membranes, traveling along cell surfaces and occasionally migrating into intercellular spaces.Luis Cisneros is a researcher in the Biodesign Center for Biocomputing, Security and Society, and the BEYOND Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, at Arizona state University.

In a new study, Luis H. Cisneros and his colleagues describe the effects of antibiotics on membrane vesicles, demonstrating that such drugs actively modify the properties of vesicle transport. Under the influence of antibiotics, MVs were produced and released by bacteria in greater abundance and traveled faster and further from their origin.

The researchers suggest that the altered behaviors of MVs may represent a stress response to the presence of antibiotics and further, that MVs liberated from the cell membrane may transmit urgent warning signals to neighboring cells and perhaps foster antibiotic resistance.

"It's long been believed that membrane vesicles are involved in the cell-cell signaling process leading to changes in the collective behavior of living cells, like the coordination of survival responses due to antibiotic stress," Cisneros says. "But many details in the dynamics of this process are not yet well understood. Our work opens a new door in this field."

Cisneros is a researcher in the Biodesign Center for Biocomputing, Security and Society, and the BEYOND Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science, at Arizona state University. He is joined by Julia Bos and Didier Mazel, colleagues from the Institut Pasteur, Paris.

The research finding appear in the current issue of the journal Science Advances.

Bacterial satellites

Membrane vesiclesencapsulated particles shed from the membranes of bacteria are conduits of information. Like nanoscale flash drives, they can encode and carry volumes of data in the form of polysaccharides, proteins, DNAs, RNAs, metabolites, enzymes, and toxins. They also express many proteins on their outer membrane that are derived from the bacterial surfaces from which they were exuded.

Groundbreaking research on the mechanisms controlling vesicles traffic were awarded a Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine in 2013 and are currently being used to package the SPIKE mRNA in the long- awaited COVID-19 vaccine.

The rich storehouse of information carried by MVs and its ultimate effect on bacterial and non-bacterial cells is of great scientific and medical concern. In addition to alerting fellow bacteria of environmental stresses like antibiotics, MVs have been implicated in the quorum sensing activities that inform bacteria of overall population densities and may even affect brain processes in higher mammals. This could occur if MVs produced by gut microbes transport their cargo to the nervous system.

Membrane vesicles are common to all life kingdoms, from bacteria and other unicellular organisms to archaea and eukaryotic cells found in multicellular organisms, including cancer cells. Depending on the cell type from which they emerge, they have been implicated as vital contributors to intercellular communication, coagulation, inflammatory processes and the genesis of tumors as well as playing a role in the biology of stem cells.

A closer look

Despite their importance however, MVs have received inadequate attention until recently. Due to their diminutive nature, measuring between 20 and 400 nm in diameter, they are a challenging subject of study, particularly in their natural state within living systems.

Key to gaining insight into the subtle behavior of MV's has been technological advances that allow them to be closely observed. The new study outlines sophisticated methods of florescence microscopy and data analysis used to track the production and transport of MVs under laboratory scrutiny.

Traditionally, MV's have been studied with the aid of biochemical techniques, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. These methods have helped researchers probe the contents of MVs, which may contain nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, various toxins, antibiotics, phage receptors, signaling molecules, metabolites, metals, and growth factors. The precise composition of MVs is dependent on physiological details of the mother cell as well as the mode by which the MVs are formed.

Likewise, numerous factors can affect the formation and release of MVs. These include antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs, environmental influences, cell death and necrosis as well as damage to the bacterium's DNA. The heightened production and transport of MVs may be a generalized response to bacterial stress.

Bacterial information highway

The downstream effects of MV transport likewise remain a topic of considerable speculation. The release of MVs appears to be involved in a number of critical biological processes including cell-cell communication, horizontal gene transfer, social phenomena and immune response modulation. Importantly, they are also believed to act as decoys for antibiotics.

To better understand these and other attributes of MVs in living systems, it is vital to closely follow their movements over time. The current study represents the first high-resolution, quantitative tracking of MVs in response to antibiotic treatment.

The experiments described involve a population of live Escherichia coli, commensal bacteria common in the human gut. The individual MVs were tagged with a fluorescent dye, then visualized using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy at high magnification combined with fast image acquisition. Additionally, MV transport was investigated with imaging tools allowing particle tracking to be fully automated.

Analysis of vesicle movement revealed that treatment with low doses of antibiotic significantly altered vesicle dynamics, vesicle-to-membrane affinity, and surface properties of the cell membranes, generally enhancing vesicle transport along the surfaces of bacterial membranes. Continuing studies should help researchers determine if populations of bacteria displaying ramped-up, stress-induced MV transport show enhanced antibiotic resistance.

According to Bos, corresponding author of the new study, "this is the first evidence that tracking thousands of individual membrane vesicle trajectories in real-time in a live population of microorganisms has been achieved. Gaining insights into how they move and locate themselves within a bacterial microcolony and how their motion properties could be a signature of antibiotic stress, will undoubtedly open a new avenue of research on this fascinating and currently hot topic."

The study helps advance our understanding of these as-yet mysterious entities while potentially paving the way for a range of applications in immunology and biotechnology.

Explore further Not as simple as thought: How bacteria form membrane vesicles

More information: Julia Bos et al, Real-time tracking of bacterial membrane vesicles reveals enhanced membrane traffic upon antibiotic exposure, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Julia Bos et al, Real-time tracking of bacterial membrane vesicles reveals enhanced membrane traffic upon antibiotic exposure,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd1033
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Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

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Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

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His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

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Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

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ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

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Hyderabad, Jan 21 : At least seven people, including six women, were killed and 13 others injured when an auto-rickshaw in which they were travelling was crushed under a truck in Telangana's Nalgonda district on Thursday.

The accident occurred at at Angandipet Stage of P.A. Pally mandal when the auto-rickshaw, while trying to prevent hitting a SUV, collided with the container truck.

All the victims were daily wage labourers who were returning to Chinthalabhavi village after the day's work.

The auto-rickshaw driver, his wife and mother were also killed in the accident. Police said 20 people were travelling in the three-wheeler.

The injured were shifted to the hospital at Devarkonda. The death toll is likely to increase as the condition of some of the injured is critical.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has expressed shock over the accident. He enquired with the officials about the circumstances that led to the accident.

Conveying his condolences to the families of the deceased labourers, he instructed the medical officers to give the best treatment to those injured in the accident.
Tomatoes are planted on shelves hanging a meter or so above the ground and winding up in a digital greenhouse run by Xingang, an agricultural tech firm in Zhenjiang Economic & Technical Development Zone of east China's Jiangsu province.

"By hanging the plants above the ground, we not only save space, but also make sure that every tomato here is evenly exposed to the sunshine," said Wang Mingjing, head of the company's general office.

Zhenjiang's temperature has fallen below zero degree Celsius in January, but the digital greenhouse was kept at 25 degrees Celsius by an intelligent management system and modern facilities. Technical director of the company Lu Lian told People's Daily that the intelligent system has made planting much smarter.

"We can monitor and control the temperature, humidity and illumination in the greenhouse remotely, so that the indoor environment is always warm despite the changes outside," he said.

An injector-like tube is stuck into the growth medium of every tomato plant to feed the plant water and nutrition, which also irrigates the plant by drip feed. According to Lu, the nutrient solution is automatically prepared by smart equipment in the greenhouse based on the growth of the plants and illumination.

The growth period of the plants is around 9 months, and each of the plant yields about 15 kilograms of tomatoes each year, which means the plants' economic profit is three to four times of traditional ones.

Wang told People's Daily that the tomatoes are pesticide-free, as the soilless culture prevents soil borne diseases and also filters irrigation water for a second time, which lowers the occurrence of diseases from the source and thus ensures food safety. Besides, each of the tomato has a QR code that shows its growth information and examining reports, Wang added.

The high-efficient agricultural philosophy is not limited to planting, but extending to every link of crop production. In recent years, Zhenjiang Economic & Technical Development Zone has vigorously developed modern agricultural facilities and nurtured a batch of emerging entities. Smart greenhouses, frost prevention machines, precise planting systems, water and fertilizer all-in-one machines, as well as automatic spraying and dripping system are widely adopted.

By the end of 2020, Zhenjiang has 527,000 mu (35,133 hectares) of agricultural facilities, accounting for 24.2% of its total farming area. A total of 43,719 greenhouses were built, covering 45,015 mu of land.

Li Chuande, deputy director of Zhenjiang's bureau of agriculture and rural affairs, noted that the city will develop high-efficient agriculture, advance agricultural mechanization, and establish demonstration zones of environmental friendly management, so as to bring more green and healthy food to customers and tangible benefits to farmers.
The morning after Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby, were hacked to death in their home on Second Street in Fall River, Mass., in August 1892, 1,500 people gathered in front of the house, drawn by news of a grisly crime in their quiet town.

The case would become more enthralling: Andrew Bordens 32-year-old daughter, Lisbeth A. Borden, known as Lizzie, would be put on trial for the murders. She was acquitted in 1893. For more than a century, her story has inspired dramas on stage and screen, countless books, an opera and a ballet. And the allure of the unsolved crime continues to draw people to the Borden house to this day.

Now the house, a bed-and-breakfast and museum, is listed for sale at $2 million. Suzanne St. John, the real estate agent, said the price accounts for its historical value and what had been a booming business before the coronavirus pandemic.

That the Borden case continues to capture the public imagination reflects the heinousness of the crime as well as the identity of the accused. A middle-class, respectable New England woman seemed like an unlikely murderer, making Bordens trial a national media sensation in 1893.
LONDON  As is so often the case, the theater got there first.

Im referring to the approach to race and casting in Bridgerton, the sartorially splendid Netflix study in hyperactive Regency-era hormones that everyones talking about. Much has been made of the presence across the eight-part series of Black actors populating a Jane Austen-style landscape that is usually shown onscreen as all white.

In fact, as London theater observers of a certain generation can attest, this has long been common practice onstage here, across a range of titles and historical periods. Thats been true whether its been part of Britains pioneering interest in colorblind casting or, as with Bridgerton, when productions have played with audience expectations about race to make a point.

Either way, the prevailing desire has been to fashion a theatrical world that speaks to the multicultural reality of the country. The idea behind casting a Black actor as a Maine villager (in Carousel) or a Viennese court composer (in Amadeus) isnt documentary verisimilitude; rather, its to make clear that such time-honored stories belong to all of us, regardless of race.
An aggressive crowd-control tactic known as kettling has been taken to such an extreme against a few dozen protesters in Kazakhstan that human rights groups are calling it torture.

Police in Almaty also used loudspeakers to intimidate the handful of anti-government demonstrators on January 10 -- repeatedly playing a song by a Kazakh pop star who later performed for a celebration of U.S. President Joe Bidens inauguration.

Kettling has caused controversy in the West, where it is used to contain crowds of more than 1,000 people that are deemed by authorities to include violent participants.

Rather than trying to arrest violent individuals or disperse a crowd en masse, police temporarily trap everyone together within a small area -- only gradually allowing people to leave. Usually, crowds are blockaded for a few hours or less.

In London and Washington, Seattle, Chicago, New York, and Toronto, kettling has been used during the past 20 years to contain massive anti-war rallies, anti-globalization demonstrations, and protests by the Black Lives Matter movement.

The tactic also was used against demonstrators near President Donald Trumps inauguration in January 2017.

Critics argue that kettling increases the potential for violence -- rather than defusing tensions -- because it traps people together in close proximity.

Some courts in the United States and Britain have deemed kettling to be illegal because it targets entire groups indiscriminately and because individuals who arent part of a demonstration can also be trapped within police barricades.

Kazakh 'Kettling'

When a few dozen Kazakh activists tried to march in Almaty on January 10, the day of Kazakhstans recent parliamentary elections, the apparent goal of authorities was to snuff out democratic dissent and intimidate people from staging future demonstrations.

The incident was part of a wider, ongoing policy of crackdowns that has cast doubt on President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaevs pledge to make political reforms and improve human rights in the former Soviet republic, which is the largest country in Central Asia.

The security forces in Almaty surrounded two groups of about a dozen people who were calling for constitutional reforms and an end to the dominant rule of former President Nursultan Nazarbaevs Nur Otan party.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, police wearing masks and riot gear forced one group to stand bunched together in freezing temperatures for nine hours without food, water, or an opportunity to use a bathroom.

Another group that included a pregnant woman and two children was forced to stand together like canned sardines for seven hours.

Meanwhile, police took turns in rotating shifts so they could rest, eat, and stay warm.

At least one demonstrator collapsed with hypothermia and had to be taken away in an ambulance before authorities allowed the protesters to leave.

Psychologically Chilling

Inga Imanbai, a freelance journalist known for critical reports about the Kazakh government, was among those who were kettled and forced to stand in the cold for hours.

First, there were police provocations for about 40 minutes, Imanbai told RFE/RL. Then they brought in loudspeakers and played the song Blizzard Again [super loud] about 20 times in a row. I accepted it as a kind of psychological pressure.

Blizzard Again is a love song by the internationally renown Kazakh pop star Dimash Kudaibergen.

With lyrics in the Kazakh language, Kudaibergen repeatedly sings the chorus refrain: My heart is freezing. I feel the chill in my soul.

Imanbai explains that the innocuous love song, when used as a psychological weapon against hedged-in Kazakh protesters, has an even more chilling connotation.

In that context, she says, the title Blizzard Again hints at a deadly crackdown launched by Soviet authorities in December 1986 against thousands of young Kazakhs who dared to stage anti-Kremlin protests in the streets of Alma-Ata -- now known as Almaty.

The unexpected and unprecedented December protests were a response to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachevs removal of Dinmukhamed Kunaev as first secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan.

Gorbachev replaced the ethnic Kazakh leader with an outsider from Russia named Gennady Kolbin.

The December protests were tolerated for two days. But on the third day, Soviet security forces launched a brutal crackdown codenamed Operation Blizzard.

The actual death toll from Operation Blizzard may never be known.

Officially, Soviet authorities claimed three people were killed. But witnesses say the real number was much higher.

Many young Kazakhs who took part in the protests were later sent to Soviet prisons or expelled from their universities.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the December protest movement was used by Nazarbaev and his successive governments as a symbol of Kazakh independence.

That has ensured that all Kazakhs remember Operation Blizzard and, for them, brings an ominous double meaning to the song title Blizzard Again.

International View

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the U.S.-based nongovernmental group Human Rights Watch have condemned the kettling operations of police in Almaty as repressive tactics against peaceful demonstrators.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) concludes that crowd-control tactics like kettling should only be used by authorities in exceptional cases.

The OSCEs guidelines on freedom of peaceful assembly state: Tactics of holding protesters in a confined space, known as kettling, and other such tactics are characterized by the fact that they do not distinguish between those who participate and those who do not participate in the meeting, or between peaceful and nonpeaceful participants.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee (OHCHR) says police operations to surround and block a group of demonstrators should only be applied if necessary.

A body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the OHCHR, says such measures should be applied in proportion to the need to suppress actual committed violence or to eliminate the imminent threat of violence.

In many cases, the OHCHR concludes, specific individuals should be targeted rather than entire groups.

It says particular attention should be paid to blocking, as far as possible, only those directly involved in the violence and limiting the duration of kettling operations to the minimum time necessary.

With reporting by Merhat Sharipzhan in Prague and RFE/RL Kazakh Service correspondent Darkhan Omirbek in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has donated N500 million to Sokoto to support the rebuilding of the states central market. On ...

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers state, has donated N500 million to Sokoto to support the rebuilding of the states central market.





On Tuesday morning, a fire had burnt down a section of the market.

Muhammed Bello, spokesman to Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto, disclosed Wikes donation in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to Bello, Wike said the donation is to support the states rebuilding efforts, as well as to assist affected traders.





River state government has pledged the sum of half a billion naira to support Sokoto State government in rebuilding the Sokoto central market ravaged by fire on Tuesday morning, the statement reads.

Part of the money, according to Gov. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who made the pledge, is also intended to support the victims of the inferno.

Gov. Wike, who visited Sokoto earlier on Wednesday, barely 24 hours after the disaster, said he was shocked and disturbed when he learnt about it.

Affirming that whatever affects Sokoto State also concerns Rivers, he said his administration will do all it takes to ensure that the affected market is reconstructed and becomes functional.

He said a situation where the means of livelihood of the people of Sokoto state, the drive of the government to improve the peoples lives and a broad spectrum of socio-economic wellbeing of many people will be affected, does not augur well for development and progress.

Earlier, while showing Wike round the scene of the incident, Tambuwal explained that 16,000 shops were affected.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi state, donated N30 million to the Sokoto government to assist victims of the incident.
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Israel's UN envoy Gilad Erdan took on a second role today as the countrys ambassador to the United States. Erdan is expected to shuttle between New York and Washington, serving in the two positions simultaneously.

Erdan was nominated for both positions last May in a surprising and exceptional decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At the time, Erdan was a popular outgoing public security minister. Netanyahu was in the process of establishing the unity government with the Blue and White Party and other political partners. He had too many Likud candidates for just a handful of portfolios. Nominating Erdan as ambassador was a win-win situation for Netanyahu, even at the price of two ambassadorial posts.

The deal was for Erdan to start as envoy to the United Nations last summer, taking over as ambassador to the United States later on, after the inauguration of the new American president. Netanyahu wanted to keep Ambassador Ron Dermer  his own man in Washington  until the end of President Donald Trumps term.

Dermer had been nominated in 2013, serving an unusually long period (prolonged again and again at Netanyahu's request) of almost eight years. He is considered an especially close associate of Netanyahu and also of several Republican leaders and former White House seniors. Netanyahu and Dermer have often been accused of tampering with the traditional American bipartisan support for Israel for the sake of friendship with Trump.

An aid to Erdan told the press that in his new role, the ambassador will work to strengthen bipartisan support for Israel and reach out to various communities throughout the United States.

Israeli analysts believe that this changing of the guard should facilitate Israeli contacts with the new Biden administration, which is expected to work toward relaunching talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Last week, Netanyahu advanced construction plans for some 800 new housing units in West Bank settlements. Recent reports claim that after approving these plans, Netanyahu also wanted to regularize six unrecognized West Bank outposts. The reports say that the initiative was thwarted by Defense Minister Benny Gantz and that the Foreign Ministry had voiced objections to the initiative a few days ago, warning against such a move right before Biden's inauguration. A senior Foreign Ministry official said such a move would be a "poke in the eye of the Americans."

In contrast, just hours before Bidens inauguration, Israel issued contracts for the controversial Givat HaMatos housing project in east Jerusalem. UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted today, "The decision to proceed with new settlements in Givat HaMatos separates Palestinians in east Jerusalem from Bethlehem, and threatens the viability of a two-state solution." The United States had not reacted to the move at time of publication.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High near 60F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low 43F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch.
On his last full day in office Tuesday, President Donald Trump commuted the prison sentence of a businessman who led what federal prosecutors described as the largest investment fraud in the history of the district of Oregon.

Jon Harder was founder and CEO of Sunwest Management, once the nations third-largest chain of assisted living homes. He was five years into a 15-year sentence when Trump commuted his sentence Tuesday, one of 143 people who received last-minute pardons or commutations.

In a statement, Trump said he was convinced to commute Harders sentence because of valuable assistance hed given to lawyers for his investors. President Trump commends Mr. Harder for choosing to put his employees, investors, and the senior citizens residing in Sunwests homes above himself, the president said in a Thursday press release.

In 2015, Harder pleaded guilty to two felony counts of money laundering and fraud. Hes done his time at the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan. The facility has a minimum-security wing where Portlands white-collar crooks generally seek to do their time.

Its unclear just when hell get out

Sunwest ran more than 300 assisted living centers at its peak. But rapid expansion and mismanagement left the company in a serious cash crunch. Prosecutors alleged that Harder misled investors to convince them to place more money with the firm.

In December 2012, federal prosecutors accused him of defrauding more than 1,000 investors out of about $130 million.

Prominent Portland attorneys and even a former federal judge who served as mediator in several civil suits against Harder have long argued that the 15-year sentence was excessive.

Michael Hogan, the retired chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Eugene, said Harders cooperation was key to the sale of Sunwests assets, which resulted in investors recovering more than anticipated from the firm.

Harders cooperation was against his substantial financial and penal interests, Hogan wrote. The Trump administration cited Hogans remarks when announcing Harders commutation.

When Sunwest crashed and burned, the safe thing for Harder to do was to keep his mouth shut for fear that anything he said could be used against him, his lawyers said.

He had the right to refuse to give testimony and he declined to exercise that right in favor of giving candid and complete information and explanations to the end of unraveling the transactions and making investors whole, said Bob Miller, a Portland attorney who represented Harder in the civil litigation.

Ford Elsaesser, a Boise attorney active in the Sunwest case, said he always thought Harder got the 15-year sentence partly out of prosecutors and judges frustration with the lack of criminal prosecutions in the years after the Great Recession.

Harders sentencing came in 2015, by which time it was abundantly clear that there would be no ambitious federal criminal takedown of the major executives whose reckless lending fueled the economic collapse of 2008.

I think people were looking to punish someone for what happened during the mortgage crisis, Elsaesser said.

Not everyone agrees. Mike Esler, another Portland lawyer who represented investors in the case, said the commutation was a travesty of justice. Harder continued to raise money from unsuspecting investors even after it was clear that there was no pulling out from Sunwests nosedive, according to Esler, adding that Harder misled investors and endangered the elderly residents in Sunwests assisted living centers.

Federal prosecutors sought and received a 15-year sentence for Harder. Allan Garten, the former federal prosecutor who led the case, pointed out in the governments sentencing memorandum that Harder deceived his investors and decimated their savings. At the same time, the government alleged that Harder refused to provide personal financial information to the government.

Garten, who is now retired, reserved his most vehement criticism for Trump.

We fully discharged our obligation and the judge fully discharged his obligation, Garten said. It does not surprise me in the slightest that Trump would fail in discharging his. That he commuted the sentence without consideration to the victims is consistent with his behavior in his four years in office.

Jeff Manning

jmanning@oregonian.com

971-263-5164
Posted Wednesday, January 20, 2021 4:34 pm

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlifes (WDFW) is launching a new fish, wildlife and natural resource-themed lesson program for youth during a live online event Friday.

The Wild Washington program currently consists of a series of 14 lessons, with a new lesson released on the WDFW website each Friday through June 11. Lessons are available for three different student grade levels: third through fifth, sixth through eighth and ninth through 12th.

Wild Washington lessons are developed for teachers, homeschool parents, youth groups and informal learning experiences. The first lesson, Beavers, Natures Engineers, will be broadcast at 10 a.m. on Jan. 22. Students will have the opportunity to engage with a WDFW wildlife conflict specialist who helps beavers and landowners coexist.

Getting kids connected to nature is key to protecting the future health of our waterways, landscapes, fish and wildlife, WDFW Director Kelly Susewind said. The Wild Washington lessons are a way for us to help caregivers, community partners and schools bring natural science, which exists right on the other side of every window into the lives of todays youth, in relevant, tangible and exciting ways.

Themed around the states diverse flora and fauna, Wild Washington lessons are designed to equip students with the knowledge, social and emotional skills needed to think critically, and problem solve around natural resource issues. Activities encourage students to explore various points of view and collaborate with others to find ways to move forward on real-world challenges.

Wild Washington lessons are interdisciplinary and align with the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instructions learning standards. Lessons have been modified for distance learning but have also been developed for use in the classroom.

For more information and to participate in the live events, visit wdfw.wa.gov/get-involved/environmental-education-curriculum.
A Mount Greenwood bar and restaurant that hosted a rally for former President Donald Trump in November has been closed indefinitely by Chicagos department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection after violating COVID-19 restrictions by holding an indoor gathering last weekend with 99 people, city officials said Thursday.
WASHINGTON  Vice President Kamala Harris represented the march of history when she was sworn in Wednesday by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. As a Californian of Jamaican and Indian descent, she is the first woman and the first woman of color to hold the nations second-highest office.

It was a landmark moment. But just hours later, Harris was on the job, returning to the U.S. Capitol to execute her constitutional role as president of the Senate and swear in three new Democratic senators: Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, the two Democrats elected in a Georgia special election this month, and Alex Padilla, her own successor to the California seat she resigned Monday.

Presiding in the Senate shortly before 5 p.m., Harris was visibly amused as she announced that she would swear in Padilla to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California.

At that, she let loose a hearty laugh. Yes, that was very weird! she added.

The light moment belied the serious stakes at play with the swearing in of three new Democrats. It also served notice of how important the Senate will be to the start of Harris tenure as vice president in the Biden administration.

50-50 split

With the Senate divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, and President Joe Biden hoping to pass ambitious legislation on the coronavirus, the economy, climate change and other policy matters, Harris  who as vice president will break any tiebreaking votes  may find herself returning often to the Capitol.

Theres definitely going to be a demand, I think, in a 50-50 Senate, like Ive never seen in the Senate before, said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.

For the Biden-Harris agenda, she will be in Congress very, very often or reaching out to senators very often to try to push that agenda through, Booker said.

An aide to Harris said that she had already begun reaching out to other senators about White House nominations, including that of retired Gen. Lloyd Austin III to be secretary of defense.

But Harris, 56, is sure to be far more than a 51st Democratic senator to Biden. She will bring to her history-making role at the White House an array of skills that Biden will draw on, including the prosecutorial chops that she displayed in Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, her personal energy that balances Bidens low-key approach and the voice she will offer to women and people of color.

Shell bring a justice lens, a racial justice lens, racial equity, to everything and every policy and every decision thats going to be made, said Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., a longtime ally of Harris. Thats so important, to have a Black woman, a South Asian womans perspective, on the big issues that this administration has to tackle.

Governing partner

Current and former aides to both Biden and Harris say that while dealing with the Senate will be important to her job, she has not been assigned a specific issue portfolio, at least at the outset, and will instead serve as a governing partner to Biden on all of his top priorities. If fulfilled, that mandate could make her among the most influential vice presidents in history.

In one sign of how much she may be involved in legislative campaigns, Harris has been in touch with mayors around the country to preview Bidens coronavirus relief package, the Harris aide said.

From the moment that Harris was chosen as Bidens running mate, Republicans sought to paint her as a radical who would co-opt the more centrist Biden agenda and push any administration far to the left, often relying on sexist personal attacks in the process. Yet while Harris and Biden had sharp disagreements on a number of issues during the primary, as his running mate she made a point at every turn to demonstrate that she not only embraced his agenda but also had studied his proposals in detail and was fully on board as his partner.

On Wednesday, she reveled in the moment as she appeared outside the Capitol for her inauguration. So proud of you, Former President Barack Obama told her as they fist-bumped shortly before her swearing-in. Minutes later, Harris, clad in a purple coat, barely suppressed a smile as she finished taking her oath from Sotomayor, her hand on a Bible once belonging to Thurgood Marshall, the former Supreme Court justice.

After the inaugural ceremony, Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, escorted her predecessor, Mike Pence, and his wife, Karen Pence, down the Capitol steps for Pences departure. The couples stopped midway for a friendly chat punctuated by laughter.

Inherent challenges

In her next role, though, Harris may face inherent challenges, including finding her place in a West Wing stocked with veterans of the Obama White House who have known and worked with one another for years and advising a president with deeply fixed ideas of how Washington operates. And given speculation that the 78-year-old Biden may not seek a second term in office, Harris, who mounted her own unsuccessful 2020 White House bid, is sure to face scrutiny about her electoral future much earlier than did her predecessors.

One factor that may work in Harris favor is Bidens own experience as vice president, especially at the beginning, when he joined an Obama White House team that at times had a clubby quality. Harris allies hope and expect that Biden  and many of the aides who worked with him, like the incoming chief of staff, Ron Klain  will remember what it was like to be on the other side and ensure that Harris and her team are included and empowered.

So many people in the Biden orbit are sympathetic to what its like to sit on the OVP side, said Liz Allen, a former campaign aide to Harris and to Biden in the Obama White House, using the official abbreviation for the Office of the Vice President. I think people are going to be jumping through hoops to make sure she can break through.Harris and Biden bring starkly different political profiles to the new administration. When Biden walks into the White House on Wednesday, he will be returning to a building he knows intimately from eight years as vice president and countless visits during a 36-year Senate career. Harris, who was in the Senate for less than one term, has had far less exposure to the inner workings of a presidential administration.

Their differences in many ways flip the dynamic that existed between Biden and former President Barack Obama. Back then, Obama was a young, relative newcomer to the capital seeking experience and credibility with working-class white America. Biden, a Beltway veteran, was his West Wing partner.

In this case, Harris will play the role of relative Washington newcomer and offer Biden, the consummate insider, a starkly different perspective on the world and a bridge to a diverse nation.

Sometimes she may also offer him a decisive vote. Although the Senate filibuster means that much legislation requires 60 votes to pass, Biden and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who will become the Senate majority leader, may turn to the parliamentary tactic of budget reconciliation, which prohibits the filibuster and allows for 51-vote approvals.

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said he hoped that Harris would wind up less as the tiebreaking vote but more as a consensus-builder to help Biden win bipartisan majorities for his agenda. But bipartisanship has been in short supply, and Democrats expect Biden to operate on narrow legislative margins.

If not, she will indeed have to be a regular presence in the Senate, Coons allowed.

As vice president, Biden himself cast no tiebreaking votes. But Vice President Mike Pence was required to break deadlocks 13 times over the past four years.

More broadly, Biden will most likely feel that he needs little guidance in the workings of an institution where he served for so long and where Harris spent just four years. But Harris has relationships with newer members of the Senate with whom Biden did not overlap.

One early task for Harris will be ramping up her national security expertise. Aides say that she will support Bidens broader agenda of reengaging with allies, dealing with the challenges China presents and combating climate change. But she is likely to pay particular interest to certain issues, including global health and democracy, and human rights. Harris also has a strong interest in cybersecurity, informed by her service on the Senates Intelligence and Homeland Security committees.Biden has suggested that he sees himself as a bridge to the next generation of leaders  and many Democrats expect that Harris would be a part of that next generation. If Biden does not run again, Harris would almost certainly be considered the early Democratic front-runner for 2024.

Robert Shrum, who served as a top political strategist to former Vice President Al Gore, whose presidential aspirations during President Bill Clintons second term were widely understood, said that Harris should focus only on serving Biden, not pursuing an independent political profile.

I think she will be very careful to do her job as vice president, and unless and until he tells her and tells the country that hes not ready to run again, shes not going to focus on that at all, Shrum said.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- The 10 millionth complete vehicle of Great Wall Motor (GWM) rolled off the production line at the automaker's Xushui plant on Jan. 19, making GWM the first SUV-/pickup-focused Chinese automaker achieving such a remarkable output volume.



GWM's 10 millionth vehicles coming off assembly line



The significant vehicle is a third-generation Haval H6 SUV. It has been collected and exhibited by Beijing Auto Museum. The first-generation hit the market in 2011 and became the best-selling SUV model by monthly sales for the first time in September 2012. As of Jan. 2021, the Haval H6 had been crowned the No.1 SUV model in China for 80 months in total.

GWM has four auto brands, namely Haval, WEY, ORA and Great Wall Pickup. The company said Haval has been ranking first among Chinese SUV brands for 11 consecutive years with over 6.5 million vehicles sold worldwide. Embodying GWMs ambition to move upscale, WEY is the first Chinese premium SUV marque that hits the 400,000-unit sales milestone. The BEV-focused ORA is among the first-tier domestic NEV brands. Besides, GWMs pickups accounted for nearly 50% of China's pickup sales last year and have accumulated nearly 1.9 million users across the world.



With Baoding as its headquarters, GWM has successively built international R&D centers in ten cities of seven countries including Japan, the U.S., Germany, India, Austria and South Korea. Under the guidance of the goal of transforming to a global mobility technology company, GWMs has also formed a 12+5 global production layout, namely 12 complete vehicle manufacturing bases and 5 knock down kits factories. Moreover, it has to-date deployed 500 plus sales outlets in more than 60 countries, such as Russia, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia.
London: Post-Brexit Britain plans to downgrade the status of the European Union's first ambassador to the UK, treating it now as an international organisation rather than a country.

Britain's Government has rejected EU demands to offer Joao Vale de Almeida the trappings of statehood, drawing the ire of Brussels and some Tory MPs, who branded the decision "petty".

European Union Ambassador to Britain Joao Vale de Almeida. Credit:AP

London said he would be afforded similar privileges, such as diplomatic immunity and passports. A senior Government source said: "The EU views itself as a state. The UK believes it is an international organisation. Someone in the EU's mission has got the huff and briefed a load of fake news about how he won't have the same privileges as others - he will, his team will and so will the EU's office in the UK."

Senior figures in government believe the row is more about bruised egos, as representatives of international organisations do not get to present their credentials to the Queen as ambassadors do.
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The Kano State Government on Wednesday pulled down an apartment in which the police arrested suspected kidnappers holding a victim there.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the police on Wednesday paraded the suspected kidnappers, including a widow.

Officials of the Kano Urban Development Agency (KNUPDA) supervised and armed security agents watched as a bulldozer pulled down the building located at Jaba quarters in Ungogo Local Government Area of Kano.

The exercise was also witnessed by a large crowd of residents, who cheered while the bulldozer flattened the structure.

Officials said the development would send a message to residents to be watchful over their communities and for homeowners to be careful in renting out their apartments.

How I rented the apartment  Kidnap suspect

The suspect, Maryam Mohammed, 23, told reporters that she started kidnapping by abducting her former boyfriend who had deceived and refused to marry her after a prolonged courtship.

She said she was introduced into criminality by her uncle, Hamza Dogo, also from Zamfara, after she had parted ways with her former boyfriend.

The first person we kidnapped was my ex-boyfriend who refused to marry me, she said.

After he had dumped me, my uncle asked me to bring him so that we could hold him until he paid money before we would release him.

When we kidnapped him, his family paid N5million to secure his freedom and out of that amount I was given N800,000 with which I rented that house at Jaba quarters, the widow said.

However, the police said preliminary investigation revealed that Ms Muhammed is the widow of Sani Ismail of Bidda LGA of Niger State.

The police said Mr Ismail was a notorious cattle rustler killed in Butsa village of Gusau LGA of Zamfara State while carting away rustled cows.

Arrest

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how the police in Kano paraded a 23-year-old widow and three other accomplices, allegedly operating in Kano and Zamfara states.

The police spokesperson said the police raided the apartment and rescued the kidnapped victim unhurt.
Maurice Boschetti and Silvia Boschetti Maurice Boschetti is one of the top premier brokers in South Florida luxury real estate, closing numerous multi-million dollar deals in the past few years.

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The country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Thursday announced that it has surpassed the 100-million (10 crore) mark in cumulative manufactured units with the launch of Xtreme160R.

The launch took place from the company's Haridwar facility, it added.

"This is also the 20th consecutive year that Hero MotoCorp has retained the coveted title of the worlds largest manufacturer of two-wheelers," the company said in a regulatory filing.

The two-wheeler company also claimed that the launch of its latest bike is one of the fastest global achievements of the 100 million cumulative production mark, with the last 50 million units coming in a span of seven years.

To mark the occasion, Pawan Munjal, Chairman & CEO, Hero MotoCorp, unveiled six special celebration edition models at the companys manufacturing facility at Gurugram. The six celebration edition models include Splendor+, Xtreme 160R, Passion Pro, Glamour (motorcycles) and Destini 125, Maestro Edge 110 (scooters)  that will go on sale from February 2021.

Munjal also outlined Hero MotoCorps plans and vision for the next five years.

During this timeframe, Hero MotoCorp will aim to further consolidate its leadership position, expand its global footprint, launch products and also work on new innovative product concepts, the company stated.

The two-wheeler manufacturing company will introduce over 10 products  including variants, refreshes and upgrades - every year  as a part of its five-year plan.

"Hero MotoCorp also has a steep growth target for its markets outside India. It will continue to grow its operations in these markets and also enter key markets in new geographies," the company stated.

Road to 100 Million, a factbox:

-1994  First Million

-2001  Five Million

-2004  10 Million

-2008  25 Million

-2013  50 Million

-2017  75 Million

-2021  100 Million

Hero MotoCorp currently sells its products in more than 40 countries across Asia, Africa, West Asia, and South and Central America. The company has eight manufacturing facilities, including six in India, and one each in Colombia and Bangladesh.

In addition to this, Hero MotoCorp reinforced its presence in Central America by appointing new distributor partners in Nicaragua and Honduras, with aggressive expansion plans for both countries.

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Good Grief: Terra Carta, a Proposed Magna Carta for Nature

Commentary

Should the Mississippi River be allowed to sue farmers to prevent them from using its water? Should the law permit Californias redwood trees to litigate against timber companies? Should mountains be able to obtain injunctions to stop ore mining or reindeer to prevent pipelines from being built?

If you think these are ridiculous notions, I agree. But if you also think that such radical laws will never be enacted, you havent heard of the nature rights movement, a growing campaign promoted by misanthropic environmentalists to grant human-type rights to nature.

Who would support such a thing? Well, Prince Charles, for one. He recently issued the Terra Cartameaning Earth Chartera radical environmental manifesto that he says is patterned after the Magna Carta of 1215.

Terra Carta seeks to do for nature what the Magna Carta accomplished for the development of what we now call human rights.

Magna Carta inspired a belief in the fundamental rights and liberties of people, the proposed earth charter states. As we strive to imagine the next 800 years of human progress, the fundamental rights and value of Nature must represent a step-change in our future of industry and future of economy approach.

What does that even mean? Hint: It isnt simply about preventing pollution.

The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) has defined natures rights as: Nature, where life is reproduced and exists, has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles, structure, function and its processes in evolution.

Think deeply about what that definition encompasses. The right to exist, persist, and regenerate vital cycles is the equivalent of a right to life. Moreover, the idea goes far beyond passing laws to conserve resources and prevent pollution. Granting rights to natures would, at the very least, make the supposed rights of birds and the bees, the flowers and the trees coequal to those of humans. And, as we shall see, they would also apply to geological features like rivers and mountains.

Heres the beauty part for radical environmentalists. Such laws would be enforced in court by anyone who believes that natures rights are being violated. In other words, nature rights laws would grant the most radical green ideologues legal standing to use courts to impede any project they oppose.

That would bring human enterprise that makes use of natural resources to a screeching halt. Think about it: What company is going to pursue large-scale development projects knowing they can be sued even if they overcome regulatory obstacles? Kiss pipelines, fracking, mining, and timber harvesting goodbye.

Nature rights also would fit snugly into the Great Reset, by which the Davos crowd intend to remake capitalism into an arm of environmental governance to fight global warming and otherwise save the planet. Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, identified the Great Resets goal as universally revamping all aspects of our societies and economies with every industry, from oil and gas to tech, transformed.

What would accomplish that hubristic objective more efficiently than making millions of people potential litigants against earth-harming industries? Talk about a radical lawyers full employment plan!

Terra Carta would interpose similar radical agendas into the business plans of all major industries by embedding a Nature, People & Planet orientation, including 100 percent clean energy operations, into corporate vision and mission statements, operations, financing, reporting, consumer communications, procurement and supply chains.

Also, engaging board members, employees, shareholders and consumers in an ongoing improvement dialogue around ESG [environmental and social governance], transition roadmaps, sustainability priorities, game changers and reporting on sustainability targets.

The charter also endorses making sustainability the responsibility of the entire management team. To say the least, free enterprise would no longer be free, or in many cases, profitable.

Theyll never go along, say you? Wrong. Terra Carta has already been endorsed by Bank of America, BP, Blackrock, andtotally missing the ironyHeathrow Airport!

It isnt just Prince Charles. Pope Francis is on board with nature rights (as well as ecocide that would criminalize large-scale enterprise). Former U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also endorsed granting rights to nature. Demonstrating how ideological the science intelligentsia is becoming, Sciencethe most prestigious scientific journal in the worldpublished a piece wholeheartedly endorsing the concept.

On the political side, the Florida Democratic Party recently added nature rights to its policy platform. Since Democrats follow the no enemies on the left strategy, that could mean it will soon be incorporated into the national partys radical environmental agenda. And dont think the idea wont one day become part of the partys proposed Green New Deal.

While most people remain blissfully unaware of nature rights activism, the movement has made stunning inroads. Nature rights is the law in Bolivia and Ecuador. So far, four riversincluding the Amazonhave been declared rights-bearing entities. So have two glaciers.

Lake Erie was granted rights by voters in Toledo, necessitating Ohio to pass a law preempting the ordinance. More than 30 U.S. municipalities have also passed nature rights lawsusually in an attempt to impede fracking. But so did Santa Monica, which is notable, since there is no nature left in that highly developed city with the possible exception of the mackerel under the pier.

Nature rights would unleash a recessionary tsunami in the West. But it would have a particularly pernicious impact in the developing world, where granting equal rights to forests, valuable ores, rivers, swamps, and animal herdsall parts of naturewould thwart the ability of impoverished people to liberate themselves from destitution by harvesting earths bounty.

Any movement that puts the supposed rights of nature above the thriving of people can fairly be called anti-human. As for Prince Charless Terra Carta proposal, I say: Long live the queen!

Award-winning author Wesley J. Smith is chairman of the Discovery Institutes Center on Human Exceptionalism and author of The War on Humans.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 10:27:53|Editor: huaxia

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TEMA, Ghana, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Ghanaian police in the southern port city of Tema arrested 105 people on Wednesday over flouting the law on facemask wearing, local police said.

The move is to "enforce the directives on the observation of COVID-19 protocols," acting spokesperson for the Tema Regional Police Command Stella Dzakpasu said, urging the public to strictly adhere to the pandemic safety rules to curb the spread of the virus in the country.

According to the Ghana Health Service, the African country has seen an average of about 200 new daily infection cases, and the number of patients requiring hospitalization and intensive care is rising.

In his latest COVID-19 update Sunday, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo directed the security agencies to undertake random checks to ensure strict compliance to the safety protocols.

Ghana has a caseload of 58,431 infections with 55,899 recoveries and 358 deaths as of Wednesday. Enditem
Five people lost their lives in the fire that broke out at Terminal 1 gate of Serum Institute of India (SII)s facility in Pune, Maharashtra, on January 21, reported news agency PTI quoting fire officials.



Anguished by the loss of lives due to an unfortunate fire at Serum Institute of India. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest: PM Narendra Modi #SerumInstituteFire pic.twitter.com/JuiMTR4dar

 ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken cognizance of this unfortunate incident and said, "In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest".

Also Read: Fire breaks out again at SII building in Pune after 5 died in afternoon blaze

President Ramnath Kovind has as well expressed his grief for the families in mourning.

Chief Executive Officer Adar Poonawalla also expressed his condolences to the families.

We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed. January 21, 2021

While speaking to CNBC TV-18, he said priority products like Covishield, EPI vaccine will not suffer due to the fire, however, new product launches will be hit.

He said equipment worth hundreds of crores were damaged in the fire, and the company is expected to face revenue loss of more than Rs 1,000 crore over the next one to two years.

Serum Institute of India's building in Manjri (Pune) caught fire due to some ongoing welding work. Insulation material, which is inflammable, was kept near the work site. So far, 5 deaths have been reported: Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope pic.twitter.com/OTqhmuOLcr ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2021

"The Contractor's men were working on that floor (where the fire broke out) and when the fire brigade officials went there, they found five completely burnt bodies. 2 of them were from UP, 2 from Pune and 1 is from Bihar", said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

He also added that the place where the COVID vaccine is manufactured was not affected. He was informed that preparation was going on at that building (site of fire) was to make the Rotavirus vaccine.

No Impact on COVISHIELD Vaccine

Earlier, CEO Adaar Poonawalla had confirmed there has been no loss of any Covishield vaccine, despite a few floors being burnt down.

"I'd like to reassure all govts & public that there would be no loss of Covishield production due to multiple production buildings that I'd kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at Serum Institute of India," said Poonawalla on Twitter.

Six people rescued, prima facie cause seems to be an electric fault

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray had tweeted saying six people had been rescued and the prima facie cause of the fire seems to be an electric fault.

When the fire broke out, ten fire tenders were immediately were deployed to control the blaze.

Pune Municipal Corporations Chief Fire Officer told CNN News18 there were four people inside the building and three had been rescued. Large smoke was hampering the work of bringing the fire under control, the official added.

The fire continued to rage on the fourth and fifth floors of the 'Special Economic Zone 3' building inside the premises, reported news agency ANI.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Namrata Patil told PTI that the fire broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floor of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
WASHINGTON - Only six of the nine members of the Supreme Court attended President Joe Biden's swearing-in Wednesday, the first time in more than 20 years that not all of the justices witnessed the ceremony.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito, the court's three oldest, were the no-shows. "Several of the justices elected not to attend the inauguration ceremony in light of the public health risks posed by the COVID pandemic," Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg said in a statement.

The justices have not conducted business in person since March - holding private conferences and oral arguments via teleconference - although they gathered at a memorial service for the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in September.

Chief Justice John Roberts for the fourth time, administered the oath of office to the president-elect. But he has yet to see a supporter on the other side of the Bible.

President Barack Obama, whom Roberts swore in twice, voted against his confirmation to the Supreme Court in 2005. So did Biden. And President Donald Trump, to whom Roberts administered the oath in 2017, made clear during the campaign that he considered Roberts a "disaster."

The relationship during that presidency was a rocky one, and the chief justice had the chore of presiding over Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate.

But the theme of Biden's inaugural address was putting differences aside, and the new president may have warmer thoughts these days for Roberts, who turns 66 next week. Roberts was the deciding vote to save Obamacare, the chief domestic accomplishment of the Obama-Biden administration.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina on the Supreme Court, swore in Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman to hold the job. Sotomayor did the same for then-Vice President Biden in 2013.

Also in attendance was Justice Elena Kagan, nominated by Obama, and all three of Trump's selections for the court: Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

That presented more opportunities for awkwardness: They were seated behind Harris, who vigorously opposed all three. In particular, she conducted a heated grilling of Kavanaugh that thrilled liberals and deeply angered conservatives.

As a team, former senators Biden and Harris voted against six of the nine justices on the current court.

That might explain some of the no-shows.

Breyer, 82, is probably friendly with the new president; Breyer once served as a Senate lawyer and was nominated to the court by President Bill Clinton. The justice has spent most of the time since the court stopped meeting in person at his home in Massachusetts.

Thomas, 72, and Alito, 70, are a different story.

Biden attempted to filibuster Alito's nomination and said President George W. Bush's choice was too conservative to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who at the time was the Supreme Court's pivotal justice.

Biden has even more history with Thomas, who was confirmed when Biden was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Thomas's nomination was disrupted by allegations of sexual harassment leveled by Anita Hill, who previously had worked in government jobs with Thomas.

Thomas made clear in an autobiography, "My Grandfather's Son," that he did not consider Biden trustworthy.

And in a documentary released last year, Thomas said that Biden's questioning at the confirmation hearings on the esoteric subject of natural law was just an attempt to force Thomas into taking a position on the issue of abortion.

"I have no idea what he was talking about," Thomas says in the sympathetic film "Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words."

"I understood what he was trying to do. I didn't really appreciate it," he said.

Thomas was confirmed by a vote of 52-48 in 1991.

And the confirmation battle was equally bruising for Biden. Conservatives were outraged about the treatment of Thomas, a feeling that has only worsened with time, and liberals thought he did not do enough for Hill.

During the presidential campaign, that became a problem for Biden, and he reached out to Hill to express "his regret for what she endured."

The campaign apparently decided criticism from Thomas in the film was not a bad thing.

Asked by ABC News for a comment, the Biden campaign issued a statement: "Then-Senator Biden voted against Clarence Thomas in the Senate Judiciary Committee, he argued against him on the Senate floor, and he voted against his confirmation to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court. It is no surprise that Justice Thomas does not have a positive view of him."
Woodstock, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Joshua Gold Resources Inc. (OTC Pink: JSHG) an American gold and mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada, home to the three-billion-year-old Canadian Shield is pleased to announce that it has acquired a one hundred per cent (100%) interest in the "Hiltz" Property a gold prospect located in Asquith Township in Northern, Ontario approximately one hundred (100) miles North East of Sudbury Ontario.

The Hiltz property is eight claims covering, roughly, 350 acres in The Shining Tree gold camp. The Company paid the prospectors three hundred thousand (300,000) JSHG common shares in return for a one hundred per cent (100%) interest in the property. The prospectors retain a two per cent Net Smelter Royalty (2% NSR); the Company has the option to repurchase 1.5% or 75% of the total NSR for one million, five hundred thousand ($1,500,000 Canadian) at any time.

The property is within the Abitibi Greenstone Belt and is underlain by an early Archean metavolcanic sequence with a basal layer of pyroclastic and sediments, followed by a sequence of mafix tholeiitic, and an upper layer felsic metadata volcanics. Volcanics are intruded by later stage felsic units as well as diabase dykes. Gold mineralization in the area is characterized by shear or vein types characterized by a mesothermal gold mineralization model.



Hiltz Property Map



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6845/72533_c0b1005914406bde_001full.jpg

Ben Fuschino, CEO and a director of the Company comments, "We have been looking at the Shining Tree Gold camp region for several years and we are lucky to get the Hiltz property giving the Company additional holdings in this 'hot mining camp' area."

Joshua Gold Resources Inc. (OTC Pink: JSHG) a publicly traded American gold and mineral exploration company headquartered in Canada, home to the three-billion-year-old Canadian Shield which contains a wealth of minerals from nickel, gold, copper, cobalt, niobium to chromium. Please visit http://www.joshuagoldresources.com/ for more information.

Safe Harbor Statement: This press release contains forward looking statements of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Forward looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and results, and will not be accurate indications of the times, or by, which such performance will be achieved.

IR Contact: Wall Street Media Group,

(1)-833-906-0327 or info@Wallstreetmediagroup.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72533
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.
High Grade Gold Discovery Provides Catalyst for Exploration Spin Out

VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - KORE Mining Ltd. (TSXV: KORE) (OTCQX: KOREF) ("KORE" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that with respect to its special meeting of shareholders held today (the "Meeting"), all of the resolutions were duly passed, including the special resolution (the "Arrangement Resolution") to approve the proposed plan of arrangement (the "Arrangement") pursuant to which KORE will spin-out its British Columbia exploration assets to Karus Gold Corp. ("Karus Gold").

KORE CEO Scott Trebilcock commented, "With the recent high-grade gold discovery at FG Gold of 14.35 meters of 6.44 g/t gold and drill results across 1.8 kilometers of strike from 14 pending holes, Karus is strongly positioned to attract capital and generate significant value for shareholders. We are excited to see Karus' assets exposed to the valuation forces for a pure play explorer with high grade drill results in an excellent jurisdiction."

Pursuant to the Arrangement, the owners of common shares of KORE as of the close of business on the day before (anticipated to be January 22, 2021) the effective date of the Arrangement (anticipated to be January 25, 2021) will receive: (i) one-half of a common share of Karus Gold and (ii) one new common share of KORE, for each common share of KORE held on the day before the effective date of the Arrangement.

There is no change to a shareholder's ownership of KORE as a result of the completion of the Arrangement. The majority of shareholders (those who hold their shares through their broker) will receive their Karus shares with no further action. Please contact the Company if you do not get your Karus shares by mid-February. Further information on the Arrangement can be found on the Company's website www.koremining.com.

Mr. Trebilcock continued, "Karus Gold will now raise seed capital in a rights offering. This is a rare opportunity for shareholders to access seed round financing usually reserved for industry insiders. Karus then plans to list its shares on the TSX Venture Exchange later in the first half 2021, subject to regulatory approvals."

The Arrangement Resolution required and received approval by more than: (i) 662/3% of the votes cast by the KORE shareholders present in person or represented by proxy; and (ii) 50% of the votes cast by the KORE shareholders other than those required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101.

Closing of the Arrangement remains subject to final court approval as well as other customary closing conditions. Assuming the timely completion of these conditions, the Company expects the Transaction to close on January 25, 2021.

At the Meeting, KORE shareholders also approved: (i) the stock option plan for Karus Gold; (ii) the omnibus share compensation plan for Karus Gold; and (iii) the advance notice policy for Karus Gold.

This year, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Meeting was held by way of virtual only format whereby shareholders participated in the Meeting remotely. Voting for each of the resolutions was by ballot.

KORE wishes to clarify its Management Information Circular dated December 18, 2020 in connection with the Meeting (the "Circular"). The Circular referred to a "Distribution Record Date" to be on or about January 22, 2021. To clarify, the reference to this date is not a "record date" but an anticipated date for determining which KORE shareholders will be eligible to receive the consideration disclosed in the paragraph above, pending approval and completion of the Arrangement.

About KORE Mining

KORE is 100% owner of a portfolio of advanced gold exploration and development assets in California and British Columbia. KORE is supported by strategic investor Eric Sprott who owns 26% of KORE's basic shares. KORE management and Board are aligned with shareholders, owning an additional 38% of the basic shares outstanding. KORE is actively developing its Imperial and Long Valley gold projects and is aggressively exploring across its portfolio of assets.

Further information on the Arrangement and KORE can be found on the Company's website at www.koremining.com/Karus or by contacting us as [email protected] or 888-455-7620.

On behalf of KORE Mining Ltd

"Scott Trebilcock"

Chief Executive Officer

Karus Gold Spin Out Investor Support

David Jan

1-888-455-7620

[email protected]

KORE Investor Relations

Arlen Hansen, KIN Communications

1-888-684-6730

[email protected]

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and Karus Gold and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "plan", "should", "anticipate", "expects", "intends", "indicates" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company and Karus Gold are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the expected timeline and date of completion of the Arrangement, the ability of KORE to receive and obtain court approval, the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to closing of the Arrangement, the future listing of Karus Gold and the expected timeline and completion of the anticipated Karus rights offering. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed or that it will be completed on the terms and conditions contemplated in this news release. The Arrangement could be modified or terminated in accordance with its terms. Such forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business. Management believes that these assumptions are reasonable. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information.

Such factors include, among others: the Arrangement will be completed on the terms currently contemplated, the Arrangement will be completed in accordance with the timing currently expected without any undue delay, all conditions to the completion of the Arrangement will be satisfied or waived in due course and the Arrangement Agreement will not be terminated prior to the completion of the Arrangement, assumptions and expectations related to the trading price of KORE and the future listing of Karus Gold, and other expectations and assumptions concerning the Arrangement.

In addition to the above summary, additional risks and uncertainties inherent to the Company and its operations are described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019, prepared as of April 27, 2020, available under the Company's issuer profile on www.sedar.com. Other risks and uncertainties include, among other things: the Arrangement may not be completed on the terms, or in accordance with the timing currently contemplated, or at all; the Company and Karus Gold has incurred expenses in connection with the Arrangement and will be required to pay for those expenses regardless of whether or not the Arrangement is completed; the Company and Karus Gold may not be successful in satisfying the conditions to the Arrangement; the possibility of adverse reactions or changes in business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Arrangement; the failure to realize the expected benefits of the Arrangement; and other risks inherent to KORE's current business and/or factors beyond its control which could have a material adverse effect on KORE or the ability to consummate the Arrangement.

Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

SOURCE Kore Mining

Related Links

http://www.koremining.com


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By Emily Guerin and Jackie Fortier

In California, anyone over 65 years old can now receive a coronavirus vaccine. But L.A. County has far from enough doses for everyone who is eligible. That's because the county prioritizes those people getting second doses, so fewer people are receiving their first-round injection.

But scheduling a second dose has also proven to be complicated.

THE MATH BEHIND THE DOSES

L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said Wednesday that her department needs four million doses to vaccinate every resident currently eligible. Instead, the county has received less than 900,000 so far.

"This is what I mean by a serious supply problem," Ferrer told reporters. "We just are not receiving enough vaccine doses to move as quickly as we, and you, would like us to."

Currently, public health officials find out each Tuesday night or Wednesday morning how many doses of the vaccine they'll be sent by the state. Then, they calculate how many people need a second dose.

"Everybody who's given a first dose is guaranteed that they will get allocated that second dose," she said.

That means in a given week, the county may use nearly all its weekly vaccine allocation on second doses, leaving few appointments for new, first-time vaccinations.

Courtesy LA County Public Health

Next week, for example, the county will receive 143,900 doses. It is reserving 106,000 for second dose vaccinations. That leaves just 37,900 for new people to get vaccinated.

SECOND DOSE CONFUSION

Ferrer said most people should be given an appointment for their second dose when they go to get their first shot.

Got both doses at LAC+USC Medical Center. Dec 21st, Jan 11th.



During first dose I was given a card with the first dose date and the date to return for my second.  Glenn wears a mask  (@GlennC1) January 20, 2021

Indeed, many people LAist spoke with said they received a date and time for their second dose upon leaving the vaccination site. But others left their first appointment with no idea when, or how, to schedule their second injection.

Christina Camacho, an in-home supportive services caregiver for her grandmother, received her first dose of the Moderna vaccine at the city of L.A.'s Lincoln Park Recreation Center on Jan. 5.

While she was waiting in the recovery area, a nurse told her to scan a QR code taped to a wall. The code took her to a form on calvax.org, the state's vaccine scheduling portal, to make an appointment for her second dose on Feb. 2.

"It was so easy. Probably the easiest part of the entire process," she said.

But when Hal Tyler, a therapist in Glendale, received his first dose on Jan. 9 in San Fernando Park, he said no one told him how to make a second appointment.

No, they just told me to schedule later...I tried signing up for the notifications but not sure what to do, worried about getting an appointment now. Got it at a LAFD managed site in San Fernando.  Hal (@adapt_able) January 20, 2021

He happened to spot a QR code in the recovery area, scanned it, and was taken not to a second-dose appointment site, but to a CDC website called "V-Safe," where he signed up to receive texts about possible side effects of the vaccine. The website explicitly states it does not schedule appointments for follow-up doses.

Later, after Tyler started to worry, he attempted to make an appointment for a second dose through L.A. County's website, but all the appointments were taken.

Now, he's concerned he might not get one in time.

"I haven't seen anything about a second dose. And I don't know if there's more I have to do," he said.

Ferrer told reporters Wednesday that she's aware of people such as Tyler, who she described as part of "a small number" of healthcare workers who have been unable to schedule an appointment for their second dose. She said the county would contact them with a date to return for another dose.

OTHER COUNTIES

The confusion over second doses isn't limited to L.A. County's vaccination sites. LAist spoke with two Ventura County residents who weren't sure when to come back for a second dose.

I just scheduled my first dose today in Ventura county and through the process it seems like I have to schedule my own second dose. Its not automatically scheduled for me.  Lina  (@partclina) January 20, 2021

Eddie Garcia received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine on Jan. 12 through the Ventura hospital where he works, but hasn't heard anything about a second dose.

"I'm hoping that I will be contacted for the second dose the same way I was contacted for the first," he said. "If not, I guess I'll be in line with everyone else trying to get an appointment."

A spokesperson for Ventura County later explained to LAist that people who receive a first dose through a county site should check the email they used to register for a message about how to sign up for their second dose.

It's a similar situation in Orange County, where people who made an appointment for their first dose through the county's website, Othena.com, will receive an email 3-5 days before their second dose is due. They can choose a clinic location, time and date. County health officials say anyone who got a first dose elsewhere should contact that provider for information about a second dose.

PASADENA'S STRATEGY

Still other public health agencies are managing their second doses completely differently than L.A. County.

In Pasadena, which has its own public health department, everyone who receives the first dose of the Moderna vaccine at a city location is given an appointment 28 days later for a second dose, said the city's public information officer Lisa Derderian.

But unlike L.A. County, which prioritizes second doses at the expense of vaccinating new people, Pasadena is pushing first time doses out the door as fast as possible and betting that vaccine distribution will be ramped up in time to provide second doses to people who need them in a few weeks.

If Pasadena health officials lose that bet, Derderian said the city may need to contact people to delay their appointment.

Derderian said the city was waiting on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about how long they could delay a second dose.

Currently, the CDC states patients should get their second shot "as close to the recommended 3-week or 1-month interval as possible. However, there is no maximum interval between the first and second doses for either vaccine. You should not get the second dose earlier than the recommended interval."

Experts say people who only have one dose have much lower protection from the virus than if they had both of the doses.

Derderian said Pasadena chose to pursue this strategy to try to comply with Governor Newsom's mandate to make vaccines available to everyone over 65.

"We don't have a choice," Derderian said. The state, she added, is "telling you not to save for the second dose and use what you have on hand immediately."

In the meantime, Pasadena is asking the state for help by turning the Rose Bowl into a massive vaccine site.

2:12 p.m.: This article was updated with the information on Ventura County's process.

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Islamic State fighters temporarily capture Nigerian military base, force residents to flee

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Militants believed to be aligned with the Islamic State temporarily overran a town and military base near Lake Chad in Nigerias troubled Borno state, forcing many residents to flee for their lives as the rise of extremism continues to plague the northeast part of the West African country.

Brig. Gen. Sagir Musa, the director of the Nigerian Armys public relations unit, said in a statement shared by the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday that military troops were able to regain control of the Marte area of Borno following an attack by extremists believed to be affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province.

The attack, which security sources said was claimed by the Islamic State terrorist group through its Amaq News Agency, occurred Friday and drove military personnel from the area.

The Islamic State claimed to have killed seven people and captured one. The terror group also claimed that aligned fighters seized weapons, ammunition and at least six vehicles. The group additionally claimed to have burned down an Army barracks.

Reuters reports that the assault came about two months after residents, who had earlier been driven from their homes due to attacks by extremists, had returned home under a government program.

In a statement last weekend, the Nigerian Army said that its troops tactically withdrew in order to defend against an attack outside of Marte.

AFP notes that extremist fighters tried to attack Marte earlier last week but were repelled by military forces. The militants regrouped with more fighters for Fridays overnight raid. Sources stated that Fridays raid was seen as a fightback after military troops recently overran an ISWAP camp in Talala village.

In the Marte attack, sources told Reuters that most residents fled to the nearby Dikwa local government area or to Bornos capital, Maiduguri.

The Nigerian Army regained control of the military base on Sunday morning after what has been described as intense fighting, sources told AFP.

Musa told the media that the Air Task Force played a large role in pushing the terrorists out of the region, which included the destruction of seven militant gun trucks as well as the killing of several jihadis.

Sources confirmed on Sunday to AFP that jihadis had left the town. However, the sources confirmed that the militants reportedly burned the barracks and stole weaponry and vehicles.

Sources also confirmed that seven soldiers were killed and eight others were captured.

The attack comes as ISWAP, which split from Boko Haram in 2016 and is based in the Lake Chad area, continues to wreak havoc on communities in northeast Nigeria.

Along with ISWAP, the existence of Boko Haram, radical Fulani herders in Nigerias Middle Belt and armed bandits elsewhere in Nigeria have made life difficult and dangerous for many Nigerians.

The United Nations estimates that nearly 3 million Nigerians have been forced to flee from their homes due to the violence.

In December, the U.S. State Department under President Trump listed Nigeria on its list of countries of particular concern, a designation that identifies countries where governments tolerate or engage in violations of religious freedom.

A U.S.-led coalition largely eradicated the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria after the terrorist group gained control of large swaths of territory in those two countries. However, critics contend that the international community is not doing enough to combat the presence of Islamic State extremists who are terrorizing and expanding in Africa.

Various regions of Africa have noticed steep escalations in terrorism in recent years, such as the Sahel countries and Mozambique in southern Africa.

As estimates suggest that as many as 2,200 Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2020, Nigeria is ranked as the ninth-worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List.

More Christians are murdered for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country, an Open Doors factsheet reads. Violent attacks by Boko Haram, Hausa-Fulani Muslim militant herdsmen, ISWAP (an affiliate of the Islamic State group) and other Islamic extremist groups are common in the north and Middle Belt of the country, and are becoming more common farther south.
Experts generally agree that the federal government should be locking in purchases of as many doses as possible because no one knows yet how long the vaccines will protect against the coronavirus, whether booster shots will be required and what threats mutations of the virus could pose.

From April on, the supply outlook brightens. Pfizer and Moderna have each committed to supply another 100 million doses by the end of July, and the companies might be able to provide even more. A week ago, Pfizer and BioNTech, its German partner, increased their global production target for the year to two billion doses from 1.3 billion doses.

Pfizer has delayed deliveries to European countries while it retools its Belgium factory to expand production. But at the firms factory in Kalamazoo, Mich., which supplies doses for Americans, production has quickened since the federal government ordered suppliers to prioritize Pfizers needs. The unexpected discovery that efficient syringes could extract a sixth dose from its vials also increased Pfizers estimates.

Moderna has also raised its production targets for the year to 600 million doses from 500 million.

Johnson & Johnson is expected to announce results from its vaccine trial within days. If that vaccine proves effective, it may drastically speed up the pace of vaccinations because, unlike Modernas and Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccines, it requires only one dose. The company could apply for emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration as soon as the end of the month. While its manufacturing has lagged, Johnson & Johnson is trying to catch up to the goals detailed in the federal contract it signed last year.

The firm is now expected to deliver anywhere from several million to 12 million doses by the end of February, and 10 million to 20 million more doses at the end of March or the first week in April, according to several people familiar with the firms manufacturing output. The first batch will be produced at its Dutch factory, and later batches at a factory in Baltimore operated by its manufacturing partner, Emergent BioSolutions.

But to deliver the second batch that quickly, federal regulators may have to agree to delay certain manufacturing reviews of the vaccine from the Baltimore plant, according to people familiar with the situation. Those discussions are now underway.
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The Iranian regime's economy is suffocating, its banking system locked at the international level. Khamenei believes that any negotiation and moderation would mean an end to his nuclear ambitions and the export of regional terrorism, threaten his regimes survival and could swiftly lead to its overthrow.

The financial institutions affiliated with Khamenei and especially the IRGC, need to find other ways to launder money, circumvent sanctions, and evade the world banking system. Supporting their proxy forces in the region depends on keeping the money flowing. There is no centralized control over bitcoin, making it an attractive vehicle, but Iran hasnt got enough hard currency to buy a lot of it. Bitcoin cant be used to circumvent sanctions importing and exporting and unless two countries cooperate. Iran cooperates with China, Venezuela, Turkey, and several other countries on bitcoin transactions.

Enter bitcoin mining.

Tejerat News wrote last December that according to a study by the Iranian Research Center on Digital Currency, Iran ranks 3rd amongst countries that mine Bitcoin."

Mining bitcoins requires powerful dedicated servers called "miners." IRGC institutions have appropriated cheap subsidized agricultural electricity and with the help of the government plundered national wealth to build large sheds housing the mines. China has transferred its old equipment to Iran to make this possible. The energy consumption level of these mining farms is so high that each consumes as much electricity as a small town. The government and the IRGC, who think only of their own interests and profit, also cut the electricity quota of the cities to keep their money-making facilities alive.

Aftab Yazd Newspaper on January 13 wrote, The General Manager of International Affairs of Tavanir Company said; One of the factors that has increased electricity consumption is the illegal mining centers (bitcoin or digital currency) and we have identified about 1,600 unauthorized centers so far. Meanwhile the official Fars News Agency downplayed the impact: Tavanir Company's action was taken in a situation where some media outlets had previously stated that bitcoin mining was the cause of power outages. But, the total electricity consumption of bitcoin mining is 600 MW, which is less than 1.5% of the average daily electricity consumption in December.

According to BBC Persian in July of last year, the police force has imported more than 16,000 miner servers.

The Chinese have built a 175-megawatt bitcoin mine in Rafsanjan Special Economic Zone, near the 230 kV ferrochrome transmission lines and substation. They have located other mines in various areas of Iran. In the first phase, 10,000 M3 devices with very low efficiency were turned on and were charged the cheapest electricity tariff, at the same subsidized rate as agriculture.

As a result of this power grab, electricity has been cut off in many cities and citizens have suffered many problems. Power outages in Iranian cities are directly related to bitcoin mining. Of course, bitcoin mining is prohibited for ordinary citizens, being reserved only for the IRGC and the financial institutions of the Supreme Leader. Ali Moayedi, head of the Anti-smuggling of goods and foreign currency Headquarters, announced in July 2019, "Activities related to digital currencies mining are illegal in Iran." The IRGC and its Basij force confiscate and seal Bitcoin mining sites operated by citizens, leaving them exclusively at the IRGC's own disposal.

The Zeitoun website wrote: "In recent weeks, the price of bitcoin in the Iranian open market has again hit a record high and reached $ 40,000. Bitcoin has increased by 300% compared to 9 months ago. At least one of the main reasons for a sudden shortage of natural gas to generate electricity needed for public thoroughfares in the capital could be the sudden increase in mitcoins value."

Bitcoin mining projects have led to an increase in electricity consumption and its immediate impact on the country's electricity network has led to power outages in many cities across the country. This has forced those involved to use mazut instead of natural gas, which has increased air pollution.

In fact, the IRGC takes cheap agricultural subsidized electricity from citizens and in return gives back pollution, disease, and death to them. As a result, the death rate and incidence of respiratory and mental illnesses have risen sharply among the population.

Thus, the mullahs regime manages its economic stalemate by establishing digital farms, which are largely owned by the IRGC, by plundering people's electricity, causing air pollution, and impeding people from breathing. This factor will quickly lead to popular protests, which the regime is deeply afraid of in the current explosive conditions of Iranian society.

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On his last full day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order the White House said was aimed at preventing foreign malicious cyber-actors from using U.S. online infrastructure to carry out their activities.

The order, which provides the Commerce Department with the authority to impose record-keeping obligations on foreign transactions, is viewed as a response to the recent hacking campaign that infected software from SolarWinds Corp. and targeted organizations including government agencies.

Foreign malicious cyber-actors threaten our economy and national security through the theft of intellectual property and sensitive data, and by targeting United States critical infrastructure, National Security Advisor Robert OBrien said in a statement. He said abuse of American infrastructure service products  such as those offered by cloud outfits like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure  had played a role in every cyber incident during the last four years, including the actions resulting in the penetrations of United States firms FireEye and Solar Winds.

The order also grants powers to ban or impose conditions on foreigners opening or maintaining accounts with American firms within the U.S. if they are found to be involved in malicious cyber-activity.

It was a much-needed step, unfortunately it takes a significant and public compromise like the SolarWinds breach into U.S. government infrastructure to drive change like this, said Jon DiMaggio, chief security strategist at Analyst1, a cyber-threat analysis firm in Reston, Virginia.

It certainly isnt the first time supply chain attacks have happened, nor is it the first time the U.S. government has been aware of the problem. Its about time we started looking past the vendor cost to determine what technology we allow to support critical government infrastructure, he said.

The order allows the Commerce Department to block American infrastructure firms from operating in countries where those products are used for malicious cyber-activity, either by individuals or if the countrys own government is a source of that activity.

The order also grants powers to ban or impose conditions on foreigners opening or maintaining accounts with American firms within the U.S. if they are found to be involved in malicious cyber-activity.

The Commerce Department is tasked with proposing regulations within six months of the order being issued, but it isnt clear that the incoming administration led by Joe Biden will implement it.

I could see them adding a comment period or something from the impacted companies, said Alex Stamos, a Stanford University professor helping SolarWinds recovery efforts after its breach, who had served as chief security officer at Facebook until 2018. Biden might just wholesale wipe out every executive order too.

In December, Austin, Texas-based SolarWinds found itself at the center of the largest cyber-security attack in recent memory. Suspected Russian hackers breached the internal networks of at least 200 customers, including U.S. government agencies and an as-yet-unknown number of private companies, a cyber-security firm and people familiar with the investigation told Bloomberg News.

In an operation that cyber-security experts have described as exceedingly sophisticated and hard to detect, the hackers installed malicious code in updates to SolarWinds widely used Orion software, which was sent to as many as 18,000 customers.

With assistance from Kartikay Mehrotra.

Top Photo: A person types at a backlit keyboard arranged in Danbury, U.K., on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. In the spring, hackers managed to insert malicious code into a software product from an IT provider called SolarWinds Corp., whose client list includes 300,000 institutions. Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics USA
(Photo : Screenshot From Gateway to Knowledge YouTube) Digital Reconstruction Looks at on Dinosaur Butts for the Very First Time

For the first time ever, a group of scientists that were led by the official University of Bristol have been able to describe in detail what a dinosaur's cloacal or vent is like. The cloacal is said to be an all-purpose opening that the dinosaurs use for breeding, urination, and defecation.





According to the story by Bristol.ac.uk, Although most mammals usually have different openings for these different functions, most of the vertebrate animals actually possess a cloaca. Although most people know dinosaurs and their own appearance as usually feathered, horned, and scaly creatures as well as which colors they were, there aren't many findings regarding their vents and how they look like.

A Dr. Jakob Vinther coming from the School of Earth Sciences over at the University of Bristol along with some colleagues namely a palaeoartist, Robert Nicholis, and an expert in vertebrae penesis and copulatory systems coming from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have finally described the first ever cloacal vent region. The description hailed from a smaller Labrador-sized dinosaur known as the Psittacosaurus and its vents were compared to other vents across the more modern vertebrate animals that are living on land.

Dinosaur butt

Dr. Vinther stated that he had noticed the cloaca some time several years ago after they had finally reconstructed the color patterns of the particular dinosaure. They were able to do so using a really remarkable fossil on display coming from the Senckenberg Museum located in Germany which has clearly preserved its skin and its color patterns, according to Eurekalert.org.

Dr. Vinther noted that it took a while before they were able to get around in order to finish it off because not a lot of people cared about comparing the cloacal's exterior of living animals to those of dinosaurs. He then described it as "largely uncharted territory." Dr. Kelly then added that they are still non-descripent and that they found that the vent does look quite different in a number of groups of tetrapods. Most of the cases, it actually does not tell much regarding the animal's sex.

Read Also: Rare Metal In Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid May Kill Cancer Cells

Dinosaur cloacal or vent

It was also noted that the distinguished features are all tucked inside the cloaca and that they are not preserved within the fossil, unfortunately. The cloaca is said to be unique in appearance but certain exhibit features that are reminiscent to the living crocodylians like crocodiles and alligators, which are known as the closest living relatives of ancient dinosaurs and even other birds.

The researchers also note that the outer margins of the inspected cloaca are said to be highly pigmented with melanin. They now argue that this particular pigmentation had provided the vent along with a function in display and certain signalling that was similar to the living baboons as well as a few breeding salamanders. Authorities now speculate that the bigger, pigmented lobes located on either side of the opening could even have harboured certain musky scent glands like the living crocodylians.

The images of the cloacal butt can be seen on Cell.com.

Related Article: Is Water Made Out of Dinosaur's Pee? Scientists Claim 100% Probability

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Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Astronomers Heino Falcke of Radboud University and Sheperd Doeleman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics will jointly receive the Henry Draper Medal for their pioneering work, which led to the first image of a black hole. The medal is awarded every four years by the American National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and is presented with a $25,000 prize. It is the first time in 65 years that a Dutch astronomer will receive this special award.

The Henry Draper Medal honours a recent, original investigation in astronomical physics. It is the oldest NAS prize and was first awarded in 1886. Since that time, 54 scientists have received the medal, including eight Nobel Prize winners.

This is the third time that a Dutch astronomer will receive the award. In 1955, Dutch astronomer Hendrik van der Hulst was honoured for the discovery of the 21 cm radiation of cosmic hydrogen. Pieter Zeeman was honoured in 1921 for the discovery of the Zeeman Effect.

Falcke and Doeleman are both founders of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) consortium that published the first photograph of a black hole in 2019. The NAS writes in their award statement: "Both scientists are pivotal in realizing the image of the supermassive black hole in the M87 galaxy, supporting Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Their work has attracted both scientific and public interest."

In 2000, Falcke coined the term "shadow of the black hole" to describe the effect of the bending of light by the black hole, and predicted that it must be possible to image a black hole with the use of radio telescopes. He envisioned a network of high-frequency radio telescopes connected to each other across the world to do this.

"Naturally, I am very thankful and proud to receive such a prestigious award. It is a very unique and rare prize that feels to me a bit like an Olympic medal. A lot of pioneering research has been released since the publication of the image which means that we now have an even better understanding of gravity around a supermassive black hole," says Heino Falcke. "In the end, we have only been able to get this result through the collaborative effort of the whole team."

The EHT is an example of an achievement by a global team that required a close collaboration between researchers from all over the world. 13 partner institutes worked together to establish the EHT, including Radboud University. From the Netherlands astronomers from the University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, and JIVE are also involved in the project, as well as the NOVA submm group of the University of Groningen. This was initially made possible via the BlackHoleCam project which is funded by the European Research Council (ERC).

Other Awards

The EHT has been awarded many prizes and honourable mentions. It previously received the Breakthrough Prize, the "Oscar of the Sciences", and it was mentioned in Time magazine's year in review. The team was awarded the 2020 Bruno Rossi Prize by the American Astronomical Society. It recently also received the British Royal Astronomical Society Group Achievement Award. For the EHT, Heino Falcke and Shep Doeleman will jointly receive the Einstein Medal from the Einstein-Gesellschaft in Bern when the coronavirus pandemic is over.

The 2021 Henry Draper Medal ceremony will be held on 25 April. This can be watched on a live stream.

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SECRETARY OF STATE: Anthony Blinken

CONFIRMED Obama's deputy national security advisor then deputy secretary of state with long history as a Democratic staffer including for then senator-Biden. Fluent in French having been brought up partly in Paris, he is stepson of a Holocaust survivor.

SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: Janet Yellen

CONFIRMED First woman to chair the Federal Reserve becomes first woman to run the Treasury. Harvard then Berkeley academic who chaired Bill Clinton's council of economic advisers before holding series of Federal Reserve roles, and whose research is in labor markets.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Lloyd Austin

CONFIRMED Retired four-star general who led CENTCOM, the military command which covers the Middle East before retiring in 2016. Led troops in combat in Iraq and is now the first black Pentagon chief. Had to get waiver to join cabinet because military are supposed to wait seven years.

SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Alejandro Mayorkas

Cuban-born Mayorkas would be first Latino to lead Homeland Security. He was Obama's deputy secretary of Homeland Security and a former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Was the main architect of DACA, the program for illegal immigrants who arrived as children.

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Merrick Garland

Federal appeals court judge who Obama nominated to the Supreme Court only to have Republicans refuse to even hold a hearing. Was a career federal prosecutor whose cases included civil rights, Marion Barry's cocaine possession and the Oklahoma City bombing. Was appointed to the federal appeals being by Clinton and from 2013 to 2020 was chief judge of the D.C. circuit, seen as the second most important circuit in the judiciary.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Xavier Becerra

Currently California's attorney general and a former congressman. Surprise pick led litigation at Supreme Court to keep Obamacare from being struck down and pushed for single-payer healthcare while in Congress. Born to Mexican immigrants and first in family to attend college.

SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Marcia Fudge

Former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus a long-term Biden ally and also campaigned for Kamala Harris during her failed presidential run. Seven-term north-east Ohio rep will have to leave the House, slimming an already wafer-thin Democratic majority but her district is heavily Democratic

SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION: Pete Buttigieg

Former mayor of South Bend Indiana and surprise Democratic star when he ran for president, Buttigieg at 38 is youngest nominee so far. Would make history as first openly gay cabinet secretary confirmed by Senate. Infrastructure is key area for seeking bipartisan support for Biden and moderate Buttigieg is seen as able to make overtures to Republicans.

SECRETARY OF ENERGY: Jennifer Granholm

Michigan's first female governor who served two terms in the battleground state, from 2003 to 2011, where she pushed green energy and worked with Biden on the bailout of the auto industry. The moderate has been a CNN commentator during the Trump years and helped Biden with debate prep when he faced off with Sarah Palin.

SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: TOM VILSACK

Only nominee who held the same role in the Obama administration. Vilsack was an Iowa politician and governor who ran his own 2008 bid for the presidency then got behind Hillary Clinton when it failed. Since the end of the Obama administration he has been president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the agriculture lobbyist.

SECRETARY OF LABOR: MARTY WALSH

Currently the mayor of Boston, Walsh served in the House from 1997 until 2014 and will be Biden's ambassador to the organized labor. He was both a member of the Massachusetts House and head of the Boston Building Trades.

SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: DENIS MCDONOUGH

McDonough was an aide to Biden in the Senate in the 1990s and a longterm foreign policy aide, including to Obama during his presidential campaign. He held a series of National Security Council roles, and was then White House chief of staff for Obama's second term. He will be only second non-veteran to run the VA.

WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: Ron Klain

One of Biden's longest-standing aides. Most recently was Ebola czar at the tail-end of the Obama administration and was both Al Gore and Joe Biden's chief of staff when they were vice president. Veteran fixer has alternated Democratic government service with lobbying and lucrative advisory roles.

UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR: Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Career diplomat spent 35 years in the State Department and was ambassador to Liberia and assistant secretary of State for African Affairs before being fired by Trump. One of the most prominent black female diplomats in Washington, she was an advisor with Madeline Albright's consultancy group during the Trump years. Grew up in segregated Louisiana.

CIA DIRECTOR: William Burns

Another career diplomat who rose to be ambassador to Jordan and Russia then Obama's deputy secretary of state. Russian and Middle Eastern specialist retired in 2014 to run the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and kept largely silent on the Trump years until 2020 when he published a series of outspoken criticisms.

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: AVRIL HAINES

CONFIRMED Theoretical physics graduate who dropped out of grad school to buy and run a bookshop and cafe where there were erotica readings, before going to law school and becoming a State Department lawyer. She became CIA deputy director in 2013, choosing not to discipline agents who conducted torture. She also worked on drone strikes.
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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The Government has set out its plans to reform post-16 education and training in England to ensure that employers have the skills they need for the economy to grow.

New powers could be introduced to allow ministers to intervene when colleges fail to deliver good outcomes for the communities they serve, the Department for Education (DfE) has said.

Ministers are proposing to overhaul the accountability system so that funding is better targeted at supporting high-quality education and training provision which is relevant to the labour market.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the reforms will ensure all technical education and training is based on what employers want and need.

But organisations representing school and college leaders have called on ministers to increase the overall funding provided to the further education (FE) sector to help boost the provision on offer.

Our reforms to post-16 education will focus on the skills people and business need for our economy to grow Education Secretary Gavin Williamson

As part of the Governments reforms, businesses will be encouraged to work alongside colleges to develop tailored plans to meet local skills needs, with the support of a 65 million Strategic Development Fund.

The proposals aim to put an end to the misconception that a degree is the only route to success and a good job, the DfE said.

The Skills for Jobs White Paper will include plans to launch a nationwide recruitment campaign to get more talented individuals to teach in FE.

The Government is also proposing to change the law so people can access flexible student finance from 2025 so they can retrain throughout their lives.

In December, the Government announced that tens of thousands of adults without an A-level or equivalent qualification would be able to benefit from nearly 400 fully-funded courses from April.

It was the first major development in Boris Johnsons Lifetime Skills Guarantee (LSG) scheme, which was launched in September.

Mr Johnson said: Our Lifetime Skills Guarantee means that everyone will be given the chance to get the skills they need, right from the very start of their career.

In the years ahead, the reforms we have announced today will deliver high quality technical education across the country  and help people retrain and secure better paid jobs.

Mr Williamson said: Our reforms to post-16 education will focus on the skills people and business need for our economy to grow.

As we recover from the pandemic, our Lifetime Skills Guarantee will ensure everyone has the confidence and opportunity to gain the skills they need to progress at any stage of their lives.

These reforms are at the heart of our plans to build back better, ensuring all technical education and training is based on what employers want and need, whilst providing individuals with the training they need to get a well-paid and secure job, no matter where they live, and in the sectors that are critical to our future economic success.

We hope that the government will now commit to the immediate and urgent increase in funding that this sector has needed for so long Geoff Barton, ASCL

The Government is also launching its consultation on post-qualification admissions on Thursday, which could see students receive and accept university offers after they have achieved their A-level grades.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: We continue to be concerned about the severe underfunding of the post-16 sector, which plays such a vital role in delivering the technical and vocational education that the government says it is so keen to boost, as well as academic routes which are also of the utmost importance.

In November, an Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report concluded that FE colleges and sixth forms have seen the largest falls in funding of any education sector since 201011.

We hope that the government will now commit to the immediate and urgent increase in funding that this sector has needed for so long, he added.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges (AoC), said: These are concrete plans which can deliver the Governments levelling up commitments.

Colleges have been calling for this, after years of being overlooked and underutilised, but Government has to not only recognise the vital college role, it also needs to increase funding.

Colleges have shown during the pandemic that they are the vehicle to transforming lives, and supporting communities and employers, and we need the spending review this year to invest more in them.

Todays white paper will stimulate demand from people and employers and unshackle colleges from unhelpful policy and bureaucracy, ready for the Treasury to show that it recognises that spending on skills is an investment with a strong return.
The over-80s will be the next group in Spain to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, Spains Health Minister Salvador Illa announced on Wednesday. The first phase, which began at the end of December, is currently immunizing residents of senior homes, their carers, health workers and adults with with need for daily assistance even if they are not in residential care. When this is complete, and assuming the vaccines arrive at the expected rate, the campaign will move on to the next phase, most likely in March.

The over-80s are the most vulnerable group when it comes to the coronavirus, and account for nearly 67% of all official Covid deaths in Spain despite making up just 6% of the population (2.8 million people).

The decision to focus on this group next was reached by the Inter-Territorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS), which brings together the central Health Ministry and the countrys regional health departments.

A fall in coronavirus infections is already being noted at the senior residences where the vaccine has been administered

Initially, there were plans to immunize the over-90s next, but this is a small group in Spain of just over 500,000 people. A decision has not yet been made on who the next group will be, but the working group that will make the decision is likely to opt for the over-70s (four million people in Spain), people of other ages with at-risk pathologies (eight million) and then essential workers (5.3 million people, including teachers). However, these decisions will depend on the number of vaccines that are available at any given time.

During Wednesdays meeting of the CISNS, health chiefs expressed their concern over the slowdown in the supply of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines this week, something that could put the campaign plan at risk should it continue.

According to the health minister, the vaccination program is currently running at the required speed despite a slow start in some regions. The latest data show that a million people have received the vaccine, which is 76.2% of the doses that have so far been delivered to Spain. Of these, 15,642 have received the second dose required for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to provide its highest level of protection.

The current bottleneck at the moment is the arrival of the vaccines, said Illa on Wednesday, adding that the 21 days between doses is a minimum requirement, but there are no issues should the second injection be administered 22, 23 or 24 days later. Whatever the case, the minister said he was confident that the doses would arrive at the expected rate.

The minister also stated that a fall in coronavirus infections is being noted at the senior residences where the vaccine has been administered, as was expected. While in most cases only the first dose has been injected, that is sufficient to offer a certain level of protection. Studies in Israel, which is the country that has advanced furthest with its vaccination program, show that positive effects in terms of reducing transmission are notable as soon as the first injection has been delivered.

English version by Simon Hunter.
A gang who printed more than 12million of fake 20 notes - including a 5million stash discovered by a dog walker - have been jailed. Pictured: John Evans, 27, is believed to be the main organiser

A gang who printed more than 12million of fake 20 notes - including a 5million stash discovered by a dog walker - have been jailed.

Police launched a 'lengthy and complex' investigation into the gang after bosses at the Bank of England alerted them to a new counterfeit 20 note in circulation in January 2019.

A 5.25million stash was found in an industrial unit in Beckenham, south east London, in May 2019 - believed to be the biggest ever face-value counterfeit find in the UK.

A further 5million was found by a dog walker in Belvedere, London, while 200,940 was found scattered along a railway line near the village of Farningham, Kent.

The Bank of England also found that around 1.6million of the notes were already in circulation, giving a total of just over 12million of fake notes printed.

The operation resulted in the arrests of John Evans, 27, Phillip Brown, 54, and Nick Winter, 58.

Evans and Brown admitted producing counterfeit currency at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday and were jailed for ten years and six and half years respectively.

Winter was jailed for six years in December last year after admitting his involvement in producing the fake cash.

Officers first raided an industrial unit in Beckenham, south east London, in May 2019 and found Brown standing among piles of fake 20 notes worth a whopping 5.25million.

When confronted by police, Brown told them: 'You have caught me red-handed'.

The business premises were owned by Winter, 58, who was in America at the time of the raid - but was arrested and charged upon his return.

Police searched Brown's home and found a list of names with numbers next to them that added up to 5.25million - the same value of the counterfeit notes.

One of the names was 'John' which police believed referred to Evans - the gang's main organiser - who was also arrested.

Following the warehouse bust, a further haul of notes was found on October 9, 2019, when a dog walker stumbled across 5million in fake 20 notes in Belvedere.

An additional 200,940 was found scattered along a railway line near the village of Farningham, Kent.

A spokesman for Kent Police said today: 'A conspiracy to supply more than 12million worth of counterfeit banknotes has resulted in jail sentences for three members of an organised crime group.

'Their imprisonment follows a lengthy and complex investigation and is believed to have been the single largest face-value seizure of fake currency in UK history following a police raid at an industrial unit in Beckenham.'

The operation resulted in the arrests of John Evans, 27, Phillip Brown, 54, (left) and Nick Winter, 58 (right)

He added: 'The police investigation into the group's activities began in January 2019 after the Bank of England had identified a new counterfeit 20 note that appeared to have been produced using the type of specialist printing equipment that would normally be associated with a company that produces large volumes of magazines or leaflets.

'Following several months of enquiries including mobile phone analysis of those believed to have been involved in its production, a search warrant was carried out at a business premises owned by Winter in Beckenham, on Saturday 4 May 2019.

'Inside officers found Brown and another man surrounded by printing equipment and large piles of counterfeit 20 notes, which were later confirmed as having a total face value of 5.25 million.

'Upon his arrest, Brown told the officers "you have caught me red-handed".'

The spokesman added: 'A subsequent search of his home address led to the discovery of a list of names with numbers next to them that added up to 5.25million - the same value of the counterfeit notes.

'Winter had been on holiday in America at the time his business was raided, but was arrested upon his return to the UK on Sunday 26 May 2019.

'One of the names on the list seized from Brown's home was "John", which is believed to refer to John Evans.

'Upon his arrest on Friday 13 September 2019, officers found a highly encrypted telephone that he later admitted was evidence of criminal activity despite initially denying his involvement in this particular conspiracy.

'After all three men had been charged in relation to the conspiracy, further large amounts of counterfeit currency believed to have printed by the group's members continued to be discovered in the months that followed.'

On October 9, 2019, a dog walker stumbled upon around 5million worth of fake banknotes dumped in Belvedere.

A further 200,940 was found scattered along the railway line between Farningham and Longfield on January 15, 2020.

Detective Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: 'Counterfeiting directly funds organised crime and hurts the UK economy by creating losses for businesses, which ultimately affects the cost of the things we buy.

'It also has a direct impact on those who receive fake notes in exchange for goods or services, as what they thought was genuine money is in fact worthless.

'John Evans was one of the main players in what is believed to be the biggest conspiracy of this kind in the history of UK policing, and the length of his sentence reflects the seriousness of the crimes he committed.

'Phillip Brown and Nick Winter also played vital roles in the operation and are also now behind bars as a result.

'Organised criminal groups will go to great lengths to obtain expensive homes, fast cars and other luxuries they are not entitled to - even if it means printing the money required themselves.

'This was a sophisticated operation but one that was ultimately doomed to failure due to the offenders' mistaken belief that they could carry on undetected.

'I hope this result sends a strong message to others that we have our eyes and ears everywhere, and that ultimately crime does not pay.'

Neil Harris, Senior Officer in the National Crime Agency's Counterfeit Currency unit, said: 'Serious and organised criminals damage the economic health of the UK through their efforts to line their own pockets.

'We supported the operation which dismantled this criminal enterprise and prevented millions of pounds of counterfeit money entering the UK economy. The impact of that counterfeit money would have been felt by unsuspecting members of the public across the UK.

'We remain focused in our work to combat illicit finances, which ultimately help fund further serious and organised crime.'
Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are expected to reduce vaccination coverage in the 202021 school year. Increased follow-up of undervaccinated students is needed from schools and immunization programs to maintain the high vaccination coverage necessary to protect students in preparation for schools returning to in-person learning.

State and local school vaccination requirements serve to protect students against vaccine-preventable diseases (1). This report summarizes data collected by state and local immunization programs* on vaccination coverage among children in kindergarten (kindergartners) in 48 states, exemptions for kindergartners in 49 states, and provisional enrollment and grace period status for kindergartners in 28 states for the 201920 school year, which was more than halfway completed when most schools moved to virtual learning in the spring because of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Nationally, vaccination coverage was 94.9% for the state-required number of doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP); 95.2% for 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR); and 94.8% for the state-required number of varicella vaccine doses. Although 2.5% of kindergartners had an exemption from at least one vaccine, another 2.3% were not up to date for MMR and did not have a vaccine exemption. Schools and immunization programs can work together to ensure that undervaccinated students are caught up on vaccinations in preparation for returning to in-person learning. This follow-up is especially important in the current school year, in which undervaccination is likely higher because of disruptions in vaccination during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (24).

To meet state and local school entry requirements, parents and guardians submit childrens vaccination records or exemption forms to schools, or schools obtain records from state immunization information systems. Federally funded immunization programs work with departments of education, school nurses, and other school personnel to assess vaccination and exemption status of children, typically those aged 46 years, enrolled in public and private kindergartens and to report unweighted counts, aggregated by school type, to CDC via a web-based questionnaire in the Secure Access Management System. CDC uses these data to produce state- and national-level estimates of vaccination coverage (5). During the 201920 school year, 48 states reported coverage for all state-required vaccines among public school kindergartners, and 47 states reported on private school kindergartners.** Forty-nine states reported exemption data among public school kindergartners, and 48 states reported on private school kindergartners.** This report provides data on overall national and median vaccination coverage for the state-required number of doses of DTaP, MMR, and varicella vaccine. Hepatitis B and poliovirus vaccination coverage data, which are not included in this report, are available at SchoolVaxView (6). Twenty-eight states reported data on kindergartners who, at the time of assessment, were attending school under a grace period (attendance without proof of complete vaccination or exemption during a set interval) or provisional enrollment (school attendance while completing a catch-up vaccination schedule). Coverage and exemptions from U.S. territories and associated states are presented; however, national estimates, medians, and summary measures include only U.S. states.

Vaccination coverage and exemption estimates were adjusted according to survey type and response rates. National estimates measure coverage and exemptions among all kindergartners, and medians measure the midpoint of state-level coverage regardless of population size. Reported estimates for the 201920 school year are based on 3,675,882 kindergartners surveyed for vaccination coverage, 3,914,961 for exemptions, and 2,955,220 for grace period and provisional enrollment among the 4,025,574 children reported as enrolled in kindergarten by immunization programs for 49 states. Potentially achievable coverage with MMR, defined as the sum of the percentage of children who are up to date with 2 doses of MMR and those with no documented vaccination exemption but who are not up to date, was calculated for each state. Nonexempt students include those provisionally enrolled, in a grace period, or otherwise without documentation of vaccination. SAS (version 9.4; SAS Institute Inc.) was used for all analyses.

Vaccination assessments varied by immunization program because of differences in states required vaccines and number of doses, vaccines assessed, methods of data collection, and data reported (Supplementary Table 1, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/100473). The majority of states reported kindergartners as up to date for a given vaccine if they had received all doses of that vaccine required for school entry. Seven states*** reported kindergartners as up-to-date for any given vaccine only if they had received all doses of all vaccines required for school entry.

Nationally, 2-dose MMR coverage was 95.2% (range = 86.6% [Alabama] to 99.1% [Mississippi]). Coverage of 95% was reported by 20 states and coverage of <90% by three states (Table). DTaP coverage was 94.9% (range = 84.0% [Indiana] to 99.1% [Mississippi]), with 20 states reporting coverage of 95%, and three states reporting <90% coverage. Coverage with 2 doses (or 1 dose, as required) of varicella vaccine was 94.8% (range = 86.6% [Alabama] to 99.1% [Mississippi]), with 21 states reporting coverage 95%, and four states reporting <90% coverage.

The percentage of kindergartners with an exemption from one or more required vaccines (not limited to MMR, DTaP, and varicella vaccines) remained unchanged from the 201819 school year at 2.5% (range = 0.1% [New York and West Virginia] to 7.6% [Idaho]) (Table). Nationally, 0.3% of kindergartners had a medical exemption, and 2.2% had a nonmedical exemption (Supplementary Table 2, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/100473). Only 95.2% of kindergartners were up to date with MMR; 2.5% had an exemption from at least one vaccine, and another 2.3% were not up to date with MMR and did not have a vaccine exemption (Table).

The percentage of kindergartners attending school within a grace period or provisionally enrolled among the 28 states reporting these data was 1.6% (range = <0.1% [Hawaii and Mississippi] to 6.1% [Ohio]) (Table). Of the 28 states with MMR coverage <95%, 24 states could potentially achieve 95% MMR coverage if all nonexempt kindergartners, many of whom were within a grace period or provisionally enrolled, were vaccinated (Figure 1). Among the 30 states reporting a decrease in the percentage of kindergartners who were not up to date for MMR and did not have an exemption in 20192020 compared with 20182019, an increase of MMR coverage in 20192020 was also reported by 26 states (Figure 2). In three states with MMR coverage <95% in 20182019 (Illinois, North Carolina, and South Carolina), coverage increased to 95% in 20192020.
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Mr Kanagalingam said he had already been rejected from the resettlement program set up with the US, and was not sure whether there were other pathways available. "Being free from the camps is what was in our mind all these times, we are out now. We will work out where we can go from here," he said. "I want a life with some sort of certainty and whoever is willing to give that I want to go there." Tamil refugee Ramsiyar Sabanayagam said receiving the six-month bridging visa felt "like flying" after being detained for eight years by Australia, first on Christmas Island and then Manus Island before he was medically evacuated to Melbourne.

The first thing he wanted to do was thank the people who supported him and then have something spicy to eat. "First of all, I want to say thank you for everyone, because lots of supporters day by night they are supporting us ... Thank you is not enough. But, really, I can't explain the feeling," the 29-year-old refugee said. Tamil refugee Ramsiyar Sabanayagam, 29, was released on Thursday. Credit:Ramsiyar Sabanayagam Forty-five refugees were suddenly handed six-month bridging visas on Wednesday and released from the Park Hotel and the Melbourne Immigration and Transit Accommodation centre, with work rights and access to Medicare. The federal government said none of the refugees would be settled permanently in Australia, and the bridging visas were a temporary solution until the men were settled elsewhere.



"If they're demonstrated not to be a threat, or that's the assessment that's been made by the experts, then it is cheaper for people to go out into the community until they can depart," Mr Dutton told Sydney radio station 2GB on Thursday. The group was transferred to Australia under the now-repealed medevac laws that were intended to evacuate refugees with serious medical conditions to the mainland for treatment from offshore detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Mr Dutton said some of the group had never received medical treatment in Australia, and it was difficult for the government to return the group back to offshore detention. Mostafa "Moz" Azimitabar was among those released. He took to social media from the bus to celebrate "the most beautiful moment of my life", and called on Australians to speak up for refugees still in detention.

In live-streamed footage, he could be seen waving at his cheering supporters as he was escorted onto a bus after 11.30am on Thursday. Mostafa "Moz" Azimitabar (right) makes a heart symbol as he is taken by bus away from the Park Hotel. Credit:Chris Hopkins Dozens of police circled the hotel as advocates came to show their support. Greens senator Lidia Thorpe was one of those who watched Mr Azimitabar walk out the door of the Park Hotel and onto the bus. "I walked around to the side of the bus. I put my fist up and he gave me the love-heart symbol and I just shook my head, 'This is it, yes, you are free.' "

Senator Thorpe said she felt a strange mix of emotions: happiness, anger and a sick feeling in her stomach because 14 people remained at the hotel, according to documents seen by The Age. "How do you celebrate, when there's still innocent people being tortured by the government?" she said. Lidia Thorpe outside the Park Hotel in Carlton on Thursday. Credit:Chris Hopkins Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said one of the 14 men left behind had been deemed a self-harm risk on Thursday and taken to the MITA detention facility. He said those remaining in detention were distressed and had been given no answers about what their futures hold.

Loading "They were told, 'the minister [Mr Dutton] has not signed off on your visas', and thats all they were told," he said. Mr Rintoul said some of those in the group remaining at Park Hotel had pending applications for the US resettlement program. "One of the guys will be leaving for the US next week, but others are much more tenuous. They've either written to or are waiting to hear about US resettlement." Mr Sabanayagam said a six-month bridging visa was not a permanent solution, but after eight years in detention it was "better than nothing".

"One year and one month we don't have sunlight and fresh air [while detained at Preston's Mantra hotel]." Mr Sabanayagam said everyone at the Park Hotel had a "big smile" and couldn't sleep on Wednesday night. When asked whether he had thought about what he will eat when he can finally choose for himself, he said: "Yes, I need spicy food. The taste of the tongue is truly gone." The men have been told they will be given two weeks' accommodation in a hotel. "There is two weeks for us, after that we have to find rooms, but I don't know, maybe our friends will help us. There are lots of supporters outside, they are helping us," Mr Sabanayagam said.

Mr Azimitabar walks out of the hotel on Thursday. Credit:Chris Hopkins Human Rights for All lawyer Alison Battisson, who represents some of the men, said there would be an adjustment period for them. "Many of the men were brought here for mental health reasons and that hasn't been addressed," Ms Battisson said. "Now they're being released into the community after almost a decade and it's going to be full on." Ms Battisson said everyone brought to Australia from Manus Island and Nauru under the now-repealed medevac legislation should be released into the community.

She said that the federal government was adding to anxiety for the detainees without providing a clear, long-term plan. In a statement on Wednesday, a Border Force spokesperson said none of the refugees would ever permanently settle in Australia. A Bangladeshi refugee signals 'joy' to protestors outside a Carlton hotel. Credit:Chris Hopkins "They are encouraged to finalise their medical treatment so they can continue on their resettlement pathway to the United States, return to Nauru or PNG, or return to their home country," the statement reads. "A final departure bridging visa allows individuals to temporarily reside in the Australian community while they finalise their arrangements to leave Australia."

Loading The men suffer from a range of health conditions, most commonly depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Their advocates said many of them had never properly received treatment. Chris Breen from the Refugee Action Collective was hopeful the remaining medevac detainees in Melbourne and Brisbane would eventually be released. "We still have a way to go, but it's a historic day," Mr Breen said from the Park Hotel.
Tom Maroney says he felt a mix of emotions today as he watched his former student at Syracuse Universitys law school take the oath of office to serve as president of the United States.

Maroney, 82, was a first-year professor at SU when Joe Biden, a third-year law student, took his legislation class in 1968.

Biden earned an A in the class and has since disclosed it was the only one that he received at SUs College of Law.

Im very proud of him, Maroney said after watching the inauguration on TV from his home in Manlius.

And Im proud for myself, not just because I had a little part in his development, Maroney said. Im a first-generation Irish American. My parents were Irish immigrants who moved to Syracuse. And now Joe Biden, an Irish American, is president of the United States.

Biden is also the second Catholic president in U.S. history after John F. Kennedy.

But above all, Maroney said, hes proud the United States will be led by someone of good character that he has known personally for 52 years.

Maroney, the former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York, said the same qualities that the nation saw at Bidens inauguration today were evident the first time he met his former student.

I remember one day after class he came in to have a chat with me, Maroney said. It was a long, interesting talk. I came home and told my wife, he has presence. I said hes going to be something one day. I had a good feeling about him.

Decades later when Biden was a U.S. senator from Delaware, Maroney said his former student put in a good word for him with the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., when Maroney was a finalist for the U.S. attorneys job in Syracuse.

Maroney had never met Moynihan, but Bidens word was apparently good enough to earn Moynihans recommendation over five other candidates in 1994.

Maroney, now professor emeritus at SUs College of Law, maintained his relationship with Biden over the decades.

Bidens late son, Beau, a 1994 graduate of the law school, also was a student of Maroneys. When Beau died from brain cancer in 2015, Maroney was at the funeral.

A year later, Joe Biden returned to SUs law school to give the commencement address and pay tribute to his son. He thanked the school for establishing a scholarship in Beaus name.

Tom Maroney holds the textbook he used to teach Joe Biden's class in 1968 at Syracuse University's College of Law.Mary Kay Maroney

In an earlier commencement speech at SU in 2006, Biden also tipped his hat to Maroney, telling graduates that he earned his only A in the legislation class.

As Maroney watched Bidens inauguration today, he had the original textbook from that 1968 class nearby.

Maroney said he taught students in the class about the legislative process and how it works. He said hes pretty sure the lessons resonated with Biden, who spent 36 years in the U.S. Senate before serving two terms as vice president.

This guy will do what is right, Maroney said. He has experience. He has integrity. And he has compassion.

MORE ON THE INAUGURATION

President Joe Biden, VP Kamala Harris sworn in: This is Americas day

Biden, Harris lay wreathes at Tomb of the Unknown Solider at Arlington

Inauguration fashion: Purple, pearls, American designers

Amanda Gormans inaugural poem: Even as we grieved, we grew (video)

President Joe Biden becomes first Syracuse alumnus to hold nations highest office

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Ten people who attended the party became infected, along with five close contacts of the cat's owner, but not the cat itself

Francisco Alvarez, the Ministry of Health's regional secretary for Valaparaiso, said that he originally did not believe the cause of the outbreak

Fifteen people in a small Chilean town have contracted coronavirus after attending a birthday party thrown for a cat.

Dumbfounded Chilean authorities confirmed the outbreak in Santo Domingo, an exclusive coastal community home to fewer than 10,000 people in the central region of Valparaiso, in a public statement on Saturday.

Francisco Alvarez, the Ministry of Health's regional secretary for Valparaiso, said that he originally did not believe the cause of the outbreak.

'When I heard it was a cat's birthday party I thought it was a joke, that they were probably trying to hide something,' Alvarez told Radio Bio-Bio on Saturday.

'We have corroborated it with at least six of the 15 [infected] people who told us the same thing'.

Fifteen people in a small Chilean town have contracted coronavirus after attending a birthday party thrown for a cat [Stock image]

It is unclear when exactly the party took place but local media reported that 10 people attended, all of whom became infected.

The remaining five infected people connected with the outbreak are said to be family and friends of the cat's owner.

The cat did not contract the potentially fatal disease, Alvarez said.

He added that he struggled to believe that people were continuing to hold gatherings despite stern warnings from authorities.

'It's complicated and it's a little incomprehensible, especially considering that what we have said in every way and emphasised is that if people are going to meet, they need to take safety measures'.

Covid-19 infections are rising in Chile even as the death rate remains relatively steady.

Wednesday saw 3,589 new cases reported in the Andean country where at least 681,000 people have contracted the virus and 17,594 have died from it since the pandemic began.

The cat at the centre of the festivities did not contract the virus, according to the Ministry of Health's regional secretary for Valparaiso [File photo]

Clandestine gatherings have been held in Chile and elsewhere during the pandemic but do not usually centre around cats.

In an interview with La Segunda newspaper, Alvares confessed to have uncovered some bizarre and awkward scenarios while conducting contract tracing of infected individuals.

They included finding a three-year-old child with a work permit, a family that had secretly snuck into the region in a van and numerous extra-marital affairs, Meganoticias reported.

Alvares himself had previously been 'at death's door' after contracting the virus.
Easton, Md, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qlarant CEO Dr. Ron Forsythe, Jr. announced the addition of Mr. Stuart Stu Harlow to the management team. Mr. Harlow will assume the position of Chief Financial Officer of the company beginning January 19, 2021. Qlarant is a national leader in quality improvement, program integrity, and technology solutions. Since 1973, Qlarant has been improving the performance of some of the nations most important programs.

We are pleased to have Stu join us, said Dr. Forsythe. He brings to us a proven track record in strategic planning, plus extensive experience in many aspects of financial operations, communications, and leadership.

Mr. Harlow has extensive experience in both domestic and international operations along with a holistic understanding of business and finance in the information, technology, engineering, and manufacturing sectors. Prior to joining Qlarant, he was the Senior Director of Finance for BAE Systems, Ship Repair Business, reporting to the CFO of BAE Systems Inc. Mr. Harlow worked as part of a team of 60 finance and accounting professionals transitioning from a legacy cost-plus business to a competitive firm fixed-price across four Navy homeport locations. Before that, Mr. Harlow was the Senior Director, Independent Cost Evaluation for BAE and was accountable for identifying key risks to the $10 billion portfolio. He was also responsible for reviewing new business results across three sectors.

Stu has served in progressively more responsible financial roles at BAE Systems over the past 16-plus years, added Dr. Forsythe. Prior to that he honed his skills with Lockheed Martin for nine years in several different finance positions.

I like to think that I have a proven record of accomplishment for seeing the big picture and acting as a catalyst for change. Its important to balance the requirements needed to deliver the expected results for the short term, while keeping a sharp focus on the future, said Harlow.

I like to think about strategy when developing a business plan, continues Mr. Harlow When I think about Qlarant, I think about federal and state sectors and the potential for developing technology products matched with the companys extensive expertise. Right now there are multiple areas where Qlarant can grow in this space. A strong strategic filter with a tactical game plan for handling growth presents a great opportunity. Harlow has demonstrated the ability to create business strategiesenabling growth and shareholder returns in a global, multisite business environment. He has been responsible for creating new business strategies in Army, Navy, Marine, Air force, commercial, and international markets.

I have always worked for organizations with a purpose or mission which helps others, said Harlow. I am excited to join the team and work with the various business sectors, senior staff, and contributors to the business. I hope to continue building upon the reputation the company has built over almost 50 years and expand the portfolio to shape the Qlarant of the future.

Mr. Harlow earned a Masters of Business Administration from New Hampshire College, New Hampshire and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems from Radford University, Virginia. He also served as a commissioned officer in the Virginia Army National Guard.

About Qlarant: Qlarant is a not-for-profit, nationally respected leader in fighting fraud, waste, and abuseimproving program quality, and optimizing performance. The company uses subject matter experts and innovative data science and technology to help organizations see risks, solve problems, and seize opportunities. Qlarant provides customized solutions for state, federal and commercial industries across the nation. The Qlarant Foundation the mission arm of the organizationhas provided over $5 million in grants to charities throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia. Qlarant employs nearly 500 people and has a 45-year record of accomplishment improving the performance of some of the Nations most important programs. Headquartered in Eason, Md, Qlarant has nine offices throughout the country and employs over 500 people. Qlarant is a three time winner of the Best Places to Work award. For more information, visit www.qlarant.com

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New Delhi: A week after Nepal requested for COVID-19 vaccines from India, the country has got 1 million doses of "made in India" vaccines. Nepal's foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali had requested the vaccines during the last Friday's India-Nepal 6th joint commission meeting in Delhi.

A plane carrying Serum Institute of India manufactured Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine -- COVISHIELD reached Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport. Nepal's Health minister Hridayesh Tripathi, Minister of State Nabaraj Rawat, Secretary Laxman Aryal and Indian envoy to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra were present at the site.

Speaking on the occasion, the Indian envoy said, "In exactly a weeks time, since the External Affairs Minister of India promised Foreign Minister, on supply of vaccines, we have the actual consignment right here in front us on the land of Nepal to be used."

Nepal is among the six countries that received Indian-manufactured COVID-19 vaccines within five days of India's own domestic roll-out. Other five countries are--Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Seychelles.

Calling it gifting of vaccine a "special moment", envoy Kwatra said, "It is a moment that is synonymous of the deep and abiding friendship between both our countries. The people of Nepal, their safety and prosperity has always been at the heart of all our bilateral ventures with Nepal and so is this gift of COVID19 vaccines."

Further, he said, "We stand with Nepal in defeating the virus and we will do whatever it takes in our joint fight to prevail over the pandemic. The vaccines are a gift from the people of India to the people of Nepal."

The vaccines is expected to help Nepal in dealing with its immediate requirements for vaccinating Nepals COVID warriors - the health care and the frontline workers. India has provided more than 25 tonnes of essential medicines, equipment and medical supplies to Nepal during the pandemic.

The Indian support includes-- Paracetamol, Hydroxychloroquine, PPEs, diagnostic test kits, ventilators, and Remdesivir injections under grant assistance worth US $2 million.
Shivamogga : , Jan 22 (IANS) A loud sound of explosion was heard in Shivamogga on late Thursday night, suspected to be caused by explosive materials kept on a stone crushing site, the police said, adding at least 10 people have been reportedly killed.

This incident took place in Abbalagere village located along the Shivamogga-Hanagal state highway, which passes through Savalunga and Shikaripura.

Shikaripura, 290 km from Bengaluru, is the home constituency of Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. According to the police, no one was able to reach the site of explosion.

"The incident took place in a stone crushing unit, where generally at least 50 boxes of mining explosive material is stored," the police said.

The impact of the blast was such that a huge crater of 5 km was created and due to the subsequent heat, the rescue operations could not be started, a police officer told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, another source in the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNMDC) told IANS that a lorry carrying mining explosive material exploded due to which, a loud sound along with earthquake-like vibrations was experienced across Shivamogga district in Karnataka at around 10.20 p.m.

The police said that they have not been able to confirm whether lorry was carrying explosive material yet as none of the rescue operation team is able reach to a place where the blast has occurred.

"Heat is so much that nobody is able to go there and the smell of explosive material that has spread to about nearly 8-10 km has not subsided. Once the heat and smell reduce, the rescue teams can enter there. We have sealed the entire area and keeping a close watch on it," a police officer said.

Meanwhile, KSNDC commissioner, Manoj Rajan rejected theories doing rounds that "mysterious" sound could be the result of a minor earthquake.
22-Year-Old Los Angeles Poet Performs at Inauguration

A 22-year-old Los Angeles woman became the youngest inaugural poet when she performed The Hill We Climb at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris swearing-in ceremony, on Wednesday, Jan 20.

Amanda Gormans reading was bookended by a rendition of the national anthem by Lady Gaga and a musical performance by Jennifer Lopez.

Gorman, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, turned to writing from an early age in an attempt to cope with her speech impediment. At age 14, she joined WriteGirl, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization that helps teen girls discover the power of their voice through creative writing.

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Throughout her high school years at New Roads School in Santa Monica, Gorman attended WriteGirls monthly creative writing workshops and was matched with writing mentors for one-on-one mentoring.

WriteGirl has been pivotal in my life, Gorman said. Its been thanks to their support that Ive been able to chase my dreams as a writer.

WriteGirl Executive Director Keren Taylor said she had no doubt Amandas messages of hope, unity and justice will help us all heal and move forward.

Gorman was selected in 2014 as the first Los Angeles youth poet laureate and in 2017 as the first national youth poet laureate. She graduated in May from Harvard University with a degree in sociology.

Gorman has two books forthcoming, including her first childrens book,Change Sings, set to be published in September.

Gorman becomes the sixth poet to perform at a presidential inauguration, continuing an intermittent tradition began in 1961 when Robert Frost recited The Gift Outright at John F. Kennedys inauguration. The previous youngest was Richard Blanco, who was 44 when he read One Today at Barack Obamas second inauguration in 2013.

All the inaugural poets have performed at the swearings-in of Democratic presidents.

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The inauguration of Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice president is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. PST. The ceremony will feature vigorous health and safety protocols intended to protect public health, including face-coverings and social distancing.

The public was strongly encouraged to refrain from traveling to Washington, D.C. Various inaugural events were converted to virtual events, including the Parade Across America, billed by the inaugural committee as featuring diverse, dynamic performances in communities in all 56 states and territories, celebrating Americas heroes, and highlighting the diversity, heritage and resilience of the nation.

The Trans Chorus of Los Angeles will be among the parade participants as part of DJ Cassidys Pass The Mic, also featured Earth Wind & Fire, Nile Rodgers and Kathy Sledge.

The chorus was formed in 2015. It describes itself as the nations first all trans-identified chorus, consisting of transgender, non-binary, intersex, gender-non-conforming and gender-fluid individuals.

The parade was hosted by actor, director and producer Tony Goldwyn. Other participants include comedian Jon Stewart, the alternative rock band New Radicals, performing together for the first time since 1999, Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul and Olympians Allyson Felix, Katie Ledecky and Nathan Chen.

Amanda Gorman (File Photo)

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The Georgian government expects to have vaccinated 60% of the country by the end of 2021, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced at today's government meeting.

He noted that high risk groups will be vaccinated at the first stage.

"These will be medical workers, residents in long-term care facilities, our seniors over the age of 75 and then all of our fellow citizens over the age of 65 to 75," Agenda.ge cited him as saying.

Gakharia said that Georgia is a member of the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (Covax) which will provide vaccines to the country.

The Tbilisi mayor already announced its goal on this platform five-six months ago, to supply half a million vaccines to the country in the near future. We have already made payment.

"The main goal now is to get the healthcare system ready for this volume of vaccinations within a year", he said, adding that Georgia is technically ready to receive any authorised vaccine.

Gakharia also said that the government continues negotiations with Covid-19 vaccine producing companies, 'but we must keep in mind one thing - only vaccines that will be authorised by the World Health Organisation will be imported to Georgia'.
Every year of my childhood I attended vacation Bible school. VBS began with an opening assembly. We sang songs, we prayed, and, with hands on our hearts, we said a pledge to the American flag, the Christian flag and the Bible. On Jan. 6 the Christian flag was carried by terrorists into the Capitol. I dont know that everyone recognized it as it was wrapped in on itself and might have looked like a white flag, but it was not a white flag of surrender. Had it been waived, everyone would have seen the blue corner with a red cross.

There were also signs saying Jesus Saves. A large wooden cross was erected, and Christian slogans were on shirts and in shouts. I keep thinking of that old hymn Onward Christian Soldiers. Onward Christian Soldiers. Marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle, See, His banners go! I do not believe that what we saw on Jan. 6 was what the hymn writer, a British man writing in the 1800s, meant to encourage. Claiming Christianity while enacting violence on our democracy is Christian nationalism.

The Baptist Joint Committee on Religious Liberty notes: Christian nationalism seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and Americas constitutional democracy. Christian nationalism demands Christianity be privileged by the State and implies that to be a good American, one must be Christian. It often overlaps with and provides cover for white supremacy and racial subjugation.

Christian nationalists tend to use the language of religious freedom in describing their efforts to promote Christianity and give it special protections. This is not religious freedom. Religious freedom means protecting religious liberty for all, not just the privileged few. Religious freedom is guarded when there is no government sponsorship, no discrimination and no preference.

Many of the terrorists who attacked the Capitol, who searched for Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi  looking for them in order to do them harm  who beat officers with flag poles and one officer to death with a fire extinguisher, many of these terrorists claimed to be acting in the name of God. Radical Christian terrorists used Christianity as a kind of pretext and tried to lend credibility and social acceptability to their terrorism.

At the church I serve, we do not have an American flag in our sanctuary. We do not have a Christian flag. At every summer gathering of camp community, our own version of vacation Bible school, we say no pledges. This does not mean we have no loyalties; this does not mean there is nothing we are following or giving our allegiance to. It does not mean that we are not patriotic. It means that patriotism to our country is not housed in the house of worship to the God of love who shows no favoritism to one country over another.

Jesus calls us to follow him, to make our allegiance to the kingdom of God, a kingdom of love and peace and justice that includes all people of every nation and land.

I wonder if you have ever heard the pledge to the Christian flag. I memorized it in the hot sun of South Carolina: I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag and to the savior for whose kingdom it stands; one brotherhood uniting all Christians in service and in love. Its not a bad pledge. Its not a bad flag. It is how the pledge, the flag, the symbols of Christianity have been abused. Thats the problem.

Jesus was political. Absolutely. He preached and lived and taught an alternative kingdom to oppressive Rome. And the empire killed him for it. He did go to the capital. He rode in on a donkey. He carried no weapons. The people gathered at his protest march waved palm branches and shouted, Hosanna. They were not a violent mob. Jesus taught nonviolence: Turn the other cheek, he said. If you are conscripted by a soldier of the empire to carry his pack for one mile, dont just carry it one mile, carry it two, he said. Blessed are the peacemakers, he said.

We need to repent for our silence and for being swept along. Nearly a decade after the Montgomery bus boycott, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. offered the Oberlin College commencement address. He said, It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation, not merely for the vitriolic works and violent actions of the bad people . . . but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say, Wait on time. Somewhere we must come to see that human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. It comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals. Without this hard work, time becomes an ally of the primitive forces of social stagnation. So we must help time and realize that the time is always right to do right.

We must help time. No more waiting. We cannot keep silent. We cannot pretend everything is fine. There is too much at stake. We must repent, and we must change. I have much to repent. Silence kept when I cared more about hurting someones feelings than about pointing out evil, inequality, racism and Christian nationalism. Inaction won when it all felt too hard and overwhelming. Now, I want to align myself with Jesus. I want to follow his nonviolent teachings. I want to work for justice and peace. This is where my allegiance lies.

Mayo is Senior Minister at Covenant Church.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 20:28:54|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A State Council executive meeting has stressed resolutely stopping arbitrary charges on businesses and collecting taxes and fees orderly.

The meeting, chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday, urged efforts to ensure no undue burdens are placed on businesses and people. Enditem
Leicester University has denied it is dropping literary giant Geoffrey Chaucer for being 'too white' after proposing replacement modules focused on race and gender.

Plans have emerged to shelve The Canterbury Tales and Beowulf - two of the most important works in English literature - in favour of a 'decolonised' curriculum.

The English faculty has been told that the foundational texts could be replaced by more popular works - but Leicester said this wasn't down to their 'whiteness.'

Dr Christine Rauer, a lecturer at the University of St Andrews, told MailOnline: 'It's hard to see why race, ethnicity, sexuality and diversity can't be taught alongside Chaucer and Beowulf.

'Bring in the new topics while also keeping the medieval! Curriculum planners should think big  their students will later compete with people who studied elsewhere and who have a much wider range. You will feel left out, if you only know half the story.'

Asked whether the texts might be too difficult, Dr Rauer said: 'Medieval literature can seem hard at the beginning, but most good things in life are like that. Self-confidence comes from overcoming difficulty, and the unexpected.'

Geoffrey Chaucer, author of The Canterbury Tales, known as the Father of English Literature (left) and the epic poem Beowulf (right) which was written in Old English

It comes after management at Leicester University circulated an email to its English department notifying them of changes to courses to focus on 'race, ethnicity, sexuality and diversity'.

The email obtained by The Telegraph said: 'The aim of our proposals (is) to offer a suite of undergraduate degrees that provide modules which students expect of an English degree.'

The new roster of modules were to be 'excitingly innovative' and would cover: 'A chronological literary history, a selection of modules on race, ethnicity, sexuality and diversity, a decolonised curriculum, and new employability modules.'

The changes would affect anything written prior to 1500  not limited to Chaucer and Beowulf.

Also for the chop would be the chivalric romance Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and Sir Thomas Malory's Mort D'Arthur, the classic chronicle of the legend of King Arthur.

Other cuts could even extend to Early Modern English modules  including John Milton's Paradise Lost and John Donne's metaphysical poetry.

But while the university has promised to maintain its Shakespeare offerings, the same cannot be said for its specialised teachers who face redundancy.

Up to 60 jobs are now under threat, according to The Telegraph, as part of Leicester's efforts to run 'sustainable' courses first announced last year.

Vice Chancellor Nishan Canagarajah said it was part of a the long-term strategy to 'compete on a global level', adding: 'To facilitate this, we may need to cease activity in a limited number of areas.'

Today the university insisted to MailOnline the suggestions to change came after feedback from students and that nothing had been set in stone.

The University of Leicester has denied the changes are because they are 'too white'

A spokesperson said: 'Students at the University of Leicester will continue to study some of the best-loved authors in the English language, from Shakespeare, Austen and Dickens to Keats, Shelley and Byron, to Woolf, Toni Morrison and Colston Whitehead.

'There is absolutely no truth to the suggestion that certain modules are being eliminated for being "too white."

'We want to offer courses that match our students' own interests and enthusiasms, as reflected in their own choices and the feedback we have been hearing.

'Leicester continues to be a research-intensive, comprehensive university that offers a broad range of subjects. We will be engaging closely with staff and students to hear their ideas and suggestions in response to the proposals.'

Chaucer, the Father of English Literature Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1342 - 1400) ranks alongside William Shakespeare as one the most important poets of the English language. His masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, is considered one of the first works written in modern English, marking a shift from the Old English which preceded the Middle Ages. For this reason he is described as 'the first finder of our language.' The Canterbury Tales was hugely popular in Medieval England because it was one of the few works which was written in English rather than French - the language of the ruling classes. Chaucer's poem follows a group of pilgrims on their way from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at the cathedral. The pilgrims, including Chaucer himself, have a story-telling contest on their way to Canterbury and their 24 stories form the basis of the narrative. The enduring popularity of the work is testament to its humour, characters and vivid descriptions of various social groups from knights to cooks. Pilgrims tell tales of varying tones, some are pious and witty, others are vulgar and bawdy. Chaucer originally planned to write more than a hundred tales but only completed 24. In surviving copies the stories appear in various orders with the Hengwrt manuscript, held in the National Library of Wales, considered to be the most accurate. Chaucer was born in London, his father was a wine maker as per family tradition. In addition to his literature, Chaucer contributed to society as a courtier, diplomat and civil servant and was the trusted aide of three successive kings: Edward III, Richard II and Henry IV. In 1994, literary critic Harold Bloom placed Chaucer among the greatest Western writers of all time. Such is the respect for the writer, he was first person to be buried in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner. Advertisement

With the inauguration of Joe Biden as US president, Turkeys designated nemesis, Brett McGurk, has formally taken over his new position as the National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa. The McGurk thorn in Turkish-American relations, fumed English-language government mouthpiece Daily Sabah in a Jan. 18 op-ed. The headline summed up the mood in Ankara, where McGurk is widely expected to use his power to undermine Turkey at every opportunity.

McGurk was the chief architect of the United States relationship with the Syrian offshoot of the [Kurdistan Workers Party] PKK terrorist organization, the [Peoples Protection Units] YPG. The appointment has dealt a heavy blow and could impact the mending of ties between Ankara and Washington. McGurks appointment has sullied the picture, complained the op-eds author, Batu Coskun. Will it really?

The narrative being pushed by circles close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stems from McGurks role as counter-Islamic State envoy under two presidents, Barack Obama and Donald Trump. McGurk, together with the US Central Command, oversaw the highly successful partnership with the Syrian Kurdish YPG to defeat IS.

Turkey remains incensed by the alliance because of the YPGs close links with the PKK, which has been waging an armed insurgency against Turkey since 1984. The reality is, though, that Ankara treats any arrangement empowering the Kurds, be they in Iraq, Iran, Syria or Turkey, as an existential threat. By May 2017, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was openly campaigning for McGurk to be dismissed. It would be beneficial if this person is changed, he told the private broadcaster NTV.

While its easy to see why having its NATO ally arm, train and decorate members of a group that was established as the PKKs Syrian wing would drive Turkey mad, the reason the partnership grew is not McGurk. Its Turkeys failure to come up with an alternative force and its laissez faire attitude toward the thousands of foreign fighters who poured into Syria through the Turkish border to expand the caliphate that gave rise to Turkeys image as a patron of the jihadis.

In truth, McGurk worked closely with the Turks for many years traveling to Ankara, meeting with Erdogan and striking up an amicable relationship with his intelligence chief Hakan Fidan, among others, to work on a range of knotty issues including Iraq and its oil trade through the Kurdistan Region.

Yet the anti-McGurk growls from Ankara suggest that Turkey continues to pin US policies that it doesnt like on individuals and claim those individuals have gone rogue.

McGurk is not a rogue actor. Hes someone whos deeply committed to advancing the missions assigned to him by his commander-in-chief and hes done it for three presidents, said a Western source with close knowledge of McGurk. Hes never believed in carving up Syria, just like hes never believed in carving up Iraq. Hes trying to cultivate strong local partners to advance US interests. Hes driven by matching means with ends and hes often given few resources to accomplish significant tasks, the source added. One of his notable successes was negotiating the 2016 prisoner swap with Iran that saw four Americans of Iranian descent including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian freed in exchange for seven Iranians who were held on charges of violating sanctions.

A defining characteristic of McGurk is the ease and single-mindedness with which he shapes the missions that hes assigned. Hes a master at navigating power  a strategist, not an ideologue. As such, if Ankara were to turn a new page, as it keeps claiming it wants to do, it may well find a constructive partner in McGurk, be it in Syria, Iraq, Iran or Libya, over which he now holds sway.

And the Syrian Kurds may discover as their Iraqi brothers did that McGurk does not always pick their side. He was among the fiercest critics of the Iraqi Kurds 2017 referendum on independence.

In the first year of the war against IS in 2014, McGurk spent more time in Turkey than any other country in the region. He negotiated the deal to get Turkey to let the coalition carry out airstrikes against IS. It took almost a year. It was again McGurk who secured Turkish agreement to let Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga warriors transit through Turkey to help the YPG end the IS siege of Kobani, the Syrian town on the Turkish border where the US partnership with the Syrian Kurds was first forged.

Yet even after Kobani, Washingtons plan A was to use the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition against IS. Massive US air support helped those forces cross the so-called Marea line and move east to Manbij. The mixed Arab-Kurdish town where IS had planned the bloody Paris attacks would soon become the locus of Turkish-US tensions in Syria.

However, when Turkish-backed forces failed to capture Manbij, the Pentagon gave the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) the green light on Manbij, allowing them to seize territory west of the Euphrates River for the first time, something Turkey was viscerally opposed to.

The same pattern was repeated in Raqqa. Turkey was given over a year to come up with a rebel force to seize the jihadis capital. Ankara instead demanded that the Pentagon provide more US forces  some 10,000 of them  than it was willing to deploy of its own. Once again the SDF stepped in. Raqqa fell in 2017.

The emerging consensus was that Turkey was more motivated to attack the Syrian Kurds than to clear IS from its border.

Ankara did seek to build with the United States an alternative force through the Train and Equip program. The program failed, said Aaron Stein, research director for the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a think tank based in Philadelphia. He was referring to a now defunct CIA program to arm and train Syrian opposition rebels inside Turkey. The US plan then became to defeat IS and given the reality of geography and the need to work through a proxy, the YPG was the only option. Whereas it was a secondary priority for Ankara, as they focused first on the clandestine program to push [out Syrian President Bashar al-] Assad and then to frustrate the YPGs efforts, Stein added.

Domestic politics also played a big part in deepening the US-Turkish divide. The Kurds dizzying gains in Syria spooked Turkey into pulling the plug on peace talks with the PKK. Up to this day, Erdogan remains convinced that the United States had a finger in the failed attempt to bloodily unseat him in July 2016. It is frequently cited as one of the reasons the Turkish leader decided to acquire Russian S-400 missiles that are designed to shoot down US-made F-16s, which the coup plotters used to bomb the Turkish Parliament.

The move has pushed Turkish-US relations to the brink. Caving to congressional pressure in December, the Trump administration slapped sanctions on Turkeys state defense procurer under the Countering Americas Adversaries Act.

Turkey has already been kicked out of the F-35 consortium and will not receive any of the fifth generation fighter jets until it's removed the S-400s, or as Stein puts it, verifies nondeployment and nonuse through a credible monitoring mechanism. Antony Blinken, the Biden administrations pick for secretary of state, made clear that there will be no shift during his confirmation hearing on Jan. 19. The idea that a strategic  so-called strategic  partner of ours would actually be in line with one of our biggest strategic competitors in Russia is not acceptable, he said, hinting that further sanctions might follow.

Erdogan remains adamant, however, that Turkey will take delivery of a second shipment of S-400 batteries. Might he believe that the Biden administration will seek his ouster? His legendary paranoia will have been fed by Biden's refusal to indulge his request for a telephone conversation, as initially reported by the Middle East Eye.

Turkeys assault against the YPG in October 2019 offered a glimpse of what might follow, with Biden lashing out at Trump for greenlighting the invasion. Biden said he would have never allowed it and called Erdogan an "autocrat."

In December 2018, McGurk quit the administration in protest at Trumps announcement that he was pulling all US troops out of Kurdish-controlled northeast Syria. (Faced with a congressional outcry, Trump didn't follow through.) Freed of his bureaucratic straitjacket, the 47-year-old former lawyer began publicly taking aim at Turkey over its lax attitude toward IS. How else did Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi find sanctuary so near the Turkish border, McGurk mused in a series of tweets.

In sum, Turkeys real and self-inflicted problem is with a bipartisan consensus in Congress - and with the new president - that it's Ankara, not McGurk, that is going rogue. The priority, certainly as far as Syria is concerned, will be to undo the damage Trump appointees wrought by silently condoning Turkish aggression against the Kurds and turning a blind eye to the horrific abuses by its rebel proxies. As of Jan. 20 the message from Washington will likely be, No more free rides."

Editors note: This article has been updated since its initial publication.

Conor McGregor called the news of the lawsuits agianst him "old news".

Dublin UFC fighter Conor McGregor has reacted to a multi-million euro lawsuit lodged against him this week, describing it as old news.

A woman known to McGregor for many years filed the personal injury lawsuit against him and a co-defendant in the High Court in Dublin, the Irish Independent revealed earlier this week.

A second, smaller claim, also a personal injuries action, has been lodged by the womans mother.

The nature of the allegations made in the lawsuits cannot be disclosed at present for legal reasons.

Mr McGregor was asked about the lawsuits in the UFC 257 pre-fight press conference.

"Its old news, it was investigated thoroughly over the course of two long years and I was cleared of any wrongdoing, and thats it," McGregor said.

I have so much positivity in my life, I have got a great challenge ahead of me on Saturday night and Im very excited to get in there."

The matter was previously the subject of an extensive investigation by gardai.

However, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution decided no charges should be brought.

In a statement to Independent.ie earlier this week, Mr McGregors spokesperson Karen J Kessler said: After an exhaustive investigation conducted by the Gardai which, in addition to interviews of the plaintiff, included interviewing numerous sources, obtaining witnesses' statements, examining closed circuit footage and the cooperation of Conor McGregor, these allegations were categorically rejected.

The plaintiff knows the facts contradict the assertions in this lawsuit. Mr McGregor will dispute any claims and is confident that justice will prevail.

Both women suing Mr McGregor are represented by Coleman Legal Partners, a firm which specialises in personal injury.

Partner Dave Coleman said: Proceedings have been served. We can make no further comment as the matter is before the courts.

Mr McGregor is being represented by Michael J Staines & Company, one of the countrys leading law firms.

The two women are looking for two separate trials. It is thought each trial would involve several witnesses having to give evidence.

McGregor will return to the octagon in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, this Sunday morning for the first time since January 19 last year, when he squares off against Dustin Poirier for a lightweight bout.





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Members of the National Guard walk through the streets of Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

National Guard Protected Inauguration Without Incident, Spokesman Says

The approximately 25,000 National Guard members in Washington to help protect President Joe Bidens inauguration didnt have to deal with any security problems, a spokesman said Jan. 21.

There were no reported security incidents involving the National Guard on duty yesterday for inauguration support, Maj. Matt Murphy told The Epoch Times via email.

Guard personnel were deployed to the nations capital in recent days to assist Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and other law enforcement officials in securing the city following the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Fencing and barriers were erected around an area stretching 4.6 miles, with a focus on the Capitol building and other key government buildings. No sizeable protests appeared to take place; conservative leaders had encouraged people to stay home.

The U.S. Capitol Police told The Epoch Times via email that no arrests were made on Jan. 20. MPD arrest data showed it made no arrests that day.

The Secret Service made three arrests: two for unregistered ammunition and one for possession of a BB gun.

Members of the National Guard look on as people collect flags that decorated the National Mall in Washington on Jan. 21, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

A National Guard spokeswoman told The Epoch Times via email that personnel were deployed at the request of federal agencies and will stay as long as we are needed to meet their requirements.

If we have excess capability and capacity, we want to get those National Guard Soldiers and Airmen back home to their families and employers as soon as we can, she said.

In a statement, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard, said: Upon completion of the inauguration, we will continue to support federal law enforcement as requested. Our Guard members will return home as soon as conditions permit.

Christopher Rodriguez, director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Agency, told reporters that all Guard personnel are heading home but that the city has requested that the D.C. National Guard stay activated until Jan. 30 for traffic management and crowd control.

Officials are evaluating whether intelligence from federal partners would suggest that we need more presence, Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said, adding that she directed Rodriguez to begin working with our partners on a[n] enhanced posture to deal with the threat of white extremism and any other threat to our city.

Lets be clear, the threat of right-wing extremism is here, right? And we saw it on Jan. 6. And it will continue to be a persistent and real threat to the District of Columbia and to and to our region as well, Rodriguez said, referring to the breach of the Capitol by a group that included supporters of President Donald Trump and left-wing activists.
MECOSTA COUNTY, MI -- Two teens have confessed to a Halloween break-in at Stanwood Elementary School that resulted in thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Mecosta County Sheriffs Office deputies said Wednesday, Jan. 20, they had obtained confessions from a 14-year-old Stanwood boy and a 15-year-old Morley boy related to the break-in last October.

The break-in at Stanwood Elementary School, located at 156 Front St. about eight miles south of Big Rapids, resulted in damages totaling more than $57,000 in repair and clean-up costs, deputies said.

The confessions from the two boys were obtained after interviews and evidence collection by Mecosta County Sheriffs Office deputies.

The case will be turned over to the Mecosta County Prosecutors Office for review.

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The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
President Joe Biden prepares to sign a series of executive orders at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office hours after his inauguration in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Australian PM Wishes US President Joe Biden Every Success

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has congratulated U.S. President Joe Biden on his inauguration as the 46th president of the United States.

I wish him every success for his term in office and look forward to working with him and his administration on our many shared interests, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, Morrison said on Thursday.

The Australia-US Alliance is deep and enduring and built on shared democratic values such as the rule of law, respect for human rights and equality, freedom of religion and belief, freedom of expression and diversity of opinion, he said.

Morrison also congratulated Vice President Kamala Harris on her inauguration and as the first woman to hold the position.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese echoed the prime ministers congratulations.

America is a divided country and the last four years have been characterised by a president who often made decisions based upon Twitter, Albanese told ABC radio.

Albanese said that after more than four decades in Washington politics, Biden was perhaps the most experienced president in U.S. history and had a strong team around him.

The rise of Kamala Harris to the vice presidencya woman of colourreflects modern America as does Joe Bidens cabinet, he said.

Biden took the oath of office at noon on Jan. 20 administered by Chief Supreme Court Justice John Roberts. Harris was sworn in shortly before Biden.

Bidens inauguration took place amid unprecedented circumstances. The president delivered the inaugural address standing before a virtually empty National Mall due to security concerns stemming from the breach of the U.S. Capitol two weeks earlier. Instead of the customary crowd, organisers planted thousands of American flags on the mall.

Biden, 78, succeeds President Donald Trump, who skipped the inauguration. Vice President Mike Pence attended the ceremony alongside former Presidents Barack Obama, George Bush, and Bill Clinton.

Well press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain, Biden said.

The inaugural address, though not formally a policy speech, offered a glimpse into Bidens priorities. After addressing the pandemic of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, Biden touched on the issues of racism, the climate, domestic terrorism, and white supremacy. He then called for unity.

My whole soul is in this, bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation and I ask every American to join me in this cause, Biden said.

Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment and hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, joblessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great things, important things.

Earlier in the morning, Trump held a farewell event at Joint Base Andrews before boarding Air Force One en route to Florida. Trump told supporters that he will be back in some form.

Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this article.
Education Minister Peter Weir hopes the Executive can update schools next week on whether or not they can reopen.

Northern Irelands schools are due to open their doors after the mid-term break in February, but that was thrown into doubt after First Minister Arlene Foster confirmed that the current lockdown regulations have been extended until March 5.

Speaking alongside deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill during Thursdays Covid-19 press conference in Dungannon, Mrs Foster explained that the regulations will be reviewed again on or before February 18.

Ms ONeill added that there may well need to be further restrictions after March 5.

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Education Minister Mr Weir explained that the health paper that was discussed by the Executive on Thursday afternoon didnt directly mention schools.

Everything is a level of overall contribution and we saw the surge which took place particularly around the Christmas period, he told BBC Radio Ulsters Evening Extra. I dont think that was particularly linked in with schools.

What happens directly within schools has a limited amount of impact on the virus but what it does have is an element of behavioural aspects, particularly around freeing up adults to be in other places.

I think we do need to weight up all the factors. The overriding aim should ultimately be to have children directly in schools getting that face to face learning.

That is best for their future but that has got to be weighed up against the overall impact that is there in terms of contacts and how that impacts in on the wider public health considerations.

DUP leader Mrs Foster stated earlier that there was plenty of time to provide clarity for schools and parents.

It comes after another 21 coronavirus-related deaths have been reported here.

The Department of Health reports 16 died in the 24 hours up to 10am on Thursday. Another five died previously. The death toll has risen to 1,692.

Another 732 people have tested positive for the virus.

In the past seven days 5,563 people have tested positive. That is down on the 7,942 the previous week.

In total 98,351 people have been confirmed to have caught the disease since testing began following the outbreak in Northern Ireland.

Read More

There are 806 coronavirus patients in hospitals, down on the 987 a week ago. A total of 70 people are in intensive care.

Hospital are operating at 96% occupancy with four - the Royal, Ulster, Causeway and Antrim - operating beyond capacity.

There are 134 confirmed outbreaks of coronavirus in hospitals.

Read More

Meanwhile, the chief Executive of the Belfast Trust has made an emotional apology to the hundreds of cancer patients whose operations have been cancelled.

"We cannot treat everyone the way we would want to treat them, at the moment," she said.

None of this is easy, none of us wanted to be here ... there is moral distress amongst our staff, but that is nothing in comparison to the anguish and devastation those families are facing, particularly those who had a date for surgery which was then ripped out as we had to prepare for Covid, she said.

So, we are doing all we can."
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Private tutors charged with sex offences are continuing to work while on bail and even after pleading guilty, an investigation has found.

Dozens of them have been convicted over the past decade with victims often having been their pupils.

In one case, a maths tutor who last month admitted sexually abusing four children was still teaching a 15-year-old girl just days before his sentencing.

Unlike teachers, private tutors are not required by law to have criminal record checks to work with schoolchildren.

Campaigners have called on the Government to close the loophole 'as a matter of urgency' as the profession booms during the pandemic.

The Safeguarding Alliance said there was a worrying lack of parental awareness, particularly when so many families were looking for extra tuition to help their children keep up.

Chief executive Emily Konstantas said: We are failing so many children in this country with a lack of robust regulation and the management of registered sex offenders.

'We have to put their safety first. It is a matter of urgency.

Private tutors charged with sex offences are continuing to work while on bail and even after pleading guilty, an investigation has found. Yi Liu (pictured), 63, admitted last month to abusing four boys under the age of 13 between 2012 and 2018. Yet he was still tutoring a 15-year-old in GCSE maths just days before his sentencing on Friday at Southwark Crown Court

Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons education committee, said: 'While the vast majority of tutors do a remarkable job in trying to educate young people, the problem is that even having one case of abuse is one too many.

'It is, to me, unthinkable and unacceptable that any individual in the legal system for abuse is able to carry on tutoring.

'If that doesn't show where the system needs repairing, what does?'

The Daily Mail has found 36 cases of private tutors who have been convicted of sex offences since 2010.

The scale of the problem however is likely to be far worse as, due to the nature of the industry being unregulated, there is no centralised data held.

The offences range from an online tutor in Oxford caught exposing himself to a child in 2018 to a maths tutor from London jailed for sexually assaulting three pupils last year.

Worryingly, the list includes tutors who would not have passed background checks had they been required due to their offending history.

I went cold... my kids had been at risk Mother-of-two Tanvir Mukhtar went cold when she received the call from police. The private tutor employed to help her children's English and maths studies had been arrested, the officer said. Mohamed Qabri Anis, she learned, was accused of raping one of his pupils  a child under the age of 13. Mrs Mukhtar was shocked to find the 'very professional' man she had let into her 1.2million home every week was a paedophile. Mother-of-two Tanvir Mukhtar went cold when she received the call from police. The private tutor employed to help her children's English and maths studies had been arrested, the officer said A traumatic conversation followed with her two children  then aged seven and nine  but thankfully they were not affected. But she has warned other parents who, similar to her, may been convinced by a recommendation, to be vigilant when looking for tutors. The shocking incident in 2013 has seen Mrs Mukhtar give up her lucrative career in investment banking and set up her own tuition company Scholar Hub. Mohamed Qabri Anis, she learned, was accused of raping one of his pupils And she has called on the Government to make background checks compulsory  a 'no-brainer', she says. Mrs Mukhtar, 46, said: 'If I can get here, someone who hasn't had the same opportunities will be really, really vulnerable.' Having been recommended by a friend, Anis had not appeared 'nefarious in any way' during the weekly sessions at her home in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. Anis  aged 41 at the time  pleaded guilty to two counts of rape of a boy under the age of 13 in 2013. He was sentenced to life in jail at Reading Crown Court. Mrs Mukhtar added: 'Every parent I've told about this loophole cannot believe it's not a legal requirement to have a DBS [criminal record check].' Advertisement

In one shocking example, a convicted paedophile resumed working as a private tutor after finishing a rehabilitation programme for sex offenders.

Robert Mitchell was then jailed again a decade later in 2012 after he was found with almost a quarter of a million indecent images of children on his computers.

Among the hundreds of disks were pictures he had taken of a 17-year-old pupil, Bolton Crown Court heard.

Sentencing him to four years in prison, Judge Timothy Clayson expressed concern that Mitchell had been able to continue working as a private tutor despite his 2002 conviction.

The list also includes 63-year-old Yi Liu who admitted he was still giving private tuition to a schoolgirl despite last month pleading guilty to sexually abusing former pupils.

He is due to be sentenced today for abusing four boys under the age of 13 between 2012 and 2018.

In Yorkshire, meanwhile, a history tutor branded a 'predatory paedophile' in court had continued teaching youngsters for three years while on bail.

He paid boy for sex but showed no remorse An online history tutor branded a 'predatory paedophile' was able to continue teaching youngsters while on bail. Former council chairman Heathcliffe Bowen, 53, was seen as a pillar of the community and taught GCSE and A-level pupils privately for a decade. But in 2018 he was convicted of paying an underage boy for sex and taking part in sexually explicit online chats with children. Jailing him for five years, the judge said he had a 'deep and entrenched interest' in boys and had shown 'no remorse'. Former council chairman Heathcliffe Bowen, 53, was seen as a pillar of the community and taught GCSE and A-level pupils privately for a decade Yet it is understood he continued working as a self-employed history tutor from his arrest in 2015 right up until his sentencing. This is despite his bail conditions banning him from unsupervised physical or internet contact with any person under 18. Bowen was a well-known figure in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, where he had served as a parish councillor for 20 years and as council chairman three times. According to his LinkedIn profile, he continued helping A-level and GCSE pupils with their exam revision up until January 2018. That same month he was convicted at Bradford Crown Court of six offences relating to attempts to engage children in sexual activity and attempting to meet one child after sexual grooming. Bowen had claimed the online chats were fantasy and he never intended anything to happen. But Judge Jonathan David Durham Hall QC said: 'You have persisted in pursuing your lying account from start to Advertisement

Former council chairman Heathcliffe Bowen, 53, was seen as a pillar of the community and taught GCSE and A-level pupils privately for a decade.

But in 2018 he was convicted of paying an underage boy for sex and taking part in sexually explicit online chats with youngsters.

The private tuition industry has boomed in the past decade and is now worth about 2billion a year.

More than a quarter of secondary school pupils have at some point made use of a private tutor, according to educational charity The Sutton Trust.

Yet it remains unregulated despite more than 100,000 tutors estimated to be working full or part-time, according to The Tutors' Association.

Around half are thought to be private individuals who often rely on word-of-mouth recommendations.

Tutors are not currently required to have an Enhanced DBS Check, which flags if they have a criminal record or are banned from working with children.

Some tutoring companies recommend those signing up to pay 23 to have a Basic DBS Check, which anyone can take, to make their profile 'more appealing' to parents.

spokesman for the Disclosure and Barring Service  a governmental body helping employers make safer recruitment decisions  however said such checks are limited as they only reveal if convictions are 'unspent'.

Private tutor was able to continue teaching children despite pleading guilty to sexually abusing his pupils A private tutor was able to continue teaching children despite pleading guilty to sexually abusing his pupils. Yi Liu, 63, admitted last month to abusing four boys under the age of 13 between 2012 and 2018. Yet he was still tutoring a 15-year-old in GCSE maths online just days before his sentencing today at Southwark Crown Court in London. He had already been placed under strict bail conditions not to have unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18. These came into force after prosecutors found he had been able to continue working as a tutor for a year after he was first charged. Earlier this week the Mail tracked Liu down to his housing association flat worth around 770,000 in an exclusive neighbourhood of west London. Asked if he was still tutoring despite his guilty plea, he complained the latest lockdown had made it very difficult. 'At the moment only a GCSE pupil. I tutor her online,' he said. At a previous hearing, prosecutors called for tougher bail conditions that would stop him having unsupervised contact with children. John Riley, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant is still working under the same sort of work which lead to the offences.' Advertisement

They do not check if the applicant is on the Sex Offenders Register or if they are on the national Children's Barred List, which bans them from working with any under-18s.

Several of Britain's biggest tutoring websites have backed calls for a regulatory body and already ensure all their employees have an Enhanced DBS check.

The Tutors' Association, the only membership body for the profession, has called on the Government to recognise its register of certified individual tutors and companies.

Costing 99-per-year, members are signed up to the body's safeguarding policy, code of practice, and have an Enhanced DBS check.

Founder Chris Lenton said: 'We need a statutory instrument to say you have to be on the register. Any tutor worth their salt would then want the status of being recognised as a member. It's a very strong marketing tool surely.'

Anne Longfield, Children's Commissioner for England, said: 'It is very concerning that some who already have convictions for abusing children can evade detection because they are not required to provide a DBS check.

'The Government should look at this loophole and see how it can be closed.'
The World Health Organization (WHO) plans to approve several Covid-19 vaccines from Western and Chinese manufacturers in the coming weeks and months, an internal document seen by Reuters shows, as it aims for rapid rollouts in poorer countries.

COVAX, a global scheme co-led by the WHO, wants to deliver at least 2 billion Covid-19 doses across the world this year, with at least 1.3 billion going to poorer countries.

But it has so far struggled to secure enough shots due to a shortage of funds, while wealthy nations have booked large volumes of vaccines for themselves.

In the race to deploy shots, regulatory approvals are key to confirming the effectiveness and safety of vaccines, and to boosting output. But some poorer countries rely mostly on WHO authorisations as they have limited regulatory capacity.

The WHO is therefore "expediting" emergency approvals, according to a COVAX internal document, which cites data updated to Jan. 7.

The Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) could be authorised by the WHO in January or February, the document says.

The same vaccine produced in South Korea by SK Bioscience could be approved by the UN agency at the end of February, at the earliest, the document says.

As well as vaccines, regulators usually authorise their manufacturing processes in different plants.

SII chief executive Adar Poonawalla told Reuters last week he expected WHO approval "in the next week or two".

AstraZeneca and the WHO did not respond to requests for comment.

SK said it was not aware of the WHO's approval timeline.

The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed with Oxford University, has already been given emergency approval in Britain, while decisions in the European Union and the United States are close.

COVAX has supply contracts with AstraZeneca and SII for about 400 million doses and a non-binding deal for many more hundreds of millions, although the timing of possible deliveries is uncertain.

The WHO authorised the vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech at the end of December.

WHO officials have said they are seeking a supply deal with the U.S. pharmaceutical giant, which has already committed hundreds of millions of doses this year to several wealthy nations.

COVAX had not initially included the Pfizer/BioNTech shot in its shortlist for advance purchases.

Pfizer did not respond to a request for comment on whether a deal was close and whether it would involve only a limited number of doses this year.

The COVAX document also shows the WHO is expected to approve Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine, which is based on the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology as Pfizer's, at the end of February.

Moderna, whose vaccine is already approved in many Western countries including in the United States and the European Union, had no immediate comment.

The vaccine developed by Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which has a non-binding agreement to supply COVAX with 500 million doses over an unspecified timeframe, is expected to get WHO approval in May or June at the earliest, the COVAX document says.

J&J has not yet published results of its vaccine's Phase III clinical trials, but the EU has said it expects the company to apply for approval as early as February.

A J&J spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

The WHO is also considering possible quick approvals for two Chinese vaccines, the document shows.

Sinopharm and Sinovac have filed their applications with the WHO, which is reviewing them and could make decisions on both in March at the earliest, it says.

Neither vaccine was shortlisted by the WHO for possible advance purchase deals. WHO approval does not automatically lead to purchases by COVAX. It could also facilitate the rollout in poorer countries that acquire the vaccines directly.

Sinopharm has filed applications for two Covid-19 vaccines, but the possible March approval concerns only the one developed by its Beijing-based affiliate, Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., Ltd (BIBP), which has already been widely used for inoculations in China.

Sinovac has yet to release global results of its Phase III trials, but its vaccine has been approved for emergency use in countries including Brazil, Indonesia and Turkey.

Sinopharm and Sinovac did not respond to requests for comment.

There is no provisional timetable yet for the possible approval of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, despite its developers having filed the relevant documentation, the document shows.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), the main financial backer of Sputnik V, did not respond to a request for comment.
The world witnessed a real chaos few days back and the transfer of power was not very peaceful in the worlds oldest constitutional republic, however the transfer did happen on Wednesday on the West Front of the US Capitol, as Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (Joe Biden) was sworn in as the 46th President of the US. Joe became the president vowing a new day for the US after four years of tumult under Donald Trump who in an extraordinary final act snubbed the inauguration. Joe, putting his hand on a family Bible, repeated after Chief Justice John Roberts the presidential oath that he will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. His deputy, Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, also took oath as the new Vice President, becoming the first woman, Black person, and first Asian-American to serve in the position.

Joe vowed to defeat political extremism and domestic terror in his first speech as US president. In his first remarks, Joe said, Here we stand days after a riotous mob thought they could silence the will of the people. It will not happen, not today, not tomorrow, and not ever. He pledged to be honest with the country as it continues to confront difficulties, saying leaders had an obligation to defend the truth and defeat the lies.

Joe plans to start his new administration with orders to restore the US to the Paris climate accord and the World Health Organization. He will sign 17 orders and actions, hours after being sworn in as US leader to break from policies of departing President Donald Trump and set new paths on immigration, the environment, fighting COVID-19 and the economy.
One of the most hazardous jobs in Tajikistan is being a lawyer -- at least the type of lawyer who believes in genuine justice.



Buzurgmehr Yorov and Nuriddin Makhkamov are two examples.



Yorov suddenly faced criminal charges after daring to defend Tajik opposition figures in court and Makhkamov faced similar charges after trying to defend Yorov.



Both were convicted of fraud, inciting national, racial, local, or religious hostility, and extremism, despite the prosecutors' failure to present any evidence to support the charges. Yorov was sentenced in 2016 to 23 years in prison, with five additional years being added at a later trial, while Makhkamov was sentenced that same year to 21 years in prison.

Fast forward five years and you have Saidnuriddin Shamsiddinov, a 41-year-old attorney and former bailiff who was just sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison after a Vakhsh court found him guilty of seven crimes, among them the illegal sale of land, fraud, and purposefully spreading false information.



Shamsiddinov's relatives reject the charges and verdict and say the real reason for Shamsiddinov's imprisonment was his criticism about prosecutors and judges in posts on social networks.



RFE/RL's Tajik Service, known locally as Ozodi, spoke with Shamsiddinov's brother, Kamariddin, who said Saidnuriddin posted under the name Saidi Sadr and regularly denounced judges and prosecutors.



Kamariddin recounted one of these posts in which Saidnuriddin wrote: "Some judges in Khatlonembarked on the path of mistakes and decide the fate of people in the wrong way, unreasonably condemning many poor people."



Another of the posts read: "Judges of the Khatlon district court -- Boyzoda T.G., Akhmazoda M., and Rasulzoda -- violated the law for their own benefit."

These are exactly the sort of comments authoritarian Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has disingenuously called on citizens to make in order to rein in corruption and prevent flawed policies from continuing to damage society.



But in Tajikistan, authorities are sensitive to any criticism and those who criticize usually find themselves in court.



Fayzi Oli is one of Shamsiddinov's lawyers. He said the prosecution has a weak case.



"We reviewed all the material concerning the illegal sale of a plot of land. His father sold the land, and he is no longer alive, but the father's signature is still on the documents," Oli said, adding: "Regarding the publication of deliberately false information about the prosecutor, my client did not publish any illegal information."

Oli said that "as a lawyer, I testified at the trial that citizens have the right to complain to the president, the prosecutor-general, or the Supreme Court, but my colleague was all the same convicted for these reasons."



Another of Shamsiddinov's lawyers, Nusratullo Mirzoev, said his client used his final statement in court to declare his innocence and reject all the charges against him.



But the judge used the statement as evidence of Shamsiddinov's guilt.

Ozodi contacted the judge at the trial, Ahliddin Nazarzoda, but after hearing the question about Shamsiddinov, he hung up the phone and disconnected it.



Public prosecutor Abdumajid Saidzoda declared that allowing Shamsiddinov to remain free would be a threat to the safety of Tajik citizens.



Shamsiddinov's family plan to appeal the verdict, but in Tajikistan there is really no hope for an acquittal.



Saidnuriddin Shamsiddinov was only calling for a fair judiciary to emerge in Tajikistan, but he appears to have become the latest victim of an unjust practice that has been a hallmark of the country's court system throughout nearly 30 years of independence.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Southern Silver Exploration Corp. (TSXV: SSV) (OTCQB: SSVFF) reported today further intervals of gold-enriched oxide and sulphide mineralization in step out drilling as well as a significant downhole extension of earlier reported high-grade, silver-enriched polymetallic sulphide mineralization in drill hole 20CLM-125 at the Mina La Bocona zone, Cerro Las Minitas project, Durango Mexico.

New assay results from drill hole 20CLM-125 have extended an earlier reported 19.8 metre down hole mineralized interval to a full 50.6 metres (32.2m est. TT) of semi-continuous mineralization averaging 435g/t AgEq including new higher-grade intervals of:

a 9.3m down-hole interval (6.1m est. TT) averaging 344g/t Ag, 0.59g/t Au. 5.7% Pb and 3.9% Zn (728g/t AgEq; 18.5% ZnEq) ;

; a 2.2m down-hole interval (1.4m est. TT) averaging 520g/t Ag, 0.34g/t Au, 10.6% Pb and 9.8% Zn (1268g/t AgEq; 32.2% ZnEq) ; and

; and a 7.5m down-hole interval (5.0m est. TT) averaging 364g/t Ag, 0.3g/t Au, 7.0% Pb and 1.8% Zn (678g/t AgEq; 17.2% ZnEq);

Results from drill hole 20CLM-125 have also identified:

in the sulphide zone, a relatively narrow interval of bonanza-grade silver mineralization a further 60m down hole and adjacent to the Central Intrusion which returned a 1.4m interval (1.0m est. TT) grading 1070g/t Ag, 0.09g/t Au, 23.3% Pb and 3.2% Zn (1,937g/t AgEq; 49.1% ZnEq).

in the upper oxide-gold zone (first reported in NR-16-20, December 16th, 2020) an extension of the zone of mineralization to 56.8m (30.9m est. TT) averaging 0.87g/t Au and 24g/t Ag.

The mineralization identified in drill hole 20CLM-125 is the second, thick sulphide zone identified in this part of the Mina La Bocona target area. It represents a 12m to 25m lateral and down dip extension of mineralization first identified in drill hole 15CLM-078 from the 2015 drilling program and opens up the additional potential for further down-dip extensions of the sulphide mineralization which will be a continued focus of drilling in this current exploration program.

Results from drill hole 20CLM-127 which was cored up-dip from drill hole 20CLM-125, on the same azimuth, returned both gold-enriched oxide and deeper sulphide mineralization including:

a 43.2m down-hole interval (26.5m est TT) averaging 0.37g/t Au and 26g/t Ag of shallow oxide mineralization; and

of shallow oxide mineralization; and a 10m down-hole interval (6.1m est TT) averaging 162g/t Ag, 0.57g/t Au, 3.2% Pb and 1.3% Zn (359gt/t AgEq; 9.1% Zn) that correlates with the deeper sulphide mineralization

Assay results from drill hole 20CLM-127 complement the sulphide and oxide mineralization previously identified in both drill holes 20CLM-125 and 15CLM-078 and highlight the continued exploration potential of the sulphide mineralization to depth and of the shallow oxide mineralization laterally to the southeast. Further drilling is continuing as part of the 2020-21 program to test both of these mineralized projections.

The identification of new thick zones of high-grade sulphide mineralization on the east side of the Cerro, complements the results from earlier drilling and greatly adds to the company's confidence that it can meet or exceed its exploration goals. The now expanded oxide-gold zone remains an intriguing new target for further delineation in 2021.

President Lawrence Page, Q. C. noted: "The present mineral resource estimate is based upon results derived from drill holes situate on the West side of the Cerro. Results from seventeen drill holes located on the East side of the Cerro, many containing high-grade mineralization, are not included in the 2019 Resource Estimate. Drilling currently being conducted on the east side of the Cerro is producing significant values of both oxide and sulphide mineralization, the results of which, together with results of the seventeen drill holes previously drilled, will be incorporated into an updated 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate leading to further economic assessment studies incorporating all data later in 2021."





Figure 1: Plan Map of the Area of the Cerro showing the distribution of the CLM deposits and the location for new drill targeting, at the Mina La Bocona, South Skarn and Las Victorias targets.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5344/72524_6353e8a9346ba9a7_002full.jpg

Table 1: Select Assay intervals from Drill Holes 20CLM-125 and 20CLM-127 in the Mina La Bocona Target

Hole # From To Interval Est Tr Thck Ag Au Cu Pb Zn AgEq ZnEq Notes (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (%) Mina La Bocona Target 20CLM-125 23.8 80.6 56.8 30.9 24 0.87 0.02 0.6 0.4 131 3.3 Inc. New Assays inc. 31.4 34.1 2.8 1.5 72 5.09 0.08 1.0 0.5 552 14.0 Previously Released and inc. 48.9 52.3 3.4 1.8 57 2.59 0.03 1.2 1.7 377 9.6 Previously Released and 135.0 138.1 3.1 1.7 17 0.66 0.03 0.8 0.5 122 3.1 Previously Released and 216.8 267.4 50.6 33.2 224 0.29 0.03 3.6 1.8 435 11.0 Inc. New Assays inc. 221.8 227.8 6.1 4.0 421 0.45 0.01 5.5 1.9 704 17.9 Previously Released and inc. 237.8 247.1 9.3 5.2 344 0.59 0.04 5.7 3.9 728 18.5 New Assays and inc. 250.8 253.0 2.2 1.2 520 0.34 0.06 10.6 9.8 1268 32.2 New Assays and inc. 257.6 265.2 7.5 4.2 364 0.30 0.03 7.0 1.8 678 17.2 New Assays and 326.7 328.2 1.4 0.8 1070 0.09 0.12 23.3 3.2 1937 49.1 New Assays 20CLM-127 44.7 56.1 11.4 7.0 24 0.93 0.01 0.5 0.7 146 3.7 36% dilution and 132.5 175.7 43.2 26.5 26 0.37 0.02 0.5 0.4 89 2.2 inc. 132.5 134.6 2.1 1.3 131 2.56 0.15 4.3 3.6 633 16.0 and inc. 160.2 161.9 1.7 1.0 40 1.75 0.01 2.4 0.2 268 6.8 and 214.2 224.2 10.0 6.1 162 0.57 0.01 3.2 1.3 359 9.1 27% dilution and 288.9 292.0 3.1 1.9 199 0.25 0.01 1.2 1.0 298 7.6 and 301.3 307.6 6.3 3.8 62 0.13 0.01 1.6 0.6 146 3.7 32% dilution

Analyzed by FA/AA for gold and ICP-AES by ALS Laboratories, North Vancouver, BC. Silver (>100ppm), copper, lead and zinc (>1%) overlimits assayed by ore grade ICP analysis, High silver overlimits (>1500g/t Ag) and gold overlimits (>10g/t Au) re-assayed with FA-Grav. High Pb (>20%) and Zn (>30%) overlimits assayed by titration. AgEq and ZnEq were calculated using average metal prices of: US$20/oz silver, US$1650/oz gold, US$3.25/lbs copper and US$0.9/lbs lead and US$1.15/lbs zinc. AgEq and ZnEq calculations did not account for relative metallurgical recoveries of the metals. Ore-grade composites are calculated using a 80g/t AgEq cut-off in sulphide and 0.5g/t AuEq in the oxide gold zone Composites have<20% internal dilution, except where noted; anomalous intercepts are calculated using a 10g/t AgEq cut-off.

Approximately 7,500 metres of drilling have now been completed of the anticipated 10,000 metres of core drilling for the 2020-21 exploration program. Drilling which was paused for the Christmas break will continue in late January with one drill focused on the Mina La Bocona target and a second drill exploring the South Skarn target.

Drilling on the east side of the Cerro will test an approximate 800 metre strike length of the South Skarn Target and Mina La Bocona Target mineralized zones to depths of up to 650 metres as well as a high-grade hanging wall zone in the Mina La Bocona Target area. These drill targets are designed to increase the current mineral resource estimate of 24 million tonnes by approximately 30%.

The CLM Project remains one of the larger undeveloped silver-lead-zinc projects in the World and is wholly owned, unburdened by royalties, fully financed and fully permitted.

Cerro Las Minitas Project

The Cerro Las Minitas project is an advanced exploration stage polymetallic Ag-Pb-Zn-Cu Skarn/CRD project located in southern Durango, Mexico.

The Cerro Las Minitas project as of May 9th, 2019 contains a Mineral Resource Estimate, at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, of(1)

Indicated - 134Moz AgEq: 37.5Moz Ag, 40Mlb Cu, 303Mlb Pb and 897Mlb Zn

37.5Moz Ag, 40Mlb Cu, 303Mlb Pb and 897Mlb Zn Inferred - 138Moz AgEq: 45.7Moz Ag, 76Mlb Cu, 253Mlb Pb and 796Mlb Zn

A total of 150 drill holes for 67,375metres have been completed on the CLM Project with exploration expenditures of approximately US$27.0 million equating to exploration discovery costs of approximately C$0.09 per AgEq ounce to the end of 2020.

Table 2: Previously Reported 2020 Assay Results from the South Skarn and Las Victorias Target areas

Hole # From To Interval Est Tr Thck Ag Au Cu Pb Zn AgEq ZnEq Notes (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (%) Previously Reported South Skarn Assay Results 20CLM-118 170.1 177.0 6.9 4.0 109 0.14 0.02 1.8 2.1 259 6.6 27.50% inc. 174.2 175.4 1.2 0.9 412 0.14 0.06 7.8 9.2 1033 26.2 and 188.8 190.0 1.1 0.8 132 0.12 0.02 2.8 2.0 308 7.8 20CLM-119 95.0 96.5 1.5 1.1 54 2.83 0.01 3.6 0.4 417 10.6 and 206.4 210.7 4.3 3.2 99 0.27 0.01 0.7 0.6 165 4.2 41.9% dilution inc. 206.4 207.6 1.2 0.9 216 0.22 0.01 0.8 0.1 265 6.7 and 226.1 235.1 9.0 6.7 625 0.11 0.03 11.8 7.5 1298 32.9 40.8% dilution inc. 226.1 228.4 2.3 1.7 1338 0.15 0.04 25.9 17.6 2849 72.3 and inc. 232.0 233.3 1.3 0.9 1480 0.09 0.04 26.5 16.8 2973 75.4 and 241.5 243.0 1.6 1.2 112 0.07 0.02 2.2 2.1 272 6.9 20CLM-120 343.8 345.7 1.9 1.4 101 0.08 0.00 0.9 0.2 145 3.7 and 429.0 432.6 3.7 2.7 511 0.10 0.13 5.0 3.7 835 21.2 inc. 431.8 432.6 0.9 0.6 902 0.05 0.16 7.8 8.4 1496 37.9 and 441.0 442.3 1.3 1.0 51 0.07 0.06 1.5 1.1 153 3.9 and 450.8 452.9 2.1 1.6 182 0.23 0.21 4.4 4.1 522 13.2 20CLM-122 390.7 391.9 1.2 0.9 97 0.18 0.01 0.2 0.2 124 3.1 and 417.8 419.0 1.2 0.9 247 0.19 0.07 4.7 1.2 463 11.7 and 435.0 442.8 7.8 5.8 66 0.05 0.02 0.4 0.2 92 2.3 39.4% dilution inc. 442.1 442.8 0.6 0.5 237 0.07 0.02 0.9 0.2 281 7.1 20CLM-124 397.2 402.1 5.0 3.3 304 0.11 0.18 4.8 1.9 555 14.1 inc 400.1 401.0 0.8 0.6 607 0.15 0.49 11.0 3.4 1146 29.1 and 475.0 490.6 15.6 10.4 172 0.08 0.15 3.8 3.7 458 11.6 31.1% Dilution inc. 475.0 483.7 8.7 5.8 286 0.11 0.27 6.4 5.8 749 19.0 inc. 475.0 475.9 0.9 0.6 975 0.05 1.27 21.2 18.5 2503 63.5 and 498.0 499.9 1.9 1.2 303 0.05 0.02 7.1 5.8 755 19.2 inc. 499.0 499.9 0.9 0.6 544 0.05 0.02 13.1 9.1 1313 33.3 Hole # From To Interval

Est. Tr. Thck Ag Au Cu Pb Zn AgEq ZnEq Notes (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (%) (%) (%) (g/t) (%) Previously Reported Las Victorias 20CLM-121 678.6 679.1 0.5 0.4 155 1.79 2.28 0.1 22.8 1460 37.0 and 682.6 683.4 0.9 0.7 51 0.02 0.29 0.1 3.0 204 5.2 and 685.9 687.6 1.8 1.4 188 0.07 0.53 0.2 4.1 420 10.7 20CLM-123 134.6 140.8 6.2 4.3 33 0.94 0.00 0.3 0.4 136 3.4 and 199.3 205.3 5.9 4.1 63 1.58 0.07 0.8 0.9 259 6.6

Analyzed by FA/AA for gold and ICP-AES by ALS Laboratories, North Vancouver, BC. Silver (>100ppm), copper, lead and zinc (>1%) overlimits assayed by ore grade ICP analysis, High silver overlimits (>1500g/t Ag) and gold overlimits (>10g/t Au) re-assayed with FA-Grav. High Pb (>20%) and Zn (>30%) overlimits assayed by titration. AgEq and ZnEq were calculated using average metal prices of: US$20/oz silver, US$1650/oz gold, US$3.25/lbs copper and US$0.9/lbs lead and US$1.15/lbs zinc. AgEq and ZnEq calculations did not account for relative metallurgical recoveries of the metals. Ore-grade composites are calculated using a 80g/t AgEq cut-off in sulphide and 0.5g/t AuEq in the oxide gold zone Composites have<20% internal dilution, except where noted; anomalous intercepts are calculated using a 10g/t AgEq cut-off.

About Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

Southern Silver Exploration Corp. is an exploration and development company with a focus on the discovery of world-class mineral deposits. Our specific emphasis is the 100% owned Cerro Las Minitas silver-lead-zinc project located in the heart of Mexico's Faja de Plata, which hosts multiple world-class mineral deposits such as Penasquito, Los Gatos, San Martin, Naica and Pitarrilla. We have assembled a team of highly experienced technical, operational and transactional professionals to support our exploration efforts in developing the Cerro Las Minitas project into a premier, high-grade, silver-lead-zinc mine. The Company engages in the acquisition, exploration and development either directly or through joint-venture relationships in mineral properties in major jurisdictions. Our property portfolio also includes the Oro porphyry copper-gold project located in southern New Mexico, USA.

The 2019 Cerro Las Minitas Resource Estimate was prepared following CIM definitions for classification of Mineral Resources. Resources are constrained using mainly geological constraints and approximate 10g/t AgEq grade shells. The block models are comprised of an array of blocks measuring 10m x 2m x 10m, with grades for Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn values interpolated using ID3 weighting. Silver and zinc equivalent values were subsequently calculated from the interpolated block grades. The model is identified at a 175g/t AgEq cut-off, with an indicated resource of 11,102,000 tonnes averaging 105g/t Ag, 0.10g/t Au, 1.2% Pb, 3.7% Zn and 0.16% Cu and an inferred resource of 12,844,000 tonnes averaging 111g/t Ag, 0.07g/t Au, 0.9% Pb, 2.8% Zn and 0.27% Cu. AgEq cut-off values were calculated using average long-term prices of $16.6/oz. silver, $1,275/oz. gold, $2.75/lb. copper, $1.0/lb. lead and $1.25/lb. zinc. Metal recoveries for the Blind, El Sol and Las Victorias deposits of 91% silver, 25% gold, 92% lead, 82% zinc and 80% copper and for the Skarn Front deposit of 85% silver, 18% gold, 89% lead, 92% zinc and 84% copper were used to define the cut-off grades. Base case cut-off grade assumed $75/tonne operating, smelting and sustaining costs. All prices are stated in $USD. Silver Equivalents were calculated from the interpolated block values using relative recoveries and prices between the component metals and silver to determine a final AgEq value. The same methodology was used to calculate the ZnEq value. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves until they have demonstrated economic viability. Mineral resource estimates do not account for a resource's mineability, selectivity, mining loss, or dilution. The current Resource Estimate was prepared by Garth Kirkham, P.Geo. of Kirkham Geosciences Ltd. who is the Independent Qualified Person responsible for presentation and review of the Mineral Resource Estimate. All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and therefore numbers may not appear to add precisely.

Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and supervised directly the collection of the data from the CLM Project that is reported in this disclosure and is responsible for the presentation of the technical information in this disclosure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Lawrence Page"

Lawrence Page, Q.C.

President & Director, Southern Silver Exploration Corp.

For further information, please visit Southern Silver's website at southernsilverexploration.com or contact us at 604.641.2759 or by email at ir@mnxltd.com.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Southern Silver Exploration Corp. does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72524
Researchers from King's College London have shown that whole body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMRI) not only detects more myeloma-defining disease than positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) but that it also allows critical treatment to be initiated earlier.

In a study published today in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, researchers looked at 46 patients with suspected myeloma, a debilitating bone marrow cancer which sees 140,000 new cases each year globally.

Less than 50 percent of patients survive after five years and at present it is not clear which is the best imaging test to use.

Lead researcher Professor Vicky Goh from King's College London said WBMRI is the most sensitive test for bone marrow infiltration by myeloma compared to PET/CT or CT alone as this type of imaging shows up different processes within the skeleton.

"Our results showed that imaging with WBMRI changed how patients would have been managed by their doctors in 24 percent of cases, where review of clinical data alone would have resulted in surveillance only."

"What this ultimately means for patients is improved outcomes from earlier treatment."

"WBMRI resulted in a decision-to-treat in an additional 7 percent of patients compared with PET/CT."

Professor Goh said that WBMRI & PET/CT only agreed on a positive diagnosis of myeloma in 59 percent of patients. Just under half of the patients did not have FDG-avid disease and would have been undetected by PET alone.

Professor Goh said the study supports national guidance for improving healthcare distributed by The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) that WBMRI should be performed as a first-line imaging test for suspected myeloma.

"Earlier diagnosis and treatment is key to improving patient outcome. Forty percent of NHS hospitals still only perform X-rays, an insensitive test, for diagnosing bone disease in suspected myeloma. This clearly needs to change."

###
A lesson on anti-racism at San Franciscos academically elite Lowell High School turned hateful and obscene Wednesday, with public posts spewing derogatory, anti-Semitic comments and racist messages about Black people.

District officials said they were investigating the incident, adding that it appeared the system was hacked to gain access, although it was unclear whether that was from inside the district or outsiders.

Several students of color said that given the ongoing racism they experience at the school, they believe peers could be behind the attack.

This is Lowell behavior, said Shavonne Hines-Foster, a Lowell senior, who is also a student member of the school board.

After an anti-racism lesson, students were asked to share anonymous thoughts and ideas about the information, which were then posted by an adult moderator onto Padlet, an online bulletin board program. But instead of posting thoughtful messages as instructed, some messages  not approved by the moderator  included pornographic images, anti-Black and anti-Semitic slurs and other hateful comments, officials and students said.

One message also attacked President Biden, using a racial epithet and an anti-Semitic word, and saying he should die. F him. And f you, it said.

Its unclear how the perpetrators gained access to Padlet, which required bypassing the moderator, district officials said.

These actions were not committed in ignorance; they sought to perpetuate racism, anti-Blackness, and white supremacy, according to an email to city and district officials, which Hines-Foster co-wrote with other students and which had support from the Black Students Union. Lowell and SFUSD have a history further marginalizing and ignoring Black students when issues like racism and discrimination are raised.

District officials said they deactivated the forum and notified the district technology staff.

We are outraged and sorry this happened, on a day of history and unity, and all the more committed to continue our focus on dismantling racism in our community, said Principal Dacotah Swett in a statement.

Lowell is one of the top-performing public high schools in the country, with an academically competitive admission process.

More than 68% of the 2,900 students are either Asian American or white, a disproportionate number compared to district-wide enrollment, while less than 2% are African American and 12% are Hispanic or Latino.

A petition started on Thursday by Lowell math teacher and Black Student Union co-adviser Elizabeth Statmore called for a federal investigation into a possible cybercrime affecting core government functions.

The perpetrators would be held accountable through district policies, or state and federal laws, district officials said.

In addition, counselors were available for Lowell students, they said.

While we do not yet know who is responsible for this act, we do know that racism persists in our community and is harmful to everyone, especially our students of color, Superintendent Vincent Matthews said in a statement. We are committed to finding the perpetrators and ensuring full accountability for this heinous act.

School board President Gabriela Lopez said it was sickening that the students have to deal with this.

This incident is unfortunately not an isolated one and is an indication of the deeper problems our district must address, she said.

This isnt the first time the school has been forced to address racial incidents. In 2016, students walked out of class to protest a sign they viewed as racist. And when the school board voted recently to make the school's admission process a lottery rather and an academic selection for next school year, many students felt those opposing the plan used coded, racist language.

Hines-Foster, who is Black, said she has experienced many instances of racism during her years at the school and has been called a racial epithet by fellow students. In one case, the perpetrator was only required to write an essay about the origin of the word.

She said she has also experienced cyberbullying, stereotypes and indignities, including one student who asked her if Hines-Fosters mother, who owns a bakery, made fried chicken.

Lowell senior Michaela Pelta said she wanted the administrators to address the derisive slurs against the Jewish community as well.

The school has yet to address that this was too an anti-Semitic incident and has ignored the emails of Jewish students, said Pelta, who is the West Coast Jewish Student Union liaison.

The Jewish community has been deeply hurt by the neglect we have faced and would like to be heard.

Hines-Foster said that after initial complaints, the district responded with a form letter saying they suspected the system had been hacked and information technology staff was searching for the perpetrators.

In the email to officials, Hines-Foster, Justine Orgel and Lowell students asked why the district seemed to discount the possibility that their peers could have been responsible.

Swett was expected to communicate more fully with the school community about the incident later Thursday, district officials said.

Placing the responsibility on anonymous hackers completely disregards the rampant, unchecked racism at Lowell, the email from Hines-Foster and other students said. Lowell has become a breeding ground for racism. We urge you to consider the likely possibility that these were the actions of a Lowell student.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
President Donald Trump ended his presidency by granting clemency to 144 individuals, including one of his top fascist advisers, Stephen Bannon. On his way out of the White House, Trump issued 74 pardons and commuted the sentences of 70 others.

While there were a number of pardons and commutations for those convicted of low-level drug and weapons offenses, the vast bulk were reserved for convicted felons who had ties to Trump and were previously found guilty of evading or falsifying taxes, money laundering, insider trading or defrauding the US government.

Despite much speculation, Trump did not preemptively pardon himself, members of his family or those in the Trump organization. His lawyers advised against pardoning himself in light of the upcoming impeachment trial in the Senate, arguing that a self-pardon could give the appearance of guilt.

Now that he is a private citizen, Trump is also expected to face numerous lawsuits, civil and possibly criminal, in state courts, which will not be covered by a federal pardon. His legal advisers argued that a self-pardon could negatively impact his defense.

Topping the list of notable criminals to receive a pardon is former chief strategist and senior White House counselor Stephen Bannon. Prior to becoming CEO of Trumps 2016 election campaign, Bannon served as the executive chairman of Breitbart News, which, under his leadership, became the leading hate rag for the alt-right.

Steve Bannon in 2010 (Flickr/Don Irvine)

Bannons fascistic politics were welcomed on the campaign trail and in the White House. Through the slogan America First, Trump and Bannon articulated an ultranationalist, anti-immigrant, anti-Chinese, pseudo-populist message claiming to defend the interests of American workers by pitting them against their class brothers and sisters in Mexico, China and elsewhere around the world.

Bannon was forced out of his White House post after seven months during the fallout from the fascist Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017. There is speculation that it was Bannon who suggested that Trump say there were fine people on both sides, following the murder of antiracist activist Heather Heyer.

According to anonymous insiders cited by CNN and the Washington Post, there was considerable debate within the White House over the pardoning of Bannon, particularly in light of his role in the January 6 storming of the US Capitol. While legal advisers advised against a pardon, Trump, with an eye toward his continuing goal of building an American fascist movement, overrode their recommendations and granted the pardon.

That Trumps decision to pardon Bannon was motivated above all by political considerations is underscored by his final public statements. Trump ended a video address aired Tuesday night by declaring, The movement we started is only just beginning. This was followed by remarks at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday morning, where he closed out his speech with a menacing, We will see you soon.

Despite leaving the White House formally in 2017, Bannon has remained in contact with Trump throughout his presidency, including in the months following the 2020 election, when he, along with fascist White House advisor Stephen Miller, worked with Trump in the effort to overturn the election results.

It was reported on January 19 that an agency connected to Bannon sent 400,000 messages to Trump supporters urging them to attend the rally outside the White House on January 6 at which Trump urged his supporters to march on the Capitol and take our country back. The day before, during his January 5 War Room podcast, Bannon urged his listeners to descend on Washington D.C. promising, All hell is going to break loose.

Bannon used his pro-Trump and far-right credentials to fraudulently make money off of Trumps supporters, according to federal prosecutors. He was indicted in August 2020 on two counts of conspiracy for defrauding donors of a private fundraising scheme he helped engineer, ostensibly to help finance the construction of Trumps border wall against Mexico.

Bannon, along with associates Brian Kolfage, Andrew Badolato and Timothy Shea, set up an online crowdfunding site in 2018, claiming they would use 100 percent of donated funds to help finance the border wall project. The campaign raised some $25 million from donors to pay for about five miles worth of border fencing in Texas and New Mexico. Prosecutors allege over $1 million was laundered by Bannon, Kolfage, Badolato and Shea to pay for credit card debts, home renovations, jewelry, cosmetic surgery and various other personal expenses.

Other notable Republican and Democratic politicians and operatives pardoned by Trump include:

* Elliott Broidy helped raise millions for Trumps 2016 election campaign and afterwards served as the Republican National Committees national deputy finance chairman. Broidy pleaded guilty in 2020 to conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act. He was attempting to lobby Trump on behalf of Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, the alleged fugitive mastermind behind the 1 MDB scandal. As part of a previous plea deal, Broidy admitted to accepting $9 million from Low in order to persuade the Trump administration to drop the Justice Department investigation into the massive corruption case.

* Kwame Kilpatrick is a former Democratic State House Representative (1997-2002) and mayor of Detroit (2002-2008). In March 2013, he was convicted of 24 federal charges of racketeering, mail fraud, extortion and filing false tax returns. In October 2013, he was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison. Federal prosecutors wrote that Kilpatrick used his political office as a private profit machine.

* George Gilmore is the former chairman of the Ocean County Republican Party and is regarded as a powerful Republican power broker in New Jersey. He was convicted in April 2019 on two counts of failing to hand over payroll taxes withheld from employees to the Internal Revenue Service and of making false statements on a bank loan application. Gilmores pardon was supported by former New Jersey governors Chris Christie, James McGreevey, James Florio and Donald DiFrancesco.

* Salomon Melgen is an eye doctor from West Palm Beach, Florida whose sentence was commuted by Trump. He was sentenced in 2018 to 17 years in prison for stealing some $73 million from Medicare by persuading elderly patients to undergo unnecessary procedures. Melgen had also been accused of bribing Democratic New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez to intercede on his behalf in the Medicare case. Menendez was indicted on corruption charges in 2017, but the trial resulted in a hung jury, and the Justice Department subsequently dropped the case. According to the White House, Menendez supported Melgens clemency.

Last month, Trump issued a series of pardons for those connected with his 2016 campaign who were indicted and convicted as part of the anti-Russia Mueller investigation. Trump pardoned his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulous, political crony Roger Stone and former general and short-lived national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

In December, Trump also pardoned Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as three former Republican congressmen: Chris Collins (New York), Steve Stockman (Texas) and Duncan Hunter (California). Hunter and Stockman had both pleaded guilty to misusing campaign funds for personal expenses, while Collins had pled guilty to an insider-trading scheme and for lying to the FBI.

In addition to the above, previous pardons issued by Trump during his presidency include the former fascistic sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, Joe Arpaio, who was the beneficiary of Trumps first pardon in 2017. Arpaio was facing criminal contempt charges for defying a federal judges 2011 order to stop racially profiling Latinos, detaining them on suspicion of being undocumented and turning them over to federal immigration agencies.

Building up his fascistic base of support in the police and military, Trump followed his pardon of Arpaio with the 2019 pardoning of four war criminals, most notably US Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher. Gallagher was accused by his squad mates of multiple murders and was photographed holding up the recently severed head of a teenager being held by US troops, whom Gallagher had gutted moments before.

This was followed last month by Trumps pardon of four Blackwater mercenaries, Nicholas Slatten, Dustin Heard, Evan Liberty and Paul Slough. The four had been tried and convicted for their roles in the mass murder of civilians in Nisour Square, Baghdad during the Iraq War. At least 14 Iraqis between the ages of 9 and 77 were killed, and another 17 were injured.

While fascist coup plotters, war criminals, murderers , swindlers, cheats and convicted felons were granted clemency by Trump, there was no pardon for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange or NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. Assange remains a political prisoner in Londons Belmarsh Prison, and Snowden lives in forced exile in Russia. Their only crimes were revealing the crimes of the US government. Trump ignored the misdirected efforts of a section of those involved in the campaign for Assanges freedom, who focused their activities on pleading for a pardon from a fascistic president.
Although the Democratic Party regards China's rise as a major challenge to America's position as a global leader, which is no different from the Republicans, the two parties still hold different principles. The new Democratic administration has different opinions about how to handle the challenge posed by China. Based on populism, Trump was never able to consider Sino-U.S. relations rationally. After Biden's inauguration, it is expected that the relationship will see some improvements. The two countries could pool efforts in responding to such issues as climate change and the pandemic, thereby breaking the ice for a new period of China-U.S. relations. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who was named as a special presidential envoy for climate, has stated that the U.S. and China may resume cooperation in tackling climate change.

Of course, Joe Biden's inauguration doesn't necessarily mean a positive future for China-U.S. relations. Biden has appointed Kurt Campbell, a veteran in Asian affairs, as his senior official for Asia Policy. Campbell, who will serve as "Indo-Pacific coordinator," has been tasked with helping America "tackle a range of challenges from China." The move suggests the importance that the new administration has placed on Sino-U.S. relations. However, in a recently published article, Campbell said that there's a "need for an allied and partner coalition to address China's challenge." It's reasonable to believe that during Biden's presidency, China and the United States will compete and cooperate with each other in different areas. Meanwhile in some areas, competition and cooperation will coexist.

The Trump administration has damaged the support of the people, which will take time to restore. Within the U.S. government, voices calling for cooperation with China are not rare. Insightful ones from business leaders, academics and former government officials oppose the two countries' "decoupling." Many states in the U.S. also want to resume interactions with China, and their desire to strengthen trade and economic ties are strong. It is likely that the two governments will negotiate with each other over disagreements, thus establishing necessary rules for managing and controlling potential issues.

China has sent clear messages, expressing its wish for the new U.S. government to adopt a rational attitude; and for the two countries to focus on dialogue and cooperation, to help relations get back on track. This is the only choice that will benefit the two countries and beyond.

China Mosaic

http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

Seize the opportunity to reshape China-US relations

http://www.china.org.cn/video/2021-01/21/content_77140247.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn
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The Twitter logo appears on an updated phone post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Nov. 6, 2013. (Richard Drew/AP Photo)

UK MP Grills Twitter Executive Over Chinese Embassy Posts Justifying Genocide

A UK Member of Parliament grilled a top Twitter executive over why the company allows posts from the Chinese Embassy that she said justify an alleged genocide but permanently kicked then-president Donald Trump off the platform.

Twitters global head of public policy strategy and development, Nick Pickles, on Wednesday answered questions from members of the UK Home Affairs Select Committee during a session on online harms.

Conservative MP Ruth Edwards challenged Pickles on what she says is an inconsistency in the way the platform applies its policies.

On one hand you have President Trumps account suspended for inciting violence, she said. Fine. But on the other hand, your platform continues to allow a platform to embassies of the Chinese government based all over the world to defend and justify the violence and the genocide which they are carrying out against their own people.

Pickles said that Twitter now puts an explicit and obvious label on state media and government accounts. If you click through that label, we give you the context that Twitter is blocked in this country by the Chinese government, he said. That context allows an informed debate.

Removing accounts to protest against censorship of Twitter in China doesnt actually further the public conversation, Pickles said.

Nick Pickles, global senior strategist for public policy at Twitter, testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee in Washington on June 26, 2019. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Pickles told the MPs committee that they were trying to strike a balance. The fact that this conversation is happening in public, on Twitter, I think gives us a greater global public conversation to hold governments like the Chinese government to account, he said.

Twitter, however, did lock the account of Chinas U.S. embassy for a tweet that defended Chinas policy towards Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, according to Reuters. Twitter said it violated their policy against dehumanization.

The tweet, posted on Jan. 7, was hidden by Twitter on Jan. 9. The tweet must be manually deleted by the embassy to regain access to their account. The account was still locked on Jan. 20, according to Bloomberg.

Inconsistency

Edwards further challenged Pickles over the consistency of Twitters actions. She said that in America people at least had the freedom to take to Twitter to express how appalled they were with Trump over his actions, but the Chinese people cant take to Twitter to give their own voice at all, because, as you say, its banned in China.

She mentioned a message retweeted by the Chinese Embassy in the UK, which claims forced labour is the biggest lie of the century that aimed to restrict and suppress the relevant Chinese authorities and companies and contain Chinas development.

Youre right, it does have your Chinese government label on there, she said, adding that the origin of the message is obvious. But I just cant, I cant understand how thats consistent with the action that youve taken against the presidentthe former presidentof the United States.

A number of political leaders around the world and civil liberty organisationsmany of them critical of Donald Trumps presidencyhave expressed concern over social media companies pulling the plug on his accounts.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Twitters ban on Trump problematic.

This fundamental right can be intervened in, but according to the law and within the framework defined by legislatorsnot according to a decision by the management of social media platforms, her official spokesperson said.

Clement Beaune, the junior minister for European Union affairs, said he was shocked a private company made this kind of decision.

Norways left-wing Labor Party leader Jonas Gahr Stre said that Big Tech censorship threatens political freedom around the world. He said Twitter needs to apply the same standard globally that it did to Trump.

The Australian government has also called the ban on Trump an act of censorship.

In Russia, Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny said he believed the ban was an unacceptable form of censorship and was based not on a genuine need but rather Twitters political preferences.

Victoria Kelly-Clark contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 21:33:25|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan students who excelled in the 2020 Huawei ICT competition global finals were on Thursday presented with medals, certificates and mobile phones at a ceremony graced by senior government officials and business executives.

Simon Nabukwesi, principal secretary in the State Department of University Education and Research, hailed the Huawei-sponsored ICT competition, saying it has boosted digital literacy in the country.

"The ICT Competition is a unique contribution that the private sector can provide that significantly enhances the quality of our ICT education," said Nabukwesi.

He said that improving digital skills among Kenyan youth is key to address unemployment while positioning the country as a regional knowledge economy hub.

Three Kenyan teams that included students and their tutors who were shortlisted for the Huawei ICT competition global finals, competed under the Network and Innovation tracks.

The 2019-2020 digital literacy contest attracted more than 6,400 applicants while 100 proceeded to the national finals, five teams qualified for the regional finals and three teams were shortlisted to represent the country at the global finals.

Participants at the Huawei sponsored digital skills contest were evaluated on their knowledge of emerging technologies like Internet of Things (IOT), big data and artificial intelligence.

Frank Yang, vice president of Huawei Southern Africa region, said the Chinese telecommunications company has leveraged on partnership with governments and academic institutions to boost digital literacy in African countries.

"Huawei has played an important role in the development of ICT Talent in these countries for many years now, and we are seeing the efforts from us as well as from governments and other partners pay off," said Yang.

"Investing in education is not only our social responsibility but also our business priority to help grow the ICT sector and to help grow the economies of the countries in which we work," he added. Enditem
WASHINGTON  President Biden, seeking to assert leadership over the coronavirus pandemic, signed a string of executive orders and presidential directives on Thursday aimed at creating the kind of centralized authority that the Trump administration had shied away from.

The orders included new requirements for masks on interstate planes, trains and buses, the creation of a national testing board and mandatory quarantines for international travelers arriving in the United States. Mr. Biden predicted that the national death toll from Covid-19 would top 500,000 next month, refusing to play down the carnage that his predecessor was loath to acknowledge.

The mask requirement for public transportation, coupled with the order Mr. Biden issued on Wednesday requiring mask-wearing in all federal facilities, edges the country toward the kind of comprehensive mask mandate that has dominated debate at the state and local level between public health advocates and those defending what they called individual liberty.

Mr. Biden described his approach as a full-scale wartime effort, but his chief medical adviser for the coronavirus, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, made it clear how difficult the task would be. Appearing in the White House briefing room for the first time since November, Dr. Fauci said powerful treatments using manufactured antibodies, which were used on President Donald J. Trump, were not effective against more infectious variants of the virus circulating in South Africa and Brazil, which have not yet emerged in the United States.
MERIDEN  The chairwoman of the City Council committee formed in response to the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests last summer has resigned from that board a month after taking the job, she said Wednesday.

City Councilor Nicole Tomassettis full-time job as a lobbyist at a government relations firm in Hartford absorbs too much time for her to also fulfill the ambitious goals of the Use of Force Review Committee, she said.

I was hoping that I could handle both, but as soon as the (state legislative) session started, it quickly became evident that I wasnt going to be able to give the board the time it needed, Tomassetti said. I would just caution that it needs someone who has the time to really give to it. I think it will be a challenging position to fill.

During its meeting Tuesday night, the council appointed Councilor Michael Cardona, who also serves as deputy mayor, to replace her. Tomassetti was appointed chair of the Use of Force Review Committee during its first meeting on Dec. 16.

City leaders formed the board last summer in response to the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, during his arrest by a Minnesota police officer. Councilors condemned Floyds treatment and sought to reassure the city that such brutality wouldnt happen in Meriden.

The committees goal is to study whether Meriden needs another committee  one charged with reviewing police use of force  and to suggest how the latter panel might work.

But if its members determine that such a police review board is feasible, it could lead to a select number of residents having indirect but close oversight of police conduct, something Meriden has never had and a rarity in Connecticut.

Mayor Kevin Scarpati told the eight-member committee during its first meeting that it could determine that a civilian police use of force review committee is unnecessary. Of the 11 use of force complaints filed against city cops since 2018, only one complaint, in 2019, was found to be justified. The rest were dropped or deemed unjustified.

Thats one justified complaint against a city police department that annually handles about 2,100 arrests, 23,000 calls for service and 44,400 self-initiated tasks, including motor vehicle stops, building checks and special patrols, according to a report police wrote for the council.

Cardona said he regretted but understood Tomassettis decision because he agrees generally with her that police could be more transparent. Regular reviews of police conduct and department data by a use of force committee will improve police standing with the public and help curb police excesses, he said.

It was unfortunate because I was really happy she got the position, but obviously work obligations have to come first, said Cardona, a retired state parole officer who was elected to the council in 2015 and became the councils Public Safety Committee chairman in 2017.

The chairperson of the committee will have a lot of work to do, said Tomassetti, who works for Capitol Strategies Group, which helps businesses and other organizations, such as unions, work with the Legislature.

Besides helping decide whether a use of force committee is necessary and shaping it to Meridens needs and state law, the chairperson will have to keep many city groups in the loop as the committees work progresses, including the police union and city and neighborhood leaders, she said.

Its a lot of different meetings with different stakeholders, Tomassetti said. Even setting basic meetings (and getting people together) will be difficult.

nsambides@record-journal.com203-317-2279Twitter: @JrSambides
As the U.S. marks one year since the arrival of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus has made history in epic and terrible ways. But it also sparked innovative and inspiring science, say researchers who raced to establish registries of COVID-19 patients.

Their efforts have elements of a medical drama, with mysteries to unravel, lives on the line and obstacles to gathering even basic details. Researchers were forced to adapt quickly and collaborate creatively.

And beyond answering urgent questions about the disease, leaders of those efforts say what they learned might change the way such work is done in years to come.

Dr. James de Lemos, a professor of medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas who helped create one such registry, said the crisis helped researchers cut through red tape and led them to adapt new technologies in ways that would have developed much more slowly without the pandemic.

Registries are a basic scientific tool. The usual work of setting one up takes years. Even then, the projects done from a registry usually involve a handful of investigators working on one or two projects at a time with a centralized corps of statisticians, he said. But as COVID-19 cases exploded across the country last year, "we had to do something different to shorten the time window from idea to discovery."

De Lemos calls it "burst science," a burst of speed or creativity from many players. "We democratized the process, which allowed us to basically put scientific discovery in many more hands."

The need to work quickly and in entirely new ways was also part of the process for Dr. Monika Safford, chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. The first U.S. coronavirus case was confirmed last Jan. 20, and by mid-February, "I recognized that we were going to be in deep trouble because we weren't taking the public health measures that needed to be taken," she said.

Chaos followed as virus cases spiked and doctors struggled with shortages of protective gear, hospital and intensive care beds, and even personnel; limits on testing; and a lack of information on treatment. Safford called it a "resource-scarce environment combined with knowledge scarcity. I couldn't do anything about the resource scarcity. But I could do something about the knowledge scarcity."

That something: build a registry, with the goal of answering doctors' most burning clinical questions.

Getting even basic details from patients was a challenge, as gear shortages limited who could get close to patients. Technology came to the rescue, making it possible to link attending doctors with medical students, who weren't allowed on-site but could review and collect data from medical charts. Graduate and undergraduate students at Cornell University's campus in Ithaca, New York, and elsewhere crunched statistics.

The registry quickly provided crucial details that helped physicians predict who was most likely to need intensive care. Eventually, it gathered data on more than 4,000 patients. The team published last April in the New England Journal of Medicine what Safford said was the first front-line report on COVID-19 patients in the United States. Among other things, it suggested obesity made a patient more likely to need a ventilator.

"We got that published within just about six weeks of the first patient coming to our front door," she said. "And that's the kind of speed that we should be shooting for."

Many COVID-19 registries are up and running. Some gather information on groups such as health care workers or college athletes; others focus on specific diseases. The one de Lemos co-leads, the American Heart Association's COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry, focuses on cardiac issues. It launched last April and currently includes more than 32,000 patients from 110 sites.

The effort made use of a technology platform developed by the AHA that centralizes data, standardizes tools and allows multiple teams to collaborate through cloud computing.

Even before the pandemic, scientists had been exploring such tools. But the demand for information motivated everyone to make it work as quickly as possible, he said.

Preliminary research from the registry showed rates of heart attack, heart failure and stroke in COVID-19 patients were lower than expected, de Lemos said. But data published last November in the AHA journal Circulation pointed to a higher risk for obese patients, particularly in younger people. Other research highlighted how COVID-19 has disproportionately harmed Black and Hispanic communities.

De Lemos and Safford both say studies from their registries will lead to further insights on the disease. "There's a lot more coming soon," de Lemos said.

For him, building a registry has helped him and his colleagues practice ways of being creative, of "thinking on your feet, and recognizing that you have to be flexible and adaptable," de Lemos said.

He thinks time will show that "in many areas, COVID is going to have forced or accelerated transformations." Or, put in terms he said any "This Is Spinal Tap" fan could appreciate, "I think we've kind of turned things (up) to 11."

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

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
ALBANY  A local doctor pleaded guilty to unlawful drug distribution and identify theft Thursday in connection with a kickback scheme authorities say he crafted with patients to obtain drugs for himself.

According to the U.S. attorney's office, 52-year-old Scott McMahon of Queensbury acknowledged as part of his guilty plea that from at least December 2018 through August 2019 he provided certain patients with prescriptions for methylphenidate  the generic version of Ritalin and a Schedule II controlled substance  with the intent of having them kick back a portion of each prescription to him for personal use.

As part of the scheme, McMahon admitted to obtaining the names and birth dates of patients children and using that information to issue methylphenidate prescriptions in their names. The parents would then pick up the prescriptions from pharmacies in New York and Vermont and split them with McMahon.

At the time of the crimes, McMahon had a medical practice in Clifton Park. He previously maintained offices in Albany and other locations in the Capital Region. He specialized in psychiatry and addiction treatment.

The U.S. attorney's office also said McMahon improperly prescribed ketamine intranasal spray to a person who had no legitimate medical need for it. Federal authorities say a sampling of McMahons records showed he failed to record dosage amounts for the ketamine, along with patient names and who was administering the drug. He also failed to conduct an initial inventory when he began dispensing ketamine, they said.

On Thursday, McMahon pleaded guilty to distributing controlled substances outside the course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose, and to misusing personal information in the course of fraudulently obtaining controlled substances from pharmacies.

He agreed to forfeit his New York medical license and pay $43,225 to settle civil penalty claims  an amount authorities say was based on his inability to pay a higher amount.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2021 before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas McAvoy. On the aggravated identity theft conviction, McMahon must serve two years in prison. On the drug conviction, he faces up to an additional 20 years, and will also be ordered to serve at least three years of post-imprisonment supervised release.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, State Police and the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement investigated the case.
The University of Florida (UF) College of Pharmacy's online graduate program in pharmaceutical outcomes and policy today announced the launch of a new track, Pharmaceutical Value Assessment and Communications. It is the only graduate program available that develops applied skills to translate data into accurate and compelling communication tools used by healthcare professionals, payers and regulators. The program is designed for working professionals and offers certificate, M.S., and M.S. M.B.A. degree options.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005015/en/

Laura E. Happe, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Director of Online M.S. Program (Photo: Business Wire)

"Our Pharmaceutical Value Assessment and Communications program is delivered by professors from the top-5 ranked UF College of Pharmacy who have real-world experience synthesizing clinical, economic and patient-reported data into value messages. We equip students to use data visualization and evidence-based storytelling to improve decision-making and health outcomes," says Professor Randy Hatton, BPharm, Pharm.D., FCCP. Graduate Director Laura E. Happe, Pharm.D., M.P.H., adds, "There is a high demand for professionals who can interpret and translate complex data into impactful communication tools. Ours is the first graduate program to specifically focus on communications to healthcare professionals, payers and regulators."

Setting the specialty track apart from other journalism or medical writing graduate programs is the emphasis on applied learning and focus on value. Students learn how to assess medical evidence and develop scientifically-based content powered by health economics and outcomes research. Other programs focus on patient-directed communications rather than communications to policy and medical decision-makers. Dr. Happe notes, "Our program addresses an unmet need in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. According to a recent benchmarking survey from HealthEconomics.Com, 82% of pharmaceutical communications professionals agreed that more training in value communications is needed. UF is filling that need better than any other academic institution or industry training program."

Interested students may learn more by visiting the online graduate program's website (onlinepop.pharmacy.ufl.edu), by viewing a recent on-demand informational webinar (onlinepop.pharmacy.ufl.edu/programs/webinars/), or by contacting Associate Program Director, Heather Steingraber (hsteingraber@cop.ufl.edu).

Employers can learn more about corporate partnership opportunities by contacting Dr. Laura Happe (lhappe@cop.ufl.edu).

Top 5-Ranked University of Florida College of Pharmacy

Ranked by U.S. News World Report as the No. 1 pharmacy college in Florida and No. 5 nationally, the UF College of Pharmacy has been developing future leaders in pharmacy practice and science for nearly a century. At campuses in Gainesville, Jacksonville, and Orlando, award-winning faculty aim to improve the health of Floridians and people across the world through pharmacy education, high-impact research, and clinical innovation. As one of the top 10 federally funded pharmacy colleges nationally, the UF College of Pharmacy features preeminent researchers who are leading major medical breakthroughs in such areas as drug discovery and development, drug safety, and precision medicine. For more information, visit pharmacy.ufl.edu.

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by Nirmala Carvalho

Due to the pandemic, many meetings took place with very few people but with live streaming. Bishop Machado of Vasai stressed prayer and commitment to reconciliation and unity among the Churches, in the human family and in creation.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  The restrictions on religious celebrations caused by the pandemic have not stopped activities in India for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which, like every year, Churches around the world are holding from January 18 to 25.

We have printed booklets in English and Marathi (the local language) and every day during Mass we offer the faithful reflections, said Bishop Felix Machado of Vasai, secretary general of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India, during the presentation of the initiatives organised in his diocese.

The booklets are taken from the aid prepared by the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and by the Ecumenical Council of Churches. Each year a verse from the Bible is chosen as the theme, which this year is: Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit (Jn 15.5-9).

Tomorrow we will hold an online meeting and prayer service; many pastors of other Churches will take part with their respective congregations, said Bishop Machado. I will propose the reflection, while the local pastor of the Bible Society of India will comment on the Word of God during the celebration.

We always do this in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity; this year it will be in virtual form. We already had a preparatory meeting which the pastors attended. It was encouraging to see the common commitment to prayer and Christian unity.

In this week's Masses, every day we propose reflections on our vocation to prayer and commitment to reconciliation and unity in the Church, in the human family and in creation, explained the bishop of Vasai.

The commitment to Christian unity is part of our faith and we must make all Christians understand that they are called to live it personally.

In the Archdiocese of Bombay (Mumbai), a liturgical service was already held in the presence of a limited number of people but with live streaming, led by Auxiliary Bishop John Rodrigues, responsible for ecumenism, together with Pastor Abhijeet Sasane of the Methodist Church and Fr Jakob of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, in the presence of the Daughters of St Paul.

We followed the Benedictine tradition, Bishop Rodrigues told AsiaNews, proposing three moments in the rite. In the first we put the unity of the person in Christ at the centre; in the second, the desire to rediscover visible unity among Christians; and in the third, unity among peoples and with creation.

After the homily by the Methodist pastor, all those present lit a candle from the paschal candle because, as Bishop Rodrigues explained, each of us is called to illuminate the world around us with the light of Christ and his Gospel. And we can do it only if we always remain united to him.
An employee in Fayetteville City Schools tested positive for coronavirus.

The employee works at Ralph Askins School.

The district says no contact tracing was necessary, because the employee has not been in direct contact with anyone in the building.

Wednesdays announcement says Fayetteville City Schools asks that parents continue to check their childrens temperature prior to sending them to school each day, and if your child has any of the COVID-19 symptoms, as outlined by the Tennessee Department of Health, we ask that you keep your child at home.

Read more about cases previously confirmed in the district here and here.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
The track and field world is still talking about Ziyah Holmans debut for Michigan last weekend.

The freshman, running the anchor leg for the schools womens 4x400 relay team, made up four-second deficit with a 51.79 split to help the Wolverines capture the race at the Simmons-Harvey Invitational.

Later in the meet, Holman crushed the competition in the 600-meter event with a time of 1:29.27  four seconds better than the nearest challenger.

But what she did in the 4x400 relay was mind-blowing.

Just go test them, honestly, Holman told Michigan Daily. Just go get them, see how far you can get. As the race keeps going, you see yourself getting closer. Like oh my God, Im actually getting closer. Why would I try so hard and not try to win?

Her performance may have surprised many, but not Holman.

All the time in high school, honestly, said the Washington D.C. native when Michigan Daily asked about her comeback. That was my thing.

According to Michigan, Holman was one of the top high school recruits in the country.

And she showed everyone why.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
The poet W.H. Auden said that to understand your own country, you ought to have lived in at least two others.

As a historian, I've taken a different tack: to show readers what life was like for people living in the 14th century; in Elizabethan England; during the Restoration of 1660; and the Regency some 160 years later.

That way, I believe, we might be able to see our own lives and times in a different and revealing light.

When I was researching my 'guide' to medieval England, no writer brought to life that period as richly and vividly as Geoffrey Chaucer, father of English literature and the greatest poet of the Middle Ages.

Which is why I read with such dismay that a British university is now proposing to stop teaching Chaucer and his great medieval contemporaries to English literature students  indeed, to stop teaching all literature before 1500AD  in favour of modules on race and sexuality in a new, 'decolonised' curriculum.

I read with such dismay that a British university is now proposing to stop teaching Chaucer (pictured) and his great medieval contemporaries to English literature students  indeed, to stop teaching all literature before 1500AD  in favour of modules on race and sexuality in a new, 'decolonised' curriculum

If this goes ahead, out will go Chaucer's magnificent Canterbury Tales, along with the epic poem Beowulf, Viking sagas and texts covering the legend of King Arthur.

They will be replaced with a 'selection of employability modules' and a 'chronological literary history', as outlined by the University of Leicester's management.

Thank goodness that Shakespeare  born in 1564  still makes the cut!

I find these proposals not only depressing but profoundly wrong  as well as incredibly short-sighted and counter-productive.

For no one understood both his own era and the human condition better than Geoffrey Chaucer.

His endlessly fertile imagination held up a light to his society  and, as anyone who reads him now discovers, it can still do the same today.

Chaucer  who led a fascinating life as MP, courtier, diplomat and civil servant  set in motion through his poetry a brilliant tradition.

If this goes ahead, out will go Chaucer's magnificent Canterbury Tales, along with the epic poem Beowulf (pictured: first folio of epic poem), Viking sagas and texts covering the legend of King Arthur

Unlike most educated people, he wrote not in Latin or French, but proudly in English: the language spoken by ordinary people.

In doing so, he captured the voices of characters who, while six centuries old, even now leap vividly from the page.

The Canterbury Tales, his greatest work, describes a group of pilgrims, of all social classes, who are travelling to the Kent town together and who tell stories to pass the time.

The best storyteller, they agree, will win a prize at the end.

These men and women may be pilgrims, but as Chaucer shows us, they are as much interested in the earthly as the celestial.

There's scandalous extra-marital sex (including, at one point, up a tree), prostitution (a monk is the procurer), scatology and other shocking vulgarity  but there's plenty of nuance, too.

In The Knight's Tale, two great men, heroes of their time, are drawn into a violent duel over a woman  a shared passion as old as humanity. Quite simply, all human life is here  and it transcends time. What is that if not 'diversity'?

Chaucer, the Father of English Literature Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1342 - 1400) ranks alongside William Shakespeare as one the most important poets of the English language. His masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales, is considered one of the first works of modern English, marking a shift from the Old English which preceded the Middle Ages. For this reason he is described as 'the first finder of our language.' The Canterbury Tales was hugely popular in Medieval England because it was one of the few works which was written in English rather than French - the language of the ruling classes. Chaucer's poem follows a group of pilgrims on their way from London to Canterbury to visit the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at the cathedral. The pilgrims, including Chaucer himself, have a story-telling contest on their way to Canterbury and their 24 stories form the basis of the narrative. The enduring popularity of the work is testament to the humour - often bawdy, the characters and the vivid descriptions of the various social groups from knights to cooks. Pilgrims tell tales of varying tones, some are pious and witty, others are vulgar and comic. Chaucer originally planned to write more than a hundred tales but only completed 24. In surviving copies the stories appear in various orders with the Hengwrt manuscript, held in the National Library of Wales, considered to be the most accurate. Chaucer was born in London, his father was a wine maker as per family tradition. In addition to his literature, Chaucer contributed to society as a courtier, diplomat and civil servant and was the trusted aide of three successive kings: Edward III, Richard II and Henry IV. In 1994, literary critic Harold Bloom placed Chaucer among the greatest Western writers of all time. Such is the respect for the writer, he was first person to be buried in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner. Advertisement

The unforgettable Wife of Bath holds her own among the bickering pilgrims and, insisting loudly on her independence, refuses to play along with the sexist customs of her society.

Like Dickens, Chaucer was a genius who could look at the people around him and capture their essence in a few short words.

The vivid historical details are compelling. From his Shipman's Tale I learnt how high-ranking guests would tip their host's lowliest servant.

From his Reeve's Tale, I learnt even a mean-spirited miller would offer penniless students a bed for the night if they had nowhere else to go  even though it meant them sharing a room with the miller and his family.

But Chaucer also explores the timeless passions and foibles of men and women. How so? Well, those ungrateful students in The Reeve's Tale go on to seduce the miller's wife and daughter.

In The Knight's Tale, two great men, heroes of their time, are drawn into a violent duel over a woman  a shared passion as old as humanity.

Quite simply, all human life is here  and it transcends time. What is that if not 'diversity'?

Too many cultural commentators and young people  and university departments  seem to think diversity is a new phenomenon. But we've been diversifying since the dawn of time.

And what about the Anglo-Saxon epic poem Beowulf which has also fallen foul of the 'decolonists'. Centuries before the Lord Of The Rings and Game Of Thrones caught our imagination, Beowulf explored the same bloody territory  and in far richer fashion.

Now, this world of wonder for literature students is to be abolished and replaced with contemporary 'social' concerns. It is deeply and fatally misguided.

How can we deny our undergraduates the opportunity to study this beautiful, enriching, funny, poignant  and often very rude  literary heritage, and insist modern societal controversies are more important?

I am all for taking a fresh look at the way English literature is taught, and I wholly endorse widening the 'canon' so that more writers from BAME backgrounds are taught  not to mention more women authors.

But I cannot shake off the feeling that this latest announcement is a poorly thought-out attempt to appeal to the sensibilities of a generation raised on modern and often febrile debates over issues such as race and gender.

Why else would the staff of Leicester's English department have been told that 'students expect' modules to be chosen not for their history, their significance or how much thought and feeling they might provoke  but how 'diverse' they are?

Is it really up to undergraduates to dictate academic syllabuses?

Isn't the point of university that you learn something new  not have your prejudices, and we all have those, confirmed?

But I cannot shake off the feeling that this latest announcement is a poorly thought-out attempt to appeal to the sensibilities of a generation raised on modern and often febrile debates over issues such as race and gender. Pictured: The University of Leicester

Little wonder that there is now real panic in academia  from the dreaming spires to the red-bricks  as dons fear being dragooned into introducing courses that conform ever more closely to modern preferences.

Chaucer is just the latest victim. From race to gender and sexuality, we are increasingly failing to understand or even study the beliefs and attitudes of the past, however much we might disagree with them today.

Instead, ideas, people and even history itself are being 'cancelled', banned from even being discussed as if they never existed at all.

The truth is that it is only by embracing our literary heritage that we can see how much our human nature has in fact stayed much the same  from Beowulf to Harry Potter.

Our opinions on individual social issues might shift: the Regency, for example, was more drunken than the Victorian age that followed it, and some TV sitcoms from the 1970s would never be aired today.

But all human beings have loved, felt anger, jealousy, greed and fear, bickered with their families, suffered loss and wanted safety, health and prosperity for their children.

Chaucer underlines all this as well as anyone else  often as the first expressing it in written English.

Universities need to learn a lesson from history. Looking at society purely in the present moment is not enough.

You need to go back and hear the voices of the past. Though they may be very different from ours, they still have much to teach us.

Ian Mortimer is the author of the Time Traveller's Guides.
On the first day of his presidency, Joe Biden commenced the most sweeping expansion of LGBTQ rights in American history. In a historic executive order, Biden ordered every federal agency to clarify that civil rights laws prohibiting sex discrimination also prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. This move will extend nondiscrimination protections to millions of LGBTQ people with regard to housing, education, immigration, credit, health care, military service, Peace Corps service, family and medical leave, welfare, criminal justice, law enforcement, transportation, federal grants, and so much more.

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While some of Bidens executive orders may be vulnerable to court challenges, this one is essentially bulletproof. It merely implements the Supreme Courts decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, something the Trump administration refused to do. In Bostock, the Supreme Court held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars employment discrimination against LGBTQ people. Title VII does not explicitly mention sexual orientation or gender identity; rather, it bars workplace discrimination because of sex. But the court held that it is impossible to discriminate against LGBTQ workers without taking their sex into account.

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Technically, Bostock involved only one statute, Title VII. But, as Justice Samuel Alito pointed out in his dissent, there are more than 100 other federal statutes that also forbid sex discrimination in language nearly identical to Title VII. (Alito helpfully listed these laws in a lengthy appendix.) Under the courts reasoning in Bostock, each of these statutes should now be read to protect LGBTQ people.

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Bidens order directs agencies across the federal government to bring their rules and regulations in line with Bostock. It instructs agency heads to review all existing orders, regulations, guidance documents, policies, programs, or other agency actions that involve statutes prohibiting sex discrimination. And it compels these officials to revise each rule and regulation in light of Bostock by extending existing protections to LGBTQ people. In some instances, this process will simply entail updating language to note that anti-LGBTQ discrimination is unlawful. In others, it will require the agency to write a new rule expressly disallowing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

There is precedent for this cross-agency revision. In 2013s U.S. v. Windsor, the Supreme Court struck down the law forbidding federal recognition of same-sex marriages. The Obama administration promptly passed a slew of new rules extending federal marriage benefits to same-sex couples. For instance, the Department of Labor declared that employees could use the Family and Medical Leave Act to care for a same-sex spouse. While Windsor opened the door to full marriage equality at the federal level, it was the Obama administration that made Windsors promise a reality by revising federal rules and regulations to reflect its holding.

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The Biden administration is pursuing the same path after Bostock, but its actions will affect far more people than the Obama administrations post-Windsor work. Bostock did not only protect same-sex couples, but all individuals who face discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Moreover, the vast majority of federal nondiscrimination laws bar sex discrimination; the administration will ultimately expand more than 100 statutes to cover LGBTQ people. A few examples illustrate the extraordinary breadth of Bidens order:

 The Affordable Care Act bars sex discrimination in health care. Bidens Department of Health and Human Services will soon clarify that providers cannot discriminate against gay and transgender patientsand that insurance companies cannot refuse to cover gender transition care.

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 The Fair Housing Act bars sex discrimination in housing. Bidens Department of Housing and Urban Development will soon clarify that homeowners and landlords cannot refuse to sell or rent a home to LGBTQ people, and that brokers and lenders cannot discriminate against LGBTQ homebuyers.

 Title IX bars sex discrimination at federally funded educational institutions. Bidens Department of Education will soon clarify that these institutions cannot discriminate against LGBTQ students. The executive order notes that transgender students may not be denied access to bathrooms or school sports.

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 The Immigration and Nationality Act bars sex discrimination in the domestic resettlement of refugees. Bidens Department of Homeland Security will soon clarify that neither the government nor contractors may discriminate against LGBTQ refugees in the U.S.

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These examples are the tip of the iceberg. As Alito explained in Bostock, federal law is littered with prohibitions on sex discrimination in nearly every walk of life. LGBTQ individuals seeking access to credit will soon be protected by federal law. So will LGBTQ individuals who participate in a broad range of federal programs, including student loans, family violence prevention, food stamps, public broadcasting, public health initiatives, veterans groups, youth services, juvenile justice, foreign service, the Peace Corps, and the armed forces. LGBTQ Americans may no longer be excluded from federal jury duty because of their identities. There are several different ways the government can enforce these new protections. In some cases, the agency itself can punish discriminators and seek restitution for victims; in others, agencies or victims can ask courts to enforce the new rules.

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There is one landmark law that does not forbid sex discrimination: Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws discrimination in public accommodationsbut only on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. So businesses will not be compelled to serve LGBTQ people. But states and municipalities retain authority to fill in this gap. And Democrats are expected to pass the Equality Act, which would not only enshrine Bostock in federal statute but amend Title II to bar anti-LGBTQ discrimination in public accommodations.

Its highly unlikely that the Supreme Court will block the implementation of Bidens order. Bostock was decided by a 63 vote, and five justices in the majority remain on the court. Unless one of these justices has a dramatic change of heart and completely flips, sex discrimination will continue to encompass anti-LGBTQ discrimination. The Bostock opinion held that it is the text of the law that matters, not legislative history or congressional intent; since the text (sex discrimination) is the same across statutes, its meaning should be the same, too. There is, of course, a strong possibility that this Supreme Court will carve exemptions into civil rights law for discrimination based on sincere religious belief. (The Equality Act would limit, though not eradicate, religious objections to civil rights claims.) But even if the court creates exemptions, it will not overturn the baseline rule that anti-LGBTQ discrimination in presumptively unlawful.

One of the Trump administrations final acts was an effort to roll back Bostock, which it had opposed in court, by interpreting it extremely narrowly. Its telling that one of Bidens first acts constitutes a complete repudiation of Trumps approach. There is a stark difference between the two presidents when it comes to civil rights. Trump did everything he could to stymie LGBTQ rights. Now Biden is acting as quickly as he can to make complete LGBTQ equality the law of the land.
Top officials of the (EU) welcomes the inauguration of as the new and expressing their readiness to mend the broken partnership and laying out expectations for renewed transatlantic cooperation.

"Today is a very special day. I am ready to present to President our proposals for a new transatlantic agenda," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Twitter on Wednesday.

She posted a video, in which she addressed the European Parliament early on Wednesday, saying that "there is no greater need for global cooperation in the short term than in tackling the pandemic, which has been so devastating on both sides of the Atlantic", Xinhua news agency reported.

Von der Leyen said she was delighted to know that "on day one, as they announced, the new American administration, the United States, will rejoin the Paris Agreement" on climate change.

Charles Michel, president of the European Council, appeared along with von der Leyen at the European Parliament's plenary, during which he said: "Today is the opportunity to rejuvenate our transatlantic relationship, which has greatly suffered in the last four years."

Michel called on the two sides to work on five priorities, which are boosting multilateral cooperation, combating Covid-19, tackling climate change, rebuilding economies while promoting a digital transformation; and joining forces on security and peace.

He invited Biden to participate in an extraordinary European Council session in Brussels.

Without giving the exact schedule, he suggested it could take place in parallel with a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in November 2020 that he would invite Biden to attend the next summit set for 2021.

--IANS

ksk/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FedEx Express has announced proposals to resize its European workforce as it nears the completion of the network integration of TNT.

FedEx acquired TNT in 2016 as part of its European expansion plans, connecting its air express network with TNTs European road network and global suite of services. Since the acquisition, the company says a successful integration has taken place across IT systems and key parts of the air, road and ground networks, and investments have been made in technology and infrastructure.

Plans to address the duplication resulting from operating two large European networks connecting similar geographies were recently presented to European employee representatives and team members. These proposals will see a workforce cut of between 5,500-6,300 people across operational teams and back-office functions.

Karen Reddington, president of FedEx Express Europe, commented, We acquired the TNT business in 2016 for one reason: to open up the world for our customers by connecting the global FedEx air network with TNTs extensive European road network to become a top tier player in Europe. This process, while difficult, will allow us together with the completion of the network integration to operate as one company offering greater coverage, speed of delivery, extended operational capabilities and enhanced service levels. Changes like this are never easy because they impact our people. However, they are crucial to unlocking the benefits of integration and enhancing our competitiveness in a fast-changing marketplace.

Key to FedExs proposal is the physical integration of its Express and TNT air networks. FedEx Express currently operates two duplicate air networks out of two main hubs in Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport in France and Liege Airport in Belgium. Under its plans FedEx Express would establish a dual-hub model in Europe, with the FedEx Roissy-Charles de Gaulle hub serving as a primary hub, universally linking all European flight points and connecting European customers to the rest of the world. The Liege air hub would operate as a secondary hub, providing flexibility and continuing to provide excellent service to customers year-round. FedEx Expresss dual-hub network in the USA has been operational for several decades with Memphis as the universal hub and Indianapolis as the secondary hub as will be the case with Liege in Central Europe.

Dave Canavan, COO of FedEx Express Europe, explained, Moving towards a dual-hub model is a strategic advantage for us: improving the competitiveness of our Express business, providing us flexibility, and enhancing our growth opportunities. We understand that while these intended changes are absolutely necessary to put us on the right path, our team members, particularly in Liege, will be concerned about the future. We will do everything we can to conduct these consultations constructively, with a mindset of collaboration and care for those impacted.
Consumer goods giant Unilever has vowed that all workers whose employer directly provides goods and services to them will make a living wage by 2030.

The Persil and Domestos owner also announced it would spend 2billion a year buying products from suppliers run by people from underprivileged groups by 2025.

These two commitments are part a raft of proposals announced today by the company, who said they were aimed at making a 'more equitable and inclusive society.'

Unilever has expanded its corporate social responsibility initiatives in recent years, pledging last summer to become net-zero from its products by 2039

By 2025, it stated it wants to retrain or upskill its staff, help 5 million small and medium-sized businesses gain access to skills, finance, and technology, and train 10 million young people for jobs by 2030.

Unilever, whose brands include the ice cream manufacturer Ben & Jerry's, has expanded its corporate social responsibility initiatives in recent years, pledging last summer to become net-zero from its products by 2039.

In addition to climate change, chief executive Alan Jope thinks social inequality is the other major threat facing the planet, saying it has 'undoubtedly widened' over the last year.

The Scottish-born businessman told CNBC that the living wage measure would 'ensure that millions of people around the world will have the standard of living necessary to feed, clothe, house, educate themselves and their families.'

Asked how his firm would ensure its suppliers pay their workers a living wage, Jope said companies that manufacture for Unilever must sign a contract with them containing an obligation to pay a living wage.

'It will be a combination of encouragement in the beginning, auditing in the middle, and sanctioning towards the end. So by ten years from now, we just won't do business with people unless we're convinced they're paying their people a living wage,' he remarked.

Alan Jope told CNBC that the living wage would 'ensure that millions of people around the world will have the standard of living necessary to feed, clothe, house, educate themselves and their families'

Meanwhile, Unilever's chief people officer Leena Nair told the PA news agency that it sees its most significant challenges in its supply chain in Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil and India.

The group said there are specific issues regarding social inequality in the production of tea and cocoa, which it hopes it can help address.

She said: 'It has been really sad to see that social divides have grown globally this year we felt this action was pressing. It is a systemic issue and will need the support of Government and NGOs, but we are positive about the change that can take place here.'

In the UK, Unilever said it is improving flexibility for employees and within its supply chain and has expanded its U-Work programme to employ people who do not solely work for Unilever with monthly retainers along with benefits such as pensions, sick pay and holiday pay.

The group launched the scheme in a pilot in late 2019 and now has 220 employees on the programme after the expansion last year.

Shares in Unilever budged very little today and ended trading flat at 43.53.
Community foundation awards $57K to 18 local organizations

Somerset County organizations received $57,749 in grants for environmental efforts, art and music programs, feeding programs and other projects.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : In a major development, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Thursday informed the Supreme Court that the Tamil Nadu Governor will decide, in three-four days, on the state government's recommendation to release A.G. Perarivalan, one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The development is significant as the state is going to polls in this year.

Mehta, representing the Governor, submitted before a bench headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao that a decision will be taken as per the Constitution, on the remission of the sentence by exercising discretionary power under Article 161 within the next 3-4 days.

The top court had earlier expressed unhappiness that the recommendation made by the state government for remission of sentence of convicts has been pending before the Governor for over two years. The top court in 2014 had commuted Perarivalan's sentence to life imprisonment citing long pendency of his mercy petition.

Following Mehta's submission, the top court scheduled the petition filed by Perarivalan for consideration after four weeks. He had moved the top court seeking release from prison based on the recommendation made by the state government in 2018.

The top court told Mehta: "So we will not be needed to decide this plea? It is good that the Governor is deciding..." Mehta replied yes, the court will not be required to decide the matter.

Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the petitioner, said if the authority is deciding it, then it is all right.

"After 30 long years, there appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. We are hopeful that now the Governor has intervened in the Supreme Court proceedings to assure that he will decide in 3-4 days, there will be good news. The Cabinet had given its recommendation in 2018 and he is bound by it," Sankaranarayanan told IANS.

The state government's recommendation to the Governor for pardon to all the convicts has been pending for over two years. Convicts V. Sriharan alias Murugan, T. Suthendraraja alias Santham, Perarivalan alias Arivu, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, P. Ravichandaran and Nalini have been in jail for over 25 years.
Half Moon Bay, CA (94019)

Today

Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. High 57F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Insurance agents and brokers should prepare for a big agency errors and omissions (E&O) litigation wave to crash their shores in 2021.

Agency E&O claims are a lagging indicator, meaning plaintiffs typically only go after agents and brokers after they exhaust other legal avenuesmost often suing insurersand come up short, according to experts at the 2020 virtual Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) conference.

While E&O claims from the pandemic of 2020 have not happened yet in noticeable numbers, they will, just as they happen following major storms or other disasters, the experts warned.

When a loss like this happens, first party claims are immediately filed with the carriers. A lot of the carriers still havent made final decisions yet on the COVID claims. So were still waiting on those, according to James Redeker, who is involved in overseeing E&O claims across the country as vice president of claims for Westport Insurance Corp., a member of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions.

Whether youre an insurance carrier or a property carrier, or if you are an insurance agency, fight these early COVID-19 claims tooth and nail. Do not give plaintiffs a toehold to flip the court to a suit. It will be money well spent.

In addition, with large events, theres often some form of federal relief as has been already seen with COVID and for victims of disasters. So its usually not until after all of these sources of recovery are exhausted that the third party claim start to pour in., Redeker estimated.

He noted that during the first four months following Hurricane Katrina, there were 55 agency E&O claims filed against Louisiana insurance agents. However, over the next eight months, an additional 745 claims came in. So theyre coming, he added.

The year 2020 was packed with events to spark lawsuits over claims, including most obviously the pandemic with its lockdowns that shut down much of the economy for periods of time, strained health care systems and drained employers and employees coffers. The years claims generators also included multiple hurricanes, cyber attacks and the hard market.

Only when the tide goes out do you discover whos been swimming naked, is a quote attributed to Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffet that specialty lines insurance broker Lisa Doherty likes to summon when discussing what happens after a big storm or other major claims event.

We like to talk about the double trigger, meaning that there has to be an underlying loss on the policy in question to test the policy. If you never actually submit a claim, youre never going to find an error on the policy, said Doherty, a founder and CEO of Business Risk Partners.

Arguments Agents Can Expect to Hear While the full impact of the pandemic is almost unimaginable, its not hard to imagine what the allegations against agents will be when the E&O lawsuits start coming. According to defense attorney Peter Biging, a partner with the law firm Goldberg Segalla, a lot of the activity in the agent E&O area is the alleged failure to properly advise with regard to the coverage to have or the coverage to purchase, or the coverage that is in place and what it covers. The issue is the basic duty of care for an agent or broker with regard to obtaining coverage or advising on coverage is to obtain the coverage thats been specifically requested within a reasonable period of time, or advise the client of the inability to do so. Generally across the U.S. theres no duty to advise on the scope or amount or type of coverage except where special circumstances or relationships exist. Its the insureds responsibility to request the type of insurance coverage and the amount of coverage needed, he said.\ The reason for that is generally that the customer is in the best position to know his or her needs, the level of premium he or shes willing to pay, the amount of uninsured risk, and on the other end, that theyre willing to absorb, Biging explained . If you require the agent or broker to recommend types or amount of coverage, in all circumstances, that leads to Pandoras box of a whole bunch of problems. James Redeker, vice president of claims for Westport Insurance Corp., said one of the problems would be to create the incentive for clients to purchase the least insurance possible, and then try to use the agents or brokers E&O coverage as their own excess coverage. While generally there is no duty of care, he added that some courts may consider there is a special relationship and thus a higher standard where for instance, the client pays the agent or broker a fee in addition to a commission. So if youre receiving a fee in addition to the commission, the courts will look at that and say, Its more likely that youve contracted to do something more than the typical broker.'\ Another place where a higher standard may be invoked is where the agent or broker presents as an expert and be seen as an expert by the client and may. Redeker said agency websites are often the problem in touting he agencys expertise. Too often, these websites are created by web design companies who know how to generate hits and drive a website to the front page of a search engine, but they know nothing about an insurance agents duty, or how these statements can raise the duty of an agent beyond what it could even reasonably be expected to handle., he said. Redeker said plaintiffs attorneys routinely scour agency websites for language where agents claim to be experts and are even adding the quotes from websites directly into their pleadings. Its getting harder to get these duty claims dismissed. Instead, courts are either finding a heightened duty brought about by agency website language, or theyre determining it as a fact question and letting the jury decide whether the agent met its duty to their customer. Remember, this is a jury of insurance purchasers, not insurance agents. Ken Fall, chief litigation counsel at Marsh, cited an important Florida case (Tiara Condominium Association versus Marsh USA) where Marsh succeeded in convincing the court that there was no special relationship with this luxury condo firm because the client was itself a very sophisticated purchaser complete with its own insurance committee that questioned everything and decided what coverages to buy. [H]owever what you now have in a post Tiara world is that even in these situations, where you have a sophisticated insured, which is making conscious decisions about what insurance to purchase, how much insurance to purchase, how much money youd want us to spend, or does not want to spend in purchasing that insurance, that you still can have the issue of whether or not a special relationship existed being deemed an issue of fact for the jury, Fall said. So this means that if youre an agent or broker facing this claim, its going to be more difficult to get the case resolved for a motion to dismiss or for a motion for summary judgment. And thats going to increase the cost of litigation. Its also going to increase the risks of litigation. Fall referred to another agency E&O case out of Florida where the question of whether an agency was an expert was ruled to be a fact question for a jury even though there was no boastful website language. If an E&O claims occurs despite best efforts, Redeker urges the industry to fight them vigorously. Whether youre an insurance carrier or a property carrier, or if you are an insurance agency, fight these early COVID-19 claims tooth and nail, he stressed. Do not give plaintiffs a toehold to flip the court to a suit. It will be money well spent.

A major disaster means there is going to be a concentrated and increased number of claims and a spike in the number of policies being tested. So you just have a greater potential for finding underlying problems in the policy. So the double trigger is, I have a loss arising out of the disaster, I submit it to my carrier, the carrier denies it for whatever reason and then I turn and look to my insurance agent to be my source of recovery rather than the carrier, explained Doherty, who recalled the surge in agency E&O claims following Superstorm Sandy.

A disaster event that results in numerous and severe claims signals potential trouble for agents, agreed panel moderator Peter Biging, a partner with the law firm Goldberg Segalla and head of the firms Management and Professional Liability practice. It tests the limits, terms and conditions and policies to the extent that theres either no coverage or theres insufficient coverage. Theres going to be agent and broker errors and omissions claims, he warned.

Biging noted that this years California wildfires set a record with more than four million acres destroyed. In terms of hurricanes, 12 storms made landfall in the U.S., breaking a century old record, and for just the second time ever, meteorologists had to resort to the Greek alphabet to name storms. And then on top of everything else there was the pandemic.

2020 is just this unusual year. Its really a crazy era and it seems like its going to get worse, Biging said. He referred to a comment by a climate scientist at Texas A&M University who said, If you dont like all of the climate disasters happening in 2020, I have some bad news for you about the rest of your life.

Redeker said the amount of covered losses can vary greatly depending on the type of catastrophe, citing the difference between only 36% of damages covered by Hurricane Florence being insured while 77% of the damages caused by Californias Woolsey Wildfire were insured.

While those figures on uninsured losses may represent a selling opportunity, for flood insurance in particular, they also represent a risk for insurance agents and brokers, according to Redeker.

As weve seen, the frequency of these events is rising. Its not a risk thats going to go away, he said.

Biging agreed that uncovered losses will be a driver of coronavirus-related E&O claims. Theres a big gap between what the C-suite executives think is going to be covered, and the coverage that they actually have, he said.

The main insurance litigation from the coronavirus disaster is with property insurers.

Obviously, lots of businesses in the hospitality industry, restaurants, theaters, hotels, you name it. And then many, many, many other businesses have been impacted, so theyre seeking coverage under their property policies for business interruption, said Ken Fall, chief litigation counsel at Marsh who handles E&O claims.

However, while primarily property-driven, disaster lawsuits can trigger a whole range of other coverage issues as well, added Fall, citing casualty risks, financial and professional risks and others that can all become implicated.

Lots of bankruptcies, obviously. Through the end of August, large firm bankruptcies had more than doubled. Some really iconic stores like Century 21 and others have filed. In terms of lawsuits, just a huge array of lawsuits has been filed. No surprise.

Cruise lines in the pandemic show how various lines can be affected.

You can certainly imagine that a cruise line may have business interruption claims to file under its property policies, but it may also be facing liability claims by passengers who may have been stranded on one of its ships, while the pandemic was going on, and it wasnt able to come into shore. In the case of Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, theyre also facing a stock drop claim by their stockholders, said Fall.

Lloyds has said its firms are facing claims from 16 different business lines.

Cyber Risk for Agents

Beyond natural disasters and the coronavirus, cyber risk is an area where agents could be drawn into claims litigation with dissatisfied insureds who expected to have coverage.

Theres a real concern about the growing exposure for agents and brokers in cyber coverage because theyre varied, theyre new. The losses are so new that we just dont have a good track record on how those policies are going to respond, creating issues for agents and brokers, said Doherty.

She said a Lloyds analysis of the exposure concluded that one cyber attack could cause a single loss across multiple parties ranging from $ 85 billion to $193 billion. Thats just a staggering number, she said.

She added cyber attack figures claiming that Merck lost $870 million from business interruption; FedEx, $400 million; Maersk, the shipping company, $300 million.

Also Mondelez, the parent of Nestle, Cadbury, had a $100 million dollar business interruption loss that is in litigation because Zurich Insurance has taken the position that the claim was excluded under the war in hostile act exclusion.

Doherty referenced an FM Global study that found 70% of C-suite executives felt like cyber coverage would cover all of their losses. But we know that not to be true because there are certain things that are just not going to be covered, she said.

More on Pandemic

Just as cyber is new in many ways so has the pandemic been unlike any other disaster because of its broad impact geographically and its diverse economic effects. No state has been spared and many industries hit. Its not like a wildfire wiping out a town or a hurricane flooding communities in a coastal state.

What makes COVID-19 just amazing is the fact that its impacting the entire country, Biging said.

There are thousands of lawsuits around COVID alone including the many reported business interruption cases from the hospitality industry and other businesses. There are class actions against colleges by students seeking tuition reimbursements. There are also investor lawsuits alleging insufficient risk disclosure around the impact of the pandemic on operational and financial prospects of companies.

While there have been some rulings, it is too soon to gauge the business interruption litigation in terms of its consequences for agents and brokers.

I think we need to see how underlying claim denials play out with carriers and even, very specifically, policies, because not all policies are going to respond in the same way, said Doherty.

She said most property policies have both the physical damage trigger and the virus exclusion. So if you do get through the physical damage issue, you still have to contend with the virus exclusion.

Fall said that there have been more than 1,300 cases between policy holders and insurers in state and federal courts and that number is growing every day. About 70% of the time, courts have sided with insurers and granted insurers motions to dismiss. A minority have allowed policyholders to get past the motion to dismiss stage, and into discovery.

Insurers Winning Most, But Not All, COVID-19 Business Interruption Lawsuits

Overall, only a handful of lawsuits so far have named insurance agents and brokers.

But again, as weve all indicated, that number may well increase as time goes on, Fall said.

E&O claims tied to coronavirus business interruption wont start coming in until after this years litigation storm calms down and decisions become known, the panelists said.

Redeker said the plaintiffs bar is taking a strategic approach to filing COVID-19 claims against the property carriers., recognizing that there are two basic forms of property policies when it comes to handling virus exposures, those with an explicit exclusion and those without

Not surprisingly, plaintiffs are heavily suing carriers whose policy forms do not contain a virus exclusion, he said. If they can get the courts to find coverage under such a policy, it not only gives coverage to those policy holders, but it also gives them an avenue to recover for the customers who purchased property policies with the virus exclusion. For those customers, insurance agents will be sued for placing property coverage with a more restrictive carrier form than with one that would have afforded the coverage.

Hard Market

The hard market presents yet another E&O landmine, especially because the pandemic litigation is generating a round of policy changes and new exclusions that agents will have to learn and explain to their customers who are also being hit with rising priced in a hard market.

Specialty lines specialist Doherty said the market hardening is everywhere, unlike after a major disaster season where underwriters can just stay away from states that have been hit.

When the disaster is national, it makes it a little bit more difficult. So what were seeing is theres much more stringent underwriting and carriers have added COVID supplement apps in almost all lines of business, she said.

She said every specialty lines product her brokerage sells has a different COVID supplemental application with similar themed questions. There are COVID exclusions onto products where they dont typically appear, including some insurance agency E&O policies.

So keeping with our theme of exposures for agents and brokers, the market is changing and thats going to create exposure for them as they navigate new terms and conditions, Doherty said.

Any hard market will see more claims being contested or denied and ultimately more broker E&O claims stemming from that, according to Fall. Having a pandemic layered in top of the hard market is going to magnify the situation brokers will have to navigate.

I think the key is going to be for brokers to clearly communicate those exclusions and other nuances that are appearing in the hardening market to explain them to their clients and then to document those conversations, Fall advised.

Redeker said thats good advice for agents looking to protect themselves. Documentation becomes critical in a hardening market. Never use the term apples to apples coverage. Even if the wording in the policy forms is identical, the carriers interpretation may be different, he cautioned.

Biging, who defends agents and brokers facing E&O suits, noted that there are also operational issues due to the pandemic that could influence communication with clients, many of whom may need to cut costs or be needing something different than they previously had.

Youve got brokers who typically would have their insureds into their office and see them visually sign the application and thats not going to happen, or its not happening, he said.=

You have situations where brokers will go to visit locations as they normally would and eyeball the circumstances that mightve changed, and theyre not necessarily doing that now.

Biging repeated the advice for agents and brokers cited by others: Its document, document, document. Thats really the most important thing. Make sure you document everything that you do, every conversation that you have. In particular, if you offer coverage thats declined or you offer endorsements or increase limits and theyre declined, you need to document that.

Fall agreed. Its very difficult to over-communicate as an agent or broker with your policy holder clients. Rarely, are they going to complain that youre communicating too much. So err on the side of more communication, clear communication and document the communication.

Topics Lawsuits Professional Liability
In this article we are going to list the 12 biggest companies with gay CEOs. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 5 biggest companies with gay CEOs.

A couple of decades ago it was not usual to find an openly-gay person at a senior position in any organization. This is because while companies claimed to be a welcoming place for LGBT, the reality was far-fetched. People from LGBT had to fight for their basic rights for a prolonged period. For example, in 2013 the Supreme Court of USA allowed the government to not provide federal benefits to homosexual couples. It is only five years ago same-sex marriages have been legalized in the USA and then later on in other parts of the world.

Even then, while the United States has banned discrimination based on sexuality, many people still face a lot of discrimination in the workplace, which is quite hard to fight off and can often be at a subtle enough level that it gets quite hard to prove. Even a couple of decades ago the concept of LGBT workplace protection was relatively unheard of and many companies used to lay off people based on their sexuality. Moreover, people have now become more vocal against companies that marginalize LGBT. But still, even in todays world, many companies prefer to have a heterosexual person as their CEO.

Pixabay/Public Domain

You will note that many companies which have become accepting enough to have gay CEOs belong to the developed world. This is because despite the fact that advancements have been made, these advancements have mostly been restricted to only developed economies, where the view on human rights is drastically different from other countries, especially those based in Asia and Africa. Countries in these continents mostly still have laws against gay relations and same sex acts, and it doesn't look like this will end anytime soon. Many countries have these arcane laws because of religion; Islam has a very strict stance against homosexuality leaving little wiggle room and these countries have adopted rules to reflect that very stance. This is why in some African and Asian countries, same sex acts are actually punishable by death. You can learn more about these countries if you visit the 15 most dangerous companies for gay travelers.

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Having said that, there are still many well-known Chief Executive Officers who came out as gay and became a source of inspiration for the young generation belonging to the LBGT community. For example, the appointment of Inga Beale was a CEO of Lloyd in 2014 was hailed by many as they claimed that it will encourage other organizations to have more visible LGBT representation. Similarly, it was Tim Cook who paved the way for other LGBT leaders by becoming the very first openly gay CEO of a renowned company that is a part of the Fortune 500 list. However, even companies which are said to be gay-friendly such as Coca Cola (NYSE:KO) or General Motors (NYSE:GM) Now, if you search for the biggest companies with gay CEOs, other than Apple and a few others, there are few proper lists. To ensure that our data was correct, we checked the revenues of these companies either from Forbes, Fortune or their own annual reports, with foreign currencies converted to US dollars. Therefore let's take a look at the 15 biggest companies with CEOs that are challenging the status quo by being openly gay, starting of course with number 15:

12. Neptune Flood Insurance

Name of CEO: Trevor Burgess

Total revenue of the company in 2019: $7 million

Trevor Burgess is the CEO of Neptune and along with that is also the founder of TRB Development. He came out as gay at an early age and has been a part of many human rights campaigns. He was the first openly gay CEO of a bank at that time when homophobic culture was prevalent. He is married to Gary Hess and has a daughter named Logan. He also won several awards such as Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Ernst & Young. In 2015, he was named to be one of the leading global LGBT executives by Financial Times.

Pixabay/Public Domain

11. SAGE

Name of CEO: Michael Adams

Total revenue of the company in 2019: $ 13 million

Sage is one of the oldest and largest organizations in the USA that is focusing on improving the lives of LGBT. It was found in 1978 and the main aim of SAGE is to ensure that the elders from the LGBT community can live a comfortable life in the USA. The scope of Sage has increased immensely under the leadership of Micheal Adams. It is because of Adams, Sage has become the primary key player in the LGBT aging issues dialogues. Adam was appointed as an Executive Director at Sage in 2006. He was able to use his knowledge and expertise to improve the lives of millions of LGBT elders in the USA. He also has served on the advisory council for AARP. He has done his Bachelors from Harvard University in 1984 and then, later on, received a Masters degree in Law & Latin American Studies from Stanford Law School in 1990.

Pixabay/Public Domain

10. GLAAD

Name of CEO: Sarah Kate Ellis

Total revenue of the company in 2019: $16 million

GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) is a media monitoring organization that is famous for taking a strong stance against the biased and derogatory representation of LGBT. Sarah Kate became the CEO of GLAAD in 2014 and previously served as a media executive. She has played a vital role in repositioning GLAADs attention on creating acceptance of the LGBT community in society. She is a powerful communicator and has used her position to represent the LGBTQ community in a fair manner. She was also part of Varietys 2016 New Power of New York List. Before joining GLAAD, she has also worked at several other national media brands.

10 Gayest Countries In Europe

nito/Shutterstock.com

9. Shaftesbury

Name of CEO: Brian Bickell

Total revenue of the company in 2019: $172 million

Brain Bickell joined Shaftesbury back in 1986. He became the CEO of Shaftesbury in 2011 and has previously also served as the Finance Director. As a CEO he is responsible to devise a strategy and supervise day-to-day operations. He is also a qualified Chartered Accountant. His experience and knowledge as immensely helped in delivering success. In 2017, he was also considered to be one of the leading LGBT executives in the organization. He has been openly gay throughout his 30-year career. Currently, apart from Shaftesbury, he is also serving as a Director of Longmartin Properties Limited. He has also been applauded for taking the initiative to promote workforce diversity and inclusion.

8. United Therapeutics

Name of CEO: Martine Rothblatt

Total revenue of the company in 2019: $506 million

Martin Rothblatt is widely popular for her dynamic personality as she is not just a business person but also a lawyer and an author. She is the co-founder and CEO of United Therapeutics. United Therapeutics is an American biotechnology company that aims to develop life-extending technologies. Before United Therapeutics, Rothblatt has also served as a CEO of GeoStar and was also the creator of SiriusXM. In 2018, she was considered to be one of the tops most earning CEO in the biopharmaceutical industry. Moreover, she was also recognized as one of the most powerful LGBT+ in the tech industry in 2019. Not only she has been a strong supporter of LGBT+ but has also publicly opposed the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act due to its controversial nature.

Mila Supinskaya Glashchenko/Shutterstock.com

7. Bupa Global & UK

Name of CEO: David Hynam

Total revenue of the company in 2019: $ 4.5 billion

Bupa Global & UK is a premium international private medical insurance company that was established in 1947. David Hynam joined Bupa in 2014 and served as Transformation Director. He became the CEO of Bupa Global & UK in 2016 and is accountable for both Bupas the UK and Global business. Before Bupa, he was also part of Friends Life, a life insurance organization that was defunct in 2018. At Friends Life, he served as a COO and then later as a CEO.

Pixabay/Public Domain

6. Land OLakes

Name of CEO: Beth Ford

Total revenue of the company in 2019: $14 B

Beth Ford became the CEO of Land OLakes in 2018 and is the first openly-gay female CEO of a company that is a part of Fortune 500. She is also married to Jill Schurtz, who is also a successful businessperson just like Ford, and a CEO of the St. Pauls Teachers' Retirement Fund Association. In 2020 she was listed in Fortune Most Powerful Women List for the third time. Moreover, over the career span of 34 years, she has been a part of a total of six industries and has worked at seven companies.

Please continue to see the 5 biggest companies with gay CEOS. Suggested articles:

Disclosure: No position. 12 biggest companies with gay CEOs is originally published at Insider Monkey.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Home Design and Remodeling Show is producing results for local home improvement companies, such as Belamo Design and Velum Design, with generating leads, increasing sales, and branding recognition from the exposure of its Show and advertising campaigns. The Show features exhibitors from all facets of the home design industry, from custom kitchens, to impact windows, to furnishings, to backyard design, and home automation.

Belamo Design started out four years ago selling their luxury products without a showroom or real form of advertising. The positioning by the design-centric media organization that is the Home Show Management Corporation has been a factor in the growth of Belamo Design. The brand has recently expanded to their first retail showroom location with over 5,000 square feet in Boca Raton, and more locations coming soon.

Tom Keersmaecker, Sales Manager at Belamo Design, attributes the Home Show Management Corp. as an instrumental component to the strong foundation of his company.

"The Home Show has been instrumental to our launch and success as we have participated in every event since we opened our doors", said Keersmaecker. "This platform helped us to make our brand more recognized, directly connect with the right clientele, conduct sales right at the shows and in the months following".

The Home Design and Remodeling Show attracts tens of thousands of attendees who come to experience product demonstrations, discussion panels and a showcase of the most cutting-edge trends in the home design industry.

In addition to the annual Home Show, the Home Show Management Corporation issues a quarterly Home Design magazine as well as partnering with local media outlets like the Miami Herald, Sun Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, iHeart Radio, NBC, Telemundo and many more through their curated media campaigns. This gives participants a unique opportunity to have strategic marketing efforts employed on their behalf, not only positioning brands as industry leaders and experts, but also driving traffic and ensuring resonating impressions.

Rustam Junusov, CEO of Velum Design, started his business in Europe, but decided to move his business to the United States in 2016 because of the market opportunities.

"I had no friends or business relationships here," said Junusov. "The Home Design and Remodeling Show gave us an opportunity to meet new people and clients; I am extremely grateful for it and definitely recommend working with Adam Kayce [President of Home Shows] and his team!"

About the Home Show Management Corporation :

For more than 40 years, Home Show Management Corp. has been bringing together industry-leading professionals from the entire spectrum of home renovation products and services in South Florida. With home renovation shows in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach every year, the Home Show always features the latest trends and brands in the home improvement industry. Due to its regular interactions with the local market, Home Show Management Corp has established strong relationships with many of the best companies in the area to allow home improvement events to consistently meet impressive standards in terms of quality and size. Learn more at https://homeshows.net/.

Contact :

Adam Kayce

President

Home Shows Management Corp.

[email protected]

SOURCE Miami Home Design and Remodeling Show

Related Links

https://homeshows.net


A bust of labor leader Cesar Chavez sits behind the Resolute Desk, in the Oval Office, in Washington, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Biden Removes Andrew Jackson Portrait, Churchill Bust, Military Flags in Oval Office Decor Shakeup

As with past U.S. leaders, President Joe Bidens new Oval Office decor hints at the landscape of attitudes that are likely to reflect the tone and priorities of his administration.

It was important for President Biden to walk into an Oval that looked like America and started to show the landscape of who he is going to be as president, Ashley Williams, the deputy director of Oval Office operations, told The Washington Post during an exclusive tour.

In a decor shakeup of the Oval Office, which is filled with portraits and busts of iconic leaders in American history, Biden has made a number of changes from when former President Donald Trump sat at the Resolute Desk, including replacing the portrait of Andrew Jackson, the 7th president and a populist with whom Trump often identified.

He was a very tough person, but he had a big heart, and he was really angry that he saw what was happening with regard to the Civil War, Trump told the Washington Examiner in 2017, noting that many people said that my campaign and win was most like Andrew Jackson with his campaign.

In place of Jacksons portrait hangs one of Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father who was also a leading writer, philosopher, and scientist. According to The Washington Post, Franklins portrait is meant to signal Bidens interest in following science in his efforts to tackle the pandemic.

Also gone are the flags of the various branches of the military, whose restoration was one of Trumps chief policy priorities. During his farewell address after departing the White House on Jan. 20, Trump said, Perhaps most importantly of all, with nearly $3 trillion, we fully rebuilt the American militaryall made in the USA.

Biden has chosen to replace the military flags with the American flag and another with a presidential seal.

Photos show that on the table behind the Resolute Desk, there now sits a bust of Cesar Chavez, the Mexican American labor leader who fought for the rights of farm workers. The bust of Chavez sits alongside framed photos of Bidens family.

According to The Washington Post, Biden has added several additional busts to the office, namely those of Robert F. Kennedy, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and Rosa Parks, a key figure in the civil rights movement.

Biden has removed the bust of wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, which Trump notably reinstated when he became president after former President Barack Obama had it removed.

Britains shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy, of the left-leaning Labour Party, commented on the move in an interview published in British newspaper The Guardian on Jan. 20, calling Biden a woke guy whose victory is a source of hope for a lot of progressive parties around the world.

The portrait of another former president, Thomas Jefferson, has been paired with a man he often clashed with, his former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton as hallmarks of how differences of opinion, expressed within the guardrails of the Republic, are essential to democracy, Bidens office said, according to The Post.

Directly across from the Resolute Desk sits a portrait of Franklin Roosevelt, the president who led the country through the Great Depression and World War Two, major crises that deeply shook America.
Occupants of a car are banned from leaving Ang'angxi district in Qiqihar as northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province declares an "emergency state," telling residents not to leave unless absolutely necessary, after new coronavirus cases were detected. (AFP via Getty Images)

COVID-19 Epidemic Ravaging Northeast China, Villages Evacuated, Livestock and Crops Left Behind

Chinas northeastern Heilongjiang Province has officially reported 448 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 18, but the public believes that the actual situation is much worse than the official data.

Wangkui county is the epicenter of the outbreak in the province. The situation is getting more severe, residents have told The Epoch Times. Local governments are enforcing stricter lockdown measures, and all residents are subject to mandatory testing. Many villages in Wangkui have been emptied out, with livestock and crops left behind unattended, they said.

Wangkui county, which is under the jurisdiction of Suihua city, is currently one of the four high-risk areas in mainland China. On Jan. 19, Wangkui authorities issued an announcement for tightened control measures for at least a week. Except for those in need of medical treatment and COVID-19 testing, all urban and rural residents of the county are prohibited from leaving their homes. Private vehicles have also been banned.

The announcement also prohibits public servants in both urban and rural areas from traveling between the city and local villages. Those whose families live in the countys capital are forbidden to return to the city for the time being.

All townships have also been told they must take care of food supplies and accommodation by themselves. All canteens have canceled dine-in services, and group lodgings are strictly prohibited. Shopping malls are closed, and merchants have been prohibited from offering delivery services.

On Jan. 19, according to mainland Chinese media reports, the Suihua city government punished 16 officials for negligence in dealing with the epidemic, including the deputy county head of Wangkui and disease control officials.

Ms. Wang, a villager near Wangkui, told The Epoch Times that villages in Wangkui were being evacuated. At first, they took away 300 people from two villages, and used seven buses to send them to Dula county. Some were put in hotels, some were relocated to local schools where the students are on vacation, and some people were put in nursing homes, she said.

A couple of days ago, people were taken away from two or three more villages, she said of the situation. Anyway, villagers in four or five villages in Wangkui were taken away. There were many police cars, small cars, and buses [at the scene]. I saw it and its scary. People were dragged away, children crying and women screaming.

The Epoch Times obtained a video showing that on Jan. 15, medical tents were being set up in Wangkui to treat COVID-19 patients.

As for the livestock, poultry, and crops in evacuated villages, Wang told The Epoch Times that they all got left behind.

She said, There is a family that raises 200 pigs that are ready for slaughter, but they cannot be sold anymore. No one dares to buy them. And with the family all taken away, nobody is caring for the pigs.

She also said that chickens and ducks raised by the villagers were left behind. They will probably starve to death.

Some locals later told The Epoch Times that the livestock in the evacuated villages had to be buried.

Wang also said that people no longer dare to go buy crops such as corn and soybeans from Wangkui.

There is a soybean collector in our township who went to Wangkui to buy beans. Then he was taken away for isolation two days ago. Its said he was infected, she said.

She added, Nowadays, in group chats on social media, youre not allowed to talk about the epidemic. Otherwise, they [the government] will say you are spreading rumors. They may arrest you because it involves the issue of the governments reporting of case numbers.

Wang Jiayi and Luo Ya contributed to this report.
Overdrive

Japanese premium automobile brand, Lexus has launched a new variant of the LS 500h sedan. While the base variant is available at Rs 1.91 crore, the LS 500h Nishijin has been priced at Rs 2.22 crore, ex-showroom, Delhi. What's different about it, you ask. The company mentions, "the new LS 500h Nishijin variant has interiors crafted with an expression of style and comfort that comes from uncompromising attention to detail and a unique collaboration involving traditional Japanese crafts."

While the design doesn't have any change except for a minor tweak to the bumper for an improves stance, Lexus has added a new shade called Gin-ei Luster, which as claimed by Lexus reacts to even slight amounts of surrounding light. Gin-ei Luster is applied using the latest paint technology, resulting in a smooth, mirror-like texture. Inside, the cabin features ornamentation of Nishijin & Haku, that takes its inspiration from the 'path of moonlight on the sea' which is a mysterious natural phenomenon that can only be witnessed for a limited number of days before, after, and during a full moon. During this time, moonlight forms a long and narrow path on the surface of the ocean, and sparkles of light on moonlit waves captivate with delicate gradation, states Lexus.

"The ornamentation is created by intricately weaving silver threads of 'Nishijin' brocade to express shimmering 'waves' and applying the extremely thin 'Haku' platinum metal foil reminiscent of 'moonlight' shining on waves. Through this exquisite craftsmanship, Lexus has aimed to provide a comfortable and high-quality interior atmosphere, as well as the unparalleled mobility experience, of a true brand flagship".

The Japanese automobile major has also introduced updates to the LS 500h across its variant line-up, which includes iOs and Android compatibility for the 12.3-inch touch-operated wide display. The steering mounted controls have been updated as well.

"Following the positive response of the LS 500h in India, we are delighted to unveil the new Nishijin variant and improvements to the flagship model. These upgrades keep in line with the sophistication and craftsmanship of the Lexus LS 500h flagship luxury model and will deliver optimum performance with cutting-edge technologies while keeping in mind the environmental benefits and the sought-after comfort of our guests. We are excited to see the response to this new and luxurious variant in the Indian market." commented, P.B. Venugopal, President of Lexus India.


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Justice Minister Stelian Ion on Thursday told the EU Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, in a video-conference, the Romanian Government's decision to adopt, by the end of February, a draft decision to dissolve the Section for the investigation of crimes in justice (SIIJ).

According to a release of the Ministry of Justice, the topics of discussion concerned the Rule of Law Mechanism and its link with the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, the operationalisation of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, the transposition and implementation of EU directives, namely the digitalisation of justice.

During the meeting, Commissioner Reynders expressed his willingness to cooperate with the Romanian authorities in order to ensure the predictability and sustainability of the Romanian justice reform process.

At the same time, the European Commission's openness to a constructive and permanent dialogue at technical level in the process of transposition and implementation of EU directives was expressed.

"We appreciate the commitment of the new Government to strengthen and ensure the stability of reforms, as well as the valuable support provided by the Romanian authorities in the context of the Rule of Law Mechanism. It is important that the Government's initiatives are supported by the judiciary and adopted by Parliament, following an applied debate and oriented towards stability and regulatory predictability," said Commissioner Didier Reynders.

Justice Minister Stelian Ion stressed the importance of establishing the Rule of Law Mechanism at European Union level and expressed the full support given by the Romanian authorities to the European Commission in this exercise.

The draft law to disband the SIIJ will be adopted as a matter of priority in the Government by the end of February 2021, and submitted for adoption, in an emergency procedure, in Parliament.

The Minister of Justice also reiterated his support for the operationalization of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, presenting the latest steps taken to adapt national legislation and select delegated European prosecutors.
Agartala/Imphal/Shillong, Jan 21 : Tripura, Manipur and Meghalaya on Thursday separately celebrated their 49th Statehood Day through numerous colourful functions.

President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, BJP President J.P. Nadda, and several Union ministers and Chief Ministers of the neighbouring northeastern states greeted the people of Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura on the occasion.

The erstwhile princely states of Tripura and Manipur were merged into the Indian Union in October 1949 and became full-fledged states on January 21, 1972. Meghalaya was part of Assam before becoming a full-fledged state on the same day.

All the three northeastern states became full-fledged states under the North Eastern Region (Re-Organisation) Act, 1971.

Addressing the main event, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said that his government's main goal is to make the state self-reliant and ensure efficient and transparent governance.

It was for the third time that Deb addressed the main function on Statehood Day after becoming the Chief Minister on March 9, 2018 following the victory in the state elections of the BJP in alliance with the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), trouncing the CPI-M-led Left Front.

"The BJP-IPFT government's main mission is to deliver efficient and transparent governance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken special initiatives for the all-round development of the northeastern states," Deb added.

He said that Tripura is the first state among eight northeastern states to introduce an online process to operate the Public Distribution System (PDS).

"After the BJP-led government came to power, the per capita income of the people of the state has increased by 23 per. The government has also arranged housing for thousands of people belonging to different economic categories. Over Rs 10,720 crore is being spent for the development and expansion of the national highways in Tripura," the Chief Minister said.

He also said that with the digitisation of many government services, people have been benefited in numerous ways and transparency has been established in governance.

In Manipur, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh took the salute at a combined parade of different security forces' contingents, including the state police.

Addressing a gathering at the Manipur Rifles parade ground in Imphal, the Chief Minister highlighted the performance of his government since 2017.

In Meghalaya, various cultural and sporting events were organised on the occasion of Statehood Day and the upcoming Republic Day celebrations in different districts.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said in a tweet: "Raised the curtain for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Meghalaya's statehood in 2022 and also felicitated awardees of the Meghalaya Day Excellence Award 2021."
Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido said the days of the All Progressive Congress APC is numbered as President Muhammad Buha...





Former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido said the days of the All Progressive Congress APC is numbered as President Muhammad Buhari will not support Bola Ahmad Tinubus candidature in the coming 2023 general.

Lamido stated this at the inauguration of the Jigawa State Peoples Democratic Party PDP reconciliation committee in Dutse.

He claimed that in the near future, there would be no more APC because the whole of APC is made of two people Buhari and Tinubu.

True of the matter very soon there would be no APC in Nigeria because its made up of two persons Buhari and Tinubu

And I swear to God Buhari will not support Tinubus candidacy coming 2023 general election

So since they are the leaders of APC and they have issues everyone will find his way and that would be the end of APC in Nigeria

Lamido, however, said the break up of the APC does not mean the PDPs victory unless the members unite.

We also have our own problems is either we correct or Nigerians would continue to suffer

We must forget all our grievances, set aside all our personal interest for us to win because its only PDP that can be able to rule this country he stated.

Lamido charged the members of the reconciliation committee to be just and fair in their approach to aggrieved members.

He appealed to aggrieved members to put the party before their interest, for the victory of the party.
$900 Billion Federal Stimulus: Whats In it, Whats Not, What Remains

Although a New Year has begun, many American consumers and small businesses continue to feel a financial hangover from the challenges of 2020. As the global pandemic reveals a still-soaring American infection rate, the nation has also surpassed 350,000 related deaths, added more workers to the ranks of unemployed, and growing debts place millions more in financial crisis.

To make matters worse, a $900 billion federal stimulus package passed on December 22 by Congress did not receive a presidential signature until December 27, thereby delaying access to additional federal aid for a nation in need. The delayed aid, a fraction of the $2.3 trillion aid package passed in March 2020, and the $2.4 trillion HEROES Act that House Democrats passed last June, will tackle greater needs with fewer revenues spread over a wide range of categories affecting consumers, education, small businesses, public health, transportation and more.

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For consumers, there are three main types of direct assistance through the new funding bill.

First, for an estimated 14 million former workers who exhausted their respective state unemployment benefits in 2020, $286 billion will extend and expand unemployment assistance through March 2021. These federal payments will also include non-traditional employees like those who are self-employed or classified as gig workers. Unemployed workers who by March 14 exhaust their full state unemployment benefits will continue to receive this federal assistance until April 5.

Second, for consumers, a one-time, direct payment of $600 will go to workers whose tax status as either a single person or head of household in their 2019 tax returns showed an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less. For joint filers earning that same year an adjusted gross income of $150,000 or less, the single payment increases to $1,200. Further, households meeting these income guidelines and who also have children under the age of 17, will receive an additional $600 per child. Those earning adjusted gross amounts above $75,000 but less than $87,000 will receive reduced stimulus checks, discounted by discounted by $5 for every $100 earned above the guidelines. Paper checks and debit cards will be delivered by mail over the next few weeks.

Third, other consumer-directed assistance includes an additional $25 billion in federal rental assistance to be administered by state and local officials for consumers who have fallen behind on their monthly payments. These funds are also approved to help pay future rent, utility bills, prevent their shut-off. It is estimated that up to 17 million struggling renters who are disproportionately Black and Latino already owe an estimated $70 billion in back rent. For these consumers, the threat of eviction is imminent. However, the bill only extends the current eviction moratorium through January 31 and provides no relief or assistance for struggling homeowners.

By comparison, the bills combined $324 billion that reflects direct consumer benefits, allots only $82 billion to stretch across K-12 schools and higher education. The vast majority of these monies  $54.3 billion  is dedicated to elementary and secondary school relief, while relief for all higher education totals $22.7 billion. The higher education monies include $1.7 billion for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and Minority-Serving Institutions. Unfortunately, funds to relieve the nations burdensome $1.7 trillion student loan debt were not included, nor was an extension of the pause on student loan payments that has helped millions of consumers over the course of the crisis.

Meanwhile, just as with earlier packages, small business relief was a centerpiece in the new bill and includes $284 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and $20 billion in Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance program. From its inception in March 2020, flaws in the PPP program structure and implementation prevented tens of thousands of Black and Latino business owners from accessing relief.

Now, a new research report released jointly by UCLAs Center for Neighborhood Knowledge and its Latino Policy and Initiatives, shares how the first version of the PPP program shortchanged Black and Latino neighborhoods on a per capita basis compared to predominantly White areas.

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For example, PPP supported far fewer jobs per resident in Black and Latino neighborhoods (5.8 and 4.9 jobs per 100 residents respectively) than in white neighborhoods (8.1 jobs per 100 residents), according to the UCLA report. Latino and Black neighborhoods also received fewer PPP dollars per resident than White and Asian neighborhoods. Latino and Black neighborhoods received $367 and $445 per resident respectively, compared to $666 and $670 received by businesses in white and Asian neighborhoods.

In response to the backlash surrounding the earlier iterations, significant structural improvements were made to PPP this time around. Hopefully, these changes will ensure that the PPP better serves Black and Latino business owners.

For example, the bill has dedicated PPP monies for the smallest businesses (10 or fewer employees) and smaller loans to entities in low-and-moderate-income communities. There is also a set-aside for loans originated by community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and minority depository institutions (MDIs). A minimum origination loan fee to support small loans, increased transparency, and streamlined forgiveness of loans under $150,000 are also included. It also allows some hard-hit businesses that already received PPP loans to apply for second ones.

This bill is welcome relief for the millions of small businesses that are days or weeks away from closing permanently, said Senator Ben Cardin in a statement, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In addition to tackling the root of the problem, this bill targets small business aid to the hardest-hit, most vulnerable small businesses  including Black, Native, Hispanic, Asian, and women-owned businesses  as well as small businesses that have been most affected by COVID-19.

Despite the consumer relief provisions and PPP reforms, additional relief is still needed to help families get through this crisis. Advocates applauded the bills passage while also noting that far more is needed to help families survive this pandemic.

Congress finally presents us with a relief package that is sorely needed, said Ashley Harrington, Federal Advocacy Director at the Center for Responsible Lending. But it is not expansive enough to bring necessary relief and stability to our nation especially for Black and Brown communities that are experiencing the worst health and financial impacts of this unrelenting global pandemic.

The Biden-Harris Administration must extend the pause on student loan payments, continued Harrington, and must keep its promise to provide substantial, across-the-board debt cancellation to prevent further financial devastation for economically marginalized borrowers and communities. Congress must commit to immediately providing robust relief monies, especially to those who have no choice but to put their lives at risk as essential workers in order to survive.

We have the resources; this is the time to deploy them, concluded Harrington. Congress has a duty to provide relief that is equal to the enormity of this ongoing catastrophic emergency.

Maxine Waters, a California Congresswoman and Chair of the House Financial Services Committee echoed the need for more help.

The negotiations were difficult; they were tough and I wish we could have done even more, noted Waters. But Im pleased we have done as well as we could have done to provide relief for so many in desperate need for their Government to come to their aidLet me be clear: much more is needed, but this bill is a most important first step.

###

Charlene Crowell is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at [email protected].
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- QBE North America is honored to have earned Insurance Business America's 5-Star Excellence Award for both Professional and Management Liability.

To determine 5-Star status, IBA surveyed thousands of brokers within its network. Throughout the 15-week research process, carriers were measured on the strength of their relationships with brokers, ability to handle claims, underwriting expertise and most importantly, the strength of the individual products they provide.

"Companies today must contend with rising and evolving Professional and Management Liability risks due to increased securities litigation and other legal exposures, as well as the still-unknown impact of the pandemic," said Dan Fortin, President of QBE North America's Financial Lines business. "We work closely with our trading partners and customers to stay ahead these trends and deliver tailored risk solutions with customized products and specialized claims expertise."

Toria Lessman, SVP-Underwriting Leader, Financial Lines, added, "Due to the complex risks in Professional and Management Liability, we know expertise is critical, and as a result, we have underwriters who average more than 20 years in the business and work as one with our highly experienced Claims professionals. We're thrilled to have their efforts acknowledged by the broker community through Insurance Business America's 5-Star Excellence Awards. Our Professional and Management Liability practices are fundamental to QBE's value proposition, and we are pleased to receive this recognition."

QBE North America's Financial Lines business includes Professional Liability, Management Liability, Transactional Liability and Financial Institutions, and is part of QBE's broader Specialty & Commercial business.

About QBE

QBE North America is global insurance leader focused on helping customers solve unique risks, so they can focus on what matters most. Part of QBE Insurance Group Limited, QBE North America reported Gross Written Premiums in 2019 of $4.6 billion. QBE Insurance Group's 2019 results can be found at www.qbe.com. Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, QBE operates out of 27 countries around the globe, with a presence in every key insurance market. The North America division, headquartered in New York, conducts business through its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries. The actual terms and coverage for all lines of business are subject to the language of the policies as issued. QBE insurance companies are rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best and "A+" by Standard & Poor's. Additional information can be found at www.qbe.com/us or follow QBE North America on Twitter.

SOURCE QBE North America
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KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CYDERES, the 24/7 security-as-a-service division of cybersecurity solutions provider Fishtech Group, is excited to announce Insider Threat monitoring as a Service as a frictionless add-on to the CYDERES Managed Detection and Response solution. The offering, which will be available April 1st, grows the CYDERES broad data spectrum for cyber defense and response via the seamless integration of Haystax's industry-leading Insider Threat platform.

"The Haystax integration helps CYDERES customers prioritize enterprise risk and identify insider threats by focusing on human actions and intent," says Eric Foster, president of CYDERES, a top 25 MSSP award winner in 2020.

"By offering this as a one-click integration, CYDERES makes it both easy and cost-effective to add detections specific to insider threats to the unmatched analytics capabilities enabled by the CYDERES Cloud Native Analytics Platform powered by Google Chronicle."

Insider threats are often too well concealed to be detected using conventional data analytics solutions. Consequently, organizations typically become aware of threats only after an incident has occurred. Meanwhile, SOC analysts are overwhelmed chasing down alerts and trying to validate mostly false positives.

This integrated insider threat mitigation solution continuously monitors actions in an organization, pinpointing early indications of the most serious risk from IP theft, espionage, fraud, and other adverse behaviors.

The analytics leverages cutting-edge machine learning and proprietary data models to surface the most accurate and meaningful indicators of such behaviors. Powered by the 24x7x365 CYDERES SOC and CYDERES Cyber Defense Platform, the integrated solution ingests data from a variety of sources and then applies probabilistic models, machine learning and other artificial intelligence techniques to provide rich intelligence.

With the ease of deployment via the CYDERES Cyber Defense Platform, automated messages are generated from the alerting engine on indications of an emerging or high risk. The net effect is a drastic reduction in data overload and analyst fatigue, and earlier detection of the most important threats. As a result, decision-makers are better prepared, empowering them to act with confidence when a crisis strikes.

"CISOs are often charged with detecting high risk behavior and understanding employee and contractor intent from online signals. Ultimately, organizations hold CISOs responsible for the protection, confidentiality, and integrity of intellectual property, sensitive data, and critical operational systems that are often most at risk from malicious or unwitting insiders," says Brett Wilson, General Manager of Haystax, which has won the Cyber Excellence Award three years running. "This new integration empowers information security professionals no matter what their current program structure or maturity."

About Fishtech Group

Fishtech Group is the leading current generation security-as-a-service solutions provider for enabling secure and successful business transformation. Born in the cloud and based in Kansas City, Missouri, Fishtech Group includes the 24-7 Cyber Defense and Response division CYDERES and security analytics firm Haystax in Mclean, VA.

SOURCE Fishtech Group

Related Links

http://www.fishtech.group


Francis Collins says COVID-19 vaccines don't use 'fresh' fetal tissue: 'Absolutely not the case'

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The evangelical director of the National Institutes of Health answered some of the common concerns tied to the COVID-19 vaccines in a new podcast for the National Association of Evangelicals in which he urged Christians to take part in the vaccine rollout.

In a Friday conversation with NAE President Walter Kim, the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, NIH director Francis Collins weighed in on the ethical dilemmas some are expressing about the recently unveiled coronavirus vaccines.

Collins, the author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief and founder of The BioLogos Foundation, offered that Christians should approach the current public health crisis to not only call upon God for help but also to recognize that God calls Christians to be part of the solution.

"In times of plague, and it's not the first one nor will it be the last, Christians have had a tradition of not running away from the challenge but running toward it," the 70-year-old geneticist said.

What the vaccines do is attempt to convince human immune systems to produce antibodies to fight the proteins of the virus so they will be ready to attack. None of the latest vaccines are made up of the entire virus.

The Moderna approach utilizes the coding information for the spike protein in the molecule called RNA. That is injected into the shoulder of the patient, and the body then recognizes the spike protein and fights it. The trials of approximately 30,000 patients have shown that this has a 95% effective rate in preventing people from getting sick if they are going to be out in the community and exposed to the disease, he said.

Collins emphasized that the medical data should drive the decision-making of Christians, not a "crazy posting" on social media or opinions that might be heard on the street.

"We are people who are capable of rational thought," he contended. "We should be using it right now even as we are giving thanks to God Almighty that we are in a position to say that this pandemic could be behind us."

Chief among the concerns some Christians have about vaccines is the utilizing of tissue derived from babies aborted decades ago to develop the vaccine. Some pro-life advocates have urged others not to take the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine because of such concerns.

"No current fetal tissue is being used for any of these vaccines," Collins said, noting that he is often asked about what Christians should do in order to maintain a consistent pro-life ethic.

The only connection to tissue from aborted fetuses being used in vaccines is from cell lines derived in the 1960s and 1970s from elective abortions in Scandinavia at a time when it was legal, he explained. Those cell lines turned out to be useful in the biotechnology industry for a variety of purposes, so they have been put to work.

The vaccines are made with synthetic RNA and lipids but no cell lines, he continued. The cell lines have been used to evaluate whether vaccines are safe and effective. He assured that the lines have not been involved in the production of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

"I think people should be fairly reassured, though, because there's a lot of suggestion that this is utilizing fresh fetal tissue right now. That is absolutely not the case," he stressed.

Speaking to those who say they prefer to wait until herd immunity is reached, the NIH director said that would require around 80% to 85% of the population to be exposed and most will have to take some risk. He argued that such a view does not sound like a particularly compelling Christian position.

"Aren't we supposed to be the people who are supposed to be looking out for others and try to put ourselves in the love-your-neighbor position and doing what we need to do  not just for ourselves but also for everybody else, he said. So, I would think that Christians would be uncomfortable espousing that particular approach and just expecting that everyone around them is going to take care of them."

"It doesn't seem quite like the kind of attitude that Jesus calls us to, he added.

If Christians want to run toward a solution in a time of crisis they can volunteer to take the vaccine or participate in the trials, he added.

Asked about the concerns being voiced regarding the vaccine among African Americans given the painful history of medical abuse they have endured in the U.S., Collins acknowledged that it is a serious issue. He noted the Tuskegee syphilis experiment.

"We have a lot of work to do to convince the African American and Hispanic communities that this is really in their best intention, and that, I think, requires voices, not like mine  a white guy who works for the government, he said. But [we need] leaders in those communities who look at the evidence and say, 'Ok, there were some bad things that happened in the past, but this time, this is actually something that's going to be good for us. Let's not pass it up.

Collins believes January 2021 may be the worst month yet in terms of the risk of disease spread. He urged people to continue taking precautionary measures like social distancing and wearing masks.

"None of us know if we may be that asymptomatic but highly infected individual whose mere presence in a closed room might be the start of something regrettable and egregious for those around us," he said.

At a recent government celebration announcing the vaccine, Collins read Psalm 103, part of which praises God for forgiving sins and healing diseases.

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases," Psalm 103:2-3 reads in the NIV.
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There may be no amount of money that would fully recognize the harm the residents of Flint have experienced, including their anxiety, fear, distrust and anger over the events of the last seven years, Levy said. Litigation has its benefits but also its limitations, and the preliminary approval of this settlement does not affect or preclude other avenues of redress.
On Monday, Sheffield coroner David Urpeth issued a groundbreaking inquest ruling in finding that two men, Jason Mercer and Alexandru Murgeanu, had been unlawfully killed.

Jason, aged 44, and Alexandru, 22, were tragically killed on a section of the M1 motorway near Sheffield on June 7, 2019, by a lorry driven by a man, Prezemyslaw Szuba. The main factor in the deaths was the absence of a hard shoulderinto which vehicles could safely pull overdue to that section being transformed into a smart motorway. The government has converted the hard shoulder into a live traffic lane along swathes of the motorway network as part of its smart motorways rollout.

Jason and Alexandru had been involved in a minor collision and left their vehicles to exchange details. Their vehicles stopped in what was lane one of the four-lane motorway. Within minutes they were hit by the lorry driven by Szuba.

At least 44 people have died on smart motorways over the last five years.

The ruling is a devastating blow against Highway Englands campaign to defend smart motorways. At the conclusion of the one-day inquest at Sheffield Town Hall, Urpeth said, Having considered all of the evidence, I find on the balance of probability, that Mr Mercer and Mr Murgeanu were unlawfully killed I find, as a finding of fact, it is clear a lack of hard shoulder contributed to this tragedy. I believe that smart motorways, as things currently stand, present an ongoing risk of future deaths.

Highways England is the government company charged with operating, maintaining and improving Englands motorways and major A roads. At the inquest, its representative, Max Brown, continued to defend smart motorways.

The coroner said that he would be issuing a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the Secretary of State for Transport and Highways England Grant Shapps, and Highways England, asking for a review into smart motorways.

Szuba was jailed last year for 10 months and spoke from prison to the inquest. He said, If there had been a hard shoulder on this bit of motorway, the collision would have been avoidable. I would have driven past these two cars as it would be safer and they would have been able to come home safely and I would be able to come back home.

The ruling is a major victory for the Smart Motorways Kill campaign set up after the deaths of Jason and Alexandru, by Claire Mercer, Jasons widow. The campaigns website and social media pages publish news and information exposing the danger of smart motorways. It has served to connect bereaved families together.

Claire and Jason Mercer

The campaign is seeking a judicial review that will ban smart motorways. It has reported Highways England to the police for Corporate Manslaughter. South Yorkshire Police have declined to investigate this complaint, so the campaign referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Yet Sergeant Mark Brady, who oversees major collision investigations for South Yorkshire Police, told the inquiry, Had there been a hard shoulder, had Jason and Alexandru pulled on to the hard shoulder, my opinion is that Mr Szuba would have driven clean past them.

After the verdict Claire, who attended the inquest with her family, told the media outside the Town Hall, After more than a year and a half of campaigning I today feel that somebody has listened and finally taken steps to address the use of these death trap roads. Ever since Jason died, I have been determined to bring about change to ensure more families don't go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one by the completely nonsensical removal of hard shoulders on busy motorways, without adequate safeguards being in place.

Claire Mercer looking at a photo album made in remembrance of the life of her husband Jason Mercer

Claire told the World Socialist Web Site, We werent expecting it. My family all just gasped when we heard the verdict and I just burst into tears. We thought we are not going to get anything out of this other than using the media attention to further the campaign and, lo and behold, we get this really good result that will help the campaign.

The coroner was very insistent that the lorry driver who got jailed, Prezemyslaw Szuba, took part. He swore him in under oath and asked him a lot of questions. He asked if he had ever done any training on a smart motorway and he said no. He asked if it was part of the Highway Code and its not actually written into the Highway Code yet.

The coroner said he was going to ask for a Section 28 death report, which was the best that we were expecting. [A Regulation 28 Report is issued to an individual, organisations, local authorities or government departments and their agencies where the coroner believes that action should be taken to prevent further deaths.] Highways England only have to reply to it within 56 days. But hes done a belt and braces report with lots of individual points and harsh criticism.

I dont think Highways England will get away with it. But Ive got copies of previous inquests into smart motorway deaths and one of them says about another case This is very similar death, see that one. They just dont care. Ive been arguing with a couple of coroners saying, So they could literally write a Christmas cake recipe on there as long as they do it within 56 days? Theyve just been saying that is the limit of our powers.

The coroner is going to write to Grant Shapps and has recorded unlawful killing. He doesnt actually have to do that. What Im learning is that it doesnt really have to be that important in law, its the public perception of how important it is. Because the public think that this is very big thing. They will talk about it and then it will become a big thing.

We got the ruling for unlawful death and its going to be really important for pushing the police. I have been pushing and pushing the police to investigate Highways England for Corporate Manslaughter and they wont do it. Ive gone through the IOPC and the Crime Commissioners Office. Ive done everything I can. Now that a coroner has ruled for unlawful death, and that Highways England were complicit in that death, how can they not investigate?

Theyre saying that there are two parties involved in their deaths and they have jailed one of them. But theyre not even going to investigate the other one!

The judicial review campaign is continuing. It was delayed by Covid and now that is coming back on track. That can get Smart Motorways banned by law in court. There would not be any opinion about it and the government saying, We spent this much. It would be banned by law.

The other issue is Corporate Manslaughter. Now I have got this weapon because that is for a criminal prosecution. I am not suing. People keep quoting me saying I am suing Highways England. Im not suing Highways England. I dont want compensation. I want someone jailed.

One of the Highways England representatives, Max Brown said that smart motorways has been policy since 2008. The coroner asked if anyone else would like to say something. I said I would like to and that, This may be a high profile case and it may be a high profile campaign, and youve got to remember that they can list all the caveats and their excuses and contracts that they like, but this inquest is still about the deaths of two people and they need to remember that. And the fact that Mr Brown said that this has been policy since 2008 is frankly offensive. Just because its been policy for years doesnt mean we carry on killing people. That ruffled Highways England and the QC for Highways England apologised.

I did not want the lorry driver jailed and I made a lot of noise about that, but they ignored me and jailed him anyway. I got an email from the Home Office saying that because he is a foreign national who got a custodial sentence, he was automatically considered for deportation. They said it is looked at on a case-by-case basis, and on this occasion they have decided not to deport him.

The home page of the Smart Motorways Kill website

The Smart Motorways Kill campaign is calling for donations for legal costs to fight the government in court. More than 20,000 is required to bring a court case and the campaign is just under 3,000 from meeting its target. Donations can be made on the campaigns Facebook page here and on the main campaign page here .
MARLBOROUGH, Mass., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Preventice Solutions, Inc., a privately-held company which offers a full portfolio of mobile cardiac health solutions and services, ranging from ambulatory cardiac monitors  including short and long-term Holter monitors  to cardiac event monitors and mobile cardiac telemetry. The transaction consists of an upfront cash payment of $925 million, and up to an additional $300 million in a potential commercial milestone payment. Boston Scientific has been an investor in Preventice since 2015 and currently holds an equity stake of approximately 22 percent, which is expected to result in a net payment of approximately $720 million upon closing and a milestone payment of up to approximately $230 million. Preventice recorded net sales of $158 million in 2020  a 30 percent growth rate from the previous year.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality globally, accounting for nearly 17.9 million annual global deaths and highlighting the need for early detection and management for individuals who may be at risk of a cardiac event.1 Physicians may ask at-risk patients to wear an external cardiac monitor to assess how their heart is functioning, which may lead to the diagnosis of a potential heart rhythm problem known as an arrhythmia. The recordings taken by the monitor can then help physicians develop an optimal and personalized treatment plan.

The Preventice product portfolio includes the BodyGuardian family of remote, wearable cardiac monitors for adult and pediatric patients. The monitors use a fully-integrated, cloud-based platform supported by an independent diagnostic testing facility, where clinical technicians and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms provide insights that may lead to improved clinical diagnoses and outcomes. Preventice's integration of AI and human expertise is designed to enhance physician efficiency and experience.

"This acquisition will provide Boston Scientific with a foothold in the high-growth ambulatory electrocardiography space, which strongly complements our recent entrance into the implantable cardiac monitor market and will serve as an important component of our category leadership strategy in cardiac diagnostics and services  a nearly $2B market anticipated to grow double digits annually," said Scott Olson, senior vice president and president, Rhythm Management, Boston Scientific. "We are confident that by adding the broad technology portfolio and expertise of Preventice, our combined teams can continue to deliver rapid growth in these highly-attractive markets while also establishing an important adjacency to our core cardiac rhythm management and electrophysiology businesses."

The newest remote monitoring system within the Preventice BodyGuardian family, the BodyGuardian MINI PLUS, has multiple electrode options intended to enhance rhythm detection, is waterproof, repositionable and can be used in all modalities of short and long-term monitoring, as determined necessary by physicians. These remote monitoring systems are combined with BeatLogic deep learning algorithms  a type of AI  that detect, classify and interpret variations in heart rhythm data with high beat detection sensitivity and positive predictive value.2

"We have been humbled to provide thousands of physician practices with services based on near real-time clinical data to enable the diagnosis and management of more than one million cardiac patients, without needing to interrupt their daily activities," said Jon Otterstatter, chief executive officer of Preventice Solutions. "Boston Scientific has been a key investor in Preventice for more than five years and we believe the company has the commercial reach, diagnostics expertise and operational infrastructure to bring these advanced monitoring technologies to more patients worldwide."

The acquisition is projected to close by mid-2021, subject to customary closing conditions, and to be immaterial to adjusted earnings per share in 2021, accretive by at least one cent in 2022, and increasingly accretive thereafter. On a GAAP basis, the transaction is expected to be less accretive, or dilutive as the case may be, due to amortization expense and acquisition-related net charges, except for a one-time gain on the company's previously held equity investment in Preventice to be recorded at the closing of the transaction. Additional information about this transaction is available on the events and presentations section of the Boston Scientific investor relations website.

Founded in 2007 as Preventice, Preventice Solutions is based in Minneapolis with offices in Houston and Rochester, Minn.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "anticipate," "expect," "project," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend" and similar words. These forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and estimates using information available to us at the time and are not intended to be guarantees of future events or performance. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business plans, regulatory approvals, the closing of the acquisition, product development and product performance and impact. If our underlying assumptions turn out to be incorrect, or if certain risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections expressed or implied by our forward-looking statements. These factors, in some cases, have affected and in the future (together with other factors) could affect our ability to implement our business strategy and may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements expressed in this press release. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements.

Factors that may cause such differences include, among other things: future economic, competitive, reimbursement and regulatory conditions; new product introductions; demographic trends; intellectual property; litigation; financial market conditions; and future business decisions made by us and our competitors. All of these factors are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of them are beyond our control. For a further list and description of these and other important risks and uncertainties that may affect our future operations, see Part I, Item 1A  Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we may update in Part II, Item 1A  Risk Factors in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter. We disclaim any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or in events, conditions or circumstances on which those expectations may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted net income (loss), adjusted net income (loss) available to common stockholders and adjusted net income (loss) per share that excludes certain charges and/or credits, such as amortization expense, acquisition-related net charges (credits) and investment impairment net charges (credits). These non-GAAP financial measures are not in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and should not be considered in isolation from or as a replacement for the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. Further, other companies may calculate these non-GAAP financial measures differently than we do, which may limit the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes. For further information regarding our non-GAAP measures, see Part II, Item 7 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which we may update in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q we have filed or will file hereafter.

CONTACTS:

Laura Aumann

Media Relations

651-582-4251

[email protected]

Susie Lisa, CFA

Investor Relations

(508) 683-5565

[email protected]

1 World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds). Accessed January 5, 2021.

2 Teplitzky, et al. Heart Rhythm Journal. 2020:5 881 - 888.

SOURCE Boston Scientific

Related Links

https://www.bostonscientific.com


KYODO NEWS - Jan 21, 2021 - 12:24 | Others

Business leaders in Japan on Thursday welcomed the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden, expecting his administration to take a multilateral approach to trade policy while cooperating closely with other countries.

"We have high hopes for the new U.S. administration as it focuses on international coordination," Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, said in a statement.

The chief of the country's most powerful business lobby made clear "the power of the United States is necessary" to achieve a recovery in the global economy hit hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic, adding it also allows for the global order to be "reconstructed."

"I hope the Biden administration will unite and revive the United States as the world's number one country," said Nakanishi.

He added Japan has to make efforts to further develop its relationship with the United States and persuade it to return to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact, from which Washington withdrew under the administration of Biden's predecessor Donald Trump.

Akio Mimura, chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said he expects Biden to exert strong leadership "as a new U.S. president who values multilateralism and the rule of law."

He expressed hope that Biden will tackle global issues such as the coronavirus pandemic and climate change in conjunction with other countries.

"I welcome a shift to international cooperation by the Biden administration," said Kengo Sakurada, chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.

"We hope the United States will reclaim its status as a world leader in promoting democracy and market economics and again drive moves toward global peace and prosperity," Sakurada said, also stressing the importance of strengthening Japan-U.S. cooperation in various areas.

Related coverage:

Japan PM Suga congratulates Biden on becoming U.S. president

Asian leaders congratulate new U.S. President Biden

Biden sworn in as U.S. president, ending Trump's isolationism
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Former Green River resident, Petra Carranza Jorgenson, 75, of Tucson, AZ, was born in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico on May 2nd, 1945 to Jesus and Maria Carranza.

Along with her parents, Petra and her five siblings came to this country in the early 1950's settling down around Helper, UT. There, her Father worked for the railroad and she reminisced often of her fond memories of her youth. She graduated from Carbon High School in Price, UT in 1965.

After graduation, Petra found her way to Tucson, where she found work and enjoyed living close to her siblings. A few years had passed when...
This award acknowledges the people behind Level Legal who are singularly focused on helping law firm and in-house legal teams with the best service possible, backed by a keen understanding of data, technology and the ever-changing regulatory landscape.

Level Legal, a leading legal services company, today announced it has been named Best Law Company in the American Lawyer Industry Awards 2021 lineup honoring outstanding achievements in the legal profession. The Best Law Company award honors an alternative legal service provider that made a significant impact in 2020 on how legal services were delivered. Level Legal stood above the rest based on the quantifiable impact to clients, impact on the law company space as a whole and cultural approach, which embodies the spirit of pride, dedication and collaboration with clients.

We are honored to be included in the winners circle, and appreciative of the judges who evaluated our work and deemed us best in class, said Joey Seeber, chief executive officer of Level Legal. This award acknowledges the people behind Level Legal who are singularly focused on helping law firm and in-house legal teams with the best service possible, backed by a keen understanding of data, technology and the ever-changing regulatory landscape.

Level Legal is a modern law company providing integrated legal and technology business solutions that clear the runway for litigators to focus on their clients and case strategies. Built around delivering thoughtful, efficient solutions in eDiscovery and litigation, compliance, investigations and privacy, the effectiveness of Level Legals arsenal approach has enabled the company to grow and expand as client needs have evolved.

About Level Legal

Level Legal Solutions (http://www.levellegal.com) delivers data-driven legal services across compliance, privacy, investigations, and litigation to law firms and Fortune 1000 companies. By fusing our legal acumen with today's leading technologies, we guide our clients through today's complex, ever-changing legal landscape. Headquartered in Texas, Level Legal has been recognized by Inc. 5000 for three years in a row as one of America's fastest-growing companies.
Minister Satyavathi Rathod examined the 116 acres of assigned land, 50 acres of forest land and 169 acres of government land given by the state government for the university.  (Image: telangana.gov.in)

WARANGAL: Minister for tribal welfare Satyavathi Rathod on Thursday inspected the land and the building allotted by the state for the Tribal University to be set up in Telangana state in accordance with the AP Reorganisation Act.

After Mulugu and Mahbubabad were suggested as the possible locations for the university, the Centre after examining the issue decided to set it up at Mulugu.

The state government has given 116 acres of assigned land, 50 acres of forest land and 169 acres of government land for the university. The building was also made ready for temporarily organising classes.

She said the state has fulfilled its obligations and it is now up to the Centre to start classes.

"In the state of Andhra Pradesh, where a tribal university was sanctioned along with Telangana state as per the reorganisation act, the university has already begun its academic activities in one block of the Andhra University campus. The AP state government has neither given an acre of land, nor a proper building," she pointed out.

Satyavathi Rathod alleged that the Centre was showing stepmotherly treatment towards Telangana state. She asked BJP leaders to stop criticising the TRS on the issue and said the government was trying to bring this issue to the attention of the Centre during the forthcoming Parliamentary sessions.

"Since it is already late in the academic year, we will ask the Centre to start classes immediately as all the facilities are already provided, she said.

Local MLA Seethakka, ZP chairman Kusuma Jagadish, collector Krishna Aditya, Integrate Tribal Development Agency project officer Hanmanthu K. Zendage, additional collector Adarsha Surabhi were present.
The author of Breakout Nations and The 10 Rules of Successful Nations, Ruchir Sharma has been studying emerging markets for close to 30 years. He was 17 in 1991 and remembers watching from the visitors gallery in the Lok Sabha as then finance minister Manmohan Singh delivered the pivotal budget speech. Sharma reflects on what India needs to do to join the comeback he expects to see in emerging markets in the 2020s.

It is said the economy moved from business-friendly to market-friendly after 1991. Have you seen this change?

The 1991 reforms were really about integrating India with the global economy. It marked a major change in the mindset. The notion of socialism made way for consumerism. It was a heady time of the entry of major foreign brands into India. The economic freedom, the freedom of personal choice it broughtthats how I read the reforms. The distinction between business-friendly and market-friendly, that hasnt been resolved yet. One of the big faultlines of the boom of the 2000s is that it ended up in so much crony capitalism. That is a very big problem for India.

Are we seeing a new wave of reforms in India now?

Like most emerging markets, India seems to carry out reforms when it has its back to the wall. Once every 10 years, we get a major burst of reforms. We saw it in the early 1980s when India had to go to the IMF. That was the first time India started reforms. 1991 did much more to integrate India into the global economy; then we had the East Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s. There was exasperation in the (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee government about Indias slowing growth and that led to another wave of reforms, including privatization, in the early 2000s. In 2012-13, we had a crisis which led to some course correction.

Now, there is a recognition that the finances dont allow the country to carry out a major stimulus, so theyre carrying out reforms. Only in a crisis does India reform and were seeing signs of it now.

For the first time since 1991, hard-earned gains in trade policy are being given up. Some say the model is not delivering for all. Is the noise muddling decision-making?

These put into context why carrying out reforms in the early 1990s was easier than now. In the early 1990s, the consensus around the world was in favour of globalization, with the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the demise of the Soviet Union. Today, we are in an era of deglobalization; many countries are turning protectionist. We are forgetting what life was like under socialism. Young generations romanticize the idea of socialism, partly because capitalism in the way they know it hasnt delivered in the past 20 years. Therefore, it is more difficult to build up a consensus to carry out traditional economic reforms.

What reforms would you like to see in the next few years?

There are four factors that make me optimistic about emerging markets such as India over the next decade. One, we dont have the means to stimulate our way to prosperity, so we are carrying out reforms. Second, there is a digital revolution. Third, traditional models of manufacturing and exporting have become difficult in an era of deglobalization. But countries such as Vietnam and Poland are seeing some economic growth on the back of old-style export manufacturing. And fourth, commodity prices are poised to rise in the 2020s. Generally, when commodity prices go up, it tends to help emerging markets.

These are the four factors that can help emerging markets over the coming decade but it depends on how much momentum India puts behind these. Despite reforms, India ranks relatively low on the index of economic freedom. I wish the political class would do more to increase economic freedom. The irony is that we got a fair amount of political freedom quite early after Independence but we havent got the commensurate amount of economic freedom. The reforms of 1991 were one step in that direction but we are still far behind many other countries on that key metric of economic freedom.

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Since 1997, when the US supreme court metaphorically called the Internet the free market of ideas, attempts at regulation have been blocked by the 1st amendment. But with power concentrated in a few platforms, that metaphor is now misleading, says a study

Since 1997 (Reno vs. American Civil Liberties Union), the Supreme Court has used the metaphor of the free market of ideas to define the Internet, thus addressing the regulation of the net as a matter of freedom of speech. In law, metaphors have a constitutive value and, once established, affect the debate and the decisions of the Courts for a long time. In the paper 'Judicial Frames and Fundamental Right in Cyberspace', published in the American Journal of Comparative Law, Oreste Pollicino (Bocconi University) and Alessandro Morelli (Universita Magna Graecia, Catanzaro) apply to judicial reasoning reflections on metaphors and go so far as to criticize, on the one hand, the US Supreme Court's orientations on (non-)regulation of the Internet and, on the other, to invoke changes in Directive 2000/31/EC on e-commerce. Internet regulation should be framed not as a matter of freedom of speech, but as a matter of freedom to conduct a business, they argue.

The metaphor was used for the first time in 1919 in a dissenting opinion of Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes on a Supreme Court decision concerning the expression of anti-war ideas and implies the fact that, when there is competition in a free market of ideas, even the worst of them (and therefore also the false ones) should be admitted, in the certainty that the best ones (and ultimately the truth) would still prevail.

Since 1997, explains Professor Pollicino, every decision on the possible regulation of the Internet in the US has referred to the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and is in fact superordinate to any other freedom., The jurisprudential line followed by the Supreme Court for more than 30 years, then, derives from the use of a metaphor.

Since then, however, continues Prof. Pollicino, the context has completely changed and the metaphor is now misleading. In fact, the large Internet platforms have assumed such a power as to counterbalance, in many fields, the power of Governments, without being conditioned by any geographical border.

The large platforms can no longer be considered actors like the others, competing on equal terms in a free market of ideas, and the American legal tradition, which enforces the freedom of speech only vertically (when the freedom of a private individual is limited by a public power) should instead enforce it also horizontally, when one of the private actors holds an overwhelming power. Still in 2017, however, in the Packingham vs. North Carolina decision, social networks were defined as the new free market of ideas, leaving little room for hope that such a market can be regulated in some way (even if only imposing serious obligations to remove fraudulent or dangerous material, as happens for example in Germany).

In Europe, the situation is more fluid, because the judicial tradition foresees a certain balance between the different rights, but the pressures to adopt a vision close to the American one are still strong. The Directive 31 of 2000, at the dawn of social networks, equated them to the service or hosting providers of those years, thus substantially denying any responsibility for the posted content. Some recent EU legislation (or proposals) on anti-terrorism protection, audiovisual discipline and copyright are eroding the directive, but aren't directly calling it into question. Perhaps the time has come to do so argues Pollicino.

The right way forward, according to the authors, could be to frame Internet regulation not as a matter of freedom of speech, but as a matter of freedom to conduct a business. What platforms really want to avoid is to change their business model: content monitoring is expensive and could discourage some from using the platforms. But the freedom to conduct a business, however protected, is not superordinate to other rights in any system and should therefore be counterbalanced by the rights to privacy, security, reputation and protection of minors. The contest for ideas is therefore open and the rhetoric of the absolutization of fundamental rights is often counterproductive. What metaphor would make it possible to address the issue in this way? Certainly, importing into Europe the US metaphor of the free marketplace of ideas, decontextualized it from the constitutional paradigms that frame it (Freedom in the USA and Dignity in Europe) can be very risky, concludes Prof. Pollicino.

###
For the past four years, Vanessa and Enrique Velasco feared they would be deported and separated from their three U.S.-born children.

The Velascos, who emigrated from El Salvador more than 20 years ago, have Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, which grants deportation relief and work authorization to people whose home countries have been devastated by natural disasters or other tumultuous conditions, making it unsafe to return.

The Trump administration ended the program for thousands of immigrants, and the Velascos feared they would also lose protection. But when Vanessa Velasco learned of the ambitious immigration bill that President Biden unveiled Wednesday  which includes immediate relief for TPS holders like her  she felt a sense of relief.

Today was different, Velasco told The Chronicle on Wednesday after Bidens inauguration. I was crying, but out of joy. Theres a lot of work to do for the bill to become law. But at least they know who we are, and they know what is at stake.

Immigrant families and organizers in the Bay Area applauded Bidens proposed immigration reform bill as unprecedented legislation that will give many people a chance to permanently remain in the country and build a future without fear of deportation.

The bill counters the stringent and historic policies that came to define the Trump administration, which included restricting asylum, slashing refugee resettlement, doubling down on deportations and constructing a border wall.

Biden signed several executive actions Wednesday to dismantle some of Trumps key immigration policies, including repealing the travel ban, stopping construction of the border wall, limiting ICE arrests and calling on Congress to grant permanent status and a pathway to citizenship for beneficiaries of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, also known as Dreamers.

His immigration bill includes immediate plans for green cards for TPS holders, farm workers and Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children. Nearly 200,000 DACA beneficiaries, and nearly 75,000 TPS recipients, live in California, the California Attorney Generals office said in 2019.

Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle

Bidens plan would also provide a road map to citizenship for the countrys roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants, which includes an estimated 2.6 million in the state, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Those living in the country without legal status as of Jan. 1 would get temporary status for five years and then receive a green card, so long as they meet requirements like paying taxes and passing a background check. They would be eligible for U.S. citizenship after an additional three years.

Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform in Washington, said the plan will encourage mass amnesty.

Amnesty is not justified in any event, he said. It doesnt solve the problem. It just creates a new cycle of illegal immigration.

The number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. has remained roughly around 11 million for the past several years, after peaking at 12 million around 2007, according to Pew Research. By comparison, the U.S. had an estimated 8.6 million undocumented immigrants in 2000 and 3.5 million in 1990.

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The bill could be life-changing for Vanessa Mejia, a DACA recipient whose aunt brought her to the U.S. from El Salvador at age 8 to join Mejias parents, Julio and Connie Mejia, as well as her family.

The Mejias also have TPS. Their youngest sons are U.S. citizens.

It was really difficult to think that they could be deported back to our country anytime, Vanessa Mejia said of her parents. This brings back hope that we can stay together.

Im keeping my faith strong that he will deliver for every immigrant thats present in the U.S. and families who have been separated, she continued.

But Luis Moreno, an undocumented organizer from San Jose, said the bill is dead on arrival and prioritizes immediate relief for some immigrants while delaying legalization for many others.

This new plan is dividing the community, he said. It does not include domestic workers, construction workers or single mothers who work for their children.

Moreno and a coalition of immigrant rights groups planned to lead a caravan to San Jose City Hall on Wednesday afternoon to denounce Bidens plan.

The bill would also grant immediate legal status to eligible farm workers, who would have to pass criminal background checks and show they have worked in agriculture at least 100 days in four of the previous five years.

The National Immigration Law Center in Los Angeles said it was encouraged by the Biden administrations commitment to improving the lives of immigrants, which was demonstrated today with decisive actions on his first day in office.

Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez
World leaders welcomed into their ranks the new U.S. President Joe Biden, noting their most pressing problems, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, require multilateral cooperation, an approach his predecessor Donald Trump ridiculed.

Many expressed hope Biden would right U.S. democracy two weeks after rioters stormed the Capitol, shaking the faith of those fighting for democracy in their own countries.

Governments targeted and sanctioned under Trump embraced the chance for a fresh start with Biden, while some heads of state who lauded Trump's blend of nationalism and populism were more restrained in their expectations.

But the chance to repair frayed alliances and work together on global problems carried the day.

China, whose U.S. relations nosedived due to widespread frustration in Washington over its human rights record and accusations of technology theft, expressed hope about the change in the White House.

``I think after this very difficult and extraordinary time, both the Chinese and American people deserve a better future,'' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a daily briefing.

Biden ``understands the importance of cooperation among nations,'' said former Colombian president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos, who left office in 2018. ``As a matter of fact, if we don't cooperate - all nations - to fight climate change, then we will all perish. It's as simple as that.``

French President Emmanuel Macron and Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama were among those welcoming U.S. attention to climate change. After Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, Biden reversed the move in the first hours of his presidency Wednesday.

With Biden, ``we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet,`` Macron wrote on Twitter. ``Welcome back to the Paris Agreement!''

Other European allies saw a chance to come in out of the cold after strained relationships with the Trump administration.

European Council President Charles Michel said trans-Atlantic relations have ``greatly suffered in the last four years`` while the world has become less stable and less predictable.

``We have our differences and they will not magically disappear. America seems to have changed, and how it's perceived in Europe and the rest of the world has also changed,'' added Michel, whose open criticism of the Trump era contrasted with the silence that mostly reigned in Europe while the Republican leader was in the White House.

In Ballina, Ireland, where Biden's great-great-grandfather was born in 1832, a mural of a smiling Biden adorned a wall in the town, where some of the president's relatives still live.

``As he takes the oath of office, I know that President Biden will feel the weight of history _ the presence of his Irish ancestors who left Mayo and Louth in famine times in search of life and hope,'' Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who formed close ties with Trump, noted a personal friendship with Biden and said he looked forward to working together to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has accused Trump of unfair bias toward Israel with policies like moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, expressed hope for a more even-handed approach from Biden. He urged ``a comprehensive and just peace process that fulfills the aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom and independence.''

In Latin America, Biden faces immediate challenges on immigration, and the leaders of the two most populous countries _ Brazil and Mexico _ were chummy with Trump. The Trump administration also expanded painful sanctions against governments in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

In Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro's government urged dialogue with the Biden administration, while hoping the new president abandons the avalanche of damaging sanctions Trump imposed to attempt a regime change.

Some Venezuelans, however, like retired accountant Jesus Sanchez, 79, said he was disappointed to see Trump leave power. Trump backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, giving Venezuelans like him hope that Maduro's days in power were numbered.

Carlos Vecchio, Guaido's envoy in Washington who the U.S. recognizes as Venezuela's ambassador, tweeted photos of himself at Biden's inauguration. The invitation to attend was touted by Venezuela's opposition as evidence the Biden administration will continue its strong support and resist entreaties by Maduro for dialogue that the U.S. has strenuously rejected until now.

Cuba's leaders perhaps have a more realistic hope for improved relations: Biden was in the White House for the historic thaw in relations in 2014, and various officials expressed willingness to reopen a dialogue with Washington if there was respect for Cuba's sovereignty.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel railed against Trump via Twitter, citing ``more than 200 measures that tightened the financial, commercial and economic blockade, the expression of a despicable and inhuman policy.''

In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who cultivated an unexpectedly friendly relationship with Trump and was one of the last world leaders to recognize Biden's victory, read from a letter he sent to Biden in 2012, calling for reorienting the bilateral relationship away from security and military aid and toward development.

He urged Biden to implement immigration reform, and added: ``We need to maintain a very good relationship with the United States government and I don't have any doubt that it's going to be that way.''

U.S. allies in the Asia-Pacific region expressed anticipation of strengthening those alliances under a Biden administration. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and others highlighted their shared values as leaders of democracies.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said: ``America's new beginning will make democracy even greater.''

Former Australian diplomat Rory Medcalf said Biden would likely find diplomatic partners across the Indo-Pacific region ready not for American leadership but partnership in ``collective action'' against Chinese ``strategic assertiveness.''

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Biden was a good friend to New Zealand and highlighted in particular the words given in his inaugural address. ``President Biden's message of unity as he takes office is one that resonates with New Zealanders,'' Ardern said.

World leaders also acknowledged the history of Vice President Kamala Harris taking office. She is the first woman, the first Black woman and the first South Asian to hold that office in the U.S.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter congratulated both Biden and Harris, whose maternal grandfather was Indian.

``That is an historic moment and one that, I think as a father of daughters, you can only celebrate,`` Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Short link:


A controversial Texas tax law criticized as a giveaway to large companies is set to expire after 2022, but state lawmakers appear poised to renew the program this legislative session.

Under Chapter 313, Texas taxpayers will pay the bill for tax breaks worth nearly $1.7 billion in 2021 and 2022 combined to corporations that relocate to, or expand in, the state  companies that, critics say, likely would have done so without the subsidy.

Others, however, say the program makes it cheaper to do business in Texas and creates jobs and tax revenue in counties across the state. Without the tax break, supporters of Chapter 313 say, companies could go to states that are more generous with public subsidies.

Two legislators  Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Fort Worth, and Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville  prefiled bills to extend Chapter 313 through the end of 2032.

On ExpressNews.com: Tax-break program to cost Texas $1 billion a year by 2022. Tesla soon will be a beneficiary

Neither legislator responded to requests for comment.

While its unclear whether the bills would pass as they are now, legislators and analysts anticipate Chapter 313 will almost certainly pass in some form and continue to play a key role in statewide economic development.

The Texas Legislature passed Chapter 313, known as the Texas Economic Development Act, in 2001. Lawmakers worried that Texas, with its high property taxes, wouldnt be able to attract companies to the state.

The Chapter 313 provision allows school districts where a company agrees to invest to lower the taxable value of properties for 10 years. School boards usually grant the tax breaks for manufacturing facilities and renewable energy projects, which are expensive to develop.

In urban areas, the value of a property granted Chapter 313 tax breaks is limited to between $80 million and $100 million, regardless of the size of the investment. In rural areas, property values are held to $10 million in Chapter 313 deals.

Think of a homeowner who pays taxes only on the first $10,000 of his or her homes value, even if the home is a mansion.

In exchange for the tax break, the firm promises to build the facility and create a set number of jobs that pay above-average wages, though companies can have their job-creation requirements waived.

Opponents of Chapter 313 say the program leaves major economic development decisions in the hands of school district administrators.

And when a company wants to invest in an area, the local school district has little reason to deny it the giveaway. Any money a school district would lose in tax revenue by offering a Chapter 313 is refunded from the states general fund.

Companies that receive tax breaks under Chapter 313 typically take the money they saved in taxes and pay the school district about 40 percent of that sum  so-called supplemental payments.

School districts face little risk by offering the tax break, thanks to the state refund. And the districts pocket the supplemental payments from applicant companies with few strings attached.

Its a program that costs schools millions of dollars per year. But the structure of the program is such that this cost is spread out across the whole state, said Nathan Jensen, a government professor at the University of Texas at Austin and one of the most prominent critics of Chapter 313.

There are 509 active Chapter 313 agreements, and the number of applications for the tax break have grown in recent years, according to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. In 2019, Hegars office received 133 new Chapter 313 applications, up from 68 applications two years earlier.

Hegars office is responsible for approving 313 deals. To win approval, the comptroller must determine that the project seeking incentives will generate, within 25 years, enough tax revenue to offset the tax break. The comptroller also must find the tax abatement is the determining factor in a companys decision to invest in Texas.

The Comptrollers office is charged with approving Chapter 313 agreements, but in practice the requirements are hard to judge, comptroller officials wrote in a November analysis of Chapter 313.

Determining how a project will perform over 25 years is a job better suited for a fortune teller, they wrote.

Its also difficult to tell whether the tax break really is the deal-maker. Its generally impossible to determine the factors that ultimately cause a company to make a final decision, they said.

In the fall, the Del Valle Independent School District granted electric vehicle maker Tesla a tax break worth $46 million for its planned truck factory in Austin. Tesla said it will create 5,000 new jobs at the plant and invest more than $1 billion.

Toyota received a Chapter 313 tax break from Southwest ISD in 2004 for its South Side factory, which created roughly 3,000 jobs in San Antonio.

Supporters of Chapter 313 point to deals with companies such as Tesla or Toyota as evidence of the programs success.

The property taxes in Texas are about 60 percent higher than what they are in other states. And when youre talking about a huge, capital-intensive facility, property taxes are going to be the single biggest tax they pay, said Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, which supports renewing Chapter 313.

In Texas, the location, the regulatory environment  its a right-to-work state  those are all factors viewed as positives, he said. But companies easily get scared away if their tax bill is too high.

On ExpressNews.com: How a big Texas tax break created not-so-affordable housing

In an era of polarized politics, Chapter 313 is unusual: Its garnered fervent bipartisan support among lawmakers and industry groups. The Texas Oil and Gas Association recently called for the program to be renewed, and renewable energy groups also support its extension.

Oil- and gas-related facilities in the Permian Basin and along the Gulf Coast commonly receive the tax abatement, as do wind and solar farms throughout the state.

The conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation and the liberal think tank Every Texan both oppose Chapter 313s renewal.

Both organizations point to research suggesting the tax breaks dont make much difference. A study by Jensen, the UT professor, found that about 85 percent of companies still would have moved to Texas if they had been denied the 313 tax break.

Companies are frequently granted incentives for petrochemical manufacturing facilities in Southeast Texas. Yet they are unlikely to build a petrochemical plant elsewhere if denied the tax break, given the industry cluster and access to global shipping routes along the Gulf Coast, Jensen found.

And Texas has another advantage over other states for renewable energy projects: its many transmission lines that can ferry renewable electricity across the state.

Many states lack the infrastructure to distribute electricity produced by growing numbers of (renewable energy) projects, according to the comptrollers report.

Letting the program expire would free revenue and ease the burden on the statewide school finance system, said Dick Lavine, a fiscal analyst at Every Texan.

Craymer of TTARA said despite its flaws, the program is a positive because even if the state subsidizes a companys tax bill, the school district offering the tax break will still gain more revenue over time than if the project had never been developed.

And he said the 9,100 jobs the comptroller estimates that active Chapter 313 agreements have created is a lowball estimate that discounts other workers, such as contractors or employees at businesses that sprout up around new projects.

Still, Craymer said, his organization would like to see reforms before the program is extended.

Currently, a handful of districts across the state grant the majority of Chapter 313 tax breaks  and take home most of the supplemental payments from companies. Two Houston-area school districts, Barbers Hill and Brazosport, have approved about 10 percent of all active Chapter 313 agreements.

A model under which districts with the most Chapter 313 agreements share revenue with the rest of the states school districts would not be inappropriate, Craymer said.

Others have called for the program to strengthen job-creation and wage requirements for companies receiving the tax breaks.

Democratic Rep. Diego Bernal, whose district encompasses much of center-city San Antonio, is lukewarm on Chapter 313. Despite its flaws, he said, he understands how the program could look different to rural school districts that struggle to attract jobs and investment.

My initial knee-jerk reaction is that I always want everyone to pay their fair share when it comes to funding education, Bernal said. But at the same time, a lot of districts like (Chapter 313 agreements). They like creating proximity, creating relationships, creating opportunities for internships, philanthropy. Im not in a position to decide for them whether its a good idea or not.

Bernal said he expects Chapter 313 to pass in its current form unless someone has an idea that I havent heard.

Its not clear how much attention lawmakers will pay to Chapter 313 during this legislative session as they look to plug the budget shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn.

On ExpressNews.com: Analysis: The odds for legal pot and casinos in Texas just got worse

But if lawmakers do seek to reform the tax break program, Bernal said he hopes its because of a shift in thinking on tax policy and education.

In the end, Im probably OK with (Chapter 313), Bernal said. But that doesnt mean I still dont have long-standing concerns about business tax policy and public education.

If this gets revisited, he said, its hopefully because were having a larger conversation about public schools and taxation, generally.

diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement on Wednesday that is not sitting well with many of his constituents.

Paxton, who is under federal investigation, congratulated President Joe Biden but also said he will continue to fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions the new administration is going to take.

"(I will continue to) challenge federal overreach that infringes' on Texas rights, and serve as a major check against the administration's lawlessness," Paxton said in his statement he released on Twitter. "Texas First! Law & Order always!"

READ ALSO: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg 'hopeful' on Biden Inauguration Day

The statement comes after his name was absent Wednesday from a last-minute list of pardons in the waning hours of Donald Trump's presidency. Paxton is accused of committing bribery, abuse of office and other crimes, according to the Associated Press.

His top deputies reported him to the FBI in September, accusing him of using his position to help an Austin real estate developer. Paxton has not been charged in federal court, so any pardon would have been preemptive. He has broadly denied wrongdoing.

Paxton also brought a legal challenge asking the U.S. Supreme Court to effectively reverse Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election, prompting speculation that Paxton was angling for a pardon. Trump joined the suit and praised Paxton's effort to subvert the election, but legal experts dismissed it as frivolous even before the court tossed the case.

READ ALSO: Archbishop of San Antonio offers his prayers to President Joe Biden

Many in the comments of Paxton's statement are bringing up his investigation and how he didn't receive a pardon from Trump.

"Feeling the 'unity.' May justice be swift and harsh for you," @kim_mahoney69 wrote.

"Gonna be hard to do all that from jail. Buena suerte," @LibLawyerMom said

"Imagine having the nerve to say this after being indicted for 5 years and being investigated by the FBI b/c your OWN aides accused you of bribery and abuse of office," @ProgressTX commented.

However, some of Paxton's supporters agreed with his statement.

"You rock AG Paxton!" @GfleischerC wrote.

"Thank you AG Paxton. We Texans are counting on you at this critical moment to hold the line. We will be watching," @Fauxfrenzi commented.

Paxton's full statement is below:

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
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Inaugurations are always remarkable, sacred moments.

The bright, shiny pomp and circumstance that Washington puts on celebrates a democratic nation that acknowledges its union is not quite yet perfect.

Its young, fragile, imperfect.

That it strives to be perfect, however, has been embedded in ceremonial rituals and in repeating words of wisdom.

At their best, they can help mend political wounds. At least for a day, perhaps only a moment, they make us more hopeful of their promise, more sure that this American experiment can right itself and mend its foundations.

Its a little wobbly now.

Im not sure that the inauguration Wednesday  the pomp, the pop stars, the poetry and a new president  will mend us.

But its a start.

It was also momentous, coming on the heels of a seditious attack.

Despite an insurrection in the same building just two weeks ago, the inauguration of a new president and vice president assured us democracy won.

One more time.

It assures us the nations leaders will carry on with the work of governing and lawmaking in spite of deep political divisions; in spite of racists, white supremacists and anti-democratic forces; in spite of a pandemic that has killed more than 400,000; in spite of four years of assaults on the free press.

On truth itself.

Unity can come from this.

But that unity demands the pursuit of justice. It demands that those who attacked democracy and attempted to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power are rounded up, charged and held accountable.

Unity demands no less.

In the middle of the inauguration, as patriotic songs were sung and a poet laureates words inspired us, it was easier to forget, at least for a moment, that the outgoing president incited the Jan. 6 attack on the capitol.

Some lamented his absence at the inauguration as a break from tradition, but it was a relief.

Inauguration Day held so much joy, and no moment was as joyous as Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor administering the oath of office to Vice President Kamala Harris.

The scene was one of pride, as the first Latina and first woman of color on the U.S. Supreme Court officiated Harris solemn promise to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Those words were so crucial, so meaningful.

There was so much pride in bearing witness to the moment the first African American, first Asian American and first woman  a biracial woman  became vice president of the United States.

I watched on my laptop imagining all the girls and women throughout the country watching. In San Antonio, some of them wore pearls and Converse sneakers in the vice presidents honor.

I watched knowing my 5-year-old goddaughter a few miles away was watching, wearing a T-shirt that says, Empowered Girls Power the World, and that her grandmother helped her draw a U.S. flag and two small banners bearing the names of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

All three were hanging from the mantle as they watched history, as they heard President Joe Biden take the oath of office as the 46th president of the United States and as they heard him speak with grace and strength about restoring democracy.

He spoke on those sacred steps.

I imagined those who were there in spirit: U.S. Sen. John McCain, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and U.S. Reps. John Lewis and Elijah Cummings.

So much stands ahead of us, ahead of the new administration.

Over the course of the next four years, it will get its share of criticism, especially from Democratic and Republican critics. It will get push back on immigration, climate change, spending and economic reforms.

Well go back to some sort of normal.

Though much was invested in the inauguration, no moment was as poignant as the national memorial Tuesday night. For me, it marked the beginning of the Biden-Harris administration.

At sunset and before the glow of 400 lights along the edges of the Lincoln Memorials reflecting pool, they paid respects to those whose lives were lost to the coronavirus.

For the first time since the pandemic, we grieved as a nation.

One line from that solemn event stays with me.

Its hard sometimes to remember, Biden said, but thats how we heal.

As we watch Washington regroup and resume its work, another line stands out from Bidens inaugural speech.

Politics, he said, doesnt have to be a raging fire.

Let it guide us.

eayala@express-news.net
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
Meghan Markle is still in the middle of her legal battle against the Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail after the British tabloid published her private letters she wrote to her dad in August 2018.

Reuters reported earlier that four of her former senior aides are said to be willing to give evidence in court, shedding light if the Duchess of Sussex's handwritten letter was meant to become public.

Four of the former aides' lawyer said that they are prepared to provide evidence during the trial, as more than one of them are in the position to tell what happened.

This included the writing of the letter, whether the former "Suits" star has expected it to be public, and whether or not she was involved, indirectly or directly, in giving private information to the authors of the unofficial Sussex biography, "Finding Freedom."

However, in the legal letter made public on Wednesday, royal aides are not "wishing to take sides in the dispute" as they are all "strictly neutral," as per BBC.

Meghan Markle's legal team is reportedly telling London's High Court that publishing the "intrinsically private, personal and sensitive letter" was a breach in the mom-of-one's privacy, even claiming that "it's a very straightforward case about the unlawful publication of a private letter."

Meanwhile, the Associated Newspapers argue that Prince Harry's wife intended for the contents of the letter to become public as part of a media strategy.

They even pointed out that Meghan discussed the plan with her communications secretary, Jason Knauf.

However, the publisher's lawyer said on Wednesday during a remote second day hearing that involving royal aides in creating the letter "cries out for investigation."

Antony White said, "Why was the Kensington Palace communications team involved at all in wording the letter?"

Meghan Markle has asked for a summary judgment, asking a judge to rule in her favor without a need for a trial.

However, Mark Warby, the judge for the case, said he would be delivering the ruling whether or not a summary judgment would suffice at a later date.

The judge said he wants to get a draft verdict to both the Duchess of Sussex and the Associated Newspapers in the next two weeks, but at that stage, nobody would get their hands on them aside from all the parties involved.

Meghan Markle's legal battle against the Associated Newspaper was due to start last week, but the 39-year-old requested to delay the trial because of "private reasons." This was also the time her legal team sought a summary judgment.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle's Dad Finally Explains Why He Released Bombshell Letter to Daily Mail

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
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ITASCA, Ill., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the nation's largest coalition of traffic safety organizations  Road to Zero  along with Toward Zero Deaths, Vision Zero Network, Families for Safe Streets and 74 partner organizations and individuals sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to commit the efforts of the federal government to achieve zero roadway deaths by 2050. The letter was sent as President Biden began announcing his most urgent priorities and as Secretary-designate of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg, met with senators for the first time ahead of his confirmation hearing.

While the new administration's immediate focus will be rightly on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, the group urges the president not to overlook persistent killers across the nation  many of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic, including roadway deaths . About 100 people lose their lives on any given day on the nation's roadways, with traffic crashes being the leading cause of death for people ages 1-25 . Tragically, President Biden and his family have been personally impacted, having lost his first wife and daughter in a crash in 1972.

"Roadway deaths have been a leading killer in our nation for decades," said Lorraine Martin, chair of the Road to Zero Coalition and president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "Our organizations look forward to working with the new administration, and we stand ready to assist in any way we can."

"Ensuring safe mobility for all community members should be a core component of President Biden's commitment to Build Back Better," said Leah Shahum, director of the national Vision Zero Network, supporting more than 45 U.S. communities committed to zero traffic deaths or severe injuries. "Now is the time to recognize how interconnected traffic safety goals are with the critical national priorities of overcoming the pandemic, advancing racial and economic justice, and investing in the health of our planet."

"We look forward to working with the Biden Administration and the USDOT on implementing the strategies identified in the Toward Zero Deaths national strategy," said Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, on behalf of the Toward Zero Deaths program. "We need to work aggressively to use tried and true as well as innovative strategies to eliminate fatalities on our nation's roads."

"As individuals who have also been personally impacted by traffic violence, Families for Safe Streets members across the country are counting on President Biden to help prevent the needless suffering that he too has personally experienced. These deaths have bisected our lives and fractured our families. Our country needs a leader who will commit to #ZeroTrafficDeaths and end this devastating, preventable public health crisis. We are confident that President Biden, with support from soon-to-be Secretary Buttigieg at USDOT, can be this leader," said Amy Cohen, Co-Founder, Families for Safe Streets, and mother of Sammy Cohen Eckstein (12/8/00-10/8/13).

In 2018, the Road to Zero Coalition issued a report detailing what the U.S. must do to eliminate roadway fatalities by 2050. Actions included the need for the U.S. to prioritize safety by adopting a Safe System approach. The Safe System approach  implemented in countries around the world with proven success  includes redesigning roads to engineer out common risks and mitigate driver errors that lead to high-consequence crashes.

Groups, organizations, companies and individuals interested in signing on to the letter can do so here. Signatories are being accepted now as the partners work to draw attention to this important issue. A multifaceted media campaign is also underway, with victim impact stories being shared on social media.

For more information, please visit nsc.org/roadtozero .

About the Road to Zero Coalition

The Road to Zero Coalition provides a coordinated, data-driven response to the increase in roadway deaths, with a goal of getting to zero traffic fatalities by 2050. Road to Zero was founded in 2016 by a group of public and private entities, including federal and state governments, nonprofit, and private sector entities.

About Families for Safe Streets

Families for Safe Streets (FSS) confronts the epidemic of traffic violence by advocating for life-saving changes and providing support to those who have been impacted by crashes. Comprised of individuals who have been injured or lost loved ones, FSS was founded in 2014 in New York City and is growing as a national movement with chapters across the country.

About Vision Zero Network

Vision Zero Network is a national nonprofit advancing the goal of safe mobility for all -- zero traffic deaths or severe injuries among all road users.

About Toward Zero Deaths

Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) is a national strategy on highway safety to advocate for eliminating serious injuries and deaths on our nation's roadways, conceptualized by safety practitioners, researchers, advocates, and others from a variety of disciplines. The strategy calls for all stakeholders to champion the idea that one death on our nation's roadways is too many, and we must all work together to bring the annual number of roadway deaths down to zero.

Connect with Road to Zero:

Facebook

Twitter

SOURCE National Safety Council
While Sensex has returned 1500% since 1996, the stock of Reliance Industries (RIL) has given a massive return of 56,197% to its investors
Tehran, Jan 21 : The Tehran government has slammed the "blatant hostage-taking of Iranian national" by the US government for allegedly acting as an unregistered "foreign agent".

The remark was made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh to a media outlet on Wednesday when asked about the arrest of Iranian university professor Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi in the US, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Unfortunately, the US is addicted to this kind of actions and they take hostages under any pretext," the spokesman said.

Iran's government, he further noted, hopes the new US administration will move away from such an approach, that Khatibzadeh linked to former President Donald Trump.

Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, he went on to say, is a well-known university professor who has been arrested on "unrealistic charges".

This is not the first time that Washington has relied on "baseless allegations" to "create trouble" for Iranian citizens in different countries and "take hostages", he added.

Khatibzadeh voiced hope that the Iranian professor's problem will be solved as soon as possible.

Afrasiabi, a US resident for more than three decades, was taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on the accusation that he violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), the Washington Post said in a report on Tuesday.

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, SWITZERLAND, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICE AT THE END OF THE PRESS RELEASE

Today, Unifiedpost Group SA/NV (the "Company") announces on behalf of a group of existing shareholders (the "Selling Shareholders") that the sale of existing shares in the Company that was launched earlier today (the "Private Placement")has successfully been completed. A total of 2,623,864 existing shares, corresponding to approximately 8.5% of the Company's share capital, were placed at a price of 21.0 per share. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Private Placement.

The Selling Shareholders comprise Smartfin Capital NV ("Smartfin"), DVP Invest BV ("DVP Invest") and 25 individual shareholders who belong to the overall group of approximately 80 shareholders in the Company that had already been shareholders of Unifiedpost Group ahead of the time of its initial listing in September 2020 (the "Other Shareholders"). In the context of the initial listing, (i) Smartfin and DVP Invest agreed to a lock-up undertaking towards the Company and the syndicate for a period of 180 days following the closing of the initial listing, as set forth in section 13.8.2 and 13.8.3 of the listing prospectus of the Company published on 18 September 2020 (the "Prospectus"), and (ii) the Other Shareholders agreed to a staggered lock-up undertaking towards the Company and the syndicate for a period of 180 days following closing of the initial listing, as set forth in section 13.8.4 of the Prospectus (the "Other Shareholders

Smartfin sold its entire stake of 1,403,580 existing shares (clean-up trade). DVP Invest sold 776,808 existing shares, corresponding to approximately 65.3% of its shareholding in the Company. The Other Shareholders sold in total 443,476 existing shares.

The lock-up restrictions for Smartfin and DVP Invest set forth in sections 13.8.2 and 13.8.3 of the Prospectus had been waived for the number of shares sold by them. As a result of its investment mandate not to hold stakes in listed companies and the completion of the Private Placement, Smartfin will no longer be a shareholder of the Company. Founding partner of Smartfin, Jurgen Ingels, remains a member of Unifiedpost Group's board of directors. The remaining shares in the Company held by DVP Invest continue to be bound by the lock-up restrictions set forth in section 13.8.3 of the Prospectus for the remainder of the 180 days lock-up period following closing of the initial listing. In addition, DVP Invest has agreed to a follow-on lock-up of further 180 days after the expiry of the initial lock-up period.

The sale of the existing shares held by the Other Shareholders took place in accordance with the coordinated sale provisions agreed in connection with the Company's initial listing. The terms and conditions of the lock-up undertaking and the exemptions from the lock-up restrictions are set forth in section 13.8.4 of the Prospectus. Any further shares held by the Other Shareholders continue to be bound by the lock-up restrictions (and benefit from the exemptions) for the remainder of the 180 days lock-up period, unless sold in any of the subsequent disposal periods.

Settlement of the placed existing shares is expected to take place on 26 January 2021.

In connection with the Private Placement, trading in the Company's shares on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels has been suspended since this morning and will resume after the publication of this press release.

Berenberg acted as Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner in connection with the Private Placement.

About Unifiedpost Group

Unifiedpost Group wants to become the leading cloud-based platform for SME business services built on "Documents", "Identity" and "Payments". Unifiedpost operates and develops a 100% cloud-based platform for administrative and financial services that allows real-time and seamless connections between Unifiedpost's customers, their suppliers, their customers and other parties along the financial value chain. With its one-stop-shop solutions, Unifiedpost Group's mission is to make administrative and financial processes simple and smart for its customers. Since its founding in 2001, Unifiedpost Group has grown significantly, expanding to offices in 15 countries throughout Europe, with more than 350 million documents processed in 2019, reaching over 400,000 SMEs and more than 250 Corporates across its platform today.

Noteworthy facts and figures:

Established in 2001, with a proven track record

2019 pro-forma turnover 69 million

750+ employees throughout Europe

350+ million documents processed in 2019

Diverse portfolio of clients across a wide variety of industries (banking, leasing, utilities, media, telecommunications, travel, social security service providers, public organisations, etc.) ranging from large internationals to SMEs

Unifiedpost Payments, a fully owned subsidiary, is recognised as a payment institution by the National Bank of Belgium

Certified Swift partner

International M&A track record

Listed on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels, symbol: UPG

(*) Warning about future statements: The statements contained herein may contain forecasts, future expectations, opinions and other future-oriented statements concerning the expected further performance of Unifiedpost Group on the markets in which it is active. Such future-oriented statements are based on the current insights and assumptions of management concerning future events. They naturally include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which seem justified at the time that the statements are made, but may possibly turn out to be inaccurate. The actual results, performance or events may differ essentially from the results, performance or events which are expressed or implied in such future-oriented statements. Except where required by the applicable legislation, Unifiedpost Group shall assume no obligation to update, elucidate or improve future-oriented statements in this press release in the light of new information, future events or other elements and shall not be held liable on that account. The reader is warned not to rely unduly on future-oriented statements.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION

This announcement shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities referred to herein, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan, South Africa or any other jurisdiction where distribution would not be permitted by law. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, Japan or South Africa.

This announcement does not constitute an offer of securities in the United States of America, or a solicitation to purchase securities in the United States of America. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act, or under the securities law of any state or jurisdiction in the United States of America and may not be offered, sold, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly within the United States of America except pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or jurisdiction of the United States of America. The Company has not registered, and does not intend to register, any portion of the offering in the United States of America. There will be no public offer of securities in the United States of America.

In the EEA and in the United Kingdom the offer of securities to which this communication relates is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State and the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation, including for the avoidance of doubt any implementing measure in each relevant Member State of the EEA and in the United Kingdom (as it forms part of retained EU law as defined in the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018) ("Qualified Investors

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the United Kingdom, this announcement and the offer of securities to which it relates is only addressed to and directed at (i) persons having professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of "investment professionals" in Article 19(5) of the Order, (ii) high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc. falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, and (iii) any other person to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). The Private Placement, as the case may be, is only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase, or otherwise acquire securities will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents.

In Switzerland an offer of securities to which this announcement relates is only addressed to and is only directed at "profession clients" within the meaning of article 4 iuncto 36 of Finsa (such persons being referred to as "Professional Clients"). The offer is therefore exempted from the obligation to prepare and publish a prospectus under FINSA and the securities will not be admitted to trading on any Swiss trading platform. This communication does not constitute a prospectus in accordance with FINSA and the Company will not prepare such prospectus in light of the offer of securities are referred to herein.

Accordingly, any person making or intending to make any offer of the securities which are the subject of the Private Placement referred to herein should only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Company, the Selling Shareholders or the Sole Bookrunner to produce a prospectus for such offer. Neither the Company, the Selling Shareholders nor the Sole Bookrunner have authorized, nor do the Company, the Selling Shareholders or the Joint Bookrunner authorize, the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary, other than offers made by the Sole Bookrunner which constitute the final placement of securities referred to herein. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be, offered to the public in the United States of America, any Member State of the EEA, the United Kingdom, Switzerland or any other jurisdiction.

INFORMATION TO DISTRIBUTORS

The Sole Bookrunner has informed the Company that the following information is intended for distributors only. The information is provided by the Sole Bookrunner and the Company does not assume responsibility for it.

Solely for the purposes of the product governance requirements contained within: (a) EU Directive 2014/65/EU on markets in financial instruments, as amended ("MiFID II"); (b) Articles 9 and 10 of Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2017/593 supplementing MiFID II; and (c) local implementing measures (together, the "MiFID II Product Governance Requirements"), the Sole Bookrunner has informed the Company that it has submitted the Shares subject of the proposed Private Placement to a product approval process, which has determined that such Shares are: (i) compatible with an end target market of retail investors and investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) eligible for distribution through all distribution channels as are permitted by MiFID II (the "Target Market Assessment"). Notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, distributors should note that: the price of the Shares may decline and investors could lose all or part of their investment; the Shares offer no guaranteed income and no capital protection; and an investment in the Shares is compatible only with investors who do not need a guaranteed income or capital protection, who (either alone or in conjunction with an appropriate financial or other adviser) are capable of evaluating the merits and risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses that may result therefrom. The Target Market Assessment is without prejudice to the requirements of any contractual, legal or regulatory selling restrictions in relation to the proposed Private Placement. Furthermore, it is noted that, notwithstanding the Target Market Assessment, the Sole Bookrunner will only procure investors who meet the criteria of professional clients and eligible counterparties.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Target Market Assessment does not constitute: (a) an assessment of suitability or appropriateness for the purposes of MiFID II; or (b) a recommendation to any investor or group of investors to invest in, or purchase, or take any other action whatsoever with respect to the Shares.

Each distributor is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Shares and determining appropriate distribution channels.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005678/en/

Contacts:

For more information, please contact

Sarah Heuninck

Investor Relations

sarah.heuninck@unifiedpost.com

+32 491 15 05 09

Laurent Marcelis

CFO

laurent.marcelis@unifiedpost.com

+32 2 634 06 28
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan is "very pleased" with the progress of Queensland's COVID-19 control but is yet to receive health advice on when he could drop hard border measures.

The Greater Brisbane area has gone 10 days without a community case and 14 days since the last positive case tied to the Hotel Grand Chancellor cluster, which involved the infectious strain of the virus ripping through the United Kingdom, went into quarantine.

WA Premier Mark McGowan is yet to receive health advice on whether Queensland can go from a 'medium risk' to 'low risk' classification. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

Brisbane residents will no longer have to wear masks everywhere and will be allowed to have more people visit their homes when restrictions are wound back at 1am on Friday.

Mr McGowan said the eastern states had been making inroads on virus control.

These findings suggest that the COVID playbook that brands have employed over the past year isnt something that retailers should throw away even when the vaccine is widely distributed, stated Jake Weatherly, CEO of SheerID.

SheerID and CommerceNext today announced the findings of a survey designed to gauge the emotional pulse of consumers during the pandemic. The survey also sought to understand how brands & retailers can emotionally connect with consumers during this difficult time. This new data comes from a survey of 1030 shoppers between December 2 and December 9 conducted by Bizrate Insights (http://www.bizrateinsights.com).

The psychological impact of Covid-19 and what consumers want from retailers:

More than two thirds of consumers (67%) believe that COVID-19 will continue to impact their lives up to a year or more. The most common ways they feel impacted are mental - such as a need to maintain friendships and social interactions (49%) as well as their mental health (48%) - rather than physical, such as maintaining their physical health (29%) or their financial well-being (25%).

To help respond to those concerns, 41% of consumers say retailers can best serve their needs right now by keeping employees on staff. This was the third most popular answer given after free shipping (51%) and providing additional promotions (43%) for them and (30%) for affected populations like front-line health workers.

Consumers often define purpose-driven brands as those that are doing the right thing in general vs doing the right thing for them, specifically. The findings of this survey bear out this thinking. When asked, What does purpose-driven mean to you?, the top four responses were Stand for something bigger as a company (39%), Follow ethical and sustainable business practices (36%), Be open and transparent (30%) and Treat employees well (30%). Conversely, respondents generally rated lower benefits that catered specifically to themselves: 18% believed that purpose-driven brands are those that demonstrate values that I believe in, while 16% said selected support causes and organizations that I believe in. That being said, 46% of consumers stated they are more likely to buy from brands that share their beliefs & values.

What jumped out to us from this survey is, even with a nationwide vaccine roll-out underway, people recognize that their lives are not likely to go back to normal, anytime soon, stated Scott Silverman, co-founder of CommerceNext. What alsos clear is that the American buyer expects retailers to take care of their employees and look out for the greater good, to the extent possible. For years, we have heard about the trend towards conscientious consumerism. Certainly, while consumers still want a great deal, theyre also gravitating towards brands that consider the needs of society as a whole.

Needs of consumers vary by affinity group:

The study also surveyed shoppers from different affinity groups such as law enforcement, frontline care workers, students, teachers and seniors to get their respective views on the pandemic. The findings below reflect the beliefs of those within a particular group vs. those across all affinity groups:



Students feel a more pronounced impact on mental health (53% vs 48%), financial security (33% vs 25%) and not surprisingly, education (20% vs 8%). They were also more likely to want brands to support local communities and charities (34% vs 27%).

While law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs are among the groups most exposed to Covid given the nature of their jobs, they were slightly more optimistic about the length of time Covid will continue to have an impact.

Students lean more towards supporting brands they believe in, while Military and Law enforcement are more likely to go out of their way to avoid brands who go against their beliefs.

Teachers (30%), Firefighters/EMT (33%) and Law Enforcement (30%) felt a greater impact on their ability to maintain hobbies and interests vs the total group (23%).

These findings suggest that the COVID playbook that brands have employed over the past year isnt something that retailers should throw away even when the vaccine is widely distributed, stated Jake Weatherly, CEO of SheerID. We are seeing long-term trends in terms in the ways people relate to retailers. Consumers across all segments now expect brands to go beyond merchandising and align their brand with purposes that support the community at large.

For more information, retailers and brands can download the free report and supporting materials.

About CommerceNext

CommerceNext was founded by three digital retail veterans who are committed to building communities that help people grow their businesses and careers. The company facilitates learning and networking among retail and DTC brand leaders through industry-leading conferences, virtual summits, and other gatherings of digital retail executives throughout the year. The companys Marketing Summit Series is a virtual event being held January 20, 27 and February 3. Inc Magazine named the CommerceNext Summit one of the top 5 e-commerce conferences for 2019/2020. To learn more about CommerceNext, visit commercenext.com.

About SheerID

SheerID is the leader in identity marketing. With SheerID, brands identify and acquire consumer tribes  such as the military, students, front-line medical workers, and more  with personalized offers, gated by instant verification from the largest set of authoritative data worldwide. SheerID digitally verifies 2.5 billion customers via more than 9,000 authoritative data sources; provides global insights from hundreds of the worlds leading brands; and never shares or sells customer data. As a result, the worlds biggest brands rely on SheerID as their identity marketing partner. Founded in 2011, SheerID is backed by Voyager Capital, Arnold Venture Group, Centana Growth Partners, and CVC Growth Partners.
When federal agents found two kids who had been kidnapped in Rochester on Monday, they were being hidden on the floorboards of a rental car underneath blankets in Montgomery, Alabama.

It was the rental car and forensic work done on phones that had tipped off federal officials.

The car had been rented in the Rochester area and driven to Alabama, according to Greece Police Chief Andrew Forsythe.

Within 40 minutes of finding the address in Alabama, a surveillance detail was set up on a house. A woman drove from the house in the rental car just before 5:50 p.m. Wednesday and was pulled over, Forsythe said.

While the stop led federal officials to Shekeria Cash, 3, and Dimitri Cash Jr., 5, law enforcement officials are still trying to wrangle the group of people involved in the kids kidnapping.

Theres interviews going on as we speak, Forsythe said at a Wednesday night press conference live-streamed by 13 WHAM ABC.

The woman has not yet been charged and Forsythe said the two people who kidnapped the kids have not yet been arrested. He declined to identify the woman or anyone else they suspect was involved in the kidnapping.

Forsythe also said that while police have spoken to Dimitri Cash Sr., the father of the two kids, theyre still unsure where he is. The police chief stopped short of calling Cash a suspect but said theyd like to talk to him. Cash had previously been arrested for forcibly taking Dimitri Jr. from his elementary school last January, according to the Democrat & Chronicle.

Ultimately, police arent sure yet whether those arrested will face state or federal charges, Forsythe said. Police are currently consulting with Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley and the United States Attorneys Office for the Western District of New York.

The bottomline: These kids are safe, said Charles Salina, the U.S. Marshal for the Western District of New York.

The Cash kids were abducted Monday from their foster parents on English Road in Greece, near Rochester.

A woman who lived at the home walked to the front of her Greece residence after hearing a loud crash on the first floor, police said. She was investigating the sound when she saw two ski-mask-wearing men smash a window and break into her home, police said.

The womans seven foster children  all under the age of 11  were upstairs. The suspects kidnapped the Cash kids. The children were considered to be in imminent danger of serious harm or death.

Forsythe gave the following account of what happened after the two suspects entered the home:

When she saw the two masked men the foster mother screamed. Two of her foster children, startled by her screams, came downstairs to see if she was OK.

The woman pulled the two kids close and wrapped her arms around them. The suspects bound the three together with duct tape  placing tape over the womans mouth to muffle her screams.

One of the children, a boy, suffered a cut lip.

The men then went upstairs and found the Cash siblings. After forcibly taking Shekeria and Dimitri from the home, the suspects stole the foster mothers van and drove away with the kidnapped children.

Using GPS, police later tracked the stolen van to White Hall Drive. The van was empty and abandoned.

This wasnt a spur of the moment type of event, Forsythe said Wednesday.

Less than 48 hours later, the car, forensics done on phones and GPS tracking led law enforcement to the address in Alabama, more than 1,000 miles from where the kids originally went missing.

At the time of the press conference, Forsythe said, the kids were eating chicken nuggets and watching Tom & Jerry cartoons in Alabama. Theyll be taken back to their foster parents when they return to Rochester, he said.

More:

Philadelphia baby found safe, Amber Alert cancelled

Texas man threatened to shoot his children if they reported him going in US Capitol: FBI
On the eve of their inauguration, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris stood in front of the reflecting pool on Washingtons national mall to finally honor and pay tribute to the more than 400,000 victims of this deadly pandemic. This simple, but powerful ceremony surely helped millions of Americans who lost family members, close friends or co-workers feel that these victims were important and must never be forgotten.

Both sides of the reflecting pool were awash with 400 candles (one candle for each 1,000 victims) and the haunting melodies of Amazing Grace and Hallelujah, performed by gospel singer and nurse Yolanda Adams, reminded all of us about the holiness of these moments and the ongoing sacrifices of caregivers around the world. Thousands of American flags fluttered in the soft breezes of the early evening as I looked toward the Lincoln Memorial.

President-Elect Biden, who was inaugurated Jan. 20 as our 46th president, told a grieving nation that each of those lives lost to COVID mattered and should be remembered.

In a report from CNN, the president-elect told Americans he shared in their grief, with his own understanding deepened by the loss of his first wife and daughter in a car accident as a young man and the loss of his son Beau to cancer at the age of 46.

It's hard sometimes to remember, but that's how we heal, Biden added. It's important to do that as a nation.

He and his wife, Jill Biden, watched in silence, alongside Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, as the reflections of the lights glimmered in the water. Hundreds of towns, cities and communities across the country joined in the tribute, lighting up buildings from the Empire State Building in New York to the Space Needle in Seattle. Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, delivered the invocation and Harris spoke briefly at the memorial, noting that for many months, we have grieved by ourselves. Tonight, we grieve and begin healing together, CNN reported.

Ironically, as Biden and Harris looked over the reflecting pool, there was only silence. A pre-inaugural night has always been filled with celebrations and parties. But this special night during the ongoing restrictions of the pandemic and pre-inaugural security, truly paralleled the loneliness and isolation that the victims of COVID-19 must have felt as they took their last breaths.

After the memorial, I was particularly touched by comments from distinguished commentators and authors.

For instance, noted author and Professor Eddie Glaude of Princeton University, who had lost a close friend just this past Monday, was interviewed on MSNBC. Glaude said that sorrow unites us. And alluding to how long it took to honor these fallen angels, he added, If people dont die right, they haunt, which suggested to me that without proper closure  a last touch, a last kiss or hug  the victims of this illness were not able to be at peace.

Brian Williams, of MSNBC, reminded viewers that these 400,000 deaths were not the end of COVID-19 casualties. He said that we have lost more than 100,000 more Americans just since December. And he hoped that the 400 candles by the reflecting pool on the mall would become a lasting memorial to pandemic victims.

President-elect Bidens simple gesture to have this brief memorial service should have been a wake-up call to the outgoing administration that these victims deserved recognition from the beginning and never received it. Biden showed compassion throughout his campaign for victims, often speaking to families, sharing his own pain with them and offering support. Those moments, I believe, made him truly presidential.

I had to think back over the past year about whether I had once heard the outgoing president ever show compassion or sympathy toward the families of victims. I hadnt. With hundreds and eventually thousands dying alone in hospitals across the country, that president kept telling us that the end of the pandemic was just around the corner and offering ineffective Band-Aid fixes. Would it have been so difficult to hold even one short memorial service for victims or even create day of remembrance?

Months ago, I recalled one young woman, who held a position on Vice President Pences coronavirus task force, decide to resign after the death of her father from COVID-19. She faulted the presidents cavalier attitude toward the virus as a primary reason and felt she could no longer do her work effectively.

That cavalier attitude, along with never taking responsibility for getting the pandemic under control were the real keys to our nation making significant headway against the virus.

But thats all in the past now and after noon on Wednesday, we can hope that President Biden will mobilize the vaccine forces and help to bring this pandemic under control. For now, I can only express my gratitude to the new president and vice president for honoring 400,000-plus fallen angels who sadly wont be there to cheer them in this ongoing battle to overcome an invisible, deadly foe.

Steven Gaynes is a Fairfield writer, and his In the Suburbs appears each Friday. He can be reached at stevengaynes44@gmail.com.
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Automakers in Japan, where almost 30% of the population is 65 or older, are taking the lead on adapting cars so the nations legions of elderly drivers can feel more confident  and be safer  behind the wheel.

A run of accidents involving older people behind the wheel has upped the pressure from regulators to standardize advanced features. Automatic brakes will be required for all new vehicles sold domestically from this year, for example, and companies from Toyota Motor Corp. to Nissan Motor Co. are employing smart technology to make cars more user friendly for older people.

Its also becoming more of a priority as public railways in rural areas disappear, worsening an isolation crisis made only more stark by the coronavirus pandemic. Without any means of getting around, elderly people in Japan are increasingly confined to their homes, their lives shrinking as transport options evaporate.

A recent high-profile fatal accident spotlighted the issue. In February last year, Japanese prosecutors indicted 89-year-old Kozo Iizuka on a charge of negligence resulting in death and injury after a crash in Tokyos Ikebukuro district. The former senior bureaucrat was on his way to a French restaurant with his wife in April 2019 when his Toyota Prius plowed through a crossing, killing a toddler and her mother and harming several others.

The accident made headlines, not least because of Iizukas high-ranking government position. Public sentiment swiftly turned against Iizuka, who is back in court this week after pleading not guilty in October. The incident also sparked a national debate about the swelling ranks of elderly drivers on Japans roads. After the event, the number of old people opting to park their wheels for good soared. According to the National Police Agency, 350,428 people 75 or over returned their drivers licenses in 2019, the highest on record.

Small Towns

Young people tell us seniors to return our drivers licenses, but they arent around, says Hideaki Fukushima, 90, whose wife returned her own license around the time of the accident. The couples children live in Nagoya, a two-hour drive away. In Takamori where they live, a small town in Japans central mountainous area, trains operated by Central Japan Railway Co. only come about once an hour. Theres nothing you can do without a car, Fukushima says.

Last year, Toyota upgraded its Safety Sense offering. The technology is designed to prevent or mitigate frontal collisions as well as keep drivers within their lane. By using high-resolution cameras on the windscreen and bumper-mounted radars, it can detect oncoming cars or pedestrians  or even bicycles in daylight hours  and give audible and visual alerts. If drivers fail to respond, automatic braking may be deployed. The new software also has intersection functionality to help detect oncoming obstacles if a car is making a turn from a stationary position.

Other Toyota Safety Sense features include the correction of unintentional lane departures, automatic toggling between high and low-beam at night depending on surrounding traffic, and the detection of slower-moving cars ahead on a highway and automatic maintenance of a pre-set distance. Road-sign assistance technology detects stop and speed signs as theyre passed and displays a dashboard alert in case drivers have missed them themselves.

A society in which the elderly can drive safely is crucial for their active social participation and healthier, fuller lives, Toyota said. Our ultimate goal is, of course, to have zero casualties from traffic accidents.

Subaru Corp.s aspirations are similar; it wants to eliminate all fatal accidents by 2030. Like several other automakers, its using stereo cameras, which have two or more lenses with a separate image sensor for each, providing the ability to capture three-dimensional images. Dubbed EyeSight, the technology looks ahead and alerts drivers to any danger. Subaru says Eyesight-equipped vehicles are involved in 61% fewer accidents and 85% fewer rear-end crashes. Pedestrian-related injuries are lowered by 35%.

It would be impossible to eradicate all fatal accidents without utilizing artificial intelligence, says Subarus Eiji Shibata, who oversees the development of EyeSight. To reach its ambitious target, Subaru plans to combine its stereo cameras with AI, assigning meaning to each object and trying to accurately infer risk.

Thats not without its challenges, according to Shibata. Its a technologically tough area, he says. Stereo cameras are harder to install in mass produced cars, partly because they convey more information than other sensors and require more complicated back-end support. Equipping the technology in cars that people ordinarily use is a huge task.

An upgraded EyeSight X that uses autonomous technology debuted in August in the second generation of the Subaru Levorg. The model, which went on sale in Japan in November, has 360-degree sensing and like Toyotas upgraded tech, has an intersection assist function that can autonomously steer cars away from an impending collision. Using EyeSight X, vehicles can even change lanes on their own and slow down for toll booths.

Nissan has a similar offering called ProPilot that it expects to have in at least 20 models in 20 markets globally by the end of 2023.

Takuya Matsunaga, who lost his wife and child in the 2019 accident, admits its a good start but adds that dealers, when selling cars, should stress these technologies arent failsafe. Anyone can cause an accident, he says.

Matsunaga has become a member of Aino Kai, a support group for bereaved families from traffic collisions. Aino Kai also plays a lobbying role, urging government officials to expand public transport networks in regional centers.

I dont want to see divisions like the young and the elderly hating each other, Matsunaga says. We need to think about the people who are suffering: the elderly in rural areas.

Top Photo: Prototype Subaru Levorg vehicles equipped with the companys EyeSight driving support system are driven during a test drive in 2017.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Tech Personal Auto Japan
Its taken 75 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to reach the historic day when we finally have a ban on nuclear weapons enshrined in international law.

Today is a day for celebration. From January 22, all nations that ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons are banned from possessing, developing or having any direct dealings with these weapons of mass destruction.

A ballistic missile is launched in a drill in Iran. Credit:AP

This development heralds progress towards a safer and more humane world. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement across the globe has been striving towards this moment for three-quarters of a century. How timely it is to achieve this milestone after a year of uncertainty and difficulties.

I commend the 86 countries which have already signed this important treaty  from Austria to Zimbabwe  and particularly the 51 nations that have ratified it. Theyve put the interests of humanity and the environment above other considerations.
Thursday, January 21, 2021

Writers Conferences and Confabs are a great place to learn about publishing and writing from agents, publishers, authors and publicists.

By Scott Lorenz

Westwind Communications

If you are a serious writer with high aspirations, then youll want to go to a writers conference. Want to meet authors and exchange ideas, tips and techniques? Then sign up for a writers conference today.

A writers conference is a think tank for authors to build on each others ideas and inspire new achievements in their own work. For the cost of lodging and registration, the payoff for attending a writers conference could be tremendous.

Attending a writers conference gives you a chance to pitch your book, learn about the various publishing options and meet book editors, agents and book marketing specialists. If your book is six months or a year from being finished, you can talk to people with valuable input on shaping your book. At a writers conference, youll get all sorts of advice to help you wrap up your project when you return home.

Of course, you will want to prepare for any writers conference you attend by having a plan of what you want to find out and what you will do while there. I suggest you develop an elevator pitch about your book that you can deliver in 30 seconds. Have a one-pager available with your book cover, author headshot, short 50-word synopsis, short bio, website URL, Twitter handle and your contact information. You never know who youll meet so be prepared for that moment!

Here are some upcoming writers conferences in 2021:

January 21-26, 2020 StoryCamp (St. George Island, FL) StoryCamp is a womens writing retreat with writing and creativity workshops in a quiet, supporting atmosphere. http://aroundthewriterstable.com/storycamp/

February 13-16, 2020: San Francisco Writers Conference (San Francisco, CA) At this writers conference, you can expect over 100 presenters, which will be editors, literary agents, and bestselling authors. https://www.sfwriters.org/2020-conference/

February 21-23, 2020 Asheville Christian Writers Conference (Asheville, NC) The Asheville Christian Writers Conference will offer one-on-one mentoring, writing workshops, and discussion groups. https://ashevillechristianwritersconference.com/

March 7, 2020: Atlanta Writing Workshop (Atlanta, GA) The title of the Atlanta Writing Workshop is How to Get Published. It focuses on classes and advice intended to help you get your works published. https://atlantawritingworkshop.com/

March 20, 2020: Kentucky Writers Conference (Bowling Green, KY) This writers conference offers workshops put on by the bestselling authors and educators in the SOKY Book Fest. https://sokybookfest.org/programs/ky-writers-conference/

March 28, 2020: Kansas City Writing Workshop (Kansas City, MO) At this writing workshop, you can learn about how to write queries and pitches, what you can do to market yourself and your books, and more. https://kansaswritingworkshop.com/

April 2-4 2020: Las Vegas Writers Conference (Las Vegas, NV) At the Las Vegas Writers Conference, writers can meet and learn from some of the greatest agents, authors, and professionals in publishing. https://lasvegaswritersconference.com/

April 3-5, 2020: The Muse & the Marketplace Writers Conference (Boston, MA) Here youll find over 130 interactive sessions led by authors as well as a happy hour session where you can network with agents, publishers, and authors. https://museandthemarketplace.com/

April 4, 2020: Get Published in Kentucky Workshop (Louisville, KY) The Get Published in Kentucky Workshop is essentially a full day of classes and advice that are designed to help you get your books published. https://kentuckywritingworkshop.com/

April 18, 2020: North Carolina Writers Workshop (Charlotte, NC): At the North Carolina Writers Workshop, you can gain all of the information you need to get your work to the publishing phase. https://carolinawritingworkshops.com/

April 25, 2020: Seattle Writers Conference (Seattle, WA): The Seattle Writers Conference aims to provide participants knowledge that can help them get their books published. https://theseattlewritingworkshop.com/

April 25, 2020: Michigan Writers Conference (Detroit, MI) At this writers conference, participants will enjoy a day of intense instruction on how to get their works published. https://michiganwritingworkshop.com/

April 30-May 2, 2020: Northern Colorado Writers Conference (Fort Collins, CO): The Northern Colorado Writers Conference will hold workshops, sessions, and four-hour master classes to inspire authors. https://northerncoloradowriters.com/Conference

May 2, 2020: Missouri Writers Guild (Cape Girardeau, MO) The Missouri Writers Guild offers market information, contests, and networking opportunities for writers. https://missouriwritersguild.org/

May 7-9 2020: Storymakers Conference (Provo, UT): The Storymakers Conference will consist of various classes that cover various topics such as cover design, marketing, creating a writing business, and the nuts and bolts of screenwriting. http://ldstorymakersconference.com/

May 8-9 2020: Washington Writers Conference (North Bethesda, MD): At the Washington Writers Conference, there will be one-on-one pitch sessions with literary agents from New York, Boston, and DC. http://www.washingtonindependentreviewofbooks.com/index.php/page/2020-washington-writers-conference

May 15-17, 2020: PennWriters Conference (Pittsburgh, PA): The PennWriters Conference offers three days of workshops, panels, networking opportunities for current and aspiring writers. https://pennwriters.org/

June 13, 2020: Tennessee Writers Workshop (Nashville, TN) Writers can learn the ins and outs of getting their works published at this conference. https://tennesseewritingworkshop.com/

June 14-19, 2020: Santa Barbara Writers Conference (Santa Barbara, CA) At the Santa Barbara Writers Conference, writers can enjoy six days and nights of over 30 writing workshops, speakers, and agents. https://www.sbwriters.com/

June 22-28, 2020: Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference (Bemidji, MN) This writing conference is full of workshops, Q&A sessions, panel talks. https://www.northwoodswriters.org/

July 26-July 31, 2020: Napa Valley Writers Conference (St. Helena, CA): At the Napa Valley Writers Conference, writers can participate in small workshops related to poetry, fiction, or translation that meet for two hours daily over a five day period. http://www.napawritersconference.org

June 27, 2020: The Writing Workshop of Chicago (Chicago, IL) The Writing Workshop of Chicago gives writers the opportunity to pitch editors and literary agents and get their questions answered. https://chicagowritingworkshop.com/

July 30-August 1: Mendocino Coast Writers Conference (Mendocino, CA): At this conference, writers can participate in morning workshops that related to various genres. http://mcwc.org/

August 19-22, 2020: Killer Nashville Writers Conference (Franklin, TN) Writers who attend the Killer Nashville Writers Conference can expect writing workshops, pitch sessions, panel discussions, author signings, and a book fair. https://www.newpages.com/writing-conferences/killer-nashville

October 23-25, 2020: La Jolla Writers Conference (San Diego, CA) At the La Jolla Writers Conference, writers can attend two types of classes: 50-minute lecture sessions or 110-minute workshops. https://lajollawritersconference.com

Select a writers conference of interest to you and be prepared to enjoy the benefits of meeting other writers. You may acquire knowledge you can use immediately, find a new market for your book, elevate your professional effectiveness, meet editors, agents and publishers, become inspired and return home energized.

The Bottom Line: Take a little working vacation and hit some writers conferences. Make it a priority to sign up for one in the coming weeks and months. Youll be glad you did!

About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz

Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether its their first book or their 15th book. Hes handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Womans World, & Howard Stern to name a few.

Learn more about Westwind Communications book marketing approach at http://www.Book-Marketing-Expert.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Tell us about your book! Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Waraba Gold Limited (CSE: WBGD) (the "Corporation") is pleased to announce that, further to the press release dated January 7, 2021, it has closed its acquisition (the "Acquisition") of all of the issued and outstanding shares of 1273795 B.C. LTD. ("Mali HoldCo").

Transaction Details

The Acquisition was effected by way of a three-cornered amalgamation involving a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation and Mali HoldCo (the "Amalgamation"). Pursuant to the terms of the Acquisition, the Corporation issued an aggregate of 25,690,000 shares of the Corporation ("Waraba Shares") to shareholders of Mali HoldCo at a deemed priced at $0.1875, being equal to the maximum discount allowed by the Canadian Securities Exchange at time of issuance, representing the aggregate consideration of $4,867,500.

Description of Mali HoldCo and its Business

Mali HoldCo is registered in British Columbia and holds a 75% interest in Gonka Gold Mali SARL ("GGM").

GGM has entered into an agreement with Fokolore Mining SARL (the "Purchase Agreement") to acquire the research permit to explore for gold in the Maligonga-Est (Cercle de Kenieba) region of Mali (the "Region"), issued by the Government of Mali on June 10, 2016 under number 2016-2006/MM-SG (as renewed pursuant to ordinance number 2019-3557/MMP-SG on October 11, 2019, (the "Mining Permit").

Under the terms of the Purchase Agreement, the parties must receive ministerial consent to the transfer of the Mining Permit to GGM and Mali HoldCo must pay a total consideration of US$2,500,000, of which US$250,000 has already been paid and an additional US$1,000,000 is due by the end of March 2021, and the remaining US$1,250,000 can be settled with shares of the Corporation. In addition, GGM will be required to pay an additional US$1,000,000 upon proof, to an internationally recognized standard, that the area covered by the Mining Permit holds at least 1,000,000 ounces of gold; and an additional US$1,000,000 upon proof, to an internationally recognized standard, that the area covered by the Mining Permit holds at least 1,500,000 ounces of gold.

As certain directors and officers of the Company received Waraba Shares in connection with the acquisition, it is considered a related party transaction for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61- 101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The participation of the directors and officers is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under MI 61-101 in accordance with sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. The Company is relying on an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 available because the fair market value of the Waraba Shares issued to the directors and officers does not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization, as determined in accordance with MI 61-101. The Company did not file a material change report related to this acquisition more than 21 days before the expected closing of the acquisition as required by MI 61-101 since the details of the Waraba Shares were not settled until shortly prior to the closing of the acquisition and the Company wished to close on an expedited basis for sound business reasons.

"We are pleased to have completed the acquisition with all the parties for this Mali project. I believe this acquisition provides our shareholders with incredible value and exposure to the most exciting new gold district in Mali. We look forward to Gonka commencing their initial work program on the project in next few weeks. Over the coming weeks we intend to update shareholders on the review of historic work performed as well as the results of the current work program," commented Waraba's CEO, Carl Esprey.

For additional information, please contact:

WARABA GOLD LIMITED

Carl Esprey

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Telephone: +1 312 235 2605

Email: cesprey@warabagold.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to the proposal to complete the associated transactions. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. These assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the assumption that the Corporation will receive the approval of the CSE in respect of the Acquisition, that Gonka will commence their initial work program on the timlines provided, that GGM will meet its obligations under the Purchase Agreement, that GGM will obtain the necessary regulatory approvals to purchase the Mining Permit, that the Purchase Agreement will close on terms acceptable to GGM and the Corporation. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include failure to obtain the final approval of the CSE, or failure to complete the Purchase Agreement, among other factors. The Corporation assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by applicable law.

The CSE nor its market regulator does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the Acquisition and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72527


The numbers of healthcare workers and patients contracting the disease in healthcare settings is the highest it has been since the beginning of the pandemic.

Health officials are concerned about the spread of the disease in residential and healthcare settings and among people aged over 65, as the virus remains at exceptionally high levels in the community.

This comes as Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said in the Dail today that a third of Covid-19 patients in hospital contracted the virus while in hospital.

Speaking in the Dail, he said that people may be admitted to hospital without being positive for Covid-19 and get infected afterwards.

He was responding to questions from Independent TD Denis Naughten, who said that hospitals are a reservoir for coronavirus infection and asked if there is anyone controlling and managing hospital outbreaks.

Mr Varadkar admitted that most deaths take place in nursing homes and hospitals.

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Most deaths sadly occur in nursing homes and in hospitals and it seems that as many as a third of [coronavirus] patients in hospital got Covid in hospital, didnt come in Covid positive, they picked up Covid while in the hospital, he said.

Some of them may not be sick as a result, they may be sick for a different reason, but it still is a matter of real concern.

Hospitals should be about making people better, not picking up a virus that could be deadly, Deputy Naughten responded.

The Dail also heard that the country is nowhere near the easing of Level 5 restrictions.

The Cabinet is due to make a decision next week if the current lockdown is to be extended, however Mr Varadkar said that it is fair to say that the country is nowhere near where we need to be before easing restrictions.

Things are starting to fall slightly in terms of cases and hospitalisations but at the pace we would like, said the Tanaiste.

While no decision has yet been made on restrictions, that decision will be made by Cabinet next week, I think its fair to say we are nowhere near where we need to be at present to ease Level 5 restrictions.

Concerns about compliance with restrictions by people travelling into the country were also raised by Social Democrat co-leader Catherine Murphy.

She said that between December 11 and January 3, 118,000 passengers arrived by air and a further 20,000 arrived by sea into the country.

49pc of these didnt confirm their place of residence on the passenger locator form.

Tanaiste Varadkar said that the passenger locator form has not worked out as robust a measure as was needed.

He said that a negative PCR test will now be required within 72 hours of arrival into the country by those arriving by air or by sea, with the exception of supply chain workers and cabin crew.

The number of cases seen in residential care settings are also similar to those seen at the beginning of the pandemic, with very significant mortality associated with those outbreaks, according to Professor Philip Nolan.

The rate of the virus in those aged over 65, particularly in those over 85, the outbreaks in residential settings, not just nursing homes, a variety of residential settings and the fact that the disease is transmitting within healthcare settings, are expected unfortunately when theres high levels of community transmission, but its very worrying to see them actually happen, he said.

He also warned that there will be a large number of deaths in the coming weeks as mortality has increased.

The National Outbreak Control Team to manage significant outbreak in hospitals was set up three weeks ago and is currently operating.

It was set up in response to unprecedented outbreak of the virus in hospital settings.

There has been a lot of additional infection prevention controls support and training given to the hospitals in context of those outbreaks, including the provision of additional and enhanced PPE, said Dr Lorraine Doherty, the National Clinical Director for Health Protection at the HSE.

Weve had outbreaks in our hospitals throughout the pandemic but what we are seeing now is unprecedented in terms of the numbers of outbreaks, the numbers of hospitals being infected, the number of healthcare workers that are ill. That points to a very serious situation, she added.

The reproductive R number is now estimated to be between 0.5 and 0.8, however Professor Philip Nolan believes that this will be hard to maintain due to the British variant.

When the new variant becomes dominant, it might add 0.1 to 0.5 to the reproductive number, he said.
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SELBYVILLE, Del., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Market Insights, Inc. has recently added a new report on the air traffic management market which estimates the market valuation for air traffic management will cross US $10 billion by 2027. The growing tourism sector across the globe is anticipated to fuel the industry demand. Airliners are increasing their destinations and flight routes, augmenting global market revenue.

Air Traffic Management (ATM) Market size is set to be over USD 10 billion by 2027, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.

The air traffic management industry is facing numerous challenges due to the escalating spread of the COVID-19 pandemic around the world. Government restrictions on domestic and international travel have led to a gradual decline in the revenues of airports. However, the market size is expected to witness a steady growth by late 2021 owing to the gradual leniency in lockdown and travel restrictions imposed by various governments.

Request for a sample of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/3297

The surveillance segment is attributed to display a strong growth potential due to the growing requirements for better management of traffic at airports. Industry players are focusing on joint ventures and agreements to install air traffic surveillance systems at airports. For instance, in July 2019, the Airport Authority of India signed a contract with Aireon LLC to install air traffic surveillance systems in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai ocean airspaces to cover an area of over six million square kilometers.

Airport authorities are also focusing on installing new and technologically upgraded systems to reduce traffic congestion and promote hassle-free travel to passengers. For instance, in January 2019, NATS installed an AI-powered digital control tower at Heathrow Airport. This was done to understand if Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help in reducing flight delays.

The Middle East and Africa air traffic management market will witness significant growth during the forecast period owing to the rapid increase in airport construction activities in economies including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Government authorities are focusing on upgrading the facilities at the airports for smooth passenger transits. For instance, in November 2016, the Dubai government announced its plan to invest USD 3 billion to support the expansion of two airports in the country. The projects are estimated to be completed by 2025 and will be able to serve 146 million passengers in a year.

Major players operating in the air traffic management market are Leonardo S.p.A., BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Honeywell International, Inc., Lockheed Martin Corporation, L3Harris Corporation, and Thales Group. These players are focusing on strategic collaborations and partnerships to enhance their business operations. For instance, in June 2018, Honeywell collaborated with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to upgrade the air traffic management system with a new voice recognition software across the region.

Request for customization of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/roc/3297

Some major findings in the air traffic management market report include:

Growing demand for systematic air traffic management systems to minimize the risk of accidents in airports is driving the industry size growth.

Hardware components required for air traffic management will witness a steady growth rate owing to increasing investments by governments and airport authorities in the development of airports.

The presence of several leading market players coupled with the increasing adoption of these systems at the airports is driving the air traffic management market share in North America and Europe .

and . Key players operating in the air traffic management market include BAE Systems, Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin Corporation, Northrop Grumman Corporation,Raytheon Company, Thales Group and Honeywell International, Inc.

Major strategies adopted by market players include R&D investments and strategic partnerships with other industry players to enhance their market share.

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 3 Air Traffic Management Industry Insights

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Industry segmentation

3.3 Impact of COVID-19 on air traffic management industry landscape

3.3.1 Global outlook

3.3.2 Regional impact

3.3.2.1 North America

3.3.2.2 Europe

3.3.2.3 Asia Pacific

3.3.2.4 Latin America

3.3.2.5 MEA

3.3.3 Impact on industry value chain

3.3.3.1 Air traffic management providers

3.3.3.2 Marketing and distribution channel

3.3.4 Competitive landscape

3.3.4.1 Strategy

3.3.4.2 Distribution network

3.3.4.3 Business growth

3.4 Evolution of air traffic management technology

3.5 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.5.1 Technology Suppliers

3.5.2 Service providers

3.5.3 Profit margin analysis

3.5.4 End users

3.6 Technological & innovation landscape

3.6.1 Remote Air Traffic Management System

3.6.2 Time Based Separation (TBS)

3.6.3 Flight Data Processing System

3.6.4 System Wide Information Management (SWIM)

3.6.5 Introduction of unmanned aerial vehicles in air traffic management system

3.6.6 Introduction of Artificial Intelligence

3.6.7 Ground-based Augmentation System

3.7 Regulatory landscape

3.7.1 North America

3.7.1.1 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

3.7.1.1.1 AC 90-66B

3.7.1.1.2 AC 90-80C

3.7.2 Europe

3.7.3 Asia Pacific

3.7.3.1 Director General of Civil Aviation

3.7.3.2 ICAO Framework

3.7.4 Latin America

3.7.5 MEA

3.7.5.1 Saudi Arabia

3.8 Industry impact forces

3.8.1 Growth drivers

3.8.1.1 Supportive regulations for air traffic management in North America

3.8.1.2 A need for air traffic management system upgrades

3.8.1.3 Government initiatives in Europe - Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research

3.8.1.4 Technological advancements and implementation of the latest systems

3.8.1.5 Increasing number of air passengers in Asia Pacific

3.8.1.6 Rise in investments and airspace co-ordination

3.8.1.7 Development in aviation and aerospace infrastructure in Latin America

3.8.1.8 Increasing investments in the MEA for better air traffic control

3.8.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.8.2.1 Radio frequency restrictions and issues of the aviation industry

3.9 Porter's analysis

3.9.1 Supplier power

3.9.2 Buyer power

3.9.3 Threat of new entrants

3.9.4 Threat of substitutes

3.9.5 Internal rivalry

3.10 PESTEL analysis

3.11 Growth potential analysis

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

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Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

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Air Traffic Management Market size worth around $10 Bn by 2027

Air Traffic Management (ATM) Market size is set to be over USD 10 billion by 2027, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.

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J oe Biden gets to work on reversing Trump policies as he signs first executive orders

Joe Biden has signed his first executive orders as US President, reversing some of Donald Trumps policies on immigration, climate change, racial equality and coronavirus.

Among the range of measures to help tackle Covid-19, which has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the US, Mr Biden will Cease action to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO).

He has also launched a "100 Days Masking Challenge" asking people to wear mask for 100 days. Masks and distancing on all federal property will also be required.

Mr Biden also seeks to undo some of his Mr Trumps controversial orders on climate. The US is to rejoin the 2015 Paris climate agreement, which Mr Trump formally withdrew the country from last year.

Storm Christoph: Thousands of homes evacuated amid danger to life flood warnings

Thousands of homes were evacuated overnight as Storm Christoph caused widespread flooding across the UK.

Some 2,000 properties in the East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden areas of Greater Manchester were due to be evacuated on Wednesday night because of rising water levels, the city council said.

People were also asked to leave their homes in parts of Ruthin and Bangor on Dee in North Wales, and Maghull in Merseyside.

It comes as heavy rain and snow continued to fall across England and Wales, with many rivers at dangerously high levels, the Environment Agency said.

No strong evidence of coronavirus levels decreasing in England, researchers say

Levels of Covid-19 in England may have risen over the first 10 days of the third lockdown, and there is no strong evidence of them decreasing, researchers have claimed.

Swab testing of 143,000 people suggests that 1.58 per cent of people had coronavirus between January 6 and 15.London had the highest levels with 2.8 per cent.

Imperial College London researchers said that there was little sign of these infection rates decreasing.

Isolation after contact with Covid-19 case could be cut to seven days without raising risk of transmission

Self-isolation after contact with a coronavirus case could be reduced to seven days without raising the risk of onward transmission, a study has suggested.

The research, which accounts for infected peoples potential viral load and the sensitivity of Covid-19 tests, estimates people who test negative after seven days of quarantine are unlikely to be infectious.

Researchers say these people could potentially be released without raising the risk of onward virus transmission above what would be expected by self-isolating for 14 days without testing.

The modelling also estimates that the use of daily rapid lateral flow antigen (LFA) tests for traced contacts for five days could potentially replace the requirement to self-isolate, if all tests are negative.

Hollywood throws star power behind Biden and Harris as it helps usher in new era

Hollywood helped usher in the era of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris with a star-studded primetime TV special to mark inauguration day.

Celebrating America  broadcast across multiple networks and streamed online  was hosted by Tom Hanks, who stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and said the dream of America has no limit.
On Indias permanent council seat, here is what Bidens US pick said

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama congratulates US President Biden

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Dharamsala, Jan 21: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today congratulated Joe Biden for being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and thanked him for his long-standing support for the Tibetan people.

He also expressed confidence that Biden will contribute to shaping a more peaceful world in which those suffering from "hunger", "disease" and "violence" will find help.

Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday at a historic inaugural ceremony, pledging to unite the country and calling on Americans to end the "uncivil war" that has fractured the deeply polarised nation.

Joe Biden rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement

Kamala Harris was also sworn in as America's first woman Vice President in a time-honoured ceremony on the steps of the US Capitol, amidst unprecedented security following the January 6 mob attack in Washington DC by supporters of former US president Donald Trump.

In a letter written to the US president, the Tibetan spiritual leader said, As someone deeply concerned with the ecological crisis our planet faces, I am so pleased that you are elevating the issue of climate change to your highest priority and that the United States is rejoining the Paris Climate Accord. Global warming is an urgent threat to the whole world and to the survival of our species.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

May I also commend you for other measures you are taking towards the betterment of the United States of America. I have long been an admirer of your great country, the bastion of liberty, democracy, religious freedom and the rule of law. The whole world places its hope in the democratic vision and leadership of the United States.
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Killeen, TX (76540)

Today

Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. High 82F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected..

Tonight

Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Junior Minister Josepha Madigan has apologised for the second time in a week over two separate comments she made referencing pupils with special needs.

Ms Madigan, who is Junior Minister Special Education and Inclusion, sparked outrage yesterday with comments she made in an interview where she was discussing the collapse of efforts for the partial re-opening of schools, to allow for the return of special needs pupils. She compared children with special needs not attending school to the mother and baby homes controversy.

Ms Madigan told RTEs Today with Claire Byrne: Weve spent the last week talking about mother and baby homes, where our most vulnerable were left to their own devices in less than satisfactory conditions and were now allowing further anxiety and upset to be placed on the shoulders of parents whose children desperately need to go back to school.

She came under fire in the Dail. Later, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) called for an immediate apology for her insensitive comment. The INTO described the remark as unhelpful, unnecessary and grossly offensive to our members.

Read More

Responding to criticism in the Dail, Ms Madigan said her comment was meant as nothing more than speaking about vulnerable people in society.

But in a later statement, issued by the Education Department, she went further: This morning, I made comments on how important it is that our children with special educational needs return to in-person learning.

"As part of these comments, I reflected on how vulnerable people have been entirely let down in the past, and I made a reference to mother and baby homes. I sought to clarify these comments in the Dail today.

I in no way intended offence towards anyone who works with children with special educational needs. I am, as are all, involved in supporting these children, passionate about vindicating their rights and in reaching for an analogy, I chose poorly.

I apologise fully.

Also in the Dail yesterday, the minister reiterated an apology she made last week, over other comments relating to pupils with special needs.

Last Thursday in the Dail, while discussing plans for school re-opening, she was criticised for referring to children without special needs as normal.

While she apologised for that later that day, yesterday she asked that the Dail record also be altered, and withdrew the remark.

She told the Dail: The word was not appropriate and I did not use it intentionally.

"This is not what I meant to say, and while I publicly apologised last Thursday, I wish to re-state it, to say on the floor to the Dail that I would like to withdraw the remark, and to re-emphasise my commitment, as always, to supporting children with special educational needs.

She is one of many reality stars who has been living it up in Dubai on a 'work' trip while the UK remains in its third national lockdown.

And Chloe Ferry sent temperatures soaring as she displayed her eye-popping curves in a series of racy Instagram snaps on Thursday.

The Geordie Shore star, 25, displayed her pert derriere as she struck a sultry pose next to a dune buggy in the desert.

Wow: Chloe Ferry sent temperatures soaring as she displayed her eye-popping curves in a series of racy Instagram snaps on Thursday

Chloe looked incredible as she donned a black and red bomber jacket and a pair of skintight black leggings.

Also sporting a pair of black trainers, the reality star styled her platinum locks into loose waves.

Alongside the post, Chloe wrote: 'Hop in baby were going for a drive'.

Chloe is one of dozens of reality TV personalities who have swapped the UK's third lockdown for some sun in the UAE, sharing regular updates from their lavish 'work trips' to social media.

Looking good: The Geordie Shore star, 25, displayed her pert derriere as she struck a sultry pose next to a dune buggy in the desert

But it is now thought fed-up Brits have hit back by unfollowing the stars accounts with Anton Danyluk, 25, and Laura Anderson, 31, dropping a combined 26,000, reports The Sun.

Anton, who is thought to have lost 14,000 followers, shared that he was heading to Dubai on December 10 and has since posted glimpses of his impressive hotel views and dips in the pool with his 1m fans.

While Laura Anderson, who has reportedly dropped a sizeable 12,000 followers, sparked a backlash when she said it was 'really hard' to be an influencer following unimpressed comments on her Dubai snaps.

Others thought to have taken a hit in the Instagram numbers include Kaz Crossley, 27, who has reportedly lost 7,000 followers since touching down in the city.

Jetting off: Chloe is one of dozens of reality TV personalities who have swapped the UK's third lockdown for some sun in the UAE

While Gabby Allen is thought to have lost 2,000 and Josh Ritchie 8,000. TOWIE star James Lock, who is in Dubai with his girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou is also said to have seen 1,000 people disappear from his followers.

As well as Love Island alum, Made In Chelsea's Spencer Matthews reportedly lost 4,000 fans after his trip to Barbados with wife Vogue Williams, who is thought to have seen 1,500 leave her own account.

MailOnline has contacted the reality star's representatives for a comment.

Over recent weeks, reality stars have seen a growing furore from the public as their Dubai trips as Brits back at home are in a nationwide lockdown.

Unfollow: It is now thought fed-up Brits have hit back by unfollowing the stars who have jetted abroad accounts (pictured Laura Anderson)

Many have travelled abroad under the ruse that their trips are 'for work,' sparking backlash from fans who have been holed up in lockdown amid the pandemic.

Olivia Attwood, who found fame on Love Island, had suggested that unimpressed fans unfollow the stars abroad after she lashed out at them last week.

The beauty told people to stop trolling influencers following her own rant, instead suggesting they take a less vocal approach and simply unfollow the stars.

Police said the victim was left with a black eye

A Co Armagh man appeared in court yesterday accused of a violent attempt to hijack a woman's car.

As well as being charged with attempted hijacking at Newry Magistrates Court, James Dalton (29) was also charged with causing the driver actual bodily harm on Sunday.

Giving evidence to the court, a PSNI detective constable said he believed he could connect Dalton to the offences.

None of the facts were opened in court, but at the time of the incident on the Tullysaran Road in Armagh, police said the victim was left with a black eye.

The PSNI said at the time that a man had flagged down a car and asked the woman driver for directions. He then opened the door of the car and assaulted the driver but she was able to make off from the scene in her car, a blue Peugeot 307, having sustained facial injuries.

Dalton, from the Upper Darkley Road in Keady, also appeared on four other sets of charges and warrants for his arrest on numerous driving offences and cultivating cannabis.

Defence counsel Kevin O'Hare suggested to District Judge Eamon King that he could pass sentence on those to "basically clear the deck".

In each of those cases, Mr King imposed two year driving bans and four month jail sentences, which he suspended for two years, as well as fines totalling 200.

Although Dalton was granted bail in the attempted hijacking case, the judge ordered the fines to be paid with an immediate warrant, ordering the Co Armagh man to serve a week in jail in default.

His case was adjourned to February 17.
A Republican county official in northern Michigan has sparked outrage after showing off his rifle during an online meeting where he came under criticism for allowing far-right extremist group 'Proud Boys' to speak at another meeting.

Ron Clous, a newly re-elected member of the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, was at home during the livestreamed meeting on Wednesday, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported.

During a public comment period, a local woman, Kelli MacIntash, criticized the board for allowing self-described members of the 'Proud Boys' to speak at a commission meeting last year and urged commission Chairman Rob Hentschel to denounce them.

The neo-fascist group is known for engaging in violent clashes at political rallies and some of its members took part in the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol that left a police officer and four others dead.

In this screengrab taken from a livestreamed meeting provided by the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Ron Clous holds a rifle at his home in response to a constituent's criticism concerning 'Proud Boys'

The online meeting was held on Wednesday and include a public comment period

At that point, Clous, who sat in a room with taxidermy deer heads mounted on the wall, stepped away from his webcam and returned carrying a rifle, which he held in his hands for a few seconds before silently putting it away. Hentschel burst out laughing, seeing Clous with the firearm.

MacIntosh told the Record-Eagle she felt threatened.

'This guy is in the middle of a government meeting brandishing a weapon,' MacIntosh said. 'Why would I not think they were trying to harm me?"

MacIntosh, 74, told The Associated Press on Thursday that she planned to file a report with the Michigan State Police.

'I didn't think he was going to shoot me, obviously, but I do think his whole point was to intimidate me and threaten me and anyone else who's going to speak out ... and see if he can stir up masses of people who are just looking for things to fight about,' she said.

Clous (bottom left), who is seen in a room with taxidermy deer heads on the wall, silently grabs the rifle in response to a constituent's request to condemn extremist groups

Clous told the newspaper he retrieved his rifle in response to MacIntosh's request.

'I was going to chime in as well,' Clous said. 'I was just going to show the rifle and show that I fully support the Second Amendment, but then I opted not to ... I was in my home.'

Two self-described members of the 'Proud Boys' spoke to the county board last March in support of a pro-Second Amendment resolution the panel adopted.

Clous said he won't denounce any group, including Black Lives Matter, the NFL, or LBGTQ organizations.

'The only thing I know about them (Proud Boys) is when they came and spoke to us,' Clous said. 'They were probably the most respected folks that got up and talked. They were decent guys and they treated us with respect.'

Clous, a Republican, described the 'Proud Boys' as 'decent guys' and refused to denounce them

Proud Boys has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and an extremist group by the FBI.

Hentschel, the board chairman, said he had no problem with what Clous did.

'I saw it across his chest and I thought it was ironic of him to do that,' Hentschel said. 'The person was talking about guns and he had one across his chest. I didn't see him do anything illegal or dangerous with it. He wasn't threatening or brandishing. He was just holding it.'

Holly T. Bird, a local attorney and activist, was appalled when she watched the recorded meeting.

'Everyone knows that if you're walking down the street and someone flashes a gun at you, it's a threat,' Bird said. 'To have a public official do that during a public meeting is horrendous.'

Betsy Coffia, a fellow county commissioner, labeled Clous' action 'deeply disturbing' and 'wildly inappropriate.'

The largely symbolic resolution approved by the board in March 2020 says the county cannot use public funds to restrict Second Amendment rights or to enforce measures contradicting it.

During a meeting to discuss the resolution, right-wing talk radio host Randy Bishop, who Hentschel said is not a 'Proud Boy,' was allowed to speak for 20 minutes in support of the pro-gun rights resolution, while two self-described members of the 'Proud Boys' spoke for three minutes each.

'I am not a member of Proud Boys,' Hentschel said Wednesday. 'But I do know a few Proud Boys. I've met Black Proud Boys, I've met multi-racial Puerto Rican Proud Boys and they inform me they also have gay Proud Boys. I don't see how that's a hate group.'
Indian churches continue to grow amid the ongoing massive persecution, and even in spite of COVID-19, reports say.

Churches in India showed remarkable growth during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Reports revealed that all across the country, more people are turning to Christ in spite of the massive persecution. House churches are getting filled with Gospel-hungry believers.

Reports from Mission Network News' church planting partners in India show how God continues to accelerate the growth of His church and strengthen the body of Christ. Although the country ranks as number 10 among the most dangerous places for Christians to live in based on the persecution believers face there, figures revealed that the faithful are willing to face the risk to stand up for their faith.

"During 2020 - the COVID year - they've planted more churches than all the 25 years of their ministry work there," said David Reeves, President, and CEO of unfoldingWord, MNN reported.

One of the church planting partners shared how they saw the number of people turning to God dramatically increased. The source said the believers resorted to praying for one another and for others from a distance during the lockdown as they cannot come together for in-person services.

The Christians who prayed for others used the technology as a platform to pray for one another. They used telephone lines and WhatsApp to do a follow-up on those people they prayed for, resulting in 100,000 new Christian conversions during the lockdown period alone.

When the government slightly loosened the restriction, the believers finally got the chance to visit the places that they prayed for.

"They estimate that churches adopted about 50,000 villages during the lockdown, and 25% now have an "opening" for the Gospel - some believers, a small house church, etc," the church planting partner added citing that the figures were so much more than they could have done before the pandemic.

Even the lack of access to the Bible translated in their own native language did not stop the Christians in India from pursuing the truth of the word of God.

"They're tired of waiting [for a translation]; they're trying to do it themselves, and we provide tools [and] resources to help them," the unfoldingWord president said.

Reeves explained that the efforts they do now involve plenty of risks in a country such as India where Christian persecution continues to grow yet they are determined. He added that risks will not stop the church from moving forward.

He further compared the present challenges that Christians in India face and how they keep going to the first-century church when people diligently fought for their faith.

Finally, the UnfoldingWorld CEO urged the public to pray for them to have the courage to continue. He also appealed to the people to ask for God's protection and to have the tools and resources that they will need along this journey.

Previous reports revealed that India was among the countries that believers across the globe prayed for in an online event. Believers from different parts of the globe called out to pray for the strength and protection of the brethren in China, India, Nigeria, as well as other countries where they face persecution because of their beliefs.
Soldier guilty of killing comrades-in-arms to be imprisoned for 24.5 years

 RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov

10:05 21/01/2021

MOSCOW, January 21 (RAPSI)  The Second Eastern District Military Court on Thursday sentenced soldier Ramil Shamsutdinov to 24.5 years in high-security prison for deadly shooting in a military unit in 2019, according to information published on the courts website.

He was also ordered to pay the injured party 9.8 million rubles (about $135 million) for moral harm.

Prosecutors earlier demanded 25 years behind bars for the defendant.

In late December, jury issued a verdict of guilty against Shamsutdinov but held the defendant deserved leniency. When delivering sentence, a court is to consider mitigating circumstances but cannot take aggravating circumstances into account. According to the jury verdict, a judge may impose not more than two-thirds of the maximum sentence on him. Thus, the defendant will avoid life imprisonment, Chikov stated.

Investigators claim that on October 25, 2019, Shamsutdinov shot two officers and six soldiers dead in the military unit where he served. Two other people suffered gunshot wounds. On October 28, a garrison military court in Chita, a city in Russias Zabaikalye Territory, placed Shamsutdinov in detention.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

Unions representing primary school teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) have reiterated their commitment to the resumption of education services to students with special educational needs.

Representatives from the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), FORSA and the Department of Education met today.

Last night, a spokesperson for the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), reaffirmed their commitment to working within the process.

INTO participated in a broad discussion on special education provision with the Department of Education. No decisions were taken.

We are committed to working within this process to advance the reasonable concerns of our members to secure a safe and orderly reopening of our schools.

INTO will provide a statement when definitive decisions have been taken. In doing so we are acutely aware of the anxiety amongst both teachers and parents owing to the ongoing speculation.

A spokesperson for Forsa said the union will continue to work with the Department of Education.

We will work towards the resumption of these vital services in the shortest possible timeframe compatible with the safety of students and staff."

It remains Forsas belief that this can and should be done in ways that underpin the safety of students, staff, and others during this awful pandemic, the spokesperson said.

TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Japan posted a merchandise trade surplus of 751.005 billion yen in December, the Ministry of Finance said on Thursday. That was shy of expectations for a surplus of 942.8 billion yen but up from 366.8 billion yen in November. Exports were up 2.0 percent on year at 6.706 trillion yen - missing forecasts for an increase of 2.4 percent following the 4.2 percent decline in the previous month. Exports to the rest of Asia rose 6.1 percent on year to 3.914 trillion yen - including a 10.2 percent annual spike to 1.556 trillion yen for just China. Exports to the United States dipped 0.7 percent on year to 1.212 trillion yen, while exports to the European Union fell an annual 1.6 percent to 621.693 billion yen. Imports sank an annual 11.6 percent to 5.955 trillion yen versus expectations for a decline of 14.0 percent following the 11.1 percent drop a month earlier. Imports from the rest of Asia dipped an annual 2.6 percent to 3.060 trillion yen, while imports from China alone sank an annual 1.8 percent to 1.568 trillion yen. Imports from the United States plummeted an annual 21.9 percent to 585.226 billion yen, while imports from the European Union dropped 4.0 percent on year to 699.067 billion yen. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Energy expert Chris Yelland said South Africa experienced the worst load-shedding on record in 2020 and that he expects 2021 to be even worse.

Speaking to Biznews, Yelland said the reality is that Eskoms energy availability factor (EAF), which is a measure of the availability of Eskom current fleet of power stations, is declining year on year.

The best thing that I think one can hope for is that Eskom could stabilise this energy availability factor at the current low levels, said Yelland.

South Africa has already experienced seven days of load-shedding within the first three weeks of the year when demand was low.

As demand for electricity picks up, Eskoms ageing power generation fleet will be under severe pressure.

The biggest problem is breakdowns. During the most recent bout of load-shedding, 14,748MW of capacity was unavailable due to unplanned maintenance, breakdowns, and outage delays.

The lost capacity because of breakdowns dwarfed the 5,358MW which was unavailable because of planned maintenance.

The fact that most of the lost capacity is caused by unpredictable events makes it nearly impossible for Eskom to accurately forecast load-shedding.

A good example is Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyters comments in May 2020 that their outlook for the winter season shows little to no load-shedding expected after the lockdown.

The table below shows the three-month outlook for load-shedding in South Africa.

Possibility of stage 8 load-shedding

Power and mining expert Ted Blom recently said South Africa should brace itself for the worst year of load-shedding yet in 2021, with Stage 8 being a possibility.

He said Eskom is able to absorb around 11,000MW of electricity shortages before they have to implement load-shedding.

Eskoms outlook for the next three months shows a near-consistent unavailability of 20,000MW because of planned and unplanned outages.

This will leave Eskom with a deficit of around 9,000MW, which Blom said can result in stage 6 or even stage 8 load-shedding.

Yelland is less pessimistic on Eskoms load-shedding outlook, saying to expect stage 8 load-shedding is alarmist.

You cant write it off. But to say that we are heading for that is premature. But as I say, its not impossible, but I dont think its likely, Yelland said.

Eskom spokesperson Sikonathi Mantshantsha added that their maintenance plan makes provision for 14,000MW of breakdowns.

That will give us stage 2 or stage 3 load-shedding. In the worst-case scenario we have prepared for stage 4 load-shedding with 15,000MW of breakdowns, he said.

For stage 8 load-shedding to occur will require a lot of breakages of Eskoms equipment  north of 20,000MW. We have not seen that.

Eskom said they are not working towards a scenario where Eskom will have to implement stage 8 load-shedding.

The situation will not improve anytime soon

Yelland said he does not expect the problem of electricity shortages and load-shedding to improve in the short term.

Government procurements of new generation capacity, that means the so-called 2000 megawatts of risk mitigation IPP programme, is about to be adjudicated, he said.

But then still, orders have to be placed and financial closure has to be achieved  that can typically take six months.

After these processes, delivery must happen, construction must be done, and the new power must be connected to the grid.

Yelland said the government is touting the end of 2022 for this to happen, but he thinks it is very optimistic.

I dont think we can see any improvement before the end of 2022, perhaps even longer, he said.

Compounding these challenges is that there is currently a leadership vacuum which means people are not making decisions timelessly.

I think there are some agendas within the regulator and within the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy that are trying to hold back the uptake of distributed renewable energy, said Yelland.

There are some internal political agendas that are trying to slow this uptake. This has to be addressed at the highest level.

Yelland said South African households and businesses should not rely on Eskom for their future electricity needs.

Instead, they should invest in solar and generators to ensure they are not left in the dark when load-shedding hits.

Eskom load-shedding from 2007 to 2020

The table below provides an overview of the number of days of load-shedding and the amount of power shed since 2007.

Year Load-shedding (number of days) 2007 13 2008 44 2009 0 2010 0 2011 0 2012 0 2013 3 2014 17 2015 103 2016 0 2017 0 2018 15 2019 30 2020 52
ROME - Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu travelled to Brussels on Thursday for a two-day visit aimed at relaunching relations between Turkey and the European Union, which have suffered strong tensions in recent months.



The talks will focus on the main issues, from the disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean to Ankara's request to renew the 2016 deal on migrants, approve visa liberalisation, and update the Customs Union agreement.



Cavusoglu will meet with senior-level officials, starting on Thursday with members of the European Parliament and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.



On Friday, Cavusoglu will meet with European Council President Charles Michel, also in light of Michel's possible visit next week to Ankara to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, together with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Cavusoglu will also meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday.



The visit is part of a full diplomatic offensive by Ankara ahead of the resumption, after nearly five years, of "exploratory talks" with Greece on marittime disputes and other bilateral matters, scheduled Monday in Istanbul.
In addition to his son Eric, who succeeded him as director of the Pro-Life Action League, he is survived by his wife, Ann Scheidler, the leagues chairwoman; his sons Joseph, Peter and Matthias; his daughters Catherine Miller, Annie Casselman and Sarah Worthington; a brother, James Scheidler; a sister, Eleanor McNamara; 27 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.

Mr. Scheidler enlisted in the Navy after high school and later attended Notre Dame. After graduating, he remained in town as a reporter for The South Bend Tribune before entering a seminary, intent on becoming a Benedictine monk. But he withdrew days before his ordination.

Mr. Scheidler received a masters degree from Marquette University and taught at Mundelein College, a womens school in Chicago, where he met Ann Crowley. They married in 1965, the same year he chaperoned a student trip to Alabama to march alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in support of voting rights.

In 1967 Mr. Scheidler took a job in public relations for the city of Chicago and was later an advertising executive for Selz Seabolt, a leading Chicago public-relations firm. It was there, in between pitching fishing tackle and cheese, that he became obsessed with abortion. After the Supreme Court legalized the procedure nationally in 1973 in Roe v. Wade, he took a leave of absence to begin organizing. He never went back to advertising.

From the start, Mr. Scheidler showed a proclivity for publicity. He took out anti-abortion ads in newspapers on the same pages where ads for abortion clinics ran. He assembled pickets outside abortion clinics. At one point he was the director of the Illinois Right to Life Committee, but he was fired in 1978 over his aggressive tactics.

Mr. Scheidler and his wife founded the Pro-Life Action League in 1980 and quickly built a national network of activists. In 1985 he published Closed: 99 Ways to Stop Abortion, a how-to manual of sorts that was loaded with tips about things like sidewalk counseling, which involved finding women who were considering abortions and persuading them not to follow through, even if it meant approaching them as they entered a clinic.

If Mr. Scheidler walked a fine line between aggressive action and outright lawbreaking, many of his followers, including a fiery evangelical minister from upstate New York named Randall Terry, did not. Mr. Terry formed an organization, Operation Rescue, that took Mr. Scheidlers logic further than his mentor was willing to go  blockading access to clinics and packing court dockets with arrestees. Others took even more extreme actions, committing vandalism, arson and murder. By the early 1990s, Mr. Terry had eclipsed Mr. Scheidler as the leading voice for street-level anti-abortion activism.
In its Budget recommendations, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations also said auto dealers should be kept out of annual tax collected at source of 0.1%

New Delhi: Ahead of the upcoming Union Budget, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) on Wednesday urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to introduce benefits of claiming depreciation on vehicles for income tax-paying individuals and extend the depreciation period for corporates.

In its Budget recommendations, FADA also said auto dealers should be kept out of annual tax collected at source (TCS) of 0.1 percent saying it is a huge financial burden on the automobile retail industry.

"The upcoming 2021 Union Budget should be focused on measures to revive the Indian economy from the pandemic slowdown and boost consumption led demand. The Indian automobile industry is a barometer of the Indian economy and its revival will in turn pull up the economy," FADA President Vinkesh Gulati said in a statement.

He further said, "The auto retail industry is one of the key pillars of India's growth trajectory, contributing around 4.5 million jobs. We look forward to a demand-led growth-oriented budget."

Gulati recalled that "Sitharaman has already expressed her intention to revive growth and boost investor confidence".

In its budget recommendations, FADA urged the finance minister to introduce benefits of claiming depreciation on vehicles for individuals paying income tax, and extend the depreciation period for corporates.

"This will boost vehicle demand during these extraordinary times and also increase the number of individuals filing I-T (income tax) returns and promote growth in GST collection for the government," the apex national body of automobile retailers said.

It added that the increase in depreciation rate for all types of vehicles which was valid till 31 March, 2020, should also be extended for 2020-21 and it will fuel demand further.

The Finance Bill 2020 introduced TCS of 0.1 percent to be charged annually w.e.f 1 October, 2020.

"This is a huge financial burden on the automobile retail industry, tying up working capital until dealers receive refunds. It will affect demand since vehicle acquisition costs will go up and hence auto dealers should be kept out," FADA said.

FADA also called for reduction of corporate tax for proprietary and partnership firms saying it will boost morale and sentiment of traders, who together employ 5 million people, 2.5 million of whom are on direct employment.

"The government reduced corporate tax to 25 percent for private limited companies with a turnover of up to Rs 400 crore last year. This benefit should also be extended to all proprietary and partnership firms since most traders in the auto dealership community are in this category," it said.

Reiterating the demand of the auto industry for vehicle scrappage policy, FADA said the government must design a robust inspection and certification (I&C) policy or end of life vehicles (ELV) policy for vehicles in the country.

"However, as both the above policies would take time to be effectively implemented, there is a need for an immediate scheme based on incentive for encouraging voluntary scrapping of old vehicles and replacing them with newer ones. The new vehicles are cleaner and meet stringent emission requirements," it added.

FADA said the scrappage policy implementation should be focused on incentives rather than strict mandates.

"It is more feasible to encourage people than to force them to replace their old vehicles with new ones. We have already witnessed a similar success in the voluntary surrender of gas subsidies by consumers," it said.

All vehicles registered in India until 31 March, 2000 should qualify under the modern fleet vehicle replacement scheme, it added.

Similar schemes have been successfully implemented in the US, Canada, the UK and Italy by providing fiscal incentives and concessions for replacement through a single-window fleet modernisation programme, it added.
Britains Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, leaves after attending the annual Commonwealth Day service in March at Westminster Abbey in London.
Local TD John McGuinness has said it is outrageous that half the staff in St Lukes Hospital in Kilkenny have yet to be vaccinated and have no indication as to when they will be.

The Ireland East Hospital Group yesterday (Tuesday) confirmed 738 staff have received the first dose of the Covid vaccine, but Deputy McGuinness says thats out of a total of around 1,400 working there.

There is no indication as to when they are going to get the balance of it. Doctors are not done, 80% of the community is not done, he said.

The Fianna Fail TD says staff are at a loss to understand the situation and it is causing significant anxiety in the hospital, but they could not seem to get any answers.

I am furious over this. How can you vaccinate 700 in a hospital that is bursting at the seams out there and not do the other 700, and not even give a date for it?

Deputy McGuinness said it was not about jumping any queue, but he wanted to know why a hospital group in the South-East (IEHG) had not been given the same priority as another hospital group in Munster that had fewer staff.

It really is a farce when the frontline workers are not being prioritised in hospitals in a way that is fair and equitable, and the staff out there are deeply concerned about it. It is just outrageous to be honest about it.

The IEHG began the roll-out of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine on January 5. To date 738 healthcare workers across all grades of staff (between hospital staff, the National Ambulance Service and the primary care setting) have received their first dose of the vaccine in the hospital. All staff within the Ireland East Hospital Group will be vaccinated in due course as and when vaccines become available.

A spokesperson for the IEHG said all its hospitals, including St Lukes, are vaccinating staff in line with priority recommendations issued by the Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE. Vaccines are distributed in as equitable a manner as possible and as current vaccine supplies allow.

Figures for staff who declined or were unable to attend a vaccine appointment are extremely low, said the spokesperson.

No expired vaccines have been reported to the Group to date.

The IEHG did not comment on a query in relation to the number of ambulance/paramedic staff who had been vaccinated, and as to how many such staff were currently isolating or absent as a result of Covid or self-isolation.
A controversial Texas tax law criticized as a giveaway to large companies is set to expire after 2022, but state lawmakers appear poised to renew the program this legislative session.

Under Chapter 313, Texas taxpayers will pay the bill for tax breaks worth nearly $1.7 billion in 2021 and 2022 combined to corporations that relocate to, or expand in, the state  companies that, critics say, likely would have done so without the subsidy.

Others, however, say the program makes it cheaper to do business in Texas and creates jobs and tax revenue in counties across the state. Without the tax break, supporters of Chapter 313 say, companies could go to states that are more generous with public subsidies.

Two legislators  Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Fort Worth, and Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville  prefiled bills to extend Chapter 313 through the end of 2032.

On ExpressNews.com: Tax-break program to cost Texas $1 billion a year by 2022. Tesla soon will be a beneficiary

Neither legislator responded to requests for comment.

While its unclear whether the bills would pass as they are now, legislators and analysts anticipate Chapter 313 will almost certainly pass in some form and continue to play a key role in statewide economic development.

The Texas Legislature passed Chapter 313, known as the Texas Economic Development Act, in 2001. Lawmakers worried that Texas, with its high property taxes, wouldnt be able to attract companies to the state.

The Chapter 313 provision allows school districts where a company agrees to invest to lower the taxable value of properties for 10 years. School boards usually grant the tax breaks for manufacturing facilities and renewable energy projects, which are expensive to develop.

In urban areas, the value of a property granted Chapter 313 tax breaks is limited to between $80 million and $100 million, regardless of the size of the investment. In rural areas, property values are held to $10 million in Chapter 313 deals.

Think of a homeowner who pays taxes only on the first $10,000 of his or her homes value, even if the home is a mansion.

In exchange for the tax break, the firm promises to build the facility and create a set number of jobs that pay above-average wages, though companies can have their job-creation requirements waived.

Opponents of Chapter 313 say the program leaves major economic development decisions in the hands of school district administrators.

And when a company wants to invest in an area, the local school district has little reason to deny it the giveaway. Any money a school district would lose in tax revenue by offering a Chapter 313 is refunded from the states general fund.

Companies that receive tax breaks under Chapter 313 typically take the money they saved in taxes and pay the school district about 40 percent of that sum  so-called supplemental payments.

School districts face little risk by offering the tax break, thanks to the state refund. And the districts pocket the supplemental payments from applicant companies with few strings attached.

Its a program that costs schools millions of dollars per year. But the structure of the program is such that this cost is spread out across the whole state, said Nathan Jensen, a government professor at the University of Texas at Austin and one of the most prominent critics of Chapter 313.

There are 509 active Chapter 313 agreements, and the number of applications for the tax break have grown in recent years, according to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. In 2019, Hegars office received 133 new Chapter 313 applications, up from 68 applications two years earlier.

Hegars office is responsible for approving 313 deals. To win approval, the comptroller must determine that the project seeking incentives will generate, within 25 years, enough tax revenue to offset the tax break. The comptroller also must find the tax abatement is the determining factor in a companys decision to invest in Texas.

The Comptrollers office is charged with approving Chapter 313 agreements, but in practice the requirements are hard to judge, comptroller officials wrote in a November analysis of Chapter 313.

Determining how a project will perform over 25 years is a job better suited for a fortune teller, they wrote.

Its also difficult to tell whether the tax break really is the deal-maker. Its generally impossible to determine the factors that ultimately cause a company to make a final decision, they said.

In the fall, the Del Valle Independent School District granted electric vehicle maker Tesla a tax break worth $46 million for its planned truck factory in Austin. Tesla said it will create 5,000 new jobs at the plant and invest more than $1 billion.

Toyota received a Chapter 313 tax break from Southwest ISD in 2004 for its South Side factory, which created roughly 3,000 jobs in San Antonio.

Supporters of Chapter 313 point to deals with companies such as Tesla or Toyota as evidence of the programs success.

The property taxes in Texas are about 60 percent higher than what they are in other states. And when youre talking about a huge, capital-intensive facility, property taxes are going to be the single biggest tax they pay, said Dale Craymer, president of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, which supports renewing Chapter 313.

In Texas, the location, the regulatory environment  its a right-to-work state  those are all factors viewed as positives, he said. But companies easily get scared away if their tax bill is too high.

On ExpressNews.com: How a big Texas tax break created not-so-affordable housing

In an era of polarized politics, Chapter 313 is unusual: Its garnered fervent bipartisan support among lawmakers and industry groups. The Texas Oil and Gas Association recently called for the program to be renewed, and renewable energy groups also support its extension.

Oil- and gas-related facilities in the Permian Basin and along the Gulf Coast commonly receive the tax abatement, as do wind and solar farms throughout the state.

The conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation and the liberal think tank Every Texan both oppose Chapter 313s renewal.

Both organizations point to research suggesting the tax breaks dont make much difference. A study by Jensen, the UT professor, found that about 85 percent of companies still would have moved to Texas if they had been denied the 313 tax break.

Companies are frequently granted incentives for petrochemical manufacturing facilities in Southeast Texas. Yet they are unlikely to build a petrochemical plant elsewhere if denied the tax break, given the industry cluster and access to global shipping routes along the Gulf Coast, Jensen found.

And Texas has another advantage over other states for renewable energy projects: its many transmission lines that can ferry renewable electricity across the state.

Many states lack the infrastructure to distribute electricity produced by growing numbers of (renewable energy) projects, according to the comptrollers report.

Letting the program expire would free revenue and ease the burden on the statewide school finance system, said Dick Lavine, a fiscal analyst at Every Texan.

Craymer of TTARA said despite its flaws, the program is a positive because even if the state subsidizes a companys tax bill, the school district offering the tax break will still gain more revenue over time than if the project had never been developed.

And he said the 9,100 jobs the comptroller estimates that active Chapter 313 agreements have created is a lowball estimate that discounts other workers, such as contractors or employees at businesses that sprout up around new projects.

Still, Craymer said, his organization would like to see reforms before the program is extended.

Currently, a handful of districts across the state grant the majority of Chapter 313 tax breaks  and take home most of the supplemental payments from companies. Two Houston-area school districts, Barbers Hill and Brazosport, have approved about 10 percent of all active Chapter 313 agreements.

A model under which districts with the most Chapter 313 agreements share revenue with the rest of the states school districts would not be inappropriate, Craymer said.

Others have called for the program to strengthen job-creation and wage requirements for companies receiving the tax breaks.

Democratic Rep. Diego Bernal, whose district encompasses much of center-city San Antonio, is lukewarm on Chapter 313. Despite its flaws, he said, he understands how the program could look different to rural school districts that struggle to attract jobs and investment.

My initial knee-jerk reaction is that I always want everyone to pay their fair share when it comes to funding education, Bernal said. But at the same time, a lot of districts like (Chapter 313 agreements). They like creating proximity, creating relationships, creating opportunities for internships, philanthropy. Im not in a position to decide for them whether its a good idea or not.

Bernal said he expects Chapter 313 to pass in its current form unless someone has an idea that I havent heard.

Its not clear how much attention lawmakers will pay to Chapter 313 during this legislative session as they look to plug the budget shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn.

On ExpressNews.com: Analysis: The odds for legal pot and casinos in Texas just got worse

But if lawmakers do seek to reform the tax break program, Bernal said he hopes its because of a shift in thinking on tax policy and education.

In the end, Im probably OK with (Chapter 313), Bernal said. But that doesnt mean I still dont have long-standing concerns about business tax policy and public education.

If this gets revisited, he said, its hopefully because were having a larger conversation about public schools and taxation, generally.

diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday expressed grief at the loss of lives in a fire at the Serum Institute of India building. Five people died and nine were evacuated from the building in the institute's of Manjari premises in Maharashtra after the fire broke out at the facility, police said.

"Anguished by the loss of lives due to an unfortunate fire at the @SerumInstIndia. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest," Modi tweeted. Modi was briefly in the first floor of the building during his visit to the Serum Institute of India (SII) in November last year to review the status of the vaccine candidate, SII sources said.

Anguished by the loss of lives due to an unfortunate fire at the @SerumInstIndia. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021

Covishield vaccine production won't be hit due to the fire, Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla said. Cyrus S Poonawalla, chairman and MD of SII said the vaccine major will offer a compensation of Rs 25 lakh in addition to the mandated amount to families of persons who died in a fire at the company's premises.

"Today is an extremely sorrowful day for all of us at Serum Institute of India. Regrettably, there were losses of lives in the fire that broke out in our under installation facility situated at the Special Economic Zone at Manjri. We are deeply saddened and offer our condolences to the families of the departed. In this regard, we will be offering a compensation of INR 25 lakhs to each of the families, in addition to the mandated amount as per the norms. We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone for their concerns and prayers in these distressing times" Poonawalla said in a social media post.

Mayor Murlidhar Mohol said fire officials recovered the five bodies during the cooling operation. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the state government has ordered a probe into the fire.

The fire, which broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floors of the building, was brought under control in two hours, police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police Namrata Patil told PTI that nine people were evacuated from the building.

Viral visuals from the site showed smoke billowing out from the Serum Institute facility. Chief Fire Officer Prashant Ranpise said 15 water tankers were pressed into action and the fire was brought under control around 4.30 pm.

"The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Furniture, wiring, cabins were gutted. No major machinery or instruments were stored on the floors where the fire broke out," he said.

Ajit Pawar said, "I have taken information from the Pune Municipal Corporation about the incident and instructed locals officials to carry out a detailed probe into the fire."

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told reporters that as per initial information, an electrical fault caused the fire. "As per initial information, the fire did not erupt at the unit where the COVID-19 vaccine is being produced, but in the unit where the BCG vaccine is produced," Thackeray said.

Asked about claims that the fire was due to sabotage, Thackeray quipped, They (those making the claim) need to be administered the vaccine of patience." Thackeray spoke to Poonawalla about the fire and will be visiting the building on Friday, a CMO official said. Ajit Pawar visited the building on Thursday evening, another official said.

President Ram Nath Kovind in a Twitter post said, "The loss of lives in a fire accident at the Serum Institute of India in Pune is distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured."

The loss of lives in a fire accident at the Serum Institute of India in Pune is distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured. President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 21, 2021

Fire broke out again at the facility later in the day in the same building in Pune. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "While its distressing to learn of the tragic loss of lives in the fire incident at Serum Institute, the news of another fire is extremely worrying."

While its distressing to learn of the tragic loss of lives in the fire incident at Serum Institute, the news of another fire is extremely worrying.My condolences to the family of the deceased. I request the state govt to provide necessary help to the victims & their families. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 21, 2021

Nationalist Congress Party (INC) supremo Sharad Pawar said, "The news of the fire at the Serum Institute in Pune is very tragic and unfortunate."

The news of the fire at the Serum Institute in Pune is very tragic and unfortunate. My condolences to families of those who lost their loved ones. I wish speedy recovery to the injured. Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) January 21, 2021

Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally (more than 1.5 billion doses) which includes Polio vaccine as well as Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccines, as per the company's website.
Kamala Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff has been branded a 'new style star' after turning heads in three very quirky outfits during the inauguration.

The 21-year-old textile student  who is the daughter of Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and his ex-wife, Emmy award-winning film producer Kerstin Emhoff  attended the inauguration in a bedazzled brown coat from Italian designer Miu Miu, before taking it off to reveal a burgundy tea dress from independent New York designer Batsheva Hay.

Her unique personal style certainly made her stand out from the crowd when she arrived at Capitol Hill with her brother Cole, 26, and Twitter users were quick to call attention to her funky fashions.

Social media users are calling Kamala Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff a new style icon since her inauguration appearance

Ella, 21, seen posing with her father, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, wore an embellished Miu Miu coat for the ceremony

Head-turning moment! The 21-year-old walked out with her brother Cole, 26, and quickly drew attention with her quirky sense of style

Ella walks alongside her dad, her stepmother Kamala, Kamala's niece Meena, and one of Meena's daughters

Hours before the inauguration, Ella posed for pictures at the Lincoln Memorial with her mom and brother, and was already dressed to impress.

She went for a preppy, polished vibe, teaming a collared button-down-shirt with a patriotic red, white, and blue pleated skirt from Thom Browne's Fall 2020 collection. She topped it all off with a chic long coat, a necktie, and a small hand-held bag.

But it was at the inauguration ceremony itself that Ella caught international attention, walking out with her brother Cole.

There, she turned heads in a mid-length wool Miu Miu coat, with a plaid pattern, a cinched waist, and pockets at the hips. At the top was a contrasting white collar and orange-gold crystal embellishments.

A similar coat in black costs $4,950.

Underneath, she later revealed she was wearing a burgundy tea dress from independent New York designer Batsheva Hay.

Her looks have already caused a stir in the fashion world, with Teen Vogue calling her the 'cool girl' of the Biden-Harris administration, Vice branding her a 'slow fashion king,' and British Vogue saying the coat was the 'first viral moment' of the new Presidency.

Hours before, Ella wowed in a preppy white shirt and tie tucked into a striped Thome Browne pleated skirt in the colors of the US flag as she posed with her mother and brother at the Lincoln Memorial on Instagram

Under her statement-making coat was a burgundy dress by designer Batsheva Hay

Her dress seemed somewhat coordinated with a turquoise Ulla Johnson number that Kamala's niece Meena wore

Ella is pictured with her mother, Emmy award-winning film producer Kerstin Emhoff

Twitter users flooded the social media platform with praise as well.

'I have to stan ella emhoff, style icon,' wrote one.

'Im very excited for four years of Ella Emhoff,' wrote another.

'OBSESSED with Ella Emhoffs coat,' wrote a third, while a fourth tweeted: 'Excited for Ella Emhoff to become a style icon over the next four years.'

Ella and her brother Cole call Vice President Harris 'Momala'

'Ella Emhoff did with one coat what Ivanka couldn't get done in four years. Instant style icon,' wrote Tom and Lorenzo.

'Lots of great outfits but gotta go Ella Emhoff for the win,' journalist Ashley Parker tweeted.

Writer Evan Ross Katz added: 'The shoulder embellishments on Ella Emhoff's coat? I smell a style icon in the making.'

Celebrity stylist Tracy Taylor took to Instagram to write: 'A new style star is born!'

Ashlie Johnson, another celebrity stylist added: 'That coat was everything.'

'Ella Emhoff, the second daughter and Parsons design student, is bringing *serious* fashion to DC, like fashion industry people fashion (Batsheva! Thom Browne! Miu Miu!), which is very exciting for those extremely bored by DC's unwavering loyalty to nude heels, navy suits, etc.,' opined reporter Shira Tarlo.

Her brother even commented on the look, taking to Instagram to say he was behind the scenes with Ella 'The Coat' Emhoff.

Twitter users flooded the social media platform with praise for Ella's style, and her Miu Miu coat in particular

Speaking to Vogue, Ella, who is in her final year at the Parsons School of Design in New York, explained how she had the bespoke look made.

'My mood board was very little girl, in a sense, a lot of scalloped collars and big silhouette shoulders and small buttons.

'I was going for something girlier, to embrace my feminine side  especially after that suit that I felt so great in  because, like, how many times do you prepare yourself to attend an inauguration? This momentous of an event deserves a momentous outfit,' she said.

As for the burgundy dress by Batsheva Hay she wore underneath her coat, she added: 'Something thats really important for me, especially with people I wear, is: I want to be able to see them as an artist and as a designer, and work with people who I really respect.

'I love New York for its fashion community, especially the parts that are created through Instagram, so working with a designer from that scene who was able to create something formal was perfect.'

Ella and Cole are pictured at the inauguration after she was praised for the Miu Miu coat

Fans who have followed Ella on Instagram are familiar with her sense of style. She is currently studying textiles at Parsons in New York, and specialized in knitwear

'I think the goal is definitely to have my own knitwear brand, label, whatever you call it,' she told Garage

Fans who have followed Ella on Instagram are familiar with her sense of style. She is currently studying textiles at Parsons in New York, and specialized in knitwear.

'I think the goal is definitely to have my own knitwear brand, label, whatever you call it,' she told Garage. 'Setting up a shop, most likely online of where I can just have a bunch of different pieces that I'm constantly creating and doing my commission-based work and having that all be in a shop.

'Id like to try and stay a one-woman show, but I think as stuff has started ramping up with my knitwear, it's been harder. I'm only one woman, I can only make so many commissions while I'm also trying to just enjoy life.'

This week, she also spoke to the New York Times about what it's like for her stepmother to be the Vice President.

'When we went to see them for Election Day, it really hit me, like, Whoa. Seeing them is a lot different now,' she said. 'Theres a lot more people. I think the idea of sharing our parents with the world is kind of insane. Like, its a really cool thing to wrap your head around  because you get to share all the great things  but its also like, Huh?!'

AParsons School of Design art student, Ella lives in Brooklyn, New York

'I think the idea of sharing our parents with the world is kind of insane,' she admitted

She and her brother Cole also dished on Doug and Kamala's relationship, with Ella saying: 'Its so insane. Its like the honeymoon phase forever. Like, the rest of the world gets to see it on social media, but we live that.'

As for her budding style icon status, stylist and fashion blogger Simon Glazin told FEMAIL that Ella has emerged as a 'sartorial dark horse.'

'We have a new style star connected to the new administration. All eyes on Ella,' he said

'Looking statuesque, cool and chic all at once is hard to pull off, but she managed to do it! This Miu Miu coat, with it's gorgeous embellishment and oversized collar is a statement. And really establishes herself as a sartorial dark horse.

'Ella definitely has her own unique style  quirky, eccentric and street  you only have to look at her Instagram for that. But this Miu Miu moment took us all by surprise!'

Meanwhile, stylist to the stars Karen Williams, who has worked with the likes of Beyonce and David Beckham, told FEMAIL: 'With everything thats going on in American politics at the moment, it was not only a joy to watch, but a breath of fresh air to be treated to a fashion show on inauguration day - who knew?

'At one point I felt like I was watching the cast of my favourite Broadway musical at Fashion Week. My eyes were literally on stalks every time Ella Emhoff was on screen,

'I thought to myself she knows what shes doing. There was no surprise when I looked her up on Instagram to find shes a knitwear artist/designer. Shes going to be a fun one to watch.
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Weston High alumni working with new local arts nonprofit

Emily Clark and Clare Murray, who graduated from Weston High School in 2015 and 2014 respectively,are working to help bridge inequities in education and arts access across Connecticut with cARTie CT, a new local nonprofit.

Members of the organization travel between school districts with with its contemporary art gallery on wheels, featuring art by self-motivated high school students.

The nonprofit organization will provide arts learning opportunities for students in kindergarten through second grade with limited access to the arts. Lessons meet the states Common Core and enrich curriculum.

Hindsight is 2020 art exhibition opening

MoCA Westports high school student art exhibition, titled Hindsight is 2020, features nearly 200 entries from Connecticut and New York.

It will be displayed in the art museums physical gallery, at 19 Newtown Turnpike, and also in a digital gallery on the museums website, mocawestport.org, Jan. 23 to March 13.

Submissions include painting, photography, digital art, drawing, sculpture and ceramics. They were created in 2020 and illustrate a diverse portrait of what young people have been experiencing during the coronavirus pandemic. All high school students were eligible to submit a single piece of artwork. All artwork was accepted.

The art exhibition also includes cash prizes for first, second and third place winning works of art.

Visit mocawestport.org to make reservations to view the exhibition, or come to the museum to view it on Free Fridays when no reservation is required. Complimentary admission to the exhibition is also included as part of the museums Winter Light Festival on Feb. 27.

Contact the museums Director of Exhibitions, Liz Leggett, at liz@mocawestport.org.

Weston Historical Society hosting virtual lecture

The Weston Historical Society is hosting a virtual lecture by the Connecticut State Librarys recent project director for its World War I programs, Christine Pittsley, at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 via Zoom. The event is free, but registration is required.

Visit www.westonhistoricalsociety.org to register, donate and for more information or call 203-226-1804.The Zoom link for the event will be emailed 24 hours before the event starts. A $5 donation is suggested.

Westports State of the Town set for next weekend

First Selectman Jim Marpe and Board of Education Chair Candice Savin will present the State of the Town at 2 p.m. on Jan. 31. It will be livestreamed on the towns website, westportct.gov, and on the Westport Librarys website, westportlibrary.org.

There will be no in-person public attendance this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marpe, and Savin will review town and school accomplishments for the past year and preview some initiatives. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer session moderated by Jeffrey Wieser, the Representative Town Meeting deputy moderator and past president of the Rotary Club of Westport.

Questions for Marpe and Savin can be emailed to RotaryQuestions@gmail.com before and during the event.

The State of the Town is sponsored as a joint initiative of the Westport Sunrise Rotary and the Westport Rotary Club. Contact the clubs through their websites for membership information.
Land reform that wrapped up in 1957 returns the land to peasants and frees the workforce from the landlords' chains and shackles. The victory of land reform is a face changer for the rural area in the North, exciting farmers and bolstering their production, which greatly contributes to the countrys post-war economic recovery. (Photo: Archived by VNA)
Scooters Coffee Marks Opening Of Second Location In Minnesota

Worthington Store to Celebrate with Grand Opening Event on February 5

January 21, 2021 // Franchising.com // Worthington, MN - Scooters Coffee, best known for its convenient drive-thru specialty coffee and baked-from-scratch pastries, added a new location at 1107 Oxford Street in Worthington, Minnesota. To celebrate, the drive-thru coffee location will be hosting a Grand Opening on Friday, February 5, where customers can earn 50 bonus Smiles when they pay the Scooters mobile app. In addition, customers can will receive a free $5 gift with a purchase of $5 or more!

With the app, customers earn 3 Smiles for every dollar spent, and once they reach 180 Smiles, they earn a free drink. All customers start in the Scooter Doodle status level, with perks that include a free drink on their birthday and surprise rewards, exclusive to the mobile app only. After earning 500 Smiles, customers move into the Caramelicious status level with additional perks.

The drive-thru location is owned and operated by Robb Steffes and Josh Morris. The duo also recently opened a nearby location in Fairmont, Minnesota. We are extremely pleased to be a part of the Worthington community, said Morris. The reception has been overwhelming, and we look forward to serving Minnesotas second Scooters market for many years.

To pay with the app, customers simply need to link a credit card and tap Pay in Stores from the home screen. Then, if they choose to tip, they can select a custom amount or percentage prior to scanning their app. Customers also have the option to pay with cash or a gift card and still earn loyalty through the app by using the Scan to Earn Loyalty Only QR code.

Scooters Coffee is a drive-thru franchise that has been serving world-class coffee for more than 20 years and has over 300 locations in 19 states across the nation. With commitments to build new stores in 24 states, the company plans to open many additional locations in 2020. Its signature drink is the Caramelicious, and the menu features an array of specialty espresso beverages, single-origin coffee, fruit smoothies, Red Bull Infusions, Cold Brew, baked-from-scratch pastries, and savory breakfast options. Scooters also recently released its first-ever ready-to-drink canned flavored lattes!

Connect with Scooters Coffee via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and share your favorite moments by tagging @scooterscoffee using the hashtag #BeAmazing.

About Scooters Coffee

Founded in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska, Scooters Coffee roasts only the finest coffee beans in the world at its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. In more than two decades of business, Scooters Coffees success is simple: stay committed to the original business principles and companys four core values, which are Integrity, Love, Humility and Courage. The Scooters Coffee Brand Promise, often recited to franchisees, customers and employees is: Amazing People, Amazing Drinks Amazingly Fast! It represents the companys business origins from 1998 and reflects a steady commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal and new customers.

Scooters Coffee is at the dawn of a strategic growth phase in the Midwest and nationwide. The U.S. coffee market is an estimated $48 billion a year recession-resistant industry, and Scooters Coffee is striving to become the #1 drive-thru coffee franchise in the nation. Visit ownascooters.com to learn more about the benefits of owning a franchise of a well-established company.

For more information, visit scooterscoffee.com, facebook.com/scooterscoffee, ownascooters.com or call 877-494-7004.

SOURCE Scooters Coffee

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As digital media becomes more ubiquitous in the marketing strategies of brands, platforms must address consumers concerns of data privacy, security and client concerns such as brand safety and privacy compliant tracking of the consumer footprint. Platforms also need to address the question of content moderation and ask themselves whether they are publishers or aggregators.

Adgully caught up with Vasuta Agarwal, Managing Director - APAC, InMobi, on the sidelines of the 15th India Digital Summit 2021, conducted by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), which concluded on January 20, 2021, to understand what is the ask of marketers from a digitally mature marketing environment.

While brands are optimising spends across multiple digital channels, is it always an integrated approach?

Any brand, at the end of the day, wants to engage their consumers with the right message at the right place and the right time. This means that brands need to be consumer-first and effectively leverage the channels where their customers are. In the era of the connected consumer, the mobile is the primary, native and most crucial device amongst all. Consumers spent close to 4.8 hours per day on their smartphones, with drastic change in media and shopping consumption habits in 2020. Gaming, Short-form Video and OTT emerged as the most dominant content consumption havens. And according to an InMobi survey, 2 out of 3 respondents discover (learn), research (explore) and purchase (buy) using their smartphones. Brands need to invest in channels that capture the mindshare of the consumer, are transparent and measurable and deliver the impact and ROI that the brands aim for.

Will brands have to allay concerns around data privacy on their own platforms to be perceived as trustworthy?

In todays world, the consumer is more than willing to share their data if they see that brands are engaging in a relevant or personalised manner. According to an Accenture survey on data privacy, 87% of the respondents said that theyd want brands to drive more a personalised engagement and 73% consumers are ready to share data if brands are transparent about how they handle it and the subsequent value that they provide to the consumer. Therefore, brands need to do 2 important things: 1. Establish a true data-value exchange with their customers, and 2. Build highly relevant and personalised experiences based on the data that has been captured through the data-value exchange process.
DENVER, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The RE/MAX Collection debuted The Luxury Launchpad, a dashboard of marketing tools and concierge services created in association with LUXVT. The online platform streamlines business for luxury agents around the world and empowers them to continue to deliver an elevated experience for clients.

From elegant brochures to eye-catching social media ads, The Luxury Launchpad gathers more than 45 marketing pieces  many customizable  all in one place to assist agents in showcasing their property portfolio. Through LUXVT, agents are also able to access a list of vetted companies in their market offering drone photography, virtual staging and other services luxury clients have come to expect and appreciate. Whether an agent is listing their first luxury home or their fiftieth, the platform will generate a custom marketing plan based on the answers to just a few questions. Once a plan is created, busy luxury professionals can choose to connect with the LUXVT concierge team to put the plan into action.

RE/MAX luxury agents can access the platform by visiting The RE/MAX Collection website and logging on using their RE/MAX credentials under "Agent Resources." They will be taken to the LUXVT portal where the platform is housed. Any RE/MAX agent in one of the 110 countries and territories where the brand is located can leverage this resource.

Creative pieces and resources agents will find in The Luxury Launchpad include:

A video editor tool offering 10, 15 and 30-second videos branded to The RE/MAX Collection

Customizable luxury images on Megaphone, the exclusive RE/MAX app for scheduling and purchasing social media ads

Virtual staging with BoxBrownie and 3D tours with Matterport, both industry-leading vendors

Seamless advertising placement in the Wall Street Journal, Unique Homes, and the duPont Registry

The RE/MAX Collection branding on signage, business cards, brochures and more, reserved for top tier properties

"The new Luxury Launchpad gathers the best of RE/MAX marketing all in one place, making it easy for agents to build a successful marketing plan," says Anne Miller, RE/MAX Vice President, Luxury. "It's a powerful, business-building resource that helps agents deliver outstanding results and individualized service to each client."

The Luxury Launchpad powered by LUXVT is offered exclusively by RE/MAX to agents working with The RE/MAX Collection, the luxury arm of the leading real estate brand.

About the RE/MAX Network

As one of the leading global real estate franchisors, RE/MAX, LLC is a subsidiary of RE/MAX Holdings (NYSE: RMAX) with over 135,000 agents in more than 110 countries and territories. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, as measured by residential transaction sides. RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by David and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. RE/MAX agents have lived, worked and served in their local communities for decades, raising millions of dollars every year for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and other charities. To learn more about RE/MAX, to search home listings or find an agent in your community, please visit www.remax.com. For the latest news about RE/MAX, please visit news.remax.com.

SOURCE RE/MAX, LLC

Related Links

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Sudan's Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdul Fattah Burhan said at a Jan. 16 press conference that deployment of Sudanese troops on the border with Ethiopia and the armys control of the border areas were driven by domestic willingness, rather than foreign incitement. He denied the presence of any party pitting Sudan against Ethiopia.

Burhans comments came in response to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmeds statement on Dec. 24 claiming that several parties, which he did not name, seek to undermine the relations between Ethiopia and Sudan and that these parties  in reference to Egypt  plotted, funded and executed the recent border confrontations between the two countries.

The Sudanese-Ethiopian border has been witnessing in the past weeks unprecedented escalation between the Sudanese army and its Ethiopian counterpart over the disputed al-Faqsha border region.

On Jan. 13, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that a military Ethiopian aircraft entered Sudanese airspace, warning that such a move could have serious repercussions.

On Jan. 12, Sudan announced that al-Liya and Koli areas in al-Fashqa locality in western Sudan suffered an armed aggression from Ethiopian militias, killing five women and a child.

On Jan. 11, the Ethiopian military aircraft executed its first air sorties on the border areas in the Amhara region near eastern Sundus in the eastern Sudanese Qallabat locality.

The latest Ethiopian escalation comes after Sudanese troops launched a military attack on the border area and took control of al-Faqsha region on Dec. 31. In a Jan. 12 statement, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Dina Mufti, accused Sudan of infiltrating into Ethiopian territories.

In light of the escalating conflict between the two countries, a high-ranking Sudanese convoy headed to Egypt Jan. 14 in an urgent visit and met with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. They discussed the border developments between Sudan and Ethiopia.

Directly after the meeting, Sudan announced Jan. 14 a ban on civil aviation and overflights in the airspace of the Gedaref state on the border with Ethiopia, thus prompting questions about the implication of Cairo in the crisis and whether it is using Sudan to pressure Ethiopia in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) crisis.

Ethiopian writer specializing in Ethiopian affairs Noureddin Abda told Al-Monitor that Sudan has been leaning toward escalation as of late. Its intervention to control the border area, its strict stances and withdrawal from the latest negotiations on the GERD, and its accusation of Ethiopia of being stubborn all prove this. He said that Sudan has adopted a completely different strategy in its relations with Ethiopia lately.

On Nov. 18, Sudan announced its withdrawal from the GERD negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan.

On Jan. 11, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that it would resort to other options if the African Union (AU) does not play a greater role in the GERD talks.

Abda noted, The Egyptian role has been clear since the onset of the [border] crisis, when Egypt announced its full support for Sudan, which was followed by unprecedented Sudanese escalation on the borders through military mobilization and Burhans repeated visits to the borderline and his refusal of a truce.

On Jan. 2, Sisi expressed in a phone call with Burhan his countrys complete support for Sudan in various fields, in light of the tight relations between the national security of both Egypt and Sudan.

On Jan. 13, Burhan and senior army commanders headed to the border area with Ethiopia where they stressed the ability of the armed forces to protect the land and maintain the countrys security.

Shifaa Afari, a writer and analyst specialized in African affairs, told Al-Monitor that Ethiopia is in a critical state and is avoiding escalation. For that reason, it is seeking a truce as it would be the biggest loser in the war. He said, Ethiopia is a disintegrated state, especially following the Tigray war, and any escalation would negatively impact its situation.

On Nov. 5, Ethiopia waged a military operation on the Tigray region in the north of the country to regain control of it.

On Dec. 24, Ahmed said that his government was intent on halting disputes and stopping clashes between the Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front for good on the borders.

Afari believes that Egypt will directly intervene if an all-out military confrontation breaks out between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Samir Ghattas, head of the Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies, argued that Egypt does not want to show its support for Sudan publicly. He noted that Egypt will back Sudan militarily, economically and politically, but without being in the spotlight, in an attempt to garner Sudanese support to pressure Ethiopia in the GERD issue.

Egypt is well aware that Sudan is key for the course of negotiations, given the Ethiopian obstinacy. Therefore it has sought to tighten its military and political ties with Sudan and succeeded, he said.

On Nov. 1, official spokesperson for the Egyptian army Tamer al-Rifai said that the commanders of the Egyptian and Sudanese armies who met in Khartoum agreed to boost cooperation in the fields of training, exchange of expertise and border security.

On Nov. 14, the Egyptian army launched joint military exercises between Egypt and Sudan, the first such drills between Egyptian and Sudanese special air forces.

On Nov. 20, Egypt's National Organization for Military Production signed a memorandum of understanding with Sudan's Military Industry Corporation to boost cooperation across all fields of military production.

Ghattas concluded, It is true that Egypt played a role in the recent Sudanese escalation, but it does not want to stir a complete military confrontation between them [Sudan and Ethiopia]. It only wants a military escalation to achieve a political solution, which is the delay of the second filling of the GERD until a final solution is reached, since filling the dam has negative repercussions on the flow of water to Egypt.

On Aug. 20, 2020, Ahmed said that the second phase of filling the GERDs reservoir would start in August and that Ethiopia will not wait until the negotiations conclude to begin the filling operation. Around 18.4 billion cubic meters are expected to be filled, he added

Ghattas expects Ethiopia to cave in to Egyptian and Sudanese pressure and to delay filling the dam until the negotiations are concluded, especially since Ahmed does not want to open new fronts with the internal elections just around the corner.

On Dec. 25, the Electoral Council in Ethiopia announced its plan to organize parliamentary elections June 5.

Two furious neighbours became embroiled in a public spat after one Covid-infected mother handled the other's Chinese takeaway when it was sent to her house by mistake.

Covid-positive Lauren Marshall was wrongly delivered a Chinese takeaway intended for her neighbour Kim Robson in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.

After Ms Robson, 36, questioned why Ms Marshall had accepted the delivery in the first place she was subjected to a tirade of menacing abuse.

Ms Marshall threatened Ms Robson by saying she would 'burst your lips' and break down her door.

Covid-positive Lauren Marshall (left) was wrongly delivered a Chinese takeaway intended for her neighbour Kim Robson (right) in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear

After Ms Marshall initially accepted the takeaway and kept a bottle of Fanta to 'mix with her vodka', the delivery driver returned to take back the wrongly-delivered food.

Ms Marshall then took to Facebook to rant that the restaurant had taken the 'contaminated' meal from her to pass on instead of cooking a new one.

Ms Robson, who had been waiting for her Chinese takeaway to arrive when she saw the post, questioned why Ms Marshall had accepted the delivery in the first place.

After Ms Marshall (pictured) initially accepted the takeaway, the delivery driver returned to take back the wrongly-delivered food

Ms Marshall threatened Ms Robson by saying she would 'burst your lips' and break down her door

Furious Ms Marshall tried to defend herself by telling Ms Robson she'd done her 'a favour' before telling her not to 'start with her s***' as it was the second time her takeaways had come to the wrong house.

THE FULL EXCHANGE Lauren Louise Marshall's Facebook post said: 'Whoever lives in [address redacted] who's ordered a meal for one plus bottle of Fanta please beware* They accidentally delivered to mine. 'It's been handled by myself who has recently tested positive for Covid. The delivery driver has come back to collect it and said the shop owner said to redeliver to the proper address. After telling him I have corona as well. 'Shocking, that. The customer should get a fresh order. Update: It's [name of restaurant]. Dirty b******s what you are.' Kim replied: 'So thanks for this. It was my takeaway. Why you took it in or answered the door when you have covid is one question. 'Luckily I sent it away for a fresh one but still the driver has handled it after you and then is delivering food to others. How many people could have spread to. I'm not happy about this at all.' Lauren said: 'I took it in Kim because they dumped it on my f****** doorstep that's why Kim. [It's the] second time now your f****** takeaways have come to my address. Don't start with your s*** lass, I've done you a favour.' Kim disagreed, saying: 'You haven't done me a favour at all. What you've done is put me at risk of getting covid and loads of other people too. 'It isn't my fault the delivery came to you. But thanks for posting this. I've informed the takeaway place of this now so they'll have to close.' Lauren furiously responded, saying: 'U lucky you can't leave this house coz when I can I'm gonna burst your lips in ya f****** horrible little grass. 'I'm foaming. Kim Robson don't you f****** dare make me out to be a liar. 'I've got nothing to loose [sic]. I'll burst through your b****** door now.' 'I hope the stupid c***** ate the b****** and get rona, the little skip rat. And Kim, I'm gonna punch your f****** face in as well.' Advertisement

The mother-of-three then launched into a tirade of abuse telling Ms Robson she was 'lucky she had Covid' or she would 'burst through her door and burst her lips right now'.

Her post claims she told the delivery driver she'd tested positive for Covid when she passed the order back, but Ms Robson maintains the driver said he was not made aware.

Ms Marshall even boasted she kept a bottle of Fanta from the order to 'mix with her vodka' and also insisted she hopes the takeaway workers 'get covid'.

Ms Robson, from Washington, Sunderland, said: 'I thought she'd been silly giving the parcel back, knowing full well she'd tested positive with coronavirus.

'I've lost a close friend recently to coronavirus and it really scares me, so I just thought it was stupid when she's saying that she's done a good thing, but it didn't feel like it at the time.

'I said thank you for sharing the post and then I expressed my concern and she just went wild and I was quite nervous about what was going to happen next.

'We live quite close to each other so it was quite possible that she was going to knock on my door.

'The driver tried to bring the parcel to my house and you could tell it'd been opened.

'When I told the takeaway company about it they were quite upset and said she hadn't told them she had Covid, otherwise they wouldn't have tried to take it from her.

'The driver said he had to go and get another bottle of pop because [Ms Marshall] used it for her vodka.

'I don't think she intended to put me at risk and I do think she was genuinely worried about passing the virus on, but at the same time I think she should have thought about it more.

'Maybe I was in the wrong for saying what I said, but it was heat of the moment and really confusing about why she'd do that.

'So I do understand that the post was a warning, which is why I've messaged her since to say I'm sorry you mis-read my message. I didn't want to fall out over it.

'Maybe she shouldn't have touched it at all, and if she had taken it in don't give it back to the delivery driver knowing you've had coronavirus.'

Ms Robson says the restaurant delivered her another Chinese takeaway shortly after she'd told them about what happened - which she says she still enjoyed despite the row.

She later reported Ms Marshall's sinister Facebook comment to police, and they've since confirmed they're investigating the incident.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: 'We can confirm we have received a report of offensive messages posted on social media. Enquiries are ongoing to establish whether any criminal offences have been committed.'

Ms Marshall and the takeaway declined to comment.
Hours after President Joe Biden was sworn in as US President, protesters in Portland smashed windows and vandalised the local headquarters of the Democratic Party on Wednesday (local time) while raising slogans against the police and "fascist massacres."

Several arrests were also made in Seattle, where protests took a violent turn with protestors damaging many buildings. Meanwhile, Portland Police said eight people were arrested on charges that include criminal mischief, possession of a destructive device, rioting and reckless burning.

The Democratic Party of Oregon released a statement which said: "This is not the first time our building has been vandalized during the past year - none of the prior incidents have deterred us from our important work to elect Democrats up and down the ballot, and this one will be no different."

According to The New York Times, about 200 left-wing protesters clad in black took to the streets of Portland with anti-government slogans such as "We don't want Biden-We want Revenge" for killings committed by police officers and "fascist massacres."

Protesters smashed windows of the local headquarters of the Democratic Party.

Meanwhile, in Seattle, about 150 people marched with banners saying: "Abolish ICE, no cops, prisons, borders, presidents."

Some spray-painted buildings with an anarchist symbol and broke windows of buildings, including at a federal courthouse, The NYT reported.

While in Seattle the police began to surround the protesters as the night fell, in Portland the police officers had a scuffle with the protesters before the march begun.

On January 6, a group of then-President Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol to protest legislators confirming electoral slates from battleground US states they thought were invalid.

Trump had made a speech among thousands of supporters reiterating his claim a massive voter fraud had robbed his election victory and encouraged supporters to maintain support to "stop the steal."

Five people died in the riot, including one police officer as well as one Air Force veteran and Trump supporter who was shot dead by police.

(ANI)

Also Read: US Senate confirms Joe Biden's first Cabinet nominee Avril Haines as director national intelligence
CAIRO  The Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported Jan. 13 that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is seeking an initiative and mediation to converge the views of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia with the aim to break the deadlock in the negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

According to SUNA, an Emirati Foreign Ministry delegation visited Khartoum Jan. 12 where it met with officials from the Sudanese ministries of foreign affairs, and irrigation and water resources. The Sudanese officials briefed the Emirati delegation about Sudans position in the GERD dossier. A well-informed source cited by SUNA said the Emirati initiative did not come upon a Sudanese request.

The UAE has yet to officially comment on the report, while Emirati media have remained radio silent.

A few days earlier, on Jan. 10, Khartoum announced the failure to reach a binding and legal agreement on the filling and operation of the dam during the latest round of GERD negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, sponsored by the African Union (AU). We cannot continue this vicious cycle of circular talks indefinitely, Sudanese Irrigation Minister Yasir Abbas said in a statement, calling for a change in the negotiations mechanism.

In another statement released Jan. 11, Abbas said that his country requested that the AU experts play a greater role to facilitate negotiations and bridge the gap between the disputed parties. A day earlier, Egypt, along with Ethiopia, had expressed reservations on the Sudanese proposal to expand the role of AU experts.

Observers and experts on the Nile water file who spoke to Al-Monitor believe that the UAE move may lead to understandings between the three countries, as the UAE enjoys good relations with all three parties.

Tarek Fahmy, a professor of political sciences at the American University of Cairo, told Al-Monitor over the phone, The Emirati move comes at a critical time amid the failure of the three parties [Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan] to reach a binding agreement during the last meeting. This failure indicates that the negotiations are part of a vicious circle and that the negotiations management through the AU has failed.

According to Fahmy, the UAE initiative is also an attempt to end the current border dispute between Sudan and Ethiopia, which threatens to spill into a military conflict that will destabilize the Nile Basin countries, and eventually Egypt.

Sudan and Ethiopia are currently engaged in a border dispute in Al-Fashqa region. On Jan. 14, Khartoum banned flights over the disputed border area claiming an Ethiopian military aircraft entered its airspace in what it described as a dangerous escalation.

On Jan. 13, the UAE called on both Sudan and Ethiopia to avoid further escalation and stressed the importance of their key and active roles in the stability and prosperity of Africa and the region.

The Emirati Al-Watan newspaper wrote in its editorial piece Jan. 15, Any border disputes, particularly if tainted with violence, will consist of a stumbling block to any potential agreement [in the GERD issue].

Fahmy noted, It is the first time that the UAE has taken serious action in this dossier, which is a positive move since the Gulf country is well appreciated and well respected by the three sides. Also, the UAE has major investments in the Nile Basin and the Horn of Africa, which explains its keenness to maintain stability in the region.

He believes that the UAE may use its investments as a card to pressure Addis Ababa to yield to serious negotiations. Joining this dossier delivers a clear message that the UAE supports the Egyptian administrations position in the GERD dossier. That is another political dimension of the cooperation between the two countries.

Anadolu New Agency said in a Dec. 2 report that the UAE has invested in more than 90 projects in Ethiopia in the agriculture, industry, real estate, construction, drilling, mining, health and hospitality sectors.

Abbas Sharaki, head of the natural resources department at Cairo University's Institute of African Studies and Research, told Al-Monitor via phone, The UAEs role is of tantamount importance particularly since the AU-sponsored negotiations failed because of the lack of a serious political will to solve the crisis in Ethiopia and the latters increasing inflexibility due to its domestic problems. This is added to the fact that the AU has weak influence on the three countries, unlike the UAE.

He noted, The UAE meets all requirements to serve as a mediator given that it enjoys good relations with the three countries and has investments in all of them."

Sharaki added, The Ethiopian side has always rejected mediation and that applies to the US interference in the GERD file last year. Addis Ababa refused to sign the Washington declaration back then, claiming that the Trump administration is biased toward Egypt. Ethiopia should not in any case try to impose a fait accompli by continuing to fill the GERD reservoir.

He said in case the tripartite negotiations fail, The UN Security Council will be the last resort for all sides and the international will will be imposed on all of them.

Hani Raslan, head of the Sudan and Nile Basin Countries Unit at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor, The UAE supports and has good relations with the Ethiopian regime. Yet it has not made any efforts lately so as to make the Ethiopian position more flexible or try to contain the crisis.

He said, The success of the UAE initiative depends on the suggested content [of this initiative] as well as on the will and support to make such an initiative a success. The initiative will be welcomed in case it meets the legitimate Egyptian and Sudanese demands. Water is a question of life and death and a national security matter for Egypt, and there are redlines not to be crossed.

He explained that Egyptian Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Mohamed Abdel Atis visit to Khartoum Jan. 14 aimed to discuss and coordinate positions on the GERD negotiations, following the Egyptian reservations on the Sudanese proposal to expand the role of AU experts in the negotiations.

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted Jan. 14 a Sudanese military delegation, headed by Lt. Gen. Shams El Din Kabbashi, a member of the Sovereign Council of Sudan. Their discussion was centered on the latest developments in the Sudanese-Ethiopian border crisis and the GERD issue. Sisi said he is looking forward to the continuing cooperation and coordination on all matters of mutual interest with Sudan.

Fahmy concluded, Time does not serve Egypt or Sudan, which are pressured to continue to negotiate with Ethiopia. The closer we are to the second phase of filling the dam, the bigger the problem. The UAE steps are taken in this context.
Though reversing restrictions on abortion access was not among more than a dozen executive actions signed by President Joe Biden on his first day in office, its only a matter of time before the new administration follows through on its pro-choice platform.

While pro-life groups cheered efforts by the Trump administration to stand against abortion, the incoming president pledged to uphold abortion rights, and Biden is due to overturn the Mexico City policywhich bars the government from funding organizations outside the US that perform abortionsin the coming days and weeks, according to the White House press secretary.

What can Christians do to continue promoting the sanctity of the unborn while Biden is in office?

As groups opposed to abortion come together to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and National Sanctity of Human Life Day this weekend, under the new administration, the bottom line is everything is different, said Mallory Quigley, vice president of communications for Susan B. Anthony List.

While measures like the Mexico City policy get reversed and reinstated every time a different party assumes the White House, advocates like Quigley consider Trump the most pro-life president in history for his efforts to expand typical anti-abortion policies. His administration went beyond the Mexico City policy to offer an additional $8.8 million for international health programs that do not promote abortion. It further restricted Title X funding, barring it not just from covering abortion itself but from going to any clinic that makes abortion referrals.

Similarly, Biden represents a particularly ardent stance in favor of abortion access, going beyond what weve seen among previous Democratic presidents. During the campaign, Biden withdrew his support for the Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal funds for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or life-threatening circumstances. He also pledged to codifyRoe v. Wadeinto federal law and restore federal funding to Planned Parenthood.

As California attorney general, Vice President Kamala Harris further regulated pregnancy centers by mandating they provide clients with information on abortionsa law the US Supreme Court overturned in 2018. Harris also opened investigations into the Center for Medical Progress after staff members with the pro-life advocacy group secretly filmed Planned Parenthood executives discussing the sale of fetal body parts.

Her successor as attorney general, Xavier Becerra, continued Harriss legal investigations and pregnancy care center regulations. Christians opposed to abortion worry that if Becerra is confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, hell similarly push for restrictions on advocacy groups and pregnancy centers.

Even with abortion rights advocates securing the White House and majorities in the House and Senate, Christian groups against abortion still believe there are political, cultural, and spiritual resources at their disposal.

First of all, they dont plan to stay silent now that that pro-life lawmakers are in the minority on the federal level. Before laws and policies can change, the movement must change the narrative around abortion, said Denise Harle, senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom.

Christians should stand up and defend the ability of pro-life advocates to speak, Harle said. Women who are considering abortion often do so because they ve been told they dont have any real options. Pregnancy centers provide real hope and practical support to women who often feel they have neither, and Christians should come alongside them offering the same.

Without control of Congress and the executive branch, pro-life groups see state-level legislation as holding more promise for change.

In November, for example, Louisiana approved an amendment stating that no right to abortion is found in the state Constitution, with 62 percent support from voters. Iowa is currently considering a similar move.

Already this year, several states have introduced abortion restriction bills. Idaho has proposed denying state funding to abortion providers. Montana now has a Republican governor who is expected to back lawmakers efforts to prevent abortions after 20 weeks gestation and require each expectant mother to view an ultrasound of her fetus.

In South Dakota, the governor has backed banning abortions of babies with Down syndrome. (Some pro-life disabilities advocates, though, have suggested such selective abortion laws arent an effective strategy.) And, following earlier restrictions, Missouri reportedly became the first state in the country to no longer perform abortions.

State legislatures are a much more promising venue for pro-life initiatives than a Democratic Congress, said David Skeel, professor of corporate law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. And though the Supreme Court might not be sympathetic to overturning Roe v. Wade, Skeel believes its current composition will be sympathetic to abortion restrictions.

While public advocacy and legal strategies are critical to protecting the unborn, laws alone are not enough. Christians opposed to abortion continue to prioritize the power of the gospel witness as the greatest potential for change in their communities.

We often talk about defunding Planned Parenthood, but the easiest way to do this is by Christians not [having] abortions, said Roland Warren, president of Care Net, the evangelical pregnancy center network. Christians have the power to defund Planned Parenthood regardless of what the Biden-Harris administration does.

Warren cites that many who have had abortions2 in 5 according to Focus on the Familywere attending church at least monthly at the time of their abortions, emphasizing the need for greater support and discipleship.

During a time when the administrations policies may lead to promoting abortion and abortion clinics, pro-life pregnancy centers are implementing changes to try to become more accessible and open to women in need. Recently Focus on the Family expanded its My Choice Network, an online network that allows women in the top 10 abortion cities in the nation to find pregnancy resource centers.

The ministry has also offered grants to pregnancy resource centers to update and redesign their websites to allow for online appointment booking. Those of us who believe that every life should be protected under law should be utilizing and leveraging all available technology to meet and serve women where they are, said Jim Daly, CEO and president of Focus on the Family.

CT reported last year on how pregnancy centers are rethinking old models and improving community engagement, partnerships, and even their design in order to become more effective.

Above all, Christians opposed to abortion have emphasized the importance of their continued witness amid changes in politics and policies.

Christians should endeavor to be known as people who will stand in the gap for vulnerable people, loving them for the long term, and committing to the flourishing of the people in our local neighborhoods, according to Chelsea Patterson Sobolik, policy director at the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. When we humbly serve, in private and in the public square, our actions say something about who God is and what he cares about.
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Alembic Pharmaceuticals, which has been seeing broad-based growth across verticals in the last several quarters, will be able to sustain its growth momentum going forward, Managing Director Shaunak Amin said.

A complex generic pipeline in the US market, traction in the domestic formulation led by specialty brands, and higher offtake of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) would help the company achieve this goal, he told Moneycontrol in an interview.

The Vadodara-based drug maker, which has been around for over a century, saw revenues grow 21 percent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 4,113 crore in the nine months ended December 31 of FY21, while net profit in the same period rose 53 percent over the previous year to 927 crore. EBITDA margins have risen to 31 percent in the first nine months of FY21. The stock gave a 57 percent return in the last one year.

US growth momentum

A late entrant in the US market, Alembic is trying to play catch-up with the competition. The US now contributes over 40 percent of the companys revenues. Alembic is eyeing sales of $400 million-$500 million by FY24, which will be more than double the current figure.

The US business, which was primarily driven by Sartans, a class of drugs used in the treatment of blood pressure and heart failure, is seeing more competition, Amin said.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals took full benefit of supply shortages of Sartans in the US market, as most other competitors had to recall products due to impurity and compliance issues. But with competitors such as Torrent Pharma, Jubilant Life Sciences among others addressing the impurity issue and re-entering the market, Alembic is seeing competition and price erosion.

Amin says he nevertheless believes that the US growth story will continue on the back of new launches and better traction from existing products.

Focus on R&D

Amin said the company invests 10-12 percent of revenues on R&D, which is higher than industry, to develop a pipeline of complex products related to dermatology, ophthalmology, injectables, oncology injectables and oncology oral solids. While investing in R&D, the company simultaneously built factories to make those products, he added.

"We have done an extensive capex in the last 3 years, and almost Rs 1,800 crore has been spent on new facilities. We have four new facilities. At this point in time, we are at the end of the capex cycle for these products, we expect plant approvals and audits to happen in the next few quarters," Amin said.

Alembic Pharmaceuticals has filed 199 abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA) filings, of which 137 were approved.

Amin said the company has over the years built up a strong track record in terms of USFDA regulatory compliance and an efficient supply chain to become a reliable supplier to US distributors.

India formulations business

A decade ago Alembic decided to realign its focus from cough and cold, antibiotics, pain to specialties like cardio-diabetology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, and couple of smaller segments like neurology, nephrology, dermatology and ophthalmology, Amin said.

"India business, which is a second focus area for us, we have spent a lot of time in the last few years in reorganising our business, we have taken a call to operate without trade discounts. Last two quarters India business has picked up, led by specialty (non-acute) brands."

"Legacy wise we have a large cough and cold, antibiotic and pain business. Since the start of 2007, we have diversified into non-acute segments. Now the non-acute contributes 55-60 percent of sales," he added.

Despite competition, Amin sees huge scope to build up the speciality business and outperform market growth.

Growth in the API business, he said, was not dependent on any single product. This would call for multiple products, especially for new age drugs.

Analysts tracking the company say Alembics growth in the US will depend on new product launches and commercialisation of its injectable portfolio.

"Sartans contribution saw first significant erosion after multiple quarters, though US sales still hovered around $70 million in Q3. We reckon focus would be on the ex-sartans portfolio which should pick up on back of incremental approvals," Yes Securities said in its latest report.

"Expect US sales to consolidate over the next 12-18 months till new facilities see ANDA approvals post-inspection," the report added.

"We lowered our EPS estimate by 3 percent/4 percent for FY22/FY23, factoring in price erosion in Sartans on account of peers re-entry and the delayed commercialization at the injectables facility," a report by Motilal Oswal said.

The son of a terminally-ill mother given just days to live has been denied the chance to leave hotel quarantine even 'for a few hours' to say his final goodbyes.

Mark Mattila, 48, finally flew in to Brisbane from the United States on January 15 after months of failed attempts to enter the country.

But Queensland Health authorities refused to grant him an exemption to let him self-isolate at his mother Anneli's home.

Mr Mattila was instead forced to travel straight to a Gold Coast hotel for 14-day quarantine, and is now anxiously waiting for a dreaded phone call from family.

Family fears that sick mother will never be reunited with youngest son, as she battles terminal bowel cancer (Anneli Marttila pictured right, Marko's older brother Seppo pictured left)

Mr Marttila had filed two exemption requests since arriving in Brisbane on January 16 to self-isolate at his mother's Redcliffe home in Brisbane's north-east.

A spokesperson from the Queensland Health Authorities said they sympathised for the Marttila family during a difficult time to navigate, but the state's quarantine policy has helped keep Covid-19 out of the community.

Ms Marttila's health has suffered a significant decline in the past two weeks, and family members fear her days are numbered.

Mr Marttila (pictured, above) has filed two exemption requests to quarantine at his dying mother's home, but Queensland Health say risk Queensland community is 'too high'

Queensland's Health Minister Yvette D'Ath revealed the exemption would not be granted in a press conference on January 16.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said she hoped Mr Marttila's mother would survive the 14-day quarantine, calling the situation awful and tragic.

When asked if Mr Marttila could visit his sick mum in a protective PPE suit, Dr Young said there were 'a lot of hypotheticals', but ultimately the risk to the Queensland community is too high.

Heartbroken family fear that sick mother's dying wish to see her youngest son won't be granted, Anneli's sister Auli (pictured above) pleads for help to reunite her family

'We've seen this very, very rapidly transfer within 24-48 hours, he could transfer it to her and she could transfer it to someone else'.

'The risk is too high - we have kept this virus to the greatest extent possible out of our community, every time we have one case we can see what enormous impact it has'.

The Queensland Government have said they will continue to grant only a very small amount of exemptions for people to quarantine at home after returning overseas.

A spokesperson from Queensland Health said this was due to a steady rise in international cases, with 75% of Queenslands Covid-19 cases being infected overseas, with many not testing positive until after several days of quarantine.

Mr. Marttila will not be released from hotel quarantine until January 30, and fears every phone call with his sick mother could be his last.
Egypt said Wednesday that it and Qatar had agreed to resumed diplomatic relations, further ending the longstanding rift in the region.

The two states agreed to reestablish ties, Reuters reported Wednesday, citing the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. Qatar has yet to make an official comment.

The announcement relates to the Qatar diplomatic crisis that began in 2017. At the time, Saudi Arabia and its allies Egypt, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates closed their borders to Qatar and severed relations. The quartet accused Doha of supporting terrorism. They also disagreed with Qatars relatively friendly relations with Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Amid encouragement from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and the other members of Gulf Cooperation Council on Jan. 5 signed a solidarity pact. Saudi Arabia reopened its borders with Qatar the day prior and Bahrain followed suit last week.

The mending did not immediately include a resumption of diplomatic relations, however. An Emirati official said last week that normal relations would take time to reestablish and the countries would resume travel and trade ties in the meantime. Saudi Arabia will reopen its embassy in Qatar in a few days, Reuters reported.

Also, Qatar Airways announced the resumption of flight services to Cairo on Monday.
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SCHODACK  Bhupinder Singh, the man who shot and killed his stepdaughter and mother-in-law, as well as wounding his wife, was married three times and in the middle of attempting to get a third divorce before he committed the heinous acts and then killed himself, according to county records reviewed by the Times Union.

The divorce is considered a possible motive. We wont know, a law enforcement source familiar with the State Police investigation said.

Singh, 57, wounded his wife Rashpal Kaur, 40, in the arm and fatally shot his stepdaughter,14-year-old Jasleen Kaur, and killed his mother-in-law, Manjeet Kaur, 55, the night of Jan. 13 before killing himself. Jasleen was previously described as Singh's daughter, but police confirmed Thursday that she was his stepdaughter with his current wife.

Singh had a pistol permit, authorities said, which is common for a small businessman dealing with cash; Singh owned a beverage outlet outside of Hudson.

The killings shattered the quiet suburban neighborhood and left the Maple Hill Junior-Senior High School community in mourning. A table piled with stuffed animals, flowers and notes with a large picture of Jasleen is shielded by a plastic tent and set up outside the school. Schodack Central School District and Rensselaer County offered counseling to students and the community.

A bleeding Rashpal Kaur fled her home and went door-to-door in the neighborhood yelling for help before collapsing in the street. Neighbors in two different households said she had told them previously that she didnt have a drivers license, couldnt go anywhere and, in one instance, did not have food. Authorities said there were no records of police being called to the Singh residence. Singh had purchased the home in 2004, according to land records. Before that time, he lived in an apartment complex on Coventry Lane in East Greenbush and in New Jersey prior to his arrival in the Capital Region.

State Police at Latham said the case is still an open investigation and can not comment on it.

Some of Singhs background can be gleaned through Rensselaer County clerk and court records. He left behind three divorce filings, business transactions, a criminal case in which he was acquitted and a civil lawsuit filed against a woman who had accused him of rape.

His two earlier marriages ended in divorces in 2008 and 2012, respectively, and he was involved in divorce proceedings against his wife, Rashpal Kaur, according to court records. Details of the two previous divorces under state law are not public.

In all three divorces, Singh was the spouse who filed for divorce. There was one exception in his first divorce when his then-wife sued to end the marriage. In that case, Singh sued a month later and the proceedings were resolved in the case he brought, according to records.

Singh had filed his third divorce suit twice, according to available court records. Singh sued Rashpal Kaur on April 19, 2019 to end the marriage, according to the case docket. The case was dropped on June 20, 2019 with a stipulation of discontinuance between the husband and wife.

Three months later on Sept. 19, 2019, Singh again filed a divorce case against his wife. The last two entries in the docket are on Jan. 16, 2020 for a statement of net worth and on Aug, 18, 2020 for a not of issue, which indicates a case is ready for trial. The divorce proceedings were taking place when the state court system was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and trials were put on hold.

In October 2017, Singh was tried for third-degree rape in Rensselaer County Court in Troy. Arrested in December 2016, Singh had maintained he was innocent. He turned down a plea deal and went to trial taking the stand to testify. The county court jury acquitted him after deliberating 25 minutes.

In December 2017, Singh sued the woman who had filed the criminal complaint with the State Police for $850,000 in damages. This included $350,000 in compensatory damages and $500,000 in punitive damages, according to the lawsuit.

Singh's attorney in that civil case, Kevin Luibrand, said the woman, whose identity is being withheld by the Times Union, and Singh had a relationship and had been to each others homes.

"The big thing for him was the allegations. While it harmed his reputation in his community, his ethnic community, it had also affected him financially because he had lost his lottery license and as a result, a lot of business, Luibrand said.

Singh owned and operated Pit Stop Six on Route 66 just outside Hudson when he killed himself. Previously he had owned Turnpike Runway at 741 Columbia Turnpike in East Greenbush, according to State Liquor Authority and county clerk records. Singh sold the Columbia Turnpike property before acquiring the Pit Stop Six operation in Hudson.

The civil lawsuit is still pending after it came to a halt during the coronavirus pandemics impact on the courts. Cynthia Neidl, who represents the defendant in the lawsuit, declined to comment citing her firms policy.

Luibrand said the killings committed by Singh and his suicide shocked him and his staff. We thought he was a hardworking kind of guy, Luibrand said.

The future of the lawsuit will depend on what is decided by the executor of Singhs estate. Singh does not have a will filed with the Rensselaer County Surrogates Court, according to court staff.

Rashpaul Kaur, who lost her entire immediate family, is being assisted by the Sikh community, authorities said.
Some 3,500 relatives of people killed during the Northern Ireland conflict have urged the Irish and British governments to fully investigate the decades of violence.

They are seeking the long-delayed establishment of an independent team of detectives to pursue fresh prosecutions and other measures to recover information about what happened.

The families have written to Taoiseach Micheal Martin and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling for action awaited since a major political agreement in 2014.

They said: We are writing to you as relatives bereaved during the conflict to seek your assurances that our human rights as victims will no longer be disregarded or denied.

The peace process has repeatedly failed to deliver on our rights to truth, justice and accountability.

They said it was the largest initiative of its kind involving only those directly bereaved, families affected by all involved in the conflict and from across the community.

The letter will appear in newspapers in Belfast and the US.

More than 3,600 people were killed and thousands injured during republican and loyalist violence and in some cases through the actions of the police and British Army.

The UK government has pledged to intensify engagement with victims groups in addressing the legacy of the past.

The system for releasing Troubles-related information is not working and the divisive cycle of reinvestigations and civil action is failing to obtain answers for most families, ministers said.

They want a renewed focus on information recovery as the prospect of securing convictions dwindles.

Arrangements were agreed by the Irish and British governments and a majority of Stormonts main parties in 2014.

The Stormont House proposals included a new independent investigation unit to re-examine all unsolved killings and a separate truth recovery mechanism to enable families to gain answers in cases where prosecutions are unlikely.

In March, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis announced that the Government intended to move away from the Stormont House model.

He proposed that after a paper review exercise, most unsolved cases would be closed and a new law would be enacted to prevent the investigations from being reopened.

Mark Thompson, chief executive of Belfast-based lobby group Relatives for Justice, said about half of those who signed the open letter are 35 years and under.

This represents the current and future generations and underlines the ongoing trauma and intergenerational impact that the killing of a relative has also had on surviving families.

In many instances this younger generation are the very people who are raising these unsolved killings and engaged in legal processes on behalf of those who died without ever seeing truth or justice.

Its also a clear indication that the past is ever-present and speaks to a determination, now more than at other time, that following human rights violations the human rights of victims must frame how we address the past.

Baroness Nuala OLoan (Niall Carson/PA)

Nuala OLoan, the former police ombudsman who investigated complaints against police in Northern Ireland, said the British Government should fund a victims payment scheme for the most severely injured.

It is due to be launched in March but Stormont ministers are seeking more financial commitment from their UK counterparts.

Ms OLoan said: The position remains at stalemate. This is deeply unfair to the surviving victims of the Troubles for whom a pension has been legislated but not delivered.

It is ludicrous and deeply immoral to think of placing the resource burden of legacy solutions on a small devolved region.

Read More Confusion continues over vaccine priority list

A UK government spokesperson said: The UK government remains committed to finding a way forward on legacy issues, which have remained unresolved for far too long.

The government recognises that there are many different views on how best to move forward, which is why the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will continue to engage with all communities across Northern Ireland and beyond to find a way forward that puts information recovery and reconciliation at its heart.

We welcome the contribution of the relatives of Troubles victims to this process.
(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2021) Russian Ambassador to Zambia Alexander Boldyrev has died at the age of 66, Spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

"On January 20, Russian Ambassador to the Republic of #Zambia Alexander #Boldyrev passed away. He was 66. We have lost a true professional and a top-notch expert who made a major contribution to promoting #Russia's interests abroad," Zakharova said, as quoted by the ministry.

The Russian embassy to Zambia expressed condolences over the death of the Russian diplomat.

"The embassy is deeply mourning the untimely passing of Russian Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Zambia Alexander Vilovich Boldyrev," the embassy wrote on its Twitter account.

Boldyrev was born in Moscow in 1955 and graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1978. The diplomat served as a counselor at the Russian embassy to the United Kingdom, permanent representative of Russia to the International Organizations in Vienna. From 2010-2012, Boldyrev assumed the post of the deputy director of the foreign ministry's information and press department. The diplomat was appointed as the Russian ambassador to Zambia on October 31, 2019.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Bidens team has started moving into the White House.

The building began humming again with activity a few hours after Bidens inauguration Wednesday as staff for the new president started moving into their offices, unpacking belongings and getting the badges that grant them easy access to the property.

New press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted that she was in the building and ready to get to work. Psaki has scheduled the new administrations first White House press briefing for later Wednesday.

Biden plans to sign a flurry of executive orders, some overturning actions by former President Donald Trump, once he gets to the Oval Office.

The White House had been largely emptied out of staff after Trump flew to Florida on Wednesday morning, skipping his successors swearing-in.
Connection issues barring central Pennsylvanians in four counties from calling their dispatch centers have been fully resolved as of Thursday afternoon, officials said.

Full or partial outages were reported in Cumberland, Franklin, Adams and Perry counties for nearly 24 hours, starting around noon Wednesday. Several Pennsylvania State Police troops were also affected.

Our technicians have restored 911 services in all the Pennsylvania counties that were impacted by a recent fiber cut near Philadelphia, CenturyLink said in a Thursday afternoon statement. We appreciate your patience and apologize for the disruption.

CenturyLink said the outages were caused by a fiber cut in Philadelphia along a railroad track bridge.

Local police and fire departments told residents to call their stations directly if they had an emergency during the outages.

Authorities said Cumberland, Franklin and Perry counties can text 911 but should only do so if theres an emergency.

READ MORE: Up to 8 inches of snow could land in central Pa. next week, forecasters say

Pennsylvania surpasses 20,000 COVID-19 deaths  doubling its toll in less than two months
New Delhi, Jan 21 : The political dynamics in Maharashtra posed an unexpected surprise for the Supreme Court on Thursday, as it wondered how the Congress -- despite being in the ruling coalition in Maharashtra -- could enjoy the post of leader of opposition (LoP) in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM).

A bench headed by Chief Justice S. A. Bobde queried, could the Congress hold position of LoP and also be a part of ruling coalition in Maharashtra? Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing BJP Councillor Prabhakar Tukaram Shinde, contended that this is completely fatal to democracy. "How can you have this?" Mukul submitted before the bench also comprising Justices A. S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian.

The Chief Justice noted, "the Opposition leader is part of the ruling coalition?" The bench queried Rohatgi, why didn't you claim it earlier? He replied that there was an understanding with the Shiv Sena, which has now fizzled out, as the political dynamics have changed after the 2019 Legislative Assembly election. Rohatgi added that BJP being the largest party in opposition, must get back the constitutionally entitled post.

The top court issued notice to Maharashtra government and others and directed the parties to file counter affidavit, and adjourned the matter.

Shinde, who moved the court through advocate Hitesh Jain, contended that after the 2017 elections to the Mumbai civic body, BJP emerged as the second largest party, after Shiv Sena. In the backdrop of its alliance with Shiv Sena then, the BJP had declined the status of LoP, and as a result, the position went to the Congress party. Since the political dynamics have changed in Maharashtra, the BJP raised the demand for LoP status, as the 'Maha Vikas Agadi' coalition had begun to govern Maharashtra after the 2019 assembly polls.

Shinde, who is leader of the BJP group seeking LoP status, moved the top court after the Bombay High Court declined to grant him any relief citing that the BJP had voluntarily given up the LoP status. "In present case, the BJP group, the second largest group, which had earlier decided to stay neutral in the MCGM has now decided to take over the role of the principal opposition group therein. Therefore, the dynamics pertaining to the party with greatest numerical strength in the opposition has changed with BJP group replacing the INC group", said the plea.

The plea contended that having an effective and genuine opposition is one of the non-negotiable essentials of any democratic set-up and refusal to accept it is an onslaught on the democratic governance envisaged under the Constitution.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
TORONTO - More than one-fifth of Canadian companies say they will adjust their employee's pay if they move to a different location, according to a recent survey.

A woman types on her laptop in Miami in a Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, photo illustration. About 22 per cent of Canadian companies who participated in a recent survey say they will adjust their employee's pay to their new location, if the person moves and continues to work remotely.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Wilfredo Lee

TORONTO - More than one-fifth of Canadian companies say they will adjust their employee's pay if they move to a different location, according to a recent survey.

Staffing firm Robert Half's survey of 500 workers and 180 human resources managers found that roughly 22 per cent of employers say they'd adjust the salary of employees who relocate.

The survey found 44 per cent of workers would consider relocating, but only 16 per cent would be willing to move if it involved taking a pay cut.

Almost 70 per cent of companies surveyed say they will base salaries on the companys office location for the time being, while nine per cent say they haven't decided on their approach.

The findings come months after many Canadian companies allowed staff to work from home in hopes of stopping the spread of COVID-19 in pandemic hotspots.

Some companies, including Facebook Inc., have warned staff that if they move out of town and continue working remotely, their pay could be decreased or hiked to match the market conditions in their new location.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021.
Biden inauguration: Who's attending and who's skipping

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President-elect Joe Bidens forthcoming inauguration ceremony on Wednesday will mark the first time in over 150 years that an outgoing president will not attend his successors swearing-in ceremony.

President Donald Trump is the most prominent political figure who has announced that he will not attend Bidens inauguration, which is scheduled to take place at noon on Wednesday at the West Lawn of the United States Capitol as his term in office expires. Trumps decision not to attend his successors inauguration, which he announced on Jan. 8, will make him the first president in more than a century-and-a-half to boycott his successors swearing-in ceremony.

According to Fox News, the other presidents who declined to attend their successors inaugurations were John Adams in 1801, John Quincy Adams in 1829, Martin Van Buren in 1841 and Andrew Johnson in 1869. In the cases of John Adams, his son John Quincy Adams and Van Buren, the presidents had lost reelection to the incoming president whose inauguration they chose not to attend.

Johnson, a Democrat who succeeded Republican Abraham Lincoln upon his assassination in 1865, had failed to win his partys nomination in 1868 but nonetheless did not attend the inauguration of his Republican successor, Ulysses S. Grant. One hundred fifty years later, the 2020 presidential election between Trump, the incumbent Republican president, and his Democratic rival, former Vice President Biden, was highly contested. Allegations of fraud caused some to doubt the authenticity of the results.

Biden responded to Trumps plans not to attend his inauguration, describing the decision as one of the few things he and I have ever agreed on, adding, Its a good thing him not showing up. Mike Pence, Bidens successor as vice president, will be the top official from the Trump administration in attendance at the inauguration.

Although Bidens immediate predecessor has declined to attend the inauguration, three of the four living former presidents will attend the ceremony, including Barack Obama, whom he served as vice president under for eight years. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will also attend the inauguration as will former First Ladies Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. At age 96, former President Jimmy Carter has declined to attend.

While it has been more than 150 years since a president has boycotted the inauguration of his successor, politicians have boycotted inaugurations of presidents of the opposite party following hard-fought campaigns as recently as four years ago. In 2017, many congressional Democrats elected not to attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump, including the late Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who described the president as illegitimate during an interview with NBCs Chuck Todd.

With the 2020 presidential election featuring an equally intense campaign as the 2016 election, if not a more intense campaign, a handful of Republican lawmakers have formally announced that they will not attend Bidens inauguration. Unlike in the previous inauguration, when dislike of Trump and disapproval of the election results was the primary reason for not attending the inauguration among congressional Democrats, Republicans declining to attend Bidens inauguration cite security concerns as the motivation behind their decisions.

A Fox News report lists four congressional Republicans who have decided to skip Bidens inauguration: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas. Greene, Harshbarger, Mace and Van Duyne are newly elected members of Congress and three of the four voted to object to the certification of the electoral votes in Pennsylvania in light of allegations of fraud.

While Greene has emerged as one of the outgoing presidents strongest defenders and has already announced her intention to file articles of impeachment against Biden later this week, she alleged that extreme security concerns contributed to her decision not to attend the inauguration. A spokeswoman for Mace told Fox News that she is not attending for security purposes, adding shes received several threats so were keeping her in Charleston for safety.

Van Duynes spokeswoman said that the congresswoman regrets being unable to attend inauguration due to commitments in the district. She argued that the commitments in the district were necessary because the impeachment proceedings against Trump forced Van Duyne to reschedule them.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, also a Republican, has announced that he will not attend Bidens inauguration after attending Trumps inauguration four years prior.

Some of the most visible voices in the Republican Party have elected to attend the inauguration despite raising questions about the outcome in key swing states. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the House minority leader, will attend the inauguration, as will Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., another member of the freshmen class of Republicans on Capitol Hill.

Both Republican senators from Texas, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, have announced their intention to attend Bidens swearing-in ceremony, according to The Texas Tribune. Cruz was one of the senators who objected to the certification of Bidens narrow victories in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Others who objected to the certification of Bidens victory in select states, Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., have also announced their intentions to attend the inauguration.

Additionally, Arizonas Doug Ducey announced on Twitter that he would be attending the inauguration.
Evangelical advocates for immigrants and refugees were encouraged by President Joe Bidens decision to send proposed reforms to Congress on his first day in office. Just hours after he was sworn in, Biden unveiled the US Citizenship Act of 2021.

I see it as a positive sign, said Matthew Soerens, national coordinator of the Evangelical Immigration Table. The new administration is leading on this issue as a day one priority.

Soerens and others have not yet reviewed the bill that will be sent to Congress but say the proposed legislation is the beginning of a long process toward much-needed reform.

According to the White House, the legislation is centered on the basic premise that our country is safer, stronger, and more prosperous with a fair and orderly immigration system and places a priority on keeping families together.

Bidens plan represents a sharp U-turn after four years of strong opposition to immigration and a policy of making the process more painful, captured most vividly by the separation of thousands of children from their parents under a zero tolerance policy on illegal border crossings. Former president Donald Trumps administration also took hundreds of other steps to enhance enforcement, limit eligibility for asylum, and cut legal immigration.

Bidens proposals also breaks from Barack Obamas approach. The former Democratic president promised a sweeping bill but waited five years to introduce it while logging more than 2 million deportations.

World Relief welcomes the change and said a reform bill could help the country live up to its ideals and values.

We firmly believe that America has a moral imperative to welcome refugees, asylum seekers and other immigrants once again into our nation, said CEO Tim Breene. Our hope is that Americans, regardless of political party, will set aside their differences and come together to rebuild an immigration process that will reflect the best of American values and the biblical values that guide many Americans.

Path to citizenship

The legislation proposes an eight-year path to citizenship for all undocumented immigrants currently in the country. They would first be given documentationa work permit. Then, after five years of working, paying taxes, and not committing any crimes, immigrants would be eligible for permanent residency, or a green card. Three years after that, immigrants could apply for full American citizenship.

The legislation would also increase the use of technology to enforce security at the border and includes plans to address the root causes of the rising rates of migration from Central America.

Children who were brought to the US in infancy would be eligible for green cards immediately. Going forward, the US would prioritize family reunification when granting visas. Christian organizations have consistently voiced support for both approaches.

As Christians in America, we should advocate for an immigration system that proves we love people like God loves people, said Chris Palusky, president of Bethany Christian Services, which uses financial grants from the federal government to help shelter and settle unaccompanied minors.

Observers dont expect the proposed Biden bill to pass through Congress without changes. There will undoubtedly be some pushing and pulling as legislators tussle over priorities.

Palusky is calling on the nations political leaders to seize this moment and come together in a constructive give and take.

Congress and the Biden administration should make clear to the American people that finding common ground by reforming a broken, unjust immigration system benefits all of us, he said.

Republican support needed

While Democrats hold a majority in both the House and Senate, the legislation will still need some Republican support to pass. Alex Nowrasteh at the libertarian Cato Institute said that Bidens proposals will undoubtedly see pushback, but the simplicity of the bill bodes well for an actual discussion.

The good political part of this bill is that Democrats are finally playing hardball on immigration [and not] presenting legislation already laden with compromised positions, Nowrasteh wrote. Instead, they will start with a cleaner and simpler bill and then ask what other senators and congressmen need to get on board, which will no doubt be a lot of expensive security signaling along the border.

During the Trump years, Americans grew more favorable toward immigration. Gallup polls show that in 2016, about 20 percent of Americans supported more immigration. By 2020, that number had climbed to 34 percenthigher than at any time since the polling firm first started asking the question in 1965.

The Associated Press reports that 71 percent of voters also support the idea of a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally, compared to about 3 in 10 who prefer a program of deportation.

Many Republicans have moved more to the right on the issue, however, prioritizing border security to the exclusion of everything else. Some conservatives, including Senator Josh Hawley and Senator Tom Cotton have already indicated they will oppose Bidens plan if it doesnt include increased funding for immigration enforcement.

But since Biden proposed this bill on the first day, the politicians have time to work things out, Soerens said. He will be watching, praying, and advocating for progress, in hopes that both sides will come to the legislative process in good faith, with the goal of achieving real reform.

Samuel Rodriguez, head of the National Hispanic Chrisitan Leadership Conference and a former Trump adviser is also calling for a serious, bipartisan effort.

Democrats and Republicans have all agreed for decades that our immigration system is deeply flawed. It is time to finally comprehensively address these concerns, Rodriguez said. Immigrants enrich every sector of society and every aspect of American life. They can no longer be Democratic pawns or Republican pawns in political gamesmanship. Each is made in the image of God and acknowledging their dignity begins with addressing their concern.

While Congress works out the details of the legislation, Biden has signaled he will immediately repeal or replace many of the changes Trump made by executive order, beginning with the ban on travelers from majority Muslim countries. The administration is said to be considering the various countries eligible for temporary protected status as well as increasing the number of refugees the US admits after the previous administration slashed refugee resettlement to historic lows.

Aid for Central America

Christian advocates for immigrants and refugees are also encouraged that the Biden Administrations proposal includes substantial aid for Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, in an attempt to address the violence and instability that has caused much of the recent increase in migration. The proposal calls for $4 billion infused into remedies, including foreign aid.

For organizations like the Association for a More Just Society, this is good news. Central Americans are our neighbors and people looking to migrate are hungry, thirsty and scared after a year of unique challenges, said Jill Stoltzfus, executive director of the organization that works on human rights issues in Honduras. We believe aid to the Northern Triangle should be restored so that organizations can effectively confront violence and poverty.

According to Stoltzfus, the desperate situation of many potential migrants has grown worse than ever with the pandemic and natural disasters, and local civic institutions are in dire need of support. She said that strategic foreign aid to organizations with proven track records strengthening civic institutions in the countries of origin is an effective way of stemming the migrant crisis before it starts, and she and others hope the new administration will embrace this more compassionate approach to Americas global neighbors.

Whatever the administration does, however, the call to Christians remains the same.

God instructs us to see ourselves when we look in the eyes of the vulnerable, Stoltzfus said, and to respond with love.

Additional reporting from the Associated Press.
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The Governing Council of Federal University Wukari in Taraba has announced the appointment of Jude Rabo as the new vice-chancellor of the institution.

The Chairman of the Governing Council, Laurence Ngbale, disclosed at a press conference on Thursday in Wukari.

He said Mr Rabo, a professor of Veterinary Medicine, emerged as the new vice-chancellor after scoring the highest points ahead of two other professors that contested for the position.

Mr Ngbale said the 59-year-old professor had served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi for two terms.

Mr Ngbale, who handed the new vice-chancellor his appointment letter, urged him to not only to sustain the development strides recorded by the outgoing vice-chancellor, Musa Kundiri, but also move the university to a world-class institution.

Similarly, the council has also appointed Isa Sidi from Kaduna State as the new University Librarian.

In his remarks, the new vice-chancellor thanked the Selection Board and the Universitys Governing Council for finding him worthy of the appointment.

He assured that he would turn around the fortunes of the institution by setting standards that would move it forward.

Mr Rabo appealed to the council to give him all the support and encouragement required to succeed in his new assignment.

Earlier, the outgoing vice-chancellor urged the university community to give his successor all the support he needed to succeed.

Mr Kundiri said his tenure would end on February 10.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the selection process, which commenced on Wednesday, came to a conclusion in the early hours of Thursday.

The new vice-chancellor who is married with six children, hails from Bogoro Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

(NAN)
Forty-three people died and 10 were rescued after a boat carrying West African migrants capsized off the Libyan coast on Tuesday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR said in a Wednesday statement.

This is the first migrant shipwreck of the year 2021, the UNHCR said.

The boat left the northwestern Libyan city of Zawya early Tuesday and reportedly capsized a few hours after departing due to bad sea conditions and when the engine stopped, the UNHCR said.

The people who died were all men from West African countries, the UNHCR added.

"Survivors, mainly from Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, and The Gambia, reported that those who perished were all men from West African countries," the UNHCR said.

"Hundreds of people lost their lives last year attempting to cross the Central Mediterranean, where the highest number of fatalities along a single migration journey worldwide occurred," the statement said.

"IOM and UNHCR fear that due to the limited ability to monitor routes, the actual number of people who perished in the Central Mediterranean during 2020, could be much higher," it added.
We thought we were ready. We told ourselves we were. Then we told this lie to the world. We are open for business. We are COVID-free! Read more
Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Sun and clouds mixed. High 76F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Low 51F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.

Latin America's Largest Investment Bank Partners with Feedzai for AI-Based Transaction Security

One of the best ways for financial services organizations to guard against fraud is to analyze transactions for red flags. These red flags might include documents that cannot be verified, multiple tax ID numbers, mismatched addresses and telephone numbers, a reluctance for supposed account holders to provide detailed information about the business, large cash transactions with no history of prior business experience and shielding the identity of beneficial partners or owners.

The problem is that spotting inconsistencies and red flags is difficult for human workers because of the sheer volume of transactions. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) becomes useful. Artificial intelligence has proven to be an excellent ally for monitoring financial crime in digital environments, with customers now benefiting from a combination of speed and security in payments, P2P transactions, and account opening.

Feedzai is a data science company that detects fraud for financial institutions. The company uses real-time, machine learning to analyze big data to identify fraudulent payment transactions and minimize risk in the financial industry. The company now has a new partner in Latin America.

BTG Pactual, the largest investment bank in Latin America, which has just launched its new retail bank BTG+, has partnered with Feedzai and announced it will use the latters financial crime management platform to strengthen the bank's ability to monitor financial transactions using advanced machine learning.

The partnership between the two companies also includes Pix monitoring, the new instant payments system that launched on November 16, 2020. Feedzai's financial crime management platform also monitors real-time transactions that go through the new channel designed by the Central Bank of Brazil.

We are excited about this partnership and this new resource to protect and improve our customer experience, said Rodrigo Cury, Head of BTG+, in a statement. We want to become one of the main retail banks in Brazil and for that reason, we are using advanced technology that allows consumers to buy, trade, and engage with the digital economy in a straightforward and agile way.

Edited by Maurice Nagle
[January 21, 2021]

Gale Presents Session on Educational Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at ALA 2021 Midwinter Virtual Conference

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gale, a Cengage company, will host an OnDemand session on reframing education for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) amidst the ongoing pandemic at the American Library Association (ALA) 2021 Midwinter Virtual Conference. The session will feature three leaders at the forefront of a nationwide movement toward equal access, equal opportunity education, who will provide insight and best practices.









Title: MAKING AN IMMEDIATE POSITIVE IMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION in a politically-divided, pandemic-burdened worldguidance for librarians and educators



When: January 22-26, 2021



Where: OnDemand at the ALA 2021 Midwinter Virtual Conference



Details: Librarians and educators in the U.S. are operating within the most challenging environments facing any professional today. The expectations are high for librarians and educators to continuously adapt to the conditions created by the global pandemic and which are complicated by the traumatic current events that are forcing our country to confront a history of racist policy and behavior.





This OnDemand session will address:

 How librarians and educators can be advocates and activists from within the systems they're trying to change.

 What social justice work looks like for library and education professionals in the aftermath of a divisive election and in the midst of the pressures created by the pandemic.

 How library and education professionals can take care of themselves throughout the process.



Speakers: Speakers include:

 Marisol Rerucha, Director of Culture & Community, Dave Burgess Consulting; Chief of Partnerships and Strategy, National Parents Union; Consultant, The Core Collaborative

 Alexs Pate, President & CEO, Innocent Technologies; New York Times Bestselling Author

 David Chard, Ph.D, President, Boston University, Wheelock School of Education



About Cengage and Gale

Session on reframing education for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) amidst the ongoing pandemic

Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide. Gale, a Cengage company, provides libraries with original and curated content, as well as the modern research tools and technology that are crucial in connecting libraries to learning, and learners to libraries. For more than 60 years, Gale has partnered with libraries around the world to empower the discovery of knowledge and insights  where, when and how people need it. Gale has 500 employees globally with its main operations in Farmington Hills, Michigan. For more information, please visit www.gale.com.

Follow Gale on:

Media Contact:

Kayla Siefker, Gale, a Cengage company

248-915-9624

kayla.siefker@cengage.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gale-presents-session-on-educational-diversity-equity--inclusion-at-ala-2021-midwinter-virtual-conference-301212084.html

SOURCE Gale, a Cengage company

Riyadh:

Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Wednesday appointed his 31-year-old son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince, placing him firmly as first-in-line to the throne and removing the country's counterterrorism czar and a figure well-known to Washington from the royal line of succession.

In a series of royal decrees carried on the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the monarch stripped Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who had been positioned to inherit the throne, from his title as crown prince and from his powerful position as the country's interior minister overseeing security.



The newly announced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman already oversees a vast portfolio as defense minister and head of an economic council tasked with overhauling the country's economy.



He had previously been the second-in-line to the throne as deputy crown prince, though royal watchers had long suspected his rise to power under his father's reign might also accelerate his ascension to the throne.



The young prince was little known to Saudis and outsiders before Salman became king in January 2015. He had previously been in charge of his father's royal court when Salman was the crown prince.



The Saudi monarch, who holds near absolute powers, quickly awarded his son expansive powers to the surprise of many within the royal family who are more senior and more experienced than Mohammed bin Salman, also known by his initials MBS.

ALSO READ: Saudi king names son as US envoy to foster ties with Trump



The royal decree issued today stated that "a majority" of senior royal members from the so-called Allegiance Council supported the recasting of the line of succession. Saudi Arabia's state TV said 31 out of 34 of the council's members voted in favor of the changes.



The Allegiance Council is a body made up of the sons and prominent grandsons of the founder of the Saudi state, the late King Abdul-Aziz, who vote to pick the king and crown prince from among themselves.



Over the weekend, the king had issued a decree restructuring Saudi Arabia's system for prosecutions that stripped Mohammed bin Nayef of longstanding powers overseeing criminal investigations, and instead ordered that a newly-named Office of Public Prosecution and prosecutor report directly to the monarch.



Mohammed bin Nayef was not believed to have played a significant role in Saudi and Emirati-led efforts to isolate Qatar for its support of Islamist groups and ties with Iran.

The prince had appeared to be slipping from public eye as his nephew, Mohammed bin Salman, embarked on major overseas visits, including a trip to the White House to meet President Donald Trump in March.



That visit to Washington helped lay the foundation for Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia in May, which marked thepresident's first overseas visit and which was promoted heavily by the kingdom as proof of its weight in the region and wider Muslim world.



Saudi-US relations had cooled under the Obama administration after Washington pursued a nuclear accord with Shiite-ruled Iran that the Sunni-ruled kingdom strongly opposed.



The warm ties forged between Riyadh and Washington under the Trump administration may have helped accelerate Mohammed bin Salman's ascension as crown prince.



Despite his ambitions, which include overhauling the kingdom's economy away from its reliance on oil, the prince has faced failures and strong criticism for the Saudi-led war in Yemen, which he oversees as defense minister.



The war, launched more than two years ago, has failed to dislodge Iranian-allied rebels known as Houthis from the capital, Sanaa, and has had devastating effects on the impoverished country.



Rights groups say Saudi forces have killed scores of civilians and have called on the US, as well as the UK and France, to halt the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia that could be used in the Yemen war.



The US already is helping the Saudis with intelligence and logistical support for the bombing campaign in Yemen, and the Trump administration has signaled it could assist with greater intelligence support to counter Iranian influence there.

ALSO READ | Donald Trump to Qatar: Stop funding terrorism, stop killing, stop teaching hate

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company


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MediaTek also announces Dimensity 1100 5G chipset to give device makers even more design flexibility

HSINCHU, Taiwan  January 20, 2021  MediaTek today unveiled its new Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100 5G smartphone chipsets with unrivaled AI, camera and multimedia features for powerful 5G experiences. The addition of the 6nm Dimensity 1200 and 1100 chipsets to MediaTeks 5G portfolio gives device makers a growing suite of options to design highly capable 5G smartphones with top of the line camera features, graphics, connectivity enhancements and more.

"MediaTek continues to expand its 5G portfolio with highly integrated solutions for a range of devices from the high-end to the mid-tier, said JC Hsu, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of MediaTeks Wireless Communications Business Unit. Our new Dimensity 1200 stands out with its impressive 200MP camera support and advanced AI capabilities, in addition to its innovative connectivity, display, audio and gaming enhancements.

Key features of MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and 1100 5G chipsets include:

The Most Out of 5G Every Day : The Dimensity 1200 and 1100 pack a highly integrated 5G modem with MediaTeks 5G UltraSave technology for big power savings. Both chipsets support every connectivity generation from 2G to 5G, in addition to supporting the latest connectivity features including 5G standalone and non-standalone architectures, 5G carrier aggregation (2CC) across frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD), dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS), True Dual SIM 5G (5G SA + 5G SA) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR). The chipsets also integrate 5G HSR Mode and 5G Elevator Mode enhancements to ensure a seamless, reliable 5G connection across networks.

: The Dimensity 1200 and 1100 pack a highly integrated 5G modem with MediaTeks 5G UltraSave technology for big power savings. Both chipsets support every connectivity generation from 2G to 5G, in addition to supporting the latest connectivity features including 5G standalone and non-standalone architectures, 5G carrier aggregation (2CC) across frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD), dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS), True Dual SIM 5G (5G SA + 5G SA) and Voice over New Radio (VoNR). The chipsets also integrate 5G HSR Mode and 5G Elevator Mode enhancements to ensure a seamless, reliable 5G connection across networks. Flagship AI Multimedia : The Dimensity 1200 supports 200MP photos for stunning photography with its five-core HDR-ISP. It boasts staggered 4K HDR video capture for significantly greater dynamic range. The chipset integrates an updated version of MediaTeks hexa-core AI processor (MediaTek APU 3.0), which has an enhanced multi-task scheduler that reduces latency and improves power-efficiency. The Dimensity 1100 also packs impressive camera capabilities with its 108MP camera support, and integrates MediaTeks existing APU 3.0 for high performance computing thats also super power-efficient. Both chipsets support AI camera features including AI-Panorama Night Shot, AI Multi-Person Bokeh, AI noise reduction (AINR) and HDR capabilities. The chipsets also support new AI-enhanced video playback features including AI SDR-to-HDR.

: The Dimensity 1200 supports 200MP photos for stunning photography with its five-core HDR-ISP. It boasts staggered 4K HDR video capture for significantly greater dynamic range. The chipset integrates an updated version of MediaTeks hexa-core AI processor (MediaTek APU 3.0), which has an enhanced multi-task scheduler that reduces latency and improves power-efficiency. The Dimensity 1100 also packs impressive camera capabilities with its 108MP camera support, and integrates MediaTeks existing APU 3.0 for high performance computing thats also super power-efficient. Both chipsets support AI camera features including AI-Panorama Night Shot, AI Multi-Person Bokeh, AI noise reduction (AINR) and HDR capabilities. The chipsets also support new AI-enhanced video playback features including AI SDR-to-HDR. Premium Performance : The Dimensity 1200 has an octa-core CPU designed with an ultra-core Arm Cortex-A78 clocked up to 3GHz for extreme performance, three Arm Cortex-A78 super cores and four Arm Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. With a nine-core GPU and six-core MediaTek APU 3.0, the Dimensity 1200 delivers a new level of premium performance. The Dimensity 1100 is designed with an octa-core CPU which includes four Arm Cortex-A78 cores operating at up to 2.6GHz and four Arm Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, along with a nine-core Arm Mali-G77 GPU. Both chipsets are manufactured on TSMCs advanced 6nm process technology.

: The Dimensity 1200 has an octa-core CPU designed with an ultra-core Arm Cortex-A78 clocked up to 3GHz for extreme performance, three Arm Cortex-A78 super cores and four Arm Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. With a nine-core GPU and six-core MediaTek APU 3.0, the Dimensity 1200 delivers a new level of premium performance. The Dimensity 1100 is designed with an octa-core CPU which includes four Arm Cortex-A78 cores operating at up to 2.6GHz and four Arm Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, along with a nine-core Arm Mali-G77 GPU. Both chipsets are manufactured on TSMCs advanced 6nm process technology. Incredible Displays : The Dimensity 1200 supports ultra-fast 168Hz refresh rates for a fast, fluid user experience. The Dimensity 1100 also supports cutting-edge displays with 144Hz refresh rates for ultra-sharp, zero-lag visuals. Both chipsets support MediaTeks HyperEngine 3.0 gaming technologies, which includes 5G call and data concurrency for more reliable connectivity, plus multi-touch boost touchscreen responsiveness. The new chipsets also support ray tracing in mobile games and artificial reality applications for more realistic visuals, along with super hotspot power savings which let users go longer in between charges.

: The Dimensity 1200 supports ultra-fast 168Hz refresh rates for a fast, fluid user experience. The Dimensity 1100 also supports cutting-edge displays with 144Hz refresh rates for ultra-sharp, zero-lag visuals. Both chipsets support MediaTeks HyperEngine 3.0 gaming technologies, which includes 5G call and data concurrency for more reliable connectivity, plus multi-touch boost touchscreen responsiveness. The new chipsets also support ray tracing in mobile games and artificial reality applications for more realistic visuals, along with super hotspot power savings which let users go longer in between charges. Dual-Link True Wireless Stereo Audio: Dimensity 1200 and 1100 both support Bluetooth 5.2, which lets users stream to multiple wireless devices simultaneously. The chipsets also support ultra-low latency true wireless stereo audio and LC3 encoding for higher quality, lower latency streaming audio thats also very power-efficient to prolong the battery life of wireless earbuds.

Dimensity 1200 has already received TUV Rheinland certification for its 5G performance, with tests covering 72 real-world scenarios. The certification verifies that the chipset provides reliable, high-performance 5G connectivity and offers users high-quality 5G experiences across a wide variety of scenarios.

Many OEMs, including Xiaomi, Vivo, OPPO and realme, expressed support for MediaTeks new Dimensity chip. The first devices with the new MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and 1100 chipsets are expected to hit the market at the end of Q1 and beginning of Q2 this year.

Other industry collaborators and supporters of the new MediaTek 5G chipsets include Arm, China Mobile, Tetras.AI, ArcSoft and Tencent Games.

For full specifications and further details on MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and 1100, please visit: https://i.mediatek.com/mediatek-5g

About MediaTek Inc.

MediaTek Incorporated (TWSE: 2454) is a global fabless semiconductor company that enables nearly 2 billion connected devices a year. We are a market leader in developing innovative systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile device, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT products. Our dedication to innovation has positioned us as a driving market force in several key technology areas, including highly power-efficient mobile technologies, automotive solutions and a broad range of advanced multimedia products such as smartphones, tablets, digital televisions, 5G, Voice Assistant Devices (VAD) and wearables. MediaTek empowers and inspires people to expand their horizons and achieve their goals through smart technology, more easily and efficiently than ever before. We work with the brands you love to make great technology accessible to everyone, and it drives everything we do. Visit www.mediatek.com for more information.






A nine-year-old Philadelphia girl was shot and killed after police say her five-year-old cousin found a loaded gun and pulled the trigger while the children were left without adult supervision on Wednesday.

The deadly shooting took place in the 2300 block of North Bouvier Street in North Philadelphia at around 11am.

The nine-year-old victim, her 12-year-old brother and their young cousin were home alone when the five-year-old boy somehow got hold of the loaded gun and shot the girl in the right side of her head.

A nine-year-old girl was shot in the head and killed by her five-year-old male cousin inside this black-colored rowhouse in Philadelphia on Wednesday

The two children were in the care of the girl's 12-year-old brother, but there were no adults at home

Her older brother called 911 and reported the shooting. The victim was rushed to Temple University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead from her injuries before 2pm, reported Fox29.

Police officers who responded to the scene on the block lined with boarded-up, blighted homes recovered two guns from the residence.

According to sources talking to CBS Philadelphia, the father of the nine-year-old girl and 12-year-old boy is not legally permitted to own a gun and is expected to be charged in connection to the fatal shooting.

Patrick Flood, who described himself to Philadelphia Inquirer as a life-long friend of the father, said the nine-year-old girl was known to her loved ones as Butterfly and was 'quiet, nice, peaceful, loving.'

The siblings' father could face criminal charges in connection to the shooting

Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said officers removed two guns from the home where the three children were unsupervised

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner called the child's killing 'heartbreaking' and said more needs to be done to take guns off the streets

A next-door neighbor told the newspaper that the father was 'was always out in the street.'

'It's heartbreaking. It's absolutely heartbreaking,' Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said. 'There are too many guns out there, and we have to do better in terms of protecting our children from gun violence of all types. And we've had enough.'

'We seem to have these more and more and my office will do everything we can to support the trauma the children have suffered and others are suffering here.'
Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister for Railways, Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution PiyushGoyal and Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash participated in the 10th round of talks with the representatives of 41 Farmers' Unions at VigyanBhawan, New Delhi yesterday. Tomar said that the Government has proposed to the farmers' Unions that the implementation of Farm laws should be kept on hold for a period of one to one and half years.

During this time representatives of farmers' Unions and the Government can discuss all issues related to the farmers' agitation so that an appropriate solution can be arrived at. During the talks the representatives of the farmers' unions said that they will discuss the Government's proposal in detail and will come for dialogue on 22nd January, 2021.

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The court said that in the absence of any allegation to constitute criminal conspiracy, the proceedings against the petitioners for the offence punishable under Section 120 B were liable to be quashed. (File Photo)

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday quashed a part of the first information report registered against three farmers, belonging to Scheduled Caste hailing from Krishnayapalem in Guntur district.

The single-judge bench headed by Justice M. Satyanarayana Murthy observed that registration of crime by the police on the basis of a complaint lodged by Ravi Babu against the petitioners belonging to SC was a serious illegality. The court said that in the absence of any allegation to constitute criminal conspiracy, the proceedings against the petitioners for the offence punishable under Section 120 B were liable to be quashed.

So was the case with offences booked under sections 3(1) (r)(s) and 3 (2) of the SC/ST Act as the accused belonging to SC, the court observed. The court also did not accept the offences like unlawful assembly punishable under Section 143 of IPC and also wrongful restraint punishable under Section 340 of IPC and others as the petitioners were booked for such offences.

However, the court observed that the petition was partly allowed and permitted the police to proceed against the petitioners to investigate the crime for the offence punishable under Section 506 (2) of IPC.

Earlier, Epuri Ravi Babu had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that when he tried to settle a quarrel as some people parked a tractor across the Krishnayapalem bridge disrupting passage of vehicles on October 23, 2020, he was abused by caste and even threatened to be trodden with the tractor.

He named 11 persons in the complaint. Based on it, police booked them under Sections 120 (B), 143, 341, 506 read with 149 IPC and other sections of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Subsequently, three farmers filed a petition in the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR registered against them. Their main grievance was that though they belonged to SC, they were booked under SC/ST Act, 1989.

Petitioners counsel Karumanchi Indraneel Babu argued that registration of a crime against a SC based on a complaint lodged by another SC, was a grave illegality.
Punjab farmers not blamed over issue of Bonded Labourers in border villages:MHA

Farmers' Protest: Deep Sidhu was not there when protests turned violent, says lawyer

SC-appointed panel starts consultation on agri laws, interacts with farm bodies from 8 states

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 21: The Supreme Court-appointed panel on the new agri laws on Thursday started its consultation process and interacted with 10 farmer organisations from eight states, including Uttar Pradesh.

The apex court had on January 11 stayed the implementation of the three laws, against which farmers are protesting at Delhi borders for nearly two months now, till further orders and appointed a four-member panel to resolve the impasse.

Currently, there are three members in the panel as the fourth, Bhartiya Kisan Union president Bhupinder Singh Mann, has recused himself from the committee. The panel, in a statement, said that the interaction was held through video conference with various farmer unions and associations on Thursday.

Ten farmer organisations from Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharasthra, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh participated in discussions with committee members, it said.

Farm laws: Congress leaders detained after trying to lay siege to Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru

"The farmers' unions participated in the discussion and gave their frank opinion including suggestions to improve the implementation of Acts," the statement said.

The participating farmer bodies were asked to give their views on 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.

President of Maharasthra-based Shetkari Sanghatana Anil Ghanwat and agri-economists Ashok Gulati and Pramod Kumar Joshi are the three members of the panel.
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb has earned the highest customer satisfaction rating in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Small Commercial Insurance Study. Chubb is receiving this prestigious award based on its performance in five key customer satisfaction factors including claims, interaction, billing and payment, policy offerings, and pricing.

This leading benchmarking study profiles the experiences of small business insurance customers, representing businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

"Our number one priority is providing the very best experience for our distribution partners and their clients," said Jeffrey Updyke, Vice President, Chubb Group and Division President, Chubb Small Business. "We recognize that these are very difficult times for many small businesses, and we continue to support our clients by providing superior insurance protection and risk management expertise to reflect the unique exposures facing their business. This recognition reflects the commitment and dedication of all Chubb employees in the U.S. Everything we do starts with understanding our clients' needs and making sure they receive exceptional insurance and claims handling services."

Chubb is committed to serving America's small businesses and has been helping to support them during these unprecedented times, while giving back to those who are making a difference in the local communities we serve. In 2020, Chubb helped to ease the financial burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on its small business clients in the United States through premium reductions, extended payment terms, and the purchase of $1 million in gift cards from our small business clients that were then donated to healthcare workers and other front-line responders across the country.

About J.D. Power

J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. A pioneer in the use of big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic modeling capabilities to understand consumer behavior, J.D. Power has been delivering incisive industry intelligence on customer interactions with brands and products for more than 50 years. The world's leading businesses across major industries rely on J.D. Power to guide their customer-facing strategies.

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 33,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: www.chubb.com .

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Syracuse, N.Y.  A drug kingpin, whose life sentence for his role in the 1990 murder of Syracuse police officer Wallie Howard was commuted by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, has been released from federal prison.

Jaime A. Davidson, 52, was released from FCI Williamsburg, located in Salters, South Carolina, on Wednesday, federal inmate records show. He served more than 29 years of a life sentence.

Davidson was among the 73 pardons and 70 commutations Trump issued on his last day as president. His release comes after the federal Office of the Pardon Attorney twice turned down his case in 2013 and 2017, records show.

Davidson was found guilty by a jury of leading a drug ring and directing the robbery that ended in Howards death. Howard was working an undercover drug investigator at the time.

Local leaders and law enforcement, including U.S. Rep John Katko, Syracuse Police Chief Kenton Buckner and Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, decried Trumps decision to commute Davidsons sentence.

The man who shot and killed Howard, Robert Bam Bam Lawrence, was released from state prison to parole in October. Lawrence was 16 at the time of the murder.

Read more:

Wallie Howards friend to Trump: You let a convicted cop killer out of prison?

Dozens of judges rejected Wallie Howard killers pleas for freedom. Then came Trump

Outraged, a sock in gut: Prosecutors, U.S. Rep. Katko, police stunned after Trump frees kingpin in Syracuse cop killing

Trump commutes sentence of drug kingpin behind killing of Syracuse cop Wallie Howard

What was lost: The life of Wallie Howard Jr.
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SEBI approves Reliance-Future deal, BSE grants 'no-adverse-observation' status

Market regulator SEBI gave a go-ahead on Wednesday to Future Group's scheme of arrangement and sale of assets to Reliance, based on which the Bombay Stock Exchange also granted its "no adverse observation" report to the Rs 24,713-crore deal. Amazon had written several letters to the SEBI and other regulatory agencies to suspend their review of the deal and not grant it a no objection certification on ground that its challenge to the agreement was before the Delhi High Court.

Farmers' protest: Govt offers to suspend farm laws for 18 months; next meeting on Jan 22

In a bid to end ongoing stalemate between farmers and the government over the three farm laws, Centre has proposed to suspend the new legislations for one and a half years. In the tenth round of talks with protesting farmer leaders, the government also proposed to set up a joint committee to discuss the Acts. The farmer leaders, however, did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will take a decision after internal discussions on January 21. The almost five-hour-long talks concluded with no concrete developments and the next meeting is scheduled on January 22.

Flipkart gets CCI nod to acquire 7.8% stake in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday approved Flipkart's minority stake buying in Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd (ABFRL). E-commerce major Flipkart had proposed to acquire 7.8 per cent stake in ABFRL, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Flipkart Investments Private Ltd (FIPL), for Rs 1,500 crore.

Job crisis, climate change, infectious diseases biggest global risks in next decade: WEF

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has warned that infectious diseases, environmental risks, and economic troubles including livelihood and debt crises stand as the highest risks for the next ten years. In its 'The Global Risks Report 2021', the foundation states that the existing trends, like nationally focused agendas to stem economic losses, have been given fresh momentum by the COVID-19 crisis, and this could lead to risks including stagnation in advanced economies and lost potential in emerging and developing markets, among others.

Taking helm of divided nation, US President Joe Biden calls for end to 'uncivil war'

Democrat Joe Biden was sworn in as president of the United States on Wednesday, vowing to end the 'uncivil war' in a deeply divided country reeling from a battered economy and a raging coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 Americans. With the U.S. Capitol encircled by thousands of armed troops two weeks after a mob laid siege to it, Biden took the oath of office administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts and became the oldest U.S. president in history at age 78.
Schools could remain shut until after the Easter holidays unless virus cases fall dramatically in the coming weeks, it was feared last night.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday said he still hoped schools might be able to return after the February half-term.

But with Covid cases still at high levels, Downing Street refused to be drawn on the likely restart for millions of children stuck trying to learn from home.

And a government source acknowledged it was becoming 'increasingly difficult' to see how schools could be reopened next month, given the state of the pandemic.

Schools could remain shut until after the Easter holidays unless virus cases fall dramatically in the coming weeks, it was feared last night

During a round of media interviews yesterday, Mr Williamson insisted there would be no repeat of the shambolic episode at the start of this month when schools were ordered to close just one day after returning from the Christmas break.

He said schools would get at least two weeks' notice of any order to reopen  suggesting that ministers will have to decide by February 8 whether classrooms will reopen for the start of the second half of the spring term on February 22.

Although Boris Johnson has prioritised the early reopening of schools, government scientists have warned that a return to the classroom could trigger another sharp spike.

'We have to be realistic about the situation we are in and the impact reopening schools might have,' a source told the Mail.

Dr Mary Bousted, of the National Education Union, said: 'After the chaos and confusion that government incompetence over school opening and closure has created, it is good we now have an assurance from Gavin Williamson that school staff will be given two weeks' notice before reopening.

'The last thing that parents and children need now is a stop-start approach. We all want schools to be open, but they must be opened when it is safe to do so, and when the conditions are right to keep schools open sustainably.'

Education Secretary Gavin Williams said schools would get at least two weeks' notice of any order to reopen

Any delays will pile pressure on Mr Williamson to ensure high quality education is available to all those children forced to stay at home.

He said a further 1.3 million laptops, tablets and routers would be distributed to those in need in the coming weeks to widen access to online learning, providing the 'ultimate safety net' for disadvantaged pupils.

He added that he had 'made it clear to schools' what was the 'absolute minimum' they were expected to provide.

Mr Williamson said he wanted to get pupils back in the classroom at the 'earliest possible opportunity', adding: 'I would certainly hope that that would be before Easter.'

Downing Street confirmed that Mr Johnson wanted schools to reopen as quickly as possible but refused to be drawn on when that would be.

'If we can open them up before Easter we obviously will do but that is determined by the latest scientific evidence and data,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
Gov. Charlie Bakers Department of Energy Resources is proposing to weaken state laws to make biomass incinerating power plants eligible for millions of dollars a year in state-guaranteed renewable energy credit incentives funded by us, the rate-payers.

Burning biomass is not renewable. According to the 2012 state-sponsored Manomet Study, wood-burning biomass power plants emit even more pollution than fossil fuel plants. That is why since 2012 the rules known as the Renewable Portfolio Standard have not allowed them to be eligible for the financial benefits brought on by awarding renewable energy credits.

These proposed changes should be of concern to communities like ours across the Commonwealth that have been subject to disproportionate public health and environmental impacts as the result of concentrated pollution due to lack of proper protections for generations.

Historical circumstances such as these have lead Springfield to suffer from some of the highest asthma rates in the state according to the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts. Twice the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America named the Greater Springfield Metropolitan Area the Asthma Capital of the United States. Beyond carbon emissions, biomass incineration is a major emitter of Particulate Matter, which is closely linked to asthma according to the Partnership for Policy Integrity. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, poor air quality has been linked to higher mortality rates from the virus.

Air quality has improved slightly in our region in recent years thanks to the efforts of residents, activists, and elected officials. We need to go forward, not back.

In 2019 I joined with eight City Councilors testifying before DOER to share these same concerns. In 2020 the Springfield City Council passed a resolution unanimously calling for all state incentives for biomass incineration to be rescinded, as did the Springfield Public Health Council, writing, the potential adverse health consequences to our extremely vulnerable population are enormous. Hundreds of people have spoken out in opposition to the rule changes at hearings, via phone calls and e-mails  7,000 signed a petition against state incentives for biomass.

The Massachusetts Legislature heard our call, walking back language that initially would have created new incentives for biomass in the recently re-filed climate bill. Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren have also spoken out against biomass incineration. Even the Governors own Implementation Advisory Committee, tasked with advising on the Global Warming Solutions Act, recommended biomass incentives end.

Renewable energy incentives are meant to increase generation of renewable energy. They are not meant to be a slush fund for polluters. The Governor and DOER should reverse their efforts to change the rules and instead invest in truly clean energy to improve air quality and create jobs. If they dont, then the legislature must act to protect our communities. I urge residents to use their voices to reach out to the Governor and encourage him to do the right thing.

The days of potential polluters being rubber stamped in communities like ours are over, and we certainly wont stand for them being incentivized by our own government with the cost passed on to us. We all know a family member, a friend, or a neighbor who suffers from asthma. It is time for cities like ours to stand together and say enough is enough.

Jesse Lederman is an At-Large City Councilor in Springfield, Massachusetts and Chairman of the City Council Committees on Sustainability & Environment and Health & Human Services.
Count Dracula was inspired by one of the suspects believed to be Jack the Ripper, an author has claimed in a new book.

Andy Struthers, 54, rubbishes conventional theories that Bram Stoker's vampire was based on feared Romanian ruler Vlad the Impaler and has spent 10 years researching the character's genesis.

Early research concluded it could be an Anglican priest from Devon named Sabine Baring-Gould.

But he now believes Dracula to be based on convicted criminal Francis Tumblety, who some historians believe to be Jack the Ripper.

Francis Tumblety (left) was known to have been in the Whitechapel area during the notorious spree of killings in 1888, nine years before Dracula was published. Right: Gary Oldman starring as Dracula in 1992

Why is Francis Tumblety a Jack the Ripper suspect? Authors Paul Gainey and Stewart Evans suggested Francis Tumblety could be Jack the Ripper. In their book, The Lodger - The Arrest and Escape of Jack the Ripper, they point to a letter written by a senior police officer naming Tumblety 25 years after the murders. Chief Inspector John Littlechild, who was head of Special Branch at Scotland Yard, wrote to the author and journalist George R. Sims identifying Tumblety as 'a very likely' suspect. Mr Gainey and Mr Evans said: 'Littlechild, one of the most highly ranked detectives at Scotland Yard at the time of the murders in 1888, stated that this man was "amongst the suspects" for the Whitechapel murders.' Advertisement

Tumblety was known to have been in the Whitechapel area during the notorious spree of killings in 1888, nine years before Stoker's Gothic novel was published.

Mr Struthers, from Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, said: 'In 1972 there was a book called In Search of Dracula, it was all to do with Vlad the Impaler.

'I knew right away that the two people weren't the same, and I've made it my life's work to find out who the inspiration for Dracula was.

'What I've found during my ten years of research is that Dracula was based on Jack the Ripper, specifically the prime suspect - Francis Tumblety.'

Mr Struthers claims Stoker and Tumblety were acquainted and Stoker believed him to be the Ripper.

Tumblety was born in Ireland to parents James and Margaret Tumuelty - whose name was spelled differently on their tombstones - alongside 10 brothers and sisters, and he immigrated to New York.

He returned to London on many occasions and historical researchers Stewart Evans and Paul Gainey found evidence to point to him being the killer.

They found that Tumblety had lived for a time at a boarding house in Whitechapel during the murderous rampage of Jack the Ripper.

He was arrested on November 7, 1888, for unrelated crimes, and while released on bail Tumblety fled to France under a false name, before returning to the US.

Although it was never proven that Tumblety was Jack the Ripper, Mr Struther believes he has found enough evidence to confidently claim he was the real-life inspiration behind Dracula.

Andy Struthers, 54, (right) pictured with John Eastwood, whose great-grandfather Frederick Alkin was the first man to play Dracula

He added: 'It's in Bram Stoker's research papers, people haven't looked at the papers in the right way so it's never been seen.

'It even says the word 'ripper' in his papers, researchers have read the word as 'suckers' before.

'I've put the claim to the Stoker estate - they have said they will look into it with an open mind.

'Dracula is a true story. I know it sounds wild, but it's based on the story of Jack the Ripper - as soon as you know that bit of information, it all makes sense.'

He has made the claims in his new book, Dracula Incarnate: Unearthing the Definitive Dracula.





Haiti - News : Zapping...





Moise congratulates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

"Congratulations to new US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. I wish them success in their difficult task. I am ready to work with the new team, within the framework of this secular and still strong cooperation between our two countries," President Jovenel Moise.



Ambassador of Haiti at the inauguration of Biden

Haitis Ambassador to Washington, Bocchit Edmond on Wednesday visited the Capitol to attend the inauguration of the 46th President of the United States and said, "I am honored to represent Haiti at this historic ceremony. Haiti congratulates President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris on the occasion of their inauguration. On behalf of Jovenel Moise and his Government, I express my best wishes for success and hope to work with them to strengthen our historic ties."



Chile : Family reunification visa applications

The Visa Application Center (CAVC) is informing the general public of a new instruction on family reunification visa applications issued by the Chilean government. Only holders of permanent residence can apply for an application. We will contact each applicant for personalized assistance.



41 decrees and 120 orders

The Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights (CARDH) in its report published on January 19 on the state of human rights in Haiti for the year 2020, denounces, among other things, the "dismantling of public institutions" by the Head of State who, in the absence of a functional Parliament, issued 41 decrees and 120 orders in 2020.



Accident : 5 dead and 3 injured

On Wednesday, a truck carrying construction materials overturned on the National Road #7, in Les Cayes near "Boujoli". Balance 5 dead and 3 injured.



2 rapists arrested

Haitian National Police officers on Tuesday arrested in Mirebalais commune (Central Dept.) two individuals accused of raping a 13-year-old underage girl in a locality called "Cange".



HL/ HaitiLibre


















A federal judge declined on Thursday to force Amazon to resume hosting the social networking app Parler on its cloud computing platform, saying that doing so would not be in the public interest.

Amazon kicked Parler, which had become a gathering place for far-right conservatives, off its platform in the days after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Parler then sued Amazon, accusing the tech giant of not giving proper warning before ending its services, and asked the court to force Amazon to host the social network. Parler also argued in its complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, that Amazon colluded with Twitter in violation of antitrust laws.

Amazon responded that Parler failed to sufficiently moderate the violent and incendiary content on its site, leaving it no choice but to act swiftly. It also denied having contact with Twitter on the matter.

Judge Barbara J. Rothstein ruled that Parler proffered only faint and factually inaccurate speculation of the alleged collusion between Amazon and Twitter. She also found that there is no debate that forcing Amazon to reinstate Parler now, before the social network could put in place an effective system of moderating content, would result in the continued posting of the kind of abusive, violent content that caused Amazon to kick Parler off in the first place. The court, she wrote, explicitly rejects forcing Amazon to host that kind of violent speech.
New Delhi:

The West Bengal CID on Tuesday informed that former Calcutta high court judge CS Karnan arrested from an undisclosed location of Coimbatore in connection with Supreme Court contempt case. The information was confirmed by Karnan's lawyer Peter Ramesh.

Karnan was evading arrest since May 9 after failing to get relief from the Supreme Court, which had refused to hear his plea seeking a stay on its order awarding him a six-month jail term for contempt of court.

Justice Karnans counsel had mentioned the matter before a vacation bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and Deepak Gupta, which had refused to interfere with the order directing the West Bengal police to take him into custody.

Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, representing Justice Karnan, had told the bench that the high court judge was entitled to know why he was convicted for contempt of court by a seven-judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar.

Justice (Retd.) Karnan arrested by Police in Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), confirms his lawyer Peter Ramesh pic.twitter.com/HLkXNgHszx  ANI (@ANI_news) June 20, 2017

I am seeking only a stay. I had made a request to the CJI to take up the matter. Justice Karnan, like other litigants, is entitled to get at least an order from the court, he had said.

The detailed verdict of the May 9 order had not been made available till date, he had submitted.

Also Read: Controversial Calcutta High Court judge Justice CS Karnan retires

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The Nationals are the most prestigious awards of their kind, setting the benchmark for innovations in new home design, marketing and sales. ~Angela Harris, Chairperson of the Nationals

SmartTouch Interactive, an award-winning interactive real estate marketing agency, real estate marketing automation and lead nurturing CRM solution company announced today NAHBs National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC) has named the 2021 Silver Award Winners for The Nationals new home sales and marketing awards. Home builders, developers, associates and consultants. SmartTouch Interactive received Silver Award honors for Best Website for a Builder for Esperanza Homes and Best Realtor/Broker Program for Wolf Ranch.

The award-winning SmartTouch design team won Best Website for a Builder Silver Award for their work on EsperanzaHomes.com. The project entailed a meticulous design of every page to effectively map the home buyer journey and to deliver a comprehensive virtual user experience that included the ability to try different home exterior styles, plan interior rooms, and arrange furniture, as well as calls to action designed to engage and convert buyers. The site also includes three financial calculators for estimating energy, savings and mortgage. Since launching the website, the average visitor stays on the site for nearly 4:49 minutes and views 5.67 pages, which is a significant increase from 2:36 and 3.4 pages.

The Best Realtor/Broker Program executed for Wolf Ranch by Hillwood was to increase realtor participation from its 2019 level of 57% to approximately 75%, to motivate realtors to bring repeat referrals, and to increase sales reach with agents throughout Williamson and Travis counties. The project included developing digital, web, and print communication pieces and a portal where the client could showcase top producing realtors, as well as a scoreboard listing top producers. The Wolf Ranch sales goal for 2020 was 180 homes, which was surpassed in November with a total of 240 homes sold.

Both award-winning productions are featured in the SmartTouch Interactive Best of 2020 Spotlight Series on http://www.smarttouchinteractive.com.

We are honored to receive the NAHB Silver Awards for both the Esperanza Homes website and the Wolf Ranch Realtor projects, commented Robert Cowes, President & CEO, SmartTouch Interactive. The recognition validates the work we are doing to help home builders across the country to pivot their marketing to programs that have an impact and achieve as well as exceed sales goals even when faced with the challenges of the past year. Our high standard of excellence in our industry and respective disciplines continue to enable us to achieve these outstanding results for our clients.

The Nationals salutes and honors the best in the home builder industry for their determination, integrity, creativity and endurance. Silver Award Winners are the top vote recipients in each category and are the finalists for the Gold Award. Gold Awards in each category will be presented in February 2021 in a Virtual Awards Ceremony.

"The Nationals are the most prestigious awards of their kind, setting the benchmark for innovations in new home design, marketing and sales," said Angela Harris, chairperson of the Nationals. "NAHB's commitment to recognizing originality, imagination and success has been exemplified by its award winners since the competition's inception."

Started in 1982 as the Institute of Residential Marketing, The Nationals award program continues to recognize superior new home sales and marketing achievements.

With 61 categories across various disciplines of the new home industry, the awards honor excellence in product and community design, advertising, marketing and sales achievements by individuals and sales teams.

During a Four-day judging process, a panel of 9 industry professionals from across the country determined the Silver and Gold award winners from a field of over 900 entries.

The Nationals are co-sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

To view sliver award winners or to order tickets to the event, visit http://www.thenationals.com.

About SmartTouch Interactive

SmartTouch Interactive is the only marketing agency focused on real estate to offer: proven marketing and lead generation programs; a superior lead nurturing CRM and Marketing Automation platform, SmartTouch NexGen; and a cutting-edge homebuyer geofencing solution, SmartTouch Geo, all driven by an award-winning team of innovative marketing professionals. Our innovation in lead generation and digital marketing programs and proven accountable ROI methodology has helped hundreds of real estate developers and home builders generate more than 1 million leads and $2 billion in new home sales. http://www.smarttouchinteractive.com

We believe the market is ready and eager for this next step of leveraging the confluence of what are becoming ubiquitous technologies for improved collaboration, increased efficiency, and better outcomes."

AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference are coming together to form Geo Week 2022 and will take place February 6-8, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. The joining of these events reflects the increased integration between the built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies. Geo Week is at the forefront of this integration, providing education, technology, and resources for professionals in industries including AEC, Asset & Facility Management, Disaster & Emergency Response, Earth Observation & Satellite Applications, Energy & Utilities, Infrastructure & Transportation, Land & Natural Resource Management, Mining & Aggregates, Surveying & Mapping, and Urban Planning/Smart Cities.

Weve witnessed the growing convergence between geospatial and the built world, and we received positive feedback from customers about holding the events together, which had been the plan for 2020 and 2021 before the pandemic forced us to cancel due to the unavoidable consequence of the worsening magnitude of the public health and safety issues caused by the COVID-19, said Lee Corkhill, Marketing Director at Diversified Communications. We believe the market is ready and eager for this next step of leveraging the confluence of what are becoming ubiquitous technologies for improved collaboration, increased efficiency, and better outcomes. Much of the conference content and technology being showcased will reflect and support this increasing integration. An Advisory Board of industry leaders will guide conference programming and event development.

In addition to Diversified Communications technology events coming together, powerful partnership events will also take place at Geo Week, including the ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing) Annual Conference and USIBDs (U.S. Institute of Building Documentation) Annual Symposium. ASPRS, USIBD and other events have supported and taken place with ILMF, AEC Next and SPAR 3D when the latter events took place separately. Bringing all these brands together as a new powerhouse event under the Geo Week umbrella is a fitting evolution that recognizes the increasing convergence of the technologies.

Karen Schuckman, PLS, CP, CMS and Managing Director of ASPRS, said, Bringing ASPRS and ILMF together beginning in 2018 reunited the photogrammetry, remote sensing, and lidar professionals and vendors who enthusiastically welcomed the opportunity to attend one consolidated event; an event where they could roam one large exhibit hall and attend educational workshops to broaden their expertise into related disciplines. Bringing the built world into this mix through AEC Next and SPAR 3D acknowledges not only the richness and complexity of the technologies we have available for spatial analysis and decision making, it also give us all the opportunity to explore and invent new analysis methods that leverage the fusion of imagery, elevation, and bathymetry with 3D models of the built world. The merging of these disciplines IS the future. Co-locating our annual conferences and expositions facilitates us traveling into the future on a multi-lane superhighway.

The coming together of professionals from the geospatial and built environment communities is long overdue, said John Russo, AIA, President of USIBD. Finally, one event, one place where we can all gather to network and gain insight into the convergence of our worlds. The USIBD is excited to participate in GeoWeek and share its expertise in reality capture, BIM, digital twin and more!

Geo Week counts a broad range of industry organizations, publications, and portals as supporters during this unprecedented period of transformation and disruption driving the rapid expansion of the internet of things, the development of smart cities, and a data revolution altering how people live and work. At the center of this revolution are geospatial, 3D, and location-based technologies. Geo Week is the only platform-neutral event in North America that brings together industry leaders to harness these technologies and explore the myriad applications they empower.

According to Corkhill, there will also be content that addresses the built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies independently of one another.

The event represents a continuum, with individuals and organizations from all corners of industry at differing levels of adoption. Geo Week will support a future vision, in which professionals and organizations that understand the full spectrum of data needs, work processes, software integration, and standards in both geospatial and BIM will be tomorrows technology leaders.

The event will feature multiple tracks with content clearly identified as relevant to one or more of the audience groups feeding into Geo Week. The International Lidar Mapping Forum (ILMF) audience has historically been comprised of precision measurement professionals in surveying and mapping who use airborne and terrestrial lidar and related remote sensing technologies. The AEC Next audience has historically been comprised of professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) that use technologies such as reality capture, automation, AI and XR to bid and manage projects and improve workflows. The SPAR 3D audience has historically been comprised of professionals who use 3D capture, scanning, visualization and modeling technologies across a variety of verticals. We will use these familiar brands to designate content and make it easy and accessible for all stakeholders to find the solutions, connections, and education they need, no matter which vertical or industry segment they originated from. says Corkhill. To this end, the organizers will also continue to publish Geo Week ENewsletter, SPAR 3D ENewsletter, and AEC ENewsletter. Interested parties may subscribe to one or more of these newsletters here.

Virtual Offerings in 2021

Setting the stage for the grand opening of Geo Week 2022 will be a series of virtual offerings this year, including webinars, panel discussions, technology showcases, and case studies. These offerings will serve to bring geospatial and built world stakeholders together via education and connections, detailing how these segments can and will work together in the future. From collaboration across the project team to alignment of industry measurements and standards, interested parties will gain valuable information and a roadmap to the future via this information hub. Learn more and register here.

About Geo Week

Geo Week is part of a network of events and media for the global geospatial and built markets organized by Diversified Communications, a leading organizer of conferences, trade shows, and online media with 15 years in the technology arena. Geo Week, taking place February 6-8, 2022, is the new brand name of previously stand-alone events AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference, and reflects the increased integration between the built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies. Powerful partnership events will also take place at Geo Week, including ASPRS (American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing) and USIBD (US Institute of Building Documentation). Diversified Communications also produces Geo Week ENewsletter, SPAR3D ENewsletter, AEC ENewsletter, GeoBusiness Show (UK), Commercial UAV Expo Americas, Commercial UAV Europe and Commercial UAV News. For more information, visit http://www.geo-week.com.

About Diversified Communications

Diversified Communications is a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities, and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products, Diversified Communications connects, educates, and strengthens business communities in over 14 industries including technology, food and beverage, healthcare, natural and organic, and business management. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit http://www.divcom.com.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 19:21:09|Editor: huaxia

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GABORONE, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Botswana has called for urgent global solidarity to prioritize investment in safe COVID-19 vaccines following revelations that Africa will be the last to receive enough vaccine coverage.

Lemogang Kwape, Botswana's minister of international affairs and cooperation, made the call during his virtual participation in the 148th session of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s executive board.

The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response recently reported that there are great inequalities in the COVID-19 vaccines availability and rollout among and between nations especially those in the developing world.

Kwape said the report indicating that the African region will be the last to receive enough vaccine coverage for public health impact is deeply concerning.

"We therefore call for urgent solidarity to prioritize investment in affordable and safe COVID-19 vaccines and equitable allocation based on the principle of fairness for public health impact," said Kwape.

However, Kwape said Africa remains confident that the WHO secretariat in partnership with other United Nations (UN) agencies and philanthropic organizations will continue to ensure equitable allocation of critical items which include personal protective equipment comprising medical masks, respirators, oxygen concentrators, pulse oximeters, ventilators and other essential biomedical items for clinical care, particularly to low and middle-income countries. Enditem
Azealia Banks has denied bizarre rumours she ate her dead cat Lucifer - but shocked fans with an even more horrifying revelation on Thursday.

The American rapper, 29, revealed during a live radio interview that she owns the skull of a six-year-old girl who died of head trauma.

She found the skull on a 'scientific research website' and even showed it off via Zoom while speaking to The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Shocking: Azealia Banks has denied bizarre rumours she ate her dead cat Lucifer - but shocked fans with an even more horrifying revelation on Thursday

She began the interview by denying rumours she'd eaten her dead cat, after posting a video to Instagram last week of herself digging up the animal and boiling it.

'Absolutely not, no I didn't eat the cat,' she said. 'And firstly, I wouldn't eat a cat that has been dead for three months.'

Azealia explained that she'd dug up and boiled Lucifer 'as part of taxidermy', which is a hobby she's interested in.

Bizarre: The American rapper, 29, revealed during a live radio interview that she owns the skull of a six-year-old girl who died of head trauma

'I don't know what you think happens when you go to a medical school and you see a skull or skeleton there, it's the same thing that happens,' she added.

She then revealed that her grim collection includes the skull of a dead child.

'There are lots of scientific research websites where you can buy human skulls like this one,' she said, holding up the skull on the livestream.

'Oh, my God, you've got a skull there,' radio presenter Kyle Sandilands said.

'This is the skull of a six-year-old girl who died of head trauma,' Azealia replied, which prompted Kyle's co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson to ask: 'Why do you want that?'

Morbid: She found the skull on a 'scientific research website' and even showed it off via Zoom while speaking to The Kyle and Jackie O Show

Shocked: Radio hosts Kyle Sandilands (left) and Jackie 'O' Henderson (right) were horrified when Azealia showed them the human skull

Azealia said she 'loves bones' and 'respects the afterlife', adding: 'I think that the bone is where the energy holds for a person.'

Last week, the musician posted a gruesome video on Instagram that appeared to show her digging up her dead cat Lucifer and boiling it.

She posted - and deleted - a disturbing set of clips in which she and another person exhumed the bagged remains of the cat who died three months ago.

The first video showed her using her hands to claw in the soil to dig something up before pulling out a large white bag.

Horrific: Last week, the musician posted a gruesome video on Instagram that appeared to show her digging up her dead cat Lucifer and boiling it

She captioned the post: 'Lucifer 2009-2020. My Dear kitty. Thank you for everything. A legend. An icon. Forever a serval serve.'

The next video was even more grotesque and showed her stirring a boiling pot of contents including what looked like a skull, which she captioned 'she's ready'.

The troubled rapper plans to make earrings out of her dead cat's jaw bones.

Say what? The troubled rapper plans to make earrings out of her dead cat's jaw bones

Azealia has previously admitted to being a 'witch' and revealed in 2015 that her interest in magic came from her mother.

'My mother practiced white table magic. Prayers to the ancestors and praying to saints and praying for all kind of protection' she told Broadly.

This is also not the first time Azealia has been criticised for her alleged treatment of animals. In December 2016, she shared a bizarre Instagram video showing herself cleaning out a cupboard after three years of apparently sacrificing chickens.

The Biden administration on Wednesday put Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist who was sworn in on Tuesday as the top lawyer for the National Security Agency, on administrative leave, a U.S. official said on Wednesday.

Mr. Elliss last-minute appointment was ordered over the weekend by Christopher C. Miller, then the acting defense secretary, prompting Speaker Nancy Pelosi to call for an inspector general investigation of his selection and request that the Pentagon stop his swearing-in.

The Trump administration, not surprisingly, ignored Ms. Pelosi, and Mr. Ellis began work on Tuesday. But his work at the National Security Agency lasted less than two full days.

He will remain on administrative leave while his hiring is investigated by the Pentagons inspector general.
Below is the full text of US President Joe Biden's inaugural address after he was sworn in as the country's 46th president.

Chief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, Vice President Pence, distinguished guests, and my fellow Americans,

This is America's day.

This is democracy's day.

A day of history and hope.

Of renewal and resolve.

Through a crucible for the ages America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.

Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy.

The will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded.

We have learned again that democracy is precious.

Democracy is fragile.

And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

So now, on this hallowed ground where just days ago violence sought to shake this Capitol's very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.

We look ahead in our uniquely American way -- restless, bold, optimistic -- and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.

I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here.

I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

You know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength of our nation.

As does President Carter, who I spoke to last night but who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.

I have just taken the sacred oath each of these patriots took an oath first sworn by George Washington.

But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us.

On "We the People" who seek a more perfect Union.

This is a great nation and we are a good people.

Over the centuries through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we have come so far. But we still have far to go.

We will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility.

Much to repair.

Much to restore.

Much to heal.

Much to build.

And much to gain.

Few periods in our nation's history have been more challenging or difficult than the one we're in now.

A once-in-a-century virus silently stalks the country.

It's taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II.

Millions of jobs have been lost.

Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed.

A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear.

And now, a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges - to restore the soul and to secure the future of America - requires more than words.

It requires that most elusive of things in a democracy:

Unity.

Unity.

In another January in Washington, on New Year's Day 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

When he put pen to paper, the President said, "If my name ever goes down into history it will be for this act and my whole soul is in it."

My whole soul is in it.

Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this:

Bringing America together.

Uniting our people.

And uniting our nation.

I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Uniting to fight the common foes we face:

Anger, resentment, hatred.

Extremism, lawlessness, violence.

Disease, joblessness, hopelessness.

With unity we can do great things. Important things.

We can right wrongs.

We can put people to work in good jobs.

We can teach our children in safe schools.

We can overcome this deadly virus.

We can reward work, rebuild the middle class, and make health care secure for all.

We can deliver racial justice.

We can make America, once again, the leading force for good in the world.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy.

I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real.

But I also know they are not new.

Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, and demonization have long torn us apart.

The battle is perennial.

Victory is never assured.

Through the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, our "better angels" have always prevailed.

In each of these moments, enough of us came together to carry all of us forward.

History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity.

We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors.

We can treat each other with dignity and respect.

We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.

For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.

No progress, only exhausting outrage.

No nation, only a state of chaos.

This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward.

And, we must meet this moment as the United States of America.

If we do that, I guarantee you, we will not fail.

We have never, ever, ever failed in America when we have acted together.

And so today, at this time and in this place, let us start afresh.

All of us.

Let us listen to one another.

Hear one another.

See one another.

Show respect to one another.

Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path.

Every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war.

And, we must reject a culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this.

America has to be better than this.

And, I believe America is better than this.

Just look around.

Here we stand, in the shadow of a Capitol dome that was completed amid the Civil War, when the Union itself hung in the balance.

Yet we endured and we prevailed.

Here we stand looking out to the great Mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream.

Here we stand, where 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protestors tried to block brave women from marching for the right to vote.

Today, we mark the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office - Vice President Kamala Harris.

Don't tell me things can't change.

Here we stand across the Potomac from Arlington National Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace.

And here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, and to drive us from this sacred ground.

That did not happen.

It will never happen.

Not today.

Not tomorrow.

Not ever.

To all those who supported our campaign I am humbled by the faith you have placed in us.

To all those who did not support us, let me say this: Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart.

And if you still disagree, so be it.

That's democracy. That's America. The right to dissent peaceably, within the guardrails of our Republic, is perhaps our nation's greatest strength.

Yet hear me clearly: Disagreement must not lead to disunion.

And I pledge this to you: I will be a President for all Americans.

I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Many centuries ago, Saint Augustine, a saint of my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love.

What are the common objects we love that define us as Americans?

I think I know.

Opportunity.

Security.

Liberty.

Dignity.

Respect.

Honor.

And, yes, the truth.

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson.

There is truth and there are lies.

Lies told for power and for profit.

And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders - leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation - to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.

I understand that many Americans view the future with some fear and trepidation.

I understand they worry about their jobs, about taking care of their families, about what comes next.

I get it.

But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don't look like you do, or worship the way you do, or don't get their news from the same sources you do.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.

If we show a little tolerance and humility.

If we're willing to stand in the other person's shoes just for a moment.

Because here is the thing about life: There is no accounting for what fate will deal you.

There are some days when we need a hand.

There are other days when we're called on to lend one.

That is how we must be with one another.

And, if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future.

My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we will need each other.

We will need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter.

We are entering what may well be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus.

We must set aside the politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.

I promise you this: as the Bible says weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.

We will get through this, together

The world is watching today.

So here is my message to those beyond our borders: America has been tested and we have come out stronger for it.

We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again.

Not to meet yesterday's challenges, but today's and tomorrow's.

We will lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example.

We will be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security.

We have been through so much in this nation.

And, in my first act as President, I would like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those we lost this past year to the pandemic.

To those 400,000 fellow Americans - mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, friends, neighbours, and co-workers.

We will honor them by becoming the people and nation we know we can and should be.

Let us say a silent prayer for those who lost their lives, for those they left behind, and for our country.

Amen.

This is a time of testing.

We face an attack on democracy and on truth.

A raging virus.

Growing inequity.

The sting of systemic racism.

A climate in crisis.

America's role in the world.

Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways.

But the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with the gravest of responsibilities.

All of us.

It is a time for boldness, for there is so much to do.

And, this is certain.

We will be judged, you and I, for how we resolve the cascading crises of our era.

Will we rise to the occasion?

Will we master this rare and difficult hour?

Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world for our children?

I believe we must and I believe we will.

And when we do, we will write the next chapter in the American story.

It's a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me.

It's called "American Anthem" and there is one verse stands out for me:

"The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day

What shall be our legacy?

What will our children say?...

Let me know in my heart

When my days are through

America

America

I gave my best to you."

Let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our nation.

If we do this then when our days are through our children and our children's children will say of us they gave their best.

They did their duty.

They healed a broken land.

My fellow Americans, I close today where I began, with a sacred oath.

Before God and all of you I give you my word.

I will always level with you.

I will defend the Constitution.

I will defend our democracy.

I will defend America.

I will give my all in your service thinking not of power, but of possibilities.

Not of personal interest, but of the public good.

And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear.

Of unity, not division.

Of light, not darkness.

An American story of decency and dignity.

Of love and of healing.

Of greatness and of goodness.

May this be the story that guides us.

The story that inspires us.

The story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history.

We met the moment.

That democracy and hope, truth and justice, did not die on our watch but thrived.

That our America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world.

That is what we owe our forebearers, one another, and generations to follow.

So, with purpose and resolve we turn to the tasks of our time.

Sustained by faith.

Driven by conviction.

And, devoted to one another and to this country we love with all our hearts.

May God bless America and may God protect our troops.

Thank you, America.
Source: Reuters

India is looking to push through an independent investment deal alongside its trade agreement with the European Union (EU) in a bid to renew bilateral ties.

An official told The Economic Times that India wants the investment deal to happen parallelly and independently. The deal would focus on investments, technology, and capital flows.

Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report.

The EU, in the interest of solidifying legalities for investors on both sides, said it is ready to begin negotiations for a standalone investment protection agreement, as per the report.

Indias bilateral trade and investment agreement (BTIA) with the bloc was suspended in 2013.

The EU has demanded greater market access for spirits, wines and automobiles and opening up of e-commerce, insurance and banking sectors and wants to link factors like environment, government procurement, and labour to the trade deal.

On the other hand, India is looking to stiff competition from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, by signing preferential access for textile exports, it added.

An expert felt the environment and labour conditions would be sticking points, especially since the EU is unlikely to give us the status of a data secure nation. But said concessions for their auto imports can be considered in return for zero-duty export of textiles.

Another expert pointed out that environmental conditions such as tariffs for products that do not meet requirements, would be a part of the European Green deal and India should be prepared as it is a no longer simply give and take.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address after he was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," U.S. President Joe Biden said.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Hours after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, Biden signed in the Oval Office an executive order that returns his country back to the Paris Agreement on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision to abandon the deal.

"We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," he said before the signing.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the new U.S. administration's announcement to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change.

"I warmly welcome President (Joe) Biden's steps to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis," said Guterres in a statement.

U.S. President Joe Biden (Front) delivers his inaugural address after he was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Jan. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

Biden had promised that he would rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day of taking office.

"Today, the Trump Administration officially left the Paris Climate Agreement. And in exactly 77 days, a Biden Administration will rejoin it," Biden tweeted on Nov. 4 last year, the day the United States formally withdrew from the pact.

Trump announced the withdrawal soon after he took office in 2017, citing concerns about the pact's threat to the U.S. economy.

Biden picked former Secretary of State John Kerry to be his special envoy for climate, indicating the importance of this issue in his foreign policy.

The Paris Agreement of climate change, agreed on by almost every country in the world in 2015 after lengthy negotiations, aims to tackle climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and sets a global target of keeping the rise in the average temperature no higher than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

(Natural News) The Republican governor of Florida has announced that his administration will look into Big Tech censorship. Gov. Ron DeSantis told an audience in Austin, Texas that Florida is considering ways to respond to technology firms recent censorship. DeSantis stated that the role Big Tech companies play in the lives of Americans made the issue much more pressing.

DeSantis made the remarks during a keynote luncheon hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The governor commented that tech companies censoring reports specifically from the New York Post bothered him. I was very disturbed to see credible articles [from the Post] about Hunter Biden actively suppressed by these Big Tech oligarchs  [which] had an impact on the presidential election, he said.

The Florida governor said the events that unfolded since the beginning of 2021 were really chilling. DeSantis referenced Twitters banning of President Donald Trump, which he called a big deal. However, the governor said that the actions toward alternative social media platform Parler bothered him more than Trumps suspension.

DeSantis explained that Parler was a response to Twitters conservative censorship. The platform had gained traction in recent months, with users jumping there from Twitter. But Apple and Google have since removed Parler from their app store and Amazon terminated the sites web hosting contract on its servers.

Dubbing the actions toward Parler as a coordinated assault, DeSantis condemned the Big Tech oligarchy as being more powerful than the government itself.

The governor warned that Big Tech firms were already serving as judge, jury and executioner with no due process and could effectively wipe someones livelihood off the map.

Given these actions by Big Tech, DeSantis put forward protections for people against Big Tech. I think there needs to be protections for people. I dont think we can have a couple of these far-left-wing tech oligarchs control the information in our country. Im not going to accept that and I dont think any of you are going to accept that. So, were thinking through what we can do to provide people some protections, the governor elaborated.

DeSantis now supports an overhaul of Section 230 protections

Back when DeSantis served as a U.S. congressman for Florida, he had already been concerned about Big Tech censorship and how these companies hide behind Section 230 protections. I was somebody that  supported [Section] 230, all that stuff when I was in Congress to repeal it, he recounted.

The now-Florida governor then shared that Section 230 needed to be fully thought over. He explained that if conservatives could be censored for having views that challenge the Silicon Valley-approved narrative, it would mean that the core freedoms and values protected by the First Amendment are being threatened.

I want a society in which we have a robust flow of information, he added.

DeSantis concluded that his state was going to take action on the issue, alongside Texas, staing: Were thinking very, very deeply about this. I think its probably the most important legislative issue that were going to have to get right this year and next year in Florida.

The Florida governor appears to have an ally in Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, his GOP party mate. Cruz has been an outspoken critic of Big Tech and its biased censorship. Back in October 2020, he slammed Big Tech censorship as the single greatest threat to free speech and democracy in America.

Speaking to Breitbart News Daily host Alex Marlow, the Texas lawmaker warned that brazen Silicon Valley billionaires have amassed more power than ever seen before over information, the public square [and] discourse. Cruz continued that these same billionaires have used their newfound power toward shamelessly silencing and censoring conservatives. (Related: Ted Cruz: Big Tech believes it has authority over what the press is allowed to report.)

The Texas senator exhorted President Donald Trump and the Department of Justice to use enforcement and protection actions to ensure First Amendment protections are maintained.

Later that month, Cruz slammed Twitter for its censorship of the Posts stories on Hunter Biden. In a strongly-worded letter, the lawmaker claimed the social media sites decision to suppress the stories as hypocritical. According to Cruz, the company has allowed plenty of other stories with dubious stories to be posted on the site. (Related: WATCH: Ted Cruz eviscerates Jack Dorsey over whether Twitter is a publisher.)

Censorship.news has more about how Big Tech firms undermine the First Amendment.

Sources include:

DailyWire.com

Breitbart.com

Twitter.com
(CNN) US President Joe Biden will rightly spend his first days in office addressing the myriad domestic crises that he has inherited from his predecessor, Donald Trump. However, the transfer of power in the most powerful elected office in the world usually means a change in foreign policy, too.

And if President Biden's inaugural address is anything to go by, the global focus for the next four years will chiefly be to restore the world's trust in America after the chaotic foreign policy of the one-term Trump administration.

In his address, Biden spoke of a moment of "renewal and resolve," and described his victory as "the triumph of a cause, the cause of democracy." But what will the 46th American president do to heal democracy around the world that Trump seemingly went out of his way to undermine and wound?

Throughout his address, Biden repeated the importance of restoring unity and the sanctity of democracy across America. He spoke, as many presidents have before him, of America being a beacon for the world.

It's no secret that under Trump, America's role as the shining city on the hill had been severely undermined. Whether it was using the office to tell trivial lies, naked attempts to suppress postal votes, promoting conspiracy theories about the legitimacy of the US election or cozying up to dictators and regimes that trampled on their own populations, Trump trashed America's credibility on the world stage.

'America's role in the world'

Biden's speech didn't make any major foreign policy announcements, but he tried to assure those watching around the world that his America will be a more reliable and stable global partner.

His direct "message to those beyond our borders" was that America had been tested, but that it "will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again" as a "trusted partner for peace and security."

This suggests a return to the pre-Trump era of America leading the Western order, underpinning NATO and restoring a multilateral approach to foreign policy. He has already announced that he will re-join the Paris climate accord and it is very likely he will try and open talks with the partners who signed the Iran nuclear deal under Barack Obama.

However, reversing some of Trump's more hostile global actions might be less simple than issuing a few executive orders.

It was only last week that Trump ignited a series of diplomatic wildfires for Biden to put out.

He poked China in the eye by by lifting restrictions on contacts between American officials and representatives from Taiwan; designated Houthi rebels in Yemen as a foreign terrorist organization; and named Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism. And on his final full day in office, his administration accused China of committing genocide against Uyghur Muslims and ethnic and religious minority groups who live in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.

Whatever the various merits of these policies, they have inflamed relations that a new American president will inherit, and it will take more than calm words to settle them.

Biden's first act as President was plea for calm and unity in America. It was the right message for his domestic audience. However, America's allies and enemies are well aware that the new President has a mountainous in-tray, and while he has promised to rejoin the World Health Organization and the Paris accord, what US leadership in a changed global landscape will look like is still very much unclear.

The longer Biden takes to claim his place as the leader of the free world, the more those who enjoyed Trump's lack of interest in foreign affairs will seek to exploit the void left by America as it took a backseat on the world stage.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Biden pledges America will 'engage with the world once again'."
HMG Strategy Special Cyber Roundtable: Exploring the Long-Term Ramifications of the SolarWinds

In this custom roundtable discussion for CISOs and CIOs, you'll discover unique insights on both the short and long-term implications of the breach for organizations as well as recommendations for CISOs and security leaders on next steps they need to be taking.

In this custom roundtable discussion for CISOs and CIOs, you'll discover unique insights on both the short and long-term implications of the breach for organizations as well as recommendations for CISOs and security leaders on next steps they need to be taking.

WESTPORT, Conn., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMG Strategy, the world's #1 digital platform for connecting technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world, is kicking off its 2021 Thought Leadership Webinar and Roundtable Series next week with a special Cyber Roundtable Discussion for CISOs and CIOs on the long-term implications of the SolarWinds cyber breach.



Exploring the Long-Term Ramifications of the SolarWinds Attack, which takes place on January 27 at 11 a.m. ET, is designed for CISOs and CIOs to participate in and will feature behind-the-scenes insights from cybersecurity leaders on the short- and long-term implications of the SolarWinds hack. The event, which will feature Jesse Bociek, CISO at DriV Incorporated, Rocco Grillo, Managing Director, Global Cyber Risk & Incident Response Investigative Services at Alvarez & Marsal, and Lakshmi Hanspal, Global CSO at Box, will provide valuable perspectives on the lessons security teams can learn from this attack, along with recommendations and next steps that CISOs and CIOs should be taking.

HMG has really taken it up a notch with its 2021 Thought Leadership agenda, said Hunter Muller, President and CEO of HMG Strategy. Technology executives need to think differently to drive new go-to-market and customer strategies with the CEO and line-of-business leaders and be able to protect the enterprise against increasingly complex and nefarious attacks. To help address these challenges, weve curated a lineup with the best and brightest in the industry to provide CIOs, CISOs and technology executives with crucial insights for their companies and careers.

Story continues

To learn more about the SolarWinds digital roundtable and to register for the event, click here.

On January 26th, HMG Strategy will host a leadership-focused webinar powered by Zoom. Scaling the Ladder of Success: Priceless Career Lessons from Thriving CIOs kicks off at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT and will feature CIOs and industry leaders such as Harry Moseley, Global CIO at Zoom, who will share their most valuable leadership lessons, recommendations, and career opportunities.

To learn more about this webinar and to register for the event, click here.

On January 28, How Financially Smart Is Your Hybrid Cloud Strategy? will explore the financial and operational benefits of adopting a hybrid cloud environment by reducing an organizations technology and infrastructure costs while improving agility, scalability, and performance. This 60-minute, interactive digital roundtable discussion will feature Steven Kaplan, Vice President Customer Success Finance of Nutanix, and offer CIOs, CTOs and technology executives insight on new ways to lower costs, drive operational efficiencies, and optimize technology investments while remaining secure.

To learn more about this digital roundtable and to register for the event, click here.

HMG Strategy has also received exceptional interest in its webinars through the strength of the 400,000+ technology executives in its community and the quality of the content it delivers. HMG Strategy has scheduled multiple 30-to-60-minute webinars over the next few months with an arsenal of innovative technology companies such as Citrix, Darktrace, HCL Technologies, Ivanti, Moveworks, Nutanix, Okta, OutSystems, PagerDuty, RangeForce, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, UiPath, Zoom, Zscaler, and Zylo.

Click here to view HMG Strategys complete calendar of upcoming and on-demand webinars.

UPCOMING SUMMITS

HMG Strategy will be hosting its 2021 HMG Live! Washington D.C. CISO Executive Leadership Summit on February 2. Topics to be discussed at this event will include how to create a secure organization and mitigate future risks, a look at new technologies that are allowing companies to pivot into new areas of business, and fostering a connected organizational culture in a hybrid world. Prominent security and technology executives speaking at this event include:

Selim Aissi, SVP & CISO, Ellie Mae

Dr. David Bray, Inaugural Director, Global GeoTech Center & Commission, Atlantic Council

Mignona Cote, Global Specialty Head, Security, Risk, and Compliance, Amazon Web Services

Kirsten Davies, SVP & CISO, Estee Lauder Companies

John Iannarelli, Former FBI Special Agent and Senior Executive Advisor, FBI

Wanda Jones-Heath, Chief Information Security Officer/DAF Principal Cyber Advisor, United States Air Force

Monti Knode, Director of Customer Success, Horizon3.ai

Adam Lee, VP & CSO, Dominion Energy

Matias Madou, CTO & Co-Founder, Secure Code Warrior

Jana Monroe, VP Global Security and Enterprise Risk Management, Herbalife

Stephen Spagnuolo, NA Digital Security & Risk, Stanton Chase

James Turgal, Managing Director, Cyber Risk Services, Deloitte

Valued partners for the 2021 HMG Live! Washington D.C. CISO Executive Leadership Summit on February 2 will include Appian, Aryaka, Darktrace, Forescout Technologies, Globant, Horizon3.ai, Infoblox, Insight, Ivanti, Obsidian Security, PagerDuty, Secure Code Warrior, SentinelOne, Slack, SIM Capital Area, Sonatype, Tessian, and Tanium.

To learn more about 2021 HMG Live! Washington D.C. CISO Executive Summit and to register for the event, click here.

HMG Strategy will also be hosting its 2021 HMG Live! Charlotte CIO Executive Leadership Summit on February 4. Topics to be discussed at this event will include how CIOs and technology executives can guide enterprise leaders into new opportunities to navigate the new way of working, ways AI can assist in preventing security threats, and keeping a connected work culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. Prominent technology executives speaking at this event include:

Lekha Banerjee, Chief Architect & Futurist, Large Global Financial Services Company

Greg Berkin, VP, IT & Cybersecurity, and CIO, Caladrius Biosciences, Inc.

Shoukat Ali Bhamani, VP, CIO, and CDO, Schaeffler Group Americas

Dr. David Bray, Inaugural Director, Global GeoTech Center & Commission, Atlantic Council

Marcus Fowler, Director of Strategic Threat, Darktrace

Angelic Gibson, CIO, AvidXchange

Mike Hillhouse, Chief Information Officer/Security Officer, Cadrillion Capital

Scott Mathis, Chief Information Security Officer, RBC Bank US

Onyeka Nchege, SVP & CIO, Novant Health

Jason Rader, Director of Services, Insight

Anna Ransley, Vice President, Digital and Technology, Heineken

Swamy Sriperumbudur, CIO/COO, Infomerica Inc.

Patrick Thompson, CIO, Albemarle Corporation

Marykay Wells, CIO, Pearson

Valued partners for the 2021 HMG Live! Charlotte CIO Executive Leadership Summit on February 4 will include Appian, Aryaka, the Charlotte Area Technology Collaborative (CATC), Darktrace, Forescout Technologies, Globant, Horizon3.ai, Insight, Ivanti, the North Carolina Technology Association (NCTA), Obsidian Security, PagerDuty, SIM Charlotte, Slack, Sonatype, Tessian, and Tanium.

To learn more about 2021 HMG Live! Charlotte CIO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here.

HMG Strategy will be hosting its 2021 HMG Live! Silicon Valley Global Innovation Summit on February 9. Topics to be discussed at this event will include the opportunities available to companies in the face of turbulent times, innovative ways organizational leaders can seek to strengthen revenues and profits, and a look at various ways new technologies will enable business leaders to remain competitive in the market. Prominent technology executives speaking at this event include:

Charles Aunger, Managing Director Technology (CTO) & Advisory Board member, Health2047

Dr. David Bray, Inaugural Director, Global GeoTech Center & Commission, Atlantic Council

Allan Cockriel, CIO, Global Functions/IRM & Global CISO, Shell

Kostas Georgakopoulos, CISO, Procter & Gamble

Rocco Grillo, Managing Director - Global Cyber Risk Services, Alvarez & Marsal

Nadir Izrael, Co-Founder and CTO, Armis

Chris Jacquet, Information Security Expert, Hitachi

Maria Latushkin, Chief Technology Officer, Omada Health

Martin Leach, VP, R&D IT, Global Quality IT, Human Experience IT, Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Tony Leng, Managing Director, Digital Transformation and CIO Practice Lead, Diversified Search

Manav Misra, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Regions Financial Corporation

Deb Muro, CIO, RN, CHCIO, El Camino Health

Wendy Pfeiffer, CIO, Nutanix

Frank Price, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Risk Officer, Hudsons Bay Company

Valued partners for the 2021 HMG Live! Silicon Valley Global Innovation Summit on February 9 will include Adobe, Appian, Apptio, Aryaka, Darktrace, Forescout Technologies, Globant, Horizon3.ai, Insight, Ivanti, Obsidian Security, PagerDuty, SafeGuard Cyber, Slack, Sonatype, Tessian, and Tanium.

To learn more about 2021 HMG Live! Silicon Valley Global Innovation Summit and to register for the event, click here.

To learn more about HMG Strategys upcoming CIO & CISO summits, click here.

About HMG Strategy

HMG Strategy is the world's leading digital platform for connecting technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world. Our regional and virtual CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, authored books and Digital Resource Center deliver unique, peer-driven research from CIOs, CISOs, CTOs and technology executives on leadership, innovation, transformation and career ascent. HMG Strategy also produces the HMG Security Innovation Accelerator Panel, a new webinar series thats designed to connect enterprise CISOs and security leaders with the most innovative cybersecurity companies from across the world.

The HMG Strategy global network consists of over 400,000 senior IT executives, industry experts and world-class thought leaders.

To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust for HMG Strategy's unique business model, click here.

HMG Strategy: Your #1 Trusted Digital Platform Connecting Technology Executives to Reimagine the Enterprise and Reshape the Business World.

Tom Hoffman

203-221-2702

TomHoffman@hmgstrategy.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/01643a32-b696-4073-bc70-dd07872f7cc8




Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the National Press Club in Washington on Jan. 12, 2021. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters)

Biden Administration: Chinas Sanctions of Trump Officials Unproductive and Cynical

The Chinese Communist Partys sanctions of Trump administration officials, imposed on President Donald Trumps last day in office, are unproductive and cynical, President Joe Bidens National Security Council spokeswoman said on Jan. 20.

The Party sanctioned former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Trumps national security adviser Robert OBrien, and former trade adviser Peter Navarro along with 25 others, at about the time Biden was being sworn into office.

The sanctions were announced about 24 hours after Pompeo declared the CCPs repression of Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang region a genocide. The reasoning for the sanctions was violating Chinas sovereignty and carrying out a series of crazy moves that seriously disrupted China-U.S. relations.

Imposing these sanctions on Inauguration Day is seemingly an attempt to play to partisan divides, Bidens NSC spokeswoman Emily Horne said in a statement to news outlets.

Americans of both parties should criticize this unproductive and cynical move. President Biden looks forward to working with leaders in both parties to position America to out-compete China, she added.

President Joe Biden delivers his inauguration speech after being sworn in as the 46th president at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Patrick Semansky/AFP via Getty Images)

On the War Room podcast, Navarro called the sanctions a badge of honor from the country that gave us the China virus and the loss of 5 million manufacturing jobs and over 70,000 factories.

Ultimately what we need to do is stop American capital from flowing directly into China, or indirectly through Hong Kong, he added.

Pompeo said that after a careful examination of the facts, he determined that China, under the direction and control of the Chinese Communist Party, has committed genocide against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang.

I believe this genocide is ongoing, and that we are witnessing the systematic attempt to destroy Uyghurs by the Chinese party-state, he added, in an assessment backed by Bidens secretary of state nominee.

The party has for years detained Uyghurs in labor camps in Xinjiang, a desert region that abuts Russia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. A U.S. official said in a briefing in 2019 that up to 3 million of the approximately 10 million Uyghurs in Xinjiang are in concentration camps.

Researcher Adrian Zenz said in a report (pdf) in 2020 that he found evidence of a widespread campaign to sterilize Uyghurs, as natural population growth in Xinjiang has declined dramatically since 2015.

These findings provide the strongest evidence yet that Beijings policies in Xinjiang meet one of the genocide criteria cited in the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, he wrote.

Cathy He contributed to this report.


Fig. 1 Technology currently being verified



Fig. 2 Masks added to facial image data



Fig. 3 Image of the updated user interface



Fig. 4 Multi-factor biometric authentication terminal in use

KAWASAKI, Japan, Jan 21, 2021 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd. has announced the development of a new multi-factor biometric authentication technology to deliver an innovative shopping experience for the "New Normal" era, combining non-contact biometrics that filter the verification target through facial data with identification performed via palm vein recognition. This technology enables identification with greater than 99% accuracy even when the user wears a mask, and will be showcased at a concept cashless Lawson convenience store at the Fujitsu Technology Square office in Shin-Kawasaki, Japan (1), for a field trial starting from January 2021.Users wearing masks present challenges to conventional facial recognition filtering technologies because a large part of the face is obscured, rendering authentication impossible in some cases. With the newly developed technology, however, differences in the appearance depending on the presence or absence of the mask can be absorbed by generating a composite image that combines the mask with the face image and training the model, achieving filtering accuracy of greater than 99%, or equivalent to that without a mask. Fujitsu has additionally enhanced its existing palm vein authentication sensor technology by improving the user interface so that users know how close to position their hand from the sensor for smooth authentication. This technology was ranked 6th amongst 147 participating global vendors and 1st place amongst Japanese vendors (2) in the face authentication vendor test conducted by the United States' National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).Development BackgroundIn recent years, the use of biometric authentication technologies has been increasing, including in areas like the processing of payments at brick-and-mortar stores and in ID verification for events. Now, these technologies also promise to help limit the spread of COVID-19 by limiting human contact during transactions and verification processes. To this end, Fujitsu is accelerating the introduction of contactless user interfaces for authentication leveraging facial and palm vein recognition with a variety of field trials over the past year (Fig. 1).ChallengesIn many parts of the world, mask-wearing has been highlighted by health officials as an important tool to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases like the COVID-19 virus. However, when face authentication is performed while wearing a mask, most of the face is hidden, and the accuracy of this method can sometimes deteriorate. With this in mind, Fujitsu has worked to improve the accuracy of multi-factor biometric authentication at its pilot store by combining facial filtering technology with palm vein recognition. In addition, when considering the introduction of the system for general users in brick-and-mortar stores going forward, it will become essential to improve the user interface of the system to improve user-friendliness, allowing users to register and authenticate themselves without complex explanations or intervention from store clerks.Newly Developed TechnologyFujitsu Laboratories has developed a data expansion machine learning technology that enables highly accurate filtering even when the target user is wearing a mask.The features of the developed technology are as follows.With typical facial recognition technology, when a user is wearing a mask only the exposed eye area is checked in order to extract features such as the shape and position of the face. While this method can help reduce the influence of wearing a mask over an accurate reading, it cannot extract the features of the entire face, presenting the possibility that the target user cannot be recognized due to insufficient data.In order to reduce this effect, the newly developed technology generates an image of the user's face without a mask while taking into account the extraction of features of the entire face, like its shape and contours. This means that even when the user is wearing a mask, the user can be recognized against the corresponding facial image can be narrowed down from a large database with the same level of accuracy as without a mask. Specifically, the technology estimates the position of the face based on facial features such as the position of the eyes and nose, and based on the estimation results, an artificial mask is resized and reshaped then superimposed over the face image to generate a natural masked facial image. In addition, the system uses various types of masks in order to deal with situations in which masks of various colors, patterns and shapes are worn by users (Fig. 2). This makes multi-factor authentication more hygienic and easier to use by allowing people to undergo authentication without removing their mask.Improved user interfaceThe user interface of the palm vein authentication system has also been improved to enable smoother use. A palm-shaped light has been added to the sensor, and the color and the pattern of the light changes according to the distance of the hand, so that the appropriate height for accurate authentication is apparent (Fig. 3). This allows people who are not familiar with palm vein authentication to adjust their palms to the appropriate height for smooth, contactless authentication (Fig. 4).OutcomesBy using the newly developed technology and user interface, Fujitsu hopes to provide safer and more secure services while preventing the spread of infectious diseases in a variety of situations, including payments at brick and mortar stores using biometric authentication and personal identification at leisure facilities.Future PlansTo make sure users can do the authentication process by themselves using the developed technology and improved UI, Fujitsu will introduce this technology to a system currently under verification(3) at a concept cashless Lawson convenience store in Shin-Kawasaki Technology Square in cooperation with Lawson, a major Japanese convenience store chain. Fujitsu will conduct verification tests from January 21, 2021 with the aim of putting the system into practical use by the end of FY 2021.(1) a concept cashless Lawson convenience store the Fujitsu Technology Square office in Shin-KawasakiSince February 2020, Fujitsu has been participating in a POC conducted by Lawson, Inc. for cashier-less solutions at a location in its offices. Based on the results of the POC, Lawson has been working with the Fujitsu as well as America's Zippin to identify business and technical issues.(2) This technology was ranked 6th amongst 147 participating global vendors and 1st place amongst Japanese vendorsIn the facial recognition vendor test conducted by the United States' NIST in November 2020.FRVT Face Mask Effects(3) Fujitsu will introduce this technology to a system currently under verificationRefers to system provided by VCOGNITION TECHNOLOGIES, INC "Zippin". The system integrates devices such as cameras and weight sensors necessary for automatic payment, AI functions for recognizing customers and products, and linking functions with payment and inventory management.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.About Fujitsu LaboratoriesFounded in 1968 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. is one of the premier research centers in the world. With a global network of laboratories in Japan, China, the United States and Europe, the organization conducts a wide range of basic and applied research in the areas of Next-generation Services, Computer Servers, Networks, Electronic Devices and Advanced Materials. For more information, please see: http://www.fujitsu.com/jp/group/labs/en/.Source: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2021 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Mental health care has been a serious topic across the country, especially during the pandemic. That includes right here in the Wabash Valley.

Now, free resources are available to those workers on the frontlines.

News 10 spoke with the Executive Director at the FSA Counseling Center in Terre Haute. Jaymie Wood says society has to do a better job of breaking the stigma that surrounds counseling.

The FSA Counseling Center is offering three free sessions to frontline workers. This comes after they received a grant from the United Way.

"We've been trying to do this off and on since October but all of a sudden it has taken off. I'm hoping that we finally get some individuals in here that might need some help with maybe depression, some of the trauma they may have dealt with over the last almost year," says Wood.

Wood says grief has had a major toll on workers during the pandemic.

"We don't think we're grieving but we are. we're grieving isolation just the isolation of everything. everything has changed," says Wood.

She says she's trying to break the stigma that surrounds getting help for your mental health.

Vigo County Sheriff John Plasse is considered a frontline worker. He says it's a hard thing to do, but necessary.

"You don't like to admit that you have issues or you need help. I think it's a good thing to ask for help when you need it. I think it shows strength and courage," Plasse told us.

Plasse reflected on the time he had to seek help himself.

"I personally after being deployed in Afghanistan two times and when I came back after my first tour I went and sought help. There were things I was going through I didn't understand that I was having problems dealing with. It helped me and I was a strong advocate for it ever since," said Plasse.

Resources for frontline workers technically end in May, but Wood says something can be worked out if a frontline worker needs additional assistance.
Qualcomm has announced a new mobile processor, the Snapdragon 870 that sits between its current flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC and its erstwhile flagship Snapdragon 865 Plus SoC. The arrival of the Snapdragon 870 is also rather interesting as it offers a minor upgrade from its predecessor, but that could be a selling-point for OEMs that are planning to launch a 'Lite' variant of their next flagships. To make it clear, smartphone brands love flaunting new tech and hardware on their devices, especially when it comes to their latest premium smartphones. You may have come across terms such as "faster," "more premium," and even "better" during launch events, that essentially signifies their commitment to providing an enhanced experience over old-gen devices.

Therefore, Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 870 processor is a fitting answer for those users who are planning to upgrade their Snapdragon 865-powered handset to a faster-yet-more powerful Android device, but are not too keen on spending a hefty price for the Snapdragon 888-enabled smartphones. To recall, Snapdragon 865 Plus (and even Snapdragon 865) is by no means a less powerful chipset. It comes with several top-end smartphones such as Asus ROG Phone 3, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 (select regions), and Lenovo Legion Phone Duel. Even the vanilla Snapdragon 865 features on multiple well-reviewed smartphones like Mi 10 series, OnePlus 8 series, Motorola Edge Plus, and more.

In terms of features, the Snapdragon 870 SoC comes with a higher clock speed of 3.2GHz for the top-end CPU core, up 100MHz from the old chip. Otherwise, it retains the same three-tiered CPU setup (one Cortex-A77 core at 3.2GHz, three Cortex-A77 CPU cores at 2.4GHz, and four lightweight Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8GHz), Adreno 650 GPU, external Snapdragon X55 modem (with mmWave and sub-6GHz support), and 7nm design as the Snapdragon 865 Plus.

But that won't stop OEMs from adopting the latest chipset on their new not-so-flagship devices despite having the similar option of the Snapdragon 865 Plus. Among the smartphone brands Xiaomi, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo, and Vivo's iQoo have confirmed new devices with the Snapdragon 870 - without revealing many details. Speaking over the collaboration with Qualcomm, OnePlus says, "We look forward to delivering lightning-fast 5G speeds and ultra-smooth mobile experiences to more users." On the other hand, Xiaomi says that its Snapdragon 870-powered smartphone will "bring more surprises to global consumers regarding 5G, camera, AI, and more." The moniker of these smartphones is not yet disclosed, though past leaks have given us a fair idea about the next device with the latest Qualcomm processor. Therefore, here is everything we know about the devices so far:

Motorola Edge S: Lenovo-owned Motorola hours has announced that upcoming Motorola Edge S will feature the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC. The smartphone is reportedly being developed under the codename Nio which has appeared in multiple leaks over the last couple of weeks. The upcoming smartphone might carry a quad rear camera setup with a 64-megapixel primary sensor. It also reported to house dual front cameras inside a hole-punch cutout.

OnePlus 9 Lite: The OnePlus 9 series has been a part of the rumour mill since December 2020. The next smartphone series is said to pack the vanilla OnePlus 9, OnePlus 9 Pro and an OnePlus 9 Lite. Though the regular and Pro models might carry the Snapdragon 888 SoC, the Lite variant is said to be a minor upgrade of the OnePlus 8T that packs Snapdragon 865 SoC. This makes the phone a likely candidate to feature the latest Qualcomm chipset.

Redmi K40: Xiaomi sub-brand Redmi has confirmed that the next-generation Redmi K40 will launch next month, though its exact launch date remains unclear. The new K40 series is said to pack the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC, though the company Product Director Wang Teng Thomas recently suggested the arrival of a new device (a variant of K40) alongside Redmi K40 next month. Notably, the second-new device could also be Redmi's first gaming smartphone with the newly launched MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC. However, some reports speculate the device will feature a Qualcomm processor - likely the Snapdragon 870. The phone will reportedly carry a triple camera setup with a 48MP primary camera.
WASHINGTON - Democrats claimed control of the Senate by the thinnest possible margin Wednesday as Vice President Kamala Harris swore in three new Democratic senators, bringing Republicans and Democrats to an even 50-50 split in the chamber.

Harris, appearing in her role as Senate president just hours after her inauguration as vice president, will serve as the tiebreaker, giving her party a one-vote majority - and thus the power to set the agenda in Senate committees and on the Senate floor.

The changing of the guard took second billing Wednesday to Joe Biden's ascension to the White House. But with Democrats already in control of the House, the transition in the Senate holds enormous implications for Biden's ability to staff executive agencies and pass legislation at the dawn of his presidency.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., the incoming majority leader, has laid out ambitious goals for the opening weeks of the new Senate, balancing the need to confirm Biden's most important nominees with the new president's desire to pass another pandemic relief bill, at a cost of nearly $2 trillion. Meanwhile, Schumer expects to conduct an impeachment trial for former president Donald Trump, who stands accused of fomenting a mob attack on the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago.

Rising for the first time as majority leader, Schumer pledged to "do business differently" and to take action to combat racial injustice, economic inequality and climate change.

"This Senate will legislate," Schumer said, a dig at Republicans who focused on confirming Trump's nominees. "It will be active, responsive, energetic and bold."

Schumer called for bipartisanship, asserting that "the Senate works best when we work together."

But partisan divisions remained deep, and it was unclear until late Wednesday whether the Senate would be able to confirm any of Biden's nominees by the end of his first day in office, a shift from tradition. Trump won two confirmations on his first day as president, while Barack Obama won six and George W. Bush won seven.

After Schumer spoke, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., agreed to lift his objection to Avril Haines, Biden's choice to serve as director of national intelligence; the Senate voted to confirm Haines, on a vote of 84 to 10.

However, four other nominees - Janet Yellen for treasury secretary, Gen. Lloyd Austin for defense secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas for homeland security secretary and Antony Blinken for secretary of state - were left waiting amid procedural hurdles and GOP objections.

Amid the wrangling, the Senate welcomed three new Democrats. Alex Padilla, 47, the former California secretary of state and the son of Mexican immigrants, was appointed to fill the remaining two years of Harris's term.

Also sworn in were media executive Jon Ossoff, 33, and Baptist minister Raphael Warnock, 51, who defeated Republican incumbents in a Jan. 5 runoff in Georgia that sealed Democratic control of both chambers of Congress. Warnock is the first African American senator in Georgia history.

"Today, America is turning over a new leaf," Ossoff told reporters. "Georgia has sent a young Jewish man and a Black pastor to represent our state in the U.S. Senate. It's a sign of generational and epochal change for our state."

It is also a reflection of the contemporary Democratic coalition, which over the past decade has been increasingly built on a rising number of affluent White voters along with large majorities of the nation's Black and Latino voters. They join a Democratic caucus intent on delivering early, tangible results for the new president, starting with an improved response to the coronavirus pandemic that has killed roughly 400,000 Americans and wreaked economic devastation.

In his inaugural address Wednesday, delivered from a rostrum overrun by violent pro-Trump rioters just two weeks ago, Biden called on Americans - and his former Senate colleagues - to "step up" and confront a "time of testing."

"We face an attack on our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis," Biden said, adding: "It's time for boldness, for there's so much to do. And this is certain - I promise you we will be judged, you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era."

Democratic senators leaving the speech said they would meet Biden's challenge.

"I'm excited about a chance to show America what we can do when we're in the majority," said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J.

But there are signs of considerable obstacles ahead: Schumer and Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the top Republican leader, have yet to agree how the Senate will operate under a 50-50 split. Such an agreement is essential to form committees, set staff budgets and smoothly operate a chamber that handles a vast amount of business by unanimous consent.

McConnell signaled this week that he is looking for assurances from Democrats that they will not abandon the filibuster, the Senate rule that requires 60 senators to agree to end debate and proceed to a final vote.

With the Senate evenly divided and the Democratic majority in the House down to single digits, McConnell hinted that any attempt to steamroll Republicans would invite calamity. "The people intentionally entrusted both political parties with significant power to shape our nation's direction," he said. "May we work together to honor that trust."

Democrats are under pressure from liberal activists to ditch the filibuster to make it easier to pass major planks of Biden's agenda, from civil rights and climate legislation to spending and tax bills that historically have been the focus of pitched partisan battles.

The last time the Senate was evenly divided, in 2001, the two parties agreed to a far-reaching power-sharing arrangement that kept committees evenly split but otherwise gave the party with the vice presidency - in that case, the GOP - the crucial power to set the agenda. But that was a less partisan era on Capitol Hill, and the filibuster was not under threat as it is now.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the No. 3 GOP leader, said it was prudent for McConnell to insist on assurances given the partisan environment. He noted that Republicans insisted on maintaining the filibuster in the first two years of Trump's presidency, when the GOP controlled both the House and the Senate.

If Democrats seek to eliminate the filibuster, he said, "I think it would be very destructive."

Other Republicans adopted a more conciliatory tone, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, one of a clutch of centrist senators who helped negotiate last month's pandemic relief bill.

"We're going to have some issues that we just fundamentally disagree with," Murkowski said. "But, I think, to the president's words, you can still disagree from a policy perspective and you can do so in ways that are still respectful and allow you to continue to work toward other goals."

However, the difficulty in securing quick nominations threw a pall over the happy talk on Wednesday. In addition to Haines, Treasury Department pick Janet Yellen is the most likely nominee to be quickly confirmed, according to aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions.

But securing an immediate vote requires all 100 senators, Republican and Democrat, to agree to expedited procedures.

The delays vexed Democrats, who acknowledged that the late date of the Georgia runoffs had played a role. But they laid greater blame on the unusually bitter transition period since the Nov. 3 election.

"Look, the transition was delayed far too long by President Trump's baseless conspiracy theories about how he won the election," said Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Del., a Biden confidant. "There were confirmation hearings for a whole series of [Biden's] seasoned and capable Cabinet nominees . . . really capable folks. We should be confirming them today."
A highly anticipated new horror movie shot in Syracuse now has a theatrical release date, despite concerns about the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deadline reports Searchlight Pictures will release The Night House, starring Rebecca Hall, in movie theaters on July 16, 2021. The supernatural thriller, directed by David Bruckner (V/H/S, The Ritual), follows a widow who begins to uncover her recently deceased husbands disturbing secrets.

Searchlight bought The Night House for $12 million after it debuted at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews. Critics praised the tense films rule-breaking jump scares, Halls performance, and the titular location, a lakefront home in Central New York.

Hall, whose credits include The Town, Iron Man 3, The Prestige and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, told Deadline last year that she found the story generally frightening to read. I felt very alongside the character when I was reading it and made me want to start acting it out.

She also told Syfy that she was fascinated with the idea of griefs effect on the psyche as her character mourns the loss of a husband.

What would your mind construct to find a reason why? I think thats a really interesting idea because, personally, I suspect that madness and not being aware of it is probably my deepest fear, she said.

The Night House was shot throughout Syracuse in the spring of 2019, including scenes at Maxwells tavern in Hanover Square and Skaneateles Lake. The production also used the Greater Syracuse Soundstage (formerly known as the nano film hub in DeWitt) and is eligible for the NY State Film Tax Credit program.

Actress Rebecca Hall attends the Photo Call for "Holmes & Watson" at the London Hotel in West Hollywood, California, on December 14, 2018. (Photo by VALERIE MACON /AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images

The film, produced by David S. Goyer (The Dark Knight) and written by Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski, also stars Sarah Goldberg, Stacy Martin, Evan Jonigkeit, and Vondie Curtis-Hall.

Its unclear if the coronavirus pandemic could affect the planned release date. Most major 2020 releases were pushed back as theaters were largely shut down, and several 2021 films have already been delayed including Jared Letos Morbius and the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark.

But Deadline reports Searchlight Pictures is ever the believer in theatrical, suggesting the studio likely wont allow The Night House to go directly to streaming services or a Video on Demand/Digital release. Searchlight also announced Guillermo del Toros Nightmare Alley, which was partly filmed in Western New York with Bradley Cooper, will also head to theaters on Dec. 3, 2021.

Best new movies coming out in 2021: On streaming and (hopefully) in theaters

The Ultimate Playlist of Noise: How Syracuse shaped new movie out now on Hulu

Plan B first look: New movie turns Syracuse into... South Dakota?

25 movies filmed in Syracuse that you can watch right now
Axis Bank rose 0.77% to Rs 680.45 after the Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday gave its approval for the Axis Bank-Max Life transaction.

Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Wednesday (20 January 2021) said it has approved the stake acquisition in Max Life Insurance Company (Max Life) by Axis Bank, Axis Capital and Axis Securities. As per the combination notice filed with CCI, the shareholding of Axis Bank in Max Life will increase to approximately 9.9%.

In April 2020, Axis Bank and Max Financial Services (MFS) announced the signing definitive agreements to become joint venture partners in Max Life. The bank would hold 30% stake in Max Life post transaction closure.

In August 2020, Axis Bank announced tweaks insurance joint venture pact with MAX Life. As per the revised deal, Axis Bank would acquire 17.002% of the equity share capital of Max Life, resulting in total ownership of 18% post the transaction.

In October 2020, the Reserve Bank did not allow Axis Bank to directly acquire a 17% stake in Max Life Insurance. Consequently, Axis Bank and its entities revised the agreement with Max Financial, the promoter of Max Life, to acquire a 19.002% stake in the insurance firm.

Axis Bank reported a net profit of Rs 1,683 crore in Q2 September 2020 as against net loss of Rs 112 crore in Q2 September 2019. Total income during the quarter rose 2.8% year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 19,870.07 crore in Q2FY21.

As on 30 September 2020, Axis Bank had a network of 4,568 domestic branches and extension counters situated in 2,582 centres along with 11,821 ATMs and 5,606 cash recyclers spread across the country.

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Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General

January 21, 2021

LANSING  Preliminary approval of the $641.25 million civil Flint water settlement was granted earlier today by Judge Judith Levy of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The Courts approval order will become effective on Jan. 27, 2021.

This preliminary approval formally establishes the process through which Flint residents can indicate their intention to file eligible settlement claims that will be processed and paid by the claims administrator. Judge Levy will still need to issue a final ruling on the settlement, depending on whether the settlement is fair, adequate and reasonable, after conducting a fairness hearing currently scheduled for July 12, 2021. It appears the public will be permitted an opportunity to offer input at the hearing, but the Court has discretion to control the extent of public input that will be permitted.

With Judge Levys preliminary approval granted, this historic settlement is one step closer to providing Flint residents with the financial relief that they may have otherwise never received if the legal back-and-forth were to continue in the courts, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. While final approval remains pending, the settlement can provide people with security that their claims will be heard and not tied up in legal proceedings for an indefinite period of time. Plaintiffs counsel and state attorneys, court-appointed mediators and a special master have all concurred that this agreement was made with the best interests of Flint in mind, and a federal judge has now determined that it meets the necessary preliminary legal requirements to proceed. As the court considers a final ruling in this settlement, we will continue to keep our focus on healing this embattled city.

Flint residents will have 60 days to register to participate in the settlement program. Following the registration period, Flint residents who have registered will have 120 days to file the documents necessary to support their claims. Detailed information on the registration and the claims processes will shortly be available on the claims administrator website.

Assuming the Court ultimately grants final approval of the settlement, and there are no challenges to that Court order, it is estimated that the claims and payment process may be substantially complete before the end of 2021. The timeline may change depending on the Courts schedule.

Attorney General Nessel and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in August announced a $600 million preliminary agreement to settle the lawsuits filed against the State after the City of Flint switched is public water supply to the Flint River in 2014.

Defendants that joined the settlement since August include the City of Flint, which is providing $20 million through its insurer, and McLaren Regional Medical Center and Rowe Professional Services Co., which are contributing $20 million and $1.25 million, respectively.

More information on the settlement can be found online.

Click here to view a copy of Judge Levys ruling of preliminary approval.

###
The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
Former Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni offered her assessment of the trajectory of American foreign policy in a radio interview just before the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States: There is no doubt that there will be a shift away from the Greater Land of Israel, annexation, the expansion of construction [in the settlements] and harm to Palestinian [efforts] toward a two-state solution.

Livni is the most prominent figure in the Israeli center-left to advocate for negotiations with the Palestinians with the goal of reaching a settlement with them. She has a very explicit and detailed agenda, based largely on the advanced negotiations she conducted with Palestinian leaders during her tenure as foreign minister. And yet, she has not played an active role in politics for the past two years.

But that may change. Israelis seem to miss Livni, and so does the countrys political leadership. She is being courted by the different parties on the center-left, including by Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid. True, Lapid once made an effort to distance himself from the left, claiming that he led a centrist party with slight leanings toward the right, if anything. But that seems to have changed. He now seems to be seeking a new path for himself. Until only recently, Lapid tried to win the support of soft-right voters. He failed again and again over the last few years, not least because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reaped so many achievements with the recently departed US administration.

In contrast, President Barack Obamas term was characterized by tense, murky relations with Netanyahu due to differences over Iran and the peace process. Back then, leaders on the left warned rightfully about the impact of the Israeli prime ministers unaccommodating behavior on the relationship between the two countries.

All that changed once President Donald Trump entered the White House. Trump showered the prime minister with favors such as transferring the US Embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing Israels annexation of the Golan Heights and overseeing the normalization of relations between Israel and a series of Arab states without any Palestinian input.

It all left Israels center-left parties with nothing to cling to. Right-wing voters ranging from the settler movement to the more moderate considered Netanyahus relationship with Trump a historical boon to the Jewish people and the State of Israel. It was a major victory in public attitudes favoring the right over the Israeli left. Livni, Lapid and others were forced to congratulate Netanyahu after each of Trump's gestures. After all, the abrupt shifts in US policy had the support of the vast majority of Israelis. It seemed the left had lost the battle over public opinion.

There can be no debate that Trumps four years in the White House had a deleterious impact on the ability of the Israeli left and its leaders to advance a new agenda and convince voters to support them. The peace process with the Palestinians, which was the main issue in so many election campaigns of the past 30 years, found itself shunted aside. All of that changed yesterday. The current occupant of the White House was Obamas vice president for eight years. He believes in a two-state solution and his door will be open to the Palestinians, and there is a new wind blowing in Israeli politics as well.

Incoming Secretary of State Tony Blinken may have spoken highly about the peace agreements with the Arab states cobbled together by the Trump administration, but he was critical of the administration for its handling of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He is known for saying that even if he believes that the likelihood of achieving a two-state solution is not high, he still considers it the only way to ensure Israels future as a Jewish, democratic state.

It is not yet clear who will replace David Friedman, a figure beloved by the settlers, as the next US ambassador to Israel. Whoever is selected will reflect the priorities and worldview of the new administration. The White House will no longer be Netanyahus home field and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos visit last November to a West Bank settlement will become a distant memory.

With this spirit of change and Trumps exit marked by scandal and disgrace, the upcoming Israeli election offers a window of opportunity to restore a center-left ideology to the agenda.

When Livni spoke at a virtual event by the Truman Center for Peace Jan. 18, the listeners included Dennis Ross, the US envoy to the Middle East under several Democratic presidents.

Livni put her finger on a distressing tendency among center-left parties in Israel. They tend to cower when confronting the right and to minimize their worldview before the electorate. Israeli politicians, she argued, intentionally obscure their positions, using the United States as an excuse.

Center-left leaders in Israel are not willing to say even the words or the idea of two states for two peoples," she said, "because they are being portrayed as representing the Palestinian cause. And we are not talking about the need to achieve peace as an Israeli cause. And now there is a new trend, that right-wingers  and I'm talking about politicians and leaders who believe in annexation and Greater Israel  and they are saying something like Okay Biden administration now, so we would not have an annexation, so lets not speak about it. And this is how they are getting the support of center-left voters: saying, 'Okay, it's not on the table.'

Livni was undoubtedly referring to politicians affiliated with the ideological hard right having gained enormous traction among center-left voters. They include party leaders like Naftali Bennett of Yamina and Gideon Saar of New Hope. These voters hope these politicians will at least be able to take Netanyahu down. But erasing an entire worldview to achieve it cannot be a healthy process.

Livni is not the only one talking about the issue. Former Labor chair Shelly Yachimovich also denounced the phenomenon recently, warning, The result of the election will be a disaster, ending with an unprecedentedly large right-wing bloc headed by Netanyahu  and with the moderate democratic bloc erased. The empty slogan of Anyone but Netanyahu, which tramples over any ideological identity, will result in the demise of any free, liberal, egalitarian, peace-loving ideal. Like Livni, Yachimovich has been sidelined in politics over the last few years, largely because the left has lost its ideological identity.

Now, however, we are witnessing an attempt by the center-left parties to raise the banner of diplomatic negotiations again and get voters to pay attention to their message. The trend is gaining momentum as a result of the change in administration in Washington. Knesset member Yair Golan of Meretz tweeted, The renewal of the diplomatic process is good for Israels security. Halting construction in the territories is good for Israels security. An American presence in Syria is good for Israels security. Biden is good for Israels security, much more than Trump ever was.

This is therefore a great opportunity for the center-left parties to put negotiations with the Palestinians at the top of their agendas and to win back voters camped temporarily with Saar and Bennett. They can hardly be happy about Saars announcement this week that the head of the Yesha Council, David Lahiani, is joining his New Hope party. Lahiani is so entrenched in the far right that he even opposed Trump, claiming that he was bad for Israel, once annexation came off the table.

As head of the opposition and the largest center-left party in the Knesset, Lapid could soar in the polls if he explains to his potential voters that voting for ultra-right parties in the new Biden era, which began in Washington yesterday, could destroy the center-left camp once and for all.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Thrive International, Inc. has announced its acquisition of LILLEbaby brand, the award-winning baby products company that designs carriers known for their excellent function and comfort. Ian Schaffer, 40+-year industry veteran, is Thrive's CEO. He and his team will use their experience in the juvenile industry to expand LILLEbaby's reach domestically and internationally, while continuing to further develop and evolve its product lines.

LILLElight: Simple sophistication for everyday moments. With a modern design, LILLElight will be your grab and go carrier Made with organic cotton and natural hemp blended fibers, you'll feel the elevated quality and comfort the moment you tie it on. Ergonomically designed to fit sizes XXS-XL and grow with your child from 7-36lbs SeatMe: The SeatMe hip seat is a multi-functional baby carrier that gives a front row seat for baby, an extra hand for you. SeatMe easily converts from a soft-structured carrier for baby to a FUNctional hip seat as they grow. The padded shelf seat by itself is the perfect place to give baby a meal on the go. And as your baby gets older, the hip seat gives your arms a much-needed break AND makes outings fun and easy.

LILLEbaby joins an impressive family of lifestyle baby brands, Moby Wrap and Petunia Pickle Bottom, both of which have realized significant growth under Schaffer's strategic leadership since being acquired in 2019.

Says Schaffer, "We are excited to welcome the LILLEbaby brand as the latest addition to our growing brand lineup. LILLEbaby's innovative products will bolster Thrive's continued growth, as key personnel of LILLEbaby will be joining Thrive's best-in-class management team. Thrive is an energetic and growing company with dynamic brands that enable us to achieve multi-channel global business across stores and e-commerce. Through strategic expansions, we've also been able to secure a large and loyal consumer base, which, together with our strong commitment to innovation, will drive Thrive's further expansion around the globe."

LILLEbaby's products will continue to be sold through major retailers and specialty stores, as well as online. Current LILLEbaby CEO Jeff Colton will remain as a consultant during the integration period.

"We're thrilled to be writing LILLEbaby's next chapter under Thrive International's ownership," said Jeff Colton, current CEO of LILLEbaby. "Our product selection, avid consumer base, and skilled employees combined with their great portfolio of brands and team, solidifies Thrive as a significant player in the juvenile products market with a true omni-channel approach. Thrive's commitment to innovation and creativity will drive the LILLEbaby brand to new heights, while fostering the amazing LILLE-community of parents, followers, and brand advocates that are so passionate about LILLEbaby and its products. Joining Thrive bolsters our ability to broaden our product range and allows us to continue to make parents' lives better by pushing the limits in the design and production of the world's most comfortable, functional, and stylish child carriers."

Thrive International, Inc. was advised on the transaction by Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. LILLEbaby was advised on the transaction by D.A. Davidson.

About LILLEbaby

Rooted in the Scandinavian values of quality of life, honesty, and a love for nature's beauty, LILLEbaby's mission is to empower families with comfortable, innovative products that inspire adventures and nurture the bond between parents and children. The recipients of many awards, including a 2019 Cribsie, a 2019 Family Choice Award, and a 2019 National Parenting Product Awards, among others, LILLEbaby strives to build a STAMME, or community, of parents and innovative products designed to offer the best babywearing solutions for all families, everywhere. For more information about LILLEbaby, please visit www.lillebaby.com.

About Thrive International, Inc.

Thrive International, Inc. is a dynamic, global company with a growing portfolio of top-name brands headlining a significant presence in the juvenile industry. Thrive features a well-established network of manufacturing and distribution partners, with international operations.

Media Contact:

Alise Kreditor

516-482-4866

[email protected]

SOURCE Thrive International, Inc.
A search for a man who was swept off a break wall at Coffs Harbour in the state's north is set to resume at 8am on Friday after being called off late on Thursday night.

The man, who had been walking along the southern break wall at Jordan Esplanade early in the evening behind a woman, disappeared when a large wave hit on Thursday.

The 24-year-old woman told police she did not see the man washed into the water, but that he was no longer behind her after the large wave crashed over the break wall behind her.

Marine Rescue NSW search for man believed to have been washed off a break wall at Coffs Harbour. Credit:Marine Rescue NSW

The alarm was raised about 6pm, and police have begun searching the area, with the assistance of the Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue, NSW Ambulance, Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter and Coffs Harbour lifeguards.
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It is 6,000 miles away, part of a vast continent stretching from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf of Mexico, while we are on a small rain-sodden island on the edge of Europe. Yet we are bound together through deeply personal ties of blood and history.

As he was inaugurated 46th President of the United States in Washington yesterday, no one seems more proud of these shared roots than 'Irish' Joe Biden, who comes from the small town of Scranton in Pennsylvania and proudly traces his ancestry back to the Finnegans of the Cooley peninsula in Co Louth on his mother's side, and the Blewitts of Ballina, Co Mayo on his father's.

It isn't just lip service, as his cabinet includes a third who are either ethnic Irish, Catholic or both, uniting these two strands of his heritage in the new US administration.

Back then, the faith of our fathers was strong and the political 'machine' exemplified by the Kennedys was the power that raised the unwashed and uneducated Catholic Irish masses from the mean streets of New York, Boston and Chicago, to a new and mostly prosperous future.

As Biden takes his place in the pantheon of American presidents, he has already shown that the connections forged between the New World and the Auld Sod are still strong. "Remember, Joey Biden, the best drop of blood in you is Irish," his granny used to tell him, an admonition he's never forgotten.

"I'm Irish," he said, without breaking stride, when a plummy voiced BBC reporter attempted to attract his attention during the election campaign.

On Tuesday, saying farewell to Delaware which he represented in the Senate from 1973 until 2009 when he became vice-president, he said: "James Joyce once said, when it comes his time to pass, when he dies, he said: 'Dublin will be written on my heart.' Well, excuse the emotion, but when I die, Delaware will be written on my heart."

He has said that political colleagues "kid me about quoting Irish poets" all the time. "They think I do it because they are Irish. I do it because they are the best poets," he added.

It is to the words of Seamus Heaney and in particular his poem The Cure of Troy that he has turned to most often. "The longed for tidal wave of justice can rise up and hope and history rhyme."

Accepting the Democratic nomination in 2020, he paraphrased it by saying his mission is to "make hope and history rhyme".

He managed to do that for many by winning the most divisive election in US history, and as he was inaugurated yesterday, most of us will wish it is a pledge he can now keep.
A popular restaurant chain in Australia has been forced to close an inner-city store in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

Liquidators from Chifley Advisory Australia were sent in last month after Saffron Felix Joop Investments, which formerly traded as Din Tai Fung and ran a restaurant in Central Park, Chippendale, went into administration, The Australian reported.

Din Tai Fung took a major hit like all Australian hospitality business earlier this year, when restaurants were ordered to close in March in a bid by government to slow the spread of the Covid pandemic.

A popular restaurant chain in Australia has steamed its last dumpling with Din Tai Fung going bust in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Pictured: Din Tai Fung Greenwood Plaza

The worldwide restaurant business which started in Taiwan in 1956, has eateries throughout Asian, the US and the UK.

In Australia Din Tai Fung has nine restaurants across Sydney and one in Melbourne, all of which are trading as usual.

The coronavirus crisis had a major impact on trade in Australia and at its stores across the globe, but the pandemic wasn't the only factor in the demise of the dumpling chain Down Under.

Earlier reports suggested another popular dumpling chain, Lotus, had gone into administration, but it has since clarified only a defunct holding company is being liquidated.

'The seven restaurants are trading as usual and are busy preparing for Lunar New Year events over the coming weeks,' Lotus told Daily Mail Australia.
Scientists are reporting troubling signs that some recent mutations of the virus that causes COVID-19 may modestly curb the effectiveness of two current vaccines, although they stress that the shots still protect against the disease.

Researchers expressed concern Wednesday about the preliminary findings, in large part because they suggest that future mutations could undermine vaccines. The research tested coronaviruses from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, and was led by Rockefeller University in New York with scientists from the National Institutes of Health and elsewhere.

A different, more limited study out Wednesday gave encouraging news about one vaccines protection against some of the mutations.

One way vaccines work is to prompt the immune system to make antibodies that block the virus from infecting cells. The Rockefeller researchers got blood samples from 20 people who had received either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine and tested their antibodies against various virus mutations in the lab.

With some, the antibodies didnt work as well against the virus  activity was one-to-threefold less, depending on the mutation, said the study leader, Rockefellers Dr. Michel Nussenzweig.

Its a small difference but it is definitely a difference, he said. The antibody response is not as good at blocking the virus.

Earlier research established that the two vaccines are about 95% effective in preventing COVID-19 illness.

The latest findings were posted late Tuesday on an online website for researchers and have not yet been published in a journal or reviewed by other scientists. Nussenzweig is paid by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, which also supports science coverage at The Associated Press. The university has applied for a patent related to his work.The coronavirus has been growing more genetically diverse, and scientists say the high rate of new cases is the main reason. Each new infection gives the virus a chance to mutate as it makes copies of itself.

Recent variants, or versions of the virus that emerged in the U.K., South Africa and Brazil seem to spread more easily and scientists say that will lead to more cases, deaths and hospitalizations. The new variants do not seem to cause more serious disease but their ability to eventually undercut vaccines is a concern.

E. John Wherry, an immunology expert at the University of Pennsylvania, said the Rockefeller scientists are among the very best in the world" at this work and their results are concerning.

We dont want people thinking that the current vaccine is already outdated. Thats absolutely not true, he said. Theres still immunity here  a good level of protection, but the mutations do in fact reduce how well our immune response is recognizing the virus.

The news comes at a really important time in the pandemic, said Dr. Buddy Creech, a vaccine specialist at Vanderbilt University,

Weve got an arms race between the vaccines and the virus. The slower we roll out vaccine around the world, the more opportunities we give this virus to escape and develop mutations, he said.

Dr. Matthew Woodruff, an immunology researcher at Emory University, agreed.

This is going to be kind of a slow walk of evolution. Were going to have to have tools that slowly develop with it, such as treatments that offer combinations of antibodies rather than one, he said.

Dr. Drew Weissman, a University of Pennsylvania scientist whose work helped lead to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, said the antibody findings are worrisome, but noted that vaccines also protect in other ways, such as spurring responses from other parts of the immune system. The new work involved only 20 people and not a huge range of ages or races, and all of that matters in how generalizable the results are, he said.

On Wednesday, Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech reported a second round of reassuring findings about its vaccine against one of the variants.

Earlier this month, Pfizer and researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch said that the vaccine remained effective against a mutation called N501Y from new variants found in the U.K. and South Africa. Likewise, there was no sign of trouble when they tested some additional mutations.

The latest work tested all the mutations from the variant from the U.K. at once rather than one-by-one. Tests from 16 vaccine recipients showed no big difference in the ability of antibodies to block the virus, the researchers said in a repor t.

Pfizer didnt immediately comment about the Rockefeller findings, but its chief scientific officer, Dr. Philip Dormitzer, previously said next steps include testing the vaccine against additional mutations found in the variant from South Africa.

Moderna and AstraZeneca, which makes a different type of COVID-19 vaccine used in some countries, also have been testing how their vaccines hold up against different mutations.

If the virus eventually mutates enough that the vaccine needs adjusting much like flu shots are altered most years tweaking the recipe wouldnt be difficult for vaccines made with newer technologies. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are made with a piece of the virus genetic code that is simple to switch.

Its wishful thinking to believe that first-generation vaccines will be enough, or that vaccines alone will solve our problems, said Mayo Clinic vaccine expert Dr. Gregory Poland.

We are shooting ourselves in the foot by allowing unmitigated transmission of this virus and not doing common sense measures such as mandating mask-wearing as some other countries are doing, he said.

How can the bars and restaurants be full? Its like what pandemic? Weve reaped the seeds weve sown," he said.

___

Medical writer Lauran Neergaard contributed reporting.

__

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
ISTANBUL (AP)  A devoted dog has spent days waiting outside a hospital in northern Turkey where her sick owner was receiving treatment.

The pet, Boncuk, which means bead, followed the ambulance that transported her owner, Cemal Senturk, to hospital in the Black Sea city of Trabzon on Jan. 14. She then made daily visits to the facility, private news agency DHA reported on Wednesday.

Senturks daughter, Aynur Egeli, said she would take Boncuk home but the dog would repeatedly run off and return to the hospital.

Hospital security guard Muhammet Akdeniz told DHA: She comes every day around 9 a.m. and waits until nightfall. She doesnt go in.

When the door opens she pokes her head inside, he said.

Cemal Senturk, owner of Boncuk, outside of a medical care facility in the Black Sea city of Trabzon, Turkey, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (DHA via AP)AP

On Wednesday, Boncuk was finally reunited with Senturk when he was pushed outside in a wheelchair for a brief meeting with his dog. Shes very used to me. And I miss her, too, constantly, he told DHA.

Senturk was discharged from the hospital later on Wednesday and returned home with Boncuk.

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Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta Singh has announced a special scholarship fund on his 35th birth anniversary. Shweta wrote about "The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund" on Twitter, and added that the fund of $35,000 has been set up at US Berkeley.

"I am happy to announce that on the 35th Birthday of Bhai, a step has been taken towards fulfilling one of his dreams. The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund of $35,000 has been set up in UC Berkeley. #SushantDay," Shweta wrote a tweet.





I am happy to announce that on 35th Birthday of Bhai, a step has been taken towards fulfilling one of his dreams. The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund of $35,000 has been set up in UC Berkeley. #SushantDaypic.twitter.com/nW3Rm6JERR  Shweta Singh Kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) January 20, 2021

Once Sushant had posted on Instagram about his dream to create an environment where kids of India and elsewhere get 'free', improved and relevant education to acquire any skill of choice.

Love you Bhai  You are part of me and will always remain so... #SushantDaypic.twitter.com/nDU8Zkeipp  Shweta Singh Kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) January 20, 2021

Further, Shweta tweeted that if anyone interested in pursuing Astrophysics at UC Berkeley can apply for this find.

She wished a happy birthday to her late brother and wrote, " I hope you always stay happy wherever you are! Love You".

Anyone interested in pursuing Astrophysics at UC Berkeley can apply for this fund. Grateful to the Angels who made it possible.  Happy Birthday my little Brother, I hope you always stay happy wherever you are! Love You #SushantDayhttps://t.co/Bgv3vmmBoQpic.twitter.com/zqSTIEEAR4  Shweta Singh Kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) January 20, 2021

About Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund

The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund in Physics provides support to graduate students in the Department of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley. While the fund is for Physics students, preference is given to students studying Astrophysics.

Sushant Singh Rajput passed away in June 2020. He was a renowned actor known for his work in films MS Dhoni, Kai Po Che, Chhichhore among others. He was also a National Physics Olympiad winner and held a lifelong passion for astronomy and astrophysics.

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It was Franklin Delano Roosevelt who set the standard for all future men and women who sat down in the Oval Office back in March 1933, vowing to take swift action in his first 100 days to halt the slide of the American economy into the abyss.

Historians place the Democrat alongside exalted names in American leadership such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln for his New Deal, which brought the country back from the brink.

His first 100 days set the scene for his unprecedented four terms in office, enacting 15 major legislative measures and 76 laws passed overall.

Joe Biden has inherited a mess that historians may eventually compare to the Great Depression, with 400,000 Americans dead from Covid-19 and an economy struggling to get going again after a decade of growth.

There will be no more public displays of affection between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un now that Joe Biden is America's president. File photo: AP/Wong Maye-E

He has been there before, alongside Barack Obama who passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on day 29 of his administration, paving the way for a $787bn stimulus to boost the devastated economy from the financial crash of 2008.

He couldnt possibly get as lucky as Ronald Reagan, who saw 52 American hostages released after 444 days by Iran a mere 20 minutes after he had been sworn into office in 1981.

In Joe Bidens first 100 days, expect a flurry of measures designed to restore American influence on world affairs, which have taken a severe image hit during the tumultuous Donald Trump administration.

It is no easy task. Trump promised a glorious new healthcare plan in his first 100 days, but even with control of both houses of Congress, he failed abjectly to do so.

Economy:

The Biden administration will look to have Congress pass a $1.9trn relief package for struggling Americans due to the Covid-19 pandemic as a matter of urgency. This is where chief of staff Ron Klain comes into play - the longtime Washington insider was with the former Vice President during the Ebola outbreak of 2014, as well as by his side during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash.

He will be the conduit between the Oval Office and Congress as they attempt to pass the relief package, which is not without Democrat doubters. Americans will get an extra $1,400 under the plan, on top of the $600 in December, which was seen as a pittance by many struggling to pay bills.

Raising Americas corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% will also be a priority, but he may face stiff opposition, with conservative Democrats resisting, lest they upset their Republican constituents.

Expect conservative Democrat senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia to hold a crucial role in the 50-50 split Senate over the next two years, akin to Jackie Healy-Rae or Tony Gregory in Ireland, as he may be the key vote in getting things over the line with some sweeteners thrown in for his traditionally poor state.

Covid-19:

A lack of a coherent federal strategy under the laissez-faire, and arguably Covid-19 denialist, Trump administration has led to a situation where 400,000 Americans have perished. Joe Biden has vowed that help is finally at hand, setting a goal of 100 million vaccines in the first 100 days.

A mask mandate for travel interstate and on federal property will require a major public relations push, but Dr Anthony Fauci of the White House Coronavirus Task Force will finally be taken seriously again.

Incoming health secretary (if confirmed), former California attorney general Xavier Bacerra, has signalled previous support for expanding healthcare in the US under a federal system, an idea that has been nixed as too radical previously, but may just get traction as the Covid-19 damage settles and Americans assess the fallout.

Climate crisis:

An executive order - where a President makes a decision without Congress - will be implemented immediately in order for the US to rejoin the Paris Accords, the commitment to reduce global temperatures through actions on human-made emissions.

His new cabinet-elect, including the first Native American secretary, Deb Haaland of New Mexico, who will lead the Interior Department, and former Michigan governor Jen Granholm as energy secretary, are seen as solid choices to tackle pressing climate emergency issues.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), seen almost as a joke in the Trump administration, will get its teeth back with the appointment of Michael Regan, an African-American with an impressive record in tackling polluters in his native North Carolina.

Read More Trump administration approves 1,700-mile Keystone XL pipeline to carry tar sands from Canada to Texas

His work with disproportionately affected disadvantaged communities - standing up for the marginalised - has led to some observers saying it could be a transformational pick.

President Biden will also signal his intent by reversing the granting of a permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which is supposed to bring oil almost 2,000kms from Canada to Nebraska.

Having been a huge issue for environmentalists and Native Americans for years, it is a significant move.

Immigration:

So often the punching bag and scapegoat for Americans and their economic and social woes, immigrants to the US should have a less stressful existence under a Biden administration.

He will propose protection for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Americans, who came to the US as children of undocumented immigrants, while also providing a pathway to citizenship.

A Biden executive order will reverse a Trump executive order restricting entry into the US from predominantly Muslim countries, while the infamous wall between Mexico and the US will stop building.

Read More Legal challenges to Donald Trump's travel ban mount in US

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary nominee Alejandro Mayorkas will have a tough job, trying to balance the rights of humanity with the rule of law in the US.

We are a nation of immigrants and we are also a nation of laws, and I intend to apply the law. If people qualify under the law to remain in the US, then we will apply the law accordingly. If they do not qualify to remain in the US, then they wont, he told Congress members this week.

Foreign policy:

Expect North Korea to engage in stunts such as missile-testing in precarious locations in order to get Joe Bidens attention, now that the public displays of affection between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un are gone.

Antony Blinken is expected to be nominated for secretary of state, and he is no stranger to rogue regimes such as North Korea.

The career diplomat is a firm believer in fostering and nurturing American relationships around the world, and he will have a lot of making up to do with allies in the EU.

It may be unlikely that China will test the Biden administration in his first 100 days, but if it makes military moves in Taiwan, the President will have his first major unenviable crisis to handle.
Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher went to war inside of the Fight Pit in the main event of WWE NXT.

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The Fight Pit is Thatcher's specialty and is a modified steel cage with a small walkway located at the top. The match can only be won by knockout or submission.

Ciampa and Thatcher started the brutal match on the walkway Wednesday before eventually taking their battle down to the ring.

Ciampa performed a low blow that was used to escape a sleeper hold. Ciampa was also able to perform Willow's Bell and land Fairytale Ending, but it still wasn't enough.

Ciampa found himself stuck inside the cage, which Thatcher took advantage of by placing his rival into a modified Stretch Muffler. Ciampa was forced to tap out due to the hold being applied to his surgically repaired knee, giving Thatcher the big win.

Also on WWE NXT, the first-ever Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament was kicked off by Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix who introduced the participants.

Phoenix spoke about how NXT has been at the forefront of the women's evolution in professional wrestling and noted how stars like Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, Bayley and more got their start on the yellow and gold brand.

Phoenix thanked fans for supporting women's wrestling and introduced the tournament's first match between Kacey Catanzaro and Kayden Carter against Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez.

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Martinez was dominant in the bout but was taken out by her rival, NXT Women's Champion Io Shirai. The champ grabbed Martinez off the ring apron and threw her into the announcer's desk, taking her out of the match.

Catanzaro and Carter wasted no time with Catanzaro performing an impressive, Twisting Senton off the top rope to score the victory and advance into the tournament.

NXT Champion Finn Balor met with NXT general manager Regal and said he eventually wants to face Pete Dunne but only after he takes care of Dunne's friends, NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch.

Regal said Balor can face Lorcan and Burch next week if he finds himself a tag team partner.

Balor, who stated that he has no friends, approached his rival Kyle O'Reilly of The Undisputed Era with the offer. Balor recently defended his title for a second time against O'Reilly in a winning effort.

O'Reilly accepted the offer, making the match official.

Other moments from WWE NXT included Leon Ruff and Kushida defeating North American Champion Johnny Gargano and Austin Theory to advance into the Men's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament; Karrion Kross defeating Ashante 'Thee' Adonis; Lucha House Party defeating Imperium to advance into the tournament; and Bronson Reed defeating Tyler Rust.
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Editors note: Julze Alejandre is a health promotion specialist and a Hydro Nation PhD scholar at Glasgow Caledonian University. Ragene Palma is an urbanist, and studied International Planning and Sustainable Development MA at the University of Westminster. Both authors are Chevening alumni. The opinions expressed in this article are the authors.

In 2020, better mental health was brought up to justify Manila Bays synthetic white sand filling and re-filling. But will this project really have the intended effect?

Assessment of the projects social impact is still lacking.

Consider, first, the state of Filipinos mental health.

Before the global spread of coronavirus, anxiety and depression have been negatively affecting peoples quality of life  their productivity and social relationships. Mental health illness and retardation ranked third and fourth, respectively, in terms of disability types in the Philippines, while intentional self-harm ranked ninth as the leading cause of death among young adults. An increasing incidence of suicide among the younger population was also observed, having 2 out of 10 adolescent students who attempted suicide and 1 out 10 who inflicted self-harm. Additionally, a 2015 survey relating to drug dependency in the country exposed 1.8 million Filipinos who are currently drug and substance dependent and 4.8 million who are lifetime drug dependent. There were also 3 out of 10 sampled government workers in Metro Manila who experienced mental health problems during their lifetime.

This emerging mental health epidemic has been seen to be aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictive lockdowns that affect how people socialize and interact have a potential impact on mental health, which poses a global health concern. While lockdowns are designed to protect the vulnerable from contracting coronavirus, it also causes unintended consequences: the fear of contracting coronavirus and dying alone; unmet spiritual needs due to restrictions in attending faith-based activities; and poor social health conditions due to physical distancing, isolation, and restrictions in meeting friends and loved ones contribute to the risk of having mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety during the pandemic. Frontline healthcare workers also experience stress, fear, and anxiety due to the lack of support from the government in terms of safe working conditions, protective equipment, testing, underpayment, and delayed hazard pay. A study conducted during the first lockdown between March and April showed that 1 out of 4 respondents reported moderate-to-severe anxiety while 2 out of 10 reported moderate-to-severe depression brought on by the presence of COVID-19 symptoms, imposition of quarantine measures, staying at home, unnecessary worry, family concerns, fear of getting sick, and discrimination.

The Philippines Mental Health Act mandates that mental health is a basic right of all Filipinos. Despite this, mental health services remain to be underfunded making it inadequate, inaccessible, unaffordable, and inequitable to Filipinos. Stigmatization and social exclusion of people with mental health conditions and their financial status continue to affect health seeking behavior and quality of life. There is also a gap on the availability of evidence-based psychological interventions in local areas. The Mental Health Act aims to integrate mental health care in basic health and social care services  essentially in educational institutions, workplaces, and communities. This means expanding the mental health service delivery from the conventional facility-based service to a more accessible community-based delivery. Despite the pressure to implement this expansion, mental health services remain to be widely facility-based.

In light of the celebration of World Suicide Prevention Day last year, DOH together with WHO Western Pacific Region jointly emphasized that the first step to [mental health] healing begins at home. This underscores the need for community-based mental health care, which means bringing mental health services closer to every Filipinos home. To this end, informal collaborations in education, justice, social welfare, and overseas worker sectors, including the development of guidelines for mental health first aid are already in existence. Despite these collaborative efforts, a link connecting the importance of recreation and environmental sectors to mental health improvement is missing.

Manila Bay has been the blue space in headlines. Yet, it is worth asking how connected Metro Manilas urban populace is to it. Aside from those living, working, and regularly traversing Roxas Boulevard, some urbanites wouldnt feel much affinity with this blue space. Photo by JL JAVIER

Prescribing blue spaces

Social prescribing is one alternative strategy that aims to improve mental and social wellbeing without resorting to clinical interventions. People who benefited from social prescriptions are those with mental and social health concerns deeply rooted in worrying about other social determinants of health such as education; livelihood, neighborhood, housing, and inclusion in society.

Green or nature prescription is a variant of social prescriptions. This utilizes the health-promoting benefits of green spaces (e.g., parks) and blue spaces (e.g., water ecosystems like bays, seas and lakes).

RELATED: Plant parenting as a response to our lack of green urban spaces

While the benefits of green spaces on mental health have been widely circulated and even adopted in peoples homes, the health-giving benefits of blue spaces are associated with natural stress reducers namely good ventilation and fresh air (both important in reducing risks to coronavirus infection), reduction of heat island effect and noise, and soothing soundscapes (for example, waves lapping). These make blue spaces conducive places for physical and social activities such as swimming, running, sightseeing, or any structured or unstructured recreation. They are soft and fascinating escapes.

A quick social media survey showed some insights that for some, this escape means freedom and adventure within the vastness, fragility, and depth of blue environments. To others, going to blue spaces means connecting to a peaceful environment providing solitude, euphoria, and refreshment. Some equate this to a homey state characterized by tranquillity, and serenity. These demonstrate that time spent in nature can improve mental fatigue and concentration through unforced brain use, eventually restoring individuals attention capacity. The responses also support how water (which is essential in design) can transform our environments to be more spiritual and meaningful for its users.

Green or nature prescription is a variant of social prescriptions. This utilizes the health-promoting benefits of green spaces (e.g., parks) and blue spaces (e.g., water ecosystems like bays, seas and lakes). Photo by JL JAVIER

Valuing water in our urban environment

Manila Bay has been the blue space in headlines. Yet, it is worth asking how connected Metro Manilas urban populace is to it. Aside from those living, working, and regularly traversing Roxas Boulevard, some urbanites wouldnt feel much affinity with this blue space.

In actuality, Metro Manila has many other blue spaces that are already accessible to the public. However, many are undervalued and uncared for. For instance, the Marikina-Pasig River and its tributaries traverse the metro, while numerous creeks and esteros stretch across patches of our urban fabric. Sadly, these water environments are almost always associated with flooding and danger, when there is so much potential in their location. Access is important in the urban dwellers experience of blue spaces  imagine if we could cycle along clean waterways, cross-city, on the way to work.

So how can our cities utilize blue spaces and make things work for our mental wellbeing amid the pandemic? On a large scale, approaching blue spaces with an integrative framework, one with appreciation for ecosystem services, can outline how our cities can better plan together, instead of pursuing one-off initiatives. Rethinking nature as infrastructure is essential. The Philippines heavily relies on concrete, when natural elements, such as trees and waterscapes can provide more reliable services. Our rivers, for example, create distinct character in our places. They have the potential to provide healing or therapeutic landscapes, and elicit positivity and restorative elements into our immediate environments.

RELATED: The COVID-19 pandemic is also an urban planning issue  especially in Manila

While ecological components are quick to come to mind when discussing blue spaces, such as conservation and biodiversity, integrating urban planning efforts with public health is critical on how we deal with this pandemic. Globally, research showed that engaging with blue-green spaces had a positive impact on mental health during lockdown. While procuring vaccines and reducing the number of new cases have been the priority in managing the pandemic response, there also exists the opportunity to create salutogenic city spaces, or environments that enable us to resist threats to wellbeing.

Continuing to live with the impacts of COVID-19 can be detrimental to Filipinos if we deprive ourselves of the benefits that nature, particularly blue spaces, can provide for our mental wellbeing. While many of us cope with finding natural touches while residing in limited spaces, and with the constraints our cities already face, addressing mental health  through ecosystem services, or through reconfiguring our environments  becomes vital. Particularly, importance should be put on how sectors  those in public health and in planning  can collaborate. It is imperative that perspectives and findings from this writing push policymakers to rely on science more, and decide which projects could lead to the betterment of our people and the environment they live in. Hopefully, the next conversations wouldnt just be about Manila Bay, but how Filipinos begin to truly benefit from blue-green interventions, for the sake of their wellbeing.
Florida police are searching for a group of bikers captured on camera beating a man in the middle of the road with his own wrench after he confronted them about blocking an intersection.

Jeremy Harris, the man who was beaten, caught the incident on his dash camera while driving westbound on Pondella Road in North Fort Myers on January 9.

The bikers were preparing for a 'street performance' when they started to block cars on the intersection.

Harris, who admitted that isn't blameless in the incident, is heard yelling at the bikers at the intersection: 'You guys can't do this! You can't f**king block. Get the f**k out of the way!'

Florida police are searching for a group of bikers captured on camera beating a man who had confronted them about blocking an intersection

Jeremy Harris caught the incident on his dash camera while driving westbound on Pondella Road in North Fort Myers on January 9. Harris yelled at the bikers (pictured) and clipped one before they attacked him at a stop light

After a few seconds, the bikers start to leave that particular intersection and are seen riding in front of Harris' vehicle as he continues driving.

At one point, Harris clips one of the bikers, prompting the others to race after him.

When Harris, who said he didn't mean to clip the rider, comes to a stop behind traffic at a second stop light, the bikers are seen jumping off their motorcycles and running over to his vehicle.

Harris said he grabbed a wrench from his vehicle to try and scare them off before the attack but the bikers swarmed him and took the wrench from him.

According to Crime Stoppers, the bikers busted out all of the windows in his vehicle before focusing their attention on him.

While most of the attack isn't seen on video, bystanders are seen running over to help and screaming for the bikers to stop.

At one point, a man holds up a large wrench (pictured) and appears to hit Harris with it. The man strikes Harris with it a second time before the bikers back off and return to their motorcycles

Crime Stoppers said in a Facebook post that the attackers (left and right) also beat Harris with their helmets. No arrests have been made and authorities are still searching for the group

Jeremy Harris (pictured) said he suffered a fractured skull and needed 15 staples in his head following the road rage incident

The fight then comes into the view of the camera and members of the group can be seen kicking and punching Harris.

At one point, a man holds up a large wrench and appears to hit Harris with it.

The man strikes Harris with it a second time before the bikers back off and return to their motorcycles.

Crime Stoppers said in a Facebook post that the attackers also beat Harris with their helmets.

In an interview with WINK News, Harris admitted that he was also at fault in the incident, saying: 'Bad decisions all around.'

Harris said he has a license to carry a gun but he decided against pulling his firearm out to scare them off so he grabbed his wrench instead.

'I grab the wrench more so to scare them off than to use it, and one of the guys on the bike pulled out a handgun and cocked it,' Harris told the news station.

'I backed off, but before I could get back and turn to my vehicle, they swarmed me.'

Harris said he suffered a fractured skull and needed 15 staples in his head.

As of Thursday afternoon, police have made no arrests in the road rage incident.

Anyone with information on the identities of the suspects, are encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com.

US President will issue an executive order on Thursday directing agencies to use the Defense Production Act (DPA) and other powers to speed up the manufacturing of testing and vaccine supplies and other items needed to fight COVID-19 in the country.

According to The Hill, the Biden administration officials signalled they would be "more aggressive" than former President Donald Trump's administration in invoking the DPA, which allows the federal government to force companies to increase the production of critical supplies during national emergencies.

"Where we can produce more, we will. Where we need to use the Defense Production Act to help more be made, we'll do that too," said Tim Manning, Biden's COVID-19 supply coordinator, in a call with reporters on Wednesday as quoted by The Hill.

Manning said that his team has identified 12 "immediate supply shortfalls", that include N-95 masks, isolation gowns, gloves and swabs needed for tests.

Officials said that the new administration will also use the DPA for the acceleration in the production of syringes, raw materials used in vaccines, and other items needed to quickly vaccinate as many people as possible.

"The team will work with the states and the manufacturers to ensure that we're using the DPA as aggressively as needed to accelerate the supply of the vaccine," said Bechara Choucair, Biden's COVID-19 vaccine coordinator.

Critics have argued that while the Trump administration used the DPA to increase the supply of ventilators, masks and other supplies, he was not being aggressive enough to close shortages of supplies.

"President Trump has not used his DPA authority sufficiently enough to award adequate medical supply contracts for the nation's needs. We must immediately do more to re-shore the most in-demand PPE, such as nitrile gloves, nearly all of which are manufactured in China," a group of Democratic senators wrote in a letter this week to Biden, urging him to invoke the DPA as quoted by The Hill.

A key part of the Biden administration's national strategy for defeating the is invoking the DPA.

Biden's strategy is centered around seven goals, including restoring trust with the American people; mounting a safe and effective vaccination campaign; expanding masking, testing, data and treatments; building the health care workforce; safely reopening schools, businesses and travel while protecting workers; protecting those most at risk for serious illness, including people of colour; and restoring US leadership globally, the plan stated as cited by The Hill.

"For almost a year now, Americans could not look to the federal government for any strategy, let alone a comprehensive approach to respond to COVID," said Jeff Zients, Biden's COVID-19 response coordinator.

"This is a plan that is driven by science data and public health, it's not driven by politics," The Hill quoted him saying.

The plan also lays out goals to establish an "effective, comprehensive" and "aggressive" vaccination campaign but did not offer timetables for when shots will be available to the general public.

"We must do this, equitably, we cannot miss vaccinating communities that are hit hardest by the pandemic. This is going to have to be critical to our success... We must do this, equitably, we cannot miss vaccinating communities that are hit hardest by the pandemic. This is going to have to be critical to our success," Choucair told reporters.

The administration had already set a goal of getting 100 million people vaccinated within the first 100 days of Biden's first term.

The Hill also reported that Biden will also sign executive orders on Thursday increasing federal reimbursement to states and tribes from 75 per cent to 100 per cent of the cost for National Guard personnel and emergency supplies, like PPEs, cleaning and sanitising efforts and opening mass vaccination centers.

Biden would also sign another executive order creating a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force, which will provide recommendations to the president for allocating resources and funding in communities that are disproportionately impacted by the pathogen.

At least 24.4 million cases of the novel have been reported in the US, according to Johns Hopkins University.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Government was asked what it was doing to change the procedures and fix the technology to ensure an entire industry isnt destroyed (Brian Lawless/PA)

The entire fishing industry could be destroyed if ministers do not fix customs clearance technology at the border, George Eustice has been warned.

SNP MP Stuart C McDonald (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) told the Environment Secretary that Scottish seafood companies were concerned they were going out of business with their produce sitting in lorry parks in Kent waiting for customs clearance.

His comments came as other MPs queried whether the meat industry was also in jeopardy after newspapers reported this week that pigs heads were rotting in Rotterdam.

Expand Close Environment Secretary George Eustice said a 23 million fund had been established to help exporters who were struggling with the paperwork (Aaron Chown/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Environment Secretary George Eustice said a 23 million fund had been established to help exporters who were struggling with the paperwork (Aaron Chown/PA)

But Mr Eustice assured MPs that while there were occasionally delays at the border, in general, goods are flowing.

Speaking in the Commons during environment departmental questions, Mr McDonald said: Scotlands high-quality seafood producers are warning that theyre going out of business.

They cant have their products sitting in lorry parks in Kent waiting for customs clearance, those products have to reach market fresh.

So what is the Government doing to change the procedures and fix the technology to ensure an entire industry isnt destroyed, and will there be ongoing compensation offered to business until this is sorted, or was that a one-off?

Expand Close Mr Eustice said his department was working daily with the fishing sector to tackle and iron out any particular issues (Danny Lawson/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mr Eustice said his department was working daily with the fishing sector to tackle and iron out any particular issues (Danny Lawson/PA)

Mr Eustice responded: We have announced a 23 million fund to help those exporters who struggled with the paperwork in these initial weeks.

Weve also been working daily with the fishing sector to tackle and iron out any particular issues that theyve encountered.

He added that the problems were simply teething issues.

Meanwhile, shadow environment minister Daniel Zeichner told the Commons: I fear the Secretary of State is living in a parallel universe.

He must have seen the headlines pig heads rotting in Rotterdam as Brexit delays hit the British meat industry, and asked if the meat industry was in jeopardy.

Mr Eustice said: He is wrong about that actually. Goods are flowing, particularly when it comes to lamb, which is our principal meat export. Dairy goods are also flowing.

Yes, there are occasionally delays at the border as border officials in France and The Netherlands get used to these new processes, but we are intervening in all such instances to help the businesses concerned.

The Environment Secretary also told MPs that an agreement between the UK and Norway over access to each others fishing waters during the next year could conclude within the next couple of weeks.

Mr Eustice said that last week an interim agreement was reached between the two countries to allow British fishers to catch a quota of 2,750 tonnes of cod in waters around Svalbard, Norway, up to March 31.

Responding to Labour MP Emma Hardy (Hull West and Hessle), he told MPs: We would anticipate that these negotiations would conclude within the next couple of weeks and then access for Arctic cod, should that be agreed in the agreement, could be resumed.

First thing this morning, I asked the Conservative Government why hasn't the fishing quota been agreed upon? The Kirkella is moored up, waiting to go to work.



Is the Government dragging its feet or is it being incompetent once again?? pic.twitter.com/Va1oHHBN6v  Emma Hardy MP (@EmmaHardyMP) January 21, 2021

MPs were also informed that the UK Government was conducting bilateral negotiations with Ireland over easing pet travel restrictions between Great Britain and the island of Ireland.

Since January 1, the UK has part two listed status under the EU Pet Travel Scheme, meaning that people travelling from Great Britain with their pets and assistance dogs need to follow new requirements in order to travel to the EU and Northern Ireland.

SDLP MP Claire Hanna (Belfast South) said the current situation caused challenges for pet owners, particularly in relation to guide dogs.

Mr Eustice replied: The primary purpose of these pet travel regulations is to control the spread of rabies and both Ireland and Great Britain have a very similar and very high health status on rabies having not had it in dogs previously.

We, therefore, do think that there should be easements on this particular provision, we have argued with the (European) Commission that we should be listed in part one but we are continuing to make those bilateral negotiations with Ireland a priority.

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Bastrop, LA (71221)

Today

Showers early, then cloudy in the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.
HONG KONG, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC), a fully-fledged fixed-line operator and ICT service provider with extensive local and international network coverage, services and infrastructure, today announced the availability of its hyperscale-focused fibre optic network at AirTrunk's latest hyperscale data centre in Hong Kong.

Asia-Pacific hyperscale data centre specialist, AirTrunk opened the doors of its HKG1 data centre in December 2020. Near Tsuen Wan, AirTrunk's 20+ MW facility is strategically located in a key hub for international connectivity. AirTrunk converted an eight-storey industrial building into a world-class hyperscale data centre with a design PUE of 1.35 in record time to support cloud customers ramping up their operations in Hong Kong and the wider region.

HGC's fully meshed and robust fibre connectivity is available to link the new data centre to others in the city and beyond into APAC, through HGC's fast growing fibre network. Reliable service can be brought online within four to six weeks, and between two to three weeks for fast track customers. Leveraging the ubiquitous network and extensive portfolio of services, HGC links its home market with the rest of the world and carries traffic between internationally-dispersed geographies.

Being a major financial hub and technology centre, Hong Kong is one of the Asia's most connected locations. With a healthy data centre landscape and a large portfolio of submarine cables, Hong Kong is set to remain a top choice for deployment by global enterprises.

Think tank house Structure Research estimates the Hong Kong data centre market to grow at a CAGR of 13% to 14%, reaching $1.7 billion by 2023. A key driver behind this growth is the ongoing letting of hosting floor to hyperscale companies, especially large public cloud operators. Hong Kong has one of the highest concentrations of deployments by these players.

Thomas Lee, AVP, Global Carrier Data, International Business of HGC, said: "We have borne witness to rapid mounting demand for data centre to data centre network connectivity services in Hong Kong. The HGC fibre optic grid available at AirTrunk's state-of-the-art facility is a solid and robust infrastructure. It has the ability to be tailored to each client's needs, and has a specially designed SLA for hyperscale companies, including large public cloud companies seeking to expand in the region. With state-of-the-art network infrastructure, far-reaching connectivity and software-based capability, HGC is well positioned to capture widespread market opportunities arising in the digital economy."

About HGC Global Communications Limited

HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international fixed-line operator. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. HGC has 23 overseas offices, with business over 5 continents. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies.

To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk

Related Links

http://www.hgc.com.hk



SOURCE HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC)
A helicopter crash took the lives of three national guard members when it went down. The cause of the crash needs to be investigated.

Three soldiers were fatalities last Wednesday when the helicopter went down in upstate New York.

Fatalities were part of a New York Army National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter unit. Based at Army Aviation Support Facility near Rochester International Airport when helicopter crash in Mendon, in New York on a training mission, reported Fox40.

The New York Army National Guard issued a statement, stating that it was part of the 1st Battalion (171st General Support Aviation). Soldiers of this units were identified as those who died in the accidental crash, said The Dailymail. Officials direct that all flags be at half-staff Thursday as a sign of respect for the fallen guardsmen.

The circumstances of the crash

At 6:30 p.m., a National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter unit seemed to encounter problems while in flight. They were flying over Mendon in a suburb of Rochester when witnesses reported a helicopter flying low close to the ground. Later, the aircraft hit the ground and caught fire when it struck the ground in an open farm field.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, the emergency response teams were on point. They saw the crash in the field with the blazing helicopter smoldering, moving to save who they can. At this point, the fatalities were determined by authorities.

Baxter said that the accident was unexpected and the loss of the guardsmen. He added that the identities of those on board the ill-fated aircraft were in process as the National Guard mourned their deaths.

Government officials in New York joined others in this time of loss. Hazard is always a part of the service, and the deceased soldiers were honored accordingly.

Initial reports gathered by authorities confirmed that the guardsman helicopter unit had engine trouble that led to the tragic accident.

Sources say that officials think only three soldiers died in the crash. It has to be verified further by the National Guard if the count is accurate. Continuing the search will confirm and see if anyone was injured and still escaping the downed helicopter.

A spate of crashes included a downed National Guard F-16 recently that led to the pilot's death despite efforts to locate him in time. The impact happens in Hiawatha National Forest in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Officials believe three were killed in the crash, but they are waiting for full confirmation from the National Guard on how many soldiers were on board. They continue searching for any possible survivors who may have been able to eject from the crash.

The New York Governor said that the accident is saddening as the Guardsmen serve the United States at home and abroad. These men voluntarily do the nation, and he extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.

For their service, the governor gave a tribute to the fallen in service to the nation and state. Despite several agencies' unified effort to save someone in the accident, no one survived the three National Guard Members.

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President Trump on his last day in office pardoned criminal mastermind Sholam Weiss, whose looting of a life insurance company for $450 million and defrauding of elderly Americans out of their life savings earned him the longest sentence in US history for a white collar crime and his own episode of CNBC's "American Greed."



Weiss' pardon was pushed for by Jeffrey Epstein's former lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, as well as Brett Tolman, a former US Attorney with close ties to the Aleph Institute -- an organization that was started by the Orthodox Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch movement which counts the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a member.



From Haaretz:

Another person [Trump] pardoned was Sholam Weiss, a Hasidic businessman from New York, who was sentenced to 845 years in prison in 2000 for masterminding one of the largest insurance fraud scams in history.



[...] Weiss, meanwhile, fled the United States while out on bail, averting authorities in Israel and other European and South American countries for a year prior to being arrested in Austria. International law enforcement officials were able to begin tracking him after discovering he was kicked out of a Brazilian hotel for a party with nearly a dozen prostitutes. Authorities originally focused on Brazil due to Sao Paulo's capacity to entertain his exorbitant lifestyle while also being home to a large Jewish community.



  PHOTOS: @SholamWeiss Just left Otisville after 20 years in prison. Hes seen with Rabbi Moshe Margeretin (@Tzedek_Assoc) who was heavily involved in his release. pic.twitter.com/tNLYdmYJn8  Belaaz (@TheBelaaz) January 20, 2021

According to the New York Times, Weiss' case was put on Trumps radar by lawyers Alan Dershowitz and Brett Tolman. Both Dershowitz and Tolman have close ties with the Trump White House and the Aleph Institute, a nonprofit affiliated with the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic movement that played an outsized role in Trumps earlier round of pardons and commutations.



Tolman is a former U.S. attorney from Utah who reportedly advised Jared Kushner on the Trump administration's criminal justice reform moves, and was specifically cited by the White House in the pardon of Charles Kushner, his father. Of the final clemency wave, Dershowitz lent his support to four of the pardons (including Weiss) and the Aleph Institute lent support to five of the pardons.

CNBC's episode of American Greed profiling Sholam Weiss portrayed him as a criminal mastermind with an insatiable desire for prostitutes and booze who "wore a black suit [and] a yarmulke every day and professed to be a very conservative hasidic Jew."







Weiss went to prison in 1994 for burning down his first business as part of an insurance scam. While serving his sentence, he asked for and received permission to spend four days at home with his family to observe Passover. Instead, Weiss flew to Donald Trump's casino in Atlantic City for a $70,000 gambling binge with a young female companion.



Weiss later went on to loot National Heritage Life Insurance Co. for $450 million in "the largest life insurance fraud in American history."







You can watch the full episode of American Greed on Weiss here.



"Mr. Weiss was convicted of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice, for which he has already served over 18 years and paid substantial restitution," Trump's White House said in a statement on his pardon. "He is 66 years old and suffers from chronic health conditions."



Weiss faked a heart attack after being captured by authorities in Austria to try and stop his extradition flight to America.



Trump declined to pardon Julian Assange, Edward Snowden or any of his own supporters who marched on the Capitol under his orders but he had no issue with pardoning "the largest life insurance fraudster in American history," the "king of medicare fraud," the "prince" of medicare fraud, a drug kingpin who was friends with Snoop Dogg, the Israeli handler of traitor Jonathan Pollard and a Ponzi schemer.



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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 07:38:24|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Hours after being sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, Biden signed in the Oval Office an executive order that returns his country back to the Paris Agreement on climate change, reversing his predecessor Donald Trump's decision to abandon the deal.

"We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," he said before the signing.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the new U.S. administration's announcement to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change.

"I warmly welcome President (Joe) Biden's steps to re-enter the Paris Agreement on climate change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis," said Guterres in a statement.

Biden had promised that he would rejoin the Paris climate agreement on his first day of taking office.

"Today, the Trump Administration officially left the Paris Climate Agreement. And in exactly 77 days, a Biden Administration will rejoin it," Biden tweeted on Nov. 4 last year, the day the United States formally withdrew from the pact.

Trump announced the withdrawal soon after he took office in 2017, citing concerns about the pact's threat to the U.S. economy.

Biden picked former Secretary of State John Kerry to be his special envoy for climate, indicating the importance of this issue in his foreign policy.

The Paris Agreement of climate change, agreed on by almost every country in the world in 2015 after lengthy negotiations, aims to tackle climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and sets a global target of keeping the rise in the average temperature no higher than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Enditem
SACRAMENTO  State Sen. Shannon Grove of Bakersfield, who drew criticism after she promoted a conspiracy theory that antifa activists attacked the U.S. Capitol, will be replaced as the Republican leader in the California Senate.

Grove will be replaced by Sen. Scott Wilk, a more moderate Republican from Santa Clarita (Los Angeles County), following a vote of the nine-member GOP caucus Wednesday. The change comes after widespread speculation about a leadership fight in the caucus, and will take effect in a few weeks.

It has been an honor to serve as the Senate Republican leader and fight for Californians who far too often do not have their voices heard in the Capitol, Grove said.

Wilk, who previously worked as a public affairs consultant, narrowly won re-election in a swing district last year. He said he will focus on the coronavirus pandemic, including its economic toll and challenges for students.

Earlier this month, Grove shared and then deleted a tweet supporting a false, far-right theory that antifa activists led the Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol, which was actually led by extremist backers of former President Donald Trump.

Patriots dont act like this!! Grove wrote as she she retweeted the false claim. This was antifa.

A spokesperson for Grove said the senator realized that it was an incomplete thought and deleted the tweet.

Under Groves leadership, Republicans lost two of their 11 seats in last years elections, allowing Democrats to pad their supermajority in the 40-member Senate. The losses came as the GOP gained one seat in the Assembly and recaptured four U.S. House seats from Democrats.

Grove previously suggested Trump won the presidential election. Earlier Wednesday, she responded to President Bidens inauguration with a statement that warned of the consequences of far-left policies.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
People are more likely to follow COVID-19 restrictions based on what their friends do, rather than their own principles, according to a study that shows how social influence affects adherence to government interventions.

The researchers, including those from the University of Nottingham in the UK, found that the best predictor of people's compliance to the rules was how much their close circle complied with the rules, which had an even stronger effect than people's own approval of the rules.

The study, published in British Journal of Psychology, suggests that including experts in human and social behaviour is crucial when planning the next stages of the pandemic response, such as how to ensure that people comply with extended lockdowns or vaccination recommendations.

"When first hit the UK in March, I was struck by how differently the leaders in Europe and Asia were responding to the pandemic," said lead researcher Bahar Tuncgenc from the University.

"While the West emphasised 'each person doing the right thing', pandemic strategies in countries like Singapore, China and South Korea focussed on moving the collective together as a single unit, Tuncgenc said.

The researchers asked people from over 100 countries how much they, and their close social circle, approved of and followed the COVID-19 rules currently in place in their area.

They found that people didn't simply follow the rules if they felt vulnerable or were personally convinced, adding that most diligent followers of the guidelines were those whose friends and family also followed the rules.

Close circle's compliance had an even stronger effect than people's own approval of the rules, the researchers said.

This discovery applied to all age groups, genders, countries, and was independent of the severity of the pandemic and strength of restrictions.

The study also revealed that people who were particularly bonded to their country were more likely to stick to lockdown rules -- the country was like family in this way, someone for whom one is willing to stick their neck out.

"We see scientists and politicians trying to boost the public's approval of the measures, so that vaccination campaigns and lockdowns get the support of the citizens, but approval does not mean compliance," said Ophelia Deroy, a professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany.

"You may make up your own mind about the measures, or listen to experts, but eventually, what you do depends on what your close friends do" Deroy said.

"Practical steps could include social apps, similar to social-based excercise apps, which tell people whether their close friends are enrolled for the vaccine.

"Using social media to demonstrate to your friends that you are following the rules, rather than expressing outrage at people who aren't following them could also be a more impactful approach," Tuncgenc 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.)
With more than 1,500 patients with COVID-19 in hospitals, San Antonio officials feel the pressure to quickly get shots into the arms of those who need protection the most.

The problem is theres not enough vaccine to go around.

One of the difficulties is the fact that the vaccine is in short supply and until that vaccine is in greater supply its going to be allocations one week at a time, University Health president George Hernandez said Tuesday night.

University Health operates a mass vaccination site at Wonderland of the Americas, a shopping mall near Interstate 10 and 410. Every time theres an announcement of a new shipment of vaccine, the thousands of online appointment slots fill up within minutes.

Hernandez told the Bexar County Hospital District board that hospital administrators would prefer to schedule appointments at least a month out, but we just dont have the guarantee yet that that vaccine will be there.

University Health and other providers approved by the state to operate vaccination hubs dont know how many doses are coming until the day before they arrive.

On ExpressNews.com: Alamodome vaccine appointments set for Monday pushed to Wednesday

Roughly 1 million people in Bexar County are eligible to receive the vaccine now  thats everybody in the 1A and 1B tiers  but the state has only allocated 235,400 doses so far; thats enough to fully vaccinate about 12 percent of the county.

The 1A and 1B tiers include frontline healthcare workers, residents of long-term care facilities, anyone 65 or older and anyone 16 and older with a chronic medical condition such as diabetes.

As of Wednesday, about 86,536 people in the county had received their first dose, and about 19,864 had been fully vaccinated with both doses, state data shows.

University Health spokeswoman Elizabeth Allen said Wednesday that the Wonderland site will not be open to 1B patients next week because of the limited doses available.

They are instead reserving doses for employees at nine San Antonio school districts including Alamo Heights, East Central, Edgewood, Harlandale, Judson, Northeast ISD, Northside ISD, San Antonio ISD and Southwest ISD. The districts are responsible for prioritizing among its teachers and staff who should get the vaccine.

Major providers have worked with Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council in recent weeks to share doses  with the regions first responders; medical staff at Southwest General Hospital, who also treat COVID-19 patients, but didnt get any doses; and now with school districts.

Last week, UT Healths entire allotment of 5,850 vaccine doses went to the city for its Alamodome appointments.

Dr. Margaret Kelley, a local OB-GYN and the county hospital boards secretary, questioned hospital administrators about whether the vaccine distribution has been equitable  not just going to established patients.

Hernandez said theyre doing the best they can.

Its been a team effort, he said. We continue to work with the city and UT Health and WellMed to see how we can maximize the doses in San Antonio.

laura.garcia@express-news.net
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Just like us, many insects need a decent night's sleep to function properly, but this might not be possible if they have been exposed to neonicotinoid insecticides, the most common form of insecticide used worldwide, suggests research by academics at the University of Bristol.

Two studies by scientists at Bristol's Schools of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience and Biological Sciences have shown these insecticides affect the amount of sleep taken by both bumblebees and fruit flies, which may help us understand why insect pollinators are vanishing from the wild.

Dr. Kiah Tasman, Teaching Associate in the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience and lead author of the studies, said: "The neonicotinoids we tested had a big effect on the amount of sleep taken by both flies and bees. If an insect was exposed to a similar amount as it might experience on a farm where the pesticide had been applied, it slept less, and its daily behavioural rhythms were knocked out of synch with the normal 24-hour cycle of day and night."

The fruit fly study published today in Scientific Reports, allowed the researchers to study the impact of the pesticides on the insect brain.

As well as finding that typical agricultural concentrations of neonicotinoids ruined the flies' ability to remember, the researchers also saw changes in the clock in the fly brain which controls its 24-hour cycle of day and night.

Dr. James Hodge, Associate Professor in Neuroscience in the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience and senior author for the study, added: "Being able to tell time is important for knowing when to be awake and forage, and it looked like these drugged insects were unable to sleep. We know quality sleep is important for insects, just as it is for humans, for their health and forming lasting memories."

Dr. Sean Rands, Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences and co-author, explained: "Bees and flies have similar structures in their brains, and this suggests one reason why these drugs are so bad for bees is they stop the bees from sleeping properly and then being able to learn where food is in their environment.

"Neonicotinoids are currently banned in the EU, and we hope that this continues in the UK as we leave EU legislation."

Explore further Deep sleep takes out the trash
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

A steady, heavy rain this morning. Showers continuing this afternoon. Thunder possible. High around 50F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 41F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.
Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are at a moderate level. The numbers of hospitalized Covid patients and deaths in the Arkansas County area have also remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Arkansas County is relatively low, suggesting that testing capacity is adequate for evaluating Covid-19 spread in the area.

Avoid crowds , and limit the number of people you meet and the amount of time you spend with them. Avoid indoor spaces with poor airflow. Wash your hands often, especially after visiting a public place or blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

If you feel sick or have been exposed to someone with Covid, you should stay home and get tested . If someone in your household feels sick or has been diagnosed with Covid-19, everyone should wear a mask, wash their hands often and stay at least six feet apart from one another, even inside your home.

You should stay at least six feet away from people who live in other households. Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are outside your home and whenever you are around people who do not live with you, including any visitors to your home.

Do not skip or delay medical care , including mental health care . Talk to your doctors about postponing any nonessential appointments. If you have an appointment, call before your visit to find out if you need to take special precautions, and ask if telehealth is a good option for you.

Learning environments where students stay in small groups during meals and recess make it safer for younger students to go to school . Older students should consider online or hybrid instruction if possible. Avoid play dates and extracurricular activities that involve physical contact or more than a handful of students.

Children tend to have less-severe symptoms but can still spread the coronavirus, so consider the health risks of everyone in your household when making decisions about your childs activities.

Work remotely when possible and avoid in-person meetings . In the workplace, less crowded hours are the safest to be on the job.

Religious services are safest when conducted outside. If you attend an indoor service, choose one without singing and where everyone wears a mask and stays at least six feet apart.

Weddings , funerals , concerts , sporting events and other gatherings that bring multiple households together are places where Covid can spread easily. Consider postponing or keeping events small.

Avoid all nonessential travel . If you must take a taxi , open the windows and sit far away from others in the vehicle. If you need to take public transit , try to avoid rush hours and crowds so you can keep your distance from others. If you fly, choose less crowded flights or airlines that keep middle seats empty.

You can lower your risk during grocery shopping and other indoor activities by keeping your visits as short and infrequent as possible. If you visit an indoor area, choose places where its easy to stay apart from others, and avoid places where people do not wear masks. If you meet friends indoors, including inside your home, limit your group to a handful of people , keep your distance and wear a mask.

Avoid crowded indoor places like gyms and movie theaters ; nonessential shopping ; and indoor personal care services like haircuts and manicures . Given the severity of the outbreak in Arkansas County, spending time inside with people from other households puts you at risk for getting the coronavirus or spreading it to others.

Heres how you can reduce the risk of getting Covid-19 if you havent yet completed your vaccination series.

The C.D.C. still recommends wearing a mask in settings where Covid-19 may spread more easily, including healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, transportation hubs and on all forms of public transportation. This helps protect people who may be particularly vulnerable to the virus and also to prevent spread.

Keep in mind that receiving medical care, even for unrelated conditions, may become difficult if hospitals at your travel destination are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.

Its low-risk to have indoor visits, such as inviting another household over for dinner without masks and without social distancing, as long as the size of these gatherings is limited to a few households.

Individuals are fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their final vaccine dose. If you are fully vaccinated, you may choose to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations for fully vaccinated people since your risk of getting sick is much lower.

We developed this advice with experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives , an initiative of Vital Strategies. If you or someone in your household is older or has other risk factors for severe Covid-19, you may need to take extra precautions .

Based on the high Covid-19 transmission in Arkansas County right now, heres how to lower your personal risk of getting Covid-19 and protect your community, according to public health experts.

An average of less than one case per day was reported in Arkansas County in the last week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 8 residents have been infected, a total of 2,118 reported cases .

About the data

In data for Arkansas, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. Arkansas typically releases new data each day. Weekend counts may be lower because fewer sources report to the state. The state reports cases and deaths based on a persons permanent or usual residence.

The Times has identified the following reporting anomalies or methodology changes in the data:

Feb. 28, 2021: Arkansas updated its counts after verifying records, resulting in an increase in cases and a small decrease in deaths.

Arkansas updated its counts after verifying records, resulting in an increase in cases and a small decrease in deaths. Sept. 15, 2020: Arkansas added 139 probable deaths from unspecified days.

Arkansas added 139 probable deaths from unspecified days. Sept. 3, 2020: Missouri began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing, resulting in a one-day addition of about 50,000 cases.

Missouri began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing, resulting in a one-day addition of about 50,000 cases. Aug. 15, 2020: Arkansas removed about 400 previously reported cases after removing duplicate and out-of-state cases.

The tallies on this page include probable and confirmed cases and deaths.

Confirmed cases and deaths, which are widely considered to be an undercount of the true toll, are counts of individuals whose coronavirus infections were confirmed by a molecular laboratory test. Probable cases and deaths count individuals who meet criteria for other types of testing, symptoms and exposure, as developed by national and local governments.

Governments often revise data or report a single-day large increase in cases or deaths from unspecified days without historical revisions, which can cause an irregular pattern in the daily reported figures. The Times is excluding these anomalies from seven-day averages when possible.

About the Covid-19 risk levels

Arkansas County is at a high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 4 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks. The risk in Arkansas County will decrease to moderate risk if the daily case rate drops to less than about 2.8 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks and the test positivity stays low. The case charts on this page show 7-day averages, while risk levels are assessed based on 14-day case averages, which may be different.

The New York Times worked with public health experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, to develop guidance on how individuals may reduce their risk of exposure to Covid. There is specific guidance for each risk level.

A countys Covid-19 risk is determined based on the number of reported cases and testing data. Although county risk levels are assigned based on expert guidance and careful analysis, it is possible that the risk level in a specific county may be over or underestimated because of a lack of reliable data.

A county is at an extremely high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of more than 45 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 32 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a very high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of more than 11 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 8 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of about 3 or more cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 2 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a moderate risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of about 1 case per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported 1 or more cases over the past two weeks.

A county is at a low risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of less than 1 case per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported no cases over the past two weeks.

In some cases, a county might not have a risk level if not enough recent data was available, or if inconsistencies were found in the data. If a countys recent testing data was not available, the rate of positive tests in the state was used, along with recent cases, to calculate the risk level.

Since the risk levels were first published in January 2021, The Times has made the following methodology changes:
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Sasikala's release not to have any impact on TN politics: Cong TN chief

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Coimbatore, Jan 21: The release of V K Sasikala, close aide of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa,from prison will not have any impact on Tamil Nadu politics, state Congress chief K S Alagiri claimed on Thursday.

Citing reports, he alleged that the BJP was pressurising the ruling AIADMK in the state to bring Sasikala into the party fold ahead of the coming assembly elections. Sasikala, who is set to be released on January 27, will not create any impact on Tamil Nadu politics, Alagiri told reporters here.

Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case.

Tamil Nadu Elections 2021: EPS rules out truce with Sasikala

To a question on remarks by DMK youth wing secretary Udayanidhi Stalin that winnable seats should not be allotted to alliance partners, Alagiri said it would be decided by DMK president M K Stalin.

Matters relating to seat sharing will be resolved through dialogue, he said, adding that Congress was not in favour of a third front, which is not good for the state. Noting that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be on a three-day visit to the western districts of Tamil Nadu from January 23 to launch his election campaign, Alagiri said the focus will be on dislodging the incumbent government and installing a secular one in the state.

Assembly elections are likely in April-May. To another query, he said the Congress has not made any attempt to forge an alliance with actor-turned politician Kamal Hassan''s MNM. However, Haasan is welcome to join the Secular Democratic Alliance,Alagiri added.

On the release of seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the TNCC president said his party will neither oppose nor welcome if they were set free by court.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 17:38 [IST]
President Akufo-Addo with guests in a photograph after the opening session of the 2021 NewYear School at the University of Ghana, Legon.



The government is on the verge of procuring vaccines to help control and possibly bring to an end the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.



It follows a recent surge in the number of infections across the country.



Speaking at this years edition of the Annual New Year School at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra, yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said that the recent upsurge in the cases of COVID-19 infections, tells us that the virus is very much with us.



He said the committee formed by government to recommend the appropriate decision on COVID-19 vaccines has completed its work, enabling government to begin discussions with vaccine manufacturing companies with a goal of ordering suitable doses of the vaccine for use in Ghana.



Details of that, he said, will be announced very soon.



That, he, however, cautioned, We cannot afford to abandon the enhanced hygiene and safety protocols that ensure that we are faring much better than many other countries including some well-advanced and developed countries.



He said, if we do not adhere to these protocols, all the work that is being undertaken to build Ghana in the face of the global health crisis will fail.



The pandemic, according to the President, has illustrated vividly the need for self-reliance in all areas of social and economic life, to which end he said is key that we also break the cycle of dependence on foreigners in the fields of science and medicine as well.



He was of the firm conviction that it is not beyond our scientist and pharmaceutical companies whose knowledge and expertise cannot be questioned to produce an indigenous Ghanaian vaccine to combat the virus; insisting they must be up and doing.



That notwithstanding, he indicated that we have already put in place measures to protect the most vulnerable in society from economic effects from the virus and will continue to act proactively to protect the citizenry from the ravages of the pandemic.



We are determined to see us through this crisis and all the challenges that it has brought in its wake, he emphasized.



He, therefore, considered the theme for this years Annual New Year School, Building Ghana in the face of global health crisis, essential to raise, discuss and deliberate, and to find answers to important questions related not only to the COVID-19 pandemic but also to other health and social crisis.

















Source: Charles Takyi-Boadu









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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
(Newser)  Kamala Harris is now the vice president, but she won't be moving into the VP's traditional residence at the Naval Observatory right away. The residence requires some household maintenance and "repairs ... that are more easily conducted with the home unoccupied," an aide tells CBS News. Harris, previously a senator from California, does have a home in Washington, DC, though it's not clear whether that's where she and husband Doug Emhoff will be staying nor when they might move into the VP's residence. Her office did not release information on where she's living for security reasons, Politico reports.

story continues below

The Naval Observatory was built in 1893, but was not refurbished for use by the vice president until 1974. Walter Mondale was the first VP to reside there. (Read more Kamala Harris stories.)
WEST SPRINGFIELD - Police charged a Hampden Street resident with drug charges Tuesday after a drug raid on his home resulted in the discovery of cocaine and heroin packaged for street sales and more than $3,700 in cash

Felix Luis Gonzalez of 134 Hampden St. is charged with possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to distribute, and distribution of cocaine. Each charge is listed as a subsequent offense.

Gonzalez was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon after police executed a search warrant on his residence. The warrant was the result of an investigation over several weeks by the West Springfield narcotics bureau, the Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, and the Hampden District Attorneys Task Force.

The search yielded 5 grams of cocaine, 208 bags of heroin, and cash and drug paraphernalia.
The document will soon be posted on the ministry's website for public debates.

Ukraine's Health Ministry has developed a national strategy for cancer control until 2030.

Health Minister Maksym Stepanov announced this during an online briefing.

Read alsoLife expectancy in Ukraine shows timid growth  Research

According to him, when developing the strategy, experts of the ad hoc group took into account the fact that "it should be based on evidence and be realistic, given the available resources of our country."

"The recommendations of a WHO mission, as well as the IAEA were taken into account. Patient organizations were also involved in the development of the strategy. Rehabilitation and palliative care are separate objectives of the strategy. It is important to take care not only of treatment, but also of the quality of our patients' life," the minister said.

According to him, they plan to implement the strategy during 2021-2030.

Stepanov said that the strategy had already been developed and would soon be published on his ministry's website for public debates, and then it would be submitted for consideration by the government.

"We have already gotten a plan for this strategy," he added.

Cancer in Ukraine

According to the Health Ministry, over 1 million people in Ukraine have been diagnosed with cancer, and up to 80,000 people die from it every year.

Ukraine ranks second in Europe in terms of the incidence of cancer cases.

Annually, up to 170,000 Ukrainians are diagnosed with cancer, the Health Ministry said.

The Health Ministry has expanded the list of medicines to be procured with budget funds for the treatment of cancer patients.

Reporting by UNIAN
Law Business Media today announced the acquisition of the assets of PinHawk LLC, a privately held electronic newsletter and web alert service based in New York. PinHawk distributes daily, industry-specific electronic newsletters to lawyers and other professionals, their clients, and their prospects. PinHawk emails are either private labeled for clients or distributed under the PinHawk brand.

We are delighted to welcome PinHawk to the Law Business Media family, said Kristin Calve, co-founder and CEO of the company. We have known and admired PinHawk founder Joe Bookman for many years. He is a genuine legal technology and publishing visionary.

Before launching PinHawk in 2005, Bookman co-founded and built two successful technology companies, including CompInfo, whose software, LawPack, was widely adopted by law firms and corporate law departments. CompInfo is now part of OpenText.

"We are thrilled to be a part of the Law Business Media universe, Bookman said. Our combined editorial and technical resources will enable us to deliver even more high-quality content to our audience.

Along with its valuable news content and technology platform, PinHawk brings experienced editorial talent to the CCBJ team, including:



Jeff Brandt, editor of PinHawks Law Technology Daily Digest

Constance Ard and John DiGilio, co-editors of Librarian News Digest

Bill Lipner, editor of Legal Administrator Daily

Rees Morrison, editor of Leading Law Departments

Joe Lamport, editor of Law Firm Marketing

Sue Silverman, editor of Law Firm News

Yiorgos Athanassatos, editor of Hedge Fund News

Fran Susino, editor of Economics Research and News

In addition, Mike Wisz, the lead PinHawk software developer over the last decade, will continue to enhance and support the PinHawk technology platform. Mike has worked on a wide range of projects, including computational protein design, a novel patent search tool, and a popular mobile game for pet owners.

The acquisition of PinHawk speaks directly to our mission of providing information and analytics to meet the growing appetite of legal and other professionals for content important to their professional and personal development, Calve said. We look forward to further developing and delivering superior content to our elite and discriminating readers.

The PinHawk acquisition marks another transformative event for LBM. The company in December 2019 added a team of media and marketing veterans to its senior executive team: Neil Signore assumed the role of Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Events; Jennifer Coniglio joined as Vice President for Events and Special Projects; and Matthew Tortora serves as the companys Senior Database Director.

PinHawk aggregates news from thousands of sources to shape its daily topical and industry-specific electronic newsletters for the legal community. These include Law Firm News & Press Releases; Law Technology Daily Digest; Legal Administrator Daily; Librarian News Digest; Legal Marketing Brief; Leading Law Departments; Corporate Legal News; Economic Research and News; Hedge Fund News; NYC Real Estate News; Securities News; and Bankruptcy News. PinHawk also provides customized daily emails for law firms, tracking client and partner news along with other law firm news.

About Law Business Media

Law Business Media, publisher of Corporate Counsel Business Journal, is a leading provider of information and insight focused on the corporate legal ecosystem. Through an array of digital and print publications, live conferences, interactive colloquia, webcasts, podcasts, bespoke roundtables, and other products and services, LBM continues to focus on understanding and meeting the information and analytics needs of chief legal officers, general counsel and senior legal executives, corporate legal operations professionals, corporate executives and board members, and the many elite law firms, technology companies, law companies, academics, consultants and other individuals and organizations whose mission is to help corporate counsel continuously improve the vital services they provide to their organizations.

About Corporate Counsel Business Journal

Law Business Medias flagship magazine, CCBJ, was founded more than 25 years ago as Metropolitan Corporate Counsel by Al Driver, the esteemed longtime General Counsel of JC Penney. Al, with his wife Martha Driver, a senior financial executive with TIAA-CREF, developed, launched and operated MCC for 20 years following their retirements from their very successful corporate careers. Law Business Media, co-founded by Kristin and Joe Calve, acquired MCC in 2014 and rebranded as Corporate Counsel Business Journal in 2018.

About Kristin Calve

Kristin Calve, a serial entrepreneur with experience in startups, M&A, joint ventures and new product development, serves as publisher and editor of LBMs flagship publication, Corporate Counsel Business Journal. A former publisher with ALM Media and business analyst with A&E Television Networks, she is the founder of Topstone Angels, a private investment group, and the former VP, Revenue, for LiftMetrix, a SaaS platform designed to enable brand marketers to maximize ROI across social media channels. (LiftMetrix was acquired by Hootsuite in 2017.) Kristin has an MBA in Finance & Marketing from Fordham Gabelli School of Business.
A new law against "reactionary thinking" has been in place for some time. Fines for parents who allow their children to have fun with music; 15 years in prison for those who watch southern television; life sentence for non-registered foreign cell phones; death penalty for products imported from the US and Japan.

Seoul (AsiaNews) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is carrying out a campaign that bans listening to music, watching soap operas on TV, and expressing oneself in South Korean style, under pain of high fines or imprisonment. It is yet another attempt to combat "reactionary thinking", and to privilege the national (and controlled) media.

The law provides fines for parents for allowing their children to violate the ban. Up to 15 years in prison in forced labor camps are imposed for those caught watching South Korean television; for those who produce or distribute pornography, for those who use unregistered foreign televisions, radios, computers, cell phones.

According to some sources, Southern-style writing and speaking is also prohibited. The Daily NK, a Seoul-based agency that monitors the North, says anyone caught importing prohibited material from South Korea faces life imprisonment. and whoever imports it from the United States or Japan faces a death sentence.

Various experts see in this new law and in the harsh punishments connected with the government's attempt to curb information that comes from outside, including from China, which is gaining more and more respect, especially among young people.

Tae Yong-ho, the first North Korean exile elected to the Southern Parliament, said: "During the day the people shout 'Long live Kim Jong-un', but at night everyone watches South Korean dramas and films".

An important fact is that, while information is blocked from the outside, Kim Jong-un promised at the recent party congress to expand the wifi network throughout the country and improve local television production.
(Alliance News) - Shares rose in Quadrise Fuels International PLC on Thursday as it announced the signing of a joint development agreement with MSC Shipmanagement Ltd of Cyprus.

Shares in the supplier of MSAR emulsion technology and fuels were 31% higher at 2.78 pence on Thursday in London.

MSC Shipmanagement is a subsidiary of Geneva-based shipping and logistics firm MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co SA.

Under the agreement, an MSAR operational trial will be carried out on commercial container vessels in the MSC container fleet, starting 2021.

The initial activities under the agreement will include definition, high-level scoping and feasibility activities of the overall trial, and is expected to take three months.

Should the initial results be encouraging, the companies will proceed to phase one in the second half of 2021, which involves the testing of MSAR fuel in a large MAN ME and a Wartsila/WinGD Flex 2-stroke engine so as to obtain letter of no objection approvals from the respective engine manufacturers.

Once phase one is completed, Quadrise and MSC will seek to rollout MSAR fuel and possibly Quadrise's new bioMSAR across the MSC global fleet, which constitutes phase two.

"Quadrise is delighted to have signed this agreement with MSC and we look forward to working alongside them to progress this excellent opportunity. We believe that MSC's large modern fleet installed with electronic engines and, in some cases, exhaust gas cleaning systems is well positioned to realise the economic and environmental benefits of MSAR and bioMSAR and we look forward to realising the project and getting the trials underway in 2021," said Chief Executive Officer Jason Miles.

By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 02:45:56|Editor: huaxia

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CHICAGO, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that people with problems in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection after swallowing the virus.

In the study, the researchers analyzed tissue from 30 patients with Barrett's esophagus and found that cells in the tissue samples all had receptors for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which normal esophagus cells lack. They built and cultured mini organs from those and other esophagus tissue samples. Some of the sample organs were built with cells that came from healthy people while others came from patients with Barrett's esophagus.

The researchers found the virus was able to bind to and infect mini organs built from tissue from people with Barrett's esophagus. The more the cells in a specific patient's mini esophagus culture resembled intestine, the more the virus bound to and infected that culture.

Many patients with COVID-19, most of whom contract it by breathing in the viral particles, develop GI symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. The virus also has been found in the stool of COVID-19 patients. But this new study demonstrates that under the right circumstances, the virus also may have an impact in the upper part of the GI tract.

Standard medical management for patients with Barrett's esophagus is to suppress gastric acid secretions with drugs such as proton pump inhibitors. By reducing stomach acidity, those drugs may inadvertently make it possible for the virus to pass through the stomach and into the intestine, where even the normal, healthy cells carry receptors for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

"The worry would be that, particularly for Barrett's patients, there even may be a susceptibility to infection from foods containing viral particles," said senior investigator Jason C. Mills. "This study provides data to indicate that we need to take a closer look to investigate whether a substantial portion of the population may be susceptible to infection through what they swallow."

The study was published online Wednesday in the journal Gastroenterology. Enditem

The fight against the virus that causes COVID-19 has taken a new turn: Reports of mutations are appearing quickly.

Many scientists fear that a variant of the new coronavirus may appear that cannot be prevented by a known treatment or vaccine.

The genes of the coronavirus are changing, and health officials say the high number of new cases is the main reason. Each new infection gives the virus a chance to mutate as it makes copies of itself. Each mutation threatens to undo the progress made in the last year of fighting the pandemic.

On Friday, the World Health Organization urged more efforts to find new variants. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a new variant first identified in Britain a few months ago might become the number one virus in the U.S. by March. It does not cause more severe illness, but it could cause more hospitalizations and deaths. The CDC warned of coming exponential growth.

Were taking it really very seriously, Dr. Anthony Fauci said on American television Sunday. He is the U.S. governments top infectious disease expert.

We need to do everything we can now...to get transmission as low as we possibly can, said Harvard Universitys Dr. Michael Mina. He said that the best way to stop mutations is to slow the spread of the virus.

So far, vaccines remain effective. There are, however, signs that some tests and drug treatments may not work with the new variants.

The virus may create a mutation that makes it more dangerous, said Dr. Pardis Sabeti. She is an evolutionary biologist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

For example, younger people may not be afraid of the virus because it does not make them very sick. That could change quickly, she warned.

More reports of mutations

It is normal for viruses to mutate. A mutation that strengthens the virus helps it to survive by pushing out the weaker variants.

Just a few months after the coronavirus was discovered in China, a mutation called D614G began to spread. It quickly became a major form of the virus.

Trevor Bedford is a biologist with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. Last week, he wrote on Twitter, now, weve started to see some striking evolution of the virus.

New variants have also been found in South Africa and Brazil. A main mutation in the variant identified in Britain appears to be in another variant that was found in Ohio, said Dan Jones. He is a molecular pathologist at Ohio State University who announced that finding last week.

This is important because it does not appear the mutation was created as the result of travel. Rather, the virus may mutate in the same way in different places, Jones said.

That also means that travel restrictions might be ineffective, Mina said. Because the United States has so many cases, we can breed our own variants that are just as bad or worse as those in other countries, he said.

Treatment, vaccine, reinfection risks

Government scientists are actively looking into the possibility that variants found in South Africa and Brazil may be able to fight off antibody drugs and other treatments that can help people survive COVID-19, Dr. Janet Woodcock of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration told reporters Thursday.

Other scientists are not as worried. Dr. Andrew Pavia of the University of Utah said vaccines in use now should remain effective. They may need a small change to fight mutations.

Even then, he said, its probably going to be on the order of years if we use the vaccine well rather than months. He was speaking Thursday on a webcast run by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

mutate  v. to cause a change that creates a different quality in a living thing

variant  n. different in some way from others of the same kind

exponential  adj. very fast, to a very great degree

transmission  n. the process of something spreading, going from one place to another

evolution  n. the process by which living things change over time

pathologist  n. a part of medicine that seeks to find out causes

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A 100 million donation has been made to help establish a new initiative which seeks to develop bespoke antibiotics for livestock.

Ineos, a UK-based multinational chemicals company, has donated the huge sum to the Ineos Oxford University Institute (IOI) for antimicrobial research.

The institute said it would focus on designing novel antimicrobials just for livestock, as well as exploring new human drugs.

It said the majority of global antibiotic consumption by volume was used for agriculture, and drug use in animals was contributing significantly to their lessening effectiveness in humans.

Figures show that antimicrobial resistance currently causes an estimated 1.5m excess deaths each year - and could cause over 10m deaths per year by 2050.

Surgeon David Sweetnam, adviser to the Ineos Oxford Institute, said the 'growing menace' of bacterial resistance to antibiotics was 'one of the most underreported issues of the time'.

"All modern surgery and cancer treatments rely on the use of effective antibiotics. To lose this precious gift will signal a return to a pre-antibiotic era," he added.

"We now have a very narrow window of opportunity in which to change course and prevent the unthinkable from becoming the inevitable."

Responding to the donation, the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics said it was 'not convinced' that the best approach was to focus on developing new animal-only antibiotics.

It said such antibiotics were already available and were often used without veterinary oversight to 'support the intensification of farming'.

"Introducing new animal-only antibiotics may simply enable further intensification," the Alliance said in a statement.

"Scientific evidence shows that intensive farms can be breeding grounds for new bacterial superbugs and new types of viruses with pandemic potential in humans."

It said the best way to reduce antibiotic resistance in livestock was to ban all routine use of antibiotics, including preventative mass medication, and to support a shift to 'higher-welfare, less intensive husbandry systems'.

In some other countries, such as the US, further types of animal-only antibiotics are licensed for routine disease prevention or for growth promotion.

However, the US still uses over five times more medically important antibiotics per livestock unit than the UK does.

The Alliance said this showed that increased use of animal-only antibiotics did not necessarily reduce the use on farms of antibiotics used in human medicine.
There are currently eight prisoners battling coronavirus in the Irish prison system in three different jails, according to the latest data provided to Independent.ie.

Six of these infected inmates are in Wheatfield Prison in west Dublin where all staff and prisoners are undergoing their third round of testing today after 11 confirmed cases were discovered in which five prisoners have recovered.

There is one positive case in Mountjoy today after a mini-outbreak led to three prisoners getting the deadly virus and there is also one positive case in Portlaoise Prison after two prisoners who had Covid 19 in the Co Laois facility have now overcome the disease.

The Irish Prison Service can confirm the total number of prisoners tested positive for Covid-19 from March 2020 to 20thJanuary 2021 is 51. Twenty six are prison based transmission and twenty five are community transmission, a Prison Service spokesman said.

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The spokesman explained that mass testing for all staff and prisoners is ongoing in Cloverhill Prison and no prisoners to date have tested positive for Covid-19.

The Dochas Centre and Loughan House have completed their mass testing and have returned to a normal regime and the situation will continue to be carefully monitored by local management, he said in a statement.

Earlier this month, it emerged that nine prisoners had tested positive at the Loughan House open prison in Co Cavan with most of these being prisoners who had returned to the facility after getting temporary release over the Christmas period but the situation is now under control.

Outbreak Control Teams (OCT) continue to oversee the appropriate actions to be taken to mitigate against further possible spread of the disease within the prisons, the Irish Prison Service say.

The Service is working closely with Public Health in the HSE with regard to the management of the current outbreaks including making arrangements for the mass testing of prisoners and staff in all locations.

Arrangements are being made for the second round of mass testing of prisoners and staff in Portlaoise and Mountjoy Prisons. A third round of testing is ongoing for the staff in Wheatfield Prison.

To help prevent the spread of infection a more restricted regime has been introduced in both prisons which may impact on access to video visits and phone calls in the short terms for prisoners in precautionary isolation however we are working to ensure that we can continue to facilitate family contact as far as possible, the spokesman added.

The Irish Prison Service have a Q &A document on their website for information for friends and family of prisoners in relation to Covid outbreaks in Irish jails.

In Cork Prison, around 13 staff are out on Covid-19 leave, either having tested positive or as a close contact including one prison officer who has been hospitalised.

The Services response to the health pandemic has been widely praised and led to them submitting a paper to the World Health Organization as a model of best practice for keeping Covid-19 out of prisons.
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
As far as sporting taboos go the topic of sexuality in gymnastics is right up there. Tonight, local coaches join the discussion room on the touchy subject of what is appropriate or inappropriate for gymnasts to wear.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : Ninety-two countries have approached India for Covid-19 vaccines, bolstering New Delhis credentials as the vaccine hub of the world.

Highly placed sources said that scores of countries are approaching India, as the word spreads that Indian vaccines are showing negligible side-effects, since the immunization drive in the country began on Saturday.

India is sending its domestically developed vaccines to several neighbouring countries including Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar.

In a letter to PM Modi on Tuesday, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit of the Dominican Republic, has also requested for inoculation, signally that the demand for Indian jabs has acquired a transcontinental appeal. "As we enter 2021 and persevere in our fight against Covid-19, Dominica's population of 72,100 is in urgent need of enough doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. I, therefore, request, with great humility and respect, that you assist us by donating the doses we need to make our population safe (optimally 70,000 first and second doses)," wrote Skerrit.

In other parts of Latin America, Brazil, which has the second highest number of coronavirus cases in the world next only to the United States, has sent a special plane to pick up Indian vaccines from Pune.

A Brazilian plane is expected to fly the first 2 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine purchased by the government's Fiocruz biomedical institute.

According to a Reuters report from Sao Paulo, Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said the documentation is ready for bringing the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine being produced at the Serum Institute of India.

Brazil's Anvisa has scheduled a meeting for next Sunday to decide on the emergency use of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford as well as one by developed by China's Sinovac Biotec.

Meanwhile the Bolivian government had also signed a contract with India's Serum Institute for the supply of 5 million doses of AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine.

President Luis Arce said that combined with a recent deal to buy 5.2 million Sputnik V vaccine doses from Russia, Bolivia now expected to be able to inoculate all of its vaccinable population.

The sources said that in tune with Prime Minister Modi's message that India's vaccine approach are intended to heal humanity, India would not be averse to provide vaccines to Pakistan, as part of a drive to eliminate the virus globally.

And in the course of time if the Chinese vaccine does not work, India would not hesitate to supply jabs to Beijing as well. The sources pointed out that India's vaccine exports to China may go a long way in addressing India's adverse trade balance with the Middle Kingdom.

So far, China's vaccine has shown patchy results. For instance, after Thailand has discovered that the efficacy of the two million doses of the Chinese Sinovac Biotech Covid-19 vaccine, has dropped dramatically.

The Bangkok Post said that the Thai Ministry of Public Health has requested further information about the vaccine it has ordered from China following a report "it might not be as effective as first thought" even as it goes ahead with its plan to receive and administer the vaccine from Sinovac Biotech.

"We are asking for information directly from Sinovac, so we are waiting for their response to get all the facts," Supakit Sirilak, Thailand's Director-General of Medical Science Department, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Singapore too has confirmed that the vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech will have to go through regulatory scrutiny and authorisation by the country's Health Sciences Authority (HSA) before being rolled out for the public.

"We will go through the data carefully when it comes, rather than depending on reported numbers. It's better to rely on official data that we receive from Sinovac itself," said Singapore's Health Minister Gan Kim Yong according to a report in The Straits Times.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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The supervisor, however, did not report the incident to superiors and instead used a curse word to describe an employee who disapproved of their handling of the situation, the report said. Meanwhile, another animal control officer supervisor and a dispatcher posted images in the departments office that complained of apparent snitching stemming from other misconduct investigations into various city agencies, including Chicago police, the equal employment opportunity division and Fergusons Office of Inspector General.
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The amazing little town of Fairhope got a shout-out Tuesday night from actor Jason Segel as he appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Segel appeared for a socially distanced split-screen interview partly about his upcoming movie, Our Friend. The movie, which also stars Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck, wasnt just shot in Fairhope: It was based on a real-life story that happened there.

Segel and Colbert initially made some small talk about what Segel had been up to during the COVID-19 shutdown, which turned out to include a lot of walking. Segel said hed been isolated on his rural property a couple of hours north of Los Angeles and had decided to start working on things that caused him anxiety, such as his lack of fitness.

I wouldnt say out of shape, Ive been fat, Segel said. For a long time, in my life. So he started walking 10 miles a day.

A bit later in the interview, he revealed that his fitness kick actually went back to something that happened in pre-quarantine life, when he was in Alabama to work on Our Friend.

I sat down in Fairhope, Alabama, I like to get where Im going to shoot like a few weeks early so Im really relaxed by the time we start and feel calm, Segel said. And I sat down and the waitress said, Oh, Jason Segel, I know you, what are you doing in town, what are you doing in Fairhope, Alabama? And I said, Im doing a movie with Dakota Johnson. And then she said, Oh my gosh, how much weight do you have to lose?

Colbert asked if this was before or after Segel decided to start exercising.

This is about, Im going to say, 20 seconds before I decided, said Segel.

Still, it didnt seem to hurt his impression of Fairhope. Fairhope is an amazing little town, he said. It actually reminds me of the town I live in.

Our Friend, which previously used the working title The Friend, is slated for release Jan. 22 in theaters and for on-demand viewing. Its based on a gut-wrenching essay that Matthew Teague wrote for Esquire and which won a National Magazine Award in 2016.

Teague, whod been a staff reporter for the Mobile Register in the late 90s, had gone on to a career as a freelance reporter when his wife, Nicole, was diagnosed with the ovarian cancer that killed her in 2014. Teagues essay was a stark look at the physical indignities and emotional drain of the two-year struggle, but also a tribute to Dane Faucheux, a friend who basically put his life on hold to help.

In the film version, Affleck and Johnson portray the couple, with Segel as the friend.

What was amazing to me is that Matt Teague went through the hardest thing youre ever going to go through and somehow came out of the process viewing this as a story about friendship, he said. And thats what the movie is about.  Its a beautiful thing to be a part of.

Teague, an executive producer on the film, previously told AL.com that hed been an obnoxious advocate for shooting it in Fairhope.

It made more financial sense to shoot it somewhere like Savannah, but theres an authenticity that comes with shooting it where it happened, he said.

The Late Show episode can be seen at www.cbs.com. The segment with Segel starts midway through, just before the 22-minute mark, with the part about Fairhope following a commercial break a few minutes later. For updates on the films release, visit www.facebook.com/OurFriendMovie or https://ourfriendmovie.com/.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
ANI

In what could be the biggest breakthrough in the talks between the protesting farmers and the government, the latter has agreed to put the implementation of the three contentious legislation on hold for 18 months. Read more

Here's more top news of the day:

1) Despite Alarming Cases, India Claims It Has Lowest Adverse Events Related To COVID-19 Vaccine

Reuters

India has reported at least 600 adverse events following the COVID-19 vaccination drive which began in the country on January 16. Read more

2) After Drawing Major Criticism, Hearing For Adani Port Proposal Near Wildlife Sanctuary Deferred

Keller

Despite massive resistance from the environment activists, locals and political opposition, the expansion at Kattupalli Port near Chennai by Adani Ports had earlier made it to the public hearing stage. Read more

3) Mahatma Gandhi's Statue Removed From Premises As Work Begins On New Parliament Building

AFP

The statue was relocated from its place facing the main gate to a space near Gate number 3, to make space for the ongoing construction of the new Parliament building. Read more

4) Explained: Karnataka's Anti-Cow Slaughter Law That HC Ruled To Be 'Constitutionally Valid'

BCCL

In a big win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, the Karnataka high court observed that the provision in the ordinance relating to ban on cow slaughter is constitutionally valid. Read more

5) After UP Ward Boy, Now Telangana Ambulance Driver Dies Hours After Getting COVID Vaccine

File Photo

A 42-year-old male healthcare worker in Telangana, who received COVID-19 vaccine at the Kuntala Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Nirmal district of Telangana on Tuesday, was 'brought dead' to a government hospital on early Wednesday morning. This is the first such case reported in the state. Read more
On Thursday, at an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the issue of dismissal of Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Vitaliy Nemilostivy will be considered, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

"On Thursday morning, the government is going to an extraordinary meeting. On the agenda was one issue, the dismissal of Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries Vitaliy Nemilostivy. I have said more than once that there are no untouchables in our government. We will prove these words with actions once again," Shmyhal said on his Facebook page on Thursday night.

As reported on the Obozrevatel website, Nemilostivy was stopped by the patrol police, who suspected the man of drunk driving.

Judging by the video recording made by the policeman's chest camera, Nemilostivy refused to draw up the protocol, tried to leave the scene of the incident and even started a fight with the patrolmen.
SMMPortal, an internet marketing company announced its latest product release. whose goal is to provide various social media booster packages. SMMPortal, is providing an incredible business opportunity, today announced its latest product release: The site will cover online services for different social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more. This announcement will help bloggers, artists, and individuals people to build their social media exposure and to leverage their businesses. Additionally, 
SACRAMENTO  Pro-Donald Trump demonstrators who gathered at the state Capitol on Wednesday hoping to join a final show of support for the outgoing president instead found themselves far outnumbered by counter-protesters and law enforcement officers.

Despite warnings of potential armed protests, the Capitol remained calm, as the handful of Trump supporters trickled in and then left when no mass demonstration materialized.

John Baldwin, 75, a retired postal worker from Twain Harte (Tuolumne County), had planned to attend his first political rally, but disappointed by the turnout, he left after a few minutes. He said the former presidents restrictive immigration policies appealed to him.

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Make America Great Again resonated with me, Baldwin said. Theyre revising our history. Im not sure our kids really know what our country is about.

With tensions high following Trump followers storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Californias statehouse remained under the protection of hundreds of National Guard troops and officers from the California Highway Patrol and Sacramento police. The perimeter of the complex was fortified with a 6-foot chain-link fence.

In the early afternoon, a few dozen counter-protesters in black marched to the Capitol. They yelled expletives at police, cursed both Trump and President Biden and banged on the fence before leaving without incident after a few minutes.

Alessandra Vega, 29, an unemployed restaurant server from Sacramento, was on a walk around the Capitol grounds in her Trump 45 shirt when a man passing by began mocking her.

Wheres your people power, guys? he asked.

Have a blessed day, Vega shouted back.

Like Baldwin, Vega was drawn to Trump by his anti-immigration policies, and she criticized Bidens proposal to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.

Now Playing: Video: SFGATE

Were your children. You need to take care of us, she said. Our country is already starving and youre going to let in more people.

Amid their skepticism of the legitimacy of Bidens victory, only a few Trump loyalists seemed willing to give his presidency a chance.

Nicholas Baratta, 29, a painter from Fresno, drove up to Sacramento with his wife hoping to protest government corruption. He blasted Rage Against the Machine from a portable speaker and waved a small American flag. He said his anger over the election had turned to hopelessness, but he was also keeping an open mind.

If Biden smashed this coronavirus thing and got us back to normal, I would feel a little better, he said.

Nearby, Sacramento resident Pedro Hernandez, a Biden supporter and Vietnam veteran, watched as he stood guard next to the Latino Veterans Memorial, a stone statue of a soldier that is dedicated to California Latinos who have served in the military.

Hernandez, 73, said he came to prevent the statue from being damaged. Hernandez pointed to a crack in the stone soldiers rifle, which he said a vandal broke in 2015 after Trump said derogatory things about Latinos as a presidential candidate.

As hes exiting, Im afraid somebody would come damage it again, Hernandez said. Weve never been so offended by a president.

Dustin Gardiner and Alexei Koseff are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner @akoseff

Pope Francis urges Biden to foster peace and reconciliation in the US and the world.

Italy's premier Giuseppe Conte wished "good work" to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as they were sworn in as 46th president and vice-president of the United States of America respectively on 20 January.

Hailing it as a "great day for democracy," Conte tweeted that Italy "stands ready to face the challenges of our common international agenda together with the United States."

Wishing good work to President @JoeBiden and Vice-President @KamalaHarris. This is a great day for democracy, reaching far beyond the American borders. Italy stands ready to face the challenges of our common international agenda together with the United States. #InaugurationDay  Giuseppe Conte (@GiuseppeConteIT) January 20, 2021

We are looking forward to the Biden presidency, with which we will start working immediately in view of our presidency of the G20" - Conte said in parliament yesterday - "We have a strong common agenda, ranging from the effective multilateralism that we both want to see, to climate change, green and digital transition and social inclusion.

Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio sent his "warm congratulations" to President Biden and Vice President Harris, describing their inauguration as "a new beginning for our close friend and ally and for the American democracy."

Warm congratulations to President @JoeBiden and VP @KamalaHarris who will take the oath of office today in Washington.

A new beginning for our close friend and ally and for the American democracy. I look forward to working with SoS @ABlinken and the new Administration.  Luigi Di Maio (@luigidimaio) January 20, 2021

Pope Francis sent Biden his "cordial good wishes and the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high office."

The pontiff also expressed his hope that "under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding."
By Richard Douglas, Guest Opinion. January 19, 2021

The ATF is a boogeyman to any and all members of the 2nd Amendment community. Time after time they have proven to be hard at work chipping away at the right to bear arms, despite being an enforcement agency, not a regulatory agency.

The ATF decided once again to tangle with gun owners everywhere and begin going after pistol braces, (for example with the 'Honey Badger' SBR). Again. A stabilizing brace is designed to make shooting a rifle or shotgun one-handed possible for people with disabilities. Of course, this hasnt been the first time the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has tried to regulate braces.

The pistol brace has been somewhat of a controversial debate when it comes to the ATF and gun owners across the country. Initially, pistol braces werent much of an issue. Disabled people could now shoot without their disability interfering with the activity. Non-disabled people also used stabilizing braces as a substitution for shoulder stocks to circumvent another ATF regulation regarding Short Barreled Rifles which require an expensive tax stamp that requires months of waiting just to have a rifle barrel under 16 inches.

Then in 2015, the ATF ruled that shouldering braces were a redesign of the purpose of the brace effectively and illegally banned shouldering braces. This caused outrage within the gun community sparking armed protests and rallies. Its important to understand that the ATF is merely a regulatory agency and not a legislative one. Their regulations are illegal and unconstitutional, yet they continue to make laws at a rate that makes it difficult to discern whats legal and whats a felony. ....

The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
The coronavirus pandemic is continuing to spread in China, and a recent report has revealed that, as elsewhere around the world, governments and employers are exploiting the crisis to slash wages and full-time jobs.

According to the National Health Commission, 118 new confirmed COVID-19 cases (symptomatic) and 91 asymptomatic infections were reported in China on January 18. As of midnight on January 19, China had 2,215 confirmed cases and 811 asymptomatic infections.

Students line up to sanitize their hands to avoid contracting the coronavirus before their morning class at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

As well as being placed on the front line of the pandemic, Chinese workers are facing an offensive against their working conditions. On January 16, the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University released the 2020 Township Labor Market Survey Report. The report stated that during the pandemic, 24.4 percent of workers have experienced a wage cut, with 6 percent of workers wages dropping sharply.

In addition, 31.7 percent of township workers started to take part-time jobs after the pandemic began. Support for workers food and accommodation in the workplace also dropped significantly.

Hebei, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces are still the hardest hit COVID-19 areas. The Hebei Provincial Health Commission issued a notice on January 17, upgrading a region in Xinle City, Shijiazhuang to a high-risk area. Another high-risk area in Shijiazhuang is Gaocheng District. Also on January 17, another 10 Shijiazhuang districts were upgraded to medium-risk, taking Hebei Provinces total of medium-risk areas to 48.

Also on January 17, a Jilin Province pandemic prevention and control press conference announced that a super transmission event had occurred in the province, causing 102 cases, after an asymptomatic infected sales person from Heilongjiang entered Jilin. According to reports, from January 6 to 11, he conducted four marketing activities aimed at the elderly.

A few days ago, the epidemic in Suihua City, Heilongjiang Province spread to eight cities in three provinces within three days. According to the data previously notified by Heilongjiang Province, the province had 216 new infections inside seven days. An infected person reportedly attended a wedding for two consecutive days, resulting in an outbreak.

What is particularly worrying is that many infected people took trains or buses and entered crowded places such as stations, expanding the pandemics geographical scope.

With the rapid spread of infections, medical resources have begun to be strained, and weaknesses in the medical system have been exposed. In an interview with Caijing magazine, a doctor said rural areas and some small towns were far from vigilant, and management was relatively rigid, making it difficult to detect pandemics immediately.

A person in charge of a township health centre in Hunan Province said epidemic prevention work in grassroots areas such as townships and rural areas was quite difficult, with limited personnel and funds. Some hospitals have no relevant medical equipment. Protective clothing and masks are very expensive, and the qualifications and training levels of medical workers are problematic.

After the pandemic was contained in the second half of 2020, the Chinese government and media began to downplay its impact and vigorously promoted achievements in recovering production. Protection work was neglected to a certain extent.

With the annual Spring Festival due on February 12, returning migrant workers have put further pressure on the prevention and control of pandemics in rural and township areas.

Chinas bureaucratic measures have also affected residents in infected areas. Local governments have resumed the methods they used during last years lockdown, such as setting up roadblocks to halt traffic, severely affecting the transportation of medical supplies and everyday necessities. In recent days, news has spread of shortages and sharp price rises for vegetables, meat and other foods.

On January 17, a number of departments in Hebei Province jointly issued a notice requesting local governments to immediately stop this method of blocking traffic, but the problems have persisted. In order to prevent infections from appearing in their jurisdictions and affecting their own political performance, local bureaucrats have kept stopping vehicles and people from entering.

The rigidity of social management is also taking a toll, including by making it difficult for ordinary patients to seek medical treatment. In one reported instance, a parent of a premature baby asked for help on social media. The child was at risk of blindness and in urgent need of eye surgery in Beijing, but because their household registration was in Hebei, many hospitals refused treatment. The plea for help aroused popular attention, finally forcing a hospital in Beijing to treat the baby.

Since the Wuhan lockdown last year, similar things have happened in every city. While lockdowns in China have proved effective against the pandemic, the official state media ignores the demands and difficulties of ordinary people.

While the working class is bearing the brunt of the pandemic, the total wealth of the 400 richest people in China soared from $US1.29 trillion to $2.11 trillion last yearan increase overall of more than 60 percent according to the Forbes 2020 Rich List.

This staggering inequality is set to worsen. On January 15, Chen Yulu, deputy governor of the Peoples Bank of China, said Chinas prices would continue to rise modestly in 2021. Rising prices will make the life of working class households more difficult.
A Bondi-based performer has become a rising internet sensation thanks to his incredible recreations of Disney scenes and Broadway hits, where he plays multiple roles on screen at the same time.

What started as a way for Joe Donovan to stay creative and entertain his friends amid COVID-19 has now delighted thousands of fans and celebrities alike.

The dancer, 24, recently took on two High School Musical numbers on Instagram Reels - which saw an original cast member give her tick of approval.

Bop to the top! Viral Bondi performer Joe Donovan is praised by High School Musical star for incredibly creative recreations of Disney scenes and Broadway numbers. Pictured: both left Joe, right characters Sharpay and Ryan Evans in High School Musical

Lining up with the 15th anniversary of the teen franchise, Joe recreated 'Stick to the Status Quo' and 'Bop to The Top'.

'Dang, I am impressed. Love all of this, and you!' American actress Kaycee Stroh, who played Martha Cox, commented under one video.

But it's not the first time Joe's playful parody videos have been praised by one of the content's original creators.

Earlier this month, actress Rhonda LaChanze (who played Terpsichore) reached out with 'yassss' after his video recreating a scene from Disney's 1997 Hercules reached more than 2.5million views.

'Dang, I am impressed': American actress Kaycee Stroh, who played Martha Cox in High School Musical, commented under one video her tick of approval

How does he do it?! Joe also performed as separate characters in the same frame in numbers from Disney animated film Hercules so seamlessly

She approves! Actress Rhonda LaChanze (who played Terpsichore in Hercules) reached out with 'yassss' after Joe's Hercules-inspired video reached more than 2.5million views

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, Joe said it still felt quite surreal to see stars liking and commenting videos pretending to be them.

He goes all out for the videos, sometimes spending up to three hours finding the perfect costumes, choreographing each part, filming and editing.

Joe has performed commercially for artists such as Charlie XCX, Guy Sebastian, and Jessica Mauboy to name a few, but says his true passion lies in theatre work.

'Coming from touring internationally with West Side Story the musical and going into lockdown due to COVID was scary and gave me (pardon the vivid analogy) creative blue balls,' he said, adding it helped to use his creativity on Instagram and TikTok.

Born to perform: Joe has performed commercially for artists Charlie XCX and Guy Sebastian, but says his true passion lies with theatre. Pictured backstage of West Side Story the musical

Famous friends: Joe (left) lives with Love Island Australia stunner Amelia Plummer (middle). Pictured with Amelia's boyfriend Josh Moss

Joe, who trained at Broadway Dance Center in NYC, has also done his own renditions of scenes from Chicago and Dreamgirls.

'I get messages left, right and center from people telling me how they had a really hard morning, but my reel made their day a little better, which is why I keep making them,' Joe said.

However, if anyone could stumble upon his videos, Joe says he'd love for a Broadway producer to see them on Instagram or TikTok.
PRESS RELEASES

For information only - not an official document

UNIS/OS/544

21 January 2021

UNOOSA and Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water reinforce their cooperation to promote use of space applications for water sustainability

VIENNA, 21 January (United Nations Information Service) - The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW) have renewed their long-standing agreement to promote the use of space-based technology for better water resource management. PSIPW is a leading scientific award that focuses on innovation to address water scarcity, offered every two years.

The two organizations have been working together on leveraging space for water resource management since 2008, when PSIPW started participating as an Observer in the Committee for the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). In the same year, UNOOSA and PSIPW jointly organized the first international conference on the use of space technology for water resource management in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which brought together experts from all over the world to exchange know-how. Subsequent conferences were held in Buenos Aires in 2011, Rabat in 2014, and Islamabad in 2018.

In 2016, the two organisations formalized their collaboration, including an agreement to develop the Space4Water Portal, an innovative platform that brings together space and water experts to exchange knowledge, resources, and practices. On the Portal, users share information on projects, satellite missions, software, capacity building and training material, conferences, workshops, and publications.

On 31 December 2020, the partners agreed to extend their successful collaboration for six more years.

UNOOSA Director Simonetta Di Pippo said: "This is a key step forward in our collaboration. PSIPW and UNOOSA will be able to ensure the long-term sustainability of our common efforts to leverage space for water. One of our main goals will be developing the Space4Water Portal into an even more comprehensive resource for better water resource management through space. Since its launch, the Portal attracted over 25,500 users from 192 countries, who contributed a wealth of resources, best practices and tools. Achieving a water-secure world is a fundamental challenge for our future: we need effective partnerships such as this one to tackle it during this Decade of Action for the Sustainable Development Goals. The role of space-based data and infrastructure is key for rebuilding our future after challenging times, such as the pandemic we are experiencing. I believe PSIPW and this agreement are role models of cooperation in the quest for building a better future for all."

PSIPW General Secretary Abdulmalek A. Al Alshaikh said: "Water scarcity is a major global challenge. Innovative scientific solutions are needed to help solve the water crisis, and space technology applications provide powerful tools for effective water resources management. Research and further development of these pioneering technologies must be encouraged and supported worldwide. UNOOSA and PSIPW have been very successful in pursuing this goal together for the past twelve years, and this new agreement will bring our partnership to the next level."

* *** *

For more information, please contact:

Ottavia Pesce

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

Telephone: (+43 699) 1459 8718

Email: pesce[at]un.org
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Victory Lap today announced the close of $25mm in growth financing to drive the expansion of their Income Share Agreement program. The Chicago-based company trains students from a diverse set of backgrounds to be top-caliber technology sales professionals, which ranks in LinkedIn's top 5 Jobs on the Rise for 2021 . Many Victory Lap students already use Income Share Agreements to finance their training, a share set to increase with this capital infusion. Income Share Agreements demonstrate Victory Lap's commitment to delivering superior outcomes and high return-on-investment to students.

Victory Lap has partnered with Leif, the ISA Management Platform. Leif works with industry leading education providers delivering exceptional outcomes to students across a variety of fields. Leif's outcomes-aligned tuition financing solutions help education providers unlock full program growth and potential.

Brian Bar, founder and CEO of Victory Lap, commented: "Income Share Agreements align perfectly with our mission to transform students into elite technology sales professionals. We chose to partner with Leif because they are the market's only full-service ISA Program Manager, offering best-in-class technology solutions to help solve the origination, program management, and financing needs for our offerings. Leif's expertise made launching and growing our ISA program a smooth experience for Victory Lap and our students."

"Leif is committed to partnering with the best education providers across all industries and helping them maximize their impact by leveraging outcomes-aligned tuition financing," remarked Jeffrey Groeber, CEO of Leif. "Creating upward mobility in high-growth sectors is now more important than ever. For this reason, we were thrilled by the opportunity to partner with Victory Lap. Their premier program demonstrates clear value by preparing a diverse set of students to excel in a highly competitive and quickly growing industry."

About Victory Lap:

Founded in 2016, Victory Lap is an intensive sales bootcamp that bridges the gap between sales professionals and top companies through aligning education with opportunity. Leveraging world class content, industry insights, & scientific research, Victory Lap empowers students regardless of experience, to have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to reach their potential and launch a successful, life-changing career. Since 2016, Victory Lap has helped 950+ alumni accelerate their career in sales and 225+ companies, from Series A to Fortune 500, have hired Victory Lap graduates.

About Leif:

Leif is a technology company dedicated to increasing access to quality and affordable education. The company has developed an end-to-end platform that enables the design, origination, and program management of Income Share Agreement programs. As the infrastructure layer that powers the Income Share Agreement ecosystem, Leif partners with schools to provide students with an outcomes-aligned form of education finance.

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is currently streaming on Curzon Home Cinema in the UK, serving as Russias foreign-language entry at the Oscars later this year. As every bit as worth checking out as its nomination suggests it might be,is a workers struggle, based on real events depicting a strike by the workforce in Novocherkassk 1962 and an ensuing massacre that follows, with the film capturing both the growing disillusionment in the Communist Party at the level of both a group and that of an individual. Initial discontent serves only to giveaway to escalation as the film progresses, with central figures in charge doing what they can to resolve the situation but only serving to escalate in turn. From the word go the film establishes the need for a protest, with uncompromising, harrowing detail of its consequences.Andrei Konchalovskysisnt afraid to deal a heavy emotional toll on both its audience and its characters beneath its workmanlike screenplay that is as every bit as efficient as its two-hour runtime allows it to be. Its a gruelling enactment of a tragic real-world massacre that will install anger, told with a sense of hatred and fury from the director that is clearly tangible in the film itself, with tension starting beneath the surface and gradually building over the course of the films runtime before exploding in the middle act, with both the first and last acts framed around the build-up to and fallout of the massacre itself.utilises its stellar black and white cinematography in a similar way to Pawe Pawlikowskis critically acclaimedfrom 2018, and Alfonso Cuaron'sfrom the very same year - beautifully shot with an air of artistry in its depiction of organised chaos. Cinematographer Andrey Naydyonov only adds to the authenticism in his depiction of the era, creating some eye-catching shots in a film that is visually arresting as any other released so far this year.Konchalovsky captures the simmering discontent and air of rebellion with passion and craft for his work. The marches are claustrophobic, tense and operating like a powder keg waiting to explode. Whilst focusing on the larger picture, Konchalovsky skilfully navigates a defining character study through the piece  the experience that Lyuda goes through witnessing the events of the massacre take place before her eyes in an event that shatters her worldview is earth-shattering, and the true consequences of its action are not felt to the end.Yuliya Vysotskayas anguish and desperation is brilliantly performed in her meticulously passionate search for her daughter that acts as a defining point for the second half of the film, creating an instant eye for detail that is only prevalent across the film itself. We get to see Lyudas hopes and dreams for her daughter and learn more about their parental relationship even when she is not present, and we get to learn what drives her in turn, to lose faith in the regime, to which she once longed for in what she believed to be the better days of Josef Stalin. A clash between personal feelings and political belief is depicted with majestic intrigue, with both forces fighting against the other to create a driving force of an inner turmoil.Driven by a sense of righteous fury,allows for an excellent, unflinchingly bleak and visceral experience that emerges as a very early contender for a true highlight from 2021. It might not get the big prize  it has tough competition, but is every bit as deserving of your attention. A titanic accomplishment.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported 2,679 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 47 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Thursday.

The number of hospitalizations decreased by 58, and the number of patients in need of ventilators decreased by 10.

There are also 45,345 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard.

Since Dec. 14, the state has administered a total of 301,316 vaccine doses.

The latest vaccination data for Louisiana shows that 33,596 more doses of the coronavirus vaccines have been administered since the Department of Health's last update on Tuesday.

The state releases data on vaccinations twice a week, as part of its regular updates on coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The initial doses are the first of two -- spaced three weeks apart -- required for immunity.

These are another few key statewide statistics as of Thursday:

Total confirmed cases: 332,973

Total "probable" cases: 45,345

Total confirmed deaths: 7,928

Currently hospitalized: 1,800

Currently on ventilators: 233

Vaccine series initiated: 260,453 (updated twice weekly)

Vaccine series completed: 40,863

Presumed recovered: 320,025 as of Jan. 18 (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 single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Thursday report:

Jefferson: 378

Caddo: 258

St. Tammany: 210

Orleans: 193

East Baton Rouge: 167

Lafayette: 135

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.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hollister Biosciences Inc. (CSE:HOLL, OTC:HSTRF, FRANKFURT:HOB) (Hollister or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a letter of engagement with Eight Capital, pursuant to which Eight Capital, acting as sole bookrunner and lead agent, has agreed to offer for sale, together with a syndicate of agents (together with Eight Capital, the Agents), 13,699,000 Special Warrants of the Company (the Special Warrants), on a best efforts private placement basis, subject to all required regulatory approvals, at a price per Special Warrant of $0.365 (the Issue Price) for total gross proceeds of up to $5,000,135 (the Offering).



Each Special Warrant shall be automatically exercisable into units of the Company (the Units), as described below. Each Unit shall consist of one common share of the Company (a Share) and one-half of one common share purchase warrant (each full warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Share at a price of $0.50 per Share for a period of 46 months following the Closing Date.

Each Special Warrant shall be automatically exercisable, for no additional consideration, into Units on the date (the Automatic Exercise Date) that is the earlier of: (i) the date that is three business days following the date on which the Company either (A) obtains a receipt from the applicable securities regulatory authorities (the Securities Commissions) for a (final) short form prospectus qualifying distribution of the Units underlying the Special Warrants (the Qualifying Prospectus); or (B) files a supplement to a (final) short form base shelf prospectus qualifying the distribution of the Units underlying the Special Warrants (the Qualifying Supplement), and (ii) the date that is four months and one day after the Closing of the Offering.

The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a receipt from the Securities Commissions for the Qualifying Prospectus or to file a Qualifying Supplement before the date that is 30 days following closing of the Offering (not including the date of closing), provided, however, that there is no assurance that a Qualifying Prospectus or Qualifying Supplement will be filed or that a receipt therefor will be issued by the Securities Commissions prior to the expiry of the statutory four month hold period.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company has not received a receipt from the Securities Commissions for the Qualifying Prospectus or filed a Qualifying Supplement before the date that is 30 days following the closing of the Offering (not including the date of closing), each unexercised Special Warrant will thereafter entitle the holder to receive, upon the exercise thereof, for no additional consideration, instead of a Unit, a penalty unit (a Penalty Unit), with each Penalty Unit being comprised of one Share and one full Warrant.

The Company has granted the Agents an option to offer for sale up to an additional 15% of the Special Warrants, at the Issue Price, exercisable in whole or in part at any time for a period of up to 48 hours prior to the closing date of the Offering.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Prior to the filing of the Qualifying Prospectus and the automatic exercise of the Special Warrants, the securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period from the date of closing of the Offering in addition to any other restrictions under applicable law.

The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release will not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Hollister Biosciences Inc.

Hollister Biosciences Inc. is a multi-state cannabis company with a vision to be the sought-after premium brand portfolio of innovative, high-quality cannabis & hemp products. Hollister uses a high margin model, controlling the whole process from manufacture to sales to distribution or seed to shelf. Products from Hollister Biosciences Inc. include HashBone, the brand's premier artisanal hash-infused pre-roll, along with concentrates (shatter, budder, crumble), distillates, solvent-free bubble hash, pre-packaged flower, pre-rolls, tinctures, vape products, and full-spectrum high CBD pet tinctures. Hollister Cannabis Co. additionally offers white-labeling manufacturing of cannabis products. Our wholly-owned California subsidiary Hollister Cannabis Co is the 1st state and locally licensed cannabis company in the city of Hollister, CA birthplace of the "American Biker".

Website: www.hollistercannabisco.com

The CSE, nor its regulation services provider, does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "would", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile onwww.sedar.com

For further information: HOLLISTER BIOSCIENCES INC.: Investor Relations Contact, Melanie Barbeau: mbarbeau@renmarkfinancial.com, Tel: (416) 644- 2020 or (212) 812-7680, www.renmarkfinancial.com; Company Contact: Kelvin Lee: klee@k2capital.ca, Tel: 604-961-0296








Yet he clarified that given the rebound in confirmed COVID-19 cases linked to a second wave the two towers in use are almost full over the last 10 days.





"There are only 130 beds available, and we see a growth rate even higher than that projected in the first stage," he added while addressing journalists.





In this sense, Ripalda specified that EsSalud submits a request to the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) with the aim of supporting the funding estimated at S/25 million (about US$6.92 million) to use two additional towers for a period of 90 days.





Finally, the EsSalud spokesperson recalled that the Pan American Village has been operating for over 10 months, and its staff members have always reacted timely to face the pandemic.





(END) LIT/MVB

From March 2020 to date, the Pan American Village , located in Lima's Villa El Salvador district, has attended to more than 20,000 patients affected by COVID-19 of whom 19,000 were discharged after having evolved favorably and defeated the disease Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud) Flexible Offer Manager Pedro Ripalda has reported.Published: 1/21/2021
German Chancellor said Thursday that she isn't abandoning a German-Russian gas pipeline project that faces US sanctions, although it's likely to be an irritant in generally improved relations with the new administration.

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would bring Russian gas to under the Baltic Sea, faces bipartisan opposition in the United States.

Washington has said that the project would make Europe more dependent on Russian gas and hurt European energy security. The Kremlin has responded by accusing the US government of trying to promote sales of its own liquefied natural gas.

Nord Stream 2 is owned by Russian state company Gazprom, with investment from several European companies. The pipeline construction was suspended in December 2019 when a Swiss firm pulled its vessels out of the project amid threats of US sanctions, forcing Gazprom to try to complete it with its own resources.

Earlier this week, before President took office, Germany's Economy Ministry said it had been informed of U.S. sanctions against the Russian pipe-laying ship Fortuna and its owner.

Merkel has consistently stood by the project. She acknowledged Thursday that she said last summer the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was treated in after being exposed to a nerve agent, could play a role. Navalny was arrested immediately after returning to Russia on Sunday.

But I am saying today that ... my basic attitude has not yet changed in such a way that I would say that the project shouldn't happen, Merkel added.

We will of course speak with the new American administration, she said.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will ask Democrats to delay the start of Donald Trump's impeachment trial until early February to give the former president's legal team time to prepare a defense.

McConnell revealed his plans on a phone call with Republican senators Thursday.

'Senate Republicans are strongly united behind the principle that the institution of the Senate, the office of the presidency, and former President Trump himself all deserve a full and fair process that respects his rights and the serious factual, legal, and constitutional questions at stake,' McConnell said in a statement.

He proposed the following timeline, which tracks with the timeline of Trump's first impeachment trial:

January 28: Impeachment article arrives at Senate, senators sworn in

February 4: Deadline for Trump's response to the article of impeachment and the House's pre-trial brief

February 11: Trump's pre-trial brief due

February 13: House rebuttal pre-trail brief due

Republican Senator Mike Braun of Indiana said McConnell confirmed Trump had finally hired a lawyer - named as election law specialist Butch Bowers - and discussions had started regarding the trial procedure.

'McConnell said that an attorney had been hired and that they agreed to certain procedure and process, and timing,' he told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday.

'From what I understand from today's conversation is, it does not get started until sometime mid-February, due to the fact that the process, as it occurred in the House evolved so quickly, and that it is not in line with the time you need to prepare to prepare for a defense in a Senate trial,' Braun said of the timing.

McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer have been working behind the scenes to come up with a timeline and process for Trump's second impeachment trial. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has delayed sending over the article of impeachment while logistics are being worked out.

The delay could be part of deal with Senate Democrats to start confirming President Joe Biden's cabinet.

Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who is close to Biden, said Democrats would be open to the delay if the Senate starts confirming Biden's cabinet nominees.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will ask Democrats to delay the start of Donald Trump's impeachment trial until early February to give the former president's legal team time to prepare a defense

Butch Bowers of South Carolina is a former chairman of the state Election Commission and an attorney who specializes in election issues

CAN BUTCH SAVE TRUMP FROM CONVICTION FOR THE MAGA WILD BUNCH? Trump found his new impeachment attorney Karl 'Butch' Bowers through Lindsey Graham. The South Carolina senator knows Bowers from Republican politics, and also from both serving in the National Guard. Bowers, 55, has defended two prominent South Carolina GOP figures accused of wrongdoing. The first was Mark Sanford, then the governor, who faced impeachment when he infamously vanished in 2009 and turned up in Argentina spending time with his mistress. Sanders was investigated by the South Carolina House but, represented by Bowers, escaped impeachment. Bowers also represented Nikki Haley before she was South Carolina's governor, when she was accused of using her role in its House for personal gain. Bowers' hiring suggests Trump may try to defend or at least justify some of his fraud claims. The attorney was briefly a Department of Justice special counsel on voting under George W. Bush and worked for the John McCain campaign in Florida in 2008. A married father-of-four, he is the state staff judge advocate general corps in the South Carolina Air National Guard. Advertisement

'Democrats will be open to considering a delay that allows former President Trump time to assemble his legal team and his defense for the impeachment trial, if we are making progress on confirming the very talented, seasoned, and diverse team that president Joe Biden has nominated to serve in his cabinet,' he told CNN.

Republicans argue the House of Representatives impeached Trump so quickly - it did so in one day with very little debate - that the former president needs time to organize a defense.

'The president was shut out in the House so his team needs some time to prepare. I would think that managers would also. So I'm very supportive of the proposal made by Senator McConnell. I think it's fair to everybody,' Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump ally on Capitol Hill, said.

He also said he'd spoken to Trump earlier Thursday.

'The president looks forward to getting this behind him. Believes its unconstitutional and damages his presidency but you know he's gonna have his day in court and that's the way the system work does,' he said.

Additionally, Trump has finally found a lawyer to represent him in his upcoming impeachment trial - a South Carolina attorney who is an expert in election law issues.

Graham revealed the news on conference call with GOP senators on Thursday afternoon.

Butch Bowers is a former chairman of the state Election Commission and an attorney who specializes in election issues. He also served as counsel in Florida for John McCain's president campaign, did work for former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and serves as a Judge Advocate for the South Carolina Air National Guard, according to his website.

'I think he's gonna have a good one,' Graham told reporters on Capitol Hill of Trump's legal team. 'Butch Bowers, I think, will be the sort of the anchor tenant. But I've known Butch for a long time, solid guy.'

He described Bowers as 'involved in very complex litigation. He's represented the state of South Carolina and, you know, federal court over, lots of issues. He's a Judge Advocate.'

Bowers' hiring will likely raise questions about whether Trump will want to try to revive his false claims that the election was fraudulent and stolen from him.

Trump's trial could last a mere three days as senators don't feel the need for a protracted event. His first impeachment trial lasted 20 days.

Trump, on Wednesday, spent his first afternoon out of office at his Mar-a-Lago residence on the phone with allies.

Former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate could last a mere three days once it gets started - the start date remains unclear

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (left) said he spoke to Trump on Thursday and confirmed Trump has a lawyer to defend him during his trial

He had two queries: asking if GOP senators will vote to bar him from ever running for office again, two people with knowledge of the calls told The Daily Beast. He also asked what lawyers should represent him in trial.

There were reports the former president was having trouble finding a legal team to represent him. Members of his first impeachment legal team, including Jay Sekulow and former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, aren't interested.

Graham, a close Trump ally, is one of the people who spoke to the former president on Wednesday and confirmed the former president's troubles.

'I think he's going to get a legal team here pretty soon,' Graham told reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday.

He said his advice to Trump's legal team would be to focus on the constitutional question of whether or not a former president can be tried for treason.

'I'd make that argument. There's a lot of support in the law, legal, academic types,' he said. 'We'll make our own decisions about did the president go too far, was this incitement under the law, what's the right outcome there? So it should be a quick trial really, quite frankly.'

He said of Trump: 'I don't think he believes he played a role in the defiling of the Capitol. I think the argument that the election was stolen was overdone and got people ginned up, I think he's responsible for that, but people's decision to come here and take over the place, that lies with them. But his last couple of statements have been good, you know, rejecting violence.'

Other lawyers who have defended Trump in the past - including former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, Eric Herschmann, Pat Philbin and Marc Kasowitz - aren't interested, Bloomberg Law reported.

It's also unclear what role Rudy Giuliani, the president's private attorney, would play.

Giuliani first told ABC News he would defend the president but other reports indicated Trump wasn't sure he wanted the former New York City mayor on his team.

The following day he told the same outlet that he could not be involved because he was a 'witness,' having spoken at the Ellipse rally where he said: 'Let's have trial by combat.'

The only name which has been seriously floated so far is that of John Eastman, who spoke beside Giuliani at the same rally and who came up with the idea that Mike Pence could unilaterally reject states' slates of electors - which the vice president refused to do.

Trump has called him a 'respected constitutional scholar' but Eastman has lost his job at the private Chapman University in California over speaking at the rally.

He was also the lawyer behind the 'birther' idea that Kamala Harris was not a 'natural-born citizen' because her parents were not citizens when she was born in California.

The claim was ridiculed by experts and criticized as racist.

Alan Dershowitz, who defended Trump at his first trial, has also ruled himself out, saying he would defend the president in 'the court of public opinion.'



It's unclear what role Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani would play, with the former New York mayor saying first that he would represent Trump, then that having spoken at the Ellipse rally before the MAGA riot, he could not because he was a witness. The only name floated as a defender is John Eastman (left) who also spoke at the rally. It cost him his job as a tenured law professor at Chapman University in California

Members of Trump's first impeachment legal team, including attorney Jay Sekulow, center, his son, Jordan Sekulow, left, and then White House Counsel Pat Cipollone have all indicated they are not interested in representing Trump again

White House press secretary Jen Psaki down played concerns Trump's trail would overshadow President Biden's first weeks in office

WHERE THE GOP SENATORS STAND To get a two-thirds majority of every voting senator Democrats need at least 17 Republicans, assuming all Democrats vote to convict. None of the 50-member GOP caucus has said they will vote to convict. Here are some of those in play. COULD VOTE TO CONVICT Mitt Romney (Utah) Voted to convict before and slammed Trump's actions after riot Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) Said Trump should quit over the riot. Already survived a primary defeat Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) Publicly OKed his caucus voting guilty and says he is genuinely undecided Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania) Not running again and already condemned Trump's conduct Richard Burr (North Carolina) Not running and said Trump 'bears responsibility' Ben Sasse (Nebraska) Targeted before by Trump, slammed GOP leaders for violence already Susan Collins (Maine) Moderate who said when she acquitted first time Trump had 'learned a lesson' John Thune (South Dakota) Number two in the Senate caucus, already target of Trump demand for a primary Roy Blunt (Missouri) Called riot 'darkest stain' and 'unpardonable.' State GOP establishment is furious at Josh Hawley Richard Shelby (Alabama) At 86 considered unlikely to run again. Called riot 'dark day' Rob Portman (Ohio) Called attack 'assault on democracy.' Up in 2022, never a Trump loyalist UNCLEAR James Inhofe (Oklahoma) Apologized to black voters for planning to overturn election Chuck Grassley (Iowa) Oldest GOP senator at 87 and unclear if he plans to run again Kevin Cramer (North Dakota) Said Trump voters 'want my head off' for not overturning election Mike Lee (Utah) Legal conservative, represents state where Trump wasn't personally popular Thom Tillis (North Carolina) Not up for election until 2026 in purple state Marco Rubio (Florida) Up in 2022 and could face Ivanka; convicting her father might help Mike Braun (Indiana) Friend of Mike Pence, could be moved by calls for him to 'hang' LEANING TO NO John Cornyn (Texas) Not personally loyal to Trump but also called trial 'bad idea' Joni Ernst (Iowa) Says she doubts trial is constitutional but will listen to arguments FIRM NO Tom Cotton (Arkansas) Called trial unconstitutional Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) Says impeaching will destroy GOP Advertisement

Trump will face trial on the charges of 'incitement of insurrection' for his role in the January 6th riot on Capitol Hill, where his MAGA supporters stormed the Capitol building, interrupting the certification of the election.

Lawmakers have privately discussed a three-day impeachment trial, Politico's Playbook reported, which would be a record for any such matter.

Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin, a House impeachment manager, said Thursday he didn't know how long a trial would take but didn't think it would take as long as Trump's first trial, which lasted 20 days.

'I dont think it will take as long as the last one,' he told reporters on Capitol Hill.

Some consider the case open-and-shut given Trump's actions on the day of riot. In comparison, the president's first impeachment trial was a web to untangle regarding his call to the Ukrainian president and the legalities there.

At a rally the morning of riot, Trump told his supporters to march on the Capitol - a speech that resulted in many Republicans blaming him for the subsequent mob.

But a speedy trial also has its benefits.

Republicans don't believe there are 16 votes to convict the president - the number of senators needed to join Democrats. And many are ready to move on from their former president.

'Some people are for censure, some are for [convicting Trump], some say it's unconstitutional. People are all over the place,' a Republican senator told Punchbowl.

Notably, unlike Trump's last impeachment trial, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is telling senators to vote their conscience - a dramatic difference from last year when McConnell actively worked to acquit Trump when he was impeached the first time.

An alternative would be for senators to vote to disqualify Trump from holding future office. The Senate could apply that punishment by a simple majority vote, but only if two-thirds of senators first found Trump guilty. It's an option that could appeal to many Republican senators since it would prevent Trump from running for president again in 2024.

A short trial would also allow the Senate, now controlled by Democrats, to focus on President Joe Biden's legislative agenda and confirming his Cabinet nominees.

Biden's ambitious legislative plans include a $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan and reforming immigration.

The White House is downplaying any questions about concerns Trump's trial could overshadow their first weeks in office.

'We are confident that ... the Senate ... can do their constitutional duty while continuing to conduct the business of the American people,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her first briefing.

'He's going to leave the mechanics, the timing and the specifics of how Congress moves forward on impeachment to them,' she noted.

But there has been no decision on when to start the trial. Speaker Nancy Pelosi still has to send the article of impeachment to the Senate - a technical matter but the upper chamber cannot begin the process without it.

Pelosi said she'll be talking with the House impeachment managers 'in the next few days' about when 'the Senate will be ready' to receive the article.

'We will be in another few days, when I'll be talking with managers, as to when the Senate will be ready for the trial of the then President of the United States for his role in instigating an insurrection on the House, on the Capital of the United States, on our democracy to undermine the will of the people,' she said.

The speaker said she was waiting on President Joe Biden's inauguration to take place and for the Senate to return to session. With Kamala Harris becoming vice president, Democrats now control the upper chamber.

'We had to wait for the president, the Senate to be in session. They've now informed us they're ready to receive. The question is, other questions about how a trial will proceed. But we are, we are ready,' she said at her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill.

Senator Dick Dubin, a member of the Democratic leadership, told reporters on Capitol Hill Thursday morning it's unclear when they'll receive the article and what form the trial will take.

'It's still unresolved as to when she's sending it over. It could be today, unlikely. Could be tomorrow. And then what we're going to do with it, is whether or not it's going to be a full blown trial with evidence and witnesses. Or quote expedited whatever that means that final decision isn't even closed,' he said.

There's also the issue of whether Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will preside over the trial.

The Constitution states that 'When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside.'

But Trump is a former president, which could give Roberts a way out of presiding.

That would put Vice President Kamala Harris as next in line to preside over the trial, in her constitutional role as the Senate's presiding officer.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer seems unlikely to ask Harris to do it.

It is up to the Senate to set the rules of the trial and if the two party leaders, Schumer and McConnell, want to see Roberts preside, it is difficult to see how he would not, short of formally turning down their request.

Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who serves as president pro temp, is another potential candidate.

Schumer and McConnell are in talks about a possible power-sharing deal governing daily Senate operations, similar to one struck two decades ago.

Schumer said Thursday he is waiting on Pelosi to send the article over but noted he and McConnell are talking about how the trial will proceed.

'Leader McConnell and I are trying to come up with a bipartisan agreement on how to conduct the trial. But make no mistake about it, there will be a trial, there will be a vote up or down on whether to convict the president,' he said.

He added they were waiting on Pelosi.

'Well have to wait until she sends the article over to figure out how to do all that,' he said.

A new section of border wall constructed in a remote expanse of desert outside Yuma, Ariz., under the Trump administration. President Biden has vowed "not another foot" of border wall will be built, but he inherits ongoing construction and federal contracts awarded by his predecessor. (Molly O'Toole / Los Angeles Times)

The morning sunlight streamed undisturbed over the concrete expanse known as El Chaparral, one of the busiest border crossings in the world, days before the inauguration of President Biden.

A few people hovered around the silent turnstiles that marked the official entry from northern Mexico into Southern California  and the possible pathway to a long-awaited exit from the Trump era.

Suddenly a gate opened, and Gabi and her husband rushed over to once again extend a temporary residency visa from the Mexican government. They and their three kids fled El Salvador in 2019 after her nephew was killed for refusing to join a gang. They asked for U.S. asylum. Instead, officials forced them back over the border under a Trump policy known as Remain in Mexico.

Their last court hearing had been set for March 2020, when the Trump administration indefinitely closed the border, citing COVID-19. Now its set for March 2021.

I was very afraid of Trump, said Gabi, who asked to use only her first name for safety. Thats why I waited, seeking asylum here, because I wanted to do it legally.

With Biden, I think we have a light in this darkness, Gabi went on. We hope hell let us fight for asylum inside, in a safe place for my children. I want to stop running.

The quiet at El Chaparral belied the chaos that former President Trumps policies have wrought across the roughly 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border over the last four years  and an already dangerous uncertainty about Bidens plans to deal with it.

Californias border with Mexico is, in many ways, where Trump transformed into policy the jingoistic bluster of his 2016 campaign announcement, in which he condemned migrants as rapists and drug dealers.

Here, Trump deployed Border Patrol agents and U.S. troops ahead of the 2018 midterms. Here, and along the border, an estimated 5,000 families were torn apart, and at El Chaparral, Trumps administration launched Remain in Mexico, ultimately forcing 70,000 asylum seekers to wait for U.S. court dates in some of the worlds most dangerous cities.

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President Trump tours a section of the border wall in San Luis, Ariz., on June 23. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press)

Yet leading up to Inauguration Day, few along the border, from asylum seekers to U.S. agents, had answers for how Biden will confront the most immediate challenge left to him by Trump: How to deal with about 30,000 migrants waiting in limbo, as well as thousands more heading north, amid a pandemic that Trump used to close the border.

Biden has yet to answer himself.

Rarely has a presidential transition represented such a sharp contrast in approaches to immigration and border security. And rarely has the timing been more urgent, said Savitri Arvey, a migration researcher.

I am just deeply worried that every single day the Biden administration waits to give clear indications of whats going to happen at the border after Jan. 20, they put more people in danger, she said.

On his first day in office, Biden unveiled a comprehensive immigration reform proposal offering an eight-year path to citizenship for some 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally and green cards to upwards of 1 million DACA recipients, people with temporary protected status and farmworkers.

He also issued executive orders to rescind Trumps travel ban on several majority-Muslim and African countries and pause border wall construction. But Biden has already begun walking back other pledges, such as ending Remain in Mexico.

On Wednesday, Bidens Department of Homeland Security announced it wouldnt put anyone else into the program, known officially as the Migrant Protection Protocols. But the department didnt say what it would do with the thousands already in the program.

Current COVID-19 non-essential travel restrictions, both at the border and in the region, remain in place at this time, a department statement said. All current MPP participants should remain where they are, pending further official information from government officials.

Then came the kicker: Please note: Individuals outside of the United States will not be eligible for legal status under the bill that President Biden sent to Congress today.

In recent days, some 8,000 migrants traveling in caravans toward the U.S. border have been confronted by military force in Central America and Mexico. Outgoing Trump officials blamed Bidens promises.

Biden is in enormous political peril, Stephen Miller, the primary architect of Trumps restrictionist immigration policies, told The Times on Tuesday.

Alejandro Mayorkas, Bidens pick to lead Homeland Security, said Tuesday that reversing Trumps decimation of the legal immigration system cannot be accomplished with just the flick of a switch.

But thousands, like Gabi, are already at the border or on their way. Here, hope can be dangerous.

At Madre Asunta, a Catholic shelter in the hills of Tijuana, some 50 mothers and their children have spent months in this policy purgatory.

A boy plays with a toy truck at the Madre Asunta shelter in Tijuana, which houses women and children waiting to cross the border into the U.S. (Molly O'Toole / Los Angeles Times)

In 2019, when Trump officials apprehended more than 850,000 migrants at the southwest border, the courtyard was crowded with laundry lines and well over 100 women and children. Now it was empty, another sign of the Trump administrations success in shutting down immigration, even before the pandemic.

Madre Asuntas maximum stay is supposed to be two weeks, but families typically stay for months. In Tijuana, jobs and public services are scarce, rent is high, discrimination against migrants is widespread  and violence, especially against women, is rampant.

Human Rights First has documented at least 1,134 public reports of murder, torture, rape and kidnapping against asylum seekers returned to Mexico under Trumps policies. Amid a record backlog of nearly 1.3 million immigration cases thats ballooned under Trump and coronavirus closures, the average wait has reached almost 2 years.

The women waiting at Madre Asunta now talk about using smugglers to cross illegally, said Salome Limas, a social worker at the shelter. Back home in Central America, some said, many more were preparing to come because of devastating hurricanes, poverty worsened by COVID-19 and the lure of a new administration. Limas expects that Biden will extend more compassion but not an open invitation.

The border will stay closed, Limas said. The way of seeing the migrants will definitely change  not as enemies, but as people looking for safety in their lives.

Mere yards from the border, at Tijuanas Movimiento Juventud 2000 shelter, Enrique Geovanny Lopez Puac and his wife, two sons and baby daughter have been living in a tent. He said they fled north after gang members in Guatemala tried to kidnap his youngest son.

In March, Lopez Puac and his sons crossed the Rio Grande to turn themselves in to the Border Patrol and claim asylum  at exactly the wrong time. Lopez Puac said they were taken into custody to a facility he called Donald Trump, thinking it was named after the president. It was a Customs and Border Protection holding area in Donna, Texas.

While he was in custody, he said, an official on the phone asked him about his asylum claim and told him he had an appointment in court in 14 days. On March 20, the Trump administration invoked Title 42 under a controversial order from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, effectively closing the border.

At the Movimiento Juventud 2000 shelter, Enrique Geovanny Lopez Puac and his wife, two sons and baby daughter have been living in a tent. Lopez Puac and his sons crossed the Rio Grande in Texas in March 2020. (Molly O'Toole / Los Angeles Times)

CDC officials later said that the White House pushed the move for political reasons and that it didnt stanch the spread of COVID-19. Yet under the order, since March, the Trump administration has expelled hundreds of thousands of migrants like Lopez Puac, including many unaccompanied children and families, without due process.

Ironically, the policy appears to encourage repeat crossers. Now, the vast majority crossing are single adult Mexican males  a demographic that more closely resembles the 1980s through the early 2000s, when annual apprehensions, a rough measure of illegal immigration, routinely topped 1 million. Since the end of the Obama administration, before Title 42, asylum-seeking Central American families and unaccompanied minors had consistently made up the majority.

As for Lopez Puac, CBP officials handed him and his two sons over to Mexican counterparts, without providing them documentation, he said. The Mexican officials then took the family more than 1,000 miles south to Tapachula. His wife met them there with their 4-year-old daughter.

In Guatemala, there is a lot of extortion  and if you dont give them the money, theyll kill you, said his wife, Elvira.

Both Trump and President Obama cajoled Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico to essentially outsource U.S. immigration enforcement. In recent years, Mexico has deported more Central Americans than the U.S.

Biden officials on Wednesday said their legislative proposal includes a $4-billion plan to assist the Northern Triangle countries  conditioned on their governments ability to reduce the corruption, violence and poverty that causes people like Lopez Puac to flee. It also would restore Obama-era programs enabling Central Americans to apply for admission to the U.S. from within the region.

But confoundingly for Lopez Puac, when he and his family arrived in Tapachula, Mexican officials there gave them a transit visa granting them 14 days to get back north.

Trump took more than 400 executive actions on immigration, including a flurry in his last weeks. But Title 42 may have had the furthest-reaching effects  and Biden has not yet committed to ending it.

What people dont realize is that Title 42 is everything  its a complete closure of the border, said Lee Gelernt of the American Civil Liberties Union, whose suit now faces the Biden administration. Theres no question that the Title 42 policy is unlawful. And yet when Biden comes in, he may leave it.

On another day last week, in San Diegos border district of San Ysidro, some 20 miles north of the shelter, three Border Patrol agents stared into the glare where the rust-colored border wall disappeared into the Pacific Ocean  modernized by the second Bush administration and reinforced by Obamas.

The San Diego sector agents said the new sections of 30-foot concrete-and-rebar-filled bollards, sensors, cameras and roads put in under Trump have made their job easier by slowing down smugglers and illegal crossers and enabling agents to respond faster.

Theres no such thing as a bad wall, said Supervisory Border Patrol Agent Jeff Stephenson. But is it miles? Or is it whats the most important thing operationally?

At the same time, the agents said the beefed-up barrier and Title 42 were pushing migrants to cross in more remote and dangerous areas of San Diego County and over the ocean. For years, the San Diego sector and Homeland Security Air and Marine Operations, or AMO, have seen everything from lone swimmers to yachts and dangerously overloaded pangas employed in attempts to smuggle migrants or drugs across international waters.

Border Patrol officials Jeff Stephenson, Jacob MacIsaac and Gary Richards stand before a section of wall under construction in San Diego County. The agents  all of whom have served under multiple administrations  said they had no idea what would happen with the construction project now. (Molly O'Toole / Los Angeles Times)

Recently, they say, attempted migrant crossings off the coast of California, some as far north as L.A., have reached record highs.

I would say the past year has been the busiest for our region that I can remember, said Kris Goland, a marine supervisory agent.

Increasingly, cartels are diversifying their enterprises. Faced with Title 42, coyotes give migrants as many tries as they need, law enforcement officials say  especially if theyre paying up to $25,000 for the more complex water crossing.

Asked where the pangas are launching in Mexico, Border Patrol Agent Gary Richards, who specializes in intelligence, said that according to their sources, it was three areas: Rosarito, Ensenada and Popotla, a small fishing village nearby.

In Popotla, a woman named Sarita with cropped hair and heavy eyeliner spoke over her grill and loud music playing at the neighboring seafood stands.

Switching between Spanish and English, Sarita, who says she is Mexican and Native American and went to school in Arizona, recounted a recent cross-border trip to Walmart, where a woman barked at her, Go back to your country.

I told her, I didnt cross the border; the border crossed me, Sarita said.

Along with its fresh seafood, Popotla once had a reputation as a launching point for smugglers. But Sarita insisted that the village, though struggling under COVID-19 border restrictions, had not turned back to that business.

That happens other places, she said. Not here.

The border is still shifting, unstable, contested. Trump won the White House boasting hed build a big, beautiful wall spanning all 2,000 miles and make Mexico pay for it. Neither has happened  but the project is still underway.

Outside the U.S. border town of Calexico, more than 120 miles east of Tijuana, five days before Trump left office, a construction worker approached Border Patrol agents standing in the shadow of a new section of wall.

Theres rumors theyre going to shut everything down, said the worker, Bradley Jennings. All the material hauled out to the wall site would have to be removed, he said. Well work until the last minute.

Biden has vowed that not another foot of border wall will be built under his administration, and on Wednesday, he issued an executive order to freeze construction.

But it wont be easy  Trump left Biden 211 miles of border barrier under construction, according to Customs and Border Protection.

In the end, Trump replaced hundreds of miles of existing fencing and added to the total only about 50 miles that werent there when he entered the White House. The majority of the 654 miles of border wall predating Trump was built under Obama.

The small town of Popotla in Baja California, which U.S. officials say is a launching point for smugglers who bring migrants across the border illegally. (Molly O'Toole / Los Angeles Times)

Last Friday, Trump extended a declaration of a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border for another year. On Wednesday, Biden ended it.

Biden also said hed stop government lawsuits against private border landowners and invest in smart border infrastructure instead. But Biden officials have not yet said exactly what theyll do with ongoing border construction projects, save for reviewing their legality. Canceling contracts and scrapping material could cost the government up to $700 million, according to an Army Corps of Engineers estimate  but halting construction on Day One could also save $2.6 billion.

Gary P. Nabhan, a conservation biologist at the University of Arizona, has reported to the federal government what he says is corruption in the walls construction, potentially benefiting cartels. But hes also afraid what could happen if Biden immediately halts construction.

Do you think that just because of an administration change, and if the contracts get canceled, that theyre going to start doing things legally instantly?

At the Calexico port of entry, plainclothes agents from the Border Patrols intelligence unit interviewed a 20-year-old Mexican man from Guerrero. Agents took him into custody at an interior checkpoint near El Centro. Theyd processed him there and would soon take him back to Mexico under Title 42.

As soon as this week, Bidens administration may have to decide whether to continue an appeal by the Trump administration that challenges a federal judges ruling that Title 42 cant be applied to unaccompanied children. If the Biden administration continues to implement Title 42, it will also be doing so with Border Patrol agents who have widely different understandings of how to carry it out.

In San Diego, Stephenson, the supervisory agent, said agents had been instructed not to proactively ask migrants about their potential fears of being returned, adding that the migrants have to specifically volunteer that they fear torture, a much higher legal bar.

But in Calexico, Supervisory Border Patrol Agent D. Kim said: Theres this big misconception that because of Title 42, you cant claim asylum. If somebody says, Theyre going to hurt me, kill me, really what theyre saying is, I have credible fear, and of course were going to review it.

Trump gave the Border Patrol unprecedented power over the fate of migrant children and asylum seekers amid record vacancies at an increasingly politicized Department of Homeland Security.

Biden has resisted calls to disband Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Homeland Security. Officials said hed direct funding instead toward better training for Border Patrol agents and the departments internal investigations.

A large wash recently built into a new section of border wall outside Calexico, Calif., begun under President Trump. (Molly O'Toole / Los Angeles Times)

Now, Trumps outspoken political appointees are gone, and the 99% of Customs and Border Protection employees who are career public servants will remain under a new administration with near-opposite priorities.

Its like the campaign trail, said CBP spokesman Macario Mora. They make a lot of promises, but until they actually enact the policies, we wont know.

Special correspondent Gabriela M. Cordova contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Britain recorded another 1,290 coronavirus deaths and 37,892 new infections on Thursday.

Fatalities increased by just 3.4 per cent on the same day last week and marked a steep decline on the deadliest days ever: 1,820 on Wednesday and 1,610 on Tuesday.

In a further positive sign, the number of new cases declined by more than a fifth on the same day last week and were slightly down from the 38,905 on Wednesday.

It offers hope that Britain's grim death rate might soon drop too.

Deaths lag behind cases because it takes about a month between catching and falling seriously ill, which means the effects of the January lockdown might only become evident next week.

NHS chief for London Dr Vin Diwakar told the Downing Street press briefing: 'The situation in our hospitals in the NHS remains really precarious.

'In London, more than half of all patients in hospital are being treated for coronavirus and sadly over 1,000 patients died in hospital in London just last week, every single one a tragedy.

'Nationally, there are 34,000 people in hospital and pressure remains intense on our staff.

'We do have hope now with an increasing amount of people vaccinated but we must remain vigilant. Stay home, follow the guidance and help us to save lives.'

New data today revealed that covid cases dropped by 15 per cent during the first week of England's lockdown.

NHS Test and Trace showed 330,871 people tested positive for coronavirus across the country during the week ending January 13.

For comparison, the figure stood at 389,191 in the first week of 2021.

It is the first week-on-week fall since the beginning of December, when cases dipped as England emerged from its second national lockdown.

But last week's fall was not down to fewer tests being carried out - an extra 400,000 swabs were analysed in the most recent seven-day spell and the number of positives still dropped.

Above are the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals in England. This appears to be levelling but is still very high and above the levels seen in the first wave

It is another promising sign that the third lockdown, which began on January 5, is bringing England's outbreak under control.

Although cases are high with tens of thousands more cases every day, infections have stopped rising at the rate they were in December when the virus was 'out of control.'

However, London's Imperial College today claimed that England's third lockdown is not working.

Imperial's REACT-1 mass-testing project estimated 1.58 per cent of England's population had coronavirus in the first 10 days of lockdown, sparking fears that the current restrictions aren't tough enough.

Dismissing the fears that even tighter measures are needed, scientists said the Imperial study does not prove that infections are rising because it missed out a drop from the second wave's likely peak in December.

Researchers behind the study, which could be used to pile more pressure on Boris Johnson, hoped further testing in January would show infection numbers come down as the effects of lockdown properly set in.

Other studies tracking the Covid outbreak suggest more optimistic trends. Even Department of Health statistics show daily infections have plunged since the start of the lockdown, from an average of almost 60,000 to closer to 40,000.

Cambridge University estimates show that the R rate of the virus is likely below one, while Public Health England last week claimed cases dropped in all age groups. King's College researchers also say cases have fallen 'steadily' since the New Year.

Proof lockdown IS working? PHE data backs up Test and Trace figures to show Covid infections fell in every region and age group last week after mass study claimed cases ROSE in first 10 days of national restrictions Coronavirus infections fell in every region and age group last week, Public Health England data revealed today after a huge surveillance study controversially claimed the outbreak didn't shrink during the first ten days of lockdown. Covid hotspot London saw the sharpest drop in infection rate, plummeting by a quarter. The capital was followed by the East of England and the South East. All three regions were the first to be put in Tier Four before Christmas to contain the rapid spread of a highly-infectious new variant. In another promising sign that the worst of England's second wave is over, infection rates dropped by 20 per cent in over-60s  who are most at risk of hospitalisation and death if they catch the virus. The statistics from PHE's weekly surveillance report come amid a growing body of evidence that Britain's Covid outbreak has shrunk during lockdown. NHS Test and Trace data today also showed a 15 per cent decline in the number of people testing positive for the virus across the UK in the week ending January 13. There were 330,871 positive swabs over that seven-day spell, compared to 389,191 in the first week of 2021. But the drop was not down to fewer tests being carried out because 400,000 extra swabs were processed in the most recent week. It is the first week-on-week fall in the data since the start of December, when cases dipped as England emerged from its second national lockdown. It can take up to a week for the effect of any restrictions to be reflected in the statistics, meaning the drop in cases may have also been fuelled by the original tiered measures. The figures came after a shocking study sparked fears England's third lockdown was failing to curb cases. Imperial College London's REACT-1 mass-testing project estimated 1.58 per cent of England's population had coronavirus in the first 10 days of lockdown and that the rate did not drop over the same time-frame. But scientists dismissed concerns that even tighter measures were needed, claiming the Imperial study does not prove infections are rising because it missed out on a drop from the second wave's likely peak in late December. Researchers behind the study did not carry out the survey over this period, which is when official data suggests coronavirus cases reached their high point before beginning to drop. Other studies tracking the Covid outbreak suggest more optimistic trends. Even Department of Health statistics show daily infections have plunged since the start of the lockdown, from an average of almost 60,000 to 40,000. Cambridge University estimates show that the R rate of the virus is likely below one, while Public Health England last week claimed cases dropped in all age groups. King's College researchers also say cases have fallen 'steadily' since the New Year. It comes after Britain recorded another 1,290 Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, a 3.4 per cent rise on Thursday last week. But cases declined by 22 per cent after an additional 37,892 were announced by health bosses. Deaths lag weeks behind cases because of how long it can take for infected patients to fall severely ill. Advertisement

Will Britain's vaccine drive be enough to end Covid crisis? UK WON'T achieve herd immunity through jab rollout, study claims as SAGE warns lockdown may be needed until MAY because vaccines 'aren't a panacea' that will protect vulnerable

Britain won't achieve herd immunity with the current coronavirus vaccines even if every single Briton is injected, a study claimed today.

It came as Boris Johnson refused to rule out keeping the lockdown in place until the summer and SAGE scientists warned draconian restrictions will be needed until May.

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that the efficacy of current vaccines, combined with the emergence of more infectious variants of the virus, meant keeping the R below one without lockdown restrictions could become impossible.

UEA researchers say that even if every man, woman and child in the UK gets both doses of the Oxford jab it would only bring the R  the average number of people each patient infects  down to 1.3. But, because this vaccine is approved for over-18s only, the R would remain at about two when curbs are lifted completely.

The study found Pfizer's jab  which is more effective at blocking coronavirus than the Oxford one  is capable of bringing the R below one and achieving herd immunity but it would require inoculating teenagers. Currently the jab is only approved for over-16s. Researchers warned it would 'likely be impossible' to hit the 82 per cent target needed for herd immunity because 'people will refuse the vaccine'.

Scientists have always known eradicating Covid was an impossible task and the goal of the vaccine programme is not to prevent all transmission from occurring. Herd immunity occurs when enough of the population is immune to an infectious disease, stopping it from spreading.

Pictured, the impact on R rate for various vaccination scenarios, herd immunity is only achieved if R is kept below 1. The green line shows the Pfizer vaccine, and the blue line shows the effectiveness of Oxford's vaccine according to the 70.4% effectiveness claimed in data sent to MHRA. The red line shows data from phase 3 clinical trials for two standards dose jabs of the Oxford jab against both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection

Pharmacists pictured at the Al Abbas mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a vaccination hub to turbo charge the rollout

A cinema in Aylesbury has also started handing out jabs to the most vulnerable, as Britain races to meet its target of 14million first doses by mid-February

A mosque in Birmingham has today begun offering coronavirus vaccinations, amid fears take up is too low among BAME groups

Instead, the UK's scheme is aimed at preventing the most vulnerable from dying or falling sick and piling pressure on the NHS. It's hoped that once all vulnerable groups are immunised, the disease will become more manageable and restrictions can be gradually lifted.

But scientists on the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned today that the strict shutdown will need to remain in place until at least May because of the current pace of the vaccine rollout. Boris Johnson has promised to consider easing restrictions in mid-February once the 14million most vulnerable people have been given their first dose of the jabs.

But SAGE scientists who have modelled the rollout say easing restrictions next month has the 'potential' to cause a bigger epidemic than the one now because the single dose will only provide weak protection. They warned that with huge community transmission and an NHS on the brink of being overwhelmed, loosening lockdown even slightly next month would lead to an 'unsustainable' situation.

Professor Matt Keeling, an epidemiologist from the University of Warwick, said: 'I certainly don't want individuals going to bars and restaurants on the 16th [of February]. If we've given people their first dose by February 15, that's not going to give that much protection.' He warned the most 'optimistic' outcome would be for 'some' restrictions to be lifted in May. Dr Marc Baguelin, an infectious disease expert at Imperial College London who was also involved in the modelling, claimed that easing lockdown before then would cause a spike 'that is really bad'.

The data comes as 366,919 Covid vaccine doses were administered across the UK yesterday, putting the Government on track to hit its target of 13.9million people by the middle of February.

Sir Patrick Vallance said yesterday that at least 70 per cent of the population would need to be protected from the virus  either by vaccination or previous infection  in order to achieve herd immunity.

Currently, 4.6million people in the UK have had at least one of their jabs, according to official NHS figures, and researchers tracking the outbreak estimate one in eight people have been infected already  12 per cent.

This leaves at least 39million people who need to get the jab to ensure the UK reaches the 70 per cent mark touted by Sir Patrick, the government's chief scientific advisor.

But the target figure could become much smaller as people develop natural immunity by catching the virus in the ongoing outbreaks.

The UEA study found the 70 per cent mark was only true for the original strain of coronavirus, which has now been displaced by the more infectious Kent variant that spooked No10 into England's third national lockdown.

Professor Azra Ghani, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study, said: 'The herd immunity threshold is the level of the population that needs to be immune to reduce R below one and therefore eliminate circulating virus.

Professor Hunter told MailOnline that getting the more effective mRNA jabs to healthcare workers should be of consideration for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the vaccine priority list

'When the basic reproductive number (R0) is high, we need both high efficacy vaccines and a high uptake of vaccination across the population to achieve this threshold.'

The research from Professor Paul Hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted.

Three vaccines have already been given regulatory approval in the UK, from Oxford/AstraZeneca, Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer. A fourth jab made by Johnson and Johnson is expected to be given the green light within weeks.

The jabs have all been found to be effective at stopping symptomatic infection and therefore preventing severe disease and death.

The study looked at vaccine effectiveness and the R rate of the coronavirus and assumed people with a vaccine can spread the virus.

This is a hotly-debated topic among scientists who are trying to determine the level of 'sterilising immunity'of vaccines.

Sterilising immunity is the phrase used to describe the process where the body's immune system completely neutralises the virus and stops it replicating.

'We don't know if any of the vaccines provide sterilising immunity,' Professor Hunter told MailOnline. 'As far as we can tell, if you are to stop somebody spreading the infection, you need sterilising immunity.'

Pictured, the Al Abbas Mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a covid vaccination centre. The research from Professor Paul hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted

Data shows vaccinating 69 per cent of the UK's population with Pfizer's jab, which trials have found is 95 per cent effective, would be enough for herd immunity against the old strain.

However, 93 per cent of the UK population would need to be vaccinated if receiving the Oxford vaccine, which rigorous studies found was slightly less effective at 70 per cent.

But when accounting for the new variant, which the academics assume is around 56 per cent more infectious, the equation changes dramatically when combined with just 70 per cent effectiveness.

'Vaccinating the entire population with the Oxford vaccine would only reduce the R value to 1.325 while the Pfizer vaccine would require 82 per cent of the population to be vaccinated to control the spread of the new variant,' the researchers wrote in their study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed but is available online a preprint.

Professor Grant said Oxford's Covid vaccine reduces the likelihood of serious illness following infection but is less effective at stopping asymptomatic infection.

The researchers worked on the assumption the Oxford vaccine is 70.4 per cent effective against Covid infection, as this is the headline figure on the study data received by the MHRA which led to its approval last month.

However, this figure is based on the protection from severe disease, which leads to death. But when accounting for asymptomatic infections, it is only 52.5 per cent effective, Professor Grant said.

'This means that its overall protection against infection is only partial  around 50 per cent.

'This combination of relatively low headline efficacy and limited effect on asymptomatic infections means that the Oxford vaccine can't take us to herd immunity, even if the whole population is immunised.

'Vaccinating 82 per cent of the population with the Pfizer vaccine would control the spread of the virus  but it isn't licenced for use on under 16s, who make up 19 per cent of the population.

'Also, some people will refuse the vaccine, so achieving an 82 per cent vaccination rate will likely be impossible.'

The academics recommend healthcare workers who are highly exposed to the virus should receive the more effective mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and not the less effective Oxford vaccine.

Professor Grant says the Oxford vaccine still has an important role to play in controlling the virus, but is 'unlikely to fully control the virus or take the UK population to herd immunity' unless the Oxford developers find a way to deliver the two doses in a way which increases its efficacy beyond the current 70 per cent figure.

'If we cannot achieve herd immunity, vulnerable unvaccinated individuals will remain at risk.

'We do need to consider how best to protect these individuals when social restrictions are eventually relaxed as the result of a successful vaccine roll out programme.'

Professor Hunter told MailOnline that getting the more effective mRNA jabs to healthcare workers should be of consideration for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the vaccine priority list.

'We also need to vaccinate every vulnerable person who needs to be vaccinated and we need to do more to fascinate people who don't want vaccine and may be relying on herd immunity, as this is likely impossible.'

However, although they believe healthcare workers should get the Pfizer jab, they do not believe it should be prioritised for all vulnerable people, including those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and all people over 70.

'It is not necessary to give vulnerable people the Pfizer vaccine and not the Oxford one. I would be hard pushed to say the Oxford vaccine is any worse or better than other vaccines at preventing severe disease,' Professor Hunter said.

The researchers included the Kent strain, which now accounts for at least 61 per cent of all UK infections, in their analysis, but did not have enough data to look at the impact of the South Africa variant.

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found the highly-virulent B.1.1.7 strain which evolved in Kent in September has made it impossible to ever achieve herd immunity with the current effectiveness of vaccines. Pictuured, Basil Henry, 84, is one of the first people to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the opening of the first Pharmacy2U Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Odeon Cinema in Aylesbury

SAGE scientists Professor Mark Woolhouse, Professor Matt Keeling and Dr Marc Baguelin, as well as Imperial College London infectious diseases expert Dr Anne Cori. The four scientists modelled how Britain's epidemic will change during the vaccine rollout

'The British variant does not seem to be an escape mutant as it is lacking the E484K gene,' Professor Hunter said. The E484K gene mutation is believed to make the virus adept at avoiding antibodies which have been made by the human immune system following prior infection.

As a result, it is to blame for numerous reinfection events and scientists are growing increasingly concerned it may be able to evade current vaccines.

'The problem with the English strain is it spreading more quickly,' Professor Hunter added.

'The South Africa strain is a different matter and has both the increased infection mutant and a degree of escape mutant. This does not necessarily mean the vaccine is useless but is probably slightly less effective.'

Dr Jonathan Stoye, of the Francis Crick Institute but not involved in the study, said: 'It reaches the provocative conclusion that administration of the adenovirus-based vaccine from Oxford/AstraZeneca alone, despite a major reduction in the seriousness of Covid disease, is unlikely to generate the herd immunity needed for complete control of virus spread.

'Based on the data currently available, this study appears strong and the conclusion unarguable.

'It points to a continuing role for non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the wearing of face masks and hand washing as well as suggesting a possible utility for booster vaccinations with RNA based delivery systems.'

It comes as a team of SAGE scientists - from universities in Edinburgh, Warwick and Imperial College London - used mathematical modelling to estimate how Britain's epidemic would change under the current vaccination rollout.

A doom-mongering graph produced by the group showed that lifting lockdown completely before spring could lead to up to 6,000 daily Covid deaths, depending on how good the vaccines are at stopping transmission. They claimed this was possible because the virus would race through the small percentage of vulnerable people who were not protected and it would also affect some of those who are vaccinated, because the vaccines are imperfect.

But the group stressed these were imperfect models based on lots of variables and should not be interpreted as predictions. They claimed an extremely gradual approach that keeps some lockdown measures in place until this autumn or even next year was the best way to keep deaths low and hospitals protected.

Dr Anne Cori, a statistical modeller who was part of the research, stressed that vaccines were 'imperfect'. They have been shown to be up to 95 per cent effective at stopping people from falling seriously ill with the disease, but to what extend the prevent patients from spreading the disease is unknown.

The effectiveness of a single dose - currently the UK's strategy to try to speed up the scheme - is also unknown. Dr Cori warned that even if the UK can meet its ambitious goal of delivering 3million doses of vaccine a week, 'it'll take until late April to give only one dose to everyone who is eligible'.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at Edinburgh University, said even if 90 per cent of vulnerable people take the vaccine - higher than expected - that leaves over two million people who remain susceptible to severe Covid.

Around 25million people are covered by the 10 priority categories set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

With community transmission so high, it means the remaining 2.5m of un-vaccinated vulnerable Brits would be likely to be exposed to the virus. 'If we relax it's quite possible we'll get a resurgence after phase one,' Professor Woolhouse warned.

Dr Cori added: 'Vaccines should be seen as a magic tool, but not a magic bullet.

'Their effect is not going to be instantaneous. Benefit will only be seen when we get very high coverage. The messaging to people needs to be very clear, we need the maximum number of people [to get the jab].'

Reports yesterday claimed that Boris Johnson was targeting Good Friday on April 2 as the earliest date for a significant lifting of the lockdown. According to the Sun, the PM has started 'top secret' planning for millions to meet their families over Easter. But several sources told the Mail that even this date could look optimistic if the vaccine rollout ran into difficulties.

One attendee at a government summit with business leaders on Monday claimed ministers had warned that heavy restrictions could remain until May or even June. Tory MPs have voiced concerns about 'mission creep', with scientists lobbying for restrictions to stay in place until more categories of the population have been given the vaccine.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : Smartphone brand realme is set to launch two new smartphones -- realme X7 and realme X7 Pro -- in India in the first week of February.

Industry sources told IANS on Wednesday that realme X7 and X7 Pro will be powered by MediaTek octacore Dimensity 800U processors and support 5G connectivity.

While X7 Pro features the MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ SoC, the realme X7 will house the Dimensity 800U SoC.

The realme X7 series also offer punch-hole AMOLED display, 64MP quad-camera setup, among other exciting features.

The MediaTek SoC comes with MediaTek 5G UltraSave technology. The chipset can get 2.3Gbps download speeds and is built using a 7nm process.

It has an octa-core CPU with a dual cluster consisting of two Arm Cortex-A76 processors with a clock speed of 2.4GHz.

The company on Wednesday announced that it will also be one of the first brands to introduce a smartphone with MediaTek's new Dimensity 1200 flagship 5G smartphone chip, likely to be called X9, to build a dual flagship portfolio in 2021.

"We will continue to work closely with MediaTek to foster development, adoption and large-scale popularity of 5G around the world," Madhav Sheth, Vice President, Realme and CEO, Realme India and Europe said in a statement.

MediaTek launched the Dimensity 1200 flagship 5G smartphone chip that comes with a 6nm advanced production process, bringing powerful performance and lower power consumption.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

The inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris makes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quite emotional. Being able to witness it makes them happy.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have 'great admiration' for the Biden and Harris families, and now that the two are sworn it, the former royals could not be more overjoyed.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are reportedly cherishing the fact that they were able to witness history taking place during the presidential inauguration on January 20.

It is the day when the first female, Black American, South Asian American Vice President, Kamala Harris was sworn in alongside President Joe Biden.

"The inauguration is very personal for Meghan and Harry," a source close to Markle herself, 39, told Hollywood Life.

"Harry's been friends with Joe and [wife] Jill [Biden] for years and Meghan has a huge amount of respect and admiration for them and for Kamala Harris," the insider explained.

The source added that it felt surreal for Markle, because she is very happy about this.

"It's just a monumental moment in history - watching the first female VP being sworn in will for sure be emotional for Meghan. She's happy beyond words about it. Meghan has always been so passionate about women's rights and it was her mom [Doria] that instilled that in her, so being able to watch this milestone moment with her mom is huge," the source explained, adding, "It's a day she's been waiting for."

Meghan Markle's contempt of Donald Trump and yearning for a president such as Biden, can be described as justified. Trump himself, said first that he is not a fan of Markle.

But Markle could be said to have started it all. As early as 2016, she publicly said in an appearance on "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore" that seeing Trump win made her want to go and say in Canada.

She revealed that her vote went to Hillary Clinton not because she is a woman, but because she did not like the world that Trump was painting.

Trump was asked for his opinion with regard to what Markle said about him and instead of addressing the comment alone, he called Markle a nasty woman.

READ MORE: Nick Jonas Wife Bullied: Priyanka Chopra Jonas Opens Up About 'Damaging' Racism Experienced in High School

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The number of people vaccinated against Covid-19 in India has reached over 9.99 lakh on Thursday, the government said, making it the fastest rollout of the vaccines anywhere in the world so far in terms of sheer numbers.

As of 6pm on Thursday, a total of 9,99,065 beneficiaries have been vaccinated against the deadly virus, the health ministry confirmed, putting the country in touching distance of the 10-lakh milestone.

India, often described as the pharmacy of the world has managed to vaccinate a million people in six days. The United States had managed to inoculate the same number of people in 10 days, and the same number of days was taken by Israel.

The record-setting pace has been set despite some opting not to take the shots because of concerns around the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

The country is using two shots  Covishield, manufactured locally and licensed from Oxford University and AstraZeneca, and another developed at home by Bharat Biotech in partnership with the state-run Indian Council of Medical Research  for the vaccination.

The drive started on Saturday, with 30 million healthcare and other front-line workers first in the queue, followed by about 270 million people older than 50 or deemed at high-risk because of pre-existing medical conditions.

The health ministry said India inoculated more people on its first day than the United States, Britain or France. In the first two days, it managed to vaccinate 224,301 people as compared to China, which had inoculated around 73,000 people in the first two days.

This scale of vaccination campaign has never been attempted in history and this shows Indias capability, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said while opening the vaccine rollout on Jan. 16.

However, challenges remain for India as the country has missed its initial targets, partly because of glitches in the CO-WIN app that is the online platform for registration and partly because of hesitancy displayed by frontline workers.

The government has said it expected a greater number of volunteers, especially in major states such as Tamil Nadu and Punjab, which are lagging other states.

Vinod K. Paul, who heads a government committee on vaccine strategy, told a news conference health workers who failed to take vaccine doses set aside for them were not fulfilling their "societal responsibility".

India, the world's biggest manufacturer of vaccines, has also begun exporting shots on Wednesday to other countries in the sub-continent, in what has been described as Covid diplomacy that will help to counter Chinas influence in the region.
Egypts Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El-Molla inked a new production sharing contract between the state-owned Ganoub El-Wadi Petroleum Holding Company (Ganope) and Shell Egypt to explore for oil and natural gas in the deep waters of the Red Sea.

According to the agreement, Shell Egypt will explore in the Red Sea's Bloc 4, an area of 3084 sq km, Shell Egypt said in a statement.

Shell Egypt acquired 63 percent equity share, Emirati Mubadala Petroleum 27 percent share, and Egyptian Tharwa Petroleum Company 10 percent of the contractors share, states the contract.

Khaled Kacem, country chairman and managing director of Shell companies in Egypt, said the new awarded concessions are in line with the companys strategy to grow its business in gas projects in Egypts offshore areas, which supports the countrys sustainable development goals.

In December 2019, Ganope gave Shell Egypt the right to explore in two blocs in an international bid for oil and gas exploration in the Red Sea.

Shell Egypt has conducted several exploration missions in Egypts deep waters, such as the West Delta Deep Marine Phase 9B project.

In 2018, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company held an international bid for oil and gas exploration in which Shell Egypt was granted exploration rights in blocs 4 and 6.

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This was a long time coming. The end of the Trump presidency was shocking but should have come as no surprise. The attack on the US Capitol on 6 January was a fitting, some would even say foreseeable conclusion, to Trumps first and only term in office. After railing for years against the corrupt electoral process that was rigged against him, a majority of the 74 million Americans who voted for Trump believe that the election was stolen  despite a lack of evidence, failed legal challenges and refuted claims from election officials in his own party. So when the outgoing president instructed his supporters to converge on Washington DC on 6 January to protest the congressional certification of the Electoral College results that would confirm Joe Biden the next president of the United States, they showed up in droves.

We will never give up. We will never concede. It doesnt happen, Trump told supporters at his Save America rally prior to the attack. If you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore. With this battle cry, he implored them to stream up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol. Ill be there with you, he assured them.

Over the last four years that Trump has been there with them, his rhetoric and his example have exacerbated already deep divisions, emboldened extremists and encouraged violence. In addition to calling into question the integrity of the US electoral system and refusing to accept the results, Trump has actively tried to disrupt the electoral process by attempting to hobble the US Postal Service; refused on multiple occasions to condemn white supremacists and other hate groups; targeted and banned Muslims from entering the US; separated migrant children from their parents at the southern US border; intimidated, delegitimised and harassed the press  labelling them the enemy of the people; openly called COVID-19 the China virus and the Kung-flu, which in turn resulted in racists attacks against Chinese Americans; politicised a global pandemic by refusing to wear a mask, refuting claims of medical professionals and fomenting discord in cities and states with Democratic leaders who criticised his lack of leadership; used social media to widely disseminate misinformation and conspiracy theories; revelled in lawlessness while insisting upon being the only candidate who would bring law and order during the civil unrest against racial injustice following the death of George Floyd; and  his closing act  incited an insurrection and attack on the very seat of the US government.

The visible symbol of this long but incomprehensive litany of offenses could be seen sleeping on the floor of the US Capitol the week before the inauguration: the National Guard, mobilised to protect the US government from a potential domestic terror attack. Let that sink in.

Since World War II, and perhaps until now, the US has seen its role as one of global leadership: of the defence and promotion of the liberal international order including of democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights. But during the four years of the Trump administration, the world has witnessed the deterioration of traditional alliances, the withdrawal from international climate and security treaties, the implementation of tariffs and instigation of trade wars and the celebration of authoritarian regimes. The US standing and reputation has taken a beating internationally. What leg does the US have to stand on in the promotion of its ideals if it cannot rightfully claim to promote and espouse them domestically?

If the US is to continue to play a leadership role on the world stage, President Biden must first exert his leadership on the national stage. The challenges he faces at home are unprecedented in the last half century: reeling in a surging death toll and exploding infection rates during a global pandemic, unemployment and economic stagnation reminiscent of the 1930s, and perhaps the toughest of all, the extreme polarisation of America not seen since the Civil War.

Deep divisions in American society are not new but have as of late been exploited and aggravated by a war on the truth. Without agreement about basic facts, people are disoriented and easily led astray. The evaporation of local news, the rise of infotainment masquerading as news and the prominence of social media have helped to facilitate a parallel universe of alternative facts.

Oxford Dictionaries word of the year for 2016 was post-truth, defined as relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief. Having existed for over a decade, the concept entered the political lexicon and even the mainstream only during the 2016 election campaign of Donald Trump, who does not so much as pretend that objective facts are of any importance and is thus perhaps the best example of a post-truth politician. Across the pond, Brexit was challenging the standards of political communication with its Eurosceptic post-truth rhetoric, along with Grillos Five Star Movement, Polands right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party and Orbans Fidesz, to name but a few.

Public opinion shaped by emotion rather than evidence and personal beliefs over facts sets identity above policy, creating social conflicts instead of solving them. The erosion of truth goes hand in hand with the erosion of trust, affecting democracies and their institutions. Whether one supports populists or not, they are favoured by voters who perceive the existing political system to be flawed. Post-truth politicians come to power as a response to the failures of democratic governments, governmental institutions and intergovernmental organisations, as low trust in government weakens their authority.

Only a minority of Americans trust the federal government. Around 73% of Americans said they could trust the government always or most of the time when the US National Election Study first asked this question in 1958; since 2014, less than 20% of those surveyed share the same sentiment. The level of public trust is similarly worrying in Europe: trust in the EUs institutions has remained low since it plunged during the financial crisis of 2007-08. According to the most recent Standard Eurobarometer survey, 43% of respondents tend to trust the EU. Trust in national government, however, is gaining ground, albeit on a lower scale, moving up from 36% to 40% since 2019 and ranging from 19% in Bulgaria and 25% in Spain, France and Slovenia to over 70% in Denmark, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

The COVID-19 crisis is putting peoples trust in government to the test yet again. Eurofounds Living, working and COVID-19 survey published in September 2020 finds that the gap in the level of trust between those who received support during the coronavirus pandemic and those whose requests for support were rejected was approximately 27% for the EU and 43% for the national government. This signals that the coronavirus crisis is exacerbating existing inequalities and has potential impact on social unrest, political disengagement and further polarisation.

Recovery measures and policies and the way these are communicated and implemented will have lasting consequences for public trust. Governments responses to the economic fallout from the pandemic should be efficient, swift and decisive in order to prevent the coming recessions impact on trust. Rebuilding public trust in a post-truth environment is a challenge not only in Europe, but should be a key priority for the Biden administration in the post-COVID-19 age.
[January 21, 2021] Universal Broadband Fund-supported project will bring high-speed Internet to the Wahnapitae First Nation in Greater Sudbury

Indigenous people and rural Ontarians to benefit from increased connectivity OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 21, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how much we rely on our connections. Now more than ever, Canadians across the country need access to reliable high-speed Internet as many of us are working, learning and communicating with friends and family from home. Right now, too many Canadians living in rural and remote communities lack access to high-speed Internet. Through the Universal Broadband Fund's (UBF) Rapid Response Stream, the Government of Canada is taking immediate action to get Canadians connected to the high-speed Internet they need. Today, Marc G. Serre, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt, on behalf of the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, announced $269,000 in funding for Blue Sky Net to bring high-speed Internet to the Wahnapitae First Nation community on the northwest shore of Wanapitei Lake, northeast of Sudbury. This project will connect 74 underserved households to high-speed Internet, including 68 Indigenous households. The $1.75-billion Universal Broadband Fund was launched on November 9, 2020. Its Rapid Response Stream reflects the need to move quickly to address connectivity, making up to $150 million immediately available for ready-to-go projects that can be completed by November 15, 2021. Thanks to this streamlined process, projects that are ready to move forward in the short term can be approved quickly, with construction starting as soon as possible, and more Canadians can be connected faster. The project being announced today was approved within two months of the formal launch of the program. To facilitate applications for projects like this one, the UBF provides a pathfinder service for applicants, particularly those who need more support to build partnerships, find potential sources of funding and navigate the application process. The pathfinder service ensures that the UBF can meet the needs of all applicants, including smaller applicants such as rural municipalities and Indigenous communities. Projects funded under the UBF, as well as through other public and private investments, will help connect 98% of Canadians to high-speed Internet by 2026 and achieve the national target of 100% connectivity by 2030. Today's announcement builds on the progress the Government of Canada has already made to support Canadians living in rural, remote and northern communities. Since 2016, the federal government has approved over 18,000 infrastructure projects, totalling oer $28 billion in federal investments, in communities with populations under 100,000. Of these, 93% have been investments in communities with a population of less than 30,000 people. More than 6,100 kilometres of highways and roads and 103 bridges have been built, repaired or upgraded in rural communities, and more than 3,134 projects are providing rural communities with access to cleaner, more sustainable sources of drinking water. To address homelessness and the need for affordable housing, 1,416 projects have been approved, delivering more than $401 million to rural communities across the country.



Quotes "High-speed Internet service is key to the success of residents in rural regions of Ontario. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted to all of us how important it is to be able to access high-speed Internet. Today's investment will improve broadband connectivity for 74 households in the Wahnapitae First Nation community. It will help create jobs, increase health and safety, and ensure a stronger economic recovery for rural Ontarians. It is one of many projects our government is undertaking to ensure that every Canadian has access to the high-speed Internet they need."

 The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

"This important high-speed Internet investment of nearly $270,000 is incredibly welcomed and will positively impact residents of Wahnapitae First Nation. In order to drive economic and social prosperity, it is important to encourage local Internet service providers to submit proposals and access historic federal UBF funding to get shovel-ready projects to fruition. Looking forward to future collaborations with municipalities, First Nation communities, organizations and local telecoms providers to ensure Greater Sudbury communities are connected with affordable and accessible broadband. Congratulations to Chief Roque, council and residents at Wahnapitae First Nation for their successful collaboration with Blue Sky Net and Spectrum Group on this initiative."

 Marc G. Serre, Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt "High-speed Internet access is the cornerstone of modern success for any community, which is why Wahnapitae First Nation has been endeavouring for some time to improve such services. We deeply appreciate this funding, as this fibre project will have a significant impact on our community members' quality of life while providing them with much greater access to a broad range of transformative opportunities. We're truly excited to see this move forward, and our profound thanks go out to MP Marc G. Serre, his staff, as well as Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation and Spectrum Group for their work to make this initiative a reality."

 Chief Larry Roque, Wahnapitae First Nation "For the many years that we have worked to expand broadband in northern Ontario, we have looked to the federal government for help. This project is no different and, with the support of Spectrum Group, at a time where access to broadband has never been more needed, we are grateful once again for this support."

 Susan Church, Executive Director, Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation "Spectrum Telecom is proud to work with the Blue Sky Economic Growth Corporation to expand and improve rural broadband Internet in the Wahnapitae First Nation. This project could not proceed without the timely contributions from the Universal Broadband Fund, as well as the tireless work of Blue Sky Net."

 Jason Bionda, Vice-President, Broadband Division, Spectrum Group Quick facts Canada's Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload.

Connectivity Strategy aims to provide all Canadians with access to Internet speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps) download / 10 Mbps upload. Applications to the Universal Broadband Fund are being accepted until 3:00 p.m. (ET) on February 15, 2021 .

on . The UBF is part of a suite of federal investments to improve high-speed Internet. The suite includes the Connect to Innovate program, which is expected to connect nearly 400,000 households by 2023, and the recently announced $2-billion broadband initiative from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Associated links Backgrounder: Universal Broadband Fund and Telesat low Earth orbit satellite capacity agreement

Universal Broadband Fund

Connect to Innovate Program  Project status updates

Canada Infrastructure Bank announcement

High-Speed Access for All: Canada's Connectivity Strategy Stay connected Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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We must end this uncivil war  red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal, Mr. Biden said in his 21-minute address. Watch highlights, or read the full speech, annotated by one of our Washington correspondents.

Using a five-inch-thick Bible that has been in his family for 128 years, Mr. Biden took the 35-word oath of office, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. The ritual of transfer of power came just after Kamala Devi Harris, 56, was sworn in as vice president by Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Mr. Bidens swearing in was a moment of political triumph that had been decades in the making. Heres how he got there. These photos show Bidens long road to the presidency.
A couple celebrates their 73rd wedding anniversary at the same time, receiving their first disease of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The couple received their first COVID-19 vaccine on their 73rd wedding anniversary

Noel and Virginia Record received their COVID-19 first vaccine on Tuesday in Cincinnati, while they also remember their memory of love, which began 73 years ago. Noel is 93, and Virginia is 91, NBC affiliate, local news station WLWT reported.

From Northern Kentucky, Noel and Virginia made a trip to the University of Cincinnati Health's vaccination station, which made vaccines available for people ages 80 years old and older. Noel told the local news station that they want to get back to normal as soon as possible. The couple looks forward to people getting vaccinated and getting back to normal.

The elderly couple will receive their second doses next month

In three weeks, Noel and Virginia will receive their second vaccine doses. They are also among the earliest to be vaccinated in Ohio, as per the TV station. Healthcare workers were the first to receive vaccines in Ohio. However, the immunization reached and is now being distributed to more than 750 sites throughout the state.

Noel, said in a video released by the hospital that they have not been able to get together since March.

NY Daily News projects the state recorded over 800,000 confirmed coronavirus cases since the pandemic started, while more than 10,000 died due to COVID-19 infection. The long-time couple rang in their wedding anniversary in a unique but timely way.

Noel and Virginia were among the first patients at the Ohio-based hospital to receive the vaccine. They were able to receive COVID-19 shots because of the state's Phase 1B plan, which allows elderly aged 65 and up to receive the shots.

The Record will have to return to the University of Cincinnati Health next month to receive their final dose, as per WLWT. Virginia, 91, is excited about what the second dose will mean for their lives.

Even after COVID-19 shots, recipients need to social distance and wear masks

According to a New York Times database, the U.S. has more than 24.3 million COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the country's coronavirus-related deaths reached 403,929.

Each COVID-19 vaccine provided by Moderna and Pfizer needs two doses to be fully effective, as per PEOPLE. Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine recipients are required to return after three weeks to receive their final doses, while Moderna requires vaccinated people to wait another four weeks before they receive the last doses.

Both vaccines require a wait time to reach the peak of effectiveness that is thought to be from two weeks after the second dose. Even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, health officials suggest recipients continue implementing social distancing and wearing face masks.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Children of Oil and Gas Workers Deserve Respect

Commentary

Shortly after being inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden issued an executive order revoking the Keystone XL pipeline construction permit. Canadians knew this decision was coming, but it was still a huge disappointment.

This short-sighted decision will lead to the loss of thousands of well-paying jobs, particularly in Alberta and Saskatchewan. If these provinces cannot get their oil to market, it could eventually lead to the total shutdown of the oil and gas sector in Canada. Sadly, this is exactly the outcome that many left-wing politicians in both the United States and Canada want.

For example, federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh celebrated President Bidens decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline. Not only did Singh praise Biden for revoking the permit, he hailed the decision as an opportunity to transition away from jobs in the oil and gas sector to so-called green jobs.

Singh isnt the only person promoting this transition. Many teachers have bought into the notion that schools can lead the way in educating students about the future green economy. In fact, some teachers spend so much time talking about the energy transition that they make it the focus of their instruction.

However, consider the impact this type of rhetoric has on children whose families work in the oil and gas sector. Imagine the shame these children feel when teachers tell them that oilsands jobs are dirty and bad for the environment.

A couple years ago, I was one of three teachers who participated in a panel discussion on a national CBC Radio program. The question we were debating was whether teachers should take students to environmental protests and rallies. Interestingly, I was the only teacher on this panel who argued that it was not appropriate for teachers to take students to political protests. Basically, my position was that teachers should educate, rather than indoctrinate, their students.

Not only did the other two teachers on the panel think it was perfectly OK to take their students to these protests, they saw no ethical or professional problem with encouraging students to actively participate. Keep in mind that the message of these protests is that there should be no more pipelines built in Canada. One can only imagine how uncomfortable students with parents who work in the oilpatch would feel when being taught by teachers who are vocally against the oil industry.

The bottom line is that no student should feel like a second-class citizen in school. There is nothing dishonourable about having parents who earn a living by extracting a resource that everyone uses on a daily basis.

This doesnt mean students shouldnt learn how the environment works or about the many challenges facing our planet. However, teaching about meteorology and climatology is one thing. Indoctrinating students with environmentalist propaganda is another thing entirely.

Its often said that we want students to become critical thinkers. But for this to happen, students need to master a defined body of knowledge in a great number of subject areas. Much of this knowledge needs to come by direct instruction from the teacher. It cannot be assumed that students will pick up the necessary knowledge while attending protests and working on climate change projects.

To some teachers, attending rallies and engaging students in social justice projects sound a lot more exciting than painstakingly helping students master basic curriculum content. However, there are no shortcuts where real learning is concerned. If students are going to become critical thinkers, they need to first learn a lot of basic facts.

Some of these basic facts include the reality that Canada has some of the strictest environmental standards in the world. Projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline have gone through a rigorous approval process that takes their environmental impacts into consideration. People who work in the oilpatch should be proud of the environmental leadership shown by their employers.

The cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline by President Biden is going to be devastating for many Canadian families. Lets not rub salt in the wound by making some students feel like they are second-class citizens in their own country because of the jobs their parents do.

All students deserve respect, including those whose parents work in the oil and gas sector.

Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher, a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy, and author of A Sage on the Stage: Common Sense Reflections on Teaching and Learning.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Correction: The state has contracted with vendor Sharecare Health Data Services to handle appointments for residents to get vaccinated.

FLORIDA  Hoping to restore order to what's been chaos since the coronavirus vaccine was rolled out to residents 65 and older in late December, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state will take over vaccine registrations.

Meanwhile, reports that people from other countries were traveling to Florida to obtain coronavirus shots spurred Florida surgeon general Dr. Scott Rivkees to sign a public health advisory order that prioritizes Florida residents for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The state kicked off DeSantis' "Seniors First" initiative Thursday by opening up three state-run coronavirus vaccine sites. The opening is a prelude to DeSantis' plan to roll out a statewide appointment system for coronavirus vaccinations, which should be ready to accept registrations in a few weeks.

The state will use the company Sharecare Health Data Services to register eligible residents and set appointments.

All counties will forward information on those who have already set up an account or set up an appointment to receive a first or second shot to the new provider.

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In the meantime, the statewide vaccine program began Thursday with pilot sites at Marlins Park in Miami, at Regency Square Mall in Jacksonville and at University Square Mall in Tampa.



The vaccination sites will be run by state-contracted health care professionals and members of the Florida National Guard seven days a week. For the time being, they will be open only to front-line health-care workers and Florida residents age 65 and up who have previously made appointments through their county health departments and have been contacted by CDR Maguire Health and Medical.

Health care workers and residents age 65 and older who wish to schedule first-time appointments should call 888-499-0840 for Marlins Park; 866-200-3762 for Regency Square; and 866-200-3896 for University Square Mall.

Story continues

Courtesy Florida Department of Emergency Management

In a few weeks, Sharecare will have an online portal so eligible residents can register online and confirm appointments, as well.



Residents who have already registered or received vaccine appointments should continue to check with their county health departments for updates.

Timothy Dudley, director of the Hillsborough County Department of Emergency Management, said a statewide system will eliminate the confusion and frustration residents have experienced with each county having its own appointment system.

It will also alleviate the stress county governments are experiencing as they attempt to keep up with the demand for vaccines.

"We have weathered the storm," Hillsborough County Assistant County Administrator Greg Horwedel said. "Now the state is trying to put in a system to accommodate the demand and take the load off the counties."



Like other Florida counties, Hillsborough County government employees are assisting the Department of Health-Hillsborough. Until now, state-run county health departments were in charge of the vaccination programs for their counties. But with the overwhelming demand, county employees were enlisted to answer calls, check people in for vaccination appointments and even direct traffic  in addition to doing their own jobs.

"This county has put all hands on deck to administer these vaccinations," Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith said. "These (testing and vaccinations) are actually state programs, but the counties are using its employees for emergency duties."

The new state appointment system has 5,000 people answering calls, making 1,600 appointments for vaccines at each vaccination site seven days a week.

DeSantis said the Florida Department of Emergency Management is working to set up additional vaccination sites around the state once the new ShareCare appointment portal goes live.

Hosting Clinics Across State

Dr. Doug Holt, director of the Department of Health-Hillsborough, said the state will use county DOH clinics to vaccinate residents, host clinics at churches and aging services centers in underserved communities, set up more state-run clinics like the three that opened Thursday, and recruit doctors, dentists, podiatrists, pharmacies and other health care professionals to provide vaccines.

Additionally, DeSantis is working with Publix Supermarkets to expand the chain's clinics into other counties. Publix currently has a limited number of vaccination clinics in underserved counties.

The federal government has contracted with CVS and Walgreens along with community health clinics to provide vaccines as well. CVS and Walgreens are expected to launch clinics on Jan. 31.

Vaccines have been distributed to all hospitals around the state, including Baycare Health Systems, AdventHealth and HCA Health. The hospitals are offering vaccines to existing patients.

DeSantis has also put the hospitals in charge of determining which residents under 65 years old are vulnerable to the coronavirus due to pre-existing health problems and require immediate vaccination. Residents who fit this category should contact their nearest hospital.

Other residents, including teachers and police officers, who have requested the vaccine will have to wait for now.

For now, DeSantis hasn't put them on his priority list.

More Vaccines Needed In FL

DeSantis said he hasn't received the amount of vaccines from the federal government he was originally promised, but expects to receive more as the Food and Drug Administration approves vaccines from other pharmaceutical companies including Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Both of the vaccines developed by these companies are easier to administer.

The state is now receiving a combination of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which were approved by the FDA in December.

These vaccines take twice as long to administer than a flu shot. Plus the Pfizer vaccine has to be stored at temperatures of 4 to 6 degrees Fahrenheit then thawed to be administered. Once the Pfizer vaccine is thawed, it must be used within five days. The Moderna vaccine has a longer life span  about 30 days.

The state is receiving about a million doses of vaccines a month and $194 million from the federal government to help distribute the vaccines.

New Residency Requirements

Also on Thursday, Florida's surgeon general issued a public health advisory that gives Florida residents priority to coronavirus vaccine appointments.

DeSantis's executive order issued in November gave anyone age 65 and up priority for the vaccine. However, that created an angry backlash from seniors in the state, many lifelong residents, who haven't been able to book a vaccine appointment because the appointments are getting snapped up by visiting nonresidents from Canada and northern states.

Rivkees' advisory gives priority to those who meet state residency requirements including owning a home and having a Florida driver's license. See the Florida Residency Requirement Guide.

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This article originally appeared on the Tampa Patch
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
One day after the country surpassed 400,000 COVID-related deaths, 44 more Connecticut residents died with the illness, the governors office reported Wednesday.

Connecticuts death toll rose to 6,726 Wednesday as 1,915 new COVID-19 cases were reported. The new cases were found out of 30,461 tests for a daily positivity rate of 6.29 percent, according to the states data

There were 17 fewer hospitalizations Wednesday, dropping the statewide total to 1,124.

Gov. Ned Lamont also announced Wednesday that he has been appointed co-chair of a COVID-19 task force run by the National Governors Association along with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.

Our state was hit early and hit hard by this pandemic. Throughout this unprecedented crisis, I have worked with my neighboring governors to ensure our responses were coordinated, Lamont said in a statement. Our state has provided leadership and ingenuity, as we know our approach saved lives.

Connecticut this week has officially begun Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout. Residents who are 75 and older who are not living in longterm care facilities can now schedule appointments to be vaccinated. Phase 1A included health care workers, medical first responders, and residents and staff of long-term care facilities.

On Tuesday, Lamont announced the next group to receive the vaccine will be those who are between 65 and 74. Those vaccinations should begin in early February, according to a timetable shared by the governors office.

Those residents will be followed by front-line essential workers and people with medical conditions that put them at greater risk of the virus, Lamont announced. Those vaccinations are expected to begin sometime in late February to early March.

The vaccine is expected to be available to the general public in June.

Some teachers in the state have already begun receiving the vaccine after school districts uploaded all of their employees into the federal Vaccine Administration Management System. The online portal then prompts people in the system to log in and schedule an appointment to receive the shot.

Josh Geballe, the states chief operating officer, said Tuesday around a dozen school districts in the state had uploaded all of their employees.

The states Department of Public Health and Department of Education have sent memos asking teachers to cancel any vaccine appointments they make scheduled after Thursday, unless they are otherwise eligible to receive the vaccine.

We know and accept that in a large rollout such as this one there will be bumps along the way, a memo from the Department of Public Health said Tuesday. There are no punitive measures for those who accidentally scheduled under the belief that they were eligible to receive vaccine. However, as of Friday of this week, we ask that all appointments be limited to individuals 75-years-and-older and individuals who became eligible as part of Phase 1A.

Schools were asked to notify staff, while local health departments were asked to cancel appointments after Thursday to those who were not eligible. Health care providers were advised they may see cancellations and were told to fill them with people aged 75 and older.
The police in Kano on Wednesday paraded a 23-year-old widow, Maryam Muhammad, and three other suspected kidnappers, allegedly operating in Kano and Zamfara states.

Ms Muhammad is from Butsa village in Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State. The police said her husband was a notorious cattle rustler who had been killed while stealing cows.

Parading the suspects, the police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Haruna, said they were arrested on Friday at an apartment in Kano where they were holding a victim, Mohammed Sanusi.

Mr Haruna said the suspects had demanded N10 million ransom from Mr Sanusis parents when they were arrested.

He said the police rescued the victim unhurt after engaging his kidnappers in a fierce gun battle.

The police spokesperson said Mr Sanusis father, Sanusi Ado of Galadanchi Quarters in Gwale Local Government Area of Kano, had on January 12 reported that his 29-year old son had been kidnapped and N10million ransom had been demanded from him.

He said following the complaint, the commissioner of police in the state, Habu Sani, directed the Operation Puff Adder, led by Shehu Dahiru, to go after the kidnappers.

The team swiftly swung into action, and following credible intelligence, on 15 January, 2021, that is three days after the report, raided a rented apartment located at Jaba Quarters, Ungogo LGA of Kano State where the victim was held hostage.

The gallant team cordoned (off) the area, engaged the occupants of the house in a fierce gun duel, successfully rescued the victim unhurt and arrested the suspects, Mr Haruna said.

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The three other aspects in police custody are Sani Ibrahim and Shamsuddeen Suleiman of Butsa village in Zamfara State and Ishaq Khalil of Rijiyar Lemo Quarters in Fagge Local Government Area of Kano State.

Mr Haruna said the suspects were reportedly involved in kidnappings in Kano and Zamfara states.

He said one AK-47 rifle, one magazine loaded with 30 rounds of live ammunition and an unregistered motorcycle were recovered from them.

Family ties

According to the police spokesperson, the husband of the female suspect, Sani Ismail of Niger State, was killed in Zamfara while carting away rustled cows.

Mr Haruna said after the death of her husband, Ms Muhammads brother, Hamza Dogo, also a suspected kidnapper, relocated her to Kano where she rented apartments in Unguwa Uku, Panshekara and Maidile quarters.

The police said Ms Muhammad later moved to Jaba Quarters and rented another apartment for N600,000 per annum, which she allegedly turned into a kidnappers den.

How we trapped victim

Speaking with journalists, Ms Muhammad said she had called the victim on phone at about 8 p.m. on January 12 to bring her a new Samsung handset after agreeing on the price at N60,000.

She said Mr Sanusi then drove in his Toyota car to the apartment with the handset. She said as soon as they opened the gate and he entered the house, the four suspects attacked and tied him up.

She said they then took his car to Zamfara State, from where they contacted his family to demand the ransom for his release.

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Ms Muhammad said their plan was to kill Mr Sanusi after collecting the ransom because they realised the victim knew the location of the apartment and could recognise them too.

She also said on October 2 last year they had kidnapped Shafiu Umar of Naibawa Quarters in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State and took him to Zamfara State.

She said the gang had collected ransoms of N10 million, a brand new motorcycle and a Toyota Corolla LE car worth N2.5 million from other victims.

The police said Mr Sanusis Toyota car was recovered from Ishaq Yusuf of Gidan Dawa Quarters in Gusau, Zamfara State on Monday, January 19.

Mr Haruna told journalists that the police commissioner has ordered officers to find the accomplices of the syndicate and recover their operational weapons.

He said the commissioner also advised Kano residents to be extra careful in renting apartments to strangers.
Five men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Humayun Kabir Balu, sixteen years after he was killed in a targeted explosion in Khulna in 2004. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes the conviction of the killers and calls for stronger action against rampant impunity for crimes against journalists in Bangladesh.

Balu was killed when his attackers threw two bombs in front of his house in Khulna City on June 27, 2004, as he returned home with his three children. He suffered serious injuries to his stomach and leg as a result of the bomb explosions and later died in hospital. His son, a journalism student, was also seriously injured.

The editor of Dainik Janmabhumi and a former president of the Khulna Press Club, Balu was an outspoken activist and freedom fighter. The five convicted - Syed Iqbal Hossain, Nazrul Islam, Masum, Romon and Zahid Hossain - were members of the East Bengal Communist Party. Special Tribunal Judge Md Saifuzzaman Hero passed the verdict on January 18, and each were given a Tk 10,000 fine (USD $118).

The investigation into Balus murder encountered delays and obstacles over many years. After the 2004 attack, a charge sheet was submitted accusing eight operatives of the Maoist Purba Bangla Biplobi Communist Party for the killing. The regional head of the organization claimed responsibility in a call to Khulna Press Club, labelling Balu a class enemy. Balu reportedly received several death threats in the weeks before his murder. But on February 13, 2008, Judge Mohammad Abdus Salam Sikder acquitted all the accused in the murder case. In 2009, lawyer Enamul Haque applied to the court for further investigation. After a further delay of six years, a supplementary charge sheet was submitted by police on December 31, 2015, leading to the eventual prosecution of the attackers.

Balus murder in 2004 came less than six months after the murder of a BBC World Service local correspondent in Khulna, and was one of five journalists killed in Bangladesh that year. Violence against journalists in the country remains a critical issue with the most recent killing recorded in Dhaka inOctober 2020, when Elias Mia, a reporter for Dainik Bijoy, was repeatedly stabbed as he returned home.

Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) said: We were concerned on the protracted delay on the justice- delivery in the murder of journalist Humayun Kabir Balu. The BMSF would like to see the court verdict been implemented as soon as possible.

The IFJ said: The conviction of five individuals in the murder of Humayun Kabir Balu is a long awaited step in achieving justice after an extended period of impunity. IFJ calls for stronger measures to investigate these attacks and bring journalist killers to justice.
[January 21, 2021] City Capital Ventures Invests in New Jersey-based Burger King and Popeyes Franchisee Rackson Restaurants

City Capital Ventures, LLC ("CCV"), a private investment partnership headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, is pleased to announce it has made a majority investment in Rackson Restaurants ("Rackson" or the "Company"). Rackson, headquartered in Bridgewater, New Jersey, is a 55+ unit QSR franchisee of Burger King and Popeyes restaurants with locations across six states in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Rackson is led by co-owner and CEO, Chris Johnson, a 2nd generation QSR operator with an outstanding track record of developing talent and delivering superior operating results. CCV is excited to partner with Chris Johnson and shares his desire to build a large, multi-branded QSR platform across the attractive Northeastern U.S. marketplace. Chris Johnson, Founder and CEO of Rackson, commented, "I am excited to partner with CCV at this critical moment in Rackson's growth journey. CCV stood out as an exceptional partner for the company given their patient, long-term approach, and we share big dreams to build an industry leading QSR management company. Furthermore, the caliber and expertise of CCV and their advisors will strengthen our operational excellence and turbocharge our growth strategy. This transaction kicks off a great opportunity at precisely the right time for all of Rackson's stakeholders; we are just getting started!" Dan Kipp, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of CCV, commented, "We are thrilled to be partnering with Chris Johnson who we believe can build an even larger, multi-branded QSR platform in the attractive Northeastern U.S. The 'Flame-Grilling since 1954' message is well-positioned in today's QSR market and allows Burger King to enjoy a playful, attractively irreverent position as the #2 QSR burger concept in the world." Kipp continued, "Rackson has a strong presence in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic with an attractive, profitable base of restaurants, and we look forward to supporting Chris Johnson as he continues to focus on operational excellence and growth through acquisition. Chris shares ou commitment to do things the right way, and we hope quality owners considering their future options will regard Rackson as a safe pair of hands in which to entrust their legacies." Mr. Kipp will be joining Rackson's Board of Directors pursuant to the transaction.



The Rackson transaction marks the second investment by CCV into the Burger King system, following CCV's successful 2019 acquisition of Canada's largest Burger King franchisee, The Redberry Group, which owns and operates 111 Burger King restaurants in Canada. CCV intends to leverage substantially the same high-quality Board group that it installed at Redberry to support the Rackson investment. The investor group includes Saxonwold Capital, led by Rob Selati, a former co-founder, head of the Consumer team, and current Senior Advisor at Madison Dearborn Partners. Selati will become Chairman of Rackson and will be joined by Gary Graves, an Operating Advisor of CCV with deep experience in retail and restaurant leadership roles including Caribou Coffee, where he served as Chairman, and LaPetite Academy, where he was CEO. "We are extremely impressed with Rackson's management team, especially Chris Johnson, and are excited to partner with them in accelerating Rackson's growth in the Northeast and delivering superior results," added incoming Chairman Selati. "CCV and its Operating Advisors have extensive experience in the Burger King System through Redberry as well as the restaurant industry in general. I am confident we will quickly leverage this knowledge to help Rackson achieve its strategic growth plan and build meaningful equity value in the years ahead."

Senior debt for the transaction was provided by MUFG. Perkins Coie LLP served as legal counsel to CCV. Mastodon Ventures, Inc. served as financial advisor to Rackson and Mayer Brown LLP was the Company's legal counsel. About Rackson Restaurants Incorporated in 2013, Rackson Restaurants is a leading Burger King franchisee located in the Northeastern U.S. Rackson is headquartered in New Jersey with additional corporate offices in New York City. As of January 2021, Rackson operated 55 Burger King and Popeyes restaurants across six states. Rackson is led by 2nd generation QSR operator Chris Johnson and has become a preferred growth partner of Burger King and Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of both Burger King and Popeyes. About City Capital Ventures City Capital Ventures is an investment partnership whose purpose is to pair capital with business opportunity in a bespoke fashion to better provide investors choice in their private market activities. Investing on behalf of their network of family offices and private market investors, CCV seeks out firms with innovative business designs, exceptional leadership and attractive niche positions and looks to invest at inflection points-not pre-determined stages. Because of their flexible mandate, CCV investments are unbound by size or industry, though they typically invest in consumer, commercial and service businesses requiring up to $100 million of capital. CCV's aim is to create lasting value for their investors, the companies in which they invest, and the broader stakeholders touched by their companies. For more information, visit www.citycapitalventures.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005835/en/

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Sir Anthony Hopkins has said he thought Silence Of The Lambs was a childrens story before he read the script.

The actor won an Oscar for his chilling portrayal of serial killer Dr Hannibal Lecter in the film, which was released 30 years ago.

He has reunited with his co-star, Jodie Foster, who also won an Oscar for her role as Clarice Starling, the FBI trainee who seeks his help in order to catch another serial killer, for trade magazine Varietys Actors On Actors series.

Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins a Actors on Actors (FullA Conversation) https://t.co/OzYXCT5V1I  Variety (@Variety) January 19, 2021

Sir Anthony told Foster: I was in London in 1989, doing a play called M. Butterfly.

My agent sent a script. He said Why dont you read this? Its called Silence Of The Lambs.

I said Is it a childrens story? It was a hot summer afternoon, and the script came over and I started reading it.

After 10 pages, I phoned my agent. I said Is this a real offer? I want to know. This is the best part Ive ever read.

I read the rest of the script, and Jonathan (Demme, the director) came over on a Saturday afternoon and we had dinner.

And I said Is this for real? And he said Yeah. I said: OK.

He was such a wonderful guy to work with. I couldnt believe my luck, and I was scared to speak to you. I thought She just won an Oscar (for The Accused).

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Foster replied: We didnt get to speak too much before the actual read-through.

We just sort of, kind of waved from across the room and then sat down at the table.

And as you launched into Hannibal Lecter, I felt a chill come over the room. In a way, it was like we were almost too scared to talk to each other after that.

She added: It was such an eerie set. All of the different inmates, all very dark and moody, and then suddenly we come to Lecters (cell): Its very bright and kind of fluorescent lighting and two-dimensional.

Recalling the first day, Sir Anthony said: I was naturally nervous, an Englishman  a limey like me, a Welshman  playing an American serial killer.

And I remember Jonathan, when the camera picked me up, he said Oh, my God. Thats it. Hopkins. Youre so weird!

And I said Why, thank you. And they wanted the lighting girl to come into my cell, and I said What are you doing in my cell?

And (Jonathan) said Oh, my God. So I knew I had pressed the right button. Once you got that button, hold on to it  and go with it.
[January 21, 2021] Backbase drives worldwide banking innovation with second Global Development Center in Hyderabad

AMSTERDAM and SINGAPORE, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Backbase, the Engagement Banking platform provider, today announced the opening of its Global Development Center (BDC) in Hyderabad, India. As Backbase's second BDC worldwide, the facility's infrastructure and access to talent as well as its partner ecosystem, will enable Backbase to better deliver end-to-end services for mobile and web development on the Backbase Engagement Banking Platform, with the goal of helping banks around the globe grow and scale. Aiming to be a hub for digital and technology talent, the new BDC together with the Krakow hub are expected to hire more than 350 employees globally by the second half of 2021, creating jobs in high-demand roles. The facility enables Backbase to deliver value to banks and financial institutions across the world, significantly shortening implementation processes and accelerating time to market. Coupled with access to Backbase's wealth of expertse and knowledge, regional and global customers will be able to leverage the latest platform enhancements, including ongoing upgrades and new product releases. These will empower them to generate revenue from digital channels and drive profitability, while engaging customers with greater speed, velocity, and scale.



CEO for Backbase, Jouk Pleiter, said, "The launch of our second Global Development Center underscores our commitment to transforming the global banking system and drive the success of our customers. This investment into extending our physical presence will allow us to better understand the changing needs of our customers around the world. This will also enable us to take the development of our Backbase Engagement Banking Platform even further while delivering the same consistent experience and best practices that our customers expect from us."

Jeroen Brusker, Senior Vice President, Global Customer Success, Backbase, said: "Through the extension of our infrastructure and the growth of our partner ecosystem globally, the Hyderabad BDC is part of our commitment to building long-term relationships with our customers. By providing them uninterrupted remote access to high caliber talent and support, we are helping to unburden our customers, de-risking their business strategies and allowing them to focus on what they do best  driving profitability and revenue while providing innovative banking solutions. This will in turn empower banks to better engage with customers and ultimately become the bank that people love." About Backbase: Backbase is on a mission to transform the broken banking system, so financial institutions don't just interactthey engagewith the people they serve. That's made possible with the Backbase Engagement Banking Platformpowering all lines of business on a single platform, including Retail, SME & Corporate and Wealth Management. From digital sales to everyday banking, the platform's entire design focuses on a seamless and captivating experience for both customers and employees. Industry analysts Forrester, Ovum and Celent continuously recognise Backbase's front-runner position, and over 120 large financials around the world are powered by the Backbase Engagement Banking Platformincluding AIB, Barclays, Banamex, Bank of the Philippine Islands, BNP Paribas, Bremer Bank, Citibank, Citizens Bank, CheBanca!, Discovery Bank, Greater Bank, HDFC, IDFC First, KeyBank, Lloyds Banking Group, Metrobank, Navy Federal Credit Union, PostFinance, RBC, Societe Generale, TPBank, Vantage Bank Texas, Westpac and Wildfire Credit Union. www.backbase.com SOURCE Backbase

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US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that former President Donald Trump wrote a very generous letter to him.

"The president wrote a very generous letter," Biden told reporters at the White House. "Because it was private, I won't talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous."

Also read: Amazon offers to help with COVID-19 vaccine efforts in letter to Joe Biden

Also read: 'Today is good day for democracy', world leaders congratulate Joe Biden on Presidency

L.A. Native and Actress GG Townson talks Salt-N-Pepa Biopic and Making Her City Proud

A natural star since birth, actress and rising star GG Townson is ready to share her story and create an avenue of escape for her beloved city.

Born and raised in Los Angeless Valley Park-Windsor Hills area with her family, the granddaughter of Ron Townson of Fifth Dimension knew from an early age she was made for the spotlight. With a little help from her grandfather, she signed her first contract and booked her first Disney gig as a child actor. Townson worked for years, taking breaks in between to live a normal teenage life, but somehow acting continuously returned to the forefront.

At one point I just wanted to be a regular girl in high school. I was a cheerleader and even in the first couple years of college I was cheering. Of course, when you get to a certain age, boys come into play so I kind of put to rest acting for a few years, but I always found my way back to it, said Townson. A seemingly organic twist of fate, but fully in alignment with her purpose. As both a student and performer, she looks up to Kerry Washington who often works beautifully both behind and in front of the camera, a long-term goal for Townson. For now, she continues to work and build her craft, one push at a time.

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Im still young and my body of work is still constantly expanding. I dont think that Ive had that moment of defining me as a person [or actress]. I will say that the relationships that I did build with Cheryl on the Salt-N-Pepa project definitely made me look at myself just based on the type of person that she was or is, Townson shares of her most recent role as Cheryl Salt James in Lifetimes highly-anticipated Salt-N-Pepa biopic. Hearing the experiences, the stories that she would tell me about her life and what she had going  she would give her reasoning why she chose to do certain things. I feel like that made me sit back and think to myself like, I want to be a person that radiates love, walks in purpose, you see my light whenever I walk into a room. Those things are undeniable, because those are things in her.

Townson shared that the role was full of triumphs as she was tested each step of the way. Her initial feelings of pressure were removed as she reminded herself that she was chosen by people who had watched her audition for a month. She expressed the biggest reward was that she had the opportunity to play the role, which she had a ton of people wishing her well both on and off set. During filming, she worked closely with James who often gave advice and assisted in bringing her character to life. For the young actress, she couldnt have asked for better support. Having her there was an amazing experience. I appreciate her being there, not only just there to answer the questions that I needed answered from a script aspect or even just an executive producer aspect, but she was there on a personal level. We shared certain things with each other on a personal level and even after the film she would check in.

I am most excited for the world to see the Push It music video! continuing, Im not going to hold you, we kind of killed it! Not even going to lie, she laughs. Prepared for side-by-side comparisons and fans ready to critique their every move, Townson confirms its pretty dope!

As she continues to maneuver through film and television, she tells that with each role, her goal is to provide a haven in her work for viewers to fully connect and escape into a new world. I would like to be able to tell stories to people that oftentimes dont feel seen. To make people fall in love with the idea of love and light. To be able to speak to and create worlds for people to fall deep into.

Sometimes people just need an escape if just for a second. Something to brighten their day, to shift their mindset, to shift their thought process or their feelings. I want to be able to create projects and be a part of projects that do that for people and just put out and create really great work, she detailed.

Along with Salt-N-Pepa, Townson will have a recurring role in The CWs All American television show, as well as a role in the upcoming film Welcome Matt alongside Tahj Mowry. As she strives to make sure her family, her city, and most importantly, that she is proud of herself she holds tight to her faith and positivity.

In the sense of everything that I do, every audition that I have  whats for me will be for me. While she holds the message tight, its still her home base and close network that keeps her afloat. I am definitely one that is proud of my city and proud of being from where it comes from. I will always remain humble and thankful for all the support from my city, my friends, and family. I will always give back to my city where and when I can because my city is important to me.

Salt-N-Pepa, starring GG Townson, premieres Saturday, June 23, 2021, at 6 p.m. PT only on Lifetime.
The Government of Mexico City and Grupo Modelo announced their collaboration commitment to enable the General Hospital La Pastora, in Cuautepec, Gustavo A. Madero, for the care of patients with Coronavirus (COVID-19) and which will have 100 beds .

The Head of Government, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, thanked Grupo Modelo for its participation, since this company will be in charge of investing in the hospital facilities and which is expected to be ready by the end of February.

"We are talking about an additional investment of around 250 million pesos where a very important part is invested by Grupo Modelo, but obviously, the detail of how much is going to be invested, because of course we are going to report it."

At this moment there is this private investment, that without the investment of Modelo we would not have the possibilities or the sufficient resources to be able to start it, that is why the investment of Grupo Modelo is so important. They are going to invest in all the connections for medical gases, oxygen, everything that a hospital facility requires , he explained.

The president of Grupo Modelo, Cassiano De Stefano, pointed out that only by joining efforts between the authorities, the private sector and citizens will it be possible to get ahead of the health emergency caused by COVID-19.

Today we are once again to join forces with the City Government, we recognize the great effort that the Head of Government and her administration have made throughout the pandemic to guarantee the health and safety of all of us who live here. We are sure that with the project that we announce today, we will help improve the hospital capacity of our city, at a time when it is most needed , he said.

This action is part of the joint strategies to face the health emergency and the # PorNuestroMexico movement of Grupo Modelo that has sought, through various actions throughout the months of the pandemic, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

This is our home, we were born here. You are all our neighbors, and neighbors support each other, protect each other, unite. For this reason, from the beginning of the pandemic, we have been looking for the best way to help our city, said De Stefano.



Depositphotos.com

The local president explained that the Institute of Health for Well-being (INSABI) will contribute with the equipment of the hospital, while the hiring of doctors will be carried out jointly between the Government of Mexico City and INSABI.

The Mayor's Office puts elevators and some other drainage connections and the Secretary of Works paving, connection to drinking water, together with the Mexico City Water System. It is a joint effort , he indicated.

Sheinbaum Pardo pointed out that in the first instance the new hospital center will be dedicated to attending the health emergency; However, once it is finished, its attention will be that of a general hospital for the entire Cuautepec area for the benefit of 150 thousand low-income inhabitants and in which its administration has invested in Line 1 of the Cablebus, in the construction of six Points of Innovation, Freedom, Art, Education and Knowledge (PILLARS) and in potable water works.

The unit will be equipped with a respiratory triage, stabilization areas, medical services and hospitalization with a capacity of 100 beds, of which about 25 or 30 will be intensive therapy.

The Secretary of Works and Services, Jesus Antonio Esteva Medina, explained that at the La Pastora General Hospital the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is currently installing the electrical connection. Meanwhile, SACMEX carried out the drinking water connection, the Mayor Gustavo A. Madero the drainage work and the SOBSE will begin the paving next Friday.

The Secretary of Health, Oliva Lopez Arellano, thanked the sum of efforts between the private initiative and the Government of Mexico City, through the Ministry of Health, to have a hospital with imaging equipment and medicinal gases, for the benefit population with few resources and difficulties in accessing health services, both hospital and emergency.

We would be able to attend quickly, expand the care capacity in the face of the pandemic but also leave a site that joins the 32 hospitals that the City Health Secretariat already has, so we are very happy with this acceleration and recovery of a space, "he said.

The mayor of Gustavo A. Madero, Francisco Chiguil Figueroa, specified that the Mayor's Office will invest 15 million pesos for the installation of four elevators in the hospital, in addition to the cleaning work that has been carried out in the 10,600 square meters that make up the property.

Related:

Habilitan el Hospital General La Pastora para atender pacientes con COVID-19

La Pastora General Hospital is enabled to care for patients with COVID-19

For the love of life, return your oxygen tank: Profeco



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Immigrants cheered President Joe Biden s plan to provide a path to U.S. citizenship for about 11 million people without legal status mixing hope with guarded optimism Wednesday amid a seismic shift in how the American government views and treats them.

The newly inaugurated president moved to reverse four years of harsh restrictions and mass deportation with a plan for sweeping legislation on citizenship. Biden also issued executive orders reversing some of former President Donald Trump's immigration policies, such as halting work on a U.S.-Mexico border wall and lifting a travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries. He also ordered his Cabinet to work to keep deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people brought to the U.S. as children.

"This sets a new narrative, moving us away from being seen as criminals and people on the public charge to opening the door for us to eventually become Americans, said Yanira Arias, a Salvadoran immigrant with Temporary Protected Status who lives in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.

Arias is among about 400,000 people given the designation after fleeing violence or natural disasters.

It sets a more hopeful future for immigrants in the U.S., but it all depends on the Congress especially the Senate, Arias, a national campaigns manager for the immigrant advocacy group Alianza Americas, said of the citizenship effort.

Success of the legislation is far from certain in a divided Congress, where opposition is expected to be tough. The most recent immigration reform attempts on a similar scale failed  in 2007 under then-President George W. Bush and in 2013 under then-President Barack Obama.

Ofelia Aguilar, who watched Biden's inaugural address on TV with five other female farmworkers in agricultural Homestead, Florida, said she nevertheless felt positive about prospects for immigration reform.

I am hopeful that he'll give us legal status, said Aguilar, who was pregnant and alone when she came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1993. She worked in the fields for years before starting her own business farming jicama root.

Hope has opened! Aguilar cried out after Biden was sworn in. So many people have suffered.

Some of the farmworkers at the backyard gathering about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Miami said they were disappointed Biden didn't mention immigration reforms in his speech.

I only have hope in God, not in presidents, said Sofia Hernandez, an agricultural worker who has lived in the U.S. without legal status since 1989. So many have said they are going to do things, and I don't see any results."

Hernandez came from Mexico, seeking economic opportunity. Her three children were born in the U.S. and she regularly sent money to her family back home before her parents died.

My dream is to go and see my family and come back to stay with my children, Hernandez said.

In New York, Blanca Cedillos said she also was disappointed Biden did not mention immigration during the speech she watched with a half-dozen other masked immigrants at the Workers Justice Project.

I was hoping he would say something, said Cedillos, a Salvadoran who lost her job as a nanny during the coronavirus pandemic and now gets by with a few housecleaning jobs and a weekly food box from the nonprofit that offers services to immigrants.

Cedillos has lived in the U.S. without authorization for 18 years and hopes to eventually visit her four children in Central America, then return legally to the U.S.

I have told them that that trip may happen now. Hopefully, if this new president gives me the opportunity, she said.

Guatemalan construction worker Gustavo Ajche, who came to the U.S. in 2004, watched the Spanish language broadcast with Cedillos.

I dont want to get too excited because I might get frustrated afterward, like has happened in the past, Ajche said. I have been here many years, I have paid my taxes, I am hoping something will be done.

In Phoenix, Tony Valdovinos, a local campaign consultant who was brought to the U.S. from Mexico as a small child, said he isn't celebrating yet.

He's among those who have benefited from the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which protects immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.

It's hard to put your heart into it when these things have failed in the past, Valdovinos said. We've been beaten down so much.

Maria Rodriguez, executive director of the Florida Immigration Coalition in Miami, said she feels much the same way.

Im so happy and relieved, but we are still afraid of getting our hearts broken again, she said. Weve been through this so many times, but we really need to bring through a solution that goes forward.

Los Angeles janitor Anabella Aguirre wants that solution not only for herself, but for her two daughters, both DACA recipients now starting their careers.

Like thousands of mothers and fathers, I want for my daughters to have something better in this country, Aguirre said. "We hope that today, this dawn, brings hope.

___

Torrens reported from New York, and Snow from Phoenix. Associated Press writer Amy Taxin contributed from Orange County, California.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 17:11:41|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on July 21, 2019 from Xiangshan Mountain shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiang)

BEIJING, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday slammed the collusion of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with anti-China elements in the United States, saying such absurd actions will surely be tried by history.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a query about the DPP authority colluding with Mike Pompeo and others over the past years, including having official and military contacts as well as arms sales to Taiwan.

Colluding with U.S. anti-China elements, the DPP authority has made provocative moves of seeking "Taiwan independence" and been willing to act as pawns of anti-China forces, Zhu said, adding that DPP has sold out national interests.

The spokesperson added that she firmly supports the sanctions on related U.S. personnel who have performed badly on the Taiwan question. 
As they witnessed President Joe Biden take the oath of office on Wednesday, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said former Republican President George W. Bush lauded him as a 'savior' for helping get Biden elected.

The South Carolina Democrat is largely credited with giving Biden the endorsement he needed to shoot to the top of 2020s large Democratic field and win his party's nomination.

Clyburn, on a call with reporters, said Bush told him, 'you know, you're the savior, because if you had not nominated Joe Biden, we would not be having this transfer of power today.'

'You're the savior.' Jim Clyburn, who elbow-bumped George W. Bush as they greeted each other on the Capitol dais, revealed how the former president credited him with Biden's victory

Hug: George W. Bush embraced the 46th president warmly at the Capitol. He and Trump had a tense relationship

Selfie time: Jim Clyburn and George W. Bush shared a warm rapport as they caught up on the Capitol dais

Plenty to talk about: George W. Bush, Jim Clyburn and Bill and Hillary Clinton catch up

Downplaying: How the former president's spokesman responded after Clyburn revealed Bush called him 'the savior'

He said Bush added that Biden was the only Democratic candidate he felt could have defeated President Donald Trump.

Bush, who has largely stayed out of politics since leaving the White House, chose 'none of the above' in the 2016 presidential election but has not revealed how he voted in 2020.

In a statement issued following Biden's victory, he wrote, 'Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man' and added, 'I offered him the same thing I offered Presidents Trump and Obama: my prayers for his success, and my pledge to help in any way I can.'

Bush spokesman Freddy Ford downplayed Clyburn's remarks.

'Let's not make this into more than it is,' he wrote on Twitter, adding that the former president was 'saying Clyburn helped saved Bidens nomination ... nothing Biblical here.'

Bush had tried to stay out of politics since leaving office, but Trump privately called him a 'dummy,' and criticized him for the war in Iraq. Four years ago at inauguration, W. Bush commented 'That was some weird s**t.'

The hostility was reciprocated: Members of the Bush family were critical of Trump throughout his administration, particularly his younger brother Jeb.

Clyburn's pivotal endorsement before South Carolina's Democratic primary seemed to have brought Bidens candidacy back from the brink following lackluster performances in other early states. It was an awaited signal for many Black voters that Biden would be the candidate to stand up for their interests.

Arrival: Jim Clyburn, the House Majority Whip, steps on to the West Front of the Capitol for Joe Biden's inauguration

House number three: Jim Clyburn is the Democratic majority whip but it was his status as South Carolina's most important party leader which got him to swing massive support behind Biden and put him on a path to the nomination - and eventual election victory

Biden won South Carolina by nearly 30 points, subsequently bested chief rival Bernie Sanders on Super Tuesday and bumped rivals Tom Steyer, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Mike Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren in one of the more muscular comebacks in presidential campaign history.

Clyburn, South Carolinas only Democratic representative in Congress, is the dean of the states Democrats and the third-ranking member of the U.S. House.

Clyburn said that his backing of Biden also came up Wednesday during conversations with former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the party's 2016 nominee.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:06:35|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Thursday that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement will be a key driver for regional economic recovery and integration when it enters into force.

He made the remarks during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, which was held via videoconference, the foreign ministry said in a press statement released after the meeting.

"On the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister expressed his confidence in RCEP as a key driver of regional economic recovery and integration, and encouraged all RCEP participating countries to expedite ratification process," the statement said.

Initiated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2012, RCEP is a mega free trade deal between its 10 member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and its FTA partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The 15 Asia-Pacific countries signed the pact on Nov. 15, 2020, forging the world's largest-ever free trade bloc.

Sok Siphana, an advisor to the Cambodian government, said last week that RCEP is a victory of multilateralism and is a good pool for regional economic cooperation and integration.

"The biggest political message the RCEP carries is that multilateralism is once again at the forefront and with RCEP's leading, we can rely on a stronger multilateralism to support economic growth," he said during a free style dialogue on RCEP and its impact on Cambodia.

Siphana said RCEP, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), among others will be complementary to each other to boost regional and global economies.

He said Cambodia would greatly benefit from the deal; however, the kingdom needed to increase its production capacity in agriculture and light industries and invested more in energy, transport infrastructure and logistics.

"To me, RCEP is probably the best end and the biggest trade initiative for Cambodia in a long run," he said. Enditem
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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Naver founder Lee Hae-jin speaks at the company's data center "Gak" in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, in July last year. / Courtesy of Naver



By Kim Jae-heun



Naver founder Lee Hae-jin has been appointed as chairman of A Holdings, a joint venture established between Korean company Naver and Japanese conglomerate SoftBank to compete with American and Chinese rivals including Google, Alibaba and Amazon.



Line is the most-used mobile messenger application in Japan and is operated by Line Corporation. Yahoo Japan is the biggest portal website in the country and is owned by SoftBank. After the merger, A Holdings is expected to have 130 million monthly average users in Japan.



The two companies each invested 50 percent to split ownership of the joint venture's shares equally.



Lee has made his vision for A Holdings clear with a focus on an artificial intelligence (AI) and online business.



Last November, Line and Yahoo Japan announced that they would become a global leader in AI technology when they join forces.



Naver CEO Han Seong-sook said during a conference call last month that she cannot give detailed information but the company will collaborate with A Holdings in some of its major business areas such as online payment systems, banking and search engine development.



Naver is the global mother company of Line Corporation that was founded in June 2011.



The most visible result from A Holdings is expected in the e-commerce and fintech fields combined.



Lee has been emphasizing the company's efforts to beef up its AI power to the level of Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu.



In order to do this, A Holdings needs massive data and this requires the company to focus on e-commerce.



Last September, Yahoo Japan spent 4.2 trillion won to acquire Zozotown  one of the top three online fashion retailers. A Holdings is expected to own the largest market share in the Japanese e-commerce sector combining Line Shopping, Yahoo Auction and Zozotown.



The joint venture will allow the company to bring use those platforms' online payment systems in Korea. Both Yahoo Japan and Line operate their own e-payment services in Japan and the two have been in a price dumping war. After combining Yahoo Japan and Line, they hold 60 percent of the online payment market.



A Holdings is likely to make significant investments in the AI sector too.



When Yahoo Japan and Line announced their management integration last year, Line CEO Idezawa Takeshi said Line and SoftBank are no match for global IT firms in terms of market capitalization and human resources.



"Line and Yahoo Japan will target the global AI market including those of Japan and Southeast Asian countries with a strategy that we are going to put together everything from data, money and talent," Idezawa said.



A Holdings has already revealed that it will put 1.7 trillion won into AI annually but this is not a large investment compared to what Google, Alibaba and Amazon are spending.



Google spent 15 trillion won in the AI sector last year, and Alibaba spent 7 trillion won.



Meanwhile, A Holdings tapped four directors for its board including Lee, Line Corporation's Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Hwang In-joon, SoftBank CEO Ken Miyauchi and CFO Kazuhiko Fujihara. One more official from SoftBank will be appointed as a director under the approval of Naver and SoftBank.


Iran: Timing is everything on return to Iran deal

Rouhani praises Bidens political experience. Amidst the congratulatory messages from world leaders on Joe Bidens inauguration, Iran President Hassan Rouhani had one too.

The new US administration understands politics and has political experience, Rouhani said, drawing contrast with former US President Donald Trump, who was a tower builder and did not know politics.  What happened to us in these three years was because [of] Trump's conspiracies.

Iran ready to deal ... More tellingly, Rouhani made clear, again, that Iran wants back into the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), or Iran nuclear deal, if the United States agrees to rejoin as well. US sanctions on Irans oil imports and financial transactions, imposed after the Trump administration withdrew from the deal in 2018, have taken a terrible toll on Irans economy, which is experiencing a third straight year of negative economic growth.

Today, we are ready, Rouhani said. If the other side acts honestly and returns to the law and obligations, the problems will be solved very quickly and there would be no legal complexities.

Those problems, from the US perspective, include Iran processing highly enriched uranium at levels close to the weapons development threshold, above the JCPOA limits, as well as making uranium metal, also essential for a nuclear weapon.

Zarif: no need to talk about it. Irans leaders have conveyed that its steps are the result of US actions and can be reversed if Biden re-commits the United States to compliance. Iran Foreign Minister Mohmmad Javad Zarif said that a return-for-return deal could be done quickly through executive orders and without need for negotiations, as we report here.

Khamenei has Rouhanis back (kind of). Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, not surprisingly, has taken a complementary if rhetorically harder line. This is not the issue for us whether the US returns to the JCPOA or not. If the sanctions are not lifted, then the US return to the JCPOA might even be to our disadvantage, he said on Jan. 8.

He added, however, Of course, if they (the US) return to their (JCPOA) commitments, we will return to ours as well.

Blinken: long way from new deal. Bidens nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said at his nomination hearing yesterday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the Biden administration would consider reentering the JCPOA as a starting point for follow-on negotiations to tighten and lengthen Irans nuclear constraints and address Iran's missile program. Iran rejects talks of missiles or anything else as a condition for a return to the JCPOA, preferring the straight-up return-for-return approach. Blinken also stressed the need for consultation with Gulf partners and Israel. He added that we are a long way from there, as the US first has to ensure that Iran returns to compliance with the JCPOA, as Elizabeth Hagedorn reports.

Israel worries about harsh strategic blow. Ben Caspit reports on the anxiety in Jerusalem, perhaps shared in some Arab Gulf capitals, about a return to the JCPOA without additional constraints on Irans missile program and regional behavior.

Israeli officials believe the Biden administration will weigh two options, writes Caspit. A moderate one in which the Iranians commit to reverting to the original agreement and giving up the assets they acquired since the United States pulled out of the deal, in return for a significant lifting of sanctions. Jerusalem would regard such a scenario as a harsh strategic blow. [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is hoping Biden opts for a second, tougher approach  lifting sanctions slowly, gradually and cautiously in exchange for Iran's return to an amended agreement that includes an extended deadline of 25 years rather than 15 and plugging the loopholes on its ballistic missile project and regional conduct.

Our take. Biden cant return to the Iran nuclear deal until Iran is in compliance, and Iran wont return to the deal unless the United States is in compliance, meaning lifting Trump era sanctions  an initial standoff that would require some creative choreography. Mark Fitzpatrick makes the case that Bidens best path forward is to proceed quickly with his stated intention to restore Americas commitment to the JCPOA as long as Iran does so as well and put off all other discussions for the next round. There nonetheless might need to be an interim step that allows Iran to reengage international financial markets and resume some oil exports, as Iran returns to compliance, some expanded version of what French President Emmanuel Macron proposed in 2019. Maybe, if the straight-up deal proves difficult. Rouhani may need a quick turnaround; hard liners control Irans parliament, Irans presidential elections are in June and he cant run for reelection.

On the record: Al-Monitor archive interviews two members of Biden team on Middle East

If you are looking for background and context on Bidens national security/Middle East team, check out these interviews with senior members of the incoming administration:

-William Burns has been nominated to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency. At an Al-Monitor event in September 2019, the former deputy secretary of state said that the Trump administrations withdrawal from the JCPOA was a foolish mistake, adding that you want to use the leverage we have now to make a much more serious push on Yemen and create some time and space to deal with the Iranians to lowering tensions in the Gulf. Jack Detsch has the report here, and you can watch the event here.

-Philip Gordon is deputy national security adviser to Vice President Kamala Harris. On Nov. 24, he and I discussed trends in US policies toward Iran, Turkey, Syria and Iraq; the benefits and limits of Israels normalization agreements with the UAE, Bahrain and Sudan; the challenges the Biden administration will face in the Middle East; and his book Losing the Long Game: The False Promise of Regime Change in the Middle East. Gordon said that while Turkey may no longer be a model partner, it is very much in the US interest to find common ground whenever possible. You can check out the podcast here.

Egypt: Activists call out brutal campaigns against animals

Activists call out Egypt for systemic campaign against dogs and cats  A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of animal welfare activists who are asking that the government cease randomly killing stray dogs and cats and ban exports to countries that eat them. The lawyer filing the case told Al-Monitor that his case calls out the government for a systematic campaign that uses brutal methods to kill the animals, including shooting them or inserting deadly toxins into their food and feeding it to them. According to these activists, the campaign disrupts the ecological balance, because dogs and cats eat snakes and rodents. You can read the report from a correspondent in Egypt here.

 and a TV station for brutal video of fox hunt. Last month, activists and the Egyptian Ministry of the Environment slammed a television station for airing an illegal fox hunt where the fox was hung and tortured. David Awad has the story here.
Lyubov Sobol, a lawyer for Russian opposition politician Aleksei Navalny, has been detained by police on a charge of calling for an unsanctioned rally in relation to a planned nationwide protest on January 23 in support of the jailed Kremlin critic.



Sobol's lawyer, Vladimir Voronin, tweeted on January 21 that police stopped his car and took his client to a police station to charge her there. Before that, three men had been at Sobol's apartment and tried to hand her a written warning from the Moscow Prosecutor's Office about the planned protest.



Earlier in the day, a lawyer with Navalny's Anti-Corruption Fund, Vladlen Los, who is Belarusian citizen, was briefly detained and informed that he must leave Russia before January 25.



At a January 18 hearing that Navalny called a "mockery of justice," a judge ruled to keep him incarcerated until February 15, by which time a different court is expected to decide whether to convert a suspended 3 1/2 year sentence he served in an embezzlement case, which he says is being trumped up into real jail time.



His team subsequently called for nationwide protests on January 23.
 Reviewing some old but still timely advice for new presidents past | Main | Timely reminder that Congress has a critical role to play in reforming clemency conditions 

January 20, 2021

Reviewing some notable data after a notably final clemency flourish by Prez Trump

A few months ago, I noted in this post a Pew Research Center piece, "So far, Trump has granted clemency less frequently than any president in modern history," which assailed then Prez Trumps "sparse use" of his clemency powers as of Nov 2020. At that time, I called the Pew piece a bit unfair because it compared Trump's record in his (then-not-complete) first term to mostly two-term Presidents. I also noted that Prez Trump had already granted more clemencies in his first term than had Prez Obama or Prez George W. Bush at a comparable point in their first terms and that some more clemencies were surely to come.

Sure enough, after a bunch of pre-Christmas grants and a final big group of pardons and commutations, (former) President Trump's clemency record might now be reasonably described as fairly substantial. Though I wish he had done a lot more, and while I still recall getting way too excited back in 2018 when Prez Trump said he was considering 3000 people for clemency, some basic data make the case for him being a significant user of his clemency powers. Of course, there are ample grounds for criticizing the substantive decisions and the opaque process surrounding Prez Trump's use of his historic clemency power. But reviewing the raw numbers with an eye on the modern history of clemency highlights that it is no longer accurate to even suggest Trump's use of this power was sparse.

Specifically, according to the data on this Justice Department "Clemency Statistics" page (which seems up-to-date but may be an undercount), Prez Trump is reported to have granted in his four years in the Oval Office a total of 206 clemencies in the form of 117 pardons and 89 commutations. Even that number (which may be a bit low) amounts to nearly three times as many clemencies as our last one-term president: Prez George H.W. Bush granted only 77 total clemencies during his four years in office. Indeed, in only one term, Prez Trump's used his clemency pen even more than Prez George W. Bush did over two full terms as he granted only 200 total clemencies during his entire eight years in office.

Given that Prez Trump was often eager to lay claim to a Reagan legacy, it is notable that Prez Trump can lay claim to using his clemency powers more in his first term in office than any president since Ronald Reagan. As clemency fans may know, Prez Reagan was something of a marker of two different clemency eras: nearly every president before Reagan used his clemency powers more than nearly every president after Reagan (e.g., Prez Nixon alone used his clemency power more in roughly five years than both Prez Bushes and Prez Clinton combined over 20 years). Prez Barack Obama is the one exception to the ugly modern story of relative clemency disuse because of his remarkable second-term commutation project, but that valuable program was still relatively modest if measured against the massive size of the modern federal prison population.

A focus on commutations makes the clemency record of Prez Trump perhaps especially notable. Leaving Prez Obama out of the analysis, Prez Trump's 89 commutations amount to more federal prison commutations granted than any other president since Prez Lyndon Johnson and amount to more prison commutations granted than any Republican president since Herbert Hoover!

Because so much of Prez Trump's early use of his clemency powers was overtly political and/or self-serving, I do not want to be misunderstood as unduly praising how Prez Trump used these critical powers of justice and mercy. But I do want to strongly embrace the sentiments in this recent Slate commentary and headline: "The Presidential Pardon Power Is Good: Trump abused it, but clemency remains an indispensable tool that should be used more often, not less." As Mark Joseph Stern put it even before the last round of grants:

[A] jaundiced view of clemency is understandable. It is also misguided. The pardon power exists for a very good reason, and its exploitation at the hands of crooks and con men should not give cause for its eradication. It is not some obsolete relic from a simpler era, but a vital safeguard against unjust convictions and disproportionate sentences. The United States federal prisons are filled with good citizens who have no business being behind bars. It is unfortunate that Trump has overlooked these individuals in favor of his vile cronies. It would be catastrophic if Trumps actions prevented future presidents from using the pardon power to free the people who actually deserve clemency.

Thankfully, in his final batch of 143 clemencies, the ratio of deserving individuals to cronies seemed a lot better than in early rounds. Regular readers know I have been advocating for reform of the clemency process for more than a decade, and I hope that becomes the focal point for continued calls for reform. But imperfect and even poor use of the clemency power still seems to me better than no use at all. I still wish Prez Trump did a lot more and a lot better with his clemency power, but now it is time to focus on urging Prez Biden to do a lot more and a lot better with this power ASAP.

A few of many recent related posts:

UPDATE: There is now an updated version of the Pew Research Center piece available here under the headline "Trump used his clemency power sparingly despite a raft of late pardons and commutations."

January 20, 2021 at 04:13 PM | Permalink

Comments

If we assume that many of the pardon and commutation grants indicate a determination that the original sentence was a mistake we're missing an opportunity to learn why the mistake was made. "We're smarter now, than they were then" doesn't seem like a complete answer. What did the prosecutors ask for why? Was the Presentence Report complete? Misleading? Why? Training of PO? Resources? Did the defense adequately present a case for leniency? If not, why not? It seems to me that a non-blaming, all-stakeholders (community and victim perspectives represented) review of the original decision can identify and address conditions and influences that are still lying around awaiting the next sentencing decision.

Posted by: James Ddoyle | Jan 20, 2021 4:25:21 PM

James, I like your instinct to want to do a kind of forensic review for error in these cases, though I suspect there are lots of different stories to tell. In some cases I know about a bit, there is a huge "trial penalty" in play for defendants who would not take a plea and then got slammed for it. Some other cases, like the marijuana offenders, might just reasonably reflect "the times have changed." Still others involve other forms of misfunction in the wheels of justice or just recognition of rehabilitation.

Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 20, 2021 6:35:46 PM

In the case of my friend Sholam Weiss, who received a commutation of his record 735 year sentence, for non-violent, white collar crimes, there was something more at play than the TRIAL PENALTY. Mr. Weiss had the longest Federal criminal trial in the U.S. in 2000 -- it lasted more than 9 months. Although the trial was conducted in Orlando, Florida, Weiss lived in New York. During trial, he was free on $500,000 cash bond, but was restricted to moving among New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida. Each Sunday during trial, he returned to Orlando from New York aboard his private jet plane. As the evidence rolled in against him at trial, the Government moved several times to either substantially increase his bond amount or to revoke his bond. Each time, the trial Judge rebuffed the Government, and reminded the Government that Weiss still enjoyed his presumption of innocence, no matter what the trial evidence was. In the end, Weiss disappeared and failed to appear for Court a few days before the jury returned its guilty verdict on about 74 counts. First, he fled to Brazil, and then, as the F.B.I. was closing in on him there, he fled to Austria. When Weiss was sentenced in absentia, his trial Judge, Patricia Fawsett, was angry that he had fled after she had let him remain out on bond during the trial. Thus, she gave him the statutory maximum sentence for each count of conviction and ran all sentences consecutive to one another to achieve "total punishment" under the Guidelines. Her sentencing of Mr. Weiss was just vindictive. Later, Weiss's direct appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals was dismissed upon the Government's Motion under the "Fugitive Disentitlement Doctrine". Ultimately, after protracted negotiations, Weiss was extradited back to the U.S. to begin serving his (then) 745 year sentence. Following a 2241 Habeas Corpus Petition, where Weiss was represented by Prof. Steve Saltzburg, Weiss's sentence was reduced to 735 months (but without a re-sentencing hearing or a new PSR) and he was given a new appeal to the 11th Circuit, which affirmed his sentence. Then, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Certiorari and Weiss's 735 year sentence became final until it was commuted by PResident Trump on January 20, 2021.

Posted by: Jim Gormley | Jan 21, 2021 6:19:17 AM

Hi Doug! Author of the Pew analysis here. Just flagging that the piece has now been updated with final statistics for Trump: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/01/22/trump-used-his-clemency-power-sparingly-despite-a-raft-of-late-pardons-and-commutations/. Also noting that both the original piece and the updated piece allow for an apples-to-apples comparison between one-term presidents and two-term presidents. You just need to look at the far right column on the first chart, which shows the percent of all clemency requests granted by each president.

Best,

John Gramlich

Posted by: John Gramlich | Jan 24, 2021 10:39:33 AM

Many thanks, John, for the link to your updated piece. Given that Trump used his clemency power more than any GOP Prez since Reagan (and that Reagan only averaged 205 grants/term), I think it could be useful to note that Trump used his clemency power more robustly than any GOP Prez in the last half-century. Also, given modern concerns about mass incarceration, the fact that Trump granted more commutations in a single term than fully 7 of the last 8 presidents also seems quite noteworthy.

That all said, I am very glad your piece placed Trump's work here in statistical context, and I hope Biden gives us both a lot to write about in the months to come. Thanks again for your helpful work on this front and for alerting me to the update. Much appreciated.

Posted by: Doug B. | Jan 24, 2021 10:08:47 PM

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Tom Blomfield first changed his role last May but decided to leave altogether after the pandemic exacerbated his state

The founder of challenger bank of has announced his departure from the company citing mental health issues.

Tom Blomfield, who started the company in 2015, had resigned as chief executive and stepped down from the board in May to take on the newly created role of president.

He asked for help to the banks chair Gary Hoffman and investor Eileen Burbidge of Passion Capital after encountering the first issues in 2019, so he could later change roles.

These problems were exacerbated by the pandemic, a time when the company cut tens of employees, closed the Las Vegas office and raised more funding.

I stopped enjoying my role probably about two years ago as we grew from a scrappy startup that was iterating and building stuff people really love, into a really important UK bank, he told TechCrunch.

Im not saying that one is better than the other, just that the things I enjoy in life is working with small groups of passionate people to start and grow stuff from scratch, and create something customers love.

And I think thats a really valuable skill but also taking on a bank thats three, four, five million customers and turning it into a 10 or 20mln customer bank and getting to profitability and IPOing it, I think those are huge, exciting challenges, just honestly not ones that I found that I was interested in or particularly good at.

I just finished my last all-hands and Q&A with the @monzo team. So many great memories and awesome team-mates.



It's been a blast. I'm looking forward to some extended relaxation before the next thing ????



Thanks for the chat, @sohear. Always a pleasure.https://t.co/OqM2G2wVSb  Tom Blomfield (@t_blom) January 20, 2021

Blomfield is not alone but is perhaps one of the few that opened up about the issue: one in five adults in the UK has experienced some form of depression in November, according to the Office for National Statistics Office for National Statistics.

Exactly a year ago, outgoing Lloyds ( ) boss Antonio Horta-Osorio opened up about mental health issues amid the banks struggles even before COVID-19 broke out.

"I was very mindful that the bank was in a very weak position to face adversity, he told the BBC.

It was a problem that was going around my mind constantly, which led me to sleep less and less. And the less and less sleep progressively led me to exhaustion, and then to not sleeping at all which was a form of torture so I had to address it and I did.


Only 56 per cent of British Indians would take a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and women fall within the significantly less likely to be open to a jab over fertility concerns, a new survey by a think tank led by Oxford University experts said on Thursday. The research by the 1928 Institute, a platform created to research and reflect the views of British Indians as the UK's largest ethnic minority group, follows concerns about a lower uptake of COVID-19 jabs among Britain's ethnic minority populations and is calling on the authorities to fund a clear and concerted public health campaign tailored to the British Indian community.

Despite being one of the hardest hit communities by COVID-19, British Indians show reluctance in taking a vaccine. Much of this reluctance stems from the community saying they do not feel informed enough about the vaccine, its benefits and its impact, says the report entitled Vaccines, The Pandemic and British Indians'. A clear and concerted public health campaign, tailored to our diverse community, to assuage doubts amongst British Indians is needed. An example of this would be campaigns in different languages and co-produced with community leaders and influencers, it notes.

The report covers the responses of over 2,320 British Indians over a period between July and December 2020. The majority of respondents (56 per cent) overall responded as yes or absolutely yes to taking a COVID-19 vaccine, but the often selected response was "unsure" about taking a vaccine (31 per cent).

Both men and women expressed concerns that vaccine production has been rushed and that there may be potential unknown long-term effects, with women highlighting inadequate testing on women's fertility and the impact on pregnancy. "COVID-19 commonly elicits fever and low oxygen levels during pregnancy, both of which have been shown to cause birth defects in babies. A vaccine has the potential to negate this impact, however the impact of the vaccine itself has not been tested enough, said Dr Nikita Ved, Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and Co-Founder of the 1928 Institute.

The UK government must fund awareness campaigns to improve confidence around taking the COVID-19 vaccines, especially amongst British Indians and other BME (black and minority ethnic) groups. Community leaders and influencers must highlight that the vaccines are safe and dispel the misinformation being spread over WhatsApp, she said. Other report findings indicate that the pandemic has had a considerable impact on the mental health of British Indians, with 39 per cent of respondents saying it has worsened their mental health, followed by 29 per cent worsened physical health.

COVID-19 is also found to result in new-onset diabetes in patients, which combined with the Indian community's greater predisposition to diabetes and high COVID-19 infection rates, raises an alert of a brewing diabetes epidemic in the UK. As a British Indian and a frontline healthcare professional, I know first-hand the devastation that COVID-19 has had on our community and those around us. We have been affected more than most, said Dr Ranj Singh, a National Health Service (NHS) doctor and award-winning TV presenter.

It worries me that despite this, many of us are still reluctant to follow guidance or get vaccinated. This needs to change, and that starts with trying to understand why. This overdue report goes a long way to finding out those reasons, and will be instrumental in helping us find the solutions we desperately need," he said. The survey also highlights related culturally-sensitive data, including on funeral rites, with a large majority of respondents wanting it to be made easier for families to opt for sustainable open-air cremations in line with Indian practices.

Traditional healthcare practices and Ayurvedic medicine were also flagged as important to a large number for their mental and physical well-being during the lockdown. Ayurveda has been proven to help mental and physical health. This is not only relevant for the COVID-19 pandemic but for public health going forward. We need to decolonise healthcare and utilise millennia of wisdom and re-evaluate how we approach health and wellness. We need to adopt a more holistic attitude to healthcare, said Amarjeet Singh Bhamra, Initiator & Lead Secretariat of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Indian Traditional Science.

The results of the survey confirm recently published findings by the Royal Society of Public Health, which found that Asian communities were shown to be less likely to take a COVID-19 vaccine compared to white respondents. It has led to several community-led drives within temples, gurdwaras and mosques to spread greater awareness around the safety of the vaccines being administered among those most at risk of dying from coronavirus.
A bronze bust of Cesar Chavez, a Mexican-American civil rights activist and labor leader, is among the new sculptures installed in President Joe Biden's Oval Office at the White House.

Chavez's bust, created by artist Paul Suarez, was placed on a table behind the Resolute Desk in Biden's Oval Office. The 22-inch sculpture sits beside several framed family photos.

The bust of Cesar Chavez is one of some aesthetic changes that Joe Biden made to the room, one that likely supports his pledge to the Latino community.

Joe Biden revealed these new decors Wednesday as he invited reporters to his new office to watch him signed a series of executive orders hours after he took office, reported KTLA.

As USA Today said, Cesar Chavez founded what would later become the United Farmworkers Union in the 1960s. He also led several strikes and marches fighting to improve farmworkers' conditions in the country while he emphasized nonviolent protests.

Read also: Pathway to Citizenship: Biden Sends Immigration Bill to Congress for 11 Million Illegal Migrants

"Si se puede," which translates to "Yes, we can," became a popular chant during his movement. More so, it became a chant for many other progressive causes, noted AZ Central.

Notably, the English translation was used by former President Barack Obama as his slogan for his successful campaign in 2008.

The figure was put on display at the Visitor Center of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in California. The Biden-Harris transition requested the lending of the bust.

Cesar Chavez's Son Praises Joe Biden Move to Display Dad's Sculpture

Paul Chavez, the activist's middle son and president of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, praised Biden in a statement.

In a statement obtained by Los Angeles Times, he said: "Placing a bust of my father in the Oval Office symbolizes the hopeful new day that is dawning for our nation."

For Paul Chavez, placing the bust on the desk wasn't just a way to honor his dad's memory but also "represents faith and empowerment" for the American people. Even leaders of Latino advocacy groups were thrilled to see the bust.

"I literally jumped out of my chair and yelled: 'That's Cesar Chavez! Cesar Chavez!," Darryl Morin, national president of the advocacy group Forward Latino, told NBC News. Morin's group has taken on civil rights and anti-discrimination causes on behalf of Latinos.

Dolores Huerta, a civil rights leader who worked with Chavez, was also excited by the move, despite not seeing any video or photos of the bust when NBC News reached her on Wednesday evening.

Related story: Disturbing Inauguration Glitch Shocks Viewers as Joe Biden Delivers Message to Americans

Despite only being told that it was in the White House, she said: "I think it's exciting he did that. It's like a reverence to farmworkers, and to do that in front of the Cesar bust shows his sincerity he has, especially when it comes to workers."

Joe Biden Chooses Cesar Chavez's Granddaughter to Serve in White House

Joe Biden also chose someone from the Cesar Chavez line to serve in his administration. He picked Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Chavez's granddaughter, to be the director of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations.

Rodriguez was also happy to see the symbol in Joe Biden's office. She said she was both "excited and honored" that the 46th president of the United States chose the sculpture and said it was "an honor and a real tribute to the community."

Former President Bill Clinton awarded the late activist the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the past. Cesar Chavez also received an honorary degree from the Arizona State University for his work on behalf of farmworkers.
Over 1,700 health workers in the UKs NHS said they were South African. Illustration: Lisa Nelson

Overseas qualified

Migration vs recruiting

Mobile occupation

Professor Johannes Fagan from the University of Cape Town and Professor Mahmood Bhutta from the Royal Sussex County Hospital wrote: The UK already has one of the highest proportions and overall numbers of overseas-qualified doctors in its workforce, yet continues to actively encourage and support overseas health workers to relocate.Current UK immigration rules recognise all medical practitioners (as well as nurses, paramedics, radiographers, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists) as shortage occupations, and for migrants offered such a post in the National Health Service (NHS) grant a reduced visa fee and support with relocation.They point out that a recent report by the UKs General Medical Council (GMC) suggested that overall numbers will need to rise further. The GMC report stated that the UK will require a continuation of the large number of doctors from overseas joining our workforce.This position, Fagan and Bhutta, wrote seems insensitive to the well-documented and morally questionable problem of brain drain.The authors criticise the years-long practice of the UK governments active recruitment of health workers from overseas to fill in the gaps in the British health system.They point out that in 2019 nearly 35% of doctors licensed to practice in the UK had obtained their qualifications overseas. Statistics on the UKs National Health Service (NHS) show that over 170,000 of the 1.28 million staff are from other countries, nearly 14%. About 67,000 are from other European (EU) countries and a further 64,000 are from Asia.About 1,719 are from South Africa, 806 from Kenya, 4,192 from Zimbabwe and 8,241 from Nigeria. The House of Commons reports that the proportion of non-EU nurses at the NHS rose from 8% in 2015 to 22% between 2019 and 2020.(Since nationality is self-reported, its possible that these numbers are overstated by some people describing their cultural heritage instead of country of birth.)Fagan and Bhutta refer to a 2006 World Health Organisation report which found that at least 25% of doctors in sub-Saharan Africa had migrated despite only 5% of the population having access to adequate healthcare. They also refer to an article that found that migration of physicians from low to high income environments does not only have economic effects; it is also associated with excess mortality.Professor Fagan told GroundUp there is a distinction between migration and recruiting. I have no problem with migrating but I do have a problem with countries recruiting and I think thats where I draw the line. I understand there are doctors and nurses in this country who want to seek greener pastures elsewhere because things are often difficult here. I do have a problem with an active recruitment process that is happening in the UK.Fagan added: There are things we can do to make it more attractive for people to stay. I am also interested to know if the South African government has approached the UK and said Hold on, stop recruiting our doctors and nurses. We have an agreement with other SADC countries not to recruit doctors from there, with the whole idea of not doing what the UK is doing. So the question is whether or not we have picked up the same agreement with the UK and US and Australia.South African health department spokespeople did not respond to our attempts to contact them.The UK health department, by email, denied it was actively recruiting health workers from low-resource countries. The medical profession is an international mobile occupation and we are aware that a significant number of doctors from low-income or lower-middle income countries migrate to the UK to work in the NHS of their own accord, rather than being proactively targetted.We are reviewing and updating our Code of Practice and list of countries we will not actively recruit from to protect weaker health systems, with engagement from other government departments and the World Health Organisation (WHO). We are also ensuring ethical recruitment practices are followed through improved agency frameworks and comprehensive guidance for recruiters.
As Middletown Democratic Town Committee Chairwoman Lisa Loomis watched the inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden Wednesday, she was awed to see Kamala Harris sworn-in as the first African American, and first female, vice president, and buoyed by what she sees ahead.

Bidens remarks made me feel that we have a bright future ahead of us if we can come together to make it so, Loomis said.

The siege on the Capitol was so scary, she said of the Jan. 6 incident in Washington in which a mob stormed the building. It reminded me about how fragile democracy is and how much we need to guarantee and protect our democracy.

She is hopeful, but also frightened, about the dissemination of misinformation and disinformation, as well as conspiracy theories. (Some) people are essentially living in a different reality. Thats the scary part, Loomis said. Biden said, through our history, we made what seems like the impossible possible.

She took solace seeing how some people were experiencing a sense of relief and optimism on social media.

Although now-former President Donald Trump has vacated the White House, he inspired the anger and feelings of hate that arent just going to go away. Were going to be on the edge for a while, Loomis said.

Middletown Common Councilman Ed Ford Jr. also viewed a portion of the inauguration while at work.

Today is a day to heal as a community, no matter what side of the political aisle you are on, he said. We are united, not divided. Altogether, it encapsulates the importance of our democracy. The American spirit is a beautiful thing.

Ford, who is African American, is a descendant of slaves, he said. That is a huge accomplishment.

It was particularly thrilling to watch Harris taking her oath of office, said the recently married politician. Shes a woman I can point to my daughters someday as vice president or even president.

Doris Dumas, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority connections chairwoman and president of the Greater New Haven chapter of the NAACP, said she celebrated with cheers Wednesday as Biden and sorority sister Harris were sworn-in.

Exhilarating. Beautiful. Moving. And powerful, Dumas said of the ceremony she said was marked with dignity and tradition. We also felt a sense of energy and hope. We can see dream for our future, for our country moving forward.

His message was powerful and inclusive, she said of Biden. Every piece of it was so well done.

Dumas said sorority members had over the weekend been addressed by Harris, and members were able to let her know they are praying for her and celebrate her.

Dumas said as sorority members, Black women and U.S. citizens they are here to put the work in the repair some of the damage they have seen occur in the nation.

She said, most of us would have been there at the ceremony if not for pandemic and security concerns but we are not going to let that dim the light of celebrating. She said she attended both inaugural ceremonies of former President Obama and would have done it all over again.

We are shining brightly today We have hope again; we know it is not going to be an easy road, she said.

In Wallingford, resident Larry Morgenstein, husband of Democratic town Councilwoman Gina Morgenstein, was moved by what he saw.

Watching today found me feeling unexpectedly emotional in a way I have not felt at previous Inaugurations, Morgenstein said. I truly feel that as a nation we survived a threat that ... was unmatched in my lifetime. I am flooded by relief and hope that maybe, just maybe, our imperfect union can once again have the possibility of being one of our best impulses and not one of our lowest self interests.

Bill Dillane, a former Cheshire resident who recently moved to Plainville, said, I am inspired by these statements in President Bidens inaugural address: I give you my word, I will always level with you. I will defend the Constitution. Ill defend our democracy. Ill defend America. And Ill give all, all of you, keep everything I do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal injuries but the public good. And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness.

Renee Reed, a New Haven resident who works as an administrative assistant at Yale University, watched the inauguration while working from home.

I got very emotional and teared up, she said. After counting the days and hours before the administration changed and living in uncertainty, now I feel so much better that now something is going to be done about people getting the vaccine and controlling the pandemic.

Reed said she also felt relief that the new president will be an advocate for the working class with an incoming stimulus package and he will take a more proactive stance on combating global warming than Trump.

The working class is so hit hard. Its the people in the middle that get no relief, she said.

Reed said watching Harris be sworn in as vice president was significant for her.

Being an African-American woman, I am just thrilled. The first thing my granddaughters said to me when they talked to me after the election is, Grandma, I can be the vice president if I want to be, she said.

Besides her granddaughters, who are 9 and 6, Reed said it also affected her goddaughter, who is also affiliated with the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, with whom she connected with after watching the inauguration.

I know how proud I am at my age, but for young girls to say that is just a thrill, she said. The poem was so fitting, his speech of unity was so fitting. This inauguration felt like something that was mostly cross-generational. It wasnt just about people in my age group, it was about everybody. It made it feel inclusive and they will represent all the people, and it will be a better nation for that.

As a Democrat, Reed said she is also excited to see what Bidens first 100 days have in store. She said she is optimistic because of the current makeup of the U.S. Senate.

I am really excited, because he will have the means to change policy, she said.

New Haven Register reporters Mark Zaretsky, Luther Turmelle and Brian Zahn contributed to this story.
Mumbai:

Congress leader Ashok Chavan was asked by the Bombay High Court on Wednesday to respond to CBIs contention that the Governor cannot be impleaded as a respondent to a petition filed by him, thus challenging the sanction accorded by the gubernatorial office to prosecute him in the Adarsh housing society scam.

A division bench headed by Justice R V More was hearing a petition filed by the Congress MP against the decision of Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao granting sanction to the CBI to prosecute him in the scam. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for CBI, today told the court that the Governor cannot be impleaded personally as a party respondent in a petition.

The petitioner (Chavan) will have to delete the Governors name as respondent. The state government will have to be impleaded as respondent, Singh said. The court then directed Chavans counsel Amit Desai to reply to this argument by CBI and posted the petition for further hearing on July 3.

In February 2016, Governor Rao had granted sanction to CBI to prosecute Chavan for offences under IPC sections 120 (b)(criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating and under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

ALSO READ: Adarsh case: CBI gets Guv nod to prosecute Chavan

Chavans petition termed the Governors order as arbitrary, illegal and unjust and passed without proper application of mind and with malafide intentions.

CBI had accused Chavan of approving additional floor space index for Adarsh society in return for two flats for his relatives. He was also charged with illegally approving, as the then Revenue Minister, allotment of 40 per cent of the flats to civilians in the high rise in posh Colaba.

While the CBI named him as an accused in its FIR, in December 2013 the then Governor K Sankaranarayanan had refused permission to it to prosecute Chavan in the scam.

However, in March 2015, the high court dismissed a plea made by Chavan, who is the sitting Lok Sabha MP from Nanded, seeking deletion of his name from the case, as the Governor had refused to grant sanction. Following this, the CBI re-approached the Governor seeking sanction, which was granted in February 2016.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
In another bizarre incident, a couple in South Carolina were in trouble for having sex on the Myrtle Beach Skywheel ride and then posting videos of the same on a popular porn site.



The couple is now facing multiple charges after the police saw videos of the two having sex in public on the pornography site. As per a report in Fox News, Myrtle Beach police have opened an investigation against Eric Harmon and Lori Harmon and they might now face a jail term for this offense.

 Unsplash

In one video, the couple is having sex in the gondola encased with glass and in view of the public on the Skywheel ride on North Ocean Boulevard. This incident took place around January 2. However, in the other video, the couple is seen having sex in a community pool and Lori Harmon was seen exposing herself while sitting on top of a vending machine while doing lewd acts.



Also, the couple was seen exposing themselves and performing sex acts at the community pool in the video. The police officer wrote in the report, The actions were recorded by both defendant and co-defendant and uploaded to the adult web siteduring Christmas break, on or about Dec. 23, 2020.

 Unsplash

Lori Harmon will now face charges of indecent exposure, participation in the preparation of obscene material, and malicious injury to personal property. And Eric Harmon has been charged with two counts of indecent exposure and one charge of participation in the preparation of obscene material. He was released from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on a $14,000 bond.



 Unsplash

We hope they wont repeat this ever again! What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below!


Premier League side Arsenal have expressed their interest in signing Real Madrid midfielder Martin Odegaard on loan.

The Norway international asked to depart the club in January in search of playing time and the Gunners have already knocked on Los Blancos' door.

According to Sky Sports, Arsenal are willing to sign Odegaard on loan to replace Mesut Ozil who has recently departed to join Turkish side Fenerbahce.

Real Madrid are considering the Gunners' offer with another Premier League club reportedly interested in Odegaard's services.

The 22-year-old prodigy returned to Real Madrid last summer after a one-year loan spell at Real Sociedad, who seem to be his most likely destination this January.

Odegaard didn't get the playing time he expected at Los Blancos so far this season and asked to try his luck elsewhere until the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Goodway Group, the digital partner advertisers trust to deliver campaign performance and media efficiency, has ranked third on Ad Ages 2021 Best Places to Work list, an annual ranking of companies that lead the pack in benefits, culture and other key factors.

Ad Age recognized Goodway Group for its unique remote workforce model and history of putting its employees first. The agency pioneered remote work, having supported a fully remote model for over 13 years. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Goodway Group found that it had to make further changes to provide team members with even greater flexibility, as well as additional growth and development opportunities to maintain performance and enable employees to work toward achieving their professional and personal goals.

Through a Culture of Caring - which prioritizes compassion, learning, and results - Goodway Group launched key initiatives including Community Resource Groups to provide a safe space for employees to connect and express themselves, ongoing leadership education programs, a well-being program, and additional work/life integration with company-led virtual childcare, tutoring, activities for children, and flexible work hours. Goodway also expanded its support structures during the pandemic and set up a voluntary, employee-funded financial assistance program, which included financial support from its senior leadership team. Through its RISE initiative, the company emphasizes respect, inclusion, support, and equality.

We are honored to receive this recognition from Ad Age. As a family business, we want every person at Goodway to feel like they are part of the family, said Kandi Gongora, VP of people and organizational development at Goodway Group. Since we are remote, connections are really important, and we saw this even more so during 2020. We strive to support our team members, enabling everyone at the agency to perform at their best while creating, fostering, and preserving a work environment where everyone feels welcomed and heard.

Goodway is ranked third among top companies with more than 200 employees, based on an analysis of questionnaires submitted by employers and survey responses from employees. Ad Ages scoring system factors in the importance of six key satisfaction areas: company culture, company environment, employee benefits, employee development, employee engagement, and employee perks.

From the challenges of the pandemic and a recession to the opportunities to stand up for social justice, diversity, and inclusion, 2020 was a remarkable year for the advertising industry, said Dan Peres, editor-in-chief at Ad Age. Amid all of this, the Ad Age Best Places to Work winners went above and beyond in supporting their employees and communities.

Ad Age produced Best Places to Work in partnership with Latitude Research, a market research firm. The program competition was open to companies whose primary business is marketing, media, advertising, or ad tech. Marketers in-house agencies also could participate.

See this years list of Best Places to Work at AdAge.com/bestplaces2021.

About Ad Age

Created in 1930 to cover a burgeoning industry with objectivity, accuracy and fairness, Ad Age continues to be powered by award-winning journalism. Today, Ad Age is a global media brand focusing on curated creativity, data and analysis, people and culture, and innovation and forecasting.

From vital print editions to must-attend events and innovative platform offerings, Ad Ages industry-leading content includes the coveted A-List & Creativity Awards, the Ad Age Next conference series, and proprietary data including the Leading National Advertisers Report from the Ad Age Datacenter.

About Goodway Group:

Goodway Group is the digital partner advertisers trust to drive campaign performance and media efficiency. Proud to be completely independently owned and operated, Goodway provides trustworthy expertise that meets its clients' needs  and no one else's. Using predictive intelligence, Goodway helps advertisers get the most value out of every impression across all paid digital media. Through the combination of employing the smartest technology and the most experienced people in the industry, Goodway delivers authentic results. Find Goodway Group online at goodwaygroup.com.

Goodway Group. Honestly Smart Digital.

Contacts

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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Miami

Francis Suarez

Elon Musk

Miami-Dade Commission

Miami

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3:14 a.m.

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Miami-Dade County

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Donald Trump

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Miami

Miami

(TNS)  Less than 72 hours after a brief online exchange with the world's wealthiest tech mogul,Mayorwas still crowing about the moment Wednesday morning."When you're tweeting withat 4 o'clock in the morning  and you have the county mayor getting involved as well  you know that something special is going on," a black-masked Suarez said from the back of thechambers after endorsing a resolution promoting the recruitment of technology firms to the county. "Amazing things can happen."The last several weeks saw Suarez emerge as a new favorite of tech Twitter as the 43-year-old, first-term mayor engaged with a stream of technology executives, founders and promoters expressing online interest in relocating toThe Twitter buzz shifted to in-person promotion as Suarez hosted "#cafecitotalk" sessions in his Dinner Key offices with tech execs taking him up on his offers to visit. That included some notables, including crypto-currency evangelists Cameron andNobody has come close to the wattage of Musk, theandfounder. Another Musk business, the, promotes tunnel transit projects that move passengers in small cars underground.The Suarez-Musk encounter began atwhen the mayor tagged Musk's Twitter account in a post responding to one of the mogul's posts about the importance of battery technology for expanding sustainable energy. ".@elonmusk couldn't agree more...would love to have you @CityofMiami City Hall to discuss it and potential solutions for the benefit of our future," Suarez wrote.Forty-two minutes later, Musk replied with a pitch for his tunnel business: "Cars & trucks stuck in traffic generate megatons of toxic gases & particulate, but @boringcompany road tunnels underwould solve traffic & be an example to the world."That wasn't the end of it. Shortly afterMayor, who leads the government that controls the bulk of local transportation funding, weighed in with her own Twitter message to Musk: "Let's talk."The Musk courting touched on two raw topics inpolitics: transportation (theis pursuing a $1 billion tunnel transit project at the) and climate change (the challenge on tunnel building aswater table rises)., elected in November, isn't looking to blow upalready over-subscribed transit budget to fund a Musk tunnel, a top aide said. "Her tweet was about engaging in conversations about attracting tech industries to, and working with the private sector to be part of the strategy for infrastructure investments," saidchief of staff.already has a tunnel, the nearly one-mile underwater route between the MacArthur Causeway and PortMiami that cost about $1 billion to develop. It was funded with a mix of state, federal and county dollars.Musk is touting privatized tunnel projects without public dollars  all but unheard-of for transit. In, his company is promising a circuit of tunnels funneling people in high-speed Teslas to various tourist spots, sustained by fare revenue and advertising.By contrast, the private developer behind the proposed $770 million Miami Beach Monorail project forplans to generate fare revenue and sponsorship dollars but still proposed $60 million in yearly government payments.Should Musk follow through, he would be the most famous mogul to pursue a big project insincedispatchedto theto pitch a movie studio ineight years ago. Recently declared the richest man in the world thanks to a surge instock price, Musk is also the owner of, which ferried NASA astronauts to theon the agency's first outsourced orbit."The guy has delivered," said, owner of the P3 Management lobbying firm, with an active practice in city and county government. "You can't just dismiss it and say it's all hype."Suarez said this week he's invited Musk tofor a meeting. Musk didn't respond to ainquiry, and there's no word yet on a response to themayor's invitation.After Wednesday's commission meeting, Suarez said he's eager to hear what Musk might want to do in. "He's the wealthiest person, arguably, in the world," Suarez said. "He's someone who is an executor. You have to sit down with someone like that and see what he has in mind."
VATICAN CITY, JAN 21 - An Italian Partisan priest who was killed by the Nazis for denouncing Italy's and Europe's worst WWII atrocity is set to be beatified, the first step towards sainthood. Father Giovanni Fornasini was murdered after openly accusing the Nazis of the Marzabotto Massacre, the mass murder of at least 770 civilians which took place in the territory around the small village of Marzabotto, in the mountainous area south of Bologna, over six days in September-October 1944. It was the largest massacre of civilians committed by the Waffen SS in Western Europe during the war. It is also the deadliest mass shooting in the history of Italy. Pope Francis on Thursday authorised the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to issue a beatification decree for the "martyr of God Giovanni Fornasini, diocesan priest, born on February 23 1915 at Pianaccio di Lizzano in Belvedere and killed, in hatred of the Faith, at San Martino di Caprara, on 13 October 1944", when he was just 29. Italian Partisans Association ANPI recalled that the young priest, who won a posthumous gold medal for valour, was close to the Partisans of the Red Star Brigade. (ANSA).

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Darin Wagner and Gil Lawson are expected to bring their extensive expertise in developing gold mining projects to Gatling's newly-formed advisory board

Gatling Exploration says it expects to release an updated resource for its Larder gold project in 2H 2021

Inc ( ) (OTCQB:GATGF) announced that it has formed a technical advisory board to accelerate the advancement of the companys Larder gold project in Ontario.

The company said its first advisory board appointee, Darin Wagner, is a highly-regarded senior executive in the mining sector, with an impressive track record of corporate development and M&A.

Wagner will be joined on the board by Gil Lawson, an experienced mining engineer, whose background includes running several prominent Canadian gold operations.

Gatling has created a new technical advisory board following the tremendous progress made at the Larder gold project in Ontario. We are now shifting our focus to evaluating the project's potential at surface in addition to depth, while project de-risking activities have commenced leading to an updated resource in 2H 2021, CEO Jason Billan said in a statement.

He added: I am very pleased to welcome Darin and Gil to the team. Their extensive expertise in gold mining projects regionally complements that of Gatling's management and Board, and ranges from exploration and development through to production, which will be a great asset going forward.

Gatling is embarking upon a catalyst-rich year, and we are confident that both individuals will yield significant dividends for shareholders as we aim to unlock value at our high-quality gold project.

Gatling noted that Wagner is the former CEO of West Timmins Mining, which was acquired by Lake Shore Gold for $424 million in 2009, and also led Balmoral Resources, which was acquired by Wallbridge Mining Company in 2020 for $160 million.

Lawson, meanwhile, previously managed two start-up operations, Newmont's Musselwhite Mine in Ontario and De Beers Canada's Snap Lake Mine in the Northwest Territories, and was most recently COO for TMAC Resources Inc's start-up Hope Bay Project in Nunavut.

Gatling Explorations flagship Larder gold project is a 3,370-hectare asset that lies in the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt and hosts three high-grade gold deposits called Fernland, Cheminis and Bear, which the company believes are all connected.

The property lies along the Cadillac-Larder Lake Break, 35km east of Kirkland Lake - an established camp where over 70 million ounces of gold has already been mined. The project also sits 7km west of the Kerr Addison mine, which has generated 11 million ounces of gold.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com

Almost one year from when the coronavirus pandemic began ravaging America, some men still seem to be struggling to figure out how to wear a face mask properly.

Former President Bill Clinton and others have been spotted wearing face masks underneath their noses in a new phenomenon known as 'mask-slipping'.

It's become so common a sight that it has been dubbed the new 'manspreading,' the act when men splay their legs out while sitting on the subway - taking over more than their fair share of space without consideration for others around them.

Research has shown that leaving your nose exposed defeats the point of wearing a mask, with Cell finding that the infection can be spread more easily via the nose than the mouth.

People have taken to social media to hit out at the apparent inability - or unwillingness - of some people to cover their noses, with many pointing out that it is something that seems to disproportionately affect the male population.

Clinton, 74, struggled to keep his mask over his nose during the inauguration ceremony of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

Another culprit of the phenomenon at Wednesday's events was Chief Justice John Roberts, who swore Biden in and at certain points let his nose go commando

Donald Trumps economic adviser Larry Kudlow was spotted with his mask looking like a bib for his nose outside the West Wing in October

Clinton, 74, seemed to struggle to keep his mask over his nose during the inauguration ceremony of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Wednesday.

He was repeatedly caught on camera with his mask tucked under his nose as he watched them take the oath of office and mingled with other attendees (most of whom seemed more able to keep their masks in place).

Meanwhile, another culprit at Wednesday's events was Chief Justice John Roberts, who swore Biden in and at certain points also let his nose go commando.

This comes after Donald Trumps economic adviser Larry Kudlow was spotted with his mask looking like a bib for his nose outside the West Wing in October while California Governor Gavin Newsom let his mask slip during a June interview.

Celebrities including rapper Offset and actor Michael Keaton have also been caught out in recent months covering their mouths but letting their noses hang out.

Meanwhile, Josh Bowman couldn't manage to keep his mask in place while taking a selfie on board a flight with Emily VanCamp.

Mask-slipping has become so common a sight that it has been dubbed the new 'manspreading,' the act when men splay their legs out while sitting on the subway (above) - taking over more than their fair share of space without consideration for others around them

Overseas, former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was seen opting for the nose-out style last year and Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy's far-right League party was pictured with his drooping so low his mustache was also on show.

And it's become a familiar sight on the subways, in grocery stores and even in the nation's Capitol.

The common thing that tends to unite the vast majority of all offenders is that they are male, reported the New York Times which branded the move the new manspreading.

Several people took to social media to say they were happy that the action is being called out for what it is.

Celebrities including rapper Offset have also been caught out in recent months covering their mouths but letting their noses hang out

California Governor Gavin Newsom lets his mask slip during a June interview

Josh Bowman can't manage to keep his mask in place during a flight with Emily VanCamp

Matteo Salvini, the leader of Italy's far-right League party was pictured with his drooping so low his mustache was also on show

Overseas, former UK Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was seen opting for the nose out style last year

'Happy to see I'm not the only one to have noticed! Men tend to have more trouble keeping their masks up in public spaces. New kind of manspreading or part of it?' one person tweeted.

'Thank you for naming this correctly: mask-slipping *is* the new man-spreading,' wrote another person.

Many people have voiced their own personal experiences encountering men with bare noses out and about.

'Went to the grocery store this morning. 2 young men stocking shelves with masks under the nose. I gestured showing to put the mask over the nose. They looked away,' one frustrated person recalled.

Men have been spotted falling foul of the rules, instead participating in the new phenomenon known as 'mask-slipping', where they wear a face mask underneath their noses. It has been dubbed the new 'manspreading,' the act of a men splaying his legs out while sitting on the subway

'In our local shop this morning - one young guy with no mask, 2 elderly men with noses over the top of their masks,' another wrote.

'I did speak to one elderly man to advise him to cover his nose and he thanked me and said it kept slipping down. Looked so vulnerable.'

One person asked what was causing the trend: 'What is it with old men who can't keep a mask on their nose?'

'When will older white men master the art of mask over nose ? Its not as difficult at that Algebra 2 they flunked in high school,' added another.

People have taken to social media to hit out at the apparent inability - or unwillingness - of some people to cover their noses. Many have pointed out that it is something that seems to disproportionately affect the male population

Clinton bore the brunt of much of the criticism following his appearance at the inauguration.

'Bill Clinton Wears His Mask Like Every Man in a Suburban Grocery Store,' wrote feminist website jezebel.

'What is it with all these men who dont know how to wear a mask?!? My girls are shouting at the screen when we see Bill Clintons nose! Pull it up, Justice Roberts!' one frustrated woman tweeted.

'Obviously Clinton is one of those men who cant keep his mask over his nose,' added another.

'Its amazing how many powerful white men are still not powerful enough to get that mask over their nose,' one person lambasted.

Clinton bore the brunt of much of the criticism following his appearance at the inauguration

Clinton's faux-pas came the same day Biden signed an executive order mandating mask wearing on federal property, sparking some to call on the new president to roll out mask-wearing education.

'I hope it includes lessons in how to wear a mask for members of Congress,' one person said.

'Today a number of them at the Inauguration looked like they don't wear one very often and mask kept slipping. There is a way to wear one so it does not slip off the nose.'

'Yes several were not wearing it properly at all. Theyve only had a whole year to get that right.......' came one person's reply.

It is not clear why the phenomenon seems to disproportionately impact men.

But one social media user offered an innovative solution.

'Oh My God I figured out how to get men to keep the mask over their nose,' they wrote, alongside a picture of a man with underwear on his head.
WASHINGTON - When Thomas Fee got a text on Jan. 6 from his girlfriend's brother asking if he was in Washington, he responded with a selfie inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda as dozens of others who had just stormed the building waved flags behind him, federal officials said.

In one message, Fee wrote he was "at the tip of the spear," according to a criminal complaint filed Saturday.

But Fee's girlfriend's brother wasn't asking out of simple curiosity - he is a special agent with the State Department. The agent, who isn't identified in court documents, later turned the evidence over to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Fee, a recently retired New York firefighter with a history of racist complaints, surrendered in Queens on Tuesday morning, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District told the New York Post. He is charged with unlawful entry of the Capitol and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

The 53-year-old from Freeport, N.Y., joins scores of others who have been charged with breaching the Capitol earlier this month. Similar to Fee, many alleged rioters have openly bragged about their exploits to friends and on social media, making it easier for federal agents to track them down and connect them to the insurrection.

Gracyn Courtright, a senior at the University of Kentucky, allegedly posted videos of herself roaming the Capitol and wrote on Instagram that she thought storming the Capitol "was cool." Kevin Lyons of Chicago, who was arrested last week, shared an image of himself outside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., with the caption, "WHOSE HOUSE? OUR HOUSE!" on Instagram.

Social media also failed Fee, federal officials said. His girlfriend allegedly posted on Facebook that he was in D.C., "at the rally," prompting the her brother to confirm Fee's whereabouts for himself. In addition to sending the brother the image inside the Rotunda, Fee sent a video where "members of the crowd are heard yelling the word 'tyranny' and the name 'Pelosi,'" according to court documents.

After sending the evidence to the FBI, the brother of Fee's girlfriend also confirmed for federal agents that Fee's driver's license image matched the man in the photos. Federal agents also tracked Fee's car driving westbound out of New York the day before the Capitol riots and returning to the city on Jan. 7, the day afterward.

Fee did not immediately respond to requests for comment. He appeared in court on Tuesday, according to WCBS, and was granted bail but ordered to surrender his firearm, avoid contact with other alleged Capitol rioters and stay away from all state capitol buildings. It is unclear if he has a lawyer and when he is due back in court.

Fee, who spent 22 years with the New York City Fire Department before retiring in October, was suspended in 2004 for allegedly spewing racial slurs at a Black doctor walking past a Queens firehouse, the New York Post reported. In 2013, he received accolades for helping to save 13 people who were forced to the roof of a building during Hurricane Sandy, only for the roof to catch on fire.
An investigation is underway after a deadly fire in Birminghams Wylam community.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service and Birmingham police responded shortly after 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a blaze at a house at 1249 Knoxville Street.

BFRS Battalion Chief Jackie Hix said they arrived to find fire coming out of the right side of the house. The fire was quickly extinguished, and it was during a secondary search that the body was discovered.

Investigators were not able to determine whether the victim was male or female. No one was reported to currently be living in the house.

Were trying to neighbors, with the police, to see if anyone knows the victim,' Hix said. The cause of the fire has not yet determined.

The victims body will be taken to the Jefferson County Coroners Office to determine the cause and manner of death. Birmingham homicide investigators were on the scene Wednesday night.

The death is Birminghams first fire fatality of 2021. There were 13 fire deaths in the city last year.
William Evanina, nominee to be director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, testifies during a hearing held by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in Washington on May 15, 2018. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

US Counterintelligence Chief Who Warned of CCP Election Threat Steps Down

U.S. counterintelligence chief William Evanina, who recently warned about threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Russia, stepped down on Thursday.

I am honored and humbled to have been surrounded by amazing, dedicated, and vigilant professionals serving around the nation, and the globe, protecting our great nation. I want to especially thank the women and men of NCSC, and the Intelligence Community, for being the best in the world, he said via LinkedIn on Thursday.

Evanina added: Commitment to all the traits which matter most; character, integrity, service, commitment, fidelity, and patriotism is a key reason why we are the best in the world at what we do, and how we do it. I also want [to] thank private sector and academia executives, as well as security leaders, for their partnership in driving public-private awareness and solutions to the complex threats we face as a country.

Evanina spent decades working in the FBI and most recently, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC). He was appointed to the NCSC in 2014 and worked to deal with leakers in the aftermath of Edward Snowdens highly publicized leak of classified National Security Administration (NSA) documents.

Two days before his resignation, Evanina warned that one of the bigger challenges faced by the Biden administration is the Chinese regime.

From a threat perspective, Russia is a significant adversary particularly with regard to cyber intrusions, malign influence, and sowing discord in our democracy, Evanina told Fox News. However, no country poses a broader, more severe intelligence collection threat to America than China.

Malign foreign influence, he said in the interview, has increased over the years.

Specifically, in the last year, with respect to the death of George Floyd, COVID, the vaccine, the election processwe saw foreign adversaries, including China, working diligently to expose and amplify discourse in the U.S., he said, noting that the CCP is using social media stoke the fire and create discord in the United States.

China continues to engage in a highly sophisticated malign foreign influence campaign against America because we are a democracy, and democracy is bad for China, Evanina said, noting that bribery, blackmail, covert dealings with businesses, and an effort to influence American policies and attitudes so that they align with Chinas interests globally.

Evanina said in the interview that Americans should gain a perspective about what malign foreign influence looks like.

Last summer, he said the CCP, Russia, and Iran were working to undermine the Nov. 3 election.

The American public has a role to play in securing the election, particularly in maintaining vigilance against foreign influence, stated his report in July. At the most basic level, we encourage Americans to consume information with a critical eye, check out sources before reposting or spreading messages, practice good cyber hygiene and media literacy, and report suspicious election-related activity to authorities.
Day care shortage creates barriers for working parents

With a labor shortage plaguing the state, working parents are ready to fill these positions. The lack of childcare options creates barriers.
New Jerseys highest court is considering releasing hundreds of people awaiting trial behind bars as the coronavirus continues to keep juries at a standstill.

Thousands of people in jail across the state have yet to be convicted, according to court records. Keeping so many locked up risked their health and violated their rights, the states top public defender and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey argued Wednesday during a nearly two-hour hearing before the state Supreme Court.

In a system where people accused of crimes are presumed innocent, at some point its unacceptable to keep holding them indefinitely, said New Jersey Public Defender Joseph Krakora.

Prosecutors responded that anyone who didnt pose a risk had already been released. People only await trial behind bars after a judge considered their charges and criminal history, and overruling local courts would be both dangerous and illegal, prosecutors said.

The proposal would cause far more problems than it cured, said Anthony Robinson, First Assistant Prosecutor in Warren County.

State law generally says a trial must begin within six months, but about 1,600 people have been locked up at least since March, lawyers estimated. Hundreds had waited about a year, and dozens were approaching the two-year mark, Krakora said.

There was obviously a risk that some might flee or commit new crimes, Krakora added. But New Jersey already accepted some level of risk by letting many others await trial at home.

Those who have spent more than six months behind bars for second-, third- or fourth-degree charges would generally be released under the proposal, although prosecutors could object to individual cases.

That category includes people accused of arson, assault and robbery, among other charges.

Others facing some first-degree charges, the most serious, could also receive new hearings under the plan.

The state attorney generals office and county prosecutors said the extended wait did not mean many people were in grave danger.

Less than 2% of jail inmates, about 160 people statewide, had tested positive at different times last month, the county prosecutors association argued in a court documents.

New Jersey inmates and officers are also part of the first wave of vaccinations.

Hudson and Passaic county jails will begin offering shots this week and Burlington should start next week, according to Deputy Attorney General Claudia DeMitro.

COVID-19 is not an issue in the county jails, Robinson said.

Some jail officers, inmates and their families who spoke with NJ Advance Media in recent weeks said this is not true. One officer in Cumberland County recently said their jail was refusing to test many inmates.

There is a five-alarm fire growing at the Cumberland County jail with no viable means of rescue, Stuart Alterman, a lawyer for the local officers union, said last week.

The justices acknowledged that new juries were likely months away.

While they asked pointed questions to both sides, several seemed open to at least setting people free who had already waited the same amount of time behind bars they would be sentenced to if they were eventually convicted.

The justices did not give a timeline for when theyll make a decision.

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

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

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Investors with losses are encouraged to contact the firm before February 8, 2021; click here to submit trade information

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Portnoy Law Firm advises investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Covia Holdings Corporation (OTC: CVIAC) investors that acquired shares between March 15, 2016 and June 29, 2020. Investors have until February 8, 2021 to seek an active role in this litigation.

Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy , to determine eligibility to participate in this action, by phone 310-692-8883 or email , or click here to join the case.

The investigation focuses on whether Covia issued misleading and/or false statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. In a 10-Q Quarterly Report released on May 9, 2019, Covia revealed that it was the subject of an SEC subpoena that was issued on March 18, 2019. The SEC was seeking information relating to certain value-added proppants marketed and sold by Fairmount Santrol or Covia within the Energy segment. On November 6, 2019, in a second 10-Q Quarterly Report issued by Covia, it was revealed that the SEC had requested additional information and subpoenaed certain current and former employees to testify. Based on the facts revealed by these 10-Q filings, shares of Covia fell.

A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than February 8, 2021.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims arising from corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

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lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 00:04:53|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH -- Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Thursday that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement will be a key driver for regional economic recovery and integration when it enters into force.

He made the remarks during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat, which was held via videoconference, the foreign ministry said in a press statement released after the meeting. (Cambodia-RCEP)

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TOKYO -- Japan on Thursday confirmed 5,652 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nation's cumulative total of infections to 352,688.

According to health officials, 94 people died across the country, with the death toll rising to a total of 4,873 people. The latest figures also showed that the number of infected patients designated as being "seriously ill" stood at 1,014 nationwide, equaling the previous day's record. (Japan-COVID-19 Cases)

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MANILA -- An offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 jolted Davao Occidental province in the southern Philippines on Thursday, the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs) said.

The institute said the quake, which struck at 8:23 p.m. local time, hit at a depth of 116 km, about 231 km southeast of Jose Abad Santos town. The institute said the quake will trigger aftershocks but will not cause damage. (Philippines-Earthquake)

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COLOMBO -- Sri Lanka fully reopened its borders to tourists and international arrivals from all countries on Thursday.

An Oman Air flight carrying 50 Sri Lankans arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo early Thursday. Speaking to media in the commercial capital Colombo, Minister of Tourism Prasanna Ranatunga thanked President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa for reviving the COVID-19-affected tourism industry which employs three million people. (Sri Lanka-Border Reopening-Tourists)

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HONG KONG -- Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government John Lee said Thursday that the national security law in the HKSAR has stopped the serious violence and reversed the chaotic situation in Hong Kong.

Thanks to the law's strong deterrent effect against radicals advocating "Hong Kong independence" and colluding with foreign forces, the national security risk and violent activities have been greatly reduced, Lee said at a meeting of the Legislative Council, citing that the number of people arrested for destructive activities was halved five months after the law took effect on June 30, 2020. (Hong Kong-National Security Law) Enditem

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has reiterated his call for the European Union to impose further sanctions on Russia following the arrest of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny and said the bloc should scrap consideration of a trip by foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Moscow next month.

Speaking in an interview with RFE/RL in Brussels on January 21, four days after Navalny was detained upon his return to Moscow after being treated in Germany for a nearly fatal poisoning with a nerve agent in August 2020, Landsbergis said he hopes the Putin critic will be released "soon," though the prospects are doubtful.

I think that on Monday (January 25) he still will be in jail. I think that he'll stay in jail up until February 2 when [a court hearing] is due. And it is very likely that during his court proceedings, he would be sentenced for a long time in jail, the Lithuanian diplomat said.

Navalny is accused of violating the terms of a suspended sentence from a previous criminal case because he left the country.

The 44-year-old was airlifted to Germany in August 2020 to be treated after being poisoned during a trip in Siberia. When he returned on January 17 after recovering, he was arrested at a Moscow airport. A day later he was remanded in custody for 30 days.

A court is expected to decide on February 2 whether to convert into prison time the suspended 3 1/2 year sentence that Navalny served in an embezzlement case that is widely considered trumped up and politically motivated. The suspended sentence ended on December 30, 2020.

Navalnys case is likely to dominate an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on January 25 amid growing calls for the bloc to expand asset freezes and travel bans already imposed on Russian individuals and entities held responsible for the poisoning to include those involved in the decision to arrest Navalny and what Landsbergis called his mock trial.

The EU should really be heading toward imposing additional sanctions on Russia, said Landsbergis, who expressed reservations about whether all 27 EU member states are prepared yet for such a move.

The January 25 meeting in Brussels is also expected to include a discussion over a potential trip to Moscow by Borrell in early February.

EU officials familiar with the matter have told RFE/RL that some member states feel that such a trip would be particularly useful after Navalnys arrest, though it has met strong resistance from the three Baltic states -- Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

My personal point of view is that it's a very unfortunate time to go to Moscow because apparently Russia is raising the bar and seeing how much abuse towards the values that we hold dear can we take and not do anything, Landsbergis said.

He also criticized Germanys resistance to growing calls for a halt in the construction of the near-complete Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would carry Russian natural gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea.

Every country needs to answer to itself: how much abuse can we take? he asked.
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SKF will publish its year-end results for 2020 on 2 February 2021 at approximately 13:00 (CET).

Investors, analysts and media are invited to join a Webcast, with the opportunity to ask questions via the chat function, at 14:00 (CET).

To join the Webcast, please login at least 10 minutes before the start using the below link or phone numbers.Link to web event: https://www.investis-live.com/skf/60087dd9dd22a114004e75a2/emds

Sweden +46 10 884 8016

UK / International +44 20 3936 2999

Passcode: 812094

All information regarding the results will be made available on the Group's website: https://investors.skf.com/en/reports-and-presentations

Media: To book interviews with Alrik Danielson and Niclas Rosenlew after the Webcast, please contact Theo Kjellberg on [email protected] or +46 725 77 65 76.

Aktiebolaget SKF

(publ)

For further information, please contact:

PRESS: Theo Kjellberg

Director, Press Relations

tel: 46 31 337 6576

mobile: 46 725-776576

e-mail: [email protected]

INVESTOR RELATIONS:

Patrik Stenberg

Head of Investor Relations

46 31-337 2104;

46 705-472 104;

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skf/r/skf-s-year-end-results-to-be-published-on-2-february,c3271642

The following files are available for download:

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Coal Minister on Thursday assured Coal India of full government support, even as he said the PSU needs to learn "new things" for improvement in its future prospects.

The minister, who was speaking during the launch of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) of Coal India Ltd (CIL), said there will be full support to the company because it is the "backbone of the country".

"But having said that the improvement is a continuous process, learning is a continuous process....let us learn new things, new ideas, new approach, and new goal. And in this, the image of coal (sector), Coal India needs to be changed. We have to change the image of Coal India," Joshi stressed.

The ERP of CIL will help improve business performance and growth of the company with enhanced data integrity.

Stating that one and two subsidiaries of CIL were doing very good work, the minister said that other arms of the PSU should also learn from them.

"Implementation of ERP will help CIL in real-time decision making, improving efficiency and reducing costs. It will empower CIL to achieve 1 billion tonne coal production by FY 2023-24 and make it one of the most efficient mining in today's dynamic and ever-changing energy scenario," Joshi said.

Coal India accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal output.

ERP in Coal India will be implemented in two phases. The first phase launched on Thursday covers operations of CIL headquarters and its two subsidiaries Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) and Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL).

The second phase will cover rest six subsidiaries and will be made operational by August this year.

The minister also presented 'Coal Minister's Award' to three coal of Coal India Ltd - Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL), Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) and WCL in a function held here.

The award has been instituted to promote best and sustainable practices for coal mining in the country.

The minister inaugurated a new Coal Handling Plant (CHP) at Krishnashila Coal Project of NCL via video conferencing. Having four million tonnes per annum (MTPA) coal handing capacity, this state of the art CHP will transport coal through conveyor belts and Rapid Loading system to Anpara Thermal Power Station (ATPS) of Uttar Pradesh Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Ltd and Renusagar Power Division of Hindalco.

CHP is part of CIL's 35 First Mile Connectivity (FMC) projects with over 400 MTPA capacity that the company aims to complete by FY'24 with a whopping investment of Rs 12,500 crore.

Coal Secretary Anil Kumar Jain, CIL Chairman Pramod Agarwal, NCL CMD P K Sinha, CCL CMD P M Prasad, WCL CMD Manoj Kumar and other dignitaries



were also present during the function.

(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.)
Many in New York, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, hope that President Joe Bidens administration will usher in a new era of support for the state, with a friendly White House willing to provide local aid and back crucial infrastructure projects like a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River.

But that doesnt mean that Cuomo is letting up his pressure on the federal government to deliver. On Tuesday, a day before Bidens inauguration, the governor was already giving the incoming administration an ultimatum: provide all $15 billion hes requesting, or the states going to sue. If Washington doesn't provide to New York state, without fair share funding we're going to pursue litigation, Cuomo said on Tuesday.

Although thats an aggressive way to welcome the new administration of his own Democratic Party, its viewed by political observers and lawmakers as a tactical move unlikely to sour a positive relationship with the new administration. But Democratic state senators say Cuomo should instead engage with lawmakers on taxing the wealthy, on the assumption that New York wont get enough money from Washington to fully close its budget gap.

Cuomo has a personal friendship with Biden  when speculation abounded over Cuomos presidential ambitions, the governor said he would only run specifically if Biden did not. Many political observers thought Cuomo could have been called on to serve in the Biden administration, and the president reportedly considered him for attorney general. So New York political observers are not concerned that the governor has alienated the new president. I don't see this as a sign of any sort of divide in their relationship or anything more than what could be arguably a smart tactical maneuver to get to the head of the line, Lawrence Levy, executive dean of the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University, said. Levy suggested too that it makes sense to maintain his criticism of and pressure on the federal government that characterized his last year of press conferences despite the change in party control. He could be accused of partisan hypocrisy, if he did not continue to be tough on the federal government until it delivered, Levy said.

Cuomo did not seem to bear any ill will towards Biden, nor mention the previous days ultimatum, on Wednesday when he congratulated Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their inaugurations. Im very excited about the president and the change for this nation, Cuomo said at a press conference. Joe Biden, I believe, is the right person for this time. He went on to call Biden a great friend to New York state. He praised the president for including $350 billion for state and local aid in his coronavirus stimulus proposal.

But Cuomos rhetoric on Tuesday did not sit well with some state lawmakers. State Sen. Alessandra Biaggi from the Bronx called the governors move disappointing, saying that she would rather see Cuomo work with the state Legislature to pass responsible revenue raisers to avoid deep spending cuts in the pandemic-fueled budget crunch. I think that now that President Trump is no longer available as this scapegoat or boogeyman, he's now turning to President Biden, Biaggi said. Which is confusing because he wasn't even sworn in yet and hadn't even taken any actions officially. She noted that Biden has given every indication that he will work to provide for New York and other states harmed by the pandemic and the recession it has triggered. But Biaggi added that the state should not expect the federal government to cover the entirety of the budget gap, like Cuomo is demanding.

State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, a Democrat from Queens, said theres nothing wrong with continuing to hold the new administrations feet to the fire to make sure it delivers for New York. I hope we get as much as we can out of Washington, we certainly deserve it, Gianaris said, adding that hes not terribly concerned that Cuomos rhetoric will cause a rift with the Biden administration. But he said what he called bluster from Cuomo regarding the ultimatum is simply another way to shift the blame around. The governor has for months spoken about deep cuts he would be forced to make without federal aid, but he has resisted calls from lawmakers to raise taxes on the wealthy, a prospect supported by leaders in both chambers. Cuomos proposed budget does include a temporary tax hike on the states top earners, but only if the federal government doesnt deliver, which many progressives deem insufficient.

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera from the Bronx said he let out a long sigh when he heard Cuomo threaten the lawsuit. It is correct that we need to continue to demand that the federal government do what it has not done yet and fulfill its responsibilities to the state of New York, Rivera said. I got no beef with him on that one. But he said that Cuomos threat to the federal government was simply a way to change the subject away from engaging with the state Legislature on passing new taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. There's more than enough in those proposals to not only address the budget deficits that we have right now, but get us resources to actually invest in a real way, Rivera said. Right now, 14 different proposals to tax the rich in various ways have been introduced to the Legislature.

In a call with reporters after the budget address, Cuomos budget director Robert Mujica said the governor actually was not threatening to sue the federal government over a potential failure to provide $15 billion. Mujica said Cuomo was referring to making a decision about continuing a lawsuit against the federal government over the $10,000 cap on state and local tax  or SALT  deductions passed as part of President Donald Trumps 2017 tax overhaul. A federal judge threw out the 2019 lawsuit over the cap, which the state appealed later in the year. A federal appeals court reportedly seemed skeptical of overturning the cap in December.

Cuomo senior advisor Rich Azzopardi also brushed off criticism from state lawmakers over Cuomos rhetoric, while reiterating that the threatened litigation was actually about the ongoing lawsuit over the SALT cap. We need to be made whole and these politicians are entitled to their opinions as wrongheaded and silly as they might be, Azzopardi said in a text.
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The logo of U.S. social network Twitter displayed on the screen of a smartphone and a tablet in Toulouse, southern France, on Oct. 26, 2020. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images)

Twitter Locks Account of Chinese Embassy in US Over Tweet About Uyghur Women

Twitter has locked the official account of the Chinese embassy in the United States over a tweet that activists say dehumanizes Uyghur women and promotes the Beijing regimes propaganda to justify its persecution of Uyghur Muslims.

The tweet, which cited an article published by Chinese state-run media China Daily, said that Uyghur women had been emancipated by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as part of its process of eradicating extremism. The tweet, posted on Jan. 7, further claimed that these women were no longer baby-making machines.

The Chinese regime has heavily suppressed Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region. An estimated one million Uyghurs are currently detained inside internment camps.

Twitter removed the tweet about a day later.

A Twitter spokesperson confirmed with Reuters on Jan. 21 that the embassys account has been locked. Users that are locked out can still access their accounts but face restrictions such as not being allowed to tweet, retweet, or like posts.

Weve taken action on the Tweet you referenced for violating our policy against dehumanization, where it states: We prohibit the dehumanization of a group of people based on their religion, caste, age, disability, serious disease, national origin, race, or ethnicity, the spokesperson stated.

The embassys account, which last tweeted on Jan. 9, must delete the offending post to unlock its account.

Twitters action was welcomed by the Washington-based nonprofit Campaign for Uyghurs.

Locking the Chinese Embassys Twitter account is a good first step- but they [CCP officials] should be banned, the nonprofit tweeted.

It added: #CCP propagandists should not be given a free platform to disseminate misinformation while actively conducting a genocide against the #Uyghurs.

Many of Chinas foreign ministry officials and state-run media outlets have Twitter accounts. The platform is banned inside China.

The CCPs mass sterilization program for Uyghur women, as well as other rights abuses against the Uyghur population, have been well-documented. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared on Jan. 19 that Beijings persecution constituted genocide and crimes against humanity. The announcement marks one of the Trump administrations most severe criticisms of the CCPs human rights record.

German researcher Adrian Zenz, in a report (pdf) published by the Washington-based think tank Jamestown Foundation in June last year, found that natural population growth in Xinjiangs two largest Uyghur prefectures fell dramatically between 2015 and 2019. Women living in the two areas were subjected to local authorities campaign of mass sterilization.

Also in June 2020, The Associated Press published an investigative report showing that Chinese authorities were using forced abortions, sterilization, and insertion of intrauterine devices to reduce the birth rate among Uyghurs and other minorities.

The Chinese embassys tweet triggered international condemnation. On Jan. 11, Pompeo responded via Twitter: Uyghur women are not emancipated by forced abortions and sterilizations.

Nury Turkel, a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), called the Chinese embassys tweet utterly appalling & shameful via Twitter.

I call on the international community to join USCIRF in condemning #CCP in the strongest terms, Turkel said.

British MP (member of Parliament) Iain Duncan Smith wrote on Twitter that it was disgusting that the Chinese embassy attempted to justify the progressive eradication of the #Uyghur people.

Engin Eroglu, a German politician and member of the European Parliament, wrote in a tweet: Cannot believe what I am actually reading therethis is one of the best examples of Chinese #propaganda and #fakenews!
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PM Modi likely get vaccination in second phase of drive: Reports

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Jan 21: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be vaccinated in the second phase of COVID-19 inoculation drive launched on January 16, according to the sources.

PM Modi to get vaccine in roud 2 | CMs, MPs, MLAs too | Oneindia news

Along with the Prime Minister, all the current Chief Ministers will take the vaccine against coronavirus, said the sources.

After healthcare and frontline workers such as police, armed forces and municipal workers, the third category to be vaccinated is likely to be people over the age of 50, followed by those who are below 50 but suffer from co-morbidities.

7.86 lakh healthcare workers got COVID-19 vaccine jabs so far: Centre

So far, the government officials had been saying this category would comprise 'senior citizens' and the 'elderly', and it was expected that this group would consist of people over the age of 65.

PM Modi had earlier said there was no need to panic and that everyone above 50 years of age will be vaccinated in the second phase.

Here is a list of all the world leaders who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 so far:

US President Joe Biden

US President 78 years old Joe Biden received his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine live on television, last month.

US Vice President Kamala Harris

Vice President-elect Kamala Harris was injected with her first dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine a week after Biden got vaccinated.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip

Britain's Queen Elizabeth, 94, and her husband Prince Philip, 99, were vaccinated against Covid-19 by a royal household doctor at Windsor Castle.

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was vaccinated against Covid-19 on December 20, kicking off the country's nationwide inoculation exercise.

Pope Francis and former Pope Benedict

The Pope has been urging people to get the vaccine, stating that it was their "ethical duty" to protect not only themselves but also those around them.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman

Saudi Arabia's King Salman received his first of two Covid-19 vaccine.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 11:56 [IST]
Anita Baron first noticed something was wrong in August 2018, when she began to drool. Her dentist chalked it up to a problem with her jaw. Then her speech became slurred. She managed to keep her company, which offers financing to small businesses, going, but work became increasingly difficult as her speech worsened. Finally, nine months, four neurologists and countless tests later, Baron, now 66, got a diagnosis: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

ALS, often called Lou Gehrig's disease after the New York Yankees first baseman who died of it in 1941, destroys motor neurons, causing people to lose control of their limbs, their speech and, ultimately, their ability to breathe. It's usually fatal in two to five years.

People with ALS often must quit their jobs and sometimes their spouses do, too, to provide care, leaving families in financial distress. A decade-long campaign by advocates highlighting this predicament notched a victory last month when Congress passed a bill opening key support programs earlier for ALS patients.

In late December, then-President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. It eliminates for ALS patients the required five-month waiting period to begin receiving benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program, which replaces at least part of a disabled worker's income. Gaining SSDI also gives these patients immediate access to Medicare health coverage.

Advocacy groups note that the Social Security Administration still will need to set up procedures for implementing the law, before patients will see the benefits.

The Muscular Dystrophy Association, an umbrella organization for people with 43 neuromuscular conditions, partnered with other ALS groups to support the bill to eliminate the SSDI waiting period.

"We're hopeful that it can serve as a model for other conditions that may be similarly situated," said Brittany Johnson Hernandez, senior director of policy and advocacy at MDA.

In the weeks leading up to the passage of the bill, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) sought to broaden the scope of the legislation to include other conditions. He pledged to continue to work on legislation to eliminate the SSDI waiting period for additional diseases that meet certain criteria, including those with no known cure and a life expectancy of less than five years.

Eliminating the SSDI waiting period has been a top priority for ALS advocates. There is no simple, single test or scan to confirm that someone has ALS, though symptoms can escalate rapidly. By the time people finally get the diagnosis, they are often already seriously disabled and unable to work. Waiting five months longer for financial aid can be a burden, according to patients and families.

"Five months may seem like a short period of time, but for someone with ALS it matters," said Danielle Carnival, CEO of I Am ALS, an advocacy group. "It's a huge win and will make a huge difference for people right away."

Eligibility for SSDI benefits generally requires people to have worked for about a quarter of their adult lives at jobs through which they paid Social Security taxes. Benefits are based on lifetime earnings; the average monthly SSDI benefit was $1,259 in June 2020, according to the Social Security Administration. (The average retirement benefit was $1,514 that month.)

The SSDI waiting period was intended to make sure the program served only people expected to have claims that would last at least a year, said Ted Norwood, chief legal officer at Integrated Benefits Inc. in Jefferson City, Missouri, who represents SSDI applicants. But it isn't necessary, he added, because disability rules now require that people have a condition that will keep them out of work at least a year or result in death.

"The five-month waiting period serves no purpose as far as weeding out cases," Norwood said.

Existing federal law also made special health provisions for people with ALS and end-stage renal disease. Most people with disabilities must wait two years to be eligible for Medicare, but people with either of those two diseases can qualify sooner. ALS patients are eligible as soon as SSDI benefits start.

The new law could have made a big difference for Baron, who lives in Pikesville, Maryland. She and her husband, who works part time at a funeral parlor, didn't have comprehensive health insurance when she got sick. They were enrolled only in a supplemental medical plan that paid out limited cash benefits.

By the time she was diagnosed and her SSDI and Medicare came through, Baron and her husband had maxed out their credit cards, raided $10,000 from their IRA and gone to their family for money. They were $13,000 in debt. They sold their house and moved into a condo to save on expenses.

"It is imperative that as [people] become more and more debilitated and cannot work, that they have immediate access to SSDI," Baron said.

Like Sen. Lee, some patient advocates say the accommodations on disability benefits and Medicare made for patients with ALS should be extended to others with similarly intractable conditions.

The Social Security Administration has identified 242 conditions that meet the agency's standards for qualifying for disability benefits and are fast-tracked for benefit approval.

Once approved, people with these conditions still must wait five months before they receive any money. Now, under the new law, people with ALS can skip the waiting period, though no one else on the "compassionate allowances" list can.

Breast cancer advocates are hoping for similar accommodations for people with metastatic breast cancer. Legislation introduced in the House and Senate in 2019 would have eliminated the SSDI waiting period for this group, but it did not pass.

Tackling the problem one condition at a time doesn't make sense, others argue.

"Can you imagine, one by one, people with these conditions trying to find people in the House and in the Senate to champion the bill?" said Carol Harnett, president of the Council for Disability Awareness, which represents disability insurers.

Deb McQueen-Quinn thinks it would be good if the new law sets a precedent for eliminating the SSDI waiting period. At 55, McQueen-Quinn has lived with ALS since 2009, far longer than most.

A former convenience store manager, she uses a wheelchair full time now. She knows all too well the toll of the disease. ALS runs in her family, and she's watched several family members, including her sister, brother and a cousin die of it.

Her sister, a former quality control engineer, was diagnosed in 2006 and died the following year, a week before she would have received her first SSDI payment.

McQueen-Quinn, who lives in Wellsville, New York, with her husband, has two children in their 30s. Her son, 33, carries the familial genetic mutation that leads to ALS. So far he hasn't developed symptoms. But it's for people like her son and other family members that she fought for the new law.

"Now that we've set the precedent, I'm sure you'll see a lot of other diseases go after this," she said.

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Workers involved in a labour dispute which threatened to close the Stellantis assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario have returned to work as negotiators continue trying to resolve a contractor issue, a media report said.

"Former AWC Unifor workers are back on the job as Stellantis and Unifor continue discussions. Regular production continues at the Windsor Assembly plant," Stellantis said in a statement cited by TheDetroitBureau.com.

The report said a barricade had been put up by members of Canadian auto workers union Unifor which threatened to halt plant operations. The line was put in place after the company replaced a Unifor-represented contractor, Auto Warehousing, with a different company. AWC marshalled new vehicles rolling off the line for shipment and the change affected about 60 members of union branch Local 444.

TheDetroitBureau.com said the automaker and union agreed to resume talks after a Canadian labour court declined Stellantis' request for an order that would have forced the Unifor members to remove the barricade at a gate used for employee access and shipping finished vehicles from the plant.

All employees represented by Unifor, however, have now returned to work, Dave Cassidy, Unifor Local 444 president, reportedly in a video on the branch's Facebook page.

"It's been gut wrenching over the last couple of weeks," Cassidy said. "The former AWC workers of Local 444 are back on the job as FCA and us work over the next little bit to sort out the fine details around it," he said, noting he had spoken with senior executives as part of the effort to resolve the dispute.

Shutting down the plant is a massive issue for Stellantis, which just debuted publicly Monday after more than year of merger talks, TheDetroitBureau.com said.

The automaker has been hit with the unscheduled shutdown of the assembly plant in Brampton, also in Ontario, where it builds the Dodge Challenger and Charger. That shutdown was triggered by a shortage of critical computer chips, and is due to stretch to the end of January, company officials told TheDetroitBureau.com.

The report said the new contractor, a firm called Motipark, does not employ Unifor members, but Local 444 maintains, under Canadian law, AWC employees have successor rights to the jobs on the Stellantis property.

Space to store production around the plant was close to exhaustion at the sprawling Walker Road facility, according to the report, citing the Windsor Star.

The resumption of negotiations also followed Stellantis' failed appeal to the Ontario Labour Relations Board. Stellantis maintained the blockade amounted to an illegal strike, but the board sided with Unifor, TheDetroitBureau.com.

Stellantis had also warned Unifor its members wouldn't get paid if the dispute stopped production. Cassidy, however, noted no production was lost. The board's ruling prompted another round of discussions between company and union representatives, the report added.

Windsor builds the Chrysler Pacifica minivan range while Brampton is home to the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger and Challenger.
Following are the latest Corporate Social Responsibility news releases and story ideas available from Business Wire. These recaps, curated by Business Wire, provide reporters and bloggers around the globe instant access to the latest news releases, providing relevant and trending content to share with their audiences. Discover more news via Business Wire's Hot Topic recaps or create a custom news feed specific to your needs here. This service is provided at no charge to members of the media and financial communities.

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DENVER -- Channing Martin Jones Appointed CSG's First Chief Diversity and Social Responsibility Officer Source: CSG

TORONTO -- Facedrive Welcomes Susan Uthayakumar, Schneider Electric's Global Sustainability Leader, as Newest Advisory Board Member Source: Facedrive Inc.

PARIS -- Teleperformance to Support Covid-19 Vaccinations for Its Employees Worldwide Source: Teleperformance

CINCINNATI -- Fifth Third Achieves Carbon Neutrality Source: Fifth Third

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- ZoomInfo Employees Donate More Than $650,000 to Local Nonprofits Through 2020 Winter Donation Drive Source: ZoomInfo

WASHINGTON -- Internet Society Announces $1M in Grant Funding to Expand Internet Access to Underserved Communities in the Southeastern United States Source: Internet Society

PARIS -- Teleperformance named Great Place to Work in Indonesia Source: Teleperformance

BARCELONA, Spain -- Veeva Becomes First Public Company to Convert to a Public Benefit Corporation Source: Veeva Systems Inc.

TORONTO -- Facedrive Health's TraceSCAN Endorsed by LiUNA as the Wearable Contact-Tracing Solution of Choice, Following Provincial State of Emergency Announcement Source: Facedrive Inc.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Sintavia Expands Rocket Manufacturing Capability with Two M4K-4 Printers from AMCM GmbH Source: Sintavia, LLC

NEW YORK -- Colgate-Palmolive, Harvard School of Dental Medicine Establish Scholarship to Support Underrepresented Minority Dental Students Source: Colgate-Palmolive Company

MIAMI -- Ryder Named One of "America's Most Responsible Companies" in 2021 by Newsweek Source: Ryder System, Inc.

PARIS -- The Complementarity of Technical and Fundamental Analysis in Trading Source: STRATEGGYZ

WILMINGTON, Del. -- The LYCRA Company Announces Gold Level Material Health Certificates for 25 of its LYCRA Fiber Products Source: The LYCRA Company

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- UNFI Commits to Aggressive 10-Year Targets in Waste Reduction, Climate Action, and Food Access Through the Introduction of Better for All Source: United Natural Foods, Inc.

PARIS -- Teleperformance Earns First Best Place to Work Certification in Madagascar Source: Teleperformance

NEW YORK -- Church Pension Group to Host Virtual Conversation on Investing in Economically Disadvantaged Communities Source: Church Pension Group

AMSTERDAM -- Tommy Hilfiger Calls on Social Entrepreneurs to Take on the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge Source: Tommy Hilfiger

ARLINGTON, Va. -- AvalonBay Named Global and Regional Sector Leader by GRESB and Awarded Nareit's 2020 Residential Leader in the Light Award Source: AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

TORONTO -- Facedrive Health Announces Release of V2 TraceSCAN Wearable Device Source: Facedrive Inc.

LOS ANGELES -- Kilroy Realty Achieves Carbon Neutral Operations Source: Kilroy Realty Corporation

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On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond loves to talk about and cook for her husband Ladd. The couple has been married for almost 25 years and they share four children together  Alex, Paige, Bryce, and Todd.

They also have a foster child named Jamar, who Ree calls her bonus son. The couple has built a nice life for themselves and their family on their Oklahoma ranch over the years. But according to Ree, Ladd is the last person she expected to marry.

The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond with her family | Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Pioneer Woman Magazine

Ree Drummond nicknamed her husband The Marlboro Man

When Ree writes about Ladd on her blog, she refers to her husband as The Marlboro Man. According to Mashed, the nickname started after one of Rees good friends called him that during a baby shower.

The original Marlboro Man was a fictitious character that was part of Marlboro cigarettes ad campaigns from the 1960s to the 1990s. The handsome character was a strong and rugged cowboy who was overflowing with confidence. Apparently, the name fit Ladd perfectly.

Years later, when Ree started her The Pioneer Woman blog, she didnt want to use her husbands real name. So, she decided to use that nickname instead.

Ladd is definitely all cowboy. He grew up in a family of ranchers, and he spends his days working the family land. He made it clear just how much of an Oklahoma boy he was when he wore a tuxedo and cowboy boots to their wedding.

The Pioneer Woman met in a smoky bar in Oklahoma

Ree is from Bartlesville, Oklahoma, but the self-proclaimed city girl took off for Los Angeles as soon as she got into college. After she finished her undergraduate work, Rees plan was to move to Chicago and go to law school. But when she went home to Oklahoma for a temporary visit at Christmas, fate stepped in.

Ladd was standing across the bar wearing a pair of Wrangler jeans and cowboy boots, sipping on bottled beer, according to Rees blog. He had blue-green eyes and salt-and-pepper hair  but it was the cowboys hands that made him impossible for Ree to ignore.

RELATED: Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond Reveals Her Favorite Quick and Easy Meals to Revive Your Dinner Menu

She thought he would call the next day, but it ended up taking Ladd four months to ask Ree out. Despite the delay, the duo really hit it off on their first date. And just two weeks later, Ladd told Ree he loved her for the very first time.

Ladd and Ree Drummond expanded their family right away

Ladd and Ree tied the knot in September 1996, and she says they decided to let nature take its course. Nine-and-a-half months later, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Alex. The following year, their daughter Paige came along.

Bryce arrived in 2002 and Todd followed in 2004. But Ladd and Ree werent done growing their family just yet. Fifteen years later  in 2019  the Drummonds added their bonus son Jamar to their family.

Fostering a kid was never something Ladd and I pursued or felt called to do, but Jamars circumstances presented themselves to us in a way we couldnt ignore, Ree said on her blog. So, long story short, all six foot five inches of him showed up at our house one afternoon, bag in hand, ready to move in.

The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond reveals her secret to a happy marriage

According to Ree, she never expected to marry a cowboy. Even though she was from Oklahoma, Ree had a much different upbringing compared to Ladd. She says that when she told her friends about her engagement, they were shocked.

I was literally THE last person anyone ever pictured moving to the country, she said. When I announced my engagement to a cowboy, my childhood friends couldnt believe it.

RELATED: The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummonds 11 Perfect Recipes From the Food Network

Even though her life isnt what she expected, Ree says that she and Ladd are very happy and still very much in love. Her secret to a happy marriage is that they always wind up together on the couch in the evenings, no matter how busy weve been throughout the day.

We both have a soft spot for old Westerns, any of The Godfather movies and 80s flicks, Ree explained. Were on the same page with snacks, too. Queso for us and popcorn for the kids!

The Pioneer Woman airs Saturday mornings on The Food Network.
Over the past four years, many Americans forgot how it felt to have a president who preached and practiced basic decency. Joe Bidens inauguration on Wednesday changed that. Were hearing a normal president say normal things. And as we hear them, the perversity of Donald Trumps behavior stands out more clearly. By traditional standards, Bidens inaugural address was unremarkable. But when you compare it with the twisted farewell speeches Trump delivered on Tuesday and Wednesday, its shocking to remember that for four years, Trump was the president of the United States.

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In his address, Biden preached modesty and compassion. Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy, he said. He asked Americans to show a little tolerance and humility to their neighbors, to stand in the other persons shoes. Trump, by contrast, celebrated himself and his putative superiority. I came to Washington as the only true outsider ever to win the presidency, he declared. He portrayed public service as a grievous burden on his wealthy family: They could have had a much easier life. He boasted, falsely, that he had won 75 million votes, and thats a record in the history of sitting presidents. He thanked himself, not scientists, for developing coronavirus vaccines. Another administration would have taken three, four, five, maybe even up to 10 years to develop a vaccine, he claimed absurdly. We did it in nine months.

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Biden promised to set aside politics and focus on doing the job. Trump focused instead on his image and on shifting blame. The vets have given us an approval rating like has never been before, he bragged. Anything good that might happen under Biden was really Trumps doing, said the outgoing president: Youre going to see incredible numbers start coming in, if everything is sort of left alone.  Remember us when you see these things happening. As to the 400,000 Americans who had died of COVID during his tenure, Trump devoted his remarks not to mourning them but to denying responsibility. Nobody blames us for that. The whole world got hit, he argued. He called it the China virus and said, We all know where it came from.

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Biden asked Americans to pray in memory of the dead: moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Trump told the public to think instead about how much money had been accumulated. The stock market set one record after another, he gloated. The stock market is actually substantially higher than it was at its higher point prior to the pandemic. If it hadnt been for the pesky plague, Trump groused, the market would have done even better: Had we not been hit by the pandemic, we would have had numbers that would never have been seen.

Biden called for unity. I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did, he pledged. We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue. Trump, on the other hand, bad-mouthed his predecessor and his successor. He said veterans had been very badly treated before we came along, and he repeated one of his favorite campaign slams against Biden: I hope they dont raise your taxes. But if they do, I told you so.

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Biden asked his listeners to think cooperatively and to strive for collective success. We can see each other not as adversaries, but as neighbors, he said. Trump, meanwhile, argued that Americans should take comfort in the pain of other countries and in the humbling of our allies. He boasted not of uniting NATO against Russia, but of extracting money from our partners: NATO countries are now paying hundreds of billions of dollars more than when I arrived. And while many Americans might be dead of COVID, the important thing, Trump suggested, was that other nations were suffering more. America outperformed other countries economically during the pandemic, he said, and countries that thought they got away with it, didnt get away with it. Theyre suffering right now.

Trump is gone from the White House, and most of us are glad to be rid of him. Wed rather not think about him anymore. But before we close that door, its important to recover our sense of perspective. The daily viciousness, callousness, and contempt we experienced for those four years wasnt normal. Whats normal is what were seeing now. Dont ever take it for granted again.
A diamond core drill program is underway, with two holes of a three-hole program completed and assays expected from March 2021.

Geochemical analysis of samples have confirmed rocks with close affinities to the Kalgoorlie Terrane basalts, including the Lunon Basalt and the Paringa Basalt

s ( ) earn-in joint venture (EIJV) partner ( ) has continued to expand the footprint and tenor of gold mineralisation at the Lake Wells Gold Project, with aircore results confirming the strong potential for the project to host a large gold deposit.

A diamond core drill program is underway, with two holes of a three-hole program completed and assays expected from March 2021.

A 19-hole, 3,400-metre reverse circulation (RC) drill program is also underway, with assays expected from March 2021.

Potential to host significant deposit

Australian Potashs managing director and chief executive officer Matt Shackleton said: The high-grade aircore results confirm our belief that the Lake Wells Gold Project has the potential to host a significant gold deposit.

After three years of methodical analysis, the joint venture is now focusing in on targets where we can test the true potential of the area.

Like our neighbours to the south, diligent and persistent exploration is paying off.

With the diamond and RC drilling underway, it is an exciting time for us and this emerging mineral province.

Nearly 60,000 metres of aircore drilling has been completed and we are extremely pleased with the work conducted and results generated by our valued joint venture partner, St Barbara.

We look forward to advancing this project together.

Drill results

Gold focused, regional scale, aircore exploration drilling under the EIJV commenced in April 2019 and a 338-hole, 19,853-metre program was completed in the first half of the 2021 financial year.

To date, 1,119 aircore holes have been completed for a total of 58,614 metres.

The mineralised corridor exceeds nine kilometres in length delineated, with the highest grade assay results returning:

 1-metre at 3.88 g/t gold from 47 metres;

 3 metres at 2.03g/t from 62 metres, including 1-metre at 5.53 g/t from 62 metres and 4 metres at 0.33 g/t from 71 metres; and

 3 metres at 0.99 g/t from 53 metres, including 1-metre at 2.46 g/t from 55 metres and 1-metre at 0.111 g/t from 58 metres.

Current work program

RC drilling to broaden the base of exploration and test anomalies at depth is underway.

Initially, 19 holes have been planned to work toward the targeted zones, with most of the RC drill holes being planned in pairs as scissor holes so that information on the geology, style and controls of observed mineralisation can be made.

The scale of the RC program is considered appropriate at this phase of exploration and results will be reported as they come to hand through the quarter, expected from March 2021.

So far, nine RC holes have been completed, with 10 holes remaining.

Close affinities to Kalgoorlie Terrane

Geochemical analysis of samples from the EIJV area have confirmed rocks with close affinities to the Kalgoorlie Terrane basalts, including the Lunon Basalt and the Paringa Basalt.

Adjacent tenement holder, ( ) (OTCMKTS:ELKMF) (FRA:E6Q), continues to demonstrate the under-explored nature of the Yamarna Belt and the potential to delineate deposits of merit.

With over 1.1 million ounces of gold in resources delineated along the Yamarna Shear Zone within the Golden Highway and related deposits, and the 3.41 million ounces (reserve) Gruyere Mine now operational, the EIJV Southern Yamarna Anomaly Camp (SYAC) is proving to extend this well-established mineralised corridor over 70 kilometres to the NNW.

Mineralisation at Kundana, within the Kalgoorlie Terrane, is characterised by high-grade gold associated with narrow laminated quartz veins hosted within a shear zone.

Recovered gold and remaining resources at Kundana exceed 8 million ounces, making it one of the more significant gold camps in WA.
Gladys Berejiklian has declared she no longer cares what people think of her while reflecting on her controversial relationship with a disgraced MP.

Now in her fifth year as premier of New South Wales, Ms Berejiklian has survived possibly the most stressful 12 months of her career.

Having started 2020 with some of the worst bushfires in Australia's history, the state leader was quickly thrown into damage control as the coronavirus pandemic swept across the globe.

Amid the crisis, Ms Berejiklian was forced to attend a series of public Independent Commission Against Corruption hearings during a scandal that exposed her relationship with former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire.

Ms Berejiklian has undergone possibly the most stressful year of her career thanks to killer bushfires, a raging pandemic and shattering revelations about her personal life

During the hearing in October, the premier admitted to a string of intimate details about their relationship and divulged that she loved Maguire.

Having resisted calls to resign over her links to the disgraced MP, Ms Berejiklian now believes the scandal has made her stronger.

'I'm a far more confident leader because I gave away caring too much about what the commentary was,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'I kind of gave away what all of us have, all of us worry about sometimes too much, about what criticism might be weighed against you  that's both liberating and gives you courage as a leader.'

Just two months after the ICAC scandal, Ms Berejiklian was widely criticised by her interstate colleagues for refusing to confine Sydney residents to their homes as another wave of Covid-19 wave began to emerge.

Ms Berejiklian was forced to attend a series of public hearings with ICAC during a scandal that exposed her lurid affair with former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire (pictured)

She believes her 'plain' personality meant she wasn't able to sell her Covid strategy as well as other premiers, who loudly advocated for early lockdowns.

Ms Berejiklian faced sustained calls from other premiers to lock down NSW or at least Sydney during last month's outbreak and mandated mask wearing.

'I'm not as good as the other premiers are on that stuff My innate personality is pretty plain and basic, I'm pretty simply stated as a person. I'm not really flowery or anything,' she said.

But Ms Berejiklian knew the gravity of her decisions would affect people's lives and health, stopped caring about criticism, and resisted knee-jerk overreaction.

Following a series of snap border closures in December during the Northern Beaches outbreak, she pleaded with the other premiers to work together before closing state lines.

The outbreak began in the Northern Beaches on December 16, and a separate cluster opened up in Western Sydney on December 29.

Pictured: People in Sydney wearing face masks amid a 'second wave' of coronavirus on January 20

'Sometimes they'll let me know, sometimes they don't. When they do let me know, the decision has already been made,' she said of other state leaders on January 11.

'I would love to have had input and say, rather than closing all of NSW or Sydney from a particular state, please just consider the northern beaches or give us 24 hours to get back to you on how we can manage this.'

The premier also pointed out that locking millions of Sydneysiders out of every state and territory in the country impacts 'every single citizen in NSW'.

'It affects citizens in other states and I think as leaders, and I include myself in this, all of us can do better.'

'We should allow each other to have input in those processes rather than being told of the decision.'

On Thursday, the Tasmanian government announced it would lift the ban on people from 24 regions in Sydney. Other states have left their borders closed.

chief Jim Bridenstine has officially stepped down from his role as the administrator of the US space agency, as takes the presidents office.

President Biden is expected to pick a woman to fill the administrator role, which has only been occupied by men since the agency's founding in 1958.

A Trump appointee and a Republican himself, Bridenstine, spent his final days as administrator making last push for the ambitious Artemis programme, that will land the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024.

"It has been my great honour to serve as your @ Administrator. I will miss the amazing NASA family and will forever be grateful for my time at this incredible agency. Ad astra," Bridenstine said in a tweet on Wednesday.

"We have done everything we can to build the consensus necessary for this program to be long-term sustainable," Bridenstine told The Verge.

"I think as hard as we've worked to build the consensus over the last three years, I think we're in good shape."

Of the $3.3 billion NASA said it needed for next year's budget to stay on track for 2024, Congress came up with $850 million.

The $850 million budget marks the first time Congress agreed to fund a human lunar lander since the Apollo programme.

"With that I say farewell. And I'll tell ya, when a new team comes in, give them all your support. Because they need it, they deserve it, and of course what we're trying to do, we're not only crossing multiple administrations, but multi-decade and multigenerational," Bridenstine said.

Last week, a key rocket test for NASA's much-delayed Space Launch System (SLS) ended in an early shutdown as four rocket engines fired for a little over a minute, while these were supposed to be up for nearly eight minutes.

The SLS is set to play a key role in the agency's Artemis programme which aims to return astronauts to the Moon.

NASA's Artemis I mission is an uncrewed flight test that will launch Orion on the agency's Space Launch System rocket to orbit the Moon and return to Earth.

On Artemis II, Orion will carry a crew of astronauts around the Moon and back, and Artemis III will land the first woman and next man on the lunar surface by 2024.

Subsequent missions will explore more of the Moon and test the technologies and procedures needed for human exploration of Mars.

--IANS

na/

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Militarys Kavach is a message to Beijing that Indian Ocean Region isnt South China Sea

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: The Indian Military will execute high-intensity offensive and defensive manoeuvres in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal in an exercise. Codenamed Kavach or shield.

The military drill be coordinated by the Port Blair based Andaman and Nicobar Command. The defence ministry announced on Thursday that the exercise will be carried out next week to fine-tune joint warfighting capabilities and sharpen operational synergy between the three services.

This exercise comes at a time when India is locked in a standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. This exercise holds a lot of significance as China is trying to open multiple routes to the Indian Ocean.

China's apprehension is that major naval powers are controlling the Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Indonesia as a result of which vital supply lines are interdicted. More than 80 per cent of China's oil imports pass through the 350 km strait that connects the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. In a statement, the Defence Ministry said, "the exercise will involve synergised application of maritime surveillance assets, coordinated air and maritime strikes, air defence, submarine and landing operation."

Desert Knight: When Indian and French Rafales will take part in a high voltage exercise

India's focus continues to remain on China's rising ambitions in the region. The message India wants to send out that Beijing's power play cannot be replicated in the Indian Ocean.

The scope of this exercise will cover Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaisance (ISR). This would involve the military's technical, electronic and human intelligence elements. "The ISR exercise will validate the capabilities of intelligence gathering from space, air, land and sea-based assets/sensors, its analysis and sharing to achieve battlefield transparency for quick decision making at different stages of operations," the statement also read.

The exercise will involve the air force's Jaguar maritime strike aircraft, transport aircraft, elements of the Indian Army's amphibious brigade, destroyers, anti-submarine warfare corvettes and amphibious warships with ship-borne helicopters of the Vishakhapatnam-based Eastern Naval Command. The statement also said that the joint forces would execute multi-domain high intensity offence and defensive manoeuvres in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal and carry out amphibious landing operations, air-landed operations and helicopters-borne insertion of Special Forces from sea, culminating in tactical follow-on operations on land.
Pipeline

21 January 2021

Deutsche Hospitality announces a new hotel in Breda for 2023.

In the home of Rembrandt, Jan Vermeer and Vincent van Gogh: the third IntercityHotel will open in the Netherlands in 2023. After the IntercityHotel Enschede and the IntercityHotel Amsterdam Airport, which is due to open in 2021, Deutsche Hospitality is adding an attractive location in the province of Noord-Brabant in the south of the popular travel destination to its portfolio with the IntercityHotel Breda.

The IntercityHotel in Breda is being built directly at the main train station and includes 174 guest rooms, a bar, a restaurant and flexible conference facilities. The new building is part of the "5Tracks" project, which, initiated by the project developer Synchroon and the construction company JP van Eesteren, comprises 168 apartments, 15,500 square meters of office space, as well as shops and restaurants. As in most IntercityHotels, guests in Breda have access to innovative offers such as the IntercityHotel app or the free FreeCityTicket for using local public transport.

The IntercityHotel in Breda will in future be operated via a lease agreement between STAG Hotels Netherlands BV with Synchroon BV and JP van Eesteren BV. Construction work will start on schedule in summer 2021. In addition to the IntercityHotel brand, Deutsche Hospitality is also represented in the Netherlands with the Steigenberger Airport Hotel Amsterdam and the Jaz in the City Amsterdam.
Matthew Brown / Hearst Connecticut Media

ROCKY HILL  Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo is quarantining after coming in contact with a staff member in Milford who tested positive for COVID-19, his spokesperson confirmed.

Alaine Griffin, communications director for the state Division of Criminal Justice, said Colangelo tested negative for the virus.
The Russians allege Ukraine has been conducting a "targeted aggressive campaign" against the Russian language.

Member of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and MP from Ukraine's European Solidarity Party Oleksii Honcharenko says the Russian delegation to PACE is initiating a debate on the language issue in Ukraine.

"The Russian delegation to PACE is initiating a debate on the language issue in Ukraine," he wrote on Telegram and shared a copy of the respective letter.

Read alsoRespect to each other and to the country: Minister tells of language law objectivesHoncharenko clarified Russia's concern was caused by the entry into force of Article 30 of the Law of Ukraine on ensuring the functioning of Ukrainian as the official language.

"In their opinion, Ukraine has been conducting a 'targeted aggressive campaign' against the Russian language," he added.

Language law: Background

On January 16, 2021, the provisions of the law on the obligatory use of the Ukrainian language in the consumer services industry came into force.

Article 30 of the Law of Ukraine on ensuring the functioning of Ukrainian as the official language stipulates that all service providers, regardless of their form of ownership, shall serve consumers and provide information about goods and services in Ukrainian.

On April 25, 2019, the language bill, which suggests the gradual implementation of its provisions, was passed by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament.

Reporting by UNIAN
On one of the largest job placement platforms in Switzerland, ETH researchers analysed how recruiters made their choices. Credit: Fruzsina Korondi

Scientists at ETH Zurich have leveraged big data from recruitment platforms and machine learning to study hiring discrimination. They show that discrimination against immigrants depends, among other things, on the time of day; and that both men and women face discrimination.

Education, professional skills and experience are the essential criteria for filling a positionor at least that is the expectation. The reality often looks different, as numerous studies have shown. When deciding whether to hire a candidate or not, gender, origin or ethnicity sometimes also play an important role; factors that say little about a candidate's suitability for a job.

This type of discrimination violates the principle of equal opportunities. For those affected, this may have long-term disadvantages, such as longer unemployment or lower wages. This is why it is crucial to understand who is discriminated against, and why. The study conducted by Dominik Hangartner (Public Policy Group), Daniel Kopp and Michael Siegenthaler (both KOF Swiss Economic Institute) was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and has just been published in Nature.

The research team collaborated with the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) to gain access to anonymized data from Job-Room, one of the largest recruitment platforms in Switzerland. Job-Room contains profiles of more than 150,000 job seekers. Recruiters hiring on Job-Room specify the criteria required for a particular job. They then receive a list of suitable candidates and can view their profiles. Among other things, the profiles contain information on expertise, gender, nationality and language skills of candidates. If recruiters are interested in particular candidates, they can contact them with just one click and invite them to a job interview.

Observing millions of decisions

The researchers analyzed over ten months which candidates were contacted for an interview, and how recruiters made their selection. Their novel approachwhich has significant advantages over conventional methods of studying discriminationenabled them to determine how the origin or gender of a candidate influenced the likelihood of being contacted.

Previous research has mainly used correspondence studies to shed light on discrimination. In these studies, researchers send HR managers fictitious CVs that are identical except for the characteristic of interest, e.g. the applicant's ethnicity. The researchers then record which applicants are invited to an interview. This is a costly and, because of its interference in actual hiring processes, not unproblematic procedure. Furthermore, correspondence studies are typically limited to few applications and occupations. "By contrast, our method allows us to study discrimination across different professions and points in time, and to analyze the entire search process on the platform. We know which candidates are displayed to recruiters, when and for how long recruiters view a profile, if they click on the contact buttonand we observe millions of such decisions," says co-author Daniel Kopp.

Credit: ETH Zurich

Discrimination is larger by the end of the workday

The research team found that on average immigrant jobseekers were 6.5 percent less likely to be contacted than Swiss jobseekers with otherwise identical characteristics. This discrimination was particularly pronounced for migrants from the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, who are often faced with prejudices in everyday life. The researchers were able to show that a foreign origin has a stronger negative impact towards noon and in the eveningwhen recruiters review CVs faster. So the same recruiter makes different decisions depending on the time of day. "This result suggests that unconscious biases, such as stereotypes about minorities, also contribute to discrimination," says co-author Dominik Hangartner. These unconscious biases might play a larger role when we are tired or want to leave work.

The study also found that both men and women face discrimination. Given equal qualifications, women are mainly discriminated against in typical male professions and men in typical female professions. In the five professions with the lowest proportion of women, women are 7 percent less likely to be contacted. In the five occupations with the highest proportion of women, they are 13 percent more likely to be contacted. According to co-author Michael Siegenthaler, some recruiters still seem to think that women are more suited to certain professions than men, and vice versa. "As a result, occupational segregation persists or is even increased."

Does digitisation lead to more discrimination?

Online platforms such as Job-Room are becoming an increasingly important tool for recruitment. Does that mean discrimination in the job search is growing? The researchers do not expect this to be the case. There is no evidence of more discrimination on online platforms than in traditional recruitment processes. According to Daniel Kopp, discrimination is rather a structural and societal problem that is reflected across the entire labor market. "But in the case of online portals, we can use the existing data to study hiring discrimination in detail and, based on the results, develop strategies to increase equal hiring opportunities."

Explore further Being good at your job won't stop age discrimination

More information: Dominik Hangartner et al. Monitoring hiring discrimination through online recruitment platforms, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Dominik Hangartner et al. Monitoring hiring discrimination through online recruitment platforms,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-03136-0
Ten of the total 82 cases of adverse events following immunisation, including four in Delhi and two in Karnataka, required hospitalisation

New Delhi: In total 7.86 lakh healthcare workers have received COVID-19 vaccine jabs till the evening of the fifth day of the nationwide immunisation drive, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday.

It also said that on Wednesday, 1,12,007 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm across 20 states and Union Territories, while adding the final report would be completed by late in the night.

"The cumulative number of healthcare workers vaccinated against COVID-19 has touched 7,868,42 (till 6 pm Wednesday) through 14,119 sessions, as per the provisional report," the ministry said.

As many as 2,353 vaccination sessions were held on Wednesday till 6 pm.

The total number of beneficiaries who have been vaccinated till 6 pm on Wednesday include 22,548 in Andhra Pradesh, 38 in Bihar, 262 in Kerala, 36,211 in Karnataka, 16,261 in Maharashtra, 6,731 in Madhya Pradesh, 6,834 in Tamil Nadu and 2,296 in West Bengal, according to the provisional report.

On the fifth day of the vaccination drive, 82 adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs) have been reported till 6 pm, the health ministry said.

Ten cases of AEFI - four in Delhi, two in Karnataka, and one each in Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and West Bengal - have required hospitalisation so far, additional secretary in the Union Health Ministry Manohar Agnani said.

Out of the four hospitalised AEFI cases in Delhi, three have been discharged and one is under observation at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. In Uttarakhand, one AEFI case has been discharged, he said.

In Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, one case each of AEFI has been discharged. Of the two hospitalised AEFI case in Karnataka, one has been discharged and the other is under observation at Chitradurga district hospital. One in West Bengal is under observation at Sub-Divisional Hospital at Jangipura in Murshidabad district.

On the four deaths reported, one each from Uttar Pradesh and Telangana and two from Karnataka, the official said in case of the death from Moradabad in UP, post mortem confirmed cardio-pulmonary disease and is not related to vaccination.

About the death reported from Bellary in Karnataka, post mortem suggested myocardial infarction and it is not related to vaccination. The other death reported in Shivamogga is also a suspected case of myocardial infarction not related to immunisation, Agnani said.

In case of another death reported from Nirmal in Telangana, post mortem is going on, he said, adding, "There has been no case of serious/severe adverse event attributable to COVID-19 vaccination till date."

About the enhancements done in the CO-WIN software, the additional secretary said a new feature 'allot beneficiary' in 'ongoing session' has been added to allow maximum possible number of beneficiaries in each session and better coverage.

But only pre-registered beneficiary in the database can be added to the session as additional beneficiary over and above the scheduled number of beneficiaries. Also, a person's name can be searched in the database by mobile number.

"We have also said that provisional certificate should be given after first dose and final certificate after second dose," he said.

Agnani further said that district magistrates and district immunisation officers have been advised to hold daily review meetings with the session site and cold chain point for taking feedback about overall day's progress, session planning and scheduling for forthcoming days and week among others.
The beginning of the President Joe Biden presidency has kicked off as discussions now take place regarding the future in the United States. And those conversations were not limited to Washington D.C.

Various local leaders weighed in Wednesday with their feelings on the change in leadership in the United States as Biden takes over for the departing President Donald Trump.

Members of the local Democratic party organized a virtual watch party for the SD-21 to give an opportunity for all to gather safely as people, watching from home or their offices  as it was a work day. Meanwhile, some others did not tune into the inauguration address. Nevertheless, the mayor, local party chairs and Webb County treasurer offered some insight into what they believe the Biden presidency will be for the future.

As divided as our country is today, (Biden) must institute policies that will help unify our country, City of Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz said. It begins with making COVID-19 vaccines more readily available to all Americans so as to defeat this pandemic as soon as possible. CARES stimulus money must be infused as soon as possible to those individuals and businesses that were more severely hurt so as to jumpstart all affected local economies.

The mayor said that unity could be achieved under Biden if he does find common ground and reaches out to the opposing side to find solutions and ask them for their thoughts in efforts to bring real solutions for the country.

He must foster attitudes and behaviors that respect opposing political views with mindset of agreeing to disagree instead of bashing the opponents, Saenz said. As Americans, we need to forgive for the sake of our union and allow the democratic process to continue. We must accept the electoral outcomes with the understanding that civil debate, discourse and protest are permitted, and could very well produce a different outcome determination at the next election cycle.

The Webb County Democratic Party Leader also believes that Biden could achieve unity and bring reforms and policies that will help the nation get out of the current crisis it is in.

Im counting on his addressing, in a bi-partisan way, the critical issues that currently have our country in crisis: a national plan to resolve the pandemic; reasonable, fact-based legislation supporting racial inequality; climate change; immigration; economic disparity, Sylvia Bruni said. And most troubling, the horrendous disunity that was encouraged, enabled by the past administration  a disunity that exploded two weeks ago in that horrendous assault on our nation's capital.

The Webb County treasurer pointed out that the inauguration was a demonstration of how Democracy continues to thrive in the country despite the recent hurdles and backlash seen in recent days in the Capitol seige as rioters favoring Trump stormed the building in efforts to stop the certifying of the election.

Todays inauguration is historic in nature because it reminds us of the strength of our democracy, Webb County Treasurer Raul L. Reyes said. Its a moment in history where we welcome a president with a purpose to restore the soul of America and build it back better  a president with empathy and purpose to serve every American no matter if they voted for him or not.

For the county treasurer, the main hopes for the Biden presidency is to see him deliver healthcare for all  as the issue has become a much more important issue due to the pandemic  as well as address the many issues dealing with immigration and more.

Im looking forward to his presidency and also to seeing building on the Affordable Care Act, seeing true immigration reform, the protection of our Dreamers, addressing global warming and criminal justice reform, Reyes said. But most importantly, uniting our country and working to end this COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring economic strength and prosperity.

Tyler Kraus, the chairman of the Webb County Republican Party, stated that he would not be watching the inauguration events of the new president. He did state that he hopes the new president establishes policies that benefit all Americans. One of the main things that Kraus wants is for the president to punish China and to not roll back any of the policies that were passed by the former president.

I hope that President Biden can enact policies that will be beneficial to all Americans, Kraus said. President Biden must stand up to China and punish them for their role in allowing the coronavirus to decimate our country. In addition, President Biden must not roll back all of the accomplishments of the Trump Administration. If he does, he will be setting our country back many years.

Although Kraus does not share many of the values of the new president, he does believe that the president can unite the country. However, he believes that Biden must end the double standard he states exists regarding violence by the political parties.

It remains to be seen, Kraus said. Millions of Americans are skeptical about his ability to unite our country. If President Biden has any hope of uniting our country, he must end the double standard that currently exists. The Democratic Party refuses to condemn the violence perpetrated by their followers. Yet the Republican Party resoundingly condemned the violence that took place at the Capitol building on Jan. 6. If Joe Biden fails to end this double standard, then he will not be able to unite our country.

Bruni said that unity will only happen based on what Republicans do to allow Biden lead the way and if they join in with the causes he strives for.

That depends on those on the other side and their willingness to choose country over political advancement, said Bruni of uniting the country. He certainly has offered his hand, over and over again. Today was no exception.

jorge.vela@lmtonline.com
Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg has fired a parting salvo at the outgoing US President Donald Trump. Thunberg shared an image of the former US President standing on the steps of a helicopter with a fist in the air. The climate activist tweeted, "He seems like a very happy old man looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see!"





He seems like a very happy old man looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see! pic.twitter.com/G8gObLhsz9 a Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 20, 2021

Donald Trump's niece and author of the tell-all book on the Trump family 'Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man' Mary Lea Trump too replied to Thunberg's tweet and said, "Well played."

Y Well played. a Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) January 20, 2021

This is not the first time Thunberg has delivered a stinging burn to Trump. She also delivered a burn to the former US President when Donald Trump's defeat became imminent in the US Presidential elections in November. Donald Trump had tweeted in November last year, "STOP THE COUNT!"

Following this, the TIME person of the year for the year 2019 replied to Trump in his style and tweeted, "So ridiculous. Donald must work on his anger management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Donald, Chill!'

So ridiculous. Donald must work on his Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Donald, Chill! https://t.co/4RNVBqRYBA a Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) November 5, 2020

Also read: $35,000 scholarship fund to mark Sushant Singh Rajput's birthday
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 16:56:16|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Jan. 20, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order returning the United States to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Hours after being sworn in as the 46th U.S. president on Wednesday, Joe Biden signed a series of executive actions that reversed some of his predecessor Donald Trump's signature policies.

The 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations mainly fell within the four categories of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic fallout, immigration and diversity issues, and the environment and climate change.

"There is no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face," Biden said in his first tweet as president.

Among the president's executive actions were a mask-wearing mandate on federal property, the start of a process to bring the United States back to the 2015 Paris Climate Accord the country exited under Trump, as well as a sweeping immigration overhaul to end the Muslim travel ban, the construction of the border wall, and the suspension of the DACA legislation that protected immigrants who came to the United States illegally during childhood.

Notably, Biden reversed the U.S. process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage," Biden tweeted in July when the former administration notified the United Nations (UN) of the United States' withdrawal from the WHO.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the United States' stated re-engagement with the WHO, said his spokesman.

Supporting the WHO is absolutely critical to the world's efforts for a better coordinated response against COVID-19, and now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.

Following Biden's moves, The New York Times reported that "his first actions in office were aimed not at compromise and cooperation with his adversaries, but instead suggested a determination to quickly erase much of the Trump agenda."

Yet, as most of the topics Biden covered are highly controversial in the country, such actions could leave the United States more divided, analysts said.

For instance, Biden signed an executive order to revoke the existing presidential permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project, which would carry oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast.

Oil industry groups and Republicans in the United States opposed the move, arguing it would result in job losses and put energy security at risk. But environmental groups and Democrats praised Biden's decision, arguing the Keystone XL project would worsen climate change.

Meanwhile, "these actions are divisive and destructive -- and there's far more to come," Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action, a grassroots conservative organization, said when responding to Biden's first executive actions after his inauguration.

"As the Biden administration begins today, conservatives are prepared to fight back against the destructive policies of the far Left," Anderson said.
A woman who wondered why she felt so tired when she woke up has discovered her cat prods her for hours while she sleeps after catching the culprit red-handed thanks to pet cam.

Taking to TikTok, the anonymous woman, believed to be from the UK, who goes by the username @susieandmollie, penned: 'I'm so tired in the morning, I knew I was being woken up...so set up a night vision camera to find out what was going on...'

In the short clip, the cat owner can be seen sleeping in her bed in a darkened room as the TV plays in the background, when, out of nowhere, two piercing eyes appear in shot.

As the furry feline, known as Ginger, jumps onto the bed, he then takes a seat next to his owner, before continuously tapping her with his paw.

An anonymous woman, (pictured, asleep), believed to be from the UK, set about trying to find out why she kept waking up feeling tired

After installing pet cam, footage revealed her cat Ginger was the culprit - and continuously prodded her throughout the night

Taking to the comments section, one person penned: 'My cat does this! She will harass me all night some nights. Ive read it's because shes a senior and older cats get dementia and sometimes are confused' (pictured)

Incredibly, the continuous prodding occurs from the hours of 11pm-3am - with no let up.

The clip has since been liked over 38, 000 times and received hundreds of comments from cat owners across the globe.

In a bid to make the woman feel better, others took the opportunity to share stories of their equally mischievous moggies.

'My cat does this! She will harass me all night some nights. Ive read it's because shes a senior and older cats get dementia and sometimes are confused,' wrote one.

The pet owner was baffled to find Ginger continuously hit her from 11pm-3am as she slept. Pictured, together

The clip has since been liked over 38, 000 times and received hundreds of comments from cat owners across the globe. Pictured, Ginger

A second penned: 'How respectful...my cat sits on my pillow and paws at my face like that. His favourite is to do it after he gets out of the litter box,' while a third commented: 'At least yours begs for attention right near you. Mine just makes noise by knocking things over, scratching the carpet, hitting the blinds etc.'

A fourth added: 'Mine just jumps on my side and goes to sleep. She's kind of like a weighted blanket because I can't move when she is on me,' wrote another.

Elsewhere, others offered possible explanations to the continuous prodding.

'This is how one of my friends found out they had sleep apnoea. Cat woke them up every time they stopped breathing,' wrote one, while a second agreed: 'Do you snore? Have you been tested for sleep apnoea? Sometimes cats will check on you if they're worried about you.'

A third penned: 'Mine did the same and now I lift the covers and she climbs in and falls asleep with me. Try it! They like the warmth and tight cosy places.'
Black Lives Matter Activist Sues LAPD for Assault

Black Lives Matter (BLM) activist, Fahren James, age 39, filed a lawsuit against Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, Michael Moore and the Los Angeles Police Department, for an alleged assault by unidentified Los Angeles police officers.

Ms. James and her attorney, Jim DeSimone of V. James DeSimone Law group, held an online press conference regarding the lawsuit. DeSimone stated, This is not a moment, but a movement where were going to effect change in how policing is done both in Los Angeles and throughout the country.

On, May 25, 2020, Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, unforgettably used a fatal knee-to-neck restraint on George Floyd. As a result of officer Chauvins knee pressing down on Floyds neck for eight minutes, forty-six seconds, and cruelly ignoring Floyds pleas for air; the unarmed George Floyd died in public view on the street in downtown Minneapolis.

On May 30, 2020, just as tens of millions of Americans did, Mrs. James abounded the streets to protest police brutality and the lack of legislative accountability. During the press conference, James stated, I witnessed George Floyds life being sucked out of him  I wanted to go in the streets and stand with the people who were vocal about police brutality in this nation, and how police have continued to over police and underserve us.

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The case claims, Ms. James was peacefully exercising her First Amendment rights, LAPD officers ambushed her, repeatedly striking her with a baton and shooting rubber bullets at her from close range causing hospitalization, permanent physical injury, and mental and emotional trauma.

James stated, I was jammed in the back with a baton, and after that, two shots fired close range. One [shot] lodging into my stomach, and the other into my arm.

Late in the afternoon, she witnessed LAPD officers enter, filing the CBS parking lot in West Hollywood. During such, LAPD fired non-lethal bullets to maintain the group. I was in total dismay. I could not believe what was happening to me. I could not believe what was happening to the people around me as we were standing there. People were getting shot with their hands up, as did I, with no provocation, said James.

The lawsuit claims, LAPD officers, at no time, announced any order or command to Ms. James, nor were any general orders to disperse announced. Ms. James had turned away from the officers for a brief period of time when, without provocation, a female LAPD officer struck Ms. James on her back with a baton. Ms. James turned toward the LAPD officer and asked why the officer struck her with the officers baton as she placed her arms in front of her to protect herself from further injury. The LAPD officer jabbed Ms. James in her torso and her elbow with the baton multiple times. A male LAPD officer, next to the female officer that beat Ms. James with her baton, held the gun that shot projectiles aimed at Ms. James. The officer directly shot James twice from point-blank range with bullets that left metal fragments in her stomach. One shot struck her in the abdomen and another shot struck James under her left arm, which she raised in vain to protect herself.

As of late, Black Lives Matter activists have expressed outrage to the tepid response of law enforcement during the breach at Capitol Hill; with a discouraged emphasis on the violent mob of White protestors defacing the 228-year-old building known for its legislative dealings, as well as threaten government officials. This is a stark contrast to what nonviolent protestors endure when faced with masses of law enforcement in full riot gear, and with authorization to use tear-gas, rubber bullets and batons.

In reference to the breach at Capitol Hill, James stated Last week, we saw what paled in comparison to what we experienced being peaceful. As people stormed the capitol, this was not only a gut-check for me, but this also was something that retraumatized me, and made me reflect back on how forceful the police were.

Concluding the press conference, James attorney DeSimone stated, The City of Los Angeles faces a monumental liability concern because of what happen to Fahren James and other individuals. We dont want to just stop at the individual officer who pulled the trigger, twice. We dont want to just stop at the individual officer who hit Fahren James with a baton when her back was turned when she was peacefully protesting, who made the decision within the LAPD that they can shoot indiscriminately into a crowd with rubber bullets when people are peacefully protesting? That is reckless, that is outrageous, and that is against the law.

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Since this is a pending litigation, the LAPD has not yet made a response.
Nigerian man arrested in Patong for drugs

PHUKET: Police arrested a Nigerian man in Patong on Tuesday (Jan 19) after officers found him carrying crystal meth (ya ice). Police later found cocaine and ecstasy at the mans rented accommodation in Kamala.

patongpolicedrugscrime

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 21 January 2021, 10:35AM

The man was arrested on Soi Nanai 8 in Patong after he was found to be carrying 1.25 grams of ya ice in his pants pockets. Photo: Patong Police

Acting on a tip-off, officers led by Maj Suchart Chumphusaeng of the Patong Police arrested Davidsmith Chinazaekpere Ejiogo, 26, in front of a building on Soi Nanai 8 after he was found to be carrying 1.25 grams of ya ice in his pants pockets, reported Patong Police yesterday. After questioning Mr Ejiogo, police searched his rented apartment in Kamala where officers found 1.5g of cocaine in a drawer near his bed and 4.7g of ecstasy under a plant pot in front of his room. During questioning, Mr Ejiogo told police that he received the drugs from a friend, who he identified as an Asian man living in Bang Tao, Cherng Talay, reported Patong Police. Col Sujin confirmed that Mr Ejiogo was taken to Patong Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug and possession of a Category 2 drug with intent to sell.

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President Muhammadu Buhari warmly welcomes the inauguration of Vice President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President of the United States of America on Wednesday, expressing hope that their presidency will mark a strong point of cooperation and support for Nigeria as well as the African continent.

President Buhari congratulates the leaders, and entire country on the successful transition, which marks an important historical inflection point for democracy as a system of government and for the global community as a whole.

We look forward to the Biden presidency with great hope and optimism for strengthening of existing cordial relationships, working together to tackle global terrorism, climate change, poverty and improvement of economic ties and expansion of trade.

We hope that this will be an era of great positivity between our two nations, as we jointly address issues of mutual interest, the president added.

President Buhari and all Nigerians rejoice with President Joe Biden, sharing the proud feeling that the first woman elected Vice President of the United States has an African and Asian ancestry.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
Photo: (Photo : Screenshot from Instagram)

Stephanie Seymour's son, Harry Brant, dies of a "devastating disease."

Harry Brant is the son of supermodel Stephanie Seymour to publisher Peter Brant. Harry died at the age of 24.

According to reports, the rising model, Harry, died last Sunday.

ALSO READ: Family Mourns as Hank Williams Jr.'s Daughter, Katherine, Dies in a Car Crash in Tennessee





The death of a rising model

In a statement released through The New York Times, the family said, "His life was cut short by this devastating disease."

Harry died of an accidental overdose last Sunday. His parents said that the 24-year-old model was planning to enter rehab this 2021. That is for the rising model to be able to be part of the creative side of the magazine Interview, which is being published by his father.

One of Harry's siblings, Ryan Brant, also died in 2019 at the age of 49. He is still survived by his seven siblings. That includes his brother, Peter, and a young sister. He also has one half-brother from his mom and four half-siblings with his dad.

ALSO READ: Texas Volunteer Mom Tragically Died Putting off Wildfires [She Was Working with Her Son]

Stephanie Seymour's son and his passion

Harry's parents shared how much of a beautiful person Harry was, inside and out. They said, "He was a creative, loving, and powerful soul that brought light into so many people's hearts."

His family also said that they feel devastated that there will no longer be any chance to see how much the rising model could have done.

ALSO READ: Ben Watkins of Master Chef Junior Died Due to Cancer





Harry Brant's career

The 24-year-old rising model decided to follow in the footsteps of his mom, Stephanie Seymour.

As a teenager, Harry Brant already appeared in Italian Vogue and other campaigns for fashion houses.

Aside from being a model, Harry also released a unisex makeup line for MAC cosmetics. He released this makeup line along with his brother, Peter Brant, Jr.

During an interview with W magazine in 2016, he said, "I think people can definitely express themselves in a great way through makeup because it is all about fantasy and turning yourself into someone you might not necessarily be on an everyday basis."

Discovering his fashion sense

As early as 15 years old, Stephanie Seymour's son said he has already discovered his fashion sense. In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2012, he said that he is committed to challenging masculinity and its stereotypical ideas. He started to become obsessed with women's clothes as early as that time. He said, "When I started really getting into fashion, I had, and still do, this obsession with mostly women's clothes."

Harry also shared, "I think I just fell in love with the ideal of how iconic fashion is."

ALSO READ: Dad Died Due to a Medical Prescription [Family Plans to Launch Civil Proceedings]
Bengaluru, Jan 21 : Late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa's key aide V.K. Sasikala, who is on the verge of finishing her jail term for corruption, tested Covid positive on Thursday night.

The Victoria Hospital's second bulletin said that the second RT-PCR test carried out on Thursday confirmed that she is Covid positive.

According to the first bulletin that was released in the evening, she had developed a "severe chest infection and very high sugar levels".

The imprisoned Tamil Nadu leader was referred from Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital with a diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypothyroidism, urinary tract infection (UTI) and suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI).

The Victoria Hospital said in its bulletin that she had been treated with antibiotics, insulin, heparin and other supportive measures and was admitted.

"She is maintaining oxygen saturation on 10 litres of oxygen through a Non-rebreather mask (NRBM)," the hospital had said.

Earlier, the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital Dean and Director, H. V. Manoj Kumar, had said that Sasikala can be discharged in two or three days.

"She was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of fever, cough, and breathlessness but now she is stable. She was diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI) but her RT-PCR report has come out negative," he said.

He had added that Sasikala was referred to the Victoria Hospital for CT scan. "Sasikala's fever has come down and her oxygen saturation is normal. She was walking around and had her breakfast in the morning. We don't think there is any problem now. Since she has SARI symptoms, we have referred her for a CT scan," he said.

The doctor said she was sent to the Victoria Hospital for the CT scan this afternoon. Before that, she had undergone Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR tests which showed her Covid-19 reports negative, Dr Kumar said.

Sasikala's nephew and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who rushed to Bengaluru on learning about her illness, told reporters she was stable.

"I got reliable information that her health is stable. Doctors are looking after her very well. Good care is given. They are monitoring her," Dhinakaran said.

He added that their lawyer got the information from the prison authorities Wednesday evening.

"He (Lawyer) was told she (Sasikala) was having a fever for a couple of days. The authorities had taken her to the healthcare centre inside the prison and checked her oxygen level and it was below the normal level and hence immediately they shifted her to this hospital. People need not get panicked. Because of the infection, she needs oxygen support," he said.

Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in a disproportionate assets case.

Her illness comes at a time when she is just six days away from her release from prison on January 27.

The case of Sasikala pertains to the amassment of disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 66.65 crore during Jayalalithaa's tenure as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1991-1996.

In September 2013, a special court convicted Jayalalithaa to simple imprisonment of four years. She was slapped with a Rs 100-crore fine and forced to step down as the Chief Minister.

Along with her, three co-accused - Sasikala, V. N. Sudhakaran, and J. Ilavarasi were also convicted. They were also fined Rs 10 crore each.

Jayalalithaa had challenged the conviction in the Karnataka High Court, which acquitted her of all charges. However, in 2017, the Supreme Court upheld the special court verdict convicting all four of them. Charges against Jayalalithaa were dropped in view of her death on December 5, 2016.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

What: The Wharton School is pleased to invite business journalists to apply for the next virtual Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists program. The Winter 2021 program will feature Wharton and University of Pennsylvania professors Mohamed A. El-Erian, Ezekiel Emanuel and Natasha Sarin who will present on issues impacting public policy and the global economy.

Through intensive lectures and expert Q&A the Seminars, led by the Wharton Schools most prominent professors, help reporters gain a better understanding of key business and economic issues. For more than 50 years, the Seminars have offered participants an opportunity to expand their knowledge, network with journalists from around the world, increase their exposure to leading experts and broaden their perspectives in a stimulating environment. View the Winter 2021 program agenda here.

When: Wednesday, February 24, 2021, 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, February 16, 2021.

Where: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Seminars for Business Journalists will be delivered online via the Wharton Events Portal.

How: Interested journalists can visit the Seminars for Business Journalists application. Space is limited. The cost of this program is $40.00 USD.

Who: In recent years, journalists from media outlets such as The New York Times, Nikkei, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC India, San Francisco Chronicle, Reuters, Fortune, Financial Times, CNN, Marketplace, BBC News, Les Echos, Bloomberg, BuzzFeed News and China Central TV have attended the Seminars.

Eligibility: Applications are open to those who are employed full-time as a print, broadcast or online business journalist by legitimate media companies.

Program Benefits: Todays global economy requires business journalists to have a strong foundation in business and economic knowledge. At the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists, participants will:

Develop an in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of business strategy.

Network with colleagues from some of the worlds leading business news organizations.

Gain exposure to leading experts and establish new sources.

Learn More: For complete information on the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists, visit https://journalists.wharton.upenn.edu/ or contact Wharton Media Relations at communications@wharton.upenn.edu.

About the Wharton School

Founded in 1881 as the worlds first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With a faculty of more than 235 renowned professors, Wharton has 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Educations individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 99,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. For more information, visit http://www.wharton.upenn.edu.


(Photo : (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)) Google is investigating another researcher

Google has announced that they suspended the corporate account of Margaret Mitchel, the former co-lead of Timnit Gerbu of the Big G's ethical AI division, claiming that she had shared thousands of sensitive internal files with people outside the company.

Google investigates another researcher in AI division

A source from Google told Axios that Mitchell had been using automated scripts to find messages showing discriminatory treatment of Gebru, whose recent firing from Google sparked outrage among his colleagues. A spokesperson from Google said that the company was investigating the incident.

The spokesperson said that their security systems automatically lock an employee's corporate account when they detect that the account is at risk of compromise due to credential problems or when an automated rule involving the handling of sensitive data has been triggered.

Also Read: Tab Groups Is The Best Update For Google Chrome In Years! Here's How To Use It!

The spokesperson added that yesterday, their systems detected that an account had exfiltrated thousands of files and they shared them with numerous external accounts. This has been explained to the employee, according to TheNextWeb.

On January 19, Gebru posted on Twitter than Mitchell had not been fired yet, but that the researcher would be locked out of her account for a few days. Mitchell has been critical of Google's treatment of Gebru since the researcher's forced exit from the company in December 2020.

Gebru said that Mitchell was fired in retaliation for an email that was sent to colleagues that reportedly criticized the Big G's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion operation.

Jeff Dean, the Google executive, posted on Twitter that Mitchell had resigned over conditions that Google requested before publishing a research paper she co-authored on massive language models.

Mitchell said that her team are now using the term resignated. Thousands of scientists are to sign an open letter expressing solitary with Gebru. Mitchell's departure was also cited in the announcement of the Alphabet Workers Union.

Sundar Pichai, the Google CEO, has sought to ease out the outrage but his efforts have been criticized by the employees, including Mitchell.

Hours before the announcement of Mitchell's suspension, she lambasted the company for consistently alienating Black women. Mitchell's suspension will escalate the growing tensions between the Google management and the employees.

Timnit Gebru's firing

After Timnit Gebru's firing, Google's workplace culture was embroiled in controversy. Gebru is a well-respected pioneer in her field and is one of the very few Black women leaders in the AI industry, according to Vox.

On December 2, 2020, Google fired her after after she blocked the publication of her research around bias in AI systems.

Days before her departure, Gebru sent an internal memo to her colleagues detailing how the higher-ups at Google tried to dismiss her research. Gebru criticized her department for what she described as a lack of diversity among its staff.

The email was published by Platformer and it stated that the company was silencing in the most fundamental way possible and she claimed that your life gets worse when you start advocating for underrepresented people at Google

After her departure, Jeff Dean, the head of AI research at Google, sent a note to Gebru's department on December 3, 2020 stating that Gebru's research paper did not meet the company's standards for publishing after internal review.

Related Article: Google CEO Sundar Pichai Apologizes To Trump: What is This About?

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sieeka Khan

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SpaceX has purchased two deep-water oil rigs off the Texas Gulf Coast to someday use as seagoing spaceports for its Starship spacecraft.

The commercial space firm, through an entity called Lonestar Mineral Development, bought the platforms from offshore drilling company Valaris in July, according to public filings.

Several media reports say Lonestar Mineral Development bought the rigs, which were headed to the scrapyard, for $3.5 million each, a steal compared to the original production costs of between $330 and $515 million in 2008.

London-based Valaris has corporate offices in Houston and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August.

The new owner has renamed the rigs Deimos and Phobos, presumably after the Martian moons, according to space media outlet NasaSpaceFlight.com.

Bret Johnsen, SpaceXs chief financial officer, is listed in public records as Lonestar Mineral Developments principal.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceX Starship chasers converge in South Texas

Elon Musk, CEO of privately held SpaceX, hinted at his companys plans to launch spacecraft from offshore platforms in a June 16 tweet: SpaceX is building floating, superheavy-class spaceports for Mars, moon & hypersonic travel around Earth.

News of the purchase came Monday when Jack Beyer, a NasaSpaceFlight.com photographer, tweeted images of Deimos.

Ive been exploring around the Port of Brownsville while waiting for Starship testing and found an oil rig that appears to be named Deimos, after one of the moons of Mars! he said in the tweet. Based on job postings and @elonmusks tweets, Im willing to bet that SpaceX is involved.

NasaSpaceFlight.com first reported details of the sale.

SpaceX currently has more than 100 positions open at its Brownsville-area facility, including two offshore jobs.

Sea-based spaceports give companies flexibility, but pose logistical and regulatory challenges that land-based space operations dont have, said Sam Ximenes, founder and CEO of San Antonio-headquartered XArc, Exploration Architecture.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio company working with military, SpaceX to move cargo anywhere in world in an hour or less

Offshore platforms are very beneficial for mitigating launch and landing risk in areas of high population density and lessens disruption to aviation airspace operations, he said. It depends if the platform is located in international waters for which regulatory regimes apply. And, of course, the closer to shore, the easier the logistics.

Ximenes firm is working with U.S. Transportation Command to evaluate land- or sea-based locations for future Starship operations, but XArc is not currently involved in developing the former oil platforms into spaceports.

SpaceXs Starship, a 160-foot-tall rocket that Musk hopes will someday shepherd people and cargo anywhere on Earth in under an hour  and eventually to the moon, Mars and beyond  is in development at the companys Boca Chica facility outside Brownsville.

The first high-altitude launch of the 30-foot-wide, stainless-steel craft came in December when SN8 (Serial Number 8) successfully flew to 41,000 feet, about 7.7 miles.

On ExpressNews.com: Awesome test: SpaceXs Starship blasts off from Boca Chica, explodes on landing

Once at altitude, the engines cut out and the rocket fell or belly flopped 90 degrees and glided back to earth.

Movable body fins on its base and the nose cone helped Starship maneuver while gliding horizontally like a skydiver in free fall during the descent.

Several hundred feet from the landing pad, the engines reignited, snapping the craft back into a vertical orientation and creating a controlled descent in order to land. But the landing sequence didnt go as planned, and SN8 disappeared in a fireball and dark smoke on its landing pad.

Despite the loss, SpaceX deemed the test a success, and the next Starship, SN9, is slated to blast off sometime this month.

In their current configuration, the oil rigs have living quarters for up to 150 people, and their main decks span nearly 1.4 acres. They will likely require a significant retrofit to support space operations.

SpaceX operates a fleet of unmanned drone ships and manned boats off the coast of Florida to recover the Falcon 9 boosters and fairings after launches from Cape Canaveral.

On ExpressNews.com: SpaceXs Starship poised to launch Texas space industry into new era

Vessel-tracking websites indicate Deimos is docked in the offshore rig construction firm Keppel AmFELS facility at the Port of Brownsville, and Phobos is moored in the Port of Galveston.

Port of Brownsville spokesman Jorge Montero said he learned of the SpaceX project Wednesday from news reports and could not corroborate their accuracy.

SpaceX, Valaris and Keppel AmFELS did not respond to request for comment.

Brandon Lingle writes for the Express-News through Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. ReportforAmerica.org. brandon.lingle@express-news.net
The fairytale of the young mermaid who wants to become a human has entranced generations of children and led to countless retellings.

Now the latest version of The Little Mermaid will give Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 story a twist like no other  by placing a romance between two men centre stage.

Ian Eagleton's Nen and the Lonely Fisherman is the story of a 'merman' who finds a 'special connection' with fisherman Ernest. It follows the themes and plot of the original, including a sea storm in which Nen must try to save Ernest.

The author, a teacher and education consultant from Essex, said he wrote the book to 'celebrate the many ways in which we can find happiness and love'.

It will be published in June to coincide with Pride month.

The synopsis reads: 'A modern adaptation of the classic 'Little Mermaid' tale, Nen and the Lonely Fisherman tells the story of a merman's search for true love.

'Nen sends a song of hope across the sea while a lonely, caring young fisherman named Ernest hopes to find warmth in his heart.

'As the two meet, they feel a special connection, much to the dismay of Nen's father, Pelagios, who creates a wild sea storm to protect his son and the ocean. Can Nen save Ernest?'

Eagleton said: 'As a child I always wanted to see myself in a fairy tale and was fascinated and inspired by the story of the Little Mermaid - it is a magical story that has always stayed with me,' he told the publication.

The best known adaptation of Anderson's tale is Disney's 1989 big screen animation while a new live-action version is scheduled for release later this year

'I wrote Nen and the Lonely Fisherman as a way to celebrate the many ways in which we find happiness and love.

'I can't wait for everyone to meet Nen and Ernest and dive into their enchanting world, which James has brought to life beautifully.

'I hope that the book helps children, and adults, understand that we are all deserving and worthy of a happy ever after.'

Mayhew praised Owlet Press for 'having the courage and vision to create this magical and ground-breaking book, celebrating acceptance and love.'

The best known adaptation of Anderson's tale is Disney's 1989 big screen animation while a new live-action version is scheduled for release later this year.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

Are hunters really the biggest conservationists in America?

Hunters play a large part in conservation efforts across the U.S. through their taxes, licenses and donations. In fact, the National Wildlife Refuge System itself was founded by a hunter: President Theodore Roosevelt. That being said, the mere act of hunting alone is not conservation.

Hunters take action outside of hunting itself to maintain species health, environments and numbers in which they hunt. In this regard, not all hunters are conservationists, but many become conservationists through hunting.

Most of the U.S. governments funding for conservation comes from hunters. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service raises money for wetland habitat protection through its program called Duck Stamps. Federal Duck Stamps are required to be purchased by all waterfowl hunters, but they can also be bought by anyone who would like to contribute to conservation. Since their creation in 1934, Duck Stamps have helped conserve nearly 6 million acres of habitat. They also serve as a free pass into any national wildlife refuge that charges an entry fee. Additionally, according to the Rocket Mountain Elk Foundation, hunters pay $796 million a year towards conservation programs through their state licenses and fees. The foundation is largely made up of hunters, and along with other similar groups, they estimate that they have added around $440 million a year to conservation efforts. Another federal tax on guns, ammo, bows and arrows generates $371 million a year toward conservation.

A survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service showed that the percentage of Americans who hunt has halved over the past 50 years, and that the decline continues to accelerate. Because hunters provide much of the funding to government conservation programs, the decreasing popularity of the pastime is taking a toll on efforts by state and federal agencies to implement wildlife habitat restoration plans and related activities for the benefit of wildlife.

It is undeniable that hunters contribute to conservation efforts, but the sport and act of hunting itself has proven to be a controversial subject for many.

EarthTalk is written by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss for the nonprofit group EarthTalk. Send questions to question@earthtalk.org.
Belgrade, Jan 20 (UNI) Serbian victims of the 1999 NATO bombing in Yugoslavia will, for the first time in over 20 years, on Wednesday file lawsuits against the alliance for the use of depleted uranium ammunition during the air strikes, Srdjan Aleksic, the lawyer who is leading the team of legal experts, told Sputnik.

Aleksic and his team have been putting together cases with material evidence for several years. Lawsuits against NATO as a legal entity will be filed on behalf of the victims.

"We are filing lawsuits on Wednesday in courts in the cities of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Nis and Vranje. We are talking about the highest courts, to which we will file five lawsuits. The victims are natural persons  deceased and sick soldiers and police officers of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, who were in Kosovo in 1999. At the first stage, we want them to be identical cases, as in the Italian military," Aleksic said.

As was the case with Western European servicemen who received high radiation doses while serving in NATO near radioactive ammunition and at the places of their use, the lawyer seeks to win compensation for each of the Serbian victims in the amount of at least 300,000 euros ($364,508). Aleksic is assisted by the Italian lawyer Angelo Fiore Tartaglia, who has successfully represented the interests of the Italian military.

"He has 181 court rulings, which have already entered into force in Europe. He will be a member of my legal expert team. We have more than 3,000 pages of materials, including verdicts, expert opinions, materials of a special Italian government commission. We have collected enough evidence," Aleksic noted.

The next step after the Higher Court in Belgrade admits the lawsuits would be to send a formal notification to the NATO headquarters within six months. The alliance, on its part, will have to respond within 30 days.

NATO airstrikes continued from March 24 to June 10, 1999. The exact number of victims of the airstrikes is unknown. The Serbian authorities say that about 2,500 people, including 89 children, were killed and about 12,500 people were injured in the bombings. According to various sources, the material damage is assessed at between $30 billion and $100 billion.

The military operation was conducted without the approval of the UN Security Council and on the basis of the Western countries' allegations that the Yugoslavian authorities had carried out ethnic cleansing in Kosovo and provoked a humanitarian catastrophe there.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said that the use of depleted uranium weapons during the NATO operation is behind the increase in the number of cancer patients in the Balkan nation. Moreover, Belgrade said it established a special commission to investigate the consequences of the 1999 NATO bombings for the environment and health of the Serbs.

UNI XC-RHK1514
In a time of change, theres been one constant refrain: Tarpon residents could all use a little more room. Room for work. Room for play. Room for passion projects, or room for family. Thats about to get easier with the arrival of a state-of-the-art new StorQuest Self Storage facility. The newly rebranded location is situated at 39016 US Highway 19 N.

This modern facility is equipped for the changing needs of the community. Weve got more people working from home, more people moving back home, and more people looking to adapt their homes to new arrangements for life, work, play, and more, remarked Michelle Bakva, Vice President of Marketing. Self storage isnt just about getting a place to store your stuff. Its about helping you make room to live your most awesome life.

At StorQuest, that Make Room for Awesome mantra takes the form of a gleaming facility equipped with an abundance of climate controlled units, 24/7 drive-up units and round the clock digital surveillance. Tarpon Springs residents can take advantage of the storage space to help free their living spaces and serve their changing needs. Getting started is awesomely simple too, with contact-less rentals, 24/7 customer leasing & support, and online account access.

Bakva expressed the brands commitment to working with the community to make the future more awesome by the day. If you can change your life with a little more space, we can change the world too, she noted. StorQuest not only works to reduce its carbon footprint with solar power, but partners with One Tree Planted to plant one tree for every rental. Through this initiative, the organization has successfully planted over 60,000 trees this year, and helped restore 14 at-risk growth projects in the communities they serve.

Interested customers should contact the facility directly at 727-361-6868 or visit

http://www.storquest.com to receive a grand opening special rate. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter to see how we help you make the most of self-storage, and life.

About William Warren Group & StorQuest Self Storage. StorQuest Self Storage, owned by The William Warren Group, Inc., owns and operates a thriving network of modern, innovative self storage properties across the United States. StorQuest is focused on delivering the highest-quality storage solutions backed by the best service in the industry, at an affordable price for all customers. To learn more visit:

http://www.williamwarren.com and http://www.storquest.com.


A suspect was shot and killed by Birmingham police Wednesday afternoon after police said the suspect fired at officers.

Just after 2 p.m., South Precinct officers responded to the 100 block of Fifth Avenue West on multiple ShotSpotter calls, according to Birmingham police Sgt. Rod Mauldin.

When they arrived, officers encountered a suspect who fled on foot and several shots were fired at officers, Mauldin said.

The suspect continued to flee on foot to the 600 block of Center Place Southwest where he took a tactical position on a porch and continued to fire at officers.

Officers returned fire, striking the suspect. No officers were injured in the incident.

Birmingham firefighters took the suspect to a hospital where they later died. The suspect who was killed has not been publicly identified.

The State Bureau of Investigation will lead the investigation.
Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots has been offered a scan in March to establish whether his kidney cancer has spread, he has revealed.

The DUP MLA is one of 400 cancer patients in Northern Ireland whose potentially life-saving operations have been postponed since January as a result of the crisis currently facing the health service.

He was diagnosed with kidney cancer while in hospital at the start of December for emergency surgery after developing appendicitis.

At the time, he was told it had not spread and curative surgery to remove his right kidney would be carried out between six and eight weeks later.

However, he was subsequently informed that the operation had been postponed indefinitely due to the surge in people seriously ill with Covid-19.

Read More

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Mr Poots, who was Health Minister between 2011 and 2014, said: "I have been offered a second scan in March, so at least that will let me know if the cancer has spread.

"If things have spread rapidly at that stage, I would be moved up the surgical list quite quickly.

"It's a desperate situation for the patients and it's also a desperate situation for the clinical teams to be in.

"It is highly frustrating that their specialism is being compromised as a consequence of another condition and they aren't allowed to work in the area in which they are trained."

Mr Poots said he had not ruled out turning to the private sector for surgery that may ultimately save his life.

The operation, which takes about two hours to complete, is available in at least one private clinic in Northern Ireland and is believed to cost around 10,000.

Mr Poots said that while he believes the NHS should be free to everyone at the point of contact, he was not prepared to die for a political ideology.

He added he was disappointed that the health service was currently unable to provide a service he desperately needs.

Mr Poots, who recently welcomed his first grandchild, continued: "I had no symptoms at all. I had excellent health throughout 2020.

"I had decided to lose weight and had shifted a stone and a half, so it all came as a bit of a shock.

"It all happened in the space of 24 hours when I had a burst appendix. I had a CT scan before the operation to remove my appendix and, the morning after my surgery, the surgeon landed in at about six o'clock and broke the news to me.

"He said they had found something suspicious. After I asked him a few questions, it quickly became obvious what they believed it to be.

"The diagnosis came about purely because of the scan. It was absolutely a blessing that I had appendicitis because if I hadn't had the scan, the tumour wouldn't have been identified and it would have manifested itself after a period of time in other organs.

"I was told I only needed surgery and didn't need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which was a huge relief, but now I don't know when that surgery will be.

"If it wasn't for Covid, I would have had the operation by now."

Asked how he has continued with his work, which has seen him embroiled in a high-profile row over Brexit in recent days, knowing that he has cancer, Mr Poots replied: "Personally, I don't dwell on it. I have a deep sense that this will work out fine for me.

"I trust that God put me on my back so that I could discover a much greater problem that can be dealt with.

"This isn't the diagnosis of death which it may have been 30 or 40 years ago."
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is set to visit the facility to take stock of the situation tomorrow. The Maharashtra govt has also ordered a probe into the cause of the fire

Five people were left dead after a blaze broke out at the Serum Institute of India (SII) facility in Pune's Manjari on Thursday, according to several media reports. The company has announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the kin of each of the deceased.

Another minor fire broke out around 7 pm on the third floor of the same building and was brought under control, reports said.

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar visited the facility on Thursday night and said, "Among the five, two were from Pune, two from Uttar Pradesh and one from Bihar."

"Though the fire has been doused now, a team of fire brigade, police and officials from district administration is still at the site," said Pawar, who is also the guardian minister of Pune district.

Pawar added that fire and energy audits of the affected facility will be carried out on Friday.

Pune mayor Murlidhar Mohol said the bodies have been recovered from the affected floor by firefighters. While the identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed, Mohol was quoted by reports as saying that they could be construction workers. Nine others were evacuated by firefighters.

The SII, which is manufacturing the 'Covishield' COVID-19 vaccine developed by Oxford-AstraZeneca, said that the production of the vaccine will not be affected by the fire.

"I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of #COVISHIELD production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at @SerumInstIndia," SII CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted.

SII factory manager Vivek Pradhan was quoted by The Indian Express as saying that "the floor where the fire broke out was a rota-virus lab and that "there was no stock of Covishield".

Uddhav Thackeray to visit SII facility tomorrow

Meanwhile, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray is likely to visit the SII facility tomorrow.

CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray will visit the unit of @SerumInstIndia in Manjri, Pune, where the fire mishap took place to inspect & take stock of the situation tomorrow at noon.  CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) January 21, 2021

Addressing a press conference on Thursday evening, Uddhav said that preliminary information shows that the fire was caused "due to an electric fault during the on-going construction work" in the building.

He added that fire brigade officials "have worked on a war footing to bring the fire under control".

Fire broke out in the premises of Serum Institute of India (SII) at Manjri near Pune. Reports says that the fire had not broken out in the section developing the COVID vaccine. The fire was in the department that develops the BCG vaccine. Now, the situation is under control. pic.twitter.com/AaRKOA4ouj  CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) January 21, 2021

Additionally, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, who visited the facility on Thursday night, took stock of the situation soon after the fire broke out.

The team of district officials who will conduct the probe into the incident is likely to be headed by the Pune district collector Rajesh Deshmukh, CNN-News18 reported.

"I have taken information from the Pune Municipal Corporation about the incident and instructed locals officials to carry out a detailed probe into the fire," Pawar said.

During his visit on Thursday night, Pawar said it is difficult to speculate on how the fire broke out and added a different team will launch an

investigation on Friday to find out the cause.

"Initially, it was told that there was no human loss. The reason behind it was that all employees of the SII were safe. However, on last two floors, some contractual workers were doing their work," he added.

Pawar said there is 99 percent possibility that there is no casualty beyond five. "We are not saying 100 percent because right now

there is no light and smoke is still emanating from the (top) floor," he said.

"I was told that after the fire broke out, water sprinklers fitted in the building, were activated. However, considering the fire's intensity, the water sprinklers were of no use," Pawar added.

"Investigators will check whether due safety measures were taken or not...or whether guidelines related to SEZs were followed or not," he said. Some people are saying that the fire took place due to welding works which were going on in the facility, Pawar said.

"However, all these discussions are based on hearsay. Only a detailed investigation will ascertain if sparks emanating during welding works caused the fire," he added.

PTI quoted sources as saying that SII's Manjari facility is where the Covishield vaccine, which is being used in the nationwide inoculation drive since 16 January, is made. The report added that the building where the fire broke out is part of the under-construction site of the SII facility and is one kilometre away from the Covishield manufacturing unit.

Modi, Harsh Vardhan, Rahul Gandhi condole deaths

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, President Ram Nath Kovind, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were among those who expressed grief over the deaths at the SII facility.

Anguished by the loss of lives due to an unfortunate fire at the @SerumInstIndia. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives. I pray that those injured recover at the earliest.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 21, 2021

Vardhan tweeted, "Anguished to learn about the unfortunate news of loss of lives due to the fire break out at @SerumInstIndia's facility in Pune. My thoughts & prayers with the bereaved families. Appreciate efforts of @PuneCityPolice & Fire Department to bring the fire under control."

Poonawalla, who had initially stated that no casualties had been reported, condoled the deaths after the information was reported.

"We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed," he said.

Kovind wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

The loss of lives in a fire accident at the Serum Institute of India in Pune is distressing. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish speedy recovery of the injured.  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 21, 2021

Meanwhile, Rahul referred to reports of the second fire and called it "extremely worrying".

While its distressing to learn of the tragic loss of lives in the fire incident at Serum Institute, the news of another fire is extremely worrying. My condolences to the family of the deceased. I request the state govt to provide necessary help to the victims & their families.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 21, 2021

Union minister Som Parkash and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot also condoled the deaths.

Deeply pained to learn about the loss of lives in a tragic incident of fire at Serum Institute of India. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, in this hour of grief & praying for the speedy recovery of those injured. #SerumInstituteFire  Som Parkash (@SomParkashBJP) January 21, 2021

Anguished to know about loss of lives in a fire incident at the Serum Institute of India in Pune. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May they find strength in this difficult time. Prayers for speedy recovery of those injured.  Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) January 21, 2021

Meanwhile, NCP president Sharad Pawar termed the fire at the SII premises as "very tragic and unfortunate" and condoled the death of five people in the incident.

The fire, which broke out at 2.45 pm on the fourth and fifth floors of the SEZ 3 building in the Serum Institute premises, was brought under control in two hours, police said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Namrata Patil told PTI that nine people were evacuated from the spot after the fire broke out.

Viral visuals from the site showed smoke billowing out from the Serum Institute facility.

Chief Fire Officer Prashant Ranpise said fifteen water tankers were pressed into action and the fire was brought under control around 4.30 pm.

The Indian Express also reported that a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was sent to the spot from Talegaon on the outskirts of Pune.

"The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Furniture, wiring, cabins were gutted. No major machinery or instruments were stored on the floors where the fire broke out," he said.

With inputs from PTI
Dustin Diamond is 'going through a lot of pain' amid his cancer battle.

The 44-year-old actor  who is best known for his role as Samuel 'Screech' Powers in Saved By The Bell  was taken to hospital in Florida earlier this month after feeling pain all over his body, and it was later confirmed he is suffering from stage four cancer.

Dustin Diamond is 'going through a lot of pain' amid his cancer battle

And now, sources have said the actor is 'going to be in the hospital for a while' as he undergoes treatment, and going through 'ups and downs' both physically and emotionally.

The insider said: 'It's not good, it's not good at all. He's going to be in the hospital for a while. He's getting through his treatments now. It's tough, it's very hard.

'He's going through a lot of pain, but he still keeps his spirits up. Right now, he's just suffering. He has his ups and downs where he's great one minute, but then he can be in a lot of pain - tears. It's such an emotional time.'

But Dustin has the full support of his loved ones, who are 'calling him every day' to make sure he's okay.

The source added to Us Weekly magazine: 'Those close to him try calling him every day to try to cheer him up. He has a handful of people who are in his close circle  his girlfriend being one of them. They have no idea when he can go home.'

Sad twist: The 44-year-old actor  who is best known for his role as Samuel 'Screech' Powers in Saved By The Bell  was taken to hospital in Florida earlier this month after feeling pain all over his body, and it was later confirmed he is suffering from stage four cancer

Dustin's hospitalization was reported on January 12, and just says later, a representative for the actor confirmed the news.

His rep said: 'At this time we can confirm that Dustin does have cancer. Dustin will disclose more information once it is available and a plan moving forward is made.

'We ask everyone to respect Dustin's privacy during this difficult time. All positivity and prayers are appreciated.'

Dustin's team also provided fans with postal and email addresses to send letters to the actor to send their support but stressed they shouldn't be used for autograph requests.

This comes after former SBTB co-star Mario Lopez said he was 'praying' Dustin will beat cancer.

Tough setback: Dustin's hospitalization was reported on January 12, and just says later, a representative for the actor confirmed the news. His rep said: 'At this time we can confirm that Dustin does have cancer. Dustin will disclose more information once it is available and a plan moving forward is made

The 47-year-old actor has taken to Instagram to voice his support for his friend.

Alongside some throwback photos with his former co-star, Mario - who played A.C. Slater on the sitcom - wrote: 'I connected with Dustin earlier this evening and although the news of his diagnosis is heartbreaking, we remain positive that he'll overcome this. Praying for him & his family and for a speedy recovery. God Bless.'

News of Dustin's cancer diagnosis was revealed on January 14 when the actor's team released a statement via Facebook and promised to reveal 'more information once it is available'.

His hit show: On Saved By The Bell; (l-r) Mario Lopez as Alabert Clifford 'A.C.' Slater, Dennis Haskins as Mr. Richard Belding, Lark Voorhies as Lisa Turtle, Tiffani Thiessen as Kelly Kapowski, Elizabeth Berkley as Jessie Spano, Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Zachary 'Zach' Morris, Diamond as Screech Powers

Almost 20 years ago: The star seen in 2002 at the 75th Anniversary celebration of NBC at Rockefeller Plaza in NYC

In the statement, the team said: 'At this time, we can confirm Dustin does have cancer. [He] will disclose more information once it is available and a plan moving forward is made.'

The team asked that 'everyone respect Dustin's privacy during this difficult time'.

The statement added: 'All positivity and prayers are appreciated.'

A spokesperson for the actor called the diagnosis 'serious' and confirmed it was stage four, but explained Dustin is still undergoing tests in hospital and will be there 'for a while'.

The representative added: 'He's undergoing chemo so he will be there at least another week and then we will figure out when he gets to come home.

The good ole days: Thiessen, Gosselaar, Diamond and Lopez in 1996

Prayers please: Lopez is 'praying' Dustin will beat cancer. The 47-year-old actor has taken to Instagram to voice his support for his former Saved by the Bell co-star, whose team recently revealed has has been diagnosed with a stage four form of the disease; seen in 2016

'By next week, we'll have a much better understanding of the severity of his condition and what treatments he will need so that he's comfortable.'

Dustin is said to be feeling 'fine' at the moment, a significant improvement on when he was admitted to hospital.

The spokesperson said: 'He was fading in and out, feeling sleepy and tired. On top of all this he also has shingles, so he's been in a lot of pain.'

Another representative for the actor explained his issues began with 'a huge lump on his throat.'
ADEL, Iowa (AP)  A 37-year-old central Iowa man has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of his nephew.

Mark Mash, of rural Adel, was charged Wednesday in the death of 20-year-old Jakob Mash of Perry. The younger Mash was found dead of a gunshot wound on Dec. 22 in a car at an intersection in Adel. Court records say Mark Mash fired a gun at a vehicle that his nephew was riding in.

It was not clear if Mash was aiming at his nephew or what prompted the shooting. Mark Mash was taken into custody that day on other charges and remains in custody.
Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long and Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Matt Perry welcomed the newest graduating classes of Tennessee State Troopers. This was the first time in the departments history that a regular 16-week trooper cadet class and an eight-week lateral trooper cadet class simultaneously attended training. The lateral class returned from their district assignments for the graduation ceremony that took place at the Tennessee Highway Patrol Training Center in Nashville. To view highlights of the graduation, click here, THP cadet classes #1120 & 121 graduation.

The 29 graduates of Trooper Cadet Class 121 included three prior law enforcement officers, 11 cadets with prior military service, five cadets with Associates degrees, 13 cadets with Bachelors degrees and four cadets with Masters degrees. Lateral Trooper Cadet Class 1120 graduated seven trooper cadets composed of all prior Police Officer Standards and Training certified law enforcement officers. Class 1120 had two cadets with Bachelors degrees and one with an Associates degree.

The new troopers completed intense physical and classroom training which earned them their badges. The new graduates will continue their training with troopers classified as field training officers, totaling more than 400 hours of hands-on experience in the field.

Governor Bill Lee served as the keynote speaker during the graduation ceremony and welcomed the class. Commissioner Long swore in the new troopers as they delivered their oaths of office in the presence of Governor Lee.

You are going to accomplish great things as you leave here today, said Governor Lee. You will make a difference and you will save lives during your career.

Its was a great honor to join Governor Lee as we graduated our new troopers, said Commissioner Long. They went through extensive training and preparation. They came here not knowing one another, but they leave here with a new extended family.

Throughout your career you will continue to be challenged, said Colonel Perry. There are times that require us to change, adapt and grow. Maya Angelou said, 'I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.' Today I challenge you to rise up to the adversity you will face and never let it reduce you. You do not serve yourself; you serve the citizens of the state of Tennessee and those that travel to and through our state. Governor Henry Horton said it best, you go not as lords but as servants of the people.

Bethel University presented a $5,000 scholarship to Trooper Melton Black. Trooper Black will serve at the Haywood County Scales in the Memphis District.

Trooper DeVonte Quinn of class 0120 and Trooper Thompson Stickler of class 1120 were named the top cadets for their respected class and presented with the Calvin Jenks Memorial Award for Excellence for their leadership, work ethic and academics. The award was named in honor of the late Trooper Calvin Jenks, who was killed in the line of duty in January 2007.
MASON CITY, Iowa - Some good news in the fight against the coronavirus locally. Good Shepherd Health Center says it's done with the first round of coronavirus vaccine doses and is getting ready to give out the second set of shots.

The first vaccination clinic took place on January 14th and they'll be giving out the second dose on February 4th.

Good Shepherd CEO Ian Stockberger says the State of Iowa required the first round of vaccinations to be completed by January 18th.

He says residents were very enthusiastic about the vaccine, and only one or two refused the shot.

Stockberger also reports on how many of their staff have received their shots so far.

"Approximately 60% of our staff have taken the vaccine. That seems low, but the numbers coming in from across the state in nursing homes are anywhere from 30% to 60% of staff have taken the vaccine," said Stockberger.

He also says it is a challenge to get everyone educated on the benefits of the vaccine.
Washington: On day one in office, US President Joe Biden has signed 15 executive orders, reversing some of the key foreign policies and national security decisions of his predecessor Donald Trump.

The executive orders ranged from rejoining the Paris agreement on climate change, halting America's withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, revoking Muslim travel ban and stopping immediate construction of Mexico border wall.

I'm proud of today's executive actions, and I'm going to start by keeping the promises I made to the American people. A long way to go. These are just executive actions. They are important, but we're going to need legislation for a lot of the things we're going to do, Biden told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House as he signed the first lot of executive orders on Wednesday.

The president said he will be signing a number of executive orders over the next several days of the week. And I'm going to start today on the compounding crisis of COVID, along with the economic crisis following that, and climate crisis, racial equity issues, he said.

His first executive order was launching his 100-day masking challenge, asking Americans to mask up for 100 days. Biden is doing his part as well, issuing a mask mandate that will require anyone visiting a federal building or federal land or using certain modes of public transportation to wear a mask, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said.

Addressing her maiden news conference on Wednesday, Psaki said Joe Biden has signed 15 executive orders and two other directives. The president signed an executive order reversing Trump's decision to withdraw from the World Health Organisation, she said.

"This will strengthen our own efforts to get the (coronavirus) pandemic under control by improving global health, and tomorrow we are not wasting any time, she said.

Biden also officially appointed a COVID-19 response coordinator, a position and team that he had already previously announced but made it official today to create a unified national response to the pandemic. He re-established the national security team responsible for global health, security and bio-defence.

Noting that COVID-19 pandemic has triggered an almost unprecedented housing affordability crisis, Psaki said the president took immediate action to confront the crisis and asked relevant agencies to extend nationwide moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures.

The pandemic has also increased the hardships of millions of Americans who owe federal student loans. In response, the president asked the education department to extend the pause on student loan payments and interest, she said.

He (Biden) rejoined the Paris climate agreement putting the United States back in a position to exercise global leadership in advancing the objectives of the ambitious agreement, Psaki said. In a second broad executive order, Biden rolled back harmful regulatory reversals made by the previous administration to protect public health and the environment.

This order protects nation's treasures by reviewing the boundaries for several national monuments, places a temporary moratorium on all oil and natural gas leasing in the Arctic national wildlife refuge and reestablishes the interagency working group on the social cost of greenhouse gases.

He also launched a whole of the government effort to advance racial equity and root out systemic racism from federal programs and institutions. He directed the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Attorney General to take all appropriate actions to preserve and fortify DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which provides temporary relief from deportation to dreamers, young people who were brought to this country as children, Psaki said.

The president also put an end to the Muslim ban, a policy rooted in religious animus and xenophobia. He sent a proclamation effective immediately halting further funding construction of the previous administration's border wall and terminating the so-called national emergency use to wastefully divert billions for wall construction, she said.

Biden also sent an immigration bill (the US Citizenship Act of 2021) to Congress to modernise the immigration system, she said. Biden told reporters that these are just all starting points.

We are going to, in the process of rebuilding the economy, do what I said throughout the campaign and while running: rebuild the backbone of the country, the middle class. And so there's going to be a lot of focus on that. I think some of the things we're going to be doing are bold and vital, and there's no time to start like today," he said.

Live TV
A 19-year-old teenager who had gone missing in November from Rajasthan's Barmer district has been found stranded in Pakistan, a top BSF official said on Thursday.

The Pakistan authorities have confirmed his custody with their police, he said.

Gemra Ram Meghwal, a resident of Kumharo Ka Tibba along the India-Pakistan international border, had gone missing from his home.

His family members lodged a complaint with the Bijrad police station on November 16 but he remained untraceable.

"We held a flag meeting with Pakistan Rangers to check in case the boy had crossed over to Pakistan. After several meetings, they confirmed his custody with the Sindh police in Pakistan," BSF DIG M L Garg told PTI.

He said the Pakistan Rangers informed him that he will be handed over after completion of legal formalities. How he entered Pakistan will be known after his return to India, he added.

Barmer SP Anand Sharma said police had launched a search operation for the teenager but to no avail. He said later the BSF officials were asked to take up the matter with the Pakistan authorities. Police on Thursday again wrote to the BSF to take up the matter.


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Anatomy of a Murder: Rent it on Amazon, FandangoNow, Google Play or Vudu.

As a lawyer Ive had to learn that people arent just good or just bad, but people are many things, Paul Biegler (Stewart) says late in Anatomy of a Murder, in a line that is as close as the movie comes to stating its animating principle. It speaks to Premingers audacity that the film takes an hour before the camera enters a courtroom. The first section is devoted to establishing the characters, teasing out the facts of the case and devising a legal theory that might lead a jury to believe a killing was somehow excusable.

Biegler is a small-time lawyer on Michigans Upper Peninsula, earning a comfortable living while the many fish he has time to catch pile up in his fridge. I run a few abstracts and divorce Jane Doe from John Doe every once in a while, he explains. Hes being modest: Although he doesnt have much experience as a defense lawyer, he used to be the district attorney. His knowledge of that office serves him well when he goes on a different kind of fishing expedition, tricking the current D.A. (Brooks West) into revealing crucial information about a polygraph test.

The case involves a Korean War veteran, Lt. Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara), who has shot and killed a bar owner named Barney Quill. The lieutenants wife, Laura (Lee Remick), had told him that Barney had raped her. I have the unwritten law on my side, Manion tells Biegler, but Biegler explains that the unwritten law is a myth.

The case for letting Manion off will instead rest on a string of written legal premises. Maybe he committed murder in a dissociative state. Maybe that state meets the legal definition of insanity or maybe not. Maybe an obscure precedent from the state Supreme Court will allow Biegler to thread the needle.
Machine Gun Kelly and his girlfriend Megan Fox had an instant connection upon first meeting in March, which has only grown as they bond over their unique beliefs.

During his appearance on Tuesday's episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden, the 30-year-old rapper opened up about being a 'believer in life on other planets,' just like the Transformers actress, 34.

'I saw life on this planet that was from another planet two nights ago over a lake in Thousand Oaks,' he said, before describing a 'red orb' that appeared, then vanished.

Believers: During his appearance on Tuesday's episode of The Late Late Show with James Corden, Machine Gun Kelly opened up about being a 'believer in life on other planets,' just like girlfriend Megan Fox

He continued: 'A red orb came out of nowhere, went and disappeared again.'

Additionally, the star detailed another extraterrestrial encounter, which included seeing a 'blue orb over the Pacific' in Bora Bora, one week before reports of a similar mysterious object (larger than a telephone pole) crashed into the sea near Hawaii.

'They're out here... they're all looking at Earth, like, "You guys are so dumb!"' he mused, while promoting his new single, Concert For Aliens. 'Everything we're doing the past year is so dumb!'

'I saw life on this planet that was from another planet two nights ago over a lake in Thousand Oaks,' he said, before describing a 'red orb' that appeared, then vanished

Out of this world: He went on to describe Earth as 'the best reality show ever for anyone not living'

He went on to describe Earth as 'the best reality show ever for anyone not living' on it.

While many would dismiss his theories about UFOs or extraterrestrial life, Fox has publicly admitted to believing 'in everything' from Big Foot to ghosts for years.

'I'm one of those people who thinks, if aliens are real, when they come back to earth I'm one of the humans they'll contact. It's me - I know it's gonna be me, I've always had that feeling,' she told Cosmopolitan magazine in 2014.

Looking in the right places: Additionally, the star detailed another extraterrestrial encounters, which included seeing a 'blue orb over the Pacific' in Bora Bora, one week before reports of a similar mysterious object (larger than a telephone pole) crashing into the sea near Hawaii

That same year, she also told MTV a ghost poured her 'phantom coffee' at a hotel in Mexico City while with her eldest child and nanny.

'I can't explain to you why they were making those sounds,' she recalled of the strange paranormal activity.

When the host called her beliefs 'outlandish,' she insisted that the existence of aliens and Bigfoot was more than plausible.

Cut from the same cloth: While many would doubt his theories about UFOs or extraterrestrial life, Fox has publicly said she believes 'in everything' from Big Foot to ghosts; seen in 2020

'If they're a more advanced species, why would we be able to find them if they don't want to be found?' the beauty asked, while confirming that she believes in UFOs '1000 percent.'

Additionally, while in her mid-twenties, she defended her fairy-based belief system, which also included believing in leprechauns.

'We should all believe in leprechauns,' the star told Esquire. 'I'm a believer. I believe in all of this stuff. I like believing.'

'I'm one of those people who thinks, if aliens are real, when they come back to earth I'm one of the humans they'll contact. It's me - I know it's gonna be me, I've always had that feeling,' she told Cosmopolitan magazine in 2014

Fox did, however, clarify she wasn't talking about the 'Lucky Charms leprechauns,' but ones in a more 'traditional sense.'

'I believe that this stuff came from somewhere other than people's imaginations. You and I are humans; this is not all of it. This cannot be, because we are so disappointing,' the mother-of-three noted.

'I believe in aliens. I am childlike in my spirit, and I want to believe in fairy tales. Loch Ness Monster  there's something in it. They are my celebrities.'

At the time, Fox also said she loved watching the History Channel series' Ancient Aliens, which posits theories of past human-extraterrestrial contact.
People attending illegal house parties will face 800 fines from next week as police tighten their clampdown on coronavirus rule-breaking.

Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the hefty penalty for anyone attending gatherings of 15 or more people as she lashed out at revellers for spreading Covid.

The fines will double for each repeat offence, up to a maximum of 6,400, she announced as she fronted a Downing Street press conference. Hosts of illegal parties are already eligible for a 10,000 fine.

Flanking Ms Patel, NHS England chief for London Dr Vin Diwakar compared breaking the rules to turning on a light in the middle of a blackout during the Blitz.

'This is the biggest health emergency to face this country since the Second World War,' Dr Diwakar said.

'For me and my colleagues in the NHS breaking the rules in the way that's been described today is like switching on a light in the middle of the blackout in the Blitz.

'It doesn't just put you at risk in your house, it puts your whole street and the whole of your community at risk.'

Ms Patel told the press conference: 'These fines will apply to those who attend illegal gatherings of more than 15 people in homes.

'The science is clear: such irresponsible behaviour poses a significant threat to public health. Not only to those in attendance but to our wonderful police officers who attend these events to shut them down.'

Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the hefty penalty just for people going to illicit events this evening as she lashed out at people aiding the spread of Covid

As part of the Home Secretary's new crackdown, adverts have been produced with an image of partygoers covered in yellow tape which warns of the 800 penalty

Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said officers had had to deal with several dangerous parties this week, including one with 150 people in Hertfordshire and another with 40 people in Brick Lane in London's East End

Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, said officers had had to deal with several dangerous parties this week, including one with 150 people in Hertfordshire and another with 40 people in Brick Lane in London's East End.

He said large gatherings such as house parties are 'dangerous, irresponsible, and totally unacceptable'.

'I hope that the likelihood of an increased fine acts as a disincentive for those people who are thinking of attending or organising such events,' he said.

PM refuses to rule out lockdown lasting to SUMMER Boris Johnson today refused to rule out the brutal lockdown lasting until the summer amid claims he is willing to keep curbs longer to ensure it is the last national squeeze. The PM insisted it is 'too early to say' whether the restrictions will stay in place for months longer - despite cases falling by more than a fifth on last week and hopes rising that the most vulnerable groups will be vaccinated by mid-February, with a record 366,919 jabs administered in 24 hours. Mr Johnson also delivered a stark message that the new coronavirus strain is 'much more contagious', repeating his plea for people to stay at home and obey the rules. The intervention came as scientists delivered a grim warning that even mass vaccinations will not be enough to stop the disease spreading, suggesting that measures will need to remain longer. There are claims from the PM's circle that he is ready to risk the wrath of Tory MPs - who are clamouring for confirmation of an easing starting March 8 - by persisting with the curbs. Advertisement

'When we see people that are putting themselves and others in danger, we will not waste time trying to reason with them. They are demonstrating no regard for the safety of others, or even for themselves.'

It comes as the Crown Prosecution Service revealed that assaults on emergency workers were the most common covid-related crimes.

The CPS said it charged 1,688 people for assaults against emergency workers between April 1 and September 30, following the UK's first national lockdown.

Many of these involved police officers being 'coughed and spat on' and others being 'kicked, bitten and hit with heavy objects'.

Director of public prosecutions Max Hill said the attacks were 'particularly appalling' and incidents were still taking place, adding: 'I will continue to do everything in my power to protect those who so selflessly keep us safe during this crisis.'

At the Downing Street briefing, Ms Patel said breaches of lockdown rules were 'costing lives'.

Speaking to a Downing Street press conference, she said: 'We are clear that the majority of the British public are following the rules.

'You've heard today, quite frankly, some pretty shocking examples (of rule breaches) from Martin (Hewitt) - I hear examples like that every single day from police and it is really just very disturbing to hear examples of the grievous breaches.

'The majority of the British public who are complying with the rules will want that assurance, they want to know that when it comes to policing that those who are breaking the rules are being fined.

'These grievous breaches are costing lives.'

The UK recorded another 37,892 infections today, but that was down more than a fifth on last Thursday.

There were another 1,290 deaths but that was up just 3.4 per cent on the same day last week, suggesting that the rate might be slowing.

Dr Diwakar said: 'The situation in our hospitals in the NHS remains really precarious.

'In London, more than half of all patients in hospital are being treated for coronavirus and sadly over 1,000 patients died in hospital in London just last week, every single one a tragedy.

'Nationally, there are 34,000 people in hospital and pressure remains intense on our staff.

'We do have hope now with an increasing amount of people vaccinated but we must remain vigilant.

'Stay home, follow the guidance and help us to save lives.'

It came as Government officials reportedly launched talks with hotel groups over the possibility of hosting incoming travellers following their arrival in the UK.

Britain's Covid vaccine postcode lottery: Cumbria has dished out 10 TIMES more jabs than parts of the Midlands Medics in Cumbria and the North East of England have handed out 10 times more Covid vaccines than those in Shropshire, NHS data reveals today. The most detailed breakdown of local vaccination rates released so far has laid bare the postcode lottery showing 10 per cent of the population in Gloucestershire have had a jab already, compared to just 3.6 per cent of East Londoners. Herefordshire and Worcestershire had also managed to immunise one in 10 of their residents by January 17, the figures show. Coverage appears to be higher in more rural areas and lower in cities, with the lowest vaccination rates in London and the East Midlands. Rural areas tend to have higher average age of their residents and more elderly people, which may give them access to more vaccine doses to distribute. It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said that Britain has successfully given more than 5million Covid vaccine doses to 4.6million people. The programme has sped up after a brief slowdown over the weekend, and is now reaching more than 300,000 people per day as it hurtles towards the target of immunising the country's 13.9million most vulnerable people by February 15. Boris Johnson has warned that achieving this target will be 'very hard' but it has emerged today that, officially, the Government is only aiming to 'offer' the jabs to that number of people and it won't declare failure if they aren't all delivered on time. Government sources admit not everyone will take up the invitation, with polls indicating that a fifth of the population might refuse. Advertisement

The move is said to be part of the Government's effort to prevent the spread of mutant Covid strains in Britain - with officials fearing the variants could be resistant to the current vaccines.

The UK yesterday recorded its worst daily coronavirus death toll, with 1,820 fatalities.

Under such a scheme, arrivals could be forced to stay in designated hotels for up to 14 days. Food would be provided by the hotel or ordered in via a local takeaway service.

The Home Secretary said it is 'far too early' to speculate on restrictions, when asked whether people should be booking a foreign holiday for this summer.

Asked whether Britain could keep its borders closed to people outside the UK until the autumn, she said: 'Our focus of course, with regards to borders and travel, people should not be travelling (now) unless of course it is absolutely critical and essential.'

She said the Government's focus remains on delivering the vaccine.

She added: 'We have stringent measures (at the border) for a very good reason because we want to protect the health of members of the public and also we want to make sure that we can deliver and safeguard this world-leading vaccine rollout programme.'

'We stand ready to strengthen our border policy,' he said. 'If there is anything further we need to introduce ... we will take action.'

Similar systems have been used in Australia, which recorded just 204 new Covid cases in the last 14 days, and New Zealand, which recorded just 81 cases in the last fortnight.

If the UK does follow in the footsteps of Australia, it could be the traveller who foots the bill for the hotel stay.

Ms Patel will be accompanied tonight by Martin Hewitt, chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council, and Dr Vin Diwakar, NHS England regional medical director for London.

It comes as she faces scrutiny over her attitude to the border, after revealing this week that she clashed with Boris Johnson last March, saying the borders should be immediately closed.

The Prime Minister only this month introduced plans to make all arrivals, UK and foreign nationals, prove they had tested negative for coronavirus on arrivial/.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said today that the Home Secretary may have broken the ministerial code by advocating border closures against Government policy.

As a Secretary of State, Ms Patel must abide by the principle that ministers maintain a united front on positions after they have been agreed.

Asked about her comments on strengthening the border, Sir Keir told reporters: 'That does call into question the ministerial code but it also calls into question the Prime Minister's judgment.

'She may have broken the ministerial code but that is secondary. The issue that matters here is has the Prime Minister, has the Cabinet, taken the measures necessary to secure our borders.

'People are much more interested in that question than whether somebody has broken the ministerial code.'

Tony Blair calls for 600,000 people to be vaccinated EVERY DAY Tony Blair has called for 600,000 vaccinations to be carried out each day to enable almost all Covid restrictions to be lifted by mid-May, four months earlier than currently planned. The former prime minister said an accelerated rollout, as vaccine production is stepped up, could see the country move back to Tier Three restrictions in late February and Tier One as soon as early April. Most remaining restrictions could be lifted as soon as around 70 per cent of adults have been vaccinated  mid-May under Mr Blair's plans. The accelerated rollout could also save 3,000 extra lives and around 50billion in lost economic activity, says a report by the Tony Blair Institute. The intervention comes amid growing concern that Britain's vaccine roll-out is slowing down and that the pledge to vaccinate the most vulnerable by mid-February is under threat. The report by the Tony Blair Institute said that with rates of manufacture set to grow rapidly in coming weeks, new modelling shows just how much there is to gain if the UK can be ready for accelerated rollout. It lays out plans for an accelerated rollout plan which would grow to average 600,000 vaccines per day in March. The plans include working with manufacturers to speed up production as well as opening more vaccine centres. In the foreword, Mr Blair said: 'The UK government is ramping up vaccination, and this is excellent news. There is acceptance that the only constraint should be the supply of vaccines. Advertisement

It came as Covid cases dropped 15 per cent during the first week of England's lockdown, according to official figures that offer more evidence that the blanket measure is working.

NHS Test and Trace data today showed 330,871 people tested positive for coronavirus across the country during the week ending January 13. For comparison, the figure stood at 389,191 in the first week of 2021.

It is the first week-on-week fall since the beginning of December, when cases dipped as England emerged from its second national lockdown.

But last week's fall was not down to fewer tests being carried out  an extra 400,000 swabs were analysed in the most recent seven-day spell and the number of positives still dropped. It is another promising sign that the third lockdown, which began on January 5, is bringing England's outbreak under control.

Although cases are high with tens of thousands more cases every day, infections have stopped rising at the rate they were in December when the virus was out of control.

But the figures come after a shocking study that today suggested England's third lockdown isn't working. Imperial College London's REACT-1 mass-testing project estimated 1.58 per cent of England's population had coronavirus in the first 10 days of lockdown, sparking fears that the current restrictions aren't tough enough.

Dismissing the fears that even tighter measures are needed, scientists said the Imperial study does not prove that infections are rising because it missed out a drop from the second wave's likely peak in December.

Researchers behind the study, which could be used to pile more pressure on Boris Johnson, hoped further testing in January would show infection numbers come down as the effects of lockdown properly set in.

Other studies tracking the Covid outbreak suggest more optimistic trends. Even Department of Health statistics show daily infections have plunged since the start of the lockdown, from an average of almost 60,000 to closer to 40,000.

Cambridge University estimates show that the R rate of the virus is likely below one, while Public Health England last week claimed cases dropped in all age groups. King's College researchers also say cases have fallen 'steadily' since the New Year.

Will Britain's vaccine drive be enough to end Covid crisis? UK WON'T achieve herd immunity through jab rollout, study claims as SAGE warns lockdown may be needed until MAY because vaccines 'aren't a panacea' that will protect vulnerable

Britain won't achieve herd immunity with the current coronavirus vaccines even if every single Briton is injected, a study claimed today.

It came as Boris Johnson refused to rule out keeping the lockdown in place until the summer and SAGE scientists warned draconian restrictions will be needed until May.

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that the efficacy of current vaccines, combined with the emergence of more infectious variants of the virus, meant keeping the R below one without lockdown restrictions could become impossible.

UEA researchers say that even if every man, woman and child in the UK gets both doses of the Oxford jab it would only bring the R  the average number of people each patient infects  down to 1.3. But, because this vaccine is approved for over-18s only, the R would remain at about two when curbs are lifted completely.

The study found Pfizer's jab  which is more effective at blocking coronavirus than the Oxford one  is capable of bringing the R below one and achieving herd immunity but it would require inoculating teenagers. Currently the jab is only approved for over-16s. Researchers warned it would 'likely be impossible' to hit the 82 per cent target needed for herd immunity because 'people will refuse the vaccine'.

Scientists have always known eradicating Covid was an impossible task and the goal of the vaccine programme is not to prevent all transmission from occurring. Herd immunity occurs when enough of the population is immune to an infectious disease, stopping it from spreading.

Instead, the UK's scheme is aimed at preventing the most vulnerable from dying or falling sick and piling pressure on the NHS. It's hoped that once all vulnerable groups are immunised, the disease will become more manageable and restrictions can be gradually lifted.

But scientists on the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned today that the strict shutdown will need to remain in place until at least May because of the current pace of the vaccine rollout. Boris Johnson has promised to consider easing restrictions in mid-February once the 14million most vulnerable people have been given their first dose of the jabs.

But SAGE scientists who have modelled the rollout say easing restrictions next month has the 'potential' to cause a bigger epidemic than the one now because the single dose will only provide weak protection. They warned that with huge community transmission and an NHS on the brink of being overwhelmed, loosening lockdown even slightly next month would lead to an 'unsustainable' situation.

Professor Matt Keeling, an epidemiologist from the University of Warwick, said: 'I certainly don't want individuals going to bars and restaurants on the 16th [of February]. If we've given people their first dose by February 15, that's not going to give that much protection.' He warned the most 'optimistic' outcome would be for 'some' restrictions to be lifted in May. Dr Marc Baguelin, an infectious disease expert at Imperial College London who was also involved in the modelling, claimed that easing lockdown before then would cause a spike 'that is really bad'.

The data comes as 366,919 Covid vaccine doses were administered across the UK yesterday, putting the Government on track to hit its target of 13.9million people by the middle of February.

Pictured, the impact on R rate for various vaccination scenarios, herd immunity is only achieved if R is kept below 1. The green line shows the Pfizer vaccine, and the blue line shows the effectiveness of Oxford's vaccine according to the 70.4% effectiveness claimed in data sent to MHRA. The red line shows data from phase 3 clinical trials for two standards dose jabs of the Oxford jab against both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection

Lifting lockdown completely before spring could lead to up to 6,000 daily Covid deaths, depending on how good the vaccines are at stopping transmission, something scientists won't know for months when more studies are completed. But the SAGE scientists who did the modelling stressed these were imperfect models based on lots of variables and should not be interpreted as predictions

They claimed an extremely gradual approach that keeps some lockdown measures in place until later this year or even 2022 was the best way to keep deaths low and hospitals protected

SAGE scientists Professor Mark Woolhouse, Professor Matt Keeling and Dr Marc Baguelin, as well as Imperial College London infectious diseases expert Dr Anne Cori. The four scientists modelled how Britain's epidemic will change during the vaccine rollout

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found the highly-virulent B.1.1.7 strain which evolved in Kent in September has made it impossible to ever achieve herd immunity with the current effectiveness of vaccines. Pictuured, Basil Henry, 84, is one of the first people to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the opening of the first Pharmacy2U Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Odeon Cinema in Aylesbury

Sir Patrick Vallance said yesterday that at least 70 per cent of the population would need to be protected from the virus  either by vaccination or previous infection  in order to achieve herd immunity.

Currently, 4.6million people in the UK have had at least one of their jabs, according to official NHS figures, and researchers tracking the outbreak estimate one in eight people have been infected already  12 per cent.

This leaves at least 39million people who need to get the jab to ensure the UK reaches the 70 per cent mark touted by Sir Patrick, the government's chief scientific advisor.

But the target figure could become much smaller as people develop natural immunity by catching the virus in the ongoing outbreaks.

The UEA study found the 70 per cent mark was only true for the original strain of coronavirus, which has now been displaced by the more infectious Kent variant that spooked No10 into England's third national lockdown.

Professor Azra Ghani, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study, said: 'The herd immunity threshold is the level of the population that needs to be immune to reduce R below one and therefore eliminate circulating virus.

'When the basic reproductive number (R0) is high, we need both high efficacy vaccines and a high uptake of vaccination across the population to achieve this threshold.'

The research from Professor Paul Hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted.

Three vaccines have already been given regulatory approval in the UK, from Oxford/AstraZeneca, Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer. A fourth jab made by Johnson and Johnson is expected to be given the green light within weeks.

The jabs have all been found to be effective at stopping symptomatic infection and therefore preventing severe disease and death.

The study looked at vaccine effectiveness and the R rate of the coronavirus and assumed people with a vaccine can spread the virus.

This is a hotly-debated topic among scientists who are trying to determine the level of 'sterilising immunity'of vaccines.

Sterilising immunity is the phrase used to describe the process where the body's immune system completely neutralises the virus and stops it replicating.

'We don't know if any of the vaccines provide sterilising immunity,' Professor Hunter told MailOnline. 'As far as we can tell, if you are to stop somebody spreading the infection, you need sterilising immunity.'

Data shows vaccinating 69 per cent of the UK's population with Pfizer's jab, which trials have found is 95 per cent effective, would be enough for herd immunity against the old strain.

However, 93 per cent of the UK population would need to be vaccinated if receiving the Oxford vaccine, which rigorous studies found was slightly less effective at 70 per cent.

But when accounting for the new variant, which the academics assume is around 56 per cent more infectious, the equation changes dramatically when combined with just 70 per cent effectiveness.

'Vaccinating the entire population with the Oxford vaccine would only reduce the R value to 1.325 while the Pfizer vaccine would require 82 per cent of the population to be vaccinated to control the spread of the new variant,' the researchers wrote in their study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed but is available online a preprint.

Professor Grant said Oxford's Covid vaccine reduces the likelihood of serious illness following infection but is less effective at stopping asymptomatic infection.

The researchers worked on the assumption the Oxford vaccine is 70.4 per cent effective against Covid infection, as this is the headline figure on the study data received by the MHRA which led to its approval last month.

However, this figure is based on the protection from severe disease, which leads to death. But when accounting for asymptomatic infections, it is only 52.5 per cent effective, Professor Grant said.

Pictured, the Al Abbas Mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a covid vaccination centre. The research from Professor Paul hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted

A mosque in Birmingham has today begun offering coronavirus vaccinations, amid fears take up is too low among BAME groups

A cinema in Aylesbury has also started handing out jabs to the most vulnerable, as Britain races to meet its target of 14million first doses by mid-February

Pharmacists pictured at the Al Abbas mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a vaccination hub to turbo charge the rollout

'This means that its overall protection against infection is only partial  around 50 per cent.

'This combination of relatively low headline efficacy and limited effect on asymptomatic infections means that the Oxford vaccine can't take us to herd immunity, even if the whole population is immunised.

'Vaccinating 82 per cent of the population with the Pfizer vaccine would control the spread of the virus  but it isn't licenced for use on under 16s, who make up 19 per cent of the population.

'Also, some people will refuse the vaccine, so achieving an 82 per cent vaccination rate will likely be impossible.'

The academics recommend healthcare workers who are highly exposed to the virus should receive the more effective mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and not the less effective Oxford vaccine.

Professor Grant says the Oxford vaccine still has an important role to play in controlling the virus, but is 'unlikely to fully control the virus or take the UK population to herd immunity' unless the Oxford developers find a way to deliver the two doses in a way which increases its efficacy beyond the current 70 per cent figure.

'If we cannot achieve herd immunity, vulnerable unvaccinated individuals will remain at risk.

'We do need to consider how best to protect these individuals when social restrictions are eventually relaxed as the result of a successful vaccine roll out programme.'

Professor Hunter told MailOnline that getting the more effective mRNA jabs to healthcare workers should be of consideration for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the vaccine priority list.

'We also need to vaccinate every vulnerable person who needs to be vaccinated and we need to do more to fascinate people who don't want vaccine and may be relying on herd immunity, as this is likely impossible.'

However, although they believe healthcare workers should get the Pfizer jab, they do not believe it should be prioritised for all vulnerable people, including those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and all people over 70.

'It is not necessary to give vulnerable people the Pfizer vaccine and not the Oxford one. I would be hard pushed to say the Oxford vaccine is any worse or better than other vaccines at preventing severe disease,' Professor Hunter said.

The researchers included the Kent strain, which now accounts for at least 61 per cent of all UK infections, in their analysis, but did not have enough data to look at the impact of the South Africa variant.

Professor Hunter told MailOnline that getting the more effective mRNA jabs to healthcare workers should be of consideration for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the vaccine priority list

'The British variant does not seem to be an escape mutant as it is lacking the E484K gene,' Professor Hunter said. The E484K gene mutation is believed to make the virus adept at avoiding antibodies which have been made by the human immune system following prior infection.

As a result, it is to blame for numerous reinfection events and scientists are growing increasingly concerned it may be able to evade current vaccines.

'The problem with the English strain is it spreading more quickly,' Professor Hunter added.

'The South Africa strain is a different matter and has both the increased infection mutant and a degree of escape mutant. This does not necessarily mean the vaccine is useless but is probably slightly less effective.'

Dr Jonathan Stoye, of the Francis Crick Institute but not involved in the study, said: 'It reaches the provocative conclusion that administration of the adenovirus-based vaccine from Oxford/AstraZeneca alone, despite a major reduction in the seriousness of Covid disease, is unlikely to generate the herd immunity needed for complete control of virus spread.

'Based on the data currently available, this study appears strong and the conclusion unarguable.

'It points to a continuing role for non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the wearing of face masks and hand washing as well as suggesting a possible utility for booster vaccinations with RNA based delivery systems.'

It comes as a team of SAGE scientists - from universities in Edinburgh, Warwick and Imperial College London - used mathematical modelling to estimate how Britain's epidemic would change under the current vaccination rollout.

A doom-mongering graph produced by the group showed that lifting lockdown completely before spring could lead to up to 6,000 daily Covid deaths, depending on how good the vaccines are at stopping transmission. They claimed this was possible because the virus would race through the small percentage of vulnerable people who were not protected and it would also affect some of those who are vaccinated, because the vaccines are imperfect.

But the group stressed these were imperfect models based on lots of variables and should not be interpreted as predictions. They claimed an extremely gradual approach that keeps some lockdown measures in place until this autumn or even next year was the best way to keep deaths low and hospitals protected.

Dr Anne Cori, a statistical modeller who was part of the research, stressed that vaccines were 'imperfect'. They have been shown to be up to 95 per cent effective at stopping people from falling seriously ill with the disease, but to what extend the prevent patients from spreading the disease is unknown.

The effectiveness of a single dose - currently the UK's strategy to try to speed up the scheme - is also unknown. Dr Cori warned that even if the UK can meet its ambitious goal of delivering 3million doses of vaccine a week, 'it'll take until late April to give only one dose to everyone who is eligible'.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at Edinburgh University, said even if 90 per cent of vulnerable people take the vaccine - higher than expected - that leaves over two million people who remain susceptible to severe Covid.

Around 25million people are covered by the 10 priority categories set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

With community transmission so high, it means the remaining 2.5m of un-vaccinated vulnerable Brits would be likely to be exposed to the virus. 'If we relax it's quite possible we'll get a resurgence after phase one,' Professor Woolhouse warned.

Dr Cori added: 'Vaccines should be seen as a magic tool, but not a magic bullet.

'Their effect is not going to be instantaneous. Benefit will only be seen when we get very high coverage. The messaging to people needs to be very clear, we need the maximum number of people [to get the jab].'

Reports yesterday claimed that Boris Johnson was targeting Good Friday on April 2 as the earliest date for a significant lifting of the lockdown. According to the Sun, the PM has started 'top secret' planning for millions to meet their families over Easter. But several sources told the Mail that even this date could look optimistic if the vaccine rollout ran into difficulties.

One attendee at a government summit with business leaders on Monday claimed ministers had warned that heavy restrictions could remain until May or even June. Tory MPs have voiced concerns about 'mission creep', with scientists lobbying for restrictions to stay in place until more categories of the population have been given the vaccine.
Front entrance to the University of Queensland on Jan. 12, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Daniel Teng/The Epoch Times)

325 Australian-Based Scientists, Researchers Identified as Recruits for Beijing

Australian Research Funds Could Be Supporting CCP Military Tech Development

Over 325 academics and scientists in Australian universities and research institutes have been identified as alleged recruits of Beijings controversial overseas talent-recruitment programs.

The allegations raise questions over potential conflicts of interest, grant fraud, and Australian research funds inadvertently advancing the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) military technology.

Alex Joske of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), wrote to the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security claiming that despite 325 individuals being identified, as many as 600 could be connected to Beijing-backed partnerships.

Major universities with recruits include Monash (35); University of Queensland (31); University of New South Wales (27); University of Sydney (19); and Australian National University (19).

A student walks around the University of New South Wales campus in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Recruits are encouraged to transfer technology to China and commercialise it, including technologies with military and security applications, Joske wrote in his parliamentary submission (pdf).

Cases such as that of a Thousand Talents Plan scholar and former University of Queensland professor providing AI-enabled surveillance technology to authorities in Xinjiang highlight the human rights implications of such technology transfer, he stated.

The Thousand Talents Plan is one of several programs backed by CCP-affiliated institutions aimed at enticing talented individuals to participate in research partnerships.

Prospects are often offered large sums of money or promises of new research facilities.

Most notably, former chair of Harvard Universitys chemistry department Charles Lieber received $2.25 million over a three-year period from various Chinese institutions. At the same time, Lieber was also receiving millions of dollars in grants from the U.S. government.

Joske alleges that 59 Australian-based individuals received funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC), while also working for Chinese-backed companies or laboratories.

Students walk around Sydney University on April 6, 2016. (Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

CCP talent recruitment activity in Australia may be associated with as much as AU$280 million in grant fraud over the past two decades, Joske wrote.

The Australian government, research institutions and funding agencies should seek to understand the extent of foreign talent-recruitment activity affecting them, he added.

ARC funding recipient George Zhao of the University of Queensland (UQ) received AU$3.9 million from two fellowships to fund research into energy storage technology.

Over the same period, Zhao established the Qingdao Gelubo company in Chinas northeast to develop and sell batteriesthe same technology he was developing at UQ.

Zhao also became director at the Institute of Materials for Energy and Environment at Qingdao University. The Institute would later carry out research on bulletproof clothing, armour, and military-use protective materials.

Since 2015, Zhao has registered over 39 patents to his name and the above institutions, while Zhao registered zero patents during his time with UQ.

Generally, Chinese institutions will retain the patents to any research, invention, or intellectual property created in research partnerships, sparking concerns the work will be exploited for military purposes.

In 2017, Chinese leader Xi Jinping formalised his Military-Civil Fusion doctrine, which allows the CCP to repurpose civilian technologies for the Peoples Liberation Army.

A model of an FL-71 drone is seen on display at the Chinese Defense Information Equipment and Technology exhibition in Beijing on June 18, 2019. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

The ARC explained funding was not granted to individuals, but universities.

The ARC expects the highest standards of integrity in all aspects of research it funds and the agency takes all allegations of wrongdoing seriously and investigates any allegations that come to its attention to ensure the appropriate expenditure of Commonwealth funds, an ARC spokesperson told The Epoch Times.

The ARC has not received any details of the allegations being raised, he continued.

All universities have obligations to ensure that appropriate due diligence is undertaken in relation to its employees, and that any research and intellectual property developed as a result of research is appropriately protected, he added.

Joske said universities needed to ensure staff were fully briefed on foreign talent recruitment programs.

An ASPI report released in August found Australia was home to 57 talent-recruitment stations (recruitment channels) operating under the Thousand Talents Program, which was the second-highest number of stations in the world after the United States which had 146.

Currently Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security is conducting a broad-ranging inquiry into national security risks affecting Australian universities.

For years, the tertiary sector has received intense scrutiny for its reliance on the overseas Chinese student market, which is believed to have compromised free speech on campuses, and allowed Beijing to expand its influence.

Significant concerns have also been raised over the influence of the CCP via its Confucius Institutes with the suspension of pro-democracy student-activist Drew Pavlou by UQ touted as a prime example of the Chinese regimes reach into the Australian university sector.
Leaders from around the world congratulated newly sworn-in U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday, expressing cautious optimism over future relations after four years of tumult under Donald Trump.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel praised the swearing-in ceremony of the new president and vice president as a true celebration of American democracy.

I look forward to a new chapter of German-American friendship and cooperation, said her spokesman Steffen Seibert, who quoted the chancellor on Twitter.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who butted heads with Trump over trade, said that Canada and the United States enjoy one of the most unique relationships in the world.

He said he looked forward to working with the new administration to promote climate action, clean economic growth, inclusion and diversity.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called Wednesday the start of a new chapter.

The 70-year-old Western military alliance was shaken by Trumps frequent criticism, who often cast it as a drain on U.S. resources.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who appeared to have a chummy relationship with Trump, congratulated Biden on being sworn in as President of the United States and Harris on her historic inauguration on Twitter.

Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, had earlier expressed his eagerness to work with Mr Biden.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was blunt in telling Scotlands Parliament Trump wouldnt be missed.

Im sure many of us across the chamber and across Scotland will be very happy to say cheerio to Donald Trump today, British news agency PA Media reported her as saying.

In Brussels, top European Union officials welcomed a new era of cooperation with Washington after four years of often being treated like a hostile ally.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tweeted that this is a great day for democracy, reaching far beyond the American borders.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin gave special mention to Harris, saying my warmest congratulations! I look forward (to) working with you and the new administration.

She named the climate, equality, and human rights as areas of focus.

Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Facebook that she hoped Biden would become a unifying force after the unrest and division seen in American society.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison congratulated Biden and Harris and said the Australia-U.S. Alliance has never been more important.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of Trumps, congratulated Biden and said that he hoped the two countries could pursue a free trade deal, in a letter posted on Twitter.

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Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga congratulated Biden and Harris and said he looked forward to working with you and your team to strengthen our alliance and realise a free and open Indo-Pacific.

South Koreas President Moon Jae In has expressed hope for future strengthening of the two countries alliance: America is back, Moon wrote in a congratulatory message addressed to Biden on Twitter.

In a separate congratulatory telegram to the U.S. president, Moon wrote that he wished the two could meet directly in the near future to build friendship and trust.

We wish you and your administration every success. Taiwan stands ready to work with you as a global force for good, Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who enjoyed a warm relationship with Trump, also voiced optimism.

I look forward to working with you to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel alliance, to continue expanding peace between Israel and the Arab world and to confront common challenges, chief among them the threat posed by Iran, he said.

The Palestinians meanwhile hope Washington will dial down its pro-Israel stance.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said we look forward to working together for peace and stability in the region and the world.

He also expressed his readiness for a comprehensive and just peace process that would achieve the wishes of the Palestinian people in freedom and independence.

Other nations also expressed cautious hope for a reset in relations ahead of the inauguration, while prioritising their own interests.

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro said he wanted to build relations for the future and to improve our relationship with mutual respect, urging the U.S. to to leave behind the lies, the manipulation and the hatred.

The U.S. has long been critical of the authoritarian government in Caracas, but in the past four years under Trump, pressure and sanctions had increased significantly.

China was hoping for a collaboration beneficial to both sides, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said, adding that the country would maintain its own interests and would not be defamed by the U.S.

Meanwhile, arch-rival Iran said it was ready to clear its differences with the U.S. But the ball was in Washingtons court, President Hassan Rowhani told state television on Wednesday.

Of the 2015 nuclear deal, Rowhani said that if Biden was serious about fulfilling its international obligations towards Iran, Tehran would do likewise.

(dpa/NAN)
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
"In Peru, the promotion of PPPs is a State policy; there is not only a solid legal framework, but also a system made up of various entities with specific roles, and a robust portfolio of mature projects," Ugaz expressed.

[AHORA] Con el fin de promover el portafolio de proyectos de Asociaciones Publico-Privadas (APP) y Obras por Impuestos (OxI) para este 2021, PROINVERSION organiza webinar dirigido a empresas nacionales e internacionales. #ElPeruSaldraAdelante pic.twitter.com/6o7ix0AKjU
The coronavirus pandemic has sparked a recession and massive unemployment, but some industries are now thriving and providing new job opportunities.

Neva Read is a Sydney-based digital marketer who saw demand for her services increase despite the pandemic downturn. Credit:Wolter Peeters

Professor Phil Lewis, director of the University of Canberrra's Centre for Labour Market Research, said Australian Bureau of Statistics labour force figures showed that retail, public administration and mining were among sectors that were booming.

"The economy has been moving more towards the service based economy  less manufacturing, less emphasis on physical work, apart from construction and mining," he said.

The aged and health care sectors were growing, while the cafe, restaurant and hotel sectors have taken a big hit.


Hill College To Provide Financial Assistance With Reskilling Grant Hill College recently received a $112,500 Texas Reskilling Grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB).



The grant is specifically designed to support displaced Texas workers who need to reskill or upskill to get back into the workforce and to support students who have previously stepped out of higher education complete a postsecondary credential.



Hill College identified 49 workforce credentials aligned with the top targeted occupations for its service area and the state of Texas, which include programs providing degrees and certifications for occupations in construction and mechanical technology, law enforcement, health care, business administration and professional services, information technology, welding, fire science, emergency medical services and education.



The Hill College service area is split between the North Central Texas and Heart of Texas workforce development boards, so we used the targeted occupations list from those two areas to help determine which programs this grant will support, said Hill College Vice President of External Affairs Jessyca Brown. This is important to the distribution of grant funds because the targeted occupations lists identify high-growth, high-demand and emerging occupations that are critical to the state and local economies for our service area.



Our goal is to help qualifying students who were unable to finish their certification or degree in 2020, or in prior years, re-enroll and complete a program, said Brown. We are eager to help students complete their educational goals so that they can quickly return to the workforce with increased wage earnings, which will also help stimulate local economic development.



Hill College is one of 40 educational institutions statewide to receive these funds under the Texas Reskilling Support Fund Grant Program, which is supported by a portion of the $175 million allocation to the THECB from the Governors Emergency Educational Relief (GEER) Fund. Grant funds will provide financial assistance for tuition and fees to a minimum of 75 students through December 2021.



For more information about Hill College, visit www.hill college.edu. For questions and additional information about grant eligibility, contact scholarships@hillcollege.edu.


Bubbles of methane gas in water around an unplugged oil/gas well in Pennsylvania. Credit: Mary Kang

A recent McGill study published in Environmental Science and Technology finds that annual methane emissions from abandoned oil and gas (AOG) wells in Canada and the US have been greatly underestimatedby as much as 150% in Canada, and by 20% in the US. Indeed, the research suggests that methane gas emissions from AOG wells are currently the 10th and 11th largest sources of anthropogenic methane emission in the US and Canada, respectively. Since methane gas is a more important contributor to global warming than carbon dioxide, especially over the short term, the researchers believe that it is essential to gain a clearer understanding of methane emissions from AOG wells to understand their broader environmental impacts and move towards mitigating the problem.

Multiple sources of uncertainty

The researchers show that the difficulties in estimating overall methane emissions from AOG wells in both countries are due to a lack of information about both the quantities of methane gas being emitted annually from AOG wells (depending on whether and how well they have been capped), and about the number of AOG wells themselves.

"Oil and gas development started in the late 1850s both in Canada and the US," explains Mary Kang, the senior author on the paper and an assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at McGill. "Many companies that dug wells have come and gone since then, so it can be hard to find records of the wells that once existed."

Thousands of undocumented AOG wells

To determine the number of AOG wells, the researchers analyzed information from 47 state, provincial or territorial databases as well as from research articles and national repositories of drilled and active wells in the US and Canada.

They found that, of the over 4,000,000 AOG wells they estimate to exist in the US, more than 500,000 are undocumented by the relevant state agencies. A similar picture emerges in Canada. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) only has records going back to 1955 although historical documents confirm that oil and gas activity in Canada began in the 1850s. Based on the various sources they examined, the researchers estimate that there are over 370,000 AOG wells in Canada. Over 60,000 of are not included in databases of provincial or territorial agencies.

More methane gas emitted by AOG wells than shown by government records

To gain a better sense of exactly how much methane was being emitted from the wells, the researchers analyzed close to 600 direct measurements of methane emissions drawn from existing studies covering the AOG wells in the states of Ohio, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, West Virginia and Pennsylvania in the US and from British Columbia and New Brunswick in Canada. They developed different scenarios to attribute different levels of annual methane emissions to the wells, depending on what is known of the plugging status of the wells as well as whether they were oil or gas wells.

"We see that methane emissions from abandoned wells can vary regionally, highlighting the importance of gathering measurements from Texas and Alberta which have the highest percentage of wells in the U.S. and Canada and no prior measurements," adds James P. Williams, the first author on the study and a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil Engineering at McGill.

All five scenarios show annual emissions of methane gas from AOG wells in the US that are approximately 1/5th higher than the amount that the US EPA's estimates for 2018. In Canada, the study findings suggest that methane emissions from AOG wells in 2018 were nearly three times higher than estimated by Environment and Climate Change Canada.

"As society transitions away from fossil fuels, the millions of oil and gas wells around the world will be abandoned," says Kang. "It is critical to determine the climate, air, water and other environmental impacts of these wells quickly."

Explore further Nanoengineered cement shows promise for sealing leaky gas wells
59th Inauguration Shows America Being United as the First Black Woman Becomes Vice President

America has seen true darkness; the COVID-19 outbreak catapulted the nation into a new way of operation, with many lives lost. The escalated climate during the leadership of the 45th president, Donald Trump, coupled with unjust behavior fueled by racism, created a hemorrhage in the countrys unity and applied pressure to a new awareness around the minds of society.

However, there is a new light leading America; one that touches a new precipice, as the nation witnesses Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman take an oath as Vice President on Wednesday, January 20. The 59th Inauguration had an air of division, but due to Kamala Harris presence, there is a beacon that is signaling equality and unity that will guide monumental steps into a new day in America.

Events leading up to the inauguration set the stage for the original vision of Martin Luther King, Jr. On Monday, the Presidential Inaugural Committee collaborated with multiple organizations to highlight the national day recognized for Martin Luther King, Jr.; the hour-long televised celebration brought a wide range of speakers and entertainers, such as Dr. Bernice King, Martin Luther King III, Aloe Blacc, and Rev. Al Sharpton. Harris is living proof that Kings words have carried through generations in order to get to this point of acceptance.

Newly sworn-in national leaders, Biden and Harris, took their oath on Jan. 20, at 7 a.m. pacific standard time. They were surrounded by heavy security due to recent events that compromised the safety of Capitol Hill weeks before.

President Biden and Vice President Harris attended a service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle before heading to the ceremony, where they have devoted their time in office to uniting America. Former president, Trump did not participate in the passing of the torch; he was set to be at the Palm Beach International Airport as the event took place, according to CBS News.

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Howard Universitys Showtime Marching Band escorted Vice President Kamala Harris and performed a special drum cadence in her honor. Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick stated, It is our esteemed honor to be involved in the historic inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Pop icon, Lady Gaga sang the National Anthem, and Jennifer Lopez serenaded Capitol Hill with This Land is Your Land. Later that day, Tom Hanks hosted a 90-minute primetime television special that celebrated the Biden-Harris inauguration. Other performers included Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato, and Ant Clemons.

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latinx woman to serve on the Supreme Court, administered the oath to Kamala Harris; the new vice president raised her right hand with pride and defined today as a monumental time in American history.

President Joe Biden was sworn in and called for America to be better in his following speech. President Biden stated, Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation, and I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Amanda Gorman is Americas first youth poet laureate; her words followed President Bidens inaugural speech. Gorman said, We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be, a country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free. We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will become the future.

Mirroring the new normal Americans see today, the 59th inauguration looked different. The events pandemic restraints allowed 1,000 people in attendance; generally, 200,000 tickets are distributed. This inauguration was the first of its kind, being produced as a digital-only ceremony. The traditional inaugural parade was also virtual; Biden and Harris were escorted from 15th Street to the White House, with heavy security in step with the US Army Band, the Commander-in-Chiefs Guard, and the Fife Drum Corps.

According to the official website for the 59th inauguration, Bideninaugural.org, President Biden and Vice President Harris were sworn in on the West lawn front of the U.S. Capitol building. Following the moment of promise, Biden and Harris, along with their spouses, participated in a Pass in Review on the East front, a tradition performed to reflect a peaceful transaction that transfers the symbolic passing of power to the new Commander-in-Chief.

The organization responsible to uphold the legacy of Inaugural Ceremonies is the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC); they have organized these events since 1901. The committee is made up of House and Senate lawmakers, who earlier this year in July, finalized a budget of 1.5 million dollars for this event.

The Associated Press reported a statement released from the committee outlining their goal for the 59th inauguration, which stated, Our goal is to create an inauguration that keeps people safe, honors the grand traditions of the presidency, and showcases the Biden-Harris administrations renewed American vision for an inclusive, equitable, and unified citizenry.

The theme for Bidens inauguration was America United, an ideal that social distancing does not warrant a discord in social behavior. He said the truth has been revealed countless times; the nation is living in a space of hate based on the color of ones skin. However, as it is well known, that the truth will set one free. The president wants an America free from ignoring the racial problems that plague underrepresented communities. He wants an America free from the glass ceiling that has historically held women and minorities back from national power and influence.

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There is a sense of freedom still ringing; Dr. King heard it before the rest of his peers. Through his legacy and combined work of the activists who followed him, America has seen a woman of color hold one of the most powerful seats in the world, and her oath reflects her truth that aligns to the constitution she respects. The story of America is a melting pot of the worlds narrative, the one thing that remains constant is the principle of acceptance in change. After the ceremony and the traditions are exercised, the real work begins for the Biden-Harris administration. The theme that looks to shape the political journey is that democracy will prevail.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held the videoconference meeting on January 21 in connection with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Turkmenistan on joint exploration, development of hydrocarbon resources of the Dostlug field in the Caspian Sea.

A memorandum on joint development of the Dostlug field was signed during the videoconference meeting.
As Congress debates President Joe Bidens COVID-19 plan, its worth noting that America is actually suffering from two social illnesses that seem unrelated but may have the same cure.

While there has been great attention to the problems in delivering vaccinations, public health professionals still see a huge problem with vaccine hesitancy  too many people deciding not to get vaccinated.

At the same time, local news is collapsing. Even before COVID-19, the number of reporters had declined 60% since 2000. Some 1,800 communities now have no local news outlet, and thousands more provide little to no local news coverage. Since COVID-19, the situation has worsened: Because local businesses have shut, they have stopped advertising in local news outlets. Fewer communities got sound public information from local news, and the vacuum was sometimes filled by disinformation.

The common cure for both problems: a massive government public health advertising effort to encourage vaccinations and other public health steps, with a big chunk run through local news media.

 READ MORE: Pa. and Philly expand COVID-19 vaccine groups, but confusion remains for residents

Dr. Anthony Fauci and other public health leaders have stated that to get to herd immunity we need 75-80% percent of the population vaccinated. If one out of four (or five) people are not vaccinated then the virus can easily continue its march from one to the next susceptible person.

The signs are discouraging. A December poll suggests that between 47% and 71% of Americans said they would get vaccinated when their turn came  far from the goal of nearly 100% coverage we need with this new vaccine. The Black and Hispanic communities have been hit hardest by COVID-19, and yet are especially skeptical  in part because of the horrifying history of medical racism, like the U.S. government using African Americans as guinea pigs for experiments. In a survey from AP-NORC only 24% of Black Americans and 34% of Hispanics said they would get vaccinated. Another group that remains hesitant, per a Kaiser Health News poll, is rural Americans.

Obviously proper public health messages need to get out through trusted sources. Americans say they trust local news more than national. In one Knight Foundation survey, 79% said they trusted local news to give information you can use in your daily life compared to 19% who listed national news.

Unfortunately, local news is shriveling up. Meanwhile, corporations and government have often used computer algorithms to place advertising, much of which unintentionally subsidizes websites that promote disinformation on COVID and other topics, according to a study by NewsGuard.

President Biden has proposed an ambitious plan to boost vaccination. Our two pieces of advice: include substantial public health advertising, and have at least half run as paid ads in local news.

Such an approach could be a lifesaver for local news and help improve coverage of COVID-19. In 2013, New York City was spending $18 million on advertising, but only 18% went to community media. So the Center for Community Media at the CUNYs Craig Newmark School of Journalism led an effort to change that. In 2019 the mayor signed an executive order requiring that half of digital and print ads go through local media. In 2020 nearly $10 million, or 84%, went to local media  most small newspapers and websites whose revenue had sharply declined because businesses could no longer afford to advertise, according to a study by the center.

 READ MORE: Vaccine distribution is a mess. Time to call in the National Guard. | Expert Opinion

The ads not only helped keep the lights on at local news organizations, it triggered better reporting about the pandemic. For instance, the Haitian Times, which covers Brooklyn communities devastated by COVID, went from receiving barely $200 in city advertising to getting more than $73,000 in 2020. It used the funds in part to add reporters to cover public health and other issues.

Public health campaigns can be effective  if the messaging is ubiquitous, consistent and credible. It is especially likely to succeed if such a campaign has consistent national messages plus customized information for specific communities. Most famously, public health campaigns saved hundreds of thousands of lives by changing attitudes about smoking and seat belt wearing.

Obviously, paid advertising is not the only tool public health departments will need to use. We also need to rebuild the civic mindedness that inspires us to choose the uncomfortable (masks), unpleasant (Zoom calls), and difficult (restricted social interactions) actions necessary to achieve near-universal vaccination.

But this is a basic ingredient of any sensible public health approach. And in this one case at least, the same cure can help two different ailments.

Steven Waldman is president of Report for America and coordinator of the Rebuild Local News coalition. Susan Coffin, MD, MPH, is a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
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Popular Ghanaian musician now turned pastor, Papa Shee has turned tongues rolling following his recent comments. According to the evangelist, the devil (satan) is very cleric, and he puts men into tight corners always.



The Koyon so crooner said so with his reason being the term Hello means Hell oo.



According to him, whoever answers a call by saying hello is bound for hell fire. Yes- you read that right!



Papa Shee indicated that he answers calls by saying Hallelujah or Amen since he knows the implication of the word hello.



The Enemy is very crafty. You can say praise the Lord, or Amen or Good morning, Good afternoon when you receive a call. Words are very powerful.



The enemy is very crafty. Hello, and other words are all terms the devil has devised. Hello means HELL OOO, Evangelist Papa Shee added,















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

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[January 21, 2021] United Power Electrifies Their Customer Experience with Bright Pattern Cloud Contact Center Software

Bright Pattern replaces top cloud contact vendor with significantly better ease of use, agent experience, agent productivity, omnichannel reporting, omnichannel quality management, and reliability SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /CNW/ -- Bright Pattern , a leading provider of AI-powered cloud contact center software , announced today that it was deployed by United Power. United Power is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative that provides electricity to more than 97,000 homes and businesses along Colorado's northern front range. United Power is committed to providing great customer service and seamless experiences, all while delivering essential services to its members. Bright Pattern was selected for seamless omnichannel conversations and reporting, omnichannel quality management, advanced routing, and callback functionality. United Power's previous system lacked the reporting capabilities and features needed to power their customer experience. Agents had issues accessing all of the features, and had to move between different browsers when conducting multiple chats. Agent experience and ease-of-use were major issues holding them back from providing a seamless customer experience. The platform also lacked the flexibility that they needed and experienced frequent outages. To quote Francis Ashu, the Director of Member Services at United Power, "When moving from premise to cloud software, we quickly learned that not all cloud providers are the same. The agent experience on our existing platform was horrible even though they sold it as 'easy-to-use'. We had 6 or 7 training sessions with their team and never figured out what was going on with errors in reporting. With Bright Pattern, the reporting didn't even require training. It was effortless from day one." United Power decided that Bright Pattern was the partner for them after looking at several competing cloud providers. Four important features of Bright Pattern's solution for United Power were no-wait-in-line callback, skills-based routing, comprehensive omnichannel reporting, and reliability. Other key Bright Pattern features United Power wanted included the ability to conduct surveys on different channels, a comprehensive and easy-to-access knowledge base, case and contact management, and flexible business rules to automatically notify supervisors. United Power will be implementing Omni QM to further assist the agent experience and create a rapport between the supervisor and the agents. "What I love most about Omni QM is that it creates a rapport between the supervisor and agents," said Ashu. "With Omni QM, there is flexibility for the agent to see scores and continue to monitor how they are performing on a daily basis. Bright Pattern Omni QM takes quality management to the next level by giving our organization the ability to create scoring forms that are segmented based on the types of calls received." "United Power is a very innovative utility company looking to offer a true omnichannel experience to their customers," said Te Hunting, SVP Marketing, Bright Pattern. "In weeks they implemented much of the full suite of capabilities in our platform, both voice and digital channels, while significantly improving the agent experience with better ease of use. Coupled with our flexible reporting across all channels and omnichannel quality management, they are turning on a brighter, easier customer experience for their customers."



United Power saw immediate return-on-investment, better contact center KPIs, improved customer experience, and better agent experience. Overall, United Power experienced a drop in average hold times and abandoned calls with Bright Pattern's callback feature. Agent experience was greatly enhanced with the Bright Pattern platform through its ease-of-use, and intuitive features, plus agent training is much quicker than before. Companies of all sizes select Bright Pattern to support their customer care organizations because of its simplified  yet robust  omnichannel platform, offering traditional channels; emerging channels like Facebook Messenger; in-app customer support; enterprise functionality; cloud-first architecture; and the ability to modify without the use of outside services. Bright Pattern was recently recognized by Ovum as a Market Challenger , by Omdia for best platform functionality , by Frost & Sullivan as a top-performing vendor, and by Gartner as a leader in the Call Center FrontRunners Quadrant .

Additional Information Read the full Success Story

Learn more about Bright Pattern Omnichannel Cloud Contact Center

Learn more about Bright Pattern Artificial Intelligence

Bright Pattern Awards and Recognition About Bright Pattern

Bright Pattern provides the simplest and most powerful AI-powered omnichannel contact center software for innovative midsize and enterprise companies. With the purpose of making customer service brighter, easier, and faster than ever before, Bright Pattern offers the only true omnichannel cloud platform with embedded AI that can be deployed quickly and nimbly by business userswithout costly professional services. Bright Pattern allows companies to offer an effortless and personal customer experience across channels like voice, text, chat, email, video, messengers, and bots. Bright Pattern also allows companies to measure and act on every interaction on every channel with embedded AI omnichannel quality management . The company was founded by a team of industry veterans who pioneered the leading contact center solutions and are now delivering an architecture for the future with an advanced cloud-first approach . Bright Pattern's cloud contact center solution is used globally in over 26 countries and 12 languages. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-power-electrifies-their-customer-experience-with-bright-pattern-cloud-contact-center-software-301212134.html SOURCE Bright Pattern

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100 years ago  1921

The big strike in the Panth-er region is settled and most of the 5,200 men affected went back to work.

75 years ago  1946

Two men were injured Monday morning in a head-on crash of cars that occurred at the Orwigsburg cut-off of Route 122.

50 years ago  1971

WEISHAMPLE  The Weishample Grange voted to buy a movie projector at a meeting Monday night.

25 years ago  1996

WILKES-BARRE  Emergency management officials here ordered a mandatory evacuation of all low-lying areas in the Wyoming Valley today as the Susquehanna River rose to alarming levels. The evacuation was to begin at dawn and affects about 70,000 people in flood-plain areas of Wilkes-Barre and in Kingston and Luzerne counties, as well as all other areas affected by a deadly flood in 1972. Its a little too close for comfort, emergency management director Jim Siracuse said. We apologize to those whore going to be affected but we felt its too close to allow people to stay. He said the Susque-hanna River is expected to crest at 35 to 36 feet in the afternoon  just one or two feet below the point where water starts to top the levee. He said that runoff from icy ponds in Wyoming County might contribute to the level of the Susquehanna. Siracuse also had concerns about the levee. Theres been a low spot in the levee caused by ground that settled, he said, referring to the possibility that portions of the dikes may not be at their listed heights. In 1972, Wilkes-Barre took the brunt of Tropical Storm Agnes as it went through the Northeast. More than 48 people were killed in Pennsylvania, and about 222,000 people were left homeless.
Earlier this month, Xiaomi just launched their Mi 11 phone in China. Reports from Gadgets Now say that the company is currently working on building the Pro variant of the recently released phone. According to reports, the new Mi 11 Pro variant is going to be launched in the market soon with impressive features such as a 120x Zoom Camera Support.

Weibo User Digital Chat Station Shares Sneak Peak of Xiaomi 11 Pro

A reliable tipster shares a sneak peak of the new Xiaomi 11 Pro. Xiaomi fanatics are elated that the new device is reported to have a 120x supported on the rear camera. GizmoChina also tells the same report that the leak came from Digital Chat Station which was shared through a popular Chinese microblogging channel, Weibo. Digital Chat Station has been known to share reliable leaks about latest updates from big Chinese brands like Huawei and Xiaomi. Reports and specification leaks on current developments by these big brands are shared in the Weibo platform where tech enthusiasts can get a glimpse of.

Xiaomi Mi 11 Pro Specs Leaks

The source also reports that the Mi Pro will be featuring a 6.81-inch 2K WQHD screen powered by a 1440x3200 pixels resolution. On the other hand, the Mi Pro's handset is expected to have a similar design that its predecessor (Mi 11) has. It is also reported to have a processor of Qualcomm Snapdragon 888, which is undeniably fast for a device from Xiaomi. The device will be running on a 4,970mAh battery. Aside from the huge battery that it has, it's also expected to have a 55watt fast charging technology. If the reports are real, the flagship device will be the fastest, most durable, and most advanced so far for Xiaomi.

Read more: Xiaomi Redmi K40 Series Would Have Multiple Variants Says Executive-Snapdragon Chipset, Specs, and MORE!

The 120x Zoom Camera feature has already been rumored before by the source Digital chat Station, although it does not specifically mention that it will be on the Mi 11 Pro device. The source also adds that the Mi 11 Pro has a quad camera setup located at the back of the phone. Moreover, the smartphone has a 50MP primary rear camera coupled with a 48MP telephoto lens as well as a 48MP super-wide angle lens. If the reports are sourced from actual developments from Xiaomi, we can expect this to be the brand's best camera powerhouse.

So far, Xiaomi has not confirmed anything about the rumored specs of the Mi 11 Pro so we can take it with a grain of salt. However, considering the proven track record of the source Digital Chat Station, it's also likely that it may be the most predictable feature of the Mi 11 Pro. We will keep you posted about any updates for the upcoming Xiaomi Flagship phone.

Related Article: Xiaomi 80W 'Ultra-Fast' Wireless Charging that Fully Charges a 4,000 mAh Battery in 19 Minutes Coming Soon

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Written by Nikki D

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Newly sworn in Vice President Kamala Harris is sworn in as her husband Doug Emhoff looks on during the inauguration of US President-elect Joe Biden on the West Front of the US Capitol on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. During today's inauguration ceremony Joe Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. (PC-AFP)

In her first remarks to the nation as US Vice President, Kamala Harris has highlighted "American aspiration" and underlined that President Joe Biden has summoned the people to look beyond crisis and aspire to unite.

Harris, 56, made history on Wednesday when she was sworn in as the first female, first black and first Asian-American US vice-president. The former senator was sworn in just before Biden took the oath of office to become the 46th US President.

"In many ways this moment embodies our character as a nation. It demonstrates who we are, even in dark times. We, not only dream, we do. We not only see what has been, we see what can be.

"We shoot for the moon, and then we plant our flag on it. We are bold, fearless and ambitious. We are undaunted, in our belief that we shall overcome, that we will rise up. This is American aspiration," Harris said outside the Lincoln Memorial.

She cited the accomplishments of President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War, who "saw a better future and built it with land grant colleges, and the transcontinental railroad."

She also highlighted how Martin Luther King Jr. fought for racial and economic justice.

Harris said a great experiment, takes great determination. The will to do the work and then the wisdom to keep refining, keep tinkering, keep perfecting. The same determination is being realised in America today, Harris noted.

"I see it in the scientists who are transforming the future. I see it in the parents who are nurturing generations to come and in the innovators, the educators, in everyone, everywhere who is building a better life for themselves, their families and their communities.

"This too is American aspiration. This is what President Joe Biden has called upon us to summon now. The courage to see beyond crisis, to do what is hard, to do what is good, to unite, to believe in ourselves, believe in our country, believe in what we can do together," Harris said.

Prior to taking the oath at the US Capitol, Harris paid tribute to the women who she says came before her.

"I stand on their shoulders," she said in a video.
The government is considering allowing quarantine-free travel from Pacific islands, giving Aussies hope of an overseas holiday this year.

In October Scott Morrison allowed travel from New Zealand after the country eliminated Covid-19, but Australians are not yet allowed to go the other way.

On Thursday Health Minister Greg Hunt said medical experts are considering adding Pacific nations such as Fiji and Vanuatu to the list of 'green' countries which can send flights to Australia without quarantine.

The government is considering allowing quarantine-free travel from Pacific islands such as Fiji, giving Aussies hope of an overseas holiday this year. Pictured: Mamanuca Islands

If those nations, which are heavily dependent on tourism, agree to a two-way travel bubble then Australians could be allowed to fly overseas for the first time since March.

'We have been supportive of the idea of expanding the existing travel bubble with New Zealand,' Mr Hunt told reporters.

'This is based very much on the health advice and so we keep countries under review.'

The government categorises countries as green, amber or red, depending on how many Covid infections they are suffering.

Fiji has only had 55 cases of the virus and currently has zero active cases.

'Our goal is if the Pacific countries are able to be shown to be at the lowest risk level - and they are doing extraordinarily well - and that we're able to put in the appropriate protections, then we could well expand that bubble,' Mr Hunt said.

Aerial view of a boat carrying tourist to the stunning Erakor island in the Port Vila bay, Vanuatu

'But that's evidence based, based on very hard medical data, and the overview of the Commonwealth Chief Health Officer on the advice of the medical expert panel.'

Mr Hunt declined to say which countries would be included or when a decision would be made.

It comes after Flight Centre boss Graham Turner said he wanted international travel up and running by July.

'We need widespread vaccination to happen in Australia and that could be by late July. There should be no reason why international travel cannot resume once Australian travellers are widely vaccinated,' he said on Wednesday.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has also called on the federal government to reconsider the long-term ban on international travel.

'There is no reason why we shouldn't aim to travel to New Zealand or some of the Pacific Islands well within the next 12 months,' she said on Thursday.

On Monday Health Department Secretary Brendan Murphy said Australia's borders will likely remain closed to high-risk countries like the UK and US for the whole year.

The professor said 'substantial border restrictions' will continue throughout 2021 and quarantine of returning Australians will be in place for 'some time'.

Australia is one of few countries in the world to ban its citizens from leaving the country and those who are returning from overseas must quarantine in a hotel at their own expense for two weeks.

Asked if the borders would re-open this year, Professor Murphy told the ABC: 'It is a big open question. I think the answer is probably no.

'We will go most of this year with still-substantial border restrictions, even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus and it is likely that quarantine will continue for some time.'

Australia's borders will probably remain closed to high-risk nations for most of the year, Health Secretary Brendan Murphy said on Monday. Pictured: A domestic flight from Sydney to Adelaide

Professor Murphy said there was still too much uncertainty to accurately predict when it would be safe to open the country to overseas arrivals.

'One of the things about this virus is that the rule book has been made up as we go. I was very careful early on, I remember saying this to the Prime Minister, I don't want to predict more than two or three months ahead,' he said.

'The world is changing so at the moment we have this light at the end of the tunnel, the vaccine, so we will go as safely and as fast as we can to get the population vaccinated and we will look at what happens then.'

Australia is due to start vaccinating the population next month. The vaccines available are proved to reduced illness and death but are not proven to stop the virus spreading.

Under current health orders outgoing travel is forbidden until March 17 this year.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are reportedly headed to divorce almost seven years after tying the knot in a grand ceremony in Italy.

But reports of the breakdown of their marriage is nothing new - it dominated the headlines throughout 2020.

And according to reports, the entire thing would even be played out on the final season of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians."

While the family plans to go out with a bang thanks to this binge-worthy and highly-anticipated final few episodes of the reality show, Kanye West is reportedly not happy that it would even make the final cut of the hit series.

An insider told Us Weekly that the 43-year-old is "less than thrilled" that Kim Kardashian will be discussing their marriage problems.

Early this week, Page Six reported that the upcoming series finale of KUWTK would feature scenes where the KKW Beauty mogul will be opening up about her marriage to the "Jesus Walks" rapper and what led to them deciding not to be together anymore.

An insider revealed to the outlet, "They've filmed Kim discussing her marriage problems. But everybody involved is on a non-disclosure agreement because the finale won't screen until later in 2021."

The issues in Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's marriage started in July after the Grammy-winning artist decided he wanted to run for president.

During his presidential campaign, Kanye claimed that he and his then-girlfriend considered aborting their first child, North, at the time.

Fast forward to a few more months later, the "All of the Lights" rapper had more to say about his wife and the entire Kardashian-Jenner clan, even going as far as attacking the matriarch, Kris Jenner.

In the past few months, the couple tried to save their marriage by going to marriage counseling, but they eventually stopped when they realized it wasn't working out.

The SKIMS creator was the first to have started meeting with divorce attorneys, and early last week, the Yeezy designer followed suit.

In another Page Six report, an insider revealed that their divorce is "imminent."

An insider told them, "They are keeping it low-key, but they are done. Kim has hired Laura Wasser, and they are in settlement talks."

Additionally, in Los Angeles, Kim has been spotted numerous times without her wedding ring while her husband takes an extended vacation at his Wyoming ranch.

The source said, "Kim got Kanye to go up there so they could live separate lives and quietly get things sorted out and divorce. She's done."

Without Kanye West and his issues, Kim Kardashian will finally have more time to focus on her kids, her empire, and becoming a lawyer, as she is serious about her prison reform campaign.

"Now this divorce is happening because Kim has grown up a lot."

READ MORE: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Divorce Drama Will Be All Over KUWTK Final Season

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
A Parramatta man has been refused bail following an allegedly vicious attack on his 60-year-old mother at her western Sydney workplace, leaving her fighting for life.

Luke Henry, 26, faced Mount Druitt Local Court on Thursday on domestic violence-related charges over allegations he punched and kicked Adelle Henry to the head multiple times and threw her to the ground, causing her to hit her head on the concrete at the premises of a disability workshop in Mount Druitt at 2pm Wednesday.

Luke Henry, 26, has been charged following an allegedly vicious attack on his 60-year-old mother Adelle Henry at her workplace in Mount Druitt.

NSW Police Detective Chief Inspector Paul Tickner told media Ms Henry's colleagues armed themselves with mops and a squeegee in an effort to stop the alleged attack.

"The male unfortunately armed himself with a fire extinguisher and they retreated back into the premises," he said.

How many parents want the COVID vaccine for their kids?

AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine: Is the blood clots rare? Side effects and how worried should you be?

Serum Institute fire: 5 killed, Vaccine maker offers Rs 25 lakh compensation to families of dead

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 21: Cyrus S Poonawalla, chairman and MD of Serum Institute of India, on Thursday said the vaccine major will offer a compensation of Rs 25 lakh in addition to the mandated amount to families of persons who died in a fire at the company's premises in Pune.

Vaccines damaged in Serum institute fire: BCG, Rotavirus vaccine | Oneindia News

Five men died after a fire broke out in a five-storeyed under-construction building at the firm''s Manjari premises in Pune on Thursday.

All were construction workers whose bodies were recovered by fire brigade personnel from the fifth floor, police said, adding nine others were evacuated from the spot.

"Today is an extremely sorrowful day for all of us at Serum Institute of India. Regrettably, there were losses of lives in the fire that broke out in our under installation facility situated at the Special Economic Zone at Manjari," Poonawalla said in a statement.

Fire breaks out again after 5 killed in fire at Serum Institute; Covishield facility not affected

"We are deeply saddened and offer our condolences to the families of the departed. In this regard, we will be offering a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to each of the families, in addition to the mandated amount as per the norms," he added.

"We would like to extend our gratitude to everyone for their concerns and prayers in these distressing times," Poonawalla said.

Earlier in a tweet, his son and company''s CEO Adar Poonawalla said, "We have just received some distressing updates; upon further investigation we have learnt that there has unfortunately been some loss of life at the incident. We are deeply saddened and offer our deepest condolences to the family members of the departed."

Adar further said there would be no loss of Covishield production due to multiple production buildings that were kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies.
New Delhi, Jan 21 : The Delhi police have arrested two persons for cheating a 70-year-old woman in the Sabzi Mandi area in North Delhi.

One of the accused was arrested from Manali, Himachal Pradesh, where he was having a good time spending the cheated amount, while the other was nabbed when he was trying to flee from Delhi.

The duo lured the woman after one of the two impersonated as a mentally challanged person while the other convinced the woman to exchange her gold bangles with a bundle wrapped in a handkerchief belonging to the other man, which they said contained Rs 5-6 lakh. The woman, who was reluctant at first, eventually fell for the trap.

"The complainant gave four gold bangles to the accused and took the bundle from them. When the complainant checked the bundle after reaching home, only one Rs 10 note was found inside along with some papers," said Anto Alphonse, DCP, North Delhi.

During the investigation, the location of the accused was traced to Manali and a team was sent there. After searching various guest houses and hotels, the team apprehended one of the accused, Sohan, from a hotel in Manali. During interrogation, he confessed to cheating the elderly woman.

"On the way back to Delhi, the team received information that the co-accused Manoj was about to leave the city and had boarded a train from Delhi Cantt to Gujarat. Immediately, another team traced Manoj and got him de-boarded from the train near Alwar in Rajasthan," the officer added.
The incoming Biden administration has released a list of 17 executive orders that Biden intended to issue on his first day in office. Here they are, with my comments:

* Stop border wall construction

Of courseif Donald Trump did it, Biden will do the opposite. But who, exactly, thinks it is a good idea to allow hundreds of thousands of Central Americans to flood into the U.S. illegally?

* End the Muslim Travel Ban

It was not, in fact, a Muslim travel ban. But ending it at this point is purely symbolic (i.e., anti-Trump), as international travel has pretty much ground to a halt.

* Rejoin the Paris climate agreement

No sane person believes that any good will come of this, and in the news is the fact that Chinese coal output has risen to 2015 levels. The Paris agreement was and is a joke. Again, this is anti-Trump, and nothing else.

* End the Keystone XL pipeline

Does anyone know what stage of construction the Keystone pipeline is at? Can Biden actually end a fully-permitted and under construction project by executive order? And if so, without paying huge damages? And what, outside of fringe left-wing fanatics, is the constituency for destroying the American energy industry?

* Count non-citizens in the U.S. census again

Of course.

* Rejoin the World Health Organization

* 100 Days Masking Challenge

The president has no constitutional power to order people to wear masks, so this is symbolic, applying to federal buildings and lands, and toa huge and growing field for overreachfederal contractors. Just what Americans are clamoring formore mask mandates!

* Extend eviction and foreclosure moratoriums

* Extend pause on student loan payments until September 30

These are payoffs to Democratic constituencies.

* Defend Dreamers program for undocumented young Americans

I am not sure what this means. The Dreamers program was illegal; by defending it, I guess the Democrats will somehow try to resurrect it in the courts.

* Change Trumps arrest priorities for Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Change them how? This can only be a change for the worse.

* Keep protections for a group of Liberians in this country

No idea what they are talking about. Liberians are a generally successful and increasingly conservative demographic. Sounds like this isnt a change at all.

* Restructure federal government coordination to [sic] the COVID-19 pandemic

Restructure? Wow, that will help! This is included, obviously, because Biden campaigned on the claim that no American would have died from (or with) covid but for Donald Trump being president. So now Biden needs to change something. Anything. But, presumably, not the fruits of Operation Warp Speed.

* Actions to advance racial equity through the federal government. Every federal agency to review equity in their programs and actions. Revoke Trumps harmful 1776 Commission

The Democrats are either trying to provoke a race war, or doing a really good imitation of such an attempt. This might be the number one priority of the Biden administration. (Has anyone awakened Joe to tell him about it? Who knows?) I say this because it was only a matter of minutes after Biden was inaugurated when the report of the 1776 Commission, which Scott wrote about here, was deleted from the White House web site. U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Peter Kirsanow comments, this tells you everything about the Lefts prioritiescant have the truth about America out there for even a minute. Maybe the Commissions report, which was produced by people like Larry Arnn, Charles Kesler and Kirsanow, will circulate in samizdat form. But not on social media, I suppose.

* Strengthen workplace discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity

Yawn. Being gay is a plus in corporate America, and I am still hoping to meet, someday, a trans person.

* Freezing last-minute Trump administration regulatory actions

A presidential administration should never leave anything to the last minute.

* Formulate Executive Branch ethics doctrine. President Biden wants every executive branch appointee to sign an ethics pledge. And, the pledge commits federal employees to uphold the independence of the Department of Justice.

This was inevitable, because the Democrats have accused the Trump administration of various non-existent ethics violations. It would be fun to see the pledge that Biden wants all executive branch employees to sign! If we get our hands on it, we will publish it, but dont hold your breath. Especially goofy is the idea that federal employeesmailmen? Department of Agriculture clerks?are going to uphold the independence of the Department of Justice.

That would be the DOJ that tried to get Hillary Clinton elected president and then schemed to destroy the Trump administration. The Department of Justice whose Attorney General, Eric Holder, described himself as Barack Obamas wing man. The Department of Justice whom John Kennedy appointed his brother to headso it could be independent, no doubt. Dont be fooledDOJ is expected to be independent only when we have a Republican president. Otherwise, like every other federal department and agency, it reports to the president.

This is a sad laundry list. Ask yourself: what is there, in Bidens first 17 executive orders, reflecting presumably his priorities, that will help the American people? Nothing. But helping the American people is not the agenda of the Democratic Party. We had a president who did his best to help Americans, especially working-class Americans. His name was Donald Trump. And the Biden administration, whoever may be in charge of it, is devoted to undoing all of those accomplishments.
In February 2019, speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference, former Vice President Joe Biden promised that America will be back when Donald Trumps term comes to an end. His speech was met with a standing ovation, exposing an open secret: The state of the transatlantic alliance is in disarray. This month, Biden once again took the world stage, this time as the newly elected US President. But the return of a familiar face and respected ally does not mean a return to the old status quo. In the last four years, the Trump administration has altered the course of the liberal international order with its promise of America First. Trumps counterstance to the previous administrations policies on the environment, defence, trade, freedom of the press and foreign affairs has weakened the state of Western diplomacy. President Biden is expected to mend many of the divisions that have formed as of late. But Europe would be wise to acknowledge that the world looks very different now than it did four years ago and to navigate a new transatlantic partnership accordingly.
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 woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccine" sticker and a medical syringe in front of the displayed Pfizer logo in this illustration taken, Oct. 30, 2020. Reuters



A local office of global pharmaceutical company Pfizer Inc. is expected to submit an application for the approval of its COVID-19 vaccine to South Korea's drug safety agency, industry sources said Thursday.



The company is planning to submit the application to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety before the end of this month, they said. Approval would mark the country's first batch of vaccines as part of a procurement program.






(Newser)  As President Joe Biden gave his inauguration speech in Washington DC on Wednesday, a lone man knelt at the Delaware grave of his son, Beau Biden, Delaware Online reports. I was thinking of Beau Wednesday  I thought I would drive by Beau's grave and say a short prayer, writes the Delaware News Journals Patricia Talorico, who took a photo of a uniformed man kneeling at the grave. The man in the uniform bowed his head and clasped his hands. The image brought tears to my eyes. Beau Biden, who served as Delawares attorney general, died of cancer in 2015.

story continues below

Talorico says she didnt approach the man"I couldn't bring myself to interrupt this poignant, solemn moment. So she drove to a nearby roadway and listened to the rest of Bidens speech. When it was over, she returned to the cemetery, located at Saint Joseph on the Brandywine Catholic church in Greenville, and found that the man was still there. The journalist in me wanted to go back and find out his identity and ask why he was there, she writes. But, she says, Some things in life you just let be. (Read more Beau Biden stories.)
The Permanent High Committee for Human Rights (PHCHR) held the last of its planned hearing sessions to discuss a draft integrated, long-term national strategy for human rights on 12 January. The session was attended by representatives from human rights and civil society organisations.

Ahmed Ehab Gamaleddin, secretary-general of the PHCHR and deputy minister of foreign affairs for human rights, hailed the progress the committee had made. He praised the wide-ranging representation at last weeks hearing session and the opportunity it afforded to listen to the ideas of civil society on how to boost human rights in Egypt.

The meeting reflected the importance of partnerships between the state and civil society organisations, he said in a press conference following the meeting, adding that remarks and suggestions from the session will be assessed for possible incorporation in the final draft.

The outcome of the sessions will now be discussed by the advisory board before being presented to the cabinet ahead of a final draft.

The three-day session was held by video-conference. Representatives from syndicates, human rights organisations, research centres, the General Federation of NGOs and regional unions attended the meeting.

Nine hearings were originally planned, in venues from Alexandria to Luxor, to allow as many people as possible to participate. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, all the sessions convened virtually.

Asked about the timeline or the date for issuing the national strategy, Gamaleddin said the process will take time.

The strategy reflects Egypts vision of itself, and how it wants to present itself to the world. The priority is to dedicate enough time to every step and discuss all elements thoroughly before producing a final document. There is no rush, he said.

The national strategy is linked to Egypts 2030 Vision and other related strategies prepared by ministries and human rights bodies and care must be taken to ensure it can be effectively implemented on the ground.

In October 2020 the PHCHR advisory board produced a first draft of the strategy following a series of meetings addressing civil and political rights in four broad areas: civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; the rights of women, children, the young, elderly and differently abled, and the provision of training in the field of human rights.

The advisory board comprises 25 experts including the legal and media specialists, MPs, former ministers, university professors and representatives from human rights, differently abled and womens advocacy organisations.

The preparation of Egypts first integrated, long-term national strategy for human rights is an example of the firm political will behind efforts to boost basic rights and freedoms, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri said following the conclusion of the first meetings last year. He stressed that human rights are an essential component of any modern civil state.

The PHCHR, established in November 2018 to formulate a comprehensive strategy on human rights, began work in January last year. It is headed by Shoukri and includes representatives from the ministries of defence, justice, interior, social solidarity, parliamentary affairs, the General Intelligence Service, the Administrative Control Authority and the National Council for Women.

Last year the committees focus was on preparing preliminary reports, responding to complaints, capacity building, studying relevant legislative amendments, analysing objections raised against Egypt in terms of human rights and responding with transparency and credibility while highlighting Egypts progress.

Since beginning our mission we have orchestrated efforts from all involved parties to produce a strategy that can be applied in practice. This is our motivation and our goal, said Gamaleddin.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 21 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

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MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  Deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19 have not slowed over the last few weeks in Muskegon County, and health officials are attempting to find out why.

Mercy Health in Muskegon had 40 hospitalized COVID patients on Jan. 20, 18 of them in intensive care, according to the health system. The numbers were 42 and 19, respectively, a week ago.

There were 10 additional deaths in the past week, with another seven probable COVID deaths, according to State of Michigan numbers.

Public Health Muskegon County has a different number: five additional deaths in the past week, compared with four the prior week. The difference in state and county numbers has been attributed to more careful examination of actual cause of death by county health workers.

RELATED: Mother warns of terrifying syndrome linked to COVID that hospitalized her son

Meanwhile, the growth in new cases has slowed. The county recorded 125 additional cases in the week between Jan. 13-20. The month prior to that, the county was averaging weekly increases of nearly 100 more than that.

So why are patients still getting so sick even as overall cases drop? Thats a question that the Muskegon County health departments epidemiologist is trying to answer, health Director Kathy Moore told MLive.

The overall case number is steady at a number that is higher than wed like to see, Moore said.

The continued number of deaths is very disheartening, she added.

Recent deaths include three that occurred in homes and two in long-term care facilities, Moore said. The health department is investigating circumstances surrounding the deaths that occurred at homes, including whether the victims had sought treatment, she said.

The county has had 9,890 cases of COVID-19. Of those, about 1,000 are considered active, county health records show.

In neighboring Ottawa County, there have been more than twice the number of COVID cases  20,545 as of Jan. 20  and not many more deaths than in Muskegon County. The Ottawa County Health Department reports 307 deaths.

The concerning illnesses continue as the vaccine trickles in, making it a challenge for Muskegon County to make a dent in the list of people seeking vaccinations. That list  which is supposed to only include those eligible for the vaccine -- has grown to about 18,000 names, Moore said.

Related: How to register for the COVID-19 vaccine in Muskegon, Ottawa counties

The health department and Mercy Health have been working together to vaccinate the oldest people on the list  generally those over age 85, Moore said. It is starting to schedule those over age 75, she said.

Efforts were hampered last week when the health department  along with others in the state  didnt received any vaccine, which was diverted to Walgreens and CVS to vaccinate long-term care residents, Moore said.

Fortunately, other health providers stepped up by sharing their vaccine doses with the health department, she said. Hackley Community Care provided 60 doses, while Mercy Health provided 75 and also vaccinated 200 people who were on the list, she said.

We work together -- we had pre-COVID, but even more so now, Moore said. We meet on a regular basis. We keep each other posted and help each other out. Honestly, they help public health more than we help them. Thats my good news of the day.

Last week, 985 considered to be in the vulnerable age group were vaccinated, she said. This week, the county is working to administer 1,000 doses of vaccine, she said.

Once again, community partners, specifically the Muskegon Rotary Club and HealthWest, are helping the health department by calling those on the list to set up appointments, Moore said.

Those who are currently eligible for the vaccine and are interested in receiving it can sign up at https://lfforms.healthwest.net/Forms/muskegonvaccinereq. Those who dont have Internet access or who need help filling out the form can call the health department at (231) 724-8856.

Those now eligible for the vaccine when it becomes available are those ages 65 and older, essential frontline workers, teachers, childcare workers and those in congregate living facilities.

Those who sign up will receive a phone call when an appointment is available for them.

Also on MLive:

Muskegon organization ramping up eviction prevention efforts

He was just a ring away: New friends inspire, motivate during COVID-19 recoveries

Handling of Larry Nassar survivor fund prompts call for resignation of Michigan State University trustee
The Parler logo displayed on a smartphone with its website in the background in Arlington, Va., on July 2, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

House Oversight Chairwoman Seeks FBI Probe of Parler Over Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

UPDATE: Parler issued a response on Thursday:

According to the company: Over the past few weeks, Parler has been repeatedly mischaracterized and treated unjustly. But the recent personal attacks on our CEO John, his wife Alina, and their family are reprehensible.

Alina, whose working-class family lived in the former Soviet Union, came to America to start her own multi-racial, interfaith family with John. To subject them to baseless accusations that their marriage is part of some twisted espionage schemeall because she is an immigrantis precisely the sort of racism, nativism, fear, [and] demonization President Biden urged us to reject in his inaugural address.

The Entire Parler Team stands behind John and Alina. Our new President called for unity: We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this, if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts. The smears against John and Alina are exactly the sort of tactics he is imploring us all to abandon. Lets all commit to working together toward unity and healing.'



The House Oversight Committee sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray to look into allegations of social media platform Parlers involvement related to the violence on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol.

Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney wrote in a letter dated Jan. 21 that the FBI should carry out a robust investigation into whether Parler played a role in the Capitol breach.

Maloney also suggests that the agency investigate whether the social media website is a potential conduit for foreign governments after the company retained the services of Russian company DDoS-Guard, ostensibly for traffic rerouting. Parlers full social media website isnt back online, and just a simple landing page is up, with messages from CEO John Matze, Fox News Sean Hannity, syndicated radio host Mark Levin, and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).

Officials at Parler didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Maloney said that questions have also been raised about Parlers financing as well as its ties to Russia, claiming that Parler was founded by Matze shortly after he traveled to Russia with his wife, who is a Russian national and whose family reportedly has ties with the Russian government.

Matze previously The Epoch Times that he condemned people using Parler for violence and pushed back against claims that his company didnt take responsibility for content posted on the site. Later, Matze said that he has had to leave his home and go into hiding with his family after receiving death threats and invasive personal security breaches, reads a court filing this month.

Maloneys letter also noted Parlers retention of DDoS-Guards services after Parler was de-platformed from Amazon Web Services (AWS) earlier this month, while she claimed that the company has ties to the Russian government and hosts the websites of other far-right extremist groups. DDoS-Guard recently confirmed it stopped providing services to 8kun, a website previously known as 8chan, earlier this month.

DDoS-Guard, which is based in Rostov-on-Don, confirmed to The Epoch Times on Jan. 20 that Parler is using its services, although it noted that Parler does not use the hosting service provided by the company.

DDoS-Guard responsibly keeps customer data without disclosing it to third parties. Moreover, the provider stores only information required for the service and explicitly provided by the customers, the firm added.

Jeffrey Wernick, Parlers chief operating officer, told The New York Times that DDoS-Guard is only supporting the companys temporary web page used for updates.

Our preference is to have an American firm, he said this week. People should not make conclusions that itll be this company. People extrapolate too much and with limited information. They conclude what they want to conclude. I call that spreading misinformation.

Last week, Google and Facebook officials were questioned over the role their platforms potentially played in the Jan. 6 breach of the Capitol.

Like with elections four years ago and the potential for foreign interference, we are constantly learning from these moments, and the internet, I think, as a whole needs to come to terms with what kind of information can spread, and its definitely more to do from all our sides, Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai said.

The Parler logo displayed on a smartphone with its website in the background, in a file photo. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

A Facebook spokeswoman told reporters on Twitter that CEO Sheryl Sandberg began by noting these events were organized online, including on our platformswith the clear suggestion we have a role.

She was making the point, which has been made by many journalists and academics, that our crackdowns on QAnon, militia, and hate groups has meant large amounts of activity has migrated to other platforms with fewer rules and enforcement, the spokeswoman added.

Following Amazons actions, Parlers executives and civil liberties groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) expressed concerns that big tech companies have too much power over discourse.

Whatever you think of Parler, these decisions should give you pause. Private companies have strong legal rights under U.S. law to refuse to host or support speech they dont like. But that refusal carries different risks when a group of companies comes together to ensure that forums for speech or speakers are effectively taken offline altogether, the EFF wrote on Jan. 11.

When the crisis has passed, pressure on basic infrastructure, as a tactic, will be reused, inevitably, against unjustly marginalized speakers and forums. This is not a slippery slope, nor a tentative predictionwe have already seen this happen to groups and communities that have far less power and resources than the president of the United States and the backers of his cause, the EFF said about former President Donald Trumps accounts being deleted from Twitter, Facebook, and more.

And this facility for broad censorship will not be lost on foreign governments who wish to silence legitimate dissent either. Now that the world has been reminded that infrastructure can be commandeered to make decisions to control speech, calls for it will increase, and principled objections may fall to the wayside.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Cases have stayed about the same over the past week and are still high. The number of hospitalized Covid patients has fallen in the Caldwell Parish area. Deaths have remained at about the same level. The test positivity rate in Caldwell Parish is high, suggesting that cases may be undercounted.

It can be more difficult to determine Covid-19 risk in parishes with low populations because less data is available. Consider looking at the risk in neighboring parishes to better understand the risk in Caldwell Parish.

Avoid crowds , and limit the number of people you meet and the amount of time you spend with them. Avoid indoor spaces with poor airflow. Wash your hands often, especially after visiting a public place or blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.

If you feel sick or have been exposed to someone with Covid, you should stay home and get tested . If someone in your household feels sick or has been diagnosed with Covid-19, everyone should wear a mask, wash their hands often and stay at least six feet apart from one another, even inside your home.

You should stay at least six feet away from people who live in other households. Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when you are outside your home and whenever you are around people who do not live with you, including any visitors to your home.

Do not skip or delay medical care , including mental health care . Talk to your doctors about postponing any nonessential appointments. If you have an appointment, call before your visit to find out if you need to take special precautions, and ask if telehealth is a good option for you.

Learning environments where students stay in small groups during meals and recess make it safer for younger students to go to school . Older students should consider online or hybrid instruction if possible. Avoid play dates and extracurricular activities that involve physical contact or more than a handful of students.

Children tend to have less-severe symptoms but can still spread the coronavirus, so consider the health risks of everyone in your household when making decisions about your childs activities.

Work remotely when possible and avoid in-person meetings . In the workplace, less crowded hours are the safest to be on the job.

Religious services are safest when conducted outside. If you attend an indoor service, choose one without singing and where everyone wears a mask and stays at least six feet apart.

Weddings , funerals , concerts , sporting events and other gatherings that bring multiple households together are places where Covid can spread easily. Consider postponing or keeping events small.

Avoid all nonessential travel . If you must take a taxi , open the windows and sit far away from others in the vehicle. If you need to take public transit , try to avoid rush hours and crowds so you can keep your distance from others. If you fly, choose less crowded flights or airlines that keep middle seats empty.

You can lower your risk during grocery shopping and other indoor activities by keeping your visits as short and infrequent as possible. If you visit an indoor area, choose places where its easy to stay apart from others, and avoid places where people do not wear masks. If you meet friends indoors, including inside your home, limit your group to a handful of people , keep your distance and wear a mask.

Avoid crowded indoor places like gyms and movie theaters ; nonessential shopping ; and indoor personal care services like haircuts and manicures . Given the severity of the outbreak in Caldwell Parish, spending time inside with people from other households puts you at risk for getting the coronavirus or spreading it to others.

Heres how you can reduce the risk of getting Covid-19 if you havent yet completed your vaccination series.

The C.D.C. still recommends wearing a mask in settings where Covid-19 may spread more easily, including healthcare facilities, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, transportation hubs and on all forms of public transportation. This helps protect people who may be particularly vulnerable to the virus and also to prevent spread.

Keep in mind that receiving medical care, even for unrelated conditions, may become difficult if hospitals at your travel destination are overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients.

Its low-risk to have indoor visits, such as inviting another household over for dinner without masks and without social distancing, as long as the size of these gatherings is limited to a few households.

Individuals are fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving their final vaccine dose. If you are fully vaccinated, you may choose to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommendations for fully vaccinated people since your risk of getting sick is much lower.

We developed this advice with experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives , an initiative of Vital Strategies. If you or someone in your household is older or has other risk factors for severe Covid-19, you may need to take extra precautions .

Based on the high Covid-19 transmission in Caldwell Parish right now, heres how to lower your personal risk of getting Covid-19 and protect your community, according to public health experts.

An average of less than one case per day was reported in Caldwell Parish in the last week. Since the beginning of the pandemic, at least 1 in 9 residents have been infected, a total of 1,119 reported cases .

About the data

In data for Louisiana, The Times primarily relies on reports from the state. Louisiana typically releases new data on weekdays. Counts on Mondays or Tuesdays may include totals from the weekend. The state reports cases and deaths based on a persons permanent or usual residence.

The Times has identified the following reporting anomalies or methodology changes in the data:

April 19, 2021: Louisiana announced a backlog of 379 cases from previous months.

Louisiana announced a backlog of 379 cases from previous months. Feb. 4, 2021: Louisiana added 844 cases from tests performed at urgent care clinics as far back as October.

Louisiana added 844 cases from tests performed at urgent care clinics as far back as October. Jan. 17, 2021: Louisiana announced deaths for several days at once after resolving a technical issue.

Louisiana announced deaths for several days at once after resolving a technical issue. Dec. 1, 2020: Louisiana announced many cases and deaths from the previous two days after resolving a processing error.

Louisiana announced many cases and deaths from the previous two days after resolving a processing error. Nov. 27, 2020: Louisiana reported data for Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 after reporting no data on Thanksgiving.

Louisiana reported data for Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 after reporting no data on Thanksgiving. Nov. 20, 2020: Louisiana announced a backlog of cases from testing that had occurred in September, October and November.

Louisiana announced a backlog of cases from testing that had occurred in September, October and November. Sept. 9, 2020: Louisiana added a backlog of 690 cases dating back to Aug. 6.

Louisiana added a backlog of 690 cases dating back to Aug. 6. Aug. 30, 2020: Louisiana added a backlog of about 500 cases dating back to July 1.

Louisiana added a backlog of about 500 cases dating back to July 1. Aug. 26, 2020: Louisiana began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing.

Louisiana began reporting probable cases identified through antigen testing. Aug. 4, 2020: Louisiana added a backlog of more than 1,700 cases dating back to late May.

Louisiana added a backlog of more than 1,700 cases dating back to late May. July 20, 2020: Louisiana added a backlog of more than 1,500 cases reported between May and early July.

Louisiana added a backlog of more than 1,500 cases reported between May and early July. June 27, 2020: Louisiana did not update its data for cases or deaths during planned downtime.

Louisiana did not update its data for cases or deaths during planned downtime. June 19, 2020: Louisiana removed 1,666 duplicate and out-of-state cases from its total.

Louisiana removed 1,666 duplicate and out-of-state cases from its total. June 16, 2020: Louisiana added a backlog of 148 cases dating back to April.

Louisiana added a backlog of 148 cases dating back to April. June 13, 2020: Louisiana added a backlog of 560 cases.

Louisiana added a backlog of 560 cases. May 29, 2020: Louisiana announced that because of a technical error, it would not have an update on the number of total cases that day.

Louisiana updates its number of probable cases and deaths once a week on Wednesdays.

On Nov. 13, Louisiana began reporting probable cases and deaths at the parish level, resulting in one-day increases for many parishes.

The tallies on this page include probable and confirmed cases and deaths.

Confirmed cases and deaths, which are widely considered to be an undercount of the true toll, are counts of individuals whose coronavirus infections were confirmed by a molecular laboratory test. Probable cases and deaths count individuals who meet criteria for other types of testing, symptoms and exposure, as developed by national and local governments.

Governments often revise data or report a single-day large increase in cases or deaths from unspecified days without historical revisions, which can cause an irregular pattern in the daily reported figures. The Times is excluding these anomalies from seven-day averages when possible.

About the Covid-19 risk levels

Caldwell Parish is at a high risk level for unvaccinated people because there was an average of 6 daily cases per 100,000 people reported in the past two weeks. The risk in Caldwell Parish will decrease to moderate risk if the daily case rate drops to less than about 2.8 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks and the test positivity stays low. The case charts on this page show 7-day averages, while risk levels are assessed based on 14-day case averages, which may be different.

The New York Times worked with public health experts at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies, to develop guidance on how individuals may reduce their risk of exposure to Covid. There is specific guidance for each risk level.

A countys Covid-19 risk is determined based on the number of reported cases and testing data. Although county risk levels are assigned based on expert guidance and careful analysis, it is possible that the risk level in a specific county may be over or underestimated because of a lack of reliable data.

A county is at an extremely high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of more than 45 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 32 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a very high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of more than 11 cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 8 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a high risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of about 3 or more cases per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported more than 2 cases over the past two weeks. A county with fewer cases may also be in this category if more than 10 percent of tests had a positive result over the past two weeks. This can mean that the county is not testing enough, and that the number of cases may be significantly undercounted.

A county is at a moderate risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of about 1 case per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported 1 or more cases over the past two weeks.

A county is at a low risk for unvaccinated people if it reported an average daily rate of less than 1 case per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. Small counties with a population of less than 5,000 people are in this category if they reported no cases over the past two weeks.

In some cases, a county might not have a risk level if not enough recent data was available, or if inconsistencies were found in the data. If a countys recent testing data was not available, the rate of positive tests in the state was used, along with recent cases, to calculate the risk level.

Since the risk levels were first published in January 2021, The Times has made the following methodology changes:


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Google has signed a deal with publishers in France to pay for content used for preview snippets in its news section, Reuters has reported. French regulators forced it to start negotiations with publishers last year following a contentious battle that saw Google completely remove news previews at one point.

The deal framework was struck between Google and the French publishers lobby, Alliance de la presse d'information generale (APIG). However, payments will be negotiated with individual publishers based on criteria like political or general information, the number of stories per day and the unique visitors per month.

As part of the deal, French newspapers will gain access to Googles News Showcase. Theyll also be able to publish full or partial articles and experiment with bulleted or other formats. Subscription sites may also grant readers certain articles for free.

Google was forced to negotiate with publishers after France became the first EU country to implement new rules around an issue called droit voisin, or neighboring rights. Thats essentially a copyright law designed for news publishers that forces digital companies like Google and Facebook to pay or at least negotiate to display articles.

This agreement is an important step, marking the recognition of neighboring rights of press publishers and the start of remuneration," said APIG president Pierre Louette. This agreement... opens up new perspectives for our partners, and we are happy to contribute to their development in the digital age and support journalism, added Google Frances managing director, Sebastien Missoffe.

Until being forced by law, Google was dead set against the idea of paying publishers for content, arguing that it already helped websites bring increased traffic. It also noted that most press publishers had granted Google licenses to use and display their content for free. In return, Frances ruling body argued that publishers would have seen steep declines in traffic if they hadnt done so, because Google has a 90 percent share of the search market. At the same time, Google gained the benefit of providing better search results without having to pay anything.

Since the law was implemented, Google has been negotiating with French publishers on how to apply the rules. By November 2020, it had struck deals with six newspapers and magazines, including the national dailies Le Monde and Le Figaro. However, Google is still negotiating with press agencies like Agence France Press (AFP) and magazine publishers. The financial agreements are confidential, so its not yet clear how much publishers stand to gain.
The number of patients with Covid-19 in Irish hospitals has risen slightly after decreasing the two previous days.

Today, there are 1,949 Covid patients in hospital - up 30 on yesterday.

Of these, there are 214 people in ICU which is up by four on last night.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin today confirmed the Government does not expect a relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions in February.

The Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parliamentary party meetings last night heard that the community transmission is too high to exit the current Level 5 restrictions.

Public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally has warned that the Government cannot take the foot off the brake with regard to Covid restrictions any time soon.

Moving from Level 5 to Level 3 restrictions in December had not been a sensible decision, he told RTE radios Today with Claire Byrne show.

While the recent slow reduction in the number of cases was good, but there was still a long way to go.

It will take a long time to get the numbers really down.

There were serious questions about how to take things forward to keep the country safe for the rest of the year.

Dr Scally said he supported a Zero Covid policy but that it would require a lot of planning now.

You cant tell what decisions politicians will take.

The issues of the health and wellbeing of the public were not just about deaths and rise in numbers, but they were extraordinarily important.

The countries that had done the best were the ones that had kept the numbers extraordinarily low through strict restrictions, he said.

There was a huge burden on everyone to get the virus numbers down.We dont know when this is going to end.

Dr Scally again called for an all-island approach and for stricter travel restrictions to be fully implemented.

A vial of doses of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine is checked.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said the entire country should be given a vaccination by September under the latest plans from the government.

Mr Donnelly said that timeline assumes approval of the AstraZeneca vaccine and is dependent on getting enough supply from other companies.

It is expected 140,000 vaccinations will be completed by Sunday but that will reduce Ireland's current supply to extremely low levels.

Mr Donnelly says they will be trying to speed up the rate of vaccination but it is dependent on supply.

"The priority is to first vaccinate and protect the most vulnerable among us. To directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness.

"While we want to roll out our vaccine programme as quickly as possible, speed should not trump safety and confidence in our vaccination programme."
SELBYVILLE, Del., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Market Insights, Inc. has recently added a new report on the data center services market which estimates the market valuation for data center services will cross US$ 25 billion by 2027. The rise in the number of data center establishments globally will surge the demand for efficient services that ensure optimum asset management.

Data Center Services Market size is set to surpass USD 25 billion by 2027, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.

Expansive networking equipment in data centers requires effective maintenance and support services to reduce system downtime. Lack of proper timely maintenance damages the data center hardware, resulting in huge financial losses. Datacenter maintenance & support services deliver a complete range of planned preventative maintenance, energy optimization, and technical support services including remote monitoring. Prominent players operating in the data center services market are focusing on offering high-end services to gain a higher share in the market. For instance, Data Center Resources (DCR) provides data center design and installation services, helping businesses complete critical projects in a professional and timely manner.

Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2195

The rise in the number of SMEs globally has resulted in the increasing demand for small data centers that cater to the customized requirements of small businesses. These enterprises do not require large data center spaces due to limited IT requirements and budgetary constraints. Small data center authorities demand customized installation services that enable the data center establishment in minimum space due to space constraints. There is also a high demand for integration services that enable to seamlessly integrate new tools and components into existing infrastructures.

The data center services market in the MEA will witness growth during the forecast timeframe due to the rise in the number of data center construction projects in the region. The government organizations in several countries including the UAE and Saudi Arabia are encouraging the adoption of digital technologies for economic growth. This has encouraged data center operators to expand their presence in the region. For instance, in December 2020, Du, a UAE-based telecom company, announced plans to launch two data centers in the country in the first quarter of 2021. Datacenter infrastructure development projects will spur the demand for advanced services, ensuring optimum data center functioning and deployment.

Some major findings of the data center services market report are:

Growing penetration of digital services across several industry verticals has resulted in the increased demand for data centers for storage, computing, and network management. This, in turn, will drive the demand for data center services.

The growing trend of data center colocation services in Europe and Asia Pacific will boost the industry growth. Colocation providers focus on employing advanced technologies to ensure customer satisfaction.

Increasing consumption of digital services, such as video-on-demand and video conferencing, during the COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the existing data center capacities, driving the demand for efficient services that optimize IT infrastructures.

Large data center operators employ sophisticated services that enable them to efficiently manage the complexity of extensive infrastructures.

An increase in the number of SMEs will spur the demand for advanced data center infrastructures, in turn, propelling the adoption of high-quality services. These services enable to optimize existing assets while also integrating new components seamlessly.

Request for customization of this research report at https://www.gminsights.com/roc/2195

Consulting services that offer customized business solutions as per specific requirements will witness strong growth with the increasing adoption of cloud-based services. The growing demand for cloud computing across several countries in Asia Pacific will boost the construction of new cloud data centers, in turn, fueling the demand for robust services.

Expanding manufacturing, IT & telecom, and colocation industries globally will also offer growth opportunities to the data center services industry. As these industries use modern technologies, such as AI and cloud, large amounts of accumulated data will fuel the adoption of high-quality data center services.

Partial chapters of report table of contents (TOC):

Chapter 3 Data Center Services Industry Insights

3.1 Industry segmentation

3.2 Impact analysis of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

3.2.1 Global outlook

3.2.2 Regional outlook

3.2.2.1 North America

3.2.2.2 Europe

3.2.2.3 Asia Pacific

3.2.2.4 South America

3.2.2.5 MEA

3.2.3 Industry value chain

3.2.4 Competitive landscape

3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis

3.3.1 Raw material suppliers

3.3.2 Component suppliers

3.3.3 Manufacturers

3.3.4 Technology/software providers

3.3.5 System integartors

3.3.6 Distributors

3.3.7 Service providers

3.3.8 Vendor matrix

3.4 Technology & innovation landscape

3.5 Regulatory landscape

3.5.1 North America

3.5.2 Europe

3.5.3 Asia Pacific

3.5.4 South America

3.5.5 MEA

3.6 Industry impact forces

3.6.1 Growth drivers

3.6.1.1 Rise in the number of data center construction projects globally

3.6.1.2 Rise in the number of SMEs adopting digital technologies

3.6.1.3 Growing trend of data center colocation in North America and Europe

3.6.1.4 Expanding industrial sector using advanced digital technology in Asia Pacific

3.6.1.5 Growing usage of OTT services across South America and MEA boosting the demand for data centers

3.6.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges

3.6.2.1 Data security concerns and privacy breaches

3.6.2.2 Lack of robust IT infrastructure in remote regions limiting the demand and adoption of advanced services

3.7 Growth potential analysis

3.8 Porter's analysis

3.8.1 Supplier power

3.8.2 Buyer power

3.8.3 Threat of new entrants

3.8.4 Threat of substitutes

3.8.5 Internal rivalry

3.9 PESTEL analysis

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

data-center-services-market-size.jpg

Data Center Services Market size worth over $25 Bn by 2027

Data Center Services Market size is set to surpass USD 25 billion by 2027, according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.

Related Links

Data Center Services Market

Data Center Infrastructure Market

SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc.
The River Ouse in York floods as rain and recent melting snow raise river levels in York, England on Jan. 21, 2021. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Storm Floods Threaten Key UK Vaccine Production Site

Vaccine production unaffected after authorities tackled flooding that threatened industrial site

Flooding overnight threatened a key production site of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in the UK as storm Christoph swelled rivers across the country.

Local authorities in Wrexham, Wales, say they worked through the night, successfully holding off floods at an industrial site where the nationwide supply of the vaccine is put in vials.

About 30 miles away, a river collapsed under floodwaters that sparked evacuations.

The company, Wockhardt UK, said in a statement that they had experienced mild flooding and that all necessary actions were taken with no disruption to manufacturing.

They said that they are now operating as normal.

Wrexham Borough Council said that Wockhardt contacted them for help yesterday evening.

We worked through the night with them and gave them the resources and its been successful, but it has been difficult, said Council leader Mark Pritchard, according to LBC.

This could have had an impact on not just Wrexham and Wales but also the rest of the country.

Wockhardt has the contract for fill finishing of the Oxford/AstraZenca vaccines, which are distributed in the UK. Fill finishing means getting the already manufactured liquid vaccine into the glass vials that are distributed to vaccination centres.

In a statement on Twitter, Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford said: Massive thank you to everyone who worked so hard to protect supplies of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in Wrexham. Happy to hear that the supply has been secured and that the site is now operating as normal.

In Manchester, around 2,000 homes were evacuated over concerns of rising water in the River Mersey.

The prime minister this morning visited flood-hit Didsbury area of Manchester, where people are now returning to their homes after the evacuation order was lifted.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a storm basin near the River Mersey in Didsbury, Manchester, England on Jan. 21, 2021. (Paul Ellis  WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Manchester police said this afternoon in a statement that the flooding had now passed its peak in the region.

There are currently three severe flood warningsmeaning a threat to lifein place in the UK.

The Environment Agency has issued a further 172 warnings of expected flooding.

The risk of flooding in parts of northern England and the Midlands is likely to continue tomorrow and into the weekend, the Environment Agency said.

Craig Woolhouse, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said, We urge people to keep away from swollen rivers and not to drive through flood waterit is often deeper than it looks and just 30 cm of flowing water is enough to float your car. 
Democrats took control of the U.S. Senate on Wednesday when Vice President Kamala Harris swore in three new members to give the party a narrow grip on both houses of Congress as well as the White House for the first time in a decade. Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia and Alex Padilla of California took the oath of office in the Senate chamber hours after President Joe Biden was sworn in. Warnock and Ossoff won upset victories in a pair of Jan. 5 runoff elections to split the Senate 50-50 with Harris, a Democrat, holding the decisive vote in any tie between ...
Nguyen Thi Mong Nghi and her husband have been working hard to rebuild their lives together ever since a traffic accident left her with a prosthetic leg.

November 11, 2011 was an unforgettable date for Nghi.

Heavy rains and slick roads made driving difficult, yet Nghis husband was still willing to drive his wife home from work by motorbike.

Neither suspected that short trip home would change their lives forever.

A lifelong commitment

Prior to that day, Nghi and her husband Cuong had both made a living as factory workers in Binh Chanh District on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City.

Every evening, the couple would drive home to their rented room together to spend time with their newborn son.

But life changed for Nghi and Cuong on November 11, 2011, when a truck driver lost control amid the torrential downpour and crashed into the couples motorbike.

It was not until Nghi was at the hospital that she finally regained consciousness and learned she had lost an entire leg in the crash.

Doctors also told her she had a fractured skull and such severe head trauma that it was a miracle she was still alive.

Fearing her injuries would be nothing but a burden to her husband, Nghi insisted on a divorce.

She just couldn't come to terms with her new reality, Cuong said.

But the idea of letting go of her never crossed my mind, not even once.

"After all that we've been through together, I figured out that I had already put so much effort into convincing her to date and marry me, so why give up now?

Cuong, the devoted husband, has been by her side ever since.

Ten years on, Cuong, 44, and Nghi, 41, are still struggling to rebuild their lives, but say their love is stronger than ever.

Nghi is able to walk again and the couple now live a nomadic life,' moving between jobs in Ben Tre Province, Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong Nai Province.

Their son now lives with Cuongs parents.

Nghi also runs a small hair salon at her rented room on Cach Mang Thang Tam Street in Trang Bom Town, Dong Nai Province, but her already slow business was hit hard during the COVID-19 outbreaks in March and July last year.

She now has plans to sell her shop and relocate to a place with more affordable rent.

Nguyen Thi Mong Nghi, with long scars on her arm from a gruesome road crash in November 2011, rehearses a popular piece for a cabaret with her husband sitting by her side. Photo: Hoang Tung / Tuoi Tre

Relocating is nothing new for Nghi and Cuong.

Following the accident, the couple moved in with Nghis older sister in Binh Chanh District, where Nghi supported the family by playing keyboard at parties and cabarets.

Eventually, Nghi ran out of offers for gigs and was forced to move to Dong Nai.

Were like nomads," Cuong said.

"We go where we can earn money,

To supplement his familys income, Cuong does odd jobs around town, including construction work and scrap dealing.

At night, he joins his wife for her keyboard gigs.

Its such a grind, but what keeps us moving forward is our son, Cuong shared.

"Were trying to save up to make a fresh start back in our hometown so we can be reunited with our son.

"Its really hard being unable to see him grow up.

A blessing in disguise

While COVID-19 has led to a drop in keyboard gigs and hairdressing customers, Nghis confidence is growing as she slowly learns to overcome her disability.

Being alive is everything to me," Nghi smiled.

"Im still more fortunate than many because my husband is always by my side.

We may live in poverty but at least we are together.

Occasionally, the couple visit Nghis older sister, Nguyen Thi Hang, on their way to and from performances in Ho Chi Minh City.

Hang, a witness to the couples decade-long struggle to build back after the accident, said the disturbing memory of her sister in the hospital still sends chills down her spine.

My sister and her husband were tossed onto the street," she said.

"The rain was so heavy that pedestrians had to tie a rope to themselves just to keep from getting washed away while crossing the street.

"I think the accident was caused by poor visibility.

Nguyen Thi Hai, Hangs 85-year-old mother-in-law, has also been a major source of support for Nghi and Cuong.

In fact, it was Hais son who first suggested that Nghi take up keyboard as a way to rehabilitate her arms.

Now, after several years of practice, Nghi earns VND250,000 (US$10.8) from each weekend performance and double that amount for large events.

Despite barely being able to put food on the table, Nghi and Cuong still cherish their time together and shower each other with affection.

Theres still a steel pin [in his shoulder]," Nghi said.

"Instead of having it removed six months after the initial surgery, he decided to keep it in so we could save money and pay for my surgeries.

Ill have it removed once we can afford a set of musical instruments, Cuong said, trying to comfort his wife.

He called the plan to buy new instruments a project which they have worked on for five years now.

Finishing the project is merely the next step in their happily-ever-after story.

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The two companies set up a carnivore-branded food truck in a small suburb of Tel-Aviv (Kidron, Israel), targeting up to 200 tastings in two days. The truck boasted staple Mediterranean meat foods, cooked to order, which were in fact Alt-Meat provided by Redefine Meat. Putting the meat experience truly to the test, the meat was served with little to no condiments or extras  focusing consumer senses entirely on the Alt-Meat's appearance, flavor and texture. Driven purely by customer satisfaction and word of mouth, over 600 visitors attended the food truck and purchased close to 1000 servings of meat  selling out in less than five hours. Upon revelation that the meat products were plant-based, consumer feedback demonstrated overwhelmingly that the Alt-Meat products were comparable to animal meat on key metrics such as taste, texture, and mouthfeel  with over 90% acceptance rate. All revenue from the event was donated to support local restaurants badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eshchar Ben-Shitrit, CEO and Co-Founder of Redefine Meat comments: "We believe Alt-Meat should taste as good as animal meat  simple as that. Redefine Meat has achieved that with every product it has put to the test, transitioning the Alt-Meat conversation from health and sustainability and the view that 'this is really close' to 'wow this meat is super delicious'. The incredible results of the food truck exemplify this. We initially only expected 100 visitors a day, as the event was held in a small village due to COVID-19 restrictions. But through word of mouth, we ended up receiving over 600 customers in one day  with queues as long as 50 minutes. What this has shown is that meat lovers can enjoy our alternative meat because it tastes and feels like meat  not solely because it is better for the environment or animals."

Strategic partnership to bring Alt-Meat products to masses in Israel

The success of the pilot test marks a historic moment for Redefine Meat, playing a pivotal role in the formation of a strategic partnership with Best Meister. Renowned for high-quality meat products, Best Meister will provide Redefine Meat the go-to-market infrastructure and reach to launch in the Israeli culinary sector. Best Meister will start commercially distributing Redefine Meat's Alt-Meat products to restaurants and high-end butcher shops within H1/21.

Ori Zaguri, Best Meister CEO, comments: "We've been excited by Redefine Meat's unique alternative meat offering for a while, but the food truck event cemented it for us. Not only was consumer feedback overwhelmingly positive but Redefine Meat's technology will also provide us the scale to create a wide-variety of quality meat cuts for our customers on-demand from one single source. We believe the mass meat-eater market is ready for alternative meat of this quality and we are excited to be the first to deliver it to them."

Ben-Shitrit adds: "We're honoured to be partnering with Best Meister, whose deep market expertise and reach will enable us to successfully launch our alternative meat in Israel. We have spent almost 3 years perfecting our products to ensure meat lovers never have to compromise on the experience they enjoy and love. Today, we take one step closer to making that a commercial reality."

In July 2019, Redefine Meat unveiled the world's first Alt-Steak products using industrial digital manufacturing of plant-based ingredients. Created using the company's novel and patented technology, Redefine Meat products have the texture, flavor and appearance of beef, and can be produced in the volume and cost required for large-scale commercial markets. For more information on the event and Redefine Meat, please visit www.redefinemeat.com.

About Redefine Meat

Redefine Meat is leading a technological revolution in the food industry by creating craveable animal-free meat using proprietary industrial 3D printers. Founded in 2018, Redefine Meat has developed patent-pending technology that replicates the texture, flavor, and eating experience of beef and other high-value meat products. The company uses plant-based ingredients and technology as opposed to animals, allowing for a dramatically more efficient, sustainable, and moral way to produce meat without compromising on the experience. Redefine Meat's alt-meat is 95% more sustainable, significantly healthier and costs less than beef.

www.redefinemeat.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423636/Redefine_Meat_Best_Meisters_food_truck.jpg

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423637/3D_Printed_Steak.jpg

SOURCE Redefine Meat

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[January 21, 2021] Narrative Unveils Universal Onboarding, Industry's First Self-Service Solution for Onboarding Offline Customer Data

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its mission to fix the broken data broker model, Narrative  the Data Streaming Platform that makes it easy to buy, sell, and win  today announced the launch of its Universal Onboarding app . This new offering represents a paradigm shift in the industry: a fully self-service solution for data onboarding, allowing users to match offline customer data to digital identifiers in minutes, without the need for technical expertise or significant upfront commitments. The app provides an alternative to traditional onboarding services characterized by a lack of visibility or control over data sources, slow turnaround times, and inflexible pricing models. Narrative unveils the industry's first self-service solution for onboarding offline customer data in minutes. "Customers are moving fast, and today's existing offerings for onboarding offline customer data takes two wees on average, is error-prone, and has opaque pricing. This is frankly unacceptable," said Nick Jordan, founder and CEO of Narrative. "With Universal Onboarding, we are delivering the industry's easiest, most cost-effective, automated data onboarding solution that matches digital identifiers from our graph  a pool of 1.6 billion IDs  in minutes, without the need to speak with or wait for anyone."



Universal Onboarding is Narrative's answer to the black box data onboarding products that currently exist, offering a transparent, self-service, and fast onboarding solution that restores control to the customer and resolves their biggest pain points: Fast turnaround times. Traditional data onboarding typically takes up to 2 weeks to deliver results. Universal Onboarding forecasts and delivers matches with digital identifiers within minutes.

Traditional data onboarding typically takes up to 2 weeks to deliver results. Universal Onboarding forecasts and delivers matches with digital identifiers within minutes. Easy to use interface. Designed as a simple self-service workflow, Universal Onboarding enables anyone to easily onboard data, without needing to get an engineering team involved.

Designed as a simple self-service workflow, Universal Onboarding enables anyone to easily onboard data, without needing to get an engineering team involved. Fair and upfront pricing. While other onboarding services charge users for the volume of data uploaded (whether matched or not), Universal Onboarding customers only pay for matched IDs. "Narrative's new Universal Onboarding product is great news for the market," said Senthil Govindan, CEO, Datawrkz. "As a leading Independent Trading Desk that prides itself as delivering best in class solutions and acting quickly on behalf of its clients, Datawrkz is thrilled to gain access to Narrative's new offering. The simple and easy to use capability to take offline data assets, such as CRM data and emails, and generate addressable identifiers in a matter of minutes without needing to talk to anyone, is exactly what we were looking for."

Universal Onboarding is part of Narrative's Data Streaming Platform that connects data users to data originators directly and gives them the tools, automations, and workflows to make data transactions transparent, fast, and cost-effective. Universal Onboarding is free to use and available today. To get started, visit app.narrative.io/app/universal-onboarding . About Narrative Narrative is a data streaming platform that makes it easy to buy, sell, and win. Narrative simplifies the buying and selling of information by eliminating the inefficiencies in data transactions that hold businesses back from maximizing the success of their most important data-driven initiatives. Innovative brands and direct-to-consumer companies leverage Narrative's technology to fuel powerful data strategies, build data monetization businesses, power growth marketing, and inform product development. Founded in 2016, Narrative is a private company headquartered in New York City. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/narrative-unveils-universal-onboarding-industrys-first-self-service-solution-for-onboarding-offline-customer-data-301211610.html SOURCE Narrative I/O, Inc.

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Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
About 100 hippos of the descendants of drug kingpin Pablo Escobar's former pets are now invading Colombia's waterways and poisoning wildlife with their toxic urine and feces, scientists said.

According to a Daily Mail report, this scenario sparked calls for these hippos, which are not native to Colombia, to be culled. Reports said that Pablo Escobar bought four hippos from a California zoo in the early 1980s and illegally imported them to Colombia.

Pablo Escobar owned a 7,000-acre state that includes a personal zoo, and authorities took control of it after he was killed in a police shootout in 1993. Most animals have already found homes in other zoos, but the four so-called "cocaine hippos" escaped.

Decades later, their numbers continued to grow as they roam the wetlands north of Bogota. According to a study published in the journal Biological Conservation this month, scientists said these hippos must be culled to stop their rapidly growing population and preserve the ecosystem.

Researchers warned that hippos are likely to colonize habitats around the country with serious environmental impact. They said hippos are known to be the largest invasive animal in the world.

These hippos at Pablo Escobar's private zoo in his Hacienda Napoles ranch had been a cause for concern last year due to how their feces affected the water they resided in.

The study said the hippos' excrement fertilized the growth of cyanobacteria or blue-green algae and threatened the water quality, NBC News reported.

"Our models predicted that the worst-case scenario would occur if no management strategies are implemented: the population will continue positively growing, with potential ecologic and socio-economic long-lasting negative effects," the study noted.

Colombian ecologist Nataly Castelblanco-Martinez told New York Post that nobody likes the idea of shooting a hippo. However, she noted that no other strategy is going to work.

Related story: Another Peek at Pablo Escobar's Luxurious Life in New Documentary 'The Hunt for Escobar's Hippos'





Growing Concerns on Pablo Escobar's Hippos

Authorities have made efforts to sterilize the hippos. However, the animals' population in Colombia continued to surge. Besides, hippos have also won the approval of locals that considers the animals as a tourist attraction. Environmental laws also protect hippos.

Researchers are urging Colombian authorities to reconsider their stance on culling the hippos as the study concluded that this is the most effective way to control their continuously growing population.

The study also suggests that there should be public education about the risk of hippos as an invasive species and their possible impact on local livelihood.

David Echeverri Lopez, a government environmentalist, said that the hippos had become part of the local identity. But their time is running out. Castelblanco-Martinez said that relocation might have been possible 30 years ago when they were only four hippos.

She added that castration could have also been effective if officials had provided enough resources for the program earlier.

Pablo Escobar's 'Cocaine Hippos'

Pablo Escobar was once the seventh richest man in the world, with an estimated $59 billion in today's money. He was known to control 80 percent of the cocaine that was shipped to the United States.

The Medellin Cartel leader liked to buy exotic animals for his private zoo, which included four hippos that he kept outside his mansion in Doradal.

The "cocaine hippos" were originally three females and one male, which then bore more hippos, causing the population to rise.

According to the study, their population could swell to nearly 1,500 individuals by 2040, making their numbers impossible to control and their environmental impact irreversible.

Related story: Pablo Escobar's Hippos Now Being Sterilized With Money Taken From Drug Traffickers





New Delhi: Farm unions protesting the three reform laws on Thursday rejected the centres proposal to suspend the laws for a limited period of time and said their agitation will continue for repealing the laws and making assured government purchases at support prices a legal entitlement.

On Wednesday the government had offered to suspend the laws for up to 18 months, continue the ongoing dialogue with unions and urged farmers to withdraw their agitation. Farm unions will convey their decision at a meeting with the government on Friday.

In a full general body meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, the proposal put forth by the government was rejected. A full repeal of the three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as pending demands of the movement," the unions said in a statement.

On 20 January, the government had extended the offer to suspend the laws for a limited period to placate farm unions who are planning to march with tractors into the national capital on 26 January, Indias Republic Day. The government proposal came during the tenth round of talks with farm unions. Earlier the unions had rejected an offer to amend the laws.

Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the coalition of farm unions leading the agitation, further said that in a meeting held with police officials on Thursday farmers were requested not to conduct the march. Farm unions, however, reiterated they will march with tractors on the outer ring road of Delhi on Republic Day.

According to a farmer leader who did not want to be named, the day-long discussion among unions was a difficult exercise in consensus building. One group was open give a counteroffer to the government to suspend the laws indefinitely till a mutually agreeable solution is reached. But some took a strong position and said they will not accept anything short of a repeal of the laws.

The Supreme Court had earlier (on 12 January) stayed the implementation of the laws and formed an expert committee. The three-member committee met on Thursday and discussed the laws with ten farmer associations from different states. However, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha which is negotiating with the government was not a part of these discussions since it had refused to appear before the court-appointed committee.

Over 200,000 farmers are camping at different entry points to Delhi for close to two months now with a demand to repeal the reform laws which they fear will lead to corporate control of agriculture markets and weaken assured government purchases at support prices.

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Many Norwalkers are familiar with the Hour Press building on Commerce Street, but soon folks across the country will learn all about it in an episode of the History Channels American Pickers.

On Jan. 25 the Pumps, Prints & Pics episode will highlight the history of downtown Norwalk and the Hour Press building owned by Nathan and Gloria Dillard.

American Pickers is a reality series that follows the two hosts, Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, as they travel across the nation searching for forgotten antiques.

Nathan Dillard said he couldnt reveal too much of what will air in the upcoming episode, noting, Obviously, I want people to see the show, before adding that he discusses his newspaper property and the antiques inside it with the hosts.

After a series of COVID-19 tests, the American Pickers cast and crew came to shoot the episode with the Dillards in October. Nathan said he had a fantastic experience shooting the episode with Wolfe and guest host Jersey Jon Szalay.

What you see is what you get, Nathan said. They showed up and it was lights, cameras, action!

Nathan said he doesnt have any regrets about the items the American Pickers cast selected.

I look at it this way: Id like to keep everything, but unfortunately, I cant. I love all of those things that I parted with, but its one of those things where I know its going to a good home.

The Dillards have lived in Norwalk for the last 20 years, since they returned to Glorias hometown to be closer to family. Nathan, who works in real estate, said the couple previously purchased and renovated the Phoenix Engine 1 and the John Keena family grocery buildings on Commerce Street. After renovating them, the couple rented them out.

My wife and I live down here on Commerce Street as well, so we live, eat, breathe and sleep the neighborhood, he said.

Nathan said they recently purchased the Hour Press building from the Bredice family, after his friend Michael Bredice died last year.

I had a relationship with the owner for a good 20 years. I used to go down there on a regular basis and sit and talk with Michael about life, history, Norwalk, family, and we just developed a really great bond.

Unfortunately, he passed away last year, he said. I talked with the family about it, and I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase the property. Its been in the same family for 90 years.

According to Nathan, the Bredice family purchased the building in 1930, during the Great Depression. The newspaper building had previously been used for other business ventures, including a cigar factory during the late 1800s.

The two brothers who started the Hour Press used to work for the Norwalk Gazette. Nathan described the building as a time capsule, noting the family saved everything.

The Dillards reached out to American Pickers about their trove after acquiring the building. Nathan, who said hes basically a picker, thought it was a no brainer to reach out to the show.

He added that hes always had an interest in history and thinks Norwalk has a rich past to explore.

Its just one of those unique properties that shouldnt even exist in Fairfield County, as densely populated as the area is. You dont get many of those old mom-and-pop businesses that still exist that have all of this stuff in it thats historical to the town. he said.

Its one of those great neighborhoods that lie in Fairfield County that I think is kind of like one of the last frontiers. When you think about it, were surrounded by various affluent towns in this county, and a lot of people come to Norwalk for the restaurant scene and the historic South Norwalk. You can see theres activity going on down here.

In addition to sharing some of the Hour Presss forgotten treasures on American Pickers, the Dillards have donated some of their finds to the Norwalk Historical Society and the Norwalk Fire Department.

Nathan said he donated original minute books from the Phoenix Firehouse/Hope Hose No. 2 on Commerce Street to the fire department, They dated back to the 1860s to 1870s and 1909 to 1944.

Its just really neat history that was kind of lost and sitting for years, he said.

An old room key on a wooden key chain labeled 14 Norwalk Hotel, Norwalk Connecticut was donated to the historical society. The hotel was located on Wall Street (at the My Three Sons location) and predated the Civil War before it was torn down in 1925.

Nathan said the key chain had been hanging on a nail at the Hour Press since the 1930s.

Its probably the only artifact from the actual hotel that still exists besides photographs, he said.

For more information about the episode, visit history.com.
Dr Jill Biden always seems to be upstaged by the enormity of someone elses history-making presence.

As second lady, Biden was arguably the emotional core of the Obama administrations outreach to military families. As the mother of a veteran, she could speak personally about the toll their service takes on their loved ones. But the country was naturally focused on Michelle Obama, a groundbreaking first lady, and had little bandwidth to deeply consider Bidens effort.

Now that she will soon be moving into the White House, theres more history being made around her. Kamala Harris becomes the nations first female vice president; her husband, Doug Emhoff, fills the newly named role of second gentleman.

The country is in such a historically divided, volatile, damaged state that almost all of the inaugural traditions and formalities have fallen away. The symbolism long attached to the first lady as healing and consoling has been tarnished.

In the midst of all of that hope and wreckage, Biden is poised to transform the way in which the presidential spouse is perceived.

Read More

She isnt angling to be a partner in governing. Shes planning to be her own person, which for her includes continuing to pursue her career. Its a simple but profound decision that strikes a blow for gender equity and barrier-breaking.

She is on the cusp of gently forcing the culture to rethink its definition of a role that comes with countless expectations but no real duties other than to represent some murky, genteel notion of American womanhood.

Even as women were leaping over hurdles in a vast array of forums  from business to politics  the first lady, with all that she is meant to represent and embody, remained essentially unchanged.

No matter how professionally accomplished or independent a woman might have been before her husband took the presidential oath of office, she was expected to shed her previous identity and set about representing the softer side of the United States.

A wardrobe of designer frocks was expected, but it was also one of her most powerful tools for communication since it was often so hard for her to claim the microphone for herself.

The first lady mostly speaks on behalf of the president or the American people. Those rare times when she speaks for the East Wing  or herself  the country pauses as if in shock to discover that she has a voice all her own.

Biden, however, has promised that she will maintain her voice as a teacher, that she will not simply be an advocate for education, and community college in particular, but that she will continue with the on-the-ground responsibility of educating.

This small act of self-determination is a continuation of what she did as second lady when the spotlight on her wasnt as bright and her ceremonial duties were arguably fewer.

Emhoff, who follows in her footsteps, will also teach. Hell be a visiting faculty member at Georgetown Universitys law school, having set his career as a lawyer aside to avoid conflicts of interest.

His decision to leave his job has been greeted with the kind of admiration that might be awarded to a good Samaritan who has donated a kidney to a dying stranger, not someone who is simply supporting someone he loves in pursuit of her dream.

Emhoff, who describes himself as a student of history, tweeted a video of his visit to the Library of Congress, where he researched the spouses of previous vice presidents. Social media was gobsmacked  apparently amazed that he didnt just intend to wing it in his historic role.

He has been greeted with the kind of outsize applause that welcomes fathers who oversee play dates. Hes been getting virtual back pats because hes a man reasonably doing what women do all the time. Jill Biden is also making a reasonable decision. But reason and logic have never really applied when the public fixes its gaze on the first lady.

In a recent video, Biden announced there will be a special live stream of the inauguration for students and families. Shes positioned against a backdrop depicting the US Capitol and in between a vase of freshly cut flowers and a potted house plant. Its not a fancy setting, but it doesnt much matter.

As an educator who still spends time in the classroom, Biden manages to hold ones attention with her sheer enthusiasm for the educational live stream. Its not a video that has the glitter of celebrity or the glamour of Hollywood.

So far, that isnt the identity Biden is crafting for herself and its not one that popular culture seems to have immediately chosen for her. It was Harris, after all, who was pictured on the February cover of Vogue, not Biden.

The countrys current circumstances are also setting the foundation for a different kind of presidential spouse.

Biden was not invited to tour the White House and sit and chat over tea with the outgoing first lady because such niceties were purged from this transfer of power.

There are no inaugural balls and so there will be no official inaugural gown to be enshrined in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History alongside all the other bits of silk and lace that tell the story of this country.

Still, Biden gave American fashion its due, wearing a purple coat, dress and co-ordinating mask by the New York-based designer Jonathan Cohen when she and the president-elect departed Delaware for Washington.

Yesterday at noon she stood alongside her husband when he put his hand on the Bible and took the presidential oath of office. And in that moment, one wonders whether she managed to be in the periphery of the publics gaze.

People had one eye on the new president and the other was almost certainly scanning the horizon, on the lookout for signs of danger fearful of a repeat of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.

The glory and infamy of history loomed over the occasion. Dr Jill Biden wasnt the centre of attention, but perhaps more than any other first lady, she was fully herself onstage.
President Joe Biden will sign 10 executive orders on Thursday to fight the coronavirus pandemic, including directing that disaster funds be used to help reopen schools and requiring that people wear masks on planes and buses, officials said.

Biden, a Democrat who took over from Republican President Donald Trump on Wednesday, has promised a fierce fight against the pandemic that killed 400,000 people in the United States under Trump's watch.

"Were entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus and must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation," the president said in his inauguration speech.

One order will require mask-wearing in airports and on certain modes of public transportation, including many trains, airplanes and intercity buses, officials said.

He also plans to sign orders on Thursday to establish a COVID-19 testing board to ramp up testing, address supply shortfalls, establish protocols for international travelers and direct resources for minority communities hit hard by the infectious disease.

He plans to direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse states and Native American tribes fully for the costs associated with National Guard and emergency supply efforts to combat the virus. Biden's measures also restore "full reimbursement" from the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund for costs related to reopening schools.

FEMA funds are typically disbursed after hurricanes, floods or other natural disasters. Institutions including hospitals can apply after Trump declared the pandemic a national emergency in March.

The fund had previously been reimbursing 75% of costs.

"This is a national emergency and we need to treat it accordingly," Jeff Zients, coordinator of the Biden White House's coronavirus response, said on a call with reporters.

Biden plans to partner with state and local governments to establish vaccination spots in conference centers, stadiums and gymnasiums.

The new administration will also deploy thousands of clinical staff from federal agencies, military medical personnel and pharmacy chains to increase vaccinations, and make teachers and grocery clerks eligible.

Vaccination programs have lagged far behind the target of 20 million Americans inoculated by the end of 2020.

The administration may invoke the Defense Production Act for speedy vaccine distribution after an inventory of essential items needed to fight the pandemic.

"We have identified 12 immediate supply shortfalls that are critical for the pandemic response right now," said Tim Manning, the administration's new COVID-19 supply coordinator.
Thats how the pre-owned, custom, and collector markets were born. They thrive on nostalgia and peoples love for long-dead things.Over the years, weve seen dead car nameplates that manage to stir such passion people often pay fortunes to get their hands on. In this category weve got the usual suspects, like Plymouth , Pontiac, or Mercury, but there are people who also like and miss brands such as Oldsmobile, DeLorean , or Hummer.And until now, we had no idea how many people are in each boat.Luckily, Googles got us covered. This God of all readily-available information makes no secret of knowing who is searching what and where (the jury is still out on the why), and all you need to do is look deep and become wiser.And look they did, our friends from Australian insurance company Budget Direct , in a bid to reveal what dead cars are the most searched for in the U.S. And boy, are we in for some surprises.To address the elephant in the room first, the brands subject to this Google Search data survey are the ones that were still around after 1950, and the results below were compiled on data collected in October 2020. The results were published this January.According to the findings, the most popular dead car was the Pontiac Firebird , with 110,000 searches. Then comes, in a distant second, the Pontiac GTO. The first surprise comes in the third position: its the Hummer H1, with 81,000 searches. And then, the bomb drops: Hummer H3 comes next, with 80,000 searches, and right after that, the Hummer H2, with 79,000 searches.Overall, Hummer was the most Google-searched dead car brand, ahead of Pontiac, Plymouth, or AC Cobra. An official explanation for this does not exist, but some of you might remember it was in October of last year when GM showed for the first time the electric GMC Hummer , so theres that...

The World Bank will provide Ukraine with almost UAH 2.5 billion for vaccination against COVID-19, Deputy Health Minister Svitlana Shatalova has said.

"Ukraine will receive another cargo and funds for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. This time the World Bank renders assistance and support to Ukraine. Almost UAH 2.5 billion is planned to be allocated for a new project of emergency response to COVID-19 and vaccination in Ukraine. Relevant negotiations have been underway between the Board of Directors of the World Bank and the Ukrainian government since December 2020," Shatalova said at a briefing on Thursday.

She added that the project will take into account the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy, according to which the COVID-19 vaccination will be primarily offered to high-risk population groups.

As Ukrinform reported, in January 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers made a decision allowing the British agency Crown Agents to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for Ukraine.

On January 13, the Lekhim group of pharmaceutical companies signed an agreement with the Chinese vaccine manufacturer Sinovac Biotech to supply 5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine. Of these, 1.9 million doses will be delivered within the procurement of the Ministry of Health.

Ukraine will also receive 8 million doses of coronavirus vaccine free of charge as part of the COVAX initiative, which will be enough to vaccinate 4 million people.

ish

"Congratulations to Joe Biden on his assumption of office as US Prez, look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US ties," PM Modi said in a tweet.

In a series of tweets, PM Modi extended his best wishes to Joe Biden for a successful term as US Prez, says, 'we stand united in addressing common challenges'.

My warmest congratulations to @JoeBiden on his assumption of office as President of the United States of America. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 20, 2021





He also said, "Committed to working with President Joe Biden to take India-US partnership to even greater heights."

Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and Kamala Harris took oath as first woman Vice President on Wednesday in a historic but scaled down ceremony under the unprecedented security umbrella of thousands of security personnel, who transformed the Capitol into a fortress to prevent any breach by pro-Trump extremists.

The 78-year-old veteran Democrat leader was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John Roberts at the West Front of the Capitol - the traditional location for presidential inaugural ceremonies  where the deadly violence took place just two weeks ago.

The inauguration was held under the watch of more than 25,000 National Guards, who have transformed the capital into a garrison city, mainly because of the threat of more violent protests by the supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump, who became the first president to skip his successor's inauguration since Andrew Johnson in 1869. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence attended the ceremony.

Biden, who is the oldest president in American history, took the oath by placing his left hand on his 127-year-old family Bible, which was held by his wife, Jill Biden. He used the same Bible during his swearing in as vice president and seven times as senator from Delaware.

Just before Bidens oath, his deputy 56-year-old Harris was sworn in as 49th Vice President of the United States by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court, creating history as the first female, first Black and first Indian-American vice president of the worlds oldest and most powerful democracy.

The ceremony was attended by former presidents Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton. Former first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton were also present.

Unlike the traditions in the past, wherein millions of people throng in the majestic National Mall from across the country to celebrate the peaceful transition of power, a hallmark of all mature democracies across the world, the 59th presidential inauguration was marred by a bitterly divided America.

Around 1,000 people attended the swearing-in ceremony, including Supreme Court justices and members of Congress, who were limited to just one guest each due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With agency inputs

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(Natural News) Joe Biden told a small crowd at his inauguration Wednesday he wanted to unify the country.

Biden is used to speaking to small crowds; he couldnt draw flies to a manure festival when he barely campaigned for president last fall. And his running mate, Kamala Harris, was so unpopular even Biden got more black support than she did as she became one of the first in the crowded field of Democratic hopefuls to abandon her traction-less effort.

So  was it COVID-19 that kept people way? Nope; earlier this month before professional agitators convinced a few hundred of his supporters to riot at the Capitol Building, then-President Donald Trump (still our rightful president) addressed a crowd estimated to be more than 100,000.

Was it Biden telling people to stay away? Not really.

It was more because Bidens inauguration took place in the middle of a militarily-occupied city, inside a perimeter surrounded by tens of thousands of armed National Guard troops. The message: We are in charge now and we have the power to crush our opposition if and when we choose to.

Biden must feel like he will need that kind of protection for as long as hes in office because his and Harris agenda isnt going to be very popular with Americans.

No sooner than he sits his decrepit rear end behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Biden plans to sign a bevy of executive orders prepared for him by his left-wing handlers: These orders are aimed at purposefully dismantling the Trump legacy not because these actions will be good for the country  they wont be  but simply because the Trump Derangement Syndrome is still strong in D.C. and definitely within the Marxist Party. (Related: Pompeo: China is already within our borders.)

Fox News has more:

President Biden on Wednesday will issue a slew of executive orders related to immigration, reversing some of the most controversial of former President Donald Trumps immigration policies  a sign of Bidens early focus on immigration in his first days in office.

Lets examine some of the most consequential among them:

 Reversing the Muslim ban: This was one of President Trumps first orders  to bar people from traveling to the United States from countries whose governments either support terrorism or look the other way. Most, not all, of these countries are majority Muslim, but Democrats and the media have been lying about this order for four years  it was never a Muslim ban, but was a national security matter. By rescinding it, Biden is putting the country in greater danger.

 Reentering the Paris Climate Accords: Trump withdrew from this Obama-era agreement (it was never offered to the GOP-controlled Senate as a treaty because it would have been rejected) because it requires the U.S. to bear the brunt of cutting back on emissions, not the worlds two biggest polluters, India and China. Thus, our countrys economy will take a hit, not theirs; we will decline (again) while they rise. This, as Biden also plans to kill the Keystone XL pipeline that would have led to even more energy independence for our country.

 Halting Border Wall Construction: Before he left office, and after his own party refused to back legislation authorizing it, Trump managed to secure enough funds to build or repair and replace some 450 miles of wall and fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. The result: Dramatically decreased drug smuggling and human trafficking. But even as a new migrant caravan approaches the U.S. from Honduras, Biden will immediately halt wall construction and reassign the funds. Hes also going to end Trumps immigration enforcement strategies  so more open borders and more illegal immigrants who will be made legal citizens soon under a legislative proposal to provide a path to naturalization Bidens administration will send to a Democrat-controlled Congress soon.

More illegal immigration that costs our cities and states and drives down wages for Americans while taking their jobs, overwhelming their medical system and increasing their taxes during a still-stagnant pandemic job market.

Reentering an expensive agreement that will make American energy more costly.

Putting Americans at greater risk.

Sounds like the bad old days of the Obama regime, doesnt it?

See more reporting like this at WhiteHouse.news.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

NaturalNews.com
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cheered President Joe Biden's plan to provide a path to US citizenship for about 11 million people without legal status, mixing hope with guarded optimism amid a seismic shift in how the American government views and treats them.

The newly inaugurated president moved to reverse four years of harsh restrictions and mass deportation with a plan for sweeping legislation on citizenship.

Biden also issued executive orders reversing some of former President Donald Trump's policies, such as halting work on a US-Mexico border wall and lifting a travel ban on people from several predominantly Muslim countries.

He also ordered his Cabinet to work to keep deportation protections for hundreds of thousands of people brought to the US as children.

"This sets a new narrative, moving us away from being seen as criminals and people on the public charge to opening the door for us to eventually become Americans, said Yanira Arias, a Salvadoran immigrant with Temporary Protected Status who lives in Puerto Rico, a US territory.

Arias is among about 400,000 people given the designation after fleeing violence or natural disasters.

It sets a more hopeful future for in the US, but it all depends on the Congress, especially the Senate, Arias, a national campaigns manager for the immigrant advocacy group Alianza Americas, said of the citizenship effort.

Success of the legislation is far from certain in a divided Congress, where opposition is expected to be tough.

The most recent reform attempts on a similar scale failed in 2007 under then-President George W Bush and in 2013 under then-President Barack Obama.

Ofelia Aguilar, who watched Biden's inaugural address on TV with five other female farmworkers in agricultural Homestead, Florida, said she nevertheless felt positive about prospects for reform.

I am hopeful that he'll give us legal status, said Aguilar, who was pregnant and alone when she came to the U.S. from Mexico in 1993.

She worked in the fields for years before starting her own business farming jicama root.

Hope has opened! Aguilar cried out after Biden was sworn in. So many people have suffered. Some of the farmworkers at the backyard gathering about 56 km south of Miami said they were disappointed Biden didn't mention immigration reforms in his speech.

I only have hope in God, not in presidents, said Sofa Hernndez, an agricultural worker who has lived in the US without legal status since 1989.

So many have said they are going to do things, and I don't see any results."



Hernandez came from Mexico, seeking economic opportunity. Her three children were born in the US and she regularly sent money to her family back home before her parents died.

My dream is to go and see my family and come back to stay with my children, Hernandez said.

In New York, Blanca Cedillos said she also was disappointed Biden did not mention immigration during the speech she watched with a half-dozen other masked at the Workers Justice Project.

I was hoping he would say something, said Cedillos, a Salvadoran who lost her job as a nanny during the coronavirus pandemic and now gets by with a few housecleaning jobs and a weekly food box from the nonprofit that offers services to immigrants.

Cedillos has lived in the US without authorization for 18 years and hopes to eventually visit her four children in Central America, then return legally to the US.

I have told them that that trip may happen now. Hopefully, if this new president gives me the opportunity, she said.

Guatemalan construction worker Gustavo Ajch, who came to the US in 2004, watched the Spanish language broadcast with Cedillos.

I don't want to get too excited because I might get frustrated afterward, like has happened in the past, Ajch said.

I have been here many years, I have paid my taxes, I am hoping something will be done.

In Phoenix, Tony Valdovinos, a local campaign consultant who was brought to the US from Mexico as a small child, said he isn't celebrating yet.

He's among those who have benefited from the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which protects immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation.

It's hard to put your heart into it when these things have failed in the past, Valdovinos said.

We've been beaten down so much. Maria Rodriguez, executive director of the Florida Immigration Coalition in Miami, said she feels much the same way.

I'm so happy and relieved, but we are still afraid of getting our hearts broken again, she said.

We've been through this so many times, but we really need to bring through a solution that goes forward.

Los Angeles janitor Anabella Aguirre wants that solution not only for herself, but for her two daughters, both DACA recipients now starting their careers.

Like thousands of mothers and fathers, I want for my daughters to have something better in this country, Aguirre said.

"We hope that today, this dawn, brings hope.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The White House website at WhiteHouse.gov now joins the laundry-list of official websites with a dark mode to help ease its viewers to read. This update is a part of the new update rollout, following Donald Trump's last day at the office and Joe Biden-Kamala Harris' new administration.

When you open the website, two small toggle buttons will appear on your left. One is for high contrast, allowing you to read easily at night without contracting too much to your screen, and the other is to activate larger fonts on the website.

As spotted by The Verge and GLAAD, the "Contact Us" form on the site now asks for senders' preferred pronouns (she/her, he/him, they/them, Other, and "Prefer not to share.") Vice President Kamala Harris also includes her pronouns on her social media bio, though we're yet to see it on her @VP account.

Read also: Huawei Uighur Controversy: Finance Chief Meng Wanzhou Received Bullets Sent In Mail.

Accessibility Statement

Besides, for the first time in history, the White House website rolls out a statement and commits to serve better web content for users with disabilities.

"Our ongoing accessibility effort works towards conforming to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, level AA criteria," the statement reads, ensuring that the web content is now accessible for every user.

The website is also open to comments and suggestions on improving better and offers a phone number to call for the Hearing Impaired Only.

Last but not least, when you dive into the website's HTML code, you will be greeted with a call to serve from the US Digital Service (USDS), providing a link to the USDS job application site. The elite tech unit provides consultation to federal agencies within the Executive Office of the president.

Why Dark Mode Is Necessary

The dark mode accessibility feature is designed for those who are at risk of being exposed to eye disorders if they spend too much time reading dark text on a light background, especially at night when most lights are off.

Not only does dark mode look amazing, but it also helps prevent digital eyestrains. As more and more people are exposed to smartphones and gadgets, Optometrists Network believes that DES, also known as computer vision syndrome, severely affects over 50% of people. It could lead to an even worse sight problem, as 80% of Americans use a digital device for over two hours a day.

According to Weekdone, there was a surge of interest in Google Trends regarding this small toggle button that lets you change your window's background color in 2019. Several social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, have previously rolled out their own "dark mode" updates in the last couple of months to years.

Related post: Parler Back Online: How a Russian Tech Firm Played a Part in the Platform's Return.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 21:45:56|Editor: huaxia

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MOGADISHU, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a three-year project in Somalia to boost food security by increasing job opportunities in the fisheries and livestock sectors.

The Resilient Fisheries and Livestock Value Chain for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in Somalia (RAAISE) project which was developed in partnership with Somalia and the EU, aims to increase and diversify livelihoods, foster inclusive economic opportunities, and rehabilitate primary infrastructure within the fisheries and livestock sectors.

"FAO is pleased to be able to place the support it is bringing to this project within the wider framework of its support to the productive sectors of Somalia, in partnership with the federal and regional governments, donors and the private sector," FAO Representative for Somalia, Etienne Peterschmitt said in a statement issued in Mogadishu on Wednesday evening.

Peterschmitt said the project will continue to build on the recent progress made in increasing employment and food security for people by sustainably expanding the fisheries and livestock sectors in Somalia.

He said activities of the project are planned to take place across Somalia but with a focus on corridors in Somaliland, Central North, Shabelle and Juba River.

"The RAAISE project recognizes the significant progress that productive sector ministries and stakeholders have made in recent years, to strengthen food supply, increase export revenues and related employment and to improve the quality of the foods delivered to Somali people," Peterschmitt said.

He noted that the project will deliver an integrated package of activities to revitalize the Somali economy and contribute to sustainable investments in the livestock and fisheries sectors.

According to FAO, key areas of action for the project focus on increased quantity, quality and consistency of production, marketing, expanding access to markets, and building skills and capacities.

It said the project plans to work with pastoralists, fisherfolk, and honey producers by providing agriculture inputs such as seeds or tools and support with technical training.

FAO said the project will also focus on rehabilitating and constructing productive infrastructure to provide water sources for irrigation and livestock as well as improving fodder storage sheds and rehabilitating fisheries infrastructure such as jetties and markets to improve product quality; in addition to providing training through a community-based approach such as Fisher Field Schools.

"There remains vast potential to boost income generation and optimize the use of available resources in the fisheries and livestock sectors in Somalia," FAO said. Enditem
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Telangana lockdown likely to be extended till June 7? KCR to take call after Cabinet meet on May 30

KCRs son to be next Telangana CM? Chorus grows louder for KTR

India

pti-Madhuri Adnal

Hyderabad, Jan 21: Telangana Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker T Padma Rao Goud on Thursday joined some leaders expressing desire on seeing the party's working president and minister KT Rama Rao as future Chief Minister.

Speaking at a function in the presence of KT Rama Rao, Goud addressed KTR as "the probable would-be Chief Minister of the state" and requested him to solve the issues of railway workers and protect them.

"On behalf of the Assembly, on behalf of all of us here, and on behalf of railway workers, I am conveying my congratulations to the would-be Chief Minister," Goud said, amid applause during a programme of South Central Railway Employees Sangh. However, KTR who was on the stage did not react to the deputy speakers comments.

KCR govt to implement 10 per cent quota for economically weaker sections

Of late, some senior leaders have openly started talking about KTR taking the reins of the state, even as there was no reaction from the party on the issue of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao handing over the baton to his son KTR in the immediate future. Minister T Srinivas Yadav on Thursday asked what was wrong in KTR becoming Chief Minister of the state, when his attention was drawn to the comments made by a few MLAs on the issue.

Earlier TRS MLAs Shakil Aamir Mohammed and Bajireddy Goverdhan also spoke in favour of Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, becoming Chief Minister.

Though there was some talk in the past about the 44-year-old Rama Rao taking over the reins from his father, the young leader had dismissed it and this is, probably, the first time that some leaders are speaking in public about making him the CM.

KTR , who is state minister for industries, municipal administration and IT, is known for his development-oriented politics, especially in promoting investments in the development of Hyderabad and other urban areas.
GREENWICH  The death of Devon Dalio, who died in a fiery car crash into a retail store in Greenwich last month, has been categorized as accidental by the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Dalio, 42, died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries in the Dec. 17, the M.E.s office said Thursday afternoon. No other information was released on the crash.

Dalio was at the wheel of a 2016 Audi when it crashed into a Verizon store in the Riverside Commons shopping center in Greenwich and caught fire, police said. The fire marshals office said the cars gas tank ruptured and caused the blaze, which destroyed the Verizon store and damaged other businesses in the structure.

Courtesy of the Dalio Family /

Police said they had no further information to provide on Dalios death or the crash. Capt. Mark Zuccerella said the case was still under investigation.

Officers and bystanders were unable to enter the store after the crash due to the intensity of the flames. The Verizon workers ran out of the store and were not injured in the blaze.

Dalio, who grew up in Greenwich, was the son of local philanthropists Ray and Barbara Dalio. Ray Dalio is the founder of the Westport-based hedge fund Bridgewater Associates and is considered to be Connecticuts wealthiest resident.

Devon Dalio was the co-founder of P-Squared Management Enterprises, a private equity firm that is focused health-care technology companies. He served as a board member of the familys foundation, Dalio Philanthropies. He graduated from Lafayette College.

Bruce Zimmerman, a friend and associate, told an industry trade magazine, Institutional Investor, that Dalio was admirable and principled. Zimmerman told the magazine, My first impressions when I met him: Kind. Passionate. Inquisitive. Generous. Loved his family, his parents, his brothers, his wife, his child. A loving man.

In addition to his parents, Devon Dalio was survived by his wife and daughter. Memorial arrangements were private.

The death of his son triggered an enormous amount of pain and reflection, Ray Dalio said in a lengthy essay published on his LinkedIn account about two weeks after the crash.

Over that time, I went through a journey that Im still on, Dalio wrote.

At first losing Devon was worse than losing a part of myself, which was made more painful by my seeing the pain that it was causing my family members.

With time, Ray Dalio said he was able to learn there is no right approach to healing after a tragedy.

Each person needs to deal with the death of a loved one in the way that is right for them, he wrote.
(CNN)  For years, believers of the QAnon conspiracy theory had been waiting for the moment when a grand plan would be put into action and secret members of a supposed Satanic pedophilia ring at the highest ranks of government and Hollywood would suddenly be exposed, rounded up and possibly even publicly executed. They were nearly always sure it was right around the corner, but "The Storm" never came  and the moment of Joe Biden's inauguration was the last possible opportunity for President Donald Trump to put the plan in motion.

But as Biden raised his hand and swore an oath to defend the Constitution, becoming the nation's 46th president  nothing happened.

The anti-climax sent QAnon adherents into a frenzy of confusion and disbelief, almost instantly shattering a collective delusion that had been nurtured and amplified by many on the far right. Now, in addition to being scattered to various smaller websites after Facebook and Twitter cracked down on QAnon-related content, believers risked having their own topsy-turvy world turned upside down, or perhaps right-side up.

Members of a QAnon-focused Telegram channel, and some users of the image board 4chan, vowed to keep the faith. Others proclaimed they were renouncing their beliefs. Still others devised new theories that purported to push the ultimate showdown further into the future. One of the ideology's most visible icons, Ron Watkins  who goes by the online moniker CodeMonkeyZ  told supporters to "go back to our lives."

"The most hardcore QAnon followers are in disarray," said Daniel J. Jones, president of Advance Democracy, a nonpartisan nonprofit that tracks extremist groups and misinformation online. "After years of waiting for the 'Great Awakening,' QAnon adherents seemed genuinely shocked to see President Biden successfully inaugurated. A significant percentage online are writing that they are now done with the QAnon, while others are doubling down and promoting new conspiracies."

The smattering of reactions underscores the uncertain future now facing the QAnon movement, which tech companies had allowed to metastasize on their platforms for years but didn't start taking action against in earnest until 2020.

The baseless conspiracy theory has been circulating since 2017. In addition to alleging a vast child-trafficking conspiracy, those who were drawn in claim that government bureaucrats comprising a "deep state" were quietly working to undermine President Donald Trump's agenda. Trump himself fueled the claims by refusing to publicly denounce them on national television.

And people identifying as part of the QAnon movement were part of the mob of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol earlier this month.

Following the riots, QAnon supporters eagerly anticipated the moment of Biden's inauguration.

"As the noose tightens around the deep state, some people are becoming more and more desperate to discredit Q," one 4chan user posted on Wednesday morning. "I guess what they say is true. The flack is heaviest over the target."

But after Biden's swearing-in came and went, panic set in.

"We were promised arrests, exposures, military regime, classified documents. where is it????????" wrote one member of the QAnon-linked Telegram channel, which has nearly 128,000 subscribers.

"I'm scared, feeling sick in my stomach, but I am holding the line still," said another.

"Well babies are still being raped and eaten, any f**kin minute now GOD," said another.

Some began acknowledging the truth.

"Biden is our president," a fourth user in the Telegram channel said. "It's time to get off our devices and get back to reality. If something happens then something happens, but for now I'm logging out of all social media. It's been fun guys but it's unfortunately over."

Other believers insisted that the lack of a climax was itself a part of the plan, theorizing that Trump merely "allowed" Biden to become president "for appearances" while the former reality show host would be the one pulling the strings. "Anything that happens in the next 4 years is actually President Trumps doing," wrote one 4chan user.

"It's a hot mess, frankly," said Carla Hill, research fellow at the Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism, of the various reactions of QAnon believers. "Frustration started seeping in. There is some embarrassment, some anger ... A range of [new] conspiracies are spinning out of this and they are arguing among themselves."

The apparent ease with which some QAnon believers have been able to adjust the theory to suit new events underscores how slippery the conspiracy theory can be. But the proliferation of new theories and beliefs could also lead to a splintering of the movement  and, some extremism experts warn, a potentially new crisis in mental health.

As QAnon believers got pulled deeper into the conspiracy theory, they built a comforting belief system around themselves, said Marc Ambinder, a senior fellow who studies mis- and disinformation at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

"The 'plan' was so much more powerful in the abstract than anything you could offer in the real world to counter it," he said.

But now, as many QAnon supporters are increasingly confronted by reality, the resulting cognitive dissonance could break them, Ambinder said  with potentially devastating consequences.

"This type of event is the kind of thing that can set somebody who is already incredibly anxious, in the time of a horrible global pandemic, feeling like they're completely pushed to the edge," Ambinder said, saying he fears more of the type of violence that the country witnessed at the US Capitol two weeks ago.

In recent weeks, CNN has seen Trump supporters embracing the idea of martial law in large numbers on various social networks. Earlier this week, a Telegram account falsely purporting to be run by Gen. John Hyten, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the moment some supporters had been waiting for  that is Trump finally acting and using the military to crush his enemies  was coming. A spokesperson for Gen. Hyten told CNN Tuesday morning that the account is "an absolute fake" and added the Pentagon was "actively working" to get it taken down.

Major social networks have stepped up their crackdowns of QAnon as of late. On Tuesday night, Facebook said that since August it has removed about 18,300 Facebook profiles and 27,300 accounts on its subsidiary Instagram for violating its policies against QAnon. The company has also removed 10,500 groups and 510 events for the same reason.

Last week, Twitter said it banned more than 70,000 accounts for promoting QAnon.

But that may not be enough. People who are embedded in conspiracy theories do not listen to authoritative voices, said Ambinder, but rather to the voices they consider to be authoritative in upholding their worldview.

Even though Trump may no longer be president, he and his political allies  some of whom still serve in government  may be some of the only ones who can draw QAnon believers back to the real world, according to Ambinder.

"For the sake of hundreds of thousands of people who are still trapped in the QAnon alternate world and have no idea what to do," said Ambinder, "this is when Republicans who cynically and willfully spread the false 'election was stolen' rumor need to step up."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "QAnon believers are in disarray after Biden is inaugurated."


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In a study published in, the team details their successes inhibiting IRF4 with an antisense oligonucleotide, an engineered piece of DNA specifically designed to bind the genetic material coding for IRF4, causing it to degrade.The oligonucleotide -- an investigational antisense medicine developed by Ionis and known as ION251 -- lowered disease burden, reduced myeloma stem cell abundance and increased survival of mice bearing human myeloma, according to preclinical study data.Authors say the results support a Phase I clinical trial recently launched to assess the safety and efficacy of ION251 to treat humans with myeloma."As scientists, we don't usually have direct contact with patients, as a daily reminder of what our research could do, or why it's important," said co-senior author Leslie Crews, PhD, assistant professor in the Division of Regenerative Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine."But I've been working with a local support group for patients with multiple myeloma. They inspire me. They ask the most insightful questions, and it really makes it personal. I hope this work will eventually give them new potential treatments to prevent relapse, and ultimately get better."UC San Diego School of Medicine and Ionis Pharmaceuticals have a long history of collaborating on the development of investigational antisense medicines. Several Ionis antisense drugs have been commercially approved, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved SPINRAZA, a therapy for spinal muscular atrophy. In addition, several other therapies are currently in clinical trials.One challenge myeloma researchers face is that myeloma cells don't grow well in laboratory dishes. To study the disease and test new treatments, the best method, Crews said, is to transplant human myeloma cells into mice that lack an immune system and thus won't reject the human cells -- making avatars of each unique patient, in a way.The team tested ION251 on these myeloma mouse avatars. Compared to untreated mice, the treated mice had significantly fewer myeloma cells after two to six weeks of treatment. What's more, 70 to 100 percent of the treated mice survived, whereas none of the untreated control mice did.There were 10 mice in each treatment or control group and they received daily doses of ION251 or a control for one week, followed by three doses per week.In separate experiments using human cells isolated from myeloma or healthy donor samples, doses of ION251 used were enough to eradicate the myeloma stem cells while sparing healthy blood cells."The results of these preclinical studies were so striking that half the microscopy images we took to compare bone marrow samples between treated and untreated mice kept coming back blank -- in the treated mice, we couldn't find any myeloma cells left for us to study," said Crews, who is also associate member of the Moores Cancer Center and member of the Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute at UC San Diego."It makes the science more difficult, but it gives me hope for patients."In addition to working on its own, the treatment improved myeloma tumor cell sensitivity to standard-of-care cancer therapeutics. The researchers also drilled down to the mechanisms at play and described the molecular effects of IRF4 inhibition -- information that both clarifies how myeloma forms in the first place, and how the treatment works."These proof-of-principle studies will enable rapid clinical development of anti-sense oligonucleotide-mediated IRF4 inhibition to prevent myeloma relapse driven by drug-resistant cancer stem cells," said co-senior author Catriona Jamieson, MD, PhD, Koman Family Presidential Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, deputy director of Moores Cancer Center, director of the Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center and director of the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinic at UC San Diego Health.The Phase I clinical trial to assess the safety of ION251, sponsored by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, is now recruiting participants at Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health and elsewhere."This collaboration exemplifies the power of combining Ionis' antisense technology to target previously un-druggable factors in cancer, with world-class academic, translational and clinical research from institutions such as UC San Diego to rapidly bring promising drugs to patients desperately in need," said co-senior author A. Robert MacLeod, PhD, vice president and franchise head of Oncology at Ionis Pharmaceuticals.According to the National Cancer Institute, multiple myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the United States, with more than 32,000 new cases predicted in 2020 and a five-year survival of only 53.9 percent.Source: Eurekalert


Retired and practising nurses who responded to a government plea for help to administer COVID-19 vaccinations are calling the recruitment process a "gong show" and a case of the "left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing."

Retired and practising nurses who responded to a government plea for help to administer COVID-19 vaccinations are calling the recruitment process a "gong show" and a case of the "left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing."

Several nurses told the Free Press that after applying in December to fill in shifts at vaccination clinics, they received no response from the government.

Some retired nurses who had signed up, received training and were on an email list for shifts, were later sent confusing messages that suggested they begin the application process all over again.

CP Several nurses told the Free Press that after applying in December to fill in shifts at vaccination clinics, they received no response from the government. (John Woods / Canadian Press files)

"I was just flabbergasted because I'd already been hired," said one retiree, who has yet to administer a single dose of the vaccine.

Earlier this month, the province hired a private Canadian company, the David Aplin Group, to assist it in recruiting staff for its vaccination clinics.

The Pallister government has said very little about the hiring. A spokeswoman said the contract was tendered in December and signed this month.

"Their role includes placing job ads, reviewing applications, shortlisting and interviewing candidates, conducting background checks and presenting a verbal offer on behalf of Shared Health," she said about the company.

She said it "will also keep applicants informed of the status of their application throughout the recruitment process."

Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, says said she's heard from many nurses who have volunteered to be part of the vaccination effort and have been exasperated by the sign-up process. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files)

One Winnipeg nurse said she responded to an internal Winnipeg Regional Health Authority posting in December that sought nurses to work shifts at immunization clinics. She heard nothing until Tuesday, when the David Aplin Group contacted her by email.

The nurse, who asked not to be identified, said she wondered why she had not received a response to her application after the government had pleaded with health workers to step forward to join the immunization effort.

Although she has full-time work as a hospital nurse, she agreed to take on weekend and evening shifts, at straight time, to help out.

Aplin, which has offices across Canada, including one in Winnipeg, emailed her an application link  even though she had already applied.

The nurse said she wonders why the government is paying a company to hire people for the vaccination effort when it already employs human resources staff.

Neither the government nor David Aplin Group would say exactly when the company was hired or how much it's being paid. A government official said the public would have to wait until the information is posted on the province's website.

"They're doing all this after the first vaccines have already arrived in Manitoba. It's way too late."  Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont

Nikki Palmer, a partner in the company's Winnipeg office, said the firm is playing a support role.

"As long as recruitment is needed for this project, it's my understanding that we'll have the chance to support (it)," she said.

"We were brought on to support the recruitment efforts. We will be doing all the initial reach-outs, all of the interviews over the phone, all of the hiring selection. So as demands surface for different roles in different regions, we will be understanding what those are from the government and we will be responding accordingly."

Palmer said the company has sent out "initial communication" to more than 2,300 people who have expressed interest in working in vaccination clinics.

She noted that those receiving the message "were at various stages" in the application process.

"We have learned that there were certain individuals on those lists that have already completed the process," she said. "So, hopefully, that just means we get the chance to say hello and thank them for their service, and they can disregard that communication."

Manitoba received its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine on Dec. 14. By Dec. 21, the first 1,000 doses had been administered. The Winnipeg "super site" at the RBC Convention Centre opened on Jan. 4.

On Wednesday, the government said it had the equivalent of 1,783 full-time staff in place for the immunization effort, including 859 immunizers.

Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont questioned why the government only recently sought outside help for its vaccination rollout  and only recently hired a full-time provincial director of COVID-19 immunization.

"They're doing all this after the first vaccines have already arrived in Manitoba," he said. "It's way too late."

Darlene Jackson, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, said she's heard from many nurses who have volunteered to be part of the vaccination effort and have been exasperated by the sign-up process.

"There's lots of frustration out there from nurses who want to help, who want to be part of the solution and are not getting the calls to do it at all," she said.

Some nurses have volunteered to immunize Manitobans during their vacation time and have not heard back from the government, she said.

Jackson said the government would be better served if it abandoned its top-down planning process and started listening to front-line nurses.

For example, the province has requested no input from public health nurses "who are the experts in providing vaccinations and immunizations in this province," she said.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

Australia says a new United Nations nuclear treaty signed by more than 80 countries will be ineffective in eliminating nuclear weapons from the world.

The Morrison government has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which comes into effect on Friday.

North Korea fired two suspected short-range missiles towards the sea in May 2019. Credit:KCNA/AP

The treaty, signed by 86 countries, bans signatories from testing, developing, producing, stockpiling or threatening to use nuclear weapons.

The Australian government decided not to sign the treaty on the basis that it failed to recognise the realities of the current international security environment.
There is the feeling of pride in symbolism. Kamala Harris was also sworn in as vice president, the first woman in that seat, the first Black and the first South Asian person in that seat. Although Trump, in his smallness and insolence, chose not to attend, Barack Obama was there to see his former vice president assume the presidency. And make no mistake about it, Biden is president only because of his allegiance to Obama.

But then there is also the lingering feelings of disappointment, betrayal and loss of faith.

How is it possible that enough Americans  mostly white, it should be noted  voted for Trump in the first place, sending him to the White House? And how did he receive the second-highest number of votes in the countrys history in November?

Donald Trump is a racist and a white supremacist. And yet, millions of Americans  again, mostly white  either agreed with his views or were willing to abide them. I know that there will be those who warn that I should just let this go, that holding on to it is divisive.

To them I say, Hell no. You cant have a feeling of unity after there was enforcement of a practice of cruelty. There must be acknowledgment and accountability. There must be contrition and repentance.

It is not enough to simply let the co-conspirators and abettors of a white supremacist president quiet down and cool off, biding their time, waiting for the next opportunity for their riotousness and wrath to be unfurled and unleashed.

How is it that people of good conscience and good faith are supposed to make common cause, to find healing and unity, with people who have demonstrated their contempt for the equal humanity of others? Where is the center point between my determination to be free and your determination to contain or constrict that freedom?

I still think about the children separated from their parents at the southern border and the children kept in cages. I think about the Trump administration arguing in court that those children didnt need toothbrushes or soap or the lights turned out at night so that they could sleep. I still think about all those who died in custody and all those who have not been reunited with their families.
PALERMO, JAN 21 - A 10-year-old Italian girl was declared brain dead by a Palermo hospital Thursday after taking the Blackout Challenge on TikTok. Her parents have OK'd donating the organs of the girl, who tied a belt around her throat to self-asphyxiate in the challenge on the popular social-media platform. She arrived at the hospital in cardiac arrest. Doctors said they did all they could to try and save her but she was too far gone. The Blackout Challenge, and a milder variant called the Passout Challenge, have been circulating on TikTok over the last year. Experts have warned of the risks associated with the challenges, including fainting, seizures, brain damage, and even death. (ANSA).
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 22:58:51|Editor: huaxia

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HONG KONG, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government John Lee said Thursday that the national security law in the HKSAR has stopped the serious violence and reversed the chaotic situation in Hong Kong.

Thanks to the law's strong deterrent effect against radicals advocating "Hong Kong independence" and colluding with foreign forces, the national security risk and violent activities have been greatly reduced, Lee said at a meeting of the Legislative Council, citing that the number of people arrested for destructive activities was halved five months after the law took effect on June 30, 2020.

The national security law has enabled the shift from chaos to order, ensured the continued progress of "one country, two systems" and sustained Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability, he said.

Lee said the HKSAR government will strive to help local residents and people outside of Hong Kong correctly understand the national security law in the future. Enditem
The Wrap has published this years list, which includes 27 features  admittedly fewer than last year, but still an impressive number considering this years disruptions. In November, we highlighted four indie features that we thought would make interesting nominees this time around.

Here are another five (the producers/distributors have confirmed to us that they have been submitted). These arent necessarily our favorite films of the year  theyre just a reminder of how diverse the nominees could potentially be.

The Nose or the Conspiracy of Mavericks

Director: Andrey Khrzhanovsky

Country: Russia

Khrzhanovsky, an 81-year-old veteran of animation and live action alike, returns with a teeming, teasing chronicle of Russias early 20th century. Structured as a collage of vignettes from the countrys history (mostly in the Stalin years), the film explores the role of artists under totalitarian regimes through a combination of cut-out, hand-drawn animation, and live action. A jury award at Annecy and nomination at the European Film Awards have given the film momentum in this years race.

Ride Your Wave

Director: Masaaki Yuasa

Country: Japan

Watch it on: HBO Max, Blu-ray

A surfing enthusiast and an earnest firefighter, in love: the famously protean Yuasa (Mind Game, Devilman Crybaby) turns to late-teen romance in his latest feature. A couple of blindsiding twists give their story a tragicomic flavor as the film edges into fantasy. Like all of Yuasas features, the film is distributed in the U.S. by Gkids, which has a knack for nabbing Oscar nominations.

A Whisker Away

Directors: Junichi Sato, Tomotaka Shibayama

Country: Japan

Watch it on: Netflix

Heres another whimsical Japanese tale of young love, this time unrequited. Miyo, a schoolgirl with a personality as big as her heart, has a crush on Hinode, but her feelings arent reciprocated  until, with the help of a magic mask, she turns into a cat. The film comes from Studio Colorido, the producers of the zany 2018 release Penguin Highway.

Accidental Luxuriance of the Translucent Watery Rebus

Director: Dalibor Baric

Country: Croatia

Working essentially on his own, Baric has made a feature as enigmatic as its title. Elements of romance, sci-fi, and detective noir never coalesce into a clear narrative, the film playing instead as a hallucinatory cocktail of philosophical musings (in an array of different media). Pixar this aint. Academy voters have shown little tolerance of experimental animation in the past; the qualification of films like this reminds us how narrow their tastes can be.

Calamity

Director: Remi Chaye

Countries: France, Denmark

Little is known about the real-life Calamity Janes early years. Calamity fills in some blanks with a mostly fictional origin story about the Wild West icon. For the production, Chaye refined the Flash-based pipeline he developed for his last film Long Way North, resulting in a similar visual style. Calamity has had a strong start (it won the top feature prize at Annecy) and the director has fans in Hollywood: Long Way North was nominated for an Annie.


The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
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[January 21, 2021] Brinks Home Security Announces Long-Term Contract with Largest Dealer, Skyline Security

Monitronics (News - Alert) International, Inc. and its subsidiaries (doing business as Brinks Home Security), ("Brinks Home Security" or the "Company") (OTC: SCTY) today announced it has reached an agreement on a new long term contract with its largest Authorized Dealer, Skyline Security ("Skyline"), that extends their partnership for another five years. The new agreement is expected to improve the Company's overall profitability through a reduction in the up-front cost to acquire accounts while providing Skyline with an increased share of long-term revenues. "We are very pleased to continue our partnership with Skyline," said William Niles, Chief Executive Officer, Brinks Home Security. "With an unwavering commitment to quality and customer service, Skyline and its leaders understand and support our mission of providing the best customer experience in the smart home security industry. I look forward to working with Skyline CEO, Edwin Arroyave, and his team to build upon the outstanding foundation and trust we have established between these two terrific organizations. Together we are stronger." With a nationwide footprint, Skyline has one of the largest door-to-door sales organizations in the smart home security industry. "Edwin Arroyave, Stewart Powell, and the entire Skyline team are the best around, and I appreciate the trust they've placed in us," said Wade Gibson, Senior Vice President of Network Sales, Brinks Home Security. "Together, we are building America's best dealer program and we look forward to a meaningful, industry-leading collaboration." The agreement is part of Brinks Home Securty's ongoing strategic efforts to transform the dealer model by creating mutually beneficial partnerships that improve the Company's profitability while providing dealers with more predictable long-term cash flows.



"I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished as partners over the last few years, and I look forward to leveraging those efforts to provide the best customer experience in the industry," said Edwin Arroyave, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Skyline Security. "Serving others and protecting people is why I started this business and I believe the security and peace of mind we provide our customers has never been more valuable." About Brinks Home Security

Brinks Home Security (OTC: SCTY) is one of the largest home security and alarm monitoring companies in North America. Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Brinks Home Security secures over 900,000 residential and commercial customers through highly responsive, simple security solutions backed by expertly trained professionals. The company has one of the nation's largest networks of independent authorized dealers and agents - providing products and support to customers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico - as well as direct-to-consumer sales of DIY and professionally installed products.

To learn more about Brinks Home Security or how to become an Authorized Dealer, Partner, or Representative, visit brinkshome.com or brinkshome.com/partners. About Skyline Security

Founded in 2004, Skyline Security is a trusted name in the home security and smart home space. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and boasts a national footprint - protecting hundreds of thousands of families and businesses across the United States. Skyline has been named one of Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Private Companies in America three years in a row. To learn more about Skyline Security, visit skylinesecurity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005978/en/

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - BELGRAVIA HARTFORD CAPITAL INC. (CSE: BLGV) ("Belgravia" or the "Company") today announced that, as a result of open market dispositions made between July 21, 2020 and January 20, 2021 of 2,510,000 Common Shares (collectively, the "Transactions"), the Company no longer holds over 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of Blackrock Gold Corp. ("Blackrock Gold").

Between July 21, 2020 and January 20, 2021, the Company disposed of 2,510,000 common shares of Blackrock Gold through the facilities of the Toronto Stock Exchange at an average price of $0.88 per Common Share for a total consideration of $2,203,691. Prior to the Transactions that gave rise to Belgravia's obligation to file an early warning report, Belgravia had owned directly 12,260,000 Common Shares representing 11.36% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares of Blackrock Gold and continues to hold 1,000,000 common share purchase warrants exercisable at $0.30 until January 30, 2022 (the "Warrants"). As a result of the Transactions, Belgravia owns 9,750,000 Common Shares being 9.04% of the issued and outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis. As a result of the Transactions, the Company has decreased its holdings in Blackrock Gold by 2.32%. If all of the Warrants were exercised, Belgravia would own, directly or indirectly, or exercise control or direction over, approximately 9.96% deemed beneficial shareholding percentage.

The Blackrock Gold shares were sold for investment purposes. Liquidating these common shares provided Belgravia the opportunity to increase other key security holdings we feel are undervalued. In accordance with applicable securities laws, Belgravia may, from time to time and at any time, acquire additional shares and/or other equity, debt or other securities or instruments (collectively, "Securities") of Blackrock Gold in the open market or otherwise, and reserves the right to dispose of any or all of its Securities in the open market or otherwise at any time and from time to time, and to engage in similar transactions with respect to the Securities, the whole depending on market conditions, the business and prospects of Blackrock Gold and other relevant factors.

This press release is being issued in pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, which also requires a report to be filed with the regulatory authorities in each jurisdiction in which the Issuer is a reporting issuer containing information with respect to the foregoing matters (the "Early Warning Report"). A copy of the Early Warning Report will be filed on SEDAR under Blackrock Gold's profile at www.sedar.com.

About Belgravia

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc. is a publically traded investment holding company which invests in public and private companies in legal jurisdictions and under the rule of law. Belgravia and its investments are high risk business ventures and expose shareholders to financial risks.

For more information, please visit www.belgraviahartford.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding planned investment activities & related returns, the timing for completion of research and development activities, the potential value of royalties, and other statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, changes in market trends, the completion, results and timing of research undertaken by the Company, risks associated with resource assets, the impact of general economic conditions, commodity prices, industry conditions, dependence upon regulatory, environmental, and governmental approvals, and the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements.

For More Information, Please Contact:

Mehdi Azodi, President & CEO

Belgravia Hartford Capital Inc.

(416) 779-3268

mazodi@blgv.ca

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72571
Among those attending the inauguration were the relatives of Black victims of police violence. Jacob Blake, whose son, Jacob Blake Jr., was shot and gravely wounded by a police officer in Kenosha, Wis., Justin Blake, the uncle of the younger Jacob, and Bianca Austin, the aunt of Breonna Taylor, who was fatally shot in a botched raid by the Louisville police, attended together.

Theres power in the air, Justin Blake said by cellphone from outside the U.S. Capitol as band music blared in the background.

For this contingent, the trip to Washington was about much more than celebrating a new administration. They are also hoping to meet with lawmakers to push an agenda of police reform and racial justice. Justin Blake said officials in the incoming Biden administration had agreed to meet with them in the coming weeks to discuss the issues.
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The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in France hit a two-month high at 26,784, health authorities said on Wednesday.

A higher daily tally, at 28,393, was registered on Nov. 18, 2020, according to official data.

Meanwhile, the country's coronavirus death toll increased by 310 within a day.

Currently, a total of 25,686 people are hospitalized, 2,852 of them in intensive care. The two tallies rose by 119 and 13 respectively in the last 24 hours.

To date, France has recorded 2,965,117 people having caught COVID-19, of whom 71,652 have died.

Since Saturday, a nationwide curfew starting at 6 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. has been put into effect to contain the viral circulation amid the spread of highly infectious virus variants.

"The curfew is an effective protection to limit the circulation of the COVID-19," government spokesman Gabriel Attal said early Wednesday after a cabinet meeting.

"Let's give this curfew a chance," he said, noting that an earlier curfew imposed in the worst-hit departments since early January had a "positive impact on the virus circulation."

"Obviously, if the situation deteriorates in a significant way, other national measures will be decided," Attal added.

The earlier nationwide curfew was among a series of stricter COVID-19 rules announced by French Prime Minister Jean Castex last week.

According to the rules, non-European travelers arriving in France would have to present a negative COVID-19 test less than 72 hours before boarding their flights. They would have to self-quarantine for seven days and then take a second test.

Another 107,000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the past 24 hours in France, bringing the total to 692,777 since the start of the campaign, reported BFM TV.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in France and some other countries with the already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.

Meanwhile, 237 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 64 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 Jan. 15.
Activate Care, a leader in integrated health and social care solutions, today announced a first of its kind initiative to help communities change how local health and social service systems collaborate and the impact that communities can achieve together.

Activate Cares Screen-to-Intervene Initiative (https://info.activatecare.com/activate-care-101) is engaging communities in all 50 states in an effort to link these systems of care around the individual patient or client, rather than just the activities of the care coordinator or case manager. This initiative builds on the companys evidence-based CareHub offering, the only technology proven to help health and social service organizations reduce costs and collaborate for the collective benefit of the person being served, and ultimately the community as a whole. Activate Care brings expanded data exchange capabilities to this initiative, allowing communities to screen anywhere across the ecosystem, with enhanced care coordination tools to link diverse teams together to intervene everywhere in order to meet a persons whole set of medical and physical, behavioral health, and social service needs. Closing the loop on the referral to actually intervene until the problem has been rectified reduces everything from hospital readmissions to chronic homelessness.

For too long, the status quo in our healthcare system has been to screen people for mental health or social service needs, then simply refer them out to other providers in the community. Numerous peer-reviewed studies now show this fails up to 80% of people in need, said Activate Care Co-founder and CEO Ted Quinn. We know for a fact that its rarely just food insecurity affecting someones health, or an anxiety disorder, its almost always more than one issue facing a family. And when we look to the future with a keen eye on how the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic will certainly increase incidents of homelessness, food insecurity, mental health, and many other SDOH, deploying large-scale interventions to these intersecting challenges will require an integrated ecosystem more than ever. Its time to prepare for these predictable challenges to actually make a positive impact for our vulnerable populations.

Our Screen-to-Intervene initiative brings an end-to-end process to the problem, and we are currently demonstrating its effectiveness by powering some of the most efficient community-wide interventions in the country, Quinn added.

Activate Care Helps Hospitals Shift to Proactive, Whole-Person Care

For healthcare providers, Activate Care coordinates the full scope of medical and non-medical data across the continuum of care, and connects patients to the behavioral health and social services they need right now. Integrations with electronic health records (EHR) extend the value of the Activate Care platform by enabling front-line health workers to manage, monitor, and support the non-medical complexity of their patients needs in one streamlined workflow.

Every year, Activate Care customer Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa Valley, Calif., discharges many patients who are low-income, uninsured or underinsured, and chronically ill, who will face obstacles to maintain their health.

The hospitals CARE Network teamcase management, advocacy, resources and educationshared in a Scottsdale Institute webinar (member-only access) how they use Activate Care to deliver timely health care services to this population. Through this seamless continuum of care from hospital to community, hospitalizations and emergency room utilization each decreased by about 64 percent for these patients. CARE Network patients have a 21 percent lower 30-day readmission rate than the hospitals other patients. These improvements can yield economic benefits to the hospitals uncompensated care budget and help to mitigate the risks of financial penalties.

Activate Care Strengthens Outcomes and Case Management for Social Services & Integrated Care Organizations

Connection and collaboration is paramount for a community. Activate Care customer Neighborhood Service Organization (NSO) is a community-based, integrated care organization and the only shelter provider in Detroit, Mich. with medical and behavioral health services onsite. In Detroit, NSOs CEO Linda Little knows the continuum of care for an individual experiencing homelessness is extremely fragmented. Systems do not talk to each other, let alone other care team members, resulting in huge redundancies, higher costs, a poor patient experience, and a burden on the system of care. Without a complete patient profile, its nearly impossible to elevate quality of life and patient health. Nobody is winning! said Little.

Like NSO, the goal of most integrated health organizations is to substantially improve patient outcomes and promote health equity. Linda Little notes, Activate Care is a game changer, a tool that enables connectivity between multiple partners like hospitals, pharmacies, lab services, and homeless services, all with a high volume of programs, and it gives the full picture of the individual to truly deliver whole person care. It reduces the burden on the entire system of care.

With 2-1-1 Helplines, Activate Care Turns Community Resource Information into Community-Based Interventions

Americas network of local 2-1-1 helplines is available to approximately 309 million people, which is more than 90% of the U.S. population. Activate Care further expanded its care coordination capabilities through strategic partnerships with local 2-1-1 helplines that bring customers a single-pane view for referring, coordinating, and intervening on behalf of community members in need. 2-1-1 data in Activate Care gives communities participating in the Screen-to-Intervene Initiative access to the most reliable community resource information inside their community-based interventions.

In Illinois, Activate Care partner PATH Illinois provides 2-1-1 services to 45 counties across the state. Like many local 2-1-1 helplines that Activate Care works with, PATH Illinois provides crisis response, community resources and referrals to callers, to influence better outcomes for thousands of individuals across the Midwest every year.

Most healthcare organizations spend countless hours building their own community networks and resource guides, which need to be regularly updated, costing time and money. Organizations like PATH Illinois offer an entry point to help. It takes a community to help our people in need, said Karen Zangerle, executive director of PATH Illinois. We have to work together to improve capacity of social services and track people through the system, until they get the help they need. Because of this, I believe Activate Care offers huge value to the healthcare system. To be able to work with a company that is willing to expand a hospitals ability to follow through is wonderful. Simply put, we want more people to find answers to their problem before it negatively impacts their health.

Local Leaders Choose Activate Care to Help Manage COVID-19 Effects

We can see a shimmer of hope at the end of the tunnel for the pandemic, but we cant vaccinate against the effects of it. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for unemployment, homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness, and so many other issues that we know will skyrocket over the next year, said Ted Quinn.

Activate Cares COVID-focused tools, powered by the Activate CareHub platform, help local leaders in healthcare and government more safely and efficiently manage their long-term response to the economic and social impact of the pandemic, at scale. With millions of jobs lost and many families on the brink, Activate Care helps connect people in need to essential services, sharing critical data across the entire community, with a platform that is designed to radically improve how our healthcare and social services heroes communicate, collaborate, and take action together.

Activate Care customers in Humboldt County, Calif., implemented the companys COVID-focused tools in less than a week, which they used for rapidly housing at-risk homeless individuals in motels; it provided the care coordination framework for the newly housed and was described in a California Health Care Foundation report as a major success.

About Activate Care

Activate Cares cloud-based CareHub platform connects patients, families, care teams, and community partners to address social determinants of health and create better whole person care on the journey to health and wellbeing. With Activate Care, everyone directly involved with a patients health can act together to improve health and social outcomes, making healthier lives happen, wherever they are. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Activate Care is privately held and venture-funded by the disruptive innovation investment firm, Rose Park Advisors. The company was named one of BostInnos 50 on Fire in fall 2020, which showcases the 50 companies in Boston with innovative approaches to solving problems and making the biggest impact. For more information, visit https://www.activatecare.com.
Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora was among the batch of Trenton city employees who received their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccination during a popup clinic at fire headquarters Wednesday.

His arm is a little sore, but hes feeling fine, the mayor said a day later. Hes seen a lot of balking and misinformation, including among first responders, which is surprising.

Were asking people to sign up because its really a race to sign people, because demand will increase allotment, he said. Currently, Mercer County is getting about 800 doses a week, but they could receive more if more residents sign up, he said.

New Jersey residents can pre-register at the states site, here, and they will be classified and informed when to go to one of the over 100 sites around New Jersey. The state also set up a toll-free phone line, 855-568-0545, which they expect to be up and running next week with live persons to assist people without computer access.

Trenton is doing something similar. To assist their residents, the city has set up a phone number and website - 609-989-3242 and covidvac@trentonnj.org - to assist in getting people into the state registry.

The city is also working with pastors to get the word out to at-risk populations, Gusciora said.

The rollout of the two vaccines, made by Pfizer and Moderna, has been confusing and disorganized at times as state and county health officials work with different organizations to provide the shots.

Mercer County currently has eight vaccination sites listed on the states website.
TIBURON, Calif., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sara Schottenstein Foundation, a science-focused organization dedicated to ending gastric cancer, today announced its launch and new website, http://www.saraschottensteinfoundation.org/. Founded by Jeff Schottenstein, a wealth management professional in San Francisco, the Sara Schottenstein Foundation supports innovative gastric cancer research, raises awareness, and champions patients and their caregivers. It also honors Sara Schottenstein (1967-2016), Jeff's late wife, and her inspirational life and efforts to overcome gastric cancer.

"I am thrilled to launch the Sara Schottenstein Foundation," said Jeff Schottenstein. "Sara was a kind, compassionate and beautiful individual, deeply committed to finding a cure for gastric cancer. At the end of her life, she took solace in knowing that our work would one day help other gastric cancer patients. We are driven to continue her mission to end this devastating disease and bring hope to patients, families and researchers through the Sara Schottenstein Foundation."

Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is the third leading cause of cancer deaths globally. In 2018, it resulted in 783,000 deaths worldwide. A 2012 study in the scholarly journal BMC Public Health revealed that it is the most underfunded form of cancer based on its rates of mortality and years of life lost.

Sara was a wife, mother and attorney who lived life grounded in warmth and authenticity. In 2014, at the age of 47, she was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer. During her nearly two-year cancer journey, Sara and Jeff learned there were few approved treatments for gastric cancer. Their response was a commitment to exploring and supporting new potentially effective treatments.

The Sara Schottenstein Foundation Board of Directors includes Jeff Schottenstein as president; Stuart Wechsler, a wealth management executive, as vice president; Michael Schottenstein, MD, a psychiatrist and Jeff's brother, as treasurer; and Julie Roth Novack, CEO and co-founder of PartySlate and Sara's sister, as a board member.

Scientific Advisory Board members include Adam J. Bass, MD, Columbia University Medical Center; Andrew T. Chan, MD, MPH, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Massachusetts General Hospital; Carlos U. Corvera, MD, FACS, UCSF, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center; Pamela L. Kunz, MD, Yale School of Medicine, Yale Cancer Center, and Smilow Cancer Hospital; Uri Ladabaum, MD, MS, Stanford University School of Medicine; and R. Jacob Vogelstein, PhD, Catalio Capital Management.

"Sara was a champion in her own fight against cancer and on behalf of other cancer patients," said Dr. Pamela Kunz, Leader of the GI Cancer Program at Yale Cancer Center. "It was a privilege to know her and I'm proud to join the foundation that will honor Sara's legacy in such a meaningful way. I look forward to working with the Sara Schottenstein Foundation to support patients and research that saves lives."

About the Sara Schottenstein Foundation

The Sara Schottenstein Foundation is a science-focused organization committed to ending gastric cancer through supporting innovative research, building greater awareness, and supporting patients and their loved ones. It strives to reflect Sara's values of loving kindness, dedication to family, and support for science. Learn more at www.saraschottensteinfoundation.org .

SOURCE Sara Schottenstein Foundation

Related Links

http://www.saraschottensteinfoundation.org


A man and woman are being investigated after a baby died in 'unexplained circumstances', it has been reported.

The couple were taken into custody after police responded to reports of a two-month-old in cardiac arrest at a home in Enfield, North London.

The woman who was arrested, believed to be the baby's mother, allegedly told Met Police officers that she had 'rolled over' onto her sleeping baby.

She is thought to be 22 years old and have two other children.

A man and woman were taken into custody after police responded to reports of a two-month-old baby in cardiac arrest at a home in Enfield, North London

'The death is not being treated as suspicious but as unexplained,' a Met Police spokesman is said to have told The Sun.

A post-mortem is yet to be carried out to determine the baby's cause of death.

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called at 9.24am to reports of a person unwell.

'We sent an ambulance crew, a medic in a car, an incident response officer and an advanced paramedic. The first of our medics arrived at the scene in four minutes.

'Sadly, despite the best efforts of medics, a person died at the scene.'

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Police were called by London Ambulance Service [LAS] to a residential address in Edmonton, N9, at 09:29hrs on Tuesday, 19 January, to a report of a child in cardiac arrest.

'Officers and paramedics attended and a two-month-old baby was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

'A male and female were arrested at the scene in connection with the incident. They were later released under investigation.

'The death is not being treated as suspicious but as unexplained.'

Police enquiries are continuing.

Tatiana Turne, who allegedly plowed her car into supporters of Donald Trump during a California rally in September, has been hit with a slew of additional charges.

A Black Lives Matter activist who allegedly plowed her car into supporters of Donald Trump during a California rally in September, has been hit with a slew of additional charges.

Tatiana Turner, 40, has now been accused of using a stun gun against a counter-protester at the September 26 BLM march she organized in Yorba Linda, where she allegedly also ran over a Trump supporter.

Turner is also accused of beating two men with a four-foot-long rod at a Seal Beach rally on August 29.

The Long Beach activist has now racked up a total of 13 felony charges stemming from her violence at the two protests, including: one felony count of attempted premeditated murder and six felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one of which caused 'great bodily injury.'

Turner has also been charged with two felony counts of the use of pepper spray by a felon in connection with the September protest after MAGA counter protesters turned up at the demonstration, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

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Tatiana Turner, 40, has now been accused of beating two men with a four-foot-long rod at a Seal Beach rally on August 29

Turner faces attempted murder charges after she was filmed running over counter-protesters at a September 26 rally she organized in Yorba Linda

Turner now faces a total of 13 felony charges and has pleaded not guilty

Turner will now face two additional felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon for the attack at the Seal Beach protest, which 'left one of the victims with injuries to his head so severe they required staples.'

'[She] repeatedly beat two men as they lay on the ground after being beaten by a group of protesters,' officials said.

If convicted on all charges, Turner faces a maximum sentence of seven years to life in prison - plus 26 years in state prison.

She has previous felony convictions for drug sales and domestic violence.

Prosecutors have previously said that Turner deliberately drove into a crowd of Trump's supporters with the intent to kill a woman, who was identified on Wednesday as 44-year-old Danielle Lindgren.

Lindgren was hospitalized for several months after Turner ran back-and-forth over her head during the protest in Yorba Linda.

'She positioned her vehicle to be used as a backup weapon and she used that vehicle as a deadly weapon, willing to injure and kill those who stood in her way,' District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement last year.

Lindgren has also been charged with one misdemeanor count of possessing a baton and faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail if convicted, officials said.

A second counter-protester suffered a broken leg after he was also run over by Turner.

Authorities said Turner deliberately drove into a crowd of Trump's supporters with the intent to kill a woman. Pictured: Black Lives Matter protesters and counter protesters clash in Yorba Linda, Calif., September 26

Three more of the 'March 4 Equality' protesters have been charged for crimes committed at the Yorba Linda protest, with one other counter-protester also charged.

'We support the right to peacefully protest, but these are not peaceful protests. These are organized protests that encourage others to engage in civil disobedience and violence,' Spitzer said on Wednesday.

'We continue to review all surveillance footage to identify other suspects, regardless of what side of an issue they are on.'

Spitzer said his office will continue to prosecute anyone using force or unlawful intimidation tactics against any person or group.

'Individuals who engage in violent and unlawful behavior in Orange County, regardless of their political or organizational leanings and associations, will not be tolerated and will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,' he said.

'The outrageous crimes committed recently by rioters at the U.S. Capitol building betrayed the core principles of our democracy and are a stark reminder that as Americans we will not stand for violence and lawlessness, especially when it is shamelessly disguised as the freedom of speech.'

The activist (pictured at another demonstration) is accused of beating a man with a rod so hard that he had to receive staples

A defense lawyer said last year that Turner tried unsuccessfully to get help from cops in Yorba Linda after her group was overwhelmed by a hostile crowd.

Turner saw people with guns and feared for her life when she got into her car that was blocked by Trump supporters, attorney Ludlow Creary II said.

According to Newser, Turner called 911 but 'got the runaround.' She then appealed to cops on the ground but was also refused help, they claim.

'Sheriff's deputies on scene didn't do anything,' Creary said.

He said she was trying to get away and didn't intend to hit anyone.

'There were actions that caused her to become fearful for her life and that's when she accelerated,' Creary added.

'She wasn't trying to hit anybody. She wasn't trying to hurt anybody.'

The Orange County Sheriff's Department, however, has claimed Turner was not in any danger when she accelerated.

'It did not appear from the video we've been able to see that there was a direct threat,' spokeswoman Carrie Braun said.

Last year, Turner made her first appearance in court remotely from the jail and was ordered held on $1 million bail. A not guilty plea was entered on her behalf by her lawyer.
[January 21, 2021] AM Best Removes From Under Review With Negative Implications and Affirms Credit Ratings of Universal Life Insurance Company

AM Best has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B+ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bbb-" of Universal Life Insurance Company (San Juan, PR) (Universal Life), following its efforts to secure capital through its parent company, Universal Insurance Company (UNICO). The outlook assigned to the Credit Ratings (ratings) is negative. The ratings reflect Universal Life's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as adequate, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management. The removal of the ratings from under review is predicated on Universal Life securing access to capital through UNICO, which has established a surplus note of $25 million with the option to issue additional notes up to $100 million. Liquidity in general terms remains strong. The surplus note is earmarked for the liquidity needs of Universal Life, should it be needed. The capital raise plan, underwritten by The Phoenix Fund, was approved by the Insurance Commissioner of Puerto Rico in December 2020. The negative outlook is due primarily to the counterparty risk attributed to the fixed-annuity assets maintained and held in trust by Private Bankers Life & Annuity Co., Ltd. (PBLA), the reinsurer of Universal Life's block of legacy fixed-annuity business. However, Universal Life has limited the effects of the counterparty risk through its new business contract. As of Jan. 1, 2020, fixed annuity policies issued from June 1, 2019, are being ceded to Shenandoah Life Insurance Company as part of a new reinsurance agreement for fixed annuity busness.



PBLA is a Bermuda-domiciled company with direct ties to Greg E. Lindberg, who was convicted of wire fraud and bribery charges by a U.S. federal jury in March 2020. Universal Life's plan to recapture the PBLA fixed-annuity trust fund and place it with a new reinsurer is still in place. Even though the process continues, it has taken longer than AM Best's expectations. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright  2021 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005633/en/

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As many as 2.67 crore (26.7 million) voters, including nearly three lakh (300,000) first time voters, will be exercisingtheir franchise duringthe assembly polls in Kerala, likely to be held in April this year.

Releasing the final list of voters, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Teeka Ram Meena, said there are 2,67,31,509 votersin the state, including 2.99 lakh voters in the 18-19 age group who would be participating in theelection process.

The maximum number of young voters are in Kozhikode district, Meena told reporters here.

Till December 31, ten lakh people had filed applications to add their names in the electoral rolls.

"We got around 10 lakh applicationsfrom voters seeking addition of their names in the voters list. We have not closed the onlineprocess of accepting applications and people can enrol their names till 10 days before the withdrawal of nominations," he said.

At least1.56 lakh names of people who had passed away or have shifted, have been deleted from the list during the revision.

Of the total number of voters, 1,37,79,263 are women.

There are 221 transgenders in the list.

Malappuram accounts for the maximum number of voters-- 32,14,943, including 16,7000 women voters. The least number is in Wayanad-- 6,7068.

While there are 90,709 NRI voters, as many as 6.21 lakh voters are over 80, he said.

There will be 40,771 polling stations in the state.
Nigeria is to receive 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine by early February to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, said an official on Tuesday

ABUJA (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jan, 2021 ) :Nigeria is to receive 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine by early February to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, said an official on Tuesday.

The authorities will ensure that the vaccines are to get to rural areas in the country, and work on the modalities for the screening of the vaccines before they are administered, said Faisal Shuaib, director-general of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA).

"The focus of deployment of the vaccines will be at the most affected areas in the country," the official said, adding that there have adequate capacity to store the vaccines.

According to Shuaib, the NPHDA already has three Ultra Cold Chain (UCC) equipment on the ground.

The expected 100,000 doses of the vaccine will occupy just 500 liters of space, with each item of the equipment having the capacity of 700 liters, Shuaib said.

"Three of them have a total capacity of 2,100 liters. So, we have more than enough space for the 100,000 doses of the vaccine that will be brought in the first instance," he added.
Scotts Law, also known as the move over law, requires drivers to slow down and move over when they encounter a parked emergency vehicle with its lights activated or any vehicle with its hazard lights on, officials said.
The late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was a rare politician in many ways. And one of his rarities was a fascination with architecture and the design of public buildings. Moynihan used to quote his hero Thomas Jefferson saying that design activity and political thought are indivisible.Sometimes, Moynihan said this in rather fancier language. If we are to restore to American public life the sense of shared experience, trust and common purpose that seems to be draining out of it, Moynihan declared, "the quality of public design has got to be made a public issue because it is a political fact. It is not an efflorescence of elite aestheticism; it is the bone and muscle of democracy.Could any politician today use a phrase like efflorescence of elite aestheticism, without embarrassment? Probably not. Moynihan isnt around to use it: He retired from the Senate in 2000 and died in 2003. But the subject is still relevant, particularly in the aftermath of the attacks on the U.S. Capitol building early this month.The white columns and dome of the Capitol are iconic now, but there were passionate debates about their form at its inception. Those debates helped make both the building and our democracy more robust, Moynihan said.In 1805, President Jefferson and architect Benjamin Latrobe politely argued whether the Capitol should be decorated with Corinthian or Doric columns. The top of a Doric column is relatively plain. The Corinthian is fancier, having scrolly leaves or vegetation at the top.Jefferson, both an architect and a political theorist, thought the simpler type was more appropriate for the room where the House of Representatives, the legislative body closest to the people, would be meeting. Latrobe, through persistence, won the argument when he was appointed to rebuild the Capitol after the British burned it down in the War of 1812. The half-circle domed hall, now known as Statuary Hall, has columns of dark marble and lighter Corinthian tops. It is beautiful.On Jan. 6, it was vandalized. Moynihan would have said that our democratic system was being vandalized as well.Moynihan not only cared deeply about architecture and urban design, he made it a legislative priority. He was instrumental in aligning aspects of Washington, D.C., with the original plan of Pierre LEnfant and the McMillan Plan of 1902. He helped fund construction of a new train hall in New York City, which opened a few weeks ago and bears his name. Moynihan thought that public buildings are vessels for the meaning we pour into them, and their character should be a subject of civic debate. No debate, no meaning.Last month, President Trump signed an Executive Order on Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture, which attempts to make classical architecture -- i.e. columns and such -- the official style of new federal buildings. It attempts to discourage more contemporary architecture, whether that is crisp glass-and-steel 20th Century modernism or more recent curvy constructions.Classical and other traditional architecture, as practiced both historically and by todays architects, the order reads, have proven their ability to meet . . . todays functional, technical and sustainable needs. Their use should be encouraged instead of discouraged.In the December order, the Trump administration sought to sideline the Design Excellence Program established in 1994 under the General Services Administration, which has produced many public federal buildings in a variety of architectural styles.But even those who like classical columns and recognize their power were critical of the government attempting to impose a single style on federal architecture.Steven W. Semes, who teaches architecture at Notre Dame, wrote that those supporting the Executive Order . . . must accept responsibility for their gross miscalculation in thinking this authoritarian administration would be a suitable vehicle to promote classical architecture.Justin Shubow, president of the National Civic Art Society that helped draft Trumps order, said presidents often have uneven or contradictory records and does not back away from continuing to endorse Trumps order. The collective horror in response to the Jan. 6 attacks shows how powerful classical architecture is, Shubow insists.If the Capitol had been brutalist, no one would have claimed it was desecrated, or that it was a temple, said Shubow, referring to the mid-20th Century style of blocky concrete buildings that many people dislike. People and politicians see the Capitol as sacred, Shubow says, and that sacredness comes from the architecture.Incoming president Joe Biden could immediately undo Trumps executive order. I think Jefferson, who embraced new technology, would be disturbed to find one particular architectural style being made preeminent. As Jefferson said, the world belongs to the living. I think Moynihan, although a fan of classical architecture, would agree with those sentiments.As we watch the very columns of our democracy wobble, its not a bad thing to be reminded of the design of the Capitol building itself, and the ongoing conversation as to what our vessels of democracy should look like.Alexandros Washburn, a former aide to Moynihan and a top architect and urban designer, introduced me some years back to the Jefferson and Latrobe debates, and Moynihans thoughts on them. While Moynihan never thought our democracy was literally dependent on a specific building, Washburn says, he would have recognized the danger when vandals invaded and defaced it, while elected legislators arguably tore at its deeper foundations with some of their rhetoric.What happened now at the Capitol is a simultaneous attack; both words and stones, Washburn argues. That is why it is so dangerous.GoverningGoverning
Katy Perry, Jon Bon Jovi and other music stars helped ring in the start of Joe Biden's presidency during the Celebrating America inauguration special.

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Springsteen kicked the special off with a rendition of "Land of Hope and Dreams," which he performed in front of the Lincoln Memorial with a guitar.

Bon Jovi, meanwhile, came to viewers from a pier located in Miami where he delivered an acoustic cover of "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles.

The Foo Fighters performed their track "Times Like These" and dedicated the performance to teachers.

"This year our teachers were faced with unprecedented challenges, but through dedication and creativity, they faced those challenged head on," Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl said.

Legend played "Feeling Good" on a piano located near the Lincoln Memorial and Lovato was joined by healthcare workers to sing a cover of "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers.

Perry ended the celebration with her song "Firework." Perry's performance was highlighted by a colorful display of fireworks viewed by Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.

A lawyer for the Harrisburg woman accused of stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosis laptop during the Capitol riot told a judge Thursday her client was not fleeing from authorities when she left her home, changed her phone number, and shut down her social media accounts after being identified by the FBI.

Instead, Riley Williams, 22, was seeking to escape what her attorney, federal public defender Lori J. Ulrich, described as an abusive relationship with the ex-boyfriend whose tip had focused investigators attention in her direction.

Calling her client a victim of stalking and harassment, Ulrich maintained that it was police who had advised Williams to change her phone number after she obtained a restraining order against her former partner.

His accusations are overstated, Ulrich told U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson during a hearing in Harrisburg in which he ordered her release on house arrest pending trial.

Neither Ulrich nor the federal authorities who have relied upon Williams ex as a central witness in their case have identified the man whose accusations led to her arrest this week.

Ulrichs assertions about his conduct during their relationship and the restraining order her client obtained against him could not be independently verified by court records, which remain under seal.

And Ulrichs citing of their relationship as the reason Williams fled her mothers apartment and waited nearly two days to surrender to authorities appeared to contradict social media posts the FBI has attributed to her client as well as statements her mother made days before Williams was arrested.

Tracked down by a British television news crew a day before FBI agents knocked on their door, Williams mother told the reporters that her daughter had fled, figuring that law enforcement would find her if they wanted to speak with her about her participation in the Jan. 6 riot.

She figures if [videos are] out there, Williams mother told ITV, theyll come to her about it.

Since then, agents have cited messages they say Williams posted to the social media site Discord during the Capitol riot, including one in which she wrote: Theyll never take me alive.

Still, Ulrich seized the opportunity of Thursdays court hearing to attempt to reframe the narrative around Williams, a former home health care agency employee thrust into an international spotlight with the accusations lodged against her.

Shes been vilified by the government and the public in these matters, Ulrich said, adding: Its regrettable that Ms. Williams took the presidents bait and went inside the Capitol that day.

An ITV video crew filmed Williams in action that day, seemingly directing pro-Trump rioters as they moved through the Capitol Rotunda up a staircase leading to Pelosis office.

But initially, agents cited only the account from Williams ex to support their accusation that she had stolen Pelosis laptop intending to try to sell it to a Russian spy agency.

Since then, authorities have referenced a video they say Williams posted to Discord while she was illegally in the speakers office. It shows rioters milling about the laptop, left on a conference-room table, as a female voice warns others not to touch it without gloves.

Agents have said they believe that the speaker is Williams and that she shot that video. It was one of several they believe she filmed the day of the riot and posted alongside bombastic, all-caps updates, including one boasting: I took Nancy Polesis [sic] hard drives. I dont care.

 READ MORE: Authorities will never take me alive, Harrisburg woman told social media after stealing Nancy Pelosis laptop, FBI says

In court Thursday, the judge noted the irony of the fact that the very Constitution the pro-Trump mob had sought to replace with the howling of the crowd that day was now protecting the rioters rights to a presumption of innocence  one that had ultimately secured Williams release while she awaits trial.

The Constitution prevailed yet again, Carlson said. And the Constitution has, is, and will be prevailing in your case.

Williams left the Dauphin County Prison just after noon, shepherded by a lawyer through a crowd of awaiting TV news cameras to a Pizza Hut across the street, where she was picked up by her mother.

She was ordered to remain under GPS monitoring while her case on felony charges of theft of government property and obstruction of Congress proceeds in federal court in Washington.

Seven other Pennsylvanians and one South Jersey resident have also been charged with participating in the attack.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 23:32:18|Editor: huaxia

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NAIROBI, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday that the second wave outbreak of desert locust's invasion was under control thanks to timely roll-out of mitigation measures.

Peter Munya, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives, said that there was no cause for alarm since the government preparedness for desert locust management had been greatly enhanced.

"The desert locust invasion has been reported in 15 counties in the coastal, northeastern, eastern and central Kenya but so far the counter operation has been successful," Munya said at a briefing in Nairobi.

He said the second wave of desert locusts entered the country from Ethiopia and Somalia in mid-Nov. 2020.

"We have deployed nine surveillance and spray aircrafts and put another three aircrafts on standby," said Munya.

He said the government has also deployed 21 vehicles mounted with sprayers for ground control operations in counties affected by desert locusts.

Munya said development partners had provided support in diverse areas like training of personnel, knowledge sharing, research, restoration of livelihoods, surveillance and control.

He said the government has trained more than 500 National Youth Service personnel who have been deployed in all fields countrywide. Enditem
Childcare staff should be prioritised in the Covid-19 vaccine programme according to the Family Resource Centres National Forum (FRCNF) which as called on Laois TDs to get behind their campaign.

The national representative body for Family Resource Centres (FRCs) in Ireland, says the Covid-19 vaccine priority rollout includes childcare and early years educators in group 11 out of 15. The Forum wants childcare workers to be move up the queue to be vaccinated a the same time as healthcare workers not in direct patient contact.

The Family Resource Centre Programme is the largest community-based family support programme in Ireland. Through a network of 121 FRCs, it employs over 600 childcare staff who care for 2,500 children. There are two FRCs based in Laois  one in Portlaoise, and one in Mountmellick.

Commenting today, Clare Cashman, Chair of the FRCNF, said: Today we are calling on local Laois TDs to show their support for childcare workers, and help us advocate for their positioning on the vaccine rollout programme to be improved, so they can continue to deliver essential services.

Read also: GOVT VACCINE SEQUENCE PLAN

Childcare and early years practitioners  in Laois, and nationwide  provide an integral frontline service. On-site provision resumed in June 2020 and has continued to operate since, and most notably on 4th January this year, during a peak in virus transmission, essential childcare services resumed. It is a matter of urgency that childcare staff are prioritised in the vaccine rollout, so they can be kept safe at work and continue to provide childcare for other essential workers and vulnerable children.

Although childcare has been deemed low risk, evidence provided by the HSE shows a higher rate of infection in childcare settings compared to primary and post-primary. Our childcare teams are in a unique position of being frontline workers as they are unable to socially distance from the children. The Government must recognise the vital role they are playing in the pandemic, and if priority is not given to childcare workers, childcare for essential workers and vulnerable children could be under threat, as facilities may be forced to close, she said.

The call has come amid concerns that staff are having to deliver services unprotected as the Government has classed childcare for vulnerable children and children of essential workers as an essential service.

The Family Resource Centre programme has been in operation for over 25 yearsl. It is funded by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.

Uttar Pradesh police drops charges against Karnataka man under anti-conversion law

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Gorakhpur, Jan 21: The Uttar Pradesh police has dropped charges under the anti-conversion law against a man from Karnataka and booked him for allegedly raping a 19-year-old woman from here and committing fraud, officials said on Thursday.

The man, Mehboob, is currently in judicial custody, they said. He along with the woman was brought to Gorakhpur from the southern state by a three-member UP police team, police said.

V in the V shaped: India within striking distancing of attaining positive growth

SHO Chiluatal police station, Inspector Neeraj Rai said the charges against the man under the anti-conversion law were dropped as the accused did not hide his religious identity. Neither did he marry the woman, so the case does not come under the anti-conversion law, he said.

The officer said Mehboob, however, told the woman that he was a Navy officer and called her to Karnataka on the pretext of giving her a job. He then sexually harassed her. Charges of rape and fraud have thus been pressed against the man, the SHO said.

India believes in the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, says Rajnath Singh

According to police, the victim's father, who is a retired Armyman, had filed a missing report on January 5 claiming that his daughter had not returned from college on January 4. During investigation, it was found that she was in touch with Mehboob.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

An FIR was registered against Mehboob under the anti-conversion law on January 11 based on a complaint by the woman's father. Later, the three-member team of the state police was formed to trace the woman on the instructions of SSP Jogender Kumar, police added.

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Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 15:12 [IST]
Gazprom said it had delivered 96 million cubic meters of gas to Turkey on January 19, which is significantly higher than the daily contractual volume, Sputnik reports.

"On January 19, a total of 96 million cubic meters of gas was delivered to Turkey - a substantial increase against the daily contractual volumes that is second only to one daily total recorded last December. TurkStream and Blue Stream are operating efficiently and reliably," Gazprom said on Twitter.
Vast rock formations the size of multi-story buildings loom above Ho Minh Phuc, as he picks a path through the gloom inside the world's largest cave.

Phuc, who once earned a living through illegal logging, is a porter for the small tour groups that explore Vietnam's Son Doong - a cave so large it has its own ecosystem and weather patterns.



Home to flying foxes and a 70-meter rock formation resembling a dog's paw, the cave is an otherworldly wonder that has reshaped the lives of the surrounding community since it opened for boutique tourism in 2013.



Trapped in poverty, young men like Phuc once had little choice but to forage in the depths of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park - the World Heritage site where Son Doong lies.



There they searched for precious agarwood, a hugely sought-after material known as "the wood of the gods" and widely used for incense.



Others eked out a living from hunting endangered civets and porcupines in the forest.



"We had to do all we could to avoid the forest rangers," 35-year-old Phuc told AFP.



"We did nothing good for nature."



Lost for nearly two decades



Son Doong in central Quang Binh Province was first discovered by local forager Ho Khanh in 1991, when he stumbled upon an opening in a limestone cliff and heard the sounds of a river deep inside.



But after returning home through the thick surrounding jungle, Khanh forgot where the hidden entrance lay, and it stayed lost for another two decades.



When he eventually led a team of British experts back there in 2009, the team found it had the largest cross-section of any cave anywhere on the planet.



It is large enough to house the 40-floor skyscrapers of an entire New York City block, according to adventure tour company Oxalis, which guides visitors into the caves.



When Son Doong was opened to tourists four years later, the lives of Khanh and hundreds of locals changed forever.



They soon became porters and guides and opened their homes to guests wanting a bed for the night.



"Some became rich with logging, but most lived a very hard life," Khanh, now 52, said of the time before the cave was opened to the outside world.



"When tour companies came in, I told the youngsters their first duty was to protect the environment so as to benefit not just ourselves but also our children... so life can improve."



Before the coronavirus pandemic, Vietnam's tourism industry was booming, but the country has come under fire for failing to preserve landscapes as it rapidly expands the tourism sector.



The area has so far largely stayed clear of the mass tourism model used in other Vietnamese holiday hot spots such as Ha Long Bay, where cruise ships have spewed sewage into once-pristine waters.



With only one company given permission to operate in each of the key caves, there is an incentive to protect them, with numbers of visitors limited and prices kept high.



But challenges lie ahead, UNESCO warned recently.



Poaching remains among the national park's "most serious threats," it said in a report that also raised concerns over a proposal to build a cable car to nearby Hang En cave.



Logging has also not disappeared - 18 people were sentenced in 2020 for cutting down trees in the national park.



Protecting Son Doong



As Covid-19 swept the globe, locals catering to international travelers have struggled. Khanh says his guests are down 90 percent.



But Son Doong has weathered the crisis fairly well overall, thanks to a boost in visitors among Vietnam's fast-growing middle class.



The high-end tourism model of the caves - which provides around 500 jobs for the local community - has begun to attract interest in other areas, Oxalis said.



Industry professionals are sceptical, however, that the pandemic could spark change across the country.



Vietnam's tourism industry has done "some very good policymaking but they've generally ignored their own policies," says Peter Burns, a tourism planning consultant.



Despite strong environmental protections in place, "they tend to build stuff anyway," he said, pointing to the spread of high-rise hotels in Ha Long Bay.



For porter Phuc, it is crucial that the pandemic does not lead to a similar outcome in Son Doong.



"If we expanded into mass tourism, it would of course harm the natural scenery," he said.



"That would be terrible."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 16:06:39|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 death toll in the United Stated surpassed 400,000 on the day former President Donald Trump left office, U.S. media reported on Wednesday.

"We need to follow the science and the 400,000th death is shameful," Cliff Daniels, chief strategy officer for Methodist Hospital of Southern California, was quoted by the Associated Press.

Trump seemed to invest as much in battling public perceptions as he did in fighting the virus itself, repeatedly downplaying the threat and rejecting scientific expertise while fanning conflict ignited by the outbreak, the New York-based news agency said.

Instead of counseling Americans, the former president used his pulpit to spout theories, which were refuted by doctors, that taking unproven medicines or even injecting household disinfectant might save people from the virus, the AP added.

"Everything about how it's been managed has been infused with incompetence and dishonesty, and we're paying a heavy price," Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University was quoted by the AP as saying.

To date, the United States has reported 24,434,283 COVID-19 cases with 406,001 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Enditem
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TV presenter and fashion blogger Louise Roe has revealed she's expecting her second child with her husband of four years, Mackenzie Hunkin.

The former Plain Jane host, 39, made the happy announcement on Instagram on Thursday, sharing a sweet photo of her daughter Honor, three, hugging and kissing her bump.

'We're all very excited and grateful to announce a little addition to the family, is on its way...' Louise told her followers.

Happy news: TV presenter and fashion blogger Louise Roe has revealed she's expecting her second child with her husband of four years, Mackenzie Hunkin

Louise and her husband of four years, TV producer Mackenzie Hunkin, welcomed Honor in January 2018.

The couple moved back to the UK last year after 11 years living and working in California.

Shortly after the birth of Honor the star admitted that although she loves motherhood, she didn't enjoy being pregnant.

The former Access Hollywood host said: '[Honor is] the coolest thing ever. It [pregnancy] goes on, and on, and on, but I think that really prepares you for all the lifestyle changes.

Big sister to be! The former Plain Jane host, 39, made the happy announcement on Instagram on Thursday, sharing a sweet photo of her daughter Honor, three, kissing her bump

Sweet: 'We're all very excited and grateful to announce a little addition to the family, is on its way...' Louise told her followers

'You're already not really sleeping very well and you're already sacrificing a lot ... Your body has kind of not been yours.

'And so when she was born, I was like, 'Oh, finally. There's a reward here. Here you are. This is all worth it',' she told Dannijo.

Louise and Mackenzie first met while they were working on MTV matchmaking show Plain Jane in 2011.

Four years after they met, friendship turned to romance and the director popped the question during a romantic trip to Aspen, Colorado, in January 2016 after just over two years of dating.

Family: Louise and her husband of four years, producer Mackenzie Hunkin, welcomed Honor in January 2018. The family recently relocated back to the UK after 11 years in the US

The couple tied the knot in front of 150 friends and family members in a stunning ceremony at Eton College Chapel in Windsor, south-east England, in October 2016, before honeymooning on Italy's Amalfi Coast.

Louise explained the pair developed a 'real connection and bond' during their time working together. 'My husband and I, we worked together for years', she said. 'We had a real connection and a bond.

'We were both in different relationships, so I don't think we even thought of it that way, but when I look back now, I know that we made each other laugh a lot.

'We just had a good rapport, and I think it was the final series when we kind of realised there was some more going on, but it took us a minute.'

Louise started her career as a fashion journalist, writing for the British editions of ELLE and Vogue, among others, before moving to the US in late 2009.

The TV presenter shot to fame on the second season of MTV reality show, The City, alongside fellow fashionista Olivia Palermo, before going on to host Plain Jane, NBC's Fashion Star and the red carpet during awards season for Access Hollywood.
(Newser)  Sen. Ted Cruz greeted the start of the Biden administration with a tweet that was critical of one of the president's initial moves: "By rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, President Biden indicates he's more interested in the views of the citizens of Paris than in the jobs of the citizens of Pittsburgh. This agreement will do little to affect the climate and will harm the livelihoods of Americans." Frequent sparring partner Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was quick with the retort: "Nice tweet Sen. Cruz! Quick question: do you also believe the Geneva Convention was about the views of the citizens of Geneva? Asking for everyone who believes US Senators should be competent and not undermine our elections to incite insurrection against the United States."

story continues below

HuffPost points out that Cruz's line was a spin off one said in 2017 by former President Trump, who announced his decision to withdraw from the climate agreement by saying he "was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris." The international deal's name reflects the fact it was adopted in Paris in December 2015. Ocasio-Cortez was not alone in her Twitter burns. Among the others:

David Frum: "By acceding to the Treaty of Ghent, President Madison indicated he was more interested in the views of Belgian linen workers than ..."

Brian Lynch: "Holy, I know more about the Paris Climate Agreement than you do, and you're a senator and I wrote MINIONS."

George Takei: "...And this from a man who wanted to throw out the VOTES of the citizens of Pittsburgh."

HuffPost reports Cruz responded to a single critical tweet , that from actor Seth Rogen, who told Cruz to f-off. The senator's reply : "Charming, civil, educated response. ?@Sethrogen. If youre a rich, angry Hollywood celebrity, todays Dems are the party for you. If youre blue-collar, if youre a union member, if you work in energy or manufacturing...not so much." (Read more Ted Cruz stories.)
Missing millionaire Melissa Caddick's father-in-law says his son is 'deluded' to think his wife is innocent, and has barely seen his family in eight years.

The financial adviser, 49, vanished on November 12 a day after police raided her $7million Sydney home amid suspicions that she siphoned money from her rich friends and investors.

On Thursday, Caddick's husband Anthony Kolleti's father Rodo said his son is in denial and believes the businesswoman has done 'nothing wrong'.

The tax agent said the 39-year-old is looking to take legal action against consumer watchdog ASIC for searching their $6.1million Dover Heights home and won't talk to his parents because he believes his phone is bugged.

Ms Caddick's husband did not tell police or her family that she was missing for more than 30 hours. The couple are pictured together

Anthony Koletti, 38, is understood to be spending his time at his in-laws place in Edgecliff - rather than his missing wife's $7million mansion. Above, having a coffee in Bondi

'It's very traumatic for him, he stopped seeing his family when they got together, it's divided us,' Rodo Kolleti told the Daily Telegraph.

'I've seen her four or five times in eight years, she didn't want anything to do with us.'

According to documents filed in the Federal Court, more than $20million of investor funds, largely comprising the savings of her wealthy friends, trickled into Ms Caddick's accounts between January 2018 and September 18, 2020.

Financial records within that period show more than $20million went into her account, and all but $700,000 was withdrawn.

Ms Caddick is also accused of doctoring fake CommSec documents showing about 60 clients were making extraordinary returns from trades that did not exist.

When ASIC and the Australian Federal Police raided the clifftop home, they seized about $1million in couture gowns, designer clothes, handbags, shoes and jewellery - all allegedly bought with her client's life savings.

Ms Caddick's $7million cliffside home can be 'possessed' by receivers under recent court orders

Melissa Caddick, 49, was last seen at her Dover Heights home in Sydney's east on November 11

Robo Kolletti believes his son has been tricked by his wife, whom he still loves.

Mr Kolletti's uncle Arthur Kolleti told the Telegraph that Caddick chased her future 'toyboy' husband around after they met on a Mediterranean cruise, where he worked as a hairdresser, a decade ago.

'She wanted Anthony badly. She's a few years older, she chased him around; he's a house husband, he writes music, she wanted a young toyboy and got him,' he said.

Despite him flying to Britain and her flying to Sydney, Caddick jumped on a plane to the UK to bring him back to live with her and her teenage son.

Arthur said his nephew wouldn't have known how she ran her business.

Ms Caddick (centre) and her husband Anthony Koletti (right) would regularly jet off to Aspen, Colorado, where they stayed in a five-star residence at luxury resort, The Little Nell

Caddick has not tried to touch her now-frozen bank accounts since she disappeared, or contacted family.

One couple told the Telegraph they asked the alleged fraudster to give them her financial credentials and she gave them a doctored resume and handbook detailing the services she provided.

They said she 'looked us in the eye' and invited them to dinner, while 'she was robbing us'.

Anthony Kolletti's brother Chris also claimed his sister-in-law likely meticulously staged her disappearance and didn't tell her husband because he was 'too dumb' and 'can't keep a secret'.

He also said she would probably return to face the music when she 'runs out of money'.

Ms Caddick, 49, used to live an extravagant lifestyle with her husband (on right, she is wearing a Stefano Canturi necklace she claims was valued at $250,000)

'She'll come back, she can't run forever, she'll come back when she's run out of money, or when she wants to see her son,' he told Daily Telegraph on Wednesday.

Mr Koletti speculated Ms Caddick was 'always' going to run away, despite admitting he only met her once in the eight years she dated his DJ brother, whom he claimed turned his back on his family once seduced by the mother-of-one.

'She doesn't want anything to do with us, Anthony made the choice to go into that life, he doesn't want to deal with us, that's fine, he stopped talking to us she's stuck up, she had a life she wanted to lead good luck to them,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia revealed police are working under the assumption Ms Caddick is 'very much alive' and could have fled to Queensland after leaving her Dover Heights clifftop home 70 days ago.

Anthony Koletti (left) met Ms Caddick while working as a hairdresser at Joh Bailey's Bondi Junction. The businesswoman vanished from her Dover Heights home two days after ASIC raided it

Melissa Caddick vanished from her Dover Heights home on or about November 12 last year and hasn't been seen since

At that time, the Queensland border was closed to residents of the greater Sydney region.

But the state's borders opened to Sydney on December 1 and remained that way for a few weeks before the Covid outbreak in the city's northern beaches.

The Queensland theory came to light as NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller all but confirmed that investigators believe Ms Caddick is alive.

'We are treating the case as she is still alive,' the commissioner confirmed to Radio 2GB's Ben Fordham breakfast program on Tuesday.

Mr Fuller said police are still searching for CCTV footage, doorknocking Dover Heights residents and 'downloading information from her cars (and) computers'.

The day before corporate watchdog ASIC and AFP searched her home looking for clues as to how she managed her company, Maliver Pty Ltd, and dealt with investor money.

Ms Caddick's baffling disappearance is just weeks away from crossing a critical threshold in the world of police missing person's investigations (pictured with Anthony)

Ms Caddick's baffling disappearance is just weeks away from crossing a critical threshold in the world of police missing person's investigations.

The Federal Court heard that Ms Caddick's disappearance left Mr Koletti broke, with just $1.95 left in transaction account as of early December.

That admission spurred the court to sign off on an interim increase to his weekly allowance from Ms Caddick's assets to $1,700 per week.

A source with knowledge of Mr Koletti's movements believes he hasn't lived at his family's Wallangra Rd mansion for weeks.

Instead, he is understood to have shacked up with Ms Caddick's parents at their flat in nearby Edgecliff, which Ms Caddick also owns.

At a press conference in December, Mr Kolletti told Caddick: 'Just come home. Everything's taken care of. You're not in trouble.'
Johannesburg, Jan. 20 (Peoples Daily Online) -- The first acupuncture summer school in South Africa held an online opening ceremony on January 19, jointly organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Johannesburg and UJ Confucius Institute.

(Photo/UJ Confucius Institute)

Professor Saurabh Sinha, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, said the acupuncture summer school is the first summer school of its kind in the acupuncture field in South Africa. Directed to improve students acupuncture skills and clinical applications, it is mainly designed for students at the undergraduate level.

The acupuncture summer school will last for four weeks and is expected to be held every year, mainly prepared and taught by Master Tutor, Dr. Hu Zijing.

Li Xudong, education counsellor of the Chinese Embassy, said that Traditional Chinese Medicine is a treasure house of human civilization and plays an important role in safeguarding the health of all mankind. Higher education in acupuncture will be of special meaning for the health corporation between the two countries.

The Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa is under the Health Department of South Africa, which is responsible for the registration and assessment of complementary medical doctors, including traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

Dr Louis Mullinder said registered doctors in Chinese medicine and acupuncture are rare in South Africa, and he will fully support the higher education of acupuncture offered by the university.

The University of Johannesburg offers two programs that involve acupuncture training: The Bachelor of Health Sciences in Complementary Medicine (BHsCM) and Postgraduate Diploma in Acupuncture.

The acupuncture training is integrated into the four-year professional bachelor's program, while the Postgraduate Diploma in Acupuncture is aimed at registered practitioners to include acupuncture to their scope of medical practice. Both programs were successfully registered on the South African National Qualifications Framework in 2019.

In February 2020, both the programs were recognized by the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA). Successful graduates will therefore be registered with the AHPCSA as acupuncturists, enabling them to practice acupuncture in South Africa.
The 28 former officials and any close familial relations will be restricted entry to the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao as per the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Any companies and organisations related to these officials or their family will also be prevented from operating in China.

China has levied restrictions against 28 high ranking US officials including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that were in former President Donald Trumps cabinet. The Chinese government claimed that these individuals had been partaking in prejudice and hatred against China, carrying on Trumps aggressive foreign policy against China.

This development comes hours after the new US President Joe Biden was sworn into office. The Chinese Foreign Ministry described 28 banned officials as anti-Chinese politicians working to damage the relationship between the US and China.

The 28 officials banned by China include former national security adviser Robert OBrien, his former deputy Matt Pottinger, former trade adviser Peter Navarro, health secretary Alex Azar, the former assistant of Trump Steve Bannon and former security adviser John Bolton. Navarro had told a news agency that these restrictions are a badge of honor from the dictatorship that has killed millions with its virus.

The 28 former officials and any close familial relations will be restricted entry to the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao as per the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Any companies and organisations related to these officials or their family will also be prevented from operating in China.

China also accused them of planning, encouraging and executing a series of crazy moves which have gravely interfered in Chinas internal affairs, undermined Chinas interests, offended the Chinese people, and seriously disrupted China-US relations.

Trumps government has constantly pressured China of taking the blame for coronavirus and recently, as a final move, accused the Chinese government for the massacre of Uyghur Muslims and another ethnic cleansing in the region of Xinjiang.
Press Release

January 21, 2021 SENATE RATIFIES AMLA AMENDMENTS AHEAD OF SCHEDPOE The Senate has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, steered by sponsor Sen. Grace Poe. "We were able to chart a middle course that would help us both maintain our status in the international body while preserving the integrity of our current laws and legal system. These would, in turn, help our economy during these turbulent times of the pandemic, and would especially be beneficial to our OFWs who will be most affected if the country sinks to the 'grey list'," said Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on banks, financial institutions and currencies. The executive department sought the amendments last year for the Philippines to avoid getting greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that could result in the exodus of foreign banks and make sending remittances to the country expensive and bothersome. It was the blacklisting of the FATF that prompted the Philippines to pass its first anti-money laundering law in 2001. "The present set of amendments shows us that it is possible  as it has always been  to find a middle ground," Poe said, as she thanked Sens. Franklin Drilon and Ralph Recto who were part of the Senate panel and their counterparts in the House. The Senate ratification comes well ahead of the FATF's Asia-Pacific Group (APG) meeting this February when anti-money laundering measures of jurisdictions are judged. Among the provisions that the Senate and House of Representatives have agreed on are: 1. Including transactions of POGOs and their service providers in excess of P500,000 as a covered transaction that must be reported to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC); 2. Including real estate brokers and developers as among the covered persons but only for single cash transactions over P7.5 million so as not to unduly burden the AMLC with a huge volume of reports; 3. The addition of tax evasion as among unlawful activities; 4. Giving the AMLC the power to apply for search and seizure warrants as well as subpoenas before the courts; 5. Granting the AMLC additional power to preserve, manage or dispose assets from a freeze order. "In the interest of expeditious implementation of this law and in order to meet the deadline as imposed by the FATF/APG, the panel has adopted the present Act's immediate effectivity upon the completion of its publication. We were given a deadline of February and I am proud to say that the Senate met its obligation," Poe said.
T housands of homes were evacuated overnight as Storm Christoph caused widespread flooding across the UK.

Some 2,000 properties in the East Didsbury, West Didsbury and Northenden areas of Greater Manchester were due to be evacuated on Wednesday night because of rising water levels, the city council said.

People were also asked to leave their homes in parts of Ruthin and Bangor on Dee in North Wales, and Maghull in Merseyside.

It comes as heavy rain and snow continued to fall across England and Wales, with many rivers at dangerously high levels, the Environment Agency said.

Four severe flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, were issued by the agency for the River Mersey at Didsbury and Northenden, and in Maghull.

Amber and yellow weather warnings are in force until Thursday for Storm Christoph, which is also threatening to bring up to 30cm of snow to northern areas.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier urged people to heed the flood warnings and evacuate their properties when told to do so.

Greater Manchester Police assistant chief constable Nick Bailey said a flood basin in Didsbury, which takes water from the River Mersey, was full and will over-top in the next few hours.

As a result, we will be issuing a flood warning to homes, he said.

Storm Christoph - In pictures 1 /29 Storm Christoph - In pictures Members of the Emergency services, wearing face mask coverings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work to evacuate Care Home residents and workers after they became stranded by flood water, in Northwich, northwest England AFP via Getty Images Llanerch Bridge over the flooded river Clwyd near Saint Asaph in north Wales is seen after large parts of central and northern England and Wales were caught in the path of Storm Christoph, Saint Asaph, Wales AP A man looks out over the flood defences at a business premises as the River Ouse in York Getty Images Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson talks with local residents during his visit to Withington in Manchester, as Storm Christoph brings heavy rains and flooding across the country, REUTERS Workmen clear floodwater from the village of in Northwich, Cheshire, in the aftermath of Storm Christoph PA Alex Roberts grandparent's flooded home in Chester PA Alex Roberts grandparent's flooded home in Chester PA PA Getty Images Getty Images PA A member of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service walks along a snow covered street, as a preparations are made due to the risk of flooding Getty Images A Ferrari is involved in a collision on the M621 Highways England Flooding in York, Yorkshire, after the River Ouse burst its banks PA A car makes it way along a flooded road beneath a railway bridge on Piltown Road in Bettystown, Co Meath PA Recovery workers prepare to recover an overturned lorry at the scene of an accident on the eastbound track of the M62 motorway between junctions 21 (Milnrow) and 22 (Ripponden) PA Flooding in York, Yorkshire, after the River Ouse burst its banks. PA Sand bags placed against a door of a property in Hebden Bridge in the Upper Calder Valley in West Yorkshire, PA A child cycles along the flooded road by the side of the River Great Ouse after it was closed due to flood waters Getty Images Flooding in York, Yorkshire, after the River Ouse burst its banks. PA A man in flood water near Naburn Lock Caravan Park in York PA People shelter from heavy rain in York PA Stranded cars in floodwater on Derby Road in Hathern, Leicestershire PA Workmen prepare flood defences near the River Ouse, York PA A van that has crashed into a road sign near Bramham, West Yorkshire PA Recovery workers prepare to recover an overturned lorry at the scene of an accident on the eastbound track of the M62 motorway between junctions 21 (Milnrow) and 22 (Ripponden) PA PA PA PA

This will be through texted flood alerts to some people and police officers, PCSOs, firefighters, and volunteers will be knocking on doors.

We have identified about 160 people that will be moved. There will be provision at Wythenshawe Forum and hotels are being used.

Some of those that are being evacuated will also be Covid-positive or isolating at home.

Mr Bailey said up to 3,000 properties in Greater Manchester could be affected by flooding, with a peak expected at 11pm on Wednesday.

Snow falls in East Didsbury, Manchester, where homes are being evacuated due to risk of flooding / PA

Two severe flood warnings, meaning there is a danger to life, have been issued by the Environment Agency for the River Mersey at East and West Didsbury, and Northenden.

North Wales Police said its officers were helping the fire service to evacuate homes in Ruthin, and urged people to avoid the area.

The force tweeted: Officers have been called to assist @DenbighshireCC and @NWFRS in #Ruthin, where some homes are being evacuated.

Regrettably, people who do not live locally are driving to the area to see the floods. Please do not stretch our resources by adding to the problem.

Downing Street has said Covid-secure facilities will be available for any people forced to evacuate as a result of the weather.

Mr Johnson said steps were being taken to ensure the transport and energy networks were prepared so that electricity outages would not be severe and that there were sufficient supplies of sandbags.

He told reporters: There are some times where I have been to scenes where, alas, people have decided not to obey the advice and not evacuated.

It is their right not to do so if they choose  its always peoples right to stay wherever they are.

But it really is advisable  follow the advice. If you are told to leave your home then you should do so.

Vehicles navigate the flooded Mountsorrel Lane in Leicestershire / PA

Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge described Storm Christoph as quite a slow-moving system which is bringing a variety of weather to the UK.

The meteorologist said: While rain remains the main hazard in the south, further north weve got snow and ice remaining a risk.

The system will work its way through, we are expecting significant totals of rainfall and when you combine that with snowmelt it can lead to localised flooding across the affected regions.

There is a risk of further snow later in the week as Storm Christoph makes its way east, with accumulations expected in Scotland, northern England and parts of Northern Ireland, Mr Madge added.

Public Health England (PHE) has issued a cold weather alert for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber from 9am on Thursday to January 25.

Dr Owen Landeg, principal environmental public health scientist at PHE, urged people to keep looking out for frail or older neighbours and relatives, particularly those living alone or with a serious illness.

People were preparing for rising floodwaters in West Yorkshire on Wednesday morning, with towns in the Calder Valley laying out sandbags and flood wardens monitoring water levels.
Within a few hours, the verified Twitter account of the US ambassador to Israel, @USAmbIsrael , changed its name twice after Joe Bidens inauguration as US president on Wednesday.

The name changed from the US Ambassador to Israel to the US Ambassador to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, however, those responsible for handling the account reverted to the original name a few hours later.

No official explanation was provided for the incident.



David Friedman, who served as the US ambassador to Israel from 2017 to 2021, shared his last tweet from this account on Wednesday without commenting on the matter.

Signing off now, moving to @DavidM_Friedman. Thank you, President Trump, for the honor of a lifetime. Thank you @Mike_Pence, @MikePompeo, @SteveMnuchin1, Jared Kushner, @AviBerkow45, @Robertcobrien, and @LightstoneA. And eternal thanks to my beloved Tammy, he tweeted.

The name change garnered the attention of a number of experts on US politics and international reporters, who proceeded to tweet about it.

8/ From US Embassy: "It was an inadvertent edit, and not reflective of a policy change."  Daniel Estrin (@DanielEstrin) January 20, 2021

The arrival of President Joe Biden to the White House revitalises Palestinians hopes for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Biden served as a vice president for former US president Barack Obama, the last US head of state to impose pressures on Israel to join peace talks.

Obama pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to freeze the settlement-building process, which was achieved for almost a year in 2009. However, objecting to a Fatah-Hamas reconciliation deal, Netanyahu unilaterally withdrew from peace talks with the Palestinian parties in 2014. Since then, the peace process has been dead.

Under Donald Trump's administration, Washington adopted a large number of pro-Israeli measures, including the introduction of the controversial peace plan that involved recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Trump also cut US funding, worth $300 million, to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees.

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Not long after the National Rifle Association declared bankruptcy last Friday, one of its board members wanted to set the record straight.

It has nothing to do with the N.R.A.s financial posture, which is very, very strong, said Bob Barr, a former Republican congressman from Georgia, in a TV interview. It simply is a legal vehicle to move under protection of federal laws, to escape the abuse by the New York authorities.

The organizations audacious bankruptcy filing, in which it is not actually claiming to be insolvent, seeks to use the bankruptcy process to circumvent regulators in New York, where the N.R.A. has been chartered for a century and a half. The states attorney general, Letitia James, sued the association in August, seeking to shutter it amid claims of mismanagement and corruption. The N.R.A. said in its legal filings that New York officials had long sought to weaponize the state governments regulatory powers against it and that the association now wanted to reincorporate in Texas.

But the claims of corruption have not come just from New York, or the political left. They are echoed in accusations leveled by former senior N.R.A. officials, including its onetime president Oliver L. North, some of its own donors and board members who departed amid a civil war within the association. Whats more, the organization disclosed in its most recent tax filings that Wayne LaPierre, its embattled chief executive, had repaid it hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Coronavirus. Credit: European Centers for Disease Control

Germany has offered Russia support in Moscow's development of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday.

Russian authorities said Wednesday they have applied for registration of the Sputnik V in the European Union.

"Beyond all the political differences that are currently large, we can nevertheless work together in a pandemic, in a humanitarian area," Merkel told journalists.

On Moscow's application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the German leader said she has "offered that our Paul Ehrlich Institute ... support Russia on it".

The Paul Ehrlich Institute is Germany's medicine regulatory body.

"And if this vaccine is approved by the EMA, then we can talk about joint production or also about usage," Merkel said.

Russia in August registered Sputnik Vnamed after the Soviet-era satellitemonths ahead of Western competitors but before the start of large-scale clinical trials, which left some experts wary.

Its developers have since said that the jab is more than 90 percent effective and Russia launched its mass vaccination campaign using the shot this week.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund which helped develop the vaccine, says Sputnik has already been registered in a number of countries including Belarus, Venezuela, Bolivia and Algeria.

Argentina began administering second doses of Sputnik V this week, having begun its immunisation campaign in late December.

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

 2021 AFP
U.S. President Joseph Biden signed a decree on his first day in office to return the country to its obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement.

During the ceremony at the White House, President Biden said that these were the first of many documents, and that there is no time to wait.

President Biden said that he will begin signing a number of executive orders within a few days. He added that he will begin with signing those related to the crisis caused by the coronavirus, along with the economic and climate crisis, Reuters reported

In 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump decided to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, which, in his opinion, slows down the development of the American economy. Biden has also previously spoken out for the development of alternative energy sources in the United States. At the end of November 2020, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, whom the president-elect named his special envoy for climate, announced that the administration intends to seek new international agreements aimed at combating climate change on the planet.
Patients are being warned that GPs will have "zero discretion" in the pecking order for Covid-19 vaccinations amid phone calls to surgeries asking for injections.

Dr Denis McCauley, chair of the Irish Medical Organisation's GP committee, said anyone who is not on the priority list to be vaccinated will be told "no" and that discretion shown in the past in relation to flu vaccinations will not be repeated.

"The vaccines will be given out as per the risk groups, with zero discretion to give to any other groups," he said.

"We want to do this efficiently, ethically and quickly.

"If someone who is 85 comes in and has an elderly carer but the carer doesn't fit the criteria, are we going to give them the vaccine? No, we can't.

"We have to be very tight on this. This is a very finite resource."

Drawing

Discretion shown in the past with regard to the flu vaccine could not be applied with the Covid-19 vaccine, he added.

"That's not going to happen this time. We intend to do this as ethically as possible so we do need people's understanding."

Dr McCauley said GPs are in the process of drawing up lists, according to priority groups, of who they will vaccinate.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will be supplied to GPs in batches of 100.

Concerns raised over distribution issues that arose with the flu vaccine earlier this year are being addressed with the cold chain supply service.

The only limiting factor to accelerating the national roll-out, said Dr McCauley, will be the supply of vaccines coming into the country.

"If the supply is there, we hope to help accelerate the national roll-out," he said.

"We are used to giving vaccines. If a million vaccines are distributed to GPs in the middle of February, let's just say by St Patrick's Day we will be looking for more."

It is understood the requirement for a 15-minute observation period after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could mean some GPs will have to reconfigure their surgeries to create space.

"The supervision period after the AstraZeneca vaccine is still being looked at," said Dr McCauley.

Imagine

"In the UK there have been so few problems with it that they have dispensed with the 15-minute observation period, but I imagine there will be a more careful approach here in the beginning.

"We are starting at the 15-minute period - but if the European Medicines Agency says five minutes, all the better.

"The actual space needed to do the injection is very small. Everyone will have their owns solution but one recommendation is that the injection is given in the waiting room and the observation is completed in a consultation room.

"There are ways and means around it."

Dr McCauley said GPs were already receiving calls from patients asking them when they could receive the vaccine.

"We know there is huge interest in getting this vaccine, but we need people to be patient," he said.

"We will be contacting patients in due course to invite them to be vaccinated and we will waste no time once we have vaccines in our fridges."
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / Kaya Holdings, Inc., ("KAYS" or the "Company") (OTCQB:KAYS), the first U.S. publicly traded company to vertically integrate cannabis retail, cultivation and processing, announced today that its Greek joint venture has named Dimitris Bouras the Lead Engineer, and his firm, Whitestone MCI, the Chief Engineering Group for the development and construction of the Company's planned cannabis cultivation and processing facility in Thebes, Greece.

The Kaya Kannabis Greece Facility (designer rendering), together with Kaya Farms Israel are configured to produce approximately 600,000 pounds of GMP Certified, Premium, Medical-Grade Cannabis annually for potential export to the European Union and elsewhere (after obtaining successful financing, completing construction and obtaining final requisite licensing).

KAYS recently reported that its majority-owned subsidiary, Kaya Brands International, Inc. ("KBI"), has exercised its option to acquire a 50% Interest in Athens, Greece based Greekkannabis, SA ("GKC"). GKC has been awarded its Phase One license by the Greek authorities for the construction of a facility encompassing approximately 225,000 square feet of cannabis cultivation and 80,000 square feet of cannabis processing on 15 acres of land in Thebes, Greece.

"Greek Kannabis and our project, Kaya Kannabis, is lucky to have the loyal cooperation and deep knowledge base provided by Dimitris and his team at Whitestone", says KAYS CEO Craig Frank. "They have demonstrated their expertise in numerous projects in Greece and abroad - including cannabis projects", continued Frank, "and they are tried and true experts on the processes of cultivating cannabis, the processes extraction, the demands of logistics, the needs for security, and the requirements for EU-GMP Pharma grade standards - and manage to plan for maximum efficiencies. I enthusiastically welcome Dimitris and his team to our team".

About Dimitris Bouras and Whitestone MCI

( https://www.whitestone-mci.com and http://www.whitestone-europe.com)

Dimitris Bouras has successfully been planning and constructing large engineering projects internationally for 30 years, and serves as the CEO of Whitestone, a firm founded in 2008 that is active in engineering, design, construction and O&M of industrial, marine and commercial projects. Whitestone MCI has been active in the Medical & Industrial Cannabis Industry since 2017 and is a leading Engineering & EPC Contracting Company that offers total project development services to GACP/EU GMP Standards. Whitestone MCI currently has active projects in Greece, Cyprus, Portugal, North Macedonia, Poland and Africa.

To see a 2 minute video on Whitestone MCI and their services please cut and paste this link into your browser:https://youtu.be/jPxbmv_4uSQ

About Kaya Holdings, Inc. (www.kayaholdings.com)

Kaya Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:KAYS) is a touch-the-plant vertically integrated legal cannabis company operating a number of majority-owned subsidiaries that retail, cultivate, produce and distribute premium medical and recreational cannabis products, including flower, concentrates, oils and extracts, cannabis-infused foods and beverages, topicals and cannaceuticals. KAYS is a fully reporting, US-based publicly traded company, listed for trading on the OTCQB Tier of the over-the-counter market under the symbol OTCQB:KAYSD.

Summary of Operations

KAYS corporate structure includes the following three majority-owned subsidiaries, each responding to various demands and opportunities in the cannabis industry:

Marijuana Holdings Americas, Inc. owns the Kaya Shack brand of licensed medical and recreational marijuana stores (www.kayashack.com) and the Kaya Farms brand of cannabis production and processing operations that operate in the United States.

Kaya Brands USA, Inc. owns a wide range of proprietary brands of cannabis extracts, oils, pre-rolls, topicals, food and beverages, cannaceuticals and related accessories.

Kaya Brands International, Inc., was founded to serve as the vehicle for the Company's non-U.S. operations including retail franchising in Canada and cultivation activities in Greece and Israel.

Marijuana Holdings Americas, Inc.- U.S. Cannabis Operations

Kaya Shack Retail Cannabis Stores

In 2014, KAYS became the first United States publicly-traded company to own and operate a Medical Marijuana Dispensary. KAYS presently operates two Kaya Shack OLCC licensed marijuana retail stores to service the legal medical and recreational marijuana market in Oregon and is in the process of relocating a third retail cannabis license to serve as a delivery hub for the Eugene and Southern Oregon Cannabis Market.

Kaya Farms

Eugene, Oregon Indoor Grow, Processing & Cannaceutical Facility: The Company owns a 12,000 square foot Kaya Farms indoor grow and manufacturing facility in Eugene, Oregon, which serves as the Company's center for cultivation trials, method experiments, genetic research and cannabis infused product development. The Company is presently conducting limited operations at this location under a Management Agreement with Sunstone Farms, the current licensee. Pending the successful acquisition and transfer of other existing OLCC Marijuana Production and Processing licenses, KAYS intends to build out the facility and ramp up to full production.

Lebanon, Oregon Farm & Greenhouse Facility: KAYS owns a 26-acre parcel in Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon which it intends to construct an 85,000-square-foot Kaya Farms greenhouse cultivation and production facility. To date KAYS has received Linn County Zoning approvals and upon issuance of OLCC Licensing it will begin construction. The farm is intended for immediate development and provides the Company with a potential additional capacity of more than 100,000 pounds annually, to be expanded once export from Oregon to other U.S. States and foreign countries where cannabis use is legal is permitted. Kaya Farms operates in accordance with a Grow Operations manual, as well as manuals for compliance, employment matters and safety.

Kaya Brands USA, Inc.- Brand and Product Development

The Company maintains a genetics library of over 30 strains of cannabis and owns a number of proprietary brands in traditional and innovative cannabis categories including Kaya Buddies pre-rolls, Really Happy Glass cannabis accessories, and Kaya Gear, company-related and cannabis-centric fashion. These brands are currently available at Kaya Shack stores.

The Company has made advances in the development of its Kumba Extracts, Syzygy Extracts, Pakalolo Juice Company Soothe Topicals, Tony Giggles Pleasure Foods (frozen infused Italian entrees), Uptown Shaman (cannaceuticals), and Kaya Yums (chocolates, gummies, power bars) brands. Pending approval of our production and processing license, KAYS intends to begin a multi-state rollout planned in 2020 to the extent permitted by U.S. legal infrastructure. These brands are intended for all Kaya Shack stores, both corporate-owned and franchised.

Kaya Brands International, Inc.- Foreign Cannabis Operations

After over six years of conducting "touch the plant" U.S. cannabis operations inside the strict regulatory confines of a public company, KAYS has formed a subsidiary, Kaya Brands International, Inc. ("KBI") to leverage its experience and expand into worldwide cannabis markets. KBI's current operations and initiatives include:

Kaya Kannabis- Kaya Farms Greece S.A. ("Kaya Farms Greece," a Greek Corporation) is a majority owned subsidiary of KBI. The Company has just exercised its option (pursuant to terms of a previously disclosed 8-K filing) for Kaya Farms Greece to acquire a 50% interest in Greekkannabis, PC, an Athens, Greece based cannabis company which has received its license for the construction of a facility encompassing approximately 500,000 square feet of buildings on 15 acres of land outside of Athens, Greece to grow, process and export medical grade cannabis from Greece to the European Union and elsewhere.

Kaya Farms Israel- Kaya Shalvah LTD ("Kaya Farms Israel," an Israeli Corporation) is a majority owned subsidiary of KBI. Kaya Farms Israel is in the process of applying to various Israeli Government Agencies for a license to grow, process and export medical grade cannabis from Israel. Upon submission of the initial application to the Israeli Cannabis Authority, Kaya Shalvah intends to submit a bid to acquire 100 Dunams (approximately 25 acres) of land in Israel that is part of Greenegev, an Israeli Government backed Cannabinoid Ecosystem in Yerucham, Israel that is envisioned to become the Silicon Valley of Medical Cannabis Production and Research.

These two facilities, as currently envisioned (and after obtaining successful financing, completing construction and obtaining final requisite licensing), are configured to produce approximately 600,000 pounds of GMP Certified, Premium Medical Grade, Cannabis annually for potential export to the European Union and elsewhere.

Canadian Franchising: KAYS has targeted Canada (the only G7 country that has legalized both medical and recreational cannabis production, sale and use on a national level) for its first international sale and operation of Kaya Shack cannabis store franchises, with a goal of 75-100 Kaya Shack Cannabis Retail locations throughout Canada through a multi-year structured rollout, subject to licensing and market conditions. KAYS has retained Toronto, Canada based law firm of Garfinkle Biderman, LLP to prepare the Franchise Disclosure Documents and related items for the sale of Kaya Shack cannabis store franchises in Canada. KAYS plans to ultimately expand its franchise operations to the U.S., as regulations and laws permit.

Important Disclosure

KAYS is planning execution of its stated business objectives in accordance with current understanding of state and local laws and federal enforcement policies and priorities as it relates to marijuana. Potential investors and shareholders are cautioned that KAYS and MJAI will obtain advice of counsel prior to actualizing any portion of their business plan (including but not limited to license applications for the cultivation, distribution or sale of marijuana products, engaging in said activities or acquiring existing cannabis production/sales operations). Advice of counsel with regard to specific activities of KAYS, federal, state or local legal action or changes in federal government policy and/or state and local laws may adversely affect business operations and shareholder value.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect" or similar statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, acceptance of the Company's current and future products and services in the marketplace, the ability of the Company to develop effective new products and receive regulatory approvals of such products, competitive factors, dependence upon third-party vendors, and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release.

For more information contact Investor Relations: info@kayaholdings.com or 561-210-7664

SOURCE: Kaya Holdings, Inc.

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In the UK and Ireland, organic sales slipped 2% in the fourth quarter

PLC ( ) said it grew faster than expected in the past quarter thanks to a strong performance in North America.

Revenue rose 7% in the three months to end-December, 2020, the FTSE 100 data collector said, or by 10% if currency swings were ignored.

Chief executive Brian Cassin said is performing very well in the exceptional circumstances created by the pandemic and expects to deliver a strong performance for the financial year.

We remain highly focused on investing to sustain this performance and to take full advantage of the recovery when it comes, he said in the trading update.

He claimed the group played a positive role and that data can be a significant force for good in helping to navigate the crisis, though during the quarter the UK data regulator served Experian with an enforcement notice for breaches of personal data rules.

In the UK and Ireland, which contributed only 15% of group revenues in the last full year, organic sales were down 2% in the past quarter, with business-to-business down 2% and the smaller consumer business up 1%.

North America, which was almost two-thirds of group revenue as had a much larger consumer business, grew organic revenue by 9% in what is the groups third quarter, with consumer services up 18% and business sales up 6%.

The similarly sized Latin America business was up 13%, with its even larger consumer services business again the big contributor, including debt resolution and identity theft protection services. Taking currencies into account, however, and Latin American was down 11% on a reported basis.

s remaining geographies were down 11% on an organic basis or up 21% thanks to a risk management acquisition.

Shares in the company were up 4% in early trade but flat as midday approached, little changed since 12 months ago.

UBS noted that growth in the past quarter included a tailwind from US mortgages but for the final quarter management expect growth of 3-5% as US mortgage becomes a headwind.

Analysts at the investment bank said global consumer growth was impressive", with membership expanding to 38mln in the US, 56m in Brazil and 9m UK, with subscriptions remaining strong and lead generation revenues accelerating.

Analysts at Hargreaves Lansdown were more effusive.  s rise seems unstoppable," they said.

Its core business, credit checks, should be highly cyclical  since when times are hard banks are less willing to lend and customers are less interested in borrowing. Yet its emerging from the pandemic stronger than even management had expected.

In particular, the formerly distressed consumer business is flying under the new free membership model, helped by the Experian Boost which allows consumers to attach non-traditional credit data to their accounts to improve their credit scores."

However, they pointed out that despite a stronger than expected revenue result there was no profit upgrade and given a long-term gripe around the group's profit margins its an issue to watch closely going forward", especially with shares trading for 32 times earnings.

--Adds shares and broker comment--
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The cast of Leave It to Beaver | Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

One of the first television situation comedies written from a childs perspective, the 1950s series Leave It To Beaver was a hit when it aired and it remains popular.

In addition to its beloved status in the U.S., its also been a steady performer in the ratings overseas, where its known in one country as The Happy Boy and His Family.

Leave It To Beaver represented America to its writers

Tony Dow (L) and Jerry Mathers from the television series, Leave It to Beaver, circa 1957 | Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The writers of Leave It To Beaver wanted the show to accurately present the average American family.

[Writers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher] were very aware that Leave It to Beaver was one of the first shows about an American family and, especially, from a childs point of view, to go around the world, Mathers told the Archive of American Television in 2006.

Some of the shows that were family shows showed the United States but they didnt have worldwide recognition, he continued. And so [the writers] were very, very conscious of presenting the United States in a very good light.

Leave It to Beaver has played, and still plays, in 91 different languages in like 127 countries.

One country refuses to broadcast the series

The cast of Leave It to Beaver | Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

RELATED: What Was Ken Osmonds Net Worth at the Time of His Death?

It might surprise Leave It To Beaver fans to know that, as of Mathers 2006 interview, the one nation that wasnt keen on airing the show was an English-speaking country.

And its also where the Beaver actor says he can remain relatively anonymous.

One of the kind of interesting things, and its not that it really bothers me, is that sometimes when youre eating, someone will come up to you, he said. Its not really annoying, but it can get old after a while.

If I want to go someplace and be totally unrecognizable, and know that no one will know that I was ever an actor, I can go to England, he said. Leave It to Beaver, although it plays in Farsi, Swahili, and Japanese, for some reason, the BBC would never show Leave It to Beaver.

Of course, as soon as the English didnt show it, it showed on Irish TV.

The Happy Boy and His Family

Jerry Mathers as Beaver Cleaver | Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

So whats the country that basically renamed Leave It To Beaver as The Happy Boy and His Family? Its Japan.

In Japan, they have a little girl do my voice, he said. Which is fine for like the first three or four years. But at the end of it, Im not only speaking Japanese but I have a little girls voice.

Mathers told The New York Times in 2007 that in Japan the show is called The Happy Boy and His Family. So Ill be walking through the airport in Japan, and people will come up and say, Hi, happy boy!
"In this age of digital transformation, Avesha has a remarkable role to play in helping enterprises manage the transition from cloud to edge by normalizing the underlying infrastructure through its Application Intent Mesh abstraction layer." Cheng Wu

Boston based Avesha Inc. (avesha.io) a provider of a transformative software platform that helps applications disaggregate seamlessly from cloud to the edge, has announced today that it closed $6 million in seed round funding led by Taiwania Capital.

The startup, founded in 2019, is the next innovation from veterans Cheng Wu and Raj Nair. Their previous startups include Arrowpoint (sold to Cisco for $6B) & Azuki (sold to Ericsson). They are joined by Prasad Dorbala, former CloudOps leader at Veracode, as CPO and co-founder.

Enterprise & technology leaders are under pressure to respond to market needs and adopt edge computing to deliver on lower latency, better performance and rich user experience. Avesha's technology platform addresses the needs of customers in gaming, medical and enterprise IT by enabling application workloads to be placed without boundaries over heterogeneous environments like hybrid & multi-cloud(Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform or Microsoft Azure) and the Edge (data center edge or 5G MECs). Avesha's Application Intent Mesh (AIM) platform makes the practice of application disaggregation seamless for developers while empowering applications to achieve key business outcomes.

Microservices and Kubernetes have galvanized application developers towards agile and innovative development, in part, due to Kubernetes ability to insulate the entire underlay networks and their complexity from developers. Networks have become just logical links between microservices. However, as microservice clusters grow in size, complexity, and become increasingly distributed, what started as a novel innovation to separate networks from applications, have run into a number of roadblocks. Therein lies the promise of the Avesha Intent Mesh (AIM) technology.

I am excited to team up with Raj & Prasad and be part of the action from the perspective of a VC," said Cheng Wu, General Partner at Taiwania Capital. Avesha's technology is aligned with a big vision of being one platform to unify 5G, Cloud and Edge. In this age of digital transformation, Avesha has a remarkable role to play in helping enterprises manage the transition from cloud to edge by normalizing the underlying infrastructure through its Application Intent Mesh abstraction layer."

About Avesha

Avesha is the industry's first technology platform that enables application workloads to be placed and content routed without boundaries across cloud, edge or any heterogeneous network. Enterprises can improve business outcomes by enabling AI-optimized netops automation, real-time use cases and high performance applications by distributing data and application logic closer to the end users. The Avesha Application Intent Mesh (AIM) platform creates a virtual mesh on any network underlay and makes the network "invisible" to the applications. Applications like Real-time Edge Inferencing, Multiplayer & Head-to-Head Mobile Gaming, Media Content Edge Distribution, Edge Data Processing can achieve unparalleled results from Avesha AIM. Visit (avesha.io) for more information.

About Taiwania Capital

Founded in 2017, Taiwania Capital is a venture capital firm based in Taipei, Taiwan and Santa Clara, California. The firm seeks to invest in companies operating in the enterprise software, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT), information security, pharmaceutical product research and development, gene, biotechnology, and medical technology sectors.

ATHENS, Ohio (Jan. 20, 2021) - While the world awaits broad distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, researchers at Ohio University just published highly significant and timely results in the search for another way to stop the virus -- by disrupting its RNA and its ability to reproduce.

Dr. Jennifer Hines, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, along with graduate and undergraduate students in her lab, published the first structural biology analysis of a section of the COVID-19 viral RNA called the stem-loop II motif. This is a non-coding section of the RNA, which means that it is not translated into a protein, but it is likely key to the virus's replication.

"If you've been following the development of the vaccines, the current vaccines give our cells instructions to make a small piece of protein," Hines said. "This protein fragment then triggers an immune response that will protect us if exposed to the real virus. In contrast, we are studying a section of RNA that does not code for proteins and is found in the coronavirus causing COVID-19 and other similar viruses. We are comparing it with the viral RNA from the SARS outbreak nearly 20 years ago -- and looking for a possible target for an anti-viral drug that can attack the virus and stop it from reproducing. We are looking for the Achilles heel of the COVID-19 virus.

"The RNA genome of the coronavirus causing the COVID-19 pandemic is extremely efficient at commandeering human cells to produce more virus particles," Hines added. "Our studies focused on a very small piece at the very end of this genome that is also present in other similar viruses. We found that the structural flexibility of this RNA motif may be related to its viral function and that it could potentially be disrupted with small molecules similar to the medicines we take to treat bacterial infections."

Hines' research found that the stem-loop II motif section of the viral RNA is "highly conserved in the COVID-19 virus, meaning that while other parts of the virus continue to evolve, this part of the virus is normally like a rock. And for the virus to cause disease, it needs to keep replicating inside the human body. So we are looking at this section of the RNA as a possible target for an antiviral."

To learn more about this tiny section of COVID RNA, Hines' lab took a big-data approach before starting the lab-based research. Using the Ohio Supercomputer Center, which provided priority, unbilled access to computational and storage resources for COVID-19 research, Hines found differences in the predicted three-dimensional RNA structure between the virus that caused the earlier SARS outbreak and the one causing the COVID-19 outbreak. Shifting to Remote Courses and Research Led to COVID Discovery

When COVID-19 hit last spring, Hines was poised to have her medicinal chemistry class study anti-viral agents and her undergraduate tutorial students pursue computational RNA drug discovery.

"Despite and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these classroom and tutorial topics have now turned into powerful online teachable moments," Hines said at the time.

In class, her students used Blackboard's Group Wiki tools to discuss molecular drug targets for inhibiting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In her lab, students began to use the Ohio Supercomputer Center to investigate the three-dimensional structure of the RNA important for SARS-CoV-2 replication. Their work included docking drug molecules to the RNA to see if any existing drugs might potentially disrupt the RNA's function.

"Three of the authors on the paper are Honors Tutorial College students, and two of these students -- Hannah Boesger and Emily Marino -- are the ones with whom the whole project started as part of their spring tutorial with me when we had to shift everything online for the second half of the semester," Hines said.

"I personally view this as the most meaningful paper of my entire academic career partly due to the significance of the topic, but also due to the seamless combination of undergraduate and graduate teaching and research, which is what originally drew me to Ohio University and is what I believe is one of the University's greatest strengths," Hines said. Finding a Potential Vulnerability

As their work progressed, the OHIO researchers, with graduate students Ali Aldhumani and Ismail Hossain in the lead, focused in on a single nucleotide, how it differs between the two outbreaks, and where it might make the RNA motif vulnerable to attack. Nucleotides are organic molecules that are the building blocks of nucleic acids, and thus of RNA and DNA.

"Using complementary biochemical and computational methods, we determined that the structural flexibility of this important noncoding RNA motif differs compared to that in the early 2000s SARS-CoV outbreak by only a single nucleotide change. We also identified FDA-approved drugs that bind the RNA motif and alter its flexibility. This was an exciting observation since the structure and flexibility of noncoding RNA affects its function, indicating that it may be possible to develop anti-viral therapeutics that specifically target this RNA motif and disrupt its function."

###

The lead authors on the paper are graduate students Ali Aldhumani and Ismail Hossain, both pursuing a PhD in Chemistry at OHIO, along with graduate student Emily Fairchild, pursuing a masters in Chemistry at OHIO. In addition to Hannah Boesger and Emily Marino, the third undergraduate author is Mason Myers, recently named a Goldwater Scholar.

The Hines lab paper is titled "RNA Sequence and Ligand Binding Alter Conformational Profile of SARS-CoV-2 Stem Loop II Motif." It is published in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
A health worker walks outside Chile's Public Health Institute in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. The institute announced on Wednesday its authorization of China's Sinovac CoronaVac vaccine against COVID-19, which will be voluntary and free. AP



Chile's health regulator approved the emergency roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd on Wednesday but stipulated that it should not be used for the higher-risk over-60s group.



The decision clears the way for over 10 million doses of CoronaVac approved on Wednesday for emergency use to be given to Chileans between the ages of 18 and 59.



Heriberto Garcia, director of the Public Health Institute (ISP), said "very encouraging" data from late-stage trials and the ISP's own investigations suggested CoronaVac was a "safe and effective vaccine to fight the pandemic."



Ten members of the ISP advisory board approved the vaccine roll-out, while two voted against it and one abstained. The two medical experts who voted against said they wanted to see more data on the vaccine trials.



The Sinovac vaccine has also been approved and is being rolled out in Brazil, Turkey, and Indonesia, but there are some concerns over its efficacy.



Chile's health minister, Enrique Paris, hailed the approval but said the Sinovac vaccine would not initially be given to the over-60s on the recommendation of the regulator's committee of experts, who said they first wanted to see more late stage trial data on the safety and efficacy of the shot for the over-60s.







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As the ultimatum issued by the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to herdsmen in the states forest reserves, continues to spark outrage, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) have disagreed.

While the YCE commended Mr Akeredolu for the directive, the NEF urged herders in the state not to leave their locations and also resist moves to be labelled as criminals.

The state governor on Monday gave herders in the state seven days to vacate all forest reserves in order to check the security challenges affecting the state.

On Tuesday, Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant on media and publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, said the Ondo government should rather dialogue with the leadership of the Fulani communities in the state rather than quit notice issued on them.

But Ondo State Commissioner of Information, Donald Ojogo, argued that presidential spokespersons response reeks of emotional attachment to the herdsmen.

He insisted that there is no going back on the ultimatum given to the herders as the state government reeled out procedure for registration of any herder who is still interested in grazing in Ondo.

Quit notice long overdue

A South-West Socio-cultural organisation, the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) applauded Mr Akeredolu for asking herders in forest reserves to vacate the state.

The group, in a statement by its secretary-general, Kunle Olajide, said the vacation order should have come earlier because theres no law in Nigeria that allows anybody to invade another state or local government, or another town, and destroy their resources and the people would fold their arms.

Since 2015, these herders have been prodding our forest reserves, destroying our farms, killing our people, raping our women and kidnapping for ransom and we have complained over and over again but it appears as if the Federal Government and security agencies turned a deaf ear to our complaints.

The governors are supposed to be the chief security officers of their states and in any case, the land belongs to the states under the Land Use Act. It is under the control of the state governor. The state governor cannot be expected to fold his arms and watch his people being killed and kidnapped for ransoms.

The group further said it (is) unfortunate that we are running a unitary system of government and the paradox in our 1999 constitution is the fact that governors are chief security officers but all the security agencies report to the Federal Government.

But nevertheless, we have the judiciary; the third arm of government is supposed to be independent. We are sure, for the embarrassment issued from the Presidency, Governor Akeredolu, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, will know how to react.

Ignore quit notice

Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) in a statement by its spokesperson, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, urged the herders to ignore the ultimatum given by Mr Akeredolu.

Northern Elders Forum is shocked at reports that Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is asking a Fulani community to leave its lawful location, in addition to other restrictions on activities of Fulani people who have lived in the State for a long period, the group said.

No Nigerian has the power to take punitive action against citizens on political grounds. The forum believes that the action of the governor is provocative and unhelpful.

If there are criminal elements among the Fulani who live in the state, the governor should take appropriate steps to identify them and deal with them. Similarly, the Fulani do not enjoy legal immunity in any part of Nigeria.

The Fulani are subject to all laws and regulations and must respect the communities with which they live and interact. What is dangerous and unacceptable is to profile and demonize the Fulani and treat him outside the laws of the land like all other Nigerians.

The Fulani community in Ondo state should stay put where they are and continue to be law-abiding. We call on Governor Akeredolu to rescind his order on the Fulani, or clarify his position in the event that he is misunderstood. For the avoidance of doubt, no Fulani anywhere in Nigeria will accept unfair and illegal treatment just for being Fulani, the statement read.

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Job listings are posted on a bulletin board at the Career Link One Stop job center in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Convicted Felons Charged with Unemployment Benefit Fraud

A trio of Southern California felonsincluding a convicted murdererwere charged with allegedly swindling the state for unemployment benefits during the CCP virus pandemic.

Rosalva Bahena, from Fullerton, was among those charged for allegedly conspiring to defraud the Economic Development Department (EDD). She had previously served three years in prison after pleading guilty in 2017 to carjacking. A plea bargain deal led to the dismissal of charges for kidnapping, car theft, and buying or receiving a stolen vehicle.

She was most recently arrested on Jan. 4 and charged with three counts each of perjury and false statement or representation or concealment and money laundering, as well as a count of conspiracy to defraud another of property, all felonies. She is being held in an Orange County jail without bail.

Police said Bahena used debit cards issued to prisoners Bruno Galindo and Guillermo Rodriguez to withdraw money from Bank of America in August, October, and November.

Galindo, 49, is serving time for attempted murder and will be eligible for parole in 2031. Rodriguez, 53, is serving a 110-year sentence for strangling his neighbor, a 43-year-old woman.

Both men are now facing additional charges of false statement or representation or concealment and conspiracy to defraud another of property.

Galindo is also facing a money laundering charge. Hes accused of filing for unemployment benefits and falsely claiming the loss of a full-time job last August due to the pandemic.

Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin said EDD fraud by prisoners has numbered in the thousands.

I am estimating here its going to be in the double-digit billions, 10, 11, 12 billion dollars of taxpayer funds that have been essentially stolen through fraud. To my knowledge, it is the largest fraud in the history of California, Hestrin told The Epoch Times.

It looks like people are just signing up online with minimal information. But nobody is verifying if that information is real, and they give an address, submit the application online, the state will in a short order send out a debit card with money on it.

People that are already in prison, they dont fear any consequences for stealing, so this is a free crime in a sense.
DGAP-Ad-hoc: Airbus SE / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

Airbus updates production rates in response to market environment



21-Jan-2021 / 17:35 CET/CEST

Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Ad-hoc release, 21 January 2021

Airbus updates production rates in response to market environment

- Production rates will remain lower for longer

- Single-aisle rates gradually increasing

- No change to widebody production

Airbus SE (Stock exchange symbol: AIR) is updating its production rate planning for its A320 Family aircraft in response to the market environment.

The new average production rates for the A320 Family will now lead to a gradual increase in production from the current rate of 40 per month to 43 in Q3 and 45 in Q4 2021. This latest production plan represents a slower ramp up than the previously anticipated 47 aircraft per month from July.

The A220 monthly production rate will increase from four to five aircraft per month from the end of Q1 2021 as previously foreseen.

Widebody production is expected to remain stable at current levels, with monthly production rates of around five and two for the A350 and A330, respectively. This decision postpones a potential rate increase for the A350 to a later stage.

Airbus continues to monitor the market closely. With these revised rates, Airbus preserves its ability to meet customer demand while protecting its ability to further adapt as the global market evolves. Airbus expects the commercial aircraft market to return to pre-COVID levels by 2023 to 2025.

About Airbus

Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2019, it generated revenues of  70 billion and employed a workforce of around 135,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

Contacts for the media
Mumbai, Jan 21 : Actor Priyanshu Painyuli has started shooting for the final schedule of Rashmi Rocket in the Rann of Kutch. He says the film is one of his most unique experiences at work and there couldnt have been a more cheery finale than a schedule in Kutch.

"A large part of being an actor is experiencing new things constantly. I love this place. It's my first time here and while one could have read a lot about the mystical beauty of the region, they can't imagine how pristine it's to be here," Priyanshu said.

"The film itself is one of the most unique experiences at work and there couldn't have been a more cheery finale than a schedule in Kutch. It's been a blast through and through. The local cuisine, people and every nook of the place has me smitten these days," he added.

Priyanshu has started training with Taapsee Pannu, lead star of the film.

Talking about learning to sprint from Taapsee, he said: "I have always found myself drawn to more natural ways of staying fit. Sprinting is one of the most foolproof ways of being fit. I am so glad that I am a part of this film and I am grateful to be around someone who is as motivated as Taapsee." Priyanshu described Taapsee as "extremely disciplined" with her workout regime and meals, alike.

"Lately I have started accompanying her to training. While I lack in her expertise, she has helped me learn the basics of sprinting. I am inclined towards learning it well and making it a part of my own regimen. This film has changed my perspective in many ways but the most significant change is simply the approach to kick off a new workout style," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Hemachatus haemachatus slow motion venom spitting. Credit: The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London and Callum Mair

A study of spitting cobras, published in Science reveals how a combination of venom components have evolved to create an instantly painful venom, not once, but on three separate occasions.

This is the first clear example of snake venom evolving for defense, and provides a remarkable example of convergent evolution, or how natural selection can cause the same solution to a problem to evolve multiple times.

Contrary to the theory that venoms are adapted primarily to enable snakes to kill prey, in spitting cobras, a venom which causes instant pain, and a delivery system which enables the snake to spray the venom to a distance of up to 2.5 meters towards the eyes of anything which comes too close, suggests a defense mechanism, rather than hunting weaponry.

Dr. Wolfgang Wuster, of Bangor University's School of Natural Sciences, co-investigator on the international research project, explains: "Here's a further strong piece of evidence to illustrate that similar evolutionary challenges often generate the same solutions. Even though we studied three different cobra groups, which evolved in different locations and at different evolutionary time periods, each evolved the same defensive mechanisms in the face of a threat.

Slow motion video of Hemachatus haemachatus spitting venom. Credit: The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London and Callum Mair

All cobras have venom components that cause tissue destruction, called cytotoxins. But in spitting cobras, adding another group of toxins, phospholipases A2, has created a synergistic effect, resulting in an instantly painful venom, which can rapidly deter and even blind an aggressor.

Understanding to what extent evolution is unpredictable, almost random, or predictable, is a major question in biology. This is a remarkable example of the same problem leading to the evolution of the same solution several timesthat is, predictable evolution"

Intriguingly, by working back through evolutionary lineages, the team also found that the changes occurred in the three different geographic locations around the same time that early humans appeared in the fossil record in those areas.

Dr. Wuster adds: "Many primates attack snakes with sticks and stones. The arrival of bipedal hominins, with both hands free for mischief, may have been just the kind of selection pressure that favored long-distance defense through spitting and a specially adapted defensive venom.

Slow motion video of Naja nubiae spitting venom. Credit: The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London and Callum Mair

The idea that early humans, millions of years ago, may have caused the evolution of spitting in cobras emphasizes how our origins were very much entwined with the wider ecosystems of Africa and Asia at the time"

Bangor University MSc students studying on the only zoology with herpetology course in the UK had the opportunity to contribute to this international research project. The students were responsible for generating DNA sequences to generate the phylogeny, or evolutionary family tree, of cobras, which allowed the study to trace the evolution of venom adaptations.

Anthony Plettenberg Laing, originally from Cambridge, and now based in Berlin, Germany is one of the authors. After his BSc in Zoology with Herpetology, he worked on this project for his MScRes and says:

"Bangor University has often been referred to as the Herpetological capital of the UK and was the only institute in the UK offering a specific Herpetology course. It has a team of world-renowned researchers who specialize in this field. I therefore knew that coming to Bangor would incubate my passion and help me grow and also thrive there, allowing me to get heavily involved in the field of herpetology."

Slow motion video of Naja nubiae spitting venom. Credit: The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London and Callum Mair

"During my studies at Bangor I worked on various exciting projects with Dr. Wolfgang Wuster and colleagues, including researching the iconic African and Asian cobras in the genus Naja. My work included sequencing a number of genes and creating phylogenetic trees to understand when and why different species had separated. To be an author in such a prestigious and impactful study in Science is an incredible honor and a true life-achievement."

Cara Hall from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, came to study Zoology with Animal Behaviour. She says: "The zoology degree was ideal for me. I was able to learn so much in many different areas of research, gain a deeper understanding of biology and evolution generally and be actively involved in research to gain essential lab skills for my future. Without knowing at the time, my research there has contributed to bigger studies and has had a larger impact than I could have anticipated."

Explore further Snake venom evolved for prey, not protection

More information: T.D. Kazandjian el al., "Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras," Science (2021). Journal information: Science T.D. Kazandjian el al., "Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras,"(2021). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi  1126/science.abb9303
Authorities have seized a massive cocaine shipment, featuring Gucci, Lacoste and Playboy logos, valued at $26.7 million off a pickup truck in Mexico City.

The 557 kilos of cocaine reportedly belongs to fugitive drug lord Rafael Caro-Quintero, who is wanted by Drug Enforcement Administration for the 1985 kidnapping and murder of special agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena.

The lives of Camarena and Caro-Quintero are portrayed in the Netflix series, 'Narcos: Mexico.'

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One of the cocaine packages confiscated Monday off a pickup truck in Mexico City was stamped with the Gucci logo. The drugs, a total of 557 kilos, reportedly belonged to fugitive drug lord Rafael Caro-Quintero, according to Televisa Noticias

Cocaine packages recovered by the Mexico City police Monday off a pickup truck that had flipped on a street had the logos of the Playboy Bunny and Lacoste

Rafael Caro-Quintero (left) is wanted by Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] for the 1985 kidnapping and murder of special agent Enrique 'Kiki' Camarena (right). The 68-year-old drug lord was one of the three co-founders of the defunct Guadalajara Cartel. The criminal organization was being investigated by the DEA. The federal agents tipped the Mexican military which raided a 2,500 acre marijuana farm. The Guadalajara Cartel blamed Camarena for the bust, and decided to retaliate

The drugs were discovered Monday night by cops responding to an accident after a pickup truck flipped on a street in the Mexico City borough of Miguel Hidalgo.

Photos of the confiscated drugs were leaked on social media and at least one of packages of cocaine wrapped in plastic contained the Playboy Bunny.

A spokesman for the Mexico City prosecutor's office told DailyMail.com that no arrests have been made and that authorities are still investigating the incident.

Caro-Quintero is No. 1 on the DEA's most wanted fugitive's list for trafficking drugs to the United States and for Camarena's murder in February 1985.

The federal anti-narcotics agency is offering a $20 million reward for information leading to Caro-Quintero's arrest and/or conviction.

The 68-year-old drug lord was one of the three co-founders of the defunct Guadalajara Cartel. The criminal organization, which paved the way for Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, Amado 'The Lord of the Skies' Carrillo, and a number of other cartel kingpins in Mexico, was being investigated by the DEA.

The federal agents tipped the Mexican military which raided a 2,500 acre marijuana farm.

The Guadalajara Cartel blamed Camarena for the bust, and decided to retaliate.

U.S. military personnel carry the coffin containing DEA special agent Enrique Camarena

Mexico City cops found 557 kilos of cocaine - valued at $26.7 million - in a pickup truck that flipped on a street Monday. The drugs reportedly belong to a cartel led by Rafael Caro-Quintero

Caro Quintero and the two other cartel leaders, Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo and Ernesto Fonseca Carrillo, orchestrated the abduction of then 37-year-old Camarena in broad daylight on February 7, 1985. He was tortured at a residence that belonged to Quintero.

Camarena's body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped in La Angostura, a city in the state of Michoacan on March 5, 1985.

Caro-Quintero eventually fled to Costa Rica with his girlfriend and was arrested April 4, 1985. He was then sentenced to 40 years in jail for Camarena's murder.

On August 9, 2013, a Jalisco court ordered the release of Caro-Quintero after he had served 28 years in prison because he had been improperly tried for the killing of the DEA special agent. But on August 14, a federal court acted on pressure from the United States and issued a warrant for Caro-Quintero's arrest. He has been at large ever since.

Caro-Quintero in recent months has had falling out with three of El Chapo's children despite his ties to the jailed drug lord's Sinaloa Cartel and created his own network, known as the Caborca Cartel.

The feud has resulted in a wide range of attacks in the states of Sinaloa and Sonora that have left multiple cartel members dead on both sides.
Government commission backs humanization of criminal responsibility for doctors

 pixabay.com

12:23 21/01/2021

MOSCOW, January 21 (RAPSI)  The Government Law-Making Commission has approved a bill on the humanization of criminal responsibility for healthcare workers, the press service of the Association of Russian Lawyers has told RAPSI.

Earlier this year, President Vladimir Putin instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to ensure submission of corresponding amendments to the Criminal Code.

The initiative envisages relief of doctors from criminal responsibility for the loss of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by inadvertency, the Associations Chair Vladimir Gruzdev said. Such cases, under the draft law, are to be investigated by a special commission.

According to the official statistics, between January 2016 and July 2019, 15 cases over breaching the rules of distribution of narcotic drugs against medics.
The Chinese government has targeted Australia at the UN Human Rights Council, making five recommendations to improve its record on war crimes, racial discrimination, immigration detention and Indigenous Australians.

The formal submission follows 40 other countries scrutinising Australia's treatment of refugees at the UN body and more than a dozen others raising concerns about the treatment of Indigenous Australians and lowering the age of criminal responsibility.

Lijian Zhao, his tweet and Scott Morrison. Credit:AP, Twitter, Alex Ellinghausen

China's recommendations, which specifically highlight the war crimes allegations against Australian special forces officers in Afghanistan, make good on the Chinese Communist Party's threats to pursue Australia in multilateral forums after a year of often bitter diplomatic division between the two countries.

China's repression of a million Uighurs in Xinjiang was on Wednesday formally designated as a genocide by the Trump and Biden administrations in the US. The Chinese Communist Party has also been accused of trampling democracy in Hong Kong, curtailing civil rights by instituting state backed surveillance systems across the mainland and imprisoning political opponents on spurious charges.
Viral respiratory diseases are easily transmissible and can spread rapidly across the globe, causing significant damage. The ongoing covid-19 pandemic is a testament to this. In the past too, other viruses have caused massive respiratory disease outbreaks: for example, a subtype of the influenza virus, the type A H1N1 virus, was responsible for the Spanish flu and the Swine flu outbreaks. Thus, to prevent such health crises in the future, timely and accurate diagnosis of these viruses is crucial. This is exactly what researchers from Korea have attempted to work toward, in their brand-new study. Read on to understand how!

For several decades now, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays have been the gold standard for detecting influenza viruses. And while these assays are highly sensitive, they can require expensive reagents and complicated protocols. A potentially better alternative can be "surface-enhanced Raman scattering" (SERS). SERS-based assays work by depositing a liquid sample onto a substrate material with a nanostructured noble metal surface. Viral particles from the samples are detected when they hybridize with substrate-bound "aptamers," molecules that can bind to specific target molecules. This binding is visually detected as a change in "signal intensity," which decreases as viral load increases due to conformational changes on the substrate. However, a major drawback of these assays is the poor reproducibility of signals from heterogeneous hot junctions (electron-dense regions that contribute to signals).

In an attempt to overcome this challenge, the aforementioned researchers from Chung-Ang University and Korea Institute of Materials Science, led by Professor Jaebum Choo, designed a novel 3D "nano-popcorn" plasmonic substrate. Speaking of the significance of their study published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Prof Choo says, "Infectious disease, caused by respiratory influenza, SARS, MERS, and SARS-2 viruses, can spread periodically and are a threat to global health. Our SERS-based aptasensor approach provides a new diagnostic platform for respiratory infectious diseases in the future."

In their design, the scientists coated two layers of gold particles on a polymer substrate using thermal evaporation sequentially. The two coats were separated by treatment with a compound called "perfluorodecanethiol: (PFDT). The energy difference between PFDT and gold layer was what caused the gold ions to diffuse to the surface, forming nanoparticles that appear as uniformly spaced "popcorns." This arrangement collectively strengthened the signal intensity that was produced, by generating multiple "hotspots" on the substrate.

The scientists then assessed the performance of the assay using different concentrations of the H1N1 virus. They successfully detected different viral loads in merely 20 minutes and from a minute volume of 3 L (3 microliters: a 1000th part of 3 ml). Moreover, the system could also classify different strains of influenza viruses accurately and detected H1N1 viruses at a sensitivity three-fold higher than that of the routinely used ELISA tests. Not just this, the assay was found to be highly reproducible. Pleased with the results, Prof. Choo states, "Our assay system enabled the ultrasensitive and reliable analysis of the influenza virus. Such a method would enable early-stage diagnosis, facilitate antiviral treatment initiation, and provide infection surveillance, particularly for those at high risk for virus-related complications."

In fact, the team is confident that their findings can, someday, be used to fight the current pandemic. Prof. Choo says, "We are currently developing a SERS-based aptasensor for the rapid diagnosis of the coronavirus from human respiratory samples. We are also developing a new diagnostic approach to differentiate between influenza A viruses and coronaviruses."

Hopefully, the new "nano-popcorn" assay can help to fight many major health crises in the future.

###

Reference

Authors: Hao Chen, Sung-Gyu Park, Namhyun Choi , Joung-Il Moon, Hajun Dang, Anupam Das, Seunghun Lee, Do-Geun Kim, Lingxin Chen, Jaebum Choo

Title of original paper: SERS imaging-based aptasensor for ultrasensitive and reproducible detection of influenza virus A

Journal: Biosensors and Bioelectronics

DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112496

Affiliations:

Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University, South Korea

Advanced Nano-Surface Department, Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS), South Korea

CAS Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

About Chung-Ang University

Chung-Ang University is a private comprehensive research university located in Seoul, South Korea. It was started as a kindergarten in 1918 and attained university status in 1953. It is fully accredited by the Ministry of Education of Korea. Chung-Ang University conducts research activities under the slogan of "Justice and Truth." Its new vision for completing 100 years is "The Global Creative Leader." Chung-Ang University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, which encompass a law school, management program, and medical school; it has 16 undergraduate and graduate schools each. Chung-Ang University's culture and arts programs are considered the best in Korea.

Website: https:/ / neweng. cau. ac. kr/ index. do

About Professor Jaebum Choo

Dr Jaebum Choo is a Professor at the Department of Chemistry, Chung-Ang University. He obtained a PhD in Molecular Spectroscopy at Texas A&M University, following which he was a faculty member at Hanyang University. Previously, Prof Choo served as the Director of the Center for Integrated Human Sensing System and Bionano Fusion Technology Program and is currently the Director of the Biomedical Diagnostics Research Center. His research interests include SERS, biosensors, micro-devices, and molecular spectroscopy in addition to developing ultrasensitive optical nano-sensor systems for rapid and sensitive in vitro diagnostics of infectious diseases. He has authored several research articles in peer-reviewed journals.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Just over 4.1 million passengers traveled through Cleveland Hopkins International Airport in 2020, a steep drop from the year before, a result of the coronavirus pandemic that brought global air travel to a near standstill.

Cleveland air traffic  down 59% in 2020  fared modestly better than air traffic nationwide, which was down 62% through October, according to figures from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Travel experts believe it will be mid-2021 before U.S. air travel picks up, as more Americans receive the COVID-19 vaccine. It could take several years, however, until 2023 or 2024, before air traffic returns to 2019 levels.

Cleveland airport officials are projecting passenger traffic in 2021 between 5.2 million and 6 million travelers.

Key to a full recovery is the resumption of business travel, which has lagged behind leisure travel in the months since the pandemic hit.

In 2019, Cleveland Hopkins welcomed 10.04 million travelers, the most in more than a decade. And 2020 was expected to be another year of growth, with Spirit, Frontier and United airlines all planning new routes from Cleveland.

In mid-March, however, air travel worldwide ground to a halt, as COVID spread across the globe.

Air traffic at Hopkins in 2020 bottomed out in April, with just 30,149 passengers, a drop of more than 96% from April 2019. Traffic has gradually improved since then, with 333,526 passengers in December, a 59% decrease from the year before.

The Sunday after Christmas, Dec. 27, the Transportation Security Administration screened 10,369 departing Cleveland travelers  the highest daily number since March 13.

TSA numbers nationwide on Wednesday were down 70% from the year before.

Its unclear how this year will go for Cleveland Hopkins, and all airports. This winter looks relatively bleak, with stay-at-home advisories currently in place in Cuyahoga County and elsewhere, and travel restrictions in force throughout the United States. California, for example, is almost entirely closed to leisure travel, and New York has restrictions in place that eliminate most travel to the state.

Florida, however, remains a popular destination for Cleveland travelers, with numerous carriers sending hundreds of passengers from Hopkins to the Sunshine State daily.

Industry analyst Robert Mann said airports that serve primarily domestic destinations are likely to recover faster than places like John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and Newark Liberty in New Jersey, which serve a large international market.

And airports, including Cleveland Hopkins, with a large presence of leisure-oriented, low-cost carriers including Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant, will recover faster than those more dependent on business-oriented, legacy carriers.

Ultimately, he said, the pandemic needs to recede before the industry fully recovers. Until this becomes a footnote, well be struggling to get air travel demand back to where it was, said Mann, founder of R.W. Mann & Co., in New York.

Cleveland Hopkins passenger traffic

2020: 4.1 million

2019: 10.04 million

2018: 9.64 million

2017: 9.14 million

2016: 8.42 million

2015: 8.10 million

2014: 7.61 million

2013: 9.07 million

2012: 9.01 million

2011: 9.18 million

2010: 9.49 million

Source: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Read more:

Hotel occupancy in Cleveland plunges to 37% in 2020, and the worst may be yet to come

Vaccine passports, bucket-list trips, drive-to destinations: What to expect from travel in 2021
One side of the colon ages faster than the other, scientists reveal

The colons of African-Americans and people of European descent age differently, new research reveals, helping explain racial disparities in colorectal cancer - the cancer that killed beloved "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman at only 43.

Scientists led by UVA Health's Li Li, MD, PhD; Graham Casey, PhD; and Matt Devall, PhD, of the Center for Public Health Genomics, found that one side of the colon ages biologically faster than the other in both African-Americans and people of European descent. In African-Americans, however, the right side ages significantly faster, explaining why African-Americans are more likely to develop cancerous lesions on the right side and why they are more likely to suffer colorectal cancer at a younger age, the researchers say.

"Our discovery provides novel insight of the mechanistic underpinning for the observed racial disparities in age-of-onset and anatomical distribution of colon neoplasia," said Li, the leader of the Cancer Control and Population Health program at UVA Cancer Center. "Side-specific biological aging of the colon might emerge as a novel biomarker to guide the development of personalized prevention and intervention strategies."

Colons Old Beyond Their Years

African-Americans are disproportionately affected by colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society reports that African-Americans are 20% more likely to develop colorectal cancer and 40% more likely to die from it. Overall colorectal cancer rates have declined in America in recent years, but African-Americans have not seen the same decreases as people of European descent. And even as the overall rates have dropped, the rate among younger people has gone up.

While doctors have long appreciated these disparities, they haven't really understood the causes. The new study helps answer those questions. It's the first to show that the right and left side of the colon actually age differently.

The researchers made this determination by looking at the DNA in colon tissue, and the "epigenetic" changes that come with age. These epigenetic changes are not alterations to the genes but changes that affect how the genes work and how well they can do their jobs.

The scientists found that the right side of the colon in most African-Americans had suffered a unique pattern of "hypermethylation," affecting gene expression. It was, in essence, like the right side was old beyond its years. This, the researchers believe, could contribute to African-Americans' increased cancer risk and could explain why they are more likely to develop cancerous lesions on the right side.

The research could also explain why younger people of European descent are more likely to develop lesions on the left side - the side that tends to age faster in that group.

"These findings highlight the importance of colon sidedness to biology of colorectal cancer," Casey said. "The fact that the colon biology of people of African and European ancestry differ further highlights the critical importance of more research involving participation of people of African descent."

Li and his team say further investigation of what they have found could lead to better ways to treat and prevent colorectal cancers.

"We are working to validate our discovery in independent patient cohorts," Li said. "Our discovery is a step forward in our effort to prevent colorectal cancer and reduce racial disparities in this deadly disease."

###

Findings Published

The researchers have published their findings in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The research team consisted of Matthew Devall, Xiangqing Sun, Fangcheng Yuan, Gregory S. Cooper, Joseph Willis, Daniel J. Weisenberger, Graham Casey and Li Li.

The work was supported by the National Cancer Institute Cancer Disparities SPORE Planning Grant (P20 CA233216), Case Comprehensive Cancer Center GI SPORE (P50 CA150964), National Cancer Institute (CA143237) and a pilot grant from the UVA Cancer Center (P30CA044579).

Iran's UN envoy urged for "immediate" removal of US sanctions against Syria, Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday.

The "political, unlawful, and inhumane" sanctions imposed against Syria have been imposed at a time when Syrians are suffering badly from several issues, Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi was quoted as saying.

"While the Syrians are seriously suffering from terrorist acts and also the COVID-19 pandemic, such inhumane sanctions are simply adding insult to injury, targeting the most vulnerable people," Takht Ravanchi said.

He also said that "by occupying parts of Syria, the US continues to violate the territorial integrity of the Arab country."

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Given the year the world has had, Ed Burns wanted to create an escape.

Its one of the main reasons he wrote, directed, produced and starred in the Epix series Bridge and Tunnel. The six-episode series debuts at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24.

The show came from two different places, Burns says. It could either be dark and depressing stuff. Or we could create something that would put a smile on your face. It reminded you of a better time and place.

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Bridge and Tunnel is set in 1980 and revolves around a group of recent college graduates setting out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan while still clinging to the familiarity of their working-class Long Island hometown.

Joining Burns in the cast are Sam Vartholomeos, Caitlin Stasey, Gigi Zumbado, JanLuis Castellanos, Brian Muller and Isabella Farrell.

Burns plays Artie, a house painter who once dreamed of being a photographer. He loves his suburban life and supports the artistic dreams of his son, Jimmy. Yet hes also dreading his son leaving the home.

Burns knew he wanted to create an ensemble cast.

He wanted it to follow a group of friends  three guys, three girls  who have just completed a part of life and are eager and scared of the next chapter.

We also discussed the show being a period show, Burns says. The late 70s in New York. Ive always romanticized it. The city was still gritty, and you had the fashion scenes. I didnt get to experience all of that. I was only 12 years old then.

Burns drew from his memories growing up and wanted to write Artie as a calming force in the series.

I grew up in a working-class house, he says. I felt like my friends and family were good. My sister and her friend would hang out and laugh. The guys in the neighborhood would get together and work on their old muscle cars. I just wanted to let the show be a reminder of those little things. Friends and family are important. Its about the simple pleasures in life.

Burns tasked himself to make the series universal.

The idea that everyone could remember what it was like to be back home with your family and friends, he says. Thats what made it relatable.

Burns also wanted Artie to be supportive of his sons dreams.

Im a working-class kid who had a crazy dream (of being a filmmaker), Burns says. I got very lucky, because my parents supported my absurd dream. If they hadnt been supportive of that, I dont know what would have happened. Those first five years, things didnt look like they were going to happen. I wanted Artie to support his son despite the conflict he feels.

The show was greenlit by Epix in October for eight episodes.

The production planned to shoot in both Long Island and Manhattan.

When COVID hit, we took 20% of our budget and put that towards protocols, Burns says. We knew that was going to be a big chunk of our budget.

Burns pivoted and turned the eight episodes into six scripts.

The production moved back to Long Island.

If I could turn a scene into an exterior shot, then I did, he says. In a weird way, the idea of the simple pleasures theme allowed us to lean into that.

On TV

The six-episode series Bridge and Tunnel, directed and written by Ed Burns will premiere at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24 on Epix.
Amaravati, Jan 22 : Andhra Pradesh BJP President Somu Veerraju on Thursday lambasted the state government and asked if there is democracy or emergency in the state.

"I am asking Jagan Mohan Reddy whether there is democracy or emergency in your government? If you have the right to impose emergency, you can impose it. But we are observing several incidents. When we called for 'Chalo Antarvedi', you arrested our leaders all over the state," said Veerraju.

He alleged that the government is filing several police cases on the basis of social media posts, including allegedly arresting people just for sharing information.

Veerraju claimed that thousands of people are being arrested and BJP leaders are not being allowed to visit Ramateertham, where an idol of Lord Ram was desecrated and decapitated by unknown miscreants.

"The government has to issue a statement as to why these things are happening. The DGP has claimed that BJP's role is there in temple attacks. First he said there was no role of political parties," he said.

The BJP President said his party leaders had tried to discuss these baseless allegations with the government.

He also asked if posting on social media about fallen temples is equal to demolishing them. Veerraju said it is a shameful act of the government to arrest senior BJP leaders who wanted to discuss these allegations.

"As there is an undemocratic rule in the state and attacks are happening on Hindu temples, the BJP will not keep quiet. It is a cowardly act to block the BJP in this manner," he said.

According to Veerraju, no BJP activist is scared of these activities by the government and the party is poised to take out 'rathyatras' soon.

He also claimed that an attack on BJP is an attack on Hindus.

Veerraju said a report has been submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh.

Incidentally, senior leaders such as C.M. Ramesh were arrested by the police on Thursday.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
For Subscribers Grab a meal or a drink outside in Hagerstown

With the lifting of restrictions on outdoor activities caused by COVID-19, several Hagerstown-area restaurants have their patios ready.
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The Defence Headquarters (DHQ), on Thursday, denied media reports that terrorists had overrun a military base in Marte Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State between January 15 and 16.

The Coordinator Defence Media Operations, John Enenche, a major general, made the clarification while giving updates on military operations in the last one week, aimed at addressing current insecurity challenges across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Boko Haram/Islamic West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists had attempted to attack troops location at the outskirts of Marte, but were repelled.

The troops eliminated a number of them and destroyed 13 gun trucks belonging to the terrorists.

Mr Enenche said, The story going round as it were that the base (at Marte) was taken over is not true. The attackers came in through one of the checkpoints at a filling station.

When they came to that check point in order to attack, the troops there had to do what we call tactical withdrawal.

That tactical withdrawal is to move away so that they (terrorists) can now go into the killing ground.

At times, we have to pull out and draw them into the killing ground, that is what we did and it achieved results. When you do that (tactical withdrawal), you now call for air support.

Several of them were killed; 13 gun trucks were destroyed at the end of the day.

The coordinator added that the capabilities of the insurgents in the North East were being degraded as they no longer had freedom of action within the theatre of operation.

Similarly, Mr Enenche said between January 14 and 20, troops of Operation Delta Safe, tackling economic crimes in the South-south Zone, demobilised six illegal refining sites and 11 wooden boats.

He said they also demobilised 52 Gee Pee tanks, 102 metal tanks, 17 dugout pits and 45 ovens.

Mr Enenche said the troops arrested 24 suspects and recovered 14 pumping machines, two speed boats and 13 outboard.

Additionally, a total of 9,856.1 barrels of stolen crude oil and 1,339,000 litres of illegally refined AGO (Automated Gas oil), as well as 500,000 litres of DPK (Dual Purpose Kerosene) were recovered.

He said an illegal refining site at Egwa Creek in Warri South West Local Government of Area of Delta, was de-activated by the Nigerian Navy.

He said the illegally refining site had seven refining units (ovens), 16 metal storage tanks, 84,000 litres and 105,000 litres of products, suspected to be illegally refined AGO and stolen crude oil respectively.

During the period under review in the North West, Mr Enenche said troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralised 35 bandits and recovered 24 rustled cows and unspecified number of sheep.

He said they also arrested two suspected bandits collaborators, Mustapha Sani and Murtala Sani.

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In the North Central, Mr Enenche said troops arrested two suspects in Plateau and recovered one locally fabricated AK47 rifle from them, one in Kaduna State and one suspected kidnapper in Nasarawa State.

(NAN)
The COVID-19 pandemic has been genuinely terrifying, particularly for those who fall into the high-risk category or who have loved ones who do. A recently published NBC News article shared that the U.S. surpassed 400,000 COVID-19 deaths nearly one year after the nations first confirmed case. Now, as several vaccines for the general population have been released, there is hope for many Americans. Scientists say if enough people are vaccinated, there will be nowhere for the virus to go, and there will be few susceptible hosts left to infect. This is a way to achieve herd immunity without losing even more lives in the process.

While viruses are created to protect our health, a number of Christians have been against COVID-19 vaccinations. Two groups that have been particularly hesitant about getting vaccinated are white evangelicals and Black Protestants, though both groups are skeptical for different reasons.

Some evangelical Christians have subscribed to myths about the COVID-19 vaccine and the pandemic. Many of these same people have fueled misinformation campaigns and promoted conspiracy theories. Some critics have accused right-wing fundamentalist pastors of perpetuating baseless theories that are encouraging their congregants to ignore public health information. This includes unfounded theories like the vaccine is the mark of the beast and could even cause sterilization in women.

Some Black Protestants are concerned about getting vaccinated given their tarnished past with dangerous health policies and clinical experiments that have targeted vulnerable black and brown communities. Healthline sums it well, From the Tuskegee experiments  one of the most disturbing parts of American medical history  to the economic and cultural inequities in the U.S. healthcare system that disproportionately harm Black and Latinx communities, there are very real reasons why some people might look askance with skepticism and fear at the new vaccines. Many of these concerns that are swirling around in many Christian communities beg the question, should Christians get the COVID-19 vaccine? The best place for Christians to get the answer to this question is by turning to Scripture.

God calls us to be faithful stewards of what we receive. First Corinthians 4:2 says, Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. This includes our bodies. As Christians, we should be mindful of what we put into our bodies and how we should care for our bodies. The Bible doesnt specifically address vaccinations as they were not available during biblical times. However, the Bible does give us great direction on being good stewards. As Christians, we are called to investigate, make informed decisions, and not take our life for granted. This is a good case for the COVID-19 vaccine and preventative medicine. Those who lived during biblical times did take what they had to cure illnesses and ailments. First Timothy 5:23 says, No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. This points to the importance of preventative medication during those times.

When choosing whether to get vaccinated, it should be an informed decision and not rooted in fear. Choosing not to be vaccinated during a global pandemic impact the well-being of your family, friends, and fellow neighbors. If we want to move forward from this virus, we need to take the pandemic seriously.

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) published an article titled 3 Reasons Christians Should Vaccinate With Confidence, addressing what Christians should do with vaccinations. The first reason they give for vaccinating with confidence is that science confirms the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations. According to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases (NFID), childhood vaccines have prevented more than 100 million cases of serious disease. All COVID-19 vaccinations that have been released to the public had gone through extensive safety testing before they were licensed by the FDA and recommended for widespread use. The NFID says, There are currently three systems in place in the U.S. to monitor the safety of vaccines after they are licensed and used among the public. These systems can monitor known side effects and detect rare side effects that may not have been identified during clinical trials. If a vaccine has been released to the public, it has gone through rigorous testing and is generally safe for use.

The second reason the article gives for vaccinating with confidence Is that we love our neighbors. God mandates that we love our neighbors as ourselves. When Jesus was asked which is the greatest commandment in the law, He answered with two commandments  to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. This means protecting your neighbor from sickness and harm. When a person chooses not to be vaccinated, they are risking the lives of their families and endangering the lives of all they encounter. Ultimately, being vaccinated puts your neighbors life first and is for the public good.

The third reason the article gives for vaccinating with confidence is that we dont give into fear-mongering. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation concerning COVID-19 vaccines, and we should be aware of any agenda that exists to sabotage our public health and safety. We dont have to make any decisions based on fear. We can turn to God and trust in His counsels. We can do the same when it comes to counseling around the coronavirus vaccine.

There is a reason God has given us science, and there is a lot of good that comes when we take science seriously. We do have the right to refuse vaccination, but we also must accept the repercussions of these actions, not just in our own lives but the lives of those who matter to us. The same goes for when we choose not to vaccinate our children. If we choose not to vaccinate them, we will limit them from being able to participate in certain public institutions and could also be risking their safety. We have to remember that we are responsible for the outcome of these choices.
A session court in Mumbai has rejected the bail plea of former Chief Executive Officer of Broadcast Audience Research Council India Partho Dasgupta. Dasgupta was arrested in relation to the ongoing investigation into the TRP scam. The order was pronounced on January 20, 2021.

Mumbai Police arrested Dasgupta in the last week of December. He was in police custody till December 31 after which he was remanded to judicial custody. On 5 January, Dasgupta was shifted to JJ Hospital after his health deteriorated while he was in judicial custody. This is the second time that Dasgupta's plea has been rejected. Earlier on January 4th a Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Mumbai rejected his bail application.
Hot tarmac spilling into the public sewerage system by Irish Water contractors in Portlaoise, created a Christmas nightmare for a Portlaoise family.

The family were reportedly left with raw sewerage overflowing in their home, no water and no heating for several days over the festive season.

The cause was big coagulated lumps of cold tarmac that had blocked up the pipes between Newpark and Lake Glen, on the N80 Mountmellick road (see photo).

"Tar the road, not the sewerage system," was the advice of an exasperated Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, who recounted the incident at the January meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District.

"This started on St Stephen's Day. A family at the top of Lakeglen thought they had a leak, water was coming through the ceiling. There was a lot of debacle getting someone out to address it.

"Sewage backed up into their system, into their house. They had no water, no heating, the water came through their ceiling," she said.

"They were five days without toilets and handbasins, and council staff had to come out over Christmas to help".

The problem was created she said back in November when a company hired by Irish Water for underground works, resurfaced the road outside Newpark housing estate half a kilometre away nearer the town centre. By Christmas the blockage had reached Lakeglen.

Cllr Dwane Stanley said the contract was awarded to a company based in Killarney who then subcontracts jobs to local businesses.

"I got a great response from Laois County Council. They contacted this company but had to wait for a crowd to come up from Kerry, it was 4pm two days later before they could confirm they were coming. They jetted out the pipes but they backed up again and this company had to be called again. At one point they were contacting companies in Dublin and Edenderry. We have had a local man five minutes away that could have come and jetted it out on day one.

"This company is appointed for the next three years. A local company lost the tender for Laois, they were number four on the list. I've no allegiance to them but it makes no sense to be ringing a company to come from Killarney, Dublin or Edenderry.

"How could they have tarred the sewerage system? They had two jobs, at the top of New Park and Lakeglen and they made a balls of both. the lads in the council told me they'd never seen the like in 30 years. How can we go forward for the next three years?

"We had four bodies involved with this; Irish Water, Laois County Council, the Department of Public Expenditure who gave the contract to this new company, an office in Killarney and companies from Kerry, Dublin and Edenderry, and a local man bypassed. If this starts going on all over town we are in for serious problems," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

Laois County Council's Director of Services Simon Walton said he largely agreed.

"I don't disagree to a large extent. But the fact is that from 2014, the responsibility in law for waterworks is transferred to Irish Water. We act as a sub contractor assisting day to day. I agree that it appears the road surface material was allowed to enter the sewer, it should not have happened.

"We have no role in supervising works. Regarding procuring jetting, our preference would be greater opportunities for local contractors," Mr Walton said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald recalled the council's Christmas campaign to support local businesses.

"Maybe as councillors we should get on to the department and ask for local people to do local jobs. We should all lobby, that maybe the contractor should have to be within a certain radius," she suggested.

The Director of Services said that he agreed with a "regionalisation" suggestion.

"For example a tender for the midlands,or Laois /Offaly or Laois/Kildare. It would create greater opportunity. If we contact Irish Water, I am happy to do so in these terms," he said.


BOISE, Idaho, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Charlie Health, a virtual intensive outpatient (IOP) provider of mental health and substance use treatment for teens and young adults, today announced its expansion of services to Idaho. Charlie Health's announcement marks a new, accessible group-based treatment option for youth in Idaho.

By partnering with key community members, hospitals, insurance companies, schools, and local therapists, Charlie Health provides treatment for clients who required more than weekly individual therapy or who are transitioning back to home and school after residential or hospital-based treatment.

Charlie Health has provided Montana youth with unprecedented access to intensive therapy, and is now partnering with Idaho behavioral health leaders to provide Idaho youth with similar access.

"Charlie Health's mission is to provide the most innovative behavioral healthcare for young Idahoans across the state," said Charlie Health's Director of Clinical Outreach and Admissions, Laura Sebulsky. "Our team is working quickly and carefully to change the mental health statistics plaguing teens and young adults in Idaho, by offering high quality, group-based therapy that resonates within this age group."

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Idahoans ages 15-34. Critically, SAMHSA survey data reported past year major depressive episodes (MDE) among adolescents in Idaho as consistently higher than the national average and continues to increase year over year. According to a survey by Youth Risk Behavioral Systems, nearly 40% of Idaho high school students feel sad or hopeless every day for two or more weeks, causing them to stop usual activities.

Charlie Health remains committed to providing quality, personalized care. Rather than group patients together based on their physical location, Charlie Health customizes treatment plans and carefully matches patients in groups of peers with similar needs. Patients are then assigned therapists that specialize in those needs. Charlie Health leverages comprehensive, evidence-based treatment programs from expert, licensed clinicians to allow healing from the comfort of clients' homes.

About Charlie Health

Charlie Health provides personalized, video-based treatments for teens and young adults suffering with mental health and substance use disorders. Through providing quality, accessible behavioral health support, Charlie Health hopes to remind the Idaho community that recovery is possible. To learn more, visit www.charliehealth.com.

Contact: Laura Sebulsky, [email protected]

(406) 624-7049

SOURCE Charlie Health

Related Links

https://www.charliehealth.com/



World leaders breathed an audible sigh of relief that the United States under President Joe Biden is rejoining the global effort to curb climate change, a cause that his predecessor had shunned over the past four years.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those welcoming Bidens decision to rejoin the the Paris climate accord, reversing a key Trump policy in the first hours of his presidency Wednesday.

Rejoining the Paris Agreement is hugely positive news, tweeted Johnson, whose country is hosting this years U.N. climate summit.

Macron said that with Biden, we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet.

The Paris accord, forged in the French capital in 2015, commits countries to put forward plans for reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which is released from burning fossil fuels.

Former President Donald Trump had questioned the scientific warnings about man-made global warming, at times accusing other countries of using the Paris accord as a club to hurt Washington. The U.S. formally left the pact in November.

The United States departure from it has definitely diminished our capacities to change things, concretely to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

Now we are dealing with an administration that is conscious of what is at stake and that is very committed to use the voice of the United States, a voice that is very powerful on the international level, she said.

Biden put the fight against climate change at the center of his presidential campaign and on Wednesday immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts to bring Washington back in step with the rest of the world on the issue.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, Biden said in his inaugural address. A cry that cant be any more desperate or any more clear now.

Experts say any international efforts to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally 1.5C (2.7F), as agreed in the Paris accord would struggle without the contribution of U.S., which is the worlds second biggest carbon emitter.

Scientists say time is running out to reach that goal because the world has already warmed 1.2 C (2.2 F) since pre-industrial times.

Italy said the U.S. return to the Paris accord would help other countries reach their own climate commitments. Italy looks forward to working with the U.S. to build a sustainable planet and ensure a better future for the next generations, Premier Giuseppe Conte tweeted.

The Vatican, too, was clearly pleased given the decision aligns with Pope Francis environmental agenda and belief in multilateral diplomacy. In a front-page editorial in Wednesdays LOsservatore Romano, Vatican deputy editorial director Alessandro Gisotti noted that Bidens decision to rejoin Paris converges with Pope Francis commitment in favor of the custody of our common home.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was more muted in her reaction, noting on Thursday that her government would probably have a more similar opinion with Biden on issues such as the Paris climate accord, migration and the World Health Organization.

Youth activists who have been at the forefront of demanding leaders take the threat of global warming seriously said they now want to see concrete action from Washington.

Many countries signed the Paris Agreement and they are still part of the Paris Agreement, but they make very free interpretations of what that implies, said Juan Aguilera, one of the organizers of the Fridays for Future movement in Spain. In many cases, signing it has become a show, because at the end of the day the concrete measures that are being taken, at least in the short term, are not satisfactory.

Biden has appointed a large team to tackle climate change both on the domestic and international front. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, named as the presidents special climate envoy, on Thursday took part in a virtual event with Italian industry at which he touted the green economy as an engine for jobs and said the U.S. planned to make up for time lost over the past four years.

Organizers of a meeting Monday on adapting to climate change said they hoped Kerry would take part too, and Biden himself has talked about inviting world leaders to a summit on the issue within his first 100 days in office.

Over the coming months the U.S. allies and rivals will closely watch to see by how much the administration offers to cut its emissions in the coming decade. A firm number is expected to be announced before the U.N. climate summit taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

Veterans of such gatherings noted the formidable diplomatic clout that the U.S. has managed to bring to them in the past.

Farhana Yamin, a British lawyer who served as adviser to the Marshall Islands in the Paris negotiations, said she left the climate talks in 2018 feeling disillusioned not only by the U.S. withdrawal but also by how other countries, including her own, were failing to live up to the agreed goals.

I wish there were more progress here in the UK, she said, adding she hoped that the change in the White House would mean others would increase their ambition on climate, too. The U.S. always has massive influence on its allies.
Superintendent of Schools Jeff Solan is asking for nearly $4 million more in local funding than was allocated by the Cheshire Town Council last year.

Its a big ask. It would be a big ask in normal times, but the town, state, and country are in the midst of decidedly unusual times. And unfortunately, how those times have and will impact the local and state economy remains a mystery.

What impact will the rollout of the vaccine have on the response to the pandemic? Will mitigation practices that have put several businesses in a state of limbo begin to lift soon, or will those limitations remain for several months into 2021? Even if restrictions are to be lifted sooner rather than later, how long would it be before people truly felt comfortable returning to their pre-pandemic normalcy?

And will yet another relief package be signed into law at the federal level, and what will that mean for a recovery in Connecticut?

There are no answers to these questions at the moment, and theres little chance that perfect clarity will be possible by the time the Cheshire Town Council sits down to finalize the municipalitys overall operating budget for the fiscal year. As of now, one would likely be wise to bank on the Council erring on the side of extreme fiscal caution, which has been their modus operandi even before the pandemic hit.

However, when looking at Solans budget, its hard to argue with the need to fully fund the two pieces driving the majority of the recommended increase. Cheshires schools are aging and that means more maintenance is required to keep them safe and comfortable. COVID-19 has only shined an even brighter light on the need to make sure the communitys schools are up-to-date, and even when the virus no longer presents the risk it currently does, one would imagine that our post-pandemic world will require even stricter standards of hygiene and health safety protocols.

The School Modernization Committee is currently in the process of reviewing numerous plans to tackle the overall health of the local schools, but no matter what is decided upon, such work is likely a year, at minimum, away from starting and several years from being completed. Right now, the District needs to deal with the here-and-now, and that means maintaining buildings as best as possible.

The other area of increase comes in the form of the local medical benefits fund. This is usually the portion of the school budget in which administrators can find savings once they received their final number from the Town Council, as the request is almost always more than is needed to cover the costs of claims. However, as school administrators stress each year, taking away from the fund comes with risk. If claims end up costing more than anticipated, and the fund is found to be short, the Town must find a way to fill in the gaps.

How the pandemic will impact those kinds of claims going forward remains uncertain. Many put off routine medical procedures or checkups during the last 10 months so as to avoid overcrowding hospitals or putting themselves in an environment where the virus might be most prevalent. Now, as vaccines are administered and, hopefully, risk of the virus dissipates over the next few months, many may have a renewed focus on their health.

It may leave the Town with no choice but to fund the medical benefits account fully.

So, thats the conundrum in which the Town finds itself, and thats not even taking into account the possibility that, if COVID-19 remains a serious concern into next fall, the District may be forced to spend even more money on added mitigation responses.

There are few good choices available to local leaders. Their adaptivity has and will continue to be put to the test. All we know is that the school budget likely gives us an important look into the overall issue facing Cheshire  what to do when more is needed but less is expected to be available.

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Following are the latest Corporate Social Responsibility news releases and story ideas available from Business Wire. These recaps, curated by Business Wire, provide reporters and bloggers around the globe instant access to the latest news releases, providing relevant and trending content to share with their audiences. Discover more news via Business Wires Hot Topic recaps or create a custom news feed specific to your needs here. This service is provided at no charge to members of the media and financial communities.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005071/en/

DENVER -- Channing Martin Jones Appointed CSGs First Chief Diversity and Social Responsibility Officer Source: CSG

TORONTO -- Facedrive Welcomes Susan Uthayakumar, Schneider Electrics Global Sustainability Leader, as Newest Advisory Board Member Source: Facedrive Inc.

PARIS -- Teleperformance to Support Covid-19 Vaccinations for Its Employees Worldwide Source: Teleperformance

CINCINNATI -- Fifth Third Achieves Carbon Neutrality Source: Fifth Third

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- ZoomInfo Employees Donate More Than $650,000 to Local Nonprofits Through 2020 Winter Donation Drive Source: ZoomInfo

WASHINGTON -- Internet Society Announces $1M in Grant Funding to Expand Internet Access to Underserved Communities in the Southeastern United States Source: Internet Society

PARIS -- Teleperformance named Great Place to Work in Indonesia Source: Teleperformance

BARCELONA, Spain -- Veeva Becomes First Public Company to Convert to a Public Benefit Corporation Source: Veeva Systems Inc.

TORONTO -- Facedrive Healths TraceSCAN Endorsed by LiUNA as the Wearable Contact-Tracing Solution of Choice, Following Provincial State of Emergency Announcement Source: Facedrive Inc.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- Sintavia Expands Rocket Manufacturing Capability with Two M4K-4 Printers from AMCM GmbH Source: Sintavia, LLC

NEW YORK -- Colgate-Palmolive, Harvard School of Dental Medicine Establish Scholarship to Support Underrepresented Minority Dental Students Source: Colgate-Palmolive Company

MIAMI -- Ryder Named One of Americas Most Responsible Companies in 2021 by Newsweek Source: Ryder System, Inc.

PARIS -- The Complementarity of Technical and Fundamental Analysis in Trading Source: STRATEGGYZ

WILMINGTON, Del. -- The LYCRA Company Announces Gold Level Material Health Certificates for 25 of its LYCRA Fiber Products Source: The LYCRA Company

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- UNFI Commits to Aggressive 10-Year Targets in Waste Reduction, Climate Action, and Food Access Through the Introduction of Better for All Source: United Natural Foods, Inc.

PARIS -- Teleperformance Earns First Best Place to Work Certification in Madagascar Source: Teleperformance

NEW YORK -- Church Pension Group to Host Virtual Conversation on Investing in Economically Disadvantaged Communities Source: Church Pension Group

AMSTERDAM -- Tommy Hilfiger Calls on Social Entrepreneurs to Take on the Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge Source: Tommy Hilfiger

ARLINGTON, Va. -- AvalonBay Named Global and Regional Sector Leader by GRESB and Awarded Nareits 2020 Residential Leader in the Light Award Source: AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

TORONTO -- Facedrive Health Announces Release of V2 TraceSCAN Wearable Device Source: Facedrive Inc.

LOS ANGELES -- Kilroy Realty Achieves Carbon Neutral Operations Source: Kilroy Realty Corporation

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YEREVAN, JANUARY 21, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan will depart for Iran on a business trip to discuss the development prospects of the bilateral trade-economic cooperation.

The respective decision has been signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

The Minister of Economy will be accompanied by the head of the department of foreign relations Armen Ayvazyan and official of the ministry of foreign affairs Garik Grigoryan.

The visit will take place from January 22 to 26.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan

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New Delhi: As part of our #ShauryaStories series, let us get to know the real-life heroes who win battles to make sure the nation is safe and secure. On the morning of December 31st, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: An irreparable loss! Colonel Narinder 'Bull' Kumar (Retd) served the nation with exceptional courage and diligence. His special bond with the mountains will be remembered. And Indeed it will.

Who is Colonel Narinder 'Bull' Kumar?

Producers Ramon Chibb and Anku Pande of Manomay Motion Pictures have acquired the rights to retell his incredible story on celluloid. BULL - The movie on Late Col Narinder Bull Kumar, is an untold story of true leadership, guts and glory. This is a story of a battle against the harshest enemy of all  mother nature, against whom the strongest have often succumbed. A story of a strong-willed, determined army officer who refused to give up - Jo karna hai So karna hai was Bull Kumars motto.

In 1981, this soldier and his team lay claim to the highest peaks at altitudes beyond 24,000 feet and proudly planted the Indian tri-colour there. They did this without any maps or high-tech equipment - their boots were not waterproof, and their jackets were not made of down feather. They had to navigate tricky crevasses and stay ahead of avalanches while braving temperatures that dipped to a numbing -50 degrees Celsius.

The reconnaissance mission was not an official army operation. That meant that if Bull Kumar and his band of brothers were to fall into enemy hands, no one would claim them.

Late Col Narinder Bull Kumar biopic

Written by Balwinder Singh Janjua, BULL is being driven by Ramon Chibb, an ex-army officer who understands the ethos of the Indian army. He is from the same regiment as Bull Kumar and has spent several hours with the Colonel getting to know what drove him to accomplish the impossible.

Ramon has previously directed big-ticket armed forces shows for National Geographic Channel and is the Creative Consultant for all things related to the army for Aamir Khans latest in production Laal Singh Chaddha. He has also written the Story and Screenplay for Fighter the recently announced Siddharth Anand action film starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. He and Anku Pande are also producers on it along with Sidharth Anand.

Filmmaker Ramon Chibb said, "We are elated as a team to be the ones to bring this extremely amazing story of heroism and true leadership to the screens soon. We are grateful to Late Colonel Narinder Bull Kumars family to trust us and give us the responsibility to retell his deeply inspiring story for celluloid and give us the opportunity to do our part in forever commemorating his life into a film reel We currently have interest from several studios and look forward to kick-starting this project and let the world know the heroic story of an unfathomably brave, adventurous and true patriot."
HONG KONG, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the need of a global platform where innovative minds and exceptional leaderships can share achievements and success in the international jewellery and gemstone industry, the JNA Awards will take on a new positioning starting 2021, as Jewellery World Awards (JWA). The new name also reflects how the awards programme has grown in stature, esteem, scope and scale since its inception in 2012.

After almost a decade of focusing on the accomplishments within the Asia region, the Awards continues to expand globally. The new identity enables JWA to welcome more entrants from different segments of the trade and from all parts of the globe. The move also aims to meet the needs of members of the global jewellery community, share their insights and celebrate their achievements in a more fitting manner.

"The new JWA, together with Informa Markets Jewellery's portfolio of fairs, media and digital platforms, is well positioned to create even stronger synergies for the global trade. We strive to provide the best services and products that will help create business opportunities in this time of changes," remarked David Bondi, Senior Vice President - Asia at Informa Markets.

"JWA will continue to thrive on the legacy of its former self, the JNA Awards. It targets to include companies and entrepreneurs regardless of business size, geographical origin and nature of business. It aims to include every facet of the trade, from every corner of the world. We will keep recognising and honouring exceptional companies, as well as outstanding individuals with significant contributions and positive impact in the world of jewellery and gemstones," shares Letitia Chow, Chairperson & Founder of JNA Awards at Informa Markets Jewellery.

Organised by Informa Markets Jewellery, the world's largest B2B jewellery fairs organiser, 2021 JWA has eight categories open for entry submission, and it will be open for registration on 29 January.

The 2021 JWA Ceremony and Gala Dinner will debut in a hybrid format during Jewellery and Gem WORLD Hong Kong fair in September, with the support of Headline Partners Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and Shanghai Diamond Exchange, alongside Honoured Partners KGK Group and Guangdong Land (Shenzhen) Ltd.

JNA, the flagship publication of Informa Markets Jewellery, continues to be the official media partner of JWA. Key JWA events will be held during Asia's No. 1 mid-year fine jewellery sourcing destination, Jewellery & Gem ASIAHong Kong (JGA) in June, and the industry's biggest and most influential B2B marketplace, Jewellery & Gem WORLD Hong Kong (JGW) in September.

For more information, visit http://www.JNAawards.com/ or contact:

JWA Marketing

Informa Markets

+852 2516-2184

marketing@JWAwards.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1423337/JWA_logo_RGB.jpg

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It would be easy to get caught up this week in the media narratives that usually attend a White House changeover, the recapping of the past four years and the wondering ahead. Easy, that is, unless youre still processing the past few weeks  or days  and thinking about how much challenge is built into the coming days and weeks.

Only a week ago, for instance, CMS issued a pair of reports touting the Trump administrations efficacy against the COVID-19 pandemic and suggesting that the agency had assembled a strong template for federal action in future crises. But we still remember the blunders, such as the absence of a national plan to supply ventilators, masks and other vital equipment. More recently, there was the announcement that officials would release a quantity of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines that would have ensured a second shot for all who had received the first  an announcement quickly followed by the revelation that the cupboard was bare.(www.nytimes.com)



Im really angry, family physician Andrew Carroll, M.D., of Chandler, Ariz., told Kaiser Health News in a Jan. 13 story(khn.org) about the issues that have so far hobbled the vaccine rollout, especially for family physicians.

Carroll told KHN hed spent some $4,000 to buy an ultra-low-temperature freezer from eBay so hed be ready to store the Pfizer vaccine. So far, its empty.

Not only are doctors having trouble getting vaccine for patients, the story noted, but many of the community-based physicians and medical staff that arent employed by hospitals or health systems also report mixed results in getting inoculated. Some have had their shots, yet others are still waiting, even though health workers providing direct care to patients are in the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions top-priority group.

We know, and were helping family physicians demand action at the state level.(www.votervoice.net)



Yet theres reason to hope that the incoming administration will improve vaccination efforts while taking strides to improve health care policy as a whole. Ron Klain, President Joe Bidens chief of staff, was the Ebola czar and knows a thing or two(www.statnews.com) about playbooks and what happens when theyre discarded. His presence in the White House, to paraphrase the new president, could be a big deal.

On Jan. 14, Biden laid out his American Rescue Plan in a nationally televised speech. In what is expected to evolve into a more detailed strategy, he is calling for $400 billion to vanquish the pandemic, including

$20 billion for a national vaccination program, with community vaccination centers around the country and mobile units in hard-to-reach areas;

$50 billion for testing, rapid test kits, expanded lab capacity and help for schools and local governments;

$10 billion to manufacture pandemic supplies domestically, along with $30 billion in Disaster Relief Fund spending for supplies and protective gear;

increased federal support to vaccinate Medicaid enrollees;

addressing health disparities by expanding community health centers and health services on tribal lands;



funding 100,000 health workers to expand the public health workforce; and

emergency funding to upgrade federal IT infrastructure.

Thats appropriately ambitious, and, at least in its outline form, aligns smartly with the Academys advocacy. Community health centers? We like them. So do many of our members. Community health workers? We like them.

And health disparities, exacerbated by COVID-19? Theyre killing Americans.

Weve lobbied Congress to recognize this moment as an imperative to correct health care policy by acknowledging these disparities and working to reduce them. Weve called on HHS to make a similar reckoning. Bidens administration is suggesting that it has the will to pay attention to these concerns.

For too many, its already too late. Im thinking of Susan Moore, M.D., the physician who last month used Facebook to document her own health decline before she died due to complications from COVID-19, and the ways in which systemic racism contributed to her death.

AAFP President Ada Stewart, M.D., recently recounted the disparities Moore fought against and she urged family physicians to elevate their own awareness.

We must continue to fight for our patients and our colleagues, Stewart wrote. COVID-19 continues to plague our communities, but we now have a dim light at the end of the tunnel that needs to turn bright as each and every one of our patients receive their COVID-19 vaccine. We must continue to make sure that Black and brown communities no longer fear the health care system that for too long treated them differently. We must advocate for those who are in pain and request pain medication. We have to continue to fight for birth equity for Black and brown mothers and babies. We have to continue to be a voice to fight for health equity for all.

The latest Annals of Family Medicine, starting with its potent editors statement,(www.annfammed.org) echoes this call to action and is a timely must-read.

Also in keeping with the AAFPs advocacy, and potentially working to rectify inequity, are the elements of Bidens overall $1.9 trillion rescue plan that would follow through on one of his campaign pledges by increasing financial support for lower-income enrollees in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

A Jan. 16 New York Times analysis noted(www.nytimes.com) a one-sentence provision that could drive billions in federal subsidies to help people afford to buy health insurance. Additionally, Bidens proposal would boost tax credits to reduce or eliminate health premiums while capping ACA enrollees coverage cost at 8.5% of their income.

Of this latter part, the Times says, The proposal does not detail how this would be achieved, but analysts expect the incoming White House to use as a model the legislation that House Democrats passed this summer.

The Academy supported that legislation. Among other things, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 1425)(www.congress.gov) would incentivize states to adopt Medicaid expansion, allow the government to negotiate prescription drug prices and reverse the Trump administrations rules expanding the availability of short-term limited duration insurance plans (which we do not like).

Thats a lot for any administration to take on  and a lot for us to keep an eye on as we push Washington to stabilize, strengthen and sustain primary care while better factoring it into this and any future pandemic fight. But we plan to do much more than merely watch, and I see strong opportunities ahead to achieve bold changes.

Related AAFP News Coverage

AAFP Shares Primary Care Agenda With President-elect Biden

(12/1/2020)

Additional Resource

AAFP Advocacy Focus: Health Equity


by Austin Bay January 21, 2021

President Joe Biden's incoming secretary of state, Antony Blinken, agrees former President Donald Trump's administration got communist China right.

During his Jan. 19 Senate confirmation hearing, Blinken told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "President Trump was right in taking a tougher approach to China. I disagree very much with the way that he went about it in a number of areas, but the basic principle was the right one. And I think that that's actually helpful to our foreign policy."

Blinken knows the Chinese Communist Party endangers America and the world.

But can the Biden administration continue "the tougher approach" with Hunter Biden's China investment scandal lurking in the diplomatic and criminal background?

The mainstream media and social media magnates who stifled preelection public examination of the Biden family's involvement in what looks like and smells like a multimillion-dollar political payoff racket may have gotten Joe Biden elected.

However, until the Biden-China scandal is fully vetted, we won't know if Beijing has inside information (blackmail leverage) that might soften Trump's tougher approach.

Knowing matters. Given China's documented record of pervasive spying, global intellectual property theft, a huge military expansion program, imperialist seizure of territory, bullying of neighbors, violations of treaty commitments, police-state terror and genocide of Muslim Uighurs, a softer approach at this moment in history ultimately puts American security at risk.

The CCP's use of bribery to influence and blackmail to coerce, both as tools for espionage, theft and diplomacy, is not a conspiracy theory or a sensationalist charge.

The CCP has pumped billions worldwide into research institutions, hi-tech corporations, universities and media organizations as well as corrupt governments. But CCP cash always has a catch. The CCP demands access to the research results and new technology, and if it can't get them openly, it steals the data and designs, often relying on bribed or blackmailed human insiders to filch the data or help Chinese cyber-warriors hack proprietary information networks.

From subsidized universities and media organizations the Chinese government expects a "softer approach" -- such as muting criticism of CCP police-state brutality and stifling criticism of supreme leader Xi Jinping.

Here's a telling example. In October 2020, a Washington Free Beacon investigative article detailed The Economist magazine's years of "sympathetic" coverage of China's Huawei Technologies. The Free Beacon documented the magazine's profitable business relationship with the Chinese corporate giant and noted The Economist failed to acknowledge that economic relationship for nearly a decade.

Huawei's deep financial and operational connections to the CCP are no secret -- but Huawei's ability to influence The Economist coverage was hidden.

The World Health Organization's soft approach to China from late December 2019 through spring 2020 delayed the global response to COVID-19/the Wuhan virus. In June 2020, an Associated Press investigation revealed that while the WHO publicly praised China, "behind the scenes, it was a much different story." China didn't provide the information the WHO needed to combat the pandemic. The Chinese government "sat on releasing the genetic map" of the virus. AP blamed "tight controls on information and competition within the Chinese public health system." "Tight controls" -- AP softens its punch. China is a dictatorship that silences criticism of China's leaders and China's system. If muting criticism requires lying to the rest of the world about a deadly disease outbreak, no matter.

A number of commentators have speculated that China maintains a close relationship with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. China supported his appointment, even though Tedros isn't a medical doctor. In late January 2020, Tedros praised "China's commitment to transparency." From 2012 to 2016, Tedros served as Ethiopia's foreign minister. During that time frame, Ethiopia borrowed over $13 billion from China. In December 2020, Nobel Peace Prize nominee David Steinman accused Tedros of "aiding genocide in Ethiopia" while he served in the Ethiopian government. Tedros denies the accusation.

Circumstantial evidence and a sensational accusation don't make Tedros a criminal or a stooge, but at a critical moment, he treated Beijing oh-so-softly.

So it's fair to ask what China knows about Tedros, and, for that matter, what it knows about the Biden family's Chinese financial arrangements.

The CCP bets planet Earth will eventually kowtow to its deep-pocket bribes and military threats.
The logo of Amazon is pictured inside the company's office in Bengaluru, India, on April 20, 2018. (Abhishek N. Chinnappa/File Photo/Reuters)

Amazon Offers to Help Biden Administration With CCP Virus Vaccine Distribution

E-commerce giant Amazon has offered to help the Biden administration with accelerating the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, while seeking to get its employees inoculated as early as possible.

Amazon Worldwide Consumer CEO Dave Clark said in a letter to President Joe Biden on the day of his inauguration (pdf) that the company is willing to leverage its operations to help vaccinate 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of the his administration.

Our scale allows us to make a meaningful impact immediately in the fight against COVID-19, and we stand ready to assist you in this effort, Clark wrote.

The Epoch Times reached out to Amazon asking whether they approached the Trump administration with a similar offer of support, but did not receive a response by publication.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who holds around a 10-percent stake in the company, also owns The Washington Post, which endorsed the Biden-Harris ticket.

Clark also called for the earliest possible inoculation of Amazon employees, many of whom are essential workers.

The essential employees working at Amazon fulfillment centers, AWS data centers, and Whole Foods Market stores across the country who cannot work from home should receive the COVID-19 vaccine at the earliest appropriate time, Clark wrote, noting also that Amazon has an agreement with a licensed third-party occupational health care provider to offer vaccines to employees on site.

In working to get their employees priority access to the vaccine, Amazon, like Uber and Aldi, lobbied to move their workers closer to the front of the line for vaccinations.

Conflicting state and local guidelines on how shots will be administered and to which workers have made the process of navigating the vaccine rollout confusing for corporations and industry bodies.

Meanwhile, health officials have lamented the slower-than-expected rollout of the vaccine, and have urged more federal aid to state and local authorities to smooth distribution and administration. They have also made reassuring remarks about vaccine safety in a bid to overcome vaccine hesitancy and get more shots into the arms of Americans faster.

Biden was set to sign 10 pandemic-related executive orders on Thursday, his second day in office, after signing an executive order on Wednesday that requires mask-wearing on federal property.

One of the orders Biden is expected to sign on Thursday would mandate masks in airports and on flights, trains, and buses for months, according to USA TODAY.

Biden is also depending on Congress to provide $1.9 trillion for economic relief and to ramp up the COVID-19 response, with many states complaining the lack resources to boost vaccine administration.

So far, more than 400,000 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19, according to a Johns Hopkins tally.
(Newser)  The death of an Instagram influencer whose body was found along a Texas road in late November has been ruled a homicide. In the first update about the case since December, authorities also said that an autopsy showed that Alexis Sharkey was strangled to death, Fox News reports. A Houston Public Works employee found the 26-year-olds body on Nov. 28 after noticing feet in some bushes, according to reports. Police have not publicly identified any suspects. Sharkeys mother said in November that she believed her daughter had been murdered. One of Sharkeys friends told the Daily Beast that she was going to divorce her husband, adding that during an October trip with friends Sharkey said that her husband strangles me and chokes me out, and I black out and wake up on the bathroom floor every single time.

story continues below

The husband, 49-year-old Tom Sharkey, denies that the couple was getting a divorce, ABC13 reports. In what the station called a disjointed interview, Tom Sharkey said that his wife wasnt happy and was stressed, adding, I don't need to set the record straight. I'll let it play out the way it is. He said that the last time he spoke to Sharkey was to warn her not to drive under the influence. She left anyhow, he said. This is where we're at. Tom Sharkey, who claims that hes gotten death threats, said he is cooperating with authorities. It's horrible, he said. People are talking tons of crap. (Read more homicide stories.)
While India would be happy with the tone and tenor on China, though what the new China containment strategy will be is still unclear

President Joe Biden takes over Americas presidency under unprecedented circumstances. It is only the fourth time in US history that the outgoing leader refused to attend his successors inauguration, all earlier examples being from the nineteenth century. The transition has been disorderly, to say the least, despite the US facing a serious spike in Covid-19 cases, with over 400,000 dead and the economy slowing down. Domestic challenges are rivalled by those abroad as the Trumpian foreign policy legacy is equally fractious.

While Bidens nominees to head the state and defence departments and the CIA are all well-known individuals, their depositions before Senate committees a day before the inauguration give an insight into the new administrations thinking. Antony Blinken, the incoming secretary of state, began with his personal story as the descendant of those who either fled Soviet pogroms or Nazi concentration camps. He ended with the touching tale about his late stepfather, hiding in a bush as disarray descended with Allied troops advancing into Germany in 1945, stepped out on seeing a tank with a five-pointed white star and told the African-American GI emerging from its turret the only three English words his mother taught him: God bless America.

These anecdotes bolstered Blinkens argument that the US must lead the world not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. He listed the most pressing challenges as rising nationalism, receding democracy, growing rivalry from China, and Russia and other authoritarian states, mounting a threat to a stable and open international system. He also noted a technological revolution was reshaping our lives. If the US doesnt lead, he said, there can be only two outcomes: another nation will step in or none will, and chaos shall ensue.

On specifics, Blinken argued the US must defeat Covid-19, outcompete China and take the lead in tackling climate change. President Biden is likely to take action on all three fronts the very first day. The US will rejoin the Paris climate agreement, return to the World Health Organisation, reverse travel bans on select Muslim nations and reach out to alienated allies. But he singled out China as the most significant challenge. Therefore, President Trump was right in the direction of his China policy, but wrong in the means he chose.

The defence secretary-designate, Gen. Lloyd Austin (Retd), talked about Indias near western neighbourhood. While he reiterated the US resolve to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, he qualified it, as Trump avoided doing, by saying safeguarding the gains in womens rights, etc, must be a precondition to a final settlement. On Pakistan, he seemed to regress to old formulations like underscoring its importance to Afghan peace and regional stability.

Blinken also singled out democracy and human rights as central to the Biden administrations global outreach. Thus overall, while India would be happy with the tone and tenor on China, though what the new China containment strategy will be is still unclear, it would be cautious about Pakistan again getting more wriggle room. But New Delhi cant take the talk about human rights lightly. It was speculated whether the sudden early retirement of a bureaucrat close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his induction into Uttar Pradesh politics is not a first step in curbing the zeal of UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath in pursuing a majoritarian agenda and intolerance towards anyone criticising him. A comedians being detained for perceived insult raises questions about freedom of speech being curbed. The four-year free pass the government got on this count is now over. This is happening as the BJP prepares for a no-holds-barred electoral fight in West Bengal, and when the farmers protests at Delhis main entry points is nearing two months.

In Britain, the farmers protests led to 100 MPs, across party lines, raising concern. A similar move cant be ruled out in Washington, with Democrats now controlling both Houses. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar had earlier drawn the ire of a congressional committee by illogically seeking the exclusion of Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal from a meeting he was to attend as she had been critical of the governments actions in Kashmir, including Article 370s abrogation. She has been re-elected and may revisit that issue and now new ones like the farmers protests.

President Donald Trumps administration poisoned US foreign policy well before departure by ramping up sanctions against Iran, raising the level of ties with Taiwan, declaring Chinas actions against Uighurs as genocide, etc. The aim was possibly to reduce Bidens strategic space to re-balance ties with those nations, or if he did so make him vulnerable to attacks over being soft on perceived antagonists. Interestingly, like the debate over Modi having gone overboard with his Houston rally with Trump, thus sowing seeds of distrust amongst Democrats, Australian PM Scott Morrison is being similarly excoriated. He attended a rally with Trump in Ohio and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is calling it a foolish alignment with a losing candidate.

But the key question is whether Biden, with eight years as President Barack Obamas deputy and decades in the US Senate, can return the US and the world to its pre-pandemic, pre-Trump order. That seems unlikely both because Chinas rise, if anything, has been accelerated by the current global crises and also as Biden has a domestic right-wing insurgency on his hands, which Trump may continue to pour fuel on from his perch in Florida. Liberal internationalism needs re-invention. A post-Brexit and weakened British PM Boris Johnson has proposed a D-10, a grouping of the G-7 plus three other democracies: India, South Korea and Australia. The US must reassess how to counter Chinas success in getting two groups off the ground after Trumps defeat: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the Europe-China investment agreement. Will Biden re-engage with the new version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Trump walked out of. India just joined the UN Security Council for a two-year term. Will the Biden administrations revived interest in international institutions enable India to use its membership to push for UNSC reforms and curb the rising penetration of China in UN bodies.

None of this is possible unless the BJP takes a hard look at its domestic politics since Modis 2019 re-election. Peace at home, constitutionalism, rule of law and respect for human rights is a precondition to any genuine partnership abroad with major democracies recovering from the right-wing onslaught on their institutions.
Hanipa Nabi (left), a villager from Altay, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region who has joined embroidery sessions offered by a local foreign trade company, makes embroidery works at home, March 26, 2020. (Photo by Aldak/People's Daily Online)

China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region has achieved remarkable progress in poverty alleviation since 2012, thanks to the high importance attached by the central government on poverty reduction, as well as its efforts made to advance relocation, education, infrastructure, affordable housing projects, drinking water safety and ecology in the region and its border areas.

The central budget's transfer payments to Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps expanded from 263.69 billion yuan ($40.73 billion) to 422.48 billion yuan from 2014 to 2019. The annual growth was 10.4 percent. A total of over 2 trillion yuan has been distributed to the autonomous region, and the southern part of it enjoyed preferential support.

According to an announcement issued by the autonomous region on Nov. 14, 2020, all 3.09 million impoverished residents in Xinjiang have been lifted out of poverty. In addition, 3,666 villages and 32 counties were removed from the poverty list.

"Farming usually stopped in winter, so I barely had anything to do but to stay at home during this season before. This winter, however, I'm working at a factory near my house. I can not only make money, but also take care of my family at the same time. It's really great," said Maregul Hapiz, a registered impoverished resident from Xinhe county, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The woman now works at a local factory that produces flexible container bags. She goes to work every day after sending her child to school in the morning. The job has significantly increased the income of her family.

As a core region of the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang enjoys geographical advantages and rich resources, which lays a solid foundation for development. Based on the actual conditions in the autonomous region, the Chinese government tailored special policies to develop industries there, taking industrial development and employment as a critical part of the poverty alleviation efforts. The autonomous region created 450,000 new jobs each year on average, and the average annual relocation of surplus rural labor was more than 2.7 million people.

With a broad territory and a sparse population, Xinjiang saw an urgent need to enhance its infrastructure for better poverty alleviation. The central government also supports the autonomous region in developing transportation, water conservancy and power grid infrastructure projects, and remarkable achievements have been made in this regard.

As of the end of 2019, the total operational railway mileage in the autonomous region reached 6,900 kilometers, connecting all 14 districts, prefectures and cities there. In addition, all districts, prefectures and cities is connected to expressways. Three airports were newly put into use, making the number of civil airports in the region from 16 in 2014 to 21.

A total of 77.3 billion yuan was invested by the central government in Xinjiang's water conservancy projects. Sixteen projects were listed as major projects of water saving and supply of the country, and all of them are under construction. For instance, the Altash Water Conservancy Project in the southern prefecture of Kashgar has solved the inundation of the Yarkand River, benefiting 2.4 million residents along the river.

Since 2014, 640 million yuan has been invested to upgrade Xinjiang's power grid. Besides, the installed capacity of renewable energy in the autonomous region totaled 37.53 GW, accounting for 38.7 percent of the region's total installed capacity.

The education expenditure in Xinjiang's general public budget reached 86.29 billion yuan in 2019, up 50.37 percent from that in 2014. Schools at different levels and of different kinds are now better facilitated, and the enrollment rate at all ages is on a steady rise.

From 2014 to 2019, the autonomous region completed 1.69 million affordable housing projects in rural areas, and 1.56 million in urban areas, accommodating over 10 million residents. In addition, drinking water safety has been constantly improved. More than 4.62 million farmers and herdsmen there now have access to safe drinking water.

Xinjiang also enhanced its construction of urban and rural basic medical insurance network, achieving phased progress in the reform of the medicine and healthcare system. All of its township hospitals and village health centers are now standardized. The essential drugs system basically covers all of the autonomous region. The basic medical insurance for non-working urban residents and the new type of rural cooperative medical care were integrated. The autonomous county also joined a national network of basic medical insurance that supports cross-province real-time reimbursement from basic medical insurance.

Now a 2,485-kilometer natural gas pipeline project is put into use in the Tarim Basin, providing over 2 million cubic meters of natural gas for millions of residents in southern Xinjiang.

Pair assistance also contributed to Xinjiang's social and economic development. Between 2014 and 2019, 19 provinces in China enhanced their assistance to the autonomous region, offering 96.4 billion yuan for Xinjiang and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Over 10,000 aiding projects have been implemented.

Enterprises across China invested a total of over 1.68 trillion yuan in Xinjiang. Central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) invested more than 700 billion yuan and completed construction contracts of over 200 billion yuan. The central SOEs created more than 300,000 jobs for local communities.
JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh said that the students were demanding the reopening of campuses and timely disbursement of fellowships

New Delhi: Over half a dozen student activists were detained on Thursday for protesting in front of the Ministry of Education here to press for reopening of university campuses and timely disbursement of fellowships, among other demands.

"SFI Activists detained in front of MHRD for demanding- Re-opening Campuses Immediately, Stop Increasing Digital Divide, Timely Disbursement Fellowship, Scholarships, Stop Diluting the Reservation Policy, Ensure Proper Counselling for addressing mental health issues," Jawaharlal Nehru University president Aishe Ghosh tweeted.

The members of the Left-affiliated Student Federation of India (SFI) were detained by the Delhi Police. A senior police officer said around 15 members of the SFI had gathered in front of MHRD here.

"At least seven-eight of them have been detained and taken to Mandir Marg police station," he added.

Similar demands were also raised in a memorandum submitted to the chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) by the All India Students' Association (AISA) and Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union (JNUSU).

The student bodies said students from worker, peasant and marginalised communities were adversely affected by lack of resources and "unequal distribution", "with women students suffering even more".

"As the COVID-19 -enforced lockdown comes to completes one year, the emergency mode of digital education threatens to become a normalcy. This mode of teaching and learning has left a vast majority of students behind and their education prospects in want.

"Half the students in almost all batches are unable to join the classes, while many others face difficulties in finding online reading material, especially in Hindi," they said.

The letter, undersigned by AISA general secretary Prasenjeet Kumar and JNUSU general secretary Satish Chandra Yadav, demanded reopening of all the universities and colleges.

"Whether it be through deferred classes, divide in shifts or scrapping of necessary attendance, the need of the hour for the students is the immediate reopening of all educational campuses," the memorandum read.

The student leaders also demanded disbursement of all pending scholarships, proper implementation of reservations and affirmative action policies in all universities and colleges, adequate aids of internet and laptops to all students in need, waiving of all tuition/hostel fee for the lockdown duration, uniform access to Hindi reading material, and one year extension to all research scholars.
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NORWALK  City police are rolling out measures aimed at increasing accountability in the department following the arrest of two officers earlier this month.

One of the largest initiatives is the creation of a new position that will oversee Professional Standards for Compliance and Accountability for the department, according to Norwalk Police Chief Tom Kulhawik.

On Jan. 1  three days before the arrest of officers Michael DiMeglio and Sara Laudano  the department appointed Lt. Paul Resnick, a 37-year police veteran, to the newly created position.

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media

Resnick did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

The new role will assist in conducting a variety of inspections and reviews related to officer accountability and compliance, Kulhawik said.

Despite the timing, Kulhawik said the position had been a topic of discussion inside the department for some time and was not specifically a result of the alleged conduct of DiMeglio and Laudano.

We are always examining our policies, procedures and practices based upon events that occur here, as well as events that occur elsewhere in Connecticut and the nation, he said. We are constantly examining if there are ways where we can improve and when we see those, we implement those changes.

DiMeglio and Laudano were arrested on Jan. 4 on accusations that they were drinking and driving while on duty in October. The two were eventually tracked to a local hotel, where they were found not in a condition to respond to calls for service, according to police.

The department is also looking at making a series of upgrades to their police cruisers.

First, the department is looking to change vendors for its vehicle location tracking services. Kulhawik said the current system has been experiencing issues, and a shift in provider would allow cruisers to be tracked more accurately.

Vehicle tracking played a pivotal role in the departments investigation into DiMeglio and Laudano.

According to an arrest warrant, police showed that Laudanos cruiser sat stationary for nearly four hours in the rear parking lot of High Road School, despite calls for service. Police later recovered multiple discarded beer bottles from the scene that were later tied to Laudano and DiMeglio through DNA testing, the warrant read.

In addition to enhanced location tracking, the department is also looking to purchase dash cams for its frontline vehicles  as required under last years Police Accountability Bill  as well as accompanying equipment that would link body and dash cams together so that when one is activated, the other will automatically turn on.

Police are looking into a device that automatically activates body and dash cameras whenever a firearm is drawn as well.

We felt this was an area we could improve on, Kulhawik said.

In addition to some of the more substantive changes being considered, Kulhawik said the department is revisiting a bygone protocol.

Officers working the overnight shift are now subject to hourly radio checks, which Kulhawik said can increase officer safety as well as accountability.

This had been common practice years back and we have decided to return to it, given the lower call volume during the overnight hours, he said.
The Department of Health and Human Services logo in Washington on Jan. 28, 2020. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

Federal Court Blocks Obamacare Mandate Forcing Doctors to Perform Transgender Surgery

A federal court has ruled to protect some doctors and health care providers from being penalized for refusing to perform gender transition procedures on the grounds of religious belief.

In a decision a day before Joe Biden took the oath of office, United States District Court Chief Judge Peter D. Welte from North Dakota granted a request to block the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from enforcing an Obamacare mandate that compels medical professionals and healthcare providers to perform gender transition services.

In 2016, the HHS issued a rule interpreting Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which prohibits certain forms of discrimination in healthcare, including sex discrimination.

The rule prohibited insurers and third party administrations from offering or administer health plans with gender-transition exclusions. The regulation also prohibited a healthcare provider from refusing to offer medical services for gender transitions if that provider offered comparable services to others.

The rule did not provide an exemption for religious grounds, arguing that Title IXs religious exemptions only apply to an educational context. The department at the time also argued that a blanket religious exemption could result in a denial or delay in the provision of health care to individuals and in discouraging individuals from seeking necessary care.

The department instead explained that it would consider religious exemptions on an individualized case-by-case basis for claims under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

An order of Catholic nuns, a Catholic university, and Catholic healthcare organizations challenged the mandate under the RFRA, while the state of North Dakota joined the lawsuit to challenge the mandate under a federal law known as the Administrative Procedure Act that governs rulemaking by administrative agencies.

The mandate was previously put on hold by a federal judge in North Dakota and was struck down in 2019 by another federal court in Texas. Under the Trump administration, HHS passed a new rule aimed at walking back the mandate. However, the 2020 rule was blocked by separate challenges in other courts.

Welte said in his decision that the plaintiffs have shown an entitlement for injunctive relief, saying that a violation under the RFRA is comparable to the deprivation of a First Amendment right.

The Catholic healthcare entities refusal to perform or cover gender-transition procedures is predicated on an exercise of their religious beliefs protected by the First Amendment, Welte said (pdf).

Absent an injunction, [plantiffs] will either be forced to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs by performing and covering gender-transition procedures or to incur severe monetary penalties for refusing to comply,' he added.

Attorney Luke Goodrich, senior counsel at Becket, a religious organization representing the plaintiffs, said the courts decision recognizes our medical heroes right to practice medicine in line with their conscience and without politically motivated interference from government bureaucrats.

These religious doctors and hospitals provide top-notch medical care to all patients for everything from cancer to the common cold, Goodrich said in a statement.

All theyre asking is that they be allowed to continue serving their patients as theyve done for decades, without being forced to perform controversial, medically unsupported procedures that are against their religious beliefs and potentially harmful to their patients. The Constitution and federal law require no less.

During his campaign, Biden had vowed to push LGBTQ rights as part of his agenda, including coverage for care related to gender transitioning and surgery. He signed an executive order on his first day as president to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual discrimination.

Xavier Becerra, who has been tapped by Biden to lead the HHS, had previously argued in favor of using taxpayers money to provide transgender individuals in North Carolina with coverage for gender transitioning surgery and treatment.

Some religious liberty advocates and people of faith are worried that the religious freedom protections implemented by the Trump administration could be rolled back under a Biden administration.

New Delhi, Jan 21 : The meeting between farmer leaders and Delhi Police officials on the issue of the tractor march on January 26 remained inconclusive. The meeting was held at the Mantram Resort on Thursday.

Now, another meeting is expected to be held on Friday.

However, the farmers will discuss all these issues among themselves first, for which a joint Kisan Morcha meeting will be held at the Singhu border. By Thursday evening it is expected that the farmers will unveil their strategy in front of everyone.

The meeting was attended by Delhi Police's Special CP (Law and Order) Sanjay Singh, Special CP (Intelligence) Dipendra Pathak, Joint CP S.S. Yadav and two additional DCPs of the Delhi Police, besides senior officers of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana Police. Darshan Pal, Yogendra Yadav, Yudhveer Singh and other farmer leaders attended the meeting on behalf of the farmer organisations.

Yogendra Yadav said, "While the farmers are adamant to parade on Ring Road, the Delhi Police is not ready to accept our demand. The rally will be held in a peaceful manner. The reputation of the festival of public will remain." "Millions of farmers from across the country have left for this parade, we cannot stop them." In the meeting, the Delhi Police had suggested that the farmers take out tractor parades on the KMP (Kundli-Manesar-Palwal) and KGP (Kundli-Ghaziabad-Palwal) highway outside Delhi. However, the farmers rejected this proposal.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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First Lady Jill Biden cut a stylish figure in a cherry red dress and a matching mask while watching a virtual inauguration prayer service with her family on Thursday in the State Dining Room at the White House.

The 69-year-old educator and her husband, President Joe Biden, were joined by their daughter Ashley and their grandchildren, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff, after celebrating the inauguration the night before.

Mrs. Biden continued to champion American designers in her fit-and-flare dress by Brandon Maxwell, which featured elbow-length sleeves and a hem that hit right below her knees.

Virtual event: First Lady Jill Biden donned a fit-and-flair red dress to watch the inauguration prayer service with her family in the State Dining Room at the White House on Thursday

Ready for business: Vice President Kamala Harris, 56, looked sleek in a calf-length burgundy coat and a matching dress, which she wore with sheer black tights and heels

Classic: Ashley Biden, 39, and her husband Howard Krein sat behind her parents, with the First Daughter opting for a sophisticated white silk blouse and black pants

She broke up the monochromatic look with a pair of classic nude pumps. As an added touch, she donned a long, layered pearl necklace, a gold watch, and a mix of pearl and gold bracelets.

While she stood out in red, her husband started his first day on the job in a bipartisan purple tie  a mix of Democrat blue and Republican red.

Vice President Harris, 56, looked sleek in a calf-length burgundy coat and a matching dress by American designer Prabal Gurung, which she paired with sheer black tights and heels. Harris topped off the look with a black mask and a black pearl necklace.

The attorney's signature pearls represent her Howard University sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), the first African American Greek-letter sorority.

Style star: The Bidens' granddaughter Finnegan, 20, wore a short-sleeve black dress featuring a black and white striped collar and a red sequin design at the shoulder

Siblings: The late Beau Biden's children Natalie and Robert 'Hunter' Biden II were seated together behind their cousin Finnegan

Thoughtful choice: President Biden started his first day on the job in a bipartisan purple tie, a mix of Democrat blue and Republican red

Cautious: The Washington National Cathedral hosted a live-streamed prayer service at 10:00 a.m. Thursday rather than the in-person service like in past years

Stopping the spread: They wore masks and were socially distanced at the service held in the State Dining Room

The founders of AKA are often referred to as the 'Twenty Pearls,' according to Town & Country, and Harris has worn a pearl necklace on important occasions in her life since graduating from the historically black university.

Ashley Biden, 39, and her husband Howard Krein sat behind her parents, with the First Daughter opting for a sophisticated white silk blouse and black pants.

And while they were undoubtedly up late the night before, some of the Bidens' grandchildren were also present at the service.

Hunter Biden's daughter Finnegan sat directly behind her grandmother Jill wearing a short-sleeve black dress featuring a black and white striped collar and a red sequin design at the shoulder.

All eyes on her: Mrs. Biden dazzled in an ocean blue tweed coat and dress by New York-based designer Alexandra O'Neill, the founder and creative director of Markarian, at the inauguration

Stylish statement: Harris looked elegant in a purple coat and dress by black designer Christopher John Rogers when she arrived at the inauguration at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday

Looks: Biden and his family made a stylish statement while posing in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln last night (from left): Son-in-law Howard, granddaughters Natalie and Maisy, daughter Ashley, wife Jill, granddaughters Finnegan and Naomi, and grandson Hunter

Fashion files: Naomi, President Biden's eldest grandchild, looked elegant in purple. During the day she donned a chic all-white ensemble, a nod to the color worn by the Suffragettes

Her light brown hair was parted to the side and pulled back in an elegant bun. She stuck with all black accessories down to her painted nails and mask.

The late Beau Biden's children Natalie and Robert 'Hunter' Biden II were seated together behind their cousin Finnegan.

Natalie, 16, donned a black dress and nude heels, while young Hunter had on a suit jacket and red and navy striped tie paired with khakis.

The Washington National Cathedral hosted a live-streamed prayer service at 10:00 a.m. Thursday rather than the in-person service like in past years. They wore masks and were socially distanced at the service held in the State Dining Room.

Glittering: Finnegan wore a $1,995 coral dress by Markarian. Her grandmother Jill also sported a custom outfit from the New York-based brand during the day's ceremony

Personal touch: Promising athlete Maisy Biden added a pair of trainers to her $1,575 Rodarte cocktail dress last night

Pink perfection: Natalie's custom sherbet pink look from New York City-based brand Lafayette 148 (pictured)went viral and won praise from fashion watchers

Golden girl: She changed into a glittering $1,750 gold sequin Makarian gold corset dress to complement her cousin Finnegan

President Biden's granddaughters are already poised to become the White House fashionistas to watch following their show-stopping appearance at the inauguration yesterday.

Sisters Naomi, 27, Finnegan, 20, Maisy Biden, 19, and their cousin Natalie have been hailed 'style icons' by industry insiders and social media users thanks to their glamorous ensembles.

The young women were the picture of elegance in chic coats as they joined their family to support their 'pop' as he was sworn in, before slipping into stylish looks for the evening festivities.

Despite their privileged upbringing, the Biden granddaughters are no strangers to struggle and loss. Naomi, Finnegan, and Maisy have all watched their father Hunter face high-profile scandals, including his drug use, while Natalie and young Hunter lost their father Beau to brain cancer in 2015.

The foursome, who are extremely close, played an active part in President Biden's campaign and, if last night's appearance is anything to go by, they could spend more time in the spotlight now that he's in the White House.

(Natural News) Social media giant Twitters shares dropped by 12 percent on Monday, Jan. 11, after the company banned former President Donald Trump and other conservatives from their platform. The companys shares dropped after the market opened, reaching a low of $45.17.

According to Twitter, it had removed Trumps account on Friday because some of the presidents recent posts were seen as glorifying violence. The move echoed statements made by critics who have attempted to connect Trumps rhetoric with the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 7.

In response, Trump accused Twitter of coordinating with the Democrats and the Radical Left to remove his account from their platform.

In addition to Trump, Twitter had also banned other prominent conservatives including election lawyer Sidney Powell and former national security advisor Michael Flynn. At the same time, a number of other users, who werent banned, also left the platform, such as radio hosts Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin.

Some conservatives still on the platform have called for a shift to Parler, a Twitter alternative that has since gone offline after Amazon Web Services refused to continue hosting its servers. Others have fled to Gab, another Twitter competitor, whos userbase has been skyrocketing since the bans.

Stock price drop comes as fears of further regulation surface

The drop in Twitters stock price comes amid concerns from investors about possible future regulation. Some are worried that the companys actions could reignite legislation to revoke Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act  legislation that protects internet companies from liability for content users post.

Not only has Trump voiced his disdain for Section 230, but politicians on both sides of the aisle have also complained about it. (Related: Trump reiterates need for Section 230 immunity protections to be stripped from Big Tech.)

While a Democratic administration may be less focused on significant reform of Section 230, recent events may make content legislation more likely, stated BofA Securities analysts in a note to clients. That said, the firm still reiterated its positive rating on the stock.

We would anticipate new proposed legislation in Congress on Social Media content given recent events, the analysts wrote. But note content concerns are not new and we think that new laws will provide social media companies with better guidelines and less uncertainty.

At the same time, analysts from Bernstein stated that more regulatory activity was likely.

Other social media sites and services also move to censor Trump and pro-Trump speech

Twitter wasnt the only social media platform to take a harder-line stance against Trump and other conservative accounts.

Facebook recently banned Trump for at least two weeks while also banning any mention of the phrase stop the steal. Following this shares of Facebook sank as much as 4.5 percent. The slide saw $33.6 billion erased from Facebooks market capitalization.

Other services that have been Trumps accounts include Snapchat, Twitch, Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube. Other services, such as Reddit, Discord and Pinterest have banned pro-Trump account or blocked groups and topics related to Trump and Stop the Steal. Meanwhile, Stripe has stated that it will stop processing payments for Trumps campaign while Shopify has taken down stores affiliated with Trump.

Meanwhile, some of these companies have also targetted other services that continue to allow conservative and pro-Trump voices. Amazon Web Services recently stopped providing cloud services to social media app Parler. The latter had attracted a lot of conservatives who had become disenfranchised by Twitter. In addition, Google and Apple both pulled Parlers app from their storefronts while user authentication service provider Okta pulled Parlers free trial of their product.

But it has yet to be seen if these companies will experience the same stock price drops as Twitter and Facebook.

Follow BigTech.news for more on how Silicon Valley is working to silence conservatives.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Finance.Yahoo.com

CBBC.com

Markets.BusinessInsider.com
Newly sworn-in US President Joe Biden warned the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is still to come, as the number of American deaths due to Covid-19 surpassed the country's troop fatalities in World War II.

Biden was expected Thursday to unveil his administration's plans to tackle the coronavirus crisis, as he starts his first full day in the White House with America confronting a slew of challenges.

Covid-19 cases have surged past 96 million worldwide, fuelled by the emergence of the new strain of the killer virus, including one that was first detected in Britain, and has now spread to over 60 nations, the World Health Organization has said.

America remains the worst-hit country, with around a fifth of the two million global coronavirus deaths, and Joe Biden has made the fight against the pandemic his administration's top priority.

"We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter. We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus," Biden said at his inauguration, where those in attendance wore face masks and social distancing was enforced.

A Johns Hopkins University tracker on Wednesday showed that 405,400 people have died from the disease, more than the 405,399 total US combat and non-combat deaths in WWII.

Among the Biden administration's targets is to inoculate 100 million Americans in 100 days, hoping to revive a vaccine rollout that had floundered in the last weeks of the Trump presidency.

E-commerce titan Amazon on Wednesday offered its vast logistics infrastructure to help with that effort.

Biden's point-man for fighting the pandemic, Jeff Zients, said the US would also rejoin the WHO, reversing his predecessor's decision.

He added that top US expert Anthony Fauci would lead a delegation to the WHO executive board meeting on Thursday.

- 'A war zone' -

The announcement came as the WHO confirmed that the virus variant first detected in Britain had spread to more than 60 countries, while one that emerged in South Africa has made it to 23.

The South African variant is more contagious than earlier ones, experts have warned.

Both have tempered optimism that mass vaccination will help to end the unpopular restrictions such as shutdowns that have wrecked economies around the world.

There was some good news, however, with early results from two studies on the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine showing it is effective against the British variant, which is fuelling a surge that has overwhelmed UK hospitals.

"When you go into a hospital... in some cases it looks like a war zone," the British government's chief scientist, Patrick Vallance, told Sky News.

Britain is mounting a massive vaccination drive, that has involved the repurposing of all kinds of large buildings -- including Salisbury Cathedral, where thousands of elderly people are receiving shots.

Two musicians worked in shifts throughout the day on its 19th-century organ, playing soothing pieces by composers including Bach and Dvorak.

"It's quite a scary thing to be going through -- the thought of the disease and what it can do to families and people," said Jeanie Grant, who had brought her 98-year-old father to the cathedral for his shot.

"(So) to actually come to a building that has seen so much history and is still serving a beautiful purpose for the community, I think it's very special."

- 'No one needs to panic' -

There are concerns, however, that rich nations are hogging doses -- of the 50 nations that have started vaccination campaigns, 40 are high-income, according to WHO assistant director-general Mariangela Simao.

But Simao said efforts were underway to ensure access for all.

"No one needs to panic, because you're going to get a vaccine," she said.

The WHO co-led Covax facility, a globally-pooled vaccine procurement and distribution effort has struck agreements with five manufacturers for two billion vaccine doses.

The urgency to be vaccinated wasn't being felt everywhere, however.

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan plans to vaccinate its entire population, but not until after March 13 because the period before has been deemed "inauspicious".

The shots will start after that, the prime minister's office said, adding that it was "important we roll out the nationwide vaccination on an auspicious date."

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Over the last couple of months, the world has observed a relatively surprising picture: a kind and gentle Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He is ready to embrace Israel, declare the future of Turkey in the European Union (EU), talk to the Saudi king on the phone and cheer for the end of the blockade against Qatar, even biting his tongue against his favorite enemy, Syrian President Bashar al Assad. In preparation for the new US administration, Erdogan is trying to play nice with all around him.

In the meantime, he is also visiting senior officials from smaller opposition parties to expand the coalition for the 2023 election. Although opposition strongly argues an early election is inevitable, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) so far has insisted elections for the presidency and the parliament will be held in 2023 as scheduled.

Erdogan, meanwhile, is not hiding his willingness to expand the election coalition. To get 51% of votes in the new system his own administration designed, he is obliged to seek new political allies however insignificant their vote share might be. Erdogan and his allies are also contemplating altering the current electoral rules to continue their incumbency.

Erdogan has again started calling multiple groups terrorists in the meantime, just like he had done before municipal elections in March 2019 and national elections in June 2018. On the target this time around are the second and third largest political parties and their members, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) and the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), respectively.

Kemal Kilicdaroglu, chairman of the CHP, referred to Erdogan as a so-called president in one of his speeches. His goal was to highlight that against the oath Erdogan took as Turkish president, he also still maintains the AKP chairman position. Erdogan got angry about the phrase "so-called." For weeks, he and his deputies criticized Kilicdaroglu for disrespecting the nations will. Finally, Erdogans attorneys filed a lawsuit against Kilicdaroglu for 1 million liras in damages.

During the protests at Bogazici University, the CHPs Istanbul chair, Canan Kaftancioglu, was present to support the students. Erdogan was furious about that and claimed that she belongs to terrorist groups. He also branded the protestors at the college as not students but terrorists.

Erdogans fury is not just limited to declaring the opposition as terrorists, though. He also referred to headscarf-wearing members of the CHP as window dressing, indicating once more that pious Turks should not belong to left-leaning political parties.

Erdogan repeated his reference to jailed HDP chairman Selahattin Demirtas as a terrorist after the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Demirtas should be released immediately. These allegations are not just words; there was a flurry of probes in December and more in January against the HDP deputies. Today, all HDP members are being probed. The next step is to remove the immunity of a lawmaker, paving the way to prosecution and then, most likely, imprisonment.

Why is Erdogan incensed against so many groups in Turkey?

Baskin Oran, professor emeritus of international relations at Ankara University, told Al-Monitor, Of course, AKP and MHP worry they will miss this historic opportunity to realize their counter-revolution. Erdogan is angry in part because it is his nature, in part because he needs to show that determination to keep his supporters.

Based on my discussions with Oran and other scholars, there are three main reasons behind Erdogans gradually brewing anger.

Erdogan won the presidency in 2018 with a coalition of ultranationalists and other small right-wing parties support. Since then, his popularity has gradually declined. Director of Eurasia Public Opinion Research Center Kemal Ozkiraz published his agencys first 2021 findings on Jan 14. Ozkirazs detailed report, in line with others, highlights that although Erdogan is in the lead against political party leaders, there are two mayors who have been taking the lead from Erdogan. One is Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas; the other is Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

AKP officials have struggled to contain the opposition mayors' successful projects and curtail their legal powers. Sometimes their efforts are futile. For example, when Imamoglu secured a second grant from the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) to minimize Istanbuls traffic congestion, the pro-government press presented the deal as Istanbuls data is sold to the USA for a second time. What the news diligently ignored was the fact that Gaziantep Municipality, whose mayor is Fatma Sahin, a well-known AKP politician, received a similar grant from the USTDA before Imamoglu and Sahins deal was celebrated as a victory.

The growing popularity of two mayors is a crucial concern for Erdogan. Despite all the gaslighting and smearing campaigns, these two mayors serve over 21 million people combined (1/4 of the Turkish population) and provide solutions to people in need. For example, Imamoglus struggle to rent more stores to sell subsidized bread for months has been blocked by the government. Then Imamoglu decided to employ food trucks to distribute the bread in most needy neighborhoods. The city-subsidized bread is half the cost of regular bread.

Growing economic despair is the second reason why Erdogan is so angry. While megaprojects and lavish government spending such as new palaces continue, unemployment and poverty are skyrocketing in Turkey. About 60% of those employed earn minimum wage or below, and 36% of the population is below the hunger threshold.

The minimum wage is about $380 a month. Although the government increased the minimum wage in December, opposition mayors have managed to set the minimum wage for their workers higher. In Konya province, known as the heart of pious Muslims, there is only one CHP municipality and the wages of all workers were increased more than to $600 a month. The AKPs quixotic battle to contain opposition mayors sometimes generates unintended consequences. For example, in the province of Bolu, the CHP municipalitys attempt to build a mosque was vetoed by the AKP. The constituents become collateral damage as the priority of AKP members seems to be discrediting opposition mayors rather than serving the public.

The last reason for Erdogans anger is the dwindling public trust in the AKPs competency and the governments desperation against growing leaderless resistance. In the last year, every step of pandemic management has become a fiasco from face mask delivery to vaccine quality and stocks.

The attempt to control every social media post without shutting down the services is an uphill battle for Ankara. Erdogans angry outbursts are the only shield left to keep the pretense of well-functioning, competent governance.

The more power Erdogan has grabbed over the media, judiciary and legislature, the worse the quality of life has become for people in Turkey. The promised benefits of the presidential system have not trickled down to the general population. If the AKPs strategy was to disrupt, discredit and divide, it may fail this time as target populations are simply too exhausted and hungry.
By Junko Horiuchi, KYODO NEWS - Jan 21, 2021 - 09:36 | Others

As Japan cautiously awaits new U.S. President Joe Biden's policy on trade, expectations are that the new administration will continue to prioritize the protection of U.S. jobs and industries, whether it opts to return to the Trans-Pacific Partnership or resume bilateral negotiations.

Trade talks are likely to differ substantially in style compared to those under his predecessor Donald Trump, with a new focus on multilateralism, but Biden is still likely to push for greater market access and make tough demands on trade partners to revive a U.S. economy hit by the coronavirus pandemic, analysts said.

Even if trade negotiations, especially those with Japan, are low on the agenda in the initial stage of the Biden administration, Japan will eventually face pressures in areas such as autos and agriculture when negotiations resume, they said.

"It is better to put off trade negotiations with the United States for as long as possible when you think about farmers in Japan," said a Japanese government source, since the United States was granted greater access to Japan's agriculture market under a deal that took effect in January 2020.

Under the agreement, Washington won a reduction in tariffs on American farm products such as beef and pork, while Tokyo escaped higher duties on Japanese cars that Trump had threatened to impose on national security grounds.

Japan touted the deal as "balanced" and "win-win" because Washington agreed to continue talks over Tokyo's demand that it scrap tariffs on Japanese cars, but critics say it has only benefited the U.S. and left Japan with little room for maneuver.

Japan and the United States, the world's third-largest and biggest economies, agreed in October 2019 when the two nations signed the deal to continue negotiations for a more comprehensive trade agreement covering services and investment -- the "phase two" talks.

Whether the Biden administration will resume these talks with Japan remains unclear. Even if he opts for a return to the TPP -- from which Trump withdrew the United States in 2017 -- it is likely Biden will demand that Japan renegotiate some aspects of the deal in specific trade areas.

Biden served as vice president under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, who pushed for the then 12-member TPP as a way to reduce China's influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Junichi Sugawara, a senior research officer at the Mizuho Research Institute, says that any trade talks with the Biden administration would be launched in the fall at the earliest as he would first focus on raising the competitiveness of domestic industries.

"Biden in principle shares the 'America First' mantra with Trump, so even if he does not use provocative and high-handed Trump-like methods, he will urge Japan to further open up its market and make harsh demands," Sugawara said.

"Moreover, Biden may even make new demands on environmental and labor standards, which are valued by the Democrats," he said, adding that U.S. pressure on Japan to coordinate with Washington on its anti-China policy may also increase at the same time.

"Unfortunately, there will be no change in the fact that Japan will need to engage in a difficult balancing act between the United States and China," Sugawara said. Despite political and security tensions, Japan values its economic relations with China, its biggest trading partner.

Takashi Terada, a professor of international relations at Doshisha University, said even if Biden opts to return to the TPP, it will not be a smooth comeback and Japan will probably still need to make concessions in the agricultural sector.

Either way, he said, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will need to think carefully about whether his administration can survive if the United States pressures Japan to make more concessions in agricultural trade, especially as a lower house election will need to be called by October 2021.

"How to proceed with trade talks with the United States links directly to his strategy of when to dissolve the House of Representatives," Terada said.

"Undoubtedly, some ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers supported by the agricultural sector will be reluctant to go into an election after or in the middle of the Japan-U.S. trade talks," he said.

Given that Tokyo has already given Washington what it most wanted -- cutting tariffs on pork and beef -- Sugawara said Suga, who took office in September last year, will be left with little to bargain with in the forthcoming trade negotiations.

"Japan is set to urge the United States to scrap 2.5 percent auto tariffs, but I think it is absolutely impossible because they both see the revival of domestic industries, including automobiles, as a top priority in the policy agenda," Sugawara said.

"The upcoming trade talks could turn disastrous, with Japan having no cards to play but seeking to win what the United States wants to protect the most," he said, referring to the auto sector.

Toshiki Takahashi, chief economist at the Institute for International Trade and Investment in Tokyo, said as U.S. pressure on Japan is expected to be strong, Japan needs to raise its leverage by boosting ties with countries it has forged trade deals with, namely the members of the TPP and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

The RCEP free trade deal, grouping 15 Asia-Pacific nations including China and South Korea and covering half of world trade, was signed in November after eight years of negotiations.

A senior Foreign Ministry diplomat said the China-backed RCEP agreement will make Washington feel pressured into joining a multilateral trade framework, such as the TPP, as it will become concerned that China is taking the lead in regional partnerships in Asia.

While Biden was preparing for the U.S. presidential transition in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping surprised trade negotiators and experts by showing an eagerness to join the TPP at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum held the same month.

The move was largely seen as Beijing's attempt to increase its clout in the Asia-Pacific region during a power vacuum in Asia created by the transition.

"Japan needs to show off its reputation as a country leading free trade negotiations and increase its value as a reliable partner that can act as a bridge to countries that the United States wants to cooperate with," Takahashi said.

==Kyodo
Thousands of Israelis followed the inauguration of US President Joe Biden on TV yesterday, many of them wondering what positions will the new administration adopt on the Middle East. Secretary of state nominee Antony Blinken confirmed Jan. 20 that the new administration will continue to consider Jerusalem the capital of Israel and that the embassy there will not be relocated. Bidens people also related throughout the election campaign that the new president intends to relaunch talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

With this information in mind, Jerusalem now faces another challenge. On Friday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that legislative and presidential elections would be held in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Three days after the announcement, on Jan. 19, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said the Palestinian Authority is set to formally request that Israel allow east Jerusalem Palestinians to participate in the scheduled elections.

Abbas' announcement was hailed by the international community. The European Union stated that it "stands ready to engage with relevant actors to support the electoral process. The EU also calls on Israeli authorities to facilitate the holding of elections across all the Palestinian territory." UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was more explicit, saying, The holding of elections in the occupied West Bank, including east Jerusalem, and Gaza will be a crucial step towards Palestinian unity.

The Israeli leadership has issued no reactions at all  neither formal nor informal  to Abbas' words. Israeli analysts expect the move to be welcomed by the White House, as an important step on advancing democracy in the Palestinian territories. If and when that happens, Israel will be forced to formulate its stance on the issue of elections in east Jerusalem as well as Palestinian elections in general. But until that happens, Israel is staying quiet.

There are several reasons for the silence, such as the possibility of Hamas winning the elections. Then there is the issue of east Jerusalem. In the 2006 elections, Israel was reluctant to allow Palestinians residing in east Jerusalem to vote. After pressure from the United States, Israel agreed to allow a limited number of Palestinians residing there to vote after registering with the police. Palestinian candidates for the legislative elections were allowed to campaign in east Jerusalem so long as they did not belong to armed groups like Hamas.

The situation today is very different from that of 2006. Analysts in Israel estimate that Hamas' rule in the Gaza Strip is all but irreversible and expect its representatives to do well in the West Bank. The US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which also seems permanent, means that there is no danger of Palestinian elections there being interpreted as a Palestinian hold on the city. For Israel, allowing east Jerusalem Palestinians to vote could be used as leverage if and when talks with the Palestinians are relaunched. Its a much easier card for Israel to use than any territorial concessions in the West Bank. The Palestinians' decision last November to resume security cooperation with Israel could push Jerusalem in that direction.

Still, Israel's decision on east Jerusalem is likely to depend on assessments of whether holding elections there will significantly benefit Hamas. One factor is the growing involvement in east Jerusalem of Turkey, where Hamas has found a safe haven. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has made several statements in the past years about Jerusalem and the Palestinians. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Association has invested great sums in Palestinian schools in east Jerusalem and in the restoration of the Old City. This body is also engaged with east Jerusalem associations that provide food for the needy and supports Palestinian entrepreneurs there. For Israel, the Turkish involvement in east Jerusalem is tantamount to Hamas increasing its influence there.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she isnt abandoning a German-Russian gas pipeline project that faces U.S. sanctions, although its likely to be an irritant in generally improved relations with the new administration.

"I am saying today that ... my basic attitude has not yet changed in such a way that I would say that the project shouldnt happen," Merkel added.

"We will of course speak with the new American administration," she said. "But we must also talk about what economic relationships with Russia in the gas sector are acceptable and what arent. And its not as if there were absolutely no trade relations between the United States of America and Russia in the oil sector, for example."

She reiterated Germanys objections to "extraterritorial sanctions," The AP reported.

In general, Merkel said that "there is simply a much broader political overlap with President Biden" than with predecessor Donald Trump. But she said there will still be differences.

Gazprom says that 6% of the pipeline, or about 150 km, remains to be completed and insisted that it intends to complete the project soon - though it has acknowledged theres a risk the project could be suspended or canceled.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / Victory Resources Corporation (CSE:VR)(FWB:VR61)(OTC PINK:VRCFF) ("Victory" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to $500,000 by the issuance of units at $0.075, each unit consisting of one common share and one warrant entitling the holder to subscribe for one additional common share at $0.08 for 2 years, subject to the right of the Company to accelerate expiry of the warrants in the event that its shares trade at $0.15 for a period of 10 trading days, including days on which there was no trading.

The Company intends to use the proceeds for general working capital, acquisitions and work programs on the Company's existing exploration properties in Nevada and British Columbia, and any additional properties the Company may acquire.

For further information, please contact:

David Lane, President

Telephone: +1 (236) 317 2822

E-mail: IR@victoryresourcescorp.com

About Victory Resources Corporation

VICTORY RESOURCES CORPORATION (CSE: VR) (FWB: VR61) (OTC: VRCFF) is a publicly traded diversified investment corporation with mineral interests in North America. The company is also currently seeking other exploration opportunities, preferably in Canada.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

SOURCE: Victory Resources Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625393/Victory-Resources-Announces-Financing
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An international expert team from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in China on Jan. 14 and remains quarantined in Wuhan, a health official said on Wednesday.





The WHO expert team and Chinese scientists will advance the origin-tracing of the novel coronavirus in an orderly manner based on a mandate confirmed last July, said Mi Feng, a National Health Commission spokesperson, at a press conference.





Chinese and foreign specialists have convened video conferences to formulate work plans, Mi said.
The year 2020 was a mixed bag of a lot of things; from emotions to cultivating new habits, from accepting the new normal to figuring out a way around it. Above all, it was a year that challenged us, our capabilities, our skills, and more. It played out more like an excuse to do or not to do things, alike.

The Dash101 team took this consumer insight and worked out a brand marketing campaign that focuses on freeing one up from these excuses by helping entrepreneurs, easily set up your business and are able to #DoItAll from the comforts of ones home and ones own chair!

This also got the team thinking on the lines of how one can sit at home and get productive too. While we all saw trends like Dalgona coffee and banana bread ruling the internet, the team thought of going a step further and actually cooking up a storm by helping you create an online store. In fact, this is the time to get your business up and running especially since everyone has now moved online. All the business ideas youve had with your counterparts or over casual dinners can now materialize in a more realistic and hands-on manner. Dont just sit back and relax because now is the right time to give your entrepreneurial dreams a push, from anywhere!

The whole idea is to give your business a trusted platform to operate from while also making it easy for you to manage it all by sitting at home.

To see ones business dreams turn into reality is something that can be made possible at Dash101. An entrepreneur, at best, will hire a web developer to put together everything related to design, for the brand. We understood the effort and challenges that entrepreneurs are faced with just so that they can grow their business and increase their digital presence. Speaking of struggles, even having ones finances in place or estimating inventory, can be quite a herculean task if you dont know how and where to begin. Starting a new business is anything but easy, for someone who is doing it for the first time.

That being said, it gave us something to do and provided us with a fresh new perspective on how successful businesses can run online.

We at Dash101 are striving to reach out to Bharat and we only aspire to get smaller traditional businesses to go online. Small social sellers need to believe in their business and aim to make it into a brand that is recognized across the country.

Kalpak Chhajed, Co-Founder, Dash101 adds, Our approach to democratizing entrepreneurship has always rested on making business simpler. So, when we asked ourselves, what an entrepreneur would want for a successful business; we realized that there are so many pieces the seller has to put together - logistics, collecting payments, and marketing to name a few. Thus, the need of the hour for us to create, was a full-stack e-commerce platform thats available right out of the box, to do it all!

At Dash101, you can find the right digital dashboard that helps you understand your customers better, build user-friendly and beautiful websites, helps you track orders from the beginning till its delivered and in turn saves you a lot of time. Neither do you need to maintain a ledger nor worry about your inventory because Dash101 takes care of everything?

Another bonus for entrepreneurs starting their business with us is that we have tied up with some of the best shipping partners that ship across 27,000+ pin codes. To put it simply, this app just brings together your online business requirements; from the web to payment, from logistics to smart consumer insights. Find all this on one platform - Dash101.

Just like the New Year has opened a new chapter for all of us, why dont we also reinvent ourselves and work on those business ideas #BaitheBaithe with Dash101? Its time to renew our vows to success and make it count.

So, let us try to #DoItAll for you and your business as your one-stop online business partner.

Brand Manager, Saurav Chatterjee puts it as, "Sitting down isn't as unproductive as we make it out to be. In society, if someone is seen sitting down and on their phone, it's stigmatized to think they're being lazy. Over the past year, sitting has pretty much been normalized. The message we want to drive home is that you can sit down on your barcalounger and run the online business you've been planning. Business daudao, lekin baithe baithe."
A Japanese court upheld a ban on dual citizenship on Thursday, rejecting a suit that challenged the measure's constitutionality and sought damages for those affected.

Japan is one of around 50 countries internationally, including China and South Korea, that only permits its citizens to hold one nationality.

Under current rules, Japanese people who acquire another passport are asked to relinquish their Japanese citizenship, but in 2018 eight plaintiffs started legal proceedings, arguing the rule was unconstitutional.

One of them, Hitoshi Nogawa, has told reporters that being forced to give up his nationality was a "painful experience."

"I obtained Swiss nationality because my job requires it, but I'm emotionally attached to Japan and this is the foundation of my identity," the Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted him as saying.

The plaintiffs are six people who have already obtained Swiss or Liechtenstein citizenship, and two who want to obtain foreign citizenship without losing their Japanese passports, local media said.

They argued that the rule was a violation of the constitution's right to pursue happiness and protection of equality under the law.

But on Thursday, the Tokyo district court rejected their suit and request for damages, a spokesman said, upholding the constitutionality of the rule. - AFP
President Joe Biden signs his first executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on January 20, 2021, in Washington DC. (Image: AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Joe Biden will attempt to jump-start the federal government's response to the coronavirus pandemic with a string of immediate executive orders on Wednesday after his inauguration to lead a country reeling from its worst public health crisis in more than a century.

Biden takes office a day after the United States marked 400,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic broke out last March while vaccination programs have lagged far behind the target of 20 million Americans inoculated by the end of 2020.

"We're entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus and must set aside politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation," Biden, a 78-year-old Democrat, said in his inauguration speech.

The United States has reported nearly 200,000 new COVID-19 cases and 3,000 deaths per day on a seven-day rolling average, according to Reuters data. More than 123,000 Americans were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday.

Although the U.S. government has sent roughly 36 million doses of two approved vaccines to states so far, only 16.5 million have been administered, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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

Most of those shots have gone to healthcare workers and nursing home residents, with Americans deemed "non-essential workers" by the government told they would likely wait months for their turn.

Biden will sign an order on Wednesday requiring all federal employees to wear masks and making face coverings mandatory on federal property.

The president will also establish a new White House office to coordinate coronavirus response. And he will halt the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization, a process initiated by former President Donald Trump.

The Biden administration also intends to join the COVAX alliance, an initiative led by the World Health Organization and two other groups that seeks to secure fair access to COVID-19 vaccines for poor countries.

Biden's first moves are intended to mark a sharp change from the Trump administration's pandemic response, which critics say was ineffectual and uncoordinated. After taking the oath of office at a scaled back inauguration ceremony, he conducted a silent prayer for the Americans who have perished in the pandemic.

Biden was also poised to nominate an acting U.S. surgeon general as soon as Wednesday, a person familiar with the decision told MSNBC, following the resignation of Trump appointee Jerome Adams.

Biden's executive actions, particularly the mask mandate, are intended to set an example for state and local officials to rein in the virus, which has strained hospitals. Lockdown orders and business closures imposed by political leaders have thrown millions of Americans out of work and hobbled the U.S. economy.

The federal mask mandate plan drew praise from the nation's top business lobby on Wednesday, with U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Clark calling it "a smart and practical approach."

Scientists and public health experts have said face masks can help prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus, but face coverings have become a flashpoint in American life reflecting the nation's larger political divide.

Trump, who contracted COVID-19 last autumn, had eschewed their use and held crowded, largely maskless campaign rallies. Biden's campaign initially stuck to virtual events before expanding to other masked and socially distant gatherings.

There were few face masks as Trump departed Washington on Wednesday morning. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Trump painted his administration as a victim of the virus.

"We got hit. Nobody blames us for that. The whole world got it," he said of the pandemic's toll on the economy. He later touted the development of a vaccine as a "miracle" before paying his respects to people and families impacted by the virus.
Like so many other things over the past year, the worlds largest consumer electronics show, CES, looked very different in 2021.

The popular conference usually takes place in Las Vegas with thousands of people attending. But the physical conference was cancelled this year because of the coronavirus crisis. CES organizers, however, decided to hold a virtual CES show for the first time.

Here are some of the top technology trends presented by companies at this years online event.

Covid tech

Many new technologies created to help fight the coronavirus were found at this years virtual show. Several companies demonstrated new disinfecting robots. The South Korean manufacturer LG introduced a self-moving robot that sends out ultraviolet light designed to kill viruses on heavily-touched surfaces.

LG also presented a wearable air purifier and a device that can be carried around to purify air in a car or office. A German company called AirPop showed off its Active+ Smart Mask. The device measures breathing movements and tests the quality of surrounding air.

Several companies are also now offering touchless appliances and other products for the home. Kohler and Toto both showed touchless sinks and toilets that can be controlled by hand movements or by speaking to voice assistant technology.

Future TV

Each year at CES, major television manufacturers present the latest industry technologies that could one day be included in everyones home TVs. In addition to the yearly offerings of bigger, brighter and sharper TVs, LG Display showed off a smart bed.

The product includes a see-through TV that rises up from the bed structure. Another version of that TV is designed for use in restaurants. It would permit guests to look at the list of available foods while watching food being prepared behind it. LG has also announced a bendable TV version that can change its shape on demand, a creation designed for gamers.

5G communications

Companies showed several 5G products in 2021 after years of promises that the wireless technology would connect devices in new, superfast networks. Verizon chief Hans Vestberg gave the main speech to open the show. He spoke about the next generation of high-speed wireless technology and what it can offer for telemedicine, distance learning and other uses.

On the last day of CES, Samsung presented its latest 5G-ready Galaxy phones. Throughout the show, other companies held discussions and showed the uses for 5G in phones and other products.

Future of work

Many people across the world have now had almost a year of experience getting used to working at home. During that time, people have had the chance to see what things work and what things do not. Companies are offering a series of devices and products aimed at improving the home office.

For example, computer maker Dell showed off a video-conference monitor that is easy to move around to get to the best position for video calls. The American company Shure presented a microphone for the home office designed to improve speech audio quality for video conferencing. And Targus is offering a product designed to disinfect desk electronics, as well as an anti-germ backpack for carrying around work computers and devices.

Smarter cars

This years CES provided an early look at the latest in electric and self-driving vehicle technologies.

Mercedes-Benz showed off its artificial intelligence-powered Hyperscreen, which stretches across the entire width of the car. The device can answer voice commands and lets the driver and front seat passenger do things like make a phone call or activate seat settings.

Fiat-Chrysler offered interactive, three-dimensional, or 3D, virtual tours of its cars and technology. The company also worked with Google to create an augmented reality model of its Jeep Wrangler 4xe electric and gas vehicle that people can see on their phones.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.

Quiz - 5 Top Technologies Presented at CES 2021 Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

virtual  adj. taking place online or through computers, not physical

trend  n. the general direction of change

disinfect  v. to kill germs

appliances n. (pl.) machines such as dishwashers, ovens, microwaves that are electric and carry out a job in peoples homes

bend  v. to change shape by using force

monitor  n. a device, like the screen of a TV, that lets a person see computer activities or listen to programs and sound

artificial intelligence n. an area of computer science dealing with giving machines the ability to learn like humans

three-dimensional (3D)  adj. involving something that has width, depth and height

augmented reality  n. using computer technology to increase a persons experience of reality
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement on Wednesday that is not sitting well with many of his constituents.

Paxton, who is under federal investigation, congratulated President Joe Biden but also said he will continue to fight against the many unconstitutional and illegal actions the new administration is going to take.

"(I will continue to) challenge federal overreach that infringes' on Texas rights, and serve as a major check against the administration's lawlessness," Paxton said in his statement he released on Twitter. "Texas First! Law & Order always!"

READ ALSO: San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg 'hopeful' on Biden Inauguration Day

The statement comes after his name was absent Wednesday from a last-minute list of pardons in the waning hours of Donald Trump's presidency. Paxton is accused of committing bribery, abuse of office and other crimes, according to the Associated Press.

His top deputies reported him to the FBI in September, accusing him of using his position to help an Austin real estate developer. Paxton has not been charged in federal court, so any pardon would have been preemptive. He has broadly denied wrongdoing.

Paxton also brought a legal challenge asking the U.S. Supreme Court to effectively reverse Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election, prompting speculation that Paxton was angling for a pardon. Trump joined the suit and praised Paxton's effort to subvert the election, but legal experts dismissed it as frivolous even before the court tossed the case.

READ ALSO: Archbishop of San Antonio offers his prayers to President Joe Biden

Many in the comments of Paxton's statement are bringing up his investigation and how he didn't receive a pardon from Trump.

"Feeling the 'unity.' May justice be swift and harsh for you," @kim_mahoney69 wrote.

"Gonna be hard to do all that from jail. Buena suerte," @LibLawyerMom said

"Imagine having the nerve to say this after being indicted for 5 years and being investigated by the FBI b/c your OWN aides accused you of bribery and abuse of office," @ProgressTX commented.

However, some of Paxton's supporters agreed with his statement.

"You rock AG Paxton!" @GfleischerC wrote.

"Thank you AG Paxton. We Texans are counting on you at this critical moment to hold the line. We will be watching," @Fauxfrenzi commented.

Paxton's full statement is below:

Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre
By Lei Yang

BEIRUT, Jan. 21 -- At the invitation of the military police unit of the Indonesian peacekeeping force, the Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to Lebanon, under the unified deployment of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), dispatched a health and epidemic prevention team to the Indonesian camp for field investigations, and to provide medical service and COVID-19 prevention assistance on January 18, 2021.

During the investigation, the two sides made in-depth exchanges on how to conduct real-time monitoring, diagnose and isolate cases, as well as how to track and isolate the close contacts.

This is the second time for the Chinese medical contingent to visit the Indonesian camp. Last time was on January 8 and they offered the Indonesian side a blood oximeter and a batch of medicines.

In last November, the Chinese medical contingent accepted from the UNIFIL the task of COVID-19 nucleic acid tests and interhospital transfers of severe patients. During the task, they have always adhered to science-based prevention and control measures, and been ready to provide assistance and share with others China's anti-pandemic experience.
Regional examinations body, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), is facing a class action lawsuit from students affected by last years controversial grading of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) exams.





According to media reports, a law firm in Barbados has agreed to represent the affected students.





The so-called Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados announced in a press release issued on Monday that it had secured the services of Aegis Chambers, which will represent the students interests "free of costs, with only nominal charges for disbursements.





The Group said it had decided on legal action against CXC after getting no satisfaction from the Council about its concerns about exam grading and in the subsequent grade review process.





Following protests by students region wide, triggered by concerns about inconsistencies and discrepancies in the CSEC and CAPE grades, CXC agreed to a review. However, some students have expressed dissatisfaction with the re-grading.





A statement by the Concerned Parents of Barbados said, "From the outset of this crisis, the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados, in association with allied advocates, has worked earnestly towards an amicable and fair settlement of this matter, heeding the call of Professor Sir Hilary Beckles to forswear passivity.





"Such advances, up to the present, have yielded little substantial change and this tragedy continues to affect the lives of too many students, it added, before announcing it was going the legal route to seek redress.





Last October, CXC released the report of an Independent Review Team that investigated the modified approach used for the 2020 exams, the moderation of School-Based Assessment (SBA) grades, and an adjusted grading model, among other issues.





It pointed to fraudulent SBA submissions from teachers and leaked examination questions among a number of potentially damning infractions emerging from the review.





However, the review team headed by Professor Emerita Hazel Simmons-McDonald also concluded that there is enough evidence of discrepancies on the part of the CXC to justify remarking papers.




ROCHESTER, Minn. - Inauguration Day and the events leading up to it will no doubt go in history books. Some people have never experienced a transition of power like this one and for others, it's nothing new.

If we take a look back at the dozens of Inaugurations throughout the years, no two look exactly the same. The Constitution states what date the Inauguration has to happen on and what oath the president is supposed to take. Everything else is based on tradition, meaning the president elect can start a new one. The day is essentially known as a celebration for Americans. This year though, they have a global pandemic to be cautious of and security is on high alert after the chaos that took place on January 6th. However, that was a similar sight in the 1860's after the Civil War.

Abby Currier from the History Center of Olmsted County explained even though the event will look different, we can learn from it and have a better understanding of what to do in the future. "It's important to remember that while we may disagree on different policy things, it's still important to know that we live in a Democracy and that there was an election, one person won and it's important to maintain that and maintain the transition of power," she said. "And make sure that's done peacefully."

The parade and the Inaugural Ball are two traditions that have stuck throughout the years. Because of the pandemic though, they went virtual. Currier said the meaning behind the celebrations haven't changed. "While there's a lot of new things, there's also several things we've seen before and we've lived through," she explained. "So just being able to gather together and really doing what's right and what's supposed to protect our Democracy is what's going to get us through it."

Inauguration Day used to be on March 4th. But as technology grew, it reduced the time needed to count all the votes, so they didn't need four months between Election Day and Inauguration Day. Then the 20th Amendment passed, moving Inauguration Day up and Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to be sworn in on the new date in 1937. The last U.S. President who refused to attend his successor's inauguration was Andrew Johnson, 152 years ago. Presidents Trump and Johnson also share something else as well, they are two of just three U.S. Presidents to be impeached.
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Last year upended the government technology status quo. For the city government of Louisville, Ky., 2020 was when the number of desktops dwindled, staff training began to go virtual and people stopped thinking that a John Hancock required a pen and paper.Louisville IT Director Chris Seidt remembers when the citys rigid telework policy only allowed someone to work from home once a week. But today, laptops make up 3,500 of the citys fleet of 5,500 devices. Most employees are at home most of the time.Where I had 78 employees normally  I now have four in the office at any point in time, Seidt said, adding that other departments have seen similar shifts.At the beginning of the pandemic, the city started small with an order of 500 laptops. During the fall, Seidt and his deputy director, Ken Hillebrand, determined that 2,000 more employees could give up their desktops and work more safely from home. There was a hurdle, however: how do you receive, configure and distribute thousands of pieces of equipment without someone getting infected with COVID-19 in the process?The solution turned out to be leasing a vacant Office Depot building and outfitting it with decals in order to keep 40 coworkers separated as they moved around inside to prepare and move equipment. Initially, the plan was for individual staff from other agencies to enter the building and pick up a laptop, Hillebrand said. However, most departments wanted to do bulk pickups, which became the norm.Happy to say we didnt have a single positive case while that facility was open, Seidt remarked.Edward Jody Meiman, emergency services director for the city, believes there are advantages and disadvantages to going more virtual. He noted that with collaboration platforms, you get to see the faces of partners across the country rather than just hearing them on the phone. In general, the virtual platforms make meetings more of a cinch to set up.No matter where people are at, you can get them together very quickly, Meiman said.At the same time, Meiman is a hands-on type of person. As a boss, he prefers having people around and sees a day when staff will return to the office, but he recognizes there will be more options and that its going to be a different world for the next couple of years. For example, when people do come back to the office, WebEx may still have to be used for meetings based on health recommendations.Seidt said the proliferation of remote work in Louisville has led to permanent adjustments that benefit efficiency. One example is the citys widespread adoption of DocuSign.Seidts department used the signing tool as far back as 2018, but only sparsely, said Tracy Meiners, an information systems analyst who also handles HR activities for IT. The rollout for the city began in early April 2020, but adoption among agencies wouldnt ramp up until May. Seidt stated that the city now utilizes the tool to sign around 25,000 documents a month.I know weve seen a significant drop in our print consumption  It has changed peoples behavior with how they review documents and how they use printing, Seidt observed.[It] is helping us push one of our goals, which is to be paperless by 2023, Meiners said.Before the tool became commonplace, many documents would float around for two weeks before all signatures were provided. HR Director Ernestine Booth-Henry said the same paperwork can now be handled in minutes or hours.The things that would have required signatures or papers in order for us to make changes, be it in the system or personnel changes, a lot of that went on hold [during the pandemic], Booth-Henry said.Seidt said the key to the successful rollout was having an IT staff member, Meiners in this case, who was knowledgeable about the tool so that users wouldnt get frustrated with unanswered questions. Meiners said she also holds monthly meetings to provide pointers.Meiners added that DocuSign has allowed the city to efficiently handle paperwork for its new coronavirus vaccine program, which requires a number of signed agreements.An ongoing challenge for Louisville during the pandemic has revolved around staff trainings, which were done in person before COVID-19. Booth-Henry said the city has been using multiple tools, such as PowerDMS and PowerPoint, to deliver training, but this approach is somewhat fragmented. Louisville is now in the process of adopting Blackboard, which will allow us to use a single resource for multiple tasks.Seidt said one of the major advantages of using Blackboard over other training solutions is that the tool produces handy employee transcripts.Its going to be good because it allows us to track all of the employees training in one place, Seidt said. Even if we get down the road and you attend a class in person say in 2022, we can still load that course completion in Blackboard and keep that transcript information available, even if youre not doing it virtually.During spring 2020, Seidt told that Louisville was learning the ins and outs of virtual city council meetings. The technical challenges have leveled off since that time. Moreover, adoption is way up, and not just for city council.Were close to 1.8 million meeting minutes in WebEx since March, Seidt shared.For Louisville, all of these changes are about more than reacting to the pandemic. One gets the sense that the citys recent investments in tech have given staff a new confidence about what lies beyond COVID-19.Its the whole idea of being more resilient in government  Were working on it, and we always will be, Hillebrand said.
Former President Donald Trump's hand-picked chief of US broadcasting has quit amid a burgeoning staff revolt and growing calls for his resignation.

Michael Pack resigned as the chief executive office of the US Agency for Global Media just minutes after President Joe Biden was inaugurated on Wednesday. The agency runs the Voice of America and sister networks.

Pack had created a furor when he took over the agency last year and fired the boards of all the outlets under his control along with the leadership of the individual broadcast networks.

The actions were criticised as threatening the broadcasters' prized editorial independence.

Biden had been expected to make major changes to the agency's structure and management but Pack's early departure signaled those may be coming sooner rather than later.

Though many presidential appointees resign when a new administration comes in, Pack was not required to so. His position was created by Congress is not limited by the length of a particular administration.

In resigning, Pack cited the incoming administration's desire for new leadership at the agency.

I serve at the pleasure of not one particular president, but the office of the president itself, Pack said in a resignation letter sent to staffers.

The new administration has requested my resignation, and that is why I have tendered it as of 2 pm today, he said.

The letter said that "a great amount of much-needed reform was achieved in the past eight months, some of this work is outlined in a series of recently-released agency statements.

Yet those statements were seen by many, including Republican and Democratic lawmakers and a significant number of employees, as being antithetical to the agency's mandate to provide audiences with unbiased, uncensored and nonpolitical information.

VOA was founded during World War II and its congressional charter requires it to present independent news and information to audiences.

Pack is a conservative filmmaker and former associate of Trump's onetime political strategist Steve Bannon.

Pack's moves raised fears that he intended to turn venerable US media outlets into pro-Trump propaganda machines.

His actions had done little to dissuade those concerns and had attracted a large amount of criticism from supporters of the agency's mission.

Indeed, just on Tuesday he appointed new conservative members to the boards of Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

Only last week, Pack attracted new criticism when one his top aides demoted a VOA White House reporter after she asked a question of then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

That reassignment prompted a new round of criticism and demands for VOA chief Robert Reilly to resign.

In addition to Republican criticism, the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Robert Menendez. D-N.J., demanded changes in leadership.

Biden's team had made clear it was not pleased with Pack's record on the job and had sent numerous signals that he should go.

Pack's appointments to specific networks and boards of directors may be more difficult for the Biden administration to rescind without congressional action. Some appointees now enjoy federal employment protections.

Transition officials said last week they were looking into ways that legislation could be amended or replaced to make dismissals of certain personnel easier.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thank you everyone for your concern and prayers. So far the most important thing is that there have been no lives lost or major injuries due to the fire, despite a few floors being destroyed: Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla tweeted. (File photo)


HOLYOKE  Mayor Alex B. Morse informed the City Council he withdrew plans for an emergency shelter in Holyoke High Dean Campuss gymnasium. Councilors voiced frustration with the proposal and being excluded from discussions.

The council held a virtual session Tuesday night.

In an email, Morse wrote that the Commonwealth should have opened a temporary shelter in November. The mayor added the state imposed a tight timeline for the city to act and assist families who risk losing their homes during the pandemic.

We did the best we could. As a result, a number of obstacles have emerged since then., Morse explained. We have been assured that other arrangements will be made for these families who would have been served by the shelter.

Morse further stated that any lapses in state and federal eviction moratoriums could cause an uptick in homelessness. He feared any lifting would create hardships for families already struggling.

On Wednesday, President Joseph R. Biden signed an executive order extending an eviction moratorium through March.

As for the future, Holyoke does not have a permanent emergency shelter. I will be convening a task force to start the planning of one, Morse stated. He requested a city councilor join the proposed task force.

The mayor wants to use federal community block grant money to make this happen.

Ward 3 Councilor David Bartley said the City of Holyoke could not enter into an agreement that involves a public building without City Council consent and who holds the purse strings. A lease, a purchase or a sale, you need to have prior authorization from the City Council, he said.

Bartley said the mayor and School Receiver Alberto Vazquez Matos could not arbitrarily enter into such agreements.

Ward 2 Councilor Terence Murphy, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said process plays a role, and called Morses proposal rushed and with the poorest communication. Constituents told him the Dean gym was still in use for after-school activities.

There were school committee people who had no idea this was going on. That administrators and teachers at Dean had no idea this was being planned, Murphy said.

While Murphy did not oppose sheltering families affected by the pandemic and economic downturn, he asked that future actions are done in a cooperative and intelligent manner.

Ward 4 Councilor Libby Hernandez said the homeless numbers for Holyoke were not as high as first thought, and the reason for quashing the emergency shelter idea. She added the city wants to select a permanent homeless shelter.

Hernandez felt evictions were only a matter of time, and the city should have emergency shelter at the ready.

Councilors Mike Sullivan said considerations to open a winter emergency shelter should not have occurred in January but months before. Councilor Rebecca Lisi also faulted Morses plan.

Lisi launched her mayoral campaign last week. Sullivan has formed an exploratory committee and is expected to make his candidacy intentions known soon.

The council forwarded Morses communication to the Public Service and Development and Government Relations Committees.

Related:
MILWAUKEE, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Circa is pleased to announce that Craig E. Leen, former Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) at the U.S. Department of Labor, will be joining its Board of Directors effective January 21, 2021.

As the OFCCP Director, Mr. Leen led the federal agency responsible for administering and enforcing the equal employment opportunity regulations to ensure that those who conduct business with the federal government (federal contractors and subcontractors) comply with their affirmative action and nondiscrimination obligations.

Craig Leen, Circa's New Board Member Patrick Sheahan, CEO, Circa

Under his leadership, the agency achieved record enforcement recoveries in FY 2019 and FY 2020 for victims of employment discrimination, and advanced directives and rulemaking that promoted transparency, certainty, efficiency, and recognition, which has significantly changed the agency's approach to enforcement and substantially improved its relationship with contractors.

The agency under his direction introduced Focused Reviews and Compliance Checks, which enabled OFCCP to reach, evaluate, and provide compliance assistance to a greater number of contractors.

Prior to joining OFCCP, Mr. Leen served as the City Attorney of Coral Gables, Florida, where he practiced in the areas of constitutional law and civil rights, including working on a comprehensive inclusion program for individuals with disabilities.

"Our Board of Directors is comprised of a dedicated team of leaders committed to providing best-in-class solutions to forward-thinking employers who believe in the transformative power of diversity," said Patrick Sheahan, CEO, Circa. "We are excited to channel Craig Leen's talent, expertise, insight, and passion into furthering our mission to help companies develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce. As an integral part of our Board, Craig will be a driving force in our thought leadership efforts and the development of Circa's next generation of compliance and diversity technology solutions to better the workforce."

"I'm excited to serve on the Circa Board. Circa has a great reputation in the equal employment opportunity compliance field, helping contractors to fully comply with OFCCP and other regulatory requirements," said Craig Leen. "I'm happy to have the chance to help Circa achieve its mission and continue my positive work in this critical field."

Circa provides SaaS-based OFCCP compliance management and recruiting technology solutions to deliver qualified candidates on a level, equitable playing field that meet organizations' needs to build high-performing, diverse teams. Diversity and inclusion are not only proven to drive employee satisfaction but also increase revenue for employers.

About Circa

Circa is a catalyst for 21st century companies to build high-performing diverse teams based on research that shows companies want to shift from diversity as a program to diversity as a business strategy. The companies' robust portfolio of software solutions and unparalleled industry expertise give employers the tools and knowledge they need to radically change how they approach talent acquisition and management. The company was founded in 1994, has 5000+ customers, 15,500 community partner relationships and in 2019 posted 5M+ jobs through its network of 600+ online employment websites.

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US President Joe Biden signs his first executive order in the Oval Office of the White House. (Image: AP)

US President Joe Biden was expected Thursday to unveil his administration's plans to tackle the coronavirus crisis, as he starts his first full day in the White House with America confronting a slew of challenges.

Biden was sworn in as the 46th US president on Wednesday, delivering a calming call to heal a nation riven by festering divisions that had grown deeper under four years of Donald Trump.

Biden took the presidential oath standing on the steps of the US Capitol, the building complex that had been attacked two weeks earlier by a pro-Trump mob seeking to overturn his victory. Moments earlier Kamala Harris had taken the oath to officially become America's first female vice president.

"Democracy is precious, democracy is fragile and at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said before a National Mall that was virtually empty due to the ultra-tight security and a raging Covid-19 pandemic that he vowed to confront swiftly.

Absent from the ceremony was Trump, who had earlier left Washington for Florida, breaking 152 years of tradition by refusing to attend his successor's inauguration.

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

Trump has not publicly conceded defeat and spent the months since November's election falsely claiming he was cheated out of a second term.

Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama did however attend the inauguration.

"I think if Americans would love their neighbor like they would like to be loved themselves, a lot of the division in our society would end," said Bush, a Republican.

Shortly after walking into the White House, his wife Jill by his side, Biden signed a flurry of executive orders, starting with rejoining the 2015 Paris climate accord from which the US withdrew under Trump.

"We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," the new US leader said, speaking in the Oval Office as he signed papers on the Paris deal which was negotiated when Biden was Obama's vice president.

Biden's spokeswoman Jen Psaki said his first call to a foreign leader would be Friday to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau -- after Biden blocked the Keystone XL pipeline fiercely opposed by environmentalists but backed by Ottawa.

Biden also halted the US exit from the World Health Organization, stopped construction of Trump's cherished wall on the Mexican border, and rescinded a ban on visitors from several Muslim-majority nations.

A full in-tray

Biden's presidency will initially be shaped by his response to Covid-19, which has killed more than 400,000 people in the US, and the associated economic emergency.

He will look to move quickly on coordinating a federal plan to combat the virus, which for months ran rampant across the country as the Trump administration bungled its response.

Biden is expected to outline his administration's plans later Thursday after he is briefed by his Covid-19 team.

Whereas Trump seldom acknowledged the tragic toll the virus was inflicting on Americans, Biden paused in his inaugural address to offer a moment's silent prayer for the victims.

The veteran Democrat also appealed to supporters of Trump, who shattered political norms by ruthlessly belittling rivals, denouncing entire ethnic groups and trying to cast doubt on basic facts.

"I will be a president for all Americans," Biden said.

Still, he confronted head-on the rise of domestic extremism, as evidenced during Trump's presidency by the Capitol assault, deadly attacks on synagogues and immigrants, and a violent march by neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The United States faces "a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront, and we will defeat," Biden said.

Biden's inauguration ceremony, while steeped in pomp and tradition, was different from previous events, with no crowds and the National Mall closed.

Washington normally parties hard after an inauguration, but the US capital stayed quiet Wednesday.

A-listers made a valiant effort to keep up the energy at a mostly virtual, pre-produced show dubbed "Celebrating America."

At 78, Biden is the oldest-ever US president, a job he first sought in 1987, and is only the second Roman Catholic president after John F Kennedy.

Harris, the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, became the highest-ranking woman in US history, and the first Black person and first person of Asian heritage as the nation's number two.

She and her husband Doug Emhoff -- America's first-ever "second gentleman" -- were escorted to the inauguration by Eugene Goodman, a Black police officer at the Capitol who became a hero by luring away the mostly white mob away from the Senate chambers.
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Martha Kalifatidis has never shied away from showing off her sensational figure on social media.

And on Thursday, the 32-year-old treated fans to an eye-popping display as she flaunted her bikini body.

The Greek stunner stripped down to a floral printed two piece and captured the image from a low angle to drew attention to her curves.

Eye popping! Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis treated fans to a busty display in a tiny floral print bikini in an Instagram photo on Thursday

She opted for a full face of makeup with a flawless base, fluttery false lashes, a smokey eye and a plump nude pout.

'I just feel like I don't have enough bikini photos on here,' the reality TV beauty wrote in the caption.

Martha's raunchy display comes after her boyfriend Michael Brunelli revealed a little too much about their sex life during an Instagram Q&A.

Too much information? Martha's raunchy display comes after her boyfriend Michael Brunelli revealed a little too much about their sex life during an Instagram Q&A

The personal trainer, 29, was asked to give Martha a rating out of 10 in the bedroom.

He labelled her a '10' while smirking at the camera, before panning it over towards Martha, 32, to capture her reaction.

She was drinking a glass of red wine while reading the fan's question and waiting for her boyfriend's response.

Racy: Martha answered 'You know I'm a 10... so do you and you and even you know!'

'You know I'm a 10... so do you and you and even you know!' she said.

It comes after Michael spoke candidly about the couple's relationship struggles in another Q&A session on Instagram last week.

Martha and Michael are one of three couples still together from the show, alongside Jules Robinson and Cameron Merchant, and Bryce Mohr and Erin Bateman.
The digital food platform will accelerate data circulation thanks to Dawex Data Exchange Platform and Orange trusted cloud services

NumAlim announced an agreement with Dawex, the leader in Data Exchange technology, and Orange Business Services, a network-native digital services company, to deploy its agri-food digital exchange platform. By relying on these two leading players, NumAlim chose secure technological solutions guaranteeing the sovereignty of French food data.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005722/en/

(Photo: Dawex)

As early as Q1 2021, the NumAlim data and services exchange "Hub" will offer 18,000 companies in the food industry the opportunity to valorize, acquire and enrich all types of data: production, consumption, traceability, consumer opinions and research, as well as a wide range of services based on data (trend analysis, reformulation, regulatory watch).

"NumAlim is the answer to the needs for transparency, value creation and trust expressed by the food industry, consumers, and public authorities." says Jerome Francois, Director of NumAlim.

"The NumAlim digital platform will facilitate and accelerate data circulation from farmers' forks to consumers' forks. It will be complementary to and interconnected with the API-AGRO agricultural Data Exchange Platform, operated by Agdatahub." says Philippe Tillous-Borde, President of NumAlim and the Foundation Avril.

"We are excited to see this Data and Services Exchange Platform project with NumAlim coming to fruition, with the objective to unite businesses and consumers around food data," explained Laurent Lafaye, Dawex co-CEO. "Dawex Data Exchange technology offers the trusted and secure environment for data circulation and services' access."

"We are proud to accompany NumAlim, with our partner Dawex, in deploying the platform on our secure and trusted infrastructure and participating with our cloud expertise in the development and digitization of the agri-food industry." said Etienne Bonhomme, General Manager France for Cloud Business Unit, Orange Business Services.

About NumAlim

NumAlim, a Cooperative Company of Collective Interest, brings together 30 members representing the entire sector, including NumAgri for the agricultural sector, as well as its partners and consumer associations. This initiative is supported by Bpifrance.

In February 2021, NumAlim will launch the 1st Data Exchange Platform dedicated to the agri-food sector and its stakeholders. This initiative will bring together an unprecedented range of data and services, powered by and for the entire agri-food ecosystem.

About Dawex

Dawex, the leading data exchange technology company and the operator of the largest data marketplace, allows organizations to orchestrate data circulation, source and exchange data securely, in full compliance with regulations. Today 13,000+ organizations from 20+ sectors rely on Dawex Global Data Marketplace and Data Exchange Platform solutions to build their data exchange strategy. In 2020, Dawex is named Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. Created in 2015, Dawex is a tech company with offices in France and Canada, expanding business operations to Asia and the Middle East. www.dawex.com

About Orange Business Services

Orange Business Services is a network-native digital services company and the global enterprise division of the Orange Group. It connects, protects and innovates for enterprises around the world to support sustainable business growth. Leveraging its connectivity and system integration expertise throughout the digital value chain, Orange Business Services is well placed to support global businesses in areas such as software-defined networks, multi-cloud services, Data and AI, smart mobility services, and cybersecurity. It securely accompanies enterprises across every stage of the data lifecycle end-to-end, from collection, transport, storage and processing to analysis and sharing.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210121005722/en/

Contacts:

Press contact NumAlim presse@scic-numailm.fr

Press contact Charles Parant press@dawex.com

Press contact: Elizabeth Mayeri, Orange Business Services, elizabeth.mayeri@orange.com

The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States held preparatory talks with Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson to receive COVID-19 vaccine back in summer. Now the talks are held at the level of the Ministry of Health.

"Speaking about the Embassy, we started these contacts in the middle of summer last year. From the end of July, I held conversations with the management of Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, and especially important was my conversation with the USAID officer in charge of Ukraine," Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Volodymyr Yelchenko said, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to him, all the preliminary preparation by the Embassy was carried out in full: Then it was up to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and our other ministries and agencies. These are already commercial issues - about the price and reliability of vaccines.

Yelchenko explained that he could not comment on the course of the talks, but assured that "this work continues at a professional level between representatives of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and relevant American companies" mainly through the companies offices in Europe or representative offices in Kyiv.

In addition, the Ambassador noted that the USAID allocated about $20 million for the preparation of infrastructure for vaccine supply to Ukraine and organizational issues.

He explained that both the issues of ultra low temperature freezers and training of personnel are important. "Even the infrastructure in some US states has turned out to be unprepared for such mass vaccination," Yelchenko added.

When asked whether Ukrainians may rely on the supply of American vaccine at least under the USAID program, Yelchenko replied: "Yes we can, at the very least."

At the same time, he added that direct commercial contacts are possible, which will allow getting the vaccine at a charge earlier.

According to the Ambassador, supplies under the USAID program are designed primarily to vaccinate 100,000 Ukrainian healthcare workers at the frontline of the fight against the pandemic. Of them, about two-thirds stay in the JFO area in eastern Ukraine so this issue refers not so much to medicine as to security.

"At the USAID level, we have been assured that Americans will not forget about us. In general, Ukraine ranks first in the Eastern European region in terms of the priority of aid," the Ambassador stressed.

But for that, he said, we need to see what the first steps of the Biden administration will be. In this context, the diplomat recalled President Trump's order banning the vaccine sale abroad until the entire US population is vaccinated.

"Biden has promised to reconsider this position. If this happens, the process will be significantly accelerated," Yelchenko said.

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Police in Hong Kong have arrested an impersonator of North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un for "possession of a firearm," sparking concerns that he could have been targeted at the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s behest.



"I was arrested by the HK police at my home on Oct 28th 2020," Howard X, who is well-known in Hong Kong for dressing up as the North Korean leader, wrote on his Facebook page on Jan. 19.



"They had a warrant to search my home because according to them, a BB gun had been posted to my address in April 2020 to which I never actually received," he said. "Around 10 policemen came to raid the apartment."



BB guns are legal in Hong Kong, but police had said this gun had a higher-than-normal energy output making it count as a firearm, wrote the impersonator, whose birth name is Lee Ho-hung.



"When I challenged them on the arrest on such ridiculous grounds, they had indicated that the order came from another department higher up and stated they were just doing their jobs," he said, adding that some of the officers arresting him were fans of his act.



He said the officers had also mentioned his appearance in costume at public demonstrations in 2020 in support of the pro-democracy movement.



"[This] points to my suspicions that this arrest was not really about the BB gun," Lee wrote, adding that he often uses replica firearms, bombs, and nuclear missiles as part of his act.



"In my opinion this was an arbitrary arrest for my satirical critique of the CCP government in the years past and this arrest is being used as a tool not only to harass but to also take my finger prints," he said, adding that his cell phone had been confiscated and his home searched.



Lee is currently out on bail, and has to report to the police every six weeks, meaning that he could still face criminal charges.

'A misunderstanding'



He made his most recent trip to the police station in full costume, toting a fake missile, on Jan. 20, in a bid to ridicule the whole process.



"I am here to make my report to the police," Lee told RFA.



"Let's see what they say. I brought my rocket launcher toy along specially to see if they would charge me for [possession of a firearm]," he quipped.



He said he had initially believed his arrest to be a "misunderstanding."



"I just thought it was ridiculous," he said. "Why send 10 people to arrest me over a toy gun? It was a waste of police time and of my time."



Lee said that even if he had ordered a gun, it would have only been toy.



"I think maybe they arrested me because some people were dissatisfied with me having repeatedly satirized and criticized the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and [its leader] Xi Jinping," he told RFA.



"I have turned up at demonstrations many times to mock people from all over the world, including Trump, Xi Jinping, and [Hong Kong chief executive] Carrie Lam."



"Now they are settling accounts," said Lee, who has previously gotten into trouble in authoritarian regimes like Singapore and Vietnam because of his costume.



"I was arrested in Singapore and deported from Vietnam, but I have never been persecuted like this in Hong Kong before," he said. "This used to be a free city, but it's gradually getting a lot more like Pyongyang."



Lee, who holds an Australian passport, said he has yet to receive any consular assistance from that country, and doesn't expect a fair trial in Hong Kong if charged.



Reported by Gigi Lee for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
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Former First Lady Melania Trump made clear that she is ready for a break from the spotlight yesterday when she refused to stop and pose for waiting photographers upon her arrival in Florida  instead striding away from them without so much as a wave while her husband posed for pictures.

Video of the moment a stony-faced Melania, 50, purposefully walked straight past the media at Palm Beach Airport while leaving husband Donald in her wake has left many with the impression that she is done playing nice for the cameras.

The recording has gone viral on Twitter, where users are pointing out that the mother-of-one appears to 'give no f***s' anymore, with some even speculating that she is moments away from filing for divorce.

She's out! Upon landing in Palm Beach yesterday, Melania Trump didn't break stride as her husband waved as photographers, and continued walking her car

She's over it! Social media users are going wild over a three-second clip of her refusing to stop and pose and wave

Off-dusty: The former first lady simply kept walking off camera without stopping for the cameras

The Trumps left D.C. on Air Force One early on Wednesday and landed hours later in Florida to stay at Mar-a-Lago.

On board, Melania staged an outfit change, swapping the somber black look she departed in for a colorful $3,700 Gucci dress and kicking off her $795 Christian Louboutin heels for $625 ballerina flats by Roger Vivier.

Her outfit seemed to speak volumes about her desire to throw off the stress of life in the White House - with many noting that she appeared ready for a vacation.

But though changing into a new designer outfit indicated that she knew she'd be photographed upon landing, Melania didn't seem to have any time or patience for the photographers.

Video footage shows her walking alongside her husband as Trump stops, turns toward the camera, smiles, and waves.

Melania, though, continued walking at the same pace, sparing a frowning glance at the crowd and cameras but otherwise not acknowledging their presence.

Ending? Many are speculating that she will file for divorce any day now

One social media user shared a recording of the moment from TV, writing: 'If "I ain't got to do this s*** anymore" was a person.

Others have similar ideas about her attitude, saying that Melania seems to be done with playing along and playing nice.

'She has NO f***s anymore! She is DONE with him! Contract is over!' wrote one.

'Nothing says I'm done more than a muumuu,' said another.

'She so freaking DONE with this nonsense,' wrote one more.

Dozens have cracked jokes speculating that Melania is moments away from divorcing Trump now that he is no longer president.

'Melania is so over this ego clown. Im going to predict divorce papers are filed in the first 90 days as civilians,' wrote one.

'She's looking forward to signing those divorce papers asap,' wrote another.

'Divorce papers were being delivered before that clip ended,' said yet another, while one more quipped: 'She's in a hurry. Got a meeting with the divorce lawyer in 10.'

Someone else then joked: 'The terms of her post-nuptial just expired.'

Changes: Melania changed her outfit on the plane from Washington, D.C., swapping a somber black ensemble for a colorful $3,700 Gucci dress and navy ballerina flats

On the move: The former First Lady did appear to flash a wave to supporters as she reached the car - but refused to pause for photographers

There have been reports that Melania renegotiated her prenuptial agreement with Trump before moving into the White House.

Last year, Melania's former aide Stephanie Wolkoff alleged that the Trumps had separate bedrooms in the White House and 'a transactional marriage'.

Fellow ex-aide Omarosa Manigault Newman claimed the couple's 15-year marriage was over, adding: 'Melania is counting every minute until he is out of office and she can divorce.

'If Melania were to try to pull the ultimate humiliation and leave while he's in office, he would find a way to punish her.'

Photographs taken at the airport indicate that Melania did flash a quick wave to some of the supporters who had gathered to greet the Trumps in Florida; however, she does not appear to have paused for even a second before jumping into the waiting SUV.

Its unclear whats next for Melania and Donald in Florida, where they have taken up residence at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. However, during his final speech as President, Trump vowed that he will return.

'Have a good life,' he told a crowd of a few hundred supporters, after a 21-gun salute, before vowing that 'we will be back  in some form.'


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For Patrice Preston, taking time off from work was not an option.

Still, the resident of Houstons Northside desperately needed a couple of days off for a blood transfusion, critical for her rare form of anemia.

I wasnt going because I was worried about my bills, said Preston, who was grateful for her job at FedEx and did not want to jeopardize it.

Not that long ago, Preston was living in her car, homeless and jobless, as COVID-19 started to spread and finding work became increasingly difficult.

Id been there before, and I couldnt go back, she said.

Preston kept punching in as her hemoglobin levels grew dangerously low. She prayed for help.

Then, her son texted her at work. Her relief check through Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston had arrived and was waiting for her at home.

He even sent her a photo of the letter.

My heart skipped a beat, Preston recalled. I looked up at God and said, Youre something else. That Catholic Charities check came right at the nick of time.

Preston applied for the relief in November after a friend mentioned that Catholic Charities was working with Harris County to distribute $1,200 to qualifying families in need.

With the money deposited, Preston was able to head to the hospital for a blood transfusion on Jan. 11.

That check, for me, it saved my life, Preston said.

Preston was one of 51,167 families in Harris County that received the $1,200 in relief funds.

Catholic Charities was charged with administering the $61.4 million in CARES funding for the Harris County COVID-19 Emergency Direct Assistance Program.

Catholic Charities president and CEO Cynthia Colbert said that the county first contacted her organization about the project in September.

We had to step back and say, How do we do this? It was like building a whole agency but in the span of three months, she recalled.

Already, the local chapter was running food pantries, offering rental assistance and providing financial help to thousands. By joining with Harris Countys program, Catholic Charities could reach more families  and in a wider variety of ways, said Shannon Strother, vice president of programs.

Families could use the money for rent, utilities, medical costs, child care, transportation  whatever financial challenges they were facing, she said. There were all sorts of needs. And this fit perfectly with our mission.

In addition, Catholic Charities could hire people for the program, creating temporary jobs.

But there would be challenges.

Program applicants had to meet certain eligibility requirements. They must reside in Harris County, present a pandemic-related hardship and fall under a certain income threshold  and they must not have received prior CARES assistance.

Finally, there was a hard deadline: The funds had to be distributed before the end of the year.

Catholic Charities was convinced that the potential to help more families made the extra work well worth it.

We were honored to be considered, and it was an immediate yes, Colbert said. And then it was a really fast turnaround. Once we agreed, we worked quickly.

Originally, the county offered $25 million in funds and then increased the amount to $40 million.

We started right away, building out a program, Strother said.

By the end of September, Catholic Charities assembled a team and set up a facility at St. Peter the Apostle School.

We were able to bring 100 new team members on board for this project, Strother said.

The first group of applicants was received on Sept. 29.

We were seeing the machine start to work, Strother said. Families were receiving the assistance they so desperately needed. As we continued, we were able to become more efficient.

Eventually, Catholic Charities was processing applications from about 1,500 families a day.

In November, the county allocated an additional $20 million in funds as the coronavirus pandemic continued to rage.

As the deadline neared, with extra funding and only a limited time to distribute it, Catholic Charities team members worked six days a week, often 10 hours or more a day.

It was humbling to see the passion and commitment of our teams as they reached out to as many families as they could, Stother said. They worked late nights; they worked Saturdays, just to serve as many people as possible.

Team members helped families navigate the application process and published eligibility requirements in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Chinese. They also distributed checks directly to families who opted not to receive the funds through direct deposit or mail.

We wanted to remove as many barriers as possible, Strother said.

Catholic Charities completed the distribution by the deadline.

Every dollar was spent, and every application that we could fund, we did, Colbert said.

Then, Harris County secured private funds to assist families who were noncitizens and therefore did not meet the federal governments guidelines for CARES aid. Catholic Charities was able to allot those funds by Jan. 11.

In the past three months working with Harris County, Strother said, the nonprofit was able to live out its mission.

Our faith is at the core of everything we do, our love for God, serving the community, those who are vulnerable and marginalized, she said. This project gave us an opportunity to serve those affected by COVID who were living in crisis.

Colbert added that through Catholic Charities, people of faith can help people of all beliefs to achieve self-sufficiency and live with dignity.

This project demonstrates how volunteers, the government and nonprofits can work together to help families impacted most by the pandemic, she added.

People are living out the Gospels call to help on another, Colbert said. We need to help the people around us. Houston is really coming together, and I think thats what Houston does best. Were just glad to be a part of it.

She quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: Faith is taking the first step even when you cant see the whole staircase.

That was our approach with this  and we were able to make it happen, Colbert said.

Lindsay Peyton is a Houston-based freelance writer.
A day after being sworn in, President Joe Biden is rolling out a national strategy to fight COVID-19, reopen the nations schools and restart the U.S. economy. His plan calls for an expansion of coronavirus testing, accelerated vaccine distribution and new action to prepare for future biological threats. The plan is tied to a $1.9 trillion plan that Biden unveiled last week to combat the pandemic.

The administrations new strategy is based around seven major goals:

RESTORING TRUST

Establishes a federal COVID-19 response team to coordinate efforts across agencies and restores a White House team on global health risks that was established during the Obama administration.

Calls for regular public briefings on COVID-19 to be led by scientific experts.

The federal government will track data on virus cases, testing, vaccinations and hospital admissions and will make it available to the public. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will start a public dashboard tracking cases at the county level.

___

VACCINES

Increases the production and purchasing of vaccines, including through the Defense Production Act it allows the president to direct the manufacturing of critical goods during wartime and ensures availability of glass vials, syringes and other supplies.

Accelerates vaccinations by ending a policy to hold back large amounts of vaccines while also giving states clearer projections on vaccine availability to help them plan their rollouts.

Partners with states to create more vaccine centers at locations including stadiums, convention centers and pharmacies.

Directs federal health agencies to consider raising pay for those who administer vaccines.

The federal government will identify communities that have been hit hardest by the pandemic and make sure vaccine doses reach them at no out-of-pocket cost to residents.

Launches a national campaign to educate Americans about vaccines and encourage them to get shots.

___

MITIGATE SPREAD

In addition to Bidens order asking Americans to wear masks for 100 days, he will issue a separate order to federal agencies to require masks on airplanes, trains and other public transportation.

A new national testing strategy will expand testing supplies and increase laboratory capacity, and the federal government will work with schools to implement screening programs to help them reopen.

Creates a program to develop new treatments for COVID-19 and other pandemic threats.

Calls on the CDC to develop new public health guidance to help schools and businesses make decisions on reopening.

___

EMERGENCY RELIEF

Increases emergency funding to states and orders the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse states for certain costs tied to the pandemic, including supplies of protective equipment and for National Guard personnel supporting the pandemic response.

Directs federal agencies to invoke the Defense Production Act to close shortages of syringes, N95 masks, gloves and other supplies needed for virus testing and vaccine administration.

Calls for development of a national strategy to increase U.S. manufacturing of supplies needed to fight pandemics.

___

SCHOOLS AND WORKERS

Biden will issue an order to develop a national strategy to reopen schools, hoping to meet his goal of having most K-8 schools open within his first 100 days in office.

Orders the Education Department and the Department of Health and Human Services to develop guidelines to help schools reopen and to share best practices gleaned from schools across the nation.

Calls on Congress to provide at least $130 billion in additional aid to schools and $35 billion for colleges and universities.

Asks Congress to provide $25 billion to stabilize child care centers at risk of closing and $15 billion in child care aid for struggling families.

Biden will issue an order calling on federal agencies to issue updated guidance on COVID-19 precautions for workers and to consider new federal emergency standards, including around mask-wearing, are needed.

Steers virus relief funding to the hardest-hit businesses.

___

ADDRESSING DISPARITIES

Establish an equity task force to address disparities in rates of infection, illness and death across lines of race, ethnicity and geography.

Direct federal agencies to expand data collection on high-risk populations and use that information to track and evaluate the pandemic response among those populations.

Equity will be prioritized in the federal governments pandemic response, including its efforts to provide protective equipment, test, vaccines and treatments.

Create a U.S. Public Health Workforce Program made up of workers who will help with testing and vaccinations in their communities.

___

PREPARING FOR FUTURE THREATS

The U.S. will rejoin the World Health Organization, reversing the Trump administrations withdrawal from the global agency.

Increases humanitarian aid and support other efforts to help fight COVID-19 around the world.

Calls for congressional support to establish a national center to prevent, detect and respond to future biological threats.

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
Richa Chadha's upcoming political drama Madam Chief Minister, is scheduled to release in theatres this week. The film helmed by Subhash Kapoor, revolves around a woman who battles casteism and sexism to carve her own space in the world of politics.

While we already got glimpse of Richa's acting prowess in the trailer, you folks would be surprised to know that there was another Bollywood actress who too, had her eyes on this powerful role!

According to a report in ETimes, Katrina Kaif was interested in doing this film and had reached out to director Subhash Kapoor to consider her for Madam Chief Minister.

The tabloid quoted a source as saying, "She's been part of Prakash Jha's political-thriller Rajneeti and was looking for an out-and-out female-led project. So, when she heard of the film Subhash was making, she recorded an audition tape on her own and sent it to him."

The report further stated that Subhash Kapoor wanted Richa Chadha to play the titular role after watching one of her interviews. "The source told ETimes, "He thought she would be perfect for the role of the powerful political figure around whom his film revolves."

Kapoor had already envisioned already in the role and was convinced that only she would be able to pull off what he had in mind, he decided to go ahead with his instinct. "The physicality, look, diction was all very integral to the part and Richa got every nuance right," the source told ETimes.

Coming back to Katrina Kaif, the actress has an interesting line-up of films which includes a horror comedy Phone Bhoot with Ishaan Khatter and Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Ali Abbas Zafar's female super hero film. Buzz is that the leading lady is also teaming up with South star Vijay Sethupathi for Sriram Raghavan's next which is slated to go on floors in Pune in April.

ALSO READ: Richa Chadha On Working With #MeToo Accused Subhash Kapoor: I Don't Believe In Social Media Trials

ALSO READ: Richa Chadha On Receiving Flak For Madam Chief Minister Poster: Our Heart Is In The Right Place
Campbell- impacted by Covid

As we move into 2021, just-food continues to provide daily updates on how the Covid-19 pandemic is still affecting the world's packaged food sector  and how the industry's executives see the market and consumer behaviour taking shape in the months ahead.

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This article is now closed. These rolling updates built on our previous bulletins, published throughout 2020.

Wednesday 10 March

Campbell expecting sales slowdown as world emerges from lockdown

US food giant Campbell Soup Co. has said it expects its full-year sales to fall as Covid vaccines lead to society opening up again.

It is forecasting fiscal 2021 sales will fall between 3.5% and 2.5% as consumers gradually return to their pre-pandemic lives and, by leaving their homes more regularly, reduce their reliance on ready-to-eat soups and snacks.

Reporting its Q2 results today (10 March), Campbell revealed that net sales rose 5.4% to US$2.28bn in the three months to 31 January, compared to the same period last year, but the company missed estimates of $2.30bn, partly because of declines in its foodservice segment due to the Covid lockdown.

Adjusted EBIT was up 8%, year-on-year, to $393m.

Mark Clouse, Campbell's president and CEO, said: "We delivered another quarter of strong results, with top-line growth in both segments - partly tempered by foodservice and supply constraints caused by Covid-19 - as well as continued growth in EBIT and EPS."

Thursday 4 March

Olymel's Alberta pork plant starts phased reopening

Canadian pork and poultry processor Olymel said its Red Deer plant in Alberta province will resume slaughtering operations today (4 March) as it plans a phased reopening following a temporary 14-day closure due to a Covid outbreak.

Cutting room operations will recommence on Friday, Olymel said in a statement, following inspections on Monday and Wednesday this week by Alberta Health Services (AHS), the Occupational Health and Safety authority (OHS), and the Environmental Public Health department.

"AHS made several recommendations aimed at adjusting and reinforcing certain measures that were already in place and gave the green light to gradually resume operations," the company said.

It added: "The employees that are needed to ensure that the gradual restarting of operations goes smoothly will be recalled in accordance with applicable collective agreement provisions. Since March 3, employee groups have been recalled to take part in training sessions covering all implemented health measures, adjustments and additions made to some of them, and the action plan developed for reopening. The training sessions also focus on the important role information plays in compliance with all the health measures that are in place at the plant."

Olymel, which is majority-owned by the Sollio Cooperative Group, will continue to work closely with AHS and the OHS throughout the entire gradual reopening process."

The processor said "most of the employees" who had Covid-19 have since recovered, while three "have unfortunately passed away".

"Although 1,370 employees at the Red Deer plant have been tested since January 1, 2021, AHS experts will be on site when operations resume and will offer rapid testing to anyone who has not tested positive and wishes to be tested," Olymel said.

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Wednesday 3 March

Two Hilton workers die from Covid after outbreak at UK seafood plant

Two employees of UK-based Hilton Food Group have died after contracting Covid-19.

The workers were employed within the company's Hilton Seafood division and were based at a processing facility in Grimsby in north-east England.

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B&G to invest in online operations following Covid sales surge

US-based B&G Foods has said it plans to invest in its e-commerce operation this year to build on sales momentum achieved during the Covid lockdown period.

Talking to analysts after the release of its full-year 2020 results, The Green Giant and Clabber Girl brands owner said online sales had grown substantially in 2020,

CEO David Wenner said: "The great majority of our brands grew in fiscal 2020 substantially because of the dramatic effects of Covid on consumer buying and dining patterns. E-commerce was a growing driver of those trends and we invested during the year to follow consumers as they bought more through various online means and we saw sales through those means of buying grow and return.

"Although, there's no precise way to measure this, using IRI and other data sources, we believe that our online sales grew by roughly 150%, albeit from a relatively modest base. We expect that trend to continue in 2021 and are investing further in building out our online presence and on marketing with various retailers on their site so that we can be at the forefront of this new way of selling."

B&G's 2020 net sales were up 18.5% to US$1.97bn, while its adjusted EBITDA was up by 19.4% to $361.2m.

UK government urges regular food industry Covid testing

The UK government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has called on the country's food manufacturers to introduce regular Covid testing for asymptomatic employees.

In a letter to food businesses signed by environment secretary George Eustice, it said: "We now have a roadmap to open up our communities and restart our lives, but we need to remain vigilant and continue to protect our sectors and the workforce as we go forward.

"That means taking all necessary precautions to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection in the workplace."

Defra has called on employers to adopt the government's workplace testing programme.

"Providing the tests is quick and easy, and results are received rapidly. Employers should be aiming to test staff members twice each week," Eustice said in the letter.

The programme of free tests is open to all employers of more than 50 staff and will run until 30 June but firms must register by 31 March.

Tuesday 2 March

Lindt & Sprungli forecasts sweeter sales in 2021

Covid-19 soured Lindt & Sprungli's sales in 2020 but the Swiss chocolate maker is expecting its top line to recover this year.

The Lindor owner saw its sales fall more than 6% on an organic basis last year, with its retail business hit by lockdown-related closures and gift sales hampered by families being less able to get together.

However, Lindt today (2 March) forecast a 6-8% rise in its organic sales in 2021. The upmarket chocolatier added it's "convinced that it will master the current economic downturn and emerge even stronger from this global crisis".

In 2020, Lindt's sales fell 10.9% on a reported basis to CHF4.02bn (US$4.38bn), which equated to a 6.1% decline on an organic basis.

The company's EBIT tumbled to CHF420.3m, contributing to a 37.5% slide in net income to CHF320.1m.

Lindt's EBIT margin was 10.5% and the business today forecast that would return to 13-14% this year.

During 2020, Lindt's online sales doubled to account for around 5% of its business.

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FrieslandCampina profits hit by Covid-19

Dutch dairy major FrieslandCampina said that the coronavirus pandemic has led to it recording a "significantly lower profit" in it full-year 2020 results.

Announcing its results this morning, the dairy revealed its profit has declined by 71.6% year-on-year to EUR79m (US$95m).

Revenue also declined, by 1.4% to EUR11.1bn.

CEO Hein Schumacher said: "The direct and indirect impacts of the corona pandemic that really became evident within the company starting in March, overshadowed the excellent results in the first quarter.

"FrieslandCampina's operating profit was hard hit by this."

He added: "While there is light at the end of the tunnel now that vaccination programmes are getting underway throughout the world, for the next couple of months we are still totally immersed in the corona crisis. In the first half of 2021, the results will therefore still be under pressure."

Monday 1 March

Coming to the crunch during Covid-19  UK snack bars deep dive, part one

On our analysis pages today, Andy Coyne takes a close look at the UK snack bar category and at how it has adapted to the unique trading conditions created by Covid lockdown restrictions.

Many people have assumed the UK snack-bar category would have come under significant pressure over the last year as the on-the-go market has been hammered by the slump in mobility wrought by Covid-19, with a huge chunk of the population working from home, emptying city centres with their express supermarkets and meal-deal outlets.

However, the stats suggest UK snack bar manufactures have adapted to change more successfully than was widely thought.

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Maple Leaf to relaunch plant-based brands after Q4 sales disappointment

Canada's Maple Leaf Foods is planning to relaunch its Field Roast and Lightlife brands after seeing sales from its meat-free division slow  while the company also pointed to the pandemic as a factor in the "category deceleration" it saw.

Friday 26 February

A2 Milk Co. has reacted to pressure on its sales in China, a key market for the New Zealand-based dairy and infant-formula business, and lowered its forecasts for annual sales.

The changes to the forecasts came alongside half-year financial results that included a slide in sales and profits.

In the first six months of the company's current financial year, revenue fell 16% to NZD677.4m (US$491m), with its EBITDA down 32.2% at NZD178.5m. A2 Milk Co.'s net profit after tax stood at NZD120m, versus NZD184.9m a year ago.

A factor in the first-half results was, A2 Milk Co., said "challenges resulting from Covid-19 disruption experienced in the daigou/reseller channel with a flow on impact to the cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) channel".

Wednesday 24 February

Trident Seafoods resumes operations at Alaska facility

US-based Trident Seafoods has resumed operations at its Akutan, Alaska, processing plant following a Covid outbreak-enforced temporary closure.

The outbreak among its employees at the plant, which processes seafood such as crab and pollock, spurred a pause on operations on 21 January but now the facility is back up and running.

Trident said surveillance testing, symptoms screenings, PPE and distancing protocols will remain in place.

It added that additional measures are in place to support a swift response if Covid-19 risk is detected again in the future. These include a redesign of shift and break schedules to limit instances of close contact and capacity limits to allow distancing in all areas outside work stations.

Stefanie Moreland, the company's VP of government relations, said: "The management team on site has been working to make sure these operational changes do not come as a surprise, and to ensure our employees know their safety is our priority."

Monday 22 February

UK food manufacturers respond to roadmap for easing lockdown

After UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson this afternoon (22 February) set out the Government's "roadmap" for removing lockdown measures, the trade body representing food manufacturers in the country has given its response.

A phased timetable includes a plan to allow hospitality venues to serve punters outside from 12 April at the earliest, the Government said.

From 17 May at the earliest, indoor hospitality is slated to re-open. Hotels, as well as indoor entertainment venues such as cinemas, are also lined up to open again from this date.

Next week, UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce the country's Budget, which will include details on how the Government plans to support businesses and employees affected by the lockdown measures and the phased lifting of the restrictions.

The measures announced today apply to England but the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are setting out similar plans.

Ian Wright, the chief executive of The Food and Drink Federation, the association representing food and soft-drink manufacturers in the UK, said: "It is disappointing but wholly expected that the Prime Minister's roadmap shows no signs of taking account of any input from business.

"For a great many of the food and drink manufacturers supplying the hospitality and food service sectors, a return to 'business as usual' seems an awful long way off. As such, it is only correct that the Chancellor outlines significant extensions to the furlough and credit insurance schemes as part of his Budget announcement next week. The food and drink industry is the UK's largest manufacturing sector. It will therefore be key to the country's economic recovery, with a footprint in every region.

"Now is the time for government to provide additional support to ensure those businesses most at risk can play their part in putting the country back on its feet."

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Australian rice grower SunRice warns of possible sales pressure

SunRice Group, an Australia-based rice grower, has warned disruption to shipping traffic linked to Covid-19 could impact its sales in the second half of the fiscal year, exacerbating what it says are already "difficult market conditions" driven by the pandemic.

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Olymel shifts production to US after Canada plant closure

The Canada-based pork processor, which has had to temporarily close a factory after a Covid-19 outbreak among staff, has issued an update on the changes it has made to production.

Olymel said its hog production division, which supplies the Red Deer plant in Alberta now closed, will "move a substantial amount of company-owned production" to the United States to create enough plant capacity.

The company, majority-owned by Sollio Cooperative Group, made the comments in a statement framed as a "message to Alberta pork producers".

It said: "The temporary shutdown of Olymel's hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant in Red Deer is affecting the many Albertans hog producers, including Olymel's company owned farms that ship market hogs to Red Deer on a weekly basis. The company understands the strain this has put on their operations as we estimate the backlog to be approximately 80-90,000 animals. The company has implemented several strategies to mitigate the impact as much as possible including a clear path to reducing the backlog as quickly as possible."

The meatpacker added: "With the added capacity Olymel anticipates that the backlog of market ready hogs will be cleared up within 4-5 weeks after the plant is able to resume activities."

Last week, Olymel said its hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant in Red Deer had seen "a resurgence of positive cases of Covid-19 among plant employees".

Olymel said that, despite close collaboration with Alberta Health Services to deal with the problem, it believed the conditions meant it could not continue normal operations in a safe and efficient manner.

The company, which has suspended all pending deliveries at the plant until further notice, has not said how many workers have been affected by the outbreak.

19 February

Fazer assesses staff count again at Finnish candy plant

Finland's Fazer Group is planning another round of potential lay-offs linked to Covid-19 at its confectionery plant in the city of Vantaa, located in the south of the country.

18 February

US meal-kit firm Blue Apron sees sales soar during lockdown

Blue Apron, the US meal-kit firm saw its year-on-year sales increase by 22% in Q4, 2020, to US$115m, partly as a result of stay-at-home consumers ordering its products during the Covid-19 lockdown.

But the company has cautioned that growth levels may dip as lockdown restrictions ease.

The fourth quarter marked the third consecutive quarter of double-digit year-on-year year increase in net revenue for the business.

The company said that there have been changes in consumer behaviour due to the pandemic as customers ordered more frequently and added more meals per order.

"Since late March 2020, Blue Apron has experienced increased demand for its meal kits reflecting, in part, changes to consumer behaviour in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to meet the increased demand, the company continued to focus on increasing capacity at its fulfilment centres, including hiring new employees, increasing wages for frontline workers, and temporarily reducing menu options, which limits the need to change production lines and allows for more time to pack meal kits," it said.

But it added a note of caution.

"Management continues to monitor the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the company's business, including changes to consumer behaviour relating to cooking at home. While the company believes that a portion of the increased demand it has experienced over the last few months can be sustained through the first half of 2021 and potentially beyond, this will likely occur at varying levels as the impact of the pandemic changes over time," it said.

16 February

Canada's Olymel temporarily closes Alberta meat plant

Canadian meatpacker Olymel has announced the temporary closure of its plant in Red Deer, Alberta, following a Covid outbreak

The hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant has seen "a resurgence of positive cases of Covid-19 among plant employees", Olymel said in a statement.

Olymel said that, despite close collaboration with Alberta Health Services to deal with the problem, it believes that the conditions are such that it cannot continue normal operations in a safe and efficient manner.

After notifying the union, Olymel management drew up a temporary closing plan for an indefinite period. Over the next few days, plant management will mobilizs the staff necessary to cease operations and complete the facility closure as soon as possible.

Olymel said it will strongly encourage all staff to get tested before returning to work. In the meantime, it will continue ongoing investigations to determine what may have caused such a large outbreak of Covid-19 cases since 20 January.

Olymel, which has suspended all pending deliveries at the plant until further notice, has not said how many workers have been affected by the outbreak.

15 February

JBS reveals 700 workers vaccinated at US plant

Brazilian meat giant JBS has announced that 700 workers at its Beardstown, Illinois, pork production facility in the US have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

In partnership with the Cass County Health Department, employees were vaccinated on site at the plant in what is understood to be the largest vaccination effort to date at a US red-meat facility.

Bob Krebs, president, JBS USA Pork, said: "We remain committed to providing a safe working environment for our team members and doing all we can to ensure our workforce across the country is given the opportunity to be vaccinated as soon as possible. They have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to provide food for all Americans, and their access to the vaccine should absolutely be prioritised."

Vaccination at the Beardstown facility is voluntary and all employees who choose to be vaccinated receive a US$100 incentive bonus. Vaccines were administered on site by trained third-party nurses and the second dose of the vaccine will be provided to Beardstown workers in March.

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2 Sisters poultry plant in Devon comes down with cases again

2 Sisters Food Group's Willand plant in Devon, south-west England, has once again seen a number of cases of Covid-19 following a bout of infections at the same site last summer.

The poultry-processing facility in the town of Cullompton, which employs around 1,000 workers, saw a cluster of cases emerge a few days ago.

Local media reported workers as saying a testing centre had been set up in the car park of the plant.

A spokesperson for the 2 Sisters' Cullompton site said in a statement provided to just-food: "Colleague safety remains the number one priority at our Willand site.

"We are currently working closely with external agencies and are offering our colleagues the opportunity of voluntary Covid-19 testing. This testing opportunity further strengthens our Covid prevention measures, which have been in place for almost a year and are regularly independently assessed."

12 February

US baker Flowers Foods sees sales going stale in 2021

Another major US-based food company is, perhaps unsurprisingly, cautioning its sales in 2021 may fall after pandemic-fuelled growth in 2020.

Flowers Foods, one of the country's largest bakery businesses, has forecast a 2-4% decline in its sales in 2021 after a 6.4% rise last year, which was also helped by an extra selling week.

As well as lapping a year when Covid-19 boosted at-home consumption, Ryals McMullian, Flowers' president and CEO, said other factors could also dampen sales.

"Our guidance for fiscal 2021 incorporates our expectation of some mix reversion during the year as the impact of the pandemic dissipates, as well as the potential for a higher promotional environment, back-half commodity headwinds, and investment to implement our digital initiative. Partly offsetting those factors are expected benefits from our brand investments and continued savings from portfolio optimisation and operational efficiencies. We are investing in our business at a time when visibility may be more limited than normal, but it is clear that we are on the right path."

Flowers, home to brands including Dave's Killer Bread and Tastykake, generated sales of $4.39bn in 2020. The company's net income fell 7.4% to $152.3m amid expenses linked to a pension-plan settlement. Income from operations stood at $321.5m, up from $225.4m in 2020.

Expo West goes digital, while Expo East will go ahead in person in September

Expo West, the annual organic food industry event normally held in March in Anaheim, California, will now be held virtually in May after the organisers decided against holding a physical gathering due to Covid-19.

The event had been pushed back to May, but will now be held digitally instead from 24-27 May, Informa Market's New Hope Network, which organises the trade fair, said.

Meanwhile, New Hope is promoting its "enhanced" Natural Products Expo East trade show as an opportunity for people to get together in person, designed to serve both Expo East and Expo West customers. It will be held from 22-25 September in Philadelphia.

11 February

Kellogg expects dip in underlying sales in 2021

With lockdowns seeing most meals switch to being made and eaten indoors, breakfast-cereal giant Kellogg saw its sales rise in 2020  but the US group is forecasting a decline this year.

The Corn Flakes and Coco Pops owner today (11 February) forecast its net sales would fall 1% on an organic basis in 2021, pointing to a comparison with "unusually-strong, Covid-related growth" last year. In 2020, Kellogg's net sales rose 6% in on an organic basis to US$13.8bn.

Kellogg, home to brands including Pringles snacks and Eggo frozen waffles, said a 1% decline would still mean "a two-year compound annual growth of about 2.5%".

The company also said it expects its adjusted operating profit to fall in 2021, forecasting a drop of around 2%, Again, Kellogg pointed to Covid-19 but also said the 2020 fiscal year had 53 weeks.

In 2020, Kellogg's adjusted operating profit rose 2.6% to $1.81bn. The company made a net income of $1.25bn in the year to 2 January 2021, up from $960m 12 months earlier.

10 February

Londoners leading surge in home delivery of snacks during lockdown - research

New research has revealed a surge in the home delivery of snacks in London during the Covid lockdown period.

Analysis firm The NPD Group's research showed that demand for home delivery of snacks and coffee in London was up by 95% in 2020 compared to the previous year.

This is significantly ahead of the 11% increase in orders placed by families across the country as a whole.

Dominic Allport, insights director (foodservice) at The NPD Group said: "The main reason is the greater use of delivery subscriptions such as Deliveroo Plus in the capital, where customers pay a flat monthly fee for unlimited free deliveries.

"As these subscriptions become increasingly common across the country, we expect to see a growth in people ordering snacks and drinks to be delivered to their homes more regularly."

The average amount spent per person on snack delivery increased by 20% nationally in 2020 vs. 2019 to reach GBP5.66. The number of items bought during each snacking occasion in London has increased significantly and is now +18% higher than the national average.

Allport added: "Once lockdown is over, this trend is likely to remain embedded in the population."

Danish Crown closes German slaughterhouse after 13 Covid infections

Meat processor Danish Crown has closed a beef slaughterhouse in Germany for a week after 13 of the approximately 300 workers tested positive for Covid-19.

The facility in the town of Husum, situated in the county of North Frisia near the border with Denmark, has been shut as a precautionary measure to prevent the further spread of the virus, a spokesperson for Danish Crown confirmed.

Danish Crown plans to reopen the site on 14 February subject to prevailing conditions at the time.

--

8 February

Covid cases identified at Cargill meat plant in Canada

US agri-food giant Cargill has seen a small number of its employees at a meat plant in Canada test positive for Covid-19.

Some six employees at the company's High River facility in Alberta have tested positive for the virus, Cargill told just-food. They are in isolation and receiving medical care and support.

The High River facility, which employs more than 2,000 people, is continuing to function as normal.

It is the second Covid outbreak at the plant. It was shut down for two weeks in April 2020 because of an outbreak that affected more than 350 of its workers and saw two employees die.

In relation to the newly-announced Covid cases amongst its High River workforce, a Cargill spokesperson said: "We continue to learn how to help slow the spread of the virus and are working with Alberta Health Services (AHS) to add safety measures as they become available to safeguard our valued co-workers."

5 February

2 Sisters recruiting 500 workers as pandemic pushes up poultry demand

2 Sisters Food Group plans to hire hundreds of workers to meet growing demand for poultry products in the UK with consumers confined to the home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With factories situated around the UK, 2 Sisters said it had hired approximately 800 workers over the past 12 months to across the entire business to cater to the increased demand.

But Covid has also taken a toll, with a number of sites seeing staff test positive for the virus.

3 February

Premium Brands-owned Belmont Meats shuts Toronto plant amid Covid outbreak

Belmont Meats, a protein business owned by Canada's Premium Brands Holdings, has seen an outbreak of Covid-19 at its factory in Toronto.

The Toronto Public Health agency said 78 cases of the virus have been confirmed at Belmont's North York site, a district in Toronto, and two of those workers have been identified as having the B.1.1.7 strain of the virus, a variant that first appeared in the UK.

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Baxters to close visitor centre and retail outlet in Scotland

Baxters Food Group, the UK-based soups-to-condiments maker, plans to close its visitor centre, restaurant and retail outlet in Edinburgh, Scotland, as the pandemic curtails foot traffic across the hospitality sector.

The Highland Village centre is located in the same village as Baxter's headquarters in Fochabers, Moray, in north-east Scotland. The site employs around 30 people, according to a media report, all of whom face the prospect of losing their jobs.

2 February

Nestle seeking to help with Covid vaccine rollout

Food giant Nestle is seeking ways to help with the Covid-19 vaccine programme in countries in which it operates.

News agency Reuters reported the Switzerland-based company's chief executive Mark Schneider as saying that while it has already donated to the Red Cross and other organisations to help cover the financial cost of vaccination programmes, it wants to go further.

Schneider told the Forum Horizon event in Lausanne: "We will also try to find ways to either sponsor the payment for the vaccine or sponsor the way it gets applied in communities where we are present.

"The price of a vaccine for an advanced economy is negligible...but to a developing country which has been struggling already with all the impacts of Covid, on top of that to pay for the vaccine and for the services to get it applied is going to be very significant," he said.

Reuters reported that the specific details of how Nestle will help still need to be worked out, according to Schneider, who described the project as a "work in progress".

1 February

US Congress probing meatpackers over Covid deaths

A US Congress panel is investigating three of the country's largest meatpacking businesses in relation to worker deaths at their facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Muller reports fatality at another UK plant

Another UK plant owned by Germany headquartered dairy giant Muller has been affected by Covid-19.

An employee at the facility run by Muller Milk & Ingredients in Droitwich, a town in the English Midlands county of Worcestershire, has died from the virus, although the staff member had been off work since 30 December due to a "personal matter", a company spokesperson confirmed in a statement.

A further 26 workers are currently self isolating out of a total employee count in Droitwich of 607.

"It is important to stress that fresh milk processing is highly automated, ensuring no risk to products," the statement read.

26 January

Greencore's food-to-go revenues slide in Q1 amid lockdowns

Greencore, a major supplier of food-to-go products to UK retailers, has reported an across-the-board drop in revenues for the group and its business units due to Covid-19-related restrictions.

In a trading update this morning (26 January) for the first quarter to 25 December, the Ireland-based private-label manufacturer said reported group revenues fell 15% to GBP312.7m (US$425.9m) and were down 15.1% on a pro-forma basis, "impacted by the reduction in mobility arising from tiered restrictions and lockdowns in the UK".

The food-to-go category saw reported and pro-forma revenues decline 21.7% to GBP188.5m, while other convenience foods fell 2.1% to GBP124.1m.

"[The] latest lockdown significantly impacting demand in food-to-go categories, though not as marked as the initial lockdown in March 2020. Currently, pro-forma group revenue is approximately 20% below prior year levels, with performance in food-to-go categories down approximately 35% on [the] prior year, while other convenience categories remain stable," Greencore said.

"The recovery in demand that was evident at the end of FY-20 was impeded by the tiered regional restrictions on mobility introduced across the UK in October, and then by a subsequent national lockdown until early December, followed by the implementation of tiered regional lockdowns."

Greencore also provided an early assessment of the impact of a free trade deal reached between the UK and the EU on Christmas Eve.

"The operational impact has been modest to date as the group had completed extensive Brexit planning and was well prepared for any near-term volatility in the supply chain.

"The ongoing uncertainty regarding the duration and impact of Covid-19 on the group's trading environment, and in particular on demand in its food-to go-categories, continues to make it difficult to predict FY-21 performance. In this context, the group's financial guidance remains suspended."

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Chocolate maker Godiva to close North America retail outlets

Chocolate maker Godiva, owned by Turkey's Yildiz Holding, plans to close or sell its 128 retail stores in the US and Canada after consumers switched to online purchases during the pandemic.

"Demand for the in-person shopping experience offered through Godiva's brick-and-mortar locations has waned as a result of the pandemic and its acceleration of changes in consumers' shopping behaviour. In response to these market dynamics, Godiva will exit its 128 brick-and-mortar locations in North America, partially through sales and partially through closures, by the end of the first quarter," it said in a statement.

However, Godiva's products will still be available online in those North American markets, along with grocery and drug stores and other retail outlets. Europe, the Middle East and China are not affected by t

25 January

Food companies among UK Covid testing scheme

Meat company Moy Park and sugar refiner Tate & Lyle Sugars are among what the UK says are "dozens" of employers in the country to have signed up to a scheme testing workers without symptoms who cannot work from home.

Lateral flow tests are being used to see if staff have Covid-19 without realising they are carrying the virus. The UK government said around one in three infected people have no symptoms and may be unknowingly spreading the virus.

More than 730,000 tests have been distributed across the UK public and private sectors so far. Frozen-food group Apetito and cheese-products maker Primula are also among the companies to have joined the scheme.

Gerald Mason, senior vice president of Tate & Lyle Sugars, said: "Mass testing has really helped us get one step ahead of the virus by identifying colleagues who were infectious but showed no symptoms. This has been especially welcome over the last few weeks at our east London factories as the levels of virus in the local area have been extremely high."

22 January

Trident Seafoods closes Akutan plant for three weeks

Trident Seafoods, which claims to be the largest vertically-integrated seafood harvesting and processing company in North America, has had to temporarily close a plant in Alaska amid a number of Covid-19 infections.

The first of four cases at the processing facility in Akutan became apparent last weekend with an employee testing positive, and the other infections were discovered when the worker's three room mates were tested. All four had tested negative for the virus two weeks earlier.

In a statement issued yesterday (21 January), privately-owned Trident, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, said it will pause operations for three weeks while it undertakes "comprehensive" testing and to "support a preventative quarantine" for the 700 workers.

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JBS, Pilgrim's Pride offer US workers $100 vaccine incentive

Meat packers JBS and Pilgrim's Pride are offering to give US employees a US$100 bonus if they voluntarily take a Covid-19 vaccine.

"The new initiative is designed to encourage maximum participation in the Biden administration's accelerated pandemic response efforts and ensure that every JBS USA and Pilgrim's team member who wants to get vaccinated can do so as soon as vaccines are made available," the two companies said in a joint statement.

JBS, headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, is the majority-owner of US poultry processor Pilgrim's Pride. Both companies have, in the recent past, reported Covid-19 cases at their plants in the US and the UK.

"With nearly 66,000 US team members, we are hopeful this initiative will lead to high vaccination participation rates that will benefit our workforce and the rural communities and cities in which they live and work across America," said Andre Nogueira, the CEO of JBS' US division.

"Throughout the pandemic, JBS USA and Pilgrim's have adopted industry-leading measures to protect our essential frontline workers who continue to provide food for the nation. Our goal in offering this extra pay to our team members is to remove any barriers to vaccination and incentivise our team members to protect themselves, their families and their co-workers."

China confirms first cases of Covid among meat workers - report

China has reportedly detected its first cases of Covid-19 among meat workers, with ten confirmed cases at a poultry factory owned by Thailand's Charoen Pokphand Foods.

The facility in question is located in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province in China's north-east region.

Reuters reported from an official Chinese news briefing that a further 28 employees at the plant, along with three family members, were asymptomatic amid a wider community outbreak in the region. The news agency added that samples taken from inside the slaughterhouse, its cold storage area and the outside of product packaging earlier this week came up positive for the virus.

Officials at Charoen Pokphand's Bangkok headquarters "made no immediate comment", Reuters said.

21 January

Muller hit by Covid-19 infections at UK plant, worker dies

Unternehmensgruppe Theo Muller, the Germany-headquartered dairy giant, has confirmed a slew of Covid-19 infections at one of its UK plants, along with the death of an employee.

20 January

Trident Seafoods reports cases at Alaska plant

Trident Seafoods, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, has reported four cases of Covid-19 at a processing plant in Akutan, Alaska, despite "rigorous preventative measures".

CEO Joe Bundrant, the son of Trident's founder Chuck Bundrant, said in a statement: "Health and safety are our absolute priority. We have said from the beginning of this pandemic that if we have an issue, we're going to shed a light on it. We want to be sure people are aware and know that we are taking this very seriously."

The first case became apparent last weekend with an employee testing positive, and the other infections were discovered when the worker's three room mates were tested. All four had tested negative for the virus two weeks earlier.

One of the workers is currently in hospital, while the three others are self-isolating.

Stefanie Moreland, Trident's vice president of government relations and sustainability, said the company is working to try and establish the source of the infections among the 700 staff at Akutan.

"We have notified the state of Alaska, the city of Akutan and our medical partners and are coordinating with all to conduct further tests, implement protocols and contain exposure," Moreland said.

19 January

Lindt & Sprungli annual sales drop on pandemic-related challenges

Lindt & Sprungli, the premium chocolate maker based in Switzerland, has reported a 6.2% decline in annual organic sales to CHF4.02bn (US$4.53bn).

The drop  minus 10.9% on a reported basis - was put down to "major global challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic", namely the closure of its store network and reduced shopping visits, and also strength in the Swiss franc.

Still, the decline in organic sales was within the company's expectations for a 5% to 7% decrease (Stifel -5.2%), while the company said it notched up market share gains in "practically all countries" in which Lindt & Sprungli operates.

"The global restrictions and regulations to contain the pandemic unfortunately had an impact on important areas of Lindt & Sprungli's business. The restrictions on the foodservice area in North America and the traditional speciality stores in Italy had a major impact on sales. The travel retail business also recorded a sharp drop in sales due to the restricted air traffic," it said in a statement.

Sales in Europe fell 2.9% on an organic basis and were down 6.8% in North America. It was worse in the rest of the world segment, where sales dropped 16.1%, although China and Japan posted growth.

Lindt & Sprungli said the medium- and long-term organic growth targets remain unchanged at 5-7% per year, while the operating profit margin of 10% realised in 2020 is expected to "return to a level of around 15% in 2022".

18 January

UK trade bodies lobby government to support foodservice suppliers

A group of trade associations are pressing the UK government to provide financial support for food manufacturers supplying the out-of-home sector, warning they risk going out of business without some form of aid.

The 18-strong group is led by the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) which have written a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and other government ministers pointing out how pubs, restaurants and cafes have received extended financial support but the businesses that supply them have not.

They are calling for an extension to the 12-month exemption period for local business rates for companies operating in the hospitality and foodservice sector and the introduction of capital and tax break allowances aimed at retaining staff.

The group is also pressing the Government to formalise the deferment of PAYE and NI payments until the end of 2021 for the sector. And to increase the level of funding for the Additional Restrictions Grant and to make the funding accessible, along with providing grants for those companies that have had to dispose of stock because of lockdown restrictions.

BFFF CEO Richard Harrow said: "England's national lockdown, plus restrictions in the UK's other nations, have been devastating for our many businesses supplying the hospitality and foodservice markets and they are facing a bleak winter. Their continued existence will be critical as the economy starts to recover."

14 January

Bakkavor annual revenues decline on pandemic impact  trading update

Private-label fresh food supplier Bakkavor has said revenues fell in the fiscal year through December amid a new round of Covid-19-related lockdowns in the final quarter.

In a trading update today, the London-based business said group revenues were down 4.9% on both a reported and like-for-like basis in the 12 months ended 26 December ahead of the final results on 16 March. The decline was more protracted in the UK, where like-for-like sales fell 5.3%.

On the international front, revenues dropped 21.6% in China, which was the Bakkavor division "most severely impacted by the pandemic", offsetting a 12.7% increase in revenues in the US.

Bakkavor currently anticipates adjusted EBITDA will be in line with the previous annual print of GBP138m (US$188.3m).

CEO Agust Gudmundsson said: "Notwithstanding the ongoing impact of Covid-19, we have a sound business model and solid platform that leaves us well-placed to navigate the current environment and achieve long-term sustainable growth."

11 January

Maple Leaf Foods to acquire facility for plant-based unit Greenleaf

Canadian meat processor Maple Leaf Foods is set to purchase a production facility in the US for its plant-based unit Greenleaf Foods amid challenges to its expansion strategy in the country caused by Covid-19.

8 January

Cases rise at 2 Sisters' Coupar Angus facility in Scotland

2 Sisters Food Group, a UK-based poultry processor, has seen the number of Covid-19 cases rise at its Coupar Angus facility in Scotland.

Earlier this week, the company reported five infections amongst workers at the poultry plant in South Lanarkshire and now, according to NHS Tayside, the number has since climbed to 30.

The same site had to be closed temporarily last August after a number of employees tested positive.

A spokesperson for 2 Sisters said the company had nothing to add to the statement from NHS Tayside when contacted by just-food.

Dr Emma Fletcher, a director of public health for Tayside NHS, said a "comprehensive risk assessment" has been conducted at the facility a noted the safety measures 2 Sisters has put in place to protect workers.

"For several reasons the public should be reassured that it is possible for the factory to remain open at this time as we are in a very different position to when there were Covid-19 cases at the factory last August. The rate of community infection is much higher compared to August's outbreak," she said.

"The factory is continuing to work closely with NHS Tayside's Public Health team and Food Standards Scotland to help manage the situation."

7 January

BMPA urges UK government to prioritise meat workers for vaccines

The British Meat Processors Association is urging the UK government to prioritise "frontline workers in meat factories" for the coronavirus vaccines.

"The risk of more rapid spread of the virus amongst key workers, coupled with expected disruption of food supplies at our ports as the full effects of Brexit begin to unfold, pose a severe challenge to the industry and to the smooth running of the nation's food supply chain," the BMPA said in a statement today.

As well as the meat industry, BMPA members also include some of the major UK supermarkets, food retailers and ingredient suppliers. It said there is an increased risk that meat plants could close as the new strain of coronavirus pushes up absenteeism rates, which could possibly lead to food shortages.

"Given the specialised nature of the meat-processing industry, if absences go above a certain level, it becomes impossible for a plant to continue operations. If this starts happening, plants would be forced to close entirely and a sizeable chunk of food supply would disappear from supermarket shelves," it said.

Nick Allen, the CEO of BMPA, continued: "As the new coronavirus variant takes hold across the whole of the UK, we are hearing widespread reports of rapidly rising absences in the food-supply chain. In some cases, notably in the supermarket sector, companies are seeing a tripling of staff having to take time off work through illness or enforced self-isolation.

"We are therefore calling on Government to include meat-factory workers in the initial roll-out of vaccinations. This would provide much-needed protection and comfort to this at-risk group and the communities in which they live, as well as ensuring that the critical food-supply chain continues to run smoothly."

6 January

Thai Union says all plants operating amid dozens of Covid cases

The seafood giant has issued a statement to say it is "proactively testing" employees in a province south west of Bangkok and confirmed some 69 of its staff at its sites in the region have tested positive for the virus.

Thai Union Group said it had tested 23,630 out of 27,552 employees in the province of Samut Sakhon, with the rest of the workers to be tested by next week.

"We have comprehensive protocols in place in case of positive test results; these protocols include ensuring taking care of the affected employees while isolating them according to government guidelines, identifying and testing close contacts and deep cleaning of visited work areas," Thai Union CEO Thiraphong Chansiri said. "It is very important to note that, due to the extremely small number of impacted employees, all Thai Union's factories currently remain open and operational at capacity."

Samut Sakhon province is one of the regions the Thai government has designated as a "red zone", or area with high infection rates. It is also Thailand's chief hub for seafood production.

--

Foster Farms faces lawsuit from workers union over Covid-19 safety

The US poultry processor, has become the subject of a lawsuit filed by the United Farm Workers union, which claims the company "refused" to follow safety guidelines after a number of workers died from Covid-19 at two of its plants in California.

5 January

UK announces grants for retail, foodservice businesses

The UK government has said it will make available "one-off, top-up grants" to the country's retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in the wake of the country's the fresh lockdown measures.

Firms can apply for grants worth up to GBP9,000 (US$12,200), with the Government suggesting the cash will benefit more than 600,000 companies.

"This will help businesses to get through the months ahead  and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen," Rishi Sunak, the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, said. "Throughout the pandemic we've taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we're announcing a further cash injection to support businesses and jobs until the spring."

The UK's furlough scheme had already been extended until the end of April.

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2 Sisters plant operating "as normal" amid Covid cases

The UK food manufacturer has reported a fresh clutch of positive cases of Covid-19 at a plant in Scotland that was hit by the virus during the summer.

2 Sisters said its Coupar Angus facility was "working as normal", with five of its staff having tested positive.

Last August, the site, located in south Lanarkshire, halted production for two weeks to after a number of employees caught the virus.

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Cargill re-opens Covid-hit Canada plant

The US agri-food giant has resumed production at a meat plant in Canada closed before Christmas due to dozens of cases of Covid-19 among staff.

Cargill called a halt to output at the facility in Ontario in the week before the festive period. The company said at the time around 60 of its workers at the site in Guelph in Ontario had been diagnosed with Covid-19 amid a "community spread" of the virus.

Approximately 1,000 staff are employed at the factory, which is located in the city of Guelph. According to the Cargill website, the plant processes 1,500 head of cattle per day and is one of its two beef facilities in Canada. Combined, the plants make up 55% of the beef processing market in Canada, Cargill says.

"The health and safety of our employees continue to be our top priority," Cargill said in a statement on the re-opening of the factory. "In addition to safety measures we implemented at our facilities months ago, we have taken time during the idle to conduct a full, deep-clean of the facility as an additional step to respond to the community-wide impacts of the virus."

Like food manufacturers across the industry, and particularly in the meat sector, Cargill saw its production affected in the early months of the pandemic after positive cases were diagnosed among staff.

4 January

Nestle to expand US site to meet Covid demand

Nestle is to up the production capacity of a plant in the US to meet changes in demand sparked by the virus.

23 December

FDF calls for compensation for exporters following border "chaos"

UK industry association The Food and Drink Federation has called on the country's government to compensate businesses affected by the closure of the border between Britain and France.

21 December

"We see consumer behaviours evolving in ways we think will stick beyond the pandemic"  General Mills' CEO Jeff Harmening on H1 results

General Mills reaped rewards from Covid-19 shopping behaviours in its fiscal first half as organic growth notched up a print of 8% compared to last year's flat performance. And the benefits look set to continue judging by the emergence of a new strain of the virus in the UK and Italy, while the US still grapples to contain the disease. Simon Harvey looks at the key talking points behind the results.

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FDF warns of disrupted food supplies as France closes border with UK

The Food and Drink Federation is warning that supplies of food into the country face disruption as a result of France closing its border with Britain.

18 December

Cargill halts output at Canada meat site amid Covid-19 cases

Cargill has called a halt to production at a meat-processing facility in Canada after dozens of staff tested positive for Covid-19.

The US agri-food giant said around 60 of its workers at the site in Guelph in Ontario had been diagnosed with Covid-19 amid a "community spread" of the virus. Approximately 1,000 staff are employed at the factory.

--

Tyson Foods in spotlight over Covid protective measures

Following cases of Covid-19 at a number of Tyson Foods' meat plants since the virus erupted, the comptroller for New York City is calling on the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate the company's methods to protect workers.

Comptroller Scott Stringer has criticised Arkansas-headquartered Tyson of "flagrantly misrepresenting its poor pandemic response" to investors.

He has called out Tyson's Form 10-K, a financial results document presented to the SEC annually, for containing scant information on the company's workplace safety measures.

Tyson has been plagued by Covid-19 infections at a large number of plants, some of which have been forced to temporarily shutdown or pause production as the appropriate cleaning and sanitisation processes are carried out. The affected sites have included factories in: Portland, Maine; Waterloo, Iowa; Goodlettsville and Shelbyville, Tennessee; Pasco, Washington; Dakota City, Nebraska; and Longansport, Indiana.

Six workers died from coronavirus at the Waterloo site, which witnessed more than a 1,000 infections.

"There is human cost to Tyson's failures  preventable deaths, hospitalisations and sick workers," Stringer said in a letter to Tyson. "These failures have material impacts on its business operations that carry serious risks for shareholders."

Tyson has yet to respond to just-food's request for comment.

17 December

Tyson Foods sacks seven managers linked to Covid-19 betting pool

Tyson Foods has sacked seven plant management employees at the US meat giant's site in Waterloo, Iowa, following an independent probe into a betting pool linked to Covid-19 infections.

16 December

Greencore's Nottingham factory hit by Covid

Greencore, a food-to-go manufacturer headquartered in Ireland, has a "number" of Covid-19 cases at a UK plant in the county of Nottinghamshire.

In a statement, the ready-meals to sandwiches maker said coronavirus infections in the Bassetlaw district in north Nottingham have been rising and Greencore now has an unspecified number of cases at its Manton Wood facility. All are currently self-isolating.

"We have arranged for testing to be carried out at the site, and have wide-ranging social-distancing measures, stringent hygiene procedures and regular temperature checking in place," the statement read. "We are liaising closely with the Director of Public Health for Nottinghamshire County Council and Public Health England. Our thoughts are with all those affected, who are currently recovering at home, and we will continue to monitor their welfare as the situation develops."



Jonathan Gribbin, a director of public health for Nottinghamshire County Council, added in the same statement provided by Greencore: "We have been carefully studying the cluster of cases across Bassetlaw district. We are working with Greencore and Public Health England to provide testing and to understand more about how people are acquiring the infection. Greencore has an extensive range of controls in place, has responded quickly and decisively to the situation and is working closely with us."

Other Greencore sites have seen cases of Covid during the year.

15 December

EU food-manufacturing workers "should be priority for vaccines"

FoodDrinkEurope, the trade body for representing food manufacturers operating in the EU, has called on the bloc's member states to take up a recommendation from The European Commission to include workers in the agri-food sector as "a priority group" for vaccines against Covid-19.

A joint statement issued with European trade union federation EFFAT said the Commission had provided guidelines to member states when developing their vaccination strategies and had included agriculture and food sector workers as one of six priority groups.

"The approval and availability of vaccines against Covid-19 is a huge step forward in the fight against the global pandemic. Vaccinating the entire EU population will take significant time, and due to the limited number of doses available not everybody can be immunised immediately," the statement read.

"Food security can only be ensured when the health and safety of the workers in the food and drink industry is protected and production can run smoothly. This holds true in the workplaces, as well as when considering a vaccination strategy."

Quoting an unnamed German government source, Reuters said The European Medicines Agency is set to issue a positive verdict on the first Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine next Wednesday (23 December).

9 December

Six new Covid cases confirmed at Bakkavor's Tilmanstone plant since Friday

Bakkavor, a UK private-label supplier, has said its salads plant in south-east England where two workers have unfortunately died after contracting Covid-19 has seen a further six new cases since last Friday (4 December), although numbers are declining.

A two-day mass-testing exercise was started at the Tilmanstone site in Kent on Monday (7 December) with 375 staff out of a workforce of "over 900" tested so far. In an update provided by Bakkavor yesterday afternoon, the company said 48 employees are now off work having tested positive, with another 44 self-isolating as a precautionary measure.

The testing programme was due to end at midnight yesterday. The Tilmanstone plant is currently operating at "reduced capacity", the company said, although a spokesperson for the business told just-food it is "a temporary adjustment, [with] no impact on service levels".

Bakkavor said in a statement: "As a business, we have fully followed PHE guidelines for the duration of the pandemic. We are currently working closely with Public Health England (PHE) South East and Kent County Council to monitor the situation and we will take whatever appropriate action is necessary to limit the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure that our staff on site are safe. We will follow PHE advice and, if and when further steps need to be taken, we will communicate any new developments."

--

4 December

Bakkavor to test all staff at Covid-hit plant

The UK private-label manufacturer is to test all staff working at a factory in south-east England for Covid-19 in the wake of two employees at the site dying after being diagnosed with the virus.

After talks with local government and health officials this week, Bakkavor will start conducting the tests at the facility, located in Tilmanstone in Kent, on Monday.

On the two members of staff who died, the company said: "We have sadly had two colleagues pass away following positive tests for Covid-19. These were valued members of our team and we are doing everything to support their families during this tragic time. At this early point in our investigation there is no evidence that either case was contracted in the workplace."

More than 900 employees work at the factory, which manufactures salad products. Bakkavor said 59 staff that have tested positive for Covid-19 are off work and a further 54 are self-isolating as a precautionary measure.

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Survey reveals Covid, Brexit outlook for UK hospitality

A UK business survey reveals Covid-19 has "wrecked confidence" among company chiefs in the hospitality industry, with the majority (82%) downbeat on prospects for the coming year.

The poll by Manchester-based research consultancy CGA and Fourth, a provider of cloud-based cost control solutions to hospitality, shows the figure was up from 40% in a similar survey conducted in February.

"Extended restrictions on trading and socialising over the autumn have led more than a quarter (27%) of multi-site business leaders to predict their groups will be unviable within the first six months of 2021 if current levels of support continue. Single-site businesses are at even greater risk of failure," the survey reveals.

Looking at the impact on the hospitality sector when the Brexit transition period ends this month, the majority of company chiefs anticipate a hit to profits (65%) and increased costs on imports (80%).

In terms of investment, the survey of 121 business leaders across management roles, reveals "widespread closures" are expected next year, with 38% having no plans to open new sites. "Substantial market churn, especially in London, where closures of offices, retail and tourist venues has hit footfall, can be expected," the researchers said.

CGA's research and insight director Charlie Mitchell said: "As we near the end of hospitality's toughest year in memory, the bleak picture of the sector will come as little surprise. Suffocating restrictions across Britain will devastate trading in what should be businesses' busiest time of the year.

"Leaders' optimism is at least rising from the rock bottom level of our last survey, and news of a vaccine is a reason for cautious hope of recovery in 2021. However, this week's Tier 2 restrictions in England and strict new limits in Wales could be fatal for smaller business in particular, making the case for more relaxed trading conditions and better government support even more urgent."

3 December

Second Covid death reported at Bakkavor salad plant

A second employee at a UK salad plant owned by private-label major Bakkavor has died after contracting Covid-19.

--

PepsiCo 'temporarily closed US plant due to Covid outbreak'

US food and beverages giant PepsiCo is reported to have temporarily closed a Frito-Lay snacks plant in its home market due to an outbreak of coronavirus.

On Tuesday (1 December), media outlets in the US quoted Clark County officials as confirming 17 cases among employees at the plant in Vancouver, Washington State.

Public health officials said the first worker tested positive on 29 October. PepsiCo confirmed in a statement emailed to local media that multiple employees had tested positive for the virus although it did not list a specific number.

It described the decision to close the Vancouver plant as "a precautionary measure and in partnership with the Clark County Health Department". It said that the plant was being sanitised during the closure.

Reports suggested the plant was closed from 25 November but was due to re-open on Tuesday evening.

just-food has asked PepsiCo for an update on the situation at the plant.

1 December

Union calls for mass testing at Bakkavor UK site after Covid outbreak

The GMB trade union has called on private-label major Bakkavor to introduce mass Covid-19 testing at a salad facility in southern England after an outbreak of the virus among workers there.

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BRF plant hit by Covid outbreak cleared to resume exports to China

A plant in southern Brazil operated by meat major BRF has been given the all-clear to resume exports to China following an earlier Covid-19 outbreak.

BRF said on Monday (30 November) its Lajeado pork unit has been authorised to resume exports to China, according to a statement sent to news agency Reuters.

The plant, which saw an outbreak of the virus among workers in May, employs about 3,000 people. The unit should resume exports over the coming days, the statement said.

"After an inspection by the Chinese authorities, it was possible to prove the commitment that all of us at BRF have always had regarding the health and safety of our employees and our products," Reuters quoted BRF as saying.

The news agency reported that least three other Brazilian meat factories remain blocked by China over coronavirus concerns, All are located in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul.

BRF's Lajeado unit had been suspended by China since July.
DUBLIN, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cliqued Media continues to make waves as Ireland's No 1 web design agency, through its client-orientated approach and stunning website designs. In doing so, it has helped clients countrywide to gain maximum return from their online activities.

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In a major bust of the Myanmar-India gold smuggling network, the Delhi Zonal Unit of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Thursday seized 55.61 kg of foreign origin gold valued at Rs 28 crore from eight persons at two locations, Delhi and Lucknow.

According to Ministry of Finance, specific information was developed by DRI regarding smuggling of huge quantity of foreign origin gold from Myanmar into India through the Indo-Myanmar border and sending it to different parts of India.

"The spurt of economic activity seen after the lifting of COVID related lockdowns throughout the country, combined with the pent-up demand for gold, coincided with a surge in such smuggling activities. The blocking of air routes through the lock down period also saw a significant shift in the modus operandi of smugglers from the air routes to the land route through the Indo-Myanmar border," the FinMin said in a release.

The ministry said that the DRI officers have made a string of spectacular gold seizures in the past six months. This include seizure of 51.33 kg of smuggled gold in November 2020 by the DRI Guwahati Zonal Unit, seizure of 84 kg and 66 kg of smuggled gold in August and November 2020, respectively, by the DRI Zonal Unit, and the present seizure of 55.61 kg of gold by the Delhi Zonal Unit, being the latest in the series.

Due to the intensive counter-smuggling efforts by DRI, the smugglers have been seen to shift their preferred modus from vehicle concealment to in-person concealment, the ministry said. However, in the latest operation, codenamed "Golden Triangle", which was a coordinated effort by the officers of Delhi Zonal Unit and Lucknow Zonal Unit of DRI, the modus of human concealment has also been busted where the carriers were found to have been concealing the gold bars in belts worn around their waists. Five such passengers were intercepted by officers of DRI, Delhi Zonal Unit near Delhi and three passengers were intercepted by the officers of DRI, Lucknow Zonal Unit at Lucknow. Search of the persons resulted in recovery and seizure of 335 gold bars, weighing 55.61 kg. The said 8 persons have been apprehended and further investigations are underway, it said.

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) and Bank Audi sal have announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the acquisition by FAB of 100% of the share capital of Bank Audi sae, Bank Audis subsidiary in Egypt, a media report said.



This agreement follows the completion of an in-depth due diligence exercise conducted by FAB on Bank Audi sae (Egypt) after obtaining the preliminary approval of the Central Bank of Egypt, reported Emirates News Agency WAM.



The transaction is expected to be completed within the next few months, following the satisfaction of customary conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the UAE and Egypt.



Andre Sayegh, Group Chief Executive Officer, FAB, said: "FAB has a long history in Egypt, having opened its first branch in the country more than 45 years ago. FABs first international acquisition accelerates the Groups expansion in a high potential market, with the addition of Bank Audi (Egypt)s operations offering the scale, expertise and financial strength to support our growth journey and sustainable returns.



FAB is committed to supporting customers in Egypt across a full range of retail and corporate banking needs, as well as serving as a bridge for trade and investment flows across the Mena region and beyond."



Samir Hanna, Chairman and Group CEO of Bank Audi, stated: "This transaction represents the best outcome for all our constituencies, in particular our customers and our employees in Egypt based upon the challenges we have been facing in Lebanon for the past 16 months.



"This transaction also represents a strong vote of confidence in the effectiveness of the Groups governance and business model across the region."



This acquisition will significantly increase the size and scale of FABs operations in Egypt, making it one of the countrys largest foreign banks by assets with pro-forma total assets of more than EGP120 billion ($8.1 billion). The proceeds of the sale will contribute to the enhancement of Bank Audi Groups capitalisation and financial resilience.



As at end-September 2020, Bank Audi sae (Egypt) had total assets of EGP83.2 billion ($5.3 billion) and shareholders' equity of EGP7.6 billion ($479 million). Its established Retail and Corporate Banking propositions, and network of 53 branches, complement FABs well-established operations in Egypt of 17 branches and a presence dating back to 1975.



First Abu Dhabi Bank and UBS AG (London Branch) acted as financial advisers, while Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Matouk Bassiouny & Hennawy acted as legal advisers to FAB on the transaction.



EFG Hermes acted as sole financial adviser, while Dechert LLP and Zulficar and Partners acted as legal adviser to Bank Audi on the transaction. JPMorgan rendered a Fairness Opinion to Bank Audi, while Broadgate Advisors offered advisory services to Bank Audi in connection with the transaction.
Theres a major flaw in Manitobas COVID-19 immunization plan for personal-care homes that has caught the province off guard.

Theres a major flaw in Manitobas COVID-19 immunization plan for personal-care homes that has caught the province off guard.

Newly arrived seniors at care homes where residents have already been vaccinated may have to wait up to a month for their first shot, with no plan on when their second dose will be administered.

Under the provinces rollout, immunization teams visit long-term care homes and vaccinate eligible candidates, usually the same day. Teams will return several weeks later to administer booster shots.

However, seniors who miss the first round, including new or re-admitted residents (or those too ill to be vaccinated at the time), have to wait for the immunization team to return to get their first shot. That could take up to four weeks. In a pandemic, that could be life or death.

BRANDON SUN Newly arrived seniors at care homes where residents have already been vaccinated may have to wait up to a month for their first shot, with no plan on when their second dose will be administered.

"Residents admitted between the two scheduled doses may be able to receive their first dose when the team arrives to administer the second dose," a provincial spokesperson said in an email.

What's more, there appears to be no plan in place to administer their second injections.

"It is preferred that the site arrange for the second dose to be administered," the spokesperson said.

This is a major oversight.

Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead with the vaccine implementation task force, has emphasized repeatedly how important it is for everyone to get their second dose within the manufacturers timeline (21 days for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 28 days for the Moderna version).

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead with the vaccine implementation task force, has emphasized repeatedly how important it is for everyone to get their second dose within the manufacturers timeline.

The second dose is required for maximum protection and long-term efficacy. Thats especially important for seniors living in congregate settings such as personal-care homes, Reimer said.

"This population is our top priority," she said Wednesday. "It is critical that we offer them that second dose."

Yet the province has still not figured out how to avoid lengthy delays for first doses, or how to administer followup shots for many care-home residents. (There is a steady stream of residents arriving at care homes every week, including many from hospital who were awaiting placement).

When pressed further, provincial officials would say only that theyre still working on the problem.

"With vaccination now underway for Manitobas PCH residents, we are reviewing plans to ensure we include new admissions or re-admissions to PCH within our immunization schedules," the provincial spokesperson said.

(Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) What Manitoba needs now are mobile vaccination teams that can do followup at long-term care homes to ensure all residents get timely first and second doses.

In other words, there is no plan. If they had one, they would make it public.

The province continues to blame the recent Pfizer shipment delays for many of its vaccine-rollout troubles. However, this has nothing to do with delivery schedules. The oversight is another example of poor planning.

All jurisdictions were aware last summer that vaccines could be approved for emergency use as early as the end of 2020. A vaccine team, led by someone experienced in large-scale logistical planning, should have had detailed plans months ago.

Instead, the province is making decisions on the fly, without experienced leadership. (Doctors who specialize in public health and government bureaucrats whose jobs normally include drafting budgets do not necessarily have backgrounds in logistical planning).

"With vaccination now underway for Manitobas PCH residents, we are reviewing plans to ensure we include new admissions or readmissions to PCH within our immunization schedules." Provincial spokesperson

What Manitoba needs now are mobile vaccination teams that can do followup at long-term care homes to ensure all residents get timely first and second doses. Arranging for booster shots should not be left up to individual facilities, as the province has proposed. There is far too much room for error and neglect (given the track record of some nursing homes) to leave it in their hands.

Immunizing the most vulnerable as quickly as possible is the key to mitigating death and protecting hospital capacity. Nearly half of Manitobans who have died of COVID-19 were residents of care homes.

Premier Brian Pallister said last week he hopes the media doesnt focus on every "hiccup" of his governments immunization plan. This isnt a hiccup; its a major blunder that could cost lives. It needs to be rectified immediately.

tom.brodbeck@freepress.mb.ca
(Newser)  Donald Trump's four adult children will have free Secret Service protection for the next six months after the former president extended the post-presidency security to them before leaving office, three sources tell the Washington Post. A senior US official also anonymously confirmed the news to CNN, though it has not been officially confirmed. Under federal law, long-term Secret Service protection, which is taxpayer-funded, was automatically granted to Trump, wife Melania, and 14-year-old son Barron (Barron until he turns 16, the former first couple for life), and six months of protection to former VP Mike Pence and wife Karen.

story continues below

In addition to issuing the directive that the same six months be granted to Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and Tiffany Trump, along with spouses Jared Kushner and Lara Trump, Trump also directed that former treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and former national security adviser Robert C. OBrien receive it, two sources say. The move is expected to cost taxpayers millions. Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama extended Secret Service protection to their high school and college-aged children after leaving office, but the Post says it's "highly unusual for a departing president to provide 24-hour security to relatives who are adults long past their college years." (Read more Secret Service stories.)
Lome, Togo (PANA) - Togo has recorded a worrying increase in Covid-19 infections in recent weeks, with a record 76 cases on Wednesday, the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene and Universal Access to Health Care said in a statement sent to PANA in Lome on Thursday
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  The Department of Health says it is observing an increasing number of COVID-19 infections in several regions outside of Metro Manila.

Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday said they are monitoring the situation in Cordillera Administrative Regions, Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Central Visayas, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen.

The official said the spike could be attributed to gatherings held during the Christmas season and issues in enforcement of health protocols.

"Sa nakikita natin sa ngayon, outside of Metro Manila po talaga nakikita natin ang medyo pagtaas ng kaso at ating binabantayan," she said in a media briefing.

[Translation: We see that the increase in cases are happening outside Metro Manila. We are monitoring this.]

Since the Philippines confirmed its first COVID-19 case in late-January last year, a total of 10,042 people have died of the disease. The country's case count reached 505,939 on Wednesday, while recoveries are now at 466,993.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun. High 49F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Partly to mostly cloudy. Low around 35F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - Tupelo police are trying to find the person who broke into a car dealership and stole items.

The crime happened the night of Wednesday, Jan. 20 at the Dodge Carlock dealership.



Police say the burglar fled in a white BMW SUV with an Alabama dealer license plate: D22367. | Source: Tupelo Police Department Police say the burglar fled in a white BMW SUV with an Alabama dealer license plate: D22367. | Source: Tupelo Police Department

Police say a slim, Black man broke into the dealership, stole key fobs and a Mississippi license plate: IT13554

The burglar is approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall, police described.

Police officers responded to the scene and the burglar fled in a white BMW SUV with an Alabama dealer license plate: D22367.

Police chased the vehicle but lost sight of the vehicle on Interstate 22 entering into Itawamba County, which is east of Tupelo.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-773-8477.
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In his inaugural address on Wednesday, Joe Biden said his presidency will focus on uniting our nation. And he might be better suited to that job than anyone else: As Slates senior politics writer, Jim Newell, wrote, Bidens long career in politics has earned him the broadest reservoir of goodwill. But the new president is about to face two major tests, on the COVID-19 stimulus and on immigration, and congressional Republicans are not going to roll over in the name of unity. On Thursdays episode of What Next, I talked to Newell about what Biden and his team want to get passed right away, how they might do it, and what might stop them. A portion of our conversation, condensed and edited for clarity, is transcribed below.

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Mary Harris: The Biden administration has mapped out a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill that includes a round of $1,400 checks and a minimum wage increase to $15 an hour. The content of this bill is important, but what might be more important is the process used to get it passed. Getting another stimulus through the Senate using the regular order, meaning a two-thirds majority to avoid a filibuster, is probably going to be difficult, maybe impossible.

Jim Newell: I dont know if there are 10 Republican votes for a $1.9 trillion package like that, especially now that, with a Democrat in office, theyre going to rediscover their big concerns about the debt and everything. One example: After inauguration, when I was walking out, I saw Mitt Romney and I just asked him a couple of questions about the speech. He said its a wonderful speech, this is exactly the message we need to hear. He seemed pretty excited about how things had gone. And then I asked him for his thoughts on the stimulus package and he said, well, we can agree to disagree, and I dont think nows the time to be spending any more money.

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I think Democrats will have a couple weeks of politeness maybe.  Jim Newell

If Mitt Romney isnt coming aboard 

Right. And that makes sensejust because he was critical of Trump doesnt mean hes not a fiscal conservative. But I think thats gonna be the attitude, and so there might only be a few Republican senators in play. If that doesnt work out, then you have to talk about doing a reconciliation bill, which is kind of a fast-track process where measures that are explicitly taxing or spending measures can be passed with 50 votes only in the Senate.

Reconciliation is an opportunity for the controlling party to pass major legislation with a simple majority, avoiding a filibuster. But reconciliation can only be done under certain circumstances, and only once each fiscal year.

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I think Democrats will have a couple weeks of politeness maybe, but then theyll move to that process. It stops short of getting rid of filibusterif you get rid of the filibuster, then you can pass any type of legislation you want with 50 votes. But I dont think Democrats have the votes to do that right now.

Would they need more than a majority to get rid of the filibuster?

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No. Under the nuclear option, which is this way of sort of eliminating a Senate rule by setting a new precedent, you can just do it by a simple majority.

But you think they dont even have a simple majority.

No. I mean, Joe Manchin, West Virginia senator, said a couple of months ago, reiterated, that under no circumstances will he ever get rid of the filibuster. And then that doesnt even count some of the other centrist Democrats. Youre going to have two Democrats from Arizona and two from Georgia now. And then there may be just some other traditionalists there who arent ready to do that.

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The second bill thats going to put this new administration to the test is the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which includes an eight-year pathway to citizenship for the undocumented. It makes sense that the Biden administration would prioritize thissimilar reform almost passed back in 2013.

I think its still the same kind of political bargain that they were looking at in 2013 and before that in 2006, 2007, where Democrats want a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already here, and Republicans in exchange want enhanced border security. Everyone wants to come up with the right number of guest worker visas so that labor can all be managed legally through the system.

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It almost worked in 2013. You had a bipartisan group in the Senate put together a bill. You had a lot of outside actors working on it. You had the Chamber of Commerce on businesss end and AFL-CIO representing labors point, trying to hash out the details. And they got a compromise done. It passed the Senate with 68 votesall Democrats and [14] Republicans. It would have passed the House if the House had brought it up because there were all the Democrats and you would have had enough moderate House Republicans who would have voted for it. But Boehner never brought it up because they were threatening to overthrow him from the speakers position if he did so. He did not have the will of his conference on that.

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So when I look ahead to this year, it looks on paper like it could be the right coalition because Biden could put forward a roughly similar idea. You could still get a bipartisan group in the Senate, and you have Democrats controlling the House so you could actually pass it. But if you look at the context of that 2013 bill, this was right after the GOP had released that autopsy, that RNC autopsy of why they lost the 2012 election.

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Which said that they had to appeal to more diverse constituencies.

Yeah, and they had to soften their tone on immigration. That was the operative and donor class thinking on this. But then Trump won in 2016 by going very hard on immigration. So I just dont think that Republicans in the Senate are going to have the will to go along with a Democratic immigration bill enough to move it.

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So itll be an interesting temperature check.

Yeah. Ill be curious to see if it just goes down on party lines. The 2013 one, that was something where [Florida Sen. Marco] Rubio was one of the big architects of it, and it really hurt his chances running for president in 2016 in the primary. So I wonder if theyre willing to take the plunge again or if they feel like things have just changed enough now that its not worth the effort.

Theres so many former Obama, former Clinton folks in Bidens staff, who were operating in a different political reality than were in now. I wonder what youre looking for to see if theyre doing what actually needs to be done or if theyve learned the lessons of the years past.

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All the signs have been really promising that theyve learned those lessons. Youve heard Joe Biden himself say the first bill were going to do is going to be expensive and were going to pay for it with deficit financing. Theyre not worried about these optics of not having every single dollar paid for in new legislation they create. And that is a big lesson, learning from the Obama years.

I think a lot of them regret that the stimulus they passed in 2009 was maybe a half or a third of what it needed to be to help get the economy going again. And I think if you look at Bidens $1.9 trillion planwhich is phase one of his planI think a lot of them think this is a makeup call for that. So once Republicans, at 12:01 on Wednesday, decide that its time to care about the national debt again, I dont think Democrats are going to buy that as much. I dont think theyre going to be so concerned with that argument that a lot of the Republicans, some of them are consistent, but most of them are making in bad faiththat its a Democrat in office, time to not spend any more money.

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Does it help that Bidens at the end of his career? Theres so much talk about maybe he wont run for a second term. Is that freeing?

Maybe. It depends on if he is going to run for a second term. And I suspect, its a pretty good chance, that he has decided hes not going to run for a second term. But he doesnt want to announce that because then suddenly you lose some of your power. Then you have a lot of jockeying in Congress about whos going to replace you, and your authority is diminished right off the bat. So hes not going to say that, and thatll be interesting, to see how thats teased out over the next however many years.

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For all of Kamala Harris impressive firsts, shes not the first person of color elected vice president of the United States.

That was achieved by Charles Curtis, a Native American lawmaker and member of the Kaw Nation, who served under President Herbert Hoover some 90 years ago.

Curtis, a conservative Kansas Republican, reveled in the prestige of the vice presidency. Despite widespread discrimination against Native Americans, he celebrated his ethnicity, often boasting of his rise from Kaw tepee to Capitol, decorating his office with artifacts, and posing for photos in a feathered headdress.

He and Hoover disliked each other. The president rarely sought his advice. Both men, having presided over the stock market crash that commenced the Great Depression, were swept from office after a single term in Franklin Roosevelts 42-state landslide in 1932.

That helped relegate Curtis to historys footnotes, despite national name recognition in his day.

Charles Curtis appeared on the cover of Time in (from left) 1926, 1928 and 1932.

Three times he appeared on the cover of Time magazine, then the arbiter of who and what mattered. Beginning in 1892 he won multiple terms to the House of Representatives from his district in Topeka, then was elected to the Senate, where he rose to majority leader.

Its an incredible achievement to climb as high as he did, said Oklahoma attorney and historian Brett Chapman, who is of Ponca, Kiowa and Pawnee descent, and whose great-great-grandfather, Horse Chief Eagle, took part in the Hoover-Curtis inauguration. To be able to do this in his time is just crazy to me.

Curtis believed in cultural assimilation, that Native peoples must meld into the dominant white society  an ultimately disastrous idea created, enforced, and exported at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. Scores of government- and church-run schools across the country soon followed Carlisles example, working to erase the languages, customs, and religions of Native children.

That forced assimilation now is viewed negatively, and rightfully so, Chapman said, but Curtis definitely had his supporters among Native Americans.

They saw, [This is] somebody with his foot in the door to power. Hes proud to be an Indian.

If hes remembered today, its usually for his drafting of the 1898 Curtis Act. Formally titled An Act for the Protection of the People of the Indian Territory, it did the opposite, overturning treaty rights by abolishing tribal courts and giving the federal government control over mineral leases on Native lands.

Charles Curtis, center, with an unidentified Native American man and a woman in 1929. (Harris & Ewing Collection/ Library of Congress)

His modern anonymity as the first person of color to serve as vice president, scholars say, stems largely from white-establishment decisions about whose stories are told, whose experiences are emphasized in schools.

Theres a long history of deemphasizing Indigenous histories, said Darren Lone Fight, a professor of Native American studies at Dickinson College in Carlisle, and an enrolled member of The Three Affiliated Tribes  Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara. And theres a long history of famous Native Americans who arent recognized as Native American.

For instance, Curtis contemporary, the great humorist Will Rogers, was in his day the single most popular and beloved man in America, noted PBS American Masters. And he was Cherokee. But those tribal ties were not recognized by Americans troubled at the prospect of accepting an Indian who did not fit their expectations, Rogers scholar Amy Ware wrote in Indian Country Today. He led a life that seemed non-Indian to his white fan base: he was a cowboy; he was wealthy; he ran largely in non-Indian political circles.

Born in 1860, when Kansas was a Territory, still a year away from statehood, Curtis was the great-great-grandson of White Plume, a Kaw chief, according to his Senate biography. He spoke the Kansa language before English, and spent his earliest years in both white and Native communities around North Topeka.

At age 6, he moved to the Kaw reservation with his maternal grandparents, learning to ride bareback and becoming a fearless horseman.

I had my bows and arrows, and joined the other boys in shooting arrows at nickels, dimes, and quarters which visitors would place in split sticks, Curtis recalled.

His paternal grandparents, worried about Cheyenne raids in what was still a frontier West, took him back to Topeka. Curtis became a winning jockey, but turned down a contract to race at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial. Instead, at the urging of his elders, he tended to his schooling.

After high school graduation, he studied law, was admitted at 21 to the Kansas bar, and opened his own firm. Always interested in politics, Curtis won election in 1884 as the Shawnee County attorney, known for his strict enforcement of Prohibition laws.

Charles Curtis in a portrait taken June 1931. (Library of Congress)

He was a handsome fellow, five feet ten, straight as his Kaw Indian grandfather must have been, Emporia Gazette editor William Allen White wrote in 1891, with an olive skin that looked like old ivory, a silky, flowing, handlebar mustache ... a mop of crows wing hair, a gentle ingratiating voice, and what a smile!

In 1892 Curtis won upset election to the House, claiming the seat for Republicans even as Kansas elected a Populist governor and voted for a Populist presidential candidate. He went to the Senate to fill an unexpired term in 1907  state legislatures did the choosing then  and won the seat on his own by popular vote in 1914.

As Republican whip, he led the floor fight for the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. He became chair of the Senate Rules Committee in 1923 and two years later became majority leader.

Idaho Sen. William Borah called him a walking political encyclopedia and one of the best political poker players in America.

When President Calvin Coolidge surprised the nation by choosing not to run for re-election in 1928, then-Commerce Secretary Hoover became the frontrunner for the nomination, and Curtis his competitor.

Hoover won on the first convention ballot. Republicans believed the Kansas senator would balance the ticket, given Hoovers unpopularity in farm states.

The pair won 58 percent of the popular vote, claiming 444 electoral votes to 87 for Democrats Al Smith and Joseph Robinson. The victory brought Hoover and Curtis no closer.

Neither man mentioned the other in his inaugural address, and except for formal occasions they seem to have had as little to do with each other as possible, Curtis Senate biography notes.

Curtis vice presidential duties were relegated to the social and ceremonial. He presented the Distinguished Flying Cross to Amelia Earhart, and opened the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Mostly, he presided over the Senate, occasionally casting tie-breaking votes.

He offered little buoyancy to Hoovers sinking re-election hopes, insisting to angry and frightened out-of-work voters that the Depression was simply a natural economic fluctuation, noted the Miller Center at the University of Virginia.

The tickets massive defeat ended Curtis 50-year political career. He practiced law in Washington, D.C. until his death at 76 in 1936. His body was returned to Topeka for burial, where thousands of mourners, Republicans and Democrats, gathered to honor him.

-- The Philadelphia Inquirer, Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

New Delhi: A fire broke at Serum Institute of India's under-construction site at its factory near Pune on Thursday, which killed five people and led to enormous financial damages to the company.

Today is an extremely sorrowful day for all of us at Serum Institute of India. Regrettably, there were losses of lives in the fire that broke out in our under-installation facility situated at the Special Economic Zone at Manjri," Serum Institute chairman and managing director Cyrus S. Poonawalla said in a statement on Facebook and Twitter, adding that the company will be offering a compensation of Rs2.5 million to each of the families, in addition to the mandated amount as per the norm.

The fire broke out on Thursday afternoon at a site near the company's existing production at Manjri, a suburb near Pune, where vaccine manufacturing equipment was being installed for upcoming production of non-covid vaccines, a person aware of the development said.

While the companys covid-19 vaccine Covishield is being produced at another site at Manjri, there has been no impact on its manufacturing, and the extent of damage and impact on other upcoming vaccines will only be determined in the next few days, he said.

The site will now have to be rebuilt and new equipment will have to be set up, which will hit launches of new products as well as lead to significant financial loss for the company, he said. However, it will not affect the launch of Covavax, Serum Institutes version of US-based Novavaxs promising covid-19 vaccine.

Serum Institute chief executive officer Adar Poonawalla told business news channel CNBC-TV18 that new product launches will be hit, and there will be equipment damages of 100s of crores" and more than 1000 crore in revenue loss over the next one to two years due to the fire".

However, in a tweet following the incident, he said "I would like to reassure all governments & the public that there would be no loss of Covishield production due to multiple production buildings that I had kept in reserve to deal with such contingencies at Serum Institute."

As of 6 pm, the fire had been extinguished and search and rescue operations were ongoing at the site, Prashant Ranpise, chief fire officer of Pune Municipal Corporation, told Mint, adding that they are also investigating what had caused the fire.

We rescued nine people using hydraulic platforms and rescue tools at the site and we found five casualties as of now. Search and rescue is still going on," Ranpise said.

Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackerays office said that the CM spoke to Adar Poonawalla and told him that he will inspect the site on Friday.

The Chief Minister will leave for Pune by helicopter at 3 pm. At around 3.30 pm, they will visit and inspect the burning serum plant in Hadapsar area," the chief ministers office said.

The concern among government officials, including Thackeray, is understandable as Covishield is one of two covid-19 vaccines which are currently being manufactured and administered in India, and the Ministry of External Affairs has also gifted some doses of the vaccine to some neighbouring countries like Bangladesh.

Most of Serum Institute's manufacturing capacity of 1.5 billion doses of vaccine is located in Pune. The company is currently manufacturing about 50-60 million doses of Covishield vaccine, which it will scale up to 100 million per month by February end or early March.

(Kalpana Pathak from Mumbai contributed to the story.)

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Los Angeles, California, Jan. 21, 2021 -- Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman, a Los Angeles-based personal injury practice, received acclaim once again through four of its attorneys' selection to the 2021 edition of California Super Lawyers. Part of Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers selects no more than 5% of the nation's lawyers to appear in its annual publication, meaning it is quite commendable to have four Super Lawyers honorees at one firm.

For their success in Los Angeles, 2021 Super Lawyers listed the following Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman attorneys:

Michael L. Baum (2005, 2012-2021) Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff





Ronald L. M. Goldman (2005-2021) Aviation and Aerospace Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff





Bijan Esfandiari (2017-2021) Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff





Timothy A. Loranger (2015-2021) Aviation and Aerospace Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff



As shown by the dates accompanying their names, each of these lawyers were listed in previous editions of Super Lawyers. Nevertheless, all veteran Super Lawyers candidates must go through the selection process again every year to continually earn the recognition. This ensures that every edition of Super Lawyers is up-to-date and truly representative of however many attorneys from small, medium, and large law firms are in practice in the United States that year.

During the selection process, attorneys are evaluated in 12 facets of their careers, including verdicts and settlements, scholarly works, community service, representative clients, and more. They are then re-evaluated by top-rated attorneys from their respective areas of legal practice.

Considering the landmark legal work that the firm does, an examination of these attorneys' practices at Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman certainly yielded impressive results. For instance, some of the firm's top cases include:

The first three Bayer (formerly Monsanto) Roundup cancer lawsuits to go to trial, amounting to billions of dollars won in jury verdicts for injured consumers;

A $63 million settlement obtained for a class action suit brought forth over the pediatric mismarketing of Paxil; and

A $17.5 million U.S. plane accident case.

Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is a nationally acclaimed firm that has won more than $4 billion for its clientele. Brimming with talent, its legal team is recognized in the Verdicts Hall of Fame and as Elite Trial Lawyers by ALM and the National Law Journal, as Product Liability Practice Group of the Year 2020 by Law360, by Avvo.com, The Best Lawyers in America, The National Trial Lawyers, and more. To learn more about its legal services, please visit the firm online at baumhedlund.com. Kindly direct Super Lawyers inquiries to superlawyers.com.

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When talking about Pollara Pizzeria, the operative word has to be airy. When bitten, the crackling crusts remind me of how it feels to pop a sheet of bubble wrap, bubble after bubble, the sound of collapse a reward unto itself.

In a town with plenty of formidable pizzas, Pollara sets itself apart by focusing on rectangular, Roman-style pizza al taglio, where customers traditionally order by the gram (here, by the ounce) and their slices get cut using scissors (al taglio means by the cut in Italian). Restaurateurs Kayta and Jon Smulewitz, also known for Oaklands now-closed Dopo, opened it in Berkeley in September 2019, inspired by a fortuitous visit to the famed pizza al taglio spot Pizzarium while touring Rome. While Dopos menu was inspired by the foods of Jon Smulewitzs Sicilian American upbringing, Pollara represents a new direction for the chef.

Like the best of artisan pizza, the crust is where Pollara excels. A pizza-maker once told me that for most pizza lovers, the toppings are the obvious thing to fixate upon. But its the crust thats the most challenging to differentiate and talk about; its also the component that pizza cooks tend to work the hardest at perfecting.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Pollaras is light, with a bulk that seems to consist of mostly air, but its not too fragile to hold its own against the toppings. Achieving that structure, characterized by a honeycomb of gaseous bubbles in the unbaked dough, relies on a specific methodology. Jon uses more water in his recipe and ferments dough in the fridge, as opposed to the usual warm spot in the kitchen. That combination of high-hydration dough and a 72-hour cold fermentation  both hallmarks of the style  lead to that lighter crust and delicate crumb.

Its a deceptively lithe pie; its nearly as thick as many Detroit-style pizzas but far less dense. The rectangular pizza al taglio really seems like a fancy toast in disguise.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

The cacio e pepe pie ($32), an adaptaion of the classic minimalist pasta dish, is a worthy vehicle for the crust. Usually, the pastas silky texture comes from a starchy mixture of pasta water and pecorino Romano. Here, that texture is echoed by a silken smear of house-made ricotta, which forms the bulk of the pie. The fine curds of the cheese have the same stupefying effect as high-end bed sheets, prompting you to close your eyes and sigh. Youre kept wide awake by the generous grinds of black pepper. The relatively mild base also makes the pizza amicable to other add-ons, if you are indeed a toppings-first kind of pizza lover.

But Id recommend not customizing too much or you run the risk of overshadowing the crust with too many other flavors and textures. If you want something punchier, try the sun-dried tomato pizza. Ubiquitous in vinaigrettes, bagels and pastas in American restaurants and home kitchens in the 1990s, sun-dried tomatoes now have a retro-in-a-bad-way feel to them. The sun-dried tomato pizza ($32) at Pollara is a welcome update to a tired flavor.

The first taste impression pulses with the tomatoes concentrated savory and sweet notes; the bitter grassiness of fresh arugula, applied generously here, moderates that intensity. Ripped globs of mozzarella wash over the flavors without drowning them out. The pizza also comes without cheese in an even more intense vegan version, which I also recommend.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

Though toppings arent always a pizzaiolos preferred way to show prowess, Pollara offers many compelling choices. Every day, the pizzeria sells about a dozen or more types of pies, which are displayed in a glassed-in, pre-baked lineup at the counter, looking like reams of patterned fabric. Squash blossoms cascade on top of one another in neat lines, and the variant fatty marbling of the pink-hued house-cured prosciutto would look just as lovely on a summer skirt. On the red pizzas, the scant, baked-on tomato sauce provides the most subtle umami undertone.

Before the pandemic, you could order pizza the Roman way  scissor cut, and by weight  which made it easy to try many flavors. Now, you have to settle on ordering by the quarter, half or full pan, which is way less fun but more efficient and better for minimizing customer interaction.

Choosing just a few is just excruciating, but every pizza that Ive tried at Pollara is outstanding. Pizzas are sold pre-baked and cold, with reheating directions included. You can also ask for your pizzas to be reheated on-site; there are plenty of spots in the plaza to eat, if youre OK with sitting on a concrete partition.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

But beyond the pizza, Pollara Pizzeria is so well-conceived that theres nothing that Id want to change. While I cant wait to actually sit and eat in the high-ceilinged dining room, the takeout experience is still worth a trip. Everything fits together so poetically.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Alongside pies there are tart-and-bitter salads, essential additions to grab. A nest of petite arugula leaves ($9), coupled with a simple, shallot-y dressing, provides the bite you need to offset the heavier tastes of the pizzas. For a more traditional pizza-night route, get the Caesar-ish salad of little gem lettuce ($12), which gets a dusting of grana padano cheese and a sharp lemon-anchovy vinaigrette on the side.

The fried suppli act as substantial pre-cursors to eating the pie, too. The classic ($3) is a ball of arborio rice stuffed with mozzarella and tomato, then deep-fried. The tomato gives each bite a surprising sharpness and depth, making the dish taste much more complicated than just any old fried snack. If youre unfamiliar, imagine the best possible interpretation of a Totinos Pizza Roll that still captures its pleasing gooiness with just a hint of grease.

And as a final accompanying act, Pollaras Italian-dominated wine list is worth perusing to take home a bottle. It covers a range of price points, from a $28 sparkling wine to a rare, $132 Sangiovese, with some fun natural wines in the mix as well. Drinks with a strong tannic finish, like the orange wines Pollara stocks, complement the cheeses and charcuterie that they make in-house. Check out I Cacciagallis Zagreo, made from the Fiano grape ($40), which first exhibits a farmers market stands worth of stone fruit aromas before landing on a refreshingly astringent note.

Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle

I havent been to Pizzarium and cant speak to whether Pollara has replicated it. The Smulewitzes, though, have clearly done their research on how to make an excellent pizza, and the care theyve put into it is tangible with each crackling bite.

If youre a crust-agnostic who tends to leave it on the plate, Pollara will make a believer out of you.

Pollara Pizzeria, 11:30 a.m.-7p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Takeout. 1788 Fourth St., Berkeley. (510)-529-4548 or www.pollarapizzeria.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 14:31:18|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mongolian Prime Minister Ukhnaa Khurelsukh has proposed the resignation of his entire government after two ministers announced their withdrawal, local media reported on Thursday.

His decision is expected to be discussed at a meeting of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Mongolian People's Party. After that, the issue will be discussed at a session of the parliament.

Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the State Emergency Commission Yangu Sodbaatar and Health Minister Togtmol Munkhsaikhan on Wednesday evening announced their resignations amid social pressure and public protests.

The resignations came after a woman had tested positive for COVID-19 and was transferred from a maternity hospital to a quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients together with her newborn baby on Tuesday night.

Mass public protests were triggered in Ulan Bator as the woman wore slippers and no outerwear in freezing weather during the transfer. Enditem
New Delhi, Jan 21 : The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain three separate pleas by the Uttar Pradesh government against the bail granted to Samajwadi Party MP Azam Khan, his wife and son for allegedly forging birth certificates.

The Uttar Pradesh government filed an appeal in the top court challenging the Allahabad High Court's October 2020 order.

A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah, however, declined to entertain the appeal of the Uttar Pradesh government.

"The Special Leave Petitions are dismissed. We make it clear that any observation made in the impugned order shall have no bearing in the trial since it was only with regard to granting bail," the bench's order said.

BJP member Akash Saxena had registered a complaint alleging that Khan and his wife are in possession of two birth certificates of their son issued from different places. The first certificate was issued from Rampur in January 2012 and the other was issued from Lucknow in April 2015.

The first recorded had recorded Abdullah's date of birth as January 1, 1993, which was used for making his passport. The second birth certificate recorded Abdullah's birth on September 30, 1990. The second certificate was used in government documents and also for contesting election to the state Assembly.

Azam Khan, along with his wife Tazeen Fatima and son Mohammed Abdullah, were charged for alleged forgery in the birth certificate of Abdullah.

The three were granted bail by the High Court after they furnished bonds as per the satisfaction of the magistrate concerned. In February last year, the family had surrendered before a Rampur court after their anticipatory bail applications were rejected.

The High Court had directed that there should be no tampering of evidence by the three applicants. Also, they were asked not to indulge in intimidating the witnesses during the investigation or trial; and to cooperate in the trial.

Kiwi politician Simon Bridges has issued a desperate plea for The Wiggles to be let into New Zealand ahead of their national tour, after the children's band failed to secure a spot in quarantine.

The Australian performers are scheduled to play shows in March and April, and were reportedly granted permission last month to enter the country.

But according to Mr Bridges, 'visa delays' meant the performers weren't able to secure spots in MIQ - New Zealand's 'managed isolation and quarantine' coronavirus program.

Any wiggle room? Kiwi politician Simon Bridges has issued a desperate plea for The Wiggles to be let into New Zealand ahead of their national tour, after the children's band failed to secure a spot in quarantine. Pictured (L-R): The Wiggles' Simon Pryce, Emma Watkins, Lachlan Gillespie and Anthony Field on November 27, 2019, in Sydney

Mr Bridges, who has three children, revealed on Wednesday he'd written a letter to the government begging them to make room for The Wiggles in MIQ.

If they aren't approved for quarantine, they will have to cancel their tour.

'I've just drafted a letter to the powers that be asking that they do what they can so the Wiggles can do their 25 scheduled shows across New Zealand in March and April,' he tweeted,

'Over 40,000 tickets have already been sold,' he added.

'I've just drafted a letter to the powers that be': Mr Bridges (pictured), who has three children, revealed on Wednesday he'd written a letter to the government begging them to make room for The Wiggles in MIQ - New Zealand's 'managed isolation and quarantine' Covid-19 program

Mr Bridges said The Wiggles' cast and crew had applied to enter New Zealand through the proper channels, but 'due to visa delays the MIQ slots that were available, aren't anymore'.

The former Opposition Leader went on to disclose a tongue-in-cheek 'conflict of interest' - namely that his 'two older children have grown up adoring The Wiggles, and my youngest child, aged three, is obsessed by them and may well go to their Tauranga concert if it happens'.

In a final tweet, Mr Bridges added: 'I suspect any MP with kids under a certain age will have the same conflict.'

'Over 40,000 tickets have already been sold': Simon went in to bat for the popular Australian performers in a three-part Twitter thread on Wednesday

The Wiggles' We're All Fruit Salad tour is scheduled to begin on March 19.

The band must complete a 14-day stay in MIQ before they can commence the tour, meaning they must enter quarantine by no later than March 4.

Tickets went on sale in November last year.
Sudanese children walk past an amoured vehicle of the UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur (AFP or licensors)

Tense calm in Sudan's restive Darfur region as government deploys security forces to maintain the peace following the killing of scores of people over the weekend.

By Vatican News staff writer



Violent clashes in Sudan over the weekend left at least 140 dead in separate attacks, according to news reports.

Clashes left 55 people dead on Monday, just hours after approximately 80 people, including women and children, were killed in a separate round of intercommunal clashes in West Darfur between Saturday and Sunday. Several houses are also said to have been destroyed and an estimated 50,000 people displaced.

Authorities in West Darfur have imposed a statewide curfew, while Sudans transitional government in the capital has deployed security forces around the country to restore order.

Fragile peace

Sudan has been going through a fragile transition since the 2019 ouster of President Omar al-Bashir following massive pro-democracy protests.

The conflict in Darfur erupted in 2003 when ethnic minorities rose up against Bashirs Arab-dominated government, accusing the administration of discrimination. According to the United Nations, the ensuing violence claimed about 300,000 lives and 2.5 million people were displaced.

Though fighting in Darfur has subsided over the years, ethnic and tribal tensions occasionally flare, mainly over land and access to water between nomadic and settled pastoral farmers.

News sources say that the violence on Saturday erupted between Arab nomads and members of the non-Arab Masalit ethnic group in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur State.

The separate clashes on Monday were reportedly between members of the Fallata ethnic group and the Arab Rizeigat tribe. Sources allege that the clashes appeared to be in revenge for the killing of a Rizeigat member about a week ago by the Fallata tribe.

Peace efforts

This latest surge in violence comes after the departure of UNAMID, a joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission that ended its mission in Darfur on 1 January, ahead of its complete withdrawal and replacement by Sudanese forces.

Many Darfuris, citing fears of renewed violence, protested the departure of the peacekeeping mission after 13 years of operations in the country.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the situation in Darfur in a statement on Sunday. He called on the Sudanese authorities to de-escalate the situation and bring an end to the fighting, restore law and order and ensure the protection of civilians.

The violent clashes over the weekend have been the worst since the signing of a peace agreement between Sudans government and rebel groups in October 2020, in a deal aimed at ending years of war in which thousands died.
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Coronavirus cases did not fall during the first 10 days of England's third lockdown, a major Government-commissioned study has found - just a week after a raft of official data suggested that shutdown measures had caused a dip in infections.

Random swabbing of 142,000 people conducted by Imperial College between January 6-15 found 'no evidence' of a decline in cases, and instead showed that 1.58 per cent of people in England were infected with Covid-19 in that 10-day spell - the equivalent of almost 900,000 people.

Experts also estimated that the national R rate is 1.04, meaning the epidemic is still increasing in size and pressure on hospitals will continue to mount.

However, last week an array of data and scientific estimates showed exactly the opposite. Cambridge University researchers had estimated that the R rate - the the average number of people each infected person passes the disease onto - may have dipped to 0.6 in London and the South East.

Public Health England had also revealed that weekly Covid cases had fallen in every age group except the over-80s, despite the spread of the highly infectious variant first spotted in Kent which officials feared couldn't be contained. And Department of Health figures had showed that dozens of boroughs had experienced a drop in infection rates.

It comes after Britain recorded its deadliest day of the Covid pandemic for second day in a row with 1,820 more fatalities, taking the overall number of victims one step closer to the grim 100,000 milestone.

When broken down by date of death, data shows 1,110 people succumbed to the virus on January 12, the highest number of fatalities to occur on a single day since the start of the pandemic. The daily toll is the number of deaths registered in the last 24 hours, which includes deaths over the past few days.

Despite the country's ever-growing death toll, Department of Health statistics also showed the UK's second wave is continuing to fade away as a result of the lockdown. Officials recorded another 38,905 coronavirus cases, down 18 per cent on last Wednesday's figure of 47,525.

Random swabbing of 142,000 people between January 6 to 15 found 'no evidence' of a decline in infection levels  despite an array of promising data showing exactly the opposite. The graph shows the test positivity rate for every day of the study

The Imperial College London study found that 1.58 per cent of people in England were infected with coronavirus in that 10-day spell  the equivalent of almost 900,000 people. The graph shows the general trend across each time period the study has been carried out for, with the red line pointing upwards in the most recent week

The Imperial College London team also revealed how test positivity rates varied across each region of England over the study period, with rates falling in the East and South West and plateauing in London

Deaths lag behind infections by several weeks because of how long it takes between catching and falling seriously ill with Covid, so the effects of the January 5 lockdown may not be felt in the death figures until next week. Experts say Britain will suffer more record-breaking days in terms of deaths before they eventually fall.

Other studies tracking the size of the outbreak - including the King's College London symptom-tracker - claim cases fell almost immediately because of lockdown. And even Department of Health data suggests that cases were falling in London and other areas plunged into Tier 4 before Christmas.

The Imperial study - commissioned by the Government - bucked the trend, however. It suggested the epidemic is not slowing down as hoped and that hospital admissions will keep increasing for several weeks.

The study found that 1.58 per cent of people - around one in 65 - were infected with the virus. This has surged since the start of December but is slightly down from an estimated peak of one in 50 just after Christmas.

Lead author Professor Steven Riley said: 'There's no evidence that infection prevalence is decreasing at present, even 10 days into lockdown. The main health implication of this is that we can't expect levels of daily deaths to drop and we can't expect the number of Covid inpatients to drop.

'Not thinking about whether [cases] are going up, the fact that it's not going down has potentially serious consequences.'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the findings show 'why we must not let down our guard over the weeks to come'. He added: 'Infections across England are at very high levels and this will keep having a knock-on effect on the already significant pressures faced by our NHS and hospitals.

'It is absolutely paramount that everyone plays their part to bring down infections.'

In other coronavirus developments:

No10's chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance took a swipe at Boris Johnson over the timing of lockdowns as he said the government got 'some things right and some things wrong';

Home Secretary Priti Patel claimed in a leaked recording that she pushed for the UK to close its borders when the pandemic began last year;

Pressure grew on Boris Johnson to speed up the vaccine rollout to care homes, after damning official figures showed they were once again at the heart of Britain's crisis;

One of Israel's top Covid medics claimed the first dose of Pfizer's Covid vaccine is less than half as effective as he expected;

Sir Patrick Vallance insisted that the current crop of vaccines should work against the coronavirus variant that emerged in Kent but admitted there were still 'question marks' over variants from South Africa and Brazil;

Two NHS trusts in the Midlands will start delivering coronavirus vaccines round-the-clock from Thursday, it was claimed;

Angry patients claimed that a super-efficient GP surgery that was vaccinating 128 people-an-hour had to slow down after its supplies were capped;

Ms Patel has said police and other frontline workers should be among the next priority groups for getting vaccines;

Fears of a delayed return for English schools grew as a 78million major daily coronavirus testing scheme was halted over safety fears;

Air passengers are willingly taking a 500 fine at UK airports for not having a Covid test so they do not have to give over their personal details - in a trend that damages efforts to keep the UK's borders firm;

The headline CPI inflation rate rose from 0.3 per cent to 0.6 per cent in December putting more pressure on families.

It found that mobility data suggested people were moving around more since the start of January, meaning even tougher restrictions may be necessary

The Imperial College London experts showed that cases were still highest in London between January 5 and 15, followed by the West Midlands, South East and East of England

The researchers also offered a breakdown of how test positivity rates varied by age group, showing infections were highest among 18-24 year olds

Experts behind the REACT-1 study also revealed how test positivity rates varied between age groups for each region, over the last three rounds of testing

And the team also offered a heat map showing where outbreaks have grown or shrunk between the last two recent rounds of testing

Boris warns 'there will be more' Covid deaths after UK records daily high of 1,820 victims Boris Johnson warned 'there will be more' Covid deaths to come after Britain recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic for second day in a row with 1,820 more victims. With the UK's overall death toll creeping ever closer to the grim 100,000 milestone, the Prime Minister called the daily figure 'appalling'. Department of Health data shows nearly 20,000 fatalities have been recorded in 2021 already, with today's figure being a 16 per cent rise on the 1,243 recorded last week. Health bosses declared 1,610 deaths yesterday. Despite the country's ever-growing death toll, statistics also showed the UK's second wave is continuing to fade away as a result of lockdown. Officials recorded another 38,905 coronavirus cases today, down 18 per cent on last Wednesday's figure of 47,525. Fatalities lag by a few weeks behind infections due to the time it takes between catching and falling seriously ill with Covid, which means the effects of the January 4 shutdown might not be felt in the death figures until next week. Experts say Britain will suffer more 'record-breaking' days in terms of deaths before they eventually fall. When the death figures are broken down by date, it reveals 1,110 people succumbed to the virus on January 12, the highest number of fatalities to occur on a single day since the start of the pandemic. The Government's daily toll is the number of deaths registered in the last 24 hours, which includes deaths over the past few days. Advertisement

However, the study by Imperial College London said there is 'no evidence' that cases had fallen since a national lockdown was imposed on January 6.

It found that mobility data suggested people were moving around more since the start of January, meaning even tougher restrictions may be necessary.

However, Professor Riley said that the surveillance testing programme was 'ahead' of daily testing data, which suggests the epidemic is shrinking.

He added that it will take 'a number of weeks or possibly months' before vaccinations lead to a fall in infections.

Co-author Professor Paul Elliot said: 'We are seeing the R rate is pretty flat at a time of high prevalence. We would be hoping for a downturn during the lockdown, we definitely saw that in lockdown one [in March] but we are not seeing that in lockdown three.'

The study authors said the new, highly infectious variant means that the new lockdown does not appear to be as effective as the first one.

Asked if he expects there to be more patients in hospital in two weeks time than today, Professor Elliot said: 'At the current prevalence rates, unless they come down, I think the answer has to be yes.' There is a lag of two to three weeks between new infections, hospital admissions and deaths.

It came as Sir Patrick Vallance, the chief scientific advisor, compared the current situation in hospitals to a 'war zone'.

He said: 'This [situation in the NHS] is very, very bad at the moment, with enormous pressure, and in some cases it looks like a war zone in terms of the things that people are having to deal with.'

Sir Patrick added: 'The numbers are nowhere near where they need to be at the moment, they need to come down quite a lot further - we need to make sure we stick with it.

'You go for a walk in the park or something, life looks normal; you go for a walk in a hospital, if you work in a hospital, you will see life not looking normal at all. This is a really difficult, dangerous situation we're in, and we need to get the numbers down.'

The NHS is currently under extreme pressure after the number of Covid inpatients doubled in a month, forcing some hospitals to transfer patients elsewhere.

Yesterday a coastguard helicopter has been used to transfer a patient from the Isle of Wight to Southampton to relieve pressure on the local hospital's intensive care unit.

Last week the Cambridge team said R in London and the South East was as low as around 0.6. In a report the university's Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit estimated it had fallen to 0.61 in London and 0.64 in the South East

Last week's PHE surveillance update had showed an improvement in the outbreak in the week up to January 10

Public Health England had also revealed that weekly Covid cases had fallen in every age group except the over-80s, despite the spread of the highly infectious variant first spotted in Kent which officials feared couldn't be contained

Department of Health data had even suggested that Tier 4 was working in London and other areas plunged into the toughest bracket before Christmas

Is Britain's great Covid vaccine rollout back on track? Hopes that Britain's great Covid vaccine rollout is still on track were raised today as official data revealed the UK dished out 346,000 jabs yesterday following fears the NHS drive may have stalled. Boris Johnson insisted the UK is still on schedule to inoculate 14million vulnerable people by mid-February. But the Prime Minister  who was grilled by MPs about the operation today  warned 'constraints on supply' were making the situation harder. Fears that the NHS scheme had stagnated were sparked yesterday after data revealed the number of doses dished out had fallen for three days in a row. But fresh statistics show 343,163 people got their first Covid vaccines yesterday, meaning 4.5million Britons have now had their first dose. One government insider told MailOnline they hoped it meant that the rollout was 'back on track'. In order to meet the lockdown-easing target, the Government must average more than 350,000 doses a day from now until February 15, with the previous bullish tone from officials getting toned down in recent days. Advertisement

Elsewhere, the children's emergency department at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, one of the main hospitals in the south of England, has been relocated. The hospital said the move was necessary to provide increased handover space for adult Covid-19 patients.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: 'We accept and fully acknowledge the pressure that the NHS is under at the moment.

'You've seen ministers make that clear in press conferences previously. That's why we continue to ask the public to follow the guidance and to play their part to protect the NHS and save lives.'

The pressure comes amid hopes that Britain's great Covid vaccine rollout is still on track, despite a three-day blip in performance.

Official data last night revealed the UK dished out almost 350,000 doses yesterday. One Government insider told MailOnline they hoped it meant the rollout was 'back on track'.

In order to meet the lockdown-easing target, the Government must average more than 350,000 doses a day from now until February 15, with the previous bullish tone from officials abruptly getting more anxious.

Boris Johnson insisted the UK will hit his target of inoculating 14million vulnerable people by mid-February. But the Prime Minister - who was grilled by MPs about the operation - warned 'constraints on supply' were making the situation harder.

The promising data came amid mounting confusion about the source of the three-day blip in performance, with officials saying there were a 'lot of moving parts' that contributed to the slowdown.

Pfizer's supplies have been dented by a factory upgrade which will continue into next month. Government sources have flatly dismissed claims there are 21million doses of vaccines already in the country, although they refused to give details of stocks saying it would be a security risk.

Sources say other factors include the 'intermittent' deliveries of supplies and difficulties contacting the remaining over-80s and covering care homes.

MPs have also voiced frustration at the way supplies have been divvied out. In London - which has dished out the fewest jabs - the allocation is believed to have been based on take-up of last season's flu vaccine, which was relatively low.
Award-winning Dr. Serkan Aygin was among the first team to perform hair transplant surgery in Istanbul, Turkey and has since been a pioneer in the industry, introducing new, innovative techniques and hair loss treatments. This year he celebrates 25 years of practice in hair restoration.

ISTANBUL, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Owing to its world-class experts, cutting-edge technology and (most importantly) affordable costs, Turkey is a renowned medical tourism centre. Each month, thousands of medical tourists from around the world flock to the country in the hope of changing their lives with a hair transplant. Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic is one of the go-to clinics for most men and women who travel to have hair transplants in Turkey.

Hair Transplant World-Class Results

Having performed over 10,000 successful hair transplant treatments, patients can look forward to regaining their full hair in Dr. Serkan Aygin's hands. The decorated hair transplant surgeon is a member of the International Society of Dermatology, winner of European Awards in Medicine 2019 for Hair Transplantation, and was among the first teams to perform hair transplant surgery in Istanbul, Turkey.

In the same year, his clinic was awarded the Best Medical Tourism Facility at the 8th Health Tourism awards, organised by La Razon in Spain. After years of intensive work in hair restoration, 2021 marks his 25th anniversary of being a pioneer in the industry.

Modern and Innovative Hair Transplant Techniques

Dr. Serkan Aygin has made it a top priority to constantly improve technologies in his clinic and to seek new ways to make surgery faster and more comfortable for patients whilst speeding up post-op healing time. He has introduced the likes of the acclaimed needle-free anesthesia, as well as "soft" sedation, where surgery is performed while the patient is awake but under mild sedation, making the procedure virtually painless. Soft sedation is possible for all hair transplants at his clinic.

New Techniques: Sapphire FUE Hair Transplant

The sapphire technique is a modern and much more efficient method in hair restoration compared to the classic FUE method. The procedure uses special sapphire blades designed for smaller incisions.

Reduced risk of complications such as trauma and scalp tissue damage

More natural-looking results due to the possibility of dense transplantation

Faster recovery period

Increased follicle survival rate (98%)

The DHI Transplant

Unlike the FUE hair transplant technique, where prior incisions have to be created, this method involves the direct transfer of hair follicles to the recipient regions using the implanter Choi pen.

About the Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic

Since 1996, award-winning hair transplant surgeon Dr. Serkan Aygin has been offering hair growth solutions to patients suffering from hair loss in his clinic based in Istanbul, Turkey. He is also a proud member of the International Society of Dermatology. Founded in 2013, his clinic is among the best hair transplant clinics in Europe.

Press contact: TIM Company UG (Haftungsbeschrankt)

Email: presse@timcompany.de

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The expelled AIADMK leader was admitted to the Parappanna Agrahara prison hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday after complaining of fever and breathlessness

Bengaluru: Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala's health condition is now normal and stable but she will undergo CT Scan and other tests, Director of the Bowring Hospital Dr Manoj Kumar HV said on Thursday.

According to the doctor, 63-year-old Sasikala's COVID test reports have come out negative.

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's close aide, who is serving her jail term at the Parappana Agrahara Prison in Bengaluru, had complained of fever and breathlessness on Wednesday, a week before her release.

She was shifted from the prison and admitted to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, also known as Bowring Hospital.

Sasikala's oxygen saturation level was 80 (against the normal of 95 and above) on Wednesday evening when she was admitted to the hospital.

"She had breathlessness. Before that, she had a fever. Accordingly, we gave her treatment. Now her oxygen saturation level is normal, which is 96. Her condition is stable now," Kumar told reporters.

According to him, she took a stroll in the morning.

The doctor said she has been sent to the Victoria Hospital for the CT Scan and once the tests are done, she will be brought back to the Bowring Hospital.

Prior to it, she had undergone Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR tests which showed her COVID-19 reports negative, Kumar said.

Sasikala's nephew and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, who rushed to Bengaluru on learning about her illness, told reporters she was stable.

"I got reliable information that her health is stable. Doctors are looking after her very well. Good care is given. They are monitoring her," Dhinakaran said.

According to him, the RT-PCR tests show a negative COVID-19 report and hence the doctors decided to conduct some other tests on her.

Sasikala, lodged at the Parappana Agrahara Prison here, was sentenced to four years imprisonment in February 2017 in the Rs 66 crore disproportionate assets case.

Her illness comes at a time when she is just six days away from her release from prison on January 27

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and whistleblower Edward Snowden were among the high-profile individuals not included on President Trumps list of more than 100 individuals granted clemency released early Wednesday in his final hours in office.

Defenders of Assange and Snowden had advocated for Trump to issue pardons for the two for the charges they currently face in the United States.

Earlier this month, a judge in the United Kingdom ruled against a request to extradite Assange to the U.S., where he faces espionage charges after publishing classified American military and intelligence documents. The judge cited Assange's mental condition and said it would be "oppressive" to extradite him.

Assange is being held in London after being evicted from the Ecuadorian Embassy, where he had been living, in 2019.

Among those who urged Trump to grant Assange clemency was Snowden.

Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency during your time in office, please: free Julian Assange. You alone can save his life Snowden wrote in a December tweet.
Heaven Hill unveils first official sustainability strategy

Heaven Hill has unveiled its first offical environmental sustainability strategy to guide its decision making and operations over the next decade.

The family-owned, Kentucky-based company - which owns whiskey brands including Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, Larceny and Rittenhouse Rye - has built the strategy around four key areas: water, emissions, waste, and conservation.

With the new plan, Heaven Hill aims to address pressing environmental challenges within the American whiskey industry and local communities, while also building further resilience into the 85-year-old business.

Its goals, to achieve by 2030, include improving water use efficiency by 15 per cent, reducing carbon emissions from its operations by 30 per cent, reducing the amount of virgin plastic in bottles by 50 per cent, and supporting a sustainable supply of white oak.

Rachel Nally, Heaven Hill Brands' manager of environment and sustainability, said: "Heaven Hill has always strived to be a good partner in our communities and to be a good steward of the natural resources used to create our products. Cultivating sustainable and thriving communities is important for our employees, our partners, and our neighbours.

"We are incredibly passionate about this next era in our commitment to responsibly use natural resources, reduce energy use, safely dispose of waste, and conserve the ecosystems that support our business."

The implementation of the environmental sustainability strrategy will be supported by significant investments in production, new technology and training initiatives.

It follows previous projects at Heaven Hill in the interests of sustainability and environmental responsibility, including fitting light fixtures with LED bulbs, tree planting around Bernheim Distillery, and the completion of multiple boiler efficiency programmes.

21 January 2021 - Bethany Whymark
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Farmer-Cops talks today to discuss tractor rally on Republic Day

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: The farmers are expected to meet the Delhi police today over their proposed tractor rally for Republic Day.

On Wednesday, officers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana had met with the farmer unions to discuss the route and arrangements of the proposed tally. The cops had suggested an alternate route, but the cops rejected it.

Farmers have been protesting against the three farm laws for the last 56 days on the borders of the national capital.

Leaders of all 40 farm unions, which are taking part in the protest, will meet three cabinet ministers for the 10th round of talks this afternoon in an effort to end the impasse.

It is for cops to decide says SC while refusing to pass orders on tractor rally on R-Day

"A group of farm union leaders including Balbir Singh Rajewal and others will meet top officials of Delhi Police to discuss the route and other arrangements for their protest march on Republic Day against the three farm laws," Jamuri Kisan Union leader, Kalwant Singh Sandhu, told PTI.

The Joint Commissioner of Police (Northern Range) SS Yadav will coordinate the meeting from Delhi Police, according to sources.

Police officials from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh will also be present at the meeting, sources said.

Farmer unions agitating against the new agri laws have said their preparations are in full gear and authorities should facilitate the "peaceful march", instead of stopping it.

After the Delhi Police sought an injunction on the tractor rally, the Supreme Court on Monday said the decision on it has to be taken by the Centre and the police, and the official permission is yet to be worked out.

Farmers' Protest: Farmers have constitutional right to take out tractor rally, says Union leaders

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

Protesting unions, which plan to hold the rally on the Outer Ring Road in Delhi on January 26, have begun holding tractor rallies at villages in Punjab to mobilise people for the parade and and said more farmers will be heading to the national capital in batches later this week.

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Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 8:58 [IST]
Portugal's government on Thursday ordered the closure of for two weeks amid a surge in COVID-19 infections that the prime minister blamed on the rise of a more contagious variant.

The risk of this virus spreading through society has increased, Prime Minister Antnio Costa told a news conference.

We have seen that, in the space of a week, the variant has spread significantly.

The proportion of COVID-19 cases attributed to the variant, which was first identified in southeast England, has jumped from 8 per cent last week to 20 per cent this week and may reach 60 per cent in coming weeks, Costa said.

Faced with this new reality, a new set of measures is required, he said. will be closed starting Friday.

Also Thursday, Catholic church authorities in announced that services won't be held from Saturday and until further notice due to the extreme seriousness of the pandemic.

has the highest seven-day average rate in the world of new cases per 100,000 population and the second-highest rate of new deaths after the United Kingdom, according to data collated through Wednesday by Johns Hopkins University.

The country of 10.3 million has been in lockdown since last week but cases continue to climb sharply, setting almost daily records and threatening to overwhelm hospitals.

Health authorities reported Thursday new highs for infected people in hospital, with 5,630, and in intensive care, with 702. The 221 deaths attributed to COVID-19 over the previous 24 hours was also a record.

The government had been reluctant to close schools, despite pressure from teachers and parents. It argued that if closed some children wouldn't get proper meals.

have no computer, no access to the Internet, and don't have their own room at home and get no help with their studies.

Costa said school canteens would remain open for needy children, while parents with children under the age of 12 can miss work to care for them and will receive 66 per cent of their pay from the government.

(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.)
Beijing is touting a state programme that gives Taiwanese in China priority for Covid-19 vaccines, prompting concern within Taiwan's government which sees it as the latest Chinese tool to win over the island's population.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, is making the free-of-charge offer at a time when the democratic island has yet to begin vaccinations of its own, with Chinese government departments and state media quoting Taiwanese in China in support of the programme.

"This shows the mainland's warmth and affection towards us," a Taiwanese teacher surnamed Wang was quoted as saying in a post this month by China's United Front Work Department, which is in charge of co-opting overseas Chinese and non-communists.

Beijing has for decades offered incentives such as tax breaks and subsidies to the estimated 400,000-strong Taiwanese business community in China, but the move underscores a greater push to curry favour.

Read | Taiwan cancels major festival as domestic Covid-19 cases rise

Wang Yang, the Communist Party's No. 4 leader, this week instructed government officials to offer Taiwanese comprehensive benefits in a bid to give "a sense of gain" among Taiwanese in aid of the "reunification with the motherland".

It is unclear how many Taiwanese in China have been vaccinated but in Taiwan, officials are unnerved by the programme and say vaccines have become the latest frontline in China's charm offensive.

"The tactic is to reinforce Taiwanese businessmen's allegiance towards the mainland and further add pressure to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party," a Taiwan security official investigating the matter told Reuters.

The official was not authorised to speak to the media and declined to be identified.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement to Reuters that vaccination is a matter for the medical profession and "should not be used as political propaganda."

Follow live updates on the coronavirus vaccine here

Taiwanese should "cautiously evaluate the safety and necessity" of receiving vaccines in China, it said, adding it will continue to monitor the situation.

Taiwan government officials have repeatedly reminded people of health "risks" related to Chinese vaccines and said those who get the vaccines in China must still undergo 14-day quarantine when returning to the island. Imports of the vaccines are banned.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office referred Reuters to recent remarks it made that Taiwan's government was spreading "baseless concerns" over the Chinese vaccines for "political purposes", and that China's vaccines were "very safe".

While Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention methods, the government has come under increasing pressure amid a rare outbreak of domestically transmitted Covid-19 cases.

Taiwan has ordered nearly 20 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, including 10 million from AstraZeneca Plc, but none will start arriving until March at the earliest.
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San Antonio officials plan to seek substantial changes to how the citys law enforcement officers are disciplined when the city and police union sit down to bang out a new police contract this year.

The citys contract with the San Antonio Police Officers Association expires in September, giving city leaders a window to try to do away with provisions they and police reform activists have said make it difficult for Police Chief William McManus to punish bad officers  and to make that punishment stick.

Those disciplinary provisions drew renewed attention in the past year after activists across the country took to the streets to protest police brutality in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer.

City officials see hope that the unions new incoming leadership will be open to giving the city more authority over the disciplinary process when the two sides meet at the bargaining table starting in February.

We may be just way too optimistic, City Manager Erik Walsh said Wednesday. But Im hopeful that we can make some real change here.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio coalition of reform activists condemns comments by police union president

In a list of priorities laid out to the City Council on Wednesday afternoon, officials said they would seek to get rid of a rule that says McManus cant discipline an officer for alleged misconduct if they find out about the incident more than six months after it occurs.

Instead, the city wants to give the police chief the power to hand down discipline within six months of learning about an incident.

McManus also cant use an officers prior misconduct to decide punishment for another offense  something else city negotiators want nixed from the next contract.

Under the current contract, a third-party arbitrator can overturn disciplinary measures handed down by McManus if they believe the police chief was unfair. The city wants the arbitrator to be able to overturn discipline only if the facts behind the case dont add up.

Arbitrators have allowed 10 fired officers back on the force within the past decade, reversing McManus decisions in about 14 percent of 71 terminations in that period, according to city records.

During that time, arbitrators upheld 13 terminations.

McManus allowed another 20 officers to return to the department after he fired them, without going through arbitration.

I cant think of one fact issue that has played into a case being overturned by an arbitrator, McManus told council members Wednesday.

City officials also want changes to a rule that allows an accused officer 48 hours of preparation time before an interrogation for alleged misconduct can take place and another rule that allows the officer to look at the evidence against them before being interviewed by Internal Affairs  but Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez said the city hasnt pinpointed just how they want to amend that rule.

Scars showed Wednesday from the last battle between the city and police union over a new contract.

For more than two years, leaders from both sides clashed bitterly over police officers health care costs and the length of a so-called evergreen clause under which a contracts provisions remain in place when its time to negotiate a new contract.

In the end, police officers had to shoulder more of their own health care costs and the evergreen period was shortened to eight years in a 2016 contract reached under mediation.

Neither side seemed eager to relive that tumultuous period Wednesday.

District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez likened it to the Wars of the Roses, a string of civil wars in the 15th century for control of the English crown that inspired author George R.R. Martin to write his violent series of Game of Thrones books.

We certainly dont want to experience that again, Mayor Ron Nirenberg agreed. I dont think we will. The tone is much different.

John Danny Diaz, the incoming president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, echoed that. The union hasnt hammered out a counterproposal to what city officials presented Wednesday, Diaz said  thats work that will be done once he takes office in February.

There are some things that we need to discuss, Diaz said in a phone interview Wednesday. But look, were open to bargaining in good faith. Thats the intent.

Some council members were already warning that the city shouldnt expect to get everything its looking for.

Its my job to warn everybody that if what any of us are hoping for is a perfect document, then we very quickly need to shake off or just check that naivete at the door, Pelaez said.

Throwing some confusion into the mix is a petition drive to allow San Antonio voters to decide whether to strip the San Antonio police union of its ability to negotiate a contract with the city. The idea is to take away the unions ability to influence how officers are disciplined.

Earlier this month, Fix SAPD, the organization behind the petition drive, turned in more than 20,000 signatures from those who want the matter placed on the May ballot. The city clerk is still verifying whether those signatures are valid.

But McManus and union leaders are opposed to Fix SAPDs proposed city charter amendment.

Taking collective bargaining away from the union would give the city less flexibility in hiring, promotions and boosting diversity within the department, officials with the city and union have said.

The city would have to abide by state law overseeing those matters if they dont have a new contract in place and thats not ideal, officials say.

jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFReports
Its late Sushant Singh Rajputs 35th birth anniversary today and while his fans have been sharing heartfelt messages on social media, his sister Shweta Singh Kirti has announced a special scholarship fund in his memory.



His sister Shweta took to Twitter on Thursday morning to announce a $35,000 fund at UC Berkeley. She wrote, "I am happy to announce that on the 35th Birthday of Bhai, a step has been taken towards fulfilling one of his dreams. The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund of $35,000 has been set up in UC Berkeley. #SushantDay.

I am happy to announce that on 35th Birthday of Bhai, a step has been taken towards fulfilling one of his dreams. The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund of $35,000 has been set up in UC Berkeley. #SushantDay pic.twitter.com/nW3Rm6JERR  Shweta Singh Kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) January 20, 2021

Shweta also shared an old Instagram post by Sushant, in which Sushant Singh talked about the kind of educational setup he wanted to create for students. His post read as, "I dream to create an environment where kids of India and elsewhere, get 'free', improved and relevant education and a great many ways to acquire any skill of choice for free. To create a structure like this, and now, could be highly possible with the right intentions and some working knowledge of chaos and game theories, non-zero-sum structures that bio-mimic. Any suggestion/ feedback/idea for the Cause, if you have, please do share. I would be highly obliged. It's about time that we acknowledge 'convergence' that's happening all around the globe and make the youth more competent and happy 'now'. Because as they say, the more we learn, the lesser time it takes for us to learn even more. Let's begin. It's about 'time'.

Like the shadow

I am

and

I am not...

~ Jalaluddin Rumi  pic.twitter.com/Ejj1X6LSyV  Sushant Singh Rajput (@itsSSR) October 26, 2019

She also shared details about the fund and it read as, "The Sushant Singh Rajput Memorial Fund in Physics provides graduate student support in the Department of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley with a preference for students studying Astrophysics. Sushant Singh Rajput was born in India and passed on in June 2020. Alongside being a noted actor in mainstream Indian movies, he was a National Physics Olympiad winner and held a lifelong passion for astronomy and astrophysics.

In another tweet, Shweta said, "Anyone interested in pursuing Astrophysics at UC Berkeley can apply for this fund. Grateful to the Angels who made it possible. Folded hands Happy Birthday my little brother, I hope you always stay happy wherever you are! Love You Red heart#SushantDay.

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.

 #HappybirthdayNietzsche  pic.twitter.com/5TZO14lpvS  Sushant Singh Rajput (@itsSSR) October 15, 2019

Fans have also flooded the internet with wishes for Sushant Singh Rajput and have shared the best on-screen memories of the actor on Twitter.
WASHINGTON  In 17 executive orders, memorandums and proclamations signed hours after his inauguration, President Biden moved swiftly on Wednesday to dismantle Trump administration policies his aides said have caused the greatest damage to the nation.

Despite an inaugural address that called for unity and compromise, Mr. Bidens first actions as president are sharply aimed at sweeping aside former President Donald J. Trumps pandemic response, reversing his environmental agenda, tearing down his anti-immigration policies, bolstering the teetering economic recovery and restoring federal efforts to promote diversity.

Heres a look at what the measures aim to accomplish.

On the Pandemic

Mr. Biden has signed an executive order appointing Jeffrey D. Zients as the official Covid-19 response coordinator who will report to the president, in an effort to aggressively gear up the nations response to the pandemic. The order also restores the directorate for global health security and biodefense at the National Security Council, a group Mr. Trump had disbanded.

Though it is not a national mask mandate, which would most likely fall to a legal challenge, Mr. Biden is requiring social distancing and the wearing of masks on all federal property and by all federal employees. He is also starting a 100 days masking challenge urging all Americans to wear masks and state and local officials to implement public measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
In Portland, Ore., and Seattle, protesters marched through the downtown areas on Wednesday carrying signs opposing the police, immigration authorities and government in general, and some people in each city vandalized buildings symbolizing institutional power.

In Portland, about 200 people clad in black marched to the local Democratic headquarters, where some of them smashed windows and tipped over garbage containers, lighting the contents of one on fire.

Those who took to the streets on Wednesday said they were a mix of anarchists, anti-fascists and racial justice protesters. One of their signs said, We dont want Biden  we want revenge for killings committed by police officers and fascist massacres.
One of the knocks on the states decision to expand vaccine eligibility to seniors, smokers and others particularly susceptible to COVID is how easy it is to scam the system.

Since no proof of age or ailment is required, whats to stop you from just buying a pack of Kools as a useful prop, and maybe even smoking a few, before heading over?

Hopefully, its the knowledge that youd be taking a shot out of the arm of somebodys desperate grandmother.

Youd be cutting in front of Jennie Nuzzo, a 77-year-old caring for her 53-year-old daughter with cerebral palsy; and Sharon Waters, fruitlessly searching for a vaccine for her 89-year-old father. Youd be pushing aside an elderly veteran, so frustrated by his failure to navigate the digital appointment system that he recently wrote a reporter.

My wife is 87 years old with a lot of health issues, he typed. I am 90 years oldWill you please help us.

As Scott Fallon of USAToday Network New Jersey, who shared this on Twitter, along with Nuzzos story, notes: These are the kinds of emails I get all day, every day.

Given how many sick and elderly people are vying for a shot, its reasonable to wonder why the state isnt requiring folks to bring an x-ray of their lungs, or medical records to prove a heart condition, or even just a drivers license to show their age. But for the public health experts we spoke with, the answer is simple: To cut red tape.

Think about it. Even if we required a drivers license, it wouldnt stop a scammer from lying. He could still claim to be a 35-year-old smoker, or obese, or suffering a heart problem. And if we demand that people show medical records, it only adds more bureaucracy, slowing the entire process for everyone while the virus is surging.

And who will police this? Our overburdened healthcare workers? We might also end up blocking some eligible people from getting vaccinated, warns Dr. Stephanie Silvera, an epidemiologist and public health professor at Montclair State University, given that COVID hit poor, urban areas hardest, where many dont have drivers licenses.

The broader public health imperative is to get as many inoculations done as quickly as possible, agrees Dr. Corey Basch, chair of William Patersons public health department. That benefits us all, because if our hospitals are overrun by COVID patients, it puts everyone at risk  including those who are in cancer treatment, or suffer heart attacks, strokes or car accidents, and need those beds.

Which, incidentally, is also why smokers belong on the eligibility list, Basch says: Theyre more likely to be hospitalized. She adds, This isnt the time to engage in a moral and ethical debate as to the level of choice someone has over their unhealthy habits.

After all, why is someone with Type 2 diabetes, for which obesity is a risk factor, more morally deserving of a vaccine than a smoker who just cant quit? Lets reserve our moral outrage for the folks now bragging on social media that theyre going to lie to get vaccinated.

Its called the honor system because we expect people to behave honorably, as Silvera says. We need people to think about community, not just individuals. Not cutting in line is whats best for your community, just like wearing your mask.

About 4 million New Jerseyans are now scrambling for less than 200,000 available doses, and its hard for people to just stay patient. But think about the folks you love and care about. You certainly wouldnt want them to be locked out, either. So, please: Wait your turn.

And if you dont, and the rest of us find out, the governor has pledged to publicly shame you. Youll have the distinct dishonor of having your name read at one of his coronavirus briefings, alongside the names of the dead.

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Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.

The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
In a full general body meeting of Samyukt Kisan Morcha held on Thursday, the proposal put forth by the government to keep the contentious farm laws on hold for 1.5 years was rejected by the protesting farmer unions. A full repeal of three laws and enacting legislation for remunerative MSP (minimum support price) for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement, said SKM.

"Protesting farmer unions reject govt's proposal to suspend three farm laws for 18 months," said SKM in a statement.

"The SKM pays homage to the 143 farmers who have been martyred in this movement so far. These companions are separated from us while fighting this mass movement. Their sacrifice will not go in vain and we will not go back without the repealing of these farm laws," the statement said.

A full repeal of three central farm acts and enacting a legislation for remunerative MSP for all farmers were reiterated as the pending demands of the movement, it added.

Farmer unions reiterated they will march with tractors on the outer ring road of Delhi on Republic Day.

"It has been decided that no proposal of government will be accepted until and unless they repeal the laws. In tomorrow's meet (with government) we'll say that we've only one demand, repeal the laws and legally authorise MSP. All these have been unanimously decided," said farmer leader Joginder S. Ugrahan.

During their tenth round of negotiations with three central ministers on Wednesday, the two sides decided to meet again on Friday.

Briefing media after a nearly five-hour-long meeting that included two breaks, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said the government has proposed to suspend implementation of the three laws for 1-1.5 years, during which period a joint committee of representatives from the government and farmers' sides can continue their talks and those protesting on Delhi borders in extremely cold weather return to their homes.

The three laws have already been stayed by the Supreme Court till further orders and a committee of experts has been formed to resolve the deadlock. The panel has been asked by the apex court to submit its report within two months after consulting all stakeholders.

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Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.


Although paleontologists know now much about dinosaurs and their appearance, they have not known anything about how their cloacal region  the all-purpose opening used for defecation, urination and breeding  appears. Paleontologists from the United Kingdom and the United States have now described the cloacal opening of Psittacosaurus, an ornithischian dinosaur that lived about 110 million years ago (Early Cretaceous epoch) in what is now China, and compared it to vents across modern land-dwelling vertebrate animals.

Dr. Jakob Vinther from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol and colleagues examined an exceptionally well-preserved specimen of Psittacosaurus sp. from the Early Cretaceous Jehol deposits of Liaoning, China.

The fossil is currently housed at the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt, Germany.

I noticed the cloaca several years ago after we had reconstructed the color patterns of this dinosaur using a remarkable fossil on display at the Senckenberg Museum which clearly preserves its skin and color patterns, Dr. Vinther said.

It took a long while before we got around to finish it off because no one has ever cared about comparing the exterior of cloacal openings of living animals, so it was largely unchartered territory.

Indeed, they are pretty non-descript, said co-author Dr. Diane Kelly, a researcher in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

We found the vent does look different in many different groups of tetrapods, but in most cases it doesnt tell you much about an animals sex.

Those distinguishing features are tucked inside the cloaca, and unfortunately, theyre not preserved in this fossil.

The cloaca of Psittacosaurus is unique in its appearance but exhibits features reminiscent to living crocodylians such as alligators and crocodiles, which are the closest living relatives to dinosaurs and other birds.

Its outer margins are highly pigmented with melanin. This pigmentation provided the vent with a function in display and signaling, similar to living baboons and some breeding salamanders.

The large, pigmented lobes on either side of the opening could have harbored musky scent glands, as seen in living crocodylians.

Birds are one the few vertebrate groups that occasionally exhibit visual signaling with the cloaca, which the study authors now can extend back to the Mesozoic dinosaur ancestors.

As a paleoartist, it has been absolutely amazing to have an opportunity to reconstruct one of the last remaining features we didnt know anything about in dinosaurs, said Robert Nicholls, of Paleocreations.

Knowing that at least some dinosaurs were signaling to each other gives paleoartists exciting freedom to speculate on a whole variety of now plausible interactions during dinosaur courtship. It is a game changer!

The teams paper was published in the journal Current Biology.

_____

Jakob Vinther et al. A cloacal opening in a non-avian dinosaur. Current Biology, published online January 19, 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.039
[January 21, 2021] French retailer BUT equips its 310 stores with Openbravo

LILLE, France, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Openbravo, the global omnichannel platform vendor for agile and innovative commerce, today announced the adoption of the Openbravo Store solution by BUT, the leading French retailer of furniture, decoration and home appliances. The implementation has covered the deployment of Openbravo software across more than 310 stores in France. This strategic project has enabled BUT to support the growth of its stores and online sales with new features that modernize its retail operations, improve its customer experience in all stores, and help accelerate its omnichannel strategy, while gaining greater IT agility and scalability. Among the key new features is a stylish, mobile-enabled clienteling solution that empowers associates to deliver enhanced service everywhere in the store and gives them access to information like multiple product images, stock levels or reviews from online users, so helping them engage more with customers. The solution has also enabled the stores to more efficiently support BUT's omnichannel strategy for scenarios like Click & Collect, buy online for home delivery or curbside pickup. Online orders can now be received and processed faster thanks to an intuitive order preparation functionality that allows preparation tasks to be executed from mobile devices. The project also included integration with a variety of legacy systems. Key integrations included the central ERP system, stock management, customer and loyalty databases (including a customized loyalty module integration with Cetelem), and reservations. Openbravo is also integrated with some business-specific appications in areas such as address normalization and EDI set-up.



"Openbravo has been key to helping us execute our vision of the type of customer service and shopping experience we want to deliver. In the stores, Openbravo allows us to provide more personalized and convenient experiences with a lighter and much more flexible IT infrastructure. It also helps us to better fulfill our growing volume of online orders and prepare the stores to support a variety of omnichannel scenarios more efficiently," says Max Dragone, CIO of BUT. "We've been able to offer BUT a solution that equips its stores with the tools they need to better prepare for the new retail reality, while providing a significant increase in IT agility thanks to our mobile and web-based platform," adds Bruno Menteaux, General Manager for France & Northern Europe at Openbravo.

"We are very proud of the strong relationship we have built with BUT since 2011 and this new project clearly confirms the value we bring to specialty retailers like BUT that want to be at the forefront of retail innovation and leaders in omnichannel commerce. It is further proof of how the strengths of our retail platform have enabled us to rapidly become a vendor of reference in the French retail software market," says Marco de Vries, CEO at Openbravo. Read the complete story here . About BUT BUT is a French brand of stores specializing in home equipment. Established initially in Le Havre, the brand has grown rapidly to cover the whole country. BUT today has the largest network of points of sale in France with nearly 310 stores. BUT stores offer an average of 35,000 m, with a wide range of products spanning six markets: furniture, decoration, fitted kitchens, household appliances, multimedia and bedding. To learn more visit but.fr . About Openbravo Openbravo is the omnichannel software platform of choice for brands and retailers seeking to accelerate their digital transformation and omnichannel strategy. A flexible and cloud-based platform that allows integration between the online channel and physical stores, personalized, convenient and safer customer experiences, as well as an intelligent order management system with a unique vision and real-time inventory. International brands like Caroll, Zodio, Rubaiyat, Sharaf DG and Cooltra prefer Openbravo, which today counts over 18,000 back office users and 60,000 point of sale terminals. Visit openbravo.com . Xavier Places, Marketing Director, +34 607 676 568, xavier.places@openbravo.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/703504/Openbravo_Logo.jpg

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Among the many defense and national security policy issues the Biden-Harris team will confront when it takes office, the purpose, composition, and size of America's nuclear forces will be near the top of the list. As it does so, it will have to confront a series of false narratives which Progressives and anti-nuclear lobbies have been promoting for some time but with increased urgency over the last twelve months; among these hardy perennials are: the purported irrelevancy of U.S. nuclear forces in the age of Great Power competition; the lack of a compelling rationale for modernizing those forces; and the unaffordability of modernization  particularly given the large sums needed to combat and offset the effects of the COVID pandemic. Facts are the enemy of false narratives, however, and it is to those facts we turn to illuminate what is true and what is not.

Perhaps the central question to be answered is the role of nuclear weapons in this era of renewed great power competition. Critics argue that deterrence against Chinese and Russian aggression depends upon cyber, space, advanced conventional forces, and technologies such as A.I. To be sure, both Moscow and Beijing have developed (separately) an integrated approach to warfare which incorporates new nuclear weapons and advanced conventional, space, and cyber capabilities. That notwithstanding, any decision to use force against the United States or our allies must be taken in light of the backdrop of our nuclear forces. Putin or Xi, in considering whether to commit armed aggression, must weigh the risk that ultimately such action could lead to nuclear war. That bedrock fact is crucial to continued effective deterrence for the foreseeable future. And it is worth noting that while the Progressives do not consider nuclear forces relevant to todays world, Putin and Xi certainly do: both Russia and China have been engaged in major modernization (and, in China's case, expansion) of their nuclear forces for the last ten years.

A second argument is that U.S. strategic nuclear forces do not really need to be modernized because they continue to be fit for purpose." That is completely at odds with what two former Strategic Command leaders have stated quite clearly. In April 2016, then Admiral Cecil Haney testified to the House Armed Services Committee: "If you don't proceed with strategic modernization, the U.S. will be out of the nuclear deterrence business within the next decade and a half." His successor at Strategic Command (and now Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), Air Force General John Hyten said in July 2018 that because new U.S. systems will not begin to be fielded until at least the mid-2020s, given the age of our current forces, it will be "just in time." For those who believe commanders of Strategic Command cannot be unbiased, here is what former Obama Defense Secretary Ash Carter wrote in April 2017 (when he was out of office and beholden to no one):

The Defense Department cannot further defer recapitalizing Cold-War era systems if we are to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear force that will continue to deter potential adversaries that are making improvements in their air defenses and their own nuclear weapons systems. The choice is not between replacing these platforms or keeping them, but rather between replacing them and losing them altogether. The latter outcome would, unfortunately, result in lost confidence in our ability to deter. The United States cannot afford this in todays security environment or in any reasonably foreseeable future security environment.

Another article of faith in the Progressive community is that nuclear modernization is too expensive, particularly in light of the increased government spending needed to combat the Coronavirus pandemic and its effects on the U.S. economy. For the past four years, Progressives have been dramatically inflating the cost of nuclear modernization by characterizing it with imputed 30-year cost streams. The Defense budget will undoubtedly be the target of proposed cuts as the new Administration prepares its budget, and even the most optimistic individuals in the Pentagon are hoping for sustaining no more than a flat budget. That said, it is important to look at the facts. The 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, produced by the Defense Department free of White House direction, estimated the annual cost of the modernization program during its peak years at 3-4 percent of the DoD budget (and this before the sequester cap was lifted). It should be clear, therefore, that proceeding with modernization does not impose a significant burden for either the DoD or Federal budgets. The "it's too expensive" argument does not comport with reality.

One of the anti-modernization lobby's favorite claims is that modernizing U.S. nuclear forces will inaugurate a nuclear arms race with Russia and China. That argument is risible. As noted above, both Russia and China have been building and deploying new nuclear weapons systems for the past ten years; in sharp contrast, the United States has not deployed a single new strategic nuclear system in the 21st century. Turning again to former Defense Secretary Ash Carter writing in 2017:

Those worried about the start of a new arms race miss the lesson of the past two decades: Despite decades of American and allied reservefor 25 years our nations have refrained from building anything newmany countries, including Russia, North Korea, and more, have been doing just that. And some of these nations are even building some new types of weapons. So those who suggest that the U.S. recapitalization is a major stimulus to other powers to build more do not have the evidence of the past 25 years on their side.

A hardy and longstanding belief among progressives is that the strategic nuclear Triad of ICBMs, SSBNs/SLBMs, and bombers is redundant, no longer relevant, and should be abandoned. The Triad indeed has overlapping capabilities: it was part of the Triads design. Its combination of three different basing modes, each with unique strengths and different but offsetting vulnerabilities, separate attack azimuths, and complementary alert postures, presented potential enemy offenses and defenses with insurmountable obstacles. It is precisely that combination that provides for deterrent stability because an aggressor cannot pre-emptively destroy the Triad or prevent the retaliation it could impose. All of that said, it is important to understand that today  reflecting the current state of the world and the comparative reduction in international tensions  the United States, on a day-to-day basis, is only protected by the ICBM and SSBN/SLBM legs: the bomber force is not on alert and would require a minimum of several days and perhaps more to return to alert status. This means that should an unexpected technical issue force a temporary stand-down of either the ICBMs or the sea-based force, the U.S. nuclear deterrent would be reduced to a single leg. The Biden Administration would then face the difficult decision to re-alert a portion of the bomber force or rely on the single leg until the technical problem was resolved. For the longer term, a decision to forego the Triad  and the current intent of the Progressives is to eliminate the ICBM force  would introduce new instabilities should technical problems arise with the sea-based leg. Furthermore, eliminating the ICBM force would allow Moscow and Beijing to invest more heavily in anti-submarine warfare in attempts, however unlikely to be successful, to threaten the SSBN force.

There are three modernization programs, two in advanced R&D and one deployed, which Progressives are seeking to eliminate: the replacement for the Minuteman ICBM (known as the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent or GBSD); the replacement for the air-launched cruise missile (known as the Long-Range Stand-Off weapon or LRSO); and the deployed low-yield variant of the Trident II/D-5 SLBM (known as the W 76-2).

Opponents of the GBSD program fall into two groups. The first seeks to eliminate the ICBM force. In addition to the arguments just made about the need for maintaining the Triad, including the ICBM force, it is critically important to bear the following in mind. Today, an enemy planner contemplating a first strike against the United States must take account of the 450 Minuteman silos, the two strategic submarine bases, Washington DC, Omaha Nebraska, and possibly the three nuclear bomber bases. This would obviously be a massive strike and would draw a major response  a deterring prospect for any rational opponent. This is why such an enemy attack is unlikely to occur. If you eliminate the 450 ICBM sites, an enemy planners job becomes vastly simpler: two SSBN bases, Washington and Omaha (and by the way, on a day-to-day non-crisis basis, none of our bombers are armed and on alert). A massive strike is no longer necessary, and nuclear stability would have been weakened significantly. The second group proposes retaining the ICBM force but doing so by extending the life of the existing Minuteman III and canceling GBSD. Earlier this month, Admiral Charles Richard, the head of U.S. Strategic Command, addressed this issue with great clarity:

Let me be very clear, you cannot life extend Minuteman III. It is getting past the point of its not cost-effective to life extend Minuteman III. Youre quickly getting to the point you cant do it at all. That [missile] is so old that in some cases, the drawings don't exist anymore, or where we do have drawings, they're like six generations behind the industry standard. Theres not only anybody thats not working that can understand them, theyre not alive anymore.

Richard continued by pointing out other advantages of replacing the Minuteman III, first deployed in the 1970s, with modern systems: One of the biggest pieces is in its cyber resilience. We will replace a 60 year old, basically a circuit switch system with a modern cyber defendable up to current standards command and control system. So to pace the cyber threat alone, GBSD is a necessary step forward. But it is also far more flexible and resilient against any number of other threats that are presented.

Advanced Soviet air defenses in the 1970s heralded the end of the venerable B-52 bomber's ability to penetrate Soviet airspace. To preserve the B-52's deterrent capability, an air-launched cruise missile, the "ALCM-B," entered the force in the early 1980s; its expected service life was ten years. The ALCM-B remains in service today. It is difficult to maintain; the number of reliable cruise missiles has decreased significantly since the 1980s, and the system's 1970's era stealth technology is increasingly vulnerable to today's Russian and Chinese air defenses. The LRSO is a necessary and overdue replacement for the ALCM-B. Not only will it prolong the B-52's nuclear deterrence role: it is also required to provide the 1990s era B-2 and the new B-21 just beginning production with a credible operational capability. Deterrence relies on a potential enemy leadership believing that threatened U.S. retaliation will succeed. Any individual with a background in military operations will understand that the notion of equipping even the new bomber only with gravity bombs  requiring its crew to make multiple bomb drops in a nuclear environment  lacks credibility. The LRSO will complement the B-21 by providing the capability to threaten multiple targets in its nuclear role  and it will thereby enhance the B-21s credibility in the eyes of potential enemy leaders.

The last system which the Progressives seek to block is the W 76-2, a low yield variant of the standard Trident II/D-5 W 76-1 warhead. The W 76-2 was conceived during the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review as a measured response to Russian development and deployment over the past decade of a variety of low-yield nuclear weapons systems. That the Russian government embarked upon this effort, in the full face of existing U.S. nuclear forces, suggests strongly that the Russian leadership believes the U.S. and NATO lacked an appropriate counter. The deployment of an extremely limited number of W 76-2s, whose ability to penetrate to their targets is assured, enhances the U.S. ability to deter Russian decisions to use the low yield weapons they possess. In doing so, it raises the nuclear threshold. Progressives have attacked the W 76-2 on several different grounds and are calling for the incoming Biden Administration to remove it from service. One particularly pernicious allegation is that the weapon is designed to lower the nuclear threshold. This has been unambiguously refuted in official U.S. policy, which states:

To be clear, [deployment of W 76-2s] is not intended to, nor does it enable, "nuclear war-fighting." Expanding flexible U.S. nuclear options now, including low-yield options, is important for preserving credible deterrence against regional aggression. It will raise the nuclear threshold and help ensure that potential adversaries perceive no possible advantage in limited nuclear escalation, making nuclear employment less likely."

To the degree that Progressives feared that President Trump would be tempted by the W 76-2s deployment to actually use the weapon, they surely cannot share the same concern about President-elect Biden.

One last bad idea which is now being placed in front of the new team is that the idea that the U.S. should pre-emptively and immediately announce that it will reduce its New START force by several hundred weapons to demonstrate good faith and prime the pump for a new round of arms control talks. Doing this would undercut severely the legitimacy of the nuclear review which the Biden Administration intends to undertake. The whole purpose of the review is to determine the adequacy of the size and composition of the nuclear arsenal; announcing a reduction before the review even begins will cast a shadow over the entire effort and will assuredly have negative consequences at home, on the Hill and abroad with both allies and potential enemies.

Every new Administration since Dwight Eisenhower's has undertaken a new look at U.S. nuclear policy. As the Biden Administration follows in its predecessors' footsteps, it must distinguish between fact and false narratives. Understanding the false narratives and why their arguments dont bear scrutiny is an important initial step.

Franklin C. Miller served as a senior nuclear policy official in the Department of Defense and on the NSC Staff for over a quarter of a century.

Rome installs 21 new stolpersteine Holocaust memorials.

Rome has installed 21 new brass cobblestone memorials to victims of the Holocaust at various locations throughout the capital, ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January.

The cobblestone-sized memorials are known as stolpersteine in German, or literally translated stumbling stones, and are installed outside the last chosen place of residence of victims of the Holocaust.

The memorials, which have been added to the 336 stopersteine already present on Rome's streets, are dedicated to Jews and partisans, including women and children, who were either deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp or killed at the Fosse Ardeatine in Rome.

One of the new stolpersteine is dedicated to Emma Di Veroli, a two-year-old girl who along with her family was rounded up at Portico d'Ottavia, in the Jewish Ghetto, on October 1943. She was killed on arrival in Auschwitz.

Gunter Demnig in Rome. Photo LaPresse.

Other memorials recall Ferdinando Agnini and Orlando Orlandi Posti, two students and partisans tortured in the Nazi prison on Via Tasso and then murdered in the Fosse Ardeatine on 24 March 1944; and Amelia Coen, an elderly woman dragged out of her home during the 1943 deporation of Rome's Jews.

The raid occurred at dawn on 16 October 1943, when 1,024 Roman Jews, including 200 children, were rounded up in the citys Ghetto district and taken across the Tiber to the Collegio Militare on Via della Lungara.

Two days later they were sent to Auschwitz on a sealed train from Tiburtina station. Only 16 were to make it back to Rome alive: 15 men and a woman, Settimia Spizzichino from Garbatella, whose white steel bridge is named in her honour.

Cover photo credit: NICOLA MESSANA PHOTOS / Shutterstock.com.

COLUMBIA  Two young South Carolina politicos started jobs this week in President Joe Biden's new administration following Wednesday's inauguration.

Scott Harriford, a Columbia native and University of South Carolina alumnus, was sworn in Wednesday as the new liaison between the White House and the Small Business Administration, a federal agency that provides support for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Paniz Rezaeerod, a Charleston native, will be deputy director of congressional affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior, which is responsible for the oversight of the country's federal lands and natural resources.

Both Harriford, 27, and Rezaeerod, 28, previously worked for former U.S. Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-Charleston  Harriford as a field representative and Rezaeerod as a legislative aide handling environmental issues, including Cunningham's effort to ban offshore drilling.

Cunningham said South Carolina should be proud of them for their swift rise in the federal government.

"Anyone that has ever crossed paths with these two is well aware of their enormous potential," Cunningham said. "Paniz and Scott have already given so much to our state, and they will now be representing us in the nation's highest offices. Their continued service is to our country's benefit."

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Harriford also worked for Biden's presidential campaign in South Carolina, where his landslide primary victory propelled him toward the Democratic nomination. In the 2018 election cycle, Harriford worked on the campaign of South Carolina's Democratic nominee for governor, James Smith.

Another former member of Biden's South Carolina campaign staff, spokeswoman Paige Hill, is now working as senior regional communications director in the White House press office.

Biden also recently tapped former S.C. Democratic Party Chairman Jaime Harrison, who unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., last year, to become the next chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

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.

Martinez Named CFA Assistant Dean of DEI

January 21, 2021

Valeria J. Martinez has been named the assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion within Carnegie Mellon Universitys College of Fine Arts (CFA). CFA Dean Dan Martin announced the appointment of Martinez to the new position in a message to the CFA community earlier today.

Appointing Valeria to this role is a critical step in reinforcing our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the College of Fine Arts, Martin said. Most of our schools and programs already have implemented processes and actions that positively affect our students, faculty and staff. Valeria will help us to continue to assure that CFA continues to become a more diverse, truly inclusive, and equitable environment for all.

A regular speaker on the subjects of diversity, social justice and Latin/Latino-focused issues, Martinez also has a history of working with various communities on systemic oppression, unlearning false narratives about marginalized communities and providing support to disenfranchised groups  including first generation college students, students of racial, ethnic and gender marginality, as well as faculty and staff of marginalized genders, sexuality, race, ethnicity and nationality. Martinez also has studied extensively on critical race theory, queer of color theory, Black and Latinx studies.

Martinez comes to Carnegie Mellon from Cornell University, where she taught online courses in ethnicity, diversity and gender studies. Prior to that, she was a national training specialist with The Posse Foundation, where she provided training for internal and external audiences, designed curriculum and mentored staff, among other key responsibilities. Martinez served as associate director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Columbia University. There, she managed activities and services for all outreach and social justice educational programming, developed diversity training and workshops, and supported the recruitment and retention efforts for the division of undergraduate student life.

At Syracuse University, Martinez served in a dual role as a university instructor in the College of Arts and Sciences Latin/Latino American Studies Department and associate director of mentoring programs and diversity education. Earlier, she had been the coordinator of mentoring programs in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Martinez earned her dual bachelors degree in communication studies/political science from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She completed a certificate of advanced studies in womens and gender studies at Syracuse, and earned her masters degree in cultural foundations of education. She is pursuing her doctorate in leadership and learning organizations at Vanderbilt Universitys Peabody College of Education in Nashville, Tennessee.

A New Yorker, she looks forward to making Pittsburgh her home.

This is an exciting time to be joining Carnegie Mellon, she said. There is immense opportunity to create a transformative, inclusive space within the College of Fine Arts, and doing so marries my passion for justice, diversity, equity and inclusion with my profession.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 02:36:14|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry Saeed Khatibzadeh denounced on Wednesday "blatant hostage-taking of Iranian national" by the U.S. government, semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.

Khatibzadeh made the remarks during a visit to the agency's offices in Tehran, when asked about the arrest in the U.S. of Iranian university professor Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi for allegedly acting as an unregistered "foreign agent" on behalf of Tehran.

"Unfortunately, the U.S. is addicted to this kind of actions and they take hostages under any pretext," the spokesman said.

Iran's government, he further noted, hopes the new U.S. administration will move away from such approach, that Khatibzadeh linked to former President Donald Trump.

Kaveh Lotfolah Afrasiabi, he went on to say, is a well-known university professor who has been arrested on "unrealistic charges."

This is not, the official went on, the first time that Washington has relied on "baseless allegations" to "create trouble" for Iranian citizens in different countries and "take hostages."

Khatibzadeh voiced hope that the Iranian professor's problem will be solved as soon as possible.

Afrasiabi, a U.S. resident for more than three decades according to American media press reports, was taken into custody by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), on the accusation that he violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), Washington Post daily reported on Tuesday. Enditem
He claims he's being investigated by police for 'harassment, exposure, voyeurism and obstructing police' after revenge porn arrest at Heathrow airport.

And Stephen Bear, 31, shared a bizarre YouTube video on Thursday in which he claimed he had lost his friends. discussed feeling suicidal and vowed to clear his name, after showing a clip of himself touching his manhood.

The reality star, who recently returned from a trip to Dubai, said on the 18 minute video, called Life Of Bear, episode 2: 'Since things have been said about me, a lot of people have changed.

'No one asks if I'm OK... I nearly attempted to take my own life': Stephen Bear whined about losing all his friends amid Georgia Harrison's revenge porn allegations in a bizarre new video

On bail: Police apprehended Bear after he returned from Dubai for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia Harrison without her knowledge (pictured)

'I had no one. The only people who stuck by me are my family and one of my other mates who is over in Spain

'Apart from that, people who I thought were mates are clearly not. No one has really messaged asking if I'm OK. It's quite a lonely road.

'It's funny because when I go out or I am round people, I always think, I am the nice guy, the funny guy, you wanna be round me. I buy everything.

Priorities: Stephen claimed the video was his only way of having a voice at this time but couldn't resist inserting a shot of him touching his manhood

Not important: He also made a point of bragging about his Louis Vuitton jacket, Gucci sunglasses and Champion T-shirt as he made his way to the police station

'I treat them, I am nice to them. I always thought they would be like, "Ah Bear's a nice guy. He's cool. But I'm the one getting slagged off and it's quite sad actually if you really think about it.

'When s*** hits the fan, there is no one really. apart my family.'

Police apprehended Bear after he returned from Dubai for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia Harrison without her knowledge and sharing the explicit content online.

Essex police have since announced a formal charge is yet to be made while the investigation continues, with the TV personality remaining on bail until February 10.

Feeling amused? Stephen rode a broom outside his house while poking fun at his father's OCD and blindness, as he accompanied him to the police station

In statement to MailOnline on Wednesday, a spokesperson confirmed: 'A 31-year-old man from Loughton, who was arrested on suspicion of disclosing private sexual images or film without consent with intent to cause distress, voyeurism, harassment and obstructing a police officer, has been released on bail until 10 February.'

During the video, which Bear said was his only way for him to have a voice, he showed off his Louis Vuitton jacket, poked fun at his father's OCD and lack of sight and said he would be back on another holiday soon, despite the national lockdown.

Bear moaned about having to travel to Harlow police station to sign a form while on bail each week until February 10, saying: 'It's so long.'

He said: 'Hopefully I'll be in Dubai again soon. I can't go nowhere yet though. Got my passport, ain't they' and questioned why he had to go all the way to the station to sign a form

He added: 'Hopefully I'll be in Dubai again soon. I can't go nowhere yet though. Got my passport, ain't they.

'I was in there for 13-14 hours the other day, [police station]. Why have I got to sign a sheet for. Can't you just wait til the 10th?'

Bear continued: 'When I do get proven innocent, because I will be, all those people who are saying horrible things about me, which nearly lead me to kill myself...

'I nearly attempted to take my own life because of every single person's comment on the situation.'

Talking about the allegations made upon him, he said: 'A lot of people are talking about revenge porn. It's quite a strong allegation.

'It's one of the worst things anyone could possibly say. I just want to get my side across because then I feel like I've got a voice again.'

Georgia believes Stephen showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being widely shared on WhatsApp.

In custody: Police apprehended Bear, 31, following his return to Heathrow for allegedly using his home CCTV system to film himself having sex with ex Georgia Harrison without her knowledge

She also alleges he shared screenshots of the video to followers on his OnlyFans account, but Bear has denied it was her in the video.

The former Love Island star has since thanked her fans and 'everyone that has reached out' following Bear's arrest.

In a statement given to The Sun, she said: 'I am passionate about supporting victims of revenge porn and hopefully by coming forward it will give others the courage to do the same.

'I have a fantastic team around me including friends, family and colleagues who are just some of the many reasons I have be able to stay positive right now.'

The closure of Dubai's travel corridor means those arriving from the UAE are required to quarantine for 10-days upon their arrival in the UK, although the coronavirus test and release option halves the isolation period to just five days.

Distress: Georgia believes Stephen showed the recording to at least 'two friends' and claims the footage was being widely shared on WhatsApp

While Bear may well have chosen to be tested following his return, the TV personality appeared to show a complete disregard for current guidelines by venturing out to buy takeaway coffee shortly after his release.

He was accompanied by on-off lover Tia McAlister, 18, who is 13-years his junior, as he left his Essex home for refreshments.

He defended his actions in his latest video, saying: 'I'm sure you are allowed to go out for an hour a day or to get some food.

'What am I meant to do? Starve? If I stayed in and starved, people would call me thick and say why didn't he go out and get some food.'

Guidelines state people can get food if there is no one else who can get it for them. Stephen has been staying with his family, so his outing was not essential.

While talking to his father, who was joining him in the car on the way to the police station, when he was looking for his face mask, Bear told him to hurry up and 'f*** the mask.'
Australia says a new United Nations nuclear treaty signed by more than 80 countries will be ineffective in eliminating nuclear weapons from the world.

The Morrison government has not signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which comes into effect on Friday.

North Korea fired two suspected short-range missiles towards the sea in May 2019. Credit:KCNA/AP

The treaty, signed by 86 countries, bans signatories from testing, developing, producing, stockpiling or threatening to use nuclear weapons.

The Australian government decided not to sign the treaty on the basis that it failed to recognise the realities of the current international security environment.
AUSTIN, Minn. - Around 2 weeks ago, Cedars of Austin was first informed they would be getting the vaccine on Wednesday, January 20.

Thats when staff went through and asked each resident if they wanted to get vaccinated.

After speaking with some of the seniors, many say they're excited to be able to get out more and do the things they used to love doing.

103-year-old Genevieve Moeykens explains, I'll be glad to get out in circulation I don't mean outside, I mean in here-- I've only seen my daughter twice this year."

Lisa Nelson, Director of Sales and Marketing, who received the vaccine herself, says she felt slight anxiety from not knowing what to expect.

She says this is the next step in securing the health and safety of their residents.

Nelson says she is looking forward to her residents feeling safer and for them to be able to live life more openly.

Nelson says, "We used to have big events, and gatherings for our residents, so we're hoping that it will allow them to be able to engage with their friends, families, and be able to stay healthy as well."

Staff says 140 people received the vaccine on Wednesday, and will receive the second dose in 28 days.
TUNIS - Tunisia will obtain its first Covid vaccines starting in February, said Tunisian Health Minister Faouzi Mehdi in a press conference to present the country's vaccination plan against Covid-19.



The vaccination plan will allow for getting back to normal life and reducing the negative repercussions of the pandemic, Mehdi said, adding that Tunisia has made agreements with various companies to purchase six million doses of the coronavirus vaccine.



Tunisia is also participating in the Jdc Africa initiative to obtain 2.4 million additional doses at reasonable prices at the start of March 2021.



The health minister, accompanied by Tunisian Technology Minister Fadhel Kraiem, provided details of the vaccination campaign programme that will start in the coming weeks.



There will be five priority categories, starting with people over age 75 and health workers.



Kraiem announced a vaccine registration and distribution system as well as the website Evax.tn that will allow citizens to sign up for the vaccination campaign.
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All chief ministers will also receive the vaccines in the next phase of the campaign, which may happen in March or April, according to media reports

Sources have said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the second round of the inoculation drive, according to several media reports.

"Narendra Modi will take the vaccine when his turn will come after completion of the first phase," an official in the Prime Minister's Office told Hindustan Times.

"He himself said this in his meeting with chief ministers that politicians shouldn't try to break the queue and only take the vaccine when their turn comes," the official added.

All chief ministers will also receive the vaccines in the next phase of the campaign, which may happen in March or April, the newspaper further reported.

As per The Times of India, the second phase will see vaccines administered to 270 million people above the age of 50 and those with compromised immunity or underlying medical conditions that leaves them vulnerable to the novel coronavirus .

Modi (70) and most of the chief ministers fall in this age bracket are is likely to be in this batch, a second highly-placed official in the vaccination drive told the newspaper. However, there is no confirmation about exactly when Modi or the chief ministers will be vaccinated.

The vaccine drive was launched on 16 January with healthcare workers and others at the frontline of the coronavirus fight receiving jabs of two vaccines: Serum Institute of India's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

In a recent meeting with chief ministers, Modi had said that politicians should not jump the line and should wait for their turn to get vaccinated.

Chief ministers of states such as Haryana, Bihar and Telangana had reportedly suggested that MLAs, MPs and other public representatives should be considered frontline workers and be vaccinated.

In the first phase, launched on 16 January, India will be administering the vaccine to around 3 crore healthcare and frontline workers.

As on Wednesday, 7.86 lakh beneficiaries have been vaccinated.

With inputs from PTI
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the proposal from Queensland to shift hotel quarantine accommodation from built-up areas to regional facilities needs to have a net positive for the affected regions.

The Prime Minister was in Gladstone on Thursday as part of a tour of regional parts of the state.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says any plan to move hotel quarantine to the regions needs to have a "net benefit" for the communities affected. Credit:AAP/ Lukas Coch

The area, in central Queensland, has been identified as a possible hub for the states revised hotel quarantine system, with the state government considering a plan to turn a mining camp about 20 kilometres from the citys CBD into a quarantine centre.

Mr Morrison said he had yet to see firm details about the proposal, which Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was expected to present to the national cabinet meeting in Brisbane on Friday.
WASHINGTON (WTVA) - U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., attended Wednesdays inauguration at Capitol Hill.

He spoke with WTVA reporter Chelsea Brown about his experience and how it differed from previous ceremonies.

"Watching the Constitution in action and sending that signal to the rest of the world is a positive experience," he said.

The senator from Tupelo said both Republicans and Democrats shared the stage Wednesday as the Joe Biden presidential administration began.

He spoke about the heavy security.

"It is heartbreaking to see fortress Washington, fortress America."

More than 20,000 members of the National Guard have been in Washington, D.C. for several days to provide aid to local law enforcement who increased security to prevent a repeat of the Jan. 6 deadly riot at the Capitol.

"Maybe a bit of overkill was called for, but it certainly seemed to work; the inauguration has taken place without incident."

As a safety measure, the general public could not attend.

"No attendance by the general public, because of the security threats, that was the most shocking change," he added.

At previous inaugurations, thousands of people would fill the National Mall to hear the inaugural speech. This year, instead of the crowd, thousands of tiny flags filled the National Mall.

Wickers wife Gayle accompanied her husband to the ceremony. They even had a photo opportunity with Maj. Wesley Southward, a Marine from Booneville.

Overall, Wicker said Wednesays atmosphere was good.

"Our new president called for unity and bipartisanship is a good start."

Wickers colleague, Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., also attended the inauguration. In a statement, she wished Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris well and said she is committed to working with the new administration.
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WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump waves to supporters as he walks the parade route with first lady Melania Trump and son Barron Trump after being sworn in at the 58th Presidential Inauguration January 20, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Donald J. Trump was sworn in today as the 45th president of the United States (Photo by Evan Vucci - Pool/Getty Images)

Donald Trump inauguration speech: Read the full transcript below

Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, fellow Americans and people of the world  thank you.

We the citizens of America have now joined a great national effort to rebuild our county and restore its promise for all our people.

Together we will determine the course of America for many, many years to come.

Together we will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.

Every four years we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power.

And we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent, thank you.

The moment Donald Trump officially became 45th President of the United States #Inauguration https://t.co/J393BNKY8B pic.twitter.com/ooMajiMFg9  Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) January 20, 2017

Todays ceremony, however, has very special meaning because today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another  but transferring it from Washington DC and giving it back to you the people.

For too long a small group in our nations capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.

Washington flourished but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered but the jobs left and the factories closed.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images Donald Trump (L) is sworn in as the 45th US president by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in front of the Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People stand on the National Mall to listen to the 58th Presidential Inauguration for President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump embraces his family after taking the oath of office during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., January 20, 2017. (Photo by Jim Bourg - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump kisses his daughter Tiffany Trump after his inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images President Donald Trump talks with former President Barack Obama on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, after Trump took the presidential oath. (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (C) congratulates U.S. Vice President Mike Pence (L) after he took the oath of office as his wife Karen Pence looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images Former President Barack Obama waves as he boards a Marine helicopter during a departure ceremony on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, after President Donald Trump was inaugurated. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP US President Donald Trump (L) and former US President Barack Obama clap after the national anthem was sung on January 20, 2017 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Tape closes off broken windows at businesses in Northwest Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, after a confrontation with protestors blocks from Donald Trump's inauguration. (AP Photo/Michael Biesecker) AP US President Donald Trump speaks during the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: US President Donald Trump supporters react on the National Mall to the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire world have watched the transfer of the United States presidency from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, the 45th president. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: US President Donald Trump supporters react on the National Mall to the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire world have watched the transfer of the United States presidency from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, the 45th president. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: US President Donald Trump supporters pray on the National Mall during the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire world have watched the transfer of the United States presidency from Barack Obama to Donald Trump, the 45th president. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: (From L to R) First Lady Melania Trump, Karen Pence, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, former president Barack Obama, former vice president Joe Biden, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden stand on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images Cuban-American supporters raise their right hands as they watch on television President Donald Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, in the Little Havana area in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) AP President Donald Trump points at Former President Barack Obama after his speech during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence wave goodbye to Barack and Michelle Obama on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence wave goodbye to Barack and Michelle Obama on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images US President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump wave after he took the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump applauds after Vice President Mike Pence (C rear) was sworn in during the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President Barack Obama shake hands with President-elect Donald Trump during the Presidential Inauguration at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President Elect Donald Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images US President elect Donald Trump (C) arrives for the swearing-in ceremony on in front of the Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A man is washed with water after being sprayed by police pepper spray during an anti-Trump demonstration on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Protesters attempted to block an entrance to the inauguration ceremony. President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th U.S. President later today. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump arrives on the West Front of the Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images US Vice President-elect Mike Pence arrives for the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President Barack Obama(R) and First Lady Michelle Obama(L) welcome Preisdent-elect Donald Trump(2nd-R) and his wife Melania to the White House in Washington, DC January 20, 2017. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton whispers to former President George W. Bush on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton (R) talks to former President George W. Bush arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images A poster-size image of a woman in a headscarf in the colors of the American flag is viewed as it appeared in a full-page ad in several US newspapers on January 20, 2017, part of a protest launched on the day of Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump's wife Melania Trump adjusts Barron Trump's tie before the 58th Presidential Inauguration for President-elect Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP Melania Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images Demonstrators protest the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: (L-R) Ivanka Trump, Vanessa Trump, Jared Kushner and first lady Michelle Obama arrive on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images Demonstrators protest the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: People watch from the National Mall the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency later today as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th president Friday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images A woman holds a sign before the start of the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at Freedom Plaza on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Joshua LOTTJOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Joshua LOTTJOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: People gather on the National Mall for the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency later today as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th president Friday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: People watch from the National Mall the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency later today as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th president Friday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: A man rests on the National Mall during the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency later today as Donald Trump is sworn is as the 45th president Friday. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump's motorcade drives down Pennsylvania Avenue for the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) AP US Chief Justice John Roberts(BottomR), Justice Anthony Kennedy(L) and Justice Clarence Thomas(2nd-L) arrive on the platform of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Paul J. RichardsPAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Vanessa Trump arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) (L) talks with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump to the White House prior to the inauguration in Washington, D.C. on January 20, 2017. Later today Donald Trump will be sworn-in as the 45th President. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) arrives on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images Hillary Clinton arrives at the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images Hillary Clinton waves as she arrives at the US Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump took the first ceremonial steps before being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- ushering in a new political era that has been cheered and feared in equal measure. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Rob CarrROB CARR/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Former US Vice-President Dick Cheney arrives on the platform of the US Capitol at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Timothy A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President-elect Donald J. Trump and first lady-elect Melania Trump depart St. John's Church on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President-elect Donald J. Trump and first lady-elect Melania Trump depart St. John's Church on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Former US President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrive near the east front steps of the Capitol Building before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in at the 58th Presidential Inauguration on Capitol Hill in Washington, D. on January 20, 2017. Donald Trump took the first ceremonial steps before being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- ushering in a new political era that has been cheered and feared in equal measure. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / John ANGELILLOJOHN ANGELILLO/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Singer Jackie Evancho arrives for the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / SAUL LOEBSAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: The Marine band plays on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Laura Bush waves as she arrives at fthe U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: People wait in line to enter the National Mall prior to the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump is being sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Getty Images The President's place setting is displayed in Statuary Hall in the Capitol for the Inaugural Lunch following Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MOLLY RILEYMOLLY RILEY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Protesters and supporters gather on the National Mall for the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Today Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images) Getty Images The ceremonial gifts for the President and Vice President are set in Statuary Hall in the Capitol for the Inaugural Lunch following Donald Trump's inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MOLLY RILEYMOLLY RILEY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: New York City's Naked Cowboy joins protesters and supporters on the National Mall for the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Today Trump is sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Guests arrive for the inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Barak Obama leaves the White House for the final time as President as the nation prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Trump becomes the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images US President Barack Obama(R) and First Lady Michelle Obama(2nd-L) welcome Preisdent-elect Donald Trump(L) and his wife Melania(2nd-R) to the White House in Washington, DC January 20, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSONJIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President Barack Obama kisses first lady Michelle Obama as they await for the arrival of President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP People gather to watch the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images First lady Michelle Obama, flanked by President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump, greets Melania Trump at the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President Barak Obama leaves the White House for the final time as President as the nation prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Trump becomes the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump watch a TV screen at the National Mall, as he arrives at the White House to greet US President Barack Obama in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- winning vindication for his bare-knuckle White House bid and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDSANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect and his wife Melania leave St. John's Episcopal Church on January 20, 2017, before Trump's inauguration. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas KammNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania speak with Reverend Luis Leon as they leave St. John's Episcopal Church on January 20, 2017, before Trump's inauguration. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas KammNICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir wait for the swearing in of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the Untied States during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Anthony Messina of Brooklyn, New York poses for a portrait as people gather on the National Mall prior to Donald Trump's Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Trump is being sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: President-elect Donald J. Trump departs Blair House to attend a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Chris Kleponis - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir wait below the Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Chairs are set up on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: The Marine band sits on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sit on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images People and reporters prepare for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Workers set the stage at the U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Daniel Acker - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images People and reporters prepare for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Young members of the National Cathedral Choir wait below the Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Workers set the stage at the U.S. Capitol on Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States today. (Photo by Ricky Carioti - Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Young members of the National Cathedral Choir wait below the Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SMIALOWSKIBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Spectaors begin to fiill the National Mall l on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Mandel NganMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A choir od singers rehearse below the Capitol dome in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017, before the swearing-in ceremony of US President-elect Donald Trump. / AFP PHOTO / Mandel NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - A military helicopter lands at the US Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- capping his improbable journey to the White House and beginning a four-year term that promises to shake up Washington and the world. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Rob CarrROB CARR/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Demonstrators protest against US President-elect Donald Trump before his inauguration on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: The American flag flies on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: American flags adorn on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on inauguration day January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In todays inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images A Palestinian protester holds a placard during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem. / AFP PHOTO / ABBAS MOMANIABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Israeli police detain a Palestinian protester during a demonstration against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and against US President-elect Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017, near the settlement of Maale Adumim, east of Jerusalem. / AFP PHOTO / ABBAS MOMANIABBAS MOMANI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A Kenyan reads a local newspaper pullout depicting American President Barack Obama and the President-elect, on January 20, 2017 in the streets of Nairobi. Donald J. Trump was elected as the President of the United States on November 8, 2016, and will take the oath of office on January 20, 2017, to formally become the 45th President of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / SIMON MAINASIMON MAINA/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images BATH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A groip of protestors gather beneath a banner reading "Build bridges not walls" dropped from a window on Pulteney Bridge on January 20, 2017 in Bath, England. The banner drop in Bath is part of a series of events across the world aimed at expressing disproval at today's inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th U.S. president. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Getty Images BATH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: A man stops to look at a banner reading "Build bridges not walls" that has been displayed on a bridge on North Parade on January 20, 2017 in Bath, England. The banner drop in Bath is part of a series of events across the world aimed at expressing disproval at today's inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th U.S. president. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) Getty Images Sri Lankan rights activists demonstrate outside the US Embassy in Colombo on January 20, 2017, ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Ishara S. KODIKARAISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Activists burn a mock US flag with President-elect Donald Trump's portrait during a rally in front of the US embassy in Manila on January 20, 2017, ahead of Trump's presidential inauguration. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump arrive at a pre-Inaugural "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive to attend an inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive to attend an inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Entertainer Willi Tokarev, center, an 82-year-old Russian emigre to the U.S. appears during a nightclub party entitled "Trumplissimo America!" in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before Donald Trump is to be sworn in as president of the United States, people gathered at a Moscow nightclub to celebrate his inauguration. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) AP US President-elect Donald Trump and wife Melania arrive for a welcome celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Actor Jon Voight speaks during a pre-Inaugural "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration" at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) AP Baracades are installed ahead of the inaugural parade of US President-elect Donald Trump, in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrived in Washington , determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The motorcade of US President-elect Donald Trump is parked in front of the Trump International Hotel as he attends a leadership luncheon in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrived in Washington , determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / Robyn BECKROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump, accompanied by Vice President-elect Mike Pence pauses after placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., ahead of Friday's presidential inauguration. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) US President-elect Donald J. Trump and US Vice President-elect Mike Pence participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on January 19, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, January 19, 2017 in Washington. DC. Trump will be inaugurated as the 45th U.S. President on Friday. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) US President-elect Donald J. Trump and US Vice President-elect Mike Pence participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery on January 19, 2017 in Arlington, Virginia. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images Family member watch as US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia on January 19, 2017 / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington,Virginia, on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump and wife Melania Trump step off a plane upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Members of a bomb disposal team investigate a package downtown on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Security is tight in the nation's capital on the eve of the presidential inauguration. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency as Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president January 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Members of a bomb disposal team investigate a package downtown on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Security is tight in the nation's capital on the eve of the presidential inauguration. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency as Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th president January 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Lt Col Jason Fettig of the Marine band rehearses on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Donald Trump supporters drive through downtown on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency as Trump is sworn in as the 45th president January 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images The podium where Donald Trump will take the Oath of Office and be sworn in as the 45th US president is covered up in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The United States Marine Corps Band practices in front of the podium where US President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office and be sworn in as the 45th US president in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump helps his wife Melania Trump off stage at a leadership luncheon at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump introduces First Lady-elect Melania Trump to Republican leadership the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images President-elect Donald Trump stands with his wife Melania at the Leadership Luncheon at Trump International in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: The West Front of the U.S. Capitol is prepared for inauguration day on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images A new wax figure of US President-elect Donald Trump is viewed a day after it was launched at Madame Tussauds in Washington,DC on January 19, 2017. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Chairs are set out on the National Mall by the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Getty Images A new wax figure of US President-elect Donald Trump is viewed a day after it was launched at Madame Tussauds in Washington,DC on January 19, 2017. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: (AFP OUT) President-elect of The United States Donald J. Trump speaks to Republican leadership at Trump International Hotel the day before his swearing in January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to the National Mall to witness Trump being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chris Kleponis-Pool/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: A view down Pennsylvania Ave is seen from the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Members of a military band rehearses on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Members of a military band rehearses on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Getty Images Onlookers are seen in front of the Trump International Hotel as US President-elect Donald Trump arrives for a leadership luncheon in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) takes a photo on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald J. Trump will be sworn in tomorrow as the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: A vendor sells Donald Trump merchandise near the National Mall on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. Washington and the entire nation are preparing for the transfer of the United States presidency as Trump is sworn is as the 45th president on January 20. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (R) and his wife Melania Trump arrive for a leadership luncheon at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - US President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, her son Theo, her husband Jared Kushner and daughter Arabella, step off a plane upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on January 19, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump (R) and his wife Melania Trump arrive for a leadership luncheon at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC on January 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Trump arrived in Washington on Thursday, determined to transform American politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGANMANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Ivanka Trump carries her son Theodore Kushner, as they arrive at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, for her father's inauguration. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP President-elect Donald Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, speaks at the Leadership Luncheon, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP US President-elect Donald Trump merchandise on sale outside the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017, as final preparations are underway a day ahead of the inauguration of the 45th US president. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images US President-elect Donald Trump merchandise on sale outside the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017, as final preparations are underway a day ahead of the inauguration of the 45th US president. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Susan Reneau wears a hat with Donald Trump buttons near Constitution Avenue on January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. US President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in January 20 as the 45th President of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Joshua LOTTJOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images TOPSHOT - A view of the US Capitol building before tomorrow's Inauguration on Capitol Hill January 19, 2017 in Washington, DC. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan SmialowskiBRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Susan Reneau poses for a portrait as she shows off her patriotic outfit near Constitution Avenue on January 19, 2017, in Washington, DC. US Presidential-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in on january 20 as the 45th President of the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Joshua LOTTJOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Members of US Secret Service guard a fenced out area near the White House in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2017, where final preparations are underway a day ahead the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump as the 45th President of the US. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMADJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A new wax figure of US President-elect Donald Trump is viewed a day after it was launched at Madame Tussauds in Washington,DC on January 19, 2017. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A new wax figure of US President-elect Donald Trump is viewed a day after it was launched at Madame Tussauds in Washington,DC on January 19, 2017. With one day to go before he takes the oath of office as the 45th US president, Donald Trump arrives in Washington Thursday determined to transform US politics over the next four years. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARYTIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images / Facebook

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Whatsapp President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. In today's inauguration ceremony Donald J. Trump becomes the 45th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The establishment protected itself but not the citizens of our country.

Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs. While they have celebrated there has been little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.

That all changes starting right here and right now because this moment is your moment. It belongs to you. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America today.

This is your day.

This is your celebration.

And this  the United States of America  is your country.

What truly matters is not what party controls our government but that this government is controlled by the people.

Today, January 20 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.

The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. Everyone is listening to you now.

You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement  the likes of which the world has never seen before.

At the centre of this movement is a crucial conviction  that a nation exists to serve its citizens.

Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighbourhoods for their families and good jobs for themselves.

These are just and reasonable demands

Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities, rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation.

An education system flushed with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge. And the crime and the gangs and the drugs which deprive people of so much unrealised potential.

We are one nation, and their pain is our pain, their dreams are our dreams, we share one nation, one home and one glorious destiny.

Today I take an oath of allegiance to all Americans. For many decades, weve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry, subsidised the armies of other countries, while allowing the sad depletion of our own military.

We've defended other nations borders while refusing to defend our own.

And spent trillions and trillions of dollars overseas while Americas infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.

We have made other countries rich while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has dissipated over the horizon.

One by one, shutters have closed on our factories without even a thought about the millions and millions of those who have been left behind.

But that is the past and now we are looking only to the future.

We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, in every hall of power  from this day on a new vision will govern our land  from this day onwards it is only going to be America first  America first!

Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families.

Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength. I will fight for you with every bone in my body and I will never ever let you down.

America will start winning again. America will start winning like never before.

We will bring back our jobs, we will bring back our borders, we will bring back our wealth, we will bring back our dreams.

We will bring new roads and high roads and bridges and tunnels and railways all across our wonderful nation.

We will get our people off welfare and back to work  rebuilding our country with American hands and American labour.

We will follow two simple rules  buy American and hire American.

We see good will with the nations of the world but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their nations first.

We will shine for everyone to follow.

We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones, and untie the world against radical Islamic terrorism which we will eradicate from the face of the earth.

At the bed rock of our politics will be an allegiance to the United States.

And we will discover new allegiance to each other. There is no room for prejudice.

The bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when gods people live together in unity.

When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.

There is no fear, we are protected and will always be protected by the great men and women of our military and most importantly we will be protected by god.

Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger. As Americans, we know we live as a nation only when it is striving.

We will no longer accept politicians who are always complaining but never doing anything about it.

The time for empty talk is over, now arrives the hour of action.

Do not allow anyone to tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America. We will not fail, our country will thrive and prosper again.

We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the earth from the miseries of disease, to harvest the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.

A new national pride will stir ourselves, lift our sights and heal our divisions. Its time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget, that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots.

We all enjoy the same glorious freedoms and we all salute the same great American flag and whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look at the same night sky, and dream the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath by the same almighty creator.

So to all Americans in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, from ocean to ocean  hear these words  you will never be ignored again.

Your voice, your hopes and dreams will define your American destiny.

Your courage, goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.

Together we will make America strong again, we will make America wealthy again, we will make America safe again and yes  together we will make America great again.

Thank you.

God bless you.

And god bless America.
MOBILE, Ala., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For the seventh straight year, Alabama School Choice Week has been officially proclaimed by the state's governor. This year, Governor Kay Ivey proclaimed the Week, which seeks to celebrate and raise awareness about K-12 school choices.

Around Alabama, parents, schools, and other organizers will be celebrating with more than 650 virtual or socially-distanced activities. These events may be as large as a statewide photo contest or as personal as a family decorating a poster with reasons they are grateful for choice. All the Week's activities aim to spark conversations about how different educational opportunities meet families' needs and help kids succeed.

Gov. Ivey is the 21st governor to issue such a proclamation this year, with more expected to join in the next few days. Hundreds of city and county leaders have issued similar proclamations and more than 33,000 safe celebrations have been independently planned for the week nationwide, raising awareness about opportunity in education.

"We want to give a big thank you to Alabama families for celebrating National School Choice Week and speaking up about the educational choices their kids need," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "The Week is a wonderful time for families in every state to learn more about their options for the upcoming school year."

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation.

For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/alabama .

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com



LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Tuesday said it would give COVID-19 shots to up to 2,000 people working in vaccine supply chains, after AstraZeneca requested protection for its workers trying to deliver an ambitious vaccine rollout programme.

AstraZeneca research chief Mene Pangalos last week said that COVID-19 outbreaks were hindering the company's vaccine workforce, and requested that they were prioritised to receive a shot.

"Highly trained workers who have been identified by the government as being irreplaceable and crucial to the delivery of vaccine supplies will be offered vaccines," the health ministry said in a statement.

"This will reduce the risk of an outbreak that would disrupt the immediate supply chain, which could have a significant impact on the largest vaccination programme in British history."

Eligible staff include those working for AstraZeneca and Pfizer involved in making the drug substance, the "fill and finish" of the vials, batch testing and logistics.

Britain is aiming to vaccinate up to 15 million high risk people with first doses of Pfizer or AstraZeneca's shot by mid-February. Latest figures show that nearly 4.3 million people have received initial doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

(Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by William James)
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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania make their way to board Marine One before departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Official Presidential Library for Trump Comes Online, Highlights Impeachments

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration launched a digital presidential library for former President Donald Trump, with a biography highlighting the two impeachments against him.

The website was put online on Wednesday. It currently allows visitors to view the Trump administrations publicly archived social media accounts and websites, including the @WhiteHouse45 Twitter account and Trump White House website, which was archived moments after President Joe Bidens inauguration, as is customary.

The National Archives added that a number of Trump administration officials use their personal social media accounts when constructing government business, including Trump, who used his @realDonaldTrump Twitter account until he was permanently suspended from the platform. The agency pledged to make the social media content from those designated accounts publicly available as soon as possible.

The newly launched website features a roughly 300-word, seven-paragraph biography for Trump, with one paragraph presenting some of his work, and two dedicated to his two impeachments.

In 2019 President Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives for abuse of power by soliciting the interference of Ukraine in the 2020 U.S. presidential election and obstruction of Congress by directing defiance of certain subpoenas issued by the House of Representatives, the website reads. A trial in the U.S. Senate found the President not guilty of the charges brought against him.

In 2021 President Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives for having incited an insurrection against the government of the United States, it states.

When it comes to Trumps work as president, the National Archives said: The work of the Trump Administration included reforming the U.S. tax code; renegotiating trade agreements with Mexico, Canada, China, Japan, and South Korea; expanding the military; defeating the self-proclaimed Islamic State [ISIS]; responding to the opioid crisis; improving access to healthcare for veterans; responding to the COVID-19 global pandemic; appointing Federal judges, including the nomination of three U.S. Supreme Court justices; and lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

The digital presidential libraries for Trumps two immediate predecessors, Barack Obama and George W. Bush, feature much longer biographies with more comprehensive reviews of their accomplishments, and little or no mention of controversies during their presidencies.

According to the National Archives, Trumps official presidential records are currently governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) and will not be available to public access requests for the first five years after the end of an administration. Those records will become subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests on January 20, 2026.
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Homes were evacuated in a Devon market town yesterday afternoon after a neighbourhood was rocked by a series of explosions underground.

Police declared a major incident with 25 people from properties in Kingsbridge told to leave and one person taken to hospital following the incident at 11.50am.

Temporary shelter was being arranged for those evacuated - with fire, police and engineers from both gas and electric companies sent to the scene in South Hams.

Some 105 properties in the town were left without power and fire crews from three stations were attending the incident as efforts were made to make the area safe.

Police declared a major incident with 25 people from homes in Kingsbridge told to leave

Early reports from the scene suggested the cause was either a gas leak or an electrical shortage.

Police later confirmed the explosion was from a low voltage cable.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said said: 'The incident in Church Street, Kingsbridge, is no longer being treated as a major incident.

'Its cause has been confirmed as an isolated low-voltage cable and was not gas-related.

'One person was treated for carbon monoxide inhalation at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.

'Residents are being allowed to return to their homes.'

The local area's Kingsbridge Police had earlier warned in a Facebook post: 'The incident has been declared a 'Major Incident' and numerous partner agencies are on scene.

'Some residents have been evacuated as a safety precaution and a reception centre has been established to temporarily 'house' these families, in a Covid-secure environment.

Homes were evacuated this afternoon following the suspected gas leak or electrical shortage

'At this time we are not aware of any serious injuries but one man has been taken to hospital. Roads are closed around the town centre and we ask you to avoid the area unless absolutely necessary.

'Please avoid attending shops etc in Kingsbridge and stay at home. We will keep you all updated throughout the day.'

In a later post, they added: 'If you are one of the households who have been officially evacuated from their home because of the incident in Church Street, Gerri and the other staff members at Kingsbridge Food Bank are very kindly providing temporary shelter and refreshments.

'This is based at the old Avon Farmers store on Wallingford Road, TQ7 1ND. If you are shielding, isolating, or have symptoms of Covid-19, please make this known before attempting to enter the building. If possible, please call us on 101 quoting Log 284.

Fire, police and engineers from both gas and electric companies sent to the scene

'DCC (Devon County Council) are setting up a dedicated phone line for anyone evacuated and are in the process of arranging overnight accommodation and transport should this be required.

'Engineers are on scene and attempting to rectify the earlier fault. Again, I shall keep you updated throughout the day should we have any further information.'

Lee Cotton, Wales and West Utilities Gas Emergency Service Manager for South Devon, said: 'We were called to reports of an explosion in the Church Street area of Kingsbridge this afternoon (21 January) and immediately sent a team of engineers to the scene.

'On arrival we found that an electrical fault on a cable running beneath Church Street had damaged the road surface.

'As a precaution, the emergency services evacuated nearby properties and closed the road.

'No evidence of a gas leak was found at any of the properties, and this issue was not related to the gas network.

'If anyone smells gas, thinks they have a gas leak, or suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should call us on 0800 111 999 and our engineers will be there to help, day or night.

'Before visiting, we'll ask you to let us know if you or anyone in your household, is experiencing Coronavirus symptoms or self-isolating. We'll still come and help you: but our teams will take some additional precautions to keep us all safe.'

Fire crews from three stations attended as efforts were made to make the area safe.

A man was taken to hospital following the 'multiple explosions' heard in Kingsbridge

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: 'This was a multi-agency response in Church Street, Kingsbridge. Western Power currently investigating small underground fire involving low voltage power cable.

'Incident currently scaling down. We were called to the incident at 12pm and crews from Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Newton Abbot were at the scene.

'About 25 people were evacuated and were checked by the ambulance service. We still have one fire engine there from Salcombe.'

Gerald Taylor, area manager for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, tweeted: 'Just been in attendance at an incident in Church Street, Kingsbridge.

'Multi-agency response. Western Power currently investigating small underground fire involving low voltage power cable. Incident currently scaling down.'

The incident was not thought to be related to Storm Christoph which has caused major flooding across parts of Britain following heavy rain and melting snow.

Virtual Sheep Conference 2021

Event Time 8pm

Venue Online



The Teagasc Virtual Sheep Conference will take place across two evenings, Tuesday, 26th January and Thursday, 28th January, as a Zoom webinar between 8pm and 9pm

View the webinar taking place on Tuesday, 26th January here

Thursday, 28th January | 8pm

Webinar Host  Damian Costello, Sheep Knowledge Transfer Specialist, Teagasc

Aine OBrien, Post-doctoral Researcher on Sheep Genetics and Genomics, Teagasc

Reducing labour at lambing: improving lamb vigour and ewe mothering ability through breeding

Ben Shrugnal  UK Vet

Laryngeal chrondritis is an obstructive disease of the upper respiratory tract in sheep caused by abscesses on the larynx which, along with swelling and inflammation of the throat, restrict the windpipe. (Texel Throat)

Questions & Answers

Speaker Profiles

Aine OBrien

Aine OBrien is a Post-doctoral Researcher on Sheep Genetics and Genomics, Teagasc. She qualified with a BAgrSc Agricultural Science (Animal Science) from University College Dublin, in 2015.

She completed her PhD on Genetics and genomics for performance in a multi-breed Irish sheep population, with University of Limerick in 2019. The topic Aine will cover for the conference is Reducing labour at lambing: improving lamb vigour and ewe mothering ability through breeding.

Ben Strugnell BVM&S Cert PM MRCVS

Ben Strugnell qualified from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh in 2002 and spent 6 years in rural mixed practice in North Yorkshire. He then joined the Veterinary Laboratories Agency VI Centre/ diagnostic laboratory in Thirsk, where he worked as a Veterinary Investigation Officer for 6 years.

In 2010 he obtained the RCVS Certificate in Pig medicine. In 2014 he undertook a pilot project with the Beef and lamb Levy Board in England (EBLEX), which established a carcase-based post mortem diagnostic service for farmers and their vets at a large fallen stock collection centre in North East England. The pilot was a success and he has remained at the same centre, performing post mortem examinations on various classes of livestock, in what is now a sustainable enterprise.

Since 2014 over 8000 carcasses have been examined, and accumulated data on causes of death has been of use to the industry and government. He has also been a visiting lecturer at the Universities of Nottingham and undertakes regular teaching of veterinary undergraduates and post-graduates, farmers and allied professionals.
Thiruvananthapuram:

The dearth of doctors in health service department has badly affected the disease control, prevention and treatment work across the state among increasing cases of fever. The existing doctors force is based on the staff pattern which was decided in 1966.



According to Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) preferably the health department should have 8,000 to 9,000 doctors taking into account the huge work load in 1,250 hospitals including district, taluk and general hospitals.



Increase in staff strength has been a major request of the KGMOA because of the shortage of doctors in all categories including assistant surgeons, specialists and specialist (admn) cadre. With the currently employed doctors taking extra pressure because of the fever related patient rush, the health care services in many hospitals have been badly hit.



Apart from this, many doctors are being forced to work for 12 to 15 hours at a stretch. Most regular doctors are also handling administrative duties of DMO, DHS, additional directors and as a result heads of disease control programmes and their services towards public health sector have been curtailed. Moreover, specialists and general medics have inadequate experience in operational and management related work issues.



Though the health department had raised a unique administrative unit for non-specialist doctors, none is trained in public health issues. Even health and sanitation staff, ASHA workers who are responsible for basic disease prevention activities are over loaded with various other responsibilities.



Meanwhile, health minister K. K. Shailaja admitted that shortage of doctors had harmed the fever control methods across the state. She said the services of doctors from the private sector would be requested for owing to the surge in fever cases.

ALSO READ | Rare surgery: Doctors successfully separate twin girls joined at the head at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia

Day trading and swing trading are two ways to potentially increase your trading returns. In addition, both are short-term trading strategies.

Both can be quite volatile as well. Still, traders who can stomach short-term volatility may be rewarded with better returns.

But while these two trading styles have similarities, they have several differences as well. In this post, we will consider both the similarities as well as the differences between the two.

Let's dive in and take a closer look at day trading vs. swing trading.

Day Trading: Ultra High-Paced Trading

Day traders use short-term price changes in order to turn a profit buying and selling stocks. Day traders get their name for a couple of reasons:

Day traders must be able to trade during the day, while the markets are open. They buy and sell stocks usually all within the same day. The SEC refers to anyone who executes four or more trades within five business days in a margin account as a day trader.

Your average investor is certainly not buying and selling the same shares of stock in a single day. They also don't live on their investment income until retirement.

But the successful day trader can make a modest income with a modest initial investment. Something to keep in mind about day trading is you are essentially flipping stocks; that means the more money you have for trading, the more you can make.

Swing Trading: Slower, But Still Fast-Paced

Swing trading doesn't move quite as quickly as day trading, but it still involves buying and selling stocks within a short period of time.

These trades are executed over the course of several days or several weeks. In some cases, they may even happen over the course of a month or two.

Swing trading is unlikely to turn into a full-time career, though it can still yield better returns than more passive forms of investing.

It is also a bit of a double-edged sword. In theory, it should be less volatile due to trading less frequently, but this also means losses can be exaggerated, especially if trades are larger.

Minimum Equity Requirements

Day trading legally requires at least $25,000 of equity, per FINRA regulation. No such minimum exists for swing trading, but traders should have a healthy amount of working capital in order to provide adequate leverage.

A good starting point for swing traders would be $5,000 to $10,000. But, again, the more money you have available for trading, the more you can potentially make.

An important note is that the $25,000 minimum balance for day trading must be maintained at all times. If your balance falls below that level at any point, you must add money to your margin account before you can continue trading.

Trading Style

Day trading is one of the most active forms of trading. That can mean significant levels of stress, and for some, perhaps even an adrenaline rush. Think "Wolf of Wall Street" minus the pump and dump scheme.

The stress is largely due to how quickly things move. Because you are buying and selling stocks all within a single day, you can make - or lose - significant amounts of money very quickly.

The difference between swing trading and day trading is also somewhat evident in their names. While day trading involves dealing with very short-term, intraday changes in price, swing trading deals in larger, interday price "swings."

Swing traders also have the option of stop-loss orders. Stop-loss orders or stop orders allow traders to buy and sell shares automatically at a given price; for example, sell at 15% below your purchase price.

Quite literally, the purpose of stop-loss orders is to stop your losses. If you purchase a stock at a given price and it unexpectedly starts to fall, you can proactively set a stop-loss order so that those shares will sell automatically if the price falls too much.

Not only does this make it easier to prevent excessive losses; it also prevents you from constant monitoring of your shares.

Leverage

Both day traders and swing traders have access to leverage when executing trades. Leverage increases the capital available for trades, meaning traders can carry out larger trades than they otherwise could without leverage.

The typical amount of leverage for day traders and swing traders is 2:1. In other words, someone with $25,000 in their margin account can execute up to $50,000 worth of trades.

2:1 is the maximum leverage for margin accounts, but some brokers will allow up to 4:1 leverage as long as your leverage is reduced back to 2:1 by market close.

Yes, that means a trader with $25,000 of capital has access to up to $100,000 with leverage. This greatly increases the profit (and loss) potential for day traders.

Time Commitment

Day trading and swing trading both require bigger time commitments than more passive forms of investing. That said, day trading takes up more time than most other forms of trading.

Most day traders don't spend more than two to four hours conducting trades. But additional time is spent researching and preparing for the trading day.

Day Traders who use services such as Investors Underground spend time watching trading alerts and participating in morning calls to prepare for the trading day.

Those who want to make day trading a full-time job may indeed spend nearly 40 hours per week on everything that goes into it.

On the other hand, because swing trades are carried out over much longer time periods, this type of trading doesn't require as much constant attention. It may not even require daily work; a few hours per week may be enough.

Final Thoughts

Both day trading and swing trading are popular because they offer traders the chance to make greater returns than a more passive investor. However, there are quite a few differences between the two.

For one, day trading, as its name suggests, requires a lot more daily attention. Many day traders make day trading a full-time job, often by choice.

Each trade is typically smaller with day trading, lessening the gain/loss potential for each trade. At the same time, the sheer number of trades means the profit potential is higher overall.

One downside of day trading is that it requires at least $25,000 of equity.

Swing traders conduct trades with far lower frequency, but the gain/loss for each trade can be larger. It also requires less time and less working capital.

Still, the profit potential for swing trading is lower, meaning it likely won't allow you to quit your day job.

Each style of trading has benefits and drawbacks.

Which one is right for you depends on how much time you have, how much money you have to start trading, and whether you want to turn trading into a full-time career.
Guwahati/Agartala, Jan 21 : No serious or severe cases of Adverse Event Following Immunisation (AEFI) have reported from any of the eight northeastern states since the Covid-19 vaccination drive started on January 16, officials said on Thursday.

A senior official of the National Health Mission (NHM) in Assam told IANS that only 15 very minor cases of AEFI were reported till Thursday evening out of the total of 10,676 beneficiaries who have been vaccinated since January 16.

"Through 229 sessions, Covid-19 vaccines were administered to 10,676 beneficiaries in 65 session sites in 33 districts across Assam," the official said.

Assam received both Covishield and Covaxin, two vaccines which have been cleared for emergency use by the authorities.

According to the NHM official, out of the 65 session sites, Covishield was administered in 57 sites while Covaxin was given in the remaining eight session sites.

Additional Superintendent of the Kalapahar Covid Care Hospital in Guwahati, Raktim Pratim Tamuli Phukan, said: "I took the vaccine at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), and after that I have been continuing my regular duty at the hospital without any problems. The vaccine has given me more reasons to smile and more enthusiasm to work for the Covid-19 infected people in Assam." Physician Ulupi Phukan, Superintendent of the Sonapur District Hospital, also shared her happy experience after being vaccinated.

"No serious AEFI has been observed since the Covid vaccination drive started at the Sonapur District Hospital. I can assure that the Covid-19 vaccine is safe as I have also taken it and I am not facing any difficulties," she said.

Mamoni Das, a nurse at Tezpur's Times Hospital, also sounded cheerful as the vaccination drive started across the country.

"The government is providing such a wonderful opportunity to the healthcare workers of Assam. There's nothing to be fearful of as I have also taken the vaccine and I am feeling healthy and fine," Das said.

Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal, Director, National Health Mission in Tripura, said that out of the targeted 15,956 beneficiaries, vaccines have been administered to 9,807 persons, registering 61.5 per cent vaccination.

"No AEFI has been reported yet. Three minor cases surfaced on Wednesday, but they are not related to vaccination as per the expert committee of Agartala Governemnt Medical College. In all, 56,500 doses of Covid-19 vaccine (Covishield) have been supplied by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India," Jaiswal, a physician turned IAS officer, told IANS.

Health officials in other northeastern states said that no severe case of AEFI has been reported yet in Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

According to the officials, some minor cases of fever have been reported after vaccination in few of the states which are absolutely normal and expected.

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech is the manufacturer of India's first indigenous vaccine for Covid-19 - Covaxin - while Covishield has been developed by Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India in Pune.

(Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in)

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
The 22-year-old woman accused of storming the U.S. Capitol and stealing a laptop belonging to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be released to the custody of her mother in Lower Paxton Township, pending the outcome of her case.

That was part of the agreement reached Thursday morning at a hearing for Riley J. Williams, 22.

As part of the agreement that included her release into the custody of her mother, Wendy Williams, a preliminary hearing was also waived on the charges she is facing.

Riley Williams is to wear an ankle monitor and will be restricted to her mothers home except for employment, court proceedings and several other court-approved reasons for leaving. Her travel is also restricted to the U.S. Middle District of Pennsylvania, as well as traveling through Maryland and Washington D.C. for court matters.

She is scheduled to appear virtually at 1 p.m. Monday for further court proceedings in Washington D.C.

Though todays hearing was waived, Williams court-appointed federal public defender, Lori Ulrich, told the court, It is regrettable that Miss Williams took the presidents bait and went inside the Capitol.

Ulrich added that the tip accusing Williams of stealing the laptop is overstated and it came from an abusive ex-boyfriend for whom she had a PFA order. The reason Williams had changed her phone number was not because she was eluding authorities, but it was because she was advised to do so by the police due to the ex-boyfriends behavior, Ulrich argued.

The FBI claims the red arrow in this photo shows Riley Williams of Central Pa. joining in the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Haugsby objected to these statements, noting that this hearing was waived, and that the argument would be more appropriate at a later hearing.

Williams is a 2017 graduate of the Mechanicsburg Area High School and most recently worked at Keystone Human Services.

According to court records, Williams traveled to the Capitol on Jan. 6 with her father, who is from Camp Hill, and told authorities they had split up during the protest but met up later and returned to Pennsylvania together.

FBI Special Agent Jonathan Lund wrote in charging documents that an ITV News video appears to show Williams participating in the riot inside the Capitol.

She has brown shoulder length hair and wears eyeglasses. She is wearing a black face mask below her chin, around her neck. She can be heard in the video repeatedly yelling, Upstairs, upstairs, upstairs, and can be seen physically directing other intruders to proceed up a staircase, the agent Jonathan Lund wrote. The video also shows a stream of intruders walking up a nearby staircase.

That staircase leads to Pelosis office, Lund wrote. He said surveillance video from cameras in the Capitol also show Williams inside the buildings Statutory Hall pointing and directing intruders during the melee. Other surveillance video shows her entering the Capitol with the mob, the agent said.

The court records include claims by an ex-romantic partner that Williams stole Pelosis laptop during the riot and tried, without success, to sell it to Russias foreign intelligence service.

For the theft charge, investigators say evidence includes social media chatter on the platform Discord, which includes her saying she stole from Nancy Pelosi and I DOMT (sic) CARE I TOOK NANCY POLESIS (sic) HARD DRIVES I DONT CARE KILL ME.

Investigators also referred to a video obtained by ITV that they believe Williams recorded, showing someone wearing a black glove taking a laptop off a table with the text they got the laptop written across the screen. Investigators say they also have video surveillance of Williams going in and out of Pelosis office.

Before adjourning the hearing and releasing Williams into her mothers custody, U.S. Magisterial Judge Martin Carlson said the conduct outlined in the charges is antithetical to the U.S. Constitution, which he noted is protecting Williams now.

He said the conduct seen in the Jan. 6 riot sought to replace Constitutional norms with the will of a howling mob.

We know the mob failed and the Constitution prevailed, he said.

Williams is facing charges of violent entry and disorderly conduct, knowingly entering or remaining in restricted buildings or grounds, aiding and abetting in the theft of U.S. government property and obstructing official proceedings.
The Duchess of Cambridge has thanked NHS staff for 'going the extra mile' after hearing how a nurse played Bon Jovi as he held the hand of a dying patient.

Dressed in a smart black blazer teamed with a white blouse, Kate, 39, spoke to nurses from the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust via video link to hear about their work and thank them for their efforts during the pandemic.

During the call, Kate heard the touching story of a senior nurse who held the hand of a dying patient and played his favourite band Bon Jovi after his wife could not make it to his bedside.

Kate praised Vasu Lingappa for going the 'extra mile' and shared a lighter moment with the NHS worker who joked the patient's wife had wanted him to sing the rock group's hits - but he declined because of his strong Asian accent.

She made the call from the Queen's Sandringham estate on Tuesday, after the monarch loaned her and Prince William the residence to use as their working base during lockdown.

The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) has thanked NHS staff for 'going the extra mile' after hearing how a nurse played Bon Jovi as he held the hand of a dying patient

The grand estate in Norfolk is currently empty as the monarch and Prince Philip are at Windsor for lockdown and it is not open to the public.

The Duke and Duchess reside down the road with their children at the 10 bedroom Anmer Hall but have set up a small temporary office with their staff at Sandringham.

It is just a few minutes drive from Anmer and means they can carry out their work without fear of interruption from George, Charlotte and Louis, aged seven, five and two, respectively.

During the call, Mr Lingappa, a critical care outreach practitioner, told the duchess: 'A lot of people are dying and we normally have families surrounding them during the last hour, but we're not able to do that.

'And if I can give you a little example, we had a gentleman and unfortunately he was dying, so we spoke to his wife and she said, 'I can't come to see (him) but can you make sure you sing Bon Jovi and hold his hand?'.

Kate praised Vasu Lingappa (pictured) for going the 'extra mile' and shared a lighter moment with the NHS worker who joked the patient's wife had wanted him to sing the rock group's hits - but he declined because of his strong Asian accent

Dressed in a smart black blazer teamed with a white blouse, Kate, 39, spoke to nurses from the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust via video link (above) to hear about their work and thank them for their efforts during the pandemic

'And I said, "If I sing Bon Jovi in my accent. It won't be appropriate". So I took my phone out and played a YouTube video of Bon Jovi and I held his hand.'

He went on to say: 'It's been tough, but like I said earlier, I'm surrounded by some amazing people with lots of skills and inspirational stories.

'We are nurses (some) working in critical care for 30 years, 35 years, 40 years - so there is nothing they haven't seen, but this is unprecedented.'

After hearing the emotional story, Kate told the nurses: 'You hear time and time again about the amazing things nurses up and down the country are doing - going that extra mile.

'It's the things that, you know, it's not part of the training and the things that you're taught, but the things that come from your heart.

'I think that's what matters so much now, these acts of kindness to the patients you're looking after, that are in your care, that family members aren't able to be there, but you are going that extra mile and being there.'

Elsewhere, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge heard about the crucial mental health support being provided for frontline workers during the pandemic by Hospice UKs Just B counselling and bereavement support line last week

The Duchess also heard from retired nurses Caroline Rudd and Judith Smith, who had returned to work to deliver Covid vaccines in care homes. The pair first met when they began training in 1978.

Mrs Rudd told the Duchess: 'I'm supposed to be retired, I left nursing three years ago after 40 years with the NHS, but when the pandemic came along I felt the need to come back and I'm currently working as part of a vaccinations team out in the community.'

Kate smiled and told her: 'Well done for coming back.' Mrs Rudd said: 'One of the most important aspects [of her returning to work] is to tell people to have the vaccine and to give them the positive side of that because a lot of people have come to me seeking advice.'

Kate said: 'This is the thing, you as nurses as one of the most trusted professions in Britain, to be able to reassure the public that this is safe and the right thing to be doing is really fantastic, so well done. It's very much needed.'

She also heard how many nurses from other areas such as paediatrics, dentistry, surgery and general wards had been seconded to intensive care to help care for Covid patients.

Mrs Smith told the Duchess that one man who had been training to be a vicar, retrained as a nurse so he could help with the national effort.

Kate made the call from the Queen's Sandringham estate (pictured) on Tuesday, after the monarch loaned her and Prince William the residence to use as their working base during lockdown

Joe Colby, Lead Nurse for Gastroenterology, told the Duchess: 'Spirits are high within the trust. There's a lot of shared stories and shared experiences and there are tears of both happiness and sadness.

'I think one of the most difficult things is when someone is sad, not being able to have that contact with them, when normally you would give them a hug if they were sad.

'With social distancing we have to be more reserved in relation to that. But a smile, a knowing look or a wink can lift people's spirits.'

Professor Nina Morgan, chief nursing officer at UCHW, added: 'Some of our nurses on our frontline wards find the shifts incredibly difficult because of the volume of people who have been admitted to our hospital who have Covid.

'When I'm walking round the ward and speaking to nurses, there are some who are absolutely visibly distressed and upset by what they're seeing and what they're experiencing.'

Throughout the pandemic, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have met NHS staff in person and virtually to hear about the work they have been doing.

Last week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spoke with frontline workers and counsellors about the mental health impact of the COVID-19 crisis, with Kate sporting another chic blazer for the call.

The Nursing Now campaign, of which The Duchess has been patron since 2018, aims to raise the profile of nurses globally.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Sen. Ted Cruz did wear a mask during the inauguration of President Joe Biden, and it bore a familiar phrase.

The Texas senator wore a mask displaying the imagery of the "Come and Take It" flag, which was used during the Texas Revolution in the Battle of Gonzales.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22)  There were no reported casualties or injuries following the powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake that jolted Mindanao on Thursday night, a local official said on Friday.

Davao Occidental PDRRMO Harry Camoro said no major damage was observed after coordination with local officials in the area.

"Right after the strong quake, we messaged all the local chief executives to give us information regarding any damages or casualties. So far po, they forwarded images that there's no major damage po na reported or any casualties or injuries po," he told CNN Philippines.

He said the strong shaking of the ground lasted for around one minute, adding that at least three aftershocks were felt.

The earthquake hit the waters off Jose Abad Santos town in Davao Occidental at around 8:23 p.m., with strong intensities felt in some parts of Mindanao.

Intensity 5, considered by state seismologist Phivolcs as "strong," was felt in General Santos City and the municipalities of Kiamba, Glan, Maitum, and Malungon in Sarangani province.

Intensity 4, deemed "moderately strong," was recorded in Davao City, Cotabato City, Digos City, Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, and the municipalities of Alabel, Maasim, and Malapatan in Sarangani province. Intensity 3 was felt in San Francisco in Southern Leyte, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat in Maguindanao, Zamboanga City, and Cagayan de Oro City.

Phivolcs said there is no tsunami threat but aftershocks are expected.
Erica Jensen

Meredith Corporation names Erica Jensen senior VP and chief communications officer, effective January 29. Jensen succeeds Art Slusark, who retired in November. Jensen currently serves as head of executive communications for Principal Financial Group. At Meredith, she will advise chairman and CEO Tom Harty and Meredith's senior leadership team on communications strategies for the organization and oversee all external and internal communications, crisis management, government relations, and environmental, social, and governance activities. "Erica is a highly creative communicator and brings a wealth of experience to this role, said Harty.

Lindsay Peterson

Golin promotes Lindsay Peterson to managing director of Golin Canada. Peterson joined the agency as executive director in 2016 during the launch of its Toronto office. Before that, she was vice president, consumer marketing at Cohn & Wolfe (now BCW). In her new position, Peterson will lead growth efforts across the region, and be tasked with continuing to build the firms presence in the market as she grows its existing book of accounts. Lindsay is an exemplary leader with a proven track record of building trusted client relationships and converting new business, said president and chief operating officer Gary Rudnick.

Leor Franks

Kingsley Napley law firm hires Leor Franks to lead its business development, marketing, communications and knowledge functions. Franks also serves on the firms management board. He joins Kingsley Napley from legal services firm Augusta, where he was chief marketing officer. Franks was previously managing director of marketing communications at FTI Consulting and also held marketing and business development positions at Deloitte and EY. At Kingsley Napley, he will work to support the firms growth ambitions and help to optimise its strategy in supporting clients through the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit transition. Leor has a proven track record in shaping and delivering creative, client focused and commercially-driven marketing in professional services,said Kingsley Napley managing partner Linda Woolley.

Kaylin Trychon

Google adds Kaylin Trychon to its global communications & public affairs team. Trychon will lead the companys security communications efforts at the corporate level. She joins Google from ROKK Solutions, where she launched GROKK, a cybersecurity communications program designed to guide organizations through security incidents. Before that, she was cybersecurity communications manager at Raytheon and a senior account executive at InkHouse Media + Marketing.
Elwell, a former military and commercial pilot, served as Deputy and Acting Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration from June 2017 to November 2020, where he was responsible for the safety and efficiency of the largest aerospace system in the world, which operates more than 50,000 flights a day. Elwell also had oversight of the FAA's multibillion-dollar NextGen air traffic control modernization program to accelerate the shift from ground-based radar to state-of-the-art satellite technology with operational, community and environmental benefits.

"We are thrilled to have someone with Dan's expertise and background in the airline and aviation industry join our board," said Brad Tilden, Alaska Air Group Chair and CEO. "He has been a pilot, public servant and innovator to advance aviation safety in our country  a value we hold dear. At a both critical and exciting time in our industry, Dan clearly understands the challenges and opportunities ahead, and we welcome his trusted perspective and ideas."

Elwell will have a seat on the board's audit and innovation committees. His appointment increases the number of independent directors from 11 to 12. The total board is comprised of 14 members, with the other two positions filled by Tilden and Alaska Airlines President Ben Minicucci.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy and Acting Director of the FAA, Elwell was Senior Advisor on Aviation to former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. Elwell also previously served at the FAA as the Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning and Environment from 2006-2008. Earlier in his career, he served as a legislative fellow for the late Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska).

From 2013-2015, as Senior Vice President for Safety, Security and Operations at Airlines for America (A4A), Elwell was responsible for leading the advancement of commercial aviation safety and security excellence for major U.S. air carriers. Prior to A4A, Elwell was Vice President of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) from 2008-2013 where he represented civil aerospace manufacturers and led policy development and advocacy for the civil aerospace manufacturing interests.

Elwell was a commercial pilot for 16 years with American Airlines, flying DC-10, MD-80, and Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft. While maintaining his proficiency as an MD-80 captain, he served as Managing Director for International and Government Affairs at American Airlines. Elwell earned his pilot wings at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Affairs. As a lieutenant colonel, he retired from military service as a Command Pilot with more than 6,000 hours combined civilian and military flight time in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air Force Reserve, including combat service during Operation Desert Storm.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and its regional partners serve more than 115 destinations across the United States and North America. The airline provides essential air service for our guests along with moving crucial cargo shipments, while emphasizing Next-Level Care. Alaska is known for low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 800 destinations worldwide with Alaska and its Global Partners. On March 31, 2021, Alaska will officially become a member of the oneworld global alliance. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).

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WASHINGTON - A Connecticut man has been charged in the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol after he was allegedly identified in video that shows an officer crying out in pain while being pinned against a door frame by rioters.

Patrick Edward McCaughey was arrested Tuesday in South Salem, N.Y., and charged with assaulting or resisting government officers and riot as well as Capitol trespassing-related charges in the violent confrontation with District of Columbia police officer Daniel Hodges.

Information about McCaughey's attorney was not immediately available.

In a widely shared video of the violence against police that day, charging papers say, McCaughey appears to be the individual in a tan jacket seen thrusting a looted police riot shield against Hodges while the crowd he is with chants "Heave-ho" and presses its weight against it. The video shows a phalanx of police behind Hodges trying to push back the mob.

McCaughey engaged with Hodges shortly before the crowd sprayed tear-gas-like substances and ripped off the officer's gas mask to expose his bloodied mouth, charging papers said.

"Come on man, you are going to get squished just go home," a voice is heard consistent with McCaughey's tone and volume, an FBI affidavit said.

"Just go home. . . . Don't try and use that stick on me boy," McCaughey is identified as saying as he continued to push against Hodges, who held a police baton, the FBI said.

For the next 45 seconds, Hodges repeatedly cried out in pain while a crowd of dozens of rioters continued to push, chant and wave Trump and U.S. flags, charging papers said.

Eventually, McCaughey appeared to reset the officer's dislodged helmet and urged an officer behind him to let Hodges fall back, charging papers said.

"Hey you, this guy isn't doing too well," McCaughey said, according to the FBI, before repeating, "Let this guy through, he's hurt, he's hurt, let him back."

But McCaughey allegedly kept hold of the riot shield, even as the crowd behind him withdrew and, in the video "begins striking other uniformed law enforcement officers with the shield," the affidavit said.

McCaughey was charged after a witness claimed to identify him with 100% certainty based on photographs, including a lookout notice sent by D.C. police on Jan. 11, the FBI said.

The witness shared images McCaughey sent to mutual friends, including a selfie taken on Capitol scaffolding, that aligned with Capitol surveillance and other video recorded Jan. 6., the FBI said.

In announcing McCaughey's arrest with the FBI's Washington Field Office, Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for D.C., called the attack on Hodges "abhorrent and quintessentially un-American" and an assault on "the Capitol and the rule of law itself."

Sherwin added: "It is my pledge that anyone involved in violent attacks on law enforcement at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Hodges, 32, has returned to duty.

"The zealotry of these people is absolutely unreal," Hodges previously told The Washington Post. "I didn't want to be the guy who starts shooting, because I knew they had guns - we had been seizing guns all day."

"And the only reason I could think of that they weren't shooting us was they were waiting for us to shoot first," Hodges said. "And if it became a firefight between a couple hundred officers and a couple thousand demonstrators, we would have lost."

Also on Wednesday, a Florida man wanted in the Capitol siege was arrested in northern Virginia while headed back to D.C., according to the FBI's Washington Field Office and a law enforcement document.

Samuel Camargo, 26, of Broward County, Fla., was detained by Alexandria, Va., police on four federal counts related to alleged actions during the mob attack Jan. 6, the FBI said in a statement.

It's unclear why Camargo was headed back to Washington on Inauguration Day. An arrest warrant was issued for him Friday.

A friend of Camargo contacted authorities Jan. 6 to report that Camargo had posted photos and messages on social media claiming that he had participated in the riot that resulted in the deaths of one police officer and four rioters and damaged the Capitol, according to charging documents in federal court in D.C.

In one of the posts, Camargo said he removed a piece of the Capitol he called "memorabilia" and posted a photo of what appeared to be a long piece of metal, according to the charging documents.

Another video showed Camargo struggling with a Capitol Police officer at an entrance to the Capitol, according to charging documents.

An FBI agent who interviewed Camargo wrote in court documents that Camargo acknowledged that he had been present at the Capitol riot.

Afterward, Camargo posted on social media that he had spoken with an FBI agent and wrote that "I believe I've been cleared," according to charging documents.

Camargo is facing charges of civil disorder, knowingly entering a restricted building, knowingly engaging in disorderly conduct in a restricted building, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

No attorney for Camargo was listed in court documents. Alexandria police referred questions about his case to federal authorities.

A man uses his umbrella on Kowloon's Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront that faces Victoria Harbor and the Hong Kong Island skyline (back) in Hong Kong on Aug. 19, 2020. (Anthony Wallace/AFP via Getty Images)

Hong Kong Tightens Control of Internet After National Security Law

After a few days of temporary blockage, Hong Kong Chronicles, a website dedicated to exposing people supporting tyranny and dictatorship in Hong Kong, was permanently shut down on Jan. 13.

On Jan. 14, Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation (HKIRC) announced a new version of its Domain Name Registration Acceptable Use Policy, effective on January 28, 2021 (pdf). The new policy states that domain names should not be contrary to the public interest, including disrupting the operation of the government of Hong Kong.

At its sole discretion, HKIRC may reject domain name registrations, terminate active domain names that it may deem to be a breach of the new policy, and disclose the information it has related to domain names to law enforcement authorities.

Lento Yip, chairman of the Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association and a former board member of HKIRC, said, I worry that the rules are not clear. Also, [authorities] may change rules arbitrarily. We need standards. For example, what is harming national security? What types of websites will be blocked?

He questioned whether Facebook and Google would be blocked as they are in mainland China. Hongkongers are using Google to conduct business. What are we going to do if Google is blocked [in Hong Kong]?

Ching Cheong, a veteran Hong Kong journalist and political commentator who had been jailed for three years in China, identified the HKChronicles websites blockage as a part of the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) efforts to own the narrative of Hong Kong history. He connected the HKChronicles sites blockage with the publishing of the Chronicles of Hong Kong series by the Hong Kong Chronicles Institute.

The Institute plans to publish by 2027 a series of 66 volumes to record Hong Kongs history from ancient times up to July 1, 2017, the 20th anniversary of Beijings takeover of the city. The first book was published in late December. The first Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa (19972005) serves as the chairman of the organizations board. Current Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Luo Huining, director of the Hong Kong Liaison Office, are honorary patrons.

Former Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa attends a press conference in Hong Kong on Sept. 3, 2014. (Xaume Olleros/AFP/Getty Images)

According to Ching, the Institute is run by Our Hong Kong Foundation, a think tank established by Tung and other pro-Beijing politicians.

Such historical records are without doubt 100 [percent] Beijings narrative, he said about the Chronicles of Hong Kong series.

The Institutes Bernard Charnwut Chan stated that the chronicles series would go by the writing guidelines of recording the historical facts, telling without commenting. Chan is Chairman of the Executive Committee at the Hong Kong Chronicles Institute and current Non-official Convenor of the Hong Kong Executive Council.

Ching said that he had identified many issues upon reading the first book, the book is very directional. He worried that the semi-official chronicles would distort the history for future generations in Hong Kong. He gave an example: The purpose of Annex III of the Basic Law is to clearly stipulate that Chinas constitution is not applicable in Hong Kong. The One Country, Two Systems White Paper in 2014 was the first mention that both the Chinese Constitution and the Basic Law are Hong Kongs constitutional basis.

If the semi-official chronicles are to repeat the narratives of the CCP, future generations of Hong Kong might never know certain parts of history.

According to Ching, the blocked Hong Kong Chronicles website is a true and objective record of Hong Kongs history. A group of young people in Hong Kong who slowly gathered their strength after the Occupy Central movement and worked hard to build the Hong Kong Chronicles website.

Ching said he had browsed the content of the website, The information there is as objective as possible, without evading facts.

Wong Ho Wa, a local data scientist and politician, said that authorities would normally approach website administrators and ask them to delete certain content in the past. Now it is different, and police ordered the Internet Service Provider (ISP) to block specific IP (Internet Protocol) addresses.

Wong called the change unfortunate. He said that Hong Kong used to have an excellent reputation, partly due to its Internet freedom. However, financial and technology firms are leaving Hong Kong. The impact is already showing.

HKChronicles uses Cloudflare service and shares the same IP with other websites. Therefore, blocking HKChronicles IP address affected Hong Kong users access to these sites as well. Cloudflare helps websites negotiate the freewheeling internet, routing the sites traffic through a network of 165 data centers in 76 countries, to deliver it faster, according to Fast Company.
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
Sen. Rand Paul: For America to Begin to Heal and Unite, Senate Must Halt Impeachment

Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has said that for the United States to begin truly healing, President Joe Biden should publicly call on Senate leadership to halt the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

In an interview with Fox News on Wednesday, Paul said that if [Biden] thinks hes going bring the country together by impeaching a former president, I dont know what hes smoking, because really, hes just going to divide the country further.

During his Jan. 20 inauguration speech, Biden said that history, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.

Paul told Fox News that if Biden really means what he said during his speech, about uniting the nation, he would call on his party to stop the impeachment in the Senate.

If he wanted to rise above the occasion, hed be calling Chuck Schumer and publicly saying whats at stake and [that it] will further divide the country, referring to the Senate Democrat leader. That would be a real statement, that would be a real big thing to do.

The U.S. House of Representatives impeached Trump earlier this month on a charge of incitement of insurrection, alleging he was at fault for the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol.

The House has not yet submitted the impeachment resolution to the Senate. Typically, trials take place in the upper chamber following an impeachment. At the conclusion of a trial, senators vote to acquit or convict a president. A two-thirds supermajority is required to convict.

But Paul did not think Biden would take this step and that his speech at the Inauguration, was merely words.

Also, if you read his speech and listen to it carefully, much of it is thinly veiled innuendo, calling us white supremacist, calling us racist, calling us every name in the book, calling us people who dont tell the truth, he added.

Paul said he would like to get some assurance from the president that he will not support a socialist agenda and allow Democrats to alter the way that laws are enacted in the Senate.

What we have to hear is that hes not going to radically transform the country into some sort of socialist dystopia. Adding, Many of the things [Democrats] want to do would radically transform America to a different country, to a country different than what has provided great wealth and great humanitarian ease to millions and millions of Americans.

The Senate is split 50-50, so Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris would need to cast a deciding vote in a tie. The scenario Paul and other Republicans are concerned about is the elimination of the filibuster, which requires 60 votes by the Senate to pass a bill. If stripped, a simple majority in the Senate would have the same power.

I think Senator Manchin from West Virginia will be key and also, what will be key is whether or not they blow up the filibuster, he said, referring to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.). If they blow up the filibuster and do everything by a simple majority, they could very quickly and radically change America, and I think destroy a lot of the fabric of what our great wealth and our freedoms are based on.

Manchin is a moderate Democrat who has said he will not support getting rid of the filibuster. However, Manchin, along with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he supports impeaching Trump.

Paul has called on his own party to halt the impeachment because of the effect it would have on the Republican Party and 75 million Trump voters.

I think whats most important, if the countrys gonna heal, is the Democrats have to give up on this rancor and this partisanship and this really politically motivated impeachment, he said. If they dont, 75 million people are going to be very, very unhappy if they do this partisan impeachment.
SELBYVILLE, Del., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --Based on Global Market Insights Inc., report, the global Metal Molds Market for plastic injection molding size was estimated at $4.16 billion in 2020 and is slated to surpass $5.5 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 3.5% from 2021 to 2027. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the top winning strategies, wavering industry trends, drivers & opportunities, top investment avenues, competitive scenarios, market estimations & size.

Global Market Insights Inc.

Growing demand for packaging products from the pharmaceutical, food & beverage, and beauty and personal care industry will positively influence the metal molds market revenue generation.

There are primarily two types of steel to choose from for plastic injection molding namely hardened steel and pre-hardened steel. The most used hardened tool steel is S-7, H-13, and 420 stainless steel. While pre-hardened tool steels contain P-20 and mod pre-hardened stainless steel

Request for Sample Report: https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/4904

Others material segments will witness revenue growth of around 3% CAGR during the forecast time period. Other types of metal alloys used in plastic injection molding include beryllium copper (BeCu) and copper, nickel, silicone, and chromium (CuNiSiCr) alloys. The CuNiSiCr based alloy system has a widespread application in the plastic injection mold industry with the introduction of a copper alloy that contains both chromium and nickel silicide.

With a two-stage aging process, this CuNiSiCr alloy provides hardness which exceeds 92 HRB and conductivity of more than 200 W/m/K. The growing construction industry in emerging countries such as China, India, Brazil, Malaysia will further propel the metal molds market growth for plastic injection molding.

Standard/CNC machining will reach around USD 4.5 Billion by 2027. Standard machining requires the use of lathes, drill presses and milling machines. But, with advanced technology, CNC machining is rapidly becoming the predominant means for creating more accurate and complex molds, although still using the standard machining methods. CNC machining uses computers to control the operation and movements of the lathes, mills and other cutting machines.

The medical sector will witness significant growth in the metal molds market for plastic injection molding. Growth in the medical industry can be attributed to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. According to the United Nations (UN), the proportion of the global burden of chronic diseases is anticipated to reach about 60% by 2030. Limited physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy food habits are some of the major causes of chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer.

Chronic diseases also increase the vulnerability to other infections such as coronavirus infection which significantly damages a patient's lungs. This will lead to the growing demand for medical devices used in the prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment of various diseases, boosting the medical industry for the projected time period.

Request for customization of this report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/4904

North America will hold around a 15% share in the metal molds market for plastic injection molding industry. The region will witness steady growth owing to the presence of advanced medicinal product manufacturers focusing on high value-added equipment with specialized packaging needs. Stringent government regulations coupled with the increase in healthcare spending will drive the growth of the medical device packaging market. According to the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S., healthcare spending grew by 4.6% in 2019 reaching USD 3.8 trillion. The growing healthcare industry will have a positive impact on the metal mold for the plastic injection molding market.

Key manufacturers of the metal molds industry include MSI Mold Builders Inc, Enko AS, ERMO S.A., Bunty LLC, The Rodon Group, Colonial Machine, Engel Austria GmbH, Intertech, Jade Group INTL, Forum Plastics LLC, Accede Mold & Tool Co., Inc.

Read the latest blog on "Metal molds demand for plastic injection molding garners momentum": https://www.playthemusic.biz/metal-molds-market-for-plastic-injection-molding/

About Global Market Insights, Inc.

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider. Offering syndicated and custom research reports, growth consulting, and business intelligence services, Global Market Insights, Inc. aims to help clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data that aid in strategic decision making.

GMIPulse, our business analytics platform offers an online, interactive option of exploring our proprietary industry research data in an easy-to-use and dynamic manner. Clients get to explore market intelligence across 11 top-level categories and hundreds of industry segments within them, covering regional, company level, and cross-sectional statistics that make our offering a stand-out for decision-makers.

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CLEVELAND, Ohio  Columbus-based Jenis Splendid Ice Cream is releasing White House Chocolate Chip in honor of President Bidens inauguration.

The flavor features crunch chocolate flakes from Theo Chocolate and buttery, chocolate-covered waffle-cone pieces. The concoction is wrapped in vanilla ice cream. The limited-run flavor will drop in scoop shops across the country on Thursday, Jan. 21.

Biden and Jeni Britton Bauer, founder of the 19-year-old company, became friends a few years ago. Biden knows the ice cream well, having once referred to it as his performance enhancer before a debate. Also, the president and a Columbus couple who had thrown a fundraiser for Biden in 2019 had exchanged gifts of the ice cream.

White House Chocolate Chip is a flavor perfectly positioned for meeting on common ground, Britton Bauer said in a news release. Its a play on Joes favorite flavor, and, like Joe, easy to love. It is meant to be a token of appreciation for the moment. And, I hope, a beacon of light and love.

Jenis is at 67 N. Main St., Chagrin Falls.

For those wondering, former President Trumps favorite ice-cream flavor  though no company was mentioned - reportedly was cherry-vanilla.

I am on cleveland.coms life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. And tune in at 8:05 a.m. Fridays for Beer with Bona and Much, Much More with Munch Bishop on 1350-AM The Gambler.

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You Lie Republicans!

In one of my recent articles, Trumps Report Card, I shared why I voted for President Trump in 2016, and why I did not vote for him in 2020.

During President Obamas administration, congressional leaders Mitch McConnell and John Boehner had fostered an atmosphere for the Tea Party, and the GOP became known as the party of no. It seemed everywhere Obama turned he was met with a brick wall when it came to bipartisanship. Because Obama was the first Black man to become president of the United States, it was hard for some White Americans to accept.

So, when Obama became president, did he inflame and embolden the spirit of White supremacy? During a 2009 joint congressional session, representative Joe Wilson interrupted Obamas speech, shouting You lie! And with no harsh reprimand nor consequence for Wilsons action, it seems to have sent the signal that it was okay to disrespect the Office of the President. Remember the tarmac scene when Arizona Governor Ann Brewer pointed her finger in Obamas face?

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With the Obama birther lie as his political base momentum, in 2015 Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president, and seemingly overnight, became the Great White Hope. His slogan Make America Great Again (MAGA), was his appeal to those White folks who took it as lets get back to the familiar; to a president that looks like us.

Now, Im not totally dismissing the fact that a segment of our population may feel misrepresented in some way. Reportedly, the White Working Class make up the largest single voting bloc from perhaps 40-54% of the entire electorate according to some estimates. Law Professor John F. Banzhaf of George Washington University says, Calling them blue collar workers is inaccurate, and underestimates their number and influence, because even many people with only a high school [diploma] work in offices as salespersons, customer representatives, clerks or high-level assistants, etc., not in traditional blue collar positions.

Since the November 3, 2020 presidential election when President-elect Joe Biden won by six million votes, all weve heard from Trump is fraud, rigged, stolen and fake. Due to the pandemic, when voters were encouraged to mail in their ballots, Trump devised a strategy that if he lost the election, he would scream fraud! Well he lost, and he did. Now thats all we hear from his base and his party. It was a fair and legitimate election (by all accounts) which Trump and his cronies attempted to contest 60 times in the courts without any evidence of the allegations.

On January 6, 2021, the day Congress was to certify the electoral votes, Trump held a rally in D.C. where he, his lawyer and others spoke out in protest. Trump went so far as to say it would be treason if Vice-President Mike Pence, who presided over the certification process, did not reject the votes  which was clearly not his role according to 3 U.S. Code Section 16: Such joint meeting shall not be dissolved until the count of electoral votes shall be completed and the result declared; and no recess shall be taken unless a question shall have arisen in regard to counting any such votes, or otherwise under this subchapter, in which case it shall be competent for either House, acting separately, in the manner hereinbefore provided, to direct a recess of such House not beyond the next calendar day, Sunday excepted, at the hour of 10 oclock in the forenoon. But if the counting of the electoral votes and the declaration of the result shall not have been completed before the fifth calendar day next after such first meeting of the two Houses, no further or other recess shall be taken by either House.

3 U.S. Code 17 states: When the two Houses separate to decide upon an objection that may have been made to the counting of any electoral vote or votes from any State, or other question arising in the matter, each Senator and Representative may speak to such objection or question five minutes, and not more than once; but after such debate shall have lasted two hours it shall be the duty of the presiding officer of each House to put the main question without further debate.

Once the votes were all in, there was nothing more Pence could have done but allow representatives time to go on record in objection which would not change the outcome. His role was not to adjudicate; he followed the constitution of the United States.

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It was Trumps rally and his toxic words that fired up the crowd to storm Capitol Hill where they engaged in riotous acts of violence and destruction. Yes, Trump incited a riot against democracy, and watched it all play out from his TV. He did not even march with the armed mob as he had told them he would, and did not intervene as Commander-In-Chief.

Now Republicans are saying it was an angry and frustrated crowd of peaceful stop the steal protesters. Tell that to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the assault on our government!

In the aftermath, Ive been watching Fox News, CNN, MSNBC and other networks. In all the footage of what took place inside and outside the Capitol, while representatives  including Pence  were ushered out of the chamber fearing for their lives, Republicans are still calling it a peaceful protest. Some even went so far as to say, at least they were not rioting and burning like the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters. They did worse: They stormed the beacon of democracy, and there was no adequate force to stop them.

FiveThirtyEight writer Maggie Koerth wrote: Between May 1 and November 28, 2020, authorities were more than twice as likely to attempt to break up and disperse a left-wing protest than a right-wing one. And in those situations when law enforcement chose to intervene, they were more likely to use force  34 percent of the time with right-wing protests compared with 51 percent of the time for the left. Given when this data was collected, it predominantly reflects a difference in how police respond to Black Lives Matter, compared with how they respond to anti-mask demonstrations, pro-Trump extremists, QAnon rallies, and militia groups.

Where do White supremacists get off thinking they have such privilege? The Trump Regime is merely a reincarnation of the John Wilkes Booth Idiot-ology that the assassination of President Lincoln would make him a hero. Insurrectionists and murderers are not heroes. We know what happens to them in the end.

This civil war as some call it, will not be won by the sword, but by the law. Dont be confused! There are more people willing to die for the rule of law, than the rule of a corrupt president!

I tweeted some well-known conservative Televangelists asking if they would speak out against the violence of January 6th, and to denounce any future plans for sedition. I got no responses. I did however request a comment from the SBN network where Evangelist Jimmy Swaggarts wife Frances hosts a panel show called Frances and Friends. My request was: May I have a statement from your ministry on the killing of a police officer at the nations Capitol on January 6th? The on-air responses were:

Ms. Frances: Well that was an awful thing, anybody being killed anywhereI hurt for anybody that loses their life.

Evangelist Carl Brown: I do not believe it was a Trump supporter that hit that police officer with a fire extinguisher [my belief is that it was Antifa, or BLM].

Jim Nations: I hope theyre not trying to blame it on our president.

During that same telecast segment, a caller named Jerry  a retired California attorney  called in to inform them of the limited role Pence had in the certification process. He stated the facts of the law, while they merely responded with hearsay. With such a powerful worldwide platform, I suggested to the panel that they be more responsible to disseminate the facts to help tone down all the untrue rhetoric that has so many people up in arms.

Its amazing how Trump followers would rather believe something they heard rather than seek out the truth for themselves. A line in the Motown song I Heard It Through The Grapevine says Believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear. Dont be confused people  think!

Could it be that the election of President Obama broke up the fallow ground to expose Joe You lie Wilson, President Trump and the GOP to finally draw out the poison of racism so that we can properly heal and move forward to truly make this the United States of America?

Please share your thoughts in the user-friendly, no-obligation comment section below.

Larry Buford is a Los Angeles-based contributing writer. Author of Things Are Gettin Outta Hand and Book To The Future (Amazon); two insightful books that speak to our moral conscience in times like these. Email: [email protected]
She is expecting her first child with boyfriend Tommy Mallet, 28.

And Georgia Kousoulou has revealed she has try not to listen to advice from her TOWIE co-stars and other mums 'too much' because she finds it 'overwhelming'.

The Only Way Is Essex star, 29, spoke to Bobby Norris and Stephen Leng on Access All Areas about her pregnancy journey and teased plans for her gender reveal.

No thanks! Georgia Kousoulou has revealed she has try not to listen to advice from her TOWIE co-stars and other mums 'too much' because she finds it 'overwhelming'

When quizzed on if her co-stars had reached out following the news, Georgia said: 'All of them, they've all messaged me. Do you know what though, I'm trying not to listen too much.

'Because it's overwhelming you know? Like a lot of people want to tell you their opinions. But they've all given me good advice, as in like what to buy and what not to buy, product-wise.'

Georgia admitted she has also heard plenty of horror stories, and said: 'I'm telling you now, like, if you heard what I've been hearing you would never get pregnant.'

When quizzed on if her co-stars had reached out following the news, Georgia said: 'All of them, they've all messaged me. Do you know what though, I'm trying not to listen too much' (pictured with some of her TOWIE pals)

The reality star also admitted her followers always have something to say on her pregnancy: 'Tommy put up a picture and I was chilling like, me, him and Monkey and everyone was like, 'ha, yeah wait until you've had a baby, this is going to happen, this is going to happen''

'You know when you're just like, alright, thanks! Stop scaring me.'

Georgia is currently 24 weeks pregnant and is yet to announce the gender of the baby, despite having a private test weeks ago to find out.

Cute! Georgia is expecting her first child with boyfriend Tommy Mallet, 28 (pictured)

Speaking of her plans, Georgia said: 'We are going to do an announcement soon. I'm not too sure when. I did tease, I asked the other day.

'Because I realised I hadn't done it. I was like, 'oh my God!' So, I'm going to do it. I'm just figuring out what to do. But I'm going to make it nice.'

When Bobby asked whether she'd be doing it on social media, Georgia teased how she's going to reveal it: 'I think so, yeah, yeah. But I just don't know. I want to involve Monkey, that's the thing. So I need to work it out.'

Adorable: Tommy holding a picture of their 20 week scan which also reveals the baby's gender

Georgia revealed that most people have speculated that she and Tommy will have a little girl together.

In the first trimester of her pregnancy, Georgia revealed she was shocked to find she had completely gone off tea, which was her favourite drink.

However she admitted she was overjoyed after having three cups of it on the day of the interview, suggesting her intolerance of the hot drink has passed.

She also discussed keeping her pregnancy secret while filming and how she kept turning up late because she was so ill.

She said: 'That was really difficult because I'm never late and I kept turning up late, and everyone was really confused. And I was just really sick.'

She continued: 'They were literally like, honestly, they proper kept getting the hump with me. And I was like, 'I'm never late. And I had to keep making a thing about it. Like, 'are you joking? I've done seven years and I'm never late, are you joking?'
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Almost a decade ago, Gabriela Cruz gained a sense of certainty when she applied for the Obama-era program that protects immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. For Cruz, it felt like the "first step" toward citizenship.

But the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program the former president created through executive order proved less secure when Congress failed to put it into law and the Trump administration attempted to rescind and weaken it over the past four years.

Now, with President Joe Biden taking office and Democratic majorities in Congress, so-called Dreamers like Cruz could be feeling optimistic that lawmakers finally will resolve their legal status. But many of them are on guard, wary of being disappointed again.

"As much as I want to believe (Biden), I also want action, because we've been here before," Cruz said. "We've been under an administration who had full control of the House and the Senate. And yet, did not pass anything permanent for us."

Immigration reform is high on Biden's agenda  one of his first executive orders called on Congress to provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers. He's released plans indicating he wants to undo a raft of Trump's immigration executive orders and separately provide an eight-year path to citizenship for millions of immigrants.

Chrissy Teigen's mother Vilailuck 'Thai Pepper' Teigen fell in love with a souvenir T-shirt while exploring the inauguration festivities in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.

The Thai-born grandmother-of-two beamed as she held up the pink top emblazoned with 'Biden-Harris 2020 Restore the Soul of America.'

And when it came time to pay the vendor, Vilailuck's famous son-in-law John Legend whipped out a wad of cash.

Street vendor: Chrissy Teigen's (M) mother Vilailuck 'Thai Pepper' Teigen (L) fell in love with a souvenir T-shirt while exploring the inauguration festivities in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday

The 42-year-old EGOT champ protected his golden voice with a black scarf and wore a tailored taupe winter coat selected by his stylist David Thomas.

The 35-year-old wisecracking presenter wore a mustard-colored double-breasted coat and carried a clutch selected by her stylist Monica Rose.

Teigen finished off her winter attire with a souvenir button reading 'We did it Joe' in honor of President Joe Biden.

The married couple of six years - who met on the 2007 set of his Stereo music video - made sure to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus by wearing face masks.

Souvenir: The Thai-born grandmother-of-two beamed as she held up the pink top emblazoned with 'Biden-Harris 2020 Restore the Soul of America'

Pay the man! And when it came time to pay the vendor, Vilailuck's famous son-in-law John Legend (R) whipped out a wad of cash

People's Sexiest Man Alive 2019: The 42-year-old EGOT champ protected his golden voice with a black scarf and wore a tailored taupe winter coat selected by his stylist David Thomas

Chic: The 35-year-old wisecracking presenter (L) wore a mustard-colored double-breasted coat and carried a clutch selected by her stylist Monica Rose

Outspoken Democrat: Teigen finished off her winter attire with a souvenir button reading 'We did it Joe' in honor of President Joe Biden

Surrounded by security: The married couple of six years - who met on the 2007 set of his Stereo music video - made sure to protect themselves and others from the coronavirus by wearing face masks

COVID-19 is spiking nationwide, with a reported 34,259 confirmed cases in Washington, D.C. leading to 861 deaths as of Wednesday.

John, Chrissy, and Vilailuck then headed over to Black Lives Matter Plaza - which was permanently painted on the street June 5 following as part of the George Floyd protests.

Missing from Legend and Teigen's side were their two children - daughter Luna Simone, 4; son Miles Theodore, 2 - who were back at the hotel with nannies.

Earlier, the Ohio-born R&B belter tweeted a video of 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman reciting The Hill We Climb, which he watched from their hotel room.

'Blue skies': John, Chrissy, and Vilailuck then headed over to Black Lives Matter Plaza - which was permanently painted on the street June 5 following as part of the George Floyd protests

Missing from Legend and Teigen's side were their two children - daughter Luna Simone (L), 4; son Miles Theodore (R), 2 - who were back at the hotel with nannies

'Wonderful': Earlier, the Ohio-born R&B belter tweeted a video of 22-year-old poet Amanda Gorman reciting The Hill We Climb, which he watched from their hotel room

Serenading the First couple? John is slated to perform during the inaugural primetime special Celebrating America, which airs Wednesday night from 8:30-10pm EST on most networks

John is slated to perform during the inaugural primetime special Celebrating America, which airs Wednesday night from 8:30-10pm EST on most networks.

Tom Hanks hosts the special in honor of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris - and performers include Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and Foo Fighters.

Legend (born Stephens) will next compete for two trophies - best R&B album and best R&B performance - at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards, which air March 14 on CBS.

Meanwhile, the Chrissy's Court star just played herself in the 'Brentwood Trash' episode of Mr. Mayor, which aired last Thursday on NBC.

Airing March 14 on CBS! Legend (born Stephens) will next compete for two trophies - best R&B album and best R&B performance - at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards
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Burma Myanmar Authorities Seize 34 Rohingya in Ayeyarwady Region

Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine attempting to enter Ayeyarwady spotted in Mawlamyinegyun Township. / Tun Tun Naing / Mawgyun

Pathein  A total of 34 Rohingya Muslims from northern Rakhine have been arrested in Mawlamyinegyun Township in Ayeyarwady Region.

Acting on a tip-off, the police, military and immigration officials inspected a vessel on the Razudaing River and found 10 men and 24 women who reportedly came from Buthidaung and Maungdaw townships in northern Rakhine.

We arrested them on Tuesday. Three men who ferried them fled and we are after them, Ayeyarwady Police Lieutenant Colonel Tun Shwe told The Irrawaddy.

It was the second time Rohingya migrants from Rakhine have been caught entering Ayeyarwady Region since January. Seven Rohingya, who were spotted at sea near Chaungtha beach in Ayeyarwady Region on Jan. 4, were sent back to Rakhine after being detained for a few days.

The Rohingya found in Mawlamyinegyun are being kept in quarantine while the health authorities are testing them for COVID-19.

Ayeyarwady Region lawmaker U Wai Yan Tun from Mawlamyinegyun Township said: The boat crew deceived them and left them at sea. Residents reported them to us. They are being isolated in Thit Poke village and the authorities are arranging food for them.

Muslims in Rakhine State, who identify as Rohingya, are labeled Bengali by many, implying they are interlopers from Bangladesh. They are denied freedom of movement due to disputes over their citizenship.

Previously township immigration officers have filed lawsuits against Rohingya entering Ayeyarwady from Rakhine under the 1949 Residents of Burma Registration Act.

A total of 106 Rohingya from Rakhine were caught illegally entering Ayeyarwady in 2020. At first immigration department filed lawsuits against them but it stopped taking legal action around June following the COVID-19 outbreak and sent them back to Rakhine.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

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New Delhi, Jan 22 : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday condoled the death of five people at Pune's Serum Institute of India (SII) and urged the Maharashtra government to provide help to the victims' families.

Rahul Gandhi's remarks came after at least five persons suffocated to death after a major fire broke out in an under-construction building at a plant of global vaccine giant SII in Pune on Thursday afternoon.

"While it's distressing to learn of the tragic loss of lives in the fire incident at Serum Institute, the news of another fire is extremely worrying. My condolences to the family of the deceased. I request the state govt to provide necessary help to the victims and their families," the Wayanad MP said in a tweet.

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope and Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol announced that five persons, including one woman, had perished in the blaze and their bodies were found during the cooling operations.

Another four persons were rescued from the blaze which erupted on two upper floors of the SII building which was being readied for a BCG vaccine plant.

To allay the nationwide concerns over the fate of the Covid-19 vaccines being manufactured by the company, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray held a press conference while SII CEO Adar Poonawalla issued a personal statement of reassurance.
A BROTHER who threatened to kill his sister in a family feud over a house inheritance has been spared a criminal record after making a charity donation.

Gary Kelly (57) warned his sister in a phone call: over my dead body, you wont get the house" and there will be blood spilled - your blood.

Their mothers wish before she died was to divide the house between siblings, but a dispute broke out over a request for the property to instead go to his sister, Dublin District Court heard.

Kelly had drunk too much when he made the call, and the feud boiled over and got to him, his defence said.

The case against him was struck out by Judge Bryan Smyth after he made a 500 charity donation.

Kelly, from Grace OMalley Road in Howth pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious harm to his sister Kara Kelly.

Previously, Garda Sergeant Tony Flanagan told the court the victim had been at a Christmas party in Malahide on the night of December 12, 2019 when she got a phone call from a private number.

It was from her brother, the accused, who threatened her, stating over my dead body, you wont get the house, there will be blood spilled, your blood.

She recalled him saying she and her boyfriend would be dead and she hung up. Later, she got two more calls from a private number and did not answer but there were then five texts from the accused in which threats were made to her.

Kelly had no previous convictions.

This all comes down to a family feud over a house, defence solicitor Evan Moore said.

Kellys mother had died and left wishes that the house be divided between the accused and his three siblings, Mr Moore said.

The father requested that the house go to Kelly's sister and the argument had been going on for eight years, the court heard.

The accused had too much to drink on the night and when he got home, he passed out on the couch and did not remember making the calls.

However, he accepted that he did. He was very stressed out over the argument and it all boiled over and got to him.

Kelly was very apologetic for what he did. He had never been in trouble before but it all got too much for him.

Judge Smyth said it was a serious matter to make threats.

Mr Moore said there had not been any interaction between Kelly and his sister since and if there is going to be anything, it will be a legal battle.




Labor and Social Affairs Minister Mesrop Arakelian said the government will set up a commission of local and, if necessary, foreign prosthetic experts that will assess the individual needs of every disabled war veteran.

All veterans will be eligible for receiving, free of charge, artificial limbs recommended by the commission, Arakelian said during a weekly cabinet meeting in Yerevan. The government will pay for even the most expensive prostheses, he said.

Arakelian added that the government is also ready to provide financial assistance to local firms that can manufacture prosthetic hands, feet and other body parts meeting modern standards.

We are also going to solve [prosthetic] servicing issues  I think that this will also be included in the aid program, said Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian.

According to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, the program will cover employment and educational issues as well.

For our disabled compatriots, we must also provide adequate professional retraining or assist in their education, Pashinian told his ministers.

Minister of High-Tech Industry Hakob Arshakian announced in that regard that his ministry and private tech companies will help interested veterans find jobs in Armenias information technology (IT) sector. They are planning to organize free training courses for that purpose, he said.

Thousands of people will get a chance to receive IT education, said Arshakian.

The officials did not specify the number of Armenian soldiers who became disabled during the six-week hostilities and now need prosthetics.

The authorities have also not yet released the precise numbers of soldiers killed and wounded in action.

Avinian told the Armenian parliament on Wednesday that the bodies of 3,439 soldiers and volunteer fighters have been recovered from Karabakh frontlines so far. He said 766 of them have still not been identified and DNA tests are carried out for that purpose.

Karabakh Armenian search teams are continuing to look for the bodies of dead soldiers in former battlefields in and around Karabakh. Avinian suggested that the total number of Armenian combat deaths will not exceed 4,000.

The vice-premier dismissed opposition criticism of the continuing lack of full information about war casualties. He said the Armenian Defense Ministry will provide such information in a report to be released soon.

The ministry has so far published the names of 1,898 Armenian soldiers killed during the war stopped by a Russian-brokered ceasefire on November 10.
Wearing a face mask will soon be federally mandated for interstate travelers in the United States, according to an executive order signed by President Joe Biden on Thursday.

The travel order applies to airports and planes, trains, ferries, intercity buses and public transportation.

The order is a directive to several agencies to take action to require masks be worn in compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

At this point it is unclear exactly how the requirement will be carried out. The Transportation Department referred questions about how the order will be implemented to the White House.

Welcomed news for flight attendants union

The move to mandate masks was immediately celebrated by a flight attendants union.

'What a difference leadership makes! We welcome President Biden's nationwide approach to crushing the virus and lifting us out of this pandemic,' said Sara Nelson, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA International President, in a statement.

Nelson said the mandate would provide 'much needed back up' for flight attendants and other aviation workers on the 'front lines.'

While major US airlines instituted their own mask requirements in spring 2020 in the absence of a federal rule, enforcing mask policies has largely fallen on flight attendants, some of whom have reported aggressive confrontations with passengers refusing to wear masks.

Airlines say they have made good on their pledges to bar passengers who do not comply from future flights. Industry group Airlines for America (A4A) says its members have banned thousands of passengers.

Delta Air Lines recently said it has restricted 880 passengers because of mask noncompliance.

FAA takes stricter approach

Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration announced a stricter approach to dealing with unruly passengers.

Passengers who assault, threaten, intimidate or interfere with airline crew members can face fines of as much as $35,000 and even imprisonment, according to the FAA.

In December, the FAA proposed fines of $15,000 and $7,500 for two passengers 'for allegedly interfering with and assaulting flight attendants who instructed them to wear face coverings.'

The flight attendants union AFA first called for a mask mandate on planes in April 2020 in a letter to then Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar.

The Trump administration resisted calls from the industry and workers to develop a mask requirement. Chao said that she believed the issue could be better handled by companies and their employee unions.

'When the federal government gets involved, we tend to be much more heavy handed, we tend to be inflexible, and once we put a rule in place, it takes a long time to remove that rule if conditions change,' she said last summer.

Airlines for America, which represents major air carriers in the United States, noted Thursday that US airlines have been enforcing face covering requirements since April 2020.

'U.S. airlines have been supportive of a federal mandate as an additional layer of support and welcome today's Executive Order, which will strengthen our flight crews' ability to enforce face covering requirements for the duration of the pandemic, said Nicholas E. Calio, A4A's president and CEO, in a statement.

Beyond air travel, the mandate will apply to trains and other means of interstate travel. Amtrak noted that it also has an existing requirement for customers and employees to wear face masks but welcomed the order.

'A federal directive that passengers are required to comply with would reinforce our current policy,' Amtrak said in a statement.

In addition to the mask mandate, Biden also ordered on Thursday that all travelers, including US citizens, will be required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test before entering the United States from abroad. The order underscores the CDC policy announced last week.

Biden also called for a requirement for travelers to comply with 'CDC guidelines concerning international travel, including recommended periods of self-quarantine or self-isolation after entry into the United States.'

Among those recommendations, the CDC advises travelers to get tested and stay home for seven days after higher risk travel.

The executive order calls for a plan from various agencies for how quarantine and isolation rules could be implemented.

During the lame-duck session that concluded last week, a weak-tea ethics reform plan surfaced but did not move forward. This was the typical Springfield response to ethics scandals like the one that drove Madigan from office: dabble only on the margins of misconduct, allowing corrupt and unethical behavior to continue. To fix that, Welch can reboot the ethics rewrite. He should forget the commission that abandoned its post soon after COVID-19 hit and get to work on meaningful legislation.
Climate change is real, yet many do not want to accept that our actions of indulgence and comfortable lifestyle have an effect on the well-being on this space rock that we call home. Making people aware and concerned about climate change isnt solely the duty of white-coat clad older scientists. Our younger generation needs to participate in equity as they are the future residents of the planet. In one such instance of a young person taking charge of this gigantic issue is a young girl from India, Licypriya Kangujam.

Kangujam is one of the worlds youngest environmental activists. While Greta Thunberg got a lot of attention for her brave take on the world leaders, contributions of Kangujam are largely overlooked even in her own country. She made international news when she was chosen to speak at the United Nations Climate Conference (COP25) in Madrid, Spain in 2019. She was just 8 years old at the time of her historic speech and her plea to the world to save our planet.

If we spend all the money spending on war on finding environmental answers, ending poverty and giving education then what a wonderful place this earth would be! Plz protect our environment and save our future.  pic.twitter.com/vlNakYGr9H  Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) December 10, 2019

The activist had been running campaigns for two years to increase environmental awareness and advocating for climate change literacy to be made mandatory in schools. During her speech at the COP25 in Madrid, she told the world it was high time to act. The event was focussed around the discussion regarding carbon markets of the world and many activists were invited to share their expertise.

She also went on to question why should she be there, instead of playing or going to the school, when the world leaders had known the climate change was real even before her birth? She went on to speak about the urgent need to cut down emissions, create more sustainable frameworks, and preserve the diversity of our planet.

She even met Greta at the event, though it wasnt in the highest of spirits. Both young leaders were frustrated at the world leaders who seemed to care little about the planet and our environment. But Kangujam maintains Greta is her biggest influence in life.

Her mission towards environmental endeavours began at the age of 6. In an interview with The Hindu, she explained how she was at a meeting on disaster risk reductions that had a big impact on her and she realised what we are doing to our planet and how we are destroying it. She met with people who were now homeless due to natural disasters. She travelled the world, met other activists and joined various campaigns.

She even sat outside parliament for weeks, hoping to get Prime Minister Narendra Modis and other MPs attention. Sitting out there for weeks with placards, she had hoped they would pass climate change law to control and regulate the emission of carbon.

But just like her voice went unheard in Delhi, she felt the conference was also little productive. The governments are more interested in stocks and votes, she says. But losing the planet is not like losing a few dollars in the stock market or missing out on a few votes. It is the future of the entire humankind, animals, trees and oceans and everything that makes our home at stake.

Kangujam, who wants to grow up to be a space scientist, did not receive any support from the government for her monumental speech at the COP25. She had to arrange for funds, despite repeated pleas to the government.

Be a part of the Harpic  News18 Mission Paani campaign, take the Pledge to Save Water and catch all updates to the Waterthon here.

Authorities in Vietnam on Wednesday said they had discovered a 250kg tiger being tortured at the home of a man who later admitted that he had bought the animal from another province in order to produce tiger balm.

Police officers raided the residence of D.N.Ngh.,49, in Quang Diem Commune, Huong Son District, north-central Ha Tinh Province at around 11:00 pm on Tuesday after receiving a tip-off that he had been housing wildlife.

In a now-viral video, a large tiger was seen lying unconscious on a canvas surrounded by electric wires.

Ngh. had already fled by the time police raided the residence.

Ngh.s family does farming and raises deer, a leader of the Peoples Committe of Quang Diem Commune said, adding that authorities are still waiting to receive the official police report.

Ngh. turned himself in to Huong Son District police late Wednesday morning, when he admitted that he had bought the animal from north-central Nghe An Province to produce tiger balm.

Tigers remain critically endangered in Vietnam, with only five left in the wild in 2016, down from 30 in 2011, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Vietnam began recognizing the protected wildlife species listed by CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) in 1994.

Currently, Vietnamese law prohibits the trafficking of protected wildlife, such as tigers, pangolins, and rhinos, as well as the illegal trade or killing of wildlife.

Still, campaigners say the illegal trade continues to flourish as the profit from trafficking wildlife far outweighs the punishment.

In Vietnam, fines are less than US$500 in about half of the violation cases, based on the figures available to the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network TRAFFIC.

However, as the Vietnamese government has become tough in tackling wildlife trafficking, convicted criminals now face imprisonment.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The White Tiger, written and directed by Ramin Bahrani, will release on Netflix on 22 January.

The White Tiger, a film adaptation of author Aravind Adiga's Man Booker Prize-winning book of the same name, begins streaming on Netflix tomorrow (22 January).

Early reviews of the film have been promising, with critics lauding Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Rajkummar Rao and newbie Adarsh Gaurav's "magnetic" performances, and the seamless storytelling by Iranian-American writer-director Ramin Bahrani. The movie has also created talk about being a contender in the upcoming awards race.

The 99 Homes director and Adiga have been friends since their days at Columbia University in the 90s and he was reading rough drafts of the novel years before it was published. Hes even on the dedication page.

Chopra Jonas is also the executive producer along with Emmy award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay.

What's it about: The story charts Balram Halwai's (Gaurav) journey, who works as a driver for a wealthy businessman, played by Rao. He is ridiculed by his employers for his underprivileged background and is forced to take the fall for a crime he didn't commit, after which he becomes a successful entrepreneur. Chopra Jonas stars as Pinky Madam, a first-generation immigrant in the US, who is married to Rao's character Ashok.

Who else is there in the cast: Mahesh Manjrekar (The Stork), Swaroop Sampat (The Great Socialist), Vijay Maurya (The Mongoose), Vedant Sinha (Dharam), Nalneesh Neel (Vitiligo), Satish Kumar (Balram's father)

How Gaurav bagged Balram's role: Gaurav has been an unknown name before he joined The White Tiger to play the tenacious Balram. He made his debut as a young Rizwan in Karan Johar-directed My Name is Khan (2010). He also shared screen space with Manoj Bajpayee, Smita Tambe and Kumud Mishra in the 2017 drama Rukh.

"I was jobless for five months. I had given many auditions but was not getting any work. I was going through a lot of self-doubt. Then just as I was almost locked for one film, I got a call for The White Tiger audition. I had read the book as a teen and I knew the plot and knew what Balrams character was about. I felt maybe the film was way too big and out of my league, but I decided to go ahead and audition anyway. After four to five rounds of auditions, I got locked for the part," Gaurav told Firstpost in a recent interview.

Bahrani told Financial Times even though a lot of Indian and diaspora actors wanted to play Balram, he envisioned someone who "wasn't a star or from a wealthy background."

The team is mostly Indian: Bahrani told Marie Claire UK he had wanted to work with an all Indian crew to bring the story to life. "They helped make it a more authentic film," he said.

The music: Music is crucial in cinematic storytelling and in some cases becomes as iconic as the film itself. For The White Tiger, the makers brought back songs by musicians like Gorillaz and rapper Fat Joe, only to "complement them with some awesome Indian songs, including 'Beware the Boys' (ft Jay Z)".

The White Tiger also includes an original single 'Jungle Mantra', a collaboration between DIVINE, Pusha T and Vince Staples, where they explore the universal themes of class disparity. This is DIVINE's second collaboration with Netflix after 'Kaam 25' for Sacred Games.

Listen to the song here



Jonas on choosing The White Tiger: The actor auditioned from home on video call, with a "tricky scene" that Bahrani says he always struggled with. For him, Jonas was a perfect fit for Pinky because no other actor was able to ace that scene in auditions before.

Why the makers chose Netflix: "They were hungry for it," Bahrani told The Associated Press, adding that The White Tiger is an "epic story" that required major resources, which traditional studios would not part with.

(With inputs from The Associated Press)
New Delhi, Jan 21 : The legend of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, his life and persona, even death, never ceases to amaze filmmakers. Various facets of his life have been explored on screens big and small over the decades, many more are waiting to be told.

More than seven decades after his death, the mystique of Netaji is still being unravelled. With the advent of OTT, exploring any biopic beyond mere life story of the subject has become easy. In the case of Netaji, more so. His is a life that lends itself naturally to drama.

From being rusticated from Kolkata's prestigious Presidency College for his famous assault on history Professor EF Oaten for the latter's racist comments against "natives", to the great escape from house arrest at his Elgin Road home in the guise of a Muslim insurance agent, and from his getting away to Germany via Afghanistan and the Soviet Union, to the mystery that remained associated with his death for years after he passed away, Netaji's story never fell short of intrigue.

Above all, there was the undying love for the country that made him a national hero.

While many filmmakers who have attempted to capture the essence of Bose on screen, most of Bollywood trade, too, would like to see more work on the iconic freedom fighter. Apart from providing ready material for script -- something Bollywood always hungers for -- most in the film business circle, which works as a connection between audience demand and industry supply, feel there are many perspectives which can be explored further, to take the Bollywood biopic as a genre to the next level.

"There has been only one series, with Rajkummar Rao, dedicated to Netaji in recent times that can be recalled. Netaji's persona is huge. There are so many unsaid things about him, which people still are unaware of. There are many story ideas that need to be explored, and many perspectives that can still be explored. (The possibility is) quite immense," film trade analyst Girish Johar told IANS.

Ahead of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji on January 23, we take a look at the notable cinematic efforts based on the life of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: BOSE DEAD/ALIVE

Creative producer Hansal Mehta's 2017 miniseries, based on Anuj Dhar's 2012 book, "India's Biggest Cover-Up", cast Rajkummar Rao as Netaji. Created by Ekta Kapoor, the show tries probing the mystery behind the freedom fighter's death, recalling how, shortly after his death, his family in Kolkata receive a telegram from Mahatma Gandhi to not conduct his last rites. The show is an attempt to understand Netaji's disappearance.

"Our intention is to portray Bose as a contemporary hero, a rebel who worked in different ways, thereby making him relevant and a part of today's youth," Mehta had said at the time of the show's release.

GUMNAAMI New-age Bengali maverick Srijit Mukherji's 2019 film stars Bengali superstar Prosenjit as Netaji, and explores answers to various elements of mystery surrounding the disappearance and death of Netaji, besides throwing light on his political beliefs and vision for India.

Based on the Mukherjee Commission Hearings that happened from 1999 to 2005, the story follows a journalist investigating Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's death and focusses on the freedom fighter's uncanny resemblance to the controversial figure Gumnaami Baba. The film kicked up a minor storm upon release, with Netaji's family objecting to such an allusion.

THE FORGOTTEN ARMY: AZAADI KE LIYE Filmmaker Kabir Khan in 2020 focussed on Bose's Indian National Army (INA), or Azad Hind Fauj, through the web series. With Sunny Kaushal and Sharavari leading the cast, the show narrates the true story of the men and women who fought for the independence of India as part of the INA.

"I'm not a great expert on Netaji. I'm just a normal person who has read books on him. But I feel a person like him would never remain 'gumnam'. A person like him would always come out and do something for the country if he was alive and around," Kabir had told IANS.

NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE: THE FORGOTTEN HERO The biopic by Shyam Benegal featured Sachin Khedekar as Bose. The 2004 release has been the biggest film production on the leader till date. The film primarily explores India's freedom struggle through his perspective. Benegal's effort was a middling success and it received critical acclaim at the BFI London Film Festival. The film also features Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajit Kapur, Arif Zakaria, and Divya Dutta.

RAAG DESH The periodic drama by Tigmanshu Dhulia is about the contribution of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA) in the independence struggle. The film stars Kunal Kapoor, Amit Sadh, Mohit Marwah and Mrudula Murali, and was released in 2017.

SUBHAS CHANDRA The 1966 biographical Bengali film is directed by Piyush Bose. Starring Amar Dutta, Samar Chatterjee, and Ashish Ghosh, the film narrates the life of a young Netaji, through his college days and political campaigns. The film goes on to capture Bose's life through different phases.

NETAJI The 2019 Bengali historical series attempts a comprehensive look at Netaji's life. It stars Abhishek Bose in the lead role, and also has Dhruvajyoti Sarkar, Kaushik Chakraborty, Sriparna Roy, Debopriyo Sarkar, Sohan Bandopadhyay, and Fahim Mirza.

SAMADHI Starring Ashok Kumar, Nalini Jaywant, Shyam, Kuldip Kaur, Mubarak, David, Ram Prasad, and Shashi Kapoor, the 1950 spy thriller revolves around Subhash Chandra Bose's attempt to get freedom, along with his Indian National Army.
Farmer leaders to respond to the offer on Friday after their internal consultations

The farmers leaders also raised the issue of NIA notices being served to some farmers, alleging it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, on which the government representatives said they would look into the matter. (Photo:PTI)

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday proposed to suspend the three contentious farm laws for one or one-and-a-half years and set up a joint committee to discuss the laws to end the stalemate, but the farmers leaders did not immediately accept the proposal and said they will respond only after they hold internal consultations, possibly on Thursday. The two sides will meet again on Friday for the eleventh round of negotiations.

The government made this offer during the tenth round of talks with the representatives of 41 farmers unions at Vigyan Bhavan here. After the meeting, agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said: During the discussions, we said the government was ready to put on hold the farm laws for one year or one and a half years. I am happy the farmers unions have taken this very seriously and said they would consider it tomorrow (Thursday) and convey their decision on January 22.

Ahead of the meeting which lasted for over five hours, Mr Tomar along with commerce minister Piyush Goyal met Union home minister Amit Shah. The home minister has been supervising all developments related to the farmers agitation, which has been going on for the last 56 days at the Delhi borders. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently called a meeting of top agriculture ministry officials and advised them to put the three laws on hold till the matter was sorted out between the two sides.

During the meeting, Mr Tomar told the union leaders the government was ready to give an undertaking in the Supreme Court that the new laws will not be implemented till the matter is fully resolved. He also offered to set up a committee of agricultural experts, the farmers unions and government representatives to discuss all the three laws clause by clause to resolve the matter.

The farmers leaders also raised the issue of NIA notices being served to some farmers, alleging it was being done just to harass those supporting the agitation, on which the government representatives said they would look into the matter.

The Supreme Court has already put on hold till further orders all the three farm laws. While staying the three farm laws, the Supreme Court-appointed a four-member panel to talk to farmers to end the stalemate. But the farmers leaders objected to the committee members names, saying they had already expressed their pro-farm laws views.

BKU leader B.S. Mann has already recused himself from the committee. The other three members of the committee are due to hold their first meeting with the stakeholders on Thursday. But the protesting farmers have made it clear they will not appear before the court-appointed panel.

An Ohio octogenarian couple who just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary, have died from COVID-19, just minutes apart, while holding hands.

Family members said Dick and Shirley Meek, ages 89 and 87, dropped their guard to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary on December 22.

They were admitted to a Columbus hospital where they tested positive for the coronavirus on January 8, according to Vicki Harper, one of their daughters.

They died together on January 16. Shirley died first, followed a few minutes later by Dick. The couple never stopped holding hands.

Their deaths came just three days before they were scheduled to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, family members said.

Dick and Shirley Meek, ages 89 and 87, died at a Columbus hospital on January 16 weeks after celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary

The couple died within minutes of each other while holding hands

The couple had ended up separated in rooms on different floors of the hospital and their conditions started to decline rapidly, Harper told WBNS.

'We asked [the hospital staff] for them to be together and they said absolutely,' Harper said.

Daughter Debbie Howell told the outlet that Shirley Meek died first while the couple's favorite song, When the River Meets the Sea by John Denver, played in the background.

'The nurse put mom's head on my dad's shoulder and she said to dad "Dick it's OK to let go now. Shirley's waiting for you" and he passed within minutes,' she recounted.

The Meeks were both scheduled to get their coronavirus vaccines a few days later

Family members said the Meeks were childhood sweethearts who built a 'legacy of love'

Family members said their story should serve as a cautionary tale to others during the pandemic

In an obituary posted to the Fischer Funeral Home, family members wrote that the couple had a 'love story for the ages.'

'They had a fairy-tale ending. Our hearts are shattered, but we are at peace knowing that they are together forever,' the obituary reads.

Family members said that the Meeks were childhood sweethearts who built 'a legacy of love' for their five children, 13 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

'Theirs was a life of adventure  from sky diving to zip lining, their Bucket List was amazing!' the obituary reads.

Family members said that throughout their lives the couple made time for daily dates and a 3pm toast to each other.

Family members said the Meeks lived a life of adventure and traveled the world

Family members said the Meeks had a wild Bucket List with adventures including skydiving and zip-lining

'We are devastated to lose them both at the same time. But, we are blessed that they walked together, hand in hand, through the Gates of Heaven into Eternity,' the obituary reads.

Edwin Meek, who served as an Air Force sergeant during the Korean War, was born in Coshocton and would have turned 90 on Tuesday.

His children described him as a skilled carpenter who often handcrafted gifts for family and friends.

'He was a romantic at heart and always put others before himself,' the obituary reads.

Shirley Meek, described as 'the reserved one,' was a homemaker and quietly donated to charities every single month, family said.

'She was an avid shopper and loved to dress to the hilt for every occasion, and her sense of style was admired by all,' the obituary reads.

Family members have requested that donations be sent to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Wounded Warrior Project, or the Alzheimer's Association in lieu of flowers.

'COVID took their lives from us, so we beg you all to be safe,' family said.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmers administration released the full details of her $5.6 billion supplemental spending plan Wednesday afternoon, the bulk of which would direct federal COVID-19 response funds to vaccination efforts, getting students and staff back into physical classrooms and boosting the states economy.

All but $575 million of the $5.6 billion plan comes from federal COVID-19 recovery funding that was directed to the state by Congress. That includes $90.2 million for administering COVID-19 vaccines, $574.8 million for COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, $660.9 million for emergency rental assistance, $2 billion for additional food assistance and $1.66 billion for schools from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund.

Whitmers plan would distribute some of the federal funds and an additional $300 million in state spending via a formula giving additional weight to students living in poverty or who have special education needs.

She said in a virtual news briefing Tuesday the goal was to help districts get back to in-person learning by March 1 and to address learning loss caused by the pandemic.

Related: Whitmer unveils $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus response, economic recovery

Other state spending included in Whitmers proposal would fund a potpourri of grants and other assistance programs for businesses hit hardest by the pandemic, including grants tailored to small businesses with few employees and demonstrated income loss, low-interest capital access programs and funding for supporting the safe reopening of restaurants. $22 million proposed in the plan would go towards waiving penalties and interest for property owners who didnt pay summer 2020 property taxes on time.

Another $5 million in state spending proposed by the governors office would fund the purchase and installation of security equipment at the Michigan Capitol building.

Related: Even if the moneys there, Capitol Commission to leave full gun ban up to Legislature

Whitmer also called on the Legislature to enact a handful of policy changes, including renewing the Good Jobs for Michigan tax incentive program and enacting a permanent extension of unemployment benefits from the current 20 weeks to 26 weeks.

Its likely the Republican-led legislature will have a few different ideas on how to spend the money.

Michigan House Appropriations Chair Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, said in a statement Tuesday he was disappointed the governors plan does not appear focused enough on getting help to where it is most needed.

Albert, who has previously suggested allocation of federal funds should be contingent on reopening sectors of the economy currently closed to in-person business, said he wont hand the governor a blank check without additional legislative oversight.

I am already working with my colleagues in the Senate on the best way to help Michigans recovery from COVID-19, including the distribution of the latest installment of critical federal COVID relief funding, he said. These resources must be used more effectively and responsibly than the Whitmer Administration has done so far during this pandemic.

In a statement, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, criticized the governor for previous vetoes of property tax relief and funds to extend unemployment benefits, but said its good to see Gov. Whitmer finally come around on policies supported by legislative Republicans.

Senate Republicans will take a look at what the governor has proposed and see where we can make improvements, he continued.

Whitmer said she cant speak to the intentions of individual lawmakers, but defended the states ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and said she hopes no one will want to stand in the way of federal dollars being used for their intended purpose.

Read the administrations supplemental request for funding vaccinations and the economy:

Read the administrations request for K-12 supplemental funding:

Read more on MLive:

Even if the moneys there, Capitol Commission to leave full gun ban up to Legislature

For Michiganders anxious to be vaccinated against COVID-19, demand far outstrips supply

Federal stimulus, more online shopping means $1.2B more tax revenue for Michigan than expected

Michigan businesses should reopen before federal COVID-19 funds are distributed, Republican lawmaker says

Senate Republicans mull rejecting Whitmer appointees until coronavirus restrictions are lifted

Michigan governor calls for in-person learning to resume by March 1
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The United States recorded its second deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday with 4,229 American fatalities.

It marks the third time that the daily death toll has surpassed 4,000 and is second only to January 12 on which 4,327 deaths were recorded, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.

Since the pandemic began, 406,162 people in the U.S. have died from COVID-19.

The grim milestone came on the same day President Joe Biden was inaugurated and exactly one year to the day since the first case of the virus was recorded in the U.S. in Washington state, with now 24.4 million testing positive.

In the first order he signed since arriving at the White House, Biden on Wednesday mandated masks and physical distancing in all federal buildings and the development of a testing program for federal employees for COVID-19, in a first step to combat a pandemic that has already claimed the lives of more than 400,000 Americans.

Biden's order says federal employees, contractors and others in federal buildings or on federal lands should 'wear masks, maintain physical distance, and adhere to other public health measures, as provided in (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.'

The president directed agencies to 'immediately take action...to require compliance with CDC guidelines' and for employees to wear masks and engage in social distancing. He called for all Americans to wear masks for 100 days.

America's death toll is the highest in the world despite the country accounting for less than five percent of the global population.

It comes on the heels of a recent CDC projection that the national death toll could rise even higher to as high as 508,000 by February 13 - a figure higher than the population of Atlanta.

On Wednesday, the U.S. recorded the second deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic with 4,229 deaths with a total death toll of 406,162

It is second only to January 12 with 4,327 and marks the third time the daily death toll has surpassed 4,000. Pictured: Medical personnel move a deceased patient to a refrigerated truck serving as make shift morgues at Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York City, April 2020

Wednesday also marked one year to the day since the first case of the virus was recorded in Washington state with more than 24.4 million people since testing positive

In October, Biden vowed to require masks on airplanes and on interstate transportation, but he did not take that action on Wednesday. The transportation order is expected on Thursday, officials said.

U.S. airlines, which have been requiring masks without a legal requirement for months, support Biden's planned mandate.

Biden's order on Wednesday directs the CDC to 'promptly develop ... a testing plan for the federal workforce,' adding it will be 'based on community transmission metrics and address the populations to be tested, testing types (and) frequency of testing, positive case protocols.

The president said agencies may make exceptions to mask requirements, but must 'require appropriate alternative safeguards.'

The Biden administration must implement new testing requirements for nearly all international air passengers that begin Tuesday, following a CDC order last week. Under the new rules, all U.S.-bound passengers age 2 and over must get negative COVID-19 test results within three calendar days of travel.

Biden's team also announced it would reimpose entry bans on most non-U.S. citizens who have recently been in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Ireland and most of continental Europe after former President Donald Trump, in one of his last acts in office, issued an order Monday lifting them effective the same day the new testing rules take effect.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the new administration planned 'to strengthen public health measures around international travel in order to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19.'

Tech giant Amazon on Wednesday offered to put its vast operation to work helping President Biden get 100 million Americans vaccinated against Covid-19 in the next 100 days.

Chief of Amazon's worldwide consumer business Dave Clark sent a letter to Biden urging that its workers get vaccinated as early as possible and offered to put the company's resources to work in the broader vaccination effort.

The tech giant is the second largest employer in the US with more than 800,000 employees, most of whom are 'essential workers' who can't do their jobs from home, according to a copy of the letter obtained by AFP.

'We are committed to assisting your administration's vaccination efforts as we work together to protect our employees and continue to provide essential services during the pandemic,' read the letter.

The grim milestone comes on the Inauguration Day of President Joe Biden, who signed a federal order mandating masks on federal property (pictured) and has pledged to vaccinate 100 million Americans in 100 days

Biden tweeted about his mask mandate Wednesday

Amazon has agreements in place with a health care provider to administer vaccines on-site at its facilities, including fulfillment centers, data centers, and Whole Foods Market grocery stores, according to Clark.

'We are prepared to move quickly once vaccines are available.,' Clark said in the letter.

'Our scale allows us to make a meaningful impact immediately in the fight against Covid-19, and we stand ready to assist you in this effort.'

Uber has also offered logistical assistance. CEO Dara Khosrowshahi last month urged U.S. states to ensure rideshare drivers get quick access to Covid-19 vaccines so they can help with broader distribution plans.

Biden's top pandemic advisor Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said this week the new president's goal of seeing 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine injected within his first 100 days in office is 'absolutely' achievable.

Those claims came after President Biden's pick to lead the CDC said the Trump administration 'muzzled' U.S. scientists when they were needed most.

Dr Rochelle Walensky said that it is her responsibility to 'fix that,' she told JAMA editor Dr Howard Bauchner in a Tuesday interview for the journal's podcast.

The HIV researcher, with no 'on the ground' experience running a public health agency, is inheriting an unprecedented pandemic that has killed more than 400,000 Americans in less than a year, a CDC that has fumbled at nearly every turn of its response and a disastrous vaccine rollout.

A new CDC ensemble forecast projects the U.S. coronavirus death toll will be between 465,000 and 508,000 by the week ending February 13 (above)

The forecast predicts that between 22,500 and 23,300 deaths from the virus will be reported each week for the next four weeks (above)

Chief among the CDC's problems were communication gaffs that left it at odds with the White House or retracting previous advice and replacing it with Trump administration-approved guidance.

Officials who tried to warn Americans of how dire the pandemic could get, such as Dr Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, simply disappeared after angering the Trump administration.

Communication will be a top priority for Dr Walensky. Ironically, she plans to take a page from former President Trump's book and streamline CDC's public messaging through Twitter and other social media platforms.

It also comes on the heels of the CDC predicting that up to 508,000 Americans could die of COVID-19 in less than one month.

Published on Wednesday, the 'ensemble' forecast combines 37 independent forecasts of coronavirus deaths over the next four weeks into one projection.

The forecast predicts that between 22,500 and 23,300 deaths from the virus will be reported each week for the next four weeks. For the week ending February 13, the ensemble forecast projects that reported COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. will be between 17,000 and 29,300.

This means that, in the first 24 days in office for President Biden, anywhere from 465,000 to 508,000 Americans will have died from COVID-19. The latter figure is higher than the population of Atlanta.

More than 38,000 Americans died from coronavirus in the first two weeks of 2021, and the numbers only appear to be increasing.

Health experts said widespread vaccination could help curb the surge of cases, but rollout has been slow.

More than 35.9 million doses have been distributing but just about half - 17.2 million - have been distributed, according to a CDC tracker. Pictured: A senior citizen receives a COVID-19 vaccine at the Corona High School gymnasium in Corona, California, January 15

Staff and volunteers distribute the COVID-19 vaccine to people as they remain in their vehicles at The Forum in Inglewood. The Forum is one of five mass-vaccination sites that opened Tuesday in Los Angeles County, January 19

More than 35.9 million doses have been distributing but just about half - 17.2 million - have been distributed, according to a CDC tracker.

And in New York City officials were forced to reschedule 23,000 vaccine appointments this week alone.

Mayor Bill de Blasio warned Wednesday that the city would run out of doses altogether by Friday.

De Blasio heightened alarm about the city's dire shortage of vaccines and called for something to be done to free up more doses at a press conference on Wednesday.

At his own press conference, Governor Andrew Cuomo acknowledged shortages around the state and but shifted blame toward the federal government.

Cuomo said that the state currently has just 145,780 doses remaining and warned that the supply would run out in a maximum of three days.

'What is clear now is we're going to be going from week to week - and you will see a constant pattern of, basically, running out, waiting for the next week's allocation and then starting up again,' he said. 'We're trying to smooth it out, but we're also trying to get it out as fast as possible.'

The seven million New Yorkers currently eligible to receive vaccines are currently facing wait times of three months or more to get appointments.

Cuomo has projected that it could be six months before all of those currently eligible get their jabs if the federal government doesn't step in and increase supply.

Just under 908,000 people in the state have received their first doses of the vaccine to date, representing 84 percent of the supply already provided by the federal government, Cuomo said.

The Forum in Inglewood began vaccination distribution serving as a COVID-19 vaccination site, while also serving as a COVID-19 testing site. Amazon on Wednesday offered to put its vast operation to work helping President Biden get 100 million Americans vaccinated against Covid-19 in the next 100 days

New York City was expected to surpass 500,000 vaccinations on Wednesday, de Blasio said, out of more than 940,800 delivered.

A new distribution hurdle emerged on Wednesday, he said, when deliveries of 103,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine were delayed.

'We already were feeling the stress of a shortage of vaccine. Now the situation has been made even worse,' he said.

The city is aiming to reschedule appointments for the 23,000 people who had theirs canceled this week within the next week, Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said. He noted that no second dose appointments were rescheduled, only first doses.
A top grammar school has been praised for contacting police after some of its pupils were caught up in an internet chat where racist comments were posted.

Royal School Dungannon revealed it had taken the step after being made aware of the online discussion "involving a large number of people, some of whom attend RSD, and which contained racist comments which the school condemns in every regard".

It is understood other young people from different schools had participated in the online chat, which took place last Friday.

The school said it condemned racism in all its forms and took any report of racist activity seriously.

It added: "Although this online chat took place at home and at night and had no direct link to RSD, as a matter of public interest the school reported this to the PSNI.

"RSD was the first and only organisation to take this action."

The matter is now subject to a criminal investigation and the school said it wouldn't be commenting further.

The school's statement was last night welcomed by Justin McCamphill from the NASUWT union.

The official told the Belfast Telegraph the school had been "proactive" in tackling what had happened.

"However, the incident does show that in Northern Ireland there is an undercurrent of racism that is stubborn and isn't going away," he said.

"Schools and the education system have an important role to play in addressing these attitudes.

"Racism and inequality issues are a problem everywhere and school and teachers should be mindful that they have a special role in tackling these things. It's going to be a challenge to get to the point this type of thing never happens within a school environment."

He stressed the incident had taken place off school property, adding he had been disappointed when he learned of the content of the comments made by the large group of young people.

"I think the school has taken the correct response to this," he said.

"It didn't happen within school, but RSD are quite rightly taking the lead in challenging this behaviour and addressing it."

A PSNI confirmed it had launched a probe into the incident.

It said: "Police in Dungannon are investigating comments made on a social media group chat which were reported to officers on Friday, January 15.

"The investigation is ongoing and the matter is being treated as a hate incident. There are no further details at present."
President Joe Biden ordered a 100-day halt to some deportations of undocumented immigrants in the latest move aimed at reversing the hardline policies of his predecessor, Donald Trump.

The pause was issued in order to 'ensure we have a fair and effective immigration enforcement system focused on protecting national security, border security and public safety,' according to a new memo.

The Department of Homeland Security's acting chief issued a memorandum late on Wednesday saying that it would pause the removal of 'certain noncitizens ordered deported.'

The moratorium will not apply to any undocumented immigrant who 'has engaged in or is suspected of terrorism or espionage, or otherwise poses a danger to the national security of the United States.'

The order was signed by David Pekoski, the acting head of DHS.

Biden's choice to become the full-time secretary of the department, Alejandro Mayorkas, has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.

President Joe Biden is seen above at the Oval Office after signing several executive orders just hours after he was inaugurated. Biden is determined to undo hardline immigration policies put in place by his predecessor, Donald Trump

Biden ordered a 100-day moratorium on deportations, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The image above shows a special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement preparing to make an arrest in Salem, Ohio, in June 2018

The Department of Homeland Security's acting chief issued a memorandum late on Wednesday saying that it would pause the removal of 'certain noncitizens ordered deported'

Mayorkas' speedy confirmation was halted by Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri.

In a statement, Hawley invoked Trump's border wall, as well as a coming legislative proposal by the incoming Biden administration that would provide a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants living here.

The legislative proposal would not have the force of law, and Biden campaigned on the idea.

Biden signed half a dozen executive orders on Wednesday to reverse several hardline immigration policies put in place by former President Donald Trump, although migration experts warn that it will take months or longer to unravel many of the restrictions imposed in the past four years.

In a sharp departure from his Republican predecessor, Biden, a Democrat, just hours after being sworn in also sent an immigration bill to Congress that proposes opening a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the United States unlawfully.

The executive actions, signed at a ceremony at the White House, included immediately lifting a travel ban on 13 mostly Muslim-majority and African countries, halting construction of the US-Mexico border wall and reversing a Trump order preventing migrants who are in the United States illegally from being counted for congressional districts.

Biden also signed a memorandum directing DHS and the US attorney general to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects migrants who came to the country as children from deportation, and reversed Trump's executive order calling for stricter immigration enforcement away from the country's international borders.

DHS also said it would end all enrollments in a controversial Trump program - known as the Migrant Protection Protocols - that forced more than 65,000 asylum seekers back to Mexico to wait for US court hearings.

The release did not clarify what will happen to migrants currently in the program, many of whom have been stuck for months in squalid tent camps near the southwest border.

Trump's last official trip was last Tuesday to a section of the border wall in Alamo, Texas. Trump had more than 450 miles of wall constructed during his four-year term, however most of it was replacing existing barriers. Biden has ordered a halt to the wall's construction

The actions show that Biden is beginning his presidency with a sharp focus on immigration, just as Trump kept the issue at the center of his policy agenda until the last days of his administration - though they come at the issue from radically different perspectives.

In one of his rare post-election public appearances, Trump earlier this month visited a section of the US-Mexico border wall, which he had ordered built by shifting funds, partly from the military budget.

Biden's decision to immediately roll back Trump's travel ban won praise from business groups and migrant advocates.

Myron Brilliant, the head of international affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce, said the ban was 'was not aligned with American values' and its reversal would help 'restore our credibility on the global stage.'

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, travel to the United States has been curbed and DHS said in its announcement Wednesday that current non-essential travel restrictions will remain in place.

Biden has not yet laid out clear plans for a March 2020 order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that allows officials to expel almost all border crossers.

Since the order was put in place, around 380,000 people have been quickly sent to their home countries or pushed back to Mexico, according to Customs and Border Protection data.

Incoming national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on a call with reporters on Tuesday it would be 'unwise' for migrants to come to the border now because of limited capacity to process asylum claims.

'The situation at the border is one we intend to change, but it is going to take considerable time,' he said.

In Central America in recent weeks, migrant caravans have been on the move, with some aiming to arrive at the southwest border after Biden's inauguration.

The president plans additional immigration moves soon.

Migrants from Central America wait at the Paso del Norte international border bridge in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to request asylum in the United States on Wednesday. Biden has pledged to lift Trump's restrictions on asylum seekers

On January 29 he will issue executive actions to restore US asylum protections, strengthen refugee processing and set up a task force to reunify families still separated by Trump's border policies, according to a memo shared with lawmakers and obtained by Reuters.

The Biden administration will also review barriers to legal immigration put in place by Trump over the past four years, including a regulation that made it harder for poorer immigrants to get permanent residency, the memo said.

Lifting the travel ban and implementing executive orders may be an easier task than getting Congress to pass Biden's ambitious immigration bill.

It lays out an eight-year road map to citizenship for many of the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country unlawfully, according to a fact sheet distributed to reporters by incoming White House officials on Tuesday.

Eligible immigrants who were in the country as of January 1 and meet certain requirements would be given a temporary status for five years before being granted green cards.

They could apply for citizenship after three more years, officials said.

The wait time for legalization would be shorter for DACA recipients and immigrants living in the United States with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), both programs Trump tried to end.

It would also be expedited for some farmworkers.

While Democrats effectively hold a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate will be divided 50-50 with Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tie-breaking vote.

A lack of bipartisan support has torpedoed past efforts to overhaul the immigration system.

On Tuesday, Republican Senator Marco Rubio called the bill a 'non-starter' that included 'a blanket amnesty for people who are here unlawfully.'

Advocates acknowledge privately the bill will probably serve more as a statement of goals to set the stage for a series of smaller, single-issue bills that might attract more bipartisan support.

Two of Washingtons biggest lobbying groups say they support the Biden administrations plan to regulate methane emissions from oil and gas wells.

Why it matters: The shift, instigated by the Chamber of Commerce and American Petroleum Institute, is one of the most concrete signs of how corporations are beginning to support action on climate change in the face of pressure from investors, politicians and the public.

Catch up quick: The organizations have for years opposed any direct regulation of methane, a greenhouse gas thats the primary component of natural gas.

Methane makes up about 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, but its warming impact on the planet is more potent over a shorter period than carbon dioxide, the most common heat-trapping gas.

Methane, an invisible gas, leaks in the production and transportation processes of the fuel.

Investors have increasingly called on oil and gas producers to cut methane emissions, and President Biden has vowed to regulate them no matter what the industry thinks.

What theyre saying:

We support the direct regulation of methane for new and existing sources in accordance with the Clean Air Act, Mike Sommers, APIs president and CEO, told Axios Tuesday.

The Chamber of Commerce updated its website Wednesday to say it supports cutting methane emissions, including by direct regulation under the Clean Air Act.

But, but, but: The organizations are couching their support around an additional process within the Clean Air Act, Americas bedrock pollution law, that could add many months to writing a regulation. Environmental advocates dispute this position.

How it works: Frank Macchiarola, senior vice president at API, says that to comply with the law, Bidens Environmental Protection Agency must go through a scientific process confirming that methane from oil and gas wells contributes to endangering the publics health and welfare.

The Obama administration issued a broader scientific finding in 2009 concluding that all greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, did that.

Macchiarola says that finding applied to mobile sources, not stationary sources like oil and gas wells, and was in a different part of the law.

He says calling for this review isnt tantamount to a delay and that such a finding is needed to stand up to legal scrutiny.

The other side: Peter Zalzal, an expert at the Environmental Defense Fund, says the EPA already made an additional scientific finding on this matter in 2016 as part of the Obama administrations early work regulating methane.

Theres broad agreement that methane significantly contributes to harmful climate pollution and EPA has already made this finding in 2016, so lets get going, Zalzal said.

Go deeper: In aggressive climate plan, Bidens position on natural gas is fuzzy
Profile of the new dome with the older 1979 dome in the background for size comparison. As of Jan. 16, the new dome was roughly  the height of the 1979 dome and was growing more or less equally in both directions - east to west. (Photo and Caption Credit: UWI Seismic Research Centre)

Persons here have been tossing up their opinions about whether or not the seismic activity at the La Soufriere volcano would simply remain an effusive eruption.





Amid that national concern, Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, as he addressed the nation on Monday 18th January, outlined three possible scenarios that could develop as the dome continues to grow.





"The dome will continue to grow to a point and then stop.. Second, the dome will continue to grow significantly, and if it continues to grow there is the possibility [that] it can get out of the crater and move down the flanks of the volcano into the sea. This is on the Leeward side of St. Vincent. This will have implications for communities in Richmond, Chateaubelair and Fitz Hughes. The third possible scenario, an explosive eruption may occur following the effusive phase of this eruption. This may occur immediately after the effusive phase or following a break, long or short.





The growth of the dome has been given significant importance by the seismic team monitoring the volcano.





According to seismic team leader, Geologist Professor Richard Robertson during his participation in NBC Radios Face to Face programme on Monday, 18th January, "We did a detailed aerial survey. So we took overlapping photographs from the helicopter with a special attachment on the camera, at the bottom of the helicopter; and its being processed.





He reported that soon there should be "a detailed idea of the full dimension of the dome and it will tell people what we had said before when we gave the volumes and the dimensions: they had a lot of errors in it.





He predicted that now, with the special attachment, "..we [are] going to have much less errors and the number might be slightly different. So, going forward, the measurements that we do will be based on this new definition of the shape of the dome which we will have a very detailed view of pretty soon.





Professor Robertson explained that the geologists will then be able to track much more accurately what the changes in volumes are, and by extension, the rate of its growing, its coming out, which is a very important factor in monitoring.





Even as the alert level remains at orange, the Prime Minister advised Vincentians, especially persons living in communities close to the volcano, to be prepared for any eventuality.





"With these three scenarios in mind, I want to encourage every Vincentian to have their own family emergency planeven more so, if you are living in the red and orange zones.





These are the communities that will be evacuated first in the event of an evacuation order.
The Covid-19 death toll now stands at 440, with the deaths of 15 more people yesterday.

The Ministry of Health reported the deaths in its daily update yesterday evening.

One of the new deaths occurred in Tobago. The Tobago Division of Health, Wellness and Family Development disclosed that the patient was a 38-year-old male with co-morbidities.
Press Release

21 January 2021

Alexandria, VA - The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world's largest business travel association, has released the results from its 15thcoronavirus poll, the first in 2021, to measure the impact on business travel following the onset of the pandemic last year.

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The latest survey finds that more than half of respondents expect most of their employees will return to the office by Q3, in line with a return to non-essential business travel and a growth in traveler confidence.

"While we continue to face challenges for our industry, there is light at the end of the tunnel and projections for a return to some normality remain positive for Q3," said Dave Hilfman, interim Executive Director of GBTA. "The global roll out of vaccination programs continues to be a key driver in restoring traveler confidence, but uncertainty remains around traveler requirements for a return to business travel, whether this be pre-testing, testing on arrival or proof of vaccine. GBTA will continue to lobby on behalf of members for clarity and a consistent approach among governments."

Key Findings:

More than half (54%) of GBTA poll respondents expect most of their employees will return to the office by August (Q3). Just 8% report most of their employees have already returned to the office, 17% expect their employees to return to the office in the next 1-4 months and an additional one-third (29%) expect employees to return to the office in 5-8 months.

Ten percent (10%) expect their employees to return in nine months or longer. One-quarter (26%) report they have not decided and an additional one in ten (11%) respondents are unsure.

Plans to resume non-critical business travel follow a similar trajectory as returning to the office. Six percent of respondents report their company has resumed non-business critical business travel. One in ten (13%) GBTA members report they expect employees to resume non-critical business travel in the next 1-4 months and one in three (29%) expect this travel category to resume in 5-8 months. An additional one in five expect non-critical business travel to resume within 9 months or more (20%) or have not made a decision (20%). An additional one in ten (11%) are unsure.

follow a similar trajectory as returning to the office. Six percent of respondents report their company has resumed non-business critical business travel. One in ten (13%) GBTA members report they expect employees to resume non-critical business travel in the next 1-4 months and one in three (29%) expect this travel category to resume in 5-8 months. An additional one in five expect non-critical business travel to resume within 9 months or more (20%) or have not made a decision (20%). An additional one in ten (11%) are unsure. There is a still a large amount of uncertainty around what will be (or is currently) required for employees to return to business travel among GBTA members.

Photo: GBTA

The use of mobile apps to verify the health status of passengers is more commonly accepted. Buyers and procurement professionals were asked to rate their comfort with travel supplierssuch as airlines or hotelsusing mobile apps to verify the health status of passengers. Four in ten say they are 'comfortable' (32%) or 'very comfortable' (12%). One in five are 'not comfortable' (11%) or 'not at all comfortable' (10%) with using mobile apps to verify the health status passengers or guests. An additional one in five (19%) are 'neither comfortable nor uncomfortable' or are 'unsure' (16%).

The vaccine continues to be at the forefront of the recovery plan. When asked to assess comfort with allowing employees to travel for business if certain travel industry workers  such as flight attendants, pilots and hotel employees  are classified as essential workers (which could allow them to receive their vaccination before the general population), a majority say it would. Two-thirds (64%) of GBTA member company respondents report vaccinating certain travel industry workers would make them 'somewhat' or 'a great deal' more comfortable. One in four (27%) say it would make them 'a little bit' or 'not at all' comfortable and one in ten (9%) are unsure.

View the entire poll results hereand key highlights here.

Methodology:

GBTA conducted a poll of its members across the globe from January 11-18, 2020. A total of 733 responses were received.
Voters line up for the first day of early voting outside of the High Museum polling station in Atlanta on Dec. 14, 2020. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

The Constitutional Process Didnt Stop Fraud; We Need to Do That

Commentary

As soon as the Nov. 3, 2020, election started looking odd in the early morning hours of Nov. 4, my laser focus for this election was to ensure that we ran a completely constitutional process. It wasnt about former President Donald Trump or President Joe Biden, it was about fully exercising the guidance on elections given in the 12th Amendment and Title 3 of the United States Code.

My journey with more fully understanding the election process began in late 2019, in the aftermath of the Virginia General Assembly election debacle. From this journey, I learned many things.

First and foremost, I learned about a stunning lack of knowledge, passion, and participation in the voting process by most non-progressives at the county and state level. I learned further that all elections are predominantly a local event, and federal law and guidance is actually very sparse on the voting process.

Im finding that few really care to understand the election process and simply assume someone else is taking care of it. The answer is yes, someone else is taking care of the process. This someone else is people, methods, and processes that are questionable.

Finally, I learned that if anyone wants to be upset about the outcome of the Nov. 3, 2020, election, they need to focus their time, attention, and energy on the Republican apparatuses (the Party and the elected executive and legislative Republicans at the state levels) in the six contested states.

Fraud and the Constitutional Process

I read, analyzed, and re-read the 12th Amendment and U.S. Code Title 3 to prepare numerous point papers at the request of others. The stark reality is that we did follow the constitutional process for this election. At the same time, there was massive, corporate-level fraud in the process.

Bafflingly, these two componentsthe constitutional process and election fraudarent mutually exclusive. This does not mean the constitutional process is broken or faulty. In retrospect, I like to observe that the constitutional process graciously allows for the imperfect nature of Man (and Woman) in an incredible calculus to arrive at the best possible decision in a democratic republic.

I was contacted daily by multiple groups and personalities seeking an exact, step-by-step, technical manual sequence for what would happen. Few liked my answer. The reality is that the 12th Amendment and U.S. Code Title 3 give some sequence, but mainly they provide parameters.

Could Vice President Mike Pence have sent the electors back to the states for clarification from the state legislatures? Yes, I believe he could have, and it still would have been within the spirit and intent of the letter he released. In the end, he didnt; that wasnt unlawful nor did it violate the Constitution.

There was massive evidence of fraud in the election process, arguably best summed up in the third Navarro report. Media, the courts, and the executive branch seemed patently uninterested in following up on any of the evidence.

Its a crucial and possibly the key role of the judicial branch to compel the release of evidence primarily held back from public review by the county and state sworn election officials. They didnt and the six key states adopted unstoppable inertia, despite noteworthy, heroic exceptions, as it appeared many on the Republican side wanted to push the contention over the final election outcome to someone else. Again, the someone else syndrome struck.

Totalitarianism in Disguise

With the chaos at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, hundreds of thousands of Trump supporters came to be associated with violence.

Were members of BLM and other radical groups responsible for initiating the violence? Perhapsand there have been arrests and charges made in Washington and at other riots around the country.

Was this a set up by Antifa? Possibly.

Did some Trump supporters try to calm and defuse the violence? Yes. Even if true that some Trump supporters were carried away by the psychology of the mob, there needs to be a complete investigation and responsibility assigned for the unlawful actions on Jan. 6 for all participants on all sides.

What has quickly been apparent is that the riot at the U.S. Capitol was the equivalent of the Reichstag Fire. The riot is being used as a pretext for harsh censorship and purges by social mediaa modern blacklisting. Although respected personalities attempt to stand against the media led mob, many succumb to this false narrative that Trump caused the violence.

The consequent coordinated purge by social media of accounts is simply un-American and demands transparency and review.

Simultaneously, the House speaker led a second impeachment vote and the case has been handed to the Senate for a trial, which will happen after the president has left office, questionable in its standing.

This unreasoned, hateful pursuit of Trump does little to heal American society and is what Third World countries do after an election coup. This frenzy against free speech and Trump is totalitarianism disguised as moral outragevery similar to what happened to former President Park Geun-hye in South Korea.

Involved in the Process

The conspiracy theories I was frankly swamped with over the past few months for the most part started with a kernel of truth. Many of the people sharing these were very-well-educated, well-informed, and well-meaning. They live outside the veil of classified knowledge of the departments and agencies of the U.S. government and other vestiges of the swamp.

They are well-meaning people trying to make sense out of what happened.

Instead of waiting for things such as martial law, fleets off the coast, military action to seize voting machines, and so on, I suggest we need to demand absolute transparency over every step of the voting process.

Every single ballot needs to be optically scanned to ascertain its validity. Every single ballot passed through needs to be observed by multiple bipartisan observers double-checking the voting tallies. The voting machines need to be as dumb as possible and only count votes, with none of the insane proportional allocation of votes. We need absolute transparency over the election machine companies and their ownership.

Americans voted reasonably well before the 2002 Helping America Vote Act, which created this train wreck. Lets help ourselves and ensure every one of us gets involved in the local election process. Despite the constitutional process that appears to have allowed a victor with considerably fewer votes, if we get decisively involved, the best is yet to come for the United States.

Retired Col. John Mills is a national security professional with service in five eras: Cold War, Peace Dividend, War on Terror, World in Chaos, and now, Great Power Competition. He is the former director of cybersecurity policy, strategy, and international affairs at the Department of Defense. @ColonelRETJOHN

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Family doctors in Laois and other counties will soon be able to bypass local hospitals and refer patients for x-rays, MRI and CT scans and other diagnostics to private providers, under a deal announced by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly.

Under deal the HSE is to make available to GPs increased direct access to diagnostic services from this week. A statement said that the initiative would give GPs across the country the ability to access an additional 94,000 diagnostic procedures, such as X-Rays, CT scans, MRIs, and DEXA*.

The Department of Health said the measure is intended to reduce waiting times, waiting lists, and to reduce pressure on the hard-pressed hospital system.

Under the initiative, the HSE will make available over 94,000 diagnostic procedures in private providers/hospitals. The Department says contracts to provide these services were awarded to private services providers/hospitals including Affidea, Alliance, Global Diagnostics, Bons Secours Tralee, and UPMC Whitfield.

The services provided under this initiative will be available nation-wide and through the full year 2021. A decision on the extension into future years will be taken later in 2021. The cost of the initiative in 2021 is expected to be just under 13 million.

In addition, the HSE plans to roll-out to GPs access to BNP testing, spirometry, and echocardiography services. These services are intended to support the delivery of the Chronic Disease Management Programme which has been established under the 2019 GP Agreement.

The Chronic Disease Management Programme will deliver GP care to an estimated 431,000 patients when fully rolled out, allowing them two annual consultations with the GP practice nurse and two consultations with their GP to facilitate management of four conditions (Type 2 Diabetes, asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD), and cardiovascular disease).

The Department of Health said it is anticipated that the Chronic Disease Management Programme will improve patient care and reduce pressure on hospital services by reducing the need for patient attendance.

The Minister for Health welcomed the new deal.

This new development will have a significant impact on the diagnosis and treatment of patients. It will allow faster access to necessary diagnostic procedures, leading to more timely treatment and improved patient experience, said Mr Donnelly.
MALTA  Since its establishment in 2015, Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership had enjoyed generous funding from the county coffers, about $4.2 million over six years.

But no more. The new county leadership will adhere to the what the county is legally obliged to provide to SCPP, half of the countys bed or hotel tax revenue, and nothing more. And as the pandemic continues to ravage county tourism, that decision could cripple SCPP's 2021 operations, since that amount is so uncertain.

Its a wild unknown, said Board of Supervisor Chair Todd Kusnierz. Its similar to the unknown, putting together a budget with sales tax.  You have to be fiscally conservative. These are times like no other, on the town, county, state and national level. Whatever entity you are involved in, you have to adjust financials accordingly.

For years, SCPP was funded at levels that ran between $750,000 and $775,000 a year. In 2019, the county decided to reduce the 2020 funding to $500,000 and restore some funds to its rival, the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation. Then the pandemic hit, shuttering the county's big draws like the Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Saratoga Springs City Center, and killing overnight stays.

Hotel bookings were so devastated, that the county did not provide $500,000 to SCPP, noting that it was legally only entitled to $154,000 -- half of the bed tax in 2020. The county and SCPP ultimately compromised: SCPP got to keep $375,000 already paid out with a promise the county would not seek a $221,000 refund.

That was a win for SCPP President and CEO Shelby Schneider. But she failed to secure $450,000 from the county for 2021, something she sought in order to ensure SCPP's fiscal year. Though she was denied, Schneider said SCPP can't be counted out yet.

I have done quite a bit to reduce all expenses and overhead, Schneider said. We are very fortunate to have bed tax as the foundation of our funding, which allows us to leverage those funds to apply for other grants and identify other sources of funding. With the changes in the economy, we have adjusted accordingly.

SCPP has been a point of contention between the 23-member county Board of Supervisors since its inception. Kusnierz admits that many want to see SCPP dissolve, while just as many want to see it thrive. But, he said, keeping it at its legal funding levels is not an effort to kill SCPP.

Im sure those conversations will come up," Kusnierz said. "What their future is and where do they want to go. Obviously, it will be a process that works from the committee up to the board of supervisors.

That committee is the countys economic development committee, which is chaired by Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett. In years past, Barrett has expressed concerned over the competency of SCPP. In 2019, Barrett led the effort to adopt a plan to redefine the roles and funding levels of both SCPP and SEDC. Under the plan, the two groups were also meant to unite their economic development efforts. The change prompted SCPP leader Marty Vanags to leave and Schneider to take charge.

Though the unification efforts fell apart last fall, Barrett emphasized the county is in a critical period where difficult decisions from leadership are needed more than ever" and that everyone is "tightening their belts." He also said that SCPP will have to continue "to produce results and prove its viability."

Milton Supervisor Benny Zlotnick, who sits on the SCPP board, said SCPP is proving its worth under Schneiders leadership. In 2020, he said the Partnership helped business apply and get federal PPP loans. He said it also purchased and distributed masks, gloves and hand-sanitizer to businesses.

I think the Prosperity Partnership had problems in the past, Zlonick said. Shelby has done a great job turning that around, getting grants. She has a small and dedicated staff that is getting the help needed to keep small businesses open.

But regardless of what SCPP is doing now, its critics have viewed it as a government boondoggle that has produced limited results. Among its biggest critics is Rob Arrigo, the chair of the countys Libertarian Committee. Hes pleased with the county plan to adhere to half the bed tax only.

Residents have to remember that the Partnership was created for the purpose of attracting new business to Saratoga County, Arrigo said. In return those businesses create employment opportunities for county residents. When you compare the amount spent to subsidize the Partnership to its performance, I think it's safe to say that residents are not getting their moneys worth when it comes to the Prosperity Partnership. Keeping the Partnerships public funding to one half of the bed tax is a positive step.

Despite a possibly grim 2021 financial picture for SCPP, Schneider is not giving up.

"What is more important is how small businesses in Saratoga County are going to survive through the winter months and what we can do to support them," she said. "That is what Im focused on."
The provisional payroll of EPFO revealed that it has added around 10.11 lakh net subscribers in the month of November, 2020. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, EPFO has added around 45.29 lakh net subscribers base in the current financial year (from April to November, 2020). The data published comprises of members who have joined during the month and whose contribution has been received.

In the month of November, 2020, around 6.41 lakh new members have joined EPFO. Roughly 3.70 lakh net members exited and then rejoined EPFO, indicating switching of jobs by subscribers within the establishments covered by EPFO and subscribers choosing to retain their membership by transferring of funds rather than opting for final settlement. Exited members rejoining also indicate that workers are returning to their jobs with decline in active Covid-19 cases in India.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Three women, who were recently shifted out of a shelter home located in Chhattisgarh's Bilaspur district, have accused its staff of indulging in physical and mental abuse against the inmates. The operator of the shelter home, however, has denied the charges.

Police said they have taken cognizance of the matter and the women's statements will be recorded in front of the magistrate here on Thursday. The allegations were made recently after a 20-year-old among the three women allegedly denied to leave the shelter home located in the Sarkanda police station area even as her husband had reached the place to take her back home.

"The 20-year-old woman had been shifted to Ujjawala Home, a government-aided shelter, on January 16 when she was found wandering nearby. She said she had left her home after a fight with her husband," a police official here said. The next day, her husband reached the shelter home to take her back during which the staff of the facility asked him to show the proof that he is her spouse, following which he entered into a verbal spat with them, he said.

Later, the woman's family lodged a case of wrongful confinement and obscene act against the shelter home staff. The operator of the shelter home also registered a case against her family on charges of house trespass and obscene acts, he said.

Meanwhile, two other women inmates, including a rape victim, also reached the police station alleging physical and sexual abuse of women at the shelter home, he said. However, when their statements were recorded by a woman police officer at the police station, they said they have heard of sexual assault being committed on women inmates, but denied being a victim of it following no case was registered in this regard, he said.

On Tuesday, the three women appeared before the media, with one of them saying that she was assaulted and touched inappropriately by the operator of the shelter home. They also alleged that women were drugged there.

The operator has denied the allegations. Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Prashant Agrawal said police have been investigating that matter.

The women's statements will be recorded under section 164 of the CrPC on Thursday and further action will be taken accordingly, Agrawal said. Another government official said the shelter home has been shut and its inmates have been shifted to their homes and other government facilities.

.
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Representative image: AP

The Union Health Ministry has advised states to run awareness programmes to ensure that healthcare workers take the COVID-19 vaccine, The Economic Times reported. This came amid low immunisation figures in several states.

Based on this advice, state governments came up with different strategies to tackle peoples hesitation towards getting inoculated. The strategies include appeals from state health ministers and administrative staff that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe, the news report suggested. Some states have also identified COVID warriors who will be vaccinated to help dispel fears.

Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the coronavirus pandemic

We have identified our top doctors and every day some well-known doctors would take the vaccine to give a message to our healthcare workers that these vaccines are safe, Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey told the newspaper.

In Gujarat, all district collectors have also been asked to reach out to religious groups and minority institutions.

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

According to the report, Tamil Nadu  which has one of the lowest COVID-19 vaccination coverages in India so far  is seeking help from social influencers and religious leaders to ensure healthcare workers take the vaccine.

West Bengals Health Secretary HS Nigam told the newspaper that launching a "no side effects" campaign would not be enough and effort would be made to clear doubts that the health workers have.

Read - COVID-19 vaccination drive: States receive additional Covishield doses

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved Covishield, produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin for restricted emergency use. However, beneficiaries will not be able to choose between the two jabs at this stage. Many have raised apprehensions about Covaxin as it is still in a phase-3 clinical trial.

COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker: All you need to know about manufacturing and pricing

As of January 20, India had reported more than 1.05 crore confirmed COVID-19 cases. The death toll from the outbreak in the country stood at over 1.52 lakh. While more than 1.02 crore patients had recovered, 1.97 lakh cases remained active. Globally, more than 9.62 crore individuals have been infected by the virus and over 20.62 lakh people have died so far.

A speedy rollout of vaccines is being seen as the best way to curb the spread of COVID-19 and restore normalcy in the pandemic-battered global economy. Many countries have already vaccinated a large number of people from high-risk groups.

A total of 7.86 lakh beneficiaries had been vaccinated for COVID-19 in 14,119 sessions till the evening of January 20, according to a provisional report of the Union Health Ministry.
President Joe Biden proposed raising the minimum wage to $15 but the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analyzed that this could lead to losing up to 3.7M million jobs.

The Washington Examiner reported Tuesday that Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package includes increasing the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 but the CBO argued that the move "could be offset by higher rates of joblessness."

The report said that "1.3 million workers who would typically be employed would be without jobs in an average week in 2025. A new federal minimum wage would also increase the pay of 17 million workers in an average week in 2025."

Low-income families would enjoy the raise in wages but higher-income families would suffer loss of business. Below the poverty line families would gain an additional income of $8 billion while those above the poverty line would lose an income of $16 billion.

"No one working 40 hours a week should still be below the poverty line. People tell me that's going to be hard to pass. Florida just passed it, as divided as that state is, they just passed it. The rest of the country is ready to move as well," Biden stated.

The proposal was opposed by some Republicans, The Hill noted. Senator Tim Scott said that the new federal minimum wage would destroy the struggling small businesses and "would force those that survive to lay-off employees."

Senator Pat Toomey also said that, "If the federal government mandates a universal $15 minimum wage, many low-income Americans will lose their current jobs and find fewer job opportunities in the future."

Quartz reported that the U.S. House of Representatives has already passed a bill in 2019 to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025 but it was refused to be taken up by the Senate which was controlled by the Republicans. The bill was reportedly blocked by Republican Party's Senate leader, Mitch McConnell.

The report further said that Walmart CEO Doug McMillon opposes the proposed wage hike but supports raising the current federal minimum wage, saying that small businesses and geographical differences should be taken into account in wage increases. Walmart has raised its minimum pay but is still lower than Target and Amazon which pay their U.S. employees with $15 minimum wages.

According to Bloomberg, economists have long been debating the issue of higher minimum wage, saying that it would make more expensive for employers to hire workers and thus would hinder creation of jobs. However, this perspective raises questions since some cities and states have already increased the hourly minimum wage to $15 but labor markets appeared unaffected.

There has not been an increase in federal minimum wage since 2009 and that U.S. workers have had their wages increased but "at a much slower pace than their output per hour." Like other industries in recent years, a nationwide strike is being planned by the fast-food workers to demand a $15 minimum wage.

Biden's wage proposal "would scrap separate minimum-wage thresholds that apply to workers who receive tips, and to people with disabilities," the report said.

A Longford mother is calling for cystic fibrosis patients or those with chronic illnesses who are most at risk if they contract Covid-19 to be placed higher on the priority list for the Covid-19 vaccine.

Hazel Robinson, whose daughter Gypsy is a cystic fibrosis patient, told the Longford Leader this morning that parents of CF patients and CF patients themselves are by no means trying to skip the queue but are concerned that they are listed in the seventh group for the vaccine.

"We don't want to skip the queue or jump anyone but it's a really horrible situation to be in. I don't want to feel like we're taking from someone else that needs it," she explained.

"But everyone is fighting their corner and with cystic fibrosis, it varies from patient to patient. It depends on what end of the scale you're on and some people with cystic fibrosis are on the chronic end of that scale, waiting for a lung transplant and they're seventh on the list for vaccine."

In the UK, she noted, those with chronic illnesses are prioritised alongside the over 70s as they are considered most at risk.

Covid-19 latest: Eleven new cases in Longford as Dr Tony Holohan warns' we cannot underestimate highly infectious nature of disease'

Ms Robinson also stressed that the people who are most up to date on who needs the vaccine most are the GPs, who know their patients best.

"Our GP is a family GP and she said to me that doctors have been told they have to give the vaccine to the over 70s first but she has a list of patients that she feels are most at risk. If there's anyone who knows who needs this vaccine most, it's the GPs," she said.

Hazel's daughter, Gypsy, is 18 years old and currently studying for her Leaving Cert exams remotely. She has been cocooning since the beginning of the pandemic, with just a brief time in July where she could get out and about and enjoy some form of normality.

"She's been completely cocooning at my mam's house where she has her own room and her own toilet," Hazel explained.

"With the boys going to school, I couldn't take the risk of them coming out and being around her."

Before the pandemic, Gypsy was transferred to an adult hospital and was just getting used to the change when Covid-19 stuck the country.

"It was a big transition for her and then the pandemic hit and she can't avoid hospitals, so she went in and it felt like I was sending her into the lion's den," said Hazel.

"There's just so much danger and if she contracts this virus, I don't want to think of the outcome because I can't see her lungs being able to hold up to that. She's fighting an invisible enemy and it's scary. People with cystic fibrosis - especially those who are waiting on a transplant or who have had a transplant or whose immune systems are compromised - should be in with the over-70s."

Ms Robinson added that she would love to see Ireland doing something similar to the UK and ensuring its most vulnerable, chronically ill citizens are prioritised.

"I'm going to advocate for that. But how do you fight your corner? It is so important we get our voice heard. Everybody is trying to fight for it and, with Gypsy down at number seven on the list, it's impossible to know when she'll get the vaccination," she said.

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland released a statement yesterday afternoon calling on people to contact their TDs to try and get patients with CF prioritised.

"All people with cystic fibrosis are currently designated 7th out of 15 priority categories for Covid-19 vaccination," the statement read.

"Cystic Fibrosis Ireland recognises the challenges to Government/HSE of establishing an equitable framework for vaccination priority in Ireland. However we are concerned about an apparent inconsistency particularly between the present vaccination priority list and those designated by the HSE as very high risk (also called extremely vulnerable).

"To be consistent with the HSE designation and vaccination it would surely make sense that all those groups that are designated very high risk from COVID 19 are also designated as category 3 for vaccination purposes.

"We would ask you to consider writing/contacting your TD's on this issue. While our concern is to ensure that everyone with CF is given greater priority for vaccination. We would also ask you at this time to urge the highest prioritisation should be for those with the most severe forms of CF, including those waiting for a transplant or those that have had a transplant."

Read also: Longford's St Christopher's Special School to remain closed after latest government u-turn
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MediaTek launched its latest chipset, the 6nm Dimensity 1200 Premium 5G in the market on 20 January. The Taiwanese fabless semiconductor company also announced the Dimensity 1100 5G SoC along with the launch. Aimed at providing better 5G experiences, both the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100 5G smartphone chipsets come with AI support, a powerful camera and multimedia features. The Dimensity 1200 and Dimensity 1100 sport a integrated 5G modem and have been powered with MediaTeks 5G UltraSave technology to usher in power saving features.

Both the SoCs support every connectivity generation be it 2G or 5G. The chipsets thus will be able to provide seamless connectivity across networks.

While the Dimensity 1200 supports 200 MP photos on the backbone of its five-core HDR-ISP, it also supports the capture of 4K HDR videos. Powered with an enhanced version of MediaTeks hexa-core AI processor (MediaTek APU 3.0), the 1200 will offer decreased latency and better power efficiency. On the other hand, the Dimensity 1100 comes with 108 MP camera support and integrates MediaTeks existing APU 3.0.

According to a press release, both the chipsets support AI camera features like AI-Panorama Night Shot, AI Multi-Person Bokeh, AI noise reduction (AINR) and other HDR capabilities. Users will be also able to enable the AI SDR-to-HDR feature in video playback. In the performance sector, the Dimensity 1200 has an octa-core CPU designed with an ultra-core Arm Cortex-A78 clocked up to 3GHz. This is backed up by three Arm Cortex-A78 super cores and four Arm Cortex-A55 efficiency cores. Users can expect a higher level of efficiency with a nine-core GPU and six-core MediaTek APU 3.0. The Dimensity 1100 has an octa-core CPU which includes four Arm Cortex-A78 cores operating at up to 2.6GHz and four Arm Cortex-A55 efficiency cores, along with a nine-core Arm Mali-G77 GPU.

For displays, the 1200 chipset supports 168 Hz refresh rates and the 1100 boasts of 144Hz refresh rates. Both chipsets offer support for multi-touch boost touchscreen responsiveness.

Users will be able to go through ray tracing in mobile games and experience artificial reality (AR) applications on both the SoCs. Dimensity 1200 and 1100 both support Bluetooth 5.2 version.

As per the firm, the first devices with the new chipsets are expected to hit the market at the end of the first quarter and beginning of the second quarter this year.
TORONTO - As Ontario struggles to beat back a dire wave of COVID-19, workplace spread has been singled out by public health experts, mayors and top health officials as a major source of infections.

Workers are shown at a construction site in Toronto on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. As Ontario struggles to beat back a dire wave of COVID-19, workplace spread has been singled out by public health experts, mayors and top health officials as a major source of infections.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

TORONTO - As Ontario struggles to beat back a dire wave of COVID-19, workplace spread has been singled out by public health experts, mayors and top health officials as a major source of infections.

Experts and workers say government measures so far havent directly targeted the issue, but fairly simple practices would help track and reduce infections.

Epidemiologist Colin Furness at the University of Torontos Dalla Lana School of Public Health said there should be clear consequences for employers that don't take proper precautions at this point in the pandemic.

We know from contact tracing data and outbreak investigations what some of the most risky environments are. We should be coming down on them like a ton of bricks, Furness said.

Hundreds of people have been infected in recent outbreaks linked to workplaces, including at least 121 workers at a Canada Post facility whose cases were reported this week and more than 140 people at a Cargill-owned meat processing facility in Guelph, Ont., last month.

Hundreds of migrant workers tested positive on Ontario farms last summer, and more than 5,000 long-term care staff have been infected to date.

But observers said there isnt consistency when it comes to penalties for employers, or even naming workplaces where outbreaks happen.

Traditionally, workplaces have been challenging for public health because harsh enforcement might mean future issues are covered up, Furness said.

There are some signs of change, however, led by Toronto Public Health. The health unit said this month it would name employers with significant outbreaks and enforce reporting of cases among workers, a move Furness called revolutionary.

Putting pressure on employers is also important to make sure other measures are effective, Furness said, including paid sick leave, which has become a prominent political issue in Ontario.Mayors from provinces largest cities have been calling for months for accessible, universal paid sick leave so workers don't come to work sick over fear of losing income  an argument supported nearly universally by public health experts.

Janice Mills, who has a job in auto manufacturing, said sick leave is the biggest issue at the Glencoe, Ont, plant where she works with about 50 other people per shift.

Workers can apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit introduced to support people missing work over a COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure, but theyre only eligible if they miss 50 per cent of the work week.

That's an issue for hourly workers at Mills' plant, she said, because if someone falls ill on Thursday or Friday, they cant make use of the benefit until the following week.

That's very difficult for people to wrap their heads around, Mills said.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said Ontario isnt looking to implement its own sick leave policy because there are still millions of dollars available through the federal benefit.

He said the program is sufficient, but workers may not know about it, and hes asking federal ministers to ensure there isnt a delay in getting money out to people.

I feel strongly that we shouldn't duplicate this program, he said in an interview.

Furness said sick leave is important, but it doesnt guarantee workers wont face repercussions for accessing it  so employers should be held accountable if people are pressured into working while sick.

Tim Sly, an emeritus professor of epidemiology at Ryerson University, pointed to regular asymptomatic testing as another key measure that would help assess workplace spread.

He noted other regions have made use of rapid tests to find the virus among people who may not know they're infected, but Ontario has until recently been reluctant to introduce the practice.

Why we've delayed it so often, I have not a clue," he said. "It costs so little, it's easy to do, and if you repeat it, you're getting up to really good standards of screening.

Some industries in Ontario, such as film and television production, are already regularly testing employees for COVID-19, and the government plans to ramp up asymptomatic testing in the coming months by sending rapid tests to hard-hit sectors like farms, manufacturing and long-term care.

McNaughton said an asymptomatic testing pilot has already begun on construction sites in the Greater Toronto Area, and he said there will be "huge emphasis" on testing workers going forward.

He also pointed to the governments recent inspection blitz of big-box stores, which is expanding to more industries. Most fines have been relatively small, at less than $1,000 per infraction, but McNaughton said some larger investigations are underway, and employers should be aware of the potential for fines up to $1.5 million.

I hope my message was clear to every big corporation out there, every shareholder, that if they're not having a safe work environment for their workers, and for customers, I won't hesitate to shut them down, he said.

Meanwhile, frontline workers say appreciation for their work isn't often reflected in the province's official pandemic response.

Brittany Nisbett, who works at a group home for disabled adults in the Niagara Region, said new restrictions announced this month havent changed anything in her working life  in fact, she said new limits on store hours have made it harder to complete errands during time off.

She said its been an emotionally taxing year, especially when co-workers and clients have tested positive for the disease, but one silver living has been growing public acknowledgment of the work she does.

Shed like to see that reflected with a permanent wage increase, paid sick days and more staff for support.

If youre going to call us heroes, then I think that we need to be treated like heroes, Nisbett said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2021.
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Amit Shah on 2-day visit of Assam, Meghalaya from Saturday

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Guwahati, Jan 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Guwahati on January 23 on a two-day visit to Assam and Meghalaya, officials said here on Thursday.

He will launch the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme for central paramilitary force personnel in presence of Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan here on Saturday. Shah will then reach Meghalaya to chair the plenary session of the North Eastern Council (NEC) to be held in Shillong on the same day.

Union home minister Amit Shah to launch Ayushman CAPF healthcare scheme on January 23

The NEC is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region which consists of eight states. On Sunday, Shah will return to Assam and attend a programme to celebrate the first anniversary of the signing of the Bodoland Territorial Region Accord, which provides for political rights, economic package to the Bodo tribals living in Assam, at Kokrajhar.

He will also address a BJP rally at Kendukuchi in Nalbari district of the state where the assembly election is due in March-April.

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Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 17:52 [IST]
Rejected deal: Former Prime Minister Theresa Mays backstop also contained a regulatory border in the Irish Sea, says Lord Dodds

The DUP has strongly rejected suggestions that it should have agreed to Theresa May's backstop, which would have worked out as a better option than the current protocol.

Deputy leader Lord Dodds backed the party's Westminster leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, who said that the backstop would have left Northern Ireland even more out on a limb.

Lord Dodds told the Belfast Telegraph: "Some people have mistakenly suggested that if Theresa May's backstop had been accepted, we could have avoided the problems we face today. Such an idea is wrong.

"The May backstop contained a regulatory border in the Irish Sea in exactly the same way as the protocol. Mrs May said that the rest of the UK would just tag along and keep its laws in step with the EU.

"That was not legally enforceable under the treaty and, politically, the Tory party would never have accepted such a scenario, as was demonstrated in the many rejections of her backstop by her own party.

"Likewise, the May backstop had Northern Ireland in EU customs union rules with a temporary add-on of Great Britain being tacked on. That would never have survived under May's successor, even if it had squeaked through her own party."

The DUP deputy leader insisted that the backstop would have led to Northern Ireland being eventually locked into a separate arrangement from Britain.

"Not a single unionist party in the Assembly supported the backstop because they could see it as being the prototype of exactly the same arrangements as we have today," he said.

"It set in international law the principle that Northern Ireland would be subject to EU laws like the protocol.

"Fundamentally, regardless of what the parties in Northern Ireland thought, Mrs May's deal couldn't even gain the support of her own party.

"The backstop would have led us to the same position as we are in today, just at a different speed."

When asked if the backstop would have been preferable to the protocol, UUP leader Steve Aiken said: "Bearing in mind what everyone knows now, from both a constitutional and economic point of view, it would have been more beneficial for Northern Ireland for the whole of the UK to remain within the EU."

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry MP said: "It is baffling why all unionist parties rejected both a UK-wide soft Brexit or the much more benign backstop, relative to the protocol, and instead facilitated a hard Brexit with all of the self-evident consequences.

"The single market and customs union are wrongly framed as some form of burden to Northern Ireland when, in practice, they are a huge opportunity.

"The backstop was only intended as an insurance and would disappear with the conclusion of a wider future relationship issue.

"It provided for a UK-wide approach on customs which avoided many of the current problems being experienced with the protocol."

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, is a co-sponsor of legislation aimed at investigating terrorism threats and preventing white supremacists from infiltrating law enforcement agencies.

The bill would create new domestic terrorism units in the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and FBI to monitor terror groups and prosecute those involved in illegal activity. It would also require biannual reports on terror incidents, the threat posed by white supremacists and neo-Nazis, and an assessment of how extremist groups are infiltrating law enforcement agencies and armed services.

The attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month was the latest example of domestic terrorism, but the threat of domestic terrorism remains very real. We cannot turn a blind eye to it, Upton said in a statement. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act will equip our law enforcement leaders with the tools needed to help keep our homes, families, and communities across the country safe.

Related: Domestic terrorism represents growing threat to United States

The legislation would also create a task force specifically focused on preventing white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups from infiltrating the military and federal law enforcement agencies.

The bill requires the first biannual report to include an analysis of domestic terror incidents that occurred since the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The deadly attack has a connection to Michigan -- Timothy McVeigh and Lapeer native Terry Nichols were found to have attended Michigan Militia meetings before carrying out the bombing.

Domestic terrorism offices would be required to review hate crimes to determine whether the incidents could be classified as terrorism-related.

Local law enforcement agencies would also receive opportunities to improve anti-terrorism training under the bill. This includes resources for local police to identify terrorism incidents and detect when white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups attempt to infiltrate police agencies.

Versions of the Domestic Terrorism Act have passed in the U.S. House of Representatives but failed to become law in previous sessions of Congress. The latest version of the bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of House lawmakers and a Senate companion bill was introduced by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illinois.

The House overwhelmingly passed a version of the bill in September 2020, days after former FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to Congress that racially-motivated extremism poses a serious threat to the United States.

The Department of Homeland Security identified domestic violent extremism as a threat to the homeland in an October assessment of national security issues. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf specifically expressed concern about white supremacist violent extremists who have been exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent, targeted attacks in recent years.

The DHS report found 2019 was the most lethal year for domestic extremism in the United States since the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The agency was still evaluating data for incidents occurring in 2020 as of the October report.

Some U.S.-based violent extremists have capitalized on increased social and political tensions in 2020, which will drive an elevated threat environment at least through early 2021, the report states. Violent extremists will continue to target individuals or institutions that represent symbols of their grievances, as well as grievances based on political affiliation or perceived policy positions.

The report found white supremacist groups have been responsible for more deaths than any other domestic extremist group.

More attention has been placed on domestic terrorism following the Jan. 6 riots in Washington, D.C. A violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, breaking into the building and forcing Congress to evacuate as it was certifying the presidential election result.

Criticism has been levied at the police response during those riots, leading to calls for investigations into links between extremist groups and law enforcement agencies.

Concerns about the potential for white supremacist groups to infiltrate and recruit from law enforcement communities are not new. The FBI declassified a report from 2006 examining the issue, warning that having members inside police agencies is a desired asset for white supremacist groups.

White supremacist presence among law enforcement personnel is also of concern due to the access they may possess to restricted areas vulnerable to sabotage and to elected officials or protected persons, whom they could see as potential targets for violence, the report stated.

READ MORE ON MLIVE:

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Extreme rhetoric thrives on alternative social media sites growing after Facebook, Twitter crackdown

Armed boogaloo boys gather at Michigan Capitol, join small group of protesters

Michigan Militia still active 20 years after Oklahoma City bombing
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Matt Hancock faced a furious backlash today after 'bonkers' plans surfaced to give everyone testing positive for Covid 500.

The proposal, which would cost up to 450million a week, is aimed at encouraging more people to undergo swabs and self-isolate to stop the virus spreading.

Detailed in an official policy paper, it is said to be the 'preferred position' of Mr Hancock's Department of Health.

Officials fear that too many with Covid symptoms fail to take a test in case knowing a positive result stops them working.

However, it appears to have blindsided Downing Street, with sources making clear No10 was had not seen the blueprint before it was leaked and warning it would create 'perverse incentives'.

Treasury officials said it was 'not going to happen' and swiped that they had 'zero idea' how Mr Hancock allowed it to get traction. 'Just bonkers. The whole country will suddenly develop a dry cough,' one said.

In a round of interviews this morning, Environment Secretary George Eustice refused to rule out the plan entirely, saying ministers were looking at reasons why people avoid self-isolating with Covid symptoms.

But he stressed that 'no decisions' had been taken and the government was 'always keeping multiple policies under review'.

In a round of interviews this morning, Environment Secretary George Eustice refused to rule out the plan entirely, saying ministers were looking at reasons why people avoid self-isolating with Covid symptoms

Everyone testing positive for Covid could be given 500 under dramatic plans being considered by ministers

The proposal, which would cost up to 450million a week, is aimed at encouraging more people to undergo swabs and self-isolate to stop the virus spreading

Financial help for those who test positive  the Test and Trace Support Payment  is limited to low earners who cannot work from home and already receive benefits.

The 500 payment for English residents would apply irrespective of age, employment status or ability to work from home.

A Department of Health spokesman did not deny the proposal was being discussed and said: 'We are in one of the toughest moments of this pandemic and it is incumbent on all of us to help protect the NHS by staying at home and following the rules.'

Government sources did not rule out the idea but suggested it was a long way from being agreed. Another insider said it 'had not been within a million miles of the PM'.

Any increase in cash handouts to Covid-positive or isolating individuals is also likely to be met with resistance from the Treasury. Chancellor Rishi Sunak was last night reported to have told Tory MPs that he wanted to use his March budget to restore order to the public finances.

Conservative backbenchers last night demanded a timetable for easing the lockdown after Boris Johnson hinted it could drag on until the summer.

On a visit to flood-hit Manchester, the Prime Minister said it was 'too early' to tell whether the crippling restrictions would end this spring as he had previously suggested. Government sources said schools could also remain shut to most pupils until after Easter.

Detailed in an official policy paper, it is said to be the 'preferred position' of Matt Hancock's Department of Health

Meanwhile, ministers are preparing to meet today to discuss draconian travel restrictions aimed at protecting the country from mutant Covid strains, but which could also wreck the summer holiday plans of millions.

In other developments:

Priti Patel announced 800 fines for revellers at house parties, up from 200;

Glastonbury music festival was cancelled for the second year running;

Northern Ireland extended its lockdown until at least March 5;

The vaccination total reached five million, including 63 per cent of care home residents;

Doctors raised grave concerns about second doses of jabs;

Plans being discussed today include all UK arrivals being quarantined for ten days in airport hotels;

Covid cases fell, despite a warning from scientists that lockdown was not working;

Another 1,290 coronavirus deaths were reported.

According to The Guardian, plans for the new support payments were drawn up by Health Secretary Matt Hancock's advisers after government polling said only 17 per cent of people with symptoms were coming forward to get tested.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reported to have told Tory MPs that he wanted to use his March budget to restore order to the public finances

Financial support currently also excludes many small business owners, sole traders, self-employed workers and parents whose children have been told to self-isolate.

An official review of the scheme has reportedly concluded that only one in four of those eligible have received financial support because the application process is too complex.

Police blunders on Covid law Every single person prosecuted for flouting the Coronavirus Act was wrongly charged, with police making blunders over hundreds of cases. The Crown Prosecution Service admitted yesterday that of the 232 charged so far under the laws brought in last March, all were incorrect. In many cases officers muddled up the law, which allows them to remove or detain a suspected infectious person for screening, with separate Health Protection Regulations, which say you cannot be outside of your home without a reasonable excuse. A further 116 prosecutions under these latter regulations also had to be withdrawn, meaning that of the 1,252 charges brought under either act, 348  or 28 per cent  were wrong. The scale of the unlawful prosecutions  revealed in a CPS review  has shocked lawyers and campaigners. Human rights lawyer Kirsty Brimelow QC, who analysed the wrongful prosecutions, called them a systemic failure resulting from police and ministers mixing up law and guidance. The National Police Chiefs Council said many of the cases with admin errors that are corrected in court. Advertisement

It suggests four options to expand the programme. The most generous is paying 500 to anyone who tests positive.

The proposal says: 'Anyone who tested positive for Covid-19, irrespective of their age, employment status or ability to work from home, would be eligible for Test and Trace Support Payments.

'This would be straightforward for local authorities to administer, though it would lead to significantly greater volumes of applications than under the current scheme.'

The plan would cost 12 times more than the current scheme, which costs about 36.5million a week and is based on 60,000 cases per day.

Another option proposes paying 500 only to those who cannot work from home if they test positive. That would cost up to 244million.

A third proposal suggests the payments go to those earning less than 26,495 per year, or on means-tested benefits. This would cost around 122million a week.

A further 'radical' idea suggests paying affected people their usual earnings instead of the 500, but this could be difficult to calculate and assess.

The proposals are expected to be looked at by the coronavirus operations committee, chaired by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, potentially as soon as today.

The document seen by The Guardian, marked 'Official Sensitive', also recommends giving police access to people's health data, so it can be proved if a person has tested positive.

Any significant increase to financial support could face a push-back from the Chancellor.

There are also fears that the 500 payments could encourage people to risk catching coronavirus.

A Department of Health spokesman said: 'We are providing a further 20million to help support people on low incomes who need to self-isolate.'

Proof lockdown IS working? PHE data backs up Test and Trace figures to show Covid infections fell in every region and age group last week after mass study claimed cases ROSE in first 10 days of national restrictions Coronavirus infections fell in every region and age group last week, Public Health England data revealed today after a huge surveillance study controversially claimed the outbreak didn't shrink during the first ten days of lockdown. Covid hotspot London saw the sharpest drop in infection rate, plummeting by a quarter. The capital was followed by the East of England and the South East. All three regions were the first to be put in Tier Four before Christmas to contain the rapid spread of a highly-infectious new variant. In another promising sign that the worst of England's second wave is over, infection rates dropped by 20 per cent in over-60s  who are most at risk of hospitalisation and death if they catch the virus. The statistics from PHE's weekly surveillance report come amid a growing body of evidence that Britain's Covid outbreak has shrunk during lockdown. NHS Test and Trace data today also showed a 15 per cent decline in the number of people testing positive for the virus across the UK in the week ending January 13. There were 330,871 positive swabs over that seven-day spell, compared to 389,191 in the first week of 2021. But the drop was not down to fewer tests being carried out because 400,000 extra swabs were processed in the most recent week. It is the first week-on-week fall in the data since the start of December, when cases dipped as England emerged from its second national lockdown. It can take up to a week for the effect of any restrictions to be reflected in the statistics, meaning the drop in cases may have also been fuelled by the original tiered measures. The figures came after a shocking study sparked fears England's third lockdown was failing to curb cases. Imperial College London's REACT-1 mass-testing project estimated 1.58 per cent of England's population had coronavirus in the first 10 days of lockdown and that the rate did not drop over the same time-frame. But scientists dismissed concerns that even tighter measures were needed, claiming the Imperial study does not prove infections are rising because it missed out on a drop from the second wave's likely peak in late December. Researchers behind the study did not carry out the survey over this period, which is when official data suggests coronavirus cases reached their high point before beginning to drop. Other studies tracking the Covid outbreak suggest more optimistic trends. Even Department of Health statistics show daily infections have plunged since the start of the lockdown, from an average of almost 60,000 to 40,000. Cambridge University estimates show that the R rate of the virus is likely below one, while Public Health England last week claimed cases dropped in all age groups. King's College researchers also say cases have fallen 'steadily' since the New Year. It comes after Britain recorded another 1,290 Covid-19 deaths in the last 24 hours, a 3.4 per cent rise on Thursday last week. But cases declined by 22 per cent after an additional 37,892 were announced by health bosses. Deaths lag weeks behind cases because of how long it can take for infected patients to fall severely ill. Advertisement

Britain records 1,290 Covid deaths  up just 3.4% in a week  as new cases drop by more than a fifth on last week to 37,892

Britain recorded another 1,290 coronavirus deaths and 37,892 new infections on Thursday.

Fatalities increased by just 3.4 per cent on the same day last week and marked a steep decline on the deadliest days ever: 1,820 on Wednesday and 1,610 on Tuesday.

In a further positive sign, the number of new cases declined by more than a fifth on the same day last week and were slightly down from the 38,905 on Wednesday.

It offers hope that Britain's grim death rate might soon drop too.

Deaths lag behind cases because it takes about a month between catching and falling seriously ill, which means the effects of the January lockdown might only become evident next week.

NHS chief for London Dr Vin Diwakar told the Downing Street press briefing: 'The situation in our hospitals in the NHS remains really precarious.

'In London, more than half of all patients in hospital are being treated for coronavirus and sadly over 1,000 patients died in hospital in London just last week, every single one a tragedy.

'Nationally, there are 34,000 people in hospital and pressure remains intense on our staff.

'We do have hope now with an increasing amount of people vaccinated but we must remain vigilant. Stay home, follow the guidance and help us to save lives.'

New data today revealed that covid cases dropped by 15 per cent during the first week of England's lockdown.

NHS Test and Trace showed 330,871 people tested positive for coronavirus across the country during the week ending January 13.

For comparison, the figure stood at 389,191 in the first week of 2021.

It is the first week-on-week fall since the beginning of December, when cases dipped as England emerged from its second national lockdown.

But last week's fall was not down to fewer tests being carried out - an extra 400,000 swabs were analysed in the most recent seven-day spell and the number of positives still dropped.

Above are the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals in England. This appears to be levelling but is still very high and above the levels seen in the first wave

It is another promising sign that the third lockdown, which began on January 5, is bringing England's outbreak under control.

Although cases are high with tens of thousands more cases every day, infections have stopped rising at the rate they were in December when the virus was 'out of control.'

However, London's Imperial College today claimed that England's third lockdown is not working.

Imperial's REACT-1 mass-testing project estimated 1.58 per cent of England's population had coronavirus in the first 10 days of lockdown, sparking fears that the current restrictions aren't tough enough.

Dismissing the fears that even tighter measures are needed, scientists said the Imperial study does not prove that infections are rising because it missed out a drop from the second wave's likely peak in December.

Researchers behind the study, which could be used to pile more pressure on Boris Johnson, hoped further testing in January would show infection numbers come down as the effects of lockdown properly set in.

Other studies tracking the Covid outbreak suggest more optimistic trends. Even Department of Health statistics show daily infections have plunged since the start of the lockdown, from an average of almost 60,000 to closer to 40,000.

Cambridge University estimates show that the R rate of the virus is likely below one, while Public Health England last week claimed cases dropped in all age groups. King's College researchers also say cases have fallen 'steadily' since the New Year.

Will Britain's vaccine drive be enough to end Covid crisis? UK WON'T achieve herd immunity through jab rollout, study claims as SAGE warns lockdown may be needed until MAY because vaccines 'aren't a panacea' that will protect vulnerable

Britain won't achieve herd immunity with the current coronavirus vaccines even if every single Briton is injected, a study claimed today.

It came as Boris Johnson refused to rule out keeping the lockdown in place until the summer and SAGE scientists warned draconian restrictions will be needed until May.

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that the efficacy of current vaccines, combined with the emergence of more infectious variants of the virus, meant keeping the R below one without lockdown restrictions could become impossible.

UEA researchers say that even if every man, woman and child in the UK gets both doses of the Oxford jab it would only bring the R  the average number of people each patient infects  down to 1.3. But, because this vaccine is approved for over-18s only, the R would remain at about two when curbs are lifted completely.

The study found Pfizer's jab  which is more effective at blocking coronavirus than the Oxford one  is capable of bringing the R below one and achieving herd immunity but it would require inoculating teenagers. Currently the jab is only approved for over-16s. Researchers warned it would 'likely be impossible' to hit the 82 per cent target needed for herd immunity because 'people will refuse the vaccine'.

Scientists have always known eradicating Covid was an impossible task and the goal of the vaccine programme is not to prevent all transmission from occurring. Herd immunity occurs when enough of the population is immune to an infectious disease, stopping it from spreading.

Pictured, the impact on R rate for various vaccination scenarios, herd immunity is only achieved if R is kept below 1. The green line shows the Pfizer vaccine, and the blue line shows the effectiveness of Oxford's vaccine according to the 70.4% effectiveness claimed in data sent to MHRA. The red line shows data from phase 3 clinical trials for two standards dose jabs of the Oxford jab against both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection

Pharmacists pictured at the Al Abbas mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a vaccination hub to turbo charge the rollout

A cinema in Aylesbury has also started handing out jabs to the most vulnerable, as Britain races to meet its target of 14million first doses by mid-February

A mosque in Birmingham has today begun offering coronavirus vaccinations, amid fears take up is too low among BAME groups

Instead, the UK's scheme is aimed at preventing the most vulnerable from dying or falling sick and piling pressure on the NHS. It's hoped that once all vulnerable groups are immunised, the disease will become more manageable and restrictions can be gradually lifted.

But scientists on the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned today that the strict shutdown will need to remain in place until at least May because of the current pace of the vaccine rollout. Boris Johnson has promised to consider easing restrictions in mid-February once the 14million most vulnerable people have been given their first dose of the jabs.

But SAGE scientists who have modelled the rollout say easing restrictions next month has the 'potential' to cause a bigger epidemic than the one now because the single dose will only provide weak protection. They warned that with huge community transmission and an NHS on the brink of being overwhelmed, loosening lockdown even slightly next month would lead to an 'unsustainable' situation.

Professor Matt Keeling, an epidemiologist from the University of Warwick, said: 'I certainly don't want individuals going to bars and restaurants on the 16th [of February]. If we've given people their first dose by February 15, that's not going to give that much protection.' He warned the most 'optimistic' outcome would be for 'some' restrictions to be lifted in May. Dr Marc Baguelin, an infectious disease expert at Imperial College London who was also involved in the modelling, claimed that easing lockdown before then would cause a spike 'that is really bad'.

The data comes as 366,919 Covid vaccine doses were administered across the UK yesterday, putting the Government on track to hit its target of 13.9million people by the middle of February.

Sir Patrick Vallance said yesterday that at least 70 per cent of the population would need to be protected from the virus  either by vaccination or previous infection  in order to achieve herd immunity.

Currently, 4.6million people in the UK have had at least one of their jabs, according to official NHS figures, and researchers tracking the outbreak estimate one in eight people have been infected already  12 per cent.

This leaves at least 39million people who need to get the jab to ensure the UK reaches the 70 per cent mark touted by Sir Patrick, the government's chief scientific advisor.

But the target figure could become much smaller as people develop natural immunity by catching the virus in the ongoing outbreaks.

The UEA study found the 70 per cent mark was only true for the original strain of coronavirus, which has now been displaced by the more infectious Kent variant that spooked No10 into England's third national lockdown.

Professor Azra Ghani, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study, said: 'The herd immunity threshold is the level of the population that needs to be immune to reduce R below one and therefore eliminate circulating virus.

Professor Hunter told MailOnline that getting the more effective mRNA jabs to healthcare workers should be of consideration for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the vaccine priority list

'When the basic reproductive number (R0) is high, we need both high efficacy vaccines and a high uptake of vaccination across the population to achieve this threshold.'

The research from Professor Paul Hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted.

Three vaccines have already been given regulatory approval in the UK, from Oxford/AstraZeneca, Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer. A fourth jab made by Johnson and Johnson is expected to be given the green light within weeks.

The jabs have all been found to be effective at stopping symptomatic infection and therefore preventing severe disease and death.

The study looked at vaccine effectiveness and the R rate of the coronavirus and assumed people with a vaccine can spread the virus.

This is a hotly-debated topic among scientists who are trying to determine the level of 'sterilising immunity'of vaccines.

Sterilising immunity is the phrase used to describe the process where the body's immune system completely neutralises the virus and stops it replicating.

'We don't know if any of the vaccines provide sterilising immunity,' Professor Hunter told MailOnline. 'As far as we can tell, if you are to stop somebody spreading the infection, you need sterilising immunity.'

Pictured, the Al Abbas Mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a covid vaccination centre. The research from Professor Paul hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted

Data shows vaccinating 69 per cent of the UK's population with Pfizer's jab, which trials have found is 95 per cent effective, would be enough for herd immunity against the old strain.

However, 93 per cent of the UK population would need to be vaccinated if receiving the Oxford vaccine, which rigorous studies found was slightly less effective at 70 per cent.

But when accounting for the new variant, which the academics assume is around 56 per cent more infectious, the equation changes dramatically when combined with just 70 per cent effectiveness.

'Vaccinating the entire population with the Oxford vaccine would only reduce the R value to 1.325 while the Pfizer vaccine would require 82 per cent of the population to be vaccinated to control the spread of the new variant,' the researchers wrote in their study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed but is available online a preprint.

Professor Grant said Oxford's Covid vaccine reduces the likelihood of serious illness following infection but is less effective at stopping asymptomatic infection.

The researchers worked on the assumption the Oxford vaccine is 70.4 per cent effective against Covid infection, as this is the headline figure on the study data received by the MHRA which led to its approval last month.

However, this figure is based on the protection from severe disease, which leads to death. But when accounting for asymptomatic infections, it is only 52.5 per cent effective, Professor Grant said.

'This means that its overall protection against infection is only partial  around 50 per cent.

'This combination of relatively low headline efficacy and limited effect on asymptomatic infections means that the Oxford vaccine can't take us to herd immunity, even if the whole population is immunised.

'Vaccinating 82 per cent of the population with the Pfizer vaccine would control the spread of the virus  but it isn't licenced for use on under 16s, who make up 19 per cent of the population.

'Also, some people will refuse the vaccine, so achieving an 82 per cent vaccination rate will likely be impossible.'

The academics recommend healthcare workers who are highly exposed to the virus should receive the more effective mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and not the less effective Oxford vaccine.

Professor Grant says the Oxford vaccine still has an important role to play in controlling the virus, but is 'unlikely to fully control the virus or take the UK population to herd immunity' unless the Oxford developers find a way to deliver the two doses in a way which increases its efficacy beyond the current 70 per cent figure.

'If we cannot achieve herd immunity, vulnerable unvaccinated individuals will remain at risk.

'We do need to consider how best to protect these individuals when social restrictions are eventually relaxed as the result of a successful vaccine roll out programme.'

Professor Hunter told MailOnline that getting the more effective mRNA jabs to healthcare workers should be of consideration for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the vaccine priority list.

'We also need to vaccinate every vulnerable person who needs to be vaccinated and we need to do more to fascinate people who don't want vaccine and may be relying on herd immunity, as this is likely impossible.'

However, although they believe healthcare workers should get the Pfizer jab, they do not believe it should be prioritised for all vulnerable people, including those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and all people over 70.

'It is not necessary to give vulnerable people the Pfizer vaccine and not the Oxford one. I would be hard pushed to say the Oxford vaccine is any worse or better than other vaccines at preventing severe disease,' Professor Hunter said.

The researchers included the Kent strain, which now accounts for at least 61 per cent of all UK infections, in their analysis, but did not have enough data to look at the impact of the South Africa variant.

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found the highly-virulent B.1.1.7 strain which evolved in Kent in September has made it impossible to ever achieve herd immunity with the current effectiveness of vaccines. Pictuured, Basil Henry, 84, is one of the first people to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the opening of the first Pharmacy2U Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Odeon Cinema in Aylesbury

SAGE scientists Professor Mark Woolhouse, Professor Matt Keeling and Dr Marc Baguelin, as well as Imperial College London infectious diseases expert Dr Anne Cori. The four scientists modelled how Britain's epidemic will change during the vaccine rollout

'The British variant does not seem to be an escape mutant as it is lacking the E484K gene,' Professor Hunter said. The E484K gene mutation is believed to make the virus adept at avoiding antibodies which have been made by the human immune system following prior infection.

As a result, it is to blame for numerous reinfection events and scientists are growing increasingly concerned it may be able to evade current vaccines.

'The problem with the English strain is it spreading more quickly,' Professor Hunter added.

'The South Africa strain is a different matter and has both the increased infection mutant and a degree of escape mutant. This does not necessarily mean the vaccine is useless but is probably slightly less effective.'

Dr Jonathan Stoye, of the Francis Crick Institute but not involved in the study, said: 'It reaches the provocative conclusion that administration of the adenovirus-based vaccine from Oxford/AstraZeneca alone, despite a major reduction in the seriousness of Covid disease, is unlikely to generate the herd immunity needed for complete control of virus spread.

'Based on the data currently available, this study appears strong and the conclusion unarguable.

'It points to a continuing role for non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the wearing of face masks and hand washing as well as suggesting a possible utility for booster vaccinations with RNA based delivery systems.'

It comes as a team of SAGE scientists - from universities in Edinburgh, Warwick and Imperial College London - used mathematical modelling to estimate how Britain's epidemic would change under the current vaccination rollout.

A doom-mongering graph produced by the group showed that lifting lockdown completely before spring could lead to up to 6,000 daily Covid deaths, depending on how good the vaccines are at stopping transmission. They claimed this was possible because the virus would race through the small percentage of vulnerable people who were not protected and it would also affect some of those who are vaccinated, because the vaccines are imperfect.

But the group stressed these were imperfect models based on lots of variables and should not be interpreted as predictions. They claimed an extremely gradual approach that keeps some lockdown measures in place until this autumn or even next year was the best way to keep deaths low and hospitals protected.

Dr Anne Cori, a statistical modeller who was part of the research, stressed that vaccines were 'imperfect'. They have been shown to be up to 95 per cent effective at stopping people from falling seriously ill with the disease, but to what extend the prevent patients from spreading the disease is unknown.

The effectiveness of a single dose - currently the UK's strategy to try to speed up the scheme - is also unknown. Dr Cori warned that even if the UK can meet its ambitious goal of delivering 3million doses of vaccine a week, 'it'll take until late April to give only one dose to everyone who is eligible'.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at Edinburgh University, said even if 90 per cent of vulnerable people take the vaccine - higher than expected - that leaves over two million people who remain susceptible to severe Covid.

Around 25million people are covered by the 10 priority categories set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

With community transmission so high, it means the remaining 2.5m of un-vaccinated vulnerable Brits would be likely to be exposed to the virus. 'If we relax it's quite possible we'll get a resurgence after phase one,' Professor Woolhouse warned.

Dr Cori added: 'Vaccines should be seen as a magic tool, but not a magic bullet.

'Their effect is not going to be instantaneous. Benefit will only be seen when we get very high coverage. The messaging to people needs to be very clear, we need the maximum number of people [to get the jab].'

Reports yesterday claimed that Boris Johnson was targeting Good Friday on April 2 as the earliest date for a significant lifting of the lockdown. According to the Sun, the PM has started 'top secret' planning for millions to meet their families over Easter. But several sources told the Mail that even this date could look optimistic if the vaccine rollout ran into difficulties.

One attendee at a government summit with business leaders on Monday claimed ministers had warned that heavy restrictions could remain until May or even June. Tory MPs have voiced concerns about 'mission creep', with scientists lobbying for restrictions to stay in place until more categories of the population have been given the vaccine.
It is 6,000 miles away, part of a vast continent stretching from the Arctic Circle to the Gulf of Mexico, while we are a small rain-sodden island on the edge of Europe. Yet we are bound together through deeply personal ties of blood and history.

As he was inaugurated 46th President of the United States in Washington yesterday, no one seems more proud of these shared roots than Irish Joe Biden, who comes from the small town of Scranton in Pennsylvania and proudly traces his ancestry back to the Finnegans of the Cooley peninsula in Co Louth on his mothers side, and the Blewitts of Ballina, Co Mayo on his fathers.

It isnt just lip service, as his cabinet includes a third who are either ethnic Irish, Catholic or both, uniting these two strands of his heritage in the new US administration. Those of us of a certain age remember the framed colour photographs of JFK and Pope John XXIII on either side of the glowing red Sacred Heart lamp in the most humble of Irish cottages.

They were the symbols of a deep connection to the New World and Rome. Back then, the faith of our fathers was strong and the political machine exemplified by the Kennedys was the power that raised the unwashed and uneducated Catholic Irish masses from the mean streets of New York, Boston and Chicago to a new and mostly prosperous future.

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With Rome Rule broken and the powerful new African American and Hispanic communities utilising the political tools pioneered by the Irish working classes, that may seem like a lost world.

But as Biden takes his place in the pantheon of American presidents, he has already shown that the connections forged between the New World and the Auld Sod are still strong. Remember, Joey Biden, the best drop of blood in you is Irish, his granny used to tell him, an admonition hes never forgotten. Im Irish, he said, without breaking stride, when a plummy voiced BBC television reporter attempted to attract his attention during the election campaign.

He said it with the same natural pride most of us take when were asked where we come from. Irish Americans carry that very same badge of honour. If anything it is us, the real Irish who have taken the connection for granted until recent years.

There was a tendency to sneer at The Yank who came home and boisterously ordered drinks in the local bar, as if he was a clone of John Wayne in The Quiet Man. We were equally amazed on visiting America to encounter the cab driver who hardly knew where Ireland was on the map, but proudly declared: Im Irish too.

Who else gets to parade down 5th Avenue, New York, on their national day, no matter what day of the week it falls? Or whose leader gets an annual one-to-one with the American president in the White House over an oversized bowl of shamrock?

In more recent years, as the world turned into a global village, we have become reconciled and for most of us, proud, of the Irish-American heritage and the enormous goodwill that stretches from the political corridors of power to the powerful boardrooms of Wall Street.

Of course, we had tricky Richard Nixon in Timahoe and Ronald Reagan in Ballyporeen, and the sneaking suspicion that their presence had more to do with the powerful Irish American vote than their tenuous Irish roots. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama kept the tradition alive. Both seemed to enjoy their Irish links and Clinton, in particular, devoted time and energy to the peace process far and above the call of duty. For all our many faults, there is a certain Irish non-colonial charm that allows us to straddle the new and old worlds.

Mary Harney once told us that we should lean closer to Berlin than Boston. But somehow we have managed to embrace both, by being good Europeans (mostly), while at the same time maintaining the deep goodwill on the other side of the Atlantic. As Biden takes centre stage as only the second (Irish) Catholic president, he also brings with him a new kind of sophisticated Irish-American political identity  one that appears confident and inclusive. It is a world away from the legacy of powerful Irish-American political figures like mayors Richard Boss Croker of New York, James Curley in Boston and Richard Daley in Chicago, men who clawed their way into City Hall and held grimly to power through patronage, nepotism and graft.

Instead, Biden brings with him a more cerebral attitude, although in the present climate he will also need an iron fist in the velvet glove if he is to overcome the legacy of his predecessor.

On Tuesday, saying farewell to Delaware which he represented in the Senate from 1973 until 2009 when he became vice-president, he said: James Joyce once said, when it comes his time to pass, when he dies, he said: Dublin will be written on my heart. Well, excuse the emotion, but when I die, Delaware will be written on my heart.

He has said that political colleagues kid me about quoting Irish poets all the time. They think I do it because they are Irish. I do it because they are the best poets, he added.

It is to the words of Seamus Heaney and in particular his poem The Cure of Troy that he has turned to most often. The longed for tidal wave of justice can rise up and hope and history rhyme.

Accepting the Democratic nomination in 2020, he paraphrased it by saying his mission is to make hope and history rhyme. He managed to do that for many by winning the most divisive election in US history, and as he was inaugurated yesterday, most of us will wish it is a pledge he can now keep.

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Shortly after Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were sworn in as president and vice president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol, students at the University of Miami discussed the historic inauguration, which saw the first woman and person of Black and South Asian descent become second in command.

The students shared their perceptions and hopes.

Makelsey Page of Trenton, New Jersey, a senior who is double majoring in Marine Science and Biology:

Today was definitely a big dayparticularly when it comes to Kamala Harris, because she is the first African American and Asian American woman vice president. She was also a HBCU-grad, so she really is a role model for Black people, particularly in America. It was amazing to see. She looked amazing. Joe Biden looked great, too. It was also nice to see the Obamas and Bushes, as well. Im hoping to see this administration follow through on the promises they made . . . in regard to canceling student loan debt and improving stimulus packages. I just want to see them follow through. Its nice to paint a pretty picture to get people interested, but the whole purpose of us electing them is for them to follow through on these promises. Thats all Im asking for in this moment.

Sofia Bond of Miami, a sophomore majoring in Marine Science:

Honestly, I feel super proud. Just seeing the number of women on the inaugural stage was really inspirational for me. I havent seen that before. I feel like this outcome is the best that I could imagine. Im really proud that I voted for the first woman vice president. One thing that Im really excited about that I know [Biden] is going to follow through with is the Paris Agreement. Im really passionate about the environmentso for him to prioritize that means a lot to me.

Toni Omotayo of Bowie, Maryland, a first-year student majoring in engineering:

I hope this administration keeps their word on ending inequality. And I dont just mean race wise, I mean socioeconomics, gender, everything needs to be revisited. As a Black man in America, I think its good. I think its even better for women to see a woman represent them. It says that they can do anything. If she can do it, so can they.

Francesca Cagnana of Florida, a first-year student majoring in Journalism and Broadcasting:

I thought it was great to see our new administration inaugurated today. I voted for Joe Biden because I did not agree with Trumps beliefs. Its been really nice to see everyone around here be so happy about iteveryone is really diverseso it felt great seeing everyone celebrate today. I hope the Biden administration follows through with climate change efforts.

Izzy Bong of Denver, Colorado, a first-year student majoring in Ecosystem Science and Policy:

The big thing I want to see from this administration is for it to follow through on climate change. Especially going into my major, I think that is really important. Today was just so incredible and moving. It really sent a message that you can do whatever you want.

Electrified Garage third location in Dania Beach Florida. Teaming up with Signature Custom Wraps and Coatings Shockingly Different

Electrified Garage started as a small shop in Seabrook New Hampshire back in June of 2019. It was founded by Rich Rebuilds and EV Tuning. It quickly became the premier place in New England to bring your Tesla or EV in for service. Many owners north and west of Boston found it move convenient to come to Electrified Garage than drive down into Boston. Between Chad Hrencecin and Chris Salvo we had 11 years cumulative experience. This meant that we had seen most every issue you would experience with a Tesla and knew how to fix it right the first time. We quickly became a bit of a tourist destination for fans of the Rich Rebuilds Youtube Channel. People were also excited to see a third party shop to service their Tesla at.

2020 has been a busy year. We have added an additional technician named Bryan Maynard to the Seabrook location in August. Bryan was an avid DIY car guy with a diverse background of low voltage electrical, CAD, Solidworks, 3D printing, Welding and Fabricating. He brings a lot to the table that will be utilized for future conversions, custom projects and help on the Rich Rebuilds Youtube Channel.

In September, co-founder Chris Salvo moved his family to Ocala Florida to start our first Florida Location. We hired Michael Kohlman as our lead technician for Ocala. He has over 20 years as a Senior Master Technician for Ford and a strong electrical background. Michael typically worked on all the hybrid and electric vehicles at the Ford Dealership he was at. He has transitioned really well to working on Teslas and brought a new perspective for how to service them.

In October we teamed up with Michael Mojo Mogilewski the owner of Signature Custom Wraps and Coatings out of Dania Beach to bring a one stop shopping experience to Ocala. We then teamed up again with Signature to open our third location in Dania beach at their Headquarters in the beginning of January 2021. We hired Byrone De Jager who was previously a Tesla Technician and Service Manager for Tesla in West Palm Beach, to head up our South Florida expansion.

In November we hired Omar Phillips to lead our Service Advising and Customer Service department. Omar was originally a Service Advisor for Tesla in Queens New York. He then transitioned to Service Manager for Tesla in Syosset New York. Lastly he helped manage 12 Mobile Technicians as the Service Advisor for the New England Regional Mobile Service Team. If you call or email in to the garage for assistance or have a question he will be the one assisting you.

In a relatively short period of time we went from 1 small location and just Chad and Chris wearing multiple hats, to 3 locations and a growing team of experienced Tesla or Automotive industry specialists. We now have over 24 years of cumulative Tesla experience. The original New Hampshire location is now looking to move further south into Massachusetts and to expand operations for more technicians, special projects and custom builds.
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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Genesis Metals Corp. (TSXV: GIS) ("Genesis" or the "Company") today reports assay results from 10 holes (3,109 metres) drilled as part of its recently completed 2020 Phase II (25 hole, 6,208 metre) diamond drilling program. Results of the final 5 holes (1,320 metres) from the Phase II program, all from the Mole zone, will be released once received and interpreted. The Chevrier Gold Project is located in the eastern Abitibi Greenstone Belt of Central Quebec.

Highlights include*:

13.46 g/t gold over 8.90 metres in hole GM-20-80 in Fox zone starting at 114.80 metres down hole, within a wider zone assaying 9.56 g/t gold over 12.70 metres and including 25.44 g/t gold over 3.00 metres; See Photo 1 ; Visible gold at 115.80 metres

in hole GM-20-80 in Fox zone starting at 114.80 metres down hole, within a wider zone assaying and See 19.44 g/t gold over 1.20 metres in hole GM-20-80 starting at 160.50 metres down hole

in hole GM-20-80 starting at 160.50 metres down hole 2.06 g/t gold over 21.25 metres in hole GM-20-80 starting at 225.75 metres down hole

in hole GM-20-80 starting at 225.75 metres down hole 26.10 g/t gold over 0.70 metres in hole GM-20-81 starting at 137.80 metres down hole, within a wider zone assaying 3.40 g/t gold over 6.15 metres

in hole GM-20-81 starting at 137.80 metres down hole, within a wider zone assaying 4.79 g/t gold over 3.00 metres in hole GM-20-83 starting at 120.00 metres down hole, within a wider zone assaying 1.81 g/t gold over 20.80 metres

in hole GM-20-83 starting at 120.00 metres down hole, within a wider zone assaying 2.07 g/t gold over 10.05 metres in hole GM-20-85 starting at 111.20 metres down hole

*Insufficient drilling has been completed to definitively determine true thickness; true thickness is estimated to be between 86-100% for holes GM-20-78 to -86

The objective of the Phase II program was to continue drill testing the extensions and down plunge continuity of newly recognized high-grade gold shoots within and near the Chevrier Main deposit area (1.2 km by 0.2 km) to delineate their boundaries and mineralized volumes within and below the pit shell from the 2019 mineral resource estimate. For reference purposes, six specific areas in the Main Zone with potential high-grade shoots have been labelled Fox, Mouse, Grouse, Lynx, Squirrel and Mole, as shown on Figures 1, 2, and 3 (click bold underlined text for weblinks) Results included in this news release are from the Fox, Grouse, Lynx and Squirrel zones.

Genesis Metals CEO Dr. David Terry stated "We continue to intercept multiple high-grade gold intervals in step-downs extensions and areas of mineralization with limited testing as the Fox zone is defined with more detailed drilling. I am also encouraged by the strong early-stage results from hole GM-20-85 at the Lynx zone."

Significant weighted average intercepts are presented in Table 1 and individual drill hole descriptions are provided below. Drill hole locations are shown on Figures 1, 2, and 3; all holes reported herein are also shown on cross and longitudinal sections linked below.

Table 1: Weighted Average Intercepts from GM-20-78 to 86

Hole ID Zone From (m) To (m) Interval (m)* Gold (g/t) GM-20-78 Main - Grouse 561.00 562.20 1.20 4.97



862.75 873.50 10.75 0.45 GM-20-79 Main - Fox 31.45 32.10 0.65 2.96



74.40 76.50 2.10 1.71



110.00 112.85 2.85 4.56



125.15 134.04 8.89 2.43



192.30 193.85 1.55 2.84



234.50 241.50 7.00 1.26 GM-20-80 Main - Fox 111.00 123.70 12.70 9.56 including

114.80 123.70 8.90 13.46 including

114.80 117.80 3.00 25.44



160.50 161.70 1.20 19.44



188.50 196.50 8.00 1.28



222.75 244.00 21.25 2.06 including

222.75 229.20 6.45 3.79 including

227.30 229.20 1.90 8.86 and including

233.80 236.10 2.30 5.72



263.75 268.00 4.25 3.26



301.05 301.50 0.45 8.77



313.85 315.70 1.85 8.48



321.90 324.15 2.25 2.22



331.80 335.85 4.05 2.56 GM-20--81 Main - Fox 20.00 23.10 3.10 3.03



97.30 103.20 5.90 1.29



135.40 141.55 6.15 3.40 including

137.80 138.50 0.70 26.10



163.00 170.80 7.80 1.40



163.50 166.10 2.60 2.88



185.40 187.00 1.60 1.40



206.50 210.60 4.10 0.89 GM-20-82 Main - Fox 73.15 81.40 8.25 1.17



87.05 89.00 1.95 3.12



106.15 110.60 4.45 4.00 including

106.65 107.70 1.05 10.30



278.45 281.25 2.80 5.43 GM-20-83 Main - Fox 81.50 88.20 6.70 0.84



90.00 96.00 6.00 1.20 including

94.30 96.00 1.70 3.48



114.20 141.00 26.80 1.81 including

120.00 123.00 3.00 4.79 GM-20-84a Main - Lynx 31.00 40.50 9.50 0.66 GM-20-84 Main - Lynx 31.75 40.50 8.75 0.91 GM-20-85 Main - Lynx 101.00 108.15 7.15 1.54



111.20 121.25 10.05 2.07 including

118.45 119.35 0.90 16.40



125.15 128.65 3.50 1.24



163.00 168.00 5.00 0.97



191.00 201.00 10.00 0.82



253.00 254.50 1.50 3.37 GM-20-86 Main - Squirrel



0.00 NSV

* Insufficient drilling has been completed to definitively determine true thickness; true thickness is estimated to be between 86-100% for GM-20-78-86; intervals column may not add due to rounding; **Average grades are calculated with un-capped gold assays. Average widths are calculated using a 0.10 g/t gold cut-off grade with up to 3 m of internal dilution of zero grade; narrow intervals that meet these criteria may not be reported.

The Genesis technical team has recognized a previously under-explored and poorly defined higher-grade component to the Chevrier Main gold deposit. A new 3D geological and mineralization model is being completed to better represent the distribution and geologic controls on higher-grade gold mineralization. This model was utilized to inform the planning and execution of Phase I and Phase II drilling programs in 2020.

The Company completed a total of 8,710 metres of diamond drilling in 34 holes in 2020, including the Phase I program which was carried out and reported on earlier in the year (June 2 and July 7, 2020 News Releases). Results for the initial 10 holes (1,779 metres) of the Phase II program were reported in the Company's November 26, 2020 News Release. Results of the remaining 5 holes (1,320 metres) from the Phase II program will be released once received and interpreted.

Drill Hole Descriptions:

Drill hole location and orientation details are provided in Table 2 below and locations are shown on Figures 1, 2, and 3. Cross sections and longitudinal sections for groups of holes are also provided for GM-20-78 to 86 via the links below.

Table 2: Drill Hole Details for GM-20-78 to 91

Hole ID Sub-Zone Easting Northing Elevation Depth Dip Azimuth GM20-78 Grouse 535,108.8 5,496,683.7 373.4 915.0 -50.4 320.0 GM20-79 Fox 534,870.4 5,497,119.0 372.1 276.0 -49.5 315.0 GM20-80 Fox 534,870.4 5,497,119.2 372.1 354.0 -62.8 313.0 GM20-81 Fox 534,842.9 5,497,149.4 372.1 247.0 -56.4 315.0 GM20-82 Fox 534,842.9 5,497,149.4 372.1 312.0 -65.9 312.0 GM20-83 Fox 534,798.6 5,497,149.1 371.6 210.0 -45.8 0.0 GM20-84a Lynx 534,943.0 5,497,242.4 373.2 90.0 -46.1 335.0 GM20-84 Lynx 534,943.0 5,497,242.4 373.2 201.0 -46.1 335.0 GM20-85 Lynx 534,966.9 5,497,186.1 372.9 303.0 -45.0 335.0 GM20-86 Squirrel 535,168.8 5,497,625.4 371.0 201.0 -45.9 332.0

*All coordinates referenced to North American Datum 1983 UTM Zone 18N

Fox:

Five of the drillholes reported herein were drilled on the Fox zone; GM-20-79 to 83 (see Figure 2). They were drilled to define the Fox high-grade mineralized shoot.

Holes GM-20-79 and -80 were drilled from the same pad to the northwest at -50 and -63 dip, respectively (Figure 4); both cut basalt and gabbro host rocks, ending in lapilli tuff. Gold intercepts are related to silicification and quartz-ankerite veins associated with zones of shearing and fuchsite-sericite-chlorite alteration and up to 5% pyrite. These holes were collared ~60 metres southeast of GM-20-76 and -77 (November 26, 2020 News Release ). GM-20-79 cut six separate mineralized zones of moderate grade width, including 8.89 metres averaging 2.43 g/t gold starting at 125.15 metres down hole. Hole GM-20-80 intersected ten discrete mineralized intervals, including a high-grade intercept of 12.70 metres averaging 9.56 g/t gold starting at 111.0 metres down hole, and including 3.00 metres averaging 25.44 g/t gold starting at 114.8 metres down hole. From 115.7 to 116.7 metres down hole a shear-hosted quartz-carbonate vein is associated with 5% fine-grained disseminated pyrite with 2% irregular clusters of chalcopyrite; one 0.8 mm visible gold grain was observed at 115.9 metres down hole at the vein margin (Photo 1).

Holes GM-20-81 and -82 were drilled to the northwest from the same pad, at -56 and -66 dips, respectively (see Figure 4). These holes were collared ~22 metres southeast of GM-20-76 and -77. Both holes cored variably sheared and altered basalt, gabbro and lapilli tuff host rocks. Mineralized zones are characterized by silica-carbonate alteration and intense shear zones which host the majority of the veins. Quartz-ankerite veins and associated fuchsite-sericite-chlorite alteration and up to 5% pyrite host are related to the gold domains. GM-20-81 contains seven discrete mineralized zones, including 6.15 metres averaging 3.40 g/t gold starting at 135.4 metres down hole. GM-20-82 cut four discrete mineralized zones, including 4.45 meters averaging 4.00 g/t gold starting at 106.15 metres down hole.

GM-20-83 was drilled to the north at a -46 dip to optimize intersection of interpreted plunge. It was collared ~40 metres southwest of GM-20-76 and -77 (see Figure 5). It cored predominantly gabbro with lesser basalt and encountered three discrete mineralized zones associated with quartz-ankerite veins with up to 8% disseminated pyrite and minor chalcopyrite, including 26.8 metres averaging 1.81 g/t gold starting at 114.2 metres downhole.

See Figure 6 for a longitudinal section of the new holes in this area of the Fox subzone.

Lynx:

Holes GM-20-84a, 84, and 85 were drilled on the Lynx target, ~125 metres northeast of the Fox subzone, to test for extensions to mineralization in historical holes, including 0.9 metres assaying 250 g/t gold, reported in historical hole T8-08 at 169.3 metres depth. All holes were drilled in-line at the same north-northwest orientation; GM-20-85 is located ~65 metres south-southeast of GM-20-84/84a (see Figure 7). The holes intersected variably sheared and altered basalt, gabbro and lapilli tuff host rocks.

Planned hole GM-20-84 was abandoned in a fault at 90 metres downhole and was re-started as the upper part of this hole (GM-20-84a) contained a sampled mineralized intercept of 9.50 metres averaging 0.66 g/t gold starting at 31.00 metres downhole. It is reported as separate hole herein. Hole GM-20-84 intersected an equivalent zone to that discussed in GM-20-84a above. The follow-up re-drilled hole averaged 0.91 g/t gold over 8.75 metres beginning at 31.75 metres down hole.

The undercut hole GM-20-85 intersected 5 discrete mineralized zones including 10.05 metres averaging 2.07 g/t gold starting at 111.20 down hole and lining up below the two lower grade intervals in GM20-84/84a as well as intercepts in GM-17-48 (8.00 metres averaging 0.62 g/t gold starting at 51.8 metres down hole, and 19.40 metres averaging 4.26 g/t gold starting at 67.35 g/t gold, including 7.8 metres averaging 8.99 g/t gold; January 22, 2018 News Release)

See Figure 8 for a longitudinal section of the Lynx subzone.

Grouse:

GM-20-78 was designed as a long hole to test for mineralization related to historical hole GFA-111 south of the Main Zone deposit, and to then test the potential for mineralized areas below the Fox zone. The hole is located in plan on Figure 1 and shown in cross section in Figure 9. It also is shown at depth on the Fox subzone longitudinal section (Figure 6). Five low- to moderate-grade gold zones were intercepted in GM-20-78.

Squirrel:

GM-20-86 was drilled at the Squirrel target area, located in the northern part of the eastern Main Zone (Figure 3) as a follow up to holes GM-20-68 to -70, reported Company's November 26, 2020 News Release . These holes were drilled with the aim of better defining gold zones intersected by GM-17-15 which included 4.15 metres averaging 5.94 g/t gold starting at 63.35 metres down hole, followed by 11.95 metres averaging 3.83 g/t gold starting at 77.05 metres down hole which included 6.80 metres averaging 5.05 g/t gold (November 15, 2017 News Release). The hole cut variably sheared and altered basalt and gabbro host rocks. It is shown in cross section and long section on Figures 10 and 11, respectively. No significant mineralization or assays were encountered.

The +290 square kilometer road accessible Chevrier property covers a 15-kilometer segment of the Fancamp Deformation Zone, along which zones of gold mineralization are associated with high strain zones in predominantly mafic intrusions and volcanic rocks. The property is contiguous with the high-grade Monster Lake gold project and 20 kilometers northeast of the new IAMGOLD Corporation/Vanstar Mining Resources Inc. 3.1 Moz Nelligan gold discovery. For additional details on the Chevrier Project, 2019 results and plans for 2020 please refer to the Company's website.

The Company will continue to monitor the evolving COVID-19 situation and intends to comply with all government directives. Genesis Metals Corp. has enacted protocols designed to inhibit the spread of the COVID-19 virus to safeguard the health and safety of local communities and its workforce.

Methodology and QA/QC

The analytical work reported on herein was performed by Activation Laboratories Ltd. of Ancaster, Ontario, an internationally recognized analytical services provider. All samples are analysed for gold using standard Fire Assay-AA techniques. Samples returning over 5.0 g/t gold are analysed utilizing standard Fire Assay-Gravimetric methods. The Company follows industry standard procedures for the work carried out on the Chevrier project, with a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program. Blank, duplicate, and standard samples were inserted into the sample sequence sent to the laboratory for analysis. Genesis detected no significant QA/QC issues during review of the data.

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person for this news release for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 is Andre Liboiron, P. Geo., Project Manager. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release.

About Genesis

Genesis Metals Corp. is a member of the Discovery Group of Companies, an alliance of public companies focused on the advancement of mineral exploration and mining projects with a proven track record of generating shareholder value through responsible, sustainable, and innovative development. Discovery Group companies have generated over $500 million in direct and indirect expenditures resulting in over a billion dollars in M&A activity, with notable recent successes being the sale of Northern Empire Resources Corp. to Coeur Mining Inc. and the sale of Kaminak Gold Corp. to Goldcorp Inc. Current Discovery Group member companies include: Great Bear Resources Ltd., Bluestone Resources Inc., ValOre Metals Corp., Ethos Gold Corp., Fireweed Zinc Ltd., Kodiak Copper Corp., and K2 Gold Corporation.

Genesis Metals Corp. is a gold exploration company focused on advancing its Chevrier Gold Project in the prolific Abitibi region of Quebec, Canada.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"David A. Terry"

President, CEO, and Director

Suite 1020, 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2V6

Telephone: 604-646-8356

Email: js@genesismetalscorp.com

Website: www.genesismetalscorp.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain disclosure in this release, including statements regarding the anticipated timing for receipt of survey and till results; the Company's exploration plans; constitute forward-looking information or statements (collectively, "forward-looking statements") for the purpose of applicable securities laws. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that are based on the Company's current beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company, including that the Company is able to obtain any government or other regulatory approvals required to complete the Company's planned exploration and development activities; that the Company is able to procure personnel, equipment and supplies required for its exploration and development activities in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; that actual results of exploration activities are consistent with management's expectations; that the current price and demand for gold will be sustained or will improve; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner; Although the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risks include, among others, the risks related to the inability to obtain required regulatory approvals on a timely basis or at all, that the risk that actual results of the Company's exploration activities may be different than those expected by management; delays in receiving survey and till results or obtaining any required government or other regulatory approvals; inability to procure required equipment and supplies in sufficient quantities and on a timely basis; the nature of mineral exploration and mining and the uncertain commercial viability of certain mineral deposits; the Company's lack of operating revenues and risks related to dependence on key personnel. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.





NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72471
Two British hospitals have become one of the first in the world to use Blockchain technology, used in cryptocurrencies, to monitor the storage of vaccines.

Read More..



Source: Medindia Source: Medindia

Blockchain technology (digital ledgers) is being used by two hospitals in the UK to monitor and track the supply and storage of COVID-19 vaccines. The Dallas based Hedera Hashgraph system is being used to track if the COVID-19 vaccines are being stored at the appropriate temperatures.This technology is like a digital ledger maintained across a network and allows the secure and real-time recording of data. Many tech companies like IBM have proposed the use of this technology as it will be easier to share data on the vaccine across organizations at the same time making sure it is secure. Normally, different record-keeping systems like storing the data in a central location were used.Vaccines from Pfizer Inc and BioNTech have to be stored at ultra-cold temperatures and will only last five days at fridge temperature. In contrast, Moderna Inc's vaccine is easier to deliver as it does not require cold storage.Everyware, the company overseeing this project, has worked with the hospitals in the past to track the handling of other medical supplies that have specific storing instructions with the help of internet sensors. This helped the hospital prevent unnecessary wastage and discarding of medicines, says Tom Screen, the technical director of Everyware.he continues.Cryptocurrencies also use a similar type of technology, but Hedera uses a mathematical system called Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), which is different from the ones used in Bitcoin and Ethereum.Since the simple monitoring of the vaccines does not require solving complex mathematical equations as in cryptocurrency, Hedera can quickly process transactions and offers a low cost for every piece of information added to the ledger. Comparatively, cryptocurrency-based blocked chains can hardly process one or two transactions per second and are also more expensive.Screen also adds that while monitoring the vaccines is possible without blockchain, manually doing so will only increase the risk for mistakes and logistical hurdles.

A wave of 'low-tech' bank card thefts at pay-and-display machines and car parks has seen drivers lose thousands of pounds in a matter of minutes.

Criminals impersonating needy members of the public claim the parking machines swallowed their bank cards when trying to make a payment, before making off with the debit and credit cards of unwitting helpful motorists who try to pay for them.

The scam, which was first highlighted by This is Money over a year ago, claimed a number of victims in London's Richmond, according to local police investigating a series of such offences.

Scam alert: Drivers are warned to be extra vigilant at car parking machines after Richmond Council said it had seen a rise in cases of thefts of bank cards by criminals

In some cases, criminals impersonate car park attendants and tell victims they face a fine and frogmarch them to a card machine.

The victim is distracted while inserting their card - before it is stolen, according to UK Finance.

But the more common scenario is that criminals dupe victims by claiming to have forgotten their cards or had a machine them, then offer cash in exchange for borrowing a card from an unwitting motorist who also intends to use the card-payment-only machines.

Drivers are warned not to fall for the relatively rudimentary tactic, with officials explaining it is impossible for the machines to 'swallow' bank cards during payment.

Richmond Council said it has received several reports of the scam being used in the last few weeks at locations in Kew, Twickenham and Teddington.

It said scammers successfully stole thousands of pounds within a few minutes of getting away with a driver's bank card.

Both Richmond Council and Richmond Police have shared details of the scam to warn motorists paying for parking in the area

The council said: 'Motorists are reminded that it impossible for a parking meter machine to swallow bank cards as Pay and Display machines are manufactured so that cards can only be inserted part of the way.

'If your card disappears, you have been victim of fraud and should contact your bank immediately.

'If anyone approaches you when you go to pay for parking please be cautious and never insert your card into a parking machine when someone you do not know is present.'

It is impossible for payment machines in car parks to swallow a bank card, so motorists are warned to no fall foul of the false claims made by criminals preying on unwitting drivers

Councillor Alexander Ehmann, chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee for Richmond Council, added: 'Until the criminals are caught please take extra care to be on guard against scammers and tell your friends and family, who might not have seen this warning message, to be careful too.

'We will be working with local police Safer Neighbourhoods Teams to put a stop to these crimes.

'In the meantime, please try to use contactless payments or cash at parking machines or use RingGo. If you think you might have fallen victim to this scam, contact your bank immediately to cancel your bank card.'

DVLA's five top tips to spot if a text or email is phony 1. Never share driving licence images and vehicle documents online 2. Never share bank details or personal data online 3. Avoid websites offering to connect to DVLAs contact centre 4. Only use GOV.UK when looking for DVLA contact details 5. Immediately report it to the police via Action Fraud if you think you have been the victim of a scam

Banking industry group UK Finance urged people to be wary of anyone who makes an approach at a card machine, be it for paying for parking or when using a cashpoint.

The Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency recently warned drivers to remain extra vigilant of fradulent texts and emails impersonating the government agency.

It saw a 603 per cent jump in scam activity in the last 12 months and warned drivers to be alert to the deceitful tricksters behind the false communications, which commonly ask drivers to verify their driving licence details, offer vehicle tax refunds, or highlight a failed vehicle tax payment and ask for bank details.

It outlined five steps for how to identify if you're being singled-out by con artists and what you need to do about it.
HONG KONG, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The construction of a temporary hospital funded by the central government for treating COVID-19 patients in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) was completed Wednesday.

The North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Center, built next to another treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, is capable of providing 136 wards and 816 negative pressure beds.

Covering a land area of 30,000 square meters, the hospital is comprised of six inpatient buildings, one medical center and other facilities. Its design is in line with the standard for a permanent structure.

Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said it aims to put the new hospital into service next month, which will take the number of beds that the central government helped add in Hong Kong to about 1,800 and will greatly ease the pressure on the local public health system.

As the first hospital in Hong Kong that has all its rooms equipped with a negative pressure system, its construction has faced immense complexity and difficulty.

"The standard of the project, although called a 'temporary hospital,' is actually for a permanent structure, such as being able to resist the hurricane of the signal No. 10," said Zhang Yi, one of the directors of the project and also general manager of China State Construction International Medical Industry Development Co., Ltd.

To build a hospital like this normally takes four years in Hong Kong. However, with new building technology and construction going on round-the-clock, the project was completed in merely four months.

While the construction time was much shortened, the quality was guaranteed and a high safety standard was achieved, providing a valuable reference for health care facilities construction in Hong Kong, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said Wednesday at the completion and handover ceremony.

With a world-class negative pressure system, the air in the hospital rooms is refreshed 12 times per hour and 99.97 percent of viruses can be filtered. Every room is equipped with a delivery window that can be locked from both sides, and articles transferred through the window can be disinfected.

Doors installed with a sensing system allow patients and medical workers to pass without touch the handle.

After inspecting the hospital rooms, a Hong Kong public health expert said the facility is even capable to cope with the Ebola virus.

The hospital is the last of the three central government-supported projects for Hong Kong to combat COVID-19. The other two, a mass testing program and the AsiaWorld-Expo treatment facility, were completed in September and October 2020, respectively.

"The project demonstrated the central government's support for Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work and care for Hong Kong residents," Lam said.

To help Hong Kong fight COVID-19, the central government has ensured sufficient daily necessities and medical materials for Hong Kong and assisted the HKSAR government in taking home residents stranded in the mainland and overseas since the epidemic outbreak.

Hong Kong will also be prioritized in mainland vaccine supply and a certain amount of doses will be specially allocated for Hong Kong residents when necessary.

With the fourth wave of the epidemic, the tally of COVID-19 infections has risen to 9,797 in Hong Kong, indicating a still grim situation.

Fighting the epidemic remains high on the government's agenda, Lam said, vowing more efforts to realize the goal of zero new infections in Hong Kong at an early date.

"The resources, nucleic acid tests and vaccines as well as the temporary hospital completed today, have all demonstrated the central government's care for the HKSAR," Lam said.

It is proven that the central government is forever the strongest backbone of the anti-epidemic work of the HKSAR, she added.
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Corporate parent Tri Pointe Homes, of Incline Village, Nevada, acquired longtime local homebuilder Quadrant from Weyerhaeuser in 2014. Now the regional arm will be known as Tri Pointe Homes  Washington. That comes as part of the publicly traded parent's larger rebranding from the old Tri Pointe Group; five other regional arms will follow suit. Tri Pointe CEO Doug Bauer said in a statement, Operating as one brand will allow us to concentrate our functional efforts around one brand instead of six while creating a stronger national awareness for the company. Locally, TPHW will still be led by industry veteran Ken Krivanec, who was part of the old Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Co., separate from the main Weyerhaeuser, Tri Pointe seven years ago in a $2.8 billion deal. Weyerhaeuser purchased that homebuilding business 1969; it was established 10 years prior. A new Tri Pointe sign was recently hung on the company's Eastgate headquarters.





. . .
High tension prevailed at the private hotel where a strong police force foiled attempts of activists to barge into the hotel for the release of their leaders, including Atchannaidu.  Twitter

TIRUPATI: Tension prevailed for some time in Tirupati when Telugu Desam leaders were to take out a Dharma Parirakshana Yatra to protest against the spate of attacks on temples in the state.

The Tirupati urban police foiled the yatra, scheduled to take-off from here, covering seven Assembly segments under Tirupati Lok Sabha constituency and spread across Nellore and Chittoor districts.

Police detained several leaders, including State chief Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, leaders like Nakka Anand Babu, Amarnath Reddy, Nimmala Rama Naidu, A. Satya Prasad, Panabaka Lakshmi and Sugunamma.

It is pertinent to mention that Tirupati Urban police on Wednesday evening accorded permission for conducting the Yatra under certain rules and conditions. It was scheduled to take-off with a rally from Alipiri to NTR statue, where a public meeting was also planned before the commencement of the yatra. However, the police withdrew the permission Thursday morning and served notices to leaders, citing that they had violated rules by holding a bike rally and arranging heavy sound systems.

At Alipiri tens of party leaders and workers were taken into custody and police thwarted a bid to conduct a public meeting in Town Club circle, where the party workers arranged heavy sound systems. Also, high tension prevailed at the private hotel where a strong police force foiled attempts of activists to barge into the hotel for the release of their leaders, including Atchannaidu.

However, Atchannaidu made it clear that Dharma Parirakshana Yatra would continue, no matter the hurdles and roadblocks at the behest of YSRC leaders.

House arrests and huge police force deployment will not deter the TDs spirit from conducting the yatra. Today, the high-handed behaviour by the police is part of the harsh measures of the government, which is trying to suppress peaceful and democratic protests against the spate attacks on Hindu temples, Atchannaidu said while addressing the media later.

At Kadapa, leaders and party activists staged protests in various parts of the district condemning the illegal arrest of politburo member Kala Venkata Rao. In Kamalapuram, state secretary Kashibhatla Satyasainatha Sharma held a massive rally and staged a dharna in front of the tahsildar's office and submitted a petition to the deputy tahsildar.

State executive secretary Bachala Pullaiah said that the illegal arrests of Telugu Desam party leaders in the state were atrocious.

Balishetti Hariprasad, another state executive secretary said the arrest of Kalavenkata Rao was an atrocious decision. Yatagiri Ram Prasad, former director of the State Fisheries Corporation, said that the barge was meant to suppress the weaker sections. There were protests in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalle against the arrests of their leaders in the last 24 hours.

Former Anakapalle MLA Peela Govind Satyanarayana said fearing exposure of their deeds, the YSRCP government is resorting to such dubious arrests.

YSRCP government is killing democracy by making illegal arrests during peaceful protests. Police officials have become agents of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government, Satyanarayana said.

In Anakapalle, MLC Buddha Naga Jagadiswara Rao led a dharna at Ambedkar statue. There is repression all over the State but the TDP would not hesitate to stage protests whenever the government indulges in illegal excesses, he said.
A NASA Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone aircraft, is stored inside an airplane hangar during a Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel, or HS3, mission at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops Island, Va., on Sept. 10, 2013. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Building Military Drones to Rival US in War, Leaked File Shows

The Chinese regime has been actively growing its fleet of unmanned aircraft to spy on and compete with adversaries such as the United States, a leaked document from Chinas Ministry of National Defense reveals.

The July 2017 document, supplied to The Epoch Times by a trusted source, describes Beijings ambition to dominate what it called full dimensional warfarereferring to control over sea, land, air, space, and the electromagnetic spectrum where military equipment communicatesby developing advanced military drones.

To accomplish that goal, the regime detailed a plan to design one to two types of small, long-range military drones and establish a factory to produce 1,000 drones per year. The document stated there would be a 130 million yuan (about $20 million) investment to create the drone-making firm that would begin production by the end of 2018.

Implementation of the program will arm our national defense with the latest combat power in future vertical warfare and make it capable to contend with U.S. military weapons, giving it marked military significance, the document states.

An illustration of the military drone as outlined in a leaked document from Chinas Ministry of National Defense, dated July 2017. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

While the file doesnt reveal the cost for making such drones, a 2017 directive from the Partys Equipment Development Department described a project that matches the description of the drone program, with an estimated budget of around 6 million yuan ($927,859) to build a prototype and publish a flight test report by 2020.

The Chinese defense department document describes such drones as critical to whether a nation could engage in modern-day combat.

In future warfare, seizing more information resources while controlling and restricting other nations information will be a key component for competing with nations during peaceful periods, and an important combat strategy in times of war, it said, citing low costs and the ability to fight in a dangerous environment as some of the features that make the drones desirable.

The project called for collaboration with a number of Chinese engineering and aeronautical universities. Zhejiang University, one of the schools named, houses an institute for drone development that has received roughly 100 million yuan ($15.5 million) for projects from the Chinese air force and other state agencies.

China-made commercial drones have dominated the world market. Shenzhen-based dronemaker DJI, which has come under U.S. sanctions for providing high-technology surveillance equipment that enable human rights abuses in China, holds around 70 to 80 percent of the global market share as of October 2020, according to market research firm Drone Industry Insights.

In the combat arena, however, China has a long way to go. The current engine types found in Chinese military drones, such as piston and turboshaft engines, are unfit for long flights and high altitude, the leaked document stated. It further noted that Beijing has made some breakthroughs in replicating Rotax 914, a four-stroke, four-cylinder turbo-charged engine built by Austrian company BRP-Powertrain that it said has been the worlds leading engine system.

Officials at BRP-Powertrain didnt immediately respond to an emailed request by The Epoch Times for comment.

The file also mentions four drone models currently deployed in the U.S. Air Force: RQ-1A Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, MQ-9A Reaper, and RQ-4 Global Hawk. It described the last one, developed by Virginia defense tech firm Northrop Grumman, as the most advanced one used in the U.S. military. That model is known for its ability to fly at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet for more than 30 hours.

The new drone, the document states, should be able to fly for more than 24 hours with a carrying capacity of 6 kilograms (13.2 pounds).

Two lines of Chinese military drones, Wing Loong and Caihong (also known as Rainbow) made by subsidiaries of state-run aerospace firm Aviation Industry Corp. of China, also were cited in the document. Military experts have suspected some models to be clones of U.S. drones due to their resemblance to the Predator and Reaper models manufactured by San Diego-based firm General Atomics.

In recent months, DJI has faced scrutiny from the United States for copyright infringement issues and for security vulnerabilities, which the U.S. Army warned could be exploited by the Chinese regime to control the vehicle or hijack data.

An employee shows the new Mavic Pro 2 drone in a DJI store in Shanghai on May 22, 2019. (Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images)

The Justice Department has prosecuted multiple individuals for conspiring to export drone-related technologies to China.

In August 2017, Chinese national Sun Fuyi was sentenced to three years in prison over a scheme to procure high-grade carbon fiber, which has applications in drones and other aerospace technologies, for the Chinese government.

In August 2016, California resident Man Wenxia was sentenced to 50 years in prison for attempting to export military equipment, including a drone, on behalf of the Chinese military.

In 2014, two Taiwanese nationals pleaded guilty to their roles in conspiracy to traffic parts from a small drone known as RQ-11Bmanufactured by U.S. defense contractor AeroVironmentand manuals for the RQ-4 Global Hawk drone.

A retired University of Tennessee professor in 2009 received a 48-month sentence after admitting to illegally exporting 15 different defense materials to a Chinese national. The data he transported involved a U.S. Air Force project to develop an advanced form of weapon system drone.
(Alliance News) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has been accused of a "petty" approach after refusing to grant full diplomatic status to the EU's ambassador to the UK.

Joao Vale de Almeida has not been given the same status as other ambassadors, with the Foreign Office declining to treat an international organisation in the same way as nation states.

De Almeida is the EU's first ambassador in London after Brexit meant the UK is now outside the bloc.

Senior Tory Tobias Ellwood described the row as a "silly spat" and insisted the UK should be "better than this".

Ellwood, chair of the Commons Defence Committee, said: "This is simply petty.

"(Joe) Biden commits to strengthening alliances and we engage in silly spats which will not help strengthen security and trade cooperation.

"We are better than this."

David Lidington, who was effectively deputy prime minister under Theresa May, said he hoped the Foreign Office "doesn't pick a fight on this", warning that non-recognition could set a "bad precedent" for regimes that hate EU ambassadors speaking up in support of human rights.

Tory peer Lord Barwell, who was May's chief of staff, said the move was "difficult to understand" and "the UK treating EU diplomats differently than every other independent sovereign state does suggests there is something different about our relationship with the EU".

"Strange position for Brexiteers to take," he added.

Brussels said the EU's 143 delegations and staff in other parts of the world had been accorded a status equivalent to countries' embassies under the Vienna Convention, which governs the rules of international diplomacy.

Without the full protection of the Vienna Convention, diplomats do not benefit from immunity from detention, criminal jurisdiction and taxation.

But Whitehall sources insisted that international organisations were offered "very similar privileges and immunities" to diplomatic missions.

The UK is continuing to negotiate with the EU over the long-term arrangements for the delegation.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said the UK, which, as a member of the EU, was a signature to the Lisbon Treaty which established the European External Action Service diplomatic network, was "well aware of the EU's status in external relations".

"Nothing has changed since the UK's exit from the EU to justify any change in stance on the UK's part," he said.

"The EU's status in external relations and its subsequent diplomatic status is amply recognised by countries and international organisations around the world, and we expect the UK to treat the EU Delegation accordingly and without delay."

He said granting reciprocal treatment based on the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations is "standard practice" between equal partners and we are "confident that we can clear this issue with our friends in London in a satisfactory manner".

Stano added: "The EU has 143 Delegations, equivalent to diplomatic missions, around the world.

"Without exception, all host states have accepted to grant these delegations and their staff a status equivalent to that of diplomatic missions of states under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, and the UK is well aware of this fact."

The BBC reported that the EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell has written to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab directly to raise his concerns about the situation.

In the letter last November Borrell says: "Your service have sent us a draft proposal for an establishment agreement about which we have serious concerns.

"The arrangements offered do not reflect the specific character of the EU, nor do they respond to the future relationship between the EU and the UK as an important third country.

"It would not grant the customary privileges and immunities for the delegation and its staff.

"The proposals do not constitute a reasonable basis for reaching an agreement."

Downing Street said the EU delegation would receive the "privileges and immunities" they needed to carry out their work in the UK.

"The FCDO continues to engage with the EU on the long-term arrangements for the EU delegation in the UK. I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of those negotiations," the prime minister's official spokesman said.

"We will ensure the EU delegation receives the privileges and immunities necessary to allow them to carry out their work."

By David Hughes

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- Eric Lis factory making glass lampshades for companies including Home Depot Inc. is being stretched to its limits with sales doubling their pre-pandemic level.But like many Chinese manufacturers, he doesnt plan to expand operations -- a reticence that could slow the pace of Chinas economic growth this year and prolong a shortage of goods being felt around the world as demand picks up.Surging prices of raw materials means margins are compressed, explains Li, owner of Huizhou Baizhan Glass Co. Ltd., in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, which makes about $30 million in annual revenue. With the global economic recovery still uneven, the future is very unclear, so there is not much push to expand capacity, he adds.The combination of higher input prices, uncertainty about export prospects and a weak recovery in domestic consumer demand meant Chinese manufacturing investment from January to April was 0.4% below the same period in 2019, according to official statistics (comparing to 2019 strips out the distortion of last years pandemic data).Due to the vast size of Chinas manufacturing sector, that poses a risk both to the nations growth -- which is currently predicted to reach 8.5% in 2021, according to a Bloomberg tally of economists estimates -- and to a global economy thats grappling with supply shortages and rising prices.Falling ProfitsWeaker-than-expected investment could have a sizable impact on GDP growth this year, said Citigroup Inc.s China economist, Li-gang Liu. Lower investment may dent imports of capital goods and equipment from developed economies like Japan and Germany, which in turn could drag their economic recovery and rebound as well, he added.AnHui HERO Electronic Sci & Tec Co. Ltd. is one of those companies feeling the squeeze. Based in the eastern province of Anhui, the company manufactures capacitors used to make electronic circuits, with sales mainly in the domestic market. Jing Yuan, the founder, says orders are up as much as 30% year-on-year, but profits are down 50% due to increasing materials costs that are not easily passed onto clients.The company is under huge cash pressure as it needs to pay half a month in advance of delivery in order to secure copper and other metals, which they previously paid for months after receiving, he said. The commodity issue has to be addressed by the government, he added.What Bloomberg Economics Says...Chinese industry is absorbing significant cost pressures from rising commodity prices -- damping the inflationary impact for the rest of the world. Will it last? Our analysis of gross margins suggests it could for a while longer: downstream industries -- where the cost crunch is most severe -- still have a small cushion.David Qu, China economistFor the full report, click here.Input shortages mean some manufacturers arent able to make use of their existing facilities, so expansion would be of little use. Chinese electric vehicle maker Nio Inc. suspended production at one of its factories last month, due to a shortage of microchips.Modern Casting Ltd., which makes iron and steel products in Guangdong, issued a note to clients this month saying it would not be able to meet its current orders due to high raw material costs. A member of staff who answered the phone at the companys office confirmed the note, but declined to give further details.Growth TransitionOn top of the higher input costs, Chinese companies face a bumpy transition toward domestic consumer spending to sustain its post-pandemic recovery.Exports, Chinas strong-suit last year, may begin to slow as vaccine roll-outs cause consumers in wealthy countries to shift spending back to services. Meanwhile, the growth rate of Chinese consumer spending has yet to fully recover.Investment sentiment among Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises is below levels seen even in 2018-9 when uncertainties from the U.S.-China trade war were a brake on expansion plans, according to a regular survey of more than 500 Chinese companies by Standard Chartered Plc.Demand is still mainly underpinned by exports, so domestic companies are aware that this is not sustainable, said Standard Chartereds China economist, Lan Shen.While some export-oriented sectors have been pushed to their limits, large amounts of slack remain for manufacturers targeting Chinese consumers due to subdued domestic demand.Retail sales growth was 4.3% in April on a two-year average basis, which strips out base effects from the pandemic, less than half pre-pandemic growth rates. Overall capacity use at Chinas manufacturers fell to 77.6% in the first quarter from 78.4% in the previous three months, with the automotive sector hit hardest by overcapacity following three years of declining sales volumes.Even for electric vehicles whose sales are surging, most companies have already built their capacity and will now focus on incremental upgrades. The majority of the investment has been done, said Jochen Siebert of JSC Automotive Consulting.China ordered state-owned companies to expand last year, with their investment growth of 5.3% in 2020 from the prior year easily outstripping the 1% increase in private investment. But for a sustainable pick-up in investment, the market, not the state, needs to feel confident.Carsten Holz, an expert on Chinese investment statistics at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, estimates that privately-owned companies have accounted for 87% of manufacturing investment in 2015, the most recent year of available data. They are more sensitive to input costs.There is a pandemic plus insecurity about future trade given a new U.S. administration, neither of which is conducive to investment that relies on long-term growth prospects, Holz said.Mixed PoliciesTransport bottlenecks are also a challenge for export-oriented manufacturers. Gordon Gao, who exports gardening products from China, said that he has had to reject 80% of orders this year due to port delays. In one case, an order placed before mid-February could only be shipped three months later when a client finally secured a container.Beijing has tried to improve conditions for private companies by ordering a crackdown on speculation to curb commodity prices and easing access to bank loans.Yet the government continues to gradually withdraw fiscal and monetary stimulus measures introduced amid the pandemic last year. It set a relatively unambitious target of above 6% growth for this year, and the Communist Partys Politburo signaled last month it would prioritize reforms to control house prices and debt growth.The policy stance has definitely shifted away from supporting growth and back toward de-risking the financial sector, said Adam Wolfe, an economist at London-based Absolute Strategy Research. The risks for economic growth seem tilted to the downside, especially for capital-intensive, construction-linked sectors.For manufacturers such as Li, a longer period of domestic growth and control over input prices will be needed before capacity expansion is on the cards. While his company of 200 workers took on new permanent staff before the pandemic, for now hed rather pass the risks of investment on to others.I wouldnt do that now, I would rather hire some temporary workers and outsource the rest, he said.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
A 71-year-old New York City doctor has been arrested and charged after his wife was found apparently strangled at an Upper East Side apartment, where she is believed to have lay dead for over a day.

Police officers were called to the home on East 87th Street just after 10pm on Wednesday where they found Janet Baran, 67, unconscious in her living room with 'abrasions' around her neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the medical examiner, Baran's injuries appeared to be 'consistent with strangulation' and she is believed to have died a day earlier.

Her husband William Winkler was arrested at the home and was charged with first-degree criminal contempt, the NYPD confirmed Thursday.

He appeared before a judge late Thursday and was released without bail. He is next due in court on Feb. 22.

William Winkler, 71, is escorted to a waiting police cruiser early Friday after leaving central booking on a charge of criminal contempt

Winkler was arrested and charged with criminal contempt

Winkler is due in court on Feb. 22. He was released without bail

Winkler had been ordered to stay away from his wife after a domestic violence incident months ago

His 67-year-old wife, Janet Baran, was found dead at her apartment on the Upper East Side

Winkler, a gastorenterologist in Manhattan, had reportedly called 911 after claiming he had not seen his wife for a couple of days, sources told The New York Post.

The doctor, however, had been legally ordered to stay away from his wife due to a domestic violence incident months earlier, and was arrested at the scene for violating the order of protection.

The couple were known to police for their history of domestic abuse, including one incident in October, when Winkler was arrested for pushing Baran off their bed, the New York Daily News reported.

Baran, who sustained injuries to her wrist from the incident, was granted a protective order against Winkler, who was charged with assault and harassment.

Neighbors told the paper the Baran had been taking care of her husband who suffers from an undisclosed illness.

'I've lived here five years and they've been here that whole time,' the neighbor said. 'You'd see him around with a walker but I think he was getting worse. He lost weight, he didn't look good. He wasn't doing well.'

The medical examiner will determine Baran's cause of death.

President Joe Biden got to work shortly after his inauguration on Wednesday, signing 17 executive orders focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration, education and upending a series of Trump administration rules and policies.

Some 200,000 Massachusetts residents without legal status stand to benefit from the sweeping immigration plan Biden sent to Congress on Wednesday. And Bidens efforts to revisit Trump regulations on energy and the environment could provide a boost to Massachusettss green economy, creating jobs while cutting pollution.

On Thursday, the president will meet with his COVID-19 team and receive an intelligence briefing.

Heres the schedule for his first full day in office.

10 a.m. EST: Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff watch the Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service in the Blue Room of the White House.

12:45 p.m.: The president and vice president receive the Presidents Daily Brief in the Oval Office. The PDB is a daily summary of high-level information and analysis by the intelligence community on national security issues.

2 p.m.: The president will deliver remarks from the State Dining Room on the administrations COVID-19 response. He also plans to sign executive orders and other presidential actions. The vice president will be in attendance.

2:25 p.m.: The president and vice president receive a briefing from their COVID-19 team.

4 p.m.: Press Secretary Jen Psaki will hold a news briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room.

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Republican leaders are responding with guarded praise to President Joe Biden's stated desire to have a much less contentious political discourse going forward while vowing to oppose him when they think it's necessary.

During his inauguration on Wednesday, Biden implored everyone to turn down the rhetoric that has been building over the years, culminating in the riot at the Capitol.

'We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature,' Biden said during his speech. 'Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesnt have to be a cause for total war.'

GOP Congress members appreciated the gesture toward unity and less divisiveness, but were also ready to contest the agenda Biden has laid out.

Joe Biden called for unity and a stop to the political shouting on Wednesday

A spokesperson for Rep. Madison Cawthorn wants to see Biden deliver on his promise, though

'The president must fulfill his promises,' a spokesperson for Rep. Madison Cawthorn said on Fox News. 'He calls for unity, we must see if he will deliver on his promise.'

'I look forward to working with the Biden administration when we can find common ground for the good of Montanans,' Sen. Steve Daines said. 'But I will also vigorously work against their agenda when I think it will harm our great state.'

Biden doesn't necessarily need Republican support to push his agenda through, since Democrats control both chambers of Congress.

However, they only enjoy a razor-thin advantage in the Senate, where a 50-50 split will be broken by a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, however, is already looking for ways to seize political gains from Biden

'We firmly believe that what unites us as Americans is far greater than anything that may ever divide us,' Rep. Beth Van Duyne wrote in a letter to Biden along with 16 other new GOP representatives.

'In that spirit, we hope that we can rise above the partisan fray to negotiate meaningful change for Americans across the nation and maintain the United States standing as the best country in the world.'

Rep. Cawthorn is among those who signed the letter.

Rep. Beth Van Duyne is one of many GOP freshmen looking to ease the political tension

Sen. Mitch McConnell released a statement congratulating Biden, a personal friend

Sen. Pat Toomey released a statement on Twitter commending Joe Biden's speech

'I commend President Biden for his call for national unity, and his assurance to those who did not support him that he will nevertheless be president for all Americans,' Sen. Pat Toomey wrote on Twitter.

'I urge the president to follow through on this commitment by working with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to pursue policies that will lead to peace and prosperity for all Americans.'

'I congratulate my friend from Delaware and look forward to working with our new President wherever possible,' Sen. Mitch McConnell said in a statement. 'Our country deserves for both sides, both parties, to find common ground for the common good everywhere that we can and disagree respectfully where we must.'

Outgoing President Donald Trump didn't have much to say after the inauguration, although he left a 'very generous' letter for Biden, the new president claimed.

Still, some Republican leaders were already looking for paths to battle Biden and his agenda.

'I am praying for President Biden and his success in leading out country forward' Toomey said

'Looking ahead, I know we will be tested,' Rep. Kevin McCarthy said. 'But I also know there will be many promising opportunities for us to seize.'

Biden has already enacted a number of policy shifts via executive order on his first day in office, including reversing Trump's decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The executive actions, signed at a ceremony at the White House, included immediately lifting a travel ban on 13 mostly Muslim-majority and African countries, halting construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall and reversing a Trump order preventing migrants who are in the United States illegally from being counted for congressional districts.

Biden also signed a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. attorney general to preserve the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects migrants who came to the country as children from deportation, and reversed Trump's executive order calling for stricter immigration enforcement away from the country's international borders.

Biden's DHS also issued a memorandum calling for a 100-day moratorium on some deportations.
Funds raised will be used to carry out additional preparatory desktop and fieldwork at the companys Alotta and Lorraine projects in Quebec.

( ) has received firm commitments to raise around A$821,000 through a placement to sophisticated investors and directors at A$0.016 per share.

Proceeds of the placement will be used to carry out additional preparatory desktop and fieldwork at its Alotta and Lorraine projects in Quebec, Canada, prior to possible further drilling on targets generated and for working capital.

Placement shares, excluding shares with a total value of $56,000 to be issued to directors, will be issued without shareholder approval, with the directors commitment subject to shareholder approval, which will be sought shortly.

GTT Ventures will lead manage the placement and will be entitled to a fee of 6% on amounts raised.

Canadian project plans

The company deferred drilling activities at the projects during the pandemic with plans to continue progressing towards development when COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

At the Alotta polymetallic project, the company plans to test the new style of late-stage porphyry mineralisation as well as a bonanza-grade copper and palladium dominant mineral assemblage.

At the Lorraine Mine drilling will revolve around the reported unmined high-grade gold potential at and below 250 metres in mine workings.

New substantial holder

Recently the company gained a new substantial holder in Syracuse Capital Pty Ltd which holds 5.76% of the company.

Perth-based Syracuse attained this status after acquiring 18,375,010 ordinary shares in the company between October 2, 2020, and January 8, 2021.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  The labor sector is demanding a big-time increase in daily wages, saying the current 537 rate is not enough for Filipinos to get by.

Members of the Kilusang Mayo Uno mounted a protest action outside Mega Q Mart in Quezon City on Thursday to push for their call to raise daily minimum wages to 750 nationwide, especially as prices of basic goods have been surging.

READ: DA plans to triple pork imports to stabilize meat prices

The highest minimum wage is in Metro Manila, but that was last adjusted in November 2018 - more than a year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers in Cagayan Valley were the last to receive an increase in the minimum daily salary, which was adjusted in March last year to 345-370 depending on the industry sector.

KMU's petition has been pending before the Metro Manila wage board since November 2019.

Jerome Adonis, the group's secretary general, said a family of five now needs about 1,000 per day to live comfortably.

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines, however, said they cannot afford to pay higher salaries at this time.

"'Yung mga call for increase na 750 a day, they need a reality check," ECOP chairman Edgardo Lacson said in a phone interview. "That is not justified at this moment. (It's) very untimely and it will create more problems."

The business executive said small and medium enterprises, which comprise 99% of the economy, are the hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis. Ten months since the lockdowns started, even big businesses bleeding dry.

He pointed out that even a company as established as Makati Shangri-La was forced to a temporary shutdown.

"Our request is for our partners in the labor movement to consider the plight of businesses," Lacson added, noting that firms that remain open may run out of cash if they cover higher salaries and benefits.

The economy crashed by 10% as of September 2020, marking the country's first recession in over two decades. Some 3.8 million Filipinos were jobless as of October, or nearly 2 million jobs lost compared to the prior year.

RELATED: DOLE seeks inclusion of minimum wage workers, OFWs in vaccine priority list
UK POLICE have warned the public not to approach an Irish man who absconded from prison where he had been serving a sentence for raiding the homes of two elderly women.

Edward Ned Cawley (21) was last seen on Tuesday at HMP Springhill in Buckinghamshire.

A police spokesperson said: We are appealing for the publics help in locating Cawley. If you see him, please do not approach him but call 999 instead.

They asked anyone who has any information to call Thames Valley Police quoting reference number 43210025085.

Cawley got six years in prison at Luton Crown Court in May 2019 following two terrifying burglaries targeting elderly women the previous year.

In one incident a 90-year-old woman was woken by someone saying hello. Her bedroom light was then switched on and she saw two teenage boys in her bedroom, with their faces covered.

They repeatedly asked her if she had any money and searched her house, emptying cupboards and throwing her belongings to the floor.

A number of items were taken, including her handbag, bank cards, a bin from her bedroom and a dressing gown that she kept in the hallway in case she needed to go to hospital quickly, it was heard in court.

On the same night in a second incident an 82-year-old woman was woken at around 11.45pm by someone shaking her, and saw two people in her bedroom, one holding a knife and a screwdriver.

One then asked her where her money was, before taking a pink pillowcase and filling it with items from her bedroom. He then left the room to search the rest of the house, before coming back and trying to take her jewellery box.

As she made a grab for it to try and stop him taking it, she cut her finger. When she asked if she could get a towel to stop her finger bleeding, the two teenagers said no.

They left the house when she told them that a defibrillator was an alarm, and she rang the police.

Police on patrol in the area found the Cawley and the younger teenager in a white car and were arrested after a short chase.

Detective Constable Jason Wheeler, who investigated the incidents, said at the court hearing: To threaten two elderly women in their homes, where they are supposed to feel safe, is disgusting.

I hope the boys seriously think about what they put these two women through, and realise that they should be utterly ashamed of their actions.

I have kept in touch with both the elderly victims throughout the investigations, and naturally they were left shaken. 

Although it wont change what they were put through, I hope the victims have been able to gain some sense of justice following their ordeals. I hope it also shows other people that if you target vulnerable or elderly people in the same way, we will do what we can to find you and put you behind bars.

In a statement read out in court, the 90-year-old victim said: I am an independent woman, but do suffer with osteoarthritis. I feel lucky that I was not hurt as I had heard about a 98-year-old man was found lying on the floor after his burglary recently in the news.

I feel sorry for these men who break into houses and steal things as they should be more useful in life. They took my 40 cash which was more of a nuisance. Im not going to let these people change who I am.

Both teenagers were also found not guilty of a further two attempted burglaries on the same night.




Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
And Australia should make clear to the Biden administration

any such commitment is not in the interests of allies.

Given the widespread relief accompanying Joe Bidens transition to the White House, it seems churlish to start picking apart his policy agenda. Yet, there are grounds for concern about how the incoming administration will reshape U.S. nuclear weapons policy over the next four years.

As a presidential candidate, Biden signalled that, if elected, he would roll back the Trump administrations introduction of lower-yield nuclear warheads on the U.S. Navys submarines, and embrace a nuclear No-First-Use commitment.

No-First-Use is a declaratory pledge not to initiate the employment of nuclear weapons in a conflict, and limits the role of nuclear weapons to countering the adversarys use of nuclear weapons. The Obama administration came close to endorsing it on two separate occasions  during the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, and in 2016 as part of a subsequent review of U.S. nuclear policy. Despite that Barack Obama ultimately rejecting this shift in U.S. nuclear policy, then Vice President Biden remained sympathetic to a No-First-Use commitment.

The liberal wing of the Democratic party, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, have been strong advocates of No-First-Use, and in 2019 spearheaded a bill in Congress that endorsed the U.S. formally adopting this commitment. While an intense nuclear policy debate within the U.S. is a certainty, Bidens need to shore up the left wing of his party raises the danger that he will set No-First-Use as a requirement, as distinct from a possible outcome, of his administrations Nuclear Posture Review.

No Australian government should be comfortable with a generic U.S. No-First-Use commitment.

Why should this be a concern for U.S. allies? Surely anything that lessens the salience of nuclear weapons is positive for international security? Proponents of No-First-Use make two principal claims: that it would lower the threat of nuclear war by encouraging other nuclear-armed states to follow suit; and that it would enhance the prospects for non-proliferation and ultimately disarmament by devaluing the currency of nuclear weapons.

Neither of these claims stands up to scrutiny. There is no historical evidence that U.S. restraint has been reciprocated by other nuclear powers. The handful of low-yield warheads now on U.S. submarines exist because Russia is already using its large arsenal of theatre nuclear weapons to pressure the NATO alliance, not the other way around. China and North Korea would dismiss any U.S. initiative as insincere, mindful of their own dubious No-First-Use declarations. And France and Britain specifically reserve the right to use nuclear weapons first even if their respective homelands or forces are not subjected to nuclear attack.

On the proliferation issue, with the exception of India, every new nuclear power since the 1970s has been motivated by the desire to acquire a nuclear equaliser against adversaries with superior conventional capabilities. Indeed, this logic is central to grasping the motives of North Korea, the single most vexing proliferation case the world currently confronts. The bottom line is that U.S. nuclear policy will continue to have zero impact on the actions of nuclear wannabees.

Restoration works for hydroacoustic station HA03 at Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile, part of the network for monitoring nuclear explosions around the globe managed by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation ( CTBTO/Flickr

But the most disconcerting aspect of a U.S. No-First-Use commitment is that it would raise serious questions about the credibility of U.S. alliances. Americas allies want to lower the risks of nuclear war, but they do not want this to occur at the expense of their own security. If the Biden Administration adopts No-First-Use, it is effectively stating that U.S. security guarantees will not include the U.S.s most powerful weapons, unless allies are first attacked with nuclear weapons. This is cold comfort for countries like Japan, Taiwan, and Australia all of which would have to contend with superior PLA conventional forces in the event of hostilities with China. While this does not mean that U.S. alliances would become redundant, with the adoption of No-First-Use they would cease to provide the existential guarantee that allies have come to expect. When doubts have arisen about U.S. commitments in the past, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and even Australia have toyed with their own nuclear weapons programs. There is no reason to assume they will not do so again. It is clearly in the interests of the U.S. and its close allies to keep Beijing, Moscow, and Pyongyang guessing about the precise threshold at which the U.S. would consider using nuclear weapons. Calculated ambiguity is smart policy, because the more certainty adversaries have about the threshold at which certain levels of force are used, the more confident they will feel about retaining the initiative below that threshold. Does anyone seriously believe that Beijing will be any more restrained during a crisis if it is assured the U.S. won't resort to nuclear weapons unless China carries out a nuclear strike first? Australia has an obvious stake in all of this. Although Australian governments since the early 1990s have affirmed that we would only look to the U.S. employing nuclear weapons in our defence if we were threatened by nuclear weapons, no Australian government should be comfortable with a generic U.S. No-First-Use commitment. Indeed, Australias hopes for the new administration rest, in large part, on an end to unilateral decisions in Washington that affect allies security. The good news is that past U.S. nuclear policy debates have shown that Americas allies have meaningful influence on U.S. policy. Resistance from Asian and European allies was crucial in stymying the last major push for No-First-Use in 2016. Its time that Australia started to discreetly build a coalition among like-minded U.S. allies and opponents of No-First-Use in Washington, to ensure that this next push doesnt gain further traction and threaten another crisis of confidence in U.S. alliances.

Andrew O'Neil is Professor of Political Science and Dean (Research) in the Business School at Griffith University. Andrews research expertise focuses on the intersection of strategic, political, and economic change with particular emphasis on security and international relations. He is co-author (with Stephan Fruhling) of Partners in Deterrence: U.S. Nuclear Weapons and Alliances in Europe and Asia, forthcoming in 2021 with Manchester University Press. Before taking up his first academic post in 2000, Andrew worked as an intelligence analyst in the Australian government.

Stephan Fruhling was the Fulbright Professional Fellow in Australia-U.S. Alliance Studies at Georgetown University in Washington DC in 2017. He worked as a Partner across the globe research fellow in the Research Division of the NATO Defense College in Rome in 2015, and was a member of the Australian Governments External Panel of Experts on the development of the 2016 Defence White Paper.

This article appeared originally at Lowy Institute's the interpreter.
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A paramedic has told of his lucky escape after his parent's house blew up in a gas explosion when they switched on the oven.

Three people - Darren, Alan and Josie Cornish - were taken to hospital after the blast in Traly Close, Bude, Cornwall, and only suffered from shock and minor injuries.

One of the trio inside the home as it exploded described it as 'like a bomb' going off, saying: 'I thought I was dead.'

The family were sat in the living room watching TV before they started dozing off and smelling gas. Darren and his mother went to check the oven and turned it on, triggering the blast while his father was still in the other room.

Darren, 48, said: 'The house is ready to fall to bits. It was really scary. I saw my life flash before before my eyes. I thought I was dead, I really thought I had died.'

Alan and Josie, who have three children and six grandchildren, didn't have any home insurance on their property and many of their possessions were destroyed.

Fire and police rescue teams said it was 'a miracle' nobody was killed when the end-of-terrace 'virtually blew up'.

The explosion rocked other homes in the street just after 9pm last night when families were tucked up indoors, sheltering from Storm Christoph raging outside.

Glenn Thorne, Wales & West Utilities Gas Emergency Service Manager for Bude, said the cause of the leak is being investigated but it is not believed to be related to the mains gas network.

Pictures taken from the outside show a double bed exposed to the street from an upper floor room hanging precariously after the support collapsed below.

Three people - Darren, Alan and Josie Cornish - were taken to hospital after the blast (house pictured) in Traly Close, Bude, Cornwall, and only suffered from shock and minor injuries

The destroyed home in Bude, Cornwall. Pictures taken from the outside show a double bed exposed to the street from an upper floor room hanging precariously after the support collapsed below

The destroyed home pictured from the side. Alan and Josie, who have three children and six grandchildren, didn't have any home insurance on their property and many of their possessions were destroyed

The interior of the home's kitchen in Bude, Cornwall, which has been left destroyed following the gas explosion. Darren said: 'Mum went to show me that the oven was working okay and before I could stop her she lit the oven and bang - up it went'

The devastated end-of-terrace house in Bude, Cornwall, pictured this morning. Nobody was seriously hurt from the explosion, with the residents only suffering from shock and minor injuries

The property is owned by Darren's parents Alan, 73, and Josie, 75, who were enjoying an evening in at the time.

Darren, a paramedic, has now given a dramatic account of the explosion and revealed his elderly parents had 'lost everything' as the home was not insured.

He said he feared there was a gas leak so went to investigate with his mum, who instinctively turned on the cooker to try and show it was working correctly.

Darren said he tried to stop her but it was too late, and the pair were thrown against a wall and suffered burns to their face and hands - and had their hair singed.

Darren (pictured above), 48, said: 'The house is ready to fall to bits. It was really scary. I saw my life flash before before my eyes. I thought I was dead, I really thought I had died'

Darren said: 'I'm okay, alive. I was up with my mum and dad and we were sat in the lounge watching TV.

'Me and my dad kept falling asleep which I thought was odd, then I thought I could smell gas so I asked if the cooker was working.

'I went to check and my mum came with me. It was all off and mum went to show me that the oven was working okay and before I could stop her she lit the oven and bang - up it went.'

The force of the explosion knocked Darren and his mum off their feet, and in that moment he thought he had died - and said he saw his whole life flash before his eyes.

But he regained his composure when he heard his mum screaming, and rushed into action.

He added: 'It was like a bomb had gone off. I could hear mum screaming. I grabbed her and took her outside. Dad was still in the front room sitting in his chair watching the TV - although the television had gone off by this point.

'I lifted mum over the rubble and one of my mates who lived opposite came over to help get them out. We had to man handle my dad out because he's a big guy.

'There was water everywhere and gas was hissing, so then I just got myself out and waited for the fire brigade to arrive.'

Despite being in the room where the explosion took place, Darren said he only suffered superficial injuries including singing his hair. His mum was taken to hospital to be checked, and his dad, who recently had a heart attack, was thoroughly examined by paramedics.

Darren continued: 'Mum went to hospital, she had some burns to her face and hands. Dad was unscathed. It was just instinct to get out and get everyone out the house.'

He added: 'We've been nagging them [his parents] to get insurance for years but they're old school, never had a mortgage and didn't have insurance.

'They've lost everything, their house and their belongings.'

Piles of bricks and rubble seen outside the front of the property in Bude, Cornwall. Despite being in the room where the explosion took place, Darren said he only suffered superficial injuries including singing his hair

A chest of drawers, doors, windows, bricks and other furniture seen outside the home today. There were reports of a strong smell of gas in the area as fire teams tried to stop the house from collapsing completely

Three residents look on at the home, from which a double bed can be seen hanging precariously from the upper floor. Neighbours were evacuated as the smell of gas persisted, and were found emergency accommodation for the night

Four people look on at the remains of the home. Wales & West Utilities Gas Emergency's Glenn Thorne said the cause of the leak is being investigated but it is not believed to be related to the mains gas network

The upper half of the property, with the floor seen caving in underneath a double bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers

Darren pictured standing in front of the destroyed home in Bude, Cornwall. He said: 'I lifted mum over the rubble and one of my mates who lived opposite came over to help get them out. We had to man handle my dad out because he's a big guy'

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service arrived to find the bed and other furniture hanging from the devastated house, for which the damage bill will run into tens of thousands of pounds.

There were reports of a strong smell of gas in the area as fire teams from Bude and Holsworthy, backed up by specialist shoring equipment, tried to stop the two-storey house collapsing completely.

A fire spokesman said: 'On crews arrival they confirmed that there were no casualties trapped within the damaged structure and the incident was sectorised.

'Crews remained on scene until the property had been assessed by a structural surveyor. The incident was left in the hands of police.'

Neighbours were evacuated as the smell of gas persisted, and were found emergency accommodation for the night.

Mr Thorne, who works for Wales & West Utilities Gas Emergency, told Cornwall Live: 'On arrival we found that the property had been damaged and emergency services were in control of the scene.

'We worked with the emergency services to make the area safe and carried out all necessary gas safety checks. We have found no evidence of a mains gas leak in the area and the property itself was not connected to our gas network.

'The cause of the explosion is still being investigated by the emergency services, however, we do not believe it is related to the mains gas network.'

Dramatic images pictured last night show the house in Traly Close, Bude, Cornwall, which was left destroyed with a bed hanging outside after a gas explosion at around 9pm last night

A side view of the devastated home in a Cornish seaside town. The explosion rocked other homes in the street just after 9pm last night when families were tucked up indoors, sheltering from Storm Christoph raging outside

Rubble and other furniture can be seen hanging outside the house in Bude, Cornwall. The cause of the explosion is not believed to be related to the mains gas network

Devon and Cornwall Police said this morning: 'Police were called at 9pm yesterday evening, Wednesday 20th January, with a report that a gas explosion had occurred inside a residential property on Traly Close, Bude, resulting in the partial destruction of the property, an end of terrace house.

'The fire service, ambulance service, and a structural engineer attended. Three occupants, two men and a woman, were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

'The next door residents were evacuated. All those affected have found alternative accommodation. The house remains cordoned off this morning.'

A spokesman for Bude Community Fire Station added: 'Shortly after 9pm on Wednesday, we received multiple calls to a serious incident involving a gas explosion at a property in Bude, with people potentially trapped inside.

'Thankfully on arrival it was quickly established that all persons were accounted for, and remarkably, there were no serious injuries - those involved were left in the care of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust crews.

'Due to the instability of the dangerous structure, a strict cordon was put until place, the gas and electricity supplies were isolated and the nearby properties were evacuated.

'Fire crews and officers from Bude Police monitored the building closely whilst a structural engineer carried out checks. Once it was deemed that there was no further risk of danger, our crews left the scene shortly after midnight, and the incident was handed over to the police and gas safety engineers.'
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company
(Newser)  Critics of lawmakers who backed President Trump's election challenges want them removed from office, and those critics sometimes include their own relatives. Two of Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs' four siblings are calling for the Republican's removal in a letter to the editor at the Arizona Republic. William Biggs and Daniel Biggs, both of Tucson, argue that their brother is "at least partially to blame" for the Capitol riot. As previously reported, a leader of the Stop the Steal movement claimed to have worked with Biggs, Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, and Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks to put "maximum pressure on Congress" amid the certification of electoral votes at the Capitol on Jan. 6. While Biggs has issued a denial, CNN describes a "fear of legal exposure" in an article noting that several Republican lawmakers requested a pardon from Trump before he left office.

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Biggs' brothers also fault him for refusing to wear a mask while sheltering with lawmakers at the Capitol. "It was a passive-aggressive tantrum and the ultimate disrespect for all present," the letter states. William Biggs, a 67-year-old Democrat, says "this just seemed like too big a moment to just sit on the sidelines and not say anything." Similarly, three of Gosar's nine siblings are seeking his expulsion from Congress. "What he's done personally is commit treason I think," David Gosar said of the congressman last week, per KNXV. Like Biggs, Gosar objected to the certification of Arizona's election results. "He has blood on his hands for those people dying in there," his brother said. Several members of Congress are requesting an investigation to determine if lawmakers were liable for the violence. (Gosar blamed antifa.)
Alabama law requiring proof of sex reassignment surgery before ID change is unconstitutional: judge

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A federal judge has ruled that an Alabama law requiring residents to provide proof of "gender reassignment" surgery before they can change the sex listed on their driver's license is unconstitutional.

Judge Myron Thompson, who was appointed to the bench by former President Jimmy Carter, ruled that Alabama's Policy Order 63 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

In his opinion, issued Friday, Thompson sympathized with the plaintiffs, trans-identified women who filed a lawsuit against Policy Order 63, arguing that the measure is a violation of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause as well as "their fundamental right to privacy, their liberty interest in refusing unwanted medical treatment, and their First Amendment right to be free of compelled speech."

Policy Order 63 requires those seeking to change the sex listed on their driver's license (a sex marker different from the one listed on their birth certificate) to first provide proof of the gender reassignment surgery in the form of a letter from the surgeon who performed the procedures.

The trans-identified women were represented by the ACLU in their legal proceedings while the Alabama law was defended by Hal Taylor, the secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The ALEA is in charge of administering driver's licenses in the state.

"The injuries caused by Policy Order 63 are severe," Thompson wrote. "For individuals born in Alabama or previously licensed here whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth, the policy requires surgery, which results in permanent infertility in 'almost all cases,' to be able to obtain a license with a sex designation that matches their gender."

"The alternative to surgery is to bear a driver license with a sex designation that does not match the plaintiffs' identity or appearance," he continued. "For these plaintiffs, being reminded that they were once identified as a different sex is so painful that they redacted their prior names from exhibits they filed with the court."

Addressing the legal implications of the case, Thompson maintained that "sex-based classifications imposed by a State are subject to an intermediate form of heightened scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment."

While the 14th Amendment was created in the years following the Civil War to provide equal protection under the law for African Americans, the judiciary has interpreted the amendment to contain rights to privacy and same-sex marriage.

Thompson also cited concerns that "carrying licenses with sex designations that do not match plaintiffs' physical appearance exposes them to a serious risk of violence," before rejecting the state's argument that Policy Order 63 "serves the State's interests in providing an accurate description of the bearer of an Alabama driver's license."

State officials further contended that the law was created to mirror "the statutory process for amending a birth certificate" because "we wanted to be consistent in how we operate as a state."

In addition, the judge took issue with the state's failure to specifically define what constitutes "sexual reassignment surgery," noting the lack of specific, uniform standards on the matter.

According to Thompson, "Whether defendants will approve a change of sex designation appears to turn on the particular phrasing of the doctor's letter provided, or even an ALEA staff member's impressionistic sense of the letter's sufficiency."

"The State has not risen to meet the obligation that the Equal Protection Clause imposes," he concluded. "Alabama therefore may no longer make people's genitalia determine the contents of their driver's license. Policy Order 63 is unconstitutional."

Gabriel Arkles, senior counsel for the ACLU's Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, said in a statement that he was "thrilled" by the ruling.

"I'm thrilled the court found that Alabama's surgery requirement was unconstitutional, and I hope other states that still have similar rules will change them without being taken to court," he said. "Trans people are the experts on our own genders, and we have the right to equal access to identification we can safely use."
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U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink is known as the ambassador of 'the firsts' for his historic visits to Truong Son National Cemetery in Quang Tri Province and Ham Rong Bridge in Thanh Hoa Province.

During his tenure, two U.S. aircraft carriers visited Vietnam.

After three years under the Trump administration, Ambassador Kritenbrink has made great contributions to the Vietnam-U.S. relations in several categories.

He offered Tuoi Tre News an exclusive interview on his last days in Vietnam, before Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th U.S. president on January 20.

Before and after the U.S. presidential election, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor Robert OBrien paid official visits to Vietnam. What were the key messages they delivered?

The two visits aimed primarily to celebrate the 25th anniversary of our relationship. In the meetings between Secretary Pompeo and Ambassador OBrien and Vietnamese high-ranking leaders, there was a very candid exchange of our views on the region, how we would like to see the region develop and what we would like to do in the future.

Secretary Pompeo announced US$2 million aid to flood victims in central Vietnam. Ambassador O'Brien announced an additional $20 million to help clean up dioxin in Bien Hoa airbase.

And as a result of the discussions during Pompeo's visit, in December, we were able to exchange notes on building a new embassy, here in Hanoi. And, of course, that exchange of notes also formalized Vietnam's opening of its new embassy in Washington, D.C.

Some of my friends wondered whether it was strange that Pompeo and O'Brien had come here on such short notice, there must be something special going on. And in my view, that is, the special thing that's going on is we're growing this partnership in friendship and in a very meaningful way.

Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink tours the historical Temple of Literature in Hanoi on November 17, 2020. Photo: Hai Pham / Tuoi Tre

Commerce is one of the most important pillars in the two countries bilateral relations. How have the U.S. and Vietnam worked on this sector, especially under the COVID-19 impacts?

We have gone from a few hundreds of millions of dollars worth of trade in 1994 to almost $80 billion today. That exponential growth is extraordinary. The U.S. is Vietnam's largest export market in the world. You're one of our fastest-growing export markets in the world. And there are tremendous opportunities here in Vietnam, especially in healthcare, energy, transportation, infrastructure development, IT sector, many, many others. That's why you see most of our globally leading companies are here to invest or trade. Now, the good news is we've worked really well with Vietnamese partners and in a respectful and cooperative way, we've resolved many of those concerns.

Even though 2020 was a really challenging year because of COVID-19, for the reasons I've outlined, it was a great year as well. And I think a real bright spot was our cooperation on health.

For more than 20 years, we've provided Vietnam with almost $1 billion in healthcare assistance and $13 million in 100 ventilators in 2020 to try to help Vietnam combat COVID-19.

In our time of need, Vietnamese companies, Vietnamese people, and the Vietnamese government also donated millions of articles of medical protective equipment, medical masks, medical suits, and the like, helping save American lives  lives of average Americans and American health workers.

And I think we found out in our time of need, we found out that Vietnam is one of our absolute best friends.

When I look back, even on a challenging year like 2020, I think the U.S. managed to turn that into a good story, demonstrating what we can do as partners and friends. So again, whether it's health sector cooperation, economic and trade, security, people-to-people ties, legacy of war, whatever it may be. I think our cooperation is only going to grow further.

U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink makes a speech at the Temple of Literature on November 17, 2020 on the anniversary of Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20). Photo: Hai Pham / Tuoi Tre

Reflecting on your tenure, what has been your most meaningful achievement so far?

Personally, the most meaningful to me is probably the work that my team and I have done on the legacy of war and reconciliation issues. I was honored to be the first ambassador to visit Truong Son Cemetery in Quang Tri, the Ho Chi Minh City Martyr Cemetery as well as Bien Hoa Cemetery.

I witnessed American and Vietnamese veterans walking hand in hand across the Ham Rong Bridge. All of those events were just really moving to me as an ambassador and as an American.

We're continuing to do a great deal of work to remediate dioxin, or Agent Orange.

I remember when I first arrived, our defense attache happened to be a Vietnamese American. I asked him how long he thought we would need to keep working on these legacy-of-war issues. And he said forever.

And I agree with him. I think we'll always need to make sure we don't forget what happened, that we continue to try and take steps to address it and make it right, and vow that we'll never let that happen again. A very senior Vietnamese general once told me that only by continuing the legacy of war can we build the trust necessary to open up the door to greater strategic cooperation.

For a person like me, an American ambassador, I can't visit the Truong Son national cemetery unless the Vietnamese government and Vietnamese authorities feel comfortable and approve me to do so. These issues have been painful and sensitive for many Americans as well.

So I feel privileged and grateful to have been in Vietnam at a time when our partnership and friendship have reached a point where those kinds of things are possible. We know one another well enough that we can do these things, either individually or together, which used to be seen as dangerous or a taboo.

I hope that they'll be routine. This foundation of trust and mutual respect has been built largely by addressing squarely and honestly the issues of the past.

During President Trump's tenure, the Indo-Pacific region has made a lot of headlines. How has the U.S. envisioned the Indo-Pacific region and Vietnams role in the area?

Vietnam, together with partners in ASEAN, is really central to our Indo-Pacific strategy.

If you look at the American history, we have concluded that America is stronger, safer, and more prosperous, when our allies, partners, and friends are also secure and stable, strong and successful. Because when we can work together with our like-minded, successful, strong sovereign partners, like Vietnam, we together can advance our shared objectives. And we can defend the principles that we believe as a contribution to a stable and peaceful and prosperous region  a region that's based on rules, a region where countries agree to resolve their disputes peacefully and to make their claims in accordance with international law, a region where the strong don't bully the weak, a region where countries can trade freely and where markets are open for us to compete to benefit both our countries and peoples.

That's how Vietnam fits into that picture because Vietnam is one of the most capable, successful countries in Southeast Asia. And I think that our vision for the region is almost completely identical.

How important is the Indo-Pacific policy to ensure stability in the East Vietnam Sea?

As a maritime power, the U.S. believes that freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight, these bedrock principles in international law are vital to international commerce, to peace and stability around the globe.

The most dangerous situation that I can imagine in the international system would be a system where might makes right. And it's whoever is the strongest and the most aggressive will always win. In fact, we have a rules-based international order in which all countries are supposed to play the same rules.

The [East Vietnam Sea] is one of those areas where a rules-based order has been challenged. That's why we've spoken out so forcefully.

Our approach has been to diplomatically very active, including with our other like-minded partners in the region, to lay out our legal position on which claims we think are in accordance with international law, and to really emphasize that all claims should be based on international law and resolved peacefully.

I'm not going to speak on behalf of the Biden administration but I anticipate you'll see great continuity in many of America's policies and approaches to the Indo-Pacific region. At the time of transition, there will be changes under a binding defenestration. But I think you'll also see a great deal of continuity because America's fundamental interests in a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific are not going to change.

How do you expect the Vietnam-U.S. relations under the Biden administration?

I anticipate youll continue to see the trend line that has continued ever since 1995 is going to be incredibly and rapidly rising. We have differences and concerns and challenges as well. Every partnership does, every marriage does. I can speak from personal experience. But I think as we've done in the last 25 years, we'll continue to address even our differences in a respectful and constructive way. And we'll get through them. I'm very optimistic about the next four years of the U.S.-Vietnam partnership, but I'm incredibly optimistic for the next 25 and 50 years of our partnership as well.

In November 2017, you once told Tuoi Tre in your first-ever interview with the Vietnamese press that coming to Vietnam is a dream come true." You have lived in this dream for three years. Now its time to wake up." Is there any regret? It really is a dream come true to have become the American ambassador to Vietnam. I knew it would be satisfying and challenging. What I didn't anticipate was how warm and welcoming Vietnamese people have been, whether somebody recognizes me on the street, or whether I'm just another foreigner walking around. I don't come here just as a diplomat but also a husband, a father. That's been a great experience for my wife and my two children to make Vietnamese friends, to go to school here, to travel all over the country, from Ha Giang down to Can Tho. If I had a small regret, I wish I'd been to even more places but I've saved a few things for me to do on my next trip. And my dreams of improving my Vietnamese didn't work out so well either. You mentioned that I have to wake up from my dream, I don't like to look at it that way. I have this wonderful dream that's come true and had this time in Vietnam that I'll never forget. But I look forward to coming back off and staying in touch with that, with friends here.
Mumbai: Non-banking finance companies expect the government to provide continued liquidity support by encouraging banks to lend more to the sector, setting up a permanent refinance window and relaxing external commercial borrowing norms in the upcoming Budget.

The government will present the Budget for fiscal 2021-22 on February 1, 2021.

To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on NBFC sector, the government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have announced various schemes such as the Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme (PCGS), Targeted Long-Term Repo Operations (TLTRO) and Special Liquidity Scheme (SLS).

"This budget is important because it will be the first budget after the pandemic, which dragged the economy into contraction mode and has taken more than 1.5 lakh lives so far in India.

"The government and RBI took calculated measures which aided economic recovery. We expect similar policy momentum to prevail in the Union Budget FY22," IndoStar Capital's CEO and executive vice-chairman R Sridhar said.

In its pre-budget memorandum submitted to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month, Finance Industry Development Council (FIDC) said bank funding of small and medium NBFCs has been a challenge due to various reasons, especially during the last two years.

"The tepid response to the TLTRO 2.0, which mandated banks to invest at least 50 per cent of the stipulated amount in small and medium NBFCs, was a clear example of this. The need, therefore, is to reduce the over-reliance on banks and have a dedicated refinancing body," FIDC, a representative body of assets and loan financing NBFCs, had said in the memorandum.

It suggested allocating a fund dedicated to funding small and medium NBFCs to SIDBI and Nabard.

"The arrangement of treating bank lending to NBFCs for on-lending to priority sector to be treated as priority sector lending (PSL) for banks should be made permanent and the limit needs to be increased to at least 10 per cent of total PSL by banks," FIDC had said.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas partner L Viswanathan said in the recent years, NBFCs that are important intermediaries of credit have faced concerns of liquidity, governance and solvency and it is hoped that the Budget will ease some of the pressures.

The budget coincides with some announcements by the RBI regarding overhauling regulations for systemically important NBFCs to mitigate any risks of regulatory arbitrage, he said.

"The regulatory certainty, as well as the additional weight of these regulations, could be balanced through liquidity and credit measures announced in the budget for this sector," Viswanathan said.

He suggested that the RBI directed funding for the sector, including TLTRO windows, maybe widened to cover more NBFCs and should continue for a longer period.

Viswanathan said he expects announcement of a more permanent refinance window and easing of external commercial borrowing (ECBs) into the sector in the Budget.

Moneyboxx Finance Ltd co-founder Mayur Modi said the NBFC sector has the potential to play an extremely important role in shaping the revival of the economy but is confronted by liquidity issues due to lack of funding from the banking sector.

"This needs to be addressed at the earliest. As public sector banks (PSBs) have surplus liquidity in the system, the government must encourage them to lend to the NBFC sector," he said.

Also, in the upcoming Budget, the government should look at setting up a special window at the RBI for NBFCs, especially for small and those focused on rural areas, so that their cost of the fund comes down, which will ultimately benefit the economy, Modi said.

In its memorandum, FIDC had requested to exempt NBFCs registered with RBI and classified by the central bank as deposit-taking NBFC (NBFCs-D) and non-deposit taking systemically important NBFC (NBFCs-ND-SI) from the provisions of TDS (tax deducted at source) on interest income.

Tourism Finance Corporation of India's MD and CEO Anirban Chakraborty said the travel and tourism sector has been one of the most impacted sectors during the course of the pandemic.

"Few sector-specific sops may be considered by the government to help the hospitality sector emerge out of this situation," he said.

Steps like reduction in GST slabs, waiver/normalisation of various license fees, sector-specific stimulus package (viz interest support by government, additional funding by lenders, etc) may be considered, Chakraborty added.

"Government should continue to encourage domestic tourism by extending and increasing the threshold LTA benefits for expenses incurred for domestic travels/stays," he noted.

Microfinance institution Satin Creditcare Network's chairman and MD HP Singh said during the outbreak of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, the government and RBI took several pragmatic measures to restore liquidity and bring immediate relief to the stressed sector through partial credit restructuring, moratorium benefits, TLTRO operations among other measures.

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These initiatives have helped in improving the quantum of liquidity, disbursements and collections during these unprecedented times, he said.

"Through the Budget, the government can continue supporting economic activities until a complete recovery is achieved, which will result in growth in the coming fiscal," Singh said.
UK seafood industry has suffered since EU trade deal came into force

The UK has set out a package of financial support for seafood exporters, which have complained of a slump in sales in the wake of the country's trade deal with the EU.

Funding of up to GBP23m (US$31.6m) will be directed to exporters "who can evidence a genuine loss in exporting fish and shellfish to the EU", the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.

Money is available immediately and will be "paid retrospectively to cover losses incurred since 1 January", Defra added.

Some UK seafood exporters have faced delays to shipments to the EU in the early weeks of the year. Last week, EU imports of seafood from some Scottish companies were temporarily suspended after they were impacted by post-Brexit delays. Deliveries were halted by the industry's biggest logistics provider, Denmark's DFDS, due to a backlog caused by additional bureaucracy at border points.

There has been confusion surrounding the introduction of additional health certificates and customs papers, as well as issues relating to IT systems, following the UK's departure from the EU on 1 January.

Defra said the newly-released funds would be "targeted at small and medium enterprises", with the maximum claim available to individual operators set at GBP100,000. The Government plans to release more details on eligibility criteria "in the coming days".

UK Environment Secretary George Eustice said: "This GBP23m scheme will provide crucial support for fishermen and seafood exporters, who have experienced delays and a lack of demand for fish from the restaurant industry in the UK and Europe."
Those running Google Maps Waze , and other apps on their iPhones (and some of the apps on CarPlay too) probably noticed Google hasnt released any updates since early December. In fact, most major Google apps, such as YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and even Chrome for iPhone, received the last pack of improvements in the first days of December.So what exactly is going on and why is Google not rolling out new updates for its apps on iOS and CarPlay Some believe the whole thing is related to a change Apple has announced on December 8, which requires developers to include new privacy information in the apps they published in the App Store. Each app is now forced to tell users what data it collects and what it does with it, with Google originally announcing the privacy update in the first half of January.But as it turns out, Google needs more time to get everything ready, most likely as the company wants to make sure the privacy update doesnt do more harm than good.If youre wondering how the privacy labels on iOS can cause quite a nightmare for software developers, the best example is none other than WhatsApp. The messaging platform has recently updated its privacy policy and included new information on how it shares data with Facebook and other third parties. The change eventually caused an en-masse migration to alternative products like Telegram and Signal.Google, however, most likely wants to make sure the implementation of privacy labels goes as smoothly as possible. Still, at this point, its pretty clear the whole thing takes more time than initially expected.For the time being, theres still no ETA as to when Google Maps, Waze, and its other iOS apps could receive new updates.
COVID-19 origin: Biden asks US intel community to investigate, calls on China to cooperate

Joe Biden rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Washington, Jan 21: In one of his first acts in the Oval Office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to have the United States rejoin the Paris climate agreement, the largest international effort to curb global warming.

Joe Biden takes charge as US President, signs a blizzard of executive orders| Oneindia News

The U.S. officially withdrew from the accord to limit climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions late last year, after President Donald Trump began the process in 2017. It is the only country of the nearly 200 signatories that has withdrawn. Biden vowed to sign on Inauguration Day the documents needed to rejoin the agreement.

Joe Biden rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement

The order was aimed at reversing decisions by his predecessor Donald Trump and setting a clear policy path for Biden's new administration, just hours after he was sworn in as president.

"We are going to combat climate change in a way we have not done so far," Biden said of returning to the Paris agreement, a treaty signed by most nations in 2016 to limit global warming.

His return to the Paris Agreement, which the United States joined Barack Obama was president and Biden vice president, was lauded by other leaders.

Biden's action sends a strong message that the US is prepared to cooperate in the fight against climate change and seek to reclaim the leadership role it once held, experts say.

Under the agreement, countries are expected to enhance their commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions every five years.

While walking in Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day, Frank Skokoski watched from afar as a helicopter took off with outgoing President Donald Trump, and he ducked inside St. Matthews Cathedral after President Joe Biden worshipped there.

During his trip, Skokoski, a West Hazleton attorney, heard conversations in several languages, scored an interview with Belgian television and spoke with National Guard troops.

I thanked every uniformed person: policeman, National Guardsmen, FBI agents. I said, Thank you. The nation thanks you, Skokoski said.

Security forces, deployed two weeks after a mob broke into the Capitol, outnumbered tourists like Skokoski.

He noticed one Trump supporter holding a sign and saw a duo carrying a Biden flag.

There werent a lot of people, Skokoski said.

His day started amid a crowd of people. They awaited Marine One, which lifted off a bit after 8 a.m. with Trump, who opted to break tradition and not attend the inauguration.

When Skokoski reached St. Matthews, the big bronze doors wouldnt open for him.

Four or five police officers walked out, so Skokoski asked if he could go inside to take photographs.

Almost in unison they said, No, Skokoski said.

But he noticed a woman inside, approached her, mentioned that he attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II, who once preached at St. Matthews.

She lets me in. Im in the church by myself, said Skokoski. He posted a photo showing the empty sanctuary, and he telephoned his mother, a devout Catholic.

This was a really emotional experience, said Skokoski, who thought, This is where Im supposed to be today.

Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden also went to St. Matthews to attend Mass, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and leaders of the House and Senate from both parties earlier Wednesday.

Later, while roaming the streets, Skokoski heard chatter in Chinese, German and French, mostly among foreign reporters. After listening to an interview with a group of young Biden supporters, Skokoski gave them a thumbs up and said they made him glad for the countrys future. A journalist invited him to repeat what he told the young people on Belgian television.

When he returned to his hotel, a map application on his cell phone showed he walked 8.4 miles in 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Im a little bit beat, he said when telephoned in his room where he watched Bidens inaugural speech on television.

I think hes sending a message of unity, Skokoski said of the president. Its going to be hard, but he might be the guy to do it. He reached out to the minority leader and said, Lets go to church tomorrow.

Local residents ask Biden to follow a new way How can a new president bring together a nation that disagrees about issues as basic as who 

On Thursday before returning home, Skokoski wants to take another walk around Washington, which he previously visited during the inaugurations of Trump and Ronald Reagan.

He hopes to revisit the Lincoln Memorial. He hasnt been there since he was a law student at Catholic University in the city 38 years ago, but security forces kept visitors away from the monument and the rest of the National Mall on Wednesday.

I want to go inside and say hello to Abe, Skokoski said.

Western Australia's Police force lost six years' worth of emails sent to an address set up to receive correspondence from sexual assault victims, documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws have revealed.

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The revelation means there were four more years worth of possible investigation leads lost than previously known publicly.

In July last year, this masthead revealed that anyone who attempted to report a sexual crime between February 2016 and March 2018 via an email listed on the WA Police website were sending highly sensitive reports to a ghost address not monitored by police.

WAtoday discovered archived webpages that suggested the email was unmonitored for at least two years, but until now WA Police have ignored repeated questions about the true length of time the administration error was in place.

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SANTA FE  The state Senate wrapped up its first full day of the 2021 session with intense debate over how to maintain transparency as committee hearings move largely online.

It could be a preview of a key struggle the rest of the session  making sure the public has adequate notice and can participate even with the Capitol building closed to the public.

The debate centered on a new Senate rule for online committee meetings, requiring the posting of agendas at least 24 hours in advance but with an exception in the final two weeks of the session, when the rule is simply as soon as practicable.

Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, pushed unsuccessfully to impose 12 hours notice requirement in the final two weeks. Without the proposed change, he said, the language was vague enough to allow a committee chairperson to post an agenda and hold an online meeting five minutes later, making it almost impossible for the public to participate.

This is a huge concern, Pirtle said.

Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, described Pirtles amendment as a reasonable requirement.

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I just want to make sure we err on the side of transparency, Moores said.

But the proposed amendment failed 15-26, with Democrats opposed and Republicans in support.

Democrats argued that committee leaders need flexibility in the final weeks of the session, when the House and Senate send bills back and forth, triggering the scheduling of committees on short notice.

Sen. Joseph Cervantes, a Las Cruces Democrat and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the proposed notice requirement is a good goal. But the suggested amendment is merely aspirational, he said, if it lacks a specific penalty for violations.

Without a consequence, he said, Im not sure whether this is more than just a good intention.



The pandemic has forced credit unions and other businesses across the United States to send employees home and transition into a remote-work environment. Luckily for Dallas-based Advancial Federal Credit Union ($1.8B, Dallas, TX), its had a formal remote work program in place since early 2018. That bit of familiarity helped mitigate the disruption resulting from last years unexpected operational shift.

We think weve done a great job responding to the pandemic, and our employees efforts are the main reason, says Olivia Thurmond, Advancials vice president of human resources. Thats not to say there havent been challenges,

Smaller But Similar

Two years ago, Advancial digitized certain processes and ironed out technology wrinkles to make remote work easier. At the time, the credit union also started allowing most back-office staff to work from home.
By Donald Kirk



Together, North and South Korea confront Joe Biden with what may be the most unnerving foreign policy problems of his presidency.

For starters, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un never began to give up his nuclear program after his summit with Donald Trump in Singapore in June 2018. Their brief joint statement pledged commitment to a "nuclear-free Korean Peninsula," but Kim made clear at this month's congress of his ruling Workers' Party that nuclear power remains essential to his rule.



Trump will go on forever claiming to have averted a second Korean War by meeting Kim, but he cut short their second summit in Hanoi in February 2019 after Kim held fast against any real deal on denuclearization. Then, amid renewed hopes, Trump got nowhere with Kim four months later when they met at Panmunjom on the line between the two Koreas while Trump was in South Korea seeing President Moon Jae-in, an impassioned advocate of dialogue.



For Biden, the choices are limited. They range between "strategic patience," the policy pursued when Biden was vice president under President Barack Obama, to renewed negotiations in search of compromise.



One factor that Biden must consider is Moon's ongoing search for reconciliation. Moon is likely to be among the first foreign leaders to call on Biden. He's sure to impress on Biden his desire for dialogue on multiple levels and venues between Americans and North Koreans and between North and South Koreans.



Having met Kim at three summits beginning with their first rendezvous at Panmunjom in April 2018, Moon has been stymied in his attempts to see the North Korean leader ever since the end of the Trump-Kim dialogue. At his New Year's press conference, he expressed his eagerness to see Kim anywhere, any time. That will be difficult as long as North Korea accuses Moon of placing top priority on South Korea's historic alliance with the U.S.



Other plots are conceivable. There's virtually no chance of restarting the six-party dialogue involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, and two nations that also have a significant stake in North Korea  Japan and Russia  but what about four-party talks, including China, the U.S. and both Koreas? South Koreans, mooting that idea, forget that four-party talks in the late 1990s got nowhere.



Another much discussed notion is an end-of-war agreement advocated by Moon. North Korea, however, wants to replace the Korean War Armistice Agreement signed at Panmunjom in July 1953 with a peace treaty calling for the withdrawal of U.S. military power on the way to eventual takeover of the South.



Given the realities, preliminary talks might provide insights into Kim's real thinking. Might desperation compel him to soften his position, perhaps to suspend or curtail his nuclear program?



Fantasies of a breakthrough will evaporate if Kim orders more missile tests. He talked at this month's party congress of a new supersonic submarine and showed off a submarine-launched ballistic missile at the parade after the congress. Trump may claim the summitry of 2018 and 2019 got Kim to suspend all testing since his last nuclear test in September 2017 and the last test of a long-range missile two months later, but the North Koreans have been busy all along developing more nukes and missiles.



In the interests of a smooth relationship with Biden, Moon will endorse the U.S.-Korean alliance, but that's not going too smoothly for reasons that have nothing to do with the North's nuclear program. Questions surround OPCON, the deal for South Korea to assume operational control of forces in the event of war. South Korean and U.S. forces need to test their capabilities under OPCON in intricate joint exercises that infuriate the North Koreans.



Complicating matters, the U.S. and South Korea have to resolve contentious differences on the South's contribution to the costs of keeping U.S. bases and 28,500 U.S. troops in the country. Trump badly upset the alliance by demanding South Korea pay $5 billion a year, more than five times the $927 million paid in 2019. Biden's team will be looking for an agreement on around $1 billion.



The overwhelming problem is that North Korea, after all Trump's boasts, his showmanship, his dream of a Nobel Peace Prize, remains a de facto nuclear power holding its nukes and missiles like a club over South Korea, Japan and the U.S. Economic failure, however, means that Kim cannot easily make good on his big talk at the party congress. Now he has to reckon with Biden, a realist whom he neglected to congratulate for defeating his friend Donald Trump in November's presidential election.





Donald Kirk, www.donaldkirk.com, writes from both Seoul as well as Washington.


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Britains foreign secretary was in the Sudanese capital on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and tensions along the border with Ethiopia Sudan's state news agency reported.

Dominic Raab who arrived in Khartoum late Wednesday, was expected to meet with Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, head of Sudans ruling sovereign council, Sudan's prime minister and acting Foreign Minister Omar Qamar al-Din, said SUNA.

The report quoted a statement by the United Kingdom's Embassy in Sudan saying Raab was to discuss the situation along the Sudan-Ethiopia border, where violent clashes between Sudanese forces and Ethiopian militias have taken place, leading to concerns of a potential military conflict between the neighboring countries.

Raab was also expected to discuss the ongoing water dispute between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. The dispute is over Ethiopia's construction of a controversial dam on the Blue Nile River, the main tributary of the Nile.

Raab also planned to meet with several civil society leaders, SUNA said.

Sudan is on a fragile path to democratic rule after a popular uprising led the military to overthrow longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in April 2019, after nearly three decades of rule. A military-civilian government is now in power.

Sudan is passing through a critical juncture in its transition to democracy, Raab was quoted by SUNA as saying. The U.K. takes pride in standing by the side of the Sudanese people."
President Joseph Biden is the first occupant of the Oval Office in American history to openly and publicly oppose the death penalty and advocate its abolition.

That is a remarkable sign of how much the national conversation about capital punishment has changed over the last several decades. Just think back to the 1988 presidential campaign, when former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis abolitionist stance almost single-handedly sank his bid.

Or consider Bidens own evolution on the death penalty. As a senator from Delaware, he championed the 1994 omnibus crime bill by proudly observing, It provides 53 death penalty offenses.  We do everything but hang people for jaywalking in this bill.

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But in 2020, he joined every one of the Democratic candidates for president in making opposition to the death penalty a part of his campaign.

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Americas death penalty system, at both the state and federal level, is unjust. Innocent people are falsely convicted of capital crimes. Race and class play important roles in determining who among the convicted get a death sentence and who actually gets executed. The means we use to put people to death are also riddled with problems and have been likened to torture. All of these problems were on ghoulish display during former President Donald Trumps execution spree in the waning days of his presidency.

Biden pledged during his campaign that he would stop federal executions, propose legislation to abolish the death penalty at the federal level, and provide incentives for states to follow suit. He recognized that Americas death penalty system is rife with error and unfairness. Because we cant ensure that we get these cases right every time, candidate Biden tweeted, we must eliminate the death penalty.

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Now that he is president, what will he do to translate his campaign rhetoric into effective action? With an enormously challenging array of problems before him, will the president push ending the death penalty to the top of his agenda, or will it fade into the background?

One early test came with the choice of Bidens nominee for attorney general.

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The selection of Judge Merrick Garland, though admirable and reassuring in many ways, did not signal that ending capital punishment would be high on the new administrations priority list. Before becoming a judge on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Garland played a leading role in the federal death penalty prosecution of Timothy McVeigh for the 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City.

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And once on the appellate bench, he did not establish a particularly progressive record on criminal justice issues or offer suggestions that he opposes the death penalty.

But there is a difference between being a judge and being an AG under a president opposed to the death penalty. During his confirmation hearings, senators should give Garland the opportunity to clarify his views about the death penalty and explain how he will implement the presidents antideath penalty agenda.

Its also telling the way that agenda came and went on the first day of the Biden presidency. In December, 35 Democratic members of Congress urged Biden to end the use of the federal death penalty on your first day in office.

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They laid out an ambitious plan of actions that Biden could take without needing congressional approval. They urged him to prohibit United States Attorneys from seeking the death penalty, dismantle death row at FCC Terre Haute [by granting clemency to everyone awaiting execution], and call for the resentencing of people who are currently sentenced to death.

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It is not yet clear where capital punishment reform sits on the list of executive actions planned for the next few weeks. Acting quickly would highlight the depth of his opposition to capital punishment at a time when the horror of Trumps last-minute executions are all too fresh on the minds of Americans.

Earlier this month, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Richard Durbin announced their intention to introduce the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2021 in the new Congress. This legislation would prohibit capital punishment by the United States government and also require resentencing of those already on death row. At the time of its announcement, the Biden transition team did not take a position on the bill.

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No doubt there will be additional chances for legislative and executive action, including using federal funding as a lever to get death penalty states to act. And Biden should be ready to take advantage of them.

It will also be crucial for the new president to use his bully pulpit to educate Americans about the death penaltys inequities and inhumanity. Popular support for the death penalty has steadily declined, and Biden can make a powerful case for its abolition through his own example.

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Biden is also in a position to draw from his faith and remind Americans that, as Pope Francis recently wrote, the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. The death penalty, said the Pope, is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.

Moving from campaign promises to effective action to end the death penalty will not be an easy task for the Biden administration, and it will not be without its political costs. But Americans are primed and waiting for the kind of leadership that this countrys first death penalty abolitionist president can provide.
2021 will mark an unprecedented year for palindrome dates.

According to the Farmers' Almanac, 2021 will have a total of 22 palindrome dates, which are dates that read the same forwards and backward in four, five, and six-digit formats.

INAUGURATION OUTFITS RANKED: The best 2021 inauguration outfits, ranked

Dr. Aziz Inan, an electrical engineering professor at the University of Portland, Oregon, describes what makes 2021 a stand-out year for palindromes. Inan has been studying palindromes for over a decade.

The only two years in a century that contain 22 palindrome dates are the ones ending with 11 and 21, Dr. Inan said. The year 2011 had 22, and in the next century, they will be found in 2111 and 2121.

The first palindrome date already happened on Jan. 2, 2021 (1-2-21). The most significant palindrome date will be the one from Inauguration day, which also marks the start of 10 consecutive days of palindromes.

The Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Jan. 20, 2021, marked the first time a palindrome date fell on Inauguration Day in history, according to the Farmers' Almanac.

We won't be around to witness the next one happening in 1,000 years on 1-20-3021.

The next set of consecutive palindrome dates won't happen until later this year in December, with nine, five-digit palindrome dates:

12-1-21

12-2-21

12-3-21

12-4-21

12-5-21

12-6-21

12-7-21

12-8-21

12-9-21

According to the Farmers' Almanac, palindromes also include words or phrases spelled the same forwards and backward such as Mom, Dad, Hannah, and phrases such as "Was it a bar or a bat I saw?"

If you're fascinated with palindrome dates and want to see what other ones are coming up in the 21st Century visit the Farmers' Almanac website here.
Texas officials said on Monday that they will be preparing lawsuits against recently inaugurated President Joe Biden for his proposals on immigration and environment, among others.

Some of Biden's policies that the officials plan to file lawsuits against include opening up the U.S. border, forgiving student debt and restricting manufacturing activity, reported One America News.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, said Biden's policies ran in contrast with the Constitution and a lawsuit would stop "federal overreaches."

Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a post that he'll fight against what he called "the many unconstitutional and illegal actions undertaken by the new administration," reported CBS Austin.

My statement on Inauguration Day  pic.twitter.com/Hb893NG91x  Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) January 20, 2021

He also vowed to "serve as a major check against the admin's lawlessness."

It was a shift for the Texas AG that filed lawsuits in favor of the administration in the past four years.

Specifically, Paxton led efforts to overturn Biden's victory over former President Donald Trump from the predominantly Republican state.

Texas filed for similar lawsuits against a Democratic administration in the past, specifically when former President Barack Obama was in office.

These suits show that Republicans are going on the offensive now that a Democrat is back in office.

Texas's Long Tradition of Lawsuits Against Democratic Leaders Goes On

Houston Chronicle noted last week that Texas has a long tradition of battling for its Republican leaders.

Even when Abbott moved up to become governor and having Paxton take his place as AG, they made their commitments of pushing back on Democrat-championed proposals known.

Its Republican leaders sued the Obama administration for the Clean Power Plan, the Affordable Care Act and protections for immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.

That didn't stop when Trump was elected as president. It, in fact, saw more successes in overturning or challenging Obama-era laws and administrative rules.

Read also: Trump Approves Deportation Protections for Venezuelans on Last Night in Office

Many expect this trend to pick up where it left off as Biden takes office.

"Texas vs. the feds" lawsuits will be back full force as leaders float policy proposals in response to action or inaction they expect from a Democrat-led White House, reported Texas Tribune.

"Where the new administration seeks to go out of bounds of what powers have been delegated to it, or enacts policies and rules that aren't supported by data and science," conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation's general counsel Robert Henneke said.

Texas 'At the Top' of Republican AGs on Aggressive Multi-state Attack vs. Biden

Houston Chronicle predicted some looming legal battles in the Affordable Care Act, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, asylum and the border, energy, taxes and civil rights.

Texas would be "at the top of the heap" among Republican attorney generals who would seek court challenge for these proposals from the new administration, Marquette University professor Paul Nolette told Texas Tribune.

Related story: 'We Did What We Came To Do': Trump Stresses Record in Farewell Address

Nolette also noted that multi-state lawsuits against the federal government surged over the past four years. Obama saw 78 in his eight years in office but Trump faced 145 in just four years.

For Nolette, "Republican AGs will take a very aggressive multi-state approach" and they will be moving "quickly."
Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of the first few celebrities to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The 73-year-old former California governor took to social media to shared his first jab in a drive-thru facility.

"Today was a good day. I have never been happier to wait in a line. If you're eligible, join me and sign up to get your vaccine. Come with me if you want to live!" Arnold wrote alongside a clip that showed him sitting in the passenger seat with his mask on while he received the vaccine in his right arm.

In a short clip, the Golden Globe winner appeared thrilled about getting the shot and even encouraged his followers to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

He even made reference to his famous "Terminator" line.

"All right, I just got my vaccine, and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone," he said, adding the iconic catchphrase: "Come with me if you want to live."

Fans React To Arnold Schwarzenegger's COVID-19 Vaccine Post

However, fans have some mixed reactions towards the vaccine.

"Imagine getting to tell people you vaccinated the terminator," one wrote.

A second one lauded the "Predator" star and vowed to get the jab when it's available.

"Well done, Arnold......! We will follow. (It would have been nice to scream a little or faint, as former Mr. Olympia, Terminator, etc etc.... as a joke lol.... but ok."

However, there are some who criticized the actor and accused him of using his celebrity status to receive the vaccine.

"How did you get the vaccine? I thought only health workers and essential workers are getting it. Why are so many celebrities able to jump the line?" the fan tweeted.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aside from the key workers such as health frontliners, the COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions as they are more at high risk of contracting the deadly virus.

Given Arnold Schwarzenegger's age, it is safe to say that he is eligible to receive the first dose.

Celebrities Who Received COVID-19 Vaccine

The Austrian-American actor is among the few Hollywood stars who opted to receive the vaccine.

British actor Sir Ian McKellen, who is known for his role in "The Lord of the Rings" and "X-Men" films, got his first shot of the Pfizer vaccine last December 17.

Aside from the two, the 79-year-old renowned entrepreneur and domestic lifestyle innovator Martha Stewart got vaccinated at Mount Sinai Downtown and is already "looking forward to the booster."

READ MORE: Lady Gaga Goes Viral Over Star Wars-Like Attire Ahead of Joe Biden Inauguration [PHOTO]

See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles
Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-22 01:30:30|Editor: huaxia

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JERUSALEM, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Israel and Morocco signed on Thursday an agreement to launch direct flights between the two countries, Israeli officials said, a month after normalizing their ties.

Under the deal, direct passenger flights would be established, according to a statement issued by the Israeli transportation ministry. Flights from Israel could land in all of Morocco's international airports, the ministry said. No limitation has been put on the number of flights and air carriers that could operate the new route.

The deal also calls for up to 10 weekly cargo flights.

Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev hailed the deal as "a historic breakthrough" in Israel-Morocco ties. The deal would "boost the Israeli aviation industry which will enjoy the expected high demand for flights on this route," she said in the statement.

The normalization agreement between the two nations, first announced in December, is the third normalization deal Israel has signed with an Arab country in 2020, following the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Sudan also has agreed to normalize its relations with Israel. Enditem
(Newser)  State capitals around the country were braced for trouble during President Biden's inauguration Wednesdaybut crowds of violent pro-Donald Trump demonstrators did not appear. Small numbers of protesters demonstrated in some cities, but they were outnumbered by police and journalists. In Albany, where New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo skipped the inauguration to deal with potential protests, a single demonstrator was seen in front of the Capitol. "There was reportedly one protester," Cuomo said, per CNN. "I just took a look outside, I couldn't find the protester," he added. "I could have gone to the inaugural, in retrospect." In Salt Lake City, where Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency last week, the handful of protesters was outnumbered by National Guard troops, Fox 13 reports.

story continues below

In California, one of several other states that activated the National Guard, a solitary Trump supporter protested outside the Capitol in Sacramento, while the only protester at the Montana Capitol was a man with a sign saying "Biden Won, Trump Lost, Let's Move On," reports Forbes. Law enforcement officials say anti-government groups that had been expected to join protesters may have been deterred by the huge security presence following the Jan. 6 US Capitol riotand by rumors that the government had organized the protests to set them up for arrest. In Washington, DC, where 25,000 National Guard members helped secure the inauguration, police told USA Today that there were few protesters and no arrests were made Wednesday. (Read more Inauguration Day stories.)

Christina Ricci has detailed how she once had to hide knives in the house because she feared her now-estranged husband James Heerdegen could kill her after he allegedly said he would only feel sorry for her if she was 'dismembered into small pieces', court documents show.

The 40-year-old actress has also accused Heerdegen of allegedly beating her, throwing her into a fire pit and mocking her with pig noises before she filed for divorce in June last year.

Ricci's allegations were included in a request for a domestic violence restraining order against Heerdegen, which a judge approved late on Wednesday.

Photos of bruises on her hands, wrists and arms were included in the court documents, which were obtained by TMZ, as proof of Heerdegen's alleged abuse.

As a result, a judge ordered Heerdegen to remain at least 100 yards away from Ricci and their 6-year-old son Freddie. He also cannot have visitations with the boy and must stay away from the family's dog.

Christina Ricci has been granted a domestic violence restraining order after accusing her now-estranged husband James Heerdegen of physically abusing her. They are pictured in January 2019

Photos of bruises on her hands, wrists and arms were included in the court documents, which were obtained by TMZ , as proof of Heerdegen's alleged abuse

Heerdegen's lawyer, Larry Bakman, said his client 'unequivocally denies all allegations of abuse made by Ms Ricci.'

He said Heerdegen, who works as a cinematographer, intends to file his own restraining order against Ricci that he claims will reveal 'her abusive conduct fueled by alcohol and substance abuse'.

In the filing, Ricci claimed the alleged abuse at the hands of Heerdegen started in late 2019.

During a family vacation in New Zealand that year, the Addams Family star claimed she feared Heerdegen 'could kill me' because of comments he made.

'He said the only way he could feel sorry for me is if I were dismembered into small pieces,' Ricci alleged in the filing.

'That night I hid all the knives in the cabin where we were staying. I feared for my life and the life of our son. I slept in a separate bedroom with Freddie and I locked the door.'

She claims Heerdegen 'brutally attacked' her in December 2019 where he allegedly beat her, spat at her and mocked her with pig noises.

This incident was what Ricci said sparked her decision to divorce her husband of eight years.

Painful: The actress, 40, gave proof of her injuries, which she said were a result of Heerdegen's attacks, after she 'found herself trapped in a house with a violent abuser' during lockdown

Injuries: Ricci, who is represented by lawyer Samantha Spector, submitted court photos of bruises and other injuries she said were a result of Heerdegen's attacks on her

Ricci claims she told Heerdegen she wanted a divorce but it was hindered by the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March when lockdown quarantines were first initiated.

She said in the filing that she found herself 'stuck in the house with a man who had physically and emotionally abused me, and knew that I wanted to end the marriage'.

Ricci alleges that Heerdegen 'focused solely on punishing and terrorizing me 24 hours a day... I was afraid to sleep at night.'

The filing details two instances in June where Heerdegen allegedly physically attacked her.

The first was June 2 when she claimed Heerdegen allegedly chased her through their house to stop her from calling 911.

'He grabbed my wrists and hands, dragged me, and slammed my body into the fire pit we have in the yard,' she said in the filing. 'I suffered cuts, bruising, and soreness of my hip, which still causes me pain today.'

The couple married in 2013 after two years of dating. Ricci filed for divorce in June 2020 citing irreconcilable differences as the reason why she wants to end the marriage. They are pictured in February 2019

The second occurred on June 25 when Ricci alleged that her estranged husband followed her through the house while 'screaming at me, spitting on me, throwing coffee at me and throwing a chair at me' in front of their son.

She called 911 in that instance was given an emergency protective order against him that prohibited any contact between the couple.

The court documents detail Ricci's fear that Heerdegen will harm their son, claiming that he has allegedly threatened to 'abduct' the boy.

In addition to the restraining order she requested, Ricci also asked the court to block Heerdegen's potential efforts to 'humiliate and embarrass' her with audio and video clips he amassed during their relationship.

The couple married in 2013 after two years of dating. They met on the set of ABC's Pan Am.

Ricci filed for divorce in June 2020 citing irreconcilable differences as the reason why she wants to end the marriage.

She is asking for sole custody of their only son.
JUDGE Catherine Staines praised the Peter McVerry Trust for the work they do in finding accommodation for people in need.

Judge Staines made her remarks in the case of Stephen Bracken, (27) who had a probation report before the Judge.

Mr Bracken had previously been charged and convicted of theft from Moonbeams at Market Square, Tullamore, stealing items from Tesco Cloncollig, Lidl Main Street, Guy Clothing, High Street, Tullamore and with handling notes and coins and stolen bank cards. His offences dated back to 2019 and 2020.

His solicitor Donal Farrelly told Judge Staines that Mr Bracken was well known to her as she had been dealing with him for the past 10 years since he was a young teenager.

He said there had been difficulties in his home with alcohol and he too had become involved with drugs and alcohol.

Judge Staines said she was delighted to see the Peter McVerry Trust and Offaly County Council had secured accommodation for Mr Bracken.

She said it was an acknowledgement of the fantastic work undertaken by the Peter McVerry Trust who believe people should be accommodated first and then their problems dealt with.

She told the defendant she was delighted to see he now had a home and had stayed out of trouble and had not come to garda attention. She said she knew he had previously spent time in prison but said the best solution for him now was to maintain his sobriety and look forward in his life now that he has secure accommodation.

She imposed 12 months probation on condition he cooperate fully with his case manager in the Peter McVerry Trust and also cooperate with his probation officer.
Harry Brants little sister, Lily Brant, paid tribute to the model after his tragic death on Sunday, January 17.

Read article

The youngest child of supermodel Stephanie Seymour and publisher Peter Brant Sr. took to Instagram on Tuesday, January 19, to honor her sibling with an extensive statement. Lilys message was accompanied by a sweet photo of the duo when they were kids.

My amazing big brother and my best friend, words cannot describe how much I will miss you, the 16-year-old captioned her post. You were the most amazing brother to me and you stuck with me through everything. you had the most beautiful and sensitive soul and a sense of humor that could brighten anyones day. Thank you for always making me smile. You taught me how to have empathy for everyone around me and you showed me what it feels like to be understood and cared about.

Courtesy of Lilly Brant/Instagram

The teenager added, You lit up my world and my heart is full of love for you. a piece of you will remain with me forever. I love you indefinitely harry. you are an angel and you will always be a beautiful person inside and out.



Rest in peace.

Read article

Lily concluded her post by sharing a quote from Ernest Hemingways 1929 book, A Farewell to Arms, that reads, The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and very brave impartially.

Following a years-long battle with addiction, Harry died on Sunday from an accidental overdose death of prescription drugs. He was 24.

Courtesy of Lilly Brant/Instagram

We will forever be saddened that his life was cut short by this devastating disease, the family said in a statement to The New York Times on Monday, January 18. He achieved a lot in his 24 years, but we will never get the chance to see how much more Harry could have done.

Read article

In addition to Harry and Lily, Seymour, 52, and Peter Sr., 73, also share son Peter Jr., 27. (The California native also welcomed son Dylan Thomas Andrews, 31, during her marriage to guitarist Tommy Andrews, while her industrialist spouse shares son Ryan Brant from a past relationship.)

Harry was not just our son. He was also a wonderful brother, loving grandson, favorite uncle and a caring friend, the familys statement continued. He was a creative, loving and powerful soul that brought light into so many peoples hearts. He was truly a beautiful person inside and out.

According to The New York Times, Harry planned to enter drug rehabilitation sometime in 2021. He also hoped to return to working on the creative side of Interview magazine, a publication that his father owns.

Dave Allocca/Starpix/Shutterstock

The socialite, who attended Bard College, began making a name for himself as a teenager. When he was 16 in 2013, he became one of the youngest people invited to the Met Gala  an event where he rocked an embroidered Yves Saint Laurent jacket. Two years later, he worked alongside his brother Peter Jr. to create a unisex makeup line for MAC.

The Connecticut native has often spoken about his love for beauty and fashion. Writing for Interview magazine in May 2020, he explained why makeup is important to him.

To me, wearing makeup is almost like a sense of armor that can be wielded whichever way I want, as a completely transformative form of self-expression, he wrote at the time. One of the reasons I love doing other peoples makeup so much is because, as a very self-conscious person, I know how liberating the tiniest cosmetic can make you feel. So, when youre able to accentuate the beauty someone has within themselves that they perhaps werent able to see, its kind of magical.

A special education teacher has been shot dead after he allegedly confronted a teenager spraying graffiti on a storefront in Las Vegas.

Jose Santa Cruz, 32, was killed in cold blood shortly before 7 pm on January 7, after helping his father park a taco truck on East Charleston Boulevard.

Santa Cruz walked off from the truck and into a nearby parking lot before his father heard gunfire erupt just seconds later.

The young teacher was shot fire times before being rushed to University Medical Center. Despite the best efforts of doctors, he died hours later.

On Saturday, police arrested 18-year-old Zyonn Dawson over Santa Cruz's murder after scouring surveillance footage from the area.

Jose Santa Cruz (left) was killed in cold blood in Las Vegas on January 7 after he allegedly confronted a teenager spraying graffiti on a storefront. Zyonn Dawson (right) has been arrested over the murder

Dawson has been charged with one count of murder with a deadly weapon and is being held without bail.

The pair were not known to one another, but police believe Dawson was spray painting a wall when he was approached by Santa Cruz who asked him to stop the act of vandalism.

According to The Las Vegas Review Journal, Santa Cruz owned two businesses on the block where he was shot.

Police reported that fresh graffiti was found right next to the scene of the shooting.

Santa Cruz's father told investigators that if his son 'saw someone spray painting graffiti on the wall of the business, he would have said something to them'.

Santa Cruz was shot dead near this parking lot in East Las Vegas on January 7

In addition to owning the two businesses in the area, Santa Cruz taught special education at Cortez Elementary School

Police arrested Dawson six days after the murder after scouring through surveillance footage from the scene.

The teen allegedly told police that he pulled out his gun and fired at Santa Cruz because he feared that he was about to be robbed.

Dawson alleged that he believed Santa Cruz was accompanied by another man at the time. However, surveillance footage did not show that to be the case.

However, an 'unknown person passing by on a scooter' was recorded by cameras near the scene. It is not thought that they are connected to the crime.

In addition to owning the two businesses in the area, Santa Cruz taught special education at Cortez Elementary School.

He has been described as a man of deep faith and a loyal son.

Co-worker Elizabeth Allen described Santa Cruz as a 'mountain mover' who helped change his students' lives.

Santa Cruz's younger sister told The Review Journal: 'He was always going to be close to my mom, He would tell my mom, "I will never leave you for nobody."

They Santa Cruz family have set up a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral expenses.
(Natural News) The left-wing media is having a heyday with the news that Americas Frontline Doctors head Dr. Simone Gold was arrested for having appeared at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6.

Dr. Gold was present with her megaphone to deliver a speech about the dangers and ineffectiveness of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines, urging listeners to instead take advantage of safe, effective and inexpensive remedies like hydroxychloroquine (HCQ).

Believing the Capitol to have been open to the public, she says, Dr. Gold, who runs a clinic in Los Angeles, entered the building and stayed neatly within the velvet ropes of the rotunda as she warned those around her not to fall for the Chinese virus vaccine hoax.

Because she was merely seen at the so-called insurrection, Dr. Gold is being treated like a domestic terrorist. Two others who were with her, 52-year-old Gina Bisignano and 37-year-old John Strand, are also facing charges simply because of their presence at Donald Trumps Stop the Steal rally.

Back in the summer, Dr. Gold appeared alongside other doctors at the Americas Frontline Doctors White Coat Summit to talk about remedies for the China flu that the medical deep state does not want people knowing about using.

Dr. Gold also published her own white paper on HCQ explaining how the generic anti-malaria drug works to treat coronaviruses. You can read the paper at this link.

For more related news, check out FalseFlag.news.

Trump led his followers right into the trap

Like tens of thousands of others, Dr. Gold was present in Washington, D.C., because Trump told them to be there in support of freedom. He promised that the event would be wild, and boy was it ever.

Anyone who was spotted at the Capitol on Jan. 6, inside or outside the building, is now being pursued for prosecution, even as Trump and his family sail off into the Florida sunset unscathed.

Many are demanding answers as to why Trump left his followers holding the bag that day, especially since people are losing their jobs and careers due to the spectacle.

The whole thing was a false flag hoax staged by the left, we now know. Innocent, good-hearted people like Dr. Gold and her colleagues were not there to commit any type of violence, and appear to have walked right into the Capitol with CNNs Jade Sacker and far-left activist John Sullivan, for whom Capitol police opened up the gates and rolled out the red carpet.

This writer, based on the evidence brought forth thus far, believes Dr. Golds claim that she had no idea there was a siege taking place. She and others were seen peacefully walking through the Capitol, again staying within the bounds of the velvet ropes, as part of a peaceful protest.

Unlike the Black Lives Matter (BLM) and Antifa riots that destroyed numerous major cities back in the summer, including Washington, D.C., Dr. Golds protest was calm and quite frankly protected by the First Amendment, which is now on the chopping block under the new regime.

Dr. Gold and her colleagues need our prayers because they are being unfairly persecuted as part of a wider crackdown on conservative free speech. They were clearly set up on Jan. 6 to take the fall as part of a deep state plot to usher in a PATRIOT Act 2.0  and Trump, quite frankly, is responsible and should be ashamed of himself for betraying those who trusted him all these years.

Just like some of us have been saying all along, its nothing but a play being acted out in front of us, wrote one of our own commenters.

We all want to believe in good beating evil, but we know this only happens on judgment day when the only True King returns: Yeshua the Messiah and the One Righteous Judge. The blood will drip on that glorious day.

Sources for this article include:

TheDailyBeast.com

NaturalNews.com

AmericasFrontlineDoctorSummit.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com


[January 20, 2021] Ivanti Recognized as a Leader in the 2020-2021 IDC MarketScape for Worldwide UEM Software

Ivanti, the automation platform that helps make every IT connection smarter and more secure, today announced that it has been named a Leader in the IDC (News - Alert) MarketScape: Worldwide Unified Endpoint Management Software 2020-2021 Vendor Assessment (doc #US46957820, January 2021). This comes on the heels of Ivanti acquiring MobileIron, a provider of mobile-centric UEM solutions. "We believe this is validation that Ivanti/MobileIron provides one of the most robust overall UEM solutions for mobile and PC devices," said Alan Braithwaite, senior director of product management at Ivanti. "The acquisition of MobileIron accelerated our UEM roadmap by helping enable us to discover, manage and secure any endpoint on any network. Looking ahead, we are well-positioned to deliver even more value to our customers by delivering a truly integrated platform that converges our UEM, security and IT service management stacks and enables customers to proactively and autonomously self-heal, self-secure, and self-service devices in the everywhere enterprise." Today, Ivanti's UEM solution increases user and IT productivity by helping IT administrators gather detailed device data, automate software and OS deployments, personalize workspace environments, and fix user issues quickly. It simplifies management processes by integrating actions with multiple IT solutions through a single Ivanti console and delivering automation across a broad range of systems, including Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, Linux, Unix, iOS, Android (News - Alert) , and IoT devices. The IDC MarketScape report states, "Ivanti/MobileIron has strong support for both Windows and macOS endpoints, at a very detailed level, including OS and third-party patching, hardware/software inventory, remote control, aplication delivery and provisioning and support for legacy management functions and features, such as device imaging both Windows and Mac), GPO management support (Windows), printer management and setup (Windows/macOS) and modern and legacy app distribution (Windows macOS) (DMG file distribution and managed Mac App Store support)."



"With the acquisition of MobileIron, Ivanti expanded its capabilities around modern endpoint management and security to become a powerful leader in UEM. The combined company also has an extensive global network of mobile operators, resellers, and partners in enterprise infrastructure software," said Phil Hochmuth, program vice president of enterprise mobility at IDC. "With the respective strengths of each company coming together, enterprises and SMBs looking to centralize their mobility management functions and tools should consider Ivanti." To access a complimentary excerpt of the report, click here.

About IDC MarketScape: IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors. About Ivanti The Ivanti automation platform makes every IT connection smarter and secure across devices, infrastructure and people. From PCs and mobile devices to virtual desktop infrastructure and the data center, Ivanti discovers, manages, secures and services IT assets from cloud to edge in the everywhere enterprise -- while delivering personalized employee experiences. In the everywhere enterprise, corporate data flows freely across devices and servers, empowering workers to be productive wherever and however they work. Ivanti is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and has offices all over the world. For more information, visit www.ivanti.com and follow @GoIvanti. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210120005768/en/

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the celebrations of 'Parakram Diwas' in Kolkata on January 23 to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of India's freedom icon Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Sources said PM Modi will preside over the inaugural function of the 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations at Victoria Memorial in the city. A cultural programme "Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot", based on the theme of Netaji, is also scheduled to be held on the day.

A Projection Mapping Show on Netaji and a permanent exhibition will be inaugurated on the occasion.

The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a public meeting in Kolkata the auspicious day.

Earlier, the Centre had decided to celebrate Netaji's 125th birth anniversary on January 23 every year as 'Parakram Diwas' to inspire people of the country. The initiative was taken in order to honour and remember Netaji's indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation.

After attending the event in Kolkata, the PM will travel Jerenga Pathar in Assam's Sivasagar to distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas and allotment certificates, sources said.


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The inauguration ceremony of the 50MWp My Hiep Solar Power Plant project

The project has a total investment of more than VND1.2 trillion ($52.17 million) and it is built on an area of 58.27ha in My Hiep commune, Phu My district, Binh Dinh province with a total installed capacity reaching 50MWp.

The plant applies Huawei String Inverter technology with seven AC stations, 229 string inverters, and 113,624 mono half-cell 440wp PV modules with a conversion efficiency of 19.91 per cent provided by Japans leading industrial conglomerate, Sharp Corporation.

Aerial view of the 50MWp My Hiep Solar Power Plant

The project was designed and implemented by the SESJ-SSSA-NSN consortium, which has a wealth of experience in implementing similar projects such as Phong Dien, Ham Phu 2, and Phuoc Ninh solar power plants.

Besides, under the strict management and supervision of Bureau Veritas from France, My Hiep Solar Power Plant did not only achieve the commercial operation date on schedule to enjoy the feed-in tariff (FiT) rate of 7.09 US cents per kWh but also satisfied all criteria for safety, technology, and quality during its 20-year lifespan.

After nearly six months of construction and installation, withstanding weather challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, My Hiep Solar Power Plant was officially energised on December 11, 2020. The plant is expected to provide the national grid with 82 million kWh of electricity a year, contributing to reducing CO2 emissions to the environment by about 54,000 tonnes a year.

Vietnam Viet Renewable Energy JSC donates VND1 billion ($43,480) to the two villages of Van Thien and Van Phuoc Tay

Along with other renewable energy projects, My Hiep Solar Power Plant aims to provide a fulcrum for Binh Dinh to reach new levels of development, gradually growing into a major national renewable energy centre.

The project does not only contribute to adding clean and environmentally-friendly energy to the national grid but also contributes to the socio-economic development of Phu My district and Binh Dinh province.

The project does not only contribute to adding clean and environmentally-friendly energy to the national grid but also contributes to the socio-economic development of Phu My district and Binh Dinh province.

To support socio-economic development in the province, project owner Vietnam Viet Renewable Energy JSC awarded VND1 billion ($43,480) to Van Thien and Van Phuoc Tay villages of My Hiep commune to build roads, contributing to improving local infrastructure and the quality of life of locals.

Established in April 2018, Vietnam Viet Renewable Energy JSC is a member of Wealth Power Group and NSN Construction and Engineering JSC to implement the 50MWp My Hiep Solar Power Plant project in My Hiep commune, Phu My district, Binh Dinh province in Vietnams southcentral coast.

Wealth Power Group is a multidisciplinary investment unit, a pioneer in the investment of renewable energy, real estate, tourism, and agriculture with prominent projects such as Phong Dien 2 Solar Power Plant and the Chan May LNG project.

In addition, its investment partner NSN Construction and Engineering JSC is a pioneering general contractor in the field of building renewable energy plants, with more than 350MWp of solar power projects implemented nationwide. NSN has 17 years of experience in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, with strong financial, technical, and managerial potential.

Leveraging the strengths of these two major shareholders, Vietnam Viet Renewable Energy JSC has quickly completed My Hiep Solar Power Plant in accordance with international standards on engineering, safety, management, and quality with a committed performance ratio of 84.14 per cent at the commercial operation date.
Anya Buckley died at the Leeds Festival in summer 2019 after taking a cocktail of ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine

Unaccompanied under-18s should be banned from going to music festivals where they are exposed to harmful drugs, a coroner has suggested after a 17-year-old girl died.

Senior Coroner Kevin McLoughlin urged Leeds Council to 'take action' to stop more 'impressionable and potentially vulnerable teenagers' from dying.

He said that illegal drugs were a 'fact of life at festivals' and it was down to the local authority to consider whether it should allow under-18s to attend and be put at risk.

His intervention came after Anya Buckley died at the Leeds Festival in summer 2019 after taking a cocktail of ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine.

She suffered a cardiac arrest and, despite the efforts of medics to save her life, was declared dead just after 3.30am on August 24.

An inquest at Wakefield Coroner's Court on January 13 heard Anya, from Oldham, had attended the popular music event with around 16 friends.

After recording a conclusion of a drug-related death following a toxicology report, Mr McLoughlin sent a Regulation 28 prevention to Leeds City Council, asking the local authority to consider whether under-18s should be allowed to attend unsupervised.

Mr McLoughlin wrote in the report: 'As Leeds City Council licence the Leeds Festival, it is for them to consider whether admitting 16-17-year old teenagers into the festival - when they are not permitted in other licensed premises - amounts to an abdication of responsibility in relation to impressionable and potentially vulnerable teenagers.'

She suffered a cardiac arrest and, despite the efforts of medics to save her life, was declared dead just after 3.30am on August 24

He added: 'In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe your organisation has the power to take such action.'

A report by Festival Insights in 2017 revealed that 5 per cent of all festival goers were 16 or 17.

Some festivals, such as Boomtown in Winchester, mandate all under-18s to be accompanied by adults.

That under-18s are banned from pubs and nightclubs but allowed to roam a music festival rife with 'tempting' drugs is anomalous, the coroner said.

Mr McLoughlin wrote in the report: 'Illicit drugs are a fact of life at festivals such as this, despite the efforts made by the organiser to prevent them getting in, and to treat those who are harmed by them.

'The infrastructure of drug searches and medical resources testifies to this.

Senior Coroner Kevin McLoughlin urged Leeds Council to 'take action' to stop more 'impressionable and potentially vulnerable teenagers' from dying

'The mixture of potentially vulnerable young people and available illicit drugs creates a tempting situation for these excited teenagers and exposes them to the potential harm which illicit drugs can inflict.

'As teenagers aged 16-17 are not legally permitted to be in public houses or night clubs, it seems anomalous that they should be free to spend the whole night in an environment where illicit drugs and alcohol are prevalent.

'Evidence was given at the inquest by Miss Buckley's mother that entry should be restricted to people under the age of 18.

'In fairness, evidence was also given in relation to the difficulty of checking age, and the possibility that young people will search for excitement elsewhere if they cannot attend well-organised festivals.'

But he acknowledged that of the throngs of teenagers that attend music festivals, very few die.

Anya's mother, Lisa Bulmer, rowed in behind the coroner and made clear her view that under-18s should not be allowed to the events without an adult.

Speaking after the hearing, she said: 'For me, the burning issue is that you can't go into a pub and drink legally until you are 18.

'The bigger risk at a festival is the amount of drugs in circulation. Because of the culture of that age group, being allowed in the festival from 16 without an adult, they are absolutely vulnerable.

'If the age was raised it gives the parents more power to talk to the children and stop them going.'

A report by Festival Insights in 2017 revealed that 5 per cent of all festival goers were 16 or 17

Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic which stages Leeds Festival, told he inquest that that if people under the age of 18 cannot attend legal events they will 'find a way to attend illegal events' where there would be more risk to their health.

Mr Benn said there is welfare advice 24 hours a day at the festival, with large messages warning people about the misuse of drugs displayed on screens in between artists performing.

Criminal proceedings in connection wth Anya's death are currently ongoing at Leeds Crown Court.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said after the inquest: 'We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Anya's family, and all other families who have experienced a similar tragedy.

'As always, we will carefully consider any recommendations from the coroner once we receive them, and take any appropriate action.'
Recognizing that climate change is one of the defining challenges of the century, a new certificate program through Rollins School of Public Health prepares students to make strong contributions to climate change research, policy and practice.

Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health is launching a new certificate program to train students for careers in climate change and health.

Climate change is one of the defining challenges of the century, says James W. Curran, dean of the Rollins School of Public Health, and it is essential that we offer our students opportunities to develop the skills they will need to be leaders in this field.

The new certificate in climate and health will be offered to all students enrolled in the Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) programs at Rollins. To receive the certificate, students will be required to complete a two-course sequence on climate and health, take two additional electives and complete a thesis or capstone on a climate-related topic.

The certificate is one of two new initiatives to boost Emorys contributions in the field of climate and health specifically. Last spring, the Rollins School of Public Health launched a new Emory Climate and Health Research Incubator to foster new research that can improve societys response to climate change. In December, two Emory faculty members and one doctoral student participated as authors on the 2020 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change.

We have seen a real increase in demand from public health students for more training in climate and health, says Yang Liu, chair of the Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health and director of the research incubator. This certificate program gives them a clear path to get that training, and really complements our efforts to push forward on climate-related research.

The climate and health certificate and the Climate and Health Research Incubator are part of a broad portfolio of climate-related activities developed by Emory University in the past several years. Others include a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, the university-wide Climate@Emory initiative, annual student delegations to the U.N. Climate Talks, the statewide Georgia Climate Project and support for the statewide Drawdown Georgia project.
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
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The IPO of mortgage financier Home First Finance opened today and the issue was 1.03 times subscribed on Day 1. The company has fixed a price band of 517-518 a share for its initial share-sale. The issue concludes on January 25. Ahead of the IPO, the mortgage financier on Wednesday raised 346 crore from anchor investors at 518 per share, the upper end of the price band. The anchor investors include Nomura, Fidelity International, Morgan Stanley India Investment Fund and Goldman Sachs.

Here are 10 things to know about Home First Finance IPO:

1) The offer for sale consists of shares worth 435.61 crore by promoter True North Fund V LLP, 291.28 crore by promoter Aether (Mauritius) Ltd, 120.46 crore by investor Bessemer India Capital Holdings II Ltd and up to 41.3 crore by two individual shareholders -- PS Jayakumar and Manoj Viswanathan.

2) Post issue, the shareholding of promoters in Home First Finance will come down to 33.70% from 52.85%.

3) The 1,153 crore IPO of Home First Finance comprises fresh issue of up to 265 crore and an offer for sale aggregating up to 888 crore by the promoters and existing shareholders.

4) The company intends to utilise the net proceeds towards augmenting its capital base to meet its future requirements.

5) Axis Capital, Credit Suisse Securities (India) Pvt Ltd, ICICI Securities and Kotak Mahindra Capital Company will manage the share sale.

6) KFIn Technologies Pvt. Ltd is the registrar of the IPO.

7) The share allocation in Home First Finance is likely to be finalised on January 29 while listing is likely on February 3

8) "Aided by its high growth momentum on a smaller base, superior underwriting standards, and efficient collections management (GNPAs at <1% and modest credit costs), Home First Financ delivered healthy RoA of 2.7% in FY20. RoE of 11% looks modest owing to lower leverage at 4x in FY20. The issue is priced at post-money P/BV of 3.4x compared to its nearest competitor Aavas Financiers which trades at 6.8x on September BV," Yes Securities said in a note.

9) "At higher price band ( 518), the stock valued at 4.1 (x) 2QFY21 P/ BVPS. Factoring the superlative return ratios, ROA/ROE of 11%/3%, we believe that Home First Finance Company is worth subscribing. Thus we recommend subscribe," LKP Securities said in a note.

10) Home First Finance is a technology-driven affordable housing finance company, backed by marque private equity players like True North, Warburg Pincus, Aether Mauritius and Bessemer India. "It registered loan and disbursements CAGR of 56.7% and 56.2% respectively over FY17-20. Along with strong growth, the company managed to tweak its loan mix - housing loans share came off from 96.7% in FY17 to 92% in FY20 and share of LAP improved from 2.1% to 5.1%. Lending spread also improved significantly from 3.3% in FY17 to 4.5% in FY20," Yes Securities said. As of September 2020, the company had an assets under management of 3730 crore.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-21 13:42:56|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Wednesday briefed foreign diplomats on the just-concluded presidential elections.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, government ensured favorable space for free, fair and peaceful electoral process, said Sam Kutesa, the country's foreign affairs minister, in a statement.

Kutesa said the heavy security deployment in the capital Kampala and surrounding areas during the election process was intended to ensure "domestic tranquility, the security and welfare of its citizens."

"We would like to reassure the international community that this tranquility will continue to prevail beyond the immediate aftermath of the elections, into the future," he said.

The minister said Uganda has sufficient capacity to deal with its affairs and rejects foreign interference in its internal affairs.

Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni won the elections with 58.64 percent of the vote. Enditem

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Newly sworn-in American president, Joe Biden, on Wednesday, issued an executive order nullifying a travel ban imposed on citizens of some Muslim-majority countries by his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Before his exit from White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump-led administration was notorious for its harsh policies against immigrants and asylum seekers, one of his many election campaign promises.

He tightened the policies amidst the coronavirus pandemic which rocked the globe, claiming his decision was to protect American populace.

However, Mr Biden, immediately after his inauguration on Wednesday, issued a number of executive orders undoing some of the policies and projects of his predecessor.

Reversals

Mr Biden has now nullified the entry ban on citizens from over a dozen countries, including Nigeria, Eritrea, Yemen, and Sudan.

Theres no time to waste.

These are just all starting points, he said before signing the 17 executive orders in the White House, a statement that connotes the possibility of many more to come.

Mr Trumps strict immigration policies have been condemned by leaders and civil groups in the past.

The American Civil Liberties Union, on Wednesday lauded Mr Bidens decision berating his predecessors travel policy a cruel Muslim ban that targeted Africans.

Against his predecessors plan to exit the World Health Organisation (WHO) by July 2021, Mr Biden has also submitted a letter renewing the U.S. commitment to funding the organisation and honoring the countrys policies on climate change.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Trump ordered the suspension of funds to the WHO based on his suspicion of the alleged mismanagement of the deadly pandemic by the health agency and its (WHO) pandering to the whims, of the Chinese government.

One of Mr Bidens newly signed executive orders also includes the abolishment of the construction of a wall along the U.S-Mexico border to deny citizens of the latter outright entry.

In a bid to combat the spread of the deadly virus, the 46th U.S. president (Biden) also encouraged his people to mask up as its a patriotic act that can save countless lives.

Its time to mask up, America, he wrote on his twitter handle.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden also signed an executive order mandating all people to wear masks in all federal buildings and on federal lands to fight increase the countrys chances against the pandemic.
Russia's decision to transfer Ukrainians held in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions to a private individual, Viktor Medvedchuk, rather than to Ukraine violates established mechanisms for resolving such issues and is a blow to the Normandy format and to the work of the Trilateral Contact Group in Minsk, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has said in a statement.

"The decision by the Russian Federation to transfer a group of Ukrainian citizens, who were held for a long time in the temporarily occupied territory in Donetsk and Luhansk region, to a private individual, Viktor Medvedchuk, rather than to Ukraine grossly and openly violates established mechanisms for resolving such humanitarian issues," the statement reads.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stressed that "this step by the Russian Federation is a blow to the Normandy format and the Trilateral Contact Group, which are conducting systematic work to ensure the release of persons held in connection with the conflict."

"Russia's consciously neglecting the OSCE's role in the issue of release is particularly revealing and cynical on the day of the visit to Ukraine by OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde," the ministry added.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demanded that Russia adhere strictly to all agreements reached in the Normandy format, including those on ensuring unimpeded access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to Ukrainian prisoners of war and hostages held in the territories of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia, and release all persons held in connection with the conflict.

Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova said on January 20 that nine people would be unilaterally transferred to Ukraine from Russian-occupied Donbas, with the process due to begin on January 20 or 21.

Earlier media reports said that Donbas militants would hand over a group of captured Ukrainian citizens to Ukraine.

For her part, Denisova stated her readiness to facilitate the return of illegally detained Ukrainian citizens to Ukraine.

The spokesperson for the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group, Oleksiy Arestovych, said that the Ukrainian special services would check the persons whom the "puppet bodies" of the so-called "DPR" and "LPR" were preparing to hand over to Ukraine.

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Posted Thursday, January 21, 2021 5:02 am

In a sign of mounting frustration over Washington's COVID-19 restrictions, more than 1,500 people urged state lawmakers to support a bill that would speed the reopening of businesses and put legislators, not Gov. Jay Inslee, in charge of the process.

Of the 1,637 people who signed up for a hearing Wednesday on Senate Bill 5114, all but 89 registered support for the measure.

Backers say that lopsided result reflects rising impatience with Inslee's reopening strategy, Healthy Washington-Roadmap to Recovery, which critics say is unjustified by public-health data and is moving too slowly to save many restaurants, gyms and other closed or partially closed businesses.

Wednesday's turnout "should be sending a message that people want to find the [reopening] path that saves the businesses and protects public health," said state Sen. Mark Mullet, D-Issaquah, a co-sponsor of the bill, after the hearing. Business owners are "being harmed and they don't know what to do about it," added Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, another co-sponsor.

But other lawmakers downplayed the show of support for the measure, which they said had been partly orchestrated by industry groups. Opponents also said the bill ignored the risks of rising coronavirus infections. "Frankly, I line up the groups that like to follow the scientists more than just a wave of emotion," said state Sen. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, chair of the State Government & Elections Committee that held Wednesday's hearing.

SB 5114, which is co-sponsored by 14 Republicans and two Democrats, is one of a handful of bills to push back on Inslee's authority over the state's COVID-19 response, much of which has been implemented via emergency proclamation.

Under SB 5114, the state would immediately move into the less restrictive Phase 2 of the governor's plan; for example, that would allow restaurants, which now face a ban on indoor dining, to operate at 25% of indoor capacity.

SB 5114 would also shift authority for the state's reopening strategy to the Legislature, which would "regularly review the best available public-health data to determine" whether counties should move to more or less restrictive phases, according to a Senate bill report.

A spokesman for Inslee said in an emailed statement that "the governor's appropriate use of his emergency authority has saved lives."

Spokesperson Mike Faulk added that "Debates over this kind of legislation need to take into account all the potential unintended consequences that could come with complicating the state's ability to respond appropriately to protect lives."

Not all of those who signed up to speak Wednesday intended to offer testimony during the hourlong hearing, and only a small fraction were able to speak. But even the limited testimony showed some of the breadth of public sentiment on the issue.

Speakers ranged from nurses and public-health officials, who largely opposed the bill, to industry lobbyists and small business owners, who argued in the bill's favor.

"The shutdown has been costing us over $120,000 a month," said Dannielle Knutson, owner of three Olympia restaurants. "Every day we are not open, we are continuing to pile on more and more debt in our businesses, as well as my personal life."

Several business owners spoke of having to shut down or partly shut down multiple times in response to changing state regulations.

Blair McHaney, president of the Washington Fitness Alliance and owner of two Wenatchee-area gyms, said that since the start of 2020, his clubs "have operated at 11 weeks of full capacity, 37 weeks at zero, five weeks at 25% and now 10 days at 10%. We had nine months of no revenue, and yet our expenses don't stop."

Opponents of the bill, though heavily outnumbered by supporters, also made their case forcefully.

"With ... hospitalizations rising, we do not believe the state is ready to move forward," warned Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary for COVID response at the state Department of Health. SB 5114 "goes too fast without any health data to support" reopening at that rate.

That concern was echoed by Kat Wood, a "front-line health-care worker" at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, who feared the bill could lead to a spike in COVID-19 cases similar to what occurred after Thanksgiving. "If we open the state too early, it will open the floodgates to my hospital and [could] overwhelm me and the caregivers I work with."

Prospects for SB 5114 remain uncertain. Hunt acknowledged the challenges small businesses face under the restrictions, but said the Senate bill and a companion measure in the House lacked sufficient support from lawmakers and are "certainly crossways with what the [Inslee] administration is doing." Both the state House and Senate have Democratic majorities.

But Braun and Mullet, a pro-business Democrat, said SB 5114's main goal is to pressure Inslee to compromise on his reopening plan. Braun and Mullet said the hearing's heavy turnout could also put pressure on Democrat lawmakers to potentially break with Inslee and push for a compromise to reopen businesses faster.

Many Democrats are "trying to have it both ways  they don't want to split with the governor, but they want to help the restaurants" and other businesses, Braun said. "This kind of forces them to make their decision: Are they going to just blindly follow the governor. Are they gonna look for a way to safely open restaurants."

___

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Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Three people are now confirmed to have lost their lives and several others were injured after a large explosion destroyed a building in the center of Madrid on Wednesday afternoon.

The Mayor of Madrid, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, told reporters at the scene that an 85-year-old woman and an as yet unidentified man had died in the blast, which occurred at Toledo Street in the center of Madrid close to the emblematic Plaza Mayor just before 3 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).

The news was updated by the government delegate in Madrid, Jose Manuel Franco, who said that a third person had died and another was "missing."

The missing person is understood to have been working on the building's heating system when the explosion occurred.

Among the dozen people reported to have suffered injuries was a man, aged 26, who was in "moderately serious" condition, and a man in his 50s, who suffered "light" head injuries, and others sustained minor cuts and bruises.

Although the cause of the explosion has yet to be confirmed by the Fire Brigade, Martinez-Almeida explained that a gas leak was the most likely cause.

The explosion completely destroyed the top three floors and damaged the remaining floors of the six-story building where it occurred. Nine fire engines and 11 ambulances were sent to the scene. Rescue teams are using dogs to search for any other possible victims, but they have been unable to enter the building, which is still on fire.

Speaking on Spanish state TV network RTVE, witnesses explained how the walls had suddenly fallen in on them with no warning at all. Many of those affected by the blast have been sheltered in nearby bars and restaurants, while a nearby hotel has also offered its rooms.

The surrounding streets were strewn with rubble and several vehicles were damaged by falling masonry.

The number of casualties was initially feared to be a lot higher given that the building where the explosion occurred is situated next to a nursing home for the elderly and a school. But early reports suggested that nobody in those buildings was hurt.
File / Hearst Connecticut Media

GREENWICH  Officers arrested a man from Long Island and charged him with engaging in a police pursuit after he allegedly sped away from them early Monday, police said.

Police spotted a car speeding on Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich near Binney Park around 2:40 a.m., and the driver ran a stop sign at Park Avenue and Lockwood Avenue, according to the arrest report.
Decoding Social Media Censorship by the Issues

Commentary

Free speech is under ferocious attack by Big Tech social media platforms. This is generally viewed as an attack against conservatives on that basis alone. Consequently, the reverse side of that coin views Big Tech as left-wingers in cahoots with Democratic operatives, both of whom have ganged up to gain a political advantage.

I believe these are incorrect views that hide the real nature of the censorship problem.

Big Tech censorship isnt just an American problem. Journalists, broadcasters, and vocal citizens are being disappeared with equal effort all around the world. Thus, its obviously wrong for Americans to think in terms of conservative versus liberal, left-wing versus right-wing, or Republican versus Democrat.

Looking at censorship of free speech from a global perspective gives a different and more accurate view of whats really going on. In addition, putting the censored individuals aside, examining the issues being censored is more revealing.

So, what kind of issues are being censored?

COVID-19 criticism. Many experts, scientists, and medical professionals around the world have been critical of China as being the source of the virus, and have suggested different and more traditional medical treatments for those who contract COVID-19. While the Great Barrington Declarationwhich advocates against lockdownshas attracted signatures of 727,140 citizens, 13,290 medical and public health scientists, and 40,199 medical practitioners, any who dare to speak against the Big Tech narrative are immediately censored. Vaccine criticism. Expect immediate censorship for speaking or writing about the dark side of vaccines. Dr. Joseph Mercolas website, for instance, lost about 99 percent of its Google search engine traffic for writing about alternative medicine and the negative effects of vaccines. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who founded and directs Childrens Health Defense, sued Facebook in 2020 for censoring alternative information about vaccines. Indeed, anyone critical of vaccine issues is destined to be heavily censored. Globalization criticism. Citizens, journalists, and broadcasters who address the issues of globalization, such as the World Economic Forums Great Reset or the United Nations, can expect to be censored. Theyre quickly labeled as conspiracy theorists even for quoting text taken directly off the World Economic Forums website and blog. Populism. The very large political movement that swept President Donald Trump into office in 2016 is routinely censored in all its forms. Its also routinely attacked as extremist, hate-promoting, and a threat to national security. Global warming. Critics of the Paris climate accord and global warming are routinely and heavily censored, even though large numbers of physicists, atmospheric scientists, and climate experts have written that man isnt responsible for global warming or that its not a crisis. In addition, many academic scandals have been exposed over the use of corrupted and manipulated climate data. Hunter Bidens Ukraine and China dealings. During 2020, this entire affair was deeply buried and censored across social media and search engines. Those who tried to bring it to light were ostracized and harassed to maintain silence.

The point of listing these issues is to demonstrate that media censorship is about certain globalist-related issues and not necessarily about political affiliation. While its true that most of the above issues are raised by conservatives and libertarians, its not exclusively so.

To reiterate, Big Techs censorship algorithms are issue-specific and not person-specific.

If this is the case, then what do these issues represent in aggregate?

In short, globalization.

All companies who are deeply aligned with globalization will do whatever is necessary to protect and promote their own globalist agenda. This would include almost all Big Tech companies, but also a host of global corporations such as banks, airlines, big box stores, insurance companies, payment processors, and internet service providers.

Conversely, they will censor and suppress any opposition to their globalist agenda.

The COVID-19 narrative of control is a global phenomenon. So are universal vaccines, populism, and global warming. The Hunter Biden scandal could have exposed potentially massive corruption in the globalization world, and was thus seen as worthy of being covered up, if not buried completely.

If this conclusion is correct, then censorship isnt merely persecution of (mostly) conservatives, but is rather an outright promotion of a globalist agenda thats necessarily destructive to the United States.

Its not an issue of left versus right, conservative versus liberal, or Democrat versus Republican. Rather, its anti-American, period. And herein lies the real threat to national security.

Patrick M. Wood is the founder and director of Citizens for Free Speech, a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and defending the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Hes also the editor of Technocracy News & Trends, a worldwide journal dedicated to critical analysis of technocracy and globalization. Wood has authored four books, including Technocracy Rising: The Trojan Horse of Global Transformation and Technocracy: The Hard Road to World Order.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
With campaigning intensifying in West Bengal and the BJP pulling out all stops to wrest power from the Mamata Banerjee-led dispensation, several instances have been reported where local party workers have taken to the streets raising provocative slogans calling for violence. After a rally in Chandannagar area of Hooghly district yesterday, three BJP workers were arrested today for shouting goli maaro saalon ko (shoot the traitors), NDTV reported.

The report said that the BJP workers were retaliating to Trinamool supporters who had made similar calls during a march in Kolkata a day before.

The slogans were reportedly raised by the BJP workers during a roadshow as they walked behind a truck carrying BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and Hooghly MP Locket Chatterjee in the Rathtala area of Chandannagar on Tuesday, according to a PTI report. The sloganeering workers were carrying the party flag and the Indian Tricolour.

Adhikari, a TMC heavyweigh, recently jumped ship over to the BJP in December last year after simmering differences with the TMC supremo.

"Goli Maro slogans are unacceptable. The BJP is trying to provoke people," NDTV quoted West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim.

The slogan, for which the ruling BJP drew heavy flak after minister Anurag Thakur raised it during a public meeting in Delhi days before violent riots broke out in northeast Delhi, has been condemned by several political parties for its racial connotations.

The BJP, however, said the slogan was aimed at the nation's traitors "some of whom are in the Trinamool Congress". State spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the party does not endorse it, reported PTI.

TMC, too, was quick to distance itself from the catchphrase. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that its party workers were targeting "Bengal's traitors" instead of "the nation's", PTI reported.

"Such a slogan should not have been raised from the rally...The words goli maro (shoot) should not be taken literally," Ghosh said.

In March last year, the Mamata government had ordered action against three other BJP supporters who had raised the same slogan during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata.
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Outgoing U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Ajit Pai said potential Chinese espionage and threats to U.S. telecommunications networks and internet freedom are the biggest national security issue that regulators will face in the next four years. Ajit Pai told Reuters in an interview there is a "wide array" of activity from China that was of concern, including of surveillance, economic espionage and potential "injection of malware into networks here in the United States or around the world. There are a number of bad things that can happen when insecure ...
Beijing has launched a defence of its vaccination program, accusing western media of attempting to trash China's reputation as it ramps up the inoculation of millions across the developing world.

The push follows Chinese state media urging Australia to pause its rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after 33 elderly and ill people in Norway died following immunisation. The Norwegian Medicines Agency on Tuesday said there was no direct link between the vaccine and the deaths.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. Credit:AP

The German Pfizer-BioNTech and US Moderna vaccines have published efficacy rates of more than 90 per cent in their final trials. China's widely-distributed Sinovac Biotech product has been reported by countries undertaking trials as having efficacy rates of between 50 and 78 per cent, but the company has released little publicly available data.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday evening listed world leaders who have received or would become the first in their country to be injected with the Chinese-developed vaccines, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
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The New York Times

On a January night in 1982, Alan Lee Phillips was found shivering in his pickup, stuck in a snowdrift on a treacherous mountain pass in central Colorado. A rescue worker tracked him down after Phillips, then 30, used his headlights to blink the Morse code signal for SOS and caught the attention of a passenger on a plane flying overhead. Asked what he had been thinking, taking such a dangerous road in subzero temperatures, Phillips, looking dazed, said he was coming back from a bar, according to the police. You find out how lonely it is really quick, Phillips later said, according to a newspaper article from the time. I thought about walking to a ski area nearby, and went about 200 yards and thought, No way. It was too cold. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Nearly 40 years later, the police now say they know where Phillips was really coming from that night and what might have caused him to take the perilous route. Authorities say he had just shot two young women and left them to die near the mountain town of Breckenridge. It was his own stupidity that got him up there, because the pass is not passable in the wintertime, said Sgt. Wendy Kipple of the Park County Sheriffs Office. I dont know what he was thinking, other than he was trying to run away from a crime he had just committed. Phillips, now 70, was charged in February with first-degree murder, assault and kidnapping in the killings of Annette Schnee and Barbara Jo Oberholtzer after DNA evidence linked him to their deaths. Phillips, a semiretired mechanic living in Clear Creek County, west of Denver, has been held in the Park County Jail since his arrest. He is being represented by a lawyer with the states public defenders office, which did not respond to requests for comment. The connection between the rescue and the charges was reported this week by KUSA-TV. Phillips arrest followed decades of investigation by several different agencies and private detectives in Colorado, where the crimes gripped the investigators who tried to solve it. Kipple, 56, has been investigating the case for more than 30 years. She grew up in Summit County and was a senior in high school when the crimes took place. Its one of those cases that you just cant put it down, Kipple said. You have to find out why and who. Oberholtzer, 29, was a meticulous planner. She often carried around a notebook full of plans and budgets for a horse corral that she and her husband planned to build on their property in Alma, Kipple said. She had a daughter, who was 11 at the time of her mothers death. Schnee, 21, cleaned rooms at a Holiday Inn in Frisco, Colorado, during the day and was a waitress at a bar at night. She wanted to become a flight attendant, according to her mother. She was last seen around dusk on Jan. 6. She had gone to a pharmacy in Breckenridge to pick up a prescription, then went out to hitchhike home to Blue River, about 6 miles away. She never made it there, the police said. Later that night, Oberholtzer went to a Breckenridge bar with some friends. She had been promoted from secretary to office manager and wanted to celebrate, Kipple said. Her friends had told her they could give her a ride, but Oberholtzer decided to leave earlier and hitchhike back to Alma. Hitchhiking was and remains common around Breckenridge, a popular ski resort area that attracts rich tourists but where many residents struggle to keep up with the cost of living and cannot afford their own car, Kipple said. Oberholtzer was found the next morning, just off Highway 9 near the summit of Hoosier Pass. She had been shot twice. A pair of plastic cords was tied to her wrist, according to the police. Six months later, Schnees body was found lying face down in Sacramento Creek in Park County. She had been shot in the back. Over the years, investigators looked at dozens of people in connection with the crimes but were unable to make an arrest. Authorities said they had carefully collected the evidence at both scenes, including a glove and tissue found near Oberholtzers body that were stained with blood. In 1998, investigators tested the blood for DNA and found it belonged to an unknown male. They searched a criminal database for matches but found none. The trail went cold again. After one of the investigators in the case died, three years ago, his son gave a packet of news articles about the case to Mitch Morrissey, a former prosecutor and a co-founder of United Data Connect, a Colorado-based company that conducts forensic genealogy. Morrissey told reporters in March that he was struck by the photos of the women lying in the snow after being shot in the darkness, by themselves, dying, basically freezing to death. He said he could understand how the crime would make investigators so determined to answer the question of who would do such a horrible thing to somebody. Forensic genealogists with his company found 12,000 people in a family tree who had a possible match to the profile. Kipple said investigators asked many of those people to volunteer DNA samples, and all of them agreed to provide one. She declined to say how many people had given a sample or if Phillips had provided one. On Feb. 24, after surveilling Phillips for weeks, the police arrested him during a traffic stop in Clear Creek County. The police said they did not know whether Phillips knew either woman or what a possible motive may have been. Oberholtzers husband, Jeff, said in a statement that he prayed the arrest will finally, after all these decades, bring closure and peace to this hideous nightmare. Eileen Franklin, Schnees mother, said she was relieved that she had lived long enough to see an arrest. I just thought before I leave this earth I would like to see some closure, Franklin, 88, said in an interview. Its been a rough 40 years. This article originally appeared in The New York Times.  2021 The New York Times Company

Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, offering a message of unity and restoration to a deeply divided country reeling from a battered economy and a raging Covid-19 pandemic that has killed over 400,000 Americans.

Standing on the steps of the US Capitol two weeks after a mob of then-President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the building, Biden called for a return to civic decency in an inaugural address marking the end of Trump's tempestuous four-year term.

Also Read | The fear of flying at Mount 50K

"To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words. It requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy: unity," Biden, a Democrat, said after taking the oath of office.

"We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal. We can do this - if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts," Biden added.

The themes of the US President's 21-minute speech mirrored those he had put at the center of his presidential campaign, when he portrayed himself as an empathetic alternative to the divisive Trump, a Republican.

Biden rolls back Trump policies on wall, climate

Saying there was "no time to waste," Biden signed 15 executive actions shortly after being sworn, undoing policies put in place by his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump, and making his first moves on the pandemic and climate change.

Signing several actions in front of reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon, Biden said there was "no time to waste" in issuing the executive orders, memorandums and directives.

"Some of the executive actions I'm going to be signing today are going to help change the course of the Covid crisis, we're going to combat climate change in a way that we haven't done so far and advance racial equity and support other underserved communities" said Biden. "These are just all starting points."

The orders included mandating masks on federal property, halting the withdrawal from the World Health Organization, rejoining the Paris climate accord and ending a travel ban on some Muslim-majority countries.

Further actions would include revoking the ban on military service by transgender Americans, and reversing a policy that blocks US funding for programs overseas linked to abortion.

On the economic front, Biden asked the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to extend a moratorium on evictions until the end of March, and the Department of Education to suspend student loan payments until the end of September.

Biden told reporters in the Oval Office that Trump had left him "a very generous letter," but he would not disclose its contents.

The inauguration itself, one unlike any other in US history, served as a stark reminder of both the tumult that defined the Trump era as well as the coronavirus pandemic that still threatens the country.

Amid warnings of possible renewed violence, thousands of armed National Guard troops circled the Capitol in an unprecedented show of force. The National Mall, typically packed with throngs of supporters, instead was filled with nearly 200,000 U.S. flags. Attending dignitaries - including former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton - wore masks and sat several feet apart.

Biden's running mate, Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, became the first Black person, first woman and first Asian American to serve as vice president after she was sworn in by US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the court's first Latina member.

The president spoke forcefully about the 6 January Capitol siege when Trump backers breached the building, sending lawmakers fleeing for safety and leaving five dead, including a police officer. But Biden never mentioned his predecessor by name.

The violence prompted the Democratic-controlled U.S House of Representatives to impeach Trump last week for an unprecedented second time, accusing him of incitement after he exhorted his backers to march on the building to press false claims of election fraud.

'SACRED GROUND'

"Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work on our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground," Biden said. "It did not happen; it will never happen. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever."

The norm-defying Trump flouted one last convention on his way out of the White House when he refused to meet with Biden or attend his successor's inauguration, breaking with a political tradition seen as affirming the peaceful transfer of power.

Trump, who never conceded the Nov. 3 election, did not mention Biden by name in his final remarks as president on Wednesday morning, when he touted his administration's record. He then boarded Air Force One for the last time and flew to his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida.

Top Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence and the party's congressional leaders, skipped Trump's send-off and attended Biden's inauguration instead.

Biden takes office at a time of deep national unease, with the country facing what his advisers have described as four compounding crises: the pandemic, the economic downturn, climate change and racial inequality.

After a bitter campaign marked by Trump's baseless allegations of election fraud, Biden's speech struck a conciliatory tone rarely heard from Trump. He asked Americans who did not vote for him to give him a chance.

"I pledge this to you: I will be a president for all Americans," he said. "And I promise you I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did."

Although his remarks were directed primarily at domestic problems, Biden also delivered a message to the rest of the world. He promised to repair alliances frayed by Trump and act as a strong partner for peace, progress and security. He made no specific mention of high-stakes disputes with North Korea, Iran and China.

World leaders issued congratulatory statements, with several U.S. allies expressing relief at Biden's inauguration after Trump's unpredictable tenure that was focused on an "America First" agenda.

BACK TO WHITE HOUSE

Biden took the presidential oath, administered by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, with his left hand resting atop a 5-inch heirloom Bible that has been in his family for a century.

Later in the day, Biden attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, accompanied by Obama, Bush and Clinton.

Afterward, his motorcade joined an abbreviated parade on his way to the White House. Biden and his family left their limousines on Pennsylvania Avenue to walk the final few hundred yards to their new home.

"It feels like I'm going home," Biden said when asked about returning to the White House.

In her first briefing for reporters, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Biden's first telephone conversation with a foreign leader would be with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. They will discuss Biden's decision to revoke the permit needed to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline and other bilateral issues, she said.

Biden's inauguration as the 46th president was the zenith of a five-decade career in public service that included more than three decades in the U.S. Senate and two terms as vice president under Obama. At 78, he is the oldest U.S. president in history.

He faces calamities that would challenge even the most experienced politician.

The pandemic reached a pair of grim milestones on Trump's final full day in office on Tuesday, reaching 400,000 U.S. deaths and 24 million infections - the highest of any country. Millions of Americans are out of work because of pandemic-related shutdowns and restrictions.

Biden's top priority is a $1.9 trillion plan that would enhance jobless benefits and provide direct cash payments to households to alleviate the financial pain from coronavirus.

But it will require approval from a divided Congress, where Democrats hold slim advantages in both the House and Senate.

The Senate on Wednesday approved Avril Haines to be director of national intelligence, the nation's top intelligence job, the first confirmation of a Biden nominee.

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Defence Minister and his Indonesian counterpart Gen Prabowo Subianto on Thursday exchanged views on regional security situation and underlined the need for a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law.

In a telephonic conversation, Singh and Gen Subianto expressed commitment to further elevate engagements between the armed forces of the two countries under the framework of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, the defence ministry said.

"The two ministers exchanged views on the security situation in the region and the need for a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law," it said.

There has been growing concern over China's military assertiveness in the Indian Ocean as well as in the Indo-Pacific region.

Singh described the discussions as "fruitful and substantive".

"Spoke to the Defence Minister of Indonesia, General Prabowo Subianto today. We had fruitful and substantive discussions on bilateral defence engagements," Singh said in a tweet.

"India is committed to enhance the defence engagements with Indonesia as part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," he added.

Defence and security cooperation between India and Indonesia has been on an upward trajectory in the last few years, particularly in the maritime domain.

"During the telephonic conversation, the ministers reviewed the progress on various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives and expressed commitment to further elevate engagements between the armed forces under the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership," the ministry said in a statement.

"The ministers agreed that both countries need to enhance cooperation in the defence industry and technology domain, and look forward to even greater synergy in this field," it said.

Indonesia is an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

A number of ASEAN member nations have territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea, a huge source of hydrocarbons.

There has been mounting global criticism against China over its military assertiveness in the South China Sea region.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Purple was the color of choice for many of the high-profile figures attending yesterday's inauguration, with Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris all wearing the regal tone, said to represent bipartisanship.

First Lady Dr Jill Biden was no exception, sporting purple coat from Jonathan Cohen, as she stepped off the plane in Washington, D.C. after arriving from Delaware.

The choice, not only reflected colors of the Women's Suffrage movement, but paid homage to one of her most famous predecessors Jackie Kennedy, who donned a very similar purple coat on November 8, 1960 - the night her husband John F. Kennedy was elected.

First Lady Dr Jill Biden sported a purple coat from Jonathan Cohen, as she stepped off the plane in Washington DC after arriving from Delaware (right at the Capitol) paying tribute to the election night outfit of Jackie Kennedy in 1960 (left)

Dr Biden's choice, not only represented colors of the Suffrage movement, but paid homage to one of her most famous predecessors Jackie Kennedy, who donned a very similar purple coat on November 8, 1960 - the night her husband John F. Kennedy was elected

Dr Biden's violet wrap coat and matching paneled dress were her first outfits of the move to DC, which she wore to attend a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial to pay tribute to victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, before her husband's inauguration.

Both the coat and dress came from New York-based fashion designer Jonathan Cohen's upcoming autumn 2021 collection, which are currently available for pre-order.

In contrast to Melania Trump - who often wore expensive European brands while First Lady, it's expected that the university professor will echo Michelle Obama and spend her time in the White House championing lesser known and independent American labels.

As well as praising the First Lady for wearing an independent designer, many were quick to point out the likeness to Jackie Kennedy, who famously sported a loose fitting plum coat while eight months pregnant, as she stood next to JFK when he gave his victory speech in 1960.

Dr Biden's violet wrap coat (left) and matching paneled dress were her first outfits of the move to which she wore to attend a ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial to pay tribute to victims of the Covid-19 pandemic, before her husband's inauguration. As well as praising the First Lady for wearing an independent designer, many were quick to point out the likeness to Jackie Kennedy (right) who famously sported a loose fitting plum coat while eight months pregnant, as she stood next to JFK when he gave his victory speech in 1960.

Jacqueline Kennedy and John F. Kenned on election day 1960 in Massachusetts

Celebrity stylist Rochelle White told Femail: 'Dr Jill Biden looked chic in her regal purple dress and A line coat, which was from Cohen's 2021 Fall/Winter collection.

'The colour purple is a strong colour and shows support in the suffrage movement and could also be a blend of Republican Red and Democratic blue, which could be seen as middle ground.

'There could also be a unity and nod to the Congresswomen Shirley Chisholm to celebrate America United.

'I think she has taken inspiration from Jackie Kennedy as well as other presidents wives such as Michelle and Hilary Clinton. It brings a mix of tasteful and inclusive style that is the full colour yet classic and chic.

Melania Trump's inauguration outfit four years ago was also compared to Jackie Kennedy's, as they both sported Tiffany blue.

Stylist and fashion blogger Simon Glazin added to FEMAIL: 'The color purple can mean a few things, including power and ambition. Not that I think Jill or in fact Jackie Kennedy are/were particularly power-hungry people (OK, so Jackie did like the limelight) but ambition is a good fit.

'Being the First Lady must be a huge responsibility not least for your own family but for the nation. They want to be seen too, which is likely why Jill chose this ensemble.

'A little-known fact also: The Queen wears bright colours all the time not because she's a fan of the rainbow, but so her security details can always see her in a crowd, which might also be a reason for a strong colour.

'Although she does like chic, with gloves in a similar hue, she's no match for Michelle, who looked incredible from day one.

'Jill is classy. She's not trying to be next in line for a designer brand campaign, and you won't see her in the latest trends, but this purple signifies she'll be a First Lady to remember. Just like Jackie.

Democratic imperative: Joe Biden's wife Jill joined him at the ballot box last year as they voted early in Delaware's primary election

Message: The 69-year-old former second lady donned a pair of Stuart Weitzman's 50/50 Vote boots that have the word 'VOTE' stenciled in funky silver letters

The similarity was also spotted by fashion historian who runs the Instagram account, BidenStyle.

'The Power of Purple. I knew Jill's ensemble rang a fashion bell from the book of Jackie Kennedy, they wrote.

'Mrs. Kennedy wore this exact shade of purple in a a swingy button long coat styled seamlessly between her matching pill hat and low lavender heels. Both women look flawless to me. Does anyone else see the calming strength of this deep purple for the first impression look of the First Lady as similar as Jackie did?

Well, I do. Bravo!' they wrote.

Inclusive style: Kamala Harris, 56, wore a purple outfit featuring pieces by two black designers and a Puerto Rican jeweler at the inauguration at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday

Karen Williams, who's styled the likes of Beyonce and David Beckham, and stars in Netflix's 100 per cent hotter, also saw the power in the colour purple.

She told FEMAIL: 'There was no coincidence that the First Lady Dr Jill Biden, chose the colour purple to step out in for the inauguration on 20th January. We only have to look at the history of the colour purple and how it represented the womens suffrage movement but also, purple is the mix of red and blue, the colours of the Democrats and Republican parties, which is the nod to bipartisanship, reinforcing her husband words after taking the presidential oath.

'Style Icon Jackie Kennedy, wore the colour purple on the day after John F Kennedy took office in January 1961.

'Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama also got the memo as they followed suit in their own dazzling tones of purple. We were certainly treated to some fashion eye candy by these powerful ladies. What a subtle but smart move this was!

Another win: Hudson also designed the plum suit Michelle Obama wore to the inauguration

Melania Trump's inauguration outfit four years ago was also compared to Jackie Kennedy's, as they both sported Tiffany blue.

As well as paying tribute to Jackie Kennedy, the choice of purple was a strategic one.

The color is traditionally recognized as a sign of bipartisanship as it's a mix of the political party colors, Republican red and Democrat blue.

It's also one of the colors of the women's suffragette moment. The combination of purple, white, and gold was used by the National Women's Party in the US and UK.

'Purple is the color of loyalty, constancy to purpose, unswerving steadfastness to a cause,' the organization wrote while describing the meaning of the colors in a newsletter published on December 6, 1913.

It's not the first time Dr Biden has sported purple.

In September the mother-of-one joined her husband at the ballot box wearing a politically-minded pair of $695 boots with the word 'VOTE' written down the sides and purple shift dress.

Purple appeared to be the color of the day as Mrs. Clinton, 73, donned a bright purple suit and matching scarf. To keep warm, the former secretary of state also wore a dark wool coat over her suit.

Matching: Both Mrs. Obama (left and Hillary Clinton (right) wore shades of purple to the inauguration as a show of unity

All eyes on her: First Lady Jill Biden dazzled in an ocean blue tweed coat and dress by New York-based designer Alexandra O'Neill, the founder and creative director of Markarian

Mrs. Clinton told the Capitol Hill press pool that she wore 'purple with a purpose.'

'I knew the theme President Biden was striking was unity and I thought if you combined red and blue, the way that we are divided politically in our country, you get purple,' she said with a laugh. 'So I want to just to send a bit of a symbolic message that we need to come together.'

While Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Clinton's looks complemented Ms. Harris' outfit of choice, Mrs. Bush matched Dr. Biden's second outfit.

The two first ladies dazzled in an ocean blue tweed coat and dress by New York-based designer Alexandra O'Neill, the founder and creative director of Markarian.

Mrs. Bush, 74, wore a powder blue coat with a dark lapel over a slate-gray dress and sheer tights. She accessorized the look with a long silver ball necklace, a light gray mask, and flats.
New Delhi: After Bhutan and Maldives, India is now set to dispatch Indian made COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal and Bangladesh. Nearly, 10 lakh doses will be dispatched to Kathmandu and 20 lakh to Dhaka on Thursday.

As part of its Neighbourhood First Policy, India had announced a vaccine rollout for Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday.

The consignment of COVID-19 vaccines, containing Serum Institute of India`s `Covishield' arrived at Mumbai`s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport early Thursday morning.

The flight for Kathmandu is scheduled to take off at 6:40 am while the flight for Dhaka is scheduled for 8 am, ANI reported.

Apart from the latest round of vaccines, earlier India had supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries in support to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Both Nepal and Bangladesh approved the procurement of Oxford-AstraZeneca's `Covishield` vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India is honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community.

"India is deeply honoured to be a long-trusted partner in meeting the healthcare needs of the global community. Supplies of Covid vaccines to several countries will commence tomorrow, and more will follow in the days ahead," PM Modi had tweeted.

While, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said on Twitter wrote: "The Pharmacy of the World will deliver to overcome the COVID challenge."

On Wednesday, Bhutan became the first country to receive the COVID-19 vaccines, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), as a gift from India.

Following the delivery, Bhutan's Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering while receiving the vaccine expressed that it is a gift from a 'trusted friend' who has been with Bhutan all through the decades and in this pandemic too.

Live TV
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Amanda Gorman, who delivered the inaugural poem, received the fashion memo re: bright coats. Photo: Patrick Semansky/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The inauguration of President Joseph R. Biden may have taken place under the sad, anxiety-provoking shadow of a still-active pandemic and a recent insurrection at the same Capitol that served as the backdrop for the swearing-in of Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris. But from a visual standpoint, the inaugural ceremony signified a return to joy.

In ways both orchestrated and seemingly the result of divine intervention, the official ushering-in of the Biden administration managed to conjure a feeling that had been elusive during the previous four years: hope. You know, that thing Barack Obama invented?

Hope was conjured in the words spoken. Biden used it four times during his Inaugural Address. Together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear, he said to a crowd that was deliberately pared down because of the coronavirus. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness.

And indeed, lightness and brightness were everywhere. They were in the sun that shone down as Biden spoke and in the brief but seemingly magical white snowflakes that fell as the ceremony got underway. Those flakes drifted gently from the sky the way all snow should: softly, without causing too much disruption.

Joy was visible in the blended red, white, blue, and rainbow hues of all the American and state flags planted on the National Mall, which were captured in multiple crane shots for those watching on television or on their laptops or phones. There were splashes of magnificent, joyful color in the ensembles worn by many of the high-profile attendees, because on Wednesdays when Biden and Harris are inaugurated, we wear plum and burgundy (if youre Michelle Obama), periwinkle (if youre Jill Biden), and rich royal blue (if youre the first Black, South Asian, and female U.S. vice-president in history). Every one of these women projected off the screen like a beacon, with a pinch of bling for extra shine. The new First Ladys coat-and-dress combo, by Markarian, had a hint of shimmer. Even with her face largely covered by a mask, Harriss eyes twinkled and crinkled, betraying the smile underneath. And the appearance of the 44th First Lady and her belt  that belt!  knocked all of Twitter all the way unconscious. There is only one proper way to say this: Michelle Obama looked fly AF.

Senator Amy Klobuchar wore mustard. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood out in peacock. Ella Emhoff, the stepdaughter of Vice-President Harris, topped off her plaid with a spritz of glass shards from the ceiling shattered by her stepmother. And if there had been an actual memo that read, Ladies, wear coats that pop  and it sure seems like there was  that memo definitely reached Amanda Gorman.

The Black, 22-year-old, first-ever youth poet laureate wore a blazer as yellow as the sun in a first-graders drawing of what a happy day looks like as she read The Hill We Climb, a poem she composed in the wake of the attack on the Capitol. Hers were the most hopeful remarks of the day, partly because she grounded them in realism  The dawn is ours before we knew it. / Somehow, we do it. / Somehow, weve weathered and witnessed / A nation that isnt broken, but simply unfinished  but also because she was the one delivering them. During a ceremony that ushered yet another old white man into office, the planners of that ceremony were wise enough to acknowledge that the future really belongs to the Amanda Gormans of this country.

This inaugural ceremony also brought glamour and celebrity back to presidential events, with Lady Gaga looking the way Lady Gaga should, wearing a life-size peace-dove pin and a red balloon skirt big enough to cover the population of a small town, and Jennifer Lopez, J-glowing in all white. Garth Brooks showed up in all black to sing Amazing Grace, but Brooks is required to color-coordinate with his signature black Stetson, so an informal fashion pardon was granted.

At no point during this ceremony was the name Donald Trump mentioned  now-former vice-president Mike Pence was there and acknowledged  but the contrast between the imagery in this ceremony and what weve seen in the past four years was blindingly apparent. While Trumps inaugural ceremony launched the term American carnage and largely unfolded during a rainstorm (rain that Trump, of course, denied had actually fallen throughout his speech), Biden spoke of being devoted to one another and the country we love with all our hearts, as the sun undeniably shone on him and the National Mall.

There was certainly visual evidence of what the country has been through, and continues to go through, as a result of Trumps presidency. It was there in the masks that, somehow, miraculously, members of both parties seemed more than willing to wear. The sight of Senator Ted Cruz, who spearheaded the effort to challenge Bidens electoral votes and pushed the false narrative about election fraud, was a jarring reminder that only two weeks ago, insurrectionists by the score were climbing the walls of the Capitol that now were covered in patriotic bunting. Again: This nation is unfinished. But maybe its not completely broken.

During a farewell ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base hours before Bidens inauguration, Melania Trump stood near her husband in a black dress fit for a funeral as he said the final inspiring words of his presidency: Have a good life. Well see you soon. After a sign-off fit for a signature in an eighth-grade yearbook, Trump left the stage as he had at so many of his rallies: to the sound of the Village Peoples Y.M.C.A. Then it was off to Florida, a journey cementing his status as the first president in 152 years to boycott his successors inauguration.

It was notable that Trump wasnt there among the other incumbent presidents as Biden took the oath of office. It was also a relief, and you could sense that through the screen. Even during a pandemic and with unprecedented heightened security around D.C., everyone looked more relaxed than they had in four years.

On Inauguration Day 2021, you could feel the country exhale. And on television, you could see all the colors come out again.
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Moscow hopes that with the coming to power of US President Joseph Biden, a new chapter will begin in the development of Russian-American relations, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov told Rossiya-24 television channel on Thursday.

"I just returned from the inauguration, listened attentively to Biden's speech, naturally looked for something in relation to foreign policy, primarily Russia. I would like to believe that a new chapter in the development of the United States of America begins today and, of course, that a new chapter in the development of Russian-American relations begins as well. At least, we have repeatedly spoken about this," Antonov said.

The Russian side has developed a specific program for the development of relations with the United States based on the experience of past interaction with the American administration, Antonov added.

"We have a specific program of action, we have a specific program for the development of relations with the United States of America. My colleagues and I at the [Russian Federation's embassy in Washington DC] and our colleagues from Moscow have carefully analyzed what was done, what did not work out, and what we need do, " TASS cited him as saying.

Antonov stressed that Russia and the United States are equally interested in developing relations. "We have a positive program, an energetic and assertive program," he said. "[Depending] on how Russian-American relations develop, will there be a storm, or will it be calm waters in international relations."According to Antonov, the interaction of the two countries is not limited to the topic of extending the Treaty on Measures to Further Reduce and Limit Strategic Offensive Arms (START). In addition, according to Antonov, there are many other common issues, such as countering the coronavirus pandemic, the problem of the development of the Arctic, space exploration, the fight against terrorism, as well as cooperation on climate.

Our team is aimed at meeting with the team of President Biden, talking about specific cases, discarding any propaganda cliches. Namely, thinking about what needs to be done to improve international security, and so that it would be easier for us to address common challenges, "he stressed.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21) The lawyer who filed the complaint against Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III for alleged quarantine breach in March 2020 on Friday questioned the decision of Department of Justice prosecutors to drop the case, saying it sends the wrong signal to the public.

"But theyre sending a very wrong signal to our public...We are still in the middle of a pandemic and then there's this decision stating that you could go out, you could just breach protocol," Atty. Rico Quicho told CNN Philippines' The Source.

"They really dragged this complaint, they tried to sweep it under the rug. But you know what at the end of the day, justice must always prevail - and they let Koko Pimentel get away with the crime," he added.

The DOJ said Thursday prosecutors decided to dismiss the complaint against Pimentel for alleged violation of Section 9(e) of R.A. No. 11332 or the "Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of the Public Health Concern."

Pimentel, after undergoing a COVID-19 test in March, went to the Makati Medical Center with his wife Kathryna, who was about to give birth. He was supposed to be under strict home quarantine at the time, after he got exposed to positive cases.

He was also reported to have gone shopping at a big supermarket.

The DOJ's Office of the Prosecutor General said the evidence was weak to establish a case.

The 19-page resolution included an argument that since Pimentel is not a public health authority, he is not covered by the R.A. No. 11332.

It also stated that "there was nothing to report then when he went to S&R BGC on 16 March 2020 or at MMC hospital on 24 March 2020 for Senator Koko Pimentel only knew or learned about his condition of being positive for COVID-19 on the same day 24 March 2020, while he was already at the premises of the hospital."

The Justice Department stressed the complaint against Pimentel was "fatally defective" as the pieces of evidence presented were based on news reports, considered as hearsay evidence.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra declined to comment on the case at this time, saying the decision may still be appealed to his office for review. But he assured the public that the agency is committed to administer the criminal justice system "as fairly and equitably as possible."

CNN Philippines is trying to get Pimentel's comment on the statement of Quicho.
nicepix4u/iStockBy CATHERINE THORBECKE, ABC News



(NEW YORK) -- Saga Cruises, a U.K.-based cruise operator, announced it was requiring all passengers to have received the COVID-19 vaccine before embarking on a trip.



The cruise industry as a whole has grappled with multiple deadly outbreaks of the virus aboard ships since February 2020, and many cruise liners were forced to halt operations entirely amid the pandemic.



Saga Cruises' vaccine requirement appears to be a first for major cruise operators. The company said it is moving the restart date for its cruises to May to allow time for more people to receive the vaccine.



"The health and safety of our customers has always been our number one priority at Saga, so we have taken the decision to require everyone traveling with us to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19," a Saga spokesperson told ABC News in a statement Thursday. "Our customers want the reassurance of the vaccine and to know others traveling with them will be vaccinated too."



"Our new vaccination policy will be in addition to the detailed arrangements we have already put in place for when cruises and other holidays restart," the spokesperson added.



The company said it has already written to customers intending on traveling in 2021 informing them of the new vaccination policy, which requires them to be fully vaccinated against the virus at least 14 days before travel.



In addition to the vaccine requirement, Saga said it will require pre-departure COVID-19 testing, have reduced capacity of customers onboard, enhanced cleaning regimes and has doubled its medical staff, among other precautions.



Early last year, more than 700 people contracted COVID-19 aboard the Princess Cruises' Diamond Princess ship, making it one of the first major outbreaks of the disease outside of China.



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
File image: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Political developments in West Bengal have taken an interesting turn with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees decision to contest from Nandigram. Nandigram, along with Singur, was the Trinamool Congress (TMC) battleground which aided the party to capture power in 2011 by ending the three-decade-plus Communist Party of India (Marxist) rule in the state.

After serving as chief minister for two terms, Banerjee is looking for a third term. However, the TMC is facing anti-incumbency and leaders are deserting the party  including former minister Suvendu Adhikari, the Nandigram MLA, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In the 2007 Nandigram agitation, it was Adhikari who played a crucial role which resulted in Purbo (East) Medinipur becoming a TMC fortress in the 2008 local body polls. Later, after TMCs ascension to power, Adhikari handled partys affairs for Junglemahal comprising Paschim (West) Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia and Jhargram and the two Muslim majority districts of Malda and Murshidabad. Adhikari has been instrumental in the TMC eating into the Congress base in Malda and Murshidabad.

It is yet to be seen how influential Adhikari is without the backing of Banerjee or the TMC. That said, in the 16 assembly seats in Purbo Medinipur (which is a TMC stronghold) he is expected to give the TMC a run for its money. Also, Nandigram is near to Junglemahal, accounting for 40 assembly seats, which has now turned into a BJP bastion. Banerjees calculation would be that if she were to contest from Nandigram, she would be able to win back the lost votes in Purbo Medinipur and Junglemahal too.

In choosing Nandigram, Banerjee might have made a mistake as in the process she has given more importance to Adhikari  though it is not yet clear if the BJP will field him from Nandigram or not. All the while the TMC has been reiterating that Adhikaris desertion will not affect the party, not even in Purbo Medinipur.

Apart from this, the Nandigram seat has around 35 percent Muslim population. Although the CSDS-Lokniti post-poll 2019 survey suggested a consolidation of Muslim votes behind the TMC, the party could be worried regarding the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeems (AIMIMs) entry in state politics. Influential Furfura Sharif cleric Abbas Siddiqui is making his political entry and Owaisi visiting Siddiqui has sparked speculation that the two may join hands for the elections. This alliance could take away a section of the TMCs Muslim votes.

Adding to the TMCs woes is the potential Left-Congress alliance, which will also take away the TMCs minority votes. Significantly, the TMCs 4 percent vote gain in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections came mainly from Muslim voters of the Left and Congress. Thus, by choosing Nandigram, Banerjee aims to consolidate the Muslim votes.

Since 2011, Banerjee has been an MLA from Bhawanipur  which falls under the South Kolkata Lok Sabha seat, represented by her from 1991 to 2011. However, the BJP has increased its presence in this urban seat too. In 2019, the TMC had a thin majority over the BJP in the Bhawanipur seat. This could be a reason why the Opposition feels that Nandigram is Banerjees safe option, although she may also contest from Bhawanipur.

The message from Banerjee is clear: she is in no mood to cede an inch of West Bengal to the BJP, and thats the reason she picked Nandigram  a symbolic seat representing her rise to power.

Even though TMC leaders are describing it as a masterstroke, Nandigram may not be lucky for Banerjee this time  as there is less possibility among the voters, particularly the youth, to have a connect with an anti-industrialisation movement organised by the TMC in Nandigram and Singur.

In fact, if this masterstroke symbolises Banerjees fighter image aiming for consolidating rural as well as Muslim votes, this also shows her political desperation  as a result of facing the heat from a strong Opposition.
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Prime Minister will address 'Parakram Diwas' celebrations in Kolkata on January 23 to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose, an iconic freedom fighter who hailed from the state.

The Prime Minister's Office said he will also distribute over one lakh land 'pattas' (allotment certificates) in Sivasagar, on the same day.

Modi's visit to the two states assumes significance as both are headed to assembly polls in April-May.

The BJP as well as the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal have planned a number of events around Bose, often called Netaji by admirers, as they seek to woo the voters ahead of the polls.

The PMO noted that the central government had recently decided to celebrate Bose's birthday every year as 'Parakram Diwas' to honour and remember his indomitable spirit and selfless service to the nation.

This will also help inspire people of the country, especially the youth, to act with fortitude in the face of adversity as the celebrated freedom fighter did and to infuse in them a spirit of patriotic fervour, it added.

Modi will preside over the inaugural function of the celebrations at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata.

A permanent exhibition and a projection mapping show on Bose will be inaugurated on the occasion. A commemorative coin and postage stamp will also be released by the prime minister, and a cultural programme "Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot" will also be held.

Before this event, Modi will visit the Library, Kolkata, where an international conference "Revisiting the legacy of Netaji Subhas in the 21st century" and an artists' camp are being organised. He will interact with the artists and other participants, the PMO said.

Earlier on that day, Modi will distribute 1.06 lakh land 'pattas' in

Taking into account an urgent need to protect the land rights of indigenous people of the state, the government came out with a comprehensive new land policy with a renewed emphasis on protecting their rights.

The PMO added that the issuance of allotment certificates for the state's indigenous population has been given highest priority in order to instil a sense of security amongst them.

Assam had 5.75 lakh landless families in 2016. The present government has distributed 2.28 lakh land pattas since then.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- InsurTech NY, a global InsurTech hub, and the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA), Bermuda's independent economic development public-private partnership, have come together for the 2021 InsurTech Early-Stage Competition ( www.insurtechny.com/competition ).

The competition attracts up to 100 promising startups from around the world with an opportunity to showcase their business and market potential to early-stage investors and insurance leaders.

Bermuda BDA InsurTech Competition

Adding to the existing prize pool of $200,000, the BDA will award the winning team with a four-night stay in Bermuda, a business concierge service to connect startup founders to professional advisors, and pay the fees associated with participating in the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) regulatory sandbox or innovation hub. The winning team's proposal will be subject to the BMA's formal application review, and once approved, will benefit from the Regulator's extensive guidance.

Susan Pateras, a BDA board member and an insurance industry expert with more than two decades of experience, will join the venerable list of investor and insurance carrier judges. Judges comprise angel investors, venture capitalists, and insurance carriers including New York Angels, Park City Angels, Anthemis, Six Thirty, Sure Ventures, Luge Capital, Transverse, Nationwide, GreenlightRe, and Grange Insurance.

"Finding an initial regulatory sandbox and access to reinsurance partners is one of the biggest challenges for new digital MGAs," said David Gritz, co-founder of InsurTech NY. "The Bermuda market represents an exceptional opportunity for new InsurTechs and our partnership with the Bermuda Business Development Agency is one example of how we strive to be an international gateway for InsurTechs to find global opportunities for growth."

"The InsurTech Competition will connect some of the brightest InsurTech founders to Bermuda's world-leading and innovative insurance and reinsurance market," said Jasmine DeSilva, the BDA's Business Development Manager responsible for Risk and Insurance Solutions. "We encourage those looking to accelerate innovation in the industry to apply and look forward to welcoming the winning team to Bermuda, the world's risk capital with over $100 billion in reinsurance premium, access to specialty market carriers, and a friendly regulatory environment for quality startups."

Early-stage companies eligible for the competition are InsurTechs that generated less than $250,000 in annual revenue in 2020. The top 10 finalists will be invited to present at the InsurTech Spring Conference and will be announced in early March 2021. The deadline for submissions is January 29, 2021.

About InsurTech NY

InsurTech NY supports the insurance innovation community in the New York metro area. Founded in 2019, InsurTech NY brings together carriers, brokers, investors, and InsurTech startups via bi-monthly programs. InsurTech NY's mission is to drive talent to insurance, make regulation innovation-friendly, attract InsurTechs to the New York metro area, and improve access to investment. Learn more at www.insurtechny.com or follow us on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/insurtechny).

About Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA)

The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. Learn more at www.bda.bm .

Contact: David Gritz

[email protected]

212-634-9516

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(Photo/Global Times)

Minutes after Wednesday noon in Washington as Joe Biden was being sworn in as 46th US president, China's Foreign Ministry announced sanctions on 28 anti-China politicians under the former president including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo in a move that was characterized by Chinese experts as a well-timed and vigorous demonstration of Beijing's bottom line in the fightback against anti-China forces.

In a statement released on its website around Wednesday midnight (Beijing time), the ministry said that over the last few years, some anti-China politicians in the US, including Pompeo, out of selfish political interests and prejudice and hatred against China and showing no regard for the interests of the Chinese and American people, had planned, promoted and executed a series of crazy moves which gravely interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's interests, offended the Chinese people and seriously disrupted China-US relations.

The ministry said that China had decided to sanction them for seriously violating China's sovereignty who were mainly responsible for such US moves on China-related issues including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, former White House advisor Peter Navarro who pushed the yearlong trade war against China, former national security advisor Robert O'Brien, China strategist Matthew Pottinger and Steve Bannon, a former White House adviser and one of Washington's most strident China hawks.

Other officials sanctioned by the Chinese government included David Stilwell, Alex Azar, Keith Krach and Kelly Craft of the Trump administration as well as former national security adviser John Bolton.

These individuals and their immediate family members were prohibited from entering the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Macao of China. Companies and institutions associated with them are also restricted from doing business with China.

The sanctioned individuals have also been smearing and attacking China on multiple fronts, including sovereignty-related issues such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the island of Taiwan by spreading conspiracies and fake accusations.

As officials in national security sector, O'Brien was infamous for attacking China by calling the country the threat of century while Pottinger has been sticking to the ideological battle by shaping anti-China frontline.

The following US diplomats and envoys including David Stilwell, Alex Azar, Keith Krach and Kelly Craft have interacted and even paid visit to the island Taiwan, which severely challenged the bottom-line of China.

Trump's advisors including Bannon and Bolton have been infamous for helping shaping the aggressive anti-China policies that aimed to fully contain China on economy, trade, high-tech and so on.

Chinese experts said the sanctions were a "top-notch response" to those who have been poisoning China-US relations in the past few years and also the most straightforward way of drawing Beijing's "bottom line and red line" on future China-US relations.

The sanctions were "completely reciprocal," Diao Daming, an expert on US studies at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times.

"These officials during their tenure hugely undermined China-US relations and harmed the Chinese people totally out of their own selfish interests and obsessions," he said. "China must respond to their ill-intentioned moves. There must be no such thing as playing the China card on stage and continuing to harm China after stepping down."

China also decided to sanction these individuals as they were leaving their positions, Diao noted. This move showed China's great restraint and sincerity in the hope of stabilizing China-US relations for the future, he believed.

Infamous politicians like Pompeo lied too much and he was "a clown and will face the trial of history," said ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Wednesday's routine press conference.

Hua has noted several times in recent weeks that Pompeo and his peers would face such a trial for their attacks against China and their damage to China-US relations.

The message was clear. It aimed to punish former officials who contained China in a reckless manner, telling those politicians that they should bear the consequences and meanwhile send out a warning to the US that when it comes to China policy, it should always respect China's core interests and safeguard the bottom line of ethics and regulations, Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

Lu Xiang, an expert of US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times Thursday that in US politics, there was a revolving door for US politicians to be employed in private sector companies, financial institutes and think tanks after they leave office.

The sanctions would seriously affect "the politicians' road for gaining money," Lu said. "For instance, like Stilwell on the sanction list, we met in Washington when he was going to retire from the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2015," Lu said. "At that time, the issues that most interested him were about doing business."

Lu noted that with the deeply intertwined economic ties between the two countries, most major US companies, financial institutes and think tanks would unavoidably need to develop ties with China, making them reluctant to hire the sanctioned people.

"This powerful sanction is also a warning to the officials who want to be the next Pompeo," Lu said.

It was true that some extreme anti-China activists on the list might not care about the sanctions as "anti-China" was what they did for a living, Lu said, but not all of them could do this for living all of the time.

"When these people were in office, they jumped like mad dogs and used their power to make a mess of the China-US relationship. China would never allow people to make money on the Chinese market while attacking the country," Shen Yi, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University in Shanghai, told the Global Times.

For example, if a publisher wanted to give them a memoir or sell books to the Chinese market, that would be "impossible," Shen said.

As the old saying goes, "What goes around comes around" Shen said. "Now is the right time. These individuals and companies can no longer benefit from the development of the China-US relationship."
(HealthDay)Everyone has heard the scary reports about the new, more infectious coronavirus variants that are circulating in countries around the world, but scientists aren't pushing the panic button at this point.

Why? Because the new COVID-19 vaccines should still work on these viral interlopers.

Luckily, the new variants still rely on the coronavirus' "spike protein" to infect cells, and the two COVID vaccines now on the U.S. market specifically target the spike protein to prevent transmission, explained Dr. Kathryn Edwards, scientific director of the Vanderbilt University Vaccine Research Program in Nashville.

"The spike is really critical. It's really what is needed to interact with the cell," Edwards said. "So, I think it would be hard to circumvent the spike in terms of function."

New COVID variants out of Britain, South Africa and Brazil appear to be more infectious, possibly because the spike protein has mutated to make transmission between people easier, said Dr. Mirella Salvatore, an infectious disease expert and assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

"The spike protein is needed to bind to the cell, to allow the virus to enter," Salvatore explained. "If there are a lot of these mutations, maybe this binding is stronger and the virus can enter more easily. This is a possibility why this virus seems to transmit more easily."

But the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are designed to not only target the spike protein, but to promote the creation of antibodies that will attack it in several different ways, Salvatore said.

Therefore, it's not likely that a mutation would be able to evade the complex immune response created by a vaccine, even if the mutation makes the spike protein more effective at infecting unvaccinated people, the experts said.

"It's not one single antibody, so if there is a mutation that changed a little bit of the structure of the spike protein, then there would be a lot of other substantial antibodies that would be able to stop the virus from attacking the cell and entering the cell," Salvatore noted.

Edwards and Salvatore spoke Thursday during a briefing hosted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, of which they are both fellows.

There was a bit of bad news delivered during the briefing: The new Brazilian and South African variants do appear to be capable of reinfecting people who've had COVID before, the experts said.

For example, a Brazilian health care worker fell ill from both the original COVID-19 virus and, months later, again from what turned out to be a new mutation of the virus, Edwards said.

However, the man did not suffer severe illness either time, so it's possible that his body didn't mount a strong enough immune response during the first infection to protect him against the second, Edwards said.

"The height of the antibody response may be somewhat proportional to how sick you are in the beginning. Maybe if the patient had been vaccinated or maybe had a more severe disease, he would have had a higher antibody count that would have protected him," Edwards said.

The heightened transmissibility of the new strains and their potential to evade the natural immunity caused by infection has raised concerns about a new wave of coronavirus in the United States, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

"I am extremely worried about the U.K. variant," Osterholm said during a HD Live! interview this week. "I think over the course of the next six to 12 weeks we could see the darkest days of this pandemic in this country, with that variant being responsible for greatly increased transmission."

The new variants haven't proven more lethal than the original COVID strain, Salvatore said, but increased infection could increase the number of people who die from the coronavirus.

Public health and infectious disease experts will need to continue to track new variants of COVID and decipher their genetics, just in case a new mutation causes a severe decline in vaccine effectiveness, the experts said.

But if that happens, it likely will be easy to change up the lab-created messenger RNA vaccines to maintain their effectiveness against new mutations, Edwards said.

"That is an advantage of the mRNA vaccines," Edwards said, noting that public health officials already change the flu vaccine every year to maintain its effectiveness against the much more mutation-prone influenza virus.

"That process is done so efficiently by the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] and other regulators that the ability to change is something we do every year," Edwards said. "I think as we are going forward, we are using influenza as the model."

Explore further New virus mutation raises vaccine questions

More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about COVID-19 variants

Copyright  2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
By Raymond Lesniak

Most people support the humane treatment of animals. They are horrified at examples of animal cruelty. If they saw the cruelty inflicted on pregnant sows confined to cages where they cant even stand up and turn around, they would be equally horrified.

Sows are pregnant 70% of their lives and are then confined to what are called gestation crates. Twelve states have banned their use, as well as other forms of extreme confinement. New Jersey should be the 13th state. Pigs can feel happiness, sadness, grief, and pain. They are aware of their suffering and losses. In fact, pigs are highly sensitive animals and depressed when confined to cramped spaces and mistreated.

In 2014, I sponsored legislation banning the use of gestation crates that passed both houses, but which Gov. Chris Christie vetoed.

The bill came to Christies desk while he was running for the Republican Partys presidential nomination. The first contest of the presidential nomination season took place at the caucuses in Iowa, home of the Pork Industry Council and lots of pig farmers. Christie clearly calculated that vetoing my bill would win him votes in the highly visible first test for presidential aspirants. The ban on gestation crates fell by the wayside because of Chris Christies ambitions. Christie wound up getting only 1.7% of the caucus votes, despite his kowtowing to the pork industry. A gratifying result, but of no help to the suffering pigs.

Help is on the way for the suffering pigs. Legislation to ban gestation crates (A-4439/S-1971) has been introduced by Senator Vin Gopal and Assemblyman Raj Mukherji. With Christie gone and Phil Murphy as governor, this new effort to ban the use of gestation crates in New Jersey has a good chance of being successful.

Every once in a while, someone questions why Im concerned with animal cruelty when some say there are so many more issues to be concerned about, as if advocating for the humane treatment of animals is not important. I believe its important and Im in good company.

Pope Francis said, Every act of cruelty towards any creature is contrary to human dignity. Mahatma Gandhi said, The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. And Charles Darwin said, There is no fundamental difference between man and the higher animals in their mental faculties... The lower animals, like man, manifestly feel pleasure and pain, happiness, and misery.

Im not vegan. I eat meat. I believe in the food chain. Animals eat animals. But no animal inflicts suffering on their prey as humans do. And no animal kills another animal to hang as a trophy in its den or to proudly wear as clothing.

When our fellow human beings are made aware of the cruelty imposed on pigs through the use of gestation crates, they support its ban, as the 250,000 New Jersey residents who signed our petition the last go around attest. This time around, we wont have a governor whos concerned about his presidential ambitions to stand in the way of abolishing this cruel treatment of pigs.

Presidential politics aside, my legislation won nearly unanimous support from Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature. Stopping cruelty to animals is not a political issue, its a humane issue.

Raymond (Ray) Lesniak served in the State Senate from 1983 to 2018 and in the General Assembly from 1978 to 1983.

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Hungary became the first European Union nation to approve Russias Covid-19 vaccine as Prime Minister Viktor Orban takes a pre-election risk to accelerate the countrys exit from the coronavirus crisis.



Hungarys drug regulator granted emergency approval for Russias Sputnik V and also to the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca Plc, Cabinet Minister Gergely Gulyas said at a briefing on Thursday. The decision followed pressure by Orban to fast-track the process and skirt the EU, which has yet to authorize either one, Bloomberg reported.



"We only want to procure vaccines that have been already used on several million people and ones that Hungarian authorities deemed safe and effective and that theyve approved," Cabinet Minister Gulyas said.



Getting Hungarians to trust vaccines is also a challenge after Orban, an early supporter of Russias Sputnik, said people wouldnt be told which doses theyd be getting. Citizens will be able to choose which vaccine theyd like to receive, Gulyas said on Thursday.
Countries across the globe accelerate mass inoculation programs to ease public concerns

Mass inoculation programs using Chinese vaccines against COVID-19 are rolling out across continents while more countries plan options, reaffirming China's global public good promise.

Tuesday saw Serbia using Chinese vaccines and Iraq granting approval, while several other countries in Europe, Asia and Africa are working on agreements. More than a dozen countries have already started rolling out large-scale vaccination programs with vaccines of Chinese origin, or have secured deals, with senior officials gracing the stage to accelerate emergency mass inoculation programs in order to ease public concerns.

Iraqi Ministry of Health spokesman Sayf al-Badr said the Chinese vaccine, developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group, or Sinopharm, conforms to regulatory standards, and therefore the Iraqi state approved it for use inside Iraq. Moreover, Iraq also approved the emergency use of the British AstraZeneca vaccine on Tuesday.

In Belgrade, Serbian Health Minister Zlatibor Loncar received Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, becoming the first person to be vaccinated in the country. One million doses of the vaccine arrived in Serbia and were welcomed at the Belgrade Airport by President Aleksandar Vucic.

After his vaccination, Loncar told Serbians to get vaccinated as that is "the only way" for Serbia to fight the novel coronavirus.

Ukraine is looking to start its vaccination program in the first half of this year with Sinopharm's vaccine. The Chinese firm has partnered with local pharmaceutical company Lekhim Group on the purchase of 5 million CoronaVac doses and becoming the exclusive supplier of this vaccine to Ukraine.

Hungary, which has criticized the European Union's handling of the slow vaccine rollout, is looking elsewhere to secure Chinese and Russian vaccines. It is reported that an agreement is being discussed with Sinopharm.

Emergency use

In Africa, Egyptian Health Minister Hala Zayed announced that Sinopharm's COVID-19 vaccine has been officially licensed for emergency use. Egypt received the first batch of vaccines on Dec 10. The minister said the batch went through four tests conducted by its local drug regulator.

Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan kicked off the Indian Ocean archipelago's national vaccine drive by being the first person to receive the Sinopharm vaccine on Jan 10.

Dr Ahmed Ogwell, deputy director of the Africa Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, told Xinhua News Agency that they have been having discussions with Chinese developers of COVID-19 vaccine.

In Asia, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan approved Sinopharm's vaccines for emergency use on Monday. The National Institute of Health said some 17,500 people have volunteered to take part in trials underway at five different sites in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi.

A health official said that Pakistan is also negotiating with other vaccine makers, including China's CanSino Biologics.

Also on Monday, Azerbaijan's senior health officials took their first dose of anti-coronavirus vaccines developed by Sinovac, marking the beginning of mass vaccinations prioritizing healthcare workers and those in government. Azerbaijan has secured 4 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine, and those who have received the COVID-19 shot will get a certificate.

Asia rollout

Turkey, Indonesia, Jordan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have been using vaccines of Chinese origin. The Philippines and Malaysia have already secured doses from China, while Thailand, Cambodia, and Iran are among those discussing possibilities.

The UAE's National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority tweeted on Jan 19 that more than 2 million people have been inoculated in the Arab nation.

Malaysian pharmaceutical group Pharmaniaga Berhad has struck a deal with Sinovac to purchase 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. It is also in talks with CanSino, as well as developers from other countries, on securing more vaccine sources.

Thailand, which is seeing a rebound in cases, is eyeing to buy 2 million vaccines from Sinovac, with the first batch of 200,000 doses expected to arrive in the country next month.

In western Asia, Iran is looking at the possibility of 2.6 million doses of vaccines arriving from Russia and China before the Iranian year ends on March 20.

In Latin America, as the mass vaccination campaign gains momentum in Brazil with CoronaVac injections, other countries are reportedly considering options for the same vaccine.

Regarding concerns from the public, the Philippines' Undersecretary for Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology Rowena Cristina Guevara said: "Efficacy can also be analyzed as to whether the vaccine will protect against mild, moderate or severe COVID-19."

Vaccine efficacy refers to the percentage reduction in disease incidence in a vaccinated group compared to an unvaccinated group under optimal conditions such as a randomized clinical trial.

Guevara said there is a misconception that COVID-19 vaccines are not safe because they were developed so quickly, adding that the comparatively short development time period was due to unprecedented global effort to collaborate and invest in making vaccines that are needed to control the pandemic.

Patients are being warned that GPs will have zero discretion in the pecking order for Covid-19 vaccinations amid phone calls to surgeries asking for injections.

Dr Denis McCauley, chair of the Irish Medical Organisations GP committee, said anyone who was not on the priority list to be vaccinated would be told no and that discretion shown in the past in relation to flu vaccinations would not be repeated.

The vaccines will be given out as per the risk groups, with zero discretion to give to any other groups, he said.

We want to do this efficiently, ethically and quickly. If someone who is 85 comes in and has an elderly carer but the carer doesnt fit the criteria, are we going to give them the vaccine? No, we cant. We have to be very tight on this. This is a very finite resource.

Discretion shown in the past with regard to the flu vaccine could not be applied with the Covid-19 vaccine, he added.

Thats not going to happen this time. We intend to do this as ethically as possible so we do need peoples understanding on that, he said.

Read More

Dr McCauley said that GPs were in the process of drawing up lists, according to priority groups, of who they would vaccinate. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine will be supplied to GPs in batches of 100.

Concerns raised over distribution issues that arose with the flu vaccine earlier this year are being addressed with the cold chain supply service. The only limiting factor to accelerating the national roll-out, said Dr McCauley, would be the supply of vaccines coming into the country.

If the supply is there, we hope to help accelerate the national roll-out, he said.

We are used to giving vaccines. If we have vaccine, we will use it, very, very quickly. If a million vaccines are distributed to GPs in the middle of February, lets just say by St Patricks Day we will be looking for more.

It is understood the requirement for a 15-minute observation period after receiving the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could mean that some GPs will have to reconfigure their surgeries to create space.

The supervision period after the AstraZeneca vaccine is still being looked at, said Dr McCauley.

In the UK there have been so few problems with it that they have dispensed with the 15-minute observation period, but I imagine there will be a more careful approach here in the beginning.

"We are starting at the 15-minute period  but if the European Medicines Agency says five minutes, all the better.

The actual space needed to do the injection is very small. Everyone will have their own solution but one recommendation is that the injection is given in the waiting room and that the observation period is completed in a consultation room. There are ways and means around it.

Dr McCauley said that GPs were already receiving calls from patients asking when they could receive the vaccine.

We know there is huge interest in getting this vaccine, but we need people to be patient, he said.

We will be contacting patients in due course to invite them to be vaccinated and we will waste no time once we have vaccines in our fridges.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2021 / EQ Inc. (TSXV:EQ) ("EQ" or the "Corporation") a leader in geospatial data and artificial intelligence driven software, is pleased to announce new commitments for data-driven marketing projects totaling more than $4 million for 2021. After successful proofs of concept in 2020, the clients have agreed to spend a minimum of $4 million on new projects in 2021 that incorporate EQ's data analysis and insights tools as well as its targeted media buying platform.

"Our largest and most sophisticated customers are committing to annual engagements with EQ based on the strength of our tools and the results they drive," said Joe Strolz, Chief Operating Officer at EQ. "With an enviable data-science and software engineering team, EQ has built a set of software tools that allow businesses to deeply understand their target customers and more effectively drive loyalty, share of wallet, and new customer acquisition."

The Company continues to execute on growing its data platform. EQ's early 2021 pipeline is stronger than it has ever been, reflecting both the need for intelligent data solutions and the strength of EQ's SaaS tools. The early momentum in client commitments paired with an accelerating pipeline of similar opportunities bodes well for 2021 as businesses increasingly leverage EQ's data and AI tools to more effectively execute their customer engagement strategies and digital marketing tactics.

About EQ Works

EQ Works (www.eqworks.com) enables businesses to understand, predict, and influence customer behaviour. Using unique data sets, advanced analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence, EQ Works creates actionable intelligence for businesses to attract, retain, and grow the customers that matter most. The Company's proprietary SaaS platform mines insights from movement and geospatial data, enabling businesses to close the loop between digital and real-world consumer actions.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations and are subject to known and unknown uncertainties and risks, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Corporation is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or otherwise.

EQ Inc.

Peter Kanniah, Chief Financial Officer

416-260-4326

1235 Bay Street, Suite 401| Toronto, Ontario |M5R 3K4

press@eqworks.com

www.eqworks.com

SOURCE: EQ Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/625169/EQ-Inc-Announces-4-Million-of-New-Client-Engagements
When used appropriately, satellite data is rapidly expanding the potential to customize insurance for smallholder farmers, potentially increasing the resilience of marginalized rural communities

When drought caused devastating crop losses in Malawi in 2015-2016, farmers in the southeastern African nation did not initially fear for the worst: the government had purchased insurance for such a calamity. But millions of farmers remained unpaid for months because the insurer's model failed to detect the extent of the losses, and a subsequent model audit moved slowly. Quicker payments would have greatly reduced the shockwaves that rippled across the landlocked country.

While the insurers fixed the issues resulting in that error, the incident remains a cautionary tale about the potential failures of agricultural index insurance, which seeks to help protect the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers across the globe. Recent advances in crop modeling and remote sensing - especially in the availability and use of high-resolution imagery from satellites that can pinpoint individual fields - is one tool insurers that can help improve the quality of index insurance for farmers, report a team of economists and earth system scientists this week in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.

"The enthusiasm for agricultural insurance needs to be matched with an equally well-founded concern for making sure that novel insurance products perform and help, not hurt, farmers exposed to severe risk," said Elinor Benami, the lead social scientist of the review.

The review was co-led by Benami, an assistant professor in Agricultural and Applied Economics from Virginia Tech, and Zhenong Jin, an assistant professor of Digital Agriculture at the University of Minnesota, and included Aniruddha Ghosh from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. The authors outline opportunities for enhancing the quality of index insurance programs to increase the value that index insurance programs offer to agricultural households and communities.

"Improvements in earth observation are enabling new approaches to assess agricultural losses, such as those resulting from adverse weather," said Zhenong.

Index insurance in agriculture triggers payments when certain environmental conditions - seasonal rainfall, for example - stray from thresholds for a typical harvest. Unlike policies that require costly and time-consuming field visits to assess claims, index insurance uses an indicator of losses to cover a group of farmers within a given geographical area. This approach offers the promise of inexpensive, quick coverage to many people who would otherwise be uninsured.

Lack of other types of coverage is due, in part, to the cost involved in verifying small claims on the ground. As the Malawi case shows, verification is also an issue for index insurance but its potential for scale, speed, and low cost render it viable for both insurers and desirable for farmers. When well matched to local experiences, index insurance can have meaningful impacts on agricultural livelihoods. One study cited by the authors found that people insured under a Kenyan index insurance program reduced their "painful coping strategies" by 40-80% when compared to uninsured households.

In non-technical terms, "painful coping strategies" for smallholder households include skipping meals, removing children from school, and selling off what little productive assets they have.

"Shocks that destroy incomes and assets have been shown to have irreversible consequences," said Michael Carter, a co-author of the review and an agricultural economist at the University of California, Davis. "Families never recover from the losses and become trapped in poverty. By restoring assets and income destroyed by shocks, insurance can halt this downward spiral before it starts. This can fundamentally alter the dynamics of poverty."

Insurance has been shown to push the poverty needle in the other direction. By protecting assets after bad seasons, insurance payments also build the confidence farmers have to invest in their farms and progress toward better wellbeing, secure in the knowledge they will not need to pursue painful coping if bad times fall. Despite a few decades of experimentation with the idea of index insurance, however, serious quality issues have plagued implementation on the ground and place the otherwise promising concept of index insurance itself at risk.

"With the technology of remote sensing changing rapidly, we wrote this review to call attention to the quality problem and to highlight ways to harness those technological advances to solve that problem. Our immodest hope is that this article will make more, high-quality insurance products available to small-scale farmers across the globe," said Carter.

Better models, coverage

Governments and insurers in sub-Saharan Africa have enrolled millions of farmers in index insurance programs. Programs have met with varying degrees of success and generally focus on livestock, in part because weather-related losses on rangelands are relatively easier to quantify. The authors say enhanced satellite imaging can potentially increase coverage and include more cropland. But improving the effectiveness of insurance is a bigger goal.

"We're trying to encourage the insurance community to move towards not just how many people you have enrolled but how many people you protected well when they suffered," said Benami.

To that end, the researchers discuss a minimum quality standard in their review, which is akin to a medical doctor's oath to patients: A minimum quality standard is based on the premise of doing no harm to farmers. Poor insurance coverage can make farmers worse off than they otherwise would have been without insurance.

"The criteria that insurance regulators have told us that they want is good value for money - meaning that farmers get effective risk reduction and asset protection for the premia that are paid," said Benami. "As we understand it, insurers are looking for ways to reduce cost and encourage uptake while meeting regulatory requirements for their roll-out."

To improve the quality, reliability, affordability and accessibility of index insurance, the authors make five concrete recommendations in their study.

First, the full potential of higher-resolution spatial data and new data products on environmental conditions should be explored. Many possibilities exist to wring more value from satellite data for index insurance - such as pairing data from multiple sensors and or with crop models - and examining those possibilities is a promising opportunity to improve the match between observation and experience on the ground.

Second, several opportunities exist to help improve loss detection. For example, this can be done with better crop modeling and new data products enabled by remote sensing, such as higher resolution soil moisture indicators of 100-meter resolution. Additional data sources such as drones and smartphones can be incorporated. Insurers should focus on metrics of farmer welfare as the key objective in insurance design.

Third, better on-the-ground data will help bolster the usefulness and quality of insurance programs. Ground-referenced data is essential to evaluate how well a given index relates to a farmer's reality, and strategically collected data on environmental conditions, crop types, and yields for the areas considered by insurance would help diagnose and improve insurance quality.

Fourth, insurance zones can be optimized to better reflect the geographic, microclimatic, and crop-management conditions that influence the productivity of specific landscapes. Within large administrative boundaries, considerable variation can occur due to mountains, rivers and different social customs.

Finally, contracts can be designed to accommodate a variety of needs and the inevitability of index failure. Farmers have different needs and a rigid insurance contract window may not always reflect the times of the year a farmer is most concerned about risk as it relates to their production strategies and location. In addition, secondary mechanisms -- liked audits -- can be put into place to minimize uncompensated losses that can be missed by index errors.

In implementing these recommendations, the Alliance's Ani Ghosh notes the importance of interdisciplinary, researcher-practitioner collaborations. For example, "the advances in economic, remote sensing, and crop modeling led by academic institutions complement CGIAR's experience in targeting, prioritizing, and scaling out interventions for smallholder farmers that can maximize the impact of index insurance programs," Ghosh said.

"Overall, evaluating and designing programs to successfully manage risk is a problem with both technical and social dimensions," the authors conclude. "Although index insurance instruments will not solve all agricultural risk-related problems, they offer a useful form of protection against severe, community-wide shocks when done well."

###
Not for distribution to U.S. newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Giyani Metals Corp. (TSXV:EMM, GR:A2DUU8) ("Giyani" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has appointed Tetra Tech for the concept design of a demonstration plant (the Demo Plant) that replicates to pilot scale the proposed hydrometallurgical process for its K.Hill Manganese Project (the Project) in Southern Botswana.

The purpose of the Demo Plant is two-fold. Firstly, the Demo Plant is expected to demonstrate that the K.Hill orebody is capable of achieving, at scale, the required commercial product specifications based on the proposed process flowsheet by providing sample product to potential end buyers for their supply chain testing and qualification process. Secondly, it will de-risk the Project through verification and optimisation of the process flowsheet and engineering design in support of the ongoing feasibility study (FS) and subsequent engineering work.

Two products will be produced from the Demo Plant; high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) and high-purity electrolytic manganese metal (HPEMM). These products will be produced to the specifications provided to Giyani by various precursor, cathode, and battery manufacturers to electric vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that Giyani has been in discussions with to date (collectively, the Potential End Buyers). The products will be selenium and chromium-free and will contain very low levels of deleterious impurities.

The Demo Plant will replicate the simple hydrometallurgical process proposed in the Project FS, for which Tetra Tech and Royal IHC have been acting as engineering consultants. Completion of their work is expected later in 2021.

Following guidance from the Potential End Buyers and Tetra Tech, the size of the Demo Plant will be built to produce at least 250 kg per day of contained manganese metal product. The size of the Demo Plant enables the Company to test the ore variability, as well as the conditions that the hydrometallurgical process will experience in a commercial scale plant. The Demo Plant will be operated in a series of campaigns to allow for trials and steady-state operation in various combinations of ore specifications and system configurations.

The concept design is expected to be completed later this quarter and will include the preparation of a cost estimate, as well as a project execution plan for the delivery, commissioning and operation of the Demo Plant in Botswana.

Robin Birchall, CEO of the Company commented:

"The operation of a demonstration plant will assist the offtake agreement negotiations with Potential End Buyers. With a $7.5m financing recently completed, the expected cost for the purchase and operation of the demonstration plant is fully funded which will allow us to progress to detailed engineering and fabrication quickly once the concept study has been completed.

About Giyani

Giyani Metals Corp. is a mineral resource company focused on the development of its K.Hill, Lobatse & Otse manganese oxide projects in the Kanye Basin, Botswana, Africa. The Company's flagship K.Hill Manganese Project is a near-surface deposit currently going through a feasibility study to produce high-purity electrolytic manganese metal and manganese sulphate, both key cathode ingredients for batteries in the expanding electric vehicle (EV) market.

Additional information and corporate documents may be found on www.sedar.com and on Giyani Metals Corp. Website: https://giyanimetals.com/.

About TetraTech

Tetra Tech is a leading provider of high-end consulting and engineering services for projects worldwide. With 20,000 associates working together, Tetra Tech provides clear solutions to complex problems in water, environment, infrastructure, resource management, energy, and international development. For more information about Tetra Tech, please visit tetratech.com

Giyani appointed TetraTech, alongside SRK Consulting, in 2019 to produce the Preliminary Economic Assessment for the K.Hill Manganese Project. Both consultants have since been retained by the Company to produce K.Hills Feasibility Study, which is expected to be completed later in 2021.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Giyani Metals Corp.

Robin Birchall, CEO

Contact:

Robin Birchall CEO, Director

+44 7711 313019

rbirchall@giyanimetals.com

Thomas Horton

VP, Business Development

+44 7866 913207

thorton@giyanimetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

The securities described herein have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act ("U.S. Persons"), except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company's securities to, or for the account of benefit of, persons in the United States or U.S. Persons.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Giyani expects to occur, are "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "does not expect", "plans", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. Specific forward-looking statements and forward-looking information herein includes completion of receipt of TSXV approval for the private placement and completion of the private placement.

All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of the relevant management as of the date such statements are made and are subject to certain assumptions, important risk factors and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Giyani's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In the case of Giyani, these facts include their anticipated operations in future periods, planned exploration and development of its properties, and plans related to its business and other matters that may occur in the future. This information relates to analyses and other information that is based on expectations of future performance and planned work programs.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual events or results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information, including, without limitation: inherent exploration hazards and risks; risks related to exploration and development of natural resource properties; uncertainty in Giyani's ability to obtain funding; commodity price fluctuations; recent market events and conditions; risks related to the uncertainty of mineral resource calculations and the inclusion of inferred mineral resources in economic estimation; risks related to governmental regulations; risks related to obtaining necessary licenses and permits; risks related to their business being subject to environmental laws and regulations; risks related to their mineral properties being subject to prior unregistered agreements, transfers, or claims and other defects in title; risks relating to competition from larger companies with greater financial and technical resources; risks relating to the inability to meet financial obligations under agreements to which they are a party; ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel; and risks related to their directors and officers becoming associated with other natural resource companies which may give rise to conflicts of interests. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Giyani's forward-looking information. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking information or statements.

Giyani's forward-looking information is based on the reasonable beliefs, expectations and opinions of their respective management on the date the statements are made, and Giyani does not assume any obligation to update forward looking information if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions change, except as required by law. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. For a complete discussion with respect to Giyani and risks associated with forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, please refer to Giyani's financial statements and related MD&A, all of which are filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
An Asiana Airlines plane is seen at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, Nov. 16. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Nam Hyun-woo



Korean Air's takeover of Asiana Airlines is drawing attention to how the low-cost carrier (LCC) affiliates of the two will be integrated, with industry officials anticipating a merger of the LCCs that will be given the brand name Asiana.



Korean Air submitted documents regarding the acquisition to the competition authorities in Korea and seven other countries last week to complete the takeover of Asiana and finish integration by 2023.



To do this, the airline plans to draw up an integration plan by March 17, which is anticipated to include details on how it will handle its affiliate Jin Air, and Asiana Airlines' Air Busan and Air Seoul.



Unlike the integration plan for the two full-service carriers, neither Korean Air nor the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), which is financing the acquisition through Korean Air's parent company, have revealed details on how they will deal with the LCCs, except that they will be merged into a single entity.



During a press conference last month, Korean Air co-CEO Woo Kee-hong said "launching a new brand is inappropriate due to time and cost, thus there should be a single brand, and we will consider how to use another brand that we are not using."



This has been interpreted as the combined Korean Air and Asiana Airlines using the former's name, while the merged LCCs may use the Asiana brand.



Asiana has been widely anticipated as the new brand for the integrated LCC because of its reputation in the global market. Given the airline built its reputation on its strength in short and medium-haul international flights, passing down the brand image to the integrated LCC could be a reasonable choice, industry officials said. They added that having a new name would be better than adopting the name of one of the three LCCs after integration in terms of preventing conflict between them.



However, some are opposed to the use of Asiana.



Reportedly, some Jin Air employees are expressing opposition, because their company, which is the biggest among the three LCCs, will likely absorb the others during the integration, and using Asiana will remove their corporate identity.



Busan's city government however, is opposed to a Jin Air-centric integration.



The city and Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry claim that if Air Busan, which is headquartered at Gimhae International Airport near the city, is absorbed into Jin Air, there will be an impact on the local economy. Thus, Air Busan should play the central role in the integration and it should be headquartered in a new airport the city is hoping to build on the nearby island of Gadeok.



Despite the hopes of Busan city, analysts are expecting Jin Air will likely be the centerpiece of the integration.



"When the three firms are merged, Jin Air, which is the largest among them, will likely play the central role," Hi Investment & Securities analyst Ha Joon-young said. "Based on 2019 data, the integrated LCC will have a 38.5 percent market share in international flights operated by domestic LLCs, becoming a top player."


KHUJAND, Tajikistan -- A close-knit community in the old quarter of Khujand, a historic Tajik city on the banks of the Syrdaryo River, buried one of its most respected members last week.

The death of 83-year-old Jura Abaev on January 15 marked the end of an era for Khujand: He was the last Jew in the predominantly Muslim city, once home to a strong Jewish community of several thousand that had lived in the region for centuries.

Affectionately known among his neighbors as Jura Ako -- local slang for the "elder brother" -- Abaev lived his entire life in the Under The Big Mulberry Tree neighborhood in the heart of the vibrant city of nearly 200,000 people.

A retired factory worker, Abaev was also the last rabbi of Khujands only synagogue until it was closed in 2015 after having been empty since the 1990s.

There were an estimated 15,000 Jews in Tajikistan in the late 1980s, but most of them left the Central Asian country after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Among those who left were Abaevs five adult children and their families, his half-sister, and many friends and relatives.

After the death of his wife in the 1990s, Abaev also decided to immigrate to Israel to be closer to his children. In fact, he moved to Israel three times between 1990 and 2008 -- each time returning to Khujand, calling it the only home he ever had.

In several interviews with local media in recent years, Abaev said that while he was in Israel he missed his home city, where everybody knows me, greets me, and calls me Ako.

Abaev said he was given an apartment and a monthly pension in Israel, enough to lead a financially comfortable life.

But he told friends in Khujand that he felt lost and lonely in the new country, where he didnt speak the language, Hebrew, and struggled to adjust to the Israeli way of life.

Abaev used to say, I felt like Im a nobody in Israel. When I go out in Khujand, people in my neighborhood smile at me and say, "Look, Jura Ako is coming." But nobody knows me in Israel, says Tajik journalist Tilav Rasulzoda, a longtime friend of Abaev.

Bustling Bazaar, Vibrant Neighborhood

During his retirement, Abaevs favorite pastime in Khujand was going to the Panjshanbe Bazaar, a centuries-old, bustling outdoor market selling fruits and vegetables and dotted with shops, cafes, and kebab houses.

The ancient bazaar is also famous for its old teahouse, where mostly elderly men gather for traditional meals like rice pilaf or lamb soup, and fresh bread from its own bakery.

Over endless cups of tea, the men play and watch others play chess. During long, hot summer days, the chess games sometimes continue until the early hours of the next morning.

Abaev was the happiest when he rode his bike -- with a basket attached to its front for groceries -- to Panjshanbe Bazaar, some 200 meters from his house, a neighbor recalled.

It was a short trip, but it would take him a long time as he would make several stops along the way, chatting with neighbors, friends, shopkeepers, butchers, barbers, and so on. He was a popular member of a lively community in a vibrant neighborhood where everyone knows each other, the neighbor said.

Abaevs large family house on Under The Big Mulberry Trees Shuro Street didnt stay empty for long after his children left the country.

When an impoverished Tajik family of six lost their own home many years ago, Abaev offered them several rooms in his house, where they still live.

In return, the family looked after Abaev until his death, providing much needed care, especially in his later years.

Last Rabbi

Born into the Khujand family of a factory-worker father and a mother who was a theater actress, Abaev experienced many hardships as a child, including his parents divorce, deep poverty, and hunger during World War II. Once he recalled a wartime rationing system in which the family received 300 grams of bread a day.

Since 1967, Abaev had been the rabbi of Khujands synagogue, just a stone's throw away from his house. His duties included conducting funerals, safekeeping the synagogues only copy of the Torah, and taking care of the house of worship.

During the Soviet era, the religious practices of all faiths were under strict government control, while the organized practice of faith was almost nonexistent.

But after the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, relative freedom came and the synagogue began organizing Torah lessons, Hebrew-language classes, and religious gatherings for the ever-dwindling Jewish community in Khujand.

Six years ago, Abaev -- then the only Jew in Khujand -- had to watch the unused synagogue be demolished to make room for a new shopping center.

That left Tajikistans Jewish community with only one house of worship, in the capital, Dushanbe, where nearly all of the countrys last 50-some Jews were based. The majority of them are elderly and -- like Abaev in his later years -- depend on the financial aid sent from abroad by their relatives and Jewish organizations.

The Dushanbe synagogue -- a marble-clad house in a residential area on the citys elite Ozodii Zanon Street -- opened in May 2009. It was donated by a wealthy relative of authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon after the citys old synagogue in central Dushanbe was razed to make room for a complex near the opulent new presidential palace.

The first Jews are said to have settled in Khujand in the Middle Ages after coming to the city as merchants and tradesmen. The community, which shares the same language and culture with Tajiks, began to significantly increase in the 19th century when dozens of Jewish families moved to Khujand from the nearby city of Bukhara, in modern-day Uzbekistan.

At its height in the 1940s, Tajikistan's Jewish community was estimated to be around 30,000, with the majority of them living in Dushanbe and Khujand.

Many prominent figures in the Jewish community, including musicians, scientists, journalists, and doctors, became household names in Tajikistan. And many working-class Jews in cities worked in small, niche professions such as goldsmithing, watch repair, and barbering.

All But Gone?

Abaev was laid to rest in the Jewish cemetery in the citys southern outskirts, a final resting place for some 1,000 Khujand Jews buried there since the early 20th century. Tombstones bearing the Star of David and the names and images of the deceased dot the landscape.

Until he severely injured his leg and his health began deteriorating three years ago, Abaev was also the caretaker of the cemetery that features stone-and-cement walls, concrete pavement, and a tall gate with a sign in Tajik, Hebrew, and English.

The grounds have since been looked after by a local Tajik whose wages are paid by Jewish groups in Israel and the United States.

Abaev had said he would probably be the last Jew to be buried in the Khujand cemetery.

With his passing, the Jewish communitys presence seems all but gone in a city that tens of thousands of them had once called home for centuries.

In the Under The Big Mulberry Tree neighborhood, residents gathered to pay their final respects to their friend. But there was no one to conduct the Jewish funeral rituals for him.

So his friends and neighbors improvised by having a wake at which they spoke fondly of their old friend and thanked him for being a part of their lives for so many years.

And then they took Jura Ako to the cemetery -- where they buried Khujand's last Jew.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 21)  The government is negotiating with 18 logistics companies to make sure that no COVID-19 vaccines, either free or procured using public funds, will go to waste due to improper storage or transport services, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said Thursday.

Ito ay bahagi ng paghahanda ng gobyerno sa mga darating na bakuna. This is to ensure we have zero wastage para makasiguro na ang bakuna ay makarating sa ating kababayan, Galvez told a briefing.

[Translation: This is part of our preparation for the arrival of vaccines. This is to ensure zero wastage to make sure the vaccines will reach our fellow Filipinos.]

Galvez did not mention which companies they are in talks with. But the cold storage facilities of pharmaceutical firms Unilab and Zuellig Pharma, and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine could potentially be used in the first wave of COVID-19 vaccine rollout, Department of Health spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire said in the same briefing.

Unilab could store five million doses of COVID-19 vaccines that need to be kept at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius like the anti-coronavirus shots made by AstraZeneca, Novavax, and Sinovac, Galvez said.

Zuellig has storage units capable of keeping over 600 million doses of vaccines that have temperature requirements of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. It also has available freezers for 6.5 million vaccine shots with more stringent temperature requirements of -70 to -80 degrees Celsius. Some of its freezers are ready for use of 40 million jabs that need to be stored at -15 to -25 degrees Celsius.

RITM, meanwhile, has cold rooms for more than one million shots of vaccines that have storage requirements of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, -20 degrees Celsius, and -70 to -80 degrees Celsius, Galvez said.

With these, the vaccine czar assured that the country has adequate storage capacity for all types of COVID-19 vaccines.

DOHs vaccine distribution plan

Vergeire said the manner by which vaccines would be distributed depends on their storage requirements.

Suppliers of vaccines requiring storage in units at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius and -20 degrees Celsius would deliver the products to RITM, which serves as the governments centralized vaccine hub.

From RITM, the shots will be transferred to regional warehouses. From there, the DOH and its logistics partners will deliver the jabs to local governments, which would allocate vaccines to hospitals and other health facilities, where the shots will be administered to eligible recipients.

Those with -70 to -80 degrees Celsius requirements will be sent to private centralized vaccine hubs. A private distributor will bring them to hospitals that have the capacity to store them.

The country seeks to buy 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from seven frontrunners in the COVID-19 vaccine race to immunize 50 to 70 million Filipinos this year. The Philippines may also receive free doses of vaccines from the global COVAX facility, with initial doses to be delivered in the first quarter of the year. COVAX aims to ensure equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.
Ahead of Budget session, BJP leaders meet at Singhs residence

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 21: In order to discuss the strategy for Parliaments, the leaders of the BJP met at Union Minister, Rajnath Singh's residence.

The party is gearing up to face the Opposition, which is looking to corner the government on the farm laws, China and the leaked WhatsApp messages of Republic TV editor-in-chief, Arnab Goswami.

The Opposition's demands and the government's legislative plans for the session are expected to be discussed at an all-party meeting, which is customary before any Parliament session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the all-party meeting on January 30.

Budget session of Parliament: PM Modi to chair all-party meeting on Jan 30

Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, S Jaishankar, Prahlad Joshi and Thawar Chand Gehlot were among the others who attended the meeting at Singh's residence.

Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of 'Mirzapur' and Amazon Prime Video|Oneindia News

In Parliament, the Congress will take up the Goswami matter. The party has accused the Modi government of violating the Official Secrets Act and demanded a probe to find out how such sensitive information had been leaked.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, January 21, 2021, 11:00 [IST]
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SEATTLE  An office building at 1721 Eighth Ave. N. sold for $6.3 million, according to King County records.

The buyer was 98 Ravenna Investments LLC, which is associated with Rae Anne Rushing, the CEO and co-founder of Rushing Engineering. That firm now leases space in the McHugh Building, a steps to the east on Westlake Avenue North. Public records indicate a loan from Columbia State Bank.





. . .
COLUMBIA, S.C., Jan. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- South Carolian families are invited to join My SC Education and parents and educators across the state to explore school options from the comfort of their homes during the South Carolina School Choice Week Virtual Fair.

The free virtual fair will feature practical information about private school choice, magnet school choice, homeschooling, and charter school choice; an inspiring conversation with school choice heroine Virginia Walden Ford; and a student performance of the National School Choice Week dance.

During the virtual event, the Governor's official proclamation of School Choice Week in South Carolina will be presented.

The South Carolina Virtual School Choice Fair will take place Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 11 a.m. The event is free but parents and educators must register at crowdcast.io/e/south-carolina-nscw/register .

This event is planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2021, which will feature more than 33,000 celebrations across all 50 states.

"While we won't have a large in-person gathering this year, I am extremely excited to celebrate National School Choice Week," said Dr. Parker Outreach Director of My SC Education. "Shining a light on the education choices we have in South Carolina is important, now more than ever."

This event is organized by My South Carolina Education, which seeks to equip parents with understandable information about available education choices so they can make the best decisions for their children's future.

National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on effective K-12 education options for children. As a not-for-profit effort, the Week focuses equally on traditional public, charter, magnet, online, private, and home education options. Every January, participants plan tens of thousands of events and activities  such as school fairs, open houses, and student showcases  to raise awareness about school choice across all 50 states. Year-round, National School Choice Week develops resources and guides to assist families searching for schools or learning environments for their children. The effort is nonpolitical and nonpartisan and does not advocate for legislation. For more information visit schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com


New Delhi, Jan 21 : Marking the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, the BJP is engaged in connecting with the sentiments of the people of West Bengal. The programme will continue for the whole year. This comes ahead of the high-voltage West Bengal Assembly polls later this year.

The Modi government has set up a high-level committee to outline the programmes that will run throughout the year from January 23. The ruling Trinamool Congress plans to attack its arch rival BJP in the Bengal electoral battle.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says that the BJP has only become a 'devotee of Netaji' as the election draws near. The political battle in Bengal between the two parties has not left Bose's legacy untouched.

But the BJP dismisses the talk of linking Bose's birth anniversary with the election. West Bengal BJP state vice-president Ritesh Tiwari told IANS that people who questioned the BJP's intention to celebrate Bose's 125th birth anniversary were politically motivated.

So what is the BJP's strategy behind celebrating Bose's birth anniversary for the first time? Political analysts consider the West Bengal election to be the reason behind this. The popularity of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Bengal is not hidden from anyone. He is considered as the pride of Bengal. It is believed that through his birth anniversary, the BJP is trying to tell the people of Bengal that it is the protector of Bengali identity.

Ever since Mamata Banerjee started calling BJP leaders as outsiders, the saffron party has intensified its programmes eulogising Bengali icons. In December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised Rabindranath Tagore at Vishwa Bharati University.

The BJP says that Bose fought the freedom struggle from India right up to Europe, but he did not get the respect and recognition he deserved.

Tiwari told IANS, "Who says the BJP is showing love for Netaji for the first time? It was the BJP's Vajpayee government which revealed the secrets of Netaji's disappearance. The Mukherjee Commission was set up. When the BJP government came to power at the Centre again in 2014, Prime Minister Modi took the initiative to make public the files related to Netaji. He was honoured by hoisting the flag at the Red Fort with Netaji's family." He described Bose as India's first international leader and said that he succeeded in persuading other countries to help India. The BJP is special as it carries forward the legacy and principles and gives due respect to the great men of the country.

Tiwari said that the Modi government took the initiative to celebrate not only Bose's but also the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi from last year. Even Sardar Patel's birth anniversary party is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Great men do not belong to one party, he said.

The BJP and Trinamool Congress are trying to capitalise on the sentiments of the people through 'Netaji Jayanti. Preparations are on to organize large-scale programs from both the parties. While the central government has constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Modi to decide the programmes for the 125th birth anniversary, the Mamata Banerjee government also and set up a similar committee under the leadership of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen.

The BJP will celebrate Bose's birth anniversary on January 23 as 'Parakram Divas'. In Bengal, BJP will hold meetings from village to cities while the Trinamool has announced to celebrate Bose's birth anniversary as 'Desh Nayak Divas'.

Abu Dhabi Ports has announced a freeze on rent escalation during 2021 for all businesses in its Industrial Cities and Free Zone cluster, in a move aimed at providing further relief to its customers in Khalifa Industrial Zones Abu Dhabi (Kizad) and ZonesCorp and boosting the Abu Dhabi economy in these challenging times.

The effective freeze on rent increase for the entire year is in line with Abu Dhabi Ports core philosophy of enabling businesses to remain competitive within their target markets, and follows several measures taken throughout 2020 to provide relief to customers, a statement said. The rent escalation freeze will benefit more than 1,400 companies within Abu Dhabi Ports Industrial Cities and Free Zone cluster, the statement added.

Abdullah Al Hameli, Head, Industrial Cities and Free Zone Cluster, Abu Dhabi Ports said: Abu Dhabi Ports is taking steps to help its customers remain competitive during this exceptional economic climate and overcome the challenges brought on by COVID-19. We are working in line with the Abu Dhabi Governments efforts to extend relief to businesses by ensuring our customers retain their competitive advantage.

The freeze in rent escalation we have announced reflects our commitment towards enhancing the growth and stability of our customers and tenants and falls in line with the government directives to stimulate future growth for the UAEs economy. We are confident that this measure will help fast track the robust economic recovery that the Government is making efforts to achieve, he added.

Last year ZonesCorp customers were exempted from Musataha contract registration, utility payments based on actual consumption, and application and documentation fees. The company is also providing a 25 per cent price reduction for new investors.

Simultaneously, Kizad announced last year relief packages with up to 36 per cent savings for Free Zone businesses and SMEs. The package offers both existing and prospective customers savings on new registrations and renewals, along with a waiver on security deposits.

Abu Dhabi Ports, part of ADQ, one of the regions largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabis diversified economy, has extended relief measures to continue supporting businesses in Abu Dhabi and help the SME sector grow within the emirate.

Several measures were previously mandated for customers, which include rent deferment, a freeze on late payment penalties, and an exemption from Tawtheeq fees. At the same time, new investors will be able to take advantage of new relief packages that include waiving of applications fees, a 25 per cent reduction in land lease rates for the first year, an exemption on Tawtheeq fees, and a relinquishing of land fixing fees.

Kizad the largest integrated trade, logistics, and industrial hub in the region and ZonesCorp, the largest operator of purpose-built economic zones in the UAE, make up Abu Dhabi Ports Industrial Cities and Free Zone portfolio. Covering over 555 sqkm of industrial land and home to over 1,400 local, regional, and international investors, the portfolio of companies today includes key players within the food, logistics, automotive, polymers, metals, oil and gas, life sciences, and advanced technology industries.

The Industrial Cities and free Zone portfolio at Abu Dhabi Ports has seen landmark developments in 2020. Recently Kizad won three fDi Global Free Zones of the Year 2020 awards. It was named winner of fDi Magazines Middle East  Large Tenants category for its outstanding growth within its community of large companies. As well as that Kizad was awarded Free Zone of the Year, SMEs, for its innovative initiatives to support small and medium enterprises. Kizad was also awarded fDis Bespoke Award for Supplier Development.--TradeArabia News Service
Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

Armenia acting PM: We're not going to escalate situation for 30% of Sev Lake

Armenia 3rd President visits Vanadzor, pays tribute to heroes of Battle of Gharakilisa (PHOTOS)

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan lays flowers at Battle of Karakilisa memorial (PHOTOS)

Armenia acting PM: Solution to captives issue is matter of time

Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan on Meghri corridor plan: Not beneficial to us now to discuss it as "corridor"

Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

Newspaper: Armenia authorities claiming to be popular close off First Republic Day event to public

Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM Pashinyan's new "cleverness?"

France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

Reporters not allowed entering Sardarapat Memorial of Armenia

US continues to face very serious problems in trade and economic relations with China

Armenia 1st President: There is a risk of civil war

Scenes of apprehension of Azerbaijani who attacked Armenian in Moscow disseminated on the Internet

Germany, France, Netherlands urge tech giants to test start-up purchases

Armenia 1st President: There has never been such rough dialogue between Armenian and Azeri leaders as there is now

Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan military fired several shots at border area of Gegharkunik Province village

California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development opening office in Yerevan

US Department of State issues statement on detention of Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani forces

Armenia 1st President says Aliyev is certain that Pashinyan won't win elections and is trying to get all that he can

UN calls for $ 95 million in aid to Palestinians

Twitter is concerned about safety of its employees in India

Artsakh hero: Impotent and perhaps also treacherous authorities of Armenia need to be removed from power immediately

France MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to show maximum restraint

Azerbaijani attacks Russia citizen of Armenian descent in Moscow

Armenia acting MOD provides President with information about capture of Armenian servicemen

Lithuania MFA urges Armenia and Azerbaijan to go to de-escalation of situation and pull out troops

Russian Deputy FM, EU Special Representative discuss situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border

Armenia acting FM resigns

Acting Deputy FM: Armenia reserves itself the right to take necessary steps to protect its territorial integrity

China speaks on dark history of US intelligence in connection with Biden's order

Netanyahu slams hypocritical and deceitful moralizing statements of French FM

Turkish authorities issues new arrest warrant for mafia after his scandalous revelations of Erdogan's entourage

EU-Armenia Subcommittee on Justice, Freedom and Security holds 11th Meeting

Armenia acting PM deletes statement on Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers "being intertwined" from Facebook post

6 Armenian soldiers captured: situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border is tense, May 27 digest

Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff deputy chief explains difficulties with settlement of border with Azerbaijan

UN: Israeli forces may have committed war crimes during 11-day war with Hamas

Nikol Pashinyan presents plan for resolving border situation

Dollar gains value in Armenia

Opposition party leader: Armenia Security Council to convene session with heads of parliamentary factions this evening

His Holiness Karekin II receives newly appointed UK Ambassador to Armenia

Greece and Turkey FMs to meet in Athens

Armenia acting PM says he will present plan for peaceful solution to border situation very soon

Armenia Parliament Speaker sends letters to counterparts of partnering legislatures

Zarif: Iran welcomes willingness of leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan to ease tension

Armenia acting Deputy MOD on news about soldiers being ordered to not open fire

ANCA calls on US Congress to block financing of Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Armenia to allocate lands in Syunik Province to Russian border guards

Armenia Armed Forces General Staff deputy chief: We can destroy all Azerbaijani soldiers who invaded territory

Armenian advocates file lawsuit against Nikol Pashinyan

Army general staff deputy chief: About 1,000 Azerbaijan soldiers are illegally in Armenia

Army general staff: Armed forces can capture Azerbaijani soldiers who marched into Armenia

Armenia legislature approves several amendments to laws

Armenian opposition MP: Villages mentioned by ruling bloc's deputy are Armenia's buffer zone

Armenia Gegharkunik Province villager to acting PM: Over 50% of our pastures are now under Azerbaijan control

Armenia Kotayk Province has new governor

Armenia parliament majority leader meets with US ambassador, discusses border situation

NEWS.AM BREAKING: 6 Armenian soldiers are captured by Azerbaijan military in early morning

European Council head says process of implementing sanctions against Belarus is launched

Armenia acting MOD leaves for Moscow

Armenia President, Chief of General Staff of Armed Forces discuss current situation on border

Armenia acting PM to residents of borderline village: If we cede our border, Azerbaijanis will get more excited

Armenia MOD not confirming reports about Azerbaijan firing shots at Tavush Province

Ex-President Kocharyan meets with Yerevan residents, "Armenia" bloc members (PHOTOS)

Armenia petitions to European Court to ensure fundamental human rights of 6 soldiers captured by Azerbaijan

Armenia acting premier: We need to unite in this situation

Serj Tankian makes statement on Azerbaijans displayed horrific racism

Man detained in US for intending to commit attempt on Biden

Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD continues disseminating disinformation

Erdogan to visit Baku and Shushi

Two Armenia legislature committees to hold closed joint meeting regarding tense situation on Azerbaijan border

Holy Etchmiadzin on capture of Armenia soldiers: Such behavior of Azerbaijan authorities is strongly condemnable

Gegharkunik Province village border area situation very tense, says Armenia enlarged community leader

Armenia opposition MP: Shots are heard Gegharkunik Province

Armenian National Congress party electoral list is announced

Armenia MFA: Azerbaijan leadership bears responsibility for consequences of actions by its armed forces
Grape expectations

Before I started in Ardmore last August I had worked my way up to general manager of Ora, one of only six restaurants in Helsinki with a Michelin star.

I got the position at the Cliff House through my network. I had a former colleague contact me to tell me about this really interesting job which included wine and service so I sent my CV and did the Zoom interview.

It is easier to make a first impression face to face but I tried to just do what I do and was as open as possible. The Cliff House reopened in July so I got to work for almost three months before the second lockdown. From that experience I know I made the right decision.

Shift notes

Ive gone into work a few times to organise during the second lockdown. Weve been doing some renovations so I had to reorganise the new cellars.

I do some inventory and keep track of emails. During the first lockdown we did takeaway but with the 5km limit its not feasible during the current restrictions.

Before lockdown, I would head into work between noon and 3pm  we only do dinner service so it depends what is happening.

I start with writing out my to-do list and check emails. Im responsible for everything wine so I go through my cellars and place orders and do any updating required of the wine list.

I might have a meeting with a wine importer or supplier. I wash and polish all my glasses for service and give the guys a hand setting the room. If we are planning something new for the menu I taste it and figure out what it should be paired with it. This is a nice perk.

We have a break before service and afterwards have a briefing with everyone in the team  front of house and the kitchen. Depending how busy it is I usually finish up between 10pm and midnight. I live a 15-minute drive away and with no public transport, this was a huge change for me at the start.

Its a gorgeous place to work. I have amazing views to enjoy while doing my daily tasks. Everyone has been welcoming, theres always a lift home if I need it.

Finnishing school

Growing up, we travelled a lot and I visited many vineyards as my dad worked in the industry. He was a barman, a sommelier and then owned a restaurant. I was cooking three-course meals aged eight.

In Finland, after three years of secondary school you go to high school or take a vocational path. I knew from age seven I wanted to be a chef so when I was 15 I went to culinary school where I was obligated to try out work placements in all of the fields  a lunch restaurant, hotels, cafes.

I found being a waitress and interacting with people interesting, and after three years of training to be a chef I opted for a dual qualification and studied one more year for a degree in front of house. When I graduated in 2019, I already had my waitressing job at Ora lined up.

Smoothness of service

My dad told me to wear comfy shoes and not to care what they look like as your body will thank you later  this was very useful.

One piece of advice I would give is to figure out a way to instantly ground yourself as the hospitality industry gets stressful. Find a way of calming down quickly.

It is different for everyone. Some people count to ten and take a sip of water. Cleaning or organising is what works for me. Setting everything straight around my work station. If this is neat and organised, my mind follows.

Profitable hobby

Since the age of 13 Ive always worked a lot and had part-time jobs which was part of the reason I could graduate early within the four years.

My work is also my hobby. In my free time, wine is my passion. I do master classes, tastings and courses and listen to many podcasts  Guild of Sommeliers and The Big Vin Theory are my favourites.

I read a lot of books and industry papers and follow my colleagues. Its easy to keep up to date as there is a lot aimed at the industry professional.

Ora was run by a very close family and was a huge milestone for me; it gave me the training that got me the Cliff House job. I loved talking about the wine, the importers took me in and taught me a lot. I worked there for almost two years and for the last nine months was manager.

Reading the table

Manners still mean a lot though some people forget. Be respectful, keep eye contact  the simple stuff works. Hierarchy is still quite strong in hospitality and I think knowing your place and respecting the people around you is important.

When I have a rude customer, I keep in mind it is more often than not something going on in their life that is upsetting them, not this situation.

I try to kill them with kindness and concentrate on being polite so they will notice themselves and how they are acting. I focus on not going into the same space of mind they are in. Doing the exact opposite takes a lot of time to learn but its the best approach.

When people are drinking too much and this becomes a problem, I tell them I dont want to sell them any more alcohol and I stick to what is decided.

At the Cliff House people come to celebrate something  they tend to be lovely. I can figure out quickly what they want; some want to talk, which is great, some expect a very efficient service and more of an experience and I respect that too.

Tipping point

I see now when I was living and working in the city I never stopped. I was always off to a new restaurant, always on the run and when I moved to Ardmore I could shake this off.

My driveway gets blocked by moving cows and thats never happened to me before. Ive learned how to enjoy the peace and can actually calm down now. I go for a walk on the beach and take a breather.

Moving to Ireland in 2020 was not great timing but Im glad I did it  I had the goal to live abroad and Im getting good experience. I have a family friend close by and have made friends within the team  were in the same boat.

I grew up bilingual and spoke Finnish to my mum and Swedish to my dad and when the restaurant was open I met a few Swedes but not a single Finn.

I have not been to Dublin or travelled around Ireland  but this year everything will change.

Unfortunately, I had to return to Finland for a funeral, this was unavoidable. I return to Waterford this week and have a test and quarantine. And then I start to prepare for reopening  whenever that is.

The uncertainty is hard; Im trying to make the most of the quiet time but cant wait to get back into it.
By Caitlin Johnstone

January 21, 2021 " Information Clearing House " - Ahh at long last America is returning to normality: the hub of a globe-spanning empire which rings the planet with military bases and destroys any nation which disobeys it while propagandizing the entire world into supporting its murderousness, without rude tweets.



Bidens inauguration will be a huge relief for people who arent actually affected by US government policy.



Americans want to believe Trump was uniquely evil among recent presidents because they want to believe their government will become significantly less evil when he leaves. This is delusional and harmful.

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The only way to find Trumps presidency remarkably awful is to (A) greatly diminish the scale of Bush and Obamas crimes and (B) believe foreign lives dont matter. Saying Trump was the worst president, even since the turn of this century, is saying that youre a shitty person.



Trump was a US president of fairly average depravity surrounded by an ocean of influential narrative managers LARPing about treason and sedition for four years.

So many Trumpers told me hed free Assange. They were 100% certain Trump was going to get re-elected, drain the swamp, end the wars, and free Assange. He did none of these things. If this is you, please overhaul your worldview and drastically change your media consumption habits.



Arguing that Trump wanted to pardon Assange but Republicans threatened him is just saying Trump wanted to fight the establishment but the establishment told him no.



Its so crazy how the State Department has been led by a man who is even more evil and disgusting than Trump, and now that man is leaving office without the mass media having given him any critical attention at all.



I havent yet figured out how so many Americans manage the cognitive balance of simultaneously (A) thinking their country is the center of the universe and (B) thinking it odd that foreigners would have opinions about their country.



Super excited for America to finally get rid of its racist corrupt right-wing asshole of a president, hopefully by sometime in the next four to eight years.

Its easy to applaud Martin Luther King Jr when he is dead, when he exists as a legend and you dont have to meet any of his imperfections and controversies. If you want to know if you would have supported King back in his day, dont look at King. Look at whether or not you support Julian Assange.



Julian Assange has provided many explosive revelations about the malfeasance of the powerful, but none so explosive as the revelation that the US and its allies will imprison and torture a journalist for exposing US war crimes.



Just tell the truth. Just tell the truth. You will never out-manipulate a manipulator, either in personal relationships or politics. You cant capitalize on this or leverage that; theyll beat you every time. In the battle against the manipulators, truth is our only weapon.

I see socialist groups get behind this or that mainstream liberal agenda like Hey we can ride the momentum of this to socialist revolution! No you cant you sweet precious lamb. Youre swimming with sharks. Theyll take everything you put in and then let you have nothing.

When youre not a manipulator its hard to understand how much better at manipulation a manipulator is than you. Theyre SO much better. If youre a truth teller then you need to drag the battle kicking and screaming into truth like a BJJ black belt taking the fight to the ground.

Youre not going to out-manipulate a globe-spanning empire that is backed by billionaires and powerful intelligence agencies. It will not happen. We make it a battle of truth versus truth, or we lose.

Caitlin's articles are entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, liking her on Facebook, following her antics on Twitter, checking out her podcast, throwing some money into her hat on Patreon or Paypal, or buying her book Woke: A Field Guide for Utopia Preppers. https://caitlinjohnstone.com
Sensex finally crossed the historical mark of 50,000 today, gaining over 95% since March. The rally was powered by gains in major index heavyweights that also notched to new record highs amid increased investor participation.

Since 1986, when S&P BSE Sensex was launched, only six companies have been able to retain their place in the 30-share index, while the rest have shuffled from time to time based on their performance. These are Reliance Industries, Hindustan Unilever, Nestle, ITC, Mahindra & Mahindra and Larsen and Toubro.

Reliance Industries

Shares of multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries have done exceptionally well, despite the pandemic. The oil-to-telecom conglomerate has been compared with giants like Amazon, Alibaba, Tencent etc., who have been able to create long-term shareholder value. The stock has also performed well within the peers in the Indian market, tracking expansion of businesses further to various segments such as telecom, retail.

Share price of RIL stood at Rs 3.65 on January 1, 1996. Since then, RIL stock has gained almost 56,197% to Rs 2,054 share apiece, quoted today.

RIL shares hit a 52-week low of Rs 867.82 on March 23, 2020. Since then, RIL stock has risen 172% to its all-time high of Rs 2,368.80 on September 16, 2020. Currently, the stock trades 15% lower than its all-time high. While hitting multiple 52-week highs last year, Mukesh Ambani-led RIL has achieved the highest ever recorded M-cap by an Indian company, crossing Rs 16 lakh crore mark, on September 16, 2020.

The oil-to-chemical focused conglomerate is gradually aiming for changing itself into a tech-focussed company with Jio. As per brokerage houses, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate stock offers an opportunity for investors to ride the growth wave of the digital and tech sector. Even after being rated as overvalued stock by most brokerages, RIL has been among the top choices of investors with its strong franchises, partnerships and growth plans. Company's growth prospects have always made investors run after the stock post any short-term profit booking.

Nestle

Nestle stock has given decent returns to investors over the years and is ranked among the most consistent performers in the FMCG category. Priced at Rs 123 on January 1, 1996, the stock rose 14,189% till date.

One of the largest Food & Beverage (F&B) company in the world with more than 2,000 brands and 291,000 employees in over 187 countries, Nestle's fundamentals have been on an upward trajectory, despite the pandemic and its induced lockdown. The company has been able to generate lots of competition for its peers. The recent pullback in share price has also created an attractive entry-level for the stock.

Brokerage Edelweiss said in its recent note," Nestle is one of the most aggressive consumer companies on the e-commerce platform. Aggressive focus on scaling the ready-to-eat/cook categories. As work from home will continue in a milder form, we envisage Nestle to benefit from a rising sampling of its new RTC/RTE products as well as its new spice mixes for rice. Moreover, Rs 26 billion capex guidance indicates the parent's confidence in the India growth story. Hence, we continue to maintain 'buy' with TP of Rs 21,796. At CMP, the stock is trading at ~66x CY21E EPS."

Nestle stock has risen 49% from its all-time lows of Rs 12,588.95, hit on March 19, 2020 to Rs 18,821.45, as of 24 December 2020. The stock currently trades 6.4% lower than its all-time high.

Hindustan Unilever

The 'personal products industry' major's stock stood at Rs 36.69 on January 1, 1996, and has jumped 6,319% till January 20, 2020. HUL stock has gained almost 49% from its all-time low of Rs 1,756, hit on March 19, 2020 to the all-time high of Rs 2,614 on 8, April 2020. As of today, the HUL stock price stands 10.9% lower than it all-time high at Rs 2,355.40.

The consumer staple major was another top choice among its peers for market participants. Recently, brokerages like Edelweiss, Motilal Oswal, ICICI Direct, IIFL Securities and CLSA have maintained buy rating for the stock with target price around Rs 2,390 to 2,500, given its price correction from all-time highs.

CLSA said it continues to see HUL as a structural consumption play in India and added that near-term earnings stress may offer an opportunity for investors.

As per Motilal Oswal, staples appear to have remained resilient, and demand in the discretionary category seems to be recovering. Hence, the structural and near-term investment case for HUL remains strong.

ITC

Priced at Rs 3.58 on January, 1, 1996, the stock has gained 5,978% till date. The stock has hit a 52-week high and low of Rs 239.95 and Rs 134.95 and currently trades 10% lower than its 52-week high.

As per market experts, ITC stock price may get valued at 35-40 PE multiples over 3-5 years and is recommended among the top stocks to purchase ahead of the budget on expectations of increased sin tax every year.

ITC comes off as a great value company, that is still available at 20 PE multiples, causing a valuation gap with its peers. Decent balance sheet, dividend payouts every year, higher ROE and ROCE numbers are among the key strengths of the firm. The FMCG company was able to achieve strong tractions across the segments despite the pandemic situation.

ITC Limited stock has been stuck in a range for more than 2 years and has to meet a lot of expectations, as per brokerages.

Mahindra & Mahindra

Trading mere 4.03% away from 52 weeks high of Rs 843.7 hit a few days ago, M&M stock is among the top pick for investors from the auto segment. Mahindra and Mahindra share price has risen from Rs 17.47 (as of 1 January 1996) to Rs 824.15 (as of 20 January 2020). M&M shares are 45% higher than it was in a year-ago period.

Due to the Covid-19 outbreak and its induced long lockdowns, most automotive companies including M&M were severely affected, both in production and sales numbers for cars and two-wheelers. Holding a market share of 5.6%, Mahindra recorded dip in sales of 37.9% YoY at 1,36,500 units in 2020 as compared to 2,19,682 units in 2019.

However, the fundamental metrics of the auto firm haven't justified the share price gain. The company's current PR ratio multiple is among the cheapest in the automobile sector. The company has recently moved away from loss-making businesses and committed to tighter capital allocation policy. Due to the quantum of the input cost increase, the auto major has also hiked prices of its entire range of passenger and commercial vehicles.

Larsen & Toubro

From the lows of Rs 36.85 (as of 1 January 1996), Larsen and Toubro share price has risen 3,650% to Rs 3,650.15 (as of 20 January 2020). L&T stock has hit a new lifetime high of Rs 1,395 today, which is 111% higher than its 52-week low of Rs 661.05.

Despite a series of order wins in Q3FY21, L&T has underperformed the Nifty index and brokerages suggest the stock among those having cheap valuations.

Motilal Oswal has a neutral call on Larsen & Toubro stock with a target price of Rs 1,625.

"Key risks remain project delays/deferrals and less-than-expected conversion of the tendering pipeline," ICICI Securities said on Q3 results of the company and added," We expect adjusted standalone revenue to grow marginally by 0.5 per cent to Rs 19,985 crore. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) is expected to grow by 9.9 per cent to Rs 1608.8 crore with margins expected to improve 30 basis points (bps) to 8.0 per cent for the quarter".

Nomura said in its note," Core PE and EV/Ebitda are significantly lower than past averages and significantly below FY11-14 levels when the industry was in a slowdown. We raise FY22F/23F EPS by 3% to account for stronger order inflows and the associated rise in execution. We value L&T on a SOTP basis on Dec-22 estimates to arrive at our TP of Rs 1,510, implying 21% upside, and maintain our Buy rating."

Sensex hits 50,000 mark: 10,000 points in 415 sessions, index's latest rally is the strongest ever

Share Market News Live: Sensex breaches 50,000, Nifty hits new lifetime high; RIL, Bajaj Auto top gainers

IRFC vs Indigo Paints IPO: How the two public issues fare against each other
Mumbai, Jan 21 : Late actor Sushant Singh Rajput was a true fan of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, says his ex-girlfriend Ankita Lokhande. On Thursday, which marks Sushant's 35th birth anniversary, Ankita remembered the late actor with a video where he can be seen dancing to a Shah Rukh Khan hit.

Sushant performs the signature step of SRK's hit song "Jadoo teri nazar" from the 1993 film Darr.

"Happy birthday Sushant, A true SRK fan, Keep smiling wherever u r #celebratesushant," Ankita captioned the video on Instagram.

In another video Ankita shared, Sushant can be seen playing with his pet dog Scotch.

"I don't know how to start and what to say but yes today I'm gonna share few of yours old videos Sushant to celebrate you. These are the only memories I hv with u and i will always remember Like this happy, intelligent, romantic, mad and adorable. #scotch has always missed u and now I guess he miss u more. I pray and I know tum jaha ho waha bahut khush ho (wherever you are, I know you must be very happy over there.) happy birthday to u. u will be missed #memoriesforlife," Ankita wrote.

Sushant Singh Rajput began his career as a television actor before venturing into Bollywood. He met Ankita Lokhande on the sets of Ekta Kapoor's daily soap Pavitra Rishta where the both of them featured in the lead roles. Sushant reportedly dated Ankita for almost six years after which they parted ways.

Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery
WASHINGTON - Followers of the extremist ideology QAnon saw their hopes once again dashed Wednesday as President Donald Trump left Washington on the final day of his presidency, without any of the climactic scenes of violence and salvation that the sprawling set of conspiracy theories had preached for years would come.

As Trump boarded Air Force One for his last presidential flight to Florida, many QAnon adherents - some of whose believers had this month stormed the Capitol in a siege that left at least two QAnon devotees dead and others in jail - began to wonder whether they'd been duped all along.

When one QAnon channel on the chat app Telegram posted a new theory that suggested Biden himself was "part of the plan," a number of followers shifted into open rebellion: "This will never happen." "Just stfu already!" "It's over. It is sadly, sadly over." "What a fraud!"

Late Wednesday, the movement suffered another blow when the "Qresearch" forum on 8kun, QAnon's online home, was wiped clean by a site moderator, who said in a rambling screed that "I am just performing euthanasia to something I once loved very very much." Shortly after, the site's leaders restored the deleted material and demanded the moderator's death.

But while some QAnon disciples gave way to doubt, others doubled down on blind belief or strained to see new coded messages in the Inauguration Day's events. Some followers noted that 17 flags - Q being the 17th letter of the alphabet - flew on the stage as Trump delivered a farewell address.

"17 flags! come on now this is getting insane," said one post on a QAnon forum devoted to the "Great Awakening," the quasi-biblical name for QAnon's utopian end times. "I don't know how many signs has to be given to us before we 'trust the plan,' " one commenter said.

Over thousands of cryptic posts since 2017, Q, QAnon's unidentified online prophet, had promised that Trump was secretly spearheading a spiritual war against an elite cabal of child-eating Satanists who controlled Washington, Hollywood and the world. Believers in these false, rambling theories had counted down the hours waiting for Trump to corral his enemies for military tribunals and mass executions in a show of force they called "the Storm."

But on Wednesday, as reality dawned, QAnon promoters who had gained thousands of online supporters by promising to decode Q's arcane posts - and profited off their audience, by selling QAnon merchandise or online subscriptions along the way - scrambled to spin the truth of Trump's election loss or shift the goal posts of a deadline four years in the making.

One QAnon channel on Telegram with 40,000 subscribers noted that the last sentence of Eric Trump's farewell tweet - " . . . the best is yet to come!" - was also a common slogan for QAnon adherents, failing to mention that the phrase is a commonly used cliche. Another QAnon channel with 35,000 Telegram subscribers, devoted to the "Great Awakening," highlighted Trump's final remarks as president: "We will be back in some form - Have a good life. We will see you soon."

"It simply doesn't make sense that we all got played," one QAnon channel on Telegram said.

Some of the most notable figures in QAnon's online universe said they were having a change of heart. After Biden's inauguration, Ron Watkins - the longtime 8kun who critics have suspected may have helped write Q's posts himself, a charge he denies - said on Telegram that it was time to move on.

"We need to keep our chins up and go back to our lives as best we are able," said Watkins, who in recent months had become one of the loudest backers of conspiracy theories suggesting Biden's win was a fraud.

"We have a new president sworn in and it is our responsibility as citizens to respect the Constitution regardless of whether or not we agree with the specifics," Watkins added. "As we enter into the next administration please remember all the friends and happy memories we made together over the past few years."

In the mass deletion on "Qresearch" late Wednesday, the anonymous moderator seemed to criticize Ron Watkins and his father, 8kun's owner, Jim Watkins, as well as a group of QAnon-supporting users, saying, "Q made you do NOTHING . . . he just kept you calm and sedated . . . what have you done as of late, beside waiting for things to get better?"

Much of the forum was restored by the site's leaders shortly after. But it still potentially marked another end of an era, said Travis View, a researcher and co-host of the podcast "QAnon Anonymous," who called it another "sign that QAnon as we know it is collapsing." Neither Ron nor Jim Watkins responded to requests for comment.

Graham Brookie, director of the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, which tracks misinformation, said QAnon followers are making increasingly illogical leaps as they struggle to make sense of developments.

"It's something that has long been true of conspiracy theories: When they don't come to fruition, they shift their delusions to the next thing," he said. He noted how some comments posted below Trump's farewell video suggested that "it wasn't quite time for the Great Awakening, but it's coming soon and this is how."

Researchers said some QAnon supporters appear to be rethinking their commitment due to a range of factors, including Q's relative silence since the election, Trump's anticlimactic White House exit, and the Capitol insurrection, which resulted in more than 100 arrests and delayed the certification of Biden's victory by only several hours.

But several feared that the rising intensity of those still committed to QAnon could create problems for years to come if a die-hard, militarized core persists in their belief that the U.S. government is controlled by evil pedophiles who successfully subverted the Constitution.

"What we're seeing is a trend in increasingly bunker-down, apocalyptic language," said Joel Finkelstein, co-founder of the Network Contagion Research Institute, a research group that studies online disinformation. "It's gone from (talk of) a revolution to a civilization-ending kind of collapse."

He and other researchers have also chronicled an increasingly global QAnon movement that could outlast its potential weakening in the United States as events and an aggressive crackdown by social media platforms limit the ideology's reach among Americans. The QAnon followings in Germany and Japan are particularly strong and growing, said Finkelstein, whose research group tracked a surge in QAnon terms the morning of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, including one that said "qarmyjapanflynn."

"They're going to re-emerge at some point because they've internationalized," he said. "There's a metastasization of QAnon from a national story to a global revolution."

QAnon adherents had long anticipated Trump's military strike against his foes, which they believed would play out like an action movie; the fact that Tuesday was "National Popcorn Day" on mainstream calendars seemed too perfect to be coincidence. Followers in recent days have seen coded messages everywhere: first lady Melania Trump's black-and-gray coat, worn in her final address, was said to resemble the TV static that would signal the media blackout of Trump's military takeover.

But on Wednesday, some promoters recognized that believers being confronted with the reality of QAnon's baselessness were in need of encouragement. One forum offered doubters a "FAT DOSE OF HOPIUM" - their jargon, meaning reasons for hope - and urged readers to "GET IN HERE IF YOU'RE RUNNING LOW." The thread used a nine-month-old Q post to suggest that Trump had coordinated another subtly brilliant move in his final hours in office: "He is metaphorically walking away in slow motion while the explosions go off behind him."

One of the forum's moderators, "God_Bless_America1," posted a thread counseling that "POTUS has NOT let us down or failed, he has done all he could within his power and it is now going to be handing it to the military to take from here exactly as Q drop forecast." Uncertainty, the moderator added, would not be tolerated: "ANY dooming or negative comments clogging up the site pertaining to current situation will result in removal and ban if repeated."

View said Inauguration Day had been seen as "a very special day in the QAnon community," but that the responses to real-world events have been mixed.

Believers, he said, appear to be splitting between those who see Biden's ascent to the White House as a sign that the Q's prophecies were wrong and those who think they were right but need to be recast for a Biden administration in which Trump remains secretly powerful and able to control events unfolding in Washington.

"A minority are facing reality that Biden's going to be president," View said. "Others are coming to believe that the storm they were expecting is still going to happen but sometime during the Biden administration."

The day also highlighted the deepening division between QAnon adherents and other far-right extremists, who have voiced growing doubts about Trump. A post in a channel for the Proud Boys said Trump had thrown Capitol rioters "under the bus" and called QAnon "a bolshevik lie."

QAnon, as with most online creations, probably will not disappear soon. On Tuesday night, a small crowd of picketers rallied with signs urging "Repent or Perish" outside Comet Ping Pong, the D.C. pizzeria at the center of Pizzagate - the 2016 conspiracy theory from which QAnon was born.

View predicted that the QAnon community may shrink in the coming months but also become more fervent in their commitment to its ideas.

"History has taught us far-right movements don't cool off during a Democratic administration," View said. "The people who stick with it are going to become even more radicalized and potentially more dangerous."
Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General

January 21, 2021

LANSING  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit Tuesday to stop a last-ditch effort by the outgoing Trump administration that would allow employers to withhold tips from their employees.

The lawsuit challenges a U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) rule that unlawfully seeks to eliminate the 80/20 Rule which has protected tipped workers for decades. The rule ensures that any worker being paid $3.67 per hour in Michigan  due to their employer using the tip credit  spends at least 80% of their work-time doing tasks for which customers generally tip. The new rule eliminates the 20% cap on non-tipped work, among other provisions, and is an issue Attorney General Nessel and 18 other attorneys general raised in December 2019 to the USDOL.

"This rule stands to hurt at least 100,000 service workers in Michigan who rely heavily on tips to care for their families. The pandemic has already caused an uphill battle for the service industry, and finalizing a rule that further impedes their ability to earn a living is unconscionable, said Nessel.

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the federal law establishing a baseline of critical workplace protections, such as minimum wage and overtime, for workers across the country. It permits employers to take a tip credit against their minimum wage obligations for the tips workers receive.

The coalition asserts that the rule contradicts the text and purpose of the FLSA, and that the USDOL violated the rulemaking process requirements, including failing to analyze the impact the rule would have on tipped workers. In addition, the rule fails to justify its departure from the longstanding 80/20 rule. The states argue that the new rule will harm the states by reducing income tax revenue, increasing public benefits expenditures and imposing administrative costs.

The coalition argues that while countless businesses and their employees  especially restaurants  struggle through this pandemic, relief should come from the federal government and not at the expense of workers.

Attorney General Nessel joins the attorneys general of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York in filing this lawsuit.
The Serum Institute of India's consignment of COVID-19 vaccines, containing 10 lakh dosages to be dispatched to Kathmandu and 20 lakh dosages to Dhaka, arrived at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in the wee hours of Thursday.

The flight for Kathmandu is scheduled to take off at 6:40 am while the flight for Dhaka is scheduled for 8 am.

With a population of nearly 30 million, the Government of Nepal plans to inoculate 72 percent of its citizens. Nepal has announced that legal and financial preparations for rolling out of vaccine have been completed and everything is on set with vaccination drive soon to start in the Himalayan Nation.

Apart from the latest round of vaccines to Nepal, India earlier had provided Nepal with medical equipment, medicines and other logistical support to fight the pandemic.

On January 8, Bangladesh had approved the procurement of 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine 'Covishield' from India.

India's Ministry of External Affairs had announced a vaccine rollout for Bhutan, Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Seychelles from Wednesday which comes in line with its Neighbourhood First Policy.

India had earlier supplied hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir and paracetamol tablets, as well as diagnostic kits, ventilators, masks, gloves and other medical supplies to a large number of countries 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.)
Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder of the now-dissolved Future Forward Party, is interviewed Bangkok after being accused of violating Thailands strict royal defamation law, Jan. 21, 2021.

A government official has lodged a complaint accusing a banned opposition leader of committing royal defamation and a computer crime through online comments where he expressed concerns about national efforts to acquire coronavirus vaccines.

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of the Future Forward Party and an icon of the Thai pro-democracy movement, was the target of the complaint by Newin Chorchaithip, the deputy minister for Digital Economy and Society, on Wednesday.

The complaint, filed with the polices Technology Crime Suppression Division, accused Thanathorn of disseminating false criticisms of the governments acquisition plan for COVID-19 vaccines. No charges had been filed as of Thursday, according to authorities.

We gave police evidence that what Thanathorn said is inaccurate regarding the vaccine quality as well as his false claim that the institution is involved with the vaccine which made people wonder, Newin told reporters on Wednesday. He was referring indirectly to the Crown Property Bureau, an agency that manages assets owned by the monarchy.

Newin declined to reveal full details of the complaint because, he said, Thailands harsh royal defamation law  known as Lese-Majeste  prohibits repetition of any content deemed as defamatory to the royals.

Thanathorn distorted facts and caused misunderstanding among people, Suporn Atthawong, a minister in the Prime Minister's office, told reporters on Wednesday, according to the Reuters news agency.

He violated the monarchy, which upset Thai people who love and protect the monarchy.

The deputy ministers complaint came a day after Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the former junta chief who has been in power since he led a military coup in 2014, warned that anyone posting false information regarding vaccine arrangements would be prosecuted.

For his part, Thanathorn claimed that acquisition efforts would benefit a Thai pharmaceutical firm linked to the palace.

As a result of my Monday Facebook live, I was arbitrarily accused of violating Article 14 of the Computer Crimes Act and Article 112 of the Penal Code [Lese-Majeste], Thanathorn told reporters on Thursday.

I think the case is politically motivated. I believe in our innocence, said Thanathorn, the co-founder of the disbanded Future Forward Party who has often spoken out against the government with deep ties to the military.

First of all, to make our intention clear, we support negotiations for vaccines from various companies so that Thailand has many vaccines as soon as possible.  But when we raised the questions why the doses are few and the delivery is slow and that the government favors a single company, I was accused of committing a computer crimes offense and royal defamation, as usual, he said.

Thanathorn blamed the prime minister for the vaccine rollout.

Prayuth always uses the monarchy to cover his mistakes and his administrative inefficiency, merely citing his loyalty and vowing to protect the institution, he said.

Thailand recorded its first confirmed coronavirus infection  a Chinese tourist from Wuhan  in January 2020. Since then, more than 12,000 cases have been recorded and the country is under threat of a second wave of infections largely among migrant workers.

Millions of vaccine doses

Prayuths administration placed orders for almost 70 million doses of vaccine, which would be sufficient for half of the nation, government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said Thursday.

The government has chosen Siam Bioscience Co., Ltd., a Thai pharmaceutical firm, to collaborate with British-Swedish AstraZeneca to produce as many as 200 million vaccine doses a year, the spokesman said.

Thanathorn had said that about 26 million doses would be allocated for Thailand.

On Thursday, Thai drug regulators approved the AstraZenaca vaccine for emergency use in the country, reports said.

Founded in 2009, Siam Bioscience is owned by the Crown Property Bureau, according to local media reports. An employee at the company who asked to not be identified because she was not authorized to speak to reporters, told BenarNews that the firm had a policy to not release organizational information.

Since November, after Prayuth promised that all pertaining laws would be used against protesters taking part in massive youth-led anti-government demonstrations, at least 55 people have been charged with violating Lese-Majeste, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years per count.

That same month Thanathorn and two others were charged with sedition over alleged comments in October 2020 against the royals.

Previously in September 2019, the military command that oversees the Thai Deep South lodged a sedition complaint with police in Pattani province against Thanathorn and other prominent opposition leaders, politicians and academics. The complaint alleged that they discussed potential solutions for ending a decades-old separatist conflict in the border region that may favor secessionism.

Record sentence

On Tuesday, a Bangkok court sentenced former Revenue Department official to a record 43 years in prison under Lese-Majeste after she pleaded guilty to sharing audio clips on social media that were deemed as insulting the monarchy.

The defendant, Anchan Preelert, pleaded guilty to 29 counts of violating Lese-Majeste.

Meanwhile, political analysts questioned the governments use of the law.

The use of Lese-Majeste against Thanathorn and other dissidents reflects the use of the law to eradicate political opponents since the beginning of the Future Forward Party, but it wont affect the resistance movement in the long run, Titipol Phakdeewanich, the dean of the Faculty of Political Science of Ubon Ratchathani University, told BenarNews.

Another analyst said those efforts could have a negative effect.

The use of Article 112 to suppress the dissidents definitely has effects on the government. The pressure on them is accumulated and could erupt one day, Sawatree Suksri, assistant professor at the Faculty of Laws, Thammasat University told BenarNews. Foreign media and international organizations will scrutinize the law.

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Press Release

21 January 2021

LOS ANGELES - A new hotel management company, the Burgeon Hotel Group (BHG) has launched operations with an award-winning leadership team and a vision of cultivating the next generation of hoteliers. By delivering excellence with integrity, and consistently exceeding expectations to be the "Best in Class", their mission is to maximize returns by developing their most valuable asset - people. The company has also announced that The Sheraton San Gabriel Los Angeles Hotel has tapped them to manage their operations: including 288 guest rooms and suites, over 19,000 square feet of meeting space, two dining venues and a Full-Service Starbucks.

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Based out of Arcadia, California, Burgeon Hotel Group seeks to go beyond the day-to-day management provided by other companies and create greater value to an enterprise or investor. Founded by a team of industry veterans, Burgeon's management approach emphasizes empowerment and support, encouraging hotel owners to partner with operations and processes while leaning on the expertise of Burgeon's staff and systems.

"We're thrilled to introduce the Burgeon Hotel Group to and provide a solid resource for hotel owners and investors," says CEO John Gilbert. "By offering the flexibility in the level of support provided, we allow owners to ensure maximization of revenue without sacrificing guest experience."

Management inquires may be directed to John Gilbert, CEO, Burgeon Hotel Group at [email protected] or 626-515-8896, ext. 201.

New Delhi:

Amid International Yoga Day celebrations, the Delhi Police had received intelligence inputs about some terror outfits planning a London-style attack at Connaught Place in New Delhi.

In view of the alert warning of the attack similar to the one in London recently in which a man had ploughed a van into people, the police had barricaded with buses the entry points of roads leading to Connaught Place, sources said.

The police had only left some space for pedestrians to pass through, the sources said.

This had been done to ensure that even if a vehicle tried to enter the area, it would end up ramming into these empty buses, they added.

A three-tier security layer was thrown around the area to enhance the vigil, a senior police officer said, adding, that snipers were also stationed on certain buildings to keep a hawk eye vigil.

Police had received a specific input about a London-style attack being planned to disrupt the event that was being attended by various dignitaries, including NDAs presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

As many as 10,000 people joined the dignitaries early this morning at the famed British-era market in the common Yoga performance.

A man had recently ploughed a van into Muslims leaving prayers at a mosque injuring 11 people near Finsbury Park mosque, north London.

In April, a hijacked beer truck rammed into pedestrians at a central Stockholm department store, killing four people, wounding 15 others and sending screaming shoppers fleeing in panic.

Also read: J&K: Two terrorists gunned down by security forces in Sopore village

Also read: J&K: Security forces kill two terrorists in Baramulla district's Rafiabad town

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Global guidelines become necessary when problems cross borders.

by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne in Montreal

But where are the clowns?

There ought to be clowns.

Quick send in the clowns

~ From the song Send in the Clowns by Stephen Sondheim

The song Send in the Clowns, is not about clowns at all. It is a song from a musical called a Little Night Music in which clowns are a metaphor for a tragicomic moment in a play when things are disintegrating, and someone comes up with a few jokes to veer the audience from the disarray and chaos. We are at a juncture when things are seemingly falling apart. We need a few jokes to take our minds off whats going on.

One of the definitions of a joke given by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is the humorous or ridiculous element in something and it is in this context that this article is presented. This is hardly the time for us to see the humorous and ridiculous side of things as the 20th of January heralds both an auspicious day and the beginning of an era of hope when the 46th President of the United States is sworn in, bringing with it the promise of global cooperation and sensibility.

Now that vaccinations have arrived, it is seemingly ridiculous that we cannot agree globally on how they are to be administered. Reuters report that the Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has issued a serious warning that the world is on the brink of catastrophic moral failure in sharing COVID-19 vaccines. He urges is urging countries and manufacturers to spread doses more fairly around the world. According to the Head of WHO, the prospects for equitable distribution which were at serious risk just as its COVAX vaccine-sharing scheme meant to start distributing inoculations next month. Dr. Ghebreyesus criticized the me first attitude reflected by many countries through 44 bilateral agreements signed in 2020 and 12 such agreements already signed in January this year.

Added to this fiasco is the feckless ambivalence of economic, political, medical and health policies adopted by various countries that leave citizens as well as health care workers and teachers bewildered. Just one example is the Public Charge Rule adopted by the United States. As Medha D. Makhlouf & Jasmine Sandhu write in The Northwestern University Law Review, On February 24, 2020, just as the Trump Administration began taking significant action to prepare for an outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States, it also began implementing its new public charge rule. Public charge is an immigration law that restricts the admission of certain noncitizens based on the likelihood that they will become dependent on the government for support. A major effect of the new rule is to chill noncitizens from enrolling in public benefits, including Medicaid, out of fear of negative immigration consequences. These chilling effects have persisted during the pandemic. When noncitizens are afraid to (1) seek treatment or testing for COVID-19 or (2) access public benefits in order to comply with stay-at home guidance, it impedes efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, contributing to the strain on the health care system.

Another measure that calls into question the sensibility of governance is the lifting of travel bans when the pandemic has taken full control of global health. During the previous administration, as of 26 January, The United States rescinded entry bans imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic on most non-US citizens arriving from Brazil, the United Kingdom, and all European Union countries. Fortunately, the incoming President has decided to rescind this policy.

Closer home to the author, The Quebec Governments decision to open schools 11 days into a planned 18 day school closure has been criticized by experts as being too dangerous. CTV News of Montreal reports: Now infectious disease experts say the next few weeks will be critical in getting the virus under controland that Jan. 11 is too soon to reopen schools in particular. Michael Levy, an environmental health specialist, is reported to have said: If we do it now, with the numbers so high, it's not going to work, and the numbers are just going to go up and up and up.

Global guidelines become necessary when problems cross borders. In such instances, there should be one policy be it on travel, social intercourse, quarantine or healthcare. On 2 April 2020, The United Nations General Assembly adopted a Resolution co-sponsored by 188 member States titled Global Solidarity to Fight the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of the Resolution was to seek global cooperation and multilateralism for intensified international cooperation to defeat the pandemic that is causing severe disruption to societies and economies. The Resolution follows the third Sustainable Development Goal (of the 17 such goals)  ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being at all ages is essential to sustainable development - which the United Nations adopted as the Goal of the Month for April 2020. Among the requests in the Resolution of the international community was a plea to ensure full respect for human rights on the basis that there was no place for any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in the response to the pandemic. According to Antonio Gutteres, Secretary General of the United Nations, the COVID-19 crisis is the most challenging crisis we have faced since the Second World War .

On 20 April 2020 The United Nations adopted Resolution 74/270 which inter alia, calls for intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat the pandemic, including by exchanging information, scientific knowledge, and best practices and by applying the relevant guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization. The Resolution renews its commitment to help people and societies in special situations, especially the weakest and most vulnerable, and recognizes that many Governments have offered their assistance and support to others in a spirit of solidarity and mutual support. While reaffirming its full commitment to the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development, and in this regard underlines the need for the United Nations system to work as one to support all Governments, The United Nations expressed optimism that the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic can be mitigated and successfully reversed through leadership and sustained global cooperation and solidarity. Finally, the Resolution calls upon the United Nations system, under the leadership of the Secretary-General, to work with all relevant actors in order to mobilize a coordinated global response to the pandemic and its adverse social, economic, and financial impact on all societies.

This does not seem to be happening.

In the absence of international cooperation and the prevalence of the me first attitude, we have, as citizenry, to appreciate what we have and help each other irrespective of individual State policy. As Sarah McAfee of the Centre for Health Progress wrote on 4 January 2021, If there is one positive outcome from 2020, it is the knowledge that we can do extraordinary things together. We can mobilize trillions of dollars. We can develop a vaccine for a novel virus in record time. We can make bold policy changes--at the Capitol, in our states, in our workplaces, in our schools, in our communities, and everywhere else quickly, to suit the needs of the people and the demands of the time. And even when our leaders and government fail us, we can come together to take care of each other.

As the song goes: But where are the clowns? Quick, send in the clowns. Don't bother they're here.
Time is already running out to take advantage of the Bay Areas Dungeness crab season  from many local restaurants at least.

Historically, the local crabbing season runs from mid-November until June. But it got an unusually late start this winter due to heated price negotiations between fishers and wholesale buyers, with most local seafood shops and restaurants not snagging Dungeness until this past weekend.

While home cooks should have access to crab from stores for months, some restaurants say they only expect to carry local Dungeness for another week or two  or even as just one or two more one-off specials  because intense demand and low supply are making prices too high to turn a profit.

That also means you shouldnt expect all Bay Area restaurants serving crab dishes to be using local Dungeness. Call and ask to make sure.

These 19 Bay Area restaurants, however, are offering specials highlighting the local delicacy. Since the price of crab has been rising, the price of these dishes at restaurants might change, too. Act fast before theyre gone.

Alley & Vine

Alamar Kitchen

Choose your sauce, spice level and extras like andouille sausage from Oakland seafood boil favorite Alamar Kitchen, which will continue offering local Dungeness this week. The price fluctuates, but its currenly $50 for one whole crab.

Takeout and delivery. 100 Grand Ave., Oakland. https://www.alamaroakland.com/

Alley & Vine

Assuming suppliers dont run out of crab before the weekend, Alley & Vine will offer a seafood stew special Saturday and Sunday that pairs half a crab with Spanish-style chorizo, potatoes, broccolini and a buttery saffron broth ($39). Dungeness will also go into a white cheddar mac n cheese alongside bacon ($15).

Takeout and delivery. 1332 Park St., Alameda. https://www.alleyandvine.com/

Billingsgate

Noe Valleys new seafood counter and oyster bar just got local Dungeness in, which means you can buy whole crabs to-go as well as the restaurants Dungeness crab salad with grapefruit on blackened brioche ($24).

Takeout. 3859 24th St., San Francisco. https://www.fourstarseafood.com/pages/billingsgate

Billingsgate

Boudin

For a classic San Francisco crab feed, check out Boudins special spread of steamed crab with drawn butter, cocktail sauce, sourdough, Caesar salad and linguine in marinara ($99 for two, $198 for four). Advance pre-orders are required for pick up Jan. 22-23, Jan. 29-30 and Feb. 6-7.

Takeout. Locations in San Francisco, Corte Madera, Cupertino, Fremont, San Jose, Santa Rosa, Sunnyvale and Walnut Creek. https://boudinbakery.com

Chef Smellys

While this beloved Oakland creole pop-up serves Dungeness year-round, chef Edward Wooley confirmed hes currently using local crab in favorites like buttery Dungeness with prawns and garlic noodles ($45 for half crab, $70 for whole) and creole cheesy fries loaded with crab ($30).

Takeout. 2430 Broadway, Oakland. https://www.instagram.com/chefsmelly/

ChiliCali

This Indonesian outfit is preparing Dungeness crab in a padang sauce, aromatic with turmeric, oyster sauce and chile. A two-person spread also comes with garlic noodles, crab rangoon, spicy cornbread and salad for $85. Email siska@chilicali.com to schedule a pick up or delivery in San Francisco.

Takeout or delivery. 1355 Market St., San Francisco. https://www.chilicali.com/

Fava

Fava

Berkeley lunch counter Favas crab special last weekend was a hit, so the chefs are bringing it back Saturday. Prepare to pre-order Friday if you want a half a roasted Dungeness with lime, chile and cilantro on top of gingery rice and crunchy claw ($21).

Takeout. 2114 Vine St., Berkeley. https://www.favaonvine.com/

Flea Street

Jesse Cools Silicon Valley favorite is placing whole cracked Dungeness atop saffron fettuccine, tossed with garlic, white wine, lemon and butter ($60). For a true feast, start out the meal with a Dungeness crab cake ($26), served with caper-studded roasted cauliflower.

Takeout. 3607 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park. https://www.cooleatz.com/

Gotts Roadside

The local burger chain is once again offering two specials with California Dungeness: crab sandwiches with lemon mayo on brioche, and a crab and shrimp louie, loaded with boiled eggs, avocado and romaine. Both options cost $21.99 and will be available until Jan. 27.

Takeout and delivery. Locations in San Francisco, Greenbrae, Napa, Palo Alto, St. Helena and Walnut Creek. https://www.gotts.com/

Gotts Roadside

Harborview Restaurant & Bar

Classic stir-fried salt and pepper crab ($56) is a constant draw at this waterfront dim sum restaurant, and now its available with local Dungeness. Harborview also offers a Signapore-style chili crab ($56), tossed in a sweet-hot tomato-based sauce. In addition to ordering takeout from the Embarcadero restaurant, you can pick up orders once a week from locations in Berkeley, San Mateo, Saratoga and the Outer Sunset in San Francisco.

Takeout. 4 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco. https://www.harborviewsf.com/

Hog Island Oyster Co.

All of Hog Islands restaurants  including Tonys Seafood Restaurant in Marshall  are flush with Dungeness. The exact offerings and prices vary slightly by location, but you might find roasted whole crab with garlic herb butter ($40-$54), chilled cracked crab with lemon aioli ($52-$54) or plump crab tucked into a buttery roll ($24-$27).

Takeout and delivery, except for Tonys, which is takeout-only. Locations in San Francisco, Larkspur, Marshall and Napa. https://hogislandoysters.com/

New England Lobster Market and Eatery

At this Peninsula seafood spot, you can pick up a simple crab platter ($24.95), with cracked Dungeness, chips, slaw and a roll  plus live crabs to cook at home later from the restaurants market.

Takeout and delivery. 824 Cowan Road, Burlingame. https://www.newenglandlobster.net/

Rintaro

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

This elegant San Francisco izakaya is offering half a Dungeness crab and crab miso for $20 as a luxurious add-on to its kaisen nabeyaki udon kit ($40 for two). The meal kit comes with udon, shrimp, tempura, a runny egg and more. Rintaro expects to also include a crab add-on option to its chirashi bento ($65) soon, with both options likely running through next week. If youre looking to cook some crab at home, Rintaro will also be a pick-up point next week for crabs from Monterey Fish Market on Wednesday.

Takeout and delivery within 3 miles. 82 14th St., San Francisco. https://www.toasttab.com/rintaro/v3/

Sister

Oaklands Cal-Italian Sister just added a Dungeness special ($40) featuring half a cold, cracked crab in a smoky citrus marinade. The crustacean will come with a mini loaf of nori bread to round out the meal.

Takeout. 3308 Grand Ave., Oakland. https://www.sisteroakland.com/

John Storey / Special to The Chronicle 2016

Spud Point Crab Co.

This Bodega Bay seafood shack just reopened after a brief hibernation in time for Dungeness crab season, with fresh whole cooked and live crab ($11.99/pound) available from the restaurant owners own fishing boats, plus meaty crab sandwiches ($12).

Takeout. 1910 Westshore Road, Bodega Bay. https://www.spudpointcrabco.com/

Swan Oyster Depot

San Franciscos most famous seafood counter is once again selling cracked Dungeness, crab backs and its semi-secret menu item, crabsanthemum, crab leg meat arranged in a flower-like pattern. The guys behind the counter warn the price of crab is changing daily, but on Wednesday cracked crab was going for $14 per pound. Expect to pay about $8 for a crab back, that amber fat prime for swiping with sourdough, and $30-$40 for crabsanthemum.

Takeout. 1517 Polk St., San Francisco. https://www.instagram.com/swan.oyster.official

Tay Ho

Oakland Vietnamese restaurant Tay Ho is serving two variations on crab with garlic noodles. One version sees salt and pepper crab tossed with shallots, garlic, scallions and chile, while the other is a more tangy caramelized tamarind crab with fish sauce. Either way, itll cost $46 to celebrate the 46th presidential inauguration on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The restaurant recommends calling 510-836-6388 in advance to secure your crab.

Takeout. 344 12th St., Oakland. http://www.tayho-oakland.com/

The Morris

The Morris

Keep an eye on the Morris Instagram for word on when the San Francisco wine bars Dungeness crab porridge ($18) will return  but it is expected to return. The creamy rice porridge gets more flavor from lemongrass and carrots.

Takeout and delivery. 2501 Mariposa St., San Francisco. https://themorris-sf.com/

Woodhouse Fish Co.

This San Francisco seafood destination offers a few options for Dungeness: chilled or hot cracked crab, served straight-up with melted butter, or crab steamed in white wine, lemon and garlic butter ($24 for half or $45 for whole). Classic Dungeness crab rolls ($24-$38) are also on offer.

Takeout. 2703 Market St., San Francisco and 1914 Fillmore St., San Francisco. http://woodhousefish.com/

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
You are here: China

China's space tracking ship Yuanwang-5 completed its mission in the Pacific Ocean to monitor and ensure the launch of the Tiantong 1-03 satellite on Wednesday.

China successfully launched the mobile telecommunication satellite at 12:25 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Wednesday. The satellite entered its planned orbit.

As the only maritime monitoring site for the launch, Yuanwang-5 was responsible for the rocket measurement and satellite monitoring. It also conducted the data calculation and space-ground information exchange.

The operation of the shipborne measurement and control system remained stable in rough seas, ensuring the smooth execution of key stages of the launch.

China's Yuanwang fleet will conduct intensive and challenging missions in 2021. Yuanwang-5 alone will conduct around 10 maritime missions with more than 200 days of offshore operations.
The Texas real estate broker facing federal charges for storming the US Capitol is begging for donations to help cover her legal fees - after she bragged about traveling to Washington, DC, on a private jet.

Jennifer 'Jenna' Ryan, 50, of Frisco, turned herself into authorities last week for her role in the January 6 Capitol siege that left five people dead.

She was released from custody hours later and returned home, where she demanded that President Donald Trump pardon her from charges of knowingly entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct.

But the demand went unanswered as Trump left office without adding Ryan to his long list of last minute pardons - so now she's looking to fellow MAGA fans for help.

'I am accepting donations to pay legal fees and losses due to my arrest and charges by the FBI for protesting at the US Capitol. Thank you for your support. Any amount helps,' Ryan tweeted on Thursday along with a link to her PayPal account.

'I have to go to trial in Washington DC for this misdemeanor. I believe I was wrongfully arrested and charged and we have to fight for my freedom and [clear] my name.'

'I am being surrounded by hateful people who are calling me a racist and asking for me to go to prison for 10 or 20 years and saying all sorts of horrible mean things about me. They don't even know me. They want my business destroyed. I need help patriots.'

The plea racked up thousands of replies in a matter of hours - the majority of them from unsympathetic critics who pointed out the irony of Ryan asking for financial assistance after she boasted about her posh private flight to DC.

Jenna Ryan, a Texas real estate broker facing federal charges for storming the US Capitol, is begging for donations to help cover her legal fees - after she bragged about traveling to Washington, DC, on a private jet

Ryan, 50, posted her plea for financial support on Twitter on Thursday

The plea racked up thousands of replies in a matter of hours - the majority of them from unsympathetic critics who pointed out the irony of Ryan asking for money after she boasted about her posh private flight to DC

Earlier this week Ryan revealed that she decided to go to DC on a whim after receiving a Facebook message from a handsome stranger looking for people to join him at the rally Trump was holding at the White House. Pictured: Ryan (left) with the new friends she joined on the jet. She did not identify her crush by name but he is presumed to be one of the three men above

But a few people apparently did open their wallets to Ryan, who said she'd already received $1,000 in donations.

She said she originally set up a fundraiser on the Fundly website but 'they shut me down saying I'm a racist'.

She also griped that her computer and MAGA hat were confiscated when FBI agents searched her home over the weekend.

Ryan has fiercely maintained her innocence in the Capitol riots in multiple media interviews this week, including one where she claimed that she only went to DC because a 'very cute guy' invited her.

She said she made the decision on a whim after receiving a Facebook message from a handsome stranger looking for people to join him at the rally Trump was holding at the White House.

'He was adorable,' the single realtor - who said she loves Trump, firmly believes his unfounded claims of voter fraud and has always wanted to attend one of his rallies - told NBC News on Monday. 'So I said: 'Heck yeah, let's go.' I mean, who wouldn't go and get on a private jet?'

But unfortunately for Ryan, the pairing wasn't meant to be.

'There was another adorable girl there, too, and they ended up getting together, darn it,' she said.

Two days after the insurrection Ryan realized she had much bigger problems than the failed romance, as the FBI identified her as a person of interest and shared grabs of a livestream she filmed of herself storming the Capitol.

Ryan didn't identify her crush by name, but he is believed to be one of two men she and another woman were photographed with next to the private jet before their flight to the capital.

Three of the people in the photo have been identified but the two others remain a mystery.

One of the men, seen right next to Ryan, is her friend and fellow realtor Brian Miller. On the other side of Miller is Katie Schwab, another realtor who was reportedly terminated from her job at Century 21 over her involvement in the insurrection.

Ryan is the only member of the group facing charges.

Ryan posted this photo inside the cabin of the plane on Facebook and said the group spent the flight getting to know each other while drinking and bonding over their mutual love for Trump

Ryan is the only member of the jet group facing charges for involvement in the MAGA riots

In an interview with NBC News on Monday (pictured), Ryan said she only went to DC because a 'very cute guy' invited her on a private jet

.@CynthiaMcFadden sat down with Texas real estate agent Jenna Ryan who says she took no part in the violence on January 6 though her social media posts raise significant questions. pic.twitter.com/vTKFHcpnVw  TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 18, 2021

She turned herself in on Friday morning, but has maintained that she did nothing wrong and has no regrets.

'I have no guilt in my heart,' Ryan told NBC News.

'My intention was not to have a riot. I did not want to have a riot. I was documenting what was going on in the environment I was in.'

'I'm glad I was there, because I witnessed history,' she added later. 'I'll never get the chance to do that again. No one will probably ever be able to go near [the Capitol] again.'

Ryan grew increasingly combative over the course of the interview, especially when asked about the posts she shared on social media during the riots. In one video she was heard saying: 'We're going to go down and storm the Capitol.'

She insisted that her language did not indicate any intent for aggression.

'If you look up the term "storm", you can storm in the kitchen. You can storm in and say: 'No more,'' she said.

'I'm not storming in to kill people. What I meant, life or death, is if someone kills me, I will stand for my truth, even if someone kills me.'

She said she feels terrible that five people died as a result of the insurrection, but is adamant that she didn't break the law.

'I, personally, feel innocent in everything that I have done,' she said. 'I feel like I was perfectly within my rights.

'I feel like the police officers were ushering people into the Capitol. There were thousands of people there. I have no guilt.'

The FBI released video of Ryan inside the Capitol prior to her arrest last week

Ryan said accepted the man's invitation to go on his private jet two days beforehand, and asked her friend Brian to come with her as a 'bodyguard'.

She posted a photo inside the cabin of the plane on Facebook and said the group spent the flight getting to know each other while drinking and bonding over their mutual love for Trump.

'We were going in solidarity with President Trump,' Ryan said. 'President Trump requested that we be in DC on the 6th. So this was our way of going and stopping the steal.'

The group arrived on the 5th and spent the night at The Westin Washington before getting up at 6am, donning MAGA gear and joining 'like-minded patriots' gathered at the White House to hear Trump speak.

As the president and his allies riled up the crowd and encouraged them to march to the Capitol, where Congress was convened to certify Joe Biden's election victory, Ryan realized she had a problem: 'There were no port-a-potties.'

'We could not get to a port-a-potty,' she said. 'That was, like, my biggest concern, actually. Because I like to always know I have a bathroom nearby.'

The group then returned to their hotel for a bathroom break and a chance to warm up. They turned on the TV to find Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump had begged to overturn the election, accepting the results as he presided over the joint session of Congress.

'We were devastated,' Ryan said. 'It was like my dad - somebody I love, somebody I respect - just betrayed someone else I love and I respect, including the country. I couldn't believe it.'

When Ryan's friends decided to head back out to the Capitol, she tagged along because: 'I didn't want to be at the hotel by myself.'

Along the way she shared her since-deleted 21-minute livestream, telling the camera: 'We're gonna go down and storm the capitol. They're down there right now and that's why we came and so that's what we are going to do. So wish me luck.'

Ryan posted a 21-minute livestream on Facebook as she made her way to the Capitol, telling the camera: 'We're gonna go down and storm the Capitol. They're down there right now and that's why we came and so that's what we are going to do. So wish me luck.' The video has since been deleted but is described in an affidavit for her arrest

She went on to post several other videos as she and her friends shoved their way onto the Capitol steps and into the Rotunda.

'We're going to f***ing go in here. Life or death,' she was heard saying, according to federal prosecutors. 'It doesn't matter. Here we go.'

In another clip she was heard calling Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell a 'turtleface' and complaining that she needed a restroom, followed by: 'We are armed and dangerous. This is just the beginning.'

Inside the Capitol she filmed herself saying: 'Y'all know who to hire for your realtor. Jenna Ryan for your realtor.'

She also allegedly posted a photo of a broken window on Twitter, writing: 'Window at The capital. And if the news doesn't stop lying about us we're going to come after their studios next.'

She later tweeted: 'We just stormed the Capital. It was one of the best days of my life.'

Ryan also posted a photo of a broken window on Twitter, writing: 'Window at The capital. And if the news doesn't stop lying about us we're going to come after their studios next'

Ryan lashed out at the media again during her interview with NBC News, where she claimed that she left the Capitol after 'two minutes' because she felt uncomfortable.

'If you want to skewer me in the media and make me out to be a violent person because it fits your storyline, then, you know, that is something that you're going to have to live with in your life,' she said when asked about the rhetoric described in the affidavit for her arrest.

'I know my heart was to go there and let my voice be heard, no matter what. And I stood on the steps of the Capitol, and I did what I came to do. And I did pray.'

Ryan hit out at the FBI agents who raided her home shortly after she returned to Texas and took the MAGA hat she was seen wearing in the Capitol videos.

'The FBI's coming out and raiding my house for a misdemeanor,' she said. 'Taking my MAGA hat. Okay? They took my MAGA hat.'

She also condemned the lawmakers who went ahead to certify Biden's 'fraudulent' victory, saying that she won't vote ever again because she's 'given up on America'.

Ryan said she is hopeful that Trump will pardon her and other protesters charged over the insurrection before he leaves office on Wednesday, but added: 'I'm going to support him no matter what he does.'

She first made her plea for a pardon in an interview with CBS11 over the weekend.

'I would like a pardon from the President of the United States. I think that we all deserve a pardon. I'm facing a prison sentence. I think that I do not deserve that,' she said.

'From what I understand everyone is going to be arrested that was there, so I think everyone deserves a pardon. I would ask the President ask the United States to give me a pardon.'

She first made her plea for a pardon in an interview with CBS11 (pictured) over the weekend. 'I would like a pardon from the President of the United States. I think that we all deserve a pardon. I'm facing a prison sentence. I think that I do not deserve that,' she said.

Ryan argued that she should not be punished for 'following what we were called [by Trump] to do.

'He asked us to fly there, he asked us to be there,' she said of Trump. 'So I was doing what he asked us to do.

'So as far as in my heart of hearts, do I feel like a criminal? No. I am not the villain a lot of people make me out to be or think I am because I'm a Trump supporter.'

Ryan's remarks mirrored an argument from the lawyer for 'QAnon shaman' Jacob Chansley, 33, who stormed the Capitol wearing a fur headdress with horns.

Speaking to CNN last Thursday, Attorney Albert Watkins said Chansley deserves a pardon because his client genuinely felt he was obeying the president's demands in the raid.

'He listened to him. He felt like he was answering the call of our President,' Watkins said.

More than 125 people have been arrested so far on charges related to the violent insurrection led by Trump supporters at the Capitol. Charges range from curfew violations to serious federal felonies related to theft and weapons possession.

In total five people were killed during the siege, including one US Capitol Police officer who was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher.

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies continue to search for the identities of several other individuals who were photographed rioting in the Capitol.

Ryan's remarks mirrored an argument from the lawyer for 'QAnon shaman' Jacob Chansley, 33, (pictured) who stormed the Capitol wearing a fur headdress with horns

Ryan has said she fears that her involvement in the riots could ruin her real estate career.

The Texas Real Estate Commission has faced numerous complaints demanding that her license be revoked. Ryan responded by issuing a statement saying she was 'truly heartbroken' over the lives lost during the assault.

'Unfortunately, what I believed to be a peaceful political march turned into a violent protest,' she wrote on Twitter.

She also tweeted that she lost a publishing deal for a book related to her work.

'This has taken my company. This has taken my business,' she tweeted.

Since the rally she said she has received thousands of death threats and people attacking her business. Despite this, she said she would do it all over again.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 21, 2021) - Cruz Cobalt Corp. (CSE: CRUZ) (OTC Pink: BKTPF) (FSE: A2DMG8) ("Cruz" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company is planning to commence operations on its cobalt projects in Ontario. Cruz is one of the largest landholders in the historic silver-cobalt producing region of Cobalt, Ontario and Cruz's projects are in the direct vicinity of Fuse Cobalt Inc. and First Cobalt Corp. On Dec. 22, 2020, the government of Canada and the government of Ontario announced a joint $10-million investment in the First Cobalt Corp. refinery in Cobalt, Ontario. Once operational, this refinery will be North America's only producer of cobalt sulphate for the electric vehicle (EV) market. Cruz's Ontario properties are in the direct vicinity to First Cobalt Corp.'s cobalt refinery (see map below). According to Adamas Intelligence, during the month of November 2020, lithium used in newly-sold EV's jumped 134% year over year, topping 10,000 tonnes for the first time. Deployment of cathode material cobalt doubled, while nickel use was up by 85% compared to the same month in 2019. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Cruz may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.





Cruz's Ontario Cobalt Properties



To view an enhanced version of this map, please visit:

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Jim Nelson, President of Cruz states, "Cruz is excited to have a robust portfolio of battery metals projects at a time when cobalt prices are at a 2-year high and lithium prices are showing strength. We are seeing a significant surge of global investor interest into the battery metals sector as the demand for electric vehicles is exploding. Not only does Cruz have cobalt projects in Ontario & Idaho, we also have a lithium project in the Clayton Valley of Nevada, being one of the few companies that has access to the deepest parts of the only lithium brine basin in production in North America (see map below). We have recently joined the Clayton Valley Lithium Advisory Committee (CVLAC) at a time when the spotlight on lithium companies in Nevada has never shined brighter. On January 7th, 2021, Albemarle Corp announced their plan to 'expand capacity at the company's lithium production facility at Silver Peak in Clayton Valley, Nevada.' In addition, Tesla's Elon Musk had recently expressed interest in acquiring Nevada lithium projects. Cruz currently has approximately $1.5 million in the treasury, including flow-through funds, which enables the Company to begin work programs at any point. Management remains confident that 2021 will be a transformative year for the Company as Cruz has multiple strategically located, and ethically sourced, cobalt and lithium projects in North America."





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The technical contents of this release were approved by Greg Thomson, PGeo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Cruz Cobalt

Cruz currently has twelve projects located throughout North America, comprising five in Ontario, four in British Columbia, two in Idaho, and one in Nevada. Cruz's five separate Ontario projects are all located in the vicinity of the town of Cobalt, making Cruz one of the largest landholders in this historic silver-cobalt producing district. Cruz's Ontario projects, which are prospective for Cobalt, diamonds and silver include the 1,525-acre Coleman cobalt project, the 988-acre Johnson cobalt project, the 6,146-acre Hector cobalt project, the 1,458-acre Bucke cobalt project and the 1,453-acre Lorraine cobalt project. The company's BC projects include the 1,542-acre War Eagle cobalt project, the 2,552-acre Larry diamond project, the 5,572-acre Jax diamond project, and the 1,529-acre Mark diamond project. Cruz's USA projects include the 2,211-acre 'Idaho Cobalt Belt Project', the and the 80-acre 'Idaho Star Cobalt Prospect', and the 240-acre 'Clayton Valley Lithium Prospect' in Nevada. Management cautions that past results or discoveries on properties in proximity to Cruz may not necessarily be indicative of the presence of mineralization on the Company's properties.

If you would like to be added to Cruz's news distribution list, please send your email address to info@cruzcobaltcorp.com

Cruz Cobalt Corp.

"James Nelson"

James Nelson

President, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director

For more information regarding this news release, please contact:

James Nelson, CEO and Director

T: 604-899-9150

Toll free: 1-855-599-9150

E: info@cruzcobaltcorp.com

W: www.cruzcobaltcorp.com

Twitter: @CruzCobalt

Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/72486
The year 2020 proved to be as eventful for the markets and economy as for the rest of the world. From commodities to equities, every segment witnessed unprecedented highs and lows on account of the pandemic. However, this volatility "is a frothy surface that floats on top of business and economic tides that move in a much more predictable fashion," says Kumar Mangalam Birla, the Chairman of Aditya Birla Group.

Referring to the historic decline in oil prices, which briefly ended $37 below zero, and copper registering an equally remarkable price range of over 70 per cent, Birla remarks that the change in the underlying earnings prospects of associated companies or in the consumption of these commodities was way lower than what these "market gyrations" portray.

Also Read: Recovery strong; a quarter before we know if booming markets will sustain: Kumar Birla

"What this tells me is that we should not get unduly disturbed by this excessive volatility... It is far more important to focus on core economic and business variables, the demographic drivers of market trends, and the technological drivers of supply chains. These fundamental variables don't change as discontinuously as prices and indices suggest," the Aditya Birla Group Chairman states in his annual epilogue titled '2020 - 21: My Reflections'.

Birla says despite the doomsday prophecies of "irreversible shifts in consumer demand and the evisceration of sectors, recovery across industries has been swift. To exemplify, he quoted the successful Airbnb IPO in contrast to predictions that travel was dead in near future.

Also Read: 'WFH ain't no WFO': Kumar Mangalam Birla strikes a contrarian note

"In India too, the initial prognosis and narrative of experts proved to be excessively pessimistic. Witness the strong recovery across manufacturing sectors, cement to paints, and automotive to aluminium. Several indicators for India, including GST collections, electricity demand, railway freight movement, and passenger vehicle sales have reverted to positive growth numbers in recent months," Birla says.

Specifically mentioning financial markets, Birla notes that it will be a quarter or so before the level of "froth" in the euphoric markets can be determined. "Perhaps, we still need another quarter or so to confirm that this booming trajectory is here to last. The economists, I am told, are now searching for alphabets that will adequately describe this trend of cautious optimism," he says. "However, outcomes at a company and individual level are uneven."
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Britain won't achieve herd immunity with the current coronavirus vaccines even if every single Briton is injected, a study claimed today.

It came as Boris Johnson refused to rule out keeping the lockdown in place until the summer and SAGE scientists warned draconian restrictions will be needed until May.

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that the efficacy of current vaccines, combined with the emergence of more infectious variants of the virus, meant keeping the R below one without lockdown restrictions could become impossible.

UEA researchers say that even if every man, woman and child in the UK gets both doses of the Oxford jab it would only bring the R  the average number of people each patient infects  down to 1.3. But, because this vaccine is approved for over-18s only, the R would remain at about two when curbs are lifted completely.

The study found Pfizer's jab  which is more effective at blocking coronavirus than the Oxford one  is capable of bringing the R below one and achieving herd immunity but it would require inoculating teenagers. Currently the jab is only approved for over-16s. Researchers warned it would 'likely be impossible' to hit the 82 per cent target needed for herd immunity because 'people will refuse the vaccine'.

Scientists have always known eradicating Covid was an impossible task and the goal of the vaccine programme is not to prevent all transmission from occurring. Herd immunity occurs when enough of the population is immune to an infectious disease, stopping it from spreading.

Instead, the UK's scheme is aimed at preventing the most vulnerable from dying or falling sick and piling pressure on the NHS. It's hoped that once all vulnerable groups are immunised, the disease will become more manageable and restrictions can be gradually lifted.

But scientists on the Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) warned today that the strict shutdown will need to remain in place until at least May because of the current pace of the vaccine rollout. Boris Johnson has promised to consider easing restrictions in mid-February once the 14million most vulnerable people have been given their first dose of the jabs.

But SAGE scientists who have modelled the rollout say easing restrictions next month has the 'potential' to cause a bigger epidemic than the one now because the single dose will only provide weak protection. They warned that with huge community transmission and an NHS on the brink of being overwhelmed, loosening lockdown even slightly next month would lead to an 'unsustainable' situation.

Professor Matt Keeling, an epidemiologist from the University of Warwick, said: 'I certainly don't want individuals going to bars and restaurants on the 16th [of February]. If we've given people their first dose by February 15, thats not going to give that much protection.' He warned the most 'optimistic' outcome would be for 'some' restrictions to be lifted in May. Dr Marc Baguelin, an infectious disease expert at Imperial College London who was also involved in the modelling, claimed that easing lockdown before then would cause a spike 'that is really bad'.

The data comes as 366,919 Covid vaccine doses were administered across the UK yesterday, putting the Government on track to hit its target of 13.9million people by the middle of February.

Pictured, the impact on R rate for various vaccination scenarios, herd immunity is only achieved if R is kept below 1. The green line shows the Pfizer vaccine, and the blue line shows the effectiveness of Oxford's vaccine according to the 70.4% effectiveness claimed in data sent to MHRA. The red line shows data from phase 3 clinical trials for two standards dose jabs of the Oxford jab against both symptomatic and asymptomatic infection

Lifting lockdown completely before spring could lead to up to 6,000 daily Covid deaths, depending on how good the vaccines are at stopping transmission, something scientists won't know for months when more studies are completed. But the SAGE scientists who did the modelling stressed these were imperfect models based on lots of variables and should not be interpreted as predictions

They claimed an extremely gradual approach that keeps some lockdown measures in place until later this year or even 2022 was the best way to keep deaths low and hospitals protected

SAGE scientists Professor Mark Woolhouse, Professor Matt Keeling and Dr Marc Baguelin, as well as Imperial College London infectious diseases expert Dr Anne Cori. The four scientists modelled how Britain's epidemic will change during the vaccine rollout

Analysis from the University of East Anglia (UEA) found the highly-virulent B.1.1.7 strain which evolved in Kent in September has made it impossible to ever achieve herd immunity with the current effectiveness of vaccines. Pictuured, Basil Henry, 84, is one of the first people to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the opening of the first Pharmacy2U Covid-19 vaccination centre at the Odeon Cinema in Aylesbury

Boris Johnson refuses to rule out brutal lockdown lasting until the summer On a visit to see flooding in Greater Manchester today, Boris Johnson warned it was 'too early to say' whether lockdown will need to stay until the summer Boris Johnson today refused to rule out the brutal lockdown lasting until the summer amid claims he is willing to keep curbs longer to ensure it is the last national squeeze. The PM insisted it is 'too early to say' whether the restrictions will stay in place for months longer - even though he is hoping to have vaccinated the most vulnerable groups by mid-February. And he warned that the new coronavirus strain is 'much more contagious', repeating his plea for people to stay at home and obey the rules. The intervention came as scientists delivered a grim warning that even mass vaccinations will not be enough to stop the disease spreading, suggesting that measures will need to remain longer. There are claims from the PM's circle that he is ready to risk the wrath of Tory MPs - who are clamouring for confirmation of an easing starting March 8 - by persisting with the curbs. Advertisement

Sir Patrick Vallance said yesterday that at least 70 per cent of the population would need to be protected from the virus  either by vaccination or previous infection  in order to achieve herd immunity.

Currently, 4.6million people in the UK have had at least one of their jabs, according to official NHS figures, and researchers tracking the outbreak estimate one in eight people have been infected already  12 per cent.

This leaves at least 39million people who need to get the jab to ensure the UK reaches the 70 per cent mark touted by Sir Patrick, the government's chief scientific advisor.

But the target figure could become much smaller as people develop natural immunity by catching the virus in the ongoing outbreaks.

The UEA study found the 70 per cent mark was only true for the original strain of coronavirus, which has now been displaced by the more infectious Kent variant that spooked No10 into England's third national lockdown.

Professor Azra Ghani, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, who was not involved in the study, said: 'The herd immunity threshold is the level of the population that needs to be immune to reduce R below one and therefore eliminate circulating virus.

'When the basic reproductive number (R0) is high, we need both high efficacy vaccines and a high uptake of vaccination across the population to achieve this threshold.'

The research from Professor Paul Hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted.

Three vaccines have already been given regulatory approval in the UK, from Oxford/AstraZeneca, Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer. A fourth jab made by Johnson and Johnson is expected to be given the green light within weeks.

The jabs have all been found to be effective at stopping symptomatic infection and therefore preventing severe disease and death.

The study looked at vaccine effectiveness and the R rate of the coronavirus and assumed people with a vaccine can spread the virus.

This is a hotly-debated topic among scientists who are trying to determine the level of 'sterilising immunity'of vaccines.

Sterilising immunity is the phrase used to describe the process where the body's immune system completely neutralises the virus and stops it replicating.

'We don't know if any of the vaccines provide sterilising immunity,' Professor Hunter told MailOnline. 'As far as we can tell, if you are to stop somebody spreading the infection, you need sterilising immunity.'

Data shows vaccinating 69 per cent of the UK's population with Pfizer's jab, which trials have found is 95 per cent effective, would be enough for herd immunity against the old strain.

However, 93 per cent of the UK population would need to be vaccinated if receiving the Oxford vaccine, which rigorous studies found was slightly less effective at 70 per cent.

But when accounting for the new variant, which the academics assume is around 56 per cent more infectious, the equation changes dramatically when combined with just 70 per cent effectiveness.

'Vaccinating the entire population with the Oxford vaccine would only reduce the R value to 1.325 while the Pfizer vaccine would require 82 per cent of the population to be vaccinated to control the spread of the new variant,' the researchers wrote in their study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed but is available online a preprint.

Professor Grant said Oxford's Covid vaccine reduces the likelihood of serious illness following infection but is less effective at stopping asymptomatic infection.

The researchers worked on the assumption the Oxford vaccine is 70.4 per cent effective against Covid infection, as this is the headline figure on the study data received by the MHRA which led to its approval last month.

However, this figure is based on the protection from severe disease, which leads to death. But when accounting for asymptomatic infections, it is only 52.5 per cent effective, Professor Grant said.

Pictured, the Al Abbas Mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a covid vaccination centre. The research from Professor Paul hunter and Professor Alastair Grant looked at the impact of coronavirus spread following a vaccination drive and when all non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as social distancing and mask wearing, have been lifted

A mosque in Birmingham has today begun offering coronavirus vaccinations, amid fears take up is too low among BAME groups

A cinema in Aylesbury has also started handing out jabs to the most vulnerable, as Britain races to meet its target of 14million first doses by mid-February

Pharmacists pictured at the Al Abbas mosque in Birmingham, which is being used as a vaccination hub to turbo charge the rollout

Britain's Covid vaccine postcode lottery: Cumbria has dished out 10 TIMES more jabs than parts of the Midlands Medics in Cumbria and the North East of England have handed out 10 times more Covid vaccines than those in Shropshire, NHS data reveals today. The most detailed breakdown of local vaccination rates released so far has laid bare the postcode lottery showing 10 per cent of the population in Gloucestershire have had a jab already, compared to just 3.6 per cent of East Londoners. Herefordshire and Worcestershire had also managed to immunise one in 10 of their residents by January 17, the figures show. Coverage appears to be higher in more rural areas and lower in cities, with the lowest vaccination rates in London and the East Midlands. Rural areas tend to have higher average age of their residents and more elderly people, which may give them access to more vaccine doses to distribute. It comes as Health Secretary Matt Hancock today said that Britain has successfully given more than 5million Covid vaccine doses to 4.6million people. The programme has sped up after a brief slowdown over the weekend, and is now reaching more than 300,000 people per day as it hurtles towards the target of immunising the country's 13.9million most vulnerable people by February 15. Boris Johnson has warned that achieving this target will be 'very hard' but it has emerged today that, officially, the Government is only aiming to 'offer' the jabs to that number of people and it won't declare failure if they aren't all delivered on time. Government sources admit not everyone will take up the invitation, with polls indicating that a fifth of the population might refuse. Advertisement

'This means that its overall protection against infection is only partial  around 50 per cent.

'This combination of relatively low headline efficacy and limited effect on asymptomatic infections means that the Oxford vaccine can't take us to herd immunity, even if the whole population is immunised.

'Vaccinating 82 per cent of the population with the Pfizer vaccine would control the spread of the virus  but it isn't licenced for use on under 16s, who make up 19 per cent of the population.

'Also, some people will refuse the vaccine, so achieving an 82 per cent vaccination rate will likely be impossible.'

The academics recommend healthcare workers who are highly exposed to the virus should receive the more effective mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and not the less effective Oxford vaccine.

Professor Grant says the Oxford vaccine still has an important role to play in controlling the virus, but is 'unlikely to fully control the virus or take the UK population to herd immunity' unless the Oxford developers find a way to deliver the two doses in a way which increases its efficacy beyond the current 70 per cent figure.

'If we cannot achieve herd immunity, vulnerable unvaccinated individuals will remain at risk.

'We do need to consider how best to protect these individuals when social restrictions are eventually relaxed as the result of a successful vaccine roll out programme.'

Professor Hunter told MailOnline that getting the more effective mRNA jabs to healthcare workers should be of consideration for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the vaccine priority list.

'We also need to vaccinate every vulnerable person who needs to be vaccinated and we need to do more to fascinate people who don't want vaccine and may be relying on herd immunity, as this is likely impossible.'

However, although they believe healthcare workers should get the Pfizer jab, they do not believe it should be prioritised for all vulnerable people, including those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable and all people over 70.

'It is not necessary to give vulnerable people the Pfizer vaccine and not the Oxford one. I would be hard pushed to say the Oxford vaccine is any worse or better than other vaccines at preventing severe disease,' Professor Hunter said.

The researchers included the Kent strain, which now accounts for at least 61 per cent of all UK infections, in their analysis, but did not have enough data to look at the impact of the South Africa variant.

Professor Hunter told MailOnline that getting the more effective mRNA jabs to healthcare workers should be of consideration for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which determines the vaccine priority list

'The British variant does not seem to be an escape mutant as it is lacking the E484K gene,' Professor Hunter said. The E484K gene mutation is believed to make the virus adept at avoiding antibodies which have been made by the human immune system following prior infection.

As a result, it is to blame for numerous reinfection events and scientists are growing increasingly concerned it may be able to evade current vaccines.

'The problem with the English strain is it spreading more quickly,' Professor Hunter added.

'The South Africa strain is a different matter and has both the increased infection mutant and a degree of escape mutant. This does not necessarily mean the vaccine is useless but is probably slightly less effective.'

Dr Jonathan Stoye, of the Francis Crick Institute but not involved in the study, said: 'It reaches the provocative conclusion that administration of the adenovirus-based vaccine from Oxford/AstraZeneca alone, despite a major reduction in the seriousness of Covid disease, is unlikely to generate the herd immunity needed for complete control of virus spread.

'Based on the data currently available, this study appears strong and the conclusion unarguable.

'It points to a continuing role for non-pharmaceutical interventions such as the wearing of face masks and hand washing as well as suggesting a possible utility for booster vaccinations with RNA based delivery systems.'

It comes as a team of SAGE scientists - from universities in Edinburgh, Warwick and Imperial College London - used mathematical modelling to estimate how Britain's epidemic would change under the current vaccination rollout.

A doom-mongering graph produced by the group showed that lifting lockdown completely before spring could lead to up to 6,000 daily Covid deaths, depending on how good the vaccines are at stopping transmission. They claimed this was possible because the virus would race through the small percentage of vulnerable people who were not protected and it would also affect some of those who are vaccinated, because the vaccines are imperfect.

But the group stressed these were imperfect models based on lots of variables and should not be interpreted as predictions. They claimed an extremely gradual approach that keeps some lockdown measures in place until this autumn or even next year was the best way to keep deaths low and hospitals protected.

Dr Anne Cori, a statistical modeller who was part of the research, stressed that vaccines were 'imperfect'. They have been shown to be up to 95 per cent effective at stopping people from falling seriously ill with the disease, but to what extend the prevent patients from spreading the disease is unknown.

The effectiveness of a single dose - currently the UK's strategy to try to speed up the scheme - is also unknown. Dr Cori warned that even if the UK can meet its ambitious goal of delivering 3million doses of vaccine a week, 'it'll take until late April to give only one dose to everyone who is eligible'.

Professor Mark Woolhouse, an epidemiologist at Edinburgh University, said even if 90 per cent of vulnerable people take the vaccine - higher than expected - that leaves over two million people who remain susceptible to severe Covid.

Around 25million people are covered by the 10 priority categories set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

With community transmission so high, it means the remaining 2.5m of un-vaccinated vulnerable Brits would be likely to be exposed to the virus. 'If we relax its quite possible well get a resurgence after phase one,' Professor Woolhouse warned.

Dr Cori added: 'Vaccines should be seen as a magic tool, but not a magic bullet.

'Their effect is not going to be instantaneous. Benefit will only be seen when we get very high coverage. The messaging to people needs to be very clear, we need the maximum number of people [to get the jab].'

Reports yesterday claimed that Boris Johnson was targeting Good Friday on April 2 as the earliest date for a significant lifting of the lockdown. According to the Sun, the PM has started 'top secret' planning for millions to meet their families over Easter. But several sources told the Mail that even this date could look optimistic if the vaccine rollout ran into difficulties.

One attendee at a government summit with business leaders on Monday claimed ministers had warned that heavy restrictions could remain until May or even June. Tory MPs have voiced concerns about 'mission creep', with scientists lobbying for restrictions to stay in place until more categories of the population have been given the vaccine.
LONDON  Already profitable, and soon to be debt-free, Mytheresa is ready to take on fashtechs big guns after a successful initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday morning.

In a sign of these locked-down times, chief executive officer Michael Kliger, whos helmed the multibrand fashion and luxury retailer since 2015, could not be on site to ring the bell, but instead did it virtually together with Stacey Cunningham, president of the exchange.

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Even with the company principals confined to the retailers headquarters in Munich, Mytheresa delivered lush returns soon after the opening bell rang.

The retailer saw its stock rise 19.2 percent to $30.99 on Thursday, leaving it with a market capitalization of $2.7 billion, trading under the ticker MYTE.

Less than 24 hours earlier, the German e-commerce company had priced the IPO at $26 a share, well above the $16 to $18 it was looking for just last week.

Mytheresa made $354.8 million and plans to use much of that money to pay back a loan from Ares, which also sold $52 million worth of the e-tailers shares in the offering. The private equity firm Ares Management took over Mytheresa after the protracted bankruptcy proceedings of the retailers former parent, Neiman Marcus Group.

Kliger said in a video interview Thursday that $207 million would be used immediately to wipe out the companys shareholder debt, and to make a fresh start.

And hes raring to go.

The rest of the millions raised will go toward further penetrating markets, improving the customer and brand experience and leveraging Mytheresas niche appeal in a market dominated by online, publicly listed giants Farfetch, Richemont-owned Net-a-porter, Alibaba and Amazon.

Yet the Mytheresa CEO is undaunted by the size and scale of the competition and sees only the potential for growth  for everyone.

The online market will triple, and we have seen great potential around the world, particularly in the U.S., and in Asia, markets where we already have good business, but where we lack resources on the ground. The money from the IPO will drive future growth on a global customer base, he said.

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The focus, he added, will be on localization, how we speak to, how we reach and how we touch customers. Its really about building brand awareness, making it local to customers, having more personal shoppers on the ground. Well also be running campaigns for Mytheresa itself, and making it less of a hassle for the customer to shop. And that, of course, costs money.

Unlike other hyped-up tech darlings, Mytheresa is actually the rarest of beasts in that it turns a profit. For the year ended June 30, the companys adjusted income rose 22.2 percent to 19.3 million euros as sales increased 18.6 percent to 449 million euros.

Growth is a priority, said Kliger, adding that Mytheresa has been growing by 25 percent each year and plans to keep up the pace, projecting future revenue rises of 22 to 25 percent.

Asked about how a relatively small operation like Mytheresa can compete alongside rival platform Farfetch, which has a market cap of $21.1 billion, revenues of $437.7 million and losses of $537 million in the third quarter alone, Kliger didnt hesitate in responding.

Scale does matter but what you really need to nail is your positioning. What customer are we after? I think Farfetch is an amazing business, but theyre going after other customers, and thats good.

We need to offer something that really creates loyalty for our customer base, we are trained in our platform, and we are much more focused on our offer  and on the high-end. We have very high-spending customers and, most importantly, we serve a customer who is interested in multibrand curation and inspiration, he said.

Mytheresa is an online business born from a single physical shop in Munich. The retailer has never forgotten its roots in serving a small, wealthy and loyal customer base. The womens shop is still open for business, in Munichs Old Town, and last year Kliger added a mens unit as it launched the category on the site.

Kliger said the Mytheresa customer shops regularly, returns to the site, but isnt necessarily looking to find a specific product. The customer, he added, wants to explore and enjoy the journey. And theyre not chasing discounts or deals.

They say, show me, inspire me  and dont make me trawl through endless pages, or multiple shops. We need to serve that customer, and we will grow with that customer. And I think thats well understood by the investors, Kliger said.

Mytheresa has long cultivated a specific customer base  and an ultra-high-end set of brand partners  and will continue to do so.

In an interview in September, Kliger told WWD focused buying has always been one of our tricks. One of our beliefs is dont go broad, even if there is a big collection. We force ourselves to buy what we believe in, and whats right for our customers.

Kliger said about 3 percent of all of Mytheresas customers generate 30 percent of the business, and the retailer works hard to please them.

We focus on customers who build wardrobes, who buy several times a season. We launched skiwear because we discovered that this is a pastime of our customer base. We work very intimately with them, and we have ideas like the Moncler Generation or Dolce & Gabbana capsules. Those efforts continue to drive our business and get our customers excited.

He added that there are definitely customers out there who buy iconic pieces, they save money for them, they make an investment. But this is not the customer base we focus on.

The retailer loves nothing more than a brand partnership, and a set of exclusive products.

Even during the darkest days of lockdown last summer, Mytheresa was pumping out all sorts of capsules: There was a his-and-hers Balmain collection and a Brunello Cucinelli capsule for the whole family (Mytheresa has a robust childrens wear business), while a Moncler Generation collection launched earlier this month. The capsule includes womens, mens and childrens wear  as well as outerwear for dogs.

Last week it partnered with Bottega Veneta, securing two exclusive styles from the labels Wardrobe 01 collection, new versions of the Cassette bag, priced at 2,850 euros, and the Stretch sandal at 690 euros.

In the interview on Thursday, Kliger said he believes theres room for many business models in the growing market for online luxury fashion. Its not a question of whether one model will win, and its my firm belief that there are many different customers. [In the end] its the customer who decides where they want to shop.

He also argued that the luxury shop is moving online  and thats independent of the pandemic. Growth happened before, and it will happen afterward, because we all hope the pandemic ends soon, said Kliger, adding that online sales of luxury fashion will multiply from 12 percent of overall revenues in the sector to 30 percent in the long term.

Kliger said once life returns to normal, there will be an absolute desire to go back to [physical] storesbut, that will not change the long-term trend toward more online sales.

Asked how much his day job will change now that he has to answer to the markets, Kliger said there will be additional demands, and the responsibility of executing on our company guidance. He said his real duty going forward is to serve the customer, and the brand relationships.
Beijing has launched a defence of its vaccination program, accusing western media of attempting to trash China's reputation as it ramps up the inoculation of millions across the developing world.

The push follows Chinese state media urging Australia to pause its rollout of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine after 33 elderly and ill people in Norway died following immunisation. The Norwegian Medicines Agency on Tuesday said there was no direct link between the vaccine and the deaths.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. Credit:AP

The German Pfizer-BioNTech and US Moderna vaccines have published efficacy rates of more than 90 per cent in their final trials. China's widely-distributed Sinovac Biotech product has been reported by countries undertaking trials as having efficacy rates of between 50 and 78 per cent, but the company has released little publicly available data.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday evening listed world leaders who have received or would become the first in their country to be injected with the Chinese-developed vaccines, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
A man in uniform knelt at the grave of President Bidens son, Beau, on Wednesday during the presidents inaugural address, a poignant and seemingly private moment far from the pomp of Washington that later drew widespread attention online.

The unidentified man was observed by a local journalist at St. Joseph on the Brandywine church cemetery in Greenville, Del., near the presidents home in Wilmington.

Beau Biden served as attorney general of Delaware for eight years before he died of brain cancer in 2015. He was 46.

The man bowed his head before and after the speech and clasped his hands, the journalist, Patricia Talorico of the Delaware News Journal, reported.